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 18
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The following is Mr. Hubbard's account of the first shedding of English blood :- " On the 24th of June, 1675, was the alarm of war first sounded in Plymouth colony, when eight or nine of the English were slain in and about Swansey; they (the Indians) first making a shot at a company of English as they returned from the assembly, where they were met in a way of humiliation on that day, whereby they killed one and wounded others; and then likewise at the same time they slew two men on the high- way, sent to call a surgeon; and the same day barbarously mur- dered six men in and about a dwelling-house in another part of the town; all of which outrages were committed so suddenly, that the English had no time to make resistance."
At this period the house of Rev. John Miles was garrisoned. . It stood a short distance west of Miles' bridge, probably near the site of the tavern of Mason Barney, Esq. Intelligence of the mur- der of the Swansey people having reached Boston, a foot company, under Capt. Henchman, and a troop, under Capt. Prentice, imme- diately marched for Mount Hope, and being joined by another company of 110 volunteers under Capt. Mosely, they all arrived at Swansey on the 28th of June, where they found the Plymouth forces under Capt. Cudworth. Mr. Miles' was made head-quar- ters. About a dozen of the troop went immediately over the
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TATI
Drawn by J. W. Barber-Engraved by S. E. Brown, Boston. CENTRAL PART OF TAUNTON, MASS.
The above is an eastern view of Taunton Green, with some of the surrounding buildings. of the Congregational churches on the right.
The Court-House is seen on the left, and one
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bridge, where they were fired upon out of the bushes, one killed and one wounded. This action drew the body of the English forces after the enemy, whom they pursued a mile or two, until they took to a swamp, after having killed about half a dozen of their number. The next morning the troops commenced their pursuit of the Indians. Passing over Miles' bridge, and proceed- ing down the east bank of the river, till they came to the narrow of the neck, at a place called Keekamuit or Kickemuit, they found the heads of eight Englishmen that the Indians had mur- dered, set upon poles by the side of the way. These they took down and buried. On arriving at Mount Hope they found that Philip and his Indians had left the place.
TAUNTON.
IT is believed that the first Englishmen who first traversed the soil of this ancient town, (called by the Indians. Cohannet, ) were Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, on their visit to Massa- soit, in July, 1621. They found it depopulated and desolate ; the ravages of the great plague were every where discernible. At Tetiquet and Namasket there were Indian villages. The territory of Taunton proper (which formerly included within its limits the towns of Berkley and Raynham,) was claimed by the sachem of Tetiquet. In this territory there were 'no Indian settlements except in a small part of Raynham. It appears, however, that the country bordering on the river had been thickly populated, and the land cleared on both sides for a considerable distance. When first visited many of the remains of the natives were discovered unburied. At the head of the list of purchasers of Taunton, stands the name of Henry Uxley : who he was, does not appear. His house and lot were sold to Richard Williams, who may in some measure be considered as the father of Taunton, as he was in the place before the purchase of Miss Pool. Mr. Williams was a Welshman, and it is not improbable that he was a relation of Roger Williams. A tradition has always existed amongst his descendants that he was related by blood to Oliver Cromwell, the original name of whose family was Williams, (which name was changed for an estate,) and one of Cromwell's ancestors bore the name of Richard Williams .*
The inland situation of Taunton prevented for some time much ac- cession to the number of settlers. The first settlers, with few excep- tions, were from Somersetshire and Devonshire, and many of them from Taunton, in England. The first purchase was made in 1637, and confirmed afterwards; this was called the T'etiquet purchase, this being the Indian name for the great river of Taunton. About the period of its settlement, Miss Elizabeth Pool, a lady of family and fortune, from Taunton, in Somersetshire, Eng., conceived the
* Baylies' Hist. Memoir of Plymouth Colony, vol. i. p. 288.
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TAUNTON.
bold design of occupying the territory of Cohannet. It appears that an ardent desire of planting another church in the American wilderness, induced this pious puritan lady to encounter all the dangers and hardships of forming a settlement in the midst of the Indians. She died in 1654, and her kinsman placed over her grave a stone with an inscription which commemorates her virtues.
