History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 113

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 113

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1 The above sketch ef Mr. Reed was kindly contributed by Mr. George Hunt.

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537

HISTORY OF ROCKLAND.

boots and shoes at Rockland, in which business he still continnes. They manufacture a fine grade of goods, and find sale readily at good prices for their products. They employ from seventy-five to one hun- dred hands ; Mr. French superintending the manu- facturing. while his partner, Mr. Hall, attends to the selling. They are now entering on their third year, and are meeting with encouraging success.

He married, Oct. 2. 1859. M. Ellen, daughter of Reuben and Salome (Curtis) Burrell, of Rockland. They have but one child living, Winslow B., born Ang. 19. 1869.

Mr. French is a director in the Rockland Savings- Bank, and is an energetic, active man, and a useful citizen. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Baptist.

BENJAMIN BEAL.

Benjamin Beal, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Remington ) Beal, was born in Templeton, Mass., May 10, 1798. His parents were originally from Abington. Plymouth Co. When Benjamin was eight years of age his mother died, and he came to live with his uncle, Nathaniel Beal, in what is now the town of Rockland, and remained with him until he had at- tained his majority. He had the usual advantages for an education which the common schools of the town at that day afforded. His uncle was a shoe- maker, and young Beal learned the trade with him, and worked for him until he was of age. When he was twenty-two years of age he married, June 6, 1820, Charlotte Melville, who was born in Boston, Jan. 29, 1798, and who was entirely orphaned when an infant, and was adopted by Thomas Whiting, of Abington (now Rockland). She lived with Mr. Whiting till her marriage with Mr. Beal. She still survives, and is a lady of very remarkable strength of mind and force of character, and much of Mr. Beal's success in life was dne to her prudence, judgment, and helpful aid. For a few years after Mr. Beal's marriage he made shoes by contract for others, and on one occa- sion he lost, through the failure and absconding of a party for whom he worked, seven hundred dollars. A very severe loss for him at that period.

When he began on his own account as a manufac- turer, his first lot of shoes consisted of thirty-six pairs, which he sold in Boston, receiving at the same time quite a large order for more. He was one of the early manufacturers in the town of Rockland, and beginning in this small way, he gradually built up quite a large business for that period.

At that time the work was chiefly done at the

homes of the operatives, and Mr. Beal had nien working for him not only in his own but in all the surrounding towns, and furnished constant employ- ment to a great many people. He was energetic, en- terprising, and economical, and met with abundant success. The financial crash of 1852, however, se- riously affected him. He lost heavily through the failure of merchants to whom he sold his goods, and he was finally compelled to make an assignment. He turned over all his property to his assignees, and they effected an amicable settlement. He at once re- embarked in business, met with good success, and soon re-established himself on a firm basis. He did not continue in manufacturing much longer, however, as in 1853 he retired permanently from the business. In common with other manufacturers at that day, he conducted a general supply store in connection with his manufacturing. The surplus earnings of his busi- ness he invested largely in real estate in and about Rockland, and this proved a wise investment, as the increase in value of lands eventually made him wealthy. At the time of his decease he owned and rented more than twenty houses. For several years prior to his death he devoted his entire attention to the care of his landed interests. He was always a modest, retiring man, and would never accept an office. In political faith he was a Whig and Republican. He had five children,-Benjamin (deceased), Franklin (now living in Rockland near the old homestead), Daniel L. (deceased), Boylston (resides in North Ab- ington), and Daniel W. (who lives in Campello).

Mr. Beal was a very kind man in his domestic relations, and it is the testimony of his wife, who is now living in the full possession of her facul- ties at the advanced age of eighty-six years, that he was a kind, noble, true husband during the long period of sixty years which they lived together. Mr. Beal was a man of strong vitality, will-power, and de- termination, and Mrs. Beal is a lady of most remark- able mental strength, and yet these two powerful wills harmonized, and through a longer period than is often allotted to husband and wife they amicably trod life's pathway together, and this tribute is paid by Mrs. Beal to the memory of a good husband and an honorable, worthy man. Mr. Beal died March 17, 1882. His health had been remarkably good to within six years of his death, when he was stricken with paralysis, and from that time to his demise was a helpless invalid. He rests in Mount Vernon Cem- etery, at Abington. Mrs. Beal has conducted the affairs of the estate since his decease with remarka- ble sagacity and judgment, and with but little out- side aid or assistance in the direction of affairs.

