History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 148

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 148

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At present the society 'consists of thirty-seven members and three probationers. An interesting Sunday-school, with an average attendance of forty, is maintained. The situation of the church, it being some distance from any other, brings into attendance and sympathy with it some Christians of other de- nominations who do not choose to unite as members. It is a power for good in its community, and the earn- est prayer of its members is that it may continue as a beacon-light of ever-increasing radiance.

A Catholic Church was built in this town in 1865. The church has never had a settled pastor, but was in the Taunton parish nine years, and in the North Attleborough parish nine years, and was sup- plied with preaching from these parishes.

Educational .- Not only did the pioneers of Nor-

1 Supply.

2 By Rev. Frank S. Townsend.

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ton early interest themselves in religious matters, but the cause of education also early received their atten- tion. As early as April 28, 1719,

" the town made chois of Thomas Skinner, Sen., to Be thare Scoolmas- ter, and to beginn at ye first day of June, 1719, and to continu one quar- tor, and his salary not to Excead two pounds for said quarter."

In 1791, Patience Leach was the schoolmistress, at a salary of three shillings per week. Jonathan Hunt boarded the schoolmistress, and received three shil- lings per week. Abigail Morey taught in 1792.

" May 13, 1720 .- The town made choice of Jeremiah Bassett for to be Scoolmaster ; &, accordingly, he have agreed & excepted of the same for one quarter of a year, after the Rate of thirty pounds Per year,-one- third money, the other two-thirds other pay. first beginning at the public meeting-house. the scool to be moving, If continued the other part of the year. the second quarter [to be] at that part of the town called Scottlin; and the third quarter taking in Tiump's & White's and Skinner's naiborhood; and the fourth quarter at Winnaconick."

This practice of "moving" the school, as it was termed, continued for several years, most probably till the town was redistrieted.

" Aug. 14, 1721 .- At a towne-meeting Legally warned [for that pur- pose], chose Jeremiah Basset to be Schoolemaster to Keep Schoole in sd. towne one year next encening; and sd. Bassett is to have thirty Pounds in ye Produce of ye town, at the Price allready Sett."

June 20, 1723, at a legal town-meeting, it was-

"Voted that Simeon Wetherell shall be schoolmaster to keep school at his father's or his one house, to teech children to Reed, Right, and Cifer, for one quarter of a year next after the Last of august next; and the selectmen shall agree with sd. Wetherell for his service, and he is to be Paid in ye Produce of ye towne. Sd. Wetherell shall Keep School at but one of the Places all sd. quarter. And sd. Wetherel Excepted of his being Schoollmaster on sd. terms."

In looking at the record, it would seem that in addition to teaching the children "to Reed, Right, and Cifer," the teacher might profitably have spent his " noonings," at least, in teaching the recorder of the above vote how to spell, yet, in charity to the town clerk, we should remember how exceedingly limited were the educational privileges of that day.

"Jan. 6, 1723 or 4, voted that the selectman shall Go forthwith and agree with Othnial Cambell, of Taunton, to Keep School in Norton for one quarter of a year now following, and, if he cannot be had, then to Geet some other Sutable Persone to Keep School sd. quarter of a year."

At a legal town-meeting, July 13, 1724,-

"They voted that the scholl shall be Keept ye next quarter in that part of the towne which Goes by the name of Winecunet.

"Sept. 14, 1724 .- Voted to pay Mr. Jolin Sumner, for Keeping School, £11-8-0.

"Oct. 12, 1724 .- They made choice of William Caswell to be our Schoolmaster, to Keep Scholl in the towne of Norton one year next En- sening; and that he shall have thirty-four Pounds, in current money of sd. Province, for his wages to Keep scholl sd. year; and the sd. Towne of Norton to be at no more cost Consarning his Being Borded sd. year. Provided, allso, that he shall move in Keeping Scholl as the Towne shall agree. And they made choice of Mr. John Hodges to go and agree with sd. William Caswell to Keep scholl in ye town.

