History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 120

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 120

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These opportunities often occurred, particularly in school and parish affairs. The former could more easily be adjusted as schools could be supplied at moderate expense for all portions, but with regard to the church and parish, the matter was more difficult to manage, since the church was already established, with its meeting-house located in the north part of the town, and a second church with its necessary expense would involve a burden too heavy for the abilities of the town to sustain. Yet the distance, some five or more miles for a large portion of the inhabitants, and the constantly occurring occasions of disagreement, finally brought the matter to a crisis, the south por- tion of the town coming to the determination to have its own church and meeting-house either by a new precinct or by a new town.

Accordingly, a petition signed by about forty of the inhabitants of the south part of the town was presented to the General Court setting forth the diffi- culties of their position, and praying to be set off as a distinct town or precinct. The north part, being in the majority and disliking to be disturbed in its old- time arrangement, determined to oppose the movement and prevent, if possible, its consummation. A town- meeting was called and a committee chosen to oppose the petition in the General Court. Attempts were made to accommodate the difficulty by a proposed re- moval of the meeting-house to a more central locality, all of which failed. Notwithstanding the efforts of the town as represented by its majority, the General Court, in the spring of 1723, recognizing the reason- ableness of the request, granted it, and the South Pre- cinct was organized with a territory covering more than half of the area of the town. But this did not heal the breach as subsequent events proved, for there were yet continual sources of trouble and difficulty arising from the parsonage property which was in possession of the North Precinct, and which its people refused to relinquish.

Fisheries .- In the early days of the town no in- significant portion of the food-supply came from the fish taken within or near its borders; and of these, the most dependence was placed upon the herring, or alewives, which were in the habit of running into the ponds that feed Back River to spawn. For many years the supply was doubtless sufficient for all, and there was little need of restriction or care lest that supply should fail. It was therefore unnecessary that the town should concern itself about the matter. But as the population increased, and the multiplying of mills upon the stream threatened to prevent the fish from ascending to the ponds, it was found necessary that the town should take some control of the matter and provide that proper care should be taken to pre- serve this important source of food.

As early as 1648, mention is made of the " her- ringe broge," giving evidence that this fishery dates back to the first settlement of the town. For the rea- sons previously given very little notice is subsequently taken of the matter for three quarters of a century. In 1724-25, at the town-meeting held March 8th, a committee was chosen " to treat with the mill-owners on the river, by Bates', to make a convenient passage for fish into Whitman's Pond, to pay not over £5." From that time onward the " alewives business" oc- cupies a large space upon the town records. Officers were regularly chosen to have charge of the fisheries, to preserve the fish, and also to take and dispose of them in the season, while the proceeds of the sale were

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a source of income that the town valued highly, as will be seen in the subsequent history. The arrang- ing and settling of this business often proved quite perplexing and difficult.

New County .- About 1725, the subject of forming a new county, to be set off from Suffolk, was agitated, but the project was steadily opposed by Weymouth, | General Court to that effect.

unless the court-house should be located within five or six miles of the centre of the town, to which the other towns would not consent.

Dr. White .- At the March meeting held on the 14th of that month, 1726-27, the town felt a necessity for encouraging the settlement of a physician within its limits, and for this purpose voted " a grant of five acres of land to Dr. Nathaniel White while he should remain in the town and practice medicine."

Town Regulations .- On July 21, 1729, a list of the first jurymen chosen by the town appears upon the records, and from that day to the present the matter has never been allowed to fall into disuse.

From the first settlement of the town for more than a century its expenses were very light, the highways being provided for by personal labor of all the male inhabitants above sixteen years, and no regular appro- priation was made for the support of the poor, the cases being very few, and each as it came up was cared for as the circumstances of the matter required ; hence are found occasional records like that of Aug. 23, 1733, when the three daughters of Widow Ruth Harvey were provided for by the town, the largest tax being that for the ministry and the schools. These matters will be more fully treated in another depart- | ment of this sketch.

