USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Pembroke > Ancient landmarks of Pembroke > Part 2
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of a cultivation rather long-standing than vigorous.
Who-
ever has traversed the arid highlands of western and southern Pembroke, cannot fail to acknowledge the justice of this name. On the twenty-first of March in the year 1712, an act passed the General Court granting the petition, and erecting
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
within the limits of the Old Colony a town called Pembroke, which should comprise-together with interjacent tracts-the regions of The Major's Purchase and upper Duxbury. The first clerk and the chairman of the first board of selectmen for the new town, was a Barker, and four of that name appear upon the roll of original grantees.
Some years before the incorporation of Pembroke, Isaac Barker, Junior, grandson of the first Robert, succeeded to his father's homestead: Samuel, the eldest son, contracted a marriage which displeased his family; and disowned by them, he removed from Pembroke altogether, and settled in Sand- wich. Isaac was a cordwainer, or shoemaker, and merchant ; his farm supplied cheese, meat, and corn to the neighbors ; and he had the family gristmill on the brook. The new town early granted him privilege to build a fulling mill on the upper course of the Herring Brook; its foundations and dam are still visible, just above the bridge where High Street crosses the stream.
In 1722 the house itself was much enlarged: the walls of the original single room were covered with sheathing, and other rooms so added as to form a large mansion.
Isaac Barker's extensive holdings in real estate brought him into many lawsuits, in which Isaac Little, Esquire, who then carried on the smelting and founding of iron at the pond, was his adversary. Like other gentlemen of the day, he held several slaves, chiefly Indians; as appears from the following document :-
"These are to any Tavern Keeper where this indian may come to desire you to let him have what is convenant for him, for he is in pursuit of an indian boy of myn and if I should give him money he would disguis himself and you may see what is convenant for him. My lad is about 17 years of age, his cloaths are, leather briches, a plain jacket with a short white woolling one under it, old shoes mended on the upper leather, an old beaver hat, short hare, gray yearn stokins, new stockt. Whosoever shall tak up sd runaway and him convey
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THE OLD GARRISON
to me ye subscriber, or to this indian, shall have a sufficient reward.
ISAAC BARKER
Pembroke 3rd of ve mo.
called October, 1730.
Let the bearer keep this for his journey"
Notwithstanding lawsuits and slaves, Isaac Barker was of the Society of Friends, and a lover of books. A room in his house was set apart as his study, and there much of his time was spent. About 1740 he went to hear Whitefield at Plymouth ; his mind was unbalanced by the eloquence of the famous Methodist, so that he became violently insane, and was chained by his waist to a sill in the Brook room of the homestead. The iron ring remained in the sill until the house was destroyed. Isaac was, at the time of his pilgrimage, nearly eighty; he continued in his insanity until his death, which occurred in 1754, at the advanced age of ninety-four years.
For a long period after the incorporation of Pembroke, the Barker homestead was a social centre. Isaac Barker's four daughters were "belles of the times"-to quote Hannah Barker-"and considered rich; consequently"-she goes on to say -- "the Garrison was a place of general resort; many protestations of love were made, but the young ladies were wary-finally the oldest daughter, Mary, married a Bennet, and became a little insane. Sylvester, the second daughter, born in 1710, after a siege of six years surrendered to a Josselyn. He declared he loved the very ground she stood upon : which proved literally true; for she had no peace after her marriage, because she would not put him in possession of her land. No one entered a Meeting House with more grace and dignity than she; 'Walk like thy Aunt Josselyn' was a command that rung in infant ears."
Prince Barker, the second son of Isaac, became the fourth holder of the homestead about 1740. He was-continues the family historian-a kind-hearted, honest man, by every one loved; his hospitality extended to all who would receive it,
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
and if others were happy, he was satisfied : as the house was a place of general rendezvous in his father's time, so it contin- ued to be in his. The crib and meat barrels were always well filled; and when the season came round, they needed no preparation for another supply. It is recorded of him on the town books that he had found a pair of men's leather shoes ; this entry testifies, as well as his honesty, the custom of the times. His daughter Deborah was early left a widow, and came home with two children. His son Prince married a widow Bryant. He ploughed the ocean for a living, and died beneath its waves. His four destitute children returned to the hospitable roof of their ancestors.
