History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 126

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

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under the command of Capt. Michael Pierce, of Sci- tuate. He immediately marched in pursuit of the enemy, who were supposed to be in the vicinity. He rendezvoused at the garrison in Rehoboth on Satur- day night. The next day, "having intelligence in his garrison at Seaconicke that a party of the enemy lay near Mr. Blackstone's, he went forth with sixty-three English and twenty Cape Indians," and soon discovered four or five Indians in a piece of woods, who pretended to be lame and wounded, but proved to be decoys to lead the whites into ambuscade, for they soon discovered five hundred more of the enemy. Pierce, though aware of their superiority of numbers, courageously pursued them, when they began to retreat slowly; but there soon appeared another company of four hundred Indians, who were now able completely to surround him. A party of the enemy were stationed on the opposite side of the river to prevent the English crossing ; they were thus attacked in front and rear by an overwhelming force. Thus all chance of retreat and all hope of escape was cut off. This was a most trying moment. But there was no flinching, no quailing. Each one knew that in all human probability he must die on that field, and that, too, under the most appalling circumstances, -by the hand of a merciless enemy who sought their extermination. But bravely and nobly did they sub- mit to their fate. Each one resolved to do his duty and sell his life at the dearest rate. At such a time the awful war-whoop of the Indian would have sent a thrill of terror to the hearts of any but brave men. At this critical juneture Capt. Pierce made an exceed- ingly judicious movement. He formed his men into a cirele, back to back, with four spaces between each man, thus enlarging the circle to its greatest extent, presenting a front to the enemy in every direction, and necessarily scattering their fire over a greater surface, whilst the Indians stood in a deep circle, one behind another, forming a compact mass, and present- ing a front where every shot must take effect.2 He thus made a brave resistance for two hours (all the while keeping the enemy at a distance and his own men in perfect order), and kept up a constant and destructive fire upon the Indians. But no courage or skill could prevail in such an unequal contest or longer resist such a force.3 At last, overpowered by numbers, Capt Pierce and fifty-five English and ten Cape Indians were slain on the spot, "which in such

1 This account differs in some respects from that given by Church, who states that there were only fifty whites $ and twenty Cape Indians. I have relied, for the most of the particulars in this description, on a "Continued Account of the Bloody Indian War from March till Angust, 1676," now in the hands of Mr. S. G. Drake, Boston. It was published

* But as fifty-two English were killed, according to Newman's account, there must have been more in the battle.

in London the same year, and contains a minute and apparently accurate detail of this battle and many of the other important events of the war. The work consists of a series of letters written by a gentleman in Boston to his friend in London, and published from time to time as they were received. One volume (the above mentioned), containing three or four letters, has been lately discovered, and was never reprinted in this country.

2 Ju the words of the account just referred to, "Capt. Pierce cast his men into a ring and fought back to back, and were double-double dis- tance all in one ring, whilst the Indians were as thick as they could stand thirty deep."

3 Canonchet, a Narragansett chief, commanded in this battle. He was soon after taken prisoner and executed.

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a cause and upon such disadvantage may certainly be styled the bed of honor." But this victory was gained at a great sacrifice. The Indians lost as many (not counting women and children) as in the great swamp-fight at Narragansett, which were computed at over three hundred.

An important letter, written the day after the bat- tle, has been of late years discovered in the Library of the American Antiquarian Society, at Worcester, from Rev. Noah Newman, the minister of Rehoboth at that time, to Rev. John Cotton, of Plymouth, in which he gives some facts about the movements of Capt. Pierce, and a list of the killed. It appears from his statement that of Pierce's company fifty- two English and eleven Cape Indians were slain. It is stated that he went out with a small party of his men and Indians from the garrison at Seekonk to reconnoitre, and found the enemy and attacked him, and supposed he had damaged him. But being so few with him he thought it prudent to retreat, and go out next day with a recruit of men. He returned to the settlement in Rehoboth, and the next morn- ing, the fatal day, he marched out to attack the enemy, taking pilots with him from Rehoboth, who were acquainted with the ground. Probably there were some volunteers from Rehoboth on the day of the fight.

