Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater, Part 1

Author: Peirce, Ebenezer Weaver, 1822-1903
Publication date: 1873
Publisher: Boston, Mass., The author
Number of Pages: 98


USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Mattapoisett > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plympton > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Wareham > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanson > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Lakeville > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Pembroke > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rochester > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7


F 72 POP 37


1800


Class_


F 72


Book


PIP37


HISTORIC SKETCHES


OF


632 770


HANSON, LAKEVILLE, MATTAPOISETT, MIDDLEBORO', PEMBROKE, PLYMPTON, ROCHESTER, WAREHAM, AND WEST BRIDGEWATER.


BY EBENEZER WEAVER PEIRCE,


AUTHOR OF


Brief Sketches of Acushnet, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swanzey and Westport, and Genealogies of the Barnaby, Davis, Peirce, Rounsevill, Strange and Valentine Families, Resident Member of Old Colony Historical, the Pilgrim, and New England Historic Genealogical Societies, Corresponding Member of New York Biographical and Wisconsin State Ilistorical Societies.


" Posterity delight in details."-John Quincy Adams.


BOSTON, MASS. PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY DEAN DUDLEY, 31 EXCHANGE STREET. 1873


1


(


/


HISTORIC SKETCHES


632


770


OF


HANSON,


LAKEVILLE,


MATTAPOISETT,


MIDDLEBORO', PEMBROKE, PLYMPTON,


ROCHESTER, WAREHAM, AND


1


WEST BRIDGEWATER.


BY EBENEZER WEAVER PEIRCE,


AUTHOR OF


Brief Sketches of Acushnet, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swanzey and Westport, and Genealogies of the Barnaby, Davis, Peirce, Rounsevill, Strange and Valentine Families, Resident Member of Old Colony Historical, the Pilgrim. and New England Historic Genealogical Societies, Corresponding Member of New York Biographical and Wisconsin State Historical Societies.


" Every particle of historic truth is precious."-Benjamin Church.


BOSTON, MASS. PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY DEAN DUDLEY, 31 EXCHANGE STREET. 1873


F12 PHP37


126538,


HISTORY OF FREETOWN.


The author has in manuscript a carefully pre- pared History of Freetown, with genealogical tables of the families that have resided there at dif- ferent dates from the purchase of the tract (of the Indians in 1659,) until now. This manuscript fur- nishes the material for about five hundred pages (large octavo,) and should sufficient encourage- ment be given will probably ere long be published through the medium of the press. The different subjects treated upon are classified, so as to be easily found and of ready reference, and scarcely any of the matter has ever appeared in print, save about a dozen pages already issued under the title of a " Brief Sketch of Freetown," which of course could convey comparatively few of the facts that go to make up the history of a town that has been set- tled upon and owned by the white people more than two hundred and ten years.


He has for sale a few copies of the book en- titled "The Peirce Family of the Old Colony," a large octavo of five hundred and ten pages, price four dollars ; if sent per mail, the postage added.


HISTORY


OF


TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.


HANSON.


THIS town was detached or set off from Pembroke and in- corporated as a new and distinct town in 1820, or about fifty- three years since. Its incorporated limits had formerly been those of a religious parish in Pembroke, and over which, in the gospel ministry, had been ordained and settled Rev. Gad Hitchcock in 1748. He continued to break the bread of life and dispense the word of God among the people of this (then parish now) town for the long term of fifty-five years, and was succeeded in the ministerial office by Rev. George Bars- tow, who continued in the pastoral relation eighteen years, and . died in 1821, aged 51 years. The next. minister was Rev. Mr. Howland. Rev. Gad Hitchcock was a finely educated man, a collegian, but better than that he possessed what so many ' book worms" are wofully deficient in viz , good prac- tical sense, that called " common sense," although the most uncommon of all sense existing then, or now extant.


To use the language of one writer concerning the Rev. Mr. Hitchcock " He was sociable, friendly, and hospitable ; esteemed as a man of talents, and many in his old age profi- ted by his instructions."


