USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Historical sketch of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622-1884 > Part 22
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTHI.
representatives in the General Court. He was a soldier in the French war, and afterwards held the rank of captain in the militia. He was also an active member of the church, where he held the office of deacon. He was engaged in all of the important work of the town during the struggle for independ- ence, and to no one was the town more indebted for its success in that eventful period than to him. He died Dec. 17, 1812.
He was twice married ; first, Oct. 3, 1754, to Tamar White, by whom he had the following children : -
I. LYDIA, born Aug. 1, 1755; married John Thomas.
II. TAMAR, born Dec. 13, 1756; married Josiah Thayer.
III. SAMUEL, born June 14, 1758; died March 16, 1839; major in the militia.
IV. SARAH, born July 12, 1763; died July 24, 1787.
v. MARY, born Jan. 26, 1765; married Nathaniel Richards.
VI. CHARLOTTE, born Sept. 23, 1767; married James Richards, 2d.
VII. NATHANIEL, born Oct. 4, 1769.
VIII. ELIZABETH, born July 19, 1772.
Mrs. Tamar died June 20, 1787, aged fifty-eight.
Deacon Nathaniel married, second, Nov. 1, 1789, Widow Deborah Pratt, who died Aug. 31, 1830, aged sixty-eight years.
JAMES HUMPHREY, Esq., was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Badlam-Humphrey, born in Weymouth, Dec. 5, 1754. He was fitted for college at the age of eighteen years, but was pre- vented from pursuing his studies on account of the sickness and death of his mother. He then began work upon his father's farm, continuing his studies in private, as best he could, and soon began to teach. About 1777, he commenced teaching in the public schools of his native town, with such suc- cess that he was retained in that position for more than a quar- ter of a century. He also had large classes of private pupils from his own and other towns, and was a competent instructor in Latin and Greek as well as in English. For thirty years he held the highest offices in the gift of the town, and was one of its most useful citizens. He died March 12, 1819.
He married Nov. 6, 1777, Deborah, daughter of Abel and Deborah (Loud-Tirrell, born in Weymouth, July 15, 1753, and died Dec. 30, 1842. They had : -
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I. ASA, born Sept. 25, 1778; died Jan. 24, 1861.
II. COL. EBENEZER, born Aug. 27, 1781; died June 17, 1861.
III. LEMUEL, Esq., born May 11, 1784; died Sept. 10, 1857.
IV. DEBORAH, born March 25, 1787; married Abiel Wilder, of Hingham, and died July 26, 1875.
V. LUCY, born Dec. 31, 1789; married Elisha Cushing, of Hing- ham, and died March 21, 1876.
VI. LEVI, born Nov. 13, 1792; died Sept. 20, 1818.
VII. SUSAN, born Jan. 15, 1796; died, unmarried, Nov. 5, 1825.
VIII. LYDIA, born Aug. 16, 1798; married Capt. Hervey Cushing, of Weymouth, and died Aug. 25, 1847.
GEN. JAMES LAWRENCE BATES. - No historical record of Weymouth, however brief, could be called complete that did not contain a sketch of Gen. Bates, the most prominent mili- tary figure in its history, and one that deserves and holds a warm place in the hearts and memories of its citizens. The following imperfect account has been gathered from various sources, among which are the town records, private letters from intimate acquaintances, archives of Reynolds Post, No. 58, G. A. R., and the history of the Twelfth Regiment of Massa- chusetts Volunteers. It is hoped that this attempt may supply a pressing need uutil some competent hand shall furnish a sat- isfactory biography : --
JAMES LAWRENCE BATES, son of Capt. Elijah and Sarah (Torrey-Bates, was born in the village of South Weymouth, Mass., Aug. 6, 1820. By father and mother he inherited some of the best blood of the town, his paternal ancestor being the well-known Elder Edward Bates, or Bate, as the name was then written, who was one of Weymouth's earliest settlers. The date of his arrival is not known, but as early as 1637 he was a prominent citizen and a member of standing in the church. He settled in North Weymouth (Old Spain), but soon removed to the east part of the town, where he came into possession of the Waltham-Richards mill, which remained in the family for near two hundred years. The family has always been a numer- ous and influential one in the town.
