USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > Early Rehoboth, documented historical studies of families and events in this Plymouth colony township, Volume IV > Part 15
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
28
12 10
& for Mr. Avery Norton Estate
18
1 James Lee
6
1 18
24 3 3 16
10 18
1
24 12
18
2 John Rawson 15
6 14
1 Oliver Read
1 Ebnezer Bly 1 10
109
Per-
Polls
Real sonal
Polls
Real
£
£ s.
27 12 10
42 19 18
5
-
-
4 Major Isaih Hunt
48
32
1 Jacob Shorey Susanah Sweeting Danil Smith
8
1
10
2 Israil Whitaker
4 13
1 Oliver Whitaker
1 Joseph Whitaker
1 10
1 Timothy Titus Junr
24
11
6
2 Hezakiah Titus
8
3 -
A True Coppy Errors Excepted Stephen Moulton Aaron Read
3 Abil Walker
16
5
6
William Cole
Rehoboth
Fourth List of the Polls & Estate Real & Personal of said fourth Company in Rehoboth Taken by us the Subscribers In 1769
Polls
Real sonal £ s. £
Polls
Real £
sonal £ s.
Aaron Kingsly Esqier
90
25 18
1 Ebenezer Franklin
15
5 8
Amos Bozworth
27
5 16
2 Elcony Bullock
9
14
2 Azarikim Peirce
12
5
4
1 Ebenezer Ingals
10
5 18
1 Aaron Simmons
20 8 16
1 Ephraim Hix Junr
6
2 10
1 Abner Antony
18 6 14
3 Enoch Kilton
24
10
9
1 Aster Three Shears
4
5 10
1 Elihue Mason Ephraim Martin
20
9
2
1 Abial Horton
1 John Bullock Junr Jabez Bowen
9
7 18
Jonathan Horton & for his Sons land
50
14
9
1 Jabez Bowen Junr
18
6 11
1 Joatham Horton
52
11
13
1 John Carter
21
8
6
1 James Horton
2
5
8
2 Jacob Hix
6
4
3
1 Josiah Hix
2
4
Joseph Ingals
6
4 18
1 Job Horton
& for Sarah 3
1 Job Horton Junr
2
1 Capt John Kiton 40
12 15
2 James Bowen
8 4 15
2 Joseph Millard
12
6 14
1 John Bullock
9
4 10
2 Capt Joseph Peirce John Martin
45
13 10
1 Benjamin Hix Junr
6
3 15
2 Broks Mason
6
4 6
1 Josiah Millard
6
9 10
1 Barny Davis
3 James Mason
42
12 11
1 Barnabas Thresher
1 Jacob Millard
46
8
2
1 Beniamin Drake
8
3
2 Joshua Peirce
25 6 14
1 Barnard Hix
27
7 15
1 Leiut Jeremiah Wheeler
55
23 7
1 Barnard Hix Junr
5
4
6
Isaiah Lyndly
5
5 12
1 Beniamin Peirce
1 Ichabod Bozworth
6
5 3
1 Beniamin Kingsly
4
2 -
1 Job Luther
36
13
-
Colon1 Valentine Wheeler 65
20 14
1 James Gladen
3
1 10
1 Cumfort Peirce
33
11 12
Deacn Miel Peirce
33
10 18
1 Cloathier Peirce
6
4 14
8
1 Chase Round
8
4
2
2
8
1 Deaen Daniel Bullock
8
6 11
1 Levi Chafe
4
2
4
1 David Horton
24
10 18
1 Nathanael Wheeler 30
10
6
1 David Chase
4
2 16
1 Nathanael Kilton
8
4 18
1 Daniel Bullock Junr
2 10
1 Nathan Martin
5 19
1 Daniel Bullock 3d
2
1 10
1 Ebenezer Bullock
21
10
1 David Peirce
44
9 14
1 Elkanah Ingals
6 9 16
2 David Kingsly
30
4 14
1 Elihue Ingals
2 -
6
9 14
1 Ensign Richard Whitaker 40
15 5
2 Cap Nathanil Titus
27
12 4
1 Abraham Walker
9
12 16
Assessors
1 Comfort Walker Wido Abigel Walker
36
10
5
1 10
Silvanus Martin Shubael Peck
2 Aaron Walker
66 15 15
1 Moses Walker and for his wife Estate
3
Per sonal
1 John Shorey and for Ashael Car- penter Estate
Per-
Per-
26
9
9
1 Amos Hix
14 6
7
2
8
1 Aaron Millard
13
1 Joseph Bullock
44 8 18
8
2 17
1 18
1 Israel Nichols
9
4 12
1 Barnard Horton
2
8
1 18
1 Edward Martin
1 18
1 David Wheeler
2 Moses Millard Levi Bowen
2 13
14 4 14
Rehoboth Tax Lists
£ £ s.
