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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01101 1027 E
N
GENEALOGY 974.401 B77HUT v. 1
1500
490 3VS 15 00
Frank Walcott Hutt.
A HISTORY
OF
BRISTOL COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FRANK WALCOTT HUTT
Secretary of the Old Colony Historical Society; member of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
VOLUME I.
LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. NEW YORK and CHICAGO
1924
COPYRIGHT, 1924 LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. NEW YORK AND CHICAGO
FOREWORD
1128653
From Bristol county, one of the older divisions of the Province and State of Massachusetts, offspring of the New Plymouth Colony (the "Old Colony") of the Pilgrims and First Comers, the home of the host of new- comers and citizens of later times, has been heard an opportune call both for a concise review of the original story of this section, and for an orderly narrative of the otherwise unrecorded and accumulating historical transac- tions of a half century past. That this, then, is a needful and a seasonable undertaking is evident not alone because of the fact that carlier and suc- cessive county and town histories, useful as they are, now require a con- centrated and in some instance a revised recital; but of quite as much im- portance because within the past decade, at least, entirely new communi- ties have been created, institutions of a pronounced municipal character have sprung into greatest activity, public utilities of varied and progressive kinds have been launched, and interests ecclesiastic and scholastic have amazingly increased and changed. Pursuant to this demand, the conca- tenation of events that may be designated generally in the county history as pre-Spanish-American War, have been re-narrated in essentials; while the survey of events that have moved with so astounding velocity and volume since that period, and which include the extraordinary occurrences of the World War and the progressive processions of municipalities, has necessarily swept, in published form, quite to the limits of the plan and anticipated compass of such a publication.
It has been sought thus to preserve the constituent qualities of this county story of a former and a present day, though the mass of material of a quarter of a century past assumes at this hour such proportions that these pages even trebled cannot contain it; and as we arrive at the date of publication, a few months, a few weeks from the time the last word was written, history still has been in the making to manifold ampler degree than in the old days, census everywhere has incredibly increased, and new business establishments and still further developments of civic systems have come into vogue. Then, further to make reply to anticipated inquiry, for the reason that the work must confine itself to the most important chapters in a narrative inclusive of nearly three hundred years, this history does not contain a genealogical department-the genealogical province having instituted itself voluminously during the past ten years, at least ; nor has it an officiary department, with regard to roster of officers and men in wartime or civil service, the town and civil histories and reports already possessing all that data and printed record.
It is a sine qua non that the accomplishment of this work has been in agreement with its adjectival synonym, laborious; but the unforeseen and spontaneous generosity of scores of friends as shown in their promptitude and thoroughness as regards the sources and varied means of information concerning the many town, city and county institutions, lightened the greater burden. Without a doubt, such friends and helpers may be num- bered by the thousand, and therefore it is an impossibility here to name
FOREWORD
them and their portion in the making of the book. Men and women promi- nent and most active in all civic, religious and social organizations have shared therein. The mayors of the cities, the clerks of all cities and towns, the librarians of all libraries, the school superintendents, clergy and officials of churches, heads of manufacturing establishments everywhere, bankers and club men and women, the heads of boards of trade and city planning boards, railroad superintendents and newspaper publishers, officials of various State departments, all World War committee men and women, without exception, military men, and secretaries of fraternities-such is only in part an enumeration of those who have assisted in securing the data for the history of our own times.
Again, it is to the librarians, and to the depositaries of the literature of the earlier historical records that acknowledgment is given. Yet, while the gratitude of the present generation of readers is due to the former group of writers, chiefly for the painstaking results of their lifelong research, we are bound to try to clarify and modernize their conclusions, with the further unfolding of the historical scroll, with the increase of institutions, and the coming of new peoples. This work is largely indebted to the basic state- ments of such works as those of Hon. Francis Baylies' "History of New Plymouth", D. Hamilton Hurd's "History of Bristol County", Emery's "History of Taunton", Fenner's and Earl's histories of Fall River, Dag- gett's "History of Attleboro", Tilton's "History of Rehoboth"; and many other histories of the smaller towns and communities; and besides these, numerous sources to which credit is given as the work proceeds.
The New Bedford Department is the work of Zephaniah Pease, New Bedford historian, journalist and author, with acknowledgment of Henry H. Crapo's chapter on banks and banking in that section. The story of the Town of Easton has been written by Edward Russell Hayward, civil engineer, and historian.