538

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

HON. LEVI REED.

Hon. Levi Reed was the son of Samuel Reed, and was born in East Abington (now Rockland), Dec. 31, 1814. After attending the town schools he acquired further education at Phillips Academy, Andover.

Upon leaving that institution he engaged in teach- ing, and for many years was principal of the Wash- ington School, in Roxbury. His health becoming impaired, he returned to his native town and engaged in the business of shoe manufacturing.

In 1861 he was elected a member of the Senate, and was subsequently chosen State auditor, and these offices he ably and faithfully filled. He died Oct. 18, 1869. He was a public-spirited, useful, and much- respected citizen.

J. C. GLEASON, M.D.

J. C. Gleason, M.D., was born in Hubbardston, Mass., Nov. 9, 1837. Fitted for college at New

Salem Academy; entered Amherst in 1859, and graduated in the first sixth of his class in 1863; taught in high schools in Holliston, Abington, and Barre ; graduated from Harvard Medical Department in 1867, and practiced three years in Hardwick, Worcester Co., Mass .; was member of House in 1870 for Hardwick ; moved to Rockland in the fall of 1870; has been chairman of school board since the incorporation of town, in 1874.

Dr. Gleason is at present a Fellow of Massachu- setts Medical Society. and a member of its council. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Medico- Legal Society; on its standing committee (being medical examiner of Second Plymouth District). .

He is professor of Clinical Medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 34 Essex Street, Boston, Mass.

He has contributed articles to Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, and to the " Transactions of the Massachusetts Medico-Legal Society."

HISTORY OF ANCIENT BRIDGEWATER.

BY BRADFORD KINGMAN.

ANCIENT BRIDGEWATER.

Grant of Bridgewater Plantation-Purchase of Indians-Copy of Indian Deed-Confirmatory Deed from Pomponoho- Deed from Governor Thomas Hinckley for the Government -Confirmatory Deed from Josiah Wampatuck to Inhabitants of Bridgewater.

To give a clear account of the early settlement of the ancient town of Bridgewater it will be interesting to give some account of the origin of the town, its connection with and its identity with the parent town of Duxbury, and a brief account of its having been set off from Duxbury, and the purchase from the Indians. The ancient town of Bridgewater->then comprising what was North, East, West, and the present town of Bridgewater-was formerly a planta- tion granted to Duxbury in 1645, as a compensation for the loss of territory they had sustained in the setting apart of Marshfield from them in the year 1640. The grant was in the following language :

"The inhabitants of the town of Duxbury are granted a competent proportion of lands about Sanghtuchquett (Satucket), towards the west, for a plantation for them, and to have it four miles every way from the place where they shall set up their centre ; provided it intrench not upon Winnytuckquett, for- merly granted to Plymouth. And we have nominated Capt. Miles Standish, Mr. John Alden, George Soule, Constant South- worth, John Rogers, and William Brett to be feofees in trust for the equal dividing and laying forth the said lands to the inhabitants."

How these lands were divided, or what should en- title any one to a share, no record appears to show. Governor Hinckley, in his confirmatory deed, says that the "inhabitants agreed among themselves." There were fifty-four proprietors, each of whom held one share, the names of whom are as follows :

William Bradford. Edmund Hunt.

William Merrick.

William Clarke.

John Bradford.

William Ford.

Constant Southworth.

Abraham Pierce. John Rogers.

John Cary.

George Partridge. John Starr.

Edmund Weston.

Samuel Tompkins. Edmund Chandler.

Moses Simmons.

Nicholas Robbins.

Philip Delano.

Arthur Harris.

Thomas Hayward. John Alden. Ralph Partridge. Nathaniel Willis. Jolın Forbes.

John Willis.

Samuel Nash.

Thomas Bonney.

Abraham Sampson.

Miles Standish.

George Soule.

Love Brewster.

Experience Mitchell.

John Paybody. Henry Howland.

William Paybody.

Henry Sampson.

Francis Sprague.

John Brown.

William Bassett.

John Howard.

John Washburn.

Francis West.

John Washburn, Jr.

William Tubbs.

John Ames.

James Lendall.

Thomas Gannett.

Samuel Eaton.

William Brett.

Solomon Leonard.

To these shares were afterward added two more shares,-one to Rev. James Keith, of Scotland, their first minister, and the other to Deacon Samuel Edson, of Salem, who erected the first mill in the town,- making fifty-six shares.

