History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 187

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 187

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William Holloway became a freeman in 1644. His name is on the military list of 1643, but it does not appear in the list of those entitled to divisions of land in 1659. Mr. Savage says he removed to Boston about 1650.

In the State archives, under date of May 7, 1662, may be found the answer of the General Court "to the petition of William Holloway, father to the late

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

John Holloway, that served the Governor as sergeant near two years." The conrt granted to the father, administrator of the estate of his said son, one hun- dred and fifty acres in some free place near to some plantation. The land was laid out in 1671. In 1687, Malachi Holloway, of Taunton, presented a petition to Governor Andros setting forth that a grant was made to his father, William Holloway, by the Gen- eral Court in 1662, of one hundred and fifty acres up- land and meadow lying beyond Wading River, near the Plymouth Jine, and praying that a new survey may be made and a patent for confirmation be granted to him. There can be little doubt that the William Holloway referred to was the one whose name appears on the list of original purchasers. Malachi Holloway, his son, seems to have been a large land-owner in Taunton. The name of Timothy Holloway appears in the list of 1643, and also in that of 1659. In the list of 1675, Malachi Holloway claims on Richard Hart's rights, and Samuel Holloway on his own rights. Whether these were all of one family and what their relationship was has not been ascertained.

Richard Paull is said by Savage to have been hired as a soldier for the castle in 1636, as mentioned in " Winthrop," vol. ii. p. 366. His name is on the list of ancient purchasers. He took the oath of fidelity while the plantation was called Cohannet, and was there married to Margery Turner the Sth of Novem- ber, 1638, the first marriage in the settlement. He was propounded as a freeman in 1647, but never took the oath. In 1646 he is called a planter. In 1640 he was licensed as an innholder. In 1652 he was a surveyor of highways. In 1651 he was upon two juries of inquest, one upon John Slocum, the son of Anthony Slocum, and the other upon William Eng- land, servant to Joseph Wilbore. He died previous to May 17, 1654, when the will of Elizabeth Pool was ordered to be recorded. In that will, Margery Turner, the Cohannet maiden of 1638, is tenderly re- membered as " my kind and old friend sister Margery Paule, widow." He left two sons, William and Samuel. . William married Mary, the daughter of John Richmond, and had a large family of children. He was an extensive land-owner, especially in the southerly and easterly part of the town. Samuel Paull, it is thought, removed to Dorchester.

Joseph Wilson and Benjamin Wilson were prob- ably brothers. But little is known of them except the fact that they were among the first purchasers. The name of Benjamin Wilson appears in the mili- tary list of 1643, but neither of their names are found in the lists of freemen, or of those taking the oath of fidelity, or among the officers of the town. In the lists of those having rights to lands in 1675, John Hall and Samuel Hall, sons of George Hall, claim on the rights which were Joseph Wilson's and Ben- jamin Wilson's.

William Scadding's name appears in the list of those that had taken the oath of fidelity in Cohannet.

There is no other record concerning him. John Bryant bought his rights in the Taunton purchase, but at what date is unknown. He probably owned land near the beautiful pond that bears his name and perpetuates his memory.

Robert Hobell was dead before March, 1641, for at that date the grand jury presented "the son of Widow Hoble for swearing." There is no other mention of the name in the Plymouth records. His name appears but once in the proprietors' records, and that is in the list of original purchasers. No one appears to claim upon his rights. The name and the right seem alike to have faded out.

William Coy was another of the first purchasers who seems to have gone from the settlement leaving none of his name or lineage behind. In 1675, Ed- ward Rew claimed on his rights.

David Corwithy was proposed as a freeman Sep- tember, 1639, with several others from Cohannet, as the town was then called. His name appears as Mr. David Kerwythy. No other mention is made of him in the court records. In the list of 1675, Nicholas White, Sr., claims on his rights. From some allu- sions in the description of George Hall's lands it seems probable that Corwithy's home lot was on Dean Street, between that of Hall on the east, and Anthony Slocum on the west.

