History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 56

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 56

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THOMAS CUSHMAN, the ruling elder of the church at Plymouth for so many years, resided on the farm that had belonged to his father-in-law, Mr. Allerton, and his house was located but a short distance from where the railroad now passes. The elder's spring is still to be seen, and is one of the few aneient land- marks that can be pointed out to the present genera- tion. He eame to the colony in 1621 with his father (Robert Cushman), who returned, leaving his son, then but fourteen years of age, in eare of Governor Bradford. In 1649 he was appointed to the office of ruling elder, and was ordained the 6th of April of that year, which office he held until his death.' From him the Cushman family of America has deseended. He was buried on the hill at Plymouth, and the spot is now marked by a handsome granite shaft, erceted in 1858 by his descendants. The original gravestone was thus inseribed :

" Here lyeth buried the body of that precious servant of God, Mr. Thomas Cushman, who after he had served his gener- ation according to the will of God, and partieularly the Church of Plymouth, for many years in the office of ruling elder, fell asleep in Jesus December ye 10th, 1691, and in the 84th year of his age."

His sons, Thomas, Isaae, and Elkanah, lived in Plympton. Isaae was minister of the church there for thirty-seven years.

Franeis Combe had lands in Roeky Nook, 1662. William Crowe at the same place, 1671. Franeis Curtis and John Cole at Jones River about 1670. John Doane was granted twelve aeres of the North Meadow by Jones River in 1640. He was an assist-

ant of Governor Winslow, 1633, and was a deputy, 1642, also a deaeon of the church. He removed to Eastham about 1644, and died in 1707, aged one hundred and ten years.

THOMAS DUNHAM had twenty aeres of land on " north side of the town about Jones River" granted to him, July 6, 1668, and twenty aeres on north side of Smelt Brook, 1670. He was killed by the Indians, probably 1675-76. His house was only a short distance from Elder's Spring, and he had left it to get his cattle, which were feeding near the woods, when he was attacked by the Indians. His body was buried on the rising ground opposite the house of the late Deaeon Henry Cobb.

SAMUEL FULLER, one of the " first comers" and the first physician of the colony, had a house and land near Smelt Brook, although his dwelling-house was on Leyden Street, in the town. He was a deaeon of the church, and had held that office previous to the removal from Holland. Soon after the settlement at Salem a general siekness prevailed there, and Gov- ernor Endieott sent to Governor Bradford for a phy- sieian. Dr. Fuller went thither, and his services were much appreciated, and Governor Endieott sent a letter of acknowledgment (under date of May 11, 1629) to Bradford. He died in 1633, mueh lamented by the colonists.

MATHEW FULLER. The name of this person is mentioned in 1643, in connection with others at Jones River, but there is nothing to show that he was of Dr. Fuller's family.

EDWARD GRAY was a prominent merchant in the colony. He arrived in this country about 1643 with his brother Thomas. There is a tradition in the family that they were enticed on board a vessel in England, and then taken away against their will when only twelve or fourteen years of age. However that may be, we find Edward Gray to have been a pros- perous merehant in 1670. At a town-meeting, Aug. 30, 1671, " The Gov", Mr. Howland, William Crow, and Joseph Howland were appt. to view a small moiety of land desired by Edward Gray to sett a warehouse on at or near the end of his ground att Roeky Nook, and make report thereof to the Towne." In June, 1678, " License is granted unto Mr. Ed- ward Gray to sell some small quantities of liquor as he may have oeeasion to such as are or may be en- ployed by him in fishing & such like oeeasions, for their use and refreshing." At the time of his death (1681) he had aequired an estate worth twelve hun- dred and fifty pounds sterling, the largest at that time in the colony. His deseendants have lived until the present time on lands oeeupied by him at Roeky

1 In the article quoted from Historical Society Collections it is stated that Sylvanus Cook was great-grandson of Calob, but by tho records it appears that Caleb was his great-unclo.

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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.

Nook. When the Old Colony Railroad was being graded, a part of an old hearthstone was discovered that was supposed to be the remains of his dwelling- house. It was very near the bridge over the railroad. He was buried in Plymouth, and his gravestone is the oldest of any now standing on the hill.

WILLIAM HANBURY. In 1640 he bought John Brown's house at Jones River for " two hundred and fourscore pounds." His name is mentioned again in 1643.

