History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 174

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

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character,-from the dealings of the government of Plymouth Colony with the town after its incorpora- tion, and from deeds, wills, and correspondence that chance has preserved, and allusions found in the dealings of other towns with this.

The first Europeans who traversed the territory were undoubtedly Edward Winslow, afterwards Gov- ernor of Plymouth Colony, and Stephen Hopkins, on their journey to visit Massasoit in June or July, 1621. The narrative of this visit in "Mourt's Relation," written most probably by Winslow himself, has been often cited, but it has an appropriate place in this history, and is here given in part. The original or- thography and punctuation are retained :

"It seemed good to the Company for many considerations to send some amongst them to Massasoyt, the greatest Commander amongst the Savages, bordering about us; partly to know where to find them, if occasion served, as also to see their strength, discover the Country, pre- vent abuses in their disorderly comming unto us, make satisfaction for some conceived injuries to be done on our parts, and to continue the league of Peace and Friendship between them and ns. For these, and the like ends, it pleased the Governor to make choice of Steven Hop- kins, & Edward Winsloe to goe unto him, and having a fit opportunitie, by reason of a Savage, called Tisquantum (that could speake English) comming unto us ; with all expedition provided a Horse-mans coat, of red cotton, and laced with a slight lace for a present, that both they and their message might be the more acceptable amongst them. The Mes- sage was as followeth : That forasmuch as his subjects came often and without feare, upon all occasions amongst us, so wee were now come unto bim, and in witnesse of the love and good will the English beare unto him, the Governour hath sent him a coat, desiring that the Peace and Amitie that was betweene them and us might be continued, not that we feared them, but because we intended not to injure any desiring to live peaceably : and as with all men, so especially with them our nearest neighbours. But whereas his people came very often, and very many together unto us, bringing for the most part their wives and chil- dren with them, they were wellcome; yet we being but strangers as yet at Patuxet, alias New Plimmouth, and not knowing how our Corne might prosper, we could no longer give them such entertainment as we had done, and as we desired still to doe: yet if he would be pleased to come himselfe, or any speciall friend of his desired to see us, comming from him they should be wellcome; and to the end we might know them from others, our Governour had sent him a copper Chayne, desiring if any Messenger should come from him to us, we might know him by bringing it with him, and hearken and give credit to his Message accord- ingly. Also requesting him that such as have skins, should bring them to us, and that he would hinder the multitude from oppressing us with them, and whereas at our first arrivall at Paomet (called by us Cape Cod) we found there Corne buried in the ground, and finding no inhabitants but some graves of dead new buryed, took the Corne, resolving if ever we could heare of any that had right thereunto, to make satisfac- tion to the full for it, yet since we understand the owners thereof were fled for feare of us, our desire was either to pay them with the like quan- titie of corne, English meale, or any other Commodities we had to pleasure them withall; requesting him that some one of his men might signifie so much unto them, and we would content him for his paines. And last of all, our Governour requested one favour of him, which was, that he would exchange some of their Corne for feede with us, that we might make tryall which best agreed with the soyle where we live.

"With these presents and message we set forward the tenth June, about 9 a clocke in the Morning, our guide resolving that night to rest at Namaschet, a Towne under Massasont, and conceived by ns to bee very neere, because the Inhabitants flocked so thicke npon every slight occasion amongst us: but wee found it to bee some fifteen English myles. On the way we found some ten or twelve men women and children, which had pestered us, till wee were wearie of them, perceiv- ing that (as the manner of them all is) where victuall is easiliest to be got, there they live, especially in the summer: by reason whereof our Bay affording many Lobsters, they resort every spring tide thither: & now returned with us to Numaschet. Thither we came about 3 a clocke after noone, the Inhabitants entertaining us with joy, in the best man- ner they could, giving us a kinde of bread called by them Maizium, and