Isaac Barker-the second son of Prince, Senior-was a clothier, and at the head of his father's household; his father was dead, and the estate rendered insolvent; and he had a numerous family of young children and dependent friends around him. "The day came when the seat of his ancestors was to be sold at public auction, and all save the widow's dower was to pass into strangers' hands. None had the means to save it. At this critical and trying time, Joseph Rogers-a firm friend-came and said: 'Isaac, it will not do for the farm to go out of the family; what will become of them? They must be kept together ; thou must buy it, and I will bid it off for thee.' The farm was sold, and his brother Benjamin bought it; it was then conveyed to Isaac, who paid for it when he could."
The family of four grown people and six children were dependent on Isaac's exertions for some years, but were there- after scattered. Isaac had four children to fill their place. Soon after the birth of these, the fulling mill burned. He had just erected a belt-hammer; and nine months later, this was consumed by fire. Such an accumulation of losses induced his creditors to make their demands : not having the ready money to satisfy them, he hired several hundred dollars, and said to all "Come." The revenue from the farm would have been enough to offset this debt, under some persons' management: but it had always been the Barker habit to
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Peleg Barker 1793- 1882
THE OLD GARRISON
empty storehouses ; Isaac was now too far advanced in life to learn the secret of coining produce, and he became more and more embarrassed. Old age and infirmities crept on, the farm was neglected, the debt increased despite payment of much interest. By the exertions of his children, this debt was finally cancelled. Isaac lived to see seventy-five years and was gathered to his fathers.
"Necessity, not choice, had placed him in the centre of his family, around which almost every branch was assembled His circle of friends was extensive, and no man ever gave them a more hearty welcome. All good feelings were recipro- cated, and visits returned. Though an unlettered man, he was an interesting companion. His ready tongue could utter most severe and cutting things: but with the sound, the feeling died; and before an hour passed, he would disoblige himself to accommodate those he had offended. He felt the want of a literary education, and was among the first to pro- inote it for others. He had his faults, as all men have: but they grew out of circumstances, rather than badness of heart ; and he was rather to be pitied for allowing a vice that comes not in the form of vice, to gain ascendency : and although, at times, his family were wretched, they found enough in his character to love and respect."
Peleg Barker, youngest son of Isaac, succeeded to the homestead upon his father's death in 1825, and later married Abigail, daughter of Samuel Loring of Duxbury. He was the sixth and last owner in the direct male line. The old farm was by him carefully cultivated: the neighboring waters of Herring Brook were pasture for his geese; and his errant flock of sheep, the last of all that had been raised upon the ancient fields, is still matter of memory to Pembroke people. He loved a fine horse; and was fond of company and social gatherings, to the day of his death. He died in April of 1883 : his wife did not survive him.
After its occupancy by Peleg Barker, the homestead passed out of the name. It descended to Hannah, daughter of his brother Isaac, and wife of William Josselyn of Pembroke ; after her death in 1885, her husband became joint owner.
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
The house was long untenanted : the decay of two centuries rapidly increased, and no effort at repair was made. Soon the old mansion became a hopeless ruin. Shingles fell ; windows were broken in; sills rotted, and floors grew rickety. The ancient furniture and heirlooms-such as a fine silver tankard, a pastel of Prince Barker, a huge tortoise-shell cradle, and the old iron fireback cast in 1722-had been scattered, or sold outright ; and curious persons were busy for years in tearing away nails, shingles. bricks, and other mementos of "the oldest house in Massachusetts." Finally, about fifteen years ago, the Garrison was torn down by Mr. Josselyn. Only the ruins of the chimney and a few foundation stones remain.
Shortly before this time, the last member of the Barker households in Pembroke bearing the name, had died : and now, of the fine old family that settled this region and was so prom- inent in all its early history, not one is left in Pembroke to hand down the Barker name. Heirs of the blood are numerous, and the homestead has recently come into posses- sion of one of these. Some ten years ago, it was purchased by Joseph Shepherd, Esquire, of Pembroke Centre, the eighth generation from Robert Barker ; whose descendants thus, after a lapse of more than two centuries, still cultivate the estate granted to their ancestor.
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The Salmond House
I I. The Salmond House.
Brisk wielder of the birch and rule,
The master of the district school Could doff at ease his scholar's gown To peddle wares from town to town.
N OT far from the site of the Garrison stands a large, white double house, on the west of LeFurgey's mill pond, known as the Peter Salmond Place. The house itself is of uncer- tain age, dating from far back in the eighteenth century : it is said to have been originally a "half house," so called; the more ancient portion is probably, at the least, two centuries old. The land was once, of course, a part of the Barkers' grant; they early sold out to later comers, and the homestead of four acres only-this house was never head of a large estate-had, before the incorporation of Pembroke, already passed through several hands.
