USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > Historical addresses, poem, and other exercises at the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Rehoboth, Mass., held October 3, 1894 > Part 3
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ELISHA DAVIS.
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find no reason in history why this beautiful name of Swansea should have been so corrupted by misspelling as it has been, thus changing the pronunciation. The cor- reet way to spell the word is S-w-a-n-s-e-a, as it is spelled in Wales, from which our town was named.
I am of the opinion that Rehoboth feared the tenets held by Myles, and his followers had tainted the ground on which they located, for they were willing to allow that part of Rehoboth to be taken by the new town of Swan- sea. And so we are here to-day as a daughter of Re- hoboth. It now seems harsh and almost cruel that those men should have been driven from your borders, and not only driven away but fined €5 each and forbidden to wor- ship for a month. They must have had the grace of God in their hearts to bear such sentences, but they did bear them, and when requested to move on, move on they did. But we can now thank you and our Heavenly Father that that which was intended for their correction and to their hurt was overruled by Him whose they were, to the good of all succeeding generations. Rev. John Myles had for years battled against the civil government controlling the church, and with that courage of which martyrs are made, he came to this, our New England, and true to his convictions he continued the battle, at times against him, but in the end he conquered, and the First Baptist church of Swansea is recognized in history as the first church in the Commonwealth to make a covenant that should speak elearly and plainly that the church was for the spiritual and heavenly work, and the town for the civil and earthly part. And on our soil we received what you rejected, and there was planted the ~ handful of corn in the earth on the top of the mountain ; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon."
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This first church has passed through many trials and dark days, but for nearly two hundred and fifty years the gospel of peace and good-will to men has been sounding in no uncertain strain from its midst. Religious toleration obtained a strong foothold and Swansea soon became to be regarded as the safe place for refuge for all those who would worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. And while this denomination, or sect, as it was then called, continued to suffer persecution they continued to increase in numbers, and with the growing interest in and prosperity of Roger Williams beyond the Seekonk, they soon found that rest and peace which they desired, for, by 1766, Pastor Newman having died, this same persecuted, fined, banished Rev. John Myles was called to preach in the same church by which he had been exiled. So " God moves in a mysterious way His won- ders to perform."
What more can I say? The town of Swansea is now content. Her churches are as a light on a hill ; they give no uncertain sound. And to this day, so strongly have the doctrines of the Baptist denomination been imbibed by its inhabitants that we are still a Baptist town, and with but one or two exceptions, no other denomination has gained a foothold. We believe that we have entered into the reward of those who labored, were persecuted and banished. And now in our peaceful homes, sur- rounded by well-managed and productive farms with a deep interest in our common schools, and with a constant improvement of our highways, we come to you on this, your two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and thank you that you gave us such men for our first settlers ; and we would say, that what you considered a punishment for heretical doctrine, has proved a rich reward to those who
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have followed in the belief, and practised the virtues of those whom you banished from your territory. We con- gratulate you on your prosperity ; and our desire is, that we may in all our councils, have that charity for each other which has been ours for the generations past ; and the same kindly spirit, rejoicing in each other's prosperity and sorrowing in each other's adversity ; and that we may leave to those now pressing to the front, as rich an heritage in a church believing in the fullest toleration, but firm on the great truths of the word of God.
Allow me in closing, to quote from a memorable address, given by the chairman of the day, before the Bostonian Society, Boston, in 1882 :
" We have good reason to hold John Myles in memory as the founder of the first free Baptist church in the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts ; as the co-founder with Capt. Thomas Willett of a town after the Baptist order, the first and the only one in the Commonwealth of the early founding, and of the declaration on Massachusetts soil, and the practical application of the principles of a true Christian society. In essentials, unity ; in non-essen- tials, liberty; in all things, charity."
Barrington, 1717 :
Child of Swansea, and grand-child of Rehoboth,- guardian of the graves of the Wampanoags, and heir to the clam-banks and fisheries of Massasoit. With John Myles as her pastor and teacher, Myles Standish as a pro- prietor, Samuel Willett and John Brown as residents in her own Wannamoisett, and Weymouth as her great-grand- mother, what better lineage and possession could she desire ?
