History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 100

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 100

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13th Jan., 1736. " That the sum of £32 168. he granted and paid out of the public treasury to the Selectmen of Ahington, to reimburse the like sum they had paid as a fine for not send- ing a Representative, anno, 1734, and what they were over- charged in the Province tax."

7th March, 1737. Voted, "That any person that shall kill any grown wild-cat this year within our town shall have 208.""

26th May, 1746. The town voted off "a part of their town- ship to a number of petitioners." The part taken off was at the south end of the town. It was annexcd to the corners of four of the neighboring towns, to form what was for many years called Tunk Parish, in Pembroke, now Hanson.

25th May, 1775. Voted, "That it was an indeeent way that the female sex do sit in their hats and honnets, to worship God in his house," and offensive to many of the good people of this town.

11th Feb., 1777. The currency of the country being in a state of rapid depreciation, the town agreed on the prices of labor, provisions, and various articles of merchandise. A list is on . record.

29th May, 1780. The town voted their acceptance of the con- stitution agreed on hy the convention, but were for so modify- ing the third artiele in the hill of rights as to allow every one to pay his money for the support of public worship where he attended. They were also for limiting the number of counsel- ors and senators to thirty-four.

9th June, 1788. Voted, "That no person shall set up any cake or cakes, or anything in imitation of eakes, or throw any stones or stieks at them, within half a mile of the meeting-house each way on the puhlie road, or on the green near the meeting-house. Any person so offending shall pay a fine of 58. for the use of the town."

14th Jan., 1793. Mr. Niles, Col. Hobart, and Mr. Jacob Dyer were appointed a committee to prepare instructions to the rep- resentative against the repeal of the then law against theatrical exhibitions.

1st April, 1793. Voted, "That all persons that suffer their dog or dogs to go to meeting, at the meeting-house, when the

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472

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

people assemble for publie worship, shall pay the samo fine as is provided for breach of tho Sabbath,"

11th March, 1805, Voted, "To divide tho town of Abington into two separate towns." Sixty-eight in favor of a division and forty-seven against it. At tho same timo a committeo of five were appointed to run tho dividing line.

6th April, 1807. The town refused to " vote off Aaron Hobart and others as a separate religious society in the south part of the town," and appointed Daniel Lane, Jr., and John King, Esq., agents to attend the Legislature and oppose their petition to be set off.

15th of Sept., 1812. The town adopted a preamble and resolves, reported by a committee, relative to the war then recently deelared against Great Britain. In these the war, which had been waged against " paper blockades," in dero- gation of our rights as a neutral nation, and against the British elaim of a right to impress her own seamen out of American vessels on the ocean, and her practice, under that elaim, of im- pressing naturalized and native American citizens, was declared to be both just and necessary. The town pledged their support in carrying it on, ineuleated obedience to the Constitution and to the laws of the land, deprecated all opposition to the war in the shape of mobs, and all measures that tended in any way to destroy the union of the States.

9th March, 1835. Voted, " To build a house to hold future town meetings in." Subsequently it was agreed to build the house on a half aere of land, given by Capt. Thomas Hunt, and situated on the northerly side of the road, near Jesse Dun- ham's. The cost of the house was about three thousand dollars.

Physicians in Abington from the Earliest Times.1-The first who praetieed medieine in this town was the Rev. Samuel Brown, who came here in the year 1713, and, as was usual at that time, dispensed to the spiritual and physical wants of his parishioners. He lived in a small house about six or eight rods east from the old briek tavern building at Centre Abing- ton. He died Sept. 12, 1749, aged sixty-two.

Dr. David Jones came here probably about the year 1750. He lived in what was called the old Moses Reed house. It is not known where he originated nor precisely when he settled here. He was ehosen one of the seleetmen in 1760, and served in that ea- paeity for six years. In that year (1760) he was chosen by the town to purchase a bell of about six hundred pounds weight. In 1774 he was ehosen a delegate from this town to attend a county congress, which met at Plympton, Sept. 26, 1774, where all the towns in the county were represented. At that convention he was chosen one of the committee to report resolves on the oppressive aets of the British Parliament and the rights of the colony. These resolves have been highly spoken of as timely, able, and spirited. He was chosen also a delegate to the First Provineial Congress at Salem, Oct. 5, 1774 ; and also to the Third at Watertown, July 31, 1775. He was a delegate to the convention at Cambridge, in

September, 1779, to form a State Constitution. Be- sides these he held other important offiees.

