THE BOXFORD ELM 



Nearly fifty years later, in 1700-01, his 

 three grandsons, Samuel English, Joseph Eng- 

 lish and John Umpee, claimed title to and 

 demanded money for the territory included 

 in Boxford. The town bounds at that time 

 were substantially the same as now. On 

 Jan. 15, 1701, a town meeting was held, 

 at which John and Thomas Perley, John 

 Peabody, Thomas Hazen and Joseph Bridges 

 were chosen a committee to treat with the 

 Indians relative to their demand, and were 

 given full authority to settle the claim. All 

 of these men were influential in the life of 

 the town. The two Perleys and John Pea- 

 body had served as representatives in the 

 General Court, and Hazen and Bridges were 

 at that time serving as selectmen of Boxford. 



The committee met the Indians at Thomas 

 Perley's tavern, which stood on the site later 

 occupied by the so-called Hale residence, now 

 owned by Mr. Harry S. Perkins of Howe's 

 Village, East Boxford, Mass., and conspic- 

 uously marked by a huge elm tree. In ex- 

 change for a new deed of the property in 

 question, the Indians received eight pounds 



