USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01101 1050
Gc 974. 401 B770 Our county and its people
١
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A
DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
BRISTOL COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTS
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF
THE
FALL RIVER NEWS AND TAUNTON GAZETTE
THE
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF HON. ALANSON BORDEN OF NEW BEDFORD
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
1899
Gc 974401 B770
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
LIBRAR
INTRODUCTORY.
1153976
In undertaking the preparation of a work on Bristol County, as a successor to such books of local history as have been issued, the editors and their assistants fully realized their position and the burden of re- sponsibility they were assuming. It was clearly comprehended that if a favorable verdict was expected from readers it could be secured by nothing less than a publication that would stand among the best of its kind, containing a comprehensive and reasonably correct historical and biographical record of the county, in which most of the objectionable commercial features of many local works should be eliminated. An earnest and conscientious effort has been made by all who have shared in the long task to reach this high standard.
Local history bears to general history a similar relation to that of a microscopical examination and one made by the naked eye. In other words the former must take cognizance of a multitude of minute details which of necessity must be passed over in the latter. Minor facts of little value in themselves, often assume great importance when considered with their attendant circumstances and surroundings. It is the gathering, compilation, and arrangement of these numberless de- tails that demand patience, time, and skill. Descriptions of local events, unless of paramount importance, frequently went unrecorded in early years, thus doubling the task of obtaining them at the present time. The placing on record of hundreds of dates and thousands of names is alone a long and arduous task and one demanding the utmost watchfulness and care to prevent error. Harsh criticism will, there- fore, be tempered with mildness by the fair-minded reader who may find a single error among a myriad of correct statements.
In the preparation of this volume it was not expected that very much new material would be discovered. The historical field, par- ticularly outside of Fall River, has been many times worked over,
iv
INTRODUCTORY.
though frequently in a fragmentary or disconnected manner. The dominant purpose has been to so compile and arrange the story of the settlement and growth of the county as to give the reader a continuous narrative and save him the task of searching through many incomplete volumes in scattered libraries for what he may here find. Chronolog- ical sequence has been preserved in the narrative as far as consistent, in the belief that through this method the reader will be better enabled to follow the course of events as a whole. This plan has been followed even to the insertion in the body of the work of records of most of the settlements outside of the three cities, and the formation of and early . events in the towns and villages of the county, leaving for treatment in the final gazetteer of towns only some of the features of modern development and their present condition. Separate chapters have been given to only a few of the broader and more important subjects of the learned professions, etc. To the Indian occupants of this region and their relations and wars with the white settlers, only brief space has been accorded. The subject was long ago substantially exhausted and scores of volumes are found in all libraries, written by men who made a life study of the natives, to which all readers can have access.
In the chapters devoted to the history of Fall River an effort has been made to cover the field in the most satisfactory manner. The ample space given to this part of the work is justified by the fact that less historical work has been done in past years relating to that town and city, than in other parts of the county. The loss of records and newspaper files in the destructive Fall River fires has added greatly to the difficulties of this part of the task, and can also with propriety be offered as a mild apology for lack of detail and completeness in some features of this department.
It is impossible to perform the otherwise pleasant task of expressing gratitude to the many who have given substantial aid during the prepa- ration of this work; but it will, it is hoped, not be considered invidious on the part of the editors, to mention by name a few of those who have given unselfishly of their time and ability, and their historical treasures. Among these are Benjamin Buffinton, George A. Ballard, Arthur B. Brayton, and others of Fall River; George B. Richmond, Robert C. Ingraham, and others of New Bedford; Edwin A. Tetlow, Nathaniel J. W. Fish, and others of Taunton, and many persons in the various towns of the county.
Besides these and many other individuals who cannot be named,
V
INTRODUCTORY.
generous aid is acknowledged from the heads of city departments, village clerks throughout the county, pastors of churches, school super- intendents and principals, librarians and their assistants, and a multi- tude of others. To all these the gratitude of editors, publishers and readers is due.
Especial thanks are due to H. Perry Smith, W. Stanley Child and L. Y. Richardson, for their indefatigable services in gathering most of the material used in the volume, and for individual assistance in its com- pilation and editorial labor.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Descriptive of the Subject 1-6
CHAPTER II.
From 1637 to 1685 7-34
CHAPTER III.
Indian Troubles
36-44
CHAPTER IV.
From 1685 to 1776 44-96
CHAPTER V.
FROM 1776 TO 1815.
War of the Revolution-War of 1812 1
96-139
CHAPTER VI. FROM 1815 TO 1860.