In 1720 it was owned and occupied by Deacon Jacob Mitchell, a blacksmith, who sold it in 1723 for £330 to Samuel Jacob, Millwright. Apparently, Jacob did not long remain owner of the property; for in 1726 his homestead of four acres was transferred, for £500, by John Burr of Hingham, a cooper, to Nehemiah Cushing of Pembroke, Gentleman. Captain Cushing, a famous buyer and seller of real estate, in 1727 conveyed it for £370 to Nathaniel How, the miller. Samuel Jacob seems to have occupied the house till 1731; when How sold his residence, the present Allen Farm, and
ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
moved into the Salmond place. How remained in Pembroke until 1743: he then sold this house, together with his share in the corn mill and flowage, for £700 to Asaph Tracy of Marshfield, Yeoman. Tracy soon disposed of the place, and in 1750 bought Allen Farm; the purchaser of the Salmond house was again Samnel Jacob, now grown prosperous, and living-it is said-in a large mansion on the hill, now fallen into ruins, situated below the present parsonage. Probably the Salmond place was rented to transients employed on the Barker estate.
Lieutenant Samuel Jacob, who now owned this house for some years, was a man of considerable prominence in town affairs. His grandfather was Captain John, son of Nicholas Jacob, the ancestor, all of Hingham : his father, Samuel, died very early, and his mother, Elizabeth, was made guardian. Born in 1695, he settled in Pembroke on the Salmond place, and there pursued his trade of a millwright. He must have been a skilled craftsman and a shrewd business man; for in 1760 he had acquired sufficient property to confer upon him the title of "gentleman," and was master of several estates. He was constable in 1726, and selectman for ten years, between 1730 and 1750; and is styled a lieutenant on the town books. ITis son Samuel died in youth; Seth married in 1751 Penelope, daughter of Thomas Burton, and left a family. Deacon Samuel Jacob-as reads the inscription on his grave- stone in the old burving ground at Pembroke Centre-died in 1784, aged eighty-nine years.
Some time before, in the year 1773, he had passed the Salmond place to his unmarried daughter Susanna ; who lived there a while, and in 1784-six months after her father's death-sold out to Benjamin Barker for £116. Her death cccurred in 1794, and the following reflection appears upon her gravestone :
"In memory of Miss Susanna Jacob She Died Janry ye 1st 1794 In her 62d Year. Tho Unespoused in Earth we ly
yet if espoused to Christ we Die
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THE SALMOND HOUSE
no Mortal Joys could ere Compare
the Finished Joys that Centers there
In Glory Christ unites the Just
tho Distant Grave Divide the dust"
Benjamin Barker was son of Prince, and brother of Isaac, all of the Garrison. "He was the youngest child," says Hannah Barker, "a very feeble one, and, consequently, much indulged. The spirits and buoyancy of youth were sup- pressed by a nervous affection that blasted every hope of happiness, and paralyzed every energy. Society had no charms for him, even the playground was avoided, and he chose rather to brood over his dreadful melancholy feeling than to join in any sports or labor that kind solicitation of friends could suggest ; but as he approached towards man- hood, he outgrew, as it were, the dismal forebodings that preyed upon his mind, and took a share in the employment of the fulling mill in 1779.
"Work gave him confidence in himself, and at the age of thirty, he resolved to marry: accordingly, he made choice of a worthy woman. Nancy Barker, and removed her from Tiverton to neighbor Salmon's house; the mulberry tree was planted by her, but she lived not to eat of its fruit. She left two children; and in proper time, her husband married Rebecca Partridge, a lady of handsome fortune. In ex- pression of her love and confidence, she gave him control of all her property. The powers of his mind were now exerted to accumulate wealth; he made nice calculations, and was judicious in the choice of land." In this pursuit of riches, Benjamin Barker was led to purchase the Barker homestead at Scituate; and in 1792 he removed thither, selling his residence in Pembroke to Peter Salmond, a trader.
