History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 120

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 120

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Nov. 23, 1851. Deacon Sylvanus Newman deceased. He had been a member of the church fifty years, and had filled the office of deacon thirty-two years.

Jan. 12, 1852. The church chose William S. Mun- roe as deacon in place of Brother Newman.

March, 1854. Brother Andrew N. Medbery was chosen clerk.

Oct. 8, 1854. The church voted unanimously to give Brother George Mathews (who commenced laboring with us Sept. 24, 1854) an invitation to become our pastor. Brother Mathews accepted the pastorate, and October 28th joined the church by letter from the Baptist Church in Casinovin, N. Y.

Jan. 27, 1856. The church voted to hold a series of meetings, to commence next week, and to invite Rev. James O. Barney and his church and society to unite with us in these meetings, which was accepted.

September, 1856. The Taunton Baptist Association held its session with us.

July 25, 1857. Brother Mathews resigned as pastor, to take effect Oct. 1, 1857.

Nov. 29, 1857. Voted unanimously to give Rev. A. H. Stowell, of Providence, R. I., an invitation to be- come our pastor for six months, which was accepted by him.

In the spring of 1858 there was quite a revival in our church, and quite a number of heads of families were added to the church.

Ang. 25, 1860. The church voted that Brother Stowell's labors as pastor close to-morrow after service.

Aug. 26, 1860. The church rescinded the vote passed yesterday, after which Brother Stowell resigned as pastor, which was accepted.

Nov. 24, 1860. Voted to engage Brother G. M. P. King, who had been supplying us for six weeks, to become our pastor for six months.

April 4, 1861. Voted to give Brother King an invita- tion to become our pastor as long as mutually satis- factory.

June 11, 1861. A public recognition as pastor of their church took place.

Ang. 30, 1862. The church voted to withdraw from the Taunton Association and rejoin the Warren As- sociation, as that part of Seekonk where the church was had recently been set to Rhode Island.

April 29, 1865. Brother King notified the church that his relation to the church as pastor would close from this date, that he had tendered his resignation last December, which he had not withdrawn. The church voted to accept his resignation.

The church voted to observe the national fast or- dered by the President on account of the assassination of President Lincoln, and voted to invite Rev. James O. Barney and his church and society to meet with us.

Nov. 28, 1865. Voted to accept the invitation of the Congregational Church to meet and join with them in thanksgiving services December 7th; and also to invite them to join with us in like services November 30th.

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SEEKONK.

March 26, 1866. Voted unanimously to give Rev. Isaac Chesebrough, of Greenwich, R. I., a call to be- come our pastor, which call was accepted April 1, 1866, in which position he continued till Sept. 30, 1880. During his pastorate, in 1877 and 1878, there was a revival of religion in the church, and thirty- eight were added to our number.

Aug. 29, 1872. Voted to withdraw from the Warren Association and unite with the Providence Associa- tion.

Sept. 16 and 17, 1874. The Providence Baptist As- sociation held its annual session with our church. Although the weather was unpleasant there was a good attendance, and the exercises were harmonious and very interesting.

April 24, 1879. The church by appointment bal- loted for two deacons, which resulted in the choice of Brother Francis Armington and Andrew N. Medbery as deacons.

April 8, 1879. It was voted to build a new church edifice or meetinghouse, and chose a committee of five to build the same, viz., Francis Armington, A. N. Medbery, Daniel Medbery, Isaac Chesebrough, and Allen Munroe. The church was built the ensuing summer.

July 30, 1879. The church was called to mourn the loss by death of a much-loved and esteemed brother, Deacon William S. Munroe.

Dec. 30, 1879. The new church edifice was dedicated to the worship of God.

Jan. 27, 1881, The church voted to give Rev. Bailey S. Morse, pastor of Broadway Church, Providence, a call to become our pastor, which was accepted by him, and he commenced his pastoral labors 1st of April, 1881, which still continue.

Church constituted Nov. 27, 1795. No. of constituents 19

Pastorate of

Members added.

Under Elder

- Jones

4 years.

124

Ezra Goiny.

9 months.

Bartlett Pease.

1 year,

Henry Clarke ...

3 years, 3

103

John C. Welch

تـ

120

Alexander Lorimer ...

1 year, 1 month.

3 years.

Austin: H. Stowell

9 months.

George M. P. King ....

Isaac Cheseborough .. 14 Bailey S. Morse

...

