USA > Massachusetts > Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions > Part 17
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REHOBOTH.
city of Boston now stands. He sold his lands on the peninsula in 1634, and probably removed to Rehoboth the next year. He loca- ted himself in what is now Cumberland, R. I., on the river which bears his name, about three miles above the village of Pawtucket. His house, which he named " Study Hall," stood near the east bank of the river, a few rods east of a knoll which rises abruptly from the meadow on the brink of the river to the height of 60 or 70 feet. His grave and the well which he dug are still to be seen. The celebrated Roger Williams for a short time, when driven from Massachusetts, first pitched his tent in the limits of Rehoboth, and resided there for a short period.
Rev. Samuel Newman* may be considered as the founder of Rehoboth. He removed here with part of his church in Weymouth in 1644. The first meeting of the original planters to be found on record is dated at " Weimouth the 24th of the 8th month [October] 1643." The second meeting was held in Dec. following, when regulations were made as to the planting of corn. The teacher was to have a certain portion from each settler ; servants, after four years, to be inhabitants, and entitled to their privileges. The following appears to be a list of all the planters at Seekonk or Re- hoboth in July, 1644. It is prefixed in the following manner :-
" This combination, entered into by the general consent of all the inhabitants, after general notice given the 23d of the 4th month. We whose names are underwritten, being, by the providence of God, inhabitants of Seacunk, intending there to settle, do covenant, &c.
Walter Palmer, Samuel Newman, Peter Hunt,
Edward Smith,
Wm. Cheesborough,
William Smith, John Peren,
Robert Titus, Robert Martin,
Zachery Rhoades,
George Kendricke, John Allen,
Abraham Martin,
Richard Bowen,
Job Lane,
William Sabin,
John Matthewes,
Joseph Torrey,
Alex. Winchester,
Thomas Cooper.
Edward Sale, James Clark,
Ralph Shepherd,
Ephraim Hunt,
Henry Smith, Stephen Payne,
Ralph Alin, Thomas Bliss,
Edward Bennett,
Richard Wright,
"Though the proprietors purchased their land of the Plymouth colony, yet it appears, from the compact signed by them, that they considered themselves independent of any jurisdiction but their own, though they were afterwards claimed by both Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay. In 1645, they submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Plymouth court, or rather were assigned to that by the commissioners of the United Colonies, and were incorporated by the Scripture name of Rehoboth,-a name selected by Mr. Newman; for, said he, " the Lord hath made room for us."+
The town of Rehoboth in its present limits is formed from the
* Mr. Newman was a man of great learning and piety. He compiled a Concor- dance of the Bible, a herculean labor, which was published in London in 1643, in folio. After his removal to Rehoboth (now Seekonk), he revised this work and greatly im- proved it, using in the evening, according to President Stiles, pine knots instead of candles. He died at Seekonk, in 1663. "The manner of his death," says Elliot, " was peculiar. He had a certain premonition of it, and seemed to triumph in the prospect of its being near. He was apparently in perfect health, and preached a ser- mon from these words, Job xiv. 14 : "All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.' In the afternoon of the following Lord's day he asked the deacon to pray with him, saying he had not long to live. As soon as he had finished his prayer, he said the time was come when he must leave the world; but his friends, seeing no immediate signs of dissolution, thought it was the influence of imagination. But he turned round, saying, 'Angels, do your office,' and immediately expired."
+ Bliss' History of Rehoboth, p. 31.
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REHOBOTH.
second precinct of the ancient Rehoboth. This was incorporated as a separate society in 1759. As early as 1711, the inhabitants of the south-east part of the town, called the "neighborhood of Palmer's river," petitioned for a division of the town into two pre- cincts. This was opposed by the western or older part of the town. In 1717, the general court granted permission to the people at Palmer's River to build a meeting-house in their part of the town. This house was commenced the same year, and stood on a small elevation about half a mile N. W. of the Orleans factory. Jethnial Peck, Capt. Samuel Peck, and Jonathan Bliss, gave each an acre of land for the site of the meeting-house. In 1721 a church was organized here, under the pastoral care of Rev. David Turner. Mr. Turner was succeeded by Rev. Robert Rogerson, who was settled in 1759; he died in 1799, and was succeeded by Rev. Otis Thompson, who was ordained in 1800. The second meeting-house was erected in 1773, "upon the plaine near Timothy Readways." There are at present in Rehoboth 5 churches : 2 Baptist, 1 Congre- gational, 1 Reformed Methodist, and 1 Christian. There is a cot- ton factory, with 1,440 spindles. Population, 2,202. Distance, 10 miles S. W. of Taunton, 7 east of Providence, and 40 south-west- erly of Boston.
