History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 123

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 123

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John Savage. Will. Saben.

Richard Bemis, Jr.

Will. Carpenter.

Jolin Fitch.

Sampson Mason.

Joseph Carpenter.

John Peck.

Preserved Abel.

Ben. Buckland.

John Woodcock.

Hen. Smith.

John Allen, Sr.

Sam. Inther.

Complaints were often made that the lands in the North Purchase were rated or assessed too high. There is the following record on this subject.

At a meeting of proprietors of the North Purchase the 26th August, 1670, it was voted that the townsmen should choose three men to discuss and also to end any difference with such persons as are chosen by the com- plainers of the provisions of the rates. The time set to meet was this day s'en'nit at the meeting-house, and if not ended to attend the next court at Plymouth to defend and answer such complaints as are made against the rating of these lands.

A mile and a half on the south side of this town was granted to Rehoboth by order of court, June, 1668.

June, 1668. This court have ordered that a tract of land, containing a mile and a half, lying on the north side of the town of Rehoboth, is allowed to be the proper right of the said township. And for such lands as are lying betwixt the bay line, and it is to be accounted within the constablerick of Rehoboth until the court shall order it otherwise. And that such farms as lyeth within the said liberties shall be re-

sponsible in point of rating at the colony's disposal. -Old Col. Rec.

There is the following vote concerning this tract in Rehoboth records :

Nov. 8, 1670. At a town-meeting lawfully warned it was voted that the line should be forthwith run be- tween the North Purchase and the mile and a half given to the town for enlargement.

The committee were Lieut. Hunt and Ensign Smith, Nicholas Peck and Will. Carpenter.

Committees were also chosen to see that no timber on the north side should be fallen or drawn away. Great difficulty was experienced in preventing the loss of timber on the undivided lands.

Dec. 26, 1670. It was voted that there should be a town-meeting this day fortnight, about ten of the clock in the morning, and that there should be a committee chosen to draw up such propositions as they think will be most expedient for the settling of the differences on the north side of the town concerning those lands, con- sidering that all the purchasers of the land have not yet given them, Mr. Brown engaging to give notice to all the proprietors of those lands that dwell in Swan- sea, and that these propositions be tendered at the said town-meeting, that if it were the will of God, there might be a unanimous agreement. The committee chosen were Lient. Hunt, Ensign Smith, Nathaniel Paine, Nicholas Peck, and Anthony Perry.

Nov. 23, 1670, a committee was chosen to meet the treasurer of Taunton to settle the bounds between the North Purchase and Taunton North Purchase. The committee were : Ensign Smith, Wim. Sabin, William Carpenter.

At a meeting of the proprietors, May 28, 1672, it was voted, that for the comfortable and peaceable set- tlement of the lands and meadows of the north side of the town ; whereas there has been great dissatisfaction in respect of the unequal division of meadows; and, forasmuch as there was a committee chosen in the year 1668 for the bounding of the meadows between the Tens, there shall be a new committee added to them, to make diligent search and take a deliberate view of the meadows and swamps within all the sev- eral Tens, with power to add to those Tens which needed amendment, and bound them all ; and also to redress any grievance which any particular person suffers. This order is not to take place till after six months. It was provided that the said committee should bound all the Tens before any more upland lots are laid out, if they do it within two months.

At a meeting of purchasers, Feb. 18, 1684, it was voted that there should be a division of fifty acres to a share in the North Purchase. William Carpenter was chosen surveyor to lay it out. Voted that there should be a meeting of the purchasers to draw lots for said division the last Tuesday of June next ensu- ing. Accordingly, a meeting held June 29, 1685, lots were drawn for said fifty acres of upland among eighty-three persons.

1 Children of Alexander Winchester, deceased.

Nicholas Tanner.

Obadialı Bowing. Jolın Peren, Sr.

Mr. Brown. Nath. Peck.

Stephen Paine, Jr.

Francis Stephens.

James Reddeway.

514

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

At a proprietors' meeting, Oct. 31, 1699, it was voted that there should be two divisions of lands in the North Purchase forthwith laid out to the said proprietors according to their rights in said lands, i.e., fifty acres to a whole share in both divisions, viz., twenty-five acres to the first division, and twenty- five acres to the second division ; and he that is first in the first division shall be last in the second di- vision, and so on.

