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 36
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As early as 1882, Mr. Perry saw the possibilities of electric lighting and acquired control of the Fall River Electric Lighting Company. In 1884 he, with two others, purchased the Narragan- sett Electric Light Company; and still later the Union Street Railroad in Providence. He is a leading Director in the Nicholson File Company, the largest file producing company in the world.
Among the greatest of the works of Mr. Perry is his develop- ment of suburban electric railways over Rhode Island and enter- ing Massachusetts. This work began with the Interstate Railway Company in 1895, then bankrupt and in the hands of receivers. It is now a most important and valuable factor in the communities it serves.
About the first of January, 1893, Mr. Perry and those associated with him obtained control of the street railways in the city of Providence. During the next ten years, under his management, the mileage of these roads was enormously increased until he con- trolled practically all the roads in Rhode Island.
Great as were these material achievements, Mr. Perry has ac- complished another class of works of far greater significance. Dur- ing all these years he was engaged in collecting a Shakesperian library. In searching his grandmother's library one day, young Perry came across a copy of Shakespeare's plays; and every spare moment for many weeks was spent in poring over its pages. From this experience came one of the greatest collections of Shake- sperian literature now in existence. He also collected the works of Albert Dürer, and the etchings and original drawings of Rem- brandt, as well as the writings of William Morris.
Mr. Perry's love of beauty is seen in his collections of Chinese porcelain and rare furniture. His home, the John Brown house on Power Street, Providence, is the best example of colonial architecture in the state of Rhode Island, and one of the finest in the country.
Eleven years ago he acquired a handsome Newport estate on the Ocean Drive, called "Bleak House," beautiful indeed for situation, but naturally bleak and barren as the name implies. Mr. Perry's genius has transformed this barren waste and made it blossom as the rose. To-day the gardens of "Bleak House" are deservedly
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famous and its flowers bloom resplendent in spite of harsh winter winds.
Mr. Perry is a member of the Art Association of Newport, and chairman of its committee of buildings and grounds.
Such is in part the work of Marsden J. Perry during the past forty years. Few have done so much in so many lines for the ad- vancement and culture of humanity.
PIERCE, ELIZABETH BESAYADE, was descended from Capt. Michael Pierce of Indian War fame. She was the daughter of Noah and Elizabeth Martin Pierce and was born in Rehoboth, Aug. 15, 1839. The line of descent is as follows: Noah,7 Noah,6 Noah,5 Joseph,4 Azrikam,3 Ephraim,2 Michael.1
She began her education in the public schools of the town and in the Bicknell High School. She commenced teaching at the age of sixteen at Barrington, R.I., with an ungraded school of more than forty scholars. Being ambitious for further education, she studied in the academy at Attleborough and eagerly pursued such branches as would fit her for her chosen life-work. Her craving for knowledge and her love of study induced her to take the full Chautauqua course, graduating in the class of 1887. She after- wards took the course in Universal History, and "having honorably passed her examination" received her diploma. All the while, her work in the schoolroom went forward with renewed zeal, and many of her pupils felt the inspiration of her teaching and testified to its helpfulness in after years. She taught in several Rehoboth schools and in some of the adjoining towns. When in 1886 some of the schools in town were brought together in the Goff Memorial Building, Miss Pierce was principal. As the people were not ready for this advance, causing the plan to fail, she taught a private school for a year at the hall. Her last years in teaching were spent in the Blanding school. It was there that she inau- gurated the first memorial exercises, which have since grown to include all of the schools in town. She had rounded out nearly fifty years of work in the schoolroom when her health failed.
She was from her youth a loyal member of the church and many in her Sunday-school class became efficient Christian workers. She loved the Word of God and delighted in its study. Her chief desire was to know and do the will of God, and she approved her- self to all a devout and steadfast Christian. After a lingering illness which she bore with characteristic fortitude, she fell asleep on the 29th day of June, 1909.
PIERCE, JOHN W., born in Rehoboth, Mass., Oct. 10, 1862, was the son of William L. and Sarah E. (Wright) Pierce. He was educated in the Rehoboth schools and took a special course in the higher studies, giving his chief attention to music until he became a director of music in the public schools and churches, and also
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taught singing schools. At eighteen he was employed by George Marvel in the grocery business. At twenty-two he succeeded his father on the Rehoboth school board. He taught the Hornbine School in the winter of 1887-8. In 1888 he bought a farm in Swansea and engaged in market gardening. He served for several years on the school committee of Swansea, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school at the Hornbine Baptist Church for fifteen years; he was enjoyed as a soloist in church and Sunday-school. On March 3, 1885, he married Mary E. Kelton, daughter of John and Hannah M. (Baker) Kelton, who became his efficient accom- panist. They have one daughter, Stella, born Sept. 11, 1888, who married Lester Briggs.