The first Sabbath-school was formed June 1, 1819, by a few of the young people of the church and so- ciety. Viall Medbery was chosen superintendent, which office he filled to March 25, 1855, when Deacon William S. Munroe was chosen, who filled the office till Oet. 27, 1867. He was followed by Allen J. Brown, to 1870; John A. Medbery, to 1871 ; Samuel B. Allen, to 1872; John A. Medbery, to 1873 ; Hannah Medbery, to 1877 ; Allen Munroe, present superintendent.

The Hebron Church 1 was organized Dec. 25, 1827. The church edifice was erected in 1827, and stood on the line of the towns of Seekonk and Attleborough, the line of the towns passing through the church.

This building was sold and removed in 1870, and a new church built in that year, but wholly in Sec- konk. The edifice erected in 1870 was destroyed by fire in 1875; another was built and was dedicated Aug. 6, 1875.

The church erected a parsonage in 1863. The pastors of this church have been Rev. Thomas Wil- liams, Rev. Charles Simmery, Rev. William H. Hay- ward, Rev. John W. Caldwell, Rev. Joshua Stetson, Rev. Junia S. Mowrey, Rev. George W. Wallace, Rev. J. C. Seagraves, Rev. Gardner Clark, Rev. Reuben Allen, Rev. Solomon P. Snow, Rev. Sam- nel Heath, Rev. William B. Heath, Rev. John Q. Adams. Present pastor, Albert F. Remington. Rev. Mr. Remington became pastor of this church in April, 1875.

The deacons were Seta Kent, Ira K. Miller, Daniel Perry, John Blanchard, Noble Fuller, George W. French, Henry Carpenter. The present deacons are Andrew J. Goff, Samuel O. Case, Jr., and George O. Newman. There are at present about eighty members belonging to the church. The Sabbath- school numbers one hundred and fifteen.

We subjoin the following concerning the origin of this church : On the 25th of December, 1827, a num- ber of the members of the First Congregational Church in West Attleborough residing in and near Hebronville, having been dismissed for the purpose of forming a new organization, unitedly agreed, in order to their greater usefulness in promoting the in- terests of religion, to become a new church under the " creed of Congregationalism."

Their first pastor was Rev. Thomas Williams. Under his labors the church was increased and blessed, and a house of worship was ereeted.

The church continued to have a succession of Con- gregational pastors, with no change in their creed, until the spring of 1842, when the church became convicted that to make the creed of a sect a test of church membership, to the rejection of Christians from the Church of Christ, was not a Christian but an unauthorized human arrangement.

It was accordingly voted to give up their ereed of Congregationalism as a test of membership, and adopt the Seriptures, more especially the New Testa- ment, as their only and sufficient rule of faith and practice, under which all Christians located together could unite in the exercise of all the ability which God giveth in the work and worship of God, and thus become more useful and successful in building up the church and cause of Christ.

1 Contributed by Joseph Brown.

John Pitman.

...

Benjamin C. Grafton.

Forondo Berton.

John Allen.

Henry G. Stewart

George Mathews

502

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOSEPH BROWN.

There were quite a number of the early settlers of New England who bore the name of Brown. Peter Brown was probably the first. He came over from England in the " Mayflower." He was not an an- cestor, but related to an ancestor of Deacon Joseph Brown. From the most authentic records we have been able to obtain, it seems a probability bordering on certainty that William1 Brown, who came to Ply- mouth, and there married Mary Murdock, July 16, 1649, was the first of this particular branch who settled in America. He was from England. He died at Plymouth, 1694. He had a son, Samuel", born 1656, who, in turn, had a son, Samuel3, born Nov. 7, 1690. This Samuel was the father of William4, who held a commission as quartermaster in Fourth Troop of Horse, Second Regiment, in Massachusetts Bay, commanded by Col. Zephaniah Leonard. His con- mission, dated Sept. 17, 1742, in sixteenth year of the reign of King George II., and signed by Wm. Shir- ley, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of Mas- sachusetts Bay, is now in possession of Deacon Joseph Brown, his great-grandson. Samuel5, his son, held a commission as second lieutenant, bearing date March 22, 1776, granted by Council of Massachusetts Bay, under King George III. ; and June 10, 1779, he was commissioned first lieutenant of Fifth Company, First Regiment of Bristol County, Thos. Carpenter colonel. (Both of these original documents are also in pos- session of Deacon Brown, who has a list in the orig- inal handwriting of the men under the command of his grandfather, Lieut. Brown.) Lieut. Samuel Brown participated in a number of engagements during the war of American independence. He was a man of character, selectman of his town, and a deacon in the Baptist Church of Rehoboth. He died in 1816, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, leaving be- hind him four children,-Samuel, Josiah, Mary, and Peter H. His wife was Huldah Hunt, a descendant of Peter Hunt, who was one of the pioneer settlers of the ancient town of Rehoboth, and one of its principal men in.his day.

