Dear All, Rather to my surprise I got a reply from NEHGS. Although they do not know the source of the date on the Newtowne plaque, they have given full details of their own researches. I will try now to contact the City of Cambridge in an attempt to track down the department that originated the plaque. Any ideas? Regards, Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wellner, Ruth" <RWELLNER@NEHGS.ORG> To: <chris@sackett.org.uk> Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 5:33 PM Subject: Newtowne First Settlers > Dear Mr. Sackett, > > One of our resident researchers passes along the following: > > There is nothing in the published Cambridge Town Records that supports the > notion that the first eight inhabitants erected their houses by July 18, > 1631. The list that the questioner cites appears on page 2 of the printed > volume, exactly as he lists it. There is no date attached. The next record, > which continues onto the following page, is dated December 1632. This is > probably why Bob Anderson stated that the record in question is itself dated > 1632. > > The published Cambridge Proprietors Records are of no help because they > don't commence until about 1634 or 1635. > > I took a look at John Winthrop's History of New England, thinking that he > might have been the source, but he makes no mention of the early settlement > that would substantiate the statement on the plaque. Unless there was some > other diarist, I have no idea where the city of Cambridge came up with the > 1631 date unless they were privy to some source that I'm unaware of. > > This, of course, doesn't answer your question. If anything comes up in the > future that helps in this we will let you know. > > Thank you for writing. > > Sincerely, > > Daniel Duncan, Research Services Assistant > 101 Newbury Street > Boston, MA 02116 > (617)226-1233 > duncan@nehgs.org > www.newenglandancestors.org > > >