USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of shipbuilding on North river, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with genealogies of the shipbuilders, and accounts of the industries upon its tributaries, 1640 to 1872 > Part 1
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NORTH RIVER BRIDGE.
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HISTORY OF SHIPBUILDING
ON
NORTH RIVER,
PLYMOUTH COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE SHIPBUILDERS,
AND ACCOUNTS OF THE INDUSTRIES UPON ITS TRIBUTARIES.
1640 TO 1872.
BY
L. VERNON BRIGGS
MEMBER OF THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.
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BOSTON:
COBURN BROTHERS, PRINTERS, 114 WASHINGTON STREET. 1 889. H ..
COPYRIGHT BY L. VERNON BRIGGS, 1889.
NEWYORK PUBL DOORARY 4323 Øster, Len x and Tilden F. ndations. 1896
DEDICATED WITH AFFECTIONATE RESPECT TO MY FRIEND
Dr. Henry J. Bowditch, SON OF
Nathaniel Boloditch, T. V. D.,
TRANSLATOR OF LAPLACE'S MÉCANIQUE CÉLESTE, AND AUTHOR OF BOWDITCH'S PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR,
Of late assumed by the United States Government as the guide for eberg American scaman and many others of the English-speaking race while sailing over the globe.
PREFACE.
Several years ago the author began collecting valuable facts relative to the shipbuilding interests that had existed in his own family, thinking it well to put into some tangible form facts that in a few years would be otherwise unobtainable. While thus working for a possible future history or genealogy of his family he discovered much of value and interest to the public in general, and the descendants of all North River shipbuilders in particular. Eighteen months ago he conceived the idea of writing a history of the shipbuilding on North River, making it as complete as possible at this late day. Most of the work has been done out of business hours, and much of this time has been taken in his other duties as President of Ward XVI. Associated Charities of Boston, Director of the New England Hospital for Women and Children, and President of the Hanover Academy Alumni. In compiling this history he has been ably assisted by many sincere friends, and has employed expert clerks among the old Probate and Custom House records of many cities and towns. Acknowledgments of deep gratitude are due to numerous individuals who have assisted him by furnishing copies of records, old account books, bills and receipts, family records, diaries, etc. Were he to name all those to whom he is thus indebted he would include the descendants of many of the families whose ancestors, and in some cases they themselves, were versed in the art of shipbuilding, also the names of sea captains, librarians, merchants, selectmen, probate officers, etc., not leaving out the Hon. Henry B. Pierce, Secretary of State, who has a most systematic arrangement of the old records, manuscripts and maps in his keeping at the State House, nor Mr. John Tower, Editor of the North River " Pioneer," who has ably written many of the autobiographies. The author dare not flatter himself that the work is free from errors, but as a whole it is be- lieved to be worthy of confidence, and where he has been unable to verify traditions and hearsay information bearing on this sub- ject, by records or manuscript in some form, he has not stated such information as facts. Neither time, labor nor expense has
vi
PREFACE.
been spared to make the volume a valuable collection of facts. The name of North River is familiar to the older generations of seafaring men and especially to the older residents of Nantucket, New Bedford, Sag Harbor, Barnstable, Provincetown, Boston and the South Shore. Great Britain was a market for a large num- ber of North River built vessels before the Revolution. Prior to ISoo North River was known the world over ; vessels were not designated as having been built in Scituate, Marshfield, Hanover or Pembroke, but "on North River." The author has unearthed the records of over one thousand and twenty-five vessels built here, and the United States Flag was carried around the world, and among other places, to the following countries for the first time at the mast heads of North River built vessels : Great Brit- ain, Canada, the Northwest coast, to the Black Sea and China. The largest number of vessels built on the River in a single year that the author has found the records of was thirty in 1801, and the year 1818 shows the next largest number, twenty-four. During the five years, from 1799 to 1804 inclusive, there were built here one hundred and fifteen vessels, an average of twenty-three each year. During the ten years, from 1794 to 1804 inclusive, there were one hundred and seventy-eight vessels built here, or an average of 17 each year. The largest number of vessels found bearing the same name were Betseys and Sallys, fourteen each ; twelve Marys, eleven Pollys, and ten Neptunes. Times look a little brighter for the shipbuilders in general now ; nine or more vessels are on the stocks at Bath, Me. Currier has just launched a I200-ton four-masted schooner at Newburyport ; a similar ves- sel has recently been launched at New Haven, Conn., and six or more vessels are building at East Boston. North River may yet see another vessel, and perhaps many more built upon her banks. Several of the old shipbuilders affirm that in build- ing small vessels there are no obstacles but what could easily be overcome. if the men had the courage. The copied manuscript of this volume has been deposited with the New England His- toric Genealogical Society, Boston.
