History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 36

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 36

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ient of an honorary degree from Harvard in 1819, in token of his muodest but unwearied services as an antiquary and historian of the Old Colony. It may be invidious to mention thesc, where so many were, perhaps, equally conspicuous as citizens of the town, but they are such as most readily occur to the author in a cursory glance at the period under consideration.

On the 22d of December, 1820, the celebration of the two huudredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims occurred, on which occasion Mr. Webster delivered his memorable oration. The celebration has been so fully described by Dr. Thacher in his history of Plymouth, that little further need be added in this narrative. It was at a period when, among men below middle life, small-clothes or breeches were beginning to disappear. By those who were older, to whom change of fashion was more difficult, they were worn during their lives. The last in Plymouth to wear them was Barnabas Hedge, who died in 1841. On this occasion Mr. Webster wore small-clothes and a silk gown, and stood during the delivery of his oration on a platform in front of the pulpit of the meeting-house of the First Parish. The scene has been described to the author by a gentleman who was present. Several clergymen, among whom was Dr. Kirkland, took part in the exer- cises, and during the oration stood leaning over the rail of the pulpit looking down on Mr. Webster and catching every word of his impassioned oratory. Finally, in concluding his denunciation of the slave trade, Mr. Webster said, " I would invoke. those who fill the seats of justice, and all who minister at her altars, that they execute the wholesome and uecessary severity of the law. I invoke the ministers of our religion that they proclaim its denunciation of these crimes, and add its solemn sanctions to the authority of human laws. If the pulpit be silent whenever or wherever there may be a sinner bloody with this guilt within the hearing of its voice, the pulpit is false to its trust." As he uttered these scathing words he turned his face upward and backward, and the clergy- men, whose silence on the subject was one of the extraordinary phenomena of the times, slunk back to their seats mortified and chagrined. The evening before the celebration Mr. Webster spent with a few friends at the house of William Davis, and seeming somewhat depressed, was asked if he was ill. He replied that he was perfectly well, but felt over- whelmed by a sense of the responsibility resting on him. The town was full of visitors, every house had its guests, and the representatives of the mnost culti- vated families in New England were present to listen to the great orator of the age. A parchment pre- served in Pilgrim Hall contains the autographs of

158

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

those who were present at the dinner on that occasion, both gentlemen and ladies, and the eurious will find it indeed a notable list.

At this celebration escort duty was performed by the Standish Guards, a military company organized in 1818, and which made its first publie parade on the 22d of December in that year. Its original members were :

James H. Holmes.

William Straffin.

George Cooper.

James Tufts.

John W. Cotton.

William Nelson, Jr.

Charles Bramhall.

Isaac Barnes, Jr.

Henry Seymour.

Isaac C. Churchill.

William Knowles.

Elijah Macomber.

Thomas Cooper.

Elkanah Barnes.

Daniel Gale.

Robert Clark.

Thomas Hedge.

James Bradford.

James G. Gleason.

Bridgham Russell.

John Washburn.

Israel Hoyt, Jr.

William H. Bradford.

Thomas Jackson, 4th.

James Hollis.

Isaac M. Sherman.

Charles Bradford.

Robert Davie. John Burbank, Jr.

Isaac Torrey.

William Randall.

Percz Peterson.

Lewis Churchill.

Thomas Tribble.

Coomer Weston.

Samuel Nelson.

James Morton.

John Saunders.

Caleb A. Delano.

Southwick A. Howland.

Thomas Durfey.

Timothy Berry.

All of these are dead. The oldest living member of the company is Sidney Bartlett, of Boston, who joined Sept. 28, 1819. The autographs of the members of the company in 1820 may be seen on the parchment already referred to, containing the names of the guests at the dinner in that year. The company up to the time of its disbandment in 1883, which it is hoped may be only temporary, was commanded at various times by Coomer Weston, Bridgham Russell, James G. Gleason, John Bartlett, William T. Drew, Jerc- miah Farris, Coomer Weston, Jr., Barnabas Church- ill, Benjamin Bagnall, Sylvanus H. Churchill, Charles Raymond, Joseph W. Collingwood, Charles C. Doten, Josiah R. Drew, Herbert Morisscy, and Joseph W. Hunting.