Dr. David Jones, Jr., son of the above-named Dr. Jones, practiced in town for a year or two, about 1775. He had a hospital for smallpox patients. He lived in the old Maj. John Cushing house, about one-half mile south of the North Abington meeting- house. He afterwards moved to North Yarmouth, Me. He served for a time as a surgeon in the Revo- lutionary war.

Dr. Adams resided in Abington in or about the year 1778 or 1779.

Dr. Richard Briggs resided in Abington, and prae- tieed as a physician about 1780. He was a surgeon on board a publie ship in the war of independence. He was in quite extensive praetiee in this town for nearly thirty years, and removed to the town of Ches- terfield, county of Hampshire, about 1812. He was a man well informed, had great conversational powers, and his friends and supporters were very much at- taehed to him, and he to them. He was eontemporary with Dr. Gridley Thaxter during almost his whole residenee in town. He was chosen town elerk in 1799.

Dr. Gridley Thaxter, son of Samuel and Abigail Smith Thaxter, born in Hingham, April 9, 1756, at the age of twenty years engaged as surgeon in the privateer "Speed well," Capt. Jonathan Greeley, and sailed from Boston in the year 1776. He continued in her till 1778.

In 1779 he sailed with Capt. David Ropes, of Salem, in the brig " Wild Cat," taking a number of prizes, the last a schooner of fourteen guns, in the harbor of Halifax. They were unable to retain the sehooner, the enemy having sent from town a sehooner, brig, and two sloops, which recaptured her. The following night they were taken prisoners by the frigate " Surprise," and Dr. Thaxter remained on the prison-ship about three months. He was then taken to Halifax, where he remained about a month, when he was exchanged and eame to Boston. In the spring of 1780 he sailed with Capt. William Patten, Jr., of Salem, in the brig " Warrior," fourteen guns, and was taken in the month of May by the sloop-of- war " Captain Ingalls," carried to New York, kept aboard the prison-ship three weeks, and the remainder of the time, while prisoner, was boarded in the town of Jamaica. When released, he came to Boston with Maj. Hopkins, and without returning to his native place, or seeing his friends, he engaged on board the State ship " Mars," Capt. Simeon Sampson, and re- mained as surgeon till the year 1781. IIe married a daughter of Gen. Benjamin Lineoln, of Hingham, who served in the Revolutionary war.

1 F. F. Forsaith, M.D., of Weymouth, has assisted in tho preparation of this list.

473

HISTORY OF ABINGTON.

He moved from Hingham to Abington in the year 1783, hired a part of Rev. Samuel Niles' house, and afterwards bought the Dr. Jones farm. About the year 1797 he bought a farm of Mr. Jonathan Nash, and built a house the following year, which he occu- pied till his decease, Feb. 13, 1845.

" Dr. Ezekiel Thaxter, son of the above Dr. Grid- ley Thaxter, was born in Abington, July 22, 1787. He was fitted for college at Hingham Academy. After completing his collegiate course he studied medicine under the instruction of John C. Warren, of Boston. He received his medical diploma in 1815, and immediately commenced practice with his father in Abington. He was very successful as a physician, and at the present day is remembered with affection by a large number of the residents of the town. For the last two or three years of his life he was able to practice but little, having suffered from paralysis. In 1821 he was chosen town clerk, and held the office until 1832. He was a kind and affectionate father, a worthy and estimable citizen. He died Oct. 11, 1856, aged sixty-nine years.

". Dr. Richards came to town about the year 1806, and in addition to his practice was engaged in manu- facturing cloths, in 1812, in company with a Mr. Tirrell, of Boston.

