History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 74

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 74

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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER.

with all on board was lost. never afterwards being heard from. He married Nancy Bullen, of Farm- ington, Me. They had seven children,-James, born 1915. was lost at sea when about seventeen years old ; Fanny W., died in childhood ; John, who was brought up on the farm, and after attaining his ma- jority went to sea two or three voyages, and then went to California with the early gold-seekers, where he remained two or three years, when he returned to his native town, purchased a farm, where he resided several years. and was selectman of the town ; he now resides in New Bedford ; he has two children,- Hannah J. and Herbert A., both married. Mary F., married Henry H. Smith, of Martha's Vineyard, a seafaring man ; he died in California, 1851; she is now a widow, and resides with her brother, Garrison B. Elizabeth, married Benjamin S. Clark, of New Bedford, and now resides in Brockton ; her husband was a sea-captain many years ; they have four chil- dren .- Arthur B., Elizabeth J., Fannie B. and Annie B. (twins). Garrison B. (see portrait). Nancy S., married John W. Phipps. of Maine ; he was a teacher and painter, and resided in Rochester ; they had five children,-S. Franklin B., deceased; Henry G., resides in Brockton; Mary E., deceased (this young lady, together with four other persons, was drowned April 21. 1883, by the upsetting of a pleasure-boat in Snow's Pond, Rochester. There were six in the boat,-Fannie R. Church, aged twelve; Isabella R. Church, aged ten ; Charles H. F. Church, aged eight; Ella Rounseville, aged nineteen; Albert Rounseville, aged eleven ; and Mary E. Phipps, aged twenty-three. The boat, a very frail affair, upset, and all were drowned except Albert Rounseville) ; Charles E., deceased ; Elmer E., graduated at Bridgewater State Normal School, and is now a teacher. John W. Phipps enlisted in Thirty-eighth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, August, 1861, and died of fever in New Orleans, May, 1862. He was sergeant of Company H. He was a man much respected in

Rochester, and was a member of the school committee several years.

Garrison B. Blackmer had, besides the usual attend- ance at the public schools of the town, the advantages of the private tutorship, at his father's house, of a Miss Hamblin, who taught him during summers until he was large enough to work on the farm, when his services were brought into requisition in that sphere. The father being lost at sea when the oldest child was but twelve years of age, left great responsibility rest- ing upon the widowed mother and orphaned children. When Garrison B. was but twelve years of age his elder brother went to sea, and left him at that early age to conduct a large farm. This he did with very good success. This circumstance, together with sub- sequent unexpected responsibilities which devolved upon him, contributed to make the avocation of agri- culture his pursuit through life, and he has made the old homestead his abiding-place. He assumed the care of his mother, and, later on, his widowed sisters have resided with him at the old homestead.

While Mr. Blackmer had not the advantages of collegiate training, yet he has always been a reading man, and has kept himself posted not only on the current events of the day, but has given his leisure time to the perusal of standard literature, and espe- cially all things pertaining to local historical and statistical matters. He has held many positions of office and trust in his town. He was town treasurer and collector, 1876 to 1879, inclusive; selectman, 1882-84; represented the towns of Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett in General Court, 1856; was moderator at most of the town-meetings from 1870 to 1884; and was justice of the peace seven years. He is considered one of the foremost men of the town in all matters pertaining to public interest. In politics he has been Whig and Republican, and is a member of the Christian Church of Acushnet. He is a member of Pythagorean Lodge, F. A. M., at Marion.

HISTORY OF HANSON.

BY E. B. K. GURNEY.

MUCH of the early history of Hanson is embraced in that of Pembroke, of which it was originally a part, and with the latter town formed the western portion of Duxbury till the year 1712, when Pem- broke was incorporated.

