History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 178

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 178

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Dr. Fobes further says, "Uriah Leonard" (who was a son of James Leonard, Sr.), " as he was riding from Taunton to the forge in this place, was discov- ered and fired upon by the Indians. He instantly plucked off his hat and swung it around, which started his horse, and in full career he reached the forge dam without a wound; but several bullets were shot through the hat he held in his hand and through the neck of the horse near the mane, from which the blood on both sides gushed and ran down on both his legs."

Henry Andrews, one of the men killed, was the son of Henry Andrews, one of the original purchasers. James Bell was in the Narragansett fight, and was carried wounded to Peleg Sanford's house as already stated. Sergt. (James) Phillips was the son of Wil- liam Phillips, also one of the first purchasers. Gen. Peirce, in his Indian history already referred to, page Hubbard, in his " History of the Indian War," in- forms us that on June 26, 1676, the Indians killed Mr. Hezekiah Willett, at Swansea, and took a negro belonging to the household prisoner, who, afterwards escaping, gave information of an intended assault by Philip upon Taunton. Philip, with all the forces he could get or that he had left, having, as was conceived, many hundreds in his company, assaulted Taunton July 11th ; but his design being discovered by this negro they provided themselves with soldiers, whereby they were able to repulse the enemy upon the first approach, so as he only fired two houses and then fled away. Dr. Increase Mather gives substantially the same account, putting the number of Philip's men 246, states that "Edward Bobit was slain in a part of Taunton, now Berkley, and the spot of his inter- ment is still pointed out." He gives the tradition concerning him substantially as follows : that he had abandoned his home at " the farms," so called, in Berkley, and with his family and neighbors had taken refuge in a garrisoned house at " the Green," in Taun- ton. On his return from a visit he ventured to make to his home, he was pursued by an Indian, hid him- self among the leafy branches of a tree, was betrayed by the barking of his dog, when his pursuer shot at and killed him. He was buried near the spot where he fell. Gen. Peirce further says that he " visited the grave of Edward Babbett June 17, 1878. It is | at about two hundred, and saying they fled after they

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had fired two houses, but not an English life was lost in this engagement.

The name of this negro, who thus saved Taunton from surprise, and perhaps destruction, was Jethro, as we find from the action of the Plymouth Court in reference to him. The court ordered, and agreed with Mr. John Saffin, administrator of Capt. Willett's es- tate, that the negro should serve two years longer in the family of Capt. Willett, and should then be set at liberty, provided that during said term he should be furnished with meat, drink, and apparel fitting for one in his degree, and at the end of his service that he go forth competently provided for in reference to apparel. Not very liberal treatment for one who had done such service.

The war with Philip was now drawing near its close. On the 6th of August an Indian deserted from the camp of Weetamoe, the widow of Philip's brother Alexander, and came to Taunton, where he offered to conduct a party to her hiding-place, representing that her numbers were few and might be easily taken. Twenty men started out and, surprising them, cap- tured the whole, twenty-six in number. But Wee- tamoe escaped upon a raft. She did not succeed in reaching the opposite shore, however, but was prob- ably drowned, her dead body being found not long after upon the shore at Mattapoisett, now called Gard- ner's Neck, in Swansea, near the place where she had concealed herself, and where her followers were taken. Her head was severed from her body, carried to Taunton and set upon a pole, where the sad and barbarous spectacle caused great lamentations among the Indian prisoners, her former subjects. Weeta- moe was drawn into the war unwillingly through the influence of Philip, and her melancholy fate must always excite our pity. A few days after this, viz., on August 12th, Philip himself was surprised and slain in a swamp near Mount Hope. On August 28th, Annawan, Philip's chief captain, who escaped from the swamp at Mount Hope with some fifty or sixty followers, was captured by Capt. Church in Re- hoboth, at a place ever since called Annawan's Rock. Church took his prisoners including Annawan to Taunton, where his unexpected success caused great rejoicing. The prisoners, except Annawan, were sent under guard to Plymouth, Church taking the chief to his home on Rhode Island, and afterwards proceeding with him to Plymouth. All the efforts of Church to save the life of the venerable chief were unavailing, and by order of the authorities he was beheaded. The death of Annawan practically ended the Indian war. There were occasional skirmishes with scouting parties, and Indian prisoners continued for a time to be taken in small numbers, but the power of the native tribes was completely broken.