" Dr. John Champney came to Abington in the year 1827. He was introduced by Dr. Sawin, of East Bridgewater, and purchased the situation owned by Dr. Sawin just before his death, in 1821. When he removed to Abington, in 1827, he occupied the house on South Avenue once owned by Aaron Ho- bart. Jr., Esq. He was in the United States service in the war of 1812, and died in 1857.

" Dr. Alonzo Chapin came to East Abington about 1840, and continued in practice there for nearly ten years.

" Dr. John S. Curtis came to South Abington in the summer of 1844, and remained in practice there for two years.

" Dr. Edmund Edmonston succeeded him in the same part of the town, and remained about the same length of time.

" Dr. Albion P. Chase came to South Abington in 1348. After boarding for a time, he was married to Deborah, daughter of Rev. F. P. Howland, and re- sided in a house on South Avenue. In the spring of 1855 he sold out and removed to Portland, Me.

"Dr. Charles A. King came to Centre Abington in the autumn of 1848, and continued in practice there till his death, Sept. 19, 1852.

" Dr. F. A. Jewett came to North Abington in the spring of 1850. In the autumn of the same year he

moved to Centre Abington, and remained in practice there till May, 1859, when he removed to Shrews- bury.

" Dr. J. M. Underwood came to East Abington in the year 1848, and continued in practice until Jan. 30, 1871, when he suddenly died.

" Dr. D. W. Briggs, homeopathic physician, came to Abington in the autumn of 1849. He continued in practice till the spring of 1858, when he relin- quished his practice to Dr. J. L. Hunt, who remained but a short time. Dr. Briggs, with his family, re- moved to Gardner, Me.

" Dr. Asa Millet came to Centre Abington from East Bridgewater, Dec. 22, 1854, and later returned again to East Bridgewater, where he now continues in practice.

" Dr. Nelson B. Tanner came to East Abington May 9, 1854, and remained there till August of the same year, when he removed to North Abington, where he still remains.

"Dr. F. F. Forsaith succeeded Dr. A. P. Chase in his practice April 9, 1858, and is now located in Weymouth Landing.

" Dr. Charles H. Haskell commenced practice in South Abington April 19, 1858, where he remained until his death.

" Dr. J. F. Harris, homoeopathist, succeeded Dr. Hunt in May, 1859."

Dr. C. F. Robinson succeeded Dr. Forsaith in South Abington Feb. 3, 1862, and shortly after re- moved to East Boston, where he died.

Dr. Henry W. Dudley came to Centre Abington, in April, 1864, and succeeded Dr. Asa Millet in prac- tice.

Dr. Nelson B. Tanner, Jr., opened an office in South Abington in 1864, and was in practice a short time only.

Dr. Benjamin F. Hastings opened an office in East Abington in 1865, and soon removed to South Abing- ton, where he still resides.

The physicians now practicing in Abington are Edward P. Adams, Silas B. Dickerman, and Henry W. Dudley in Centre Abington, and Nelson B. Tanner and George F. Wheatley in North Abington.

Civil History .- The town has now been incor- porated about one hundred and seventy-five years. The first town-meeting was held March 3, 1713, at which meeting the following town officers were chosen : " William Hersey, moderator; William Hersey, William Tirrell, and William Recd, select- men ; William Reed, town clerk; James Nash, town treasurer ; Joseph Josselyn, constable ; Edmund Jack- son and Nicholas Porter, surveyors of highways;

I 1

474

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Ebenezer Whitmarsh and Edward Bates, fence- viewers,"

The selectmen were generally, if not without excep- tion, assessors. To avoid repetition their names are given the first year they were chosen and the number of years they served, without noticing the yearly changes :

Years.

