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 61
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The storm of the 23d of September, 1815, raged here with vio- lence ; many buildings were damaged, some thrown down, and great injury was done to the forest trees. In Rev. Mr. Fisk's sermon, preached in 1823, he says : " One fact has been noticed, and it may be proper to mention it, what the effect of this tempest was supposed to have on wells of water .* It is probable, how- ever, that not the wind, but the earthquake, produced the change." " The wind blew with great violence from the south-east, from eight or nine o'clock in the morning until noon ; after that hour it began to subside."
The following inscriptions are copied from the grave-yard in this place :
In memory of the Rev. Mr. JOSEPH BEAN, pastor of the 1st church in Wrentham, who died Feb. 12th, 1784, in ye 66th year of his age.
Near half an age with every good man's praise, Among his flock ye shepherd passed his days.
* The effect on the water which Mr. Fisk refers to is that the depth of water in some instances varied after this storm ; also that wells which had previously furnished soft water have ever since produced hard water.
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PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
The friend, ye comfort of ye sick & poor, Want never knocked unheeded at his door. Oft when his duty call'd disease and pain Strove to confine him, but they strove in vain. All mourn his death ; his virtues long they try'd
They knew not how they lov'd him till he dy'd.
In memory of Mr. Ebenezer Hawes, who departed this life April 19th, 1812, in the 91st year of his age.
Of no distemper, of no blast he dy'd, But fell like autumn fruit that mellow'd long,
E'er wonder'd at why he no sooner dropt ;
Fate seem'd to wind him up for fourscore years,
Yet restless ran he on ten winters more, 1 Till, like a clock worn out with eating time, The wheels of weary life at last stood still.
In memory of Mr. Benjamin Day, who died Feb. 26th, 1816, aged 90 years and 8 months. He was distinguished for industry, economy, justice, benevolence and piety. He was the principal benefactor to Day's Academy, and gave a fund for the support of, the communion-table. His other deeds of charity were numerous ; while he has gone to his rest his usefulness continues.
My dust lies here, my better part's above, And lives, so I, not Death, the Conqueror prove ; What I possess secures me what's to come, My clay shall be refined and sent for home.
Hic jacet corpus domini LUDOVICI CORNETTE armigeri Gallici exercitus Gallici nobi- lis. Ohiit octavo Martii 1788, suæ ætatis quadragesimo sexto.
[Here lies the body of LEWIS CORNETTE, Esq., a nobleman of France, and an officer in the French army. He died on the 8th of March, 1788, in the 46th year of his age.]
PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY contains the oldest settlement in New Eng- land, and was a separate colony till the appointment of Sir Edmund Andross as governor-general, in 1685. In this year, the colony was divided into three counties, Plymouth, Barnstable and Bristol. In 1692, it was permanently united with the colony of Massachusetts. There are no rivers of much importance in the county; the prin- cipal streams are North river, which flows into Massachusetts bay, and several branches of Taunton river. There are no eleva- tions of sufficient height to receive the name of mountains. The surface of the county is generally level, and though there is some fertile land, sandy and unproductive tracts prevail to a great ex- tent, particularly in the southern part. This county has some foreign commerce; but its shipping is principally engaged in the fishing business and coasting trade. Ship-building is a very im- portant branch of business, there being more persons in this busi- ness than in any other county in the state. The value of vessels built for five years preceding 1837 was $2,061,440; hands em- ployed, 1,432. The manufacture of boots and shoes is carried on to a great extent. Iron ore is found to some extent. The follow- ing is a list of the towns, which are 21 in number.
494
ABINGTON.
Abington, Hanover,
Middleborough, Scituate,
Bridgewater, Hanson,
N. Bridgewater, Wareham,
Carver, Hingham,
Pembroke, W. Bridgewater.
Duxbury, Hull,
Plymouth,
E. Bridgewater, Kingston,
Plympton,
Halifax, Marshfield, Rochester,
In 1820, the population of this county was 38,136; in 1830, it was 42,993; in 1837, it was 46,253.
ABINGTON.
