History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 99

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 99

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"This is offered as a token of remembrance of the place of our nativity, with our best wishes for your peace, your pros- perity, and your happiness as a town and individually.

"We are Respectfully yours,

" OTIS EVERETT,

" ANDREW DRAKE,

"OLIVER FISHER,

" Committee.

" BOSTON, June, 1826."

Otis Everett, Boston $1000

Andrew Drake, Boston. 100

Oliver Fisher, Boston. 100

Moses Everett, Boston 100

Aaron Everett, Boston 100

Mace Tisdale, Boston .. 50

Thomas Curtis, Boston 50

Daniel Johnson, Boston

H. G. Ware, Boston.

S. K. Hewins, Boston

Whiting Hewins, Boston.

Warren Fisher, Boston.

James Hendley, Boston

Lewis Morse, Roxbury

Ezra Morse, Roxbury.

Luther Morse, Roxbury

Oliver Everett, Sharon.

Edward Richards, Cambridge 25

John Curtis, Boston

$1810

The surplus revenue was, by a vote of the town, made a permanent fund for the use of school; the interest is applied annually. 2690

The bequest of Mrs. Anna Hewins, of Roxbury, whose husband, Abel Hewins, was a native of this town, the sum of. 500

Making a permanent investment of total. $5000

The town's appropriation was never to be lessened on account of the fund. Still, many people felt the importance of a higher grade of study than that fur- nished by the public schools. This want was hap- pily supplied by Sanford Waters Billings, A.M., of this town, and a graduate of Amherst College, who erected a school-house at his own expense, and gave instruction in the classical and higher mathematical studies. His school became popular, not only in this but in the neighboring towns, and for seventeen years Mr. Billings has devoted his time to the cause of edu- i cation and the instruction of youth. When the needs of the town required the establishment of a high school, it was with the same generous feeling that actuated those noble benefactors of a former age, rather than the stern requirements of the law, which led to the establishment of the Sharon high school. This school is under the charge and instruction of Mr. Billings, whose services and devotion to the cause of education have a warm place in the hearts of his pupils and the people.

25 25 25 25

Jabez Fisher, Cambridge

467

Public Library .-- The town has a well-selected public library, which, although not so extensive, is highly appreciated and well patronized by the com- munity.

The Press .- The Sharon Advocate is a lively weekly paper, edited by William B. Wickes, Esq., and is devoted mainly to the interest of Sharon in local and general news, and the elevation of the com- munity in social, moral, and philanthropic matters.

The Post-Offices .- The first post-office was estab- lished at Cobb's Tavern, on the Bay road, July 1, 1819 ; the post-office at Sharon Centre about 1828. The name of the office at Cobb's Tavern was changed to East Sharon, June 3, 1841, the other office to Sharon on the same date.

The following are the representatives from Sharon to the Legislature :

1776-77. Capt. Ebenezer Tis- dale.

| 1835. Ziba Plympton.

1837. George H. Mann.

1778. Capt. Edward Bridge Savels.

1779-80. Nathaniel Kings-

1842-43. Erastus Richards.

bury.

1845-46. Otis Johnson.

1782-83. Jonathan Eddy. 1851. Enoch Dickerman.

1785-86. Joseph Hewins, Jr.

1854. Charles T. Howard.

1787-89. Benjamin Randall.

| 1855. George W. Gay.

1790-91. Joseph Hewins.

1856. Moses Richards.

1801. Jonathan Billings.

1858. Amasa D. Bacon, M.D.

1804-5. John Drake, Jr.

| 1860. Asahel S. Drake.

1806-7. Jonathan Billings. 1808. John Drake.

1861-62. H. Augustus Lath- rop.

| 1865. Joel P. Hewins.

1811. Enoch Hewins, Jr.

| 1868. James Capen.

Henry Hewins.2

John C. Strong.

Charles E. Hall.

Levi A. Talbot.

Charles H. Hill.

John D. Talbot.

Edward R. Hixson.

Francis Tukalf.

Daniel Healey.

Otis S. Tolman.

Addison H. Johnson.2

Davis L. White.

