USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 2 > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
An event of much international significance that took place in this town was that of July 4, 1918, when Viscount Ishii, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, presented to the town of Fairhaven a samurai sword, a memento of the fourteenth century, the gift of Dr. Toichiro Nakahama, of Tokio, in commemoration of the rescue of his father, Manjiro Naka- hama, by Captain William H. Whitfield, of Fairhaven.
Fairhaven societies and clubs include the following-named: George H. Taber Lodge, A. F. and A. M., that in 1901 was presented by Henry H. Rogers with its present building; Gifford Chapter, No. 105, Order of the Eastern Star; Sconticut Tribe, No. 97, I. O. R. M .; Phenix Lodge, I. O. O. F., M. U .; the Colonial Club, Mrs. Horace K. Nye, president; Mrs. Pardon A. Howland secretary ; the Village Improvement Association, now the Fairhaven Improvement Association, formed in 1882; Fairhaven Golf Club, organized in May, 1900; the Fairhaven Men's Club; the Fairhaven Veterans Association; the Educational Art Club; Post No. 96, American Legion.
CHAPTER VII. FREETOWN
Freetown is that old settlement whose beginnings were co-incident witl: those of the present Fall River, the great manufacturing city that has gone out into the larger highways of the world, and completely separated itself from the mother town. Freetown retains the original name, and the significance of "Ye Freemen's Purchase" of that four-mile tract that was
747
TOWNS OF BRISTOL COUNTY
made in 1659 by twenty-six men of Scituate, Duxbury, Taunton, Plymouth and elsewhere. In the story of the growth of Fall River, we have told whence these purchasers came, and who they were, and that the purpose of those first purchasers appeared to be a speculation in the property, as they did not come here to live, as a general thing. For example, Henry Howland of Duxbury, owner of the sixth lot in the purchase did not occupy, but his sons, John and Samuel, actually settled here. The lots that particularly interest the present Freetown, were purchased as follows: The twenty- second lot, which included much of the land upon which Assonet has been built, was purchased by John Barnes of Plymouth. Palo Alto Pierce, former town clerk, indicates that the south line of this lot corresponded with the south line of the burying-ground opposite the Christian church; and that the north line was probably near the north line of land owned by the Pickens estate, and that of Mrs. W. H. Hathaway, a little south of Elm street : while from east to west it extended from the bay four miles into the woods. Mr. Pierce further points to the fact that by the deed of 1685 all the meadows along the river "below the path" are excepted from sale, showing that there was a path along the river, corresponding to what is now Water street, ever since the settlement of the town, though not on the same lines. The twenty-third lot was purchased by John Tisdale, of Marshfield, but who later went to Taunton, and here also a portion of Assonet Village is situated. His son Joshua settled upon this lot and died there about 1714. and hence the high rock to the east of Assonet station is known as "Joshua's mountain." Freetown passed out of proprietary ownership in 1683, and was incorporated as a town. In 1803 Fall River was set off by itself. New Free- town, or East Freetown, that was formerly a part of Tiverton, was an- nexed to old Freetown in 1747.
Churches and Schools .- Though a town vote of June 10, 1699, proposed the building of a meetinghouse at that time, a church was not built until 1710, that being a house thirty-six by twenty-six feet. William Way, how- ever, had already arrived on the scene as the first minister and schoolmaster. But as soon as the church was built, Rev. Joseph Avery, who also became the first minister at Norton, took up a brief residence here. Then, on June 2, 1713, Jonathan Dodson was "appointed a minister of the gospel from this town until there is a supply from England." Rev. Thomas Craighead was called in September, 1717. On account of trouble because of arrearages in the salary of that minister, Mr. Craighead became unpopular, and for twenty-five years nothing is said concerning a settled minister. Then in 1747 came Rev. Silas Britt from Bridgewater, a Yale College man, who had preached at Easton. In April, 1748, he was given a farm of fifty-three acres, from which and his stipend he was able to support himself. He remained here up to February 24, 1776. From that time onwards, until near the end of the year 1809, no settled minister had charge of the Congregationalist affairs here. In that year the old meetinghouse, which had stood within the northernmost limits of the present Fall River township, was demolished, and the present large meetinghouse at Assonet Village was built.
