History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 169

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 169

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Sorael Macomber

Grange Lawton

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meetings. He died Sept. 20, 1820, nearly eighty-one years old, surviving his wife a very few years.

Job Lawton, his son, was born Nov. 12, 1764. He married Hannah, daughter of Weston and Hannah (White) Kirby. She was born in Westport about 1769. They had three children,-Silas, Obadiah, and George. He had the educational advantages generally given their children by the New England farmers of that day, and combined the avocations of farming and shoemaking. He settled about a mile above the " Head of Westport," buying a farm of about forty acres. He resided there for several years, then selling this he purchased another of one hundred acres farther toward Central village, whither he moved in 1815 or 1816. He was always a great sufferer from asthma. He was a quiet per- son, not giving to notoriety or office-seeking. He died, of cancer, March 5, 1843. The George Law- ton whose portrait accompanies this sketch lived with his father, having slight school privileges. After he was twelve he attended the school at Cen- tral village a few weeks each winter for a limited period. He married, Nov. 26, 1826, Ruth, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Wood) Potter. She was born within a mile of the Rhode Island line, in Westport. Her family was an old one in the town. Her father was a farmer, who lived to be very old. He had fourteen children, of whom eleven attained mature years. She was youngest girl, and was born April 25, 1809. Her grandfather was Abner Potter, whose wife, Patience, was a most splendid specimen of true womanhood, bringing cheer and happiness to all within her sphere of action. Mr. and Mrs. Law- ton had nine children,-Eli Potter, born Sept. 20, 1827, married Mary E., daughter of Jeremiah and Barbara Devol, has two children, and lives in West- port ; Uriah W., born April 27, 1831, married Au- gusta King, of Taunton, has three children. He graduated at Brown University, and is now super- intendent of schools in Jackson, Mich. Mary E., born July 2, 1834. She married George J. Allen, had two children, Jacob and Ella, both of whom are married. Jacob lives in Providence, R. I .; has four children,-Ella, married Thomas Nyc, has one child, and lives in West Somerville, Mass. ; Hannah A., born Sept. 30, 1837, married William J. Chadwick, of New Bedford, has four children ; Ann M. (died young) ; George F., born Nov. 11, 1844, lives with his parents ; Ruth A., born July 3, 1846, married William P. Kirby, lives in Jersey City, N. J., and has one son ; William O., born March 16, 1850, mar- ried Rachel Wing, lives in New Bedford, and has one child ; Amanda M., born June 21, 1854, married T. A. Tripp, of New Haven, and has one child.

Mr. Lawton lived with his father for several years after marriage, then purchased a small farm near Hicks' Bridge, for which he agreed to pay fourteen hundred dollars. His capital at this time was only eight hundred dollars. After a stay of two years he

sold out, removed to Westport Point, purchased a farm of sixty acres, and resided there from 1839 to 1881. The four youngest children were born here. Mr. Lawton and his wife practiced the cardinal vir- tues of diligence and industry, and by long years of toil, in which there was perfect harmony between them, they built up a handsome competency. Al- though economical and prudent, they were not nig- gardly. All laudable charities met a hearty re- sponse from them, and all along life's pathway has the same generous feelings been exhibited. In 1847, Mr. Lawton erected a grist-mill on his farm, and attended to that personally for the many years he re- sided on the farm. He sold it, however, in March, 1881, and removed to the Head of Westport, where he now resides. His has been a life of honest labor. Every dollar he possesses has been paid for by its full equivalent in hard work. He has been Whig and Republican in politics, and, as such, has been over- seer of the poor three years, and selectman during three years of the civil war. He and his wife belong to the Society of Friends. Mr. Lawton has the honor of being the second resident of Westport to graduate a child at college. After fifty-seven years of connu- bial felicity, Mr. and Mrs. Lawton are passing down the declivity of life with the esteem of a large circle of friends, and enjoy in their latter years the results of their industry, and leave lives that their numerous descendants may worthily emulate.

CHAPTER LVII.

RAYNHAM.

Geographical-Early History-The First Iron-Works in America-The Leonards-Indian History - Pioneer Families- The Old Leonard House - The Revolutionary War-Votes of the Town - Names of Soldiers - Seth Dean - Ecclesiastical IIistory-The Congregational Church-The Baptist Church-The Unitarian Church-Educational -Early Schoolmasters-Their Salary-School Money in 1777-List of College Graduates - Militia Officers- Early Merchants - Physi- cians-Longevity-Justices of the Peace-High Sheriffs-Villages -Incorporation of the Town-First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected -Selectmen-Representatives and Town Clerks from 1731 to 1884 -Early Votes-Military Record.

