USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Westport > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dartmouth > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 1
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جرجير
• الجبير
Gc 974.402 N421r 1204346
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01094 6090
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofnewbedf00rick 0
Dennis Delano" Book.
Grove Servango be Mica May 4th 1889.
Price $ 225 This Book when Iam theme with it is to go to my Brother L Charles a Deleno
Florence & Dickerson
٢
سے
THE
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD,
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS:
INCLUDING
A HISTORY OF THE OLD TOWNSHIP OF DARTMOUTH AND THE PRESENT TOWNSHIPS OF WESTPORT, DARTMOUTH, AND FAIRHAVEN,
FROM THEIR SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.
BY DANIEL RICKETSON.
NEW BEDFORD : PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 1858.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, BY DANIEL RICKETSON, In the Clerk's office of the District Court of Massachusetts.
B. Lindsey, Printer, 21 Hamilton street, New Bedford.
PREFACE.
1204346
TWENTY-SEVEN years ago, when a youth of sev- enteen years, I conceived the idea of writing a history of my native place in the form of a lec- ture, for our then small and newly organized Ly- ceum. I entered upon my task with the ardor of youth, diligently searching every book and record that I could obtain for the earlier portion of my history. I then betook myself to the oldest inhab- itants; a large number of those who had grown up with the place from its earliest history, as a village, being still alive. From these interesting and in- telligent old people, some of whom had reached their ninetieth year, I obtained a good store of rem- iniscences. These, with what I gathered from the records of the old township of Dartmouth, (which township it will be seen originally included New Bedford, Fairhaven, Westport and the present township of Dartmouth,) and such books as con- tained any mention of our place, with a succinct account of the voyage of Bartholomew Gosnold to these shores in 1602, I compiled, and delivered
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before the said Lyceum, on Tuesday evening, March 6th, 1831.
This was the day of small things, it is true, for our now flourishing Lyceum. We then depended altogether upon home productions for our weekly entertainment; and many quiet, pleasant times we used to have of it, in those ante-railway, ante- electric-telegraph days.
Such is the brief history of the origin of my undertaking; and now, at a time of life when it may be reasonably concluded that most of the effervescence of youth has passed off, with subdued feelings and moderate expectations of success, but with a heart none the less warm from the lapse of time in its interest for the spot of my birth, I again enter upon the task, with a sense of pleas- urable duty of putting together what information I have from varied sources been enabled to collect, gathering up the fragments lest nothing be lost; so that those who come after us may have a nucleus round which to form a more full and complete his- tory, when our youthful city shall take its place, as it is evidently destined at no very distant day to do, if it has not already, among the chief cities of this country.
I have endeavored to make this history truthful, and, in order to effect this primary object, have rejected everything which I was not fully convinced as being authentic. To the friends who have af- forded me assistance in the preparation of my task, I would return my warmest thanks.
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The following is the introductory sketch to the lecture before alluded to, as it originally appeared. Youth is the only apology that will be required for its faults.
ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION.
The fondness with which we are inspired for the spot of our nativity seems to have been generated with ourselves; nor can time or distance eradicate it. Whatever fortune attends us, or whatever cir- cumstance may induce us to leave our natal soil, whether we traverse foreign countries, or have set- tled in another clime, still we are neither withdrawn nor estranged from it, but turn with pleasure to the scenes of our childhood and companions of our youth. Poets of all ages have sung its bless- ings, and the sympathetic muse delights to wander over its joys and scan its beauties. This enthusi- astic fire, this glowing flame, that burns within the heart of every one, neither age nor circumstance is able to quench. The Frenchman, when far away from his native land and winged retrospec- tion brings him to his own sweet home, sighs for " the blushing vine-hills of his delightful France;" and the rude inhabitant of the Emerald Isle, driven from his country by the extremest necessity, still bears the latent spark within his bosom ; and, too, the illiterate Laplander, having seen the light of the civilized world, gladly returns to his sledge and deer.
