History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 184

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 184

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" At a town-meeting on the first day of July, 1689. Those of the town that were at the meeting-house did by a full and free vote choose Wil- liam Harvey, John Richmond, Thomas Leonard, James Walker, senior, and John Crossman to be helpful to Shadrach Wilbore, the town clerk, in framing and drawing a release and confirmation of our lands from Major Bradford, to take in all Taunton township and the North Pur- chase, according to deeds and grants."

At a meeting on the 8th of July the town voted to give Maj. Bradford twenty pounds for his release and confirmation, and voted to make a rate of twenty-five pounds, the extra five pounds to defray charges. Lieut. Macey, James Walker, Sr., Mr. George Good- ing, William Harvey, and Thomas Leonard were a committee to proportion what each man should pay, including proprietors in the old township, the North and South Purchases, and Assonet Neck.

Feb. 20, 1690-91. The town took action in reference to obtaining a charter for this colony, and expressed their readiness to pay their proportion of the cost at- tending the effort. But all efforts failed, and this year proved to be the last of the Plymouth govern- ment.

Oct. 15, 1692. The selectmen were directed to bound all landing places and draw up the bounds in writing and deliver them to the town clerk for record.

Other votes of interest were as follows:

"This 11th of October, 1680. The town hath voted and granted to James Leonard, Jr., three acres of land lying on the northeast side of his land, between the way to the Fowling pond and the said James Leonard's land, on the condition that the said James Leonard shall close all the beams of the meeting-house sufficiently with iron bars, that is to say, all the beams that are now open."

Dec. 11, 1685. The town granted to Abel Burt six acres of swamp, of which three acres were in lieu of three acres formerly granted to his father, "and the other three acres the town doth give to the said Abel Burt in way of gratification in the consideration of his loss in his bargain about plastering the meeting- house."

" This 9th day of August, 1686. It is voted and agreed by the pur- chasers of this town to make a rate of two shillings to a purchase in money to pay for the defraying of the charges of the committee, as in reference of Titient land, to procure a deed of the Indians, viz., Josiah, Peter, and David."

" This 16th day of May, 1687. The town hath by vote expressed their willingness to give Mr. Danforth a call to the ministry amongst us in this town."

" Feb. 27, 1687. It is voted and granted that Capt. Tipping shall have ten acres of land adjoining to his own land formerly laid out to him at a place called Rumford, for his labor and charge to fetch up to our town Mr. Danforth."

"Feb. 27, 1687. We whose hands are hereunder written do by these presents freely give for ourselves and our heirs, to Capt. Bartholomew Tipping, and to his heirs and assigns forever, severally and jointly the several sums of land as is underwritten in part of the pay for the house

and land he hath sold to Mr. Samuel Danforth, now minister of our town of Taunton :

Acres.

"James Walker, Sr. 10

Peter Walker 10 William Paull ..

John Hall

5 Robert Crossman, Jr. 3

Thomas Linkon, Sr

5 | Joseph Leonard

John Richmond ..

5 1 Mary Street.

William Witherell, Sr.

5 Joseph Willis.

James Tisdale.

5 Jonathan Briggs

Elkanah Bobit

2 Samnel Hall

5 John Smith, Jr.

John Dean

15 Jolın Bryant.

10"

Edward Bobit

A petition was presented to the General Court at Boston in May, 1697, for assistance in rebuilding and supporting a bridge at the southerly part of the town, formerly built by certain poor men, some of whom were dead and the others were unable to bear the expense of rebuilding, and setting forth that other towns were benefited by the bridge. The petition was signed by James Leonard and Thomas Williams.

" Oct. 16, 1697.

" In the House of Representatives.

" Voted, That the bridge be supported according to former usage. "PENN TOWNSEND, Speaker."

This was the bridge at the Weir. In March, 1699, a petition was presented to the General Court by the selectmen, viz., Henry Hodges, Thomas Gilbert, Thomas Harvey, John White, Thomas Williams, setting forth the necessity of rebuilding the bridge and the justice of requiring certain other towns to contribute to the expense of building and supporting it. This petition met with better success. A com- mittee reported favorably and recommended that the bridge be built. It was ordered to be built at the expense of Taunton, Freetown, Tiverton, Little Compton, and Dartmouth. Capt. Jared Talbut took the contract, and upon a report to the court of the cost, it was ordered Nov. 5, 1702, that one- half the expense should be paid by Taunton, and the other half by the other four towns proportion- ately.

