History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 60

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 60

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July 24th. Hon. Daniel Webster's friends from Boston and many towns of the county received him at the depot. and escorted him to his country-seat at Marshfield. This was soon after his defeat in the Baltimore Convention, when he failed to receive the Presidential nomination. Three months later a sim- ilar demonstration took place in town, when hundreds were conveyed from the depot to Marshfield, October 29th, to attend the funeral services over the remains of the departed statesman.

1853. Thomas Cushman was chosen delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

1854. June 19. A terrific thunder-storm was ex- perienced in the afternoon, abont four o'clock. The services attending the first interment1 in Evergreen Cemetery were being held (as this new burial-place had not then been consecrated) when the tempest commenced, and people hastened to their homes. Seven or eight trees were struck within the bounds of the cemetery, then the spire of the new Unitarian Church was shattered by the lightning, and several dwelling-houses were damaged.

August 2d. The consecration services took place in Evergreen Cemetery this day. Rev. Frederick D. Huntington delivered the address, and Epes Sargent, Esq., the poem.

1855, Feb. 1. Col. John Sever, the first president of the Old Colony Railroad, died, aged sixty-two years.

1857. The Boston road, near the place called the " Punch-Bowls," was shortened by being laid out along the course of the ancient foot-path down the steep part of the hill.

1858. This year Kingston and Duxbury form one representative district, according to a late act of the Massachusetts Legislature.

1861. Soon after the breaking out of the Southern Rebellion this year, the town voted, May 18th, " to pay in addition to the government pay, to all persons inhabitants of Kingston who have or may volunteer in the service of their country, the sum of six dollars per month while employed in the service."

1862, March 3. One thousand dollars were ap- propriated to aid the parents, wives, and children of those mustered into the service.

July 26th. Twenty men were ordered from the town by the Governor, and the town offered one hundred dollars bounty to each person volunteering.

August 30th. The selectmen were authorized to offer a bounty of one hundred dollars to each man who may volunteer to fill the quota under President Lincoln's proclamation for nineteen thousand and eighty men from the State of Massachusetts.

1863. The sum of eleven thousand seven hundred dollars was appropriated for town expenses.

1864, April 23. The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dol- lars each for such number of volunteers as may be necessary to fill any existing deficiency in the quotas of this town under all calls of the President previous to date.

May 31st. The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars each for recruits, in anticipation of a call from the Presi- dent, and for filling this town's quota in any call previous to March 1, 1865.

1866, March 26. A committee, consisting of F. C. Adams, Philander Cobb, H. K. Keith, W. H. Faunce, and Noah Prince, was chosen to have charge of the building of a high-school house.

1867. The high-school house was dedicated May 10th.

1868. Mr. Benjamin Delano died January 19th, in his ninetieth year. He was a merchant, and was engaged in the building of vessels and in the fishing business for many years.

November 15th. Dr. Paul Louis Nichols, who had been a practicing physician in town for fifty-five years, died, aged eighty years.

. 1869, April 9. The death of James N. Sever, a prominent and worthy citizen of the town, occurred. With him the male line of the Sever name ceased in Kingston.

May 27th. Alexander Holmes, another prominent citizen, died. For years he was the president of the Old Colony Railroad.

1870. The town accepted a bequest of ten thou- sand dollars from Hon. Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester (a native of Kingston), to be applied to the relief of aged and indigent women.

1874. Frederick C. Adams died October 7th, in his fifty-third year. He was a public-spirited citizen, and made provisions in his will whereby the Farmers' Lodge, No. 189, I. O. of O. F., will receive at some future time the sum of one thousand dollars, and the

1 Mre. Julia Parris, widow of Rev. Martin Parris.

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town, at the same time, the sumn of five thousand dollars, to be devoted to certain purposes which Mr. Adams specified. He represented the town in Gen- eral Court, 1861.

1876, June 27. The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town was celebrated, and the account of the day's proceedings was published at the timc.

1877. The town hall, which was built in 1841, was remodeled this year. Five thousand dollars was appropriated for that purpose. Edward Gray, one of the seleetmen for twenty years, with the exception of the year 1858, and a most valuable man in town affairs, died April 13th.

1879. Nathan Brooks, who had been the town clerk from 1851, and treasurer since 1858, retired from the offices, and the town voted thanks for his long and faithful services.

1880. Alden S. Bradford, one of the selectmen since the year 1845, with the exception of six years, and who acted as moderator of most of the town- meetings for thirty years, retired from all town offices on account of ill health, and the town passed resolu- tions regretting his withdrawal, " as he had filled so many offices with such distinguished ability and faithfulness."