Many stories are still told of Mr. Hitchcock, that serve to give an idea of his social and even fun loving qualities. The parish that subsequently became a town, by some means ac- quired the unpoetic name of Tunk and Mr. Hitchcock being in company with a sailor, of whom he had asked a great many questions concerning what he had seen and suffered, was by the old tar requested to tell him his name, occupa- tion, and place of residence ; when the reverend gentleman replied, " My name is Gad Hitchcock, I am a minister of the gospel, and preach to the people of Tunk ;" to which the sailor


3


2


HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.


answered, " Gad Hitchcock of Tunk ! well, damn me, if I ever before heard such words put together in my life." *


Isaac Peirce,t a soldier in the, Narragansett expedition of King Philip's war, is believed to have resided in that part of Pembroke now Hanson. He removed to that part of Mid- dleborough now Lakeville, where he died Feb. 28, 1732, in the 71st, year of his age. His father Abraham Peirce, the emigrant, owned considerable tracts of land in this town. He died in or about 1673.


A company of uniformed militia existed here for several years. It was commanded by Capt. Ebenezer B. K. Gurney, and belonged to the third regiment of Light Infantry, in sec- ond Brigade, First Division, Mass. Volunteer Militia, Colonel Eliab Ward, of Middleborough, commanding the Regiment. Brigadier General Henry Dunham, of Abington, the Brigade, and Major General Appleton Howe, of Weymouth, the Di- vision. Capt. Gurney was succeeded by Capt. William H. H. Bryant.


* Rev. Gad Hitchcock served as Chaplain of Col. Thomas Doty's Regiment in 1758. Sergeant Seth Tinkham, clerk of Capt. Benjamin Pratt's company in Col. Doty's Regiment, kept a diary of the marching and fighting done by that regiment, and made several allusions to Rev. Mr. Hitchcock as follows: 1758, August 9. " I went with a party to Load Battoes and heard Mr. Hitchcock preach from Psalms." " Sept. 3d I heard Mr. Hitchcock preach in the Dutch meeting House from Hosea, Chapter 13th, 9th verse."


+ Isaac Peirce, the Narragansett Soldier, was ancestor to most the Peirces living in Middleborough and Lakeville. His great grand son Abial Peirce was a captain in the French and Indian War, and Capt. Abial and three brothers or four of one family were captains in the Pa- triot Army in American Revolution.


TOWN OFFICERS, 1873-4.


Town Clerk. - Josephus Byrant.


Selectmen Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor - E. B. K. Gurney, Joseph B. Howland, Joseph Holmes.


Treasurer and Collector. - Josephus Bryant.


School Committee. - John W. Pratt, Mrs. W. I. Holmes, Otis L. Bonney.


Constables. - Elias C. Poole, Charles C. Wiley, Charles Atwood.


Appropriated $1,500 for schools, $1,300 for the poor, $1,200 for roads, $500 for town officers, $100 for abatement, $1000 for debts, $800 for intcrest, $300 for incidentals ; $7,700.


LAKEVILLE.


Unitarian Church .- Meet at Unity Hall, no settled Pastor. Baptist Church .- Rev. J. B. Reed; Pastor.


Congregational Church .- Rev. S. L. Rockwood, Pastor.


Justices of the Peace - with date of appointment. - Nathaniel Cushing, July 3, 1820 ; Thomas Hobart, Aug. 28, 1828 ; Charles Cushing, Feb. 20, 1929 ; Oliver Whitten, Aug. 27, 1829; Isaac B. Barker, Jan. 6, 1830; Joshua Smith, Oct 1, 1833 ; David Prouty, Feb 4, 1842 ; Charles Cushing, Dec. 17, 1842; Thomas Smith, Feb. 9, 1846 ; Isaiah Bearce, Feb. 26, 1851 ; Joseph Smith, May. 20, 1856.


LAKEVILLE.