As has been stated, Taunton suffered less than most of the towns in this part of the colony. One reason given for this exemption is that Philip was on friendly terms with some of the inhabitants, especi-

ally with the Leonard family, who were principal owners in the iron-works, and who had accommo- dated him by repairing his guns and mending his tools. It was said that he had given orders that none of that family should be molested, and that Taunton and Bridgewater should be spared until the other towns were destroyed. Philip made the Fowling Pond a place of frequent resort in the summer for the purpose of hunting. He had a house on the northerly side of the pond, which was called Philip's hunting- honse. The winters he mostly spent at his seat at Mount Hope. It is not improbable that his ac- quaintance with some of the Taunton people, and kindnesses received from them, influenced him in the early part of the war to preserve the town so far as he could from attack.

Dr. Increase Mather, in a list which he gives of the numbers killed in the various towns during the Indian war, says "fifteen persons slain by the In- dians at Taunton,-eleven men, two maids, and two youths, besides a man slain in the fight with Capt. Beers,-some in the year 1675 and some 1676." Dr. Fobes, in his history, already referred to, says that two young women slain in King Philip's war were buried under the doorstep of the ancient Leonard house, built some years before that war, and which was standing at the time he wrote, and within the recollection of persons now living. He also mentions the tradition that the head of King Philip was for a time deposited in the cellar of the house. The latter statement or tradition is probably without founda- tion, as the head of Philip was carried to Ply- mouth.

The war had been a very costly one to the colonies, especially Plymouth, both in the loss of lives and property. The government was poor and weak, and had to depend upon the readiness and patriotism of the towns in times of emergency. It was ordered in June, 1676, that each town should make a rate to pay all their soldiers and officers which have been ont on their country's service from first to last their full due, and that an account of their particular dis- bursements be sent in to the July court, that so there might be a right proportioning of the whole charge upon the several towns. It was also ordered that each town should send one man to meet, July 1st, with the magistrates and adjust their accounts re- specting the charges of the war. Accounts of dis- bursements were accordingly sent in, amounting for all the towns to £3692 168. 2d. Taunton's disburse- ment was £327 15s. 6d.

A contribution was made by divers Christians in Ireland, supposed to have been procured through the efforts of Rev. Nathaniel Mather, a Congregational minister at that time residing in Dublin, for the re- lief of such as were impoverished in the Indian war, of which Plymouth Colony's part was £124 10d. Com- mittees were appointed in each town to distribute the fund. William Harvey, James Walker, and John

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Richmond were the committee for Taunton, whose share was ten pounds.

In 1677 the conquered lands of Showamett and Assonet were ordered to be sold, and the proceeds divided among the towns to make up their disburse- ments in the war. In 1680 the Mount Hope lands were sold to John Walley, Esq., Col. Nathaniel Bye- field, Stephen Burton, Esq., and Nathaniel Oliver, of Boston, who immediately proceeded to establish a settlement there, which was incorporated the same year as the town of Bristol. The proceeds of these lands were applied to the same purpose. A commit- tee of twelve was appointed by the General Court to hear and determine all claims against the colony by individuals and the towns concerning the war. Taun- ton was represented on the committee by William Harvey.

A warrant was sent by the court, June, 1678, to the constables of Taunton, requiring them to warn the town to come together to make a rate for the pay- ment of some charges incurred during the war with the Indians, viz. : for billeting Capt. Freeman and his men and horses, for billeting some men left in the town by Mr. Saberey, and some of the town soldiers after they were pressed, likewise to pay for beef that was disposed of when Capt. Freeman was there, either by Capt. Freeman or any of the selectmen, for the relief of some of the poor who were in extremity, and also to pay for carrying Jane Halloway to Plym- outh. "The court, having taken these things into consideration, doth see good reason to place the charge of these forementioned particulars on your town ; therefore fail not in any of the particulars."

In March, 1679-80, the court ordered four pounds to be paid by the treasurer to William Hoskins, of Taunton, who was in the Narragansett fight, "in re- gard of his low condition, he having lost all he had in the late war, and being grown old and unable to labor."

