USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > Historic Rehoboth: record of the dedication of Goff memorial hall, May 10th, A.D. 1886 > Part 9
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I went with him to Bristol to attend the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of its settlement, and as we walked through the crowded streets I noticed he was look- ing in all directions as though in search of something. At last he said : " This is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw in my life; here are thousands of people out for a holiday, all well dressed, smiling and happy, and not a single man drunk; why, if it had been in my State I should have seen half a dozen drunken fights by this time." This Southern gentleman said to me : "When I
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came to New England for the first time in my life I ex- pected to find an entirely distinct species of mankind, but I find we are a homogeneous people." From Rhode Island he went to Boston and after three week's experi- ence of the hospitality, in which Massachusetts is exceeded by no other State, he said to me : "Captain, I love Boston ; I would defend Boston against an attack in any part of the world."
Do you not join with me in saying that that rebel had been thoroughly reconstructed and that to thus conquer the prejudices and training of a life time by a residence of a few weeks among the Yankees is the highest tribute that could be paid to the New England civilization, which has given Rehoboth a proud position in the history of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
DEACON JOSEPH BROWN, OF SEEKONK.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : It is unexpected to me that I am called upon, but I should not do justice to myself if I did not express the pleasure it gives me in being present on this occasion. I am not a citizen of Rehoboth, but have always resided within the limits of Ancient Reho- both, and as my ancestors were among the first settlers of this town, whatever pertains to the history. of Ancient Rehoboth specially interests me.
I most heartily congratulate the inhabitants of this town on the erection of this building, which is an honor to the town and to those individuals who so generously contri- buted to its erection. It is well that some such building as this should be erected, where the relics of the past, and ancient papers, can be deposited, cared for, and preserved. It is well for us occasionally to review the events of the
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past, that we may more fully appreciate the toils, suffer- ings, privations and perseverance of the early settlers of these colonies.
Rehoboth has a history of which its inhabitants may well be proud. Very soon after the settlement of the town, King Philip's war commenced, and as his residence was in the vicinity of this town, perhaps Rehoboth suffered as much, or more, than any other town in the colony. The central part of the town, afterward Seekonk, and now East Providence, was burned, the bloodiest battle of the war was fought within its borders, and Philip's greatest chief- tain surrendered but a short distance from where we are now assembled. During the French and Indian war, Reho- both contributed her quota of soldiers. We felt that the call upon us during the war of the Rebellion was great, but it was not equal to the call made on our fathers during the war of the Revolution.
It will be recollected that war lasted seven years, and often calls were made for men equipped for service. I find by ancient papers, I have in my possession, that in some cases they paid as large or larger bounties for re- cruits, than were paid during the late war. In some instances they paid as high as two thousand dollars. (Here an original receipt was read for that amount for enlisting into the service), which is an evidence of the depreciation of the currency, a difficulty they had to contend with at that time. The regiment under Col. Carpenter of Reho- both was the first engaged in the battle on Rhode Island. In the year 1812, the town was divided by a northerly and southerly line, and the western part was incorporated under the name of Seekonk, so that Rehoboth and Seekonk have a common history prior to that time.
I have in my possession these ancient papers: The ancient Muster Roll of the company in the western part of
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the town, belonging to Col. Thomas Carpenter's regiment; the List of men drafted to defend Howland's Ferry, and Pay Roll for the same; and original ancient Receipts given by individuals for enlisting into the continental service dur- ing the Revolutionary war, which I now present to this Antiquarian Society, and have also others loaned, which, when I shall obtain them, I intend also to deposit with you.
REV. LEANDER THOMPSON OF NORTH WOBURN.
MEMBERS OF THE REHOBOTH ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY : I am here to-day in response to a very kind invitation of my old friend, your president, and I enjoy listening to others far more than I could enjoy speaking. I come from an old town, originally a part of Charlestown, but having a municipal history of its own going back to 1642, a little earlier, if I mistake not, than the date of your own ancient town.
In 1753, one hundred and eleven years after the incor- poration of Woburn, there was born near the homes of my ancestors and related to my own family, Benjamin Thomp- son, since widely known throughout the civilized world as Count Rumford, the greatest scientist of his age, and one of the greatest of any age. In 1876, a few persons were specially impressed with the desirableness of resuing from threatening ruin, the old but still substantial house in which this illustrious man had his first home. They had thought and talked about it for several years, but at this time, there were concurring circumstances, which contrib- uted largely to give definite shape to their hitherto some- what vague wishes. Through the persevering efforts of a few men, money sufficient to purchase the estate was
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raised, the Rumford Historical Society was organized, and in 1877, was incorporated under that name. In the words of Article II of the Constitution :
"The object of this corporation shall be to hold and preserve a certain lot of land, with the buildings situated thereon, in Woburn, known as the birthi-place of Benjamin Thompson, or Count Rumford; also to col- leet and preserve for exhibition or use. books, manuscripts, objects of antiquarian interest, and whatever may illustrate the life and times, and perpetuate the memory of the distinguished man whose title is promi- nently associated with our organization."