The territory of Hanson consists largely of what is known as the " Major's Purchase," bought by Jo- siah Winslow and thirty-four others of the Indian sachem Josias Wampatuck, which was executed July 9, 1662. It was " Bounded by the lands of Plymouth and Duxbury on the one side, and of Bridgewater on the other side, and extending North and South from the lands formerly purchased by Capt. Thomas South- worth unto the Great Ponds at Mattakeeset, provided it inelude not the thousand aeres given to my son and George Wampy about these ponds." It is probable that the thousand acres referred to were never bought of the aborigines, but gradually became oceupied by the early settlers as they died or left for other parts of the country. The Bridgewater line mentioned in the deed ran near where the school-house on Beal's Hill now stands in a direct line to the west part of the " Tilden place." In April, 1684, " The Propri- etors agreed and chose John Thomson (of Middle- boro'), Nathaniel Thomas (of what is now Hanson), and John Soulc (of Duxbury) a committee of said proprietors to settle the bounds of the said tract called the Major's Purchase." For this service they had grants of land set off, that of John Thomson being in the eastern part, and one of the bounds, a pitch- pine tree on the "shore of Herring pond" (now called Stetson's Pond), in Pembroke, is still standing. For about seventy-five years before incorporation Hanson was called the West Precinct of Pembroke, and so established at a meeting of the town, May 19, 1746, by the following vote : "The question was put to know whether the town would vote off the west- erly part of the town agreeable to their request and set forth in the warrant, and it passed in the negative, and then the question was put in the following words, viz. : If it be your minds that all of that part of the

town to the westward of a straight line run at right angles with a straight line from the meeting-house in Pembroke to the new meeting-house erected in the westerly part of said town, said line to begin eighty rods to the westward of the centre betwixt said meet- ing-houses, measured by the road, shall be dismissed from this town or Precinct, and be incorporated into a town or Precinct with part of the towns of Han- over, Abington, Bridgewater, and Halifax, excepting those inhabitants which are not willing to be set off, please manifest it, and it passed in the affirmative." In 1759, Elijah Cushing and Edward Thomas were chosen to join with a committee of the First Pre- cinct to settle the line more definitely, and reported : " We, the subscribers, being chosen a Committee to settle the line betwixt the two Preeinets, have accord- ingly met the committee of the First Precinct, and have considered on the affair as well as we could under our present situation, not having the grant of said Precinct, concluded that if Lemuel Crooker choose to belong to the First Precinct, that we should not con- tend in the law about his rate at present." Parish records show that the unsettled line caused various controversies, and in June, 1811, Oliver Whitten was chosen agent for the West Parish, and David Oldham, Jr., and Isaac Hatch East Parish agents, to adjust the bounds, which resulted as follows :

" We, the subscribers, being appointed agents by the two Parishes in Pembroke to renew and settle the division-line between said Parishes, have proceeded as follows, viz .: Beginning four rods and four feet down stream below Salmond's Forge, so called ; thence south one degree east to a stake and stones standing between two small pines in Seth Perry's pasture ; thence on the same course to an apple-tree standing six rods and twenty-three links to the eastward of the northeast corner of Jacob Bryant's dwelling-house; then on the same course to a stake and stones stand- ing in Halifax line." This proved satisfactory so far as the records show, but the desire to be an incor- porated town kept the subject agitated, and on Mon-

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HISTORY OF HANSON.

day, Feb. S, 1819, it was voted "To be separated from the other Parish in this town, and be incor- porated into a distinct township ; but three dissenting votes." Thomas Hobart, Esq., was chosen agent for conducting the business.' The act of the Legislature was passed Feb. 22, 1820, and the West Parish of Pembroke became the town of Hanson, a name se- lected in honor of Alexander Conte Hanson, the victim of the Baltimore mob in 1812. The facts ob- tained from the Boston Atheneum, American Traits, 1812, were collected by Rev. S. L. Rockwood, from which we copy : " Alexander Conte Hanson, the son of John Hanson, was editor of the Federal Repub- lican, Baltimore, 1812. He published articles criti- cising the administration. A mob destroyed his office and press. The paper was again started July 26, 1812, and on the same evening a mob attacked the office, and the next day Hanson and others were placed in jail for security. The mob got possession of the jail and seized nine or ten of the prisoners, and threw them down the stone steps for dead, where they lay about three hours, exposed to the bascst in- snlts. Hanson, among others, was resuscitated, car- ried out of the city, and hid in a hay-cart. In a short time popular feeling changed : Hanson was elected representative to Congress. In 1816 he was elected senator, and died in office, July 25, 1819." It appears evident that it was largely due to the influ- ence of Maj. Thomas Hobart, representative to the General Court in 1820, that this name was given to the new town. An attempt was made afterwards to change the name, but the town voted " to pass over the clause in the warrant." In the early settlement the name of Tunk (or sometimes spelled Tunck ) was given to the West Parish. From what it came cannot with certainty be determined. By some it is said to have come from a local tribe of Indians in the southern part, but, as no mention of such tribe is made in history, this is probably without foundation. Another source is that an Indian or negro of some notoriety gave the locality its name.