It does not come within the scope of the present sketch to give the general history of the town beyond this point. The reduction of its territory by the set- ting off of new towns will be briefly narrated, and some items of interest given connected with the se- lection of Taunton as the shire-town in the place of Bristol, and the establishment of courts here.

For nearly forty years after the last purchase Taun- ton maintained the integrity of its large territory. Meantime inhabitants had increased in the North and South Purchases, and the time to ask for sep- arate town organizations, sure to come some time, at length arrived.

The movement as to setting off the north part of the town began in the sending a petition to the Gov- ernor, Council, and House of Representatives by the inhabitants of the North Purchase and a part of the old township of_ Taunton, praying to be set off as a precinct. This petition was dated Oct. 20, 1708, and was signed by George Leonard and Nicholas White,

Peter Pitts, Sr. Samuel Holloway.

2 John Hathaway

John Macomber, Jr. 5

767

TAUNTON.

as agents of said inhabitants. It was read in Council Oct. 22, 1708, and ordered that the selectmen of Taunton be served with a copy and heard thereupon on the second Tuesday of the next session. A town- meeting was held to consider the matter, and a com- mittee was appointed to prepare a remonstrance against their being made a precinct, but favoring their being made a town, provided only the North Purchase was included. This remonstrance was dated June 4, 1709, and signed by James Leonard, Philip King, Thomas Gilbert, Thomas Harvey, and Jona- than Padelford, as committec.

The following communication was also sent to the court :

" To his Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esq., Captain-General and Gov- ernor-in-Chief in and over her Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and the rest of the Honorable Council and Representatives con- vened in General Conrt May the 25th, 1709, humbly sheweth :

" That whereas the Honored Court sent to the selectmen of Taunton to shew their reason (if any they had) why Taunton North Purchase and South Purchase should not have their prayer granted. for answer where- unto we say, That although it hath pleased God to increase our numbers, which we hope is in mercy, yet must say that through the providence of God a great many are so extreme poor, and rates and taxes so high, that we find it hard and difficult to rub along; and the generality of the North Purchase are so poor that we fear they will not be able to build a meeting-house and to maintain a minister; and as for the South Pur- chase, we are very sensible that they will be exposed to great difficulty by reason of the Great River that runs through the middle of that de- sired precinct, which will be difficult to pass in the winter by reason that the ice is many times not strong enough to bear and too hard to break. Yet we say that if this Honored Court in their wisdom see it convenient, and our neighbors and friends see their way clear, we shall not oppose them ; so that the Court order it that we be no way concerned with any of their charges, but they bear it themselves. But as for the North Purchase, we think it better for them to be a township than a precinct.

" This is our last and final answer upon mature consideration.

" ISRAEL THRASHIER, " JOUIN SPUR, " EZRA DEAN, " Selectmen.

" We whose names are underwritten are of the same mind with those above. Thomas Leonard, Henry Ilodges, Samuel Deane, Seth Williams, Joseph Williams."

" In Council, June 7, 1709.

" Upon the hearing of the several petitions of the Inhabitants of the North and South Purchases in Taunton, to be made separate precincts for the settling and support of the ministry in the respective places :

" Resolved, That Nathaniel Thomas, Nathaniel Byfield, and James Warren, Esqrs., be a committee to repair to Taunton and view the sev- eral purchases, and upon consideration of all circumstances, to set off proper precincts to encourage the good ends desired by the petitioners, and to advise and direct to the most suitable places for the making of their meeting houses. And to make their report to the next session of this Court, Nathaniel Thomas, Esq., to appoint the time."

Report of the above committee :

"TAUNTON, Ang. 31, 1709.

" Pursuant to an order of the Great and General Court, dated June the 8th, 1709, to us directed to repair to Taunton and view the several tracts of land which the Inhabitants of the North and South Purchases in Taunton have petitioned to be made separate precincts, for the set- tling and support of the ministry in the said respective places.