JOHN HOWLAND, one of the Pilgrims, had house and land at Jones River that he bought of John Jenney. Feb. 2, 163S. He lived in Duxbury a while, then in the town at Plymouth, but finally at Rocky Nook, where he was as early as 1639. During the passage to these shores he fell overboard, and came near perishing. Bradford thus describes the event : " In sundrie of these stormes the winds were so feiree & ye seas so high as they could bear a knote of saile, but were forced to hull for diveree days to- gither. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull, in a mighty storme a lustie yonge man (called John Howland) coming upon some occasion above ye grat- ings, was with a seele of ye ship throwne into ye sea; but it pleased God yt he caught hould of ye tope-saile halliards, which hunge overboard, and rane out at length ; yet he held his hould (though he was sundrie fadoms under water , till he was hald up by ye same rope to ye brime of ye water, and then with a boat- hooke and other means got into ye shipe againe, & his life saved ; and though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after, and became a profit- able member both in Church and comonewealthe." He was an assistant in the government for the years 1633-35. His house stood north of the residence of the late Hezekiah Ripley, and the remains of the cellar are yet visible. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Tillie, and died Feb. 22, 1672.

STEPHEN HOPKINS, of the " Mayflower" company, had a grant of twelve acres in the North Meadow, by Jones River, 1640.

MR. LEE is mentioned at Jones River in 1644. GEORGE MOORE kept ferry at the river, 1638.

WILLIAM PADDY bought part of a house at Jones River, Feb. 3, 1648, belonging to EDMUND FREE- MAN, of Sandwich, and previously (1641) had a grant of one hundred acres upland at North Meadow, by the river. He was a merchant, and quite wealthy for those times, and for several years was a deputy to the court of the colony, and probably the first col- onial treasurer. He was a deacon of the church, and much devoted to the interests of the colony. In 1651 he removed to Boston, where he died Aug. 21, 1658,

aged fifty-eight years. As some workmen were re- moving earth from the north side of the old state- house in 1830, they discovered a broken tombstone with this inseription : " Here lyeth the body of Mr. William Paddy. Departed this life August, 1658."

THOMAS PRENCE, the Governor of Plymouth Colony, 1634, 1638, and from 1657 to 1673, owned the farm at Roeky Nook that at first belonged to Mr. Allerton and afterwards to Elder Cushman. He re- moved to Eastham, 1644, and continued there until 1665, when he came back to Plymouth, and occupied the place provided by the government, known as " Plain Dealing," now in the possession of Barnabas Hedge. He died April 8, 1673, in his seventy-third year.

ABRAHAM PIERCE, as early as 1637, owned land south of Stony Brook, and probably most of what is now known as Abraham's Hill. His name is first brought to notice in 1627, when he " sold unto Capt. Miles Standish two shares in the red eow, for & in consider- ation of two ewe lambs, the one to be had at the time of weaning this present yeare, & the other at the same time Anno 1628, freeing the said Abraham from all manner of charge belonging to said shares during the terme of the nine years they are let out to halves & taking the benefit thereof." He was of Duxbury in 1643, and probably of Bridgewater, 1645, and died before 1673.

PHINEAS PRATT is mentioned at the river in 1640 and 1644, and sold fifty acres of upland and two aeres of meadow there to John Cooke, 1646.

JOHN REYNOR, the minister at Plymouth for eighteen years previous to 1654, had a grant of ten aeres by the river, and " a hundred aeres vpland thereabouts."

NATHANIEL SOUTHER had seven aeres at the river in 1640.

WILLIAM SHURTLEY'S house at Rocky Nook, 1684, stood on the east side of old road, between the land of John Gray and Smelt Brook.

JOHN WINSLOW, a brother of Governor Wins- low, arrived 1621. As early as 1636, it is recorded "that John, Kenelm & Josias Winslow & John Barnes have that porcon of grownd upon Jones River from the point of the wood right to the coming in at Stony Brook and so upward on the south side of the river."

