Also referred to as Wollomonopoag
The majority of the following information is quoted or paraphrased from
Wrentham, 1673-1973: a History by Jordan D. Fiore, with some additions from http://www.wrentham.ma.us/boards-committees/historical-commission/brief-history and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrentham,_Massachusetts
https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsofwr00wren
Wrentham's history begins with the name Wollomonopoag, meaning "place of shells," given by the Indian tribes living there. The name is a reference to Lakes Pearl and Archer being a food source, and thus, a place to live. Archaeologists believe that there have been over 8000 years of Indian habitation in this area. The White Man era begins, however, on Sept. 3, 1635 and Sept. 8, 1636 when Dedham was established and defined, and Wollomonopoag was included within the limits of the Town of Dedham.
1647, Dedham settlers John Dwight and Francis Chickering discussed the possibility of finding mines in Wollomonopoag. “They explored the land and reported seeing two beautiful ponds, present-day Lake Archer and Lake Pearl, and paid particular attention to the open fields nearby. Two years later, as grass became scarce in Dedham, several men canoed up the Charles to harvest grass there. By 1660 there was interest expressed in starting a permanent settlement in that area, and the Dedham selectmen sent Lieutenant Fiske, Sergeant Fuller, Richard Wheeler and Ensign Fisher to further explore the area and report back to the Council. Their evaluation stated, “To us it seems that it might be helpful to conduce to public and particular good that the place might be planted with meet inhabitants in due time.” There followed some months of discussion. In Jan. 1661, a committee was named to consider the settlement of Wollomonopoag. In March the town meeting authorized purchase of the land from the Indians, and voted to set aside 600 acres to encourage a plantation at Wollomonopoag.
But things proceeded slowly. The Fisher genealogy says, "Samuel Fisher, along with Anthony Fisher Jr. was the first to go to Wollomonopoag (Wrentham) in 1661, and to claim part of the 600 acres for the encouragement of the plantation, Anthony being one of the committee of Dedham Proprietors who were assembled Jan. 12, 1662, to look into the matter. They reported "they have secured but ten men, and they cannot go with so small a company - thát they are not desirious to leave the world altogether, ' as they put it, but will go if they can ' proceed in a safe way.' " (Fisher Genealogy by Phillip Fisher p. 18.)
It wasn't until 1662 that this land was actually purchased from Metacom/Philip Sachem (King Philip) of the Pokunoket-Wampanoag tribe, who agreed to give title to the land for L24 10s. The purchasers, all from Dedham, were a group of investors known as The Proprietors of Wollomonopoag who were assessed “each according to the value of his cow-commons,” to raise the money. Later, when some Indians living in Wrentham claimed that they had not been consulted in the sale, arrangements were made to provide them with land within the town limits to compensate for land taken. Then in 1669, Phillip claimed a tract of land which the colonists honestly believed was part of their territory. Phillip asked to meet with the leaders of Dedham “to treat about a tract of land of four or five miles square, which I hereby promise and engage that you shall have the refusal of.” In his letter, Phillip also asked for a Holland shirt to wear at a meeting of the General Court in Plymouth. The people of Dedham undoubtedly gave him the shirt, resulting in the legend, often repeated, that the land was purchased for a shirt. Vain as Phillip may have been about sartorial matters, he was too shrewd in business to bargain away his land so cheaply. On Nov. 8, 1669, at Wollomonopoag and agreement was reached to pay Philip and additional L17 8d in money for this land, and assessments were levied on the cow-commons to 79 persons to raise the money.
The proprietors divided 600 acres out of the center of this roughly 36 square mile area for a settlement. The layout was for a group of home sites clustered around an area of open fields near to the 2 natural lakes and the river draining them, a perfect mill site. This land was among the best Southern New England had to offer, well drained with a gravel base, ideal for building and farming, and surrounded by meadows, high rocky hills and forests.
The minutes of a meeting held on March 23, 1663, indicate that some of the prospective settlers had already visited the area and made some improvements. These men were permitted to select their lots first, and then the other proprietors were allowed to draw thirty-four lots. The men who had “subdued and improved” the land were Anthony Fisher Jr., Sgt. Richard Ellis, Robert Ware, James Thorpe, Isaac Bullard, Samuel Fisher, Samuel Parker, Josh Kent, and Job Farrington.
The selection of lots did not engender a great rush on the part of the inhabitants of Dedham to settle in Wollomonopoag, but they did come in, slowly at first, but in increasing numbers. Land was cleared, homes were built, and the most important order of business was the selection of a minister, and establishment of a church where “the ordinances of the Lord Jesus may be there dispensed and duly attended, that his blessing may be upon us and presence with us, remembering that he have promised that where his name is recorded there he will come and there he will bless his people.
[The minister selected was Samuel Mann, who had been the schoolteacher in Dedham.]
