USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Acushnet > History of the Town of Acushnet, Bristol County, State of Massachusetts > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Bristol Co.)
3 1833 01101 2363
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofa00howl
A HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF ACUSHNET,
Massachusetts
BRISTOL COUNTY, STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
BY FRANKLYN HOWLAND.
ILLUSTRATED .
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.
1907.
COPYRIGHTED 1907 BY FRANKLYN HOWLAND, ACUSHNET, MASS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PRINTED BY 1 ... ANTHONY & SONS, INC. NEW BEDFORD, MASS.
1136511
To My Sons Leroy Albert Howland and Max Franklyn Howland this History of their Native Town is Affectionately Dedicated . by the Author.
Photo. by A. H. McCreary, Phila.
STREET VIEW IN ACUSHNET VILLAGE. Looking eastward from the Methodist Parsonage.
A TALK WITH THE READER
PLEASE READ THIS FIRST
It has been said that "of making many books there is no end." In the interest of common humanity there should, however, be an end to the large class of books which demoralize, deprave and degenerate. But the history of all parts of our country should be written and put in a form for perusal, reference and preservation. Every organization and person who is engaged in an effort of this character is doing a commendable work, which should be encouraged and assisted by everyone who has it in his power to do so.
In the research for material for my genealogy of the Howland family in America, which I published in 1888, I made memoranda of historical matter relating to the town of Acushnet, found in records and old docu- ments, and what was related to me by aged people, some of whom were born soon after the Revolutionary war, recalling what was told them of incidents occurring many years previous to that event. The passing away of these people, and the possibility of the destruction of valuable and interesting old records and documents, led me to decide to undertake the arduous task of placing what I possessed and could gather in the accom- panying form.
Realizing the importance of absolute accuracy in writing history, I have spared no time or labor in endeavoring to verify, if possible, every item on the following pages. Notwithstanding this some errors will doubtless be found herein.
Several of the most highly respected and prosperous families in southern Massachusetts had their early New England homes within the boundaries of this town. Here they have been represented for two and a half centuries. The knowledge that the interest and value of this work would be greatly enhanced by sketches of these families, led me to. prepare and insert a number of them, together with likenesses and brief biographies of past and present citizens, also cuts of public buildings, residences, and views of some of the many attractive spots in the town. These will be appreciated by descendants of these persons, and by writers of history, biography and genealogy in the future.
All the biographical sketches were written by myself and the half- tones of persons were furnished at my earnest solicitation. I am sorry some who were appealed to for such declined to respond, for it is certain that many of their friends and relatives now, and their posterity will regret their decision.
Appreciating from experience the value of a complete index, I have
endeavored to prepare one for this work. The usefulness of many valnable books of this class is greatly discounted by possessing a meagre index.
This history covers not only the Town of Acushnet since its incorpora- tion, but the territory within its present boundaries back to its original purchase by Plymouth colonists. The early history of the Acushnet tract is so inter-woven with that of the sections that are now New Bedford, Fairhaven and Dartmouth, which were originally included in the so-called "Ancient Cushena," that it was essential some of the history of the early days of the entire "Cushenagg Naighbourhood" should be given herein.
My purpose has been to give the public in the following pages unbiased and unembellished historical, genealogical and biographical material, leaving it to the reader to inject, if he wishes, sentimental paragraphs, and artistic word pictures with which some published historical matter is unfortunately distorted-a mass of facts, frills and fiction which it is impossible for the reader to dissect and separate the wheat from the chaff.
I am indebted to many of the present and former residents of this town and others for assistance in the preparation of this work, for which they have my grateful appreciation. I am under especial obligation to the following persons :
Alden White, the efficient and courteous town clerk of Acushnet, for valuable aid and suggestions.
Henry B. Worth, Esq., of New Bedford, for contributions from his large and valuable collection of land titles, original layouts, description of old houses, etc.
James E. Reed of New Bedford, Photographer, who furnished photographs for half-tones, as indicated. Mr. Reed possesses the nega- tives, and prints from them can be obtained of him.
The New Bedford Mercury for the kind loan of cuts of old houses.
The revenue from the sale of this book will probably not cover the expense of publishing it, as the town is a small one and the demand for the book must consequently be small. Notwithstanding this and the fact that I am handicapped in such work by great physical disability, I am compensated for the labor in the enjoyment I have experienced in placing the contents of this volume where it will be preserved for all time; where it will afford pleasure for some now living, and be prized when you and I, dear reader, have joined
"The innumerable caravan that moves
To that mysterions real."
"The Den", Wayside,
Fairhaven road, Aenshnet, Mass.