HANOVER, November 1, 1889.
L. V. B.
CONTENTS.
For alphabetical list of names and vessels see end of volume.
CHAPTER I.
Sources of North River and their tributaries .- History of the industries located PAGE. thereon.
1-27
CHAPTER II.
NORTH RIVER (continued) .- Its bridges and ferries, and the industries that have been located on its lower tributaries ; also, vessels built upon its banks in early times at yards unknown. 28-51
CHAPTER III.
NORTH RIVER PILOTS .- Capt. Anthony Collamore, Wantons, Samuel Doggett, John Doggett, Mark Hatch, Capt. Bardin Sylvester, Benjamin Hatch, Benjamin Damon, James Eldredge, Frederick Handerson, Job Young, Benjamin House, Jr., Jacob Ames, James Ames, Alvin Hall, Samuel Hall, Benjamin Keene, Asa Sherman, Asa Sherman, Jr., Tobias Oak- man, Capt. David Church, Timothy Williamson, Uncle Tom Tripp, Capt. Luther Rogers, Calvin Lewis, Jerry Gunderway, Capt. Charles L. Tilden. 52-63
CHAPTER IV.
NORTH RIVER BRIDGE YARDS. 1668-1836 .- Daniel Turner, James Barstow, William Barstow, William Barstow, Jr., Benjamin Barstow, Gideon Barstow, Nathaniel or " Builder Silvester," Nathaniel Silvester, Jr., Jonathan Sam- son, Barker Turner, Jeduthan Palmer, Enoch Magoun. 61-76
CHAPTER V.
MISCELLANEOUS YARDS IN PEMBROKE. 1793-1803 .- Nathaniel Cushing, Col. George Turner, Thomas Turner, Robert Magoun, Job Randall, Jr., Ephraim Randall, and Aaron Sherman. 77-83
CHAPTER VI.
SMITH YARD. 1792-1819. (Afterward Eells' & Barstow's Yard.)-Col. John Bailey, Dea. Isaac Perry, Josiah Smith, Albert Smith, Thomas Smith, Miller Smith, Benjamin Bass, Jr., William Delano, Bezal Eells, Edward Eells, Samuel Eells. 84-96
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
BARSTOW'S "TWO OAKS," AND LOWER YARDS. 1760-1846 .- Thomas Barstow, Capt. Robert Lentbal Eells, Nathal Barstow, Thomas Barstow, Jr., Col. John B. Barstow, Dea. Elijah Barstow, Abner Stetson, Michael Ford, Jr., Israel H. Sherman, Col. John Bailey, Capt. Elijah Barstow, Jr., Barker Turner, Joseph S. Bates.
97-120
CHAPTER VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS YARDS IN HANOVER. 1736-1844 .- John Clark, Nath'l Clark, Belcher Clark, Solomon Bates, Col. Seth Bates, David Kingman, Sam'l Rogers, Elijah Haywood, Joshua Turner, Dea. Isaac Perry, Wm. Coushing & Co., Calvin Turner, Ichabod Thomas, Benj. Stockbridge, Martin Stoek- bridge, Isaiah Wing. 121-130
CHAPTER IX.
