History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 42

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 42

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Walter Spooner was an ardent and distinguished patriot during the war of the Revolution, and was in publie life from 1759 till his death. He was nine years a representative to the General Court, and was a member of the Council of the Province seventeen years. He was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of Massachusetts, 1779, and in 1781 was appointed by Governor Hancock chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for his native county. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts State Convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States, and was Presidential elector for George Washington both terms. A full list of the various public trusts to which he was chosen would transcend the limits of this sketch, suffice it to say, in the lan- guage of one familiar with his record, "No man of old Dartmouth ever held more prominently the con- fidence of the people, or by his official and private life more thoroughly justified that confidence." He died Oct. 26, 1803. His son Seth was born 1752; married Patience Pierce, by whom he had four chil-

dren,-Noah, Paul, Nathaniel S., and Dolly. His early life was spent as a farmer in Acushnet. Later in life he removed to Fairhaven and engaged in trade. He died 1815.

Nathaniel Sprague Spooner was born May 6, 1790. After graduating at Brown University he became, in company with Charles J. Holmes and Judge Nym- phas Marston, a law student, under the tutelage of Abraham Holmes, of Rochester. After qualifying himself for the law, his first practice was in his native town of Fairhaven (now Acushnet), but his practice soon extended to the courts of New Bedford. About 1817 he removed to New Bedford, but resided there only about a year, when he returned to Acushnet and settled upon the spot where he spent the remainder of his life. He was thrice married, first to Sophia Howard, daughter of Jonathan and Martha (Willis) Howard, of West Bridgewater, Nov. 25, 1812. They had two children, - Martha Howard and Mary Sprague, the latter of whom died at the age of twenty- one. His second wife was Lois A. Tompkins, daugh- ter of Rev. Isaac and Mary Tompkins, of Haverhill, Mass. His third wife was Hannah Crocker, daughter of Alvin and Phœbe Crocker, of Barnstable.

Judge Spooner was an able and prominent lawyer, but more particularly noted as a counselor than as an advocate, on account of his judgment being more than ordinarily good. He shrank from all notoriety, and avoided so far as possible all official position, accepting only such publie trusts as he deemed im- peratively his duty to assume as a citizen of the com- munity. He was, in fact, one of the most unassuming of men. Yet, notwithstanding his native modesty, he never shrank from what he considered his duty. He was justice of the peace nearly all his life after his majority, and held at various times the different town offices. He was police judge in New Bedford many years, and was a member of the State Legisla- ture. He was a man of strong integrity, and noted for his frankness and eandor; a man of active tem- perament, earnest, impulsive, sometimes impetuous, but always sincere. As a business man he was sue- cessful, and as a member of society he was respected and beloved. He was a man of marked generosity and liberality of character. One of his life-long as- sociates remarks of him that " his charity was spon- taneous and boundless, and he was never known to refuse a worthy or needy appeal." He bore in his veins some of the best blood of New England; on the maternal side he was a descendant in the seventh generation from John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, and numbers among his ancestors such families as the Carpenters, Southworths, Bassetts, and Arnolds. He was a member of the Congregational Society, and in politics a Federalist and Whig. He died Jan. 20, 1860.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

R. N. SWIFT.

For centuries the Swift family has been a promi- ment one in England. The celebrated Dean Swift was one of the most noted of the name. William Swift came from Boeking, County Suffolk, England, to Watertown, Mass., prior to 1634. He removed to Sandwich about 1637, and died there not far from 1640. "The Swifts descended from him are like the stars for multitude." His son William2 was born in England, and came with his father to Amer- ica. We can tell but little of him. His will, dated 15th December, 1705, was probated Jan. 29, 1706. Baylies gives him as representative in 1673, '74, '77, '78. He was a man of consequence and sub- stance, and had numerous children. His son Wil- liam3 had several children, and died about five years before his father. His will was dated 17th June, 1700. William4, his son, removed to Falmouth, where he was an honored citizen, influential in community. Among his children was William5, who was a tailor in his younger days, but afterwards a farmer in his native town of Falmonth. Like his ancestors, he was an in- fluential member of society, law-abiding, prosperous, esteemed and respected for his thrift and good quali- ties. He had several sons, all men of force and char- acter; broad and liberal in all views, they were yet positive in their nature, pushing and successful in business, and public-spirited in every enterprise tend- ing to advance their town. Williams was a Whig in politics and a Freemason. He lived to a great age. Among his children were Elijah, Thomas, John, Reuben E., William6, and Ezekiel. The " History of Cape Cod" has the following concerning Elijah :