In July, 1681, Jarud Talbutt, of Taunton, petitioned the court in reference to moneys claimed to be due him, which was in the hands of William Harvey, James Walker, Sr., and William Wetherell, a com- mittee that had the ordering and disposing of the charges respecting the late war. The court ordered Mr. Browne and Mr. Smith, assistants, to call the committee to account of what they received and how it was disposed, and if they found their accounts not to be just to cause them to appear and answer at the next court.

Mr. James Walker, of Taunton, was appointed one of the Council of War again in 1681.

The court and the Council of War, with all their urgency and strictness in managing military affairs, could be lenient upon occasion. In October, 1684, it is recorded, "The Council of War see cause to free Samuel Hall, of Taunton, from training, he being hard of hearing, and having three sons of age and able to bear arms, whom he engageth they shall be

ready, if life and health, to serve the country upon any such occasion, and Nicholas White, Jr., if Leif- tenant Macye and Ensigne Leonard, of Taunton, shall see cause."

Upon the division of the colony into three coun- ties in 1685, a major was chosen for each county as follows : For Plymouth, Maj. Wm. Bradford ; for Bris- tol, Capt. John Walley ; for Barnstable, Capt. John Freeman. Capt. Walley was one of the principal proprietors and early settlers in the town of Bristol, which was incorporated in 1680, and was made the shire town of Bristol County.

Soon after the accession of William and Mary to the throne of England in 1689, the war known as King William's war commenced between England and France. It extended to their American colonies. . The Indians and French attacked the feeble and un- protected settlements upon the coast of Maine, and partially destroyed Dover, in New Hampshire. A party of three hundred French and Indians were sent by Governor Frontenac from Montreal to destroy Albany. Through deep snows in the month of Feb- ruary they made their way as far as Schenectady, which they attacked at midnight, burned the dwell- ings, and murdered more than sixty of the inhab- itants.

The colonies were deeply alarmed. A general con- vention was held in Boston to consider measures of defense. Capt. Church was prevailed upon to take command of an expedition composed of English and Indians, and volunteers were called for. The mili- tary officers of each town were ordered to use their endeavors to encourage English and Indians to a voluntary going out in the expedition. The depu- ties and selectmen were also ordered, in such way as might seem to them most suitable, to use their interest with the inhabitants of the several towns to lend for the colonies' use so much money as they should be willing to, and not to be less than a certain propor- tion. The amount expected of Taunton was six pounds in money, four men, and four arms. Each soldier was to be "provided with a well-fixt gun, sword, or hatchet, a horne or cartouch-box, suitable ammunition, and a snapsack." If a sufficient num- ber failed to volunteer the deficiency was to be made up by press in the delinquent towns. Any person being pressed and refusing to go upon the service was to be fined four pounds, or otherwise to be com- mitted to prison by authority of the Town Council.

A levy was made in October, 1689, upon the towns towards the charges of the war. The amount levied upon Taunton was sixty pounds. It was to be paid one-third in money, one-third in grain,-Indian corn at two shillings per bushel, rye two shillings and six- pence, barley two shillings, wheat four shillings,- the other third in beef at ten shillings per hundred and pork at two pence per pound.

In December a committee was chosen for each I county to settle the charges and disbursements of the

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war, and to adjust the accounts of all officers and soldiers engaged therein. The committee for Bristol County was composed of Mr. John Saffin, Capt. Thomas Leonard, and Mr. Joseph Church.

In May following another call was made for sixty men, to be sent by water to Albany or elsewhere, to join with the forces of New York, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, etc., for the defense of said places, or other service of their majesties' against the common enemy. Taunton was to raise five men. In June the General Court resolved to rai-e two hundred men, one-quarter of them Indians, for the expedition to Canada. Bristol County was to furnish fifty-one men and eighteen arms,-Taunton fourteen men and four arms, a larger number than any other town in. the county.