General County Progress 140-168
CHAPTER VII. FROM 1860 TO 1898.
The Civil War and Later History
168-185
CHAPTER VIII.
Gazetteer of Towns 185-214
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX. THE CITY OF TAUNTON.
Early Settlement. 215-228
CHAPTER X. THE CITY OF TAUNTON.
Early Settlements and Land Grants
229-237
CHAPTER XI. THE CITY OF TAUNTON.
Occupations and Locations of the Pioneers
237-247
CHAPTER XII. THE CITY OF TAUNTON.
Early Public Proceedings and Private Industries 248-264
CHAPTER XIII. THE CITY OF TAUNTON.
In the Eighteenth Century 264-271
CHAPTER XIV. THE CITY OF TAUNTON.
In the Nineteenth Century 271-248
CHAPTER XV. THE CITY OF TAUNTON.
From 1860 to the Present Time
284-315
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD 316-328
CHAPTER XVII.
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD-CONTINUED 328-337
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVIII. THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
In the War of 1812 338-343
CHAPTER XIX. THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
From 1815 to City Incorporation
.344-369
CHAPTER XX.
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Under City Government 369-379
CHAPTER XXI.
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Since the Civil War-1865-1898. 380-393
CHAPTER XXII. THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Schools-Newspapers-Fire Department-Board of Trade, etc. 393-410
CHAPTER XXIII. THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Manufactures
410-421
CHAPTER XXIV. THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
Original Purchases and Settlement 422-447
CHAPTER XXV.
THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
Early in the Century 447-460
X
CONTENTS CHAPTER XXVI. THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
A Period of Rapid Growth 460-481
CHAPTER XXVII. THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
From 1830 to City Incorporation
481-508
CHAPTER XXVIII. THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
A Chapter from the Village Records.
509-524
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
As a City 525-554
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
Industries
:554-601
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
Educational Institutions 602-619
CHAPTER XXXIII. THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.
The Newspaper Press, Fire Department, Civil List, etc. 620-642
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE BAR AND JUDICIARY OF BRISTOL COUNTY 643-678
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN BRISTOL COUNTY 679-699
xi
CONTENTS.
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL
701-799
PART III.
PERSONAL RERERENCES 1-362
INDEX, GENERAL 363 409
INDEX, PART II 409
INDEX, PART III 409-418
PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Abiel Codding-portrait facing 176
Taunton in 1728-map between 216 and 217
George A. Washburn-portrait. facing 273
Richard Henry Hall-portrait facing 290 L 1 1 1 1
1 Henry G. Reed-portrait. facing 297 1 1 1 1
Nathaniel J. W. Fish-portrait facing 305 I 1 I 1 1 1 1
New Bedford in 1762-map 317 1
New Bedford in 1795-map 331
New Bedford in 1810-illustration
facing 336
New Bedford-Custom House Corner-illustration
342
New Bedford in 1815-map
346
New Bedford in 1834-map
347
I Thomas Mandell-portrait facing 351 1 I
Sylvanus Thomas-portrait
facing 353
New Bedford in 1850-map 1
370
Rufus A. Soule-portrait,
facing 418
Fall River in 1812-map
between 424 and 425
Richard Borden-portrait
432 452
David Anthony-portrait
Oliver Chace-portrait. 454
Jesse Eddy-portrait 461
Nathaniel B. Borden-portrait. 471
Nathan Durfee-portrait. 473
Jefferson Borden-portrait 482
Fall River-Main Street before the Fire of 1843-illustration 489
Fall River-View of the Burned District, after the Fire of 1843-illustration
490
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Stephen Davol-portrait.
William C. Davol-portrait_
Thomas J. Borden-portrait
James Buffinton-portrait
Fall River Post Office-illustration Weaver Osborn-portrait,
James M. Osborn-portrait
Jonathan Slade-portrait,
Jonathan T. Lincoln-portrait Dr. Robert T. Davis-portrait John C. Milne-portrait
Franklin L. Almy-portrait
Alanson Borden-portrait
Simeon Borden-portrait
George B. Richmond -- portrait Robert Treat Paine-portrait
Dr. Foster Hooper- portrait.
William W. Crapo-portrait Capt. Herbert A. Clark-portrait
William F. Drown-portrait
Lloyd S. Earle-portrait
John H. Estes-portrait
Everett S. Horton-portrait
Andrew J. Jennings-portrait
Austin Messinger-portrait
Obed Nye-portrait
A. Homer Skinner-portrait Dr. Charles L. Seip -- portrait. Charles S. Taber -- portrait
Job Sweet-portrait.
