History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 143

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 143

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Alfred Pierce

597

ATTLEBOROUGH.

Israel2, Thomas1). Isaac Alger died in 1842, leaving children, -Hannah, Susanna, Willard J., and Louisa, who died in the fifteenth year of her age.

Willard J. Alger (Isaac5, Edmund4, Joseph3, Israel2,. Thomas'), a farmer in Attleborough, Mass., married Lois Brown, of Foxborough, April 12, 1828. He died Sept. 26, 1855, and his widow is now (1882) living on the old Alger homestead in Attleborough with her son Isaac. She is a Methodist. Their children are Isaac, Ella, Eliza, born Sept. 26, 1832, married Joseph Gleason ; Nathan S., born May 14, 1835, married Olive J. Tripp; and Mary V., born July 11, 1839, died Feb. 13, 1858.

Isaac Alger (Willard J.6, Isaac5, Edmund4, Joseph3, Israel2, Thomas1) received a common school educa- tion. At fourteen he was obliged to leave school, no more to return to it. At eighteen he commenced taking charge of the farm, and how well he has suc- ceeded the following story will tell.

He married Susan Matthewson, Jan. 7, 1857. Of this union three children have been born, viz., Susan, born Oct. 19, 1857, married Eugene F. Pearce, June 17, 1875; Isaac, born Jan. 8, 1868; and John Willis, born Aug. 17, 1870.

In politics he was a Republican till 1878, when he became a Democrat, and has since affiliated with that party.

Mr. and Mrs. Alger are members of the Congrega- tional Church of Attleborough. We quote the fol- lowing from the Attleborough Chronicle :

For the past three-quarters of a century the premises now considered have been known as the Alger farm. A portion of the premises we should have said, for the present owner has trebled the original farm, which was purchased of Isaac Tiffany by Isaac Alger, grand- father to the present owner. The farm then contained one hundred acres, mostly devoted to woodland. Mr. Alger was a moderate farmer, who did not endeavor to make much more than a living for himself and family by his labors. At his death the premises passed into the hands of his son, Willard J., and through him, by will from the grandfather, to the present Isaac Alger. Under the management of W. J. Alger the farm was allowed to run down, the wood being cut and sold to pay indebtedness, while the till- age lands and pastures were annually robbed of their crop without receiving compensation for the same.

Isaac had remained on the place after his grand- father's death, much against his inclination, at the earnest desire of his family. At the age of twenty- six years he found himself possessed of this farm of one hundred acres of positively bare land, on which there was, for those times, a heavy mortgage. There was not at the time vitality enough in the whole amount of broken land to produce six tons of poor hay. With this legacy, which was several hundred dollars worse than nothing, Mr. Isaac Alger commenced his career as a New England farmer. To-day his farm is among the very best to be seen in the town, and he

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himself is reckoned among our most prosperous and well-to-do citizens.

Now the farm comprises three hundred acres, from a small portion of which he cuts an annual supply of fifty tons of hay. Of the three hundred acres the greater part is woodland. There are from thirty to forty acres in pasturage, forty acres in tillage, ten acres of cultivated cranberry land, and ten aeres of natural cranberry meadow. The buildings on the place consist of the home house,-a roomy, comforta- ble cottage,-a large roomy barn, built with a view to having no waste space, the cranberry house, and five houses for rental. To run the farm Mr. Alger employs, beside his own boys, the oldest of whom is the salesman for the place, three men, hired by the month the year round, and extra help by the day as is required, two horses and two pair of oxen. Of the latter-named stock the pair we saw standing in the stalls would make most farmers envious. They are perfect mates, weighing about three thousand four hundred, and are better beef to-day than much that finds itself to our markets as first quality. To the stock named should be added from four to six cows. The milk from these is delivered to Mrs. Alger, who has the entire charge of it and all the money derived from this product of the place. Several families are sup- plied, the household is kept in butter, and what milk is left is eagerly taken up by the milkmen.

