USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 112
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23. Ralph Allin.
24. James Browne.
25. The Governour.
26. William Smith.
27. John Sutton.
28. Job Laine.
29. Thom. Cooper.
30. Thomas Bliss.
20. John Cooke.
21. Mr. Browne.
22. William Cheesborough.
52. Isaac Martin.
467
REHOBOTH.
25. Robert Wheaton.
36. George Wright.
26. Thomas Bliss.
27. Widow Bennet.
38. George Kendricke.
28. Mr. Henry Smith.
39. John Matthewse.
29. Edward Smith.
40. John Dogget.
30. Ademia Morris.
41. Robert Abell.
31. John Peram.
42. William Carpenter.
32. Peter Hunt.
43. Mr. Peck.
33. John Miller.
34. Richard Ingram.
45. William Cheesborough.
35. Mr. Alexander Winchester. 46. William Smith."
" The 24th of the 4th mo. [June], 1650, at a town-meeting, those men underwritten were chosen townsmen for this year :
" Mr. Browne. Richard Bowen. William Smith.
Mr. l'eck.
Stephen Payne. Thomas Cooper.
Robert Martin."
" At the same meeting the town gave permission to these men chosen to call a town-meeting so often as need shall require."
" The 10th mo. [December], 1650, the county rate was agreed on."
At the same meeting it was voted " to have a con- venient way, four rods wide (to be made by Edward Smith), to be for the town's use, or any that shall have occasion to pass from town to Providence, or to Mr. Blackstone's."
"The 15th day of the Ist mo. [March], 1651, at a towne meeting, it was agreed on that Peter Hunt should accompany Mr. Browne to Plym- outh to make agreement about the Indian complaints."
"The 19th day of the 3d mo. [May], 1651, chosen deputies Stephen Payne and Richard Bowen, for the Court at Plymouth ; Walter Palmer and Peter Hunt to be grand jurymen. Surveyors for the highways, William Smith and John Read."
"The ISth of October, 1651, these were chosen townsmen, viz. :
Mr. Peck.
Stephen Payne. Peter Hunt.
Robert Martin."
"At the same time Peter Hunt was chosen Town Clerk."
" At a town-meeting lawfully warned, the 12th of December, in the year 1653, voted that the price of corn should be 5s. ; wheat, 5s .; rye, 4s. ; and Indian corn, 3s. (provided that the corn be current and merchant- able corn)."
" At the same time those men were chosen to be townsmen, viz. :
" Mr. Brown. Thomas Cooper. William Smitlı.
Stephen Payne. William Carpenter. Robert Martin."
Richard Boweu.
"The 10th of the 11th mo. [January ], 1623. Voted that the Indians that kill any wolves are to be paid out of the rate by the constable."
" June the 26th, 1655. At a town-meeting it was agreed upon that Mr. Newman, our teacher, should have fifty pounds a year; and those seven men whose names are hereto appended were chosen committees for the levying of a rate according to person and estate for the raising of said maintenance:
" Joseph Peck.
Thomas Cooper.
Richard Bowen.
Will. Sabin."
Stephen Payne.
Feb. 22, 1658. " The following persons are accepted as freemen of the town, to take up their freedom, namely: Joseph Peck, John Peck, Henry Smith, Robert Fuller, John Fitch; Stephen Paine, Jonathan Bliss, William Buckland, Rice Leonard."
June 22, 1658. " At a town-meeting lawfully warned, lots were drawn for the meadows that lie on the north side of the town, in order as fol- loweth, according to person and estate:
"1. John Peck.
