USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > History of Rehoboth, Massachusetts; its history for 275 years, 1643-1918, in which is incorporated the vital parts of the original history of the town > Part 10
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"Lieut. Nicholas Peck and Gilbert Brooks chosen deputies."
At his Majesty's Court of Assistants held at New Plymouth, July 7, 1685, a Deed of Confirmation was given, rehearsing that "The first grant of the said township being eight miles square [was] granted in the year 1641 unto Alexander Winchester, Rich- ard Wright, Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Joseph Peck, Mr. Stephen Paine and divers others." The bounds in this old deed are mostly indicated by marked trees, trenches or heaps of stones, which after 232 years have disappeared. The distinguishing limits of the town, however, have continued to be sufficiently plain.
This Deed of Confirmation is printed in full in Bliss's History of Rehoboth (pp. 122-125), copied from the Plymouth Colony Record of Deeds (Vol. V, p. 341).
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
June 11, 1686, the printed laws were publicly read in a town meeting by order of the Governor.
May 28, 1689. The town "voted that Mr. Angier should have a small tract of low ground, by the meeting house side, to make a gar- den plot near the orchard that Sam, the Indian, formerly planted."
August 9, 1689. Samuel Peck and Thomas Cooper were chosen deputies, and instructed to endeavor "to procure from the wor- shipful Major Bradford" a quitclaim deed of the lands in the town of Rehoboth, and to sell enough of the undivided land belonging to the town to obtain this deed. The following is a copy of a part of this deed, with the annexed list of the inhabitants and proprietors of the town :--
QUITCLAIM DEED OF WILLIAM BRADFORD TO THE TOWN OF REHOBOTH. (Abridged)
"Whereas the late William Bradford, my honored father was invested by virtue of a grant by letters patent from the Honor- able Council established at Plimouth in the County of Devon, in the realm of England for the planting, ruling, and governing of New England in America, derivating from our late Sovereign Lord King James the First, tracts of land which lie within and be- tween the limits and bounds of said letters patent, and all lands, rivers . . lying or being within or between any the said limits (viz.) a certain rivulet or rundlet there commonly called Cohasset alias Conihasset towards the north, and the river commonly called Narraganset river towards the south, and the great western ocean towards the east, and between within a straight line directly extending up into the main land towards the west from the mouth of said river called Narraganset river to the utmost limits and bounds of a country or place in New-England commonly called Pochanoket alias Sowamset westward, and another straight line extending itself directly from the mouth of the said river Cohas- set alias Conihasset towards the west so far up into the mainland westward as the utmost limits of the said country or place com- monly called Pochanoket alias Sowamset, do extend with all rights as in said patent is ratified and confirmed under the common seal of said Council bearing date the thirteenth day of January, 1629, wherein, among other favors, is also expressed the said Council's great respect that so hopeful plantations might not only subsist but also might be encouraged to proceed in so pious a work which might effectively tend to the propagation of religion which was also the chief and known end of their first adventure in this vast howling desert: and whereas, the said
"William Bradford my father in the year of our Lord 1641
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ANNALS AND RECORDS
granted to Joseph Peck, Stephen Paine, Henry Smith, Alexander Winchester, Thomas Cooper, Gent. and others with them a tract of land for a plantation or township formerly called by the natives Secunke, upwards of forty-five years since settled and planted, now called by the name of Rehoboth: and likewise for several years since the inhabitants of said town did purchase a tract of land as additional and enlarging of said town, of Thomas Prince, Esq'r, The Governor, Major Josiah Winslow, Capt. Thomas Southworth, and Constant Southworth Esq'r agents for the Colony of New Plimouth as may fully appear by an instrument given in the name of the said Colony under the seals of the said agents, bearing date the tenth of April Anno Domini 1666. [The North Purchase].