Fox HILL YARD. 1690-1869 .- Nathaniel Church, John Palmer, Michael Ford, William Copeland, Elias W. Pratt, Elisha Tolman, Mr. Merritt, Capt. Thomas Waterman, Joseph S. Bates, Capt. Elisha Barstow, Thomas B. Waterman. 131-146
CHAPTER X.
BRICK-KILN YARD. 1730-1807 .- Capt. Benjamin Turner, Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Sr., Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Jr., Calvin Turner. 147-175
CHAPTER XI.
BRICK-KILN YARD, (Continued). 1796-1848 .- William Lewis, Alden Briggs, Elisha Briggs, Jonathan Samson, Samuel Rogers, Isaac Hatch, Luther Briggs, Aaron S. Magoun, Jr., Enoch Magoun, Joshua Magoun, Jeduthan Palmer, Baiker Turner, Caleb Turner, Cushing O. Briggs, Silvanus Smith, Melzar S. Turner. 176-201
CHAPTER XII.
ROGERS' YARDS. 1790-1819 .- Gravelly Beach, Doggett's Ferry .- Israel Rogers, Amos Rogers, Joseph Rogers, Asa Rogers, Asa Rogers, Jr., Samuel Rogers, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Rogers, Jr., Nathaniel Rogers, Jr., Peleg Rogers, Peleg Rogers, Jr., Luther Rogers. 202-213
CHAPTER XIII.
WANTON YARD. 1670-1840 .- Edward Wanton, Robert Barker, Ebenezer Stet- son, Snow Stutson, Benjamin Delano, William Delano, Samnel Ilartt, William H. Delano, Benjamin F. Delano, Joseph Clapp, Elisha Foster, Elisha Foster, Jr., Seth Foster, Samuel Foster, Walter Foster, Samuel Rogers, Elijah Brooks, J. Turner Foster, Cummings Litchfield, James S. Burrill. 214-242
CHAPTER XIV.
CHITTENDEN YARD. 1690-1871 .- Job Randall, Edward Prouty, Isaac Pronty, Isaac Chittenden, Nathaniel Chittenden, Obadiah Merritt, Noah Merritt, Samuel Silvester, George Torrey, James Torrey, Isaac Torrey, George Torrey, Jr., David Torrey, Joseph Nash, Elisha Barker, Laban Souther, Joseph Pratt, Charles Cole, Walter Foster, Elijah Cudworth, Laban Cudworth, Joseph Cudworth, John Cudworth, Henry Merritt, Joseph Merritt. 243-259
CHAPTER XV.
BLOCK-HOUSE YARD. 1701-1834-48 .- William James, William James, Jr.,
ix
CONTENTS.
Daniel Hatch, James Torrey, Jotham Tilden, Lnther Tilden, George Torrey, 260-271 David Torrey.
CHAPTER XVI.
BROOKS & TILDEN AND WILLIAM TAYLOR YARDS. 1784-1860 .- Scollay Baker, Prince Hatch, Elisha Ford, Jr., Aaron Sherman, Elijah Brooks, William H. Tilden, George Tilden, William Taylor, Israel Carver. 272-281
CHAPTER XVII.
BRIGGS YARD. ( Hobart's Landing.) 1645-1842 .- Thomas Nichols, Samuel House, Jr., Jeremiah Hatch, Walter Hatch, Jeremiah Hatch, Jr., Israel Hobart, James Briggs, Seth Briggs, John Briggs, Thomas Barker Briggs, Cushing Otis Briggs, Henry Briggs, Charles C. Briggs, William T. Briggs. 282-325
CHAPTER XVIII.
SCITUATE MISCELLANEOUS YARDS AND BUILDERS. 1694-1868 .- Asa Rogers, Elisha Merritt, Samuel Turner, Jr., William Brooks, Samuel Rogers, Leonard Litchfield, Foster Litchfield, Cummings Litchfield. 326-349
CHAPTER XIX.
WHITE'S FERRY YARDS. 1705-1840 .- Simeon Keene, Simeon Keene, Jr., Benja- min Keene, Isaac Keene, Luke Hall, William Hfall, Samuel Hall. 350-362
CHAPTER XX.