This grant was considered as little more than an authority or right to purchase it of the natives. For this purpose Capt. Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth were appointed a committee to make the purchase, which they did, as appears by the following instruments :

" WITNESS THESE PRESENTS, that I, Ousamequin, Sachem of the Country of Poconocket, have given, granted, enfeofed, and sold unto Miles Standish, of Duxbury, Samuel Nash, and Con- stant Southworth, of Duxbury aforesaid, in behalf of all the townsmen of Duxbury aforesaid, a tract of land usually called Satucket, extending in the length and breadth thercof as fol- loweth : that is to say, from the wear at Satucket seven miles due east, and from the said wear seven miles due west, and from the said wear seven miles due north, and from the said wear seven miles due south ; the which tract the said Ousamequin hath given, granted, enfeofed, and sold unto the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, in the behalf of all the townsmen of Duxhury, as aforesaid, with all the im- munities, privileges, and profits whatsoever belonging to the said tract of land, with all and singular all woods, underwoods, lands, meadows, rivers, brooks, rivulets, &c., to have and to hold, to the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, in hehalf of all the townsmen of the town of Dux- bury, to them and their heirs forever. In witness whereof, I,

539

William Collier. Christopher Wadsworth. Edward Hall. John Irish.

...

540

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

the said Ousamequin, have hereunto set wy band this 23ª of March, 1649.

" Witness the mark of OUSAMEQUIN.

" In consideration of the aforesaid bargain and sale, we, the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, do bind ourselves to pay unto the said Ousamequin, for and in con- sideration of the said tract of land, as followeth :

" 7 coats, a yard and a half in a coat.

" 9 batchets. " 8 hoes. " 20 knives.

" 4 moose-skins. " 10 yards and a half of eotton.

" MILES STANDISH.

"SAMUEL NASH.

"CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH."

This contract is said to have been made on what was called "Sachem's Rock" (called by the Indians " Woonnocooto"), in East Bridgewater, a little south of Whitman's Mills (now known as the Carver Cotton- Gin Company), and near the house of the late David Kingman.

This Ousamequin, sometimes called Ossamequin, was no other than Massasoit himself, who, in the latter part of his life, had adopted that name. The deed written by Capt. Miles Standish, one of the original planters of the colony, and signed with the mark of the sachem, is still in existence. When the old sachem was called upon to execute his deed, he endeavored to make it as sure as possible. For that purpose he affixed a mark in the shape of a 9.

Thus we have seen that the original town of Bridge- water, comprising the territory now known as Brock- ton, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Bridge- water, including a portion of "Titicut Parish," was purchased by Capt. Miles Standish and others for the trifling sum of seven coats, nine hatchets, eight hoes, twenty knives, four moose-skins, and ten and a half yards of cotton, the whole not amounting to thirty dollars in value.

The original town of Bridgewater was the first in- terior settlement in the Old Colony. The grant of the plantation, as we have seen, was in 1645, and the settlement made in 1650. The first settlers had a house-lot of six acres each on the Town River, and the place was called Nuckatest, or Nuncketetest. The first lots were taken up at West Bridgewater, along the Town River, first houses built and the first im- provements made there. The settlement was com- pact,-the house-lots being contiguous,-with a view for mutual protection and aid against the Indians, and, as a further protection from the natives, they erected a stockade or garrison on the south side of the river and fortified many of their dwellings. It is said that not more than one-third of the original fifty-six

proprietors ever became inhabitants of their new set- tlement. From this original home the settlers scat- tered into other portions of the town, extending their dwellings first into the southwest part of the town, toward Nippenicket Pond, a locality known as Scot- land, on the road to Taunton, and Titicut, on the road leading to Middleboro', whither they were in the habit of going either to mill or to trade, and we are told they frequently went to that place on foot, with the grists on their backs, a distance of several miles.

The last settled part of the town was the North Parish (now Brockton), which was not till after 1700, no permanent settlement being made in what was called the North Parish till after that time, and the settlers were mostly from the West Parish (now West Bridgewater).

The plantation remained to Duxbury until June, 1656, when it was incorporated into a distinct and separate town in the following concise language :

" ORDERED, That heneeforth Duxborrow New Plantation bee allowed to bee a tounshipe of ytselfe, destinet from Dnxborrow, and to bee called by the name of Bridgewater. Provided that all publieke rates bee borne by them with Duxborrow upon equally proportions."