IT is supposed that the first settlements in this town commenced in 1668 or '9. The first grant made by the Plymouth colony within this town was to Mr. Nathaniel Souther, in 1654. In 1664, another grant was made to his heirs and to the heirs of Clement Briggs. After the year 1672, the heirs of Phineas Pratt had grants located here. In 1656, a tract, three miles square, from Accord pond southerly, above Scituate, was granted to Mr. Hatherly and others. In 1668, a tract two miles long by three fourths of a mile wide was sold by the colony to James Lovell, John Holbrook, and Andrew Ford, of Weymouth, for 23l., above Mr. Hatherly's grant, and adjoining the colony line. Previous to 1660, Lieut. Peregrine White, of Marshfield, had a grant, which is described as being between two brooks, in the fork of them, the Indian names of which are given in the records, which proves them to be the Beaver brook and the one east of it; by this fact is it ascertained that the Indian name of Abington was Manamooskeagin, a word which signifies "much or many beavers." The first minister of the first church was Rev. Samuel Brown, who was ordained in 1714; his successor was Ezekiel Dodge, who was ordained in 1750. Mr. Dodge was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Niles, who was ordained in 1771, and died in 1814. The next minister was Rev. Holland Weeks, who was installed here in 1815. In 1808, a number of the inhabitants of the south part of Abington, and of the east of Bridgewater, were incorporated as the "Union Calvinistic Soci- ety ;" the Rev. Daniel Thomas was ordained their pastor the same year. In 1813, " The Third Society in Abington " was incorpo- rated, and Rev. Samuel W. Colbourn was installed pastor.
Abington is perhaps the best grazing town in Plymouth county. It has generally a moist and strong soil, and the township is the elevated land between Massachusetts and Narragansett bays. "The south-eastern section of the town is rather swampy as well as rocky. Hence the popular name, "Little Comfort," has been used for that region. In the north-castern section is a long ridge of elevated pasture, of good soil, still called, from its original growth, "Becch Hill." There are large tack factories in this place; and the value of shoes manufactured in this town has been estimated at $500,000 annually. There are 4 churches, 3 Congre-
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BRIDGEWATER.
gational, and 1 Baptist. Population, 3,057. Distance, 22 miles N. W. of Plymouth, 8 S. of Weymouth Landing, 18 north-easterly of Taunton, and 19 miles S. S. E. of Boston. In 1837, there were 98,081 pairs of boots and 526,208 pairs of shoes manufactured in this town, valued at $746,794 26; males employed, 847; females, 470.
BRIDGEWATER.
THE ancient town of Bridgewater was purchased of the Indians by Capt. Miles Standish and others, and formed then a part of Duxbury. "Ousamequin, sachem of the Contrie of Pocanauket," (as it is expressed in the original deed,) " granted, &c. a tract of land usually called Saughtucket, extending in length and the breadth thereof as followeth, that is to say : from ye weare att Saughtuckett seven myles due east, and from said weare seven (miles) due west, and from said weare seven myles due north, and from said weare seven miles due south," &c. This deed was signed in 1649. Ousamequin, the sachem mentioned above, was the great sachem Massasoit, who adopted this name during the latter part of his life. The consideration for which the sachem granted the above land was as follows :- " 7 Coats, a yd. and half in a coat,-9 Hatchets,-8 Howes,-20 Knives,-4 Moose Skins, -10 yds. and half of Cotton." This contract is said to have been made and executed on a small rocky hill, anciently called Sachem's Rock, a little south of Whitman's mills in E. Bridgewater. The wear which they first established as their center was a little above the mills, near the ancient fording place.
The ancient town of Bridgewater, which was incorporated in 1656, was very extensive, and embraced within its limits four townships, which now bear the same name. In 1790, before its division, it contained 9,754 inhabitants. The south parish of the ancient Bridgewater now constitutes the town of that name. It was incorporated as a second precinct in 1716, and the partition line was run easterly and westerly across the town, leaving much of the largest part on the northerly side, "regard then being had to the erection of other parishes in future." The first meeting- house was built in 1717, and Rev. Benjamin Allen, their first pastor, was ordained the next year. His successor was John Shaw, who was ordained in 1731, and died in 1791, in the 60th year of his ministry. Mr. Shaw's successor was Zedekiah San- ger, D. D.
Bridgewater contains some of the best lands in Plymouth county. Taunton river, which washes the southern border of the town, is a stream of some importance; vessels have been built upon it of 150 tons burthen, and floated down its current during high water in freshets. There are in the town large factories of anchors, nails, machinery, cotton ginns, boots and shoes. Iron ore is found.
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BRIDGEWATER.
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Northern view of Bridgewater.