Obed P. Johnson.

Adoniram J. M. White.

Reuben F. Johnson.

Thomas Williams.

Ira Johnson.

George A. White.

Warren Johnson.

Asa Wilson.

John W. Kane.

Charles Worby.

Andrew Adams.

Alonzo Capen.2

William A. Barrows.

Herbert E. Capen.

John E. Barrows.

Lemuel Capen.

Seth Boyden.1

George W. Capen.1

Daniel W. Bright.

Gardner W. Capen. Edward Cobb.

Warren M. Bright.

Edward E. Belcher.

William Cobb.1

Charles W. Belcher.

James Conners.

Joseph C. Blake.

James W. Clark. Alonzo Clark.

Charles F. Bryant. Albert Bullard.

Horace W. Clapp.

William H. Burdick.

Leander Clapp.

John Burkett.

Emil Conrad.

William H. Bennie.

Silas Davenport.

Lewis Breton.

John M. Davis.2

1 Died since the war.

2 Died in the war.

James N. Davis. John R. Kelley.

James Dellabaugh.

George Lenk.

Patrick Doherty.1

Jacob A. Morse.1

Thomas Donegan.

Stilman H. Morse.

Elijah A. Morse.

Albert F. Morse.

Edwin A. Dunakin.

Stillman A. Dunakin.

Thomas Miller.

Charles H. Dunakin.

Michael Milligan.

John M. Drake.2

Eugene Drake.

Horace F. Drake.

John Newman.

Lewis H. Duley.

Isaac Mellen.

Lawrence Dorgin.

James F. Osgood.

Benjamin A. Fairbanks.1

John Parks.

Albert F. Fairbanks.

John B. Parks.2

John Finley.

Henry Parks.

John Fox.

Josiah W. Perry.

Carl Fabinan.

Samuel E. Preble.

Nathaniel R. Fuller.

George W. Prescott.

Amos A. Fuller.

Abram Poff.

John W. Godfrey.

Lewis F. F. Plympton.

Eleazer Greenleaf.

Henry Peach.

George HI. Gay.2

Lovel K. Pickering.

George F. Gay.

George W. Parker.

Thomas Gray.

Albert Pettee.

Charles Greenwood.

Henry J. Pickersgill.

James H. Glover.1

John Phillips.

Benjamin F. Gilbert.

Lewis Pettit.

George M. Gerrish.2

William E. Quiggle.

Thomas Houlton.

George W. Richards.1

Moses Hall.

Charles F. Richards.

Norman Hardy.2

Francis W. Read.

James T. Harradon.2

Daniel Shine.

Frederick H. Holbrook.

Warren S. Skinner.

Benjamin L. Hewins.

Ansel A. Smith.

Alfred Hewins.

Albert E. Smith.

1813. Benjamin Raynolds.

1870. Bushrod Morse, Esq.

1815-16. Ziba Drake.

1823. Enoch Hewins.

1831. Jeremiah Richards.

| 1883-84. Bushrod Morse, Esq.

Those years not designated this town did not send a representative.

While Sharon furnished her quota of soldiers dur- ing the war of the Rebellion, there were many patriotic citizens who contributed to the service a sol- | dier from their own personal fortunes.

Daniel Kane.

The Town Hall .- The style of this building is " old colonial," which appears to be peculiarly adapted to its rustic surroundings. The building is forty-five by seventy feet, and is seventy-six feet from the ground to the highest part of the cupola on the main building.

At the right hand, in front, is a circular tower two stories in height, surmounted by a weather vane.

The front doors open outward and give access to a vestibule eleven by fifteen feet. From this is a cor- ridor which leads to a school-room thirty-eight by thirty-eight feet ; previous to reaching this room there

1838-39. Jedediah Morse.

1840. Capt. Charles Ide.

1809-10. Jonathan Billings.

1873-74. Sanford Waters Bil- lings, A.M.

Hugh Doran. Patrick Doyle.

Daniel Mahony.

Peter Mears. Charles H. McGuire.

SHARON.