The area of the town comprises about nine thou- Eand seven hundred and thirty acres, and its present bounds are South Abington, Rockland, and Hanover on the north, Pembroke on the east, on the south Halifax, and on the west East Bridgewater and South Abington. The surface is generally level, though there are several hills of considerable elevation, Bonney Hill, in the central part, being one of the highest in Plymouth County. The present number of inhabitants, according to the census of 1880, is thirteen hundred and nine.

There are several small rivers and streams running

through the town, though none large enough to give any great facilities for manufacturing purposes. In- dian Head River, the earliest mentioned stream, is the outlet of Indian Head Pond, and after a circui- tous run it empties into North River. It is noticed by this name in the earliest records concerning the territory now Hanson. The northern boundary of the " Major's Purchase," when it was re-established in 1699, "was Marshfield Upper lands to Indian Head River Pond, thence to Indian Head River, and by that river till it comes to a little brook, which comes out of the swamp and empties into Indian Head River."

It is also mentioned as the western boundary of Scituate. Deane's History has the following: "March 7, 1642, we find this court order : 'The bounds of Scituate township, on the westerly side of said town shall be up the Indian Head River to the pond which is the head of said river, and from thence to Accord pond.'" By this we learn that the northern part of Hanson was originally a part of Scituate. It was on this stream, near where it crosses the road, soon after leaving the pond, that John Thomson had " four acres of meadow" set off to him for ser- vices as surveyor. This shows the value of land that produced hay, as he resided in Middleboro', and it must have cost considerable labor to transport his hay so long a distance. Drinkwater River has its source in Rockland, forms part of the northern boundary of Hanson, and cmptics into Indian Head River. According to Barry, tradition gives as the derivation of the name Drinkwater, "That an old saw-mill formerly stood near Ellis' bridge, which was burned by the Indians in 1676, and the erection of a new mill on the spot, at whose raising cold water, instead of spirituous liquors was furnished as a bever- age, gave rise to the name Drinkwater." Poor Meadow River is formed by waters running through the Abingtons from the swamps in Weymouth, and runs south through the westerly part of the town into East Bridgewater, and empties into Robbins Pond, and thence into Taunton River. White Oak Brook takes the waters of the swamps in the south- eastern part, and empties into Monponsett Pond. Cedar Swamp Brook, near South Hanson Station, takes its name from its source, and flows north through meadows into Poor Meadow River.

Rocky Run River rises in the swamp in the northeastern part, and runs north into Indian Head River, and is part of the boundary between Hanson and Pembroke. The ponds are Indian Head, Ma- quan, and a small part of Oldham, all in the eastern part of the town, also a small portion of Monponsett

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

in the southern part. Indian Head and Maquan Ponds are connected by a small brook, but are unlike in the quality of water, the first named having a muddy bottom, with some tinge of color to the water, caused by the presence of iron ore, while Maquan has a sandy gravel for its bed, with clear, sparkling water. There are also several mill-ponds formed by constructing dams.

In many localities Indian relics have been found. In some instances their settlements and camping- grounds have been determined by the remains of utensils. On the land where William Tubbs had his grant in 1684, has been found near a spring of water a portion of a pot or kettle which was doubtless broken while after water, and left to be cherished by the white man as a relic. Numerous arrow-points, broken hatchets, and various remnants of articles have been found, which show the ingenuity of the Indian to have been equal to his necessity. Many pleasant legends concerning them have been handed down which are fanciful in their conception.

