From Temple, History of Framingham, 1640-1880. Framingham, 1887 (adapted, Oct. 1958)
“My father says we’re going to be made a real town.” Henry Rice was watching the water pour over the falls of the Sudbury River where the wheel of the grist mill was busily turning.
Peter Bent tossed a small branch into the water and the two boys watched it sweep over the edge of the falls in the rushing current. It was the year 1693. “Yes,” he said, “I heard my father talking about it, too. He says a letter has been written to the governor. The court is meeting in Boston now and they hope the letter will be read.”
The two boys had been given the special treat of going with the men to John Stone’s mill while a new supply of flour was ground. Inside the mill, the men were talking about the same thing while the miller poured sacks of grain into the opening between the heavy grinding stones.
“We’ll never become a town this time,” said Mr. Bent. “Why not?” asked the miller.
“I hear Mr. Danforth does not approve of the plan. You know how important he is. If he says he doesn’t like it, the court will not give us permission to be a town this time. We’ll have to try again.” Mr. Bent spoke as if he would not give up.
Sure enough, the Governor, Sir William Phips, and the General Court did not approve the plan. But as Mr. Bent suggested, they did try again. In fact, in the next few years these people kept many men and horses busy delivering letters back and forth from Boston to the people who wanted to become a town.
In the year 1700, Peter Bent and Henry Rice met again at the grist mill. Now instead of coming with their fathers they were grown up and could bring the family grain by themselves.
“Well done!” said Peter.
“We finally convinced the governor!” exclaimed Henry.
They were talking about the letter that had won the farms at Framingham the right to be an incorporated town.
“I think the part about our not having a church of their own made them decide,” Peter said.
“It has been very hard to attend church in other communities. Sometimes when the weather is bad we cannot go at all, it is so far,” Henry added.
“We need a Meetinghouse badly and now we will be able to collect money and build one. Being a town gives us the right to do this.” The miller joined the two young men and added his thoughts on becoming a town.
“Being an incorporated town will give us the right to do many other things,” reminded Peter. “We will be able to get together and make rules that everyone will have to follow. We can have a school for our children, too.”
The two men, Peter Bent and Henry Rice, picked up their sacks of flour, said goodbye to the miller and set off for their homes. They were all very pleased that the court had finally ordered the farms or Plantation of Framingham to be a Township and enjoy all the privileges of a town. That very summer they had their first town meeting and began to take care of the business of a real town.