The Calvinistic Baptists had a strong following in this town and neigh- borhood during the latter part of the seventeenth century and the first part of the eighteenth. Rev. David Simmons was pastor of their church in the southerly part of Assonet Village, and he was succeeded by Rev. Philip
748
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
Hathaway up to 1807, in which year he, with his congregation, assumed the name "Christian Church". Thus, with its two ministers, ended that Bap- tist branch. The new Christian Church and society then formed built their new meetinghouse in 1832, the old meetinghouse being demolished in 1835. The present First Baptist Church in Fall River was formerly, before the division, the Second Calvinistic Church in Freetown. The Third Calvinistic Baptist had their meetinghouse on the county road east of the village in New Freetown, and Rev. Abner Lewis was their pastor for a short period. Besides the above-named churches, there is a Friends' meetinghouse, built in 1852 in the northerly part of the town; the Second Christian, built about the year 1830 at Mason's Corner in East Freetown; the Third Christian, at Braley's Four Corners, built in 1879, and the Fourth Christian near the Rochester line, built in 1865. For some time, the North Church and the Christian church formulated a union, during the pastorates of Revs. Mr. Dwight and Mr. Wallace, but the federation lasted only a few years.
The first schoolmaster recorded in Freetown was William Way, who served both as minister and school-master from 1705 to 1707. Though suc- ceeding ministers may have taught the first school, the next made mention of was Jacob Hathaway, who was appointed May 15, 1718. Following him as schoolmasters were Thomas Roberts, the same year; William Gage 'in 1725; William Caswell, 1726. Two schoolhouses were built in 1722, but in 1727 they were sold at public auction. In 1745 the town purchased Ephraim Tisdale's house and land in the village a little south of the fountain and there Shadrach Hathaway taught many years. The building was destroyed by fire in 1772. Meantime, another schoolhouse was in process of building near the centre of the town, from May, 1748, to January 27, 1755. East Freetown being added to the town in 1747, their first schoolhouse was built in 1762 near Mason's Corner, by Captain Elisha Parker. The people in that part of the town were allowed sixty dollars in 1770 towards building a schoolhouse, and in August that year, James Tisdale was appointed their schoolmaster. Elijah Briggs was schoolmaster in the town in 1772, and he was succeeded by Shadrach Winslow, a college graduate.
Again, in 1773, a schoolhouse was built, on the site of the house pur- chased of Ephraim Tisdale in 1745, and there also town meetings were held many years. In 1781 there were seven school districts, No. 1 being the south part of the town, now Fall River; No. 2, from Valentine's brook to the Barnaby place; No. 3, from the Barnaby place to the foot of Ridge Hill, including Bryant's Neck; No. 4, Assonet; No. 5, Slab Bridge and the dis- trict west of Bolton cedar swamp; No. 6, the district east of that swamp; No. 7, the district west of Watuppa pond. Freetown began to choose school committees in 1785, and in 1798 new buildings were erected in each district. The Assonet district then maintained two schools. When the south part of the town was set off in 1803, districts 1 and 7 were apportioned to Troy, later, Fall Fiver. A new schoolhouse was built in East Freetown in 1804 on land of Shubael Howland; and in 1809 Dean Read was given the contract to build a schoolhouse and town house. A building was completed in 1818 on land of Cornelius Chase, and was used as a schoolhouse until 1862. when a new one was built west of it. The present Forge school building was erected in 1862; and in the early part of 1869 a new house was built in the south district. In the same year, old school buildings-the Pound, Forge:
749
TOWNS OF BRISTOL COUNTY
and Tripp, were sold and made over into dwellinghouses. The schoolhouses in the town in 1923 were the Village grammar and primary; the South grammar and primary, the Chase school; the East grammar and primary, and the Union grammar and primary.