10. Stephen Payne, sen.
11. John Butterworth.
12. John Read.
4. Nicholas Ide.
13. Thomas Wilmoth.
14. John Fitch.
15. Heury Smith.
16. Will. Carpenter, sen.
8. Mr. Newman. 17. John Millard, jun.
9. George Kendrick.
18. Robert Wheaton.
19. Richard Bullock.
35. Nicholas Peck.
36. Rice Leonard.
37. Robert Jones.
38. Francis Stevens.
39. Thomas Cooper, sen.
40. John Woodcock.
41. Edward Ilall.
26. John Matthews.
27. John Allin.
28. John Sutton.
29. Peter Hunt.
30. Tho. Cooper, jr
31. Will. Sabin.
32. Philip Walker.
48. John Willard, sen.
33. Daniel Smith.
34. John Dogget.
42. Stephen Payne, jun.
43. Roger Amadowne.
44. Richard Bowen, jr.
45. Robert Fuller.
46. Will. Bucklin.
47. Mr. Peck.
49. Will. Carpenter, jun."
Quit-Claim Deed from King Philip .- On the 30th of March, 1668, Philip, who had succeeded his brother Alexander as sachem of the Wampanoags or Pokanokets, as they are sometimes called, confirmed to the town the purchase of the " eight miles square" made of Massasoit, or Ossamequin, his father, in 1641, and relinquished all claim and title to the same by giving the town a quit-claim warrantee deed.
The following is a list of the names of the inhabit- ants and proprietors of the Towne of Rehoboth having Rights and Titles to the Measuages, Tenements and Lands contained in the quit-claim deed of William Bradford to the town of Rehoboth, which hath been reade and allowed in a full Towne Meeting, ffebruary the 7th, 1689: Mr. Samuel Angier, Decon Thomas Cooper, Joseph Peck, sen'r, John ffitch, John Wood- cock, sen'r, Serj. Thomas Reade, George Kenricke, Nichollas Ide, sen'r, George Robinson, sen'r, Robert Wheaton, Richard Martin, John Peren, Jonathan ffuller, sen'r, Enoch Hunt, Jolin Hunt, Ephrahim Hunt, Rice Leonard, Sam'l. Butterworth, Philip Wal- ker, ffrancis Stevens, sen'r, John Ormsby, Nathaniel Chaffee, Samuel Sabin, Serj. Preserved Able, Daniell Reade, Israll Reade, James Sabin, John Sabin, Noah Sabin, The Hieres of Thomas Kenrick, Samuel Rob- inson, Mosses Reade, Mr. Christopher Sanders, Jonah Palmer, sen'r, Samuell Palmer, Noah Mason, Samuell Mason, Nicholas Ide, jun'r, Sam'l Millerd, sen'r, Sam'l Millerd, jr., Johe Hall, John Redway, Sam'l Carpenter, John Tittns, Samuell Tittus, Joseph Tit- tus, John Carpenter, Thomas Grant, John Willmath, Samuel Blise, Jonathan Blise, Joseph Buckland, Samuell Paine, Joseph Browne, William Carpenter, jr., Isack Allen, Thomas Willmath, jr., John Wood- cock, jun'r, Iserall Woodcock, Thomas Woodcock, Jonathan Woodcock, Samuel Newman, jr., John Kinsley, Timothy Ide, Jonathan ffuller, jun., Jeremiah Wheaton, John Shawe, Joseph Sabine, Richard Whiteaker, Samuel Bullock, Thomas Ormsby, Thomas Man, Robert Millerd, sen'r, Mr. Henry Sweeting, Jathniell Peck, Joshua Smith, John Smith, Richard Evens, James Thurber, Sam'l Bowen, Jonathan Will- math, John ffrench, Joseph Borsworth, Joseph Peck, jun'r, Hezekiah Pecke, Richard Bowen, Thomas Bowen, sen'r, John Marten, Jonah Palmer, jun'r, Samuel Cooper, Nathaniell Perry, John Daggett,
5. James Reddeway.
6. JJonathan Bliss.
7. Mr. Winchester's children.
37. Zachary Roades.
20. Robert Martin.
21. John Perrum.
22. Richard Bowen, sen.
23. Obadiah Bowen.
24. Anthony Perry.
25. Joseph Peck.
2. George Robinson.
3. Robert Abell.
Robert Martin. Peter Hunt.
" Mr. Browne. Thomas Cooper. Richard Bowen.