SCITUATE HARBOR YARDS. 1650-1864 .- William James, Jolin Kent, Job Otis, John Northey, William Vinal, Samuel Kent, Anthony Waterman, Otis Briggs, James Sylvester Briggs, Barnabas Webb Briggs, J. O. Curtis, Wil- liam Vinal, Jr., Henry Vinal, Willliam Briggs & Co., Melzar S. Turner, Luther Briggs, Edwin Otis, Andrew Cole. 363-392
WRECK OF THE SCHOONER "EDWARD NORTON." NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF SCITUATE HARBOR, NOVEMBER 25, 1888.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
NORTH RIVER BRIDGE (so called), built in 1829, connecting Hanover with Pembroke, and located just below the old Barstow Bridge ; also show- ing the location of the "Bridge Ship-Yards " on the right. From a photo- graph by Robert B. Sylvester, - · Frontispiece WRECK OF THE SCH. "EDWARD NORTON " on Crow Point, near the entrance of Scituate Harbor, Nov. 25, 1888. Fifteen men lost, one saved. From a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, - ix MAP OF PEMBROKE, including what is now Hanson. From an original drawing and survey made in November, 1794. 5
THE "OLD IRON WORKS," or Curtis' Anchor Forge. From Barry's His- tory of Hanover, - CLAPP'S RUBBER MILLS, located on the site of the "Old Iron Works." From a pen and ink drawing, -
9
WATERMAN'S TACK WORKS, located in Project Dale, on the Indian Head River. Pen and ink drawing by James Hall, from a photograph by Robert B. Sylvester,
E. PHILLIPS & SONS' TACK WORKS, located on the site of the old Bars- tow Forge, on the Indian Head River, So. Hanover. From a photograph by Robert B. Sylvester, -
18
PLAN of the parts of Scituate and Abington that were incorporated as the town of Hanover, June 14, 1727. From original drawing made June, 1726, 31
MAP showing the month of North and South Rivers, Hall's (formerly Keene's) Ship-Yard and White's Ferry. From Ford's Map of Marshfield, - 45 -
JERRY GUNDERWAY, a North River pilot. From a photograph, - 59
JEDUTHAN PALMER, born 1786, died 1860. From a daguerreotype in the possession of Mrs. N. P. Banks, Waltham, Mass.
72
MAP of North River from the Third Herring Brook to Job's Landing, inclusive, 83
MAP of North River showing the location of the ship-yards in Hanover and Pembroke, above the Third Herring Brook. From Barry's History of Hanover,
10
13
89
xi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
SAMUEL EELLS, born 1783, died 1863. From an old picture, - - 94
COL. JOIIN B. BARSTOW, born 1764, died 1854. From an oil painting by Southworth, -
99
CAPT. ELIJAH BARSTOW, JR., born 1805. From a photograph by - 109 -
Marshall, -
MAP of Hanover. From an original drawing and survey made A.D. 1794-95, - 119
BARSTOW'S LOWER SHIP-YARD, formerly occupied by Col. Bailey, the Smiths and Eellses respectively ; showing also the location of the Yards built upon by Kingman, Rogers, Hayward, Turner, Perry, Cushing, Thomas, Stockbridge and Wing on the left just below the wall. From a photograph by Robert B. Sylvester, - - 127
FOX (or Sunset) HILL SHIP YARD. From a photograph by Robert B. Sylvester, -
SILHOUETTE of William Copeland. From an original,
- 131 133
MICHAEL FORD. From a photograph, - -
- 136
SCH. " WILLIAM MARTIN," built by Barstow & Waterman, 1854. From a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, taken while she was lying at National Wharf, East Boston, 1889. 142
HER. BRIG "LIZZIE J. BIGELOW" built by Barstow & Waterman, 1866, lost Feb. 12, 1885. From an oil painting owned by Fabens, Boston, - CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS, JR., born 1761, died 1859. From an old picture owned by Mrs. James T. Tolman, Hanover, -
144
158
"THE BOSTONIANS PAYING THE EXCISE MAN, OR TARRING AND FEATHERING." From a picture owned by the late Josiah Dunham, Esq., Boston, -
- 166
SHIP " MARIA " built by Ichabod Thomas in 1782, broken up at Vancouver's Island, 1872. From an old number of "Gleason's Pictorial."