THOMAS WILLETT, a merchant, had a grant from the court, 1639, of one hundred aeres of upland and meadow in addition to fifty aeres previously granted, lying between Jones River and the pond to the north- west of Jones River swamp. This land and four hundred contiguous aeres besides became the property

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

of Maj. William Bradford, who decded it to his son, Lieut. Samuel Bradford. He lived on this land in a house built, as some say, by Mr. Willett. It is the house still standing that was occupied by the late Kilborn Faunce, and is probably as old as any now existing in Kingston, even if not built wholly or in part at so carly a date as Mr. Willett owned the land. In 1648 he bought (with William Paddy) a house and land at the river of Edmund Freeman, said house " sometimes appertaining vnto Mr. Isaac Allerton, being bounded with the lands of Mrs Fuller on one side, and lands of CLEMENT BRIGGS and CHRISTO- PHER WINTER on the other the nether end, buting vpon Joanes River." Mr. Willett was one of the last of the Leyden company to come to the country, arriving about 1629, but he became of importance, being an assistant thirteen years in succession. In 1660 he was an inhabitant of Rehoboth, and 1664 " was chosen to confer with the commissioners ap- pointed by King Charles the Second in behalf of Plym- outh Colony making respectful professions of fidelity and allegiance." After the surrender of New York to the English, he rendered the commissioners of ap- peals great service by his acquaintance with the cus- toms, language, etc., of the Dutch, and so satisfac- torily did he perform his duties that he became very popular, and was elected the first English mayor of the city of New York. He died in Swansey, Aug. 4, 1674, where a rough monument still marks his grave with the following inscription :

" MDCLXXIV.

" Here lyeth the body of the worthy Thomas Willett, Esq., who died August ye IVth in ye Lxivth year of his age. Anno. " Who was the first Mayor of New York and twice did sus- tain the placc."

RICHARD WRIGHT. In 1660, " a small parcel of land lying near unto John Cooke's at Rockey Nook, was granted unto Richard Wright to bee a place to set an house on." 30th December, 1663. "The bounds of the land of Richard Wright on which his house standeth at Rockey Nook as it was laid out by Leiftenant Morton is as followeth : the bounds on the northerly side is a great Cloven Rocke by the seaside, and so ranging up towards the woods to a great heapc of stones within the field, and so to the path the breadth is to run Southerly from the said heape of stones to a great red oak marked on four sides, the Southerly side to run from the said red oak down- ward to the sea to a great remarkable rock and so to the sea, the length of it is from the common roadway to the sea." Previous to these dates a Richard Wright is mentioned as one of the early settlers in Rehoboth, and his estate was appraised in 1643 at

eight hundred and thirty-four pounds. Whether the two of this name were of the same family or not is unknown to the writer.

CHRISTOPHER WINTER had lands at Jones River 1648.

Thus an attempt has been made in the first part of this work to notice all the principal persons who so early took up land or resided in this part of the colony, and the list embraces several of the distinguished founders of New England. It is a pleasure to record so many events connected with their lives that they may thus be perpetuated in the memory of their pos- terity, and others who may from time to time occupy those same lands once trodden by the Pilgrims. May future generations forever cherish the names of those who first planted the seeds of civilization on these western shores, and bequeathed to us so many blessings.

" Live, live within each grateful breast, With reverence for your names possessed. Your praises on our tongues shall dwell, And sires to sons your actions tell."

CHAPTER II.

EARLY HISTORY-ANCIENT FERRIES, HIGHWAYS, AND BRIDGES -FORMATION OF JONES RIVER PARISII-INCORPORATION OF KINGSTON.

Ancient Ferries, Highways, and Bridges .- For an unknown period, before the settlement of this country by Europeans, it had been inhabited by nu- merous tribes of Indians, who had their paths or trails which connected different localities, and were probably used at first by our forefathers in going from place to place, until some of them became established roads. In the earlier records of the colony the " Payth to the Massachusetts," or the " Massachusetts Path," is often mentioned, and although it would be a difficult, if not impossible, task to locate it exactly at the present time, yet portions of it can be traced by reference to records relating to some of the more modern highways. The first mention of this path in the vicinity of Jones River is in 1637. May 10th, " It is agreed that the heighways both for horse and cart and foot, shalbe as followeth : From the town of Plymouth to Joanes River, as it was cleared, pvided it be holpen at Mr. Allerton's, by going through the old cowe yard at the river, the place being commonly called the Old Wading Place, and so through a valley up the hill, and then to turn straight to Abraham Peirce's ground, and through his ground as it is

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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.

marked, and so the old path to Massachusetts leaving Mr. Bradford's house to the west, and from Mr. Bradford's house to Steephen Tracy's ground as the way now lyeth, being already trenched a foote way from the lower steping-stones to Steephen Tracie's, the heighway lying through Steephen Tracie's field now enclosed. Also we allow a way from Francis Billing- ton's ground through the nooke, as it now lyeth, to the ferry, and from the ferry to Stephen Tracie's house and so through the meadow to the bridg." Thus it will be seen there were three routes from Plymouth over Jones River to the common point at Stephen Tracy's house, which probably stood on the present estate of Mr. Samuel Loring, of Duxbury. It was ordered March 1, 1636, "That Joseph Rogers be allowed a constant ferry over Jones' River, neer his dwelling howse, & to take a penny for the transporta- con of each pson, he, the said Joseph, maintaynig a sufficient ferry at that price."

