History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 146

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 146

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First. from Myrtle to Menlo (Menlo Park).

Florence, from Main. opposite Packard, to beyond Pond. Ford, from Main, near Ashland, to Pond.

Forest, from Coral to Auburn (Campello).

Forest Avenne, from Main beyond Pond, projected to Fair Ground.

Foster. from Pond, near Hervey, westerly. Franklin, from Main, opposite First Congregational Church, to Montello.

Fremont, from Main, near Huntington, to Montello.

French's Court, from 315 Main, westerly.

Fuller, from Belmont to West Bartlett.

Fulton, from Chestnut north, between Main and Pond. Garfield, from Main to Montello (Campello).

Glen wood, from Pleasant to Highland. Glenwood Avenne, from Glenwood, westerly.

Glenwood Square, from Pleasant to Glenwood.

Grand, from Main to Montello (Campello). Grant, from Cary to Forest Avenue.

Green, from 371 Main to Pond.

Green Place, from Clifton Avenue, near Pond, southerly (Campello).

Hancock, from Main to Montello, north of Grove.

Hardy Avenne, from Sonth, beyond Pond, southerly (Cam- pello).

Harvard, from Main, next Winthrop, to beyond Pond. Haverhill, from 319 Main to Walnut.

Hayes Avenne, off Conrt, east of Old Colony Railroad.

Hayward, from Railroad Avenue to Bay. Henry, from Curtis to Stephenson Avenue. Herrod's Avenne, from Main, near A. M. Iferrod's shop.

Hervey, from Main, next Dover, to Pond. Highland, from 66 Pond, near High, westerly, toward West. Hill, from Maszasoit Avenue.

Howard Place, from West Bartlett, between Newton and Brook.

Hunt, from Conrt to Centre.

Huntington, from Main, beyond Prospect, westerly, to Pond. Huntington Heights, on Old Colony Railroad, near Cary Hill. Jackson, from Perkins Avenue to Riverview. Joslyn Conrt, from Main to Centre.

Keith Avenue, from Main, at C. P. Keith's residence, to Pond ( Campello).

Kimball Lane, from Pond to Alton.

Kingman, from Curtis, north, to Centre. Kingman Avenue, from Curtis to Pine, beyond Sylvan. L, from High, near Main, to Pond.

Lake, from Howard to Monument (Huntington Heights). Laureston, from Calmar, to below Sheppard (Campello).

Lawrence, from Main, passing the brick factory, to Grove.

Leach's Avenue, from Copeland (Campello).

Leavitt, from Brook, westerly.

Leyden, from Summer to Riverview (Campello).

Leyden Park, off East Bridgewater road (Campello).

Lincoln, from School, near Maiu, to Bay.

Linden, from Main, near Spring, to Montello.

Lyman, from Crescent, junction Curtis, to Pine.

Lyon Avenue (Campello), from Main, westerly, below Market.

Main, from East Stoughton Line to West Bridgewater line.

Maple Avenue, from Main, opposite the Catholic Church, to Crescent.

Market, from Montello, across Main, to Pond, and to beyond Copeland Extension (Campello).

Marshall's Corner, junction Belmont, Mill, Turnpike, and Stonehouse Hill road.

Mason, from Centre, near Crescent, to Court.

Massasoit Avenue, from Curtis to Centre.

Menlo, from Pond west (Menlo Park).

Menlo Park, west of Pond and south of Forest Avenue.

Merritt's Court, from Pond, near Spring, to Nahant.

Monument, from Winter to Lake (Huntington Heights).

Morse, from Rumford Avenue north.

Mulberry, from Elliot, near Old Colony Railroad, to Ashland.

Myrtle, from Pond west (Menlo Park).

Nevin's Avenue, from Main, east between Hancock and Pack- ard.

Newton, from Belmont, opposite Arlington, south to West Bartlett.

Nilsson, from Montello, by Swedish Church, to Pond (Cam- pello).

North Montello, from Ashland, opposite Montello, to Main.

Oak, from Main, opposite Howard, to turnpike, also to East Stoughton line.

Otis, from Lawrence, near Grove, to Crescent.

Otto, from Summer to Plain (Campello).

Owens Avenue, from Packard to Hancock.

Packard, from Main, next south of Union, to Montello.

Park, from Main, below the bridge, westerly, to Pond.

Payton Place, from Albion, near Howard (Huntington Heights).

Peckham Avenue, from Court, northerly.

Perkins, from Lawrence, near the railroad, north to Crescent. Perkins Avenue, from Montello (Campello) to Summer.

Perkin's Place, from Court, east of Old Colony Railroad.

