Introduction
To Have and to Hold... Forever
The majority of land deeds signed in the eighteenth century include a legal guarantee that the buyers of the land would own that land forever. In theory, land deeds ensured a permanent transfer of land. But the governance of land in 18th-century Natick was not that simple. Some parcels of land had multiple owners over the century. Several political bodies oversaw the buying, selling, and inheritance of land. Due to many complex factors, the population of Natick became increasingly English. While reading through this exhibit, ask yourself: Who were the eighteenth-century residents of Natick? What did "to have and to hold... forever" really mean for them?
About this Exhibit
This is an exhibit of 18th-century land deeds and documents from the collections of the Natick Historical Society and Morse Institute Library. Acquired by the two institutions throughout the twentieth century, the deeds provide glimpses of the physical layout of eighteenth-century Natick as well as the community’s complex sociopolitics. They also provide insight into eighteenth-century material culture and the collection practices of local museums and libraries.
The documents in this exhibit are only a small number of the total documents involving Natick land from the eighteenth century. All land deeds relevant to Natick can be found at the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds. Other deeds and land documents can be found at the Natick Historical Society, the Morse Institute Library, and the Town Clerk's, This exhibit provides an overview of the various types of land deeds and related documents that helped shape the lives of eighteenth-century Natick residents.
Things to Consider
It is important to remember that these documents provide a small and curated window into eighteenth-century Natick, a community that changed significantly during the century. Outlined in this exhibit are the complex reasons why Indigenous residents sold off much of their land. These circumstances allowed English settlers to gain influence in, and ultimately control, Natick. Some documents involve Indigenous individuals after they moved away from Natick and demonstrate sellers of land were still connected to Natick and English authorities continued to view them as "Natick Indians."
To gain a fuller understanding of eighteenth-century Natick, and the experiences of Indigenous residents of Natick in particular, this exhibit might be best used with other sources. It is essential to remember that while many Indigenous people moved away from Natick during the eighteenth century, many others did not. Some of these land documents demonstrate that Indigenous residents continued to hold onto lands for as long as they could despite the challenging circumstances. There are still Indigenous residents of Natick today and Indigenous people living elsewhere who have ancestral ties to Natick.
Navigation
Please use the sidebar to the right or the navigation buttons below to go through the exhibit. Click on any of the images to find descriptions and full Dublin Core and citation information. Click on the image again to enlarge and zoom in. Please note: images will NOT open in a new window or tab.