"Dec. 30, 1724 .- 2ly, They voted that the Schollmaster shall Keep Scholl, the first quarter of a year, at the house of Eliezer fisher; and the second quarter at the house of Left. Nicholas White; and the third quarter at Winecunit, or in that Part of the lown ; and the Last quarter at the meeting-llouse.

" March 29, 1727 .- Voted that Josiah Briggs shal be schollmaster to Keep Scholl in Norton, . .. Provided he will Keep scholl for 201b. a year, and his dyett; and that he shall Keep Scholl, the first quarter, at

ye middle of the towne ; and the second quarter at Wineennett; and the third quarter on the south side of ye way which is towards Elezer fisher's; and the fourth quarter at Left. White's, or theyrabouts.

"Nov. 30, 1727 .- Voted to pay Jolin Briggs, ye eldist, for dyeting of the Schollmaster 11 weeks, at 6s. a week, 041b .- 04s .- 0d.

"Sept. 20, 1731 .- Voted to Samnel Vesey, for Diating ye Scollemaster, 2-05-0.

"Sept. 18, 1733 .- Voated to Joseph Hodges, for bording the Scolle- master, Mr. Bacon, ye sum of 01-16-0.

" It was voated to Joseph Hodges, for carring & fetching sd. colemas- ter, ye sum of 0-14-0.

" It was voated to Daniell Braman, for Keeping the scollmaster fower weaks, at Eight shillind pur weake. It came to 01-12-0.

"Voated to Samnel Clap, for treating with the collmaster, the sum of 00-03-00.

"Aug. 31, 1736 .- Voated that the Selectmen shuld hire a scoolemaster.

"Sept. 28, 1736 .- Voted to Mr. Samuel Clap, the 1, for to pay to Scoole- master Vesey, the sum of 5-1-0.

"[Also] voated, that what is wanting for senlling for this present year, and for the pore, is to be dran out of the present tresury.

" May 14, 1742 -Theyr was a voate called for to Know whether the Scoole shuld be Kept on the west sid of the teen-Mile River, in said Preesent; and it past in the affirmative.»

"November, 1742 .- Voated to Capt. Hodges, for carying the Scoole- master to Cambridge, 01-05-0.

" Nov. 27, 1751 .- Voted that the Selectmen agree with Deacon John Briggs to Keep School, provided they can agree with him on Reasonable Conditions."

He probably kept, for the next year the town voted him sixteen shillings " for bording himself when he kept school."

" Dec. 30, 1751 .- Voted to Ephraim Leonard, Esq., for Boarding ye schoolmaster 612 weeks, and feching him from Concord, £11-00-0, old Tenor; £1-9-4, Lawful money.

" Nov. 21, 1755 .- Voted to Capt. William Stone, for boarding of the Schoolmaster, Stephen Farow (Farrar?), £2-12-0."

Mr. Farrar probably belonged to that part of Con- cord which is now Lincoln. The same day,-

"Voted to Daniel Braman, for boarding Samuel Dean, Jun., School- master, £2-08."

"This was probably," says Mr. Clark, "he who was afterwards the Rev. Dr. Deane, of Portland, Me." There is every reason to believe that most of the teachers heretofore mentioned belonged to Norton.

After the close of the Revolution the town assumed a renewed interest in the schools, and from that time to the present Norton has kept abreast with the rapid strides made in educational matters throughout New England. Her public schools have ever been excel- lent, while Wheaton Academy has long ranked among the leading literary institutions in the State.

