History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 220

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 220

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Dr. Smith is congregational in religious belief and Republican in politics. He holds membership in Village Lodge, F. and A. M., Bowdoinham, Me., and St. Paul's Royal Arch Chapter, Brunswick, Me. Popular in his profession, of kind and winning manners, and of strong sociality, Dr. Smith holds a high place in the regards of a large circle of friends.

PROFESSOR JOHN W. P. JENKS.

Professor John W. P. Jenks, principal of Peirce Academy, Middleboro', was born in West Boylston, Mass., May 1, 1819. At thirteen years of age he commenced the study of Latin and Greek in special preparation for college under the private tuition of his pastor, Rev. Addison Parker, in Southbridge, Mass., depending mainly upon his manual labor for support. In three months Rev. J. W. Parker, D.D., 'cousin of his pastor, tendered him the opportunity of spending a year under his tuition in a plantation school in Virginia. Returning north in the spring of 1833, he entered Peirce Academy for a year, and was graduated at Brown University in the class of i

1838. On leaving college lie went to Georgia, where he taught nearly four years. In 1842 he became the principal of Peirce Academy, and continued in that relation twenty-nine years. From an attendance of over a hundred students during his connection with the institution as a pupil, in 1833, he found the num- ber reduced to twelve or fifteen, and the building in a dilapidated condition, without blackboards or appa- ratus, and the entire expense of carrying on the in- stitution dependent solely upon the income derived from the tuition of its pupils. About the same time high schools, confessedly designed by their advocates to do away with all denominational academics, were beginning to be established in all the cities and larger towns in the State, as well as normal schools, one of which was located within ten miles. Notwithstand- ing these unfavorable circumstances, Peirce Academy rose during the administration of Professor Jenks to a high rank among the best institutions of its kind in New England, averaging for some years over two hundred tuition-paying pupils, at an average age of eighteen years, and often furnishing forty or more teachers of district schools at the close of a fall or spring term, pupils from almost every State east of the Mississippi and from the British provinces being frequently represented in its annual catalogues.

Resigning his position, Professor Jenks was electe in 1872, Professor of Agricultural Zoology and rator of the Museum of Natural History in Brown University, which position he still holds, having, by his untiring efforts and personal sacrifices, brought his special department into a condition far in advance of what it was when he entered the duties of his professorship.

EBENEZER WEAVER PEIRCE.

Ebenezer Weaver Peirce, the writer of what in this publication appears concerning the towns of Carver, Lakeville, and Middleboro', was born at what still continues to be his residence in the southerly part of Assonet village in Freetown, April 5, 1822, and is a lineal descendant in the sixth generation from Abraham Peirce, who cmigrated to America, and settled at Plymouth as early as 1623, and died at Duxbury in or near 1673.

Isaac Peirce, a son of Abraham Peirce, served as a soldier in King Philip's war, and was among those who played " the man and took the Indian fort" in what is now Kingston, R. I., Dec. 19, 1675, for which act of daring and bravery he received a grant of land in addition to his stipulated wages. Isaac

1054

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Peirce, the Narraganset soldier, died in what was then Middleboro', but now Lakeville, Feb. 28, 1732.

Isaac Peirce left sons,-Thomas and Isaac, Jr., the last named of whom died in what is now Lakeville, Jan. 17, 1757.

Ebenezer Peirce, the oldest son of Isaae, Jr., was born in Duxbury, that part afterwards Pembroke, in or near 1704, and died in what was then Middle- boro', but now Lakeville, Aug. 14, 1796. Ebenezer Peiree was the father of six sons, three of whom were soldiers in the French and Indian war; one at- taining to the position of captain, and all six served in the patriot army in the war of the American Revolution, four of the six therein were captains. Among these six sons was Capt. Job Peirce, who had one son that served in both the armny and navy in the Revolutionary war, and one son who was a major, and another a captain in the coast guard, in the last war with England, sometimes called the war of 1812.

