History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 173

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 173

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).

BENJAMIN KING (third generation), son of John and Alice (Dean) King, was born in 1720, and owned a large amount of land, much of which is now held by his descendants. He was three times married, (1) to Abiah, daughter of Deacon Samuel Leonard, by whom he had six children ; (2) to Deliverance, daugh- ter of Joseph Eddy, of Taunton, by whom he had six children ; (3) to a Mrs. Cobb (no offspring). He

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Gas MY King

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was called upon to do much publie business, laying out roads, setting off farms, establishing and build- ing meeting-houses, etc. He contributed forty pounds toward the erection of the Taunton meeting-house, and was a man of substance and respectability. We quote again from Rev. Mr. Sanford : " Raynham for many years did not send a representative to the Gen- eral Court, as each town then had to pay its own representatives. In 1774 Benjamin King represented the town when the storm of the Revolution was gathering and the General Court at Boston was harassed by the Governor. He was afterwards a dele- gate to the Provincial Congress, held in May of the same year, and was also, in 1776, one of the Commit- tee of Safety in the State." He died in 1803, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.

STEPHEN KING (fourth generation), oldest child of Benjamin and Deliverance (Eddy) King, was dis- tinguished for enterprise and energy of character. He owned a large farm near King's Bridge, on Taun- ton River, and, in spite of great opposition from the people, who contended that the herring fishery would be ruined and thousands of acres of meadow land flooded, he obtained authority from the Legislature to construct a dam across the river, and in a few years it gave power to iron-works, giving employ- ment to hundreds of persons, and bringing a large population to the village, which, in consequence of this action of one man of far-seeing sagacity, sprung up like magie. This village was called " Squawbetty," continuing the name previously applied to the locality from an Indian squaw named Betty, who formerly lived there. He married Hannah, daughter of Mason Shaw, Esq. They had seven children, of whom George W. was fourth son. Stephen King was a firm supporter of religion and a man of superior ability, and much reverenced in the community.

GEORGE W. KING (fifth generation) was born in Raynham, Mass., Jan. 24, 1800. Like most boys of that period he had but very meagre educational ad- vantages. There was a school taught about three months each year, and labors at home frequently de- tained the young scholar from its instruction. Being the son of a farmer and brickmaker (which he carried on besides other branches of industry ) he was early taught to labor, and thus, although debarred from a liberal scholastic education, obtained a very valuable practical one, which he has through a long and busy life used to advantage and made the foundation of his success. The principal branches of this education were labor and economy. These brought to him a hardy and robust constitution which has enabled him to retain great vigor at his eighty-third year. Upon arriving at his majority he entered the employ of H. Leonard & Co., as forgeman. In this capacity he remained two winters. He then engaged to do their teaming, which he did for seven years. He was then employed in their shovel-factory in " handle- ing" shovels, and for several years remained at this

work. In 1837 he began, in a small way, the manu- facture of shovels on his own premises in Squawbetty. His business increased, and he added to his produc- tions year by year until he had one of the representa- tive manufactories of this section. In 1841 he bought the privilege formerly used by Raynham Furnace, moved his business thither, and changed his residence to that place in December, 1844. In the spring of 1842 the dam and buildings of his manufactory were carried away by the floods, but rebuilt immediately. In December, 1845, the works were entirely burned,- no insurance.

At the time of the breaking out of the great Re- bellion of 1861, he was making shovels, nails, taeks, etc., and employing thirty people. About this time he discontinued making shovels, owing to heavy losses caused by the failure of large New York houses with whom he was dealing. He struggled along, however, continuing the manufacture of nails. This he gradually built up into a successful business, in which he was engaged until the autumn of 1882, when he retired.

In connection with his manufacturing, Mr. King has always been a farmer on a small scale. When a young man he made a trip to South Carolina with two of his brothers, and passed some months in getting out hogshead staves.

