USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > Historical sketch of the town of Hanover, Mass., with family genealogies, 1853 > Part 16
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Mar. 21, 1749. A way laid out, from the end of the lane
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HIGHWAYS.
leading by Capt. Ezekiel Turner's house ; thence to the W. side of a brook in Dea. George King's land ; thence to Ridge hill ; thence as the said hill goes, to the most convenient place of com- ing off the same into the way that goes from Ezekiel Turner's to the county road ; and thence as the cartway goes to said county road. Vol. 2, p. 7.
Mar. 5, 1750. Accepted the highway laid out from Ezekiel Turner's, to the way leading from Elijah Cushing, Esq.'s to Hatch's mill. Vol. 1, p. 57.
June 29, 1751. A way laid out, from the way from David Jenkins's to Abijah Stetson's, near the S. E. corner of said Stet- son's cornfield, and thence by a cartway cleared out by said Stetson, till it comes to the way at the foot of the great lots, &c. Vol. 1, p. 369.
1756. A highway laid out to Abington, through land of John Bray and Benjamin Studley.
Feb. 27, 1758. A way laid out, from the Beech woods saw mill dam, as the way now goes, till it comes to the W. side of the cedar swamp, thence to John Bray's barn ; and thence to the S. E. of Abington way. Vol 2, p. 207.
Feb. 27, 1764. A way laid out from the land of Marlboro' Turner, and the heirs of Joseph Curtis, late of Hanover, deceased ; thence N. as the way now lies to Samuel Whiting's and James White's land ; thence to a beech tree on Joshua Jacobs's land ; thence to the S. end of the lane between the land of Thomas and William Whiting; and thence N. as the way now lies, till it comes to the N. bounds of the town of Hanover. Vol. 2, p. 208. Whi- ting street.
Mar. 26, 1764. A way laid out, from the S. W. corner of Gideon Randall's land, on the N. side of the way that leads from the furnace to the meeting house ; thence to Isaac Hatch's fence ; thence turning W. and running straight to the way that leads from Mordecai Ellis's to the meeting house. Vol. 2, p. 208.
April 17, 1782. A way laid out, beginning at Scituate line, at the South end of the highway from Captain Thomas Collamore's to Hanover meeting-house; thence to Job Curtis's corner ; thence to Oles's lot thence to the head of a wall between Benjamin
,
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Mann's and Thomas Hatch's ; thence to the head of a wall be- tween Thomas Hatch's and Job Curtis's; thence by Lemuel Curtis, jr.'s house ; and thence to the highway heretofore laid out. Vol. 1, p. 357. Part of Curtis street.
April 25, 1791. A highway laid out across the land of Richard Estes, from the highway leading from said Estes's dwelling house to the old furnace, beginning at the South-west corner of his farm, and running North to the highway opposite the dwelling house of Isaac Hatch. Vol. 1, p. 368.
Dec. 1, 1792. Main street laid out, the details corresponding generally to those already given, under date of March 29, 1729, and April 17, 1782. Vol. 1, p. 351.
May 16, 1796. A way laid out, from the North-east corner- of William Stockbridge's land, by the highway near Charles Bailey's, and thence West to the highway near John Bailey, jr's. Vol. 1, p. 355.
Aug. 9, 1798. A new road petitioned for at the North-west part of the town, and laid out, being that passing through Walnut and North streets.
Oct. 20, 1800. The town voted against the road from Lemuel Curtis's to the meeting-house, and not to accept the road turned out by Joshua Dwelley near his house.
Oct. 12, 1801. A way laid out across Birch bottom.
1807. The road widened on the East side of the burying ground.
Nov. 1819. The highway near Eleazer Joselynn's, past David Studley's shop, widened and straightened.
June 1820. A new way laid out from Zaccheus Estes's to Paul Perry's being part of Plain street.
May 5, 1823. The road over the furnace dam repaired, as per agreement between the town, and the owners of the works.