Wheaton Female Seminary was founded in 1834 by Hon. Laban Wheaton, of Norton, in memory of his daughter. The endowment funds were increased by his son, Hon. Laban M. Wheaton, and since his death large additions have been made by his widow, Mrs. Eliza B. Wheaton. The grounds are spacious and attractive, with green lawns, fine shade-trees, and pleasant walks, while the quiet and secluded situation allows greater freedom than would be possible in a larger town. The seminary building is of fine archi- teetural proportions, and the boarding-houses, just beyond, are conveniently arranged to accommodate the entire school, having separate suites of rooms for teachers, pupils, steward and family, and servants,

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with dining-hall, drawing-room, parlors, offices, etc., all finished and furnished in excellent taste to make the home pleasant and attractive to all.

It is not a large school, and gives, therefore, oppor- tunity for familiar personál intercourse between teach- ers and pupils. It has a carefully-selected reference library of nearly four thousand volumes, one of the best-furnished laboratories in the country, ample philosophical apparatus, an observatory with a fine telescope, and choice cabinets of natural history. In- struction in all branches is thorough and systematic, and provision is made for lectures on scientific, his- torical, and literary subjects.

The design of the school is to afford opportunities for an accurate and practical education ; it especially aims to base such education upon a hearty faith in the Bible and a conscientious Christian life. Its influ- ence for good is wide and permanent.

CHAPTER XLIX.

NORTON .- ( Continued.) MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

IN 1695 Thomas and James Leonard commenced the erection of an iron forge on Stony Brook, nearly in front of the old Leonard Mansion House, westerly of Wading River, which in a few years passed into the hands of Maj. George Leonard (son of Thomas), and by him, his son George, and grandson George, the business of smelting the ore and the manufacture of iron was carried on at this place till near the close of the last century.

For many years a great amount of business was done here by the enterprising family whose name is so honorably and permanently associated with the early iron-works of this continent. The late Judge Leonard built a grist-mill, nearly on the site of the old forge, in 1805. It continued in operation till since the year 1825. George L. Barnes (a descendant of Maj. George Leonard), who, by the death of Mrs. Bowen, came into possession of the Leonard home- stead, erected in 1855, at great expense, a saw- and shingle-mill, etc., near the site of the old forge. He occupied the mill about a year, and since then till January, 1859, it stood idle, most of the machinery having been taken out. It subsequently passed into the hands of HI. S. Freeman, and later came into the possession of C. D. and C. H. Lane, and is now owned by the Norton Steam Power Company.

The Norton Steam Power Company, Charles D. Lane, president, was organized in 1871. The follow- ing year a factory, engine- and boiler-house, and rail- road depot were built at a cost of thirty-eight thousand dollars ; the company was incorporated Feb. 25, 1873; capital stock, thirty thousand dollars. The factory was first occupied Sept. 1, 1872, on the first floor by

William A. Sturdy & Co., jewelers. In 1873 and 1874 Bodman & Hussey, plane manufacturers, occupied the third floor. It was burned Dec. 26, 1874, rebuilt in the spring and summer of 1875 at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars, and sold at public auction Feb. 28, 1879, to William A. Sturdy and C. S. and George L. Wetherell.

It is at present owned by William A. Sturdy, and used by him for the manufacture of jewelry.

There was a saw-mill on Mulberry Meadow Brook, a short distance above where Thomas Copeland now resides, as early as 1710, owned by James Leonard, Jr., and John (?) Austin, and might have been the first saw-mill erected in town. In 1746, and for some years subsequently, it was owned by Samuel Clapp, and afterwards by his son, Jonathan Clapp, but pre- vious to 1771 it passed into the hands of John Cook and Samuel Godfrey. About 1719 the mill was burned; it was then owned by James Godfrey, and was soon rebuilt by him. Its present owners are Benjamin and Moses Lincoln.

