[97]

COUNTIES, CITIES, AND TOWNS OF
MASSACHUSETTS.

The tables that follow under this heading were prepared in their present form by ROBERT T. SWAN, Esq., Commissioner of Public Records. They have been revised, corrected and extended, since 1907, by HENRY E. WOODS, Esq., Commissioner of Public Records.

"Towns... became in effect municipal or quasi corporations, without any formal act of incorporation." (122 Mass. p. 349.)

August 23, 1775. "Every incorporated district shall henceforth be, and shall be holden, taken, and intended to be, a town to all intents and purposes whatsoever.'" (Prov. Laws, Vol. V., p. 420.)

March 23, 1786. "The inhabitants of every town within this government are hereby declaired to be a body politic and corporate." (Acts 1785, chap. 75.)

Nov. 4, 1835. "All places now incorporated as districts, except the district of Marshpee, in the county of Barnstable, shall have all the powers and privileges, and be subject to all the duties to which towns are entitled by the provisions of this chapter." (R. S. chap. 15, sec. 9.)

The asterisk (*) following a date signifies that it is Old Style.

Many of the doings of the court are given in different volumes of the early records under different dates, usually, however, in the same year. The earliest date is given in these tables. The dates that appear in the columns headed "First mentioned in the records of the State," etc., are those under which the several names as there given first appear in the records of the Colonies, Province, or State, although settlements under the same or different names might have been earlier made.

Names of cities are printed in SMALL CAPITALS; of extinct cities, towns, and districts, in italics,

COUNTIES, CITIES, AND TOWNS OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BARNSTABLE COUNTY. INCORPORATED JUNE 2, 1685.

From what Established or Incorporated, Change of Boundary, Incorporation as a City, Extension, etc., according to Records of the State.

Common land. June 17,* 1641 bounds between Barnstable and
Yarmouth established. Mar. 2, 1652 bounds between Barnsta-
ble and Sandwich to be established. Mar. 11,* 1658 Barnstable
and Yarmouth agreed upon bounds. June 3, 1662 additional
lands granted to Barnstable. June 10,* 1662 bounds between
Barnstable and Sandwich to be established. Oct. 29,* 1672
bounds between Barnstable and Sandwich established. Jan.
22, 1795 bounds between Barnstable and the District of Mash-
pee established. Mar. 28, 1894 bounds between Barnstable and
Mashpee established. April 24, 1916 bounds between Barn-
stable and Mashpee established and part of Sandwich an-
nexed.

Part of Sandwich. April 14, 1897 bounds between Bourne and
Wareham established.

Part of Harwich. June 21, 1811 part of Harwich annexed. April 25, 1848 part annexed to Harwich. Feb. 20, 1861 bounds between Brewster and Orleans established.

[See page 97.]

CITIES AND TOWNS.

Mashpee, District of,

Mashpee,

Nawsett,

BARNSTABLE COUNTY- Continued.

First mentioned
in Records of

the State, or
therein recorded
as Established
or Incorporated.
June 14, 1763

May 28, 1870

1643

From what Established or Incorporated, Change of Boundary, Incorporation as a City, Extension, etc., according to Records of the State.

Common land called Mashpee. Act of June 14, 1763 revived, to
be in force until July 1, 1770. Nov. 15, 1770 the act again re-
vived, to be in force until the end of the session of the General
Court next after Nov. 1, 1775. Feb. 9, 1776 the act to continue
in force until the end of the session next after Nov. 1, 1779.
Nov. 25, 1779 the act again continued until Nov. 1, 1785. June
13, 1788 the above act repealed and three "Guardians to the
Proprietors" appointed, the act now passed to be in force for
ten years. Jan. 22, 1795 bounds between the district of Mashpee
and Barnstable established. Mar. 7, 1797 the act of June 13,
1788 made perpetual until repealed by the legislature. Feb. 26,
1811 part of the "plantation of Marshpee" [sic] annexed to
Sandwich.

District of Marshpee. Mar. 19, 1872 part of Sandwich re-annexed.
June 18, 1885 bounds between Mashpee and Falmouth estab
lished. May 27, 1887 bounds between Mashpee and Sandwich
established and part of Sandwich annexed. Mar. 28, 1894
bounds between Mashpee and Barnstable established. April
20, 1905 bounds between Mashpee and Sandwich established
and part of Sandwich annexed. April 24, 1916 bounds between
Mashpee and Barnstable established.

Common land. Mar. 3, 1645 certain common lands "Lying be-
tween sea and sea ""
granted to those who go to dwell at "Nos-
sett." June 2, 1646 established as a township. June 7,* 1651
name changed to Eastham.

[See page 97.]