History of the Town of Fitchburg by Rufus Torey: part 6 & 7


(I have chosen to skip some paragraphs which quote from the
a History written by Whitney and published in 1793.  Rufus
Torey does mention having talked with "several people" who
lived in Lunenburg prior to this publication date.  The
subject is the location of Turkey Hills, Lunenburg.)

There is indubitable evidence that the tract included in the
whole south township was called , not Turkey Hill, but
Turkey Hills.... What Indian name was given tho this
territory, is not known; but the first name applied to it by
white men, was Turkey Hills.

David Page was undoubtedly among the earliest -- perhaps the
first of the settlers in that part of Lunenburg which is now
Fitchburg.  The birth of his eldest child is dated
Oct. 1735.  Some of the aged people of this town think that
the first settlement made within our present precinct, by a
white man, was on the place now owned by James
L. Haynes--and that the occupant was sometimes called
Governor Page.  Others say that David Page lived there, but
from how early a period they cannot tell.  Perhaps the title
of Governor, appended to this Page, was a hereditary
privilege, or these informants may have blended the accounts
of the two Pages in their minds.  There can be but little
doubt as to the residence of Old Governor Page near the
centre of Lunenburg; for the land on which the first pound
was built and for a "passage to and from the same" was
purchased of him, and the governor himself was elevated to
the office of pound-keeper.

There is, however, strong circumstantial evidence that the
first settlement within what is now Fitchburg, was made by a
man named Page--that his house stood a few rods westerly of
the house of James L. Haynes, a short distance south of the
present travelled road, and near the small brook which flows
there.  This house was "garrisoned" that is, sticks of
timber hewn on two sides to about the thickness of six
inches were firmly driven into the ground so close together
as to touch.  This kind of barricade extended around the
house at the distance of about ten feet from it.  Port-holes
were made through this of sufficient dimensions to allow the
fire of musketry.  These fortified houses, called Garrisons,
were frequently a good defence against the attacks of the
natives.  This Page turned the above mentioned small brook
from its natural course, and made it flow for some distance
under ground and then through his garrison.  This was done
that, if menaced by the savages, he might sit securely in
his habitation and defy their efforts.

Having thus treated of the family of Old Governor Page, the
consideration of the affairs pertaining to the township of
Turkey Hills may be resumed.

(skipped paragraph)

On the 11th of May (1720) the Committee met in Concord, when
the grantees entered their names for lots.  They were
obliged to pay at this time the sum of fifty shillings, old
tenor, ($1.11) and obligated themselves to pay a like sum
when they should finally draw their lots.  If any individual
refused to pay the last fifty shillings, he incurred a
forfeiture of his lot, and of his first payment.  The eighty
lots were subscribed for and the sum of 183l. 10s ($81.54)
paid.  Of the eighty individuals whose names were
subscribed, seventeen belonged to Concord, fifteen to
Groton, four to Needham, and the others to Newbury,
Bradford, Reading, Boxford, Weston, Watertown, &c.  Only one
person's residence is put down at "Turkey Hills."  This is
Samual Page, who subscribed for two lots--one for himself
and one for his son Joseph.

(skipped paragraph)

It will be recollected that, according to the act of the
General Court, each grantee was to receive two hundred and
fifty acres.  Twenty-two thousand five hundred acres would
thus be disposed of.  Then a lot was reserved for the first
settled minister, for the school, for Harvard College, and
there was a ministerial lot.  At the first division,
forty-five acres, "and that to be the standarad of the best
land," were allotted to each man--and if any happened to be
of an inferior quality, five or more acres were added to it,
"to make each lot equal."

This, it will be perceived, was taking but a small portion
of the whole township.  Accordingly, in January, 1724, a
second division of about sixty acres additional was made.
The meadows were also divided into lots and annexed to the
several "upland" lots and thus they proceeded, making
division after division till nealy all the township of
TurkeyHills was taken up by the original proprietors, or
their assigns.

(to be continued)

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