The following is the list of names of Pierce's men contained in this letter : "From Scituate, eighteen, of whom fourteen were slain, viz .: Capt. Pierce, Samuel Russell, Benjamin Chittenden, John Loth- rope, Gershom Dodson, Samuel Pratt, Thomas Savary, Joseph Wade, William Welcome, Jeremiah Bar- stow, John Ensign, Joseph Cowin, Joseph Perry, John Rose. Marshfield, nine slain,-Thomas Little, John Eames, Joseph White, John Burrows, Joseph Phillips, Samuel Bump, John Low More, John Branee. Duxbury, four slain,-John Sprayen, Benjamin Soul, Thomas Hunt, Joshua Fobes. Sandwich, five slain, -- Benjamin Nye, Daniel Bessey, Caleb Blake, Job Gibbs, Stephen Wing. Barnstable, six slain,-Lieut. Fuller, John Lewis, Eleazer -- , Samuel Linnel, Samuel Childs, Samuel Benman. Yarmouth, five slain,-John Mathews, John Gage, William Gage, Henry Gage, Henry Gold. Eastham, four slain,- Joseph Nesselfield, John Walker, John M. -- {torn off ). Rehoboth,-John Fitch, Jr., John Miller, Jr.," and doubtless contained two other names, John Read, Jr., and Benjamin Buckland, as they were entered on Rehoboth records as slain on that day.

Thomas Man is returned with a sore wound.

This was the sorest defeat which the colony of Ply- mouth suffered during the war, and caused great dis- tress everywhere, for the numbers lost amounted to about to about one-third of their regular force. Ac- cording to Church, not a single white man returned from this bloody and fatal battle-field.

As soon as the Rehoboth people received informa- tion of the dangerous situation of Capt. Pierce and

his men, they despatched a company to his assistance, who arrived in season only to perform the last offices to the dead bodies of their countrymen.

The courage and resolution displayed on this occa- sion deserve commendation. These brave soldiers were entitled to the gratitude of the colony, for whose defense they had thus sacrified their lives. They were taken by surprise, and completely surrounded by a force ten times their superior. Pierce was a bold and adventurous man-fear formed no part of his character. His men partook of his courage. They pushed forward, perhaps imprudently, and thus fell into the snare which their enemy had prepared for them. Considering the numbers engaged, it was doubtless the most warmly and closely contested of all the engagements which took place during that eventful period between the white and the red men. Nearly four hundred were killed on both sides. His- tory has recorded, with applause, every feat of brav- ery, when performed on a more conspicuous station, whilst it has often overlooked the humble though equally meritorious exploit. It requires more true courage to die on such a field, with such a foe, than on the plains of Waterloo, amid the " pomp and cir- cumstance of glorious war."

The following adventure, in which "Old Wood- cock" was engaged, is abridged from a communica- tion in the Massachusetts Historical Collection, fur- nished by the research of the late Dr. Mann, formerly of Wrentham. It rests upon the authority of tradi- tion, but appears to be well authenticated.

A man by the name of Rocket, in searching for a stray horse, discovered a train of forty-two Indians about sunset; from their appearance he suspected they intended to attack the settlement at Wrentham the next morning, after the men had dispersed to their work; he therefore followed them, secretly, till they halted for the night, when he hastily returned to the settlement and gave notice to the inhabitants. A consultation was held, at which it was agreed to at- tack the Indians early the next morning. A com- pany of thirteen, under the command of Capt. Ware, was hastily collected from Wrentham and the vicinity, who, having secured the women and children and the infirm in the garrison, set out for the Indian eneamp- ment where they arrived just before daylight, and were posted within a short distance, with orders to reserve their fire till the enemy began to decamp.

Between daylight and sunrise the Indians suddenly rose from their resting-places, when, upon a signal given, a general discharge was made, which threw them into the utmost consternation. Some, in their confusion, while attempting to escape, leaped down a precipice of rocks from ten to twenty feet in height; some of the fugitives were overtaken and slain. Two of them, who were closely pursued, attempted to con- ceal themselves in Mill Brook, where they were found and killed. It is related that one Woodcock dis- charged his long musket, called in those days a buc-

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caneer, at a fugitive Indian, at the distance of eighty rods, and broke his thigh-bone and then killed him.

The number of Indians killed was from twenty to twenty-four, and not one of the whites. The place where this bold adventure occurred is in that part of the ancient Wrentham which is now Franklin. The large rock where the Indians were encamped is to this day called Indian Rock. The time is not cer- tainly ascertained, but it was, without much doubt, in the spring or summer of 1676, when the Indian forces were dispersed in parties throughout the coun- try.

