History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 69

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 69

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From 1747 to 1803, a period of some fifty-six years,

1 By Gen. E. W. Peirce.

284

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Freetown included and embraced a larger extent of territory than it had before or has since.

About sixteen years intervened between the date of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth and the com- mencement of the first or earliest European settle- ment within the limits of what became the county of Bristol, and from the date of that landing to the pur- chase of Freetown was nearly thirty-nine years, and from the landing to date of incorporation as a town about sixty-three years ; so that, although with a force irresistible "westward the tide of empire" took "its way," the current, though very strong, was slow when compared with the speed that has characterized the progress of those who have taken the advice to "go West" in these latter days.

That traditional " peck of beans," or something else, had secured to the white man the legal possession of Taunton some twenty-three years, "ten fathom of beads" had purchased the Indian claim at Rehoboth eighteen years before, and Dartmouth had been an English possession seven years, and yet what became Freetown still remained an Indian domain, an un- broken wilderness, the red man, despite long and per- sistent solicitation, had refused to part with, alienate, vacate, or release by sale, being as it was to him that

" Safer world in depth of woods embraced,"

and where through this life he hoped to be permitted undisturbed to remain in the peaceable and quiet en- joyment of until called to enter upon another state of existence, where

" Simple Nature to his hope had given Behind some cloud-topped hill an humble heaven ;"

and yet that "poor Indian whose untutored mind" saw "God in clouds" and "heard him in the wind," whose

"Soul-proud science never taught to stray Far as the Solar Walk or Milky Way,"

bound in Nature's darkness was a thousand times more liberal and generous in his theology than those who claimed to be acting under the marvelous light of the gospel.

The red man, in his "father's house" of "many mansions," thought there was "bread enough and to spare" even for white men, who, in turn, generally regarded the Indian as God's gift to Christ of the heathen for an inheritance that He might dash them as a potter's vessel, and their lands " for a posses- sion" that He might confer the same upon His saints, who the members of the Pilgrim Church solemnly resolved and perhaps serionsly believed that they in fact were, and whose exclusiveness caused them to place " without the pale of hope and merey" not only " dogs and sorcerers" but all Indians who were not foreordained before the world was to be saved, and, in short, almost everybody else save themselves.

That true son of Nature, the North American Indian, that unadulterated specimen of man as he came from the hand of his Maker, before he had

" sought out many inventions" with the eye of his faith, looked forward to and hoped for a happier state of future existence,-

" Where slaves once more their native land behold ; No fiends torment, no Christians thirst for gold ;

To be content his natural desire ;

Ile asked no angel's wings, no seraph's fire ; But thought, admitted to that equal sky, Ilis faithful dog should bear him company."

The long and remarkably peaceful reign of " good old Massasoit" was drawing to a close, and the de- crepitude of old age gave unmistakable warning that he would ere long be "gathered with his fathers," which called his eldest son, Wamsutta, to the seat of a chief councilor to the aged sachem, and made him practically ruler of the wampum or tribe and nation.

Among the dwellers in Plymouth at that date was one John Barnes, a grog-drinker and liquor-seller, who put the cup to his neighbor's lips as well as to his own, making them and himself drunken, and eausing a great deal of trouble to those with whom he had to do and disturbance in that settlement until, when probably " wine was in and wit out," he at- tempted to play some pranks with a bull that resented the indignity by goring him to death.

To that John Barnes Wamsutta became indebted for some things taken up at his shop in Plymouth, which debt was made use of to extort from that chief sachem-in-prospect a written promise at some time in the future, not then defined, to sell the land then called Assonet, but now Freetown, to certain of the ancient freemen of Plymouth colony, of whom John Barnes was one.

Whenever that deed should be executed the debt to John Barnes was thus to be canceled, and, as an additional inducement, it was further agreed that Wamsutta should then receive twenty coats, two rugs, two iron pots, two kettles and one little kettle, eight pairs of shoes, six pairs of stockings, one dozen of hoes, one dozen of hatchets, and two yards of broadcloth.

Great was the reluctance felt and exhibited by Wamsutta to the act of giving a written promise that he would some time sell what his father, despite of repeated and persistent importunity on the part of the whites, had so determinately refused to part with, and thus long and sacredly kept. But the Shylocks were after him, fully intent upon securing their " pound of flesh," though it should be taken from the young chief's heart.