"Now KNOW YEE that I William Bradford of New Plimouth, for the ends before mentioned and also for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds in Current money of New England to me in hand well and truly paid by Daniel Smith, Peter Hunt,
John Brown, John Peck, Nicholas Peck, Gilbert Brooks, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Newman, William Carpenter, Samuel Peck, Stephen Paine, Richard Bowen, Ensign Thomas Wilmarth, yeo- men, some of the Proprietors of said tract and tracts, and most of them ancient inhabitants of said town of Rehoboth, by these presents for me and my heirs do grant, remise, release and for- ever quitclaim, unto the said Daniel Smith, etc. and to their heirs and assigns forever, all such right, estate, title, interest, posses- sion and demand whatsoever which I, the said William Bradford have or ought to have," etc.
[This deed was entered on record at Bristol, April 21, 1735, in the 23d book, folio, pages 356 to 360 inclusive. See also Bliss, pp. 125 to 127.]
"A list of the names of the inhabitants and proprietors of the Towne of Rehoboth having Rights and Titles to the Measuages, Tenements and Lands contained in the above written Instrument hereunto annexed and affixed, which hath been reade and allowed in a full Towne meeting, ffebruary the 7th, 1689 :-
Inhabitants.
Mr. Samuel Angeir, Deacon Thomas Cooper, Joseph Peck, sen'r. John ffitch, John Woodock, sen'r.
Robert Wheaton, Richard Martin, John Peren, Jonathan ffuller, sen'r. Enoch Hunt,
John Hunt, Ephrahim Hunt, Rice Leonard, Sam'l. Butterworth, Philip Walker,
ffrancis Stevens, sen'r.
Serj. Thomas Reade, George Kenricke, Nichollas Ide, sen'r. George Robinson, sen'r.
John Ormsby, Nathaniel Chaffee,
Samuel Sabin,
Serj. Preserved Able, Daniell Reade, Israll Reade,
James Sabin, John Sabin, Noah Sabin,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
Inhabitants. The Hieres of Thomas Kenrick, Samuel Robinson,
Mosses Reade, Mr. Christopher Sanders, Jonah Palmer, sen'r.
Samuell Palmer,
Noah Mason,
Samuell Mason,
Nicholas Ide, jun'r.
Sam'l. Millerd, sen'r.
Sam'l. Millerd, jr.
John Hall,
Samson Mason,
Joseph Mason,
Joseph Buckland, jun'r.
Baruk Buckland,
Sillas Titus,
Nath. Paine, jun'r.
William Robenson,
Josiah Carpenter,
ffrancis Stevens, jun'r.
Richard Bowen, jun'r.
Joseph Millerd,
Benjamin Millerd,
John Bowen,
Benjamin Robinson,
David Newman,
David ffuller,
John Jenkings,
John Jonson,
Daniell Shepard, sen.
David ffreeman,
James Wilson,
James Welch,
John Bullock,
John Callender,
John Bartlet's heires.
Orphans. Thomas Cooper and Nathaniell Cooper, sons of Nath. Cooper. The Heires of Benjamin Buckland, Samuell ffuller,
The Heires of Eldad Kinsley,
Jonathan Carpenter,
David Carpenter,
Sollomon Carpenter,
Zacheriah Carpenter,
Abraham Carpenter,
The Heires of Robert Joanes,
Daniell Sabin, son of Nehemiah Sa- bin John ffuller, Abiall ffuller,
Benjamin Paine,
George Robinson, jr.
Isake Mason, Thomas Bowen, The Heires of William Allen,
Mr. Henry Sweeting, Jathniell Peck, Joshua Smith, John Smith, Richard Evens, James Thurber, Sam'l. Bowen, Jonathan Willmath, John ffrench, Joseph Borsworth, Joseph Peck, jun'r. Hezekiah Pecke,
Richard Bowen, Thomas Bowen, sen'r.
John Marten, Jonah Palmer, jun'r. Samuel Cooper,
Nathaniell Perry, John Daggett, Thomas Cooper, Joseph Daggett,
Nathaniell Daggett,
Nathaniell Whitaker,
Eprahim Wheaton,
Abiah Carpenter,
James Carpenter,
John Redway, Sam'l. Carpenter, John Tittus,
Samuell Tittus,
Joseph Tittus,
John Carpenter, Thomas Grant,
John Willmath,
Samuel Blise,
Jonathan Blise, Joseph Buckland,
Samuell Paine, Joseph Browne,
William Carpenter, jr.
