History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 197

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 197

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" Moreover, if Massasoyt did not return in safety from Nar- rohiggansot, or if heroafter he should mako any insurrection against him, or offer violenco to Tisquantum, Hobomok, or any of Massasyt's subjects, we would rovengo it upon him to tho overthrow of him and his."

Concerning those Indians who were wounded in the wigwam beset by the English, the ancient chron- icler said, ---

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

" We were sorry for it, thongh themselves procured it in not staying in the house at onr command : yet, if they would re- turn home with us. our surgeon should heal them.

" At this offer one man and a woman that were wounded went home with us. Tisquantum and many other known friends accompanying us, and offering all help that might be by car- riage of any thing we had to ease us.

"So that by God's good providence we safely returned the morrow night after we set forth."

Let it be observed that the date of this oeeurrenee was only seven or eight months after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and this was, therefore, the first military expedition in which the people of Plym- outh Colony participated. We have already remarked that it was within the limits of what is now Middle- boro' that the first conference between the English and a chief ruler of the Indians occurred in New England. and probably in any part of America north of Virginia, and we will now add that the first warlike expedition in New England had its objective-point at Nemasket (now Middleboro'), and here, too, was held the first or earliest court-martial of which a record has been preserved in the whole United States and British provinees.

As a result of these proceedings at Nemasket, a treaty was, on the 13th of September, 1621, made with Caunbitant and several other sub-chiefs and principal men of influence among the Indians, whose names were as follows: Ohquamehud, Cawnacome, Obbatinnua, Nattawahunt, Caunbatant, Chiekataubuk, Quadequana, Huttmoiden, and Apannow.

The Indian Cawnacome, who united in making this treaty of peace, is supposed to have been identical with the sub-chief, sachem, or sagamore, Coneconam, ruler of the Indians at and near Maomet, on Cape Cod. Obbatinnua was doubtless the chief at Shaw- mut (now Boston). Nattawahunt was also known as Vashoonon, and subsequently took up his resi- dence in what was called the Nipmue country (now the county of Worcester), his wigwam standing near what was called Magus Hill. Quadequana was brother to Massasoit, and Chickataubut was sachem of Passonagesit, the country about Weymouth, al- ;hough MIr. Drake, in his excellent book concerning the Indians, says that

" The residence of the family of Chickataubut was at Tehticut, how included in Middleborough. He was in obedience to Mas- lasoit, and, like other chiefs, had various places of resort to suit be different seasons of the year,-sometimes at Wessaguscus- et, sometimes at Neponset,-and especially upon that part of Sarnasket called Tehticut.

"This was truly a river of Sagamores.

" Itz abundant stores of fish in the spring drew them from all varte of the realm of the chief sachem.

" In the first settling of Plimouth some of the company, in vandering about upon discovery, came upon an Indian grave, which was that of the mother of Chickataubut.

" Over the body a stake was set in the ground and two huge bear skins, sewed together, spread over it; thesc the English took away.

"When this came to the knowledge of Chickataubut he com- plained to his people and demanded immediate vengeance. When they were assembled he thus harangued them :

" When last the glorious light of all the sky was underneath this globe, and birds grew silent, I began to settle, as my cus- tom is, to take reposc.

"' Before mine eyes were fast closed metho't I saw a vision, at which my spirit was much troubled, and trembling at that doleful sight a spirit cried aloud.

"' Behold ! my son, whom I have cherished, see the paps that gave thee suck, the hands that clasp thee warm, and fed thee oft, canst thou forget to take revenge of those wild people that hath my monument defaced in a despiteful manner, dis- daining our ancient antiquities and honorable customs.

"'See now the sachem's grave lies like unto the common people of ignoble racc defaced.

"' Thy mother doth complain, implores thy aid against this thievish people now come hither ; if this be suffered, I shall not rest in quiet within my everlasting habitation.'"

" Mourt's Relation," an early English authority, goes far to establish the truth of the foregoing con- eerning this dastardly outrage, when it says, " We brought sundry of the prettiest things away with us, and covered the corpse up again, and," he added, " there was a variety of opinions amongst us about the embalmed person."

The grave of Chickataubut's mother was probably in what became the township of Weymouth.

