History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 176

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 176

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There is a deposition of five Indians preserved in the Plymouth Colony Records, vol. ii. p. 157, re- lating to the extent of Chickatabut's lands, which tends to the same conclusion. It is as follows :

" Pecunke, Alumpum, Catscimah, Webacowett, and Masbanomett do all affirm that Chickatawbutt his bounds did extend from Nisha- magoquanett, near Duxbery mill, to Teghtacutt, near Taunton, and to Nunckatatesett, and from thence in a straight line to Wanamampuke, which is the head of Charles River; this they do all solemnly affirm, saying, God knoweth it to be true, and knoweth their hearts.

" Dated the Ist of the 4th month, 1650.

" Witness :

" ENCREASE NOWELL. " JOHN ELIOT. " JONN HOARE."

Upon these facts there is a moral certainty that the ! original purchase, whether made directly by Henry

Uxley and his associates or by a committee of the Plymouth government who conveyed to them, was made of Massasoit.

The military affairs of the town can be more satis- factorily treated in a separate chapter, which will next be given, and afterwards the general history so far as practicable.

CHAPTER LX.1

TAUNTON .- (Continued.)

MILITARY AFFAIRS DURING TIIE COLONIAL PERIOD.

MILITARY organization and discipline were among the very earliest matters for which provision was made by the colony. In 1634 it was ordered " That all and every person within the colony be subject to such military order for training and exercise of arms as shall be thought meet, agreed on, and prescribed by the Governor and assistants." In 1641 it was ordered that a barrel of powder, and lead or bullets answer- able, be provided by every township. In 1640 it was required that there be six trainings a year. This law was re-enacted several times until 1677, when the number of trainings was reduced to four a year.

As has been already mentioned, as early as March, 1638-39, it was ordered "that Capt. Poole shall exer- eise the inhabitants of Cohannett in their armes." No other military officer seems to have been appointed until June, 1651, when Mr. Oliver Purchase was " al- lowed and approved to be ensign-bearer of the mili- tary company of Taunton." In October following, James Wyatt was similarly appointed to be lieu- tenant.

Sept. 27, 1642, a special session of the court was held to provide forces for an offensive and defensive war against the Indians. All the inhabitants were warned, yet, in the language of the record, " they ap- peared by their several deputies as they had liberty to do." Capt. William Poole and Henry Andrews appeared for Taunton. Intelligence had been re- ceived of a general conspiracy among the Indians to cut off all the English, and prompt and vigorous measures were adopted to meet the danger. The several towns were rated to defray the charges for the soldiers that might be sent forth. Taunton's rate was two pounds, ten shillings. A Council of War was chosen, consisting of the Governor and eleven other persons, one of whom was Mr. John Browne, of Taunton, who were invested with extraordinary powers in all matters relating to the military forces of the colony.

It was also "agreed and concluded that Mr. Ed- ward" Winslow, Mr. Tymothy Hatherly, and Capt. Miles Standish shall be sent into the Bay to and have

1 By James Henry Dean.

737

TAUNTON.

power to agitate and conclude with them for a present combination with them in the present wars, and to treat with them about a further combination or league, but not to conclude that without consent of the court here." This was the first step taken by Plymouth Colony towards a general confederation of the New England colonies. It resulted in 1643 in the adop- tion of articles of confederation between the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven. Plymouth authorized Edward Winslow and William Collyer to subscribe the articles in the name of the colony, which was done at Boston, Sept. 7, 1643.

One of the articles provided that the commissioners for each jurisdiction from time to time should bring in a true account of all their males from sixteen years old to sixty being inhabitants. The charges of all just wars, both in men, provisions, and all other dis- bursements, were to be borne by the members of the confederation in proportion to the number of males thus returned. In obedience to this requirement each of the towns in the colony sent in a list of their males between the prescribed ages. These lists are given in volume viii. of Plymouth Colonial Records, and are of very great value as showing nearly the en- tire adult population of the colony at that date. The Taunton list is here given. It constituted Capt. Pool's company :

August, 1643.

Mr. John Browne. Mr. William Poole. John Browne. James Browne.

Walter Deane. William Ilodges. Willian Phillips.

