History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 72

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 72

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Among the invited guests in attendance were Lieu- tenant-Governor John D. Long, of Hingham ; Attor- ney-General George Marston, of New Bedford ; Hon. John B. D. Coggswell, of Yarmouth, president of the

1 By C. P. Howland.

328

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Senate ; IIon. William W. Crapo, M.C., of New Bed- ford ; Hon. Thomas Russell and wife, of Boston ; John W. Hammond, Esq., city solicitor, Cambridge ; Edward Atkinson, Esq., Brookline; George O. Shat- tuek, Esq., Mattapoisett ; Hon. Charles J. Holmes, Fall River ; John Eddy, Esq., Providence, R. I .; Gen. E. W. Pierce, Frcctown ; Mrs. Zerviah Gould Mitch- ell, and her two daughters, Tewelema and Wotoneka- nuske, North Abington ; Henry Morton Dexter, D.D., New Bedford, editor of the Congregationalist ; Rev. William H. Cobb, Uxbridge ; Rev. Isaiah C. Thatcher, Lakeville ; Rev. Thomas T. Richmond, Taunton ; Hon. William T. Soule, mayor of New Bedford ; Rev. Frederick Upham, D.D., Fairhaven ; Hon. Bo- num Nye, North Brookfield ; Matthew H. Cushing, Esq., Middleboro'; George M. Barnard, Esq., Matta- poisett ; William H. Sherman, Esq., New Bedford ; Noah C. Perkins, Esq., Middleboro'.

The officers of the day were as follows : Gerard C. Tobey, Esq., of Wareham, president ; Wilson Barstow, Esq., of Mattapoisett, vice-president ; George Pur- rington, Jr., of Mattapoisett, chief marshal; Rev. Henry C. Vose, of Marion, toast-master; Rev. Wil- liam Leonard, of North Rochester, chaplain.

The chief marshal selected for his aids Joseph L. Cole and Henry A. Shurtleff, of Mattapoisett ; Wil-

liam H. C. Delano and Dr. Robert T. Delano, of Marion.

The Standish Guards, of Plymouth, Company H, First Regiment Infantry, M. V. M., Herbert Moris- sey, captain, tendered their services as escort on the occasion, and were accepted.

The Middleboro' Brass Band, twenty-two men, J. M. Carter, leader, discoursed delicious music.

A selected choir of fifty voices, in charge of George Mason Delano, of Marion, sang at intervals appropriate airs, that added much to the interest of the occasion.

The historical oration was delivered by Rev. Noble Warren Everett, of Wareham, a grandson of one of the early ministers of the old Rochester plantation.

At the conclusion of the oration an intermission was taken for dinner, which consisted of roast clams, baked fish, corn, potatoes, lobsters, tripe, bread, tea, coffee, etc. One hundred bushels of clams consti- tuted the main portion of the bake.

After dinner, the vast multitudes gathered about the stand again, when responses to toasts were made by most of the eminent men present.

But few historic celebrations within the limits of the Old Colony have drawn together such an immense assembly, and at none has there been more of the feast of reason and the flow of soul.

HISTORY OF ROCHESTER.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY, ETC.1

Derivation of Name-The Sippican Grant-First Settlements- First Proprietors' Meeting-Names of Proprietors-Indian Claims-Names of First Settlers-Incorporation of Town- Occupation of Inhabitants-Manufactures-The French War -Revolutionary War-Votes of the Town-Names of Sol- diers-Timothy Ruggles, The Tory Champion-Lieut .- Col. Ebenezer White-Elnathan Haskell-War of the Rebellion- Rochester's First Representative-Petition for Annexation to Plymouth County.

THE town of Rochester received its name from the ancient city of Rochester, in Kent, England, whence many of the first settlers came. It is recorded in history that the oysters found on those shores were celebrated by the Romans for their excellence, and the pioneers, finding an abundance of delicious shell- fish here, in memory of their former home, very ap- propriately gave to this tract the name of Rochester.