1882. George Thomas Adams, a well-known citi- zen of the town, died November 29th, in his sixty- third year.

1883, June 23. Leave was granted to " Martha Sever Post," No. 154, Grand Army of the Republic, to erect a soldiers' monument on the green. Mrs. Abigail H. Adams, widow of the late Samuel Adams, caused a soldiers' monument to be ereeted on tbe green, and it was dedicated with appropriate and interesting ceremonies November 1st.

1884. The thanks of the town were given to Mrs. Adams " for her thoughtful, tasteful, and munificent gift of the monument," and " to the surviving mem- bers of Silver Lake Division, Sons of Temperance, for their wise provision of the means by which the circular curbing around the monument was sccured and placed in position."

May 17th. Rev. Joseph Peckham died suddenly this day.1

CHAPTER IV.

ANCIENT LANDMARKS-TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.

Ancient Landmarks .- Monk's Hill, the highest point of land in Kingston, is situated near the Plym- outh line, in the southeasterly part of the township, about midway between the ocean and the bounds of Carver. It rises three hundred and twelve fcet above the level of the sea, and the view from its summit, when the atmosphere is clear, is very beau- tiful. The Blue Hills of Milton, Sprague's Hill in Bridgewater, and prominent objects in most of the towns of Plymouth County are distinctly seen. This view, combined with the ocean in the east, where the shores of Cape Cod are often visible, and the vast stretch of woodland, with hardly a sign of habitation, on the south side, gives a varied scene of singular beauty. During the wars with England this hill was one of the points where beacon-fires were lighted to alarm the neighboring towns in time of an expected invasion by the enemy. The origin of its name is doubtful, but the late William S. Russell, of Plymouth, says, "It is called in the Old Colony Records Mont's Hill Chase, a name supposed to have been applied to a hunt in England."

Indian Pond Hill. The surface of the land westerly of Monk's Hill is hilly, but no particular name is ap- plied to any of these elevations, with the exception of the one here mentioned, which is situated just on the bounds of Plympton and a short distance south of Indian Pond.

Pine Hill is in the same district, about three- quarters of a mile north of the last-named pond.

Thateher's Hill is situated at the Nook, on the easterly side of Jones River, near where it flows into the bay, and where the Pilgrim, John Howland, lived.

Pagan Hill is in the southerly part of Roeky Nook district, near the Plymouth line.

Abram's Hill, just south of Stony Brook, probably takes its name from Abraham Pierce, who owned lands there as carly as 1637. A large portion of the central village of Kingston is really on this hill, but the name is usually applied to the northerly and east- erly parts, from the junction of the roads at the Patuxet House around to the cstate of the late Wis- well S. Stetson, on the Landing road. From the brow of the hill, at almost any place between the points just designated, a very pleasant view meets the eye.

Ridge Hill extends in a northerly direction from Evergreen Cemetery towards Blackwater Pond. It

1 See history of the Second Congregational Church, p. 274.

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is a long ridge, of slight elevation. At the marsh surrounding the pond it only appears as an upland, but on the southerly shore it suddenly rises into prom- inence, and that portion is called Castle Hill. On the northerly shore a similar ridge commences, and runs nearly, if not quite. to the bounds of Duxhury. The different portions of the town have long been designated as the Village or Centre, Rocky Nook, In- dian Pond, Wapping. Northwest, Stony Brook, Trip- hammer, and Blackwater. While the schools were under the district system their names corresponded with the first six districts above mentioned.

Silver Lake. This heautiful sheet of water for many years bore the simple name of Jones River Pond. About the year 1850 an ice company was formed, and preparations were made to carry on an extensive husiness there, and to give a more attractive name to the ice there obtained was the principal rea- son why the old name was dropped and the present one adopted. The company referred to suspended business after a short time, and nothing is left to re- mind one that it ever had an existence save the name of Silver Lake. Only a part of the eastern portion of the lake is embraced within the limits of Kingston. Indian Pond is in the southwest part of the town, on the Plympton line.

Smelt Pond lies at the northerly base of Monk's Hill. and in the section between the two last named are many ponds, bearing the names Little Smelt, Rocky, Muddy, Pratt's, Lyon, Great and Little Snake, Goose, Trakle, Wolf, Turtle, Great and Little Mink Hole, and Duke's Hole. Crossman's, or Crossing Pond, as it has been incorrectly called by the townspeople, is between the villages of Triphammer and Wapping, on the south side of the Bridgewater road.