Those readers of current literature who suppose that all the interesting localities of our time-honored commonwealth, have been described and brought into general notice through the medium of that almost universal


" Pen and press, to which we poor mortals owe All we believe, and almost all we know,"


we beg most respectfully to assure of their mistake, and while so doing, to add that there " yet remaineth" at least one little town unknown to modern fame, and which has escaped almost all notice from historic, fanciful or sensational writers, in fact the whole family of book-makers, newspaper corres- pondents and scribblers, and that little town is no more and no less a place than the romantic locality called Lakeville, in the county of Plymouth, and formerly a part of the time- honored old town of Middleborough, Mass.


Middleborough had been settled upon by the white people, passed both in title and occupancy from the aborigines of the soil, and been incorporated as a township, several years prior to the commencement of that greatest and most bloody of New England conflicts, King Philip's War, which by just one century ante-dated the American Revolution, or war for Independence, and that part of ancient Middleborough now Lakeville, was the abode of white men even then.


Lakeville, therefore, as a part of christendom or boasted civilization can claim a history of more than two hundred years, and as part or parts of that history are embraced many important incidents and facts in the details of the sev- eral wars in which the country has been engaged.


Going back in the record to the dim and far distant past, and recalling to mind those scenes which preceded and events


4


HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.


that ushered in that conflict between races, "King Philip's war," when and where " The hopes of the Red man perished," and we find that momentous event the killing of the educated and " Praying Indian" Sausaman occurred upon the soil of Middleborough, and there are good reasons for believing that it was on that part now embraced within the incorporated limits of Lakeville.


Sausaman, leaving the haunts, homes and associations of his brethren the red, men his kindred, according to the flesh, sought companionship with the whites, early settlers of Ply- month, and Massachusetts colonies, accepted their religious faith, and gave his attention to books, received instruction in the white man's school or college, in short became civilized and one of a band of christianized heathen, then denominated and known as " Praying Indians."


Returning to the Indians he became a kind of personal or private secretary to the chieftain Metacom or King Philip, son of good old Massasoit.


Some difficulty perhaps caused him again to leave the Indi- ans, and seek a home among the white people, whose ears he filled and whose fears he was successful in awakening by mis. chievious tattling and tale bearing of the plots and plans King Philip was laying and concocting to bring about a war of extermination upon the English, and ridding the country of their presence, cutting off and destroying " root and branch."


This conduct of Sausaman, coming as it did to the ears of King Philip, caused him to seek his destruction, and the in- dians under orders from their chief, soon found an opportu- nity of capturing Sausaman, and slaying him.


Fearing the result, should a knowledge of the fact come to the white people, the indians found means to hide the body of Sausaman under the ice of " Assawamset Pond," a very considerable part of which is in Lakeville.


Some English settlers standing upon a bank of the pond witnessed the act of putting the body of Sausaman under the ice, and gave information to the authorities of Plymouth Col- ony, who visited the spot and recovered the body, which upon examination appeared to have suffered violence and gave con- vincing proof that death had not resulted from drowning.


Several indians were apprehended and charged with the crime of murdering Sausaman, tried by a Jury consisting in part of white men and part indians, and some of those thus charged and tried, were by the Jury found guilty, and by the government of Plymouth Colony, sentenced to suffer death, and executed.


This act of hanging the indians, served effectually to hasten


5


LAKEVILLE.


on the terrible war that soon followed, and one of the battles of which was fought upon the soil of Lakeville.


Tipsaquin led the indians, and Capt. Benjamin Church the white people in that battle that was fought upon the southerly bank of " Assawamset Pond" near a small stream connecting its waters with those of " Long Pond," so called.


A bridge now spans the little stream where that battle was fought, and over which runs the road through that part of the town known as " Assawamset Neck" and thence by the old stage route to New Bedford.


It was within that portion of ancient Middleborough now Lakeville, that a reservation of land to the indians was made and occupied and improved by the small remnant of a once powerful tribe for many years.


Amalgamating as the indians did with negroes, the occupants of these reserved lands finally became more African than Na- tive American, and in 1850 or about 23 years ago, report said that only one indian remained, who early the next year lost his life, being drowned in " Assawamset Pond."