Nine Men's Misery .- This is the name of a spot in Cumberland, R. I., where nine men were slain in Philip's war. This place is near the house of the late Elisha Waterman, Esq., just north of Camp Swamp (so called). The only circumstances of this event which I have gathered are these : A company of nine men were in advance of or had strayed from their party for some purpose, when they discovered a num- ber of Indians near this spot, whom they immedi- ately pursued and attacked, but a large number of the enemy rushed out of the swamp and surrounded them. The whites, placing their backs to a large rock near by, fought with desperation till every one ofthem was killed on the spot. The rest of their party, who were within hearing of their guns, hastened to their succor, but arrived too late to render them any assistance. Their bodies were buried on the spot, which is now designated by a large pile of stones.1

I have seen no notice of this occurrence in history, but as to the main fact there can be no doubt. The bones of these men were disinterred not many years ago by some physicians (for anatomical purposes), and were found nearly perfect. But the people in the vicinity insisted upon their being restored, which was accordingly done. One of the slain was ascertained to be a Bucklin, of Rehoboth, from the remarkable circumstance of a set of double front teeth which he was known to possess.

The time when this happened none of my infor- mants can tell, but there is good reason for believing that it was at or about the time of Pierce's fight.2

June 17, 1676, it was supposed that Philip was with one of these marauding parties, and the measures which were taken for Woodcock's protection, and for other purposes.

The following orders, fortunately discovered, from the Massachusetts government, furnish material for the history of the war, and throw light upon those stirring and perilous times :

" At a meeting of the Council held at Boston, 17th of June, 1676, at 8 of the clock, the Council being informed that the Indians are skulking to and again about Wrentham, Woodcock's, or Mount Hope, and have of late done mischief to the English: It is ordered that the Major of Suffolk issue out his orders forthwith for such a party as he judgeth it fit and necessary, to repair to Dedham on 2d day next early, and range the woods to and again for the discovery, distressing, and destroying of the enemy wherever they find them, committing the conduct of that party to whom he sees meet, ordering that each soldier be completely armed with firearms and ammunition, and provisions for four days.

" Passed by the Council.

"EDW. RAWSON, Secretary."

Instructions for Capt. Thomas Brattle :

"Ordered to take twenty of the troops, with such officers as he may choose, and an officer and ten troopers of Lieut. Halley's troope, and march to Ded- ham, where are ordered to be an officer and eighteen foot soldiers mounted, from Dorchester, six from Rox- bury, and twenty-four from Dedham, with an officer, all appointed to be at Dedham, the rendezvous, this day, at four P.M., etc. You are to march with your troopers and dragoons to be at John Woodcock's by midnight, where you shall meet with an Indian pylot, and his file of musketeers, which pylot hath engaged to bring you upon Phillip and his company, who are not above thirty men, as he saith, and not ten miles from Woodcock's. Be sure to secure the pylot to prevent falsehood and escape. In case you meet not with a pylot at Woodcock's, you are to send to Mr. Newman at Rehoboth, and let him know of your being there."

CHAPTER XLIL

ATTLEBOROUGH .- ( Continued.)

First Parish and Church in Town-Notices of Habijalı Weld, Wilder, and others-Division of the Town into two Parishes-East Parish, its History-Notices of the Ministers-North Baptist Church-Notices of its Pastors-Notices of Modern Religious Societies.

The Ministry .- For many years the town consti- tuted one parish, and was not divided till April 7, 1743. For some time after its incorporation it was not able to support a preacher, owing to the small number of its population.

The first settled minister in town was Rev. Matthew Short, son of Henry Short, of Newburg. He was a young man when he came to this town. He was born March 14, 1788, and graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1709. He was chosen by the parish Oct. 1, 1711, and ordained Nov. 12, 1712, over the church constituted at the same time. Difficulties soon arose between him and his people, which (after many ineffectual attempts to reconcile them) finally

1 It was probably a party attempting to escape from Pierce's fight, and who were pursued and surrounded by the savages at this place. It is mentioned in some of the old records as "Nine Men's Misery" and " Dead Men's Bones."

" Several of the Rehoboth people were slain the 26th of March, 1676, the time of Pierce's tight, viz., John Fitch, Jr., John Read, Jr., Benjamin Buckland, John Miller, Jr. Robert Beers (an Irishman and then an in- habitant of Rehoboth) was slain The 28th of March; Nehemiah Sabin in June following.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

resulted in his dismission, May 31, 1715. He con- tinued in this town only about four years, having preached here one year before his ordination. Of his previous or subsequent history but little is known. He removed to Easton, and became the first settled minister of that town, where he remained in harmony with his people till his death, in 1731, aged forty- three years, leaving ten children,-three sons and seven daughters.