THE town of Raynham lies in the northeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Easton, on the east by Bridgewater and Middleborough in Plymouth County, and on the south and west by Taunton.

Much of the early history of Raynham will be found in the history of Taunton, of which it origin- ally formed a part, being known as the east precinct of Taunton.

Although Tannton was settled in 1638, no settle- ment was made in Raynham until 1652, when James Leonard, Henry Leonard, and Ralph Russel, from Wales, located here for the purpose of setting up a " bloomary work." For a full description of the

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pioneer iron-works, the reader is referred to the his- tory of Taunton, where the matter is fully treated by that indefatigable worker in historical lore, Capt. J. W. D. Hall.

Oct. 21, 1652, the following entry appears in the ' therefore return you all serious thanks for your sin- records of Taunton : "It was agreed and granted by the town to the said James and Henry Leonard and Ralph Russel, free consent to come hither and join with certain of our inhabitants to set up a bloomary work on the Two-Mile River." Then no stranger could become an inhabitant without permission. " It was agreed and granted, by a free vote of the town, that such particular inhabitants as shall con- cur with said persons in their design shall have free liberty from the town to do so, to build and set up this work, and that they shall have the woods on the other side of the Two-Mile River, wheresoever it is common on that side of the river to cut for their cord-wood to make coals, and also to dig and take This reply was signed by Richard Williams, Walter Deane, and others.1 mine or ore at Two-mile meadows, or in any of the commons appertaining to the town where it is not proprietary."

"In accordance with this vote and the permission granted, the above-mentioned individuals erected works for the extraction of iron from the native ore, being the first iron manufactory established on the continent. These works continued in the possession of the Leonards and their descendants a hundred years, were enlarged by additional furnaces, and subsequently converted into an anchor forge.

" The original projectors, Henry and James Leon- ard, attracted by more abundant ores in New Jersey, removed there and established the first foundry in that province."-Sanford's History of Raynham.

"During the Indian war of 1675, which desolated many of the towns of Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, the inhabitants of Taunton were exempt from attack. Philip, the chief instigator of that war, had a summer hunting-seat near the Fowling pond. The Leonards had supplied him with beef, repaired his muskets, and furnished him with such simple tools as the Indians could use. These acts of friend- ship were remembered, and when other towns suffered from savage incursions, Raynham and Taunton es- caped. Philip's influence and friendship protected them. The people, however, were on their guard, and constructed fortified houses capable of resisting an Indian siege. A house belonging to Samuel Leonard, which stood a few rods east of the forge, was surrounded by palisades and provisioned. A fort also was built. The towns of Barnstable, Yar- mouth, and Eastham, on account of their position, were secure from Indian depredations. The inhab- itants of these Cape towns invited the people of Taunton, Rehoboth, Raynham, and Bridgewater to leave their settlements and live with them for greater safety. Taunton replied thus: 'We bless God that he hath given us much room in your hearts, that you so freely tender to us a part with you in your houses,

fields, and provisions at such a time when the Lord is threatening us with the bereavement of our own. It much comforteth us in this day of darkness and distress. We shall want no succor you are able to afford us. We cere and abundant love, beseeching the Lord to con- tinue and increase your ability, peace, and promptness to relieve distress in this evil day. Nevertheless, upon our serious and mature deliberation upon, and consideration of, your great offer, we cannot at pres- ent comply with a motion to remove and quit our places and leave our habitations to be a desolation, and that because we fear, in so doing, we should be wanting to the name of God and interests of Christ in this place, and betray much difficulty and cow- ardice, and give the adversary occasion to triumph over us to the reproach of that great and fearful name of God which is called upon us.'"

First Settlers .- Prominent among the early set- tlers and a leading family in the town were the Leonards. The Washburne familes were also promi- nent. Israel Washburne, the third of that name, re- moved to Maine, and had three sons who became members of Congress from three different States. One was Governor of Maine, and one, Elihu P. Wash- burne, was Secretary of State, etc. Among other prominent families, the following are mentioned : The Kings, the Deans, Shaws, Halls, Gushees, Wil- liamses, Gilmores, Andrews, Hathaways, Whites, Tracys, Knapps, etc. Hon. Josiah Dean was a mem- ber of Congress, elected in about 1808. He was a leading man of the town and county.

The pioneer "Leonard House" was located near the forge, and was probably erected in about 1670.

Dr. Fobes, in his " History of Raynham," published in 1793, in referring to this house, says, "In the cellar was deposited, for a considerable time, the head of King Philip ; for it seems that even Philip shared the fate of kings; he was decollated, and his head carried about, and shown by one Alderman, the In- dian who shot him.

