History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 131

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 131


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Several other Wilmarths came from that town,-Samuel (son of Thomas (2d) of Rehoboth), Jonathan, Nathan, Stephen (sons of Jonathan, of that place), Daniel, etc.


The Deanes came from Taunton; Ellises, Drapers, etc., from Dedham, subsequent to 1730.


It is not expected that the foregoing list includes all who came pre- vions to that period. The names of the original ancestors of some could not be ascertained.


One name was omitted in its proper place. Bourne, Andrew, came (it is supposed from Great Britain) to Attleborough about 1720, and set- tled in the east part of the town. All of that name in this vicinity are descended from him.


List of Representatives from this town from its incorporation in 1694 to 1883. Elections were in May unless otherwise designated.


1709-11. David Freeman.5 1743. Maj. John Foster.


1712. Capt. Joseph Brown.G 1744. Capt. Mayhew Daggett.


1713. Mr. David Freeman.


1745. Capt. Samuel Tyler.


Lieut. Nicholas Ide.7


1746. Perez Bradford, Esq.9


1714. Lient. Nicholas Ide.


1715-18. David Freeman.


1719. Jeremiah Whipple.


1720. Deacon John Daggett. David Freeman.8


1759. Deacon Benjamin Day.


1721. David Freeman.


1722. No one would accept. 1761-63. Stephen Fuller.


1723. Capt. John Foster. 1764-67. Deacon Ebenezer Lane.


1724. Mr. Nathaniel Carpenter.


1768-75. John Daggett.


1725. Capt. John Foster.


1726-28. Capt. Joseph Brown.


1729. Mr. Nathaniel Carpenter.


1730-32. Capt. John Foster.


1733. Nathaniel Carpenter.


1734. Sent an excuse.


1735. Nathaniel Carpenter. 1782. Name not found.


1736. Capt. Mayhew Daggett.


1783. Col. Stephen Richardson.


1784. Elisha May, Esq.


1785. Col. Stephen Richardson.


John Foster, Esq.


1786. Capt. Ebenezer Tyler.


1787. William Stanley. 1788. Elisha May, Esq.


Samuel Tyler. Ahasel Read.


1789, Capt. C. Richardson.


1738. John Foster, Esq.


1790. Maj. Ebenezer Tyler.


1739-40. John Robbins.


1791. Elisha May, Esq.


1741-42. Capt. Mayhew Daggett.


1792. Maj. Ebenezer Tyler.


3 Tyler, Abraham, Haverhill 1650, died May 6, 1673. Job, Andover, 1653, had a son Moses, who died 1727, aged eighty-five, having had ten sons. Nathaniel, Lynn, 1642 .- Far. Reg.


4 Grandson of Thomas Wilmarth, Sr., who came into Rehoboth as early as March 28, 1645, with his wife and children. This name was anciently spelled Wilmot.


5 The reader will perceive that no representative was chosen during the first fourteen years after the incorporation. The reason is given in the extracts from the town records.


6 Son of Mr. John Brown, of Rehoboth (well known in the history of the Old Colony), came here (1709) from Kingston, R. I., to which he had removed about 1702. In this list the titles generally given, according to the custom of the times, are retained as they appear on record.


7 November, 1713.


8 June, 1720.


9 July 22, 1746, Capt. Mayhew Daggett was chosen.


35


1747-49. Capt. Samuel Tyler.


1750-53. Benjamin Day.


1754-55. Name not on record.


: 1756-58. Lient. Josiah Maxcy.


1760. Japhesh Bicknell.


1776-77. Capt. John Stearns. William Stanley.


1778-79 Capt. Elisha May.


1780. Capt. Elisha May. John Daggett.


1781. Elisha May.


1737. John Robinson.


Capt. Mayhew Daggett.


Timothy Tingley.


546


HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.


1793-98. Elisha May, Esq.


1843, Calvin Richards.


1844-45. Lemmel May.


1800-1. Elsha May, Esq.


1802-4. Maj. Ebenezer Tyler.