44. John Allin.
463
HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Thomas Cooper, Joseph Daggett, Nathaniell Daggett, ; times so strong as to enable a few men to sustain a Nathaniell Whitaker, Eprahim Wheaton, Abiah Car- ' long siege against a large body of savages. The three penter, James Carpenter, Samson Mason, Joseph Mason, Joseph Buckland, jun'r, Baruk Buckland, Sillas Titus, Nath. Paine, jun'r, William Robenson, Josiah Carpenter, ffrancis Stevens, jun'r, Richard Bowen, jun'r, Joseph Millerd, Benjamin Millerd, John Bowen, Benjamin Robinson, David Newman, David ffuller, John Jenkings, John Jonson, Daniell Shepard, sen., David ffreeman, James Wilson, James Welch, John Bullock, John Callender, John Bartlet's heires. principal garrison-houses maintained in Rehoboth and Swansea during Philip's war, and which were probably meant by the writer last quoted, were one in Rehoboth North Purchase (now Attleborough), called " Woodcock's Garrison," another on the south end of Seekonk Plain (now Seekonk Common), and the third near Miles' Bridge, in the northern part of Swansea ; this last was called " Miles' Garrison," from the Rev. John Miles, the minister of Swansea, whose house was garrisoned. It stood a short distance west Orphans .- Thomas Cooper and Nathaniell Cooper, sons of Nath. Cooper, The Heires of Benjamin Buck- land, Samuell ffuller, The Heires of Eldad Kinsley, Jonathan Carpenter, David Carpenter, Sollomon Car- penter, Zacheriah Carpenter, Abraham Carpenter, The Heires of Robert Joanes, Daniell Sabin, son of Nehemiah Sabin, John ffuller, Abiall ffuller, Benja- min Paine, George Robinson, Jr., Isake Mason, Thomas Bowen. of Miles' Bridge,8 probably near the site of the tavern of Mason Barney, Esq.4 Woodcock's Garrison was named from John Woodcock, who built the house and occupied it before the war and after it during his life for a publie tavern. The following is the record of the license granted him for this purpose by the court of Plymouth : "July 5, 1670. John Wood- cock is allowed by the Court to keep an Ordinary at the ten-mile river (so called), which is in the way from Rehoboth to the Bay ; and likewise enjoined to keep good order, that no unruliness nor ribaldry be permitted there." (Plymouth Colony Record.)
CHAPTER XXXIV.1 REHOBOTH .- ( Continued.) INDIAN HISTORY.2
Rehoboth in the War-Garrison-Houses-Burning of the Town-Pierce's Fight-Philip Slain at Mount Hope-Capture of Annawan-Anna- wan's Rock - Col. Benjamin Church - llis Account of Annawan's Capture.
Indian War .- In 1675 commenced the bloody and destructive Indian war known by the name of " Philip's war." Of the miseries of this war Reho- both, from its proximity to Mount Hope, the residence of Philip, or Pometacom, the prime mover of the war, was destined to suffer its full share. The first blood was spilled within the original jurisdiction of Reho- both, and the last of Philip's generals, the stern and intrepid old warrior and counselor Annawan, was captured within the present limits of the same town. During this war, which lasted nearly two years, the inhabitants of Rehoboth were kept in almost constant alarm; a number of them were at different times slain, and the whole town, the garrison-houses ex- cepted, was at one time laid in ashes. This town was also the scene of Pierce's fight, one of the most dis- astrous battles to the English that occurred during the whole war.
The " three houses" into which " the inhabitants of both towns" (Rehoboth and Swansea) were gathered, and where they rendezvoused during the war, were called garrison-houses. They were fortified and con- tinually guarded in time of danger, and were some-
This garrison was in Attleborough, near the Bap- tist meeting-house.
The principal garrison-house at Seekonk stood on the southeast side of the common.
Several other houses were occupied temporarily as garrisons, but the three described were the strongest, and were always resorted to in times of the greatest danger.
Church mentions a Maj. Brown's Garrison, where a part of the Plymouth forces on their arrival at Swansea were posted. Where this garrison stood it is impossible now to determine, though I have the im- pression, from the fact that Mr. Brown's father owned land very largely at Wannamoiset, which had now descended to his son, that it was in the same part of Swansea with Miles' Garrison.