Nov. 1832. Alteration of the road over land of Lewis Litch- field and Joshua Gates, near Ellis's bridge.
June 1834. A road laid out below Studley's mill, from near the house of Gridley Studley, over his land to the mill privilege, and thence to land of Charles Lane, and to the highway, &c.
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HIGHWAYS.
April 7, 1835. The road past the house of George Curtis altered, and that portion of the old road between the termini dis- continued.
May 5, 1835. A road laid out from Charles Dyer's over the driftway to the old forge, across land of Elisha Bass, John B. Barstow, and Reuben Rogers, out to the road to Pembroke.
June 17, 1837. A road laid out from Charles Dyer's house, to the road near Nathan Dwelley's, on the road from Hanson to the Four Corners. At the same date, the road from Hiram Gard- ner's to Scituate line was widened.
June 9, 1840. The road from Joseph W. and Zebulon Clark's, to School-house No 2, widened and straightened.
June 10, 1842. Road from David Mann's to Abington widened.
The roads laid out since the last date, are Pine street ; that part of Hanover street called the Pine Island road ; and a road from London bridge to Benjamin Mann's. Several alterations have likewise been made in existing roads, and new locations of portions of the old roads. The sum expended on highways, for a few years past, has been quite large, considering the population of the town, and the extent of its territory ; but though the taxes have been high, they have been paid with commen lable prompti- tude, and usually with but little complaint. One thing we think can be said of the town of Hanover with truth ;- that what- ever differences of opinion may have temporarily arisen, and however warmly party feelings may have been enlisted for or against certain measures ; these feelings have never resulted in any violent outbreaks, as in some towns, nor have they produced alienations in families or neighborhoods, which have been lasting. We do not claim that our citizens are void of the common passions of humanity ; but a spirit of forbearance has been usually exercised, worthy of all praise.
OSTON FUBLIC BRAE
12
186
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
STREETS.
All the streets in the town were named by a Committee of eight, one from each School district, in 1848, and are as follows :
Back Street : from Thomas Barstow's, to the widow Magoun's.
Birch Street : from John Dwelley's, to Gideon Studley's.
Broadway ; from Teague's Bridge, to the Four Corners.
Cedar Street: from Main Street, near Benj. Bailey's, to Whiting Street.
Centre Street : from the Meeting House to Capt. Tribou's corner.
Church Street : from the Old Academy, past the Episcopal Church.
Circuit Street : from Edwin Rose's, past Thos. M. Bates,' to Hanover Street.
Cross Street : from Abner Wood's to Silvester's works.
East Street: from Joseph Silvester's to Scituate line.
Elm Street: from Col. J. B. Barstow's to Pembroke line.
Grove Street : from Timothy Robbins' to Main Street.
Hanover Street : from Washington Street to Abington Line, past the Centre Meeting House.
King Street : from Ilanson Line, past the Forge, to Lewis Litchfield's.
Main Street : from the Centre Meeting House, past the Baptist Church, to South Scituate Line.
Mill Street: from Iliram Gardner's to South Scituate Line.
North Street : from David Mann's to Joseph Vining's.
Pine Street : from Washington Street to Union Street.
Plain Street : from Ethan Perry's to Jolin Hatch's.
Pleasant Street : from Studley's Mill to J. W. Estes'.
School Street : from David Corthell's to King Street.
Silver Street : from the Centre Meeting House to John Curtis'.
Spring Street : from Elisha Bass' to near Studley's corner.
Summer Street : from Circuit Street to Abington Line.
Union Street : from Joseph Briggs, jr's. to Josiah Bonney's.
Water Street : from Curtis's Forge, past Dyer's Works to Broadway.
Walnut Street: from the Baptist Meeting House to Assinippi Hall.
Washington Street : from North River Bridge to South Scituate Line, being the, old Plymouth Stage Road.