1805. Ebenezer Bacon.


1806. Joel Read, Esq.


1807. Ebenezer Bacon.


1808-10. Joel Read.


1811. Joel Read.


1850. Samuel Carpenter. George D. Hlatch.


John Richardson. Benjamin Bolkcom.


1812. John Richardson.


Joel Read.


1855. Charles Cravens.


Benjamin Bolkcom.


1856. Elkanah Briggs.


1813. Joel Read.


1857, Henry M. Richards.


Benjamin Bolkcom.


1858. Horatio N. Richardson.


John Richardson.


1859.


1814. Capt. Thomas French. Jabez Newell.


1860. George D. Hlatch. Elisha Wilmarth.


1816. Ebenezer Daggett, Esq.


1817-19. Sent no one.


1820-21. A. Richardson, Jr.


1822-23. Ebenezer Daggett, Esq.


1824. Sent no one.


1864. Handel N. Daggett.


1825-26. William Blackinton.


Mina B. Daggett.


1865. Henry K. W. Allen.


1827. George Ellis. Elkanah Briggs.


Ira N Conant.


A. Richardson, Jr.


1866. John Daggett.


1828. George Ellis.


Edmund Ira Richards.


Elkanah Briggs, Esq.


1867. Joseph A. P'erry.


1829-30. Elkanah Briggs, Esq.


1868. Willard Blackinton.


1831-34. Abijah M. Ide.


1869. Jo-eph D. Pierce.


1835. David E. Holman.


1870. Gardner C. Wright.


1836. Jolin Daggett.


1871. John T. Bates.


David E. Holman. Lemmel May.


1873. Edward Sanford.


1837. John Daggett.


1874. Samuel S. Ginnodo.


Lemuel May.


1875. Felix G. Whitney.


1838. John Daggett.


1876. Henry J. Read.


1839. Carlos Barrows.


1877. George Asa Dean.


Jonathan Bliss.


1878. George Price. Abijah T. Wales.


1840. Carlos Barrows.


1879. John Stanley


Jonathan Bliss.


1880. Edwin J. Horton.


1841. Willard Blackinton.


1881. George N. Crandall.


Artemas Stanley.


Burrill Porter, Jr.


1842. Artemas Stanley.


1882. John Whitebill.


William Blackinlon.


1883. Jobn Whitehill.


1843. Daniel Wilmarth.


Biographical Sketches .- Rev. Naphtali Daggett, D.D., president of Yale College, was the son of Eben- ezer Daggett and Mary, his wife, and was born in At- tleborough (at the residence of the late Ebenezer Daggett, Esq.), Sept. 8, 1727. He was the second son among eight children. His father dying while he was yet young, he was left under the direction of a mother, who was, however, in every respect peculi- arly qualified to discharge the duties which devolved upon her. He soon after commenced studies prepara- tory to college. Rev. Solomon Reed became acquainted with him while he was a youth, and forming a high opinion of his talents took him under his patronage, and advised and assisted him in preparing for college. Ile entered Yale College in 1744, and graduated in 1748, at the age of twenty-one. He was distinguished during his college life for industry and close applica- tion.


He was settled as minister at Smithtown, and was ordained over the church there Sept. 18, 1751. During


his settlement on Long Island he married Miss Sarah Smith, daughter of the third Richard Smith, Dec. 19, 1753, by Rev. Ebenezer Prime. She was born Sept. 16 (O. S.), 1728, and died at New Haven, March 25, 1772, aged forty-three years and six months. He says in his memorandum, which the author has, that he was dismissed from his pastoral charge at Smith- town, Nov. 6, 1755, for the purpose of removing to Yale College. In September, 1755, he was elected the first Professor of Divinity in Yale College, which was denominated the Livingston Professorship of Divinity ; this appointment he accepted, and removed to New Haven, and was inducted into office on the 4th of March following, 1756.1 This office he held during the remainder of his life. After the resigna- tion of Mr. Clap, Sept. 10, 1756, he officiated as presi- dent till April 1, 1777, about eleven years, when he resigned the office, but still continued to hold that of Professor of Divinity. The learned Dr. Stiles was his successor in the presidency. Rev. Payson Williston says of him, "President Daggett was one of my father's intimate friends. His social qualities were such as to render him more than ordinarily attractive. The college was eminently prosperous under his presidency."