The evidence is pretty conclusive that the English sustained two attacks from the Indians as a result of desecrating this grave and some other depredations committed by them. One of these attacks being made just as the white people were landing from a boat, and the other at Namskekit.

The Indian name Chickataubut, when translated into the English language, signifies a house-a-fire, a singular appellation, one would think, to give as the name of a chief of a tribe or ruler of a people.

Chickataubut is generally thought to have held do- minion over a tribe known as Massachusetts Indians, and as such he controlled a large seetion of the eoun- try now constituting the State that took its name from the tribe he governed.

But inasmuch as Chickataubut, at least for a time, established the chief seat of his empire at Titieut, we shall therefore consider his biography as part of the aboriginal history of Middleboro'.

On the 14th of June, 1631, the Massachusetts Bay government ordered that Chickatoubut should pay a small beaver-skin to satisfy one of the Enghsh for a pig that some of his Indians had killed, and to show that they appreciated that even-handed justice expressed in the old adage, " Sauce for goose should be sauce for gander," also enacted, Sept. 27, 1631,

944

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

that "Josias Plaistowe, for stealing four baskets of eorn from the Indians, is ordered to return them cight baskets, to be fined five pounds, and hereafter to be ealled by the name of Josias, and not Mr., as he formerly used to be," and the aecomplices of Plais- towe who had no title of Mr. to lose or money to pay in fines, were caclı sentenced to be publicly whipped, and thus showing a marked distinction in the manner that the authorities of the Massachusetts Bay Colony meted out justice when compared with that of Plym- outh people, so pious as to wink at the piracy prac- ticcd on the grave of Chiekatoubut's mother, and who had " sought thus far freedom to worship God" and rob graves, praying over those they plundered and endeavor to perfect praises to a just God from the mouths of human hyenas. The brutal, careless, and thoroughly unfeeling manner in which " Mourt's Re- lation," a Plymouth production, disposed of Plym- outh people's participation in that dastardly outrage, should eover the memory of those miscrcants with everlasting contempt. Here it is, " We brought sun- dry of the prettiest things away with us and covered the corpse up again. There was variety of opinions amongst us about the embalmed person," but there ean properly be no variety of opinion among our readers of the truc character of those who committed this outrage and shamelessly published the disgraceful fact to the world, or of the government that suffered the act to go unpunished.

In 1632, two of Chickataubut's Indians were con- victed of assaulting two of the inhabitants of Dor- · chester in their houses.

The ancient record says of these Indians, " They were put in the bilboes," and we further learn that Chickataubut was required to beat them, and he did. It was about this time that Chiekataubut visited Gov- ernor Winthrop, at Boston, and presented the latter with the gift of a hogshead of eorn.

Mr. Drake, in his book eoneerning the Indians, when giving an account of this visit of Chickataubut to Governor Winthrop, said,-

" Many of his sannops and squaws came with him, but were most of them sent away after they had dincd, although it tbun- dered and rained and the governor urged their stay.

" Chickataubut probably feared they would be burdensome.

" At this time he wore English clothes and sat at the gov- ornor's tablo, where ho bebaved himself as soborly, &c., as an Englishman.

"Not long after ho callod on Governor Winthrop and dosirod to buy clothes for himself; the governor informod him that English sagamores did not use to truck, but ho callod bis tailor and gave him orders to make him a snit of clothes, whereupon he gavo tho governor two largo skins of coat beaver.

" In a few days his clothes were ready, and tho governor put him into a vory good new suit, from hoad to foot, and aftor ho

set meat beforo them ; but lic would not eat till the governor had given thanks, and after meat he desired him to do the like, and so departed."

In 1633 the smallpox became quite prevalent among the Indians, and spread with fearful ravages and dis- astrous results, Chickataubut being among its victims. He died in the month of November, 1633, and thus perished the most distinguished ruler among the In- dians, whose home was within the present geograph- ieal limits of Middleboro'.

