[p. 28]
. . .and the land lying on the east side of the river, called Mystick River, from the farm Mr. Cradock's servants had planted called Mystick, which this river led up unto; . . .Were the settlers who planted the farm in 1629 without feet, and were they blind?
He (Gov. Winthrop) called his place. . . The Ten Hills Farm. . . . This favorite selection of the chief magistrate would naturally turn his thoughts to his fast friend Mathew Cradock and lead him to induce Mr. Cradock's men to settle in the neighborhood.As has been shown, Mr. Cradock's men had planted a farm at Medford in 1629, over a year before Governor Winthrop came to New England. The occupation of the land and the planting of a farm is usually considered as a settlement, and therefore Medford was settled in 1629. There were good reasons why Medford was settled at that early date. The title to the land was in dispute. Governor Cradock suggested that the claim of John Oldham (who claimed under Robert Gorges) might be prevented by causing some to take possession of the chief part thereof. There is reason to believe that the farm at Mystick was planted in order to carry out the above suggestion. There is also reason to believe that those whom Governor Dudley speaks of as settlers upon Mystick, ‘which we named Meadford,’ were in the employ of Governor Cradock. The General Court never granted any land in Medford to any one except Governor Cradock, and no other person had any rights in the soil, and this shows that all the settlers of Medford must have been bound to serve Mr. Cradock previous to leaving England. All settlers who were not so bound would naturally settle in places where they could obtain rights in the soil which could not be so obtained in Medford at that time. Quite a number of our early settlers came to New England, bound to persons who advanced the necessary passage money, and were under contract to serve their masters a specified time, to reimburse them for their outlay.
The Governor had the care of Mr. Cradock's men. . . [P. 33.]