The first and ancient purchasers stand in the following order
Henry Uxley,
John Dean, John Strong,
William Parker,
Francis Street, Hugh Rossiter, John Gilbert,
Joseph Wilson,
Henry Andrews,
John Parker,
Benjamin Wilson,
Thomas Cooke,
John Richmond,
William Coy,
John Smith,
William Holloway,
Thomas Gilbert, Robert Hobell, Richard Burt, John Crossman, John Luther,
Mr. William Pool,
John Kingsley,
Francis Doty, William Dunn,
George Macy,
Richard Paull,
William Scadding,
John Drake,
William Harvey,
Richard Smith,
John Bryant,
Mr. John Brown.
Hezekiah Hoar,
Mr. John Gilbert,
Walter Dean,
William Phillips,
Anthony Slocum, John Gengille,
In a pamphlet entitled "Plain Dealing or Newes from New England," written by Thomas Lechford of Clements Inn, Jan. 17, 1641, and published in London, 1642, the writer, speaking of Taunton, says-
Cohannet, alias Taunton, is in Plymouth patent. There is a church gathered of late, and some ten or twenty of the church, the rest excluded ; Master Hooke, pastor ; Master Street, teacher. Master Hooke received ordination from the hands of one Master Bishop, a school-master, and one Parker, a husbandman, and then Master Hooke joyned in ordaining Master Street. One Master Doughty, a minister, opposed the gathering of the church there, alleging that according to the covenant of Abraham, all men's children that were of baptized parents, and so Abraham's children, ought to be baptized ; and spoke so in publique, or to that effect, which was held a disturbance, and the ministers spake to the magistrate to order him; the magistrate commanded the constable, who dragged Master Doughty out of the assembly. He was forced to go away from thence with his wife and children.
Rev. William Hooke, who must be considered the first pastor of the Taunton church, was born about the year 1600. He married the sister of Edward Whalley, a major general in the Parliament's army, one of the regicides, so called, from being one of the judges who condemned Charles I. to death. Mr. Hooke left Taunton about 1640, and removed to New Haven, Con., from whence in 1656 he returned to England. He was.received in the family of the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, as domestic chaplain. After the restoration of Charles II., he was silenced for non-conformity, and died in London, in 1677.
Taunton is a shire town; it is pleasantly situated at the head of sloop navigation on Taunton river. This place has great water power by the junction of Canoe and Rumford rivers with the Taunton, and is well improved for manufacturing purposes. There are about 30 sail of coasters of considerable burthen which ply between this place and the neighboring ports. A branch of the Boston and Providence railroad is extended to this place.
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George Hall, Mr. Thomas Farwell, The Wid. Randall, Edward Case,
David Corwithy,
William Hailstone,
Richard Williams,
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TAUNTON.
There are 8 churches : 4 Congregational, 2 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Catholic. The center of the main village is orna- mented with an enclosed green with shade-trees, on one side of which is situated the court-house and other handsome buildings. There are 3 banks, the "Taunton Bank," with a capital of $250,- 000, the " Bristol County Bank," capital $100,000, and the "Cohannet Bank," capital $100,000. There are two insurance companies. This place is 32 miles from Boston, 20 from Provi- dence, and 32 from Newport, R. I. Population of the town, 7,647. In the Statistical Tables of the state, published in 1837, it is stated there were 8 cotton mills; 3,043,887 yards of cotton goods were manufactured ; males employed, 124; females, 468. One print works, which printed 5,869,860 yards of cloth ; males employed, 250; females, 40; capital invested, $200,000. Seven millions and one hundred thousand of bricks were manufactured, valued at $28,000 ; ninety-five hands employed. Forty thousand straw bonnets were manufactured, valued at $62,000. Three nail fac- tories, which manufactured 256 tons, valued at $60,500. One air and cupola furnace, which made 2,000 tons of iron castings, valued at $200,000; one forge, which manufactured 400 tons of bar iron, valued at $35,000. Besides these, there are various other articles manufactured, such as boots, shoes, hats, &c.
Monument of Miss Pool, Taunton Cemetery.
A cemetery has been recently laid out in the immediate vici- nity of the main village of Taunton, (called Mount Pleasant Ceme- tery,) upon the plan of that at Mount Auburn, in the vicinity of Boston. The ground is well calculated for this object, being agree- ably diversified with elevations and depressions, and the soil is superior to that of Mount Auburn. The engraving shows the ap- pearance of the monument of Miss Pool, at the entrance of the cemetery. The following is the inscription on this monument.
The Females of Taunton have erected this monument in honor of ELIZABETH POOL,
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TAUNTON.
foundress of the town of Taunton, in 1637. Born before the settlement of America, in England, 1589, died at Taunton, May 21, 1654.
