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

HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.- 283
years in the ministry; an able, painful, faithful minister of Christ, IEtatis anno 76 or 77. He was born
some weeks before his time, and was kept warm in
lamb skins till the full proper time came."
There were several deaths of aged people in the
town this year. Among them, widow Mary Maxfield, aged about 86 or 87 years; "Mr. Nathaniel
Clap, sen'r, a choice man;" and " Brother John Capen." Oct. 21st, aged Father Wales was buried.
" Nov. 12th, Deacon Preston, sen'r, of like age, viz.,
86 (or, as some aver; 88), was buried."
1708. Mr. Hubbard and others petitioned the
town for liberty to dig iron ore in the undivided
lands, and the town chose a committee to look into
the business and see what trespass had been committed in digging for that purpose.
This year the town passed a vote, "that any person within the town killing any grown blackbirds,
from the 1st of April unto the last of May, should
have twelve pence pr dozen for them, and six pence
pr dozen for all young ones fledged." A vote similar to the above was passed for many years, and
much money paid to those who brought the heads
as a proof. These birds were usually denominated
crow or stare, red-winged, and hen or grey blackbirds.
Wm. Noahaton, Samuel Mamantaug and Amos
Noahaton, Indians of Punkapaug, in behalf of their
tribe, thanked the town for its care of them and
their interests, in settling the boundaries between
them and their white neighbors; and understanding
that the town was offended because they had leased