South-west vien of Annanon's Rock, Rehoboth.
The above is a representation of the celebrated rock, called Annawon's Rock, in the eastern part of Rehoboth, a few rods south of the new turnpike from Taunton to Providence, about eight miles from the former and ten miles from the latter place. The whole rock extends N. E. and S. W. 70 or 80 feet, and its height is 25 or 30 feet. It is on the northern border of a great swamp of nearly 3000 acres, called Squannakonk, by which it is rendered inaccessible except on the northern side. This place is rendered memorable by the capture of Annawon, the last and bravest of King Philip's chieftains, on 28th of Aug. 1676. Annawon, after the death of Philip, Aug. 12th, with a few brave warriors, ranged the woods in
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REHOBOTH.
the vicinity of Rehoboth and Swanzey, much to the terror of the inhabitants. Capt. Church, so celebrated in this war, was sent for, who with his party immediately commenced upon the pursuit. Having captured a number of Annawon's company, one of them having his life spared offered to conduct him to his chieftain's retreat. The following interesting account is taken from the account given in Drake's Hist. of Indian Chiefs, published in Boston in 1832.
Having travelled through swamps and thickets until the sun was setting, the pilot ordered a stop. The captain asked him if he had made any discovery. He said, "About that hour of the day Annanon usually sent out his scouts to see if the coast was clear, and as soon as it began to grow dark the scouts returned, and then we may move securely." When it was sufficiently dark, and they were about to proceed, Capt. Church asked the old man if he would take a gun and fight for him. He bowed very low and said, "I pray you not to impose such a thing upon me as to fight against Capt. Annanon, my old friend, but I will go along with you, and be help- ful to you, and will lay hands on any man that shall offer to hurt you." They had proceeded but a short space, when they heard a noise, which they concluded to be the pounding of a mortar. This warned them that they were in the vicinity of Anna- won's retreat.
*
* * *
When they arrived near the foot of the rock, Capt. Church, with two of his Indian soldiers, crept to the top of it, from whence they could see distinctly the situation of the whole company, by the light of their fires. They were divided into three bodies, and lodged a short distance from one another. Annanon's camp was formed by felling a tree against the rock, with bushes set up on each side. With him lodged his son, and others of his principal men. Their guns were discovered standing, and leaning against a stick resting on two crotches, safely covered from the weather by a mat. Over their fires were, pots and kettles boiling, and meat roasting upon their spits. Capt. Church was now at some loss how to proceed, seeing no possibility of getting down the rock without discovery, which would have been fatal. He therefore creeps silently back again to the foot of the rock, and asked the old man, their pilot, if there were no other way of coming at them. He answered, "No," and said that himself and all others belonging to the company were ordered to come that way, and none could come any other without danger of being shot.
The fruitful mind of Church was no longer at a loss, and the following stratagem was put in successful practice. He ordered the old man and the young woman to go forward and lead the way, with their baskets upon their backs, which, when Anna- won should discover them, would take no alarm, knowing them to be those he had lately sent forth upon discovery. Capt. Church and his handful of soldiers crept down also, under the shadow of those two and their baskets. The captain himself crept close behind the old man, with his hatchet in his hand, and stepped over the young man's head to the arms. The young Annanon, discovering him, whipped liis blanket over his head, and shrunk up in a heap. The old captain Annanon started up on his breech, and cried out "Howoh !" which signified, "I am taken." All hope of es- cape was now fled forever, and he made no effort, but laid himself down again in perfect silence, while his captors secured the rest of the company. For he supposed the Eng- lish were far more numerous than they were, and before he was undeceived his company were all secured.
One circumstance much facilitated this daring project. It has been before mentioned that they heard the pounding of a mortar on their approach. This continued during their descent down the rock. A squaw was pounding green dried corn for their supper, and when she ceased pounding to turn the corn they ceased to proceed, and when she pounded again they moved. This was the reason they were not heard as they lowered themselves down from crag to crag, supported by small bushes that grew from the seams of the rock. The pounded corn served afterwards for a supper to the captors.