Tisquantum, who for a time also resided at Ne- masket (now Middleboro'), died at a place called by the Indians Manamoyk (now Chatham), on Cape Cod. The disorder of which Squanto, alias Tisquantum, died was a fever, attended with a profuse bleeding at the nose, that the Indians said was a fatal symptom. Governor Winslow, of the Plymouth Colony, attended by Squanto, alias Tisquantum, had gone to Cape Cod to purchase corn of the Indians, and the Governor wrote, " But here [Chatham], though they had deter- mined to make a second essay, but God had otherwise disposed, who struek Tisquantum with sickness, inas- much that he there died." Squanto desired the Gov- crnor that he would pray for him, that he might go to the Englishman's God, and he also bequeathed his things to sundry of his English friends, as remem- brances of his love.

By the English the death of Tisquantum was ac- eounted a great loss. He died in the month of Deeem- ber, 1622, only about two years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Patuxet (now Plymouth).

The Indian chieftain had a son, whose name was Wampatuek, sometimes also called Josiah Sagamore, of Massachusetts, who sold a tract of country that became the town of Braintree and that part now Quincy. In the deed he said that he made this sale with the consent of his wise men, viz. : Squamog, his brother Daniel, and old Hahatun, and William Mananiomott, Job Nassett, Manuntago, William Na- hunton.

Says Mr. Drake's work concerning the Indians :

"Josias or Josiah Wampatuck was sachem of Mattakosett, and from deeds which he gave wuust have been the owner of mueb of the lands southward of Boston.

"In 1653 he sold Timotby Hathorly, Jamos Cudworth, Jo- seph Tilden, Humphrey Turnor, William Hatch, John Hoare, and James Torrey a large tract of land in the vicinity of Accord Pond and North River.

" In 1662 he sold Paokage Neck, now oallod Piekade, lying between Namassaket River and a brook falling into Tetientt River, viz. : tho most westerly of the threo small brookos that do fall into tho said rivor; likewise all the moadow upon said throo brooks, for £21.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

pond, Mattakeeset; provided it included not the 1000 acres given to his son and George Wampeg and John Wampowes."

Josiah or Josias Wampatuck, in or before August, 1644, granted to the Titicut Indians three miles on each side of the Tauuton River, aud this Titicut plantation was carefully guarded over ever after in all grants of lands by the General Court in this part of the colony. The grantees were also instructed not to encroach on the Indian settlement, nor to molest the Indians. An Indian named Pomponoho, alias Peter, on the 20th of November, 1672, conveyed by deed all the Indian land north of Tauntou River, with certain expressed exceptions, to Nicholas Byram, Samuel Edson, and William Brett, who received the same in behalf of the town of Bridgewater.

Purchases at different times were effected upon the south side of Taunton River of Josiah Wampa- tuck and Tuspaquin. the Black Sachem, so that in 1669 the European settlers thereon were sufficient in number to secure an act of incorporation as the town- ship of Middleboro'.

Concerning the sales of lands made by Tuspaquin, the Black Sachem, so called, see aboriginal history of Lakeville, as a part of those lands sold by Tuspa- quin now lie within the incorporated limits of Lake- ville. and a part are still included and remain in Mid- dleboro'.

CHAPTER II.

PIONEER HISTORY.

THE first or earliest European visitor to the locality hat afterwards became the township of Middleboro' vas Capt. Thomas Dermer, that visit occurring more han a year before the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and as the object, details, and results of hat visit have already been given in the aboriginal hapter of this town's history, it would be a super- uity to repeat the same here, and, in brief, suffice it ) say that visit was paid to Nemasket (now Middle- oro') in or near the month of May, 1619.

Two years later Middleboro' was again visited by De Europeans, for on Tuesday, the 10th day of June, 621, at about nine of the clock in the morning, 'dward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, taking the odian Squanto, alias Tisquantum, for their guide, arted off from Plymouth to find the residence of lassasoit, the greatest commander among the sav- zes, partly, as they said, to know where to find him, occasion required, to discover the number, strength, ad power of those he governed, and also to prevent 00

abuses in the disorderly coming of Indians to Plym- outh, and make satisfaction for some conceived in- juries supposed to have been done by the English to the Indians, and to continue the league of peace and friendship between them.

Their rough, rude path in the forest led them through what still continues to be the westerly part of Plymouth, thence ou through the present township of Carver into Middleboro', meeting, probably, in no part of all that solitary journey, with a single humau being, and causing them to realize the feelings of Alexander Selkirk, as expressed in the words,-

" I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute, From the eentre all round to the sea ; I am lord of the fowl and the brute.