Peter Hunt Brown was born Jan. 13, 1793. He re- ceived only such educational advantages as were offered by the district schools of his town, was reared a farmer's son, and has followed that peaceful avoca- tion through the long period that has intervened from his boyhood days to the present writing, when (1883) Mr. Brown, at the advanced age of ninety, is still in possession of all his faculties, and able to read the finest print without the aid of glasses. He married. Oct. 15, 1815, Sally Walker, daughter of Moses Walker (who was also a descendant of one of | Rehoboth's oldest families). They had two children, Joseph6 and Huldah Hunt, the latter born June 22, 1819. Mrs. Brown died May 27, 1870. Mr. Brown,

like his ancestors, gave his attention to military mat- ters. He held a commission as second, and afterwards as first, lieutenant in the State militia. He has been selectman of his town, and is now senior deacon in the First Congregational Church of Seekonk. He is a Republican in politics, and has voted at every Presidential election from James Monroe's time to the present. Upon consultation of the records with reference to the Brown family, we find that a greater proportion of them have been clergymen than of probably any other family in New England. We also find that prior to 1836 thirty-seven of the name had graduated at Harvard and sixty-three at other New England colleges.

DEACON JOSEPH BROWN was born Aug. 7, 1816. In addition to the common-school course in his town, he had instruction at a select school, and also took an academic course. After leaving school he em- ployed much of his time, for a period of about twenty years, in teaching. In addition to this he has all his life been engaged in farming and garden- ing on the old homestead, which has been in the family so many generations.

He is one of the leading farmers of his town. He has been chairman of the school committee many years, and a member of the board nearly forty years. He was chairman of the board of selectmen and overseers of the poor ten years. He represented his district in the State Legislature in 1862 and 1864. He holds a commission under the commonwealth as justice of the peace, and for many years has done much probate business, both in his own State and the neighboring one of Rhode Island. He has served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Congre- gational society of Seekonk more than thirty years. He is deacon of that church, and has been for about twenty years. He married, Jan. 11, 1844, Henrietta Smith French, daughter of Ezra French, of Seekonk. To them were born four children, three of whom are still living, viz. : Herbert E., born Feb. 5, 1847, now residing in Providence, R. I., and quite celebrated as a musician, both vocal and instrumental. Helen Au- gusta, born Nov. 24, 1851, now Mrs. J. Gardner Case, of Pawtucket; and Henry William, born Oct. 14, 1856, resides on the old homestead with his father.

Mrs. Brown died Nov. 29, 1879. Mr. Brown married for his second wife Alice H. Carpenter, Jan. 5, 1882.

Deacon Joseph Brown is a man of stern integrity and upright life. He is a man of strong character and influence in his community, and probably no inan in the town stands higher in the good will and esteem of the people.

HON. OLIVER CHAFFEE.

Hon. Oliver Chaffee was born Dec. 18, 1822. He is the son of Caleb and Lephe P. (Ormsbee) Chaffee, of Seekonk, Mass. Caleb Chaffee was a man of much prominence and usefulness in his community. The

129-11-21

Oliver Chaffee

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following extract from the Providence Journal, pub- lished soon after his death, will serve to show some- thing of the esteem in which he was held by those who knew him best :

" After a long and active life of eighty-six years and four months, Mr. Caleb Chaffee, of Seekonk, passed to his rest Aug. 1, 1880. He was a man of such prominence in his native town as to deserve special mention. He was the oldest son of six chil- dren, and on account of the death of his father the care of a large family rested upon him at the early age of eighteen. By his energy and industry he paid off all claims on the home farm and kept the family together until they were of age or married. In 1816 he married Lephe P. Ormsbee. She died Jan. 7, 1840, leaving seven children. He then married Pamelia A. Allen, who survives him. . .

" Mr. Chaffee ruled well in his own household, be- lieving in the old-fashioned doctrine that children should be taught to obey. Yet he secured good gov- ernment without resorting to harshness or violence, and these children have borne for their father an affection and respect greater than they can express. Although a farmer all his life, and not having had the advantages of a school education, yet Mr. Chaffee became a self-educated man, and was always thoroughly conversant with the news of the day.

" His general information, shrewd remarks, and quick sympathies made him a most enjoyable companion. Himself, child, grandchild, and great- grandchild -- four generations-have played croquet together at the old home. He served in the Massa- chusetts State Legislature four years. He was invited to serve on the board of selectmen of his town, but refused. He was of commanding presence, and gave the stranger at once the impression of being a man of unusual strength of body and mind. A man of strong convictions, he was regarded by all as possessing a character above reproach."