The proposition for a new county still continued to be agitated. Feb. 2, 1729-30, the town went so far as to choose an agent to treat with the towns of Scituate, Hingham, Hull, Braintree, Hanson, and Abington respecting the matter, and Sept. 1, 1735, a vote was passed in favor of a new county, to be com- posed of the towns in Suffolk County outside of Boston.

At the following town-meeting, held March 1, 1735-36, two important measures were passed ; one al- lowing all freeholders to vote in the affairs of the town commons, and the other to divide all the commons among the householders "who are freeholders," in equal shares, and this vote was reaffirmed at a subse- quent meeting held March 29th.

leading from Boston to Plymouth, should have been so long permitted to remain without such an improve- ment.

And again, on the 13th of March following, the town votes its mind that Boston should be a county by itself, and a committee was chosen to petition the

Parsonage Property .- Ever since the division of the town into two precincts there had been constant trouble about the parsonage matters before referred to ; the South claiming a share in the property and the North steadily refusing to allow the claim. Yet it was such a continual source of irritation that on June 23, 1741, the town chose a committee to con- sider the matter and to see if some amicable adjust- ment could not be made, but the effort failed, and the subject remained to be the cause of much future trouble.

Pigwacket Indians .- In 1744, a proposition was made that the Pigwacket Indians then stationed in Boston should be placed in Weymouth, but the dis- position of the town was shown by a unanimous vote, on July 25th, that this should not be done.

Town Commons .- On May 23, 1751, the town made its first general appropriation for the poor by voting twenty pounds for this purpose. At the same meeting it was also voted that the Second Precinct should have its share of town-meetings in proportion to its tax ; also that the town commons should be di- vided among the inhabitants according to the tax of 1750, each poll to draw one share, and other shares in proportion to the tax ; but this vote, like all pre- vious votes of the kind, was changed on July 1st so as to except all not over twenty-one years of age, all not born in town and who were not householders and freeholders, and also all persons renting property.

Throat Distemper .- At this period occurred the terrible throat distemper that raged so vielently in the town during a whole year, from May, 1751, to May, 1752, that out of an estimated population of about twelve hundred one hundred and fifty died, be- ing an eighth of the whole number. This scourge is unprecedented in the history of the town, and was long remembered with dread and horror. Another disaster of a very different character occurred in the burning of the old church, in the First Precinct, on the 23d of April, 1751, in which was stored three barrels of gunpowder. These two occurrences were deemed of so much consequence that the town voted not to send a representative to the General Court that year on that account.

March 7, 1736-37, a committee was chosen to unite with Braintree to build a cart-bridge over the Smelt Brook at Weymouth Landing, a proceeding so neces- sary that it is almost impossible to conceive that an French and Indian Wars .- Soon after this the important thoroughfare like this, on the main road peace of the colonies was seriously disturbed by the

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wars between England and France, which, to a large degree, were carried on upon this continent, and in which the French made alliance with the savage tribes of New York, Canada, and the nearer western territories. who carried on the wars in their usual merciless and bloodthirsty manner; and, although New England, especially upon the shores of Massa- chusetts Bay and the southern borders, was far re- moved from the scene of active strife, yet even the | little town of Weymouth was not exempt from its share in the hardship and expense attendant upon their continuance. The records are very bare and many of the muster-rolls have been lost, but enough remains to show something of what these wars cost the town in blood and treasure for matters in which it had no real concern. In the expeditions of 1755 and 1756, to Crown Point and Lake George, about forty men of Weymouth belonged in the regiment of Col. (afterwards Gen.) Benjamin Lincoln, under the command of Capt. Samuel Thaxter. Of this number six never returned to the town, but died or were killed during the year's service. Among the men of this company was Lieut. Solomon Lovell, af- terwards general during the Revolutionary struggle. - But these were not all, for in the many hard cam- paigns along the northern frontiers during these and subsequent years, until the capture of that last strong- hold of the French on this continent, Louisburg, in 1758, and the victory of Wolfe on the Plain of Abra- | tax paid by his parish.

ham, below Quebec, in the year following, by which the power of that nation in this quarter of the world | was completely broken, Weymouth sent her sons to assist in the general cause.