"O Solitude, where are thy charms, That sages have seen in thy face ? Better dwell in the midst of alarms Than reign in this desolate place."

About three of the clock iu the afternoon of the day they set out upon this journey through an almost track- less wilderness, their eyes were relieved and hearts gladdened at what they saw, and, as did the great apostle when he came in sight of the three taverns, so doubtless did Edward Winslow and Stephen Hop- kins " thank God and take courage" as they caught the first glimpse of that only Indian settlement in all the wearisome way, the inhabitants of which, with true hospitality that loses so much of its genuineness by the conventionalities of civilized society, bade them welcome to their humble homes, and entertained them on a kind of bread called maizium, composed of the spawn or eggs of shads, boiled with acorns.

The shad was a fish very abundant in Taunton River at that date, and from the name applied to the bread, it is probable that this, at some seasons of the year, might have had the addition of Indian-meal or pounded parched corn, but this visit being in June, perhaps the last year's crop of Indian corn was ex- pended, and it was several moons too early for a new · harvest, and some weeks before they could regale themselves upon the luxuries of " roasting ears." But such as the Indians had they liberally gave to their visitors, who, although realizing that " better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred therewith," did not fail to notice that the acorns were musty, whereat Tisquantum told them to go a few miles farther, where they should find more store and better victuals. Said Mr. Winslow, “ We went and came thither at sunsetting," and as the glorious luminary of light was upon that long sum- mer's day just sinking below the western horizon,

946

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

those clustering wigwams crowning the hilltops upon both sides of Taunton River, at what was then, and until now, nearly three hundred years after, still called Titicut, gladdened the sight, and soon covered the forms of the weary Pilgrims.

Upon the high ground on the Middleboro' side of Taunton River at Titicut, and a little west of where the Congregational meeting-house now stands, the Indians, with an eye to proper defense, some time erected a kind of fortification that came to be called the "Indian Fort," but they did not flee to it for protection on the approach of the Pilgrims,-Winslow and Hopkins,-with the, to them, indispensable Tis- quantum. No, there was no command from sub-chief issued to

"Hang out the banner on the outer wall ;"

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for these tired travelers were upon the white-winged message of peace instead of the proclamation of war ; they sought kindly to confer with, to counsel, benefit, and instruct the natives, instead of injure or deceive them, and therefore

" Not as the conqueror comes, They, these true-hearted, came ; Not with the roll of stirring drums, And the trumpet that sings of fame.

"Not as the flying come, In silence and in fear, They shook the depths of the desert's gloom, With their hymns of lofty cheer."

" Herc," said Mr. Winslow, " we found many of the Namascheucks fishing upon a weir which they had made on a river which belonged to them, where they caught abundance of bass. These welcomed us also, and gave us of their fish, and we them of our victuals."

It was on the hill a little west and not far from the present Congregational Church edifice at Titicut, in Middleboro', that Winslow and Hopkins spent the night of June 10, 1621.

Mr. Winslow added, " The ground is very good on both sides of the river, it being for the most part clearcd. Thousands of men have lived there which dicd in the great plague not long since, and pity it was and is to sce so many goodly fields, and so well seated without man to dress and work the same."

At Titicut, now North Middleboro', six Indians joined with Tisquantum as an cscort to Winslow and Hopkins, on their way to Mount Hope Bay. After a pleasant visit to Massasoit, spending Wednesday night, Thursday and Thursday night, carly on Friday

they commenced their return to Plymouth, and again spent a night at Titicut, reaching Plymouth on Sat- urday.

The next visit of Europeans to Middleboro' was made ncar the last of August or early in September, 1621, or some three months after the pleasant inter- view and mutual exchange of civilities just described, and in its features and details was quite the opposite as that of Winslow and Hopkins was on an embassy of peace, while this, which so soon succeeded it with Capt. Miles Standish at the head, a drawn sword in his hand, with his heavy-armed musketeers close upon his hecls, was one of war, and as we dislike to " re- peat grievances," the account of that sad, sorrowful, and in some respects disgraceful and in all respects disagreeable transactions, together with all its un- pleasant and bloody details, will be left, only to appear in the aboriginal chapter of this town's history, to which the reader is referred, while we turn our thoughts to the consideration, and our pen to the description, of circumstances, occurrences, and facts equally instructive and beneficial to acquire, and far more agreeable to contemplate.