Rev. John Westall -- portrait
Thomas Wilcox-portrait.
Dr. James M. Aldrich -- portrait
Stephen A. Brownell -- portrait.
Dr. John H. Abbott -- portrait
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CONTENTS.
xii
Fall River City Hall-illustration
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S. O. Bigney-portrait
E. Williams Hervey-portrait
facing 739
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE SUBJECT.
Bristol county is situated in the southeastern part of Massachusetts and is bounded on the north by Norfolk county, on the east by Plymouth county, on the south by Rhode Island and the ocean, and on the west by Rhode Island. It contains about six hundred square miles of terri- tory. The surface of this county presents a variety of features. In general terms it may be described as nearly level in the northern and western parts, and hilly or rolling and in places rocky in the southern, central and western parts. This general statement is modified in many more or less limited sections by the existence of topographical features ranging from moderate hills to level areas. As a whole the soil is not above medium for agricultural purposes, though in some parts it is ex- ceedingly productive. Beginning with the oldest settled region, that of Taunton, along the river of that name, the surface is generally level, and the statement applies to. the greater portion of the eastern and northeastern towns. It is in this region that is found much of the superior farming land of the county. In Mansfield and some of the adjacent territory the soil is light and thin and rather unproductive. Westward from New Bedford, in the towns of Dartmouth and West- port, the surface is rolling or hilly and the soil generally above the average of the county. The same is true of a large part of the western towns-Swansea, Somerset, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Dighton. In the central part are seen numerous great bowlders of granite, indicating the general character of the rock formation and suggesting glacial action in past ages. Bog iron ore is found in several localities, notably in Freetown, and in the early years of the county was extensively dug and worked, as described in later chapters,
1
2
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
In the northeastern part of the county, in Taunton and Raynham, is an extensive cedar swamp, which still remains largely in its primitive condition. The original forests included large areas of white pine, with lesser tracts covered with oak, maple, beech, chestnut, ash and some other hard woods. Considerable areas that were long ago cleared, and were not found adapted to profitable cultivation, are now covered with a later growth of brush.
The principal river of the county is Taunton River, Taunton Great River, as it is termed to distinguish it from Little Taunton, or Mill River. The larger stream has its rise in Plymouth county, flows west- . erly and then southwesterly across Bristol county and empties into Mount Hope Bay. The ocean tide flows to East Taunton, and the head of navigation for sailing vessels is at Weir village, a suburb of Taun- ton city.
Mill River is the outlet of Scadding's Pond in the northern part of Taunton, and flows south to its junction with Taunton River near the city of Taunton; it supplies excellent water power to many manufac- tories.
Three-Mile River is formed by the waters of Wading River, flowing southerly across Mansfield and Norton, and Rumford River, flowing southerly across Norton. It has a southerly direction through the villages of Oakland and Westville, in the westerly part of Taunton, and from there forms the boundary between Taunton and Dighton for a short distance and empties into Taunton River. It furnishes valuable water power in the villages named.
Ten-Mile River is formed by the waters of Bungay River and Seven- Mile River in Attleborough,1 and constitutes the boundary between Seekonk and Rhode Island for a number of miles. Palmer River rises in the town of Rehoboth and flows southwesterly across the town, emptying into Warren River in the town of Swansea. The Segregan- set River rises in Taunton and flows southerly across Dighton, empty- ing into Taunton River in the latter town. In Westport are the east and west branches of Westport River, extending northerly far into the town and receiving the waters of Shingle Island River and other smaller streams. Slocum's River is a broad stream in the south part of Dart- mouth into which flows the Pamunsett River and other smaller streams. Aponagansett River and harbor are also in the south part of Dartmouth,
1 The postal authorities have changed the spelling of this name, when applied to post-offices, leaving off "ugh," but the original spelling is retained in this work.
3
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE SUBJECT.
emptying into Buzzard's Bay. The county is drained in many localities by small brooks, which, with the rivers described, supplied water power in past years to many industries.
Bristol county scenery is beautified by many ponds, or lakes, principal among which are the Watuppa Ponds, of Fall River; Watson's Pond and Sebatia Lake, in Taunton; Winneconnet Pond in Norton; Wilbur Pond in Easton; Reservoir Pond in North Attleborough, and many of less importance. The shore line of the county abutting on Buzzard's Bay is indented with New Bedford Harbor, Clark's Cove, the broad mouths of the southern rivers already named and many coves and in- lets that lend peculiar beauties to the scenery. This coast and the harbors have been the theater of large commercial interests, as will appear in later chapters.
