ALTHOUGH Reverend John Eliot's Indian Village is not on land now included in Dover, it was one of the most significant factors that influenced the pattern of settlement and development in our town. Many of the first travel and trail routes through Dover from Boston and from "Meadfielde" were to his Indian Settlement at the banks of the Charles.
His Church for the Praying Indians was formed at South Natick in about 1650, the first in New England. Old records describe the Indian Village:
"They built a town on the banks of the Charles River which consisted of three long streets; two on the Boston side of the river, and one on the other. To each house was attached a piece of ground. Most of the houses were built after the Indian Fashion, although there were several small houses after the English Manner. One large house was erected in the English Style, the lower apartment of which was employed as a school room in the week, and as a place of worship on the Lords Day... There was likewise a large handsome fort, of a circular figure, palisaded with trees ..."
In his 'Memoirs of Eliot" Rev. Martin Moore of Natick wrote the following in 1670:
"It (The Village) hath twenty-nine families, which, computing five persons to a family, amount to one hundred and forty-five persons. In their act of worship, they demean themselves visibly with reverence, attention, modesty and solemnity ... and for my own part, I have no doubt, but am fully satisfied, according to the judgement of charity, that diverse of them do fear God and are true believers; but yet I will not deny there may be some of them hypocrites, that profess religion, and yet are not soundhearted. But things that are secret belong to God; and things that are revealed, unto us and our children. "
Map of Indian Church in palisaded circular fort,
Burial Ground area, Arched Footbridge
and Fishing Wier in Charles
River
[On contemporary map of South Natick]