At their next meeting, Nov. 7, 1699, the proprie- tors drew lots for the new division. They had in- creased at this time to one hundred and thirty-three in number.

In the year 1694 the inhabitants of the North Pur- chase were incorporated into a township by an act of the General Court of Massachusetts.1

CHAPTER XL.

ATTLEBOROUGH .- (Continued.)

Incorporation-Origin of the Name-William Blackstone-His History, Settlement, etc .- John Woodcock-His Garrison-First Ordinary- History of his Settlement Ilere-First Mill in Town-Attack on Joshua Barrows-His Petition for Allowance of Land-Grant Made to him-Agents Employed in England on Disputed Boundary- Angle Tree-Angle Monument.

" To His Excellency, Sir William Phips Knight, Cuptuin-General und Gov- ernor-in-Chief of their Majesty's Province, of the Massachusett's Bay in New England, with the Honorable Council and Representatives thereof now assembled in General Court at Boston, Oct. 17, 1694 :

" The petition of the subscribers in behalf of themselves and the rest of the proprietors of the lands hereunder mentioned and expressed, " Humbly Sheweth,

" That whereas our ancestors and some of ourselves have formerly purchased a certain tract of land commonly known by the name of the North Purchase, containing in length about ten miles from Patuckett River to Taunton bounds, and about eight miles from the Massachusetts line, between the two colonies to Rehoboth bounds, being in our appre- hension lands sufficient for a township, and we being now already above thirty families on the place, besides other proprietors that at present live elsewhere, do humbly pray this Honorable Assembly to make us a township endned with such privileges as other towns are for these reasons following, viz. :

"First, and principally, for the honor of God, in that our distance is far to go on the Lord's days, some of us ten or eleven miles to Rehoboth to the public worship of God, which in the winter season is very incon- venient for us to go and especially for our children, and also we sustain in going so far to train, attend town-meetings, and to work in their highways, and our own in the meantime neglected.

"Secondly, In that if we were a township, we should quickly (we hope) procure an able orthodox minister to teach us, and also a school. master to instruct our children, which would incite more able and de-

1 Previous to this the North Purchase was within the jurisdiction, but not merged in the limits of Rehoboth. The inhabitants were subjected to the municipal authority, and had, for the time, all the rights of free- men of that town. It was, properly, a plantation of Rehoboth. It was ordered by Plymouth Court to be within the jurisdiction of that town until it should be incorporated, " July 5, 1671." " The court have or- dered that the North Purchase (so called) shall lie nnto the town of Rehoboth until it comes to be a township; and in the meantime to bear the seventh part of all the rates that shall be levied for the public charges of that town ; and when the said purchase shall become a town- ship by itself, then the said township of Rehoboth to be eased in their rates."-Old Col. Records.

sirable inhabitants to come and settle among us, we having lands and other commodities for their encouragement.

" Thirdly, In that we being as frontiers in danger of the enemy be tween Rehoboth and other places should, if we were a township, be in a better posture of defence when we are completed with officers amongst ourselves.

" Fourihly, We might further add the benefit that might redound to their Majestie's service, there being great store of ship-timber and cooper's stuff, which might with more facility be conveyed to the water- side were our habitations settled nearer.

" All which is humbly offered to your Excellency and honors for ac- ceptance.

" By your humble suppliants.

" JOHN WOODCOCK, " DANIEL SHEPPERSON, " JOHN CALLENDER,

" For and in the name and behalf of the proprietors of the said lands. " Oct. 17, 1694."

The following is the act of incorporation :

AN ACT for grunting a township within the county of Bristol to be called Al- tleborough : 2

WHEREAS there is a certain tract of land commonly known by the name of North Purchase, lying within the county of Bristol, containing in length abont ten miles from Patucket River to the bounds of Taun- ton,3 and extending about eight miles in breadth from the line or bound- ary betwixt the two late colonies of Massachusetts and Plymouth, to the bounds of the town of Rehoboth ; being a convenient tract for a town- ship, and more than thirty families already settled thereupon. For the better encouragement and settlement of said plantation :

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council, and Representatives in Gen- eral Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That henceforth the said tract of land as above described, and bounded by the township of Taunton and Rehoboth (no way to intrench upon either of their rights), be and shall be a township, and called by the name of Attle- borough ; and shall have and enjoy all such immunities, privileges, and powers, as generally other townships within this Province have and do enjoy.

