The General Court agreed with the petitioners, however, and created the new town of Needham with the original boundaries requested. Dedham also asked for a delay of one year. Dedham agreed that the services were inadequate and did not oppose the separation, but did try to reduce the amount of land the separatists were seeking. They also said that, if they were simply to be made a precinct instead of a separate town, that they would suffer political reprisals. Their petition cited the inadequate services provided, namely schools and churches. Just 15 months after asking for their own church, 40 men living on the north side of the Charles River suddenly asked the General Court to separate them from Dedham. They also agreed that 'we shall by all means labor to keep off from us all such as are contrary minded, and receive only such unto us as may be probably of one heart with us, as that we either know or may well and truly be informed to walk in a peaceable conversation with all meekness of spirit, for the edification of each other in the knowledge and faith of the Lord Jesus…' The covenant also stipulated that if differences were to arise between townsmen, they would seek arbitration for resolution and each would pay his fair share for the common good. They swore that they would 'in the fear and reverence of our Almighty God, mutually and severally promise amongst ourselves and each to profess and practice one truth according to that most perfect rule, the foundation whereof is ever lasting love.' The boundaries of the town at the time stretched to the Rhode Island border.Īt the first public meeting on August 15, 1636, eighteen men signed the town covenant. When the Town was originally incorporated, the residents wanted to name it 'Contentment.' The Massachusetts General Court overruled them and named the town after Dedham, Essex in England, where some of the original inhabitants were born. It became the county seat of Norfolk County when the county was formed from parts of Suffolk County on March 26, 1793. Settled in 1635 by people from Roxbury and Watertown, Dedham was incorporated in 1636.

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Dedham, Massachusetts.

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