· Bristol is one of the three counties into which Plymouth Colony was divided in 1685 by an act from the first section of which the following is taken:
It is ordered by this Court, and the Authority thereof; that there shall be in this Colony three Counties, and that in each County there shall be kept annually two County Courts, which Courts shall be kept by the Magistrates living in the several Counties or by any other magistrate that can attend the same, or by such as the General Court shall appoint from time to time, and to make a Court, there shall be present not less than three Magistrates or Associates, and in no case shall judgment be given without there be two consenting, or the major part of more than four Judges; and in the absence of Governor or Deputy Governor, the eldest Magistrate shall be President of the Court; which Court shall have, and hereby have power to order the choice of Juries of Grand Inquest and trials in their several Counties, and to constitute Clerks and other needful Officers; the County Treasurer to be appointed and allowed of by said Court annually.
It is Ordered, That each County Court shall have and hereby have power to Hear Try and Determine according to Law all matters, Actions, Causes and Complaints, whether Civil or Criminal, in any Case not extending to Life, Limb or Banishment, or matter of Divorce.
A part of the third section of the act reads as follows:
It is further Ordered, That Bristol, Taunton, Rehoboth, Dartmouth, Swansey, Little Compton, Free Town, Sowammit, Pocasset, Punkatest, and all such Places, Towns and Villages as are or may be settled on said Lands shall be a County, Bristol the County Town, and the said County shall be called the County of Bristol; In which County shall be kept two County Courts annually at the County Town; one on the third Tuesday in May, and the other on the third Tuesday in November.
Under the provisions of this act the machinery of the county govern- ment was started in 1685, nearly fifty years after the first settlement
4
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
was made within its limits. In 1746 the area of the county was con- siderably reduced by the establishment of a new boundary line be- tween Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which assigned to the latter what are now the townships of Bristol, Barrington, Little Compton and Warren. Taunton was then made the shire town, the county re- taining its former name.
Bristol county contains seventeen towns and the cities of Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford, with a population, according to the State census of 1895, of 219,019. The list of towns and cities, and the popu- lation of each, according to the last census, is as follows:
Acushnet, 1,115
Attleborough, 8,288
New Bedford, 55,251 North Attleborough, 6,576
Berkley, 955
Norton, 1,614
Dartmouth, 3,107
Raynham, 1,518
Dighton, 1,797
Rehoboth, 1,810
Easton, 4,452
Seekonk, 1,465
Fairhaven, 3,338
Somerset, 1.983
Fall River, 89,203
Swansea, 1,627
Freetown, 1,405
Mansfield, 3,722
Taunton, 27,115 Westport, 2,678.
The number of legal voters in the county in 1895 was 42,495. Of these towns, there were in existence at the time of the erection of the county only five, as follows: Taunton, Rehoboth, Dartmouth, Swansea and Freetown. From these the other existing towns have been set off as follows:
L Norton, March 17, 1710. Mansfield, April 26, 1770. Easton, December 21, 1725.
Taunton, March 3, 1639.
Dighton, May 30, 1712. Berkley (from Dighton and Taunton), April 18, 1735. Raynham, April 2, 1731.
Rehoboth, June 4, 1645.
Attleborough, October 19, 1694. North Attleborough, June 14, 1887. Seekonk, February 26, 1812.
Dartmouth, Oct. 5, 1652.
4 New Bedford, February 23, 1787. Fairhaven, Feb- 22, 1812. Acushnet, February 13, 1860. Westport, July 2, 1787.
Swansea, March 5, 1668.
S Somerset, February 20, 1790.
5
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE SUBJECT.
Freetown,
Fall River, February 26, 1803.1
July, 1683.
The population of Bristol county on various census dates has been as follows :
1776 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830
1840 1850
1860
26,700 31,709 33,880 37,168 40,908 49,592 60,195 76,192 93,794
1870
1880 1890 1895
102,886 137,040 186,465 219,019
The valuation during the present century by decades is shown in the following figures:
1800
1810 1820 1830 1840 1850
$234,410.27 $321.036.24 $398,581 $11,346, 916 $19,493, 685 $39,243,510 1860 1870 1880 1895
$66,294,256 $80,425, 791 $100,029,138 $170,682, 508
At the present time Bristol county contains sixty-five post-offices; the list is as follows, with the towns in which they are situated :
Acushnet-Acushnet, Long Plain.