Thus did they requite the son of their lifelong, constant, and never-failing protector and friend, the great and "good old Massasoit," and in practice ex- emplify their true principles, despite their very pious pretensions, thus utterly ignore the doctrine, "In all things whatsoever as ye wouldl that men should do to you do ye even so to them," and thus did they deny that " blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy," although during the nearly forty years that

285

FREETOWN.

the Pilgrims had then been in this country, as to Paul when shipwrecked, " the barbarous people showed no little kindness."

Dec. 24, 1657, was the date at which was extorted from Wamsutta a written promise at some time to exe- cute a deed, and April 2, 1659, that at which the deed was obtained.

The names of the several purchasers in that deed enumerated were as follows, viz. : Capt. James Cud- worth, Josiah Winslow, Sr., Constant Southworth, John Barns, John Tisdall, Humphrey Turner, Wal- ter Hatch, Samuel House, Samuel Jackson, John Daman, Mr. Timothy Hatherly, Timothy Foster, Thomas Southworth, George Watson, Nathaniel Morton, Richard More, Edmund Chandler, Samuel Nash, Henry Howland, Mr. Ralph Partridge, Love Brewster, William Paybody, Christopher Wadsworth, Kenelm Winslow, Thomas Bourne, and John Water- man, being twenty-six in number, no one of whom became an actual settler on this purchase, thus show- ing most conclusively that it was not because they were pressed for lack of land or at all straitened in their several localities or quarters, but because they " coveted things that were their neighbors'," and those that neighbors' needs required and demanded that he should have and continue to possess, and his ardent heartfelt wish and earnest oft-repeated desire was to be permitted to retain. Twenty-six being the num- ber of those ancient freemen of Plymouth Colony, who, on the 2d day of April, 1659, had purchased that tract of country which subsequently became the township of Freetown, a division of the purchase was effected early the next year, by which the number of lots was made to correspond with the number of the purchasers, and thenceforth this proprietary for the next twenty-three years was generally known as "ye ffreeman's lands at Taunton River."

Each lot or "freeman's share" was bounded on one end by the river, and on the other by the head line of the original purchase, and it was intended that each of these lots should have been about one hundred rods wide, though some lots fell considerably short of that width and some lots overrun, reference being had to relative value and an effort made to make up in quantity for lack of quality. To prevent dissatisfaction or any grounds for future complaint the purchasers, on the 4th of January, 1660, set their hands to a written agreement that whereas " it may fall out that some lots may prove better than others, therefore, wee do all and every one of us agree and determine and doe by these presents firmly bind ourselves each to the other our heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns to rest contented with what providence the Lord shall dispose by lott to each of us not troubling or molesting each other, and to this mutually agree before the lots be drawn," and in this manner the purchase was di- vided, Capt. James Cudworth receiving the twenty- fifth lot in number. Capt. James Cudworth was born i

in or about the year 1612. He was a son of Rev. Ralph Cudworth and a brother of Rev. Ralph Cud- worth, D.D., author of "The Intellectual System of the Universe." Capt. James Cudworth came to Ply- mouth in 1634, and soon after took up his residence in Scituate, where he held offices both civil and mili- tary, was Governor's assistant several years, and in 1681 was promoted to the position of Lieutenant- Governor of Plymouth Colony, for a time commander- in-chief of the combined forces of Massachusetts and Plymouth Colonies in the early part of " King Philip's war," was too liberal and lenient to suit the bigots of his time, and for a while kept out of office because he opposed the religious persecution then being waged against the Quakers, was sent to England to transaet business for Plymouth Colony, and while in London he took the smallpox and died, aged about seventy years. His grandson, James Cudworth, settled upon this Freetown land, and made his will in March, 1729, and died soon after. Considerable portions of that traet still continue in the possession of lineal descendants, having never gone out of the family blood or sire-name.

Josiah Winslow, Sr., drew the fifteenth lot. He was the youngest brother of Governor Edward Wins- low, and uncle to Governor Josiah Winslow, dis- tinguished as a general in King Philip's war. Josiah Winslow, Sr., emigrated to America in 1629, and settled at Marshfield, where he held various offices of public trust, was elected town clerk of Marshfield in 1646, and performed the duties of that place until his death, that occurred in 1674. He was born in or about the year 1605. April 8, 1661, Josiah Winslow, Sr., sold the fifteenth lot to William Makepeace, of Boston, a cooper by trade, who occupied it until his death. William Makepeace was drowned in Taunton River some time in August, 1681.

Constant Southworth received for his share the nineteenth lot. He with his mother, then a widow, came to America in 1628, of which the account has been preserved, and was as follows :

" 1628. Paid for Constant Southers' passage and diet 11 weeks at 4s. Sd. = £3, 11, 4."