The names of such, to a great extent, are wanting, but in the incidental mentions upon public archives, and in private family histories, enough is gathered to show that there were many of them, and that they bore an honorable record.

French Neutrals .- In 1755, after the capture of Acadia (Nova Scotia) by the English, large numbers of the unfortunate inhabitants, who were with the greatest inhumanity forced to abandon their former pleasant homes, and seek shelter wherever they might, were brought to Boston, and as no provision had been made for their support, they were parceled out among the several towns that were thus compelled to provide for them. Weymouth received its share, but how many there remains no record to show, excepting such as is found in the votes of the town in special cases and upon the treasurer's books, like the following : March 8, 1756, " Dr. Nathaniel White was paid eight shillings per week for a year for keeping the French Neuters," this by vote of the town, and upon

the treasurer's account there is an item of six pounds | paid to James Humphrey, Feb. 28, 1761, for subsist- ing the " French Neuters."

Dr. Tufts .- Again, March 10, 1760, Dr. Cotton Tufts, who had recently settled in the north part of the town as a physician, and who afterwards, for more than half a century, was one of its most valuable and prominent citizens, was chosen agent to confer with other towns about a new county.

Highways .- About the same time also the town was found to have outgrown the primitive method of working the highways, and something different and more effective was needed. New regulations were consequently adopted, whereby each poll was to be taxed two shillings and one penny, one day's work ; other taxes in same proportion. Those having teams, horse or ox, were rated at certain prices, and the whole matter was reduced to a kind of system, rude to be sure, but a vast improvement over the ancient plan. This arrangement was continued with comparatively few changes for several generations.

South Precinct .- During these years the South Precinct seems to have been steadily gaining upon the North in population and influence, and had become strong enough to command a vote, March 24, 1761, defining the word " ministry" in the parsonage deed to include both ministers, and that each should draw of the income from that source in proportion to the

CHAPTER XLVII.

WEYMOUTH-( Continued).

Revolutionary War-Arbitrary Measures of the Crown-Agents Chosen to Meet in Boston-Committees of Correspondence- No more Tea -- Energetic Action-Record of Votes on the Resolutions of Congress-Refusal to Pay Taxes to the Royal Treasurer-Town Committee of Correspondence -- Minute- Men -- Preparations for War-Raising Troops -- Declaration of Independence -- Bounties-State Convention -- State Con- stitution-Procuring Men and Provisions-Soldiers to Hull.

Revolutionary War .- Soon after this time the political affairs of the colonies began to assume an importance that they had never before reached. The arbitrary measures of the English government con- tinually growing more and more harsh and oppres- sive, had roused the people to a pitch that boded no friendly issue. Measure after measure was adopted by the ministry, each more urgent and onerous than the former, and forced upon the people until they were compelled to resort to extreme measures in self-

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defense. During the whole history of the colonies all important business was transacted in open town-meet- ing. Was any measure suggested for the benefit of the town, here it was thoroughly discussed, and adopted or rejected. Was any grievance complained of, here it was also considered and remedies proposed. Here all voters stood upon a perfect equality, where each could and did speak his mind freely and fully, and every vote counted one.

In these town-meetings, therefore, the measures of government came up for consideration, and such means were adopted as seemed best suited to counter- act the evil effects of the arbitrary measures of the crown. Here were chosen the representatives to the General Court, to whom were given instructions filled with important and minute detail, and these officers were held to a strict accountability. To their con- stituents they must answer, and that directly ; there could be no evading or shirking, consequently the public business was transacted under a feeling of heavy responsibility, which resulted in carrying out the will of the people as far as the power of the deputies extended. The law-makers in General Court assembled were the same class of men who spoke so boldly in town-meeting, and the same spirit animated their actions in the higher position.

Weymouth took an active and prominent part in the primary action that immediately preceded the war of the Revolution, and under the leadership of such men as Maj. James Humphrey, Dr. Cotton Tufts, and Gen. Solomon Lovell, of the North Parish, and Deacon Nathaniel Bayley, of the South, the town took a position that it had never before nor has since attained. Oct. 16, 1765, Maj. Hum- phrey, then representative to the General Court, re- ceived full and decided instructions from the town as to the position he was to take in the present position of affairs.