Pine Avenue, from Clinton, near Old Colony Railroad (Cam- pello), to Salisbury Plain River.

Pinkham, from Main, nearly opposite Tremont, to Montello (Campello).

Plain, from Main (Campello) to East Bridgewater line.

Pleasant Place, from Pleasant, southerly, between Main and Pond.

Pleasantville, a district lying south of Court, near the Cath- olic Cemetery, west of Cary, and north of Centre, opposite Union Cemetery.

Pond, from Clifton, crossing Belmont, to Oak, near Main.

Prospect Avenue, changed to Warren Avenue.

Race Course, west of Main, near Campello.

Railroad, from School to Centre, beyond the railroad. Richmond, from Battles, westerly.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Ridgway Lano, from Montello next south of Allen.

River, from Ashland to Emmet.

Rivorview, from Perkins Avenue to Leyden (Campollo). Rossetor, from Main to Montello.

Rumford Avenue, from Kingman to Massasoit Avenue. Salisbury Squaro, junction Crescent and Grovo.

Sansom, from Jackson to Leyden.

Second, from Myrtlo to Menlo Park.

Shaw's Corner, Quincy, junction Centre.

Sheppard, from Main (Campello) to South Pond.

Skinner, from Lawrence, near Grove, to Otis.

South Centre, from Montello, between Allen and Lawrence, extended.

Southworth Court, from 475 Main.

Standish, from Tyler to Cary.

Standish Avenue, from Kingman to Massasoit Avenue.

Stoddard Avenue, from 318 Main.

Hill Road, from Marshall's Corner to Torrey.

Stephenson Avenue, from Massasoit Avenue to Henry.

Sylvan, from Lake to Monument (Huntington Heights). Sylvester, from Bryant, westerly (Pleasantville).

Sylvester's Corner, junction Centre, Crescent, and Cary.

Taber, from Court, beyond the railroad.

Temple, from Main to Montello (Campello).

Thatcher, from Pine to Hammond.

Thayer, from Cary, near Ashland, to Ashland.

Tipperary, a district lying south of Ashland, east of Old Colony Railroad, and north of Elliot.

Torrey, from Belmont at fair-grounds.

Track, from Foster to Florence.

Tremont, from Main, near Orthodox Church, to Pond (Cam- pello).

Tribou, from Main, near Swedish Church, to beyond Pond (Campello).

Turner, from Wyman, northerly.

Tyler, from Central to Court, beyond the bridge.

Umeo, from Calmar, south to Laureston (Campello).

Union, from Main, next south of Lawrence, to Montello.

Union Avenue, from Huntington to Battles.

Wales Avenue (private way), from Main to Beluiont, rear Catholic Church.

Wall, from Belmont, beyond Arlington, to West Elm.

Walnut, from Prospect to beyond Wyman, projected to Spring.

Walnut Avenue, from Walnut to Pond.

Ward, from Main, opposite Green, to Montello.

Warren Avenue, from Pond, opposite Walnut, to Prospect. Wayland, from Prospect to Huntington.

West Ashland, from Main, opposito Ashland, to Pond. West Bartlett, from Chester Avenue to Brook.

West Shares, Turnpike, between Pleasant and Rockland.

Whitman Place, from Montello, near Crescent, west.

Whitney, from Rumford Avenue uorth. 1 William, from Centre to Bay.

William's Place, from Main, near Hervey.

Winchester Park district, west of Pond, between West Elm and Belmont.

Winthrop, from Main to beyond Pond.

Wood Park, near Pine and Summer.

Wyman, from 299 Main to Pond.

The Old Turnpike .- The road known as the old " Taunton Turnpike" extended front South Boston to Taunton, passing through the towns of Raynham, Easton, West Bridgewater, Brockton, Stoughton,

Randolph, and Milton. Its location was like most other roads of that day,-it was laid out in as near a straight line as could conveniently be done, without regard to hills or valleys, believing the shortest way to be the most expeditious.

This road was chartered as a turnpike corporation to Messrs. John Gilmore, Joshua Gilmore, Samuel Bass, and William P. Whiting, and constituted the " Taunton and South Boston Turnpike Corporation" in June, 1806, and was built during 1806 and 1807.

This road ran through the westerly portion of the town, or what is well known as the " West Shares" or Northwest Bridgewater, now " Brockton Heights." At one time there was a large amount of travel upon this route, both by stages and heavy baggage teams.

It is, however, of very little account as a toll-road at present, the counties through which it passes hav- ing taken it into their own hands to repair and use for the public good.

" The old Turnpike is a pike no more, Wide open stands the gate ; We have made us a road for our horse to stride, Which we ride at a flying rate.