Capt. Job Peirce was the founder or donor of Peiree Academy, in Middleboro', and his son, Eben- ezer Peirce, Esq., and wife, Joanna Weaver, were the parents of the subject of this sketch, who upon the maternal side is a lineal descendant in the sixth generation from Lieut. Samuel Gardiner, who greatly istinguished himself in King William's war (1689 ť 692), the earliest town-clerk and treasurer of Free- of whom there remains a record, also selectman, assessor, and representative to both the Colonial and Provincial Court, and one of the Council of War. Lieut. Gardiner subsequently became the principal proprietor of what is now known as Gardiner's Neek, in Swansea, where he died Dec. 8, 1696.

The mother of Ebenezer W. Peirce was Joanna, the oldest daughter of Col. Benjamin Weaver, of Freetown, an officer in the patriot army in the war of the American Revolution, and also in the loyal forces in Shay's rebellion (1786); a man who was in- trusted with both the sword and purse, he having by annual elections been chosen treasurer of Freetown for the long term of twenty-nine years, and as judge of a police court served thirty years.

Ebenezer W. Peirce received such benefits as were afforded by the common schools in Freetown, and passed one term each in Peiree Academy, Middle- boro', Mass., Bacon Academy, Colchester, Conn., and Durham Academy, at Durham, N. H., and has re- eeived appointments to the offiecs of trial justice, coroner, notary publie, public administrator, and cont- missioner to qualify civil officers from the Governor of the State, and from the President of the United States that of collector of internal revenue for the First Congressional Distriet in Massachusetts. He has

also been elected to the offices of selectman, overscer of the poor, colleetor, treasurer, and sehool committee in the town in which he resided. Inheriting the proclivities of his family, he at an early age bceame interested in the militia, into which he voluntarily en- listed at the age of nineteen, attaining to the position of major of the Fourth Regiment of artillery at twenty-two, lieutenant-colonel at twenty-four, and was honorably discharged at his own request at the age of twenty-six. Two years later, being earnestly solicited, he accepted the command of the Assonet Light Infantry Company, and taking the same to a brigade muster about two months after its organiza- tion, sccured the second honors in a hotly-contested prize-drill, only one company being regarded as its superior in attainment, and throwing all others that had been for several ycars competing for these honors far into the shade, and thus securing to himself the claim of an excellent drill-officer. In August, 1851, he was made major of Third Regiment of Light In- fantry, promoted to lieutenant-colonel in April, 1852, and raised to brigadier-general of the Second Brigade in First Division Nov. 7, 1855, commanding that bri- gade until the commencement of the war of the great Rebellion in which, in the first three months of that confliet, he led it in Virginia. Dec. 13, 1861, he was commissioned colonel of a newly-raised, and then for the first time organized, three years' regiment (the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry), and when leading the same at the battle of White-Oak Swamp, in Virginia, June 30, 1862, his right arm near the shoulder was torn off by a eannon-ball, of which wound he was off duty only thirty days, and partici- pated in the second battle of Bull Run in a little less than two months.

He was soon after promoted to the command of the Second Brigade in the First Division of the Ninth Corps, which brigade he led in the States of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and for a time in Tennessee commanded the division. From youth his habits have been studious, and he has given much time to a careful perusal of the Bible, that while in his mi- nority he used to read through onee in every twelve months for several consecutive years, and as a result of which he has become a thorough-going free-thinker and a confirmed materialist, in whose mind reason takes the place of revelation and science has demol- ished superstition. Both before and sinec the war he has written extensively for newspapers and other publications, and during the last ten years devoted mueh labor to historical and genealogical researches, writing and publishing several books concerning cach. Although having attained to more than threescore

Ébenga W Peirce,

HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

1055

years, and suffered the hardships incident to several years' army life, after losing his right arm, he enjoys almost unalloyed and uninterrupted good health, which he ascribes to his life-long regular and abstemious habits, ignoring the use of spirituous liquors, tobacco- chewing, smoking, and snuffing, and all forms of gambling, having never so much as once played a game of cards in his life; thus, as he says, keeping the head clear, heart pure, and stomach clean, added to

which he has not allowed himself to be encumbered with or burdened by the troubles and cares of more than one world at the same time. He seeks to do and do well the duties of that state of existence in which he finds himself to be, as this he considers his whole duty herc and the best preparation for a here- after, provided there be any hereafter, and says there is enough to do in the world that he knows about, and hence no call to do for that he knows nothing.