Webster Street : from Ezekiel Turner's to Abington Line.
Whiting Street: from J. W. Estes' to Abington Line, past Benj. Mann's. Winter Street : from Circuit Street, past Ozias Perkins', to Broadway.
New Guide Boards, with substantial red cedar posts, are placed at the corners of all these streets, with the names, and suitable directions to the neighboring towns. In this respect, the town of Hanover has not only fulfilled its legal obligations, but has set an
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BRIDGES.
example which, were it followed by every town, would be of great assistance to the stranger and traveller.
It is bad enough to journey over unknown roads with guide boards, but where there are none, or only defaced and illegible ones, it not only occasions great perplexity, but is often a serious detriment, in the loss of time and distance, besides causing additional fatigue to both man and beast.
BRIDGES.
The principal bridge in the town, is that over North River, below the Four Corners, and on the old stage road from Boston to Plymouth. The first bridge was erected here in 1656, by Wm. Barstow, of which we have already given an account.
In 1682, the Colony Court ordered the second, or a cart bridge, to be built over the North River at Barstow's bridge, at the expense of three towns ; Scituate to pay £10, Duxbury £5, and Marshfield £5.1 The place where this bridge stood is still visible, and its old piers, built of loose stones, yet remain.
The present bridge, with split stone abutments, was built, by order of the County Commissioners, in 1829, and is a substantial structure, which promises to last for many generations.
At the Curtis forge is a small bridge, across the Indian Head River, which was probably built as early as 1704, the date of the erection of Bardin's Iron Works. Ludden's Ford, so called, is near here, over which Gov. Winthrop was carried upon a man's back, on his visit to Plymouth in 1632.2
Above this, and in the neighborhood of Dyer's, now Perry's Tack Factory, there was formerly a bridge, over the Indian Head; but it has been gone for some years.
Still farther up, at Silvester's, formerly Barstow's Forge, is another bridge, built as early as 1720, when the " new forge'' spoken of on the town records, was set up.
Teague's bridge, the next above, which unites Hanover with Hanson, was built before 1740, at which time it was known as Hatch's bridge.
1 Deane's Scituate, p. 15.
2 Ibid, pp. 13 and 162.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Following the stream up, which now has the name of Drink- water river, we come to the old Furnace Dam, near Daniel Barstow's, where Mighill's works were erected in 1710.
Ellis's bridge, is near Abner Magoun's, and was built as early as 1676,as an old saw mill then stood on the spot, which was burnt by the Indians in that year.
On the third Herring Brook, and below the Four Corners, is Palmer's bridge, named on the town records in 1742, and built by John Palmer, of Scituate, in 1660, who covenanted with John Bryant and Humphrey Johnson, to build a logway and bridge, and cover it with gravel, from firm upland to firm upland.1 A perma- nent bridge of stone was built here, by vote of the town, in 1835.
Above this is Winslow's bridge, named on the records in 1765, and probably built as early as 1676, at which date the mill of Cornet Stetson, which was burnt by the Indians, stood near this spot.
Still farther north, is the bridge covering the stream between the mills of T. J. Gardner (formerly the Curtis mill,) and that of John Clapp. This was built as early as 1690.
At South Scituate line, is the dam connected with Jacobs' mills.
There are other small bridges over our brooks, which have local names.
PONDS AND STREAMS.
There are no natural ponds of any size in Hanover. Almost all the mill privileges, however, have formed artificial ponds, some of which are of considerable extent. The largest is at the forge near Daniel Barstow's, covering a portion of Drinkwater swamp.
North River, the principal stream, received its name before 1633, probably from the circumstance that its general course is from North to South. It is very winding,-its length, from North River bridge to the mouth, being over eighteen miles, and the tide rises at the bridge from three to five feet,-there being a percep- tible tide some distance higher up.