Provided, That it be not in prejudice of any former grant.

Provided, also, That the Inhabitants of the said place do continue under the power and direction of the Selectmen, Assessors, and Con- stables of Rehoboth (whereunto they were formerly annexed) as well referring to any assessments and arrears thereof, as all other things proper to the duty of Selectmen, Assessors, and Constables, respec- tively ; until they are supplied with such officers among themselves, according to the directions in the law in that case made and provided.

The boundaries described in the preceding act in- cluded the present towns of Attleborough and Cum- berland, R. I., embracing a very extensive tract of land. The number of inhabitants at this time could not much exceed a hundred and eighty. They were mostly settled in the southerly and westerly parts of the town. These families were scattered over a con- siderable space; some had been here from an early period. Of the early settlements more will be said hereafter.

The country was then mostly covered with forests, interspersed, however, with a good supply of natural

2 It was named after Attleborongh, Norfolk Co., England, a town of importance in the early ages of the kingdom, a market town, and the seat of the noble family of the Lords Mortimer. It has diminished in population and business in modern times.

Many of the early settlers in memory of their homes in England, which they had left forever, gave the same names to their new homes here.

Two of the proprietors and settlers in this town, John Sutton with his wife and four children, and John Daggett with his wife, came from " At- tleburraye," England, and whose families had intermarried before their emigration, and suggested the name in memory of their native place. 3 Taunton North Purchase.

515

ATTLEBOROUGH.

meadow, which was then considered the most valu- able kind of land, and occasional clearings which had been cultivated by the Indians, and planted by them with maize, squashes, pumpkins, beans.

The inhabitants increased rapidly, and soon pene- trated into various parts of the town.

The Early Proceedings of the Town after its Incorporation .- A few extracts from the early rec- ords of the town, illustrating the character of the times, will be interesting to the present generation.

The first town-meeting on record appears to have been held May 11, 1696, two years after the incorpo- ration.1 At this meeting the town chose Mr. John Woodcock and Mr. John Rogers, late of Bristol, as agents " to manage our concerns in matters relating to that part of our township commonly called the Mile and Half, according to our petition and other copies which are in the hands of Mr. Henry Devens, Clerk to the House of Representatives, and did fur- ther appoint and impower Mr. John Woodcock to agree with and impower said Mr. Rogers, and take care to help him to such papers as may most concern our business for the promoting of matters relating to our township."

At the same meeting three assessors were chosen for the ensuing year, viz .: I. Woodcock, Thomas Tingley, and Samuel Titns.

The next town-meeting was held Nov. 23, 1696, at which the town authorized the selectmen to make a rate for paying the town's debts, which amounted to £5 15s. 1d. At the same time several individuals engaged to pay certain sums "by way of free gift towards the building of a meeting-house," and de- sired their names and sums might be entered accord- ingly,-

£ s. £ s.

Mr. John Woodcock 1

6 David Freeman. 1 0

George Robinson 1 0 Israil Woodcock 10 0 Mr. Thomas Woodcock 10 John Lane. 1 0

March 22, 1696-97. The town taking into considera- tion who are by law allowed to vote in town-meetings, and finding so few allowed to vote, ordered that "all the inhabitants and town Dwellers" should have a right to vote in said meetings. At this time town officers were chosen for the year ensuing, viz. : " Mr. John Woodcock, Anthony Sprague, Daniel Jenks, Jonathan Fuller, Thomas Tingley, selectmen ; An- thony Sprague, town clerk; I. Woodcock, consta- ble; Nicholas Ide and Joseph Cowel, surveyors ; Henry Sweet, tithingman; Thomas Tingley and Samuel Titus, fence-viewers; John Woodcock, An- thony Sprague, and Daniel Jenks, assessors; John Lane, grand-juryman ; Benjamin Force, for the jury of trials in April next at the Quarter Sessions at Bristol."

May 10, 1697. At a town-meeting for the choice of an " Assemblyman for the Great and General Court,"

the inhabitants voted not to send a man, "by reason the town was excused by law."

July 12, 1697. The town voted to have a pound made according to law upon a piece of undivided land between the lands of Daniel Shepperson and James Jillson, near the Bay road.