Let us now trace the three routes mentioned : first, the way through Mr. Allerton's ground to the river was probably a little north of the present almshouse, and "through the valley up the hill" was at the northerly bounds of the land of the late Wiswall S. Stetson (where it has often been told by aged persons of a past generation as the way of an ancient road), then turn straight to the grounds of Abraham Pierce (which were on the south side of Stony Brook), then, after passing through his ground, the rest of the way to Stephen Tracy's was by the old path, which would leave Mr. Bradford's house on the west. (See pages 246, 247.) The stepping-stones mentioned secondly, were some distance down the river from the wading- place, probably as far as the wharf by the fish-yard, for if they had been much farther up the river, then it would have been necessary to have crossed the mouth of Stony Brook also, in order to have reached Mr. Tracy's house ; but, as a bridge was afterwards built near that place, it is reasonable to suppose that the way for foot-travelers by the stepping-stones was near the point we have located it. From information received it appears that the first ferry was nearly at the mouth of the river, and a direct path to the house of Mr. Tracy would not vary very much in distance from the other ways. An extract from the records relating to the ferry may be of interest :

"The vijth of July, 1638. George Moore couenanted wth the Gou & Assistante (that vpon condicon hee may haue his xxv acres of land confirmed vnto him) to keepe a sufficient cannow or ferry to carry passengers ouer at Joanes Riuer for the space of two yeares, if need require so long, and to have a penny a man for transportacon, and to make causes1 on both sides, that passengers may be transported at all tymes of the tyde."

The first bridge over the river was built in 1639, and was probably at the place first mentioned, but in a few years another one was erected just below the wharf at the fish-yard. The records do not specify the different bridges, yet the fact that there were two, accounts for the frequency of repairs which seemed necessary between the years 1648 and 1667.

March 4, 1638/9. " Whereas, there is a bridg to be erected ouer Jones Riuer, wch should have beene only for horse and man to passe, vpon due consideracon, fynding that the charges will not be much more to make yt passable for a cart, it is re- solued to make it passable for a cart to go ouer."

29th May, 1643. " It is agreed upon that - Russell shall have £4-108. to make the Causeway on the Marsh to Jones River Bridge, and to have } C. of Bread for the present, and the said sum to be levyed upon the Town in Corn at harvest next. Those that agreed to provide the said bread :

Mr. Prence, 14 1b. --

Mr. Hanbury, 14 1b. John Brown, 14 1b. Mr. Paddy, 7 1b.

And for the other 7 lb. means must he used to procure It, Provided that It be in part of payment."

1647/8, March 7. "The bridge at Joanses Riuer being dan- gerus to pase over it, both for man and beast, the Court haue ordered yt Captainc Myells Standish, Treasurer, doe see the said hridge repaired forthwith."

1652, June 29. " The Court haue appointed Captaine Standish to take some speedy course with som workmen to mend the bridge att Joanes Riuer, and if workmen will not bee procured to worke at it willingly, hee hath power heerby to presse men to work thereatt."

1652, Oct. 5. By the grand jury, "We present the town- shipps of Plymouth and Duxborrow for not repairing of Joanses River hridge."

1665, Oct. 3. " Cornett Studson and William Paybody are appointed and requested by the Court to have the ouersight of the worke in the rebuilding of the bridge att Joanes Riuer, in- tended and ordered to bee done by the countrey."

1683, June 17. "The town likewise engaged to allow three pounds, silver money, for and towards the building of a bridge over Jones River, for the use and conveniency of the neighbor- hood, which bridge shall be for horse and foot."

In 1684 the King's Highway was laid out, and its course, after leaving the present bounds of Plymouth, was as follows : Along the old road to Mr. Crowe's land, passing by the land of John Gray; along the old road (leaving William Shurtley's house on the east) to Smelt Brook ; thence through Samuel Ful- ler's, Isaac Cushman's, and Elder Cushman's land to the end of the causeway of Jones River bridge, bounded with a rock on the west side ; " and the way to Bridgewater to run up from the old road betwixt Elder Thomas Cushman's and Elkanah Cushman's tree, marked at the old road that goes to Jones River." As the King's Highway appears to be the first road laid out to the lower bridge, it is to be sup- posed that that bridge was only for foot-travelers pre- vious to that time. In 1695 the question of turning the road to its present location over the river was first agitated, but no. decisive action on the subject was

1 Causeways.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

taken for twelve years, when, in 1707, it was voted "that it is a great burden and charge to maintain two bridges over Jones' River, when one might an- swer ; that application be made to the County Court and to the Court of Barnstable that a bridge might be built higher up the river."