468

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

is a door that opens into a library-room, also into the tal army. For this purpose she made a suit of men's clothes with her own hands, and at night put them on, and started for Taunton, in hopes some one would direct her to the army headquarters. In a few days, reading-room adjoining. The first room on the left is the town clerk's office, eleven by eighteen feet, and has a brick vault for storing records. This vault is pro- tected by double iron doors. The next one is the | however, she reached New Bedford, where she pro- school committee room, eighteen by fourteen feet, and connected with this by folding doors is the recitation- room, twelve by eighteen. From this room is the vestibule, from the side door of the building into the school-room, and then the coat-rooms, with hooks, the passage to the basement stairs, and the stairs to the rear of the main hall.

The main stairway is on the right of the vesti- bule, and is, like the tower in which it is located, cir- cular or spiral in its course. Under this stairway is an ample closet.

At the head of these stairs is a lobby twelve by sixteen feet, from which a balcony over the front door is reached by windows. There are ante-rooms, eight by twelve feet, and twelve by sixteen feet, on each side of the lobby.

The main auditorium takes up the remainder of this floor. This hall is forty-four by forty-five feet, with a stage thirteen feet deep and three and a half feet high. It is reached by steps on either end, and by stairs from the side entrance below.

On the wall in front of the stage is a handsome clock presented to the town by Elijah A. Morse, Esq., of Canton.

The hall is ventilated by a ventilator in the roof of the building, and the room is twenty-four feet high.

The outside of the building is shingled half-way down the sides and then treated with clapboards.

The finish inside the principal rooms is ash, as are the heavy mortised doors, and the floors are the best of Southern pine.

The building has an ornamental heavy base water- table, and is erected on a handsome foundation of Sharon granite by John Moyle. The contractors of the building are L. E. and T. L. Barlow, and the architect was Arthur H. Dodd, of Boston.

The building committee were J. M. Waston, A. B. Lovejoy, and C. C. Barney. The town hall was dedicated Feb. 21, 1884.

posed to ship on board a cruiser, but being informed of the captain's bad treatment of his men, she aban- doned the design. She now resolved to make a tour of several towns in Norfolk County, and afterwards she enlisted into the service at Worcester for three years, as a resident of Uxbridge, under the name of Robert Shurtlieff. The muster-master was Eliphalet Thorp, of Dedham. On May 13th she arrived at West Point, on the Hudson, in company with fifty soldiers.

The march of ten days was very fatiguing to her, and at the close of a chilly, wet day, on approaching the fire, she fainted and fell on the floor. Upon re- covery she found herself surrounded by kind spirits ministering to her relief. In the morning she crossed the river and was assigned for duty in Capt. Webb's company of Light Infantry, in Col. Shepard's regi- ment, Gen. Patterson's brigade. Here her garb was exchanged for a uniform peculiar to the infantry. She learned the manual exercise with facility. She was about five feet seven inches in height. Her features were regular, though they would not be called beauti- ful. Her eye was clear and penetrating, and ladies of taste called her handsome in her masculine attire. Her movement was erect and strong, gestures natural, mild, and graceful. Her first experience in actual warfare was in Capt. Webb's company on scout duty in the morning with a party of Dutch cavalry. The ground was warmly disputed for some time; at length, however, the infantry were obliged to give way, but they were quickly reinforced by the Second Massachusetts Regiment. The Americans having retired to their encampment, our fair soldier came near losing her life by drinking cold water. She said she underwent more from the heat and fatigue of the day than from the fear of being killed, although the man next her was killed by the second fire. While in this vicinity she was twice wounded, once by a sabre cut on the face, and again by a bullet wound in the groin ; ters, but the wound in the groin she dressed herself, and endeavored to extract the ball herself rather than have her sex discovered. In this, however, she suc- ceeded, and was soon able to be on duty again.