Upwards of twenty years after the close of Philip's war, the inhabitants of the towns were often annoyed by strolling Indians, who disturbed and insulted the people. In relation to these disturbances the town passed the following.orders :

Jan. 31, 1697-98. At a town-meeting legally warned for the making of "some town orders or by- laws touching persons disorderly coming into town who have no rights or lands in the same, but are strangers and foreigners," the town passed the fol- lowing orders : "It is ordered by the inhabitants of Attleborough, and voted in said meeting, that no person that is a stranger shall be received as an in- habitant without the consent or approbation of said town, or sufficient security given to the town by him or them that shall take in or harbor any person con- trary to this order; moreover, the selectmen are ap- pointed to take due care and sufficient security, in the behalf of the town, of and for all such persons as shall receive in or harbor any stranger or foreigner ; or to give order and warning to such stranger or for- eigner to depart the town, according as the law directs, and that with all convenient speed after knowledge or notice given of the same; so observing from time to time that the town be not charged with unnecessary charges."

2d. "The second order or by-law was touching In- dian foreigners and strangers that have been com- plained of for uncivil carriages and behaviour towards some of the inhabitants of this town, for the preven- tion of which the inhabitants being desired to give their advice, by joint consent have voted and passed this act, That no foreign Indian or stranger should be allowed to come into town being armed under hunting pretences, nor suffered in the same to abide in drinkings and shootings at unseasonable times of night and threatenings to several persons, which is contrary to the law of this province, and disturbing to several of this town; neither is any person or per- sons whatsoever within this town allowed to take in or harbor Indian or Indians armed other than such as hath been allowed or shall be allowed, without the unanimous consent of the inhabitants, at any time hereafter, but every person or persons transgressing against this order or by-law shall pay a fine of five shillings each day for the use of the poor of this town for every such offence."

March 4, 1699 or 1700, in town-meeting, Daniel Shepperson gave a piece of ground to set a pound on "at a place commonly known and called Red Rock Hill, by the roadside by a pine-tree, which pound is to be built thirty feet square and finished by the last of June, 1700."

1 There must, however, have been a previous meeting and a choice of officers, of which no record is preserved.

516

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

May 13, 1700. Voted not to send a representative for the same reason that was assigned at the first meeting.

March 25, 1701. In town-meeting voted and ap- pointed a "training-place, to be on the south side of David Freeman's house, between the two ways, viz., the Bay road and the road that leadeth to Nicholas Ide's house." At the same time the town " did by major vote appoint the last Tuesday in March, at nine o'clock A.M., to be their election day annually for choosing town officers according to law, without any further warning, so to continue till fur- ther order."

Feb. 9, 1702-3. It was voted that Ensign Nicholas Ide and Anthony Sprague with the selectmen be a committee to agree in behalf of our town concerning the lines and bounds between Attleborough, Dor- chester, and Wrentham. It was also voted that the selectmen should make a town rate for the payment of town debts, and that a quarter part of said rate be levied upon the polls, and the rest upon the estates ; and that said rate shall be paid in Indian corn at two shillings and sixpence per bushel, or rye at three shillings and sixpence per bushel, or oats at one shilling and sixpence per bushel, or in money.

May 14, 1703. Voted not to send a representative by reason they were so few in number and excused by law.

The first English inhabitant of Attleborough was the celebrated William Blackstone, who had so many peculiarities and such a singular history, and who " was also the first settler and sole progenitor of Shaw- mut, now the site of the beautiful city of Boston. Everything that can be recovered relating to this singular but amiable man must be interesting not only to the people of this town, but to all who feel an interest in the early history of these colonies.

There were two or three individuals at a distance, on Manerick and Thompson's Islands, in the harbor, apparently having no connection with him.

He came to this country from England about the year 1625, and settled first at Boston, the Indian name of which was Shawmut. Here he remained alone until the arrival of Governor Winthrop's com- pany, in June, 1630. They at first located them- selves at Charlestown; but finding the water bad and "liking that plain neck that was then called Blackstone's Neck,1 they soon removed, by invitation, to the peninsula, where they found a good spring of water. Mr. Blackstone had been in England a clergyman of the established church. But he lived in an age of religious bigotry, intolerance, and per- secution, and " not being able," as he said, "to en- dure the power of the Lord Bishops," he left his native land and sought an asylum in the wilds of America, where he might enjoy his own opinions unmolested. After residing a few years with the new

settlers of Shawmut, he found the same intolerant and overbearing spirit among his new associates, and be- coming "discontented with the power of the Lords Brethren," he was compelled to seek another retreat. In 1634 he sold his right and title in the peninsula to the inhabitants of Boston, each one paying him six shillings and some of them more. A reservation was made for him of about six acres where his house stood.