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250TH ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTH.
RESPONSE BY FRED. P. CHURCH, ESQ., OF BARRINGTON, R. I.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :
Barrington the grandchild, the beautiful maiden of 177 years, sends her cordial, loving greeting to her hale and hearty grandmother, on this her two hundred and fiftieth birthday.
A child of Swansea, born when she was a blushing maid of fifty, and therefore a grandchild of dear old Re- hoboth, who at her birth was still a comely matron of seventy-three, and a great-grandchild of historie old Weymouth.
From 1745 to 1770 Barrington dwelt with her twin sister Warren, but at that date set up for herself an in- dependent household on the other side of the river, "guardian of the dust" of that strong and faithful ally of the Pilgrims, the Wampanoags, whose friendship won by fair dealing and firmness, proved a very wall of defence to that weak, struggling band for over fifty years.
Heir of the sources of the material wealth of old Massasoit, the fisheries and clambanks, which banks are still a perennial source of dividends, whose continuity no hard times can break, and no panics disturb, and the en- joyment of which is not exclusive, for we have no monoply but share the dividends willingly and freely with our neighbors, as many a family church and town reunion abundantly proves.
Linked to the Mayflower, the rich and beloved old Plymouth, by that brave, fearless, indomitable soldier, Capt. Myles Standish, whose day-dreams and night visions (if we are to believe tradition), were of landed
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estates, and a noble title over the sea, and who in part at least realized those dreams when he became a proprietor in our fertile meadows near Nayatt.
Kept in constant touch with that noble band of self- denying, self-sacrifieing men and women, for the principle of freedom in civil and religious affairs, by such men as Capt. Thomas Willet and Mr. John Brown. The former a soldier of no mean parts, a 'man of great executive ability, a born diplomat, the first and twice mayor of New York city, he filled the varied positions to which he was called with talent, energy and intelligence. The latter not so famous outside the town and colony, was identified with all the higher interests of our people. A large- hearted generous Christian man, ready to assume the larger end of every burden, he exemplified the value of true fellowship and active faith, and in serenity and much comfort fell asleep in the Lord, and was buried in Wan- namoisett. John Myles, pastor, teacher,and citizen, broad minded, far seeing, far in advance of his day and genera- tion in the scope and liberality of his faith, warm hearted, tolerant of all, loving wisdom and knowledge for their intrinsic worth, he gave of his rich treasures of wisdom and experience freely and constantly to elevate and en- noble his people. The founder of the Baptist church in Plymouth and the Bay colonies, he led in all that uplifts and purifies the moral and spiritual life of his flock.
Fondly do we guard our possessions and rich legacies of character, treasures that enrich and never lose their value. Proud are we of our family connections. Well have we profited by the legacies of the past.
Barrington has given men of affairs to the state and nation of the character and quality I leave you to judge
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and point you to the honored Chairman as one of her later ones. One other I would refer to here, well known to many in this audience to-day. A man whose large warm heart beat with loving sympathy for the tried and erring, whose clear mature mind and strong common sense united with a liberal spirit and a sublime faith reminded us of the strong men of the past. I speak of the Hon. Lewis B. Smith, "who being dead, yet speaketh " to us to-day.
Barrington has not acquired as much of material wealth as some of her children or grandchildren of old Rehoboth, but she has kept the spirit of her ancestors, as her wide awake, intelligent public spirit indicates and has ever sought to emulate their sterling qualities of honesty and sobriety and high moral character that has for its basis virtue and true godliness. What better lineage and possessions could Barrington desire? "Truly the lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places and we have a goodly heritage."
Barrington brings the glory of her lineage and the honor of her possessions and achievements and lays them at the feet of her grandmother, with her sincere and hearty congratulations on this her anniversary day .