1713. William Hersey ...... 2

1786. Edward Cobb. ..... ...

1 4

1713. William Tirrell. 2

1790. Josiah Torrey ... ...

1713. William Reed .. 10 1792. Benjamin Thaxter ...

1714. Samuel Porter .. 3 1793. Nathaniel Howe. ...

1714. Edmund Jackson. 1 1794. Ephraim Noyes, ... 1715. Andrew Ford .. 1 1794. David Lane, Jr.

1715. Edward Bates

1798. Samuel Norton. 12 1

1716. Samuel French.

1799. Noah Ford

1716. James Nash ..

1799. Natban Gurney, Jr. 24

1718. Nicholas Noyes

1718. Samuel Pool.

6 1813. Micab Pool.

1719. Joseph Josselyn

1 1816. James Bates

1719. Samuel Noyes.

1819. Jared Whitman 9

1720. Joseph Lincoln

1821. John Cushing.

1720. Hezekiab Ford ..

1824. David Beal

1721. Edmund Jackson ....

1723. James Nash ..

1833. Joseph Cleverly

1729. Joshua Shaw.

11 1842. Isaac Hersey.

9 1

1730. Samuel Reed

2 1843. William Bonney ......

1730. Thomas Tirrell.

1733. Christopher Dyer .... 1734. Nicholas Shaw.

1735. Ebenezer Bates, 1

1735. Obadiah Reed 8

1736. Jacob Porter. 3

1737. Joseph Hersey. 4

1851. Samuel Reed, Jr ...... 1852. Nathan S. Jenkins ...

1740. Ephraim Spooner.

1852. John N. Noyes ...

1752. Nathaniel Pratt 1

1855. Sylvanus Nash,

1856. Marcus Reed.

1756. Samuel Norton.

1856. Joseph Wilkes ..

1758. Samuel Pool .. 1856. Micah H. Pool. 6

1857. Henry A. Noyes.

1763. Josiah Torrey ..

1858. Samuel V. Loud

1771. William Reed, Jr .... 4

1860. Zenas Jenkins. ...

1772. Samnel Brown

5 1860. William Brown. ... 1775. Joshua Howe. 5

1775. Benjamin Bates, Jr. 3 1861. Marcus Reed ..........

1775. Joshua Shaw. 3

1861. William Brown .. ...

1778. Daniel Reed ..

2 1862. William Thaxter.

1780. Daniel Shaw. 2

1862. Zenas Jenkins ..

6 25

1780. Jacob Smith 11

1864. Henry A. Noyes.

1783. Jacob Pool. 10

1868. Brainard Cushing ... 1

1785. Luke Bicknell 1 1869. Charles W. Soule ..... 3

1786. Jacob Dyer.

1 1872. E. R. Studley. 1

1786. Thomas Reed 1 1875. Jonathan Arnold .. ...

The following is a list of the present town officers : George A. Beal, clerk and troasuror ; Henry A. Noyes, Joseph

L. Greenwood, George M. Nash, selectmen ; Henry A. Noyes, Augustus H. Wright, Georgo B. Merrill, road com- missioners ; Dr. Silus B. Dickerman, Elbridge Sprague, Otis W. Soule, school committee; Rev. Horace W. Wright, Albert Chamberlain, Mrs. Helen A. Gleason, Mrs. Alice A. Richardson, Webster S. Wales, George A. Beal, Hon. Henry B. Pierce, Miss Mary A. Wright, Mrs. Goorgiana S. Reed, trustees of Public Library ; Josiah Cushman, Harvey B. Russell, John A. Floyd, Thomas E. Keon, Seth W. Ben- nett, Jr., Elliot W. Ford, constables.

Roads .- Before the incorporation of the town two county roads were laid out through the territory composing it, one leading from Middleboro' through

Bridgewater (now East Bridgewater), Washington Strect in Abington, passing by the South and Cen- tre mecting-houses in Abington to Weymouth,-to incet a road leading to Boston. This was in 1690. The other from Plymouth, through Pembroke (now Hanson) by the Indian Head River Pond into Abing- ton by Plymouth Strect (formerly called Back Street), passing by the way that leads to Little Comfort (now South Abington) about a mile to the eastward of Hersey's saw-mill, which stood near the present loca- tion of the Old Colony Railroad Depot, to Weymouth. This was in 1707. In 1845, when the Old Colony Railway was built, roads were constructed extending to the stations, and as the population incrcased now roads were made to connect with thesc until we have the present system of highways, many of which have level sidewalks, shaded by beautiful trees. The streets of Abington and Rockland are proverbial for their smoothness and hardness, and invariably call forth words of commendation from strangers and vis- itors. Abington has at the present time about forty miles of highway.