The peninsula of Boston was then called Black- stone's Neck, the whole of which he claimed as his property, and this claim was recognized by the new settlers. With the purchase money he bought a "stock of cows," which he carried with him to his new settlement on the banks of the Pawtucket River.

The following document, quoted in Shaw's " His- tory of Boston," gives some of the particulars of this purchase :

" The deposition of John Odlyn, aged about 82 years; Robert Walker, aged about 78 years; Francis Hudson, aged about 66 years; and Wil- liam Lytherland, aged 76 years. These deponents being antient dwell- ers and inhabitants of the town of Boston, from the time of the first planting thereof, do jointly testify and depose, that in or about the year of our Lord sixteen hundred and thirty-four, the then present inhabit- ants of said town (of whom the lon. John Winthrop, Esq., Governor of the Colony, was chiefe), did treate and agree with Mr. William Black- stone for the purchase of his estate and right in any lands lying within the said neck of land, called Boston, and for said purchase agreed that every householder should pay six shillings, which was accordingly col- lected, none paying less, some considerably more, and the said sum was paid to Mr. Blackstone to his full content. Reserving unto himself about six acres of land on the point, commonly called Blackstone's Point, on part whereof his then dwelling-house stood. After which pur- chase the town laid out a place for a Training Field, which ever since, and now is used for that purpose, and for the feeding of cattle: Walker and Lytherland further testify that Mr. Blackstone bought a stock of cowes with the money he received, and removed near Providence, where he lived till the day of his death." Sworn to the 10th of June, 1684, before S. Bradstreet, Governor, and Samuel Sewall, Assistant.

Mr. Blackstone received £30 for his right to the peninsula, as appears by the following record : The "10th day of the 9 mo. 1634," voted that a rate be made, viz., " a rate for £30 to Mr. Blackstone." 2

In 1635 he removed to another retreat still farther in the wilderness. This place was on the banks of Pawtucket River, which now bears his name, and on the east side of it, and within the Old Colony, and was within the ancient limits of Attleborough, in that part called the Gore, now Cumberland, R. I. This was about ten years before the settlement of Rehoboth and a few years before that of Providence. In this solitary retreat he built his house, cultivated his garden, and planted his orchard. His house and garden he surrounded with a park, which was his daily walk. Here he remained for many years in entire seclusion from the world, here was none to dis- turb his lonely retreat. He was furnished with a library, and nature and study charmed his solitary hours. He thus seated himself for life, in peaceful solitude on the banks of the Blackstone.

2 Reckoning March the first month, this assessment was made in De- cember; the purchase, of course, was made previous to this date, and Blackstone in all probability removed early in the subsequent spring.

1 Capt. Clap, May, 1630.

517

ATTLEBOROUGH.

His house he called "Study Hall," and the emi- nence near it was named Study Hill, which name it still retains. This place1 is abont three miles above Pawtucket village, where the late Col. Simon Whipple resided. The Indian name of the place was Wawe- poonseag. This name is mentioned in the Plymouth Records in describing the boundaries of the North Purchase in 1661: "From Rehoboth ranging upon Patucket River, to a place called by the natives Wa- wepoonseag,2 where one Blackstone now sojourneth."

During his residence here Mr. Blackstone married Mrs. Sarah Stevenson, widow of John Stevenson, of Boston, July 4, 1659.3 She died about the middle of June, 1673.4 He survived his wife only about two years, and died May 26, 1675,5 a few weeks before the commencement of the great Indian war, thus having escaped witnessing the horrors of that awful period and the complete destruction which awaited his fair domain. He had lived in New England about fifty years, nearly ten years at Shawmut (now Boston), and forty at this place. He must have been quite advanced at the time of his death, probably not far from eighty. A brief notice of his death is furnished by his friend Roger Williams. At the date of June 13, 1675, he says, " About a fortnight since your old acquaintance, Mr. Blackstone, departed this life in the fourscore year of his age. Four days before his death he had a great pain in his breast and back and bowels; afterwards he said he was well, had no pain, and should live, but he grew fainter, and yielded up his breath without a groan."-4th Mass. Hist. Coll., 6, 299

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 123

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