1 By James Henry Dean.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the spawne of Shads, which then they got in abundance, in so much as they gave us spoones to eate them, with these they boyled mustie Acorns, but of the Shads we eate heartily. After this they desired one of our men to shoote at a Crow, complaining what damage they sus- tained in their Corne by them, who shooting some fourscore off and killing, they much admired it, as other shots on other occasions. After this Tisquantum told us wee should hardly in one day reach Pakanokick, moving us to goe some 8 myles furthur, where we should finde more store and better victnals than there : Being willing to hasten our jour- ney we went, and came Thither at Snune setting, where we found many of the Namaschencks (they so calling the men of Namaschet) fishing uppon a Ware which they had made on a River which belonged to them, where they canght abundance of Basse. These welcommed ns also, gave ns of their fish, and we them of our victuals, not doubting bnt we should have enough where ere we came. There we lodged in the open fields : for houses they had none, though they spent the most of the Summer there. The head of this River is reported to bee not farre from the place of our abode, upon it are, and have been many Townes, it being a good length. The ground is very good on both sides, it being for the most part cleered : Thousands of men have lived there, which dyed in a great plague not long since : and pilty it was and is to see, so many goodly fieldles, & so well seated, without men to dress and manure the same. Upon this River dwelleth Massasoyt: It commeth into the Sea at the Narrohiganset Bay, where the French men so much use. A shipp may goe many myles up it, as the Salvages report, and a shallop to the head of it: bnt so farre as wee saw, wee are sure a Shallop may.

" But to returne to our Journey : The next morning wee brake our fast, tooke our leave and departed, being then accompanied with some sixe Salvages, having gone about sixe myles by the River side, at a knowne shole place, it beeing low water, they spake to us to put off our breeches, for we must wade thorow. Heere let me not forget the vallonr and eourrage of some of the Salvages, on the opposite side of the river, for there were remaining alive only 2 men, both aged, especially the one being above threescoure; These two espying a company of men en- tring the River, ran very swiftly & low in the grasse to meet us at the banck, where with shrill voyces and great courage standing charged upon us with their bowes, they demanded what we were, supposing us to be enemies, and thinking to take advantage on us in the water: but seeing we were friends, they welcomed us with such foode as they had, and we bestowed a small bracelet of Beades on them. Thus farre wee are sure the Tide ebs and flows.

" Having here againe refreshed our selves, we proceeded in our Jour- ney, the weather being very hote for travell, yet the Country so well watered that a man could scarce be drie, but he should have a spring at hand to coole his thirst, beside small Rivers in abundance ; but the Sal- vages will not willingly drinke, but at a spring head. When wee came to any small Brooke where no bridge was, two of them desired to carry us through of their owne accords, also fearing wee were or would be weary, offered to carry our peeces, also if we wonkl lay off any of our clothes, we should have them carried; and as the one of them had found more speciall kindnesse from one of the Messengers, and the other Salvage from the other so they shewed their thankefulnesse ac- cordiugly in affording us all helpe and furtherance in the Journey.

" As we passed along, we observed that there were few places by the River, but had beene inhabited, by reason whereof, much ground was cleare, save of weedes which grewe higher than our heads. There is much good Timber both Oake, Waltnut-tree, Firre, Beech, and exceed- ing great Chesunt-trees. The country in respect of the lying of it, is both Champanie and hilly, like many places in England. In some places its very rockie both above ground and in it: And though the Countrey bee wille and over growne with woods, yet the trees stand not thicke, but a man may well ride a horse amongst them.

"Passing on at length, one of the company, an Indian, espied a man, and told the rest of it, we asked them if they feared any, they told ns that if they were Narrohigganset men they would not trust them, whereat, we called for our peeees and bid them not to feare ; for though they were twenty, we two alone would not care for them : but they hayling him, hee proved a friend, and had onely two women with him : their baskets were empty, but they fetched water in their bottles, so that we dranke with them and departed. After we met another man with other two women, which had beene at Randevow by the salt water, and their bas- kets were full of rosted Crab fishes, and other dryed shell fish, of which they gave us, and wee eate and dranke with them : and gave each of the women a string of Beades, and departed.

" After wee came to a Towne of Massasoyts, where we eat Oysters and other fish. From thence we went to Packanokick."