171
FRANCIS ROTCH, owner of the tea ship " Beaver." A silhouette from "Tea Leaves," - 172
THOMAS COAT OF ARMS. From china owned by the late Benjamin Thomas, son of Ichabod, - 175
BRICK-KILN SHIP-YARD, showing the town landing on the right of the wall and the location of the yard on the left. From a photographi by Joseph A. Tripp, - 181
BARKER TURNER. From a daguerreotype owned by Alden Turner, North Pembroke, · 191
SHIP "LAURA ANN," built by Caleb Turner, in 1815. From an oil painting owned by Mrs. Charles Cushing, Neponset, - - .
193
PLAN OF HORSE-BOAT, which was to have been used on North River. From the original drawing, 199
165
THROWING THE TEA FROM THE TEA SHIPS INTO BOSTON HAR- BOR. From "Tea Leaves," -
xii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
MAP OF MARSHFIELD, from surveys made between December, 1794, and June, 1795. From an original drawing on file at the State House, Boston, - MAP OF NORTH RIVER, showing the location of ship-yards between Grav- elly Beach and Taylor & Carver's Yard, inclusive, - SAMUEL TOLMAN. From a picture owned by James T. Tolman, Hanover,
207
214 233 CUSHING OTIS, born 1769, died 1837. From an original silhouette, - -
CHITTENDEN YARD, showing the launching of the sch. " Helen M. Foster," in 1871, also her builder, Joseph Merritt. From photographs by J. H. Wil- liams, - 257
BLOCK-HOUSE SHIP-YARD (location of the yard a little this side of the boat house). From a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, -
- 268
MAP OF NORTH RIVER, showing the location of the Briggs ship-yard at Hobart's Landing, and Rogers' ship-yard at Little's Bridge. From Ford's Map of Marshfield, 282
BRIGGS SHIP-YARD AND HOBART'S LANDING, showing the original work house on the left, which is the only one remaining on the banks of North River. Engraved by Henry G. Marchant from a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, - 286
LUCY OTIS, wife of Thomas Barker Briggs. From an original silhouette, - 293
CUSHING OTIS BRIGGS, born 1787, died 1861. From a photograph by Ormsby, -
294
RESIDENCE OF CUSHING O. BRIGGS, Scituate, and birthplace of all his children. From a photograph, - - 296
FAC-SIMILE OF ONE OF THE MEDALS struck off for the " Columbia " and " Washington " at the time of their sailing to the northwest coast. From Greenhow's History of Oregon, -
298
MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER. From an original drawing, - 307
COLUMBIA POINT below the Dalles, - 307
INTERIOR of one of the rooms in the house built by Robert Thomas about 1712, which was afterward added to and became the residence of James and Cushing Otis Briggs respectively. From an original drawing by Lloyd Briggs about 1846, 312
HENRY BRIGGS, born 1789, died 1837. From a painting on ivory by South- worth, , 316 -
BRIG "CRONSTADT" ashore on Falsterbo Reef, off Sweden. From a paint- ing owned by Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston, -
- 318
BRIG "CRONSTADT," built by C. O. & H. Briggs in 1829. From a painting owned by Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston, - 318
CHARLES CUSHING BRIGGS, born 1813, died 1843. From a painting on ivory by Southworth, 323
251
xiii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
WILLIAM THOMAS BRIGGS, born 1815. From a photograph, . 324
BRIG "NORFOLK," built by the Halls at White's Ferry in 1833. From a painting owned by the late Capt. F. M. Boggs, Boston,
359
PLAN OF SCITUATE HARBOR AND VILLAGE, showing the location of the ship-yards. From sketches made without survey or measurements, by Capt. Alex. Anderson and B. W. Briggs,
363
BARNABAS WEBB BRIGGS, born 1805. From a tin-type, - 384 -
BARK "MARTHA ALLEN," built at Scituate Harbor by J. S. Briggs, in 1849. From a painting owned by Horace Manson, Boston, -
386
NORT RIFFER.