1830. Asaph Dunbar.

1728. Jacob Reed.

1840. Nathan Beal.

17 1 9 7 2

1728. Matthew Pratt.

1833. Spencer Vining.

1729. Samuel Jackson

3 1842. William W. Cushing.

1 1844. Joshua Whitmarsh ..

1844. Goddard Reed ........ 1845. Zenas Jenkins (2d) .. 1845. Lysander Cushing ... 1846. Stetson Vaughn ...... 1847. Davis Gurney ...

1 6 1 1 3

Population .- The population of Abington, accord- ing to the best means of ascertaining it, was, in 1726 (fourteen years after its incorporation), 371; but we have no reliable means of ascertaining it every ten years, that I know of, until the United States census in 1790. It was then 1453; in 1800, 1625; 1810, 1704 ; 1820, 1920 ; 1830, 2423; 1840, 3144 ; 1850, 5269 ; 1855 (five years), 6936. From this it appears that for the sixty-four years, from 1726 to 1790, the inercase of the population of this town was 1082; from 1790 to 1800, 176; 1800 to 1810, 81; 1810 to 1820, 216; 1820 to 1830, 503; 1830 to 1840, 721 ; 1840 to 1850, 2125 ; 1850 to 1855 (five years), 1667. In 1860 the population was 8527; in 1870 it was 9308, and at the present time is 4000.

By the above we see a very slow increase of the population of the town for sixty-four years, 1726 to 1790,-only 1082,-17 ycarly, and 165 for every ten years ; and also from 1790 to 1820 (thirty years), 467 ; averaging 16 yearly, and 150 every ten years ; less yearly than the sixty-four previous. The increase the next ten years, from 1820 to 1830, was more than the thirty years previous, it being 503. Thc increase the next ten years, from 1830 to 1840, was truly surprising, it being 721 ; the increase from 1840 to 1850 was much more so, viz., 2125; but from 1850 to 1855 (five years) it almost exceeded belief, being 1667. The population of the towns compris- ing the original town of Abington is 12,500. It will be observed that the population has nearly doubled since 1855.

1 1 1

1739. John Noyes.

1850. William P. Corthell. 6 1 4

1744. Daniel Reed. 15

1755. Woodbridge Brown. 11

3 1 9 1 2 5 2 5 1

1760. David Jones 6 10

1861. Samuel B. Thaxter .. 2 15 1

Years.

1 1 6

1 1806. William Wales .. ..... 10

475

HISTORY OF ABINGTON.

Valuation .- Without going farther back than 1825 (and we have no date beyond that to compare), which was one hundred and eleven years after its incorporation, the town's valuation stood $414,916; in 1831, 8453,289 ; in 1835. 8488,549 ; 1839, $529,- 714; 1845, 81,223,931 ; 1850, $1,767.163; 1855, $2.942.382; 1858, 83,186,579; in 1860, $3,279,- 465; in 1870, 84,207,102; and in 1883, 81,849,- 350. The valuation at the present time of the three towns constituting the original town of Abington is $6,274.030. It will be observed that the valuation has increased at a considerably greater ratio than the population, and this would indicate, what is doubtless true, that the people of the day earn more money, have better food, wear better clothing, live in more comfortable houses, and have more of the necessities and luxuries of life than in 1855.

Polls .- The increase in the number of polls until the town was divided has kept pace in accordance with the increase of population and valuation. In 1825 there were 406; in 1831, 578; 1835, 703; 1839, 789; 1845, 1040; 1850, 1489; 1855, 1835; 1858, 2097; 1860, 2210; 1865, 2279; in 1870, 2619 ; and in 1884, 1136. The number of polls in 1870 were 2587; at present, 1136; in the three towns, 3511.