The date given as the time of starting on this ex- pedition is probably wrong, as the 10th of June fell on Sunday, when these striet observers of the Lord's day would be most unlikely to undertake such a jour- ney. Morton, in the "New England Memorial," gives July 2d, which was Monday, as the time, and Bradford, in liis " History of Plymouth Plantation," gives the same date. This agrees better with other events narrated by Winslow, and is probably correct.

Namaschet, the Indian village where they first stopped, is in the town of Middleborough, upon Na- masket River, which is an outlet of Assowompset Pond, and empties into Taunton River. There the first English settlement in that town was made, and it still bears the name of Namasket village. The place where they spent the night was on Taunton River, in the northwesterly part of Middleborough, called by the Indians, together with the region in that vicinity, Tetiquet. A pleasant village in the same locality perpetuates the name as Titicut. It was also an- ciently known as the Old Indian Wear. From there it seems they followed the river until they reached " the knowne shole place," which was undoubtedly at Squawbetty, or East Taunton, at or near the location of the Old Colony Iron-Works, where they crossed the river and continued their journey on the northerly and westerly side, probably along the route of the pres- ent road from East Taunton to Taunton Green, through Dean Street, and so following the river southerly, through the present towns of Dighton, Somerset, and Swansea, to " Packanokick," the residence of " Massa- soyt," in what is now Warren, R. I.

In March, 1623, Winslow made another visit to Massasoit, his companion being John Hampden, thought by Hon. Francis Baylies, in his "History of Plymouth Colony," and by Dr. Belknap, in " Ameri- can Biography," to be the English patriot of that name so prominent in the time of Charles I. The first part of Winslow's narrative is as follows :

" During the time that the captain (Standish) was at Macomet, news came to Plymouth that Massassowat was like to die, and that at the same time there was a Dutch ship driven so high on the shore by stress of weather, right before his dwelling, that till the tides increased she could not be got off. Now, it being a commendable manner of the In- dians, when any, especially of note are dangerously sick, for all that profess friendship to them to visit them in their extremity, either in their persons or else to send some acceptable persons to them; there- fore, it was thought meet, being a good and warrantable action, that as we had ever professed friendship so we should now maintain the same by observing this their landable custom; and the rather because we de- sired to have some conference with the Dutch, not knowing when we should have so fit an opportunity. To that end myself, having formerly been there and understanding in some measure the Dutch tongue, the Governor laid this service upon myself, and fitted me with some cordials to administer to him: having one Master John Hamden, a gentleman of London, who then wintered with us and desired much to see the country for my comfort, and Ilobbamock for our guide. So we set for- ward and lodged the first night at Nemasket, where we had friendly entertainment.

" The next day about one of the clock we came to a ferry in Conbat- ants' country, where upon discharge of my piece divers Indians came to us from a house not far off."

The "ferry" referred to is thought to have been where . Slade's Ferry now is, between Somerset and

731

TAUNTON.

Fall River. It is reasonable to suppose that Winslow took the same route as on his former visit, stopping, as he says, the first night at " Nemasket," and follow- ing the river till he reached the ferry.

As to the identity of his companion with the John Hampden of the English revolution, Drake, in his edition of Baylies, says, " It is pretty certain that the patriot was a resident of London between 1619 and 1623. On a survey of what is at present known on the subject, it seems quite probable that Dr. Belknap conjectured rationally, and that there is more than a probability that the afterwards renowned gentleman was once in New England." Savage, however, in "Genealogical Dietionary," strongly dissents from this conclusion, and rather ridicules the idea. In this bal- ancing of probabilities, aided by the few known facts, the preponderance is rather in favor of the belief that the renowned patriot did winter in Plymouth, and desiring much to see the country, followed the course of our beautiful river from Titicut to the "ferry" with Winslow, and with him visited the sick sachem . of the Wampanoags.

In the accounts of these visits, Winslow gives the only original description we have by an actual ob- server of the territory of Taunton and the other towns on Taunton River as it appeared before any settle- ments were made by the English. His graphie pic- ture is of very deep interest. The ground was very good on both sides, springs and small streams abounded; thousands of men had lived there who died in a great plague; much ground was clear, save of weeds, which grew higher than their heads; there was much good timber, and pity it was to see so many goodly fields, and so well seated, without men to dress and manure the same.