Dr. Stiles delivered a sermon on his death. It is a remarkable circumstance that Dr. Daggett and Dr. Stiles each delivered a funeral sermon on his imme- diate predecessor.


During the barbarous attack on New Haven by the British army, in July, 1779, he took an active part in the defense of the country, and was distinguished for his resolution and intrepidity.2 He was taken prisoner,


] The foundation of this professorship was laid in 1746 by a donation from the Hon. Philip Livingston, of New York, and having received a cous derable addition by another donation from Mr. Gershom Clark, of Lebanon, with some appropriations by the college, it afforded a sufficient salary for the support of such an office, which was accordingly established in 1755. A house for the use of the incumbent was erected by subscrip- tion, and finished in 1758.


2 Hle had made himself obnoxious by his open and active opposition to the British cause. He had often inculcated upon the students under his charge-in the pulpit and in the lecture-room-the duty of resistance to British oppression. He had therefore incurred the special displeasure of the invaders. He had openly preached and prayed against the success of their cause. He knew no difference between preaching and prac- ticing, and when the crisis came he carried his own principles into action. He shouldered his musket and went into the field with the rest to repel the invaders. He was taken prisoner by the enemy. They beat and bruised him, and offered him every indignity in their power. His clerical character in their eyes was no exemption from the most outrage- ous abuses. They demanded of him what he was doing, and who be was; he unhesitatingly replied, "Exercising the rights of war. I am Naphtali Daggett, of Yale College. I demand of you to release me." But they refused, and detained him as a prisoner, and marched him back to New Haven, nearly dead with the wounds and abuse he had received, and from which he never fully recovered.


Ile was at first left for dead. He was saved by the intrepidity of the lady into whose house he had been conveyed. After the British had re- tired, an officer and a file of soldiers were sent back to convey him a prisoner on board their transports. They came to the house and in- quired for him, and were answered by the lady (who appeared at the door, and resolutely refused to admit them) that he was so badly wounded it would be impossible to convey him on board alive " My orders," said the officer, "are positive to take him with me." "But you would


1799. Col. Ebenezer Tyler.


Forrest Foster.


1846-47. George Bacon. Harvey Clafin.


1848. None.


1849. George D. Hatch. Samuel Carpenter.


1851-53. Lyman W. Daggett. 1854. None.


1815. A. Richardson, Jr.


1861. Gardner C. Hodges.


1862. William D. Earl. Ezekiel Bates.


1863. Horatio N. Richardson. John Thompson.


1872. Obed C. Turner.


Jolin Daggett.


547


ATTLEBOROUGH.


and came near losing his life. Dr. Daggett died (in consequence of the wounds he had received on that occasion) Nov. 25, 1780, at the age of fifty-three. He presided over the university about eleven years, and held the office of Professor of Divinity twenty-five years. Possessed of a strong, clear, and comprehen- sive mind, he applied himself with assidnity and suc- cess to the various branches of knowledge, particu- larly to the learned languages and divinity. Dr. Holmes, in his life of President Stiles, says, " He was a good classical scholar, well versed in moral philos- ophy, and a learned divine." He received the hon- orary degree of Doctor in Divinity from Yale College, and in 1771 the degree of S.T.D. from Harvard Col- lege. He published a sermon on the death of Presi- dent Clap, 1767 ; another delivered at the ordination of Rev. Ebenezer Baldwin, 1770 ; a third delivered at the ordination of Rev. J. Howe, 1773; a funeral sermon on the death of Job Lane, a tutor in the college, 1768.


