USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Brief history of the town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts; prepared in connection with the celebration of old home week, July 26-31, 1903 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01115 2276
A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN
MASSACHUSETTS
PREPARED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CELEBRATION OF
OLD HOME WEEK
JULY 26-31, 1903
.BY ...
JAMES L. GILLINGHAM
CYRUS D. HUNT
LEWIS S. JUDD, JR.
GEORGE H. TRIPP
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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Hinturiral Sketchy-
1774669
Hairhaben Massachusetts
Old Tinme Werk 1903
W
TOWN HALL - DEDICATED FEBRUARY 22, 1894
£
1:
F 844259 .23
Fairhaven old home week association Fairhaven, Muss. A brief history of the town of Fairhaven, Massachu- setts, prepared in connection with the celebration of old home week, July 26 31, 1903, by James L. Gillingham, Cyrus D. Hunt, Lewis S. Judd, jr., George H. Tripp. New Bedford, Mass, Standard print, 190;
100 p. front., plites. 23cm.
"Prepared by the Committee on town history of the Fairhaven old home CHELY CARD week association."-Pref.
1. Fairhaven, Mass. - Ilist. 1. Gillingham, James L. II. Hunt, Cy- rus D. I. Judd, Lewis S, jr. Iv. Tripp, George II.
A 911
Library of Congress F74.FIF3 7-41342
PREFACE
T HIS book has been prepared by the Committee on Town History of the Fairhaven Old Home Week Association in obedience to instructions from the Executive Committee of the Association.
The recital of the story of its origin, progress, natural beauties, accessible locations, municipal improvements, and edu- cational opportunities is made in the earnest hope that it will invite the capitalist, the arti-an, the tradesman, the person of leisure, and the man of family to become a resident.
If this brief sketch of a notable past and a live and active present shall create a closer acquaintanceship between its sons and daughters, who have gone forth and made their homes else- where, and those who remain in the old town it will have served a worthy end.
The committee express their obligations to all who have assisted with information for the preparation of these pages, and especially to C. D. Waldron, Edward G. Spooner, Herbert D. Burke, Helen B. Copeland, Joseph G. Tirrell, and Henry W. Taber for the loan of negatives, photographs, and guts for the illustration of this book.
A911
Bousibodo £
FAIRHAVEN OLD HOME WEEK ASSOCIATION Organized March 24, 1903
PRESIDENT HENRY H. ROGERS VICE PRESIDENTS
JAMES L .. GILLINGHAM JOHN H. HOWLAND
GEORGE H. TRIPP RUFUS A. SOULE THOMAS A. TRIPP GEORGE HOWLAND COX HERBERT JENNEY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENTS, CORRESPONDING SECRE- TARY, RECORDING SECRETARY, TREASURER, AND ASSISTANT TREASURER, of oficio
LEWIS T. SHURTLEFF EDWARD G. SPOONER
CYRUS D. HUNT
NATHANIEL POPE
DANIEL W. DEANE
JAMES EDE
ELBRIDGE G. PAULE
LYMAN C. BAULDRY
HENRY D. WALDRON
ALBERT G. BRALEY
MRS. FRANK H. CHURCH MRS. ELBRIDGE G. MORTON
MRS. DAVID T. HATHAWAY
MRS. FRANK A. BLOSSOM
MRS. GEORGE W. STEVENS
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY JOB C. TRIPP
RECORDING SECRETARY MRS. HORACE K. NYE TREASURER WALTER P. WINSOR
ASSISTANT TREASURER GEORGE B. LUTHER
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FRA NIAW IMOH CIO
LAHAMOUT
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COMMITTEES
Invitation, Reception and Hospitality - Levi M. Snow, Chairman; Drew B. Hall, Mrs. Frank A. Blossom, Frank M. Marsh.
Transportation -John 1. Bryant, Chairman ; L. B. F. Raycroft. James Ede. Elbridge G. Panlt, Albert G. Braley.
Music, Speakers, and Programmes-Job C. Tripp, Chairman ; Thomas .A. Tripp. Henry D. Waldron, Alton B. Panll.
