History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 121

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 121

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In 1819, Mr. Medbery, as superintendent, with four teachers, instituted the first Sabbath-school con- nected with the Baptist Church of Seekonk, and con- tinued its superintendent until October, 1855, more than thirty-five years. In 1837 he was chosen selectman and overseer of the poor, in which office he continued until 1848. In 1843 he was chosen to represent the town of Seekonk in the General Assembly of Massa- chusetts, which trust he accepted, and was absent from his seat but one day during the entire session. In 1850 he was again chosen selectman and overseer of the poor, and served two years. He also was a member of the school committee of Seekonk three years. In 1862 the present town of East Providence was set off from Seekonk, Mass., to Rhode Island, and Viall Medbery was appointed by the Legislature of Massachusetts trustee to call a town-meeting of the inhabitants of what remained of Seekonk, to meet on the 1st day of March, 1862, to choose a moderator and clerk, and all other town officers necessary for the year ensuing, and to act on any other business that might lawfully come before said meeting, and Mr. Medbery was anthorized to preside in said meeting until a moderator and town clerk were chosen. Upon organization he was chosen moderator, and Jonathan Chaffee was chosen town clerk. At this same meet- ing he was also chosen first selectman, in which ca- pacity he served one year and then resigned. In 1865 he was chosen treasurer of Seekonk, and served one year.

On Dec. 4, 1820, Mr. Medbery married Hannah Peck, by whom he had three children,-Betsey Ann, born Nov. 22, 1822; Allin Viall, born Jan. 29, 1825; and Andrew Nelson, born Dec. 5, 1827. Mrs. Med- bery died May 1, 1828, aged thirty years. Mr. Med- bery married for his second wife Lydia Peck, June 18, 1829, by whom he had six children,-Allin Viall, born Oct. 30, 1830; Horace Carpenter, born March 17, 1832; Matthew Hale, born April 2, 1834; Han- nah Peck, born June 20, 1835; Adeline Frances, born Nov. 2, 1837; and John Allin, born Feb. 12, 1842. Mrs. Lydia Medbery died Jan. 14, 1861. Of the above-named children Allin Viall' died Sept. 1, 1828; Allin Viall2 died Oct. 12, 1831 ; Horace Car- penter died May 11, 1833; Adeline Frances died Feb. 2, 1842; Betsey Ann married Asa Chaffee, Jan- uary, 1844, and died May 1, 1844; Matthew died May, 1851.

John A. resided with his parents till his eighteenth year, when with his father's consent he enlisted in

the United States army for three years. He belonged to a Rhode Island cavalry regiment, and had many hairbreadth escapes while in the army. His horse was once shot under him. When the war was ended he received his discharge, enlisted in the burial corps to bury the dead who were slain in the battle near Winchester, W. Va. While employed in that service he met and formed the acquaintance of the lady who is now his wife. He now resides in Providence, R. I., and is a member of the Union Baptist Church of that place.

Hannah P. was born blind. She received her edu- cation at the asylum for the blind at Boston, Mass. She is very intelligent, and has an extraordinary memory. She reads rapidly (from raised letters) and converses fluently. She united with the Baptist Church in Seekonk May 27, 1851. She is much in- terested in all good works.

Mr. Medbery married as his third wife Mrs. Han- nah Wheeler, July 18, 1872, and they still reside in Seekonk. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that since the Baptist Church was first organized in See- konk the clerkship has passed from father to son in the Medbery family, and is now filled by Andrew N., a son of Viall, and has never been out of the family, almost all of whom have been members of that par- ticular religious denomination. It may be proper further to state that Viall Medbery has been a promi- nent man in the town of Seekonk for more than forty years, and as magistrate and trial justice has had be- fore him most of the criminal business of the town for thirty years. It is unnecessary to comment on the position Mr. Medbery occupies in the friendship and esteem of his fellow-townsmen, facts speak for themselves.

Andrew N. Medbery, son of Viall, was born Dec. 5, 1827. His health failing when he was fourteen years of age greatly interfered with his educational pursuits. In 1847 he began teaching school in his native town, teaching during the winter months and working at farming during the summer months until 1857, when his health became so poor that he relin- quished teaching. In 1852 he was chosen one of the school committee of Seekonk, and has been a member of that board most of the time since.