Sept. 1, 1766, the town refused to consent to the proposition, " that the sufferers by the disturbances of last year in Boston should be paid from the public treasury, as recommended by his majesty, and instructed their representative of this action."

Agents Chosen to Meet in Boston .- Sept. 21, 1768, James Humphrey and Cotton Tufts were ap- pointed agents to meet in Faneuil Hall, Boston, on the following day, to consult with the agents of other towns on the present state of affairs.

Committees of Correspondence .- In the mean time the political matters of the State had reached such a point that committees of correspondence had been formed in all of the principal towns, and fre- quent consultations were held upon the important

matters then agitating the country. At a special meeting held in Weymouth, Jan. 3, 1774, of which James Humphrey was moderator, a letter was read from the Boston committee, with copies of the votes and proceedings of that town at meetings held on the 5th and 18th of the previous November, with regard to the cargoes of teas daily expected from the East India Company's warehouses in London, suggesting the co-operation of the several towns in resisting the introduction of this obnoxious article,-obnoxious only because it had been the innocent occasion of an unjust tax. The matter was fully considered and a resolution passed "by a very great majority . . . not to purchase nor use any of the East India Company's teas of any kind (excepting such as they might now have on hand), until the act of Parliament, laying a duty thereon, be repealed."

No more Tea .- Also, that the minds of the people might be more fully determined, and there be no mis- take in the business, also to show that they were as ready to act as to resolve, a committee was chosen, consisting of Cotton Tufts, Esq., Maj. Lovell; Deacon Nathaniel Bayley, Jacob Goold, and Ebenezer Colson, to prepare the resolutions in proper form and to present them at the March meeting " to be signed, that the minds of the inhabitants may be generally known."

On the 18th of July, of the same year, a form of covenant was received from the committee of corre- spondence of Boston, and recommended for signatures. This was placed in the hands of a committee, who were to give it full consideration, obtain as many names to it as possible, and then to deposit it with the town clerk.

Energetic Action .- At a meeting held on the 28th of September following, the instructions of the deputies from Boston to the General Court were read, and the same were made the instructions of the town to its deputy, Nathaniel Bayley. At the same meeting, Deacon Bayley was also chosen to attend the meeting of the Provincial Convention to assemble at Concord. on the second Tuesday of October next. The town also accepted the nineteen resolves drawn up by the county committee, agreeing to stand by them, and to hold the constables harmless in refusing to pay over the State taxes to the treasurer appointed by the crown.

Record of Votes on the Resolutions of Con- gress .- The resolutions prepared by the committee had been presented to the inhabitants for signature, according to the action of the town, and were reported as follows. In the South Precinct this preamble was adopted, date Dec. 12, 1774:

" We, the inhabitants of the Second Precinct in the

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

said Town, under the sacred ties of Virtue, Honor, and love of our Country, do now covenant and agree with each other, that we will conform and strictly adhere to the agreement and association which the American Continental Congress has recommended unto us, and which has now been read."

" We, the inhabitants of the first precinct of Wey- mouth, whose names are here underwritten, do signify our approbation to the Continental Association which is recommended by the General Continental Congress held in Philadelphia, in the year 1774, those of us that approve of the same, to answer to our names by the word ' yea,' and those who disapprove of the same by the word ' no.'" The following questions with this result :

were put at the close of the lecture, Dec. 25, 1774, | able to purchase or hire them, and the Committee

One hundred and four answered " yes," four an- swered " no," and fourteen did not answer. One hundred and twenty-two voters being at the meeting.

Refuse to Pay Taxes to the Royal Treasurer .--- Jan. 30, 1775, Deacon Nathaniel Bayley was elected by the town as its delegate to the proposed Congress to meet at Cambridge, 1st of February next, the town to provide for him. The town also chose a committee to see that the inhabitants adhere strictly to their pledge; and, at the same meeting, renewed the vote to hold the constables harmless for not carrying their money for the year 1772 to " Harryson Gray," and ordering the money to be paid to the town treasurer. On the 13th of March, however, the latter vote was so far reconsidered as to direct the constables to pay the money to Henry Gardner, of Stow.

