1Fn 



them when they are lowsie is to bore a 

 hole in the main root with an Augur, and 

 pour in a quantity of Brandie or Rhum, 

 and then stop it up with a pin made of 

 the same Tree." l 



The plantation by the French refugees 

 was commenced in 1686, upon a grant of 

 land which had been made in 1683 by the 

 Massachusetts General Court to certain 

 Scotch people who contemplated settle- 

 ment in this country. This grant, known 

 as the Oxford, was situated in the Nip- 

 muck country and consisted of about 

 2500 acres, which, although generally 

 covered with forest, had upon its plains, 

 open areas, cultivated by the Indians for 

 corn and vegetables. The meadows up- 

 on the streams were considered valuable 

 for the grass they yielded. In fact, this 

 region was decided to be well selected on 

 account of its ability to supply the means 

 of subsistence. As the stipulated time 

 for occupying the land by the Scotch set- 



1 Mass. Hist. Collections \ 3d series, vol. xxiii., 

 p. 337- 



107 