Mr. King married Susan Young, daughter of Asa and Susannah (Randall) Howard, of Easton, Mass. She was born in 1813, and died March 1, 1879. They had two children,-Susan Howard, born May 6, 1836, and Eliza A., born Dec. 20, 1838. Susan married, Jan. 30, 1861, George William Andros, of Taunton, now cashier in Taunton National Bank. They have five children,-Susan A., born Dec. 25, 1861; Annie H., born Feb. 4, 1863 ; Frederick W., born March 19, 1865 ; Charles H., born Nov. 29, 1869; and William N., born Jan. 10, 1879. (We trace the Howard family as follows: John Howard with his brother James came from England to Duxbury, and was registered as one able to bear arms there in 1643. In 1651 he was one of the original proprietors and settlers of West Bridgewater. He was young when he came over, and it is said lived in Capt. Miles Standish's family. He was one of the first military officers in Bridgewater, and a man of much consideration. He took the oath of fidelity there in 1657. He always wrote his name Haward, and so did all his descend- ants until 1700, and it is thus spelled in the early town records, but since that date it has been written invariably Howard. It is remarkable that the names of Hayward and Howard, which have been called distinet names, were originally pronounced alike, Howard. They were the same originally, and both Hayward; but in writing John omitted the "y." This John died about 1700, leaving children, one of whom was Jonathan, who married Sarah Dean, and was a major. He had nine children. His estate was settled in 1739. His sixth child, Abiel, born 1704,

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gradnated at Harvard University 1729, became a physician, married Silence, daughter of Nehemiah Washburn, and had several children. He died Jan. 10, 1777 ; his wife died Aug. 17, 1775. Nehemiah, son of Dr. Abiel Howard, born in 1740, married Hannah, daughter of Dr. Dean, of Easton, born 1745. They had six children, and resided in Easton, adjoining the Bridgewater line. Nehemiah died Sept. 30, 1825, and his wife died Nov. 2, 1820. Asa, son of Nehemiah, born 1775, died Jan. 1, 1838; married Susannah Randall, and had seven children, of whom Susan Young, who married George W. King, was fourth child and eldest daughter.)

SAMUEL JONES.

Of the numerous branches of the Jones family, both in England and the United States, that to which Samuel Jones belongs has been among the most prominent. The famous Lieutenant-Governor, Wil- liam Jones, of New Haven Colony, was a descendant originally of this same family. The first American ancestor, however, of Samuel Jones, was one Thomas Jones, of Hingham, England, who in 1638 emigrated to America in the ship "Confidence," was made a freeman in 1646, was by occupation a tailor. His wife was named Ann. They had four children, of whom Joseph was one. The following data concern- ing the ancestry from that time to the present lias been contributed by Mr. Jones himself.

The ancestors of Samuel Jones and Samuel Gushee Jones, his son, now residing in Raynham, Mass., 1883, were as follows :

First generation : Joseph Jones, who settled in that part of Taunton now Raynham. By Probate Rec- ords, book 5, pages 324 and 325, it appears that he died in 1726. He must have lived to a great age, as his son Abraham was then sixty-seven years old. Joseph Jones' (his son) will, proved Dec. 18, 1740, (vol. x. p. 6), shows his children were Benjamin, Nathan, Elnathan, Submit (married Partridge), Sa- rah, Lidia (married Bosworth), Rebeccah (married Dyer), and Mary Jones. Their posterity have scat- tered over the country we know not where.

Second generation : Abraham Jones, son of Joseph Jones (1), died March 18, 1735, aged seventy-six years. He was one of the thirty-two persons dis- missed from the parent church in Taunton to organ- ize the First Church in Raynham, Oct. 19, 1731. His residence was a few rods southwest of the late anchor forge, on the site of the first bloomery in the country. His children were Timothy, Isaac, Jacob, Israel, Hatherly, Ruth (married Dean), Sarah (married Pratt).

Jones, born Nov. 15, 1738. His residence was on Pleasant Street, half a mile northeast of the First Congregational Church, and it is now standing and has been the birthplace of his children and grand- children and great-grandchildren in our line. His grandson, Samuel, then about eight years old, at the dark day, May 19, 1780, remembered how calm and composed he was when the people thought the last day had come.

Fourth generation : Samuel Jones, son of Timothy and Sarah Jones, died Sept. 15, 1808. His first wife was Mercy Gushee, daughter of Abraham and Han- nah Gushee. Their son, Samuel Jones, was born July 13, 1772. He often remarked, when speaking of his youth, that he was four years a subject of King George.

Fifth generation : Samuel Jones, son of Samuel and Mercy, died Dec. 26, 1854, aged eighty-two years. His wife was Mary, daughter of John and Silence Williams. She died July 11, 1847, aged sixty-six years. Their children were Samuel Jones, born Sept. 13, 1807; Mary, born July 30, 1809 (married Henry H. Crane), died 1863; Mercy Jane, born Aug. 28, 1811 (married Seabury Thayer, of Taunton) ; John W. Jones, born Feb. 11, 1814, died September, 1842 ; Martha, born Dec. 30, 1816 (married George B. Crane, of Norton) ; Caroline E., born Dec. 6, 1819 (mar- ried James T. Bassett, of Taunton).

Rebekah, born Feb. 10, 1823, married Adnah Har- low.