Decoration - Herman 11. Hathaway, Chairman: Nathaniel Pope, Joseph K. Nye, Harry E. Dodge.
Location of Meeting -John 1. Howland, Chairman; Edward G. Spooner, Mrs. George W. Stevens.
History of Town - James L .. Gillingham, Chairman: Lewis S. Judd, George II. Tripp, Cyrus D. Hunt.
Finance - Walter P. Winsor. Chairman: George B. Luther. Mrs. Horace K. Nve.
Banquet - Lewis F. Shortleff, Chairman ; Daniel W. Deque, Lyman (. Baudry, Mrs. David T. Hathaway. Mrs. Elbridge (. Morton, Jr.
Antiquarian-Mrs. Edmond Anthony. Jr., Chairman: Miss Lydia M. Church, Miss M. Annie Tripp. Miss Maria F. Tripp, Mrs. John 1. Clarke. Mrs. George W. Stevens.
Children -Frank M. March, Chairman: Miss Sara B. Clarke, Miss M. Louise Norris. Mrs. Frank Il. Church.
OBJECT OF ASSOCIATION
By-Laws, Article 1. " The object of this Association is to promote the welfare of the town by increasing the interest in the town among former
MEMBERSHIP
By-Laws, Article III. "All people now living in town, or former resi- dents thereof, are members of this Association without further action."
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FORT PHOENIX, INTERIOR, IN 1903
BATH HOUSES
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION BATH HOUSES, NEAR FORT
CONTENTS
PREFACE Page 3 ORGANIZATION OF OLD HOME WEEK ASSOCIATION Page 5
CHAPTER I
EARLY HISTORY Page 9
By J. L. GILLINGHAM
CHAPTER II
CIVIC HISTORY
Page 19
By J. L. GILLINGHAM
CHAPTER III
RELIGIOUS HISTORY
Page 37 By LEWIS S. JUDD
CHAPTER IV
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL HISTORY Page 53 By CYRUS D. HUNT
CHAPTER V
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY
Page 87
By GEORGE H. TRIPP
THE COVE, AND CROOKED CREEK
CHAPTER I
EARLY HISTORY
BY J. L. GILLINGHAM
D' URING the reign of Queen Elizabeth in May, 1602, when Bartholomew Gosnold and his voyagers entered among the circle of islands which protected the bay from the tempest- nons ocean they had crossed, and sailing upon the smooth waters he called "Gosnold's Hope" entered the month of the Acushnet (quiet water) river between the low headlands of Clark's Neck and Scontient Neck, they beheld a scene of natural beauty, of bright waters, meadow and running brook, grove and forest which merited the name, given to it a century and a half later, of Fairhaven.
Sailing northward, along the eastern shore, were to be seen the slopes of the Neck extending into the bay, across the rocks of Angelico, where later grew the Indian corn cultivated by the white man, and the bluff at the point was crowned with a grove of cedar, surrounding the never failing spring of water in the basin on the rock, which spring still remains; near by was the steep bhiff, whose surface in after years became a fabled spot of hiding of the treasure of Captain Kidd, while at its northern base the sparkling waters of Winsagansett creek joined the Acushnet ; on the north shore of the cove the sandy beach was broken where Wesquamquesset (crooked) creek allowed the tide coursing into Herring river, to return into the bay ; westward along the line of marsh, sandy beach, and around the rocky point
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of Nolscot the inner harbor opened to view. Here the upland słoped gradually to the east with meadows and groves of oak, cedar and pine. Near half the way from Nolscot point to the marshes a little creek entered the river. From this creek, the land rose steadily until the rocky eminence, of the Meeting House Hill of later days, was reached. From the marshes on the river front the ascent of this hill was steep. Along the line of the shore at the foot of the hill the marshes extended north- ward, to and around the outlet of the stream, in colonial days called Herring river; and still northward to the Point were marshes beyond which lay a succession of uplands and lowlands. From the waters of the Isle of Marsh rose the rocky cliff, com- panion of the rock of Nolscot. Around the Isle of Marsh the river crept northward until lost in the forest. This land the Indians called Scontient.
