History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 198

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 198

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John Thompson was an early comer to and a pio- neer settler in Middleboro'. He was a selectman of this town in 1674 and again in 1675, and, King Philip's war coming on, probably no sclectmen were chosen for 1676 or 1677, and if there were, the record of such election is now lost. He was re-elected a selectman in 1680, and served in that office for eight consecutive years. John Thompson was a represen- tative to the General Court from Middleboro' in 1674, and again in 1675 ; also re-elected representative in 1680, and served until 1686, or seven years more. He was also grand juryman in 1680.

A lineal descendant of John Thompson, at the bi- centennial celebration of the incorporation of this town (Oct. 13, 1869), gave the following account :

"I am the sixth generation in lineal descent from John Thompson, who was born in the North of England in 1613, and landed at Plymouth in May, 1635.

" He married Mary Cook, third daughter of Francis Cook.

" They had twelve children,-six sons and six daughters.

" He located about twenty rods west of the Plymouth line, in what was then Middleboro' (but now Halifax), where he built a log house, which was burnt hy the Indians at the commence- ment of Philip's war.

"The day previous he was ahsent from home.

"When he returned at night he inquired of his wife if she had seen any Indians.

"She replied that there had been a number of squaws there, and they were uncommonly friendly and very helpful,-went with her to the garden and assisted in picking heans.

" He replied, 'There is trouble ahead ; we must pack up im- mediately and go to the garrison.'

"The teams were put in readiness, and a portion of their

1 That tavern was probably kept upon the same spot as the public-house some fifty or sixty years ago kept by Capt. Abner Barrows. Some portion of that house is very old, and perhaps the identical building where the Coombs tavern was kept. A daughter of Francis Coomba married a Barrows, and had a son whose name was Coombs Barrows.

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JIISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

furniture and goods were loaded, whilo a part was secreted in a swamp near the dwelling-house, and before early dawn they wore moving.

" They had not gone many miles before the column of smoke made sure to them the fate of their dwelling.

" At the garrison those capable of bearing arms, sixteen in number, met and chose John Thompson their commander.1

" He applied to the Governor and Council at Plymouth for a commission, but, considering the small number of men, they gave him a lieutenant's commission.

"Soon after Philip's war closed he built a frame house a few rods north of where the former was burnt.

" It was lined with briek, with loop-holes, so as to be proof against musket-balls.

" At that house I first beheld the pleasant light of day, was there cradled and rocked."

The speaker at the same time exhibited the sword, the gun, and brass pistols formerly owned by John Thompson. This gun-stock and barrel is seven feet four and a half inches in length. The barrel is six feet one and a half inches long ; the lock is ten inches long ; whole weight of gun, twenty pounds and twelve ounces ; the ealibre, twelve balls to the pound.

John Nelson was another of those pioneer settlers at Middleboro' deserving our notice. John Nelson was a son of William Nelson, of Plymouth, and wife, Martha Ford. William Nelson and Martha Ford were married Oct. 29, 1640, and John, the son, was born in 1647.

John Nelson was constable of Middleboro' in 1669, the year of the town's incorporation, and held that office again in 1684. He was a seleetman of Mid- dleboro' for the years 1681-83, and again in 1685- 86, and grand juryman in 1675.

John Nelson was three times married. His first wife was Sarah Wood, a daughter of Henry Wood, of Middleboro'. John Nelson and Sarah Wood were united in marriage Nov. 28, 1667, and she died March 4, 1675. John Nelson's second wife was Mrs. Lydia Barnaby, the widow of James Barnaby, of Plymouth, and daughter of Robert Bartlett and wife, Mary Warren. Lydia was born June 8, 1647. After the death of wife, Lydia, John Nelson took for a third wife Patience Morton, a daughter of Ephraim Mor- ton, of Plymouth, and wife, Ann Cooper.

The children of John Nelson by wife, Sarah Wood, were Jolin and Martha, both of whom died in child- hood, John dying June 5, 1676, and Martha, Feb. 19, 1676.

1 That garrison was for a short time probably maintained upon a piece of land now owned by the heirs of the late Col. Peter H. Peirce, and is that spot from which tradition says that a white man fired at and killed an Indian who was standing upon what is still called the " Indian Rock," on the opposite side of the Nemasket River. The place was soon abandoned to the Indians, the white people all fleeing to Plymouth.