In the maternal line his grandfather was Dr. James Torrey, for many years a physician of eminence in South Weymouth, who traces his descent from Capt. William Torrey, who settled in Weymouth in 1640, and at once took a commanding position
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among its citizens, which he ever afterwards retained. He was for several years a deputy from his town to the General Court, where, on account of his learning and ability, he was made clerk of his branch of that body. His son, Rev. Samuel Torrey, for almost half a century minister of the church in Weymouth, was one of the most distinguished ministers of his day in America. This family has also been numerous and prominent.
Capt. Elijah Bates, the father of Gen. James L., was a man of property and standing, who for many years commanded a sailing packet running between Weymouth Landing and Boston, in the days when most of the transportation between the two towns was donc by water conveyance.
Of the youth of James L., the following from the pen of one who knew him intimately through his whole life gives a faithful record of his early life and character : "I can simply say that in his youth he gave promise of those leading characteristics that gave prominence to his after life. He was truthful and pure in his conversation, and, unlike so many of his youthful associates, he would not use low, vulgar, slangy, and profone words. I don't remember that I ever heard him utter a profane oath, while many of his companions were much addicted to that vice.
" He was firm, faithful, and reliable as a friend, and as firm and unyielding as an opponent ; as fearless and outspoken in condemning what he thought to be wrong in those days as in after life.
" As a school-boy he was rather indifferent, and perhaps a laggard, until he was fourteen or fifteen years old, when he suddenly woke up to the necessity of getting an education, and with his determined will, combined with a natural aptitude to acquire and retain knowledge, he soon outstripped his compan- ions ; and, considering his somewhat limited advantages, he afterwards laid the foundation for a good and solid education, far superior to many whose advantages were much greater. He had a very retentive memory, and what he once learned was learned for life."
His education was gained mostly in the public schools of his native town, with a few terms at Monson and Phillips Academy
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(English school), Andover, and his first employment was as a teacher in Weymouth. This he continued for several years, teaching in the different schools in the South Parish with great success, acquiring a high local reputation as an educator. He was very popular, and might have attained a distinguished position in that profession but for his proclivity for change, which induced him to turn his attention to other employment.
As a business man he did not succeed, probably for the reason that his heart was not in it, and his services in that direction were more a matter of necessity than choice ; and yet the larger part of his life was spent in manufacturing and mercantile pur- suits, in which he was many times. engaged, and in which was exhibited his love of change.
His first adventure of a business nature was with Messrs. Fogg and Torrey, in the manufacture of boots, about 1846, but in which he continued only about one year. He then went into company with Benjamin F. White, in the same business, where he remained for about two years, when he gave up business for himself, and entered the employ of Nathaniel Shaw & Co. as a cutter, to which he gave his attention for another year.
About this time the California fever broke out, and he became one of the prime movers in a joint-stock company, which pur- chased the ship "Edward Everett," fitted her out, and sailed for the Golden Gate, in 1849. On the arrival of the ship in San Fran- cisco, the company started for the mines, leaving him in charge. After a time the company disbanded, and the vessel was sold, he with a few others being the purchasers. They sailed for home, taking on their way a cargo of guano, from the Peruvian Islands. On their arrival home, the vessel and cargo were sold, and he became thereby the possessor of a few thousand dollars, as his share of the profits and investment.
Upon his return from California he again entered the employ of N. Shaw & Co., occupying his former position, where, how- ever, he remained but a short time. Hearing that Josiah Reed was about to commence manufacturing boots, he entered into copartnership with him, under the style of Bates & Reed: This connection commenced Sept. 1, 1851, and continued about two and a half years, when he became possessed with a desire for stock raising in the then West, and, in company with M. D.
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Spaulding, bought a tract of land in Genesce County, Ill., whither they went, and began the purchase of stock, but sold out before fairly commencing operations.