Jolın Macumber. Thomas Coggin.

James Walker.

James Wyatt.

Edward Rew.

William Hollway.

James Chichester. William Seward.

Tymothy Hollway. William Parker. Peter Pitts.

Aron Knapp.

John Parker.

Nicholas Hart.

William Hailstone.

William Powell.

Edward Bobbett.

William Wetherell. IIezekialı Hore.

Richard Paule.

Anthony Slocome.

George Macie,

Edward Case.

George Hall.

Thomas Farewell.

John Perry.

Tobias Saunders.

Benjamin Wilson. Mr. Street.

Henry Andrewes. John Gallop.

Richard Williams.

Jolın Gilbert, Jr.

William Evans.

John Stronge.

Christopher Thrasher.

Thomas Cassell.

Thomas Cooke.

Jolın Deane.

Thomas Cooke, Jr. Jolın Gingell,-54.

Twenty-five of the foregoing names are found in the list of original purchasers. Of the twenty other males on that list some were dead, some are known to have left the town, and others were probably above sixty.

A special court was called Oct. 10, 1643, upon occa- sion of the insurrection of the Indians against the Dutch and English at Manhattan. It was concluded and agreed upon to raise and make ready thirty men

for the war, according to their proportion with the other confederates. " The rule which was thought most equal for number of persons in every township was to take one of a score in every township." Taun- ton was to furnish three, and was to pay a rate of two pounds ten shillings towards the charges. John Strong and Richard Williams were the deputies from Taunton at this court. The proposed expedition seems not to have been sent forth.

At the court held Ang. 20, 1644, " Attachments are to be sent forth to bring in the bodies of George Massy, John Maycumber, Thomas Coggen & Jacob Wilson, for non appearance this Court, for making the allarum at Taunton."

Governor Winslow and Mr. John Browne, of Taun- ton, were chosen commissioners by Plymouth Colony for the year 1644, to treat with the commissioners from the other colonies of the confederation, each colony being allowed to send two.

There was another alarm of war in 1645, occasioned by the threats of the Narragansett Indians against Uncas, sachem of the Monheagans. The commis- sioners of the United Colonies met in Boston in July, and determined to raise a force of three hundred men, of which Plymouth was to provide forty. These were under the command of Capt. Standish, who went forth about the middle of August to the relief of Uncas, and marched as far as Rehoboth, where he was to meet the forces from Massachusetts. But the Narragansett sachems, becoming alarmed, in the mean time repaired to Boston and sued for peace. A treaty was the result, and the troops were recalled. " The towns of Taunton and Rehobothi were freed from sending forth any men in regard they are fron- tier towns, and billeted the soldiers during the time they were forth." The towns were rated for the charges of the war. Taunton's rate was five pounds, two shillings, and sixpence. The court for special consideration abated twenty shillings to Barnstable and forty shillings to Taunton, adding that it should not be a precedent for after-times ; "and Rehoboth was not rated at all, both because it was a new plan- tation, and billeted all the soldiers freely during all the time they staid there."

July 7, 1646, the court ordered that the committees of every town send the names of all their males from sixteen years of age to sixty to the Governor, sealed up, by the 1st of August next. If such lists were sent in they do not appear on the published records.

At the General Court, June, 1649, the whole body of freemen assembled, and on account of the unset- tled state of public affairs in their native country, unanimously concluded not to proceed in the election of magistrates and other officers, and that all officers should continue in their places for the year to come. Charles I. had been beheaded January 30th of that year, and the sombre shadow of the English revolu- tion fell upon the young colony.

At the meeting of the court in October news liad

Edward Abbott.

John Barratt.

Oliver Purchase. Thomas Gilbert. Richard Stacye.

Thomas Harvey.

738

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

been received that the Indians had been murdering some of the English at Stamford, in Connecticut, and other places, and threats were made of further vio- lence. The commissioners for the United Colonies had signified to the several colonies to be in readiness with their forces in case of need. The court there- fore ordered that due provision, both of men and ammunition, with powder and shot and necessary pro- vision for forty men for three months, be forthwith made, and that every town provide for their own men. Capt. Standish was appointed general officer. No further action in the matter appears.