" And we, the subscribers, having viewed the said several tracts, and heard the allegations of the opposite parties thereto, upon considera- tion of all circumstances have set the bounds of the said several pre- cincts as followeth :

" That is to say, That the bounds of the North Precinct (according to their petition) shall begin at the line between the two late Colonies of

the Massachusetts and Plymouth, in the line of the bounds between Taunton North Purchase and Attlebury, and from thence southward to Rehoboth's northeast corner, and from thence eastward on the said North Purchase line to Tannton bounds, and thence eastward to the mouth of the brook called Burt's Brook, leaving out Capt. Ilodges' land at Burt's Brook, and extending from the mouth of Burt's Brook to the bridge made over the Mill River, near William Witherell's, and from thence northeastward to the North Purchase line, and from the North Purchase line, the road that leads from said bridge towards Boston, to be the bounds till it comes to the line between the said late Colonies, which line to be the bounds to Attlebury bounds aforesaid, and that the meeting-house for the said North Precinct shall be set on the north ward side of tho way that leads over Rumford River at Crossman's way, at the place where the way crosseth it that leads from John Hodges' to the Beech Island.

" And the bounds of the Precinct of the Sonth Purchase aforesaid, shall (according to their petition) be the line between Taunton Town old bounds and the said South Purchase, and from the mouth of Three- Mile River to the maple-tree at Assonet River, at the head of Freetown land. And that the meeting-house for the said South Precinct shall be set on the west side of the way near Capt. Jared Talbutt's house, ac- cording as the petitioners have agreed. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

" NATHANIEL. THOMAS. " N. BYFIELD. "JAMES WARREN."

This report was accepted Sept. 19, 1709, with the proviso "that the east end of the North Purchase shall have half the said Purchase as their Precinct when they are able to maintain a minister, and this Court judge them so."

The inhabitants of the North Precinct, through George Leonard, Esq., their agent, petitioned the court early in 1711, setting forth that they had erected a meeting-house which was in a considerable state of forwardness, and had called Mr. Joseph Avery to settle with them in the ministry, and praying to be made a distinct town, the town of Taunton having assented thereto. ' This petition was granted March 17, 1711, and the precinct was constituted a town by the name of Norton. The bounds included the whole of the North Purchase, together with a part of the north- westerly angle of the original purchase.

There was a more heated controversy over setting off the South Precinct. The petition for this object was dated Oct. 11, 1708, and was signed by John Reed, Edward Paull, Ebenezer Briggs, Henry Pitts, Nathaniel Briggs, Nicholas Stephens, Samuel Talbut, Isaac Paull, Jared Talbut, Abram Hathaway John Paull, James Paull, Ebenezer Pitts, Abraham Blanch- ard, Benjamin Briggs, John Crane, Isaac Hathaway, Edward Shove, James Tisdale, Joseph Deau, Richard Hoskins, Samuel Waldron, Ephraim Hathaway, Thomas Jones, Hezekiah Hoar, Matthew Briggs, Thomas Briggs, David Walker, Amos Briggs, Joseph Poole, Samuel Whitmarsh.

This petition, like that of the North Precinct, was referred to the town, and was acted upon at the same time. The same committee was appointed to prepare a remonstrance, which they did. In the remonstrance they allude to a town-meeting held Feb. 22, 1708-9, to consider the petition, at which meeting Capt. Jared Talbut was desired to show the petition that the town , might know what they were to act upon, and he re-

763

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

fused to let them see it, so that the selectmen who were appointed a committee to make answer could not do so, and therefore named another meeting to be held June 1, 1709, at which this committee were appointed. They also allude to a previous town- meeting held February 1st, when the "town met to- gether and the petitioners, but fell into such a heat of spirit by such a striving by the petitioners to break our town to pieces, the day was spent in confusion, and the meeting dismissed and nothing done."

The report of the committee of the General Court, already given, included the South Purchase in their recommendation. The precinct as established in- clnded the southerly part of the present town of Berk- ley. In 1712 this precinct was incorporated .as a town under the name of Dighton, thought to have been given in honor of Frances Dighton, the wife of Rich- ard Williams.