One other volunteer company, the Plymouth Ar- tillery Company, was organized in 1809, but dis- banded before the war of the Rebellion. In 1840 the town conveyed to the State such a portion of Training-Green as might be required for the erection of a gun-house for this company ; but on the disband- ment of the company the building was sold by the adjutant-general and the land restored to the town. The building was bought by Henry Whiting, and moved to a lot near Hobshole Brook, where it was converted into the dwelling-house which he now oc- eupies. Until the old militia laws were repealed

there were, after the old train-bands were abolished, two militia companies in the town, including all within the ages prescribed by law, except members of the volunteer companies and certain specified ex- empts, called the North and South Companies, which were required to parade onee annually for inspection.

In 1835 the General Court passed an act estab- lishing the Plymouth Fire Department. Under this act the selectmen annually appoint a board of en- gineers, who have the control and management of the fire apparatus, and all fires except those in the woods, which are managed by a committee annually chosen by the town. For more than a hundred years Plymouth had no means of extinguishing fires ex- cept wells of water on every man's premises. In March, 1727, a committee was chosen by the town, consisting of Isaae Lathrop, Benjamin Warren, John Dyer, John Foster, Josiah Morton, John Watson, John Murdock, Haviland Torrey, John Barnes, and Stephen Churchill, to devise some method of eon- trolling fires. In January, 1728, it was voted "that every householder shall from time to time be pro- vided with a sufficient ladder or ladders to reach from the ground to the ridge of such house, at the charge of the owner thereof; and in ease the owner or owners of such house or houses be not an inhabit- ant of the town, then the occupiers thereof to provide the same, and deduct the charge thereof out of his or their rent, on pain of the forfeiture of five shillings per month for every month's neglect after the tenth day of June next." It was also voted "that from the first day of March to the first day of December, yearly, and every year hereafter, every householder that lives between the house of Deacon John Wood, in Wood's Lane, and Eleazer Churchill, at Jabez Corner, shall at all times, within the limitations afore- said, keep in their house-yards or backsides, nigh to their houses, a hogshead or two barrels full of water, or a cistern to the value of two hogsheads, on pain of forfciture of the sum of five shillings for every sueh neglect, it being provided that, notwithstanding this order, any house which stands twenty rods from the highway or king's road shall be exempt."

In 1752 fire wards were chosen, and thereafter annually until the organization of the fire department, in 1835. In 1757 it was voted " to purchase an engine for extinguishing fires, and that the said engine be of the largest sort ealled garden engines, that will throw about fifty gallons of water in a minute." Before 1770 another engino was purchased. In 1798 the town bought a bucket-engine, which in 1829 was altered to a suction-engine, and is now owned by the town. In the same year, after the construction of

tbe aque point on Lasociatio mutual p Fire Asso bed-serem the name ourselves engine w bs Barns Russell presented engine w Tablese eng

Equipmen with the Lane, the with the if fires, Built in Street in As the reservoir |from adja Higher th in the &t

und wat und sist

assimu. la addin teen bun

boa avers le pon Esteen Tater is ally ex Eses for Tas ant:

with

159

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.

the aqueduct bringing water into the town from a point on Town Brook, near Deep-Water Bridge, an association with twenty-five members was formed, for mutual protection against fires. called the Plymouth Fire Association. The members were provided with bed-screws, canvas bags, and leather buckets bearing the name of the owner and the inscription, "For ourselves and neighbors." Iu 1801 another bucket- engine was procured. In 1823 an engine, bought by Barnabas Hedge, William Davis, and Nathaniel Russell for the protection of their iron-works, was presented by them to the town. In 1828 a suction- engine was purchased, and in 1836 still another; and these engines. until the purchase of the two steam fire-engines, in 1870 and 1874, constituted, with their equipment and hose, and two force-pumps connected with the mills at the foot of Spring Hill and Spring Lane, the fire apparatus of the town. In connection with the means thus provided for the extinguishment of fires. reservoirs in Town and North Squares were built in 1829, on Training-Green in 1834, on High Street in 1847, and opposite Pilgrim Hall in 1853. As the old aqueduct did not cross the brook, the reservoir at the Green was supplied with rain-water from adjacent roofs; and that on High Street, being higher than the head of the aqueduet, was supplied in the same manner.