Isack Allen,
Thomas Willmath, jr. John Woodcok, jun'r. Iserall Woodcok,
Thomas Woodcok,
Jonathan Woodcok,
Samuel Newman, jr. John Kinsley, Timothy Ide,
Jonathan ffuller, jun.
Jeremiah Wheaton, John Shawe, Joseph Sabine, Richard Whiteaker, Samuel Bullock,
Thomas Ormsby,
Thomas Man,
Robert Millerd, sen'r.
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ANNALS AND RECORDS
Thomas Smith, Henry Smith, Abiall Smith, Ebennezar Walker,
John Reade and Thomas Reade, The Heires of John Reade, jun'r. Eliphellet Carpenter,
Rebeka Carpenter, daughter of Abiah Carpenter,
Mary Walker, Mary Ormsby, Jacob Ormsby's daughter,
The Heires of Mr. Pilebeame,
James Myles and Nathaniel Myles, sons of Mr. John Myles, The Heires of John Savage, Philip Amidowne, Henry Ammidowne,
Proprietors not inhabitants.
James Browne, Esq. Thomas Daggett, Esq. Mr. Nathaniell Paine, Mr. John Allen, sen'r.
Mr. Henry Newman, Deacon John Butterworth,
Mrs. Elizabeth Viall, Daniell Allen,
Obidiah Bowen, sen'r. Samuell Viall,
William Ingraham, Mr. Nichollas Taner, Mr. Andrew Willet,
Mr. Philip Squire, Obadiah Bowen, jun'r. John Paine, Joseph Chaffee,
Henry Sweet,
Mr Samuel Myles,
Joseph Carpenter, Benjamin Carpenter,
John Carpenter, jun'r.
Benjamin ffuller,
Thomas Wood, Iserail Peck,
John Allen, jun'r.
Elizabeth Patey,
Ens. Tho. Estabrooks,
William Howard,
John Blakstone, Jarett Ingraham, John Lovell,
Mr. Noah ffloaide,
Anthony Sprague,
The Heirs of Humphrey Tiffany,
George Webb,
Thomas Barnes,
Richard Daggerworth,
Joseph Woodard,
Thomas Patey.
"December 17, 1692. The town council and selectmen of Re- hoboth delivered to Ensign Thomas Read 136 pounds of powder and 250 pounds of bullets, to be taken care of by him for the town, and not to be disposed of but by the order of the selectmen of the town."
"May 1, 1693. Samuel Peck was chosen and elected to serve as the town representative in the great and general assembly."
This was the year after the union of the colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay under the charter of William and Mary, and Mr. Peck was the first representative from the town to the General Court of Massachusetts.
"August 15, 1663. It was voted by the town, that as it was their desire, so it should be their utmost endeavour to obtain Mr. Thomas Greenwood to dispense the word of God unto us in the time of our vacancy, until our reverend pastor, Mr. Angier, re- turns to continue with us. In order hereunto Mr. Samuel Peck and Joseph Browne were chosen by the town to go down to Mr. Greenwood, this week, to do their endeavour to bring him up this week, if it may." "A committee was also chosen to agree with Mr. Angier, in behalf of the town, respecting his support and main- tenance."
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
Mr. Angier was at this time at Cambridge, whither he had removed in the latter part of 1692, or the early part of 1693, as- signing, as the cause of his removal, ill health.
"September 11, 1693. It was voted that there should be a letter written in the town's name to our reverend pastor, Mr. Angier, that they may know his mind about his return."
This letter Mr. Angier answered in person; and, despairing of the recovery of his health so as to be able to resume his duties as minister of Rehoboth, he took his leave of his church and people, recommending to them the Rev. Thomas Greenwood as a suitable person to fill the station which he regretted to be obliged to resign.