HISTORY OF HINGHAM.

CHAPTER I.

TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY RECORDS, ETC.

THE town of Hingham lies in the northern part of Plymouth County, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Massachusetts Bay and Hull ; on the east by Cohasset ; on the south by South Scituate and Rock- land ; on the west by Weymouth.

It originally embraced the present town of Cohas- set, which was set off April 26, 1770. The town formed a part of Suffolk County until March 26, 1793, when it was annexed to the newly-formed county of Norfolk. June 20th, of the same year, the former act was repealed so far as it related to Hingham and Hull, and Hingham again became a portion of Suffolk, and remained as such until June 18, 1803, when it was annexed to Plymouth County.

Hingham was probably settled as early as 1633, and among the pioneers were Ralph Smith, Nicholas Jacob and family, Thomas Lincoln, Edmund Hobart and wife, Thomas Hobart and family, Theophilus Cushing, Edmund Hobart, Sr., Joshua Hobart, Henry Gibbs, Thomas Chubbuck, Joseph Andrews, and others.

The following list with notes of those who either settled or received grants of lands in this town was compiled by the late Solomon Lincoln, Jr., and pub- lished in his valuable " History of the town of Hing- ham," which is now out of print and a scarce work :

In 1635, Joseph Andrews,1 Thomas Chubbuck, Henry Gibbs, Edmund Hobart, Sr.,2 Edmund Hobart, Jr., Joshua Hobart, Rev. Peter Hobart, Thomas Ho- bart, Nicholas Jacob, Thomas Lincoln (weaver), Ralph Smith, Jonas Austin,3 Nicholas Baker,4 Clement Bates,

1 The first town clerk of Ilingham.

2 It may bo remarked that this name has been written differ- ently, generally, however, either Hobart or Hubbard. Mr. Ho- bart, the first minister, usually wroto it Hobart, although the record of his father's death is, " father Hubbard died."

3 The name of Jonas Austin afterwards appears in Taunton.

4 Nieholas Baker, twiee a delegate from Hingham to tho Gon-

eral Court, afterwards romoved to Scituate, where he was sottled 1056

Richard Betscombe, Benjamin Bozworth, Willian Buckland, James Cade,5 Anthony Cooper, John Cut ler,6 John Farrow, Daniel Fop, Jarvice Gould, Wil liam Hersey,7 Nicholas Hodsdin, Thomas Johnson, Andrew Lane, William Large,9 Thomas Loring George Ludkin,10 Jeremy Morse, William Nolton John Otis,11 David Phippeny, John Palmer, Johr

1645 3 rival 638 to C Porter, Henry Rust, John Smart, Francis Smith (or made Smyth),12 John Strong,13 Henry Tuttil,14 William Wal This ton, 15 Thomas Andrews, William Arnall, George Bacon more maz 1635 Hob in th

as pastor of the church. Mather speaks of him as "honest Nicholas Baker, who, though he had but a private education yet being a pious and zealous man, or, as Dr. Arrowsmith ex eiled presses it, so good a logieian that he could offer up to God a or m perso casse

reasonable serviee, so good an arithmetician that he could wisely number his days, and so good an orator that he persuaded him. self to be a good Christian, and, being also one of good natura parts, especially of a strong memory, was chosen pastor of the church there, and in the pastoral charge of that church he eon- tinued about eighteen years." He died Aug. 22, 1678.

5 James Cade's name appears in Yarmouth in 1640.

6 Cushing's manuscripts date his arrival in 1637. He had a grant of land in 1635.

que in 16 6 2 and records Hersie, sometimes Harsie, frequently Hearsey, but of

7 This name is written in various ways, often in our early

Cause late years Hersey. It is, I believe, a name of French origin.