Sixth generation : Samuel Jones, son of Samuel and Mary, married Martha W. Bliss, daughter of Asahel and Deborah Bliss, of Rehoboth, April 3, 1838. Their children were Mary A. Jones, born Jan. 10, 1839, died Dec. 5, 1866 ; Abraham Jones, born March 13, 1841, died Aug. 14, 1843; Caroline E. Jones, born Oct. 18, 1843, married George F. Bloom, of Remington, Ind .; Abraham Bliss Jones, born March 14, 1846; Samuel Gushee Jones, born Oct. 31, 1848 ; Julia E. Jones, born Oct. 1, 1851, died July 26, 1853; Emma E. Jones, born Oct. 16, 1854.

Seventh generation : Abraham Bliss Jones married O. Jane Foster, of Kansas, February, 1874. Their children are Jesse Samuel Jones, born Dec. 8, 1874 ; Frederic Clarance Jones, born Jan. 26, 1879. Their residence is at White Cloud, Kan.

In looking at the names which the Pilgrims gave to their children we see how strong was their faith that the Lord had said unto them, as to Abraham, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee ; and I will make thee a great nation."

And may we not say of them,-

" These all died in the faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the earth."

Third generation : Timothy, son of Abraham, died Sept. 16, 1781, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. His wife was Sarah Shaw, of Raynham, and died" 1774. Their children were Timothy, born 1727; Samuel Jones did not receive a collegiate education, Abraham, born 1730; Hannah, born 1733; Samuel | but he has always been a great reader, and of an in-

Samuel Gomes

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quiring and investigating turn of mind. The result is that his mind is well stored with a fund of miscel- laneous and useful knowledge, and he is conversant with a great variety of topics. Among other things he has studied for his amusement Pitman's system of phonography. This he took up after arriving at middle life, and yet he is quite a proficient short-hand writer. When about twenty years of age he began teaching school, and this he continued during the winter months for more than thirty years. He learned surveying when young, and has done most of the surveying in his section from that time to the present. He has been a member of the school committee many years ; was town clerk and treasurer during the war, when the duties of the office were arduous and re- sponsible. He has been justice of the peace more than twenty years, and has done considerable probate business. In politics, he is a Republican. His resi- dence is situated a few rods northeast of the old ances- tral home, where lived and died his father and grand- father, and on land which has been in the family since its first settlement. He was chosen deacon of the First Congregational Church Oct. 1, 1848, and from that time to the present has held that position. He is a man of sound judgment, much thought, honest convictions, and pure and exalted character, modest, dignified, and unassuming, a great lover of morality, and is a highly-esteemed and useful citizen of the community.

Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Deacon Asahel and Deborah (Martin) Bliss, of Rehoboth, Mass. She is descended from one of the oldest and best families of the town. (See Bliss genealogy.) Her father was deacon of the Congregational Church in his native town nearly fifty years. He was a man of high moral principles, an earnest and devoted Christian, and when he died, at the advanced age of eighty-three, his mourners equaled the number of his acquaintances.

JOHN TRACY.

Many of the New England Tracys are descended from Sir John Tracy, Knight of Tuddington, county of Gloucester, England. A number of the name came from England and settled at and about Nor- wich, Conn. The first, however, of whom there is any definite knowledge was Stephen, who came over in the " Ann," and landed at Plymouth in 1623 with his wife Tryphosa, whom he had married at Leyden, Jan. 2, 1621. From him it is very probable John Tracy, of whom we write, is descended. He was born in Pembroke, Mass., Nov. 11, 1798; is the son of Jacob and Hannah (Ford) Tracy, grandson of Asaph and Mary (Jacobs), and great-grandson of Thomas, who was born about 1695, and resided in Pembroke; he died 1755. But little is known of him further than the place of his abode, but he must have been a man of some consequence, as his name frequently ap- pears in the early records of that town. Asaph, his

son, was born in 1723; married Mary Jacobs, 1748, who was born 1725, and died Dec. 6, 1786. He died July 6, 1799. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a Revolutionary soldier. They had children, of whom Jacob was one. Jacob was born Aug. 6, 1760, at Pembroke, was a farmer and mechanic. He mar- ried Hannah Ford, daughter of John and Mary Ford, Feb. 24, 1788. They removed to Raynham, Mass., where their latter years were spent. He died July 21, 1831 ; she died Oct. 24, 1852.

John Tracy was quite young when brought by his parents to Raynham. Here he grew up to manhood, and married Huldah Miles, daughter of Joel and Mary Miles, June 1, 1828, in Boston, Mass. She was born May 11, 1800, at Fitzwilliam, N. H., and died July 21, 1878. He died Dec. 10, 1875. They had no offspring.