As early as 1714 there was a " corn-mill," owned by George Leonard, on Wading River, at what is now Barrowsville. It had then probably stood several years, and no doubt was the first grist-mill erected in town. On the death of Mr. Leonard in 1716, he de- vised this privilege to his son Nathaniel, afterwards minister at Plymouth, and it remained in his posses- sion till his death in 1761. There was then a grist- mill and saw-mill, which were given to his son George. On the 12th of January, 1770, George Leonard deeded to Jonathan and John Amory a hundred and thirty- five acres of land, and "all the houses, mills, and other buildings thereon erected." He also deeded to them one-half of the potash-house and utensils stand- ing on the land belonging to John White. When this potash was built, or how long it remained, we have no information. In a little more than two months (or March 31, 1770) the Amorys sold the mills and land, and half of the potash standing thereon, to William Homes. June 13, 1783, he sold to Thomas Dawes, of Boston; and he (Homes) soon returned to Boston, from which he was probably driven, in 1770, on account of his hostility to the despotic acts of the British government. Dawes mortgaged these mills, etc., in 1788 to Josiah Waters and others, of Boston, who, Nov. 18, 1790, conveyed the property to Ephraim Raymond, a very energetic business man, who soon after erected an iron forge, and carried on that busi- ness for some years.

In 1810, Mr. Raymond and his father-in-law, Josiah Dean, of Raynham, erected the cotton-factory. Mr. Raymond probably owned three-fourths of the estab- lishment. The firm was known as the " Norton Manu- facturing Company." March 10, 1821, Raymond bought of the executors of Mr. Dean one-fourth of the factory, and between the 6th of November, 1821, and the 26th of August, 1833, at four different times he sold portions of it to Samuel Crocker aud Charles

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Richmond, amounting to seven-eighths of the whole establishment. Albert Barrows bought one-fourth of the factory Oct. 1, 1833, and owned it, with Crocker and Richmond, for several years. March 12, 1837, the " Norton Manufacturing Company," consisting of Crocker, Richmond, and Barrows, was incorporated by the General Court, with the privilege of holding capital to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. After the failure of Crocker & Richmond the property was sold at auction. Feb. 3, 1844, the " Wheaton Manu- facturing Company," consisting of " Albert Barrows, Samuel B. King, and Laban M. Wheaton, their asso- ciates and successors," was incorporated by the Legis- lature for the purpose of making " cotton and woolen goods," and were authorized to hold personal and real estate to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. The company organized under the charter March 12, 1854.

The Wheaton Manufacturing Company being un- successful in business sold to the Newbury Manufac- turing Company in 1865, who used it for manufac- turing cotton cloth until 1871, when they sold it to Lafayette Godfrey, who used it in the same until 1875, when he sold it to the Stafford Manufacturing Company of Fall River, who own it at the present time, and use it for manufacturing cotton yarn.

Previous to 1745, Jonathan Hodges erected a mill on Goose Brook, a few rods below the bridge, and carried on the business of " fulling, dyeing, and dress- ing cloth." This was the first mill for that business erected in Norton.

More than a hundred years ago a saw-mill was built by Deacon John Andrews on Burt's Brook.

On the 30th of August, 1783, Nathan and Edward Babbit, of one party, and Annes Newcomb, of the other, entered into an agreement to build a dam for a grist-mill and fulling-mill, the Babbits to build each one-fourth of the dam, and one-half of the grist-mill, and Newcomb to build the other half of the dam and the whole of the fulling-mill, and the buildings were soon after erected on Canoe River, on opposite sides of the stream, a short distance from Easton line. On the 18th of November, 1794, Nathan Babbit being dead, his son Edward deeded to Levi Babbitt one- half of the grist-mill, the other half being then owned by Asa Newcomb. Previous to Jan. 5, 1795, the fulling-mill had passed into the hands of Asa Newcomb, who was a brother of Annes, and a saw- mill had been built, for on that day he (Asa) sold one-half of the fulling-mill and one-half of the dam to Thomas Danforth, reserving the water not needed for the grist-mill and fulling-mill for his (Newcomb's) saw-mill, which shows that the saw-mill was stand- ing at that time. In February, 1811, Danforth sold to Jonathan Smith, Simeon Presbery, Jr., Daniel Presbery, Stimson Austin, and Alanson Cobb, re- serving to himself three-eighths of a water privilege, and they built thereon a factory for making cotton yarn. This factory was owned by different individ- uals up to 1822, when Nathaniel Newcomb bought