After about six months he went into the general store busi- ness in South Weymouth, which retained him about one year, when he left town and went into business in Boston, with a Mr. Safford, where he contented himself for a few months, when he formed a new connection in the leather business, with two part- ners, under the firm name of Durrell, Bacon & Co. In this he continued, with some unimportant changes, until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, when the whole current of his life was changed, and he found an employment which enlisted his sym- pathies, and in which his naturally great abilities found congenial development. Hitherto he had labored under restraint, and was indifferent as to the result ; now he was in love with his occupa- tion, and, in his desire to excel, his mental and physical powers found their natural bent.
In April, 1861, the incipient Rebellion came to a head, and the attack upon Fort Sumter precipitated the struggle into open war. Immediately upon the first call for volunteers by Presi- dent Lincoln, a public meeting was called in Weymouth ; men were at once enlisted and a company formed, which became afterwards Company H, of the Twelfth Regiment of Massachu- setts Volunteers. Mr. Bates was one of the active spirits in this movement, and by his energy and activity did much to pro- mote its success. He was chosen its captain, and received his commission on the twenty-ninth day of April.
The company soon went into camp, and began to perfect its organization and drill. Capt. Bates, as were his associates, was perfectly ignorant of all practical and theoretical knowledge of military affairs. Everything must be learned. With his habit- ual determination and an ardor kindled by a cause he loved, and a congenial employment, he at once set himself to master- ing the details of his profession, and day and night, with tireless energy, he applied himself to his task. His enthusiasm and example excited the ambition of his men, and the reputation of the regiment for drill and discipline, afterwards so high, was duc in no small degree to this fact.
The weary weeks and months of camp duty, with the endless
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disappointments and delays in entering into active service, although so irksome at the time, were not wholly evils, for they gave the regiment time and opportunity to perfect itself in that which was most essential to its future success ; and well did Capt. Bates avail himself of these opportunities, for they formed the basis of his military reputation.
Delay followed delay, and it was not until June 12 that the regiment was accepted by the United States, although its reputation stood second to none for drill and disciplinc, and it was not until July 13 that it left Boston for the seat of war ; and once upon the ground a whole year was spent before its first blood was drawn, and the regiment established its reputa- tion for skill and courage in the field, which made it a favorite with all its commanders.
Capt. Bates early distinguished himself for his coolness in action, and the skill with which he performed his duties; and he soon attracted the attention of his superiors. His promotion was but a question of time, and he was commissioned as major of the Thirty-third Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, on the 5th of August, 1862. His regiment was sorry to lose him, but the service as well as himself gained by it; and the regi- ment itself in the end was no loser, for, on the 9th of September, he came back as its colonel, taking command on the 21st.
He passed through the severe campaigns of 1862-3, and, in the fall of the latter year, he was called to the charge of the conscript camp on Gallop's Island, Boston Harbor, having been wounded in the neck at the battle of Gettysburg. Here he remained for several months, returning to his regiment in the spring of 1864, in time to make the advance under Gen. Grant, in which he took command of the brigade as its senior colonel, and from this time to the end of his term of service continued to occupy that position with credit to himself and advantage to the service.
" As a soldier he was an excellent drill-master, thoroughly proficient in his duties, infusing energy and thoroughness into his command. At the seat of war, he was ever a 'tower of strength' in the regiment, his dignified bearing, his moral ex- ample and influence, and his unswerving integrity gaining for him the esteem of all."
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He possessed to a high degree the love and confidence of his soldiers, and the respect and admiration of his superiors. His command was always to be relied upon, and his generals looked with confidence upon the result of any duty intrusted to him. His regiment or brigade always came into the field in good order and in its proper position, and performed the duties assigned it as far as it was in the power of skill and courage to do so. His reputation as a faithful, reliable offiecr was not ex- celled by any in the service, although many, perhaps, were more brilliant.
He was mustered out of the United States service, July 8, 1865, and in December, 1868, in recognition of his signal and meritorious services during the three years in which he was a soldier, and in which he was under fire twenty-eight times, his rank as brevet brigadier-general was confirmed.