Mr. Tracy was a representative farmer and busi- ness man of Raynham, and one of its most respected citizens. In connection with his farming interests he also established a saw-mill, which is still owned and operated by his legal successor, James R. Tracy.

In politics, he was a Republican. He was assessor and selectman of his town, and always closely identi- fied with the best interests of the community. Though conservative in sentiment, yet he was liberal and pro- gressive in his ideas. He was a kind, good man, one who spoke and acted fearlessly and from conviction. He was very charitable to the poor and liberal towards the church. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mrs. Tracy was a noble type of woman, pure and exalted in character, and kind and lovable in disposition.

As they had no children of their own they adopted James L. S. Russell, who now bears the name of his adopted parent. He was born in Boston, Aug. 25, 1835, came to reside with Mr. Tracy in 1847, and has since been a citizen of Raynham. He married, June 7, 1863, Mary F., daughter of Col. Franklin and Mary (Forbes) Leach. She was born March 10, 1844. They have two children,-Huldah M. and Louise M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tracy are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years their parlors have been used weekly as a place of public worship. Mr. Tracy is an officer in the church, and one of its most liberal supporters. Their daughters are bright, intelligent, and accomplished. Rev. David Russell, father of James, was born in Hartford, Conn., mar- ried Lydia Thompson, and had four children-Mary E., Charles G., James Lawrence Scott, and Edwin B. He was an exemplary Christian, and a gifted minister of the Episcopal Church. He died in New York City, August, 1871, where he was deeply interested in the cause of missions. His son Edwin B. is rector of a church in Paterson, N. J. Charles G. was first lieu- tenant in Company D, Col. Webster's regiment, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. Mrs. Russell died Jan. 5, 1881, aged seventy-nine. James R. Tracy is of active, unobtrusive character, a

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good citizen, and a worthy Christian. He pays this tribute to the memory of his foster-father that his name and the record of his good deeds may live through the coming years.

CHAPTER LVIII.I

TAUNTON.

Boundaries-Topography-City Organization-Population.

[PREFATORY NOTE .- No one can be more sensible than myself of the incompleteness of the following sketch. It is not claimed to be a his- tory ; at the best, it is but a contribution towards a history. But, imper- fect as it is, it has extended much further than was contemplated when I consented to write something concerning the early planting of the town and its first settlers. No history of Taunton has yet been written. Mr. Baylies furnished much interesting and important matter relating to its history for the first fifty years, and Rev. Mr. Emery, in his " Minis- try of Taunton," gave a great deal more, covering a much longer period, which is of great value. Sketches, reminiscences, and single items have from time to time been given to the public, but all this has necessarily been fragmentary and, of course, unsatisfactory.

In what is here presented it has been my object, so far as possible, to Jet the fathers speak for themselves, and therefore original papers, to a greater extent perhaps than some will approve, have been given in their integrity. Some of the more important laws of the colonial period, de- fining the duties of town officers, have also been given in full rather than abstracts from them, for it was a characteristic of the early legis- Jation to give the reasons for particular enactments in the enactments themselves in ample and explicit phrase, so that from these laws a truer and more graphic picture of the period can be obtained than from almost any other source. "The reason of the law is the life of the law." For the same reason the orders of the General Court and the votes of the proprietors are in most instances given at length. An abstract or para- phrase might be more brief, but the original flavor would be gone.

It has been a personal satisfaction to commune for a time with the fathers and founders of our ancient town and the earlier generations of their successors. A higher appreciation of their sturdy manhood and integrity has thus been gained. If it shall have this effect in any degree upon those who may read what is here written, my best expectations will be realized.

TAUNTON, May, 1883.]

JAMES HENRY DEAN.

THE city of Taunton lies in the northeasterly part of Bristol County, and is bounded on the northwest by Norton, on the northeast by Easton, on the east by Raynham, Middleborough, and Lakeville, on the south by Berkley and Dighton, and on the west by Rehoboth. In its greatest length, from northwest to southeast, it measures rather over ten miles; its greatest breadth, being across its northwesterly por- tion, from northeast to southwest, is nine miles, while across its central portion, between Raynham and Berkley, it is less than two miles. Its present outline is extremely irregular and awkward, the result of setting off several new towns from the original terri- tory, in which more regard seems to have been had for the symmetry of the parts thus taken than of the part that remained.