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It behoves every American to be acquainted with the history of the place which gave him birth. The history of this country is neither wrapped in ob- scurity, nor hidden in uncertainty: there are no fictitious names, no fabled account of heroes ; every- thing is authentic, and much within the memory of people yet living.
While other nations are boasting of their an- tiquity, and exulting in the mysterious deeds of their ancestors, we pride ourselves in the recency of our origin, and the well-known achievements during the struggle for liberty, as well as for the rapidity of our increase.
Scarce two centuries ago, this spot was one forest wild, the abode of the tawny Indian and wild beast; its vast wilderness had never been penetrated by civilized man, nor the peace of its people injured; the smoke arose free from the un- molested wigwam, and the woods re-echoed to the shrill war-whoop; the wild deer bounded through the glade, and the light canoe was swiftly paddled over the Acushnet. Then the Indian with a light heart roved over the soil where our town now rests, and with careless joy, through the forest that once crowned yon hill, pursued the animated chase. Oft this has been the scene of the feast, the dance, and the song of fearless, thoughtless joy.
But these have all departed: our mansions have succeeded the Indian's hut, and he is now known but by a few mouldering bones turned up by the plough-share, and we daily tread above the graves of his once mighty race. The same ethereal vault
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o'erarches this land, the seasons roll on as before, and the waves break upon the same shores, but not to the Indian: he has long since been gathered to his fathers, and we are now the undisputed lords of the land.
NEW BEDFORD, MARCH 1, 1831.
I am aware that much of the material of this history is wanting in arrangement, but it should be remembered that I have been obliged to collect my information from a great variety of sources, and at different times during a period of many years. The labor of an original work of this kind is much more arduous and difficult than of many more important works of history where the labors of others can be brought into requisition. I trust, therefore, my readers will make all due allowance should the want of a more regular method be sometimes observable. It has been my chief object to snatch from the oblivion to which a large portion of our early his- tory was fast hastening, and to collect together, as much as possible, for preservation. In a good de- gree I feel the assurance of having accomplished this purpose.
The first number of my historical sketches ap- peared in the New Bedford Daily Mercury, on Sat- urday, September 27th, 1856. This was followed by others on the succeeding Saturdays, which, with some alteration and considerable addition, com- prise this volume.
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Although I do not claim to have performed my task thoroughly or to my own satisfaction, I have been gratified at the generous reception my labors have met with from my friends and the public of our vicinity, and, for the want of a better history of my native place, have undertaken to embody these hastily written sketches in the form of a book.
Trusting that this volume, with humble preten- tions, will meet in some measure the want of a bet- ter performance, I submit it to the public.
BROOKLAWN, near New Bedford, May 1st, 1858.
D. R.
CONTENTS.
PREFACE,.
Page
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Chapter
I. The Old Township of Dartmouth - Discovery of the Coast by Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602- Early Settlement -Deed from the Indian Sachem Massasoit to Governor Bradford and others-The Original Survey of Dartmouth, .. . . . . . . . . . . 13 II. The Indians of Dartmouth -Troubles of the Early Settlers - Order of Court relative to the Support of the Ministry - Difficulty of Enforcing the Same-Origin of the Name of Dartmouth-Ralph Russell, and the Russell Family - Joseph Rotch-Origin of the Name of New Bedford --- Early Quakers - Gosnold's Settlement at Cuttyhunk - Identification of the same by Dr. Belknap-Survey of the Township by Order of King Philip-List of the Original Purchasers, .20