" Elijah Swift, son of William and grandson of William, was representative twelve years, justice of the peace from 1831, quorum unus from 1840, of Gor- ernor's council two years, and a gentleman of much sagacity and enterprise. By mechanical profession a carpenter, he contracted for and built many houses prior to 1820 in Beaufort, S. C., and until 1818 had a store in that place. His contracts with the United States government (for live-oak ship-timber furnished to the government navy yards), faithfully performed, laid the foundation of a large fortune, which he em- ployed with laudable regard to the best interests of ; Brothers. In company with his brother William, Mr. his town. He took the first contract in 1816. This was to furnish an entire frame, gotten out to the moulds for a seventy-four gun ship of the line. This timber was procured from the sea islands of South Carolina. He followed ship-building twenty years, and was the first to establish this enterprise and whal- ing at Wood's Holl."

Not less identified with live-oak business, though of not quite so early a date, and no less conspicuous as a man of enterprise and public spirit, was his brother, Reuben E. He was born in Falmouth, but came early in life to Fairhaven (Acushnet), where he was a cabinet-maker until 1820, when he removed to New Bedford and established a furniture warehouse

and manufactory. He became connected with Elijah in the live-oak trade soon after its establishment, and followed it successfully for years, spending much of his time in South Carolina, Florida, and other live- oak sections. He built a cabinet-shop on Union Street in New Bedford in 1821, but relinquished it to the care of his brother William. He was a man of , hardy and vigorous constitution and of social nature, with ardent friendships. During the war of 1812 he was captain of a light infantry company in the United States service, and for some time was stationed with his company on Clarke's Point to watch the British vessels cruising in Buzzard's Bay and prevent their landing. He married (1) Jane, daughter of Obed Nye, of Fairhaven, March 24, 1803. Their children were Obed N. (deceased), Franklin K. (deceased), Betsey P. (deceased), Rhodolphus N., William C. N., and Reuben E. (deceased). Mrs. Swift died Nov. 9, 1839. Mr. Swift married (2) Lucy L. Robinson, of Falmouth, May 5, 1841, and soon removed to Fal- mouth, where he met an untimely death Dec. 6, 1843, by a fall from a hay-mow. His widow is still living in Falmouth.

Rhodolphus N. Swift was born at Acushnet, Nov. 29, 1810, and passed two years of his boyhood in the South with his father. He embraced a sailor's life when seventeen, embarking on a whaler ("Canton"). In this he passed sixteen years, eight of these as master of the " Lancaster," in which he made two successful voyages to the North Pacific and Japan coast in pursuit of sperm whales. After relinquishing his seafaring he engaged with his brothers in the live- oak trade, following in the same course as his father. Their work was chiefly done in Florida, where they bought large tracts of live-oak land, from which they cut the timber for the government. The work being honestly and promptly done, they were generally successful in securing the contracts from the govern- ment; but even when lower bidders secured them the government had very frequently to annul the contracts and procure the timber from the Swifts. This con- tract business was kept up at intervals until 1875, with a few years' intermission during the war. The firm was first C. N. Swift & Co., afterwards Swift Swift was for many years interested in whaling. Positive in his nature, he is always outspoken and fearless in advocacy of whatever he deems right, but at the same time is unostentatious, and he has steadily refused public place and position. His financial suc- cess has enabled him to devote much of his time to travel. His residence at Acushnet is pleasant and its surroundings attractive. His children have been liberally educated, and reflect credit upon their name and the care bestowed upon them. He married, June 18, 1838, Sylvia H., daughter of Gideon and Sylvia (Hathaway) Nye, of Acushnet. Their children were Rhodolphus (died in infancy), Rupert G. N., Clement N., Annie D., Clara G. (deceased), and Edward T.

R N. Surf

Členczer

Leonard

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ACUSHNET.

Mr. Swift is recognized as one of the most promi- nent citizens of his town. He has a large circle of friends. We could write much of him, but we forbear, for such is his modesty that we might inflict a wound when we mean simply to do justice.