It has few marked topographical features, the sur- face being generally level. Prospect Hill, two and a

half miles north of City Square, is one hundred and seventy-five feet above City Square, and is the highest point within the city limits. At its southerly base lies Prospect Hill Pond, a beautiful sheet of water, surrounded by high land, except on the southerly side, from which a small outlet flows easterly into the Fowling Pond in Raynham. Still farther northwest- erly are Scadding's and Watson's Ponds, which are connected by an outlet from the latter, Scadding's also receiving a small stream flowing from Winni- cunnett Pond, which lies just across the northwest- erly boundary in Norton. Mill River is the outlet of Scadding's Pond, and flows in a southerly direction through the manufacturing villages of Whittenton, Britanniaville, and Hopewell, affording water-power to each, and also to several manufactories in the cen- tre, and empties into Taunton River at the Neck of Land.

Three-Mile River, formed by the junction of Rum- ford and Wading Rivers in Norton, flows through the villages of Oakland and Westville, in the westerly part of the city, to the village of North Dighton, which is partly in Taunton, and from there it forms the boundary between Taunton and Dighton for a distance of a mile and a half, until it empties into Taunton River. It furnishes valuable water-power in each of the villages named.

The principal stream is Taunton River, called by the inhabitants the Great River, to distinguish it from Mill River, which is commonly called the Little River. It has its sources in several small streams in Plymouth County, forms the boundary between Rayn- ham and Middleborough, Taunton and Middlebor- ongh, and the southerly boundary between Raynham and Taunton. At East Taunton there is a dam which furnishes a head of water for the Old Colony Iron Company, located there. The tide ebbs and flows to this point, and tugs and scows ascend thus far with freight. The head of navigation for sailing vessels is at Weir village, which has a large and important trade in iron, coal, and grain. Some seventeen miles below this place, at Fall River, it empties into Mount Hope Bay.

In the easterly part of the city there are several ponds, known as Furnace Pond, Robinson & King's Pond, Dean Factory Pond, and Bear-Hole Pond, which afford by their outlets water-power for several saw-mills.

There are forests of considerable extent in the out- lying districts, the largest being the Great Cedar Swamp, several miles in extent, which covers the northeasterly corner of the territory. Apart from this the prevailing growth is white-pine, although there are large oak and maple forests, interspersed with chestnut, beech, ash, and other hard-wood trees, and pitch-pine is found to some extent.

On the first Monday of January, 1865, two hundred and twenty-eight years, at least, after the first settle- ment of Cohannet, and two hundred and twenty-five

I By James Ilenry Dean.

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years after receiving the name of Taunton, a city or- ganization was inaugurated, and the territory was divided into eight wards. The population at that time was 16,005. In 1765 the number of families in the town was 493, and the population was 2745; in 1800 the population was 3860; in 1810, 3907 ; in 1820, 4520. Since the organization of the city the popula- tion has increased as follows: 1870, 18,629; 1875, 20,445; 1880, 21,213.

CHAPTER LIX.

TAUNTON1-(Continued.)

Early Explorations-First Settlement-Acquisition of Territory.

TAUNTON is the oldest settlement in Bristol County, and the third in order of time, after Plymouth itself, in Plymouth Colony, Scituate having been incor- porated in 1636, Duxbury in 1637, and Taunton in 1639.

A romantic interest attaches to the pioneers in any new enterprise, and especially to those who found a new settlement in a wild and uninhabited region. And when such enterprise is exposed to dangers from savage attack, made more fearful by reason of dis- tance from friendly help, our admiration is kindled for adventure so daring and heroic.

Such an interest in the first settlers of Taunton must always be felt by the successive generations of dwellers in this ancient town. Could the name of the very first settler be known, the date when he "sat down" here, the location of the lands he first cleared, the spot on which stood his first rude dwelling, it would satisfy that strong natural desire to ascertain the origin of things, and a spot so interesting would doubtless be marked by some permanent memorial. But such certainty of knowledge is now probably un- attainable by the most patient research. The settle- ment of Plymouth was made before the eyes of the world. Every detail in the movements of the " Mayflower," from Provincetown to Plymouth Har- bor, has been preserved, and the rock on the shore upon which her immortal ship's company stepped as they landed has become the " head of the corner" in our national temple. The towns north and south of Plymouth, upon the sea-shore, were settled mostly by Plymouth men, and under the immediate super- vision of the parent colony, and so their very earliest beginnings are known. But the early settlers of Taunton were not from Plymouth, although . they were men of a like spirit with those colonists. The location was far inland, and they had no annalist among them like Winslow or Bradford to record their doings. Their early history must be gleaned from the proprietary records,-often tantalizing in their

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 173

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