Lineage: John W.,9 William L.,8 Jabez,7 Henry,6 Joshua, 5 Dea. Mial,4 Ephraim,3 Ephraim,2 Capt. Michael.1
PIERCE, CAPT. MICHAEL, was born in England about the year 1615, and came to America in 1645, settling at Hingham, but in 1647 removed to Scituate, which town was settled in 1628 by men from Kent. He was twice married, but little is known of his domestic life except that his second wife was Hannah James, and that he had ten children, as is shown by his will which is dated Jan. 15, 1675. Their names were Persis, Benjamin, John, Eph- raim, Elizabeth, Deborah, Ann, Abiah, Ruth, and Abigail. Many of the Rehoboth Pierces were descended from Michael through his son Ephraim. Henry B. Pierce, for many years Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was a lineal descendant.
In 1673, Capt. Michael was ensign in a company raised to go against the Dutch. He had been 1st lieut. in Captain Miles Standish's Company. He was commissioned captain by the Plym- outh Colony Court in 1669. He was in the Narragansett Swamp Fight, Dec. 19, 1675, and was killed in an ambuscade at Central Falls, R.I., March 26, 1676.
RANDALL, MENZIAS R., M.D., son of Daniel and Mary Ran- dall, was born at Easton, Mass., June 10, 1794; received a medical degree at Harvard University and also at Brown, September, 1824, and commenced practice at Rehoboth the same year. He married (1) Eliza Edson of Easton, who died Jan. 8, 1833; (2) Almira Guild ("Gould" in "Vital Record"), also of Easton, March 7, 1834. Dr. Randall was a popular physician and politi- cian; was state senator 1859-60. He died July 23, 1882, aged 88 years, leaving a son, Dr. George H. Randall, who succeeded him and practiced in Rehoboth until his death, May 6, 1915, aged 63 years.
RAYMOND, DR. CHARLES N., was the son of Isaac N. Ray- mond who was born in Malden, Mass., June 26, 1831. His mother's name was H. Maritta Burlingame of Foster, R.I., born May 19, 1831. Dr. Raymond was born at Warren, R.I., April 20,
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1854. He was married (1) to Josephine Harmon of Baltimore, July 27, 1876, having two children; and (2) to Mrs. L. D. Newell, Nov. 8, 1914. Both of his daughters taught in the Rehoboth schools. One of them, Georgia N., married Mr. F. P. Gardiner, of Warwick, R.I., and has three children; the other, Agnes, is a Red Cross nurse now located in France.
Dr. Raymond practiced medicine in Rehoboth from 1894 to 1908 and was prominent in the affairs of the town and church. He was one of the first movers for an electric railway through the town; was president of the Rehoboth Farmers' Club for ten years; secretary of the Republican Town Committee for two years; of the Bristol County Republican Committee for ten years; intro- duced the first resolution for the introduction into the public schools of Massachusetts of the teaching of agriculture, and sent the same to the State Board of Education.
His wife and daughter formed the society of Grace Greenaways among the children of Rehoboth, which flourished for many years. Dr. Raymond is now (1917) located at Edgewood, R.I.
REED, REV. AUGUSTUS BROWN, son of Deacon Elijah A. and Delight (Brown) Reed, was born Nov. 19, 1798, at Rehoboth, Mass .; died Sept. 30, 1838, at Ware, Mass .; married Nov. 17, 1824, Melinda Borden of Fall River (born Jan. 13, 1805, died Dec. 27, 1893), daughter of William and Sarah (Durfee) Borden.
Agustus B. Reed was prepared for college by Rev. Otis Thomp- son of Rehoboth, and graduated from Brown University in 1821. He later studied theology with Mr. Thompson, and on June 2, 1823, was installed as the first pastor of the First Congregational Church of Fall River, with a salary of $450. He was called to the church in Ware, Mass., and was there installed July 19, 1826. "He was chairman of the school committee, a Whig, an anti- Mason and a temperance advocate. He was five feet ten inches in height, of light complexion, blue eyes, slender frame, considered honorable, social, and benevolent according to his means." Mr. Reed was never strong, and his halth gradually declined until his death by consumption in the fortieth year of his age. Children: Theodora Cyania, born July 23, 1825; died March 8, 1886; mar- ried Eliab Williams of Fall River.
