Drake's History states that ‘Meadford in 1630 was formerly a part of Charlestown, that honored ancestor of all towns of the Mystic Valley. In 1754 Medford was sell of as a separate township from Charlestown.’
The title of the white man to the home of the Indians rested usually in a royal grant by turf and twig, and in the name of the English king, seldom consulting the aboriginal owner.
The territory round and about here had this royal authority, and more:—
First, in the grant of James I to the Plymouth Council of all lands between 40° and 48° north latitude and from sea to sea.
Second, by grant of the Plymouth Council, March 19, 1628, to the Massachusetts Bay Company.
Third, by royal charter of King Charles, March 14, to the Massachusetts Bay Company which confirmed the grant of 1628.
Fourth, a title not every colony could claim, a deed from an Indian sovereign.
Among the instructions from the Parent Company, written from England to Mr. John Endecott, is the following:—
‘If any of the savages pretend the right of inheritance to all or any of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you to endeavor to purchase their title, that we may avoid the least scruple of invasion.’
Under these instructions several deeds were received from the Indians, the one covering Medford lands being from Squa Sachem, who on the death of her husband, Sagamore John, became the chief of her tribe.
The deed reads in part as follows: ‘Wee Web-Cowit and Squa Sachem do sell unto the inhabitants of Charlestown all lands granted by the Court,’ closing with