Roads .- The oldest roads are known to have been the paths of the Indians. The road leading from Duxbury to Bridgewater was anciently called " The Bridgewater path." The location has been consider- ably changed in many places. It formerly turned to the west, a short distance north of the Methodist Church in Bryantville, and followed near Indian Head Pond till it came out to where the road now is, a little west of the Baptist Church, thus demonstrating that it was first used by the Indians on their way from the ponds in Pembroke to those in Hanson. There is an Indian way, so called in old deeds, leading southwest from the " Dea. Bearse place" through the swamp and woods to the ponds in Bridgewater. One of the oldest records of establishing any roads in Hanson is in 1712, when it was ordered " that a road be made from Josiah Foster's house to Cotton's mill," it being the road leading from the John Fish place, in Pembroke, to the mill at the foot of Almshouse IIill. The instructions were " to run in the most conveni- ent place," with no specifications for width or grade. The main road running north to Abington is fre- quently mentioned as the "Country road." There must also have been roads or ways at an early date that are now disused, and some entirely obliterated, as the site of houses can be found that are far from any linc of travel.

Early Settlers .- It is not known who first settled in what is now Hanson, nor the time, but as early as 1679 James Bishop owned land on Indian Head River, and was living in 1710. The name was originally spelled Bushop.

In 1684, William Tubbs was granted land "upon condition that he bear his part of the church and town charges." IIis land was adjoining that of Abraham Peirce and Nathaniel Thomas. The land of Nathaniel Thomas was in the northwestern part, and was granted him for services in dividing the " Major's Purchase" into lots. It is worthy of note that his homestead has never changed hands by deed, but passed from father to son by inheritance. The, Congregational Church lot is from this land.

In 1712, Josiah Bourne, great-grandson of Thomas Bourne, one of the first settlers in Marshfield, bought a large tract in the extreme southern part, next to the " Great Cedar Swamp," "with ye house on it," and traces of its location can still be seen. It is said of him that he was small in stature, a man of good prac- tical sense, determination, and perseverance, who made the hills and valleys laugh and shine with their abund- ance. He had three sons and five daughters, whose descendants are scattered over various parts of the country.

Elijah Cushing, born 1697, bought land farther north, and about 1730 built the house now standing, which bears his name, and which has been owned and occupied by his descendants to the present time. It is a large, commodious two-story house, such as were built at that period, and with care might survive many of later date. Mr. Cushing was one of the principal men of the parish and took a prominent part in all its proceedings. He died in 1762, and lies buried in the old town burying-place, where his tombstones attract attention by their immense size.

The Bisbees and Peirces were early located on the Bridgewater road, in the vicinity of South Hanson Station, on the Old Colony Railroad.

Later we find the names of Smith, Torrey, How- land, Robinson, Munroe, Bonney, Beal, Stetson, Soper, Hobart, Phillips, Soule, Hayford, Cole, Gould, Allen, Perry, Hamlin, Barker, Dammon, and others. Eleazer Hamlin, who was prominent in parish matters, was the grandfather of Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine. Many of these names have entirely disappeared from the town. These were men of intelligence and re- spectability, whose lives were given to activity and usefulness.

Ecclesiastical History .- When the early church history of any town is written, it necessarily gives much of the civil, as church and parish were so closely allied that to know the one involves the other, and the character of the people is found in all their reeords.

Mr. Baylies, the historian of Plymouth Colony, has said, " The clergy were the principal instruments in keeping alive the spirit and enterprise of the English

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HISTORY OF HANSON.

race in the wilds of America, and to them in a great degree the people owe their prosperity."

Anticipating the duty of supportiug the church and its institutions, the West Parish erected a meeting- house early in 1746, new style, mention being made of it in the precinct division. The means of raising money being limited. the finishing and furnishing progressed slowly. At a meeting March, 1747, it was voted " To sell vacant room below in the West meeting-house in said town. suitable for pews, to the highest bidder ; and whoever purchases a vacancy for a pew, shall be obliged to get it built in the same manner and form as the pews are built in the old meeting-house in Pembroke, and to be completely built and finished by the last day of September, 1748, and if any man fails of getting his pew built by that time, his pew shall be forfeited to said precinct." At intervals, for sev- eral years. similar votes were passed, showing the work was a long one.