110
Rehoboth Tax Lists
Polls
Real
Per- sonal £ S.
Polls Names
Real £
Per- sonal £ s.
1 Fraderick Drown
2 Georg Round
56 12 -
1 Elifabet Horton
1 10
1 Georg Jynkins
3 8 15
0 Wido Sarah Attwell
12 3 18
2 Leiutn Hezekiah Martin
75 20 15
2 William Goff
24 13 19
1 William Horton
13
12 13
1 William Baker
9
5
6
Prezarved Braiton
90
24
5
2 William Thresher
6
1 10
2 Phillip Wheeler
60
20
1
Peleg Martin
12
3
18
1 Pardon Peirce
3 17
5 1 Robert Goff 12 Richard Webber 3 1 18 4
2 Deacn Stephen Moulton & Son Stephen
60 26 12
2 Samuel Bullock & Son David
42
11 19
3 Solomon Horton
45
12 15
1 Squier Millard
1 Samuel Ingals
9
12
4
2 Seth Martin
36
11 14
1 Seth Martin Junr Squier Wheeler
12 6 -
Caleb Hill also of Swanzy 4
6
1 Squier Simmons
1 Thomas Horton
16
17
2 Thomas Simmons 14
10 18
2 Samuel Goff Junr
25
12
1 Silvanaz Cambel
1 18
1 Nathanael Baker
40
14
4
1 Nathanael Peirce
16
11
6
1 Nathan Bowen
22
8
6
1 Nathan Hix
4
3
1
2 Nathan Peirce
30
9
15
Silva Martin
Rehoboth
The Fifth List of Polls and Ratable Estate in the Town of Rehoboth taken by us the Subscribers Assessors of Rehoboth this 28 of November 1769
Per-
Per-
Polls
Names
Real
sonal
Polls
Names
Real
sonal
2 Elisha Allin
6
8
1
1 Peter Carpenter Junr 6 2 16
1 John Addams
12
8
8
David Carpenter 26 6 16
1 Stephen Addams
45
9
8
2 Thomas Carpenter Junr 28 15 18
1 Thomas Allyn Junr Capt Nathaniel Bliss Dea Ephraim Bliss
21
10 16
2 Capt Thomas Carpenter 3d 55 23 11
1 Caleb Carpenter Junr 96
25
7
16
1 Oliver Bliss 7 10
1 Lieut Simeon Cole
24
9
8
1 Jonathan Bliss Junr
72
16 18
1 Aaron Cole
24
9
5
1 Abdiel Bliss
65
15 16
1 Nathan Cole
20
6 14
1 Ephraim Bliss Junr
39
30 1
1 Jacob Crosman
1 18
1 William Bliss
14
2
16
John Carpenter
30
14 8
1 Peter Briggs
27
5 -
1 John Cole
30
7 2
1 Abiah Bliss
39
30 10
1 Benjamin Coomer
1 10
1 Abiel Briggs
12
8
5
2 William Dryer
42
16 -
2 William Blanding
40
11 12
1 Jacob Bliss
27
11
7
2 Peter Carpenter and
62
22 9
1 Noah Bliss
12
1 Isaac Brown
27
11 13 8 5
-
1 William Case 10
1 William Horton Junr
2
1 10
Capt Miel Peirce of Swanzy
15
John Hix of Swanzy
6
John Mason Ditto 28
Nicholas Thomas Ditto 16
Nathan Wood Ditto
2
6 Samuel Carpenter Ditto Chase Ditto 6
Jesse Mason Ditto
16
Hezekiah Kingsly Ditto 12
Enoch Chase Ditto 15
1 Squier Wheeler Junr
12 10 10
2 Leiutn Samuel Goff & Son Constant £
55 18 16
20 money at interest
1 Thomas Horton Junr 7
2
7
0 Wido Mary Peirce 33 1 10
1 Wido Mary Case 18
4 12
Stephen Moulton
Aaron Read
William Cole
Assessors of
1 Nathanael Webber
Shubael Peck
20
6
40 9 12
18
11 8
2 Timothy Cole
£ £ s.