Attleborough - Attleborough, South Attleborough, Hebronville, Dodgeville.
Berkley-Berkley, Myricks.
Dartmouth-Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, South Dartmouth, Non- quitt.
Dighton-Dighton, North Dighton, West Dighton, Segreganset.
Easton-Easton, North Easton, South Easton, Eastondale.
Fairhaven-Fairhaven.
Fall River-Fall River, Flint Village, Steep Brook.
Freetown-Freetown, East Freetown.
Mansfield-Mansfield, East Mansfield, West Mansfield.
New Bedford-New Bedford, Clifford, Shawmut.
North Attleborough - North Attleborough, Attleborough Falls, Adamsdale, Oldtown.
Norton-Norton, East Norton, Chartley, Norton Furnace, Barrows- ville.
Raynham-Raynham, North Raynham, Judson.
Rehoboth-Rehoboth, North Rehoboth, South Rehoboth, Harris. Seekonk-Seekonk.
1 A town called Wellington was formed from Dighton June 9, 1814, but the two were reunited on February 22, 1826. On June 16, 1827, Wellington was recreated, but existed only one year, when it was again annexed to Dighton. The name under which Fall River was incorporated was Troy. On February 12, 1834, the original name of Fall River was adopted
6
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Somerset-Somerset, Pottersville.
Swansea-Swansea, North Swansea, South Swansea, Hortonville, Swansea Center.
Taunton-Taunton, East Taunton, Oakland, Walker (the last two supplied from the Taunton office).
Westport-Westport, Westport Point, North Westport, South West- port, Central Village.
This territory of Bristol county was formerly occupied mainly by the Wampanoag Indians, who were at one period one of the most numerous and powerful of the Massachusetts tribes of the Algonquin nation ; their domain extended over nearly the whole of southern Massachusetts from Cape Cod to Narragansett Bay, along whose shores were the powerful Narragansetts, and their numbers at one period reached 30,000. When the English first came among them a recent malignant disease had carried off all but about 300; these were ruled over by the great sachem, Massasoit, the loyal, kindly friend of the white pioneers. Massasoit died in 1661, about twenty years after the first permanent settlements were made on Bristol county territory by white men. At his death he left two sons, Alexander (Wamsutta, his Indian name), and Philip (or Metacomet, his Indian name). The former died in 1662 and Philip, the younger, became sachem of the Wampanoags, and made his reign momentous with deeds affecting the condition of the early settlers. His death took place in 1676, just at the close of his bloody war upon the white people.
The Pocassets were a tribe inhabitating the territory of Tiverton, Somerset, Swansea, and a part of Rehoboth; they, like the Namaskets, and other tribal divisions, were under the supreme rulership of Massa- soit, and later of Philip. Through that old sachem and his sons, Wam- sutta (Alexander). and Philip, the title to the lands in which we are directly interested in this work became vested in the English settlers by purchase, as described in the next chapter.
7
FROM 1637 TO 1685.
CHAPTER II.
FROM 1637 TO 1685.
The first of the purchases from the Indians of territory that was sub- sequently included in Bristol county was the Pole settlement, or Titi- quet Purchase, made by Elizabeth Pole (Pool) in 1637.1 In Gov. John Winthrop's journal for that year is found the following :
This year a plantation was begun at Tecticutt, by a gentlewoman, an ancient maid, one Mrs. Poole. She went late thither and endured much hardship and lost much cattle.
In 1638, one year after Miss Pool's purchase, the Cohannet Purchase was concluded by forty six purchasers, the title coming directly from Massasoit. Confirmatory deeds for both of these purchases were made in 1686, from which the following two brief pertinent extracts are taken :
Know ye that whereas it doth appear to ye said Josiah, Peter and David, both by Indian and English testimonys, that Mrs. Elizabeth Pole, formerly of Taunton, in ye government of New Plymouth, aforesaid, did for and in Behalf of the said Town of Taunton purchase the lands of Tetiquet in ye year one thousand, six hundred, thirty and seven.
And again :
Be it known to all men by these presents:
That whereas, The Governor, and associates of this his Majties Colony, being as- sembled together in General Court, in the year of our Lord 1640, did grant unto Mrs. Elizabeth Pool, Mr. Nicholas Street and some others, and to such as they should associate with them, a tract of land for a plantation, called by the natives Cohannet, as by the Records of ye said Grant with the explanation thereof doth and may ap- pear, which hath now for upwards of forty years been settled and brought into a Township-known by the name of Taunton, etc.
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