The above shows the appearance of Bridgewater, as it is seen on the elevated ground about one mile northward of the village, on the road from East Bridgewater. This is a pleasant village, having 3 churches (2 Congregational and 1 New Jerusalem) and an academy. Distance, 18 miles from Plymouth, 10 from Taun- ton, and 27 from Boston. Population, 2,092. In 1837, there were manufactured 3,124 pairs of boots, and 53,800 pairs of shoes, the value of which was $57,317; males employed, 150; females, 56. There were 2 air and cupola furnaces; 400 tons of iron castings made, valued at $30,000; two nail factories ; 1,000 tons of nails manufactured, value, $60,000; hands employed, 30. Two manu- factories of cotton ginns ; value of ginns manufactured, $22,500; hands employed, 30; capital invested, $42,000. Two forges; 140 tons of bar iron and anchors manufactured; value, $17,000. One rolling and machine shop, which employed 60 hands; there was also a tack manufactory, which employed 12 hands.
The following inscriptions are copied from Alden's Collection.
Beneath are deposited the remains of Lieut. JOSHUA ALDEN, who died 21 March, 1809, in the 80 year of his age. He led a sober and regular life, was a friend to peace and good order, a steady attendant on publick worship, and a valuable member of society. In his last will and testament, after some deductions, he bequeathed a tenth part of his property to the South Congregational society in Bridgewater, of which one hundred dollars were for the use of the church, of which he was a member, two hundred dollars for the encouragement of psalmody, and the remainder for the fund of said society. To perpetuate his memory, and to express the gratitude due to an example so worthy of imitation, it has been thought fit to erect this monument.
Beneath are deposited the remains of the Hon. NATHAN MITCHELL, Esq., in whom prudence and economy, benevolence and piety, were happily and conspicuously united ; whose open disposition procured him confidence and esteem in private life, while his patriotism, integrity, and strong natural abilities, repeatedly advanced him by the suffrages of a virtuous people to a seat in government; who in various capacities served his town and country with fidelity and honour; and, through life, sustained the character of a devout, exemplary christian, an obliging neighbour, a kind husband, and tender parent. He died with the small-pox, 2 March, 1789, in the 60 year of his
497
CARVER.
age, beloved and lamented. His widow and children, to record their gratitude and the virtues of the deceased, have erected this monument.
Beneath are deposited the remains of Deacon ISAAC LAZELL, who departed this life 20 June, 1810, in the 54 year of his age, with a comfortable hope of future happiness, having a firm belief of the truth of the gospel; and, during the days of his health, he was anxious to promote the improvement, interest, and happiness of society. To commemorate his virtues and express the gratitude of his relatives, they have erected this monument.
Sacred to the memory of Rev. JOHN SHAW, almost sixty years a faithful pastor of the second church of Christ in this town, who departed this life on the twenty-ninth of April, 1791, aged 83 years. " O man, greatly beloved ! thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of days.
CARVER.
CARVER was incorporated in 1790; it was previously the second parish in Plympton, and derives its name from that of the first governor of Plymouth colony. It appears that as early as 1637, "Lakenham Farm," now in the limits of Carver, was granted to Mr. Jenny, of Plymouth, who was an assistant. In 1640, " Colebrook South Meadows " and " Lakenham West Meadows " were granted to divers persons. At this early period some scat- tered cottages began to extend on the western precincts of the township of Plymouth, on the path to Namasket, and successively in 1650 and 1662. In 1664, South Meadows were purchased from the natives. In the year 1700, settlements were extended, when lands there sold at 2s. the acre. The south part of the territory was then called "Samson's country," from the sachem of it, for whom and his wife a reserve of 200 acres was made, 1705. Their privileges were "fishing in the brooks and ponds, to make tar and turpentine, and to hunt on any undivided lands; to cut poles, and to get bark in undivided cedar-swamps, to make houses," &c.
Carver comprises the greatest and the poorest territorial part of the town from which it was taken, the original growth being chiefly pitch-pine, though there was a good proportion of red and black oak. There is a large tract of white' cedar-swamp in the eastern section of the town, which yielded large supplies of that valuable wood. There are at least 12 ponds in the town, some of which furnish iron ore of a good quality. " A place called ' Swan Holt' by the first planters, a little south-east of Wenham Pond, denotes the former visits of that bird, the earliest harbinger of spring; for before the ice is yet broken up, the swan finds an open resting-place among the ozier holts, while the kildee,* flying over the land from the sea-shore, soon after confirms the vernal promise." Here, too, on the confines of the Wauconquag, among the high trees of the impenetrable forest, the cagle, the crane, and the bittern build their nests. There are a number of iron works
* A species of plover, probably the "que ce qu'il dit " of the French. It may be added that kildee is the Danish word for spring -Coll Mass. Hist. Soc 4 vol Od Series.