Clement N. had great natural talent as an artist. He has passed fourteen years in Paris and Brittany, France, as an art student. He is still devoted to art, and his works are highly spoken of. Both he and his sister reside with their parents at Acushnet.

EBEN LEONARD.

Eben Leonard, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Phillips) Leonard, was born at Taunton, Mass., April 10, 1814. His father was born at Raynham, and removed to Taunton at sixteen ; was by occupation a farmer. He married Mary Phillips, by whom he had twelve children, of which Eben was the eldest. He died Dec. 27, 1847, and Mrs. Leonard May 8, 1874.

When eighteen Eben left Taunton for New Bedford, and learned boat-building with William E. Carver. He then engaged with Jethro Coffin for twenty-eight months, and then with Daniel Wadsworth as a jour- neyman, and labored faithfully and honestly for thir- teen years. After this he removed to Acushnet, where he now resides, and in connection with his two sons is engaged quite largely in whale-boat building, which they make a specialty in manufacturing. He married, Nov. 29, 1835, Mary J., daughter of James and Mary P. Henley, born in Barnstable, Oct. 26, 1817, where the family has been a valued one for several genera- tions. They have had six children,-Thomas W. (born July 3, 1839, enlisted in Company D, Forty- seventh Massachusetts Infantry Volunteers, and died July 14, 1863, in service at New Orleans, La.), Daniel (died in infancy), Eben F. (born July 25, 1845, mar- ried Adeline D., daughter of James and Phebe Gracie. They have one child, Ida F.), Charles F. (born April 19, 1848, married, first, Calista M. Pierce, who died Sept. 30, 1879; second, Susan Haswell, May 19, 1881), Adelaide G. (born Nov. 4, 1850, married, first, Benja- min T. Peckham, of Fairhaven. They had one child, Fannie H. Second, married William F. Tirrill, Aug. 2, 1871. She died Sept. 25, 1880), Mary E. (born Oct. 22, 1856. She died Aug. 27, 1876).

Mr. Leonard has ever been esteemed one of the best citizens of Acushnet, has many warm friends, and none can say aught against his integrity, honesty, or sterling worth. He has been member of the pru- dential school committee, and for the last four years a selectman of his town, overseer of the poor, and as- sessor. He has ever been a consistent Democrat. Mrs. Leonard is a member and Mr. Leonard a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, al- though Mr. Leonard is a believer in universal salva- tion.

CYRUS E. CLARK.

Cyrus E. Clark was born in Rochester, Plymouth Co., Mass., Nov. 7, 1796. He was the son of Nathan Clark, a farmer, who was a native of Rochester, and a son of Willard Clark, of the same town. Cyrus re- ceived a common-school education, and in his twenty- sixth year, July 27, 1822, married Sophronia, daughter of Capt. James Wood, of Middleborough, and settled at the " Head of the River," in Fairhaven, now Acush- net, and commenced trade as a grocer, which business he continued ten years. He has been a land surveyor for many years, engaging in that shortly after coming to Acushnet. His services in this capacity were satisfactory, and up to the present time he continues to occasionally perform some labor in this line. He was appointed postmaster at North Fairhaven (after- wards changed to Acushnet) April 1, 1828, and dur- ing all the various changes of administration he has uninterruptedly held that position. He was for many years in the State Legislature : elected to serve in the Lower House in 1832, 1837, 1840, 1842, and in the Senate in 1843. This was on the Democratic ticket, to which party he has steadily adhered, and for which he has labored all his active life. He was chosen selectman in 1832, and held the position without intermission till 1864. He has done a large amount of probate business, and settled many estates. This work has extended over many years, reaching from 1830 to the present time. He has been justice of the peace ever since the same year. For seven years he was notary public, refusing to serve longer.

In his eighteenth year he enlisted as a private in a company of troopers in the State militia. He had a great interest in this service, and passed through all the grades of office to first lieutenant, when, very much to his surprise, he was chosen and commissioned lieutenant-colonel, in which capacity he served with acceptation until the disbanding of the regiment some two or three years. When the Rebellion broke out in 1861 he tried hard to enlist as a soldier, but he was not accepted on account of his advanced years. He was at that time chairman of the board of select- men, and discharged all the difficult and onerous duties of that position during the war, with the heartiest approval, and to the satisfaction of his constitu- ents.