The reception of the visitors by the natives was friendly and hospitable, as one of the voyagers wrote of their visit that Gosnold was met by smen, women and children, who with all courteous kindness entertained him, giving him skins of wild beasts, tobacco, turtles, hemp, artificial strings coloured, and such like things as they had about them."
The report of this visit must have become widely known, and the Pilgrims at Plymouth knew well of the fertile meadows, the wooded shores, the quiet waters abounding in fish, and the land-locked harbor with deep channel.
At the December session of the general court in 1639 some of the "old comers" among the Pilgrims made known their selec- tion of plantations for themselves. Among the selections made was one, designated as "the second place," which included the locality called by the Indians . Sconticut," and then occupied by them under their chief Wesamequen, known to the Pilgrims as Massasoit.
On November 29, 1652, Wesamequen, and his son Wamsutta, at New Plymouth executed a deed of "all the tract or tracts of
BEACON - NEAR THE FORT
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land lying three miles eastward from a river called Cushenagg, to a certain harbor called Acoaksett, to a flat rock on the west- ward side of the said harbor" * *
* "with all the rivers, creeks, meadows, necks and islands that lie in or before the same, and from the sea upward to go so high that the English may not be annoyed by the hunting of the Indians, in any sort of their cattle. And I, Wesamequen and Wamsntta do promise to remove all the Indians within a year from the date hereof that do live in said tract."
This deed was signed by John Cooke and John Winslow, and Wamsntta made his mark to the same.
The conveyance was made to Governor William Bradford and others who were designated as "the purchasers or old- comers." It was later divided into thirty-four shares.
The land conveyed included the territory now known as Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet and Fairhaven.
In the year 1650, John Russell settled in Dartmouth at Russell Mills. In 1664 he purchased the thirty-fourth share owned by Capt. Miles Standish in the lands, bought of Massasoit. John Cooke, the boy who came over in the Mayflower in 1620, who signed the deed of purchase and was the owner of one thirty-fourth part, settled on the east side of the Aenshnet river, at Oxford.
On June 8, 1664, Dartmouth, then known as Ponagansett, Westport, known as Coaksett and New Bedford, Acushnet and Fairhaven, known as Acushena, were incorporated as the town of Dartmouth. By the act of June 3, 1668, the bounds of this township were established.
The first representative from the town of Dartmouth to the General Conrt at Plymouth was John Russell, of Dartmouth ; ' and the first representative to this General Court, living in that part of Dartmouth now known as Fairhaven, was John Cooke. Russell and Cooke were the only representatives from Dart- mouth for more than twenty years.
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The township of Dartmouth suffered great loss of life and destruction of property during King Philip's war, and in 1675 was destroyed.
As a place of refuge and defence the settlers of the township had constructed three garrisons or wooden forts. Russell's gar- rison was on the north side of the Apponagansett river; one garrison was on Palmer's island in the Acushnet river: and Cooke's garrison was at Oxford village on the north side of Coggeshall street.
The settlers had also built block houses to which they might retreat in different parts of the township. Henry Sampson was one of the original proprietors of the grant from the Indians and at one time owned all of the land situated south of the location of the tracks of the Old Colony Railroad, extending southerly to the sea, and easterly from the river to crooked creek. By the shore of this tract, and near the location of the Beacon for many years were the remains of an old fort that had done service in the Indian wars. One of these block honses was built in 1653 on Scontient Neck near the Mattapoisett Road, and near the log house of Thomas Pope, and not far distant from his grist mill. It was while seeking to reach Cooke's garrison from the settle- ment on Scontient Neck in 1675 that a man and woman by the name of Pope were murdered by the Indians near the frog pond, at the present location of the south side of Spring street, west of Walnut street. At this time the house of John Cooke, situated a little to the south of the present Oxford schoolhouse, was de- stroyed. John Cooke died in 1695, and his grave at Oxford has lately been marked by a boulder, taken from the bed of the Acushnet and now bearing upon its polished face a bronze tablet.