£
£ S.
2 Daniel Bliss Junr
30
19 14
1 Stephen Croseman
Sons Samuel and Peter
£
1 18
1 Nathan Jynings
& for Wido Weeks Land
11 16
1 Hezekiah Milard 28
2 Henry West 14
9
William Wheeler 15 2 16
1 William Willistone
5 1 16
1 Sawyer Bullock
111
Per-
Polls
Names
Real sonal
Polls
Names
Real
Per- sonal
1 Nathan Bliss
30 8 6
Robbert Vickre
- 1 10
Squire Bullock
30 10 18
Ebenezer Smith
9
3
6
Widow Elisabeth Bowen
45
14 8
1 Richard Salsbury
5
1 18
1 Priel Bowen
3 16
1 David Shory
James Bullock
10
12
1
1 John Webber
1 Amos Brown
25
8 18
2 Jacob Ormsbee
18
11
1 Hugh Bullock
30
13 12
2 Jathniel Peck
39
20
7
1 Caleb Briggs
18
8
8
3 Shubael Peck
40
17 16
1 Samuel Bunn
8
10 14
1 Ebenezer Peck
30 12 10
1 Nathaniel Bunn
5 4 12
1 Philip Peck
2 1 10
2 Ens Samuel Bliss Junr
37
11 5
1 Stephen Pearse
5
8
-
1 John Bowen Abraham Bliss
8
) 16
3 Ezra Perry
15
7
6
1 Isaac Bliss
15
2
7
4 Jesiel Perry
48
20 19
2 Thomas Baldwin
6
4
4
2 David Perry John Pratt
32
16
5
1 Benjamin Baset
18
7 12
6
3
0
1 Joshua Baset
1 John Pratt Jun
6
3 15
1 Timothy Bullock
10
4
0
Jabez Round
42
13 10
John Bliss
8
2
10
1 Isaac Round
6
3
0
1 Robbert Bennet
1 Jabez Round Junr
9
4
0
1 Aaron Bullock
1 James Redway
18
7
6
Robbert Briggs
1 Samuel Redway
15
10
7
1 Gillium Bliss
Thomas Redway
21
5
6
1 Samuel Borden
2 Ezekiel Read
18
11
4
Dea Thomas Carpenter
16
2
1 Philip Short
27
15
1
1 Wrothbottum Munro
33
10
6
1 John Smith
47
16
4
1 Ens John Dryer
54
16
10
1 Samuel Darbee
12
3
8
1 Joseph Smith
John Darbee
6
3
8
2 Aaron Wheeler 51
1 Jonathan Wheeler
24
18 4
2 John Davis
30
14 -
2 Ichabod Wade
5 2 18
2 Timothy Fuller
18
7 10
2 Simeon Woshben
27
14 5
1 Nathan Fuller
15
4 9
3
8
1 Joseph Engals
1 Aaron Hix
8
3
7
5
6
1 Jesse Howard
5
3
8
1 Charles Horton
9
2 16
Moses Willmarth
2
Israel Hix
24 3 18
Ichabod Perry
3
1
Constant Horton
6
2 15
1 James Jennings
6
2 19
1 William Jennings
1 Joseph Kent
30
9
17
1 Remember Kent
3 Capt Samuel Macumber
15
10
7
Silvanus Martin
1 Benjamin Munro
6
4 19
Shubael Peck
The Sixth List of Polls and Ratable Estate in the town of Rehoboth taken by us the Subscribers Assessors of Rehoboth November ye 28th 1769
Polls
Names
Real
sonal
Polls
Real £ £ s.
3 Daniel Allin
30
7 18
10
10 -
1 Stephen Allin Jun
1 Jonathan Chase
6
4
3
1 John Arminton 4 4
1 Noah Chase
£
£
s.
1 Ensign Joseph Arminton and for half Lions Land 19
and for half Lions Land 19
-
1
1 Joseph Daggett
6
8 16
4
1 Ezra Willmarth
6 3 16
2 Squier Goff
27
10
3 Hezekiah Hix
84
20
1 Jonathan Wood 9
4
1 Hezekiah Hix Junr
16
1 William Blanding Junr
1 Benjamin Hix
18
6 14 6
1 Jathniel Peck Junr
2 Ephraim Hix Junr
16
In Attleborough Nathaniel Dagget
5
Signed to ye foregoing List Stephen Moulton Aaron Read
William Cole
Assessor's of Reho
£
£ s.
