The object of the writer is not to give a complete history of the town to the present day, but simply of the settlement, and to picture forth as well as possible our forefathers as they lived, thought and acted. And yet such matters of later occurrence as have a general interest have not been omitted. Great care has been taken to present perfect copies of the ancient instruments of writing relating to the history of the town; but it is found by com parison that the orthography of the same document varies considerably, whenever it is more than once recorded. Such a work will be but imperfect at best but it is hoped that some new facts of interest have been brought to light in this volume, and such as it is, it is given to the public.