The indian reserve is now occupied by negroes, but still retains its name, that by which it has been known for about two hundred years, viz : " Betty's Neck "


Thomas Nelson, ancestor of the large and respectable family of that name, purchased lands in Middleborough, now Lake- ville, and that part called " Assawamset Neck." This pur- chase he made in 1714, or about one hundred and sixty years since, and his lands then purchased were bounded on two sides by territory then owned by the indians and reaching en- tirely across " Assawamset Neck," from the " Assawamset Pond" at one end, to " Long Pond" on the other.


He, with his family, removed to and settled on his purchase in 1717, and these were the first or earliest English settlers upon Assawamset Neck.


Hope Higgins was the maiden name of Mr. Thomas Nel- son's wife. She attained to a great age, one hundred and five years and seven months. Eight years before her death she enumerated as her lineal descendants two hundred and fifty- seven persons ; and these at her death had increased to about three hundred and thirty-seven. She was interred in the ancient cemetery on the southerly side of Assawamset Pond, and a slate stone bearing an inscription marks her grave. At the date of Mr. Nelson's removal to Assawamset Neck his family consisted of the following named children, born at the dates hereafter mentioned :


Hannah, born April 10, 1699. She married Jabez Wood, Jan. 20, 1719, or two years after coming to reside at Assaw-


6


HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.


amset Neck. Hope, born Dec. 23, 1700. John, born Ang. 1, 1702 married Abiah Leonard. Oct. 13, 1726, and he died June 6, 1732. Lois, born Aug. 19, 1704, married Jedediah Thomas March 12, 1724. Ruth, born Feb. 25, 1706, mar- ried Henry Thomas Nov. 30, 1726. Elizabeth, born June 3, 1708. Thomas, born April 12, 1710, married Judith Peirce of Middleborough, Dec. 2, 1736. He died March 7, 1768. His wife Judith died Jan. 22, 1792. Sarah, born Aug. 17, 1712. William, born May 20, 1714 married Elizabeth Howland Oct. 2, 1740. Foxell, born June 22, 1716. These ten children were born to Thomas Nelson by Hope his wife, before going to reside upon Assawamset Neck now a part of Lakeville, and two children were born there, viz., Amos, born Dec. 31, 1718, and Ebenezer, born Dec. 22, 1721, or just one hundred and one years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth.


Mr. Thomas Nelson was one of the earliest, if not indeed the first of those inhabitants of ancient Middleborough who embraced the tenets and doctrines taught by the Calvinistic Baptists. He had been a member of the worshiping congre- gation and perhaps of the church under the pastoral care and teaching of Rev. Thomas Palmer, second minister of the first Congregational Church in Middleborough, whose habits were such that he was finally deposed from the ministerial office.


Mr. Thomas Nelson discovered such evils in Rev. Mr. Palmer as gave a turn to his mind about religious principles, the final result of which was to cause him to become a Bap- tist, and ere long to join the first Baptist church in Swanzey, which was the first of that denomination in Massachusetts.


A Baptist church was formed in that part of Middlebor- ough now Lakeville, in 1757, and Rev. Ebenezer Hinds, of Bridgewater, soon after removed thither, and in 1758 was or- daincd as its pastor. He was succeeded in the ministry by Rev. Simeon Coomb's.


The first meeting house of this Calvinistic Church was re- moved from the adjoining town of Freetown, that part called New or East Freetown, once Tiverton.


This edifice was accidentally destroyed by fire that also communicated with and burned the parsonage house that stood near.


Another house of worship was erected, but never entirely finished, and becoming somewhat dilapidated, was demolished about thirty years ago.


Their third and last house was commenced in or about 1843, but like the second, was never entirely finished. It was taken down about two years since.


7


LAKEVILLE.


Jabez Wood and wife, Hannah Nelson, were the parents of Rev. Jabez Wood, pastor of the Baptist church in Swanzey.