Anthony Slocum was on the military list of 1643, and was admitted a freeman in 1657. He was a sur- veyor of highways in 1654 and 1662. Edward Slo- comb, who was a surveyor in 1647, may have been his son. Somewhere about 1664 he removed to Dart- mouth, with his family, of which town he was one of the early settlers. There is a letter of his written to William Harvey after he removed to Dartmouth, and recorded in the proprietors' records, vol. i. p. 14, which is of some local interest. Parts of it are here quoted :

" An difference which I understand is unhappily Brother Harvey, the occasion of my writing to you at this time is a contest between Nicholas White and the owner of Capt. Poole's land (as I understand) Mr. Increase Robinson, to end which, if men will be governed or ruled by truth, and that which follows' is nothing but the truth, God Almighty is my witness. First sir, it being urged by one of the parties mentioned, that Mr. Poole and I have changed land. I do declare we never did change any, although we were soone about so to do. And secondly, to conclude all, our dividing line runs through a certain saw- pit without the head of my fence (that was) down within five or six foot of a little oak, on an unmanured (in my time) hill, (that is to say, the said oak is five or six foot within Capt. Pool's lot) thence straight down to the bridge, and four foot further towards Capt. Pool's, from where all down to the river the brook is the line or bounds between us, only at the mouth next the river, Capt. Poole hath a small inconsiderable piece of ground which the line alloweth him on that side I was seized on.

"To the church of Christ in .Taunton and Mr. Shove and yourself in particular I desire to be recommended, whose prayers I doubt not I and mine are the better for, and whose welfare I also earnestly wish and pray for."

The letter is without date, but a line was run be- tween the parties mentioned by the selectmen Oct. 22, 1681. The lot of Anthony Slocum was on Dean Street, where Mr. Joseph A. Hall now lives, and

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extended west to the brook which crosses the street between his estate and Capt. Howland's.

William Parker was most probably the person re- ferred to by Thomas Lechford, who in giving an account of the church and ministers in Taunton says, "Master Hooke received ordination from the

He did not leave Taunton at once, however, for in March, 1641, the Plymouth Court fined " Mr. Francis hands of one Master Bishop, a schoolmaster, and one | Doughty, of Taunton, for selling a pound of gun-

Parker, a husbandman." He has the honorable prefix " Mr." attached to his name whenever men- tioned in the court records. He became a freeman in 1641, and the same year was appointed constable. He was constable again in 1642, 1643, and 1653, and a deputy in 1645 and 1658. In 1650 he was deputed by the General Court to marry persons in Taunton, and this authority was renewed in 1657. He died in 1661, leaving a will dated March 15, 1660, in which he calls himself sixty years old, names his wife, Alice, but no child, and gives a legacy to his nephew, James Phillips, who was the son of William Phillips, making it probable that his sister was the wife of William Phillips. In 1675, Peter Pitts claimed on his rights. His widow in 1662 married the first Stephen Paine, of Rehoboth. After her marriage she is referred to as owning land in Taunton.

John Parker is thought to have been the brother of William. In June, 1641, John Parker and John Bushop, of Taunton, were propounded to be admitted freemen at the next court. This John Bushop was doubtless the " Master Bishop, a schoolmaster," who assisted at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Hooke. There is no record that Bishop was ever admitted, but Parker was admitted in July, 1641. In 1642 he was a deputy to the Plymouth Court. There is no record of his holding any other office. He died Feb. 26, 1667-68, leaving a will in which he speaks of his house at Boston. He gives legacies to his wife, Sarah, to his wife's sister's son, Nathaniel Smith, to his brother, Mr. John Summers, minister; to Mary Parker and sister, Elizabeth Phillips ; to James Phillips, of Taun- ton ; to Cousin James Walker's children, and to the church at Taunton. In 1675 his heirs claim on his rights. Estate valued at four hundred and six pounds. - Francis Doughty was the minister mentioned by Thomas Lechford in Plain Dealing, as opposing the gathering of the church in Tannton. The whole passage is as follows : " Cohannet alias Taunton, is in Plymouth Patent. There is a church gathered of late, and some ten or twenty of the church, the rest excluded. Master Hooke, pastor, Master Streate, teacher. Master Hooke received ordination from the hands of one Master Bishop, a schoolmaster, and one Parker, an husbandman, and then Master Hooke joined in ordaining Master Streate. One Master Doughty, a minister, opposed the gathering of the Church there, alleging that, according to the Cove- nant of Abraham, all men's children that were of baptized parents, and so Abraham's children, ought to be baptized; and spake so in public, or to that effect, which was held a disturbance, and the minis-

ters spake to the Magistrate to order him. The Mag- istrate commanded the Constable, who dragged Master Doughty out of the Assembly. He was forced to go away from thence, with his wife and children."