" We have filled the valleys and leveled the hills, And tunnelcd the mountain side ;

And 'round the rough crag's dizzy verge Fearlessly now we ride."

CHAPTER XIX.

EARLY HABITS AND CUSTOMS.

Social Life-Parties-Spinning Matches-Raising Flax- Process of Manufacture-Dress of Men and Women- Amusements-Raisings-Style of Architecture - Use of Crancs-Tinder-Boxes-Food of the Early Inhabitants- Drinks-Well-Sweep-Rising and Retiring Early-Attend- ance on Church Worship.

THE people of Brockton, in its carly settlement, were on a footing of remarkable equality. Their social manners and customs were very simple, friendly, and unceremonious. Visiting was common and frequent among neighbors, and without the for- malities of invitation. When a company of neigh- bors were invited, the women went early, taking their knitting and babies with them, and spent the after- noon, and the men went in season to take supper and return in the evening. Many of the social gatherings partook of the useful as well as the agrecable. They joined together to help their neighbors husk their corn or to raise a building, and occasionally some neighboring housewife had a quilting party, in which all the good housewives gave an afternoon to make a

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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

covering for a bed. In the social gatherings of the young people, dancing was a favorite amusement, and generally using a fiddle. If that could not be had, they used to dance by whistling and singing the tune. Spinning matches, at one time, were quite common, and the people made their own cloth and yarn, and hence were obliged to raise their flax. Nearly every farmer in town owned and cultivated a patch of ground devoted to that purpose. We here give an account of the method of preparing it for use. The quantity of seed required for an acre varied from one-half to three bushels. The stalk or stem, when grown, was of a pea-green, and from two to three feet in height, bearing a blue blossom, which ripened into a ball that contained the flax-seed. When the flax was ripe, it was pulled carefully by the roots, tied into small handfuls, left to dry on the ground a day or two, then set up in small stocks, and, after becoming well dried, was stacked in a field a fort- night or more. Then the seed were thrashed out, and sometimes dipped in water for a week or more, and evenly and thinly spread out on the grass to be rotted. This being sufficiently done, it was packed away for the winter, and, as soon as the fair days ap- peared in spring, there was a general turn-out of men for dressing flax, which consisted of separating the fibrous thread from the stalk. This had to be done by several implements, called the brake, the hatchel, the swingling-board and knife. A smart man dresses nearly forty pounds a day. After the process of dressing and twisting it into bunches, it was handed over to the good woman and her daughters to spin, weave, whiten, and convert into thread, cloth, and neat, beautiful garments. We shall describe the process of manufacture, as follows : first, the hatchel was brought and fastened into a chair with a string or stick, and the mother, with her checked apron, and a handkerchief pinned about her neck, and another handkerchief tied about her head to keep off the dust, sat in another chair. Winding one end of the flax tightly around the fingers of the right hand, and hold- ing it, she drew the flax through the hatchel till it was thoroughly combed ; then, changing, she combed in a similar manner the other end. Next, it was snarled or wound on the distaff, and spun into thread or yarn upon the foot- or linen-wheel. That drawn out by hatcheling was called tow, which was carded by hand, with hand-cards, and spun upon the large wheel. That was called tow-yorn. From the wheel it went to the reel, and from the reel to the loom, which nearly every family had, and every woman knew how to use, although some families let out their flax to be made into cloth and yarn.

Thus we see our ancestors were independent of foreign looms and spindles for their ordinary dress, and for mere decorations, such as are common at the present day, they had but little regard ; and, indeed, a showy costume would have excited contempt rather than emulation. Their attire on the Sabbath, as well as on working-days, was plain. The father's common dress consisted of a woolen coat, a striped woolen frock, tow frock, and woolen, velvet, tow, or leather breeches. These, with long stockings, were fastened at the knee by a buckle; in winter they wore woolen or leather buskins, and thick cowhide shoes, fastened with buckles on the instep. Their best hats were what are now called " cocked-up hats," turned up with three corners, and the more noted men wore wigs.