The following account is taken from the pamphlet containing Mr. Conant's sermon at the execution of Bristol, an African boy, for the murder of Miss Mckinstry. It is proper to state that some accounts say that this boy had been informed, that if he would kill some one, and run away, he would obtain his liberty.
The bloody murder of Miss Elizabeth Mckinstry, on June the 4th, 1763, which gave occasion for the preaching of the foregoing discourse, may Truly be placed among the astonishing Events of Providence and the alarming Frailties of human nature. One cannot call to mind the particular circumstances of this tragic scene without the deepest Emotions of Horror, Pity and Indignation.
The Negro Boy who perpetrated this lamentable crime was born in Africa, and at the age of about eight years was brought to New England, where he lived about five years in the same family with Miss Mckinstry, at Windsor. His master then dying, he was purchased by her brother, Dr. Mckinstry, of Taunton, where he had lived three years when the murder was committed, the deceased having been also about two years in the same family ; so that from his childhood (excepting one year) he had lived in the same Family with her, and during this time he was treated with all the tenderness and Instruction that could be desired. He always appeared happy in his situation, and showed an uncommon Readiness to do his business and Faithfulness to perform what he undertook, without the least appearance of Sullenness or Malice. After he had the fact he rode to Newport, never showing the least concern till he was apprehended ; he then made some artful excuses, till he had been committed about twelve hours, when he confessed the whole fact; the substance of which was, "that early in the morning, Miss Mckinstry, a little Girl, and himself, being the only per- sons of the Family that were up, and the little girl being gone up stairs, as Miss Mckinstry was stooping over the fire, he catched up a Flat Iron that stood on the hearth, struck her on the head, and knocked her into the fire, which burnt her face; he then gave her another Blow, and Immediately dragged her down the cellar stairs, where, seeing an old ax, he struck her with it on the head, and made off as fast as he could."
After his commitment he appeared very penitent, and expressed his sorrow for the crime, particularly for the grief he had brought on his master's Family, in speaking of which he always seemed the most affected. He declared constantly, during the whole of his imprisonment, to his last moments, that he never had any anger against the deceased, nor any of the Family, and that he had never received any Treatment that deserved it; and though he always appeared free to answer any Questions that were asked him, yet he never gave any reason for committing the crime, but that he was prompted to it by a Negro Boy of his acquaintance, who Threatened to kill him if he did not do it. This he persisted in to his dying moment.
At his trial he pleaded guilty, but showed no emotion at the pronouncing sentence of Death, nor at the public worship, where in his hearing several sermons besides this were preached on the occasion, nor even at the execution. This would naturally be construed to Stupidity or Sullenness, had not his discourse plainly shown that he had a true sense of his Crime and right notions of a future state.
At the Gallows he made a long speech to the Spectators, particularly to those of his own color, which for Substance was pertinent and important. He expressed great concern for his master's Family, was very particular in thanking every Body that had taken notice of him while in Prison; he acknowledged his condemnation just ; he ex- pressed his sense of his guilt and the hopes he had of forgiveness and future happiness through the Mercy of God in Christ; and then, after repeating the Lord's Prayer dis- tinctly, he was turned off. The deceased, who was the unhappy object of this unac- countable Malice, was a Daughter of the Rev. Mr. John Mckinstry, late of Windsor, a young Lady of cheerful disposition, an even, generous temper, and every way of a worthy character. After tarrying with her Brother, she was preparing to return to her Mother at Windsor, when, in a moment that she thought not of, she was hurried in this cruel manner to her long home.
The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the ancient burying-ground.
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TAUNTON.
Here rest the remains of Mrs. Elizabeth Pool, a native of old England of good Fam- ily, Friends & prospects, all of which she left in the prime of her life to enjoy the Religion of her Conscience in this distant wilderness. A great proprietor of the town ship of Taunton, a chief promoter of its settlement and its incorporation, A. D. 1639, about which time she settled near this spot, and having employed the opportunytys of her virgin state in Piety, Liberality of manners, died May 21st, A. D. 1654, aged 65, to whose memory this monument is gratefully erected by her next of kin Iohn Borland, Esq. A. D. 1771.