powder to the natives," thirty shillings. At the same court " Edward Hall, servant to Francis Doughty, for swearing profanely is censured to sit in the stocks, which was accordingly done." His name is not in the military list of 1643, whether because he was a minister or because he had then left town may be un- certain. There is a deposition concerning him in the proprietors' records which is as follows :

" This writing being made the 4 June 1667. It is to testify concern- ing the sale of Mr. Doutie's land which he had in Taunton his whole right in the town of Taunton being twelve acres, that is to say six aeres lying by the land of Mr. Holloway on the Mill River, and six acres over the Great River lying by the land of the aforesaid Mr. Holloway. James Burt sen. of Tannton being appointed by a letter of attorney to make sale of this land to one Richard Hide of Taunton for the sum of twelve pounds, which the aforesaid Richard Hide told me he had satistied the aforesaid Mr. Dontie in a house, the which the aforesaid Hide had of his own at the Dutch plantation, which he said Mr. Dontie had of him, and that was Mr. Doutie's satisfaction for his land for ought that ever I understood ; and this land hath been quietly enjoyed by those that have possessed it ever since, being about eighteen or nineteen years agone.

"That which is above written was testified upon oath June The 5, 1667 before me

"JAMES WALKER."

He is said by Rev. Dr. Dexter, in his edition of " Lechford," to have been with the Dutch at Man- hattan in 1641, from whom he and his associates pro- cured, in 1642, a patent for Mespath (since Newtown, L. I.), that he was fined and imprisoned by Kieft, threatened with this and that by Stuyvesant, obliged to quit Mespath for Flushing, and driven from Flush- ing to Virginia.

George Hall was propounded as a freeman in 1643, and was admitted in 1645. His name is on the mili- tary list of 1643. He was a constable in 1645, and one of the selectmen in 1666 and until 1669. His home lot was on Dean Street, where the venerable Ebenezer Hall, one of his descendants, now lives. He was a large land-owner, his rate in 1659 being the largest on the list except that of Thomas Lincoln, Sr. Upon the establishment of the iron manufacture by James Leonard and his associates, he became an owner, and was the first clerk of the company. His connection with this business is more fully given in the articles on manufactures. He died Oct. 30, 1669, aged about sixty-nine years, leaving a will, which was witnessed by Richard Williams and Walter Deane, in which he makes his wife, Mary, executrix, gives to the church in Taunton forty shillings to buy eups, and to his children,-John, Joseph, Samuel, Charity, Sarah, and Mary,-various amounts in lands and money. His descendants are numerous in Taunton and the towns in this vicinity.

George Macey was made a freeman in 1654, having previously taken the oath of allegiance and fidelity.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

He was on the military list of 1643. He was one of the surveyors of the highways in 1649 and 1655, a constable in 1650, a deputy from 1672 to 1677 inclut- sive, and again in 1686, and one of the selectmen from 1671 to 1686 inclusive. In 1665 he was ap- pointed lieutenant of the Taunton Company, and held the office through the Indian war. His connec- tion with the military affairs of the town is given in the chapter on that subject. His house-lot was on Dean Street, between Capt. Pool's on the east and William Harvey's on the west. He died Aug. 17, 1693. His will was dated June 20, 1693, and proved Sept. 5; 1693. In it he mentions his daughters, Eliza- beth Hodges, Sarah Blake, Mary Williams, Rebecca Williams, Deborah, and wife Susannah; also his grandchild, Samuel Hodges. He left no sons.

William Harvey was probably quite a young man at the settlement of the town. He was married, April 2, 1639, to Joane Hucker, the second recorded marriage in Cohannet. He was admitted a freeman in 1656, but strangely his name is not on the military list of 1643. His first home lot was on the easterly corner of the present Winter Street, fronting on Dean Street, and a strip two rods wide was sold to the town for the townway, then called Hoar's Lane, since Winter Street. He was chosen constable in 1661, in 1662 one of the surveyors, and in 1664 a deputy to the General Court. From that time until 1690 there were bnt two or three years that he was not in office as a deputy or selectman, and often holding both offices the same year. No man in the town seems to have been more constantly trusted by his fellow- townsmen with the responsibilities of public office. He died in 1691, leaving a will, in which he mentions his sons Thomas, Jonathan, and Joseph, a deceased son, and Nathan Thare, Jr., who was the son probably of a deceased daughter.