The children of John Nelson and second wife, Lydia Bartlett Barnaby, were Samuel Nelson, born July 4, 1683, and Joanna Nelson, born in 1689. The son, Samuel, married three times, viz., first, in 1704, Hannah Ford; second, Bathsheba Nichols; and third, Sarah Holmes.

The children of John Nelson and third wife, Pa- tience Morton, were Lydia, born in 1694, and Sarah, in 1695.

William Hoskins located in Middleboro' at a com- paratively early date, and he was the first or earliest town clerk of Middleboro' of whose election there remains a record. He was unanimously chosen to that office May 24, 1681.

The town voted to give William Hoskins a load of fish, taken at the herring weir and delivered at his house, for one year's service as town elerk. It should be borne in mind that the public records of Middle- boro' from the date of incorporation, in 1669, to King Philip's war, in 1675, a period of about six years, are lost, and are supposed to have been burned by the Indians in that war. Authentie dates in the history of this town before that year are derived from du- plicate copies or returns of elections that were sent to Plymouth before that war began and were thus pre- served, and but for which very little could now be learned of what transpired in Middleboro' during the first seven or eight years immediately succeeding the date of its incorporation.

John Bennet held a leading position among the early settlers of European descent in Middleboro'. He is said to have been the son of Peter Bennet, of Bristol, in England, from whence John emigrated to C Virginia in 1665, and concerning whom the earliest records of the First Congregational Church in Mid- dleboro' has the following entry :

" John Bennet, Sen"., our brother, ordained Deacon,

Deacon in the church of Middleboro', Mareh 10, being the second Sabbath in that month, and chosen by a full consent to that office some consider- able time before, who formerly dwelt at Beverly, whom God in a way of his providence sent to dwell in Middleboro' to be serviceable there in church and town."

This election to the office of deacon appears to have been in 1695. He was chosen town clerk of Middleboro' Mareh 28, 1693, and served therein thirteen years ; elceted a selectman in 1692 and served two years, elected again in 1695, 1697, and 1698. He died March 21, 1718, aged seventy-six years. His wife was Deborah Grover. They were married at Beverly in 1671. She died March 22, 1718, aged seventy years.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

John Morton. His name appears among those who represented the town in the General Court, a position that he filled for the years 1672 and 1673. and he was a surveyor of the highways in 1675. Tradition says that he was a son of George Morton, who came to America in the " Ann" in 1623. John Morton was an early comer to Middleboro', where he built a house near the river. and concerning the de- struction of which are two somewhat disagreeing traditions. One tradition is that the house was acci- dentally destroyed by fire while the family were absent and at meeting on Sunday. The other tradition is that the house was burned by the Indians in King Philip's war. He is said to have built the southeast or oldest portion of what came to be known as the " old Morton house," a large dwelling of rectangular shape, about sixty feet in length and thirty feet wide, with a gambrel roof and two stories high. This house was taken down in 1870. It appeared to have been erected at three different times. The oldest part had been standing nearly two hundred years.

Jonathan Dunham was a selectman of Middleboro' for the years 1674 and 1675.

George Vaughan appears to have been the first or earliest tavern-keeper in Middleboro', his license for the setting up which business dating from July 5, 1669. He was constable of the town in 1675.

Joseph Vaughn was one of the selectmen of Mid- dleboro' for many years. He was first elected to that office in the year 1689, and last in the year 1722, having performed the duties of that station twenty- five years. He united with the First Congregational Church in Middleboro', March 9, 1710. He was twice married .- first, in 1680, Joanna Thomas. She died April 11, 1718, in the sixty-first year of her age; and he for a second wife, in 1720, married Mercy Fuller, the widow of Jabez Fuller. Her maiden name was Wood, and she died March 2, 1734, in the eighty-first year of her age.

In the local militia of Middleboro' Joseph Vaughn was commissioned ensign as early as the year 1700, promoted to lieutenant in or about the year 1705, and to captain in March, 1716. He commanded a com- pany that embraced all the local militia of the town.

Samuel Wood. He was a selectman of Middle- boro' in 1684, and again in 1689, 1691, 1693, and 1694, and surveyor of highways in 1673 and 1674, and constable in 1682. He was one of the original members of the First Congregational Church of Mid- dleboro'. Rebecca, his wife, united with that church May 27, 1716. She died Feb. 10, 1718, in the sixty-seventh year of her age. Samuel Hall died Feb. 3, 1718, in the seventieth year of his age.