III. Character of the Early Settlers of Dartmouth-Destruction of their Property by the Indians-Order of Court, 1678, for More Compact Settlements-Old Colony Records - Freemen of Dartmouth-Names of the Original Proprie- tors-Proprietors' Records-Old Houses-Indian Relics, .. 30 IV. The Early Friends or Quakers-First Meeting-House, built in 1699- Visit of Early English Friends-Joseph Russell, Sen .- Causes of the Decline of the Society of Friends- Record of Meetings-Early Business-Joseph Russell, Jr. -His Ancestor Ralph Russell,. .37
V. The First Representative to the Old Colony Court, John Rus- sell -Names of those who had Taken the Oath of Fidelity, 1684-Old Record-Early Land-Owners-Longevity of Early Inhabitants-First House in the Village of Bed- ford-First Ship-Her Part in the Boston Tea-Party, ...... 44
X
Page
Chapter
VI. The Whale-Fishery -Burke's Tribute to the Early Whalemen - Early Enterprises-The Effects of the Revolution -The Old Ship Rebecca-Anecdote of the Early Strictness of Friends-Relics of Whaling in the Olden Time, .. ........... 53 VII. The Village of Bedford-Statistics by Abraham Shearman, Jr. - Captain William Gordon's Account of the Invasion by the British Troops during the Revolutionary War - Schedule of Property Destroyed- Anecdote of the Intre- pidity of a Woman-First Candle-Works-Causes of Prosperity, .70
VIII. March of the British Troops to Acushnet and Fairhaven - Destruction of Property on the Way-New Bedford and Fairhaven Bridge-Light-House at Clark's Point -The Bedford Bank-Notice of John Pickens, Joseph Ricketson and George Howland-Reflections upon those Times, ....... 78 IX. The Acushnet River, from its Rise to the Harbor of New Bed- ford-Islands in the River-The Native Indians-The Last of the Wampanoags- Settlement of Fairhaven, ........ 88 X. The Whale-Fishery, continued from Chapter VI-Biograph- ical Sketches- Architecture of Older and More Modern Buildings, &c,. ...
.100
XI. Buzzard's Bay -Its Discovery by the Northmen, afterwards by Bartholomew Gosnold-Origin of its Present Name -The Elizabeth Islands-Naushon and the Bowdoin House- Trip to Naushon in 1856,. .116
XII. Early Newspapers- Sketches of an Old Ship-Master and Mer- chant-Old Editors of the New Bedford Press, .137
XIII. Recapitulation in Part of Former Matters-Partial Genealogy of the Russell Family-Old Proprietors-Cases of Lon- gevity, &c.,. 152
XIV. The Mode of Travelling in Olden Times-Sketches of Two Journeys on Horseback, one of which breaks off rather suddenly - Reminiscences of Old Citizens, 166
XV. Old Settlers-The Original Surveyor of Dartmouth -Genea- logical Sketches of several Old Families -Reminiscences of the Indians,. 179
XVI. Early Intercourse with England -Letter of Introduction Giv- en to a Merchant of this Place by a Firm in London pre- vious to the Revolutionary War-A Stray Leaf from the Diary of said Merchant -Old Houses - Genealogical Sketches of Old Families-Historical Reminiscences, .. 195
XVII. An Old Pensioner's Story, 213
XVIII. Preliminary Remarks upon the Mercantile Profession - Views in relation to Mercantile Character-The Value of Probity and Integrity in Commercial Pursuits-Sketches of Two Old Merchants, drawn from life,. .227
XIX. The Writer's Views in regard to the Title of his Production- Reminiscences of Elisha Thornton and James Davis, Two
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Chapter
Page
Distinguished Ministers of the Society of Friends in New Bedford, and General Remarks upon their Characters and Influence, . .236
XX. The Early and Continued Anti-Slavery Character of New Bedford-Biographical Sketch of Capt. Paul Cuffee- Lines Written by Phillis Wheatley, .. .252
XXI. The Topography of Old Dartmouth, continued from a previ- ous chapter-The Villages in the Vicinity of New Bedford : Russell's Mills, Westport, Smith's Mills, Acushnet, Long Plain, and Padanaram or South Dartmouth Village: with General Observations interspersed,. .. 265
