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

HISTORY OF DORCHESTER. 165
ties the question that there never was a mill in that
place, but that the " smale Riuer" was running in
and out with the tide long before the settlement on
the main land, and before the sound of a mill had
broken the stillness of this western world. There
is no doubt that the Sagamore was mistaken as to
the time he went there with Mr. Thompson, although
the latter undoubtedly had visited it before he took
up his abode there.
"This year," says Blake, " was an order for mounting ye great guns at Mr. Hawkins, on Rock-hill."
This place was undoubtedly what is now called Savin Hill, although the Meeting-house Hill has been
the spot usually designated as the place. A little
observation will show that the former was much
the most desirable and eligible location for a fortification, commanding as it did the mouth of the Neponset, the bay, and the passage to the hill by land;
besides Mr. Hawkins lived on the plain south of the
hill, and most of the inhabitants were in his neighborhood, and in a northerly direction therefrom.
The southerly point of Savin Hill, on the flat rock,
was just the spot for the "great guns" then, and
would be now, in case of invasion.
The celebrated law in relation to wearing superfluities, passed the General Court this year, and was
doubtless the occasion of no little excitement. The
following is a copy.
"4 (7) 1639. Whereas there is much complaint of the
excessive wearing of lace and other superfluities tending
to little use, or benefit, but to the nourishing of pride, and