In November a rate of £1350 was laid upon the towns in the colony for the payment of soldiers' wages and for other charges, the amount to be paid by Taunton being £100 16s. 9d. This rate was doubled in December. Committees were appointed for the counties, and also a general committee for the whole colony, to receive and prepare the accounts of all per- sons to whom the colony was indebted, and to adjust the accounts of the soldiers. Capt. Thomas Leonard, of Taunton, was a member of the committee for Bris- tol County, and also of the committee for the whole colony.

A controversy, causing much local excitement, arose in 1690 concerning the military company of Taunton. It had its origin in an order of the General Court, passed Dec. 25, 1689, which was as follows :

"Ordered, that the town of Taunton have liberty to be two companies, and choose officers accordingly, provided they can agree to divide by the ground; otherwise that they forthwith come to an orderly choice for a captain and other officers, if needed, and make a return of their choice to the major of the regiment that he may, by the first opportunity, get them allowed and commissionated."

In obedience to a warrant issued by Maj. Walley, under authority of the foregoing order, an election was held March 31, 1690, the result of which was communicated to the major by the following

Certificate of Election.

" We, the inhabitants and military company of Taunton, being re- quired, by a warrant from our honored Major Walley, to meet together the 31st day of March, 1690, either to divide by ground, or to come to an . orderly choice ; and, upon disagreement of the ancient inhabitants and the major part of the military company about division by the ground, we therefore proceeded to an orderly and legal choice of captain, lieu- tenant, and ensign, according to an act of the General Court, holden, in their majesties' names, at Plymouth, the 25th day of December, 1689; as followeth :-

"First for captain :-

" Thomas Leonard. 88 votes.

"George Macey .. 3 votes.

"Secondly, for lieutenant :-

"James Leonard, Jun 68 votes.

" Henry Hodges. 3 votes.

" John Hall, Sen 4 votes.

" George Matey

1 vote.

" Thirdly, for ensign :-

70 votes.

" Henry Hodges.

"John Hall, Sen. 1 vote.

"James Leonard, Jun I vote.

" And being desired by the ancient inhabitants of this town, and like- wise by the military company, to take an account of the votes and their orderly proceedings therein, and we both being personally present, did take an account in reference to the votes above mentioned, that they were orderly and legal; aud to make return hereof to our honored major on their behalf, which was also their desire; which the abovesaid is the return by ns.

" SHADRACH WILBORE, " Town Clerk of Taunton. " ROBERT CROSSMAN, JUN., " Clerk of the Military Company of Taunton. " TAUNTON, the 3Ist of March, 1690."

April 2d, only two days after this election, the Council of War, at a meeting held at Plymouth, took action as follows :

" In order to a present settlement of the militia of the town of Taunton, and for composing the uncom- fortable differences that have been and yet continue there, in respect to their chief military officers it is ordered by this Council, that Mr. George Macey is approved, allowed to be, and sustain, the office of a captain in said town, and such soldiers of said town as desire the same forthwith to list themselves under his command and be obedient to him as their captain.

" Mr. Thomas Leonard is likewise approved of per this Council, and allowed to be and sustain the office of a captain in said town, and such soldiers as desire the same forthwith to list themselves under his com- mand and be obedient to him as their captain.

" And every of the soldiers of said town or place are hereby ordered and required forthwith to list themselves under the command of one of said cap- tains; and being listed as aforesaid, the said company, with such of the aged inhabitants or others of said town, who by law are allowed to choose officers, are hereby allowed and have liberty to choose officers under their said captains in their respective compa- nies, and so to continue until the General Court or Council of War shall otherwise order, and that colors, drums, and halberts for each company be provided and paid for by all the ratable inhabitants of said town.

" And the Council advise the said captains not to call both companies together for ordinary trainings on one day, but to appoint their days of training at distinet times or days."

It is obvious from the cautionary advice given in the last sentence of the orders that there were two parties formed, and trouble was anticipated between them. These orders of the Council of War, so incon- sistent with the orders of the General Court, threat- ened to produce great disturbance, and called forth the following plain and spicy letter from the authori- ties of the town to the Governor :

" TAUNTON, April 7, 1690.