Mr. Baylies, in his " Memoir of Plymouth Colony," vol. ii., pt. 3, p. 33, mentions a garrison at the house of one Bourn, at Mattapoisett, twelve miles distant from Swansea. Though in this he follows Hubbard (133), yet this distance, " twelve miles," is undoubtedly an error. Hubbard in another place calls Mattapoisett "a small neck of land in the bottom of Taunton Bay, in the midway between Mount Hope and Po- casset Neck," and mentions it as being twelve miles from Rehoboth.5 This would make the distance be-
1 Condensed from Bliss' History of Rehoboth.
2 See Chapter II., where will be found the Indian history of the county. Also, see history of Attleborongh for Indian history of this section.
3 This bridge is over Palmer's River, about three miles north of War- ren, R. I.
4 In the year 1833, in digging or enlarging a cellar on this spot, a large number of cannon-balls were dug out of the ground, which leads me to suppose that this was the site of the garrison. It is not mentioned by any historian that cannon were used by the English at Swansea at the time of Philip's war. But I know of no other purpose for which these balls could have been deposited there. The place where they were found I conjecture to have been the spot of Mr. Miles' cellar.
5 Hubbard's Narrative, p. 70.
469
REHOBOTH.
tween Miles' Garrison and Mattapoisett six miles, the former being six miles distant from Rehoboth, and in the direction of the latter. Mattapoisett Neck is the same as is now called Gardner's Neck, in Swansea, which runs into Mount Hope Bay, early called Taun- ton Bay.
March the 28th, 1676, two days after Pierce's fight,1 a party of the Indians, crossing the river, laid the town in ashes, burning forty houses and thirty barns.2 These houses were around the " Ring of the Town," now called " Seekonk Common." Only two houses were left standing, the garrison house, which stood on the spot where the house of Phanuel Bishop now stands, and another house on the south end of the common, which was preserved by black sticks having been arranged around it, so as to give it at a distance the appearance of being strongly guarded. The houses were set on fire, as tradition informs us, early in the evening, and when the sun arose the next morning it beheld only a line of smoking ruins.
The town records give the name of only one person słain by the Indians at this time: "Robert Beers, slain ye 28 March, 1676." He was an Irish- man, and a brick-maker by trade. It is said that he was a religious but eccentric and superstitious man, and that on the approach of the Indians he refused to go into the garrison house, but sat down in his own house with his Bible in his hand, believing that while he continued reading it nothing could harm him. He was shot through the window, and fell with his Bible in his hand.
The following mention of the burning of the town by the Indians on the 28th of March is made in a letter written at that time by the council of war at Plymouth to Governor Leverett, of Massachusetts Colony. The copy, found among the Winslow papers, has no date, but from the contents it is inferred that it was written on the 31st of March, 1676: " Another messenger with sad tidings, at the heels of the other, from Rehoboth ; that town in flames, 28 instant, soon after daylight, the enemy having fech't away sundry cattle the day before, and lay all night in their hear- ing, burnt sixty houses and barns, appeared very nu- merous, and continued lurking thereabout after it."
The next notice of the Indians relative to Reho- both found in history is that "in the road to Reho- both (in their march from Wrentham) they assaulted one Woodcock's house, killed one man and one of his sons, wounded another, and burned his son's house."
