USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Pembroke > Ancient landmarks of Pembroke > Part 7
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"Mrs. Wade married Mr. Tabor of New Bedford, and the whole school went to the wedding. The ceremony is a very impressive one. When heart speaks to heart in the solemn stillness of the Quaker meeting, the rite seems more earnest, more soul felt, than words repeated by priest or magistrate. Divorces are very rare among Quakers.
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THE FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE
"The Barkers were many of them Quakers. Benjamin Barker used to ride a large white horse to mecting, when he was an old man. He had a large, white woolly dog; they used to shear and spin the fleece, and knit mittens of the yarn. Benjamin Barker was a large land holder in Pem- broke and Scituate, and was considered wealthy.
"The Browns were very well educated people. Gould Brown published a small grammar, which was studied to some extent in the common schools ; and later, a larger book, called the Grammar of Grammars. He taught school in New York; also at Pembroke, in a house now occupied by Mr. Henry Baker, which then stood nearly opposite the Judge Whitman place. William Brown was a doctor in Lynn. Samuel Brown lived at the old home in Pembroke, a very respectable, genial man, of good judgment that his neigh- bors often sought. He had the reputation of being lazy, and seemed to enjoy it. At one time, he was coming home from quarterly meeting; the road was long and dusty; and he became thirsty. He stopped at a house to get some water ; and before he got to the door, heard a woman scolding at a great rate. He knocked ; she came and said, 'I suppose you heard me scolding my husband, I have got the laziest man for a husband that ever was.' 'Has thee?' says Mr. Brown ; 'I would like to see thy husband, I have been afflicted with that disease all my days.'
"Calvin Shepherd and his wife were very zealous Friends. I knew them well, and recall many traits of character worthy of respect and admiration. He and Isaac Hatch were pioneers in the box-making business, which has grown from small beginnings to be very large. The work, when they began, was all done with handsaw, plane, and hammer; and boxes were delivered in a one-horse wagon at East Abington, Randolph, Quincy, and Boston."
A gentleman who in youth attended the Quaker meeting, best remembers Elder Shepherd by the event of a certain hot First Day morning these sixty summers ago. The Spirit moved few that morning. Sitting among other youngsters
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
at the front of the house, he grew restless, and was pro- ceeding to find amusement in one or other of the thousand ways invented by young America during the time of long services; when he met the Elder's calm, reproving look turned full on him. The silence wore on, until-in Whittier's phrase-
"The elder folk shook hands at last ;
Down seat by seat the signal passed."
The boys waited respectfully for their seniors to pass out, and beside them the Elder paused. The offender stood expecting nothing less than a severe-and as he knew, well merited-rebuke. But the good old Quaker looked down on him with a smile. "Boy," said Mr. Shepherd, gently, "thee will see the day when thee will feel serious."
The elders' seat whence Mr. Shepherd surveyed the Meet- ing, was one of four placed in ascending grade opposite the many, and balanced by four others upon the women's side. Precedence increased beginning at the back, and the front and lowest seat was most honorable. Here sat those whon. common consent among the Friends held most worthy to be ensamples of justice and gentleness before their fellows.
The last meeting held in the ancient Meeting House took place some years ago, and surviving members of the Society are few. Like other churches in this part of the country, it has felt severely the religious apathy which nearly every- where follows in the wake of Puritan fanaticismn ; and having originally but few followers in comparison with those others, has sooner shown symptoms of decay. The dress and speech of the Friends is rare among us: and with them has passed away from the village a strong influence for good character and brotherly love.
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The Anthony Collamore Estate
IX. The Anthony Collamore Estate.
Howe'er the pencil dipped in dreams Shades the brown woods or tints the sunset streams, The country doctor in the foreground seems; Whose ancient sulky down the village lanes Dragged, like a war-car, captive ills and pains. I could not paint the scenery of my song, Mindless of one who looked thercon so long.
A S you come south from Quaker Meeting House, following The King's Highway-the old stage road from Boston to Plymouth ; there appears on the right, just opposite the homestead of the late Nathaniel Smith, Esquire, a solid colonial house known as the Dr. Anthony Collamore place. It stands on a green knoll rising above a small stream tributary to Robin- son's Creek, and commands a fine view of the brook valley and surrounding hills. The site is very ancient ; it was, probably, part of an early grant from the town of Duxbury to Lieutenant Francis Barker-son of Robert, the ancestor.