XXII. The Destruction of Property by the British Troops-Extracts from the Official Letters of General Grey, the Commander of the Expedition, to Sir Henry Clinton-Letter of Robert Fanshawe to Sir Henry Clinton-Doctor Dwight's Account of the Invasion, during a visit to New Bedford, from in- formation obtained of Judge Pope's Incidental Obser- vations - Additional Account of the same, of a later date, by Judge Pope- Further Reminiscences of the Revolution, from a retired ship-master of Fairhaven, .. .278
XXIII. Retrospective View-List of Vessels Registered for 1818 and 1819-State of the Whale-Fishery in 1830-Capture of a British Brig-of-War by the Armed Sloop Providence- The Old Ship Maria-Memorandum of Samuel Rodman, Sen .: Abstract of her Voyages-A Reminiscence of In- terest to the Votaries of Mammon-Narrow Escape-The September Gale, and its Effects upon the Shipping of New Bedford, .. 300
XXIV. Ecclesiastical, Legal, and Medical Reminiscences-Dialectic Society - Fragment Society-New Bedford Lyceum- Friends' Academy - Climate-Public Roads and Streets,. . 314 XXV. Separate Notices of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven - Freemen of Dartmouth, 1686- Warrants of Colonel Samuel Willis for the Impressment of Soldiers - Extracts from the Plymouth Records relative to the Early Affairs of Dart- mouth - Further Reminiscences of Naushon - Note relat- ing to the Northmen's Visit to this Coast-Prize Brought into New Bedford by Lieutenant Thomas Truxton, 1776,. .. 340 XXVI. Incorporation Act of New Bedford and Fairhaven as a Town- ship, 1787 - Act of Separation of New Bedford and Fair- haven, 1812 - Orthography of Acushnet-List of the Light- Houses in Buzzard's Bay - Old Advertisement relating to the New Bedford Bridge, from the Columbian Courier, 1798-First Whaling Voyage to the Pacific Ocean from Nantucket-Notice of Captain William Claghorn - Cap- tain Edmund Gardner's Account of a Portion of [his Sea- faring Life-The Progress of New Bedford - Statistics of the Whale-Fishery, ..
.360
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Page
Chapter
XXVII. Visit to Cuttyhunk and Gosnold's Islet, August 9th, 1858- Muster-Roll of the Company of Captain Thomas Kempton, 1775 - Additional List of Revolutionary Soldiers of Dart- mouth - Lines by Doctor Daniel Hathaway on the Death of Daniel Russell, 1772- Records from Old Burial-Places- Letter of Jabez Delano, 1727 - Synopsis of the Natural History of this Vicinity - Conclusion,. 374
INDEX,. .409
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
CHAPTER I.
THE OLD TOWNSHIP OF DARTMOUTH-DISCOVERY OF THE COAST BY BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD IN 1602- EARLY SETTLEMENT -DEED FROM THE INDIAN SACHEM MASSASOIT TO GOVERNOR BRADFORD, AND OTHERS- THE ORIGINAL SURVEY OF DARTMOUTH.
NEW BEDFORD was originally a part of the old township of Dartmouth, from which it was set off and incorporated into a separate township in the year 1787. The old township of Dartmouth for- merly included the present townships of Dartmouth, Westport, New Bedford and Fairhaven, and was purchased of the Indians in 1652. That part of the old township of Dartmouth which includes the present township of New Bedford was known to the Indians by the name of Accushnet, or Accoos- net, and sometimes Accushena; Fairhaven as Scon- ticut; Dartmouth as Apponeganset, and Westport as Acoaxet. The Acushnet River, and the adjoin- ing shores upon which New Bedford stands, were first discovered in 1602, by Bartholomew Gosnold, who sailed from Falmouth, England, on the 26th
B
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of March of that year. The names of the persons who embarked on this voyage, as far as they have been ascertained, are as follows: Bartholomew Gosnold, Commander; Bartholomew Gilbert, 2d officer; John Angel; Robert Saltern, who was af- terwards a clergyman; William Streete; Gabriel Archer, gentleman and journalist; James Rosier, who wrote an account of the voyage and presented it to Sir Walter Raleigh; John Brierton; and Tucker. There were thirty-two persons in all, eight of whom were mariners.