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498
DUXBURY.
in this town. In 1837, there were 2 air and cupola furnaces ; 300 tons of iron castings were made, valued at $30,000. It is said that the first cast-iron tea-kettles were cast at Plympton, (now Carver,) between 1760 and 1765. Wrought-iron imported tea-ket- tles were used before a copper tea-kettle was first used at Plymouth, 1702. There are 3 churches in this town, 2 Congregational and 1 Baptist. Population, 990. Distance, 8 miles south-westerly of Plymouth, and 38 from Boston.
The people of this place are almost wholly descendants of the first planters of Plymouth. Rev. Othniel Campbell, the first min- ister, was ordained in 1734. He was succeeded by Rev. John Howland, who was ordained in 1746, and died in 1804. Rev. John Shaw, his successor, was ordained in 1807.
DUXBURY.
DUXBURY was incorporated in 1637. At this time it included within its limits Pembroke, the greatest part of Marshfield, part of Kingston, and part of Bridgewater. Its. Indian name was Mattakeeset, or Namasakeeset. "The probable etymology of the present name is Dux and borough, as it is stated that it was named in honor of Capt. Standish, the dux or military leader of the colo- ny, and one of the first settlers of the place." The first settlers located themselves in the southern part of the town, which lies by the bay between this place and Plymouth. They probably chose this place on account of its being nearer Plymouth, and also on account of the soil, which at this spot is better than most other parts of the town. The first church, which was a very small building, stood near the water. The second building for public worship was erected a mile north, and stood about one hundred years. The next church was erected in 1784, being equally dis- tant from the southern and northern boundaries of the town.
The soil of the town is generally sandy and unproductive, though there are some fertile spots. The town is bounded on the east by a bay three miles in width : this bay is bounded on the east by The Gurnet, a peninsula or point of high land, originating from Marshfield, and extending about seven miles southward into the bay. On its southern extremity is situated the light-house. The first light-house here was erected by the province of Mas- sachusetts, in 1768, at an expense of £660, 17s .; in 1801, this building was consumed by fire. The present light-house was erected by the United States, in 1803. It exhibits two lights, which are about 70 feet above the level of the sea. There is near the point a farm of rich soil, which supports one family. There are in the town 2 woollen mills, an air and cupola furnace, a bank, the "Duxbury Bank," with a capital of $100,000, and an insu- rance company, with a capital of $75,000. There is a number of vessels belonging to this town, and the inhabitants are chiefly
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DUXBURY.
1
employed in commerce and the fisheries. There are 4 churches, 2 Methodist, 1 Unitarian, and 1 Universalist. Population, 2,789. Distance, 6 miles north of Plymouth, and 29 south-east of Boston.
South-western view of Duxbury.
The above shows the appearance of Duxbury as it is entered from the south-west. The village is mostly built on a single street, about two miles in length, and consists of upwards of 100 dwell- ing-houses, situated on a gentle and somewhat of a sandy eleva- tion, above the sea. Blue-fish river crosses the road in the northern part of the village, at which place most of the ship-building done in the village is carried on. Standish Hill, still called " Captain's Hill," is situated about two miles southerly from the central part of the village. In 1837, there were 46 vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishery; tonnage, 2,590; there were 18,000 quintals of codfish and 2,000 barrels of mackerel taken ; value of codfish, $55,548; value of mackerel, $14,000; hands employed, 306. There were 1,000 pairs of boots and 42,334 pairs of shoes manufactured, valued at $56,917 ; males employed, 61; females, 60. "Number of vessels built, 71; tonnage of the same, 11,711; value of the same, $845,240; hands employed, 897."
Rev. Ralph Partridge was the first minister ; he was settled as early as the incorpo- ration of the town, and continued in the ministry till his death, in 1658. He had been a minister in the Church of England ; but " being hunted," as he expressed it, " like a partridge upon the mountains, at last he resolved to get out of there, and take his flight to New England." He was a man of superior abilities, and suffered much on account of the poverty of his flock, but he did not forsake them. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Holmes, who was succeeded by Rev. Ichabod Wiswall, who continued pastor about thirty years. The next minister was Rev. John Robinson, who was settled in 1700, and continued in the ministry nearly forty years; after him was Rev. Samuel Veazie, who was pastor about eight years. Mr. Veazie was succeeded by Rev. Charles Turner, who continued in the ministry seventeen years. Rev. Zedekiah Sanger, the next minister, was settled in 1776, but, on account of ill health, his pastoral relation was dissolved in 1785. The eighth minister, Rev. John Allyn, was ordained in 1788.