For many years after the death of King Philip in 1676 the settlers had peace.
On November 13, 1694, William Bradford, the deputy governor, conveyed by deed the lands acquired by Governor
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William Bradford from Massasoit. Many of the proprietors of the land acquired by this deed settled within the limits of the present town of Fairhaven.
The colonists for many years did little more than clear away the forest, cultivate the soil, and build their homes and their vessels from the timber they cut upon their land. They were farmer-sailors, equally at home npon land or water.
Thomas Taber, one of the purchasers from William Brad- ford, also received by deed from his father-in-law, John Cooke, Nov. 8, 1682, one sixth part of one share of the land bought from Massasoit, and became one of the largest land owners with- in the present town linnts. His house having been burned by the Indians in 1675 he built a stone house, located to the west of the road afterward known as Adams street. The massive chimney of this house was standing until a short time ago. In 1700 Philip Taber, son of Thomas Taber, sold to William Wood the tract of land from North street to Spring street, and from Adams street to the river, including within its bounds his home- stad.
January 6, 1725, a way, four rod- wide, was laid out from the bridge at the head of the river, past the "Meeting house green," at the Parting Ways, to the Rochester line.
Up to this time only forest paths connected the settlements, at Sconticut Neck, Naskatucket and Rochester, with the one at and around the Head of the River. February 25, 1728, a road was laid out from the southwest corner of Susannah Hathaway's orchard, now known as Dahl's corner, the dividing line between Aenshnet and Fairhaven, and passing sonth past the wolf's hole at the side of the road now to the south of Woodside cemetery, and the shop of Thomas Nye, which formerly stood at the angle 'of the road north of the residence of Edward A. Dana, to the brook near the residence of Zeruiah Wood, north of the present Huttleston avenue.
It was near the east line of this road, a little south of the
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present Oxford schoolhouse, and near the well by the road that the house of John Cooke was once located, and npon the site of which another house was built and afterwards known as the Bartholomew West house.
March 30, 1730, a road was laid out from near the residence of Capt. Lemuel Pope down Sconticut Neck, for a distance of nearly a mile and a half. This road connected with the Head of the River road, which passing the orchard of Susannah Hathaway connected with the Rochester road at the Parting Ways. The date of the layout of the Head of the River road is not definitely known but was probably between the years of 1725 and 1728.
March 7, 1736, a road was laid out from the residence of Capt. Lemuel Pope westward to the driftway that led from Isaac Pope's to Henry Sampson's farm and homestead. This road followed nearly the present course of Spring street, east of Roteh street to Washington street, and the driftway followed a southwesterly course to near Green street on Centre street, then west and south, along the present Green street, across the present location of the railroad; and through this farm woods roads led to the shores on the west and south. This Henry Sampson, the descendent of the Pilgrim "old-comer" of the same name, was improvident and having mortgaged his farm in sec- tions finally sold it entire to John Macy in discharge of his debt June 23, 1744. March 26, 1745, a road was laid out from near Benjamin Blossom's at Naskatucket, and passing north and north- westerly connected with the Rochester road on the north of the Friends' meeting house, and near to the Parting Ways. A part of this road has been discontinued and a part is now known as the New Boston Road, which is connected with the north part of the old layout by a new layout.
Such was the settlement and development of this part of the township of Dartmouth when Oct. 20, 1760, Elmathan Pope con- veyed to Noah Allen twenty acres of land from the railroad on the south to the north line of the bluff about half the distance be-
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GARRISON LANE
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tween Spring and Washington streets, and from the river east to a line one half the distance between William and Main streets. Upon this tract the older part of the village was laid ont, and it was called "Fairhaven."
On Dec. 12, 1760, William Wood deeded to Elnathan Eldridge a tract of six acres of land at the Point, and it was called Oxford. The try works and off sheds at the southeast corner of the Oxford purchase were reserved from this conveyance. This deed conveyed all the land west of the east line of Cherry street and south of North street. At the southwest corner of the twenty acre purchase were also located try kettles. The members of both settlements were engaged in the whale fishery. Communi- cation between the upper and lower villages was had by the driftway up Centre street to the way leading past Elnathan Pope's dwelling house, near the present southeast corner of Rotch and Spring streets, and eastward to the Head of the River road, and by the road leading to Zeruiah Wood's, and by Bread and Cheese lane (North street ) to the Point at Oxford.