He settled in Duxbury, and represented that town in the Colonial Court twenty-two years; was Gov- ernor's assistant several years ; colonial treasurer from 1659 to 1679; commissary-general in King Philip's war. He died March 10, 1679. The nineteenth lot after his decease became the property of his children, who sold to parties that became settlers thereon in or about the year 1682, or some twenty-three years after its purchase of the Indians.

John Barns drew the twenty-second lot, it being that whereon the greater part of Assonet village now stands, and he, in August, 1666, sold it to Hngh Cole, of Swansea, who in turn conveyed the same, in 1685, to Benjamin Chase, a cooper by trade, who settled thereon about twenty-six years after it had been pur- chased of the natives.

286

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

John Tisdall received the twenty-third lot. It is upon this lot that a portion of Assonet village is lo- cated. John Tisdall (or Tisdale, as that name is now generally spelled) settled in Marshfield, where in 1645 he was elected constable. Removing to Taunton he was made a selectman of that town in 1672, and served in that office until his death, which occurred in June, 1675; was a representative to the Colonial Court in 1674. He was slain by the Indians, who at the same time burned his dwelling and carried away his gun, that was retaken at Rehoboth Aug. 1, 1675.

Joshua Tisdale, son of John, settled upon the twenty-third lot, and died thereon in or near the year 1714. Considerable portions were retained in the family name for about a century, and a part is still inherited by those of the blood, but of other sur- names.

Humphrey Turner drew the second lot, it being that whereon is now the most thickly-settled portion of the city of Fall River. Humphrey Turner resided in Scituate, of which town he was constable in 1636 and 1639, representative to the Colonial Court in 1640, which place he filled for ten years. This lot descended by kinship from Humphrey Turner to his son Joseph Turner, who in 1671 sold the same to Israel Hubbard, who in turn conveyed it to the great Indian hunter, Capt. Benjamin Church, who in or near the year 1700 settled in what was Tiverton, but now Fall River, and but a short distance from this second lot.

Walter Hatch drew the twelfth lot, that is now within the northerly part of Fall River. Walter Hatch resided in Scituate. He was a son of William Hatch, ruling elder of the second church in Scituate. Walter was a ship-builder. This lot passed by kin- ship to his son, Joseph Hatch, who on the 8th of June, 1705, sold the same to Jonathan Dodson, a settler. Walter Hatch was constable at Scituate in 1654.

Samuel House had for his share the fifth lot, now in Fall River. He resided at Scituate and died there in or about the year 1661. His sons, Samuel and Jo- seph House, March 20, 1678, sold this lot to Henry Brightman and Thomas Cornell, of Portsmouth, R. I., and the next year Cornell sold his part to George Lawton, Jr., of Portsmouth. Brightman and Lawton were probably the first settlers.

Samuel Jackson was of Plymouth, but changed his residence to Scituate in 1638. He probably sold his right in this purchase to William Randall, who drew the seventeenth lot, from whom, in 1678, the land title passed to Nicholas Cotterell, of Newport, R. I., and in 1683 and 1690 most of this lot became the property of Lieut. Thomas Terry, whose sons settled thereon, and a large portion is not only retained by the family blood but also surname.

John Daman drew the twenty-sixth lot. He was of Scituate, where he held the office of constable in 1662, and was representative to the Colonial Court in 1675 and again in 1676. John Daman died in or

about June, 1677, and this lot passed to his heirs, who in 1713 and 1714 sold it to Timothy Lindall, a mer- chant residing in Boston, who through his tenants probably caused it to be settled upon. It remained in the Lindall family until the war of American Rev- olution.

Mr. Timothy Hatherly probably sold his right in "ye ffreeman's lands at Taunton River" before the date of division, and hence the ninth lot was drawn by Capt. James Cudworth, who in 1681 sold the same to Simon Lynde, of Boston, from whom, by heirship, it descended to his son, Samuel Lynde, of Boston, who gave it to his grandchildren, Thomas and Eliza- beth Valentine. Mr. Timothy Hatherly resided in Scituate, was Governor's assistant for many years, colonial treasurer from 1640 to 1642.

Timothy Foster drew the first lot, and of him very little appears at this date to be known, nor is it easy to learn what disposition he made of this property, upon which Ralph Earle was an early settler.

