At the age of 19, Dorcas experienced the “blackbird crisis.” Blackbirds suddenly became numerous and destructive, so the town rewarded 6 cents for each head delivered. As the number of settlers increased, so too did unwanted animals multiply, e.g., besides blackbirds, squirrels and woodchucks. This blackbird-killing business became so important that one reason Henry Smith was elected into the Board of Selectmen was for “killing 15 dozen black burds.”

In 1671, a law was passed prohibiting the selling or leasing of lands or houses in Medfield to anyone who was not an inhabitant. It also ruled out the hiring of servants from other towns for more than two months without permission from the Selectmen. The violator would be fined 20 shillings, which was a small fortune, equivalent to a thousand dollars of the modern day.

Moving to the newly-founded town of Medfield at the age of four, Dorcas Morse witnessed the birth and subsequent evolution of the town. Some very interesting things happened during her life, some to which she may have reacted strongly. This time period was probably the most important in Medfield history, and Dorcas was certainly very lucky to experience it. One of the original pioneers, she can be considered a symbol of the spirit––particularly the spirit of the woman––of Medfield.

       

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