1 Among the surnames of the noblemen and gentlemen who went over to England with William the Conqueror was that of Hersy.

from 8 A person by the name of Johnson formerly kept a tavern in of s If tÌ a building situated on the spot where the dwelling-house of hefo Mr. Benjamin S. Williams now stands. It was known by the He name of tho Pine-Tree Tavern, from the circumstance that a atea very large pine-tree stood in its front. This family removed to Stoughton. of 9 William Large removed to Provincetown, C. C. of In 10 George Ludkin died at Braintrec, Feb. 20, 1648. he and Ears

11 John Otis, tho common ancestor of the distinguished civil- ians, patriots, and orators of that name in this country. There aro branches of his family in Scituate, Barnstable, Boston, and in other places. This name, in our old records, is written va- riously, Otis, Oates, Otties, and Oattis.

12 Francis Smith removed to Taunton.

13 John Strong romoved to Taunton, from thence to North-

14 Tuttil, according to Cushing's manuscripts, enme over in tre 1637. Ilis grants of land were in 1635.

15 Walton's Covo derives its name from a person of this name. tio

Fell,

Satl

Mars

Fear

In Han Lob

Mott

and

and 5

Ju ag las gco abł ampton. He was probably the ancestor of the familios of that nauio in that town and vicinity.

1057

HISTORY OF HINGHAM.

Nathaniel Baker, Thomas Collier, George Lane, George Marsh. Abraham Martin.1 Nathaniel Peck, Richard Osborn, Thomas Wakely, Thomas Gill, Richard Ibrook. William Cockerum," William Cockerill, John Fearing.3 John Tucker.

In 1636, John Beal. Sr.,4 Anthony Eames,5 Thomas Hammond. Joseph Hull,6 Richard Jones, Nicholas Lobdin, Richard Langer, John Leavitt,7 Thomas Lin- coln, Jr. (miller), Thomas Lincoln (cooper), Adam Mott, Thomas Minard, John Parker, George Russell,

1 Martin's Well, or, as it was sometimes called, Abraham's Well, derives its name from this person.

" Cockerum probably returned to England. "October 3, 1642, brother Cockram sailed for England."-Hobart's Diary. 3 John Fearing came from Cambridge, England. The ar- rival of a person by this name is dated in Cushing's MSS., 1638. It may be observed that, in a few instances, according to Cushing's MSS., the persons to whom grants of land were made did not arrive here nntil after the date of their grants. This may have been the fact, but there were evidently many more settlers here before 1640 than are mentioned in these mannscripts. He mentions bnt four families that came over in 1635. Unquestionably a much larger number accompanied Mr. Hobart. It is possible, however, that the trifling discrepancies in the dates of the arrival of some of the settlers may be recon- ciled by the snpposition that there were in some instances two or more persons of the same name; indeed, we know that four persons of the same Christian and surname (Thomas Lincoln) came into this town within a few years after its first settlement.

4 " 1638, John Beale, shoemaker, with his wife and five sons and three danghters and two servants, came from Old Hingham and settled in New Hingham."-Cushing's MSS.

5 Anthony Eames was a depnty in 1637, 1638, and 1643, fre- quently a town officer, and involved in the military difficulties in 1644, 1645, etc.

6 Joseph Hull, a depnty from Hingham in September, 1638, and in March after. One of the commissioners to end small causes, in the same year.