In 1869 he was chosen selectman and assessor, which office he filled for years. In 1879 he was chosen to represent the Tenth Bristol District in the Legis- lature. In 1878 he was appointed trial justice for Bristol County. In 1880 he was chosen town clerk, which position he has held three years. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious opinions a Bap- tist. He united with the First Baptist Church of Seekonk May, 1853. In March, 1854, he was chosen clerk in lieu of his father, and has held that position since. Mr. Medbery is by occupation a merchant in his native town. He married, May 30, 1854, Sarah E. Gregory, daughter of Hon. John Gregory, of Bristol, R. I.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAMUEL O. CASE.

Samuel O. Case, whose portrait appears on another page, is a self-made man in more respects than one. Although his ancestors have for some generations been residents of this portion of New England, yet he was one of a numerous family whose circum- stances would not permit of his enjoying the edu- cational and other advantages which even the poorest among us may have now if they will. He has been truly the architect of his own fortune. His father, Gardner Case, was one of a family of five brothers and one sister, born in the town of Rehoboth, where he lived until the time of his death in 1838, at the ripe age of eighty-one years. He married first, Elizabeth Ford, by whom he had five children, none of whom are at present living. His second wife was Mary Mason, by whom he had eight children, -Mary, James, Henry, Almira, Samuel O., Mehala, Nathan, and Amanda. Of these only Samuel O., Nathan, and Amanda are now living. By occupation Mr. Case was a farmer and merchant. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and in political faith a Whig.

Samuel O. Case was born Dec. 25, 1807. He had but limited educational facilities, attending only the winter terms of school, and working on the farm in summer. His elder brother being a cripple, the duties of the farm devolved largely upon him, and he was early taught that independence and self- reliance which has since contributed much to his sue- cess in life. At the age of nineteen he learned the mason's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. About this time there came a period of great financial depression throughout the country, and there was consequently very little building being done, so Mr. Case went to work on the farm at eight dollars per month. Soon after this, however, he went to New Bedford and began work at his trade, receiving as journeyman mason from seventy-five cents to one dol- lar per day. At the expiration of two years he went to Taunton, where he received an increase of pay, getting $1.25 per day ; he remained at Taunton two years. Then in 1837 he helped build Dyer's factory, after walking from his home there, a distance of four- teen miles, and then doing a day's work. After this he removed to Seekonk and obtained employment on Boston and Providence Railroad, building bridges, eulverts, etc., and doing general masonry, and part of the time had the care of the track. After this he began contracting and working generally at his trade throughout the country. In the mean time, in 1840, he opened a store at Kent's Mills (now called Leba- non), which he continued three years, and since that time has been variously engaged in farming, merchan- dising, etc., but always continuing to work at his trade whatever other interests he might have.

He has had charge of Hunt's, Carpenter's, and " The Old Town" Cemeteries seventeen years. He holds the office of road surveyor in District No. 1 in the town where he resides ( East Providence), and |

held the same office once before, a term of two years. He was formerly a member of the Baptist Church, but is now a Congregationalist.

On Dec. 1, 1833, he married Sarah Hicks, daughter of Nathan Hicks, of Rehoboth. She was born May 1, 1808. They have five children,-Samuel O., Jr., Sarah H., Nathan H., Jane M., and James G., all of whom are still living. Samuel O., Jr., married Har- riet E. Cooper, and has three children. He is a mer- chant in Lebanon, and an active, enterprising business man. Sarah married Nelson W. Britton, and has four children. Jane married Henry Bourn, and re- sides in Pawtucket. They have three children. James married, first, Emma Estes, by whom he had one child, and second, Helen Brown, of Seekonk, by whom he has two children. Nathan still resides at the old homestead with his father, and is unmarried.

Mr. Case has battled with the world three-quarters of a century, and during that long period of time has been an industrious, persevering, honest, successful man, and is to-day active, well preserved, and in full possession of his faculties. He is a man respected and revereneed by all who know him for his many noble traits of character, his honesty of purpose, and his sterling worth. He is one of Seekonk's most honored and respected citizens, and may he long live to enjoy the prosperity he has so nobly won.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ATTLEBOROUGH.1

Rehoboth North Purchase-How and by whom Purchased-Boundaries -Wamsutta's Deed-Thomas Willett, Character and Services-List of Proprietors-Proceedings of Proprietors-First Regular Divisiou.