Mr. Clark has had four children, Lucy Maria, Cyrus Earle, Jr., Avery Cushman, and Frederick Williams, all of whom are dead. Mrs. Clark died Sept. 28, 1846. Cyrus E, Jr., born Feb. 5, 1826, married Sophia Parker, and died June 3, 1858, leav- ing one son, Cyrus Henry Clark, now a photographer on Cape Cod.

Mr. Clark has been a man of positive character, yet unobtrusive and unostentations. Perhaps no man in the town has been identified longer with its interests or more earnestly devoted to its welfare than he, and surely none holds a higher place in the regard of its people.

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAPTER XIV. BERKLEY.1

" Westward the course of empire takes its way ; The first four acts already past, A fifthi shall close the drama with the day ; Time's noblest offspring is the last."

THESE prophetic words were uttered by Lord Berkeley, under the enthusiasm excited by the pros- pect of his emigrating to the New World, for the pur- pose of converting the American savages to Chris- tianity, and the founding of a university in the Bermudas.

From this celebrated man, preacher, writer, scholar, philanthropist, and metaphysician the town of Berk- ley undoubtedly derived its name, for tradition says, "In 1735, when certain inhabitants, living in the southerly part of Taunton and the northerly part of the South Precinct, or Purchase, then Dighton, asked the Great and General Court, for reasons set forth in their petition, for an act of incorporation as a new township," the name of Berkeley was suggested by some one who had probably formed an acquaintance with George Berkeley, then late Bishop of Cloyne, who just before that time had resided at Newport, R. I.

The suggestion and adoption of the name of so distinguished a Christian philosopher and poet re- flects great credit upon the taste and liberality of religious sentiments of all parties interested, for it will be remembered that Episcopalians were seldom complimented in such manner, even in the "Old Colony," whose fame was never shadowed by religious persecution.

Bishop Berkeley was a remarkable man for that or any other age, remarkable for his broad Christianity, benevolence, and original philosophical ideas, which, like other new ideas, are always an easy subject of ridicule and misrepresentation.

Thus Byron said, ---

" When Bishop Berkeley said there is no matter,

And proved it, 'twas no matter what he said."

And Dr. Johnson said to an advocate and defender of Berkeley's theories, with whom he had held a con- versation, when the latter rose to depart, " Pray, sir, do not leave us : we may perhaps forget you, and then you will cease to exist."

While his premises and conclusions have not been fully accepted by the philosophy of the present day, they very considerably modified former views upon various subjects relative to metaphysics.

Bishop Berkeley presented to Harvard and Yale Colleges his large and valuable library, and to the latter some valuable real estate on Rhode Island, from the proceeds of which to found a scholarship, which has become immensely valuable. More than two hundred students have availed themselves of this

privilege, of whom about one hundred have become clergymen,-a creditable showing for the legacy of one individual.

He also sent to the town named in honor of him a present of a church organ, to be used in public worship. The services of an organist were not avail- able in those days, and this, added to the fact that there was an unmistakable prejudice among those primitive worshipers against instrumental music in church, resulted in a neglect of the courtesy, and the organ was left in Newport, and, it is said, yet re- mains there to this day in Trinity Church, in a state of complete preservation and in constant use. As an example of the sentiment that prevailed then against instrumental music in church, it is related that forty years after the present of the organ the feeling was so far compromised as to allow the use of a bass-viol at the closing singing, when the congregation joined. A venerable man would rise and go out, slamming his pew-door in evident ill humor. Upon being re- monstrated with for his discourteous behavior, he re- plied that "he would not stay and hear that bull roar."

But in this respect, and in others as well, there has been an entire change in the feelings and practices of religious worship and modifications of religious belief, and no one could be found who would now say that instrumental music in church was "an inven- tion of the devil to catch men's souls."

The change in the spelling of the word Berkley was probably due to the carelessness of the engrossing clerk of the General Court, an error that has been perpetuated, and can be accounted for in no other manner. This is a matter of regret, as certainly the name of the town should have conformed to the original orthography.

The following is the act of incorporation of the town of Berkley :

" AN ACT for dividing towns of Taunton and Dighton, erecting a new town there by the name of Berkley.

" Enacted in the eighth year of the reign of King George II.