*
* *
The two companies situated at a short distance from the rock knew not the fate of their captain, until those sent by Church announced to them that they were all pris- oners ; and, to prevent their making resistance, were told that Capt. Church had en- compassed them with his army, and that to make resistance would be immediate death ; but if they all. submitted peaccably, they should have good quarter. "Now
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SEEKONK.
they being old acquaintance, and many of them relations," readily consented ; deli vering up their guns and hatchets, were all conducted to head quarters.
Things being thus far settled, Captain Church asked Annanon what he had for sup- per; " for," said he, " I am come down to sup with you." Annamon replied, " Taubut," with a majestic voice, and, looking around upon his women, ordered them to hasten and provide Capt. Church and his company some supper. He asked Capt. Church " whether he would eat cow beef or horse beef." He said he would prefer cow beef. It was soon ready, which, by the aid of some salt he brought in his pocket, he made a good meal. And here it should be told, that a small bag of salt, which Church carried in his pocket, was the only provision he took with him upon this expedition.
When supper was over, Capt. Church set his men to watch, telling them that if they would let him sleep two hours they should sleep all the rest of the night, he not hav- ing slept any for thirty-six hours before; but after lying a half hour, and no dispo- sition to sleep came, from the momentous cares upon his mind, for,
"The dead alone in such a night can rest ;"'
he looked to see if his watch were at their posts, but they were all fast asleep. Anna- won felt no more like sleeping than Church, and they lay for some time looking one upon the other. Church spoke not to Annamon, because he could not speak Indian, and thought Annanon could not speak English, but it now appeared that he could, from a conversation they held together. Church had laid down with Annanon to pre- vent his escape, of which however he did not seem much afraid, for after they had laid a considerable time Annanon got up and walked away out of sight, which Church considered was on a common occasion. But being gone some time, " he began to suspect some ill design." He therefore gathered all the guns close to himself, and lay as close as he possibly could under young Annanon's side, that if a shot should be made at him it must endanger the life of young Annanon also. After lying a while in great suspense, he saw, by the light of the moon, Annanon coming with something in his hands. When he had got to Capt. Church he knelt down before him, and after presenting him what he had brought, spoke in English as follows :- " Great captain, you have killed Philip, and conquered his country. For I believe that I and my com- pany are the last that war against the English, so suppose the war is ended by your means, and therefore these things belong unto you." He then took out of his pack a beautifully wrought belt, which belonged to Philip. It was nine inches in breadth, and of such length as, when put about the shoulders of Capt. Church, reached to his ankles. This was considered at that time of great value, being embroidered all over with money, that is wampampeag, of various colors, curiously wrought into figures of birds, beasts, and flowers. A second belt, of no less exquisite workmanship, was next presented, which belonged also to Philip. This, that chief used to ornament his head with ; from the back part of which flowed two flags, which decorated his back. A third was a smaller one, with a star upon the end of it, which he wore upon his breast. All three were edged with red hair, which Annanon said was got in the country of the Mohawks. These belts, or some of them, it is believed remain at this day, the property of a family in Swansey. He next took from his pack two horns of glazed powder and a red cloth blanket. These, it appears, were all of the effects of the great chief. He told Capt. Church that those were Philip's royalties, which he was wont to adorn himself with when he sat in state, and he thought himself happy in having an opportunity to present them to him.
The remainder of the night they spent in discourse, in which Annawon " gave an account of what mighty success he had had formerly in wars against many nations of Indians, when he served Asuhmequin, Philip's father. Morning being come, they took up their march for Taunton. In the way they met Lieutenant Honlund, according to appointment, at his no small surprise. They lodged at Taunton that night. The next day Capt. Church took old Annamon, and half a dozen Indian soldiers, and his own men, and went to Rhode Island ; the rest were sent to Plymouth, under Lieut. Howland. Not long after this, to the great grief of Capt. Church, Annanon was be- headed at Plymouth. It is true Church did not guarantee his life when he surrendered, but he had little doubt of his being able to save him, knowing how much the country was indebted to him in this war.
SEEKONK.