In 1855 the present water-works were completed, and water from South Pond, one hundred and six and sixteen one-hundredths feet above low-water mark, was introduced into the town. With the pumps connected with the works in operation, their maximum capacity is sixty thousand gallons per hour. In addition to this, a contingent reservoir holds fif- teen hundred thousand gallons, or enough for a three days' supply for the town. By the aid of the pump an average head is maintained twenty-five feet above the pond, or one hundred and thirty-one feet and sixteen one-hundredths above low-water mark. The water is of the purest deseription, and, with the grad- ually extending sewage system of the town, prom- ises for the future increased protection to its health as well as its property. The introduction of water was anticipated a single year by the introduction of gas. It was no stranger, however, in Plymouth. In the closing years of the last century Martin Brim- mer, a son-in-law of George Watson, came into pos- session of the land and privilege now owned and oc- cupied by the Robinson Iron Company. During their possession by him a rolling-mill, slitting-mill, grist-mill, and oil-mill were built on the premises ; and within their limits Mr. Brimmer, who was an in- genious man, and fond of experiments, manufactured

for the first time.in America earburetted hydrogen gas for illuminating purposes.

During the next succeeding years, until the out- break of the Rebellion, little occurred in the history of the town to detain our narrative. In Plymouth, as elsewhere in Massachusetts, the seed of anti-slavery sentiment was early sown, and encountered the same obstacles to its growth. Besides the interest owned by its people in local navigation, a considerable amount of tonnage in ships and barks was held by its capitalists, which was largely engaged in Southern trade, and sensitive to the touch of any movement which might tend to alienate those from whom its profits were carned. The conservative element was consequently strong, but as is always the case where capital is conservative, labor became radieal, and the anti-slavery element grew in the soil of opposition. Plymouth furnished no exception to the general ex- perienee of New England towns, and 'accepted the war when it eame, with all its extraordinary demands, with the same composure which has always charac- terized Americans in the varied scenes of their his- tory.

Before the blow was struck which precipitated hos- tilities, the Standish Guards, then in a flourishing condition, in anticipation of trouble on the part of the government of the State, had been, like other militia companies in the commonwealth, notified of a possible call for men, and of the necessity of retaining only such men in their ranks as might be willing to respond at a moment's notiee. When therefore, on the 15th of April, 1861, dispatches were received announcing the surrender of Fort Sumter and the issue of a proelamation by the President of the United States calling for the service of seventy-five thousand three months' men, Plymouth was fully prepared to perform her share in the terrible ciner- gency. Further dispatches announced that Governor Andrew had issued orders to the commanders of the Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth Regiments of Massachusetts militia to report with their commands on Boston Common on the following day. At a later hour dispatches were received by Licut. Charles C. Doten, then in command of the Standish Guards, Company B, in the Third Regiment, from Col. David W. Wardrop, of New Bedford, directing him to mus- ter his company and report to him in Boston in ae. cordance with the orders of the Governor. The necessary papers were received by the hands of a special messenger during the night. The town was at once in commotion. The company was mustered without delay, its members leaving their work of the next day in other hands, and their families to the

{

160

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

kind offices of friends, and to the promises of the seleetmen that their wants would be abundantly sup- plicd, and before midnight everything was arranged for departure in the morning. By the train leaving Plymouth at nine o'eloek of the 16th, nineteen mem- bers of the company started, being eseorted to the rail- way station by a procession of citizens, who gave them a hearty God-speed in the work in which they were about to engage. Their names were as follows :

Charles C. Doton, age 28; 1st lieut. ; merehant. Otis Rogers, age 31, 2d lieut. ; saloon-keeper. Lemuel Bradford, 2d, age 30; 4th lieut. ; nailer.