In April, 1900, a school union with Swansea and Seekonk was effected, and a superintendent employed. Edward M. Hill was superintendent of schools here, in union with Westport, in 1923. The town appropriation for schools in 1923 was $25,500. Eighteen pupils were attending high school in New Bedford, eleven in Fall River and one in Taunton. The prevailing law. whereby Massachusetts towns are liable to the expense of sending pupils to outside schools for further education, originated in Freetown, George B. Cudworth then of the Freetown school committee, advancing the proposition at the State House. Soon afterwards, Gilbert Nichols, also of the school board, fathered the proposition that the State bear part of the burden of that expense, and it was enacted into a law.
In the Wars .- Freetown's first company of militia was formed in 1683, with Thomas Terry as commander. This company, which retained its or- ganization for more than a century, had Captain Benjamin Read for its com- mander during the Revolution. Captain Henry Brightman, from this town had charge of the Second company, and Captain James Norton of the Third company. John Hathaway was colonel of a regiment in which these served: Sylvester Richmond, lieutenant-colonel: Manasseh Kempton and Joseph Durfee, majors; and Captain Benjamin Weaver received promotion to lieutenant-colonel July 10, 1788. Captain James Richmond and Jonathan Richmond were in the marine service of the patriots 1778-80; and Colonel Joseph Durfee was in command of the company that repelled the British attack on Freetown at Fall River, May 25, 1778.
'Assonet was known as a Tory stronghold just preceding the War of the Revolution, and Colonel Thomas Gilbert had here stored war materials, and by order of General Gage counted on three hundred followers to put down the insurrection hereabouts. But the Whig towns were in the ascendant, and the Tories were compelled to disperse, Colonel Gilbert him- self finding safety aboard a man-of-war at Newport. In the War of 1812. Freetown furnished two companies, with Captains Lynde Hathaway and Simeon Ashley in charge.
On petition of Robert P. Strobridge and fifty-two others, Company G of Assonet in Freetown was chartered June 7, 1850, and that company is often styled the school of the officers and forty-two of the soldiers of Free- town who fought in the Civil War. In that war. 155 men from Freetown enlisted for the preservation of the Union, eighteen of them being com- missioned officers. Three men from here enlisted in the Spanish-American War.
The Honor Roll that was set up in front of the Guilford H. Hathaway Library building in Assonet, in August, 1918, when the soldiers were given a rousing welcome home, contains sixty-two names, one of them being in- dicated with a star. More than $700 was raised during the war period in the united war drive. Eugene Herbert was chairman of the local Red Cross work; George Hathaway and Rufus Davis were the enrollment committee ; Mrs. Ethel Davis was instructor of surgical dressings : Mrs. Catherine Clark
750
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
was chairman of the special aid society. John Thwaites was chairman for Freetown in the Liberty Loan drives.
Industries .- On Assonet River within a distance of about six miles, remain ten dams; on old Mill brook and Terry brook are three dams; and on Fall brook, in East Freetown, are six dams, whereon during the past nearly three centuries saw-mills, grist-mills, iron works, bleacheries and cotton manufactories have carried on the river industries of the town. Saw- mills built by the Winslow family remained in the family until 1893. Among those who have owned privileges on Assonet river have been: mem- bers of the Hathaway family, Josiah Winslow, Henry Porter, David M. Anthony, Captain John W. Marble, J. Henry Pierce. In 1704, a company built some ironworks on the land of Nathaniel Winslow; successively, the plant went into the hands of Thomas Strobridge for scythe-making, in 1820, John Crane, Sampson and Nichols and Weaver and Osborne, Thomas and John Thorpe, and Crocker and Bassett. The mill was burned in 1874. A grist mill was run at Assonet Village for forty years by David Babbitt; higher up the stream, were the Philip Rounseville dam and saw-mill; the David Terry bleachery privilege; Captain Henry H. Winslow's mill; Ben- jamin and Henry Porter's trip-hammer shop. Many other small mills have been built at dams along this river, from time to time, notably those of A. W. Pierce and Charles S. White, Julius C. Haskins and John T. Has- kins.