Blackwater Pond is situated in the northerly part of the township west of the Boston road. Near hy is a very small pond called the Teal Hole, now smaller than it formerly was, owing to the growth of the marshy meadow surrounding it. In ancient times it was a favorite resort for the waterfowl of that name, but for many years past they have been seldom seen there.

Jones River is the largest stream flowing into the bay from Plymouth County, with the exception of North River. It is the outlet of Silver Lake, and for the first part of its course it flows south, thence in an easterly direction, for the larger part of the way through the town, until it passes the great bridge, where it takes a northerly course for a short distance, and thence proceeds in a winding way to the sea. The tributaries to this river on the north side are Beaver Dam and Pine Brook, which unite in the

Northwest District aud join the river about one mile from its source; Hall's, Bassett's, Sampson's, and Mile Brook flow into Blackwater Pond, and the only outlet from that is Stony Brook, which joins with Tussock Brook (at a point near where the latter forms the bounds between Kingston and Duxbury), and then after a short distance empties into the river at the "Landing." On the south side, Smelt Brook, which has its rise at the pond of the same name, joins the river at Rocky Nook, about half a mile from its mouth. First, Second, and Third Brook flow into the river between the great bridge and the Plympton road. Furnace Brook runs through a part of Indian Pond district, and meets the river a short distance west of the Factory Pond. Fountain Head Brook flows into the river above Triphammer Forge Pond. Another brook, without a name, above the last, is shown on the map of the town, and finally Barrow's Brook, which flows from Plympton through a part of Wapping, has its juuction with the river at a point opposite that of Pine Brook on the north side. Gray's Brook, at Rocky Nook, is a small rivulet flowing through Spirit Pasture to the sea, just south of the wharves there.

Coutinental Field. During the war of the Revo- lution many families were very destitute, as husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers were called from home for the defense of their country. This fact, and the great depreciation of paper money, made it necessary for the towns to devise measures for the relief of many persons. This town, or individuals therein, set apart a tract of land lying northwest of Smelt Pond, so that needy families could have therefrom what wood was necessary for their use and comfort. It has ever since been known as the Continental lot or field.

Spirit Pasture. The swampy pasture, situated be- tween the junctions of the old and new roads to Plym- outh, at Rocky Nook, has for an unknown period horne the name given above. In the olden times, when the belief in ghosts, witches, and hobgoblins really produced an effect upon the minds of men, this locality was credited with being the abode of such beings, and many aged persons have given their testi- mony of the courage it required to pass tlie place in the night-time, for any unusual sound, even the rus- tling of a leaf, would be enough to send a thrill of horror to the faint-hearted. It is related that a cer- tain judge, while on his way to attend a session of court at Plymouth, was detained, so that he did not reach Kingston until after dark, and while passing the dreaded place heard a most dismal sound, accompanied at intervals by the clanking of a chain. At first a sudden fear came upon him, but he was determined

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to know what was the cause of the noises that had so startled him, and he therefore called at the house of Col. Gray, who lived just opposite, and informned him what he had heard. The colonel took his lantern and walked with the judge into the pasture in the direc- tion whence the sounds proceeded, all the while feel- ing doubtful what discovery they would make in that lonely spot where spirits were believed to abound. An old horse had been fastened with a chain about his leg, but had broken away from his confinement and fallen into a large hole (where rocks had been taken from the ground), in such a manner that the poor old animal was unable to get out. When the judge and colonel reached the place, the " spiritual manifestation" was explained. In more modern times, as the old superstitious ideas have in a measure passed away, many have been the plots and schemes laid to frighten people in that locality, especially those who were known to be returning from some jovial occasion. Within a few years the appearance of this tract of land has greatly changed, for the swampy portion has been cleared, yet it will probably continue to be known as the Spirit or Ghost Pasture.

Raboth is a name applied to a locality at Rocky Nook, south of that last mentioned, and not far from the places where the Gray families formerly lived.

Sunderland is the name of a small tract of land just at the ledge of rocks where the Old Colony Rail- road passes, and near the place that was known in the last century as Cushman's Landing. It was bought of Jonathan Cushman by William Rand, Jr., in 1763, who probably gave the name to it, as his father, Rev. William Rand, was of Sunderland, Mass., before his settlement in Kingston.

Howland's Point was at the extremity of the Nook, at the mouth of Jones River. It was formerly a more projecting point than at present, so that it re- quired greater care in sailing vessels into the river.

Flat House Dock was a short distance up the river from Sunderland, and is mentioned in the records as the place where Joseph Bradford, the son of the Gov- ernor, lived.

Pall Mall is an ancient name for a tract of meadow- land on the south of the river above the Forge Pond, at Triphammer. The hill on the Bridgewater road, in the immediate vicinity, is sometimes called by the same name.