Of the three sons of Robert Barker, Francis engaged most in public affairs. It was he who represented this part of the town among the Duxbury magistrates. He was selectman of Duxbury many years, and its representative in General Court at Plymouth and at Boston. The furnace at the pond owed its existence to him and his nephews. He was lieutenant of
ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
the military company of Duxbury; did much towards pro- curing the incorporation of Pembroke; and was first clerk and first chairman of selectmen of the new town. His house was on the east of the Boston road not far from the site of the present Briggs Burying Ground.
In 1713 he seems to have retired from active life; for he held thereafter no more public offices, and that year gave his estate outright to his surviving children.
The Anthony Collamore site was conveyed to his son Thomas Barker, born in 1686; who erected a large house on the estate, and lived there with his numerous family. His wife was Bethia, daughter of Isaac Little of Marshfield, and sister of the Honorable Isaac Little of Pembroke. In 1714 he is called Captain Barker. He held many public offices : was representative five years; and long a justice of the peace, ranking as "Gentleman." Of his daughters, Bethia-the eldest-married John, son of Hon. Isaac Winslow of Marsh- field : who, as General Winslow, carrying out the orders of Gov. Shirley, removed the Acadians from Nova Scotia; and together with James Otis, was prominent in the Stamp Act agitation. Abigail, a younger daughter, married her cousin Joshua Barker, a distinguished military officer and loyalist.
In 1733 Thomas Barker sold his estate at Pembroke, and removed with his eldest son, Thomas, to North Carolina; where he died next year, aged forty-eight. Thomas Barker, Junior, became a noted lawyer and a very wealthy man: he owned three plantations on the Roanoke, and more than three hundred negroes ; he was a teacher and friend of Gov. Samuel Johnston. Doubtless the influence of his uncle, Chief Justice Little, was of great help to him. He married Ferabee Pugh, a native of Cornwall, and widow of Col. Francis Pugh; and second, in 1754, Mrs. Penelope Craven, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Elizabeth Paget. Though Col. Barker was a loyalist, his wife was an ardent patriot. She presided at the meeting of those Edenton women who drew up their famous agreement to drink no more tea till the tax should be re- moved; when the British soldiers had seized a horse from her
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THE ANTHONY COLLAMORE ESTATE
stables, she cut the halter with a sword and set the animal free. Elizabeth Barker, only surviving child of Col. Thomas, was born in 1745, and early left an orphan. She was educated by her kinsman, Governor Peyton Randolph of Williamsburg in Virginia; and refusing offers of marriage from Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, married Col. William Tunstall of Carolina-where her descendants still live.
"Know all men by these presents that I, Thomas Barker of Pembroke in the County of Plymouth and Province of Massachusetts Bay, Esquire, for and in consideration of the full and just sum of Nine hundred Pounds in good and law- full Bills of Publick Credit of the old Tenour to me in hand paid before the Ensealing of these Presents by Thomas Tracy of said Pembroke, Yeoman; with which sum I do acknow- ledge myself to be fully satisfied contented and paid, and thereof do acquit exonerate and discharge the said Thomas Tracy his heirs and assigns forever: Have given granted bargained sold aliened enfeoffed conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents for me and my Heirs do freely and abso- lutely give grant bargain sell alien enfeoff convey and confirm, unto the said Thomas Tracy his heirs and assigns forever : A Farm of Fifty-three acres by estimation, be the same more or less, situate lying and being in Pembroke aforesaid, bounded as follows-beginning at a great Rock on the south side of the road near where Joshua Turner now dwells thence by said road to a way leading to the land of Abraham Booth thence by said way west and by said land south to the northerly corner of a lot given me by my hon- oured Father, Francis Barker, late of said Pembroke, Gentleman, the same being a stake and stones thence by said land east to the road aforementioned thence by said road north to said rock the bound first named; together with all the buildings and Fencings thereon situate and belonging to the same: To have and to hold all the above granted and bargained Premises, with all and singular the Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or any Ways appertain-
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ing, unto him the said Thomas Tracy his heirs and assigns forever, to his and their own proper Use, Benefit and Behoof; forever free and clear and clearly acquitted and discharged of and from all manner of other and former Gifts Grants Bargains Sales Mortgages Leases Joyntures Dowers or Incumbrances whatsoever. And furthermore I the said Thomas Barker my Heirs Executors and Administrators, to him the said Thomas Tracy his heirs and assigns forever, shall and will Warrant and forever Confirm the Premises before mentioned as before expressed against the Lawfull claims and demands of all Parties whatsoever: And I, Bethiah Barker. wife of the said Thomas Barker, do by these presents freely Grant and Resign up to the said Thomas Tracy his heirs and assigns forever my Right of Dower and Power of Thirds in the Premises before mentioned: And in testimony to these Presents we the said Thomas Barker and Bethiah Barker have hereunto set our Hands and Seals this four and twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three 1733.
