History of Billerica, Massachusetts: With a Genealogical Register

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A. Williams and Company, 1883 - Billerica (Mass.) - 506 pages
 

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Page 106 - ... and now you exhort me to change and leave my old canoe, and embark in a new canoe, to which I have hitherto been unwilling : but now I yield up myself to your advice, and enter into a new canoe, and do engage to pray to God hereafter.
Page 106 - Daniel before named desired brother Eliot to tell this sachem from him, that it may be, while he went in his old canoe, he passed in a quiet stream ; but the end thereof was death and destruction to soul and body. But now he went into a new canoe, perhaps he would meet with storms and trials, but yet he should be encouraged to persevere, for the end of his voyage would be everlasting rest.
Page 252 - That the selectmen of every town in the several precincts and quarters where they dwell, shall have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see, first, that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, their children and apprentices so much learning, as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein...
Page 4 - Mm the choice. So, at the place where the deputy's land was to begin, there were two great stones, which they called the Two Brothers, in remembrance that they were brothers by their children's marriage, and did so brotherly agree, and for that a little creek near those stones was to part their lands.
Page 164 - The half-way covenant was a scheme devised by our forefathers, assembled in synod, 1662, to determine who were the proper subjects of baptism ; and they decided, " that church members, who were admitted in minority, understanding the doctrine of faith, and publicly professing their assent thereto, not scandalous in life, and solemnly owning the covenant before the church, wherein they give up themselves and children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the government of Christ in his church, their...
Page 130 - ... for many years afterwards. A son and daughter of Mr. Rogers were taken prisoners. The family of John Levistone suffered' most severely. His mother-in-law and five young children were killed, and his oldest daughter captured. Thomas Rogers and his oldest son were killed. Mary, the wife of Dr. Roger Toothaker, was killed, and Margaret, his youngest daughter, taken prisoner. Fifteen persons were killed or taken at this surprisal. The records of the town give the names of fourteen who were killed...
Page 105 - Their teacher is called Samuel ; son to the ruler, a young man of good parts, and can speak, read, and write, English and Indian competently. He is one of those that was bred up at school, at the charge of the Corporation for the Indians.
Page 130 - Awakened by this sudden and unexpected attack, he started up, seized the arrow, which he forcibly withdrew, and expired with the instrument of death in his hand. A woman being in the chamber, threw herself out of the window, and, though severely wounded, made her escape by concealing herself among some flags. A young woman was scalped, and left for dead, but survived the painful operation, and lived many years afterwards.
Page 105 - At this place, once a year, at the beginning of May, the English magistrate keeps his court, accompanied with Mr. Eliot, the minister ; who at this time takes his opportunity to preach, not only to the inhabitants, but to as many of the strange Indians, that can be persuaded to hear him ; of which sort, usually in times of peace, there are considerable numbers at^ that season.
Page 252 - And further that all parents and masters do breed and bring up their children and apprentices in some honest lawful calling, labor, or employment, either in husbandry, or some other trade profitable for themselves and the commonwealth, if they will not or cannot train them up in learning to fit them for higher employments.

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