His children were Betsey O., who married William H. Armington; Mary, married Samuel B. Allen, is now a widow; Jonathan, now deputy sheriff at Fall River; Oliver, subject of our sketch ; Cordelia, mar- ried William Wheeler, of Taunton ; Henrietta A. (deceased), married Daniel D. Barney; Elizabeth F., died in infancy ; Elpallet I., died in infancy ; Lephe P., married Joseph Robinson, of Seekonk ; and Sarah A., who resides with her mother at East Providence Centre

Oliver Chaffee was reared a farmer's son, and had only such facilities for an education as were afforded by the schools of his town.

When a young man he taught school a number of sessions during the winter months in Seekonk and Rehoboth, but spent his summers on the ancestral farm, the care of which chiefly devolved upon him during a great part of the time after he arrived at his majority. About 1848 he took a position as clerk in a general grocery- and variety-store of Louis Kenyon,

where he remained some two years. He married, June 13, 1848, Abby Maria, daughter of Church and Sally (Ide) Gray. She was born May 20, 1824. They have had seven children,-C. Frank, now in Rumford Chemical-Works, where he has been em- ployed several years ; Abbie M., married C. C. Balcli, of New Hampshire, and resides in Boston ; Oliver C., Caleb C., Fred. Ide, J. Irwin, graduate at Brown University, now principal of Grove Avenue School at Watchemoket; Lizzie G., married R. M. Morrison, of New Hampshire, now resides in Boston.

Mrs. Chaffee is descended from Joseph, brother of Benjamin Church, the warrior. The line is as fol- lows: Joseph1, Joseph2, Caleb3, Ebenezer4, Elizabeth5, (she married John Gray, and had son ) Church Gray6, Mrs. Chaffee7.

In the fall of 1848, Mr. Chaffee settled at the place where he now resides. He carried the mail eight years between East Providence and Providence. He has done much surveying and settled many estates. He is esteemed as one of the best citizens of his com- munity. He was selectman and overseer of the poor, and also juryman many times in Seekonk before that part of the town in which he resides was annexed to Rhode Island. Since he has been a citizen of Rhode Island he has been representative or senator six years. He is now a member of the Lower House, and has been selectman many years. He is now judge of probate. Mr. Chaffee is a most worthy rep- resentative of an ancient and honorable family.1

VIALL MEDBERY.

Among the early settlers of the ancient town of Rehoboth, Mass., was John1 Medbery, who settled near the boundary line between Rehoboth and Bar- rington. He left four children,-John2, Rebecca, Ebenezer, and Thomas. John2 married a Miss Camp, and settled in the southwest part of his native town, about one mile north of Sabin's Point. He was the father of seven children, who lived to maturity, viz., Nathaniel, Chloe, John3, Benjamin, Sarah, Nathan, and Josiah. Of these, Nathaniel married and had four children, -- Betsy, William, Mary Ann, and Thomas. Chloe died aged and unmarried. Benjamin enlisted in the United States army, and was killed at battle of Rhode Island. Sarah married Dr. Fred- erick Radliff, who was a surgeon in a Hessian regi- ment, was captured by United States troops, and afterwards enlisted in United States army, and never returned to Germany. They had five children. Na- than married Bethialı Kent, by whom he had seven children, - Elizabeth, Anne, Hezekiah, Hannah, Humphrey, Sarah, and Bethiah. Josiah married Phobe Rhodes, by whom he had eleven children, all of whom lived to maturity, namely, Esther, George,

1 Since the above was written Mr. Chaffee has passed away. He died . on the evening of May 8, 1883.

504

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Phœbe, Arnold, Nicholas, Thomas, Rosannah, Lydia, Josiah, Frederick, and Mariah. Of all these only Josiah and Mariah are now living. The mother, Es- ther, Phoebe, Arnold, Nicholas, Rosannah, Lydia, and Mariah were members of the Baptist Church at Seekonk.

John3 was born in First Precinct of Rehoboth in 1752, and learned the cooper's trade in Providence, R. I. Just prior to the expiration of his apprentice- ship, however, he met with an accident which probably changed to some extent the tenor of his life. His leg was broken by a fall from a fruit-tree, and it was many months before he recovered sufficiently to be able to walk, even with difficulty. As soon as he had so far recovered he enlisted in the Federal army, and received a commission as lieutenant. He continued in the service until the close of the war and the inde- pendence of the United States had been established. After the close of the war he married Abigail Viall, hired a small farm, and began housekeeping under very unfavorable circumstances,-without suitable tools, necessary household furniture, or money to purchase either. The pay he received for his services in the army was in Continental currency, which at that time was so depreciated in value as to be practi- cally worthless ; but as soon as early vegetables were ready for marketing he began to receive some returns for his labor, and to purchase a few of the comforts and necessaries of life, which had before been denied them.