"There is yet in being an ancient case of drawers which stood in the house, upon which the deep scars and mangled impressions of Indian hatchets are now visible. Under the door-steps of the same house lie buried the bones of two young women, who, in their flight here, were shot by the Indians ; but more for- tunate was the flight of Uriah Leonard, who, as he was riding from Taunton, was fired upon by the In- dians. But he swung his hat around, which started his horse in full canter ; he reached the dam without a wound, but bullets passed through the hat and the neck of the horse he rode. While Deacon Nathaniel Williams was at work with some others in the fields on the south side of the road, about half a mile from

1 See History of Taunton.

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the forge, one of the number discovered a motion in the bushes at a little distance; he immediately pre- sented his gun and fired, upon which the Indians were heard to cry, 'Cocoosh !' and ran off; but soon after one of the Indians was found dead near the Fowling pond."

The house was demolished about thirty years ago. A picture of this ancient mansion may be found in Barber's " Historical Collections."

Revolutionary War .- The first reference on the old town records to the war of the Revolution is under date of Aug. 5, 1774, as follows :

" The town voted £1 48. 6d. to pay its proportion towards defraying the expenses of the Continental Congress.

" July 18, 1775. The town directed the purchase of ten guns.

" November 20th. Voted £20 to Lieut. Benjamin King for services as delegate to Provincial Congress. Zephaniah Leonard, Joseph Shaw, and Seth Jones were chosen as committee to manufacture saltpetre ..

" March 4, 1776. Israel Washburn, Joshua Leonard, Benjamin King, and Elijah Leonard were chosen a Committee of Safety.

"Voted that every person from sixteen and up- wards, except those whom the committee shall see fit to exempt, contribute £10 each for a fund from which to pay soldiers.

"Ebenezer King and Capt. John King were drawn jurors, for the trial of Tories, at a special term of court at Taunton.

" July 29, 1778. Voted to levy a tax upon the pro- duce of the town to pay six Continental soldiers for nine months' service.

"July 25, 1779. Voted to raise £111 to pay for soldiers' shirts, shoes, and stockings. Josiah Dean was chosen delegate to convention at Concord.

"November 15th. Voted £407 11s. for the commit- tee to expend in hiring soldiers for the public service, and procuring blankets.

" July 7th. Made appropriation for six additional Continental soldiers.

" In 1778 the town raised $35,416 (depreciated cur- rency) for paying soldiers, and $24,000 to purchase six thousand pounds of beef.

"September 27th. Voted to buy 11,523 pounds of beef at .£3 11s. per hundred in new emission currency, or in old currency, at equitable exchange.

" In 1781 a bounty of one hundred hard dollars was offered annually to all the men who would enlist for three years.

"Voted to assess the town $80 in hard money to pay for beef called for by the General Court. Also, one hundred and eighty-five hard dollars to pay three soldiers, enlisted for five months, to serve in Rhode Island, and fifteen dollars a month for the three men enlisted to serve in New York."

It appears that the quotas of Raynham, paid for by the town, were principally from other places.

The following-named citizens of the town served in person : Capt. Abraham Hathaway, Elijah Gushee, Gaius King, Job Hall, Benjamin Cane, Seth Dean, Joseph Shaw, George King, Solomon Leonard, Ste- phen Williams, Chaplain Perez Fobes, Noah Hall, and Samuel Hall.

These are but a part of the men from the town who belonged to the Continental army of the Revolution.

Rev. Enoch Sanford, A.M., in his " History of Rayn- ham," gives the following sketch of Seth Dean :

" Mr. Seth Dean volunteered as a soldier at the age of seventeen, when the British force occupied Boston. Mr. Joseph Shaw and other young men of this town were enrolled with him in a company, of which John King was captain and Noah Hall lieutenant. Seth Dean was thus in the first campaign of the war, and went into the army then assembled around Bos- ton, under command of Washington, whose head- quarters were in Cambridge. He then served during a term of eight months.

" He was on Boston Neck when Bunker Hill battle was fought, June 17, 1775, and saw the burning of Charlestown. During that battle, and on several suc- cessive days, cannon-balls were flying over the Neck, where he was stationed.

" Returning home in January, he enjoyed repose but a few weeks, for in the inclement month of Feb- ruary, 1776, he returned again to the army and served two months at Cambridge, Winter Hill, and Dor- chester Heights.

" Mr. Dean was with the troops when the British evacuated Boston. The cannonading commenced in the town at twelve o'clock at night, and created much alarm among the people. At daylight he saw the British go on board their ships and leave the harbor. This was a day of rejoicing. Then Washington marched in his forces and took possession of the town.