Attleboro, 1694 :
Rehoboth celebrated her fiftieth birthday by giving her dowry and blessing to an enterprising daughter named Attleboro who set up housekeeping for herself at birth, and soon celebrates her two hundredth anniversary. Her two children, Cumberland and North Attleboro, rise up and call her blessed, while our ancient mother Rehoboth says of her, "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."
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North Attleboro, 1887 :
Westward the star of Empire and Northward the star of Enterprise takes its way from Rehoboth to the pushing, thriving, driving new municipality of North Attleboro. While she may not remember Joseph and the flocks of Kedar, she has respect for the Gold of Ophir, and of one of her diamond jewelled maidens it might be said, " Even Solomon in all his Glory was not arrayed like one of these." She is the crown jewel and jeweller of her granddam Rehoboth. May she always wear a glittering diadem.
RESPONSE BY REV. JOHN WHITEHILL, OF OLDTOWN, MASS.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen :
North Attleboro regards herself as a sister, rather than a daughter of Attleboro. She is the youngest daughter of Rehoboth, and as the same time one of the oldest.
At the youngest she is but seven years of age, and her body consists of a slice taken from so much of old Rehoboth North Purchase as was left after Cumberland had been set off to Rhode Island in 1746-7. For some years previous to the incorporation of North Attleboro as a separate municipality there were two large villages called North Attleboro and East Attleboro (or sometimes Attleboro simply), about four miles apart. Each village had its own churches, its own high school, as well as com- mon schools, its own bank, its own jewelry shops and other manufactories, etc. The two places were like the Siamese twins, each complete in itself, each distinct from the other, yet both having the same life blood and the
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same interests. There were some people, however, who said that the ligament holding them together ought to be cut. It was claimed that they were making faces at each other; or if not, they would soon be doing it, for, being rivals, it was but natural that they should. Efforts were made in town meeting to commit the town by legal vote in favor of division, but without success.
Finally the legislature was petitioned, and on the fourteenth of June, 1887, a permissive bill was approved. This was an " Act to incorporate the Town of North Attleborough." It was to be null and void, unless rati- fied within a certain time by a majority of the voters present and voting in the several precincts on the same day. The voting ook place July 30, 1887, and division was carried by a majority of 23 in a total vote of 1307. Of the 665 votes in favor of division nearly two thirds were cast by those living outside of the proposed new town of North Attleboro. North Attleboro is no seces- sionist. She went out to be by herself, because she was politely but deliberately voted out by those who were not resident on her soil.
We are a child of seven years only, but we have a vigorous life derived from the sturdy yeomen of old Rehoboth. We number about seven thousand people (as many as were in the whole of the town twenty-four years ago), and our property valuation is about four millions.
It will give you some faint idea of our prosperity and our great expectations to be told that New Boston lies within our territory, in the northeastern section of our town. You know what a vast difference there is in size and growth and enterprise between New York ou this continent and old York in the mother country.
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There is as great a difference between the Boston which vauntingly styles herself " the hub of the universe " and the New Boston which lies within the limits of our town. Not a little has been said recently in the newspapers about schemes of annexation, which, if carried into effect, are to result in the " Greater Boston" as it is called. Wait till our New Boston swallows up the old city at the head of Massachusetts Bay, and then you will see a greater Boston indeed.
We have town electric lights, town water, a town fire department and a town library. There is in process of erection a fine library building-the Richards Memorial, -the gift of a public spirited and generous family of the town.
Two steam railroad systems traverse our territory -- the New York and New England and the New York, New Haven and Hartford-furnishing direct communication with Providence and Boston. In addition to these we have two lines of electric street car rails, connecting us with Plainville, Attleboro and Pawtucket. These rails are a great blessing to our children who get much gym- nastic practice thereon, trying to see how far they can walk on them without stepping off.
We have in our town four post-offices, making con- siderable work for a number of local politicians every time there is a change in national administration. Our schools number thirty-one, employing forty-two teachers. For school houses we have seven large two-story buildings, besides five smaller buildings for the accommodation of single schools. Our school system is so good that many of our teachers are sought and lured away to other towns and cities where higher salaries are paid.