IN 1812, the west part of Rehoboth was incorporated into a dis- tinct township by its ancient name of Seekonk. This word in
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SEEKONK.
the Indian language is the name for the wild or black goose, and this place probably received its name from the circumstance that great, numbers of wild geese used frequently to alight in Seekonk river and cove .* This town is properly the ancient Rehoboth, it being the place where the first settlement was made. Some account of the first settlers, and the names of some of the first planters, will be found in the account given in this work of the town of Rehoboth. The town, or first settlement, was built in a semi- circular form, around what is now Seekonk common, (the south extremity of the plain,) with the meeting-house and parsonage in the center; the semi-circle opening towards Seekonk or Paw- tucket river. This circle was afterwards called "The Ring of the Town."
Seekonk is washed on the west by Providence river, separating it from the state of Rhode Island. There are three cotton facto- ries in the town, running nearly 6,000 spindles, and about 150 looms. There are 2 houses of worship, 1 Congregational and 1 Baptist. Population, 2,016. Distance from Providence 4 miles, 14 S. W. of Taunton, and 41 miles southerly from Boston. The Boston and Providence railroad passes through this town.
In the spring of 1676, during Philip's war, the Indians, dispers- ing themselves in small parties, committed dreadful ravages both in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The country being alarmed, Capt. Pierce, from Scituate, with sixty-three Englishmen and twenty friendly Indians from Cape Cod, was ordered to drive the Indians towards Rhode Island. He arrived at Seekonk on the 25th of March. While in pursuit of the Indians, the next day, he was attacked and surrounded by an overwhelming force of savages; after a desperate resistance, Capt. Pierce, with nearly all his men, were killed, after having slain, it is supposed, nearly double the number of their enemies. "Two days after Pierce's fight, a party of the Indians, crossing the river, laid the town in ashes, burning 40 houses and 30 barns." These houses were around the "Ring of the Town;" only two houses were left standing,-the garrison-house, which stood on the spot where the house of Phanuel Bishop now stands, and another house on the south end of the common, which was preserved by black sticks having been arranged around it, so as to give it at a distance the appearance of being strongly guarded. The houses were set on fire, as tradition informs us, early in the evening, and when the sun arose the next morning it beheld only a line of smoking ruins. It appears that only one person was killed; he was an Irishman, a religious, but a singular and superstitious man. On the approach of the Indians, he refused to go into the garrison-house, but remained in his own house with his Bible in his hand, believing that while he continued reading it, nothing could harm him. He was, how- ever, shot through the window.
* Bliss' History of Rehoboth.
18
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SEEKONK.
There is a chair now in possession of Capt. Caleb Abell of See- konk, which has been in possession of that family since the burn- ing by the Indians, and is dignified with the appellation of " King Philip's Chair." According to the tradition preserved in the family, Philip was in the habit of frequently visiting the house of Preserved Abell, and whenever he came, this chair, being the " big armed-chair of the house," was brought forth as a mark of distinction for his seat. At the burning of the place in 1676, the Indians brought it out of the house for their chief (who is said to have been King Philip) to sit in, and enjoy the conflagration. When they left this house for another, an Indian threw a fire- brand into the chair, which consumed the bottom, but left the huge frame, with only scorching the parts to which the bottom was attached.
Capt. Thomas Willet, who came over to this country in 1630, was buried in the limits of this town, at the head of Bullock's Cove. He was a very young man when he arrived, and was a merchant by profession. He first resided at Plymouth, and soon became a useful and distinguished man in the colony. When New York was surrendered by the Dutch, Capt. Willet was sent for by his majesty's commissioners to assist them in organizing the new government. After a residence of a few years in New York, he returned to his seat at Swansea, where he died in 1674. " The English mayor of the first commercial metropolis in Ame- rica, (says Mr. Daggett in his History of Attleborough,) lies buried on a lonely and barren heath, in the humble town of Seekonk, at a place seldom visited by the footsteps of man, with nought but the rudest monument to mark the spot." The following is the rudely carved inscription, still legible.
1674.
Here lyeth the body of the worthy Thomas Willet, Esq., who died August ye 4th, in the 64th year of his age, Anno who was the first Mayor of New York, and twice did sustain the place.
The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the burying-ground in this town.
Here rests the body of Mr. George Allen, a native of Sherburn in Great Britain, who died Jan. 20th, A. D. 1774, aged 78 years. His ingenuity & application to study were such, that in early life he made uncommon advances in the principal branches of Literature, & at the age of 17 was employed as a writing master in his native town. At the age of 21 he arrived at Boston, where he opened a school for the instruction of youth, in which occupation (in that & other towns) he spent the Prime of his life ; his latter researches were better calculated for the promotion of Science, than for the advancement of his private interest. His friendly disposition and mode- ration were conspicuous to all who knew him.