" Afterwards, Mr. Dean was in the army on Rhode Island when the French fleet, under Count de Grasse, had come to our assistance and taken possession of the island.

"Subsequently he enlisted on board the privateer ship 'Hazard,' of sixteen guns, and was on a cruise four months. The 'Hazard' came into action with a British vessel of the same number of guns and men on the 16th of March, when, after a severe and bloody struggle, the British vessel struck her colors. The British captain, in coming on board, said, 'You have killed half of my men.' The captain of the ' Hazard' replied, 'You should have struck sooner.'

" In that sea-fight Mr. Dean said he felt death near him, when, as he was loading a cannon, his com- panion, Gaius King, brother of Asa King, was shot through the head and fell dead at his side.

" Finishing this voyage, in which he gained but little except a knowledge of the ravages of war, he returned to his home in the southeasterly part of this town, and was married to a daughter of Joseph Shaw in 1780.

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" Mr. Seth Dean had two military commissions of- fered him, that of ensign and lieutenant, and after- wards was chosen captain of militia, but in his mod- esty declined them all.

" Though in his early youth his courage led him to face danger in the field, no one was fonder of home or more calculated to make home pleasant. A man of a milder spirit, and at the same time more resolute against disorder or indecorum, cannot easily be found."

Educational .- Not only were the early settlers of Raynham interested in the religious welfare of the town, but the educational interest also early received their attention, and in 1742 we find a Mr. Fisher was schoolmaster.

In 1744 Mr. John Lea was employed to teach seven weeks and four days for sixteen pounds and sixteen shillings.

In 1752 we find that the good people voted not to hire a teacher. In 1753, however, sixteen pounds thirteen shillings and four pence and board at four shillings a week was voted for teaching six months. In 1777 three hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents were appropriated for schools.

The first settlers were intelligent and virtuous, and having made great sacrifices in coming to the wilder- ness, determined to give their children opportunities for instruction. Until after the Revolution the school- master instructed the children in reading, writing, arithmetic, and morals for ten pounds a year. His school was occasionally removed from one section of the town to another for the convenience of his pupils. Some of the intelligent boys studied surveying, and all recited weekly from the Assembly's Catechism.

Many school-teachers, male and female, have origi- nated in this town, and some of them have attained superiority in the profession.

Of those who have received college degrees there are the following :

Zephaniah Leonard (Yale), 1785, colonel and high sheriff, Bristol County.

Joshua Leonard (Brown), 1788, pastor, Pompey, N. Y.

John Hathaway (Brown), 1793, pastor.

Zephaniah Leonard (Brown), 1793, physician.

William Augustus Leonard (Brown), 1793, mer- chant.

Jahaziah Shaw (Brown), 1792, lawyer.

Mason Shaw (Brown), 1795, lawyer.

Lloyd Bowen Hall (Brown), 1795.

Elijah Leonard (Harvard), pastor.

Abiel Williams (Brown), 1795, pastor.

Abraham Gushee (Brown), 1798, pastor.

Samuel Wales (Yale), professor of divinity.

Samuel King Williams (Brown), 1804, lawyer. Jonathan Gilmore (Brown), 1800, pastor. Philo Hortensius Washburn (Brown), 1801, lawyer. John Gilmore Deane (Brown), 1806, pastor. Melvin Gilmore (Brown), 1805.

Silas Hall (Brown), 1809, pastor.

Eliab Williams (Brown), 1821, lawyer.

George Leonard (Brown).

Abiel Williams ( Yale), 1835, M.D.

Christopher Williams (Brown).

Linus Shaw (Brown), pastor.

Edward Sanford (Harvard), M.D.

Enoch Warren Sanford (Brown), physician.

Elliot Sanford (Amherst), 1861, lawyer,

Amos Robinson (Brown), 1861, pastor.

An account of the educational and intellectual fea- tures of Raynham would be imperfect without an allusion to the Lyceum, or debating society, existing thirty years ago. Its organization embraced most of the intelligent residents at the Centre, and the active minds of the time participated in its deliberations. During the winter for many seasons there were de- bates upon the topics of the day and objects of liter- ary interest, and once a fortnight a lecture was ex- pected either from gentlemen at home or from abroad. Hon. Francis Baylies, of Taunton, sometimes read an address, or the audience listened to an essay from William P. Daggett, the talented son of Rev. Simeon Daggett.

Mr. Eli K. Washburn, distinguished for sound sense and a clear understanding, frequently spoke. Once or more Joseph Dixon, chemist and necro- mancer, then of Taunton, lectured before the Lyceum, and the neighboring clergy were nearly all heard.