£
£ s.
. 10
5
3 12
1 Noah Perry
8
1 John Smith Junr
2
15 10
2 Joseph Goff
41
1 James Westcott 1
Per-
Per- sonal
Rehoboth Tax Lists
10
112
Early Rehoboth
Polls Names
Real
Per- sonal £ S.
Polls Names
Real
sonal
£
£ S.
1 Peter Bicknal
36 13 3
1 Amos Bicknal 42
3
-
1 James Bucklin Jun -
10 11
2 Capt James Clay 60
24
9 15
1 George Baisto
3 Simeon Bowen
60
13
8
2 John Bullock
80
12
4
1 Jabiz Bullock 5
18 16
1 John Pain Solomon Peck, Warrin David Peck, Warrin
10
William Peary
6
- 16
Wido Hannah Brown
30 17 15
3 Noah Read
66
22 16
1 Peter Read
6
'24 14 16
Joshua Brown Providence 9
1 Philip Reanof Jun
2
6
Wido Dorithy Brown
36
5
6
1 John Brown
21
7
2
1 Isaac Brown
1 18
Wido Ann Spears
14
1 10
& for part of ye Land that was Caleb Browns
2
1 Thomas Brown
42
12 8
Moses Blake
6
1 10
1 Oliver Fuller 12
2 Samuel Mason Jun
39
11 11
Nathan Mason
2 Moses Mason
18
13
2
1 Nathan Monrow 49
18 4
1 Samuel French
49
11
14
1 Elijah Mase 4
1 10
1 John Meadbury 12
12 1
and for part Peter Brown 11 Land
1 Henry Mores
1 Nathaniel Meadbury
1 18
2 Comfort Peck
39
17
18
2 Nathaniel Pain 42
13 10
1 John Jacobs
9
1
18
Allin Jacobs
9
3 18
John Jones Junr
3
2 10
1 Josiah Kent
42
8 16
1 Hezekiah Kent & Son Hezekiah
30
10 9
1 Ezra Kent
9
3 16
Peter Knap
-
1
10
1 Noah Kent
14
1
9
James Kent Junr
14
5
6
1 David Woods 1 18
1 Nathaniel Wentchester
1 Comfort Lee
2
6
Samuel Mason
32
10 14
1 John Mason Junr
8
4 10
Aaron Read
Assessors of
1 Asa Brown
9
3 8
William Cole
Silva Martin
Rehoboth
2 Joseph Bowers
7
1 18
Shubael Peck
13
4
3 Thomas Chase Wido Hannah Chase
15
12 6 10
1 William Chase
2
2 13
for Nathan Browns Land 60 and for Part Peter 11 Browns Land
James Brown Esqr warrin for part ye Land was Peter Browns
30
1 Peleg Ritchman and Son John Rodger
1 Daniel Read
1 18
1 Stutly Smith
1
18
1 Samuel Vial
45
15 17
1 Benjamin Vial
60
15 17
1 Caleb Fuller 15
1 10
John Franklin Stephen Frye
9
5
8
Richard Hardin warrin 18
32
31
6
1 Daniel Hunt Junr
1 Lft John Humphre
37
10 12
1 David Hills & for Par Caleb Browns Land 2
28
18
1 Samuel Whitman for Browns Land
78
1 Holms Whitman and Incom by mony
24
11 9
1 Capt John Walker 89
32 15
2 John Woods
24
11 14
and for part Peter Brown Land
8
12
1 Capt John Lion & for shiping
160
64 10
Per-
£
1 William Arminton
Majer Samuel Allin warrin
3
1 Barnabas Allin &
1 18
for Capt Walkers Land Timothy Allin warrin Wido Abigal Bicknal
15
2
2
8
-
- 8
William Braly
Matthew Watson Esqir of Warrin
23 4
2 Capt Daniel Hunt for ye Heirs of Oliver Hunt
2
8
William Trip Nathaniel Vial 64
15 16
12
17
2 Dan Chase
26 3
Doctr Simeon Brown Smithfield
Stephen Moulton )
CHAPTER VI
REHOBOTH CENSUSES
In the study of any town, the census lists contain much data not found in any other record. The names of the heads of families are listed, together with the number of males and females in each family divided into age groups. While in various ways these census lists are extremely helpful to the historian, they are of inestimable value to the genealogist.