Shweet Shtream dot past mine Doochy flows, More crooked dan ine Roman nose Or Grecian bend, from vare it rose To vare it falls, as I shuppose, Vile on de banks de brushwood grows To roost de blackbirds unt de crows, Dine praise I'll singen, e'er I close, Nort Riffer. My lyre is't tooned, so here she goes, Nort Riffer.
Oh, how ve used, de little scamps, To shtart off on our fishin' tramps, Unt shtand, mit vater o'er our vamps, Fishin' for pogies-catchin' cramps. At home der fater shcolds unt shtamps, Mad as ine lion ven he ramps ; Yet oft ve'd tread dine boggy damps, Nort Riffer,
Until der sky had lit his lamps, Nort Riffer. Down at de Seine ve'd take our swim, But oft ve'd shtand upon dine brim, Shaking for dread in efry limb Of turtles huge unt bull-frogs grim, Unt vater-shnakes so long and slim, Unt horn-pouts fierce in fighting trim. At last v'ed brave dine vaters dim, Nort Riffer, Unt o'er dine surface boldly skim, Nort Riffer.
XV
NORT RIFFER.
How o'er der rainbow ve vould trip Down to der launching of de ship, Vile expectation shtood on tip Unt silence passed from lip to lip, Down vent de spur-shore mit ine zip, Unt down de vays der craft vould shlip, Unt shlanting troo dine vaters skip, Nort Riffer, Till caught in Pembroke's muddy grip, Nort Riffer.
Sometimes ve'd paddle down dine floot, Like Julie, in her famed gum boot, Down to de ocean for to shoot De peep, de grey-back, unt de coot Unt loon dat savors nicht so goot,
How ve vould sing, unt yell, unt hoot, As down dine reaches ve vould scoot, Nort Riffer, Vile dine shores echoed our salute, Nort Riffer.
Now ve haf grown to pe pig men, Und vield de yardstick, birch unt pen, Strifing to reach de Upper Ten, Or mourning o'er vat might haf been. Yet dough doze shports will ne'er again Delight us as dey used to den, Dein shtream flows past as fair as ven, Nort Riffer, Its charms first came mitin our ken, Nort Riffer.
Ah ! ven der vorlt grows colt unt blank, Unt mine hand fails at efry yank To turn de wheel of fortune's crank, Or shift de tread in fate's dread hank, I'll hie me to dine rooshes rank, Unt build ine shanty mit some plank, Unt, mit ine hearty Gott sei dank, Nort Riffer, I'll eat polonies on dine bank,
Nort Riffer.
CLARENCE L. HOWES.
ABBREVIATIONS, &c.
It has been impossible to avoid the use of abbreviations. The following are some of the more frequent ones the reader will encounter in perusing the succeeding pages :-
b. for born.
d.
66
died.
mar.
married.
bro.
6 6
brother.
bg brig. dau. daughter.
O. and others.
Her. bg." hermaphrodite brig
blt.
built.
M.C.
master carpenter.
bk bark. bark''n" barkentine. brig'''n " brigantine. sch. sloop. schooner. slp M. B. for master builder.
Until 1628 the waters of the North River had probably never been disturbed by any navigator excepting the Indian in his canoe, and how we all would like to look back three hundred years and see the same beautiful river with the picturesque Indian and canoe, he dis- turbing the quiet waters with the silent dipping of his paddle. The first white people known to have navigated the river were the Bar- kers, about 1628. When they reached the "Crotch," instead of following up the Indian Head they ascended the Herring Brook as far as it was navigable with their small boat, where they left the stream and settled in what is now Pembroke. The history of the river from about this time is contained in the following pages.