But the leading crop and greatest source of revenue is the cranberry crop. When Mr. Alger took the farm he tried to persuade a younger brother to remain with him and go into raising cranberries, believing there was money in the proper cultivation of that berry. The brother declined, believing, on the con- trary, that it never could be made to pay. Mr. Alger commenced alone. Having limited means he began in a small way, "making" but a small piece of land each year. The process of " making" consists of re- moving from the natural meadow all the turf, and filling in to the depth of from four to six inches with gravel, in which the plants are set. This is all, but this done, and you may wait four or five years for any profit. The land thus " made" is made for years, and requires little labor beyond an occasional coating of sand, and little attention to keep it clear from grass or weeds. The land first made by Mr. Alger is in as good condition to-day as when it first came to bear- ing twenty years ago. In this manner, by degrees, Mr. Alger has reclaimed ten acres of natural meadow. The crop takes care of itself pretty much, and only during picking time is there any rush. Picking begins usually about September 10th, and lasts into October. The average yield for the past three years has been two thousand bushels. To pick these requires the help of about one hundred pickers. Pickers get fifty cents a bushel, and earn from one dollar to three dollars per day according to their activity. Mr. Alger had one young man em- ployed who picked five pecks of clear berries in fifty-

598

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

seven minutes by the watch. The berries are taken from the field to the dry-house, where they are spread and allowed to remain until they are brought to a uniform color, when they are ready for market. In preparing the fruit for shipment the greatest care is used in grading, and nothing is put upon the market that is not marked in the grade for which it is sold. Mr. Alger finds his market principally in Chicago, but ships to New York and Philadelphia. He sells all his fruit for cash delivered on the cars at Attle- borough, and has no trouble with freights.

As with other fruit there are varieties,-the " Bell," the "Bugle," the " Cherry." The latter is the best selling of the three. But Mr. Alger has originated a variety which he terms the "Black Pond Seedling," which for his use he has found to be superior to either of the others. It is of good size, solid, and its keep- ing properties are par excellence. His Western market is later than the New York market, and this quality of the Black Pond makes it desirable for shipment to Chicago.

Thus we have presented to our readers the work- ings of a farm run to make money, and that in twenty-five years has been brought from a barren tract of waste land to a farm of the most fertile acres. It is refreshing to hear a man talk with regard to New England farming in the manner Mr. Alger does. In answer to the question, "Does your farm, aside from the cranberry crop, pay ?" Mr. Alger replied, " The one helps the other; the farm supplies teams to work on the meadows, and the meadows furnish material to be put upon the farm. If you want to ask the question, 'Does farming pay ?' I say, most as- suredly, yes ; just as good a profit as any other busi- ness with the same amount of capital and labor ex- pended. There is not a crop you can put into the ground but will pay a handsome profit, rightly man- aged," and he added with considerable earnestness, " especially in Attleborough. Attleborough is the best market in the United States."

Not every farmer in and about Attleborough will indorse his occupation as enthusiastically as does Mr. Alger, and some may citicise him for so doing, but Mr. Alger knows whereof he affirms, and has demonstrated his statements to be correct, so far as they concern himself at least.

CHARLES E. HAYWARD.

On the main line of the Boston and Providence Railroad, at East Attleborough, is situated the jew- elry manufactory of Hayward & Briggs. Charles E. Hayward, senior member of this firm, was born at North Attleborough, Mass., Aug. 28, 1824, and was the son of Capt. Abraham Hayward, who was son of Abraham Hayward, who lived in Boston and was clerk of King's Chapel in that city, under which he lies buried. Capt. Abraham Hayward was captain of a privateer in the war of 1812. He knew no fear, and now holds important offices in both York and

and hated the British as only a strong, positive nature could do. He was thirty years a sea-captain. He married Mariette Daggett, and had seven children. Charles had a common school education, and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to the firm of Tifft & Whiting, which was the first to commence the manufacture of gold jewelry in North Attleborough ; with them he continued five years. He worked after- wards as a journeyman for two or three years, then on his own account for two or three years more in North Attleborough, and in 1851 moved to East Attleborough, when, with others, he established the firm of Thompson, Hayward & Co. This firm soon acquired a good reputation and a profitable trade. This copartnership was dissolved in 1855, and Mr. Hayward formed a partnership with Mr. Briggs, under the firm-name of Hayward & Briggs. This firm has continued to the present time (1883). The inventive talents of Mr. Hayward have been active and suc- cessful in arranging patterns and designs for new and artistic sets of jewelry, while the factory has been supplied with ample and excellent machinery for the making of these articles. Mr. Hayward has not con- fined his capital or energies to the manufacture of jewelry at East Attleborough. About 1867, with three others, he founded the New York Watch Com- pany at Providence, R. I., which was afterwards re- moved to Springfield, Mass., where it is now estab- lished.

Mr. Hayward married, June 14, 1854, Charlotte E., daughter of George and Eliza (Wakefield) Wheel- wright, of Boston. They have two children, -Florence M., married Joseph L. Sweet, of Attleborough, and has one child, Harold E .; and Walter E., a graduate of 1883 at Harvard University.

EUGENE H. RICHARDS.