Captain Miles Standish, the military hero of New England, was born in Lancashire, in England, about the year 1584, and was, it
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EAST BRIDGEWATER.
is said, heir apparent to a great estate. After having been for some time in the army in the Netherlands, he settled with Mr. Robinson's congregation at Leyden. Though not a member of the church, he embarked with the first company that came to New England, in 1620, and was chosen their military commander. He was, it is said, of small stature, but of a fiery temper, and perhaps no man possessed a more daring or intrepid spirit. The hill so conspicuous in the south-east part of Duxbury, called Captain's Hill, or mount, was part of the farm owned by Standish. He died in Duxbury, in 1656. The following is from the 3d vol. of Alden's Collection.
" In a very short time after the decease of Mrs. Standish, the captain was led to think, that, if he could obtain Miss Priscilla Mullins, a daughter of Mr. William Mullins, the breach in his family would be happily repaired. He, therefore, according to the custom of those times, sent to ask Mr. Mullins' permission to visit his daughter. John Alden, the messenger, went and faithfully communicated the wishes of the captain. The old gentleman did not object, as he might have done, on account of the recency of Captain Standish's bereavement. He said it was perfectly agreeable to him, but the young lady must also be consulted. The damsel was then called into the room, and John Alden, who is said to have been a man of most excellent form with a fair and ruddy complexion, arose, and, in a very courteous and prepossessing manner, de- livered his errand. Miss Mullins listened with respectful attention, and at last, after a considerable pause, fixing her eyes upon him, with an open and pleasant coun- tenance, said, Prithee, John, why do you not speak for yourself? He blushed, and bowed, and took his leave, but with a look which indicated more than his diffidence would permit him otherwise to express. However, he soon renewed his visit, and it was not long before their nuptials were celebrated in ample form. From them are descended all of the name, Alden, in the United States. What report he made to his constituent, after the first interview, tradition does not unfold ; but it is said, how true the writer knows not, that the captain never forgave him to the day of his death."
EAST BRIDGEWATER.
THIS was a part of the town of Bridgewater till 1823. There were not many settlements in this part of ancient Bridgewater till 1685, when it is found on record that there was a petition from Samuel Allen, William Brett, Isaac Harris, John Haward, jun., Jona- than Hill, Thomas Whitman, and Samuel Allen, jun., praying for a road, and stating " that God, by his providence, had placed their habitations on the east side of the town, some two, and some three miles from the meeting-house, the mill, and the chief part of the town, and that they had a horse-bridge over Matfield river," since called " John's river," probably from John Haward, jr., who lived on its banks. In 1723, "the east end of the North parish, then so called, ever since called the West parish, together with nine persons of the South parish, namely, Barnabas Seabury, Thomas Latham, Nicholas Wade, Nathaniel Harden, Charles Latham, Thomas Hooper, William Conant, Isaac Lazell and Joseph Wash- burn, with their families and estates, were constituted a precinct, called the East parish." In 1724, Rev. John Angier was ordained their first minister. He died in 1787, in the 63d year of his minis- try. He was succeeded by his son, Samuel Angier, who was
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HALIFAX.
501
ordained colleague with him in 1763. Mr. Angier was succeeded by Rev. James Flint, who was ordained in 1806.
Cim
Western vien of East Bridgewater.
The above shows the appearance of the central part of East Bridgewater, as it is seen from the road westward of the village, which consists of about 25 dwelling-houses, a Congregational church, a bank, the "East Bridgewater Bank," and a number of mechanic shops. About one mile south from this place there is another village, containing about the same number of houses. This town has been somewhat distinguished as a manufacturing place. Cannon were cast here during the war of the revolution, which were of essential service to the American army. Small arms have also been manufactured in considerable quantities. There is good water power on a branch of the Taunton river which passes through this town. In 1837, there was 1 cotton mill, 856 spindles; 180,636 yards of cotton cloth were manufactured; value, $13,543 70. There were 15,100 pairs of boots and 263,000 pairs of shoes manu- factured, the value of which was $277,800; males employed, 270; females, 144. One nail factory; 350 tons of nails were man- ufactured, valued at $49,500; hands employed, 40 ; a manufactory of tacks; hands employed, 57; gross value, $33,000 ; value of leather curried, $20,800. There are two Congregational churches. Population, 1,927. Distance, 17 miles from Plymouth, 12 from Weymouth Landing, 12 from Taunton, and 25 southerly from Boston.
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