The new owner was a native of Scotland. He and his younger brother, Robert, were born in a small town lying between Edinburgh and Glasgow, within eight miles-says tradition-from the tree in which William Wallace hid, as is related in the "Scottish Chiefs." Previous to the opening of the Revolution, they came to Massachusetts as traders, or
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
pedlers, dealing in rich foreign goods, and stayed in Bridge- water one year. Starting thence to return to Scotland by way of Halifax in Nova Scotia, they were impressed into the British army under Burgoyne: when that general was de- feated at Saratoga, they left the ranks, and returned to their countryman, Mr. Russell of Bridgewater. Soon they entered the employ of Hon. Hugh Orr, also a native of Scotland ; and with him they remained four years, receiving but $8 monthly in addition to their board. Thence both came to Hanover, and engaged in trade once more. After two years' residence at Hanover, Peter removed in 1792 to Pembroke. He had married in 1785 Eunice, daughter of Captain Jonathan Bass of East Bridgewater. and widow of Seth Whitman; their chil- dren were William, Eunice, and Peter: the last succeeded to the estate. Eunice wedded Captain Josiah Howland, and dwelt in the "Hiclyn House," southwest of Allen Farm. William Salmond removed to Bath in Maine. Peter Salmond died in 1828, aged eighty-three; and his widow, four years after.
Peter Salmond, Esquire, born in 1790, received a good education, and was for many years the dominie, or school- master, at Pembroke. Later, he kept a general store in the north wing of his dwelling. His wife was Abigail, daughter of Deacon Isaac Hatch of the First Church; he had one daughter, who did not survive him. Despite many eccentric ways, he was highly respected and loved in the community. Deacon Salmond had on most matters an opinion worth referring to. He was selectman for ten years, between 1830 and 1850; treasurer, 1833-1839; and representative at the General Court in 1858. Though not himself a singer, he took great interest in the doings of the choir ; and when a quarrel among its members seemed impending, would whisper anxiously to his neighbors, "Keep still, keep still, everybody ; Singing-devil's round !" It was his habit to sit in church with one eye cocked up at the choir, and whenever a false note jarred his nerves, to greet it with a snort of disgust. He remained keen and active to the last ; and even after carriages
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THE SALMOND HOUSE
became common, could often be seen riding down street on a spirited horse, which he would keep in a constant worry with whip and rein. He died in January of 1880, the last of his family, and the homestead passed into other hands.
Owned successively by the brothers Seth and Thomas Whitman, and by Mr. and Mrs. John Gillett, now of North Pembroke, it was purchased a few years ago by Mr. Edwin Lewis of Taunton, and became part of the estate known as Allen Farm.
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The Reverend Morrill Allen 1776-1870
III. Allen Farm.
A man he was to all the country dear, And passing rich with forty pounds a year: Unskilful he to fawn, or seek for power, By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour; Far other aims his heart had learned to prize, More bent to raise the wretched than to rise.
At church, with meek and unaffected grace, His looks adorned the venerable place; Truth, from his lips prevailed with double sway, And fools, who came to sooff, remained to pray.
The service past, around the pious man, With steady zeal, each honest rustic ran; E'en children followed with endearing wile, And plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile. His ready smile a parent's warmth exprest; Their welfare pleased him, and their cares distrest; To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given, But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven. As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm- Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head.
T
HE old mansion which stands at the corner of Allen and Mattakeesett Streets, west of the Garrison, on the estate known as Allen Farm, did not see the beginning of the last century. It was built soon after the year 1800 by the Reverend Morrill Allen, fifth minister of Pem- broke; and took the place of a still older house, situated on the other side of the lane. As was the case with the Salmond homestead, the earlier history of this site is extremely obscure.
ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
The older house was built on land which had originally been part of the Barkers' grant, and in 1730 we find it owned by their miller, one Nathaniel How. This man later occupied the Salmond place, and moved away from Pembroke before 1750, leaving scant traces of himself and his family behind : it is thought that he came hither from Dorchester, and was son of Israel and Tabitha How. In the spring of 1731, How sold his dwelling-with half a quarter of an acre of land-for £170 to Israel Turner, then styled a cordwainer, or shoe- maker ; he, in turn, retained possession for eleven years.
Israel Turner, Esquire, although a man of no great fortune, evidently possessed the respect and confidence of his fellow- citizens; who sent him as their representative to General Court at Boston in seven successive years, 1749-1755, and in 1758. His life was cut short just in the beginning of "the times that tried men's souls ;" and in the severe crisis which followed close upon his removal, Pembroke felt keenly the loss of one of her ablest and most experienced citizens. He died 24 September, 1760. in the fifty-third year of his age, and lies buried in the burying ground at Pembroke.