Eugene H. Richards was born Nov. 17, 1843. He graduated from Tuft's College in July, 1862, and im- mediately enlisted as a private in Company H, For- tieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. He was commissioned second lieutenant Aug. 15, 1862, and promoted to first lieutenant July 2, 1863. He took part in all the battles that his regiment did, served with credit to himself, and was honorably discharged in 1864.

Upon his entirement from the army he immediately entered the employ of his father, who had removed his business to Boston in March, 1863. In 1870, Mr. Richards entered into partnership with his father un- der the firm-name of H. M. Richards & Co., manu- facturers of jewelry and novelties in metal, No. 7 Green Street, Boston. In 1880 he succeeded his father in the business, but still retains the old firm- name. He is doing a good business. He is a prom- inent and active member in Masonry, and has held

Cha! & Hayward

599

NORTON.

Scottish Rites. He is a member of the Second (Uni- tarian) Church, Boston. Oct. 18, 1869, he married Frances A. Jordan, of Boston. They have no chil- dren.

CHAPTER XLVI.

NORTON.

Geographical-Original Purchasers-Original Bounds-Petition for Pre- cinct-Incorporation of Town-The First Settlements-Extracts from Records-Early Settlers.

THE town of Norton lies in the northern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Mansfield and Easton, on the east by Easton and Taunton, on the south by Taunton and Rehoboth, and on the west by Attleborough.

Norton originally comprised, in addition to its present territory, the present towns of Mansfield and Easton. Easton and the greater part of Mansfield, with a portion of Norton, comprised what was known as the " North Purchase," which was purchased June 6, 1668, of Thomas Prence, Josias Winslow, Thomas Southworth, and Constant Southworth ("the country's agents"), by Richard Williams, Walter Dean, George Macey, James Walker, Joseph Wilbor, William Har- vey, Thomas Leonard, John Turner, Henry Andrews, John Cob, George Hall, John Hall, Samuel Hall, James Leonard, Sr., Nathaniel Williams, Thomas Williams, Nicholas White, Sr., Nicholas White, Jr., Hezekiah Hore, Alice Dean, Israel Dean, Robert Crossman, Shadrack Wilbor, Thomas Caswell, John Macomber, John Smith, Edward Rew, John Parker, Samuel Paule, Thomas Lincoln, Sr., Thomas Harvey, Sr., Nathaniel Thayre, Thomas Lincoln, Jr., Peter Pits, Jonah Austin, Sr., John Richmond, Samuel Williams, Christopher Thrasher, Mrs. Jane Gilburt, George Watson, Samuel Smith, James Burt, Richard Burt, John Tisdell, Sr., John Tisdell, Jr., James Phillips, Edward Bobbot, John Hathway, Jonathan Brigs, Increase Robinson, John Briant, Thomas Har- vey, Jr., and was called " Taunton North Purchase." 1

This tract was bounded as follows: "Begining on the north-west, att the bounds of the lands formerly sold by us unto the Town of Rehoboth, and to be bounded on the northerly syde by the Massachusetts line, untill it cometh to beare with the Western bounds of the Town of Bridgewater; and soe from the said Massachusetts line by a south line home to the bounds of Taunton, and thence by a Westerly line untill it meets with the bounds of Rehoboth aforesaid : and so to follow the said bounds of Reho- both untill it comes unto the bounds first mentioned upon the Massachusetts line; all the lands within this compas, excepting onely a small parcel granted unto John Bundey, and alsoe a grant made unto

Thomas Briggs, the son of Clement Briggs, together with the meddows, woods, waters, and other benefitts, privileges, emoluments, proffitts, and emunities thereto appertaining and belonging."

Incorporation of the Town .- The first move to- wards the formation of a precinct was under date Nov. 27, 1707, as follows :