Cohorse is a locality on the opposite side of the river from that last described. Worcester says, " The terni cohors, or cors, originally signified an enclosure for sheep or poultry, and was afterwards used to designate the number of men which could stand within such an enclosure."

Egypt is the name of a section on the road to Sil- ver Lake, between Wapping and Northwest, and where the railroad passes.

Centennial Ground is not an ancient landmark, but will be known in the future as the place where the services attending the celebration of the one hun- dred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town were held, June 27, 1876.

Nick's Rock is near Monk's Hill on the east, and is one of the points given in the boundary line be- tween Kingston and Plymouth.

Pulpit Rock is a bowlder of considerable size, situ- ated about half a mile south of the estate of William A. Thomas.

Devil's Rock is a quarter of a mile west of the mouth of Jones River, in the section that was, until a few years ago, a part of Duxbury, and is now very near the present boundary. Another small bowlder near the iron-works at Stony Brook, on the land of Deacon Foster, bore the same name, and youthful curiosity was often aroused in beholding on the top of it a depression that very much resembled a human footprint of large dimensions.

The Punch-Bowls. This was a name given to the small, deep depressions on the hill north of Stony Brook village, near the junction of the Boston and Duxbury roads.

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CHAPTER V.

ECCLESIASTICAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND POLITICAL- CHURCH HISTORY AFTER 1800-SCHOOLS-TEM- PERANCE REFORM-ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.

Church History after 1800 .- As previously stated, the history of the church thus far has been given in the annals of the town, but soon after the beginning of this century a secession from the First Church took place, followed in twenty-five years more by another. so that it becomes necessary to write separate histories of the three church organiza- tions that have since existed.

Rev. Zephaniah Willis continued as minister of the old church until 1828. He had been settled forty-seven years before any action was taken by the parislı to make any changes in the church affairs ; but on the 27th of March, 1827, a committee was appointed to wait on Rev. Mr. Willis and consult with him, and he authorized them to report to the parish "that he requests that a colleague may be settled with him." Oct. 15, 1827, Rev. W. H. White

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After

The

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received a call " to settle as colleague with the Rev. Mr. Willis." but he declined the invitation. and set- tled in Littleton. On the 11th of March, 1828, Mr. Willis sent the following communication to the com- mittee :

" Gentlemen,-Wishing to do all that is possible to promote the peace and prosperity of the society, and to meet their de- sires, I do hereby relinquish the pecuniary contract which re- lates to me as their minister into their hands, to be disposed of as they see fit. I am induced to this step by many considera- tions, only one of which need be mentioned,-the propositions which have been made for my assistance and relief in distress.

" Yours, with respect,

" Z. WILLIS."

and the work of raising the building commenced on the 12th of June. The society held their services in the town hall until the new church was completed, and there Rev. Mr. Edes closed his labors in town, preaching his final sermon on the 26th of October. The new meeting-house was dedicated Wednesday A.M., Dec. 10, 1851. Rev. Dr. Kendall, of Plymouth, : was the first minister to speak from its pulpit. Rev. James Richardson, Jr., was the pastor from July, 1853, to October, 1855.

Rev. Charles J. Bowen was installed April 30, 1856, and continued with the society about four years. During his ministry (1858), his father-in-law, Rev. Dr. Samuel Gilman, of Charleston, S. C., died in this town while on a visit to Mr. Bowen's family. Rev. Joseph H. Phipps, who had been settled in Bridgewater, was installed May 26, 1861, and re- mained with the society ten years, until his sad death, which occurred July 20, 1871. Rev. C. Y. DeNo- mandie was installed Oct. 9, 1872, and still continues the minister of the society. Since the year 1800, the office of deacon has been held by Martin Parris, George Russell, Jedediah Holmes, Jr., John Prince, Nathan Chandler, James Foster, and others. Deacon Foster was the last of the older deacons. He died July 13, 1878, in his eighty-fifth year.