For the use of plates and photographs for general illustration, credit is given the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, of New Bedford, the Old Colony Historical Society, of Taunton, the Sun Publishing Company, of Attleboro, William M. Emery, editor Fall River News, the Monroe Press and the Dover Press, both of Fall River.
EDITOR.
4
PREFACE
A number of months ago, when this work was in embryo, there was written in a preliminary announcement that it was undertaken in the con- fident belief that it would "constitute a highly commendable addition to the historical literature of Massachusetts and a work unsurpassed in its field." As it comes from the press, after the labor and anxiety that are the inseparable concomitants of such an undertaking we find no reason to revise this prophecy, and the history is placed before its patrons and the general public with satisfaction and pleasure.
Mr. Hutt has made reference to the great number of the county's citizens, named and unnamed, who lent their willing aid in a task of common benefit. We wish to acknowledge the advisory and contributing cooperation of the following, who early expressed their willingness to further the proposed work-Taunton: L. James Parker, Professor Joshua Eddy Crane, Frank Luscombe Tinkham, Alfred B. Williams, W. R. Mit- chell, Rev. George H. Gilbert; the Attleboros: C. C. Cain, Jr., Miss Lucinda Spofford, Rev. J. D. Mitchell, Charles O. Sweet, James Lavery ; Fall River : George H. Rankin, Leontine Lincoln, Randall N. Durfee, Anson C. Peck- ham ; New Bedford : Zephaniah W. Pease; South Easton: E. B. Hayward.
Nor would the full obligation of the publishers be met without special recognition of the diligence and zeal, the willingness and courtesy, of the author, Mr. Hutt, whose work was performed with the most careful regard for the requirements of the county. Within the company special service was rendered the work by James A. Dailey, in organizing capacity, and by Captain Fenwick Y. Hedley, as office editor, the death of the latter occur- ring while the edition was going forward. There was no phase of the work that was not enthusiastically and ably handled, a circumstance most pleas- ant in a task of such proportions.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS
PART I. GENERAL BRISTOL COUNTY HISTORY
Page
Page
Chapter 1. Introductory 3
Chapter II.
The Indian Story
17
Chapter III. The County in the Wars
24
Chapter IV. Bench and Bar
29
Medicine and Medical Institute
49
Within the County, Public Utili-
ties, Etc.
59
PART II.
HISTORY OF TAUNTON
Chapter I. First Settlement
65
Chapter XI. The
Municipality
o f
Taunton
136
69
Chapter XII. Taunton's School In-
terests
144
73
Chapter XIII. The Taunton Bar
160
Chapter IV. First Military Move-
ments
78
Chapter XIV. Taunton's Doctors
165
Chapter XV. Taunton Banks
171
81
Chapter XVI. Taunton's Public Utili-
ties
178
Chapter VI. Taunton in the Revolu- tion
85
Chapter XVII.
Taunton
Benevolent
Chapter VII. Taunton in the Civil
and Spanish Wars
Chapter VIII. Taunton in the World
War
95
90
Chapter XVIII.
Clubs and Societies 224
Chapter XIX.
Taunton Military-So-
cial Organizations
240
Chapter XX. Taunton Fraternal So-
cieties
248
Chapter XXI. The Industries of
Taunton
269
PART III. HISTORY OF FALL RIVER
Chapter I.
Preparing the Way
305
Chapter II. The Forerunners 309
Chapter III. Fall River in the Revo- lution 313
Chapter IV. Fall River in Civil and Spanish-American Wars 317 Chapter V. Fall River in World War 323
Chapter VI. The Municipality of Fall River 333
Chapter VII. Fall River Public Schools 341 Chapter VIII. The Protestant Churches 354 Chapter IX. The Catholic Church in
Chapter X. Fall River Bar
378
Chapter XI. Fall River Doctors
384
Chapter XII. The Banking Institu-
tions
389
Chapter XIII. Public Utilities
398
Chapter XIV. City Planning Board 423
Chapter XV. The French - Speaking
Population
427
Chapter XVI. Benevolent Institutions 432
Chapter
XVII.
Clubs and Mutual
Improvement Organizations
447
Chapter XVIII. Military and Social 465
Chapter XIX. The Fraternities
473
Fall River
370
Chapter
XX.
Cotton
Manufacturing 484
Chapter II. The Taunton North and
South Purchase
Chapter III.