New Year Day, 1907.
Franklyn Howland.
.
Franklyn Howland.
In Memoriam
Ile whose tireless energy and patient, painstaking research ex- humed, collected and compiled the fragmentary and scattered records. sifted and preserved the fading traditions of his loved home, this fair "Cushena" land and placed them in form available for his townsmen and futurity was himself debarred the satisfaction of knowing how his efforts were to be appreciated. While busily engaged on this work, nearly completed. Capt. Howland was stricken with apoplexy and passed quickly from the scene of his labors. To a friend who knew him long and intimately it is a privilege to suggest that there could be no more significant comment on the intelligent, conscientious character of the labor which prepared these pages and also of the contemporary life of his land and time than a brief character sketch of the author. Farther, it is fitting that this last comprehensive, loving work of him "whose dying hand the rudder held" should bear some memorial of himself.
Captain Howland was a native of Little Compton, R. I., an old farming and fishing town on the east shore of Narragansett Bay; a region which in early days was a veritable land of refuge for those colonists whose radical views clashed with the rigid Puritan theocracy of the Bay Colony. These settlers were largely men of pronounced individuality and strong, original character, often agreeing among themselves in little but non-conformity and dissent and among them was a very large con- stituency of Quakers or Friends. Differing from the Puritans in what seems to this age unimportant matters of theology, they laid equal or greater stress on those fundamental principles and sturdy virtues which were so wrought into the best types of New England character. From a long ancestry like this Captain Howland traced his descent. On his father's isolated farm with the wide horizon of the bordering sea, in conditions the most healthful, moral and physical, Franklyn Howland performed a farmer boy's arduous and not unimportant duties, develop- ing and strengthening brain and muscle and imbibing those principles
which gave character to his after life. His early educational opportuni- ties, such as were furnished by the public schools of his time, were but meagre, even though supplemented by a few terms at a neighboring academy, and at the early age of sixteen he was performing the duties of a clerk in a New York importing house. Here at the opening of the Civil War, fired with enthusiasm, he enlisted in the 14th Regiment N. Y. State Militia. Hawkins Zouaves, and in the flowing blue jacket, baggy red trousers and leggins of that locally famous corps joined the army of the Potomac. Participating with his regiment in the first battle of Bull Run, he was afterwards transferred to the Department of the Gulf, when his effi- cieney was recognized and he received promotion. Captured by the enemy he experienced. for almost a year, the horrors of Confederate prison life under the hardships of which his splendid constitution gave way. Pa- roled he came home an invalid and though, thanks to his temperate habits and fine physique, he ultimately recovered his robust general health. he was a life-long sufferer from paralysis of the spinal cord, to relieve which the most skillful and persistent medical treatment was un- availing. To a man of Captain Howland's early promise, great ambition and unusual ability this change of prospects, the readjustment of life to this crushing misfortune involved a mental struggle few can appre- ciate. However he took up the burden, accepted the affliction and with- out a murmur cheerfully and courageously strove to make a success of what life remained. Though physically incapacitated for laborious duties, few men lived a more active life. Few entered more into the interests of the community, were more ready to give a helping hand to a suffering friend or a worthy cause and every measure for economic. social or, moral advancement found in him an effective champion. He was an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and prom- inent iu all its lines of activity. He took an active interest in controlling the demoralizing liquor traffic, in the legal prohibition of which he was a firm and consistent believer. Too radical, pronounced and uncompro mising for a politician, vet as member of school committee and various town commissions, his clear, practical common sense always secured a hearing and gave him prominence, and in 1888, on occasion of a revolt of voters against the Republican candidate, Captain Howland was elected to the Massachusetts Senate. Here, beneath the gilded dome, he gave the same conscientious, efficient service which everywhere characterized his efforts. He was an enthusiastic horticulturalist and his home "Way- side" became a bower of beauty. He always maintained an active and intelligent interest in agriculture and was instrumental in the formation of the South Bristol Farmers Club, one of the most successful and edu- rational farmers' organizations in the state. He was its first president. which position he held to the time of his death, and his interest in its
welfare and his efforts for its success were unwaning. Notwithstanding his many and various activities he found time for much historical work, for which he had a special taste. Captain Howland possessed not only the high aim, the moral and esthetic purpose, the intelligent energy which count for success everywhere, but what in this age is much rarer, the sturdy, primitive virtues of self-denial, of thrift and discriminating, purposeful economy, inherited from an ancestry which helped make the New England of literature and tradition of "plain living and high thinking."
"The old traditions of his State, The memories of her great and good Took from his life a fresher date. And in himself embodied stood."
