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of Records was not commenced until 1632, several months after Dudley and Bradstreet performed their promise “to build houses at the New Town.”
Whether more than the before named eight persons, and indeed whether all these resided in the New Town before the end of 1631, I have not found any certain proof.
The number of inhabitants in that year was doubtless small; yet there were enough able-bodied men to be specially included in an order of court passed July 26, 1631, requiring a general training of soldiers in all the plantations.1
Although the Governor and Assistants generally did not perform their agreement to make the New Town the place of their permanent residence, they seem to have regarded it as the prospective seat of government, and not long afterwards, as will appear, commenced holding the general and particular courts there.
Several orders, passed during the year, indicate such an expectation and intention.
For example: June 14, 1631, “Mr. John Maisters hath undertaken to make a passage from Charles River to the New Town, twelve foot broad and seven foot deep; for which the Court promiseth him satisfaction, according as the charges thereof shall amount unto.”
2 On the fifth of the following July, provision was made for the payment of Mr. Masters, when it was “Ordered, That there shall be levied out of the several plantations the sum of thirty pounds, for the making of the creek at the New Town,” —but no portion of this sum was assessed upon the New Town.
Again, Feb. 3, 1631-2, “It was ordered, That there should be three score pounds levied out of the several plantations within the limits of this patent, towards the making of a pallysadoe about the New Town; viz. Watertown, VIII.l. the New Town, III.l. Charlton, VII.l. Meadford, III.l. Saugus and Marble Harbor, VI.l. Salem, IV.l. x. s. Boston, VIII.l. Rocksbury, VII.l. Dorchester, VII.l. Wessaguscus, v.l. Winettsemet, XXX.s.”
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2 Ibid., i. 88. This canal still exists on the westerly side of College Wharf, from Charles River nearly to South Street. It was a natural creek, enlarged and deepened thus far, from which point, turning westerly, it extended along the southerly and westerly sides of South and Eliot streets, and crossed Brattle Street, where the town ordered a causeway and foot bridge to be constructed, Jan. 4, 1635-36.
3 Mass. Col. Rec., i. 98. Winthrop says that Watertown objected against the validity and justice of this assessment: and his learned editor says: “To the agitation of this subject we may refer the origin of that committee of two from each town to advise with the court about raising public moneys ‘so as what they should agree upon should bind all,’ under date of May of this year. This led to the representative body, having the full powers of all the freemen, except that of elections.” —Savage's Winthrop, i. 71, note.
Boston. Houghton and Mifflin. 1877.
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