On Mill brook there have been operated saw-mill, grist-mill and foun- dry, and near the head of Payne's cove, Edmund B. Lewis had a bleachery and dye-house. On that site the present Crystal Spring Bleachery and Dyeing Company bleacheries, with a capital of $125,000, started in 1882: they employ 200 hands. Albert A. Harrison is president of the company : John Thwaites, treasurer; and they and A. C. Thwaites are the directors.
A cupola furnace was built on Terry brook in 1829, that was run by Elkanah Doggett until about 1834, after which Gideon P. Hathaway made threshing machines there; the building was then a spooling mill, and John Thorpe was the first to conduct the waste-cleaning business in the town. The mill was burned, and the Crystal Spring Bleachery is now on its site. In 1784 there was a blast furnace on Fall brook, at East Freetown, where iron-ore was smelted and hollow-ware manufactured. The section is still known as "Furnace," or Furnace Village, and Rounseville Furnace. Later purchasers of this property for various uses were James Alger of Bridge- water, General Cromwell Washburn of Taunton, Colonel Salmon Fobes and Nahum Alger of Bridgewater. The Providence Foundry Company pur- chased the property in 1818, and built a cupola furnace. A sash and blind factory was afterwards operated here. For many years also, members of the Burns family had a saw-mill farther up the river. N. R. Davis & Sons, manufacturers of sporting firearms, began the business of the manufacture of muzzle-loading rifles at the Forge, July 1, 1853. In 1854 they removed to the old Thresher building near the foot of Water street, and there in 1858 they introduced the muzzle-loading shot-gun manufacture; in 1861 they began the manufacture of parts of the Springfield rifled muskets. In 1862 Mr. Thresher retired, and Thomas G. Nichols, M. D., became an equal part- ner in the firm. The gun-shop burned to the ground May 19, 1864, a total
751
TOWNS OF BRISTOL COUNTY
loss, and it is believed there was incendiary cause. Work was resumed in the Nichols & Sampson store. In 1866 the rim-fire breech-loading double guns were first made. In the winter of 1893-4 the old Assonet Machine Company building was occupied and enlarged. W. A. and N. W. Davis were admitted as partners in 1883. In 1923 the New England Oil Refining Company purchased a number of farms for the location of their business at Assonet. The Swiss Textile Company for the manufacture of absorbent cotton and napkins has been established here for some years. The capital of the company is $98,000. J. Rupert is president; D. McBane, secretary.
Formerly, ship-building was a Freetown industry that gave employ- ment to many. The first vessels were built here in 1782, and the last one in 1848. The list includes 158 sloops, 72 schooners, 20 brigs, one brig- antine, two barks, one ship, a total of 254 vessels. Many ship captains and owners of vessels were natives, or had their homes here.