In every position in which he was placed, Franklyn Howland did what his hands found to do with credit to himself, honor to his constitu- ency and the well-being of humanity. Of few men it has been my lot to know could it be as well said, as of the Old Puritan Jurist,
"True and tender and brave and just,
Whom man might honor and woman trust."
Sconticut, Fairhaven, Mass. December, 1907.
D. C. POTTER.
CONTENTS
Page
Discovery
"The Cushenagg Naighbourhood"
8
The Allotment of "Cushnet"
8
The Name Acushnet
9
This Purchase
10
The First Comers to Old Cushena
12
The Pioneer Settlers
14
The Birth of Dartmouth
14
The Indian War
15
Old Houses
21
Antipas Hathaway House.
23
The Taber Homestead
24 24
Mason Taber Tavern
25 26
Sands Wing House
Dr. Tobey House
Captain Franklyn Howland Place
The Laura Keene Farm
Dr. Samuel West House
Harrington House
Jonathan Swift House
The Pope Tavern
32 33 34
Reuben Mason House
35
Ebenezer Keene House
36 36
Jenney-Morse House
37 38
Spooner-Bradford House
39 40
Capt. Humphrey Hathaway House
The Postoffice Building
41
William White House
41 42
Samuel Sprague House
43
Walter Spooner House
44
Stephen Hathaway House
45
Leonard Boat House
46
Summerton House
The Thomas Wood House
47
.
ยท
.
Captain Andrew J. Wing Place
Jabez Taber's Tavern
27 28 29 29 30 31 32
Greenwood House
Judge Spooner House
James Cushman House
Spooner-Ashley House
7
Wind Mills
Auld Lang Syne
Original Layouts of Acushnet Lands
The Triangle
The Mill Lot, etc.
Acushnet River and Its Tributaries
Revolutionary War
Revolutionary War Incidents
A Revolutionary War Hero
Samuel Joy's Oven
Small Pox Scourge
Stage Travel
Human Slavery in Acushnet
Indian Relics and Grave Yards
. .
Stocks and Whipping Posts.
Ship Building at Acushnet Village
The War of 1812
.
September Gale
Spotted Fever Epidemic
.
Off Springs of Old Dartmouth
Acushnet Township
Incorporation and Set Off
Situation of Acushnet
Business at the Beginning.
The First Town Meeting
Town Officers
Town Clerks
Town Clerks, Collectors and Treasurers.
Selectmen
School Committee
Surveyors of Highways.
Constables
Board of Health
Auditors
Private Schools
Union Seminary
112 115 116
The Long Plain Boarding School.
The Russell Private School
The Kempton School
117
Public Schools
117
Acushnet High School Privileges
135
Publie School Teachers
137
State Officials
142
A Valuable Public Library Favor
144
.
48 49 53 57 59 61 63 76 78 79 80 81 83 85 86 87 88 90 91 92 94 97
100 101 102 104 104 105
105 106 107 109 111 111 112
. .
.
The Town Free Library.
146
Thomas Hersom & Co.'s Soap Factory 147 Town Houses 148 151
Town Meeting Orders
Indian Trails and Highways.
Corners
Highway Names and Layouts.
Macadam Highways
Bridges
Postal Facilities
The Liquor Traffic
Fire Department
Debt, Death and Taxes
Industries of the Town
Cushman's Box Factory
Block Factory
Acushnet Saw Mill Co
173
White's Cotton Factory
175
Whelden Cotton Factory
176
Ansel White Cotton Factory.
Iron Mine, Bloomary Forge and Mill.
Taber's Mills
Blacksmith Shops
Apothecary Shop
178
Stove and Tin Shops and Tin Peddlers
Industries on the Mill Lot.
Other Industries
Acushnet in the Lead.
New Bedford's First Domestic Water Supply
Census of the Town.
Revolutionary War Soldiers.
Roll of Honor of Soldiers and Sailors of the Civil War
Whaling Masters and Whalers
Precinct Church at Acushnet Village
Methodist Episcopal Church at Acushnet Village
Pastors
Methodist Episcopal Church at Long Plain
217
First Baptist Church at Long Plain
221
Friends' Society at Long Plain. 225
The First Christian Church of North Fairhaven 227
Present Baptist Church at Long Plain. 229
The Perry Hill Christian Church 230
176 177 177 177 178
Grocery and Variety Stores.
181 182 182 184
185 186 186 191 195 199 210 213
215
Friends' Meeting at Parting Ways.