The vacant ground, deserted, depopulated, waited for a superior race to enter in and subdue it and multiply therein. Just how long it waited for the beginning of a permanent settlement we know not. There is a tradition, mentioned by Mr. Baylies, that settlers were here as early as 1626; but the tradition fastens upon no names or localities, and has nothing to support it.

1637, in the margin, are these words, "Taunton began here to be added to this booke." In vol. i. p. 105, Dee. 4, 1638, is this entry, "John Strong is sworne constable of Cobannett until June next." In vol. xi. again, p. 31, March 5, 1638-39, it is ordered, "That Captaine Poole shall exercise the inhabitants of Co- hannett in their armes."

Ancient Cohannett had thus both a civil and mili- tary organization. The appointment of constable was a recognition of the settlement as a separate town. No formal acts of incorporation were passed in that early time, as was the custom afterwards, but when a community had acquired the quality of per- manence, had sufficient numbers to form a church and support a minister, and a reasonable prospect of being able to defend itself against Indian attacks, it was allowed by the government at Plymouth to have officers and an organization of its own, and was thenceforth treated as a political unit. The only civil officer, intrusted with executive functions also, appointed for the towns for a long time was the con- stable. He represented the power and authority of the General Court. He was the right hand of the government in each separate community. He per- formed the duties of a sheriff, of a police-officer, of a collector of public rates and taxes, and was the guardian of the good order and morals of the inhab- itants. The importance and comprehensive nature of his duties may best be seen by the form of oath pre- seribed, which was as follows :

" You shall swear to be truly loyal to our sovereign lord, King Charles, his heirs and successors. You shall faithfully serve in the office of con- stable for the ward of - for the present year, according to that measure of wisdom, understanding, and discretion God hath given you, in which time you shall diligently see that His Majesty's peace com- manded be not broken, but shall carry the person or persons before the Governor of this corporation or some one of his assistants, and there attend the hearing of the case, and such order as shall be given you. You shall apprehend all suspicious persons and bring them before the said Governor or some one of his assistants as aforesaid. You shall duly and truly serve such warrants and give such summons as shall be di- rected to you from the Governor or assistants before mentioned, and shall labor to advance the peace and happiness of this corporation, and to oppose anything that shall seem to annoy the same by all due means and courses. So help you God, who is the God of truth and punisher of falschood."

In Plymouth Colony Records, vol. i. p. 53, under After the civil organization was effected, the next thing to be done was to appoint a military officer, who should form a company from those of suitable age and exercise them in their arms. And so Capt. Poole was appointed to that duty. Although the treaty made by the Plymouth Colony with Massasoit in 1621 had thus far been faithfully kept, yet as the colonists were few in number and somewhat widely reliable, common prudence dictated the necessity of keeping themselves constantly on a war footing. The General Court made strict regulations as to the num- ber of arms, the amount of ammunition and other military stores that should be kept in readiness by the towns, and prescribed regular days for the train- ings. date of March 7, 1636-37, there is a list of one hun- dred and twenty-three names, headed, "The names of the Freemen." At the end of the list, inclosed in a bracket, are the following seven names: Mr. William Poole, Mr. John Gilbert, Sr., Mr. Henry Andrews, John Stronge, John Deane, Walter Deane, Edward Case, and against them the words, "of Cohannett." This was the Indian name of the locality, and the separated, and the Indian character was not entirely name by which the settlement was at first designated. The residence of no others in the list is designated, except "Mr. John Lathrop, pastor of Scituate." The best of evidence is thus furnished that early in the year 1637 a settlement was already established here having at least seven freemen. In vol. xi. of the same records (Laws), p. 27, under date of ,Oct. 2,