Col. John Daggett, an elder brother of the preced- ing, born Sept. 2, 1724 or 1725, was one of the prin- cipal public characters and leading men of the town, especially during the trying period of the Revolution. He and Col. May were the two on whom the town placed the utmost reliance. He was possessed of a strong and sound mind, and was marked by a reso- lute and decided character. He was a Puritan in the plainness and simplicity of his manners, and was a firm friend to the civil institutions and republican customs of New England. His wife was Mercy Shep- ard, daughter of the centenarian, John Shepard, then of Wrentham, afterwards of Foxborough.


He was commissioned one of his Majesty's justices of the peace under the provincial government before the Revolution. He took an early and decided stand (with many other patriotic citizens of this town) in the commencement of those proceedings which pro- duced the Revolution. He was a member of the Provincial Congress which assembled at Cambridge. For a long succession of years he was elected a mem- ber of the Legislature, and was also a member of the convention which formed the constitution. He was generally called to serve on the most important com- mittees which were raised in town-meeting to con- sider the many difficult subjects which were then brought before the people during and subsequent to the Revolution. Col. Daggett commanded the regi- ment from the county of Bristol, both in Spencer's and Sullivan's expeditions on Rhode Island, in 1777 and 1779.


At home he was extensively employed as a sur- veyor, and was engaged in various other kinds of public business, such as the ordinary transactions of life require between citizens. He died universally respected Jan. 20, 1803, at the age of seventy-nine.


not surely carry away a dying man : he is now in the agonies of death." After repeated demands and refusals, the officer finally determined to return and report the case to his superior and ask for further orders. But he never came back after his prisoner.


A third brother, Dr. Ebenezer Daggett, was a re- spectable physician, who settled in Wrentham village, where he acquired an extensive practice. He married Miss Susanna Metcalf, daughter of Timothy Metcalf, Esq., of Wrentham, May 25, 1758, by whom he had several children.


His son, Rev. Herman Daggett, graduated at Brown University in 1788, and pursued his profes- sional studies with Dr. Emmons, of Franklin. He was settled in the ministry on Long Island. While there he was pastor first at Southampton. He was there settled in 1791, and in the course of a few years he removed to the parish of Middletown, in the town of Brookhaven, supplying a part of the time the church at Fireplace. This was in 1801. He married Miss Sarah Mathewson, of Providence, who died Nov. 20, 1843. During the eighteen years he resided on Long Island he made four changes. One in giv- ing his character says of him, "Mr. Daggett was a man of sterling talents, respectable acquirements, and peculiar excellence of character. To all his other acquirements as a scholar he added singular neat- ness of person and an exact, systematic arrangement of all his various duties. He was remarkably digni- fied in his manners and circumspect in his deport- ment. All his traits of character are comprehended in Dr. Beecher's remark ' that he was just a fit man to preach to ministers.'" He died May 19, 1832. He was the first principal and teacher of the Indian mis- sion school at Cornwall, and afterwards removed to Ridgefield, Conn., and finally to Cornwall, where he died.


Dr. Bezaleel Mann, a well-known and worthy physician of this town, deserves a notice in these sketches. He was a descendant of Rev. Samuel Mann, the first minister of Wrentham. He studied his profession with Dr. Hewes, of Foxborough, and commenced business in this town some time previous to 1750. Dr. Mann had the reputation of being a skillful physician, and had acquired an extensive circle of practice. His character is justly portrayed in his epitaph,-


" Bezaleel Mann mort die Octo. tert. 1796, an ætat. 74. Early im- bned with the principles of moral rectitude, he sustained through the diversified concerns of a long and active life the character of an honest man. As a physician, he commanded, during the period of near 50 years that unlimited confidence and respect which talents alone can inspire. The features of his mind were sketched by the glowing pencil of nature, filled up with qualities that adorn humanity, and shaded with l'ew infirmities the frequent attendants on mental excellence.


" Bebe Mann, his wife, mort. die Octo. tert. 1793, atat. 61. She was a person of bright genius, of few words, and much reserved in mind. From early youth she marked all her paths with virtue, and timely took the advice Christ gave to his disciples, and made to herself a friend of the mammon of unrighteousness, and when she failed could with Christian confidence say that her witness was in heaven and her reward on high.