Mr. Angier was born in 1655 (probably at Cambridge), grad- uated at Harvard College in 1673, and was a member of the Board of Fellows of that university. He was settled as the pastor of Rehoboth in the year 1679, whence he removed, as was before stated, in 1692 or 1693, to Cambridge. His residence at Cambridge was short. Having regained his health, he was chosen on the 28th of August, 1696, by the church in that part of ancient Watertown which is now Waltham, to be their pastor; and on the 21st of September following, the town concurred in the choice, and he was installed pastor of Watertown, May 25, 1697. Here, after an eminent and successful ministry, he died, January 21, 1719, aged sixty-five.
Mr. Angier married the daughter of the Rev. Urian Oakes, fourth president of Harvard University, and her mother was the daughter of the celebrated Dr. William Ames, author of the "Medulla Theologiae," and a professor at the university of Rotter- dam. His son, the Rev. John Angier, was the first pastor of the east parish of the ancient Bridgewater, where he was ordained, October 28, 1724. He was born in 1701, graduated at Harvard University in 1720, married a daughter of Ezra Bourne, Esq., of Sandwich, and died April 14, 1787, aged eighty-six, having been minister of East Bridgewater fifty-two years. His son, Samuel, who graduated at Harvard in 1763, was ordained his colleague at East Bridgewater, December 23, 1767, and died January 18, 1805, in the sixty-second year of his age. His other son, Oakes Angier, was an attorney settled at Bridgewater, and a man of some eminence in his profession. He left a family, one of whom, John, settled at Belfast, Me.
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A daughter of the Rev. John Angier was married to the Rev. Ephraim Hyde, subsequently a minister of Rehoboth.
"October 1, 1693, the town voted that the former committee chosen by the town, August 15th last, shall be further empowered, not only to treat with Mr. Thomas Greenwood for his support and maintenance, while he continues in the work of the ministry among us, but also have full power to treat and agree with him respecting his settlement as the minister of the town."
Mr. Greenwood complied with the invitation and was settled as the minister of Rehoboth in October of 1693. The town agreed to give him "ninety-five pounds of current silver money of New- England towards his settlement; and, for his comfortable sub- sistence, the contribution of strangers and seventy pounds yearly, to be paid him, one third in current silver money, as aforesaid, and the other two-thirds in beef, pork, and all sorts of merchant- able corn, rye, and butter, and cheese, and merchantable boards, at the current price, set upon them yearly by the selectmen of the town."
The use of the pastors' and teachers' lands was also granted him, so long as he should continue in the work of the ministry in Rehoboth.
July 6, 1696. Deacon Samuel Newman was chosen representa- tive to the General Court at Boston. This was the third meeting for the choice of a representative, this year; a great number having been successively elected, but immediately declined serving.
This year there is mention made of a Doctor Richard Bowen, who was chosen, July 27th, one of the assessors.
"January 4, 1697. The town voted that the stray Indians should be warned out of town, that are hunting in town."
"October 4, 1698. The town voted, that a schoolmaster, as the law directs, should be attained, and the selectmen should en- deavour the gaining one, and likewise agree with him, when at- tained, for his encouragement to keep school."
"November 21, 1698. The selectmen met and ordered that the school-house should be repaired and made fit for to keep school in, and ordered William Carpenter to procure shingles, boards, and nails, and what else is wanting for fitting it up, on the town's account."
"March 15, 1699. The selectmen made an agreement with Thomas Robinson, of this town, to keep a reading and writing school, for the term of three months, to begin the first or second
7
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
week in April, at the farthest; and for his labour he is to have three pounds, half in silver money, the one half of it when he has kept half the term, and the other half when his quarter is expired: the last part of his pay in corn equivalent to money."