In the following pages will be found transcripts of the census of the town of Rehoboth as recorded in the first Massachusetts census of 1765 (a census of totals only), and the first and second United States Census for the years 1790 and 1800, the latter here printed for the first time.
We are fortunate in having complete tax lists, including polls, for the six districts in Rehoboth for the year 1765. These tax lists will be found in the previous chapter commencing on page 90. With the 1765 Massachusetts census of totals, together with this Rehoboth tax list, it is possible to reconstruct a fairly accurate Rehoboth name census for the year 1765.
FIRST MASSACHUSETTS CENSUS, 1765
In compliance with instructions sent over by the Lords of Trade in England to all the Governors of the Colonies in America, Massa- chusetts took its first census in 1764 and 1765. The Massachusetts General Court passed an act,* 5 Mar. 1765, ordering the select men of each town to take an "exact account of the number of dwelling houses, families, and people of their respective towns and districts, including as well Indians civilized; negros and malottoes, as white people; the females as well as males; and distinguish them in this form" as shown below.
The select men for Rehoboth for the year 1764 were Samuel Mason, Jr., Joshua Smith, Aaron Read, Philip Wheeler, and Capt. Nathaniel Bliss [Rehoboth Town Meetings, vol. III, p. 242]. The select men for the year 1765 were Deacon Stephen Moulton, Aaron Read, Capt. Robert Abell, Silvanus Martin, and Thomas Carpenter, 3rd [Ibid., p. 251]. For both years, and for several years afterward, Capt. James Clay was the Rehoboth representative to the Massa- chusetts General Court.
No mention of this census is found in the Rehoboth Town Meeting records for the years 1764 and 1765. This is not conclusive, how- ever, for this volume III contains 460 pages and the record may be in some other part of the book. At this period in Rehoboth the select men were also the tax assessors.
* The Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, vol. IV, Chap. 28; Mass. Archives, vol. LXXXVIII.
113
114
Early Rehoboth
Under the order of 1764, returns were to be made "into the secre- taries office"; those returns under the act of 1765, "into the sheriffs of the several counties respectively", with no provision for making any compilation of the returns. It was not known that any com- pilation was ever made until 1822 when Judge Samuel Dana of Gorton found a compilation of these returns among the papers of a deceased friend and sent them to the Columbian Centinel of Boston, where they were published by that newspaper on 17 Aug. 1822.
In a letter to the Centinel, Judge Dana requested that after the original manuscript was copied it be sent to the Antiquarian Society to be deposited in the Society's archives. This request was not complied with, and the manuscript was lost. The printed copy in the Centinel was the only evidence of those figures of the 1765 census; a copy of the article in the Centinel is filed in the Massachu- setts Archives. In his valuable work, Statistics of Population in Massachusetts,* Dr. Joseph B. Felt, librarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society, has adopted the figures from the Dana manuscript as printed in the Centinel as the basis of his calculations and state- ments as to the Colony's population in 1765.
About 1903, Mr. Zenas Crane of Dalton, purchased a manuscript in New York and presented it to Mr. Josiah H. Benton, Jr. This manuscript is undoubtedly the original compilation of the census returns of 1765. Mr. Benton did considerable census research for this period, the results of which he published in 1905, together with facsimiles of this original census manuscript. After the publication of his book,t he presented the original manuscript to the Public Library of the City of Boston, where it may now be seen.
This Rehoboth part of the Massachusetts census of 1765 was a compilation of totals only, probably made by the select men of Rehoboth. Just what system was used to arrive at these totals is not known. The following is the Rehoboth return:
REHOBOTH CENSUS, 1765
Houses
498
Families
617
Inhabitants:
White persons
Males
964
under 16 years
Females
901
White persons
Males
818
above 16 years
Females
954
Males
28
Negroes
Females
25
Males
1
Indians
Females
5
Total number of Inhabitants
3690 [3696]
This tabulation differs from the Dana manuscript, used by Dr. Felt in 1845, which lists the same number of families, 617, in that
* Statistics of Population in Massachusetts, by Dr. Joseph B. Felt, American Statistical Association Collections (1845), vol. I, pt. 2-95 pages. Cf. "Population Estimates", Bowen's Early Rehoboth, vol. I, pp. 1, 10.
t Early Census Making in Massachusetts (1643-1765), with a Reproduction of the Lost Census of 1765, etc., 104 pages, by J. H. Benton, Jr., Boston, 1905.