The First Comers to
Taunton
Chapter V. Educational - Temper-
ance
55
Chapter VI. The Steam
Railroad
Chapter V. Taunton in the Colonial Wars
Institutions
207
Chapter IX. The Protestant Churches
in Taunton
105
Chapter X.
The Catholic Church in
Taunton
124
CONTENTS
PART IV. HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD
Page
Page
Chapter I. Introductory 509
Chapter II. Discovery and Early Hap-
penings
510
Chapter III.
The Brave Industry of
Whaling
513
Chapter IV.
Period from 1778 until
530
1812
Chapter V. Early Landed Proprietors
532
Chapter VI. From 1812 to 1830
535
Chapter VII. Military History
537
Chapter VIII. From 1840 to 1885
552
Chapter IX. From 1890 to 1916-In-
dustrial Development
55S
Chapter X. Banks and Banking
563
Chapter XI. The
Professions-Law
and Medicine
571
Chapter XII. The Postoffice and Cus-
tom House
573
Chapter XIII. The City Government 576
Chapter XIV. Newspapers
577
Chapter XV. New Bedford Churches 579
Chapter XVI. The Public Schools
583
Chapter XVII. Lodges and Fraternal
Societies
585
Chapter XVIII. Famous Men, Visit-
ors and Residents
588
Chapter XIX. Famous Players and
Old Playhouses - Historians and
Artists
592
PART V.
HISTORY OF ATTLEBORO
Chapter I: Attleboro Origins 599
Chapter II. Attleboro's First Pur- chasers and Settlers 604
Chapter III. King Philip and Revolu-
tionary Wars
608
Chapter X. Public Utilities and Ben-
evolent Institutions
644
Chapter IV. Civil
and
Spanish-
American Wars
613
Chapter
XI. Attleboro
Community
Fellowship
659
Chapter V. Attleboro in the World
War 617
Chapter VI. The Municipality of At-
tleboro
624
Chapter XIV. Attleboro Industries ...
684
PART VI.
TOWNS OF BRISTOL COUNTY
Chapter I. Acushnet 699
703
Chapter IX. North Attleboro 764
Chapter II. Berkley
Chapter X. Norton 781
Chapter III. Dartmouth 709 Chapter XI. Raynham 790
Chapter IV. Dighton 714 Chapter XII. Rehoboth 796
Chapter V. Easton 726 Chapter XIII. Seekonk 805
Chapter VI. Fairhaven 740 Chapter XIV. Somerset 809
Chapter VII. Freetown 746 Chapter XV. Swansea 812
Chapter VIII. Mansfield 752
Chapter VII. The Public School In-
terests
629
Chapter VIII. Churches in Attleboro 634
Chapter IX. The Doctors and Law-
yers
641
Chapter XII. Attleboro's Clubs
665
Chapter XIII. Military and Fraternal
Organizations
673
Chapter XVI. Westport 820
BRISTOL COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTS
PART I.
Bristol-1
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY
At the close of three hundred years, the most eventful in the history of our country, we again approach as near as possible to the threshold of their times and motives, and inquire: Who were the founders of Bristol. county, and the cities and towns contained therein? And, witnessing our own day and achievement, we desire to know how the present has fulfilled the expectations of the founders. The past has undeniable fundamental values; the present is working and building upon the foundations that have been laid; both are one in the purpose and progress of their struc- ture. History depends upon their mutual aid. And so the workmen of yesterday and today join forces as the labor proceeds.
As we, from our summits, survey some of the results of the dealings and ventures of the first settlers, it appears to us that they were men and women of the psychological time and the hour, endowed with special ca- pacity for home-building and town-making, equipped both spiritually and physically to begin the colonization of their land of promise. This is no mere sentiment, either, for that which they began has progressed and thriven to this hour.
Historians of earlier works have not made it clear that Bristol county was so named as the result of a promise made by the General Court at Plymouth in 1677 to the inhabitants of the town of Bristol, now in Rhode Island. The promise was, in effect, that when the time came that sixty families should have settled in the town, a new county should then be estab- lished, and that Bristol should be denominated the county seat. It was on September 1, 1681, that the townsfolk named the village for the great English port, Bristol, and four years later, in June, 1685, the county was incorporated, with Bristol as the shire town. Up to that time all this ter- ritory had been a part of the Old Colony, whose General Court headquarters had been established since 1639. Bristol county towns were represented at the court only seven years; for after June, 1692, the General Court of Massachusetts Bay issued all orders to the military and for the civil con- duct of the towns of the Old Colony. Thus were the workmen laying foundations. At the time of King Philip's War, 1675-6, these towns were included in the limits of the county that was to be-Attleboro, Berkley, Easton, Dighton, Dartmouth, Freetown, Raynham, Norton, Rehoboth, Swansea and Taunton-with an aggregate population of 22,571. The other towns of this section were not yet incorporated.