The Indian war in this quarter was now fast draw- ing to a close. Philip, the prime mover of the war, was slain on Saturday morning, Aug. 12, 1676, at Mount Hope, and Annawan, the last and bravest of his generals, was taken captive on Monday evening of the 28th, in Rehoboth. The rock where he was taken is still known to all the country round by the name of " Annawan's rock." This rock lies in the
southeasterly part of Rehoboth, near the confines of Dighton, a few rods south of the new turnpike from Taunton to Providence, about eight miles from the former and ten miles from the latter place. It is on the northern border of a great swamp called Squan- nakonk, by which it is rendered inaccessible except on the northern side. This side can be seen from the turnpike, and is easily ascended, sloping gradually away from its summit to its base, at an angle of about 35°. The whole rock extends northeast and south- west seventy or eighty feet, and its height is twenty- five or thirty feet. It is composed of sand and peb- bles. A part of its southeast side projects a little over its base, while on the northeast it seems at no very distant period to have tumbled down in large clefts. Near its southeast extremity is an opening of an angular form, resembling the corner of a room, with sides nearly perpendicular. In this, it is said, Annawan and his men had encamped. In one of the perpendicular sides of this opening is an excava- tion or fissure, narrow at the bottom, and widening gradually upwards, and commencing so near the ground as to make a very convenient seat. This is called " Annawan's chair," for it is said that in this Annawan used to sit. Within the large angular opening or corner, some years since, stood a large tree, covered for several feet from the ground with the names of many who had visited the rock, and whose passion for immortality had prompted them " to give in trust their names" to this reverend senti- nel of the place. But the "September gale" of 1815 prostrated this ancient chronicler of the rock, and an uprooted stump now marks the place where it stood. It is probable that this tree grew since the days of Annawan, as it occupied a large share of the angle. Small bushes still grow from the seams on the top and in the steep side of the rock, as in the days of Church. Till lately a thin scattering wood grew around it, and near to the east and south was a thick forest, which seemed to make it even then a fitting abode for savages. But these have within a year or two all yielded to "the woodman's axe," and the re- treat of Annawan now looks lonely and desolate. It is frequently visited by the curious and the gay, and the rock where the rude Indian once trod is now often pressed by the soft foot of the American fair. The nearest inhabitant to this rock is Deacon Asahel Bliss. (Bliss in 1838.)
Annawan was of the tribe of the Wampanoags, and had been greatly distinguished as a warrior and counselor under Massasoit, and was "Philip's great captain" in this war. He is first mentioned in the annals of Philip's war by Church, in describing the skirmish in which Philip was slain: "One of the enemy, who seemed to be a great surly old fellow, hallooed with a loud voice, and often called out, "Iootash, Iootash !" Capt. Church called to his In- dian, Peter, and asked him who that was called so. He answered that it was old Annawan, Philip's great
1 See Attleborough.
2 Hubbard's Narrative, p. 125.
470
HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
captain, calling to his soldiers to stand to it, and fight stoutly." The best authority for the circumstances of the capture of Annawan is found in the account writ- ten under the direction of the old warrior,1 to whose valor the glory of the achievement belongs.
"Capt. Church," says the narrative, " had been but a little while at Plimouth (after the death of Philip) before a post from Rehoboth came to inform the Governour that old Annawan, Philip's chief captain, was with his company ranging about their woods, and was very offensive and pernicious to Rehoboth and Swanzey. Capt. Church was immediately sent for again, and treated with to engage in one expedi- tion more. He told them their encouragement was so poor he feared his soldiers would be dull about going again. But being a hearty friend to the cause, he rallied again, goes to Mr. Jabez Howland, his old lieutenant, and some of his soldiers that used to go out with him, told them how the case was circum- stanced, and that he had intelligence of old Anna- wan's walk and haunt, and wanted hands to hunt him. They did not want much entreating, but told him they would go with him as long as there was one Indian left in the woods. He moved and ranged through the woods to Pocasset.
" It being the latter end of the week, he proposed to go on to Rhode Island and rest until Monday ; but on the Lord's day morning" there came a post to inform the captain that early the same morning a canoe with several Indians in it passed from Pru- dence Islands to Poppasquash4 Neck. Capt. Church thought if he could possibly surprise them he might probably gain some intelligence of more game, there- fore he made all possible speed after them. The ferry- boat being out of the way he made use of canoes. But by that time they had made two freights and had got over about fifteen or sixteen of his Indians the wind sprung up with such violence that canoes could no more pass. The captain seeing it was impossible for any more of his soldiers to come to him, he told his Indians if they were willing to go with him he would go to Poppasquash and see if they could catch some of the enemy Indians. They were willing to go but were sorry they had no English soldiers.5 So they marched through the thickets that they might
1 Col. Benjamin Church was born at Duxbury, Mass., in 1639, and died Jan. 17, 1717, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, at Little Compton, R. I. He married Miss Alice Southworth, and had five sons and a daughter. His daring and intrepidity can scarce find an equal in our annals. He was particularly distinguished in Philip's war, and was after- wards sent on an expedition against the Eastern Indians. (Church's Hist. of Philip's war.) William Church, Esq., of Providence, R. I., and Church Gray, Esq., of Seekonk, are lineal descendants of this hero, the former by the father's and the latter by the mother's side.