Thomas Barker-Seal Bethiah Barker-Seal
Signed Sealed and Delivered in Presence of us :
Abraham Booth Fras. Barker
Plymouth : on the 21st day of June 1733 then did the abovenamed Thomas Barker and Bethiah Barker acknow- ledge the above written to be their Act and Deed before me Isaac Little Esquire Justice of the Peace."
Thomas Tracy, having owned this place but four years, removed to Pembroke Centre. In 1737 it came into the hands of James Randall, a blacksmith by trade, and by avo- cation the luckless farmer of the herring fishery; who occupied it until 1761, and then for £108 sold it to Ichabod Thomas, Shipwright, a native of Marshfield.
Captain Thomas had sought employment on the North River when shipbuilding was in its prime. He married
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THE ANTHONY COLLAMORE ESTATE
Ruth, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Turner-a pioneer in that business; and himself became one of the most noted builders on the stream. Account of him is to be found in Dr. Briggs' Shipbuilding, and a record of his family as well, His daughter Ruth married Dr. Charles Turner of North Pembroke, who succeeded Jeremiah Hall as physician of the village; and it was to his successor-Anthony Collamore, a native of Scituate-that in 1809 the Thomas estate was sold.
Dr. Anthony Collamore practised in Pembroke and sur- rounding towns for nearly half a century. He was many years a justice of the peace, and long a member of the school committee, besides serving as representative to General Court in 1827. His first wife, Lydia Winslow of Scituate, died in 1828 : and he married Caroline, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Hatch; who survived him. Dr. Collamore's practice was continued by his nephew, Dr. Francis Collamore; and he died in 1847, aged sixty-one years.
His son Henry H. Collamore, Esquire, succeeded to the estate, and lived there until about ten years ago; when he removed to Fall River. Mr. Collamore was much in public office, and served as selectman from 1883 to 1894. After his removal, the house was for some time untenanted. It is now the summer residence of Hon. James M. W. Hall of Newton.
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David Oldham, Esquire 1776-1857
X. Squire Keen Mansion and Oldham Farms.
Her home is brave in Jaffrey Street, With stately stairways worn By feet of old Colonial knights And ladies gentle-born.
Still green about its ample porch The English ivy twines, Trained back to show in English oak The herald's carven signs.
And on her, from the wainscot old, Ancestral faces frown,- And this hath worn the soldier's sword, And that the judge's gown.
T HE traveller who, coming southward along the Plymouth highway, abandons it at a point not far beyond West's factory, and takes the gently ascending road to Pembroke Meeting House, sees presently before him on the crest of the hill, through an orchard of ancient appletrees, the narrow gable and high, roomy ell of Squire Keen's mansion, for sixty years past known more generally as the John Oldham place. As he draws nearer, following a path at the base of the orchard wall, and notes-for this house, like certain others, has a distinction that compels the eye-the narrow- ness of its windows, the absence of blinds, and its perfect
ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
preservation withal ; he will find himself in doubt whether its singular outlines are due to direct influence of a fashion obsolete before the Revolution, or to the whimsicality of its builder. His first guess is the truer. The old houses of Pembroke are not few or undistinguished. It would be hard to name among them the superior of this in historic interest, or its equal in fineness of construction and certain antiquity.