Ebenezer Tinkham was clected a selectman of Middleboro' in 1690 and 1691, and again in 1696 and 1700. He was one of the original members of the First Congregational Church of Middleboro', chosen in or about 1695. He died April 8, 1718, in the seventy-third year of his age. He married Elizabeth Liscom, who was also one of the original members of the First Congregational Church of Middleboro'. She died in 1718, aged sixty-four years.

At a period a little later than the arrival of those pioneer settlers in Middleboro' whose names have been given, there came to this town from Salem a inan named John Raymond, who in King Philip's war had rendered remarkable good service in the company commanded by Capt. Joseph Gardiner, being present and participating in what is probably the greatest battle ever fought on New England soil, the taking of the Indian fort in the Narragansett country on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 19, 1675. John Raymond is said to have been the first soldier who succeeded in entering the gate of the fortification on that bloody afternoon, in the most sanguinary conflict that New England had then or has since seen. His captain, Joseph Gardiner, fell dead soon after enter- ing the well-constructed and desperately-defended work, being shot with a bullet through the head.

During that singular infatuation of the people still known as the prevalence of the witch delusion in Salem, this veteran soldier, John Raymond, fled for his life from those he had thus defended, and for whose protection he had exposed both life and limb, and in Middleboro' sought safety from fanatical per- secution and insane madness. It is gratifying to con- template that in Middleboro' this brave man, ill- treated and unappreciated patriot, found a city of refuge and haven of rest, that here

" The broken soldier was kindly bade to stay ;"

that here, during the evening of his days, with none to hurt, harm, molest or make afraid, he could under his vine and fig-tree

" Weep o'er his wounds and tales of honor done, Shoulder his crutch and show how fields were won."

After coming to reside in Middleboro' John Ray- mond, the Narragansett soldier, became a member of the First Congregational Church, here gathered a " soldier in the army of the Lord ;" and here at his death had his burial; and here his grave remains until this day. The date of his admission to membership in the Congregational Church was April 29, 1722, when he was said to have been in the seventy- fourth year of his age, and if so, he must have been born in or near the year 1648, and was a little less

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

than thirty years of age when participating in the arduous toils and dangerous duties of King Philip's war.

June 5, 1725, the noble old veteran went to an inspection by the great Searcher of all hearts, and passed in grand review before the God of armies and Lord of hosts. Seventy and seven was the number of the years of his earthly pilgrimage, in which he was required to watch and fight and pray.

The name of Samuel Eddy appears among those of the twenty-six men who in March, 1662, purchased of the Indian sachem, Wampatuck, a tract of country that afterwards became the First Precinct in Middle- boro'.

Samuel Eddy was the son of a Non-Conformist minister, the Rev. William Eddy, of Cranbrook in the County of Kent, England.

Samuel Eddy, together with his brother, John, sailed from Boxted, in England, Aug. 10, 1630, and arrived at Plymouth in November following, having been twelve weeks at sea.

Governor Winthrop says, concerning the vessel that brought these brothers, " they had sixty passen- gers, and lost but one," and he further added, that one of the Eddys told him, " he had many letters in the ship for me."

Samuel Eddy at first settled in Plymouth, where he purchased a house and land of Experience Mitchell.

In 1638 "4 shares in the black heifer" were as- signed to him.

In 1633 his servant, Thomas Brian, was brought before the Governor and assistants for running away, brought back by an Indian, and " whipped before the governor."

The Christian name of his wife was Elizabeth, concerning whom, in the early colonial records, we find the following : " 1651, Elizabeth, wife of Sam- uel Eddy, arraigned for wringing and hanging out her clothes on Lord's-day; fine 20s., but remitted." " 1660, Elizabeth Eddy summoned for traveling from Plymouth to Boston on Lord's-day. She answered that Mrs. Saffin was very weak and sent for her with an earnest desire to see her in her weakness. The court thought they saw not a sufficient excuse, and saw cause to admonish her, and so she was dis- charged."

Samuel Eddy, and Elizabeth, his wife, had sons,- Zechariah, Caleb, John, and Obadiah.

Samuel Eddy died in 1688, aged eighty-seven years. He passed the last years of his life at Mid- dleboro' and in Swansea.