The Woman Soldier of the Revolution .- De- | the wound in the face was healed by salves and plas- borah Sampson was born in Plympton, in this State, Dec. 17, 1760, and was a lineal descendant of Wil- liam Bradford, for many years Governor of Plymouth Colony. In early life, owing to the peculiar circum- stances of the family, she was put out in a family in | In August, after eleven days of excessive travel- ing, the forces under Washington and Lafayette en- camped near Yorktown, Va. It is needless to men- Middleborough. Here she remained until she was eighteen years of age. Afterwards she taught school.

In April, 1781, she resolved to enter the Continen- tion the hardships the common soldiers must have

469

SHARON.

undergone. Our heroine bore up with a good heart until the day on which the troops arrived, when she was much indisposed. On the morning of the 23d of September, Washington addressed his army, and she was near and heard his impressive words. Miss Sampson was among the advance of that day, and labored with blistered hands in the redoubt and trenches before. Yorktown. She aided in storming the British redoubt under Lafayette on the 13th of October, 1783, and witnessed with patriotic exulta- tion the closing drama of the Revolution. Her per- | sonal purity of character was in keeping with her bravery in action and duty. Such high qualities of firmness and resolution were, perhaps, never known. She came to her aunt's, who lived in Stoughton, where she labored through the winter. It is pre- sumed that her uncle Waters confidentially whis- pered in the ear of some young man that she would make a good wife. However that may be, Deborah Sampson married Benjamin Gannett, at his father's house, April 7, 1784. There were born of this union one son and two daughters. By a resolve of the General Court of Massachusetts, Deborah received one hundred dollars and a monthly pension, as did her husband after her death, which occurred April 29, 1827. Her husband died Jan. 9, 1837. Her tombstone, in the quiet cemetery of Sharon, covers the remains of the bravest woman of the Revolution.

Gen. Benjamin Tupper .- Benjamin Tupper was born in Stoughton, now Sharon, on the 11th of March, 1738. He never knew a father's care and protection ; a father's love never warmed and glad- dened his heart, as his father died soon after he was born. When a boy he learned the trade of a tanner in Dorchester. Afterward, he served in several cam- paigns of the French and Indian war. Then he taught school several winters in Easton. While here he became acquainted with Huldah White, whom he married, Nov. 18, 1762.

He removed to Chesterfield soon after, which was at that time a frontier town. Here he became an active citizen and a deacon of the first church.

He joined the army at Roxbury, as captain of a company, soon after the Lexington alarm, and soon after was promoted to the office of major. He was ordered, with his men, to prevent the rebuilding of the light-house by the British in Boston Harbor.

Maj. Tupper marched his men to Dorchester, and there informed them that he was about to proceed down the harbor to drive the British troops off the island. " Now," said the major, addressing his com- pany, which consisted of about three hundred men, " if there is any one of you who is afraid, and does not

want to go with us, let him step two paces to the front ;" and turning to the sergeant he said, sotto voce, " if any man steps two paces to the front, shoot him on the spot." It is needless to add that every man kept his position. The major, with his men, then pro- ceeded from Dorchester, taking field-pieces with them in whale-boats down the Neponset River. They ar- rived at the light-house about two o'clock in the morn- ing, attacked the guard, killing the officers and four privates. The remainder of the English troops were captured. Having demolished the light-house then in process of construction, the party were ready to embark, when the major himself was attacked by several of the enemy's boats ; but with his field-piece he succeeded in sinking one of the boats, and, hap- pily, escaped with the loss of one man killed and one wounded. He killed and captured fifty-three of the enemy, among whom were ten Tories, who were sent to Springfield jail. Washington, the next day in general orders, thanked Maj. Tupper, and the officers and men under his command, for their gallantry and soldier-like behaviour. We have given this incident to show the bravery of the man, as there were many other such incidents that might be given. He was appointed colonel of a Massachusetts regiment in 1776, was at Valley Forge camp in the memorable winter of 1778, and wrote a letter to the General Court of Massachusetts, setting forth in strong, earnest language the destitute condition of the troops. He had a horse shot under him at the battle of Mon- mouth. He served through the war, enjoying the confidence of Washington and Lafayette, and was promoted to the rank of general by brevet before the close of the war.