1708. This year the highway over the river was changed to its present way, though it does not appear upon the records that any bridge was immediately built there ; and if any, it probably was only for trav- elers on foot, as in 1715 "it was proposed to build a cart-bridge over Jones's River, near Jacob Cook's. Maj. John Bradford proposed to give towards the building said bridge what stone were on his land, and set his hand thereto. Jacob Cook likewise offered that those that did the said work should have the stones they could get off his land, in ease they would take as many loads of cobbling-stones as of binding- stones for said work. Jacob Mitchell also made the same offer. The town voted to build a cart-bridge over the said river, and chose agents to have the work executed." The sum appropriated, May 9, 1715, for this bridge was eighty pounds. In 1709 the lower bridge was burned, or partly burned, by an incendiary, as it was supposed. While the officers of the law were endeavoring to deteet the person, a wag reported to them that he saw a man going to the bridge with a live coal in his hand ; but being pressed for further information, at last revealed the secret by telling them it was only a certain gentleman walking hand in hand with a young lady whose name was Cole. The new highway, laid out in 1708, followed very nearly the Bridgewater road as it erossed the river, after it had erossed the lands of Eleazar and Elkanah Cushman, " and so along Bridg Road to the sd. Jones River, and over sd. river alongside sd. road to 2 ecdar posts marked in Jacob Cooke's fence, . . . and along said Bridgewater road to a path which crosses Maj. Bradford's land and leads to Stony Brook." This point last mentioned was probably near the place where "Mutton Lane" interseets the main road, for the old Bridgewater road crossed the burying-ground diagonally from a point near the front of the town hall. From that path the road was laid out as it now passes down the hill through the vil- lage of Stony Brook, and was afterwards called the Boston road. The court ordered at the same time that the old bridge near by this new road should be taken down, as it had become dangerous for travel.

The first bridge over Stony Brook was built at this same time. " The town voted that there should be a bridge over Stoney Brook, and ye way through the brook cleared, and a bridge over sd. brook of

about three logs breadth." Seven years after, a more substantial bridge was built there, as, Sept. 3, 1716, "The Town voated to allow Maj. John Bradford six pounds towards the building a bridg over Stoney Brook, provided he build it with stonc, sª bridg to be Twelve fect wide, threc feet high in the middle, and soe upon a strait to ye upland on each side, laid with good stones, well laid to ye acceptance of the Select- men. The Arch in ye middle to be Eight fot wide, laid with oak peices Good and Strong, well graveled, & left in Good repaire at 7 years' end after this date."

In the early times there was a road from Stony Brook towards Bridgewater across the corner of Ever- green Cemetery. The highway lately laid out from the railroad depot follows in nearly the same track until it reaches the cemetery. As it has already been shown that the Massachusetts path went from some point near the present railroad crossing to Stephen Traey's, it is very probable that the road to Bridge- water just mentioned interseeted the path at Stony Brook, which would have made a most dircct route from Duxbury to Bridgewater. Several persons from time to time had special ways to their premises granted them, and one case is here noticed : March 6, 1695. " Leave was granted to Caleb Cook and John Gray to fence their lands at Rockenook down to low water- mark upon condition that Joseph Howland may have free passage through their lands out of Rockenook up to the Highway." This was probably the present way to the wharf there.

Soon after the year 1700 a desire began to be mani- fested by the people in the vicinity of Jones River for a withdrawal from the old town and the forma- tion of a separate township for themselves. Ninety- six years had passed since the settlement at Plymouth before their first request was made for a separation, and it was not until nine years after that time that their wishes were fully granted, and the town of Kingston incorporated.

Formation of Jones River Parish and the sub- sequent Incorporation of the Town of Kingston, with the Causes thereof .- In the year 1717, forty- one inhabitants of the north part of Plymouth, with others from Plympton and Pembroke, desired to be set off as a township or precinct, and they sent the fol- lowing petition to the General Court at Boston :

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 56

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