"He was a charter member of Reynolds Post, No. 58, G. A. R., on its formation, July 14, 1868, and its commander till January, 1870, when he was elected commander of the Department of Massachusetts, G. A. R., which position he held one year; and on retiring therefrom he again became commander of Post 58, and continued in office till his deeease. '
After the close of the war he was chosen cashier of the South Weymouth National Bank, an organization just established, and continued in that position for about two years, when he retired from it to enter the brokerage business in Boston, with Fogg Bros. In this eoneern he remained but a short time, when he formed a new partnership in the same business, under the firm name of Bates & Albee. This business was very unfortu- nate, and in it he lost all of his property. This was his last business venture, and he elosed his eventful life on the 11th of August, 1875, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, of disease contracted in the army. The news of his death was a matter of deep regret and sorrow to his many friends, particularly to his old army associates, and his funeral was attended in the Second Congregational Church, South Weymouth, by a large eoncourse of friends and the remnant of his old regiment. His funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. George F. Stanton, pastor of the elurch, and he was buried under military honors.
The following resolutions were passed by the Twelfth (Web- ster) Regiment Association : -
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"Whereas, Our beloved colonel, James Lawrence Bates, having accom- plished the high purposes of his life, is now mustered out of service here, and has responded to roll-call in the ranks of our comrades over the border; therefore,
" Resolved, That we, his surviving comrades, former soldiers of the Twelfth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, sharing deeply in the sorrow which pervades many hearts at the loss which the country has sustained in the death of this loyal citizen and gallant defender of our liberties, bear unqualified testimony to his bravery in battle, to his rare skill and ability in command of his regiment, and for a long time, in the most critical period of the war, of a brigade; to his decision of char- acter and great executive ability, to his personal dignity and worth, to his kindness of heart, his affable manners, and his consistent devotion to truth, virtue, and temperance.
" Resolved, That these resolutions be placed upon the records of this Association, and that a copy be forwarded to the family of the deceased, to whom we offer our sincere sympathy and condolence."
In his business relations he was invariably affable and respectful ; in his social life genial and lovable, while he held the respect of all with whom he came in contact. By his townsmen he was held in high esteem, and possessed to a remarkable degree their confidence.
Gen. Bates married, first, April 16, 1851, Betsey Dyer, daughter of Quincy and Hannah W. (Dyer-Loud, born in South Weymouth, Dec. 30, 1829, and died, of consumption, Sept. 14, 1853, without issue. He married, second, Jan. 24, 1856, Mary Jane, daughter of Capt. James and Betsey ( Whit- marsh-Tirrell, born in South Weymouth, Sept. 1, 1826.
Children : -
I. JAMES WILMOT, born in South Weymouth, Nov. 20, 1856.
II. ANNIE TIRRELL, born in South Weymouth, May 30, 1858; die in South Weymouth, Feb. 25, 1880.
III. BESSIE TIRRELL, born in South Weymouth, July 16, 1864.
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APPENDIX E.
[PAGE 56.]
THE following is a copy of these resolutions, probably from the pen of Dr. Cotton Tufts: -
TO JAMES HUMPHREY, EsQ.