153 154 155 157 159
161 164 165 170 171 171 173
The Advent Religious Society
232
Cemeteries
Congregational Church at Acushnet Village 233 The Lewis Meeting House. 235 238 238 Precinct Cemetery 254 Ancient Long Plain Cemetery 257
Other Cemeteries
Praying Indians 258
Biographical Sketches
260
ILLUSTRATIONS
Antipas Hathaway House
Page 23
Mason Taber Tavern
25
Sands Wing House
27
Dr. Tobey House
Dr. Samuel West House
Jonathan Swift House
Reuben Mason House
28 30 32 34 35
Judge Spooner House
Jenney-Morse House
37
Spooner-Bradford House
39
Captain Humphrey Hathaway House.
40
Samuel Sprague House
Walter Spooner House
Stephen Hathaway House
Summerton House
Old Wind Mill.
Chimney of the West House, Sconticut Neck, Fairhaven
Buildings on the Triangle.
Acushnet River
Ruins of Whelden Cotton Factory
Thomas Wood House
Jabez Taber Tavern
Residence of Thomas Hersom, Sr
94
Residence of Jean B. Jean.
95 96
Residence of Horatio N. Wilbur.
98 99
Fairhaven Road
100
Residence of Joseph T. Brownell . 102
115
A Little Red Schoolhouse
128
Town House and Library
132
Long Plain Schoolhouse. . 133
134
Schoolhouse at Parting Ways.
136
High School Building at Fairhaven
145
Millicent Library of Fairhaven, Mass.
146
First Trustees of the Acushnet Library.
147
Hersom's Soap Factory
Lund's Corner
155
42 43 44 46 48 50 57 61 62 80 81
Residence of Mrs. C. C. D. Gilmore
Residence of Edwin D. Douglass, Philadelphia.
Residence of Franklyn Howland
160
New Bedford and Fairhaven Bridge.
Rural Free Delivery No. 1. 162 Rural Free Delivery No. 2. 162 Hancock Engine No. 9. 168 Cushman's Box Factory 172 Acushnet Saw Mill 174 Richard Davis' Variety Store 180 Whaling Scenes in Whaling Times. 195 Whaler Outward Bound. 197 203
The Precinct Meeting House
Methodist Episcopal Church at Acushnet Village
211
Interior of Methodist Episcopal Church.
212 214
Present Methodist Episcopal Church at Acushnet Village
Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage at Long Plain 216
Former Friends' Meeting House at Parting Ways.
217
Interior of an Old Time Meeting House
218
Present Friends' Meeting House at Parting Ways.
220
Friends' Meeting House at Long Plain.
226
Baptist Church at Long Plain
229
Christian Church at Perry Hill.
231
Chapel of the Advent Society 232
Congregational Church at Acushnet Village.
234
HISTORY OF ACUSHNET
The beginning of the history of Acushnet would properly be the date of the incorporation of the Township in 1860, the year before the Civil war. It will, however, add to the interest of this work, to give in a con- densed form some of the important historical events and instances leading from the date of the discovery of "Dartmouth plantations," of which the present town of Acushnet was once a part. Acushnet is one of the youngest and among the smallest in area of all the towns in the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, but its inhabitation by the English dates back almost to the arrival of the Mayflower. Its history covers a large space of time and includes much of interest to those whose homes, and the homes of their ancestors have been within its borders.
DISCOVERY No one knows when the human race first saw the forests and shores of old Dartmouth plantations, of which Acush- net is a part. They were no doubt of the race of Aborigines who occupied the land when the first Anglo-Saxon came here. When the first white man appeared here is also unknown. But as early as A. D. 1000, writes Joshua T. Smith in "American Antiquities," Greenlanders came into Buzzards Bay and lived here, much of the time for ten years, probably in their vessels and on the west shore of the bay. It is said they were engaged in trading with the Indians, with whom they were evidently on friendly terms. And it is very reasonable to believe the Greenlanders in . the many years they lived here explored the region surrounding the "Head-of-Acushnet river." Among the persons comprising this company of adventurers who were here in 1007 were six women, one of whom gave birth that year to a son, who was named Snorri Thorfinnson. He is said to have been the ancestor of the celebrated sculptor, Thorwaldsen. The first white child to behold the head waters of the Acushnet river in our town may have been baby Snorri.
The first Englishmen that landed upon the delightful shores of Buz- zards Bay without doubt were of Bartholomew Gosnold's party of ad- venturers, who sailed from Falmouth on the little "Concord," belonging to Dartmouth, on the English channel. They first anchored off the island of Poocutohhunkunnoh (Cuttyhunk) on the morning of May 25, 1602. after a passage of just sixty days. They remained here 25 days and returned to England. Four days after their arrival they crossed the mouth of the bay and landed at or near "Haps Hill," now Round Hills.