March, 1652, the grand jury presented the town of Taunton for not having a common stock of powder and shot according to order. It is added to the record, "They will endeavor forthwith to provide." Other towns in the colony were frequently presented for their shortcomings in failing to keep up military discipline, or in not having the required stock of am- munition on hand.

In April, 1653, the court took action as follows: " Whereas, We have intelligence out of our native country of danger that may be towards us in regard of the great variance betwixt the two nations of Hol- land and England, the court have ordered that war- rants be directed to every town within the government forthwith, to require them to make choice of two deputies for each town, to meet with the magistrates at Plymouth, on Wednesday, the sixth of April next, and with them to treat and conclude on such military affairs as through God's blessing may probably tend to our present and future safety."

afford relief; that one-third of every company bring their arms, with powder and shot, to the meetings on the Lord's day, forenoon and afternoon. The court also recommended to every town to provide some place of security whither they might bring their wives and children in times of imminent danger. They also engaged, in behalf of the country, to provide the sum of thirty pounds to hire a guard for the Governor's person, and the deputies undertook, in behalf of their several towns, to provide their proportions, Ensign Purchase engaging for Taunton. In regard of the many appearances of danger towards the country by enemies, and the great necessity of counsel and advice in that respect, the court thought it meet to make choice of a Council of War. Nine persons were ac- cordingly elected, one of whom was Mr. John Browne, formerly of Taunton.

This Council met at Plymouth, May 12, 1653, and having received intelligence from the commissioners met at Boston of their agitations concerning a war with the Dutch in these parts of America, concluded after due deliberation to be in readiness, through the help of God, to assist and engage therein according to their proportions and utmost abilities. Warrants were accordingly issued for the pressing of sixty men able and fit for war, if need shall require, to be taken from the several towns according to their proportion. Plymouth was to provide seven, Duxburrow six, Sci- tuate nine, Sandwich six, Taunton five, Yarmouth six, Barnstable six, Marshfield six, Rehoboth six, Eastham three. The commanders appointed for the expedition were Miles Standish for captain, Thomas Southworth for lieutenant, and Hezekiah Hoar, of Taunton, for ensign.

Ensign Purchase appeared as deputy from Taunton. Lieut. Wyatt, the other deputy, was fined for his non- appearance. Important military orders were adopted affecting all the towns in the colony, the principal of whether such persons as are pressed to go forth as

A query was proposed to be made to the next court, soldiers on public service, their estates shall be liable to be rated towards the payment of their wages or not.

It seems there was no call for this expedition dur- ing the year. At a meeting of the Council at Plym -. outh, June 20, 1654, warrants were issued in the name of His Highness the Lord Protector of England, Ireland, and Scotland for the pressing of fifty men to go forth with Maj. Robert Sedgwick and Capt. John Leveritt on an intended expedition against the Dutch at the Monhatoes. Of this number Taunton was to furnish five. Matthew Fuller was substituted for lieutenant ; the other officers were the same as for the first expedition. On the 23d of June, however, tid- ings were received of a peace between England and Holland, and all further preparations ceased.

which were these: Fifty pounds to be raised from the several towns for the purchase of powder and shot, arms and locks sent out of England; the military officers of every company to present the defects of the arms of their companies at the next Court of Assist- ants ; a military watch in every town to be continued until further order ; all men, though above the age of sixty, to watch in their turn, except such as through both age and poverty are disabled, either by finding a sufficient man or in their own person; and such widows as have estates to bear their part by finding one to watch according to their proportions ; that a considerable company of half pikes be provided in every town at the charge of the township; that every town should provide a barrel of powder and bullets in proportion for every fifty soldiers ; that no man make an alarm without apparent danger, one gunshot At the court held Oct. 3, 1654, the commissioners for Plymouth informed the court that at their last meeting it had been determined to send a certain number of horse and footmen on a special message to Ninnegrett, the Niantick sachem, and in case there should be necessity they had jointly agreed to send a in the night to be taken as an alarm to the town, to be answered by any man hearing the same; three shots or continued shooting, or the beat of a drum, to be an alarm to be taken from town to town; that in case any town be distressed by real assault upon them, such towns as have certain intelligence thereof to i second supply of men out of the four United Colonies

739

TAUNTON.

to war against the said Ninnegrett. Warrants were accordingly directed to the constables of each town to press the due proportion of men out of each town. Five was the share of Taunton. The following year the towns were rated to pay the charges of the expe- dition, Taunton's amount being £3 148.