A tribute of respect to Hosea Humphrey, Esq., who died June 30th, 1816, aged 59. He was a native of Connecticut, was highly esteemed there as a Philosopher, Physi- cian & Statesman ; was honored with a seat in the Convention for adopting the Federal Constitution, & also of the Legislature; and ever defended the rights of man with a liberal independent spirit .- Erected by the affectionate regard of his afflicted widow.
-
139
SWANSEY.
SOMERSET.
THIS town is pleasantly situated on the western side of Taun- ton river, opposite the town of Fall River. Previous to its incor- poration in 1790, it formed a part of Swansey, and was called the Shawamet Purchase. Taunton river to this place is navigable for vessels of considerable burthen. This place is 13 miles from Taunton, 13 from Providence, and 45 from Boston. Population, 1,063. In five years preceding 1837, there were 12 vessels built : tonnage, 696. This town has about 1,200 tons of shipping, and 7 potteries, where stone and earthen ware are manufactured. There are 4 churches : 2 Baptist, 1 Friends, and 1 Methodist.
SWANSEY.
A PART of this town was originally comprehended in the ancient limits of Rehoboth. It forms a part of the tract called by the In- dians Wannamoiset, situated in this town and Barrington, R. I. Swansey was incorporated as a town in 1667, and comprehended in its limits at that period the present town, Somerset, Barring- ton, and the greater part of Warren, R. I. The town derived its name from Swansea in Wales, and was so spelled in the earliest records.' In 1649, Obadiah Holmes and several others in Reho- both, having embraced the Baptist sentiments, withdrew them- selves from Mr. Newman's church, and set up a separate meeting of their own. The attempt to break them up, and the persecution they received, increased the number of Baptists. In 1663, they were much strengthened by the arrival of Rev. John Myles, with part of his church, which he had formed at Wales, whence he had. been ejected for non-conformity. In the same year of his arrival Mr. Myles formed a Baptist church in Rehoboth, the fourth formed in America. It was organized in the house of John But- terworth, and commenced with seven members, viz. John Miles (or Myles), pastor, James Brown, Nicholas Tanner, Joseph Car- penter, John Butterworth, Eldad Kingsley, and Benjamin Alby. These and subsequent proceedings, were deemed such an evil by the rest of the inhabitants of the town and of the colony generally, that the court of Plymouth was called on to interfere. Each mem- ber of this new church was fined £5, prohibited from worship for the space of one month; and they were advised to remove from Rehoboth to some place where they might not prejudice any existing church. They accordingly removed to Wannamoiset, and erected a house near Kelley's bridge, on a neck of land now in the limits of Barrington. They afterwards erected another about half a mile from "Myles's bridge," on the east side of Palmer's river, a short distance from where the present house of worship now stands.
The central village of Stransey contains about a dozen dwelling-
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SWANSEY,
houses, and a Union church for various denominations. Some of the inhabitants of the town are engaged in navigation and ship- building; there is also a cotton factory, 2 paper-mills, and a wool- len factory. There are 3 Baptist churches. Population, 1,627. Distance, 14 miles S. W. of Taunton, 20 from New Bedford, 14 from Providence, 10 N. E. of Bristol, R. I., and 46 southerly of Boston.
This town will be memorable on account of its being the place where the first English blood was shed in "King Philip's War." Philip having laid his plans for the extermination of the English, his warriors were so impatient that he was obliged to promise them that on the next Lord's day, when the English were gone to meeting, they should rifle their houses and kill their cattle. Ac- cordingly, on Sunday, June 20th, 1675, he permitted his men to march out into the neighborhood of Swansey, and to annoy the English by killing their cattle, thus hoping to provoke them to commence the attack; for it is said a superstitious opinion pre- vailed among them, that the side which did the first execution would finally be conquered. The Indians were so insolent in their deportment and language, that an Englishman was so pro- voked that he fired upon one of them and wounded him. This, according to Mr. Hubbard, in his "Indian Wars," was the first gun fired. According to tradition, this Indian who was wounded, after killing a number of cattle in the field, went into the man's house and demanded liquor ; being refused, he attempted to take it by violence, and at the same time threatened revenge; this caused the Englishman to fire upon him. The Indians upon this commenced open war.
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