" We whose names are underwritten, being part of the Inhabitants of Taunton old Town, and part of Taunton north purchase, being all very sensible of the great difficulty that we are under in liveing so re- mote from the publick worship of God, and great need of haveing it settled amongst us, that so our children and those under our care & charge, as well as ourselves, may injoy the meens of grace, and in order theirto, we have this 27th day of novem., 1707, met together, and made choice of George Leonard and Nicholas White, whome we chuse as our agents to act in our behalf in makeing Request to the town to bonnd us out a presink for the maintainnence of a minister ; and that, when we have procured a minister to dispence the word of God amongst [us, ] we might be freed from paying to the minister & Schoolmaster at town. and we do also give our sd. agents full power to do any further act or acts, thing or things, that they shall see needfull to be dun for ye bounding of sd. precink, and procureing an able orthodox minister to be orderly Settled amongnst us, whether it be by petitioning to the General court to Settle the bounds of sd. precink, or by any other way or meens what- soever; as witness our hands, the day and year above written. we further promise, that in case a minister be procurde as abovesd., that we will each of us pay our proportion by way of rate for his maintainance. witness our hands, George Leonard, Nicholas White, John Lane, Thomas Braman, sen., Thomas Stevens, Selvanis Camble, John Briggs, John Hodges, Nathaniel] Ilodges, Samuell Hodges, Jabez Pratt, Thomas Bra- man, jun., William Hodges, Robert Tucker, Ephraim Grover, Mathew White, Seth Dorman, Ebenezer Hall, John Caswell, jun., Benjamin Cas- well, John Wetherell, Ebenezer Edy, Samuel Brintnell, John Caswell, sen., Eliezer Fisher, Richard Briggs, William Wetherell, sen., Eliezer Edy, John Cob, Andrew Grover, Peter Aldrich, Israel Fisher, Thomas Grover, Nathaniel Fisher, Joseph Briggs, Benjamin Williams, Nathaniell Harvey, John Briggs, jun., Nicholas Smith, John Newland, William Cob, Benjamin Newland, John Skinner."

Petition to the Town of Taunton .- " March ye 23d, 1708 .- Whereas di- vers Inhabitants of Taunton north purchase, together with divers of the Inhabitants of Taunton old township, bordering on the north purchase, made choice of we, the subscribers, whome they chose as thare Agents to make request to the town to bound us out a precinct for the main- tanance of a minister; we, whose names are underwritten, do therefore, in the behalf of our friends and neighbours, humbly & earnestly desire the town seriously to consider of the vary difficult circumstances that we are under in liveing so remote from the publique worship of God, that great part of the year we cannot come to meetiug; and that we can at no time of the year, without very great dificulty, bringing allmost any of our children to meeting : so that, if we continue long after this manner, the sowls of our children, and those under our care and charge, will be in danger of perishing for lack of knowledge. for it is Evident from scriptre that faith comes by heering, and heering by the word preacht. Tho we are not insencable of our poverty, and great difficulty that we shall thereby meet with in carrying on such desire, yet, on the other hand, we have cans to be thankfull that our neighbours are gener- ally very forward to promote so good a work ; and our povertye can be no Argument to have our precink lesened, but rather Enlarged. whare- fore we Earnestly desire and hope that the town will forward and in- corage so good a design, and grant that the military line may be the bounds of the precint, which is burt's brook, and from the month of sd. brook to the bridge neer william wetherell, and from sd. bridge north- Estardly to the north-purchase line; that so we may not have one line for the military, and another for the minister. and, in hopes you will grant us this our request, we subscribe ourselves your humble pe- tioners,

" GEORGE LEONARD. " JOHN WETHERELL. " NICHOLAS WHITE."

Not receiving the desired encouragement from the old town they petitioned the General Court as follows, under date Oct. 20, 1708:

1 " March 8, 1681-2 .- By order of ye Court, Mr. George Shove his naine was affixed to the sd. deed as a proprietor."

600

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

" To his Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esquire, Capt .- Generall and Gover- nor-in-chief in and over her majestie's province of the Massachusetts bay in New England; And to the Honored councill and Representa- tives now convened in Generall conrt this 20 day of October, 1708:

"The humble petition of Diverse of the Inhabitants of Taunton North purchase, and Diverse of the Inhabitants of Taunton old Town- ship bordering on said north purchase, humbly sheweth, that sd. Inhabi- tants being vary sensible of the great difficulty they are now under in liveing so remote from the publick worship of God, and the great need of having it settled amongst them, that so their children, and those under their care and charge, as well as themselves, may Injoy the meens of Grace, They made choice of us, the subscribers, to be their agents, to make known their desire to the town of Taunton to have a precinct bounded out to them for their maintenance of a minister to dispence the word of God among them; and also to petition the Gen- erall Court to settle the bounds of sd. precinct; and also to procure an able orthodox minister to be orderly settled among them, as may appear by a writeing under their hands, dated November the 27th, 1707, and also on the 23d of march, 1708; by which writing they also promise to pay their proportion by way of rate for the maintenance of sd. minister provide as abovesd. In pursueance of sd. power and trust committed to us, we have communicated this matter to the town of Taunton, at a town meeting; and although we have Great Incorragement that the most considerable Leading men will be and are for it, yet there is some few that do hesitate about the bounds That we desire for sd. precinct; so that hetherto nothing of that nature is finished, and seeing our young ones increase and grow up apace, and that the Lord hath in marcy (as we hope it is in marcy) so Inclined the hearts of our neigh- bours so earnestly to desire and seek after this thing, we therefore, the subscribers, as agents for and in the behalf of sd. Inhabitants, do hum- bly pray this Generell Court to grant this our humble petition. and the bounds of sd. precinct which we desire is, the line or bounds of the military company called the North-purchase company may be the bounds of the said precinct, which is a brook called burt's brook, and from the mouth of sd. brook to wennaconnit bridge, and from sd. bridge northeasterd to the North-purchase line, but leaveing out of sd. precinct all the inhabitants in the North purchase that commonly go to Bridgewater meeting, who live on the Estardly side of the rhode that Leeadeth from winnacunnit to the bay,-for they in time hope to be a precinct with part of Bridge- water, which we shall not oppose,-but takeing into sd. precinct all be- longing to Taunton okl Township within the bounds above mentioned. but, if all the North purchase ware Enexed to Taunton for the present, we think it would be best for the manageing of public concerns; only that the lands within the bounds settled and agreed on between the pro- priators of Taunton North purchase and thair neighbours, on all parts, be confirmed to said proprietors, and the abovesaid precinct settled for the maintainance of the ministry in said precinct. and we farther pray that this honored court woald also apoint a committee to order where the meeting-house should be sett. all which, if this honoured court please to grant, your humble petitioners shall, as in duty they are bound, ever pray.

"GEORGE LEONARD, \ Agents for and in the behalf " NICHOLAS WHITE, S of said Inhabitants."

The following action was taken by the General Court upon this petition :

"22 Octo., 1708 .- Read in Council ; and Ordered, that the Selectmen of Taunton be served with a copy of this Peton., and heard thereupon before this Court upon the Second Tuesday of the next Session of ye sd. Court, if any thing they have to say why the prayer of the within Peti- tion should not be granted.

" ISA. ADDINGTON, Secretary.

"Sent down for concurrence."

"In the llouse of Representatives, Oct. 25, 1708 .- Read and Passed a concurrence, And that the Hearing be upon the Second Tuesday of the next Session of this Court.

" Agreed : " THOMAS OLIVER, Speaker.

" Consented to : "J. DUDLEY."

May 25, 1709, the town answered to the General Court as follows :

" To his Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esquire, Captain-Generall, Gov- ernor-in-chief in and over her majestie's Province of the Massachusetts bay, and the rest of the honorable Councill and Representatives Con- vened in Generall Court, May the 25, 1709, humbly Sheweth :

" That whereas the Honoured Court sent to the Selectmen of Taunton to show their reasons (if any they have) why Taunton North purchase and South Purchase should not have their prayer granted,-

" In answer whereunto we say that although it hath pleased God to Increase our numbers,-which we hope is in mercy,-yet must say that through the providence of God, a great many are so extream poor, and rates and taxes so high, that we find it hard and difficult to rub along, and the Generality of the North purchase are so poor that we ffear they will not be able to build a meeting-lionse and to maintain a minister."

"The North purchase we think it better ffor them to be a Township than a precinct.

" This is our last and finall answer uppon mature concideration.

" ISRAEL THRASHER, " JOHN SPUR, " EZRA DEAN, " Selectmen."

" We, whose names are underwritten, are of the same mind with those above,-

" Thomas Leonard, Henry Hodges, Samuel Deane, Seth Williams, Jo- seph Williams."

At the same time the " precinct committee" were urging their cause before the General Court.

June 4, 1709, Taunton appeared at the General Court with a remonstrance against the prayer of the petitioners, signed by James Leonard, Philip King, Thomas Gilbert, Thomas Harvey, and Jonathan Pad- dleford. Finally, after various petitions and remon- strances, the precinct was formed Sept. 19, 1709.

The following order in relation to the organization of the precinct as a town is under date March 17, 1710-11:

" The following Order passed by the Council and Assembly respectively upon the Petition of the North Precinct in Taunton, Praying to be made a Town, having the consent of Taunton therefor, viz.,-

"Ordered, That the North Precinct in Tauntou be, and hereby is granted to be a Town, distinct from the Town of Taunton, by the name of NORTON, and have and enjoy the Powers, Immunities, and Privileges by law granted to Townships, and that a bill be projected, and brought in at the next Session of this Court, fully to perfect the sd Grant. Pro- vided that the East End of the North Purchase shall have half the said Purchase as their Precinct when they are able to maintain a minister and this Court judge them so.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 143

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