Sir: We the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Weymouth are assembled together at a time when the voice of distress is heard not only from every part of this province but from the continent in general ; the burdens we feel and the greater we fear force out our groans and lead us to lay before you the distresscs of our hearts with whom we have intrusted our most important Interests. And we have the highest assur- ance from your past integrity that no exertion of your abilities will be wanting to effect the removal of these evils. When we consider the difficulties and encumbrances on trade and decay of it brought upon us by some late act of Parliament together with the load of debt under which the Province labors we be- hold poverty rushing in upon us like an Armed man ; but when we take under consideration the Stamp Act, with all its conse- quences, we can see nothing but misery and ruin in the province resulting from the execution of it and a fatal wound to the trade and interests of our Mother Country. The King our father whom we have always esteemed and reverenced will forgive us if we do not consent to our own ruin. We will pre- sume upon their clemency that they will not insist upon our destruction ; and therefore we do recommend to you decently and steadily to oppose any measures in the General Court that shall interest the province in any concern with the Stamp Act, or stampt papers, either directly or indirectly by the payment of any charges that may have arisen on their account, or by giving any orders for, or consent to the distribution of said papers inasmuch as the house of Representatives has no warrant, orders, or authority so to do ; and we presume upon it that the
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house will not be so imprudent as to undertake a business " to which they have no appointment." They are deposited (as we are informed) in the castle "there to be defended with all the force of that fortress," and we imagine they need no other protection, and trust that no one will offer so high an insult on the King as to meddle with them in any shape. We take it for granted that no man on earth is perfect, and that no body of men can lay claim to infallibility, that so wise and great a body as the parliament of Great Brittain is, have been mistaken that what has been may be again ; that men have natural rights, that they have also rights as members of human Society, that to assert explain, & vindicate them, is but acting up to the char- acter of men and of rational Beings. We do therefore instruct you, upon all occasions to assert & vindicate the rights and privilidges of free born British subjects and the rights and privi- lidges delivered to us by Charter from a King of Great Brittain, acknowledged & consented to, really or virtually by the parli- ment thereof, and to use your best endeavor in the General Assembly to have these clearly stated and left upon the records of the province that posterity may know that we never did or could voluntarily Submit to Slavery & ruin. We cannot but complain of the hardships to which we are exposed by the enlargement of the Court of Admiralty an enlargement which takes from us one of the most essential rights of Englishmen, that is of being tried by Juries, those several acts afforemen- tioned are so many tax acts by which money must be drawn from us and we suppose without our consent having no idea or the least remembrance of our having been represented in par- liament and we really look upon these taxations, and the ex- traordinary power of the admiralty Judges as so many novelties that time itself will never reconcile us to, that they are subver- sive of the happiness and welfare of the province, destructive to the interests of the Mother country, that they not only involve in them the destruction of our particular rights and privilidges, but also strike at the very foundation of the English Constitu- tion, in short if they are not repealed we fear such prejudices will arise in the minds of the people, and their affections to the Government at home be so weakened that it will be a very long time before the former can be removed, or the latter renewed.
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If the Parliament of Great Brittain which cannot be immediately acquainted with our abilities & necessities shall from time to time tax us and the province tax us at the same time from these two taxations great inequalities and injustice will arise, and consequently the end of Government be destroyed so that even allowing the parliament's right to tax us (which at present we are not convinced of) yet we imagine with submission to that august Body it would not be wisdom in 'em to execute it. We have ever supposed our charter the Greatest security that could be had in human affairs, this was the sentiments of our fore- fathers, they have told us they never should have left the land of their nativity and fled to these ends of the earth, triumphed over dangers, encountered difficulties innumerable, and suffered hardships unparaled but for the sake of securely enjoying civil and religious liberty and that the same might be transmitted safe to their posterity ; they it is well known settled this coun- try at the expense of their own blood and treasure. The coun- try has risen, grown and been defended without any expense to the Government at home, till within a few years past, and be- sides defending ourselves we have several times saved some of his Majesties provinces from destruction ; and once at least given peace to Europe. The profit of our labour has from time to time centered in Great Brittain by which her riches, her rev- enues & inhabitants have increased mightily; we are (not- withstanding the assistance granted us in the last war) far from thinking that there is any just reason for laying such heavy burdens on us ; and if it is necessary in this time of peace to raise a sum of money for the defence of our frontiers (it being said for our comfort ) the money raised by the Stamp Act is to be applied partly to that end, we had much rather be at our proportionable expence of forever defending our frontiers than to comply with that Act, and in any Constitutional way, we shall ever be ready to contribute our utmost to the assistance of our mother country : -
We further instruct you to use your utmost endeavor to pro- mote publick frugality to prevent any unconstitutional grants and any unaccustomed draughts upon the treasury of the pub- lick money be only applied to the purposes to which it is from time to time appropriated.
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Whilst with pleasure we behold a general sense of liberty and those essential Constitutional rights, freedom of speech and of the press now prevailing we do at the same time entertain a just abhorance to any violence committed upon any person or persons whatsoever. As to any other affairs we leave their management to your noted prudence and judgment in which we place the highest confidence.
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