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Our people are well accommodated with churches, each of which is a centre of blessing to its own particular field, and all of which are as one, when anything is pro- jected for the general good, as, for instance, when the cause of temperance or of charity calls for united action.
We rejoice in all the prosperity of our sister town, bordering us on the southeast, and we do not intend to be led into any comparisons with her. You know what is said of comparisons. But when you hear of West Attle- boro and Attleboro Falls and Attleboro Agricultural Associationand the Attleboro Fair and Attleboro this and Attleboro that, bear in mind that these places and things are in North Attleboro. Even the two principal streams -the Seven Mile river and the Ten Mile river-gather their blessings in North Attleboro, before advancing further in their course pour them into the lap of our sister town with the shorter name.
Our old mother Rehoboth here may be pardoned, if she feels a special fondness for North Attleboro. It was from North Attleboro that the former pastor of your vil- lage church came-the pastor who served you with such faithfulness and acceptance for a period of fourteen years, and who took the lead in the formation of your Antiqua- lian Society and guided the movement which culminated in the erection of your beautiful Goff Memorial Building. Rev. George W. Tilton was the first pastor of the Cen- tral Congregational Church in North Attleboro, and came to you directly from that church when he had wooed and won the North Attleboro lady whom you knew here as his lovely and accomplished wife.
I said that North Attleboro was not only the youngest but also one of the oldest of the daughters of old mother
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Rehoboth. When you speak of the Massachusetts part of the old North Purchase, it is North Attleboro chiefly that you must have in mind. North Attleboro is the old, original, genuine successor of that North Purchase. " All others are base imitations."
It was in North Attleboro that the first house was built by a Rehoboth settler -- the house of John Woodcock, which was also the first tavern, and was used as a gar- rison in King Philip's war. It was in North Attleboro that the first mill was built-the saw and grist mill of Joseph and Nathaniel Daggett. The first establishment for the manufacture of jewelry was in North Attleboro, one hundred and fourteen years ago, and the second too, for that matter. In North Attleboro stood the first meet- ing-house built by the immigrants from Rehoboth. In North Attleboro was, and is, the old powder house, where the settlers kept their ammunition, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, and close by, in the same town, is the training ground used by their military forces. We still keep alive in North Attleboro the old Indian names in our Wamsutta hotel and opera house and our Anawan block. Coming down to more recent times, it was in North Attleboro that the first local newspaper was started.
But I have gone into particulars enough. We are not boasting. We are simply developing and interpreting by this statement of facts the true but glowing eulogy pronounced by you, Mr. Toastmaster, upon our honored town. Our only purpose is to show that North Attleboro, although the youngest of Rehoboth's municipal daughters, is neither a foundling nor an upstart. No other daughter has received more of her life from good, old mother Reho both than she, and none is bound to the mother by ten-
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derer recollections and stronger and more numerous ties. Even if she were disposed to ignore her origin (which she is not), she could not do it, while so many interesting events in history connect her directly with the distant past and so many monuments on her soil point to the an- cient town from which she came. All these things must pass from sight and from memory before it can be said of her that " she knew not Joseph." As for " the flocks of Kedar," how can she forget them so long as her inhab- itants continue to be assessed for more than half a thou- sand cows and twenty-eight sheep?
Although her most conspicuous industry is the manufacture of jewelry, yet many of her ten thousand acres are under cultivation, and her fruits and field products speak for themselves in her annual fairs. She is indeed " the crown jewel and jeweler of her mother Re- hoboth," and can deck herself any day in a glory rivaling that of Solomon; yet she is no lover of vain display, as any one can see who walks her streets and looks upon the neat and tasteful homes of her people. She aims to pro- duce artistic work which shall be "a thing of beauty," if not " a joy forever." But even this work upon which so much ingenuity and skill are expended is regarded as only a means to an end. Personal adornment is not the grand aim of Attleboro life. While seeking to produce ornaments of gold and silver and pearl which shall be unsurpassed in elegance of design and in finish of work- manship, her representative men and women desire, as the town's greatest glory, a population sober, industri- ous, thrifty, self-respecting, public spirited, reverencing God and seeking the good of their fellow men -- a popu- lation who shall be the worthy descendants of their Pil- grim ancestors-the pioneers of old Rehoboth.