In memory of the Hon. Samuel White, Esq. Colonel of a foot Regiment of Militia, Barrister at Law and member of the Hon. his Majesty's Council, who often having been delegated to the offices of Government, faithfully served his God, his king and his country, and exhibiting through an unspotted course of life, the virtues of the Patriot, Friend and Christian, fell asleep in Jesus, March XX, MDCCLXIX, in the' LIX year of his age.
This humble stone, small tribute of their praise Lamented shade! thy weeping offspring raise! O while their footsteps haunt ye hallow'd shrine, May each fair Branch shoot fertile as ye vine ; Not with thy Dust be here thy virtue's tomb But bright'ning still each Grace transplanted bloom, Sire, Sons and Daughters shall a like renown ; Applauding angels ! a celestial crown !
Parentibus optimus bene merentibus .* Zephaniah Leonard, Esq. who died April the 23d, A. D. 1766, in the 63d year of his age, & Hannah, his wife, who died the same day, in the 62d year of her age.
To dust and silence so much worth consigned, Sheds a sad gloom o'er vanities behind. Such our pursuits ? proud mortals vainly soar. See here, the wise, the virtuous are no more. How mean Ambition ! how completely hate ; How dim the tinsel glories of the Great!
*
& Death & hovering darkness hide us all.
Inscribed to the memory of the Honble. Seth Padelford, Esq., who deceased January' th, 1810, aged 58 years and 1 month. For he was wise to know, and warm to praise, end' strenuous to transcribe in human life THE MIND ALMIGHTY.
Robert Treat Paine, a poet of some celebrity, was born in this own, December 9th, 1773. His father was the Hon. Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In is eighth year his father removed to Boston. He was graduated t Harvard in 1792, with a high reputation for genius. He was oon after placed in the counting-room of a merchant, but left t for literary occupations, and published several poems and ora- ions, which at the time were highly popular. In 1802, he egan the practice' of law, but failed of success for want of appli- ation ; and he spent the latter part of his life in poverty. He lied Nov. 13th, 1811, aged 38. His national song, Adams and Liberty, is perhaps the most widely known; of which the follow- ng is the first stanza.
Ye sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought For those rights, which unstained from your sires had descended, May you long taste the blessings your valor has bought, And your sons reap the soil which their fathers defended.
* A worthy son of worthy parents.
19
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DUKES COUNTY.
'Mid the reign of mild peace May your nation increase, With the glory of Rome, and the wisdom of Greece ; And ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves.
WESTPORT.
THIS town, previous to its incorporation in 1787, was a part of Dartmouth. There are two small villages in the town, one at the head of East river, the other at Westport Point. The people are much divided in religious sentiments. There are 5 meeting-houses: 2 for Friends, 2 for Baptists, and 1 for Methodists. There is also a small society of Congregationalists. The village at the head of East or Nochacuck river is about 8 miles from New Bedford, 8 from Fall River, and 21 from Newport. Formerly considerable quantities of timber were obtained in this town. The whale fish- ery is now an important branch of business; eight whaling ves- sels now go out from Westport Point. There is a cotton mill in this town, having 3,072 spindles, which in 1837 consumed 300,000 lbs. of cotton ; 270,000 lbs. of cotton yarn were manufactured, the value of which was $67,500.
DUKES COUNTY.
THIS county is formed of the islands of Martha's Vineyard, , Chappequiddick, Elizabeth Islands, and Noman's Land. The last- mentioned island is the southern extremity of. Massachusetts. These islands lie off south of Barnstable county and Buzzard's Bay, and contain about 120 square miles. The principal island, Martha's Vineyard, is 19 miles in length from east to west, and its breadth in the widest part is 10 miles, and in the narrowest 2 miles : its mean breadth may be about 5 miles, Its usual Indian name was Capawock, though sometimes called Nope. (It is believed that Nope was more properly the name of Gay Head.) The greatest part of the island is low and level land; though in the western part there is a range of hills, which begins a mile west of Lambert's Cove, where they are three quarters of a mile wide, and running in a chain parallel with the sound, rise to the height of 250 feet, expand to the breadth of three miles, and terminate at Gay Head. These islands were discovered by Bartholomew, Gos- nold, in 1602. He landed at Noman's Land, which he called Martha's Vineyard, passed round Gay Head, which he named Dover Cliff, anchored in Vineyard sound, and landed on Catta- hunk, which he named Elizabeth Island, in honor of Queen Eliz- abeth. Here he concluded to begin a plantation, and accordingly chose a site at the west end of the island. Here, on the north side, is a small pond of fresh water, two miles in circumference; in the
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DUKES COUNTY.