IN 1643 a company was formed at Weymouth, Mass., consisting of Rev. Samuel Newman and a large part of his congregation, for the purpose of establishing a new settlement in this vicinity. They purchased a large tract of land of the sachem of Pokanoket, including what is now Rehoboth, See- konk, Pawtucket, East Providence, and a part of Swansea, then known by the name of Wannamoisett; and in the spring of 1644 removed to a place then called by the Indians Seacunke, and commenced their settlement around the Great Plain. This was the Rehoboth purchase. Here the inhabitants con- tinned, with many additions to their number, as an independent settlement until June 4, 1645, when they were adopted into the jurisdiction of Plymouth Colony, to whose territory it belonged, and were incorporated as a township by the scriptural name of Rehoboth.

. This was then a wilderness, and there was no other settlement in the vicinity. The nearest was the new settlement at Cohannet, Taunton, which was about

1 By Ilon. John Daggett.

SAM'L O. CASE.

507

ATTLEBOROUGH.

twelve miles distant. The Rehoboth plantation pros- pered and continued to receive accessions from new emigrants, and also from the settlements near Ply- mouth, from Duxbury, Marshfield, and Scituate, and some from Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Hing- ham, Dedham, and some more emigrants from Wey- mouth, the former residence of the original settlers. It was deemed a favorable location, as it was situated on the borders of the Narragansett Bay.

During the first seventeen years after the settle- ment of the town there was remaining a large tract of land belonging to the Indians lying directly on the north of that town, and between its north line and south of the Massachusetts Bay line, contain- ing an area sufficient for two large townships. The people of Rehoboth employed Capt. Thomas Wil- lett, who was a skillful negotiator and on intimate friendly terms with the Indians, to purchase this tract of land for them. Accordingly, with the consent of the government, he purchased it of Wamsutta, the oldest son of Massasoit, the steadfast friend of the English. He lived only about a year after this. The title to Indian lands was held to be in the sachem of the tribe. There appeared to be no individual owner- ship in the soil. He was originally, as already stated, called Mooanam. After the death of his father he changed his name, according to Indian custom, to Wamsutta, and he was the reigning sachem, and the purchase was made from him. His wife's name was Namumpum. He was succeeded by the celebrated King Philip, his younger brother. The title was held by Capt. Willett in his own name from April 8, 1661, till April 10, 1666, when he assigned his title to the Plymouth government; and on the same day the agents of the colony confirmed the conveyance to the purchasers. This was in the form of a deed, and was intended as a confirmation and consent of the govern- ment, the law of the colony prohibiting any purchase of lands from the Indians without the consent of gov- ernment. The proprietors did not make any perma- nent division of their lands till the 18th March, 1668 -69, when a regular division of fifty acres to a share was made, and lots drawn for the same by each pur- chaser or owner of shares. The number of the share- holders had been increased by the addition of several from Swansea and other places to ninety individuals. The original purchase was limited to such inhabi- tants as held then a fifty-pound estate and upwards ; but soon became a distinct body from the general set- tlers of the town, including new purchasers and the heirs of those who had deceased. They held separate meetings and kept separate books of records and titles relating to these lands. The original purchasers, and those to whom they sold shares from time to time, and the heirs of those purchasers who had died, then constituted the shareholders of the Rehoboth North Purchase. Any new comers who wished to own land within this purchase might buy of those who had lands laid out to them, or rights to lay out under di-

visions already granted, or undivided shares from any proprietors willing to sell. Private titles were ac- quired in this way : lands laid out by a surveyor and a commitee appointed for the purpose at a meeting of the company, and the " lay out" returned to the block of the proprietors and recorded by him in the books of the company, constituted a valid title to such lands.

In 1661, Capt. Thomas Willet was employed by people of that town to make a purchase of a new traet of land in their behalf, having been first author- ized and empowered by the court for that purpose. He accordingly purchased of Wamsutta1 a certain tract of land situated north of the town of Rehoboth, which was called the Rehoboth North Purchase. It was bounded west by Pawtucket River, now the Black- stone, north by the Massachusetts Colony or the bay line (so called), east by territory which was afterwards the Taunton North Purchase, now Mansfield, Norton, and Easton, and south by the ancient Rehoboth, now Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Pawtucket, and East Provi- dence. This purchase included Attleborough, Cum- berland, R. I., and a tract of a mile and a half? in width, extending east and west (which was an- nexed to Rehoboth as an enlargement), and a part of Wrentham and Foxborough, as the line then ran. This purchase was afterwards, viz., April 10, 1666, granted and confirmed by the Plymouth government to the Rehoboth purchasers.