At the October court, 1655, " In answer to a peti- tion preferred by three men belonging to the iron- works at Taunton, requesting that they may be ex- empted from training, the court doth grant that at such time as when their worke is in hand that they are exempted, unless upon some special case of watching that may arise." The names of these three men are not given. In June, 1662, appears this order : " James Leonard, of Taunton, was freed from training in the military company of Taunton in reference to his call- ing, being a bloomer, and in respect to a former order of court wherein he was exempted in that respect." By the reference to the former order it is probable he was one of the three before exempted. James Leon- ard was one of the founders of the iron-works in Taunton in 1652, said to be the first establishment of the kind in North America. This action of the court shows the high value set upon the enterprise by the government. It is also a pleasant and significant foreshadowing of the policy ever since pursued by Massachusetts in fostering her manufactures.

In 1656, Capt. Miles Standish died at an advanced age. In all military matters he was most trusted and relied upon, and a few years before had been ap- pointed chief military officer of the colony, but with- out any other distinctive military title than that of captain. In 1658 the court, by joint consent, agreed that a chief military officer should be chosen to be styled a major, and at a meeting of the Council of War in October of that year, Capt. Josias Winslow was chosen to that office and received his commission as major. A council, with whom he was to be ready on all occasions to advise, was also appointed, con- sisting of nineteen military officers, of whom Capt. William Poole, of Taunton, was one.

The country's stock of powder and lead was dis- posed of among some of the towns where it was thought most convenient for the public use. A barrel of powder and a quantity of lead was committed to the charge of James Leonard, of Taunton.

James Wyatt, the lieutenant of the Taunton com- pany, was found dead in his meadow, July 5, 1664, and a jury was summoned to inquire into the cause of his death. The jury found that on the day men- tioned he rode to a meadow of his to cut grass, a ser- vant of his, an Indian boy, following him, and when he came to the meadow he found his master dead. John Hall, Thomas Deane, and James Bell rode to the meadow, and there found that he had cut some grass, and was gone out of the meadow, and was there fallen down dead; and upon search the said jury finds not any cause of any violent death, but the immediate hand of the Lord.

The following June (1665), Ensign George Macey was appointed lieutenant and Thomas Leonard en- sign. Oliver Purchase, the former ensign, had re- moved to Lynn as early as 1660, and probably some time before, as in that year he was a deputy from Lynn to the General Court in Boston.

The Council of War met at Plymouth, April 2, 1667, and passed a number of important orders. From the character of some of these orders the meeting seems to have been occasioned by the hostilities then in prog- ress between Charles II. and the Dutch and French. It was determined "that Dutch and French be looked upon as our common enemy while so to our nation, and shall be resisted, opposed, and expelled by the forces of this jurisdiction to their utmost power, and that all advantages shall be used to that end." The Indian sachems were advised to employ their men in looking out to sea for shipping, and give speedy intel- ligence to the English of any vessel and their mo- tions. It was ordered that every town provide some " place of retire" for their women and children in case of an alarm, as the discretion of each place may guide them, that so the men may with less distraction face an enemy. Men were appointed to be of council with the commissioned officers in each town, and it was ordered "that it shall be in the power of such as are appointed a council in every town, in any exigent or sudden occasion, to dispose of the general stock of arms and ammunition in that town, or any part of it as occasion may require." James Walker, William Harvey, and Richard Williams were appointed to be of council in Taunton.

In 1671, James Walker was chosen one of the gen- eral Council of War.

Taunton had now been settled for more than thirty years. It had gradually increased in population. Settlements had been pushed northerly as far as Winnicunnet Pond, where in 1669, William With- erell had established himself on its southeasterly shore. Southerly, on the easterly side of the Great River, the settlements had extended nearly if not quite to Assonet Neck, and on the westerly side be- low Three-Mile River, while to the eastward they reached beyond Squabinanset and nearly to Titicut. Of course the dwellings were scattered, and, in the remote parts of the town, widely separated.