Its three chief sources are the Namatakeese, and Indian Head,
1 Deane, p. 15.
1 Deane, p. 15.
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PONDS AND STREAMS.
which flow from the Mattakeesett Ponds in Pembroke; and the Drinkwater, which has its source chiefly in Abington, flows into the Pond by Bates & Holmes' Anchor Works, thence by a general southerly course, being a stream of some size, into Cobb & Cush- ing's Pond at Hanson, and thence easterly, forming the boundary line between Hanover and Hanson, past Silvester's Works, and Perry's Tack Factory, into Indian Head River.
Though hardly within our scope to describe this river through- out its course, its mouth being in another town, yet the views which it presents are often so beautiful and picturesque, that we can scarce resist the temptation to give them a passing glance, at the risk of being accused of deviating slightly from the beaten path in which historians usually tread. Suppose, then, we go down to the "landing" at the bridge, and step on board one of these " gundaloes," or flat barges, used by our farmers for transporting their salt hay from the marshes below. Shall ours be a moonlight excursion, with the workmen, starting thus early to be in season for the morrow ? or shall we choose rather to glide down the stream by daylight ? The former is certainly the time which the poet would choose ; the silvery beams of " night's chaste queen," then shimmering upon the waters, and reflecting upon their placid bosom the trees which border its banks, flitting like shadows by as we move on, without oar, without sail, impelled only by the silent current ;- anon passing a ship yard, where, in silent grandeur, looms up the hulk of some half-finished bark, which will soon be sailing upon the mighty deep, perhaps to distant climes ;- and then opening upon an expanse of meadow, winding through which, like a thread of silver, the stream may be seen, far beyond us. What stillness reigns! How quiet ! Not a sound of life is heard around us ! Who can resist the feelings of reverence which such a scene is calculated to inspire !
The trip by day, though not possessing all the enchantment of that by night, is still beautiful, especially if taken when the leaves are changing, and our forests are robed in their autumn hues ! It is certainly delightful, on a clear October morning, when the air is just cool enough to brace the nerves, and invigorate the lungs, to move noiselessly down with the tide, viewing the scenery on either
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
bank, with the landings, and ship yards, the old "brickilns," " Cornet's rocks," and "gravelly beach," and noting the mean- derings of the stream, sometimes almost doubling upon itself, and the fine farms which are passed, and the broad meadows, with the hills at a distance, and the sloping plains, until we arrive at the "New harbor marshes." Here, as Deane truly observes, " the scenery is on a sublime scale, when viewed from Colman's hill, or from the fourth cliff. The broad marshes are surrounded by a distant theatre of hills, and the river expands, and embraces many islands in its bosom. Here it approaches the sea, as if to burst through the beach, but turns almost at right angles to the East, and runs parallel with the sea shore, for nearly three miles before it finds its outlet, leaving a beach next the sea of twenty rods in width, composed chiefly of round and polished pebbles, except- ing only the fourth cliff, a half mile in length, which comprises many acres of excellent arable land."1
The author has looked upon this broad, marshy tract, from Coleman's hill, after a severe storm, and seen the whole cov- ered with water, like a mimic sea, with Will's Island standing out in the midst, like an oasis in the desert. The contrast between the smooth expanse here spread to view, and the turbulent waves, fretting the beach beyond, is exceedingly grand.
The town owns, near the mouth of the river, a body of flats, formerly quite valuable, the produce of which was annually rented for a considerable sum ; but the depreciation in value of all fresh and salt meadow land within the last fifty years, renders these now comparatively worthless,
Deane asserts? that salmon were formerly taken in the North river, and that bass were once abundant in the winter season. Shad and alewives are still taken ; and in the early history of the town, the alewive fishery was a subject of interest and contention, but has latterly ceased to attract much notice. Pembroke, Scit- uate, and Marshfield derive the most profit from this fishery.