Pocanoket or Pawkunnawket is a name applied to the tribal dominion of Massasoit, whose personal tribe was the Wampanoags, his general anthority extending over various other tribes in Plymouth Colony, whose dominion descended through Wamsutta to King Philip. It was said that previous to 1612, before the arrival of the Pilgrims, and before the great pestilence which swept away so many of the natives, Massasoit could number four thousand warriors.

"Once Pawkunnawket's warriors stood Thick as the columns of the wood; On shores and isles unconquered men Called Massasoit father, then."

This region was then the domain of the good Massa- soit, the fast friend of the English. It was inherited by his son, Wamsutta, and from him by his brother, Metacomet, or King Philip. How long in the ages of the past this fair domain had been in the possession of the natives the records of time have never revealed. But their hour had now come, and it was destined to pass from their hands to another and higher race. They were doomed to extinction. According to the inevitable law of Providence, when brought into con-

1 Sachem of Pokanoket, originally called Mooanam, afterwards Alex- ander, the elder brother of King Philip, and son of Massasoit. He died in the summer of 1662. His wife's name was Namumpum .- See Drake's " Indian Biography."

2 It was giren and assigned to Rehoboth by the agents of the court of Plymouth, who were appointed to convey the North Purchase to the proprietors, and afterwards, in 1710, restored to Attleborough by the Legislature of Massachusetts.

508

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

flict, the inferior must yield to the superior race. After Philip's war a feeble and spiritless remnant lingered around their former abodes for a short time in a degraded condition, and then vanished forever.

"Of all their tribes, the heirs of want, A feeble few our land may haunt ; The gloomy ghosts of dead renown Awhile from sire to son go down ; And in their spectral visits say, That here the red man once had sway."

The following copy of the Indian deed, which is the foundation and original title to our whole terri- tory, is taken from the Old Colony Records :

A Deed Appointed to be Recorded.

KNow all men, that I, Wamsetta, alias Alexander, chief Sachem of Pokanokett,1 for divers good causes and valuable considerations me thereunto moving, have bargained and sold unto Captain Thomas Wil- lett, of Wannamoisett, all those tracts of land situate and being from the bounds of Rehoboth ranging upon Patuckett River unto a place called Waweypounshag, the place where one Blackston now sojourneth, and so ranging along to the said river unto a place called Messanegta- caneh, and from this upon a straight line crossing through the woods unto the uttermost bounds of a place called Mamantapett or Wading River, and from the said River one mile and a half upon an east line, and from thence upon a south line unto the bounds of the town of Re- hoboth : To have and to hold unto him, the said Captain Willett and his associates, their heirs and assigns forever ; reserving only a competent portion of land for some of the natives at Mishanegitaconett for to plant and sojourn upon, as the said Wamsetta, alias Alexander, and the said Thomas Willett jointly together shall see meet ; and the rest of all the land aforementioned, with all the woods, waters, meadows, and all emol- uments whatsoever to remain unto the said Thomas Willett and his asso- ciates, their heirs and assigns forever. Witness my hand and seal the eighth day of April in the year 1661.

Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of

The mark of AXA Wamsitta, alias Alexander,

his seal [L. s.]

John Brown, Jr.,

Jonathan Bosworth,

John Sassaman, the Interpreter.

April 10th, 1666. Witnesseth These Presents, that Captain Thomas Willett above said hath and doth hereby resign, deliver and make over all and singular the lands above mentioned, purchased of Wamsitta alias Alexander chief Sachem of Pocanokett, according unto the bonnds above expressed, with all and singular the benefits, privileges, and im- munities thereunto appertaining, unto Mr. Thomas Prence, Major Josias Winslow, Capt. Thomas Southworth, and Mr. Constant Southworth, in the behalf of the Colony of New Plymouth. In witness whereof he doth hereunto set his hand and seal.

Signed, sealed and delivered

in presence of

Daniel Smith, Nicholas Peck.