In 1685, then, New Plymouth, or the Old Colony, as it soon began to be called by the sons of Pilgrims, was divided into the three counties of Plymouth, Barnstable and Bristol, the town of Bristol continuing as the county seat up to November, 1746, when Taunton was made the shire town. From that date the town of Bristol went over to Rhode Island,
4
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
and keeping it company were the towns of Barrington, Little Compton and Warren. A petition had been presented to the General Court from several of the towns, asking that Dighton be made the county town in place of Taunton; but it was reported back from the court that "they are of opinion that Taunton will be most benefitiall for the county."
All courts up to the year 1828 were held at Taunton, where to the present time a series of four court houses have been constructed. But in that year, New Bedford, then being the largest town in the county, with a population of 6332, was created a half-shire town, with its own court house. The growth of the county called for further division in 1860, when Pawtucket and a part of Seekonk were set off to Rhode Island, and a part of Tiverton was given from Rhode Island to Fall River. The lat- ter city, with its then population of 46,000, was made a half-shire town, with its court.
Retaining its ancient name, and linking its past with that of the colo- nial era, Bristol county, known for great industry, holds an advanced place in the line of march of the State's success. With an area of six hundred square miles, with Norfolk county on the north, Plymouth county on the east, Rhode Island on the west, and Rhode Island and the Atlantic on the south, the county occupies a southern block of the State, about thirty-five miles from Boston. Within the county limits there are now four cities, namely : Fall River, incorporated April 12, 1854, with a present population of about 128,000; New Bedford, incorporated March 9, 1847, with its present population close to 130,000; Taunton, incorporated May 11, 1864, its population being about 38,000; Attleboro, incorporated June 17. 1914, its present population being about 20,000; and there are fifteen towns namely : Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Free- town, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Westport.
The senatorial districts are three: the First, Bristol, including Attle- boro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Rayn- ham, Rehoboth, Taunton, with a population close to 90,000; Second Bristol District, including Fall River, Somerset and Swansea, with a population of over 130,000; Third Bristol: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, New Bedford, Westport-population about 130,000.
In the First Councillor District are included Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, Swansea, Somerset, West- port. In the Second Councillor District: Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Eas- ton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Taunton. And there are eleven Representative Districts in the county, with nineteen Representatives.
The District Courts include: First Bristol (court held at Taunton) ; Second Bristol (court held at Fall River) ; Third Bristol (court held at New Bedford) ; Fourth Bristol (court held at Attleboro). The polls of the county total close to 100,000, and the property valuation is over $400,- 000,000.
The means of transportation and freightage throughout the county are furnished by the New York, New Haven and Hartford steam rail- road and its branches, the outgrowth of the Old Colony and other rail- roads; the Massachusetts street railway, the outgrowth of the Bay State
5
INTRODUCTORY
street railway, and its branches, and other locally owned railways; the Fall River, the New Bedford, and other steamship companies.
Few rolling-land sections of the State, such as Bristol county is, are more pleasingly situated, both for charming lake and river scenery and for practical utilities. There are a number of rivers that not only water the lands and furnish means of transportation, but provide water power for some of the largest textile mills in the world. The Taunton river, known to the red race as the Tetiquet, or Great river, is a small stream compared with many New England rivers, but it is the most noted among this county group of rivers, rising in Plymouth county, and flowing southwesterly, directly across Bristol county, and emptying into Mount Hope Bay, or Sachem's Bay, as it was called in early times. This river has a remark- able industrial history that began with the Leonard iron-workers and the Lincoln saw-millers, in the middle of the sixteenth century. The head of navigation is at Weir Village, Taunton, though the ocean tide itself flows to East Taunton. Mill river flows directly through Taunton, rising in Scadding's pond to the north of the city, and joining the Taunton river near the location known as the Neck-of-Land.