Thomas Southworth received the thirteenth lot. Thomas Southworth, with his brother, Constant Southworth, and their mother, then a widow, emi- grated to America in 1628, Thomas settling at Ply- mouth, where, March 7, 1648, he was commissioned as lieutenant of local militia, promoted to captain in August, 1659, a position he continued to hold until his death, Dec. 18, 1669, representative from Ply- mouth three years in the Colonial Court, Governor's assistant some fifteen years.

George Watson drew the seventh lot. He was con- stable at Plymouth in 1660, and again in 1762. Prob- ably retained the seventh lot as long as he lived, and leaving it to his children and grandchildren, as his grandson, John Watson, July 20, 1706, sold his right therein to Henry Brightman.

Nathaniel Morton drew the eighteenth lot, which he sold to John Hathaway, Sr., of Taunton, in March, 1671, and whose son, John Hathaway, Jr., soon after settled thereon. Nathaniel Morton was a son of George Morton, who came to Plymouth in 1623. Nathaniel Morton was colonial secretary from 1647 to 1685.

Richard More drew the eleventh lot. Richard More was an early settler in Duxbury, where he owned land at a place called the " Eagle's Nest."

Edmund Chandler received the fourth lot, that em- braced what is now the " City Farm" of Fall River. Edmund Chandler retained it through life, and at his decease it passed to his son, Joseph Chandler, who, in July, 1673, sold the same to Henry Bright- man, of Portsmouth, R. I. Edmund Chandler was constable of Duxbury in 1637, and representative to the Colonial Court in 1639.

Samuel Nash drew the twenty-first lot, it being that on which the southerly portion of Assonet vil- lage stands. He was a lieutenant ; led the force that Plymouth Colony sent against the Indians in August, 1645 ; was marshal of that colony for many years.

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FREETOWN.

Henry Howland, of Duxbury, for his share re- ceived the sixth lot, and his sons, John and Samuel, appear to have become actual settlers. John died in or before 1687, Samuel died in or near 1716. Henry Howland died in 1670.

Mr. Ralph Partridge, of Duxbury, after the date Wamsutta gave his written promise to sell these lands, but before that deed was executed, died, and at the division, in 1660, his heirs received the eighth lot that his grandsons, Ralph and Peter Thatcher, on the 29th day of October, 1694, conveyed to John Reed, a " cordwainer," who became an actual settler. Mr. Ralph Partridge emigrated to America in 1636, and after a boisterous passage was landed at Boston on the 17th day of November. Hesoon after became pastor of the church in Duxbury, and continued in that position until his death. Before coming to this country he had been a clergyman of the Church of England. Secretary Morton, in 1658, gravely re- corded, "This year there was a great earthquake in New England. Also, Mr. Ralph Partridge died in good old age, having for the space of forty years dispensed the word of God with very little impedi- ment. His pious and blameless life became very ad- vantageous to his doctrine. He was much honored and loved by all that conversed with him. He was of sound and solid judgment in the main truths of Jesus Christ." And to all this an admirer added :

" Run is his race, And his work done; Left earthly place; Partridge is gone. He's with the Father and the Son."

Love Brewster drew the tenth lot. He was born in England. He came to America in 1636, landed at Plymouth and settled in Duxbury, where he died, and this lot passed to his son, Wrestling Brewster, who sold the southerly half to a carpenter named John Bogers, who in turn sold it, Oct. 3, 1702, to Edward Thurston, Sr., of Newport, R. I., whose son, Thomas Thurston, settled thereon, and here remained until his death, which occurred at about eleven o'clock at night, March 22, 1730.

William Paybody received the fourteenth lot, that now has one-half in Freetown and the other half in Fall River. He exchanged this lot for lands else- where, and it soon after came to be owned by the In- dian hunter, Capt. Benjamin Church.

William Paybody was town clerk of Duxbury from 1666 to 1684, and representative to the Colonial Court twenty-three years. He was born Nov. 24, 1619. He died in 1707.

Christopher Wadsworth drew the third lot. This name upon ancient records was spelled Xxofer Wads- worth.

Christopher Wadsworth was an early settler in Duxbury, where he was elected constable in 1633, and served in that office four years; selectman in 1666, and served six years; representative to the Colonial

Court in 1640, and served four years. He died in or near the year 1677.

Kanelm Winslow received the twenty-fourth lot. He was a brother of Governor Edward Winslow, and emigrated to America in or about the year 1629. He settled at Yarmouth, but died while absent from home on a visit to Salem. He was buried Sept. 13, 1672. This lot was settled upon by Nathaniel, a son, and Josiah, a grandson of the original proprietor. Na- thaniel did not long remain here, but Josiah continued to reside here until his death, April 3, 1761.