Town Hall, Library, etc .- The present Town Hall was built in 1888. The town clerks have been as follows: Samuel Gardiner, 1688 and 1691; Joshua Tisdale, 1696-99; Thomas King, 1700; John Read, Jr., 1701-15; Lieu- tenant Robert Durfee, 1716; John Read, 1717-18; Jonathan Dodson, 1719; John Read, 1720-37 ; Joseph Reed, 1738-44; Ambrose Barnaby, 1745-49; Abiel Terry, 1750-62; Ambrose Barnaby, 1763-66; Zebedee Terry, 1767-74; Samuel Barnaby, 1775-79; Philip Hathaway, 1780-87; Ephraim Winslow, 1788-94; William Ennis. 1795-99; Benjamin Porter, 1800; Ebenezer Pierce, 1801; Captain Job Pierce, 1802; Ebenezer Pierce, 1803-05; Lieutenant William Pratt, 1806-23; Thomas Bump, M. D., 1824-25; Elder James Taylor, 1826; John T. Lawton, 1827-28; Ephraim Atwood, 1829-31; Thomas Bump, 1832- 34; Colonel Ephraim Winslow, 1835-36; Alden Hatheway, Jr., 1837-39; Davis J. Barrows, 1840-41; Joseph B. Weaver, 1842-48; Thomas G. Nichols, 1849- 58; Silas P. Richmond, 1859-62; George W. Hall, 1863; Don C. H. Hatha- way, 1864-74; Humphrey A. Francis, 1875-78; Palo A. Pierce, 1879-84; William A. Davis, 85; Palo A. Pierce, 1886-97; Joseph H. Taylor, 1897-1902 : Gilbert M. Nichols, Walter H. Cudworth.
Through the efforts of Miss E. Florence Hathaway a town meeting in March, 1892, voted to organize a library with Gilbert M. Nichols, George B. Cudworth and Miss Hathaway as trustees. The library thus established is known as the Guilford H. Hathaway Library. The necessary appropriation was made, and the State sent the equivalent in books, Miss Hathaway, Mr. Cudworth and Mr. Nichols alternating as librarians. The books were kept at the Town Hall at first; then, with the gift of the lot by John D. Wilson and through the gift of Miss Hathaway, the present building was erected in 1895. Miss Florence M. Dean succeeded Miss Hathaway as regular librarian in 1895; she was succeeded in 1901 by Miss Helen Winslow, and she in 1919 by Miss Gertrude H. Davis.
There are two postoffices in Freetown, one at Assonet Village and the other at East Freetown. The former is in the Hathaway Library building, the official name of this postoffice having been changed April 1, 1901 from Freetown to Assonet; and rural delivery was established April 1, 1902. The postmasters have been as follows: Stephen B. Pickens, 1811-17 ; Robert Strobridge, 1817-22; George Pickens, 1822-41; Guilford H. Hatha- way, 1841-45; Joshua Shove, 1845-72; Daniel L. Johnson, 1872-82; Elbert F. Winslow, 1882-86; Elnathan P. Hathaway, 1886-89; C. Isabel Hatheway.
752
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
1889-97; Miss M. Florence Dean, 1897-1901; Miss Helen Winslow, 1901-19; Mrs. Gertrude A. Davis, 1919 -. Amos Bailey was the first postmaster at East Freetown, 1811-16; Abraham Braley served from 1816 to 1822, when the office was discontinued, to be re-established in 1852; Reuel Washburn served from 1852 to 1886; David Lawrence from 1886 to 1887; Rachel E. Lawrence in 1887.
The assessed value of buildings in the town in 1922 was $678,720; of land, $457,905; of personal property, $319,074. Shade trees were set in the highways in 1889; the State highway macadam road was built in 1907; the auto-bus line was started to Fall River in 1916; the Grange was organized in 1913; the streets were first lighted with electricity in 1920.
CHAPTER VIII. MANSFIELD
Situated in the north part of the county, its north line bounding. Nor- folk county, Mansfield is noted for its varied industries, both metallurgical and agricultural, as well as for the fact that its early history was woven with that of the first towns established in this part of New England. Preferring the town management method, it is a progressive municipality, its business and professional men and benefactors keeping the town to the fore through enterprise and thrift. The contributions of William G. Davis, the historian of the town, have aided in the preparation of this chapter.