First Settlement .- How the white men first be- came possessed of the Sippican or Rochester territory, whether by purchase or conquest, we are unable to determine, and no gleaner who has preceded us has been able satisfactorily to answer this question. A large part of it, but not the whole, as stated by some, was granted to Thomas Besbeck and others, Jan. 22, 1638-39. In 1647, "Liberty is granted unto the townsmen of Plymouth to make use of the land at Sippican for herding and keeping of cattle and wintering of them there as they shall see cause."

In 1651,-

"For the continual support of the township of Plymonth for the place and seat of government, to prevent the dispersing of the inhabitants thereof, it is ordered that Sippican be granted to the town of Plymonth to be a general help to the inbabitanta thereof, for the keeping of their cattle, and to remain for the common use and good of the said township."

In 1666, King Philip, sachem of Pokanoket, youngest son of Massasoit, gave power "to Watuch-

poo and Sampson, two Indian chiefs, and their breth- ren, to hold and make sale of these lands to whom they pleased."

And on the 24th of December, 1668, Philip in- formed the honorable court at Plymouth that they were for sale.

In Plymouth court orders dated June 3, 1679, we find the following :

"In answer unto the proposition of several that would pur- chase lands at Sippican and places adjacent, the Court are glad to take notice of what they propound and offer themselves to ohlige in order to a comfortable settlement of a Plantation there, and shall be ready to accommodate them as far as they can, on reasonable and easy terms, and give them all due en- couragement, if they can procure some more substantial men that are prudent persons and of considerable estate that will make a speedy settlement of themselves and families with them, and we desire and expect to hear further from them at the next meeting of this Court by adjournment in July next, at which time, we may, if satisfied in the premises, bargain with them for the lands they desire, or put it in a way to be done."

It seems that " some more substantial men, who were prudent persons," were procured, for on the 22d of July, 1679, the purchase was made and the deed was given. On the same day the purchasers met, organized, and transacted considerable business, at the house of Mr. Joseph Bradford, in Plymouth.

Joseph Lothrop.

Aaron Barlow.

Barnabas Lothrop. Moses Barlow.

Kanclm Winslow. John Perry.

William Clark.

Samuel Hammond.

William Bradford. Samuel Davis.

Ralph Powell.

Benjamin Foster.

Joseph Bartlett. Benjamin Bartlett.

John Burge.

Elizabeth Ellis.

Joseph Burge.

Joseph Dunham.

George Morton.

Thomas Hinckley.

William Dexter. Thomas Clarke.

Samuel Briggs.

John Cotton.

Seth Pope.

Jobn Bradford.

Samuel White.

William Peabody.

Joseph Dotey.

The names of Samuel Arnold, William Connett, and the Ministry share were added to the list subse- quent to 1679.

1 Compiled from the very able historical address delivered by Rev. N. W. Everett, at Rochester, July 22, 1879.

329

330

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

The territory they purchased embraced the whole of Rochester, Mattapoisett, Marion, and a much larger part of Wareham than has generally been supposed. The deed shows that the easterly line was the westerly jumping brook, now known as the Sil- vanus Besse Brook, the Agawam and Wankinco Rivers. But they must have soon purchased additional land, for hundreds of acres were assigned to Thomas Clark and others on the east side of the Wankinco River.

Soon after the purchase was made, an Indian named Charles, alias Paumpmutt of Ashimuitt, claimed a portion of the purchased possessions, but on the payment of six pounds, New England money, renounced all title.

Nov. 19, 1769, Lieut. Joseph Lothrop, agent of the company, paid Peter Suscacow five shillings to satisfy his claim.

In 1683, William Connett, an Indian, claimed the whole land they had purchased. He proved a bitter and stubborn contestant, but finally entered into an agreement with Thomas Hinckley and Joseph Lo- throp that was satisfactory to both parties.

After this the whites remained in undisputed pos- session.

It is probable the first settlers took up their resi- dence here in 1680.