"This stone is erected by the grateful hand of filial piety to protect the awful dust of revered parents."


These inscriptions may be found in Alden's valuable collection of epitaphs.


1 She was a daughter of Mr. Ezekiel Carpenter, of this town.


548


HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.


Dr. Mann had several sons who entered the pro- fessions. His son Preston, who was a physician, was graduated at Brown University, and settled in New- port, R. I., where he was living in 1834. Another son, John Milton, was also a graduate at Brown University, became a physician, and removed to the State of New York, where he was drowned in at- tempting to cross the river Hudson. His daughter Eunice married one of his students, Dr. Seth Capron, of this town, who, with another son, Newton, re- moved to the State of New York, where they were living, 1833. His second son, Herbert, was educated a physician, and entered as surgeon on board the privateer "General Arnold," Capt. Magee, and was lost in that terrible storm which ensued in Plymouth Harbor, Dec. 26, 1778. The stone which is here erected to his memory contains the following cpi- taph :


"In memory of doctor Herbert Mann, who, with 119 sailors, with Capt. James Magee, master, went on board the brig General Arnold, in Boston Harbor, 25th Dec., 1778, hoisted sail, made for sea, and were im- mediately overtaken by the most tremendous snow storm with cold, that was ever known in the memory of man, and, unhappily, parted their cable in Plymouth harbor, in a place called the Cow-yards, and he, with about 100 others, was frozen to death; sixty-six of whom were buried in one grave. He was in the 21st year of his age. And now Lord God Almighty, just and true are all thy ways, but who can stand before thy cold ?"


In Dr. Thacher's "History of Plymouth" is found a graphic description of this most terrific storm and awful wreck known in history, which seems unparal- leled in human suffering :


" In 1778, December 26th, 27th, the inhabitants of this town were called to witness a catastrophe truly appalling to humanity. The brig 'General Arnold,' mounting twenty guns, having a crew of one hundred and five men and boys, commanded by Capt. James Magee, of Boston, sailed from that port on Thursday, 24th of December, bound on a cruise. On Friday anchored off Plymouth Harbor, being destitute of a pilot. In the night, a heavy gale, drove on the White Flat. She soon filled with water, and it became ne- cessary to cut away the masts. Unfortunately, a great disturbance was occasioned by intoxication among some of the seamen in the steerage, which was with difficulty quelled by the officers. A tremendous storm of wind and snow came on, and a considerable num- ber of men died on Saturday afternoon and in the night. Three men, not of the crew, being on board, took the yawl and passed eight or ten rods to the ice, and were taken on board a schooner that was frozen in. Had the boat been returned as promised many lives would have been saved.


"Sunday morning the vessel was seen in a most distressful situation, enveloped in ice and snow, and the whole shore was frozen to a solid body of ice, the winds and waves raging with such dreadful violence that no possible relief could be afforded to the miser- able sufferers. The inhabitants made every effort to reach the wreck in boats, but were obliged to put back, although aware that the seamen were in the


arms of death, and when the miserable victims on board saw the boats returning, leaving them in a con- dition of utter hopelessness, their spirits were ap- palled, and numbers were seen to fall dead on the deck.