Some years before his death, the house had been sold to Joseph Foord, Junior, a glazier; who bought it in 1742 for £125. He was fourth in descent from William, the ancestor, of Marshfield: his father, Joseph Foord, was first deacon of Pembroke church, moderator at more than one town meeting, selectman in 1713, and many times after ; and died patriarch of the town, in 1749, at the age of eighty-three. Most of the Fords who have lived in Pembroke, trace their descent from Deacon Joseph. Of his son, we know little; and suffice it to say that, having owned the place but eight years, he sold it in 1750 to its first permanent owners since the Darkers-Thomas Tracy and his son Asaph.
The Tracies were natives of Duxbury, but came to Pembroke from Marshfield ; Asaph had owned for some years the Salmond place, which he now conveyed to Samuel Jacob. He died in 1755, and Asaph his son occupied the homestead until his death in 1799. Captain Asaph Tracy, son of Asaph
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ALLEN FARM
and Mary Jacob, married in 1786 Lydia, daughter of Col. David Cushing of Hingham ; lived on the old Seth Ford place, opposite Mr. Lucius White's, in Pembroke Centre; and died of consumption in 1789, leaving two children-Capt. Thomas, who died in the Mississippi River in 1811, and Lydia, who married Ephraim Bouve of Hingham. His widow married Deacon Gideon Thomas White, and lived in a house which stood, as late as 1900, in the valley behind the Town Hall. In 1796 the Tracy homestead was passed by Asaph to his son Jacob-a cordwainer, or shoemaker, by trade-husband of Hannah Ford. Jacob Tracy did not long remain owner. In the spring of 1802, he sold the homestead for $1500 to Morrill Allen, and bought the latter's estate in Raynham.
The Reverend Morrill Allen was born at Dover in 1776, fifteenth child of Captain Hezekiah and Mary Allen. After preparing for college with a private tutor, he entered Brown University in the fall of 1795; and graduated with honor in 1798. During his years at college-says his biographer, Rev. T. P. Doggett -- he was a diligent student, and his whole deportment was upright and pure. He did not possess much of that sober, plodding devotion to books which trims the midnight lamp. and shuts the door against lighthearted and buoyant companionship ; possessing rather a temperament that was humorous and social. He could enter heartily into every kind of innocent sport, and greatly enjoy a merry time. Full of life and high spirits, he could not bear that austere gravity which frowns upon all amusement ; he cherished, at the same time, a profound respect for the religion which demands chiefly purity of intention and rectitude of life. While his own character grew into conformity with such a religion, he felt more and more deeply a desire to preach it to others; and that desire dictated the choice of his profession. In order to obtain the funds necessary for his education, he had engaged in teaching: his success had been so good that he was almost determined to continue in this work. Inclina- tion, however, outweighed the prospect of greater earnings; and he began the study of theology with Dr. Fobes of
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
Raynham, where he remained two years. He was ordained fifth minister of the church at Pembroke, 9 December, 1801, and in the following May married Hannah, daughter of Hon. Josiah Dean of Ravnham. They at once began housekeeping in the old house on Allen Farın.
The minister's salary at that time was $475. In order to eke out the scanty income, he engaged once more in teaching, and received numerous students into his family. The unbroken succession of indoor employments, proved too much for his health ; and he turned to farming. In this occupation, · his success was notable. His fame throughout the county was even greater as farmer than as minister; and after his res- ignation of the public office, he spent the remainder of a life longer than the average, in experimenting, and enlarging his own establishment. His correspondence with various agricultural magazines was large, and he was closely con- nected with the several farmers' associations of south-eastern Massachusetts.
Mr. Allen's ministry-which began in his early manhood, and continued to the age of sixty-five-was, of all his services to the community, the one most cherished in memory by his people. Tender and affecting were the recollections that thronged their minds at his burial. They remembered the clearness and brevity of his address, the sound judgment and common sense shown in his pulpit preparations. While many clergymen delivered discourses long, prosy, and full of reiterations ; his were always brief, never tedious, and wholly practical. He sought to impress no more than a single point by a single sermon. Although possessed of a fine gift for memorizing, he cared so little for display of his powers that he almost never spoke without notes. It was at the funerals of his beloved parishioners that his power as a speaker best appeared. His effort to control his own emotions, was often apparent; and a few simple, heartfelt words from him were more consoling than others' studied oratory. In ordinary life, he was of a cheerful and even merry temper, and quick to joke and laugh with a neighbor. Many stories are told of his genial, homely wit, and his love of a humorous companion.
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