" The design of the voyage was to find a direct and short course to Virginia, and upon a discovery of a proper seat for a plantation, twelve of the company were to return to England till further assistance and supplies could be sent them."
The fine group of islands known as the Elizabeth Islands was first discovered by Gosnold, and so called in honor of the Queen of England. The island now known as Cuttyhunk they called Eliza- beth. Here they made their place of rendezvous, and upon an islet in a small fresh-water pond built a place of defence and a store-house.
" While some of Gosnold's men labored in build- ing a fort and store-house on the small island in the pond, and a flat-bottomed boat.to go to it, he crossed the bay in his vessel and discovered the mouth of the river on the west shore of which New Bed- ford is now built. On the shore he was met by a company of natives, men, women and children, who with all courteous kindness entertained him, giving him skins of wild beasts, tobacco, turtles, hemp, artificial strings colored (wampum,) and such like things as they had about them. The stately groves,
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flowery meadows and running brooks afforded delightful entertainment to the adventurers." Bel- knap.
Their original intention, as will be seen from the preceding extract, was for twenty of the company to remain, and for the others to return to England with the vessel, and bring or send them supplies. But they suddenly changed their minds, and after having loaded their vessel with sassafras root and furs, on the 17th of June they set sail for England, and arrived at Exmouth, Devonshire, after a pleas- ant passage of five weeks.
Bartholomew Gosnold died in Virginia on the 22d of August, 1607, whither he had gone with Captain John Smith.
About 30 or 40 years after this, the country began to be settled by the English, and owing to the hos- tility of the Indians they were under the necessity of living in garrisons. In the year 1676, Capt. Church, in his History of the Indian War, speaks of a garrison at Russell's Orchard, which was sit- uated near the head of the Apponeganset River, in Dartmouth. In this garrison was born Joseph Russell, a son of whom, by the same name, I shall have occasion to mention hereafter. There was also another garrison on the east side of the Acushnet River, about one mile north of the village of Oxford, the remains of which are still to be seen.
The following is a copy of the deed from Mas- sasoit or Woosamequin, and his son Wamsutta, or Moanam, who was also called by the English
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Alexander. Philip of Pokanoket, whose true name was Pometacom, was also a son of Massasoit, and younger than Alexander.
" Bradford Gobernour. 1654. A deed appointed to be recorded.
NEW PLYMOUTH, November the 29th, 1652. Know all men by these presents, that I, Wesam- equen, and Wamsutta my son, have sold unto Mr. William Bradford, Captain Standish, Thomas Southworth, John Winslow, John Cooke and their associates, the purchasers or old-comers, all the tract or tracts of land lying three miles eastward from a river called Cushenagg, to a certain harbour called Acoaksett, to a flat rock on the westward side of the said harbour. And whereas the said har- bour divideth itself into several branches, the west- ernmost arme to be the bound, and all the tract or tracts of land from the said westernmost arme to the said river of Cushenagg, three miles eastward of the same, with all the profits and benefits within the said tract, with all the rivers, creeks, meadows, necks and islands that lye in or before the same, and from the sea upward to go so high that the English may not be annoyed by the hunting of the Indians in any sort of their cattle. And I, Wesam- equen, and Wamsutta, do promise to remove' all the Indians within a year from the date hereof that do live in the said tract. And we, the said Wesam- equen and Wamsutta, have fully bargained and sold unto the aforesaid Mr. William Bradford, Captain Standish, Thomas Southworth, John Winslow, John Cooke, and the rest of their associates, the purchasers or old-comers, to have and to hold for them and their heirs and assigns forever. And in consideration hereof, we the above-mentioned are to pay to the said Wesamequen and Wamsutta as followeth : thirty yards of cloth, eight moose- skins, fifteen axes, fifteen hoes, fifteen pair of
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breeches, eight blankets, two kettles, one cloak, 2 £ in wampan, eight pair stockings, eight pair of shoes, one iron pot, and ten shillings in another comodi- tie. And in witness hereof we have interchangeably set to our hands the day and year above written.