The following is the grant or deed of the govern- ment :

KNOW all men by these presents, that we Thomas Prence, Josias Winslow, Thomas Southworth and Constant Southworth by order of the General Court of New Plymouth, and in the name and behalf of the said Colony of Plymouth, have and by these presents do bargain, sell, alien, grant and confer and make over unto the proprietors of the town of Rehoboth (viz.) unto all that hold there. from a fifty pound estate and upwards, according to their first agreement, all and singular the lands lying and being on the north side of that town of Rehoboth bounded as followeth, (viz.) by a River commonly called Patucket river on the west, and up the said River unto the Massachusetts Line, and on the northerly side by the said Line until it cross the old road towards the Bay, where the marked tree stands and heap of stones, and thence a mile and a half east, and from thence by a direct line to the north east corner of the present bounds of the town of Rehoboth, and so back

again home unto the said Line between the governments; with all the meadows, woods, waters, and all benefits, emoluments, privileges, and immunities, thereunto appertaining and belonging, to have and to hold to them and to their heirs for ever Excepting that we reserve within this tract a farm formerly granted unto Major Josias Winslow, and a farm granted unto Capt. Thomas Willett, and two hundred acres of land unto Mr. James Brown about Snake Hill, and ten acres of meadow thereabouts; and the meadow called Blackstone's Meadow, the west plain and the South neck the quantity of two hundred acres, and the fifty acres granted to Roger Amadown, with four acres of meadow ad- joining, three acres of meadow to Nicholas Ide, and half an acre of meadow unto George Robinson : All the residue of the lands above men- tioned we do hereby firmly make over unto the above said purchasers and their heirs for ever, and do hereby acknowledge ourselves to be fully paid and satisfied for the same, and do exonerate, acquit and dis- charge them and every of them for and concerning the premises.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this tenth of April 1666.

Signed, sealed and delivered

in presence of

Thomas Prence (L.s.)

Isaac Howland

Josias Winslow (L.S.)

The mark # of

Thomas Southworth (L.S.)

Jolın Parris

Constant Southworth (L.s.)

The mark V of

John Rocket.

MARGINAL NOTE.

It was also agreed before the signing and sealing of this Deed that according unto a clause in the Indian Deed when these lands were pur- chased by Capt. Willett, that some meet proportion of lands about Sin- nichiconet, such as the said Capt. Willett and the Indian Sachem shall agree upon, should be set out for the use of the Indians.

NOTE ON THE BACK OF THE SAME DEED.

This Deed is recorded according to order by me, Nathaniel Morton, Secretary to the Court of New Plymouth.

The Dividend of Lands enrolled Folio 217.

The following order relating to this subject was passed by the Court of Plymouth :

NEW PLYMOUTH October 2d 1665.

WHEREAS the Court, having formerly impowered Capt. Thomas Wil- let to purchase of the Indians certain Tracts of lands on the North of Rehoboth towards the Bay Line, the which he hath done, and is out of purse some considerable sum of money for the same, this Court have appointed the Honored Governor, the Major Winslow, Capt. South worth, and Mr. Constant Southworth, to treat with Capt. Willet concerning the said purchase, and have impowered the above named Committee to take notice of what hath been purchased by him, and what deeds he hath, and what his disbnrsments have been for the same; and have also im- powered them to settle upon him such a proportion of the said lands as may appear to be equal, upon any grant to him ; and to accommodate the town of Rehoboth respecting an enlargement of their town, as the Court have promised; and to take such course concerning the re- mainder as he may be reimbursed of his just due and those lands may be settled by the Court.

Extracted from and compared with the Records of said Court. Per SAMUEL SPRAGUE, Cierk.

CAPT. THOMAS WILLETT .- Some notice of Capt. Thomas Willett, who stands at the head of our list of proprietors, and whose life deserves to be better known, will not be deemed inappropriate. His his- tory does not exclusively belong to this town, but as he took so active and important a part in the original purchase and settlement of this and the neighboring towns, a brief sketch of his life seems to be demanded by the interest which our citizens must feel in his character.

Capt. Willett was one of the last of the Leyden company, and came here about 1630. He was a very young man when he arrived in this country. He was

1 Or Pocanaket, or Pawkunnawkut, a name applied to the whole do- minion of King Philip, whose personal tribe was the Wampanoags.

THOMAS WILLETT. [Seal.]

509

ATTLEBOROUGH.

a merchant by profession, and in his travels had be- come acquainted with the Pilgrims in Leyden, and had probably spent much of his time with them in Holland previous to their emigration to this country. He at first resided in Plymouth, and soon became a useful and distinguished man in the colony.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 121

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