"WHEREAS, The southerly part of Taunton and the northerly part of Dighton, on the east side of the Great River, is competently filled with inhabitants, who labor under difficulties by reason of the remoteness from the places of public meetings in the said towns, and have there- upon made application to this court that they may be set off a different and separate parish, and be vested with all the powers and privileges that other towns in this province are vested with.

" Be it therefore enacted by His Excellency the Governor, Council, and Representatives in Gencrul Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the southerly part of Taunton and northerly part of Dighton, on the east side of the Great River, as hereafter bounded, be and hereby are set off, constituted, and erected into a separate and distinct township by the name of Berkley, the bounds of the township being as followeth, viz. : Beginning at the Great River, at a forked white-oak tree, at the landing-place between the land of Abraham Tisdale and Micah Pratt; from thence to extend in a straight line to a dam known by the name of Little Meadow Dam ; from thence to a tree with a heap of stones around it in the said little meadow; from thence to extend in a straight line until it intersected the line of the precinct, which includes a part of Taunton and a part of Middleborough, opposite the dwelling- house of John Williams; from thence to extend on said precinct line to the maple-tree which is the corner bounds of Middleborough, Freetown, Dighton, and Taunton; and from thence bounded by Freetown until it comes to a little knoll or hillock of upland, being the bounds between

1 By Hon. Walter D. Nichols.

175

BERKLEY.

Dighton, Freetown, and Assonet Neck ; and thence bounded by the land of Mr. Edward Shove till it comes to Taunton River; and then bounded by said river till it comes to the first-mentioned bounds.

" And that the inhabitants thercof be and hereby are vested and en- dowed with equal privileges and powers and immunities that the inhab. itants of any of the towns within this province are or by law ought to be . vested with.

"Ouly it is be understood that John Spurn, Nicholas Stephens, John Tisdale, Abraham Tisdale, Isaac Tisdale, and Ebenezer Pitts, and their families and estates, are not to be included in said township, but are to belong to the towns of Taunton or Dighton, as formerly.

" And the inhabitants of the town of Berkley are hereby requested, within the space of two years from the publication of this act, to procure and settle a learned Orthodox minister of good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable and honorable support, and also to erect and finish a suitable and convenient house for the public worship of God in said town.

" Provided, also, That the inhabitants included within this township that heretofore belonged to Taunton shall, from time to time, pay towards the repairs of Weir bridge in proportion to the remaining part of Taunton, according to their assessment in the last province tax, and also their proportion of the rates and taxes already made in Taunton.

" And that part of the new township which belonged to Dighton pay their proportion with the said town of Dighton of the arrears of their outstanding rates already made, and of the debts due from the said town of Dighton, and also their proportion of the charge for the maintenance of the present poor of the town of Dighton.

" April, the 18th day, 1735. This bill having been read three several times in the House of Representatives, passed to be enacted.

"J. QUINCY, Speaker.

" April, the 18th day, 1735. This bill having been read three several times in Council, passed to be enacted.

" T. MASON, Dep. Sec.

" April, the 18th day, 1735.

" By his Excellency the Governor:

" I consent to the enacting of this Bill.

"J. BELCHER.

" A true copy from the original on file in the secretary's office.

" Attest : JOHN AVERY, JR., Secretary.

" Recorded on the town of Berkley's records by Stephen Burt, town clerk."

Organization of the Town .- At a legal town-meet- ing, warned according to the General Court's order, and held May 12, 1735, at the house of Elkanah Bab- bitt, with Gershom Crane moderator, and Abel Burt town clerk, Nathaniel Gilbert, John Burt, and Ger- shom Crane were chosen selectmen, and Joseph Burt, John Paull, and Benaiah Babbitt for assessors. These officers, it was voted, should all serve without compen- sation for their labors.

The second legal town-meeting was held Oct. 6, 1735.

" Voted, To hire a scholar to preach in the town for the space of a quarter of a year.

" Voted, To assess or raise the sum of fifty pounds for the use of the town, part to be paid to the scholar which shall be hired to preach to us, the other part for the same use if wanted, or otherwise, as the town shall apply it."

" Voted, to hire no schoolmaster."

An adjourned meeting was held Oct. 20, 1735.

" Voted, That the three selectmen go and hire Mr. Tobey, if they can agree with him, to preach in our town of Berkley one-quarter of a year."

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 42

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