In accordance with this object, the old mansion has been extensively repaired and the grounds, to some ex- tent, put in order, though in no case has the antique style and appearance of anything, without or within, been changed. In the large old fashioned lower room where the Count was born, we have a free library, called the Rumford Library, and containing a choice collection of nearly 1,600 volumes. And in that room, we have our regular meetings. In the same room, to some extent, and elsewhere to a larger extent, we have a constantly increas- ing collection of relics of the olden time, some of which illustrate especially the life and times of Rumford and of those with whom he was associated. We have an album for visitors' names and a book of biographical sketches, more or less extended, of all deceased members of our Association. Besides these papers, many others have at different times been contributed upon the early and espe- cially the Revolutionery history of our town. Some of these papers have been published by our local press; others are preserved in manuscript among our treasures. We have members scattered through the United States, in Canada, and in England; and we strongly hope that in the future we shall accomplish far more than has been possible in the nine years of our past history.
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As an honorary and corresponding member of the Winchester Historical and Genealogical Society, I may perhaps be allowed to add a few words. For more than 200 years, the present town of Winchester was a part of Woburn, and its history was of course identical with that of Woburn. Two years ago, some of the leading men of this new and enterprising town organized a society whose objects are indicated by its name. During the less than two years of its existence, the society has accom- plished wonders in the way of research, bringing to light old and forgotten papers, records and scraps of important history, reducing all discoveries to writing and carefully preserving every item for future use in a more complete history of Woburn in former days, and of Winchester since 1850, than has existed or been thought possible. Many of these valuable papers have been published in the "Winchester Record," a quarterly magazine published by the society, and containing on an average not far from one hundred pages in each number. A considerable number of the articles thus published are biographical sketches of the first settlers of the old town of Woburn, nearly all of whom had been also among the early settlers of Charles- town, and some of them belonging to the large and famous Colony led by Gov. Winthrop in 1630.
But I am consuming too much time. As a member of both the kindred societies I have mentioned, I am happy to express to the Antiquarian Society of this old and his- toric town my hearty greetings and congratulations. I am both surprised and delighted to see what a beginning you have made. Your antiquarian collection far exceeds, in the number and value of its articles, many that are much older. At an early day, I should like to read a printed catalogue of these articles, and I am sure that even the reading of the lists with brief descriptions will be deeply
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interesting to not a few beside your own citizens. And then last, but by no means least, of all, do I congratulate you on being the possessors of this new, commodious and every way admirable Goff Memorial Hall.
A WORD FROM MR. GOFF.
Mr. Darius Goff, to whom so many pleasant references had been made during the day, was called for by general acclamation as the exercises were closing. He rose and with evident feeling said :
"I am not a man of many words; actions are easier for me. I will only say to audience and speakers-If you have enjoyed dedicating this hall as much as I enjoyed contributing to it, the occasion has been a very happy one for you all. I would acknowledge with gratitude the more than liberal share of appreciation which it has been my fortune to receive."
In Conclusion.
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It was with a feeling of profound satisfaction that the audience turned homeward. Important as the work of dedication appeared to all lovers of Rehoboth, and to any who regarded the event from an antiquarian point of view, the exercises left nothing either for local pride or histori- cal criticism to demand. The occasion marks an era in Rehoboth history. The erection of such a beautiful Memorial ; the utterances of the distinguished men at its dedication ; the contribution to Rehoboth history made by the complete and accurate record of this volume, all will serve to win for Rehoboth a rightful recognition as one of the most historic places in the Old Bay State. As the names of John Myles, Samuel Newman, William Black- stone, Thomas Willett and others become properly iden- tified with its history ; as the careers of its sons in letters, arms, science and jurisprudence become better known, men will be as proud to trace their lineage to Historic Rehoboth as to name the revered Plymouth or far-famed Lexington as their birth-place.
Indeed, Rehoboth holds as distinguished a relation to the annals of Indian warfare, as Plymouth to the inception of the colonies, or Lexington to the Revolutionary struggle. It was the frontier town during King Philip's war. The first blood of a contest which menaced the very life, and
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not alone the liberty of the colonies, was shed in its origi- nal boundaries, while within its present limits, the last triumphant strategy of that struggle was consummated. If to stand on the confines of savage territory and defend the hearths and homes that lie behind is patriotism, Myles' Bridge is as truly historic ground as Lexington Common.
Standing as the narrative of these pages does, midway between the Ancient Rehoboth that was and the New Rehoboth that is to be, it aims to inspire reverance for the one and aspiration for the other. May we, its readers, appreciate the measure of responsibility which rests upon us, and to our fidelity, in the words of the immortal Burke, "Let us attest the retiring generations ; let us attest the advancing generations; between which, as a link in the great chain of eternal order, we stand !"
FINIS
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OLD POWDER HOUSE, ATTLEBOROUGH.
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