Obadiah Eddy, the son of Samuel Eddy, settled in

Middleboro', and inherited the patrimonial lands in this town.

He was here before King Philip's war, and during that conflict took refuge at Plymouth, returning again at its close.

He was a surveyor of highways at Middleboro' in 1675, grand juryman in 1673, 1679, 1681, 1683, and 1685, and a selectman in 1694.

Samuel Eaton was among the twenty-six men who purchased what became the First Precinct in Mid- dleboro' of the Indian sachem, Wampatuck, said pur -. chase made in the month of March, 1662, and said Samuel Eaton also became one of the pioneer settlers of Middleboro'.

He was the son of Francis Eaton who, with his wife, Sarah, and his son, Samuel, constituted a part of the Pilgrim band who came to America and landed at Plymouth in the month of December, 1620, from the deck of the " Mayflower."

Samuel, the son, was for a time settled in Duxbury, and afterwards came to Middleboro'. He, in 1661, married Martha Billington.

CHAPTER III.

CIVIL HISTORY.

Ar a session of the Colonial Court, holden at Plymouth in the month of June, 1669, an act of in- corporation was obtained that found a place upon the public record in the words following :

" At this court the court granted that Namassakett shall be a township, and to he called by the name of Middleberry, and hounded with Plymouth bounds on the easterly side, and with the hound of Taunton on the westerly side, and with the hounds of Bridgewater on the northerly side or end, and on the southerly side or end to extend six miles from the wading-place, and at the end of said six miles to run east to Plymouth line, and from the said line west to Taunton line, and in case the west line runs to the southward of Taunton line, then to run until we come up to the southermost part of Taunton bounds, and then square off north to it."

The wading-place noticed in the act of incorpora- tion was where the bridge on the Plymouth road now crosses the Nemasket River, near the Star Mills.

This description does not properly apply to the town- ship of Middleboro' at the present time, for the reason that a portion of the town in a northerly direction was in 1734 set off and made to constitute a part of the township of Halifax, and in 1853 about one-third of its remaining territory upon the southwesterly side was detached, set off, and made to form a new and distinct town, known as Lakeville.

951

HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

For many years previous to the setting off of Lake- ville, Middleboro' iu its territorial limits was the largest town in the State, containing nearly one hun- dred square miles.

About six years intervened between the date at which Middleboro' was incorporated as a town and the breaking out or commencement of King Philip's war, and yet the inhabitants of European descent had increased only to about sixteen families, and these quickly left all their possessions here and fled for refuge to Plymouth, and there remaining until that bloody and disastrous conflict was ended.

These proprietors, being still at Plymouth, were there convened together upon the 27th day of June, 1677, and voted " that we do unanimously agree by the permission of God and by his gracious assistance to make a beginning again in order unto the repos- session of our lands and re-edification of our demol- ished buildings and habitation which some of us were, before the late and sad war, in actual improvement and possession of, and to make such orders and conclu- sions as may hopefully have a tendency unto the lay- ing a foundation of a town and pious society in that place."

Not last or least among the numerous losses sus- tained by the people of Middleboro' in that "sad war" was the total destruction of the public records of the town, a loss that they sadly lamented and en- deavored to make up for and supply from recollection and extracts from the colonial records kept at Plym- outh, whereby much was regained and retranscribed, while the evidence, doubtless, of many equally valu- able facts was irretrievably lost, the fire kindled by an infuriated Indian's torch having forever wiped these from earth's book of remembrance, and con- signed to a grave that never gives up its dead, whose ashes are, by the mantle of oblivion, hid beyond the hope and power of a resurrection.

Chief among the civil officers of a New England town are, and for many years has been, the selectmen or "fathers of the town," as these are not unfre- quently designated.

Laws concerning these officers began to find a place upon the statute-book of Plymouth Colony as early as 1662, or seven years before the town of Middle- boro' was incorporated. Here is a copy of the act of 1662 :

" It is enacted by the court, That in every Towne of this ju- risdiction there be three or five Celectmen chosen by the Towns- men out of the freemen, such as shall be approved by the Court, for the better managing of the afaires of the respective Town- shipes : and that the Celectmen in every towne, or the major p'te of them, are hereby impowered to heare and determine all debtes and differences arising between p'son and p'son

within their respective Townsbipes not exceeding forty shil- lings; as alsoe they are heerhy impowered to heare and deter- mine all differences arising betwixt any Indians and the Eng- lish of theire respective townshipes about damage done in Corn by the Cowes, Swine, or any other beastes helonging to the Inhabitants of the said respective townsbipes ; and the de- termination of the abovesaid differences not being satisfyed as was agreed, the p'ty wronged to repaire to some Magistrate for a warrant to receive such award hy distraint.