According to the articles of agreement made with Mr. Short, Dec. 20, 1711, he was to have fifty pounds a year for the first six years; one-third to be in money and " the other two-thirds in grain, beef, pork, butter, or cheese, any or either of them at current price." 1 At the seventh year his salary was to be raised to sixty pounds, payable as above, and there to continue until there should be one hundred families in town capable of paying public taxes in the judgment of the selectmen for the time being, and then it was to be seventy ponnds per annum. He was also to have the use of the ministerial house and lands so long as he should continue in his pastoral office.

Mr. Short was married to Miss Margaret Freeman, of Attleborough, by Justice Leonard, Dec. 27, 1711. He had two daughters while in this town, Anna and Judith.

The first meeting-house was built in 1710. It was not, however, entirely completed until 1714. It was thirty feet square, and stood on the spot where the hall of the Agricultural Society once stood.2

A few extracts from the records detailing more par- ticularly the early proceedings relative to the settle- ment.of the first minister will be acceptable to the present generation.

March 25, 1707. "The meeting then held was for the choosing of a learned orthodox minister of good conversation to dispense the word of God to us in Attleborough; voted to give Mr. Fiske a call to preach for us. Likewise a committee of nine was chosen to procure a minister to settle. It was like- wise voted to empower the said committee to treat with the said Mr. Fiske as to his dispensing the word of God amongst us, and to settle him, if he may be obtained ; and if he may not, then any other minister that the town shall call, being approved by the neigh- boring ministers."

May 20, 1707. Voted to give Mr. More a call to preach among us, and to settle if he may be ob- tained.

June, 1707. Voted that Hezekiah Peck and Jona- than Fuller be a committee to see and get a petition

written to the General Court for some help towards the maintenance of a minister.3

The sum of eighty pounds had been granted by the town, Nov. 22, 1705, towards building a minister's house, thirty-five pounds of which had been collected ; and on the 2d of July, 1707, the town voted that the remaining forty-five pounds should be levied and collected.

June 15, 1708. The meeting then held was for the choosing of an able and orthodox minister to serve us in the work of the ministry in this place ; it was voted that the committee should treat with Mr. Wis- well to dispense the word of God to us, if he may be obtained ; if not, then with Mr. Fisher, if he may be obtained ; if not, then with Mr. Hunt, if he may be obtained; if not, then with Mr. Devotion; and if neither of them may be obtained, then they may treat with any other that shall be allowed of by the neigh- boring ministers, until they have settled one in Attleborough.+

July 28, 1710. Chose Mr. Ebenezer White for our minister, if he will stay with us; if not, then Mr. Myles. Mr. White, it appears, did not at this time accept the invitation to settle. He however preached for them nearly a year.

Oct. 9, 1710. Chose a committee to see to the fin- ishing of the meeting-house, and the 1st of January next ensuing was the time fixed for finishing it. Voted to raise a tax of sixty pounds as a fund for said work, five pounds to be in money, and the rest in corn, rye, beef, and pork, or in materials for the building.

Nov. 20, 1710. Voted that the house which is built on the ministerial lot should be given to the first minister that shall serve the town seven years in the office of a minister, and so living and dying among us, then to be his and his heirs forever.5

Oct. 1, 1711. At a meeting for the choice of an able orthodox minister to dispense the word of God to us in Attleborough, the town chose Mr. Matthew Short for their minister.6

Nov. 5, 1711. Granted a tax of twenty-five pounds towards paying Mr. Short, ten pounds in money, and the other fifteen pounds in grain, pork, beef, butter, cheese, at current price.

EBENEZER WHITE .- The second minister in town was Rev. Ebenezer White." He was chosen by the

1 These articles were then valued as follows : Indian corn, 2s. Gd. per bushel; rye, 3s. 6d. per bushel ; pork, 3d. per lb .; beef, 2d. per lb .; but- ter, Gd. per lb .; and good new milk cheese, 4d. per lb.

2 At a town-meeting Feb. 9, 1709-10, voted lo build a meeting-house thirty feet square and sixteen feet between joints, and to set it upon a piece of land on the east side of the country road near to the house of Christopher Hall, and to get the timber for said house, and to frame and raise it by the Ist of June next. This lot of land was given to the town for this purpose by Lient. Moses Read.