William Nelson and wife, Elizabeth Howland, were the pa- rents of three Calvinistic' Baptist ministers, namely : Rev. William Nelson of Norton, Rev. Samuel Nelson of Raynham, and Rev. Ebenezer Nelson of South Reading, and grand- parents of Rev. Ebenezer Nelson Jr., of Lynn.


Thomas Nelson Jr., son of Thomas Nelson and wife, Hope Higgins, was born, as already stated, April 12, 1710, and he became a very useful man in his day, and was of great ser- vice to those of his generation, in proof of which it is only necessary to cite the fact that he was elected and served as a Selectman of Middleborough, for the term of twelve years, and for as long a time Moderator of the annual town meet- ing, and for fourteen years represented that town in the gen- eral court at Boston.


Under King George Second, he received the commission of Lieutenant in the fourth company of the local militia of Middleborongh, which commission was in 1762 renewed to him under King George Third, Joseph Leonard being at the same time commissioned Captain of the company, and Isaac Peirce, Ensign. This company belonged to the 1st regiment Plymouth County militia.


Lieut. Thomas Nelson Jr., and wife, Judith Peirce, were the parents of John Nelson born Oct. 25, 1737, and who figured quite conspicuously as a patriot in the war of the Revolution.


John Nelson was commissioned a Lieut. of fourth company in Middleborough in or about 1773, promoted to Junior or Second Major of fourth regiment Plymouth county militia, May 9th, 1776 ; Colonel, July first, 1781. He was also for many years one of the Justices of the Peace for that County, and a Selectman of the town of Middleborough. As a Major he served both in Rhode Island and at New Bedford (then Dartmouth) in the war of the Revolution ; Ebenezer Sprout, of Middleborough being his Colonel ; Ebenezer White, of Rochester, Lieut. Colonel; and Israel Fearing, of Wareham, Senior or First Major.


His wife was Hope, a daughter of Capt. John Rounsevill of East Freetown. Col. John Nelson and Hope Rounsevill were married Nov. 5th, 1760. He died Sept. 11, 1803. She died Dec. 28, 1820, aged 85 years.


Lieut. Thomas Nelson and wife, Judith Peirce, were the grand parents of Hon. Job. Nelson a graduate of Brown University at Providence, R. I., and who studied law and lo-


8


HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOETH COUNTY.


cated for practice, at Castine, Me. and in 1804 received the ap pointment of Judge of Probate for the county of Hancock, that he continued to hold until 1836, a period of about 32 years. Judge Nelson died July second, 1850. Judge Nelson was a brother of Rev. Stephen S. Nelson, a Calvinistic Baptist min- ister at Attleborough.


The late Job Peirce Nelson, Esq., was also a lineal de- sendant of Thomas Nelson and wife, Hope Higgins, through their son Lieut. Thomas Nelson and wife, Judith Peirce, grand- son Thomas Nelson and wife, Anna Smitli, and great grand- son Deacon Abial Nelson and wife, Sally Peirce.


Job Peirce Nelson was born in Middleborough, now Lake- ville, Oct. 17, 1806, joined in marriage with Fatima Baker of Upton, Mass. Oct. 9, 1834, and died Dec. 3, 1862. He was mainly instrumental in effecting the division of the town of Middleborough, and setting off a part as a new and distinct town, the voters of the part thus set off, by a handsome ma- jority in open town meeting, deciding should be incorporated under the name of Nelson, in token of their respect for the sub- ject of this notice, but which his modesty led him to oppose and discourage, when the name of Lakeville that it now bears was substituted for that of Nelson. He was a justice of Peace for Plymouth County, was born, lived and died on the farm purchased by his great great grand father, Thomas Nelson in 1714, and a part of which had descended to him as a birth- right through the successive generations that had owned, oc- cupied and improved, (but never sold) it, for a term of one hundred and forty-eight years, and that still remains as the home of his children.