The principal brooks are the following : -
1. The Third Herring Brook, which forms the boundary line between South Scituate and Hanover, rises in Valley Swamp,
1 Deane, p. 20. 2 Scituate, p. 21.
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BROOKS.
towards Hingham, and empties into the North river. This is a valuable water privilege, which was carly improved for saw and grist mills, and to which have since been added tack factories. Alewives formerly passed up this brook as far as Valley Swamp.
2. Silver, formerly Hughs' Cross brook, rises near the central meeting house, and runs parallel to Silver street throughout its course, forming a small pond at the Curtis family mill, and emp- tying into the Third Herring brook.
3. Trout brook, rises in Randall Swamp, west of Washington street, and flows southerly past Church's Tannery, emptying into North river.
4. Torrey's brook, rises near Rose's Tannery, on Circuit street, and runs in a south-westerly direction, emptying into Drinkwater river.
5. Beaver dam brook, rises in the low ground cast of the house of Zaccheus Estes, on Plain street, and runs westerly, emptying into Longwater brook.
6. Stetson's brook, rises in Hell swamp, back of Church's Hill, and west of Washington street, crosses Union, Main, and Cedar streets, and empties into Bailey's brook.
7. Bailey's brook, rises in the low ground east of Main street, which it crosses, flowing Southerly until it receives Stetson's brook, and then westerly, emptying into Longwater brook.
8. Longwater brook, rises in South Scituate, near Accord Pond, and flows south-casterly, crossing North street beyond David Mann's, at a spot where formerly stood an old grist mill, thence forming the pond by Brooks' lower mill, and thence flowing southerly, crossing Cedar, Hanover, and Circuit streets, and emptying into Drinkwater river.
9. Studley mill brook, rises in Abington, and flows South- easterly, crossing Webster and Pleasant streets, forming near the latter a pond of considerable extent in the winter season, and emptying into Long-water brook.
10. Iron-mine brook, rises in the low ground near Broadway, and flows south-westerly, emptying into Drinkwater river.
There are other small streams in the town, dry in the summer season. Those that we have named are permanent, and some of them copious.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
LANDMARKS.
The locations of many of the ancient landmarks are given, in different parts of our work, and these we do not deem it necessary to repeat. The following have not been alluded to.
Bank Land-In the woods, near Oren Josselynn's. Said to have been so called, because paid for in bank bills.
Beech Woods-West of King Street, towards Abington. A famous place for early whortleberries.
Brisco's Plain-Near Gideon Studley's.
Candlewood Plain-Near the Centre Meeting House.
Chapman's Landing-On Wampum's Swamp, near Rose's Tannery. There is another place of the same name on North River, where hay is landed.
Cuffs Field-At the corner of Grove Street.
Cushing Lot Dam By Brooks' upper mill.
Dug Hill-On Silver Street.
Ilayden Hill-On land of Col. J. B. Barstow.
Halifax Road-From Brook's upper mill towards Abington.
King Stone Hill-North of Richmond Winslow's.
Little Cedar Swamp-Near Indian Head River.
London Bridge-On North Street.
Mingo Field-On Silver Street.
Oles' Lot-Between Washington and Main Streets.
Park-On Broadway, near David Hersey's.
Peg's Swamp-Back of Charles Winslow's.
Pond Lots-Near the Widow Joshua Dwelley's.
Project Dale-Near Charles Dyer's.
Purr Cat Lane-Now Spring Street.
Ridge Hill-From Main to Grove Street.
Strawberry Hill-West of Spooner Ellis's.
Shuble's Ridge-Crosses Centre Street, near E. Thayer's.
Share Lots-From the old highway on Walnut Hill, towards Abington.
Tumble-down Hill-Near John Hatch, jr's.
Turkey Plain-Near Indian Head River.
Wolf Trap, or Wolf Rock .- On land of Col. J. B. Barstow.
Walnut Hill .- South of Walnut, and West of Washington Street.
Woodward Hill-Between the Four Corners, and the Centre Meeting House.