115
Rehoboth Censuses
it gives the population as 3,637, instead of 3,696, which difference is exactly accounted for by the 59 negroes and Indians not included in the Dana manuscript.
There were 1,811 males and 1,885 females. The females out- numbered the males by 74 or 4.1 per centum.
In a Rhode Island census * taken in 1774, the town of Providence had only 32 more families and 313 more white inhabitants than had Rehoboth nine years earlier, in 1765. Providence had at this time 68 Indians and 303 negroes. Today, when one looks at the beautiful old First Baptist Meeting House, built in 1775, it is hard to believe that when this church was built, and for many years before, Rehoboth, across the Seekonk River in what is now East Providence, was a larger town in area than Providence and had more inhabitants.
By using the summarized totals of families and inhabitants given in the 1765 Rehoboth census, and the Rehoboth tax lists of that same year, it would be possible to reconstruct a fairly accurate town census. From the tax list in each one of the six tax districts we have the names of all of the taxpayers, polls, personal property, and real estate. The approximate numbers of these in each district follow:
First District-88 taxpayers and 80 polls. The largest taxpayer in this district was James Bucklin, taxed for £91 real estate and £24 6d. personal property, a total of £115 6d.
Second District-117 taxpayers and 103 polls. The largest tax- payer in this district was Lieut. Ephraim Hunt, taxed for £80 real estate and £16 14d. personal property, a total of £96 14d.
Third District-138 taxpayers and 156 polls. The largest tax- payer in this district was Ensign Thomas Allen, taxed for £60 real estate and £29 4d. personal property, a total of £89 4d.
Fourth District-127 taxpayers and 128 polls. The largest tax- payer in this district was Philip Wheeler, Esq., taxed for £60 real estate and £56 10d. personal property, a total of £116 10d.
Fifth District-98 taxpayers and 114 polls. The largest taxpayer in this district was Lieut. Ephraim Bliss, taxed for £13 4d. real estate and £6 3d. personal, a total of £19 7d.
Sixth District-78 taxpayers and 65 polls. The largest taxpayer in this district was John Lyon, Jr., taxed for £100 real estate and £57 14d. personal property, a total of £157 14d.
The total number of taxpayers listed in the six Rehoboth districts in 1765 is 646, and 646 assessed for a poll tax. In these lists are a few widows listed with sons who perhaps were not heads of families. Among the taxpayers in these six districts are five non-residents in the 1st district, one in the 2nd, three in the 3rd, four in the 4th, none in the 5th, and five in the 6th, a total of 18. Substracting this figure from 646 leaves 628 Rehoboth 1765 taxpayers, which rough figure is within less than two percent of the 617 heads of families given in the 1765 census. This gives an idea of what might be done in preparing a detailed census for 1765.
* Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1774, pub- lished at Providence 1858.
116
Early Rehoboth
s Bristol
bounty
houses
families
while an2 16 male
Female
male
formale mode
Total
Tainton
397
493
651
617
678
734
26
29
1
2744
679
7,90
1103
9651129
1248
37
24
35
40
4581
498
964
901
954
28
25
5
3690
Norton
266 295
301 343
461 477
447
422 460
422 528
13
2
1739
Dighton
140
198
270
260
273
297 220
3/
28
2
Å&ton
134
154
210
175
222
2
2
2
3
842
Raynham Barkley
100 94
100
ITO
146
181 150
184 181
.3
3
/
1
2
3
Frecton
110
165
153
2
A photograph of the original Bristol County return for the 1765 Massachusetts census. The original census manuscript was lost from 1822 to about 1903 when it was found and came into the possession of Mr. Josiah H. Benton, Jr., who later presented it to The Public Library of the City of Boston by whose courtesy this part of the census is here reproduced.