Their names, as given by Barber, are as follows :

Rev. Samuel Arnold. Jeb Winslew.

John Hammond.

Meses Barlow.

Samuel Hammond.

Aaron Barlow.

Jacob Bumpns. John Haskell.

Abraham Helmes.

Samuel White.

John Wing. Jeseph Dotey.

Joseph Burgess.

- Sprague.

Rochester was incorporated as a town June 4, 1686.

Industrial Pursuits .- For a long period after the first settlement the principal occupation of the inhab- itants was agriculture. The products of the soil, to- gether with game from the woods and fish from the adjacent waters, gave them an ample subsistence.

During the war of the Revolution, when salt was in great demand, the citizens embarked largely in manufacturing this article by boiling sea-water. About the year 1806, the making of salt by evapo- ration was commenced and continued some forty years.

In former years ship-building has been carried on to a considerable extent.

The first cotton-factory here was built in 1812. This and the fulling-mill occupied the present site of Parker mills.

In 1816, Curtis Tobey, Esq., erected a cotton-fae-

tory on the Weweantit River, and in 1823, Benjamin Lincoln built another on the same stream.

In 1824, Pardon Taber built a paper-mill on the Weweantit; and another paper establishment was erected near the Tremont Depot, by Wheelwright & Co., about the year 1864.

In 1825 the manufacture of hollow-ware gave employment to hundreds of citizens, and the business was carried on to a greater or less extent for many years prior and subsequent to that date.

French War .- In the French war of 1757-58 nine citizens of Wareham-John Batcs, Barnabas Bates, Jabez Besse, Henry Saunders, Oliver Norris, Joshua Besse, Ebenezer Chubbuck, Joseph Norris, and Samuel Besse-went to Cape Breton and assisted in taking that place, some in the land forces and some in the navy, and Samuel Besse lost his life in the ex- pedition. About the same time, Nathaniel Besse, Gershom Morse, Newbury Morse, Elnathan Sampson, and Nathaniel Chubbuck went into the Northern army and were employed in taking Canada.

Also there were three Indians who resided in this town, named Jo Joseph, Sol Joseph, and Jabez Wickett, who went and fought against the hostile Indians on the Canadian frontier. The Nathaniel Chubbuck already mentioned was in the English army at the time it was defeated near the city of Carthagena, in South America, in 1741, and also at the taking of Havana, in Cuba, in 1763.

Revolutionary War .- The town of Rochester took action in reference to the approaching struggle at an early day.

On Dec. 28, 1772, after reading the letter of cor- respondenee from Boston, chose Deacon Seth Dexter, Samuel Briggs, Jr., Ebenczer White, Nathaniel Ham- mond, David Wing, Noah Sprague, and Thomas West to consider the matter and report at the ad- journed meeting.

Jan. 11, 1773, they reported the following resolves, which were adopted by the town :

" Resolved, That we are entitled to all the Rights of natural born subjects of Great Britain, and have not forfeited said Rights.

" That the acts of Parliament raising a revenue in America, with the extended powers of the Board of Commissioners and Court of Admiralty, and the stationing a part of the navy and treeps here are in variance of our Rights established by Char- ter.

" That the Governor's salary being made independent of the General Court is a dangerens measure.

" That the establishment of the Judges of the Supreme Court is a most alarming innovation, and if these proceedings aro submitted to, our General Court may soon be considerod a riot- eus body.

" That we have a right to petition for a redress of those grievances, and if such petition is treated with neglect or con-

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331

HISTORY OF ROCHESTER.

tempt, it is a yoke which our fathers, or we, are not able to bear. 1 And we do instruct our Representative in the General Court not to act inconsistent with these resolutions, as that will be very displeasing to his constituents.

" And that he in conjunction with the House of Representa- tives pursue every legal measure for our political salvation.

" That we pay our grateful acknowledgments to the town of Boston for cirenlating through the Province a plan which we hope will be productive of happy effects."