At the beginning of the revolutionary war the settlers turned their attention to privateering with evident success. A success which brought disaster to the township on both sides of the Acushnet river in 1778. May 30, 1765, Joseph Roth had bought from Elnathan Pope, the eighty-six acres of land lying between the twenty-acre purchase of Noah Allen on the west, Summer street on the east, Spring street on the north and the railroad location on the south. The deed contained the fol- lowing : "Always excepting ye driftway that goes through the same from my house to Caleb Churche's, and ye open way that goes from ye Driftway to ye Town lot ; also a Driftway from where ye old worchouse formerly stood to one of ye ways in .ye Town lot." No development of the tract had been made prior to 1790, when the proprietors of the twenty-acre purchase laid out Main, Middle, Centre, Union, Water and Washington streets within their tract.
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In the carly part of 1775, the erection of a fort was begun at Nolscot point by the company of Continentals under command of Capt. Benjamin Dillingham, and it was two years in building. In 1778 the fort had eleven iron cannon, mounted, a well sup- plied magazine, and a garrison of thirty two men under com- mand of Capt. Timothy Ingraham.
This fort, until after the attack of the British in 1778 was without a name. Seeking to destroy the shipping in the harbor, two frigates of the British fleet under command of Major-General Gray, sailed into the harbor on Saturday, September 5, 1778, and landed troops on the New Bedford shore, at Clarks Cove. These troops, destroying the fort which had two camon, mounted on Clarks Neck, and burning and sacking the village of Bedford as they passed north by the County road to the Head of the River, continued down on the Fairhaven side, burning and destroying property as they went, and came to the site of the John Cooke house where then stood the house of Bartholomew West. Refusing to assist the feeble old man from his bed to a place of safety they set fire to the house, having first pillaged it of all valuables and taking with them the now famous West Bible. It seems an unmerited reward for her heroism that the faithful servant, Hannah Sogg, who carried Mr. West from the burning building should herself thirty-four years later be one of the poor whom the town of Fairhaven should receive in charge from the town of New Bedford.
After destroying the store and the schoolhouse and the house of Zeruiah Wood the troops passed down to Scontient Neck, and the last house they visited was that of John West, whose son-in-law, Achus Sisson, was a strong tory, but at that time had fled to the British provinces. The house was spared, although the farm was phundered, and more than a century afterwards the house still stood ; only the chimney now remains. On Sunday evening, September 6, 1778, the troops landed
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CHIMNEY OF JOHN WEST HOUSE, SCONTICUT NECK 'HOUSE SPARED BY BRITISH IN RAID OF 1778)
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on the Fairhaven shore north of the fort, and began to destroy the village They were met by several hundred minutemen under command of Maj. Israel Fearing, and put to flight. As they retreated they visited the fort, which had been abandoned by the militia on the landing of the British, and burned the barracks, spiked and overturned the cannon from their carriages and broke off their trunnions, and completely dismantled the fort. The fort was speedily rebuilt, as on May 19, 1780, "the dark day," the fort had been restored and was then garrisoned with one hundred Continentals. For the bravery of their commander the fort was called Fort Fearing. How long this name remained is not known as in the deed from Jethro Allen to William Russell, March 2, 1784, in the description is included the state- ment "of the point called Nolscot on which Fort Phoenix now stands". The closing of the war soon brought prosperity to all the villages on the Aenshnet.
February 23, 1787, the town of New Bedford was set off from Dartmouth, and included the present towns of Aenshmet and Fairhaven and the city of New Bedford. In 1795 the villages of Fairhaven and Oxford were connected by a bridge across Herring river and the layout of Main street north to North street. In 1796 the old toll bridge between New Bedford and Fairhaven, crossing Fish island and Popes island was built. After its construction Fairhaven village gained more rapidly than Oxford. This bridge was partially destroyed in 1807 and was then rebuilt in a more substantial manner.