Charles H. Drew ; age 22, 1st sergt. ; lawyer.

Leander L. Sherman, age 31; sergt .; shoemaker. Augustus H. Fuller, age 27; eorp. ; mariner. ;

Frederick Holmes, age 25; clerk; moulder.

Levonso D. Barnes, age 45; private; shoemaker. Nathaniel B. Bradford, age 24; private; trader. Charles E. Barnes, 2d, age 20 ; private; earpenter. Ellis B. Bramhall, age 41; private; trader. Amasa M. Bartlett, age 22; private ; mechanic. Robert B. Churchill, age 19; private; mechanic. George H. Cbase, age 29 ; private; shoecutter. Stepben C. Drew, age 19; private; printer. Eliphalet Holbrook, age 26; private; shoemaker. Henry Perkins, age 21; private; tin-worker. Charles M. Perry, age 19; private.

James H. Robbins, age 25; private ; ropemaker.

With whom went also

Charles Raymond, age 42; lieut .- col. ; undertaker. The above were joined at Abington by

Thomas B. Atwood, age 32; corp. ; shoemaker.

Timothy S. Atwood, age 22 ; private ; shoemaker.

And in Boston by

William B. Alexander, age 31; 3d lieut. ; carpenter. John B. Williams, age 24 ; private; mason.

All of the above were Plymouth men. The eom- pany was quartered on the night of the 16th (Tues- day) in the hall of the Old Colony Railroad station, and on the morning of Wednesday, the 17th, received from Plymouth the following reeruits :

Caleb N. Brown, age 21; private; mechanic.

Charles C. Crosby, age 22 ; private.

Solomon E. Faunce, age 22; private; clerk.

Lemuel B. Faunce, Jr., age 24 ; private ; laborer. Theodore S. Fuller, age 23 ; private; printer.

George H. Fish, age 29 ; private ; laborer.

Charles H. Holmes, age 17; privato.

Daniel D. Howard, age 26 ; private; laborer.

Sylvanus R. Harlin, ago 22; privato; watehmaker.

Charles Jones, age 38 ; private ; marinor. John S. Lucas, age 27 ; private; marinor.

Charles Mason, ago 21 ; private; daguorreotypist. Charles W. Pierco, privato; mariner.

Franeis H. Robbins, age 22; privato; mason.

Henry Ripley, privato; shoemaker.

Winslow B. Sherman, age 42 ; private ; laborer. James C. Standish, age 23 ; private; blacksmith.

John Sylvester, age 31 ; private ; laborer.

Edward Smith, age 26; private; marble-worker.

On Wednesday afternoon the company embarked on the steamer " S. R. Spaulding," at Central wharf, and hauled into the stream. Wednesday evening the following additional reeruits arrived from Plymouth, quartering Wednesday night in Faneuil Hall, and joining their company on board ship on Thursday morning :

Sherman Allen, age 36; private; shoemaker.

George HI. Atwood, age 22 ; private; shoemaker.

William E. Barnes, age 26; private; carpenter.

William S. Burbank, Jr., age 24 ; private; printer.

George R. Barnes, age 25 ; private ; shoemaker.

David L. Chandler, age 27 ; private ; mariner.

Lyman Dixon, age 19; private.

Jobn F. Harten, age 24; private.

Isaac T. Holmes, age 21 ; private ; shoemaker.

Thomas Haley, age 31; private; truekman.

Asel W. Handy, age 23 ; private.

Charles N. Jordan, age 41; private ; laborer.

Franklin S. Leach, age 29; private; mariner.

Job B. Oldham, age 30; corp. ; painter.

Jacob W. Southworth, age 30; sergt .; earpenter.

John Swift, age 24; private; blacksmith.

James Tribble, age 44; private ; mason.