Gen. Tupper entered enthusiastically into the scheme of the settlement of the northwest territory. Being selected as one of the surveyors to lay out the ranges, he very early entered upon that work, but was prevented by the warlike disposition of the Indians. He, however, returned the next season, and the his- toric seven ranges were completed. Returning home again, at this time Shay's insurrection broke out, and he rendered valuable assistance. Then he assisted in the formation of the Ohio Company. His son, Maj. Anselm, was appointed a surveyor for the company, and with the band of pioneers left Massachusetts Jan. 1, 1788, and arrived at the Muskingum River April 7, 1788. Gen. Tupper started, as soon as he could build suitable wagons, with his family, passed over the Alleghany Mountains in Pennsylvania, and then sending his horses by land, took a boat and ar- rived with the first families, Aug. 19, 1788, at Mari- I etta, after a journey of ten weeks. Soon after he was

470

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

appointed one of the judges of the court, which office he held until his death, which occurred during the Indian war. On his monument, in the Mound Ceme- tery, is the following simple epitaph :

" General Benjamin Tupper, born at Sharon, Massachusetts, in 1738 ; died June 7th, 1792, aged fifty-four."

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE H. MANN.

George H. Mann was born in Medfield, Mass., Sept. 16, 1793, and was the fourth child of Rufus Mann and Sybil (Allen), his wife, and was in the fourth generation from the Rev. Samuel Mann, the first of the name born in Massachusetts. Having a desire to learn mechanism, he was apprenticed to Otis and Oliver Allen, of Mansfield, to learn framing and building. After serving his time with them, he con- tracted with parties in Greenwich, Conn., to work at machine-making, that he might perfect himself for the business which he had laid out for himself, the manufacture of cotton goods, and went there in the spring of 1814, and remained some two or three years. The first year of his service there those employed with him struck for higher wages and used every en- deavor to have him join them, but he steadily refused. His employers finding him alone in the shop, asked him, " How happens it you are not out with your mates ?" His reply was a characteristic one : " I in- tend to abide by my agreement with you." When the parties came to terms, his pay was made as good as the best. While here, at the call of the State au- thorities for volunteers to throw up intrenchments against the threatened invasion of the British, he joined the ranks, and with pick and shovel marched to the tune of " Yankee Doodle" to the service and helped man the works they constructed until the threatened invasion was over. From Greenwich he went to Medway Village and engaged in building cotton machinery, and was associated with John Blackburn, Oliver Dean, Dean Walker, and others. While residing there he became acquainted with Rhoda Fisher, and they were married May 10, 1820. From there he removed to East Walpole in 1822, and engaged in the manufacture of sheetings for the Neponset Manufacturing Company. There he re- mained until the spring of 1826, when he removed with his family to Amoskeag, N. H., where he put in operation what was known in later years as the old

Amoskeag factory for the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. Not being able to make satisfactory ar- rangements with this company, at the end of his year he returned to Massachusetts with his family in the same conveyance that he took there, a horse and chaise. His family consisted of his wife and two boys. The same year of his return he entered into copartnership with Joshua Stetson, Jr., of Walpole, : and started a small factory for the making of bed- ticking. He was anxious to establish himself inde- pendently of others, and after about two years he dissolved his connection with Mr. Stetson and removed to East Walpole, having leased the factory there. His services were sought by Messrs. Amos & Abbot Law- rence to take charge of the Elliot Mills in Newton about this time, but he preferred to establish himself in business where he could carry out his own ideas. In the spring of 1831 he purchased a mill-site and privilege in Sharon of Joseph W. Revere, and moved there with his family. Here he erected a factory and commenced the making of ticking, of which he made a specialty. He won a high reputation on that class of goods, continuing in that business until March 10, 1840, when his factory was destroyed by fire. He represented the town in the General Court in the session of 1838, and was president of the Harrison and Tyler Club during that lively and interesting campaign. He took an active interest in all things relating to the town in its intellectual and moral growth as well as its general prosperity. He was a man of quiet mien, but of positive convictions, and never hesitated to openly take a stand when occasion required. The last few years of his life he suffered from ill health and withdrew from active business, yielding it to his two sons. In the spring of 1847 he sought the benefit of a warmer climate, and in the summer returned to his home and died, October 25th, the same year.