"December 4, 1699. The selectmen agreed with Mr. Robert Dickson to keep school in Rehoboth for six months, to begin on Thursday, the seventh of this instant; he engaging to do his ut- most endeavour to teach both sexes of boys and girls to read Eng- lish, and write, and cast accounts. In consideration of said service, the said selectmen, in the town's behalf, do engage to pay him thirteen pounds, one half in silver money, and the other half in good merchantable boards, at the current and merchantable price; the boards to be delivered at the landing place, at Samuel Walker's and Sergeant Butterworth's mill."
This landing place was at the cove at the mouth of the Ten- mile River in Seekonk. It is said that early in the history of the town there were wharves built out into the river near the mouth of this cove, that stores were erected here, and considerable trade carried on, and that the people of Providence frequently came over here to purchase their goods.
"June 11, 1700. The committee appointed by the town, to procure a schoolmaster for this year, agreed with the Rev. Thomas Greenwood, their minister, to teach the school, for the sum of thirty pounds in current silver money."
"October 3, 1700. The town voted to repair the meeting-house."
"April 2, 1701. The town voted to enlarge the meeting-house, by bringing the front gallery two seats farther forward, and the side galleries, each one seat farther forward."
The name of "Oak Swamp" occurs in the records for the first time this year.
"November 12, 1703. The town voted, that the schoolmaster Mr. Joseph Metcalf, shall keep school at Palmer's river half the year, viz: the last six months of this present year, that the said schoolmaster is hired for; and the inhabitants of that part of the town are to provide a convenient place for the schoolmaster to keep school in."
May 15, 1704. Benjamin Allen was chosen representative, but was "ejected the House of Representatives" (for what reason the town records do not state); and, on the 7th day of June, Capt. Enoch Hunt was elected in his place.
"March 19, 1705. It was voted by the town, that Ichabod Bosworth shall have liberty to set up a hammer to go by water,
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ANNALS AND RECORDS
for the blacksmith's trade, and a shop and coal-house upon the Ox-pasture run, where the foot-path goeth down the hill, at the point of said hill: and the said Bosworth nor his heirs are not to raise a dam higher than to flow about an acre and a half."
Mr. John Rogers was employed by the town to teach school during half the year, for the sum of fifteen pounds in current silver money of New England. He was to commence on the 9th day of July.
"March 18, 1706. The town appointed a committee to pro- cure a schoolmaster for one whole year, to be qualified as the law directs." This year, Joseph Avery was employed "to keep school within the Ring of the Green, for a quarter of a year, for seven pounds ten shillings, silver money."
"October 25, 1708. The town voted that there shall be a pound set up on Palmer's river."
Mr. John Lynn taught a school in Rehoboth during three months of the year 1708, agreeing to instruct in reading, writing, grammar, and arithmetic, for the sum of seven pounds in current money of New-England.
Mr. John Lynn entered into another agreement with the town, to teach school one year from the 28th day of February, 1709, for the sum of twenty-nine pounds in current money of New- England. The different divisions of the town, in which the school was to be kept successively, this year, and from each of which one of the school committee was taken, are named as follows in the records, with the length of time allotted to each: "The ring of the town" and "the neighbourhood on the east side of the ring of the town," 21 weeks; "Palmer's river," 14 weeks; "Watche- moquet neck,"1 13 weeks; "Capt. Enoch Hunt's neighbour- hood," and "the mile and a half," 9 weeks.
Mr. Lynn was again enployed by the town as their school- master in 1710, and received for his services thirty pounds.
It appears from the town records, that, in 1711, a petition was presented to the General Court "by the inhabitants of the south- east part of the town" (Palmer's River), to have the town divided into two precincts for the support of the ministry, and that each precinct should support a minister.
1 This name was given to that part of the present town of Seekonk which lies below the mouth of the Ten-mile River, along the Seekonk or Pawtucket River and Narragansett Bay, as far down, probably, as the point of land now called "Bullock's Neck," and including it.
-
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
This measure the inhabitants of the older part of the town (Seekonk) promptly and resolutely opposed. They drew up and presented to the General Court, by way of remonstrance, a long petition, in which they stated that a former petition of theirs had been represented, in the petition of the people of Palmer's River,1 as "a heap of lies and deceits": this is all we know of the contents of the latter petition; the other is entered at large on the town records.