Town Committee of Correspondence .- A Com- mittee of Correspondence for Weymouth to act with those of the neighboring towns had been chosen on the 9th of March, consisting of Dr. Tufts, Maj. Lovell, Maj. Vining, Capt. Asa White, and Mr. Josiah Colson. This committee met in Arnold's Tavern, at Weymouth Landing (the building is yet standing), together with those with whom they were to associate, organized by choice of Dr. Tufts as chairman, and Capt. White as secretary, and afterwards did efficient service during the war.

Minute-Men .- On the 13th of March it having been deemed necessary in view of the exigency of the times and the wish to be prepared for any emer- gency, to enlist a company of minute-men, it was voted

to pay them one shilling per week for four weeks ; and, on May 2d of the same year, it was voted to pay " a pistareen a day for a week to a company of fifteen men for a military guard in the present troublesome times." Deserters were to lose their wages.

Preparations for War .- At a town-meeting held

This was signed with the following result: one on the 24th of May, Deacon Nathaniel Bayley was hundred and two in favor, none against and twenty-one | chosen to represent the town in the Provincial Con- not voting, make a total of one hundred and twenty- three voters. gress to meet at Watertown, May 31st ; the Committee of Correspondence was also directed to ascertain who In the North Precinct the agreement varied a little in its wording, and read as follows : were in need of arms, and report to the commanding | officer. Enrolled soldiers from sixteen to sixty years of age were required to meet and organize, those of each parish at their own meeting-house, on the 25th of May. The town also accepted the offer of Mr. Polley for the use of two swivel guns then at Salem, and voted their thanks to Dr. Tufts for his offer to transport them to Weymouth.

On the 29th of May the committee was authorized to procure arms at the town's expense for those not of Correspondence was directed to put in order the two swivel guns and to procure ammunition at the town's charge, in case the province should not assume it. The bells were also to be rung to notify an alarm. The thanks of the town were also voted to Hon. Richard Darby for the use of two small car- riage-guns, which were delivered to Thomas Jenks, to be returned when done, with thanks and all damage made good.

June 1, 1775, the town instructed the committee to hire guns at one dollar each, for six months; and such was the urgency of the times that the enrolled militia were ordered to appear under arms on the Lord's day, under penalty of one dollar for each day ; and those who remained at home, without reasonable excuse, were to forfeit two dollars each. The num- ber of those reporting without arms was twelve in the North Precinct, and twenty-two in the South.

March 11, 1776, a new Committee of Correspond- ence was chosen, consisting of Cotton Tufts, Esq., Capt. James White, Col. Solomon Lovell, Nathaniel Bayley, Esq., and Daniel Blanchard; and on the 20th of May two representatives were chosen, Nathaniel Bayley and Col. Solomon Lovell. All persons draw- ing ammunition from the town were to return the same in amount, or pay at the rate of four shillings per pound for powder, eight pence for bullets, and six- pence for flints.

Raising Troops .- At a town-meeting held on the 15th of July, the town voted to raise one hundred and thirty pounds by tax, to be added to the bounty offered by the province for the enlistment of ten men,

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the quota called for from Weymouth, to be raised in | ten days. Deacon Nathaniel Bayley and Capt. Samuel Ward were authorized to hire men from out of town in case they should not be raised in town, and to pay them the same bounty as was paid to towns- men,-that is, twenty pounds, thirteen from the town and seven from the province, and the treasurer was to borrow the money for the purpose.

On the 22d of July eight more men were called for from the town, and it was voted to raise one hundred and four pounds additional. These men were enlisted for the Northern or Canada expedition, and fully earned their wages. It was also voted at a meeting held Nov. 18, 1776, to raise ninety-two pounds for the men raised on the previous September. This was to be raised by tax on polls and estates, and all who had been in the Continental service for a year were exempt from it. And on the 23d December follow- ing, the town raised one hundred and ninety-eight pounds to pay twenty-two men who had gone into the Continental service with Lieut. Samuel Kingman, or three pounds additional to each man.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 120

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534