On the same day it was voted "That as Mr. Willis has relinquished his pecuniary contract with the parish, he be released from the performance of pas- toral duties amongst us from and after the 18th of March. 1828. which have heretofore made a part of that contract." Jonathan Cole, of Salem, a graduate of Harvard University, 1825, was the next minister. He accepted a call, and was ordained Jan. 21, 1829. He continued in the ministry here little more than six years, and was dismissed April 25, 1835. Rev. John D. Sweet, of Norton, who was settled at South- boro', received a call in September, 1835. He was graduate of Brown University in 1829. His instal- lation took place Oct. 21, 1835, and his ministry ter- 1884. Within the past year Mrs. Joseph S. Beal made a munificent donation of ten thousand dollars to this church. It was in memory of her father, and she directed it to be known as the " Joseph Holmes Fund." minated Oct. 21, 1843. Mr. Sweet died in East Boston, December, 1852, and was buried in King- ston, Jan. 1, 1853. Augustus R. Pope, of Boston, a graduate of Harvard University, 1839, received a call Feb. 27, 1843, and was ordained April 19th of The Baptist Church .- Until after 1800 there was no one in this town belonging to the Baptist de- nomination. Mr. David Beal, a prominent merchant, was for a while the only professor of that faith, and he had united with the church in Boston of which Dr. Baldwin was pastor. In 1802, about thirty-eight persons, with their families, left the old parish on ac- count of the incorporation of the ministerial fund, and for some time they were not members of any religious society. Rev. Ezra Kendall, a Baptist minister in Middleboro', soon came among these people, and held meetings one Sabbath each month in the house of Mr. Stephen Bradford. The upper part of the house being in an unfinished state would accommodate quite a large congregation, and there the Baptist Church of Kingston was organized in 1804. Dr. Baldwin, on that occasion, preached the sermon from the text, " Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." (1 Corinthians iii. 9.) Many of the seceders from the old society embraced the tenets of the Baptists, and soon quite a flourishing the same year. During his ministry the venerable Rev. Zephaniah Willis died (March 6, 1847), aged ninety years and ten days. On the 14th of March Mr. Pope preached a discourse commemorative of his life and ministry, that was afterwards published. His ministry in this town ended July 15, 1849. He afterwards settled in Somerville, where he died May 24, 1858. Rev. Henry F. Edes supplied the pulpit for a time, and he preached the last sermon that was delivered in the old meeting-house on the afternoon of May 4, 1851, from the text, " Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory ? and how do ye see it now ? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing ?" (Haggai ii. 3.) This, the second meeting-house of the town, which had stood fifty- three years, was taken down, the work of demolition commencing on the 6th of May, and in a few days the two-steepled edifice, that had long been a promi- nent object in the town, was removed from sight, much to the regret of many. The present house of worship was built upon the same site as the former, society was doing its work. In 1806 they erected a 18

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house of worship that is still standing, and now known as Fuller's Hall. Rev. Mr. Kendall preached for them some time, but on the 23d of May, 1808, he gave his farewell sermon from the text, " It is ex- pedient for you that I go away." Samuel Glover, a graduate of Brown University, was the next minister. He began his work with the church in 1808, soon after Mr. Kendall retired, but was not ordained until March 21, 1810. He labored with the society eigh- teen ycars, until the autumn of 1826, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Allen, who was settled in November of that year. During Mr. Allen's minis- try a new house of worship was built, the same now occupied by the society, and it was dedicated Nov. 11, 1835. Rev. Mr. Stowe, of Boston, prcached the sermon from the text, " Above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." (Colos- sians iii. 14.) Mr. Allen remained until November, 1837, and Rev. John S. White was the pastor for four years. From November, 1841, until October, 1842, there was no settled minister. Rev. George J. Carleton, an evangelist, was with the society during the winter of 1841-42, and by his labors many were added to the church. He baptized fifty-seven per- sons. In October, 1842, Rev. Thomas E. Keely, of Haverhill, was settled. The following year (1843) will be remembered for the excitement produced by the preaching and prophecies of William Miller, who had predicted that the end of all things terrestrial would come on a certain day of that year. His fol- lowers were called Millerites, or, as they termed them- selves, Adventists. In this church it was the cause of a very serious division. A large number of the prominent members became converts to the new faith, and many meetings were held for the purpose of pro- moting the doctrines of the new prophet, but at last the church took action, and on the 25th of August, 1843, by a vote of thirty-seven to twenty-four, re- fused the use of the meeting-house to the Advent members. This created an intense feeling, causing many to withdraw from their usual place of attend- ance upon public worship, and they fitted up a hall that they called a tabernacle, and thus they held their meetings for several years. Some of these Advent- ists returned to their former place of worship, while others never renewed their feclings of attachment to their old church. Mr. Keely's ministry terminated in 1853. Since that time the following ministers have been settled over the society : Rev. George B. Williams, January, 1854-60; Rev. Kimball Holt, 1860-63; Rev. Josiah II. Tilton, Oct. 4, 1863, to Nov. 11, 1866; Rev. Titus H. Merriman, April, 1867, to Oct. 18, 1871; Rev. Mr. Crawley, 1872, to

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 60

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