In April, 1798, was formed the association which built the Fairhaven Academy building on Main street, and In which the most important school in the town was conducted until 1836.
Political differences between the citizens of New Bedford . and Fairhaven had reached such a condition that the strong sup- porters of Thomas Jefferson on the Fairhaven side sought separ- ation ; which, though strongly opposed in the General Court,
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resulted in the incorporation of the town of Fairhaven February 22, 1812, and included the town of Aenshnet.
This victory of the "Corsicans," as the tory element in New Bedford derisively called the citizens of Fairhaven, was duly celebrated by the first authentic celebration of Fourth of July. The day was celebrated at the Head of the River, by the reading of the Declaration of Independence, singing of an ode composed by Lieut. Henry Whitman, U. S. Navy, an oration by James L. Hodges, Esq., of Taunton, delivered at the meeting house, and followed by a dinner at Amos Pratt's tavern, near the Head of the River bridge.
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FORT PHOENIX IN 1865
1
FORT PHOENIX, EXTERIOR, IN 1903
FORT PHOENIX, INTERIOR, IN 1903
CHAPTER II
CIVIC HISTORY
BY J. L. GILLINGHAM
T' HIE early years of the new town of Fairhaven were filled with events which checked rapid development.
June 18, 1812, Congress had declared war against Great Britain. Soon the news arrived that on August 6, 1812, the brig . Wasp," of Fairhaven, on a voyage to Liverpool, had been captured by the British cutter " Earl Spencer," taken as a prize to Cork, and the crew sent as prisoners to Plymouth, England. This was war. Fairhaven prepared to act its part. The first act was to raise troops. In September, 1812, a company of regular militia was formed, with John Alden, Jr., as Captain, and a company of volunteers was also formed, with Joseph Bates, Sr., as Captain.
A mud fort, mounting six guns, was built on Love Rocks, the ledge lately to the south of Fort street, with the barracks to the west near the cedar grove. It was garrisoned by the Sea Fencibles," with William Gordon as Captain. On the rock of Meeting House Hill, now blown away that Centre street may connect Main and William streets, were mounted two cannon. Under the old Congregational Church, now Phonix Hall, the south entrance was used as a magazine. The United States garrison at Fort Phoenix was active in putting everything in order to defend the harbor, as this fort was the tower of strength to which the citizens on both sides of the river looked. Along
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Clarks Cove and around the shores of Clarks Point were sta- tioned the volunteer company from the Head of the River, commanded by Captain Reuben Swift. Recruiting offices were opened at Pratt's tavern at the Head of the River, at the garri- son at the fort, and on Water street in the village. In 1814 the fear of invasion had grown so strong that at a town meeting held August 2, 1814, the sum of $1, 200 was voted to be raised, "for the payment of additional wages allowed the drafted and enlisted militia of said town, and other expenditures of defence." Nathaniel Stetson, a citizen of the town, resisted the imposition of a tax of $14.31 against his property for such a purpose, and as the collector sold the chaise and harness of the delinquent taxpayer, he appealed to the Courts for redress and obtained it by having the Court in July, 1816, declare that under the laws as they then existed, "To give additional wages, in order to encourage such as may be drafted, may evince the sense of danger, and the patriotism of a town ; but it does not fall within any duty imposed by law, and it is not certain that it could produce any valuable end." and that the levy made was illegal. As a result of this decision regarding the tax levy of the year 1814, at the annual town meeting held April 7, 1817, it was voted "to refund the whole of the county and town taxes for the year 1814 to each individual that has paid the same, together with all legal expenses that has occurred in collecting the same," and "that the collector is to discontinue collecting the county and town tax for the year 1814." On September 28, 1814, the local militia had been increased by the addition of 500 soldiers from the towns in the north part of the county, who were sta- tioned along the coast line. These preparations to resist the enemy were effectual and Fairhaven did not suffer from invasion, but from the loss of its shipping, captured as prizes, and the blockading of its port prevented the carrying on of its commerce and fisheries.
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