The court settled the rates to be paid by the pro- prietors as follows :

" The town of Bridgewater is to bear one part of three with Duxbury, of their proportion of the country rates for the offi- eers' wages and other publie charges.

Previous to the incorporation of the town the plan- tation had been called Bridgewater, but of the origin of the name we have nothing authentic except a mat- ter of fancy for a town in England of that name. From the time of its first settlement the town has maintained a strong position in the history of the country, and for a long time continued a united and harmonious whole until 1715, when a petition was sent to General Court to be set off into a separate parish or precinct, the petitioners representing them- selves as inhabitants of the casterly part of Bridge- water. A committee of two in the Council and three of the House was appointed to examine into the mat- ter, who attended to their duties, and reported in favor of granting their request, which was accepted, and an act of incorporation passed June 1, 1716, with this condition :

"That tho whole town stand obliged to an honorable main- tenanoe of the Rev. James Keith, thoir present aged minister, if he should outlive his powers and onpacities of discharging the office and duty of their minister."

The new parish was called the South, and the old one the North Precinct, which then inchided the West and what was afterwards known as North Bridgewater

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541

HISTORY OF ANCIENT BRIDGEWATER.

(now Brockton). In 1723 that part of the old North Precinct now known as East Bridgewater (then known as the West Parish was set off, and constituted a pre- cinct called the East Parish, Dee. 14, 1723.

Titieut Parish was formed from the southwest part of the South Parish, with a part of Middleboro'. Feb. 4. 1743. This place consisted of forty-eight families, forty-one houses, two hundred and sixty-two inhabit- ants in 1764, and in 1810 it had a population of three hundred and eighteen.

As some disputes arose in regard to the original purchase of Ousamequin, confirmatory deeds were given by Pomponcho. an Indian, at Titicut, aud Gov- ernor Thomas Hinckley, in behalf of the government, and another from Josiah Wampatock, another Indian, thus making a perfect title to all the land comprising Ancient Bridgewater. Here follows copies of the above-named deeds :

CONFIRMATORY DEED FROM POMPONOHO.

"This deed, made November 20th, A.D. 1672, witnesscth, that I. Pomponoho, alias Peler, an Indian, living at Titicut, in the colony of New Plymouth, in New Eng., have sold for the sum of sixteen pounds,-riz., six pounds of current money of New England, and ten pounds in goud merchantable corn, as by bill appearetb,-all the lands lying on the north side of Tit- icut River, within the bounds of Bridgewater, what lands were mine, or were either my father's or grandfather's or any other- wise conferred on me. excepting those lands expressed as fol- lows, riz. : one hundred acres of land lying up the river to the eastward of a small brook, given to an Indian called Charles, my brother-in-law, and a certain parcel of land lying against the wear and bounded by the landing place, running to the head of my field, containing about ten acres at the utmost, I say I, the above-said Pomponoho, alias Peter. have bargained, sold, and by these presente do bargain and sell for myself, my heirs, and assigns forever, unto Nicholas Byram, zen., Samuel Edson, ren., and William Brett, sen., in and for the use of the towns- men of Bridgewater, joint purchasers with them, which persons above mentioned were ordered by the court to make purchase of those lande, as by court record appears, I say I have sold all there lands, with every part thereof, and all the immunities and privileges belonging thereunto, to them, their heirs, and assigns forever, the same quietly and peaceably to possess, with- out the lawful let, interruption, or molestation of me, the above- said Pomponoho, alias Peter, or other persons whatsoever, law- fully claiming by, from, or under me, them, or any of them. In witness whereof I have hereunto set to my hand and seal.

his in presence of us.

" Read, sealed, and delivered POMPONOHO (P) :: mark.

" JOSEPH HAYWARD.

" JOHN CARY, FES.

" Acknowledged before JOSIAH WINSLOW, Gov., Feb. 20, 167%.

" Recorded by NATHANIEL CLARK, Secretary, March, 1685."

The two reserved lots in the above grant were afterwards purchased by individuals in the town. Thus all the lands within the most extensive limits of the town appear to have been justly and fairly pur-

chased of the Indians, and we have the above-named Governor Winslow's attestation on record that this was the case in all the towns in the Old Colony of Plymouth.