In 1810 there were two companies of uniformed militia in the town. The south company was com- manded by Capt. Barzillai King, and the north com- pany by Capt. Simcon Wilbur. Their uniforms were caps plumed with horse-hair and coats faced with red.

The following attained to positions in the local militia higher than that of captain :

Colonels .- Noah Hall, from March 22, 1792, to 1795; Warren Lincoln, from Aug. 13, 1831, to 1832.

Lieutenant- Colonels .- Zephaniah Leonard; Jona- than Shaw, from 1781 to 1788; Noah Hall, from May 15, 1788, to March 22, 1792; Warren Lincoln, from Sept. 23, 1829, to Aug. 13, 1831 ; William L. Wilbur, from Oct. 23, 1838, to April 24, 1840.

Senior Major .- John Gilmore, from 1805 to 1806.

Majors .- Jonathan Shaw, from 1779 to 1781; John Gilmore, from April 26, 1798, to 1805; Eliab B. Dean, from Sept. 16, 1817, to 1822; William D. Robinson, from May 13, 1837, to April 24, 1840.

All these field-officers held their military positions in the Third Regiment, in Second Brigade, Fifth Division, except Eliab B. Dean, who was major of a battalion of cavalry.

Early Merchants .- Nehemiah Jones kept a vari- ety store for many years at the centre. He was also postmaster. Abisha Lincoln traded at the north end, Sylvanus Makepeace at Prattville, Hanscome and Samuel Robinson at Gilmoreville, and Theodore King and Edward Wilbur at the centre. Richard Leonard, postmaster, was associated with King &

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Wilbur. At the south end were David Dean and Chauncy G. Washburn ; at the east, Silas Shaw.

Physicians .- Early in the century Dr. Seth Wash- burn practiced to some extent. Dr. Walker came here in 1815 and acquired an extensive business, which he was obliged before long to abandon on account of ill health. In 1820, Elisha Hayward, of Easton, a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1817, commenced practice. He studied medicine at New Haven, under the famous Dr. Smith, and acquired an excellent medical education.

He soon had a good practice, extending into the neighboring towns. His personal characteristics were strict integrity, kindness of heart, and devotion to the interests of his patients. He was unselfish in the discharge of his duties, thinking more of the well- being of others than of his own advantage. With an individuality peculiarly his own, with no ambition beyond his business, farm, and home, he was never- theless a faithful practitioner, respected for his steadi- ness of purpose, and regarded by a large circle of pa- tients as their firm friend and reliable adviser. He died in 1868, at the age of seventy-four, and Rev. Mr. Sanford pronounced his eulogy.

Gaius Dean, M.D., resided in this town for several years towards the close of his life, which had been principally spent in Virginia, where he had a lucrative practice. He was a native of Taunton, son of Deacon Ebenezer Dean, and a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1795. As his health became infirm, he removed to this town with his children, and re- sided near his sister, Mrs. Gushee. His motto was "Miser miseris succurrere disco" ("Infirm myself, I learn to succor the miserable.")

Longevity .- Two persons have lived beyond a hundred years,-Mrs. Abigail Leonard, wife of Col. Zephaniah Leonard, and Mrs. Lydia Snow, whose home was with Miss Hannah Jones, near the forge.

Justices of the Peace .- Jonathan Shaw, at the north end, was an acting justice for many years. He was a firm supporter of law and order, and criminals received their deserts at his hands. Capt. Samuel Wil- bur was a justice and deputy sheriff, and once a mem- ber of the Legislature.

High Sheriffs .- Col. Zephaniah Leonard was high sheriff of the county about thirty years. His son, Horatio Leonard, succeeded him, and held the office thirty-five years.

At Squawbetty, which lies on both sides of the Taunton River, partly in Taunton and partly in Raynham, are the Old Colony Iron-Works. These are extensive works, and employ a large number of men.

Benjamin Shaw had a saw-mill in 1700 on the Fowling Pond stream, which runs into Two-Mile River a mile above the old iron-works. He was a shareholder in the works, and was the ancestor of the Shaws of Taunton (Raynham in 1731). He died in 1723.

In 1770, James Presbo had a grist-mill near above location, on the same dam and stream, at the head of Two-Mile River. His son, Zadoc Presbo, who was a moulder, was associated with Capt. Israel Washburn in carrying on a furnace at the same dam for manu- facturing hollow-ware for many years. It was the oldest hollow-ware furnace in this section, except "King's Furnace." They mined all their ore for years on the banks of the river, in the "Mine meadows and bogs" in that vicinity.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 169

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