the whole of it, and made yarn for a time, then thread, and finally wadding and batting. In De- cember, 1831, the factory was burned, and Mr. New- comb rebuilt on the same spot in April, 1832. In 1812, James Beaumont, of Canton, received a patent on a certain kind of wadding. Mr. Newcomb bought of him the right and manufactured that wadding. The grist-mill went into disuse about 1814, the full- ing-mill about 1820. This mill is now leased by Maynard Newcomb, who built in 1881 a large addi- tion, introduced steam-power, and continues the man- ufacture of batting and wadding.

Not far from 1790, William Carpenter built a mill for cutting nails on the westerly side of Rumford River.

Ansel Keith and Jonathan Smith were among the first to commence the hat business here about 1808. George Gilbert commenced the manufacture of bon- nets, etc., about the same time. Soon after Thomas Danforth (2d) entered into the business, and carried it on quite extensively. Hiram H. Wetherell, either alone or with his brother Horace B., carried on the business from 1833 to 1844. Sept. 3, 1850, the Norton Straw Manufacturing Company, consisting of the Wheaton Manufacturing Company, L. M. Wheaton, Zeno Kelly, L. D. Anthony, and A. Barrows, was or- ganized, with a capital of seven thousand dollars, and made bonnets, hats, etc. Jan. 14, 1854, the company was dissolved, and the Norton Straw Company was formed, consisting of L. M. Wheaton, Zeno Kelly, and T. T. Rockwood, with a capital of fourteen thou- sand dollars. Nov. 12, 1855, another change took place, T. T. Rockwood, A. Dunham, and D. S. Har- don assuming the business under the name of the Nor- ton Manufacturing Company. Oct. 6, 1856, Dun- ham and Hardon retired from the firm and C. M. Dean became a member, and in the spring of 1857 the com- pany stopped business.

The first tannery in town is supposed to have been between the school-house in District No. 3 and Burt's Brook, and was, perhaps, built soon after the incorpo- ration of the town by John Andrews, who settled thereabouts. But the first tannery of which we have any authentic account was built about 1740, by Dea- con Benjamin Copeland, between the house of Thomas Copeland and Mulberry Meadow Brook. It continued in the Copeland family till it went to decay, about 1845. About 1758, David Arnold, who learned his trade of Deacon Copeland, set up a tannery on Burt's Brook, and did a large amount of business for many years. Before the Revolution a tannery was built near Rumford River, at the place where Mason Free- man lives, by a Mr. Basset. It was afterwards owned by George Walker.

Within the present year (1858) Austin Messinger has commenced the manufacture of a very superior kind of friction matches.

Talbot's wool-scouring mill is on the Rumford River, about a quarter of a mile north of the Trinitarian

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Congregational Church in the Centre village of Nor- ton.

The water privilege was formerly owned by Eben- ezer Burt, who in 1744 deeded to William Stone forty and a half acres of land adjoining, and in 1766 to his son, Nathaniel Stone, all the rights and privileges in the stream reserved in the deed of 1744. This prop- erty remained in the Stone family many years, and the water privilege was utilized for an iron forge, a saw- and a grist-mill.

Some time previous to 1812 the property came into the possession of Deacon Daniel Lane and sons, who that year rebuilt the saw-mill. In 1828 the Lanes as- sociated with themselves Messrs. Daniel Patten, Lem- uel Perry, John and David Arnold, and Simeon Derry, and built a cotton-factory known as the "Centre Mills." This was run for several years under the superintendence of Capt. Lemnel Perry, who built and occupied the dwelling now owned and occupied by Mr. G. H. Talbot, who has recently enlarged and thoroughly renovated it, introducing modern conven- iences.