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Seekonk, 1812 :
Push, piety, and patriotism ; prime principles of the Pilgrim settlers of Rehoboth :- Seekonk, a loyal daugh- ter of Rehoboth has illustrated the virtues of the Mother- town in all her history.
RESPONSE BY JOSEPH BROWN, ESQ., OF SEEKONK, MASS. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen :
It is asserted in the sentiment given me to discuss, that the Pilgrim settlers of ancient Rehoboth were men of push, piety and patriotism, and that their descendants have exhibited the virtues of their ancestors.
The spirit of Push that moves to action, is ever the same in whatever channel it acts. But action is always evolved by circumstances ; as circumstances differ, action differs. Push is only known in action.
What caused or led the settlers of Ancient Rehoboth to be men of push ? What were the circumstances that led them to action ? What was the condition of Rehoboth two hundred and fifty-one years ago? Generally a wilder- ness covered with a dense forest, not a road constructed, not a bridge built, a lot fenced, or a house erected. If they were to make this their home, what must be done ? In order to construct roads, bridges, fences, houses, and subdue the forest, together with the cultivation of their erops, what toil, patience, endurance, and perseverance were necessary? But those settlers were equal to the situation. Their great need and the circumstances in which they were placed, nerved them to action, and almost superhuman efforts. Thus, surrounding circum- stances moved their spirit of push to action, and they stand before the world notably as men of push.
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Patriotism is love of one's own country, a personal quality of character always respected in all ages.
The first settlers of Ancient Rehoboth must have been men of faith and courage, or they would not have left the land of their fathers, the home of their childhood, and severed the thousand associations and ties, binding them to their English homes, and embark on a perilous voyage across the wide ocean, to make a home in a wil. derness in a far distant land. And for what? Not for gain like the adventurers to California when gold was discovered, but, for conscience sake. They were a liberty loving people. They would rather suffer exile, and if need be, death, rather than an invasion of their natural and inherent rights.
But they were soon called to meet with more serious difficulties than I have named. They had scarcely cleared their fields, and provided things comfortable, before the Indian war commenced.
Its commencement and close was within the limits of Ancient Rehoboth. It commenced by an attack of the Indians on Wannamoiset, now Swansea, and closed by the capture of Annawan in the vicinity where we are now assembled.
Rehoboth probably suffered more in this war than any other town in Plymouth Colony, because of its prox- imity to Mt. Hope, the residence of Philip. Rehoboth gave both men and money for this war, and her soil was moistened with the blood of her citizens who fell in con- flict with the savage foe. The most bloody and disastrous battle of the war was fought within the limits of Ancient Rehoboth. Sixty-three white men and twenty Cape In-
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dians arrived at Rehoboth, now East Providence, when they were joined by some of our citizens, and all went in search of the Indians who were known to be in this vicinity.
Usually the shrill tones of the bugle, the clang of the cymbal, and the deep roll of the drum, nerve the soldiers for the conflict, but not so here. They marched forward silently to the field of carnage and death, but with that determined step, that told the spirit of that heroie band.
They came upon the foe a little above Pawtucket, attacked and pursued them until they were drawn "into an ambuscade, and surrounded by more than five times their number."
Capt. Pierce formed his men in a circle, so as to pre- sent a front in every direction. " There was no retreat, it was victory or death." No quarter was asked, no quarter given. The battle raged for nearly three hours, and these brave men fell one by one at their posts till nearly all lay dead or wounded on the bloody field. No monument marks the spot where these brave men fell, but the record of their sacrifice and action is placed on historic shelves, where future generations may read and know somewhat of the courage and patriotism of the first settlers of this country.
Ilistory has handed down through the ages the ex- ploits of ancient warriors, records few instances where more courage, determination and patriotism were dis- played, than by Pierce and his brave men on Rehoboth's plains.
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