Thomas Bourne had the twentieth lot. He resided in Marshfield, and was a representative from that town to the Colonial Court in 1640-41 and 1644. He died May 11, 1664, aged eighty-five years, and must have been born in or about 1579. The ownership of the twentieth lot passed to John, a son of Thomas Bourne, and John Bourne, March 4, 1678, gave it to his daugh- ters, Anna, the wife of John Bailey, and Martha, the wife of Valentine Decro. John Bailey was elected selectman of Freetown, June, 1685, and died June 22, 1686.

John Waterman drew the sixteenth lot. John Waterman was a son of Robert Waterman and wife Elizabeth, a daughter of Thomas Bourne. This lot ere long became the property of Lieut. Job Winslow, a son of Kanelm Winslow. Lient. Job Winslow settled on the sixteenth lot, and remained until his death, July 14, 1720.

Pioneer Settlers .- 1st Lot. Ralph Earl was upon this lot at an early date. He was probably a son of William Earle, of Portsmouth, R. I. A sister of Ralph Earle became the wife of John Borden. Ralph Earle was a surveyor of highways in 1690-92 and 1696, constable in 1699, grand juryman in 1700 and 1715, assessor in 1710 and 1711, selectman in 1715, commissioned ensign of local militia in or be- fore 1715, owned the northerly half of first lot as early as 1710, built a pound for the town in 1704, pound- keeper about fourteen years. The ear-mark for his creatures as recorded was " a halfpenie on the hinder part of the right yeare, and a Crop of the Left."

4th Lot. Matthew Boomer was probably the earli- est European settler upon the fourth lot, as he was referred to by colonial records in 1675 as " residing in the government without order, and not attending the public worship of God, living lonely and in a heath- enish way from good society." In March, 1686, Mat- thew Boomer was arraigned for an assault upon John Brandon.

5th Lot. George Lawton, Jr., of Portsmouth, R. I., who purchased one-half of this lot March 24, 1679, probably settled thereon before 1687.

6th Lot. John Howland was an early, or perhaps the earliest, settler. He died before Feb. 13, 1687 ; was succeeded by his brother, Samuel Howland.

7th Lot. Settled by grandson of George Watson, the original proprietor.

8th Lot. John Reed, cordwainer, who purchased

288

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

this lot Oct. 29, 1694, settled here, and remained until his death, about eight o'clock in the evening, Jan. 3, 1721. He had resided somewhere in what became Freetown even before the date of incorporation (July, 1683), as when it was made a constablewick, Sept. 28, 1680, John Reed was ordered to appear at court as a grand juryman.

10th Lot. Settled upon by Thomas Thurston, who was grand juryman in 1706, assessor in 1707-9 and 1718, selectman in 1708-9, constable in 1710, surveyor of highways in 1712 and 1713. His will bore date of March 20, 1730. He died about eleven o'clock at night, March 22, 1730.

11th Lot. Thomas Gage was part owner and prob- ably an early settler upon the eleventh lot, which doubt - less accounts for the fact that the high bluffs near the river a little north of Steel Brook received the name of "Gage's Banks." Thomas Gage was a clothier, or cloth dresser. He was a representative to the General Court in 1722, 1727, and 1736 ; assessor in 1720.

12th Lot. Settled upon by Jonathan Dodson in or near the year 1705. He was town clerk of Freetown in 1719, moderator of annual town-meetings in 1712, 1714-15, and 1718, selectman in 1711-12, 1714-15, 1717-20, assessor three years, constable one year. In 1723 he was elected representative to the General Court, but declined to serve. At a town-meeting held June 2, 1713, it was " Voted Jonathan Dodson to be minister of the gospel for this town until there is a supply from England." The will of Jonathan Dod- son bore date of June 8th, 1741.

15th Lot. Settled upon in or near 166-, by William Makepeace, of Boston, a cooper by trade, who, save during King Philip's war, remained thercon until August, 168-, when he was drowned in Taunton River. It was probably partly in the fifteenth and partly in the sixteenth lot that the reservation was made to the Indian Tabadacason for the Indians that kept the ferry, and the "wild roving Indian girls, bright Al- farettos," the daughters of the red heathen, soon proved a snare to their white Christian neighbors, as will ap- pear from the Plymouth Colony record, under date of Oct. 29, 1672. "William Makepeace, Sr., living at Taunton River, for lacivious attempts towards an Indian woman, was sentenced by the court to be whipped at the post, which was accordingly performed. And the said Makepiece for selling stronge liquors to the Indians was fined five pounds."

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 69

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