In 1846 the property passed into the hands of La- ban M. Wheaton, Esq., who continued the business of cotton manufacture until his death. In 1864 it was sold to Nathan Smith, who for a short time de- voted a part of it to the manufacture of cotton bat- ting. In 1867, Messrs. Story and Talbot hired the mill and introduced machinery for wool-scouring. After two or three years, the business prospering, they purchased the property and ran the mill exclu- sively for wool-sconring. Mr. Story's health failing, he soon retired from the business, and it has since been conducted by Mr. Talbot as sole proprietor.

The original mill, built in 1828, was thirty by fifty- five feet, and three stories high. In 1875 it was en- larged by an additional building forty-five feet square, and again in 1881 by another thirty by seventy feet.

Up to the time of this last enlargement the water- power was sufficient to run the mill. With this en- largement it became necessary to supplement this with steam-power, and double boilers with an engine of sixty horse-power were put in.

The business is a good and steady one, and for the most part comes without solicitation. There are only three competing mills of the kind in the country, ex- cepting that a few large wool manufacturers scour their own wool instead of buying it all prepared. One at Walpole, one at North Chelmsford, in this State, and one at New Brunswick, N. J.

The Diamond Match Company, consolidating all the match-factories in the United States excepting that of the Portland Star Match Company, was in- corporated under the laws of Connecticut in January, 1880, with a capital of two and a half millions of dollars.

The business here was started in 1857 by Anstin Messinger, Esq. At his cottage home he dipped and packed the match-cards, which were sawed elsewhere,

and peddled them about the country. From this humble beginning the business grew until he had near his home a mill for sawing the lumber and mak- ing the match-cards, and improved facilities for dip- ping and packing them for the market. A partner- ship was formed with Andrew H. Sweet, Esq., who attended to the sales, having an office in Boston, while Mr. Messinger had charge of the manufactory. As the business prospered new buildings and machinery were added, and the force of hands increased. In the vicinity a thriving little village sprung up, fittingly called Messingerville after him whose enterprise and industry gave it being and life.

The factory is about a mile west of the Centre village, on the main road to Lane's Station and Attle- borough.

This is a representative establishment, and employs when business is brisk from thirty to forty hands.

CHAPTER L.

NORTON .- ( Continued.)

MISCELLANEOUS.

Physicians-College Graduates-Stocks and Whipping-Post-Gas-Works -Runaway Wife-Witchcraft-Masonic-Post-Office-The Town Hall.

Physicians .- Dr. Samuel Caswell was the first resident physician within the ancient limits of Nor- ton, and was born Oct. 6, 1695. Oct. 17, 1726, the town " voted to Pay to Doctr. Saml. Caswell, for doc- tering Goode Merry, 0-15-0." He bought land in Norton in 1723, and was then called a "Practitioner of Physick." Probably about that time he established himself here as a physician and farmer.

Dr. Nicholas White was the son of Deacon Nicholas and Experience White, and was born about 1705. He was a practicing physician for several years, and resided sometimes in the North and sometimes in the South Precinct of Norton. He married Sarah King, May 1, 1728, and they had six children. He died in the North Precinct, June 29, 1751.

Dr. William Ware was the son of John and Me- hitable Ware, of Wrentham, and was born July 4, 1697. He was a "Practitioner of Physick" here for several years, and also kept a public-house from 1728 to 1740.

Dr. John Wild, Jr., was the son of John and Abi- gail Wild, and was probably born in Braintree in 1727. He married, May 1, 1746, Anna Hodges, and had two or three children.

Dr. Lewis Sweeting was undoubtedly the son of Lewis and Zibiah (Whiting) Sweeting, of Wrentham, who were married in 1721, and were afterwards of Rehoboth. He probably came to Norton soon after reaching his majority, and seems to have lived a part of the time within the present limits of the town, and a part of the time in Mansfield, in which town he was

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one of the Committee of Correspondence and Safety in 1776. He married, Nov. 21, 1744, Abiah Cobb, by whom he had ten children.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 148

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