The ordinary outer dress of the women in sum- mer was tow and linen gowns, checked "tyers," or " aprons," and in winter woolen gowns and aprons, thick woolen stockings, and cowhide shoes. The clothing was all of their own manufacture, and cvery house might properly be called a "home factory." They not only spun their own flax and wool, but wove their cloth in a hand-loom. They also made garments for fathers, sons, and brothers with their own hands. They disdained no kind of domestic labor; they needed no help. Contentment and happiness reigned in their abodes, and amid all their laborious toil, personal wants were few, and, even with their limited means of supply, few remained unsatisfied. Boys and girls (for such they were till married) were early taught to work, and, as soon as they acquired muscular power, were taught to make the most of life, and apply it to some useful purpose, and none were allowed to waste it in idleness and dissipation. There was no distinction between the laborer and employer, no difference between the kitchen and the parlor; for that was almost un- known, and generally shut up, except on public days, as Thanksgiving days, fasts and the like, most of the year. Balls, concerts, and places of amusement, scenic exhibitions, and the long list of modern devices for killing time were unknown. A sing, a bee, a raising, a husking party, or a domestic circle, a sleigh-ride in the winter, or a cherry-ride in the summer, were sufficient for all the purposes of recre- ation and social intercourse, and for those that wished for enjoyment of a more questionable character, the means and associates were to be found in other locali- ties. The amusements and recreation of young men were mostly of the athletic kind, as "playing ball," which was always practiced, and is now kept up in spring and fall .. Wrestling was very common, espe-

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

cially at raisings and social and public gatherings. When at the raising of buildings the labor was over, and the men stimulated by the treat all had received, they usually commenced raising or lowering one another. This sport commenced by two young persons getting inside of a ring formed by specta- tors, then older persons joined in the same exercise. Wagers would be laid, and a little more stimulant taken to give elasticity and strength to the parties. In course of time partics would get in earnest, angry words and defiant gestures would be made, and it generally ended in a fight. These wrestling-matches, we are happy to say, are nearly gone by. It may be said here that, at the raising of buildings, it was customary to call the men of the town, together, and the owner was expected to furnish the drinks and lunch, and, as soon as the ridgepole was fairly in place, for the master workman to dedicate the whole by dashing a bottle of rum upon the frame, followed by three hearty cheers from the company present.

We will now give the reader some idea of the early customs in regard to living, the dwellings, and other ancient matters. First in order are the

Dwelling-Houses .- The first were built of logs, and called log cabins, erected on land which was usu- ally laid out in lots and ranges. Next, after the in- troduction of saw-mills, came the frame house of one story in height, and about sixteen by twenty-four or twenty-five feet on the ground, and containing from one to three rooms. The next in order of architecture was a two-story house, with gambrel roof; and some were two-story in front, with a roof slanting back to one story at the back part. The third order of houses was the hip-roof, and was introduced soon after the Revolutionary war, and consisted of a two- story house, with two front-rooms, a door in the mid- dle, with a hall running through the centre, and gen- erally a one-story L, on the backside, for a kitchen,- such as the house of Benjamin Kingman, the late Eliab Whitman, David Cobb, in the village, and Josiah W. Kingman, Esq., at Campello, that was burned in 1853. The windows in the earliest dwell- ings were either of mica or diamond-shaped glass, set in tin or lead. The chimneys were first built of stone, with mammoth fireplaces, and an oven on one side running back, which, with the chimney, occupied nearly as much room as a modern bedroom. In the chimney, running from end to end, was a lug-pole, usually made of oak, from two to four inches in diam- eter, on which were hung hooks and trammels of wrought iron, so constructed as to be raised and low- ered at pleasure to suit the various sized kettles, which were hung over the fire for culinary uses. In

the course of time these lug-poles gave way to the old iron crane, on account of their liability to burn, which was made to swing into the room or to hang over the fire. Cranes were first used in this town about 1750. The fire was made of large logs,-one large one, called a back-log, being placed on the back- side of the fireplace, usually from two to four feet in length ; two stones were used for andirons, and a large forestick resting on the stones to keep up the fire, besides a backstick or the back-log; then a suffi- ciency of smaller fire-wood was piled up, a pitch-pine knot being placed under the forestick and lighted, made a rousing fire. At each end of the fireplaces were small benches or stools, on which the children usually sat, warming one side and then the other, till they were thoroughly warmed through, while the old folks were seated in front upon a "settle" enjoying the full blaze. With this they needed no modern gas-light, no oil, nor candles, for in the evening pitch- pine knots were used, which gave a strong and bril- liant light. Splinters were used to carry about the house, or into the cellar for cider and apples, instead of lamps and candles. Previous to the introduction of friction niatches, which are of a recent date, every family was supposed to have a tinder-box, which consisted of a round tin box about six inches in diameter, two inches deep, with a flat cover of tin, on the outside of which could be inserted a candle. The box contained tinder, made of burnt linen cloth or pieces of punk. By the use of a piece of flint upon the corners of a file or steel a spark would catch in the punk, and then a stick, with brimstone on the end, coming in contact with the spark set the stick on fire, from whence the kindling in the fireplace was lighted. Another method in general practice was to cover "live" coals in the fireplace with ashes, so as to keep the fire alive on the hearth till morning. When this failed the tinder-box was resorted to.