"March 30, 1712. Voted to raise thirty pounds annually, for the support of schools: of which the neighbourhood of Pal- mer's river should have ten pounds, and be obliged to maintain an English school; and the old part of the town and Watche- moquet should have the remaining twenty pounds, and be obliged to maintain a grammar school."
In May, 1713, the General Court recommended to the town of Rehoboth the raising of £120 for the support of two ministers,- one at Palmer's River. Against this the majority of the town remonstrated by a petition.
"September 12, 1715. The town voted to build a new meeting- house, to be fifty feet in length and forty feet in breadth, and twenty-five feet between joints; the town to pay towards it two hundred and fifty pounds." It is mentioned in another place, that the meeting-house "should be so high between joints as will be needful for two sets of galleries." It was also voted that the new house should stand near the site of the old one.
"June 11, 1716. Voted that the meeting-house now build- ing should be set up and raised on the east side of the old meet- ing-house, ranging north with the old meeting-house, and thirty- three feet eastward from it."
This new house stood a few rods south of the present Congre- gational meeting-house in East Providence.
"March 25, 1717. The town voted that John Lyon should have liberty to build a wharf and ware-house, at the point called Dag- gett's point, below the hill."
This I think to be the point of land between the Ten-mile River and the Pawtucket, upon the north side of the mouth of the former.
It appears from the records, in 1717, that the people of Palmer's River, with the permission of the General Court, had commenced building a meeting-house in their part of the town; and the in-
1 The neighborhood of "Palmer's River" was in the vicinity of the Orleans Factory, and extended along the river both above and below it.
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ANNALS AND RECORDS
habitants of the older part of the town, seeing them determined on prosecuting their plans, agreed, provided they should be freed from all further expense of erecting this house, to give up for their assistance £50 of the £250 which had been voted by the town for the erection of a meeting-house in the western and older part of it.
"December 16, 1718. The community" (as the company as- sociated for building the meeting-house in the western part of the town were now called) "voted, and gave the old pulpit, be- longing to the old meeting-house, to the congregation of Palmer's river, to be set up in their meeting-house, provided said con- gregation do accept of said pulpit for the use before mentioned."
The new meeting-house, which the people of Palmer's River were now building, stood between the present Congregational meeting-house of Rehoboth and the Orleans Factory, about half a mile from the latter, and near the old burying ground, on what is sometimes called "burying-place hill."
"December 23, 1718. It was voted by the community, that the rules to be observed in seating the new meeting-house for the sabbath are as followeth: firstly, to have regard to dignity of person, and secondly by age, and thirdly according to the charge they bare in respect to the public charges, and what charge they have been at in building the meeting-house."
A committee was chosen to seat the house according to the above rules.
The fifty pounds voted by the town and "community," to aid in building the meeting-house at Palmer's River, on condition that the town were freed from all further expense connected with it, were accepted by the inhabitants of Palmer's River, who also entered into an engagement to clear the town from all further expense in relation to their house. The following list of the names of those who bound themselves to this agreement, may serve to give us some idea of the number and names of the families who constituted the neighborhood of Palmer's River :-
Samuel Peck, Jethanial Peck, Joshua Smith, Samuel Bliss, Lennox Beverly, Benjamin Willson,
The mark X of Solomon Millard, Thomas Bliss, William Blanding, Daniel Blanding, Solomon Peck,
Joshua Smith, jun'r. Ichabod Peck, Ephraim Millard, William Marten,
Jacob Bliss.
Abraham Carpenter, Nathaniel Smith,
:
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
"December 29, 1718. Voted that the congregation at Palmer's river should have for their use the facing of the old meeting- house gallery, towards finishing their meeting-house."
"March 28, 1720. Thomas Cathcart, of Martha's Vineyard, agreed to teach school one quarter of a year, commencing at the middle of August, for the sum of ten pounds in money."
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