The Congregational Church in Lakeville was formed in or about 1724, and Rev. Benjamin Ruggles ordained Pastor. He here continued in the work of the gospel ministry about thirty years and was succeeded by Reverend Caleb Turner who was ordained in 1761. Rev. Mr. Crafts succeeded Mr. Turner and then the pulpit was for several years filled by Rev. John Shaw. This church and society have had three meeting houses. The third and last house is that now occu- pied, and was built about 37 years since.


A religious association called " United Brethren," was formed in that part of Middleborough now Lakeville, about eighty years ago. This association was subsequently organ- ized as a church, and known as the Fourth Baptist Church in Middleborough.


Their place of worship was the " Pond Meeting House" so called that stood on the southerly bank of Assawamset Pond, and erected in or about 1796. Destroyed by fire in 1870.


9


LAKEVILLE.


The Christian denomination erected a church edifice on " Mullain Hill" so called, about thirty years since, that is still occupied as a place of worship by the Christian church and society of Lakeville.


The " Free Will Baptists" have a meeting house in which they never meet. It stands in that part of the town called " Beach woods," and though comparatively a new house is in a very dilapidated condition.


Isaac Peirce, a soldier in the Narragansett expedition of King Philip's war, died in that part of Middleborough now Lakeville, Feb. 28, 1732, in his 71st, year. He must have have been born in or about 1661. Was a son of Abraham Peirce, the emigrant, who arrived at Plymouth in 1623, and died in Duxbury in or about 1673.


Isaac Peirce Jr., a Quaker, settled in town in or about 1709 and died here Jan. 17, 1757. He, with Benj. Booth, pur- chased a large tract of land lying in Taunton and Lakeville, (then Middleborough) January 23, 1709, being the date of the deed.


The wife of Isaac Peirce Jr., was Judith, a daughter of John Booth of Scituate, Mass. She was born March 13, 1680, and died May 4, 1733.


Abial Peirce, (a grand son of Isaac Peirce Jr., and great grand son of Isaac Peirce the veteran soldier of King Philip's war), was born in that part of Middleborough now Lakeville, Sept. 10, 1733. As a private soldier he served in the ex- pedition to Acadia for the removal of the neutral French or Acadians in Sept. 1755, and re-enlisted into the army July 15, 1756, served in a company commanded by Capt, Samuel N. Nelson. Continuing in the service, he was made a Cor- poral, and on the fourth of May 1759, a Lieut. and as a com- missioned officer, he took part in the battle at Quebec, Sept. 13, 1759, being an eye witness to the fall and death of Gen. Wolfe. The next year Lieut. Abial Peirce was made a captain in the army of the frontier, and performed a tour of duty in the field, his company being a part of Col. Willard's Regt. Capt. Abial Peirce in the capacity of a private soldier, a cor- poral, lieut. and capt. was imperiling his life in the battle field during most of the time intervening between the summer of 1755, and the treaty of peace concluded and signed at Paris. Feb. 10, 1763.


Twelve years later, the veteran captain of the " French and Indian war " promptly responded to the "first call " of his op- pressed and bleeding country, leading one of the five com- 2


RUSSELL RICHARDSON- ST.


OLD FARM HOUSE OF CAPT. JOB PEIRCE, TAKEN DOWN IN 1870.


11


LAKEVILLE.


panies of Middleborough, which took the field on the 19th of April 1775, amid the stirring scenes of Lexington and Con- cord. On the rolls at the State House, Capt. Abial Peirce's company is called the second company in Middleborough.


As a large part of that company resided within the present limits of Lakeville, the names of its several members properly should be made to constitute, as it really is, a part of the rev- olutionary history of that town, and hence we here present a copy of the roll of Captain Abial Peirce's company of Minute Men, as the same appears in the archives of the Secretary of State, at Boston.


Abial Peirce, Captain ; Joseph Macomber, First Lieut. ; Benjamin Darling, Second Lieut. ; Josiah Smith, Richard Peirce, Elias Miller jr., and Job Macomber, Sergeants ; Bach- ellor Bennett, Jedediah Lyon, Samuel Eddy, and John Bly, Corporals ; Caleb Simmons, Drummer ; and Nathaniel Fos- ter, Fifer.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.