Food .- The morning and evening meal usually consisted of bean or pea porridge, dipped out with a wooden spoon into a wooden bowl, with bread and butter. Coffee and chocolate were added upon extra occasions. Tea was seldom used, especially by the children. The bread consisted of rye and Indian meal; occasionally wheat bread. The dinner con- sisted of salt beef or pork, with vegetables boiled. Fresh meat was a rarity. Potatoes are an article of comparatively recent culture. For pudding, they had baked or boiled Indian meal. The dishes used in early days were mostly of wood. The plates were called trenehers. These wooden utensils were the first used ; they gradually gave way to pewter, and still later to crockery and earthen ware.

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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

Drinks .- Malt beer was a very common drink in the early settlement of the country, which was made from barley, and was raised by nearly every farmer. Next came cider, which soon supplanted beer. This was a universal drink, morning, noon, and night, each family laying in from ten to thirty barrels for a year's stock. So common was the use of cider that it was considered a mark of disrespect not to pass it round when a neighbor or traveler called. Another very common drink was flip, which was made of beer sweetened with sugar, with a "loggerhead," or red- hot iron. thrust into it; a little new rum was then poured in, and nutmeg sprinkled into it. Toddy was another favorite beverage, made of rum and water, well sweetened. A stick. flattened on the end, for crushing the sugar and stirring it up, was called the ' toddy-stick." The ring of the tumblers, as it hit the sides in mixing. had its peculiar music, with which nearly every one was familiar.

Skillful men made graceful flourishes in making another excellent drink called "egg-nog," otherwise known as " Tom and Jerry," which was composed of sugar, milk, and spirits, mixed with a beaten egg, stirred in rapidly till the whole was made into froth, and drank hot. There are many now who have not forgotten how it tastes, and relish it quite well.

Having mentioned many of the drinks that were stimulating, we will now describe another kind,-cold water. This is obtained from the earth, and is a natural production. Various means have been in use for obtaining this liquid. The most ancient is the " well-sweep." A well was usually dug at a distance of from ten to fifty or more feet from the house; and but a few feet from the same a post was erected, har- ing a crotch on the top end, in which a long pole was so nearly balanced and swung upon an iron or wooden pin, that when a bucket suspended upon the end of another smaller pole that descended into the water was filled, it could easily be drawn out. There are but few of this kind of apparatus for drawing water now to be found, only here and there a solitary one. Another means of obtaining water is by a windlass erected directly over a well, turned by a crank, the bucket being fastened to the end of a rope that passes over the windlass, and even this has given place to the pump and pipe. Here and there is a natural spring, from which water is conducted by pipes to bouses, supplying pure, unadulterated liquid.

The custom of retiring and rising early was uni- versal. The time of retiring was eight to nine o'clock ; that of rising, at dawn of day.

The attendance on church worship was also a custom which nearly all practiced. Elderly people

that owned horses rode double. The wife was seated behind her husband upon the pillion, with her arm around him. In summer the young men went bare- foot, or with shoes in hand; the young women wore eoarse shoes, carrying a better pair in hand, with stockings, to change before entering the meeting- house. Going to meeting on foot was not confined to young people ; many women walked three to five miles to attend church. In winter it was customary for the women to carry small foot-stoves, which were usually made of perforated tin, fastened in a wooden frame, about eight or nine inches square, in which were placed hot coals. These stoves were all the warming allowed in church. The usual time for church service was one and a half hours,-from half- past ten to twelve o'clock, or one glass and a half long, as hour-glasses were their time-pieecs in the absence of elocks. The intermissions were short, being one hour in winter and one hour and a half in summer. The interval was generally spent in the nearest neigh- bors' houses, who always had a good blazing fire in winter, and plenty of eoals with which to replenish their foot-stoves. This intermission was a grand op- portunity for the people of the remote portions of the parish to meet every week and become acquainted, as it promoted social union and good feeling throughout the society. Every new and interesting event was diseussed; and while partaking of their lunch they had brought with them, the father would request the boys to bring in and pass round the cider. The after- noon services being over, people might have been seen gathering around the horse-block that stood a short distance south of the church, on the green, which was a large flat-topped stone for the use of women in mounting and alighting from their horses. The means of locomotion in the days of our fathers con- sisted of an ox-cart, or the back of a horse. A chaise or wagon was a curiosity. A journey of forty or fifty miles was a great undertaking, requiring much preparation ; while now many travel by steam hun- dreds of miles in a day, and think it nothing compared to that in early days.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 146

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