NORTH RIVER.
CHAPTER I.
SOURCES OF NORTH RIVER AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES. - HISTORY OF THIE INDUSTRIES LOCATED THEREON.
W THY the stream which has become so historic takes the name of North River, those who named it left no record, but probably it was either because that in going north from Plymouth they found two rivers, and named the southern, South River and the northern, North River; or else, during their explorations along the coast, when they discovered these two rivers, one flowing directly from the north, the other di- rectly from the south, meeting a little way from the coast, and flowing into the ocean together as one stream, they named the one flowing from the north, North River, and the one flowing from the south, South River. Either would be sufficient reason for thus naming these rivers, and in absence of any record, one of these two theories may probably be accepted as correct. The sources of North River are the Indian Head and the Namassa- keesett Rivers. For the benefit of those who would like to follow up these streams, I will locate them and their tributaries, and on them the mills, factories, forges, etc., giving as com- plete a history of each as it has been possible to gather from the material now in existence.
THE NAMASSAKEESET stream rises in Furnace Pond. Great Sandy Pond connects with Furnace, and Little Sandy Pond with Great Sandy ; thus the Namassakeeset receives an unusually large amount of water at its very source. " On a recent visit to Furnace Pond in Pembroke, we endeavored to collect (for want of better information ) some of the legends and traditions connected
2
SOURCES OF NORTH RIVER.
with that now somewhat noted locality. There is positive proof that there was a blast furnace erected there as long ago as 1702, and leased or hired to a Mr. Lambart Despard for the purpose of casting all kinds of ironware." Hatchets were made here. One casting still in existence is the back of the fireplace now in the old Barker House in Pembroke. Plymouth Records say that Despard bought of Jeremiah Momentagne ( the Indian ) twenty acres of land there in March, 1701-2, and contracted with Francis Barker, Robert Barker, Samuel Barker, Joshua Barker, Josiah Barker, Robert Barker, Jr., and Michael Wanton to have the furnace completed by September, 1702. Despard was to do the work and have one quarter of the furnace when done, and the others were to pay him £180. Despard was from Braintree. "In 1648, Mr. Timothy Hatherly, the principal founder and father of the town of Scituate, requested liberty of the colony to erect an iron mill. It was granted m 1650, on conditions that it be erected within three years, or the privilege and certain woodlands about Mattakeeset Pond (now Pembroke) were to revert to the colony. It did not however take place at that period, but 'a smelting furnace was erected on the precise grant, by Mark Despard and the family of Barker about 1702.'"
"The following are the Articles of agreement made and confirmed between Joseph Bates, of Scituate, in ye County of Plimouth in New England, of ye one Party, and Joshua Barker of Duxbury in ye County aforeSd of ye other party, witnesseth that ye said Bates doth at ye day of ye date of these presents firmly bind himself to make ye bricks for, and set up a Stack of chimnies ; that is to say : two good Convenient Chimnies from ye ground and a Chamber Chimnie, and to Stone a seeler of thirty and one foot one way, and eighteen foot ye other, and to point ye same within side and without so far as ye wall shall be above ground, with lime, and all-so to make a Convenient place by ye Jam of ye Chimnie, and Stone and Point ye same for Stairs to pass up into ye house, and both plaster and whitewash ye Lower Room Chamber Lean-bow Chamber, and one room of ye Lean-bow Below of a honse of Twenty-four foot long, and Twenty foot wide, and a Lean-bow of Twelve foot wide, and Thirty foot long, and ald-so to plaster all ye Outside of ye Chimnie and Oven with Lime, and is to find all Carting, Labor, and Stufe for ye finishing of ye Same ; all which work is to be done substancially and workman Like, at or before ye first day of December, in ye year one thousand seven hundred and three, for Said Barker, and for consideration of Said work ye Said Barker doth firmly bignde himself to asign and make over unto ye Sd Bates all that twelve Pounds money or money's value and teen shillings which will be due to him from Mr. Lambert Despard, for Rent or hire of his Eighth Part of furnace,
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