8
It is known that later that day they sailed along the shore westerly to Gooseberry Neck. As near as can be learned this was the day of the first visit of a European to the land of "Old Acushena." On their landing at the place above mentioned Captain Gosnold was met by a number of natives, men, women and children, "who with all courteous kindness entertained them, giving them certain skins of wild beasts, which may be rich fur, tobacco, turtles, hemp, artificial strings colored, chains, and such like things as at the instant they had about them." One of Gosnold's party subsequently wrote ."on the main land there were stately groves, flowery meadows and running brooks, * great stores of deer and
other beast and strawberries as sweet and much bigger than in England." This described friendliness of the Indians and knowledge of the country leads one to believe that in the twenty days they spent here they visited the land of modern Acushnet. This was a quarter of a century before the Pilgrims were here. Representatives of the Pilgrims made their first visit to Massasoit, the Indians' chief at Bristol, R. I., in the summer of 1621, returning a visit he made to them the previous March. They went through Taunton and down the west side of Taunton river. No doubt similar official visits were made to him very soon after this, the party passing over the "Rhode Island Way," which led through this town.
"THE CUSHENAGG NAIGHBOURHOOD"
of the old colony records embraced a section of territory on which resided, when the Mayflower landed, three bands of the Wampanoag tribe of Indians, comprising a part of the Sachemdon of Massasoit. These bands were known as the "Cushenas," who lived on both sides of the Acushnet river, now Acushnet, New Bedford and Fairhaven; the "Ponegansetts" resided where is now the town of Dartmouth, and the "Coaksetts" dwelt in the Westport section. All this territory was included in the names "Cushenagg Naighbourhood," "Cushena Plantations," and "Cushnet Country," in the old colony records. The first mention of this tract in these records is on page 4, volume 2, of the official printed copy, page 244 of the original record, where the bounds of this tract are given. Here it is called "Acconquesse als Acokens," which is the only place the writer has seen it referred to by the latter name. The former name signifies Acushnet and the latter Acoakset.
THE ALLOTMENT OF "CUSHNET" was made to the Plymouth purchasers in 1639. With an eye to business some of the Mayflower people sought to bargain with the Indians for lands as soon as they were fairly settled in their new home. They succeeded in making a verbal contract for three sections, one of which was this tract, which was called the second of the three places. These were allotted to
9
the purchasers at the court of 1640. The Cushena "place" is thus de- scribed in Gov. Bradford's memorandum of it:
"The 2 place called Acough Couss, which lyeth in ye botome of ye bay adjoyning to ye west side of Pointe Perill and 2 miles to ye Westerne side of ye said river to an other place called Acushente river which entereth at ye Westerne end of Macata, and 2 myles to ye Eastward thereof, and to extend 8 myles up into ye countrie."
A note in the record states that the "chirography is that of Mr. Nathaniel Souther Clark of ye Court." Macata was the present West Island in Fairhaven; Coakset river is now Westport river; Point Perill referred to Gooseberry Neck.
THE NAME as it is now authorized spelled by the national post office ACUSHNET department, is spelled in various ways in writing in both ancient and modern times. The following have been accurately transcribed by the writer from written and printed matter. In deeds, wills, leases and letters, and in church, town and court records.
acuish
Acushnett
acuishet
Acusshna
Acashewah
Acushente
Accushnutt
Acushnet
Accoosnet
Acuquoshnet
Accushnett
Akusenhe
Acconquesse
Akusenag
Accuishnent
Akushenet
Accushnut
Akushenat
Accoosnet
Aquechenit
Accusshaneck
Aquset
Acoosnet
Aquesnet
Acoshamet
Aqushnot
Acoughcusse
Aquechinook
Acquishneck
Asquessent
Acquechinook
Cushenah
Acquissent
Cushnet
Acquiessent
Cushnagg
Acushmuet
Cushenag
Acushena
Cushenett
Acusenah Acushna
Quishnet
Acushnet is doubtless the word which "William's Key" gives as Aquechinook and Aquechenit, signifying a place to swim or the swimming place. The stream was probably a favorite resort of the Indians for this purpose. Hence it derives the name Acushnet River, and the surround- ing tract, as the "Acushena plantations," etc., and now the town of
10
Acushnet. A compound word to designate this town has recently come to the writer's knowledge. A passenger on a railroad train from Taun- ton to New Bedford asked the conductor to put him off at "Goose-neck." "No such station, " replied the conductor. But the traveler insisted that was the name of the place of his destination, which later proved to be Acushnet.
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