Richard Williams was born probably about 1606, for in his will, dated May 6, 1686, he calls himself about eighty. He was descended from a family of that name in Glamorganshire, in Wales. He married Frances Dighton, of Gloucestershire, England, sister of Catharine Dighton, who was married to Governor Thomas Dudley. It is supposed by some that he, with others of the first settlers, was here in 1636 or earlier, and established himself in his business of a tanner. His name is on the military list of 1643, but it was not until 1644 that he was admitted as a free- man. At a special court held in October, 1643, upon occasion of an insurrection of the Indians against the Dutch and English, he, with John Strong, were depu- ties from Taunton. He was a deputy again in 1645, and from that time until 1665 was deputy, thirteen years. In 1666 he was one of the selectmen, and from that time until 1677 served in that office, eleven years. After that year, owing doubtless to his great age, his name does not appear in connection with public office.

He was evidently a man of large organizing power

and great business capacity, and held a large landed estate. In 1675 he owned the right of Henry Uxley, Anthony Slocum, and John Gingille. He was for many years a deacon of the church. Mr. Baylies re- lates concerning him that " when blind and deaf from age, he was accustomed to attend public worship, say- ing, 'that although he could neither see nor hear, yet it was consoling to his feelings to know that he was present while the people of God were at their wor- ship.'" He died in 1692, leaving a will which was proved Oct. 10, 1693, in which is this clause, "To my son Nathaniel, to his heirs and assigns forever, I be- queath the land, house, and barn, which now he pos- sesseth, being part of the lots which I bought of Henry Uxley, in estimation half an acre more or less, with rights in future divisions belonging to said lots." His home lot was on Dean Street, and included the estate owned by the late Nathaniel Williams. He had the following children : John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Joseph, Thomas, Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Hannah. In a deed he calls Samuel a tailor.

John Deane was the grandson of Walter Deane, of Sonth Chard, a village in Somersetshire, about ten miles south of Taunton, in England, who died in 1591, and the son of William Deane of the same place, who died in 1634. He came from Dorchester to Taunton, and was one of the seven first freemen of Cohannett, already referred to. His wife's name was Alice. He was the constable of the town in 1640 and 1654, a surveyor of highways in 1640, and in 1657 one of the selectmen. His home lot was on Deane Street, between that of his brother Walter on the east, and that of John Strong on the west. It has remained in the family ever since, the house of the late Joseph Warren Deane, and the new house of Benjamin T. Kinnicutt standing on the original lot. He died in 1660, leaving a will in which occurs this passage : " My will is that these my overseers, with the consent of my wife, shall in case there be no settled minister in Taunton, they shall have full power to sell either the whole or part of these my housings and lands, so as my children and posterity may remove elsewhere where they may enjoy God in His ordinances."

He left the following children : John (born about 1639 ; according to tradition, the first white child born in Taunton), Thomas, Israel, Isaac, Nathaniel, and Elizabeth. His wife Alice survived him. He was one of the largest land-owners in town.

Walter Deane was a younger brother of John, no- ticed above, and came with him to Taunton. He was a freeman at the same date with his brother. He married Ellinor Strong, a sister of John Strong, by whom he had three children, viz., Joseph, Ezra, and Benjamin. He was a tanner by trade, and his son Ezra succeeded to his business. In 1640 he was a deputy to the General Court. He was chosen one of the selectmen in 1666, and annually thereafter until 1686, a period of twenty-one years of continuous ser- vice, unless the year 1670 be excepted, for which year

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the Plymouth records mention only two selectmen for Taunton, but as the usual number was five, it is most likely there is an omission in the record. He was a deacon in the church, and besides filling the public offices already mentioned, he was frequently on com- mittees for apportioning lands, settling disputed boundaries, and matters of that nature, and appears to have taken a prominent part in all the additional purchases of territory. His home lot was on Deane Street between that of his brother John on the west and Hezekiah Hoar on the east. The "Old Alger House," so called, stands on his original lot. The date of his death is not certainly known. He and his wife Ellinor join in a deed to Isaac Dean, dated Nov. 25, 1693, and that is the latest date at which we know that he was living. It is probable that he died soon afterwards. No record of any settlement of his estate has been found. He seems to have con- veyed his real estate to his children before his death.

Henry Uxley, whose name stands first on the list of purchasers, must have left the settlement very soon after coming, for his name appears nowhere else on any public record as being an inhabitant of Taunton. Neither can he be traced to any other settlement. He passed out of sight and out of knowledge utterly. Were it not that Richard Williams gives in his will to one of his sons, a house standing on a lot he bought of Henry Uxley, we might almost suspect he was a myth and never had any real existence.