The Town of Wrentham was incorporated in the fall of 1673 and named after Wrentham, England, (Wrentham’s Hamlet), where John Thurston and some of the other settlers originated. But new settlement continued to be slow. Two years later there were still only 16 families settled in Wrentham. They needed a miller, a blacksmith, and roads; and how could so few families hope to maintain a newly married minister?
The town was abandoned in 1676, with most families returning to the protection of Dedham, due to the war with King Philip. Legend has it that all but 2 houses were burned, luckily with no loss of life. When King Phillip’s War ended, most of these families returned within 4 years and rebuilt. Samuel Mann had spent the war years preaching in Milton, and the people of Wrentham hoped they could induce him to come back. Many indicated that their return was predicated upon his. The people of Milton were negotiating for his appointment there, but, as the Rev. Joseph Green tells us, “so great was his affection for the people of Wrentham and so desirous was he of that plantation’s going on, that he complied with their request.” He struck a good bargain. He stipulated that a good number of families must settle in Wrentham, a house should be built for him, a house-lot and the cow commons should be “absolutely his.” He should have 50 loads of wood, help for his garden, and an assurance that his salary should be paid regularly and promptly.” Which had been a problem before.
As settlers returned and more came, the Town expanded slowly, and by 1700 the West Wrentham, Franklin and Plainville areas were settled and grew rapidly.
The 18th Century was the time of growth for Wrentham. The school system was first established in 1701, with a one-room schoolhouse on Bank St. serving 54 families. By 1719 there were 4 schools in different parts of Town, and, by 1737, 11 school districts serving over 200 families. The Western part of Town grew so rapidly that in 1737 a separate parish was established which became the town of Franklin in 1778. Likewise in that same year the Town of Foxboro was set off, being land that was once Dorchester, having been set off to Wrentham in 1753. From 1719 on these few Dorchester families worshipped, were educated, and lived as Wrentham people because they were so far detached from their own town Center.
The town of Franklin was formed from the western part of the town of Wrentham, and it was officially incorporated on March 2, 1778; its designated name at incorporation was to be Exeter.[5] However, the town's citizens chose to be called Franklin in honor of the statesman Benjamin Franklin, the first municipality in the U.S. to be so named.
It was hoped that Benjamin Franklin would donate a bell for a church steeple in the town, but he donated 116 books instead,[6] beginning a debate over who should be allowed access to these books. On November 20, 1790, it was decided that the volumes would be lent to the residents of Franklin for free and America’s first free public library was established.
Franklin is the birthplace of America's father of public education, Horace Mann, who was a descendant of Samuel Mann and Esther Ware Mann.
Dea. Samuel Fisher (abt 1634-1704) and Melatiah “Milcha” Snow (1638-1710)
Joseph Hills (1758-1787) and Esther Ellis (1758-1818)
Joseph and Esther were second cousins.)
Dea. Eliezer Metcalf (1653-1704) and Meletiah Fisher (1667-1719)
Elder Michael Metcalf (1687-1754) and Abial Colburn (1694-1775) lived on Summer St. near King St.
Wrentham Village Green - Corner of South St and East St. - where the stone step is preserved from Samuel Mann’s church.
Original Congregational Church, 1 East St., Wrentham.
This congregation descends from that organized by Samuel Mann.
Wrentham Center Cemetery Dedham St, Northeast of the Original Congregational Church
Graves of Samuel and Esther Mann in Section F
Find Margaret Fisher Hill’s gravestone.
Find graves of Samuel Fisher, Meletiah Snow Fisher.
Many other Johnson ancestors are also buried here.
West Wrentham Cemetery West Street and Williams St.
Isaac Fisher’s grave
The site of Capt. Joseph Hills (1730-1815) house at 801 Summer Street. GPS 42.059257 by 71.384222.
Capt. Joseph was the younger brother of Jabez Hills Jr, and therefore, the uncle of Julia’s father, who was named for him. We believe that Julia’s father may have grown up here after the death of his mother.
Uncas Pond where Jabez Hills Sr. (1727-1768) and Martha Metcalf Hills built their house. Their property was on the south side of the pond, probably close to the end of Uncas Brook Row; but it can be seen across the pond from the back of the Franklin Rod and Gun Club at . (Please confirm permission to visit at
Elder Michael Metcalf (1687-1754) and Abial Colburn’s property on Summer St. near King St.
Union St. Cemetery.
Joseph Ellis born in Medway, died in Franklin (1807), only son of Joseph Ellis and Elizabeth Partridge (of Medfield and Medway); Married Melatiah Metcalf (born in Wrentham, died in Franklin (1784) Buried Union St. Cemetery. (Parents of Esther Ellis.)
Franklin Historical Museum - 80 W Central St, Franklin, MA 02038 (508) 446-1138
www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/pages/library-history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin,_Massachusetts
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownoff79blak - A history of the town of Franklin, Mass.; from its settlement to the completion of its first century, 2d March, 1878; with genealogical notices of its earliest families, sketches of its professional men, and a report of the centennial celebration by Blake Mortimer