Dartmouth was the largest and most populous town in the county with 679 houses and a total population of 4,581 including negroes and Indians. Rehoboth was the second largest town with 498 houses and 3,690 inhabitants including negroes and Indians. Taunton was the third largest town with 397 houses and 2,744 inhabitants including negroes and Indians. Swansey was probably the fourth largest town. Norton was undoubtedly the fifth largest town with 295 houses and 1,942 inhabitants including negroes and no Indians. Attleborough was the sixth largest town with 266 houses and 1,177 inhabitants including negroes and no Indians.
These nine Bristol County towns had a total population in 1765 of 18,070 including 100 Indians and 293 negroes. This population lived in 2,611 houses which is an average of 6.92 or 7 persons to each house. See "Population Estimates", Early Rehoboth, vol. I.
It is interesting to note that 90 years after King Philip's War there were only six "civilized" Indians left in Rehoboth. In the eleven towns comprising Bristol county in 1765, with no returns from Swansea and Freetown, there were 41 male and 59 female Indians, a total of 100 "civilized" Indians, of which number 75 were in Dartmouth. There were 165 male and 128 female negroes, a total of 293, of which number Dartmouth had 61; Dighton, 59; Taunton, 55; Rehoboth, 53; Norton, 30; Attleborough, 15; Berkeley, 10; Raynham, 8; and Easton, 4.
Within the short space of 90 years after King Philip's War the Indians had practically disappeared from Bristol County, Massa- chusetts, to the extent that they represented only half of one per centum in a population of 18,070. It seems improbable that the race died out and one wonders what became of them. There were three times as many negroes as there were Indians. Research would probably show whether they died, migrated, or were assimilated by marriage with the negroes as were the Indians in the South County, Rhode Island.
D'abusby" made.
·
6
4
19
11
1942
1177
Dartmouth Rehoboth Jwanrey Auleburo'
419
117
Rehoboth Censuses
FIRST UNITED STATES CENSUS, 1790
The first United States Census * was taken in 1790; printed by the Government Printing Office at Washington, D. C., and published in 1908 by the Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Census, S. N. D. North, Director. From this publication is reprinted the Rehoboth census appearing in the following pages.
Inasmuch as we are printing for the first time the heretofore un- published 1800 Rehoboth census, it seems desirable to have both of these two early censuses in the same book and in the same index, as their value together is of far more importance than would be the case if the 1800 census were printed alone without the benefit of the ten-year earlier census of 1790.
REHOBOTH CENSUS, 1790
Heads of Families - Males Females 38
794
Total
832
Free white males of 16
1151
years and upward, including
heads of families
Free white males under
1063
2214
16 years
Free white females, including
2405
heads of families
All other free persons
91
2496
Total Inhabitants
4710
The 1790 Rehoboth census shows a total of 832 heads of families, of which 794 are males and 38 are females. There were 1,151 free white males of 16 years and upwards, including heads of families, and 1,063 free white males under 16 years. There were 2,405 free white females, including heads of families; all other free persons, 91; and no slaves. The total population was 4,710. The females out- numbered the males by 191 or 4.2 per centum. This figure does not include the 91 persons unclassified as to sex.
In the twenty-five-year period from 1765 to 1790, there was an increase in Rehoboth families of 215 or 34.8 per centum and an increase in population of 1,073 or 29.5 per centum. In 1765 there was an average of 5.9 persons per family, and in 1790 an average of 5.7 persons per family.
* The United States Census of 1790 was printed in a small pamphlet entitled, "Return of the whole number of persons within the several districts of the United States, according to 'An Act providing for the Enumeration of the Inhabitants of the United States', passed March 1st, 1790. Printed by order of the House of Representatives. Philadelphia: printed by Joseph Gates; No. 23 South Third Street. Pp. 56". This pamphlet is very scarce [A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, Boston (Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, 1890), vol. XXII, p. xiii].
Hon. David Cobb of Taunton was the enumerator of the fifteen towns in Bristol County, Massa- chusetts, for the first United States Census of 1790 [Ibid., p. xiv].
REHOBOTH CENSUS 1790
Name of Head of Family
Free white males
of 16 years and
upward, including
heads of families
Free white males
under 16 years
Free white females,
including heads of
All other free
persons
Slaves
Name of Head of Family
Free white males
of 16 years and
upward, including heads of families
Free white males
under 16 years
Free white females,
including heads of
All other free
persons
Slaves
Perry, David
1
1
Darby, John
1
1
2
Perry, David, Jun™
2
4
5
Smith, Oliver Smith, John
Dryer, William
1
1
1
Smith, Cyrel
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.