" The family tradition concerning John Leavitt is, that he was an indentured apprentice in England, and that he absconded from his master and came to this country when nineteen years of age, and settled first at Roxbury and afterwards in Hingham. If this tradition is correct he must have arrived in this country before the year 1628, as he died Nov. 20, 1691, aged eighty-three. He received a grant of land in this town in 1636. His home- tead was in Leavitt Street (recently so named), on both sides of the river, and is now principally owned by the descendants of his sons, Israel and Josiah. He was a deacon of the church. In his will, executed Nov. 30, 1689, and proved Jan. 27, 1691/2, he mentions his sons Samuel, Izrael, Moses, Josiah, Nehemiah, and the widow of his son, John; also his daughters, Mary, Sarah, Hannah, and Abigail. Israel had a son, John. He died July 20, 1749. John, son of this John, died April 13, 1797, agod eighty-six. The late Mr. Jacob Leavitt was a son of this last-mentioned John. He died Jan. 7, 1826. He possessed good natural abilities and a sound judgment. He was a valu- able citizen. He filled many public offices and was a zealous Whig of the Revolution. Mr. Joshua Leavitt, who died May 12, 1825, aged ninety-two, and who filled the office of town treasurer for thirty years, with so inch acceptance, was a de- ecendant of Josiah Leavitt, son of the first John, above men- tioned.

William Sprague,8 George Strange, Thomas Under- wood, Samuel Ward, Randolph Woodward,9 John Winchester, William Walker.

In 1637, Thomas Barnes, Josiah Cobbit, Thomas Chaffe,1º Thomas Clapp,11 William Carlslye (or Carsly), Thomas Dimock,12 Vinton Dreuce, Thomas Hett, Thomas Joshlin, Aaron Ludkin, John Morrick, Thomas Nichols, Thomas Paynter, Edmund Pitts,13 Joseph Phippeny, Thomas Shave, Ralph Smith, Thomas Turner, John Tower, Joseph Underwood, William Ludkin,14 Jonathan Bozworth.15

In 1638 there was a considerable increase of the number of settlers. Among them were Mr. Robert Peck, Joseph Peck,16 Edward Gilman,17 John Foul- sham, Henry Chamberlin, Stephen Gates, George Knights, Thomas Cooper,18 Matthew Cushing,19 John Beal, Jr., Francis James, Philip James, James Buck, Stephen Payne,20 William Pitts, Edward. Mitchell, John Sutton,21 Stephen Lincoln.

8 William Sprague, with his brothers Richai ) . ... arrived at Naumkeag (Salem) in 1628 or 1629. From thence they removed to Mishawum (Charlestown), and from thence William removed to Hingham. His house-lot was on the south side of Pleasant Street. He had several sons,-among them Anthony, William, and John. This William removed to Rhode Island. Anthony, the eldest son, had a numerous family. He lived and died in a house situated near that in which Mr. Samuel Gilbert now resides, at the place called "Over the River." Josiah Sprague was one of Anthony's sons; Isaac was one of Josiab's six sons.

9 Ralph Woodward, one of the first deacons of the church.

10 Thomas Chaffee removed to Swansea.

11 Thomas Clapp removed to Scituate.

12 Thomas Dimock removed to Barnstable.

13 Edmund Pitts, according to Cushing's manuscripts, came over in 1639, with his brother, Leonard Pitts, and Adam Foul- sham. His grant of land was in 1637.

14 William Ludkin was from Norwich, England.

15 Jonathan Bozworth removed to Swansea.

16 Mr. Joseph Peck removed to Rehoboth, wbere he died Dec. 22, 1663.

17 Edward Gilman removed to New Hampshire.

18 Thomas Cooper removed to Rehoboth.

19 A memorandum of a descendant of Matthew Cushing men- tions the date of his arrival at Boston, Aug. 10, 1638. The name of his wife was Nazareth Pitcher. Their children, whose names follow, came with them to this country, viz., Daniel, Jeremiah, Matthew, Deborah, and John. Matthew Cushing, Sr., died Sept. 30, 1660, aged ahout seventy-two years. He was probably the ancestor of all of the name in this country. His son, John, removed to Scituate, where he was a selectman in 1676, a deputy, and afterwards (about the year 1690) an assistant. His son and grandson were judges of the Supreme Court of this State and the latter (Hon. William Cushing) of the Supreme Court of the United States.

20 Stephen Payne removed to Rehoboth, where he died in 1677.

21 One of the same name removed to Rehoboth. He came from Attleboro', England. One of the same name was among the first inhabitants of Conohasset, perhaps a son of the eldest John.