ROSTON TEBLIC E'BRARY
FAMILY GENEALOGIES.
PART II.
FreLic
FAMILY GENEALOGIES.
In the following pages, we have endeavored to give notices of all the families at present settled in the town, so far as records could be obtained, with extended sketches of several of those early settled on its territory, and now widely scattered abroad, throughout the country. We do not claim that these notices are perfect or complete. Every one who has had any experience in such matters, knows the difficulty, and even the impossibility, of attaining to absolute perfection. The author expects some errors will be discovered, but he trusts none of great consequenec. No pains have been spared to obtain reliable information ; authentic records have been consulted wherever they could be found ; and traditions have never been given as authority, without first endea- voring to verify them from different sources.
The author ventures to hope that a little indulgence will be ex- tended to him, when the variety and multiplicity of details and dates here presented are considered. It may be that some of these sketches are not so extensive as the families themselves might desire. But all that has been learned of these families is published ; and want of materials, not of inclination, is the reason why more has not been said. The author has endeavored to do as equal justice as possible to all whose names are presented. He has published as cheerfully minutes of one family as of another. And according to the interest the parties themselves have taken, and the fulness of the information they have furnished, will the sketches be found.
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FAMILY GENEALOGIES.
The brief memoirs of individuals scattered throughout this part, are such as have been obtained from letters, and the re- collections of those who knew the persons alluded to; and it is believed they will be found to be courteous and respectful, at least. The names of all who have ever lived in the town are not entered. Some were but transient residents. Others, who had descendants for two or three generations, finally removed, and are settled in different places. To have recorded all of these, would have enlarged the size of the volume, but probably not its interest. Enough, however, is given here to satisfy reasonable minds. Liberal criticism will never be deprecated. A candid judgment is all that is asked.
Trusting that this part of the work will prove acceptable to those for whom it was prepared, and not lacking in value as a fam- ily memorial, and a contribution to the general fund of genealogi- cal knowledge, it is sent forth, in the belief, that though not free from errors, it contains much that is correct, and perhaps as few inaccuracies as most books of the kind.
PLAN OF THIS PART.
BOSTON PUBLIC BRARY
The plan adopted in the following pages, is simple, and will be easily understood by all familiar with genealogical tables. But for the information of such as have not this acquaintance, we deem it necessary to remark, that the figures which precede the names of individuals, denote their place in the series, and the figures which follow, point back to the place in the series where the paternal ancestor is to be found. For instance, in the first family, the Bailey's, we read, " 21. Benjamin, s. Charles 14." The figure 21, denotes that this is the twenty-first family described ; and the figure 14 refers back to the fourteenth family, in examin- ing which we find that Benjamin was born Feb. 24, 1797. By observing this rule, it will be easy to trace any family back to the first ancestor.
ABBREVIATIONS.
-
The following table explains the meaning of most of the abbreviations used in this part. ab. about. Ky. Kentucky. Letts. Letters. m. married. Me. Maine. Mfd. Marshfield. mos. months. mfr. manufacture. Matt't. Mattapoisett. mo. mother. Md. Maryland. Abn. Abington. Adm. Administration. ae. aged. aec't. account. acs. acres. Am. Tr. Ass. American Tract Associa- tion. A. M. Master of Arts. Acad. Academy. Asst. Assistant. Meth. Methodist. b. born. bap. baptised. betw. between.
Brigd'r. Bridgewater. bro. brother.
B. U. Brown University.
Bos n. Boston. Camb. Cambridge. ch. children. Ch. Church. Chasn. Charlestown.
Co. Company.
Ct. Connecticut. Col. Colony or Colonel.
Cong. Congregational. Cont. Estab. Continental Establish- ment. Cant'y. Canterbury.
Capt. Captain. Clk. Clerk. Const'n. Constitution.
Cal. California. d. died. das. daughters. decsd. deceased. descts. descendants. Dux. Duxbury. Dea. Deacon.
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