In the year 1685 the Court of Assistants were em- powered to examine, allow, and confirm from time to time all claims and titles to land formerly granted either to towns or individuals by the General Court, and, when allowed, they were to " pass the seal of the government for confirmation." In pursuance of this order, all the grants made to Bridgewater, as above stated and described, were confirmed by the following deed under the hand of Governor Hinckley and the seal of the government :

CONFIRMATORY DEED FROM GOVERNOR THOMAS HINCKLEY TO THE TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER.

" At his Majesty's Court of Assistants, held at Plymouth the 6th of March. A.D. 1685-86.

" To all to whom these presents shall come, Thomas Hinckley, Esq .. Governor of his Majesty's Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, sendeth greeting.

" WHEREAS, At his Majesty's general court, held at Plym- outh the 4th of June, 1685, it was ordered and enacted that the court of assistants be from time to time a committee empowered to examine, allow, and confirm all such claims and titles to lands which were formerly granted or allowed by the general court, either to townships or particular persons, which, being allowed by the said committee, shall pass the seal of the Govern- ment for further confirmation thereof; and forasmuch as it hath been made to appear to the said court of assistants, now sitting at Plymouth, the first Tuesday in March, 1685-86, that a cer- tain tract of laud was granted by Wm Bradford, Esq., and his associates, assembled in court, in the year of our Lord 1645, unto the inhabitants of the town of Duxbury (a competent pro- portion of lands), about a place called by the Indians Massa- quatucket, for a plantation for tbem, the inhabitants of Duxbury, and that they shall have it four miles every way from the centre; the inhabitants of Duxbury being fifty-six in number, by agreement among themselves, every one were to have equal shares, who, by the approbation and appointment of his Majesty's honored court in New Plymouth, 1645, did employ Mr. Constant Southworth, with some others, to purchase the above-mentioned tract of land of Ossamequin, chief Sachem of the Poconocket country, which being done, and now inhabited by many of the proprietors, is now called Bridgewater, and all such privileges allowed to them as the court allows or grants to other townships ; and having set up their centre, his Majesty's court held at Plymouth, 1668, did grant to Bridgewater six miles from the centre on all four sides, where former grants made by the court hindereth not, as appears in court records, and is bounded out by the agents of each respective town ad- joining, as appears by their hands to their agreement, and as- sented to and acknowledged before the Governor and his asso- ciates, sitting in his Majesty's court held at Plymouth, the 2nd of March, 1685/6, the bounds of the whole township being set- tled between them and other towns adjoining, are as followeth : The bounds betwixt Bridgewater and Taunton being a heap of stones lying four miles west from the centre, and running north from station to station till it meet with the line of the colonies ; and from said heap of stones south to a heap of stones lying to the west of Unketest Pond, and from thence southeast into a

542

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

great white oak being marked with a T for Taunton, and on the north side with a B for Bridgewater, and so from station to station till it eome to the great river on the westward side of a spot of meadow, according to the agreement of the agents of both towns. And the bounds betwoen Middleborongh and Bridgowater is the great river, until it come to the north side of Mr. Standish's land, lying on the month of Winnetuxit river, and so from the north side of said Standish's land until it mneet with the easternmost line of Bridgewater, being a heap of stones, four miles from the centre, which is the bounds between thewu and the Major's purchase, running from said heap of stones south and by west half a point westerly until it meet with said Standish's land, &c., and from the aforesaid heap of stones running north-northeast from station to station to four white- oaks, the easternmost marked on all four sides, and so from station to station until it meet with the north line. The north hounds being six miles from the centre to a company of small trees marked, heing to the northward of a great rock, and from the aforesaid marked trees running east until it meet with the above said northeast line, and from the aforementioned marked trees running west until it meet with the line of the colonies, and with the line of the colonies till it meet with the westerly line and Taunton (now Easton) bounds. All which lands, both upland and meadow, swamps, cedar swamps, ponds, rivers, brooks, springs, wood, underwood, and all herhage, feedings, minerals, with all rights, liberties, privileges, and appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the appropriated inhabitants and other proprietors, though not inhabitants of the said town of Bridge- water, according to each person's several and respective title or interest therein, excepting two-fifth parts of the royal inine, one-fifth part to his royal majesty, and the other one-fifth part to the president and council. To have and to hold unto the said town and proprietors respectively, to their and every of their heirs and assigns forever, according to the tenor of our charter or letters patent granted by the honorable council at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ordering, and governing of New England, derivatory from his Majesty King James the First, of happy memory ; and in testimony hereof doth allow the public seal of the Government to be affixed thereunto for the further confirmation thereof.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 113

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