1058

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Samuel Parker, Thomas Lincoln,' Jeremiah Moore, Mr. Henry Smith," Bozoan Allen,3 Matthew Hawke,4 William Ripley.5 All of those preceding who came to this country in 1638 took passage in the ship " Diligent," of Ipswich, John Martin, master. In addition to these the following-named persons re- ceived grants of land in the year 1638, viz. : John Buek, John Benson, Thomas Jones,6 Thomas Law- renee, John Stephens, John Stodder,7 Widow Martha Wilder, Thomas Thaxter.8

1 Thomas Lincoln, the husbandman.

2 Mr. IIenry Smith's name appears afterwards in Rehoboth.

3 Bozoan Allen, " the very good friend" of Mr. Hohart, the first minister, came from Lynn, England. He was often a deputy, a military officer, and an influential citizen of Hing- ham. Ile was very active in the military difficulties in 1644, 1645, etc. IIe removed to Boston, where he died Sept. 14, 1652.

4 Matthew Hawke was tho second town clerk of Hiugham. He was from Cambridge, England.

" In a brief genealogy of the family of William Ripley, col- lected by one of his descendants, it is stated that he " accom- panied Mr. Ilobart in the new settlement." If by this it is meant that he came to this country with Mr. Ilobart, or that he was here beforo 1638, I am inclined to believe the statement is erroneous. The grant of land to William Ripley is in 1638, and in the list of settlers prepared by Mr. Cushing there is the following memorandum : "1638. William Ripley and his wife and two sons and two danghters came from Old Hingham and settled in New Hingham." Ilis name is by him embraced, as above stated, in the list of those who took passage in the ship " Diligent," of Ipswich. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1642. He died in July, 1656. His two sons were John and Ahraham. John married a daughter of Rev. Peter Ho- hart. John had six sons, viz., John, Joshua, Jeremiah, Josiah, Peter, and Hezekiah. Of these, John and Peter died in this town; Joshua removed to Haddam, Conn .; Jeremiah, to Kingston, Mass .; Josiah, to Weymouth. Ilezekiah died in Connecticut in 1691. Peter had three sons,-Peter, Nehemiah, and Ezra. Nehemiah removed to Plymouth. Peter remained in Hingham. IIc had two sons,-Noah and Nehemiah. Noah removed to Barre. Nehemiah remained in Hingham. Ilis wife was a daughter of Rev. Nehemiah IIobart, of Cohasset.

6 This name is frequently written Joanes in the old records.

7 This name is sometimes written as above, and frequently Stoddard.

8 Thomas Thaxter, the common ancestor of all of the name in this town and vicinity. The name of his wife was Elizabeth. He died in 1654, bis wife surviving him. His sons who lived to manhood were John and Samuel. John had twolve children. He died March, 1686/7. His widow was married to Daniel Cushing, Esq. Three of the daughters of John married Cush- ings. One of his sons was Col. Samuel Thaxter, a magistrate, delegate to the General Court, an assistant, and otherwise dis- tinguished in public trusts. He had four childron,-Elizabeth, John, Samuel, and Sarah. Elizabeth was married to Capt. John Norton, son of Rev. John Norton, and afterwards to Col. Benjamin Lincoln, father of the late Gen. Lincolu, of tho Rev- olutionary army. Samuel, H. U. 1714, married Sarah Marshall, of Boston, and (after her decease) Mary Hawke, daughter of James Hawke. She survived him, and was aftorwards married to Rev. John Haneock, of Braintree, father of Hon. John Han- cock, president of the Continental Congross. Maj. Samuol Thaxter, the son of Samuel and Sarah, H. U. 1743, was one

In 1639, Anthony Hilliard and John Prince received grants of land. The names of Hewett (Huet9) and Liford are mentioned in Hobart's " Diary" in that year, and in the " Diary" the fol- lowing names are first found in the respective years montioned : in 1646, - Burr; 10 in 1647, James Whiton ; in 1649, John Lazell, Samuel Stowell; in 1653, ------ Garnett,11 and - Canterbury.12

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 220

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