JOHN WINSLOW.
In the presence of
JOHN COOKE.
JONATHAN SHAW,
His
SAMUEL EDDY. WAMSUTTA. WW mark. "
A fine picture of the landing of Gosnold upon our shores has been painted by our fellow-towns- man, William A. Wall. From a notice of this picture made by the writer of this history at the time of its exhibition in 1842, the following extract is taken: " The artist has combined the authentic accounts of the event with the natural scenery in a most happy manner. The conception of the whole affair is exceedingly beautiful. The time is early morning-the sun not yet risen; but his strong light is breaking from the east across the water and the Elizabeth Islands in the distance, the light clouds are flying away before the gentle breeze, and the dewy freshness of early day is seen upon all things around, while a thrush, from his seat upon a neighboring tree, is chanting his sweet salutation to the hardy adventurer. Gosnold, with his first officer, Bartholomew Gilbert, Gabriel Archer, 'gen- tleman and journalist,' and several of his men, are seen upon the shore, which, together with a group of Indians with whom they are trading, forms the chief attraction of this beautiful picture. 'The fig- ure of Bartholomew Gosnold well represents the ' active, intrepid and experienced mariner,' as he is
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called by an old historian. The boat from which they have apparently just landed is held by a sailor with a boat-hook, while another, leaning over the gunwale, is musingly looking up the river. A sweet quiet pervades the whole scene; and the re- flection of the British flag, drowsily hanging from its staff at the stern of the boat, is seen upon the glassy water. The 'small bark' which bore them across the Atlantic, with her sails loose, is seen in the offing. The mind is involuntarily carried back to that beautiful morning; and the sweet serenity of the scene must awaken the pleasantest reflec- tions in the mind of the spectator."
Below is a copy of the record of the settlement of the bounds of Dartmouth made with Philip. Record of Deeds, Plymouth Colony, Book 3d, page 323.
" Whereas, according to an order of court, held at Plymouth, bearing date the third day of October, Anno Domini 1664, wherein Phillip, Sagamore of Pokannockett, &c., was desired to appoint an agent or more to set out and mark the bounds of Acushna, Coaksett, and places adjacent, the said Sachem sent John Sassamon, on the 19th day of November, in the year aforesaid, to act in his behalf in the prem- ises, whoe hath set the bounds of the said tract and tracts as followeth, viz .: at Acushena three miles to the east according to the deed bearing date November 29th, 1652, from a black-oak marked on four sides, running upward north into the woods eight miles, and downward south with so much of the island Nakata as falls within the said line; at Akoaksett, from a white-oak marked on four sides, standing on the west side of the head of the cove, ranging up into the woods north six miles and an
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half to a great pond, unto a white-oak marked, standing upon the west side of the pond, near the south end of the said pond; by reason of the run- ning of the pond, one mile on the east side upward to a black-oak marked on four sides, standing near a maple tree on the side of the said pond, about the middle of it, which pond is called Watuppa ; the upper bounds to run from tree to tree upon a strait line, and at the head of the westernmost arm from the said white-oak to the flat rock ex- pressed in the deed aforesaid."
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CHAPTER II.
THE INDIANS OF DARTMOUTH-TROUBLES OF THE EARLY. SETTLERS- ORDER OF COURT RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY -DIFFICULTY OF ENFORCING THE SAME- ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF DARTMOUTH-RALPH RUSSELL AND THE RUSSELL FAMILY -JOSEPH ROTCH- ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF NEW BEDFORD -EARLY QUAK- ERS- GOSNOLD'S SETTLEMENT AT CUTTYHUNK-IDEN- TIFICATION OF THE SAME BY DR. BELKNAP-SURVEY OF THE TOWNSHIP BY ORDER OF KING PHILIP-LIST OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASERS.
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