The history of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, By a committee of the Dorchester antiquarian and historical society ...

HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
arable grounds and hay ground; fair corn-fields
and pleasant gardens, with kitchen gardens. In
this plantation is a great many cattle, as kine,
goats, and swine. This plantation hath a reasonable
harbour for ships. Here is no alewife river, which
is a great inconvenience. The inhabitants of this
town were the first that set upon fishing in the bay,
who received so much fruit of their labours, that
they encouraged others to the same undertakings."
The following is Josselyn's description of the town:
" Six miles beyond Braintree lyeth Dorchester,
a frontire Town pleasantly seated, and of large extent
into the main land, well watered with two small
Rivers, her body and wings filled somewhat thick
with houses to the number of two hundred and
more, beautified with fair Orchards and Gardens,
having also plenty of Corn-land, and store of Cattle,
counted the greatest Town heretofore in New England, but now gives way to Boston; it hath a Harbour to the North for ships."
The first Dorchester Record Book, re-copied a few
years since at the expense of the town, commenced
January 16, 1632-3, and in point of time takes precedence of any town records in Massachusetts. It
contains the transactions of the plantation and town,
from the date above named to 1720. The two missing leaves at the beginning, traced, probably, the proceedings from the commencement of the settlement.
A very large part of this book, containing six hundred and thirty-six pages, is devoted to grants of
land, regulations for fences, the care of cattle, laying
out of highways, and other kindred matters. Sub4*