"On Monday the inhabitants passed over the ice to the wreck. Here was presented a scene unutterably awful and distressing. It is scarcely possible for the human mind to conceive of a more appalling specta- cle. The ship was sunk ten feet in the sand; the waves had been for about thirty-six hours sweeping the main deck; the men had crowded to the quarter- deck, and even here they were obliged to pile together dead bodies to make room for the living. Seventy dead bodies, frozen into all imaginable postures, were strewn over the deck or attached to the shrouds and spars ; about thirty exhibited signs of life, but were unconscious whether in life or death. The bodies re- mained in the posture in which they died, the features dreadfully distorted ; some were erect, some bending forward, some sitting with the head resting on the knees, and some with both arms extended, clinging to spars or some parts of the vessel. The few survivors and the dead bodies were brought over the ice on sleds and boards, and the dead were piled on the floor of the court-house, exhibiting a scene calculated to impress even the most callous heart with deep humility and sorrow. It has been said that the Rev. Mr. Rob- bins fainted when called to perform the funeral cere- monies. Those bodies that were to be deposited in coffins were first put into the town book ; a consider- able number were seen floating on the water fastened by ropes, that their form might be made to conform to the coffin, but about sixty were thrown into a large pit as they were taken from the vessel. This pit is in a hollow on the southwest side of the burial-ground, and remains without a stone. The greater part of those who were found alive expired soon after. Capt. Magee survived, and performed several profitable voyages afterwards. He abstained entirely from drinking ardent spirits, but was of opinion that he was greatly benefited by putting rum into his boots. Those who drank rum were the more immediate vic- tims, several being found dead in the very spot where they drank it.


" A man named Downs, belonging to Barnstable, was apparently dead, but on being seen to move his eyelids was put into a vessel of cold water for several hours, by which he was resuscitated, but with the most exquisite pain. He lost both of his feet, but lived many years after. Among those who perished were Dr. Mann, of Attleborough; Dr. Sears, Capt. John Russell, of Barnstable, commander of the ma- rines, and Lieut. Daniel Hall. The last two were buried in one grave on the south side of the burial- hill." 1


1 It should be observed that when persons are exposed to intense cold there is always a propensity to sleep, but the moment it is indulged it becomes the sleep of death .- Dr. Thacher's Plymouth, 216.


549


ATTLEBOROUGH.


There was one Marchant from the Vineyard, who survived with crippled feet. He was employed many years in the registry of deeds and probate offices in Dukes County. He was living in 1830.


Hon. Elisha May was a distinguished citizen of this town, who was often employed in public office, and whose name is still held in reverence by those who remember him. Courteous and gentlemanly in his manners, and honorable and upright in his prin- ciples, he was universally esteemed. Intelligent and active in business, he was well qualified to fulfill the various offices to which he was elected. He dis- charged the various duties which devolved upon him with ability and entire satisfaction to his constituents. He was, in fine, one of the most valuable citizens of this town. He died Nov. 15, 1811, in the seventy- third year of his age. His character is justly though briefly described by one who was personally ac- quainted with him. The following extract is from a discourse delivered at his interment by the Rev. John Wilder, then the pastor of the First Congregational Church in this town :


" His memory will long be precious, not only to his near relatives and friends, but likewise to his intimate acquaintances, to his neighbors, to the religious society in this place, and to the inhabitants of the town, for he is the man whom his fellow-citizens have delighted to honor. Nor was he unworthy their respect and confidence; for, blessed with a sound mind, a retentive memory, a quick discernment of men and things, a polite address, an honest heart, and an education considerably above mediocrity, he was singularly qualified for public employment of various kinds. And his worth was early discovered, for at the time of the Revo- lutionary war he was an active and useful member both in the military and civil departments. Since that period he was employed, without op- position, as a legislator or a counselor until he chose to retire. For about twenty-seven years in succession, one excepted, he was called to a seat in the Legislature, and chiefly in the Upper House. For almost forty years together he has been moderator of the town-meetings in this place, in which office he was equaled by few and exceeded by none. He had the honor of being an elector of the President of the United States. As a magistrate, throughout the commonwealth he did much business, and to very general satisfaction. He was justly celebrated, both at home and abroad, for his wisdom in adjusting and settling differences between contending parties. As a politician, he was a friend and disciple of Washington ; as a man, he was prepossessing and engaging ; as a friend, he was faithful and constant ; as a neighbor, he was kind and obliging; as a husband, he was attentive and tender ; as a parent, he was pleasant and affectionate ; as to his religion, he was a firm believer in the Chris- tian system, and a very constant, attentive, and apparently devout at- tender on public worship all his life."




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