Schools .- In 1732 the first school-house in town was built. It stood near the Centre meeting-house, and was the only one in town until 1755, twenty-three years after the first one was built. Previous to this, in 1724, Mr. Samuel Porter was paid twenty dollars for keeping school. It must have been in some private room, and probably such a school was continued until the first school-house was built, and after that in the first school-house, and otherwise ; for it was frequently kept in different parts of the town, to equalize the travel, until the town was divided into five districts, in 1755. There was a law passed in 1789, requiring towns of two hundred families to keep a grammar school twelve months in each year, in which the Latin and Greek languages should be taught by a master, quali- fied for the purpose. This school was kept alternately in each of the five districts three months in each year. How the law was answered or evaded in keeping three months in a year instead of twelve I am not aware. It was considered as an arbitrary law. Its object was to prepare students for entering college at the public expense. It was kept as the winter schools usually were, only the master must be qualified to teach the languages, but few were prepared for entering college in this way ; but it helped the common schools, as it furnished better teachers.

In 1794, thirty-nine years after the first districting

(in 1755), the districts were increased to eight, with some provision to aid families in the outskirts of the town, by granting to them a portion of the money raised for schooling. In 1822 eleven districts were made by bounds on the roads. In 1847 the eleven school districts were defined by lines, with metes and bounds, making some slight alterations from 1822. This was done to make definite the bounds of districts for the convenience of local taxation. In 1853 the district system in this town was abolished ; the regu- lation and superintendence of all the schools were as- sumed by the town ; new school-houses were built, the district school-houses being paid for by the town.

The following sums have been raised at different times for schooling, and divided among the districts. Sometimes each district had an equal part, and at other times a part according to the number of polls, or the taxes paid by the inhabitants of the districts ; sometimes by one-half being divided equally among the districts, and the other half according to the number of scholars in each ; changing almost every year, and often very unequally divided. In 1755, when the town was divided into five districts, the sum raised for schooling was only eighty-nine dollars ; this, if divided equally among the districts, would give to each only $17.80. This continued to be the amount raised until 1765 (ten years), when the amount was increased to $133.33, and this continued so for twenty years,-being $26.66 to cach district. In 1785 the amount was $286.66 ; to each district $57.35. This was the rate for ten years, until 1795, when it stood at $466.66. Without naming the division, it will only be necessary to namc the sum raised at each change, for the same sum was continued to be raised from one change to another. In 1805 it was $833.33 ; in 1859, $7000. The amount expended the last year in the three towns was nearly twenty-five thousand dollars.

Jonathan Arnold, Samuel Dyer, and Lewis E. Noyes have done much in years past for the schools within the limits of the old town. Mr. Arnold in his early life taught many years in Abington and King- ston. Hon. B. W. Harris, Judge Keith, and Mr. Arnold were engaged in teaching in Kingston at the same time. He was a member of the school board of Abington for some years, and did much to improve the schools. He recommended that the town estab- lish one high school, four grammar schools, ten inter- mediate, and as many primary as might be necessary. To his surprise the recommendation was carried out, and this marked the dawn of a new era in the school history of the town. Besides acting in other official

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476

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

capacities in his native town, Mr. Arnold has served in the Legislature.

Mr. Samuel Dyer has been on the school board of Abington and South Abington for twenty-four years, and is still acting in that capacity.

Mr. Lewis E. Noyes was a member for six years, and, like James H. Gleason, who has done much for the schools of the town, brought to the office those valu- able qualities that result from the practical work of the live teacher in the school-room.

The schools of Abington will compare favorably with those of other towns in the county, Hingham alone excepted, which is the " banner" town of Plym- outh County so far as public schools are concerned. The schools of Abington, especially in the lower grades, have been much improved during the past few years, but there is still a wide margin for improve- ment. Skilled supervision, and a deeper professional enthusiasm on the part of the teachers, are the two elements specially needed at the present time. What has been said concerning the schools of Abington is equally applicable to Rockland and South Abington.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 100

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706