Among those pioneers of European descent that became actual settlers in Middleboro', and who may properly receive prominent notice and particular mention, was Jacob Thompson, Esq., who was an original member of the First Congregational Church in Middleboro', a man who won distinction in his day as a surveyor, and also as a magistrate. He surveyed the "twenty-six men's purchase," and divided it among the proprietors in lots, and also the proprietaries of several of the neighboring towns. He is said to have been a man of great weight of character, and took the lead in the successful effort made by the First Congregational Church in this town to rid itself of the ministry of Mr. William Palmer, who was turned out of the pulpit of this church and society, and deposed from the ministry altogether. Several of Mr. Thompson's letters to the neighboring ministers on that subject are still carefully preserved and extant. He was considered a man of sound piety, and as a pillar in the church greatly respected. To be a little more explicit, Jacob Thompson was a selectman of Middleboro' from 1697 to 1701, both years inclusive, re-clected in 1706, and served until 1728, with the exception of the year 1710. Representative to the Gencral Court in 1716 and 1719.

dough In the local militia of the town Jacob Thompson was ensign as carly as 1700, licutenant in 1701, and captain in 1708. He received the commission as a Barre justice of the peace for the county of Plymouthi, to date from July 22, 1720. Jacob Thompson, Esq ..

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

was elected town clerk of Middleboro', March 14, 1706. and by successive annual elections continued in that office for the term of thirty consecutive years, when he was out of office one year, and then re-elected and served seven years more. As treasurer of Mid- dleboro' Jacob Thompson was elected in March, 1736, aud served eight years.

Francis Coombs was one of the selectmen of Mid- dleboro' as early as 1674, and re-elected to that office in 1680-S2. He was on the 30th of October, 1678, licensed to keep a tavern or inn, now called a hotel, but then usually designated as an " ordinary," at Middleboro', and at the same date also licensed to sell at retail, beer, wine, and liquors. Francis Coombs died Dec. 31. 1682, and his tavern license was re- newed to Mrs. Mary Coombs, July 1, 1684.1

Isaac Howland was among the pioneer settlers at Middleboro'. He was a son of the Pilgrim, John Howland. Isaac Howland married Elizabeth, a daugh- ter of George Vaughan. Isaac Howland served under Capt. Benjamin Church in King Philip's war, and was with that officer when he captured a body of In- dians that he took to Bridgewater. Concerning that matter Capt. Church said, that he "pursuing sent Mr. Isaac Howland with a party on one side of the swamp while himself with the rest ran on the other side. agreeing to run on each side until they met on the further end, placing some men in secure stands at that end of the swamp where Philip entered, con- cluding that if they headed him and beat him back, that he would take back in his own track.

" Captain Church and Mr. Howland soon met at the further end of the swamp, it not being a great one, where they met with a great number of the enemy, well armed, coming out of the swamp; but on sight of the English they seemed very much sur- prised and tacked short.

" Captain Church called hastily to them and said, if they fired one gun they were all dead men, for he would have them to know that he had them hemmed in with a force sufficient to command them, but if they peaceably surrendered they should have good quarters, &c."

In short the Indians surrendered, but King Philip with a few followers escaped at that timc.

Capt. Church continued, " Now, having no provi- sions but what they took from the enemy they has-

tened to Bridgewater, sending an express before to provide for them, their company being now very numerous.

" Capt. Church drove his prisoners that night into Bridgewater pound and set his Indian soldiers to guard them.

" They being well treated with victuals and drink, had a merry night, and the prisoners laughed as loud as the soldiers, not being so treated a long time before."

Isaac Howland while serving in this war or in the local militia after the war, attained to a position that entitled him to the rank of an ensign. Isaac How- land was a surveyor of highways at Middleboro' in 1672, constable in 1674, and grand juryman in 1682. In 1683, Isaac Howland was elected a selectman, and served in that office five years, re-elected in 1692, 1695-96, 1700-3. Isaac Howland was in 1689 chosen a representative to the General Court for the colony of New Plymouth, and served therein five years, and when that colony had been merged in the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay he served one term more. He died in 1724.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 197

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