Encouraged doubtless by the success of the inhab- itants of the North and South Purchases in their pe- titions to be set off as precincts, and afterwards as towns, the northeasterly and westerly parts of the town made a similar attempt a few years later. A petition dated Dec. 4, 1727, of sundry of the north- easterly part of Taunton, was presented to the court, praying that all that part of the town that lieth on the northerly side of the Great River and on the easterly side of the Mill River may be made a pre- cinct, and if part of the town shall oppose the peti- tion, that they may have a committee to see and hear how things are circumstanced. This petition was signed by about sixty persons.

Another petition, bearing date Dec. 11, 1727, of sundry of the inhabitants of the westerly part of Taunton was presented at the same court, praying that the court would grant them a precinct, bounded, beginning at Wenaconet Bridge, so called, on Mill River, near. William Witherill's, and so down said river, bounded by the River easterly until it comes to Street's bridge, so called ; then on a straight line to Three-Mile River, at the bridge near Peter Walker's house. which is the bounds between Taunton and Dighton; then by Dighton bounds till it comes to Rehoboth ; then northward by Rehoboth to Norton ; then by Norton till it comes to said bridge. They also ask for a committee. This petition was signed by some seventy-five persons.

These petitions called forth a strenuous remon- strance, dated Dec. 25, 1727, which begins as fol- lows :

" We, the subscribers (and many others), inhabitants of Taunton in the several parts thereof, humbly offer that we are greatly surprised to hear, that notwithstanding God's awful and striking providences, and especially that awful and threatening stroke in removing from us by death our aged, honored, and beloved pastor, the Rev. Mr. Samuel Dan- forth, some of our neighbors are making this dark and difficult hour an opportunity to carry on a very dangerous, unhappy design, going from house to house, persuading people to sign a petition or petitions to this Hon. Court to divide our aged town into precincts, which must needs tend to our utter confusion and ruin ; obstructing our building a new meeting-honse, which our town has solemnly voted to do."

This remonstrance was signed by one hundred and sixty-four persons. A paper containing the names of thirty-nine persons living in the easterly part of the town and of forty-eight living in the westerly part of the town, who were against partitioning the town into precints, was also presented to the court.

The following record also appears among the State archives :

"January 25, 1727-8. At a church meeting held at the house of Ephraim Hodges, present the Rev. Mr. Fisher of Dighton, it being pro- posed to the church there met, after some time spent in prayer to God, whether their present unsettled circumstances did not call them to sol- emnize a day of prayer, and then the church proceeded to appoint a day, and the day fixed on was the 15th day of February next ensuing; and the church then voted that the congregation should be notified of it and asked to join with them in it.

" A copy taken of your church book of record per me " NATH'L FISHER."

A formal remonstrance was presented to the Gen- eral Court, Feb. 14, 1727-28, by Seth Williams, Jolin King, John Mason, Benjamin Wilbore, and James Walker, Jr., selectmen of the town, stating therein that they had not time to call a regular town-meeting, and presenting very urgent reasons why the prayers of the two petitions should not be granted.

Upon these petitions and remonstrances a commit- tee, consisting of Nathaniel Byfield, John Cushing, Samuel Thaxter, Maj. Quincy, and Maj. Turner, was appointed to go to Taunton, hear the parties, and report thereon.

It is no wonder that the town vigorously opposed these petitions, for the precincts prayed for included more than two-thirds of the territory of the town and two-thirds of the whole number of dwelling- houses. A map of the town, with all the dwelling- houses and the owners' names and the proposed boundaries of the precincts delineated thereon, was prepared by Morgan Cobb and presented to the court for their information. Upon this map it is stated that the number of dwelling-houses in the easterly precinct prayed for was eighty-four, in the westerly one hun- dred, and in the remaining part of the town ninety.

The committee appointed by the court to hear the parties reported unfavorably thereon, and the petitions were dismissed. This ended the matter for a short time only, however. Sept. 18, 1730, another petition was presented to the court by inhabitants of the west- erly part of Taunton, praying to be made a separate parish, which, upon the report of a committee ap- pointed to consider the matter, was dismissed Feb. 19, 1730-31.