" It is further enacted by the Court, That the said Celectmen in every Townsbip approved by the Court, or any of them, shall bave power to give forth summons in his Ma'tie's name to re- quire any p'sons complained of to attend the hearing of the case, and to summon witnesses to give testimony upon that ac- count, and to determine of the Controversyes according to legal evidence; and that the p'sons complaining shall serve the sum- mons themselves upon the p'sons complained against, and in case of theire non-appearance to proceed on notwithstanding in the hearing and determination of such controversy as comes before them, and to have twelve-pence apiece for every award they agree upon."

The act of 1666 provided, ---

"That one or two of the selectmen whom the Court shall ap- point in each Township of this Jurisdiction bee hcerby impow- ered to administer an oath in all cases committed to them, as alsoe to grant an execution for sucb p'sons as neglect or refuse to pay theire just dues according the verdicte of the said p'sons ; and that the said Selectmen in every towne bce under oath for the true p'rformance of theire office; and if any p'son finds himselfe agreived with verdict of said Selectmen, Then they have tbeire liberty to appeale to the next Court of his Ma'tie holden att Plymoutb, provided that forthwith they put in Cecuritie to prosecute the appeale to effect and alsoe enter the grounds of theire apeales ; and in case any towne doe neglect to chose and p'sent such yearly unto the Courts of Election, That every such Towne shal bee lyable to pay a fine of five pounds to the Countrey's use.

"It is enacted by the Court, That the Celectmen in every Township of this goverment shall take notice of all such p'sons that are or shall come into any of the Townships without the approbation of the Gov'r and two of the Assistance, according to order of the Court, and the said Celectmen shall warne tbe said p'sons to aply themselves for approbation according to order, which, if they shall refuse or neglect, the said Celcctmen are heerby impowered to require the p'son or p'sons to appeer att the next Court to bee holden att Plymouth, and to require Ce- curitie for theire appearance, which, if any refuse to doe, the Celectmen shall inform the Constable of the Towne where hee liveth, wbich said Constable shall forthwith carry the said p'son or p'sons before the Gov'r or some one of the Assistance of tbis Gov'rment.

"Whereas, the Court takes notice off great neglect of fre- quenting the publicke worship of God upon the Lord's day : it is enacted by the Court and the autboritie thereoff, That the Ce- lect men of each Township of this Gov'r ment sball take notice of such in their Townsbipps as neglect, through prophannes and slothfulnes, to come to the publicke worship of God, and shall require an account of them, and, if they give them not satisfac- tion, that they returne theire names to the Court."

Act passed in 1681 :

" It shalbe lawfull for either plaintiffe or defendant to re- quire a subpena of any Celectmen of the same Town where the witnesses live to require any p'son to appeer before some one of the Celectment of the same Towne to give evidence before some

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

ono or more, whoe shall convey it to the Colect Court of that Towne whero the case is depending.

" It is ordorod by the Court and tho authoritio theroof that the choice of Celectmen be specified in the warrants that are sent downo to the several Townes for the choico of his Ma'tic's officors, and theire names to bo returned into the Court under the Constable's hand, and to be called in Court to take theire oath, as is in such easo provided ; and if in caso any providence prevent theire appecranee, then to appeer before some Magis- trate of this Gov"ment within one month after the said Court, to take oath, under the penalty of twenty shillings."

The act of 1683 provided, ---

" That the Poor May be provided for as necessity requireth, This Court ordereth that the Celectmen in each Towne shall take care and see that the poor in theire respeetive Townes be provided for, and are heerby Impowered to relieve and provide for them according as necessitie, in theire descretion, doth re- quire, and the Towne shall defray the charge thereof.

" And the Celect Men of the several Towns are hereby re- quired to give in a list of the names of such as mispend their time, whether House holders or others, and all single persons that live from under Family Government or will not he gov- erned hy their Parents or Masters where they live, that so the Court may proceed with them as the case may require."

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 198

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