Three Mile river, which the Indians called the Nistoquahannock, is formed by the Wading and Rumford rivers, and, flowing through West Taunton, it makes the boundary between Taunton and Dighton and be- comes a part of Taunton river. For many miles Ten Mile river consti- tutes the boundary between Seekonk and Rhode Island. Palmer river rises in the town of Rehoboth, and flows into the Warren river at Swan- sea. The Segregansett river rises in Taunton, and flowing southwesterly across Dighton, eventually becomes a part of Taunton river. The West- port river has its east and west branches in Westport, and the Slocum and Aponagansett rivers are in Dartmouth.
Bristol county lakes and ponds share largely in the topographic fea- tures of the region. The Watuppa lakes are in Fall River; Sabbatia lake and Scadding's pond are in Taunton; Winnecunnet pond is at Norton; Wilbur pond is at Easton; and Reservoir pond is in North Attleboro.
We can have no actual comprehension of the manner of living of the first settlers in Bristol county bounds; we are better acquainted with that which is nearer our day, a century or two after the Pilgrims-the story of the simplicity of the pre-Revolutionary times; that is, as compared with the luxury that followed, and of our own day. But it was upon their fru- gality and their laborious life that the foundations of these townships were laid; it is in their artlessness that we of today can find a great deal that is worthy of imitation. Their "board" was actually a board, seldom a table as we know it, and the hands were employed more than any other utensil for the holding and breaking of food. Porridge, fish, meat, some vegetables, constituted the early dishes. Coffee and tea were not to be had. Beer and ale were brewed, and were drank freely, as was the cus- tom in all lands. It is interesting to note that the laws regarding spirituous drink were always sharply restrictive, and that even as early as 1667 cider was added in the restriction; and measures were taken to keep everything of the sort from the Indians, although the law was outwitted then, as now. The point is, that Colonial law in these and all essential matters was in effect.
6
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
Civil Government-Town meeting, wherever we find it, had its New World origin in the Old Colony. From this hither period of time, students of history's eras rejoice in and make much of the rediscovery, too, that the "town" of New England was the cropping up again of a most ancient Saxon institution. But to the forefathers here it was all so natural and primitive a proceeding that they were unaware of any intention on their part to resurrect that old town idea and practice. All they were concern- ing themselves with, in reality, reducing the matter to its simplest terms, was the making of an independent home and an independent living, and the securing of these by mutual plans for government. Whatever the origin of the institution, no one for a moment believes that any of the first-comers to the Bristol county towns went into the business of town- making because the Saxons or the Angles or any of the Aryan nomads before them did so and so. The germ of it all may have been transplanted by the Pilgrims; but the Old Colony and the counties that were divided up from it, had their inception by their different towns only because of the practical needs of home-makers and independent nation-builders.
The first of the town meetings in this part of the country was not inaugurated upon a stated day, nor with celebrations. It was a quiet and at times unannounced gathering of the leading men of the town in one another's houses for deliberative purposes, and looking to the everyday welfare of the community. It was the early mark and sign of the living needs, the essentials, the individual and community rights in the process of civilization. The senior, the patriarch, the man of chief influence, whether in Bristol county or elsewhere, was the acknowledged leader, and in the course of time a man of that calibre became the meeting moderator, or the keeper of records, or the town clerk. Though the first regularly organized town meeting was held at Marshfield (outside these bounds), in 1642, yet it was not until four years later, or in 1646, that the General Court at Plymouth established the office of town clerk. Town meeting exercised from the first an influence upon the governing power and customs of the community that today is deeply felt and recognized. It is at this hour a great event in the town life of Bristol county. No assemblage can be more democratic. None signifies so much directly by and for the people.
The county court house in Taunton makes its appearance in our story as the present-day representative judiciary structure, an imposing and beautiful building, almost in the center of the section. Its cornerstone was laid at noon, June 30, 1892, with Masonic ceremonies, and the building was dedicated March 4, 1895. On both occasions, great crowds assembled to witness the event. The following names were included in the list of those connected with the construction of the building: Francis S. Babbitt, chair- man, Taunton; Franklin Gray, Fall River; William Sanders, New Bedford, these being the county commissioners; Frank Irving Cooper, Bridgewater, architect; J. A. Woodworth, Cambridge, clerk of the work; J. J. Cooper, Bridgewater, supervisor; George A. King, Taunton, civil engineer; Beat- tie & Wilcox, Fall River, contractors; Charles W. Coburn, Dedham, gen- eral superintendent of construction; Edward Russell, Fall River, superin- tendent of stone cutters.
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