Before the departure of the steamer Lieut .- Col. Raymond and Frederick Holmes left the company on recruiting serviee; and Nathaniel F. Bradford, Le- vonso D. Barnes, and George H. Atwood proeured substitutes. The "S. R. Spaulding" left Boston on Thursday, the 18th, and arrived at Fortress Monroe on Saturday, the 20th, where the company was at onee embarked on the U. S. S. " Pawnee," to destroy the Norfolk navy-yard. On the 22d it was must- ered into the United States serviee. On the 30th, Lieut .- Col. Raymond and Frederick Holmes left Plym- outh for the fortress with the following additional reeruits for the company from Plymouth :

Nathaniel F. Barnes, age 25 ; private; carpenter.

David W. Burbank, age 26; private; meehanic.

Alexander Gilmore, ago 25 ; private; shoemaker. Albert E. Davis, age 19; private; baker.

Levonso D. Barnes, age 45 ; private; shoemaker. Josiah R. Drew, age 20; privato; printer.

Daniel Lucas, ago 27; private ; shoemaker. Harvey A. Raymond, age 26.

As the company had no eaptain, after its arrival at Fortress Monroe First Lieut. Charles C. Doten was chosen eaptain, Second Lieut. Otis Rogers first lieu- tenant, Third Lieut. William B. Alexander second lieutenant, and as only two lieutenants were permit- ted in the service, Fourth Lieut. Lemuel Bradford (2d) was not mustered in, but entered the government foundry at the fortress, and there remained in the employ of the government during the three months' serviee of his eomrades. Tho company spent its

ar- th

th H

tri th of ra

to SU

by 20

fel

161

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.

three months' service within the fortress and at Hampton, and reached Boston on its return in the steamer " Cambridge" on the 19th of July, and was mustered out on the 23d. In addition to the three months men in Company B. Third Regiment, Plym- outh had in the Fourth Regiment-

George W. Barnes, age 29 ; q .- m .- sergt .; trader.

At an informal meeting of the citizens of the town, called by the selectmen on the 20th of April, the following resolutions were passed :

" Resolved, That it is onr pleasure as well as our duty to see to it that our brave volunteers be encouraged by the knowledge that those near and dear to them are made the care of their fellow-citizens who remain at home.

" Resolved. That the Selectmen be requested to apply and dis- tribute. at their discretion. a sum not exceeding $2000 towards the assistance of those families who, by the sudden departure of the troops. are left in need of pecuniary aid : such sum to be raised in the name of the Town, or in such other way as the Selectmen shall deem expedient."

At a legal meeting held on the 11th of May it was voted that, " whereas. at a meeting of citizens called by the Selectmen of the town, held on Saturday, the 20th day of April last, it was voted that the Select- men be requested to distribute not exceeding $2000 towards the assistance of those families who, by the sudden departure of the troops, are left in need of pecuniary aid, to be raised in such manner as the Se- lectmen may deem expedient ; voted, that the Town of Plymouth hereby ratify the recommendation of said meeting, and direct that a sum not exceeding $2000 be distributed by the Selectmen, in their dis- cretion, to families of volunteers from this Town, who are now absent under the call of Government for three months' service."

It was also voted " that a sum not exceeding $1500 is hereby appropriated for clothing and equipping such volunteers for three years' or more service as are citizens of the Town ;" "that six dollars per month to each citizen of the Town having a family, and four dollars per month to each citizen of the Town who is single or unmarried, excepting commis- sioned officers, who shall enlist in the service of the United States for the war, shall be and the same is hereby appropriated by the Town as extra compensa- tion, for the term of actual service, during one year from the 1st day of May current, to be paid in money in such manner and to such persons as the Selectmen shall deem expedient ;" and "that the Treasurer is hereby authorized to hire such sums of money, under the direction of the Selectmen, as shall be necessary to carry the above votes into effect."

Steps had already been taken to reeruit a company of three years' men. Capt. Samuel H. Doten received i 11

from the Governor the necessary authority, and on the 20th of April held the first drill-meeting of the company, followed by the election of officers on the 6th of May, with the following sixty-seven enlisted men :

Samuel H. Doten, age 43; capt. ; clerk.