HEWINS.1

It is believed that all persons of the name of Hewins in this country are descended from Jacob Hewins, who was admitted a freeman and joined the church in Dorchester in 1658. His son Jacob, born in 1668, settled in Sharon, and was an important and useful man and one of the elders of the church. His descendants are now living in many and distant places, from Maine to Illinois.

1 The following data concerning ancestry of Hewins family have been kindly furnished us by Mr. Charles A. Hewins, of Boston.

Geo He Mann

"Meeting Heving

471

SHARON.

Of Jacob Hewins nothing is yet known previous named Mary. They had seven children, of whom Joseph, born in 1668, was sixth. It appears from rec- to his purchase of a house of Samuel Mason in Dor- chester, 19th February, 1655-56. It has been sup- ' ords that he settled on the farm of one hundred and posed that he came from England, but when Mr. Amasa Hewins, the artist, was there in 1833, he made many inquiries, but could find no trace or record of the name. In 1871, however, his son, Mr. Charles A. Hewins, of West Roxbury, found the family name, Hewins, in Stratford-upon-Avon. There were several families of the name in the immediate vicinity and at Birmingham. Mr. Thomas Hewins, of Stratford- upon-Avon, since dead, was an organ builder and the organist of the beautiful and famous church in Strat- ford where Shakespeare is buried.

In the late work of Mr. Halliwell Phillips, who has spent the last thirty years in searching with great diligence for every fact and record connected with Shakespeare, we find the Hewins name in connection with the Shakespeare family. Shakespeare's mother was Mary Arden, the sixth daughter of Robert Arden. The eldest daughter, Agnes Arden, married, previous to 1556, her first husband, John Hewyns. proves that the Hewins name has existed in the heart of England more than three centuries, and it appears probable that careful research might connect Jacob Hewins, the ancestor of the American branch, with a parent stock in Stratford.

My great grandmother, Ruth (Cummings) Hewins, died in 1833, aged ninety-six. I well remember her, and was at her funeral. She remembered Elder Joseph Hewins (born 1668, died 1755), and described him as a tall, spare, grand, and dignified man, who stood in the pulpit with the minister. Thus I have sat in the lap of one ancestor who knew one older one born two hundred and sixteen years ago. This covers seven generations.

WHITING HEWINS.

twenty-three acres assigned to his father in 1698, and located in that part of Dorchester, now North Sharon, near Pigeon Swamp. He was one of the leading spirits of his day. He was fence-viewer in Dorchester in 1715-16, tithingman in 1722-23, and selectman in 1724-25. The town was then divided and he thrown into Stoughton. At the first election for town officers in the new town he was chosen select- man and assessor, and re-elected in March following. In 1728-29 he was first selectman, town clerk, and assessor. In 1730-31 he was town clerk and treas- urer, and in 1738 served for the last time as select- man. He repeatedly acted as moderator of town- meetings. He was deacon and ruling elder of the now Unitarian Church at Canton, and frequently served as moderator, etc. He was tall and erect of stature, and of dignified bearing. He married, 1690, Mehetabel Lyon, daughter of Peter Lyon, of Dor- This | chester. They had seven children. He died in 1755 ; his wife in 1733. His son, Lieut. Ebenezer, was born in 1707, and was the youngest of his father's family. He settled in Stoughton, where he was constable in 1737, agent for the town in 1750, and selectman in 1751. He married Judith Porter, of Norton, 1730. They had ten children. He died in 1751, and Mrs. Hewins in 1755. Lieut. Enoch was the sixth child of Lieut. Ebenezer. He was distinguished for his patriot- ism ; he was the first man in his town to enlist in the Continental army ; he enlisted as a private soldier, but obtained the rank of lieutenant. He was sealer of weights and measures in the town of Sharon for a period of twenty years. He married, 1766, Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Bacon) Hewins. They had a family of thirteen children. He died in 1821, his wife in 1803, having resided all their lives in Sharon.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 99

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