The town further voted, that if our representative or any other person in this town either has or shall basely desert the cause of liberty, for the sake of being promoted to a post of honor or profit, or for any other mean view to self-interest, shall be looked upon as an enemy to his country and be treated with that negleet and contempt that he justly deserves.

June 30, 1774, voted to sign a covenant to break off trade with Great Britain until the Boston Port Bill is repealed and we restored to our constitutional rights.

Sept. 29, 1774, instructed our representative not to act in conformity with the act of Parliament alter- ing the charter, etc., and to adhere to the provisions of the charter of William and Mary, and if dissolved to form into a Provincial Congress.

Chose Charles Nye to examine the town stock. Voted to purchase forty fire-arms, and to purchase powder so that the stock be four hundred pounds, and lead in proportion.

Chose a committee to call the companies together for the choice of officers.

June 7. 1775, accepted of the association recom- mended by Congress, and chose Nathaniel Hammond, John Doty, and David Wing a committee to see it carried into effect.

Voted that every minute-man (amounting to one hundred) that shall attend three half days in each week. as shall be appointed by their captain, and twice a month in a body to the 1st of April, and shall be ready to march if needed, and cquip them- selves, shall have one shilling a week.

March, 1775, chose Nathaniel Briggs, Joseph Parker, and David Wing to sec that the minute-men equip themselves.

Rochester company of minute-men that responded to the first call, April 19, 1775 :

Commissioned Officers.

Edward Hammond, cap- Josiah Briggs, lieutenant. tain. Timothy Ruggles, ensign.

Non-Commissioned Officers.

Sergeants.

William Nye. Jonathan King.

Stafford Hammond. Sylvester Bates.

Church Mendall.

Elisha Brigge.

Corporals. David Snow. William Crapo.

Prirates.

Ichabod Nye.

Nathan Perry.

William Randall.

Isaac Washburn.

Nathan Savery.

Japhet Washburn.

Bassett.

Caleb Combs.

Richard Warren.

Joseph Hammond.

Nathaniel Ryder.

Benjamin Haskins.

George Hammond.

John Briggs.

Joseph Clark.

Elijah Bates.

Shubael Hammond.

David Bates.

Rufus Bassett.

Daniel Mendall.

Jonathan Clark.

Samuel Snow.

Lemuel Caswell.

Nathan Sears.

Nathan Nye.

Nathaniel King.

Seth Mendall.

Weston Clarke.

Moses Bates. Robert Rider.

Consider King.

Silas Bassett.

Hathaway Randall.

Ebenezer Foster.

Seth Hathaway.

George Clarke.

Elijah Caswell, Jr.

William Hopper.

Rochester second foot company of militia that re- sponded to the " Lexington alarm," April 19, 1775 :

Nathaniel Hammond, capt. John Briggs, sergt.

Nathaniel Briggs, lieut. Lemuel LeBaron, sergt. -

Increase Clapp.

Samuel Jenness. Samuel Sampson.

John -.

Ichabod Clapp.

Charles Sturtevant.

Joshua Allen.

-- Sturdevant.

John Allen, Jr.

- Hammond.

John Clarke.

Joel Ellis. Hosea Boles.

Nathaniel Sears. John Keen.

Joseph Haskell (2d). Joseph Wing.

Benjamin Dexter. Ebenezer Hammond.

Daniel Hammond. Elisha Briggs.

(Privates, scc roll at the State-House.)

July 3, 1775, voted to hire one hundred pounds to buy war stores.

Voted that those who have good guns, but no ammunition, repair to the keepers of the town stores and draw half a pound of powder aud balls answer- able, they paying for the same or leaving their · names.

Aug. 7, 1775, sundry persons subscribed two hun- dred and sixteen and three-quarters yards of thick cloth for the army.

May 23, 1776, voted that when Congress shall declare independence " we will defend them with lives and fortunes."

Nov. 27, 1777, made choice of Seth Dexter, E. Hammond, and E. Haskell a committee to supply soldiers' families.