The town of Mansfield, formerly the north precinct of the town of Norton, was set apart as a district April 26, 1770, by an act of the Great and General Court. The town was incorporated in 1775 and was named in honor of William Murray, the Earl of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. England. Murray was born at Perth, Scotland, in 1704. He entered Ox- ford University, and was called to the bar in 1731. He became lord chief justice of the king's bench in 1756, and died in 1793 in his 89th year. The first settlers in what is now the town of Mansfield, were Thomas Brintnall, who came from Cambridge in 1685; and the same year (1685) there came to the eastern part of the town, John, Samuel and Benjamin Caswell of Taunton, Thomas Caswell, Senior, being one of the proprietors of Taunton North Purchase. In the following year (1686) other families came up front the Taunton settlement, notably members of the Dean, the White, Leonard and Williams families. They settled on the east side of the river, while the Brintnalls had for neighbors on the west side, Grover and Skinner families from Cambridge and Malden. Later to the east side came Josiah Pratt and Joseph Elliott, with their families.
The Churches .- The First Parish Church was organized in conformity to the law of the time at the house of Isaac Wellman, on the present South Main street, August 31, 1731. The first minister was Rev. Ebenezer White, of Brookline, and like many another of the young clerics of this section, he began preaching before his ordination, the latter taking place February 23, 1737. The second meetinghouse was erected in 1766-7, on land that
753
TOWNS OF BRISTOL COUNTY
was set apart for the ministerial holdings, that forms part of the South Common; and the second minister was Rev. Roland Green, who came here from Malden.
The Friends' meetinghouse was erected in 1809, on land donated for the purpose by Abraham Crowley. This society was connected with the Friends' Conference of Smithfield, Rhode Island. The first Methodist meetinghouse was erected in 1810 by the followers of Jesse Lee and Rich- ard Bonsell. The second church building of that denomination was erected in 1842 by the Anti-Slavery Methodists, who had been members of the church that was formed in 1810. The Baptist church was erected in 1836 by members of the society, whose minister was Rev. Mr. Torrey of Fox- boro. The present Congregational church was erected by former members of the First Parish society, in 1836-38. The Emmanual Methodist Episco- pal church was erected in 1876, and is a daughter of the church of 1842. Morton Chapel, that was erected in the western part of the town in 1830, was later the possession of the Christian Church Society. The edifice was destroyed by fire in 1920, and was replaced by a handsome meetinghouse of Old English design. The New Jerusalem Society erected their meet- inghouse in 1871 on West street. The Universalist society, an offshoot from the First Parish Society of 1731, erected their meetinghouse on Rum- ford avenue in 1889.
In 1859, the Mansfield Catholic parish became united under Rev. Father Carroll in a mission with parts of Bridgewater, comprising Fox- boro, South Walpole, the Wrenthams and "Furnace". Up to the forma- tion of the parish in 1894, this was a mission of St. Mary's, North Attle- boro. The first church here was built in 1871 and dedicated in 1872, the organization having been brought about by Rev. Father Thomas Elliott. The old church was burned July 29, 1914, and the cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1915, the church being dedicated September 26, 1915. The pastor, Rev. Father Hugh B. Harrold, came here in March, 1910.
The Episcopal church, formerly a mission, with Rev. Horace H. Buck as pastor in 1895, erected their chapel on Rumford avenue in 1910.
In the Wars .- Previous to the Revolutionary War, Mansfield, then North Norton Precinct, had its company of infantry, the Second Company of the Third Regiment of Bristol County Militia. The roll of the company in 1757 (Captain Ephraim Leonard), included one hundred officers and men. In 1765, the company was divided into the Seventh Company of the Fourth Regiment, and the Third Company of the Fourth Regiment, under Colonel John Daggett, of Attleboro. The former company was commanded by Captain Abial Clapp, and, the latter by Captain Samuel White. Though the town had a population of but eight hundred, 250 men from this section were in Revolutionary service. In the 1812 war, fifty men of Mansfield were drafted into the service of the United States. In the Civil War, Mansfield furnished 261 men, a surplus of seventeen above all demands made upon the town. The whole amount raised, appropriated and expended on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was $35,142.21. There were three men from this town in the Spanish-American War service.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.