middle of its breadth, near the west end, is a small rocky islet. This they fortified, and upon it erected a storehouse .* While the men were occupied in this work, Gosnold crossed the bay in his vessel, went on shore, trafficked amicably with the natives, and, having discovered the mouths of two rivers, returned to the island. One of these rivers was that on the banks of which New Bedford is now built. This storehouse was the first house built by the English on the New England shores. When Gosnold was prepar- ing to leave, discontent arose among those who were to have remained, so that the design of a settlement was relinquished, and the whole company returned to England. The next year, in June, Martin Pring entered the harbor of Edgartown, which he called Whitson's Bay, and anchored under the shelter of Chappequiddick neck, to which he gave the name of Mount Aldworth. Here he remained till the beginning of August, when he sailed for England. In 1619, Capt. Thomas Dermer landed at Martha's Vineyard, and was attacked by the natives. He and his companions gallantly defended themselves with their swords, and escaped. Several Indians were killed in the fray.
Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands were not included in any of the New England governments. William, Earl of Sterling, in consequence of a grant from the crown of Eng- land, laid claim to all the islands between Cape Cod and Hudson's river. James Forcett, agent for the earl, in Oct. 1641, granted to Thomas Mayhew, of Watertown, and Thomas Mayhew his son, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the Elizabeth Islands, with the same powers of government which the people of Massachusetts possessed by charter. The elder Thomas Mayhew had been a merchant at Southampton, in England, and when he first came to America he followed the same employment. The next year after he obtained the grant of Martha's Vineyard, he sent his son and several other persons to begin a plantation, who established them- selves at Edgartown. The father himself soon followed, and became the governor of the colony. In 1644, by an act of the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England, probably at the request of the inhabitants, Martha's Vineyard was annexed to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. In 1664, the Duke of York received from his brother, Charles II., a grant of New York, includ- ing Long Island, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the islands adjacent, which had been previously purchased of Henry, grand- son and heir of William Earl of Sterling, who previously resigned and assigned them to the duke. In consequence, these islands became a part of New York, but were left mostly to manage their own affairs. It was while Martha's Vineyard and Elizabeth Islands were connected with New York that, with Nantucket, they were made a county by the name of Dukes County. By the char-
* The cellar of Gosnold's storehouse is yet to be seen, the stones of which were taken from the neighboring beach ; the rocks of the islet being less movable and lying in ledges. This place is what Josselyn and other old authors call " old Plymouth planta- tion, begun in 1602."
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CHILMARK.
ter of William and Mary, which arrived in 1692, these island were taken from New York and annexed to Massachusetts. I 1695, Martha's Vineyard, the Elizabeth Islands, and Noman's Land were separated by the legislature from Nantucket, and made a dis tinct county. These islands suffered much in the revolutionary war. The vessels of the inhabitants were all taken and destroyed the young men were captured, and many of them died on board prison ships. They lost most of their cattle and sheep, which were taken off by the enemy. In the last war with England, the inhabitants of these islands, from their exposed situation, were obliged to remain neutral. In this county there are 3 towns, viz Chilmark, Edgartown, and Tisbury.
CHILMARK.
THIS township comprehends the west end of Martha's Vineyard, the Elizabeth Islands, and Noman's Land. The territory on Mar- tha's Vineyard is 10 miles in length, and from 2 to 5 miles in breadth. The Indian name of this part of the island was Nash- ou-oh-ka-muck, and it was the last settled by the English. There was, however, a village here before the close of the seventeenth cen- tury. Whilst it was under the government of New York, it was called the manor of Tisbury, but it was known by the name of Chilmark as long ago as 1698. The first town meeting was held in 1705, and in 1707 it first sent a representative to the general court. It was incorporated by the name which it now bears in 1714.
The first minister in Chilmark was Rev. Ralph Thacher; the time of his ordination is unknown. He was dismissed at his request in 1714, In 1715 William Holmes was ordained. He was a man of worth, and died in the ministry. In 1746, Andrew Af Boardman was ordained; and died of the small-pox in 1777. He was succeeded by Jonathan Smith, ordained in 1788, dismissed in 1827. Here are 2 meeting-houses, 1 Congregational, 1 Methodist. Distance 12 miles S. W. by S. of Edgartown, and 92 southerly from Boston.
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