Oct. 9, 1778, chose a committee of three to sup- ply the families of soldiers who are now in the Conti- nental army.

The patriotism of this town was intense, and it is a historical fact that Rochester furnished more men

Corporals. - Briggs.

332

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

in proportion to territory or inhabitants than any other town in the Old Colony. But there was one notable exception. The Tories of New England found their great champion in the person of Timothy Ruggles. He was the son of Rev. Timothy Rug- gles, and was born in this town in 1711, and gradu- ated at Harvard University in 1732. He represented the town in the Legislature in 1736. In the old French war in 1755, with the rank of brigadier- general, he led a body of troops to join Sir William Johnson. He distinguished himself in the action with Baron Dieskau, for which he was rewarded by the gift of a lucrative plaee.

In 1757 he was appointed associate justice of the Common Pleas, and subsequently placed at the head of the beneh of that court.

To the Congress of nine colonies at New York, in 1765, he, Otis, and Partridge were the delegates from Massachusetts. Ruggles was made president of that body. His conduct gave great dissatisfaction to the Whigs of Massachusetts, and in addition to a vote of censure of the House of Representatives, he was reprimanded in his place from the Speaker's ehair.

He became, as the Revolutionary quarrel advaneed, one of the most violent supporters of the ministry, and he and Otis, as the leaders of the two opposing parties, were in constant collision in the diseussions of the popular branch of the government.

In 1774 he was named a mandamus couneilor, which increased his unpopularity to so great a degree that his house was attacked at night and his cattle were maimed and poisoned. He died at Digby, Nova Seotia, in 1798, aged eighty-seven years.

Sabine, the historian, says of him, " General Rug- gles was a good scholar, and possessed powers of mind of a very high order. He was a wit and a misan- thrope, and a man of rude manners and rude speech. Many aneedotes continue to be related of him which show his shrewdness, his sagacity, his military hardi- hood and bravery. As a lawyer, he was an impres- sive pleader, and in parliamentary debate able and ingenious. That a person thus constituted should make enemies, other than those which men in promi- nent publie stations usually aequire, is not strange, and he had a full share of personal foes. In Mrs. Warren's dramatic piece of ' The Group,' he figures in the character of Brigadier Hate-all."

Lieut .- Col. Ebenezer White, of this town, performed good service for the eause of his country in the " days that tried men's souls." He was commissioned as lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Regiment Plymouth County Militia in the first year of the Revolutionary war, and while participating in one of the engage-

ments that took place in Rhode Island had a part of the hilt of his sword shot off. In the cemetery at Rochester Centre, on that part called "Rochester Town," stands an old brown stone, bearing the follow- ing inscription : " Memento Mori, Sacred to the mem- ory of Colonel Ebenezer White, who died March, 1804, aged eighty. He was 19 times chosen to rep- resent the town of Rochester in the General Court ; in 14 of which elections he was unanimously chosen. As a tribute of respect for his faithful services, the town ereeted this monument to his memory."

Elnathan Haskell, of Rochester, was major of ar- tillery in the Continental army. His likeness appears in one of the historical paintings that adorn the dome of the eapitol at Washington.

"Ensign Ebenezer Foster was killed at the taking of Burgoyne, Sept. 19, 1777, in the 21st year of his age."

In the town records the following unique biography may be seen : "Ichabod Burgess departed this life in 1834. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and during the whole war he nobly dared to meet in awful fight the enemies of his country. He fought and bled and conquered ; and now has conquered his last enemy and joined his glorious file leader, Washington, in glory."

The old Revolutionary heroes of Rochester sleep their last sleep, and nearly all those who listened to their deeds of valor have followed them.

Nathan Willis was born in West Bridgewater in 1763. He moved to Rochester shortly after 1789, and represented that town in the General Court in 1799 and 1800.