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Up to the year 1639 the whole body of the freemen had been required to attend the General Courts at Plymouth. In this body thus constituted resided the authority for making all needful regulations and laws. As the number of freemen increased, and new settlements sprang up at considerable distances from Plymouth, this duty became not only inconvenient but extremely burdensome. It was apparent that the system must soon become entirely impracticable. To meet this difficulty the General Court at a session held March 5, 1638, old style (1639, new style), in- augurated the representative system by passing an act as follows: " Whereas, complaint is made that the freemen are put to many inconveniences by their continual attendance at the courts; it is therefore enacted by the court, and the authority thereof, for the care of the several towns of this government, that each town shall make choice of two of their freemen, and the town of Plymouth of four, to be committees or deputies to join with the bench, to enact and make all such laws and ordinances as shall be judged to be good and wholesome for the whole, provided that the laws they do enact shall be propounded one court to be considered of till the next, and then to be con- firmed if they shall be approved of, except the case require present confirmation ; and if any act shall be confirmed by the court and committees which upon further deliberation shall prove prejudicial to the whole, that the freemen at the next election court, after meeting together, may repeal the same and enact any other useful for the whole ; and that every township shall bear their committee's charges, which is two shillings and sixpence a day, and that such as are not freemen but have taken the oath of fidelity, and are masters of families, and inhabitants of the said town, as they are to bear part in the charges of the committees, are to have a vote in the choice of them, provided they choose them, only of the freemen of the said town whereof they are ; but if such com- mittees shall be insufficient or troublesome, that then the bench and the other committees may dismiss them, and the town to choose other freemen in their places."

At the next session of the General Court, June 4, 1639, deputies were present from Plymouth, Duxbury, Scituate, Sandwich, Cohannett, and Yarmouth. Capt. William Poole, Mr. John Gilbert, and Henry Andrews are named as the deputies from Cohannett. Among the aets passed at the session held March 3d follow- ing (1640) appears this brief statement: "That Co- hannett shall be called Taunton." No further legis- lation upon the subject appears. By these few words the Indian Cohannett became the English Tannton. In a report made by a committee of the town many years after, the reason for the change of name is given in these words : "In honor and love to our dear and native country, we called this place Taunton." But this act was not the incorporation of the town, although it is commonly spoken of as such. No new powers

were thereby conferred. Under its former name civil and military officers had been appointed, and it had been represented by deputies in the General Court. The precise date when the settlement became a town it may be difficult to fix, because, as has already been stated, no formal act creating the town was ever passed. The appointment of a constable in December, 1638, is a significant fact'; the naming of the seven freemen in March, 1637, as of Cohannett seems to be such a recognition of its distinct character as to warrant the belief that it was then clothed with the authority of a town.

The first purchase of territory, it is generally agreed, was made in 1637. The names of the purchasers, with the shares owned by each, stand in the following order :

Henry Uxley

Henry Andrews.

Richard Williams ...

Thomas Cooke.

Joseph Wilson

8 John Smith

Benjamin Wilson.

S Mr. Thomas Farwell

William Coy

8 Edward Case.

George Hall

12 John Kingsley

David Corwithy ..

12 Richard Paul.

Mr. William Pool

12 Richard Smith

George Macy

8 Mr. John Gilbert

William Phillips.

8 William Scadding

William Hailstone.

8 John Bryant

William Parker.

12 Anthony Slocum

John Parker.

8 John Gengille

John Richmond,

G Francis Street

William Holloway

12 Hugh Rossiter

The Widow Randall

6 John Gilbert.

Francis Doty

12 Thomas Gilbert

William Dunn

8 Robert llobell

William Ilarvey

8 Richard Burl

Hezekiah Hoar.

8 John Crossman.

Walter Dean

12 John Luther

John Dean

12 John Drake.

John Strong ..

12 Mr. John Brown

The foregoing list is given upon the authority of Mr. Baylies. It is not identical with the list now to be found in the proprietors' records, which is the only one now known to exist. Mr. Baylies, writing fifty years ago, probably had access to some papers among the old records which have since been lost. The most of the names on both lists, however, are the same. The deed, if any was given by the Indian owners of the territory, has long since disappeared, and no copy of it is on record.

This first purchase has been called by Mr. Baylies and by others following him the "Tetiquet purchase," on the supposition that it was made from the Tetiquet Indians. There are not sufficient grounds for such belief, as will hereafter be shown.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 174

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