For two years no one was settled as minister, but candidates preached on probation. a Mr. Frost being the first recorded. Then followed John Brown, Nathaniel Gardner, Cotton Brown, Jonathan Win- chester. and probably others, each preaching from one to two or three months. It was early decided not to hear any as candidate who had been ordained else- where, thus securing a young man whose pastorate should have a lengthy prospect if no other, but, to their credit, they desired a man of education.

On the 29th day of February, 1747, old style, it was voted .* to settle Mr. Gad Hitchcock in the work of the ministry if he can be had," and a committee chosen to confer with him, who should acquaint him with the salary they would pay and terms of settle- ment.

. His answer. dated March 28, 1748 (the next month ), gives evidence of his wisdom and considera- tion in stating his needs financially and socially. The following is a copy :

" To the Inhabitants of a new Precinct lately formed by the sanction of the General Court out of the following towns, viz. : Pembroke, Hanover, Bridgewater, Halifax, and Abington, now in meeting assembled :

" GENTLEMEN,-I have for some time had under consideration the late invitation you gave me to settle in the work of the min- istry among you, and it being an affair of importance, I have therefore asked that wisdom from above which is profitable to direct in all such cases, and have also desired my friends at College and other gentlemen to assist me by their advice in my determinations with respect to it, and upon the advice which I have received, as well as by seriously weighing the matter in my own mind, I have at length come to the following conclu- sion, viz. : that the offers which you made me of one hundred pounds new tenor, to enable me to settle among you, is not suf- ficient to do it, nor the annual salary of the same sum and tenr to give me a convenient support. I am therefore obliged to tell

you that though I thank you for your respect, yet I don't think it proper to accept of your call; hut, however, considering the unanimity of your call, and relying upon the continuance of your affections towards me, I am free and willing to settle in said office among you upon the following conditions, viz. : First, that you grant me six hundred pounds old tent in bills of this province, to enable me to procure a settlement among you ; secondly, that you grant me four hundred pounds old tent in bills of the province aforesaid as a salary for the current year, and afterwards add ten pounds old tent per annum till it shall have risen to four hundred and fifty pounds of the province and tenor aforesaid, which shall then be my following annual salary ; and, thirdly, that you pretty unanimously vote the ful- fillment of the conditions above.

"These things, gentlemen, are what I think reasonable to he granted to me if I settle in the work of the gospel ministry among you, in order to my proceeding with becoming cheerful- ness and alacrity in that arduous work, and therefore I thought proper to lay these before you. I have now nothing further to add, only I would just recommend unto you unity, peace, and charity in the weighty affair of the present meeting and in all the future transactions of life, and subscribe myself a real friend to your best interests and most obedient humble servant,

" GAD HITCHCOCK."

This answer proved satisfactory, and the ordination was arranged and ordered for " the first Wednesday in October, 1748, and Elijah Cushing, Esq., to have one hundred pounds, old tenor, for providing the entertainment."

Rev. Gad Hitchcock, son of Ebenezer Hitchcock and Mary Sheldon, was born in Springfield, Feb. 22, 1719, graduated at Harvard College, 1743, and was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1787. He was brother of Col. Daniel Hitchcock, who died in the Revolutionary army in 1777. His father's ancestors were in Springfield and New Haven, Conn., as early as 1644. On his mother's side he descended from Governor George Willis of Connecticut, and the Hon. John Pynchon, "the father of Springfield."

In an article published in 1865 in Harper's Maga- zine, the writer says, " Dr. Hitchcock was celebrated for his patriotism and his fearlessness in avowing it, and in doing all that he could for the cause of his country. He sometimes acted as chaplain in the army of the Revolution, and never shunned the dangers to which the soldiers were exposed."

He was a member of the convention that framed the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780. He preached the election sermon before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1765. He preached the elec- tion sermon before Governor Gage in 1774, from the text, Prov. xxix. 2 : " When the righteous are in au- thority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." In it he says, after commenting in severe terms upon the calamities re- sulting from the " reign of the wicked," " We need

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 74

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