While during all this time military discipline had been carefully attended to, and there had been sev- eral occasions when soldiers were called forth upon some alarm of war, and constant watchfulness had been exercised in respect to their Indian neighbors, it had really been a period of substantial peace. Of an Indian war they had had no experience. The possibility of such a war was perhaps always before them, but with so little probability that it occasioned no uneasiness. The Pequot war was over before the settlement of Taunton, and it was mainly confined to Connecticut. During the lifetime of the good old Massasoit the treaty made by him with Plymouth

740

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

was faithfully observed. Upon his death, in 1661, he was succeeded by his oldest son, Wamsutta alias Alex- ander. He lived only about a year, dying some time in 1662. His brother Pometacom, or Metacomet, as it is sometimes written, but better known by his Eng- lish name Philip, then became the chief sachem of the Wampanoags. It soon became evident that Philip was no lover of the English. He could not look com- placently upon the rapid growth of their settlements, and the consequent crowding of his race into con- stantly narrowing quarters. The Plymouth govern- ment became suspicious of him. Rumors came to them that he was secretly plotting with the Narra- gansetts and other tribes against them for their ex- termination. He was sent for to make his appear- ance at Plymouth on the 6th of August, 1662, that he might clear himself from these suspicions. Philip appeared, and professed himself desirous to continue the friendship and amity that had formerly subsisted between them and his deceased father and brother, and he signed a treaty of submission and mutual friendship and helpfulness. His uncle Uncompowett also signed the treaty.

In the summer of 1667 he was again sent for to clear up reports that he had expressed himself ready to join with the French or Dutch against the Eng- lish. He again succeeded in putting a fair face upon the matter, and upon his earnest protestations of friendship was allowed to depart, and for three years nothing occurred to occasion any special apprehen- sion. Early in 1671, from some real or pretended in- jury to his planting lands by the English he began to make hostile demonstrations, and the Plymouth government, taking the alarm, sent messengers to Boston with a request that the Massachusetts govern- ment would use its endeavors to induce Philip to be- come peaceable. They also sent messengers to Philip to discover his intentions. Massachusetts, anxious to prevent a rupture, sent word to Philip to meet certain gentlemen whom they would appoint, with others from Plymouth, at Taunton, that they might, if pos- sible, reconcile the differences that existed between them. William Davis, William Hudson, and Thomas Brattle were deputed on the part of Massachusetts, and Governor Prence, Josias Winslow, and Constant Southworth, with some others, appeared for Plymouth. They met at Taunton, April 10th, and while confer- ring together a messenger from Philip arrived with the information that he was at Three-Mile River (some four miles south of the village), and wished the Governor of Plymouth to meet him there. This the Governor declined to do, and sent Mr. James Brown and Mr. Roger Williams to desire Philip to come to the Green, that being the place appointed for the meeting. They found Philip with quite a body of his men painted and equipped as if expecting a battle. Philip finally consented to come if hostages were left with his men, and Mr. Brown and Mr. Wil- liams remained with a part of his men as hostages.

He then came accompanied by some of his force as far as the grist-mill, which stood on the west side of Mill River, between the present Cohannet and Win- throp Streets, having taken the precaution to post sentinels on Crossman's Hill in his rear, and again sent for the Governor to meet him there. The towns- people with the Plymouth men becoming exasperated, were eager to attack Philip, but the Massachusetts commissioners wisely interposed, and prevented so rash an outbreak, and prevailed on Philip to come to the Green, he stipulating that the conference should be held in the meeting-house, he and his men to oc- cupy one side, and the English the other.

Never before had the old meeting-house witnessed so remarkable a scene. Civilization and barbarism were arrayed against each other, and the result could not be doubtful. Our sympathies are involuntarily awakened for the proud and independent race des- tined to fade away. But it was a crisis for the broader and more important interests of civilization and Chris- tianity. Had Philip succeeded in the scheme which he was then engaged in maturing, of uniting all the native tribes of New England and New York for the extermination of all the European settlements, its effects, it can be seen, would have been most disastrous to the highest interests of humanity.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 176

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