2 August 27th.
3 An island in Narragansett Bay, to the south west of Warren and Bris- tol, about six miles in length.
4 A long narrow neck or peninsula, extending into the Narragansett Bay, on the west of Bristol, and between Bristol and Warren.
5 They had one or more Englishmen in their company, as will be presently seen.
not be discovered, until they came unto the salt meadow to the northward of Bristol town, that now is, then they heard a gun ; the captain looked about, not knowing but it might be some of his own com- pany in the rear. So halting till they all came up, he found it was none of his company that fired.
"Now, though he had but a few men, he was minded to send some of them out on a scout. He moved it to Capt. Lightfoot to go with three more on a scout; he said he was willing, provided the cap- tain's man, Nathaniel (which was an Indian they had lately taken), might be one of them, because he was well acquainted with the Neck, and coming lately from among them knew how to call them.
"The captain bid him choose his three companions and go, and if they came across any of the enemy not to kill if they could possibly be taken alive, that they might gain intelligence concerning Annawan. The captain with the rest of his company moved but a little way further toward Poppasquash before they heard another gun, which seemed to be the same way with the other, but farther off; but they made no halt until they came unto the narrow of Poppa- squash Neck, where Capt. Church left three men more to watch if any should come out of the Neck and to inform the scout when they returned which way he was gone.
"He posted the remainder of his company, half on one side of the Neck, and the other with himself went on the other side, until they met, and, meeting with neither Indians nor canoes, returned with big expec- tations of tidings by their scout. But when they came back to the three men at the narrow of the Neck, they told their captain the scout was not returned and had heard nor seen anything of them ; this filled them with thoughts of what should become of them. By that time they had sat and waited an hour longer ; it was very dark and they despaired of their return- ing to them.
"Some of the Indians told their captain they feared his new man, Nathaniel, had met with his old Mount Hope friends and was turned rogue. They concluded to make no fires that night (and indeed they had no great need of any), for they had no vietuals to cook, not so much as a morsel of bread with them.
"They took up their lodgings scattering, that if pos- sibly their scout should come in the night and whistle (which was their sign) some or other of them might hear them. They had a very solitary, hungry night, and as soon as the day broke6 they drew off through the brush to a hill without the Neck, and looking about them they espied one Indian man come run- ning somewhat towards them. The captain ordered one man to step out and show himself. Upon this the Indian ran right to him. And who should it be but Capt. Lightfoot, to their great joy. Capt. Church asked him what news ? He answered, 'Good news';
6 Monday, August 28th.
471
REHOBOTH.
they were all well, and had catched ten Indians ; and that they guarded them all night in one of the flankers of the old English garrison ;1 that their prisoners were a part of Annawan's company, and that they had left their families in a swamp above Metapoiset Neck,2 and as they were marching towards the old garrison Lightfoot gave Capt. Church a particular account of their exploit, viz. : that presently after they left him they heard another gun, which seemed towards the Indian burying-place, and moving that way they dis- covered two of the enemy flaying of a horse. The scout clapping into the brush, Nathaniel bid them sit down, and he would presently call all the Indians thereabout him. They hid, and he went a little dis- tance back from them and set up his note and howled like a wolf. One of the two immediately left his horse and came running to see who was there; but Nathan- iel, howling lower and lower, drew him in between those that lay in wait for him, who seized him. Nathaniel continuing the same note, the other left the horse also, following his mate, and met with the same. When they caught these two they examined them apart and found them to agree in their story,- that there were eight more of them come down into the Neck to get provisions, and had agreed to meet at the burying-place that evening. These two being some of Nathaniel's old acquaintance, he had great influence upon them, and with his enticing story (telling what a brave captain he had, how bravely he lived since he had been with him, and how much they might better their condition by turning to him, etc.), persuaded and engaged them to be on his side, which, indeed, now began to be the better side of the hedge. They waited but a little while before they espied the rest of theirs coming up to the burying- place ; and Nathaniel soon howled them in, as he had done their mates before.
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