By close economy, persistent industry, and a deter- mined effort to succeed, Mr. Medbery's business grad- ually grew more prosperous. He continued farming and marketing his produce till, in the autumn of 1825, when at Central Falls, near Pawtucket, his horse becoming frightened and turning swiftly around, the wagon was upset, and he was thrown violently to the ground, receiving injuries which after some weeks of suffering and severe pain finally terminated in his death, Nov. 2, 1825. Mr. Medbery first united with the Baptist Church in Swansea, in which church he continued a member until 1794, when he obtained a letter of dismission to unite with others and organize a Baptist Church in Rehoboth. He attended all the preliminary meetings, and the church was finally or- ganized Nov. 11, 1794. Mr. Medbery was chosen clerk, and served in that capacity till Aug. 25, 1822, when he declined, and his son Viall was chosen in his stead. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Medbery were ten in number,-Benjamin, Samuel Viall, Ben- jamin, Jesse, John, Charles, Viall4, Allin Viall, Wil- liam, and Fanny. Of these, the first Benjamin was drowned when five years of age. Samuel Viall re- ceived a liberal education, graduating from Brown University in 1805, studied physic, married Ruth V. Chandler, by whom he had two children, Matthew and Samuel, and led a seafaring life, first shipping as surgeon, and afterwards going several voyages as mate. When last heard from he was master of an

English ship which sailed from Savannah for Liver- pool just prior to the war of 1812. Benjamin, the third son, married Hannah Lilley and settled in Bar- rington, R. I., was by occupation a farmer, and was judge of the Court of Common Pleas one term. Their children were named Elbrige, Gerry, Nicholas W., Abbey, Charlotte, Amariah, Benjamin, Charles, Hannah, Julia, and Rufus. He died in Providence, R. I., in the ninetieth year of his age. Jesse (fourth son of John) married Elizabeth Viall. Their chil- dren were Patience, Thomas V., Ruth A., Charles, Caroline, Betsey, Jesse, Edwin, and Laura. John (fifth son of John3) married Elizabeth Allen, by whom he had four children, - Elizabeth, John, Amanda, and Fanny. He was an officer in the militia, and volunteered his services under Capt. Joseph Watson in a company organized to defend the city of New Bedford against the British fleet then cruising in that vicinity. He was afterwards pro- moted to captain. He removed to Pawtucket and died therc. Charles (sixth son of John) was born 1792, married Mercy Allen, moved to Ohio and settled at Belpre, near Marietta, and united with a Baptist Church on opposite side of the Ohio River, in Kentucky. He afterwards removed to St. Mary's, near the western boundary line of the State, where he resided till his death, 1853. He was a teacher many years. He had three children, two daughters and one son.

Allin Viall (eighth son of John) removed from his native State to Marietta, Ohio, and thence to St. Mary's, Ohio, where he taught school several years, married, and had one son. He received a commission as judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and con- tinued in that office until his death, which occurred suddenly. William (ninth son of John) died in in- fancy. Fanny (the only daughter of John) married John Chaffee, and removed to Pennsylvania, where they settled in the town of Warren, Bradford Co. They had nine children,-William Penn, Abbey, Matthew, Susan, Francis, Jesse, Newman, Charles, and George. Three of the sons enlisted in the United States service in the war of the Rebellion. One of them (Charles) died of illness ; George was captured by the Confederates, and confined in the famous An- dersonville prison, where he suffered severely until the close of the war, when he returned home reduced almost to a skeleton. He now draws a pension, is married, and lives in Nevada. Matthew, Jesse, and Newman are married, and live in Iowa. The three daughters are married, and live in Warren, Pa. Wil- liam Penn married and died in his native town, no issue. Viall Medbery (seventh son of John3), whose portrait appears in connection with this sketch, was born in that part of the town of Rehoboth now called Seekonk, April 17, 1795. When in the third year of his age he met with a severe accident, falling from the upper chamber of a corn-crib. When picked up he was thought to be dead, and though he eventually

Viall Medbery

505

SEEKONK.

revived, it was many years before he fully recovered. He resided with his father till his majority, with the exception of the time he was employed in teaching, during the winter months after he was eighteen. He generally commenced these sessions about the middle of November, and continued till the middle of March, when he would then resume his farming until the following autumn. This he continued till his forty- eighth year.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 120

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818