He was also representative of Rochester for the politieal year 1804-5. He was a senator of Plymouth County for the politieal year 1805-6, and for the seven ensuing political years. In 1814 or 1815 he moved to Pittsfield, Mass. He was a member of the Governor's Couneil for the political years 1824-25 and in 1825-26, and was candidate for Lieutenant- Governor in 1832 and for several years after. He was many years chairman of the seleetmen of Pitts- field, and was one of the board of eounty commis- sioners for Berkshire County several times. He rep- resented Pittsfield in the General Court in the years 1831 and 1832.

The first representative of Rochester in the General Court (1692) is said to have been Samuel Prince, formerly of Sandwich, and father of the famous an- nalist of New England, grandson of Governor Thomas Hinekley, of the Cape.

A Scrap of History .- " At a Great and General Court for her Majesty's Province of Massachusetts

333

HISTORY OF ROCHESTER.

Bay in New England, began and held at Boston, upon Wednesday, the 28th day of May, 1707, and con- tinued by prorogations until Wednesday, the 29th day of October following, by their session :

" In Council-The following orders were passed in the House of Representatives upon the petition of the town of Rochester praying to be annexed to the County of Plymouth. Read and concurred in.

" Ordered-That the prayer of the petition be granted : rates already assessed on the County of Barnstable to be paid there : and that for the future that they be annexed to the County of Plymouth, any usage or custom to the contrary not- withstanding.

" ISAAC ADDINGTON, Secretary.

" Transcribed Dec. 31, 1824. per Abram Holmes, T. Clerk."

It will be seen from the above that the original town of Rochester. including the present towns of Rochester, Mattapoisett, Marion, and Wareham, was for nearly thirty years a part of Barnstable County prior to its annexation to Plymouth County.

CHAPTER II.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, ETC.

First Congregational Church-Methodist Episcopal Church- Congregational Church, North Rochester-The Drowning Accident of 1553-List of Representatives-Military Record.

First Congregational Church, Rochester.1-In the year 1683, three years before the incorporation of the town of Rochester, came here Rev. Samuel Shive- rick to preach to its people. He was a Huguenot, and, escaping from Catholic persecution in France, he came to this spot, where he preached from 1683 to 1687, removing then to Falmouth. In 1687, Rev. Samuel Arnold began his labors as the second min- ister of Rochester, and preached sixteen years before he could form a church, but in 1703 the following entry appears in the old church records :

" It bath pleased our gracious God to shine in this dark corner of this wilderness, and visit this dark spot of ground with the day-spring from on high, through his tender mercy, and to settle a church according to the order of the gospel, Oc- tober 13th, Anno Domini 1703."

At the close of Mr. Arnold's pastorate, which prob- ably was the day of his death, Feb. 9, 1709, the church had thirty-five members.

The next minister, Rev. Timothy Ruggles, was

ordained Nov. 22, 1710, and during his ministry of nearly sixty years three hundred and five members were gathered into the church of Christ. On a slate- stone slab standing in the old cemetery at Rochester Centre is the following inscription :

" In memory of ye Revd Timothy Ruggles, pastor of ye First Church of Christ, in Rochester, who was an able Divine, and a Faithful minister. Having a peculiar talent at composing Differences, and healing Divisions in Churches he was much employed in Ecclesiastical Councils, and having spent bis Days and strength in the work of his Lord and master, Finished bis course with Joy, and departed this Life October ye 26th, 1768, in ye 84th year of his age, and the 58th of his ministry. They that be wise shall shine as the Brightness of ye Firma- ment, and they that turn many to Righteousness as ye stars for ever and ever."

During Mr. Ruggles' pastorate, the Second Church, of Rochester, now Mattapoisett, and the Third, now North Rochester, originated from this, the former in 1736, the latter in 1758.

Rev. Jonathan Moore, the fourth pastor, was or- dained over the " First Church" of Rochester, Sept. 7, 1768, and in the nearly thirty years of his min- istry ninety-five members were added to the roll of the church.

Mr. Moore was somewhat noted for his cccentricity, and this might have been the cause of many of the difficulties which clouded the latter years of his pas- torate.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 72

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