Before the house a pair of evergreens do sentry duty : they are enclosed by a yard with posts of hammered stone import- ed by Mr. Josiah Barker; and beneath them, from street to front door, leads a path thickly strown with smooth round pebbles, fetched hither-it is said-by the Squire in saddle- bags from the beaches of his Marshfield farm. Opposite the doorway, a wonderful carved staircase winds upward to spacious chambers with projecting beams and braces, and the shadowy, many-alcoved attic above. Here may be seen, free of plaster and sheathing, the excellent materials used in the first construction : stout oak beams are the rafters, hewn and treenailed to form a joint; the floor has in it planks of width to make a modern sawyer stare and gasp; and the mighty chimney, although shrunk to a fraction of its dimensions below, still dwarfs the very foundations of most chimneys built nowadays. Throughout the house, in every corner of wall and ceiling, are found projecting beams, covered with ornamental sheathing, and studded at a convenient height with smooth-turned pegs of wood. In the south room only remains Esquire Josiah's substitute for blinds-a set of panelled shutters, three panels at each window, through which a single oval opening, high up in the middle panel, admits a single shaft of light. Over all the woodwork this principle of the panel is constantly reappearing: and every groove seems perfect as when it left the joiner's hand. Three traces only of Time's tear and wear I noticed-the bowing of timbers here and there, unable to withstand the racking storms of eight score winters; the smoke-blackened surface of a beam in the outer kitchen ; and the polish on a flight of stone steps leading to the cellar, worn smooth by many a
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The Squire Keen Mansion
SQUIRE KEEN MANSION AND OLDHAM FARMS
busy housewife's passing up and down. A small isolated room on the north angle has from time immemorial-why, nobody can imagine -- been called the Nunnery. Its slide and numerous shelves declare it an antique cheese-room : the slide is now sealed, and the shelves demolished; but from the door still hangs a time-honored latchstring-successor to that which many a day, I mistrust, put the little Keens at Surly Elf's mercy, when Squire Josiah went out electioneering, and Madam Sarah's back was turned.
So far the interior: of the autumn view from the attic; of the grape-vine which in September hangs its clusters at every southerly window; of the great stone walls adjoining, and the barn with its dragon vane-of these I must make but hurried mention, omitting much else well worth the telling: and after this brief and bare description, pass on to things historical.
From the obscurity into which the number and vagueness of grants to Barkers have cast the history of land-titles in its neighborhood, this homestead first emerges, late in the sev- enteenth century, as a part of the estate of Samuel Barker; to whose estrangement from his family and ultimate removal I have elsewhere referred. Some years before he left Pem- broke-the deed bears date 13 April 1699-he sold to his brother-in-law John Keen of Duxbury, for fourscore pounds in current money, 160 acres of upland and meadow, extend- ing from the confluence of Herring and Pudding Brooks considerably to the east of the "way leading to Mattakeesett mill," now Barker Street.
The new owner was son of Josiah Keen, a pioneer of Duxbury. He married Rebecca, sister of Samuel, and daugh- ter of Isaac and Lydia Barker. His name appears among the freeholders of Pembroke at the time of its incorporation ; but I have not learned where within the town he lived. Apparently he had not made extensive improvements upon his 160 acres, when in March of 1744 he transferred them, for £1200 lawful money, to his son Josiah, also of Pembroke. John Keen died that year, at the age of eighty-
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three; his son John became administrator. Under John Junior's management, the personal property soon evaporated : at the time of his death, in 1777, the estate still remained unsettled: administrator succeeded administrator; and the miserable business eventually lingered on into the next cen- tury, until in 1801 an uncommonly searching appraisal re- vealed four acres of meadow, and the proceeds thereof were divided, after fifty-seven years of litigation, among old John's grandchildren.
Josiah Keen, Esquire, has long been a figure shrouded in the mists of the eighteenth century. Unlike his contem- poraries of the Revolution-Hatch, Chamberlain, Hitchcock, Hall, and the Turners-he left no descendants in Pembroke : and a reputation great, if not altogether savoury, soon ceased to receive much notice from men who had new scan- dals of their own to disseminate, and new achievements to praise, Josiah Keen was born at Pembroke on the 19th of October, 1713, O. S. He came late among many children ; it must have been very largely due to his own industry and business ability, that at the age of thirty he was owner of a considerable amount of real estate, and a "Yoeman" highly respected by his neighbors. In 1744 he bought his home- stead, and probably proceeded at once to build the house he was occupying-a deed tells us-4 September 1749. His income was derived from farmning; the manufacture of potash ; dealings in real estate; and a business which in 1757 caused him to be styled "Merchant of Boston," although he seems always to have made his home at this place. He married in 1756 Sarah, daughter of Bryant and Abigail Par- rott, and widow of Christopher Tilden, Mariner, all of Boston; their children were Sarah, born ? October 1758, and Rebecca.