John B. Collingwood, age 35; Ist lieut., adjt. ; shoemaker.

Thomas A. Mayo, age 30; 2d lieut. : truckman.

Edward L. Robbins, age 24; Ist sergt. ; principal musician of regt. ; printer.

John M. Atwood. age 21; sergt .; clerk.

Horace A. Jenks, age 28 ; sergt., Ist sergt., 2d lieut. ; carpen- ter.

George S. Morey, age 22; sergt. ; shoemaker.

Benjamin F. Bumpus, age 19; corp. ; machinist.

Ichabod C. Fuller, age 21 ; corp., sergt. ; mariner.

John K. Alexander, age 19; private, corp. ; carpenter.

Winslow C. Barnes, age 32; private; shoemaker.

Charles C. Barnes, age 20; private; harness-maker.

Moses S. Barnes, age 29; private, corp. ; shoemaker.

Nathaniel Burgess, age 27; private, Ist lieut. ; nailer.

George E. Burbank, age 21; private ; shoemaker.

George F. Bradford, age 18; private; clerk. Andrew Blanchard, age 43; private ; laborer.

Lawrence R. Blake, age 22; private; shoemaker.

Cornelius Bradford, age 39; private; nailer. Simeon H. Barrows, age 32; private ; shoemaker.

Ellis D. Barnes, age 28; private; laborer. Thomas Collingwood, age 28; private, corp. ; shoemaker.

Sylvanus L. Churchill, age 18 ; private ; carpenter.

Barnabas Dunham, age 22; private; mariner.

Henry F. Eddy, age 20; private ; laborer.

Philander Freeman, age 27; private, trans. to regular army ; shoemaker.

Timothy E. Gay, age 33: private ; shoemaker.

William P. Gooding, age 21; private, corp .; clerk.

Thomas W. Hayden, age 27; private, corp. ; shoemaker.

James £. Holbrook, age 31; private, corp., sergt., Ist sergt. ; clerk.

Orin D. Holmes, age 20; private, sergt. ; laborer.

William H. Howland, age 31; private; mariner.

Samuel H. Harlow, age 31; private, corp. ; clerk.

Alexander Haskins, age 35; private ; laborer.

John F. Hall, age 22; private, corp .; laborer.

Henry W. Kimball, age 27; private, corp., sergt. ; mechanic.

Charles E. Merriam, age 17; private; shoemaker.

Lemuel B. Morton, age 26; private, corp. ; shoecutter.

William Morey (2d), age 24; private ; mariner. Isaac Morton, Jr., age 25 ; private ; mechanic.

John E. Morrison, age 24 ; private: shoemaker.

John A. Morse, age 44; private ; mariner.

William T. Nickerson, age 24; private, corp. ; shoemaker.

George F. Pierce, age 18; private. Seth W. Paty, age 21; private, corp. ; carpenter. William H. Pittie, age 38; private; shoemaker. John Il. Pember, age 29; private; laborer.

Henry H. Robbins, age 20; private; printer.

Albert R. Robbins, age 18; private; last-maker.

James E. Stillman, age 31 ; private; laborer. Winslow B. Standish, age 27 ; private, corp. ; shoemaker.

Albert Siminons, age 20; private ; truckman. Miles Standish, age 21; private; blacksmith. William Swift, age 34; private; mariner.

John Shannon, age 27; private, corp., sergt., Ist sergt, 2d lieut. ; mechanic.

162

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Patrick Smith, age 27; private; rope-maker. Frank H. Simmons, ago 21 ; privato; mariner.

Samuel D. Thrashor, age 17; private ; corp.

Francis A. Thomas, age 26; private; shoemaker. Loander M. Vaughn, age 21; private ; mariner. Francis II. Vaughn, age 27; private; mariner. Georgo E. Wadsworth, age 33; private, corp., sergt., Ist sergt. ; mariner.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 36

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