James Walker, although not one of the original purchasers, joined the settlement early, probably while in his minority. His name first appears in the list of 1643 as being subject to military duty. He was admitted a freeman in 1650. Rev. James B. R. Walker, in his history of the Walker family, ex- presses the belief that he was the youth of fifteen years, who, with his sister "Sarra," aged seventeen, embarked in London, April 15, 1635, in the " Eliza- beth" for this country. They were called servants to Mr. John Browne. He was doubtless their uncle, although in his deed to James Walker and John Tisdale, which has been given in another place, he calls Walker his cousin. Rev. Mr. Walker also be- lieves that the brother and sister were the children of the Widow Walker who settled in Rehoboth. James Walker married Elizabeth, the daughter of William Phillips, and his sister married John Tis- dale. He was constable of the town in 1652 and 1685. He was chosen a deputy in 1654, and served fourteen years in all in that capacity, the last year being 1679. He was one of the board of selectmen eight years, 1666 being the first and 1679 the last year of his service. He was also one of the Town Council in 1667 and 1676. In 1662 he was authorized to ad- minister oaths and to marry persons. In 1664 he was an excise officer, in 1671 an inspector of ordinaries, and in 1677 one of the committee appointed to dis- tribute the contributions of Irish Christians among the sufferers by the Indian war. It will be seen by

this enumeration that he was an important man in the town. In other parts of this history this fact still further appears. For his second wife he married Sarah, the widow of Edward Rew, and daughter of John Richmond, Sr. He died Feb. 15, 1691, aged seventy-three years, and was buried in the Walker burying-ground, in the southerly part of the city, be- tween Somerset Avenue and the Great River.

Five of the original purchasers outlived the Plym- outh government, viz., William Harvey, Richard Williams, Walter Deane, Hezekiah Hoar, and George Macey. The place of their graves no man knoweth unto this day.

CHAPTER LXIII.

TAUNTON.1- (Continued.)

Ancient Burying-Grounds and Inscriptions from Old Gravestones- List of Officers, 1638-1691.

THE oldest burying-ground in the city is that at the Neck of Land. Here doubtless " the rude fore- fathers of the hamlet sleep," the graves of many of them now unmarked by any stone. There is no record of the laying out or of its boundaries. It is probable that at first it extended across the present street before the building of Neck of Land bridge and the opening of the road to it; and this may ac- count for the fact that the graves of those who first died cannot be found. The burying-grounds in Taun- ton and vicinity have been carefully explored, and the inscriptions on the stones faithfully copied by Deacon Edgar H. Reed, and by his kind permission some of the oldest among them will be here given, commencing with the above-named burying-ground :

" Elizabeth Smith, aged 40, died Jan. 31, 1687."

"Damaris Smith, aged 21 years, died 29th of October, 1689."

" Abigail Thayer, died the 20th of August, in the year 1691, in the 52d year of her age."

"Joseph Leonard, died the 18th of October, in the year 1692, in the 44th year of his age."

" Here lies buried Capt. James Leonard, who died Nov. 1, 1726, in the 84th year of his age."

" Here lies buried Mrs. Lydia Leonard, ye wife of Capt. James Leon- ard, who died July 4, 1705, in ye 47th year of her age."

" Ifere lieth ye body of Major Thomas Leonard, Esq., aged 72 years, died Nov. 24, 1713."

" Here lieth the body of Mary, the widow of Major Thomas Leonard, Esq., aged 81 years, died Dec. 1, 1723."

" Here lieth the body of John Deane, aged 77, died in the year 1717, Feb. the 18th."

" In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Denn, died March ye 15th, 1749, aged 73."

" Here lies the body of John Dean, died July ye 31, 1724, in the 50th year of his age."

" In memory of Mrs. Hannah Dean, wife of Mr. John Dean, died July 15, 1748, in the 71st year of her age."

" Here lies the body of Israel Dean, aged 74, died in the year 1719, . July the 4th."

" Erected in memory of Mr. Israel Dean, who died Nov. 29, 1794, in the 82d year of his age."

I By James Henry Dean.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

"In memory of Mrs. Sarah Dean, wife of Mr. Israel Dean, who died Sept. 3, 1773, in the 57th year of her age."

" In memory of M. D. Joshua Dean, son of Mr. Israel Dean & Sarah his wife, died Sept. 15, 1761, in the 25th year of his age."

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 187

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