Five months after his marriage, Josiah-like Macbeth, it may be, spurred on by his lady --- entered the political field, and won election as representative in General Court for 1757; ousting Israel Turner, Esquire, who had enjoyed a seven years' tenure of the office. He was annually re-elected-
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SQUIRE KEEN MANSION AND OLDHAM FARMS
Israel Turner's victory of 1759 excepted -- until 1763; when a new aspirant, John Turner, defeated him. Nevertheless the Squire-commissioned a justice about 1760-secured reinstatement in 1765, the year of the Stamp Act; and re- ceived the following instructions, adopted-at a town ineeting adjourned to seven of the clock afternoon, Monday, 21 October, 1765-"by a grate majority of vots :"- "To Josiah Keen Esqur at Pembroke
The freeholders and other Inhabitants, in town meeting assembled, Considering the Distress that will be brought upon us by the stamp act if it should take place: We think said Act intolerable in its consequences and imposable to be Carried into Exceution without ye utter Ruin of ye Province -and yet their is grate danger that it may in time dissolve the commerce connections and friendship now subsisting be- tween Grate Brittain and her colonies. We also Judge it best to withstand the evil in its Begining, lest after ye chains are once riveted upon us, we should find no remedy till we be worn out and intirely and utterly consumed. We have therefore thought proper and do by our unanimous vote give you the following instructions (viz) that You Give Your Cearfull and Constant attendance at the Next assembly throughout their approaching Session, and as accation may offer, firmly oppose said Act-not to concur to any Measures that may have the Leass appearance of Giving it any Coun- tanance Directly or indirectly : that you use your uttermost skill and wisdom, in conceart with the other worthy members of the assembly, to Pospone the introduction of said Act, until the unitted Cries of the Whole Continant may have Reachd the ears of our most gracious King and the Parliment of Grate Brittain, and shall obtain from them, who wish neither the death nor loss of their colonies, an answer of Peace."
After 1762 John Turner, who was Town Clerk 1759-1787, seems to have conveniently forgotten to record the elections of Capt. Keen-as the House Journal usually styles him ; who was, nevertheless, returned in the years 1770-1772, as
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF PEMBROKE
well as in 1765. One document relating to his last campaign kind Fortune has preserved for us :-
"To the Honorable House of Representatives, assembled at Cambridge ye 27th Day of May A. D. 1772, the Petition and Remonstrance of the Subscribers the inhabitants of the Towne of Pembroke in the county of Plimouth, in New Eng- land. Humbly Sheweth that whereas at a Towne meeting held at Said Pembroke on ye 25th Day of May 1772 for the choice of Representative in which meeting Josiah Keen Esq. was declared by one of the Selectmen of Said Town to be chosen to Represent them at ye Greate and General Court the insuing year &c. Which Choice we the said inhabitants Protest against by Reason of the Said meeting was Carryed on very irregular and Disorderly, and Said Choice illegal and unfairly obtained which appeared in many particulars (viz)
"1st. That many of the Persons who gave in their votes (as we apprehend) ware unquallefied by Law So to give in their Votes and althow objections ware made against Several Persons, yet No man being Put to the Test whether they ware Quallefied or Not according to Charter, the Selectmen one of them at Least Declaired No Justice Present would Sware any Person and ye Town Clerk Could Not while Sd Keen being the Justice was present-
"2d. That the Said Keen in ye face of the Towne Meeting, Previous to Said Choice being in the front Gallery with a number of his Party openly Demanded the Selectmen to Receive their votes according to agreement as &c. by which it seems to appear that the said Selectmen ware of his Party and that they made an agreement with him that he should be elected in an undue manner. But that motion of Removeing out of their Seat being opposed by Those who Desired order and Rule, the Selectmen did not Comply with his Said Keens Demand, upon which he, Said Keen Starts up from his Seet and orders those of his Party to follow him, at which motion they all Came Down from ye Gallery in a furious and tumultuous manner and he said Keen Thretning as he went : and Broake up all order and Rule in Said meeting
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SQUIRE KEEN MANSION AND OLDHAM FARMS
Said Keen advancing himself to ye hat in which the votes ware and their Thrust in his Vote and ordered Those of his Party who followed him to do the Like, which they did, and Took upon himself To order the Said meeting himself untill all the votes ware in by which means we apprehend he un- fairly obtained his Flection. All which is Contrary to ye freedom of Election and a Debauchery of our Excellent Constitution and of an Evil Tendency as we apprehend.
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