3 In 1710 the Mile and Half was reannexed to this town, which re- stored fourteen families, and enabled the people to support a preacher without other assistance.

+ The inhabitants were so few (consisting of about sixteen families, exclusive of the fourteen who had been annexed to Rehoboth ) that they were not able to afford a competent salary, which was probably the cause of their embarrassment in the settlement of a minister.

5 The next settled minister acquired the property of this house (and also the ministerial farm, as will subsequently appear) by having fulfilled the condition of the grant.

6 March 18, 1711-12. " Voted to build a pew for the minister in the meeting-house, and also agreed that Mrs. Short shall have the benefit and privilege of sitting in the same during her abode in Attleborough."

7 Son of James White, of Dorchester, Mass., baptized July 12, 1685, graduated at Harvard College, 1704.

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people July 18, 1715 ; ordained Oct. 17, 1716. He had supplied the pulpit for some time previous to his settlement. He was minister of the town eleven years, and remained here till his death, Sept. 4, 1726. So far as appears, he gave general satisfaction. He marrled Abigail Paine, and had several children,- Hannah, Martha, Edward, Experience, and Thank- ful, and two others who died infants.

Besides his regular salary, Mr. White acquired a title to the ministerial farm and house (so called) by having fulfilled the condition of the grant.

At a meeting of the proprietors of the North Pur- chase, Sept. 16, 1707, it was unanimously voted " that the surveyor with the major part of the committee should forthwith lay out a hundred acres of land within said purchase, which shall be the first settled minister's in Attleborough that continueth to be their minister for the space of seven years ; said land to be said minister's, and his heirs and assigns forever."- North Purchase Rec., 2 Book, p. 3.

Several other grants and gifts have been made to the town for the use of the ministry.

The ministerial lot (which has been a subject of so much controversy in modern days) was granted at an adjourned meeting of the proprietors held at Reho- both June 29, 1685, in the words following : "It was likewise voted and agreed upon (nemine contradicente), that a hundred acres of land be forthwith laid out at the Seven-Mile River, where Rice Leonard's lot was, and as near adjacent as may be; which said hundred acres of land perpetually to be reserved for the min- istry." -- Rehoboth Town Rec., 2 Book, p. 48. Bounds Recorded, North Purchase Rec., 1 Book, p. 197.

The lot where the first meeting-house stood was given by Licut. Moses Read.

" Oct. 16, 1712. Laid out to Lieut. Moses Read two acres of land by the meeting-house, bounded south the stated road, east the foot of the hill, north the land of the heirs of Christopher Hall, west the country road. The above said land the said Lieut. Read gave to the town of Attleborough for public use forever, and ordered it so to be put on record, as is attest by me, Daniel Smith, clerk."-Rehoboth North Purchase Rec., 1 Book, p. 302.

Allowance for a highway through said lot .- Ib. 2 Book, p. 129.

Nov. 1, 1734. Noah Carpenter, Sr., and Caleb Hall of Attleborough, " in consideration of love, good-will, and affection which we have and do bear towards the church and congregation of the said Attleborough, called by the name of the Presbyterian," have given, granted, conveyed, etc., unto them, their heirs and assigns forever, that is to be understood for the es- pecial use, benefit, and privilege of that society for- ever, a certain tract of land containing about forty- five rods, where the new meeting-house now stands, bounded by the said Carpenter's and the said Hall's lands, and by the country road, etc .- Rehoboth North Purchase Rec., 2 Book, p. 126.

HABIJAH WELD .- Rev. Habijah Weld, the third minister of Attleborough, was distinguished for his usefulness in the ministry, and highly respected as a man both at home and abroad. He united, to an un- common degree, the affections of his people for the long period of nearly fifty-five years during which he was their pastor. He was a man of talents and re- spectable acquirements, and was extensively known. His character deserves a more particular notice.

He was born in Dunstable, Mass., Sept. 2, 1702; graduated at Cambridge University in 1723, and was ordained pastor of the first church and congregation in this town, Oct. 1, 1727. He died May 14, 1782, in the eightieth year of his age, and the fifty-fifth of his ministry. The following notice of his character is extracted from a communication in Dr. Dwight's " Travels," from the Hon. David Daggett, late chief justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, and senator in Congress :

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 126

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