" To the Honorable Mr. Thomas Hinckley, Governor of their Majesties' Col- ony of New Plymouth :

" HONORED SIR,-It is our great joy that God has continued you among us, hitherto to be the stay and staff of church and state. We bless God, that has restored our judges as at the first, and our counselors as at the beginning ; our rulers from among ourselves, who have a pa- ternal affection to us, and wish our welfare, and to whom we may freely speak our thoughts without such danger as heretofore we stood in; yet

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

desire not to abuse such freedom to impudence, as some do, in uncivil and corrupt disrespect of authority. We are sensible that your honor lies under a great burden, on whom is the care of all the towns and churches among us. The Lord be your great reward and the renewer of your strength, that you may be enabled to grapple with and over- come this difference which the present tottering condition of our State " does produce ! Onr design is not (we hope) to increase your burden of care, but rather to lighten it if we could. The Lord humble us for our present differences, and show us the cause of them, and give us wisdom to behave ourselves aright before Him! Our differences are most un- seasonable and unreasonable, but in time, we trust, the dust will be allayed.

" Honored sir, although we, the subscribers, are such as did vote for Capt. Leonard, yet did it not for the promoting of difference, but acted our judgments and consciences in so doing, and are all of us of that principle, that, had the major vote fallen on the other person, we could have submitted to him, and hope can all of us sincerely say that in this manner we do and shall abhor division, and now are ready to join with your honor, and other loving fathers in government, for the healing this difference among ns, and shall accept and promote all your whole- some counsel and advice to us for peace. Your honor hitherto has been misinformed concerning the distemper of our body politic, which till the physician doth truly know the poor patient can't expect a cure. The remedy last afforded for healing has not that effect among ns, and not to lose our scope we have digested our thoughts with a few parts.

"]. That the liberty granted to all to list under whom they pleased it will make such a division in the town as portends nothing but confu- sion and ruin. No man of either part, that has the face of honesty, will profess himself the promoter of it. Had the division been made by the ground, or some other orderly way, the difficulty had been less; but in this way there seems to be a core of distance and contention engen- dered in men's hearts. All the good men of the place (except a very few that may labor under some present discontent) do heartily pray it may be prevented, if it be God's will ; yea, otherwise, some threaten removing out of town. From hence will come continual opposites in town-meetings and all other affairs of a civil nature. We would hope it may produce none in the church, who are all of one mind (blessed be God) except three or four, and they will submit to order and the deter- mination of the Court.

"2. That hereby is increased upon ns, in the most or greatest part, charges to procure new military instruments. The other party (though they falsely feign themselves so numerous) are some of them main- tained, in part, by the town ; many others by parents and masters, be- ing yet under their care and tuition (though drawn away by seditious persons), and so will not bear the twentieth part of the charge. Yea, some hot persons begin to say, 'How can the Court force to pay such charges, if they can't make others vote, and submit to their own orders?'

"3. The freemen among us begin to grumble that the order of a Gen- eral Court should be altered by a Council, and talk of petitioning to the General Court about it ; which we hope may be prevented.

"4. The contempt of authority by one party seems to be too little dis- countenanced ; for whereas the Court ordered the people should vote, and come to a choice, they dismissed the company and dispersed them- selves as soon as they saw it promoted, and by such doings lose an in- terest in our hearts. Thereby they would have brought us, with them- selves, to ineur the penalty of a fifty-pound fine for neglect of it. At this time, the leading men among them said they were not for division of the company, and owned it would be our ruin : yet at the sa[me time] their agents promote it, and readily accept of commissions ; which is nothing . . . if they can have their own wills, they care not if the whole be . . . of their petitioners, which they subscribe to their petitions, your honor . . . they have still in multiplication. Did you but know what pains they take . . . as they call it, how much drink is spent in encour- aging weak friends, and the . . . their party must have their fill of cider in the morning before . . . you would account the whole matter, from the foundation, . . . " (Some of the words in the foregoing clause are obliterated in the original, as also the whole of the fifth and the begin- ning of the sixth.)

" 5.

"6. ... not ratify it, for good reasons well known to themselves. But now the case is altered. Great changes have been in the world, and sad ones among us; and, among the rest, our former reverend pastor, Mr. Shove, is taken away from us : yet we trust his memory is precious to your honor. We suspect some friend in the court does ns a displeas- ure in promoting petitions. But good men miss it. We can't but think of Eli's sin, though he was a good man.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 178

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