History :
The story of Medfield begins in Dedham, which originally included the territory that is now Medfield as well as several other towns. Dedham was incorporated in 1636 and by 1640 Dedham men started farming and pasturing animals along the broad meadows and continuous plains of our area. The land was perfect for farming because of the Indian custom of burning the fields each November to provide grazing for wild game. Our area was first known as Dedham Village.

In November of 1649, Dedham held a town meeting which approved the laying out of an area for a new town. This was accomplished in the early spring of 1650 and corresponds very nearly with the boundaries of the present town. The thirteen original settlers paid fifty pounds to the inhabitants of Dedham in compensation for the land.

Ralph Wheelock, a graduate of Cambridge University, considered the founder of Medfield, proceeded with Thomas Wright and Robert Hinsdale to the new settlement, which was finally incorporated as the 43rd town in Massachusetts on June 2, 1651. Eighteen new men were accepted as townsmen and grants of land made to them in 1651.