In the remonstance to the petitions of 1727, one reason urged against granting the petitions is that it would obstruct building a new meeting-house, which the town had solemnly voted to do. Copies of the records of two town-meetings in reference to the matter have fortunately been preserved in the State papers, and are here given :

" At a legal Town meeting warned and held at Taunton public meet- ing-house on the 21. day of November 1726: The moderator chosen for said meeting was Seth Williams Esq.

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ANCIENT MAP OF TAUNTON. Bemtard from the Original in the Secretary of States Office. by PERCY M BLAKE, Civil Engineer December. 1575

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TAUNTON.

" Whereas on the aforesaid day it was voted by the Town of Taunton that they will build a new meeting-honse and to stand within three or four rods of the old meeting house.

" Od Voted that the new meeting-house shall be fifty six foot in length, forty six foot wide and twenty seven foot stud this to be the bigness and proportion of said house.

" 3d Voted that Capt. John Andrews, Capt. Samnel Williams and Mr. Nathaniel Crossman be a committee to build and finish the new meet- ing-house now voted.

" 4th Voted that the money agreed upon by said town to repair the old meeting-house or at least that part thereof not yet laid out, also what any particular person have obliged himself to pay in repairing our public meeting-house, that is now indebted to said town, be laid out in building of a new one now voted.

" 5th Voted that the sum of three hundred pounds be raised on the rateable inhabitants of Taunton and that the assessors do forthwith make a rate on said inbabitants for the raising of said sum, and to be improved towards the building of the new meeting-house.

" A true extract taken out of the abovesaid day's work.

" Attest-

" BENJAMIN WILBORE, Town Clerk."

" At a legal Town meeting warned and held at Taunton public meet- ing-honse on the 20. day of November 1727.

" The moderator chosen for said meeting was Seth Williams Esq.

" Voted that there be a rate or tax made upon poles and estates on the inhabitants of Tannton of the sum of fifty pounds for the support of the ministry.

" A true extract taken ont of the abovesaid day's work.

" Attest-

" BENJAMIN WILBORE, Town Clerk."

A portion of the northeasterly part of the town was set off as a new town April 2, 1731, and received the name of Raynham. Its limits and boundaries were very different, however, from the proposed pre- cinct of 1727. The boundaries between the old and new towns were described as follows :

" Bounded on the south by Taunton Great River, including all the land of Lieut. Ebenezer Robinson on the southeasterly or south side of said river, ex- cept that piece of land by his saw-mill near the fur- nace, which is in Middleborough precinet, thence down said river to the bounds between the lands of Thomas Dean and Nathaniel Williams, at the place

called Shallow Water, thence in a straight line to the

east end of Prospect Hill at the going over of the way, including within said new township all the land of Zephaniah Leonard and that which was formerly Capt. James Leonard's which joineth to and is on the west side of said line, and excluding the land of Nathaniel Williams joining to and on the east of said line, thence to run northerly by said way to the great cedar swamp at the going in of the great-island way, thence to cross said island and run straight to Easton line, at the nearest place."

Rev. Dr. Fobes says the first meeting-house was built the year preceding the incorporation of the town, which then contained about thirty families.

The territory of Berkley was set off and incorpor- ated as a separate town April 18, 1735. Since that date no new towns have been taken from ancient Taunton. Occasional unimportant changes in bound- ary lines between us and some of our neighbors have been made, and in 1879 an awkward jog at Myrick- ville was taken from Taunton and added to Berkley. Our present boundary lines are likely to be perma-

nent, however awkward and irregular in shape the ter- ritory they encompass.

The earliest matter receiving attention after Taun- ton was made the shire town of the county was the providing a county house and jail. The record is as follows :

" At his Majesty's Court of General Sessions of the Peace, begun and held at Taunton within and for the County of Bristol on the second Tuesday of December, being the ninth day of the said mouth, A.D. 1746.

"Justices present : Seth Williams, Thomas Terry, George Leonard, Timothy Fales, Samuel Willis, Thomas Bowen, Stephen Paine, Silvester Richmond, Jr., Ephraim Leonard, John Foster, Edward Hayward, Samuel Howland, Samuel Leonard, John Godfrey, Samuel White.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 184

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