Delight Brown, born June 4, 1828; died Oct. 29, 1849.
William Augustus, born April 8, 1830; died 1891; married Mary Lucetta Breckenridge.
John Richard, born March 25, 1832; died Nov. 11, 1907; married (1) Julia Priscilla Breckenridge - four children; married (2) Martha Huntington Dudman - two children.
Thomas, born Dec. 27, 1834; died Feb. 10, 1835.
Theophilus, born March 15, 1836; died Aug. 23, 1843.
REED, GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS, was the son of Dea. Elijah Augustus Reed of Dighton and Delight (Brown) Reed of Rehoboth.
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He was born Dec. 23, 1811, in Rehoboth, on the Reed homestead, half a mile from the Orleans Factory, where all his years were spent. He was educated in the district schools, and at the Acad- emy in Ware, Mass .; a man of sound judgment and genuine re- ligious culture. He was chosen deacon of the Congregational Church at Rehoboth Village March 27, 1863. He was fond of singing and led the church choir for many years. He also taught singing-school for many years, beginning at the age of nineteen, and in one winter taught eight different schools, thus increasing his annual income while delighting in his work. As a man, Deacon Reed was an example of industry, prudence, gentleness and hos- pitality. The guide of his life was the Golden Rule. He married Electa Ann Miller of Rehoboth, daughter of Joshua and Lydia (Wheeler) Miller, March 16, 1836. She was born March 25, 1818; educated in the common schools and at the Fall River High School. She was a woman of energy who gave herself freely to her home, and in times of special sickness to her neighbors also; for she was accounted a good nurse. She was fair to look upon and greatly beloved, but modest withal and capable. They had issue: Charles Leonard, born Sept. 20, 1837; died May 8, 1908.
Annie Electa, born June 13, 1839; died July 27, 1867.
Mary Ann Borden, born Jan. 24, 1843.
Almira Miller, born Dec. 10, 1845; died June 6, 1904.
Almon Augustus, born Dec. 2, 1848.
Jane Amelia, born Feb. 22, 1851.
Delight Carpenter, born Feb. 14, 1856. Mrs. Reed died July 18, 1893, aged seventy-five years. Deacon Reed died April 22, 1889, in his seventy-eighth year.
ROBERT THE HERMIT. "A singular and eccentric being, who for many years lived in a rude cell on the east side of Seekonk River, near India Bridge, leading the solitary life of a recluse.". His mother was of African descent and he was born in slavery about the year 1770. As he grew up he was sold first to one master and then another, but escaped and became a sailor. After suffering many hardships on land and sea, he lighted upon Seekonk and built him a little hut at Fox Point where he eked out a wretched existence until his death at the age of sixty or seventy years, and was buried in a pauper's grave. (For a further account of this poor waif see Bliss's History, pp. 249-259.)
SMITH, NATHAN, M.D., professor in the medical schools of Dartmouth, Yale and Bowdoin Colleges, was born at Rehoboth, Sept. 30, 1762. While he was still young his parents removed to Chester, Windsor Co., Vt. Here young Smith acquired the ele- ments of education in the common schools and helped his father on the farm. He was a member of the Vermont militia, whose duty it was to keep the border Indians in check. He was also one
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of a group of young men who hunted beasts of prey and secured game for the table. In these excursions he suffered great hard- ship. At one time he was stranded far from home and contracted a sickness which confined him to his house for many months. He taught school for several winters, and had reached the age of twenty-four when he received an impulse which changed the course of his life. Seeing an operation by Dr. Josiah Goodhue, a noted surgeon, he determined to study medicine, and after a course of general reading with Rev. Mr. Whiting of Rockingham, a neighbor- ing town, he spent three years with Dr. Goodhue at Putney, Vt., and the two men became close friends. Dr. Smith began his prac- tice of medicine at Cornish, N.H., but later took a course of lec- tures at Harvard University, and continued his practice. At this period the medical profession in the country was at a low ebb, and Dr. Smith, feeling the need of elevating the standard, instituted the medical department at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N. H., and was appointed professor of medicine. The number of students increased from twenty at first to sixty, and still later to eighty or more.
After a few years Dr. Smith went abroad and attended lectures and clinics in Edinburgh and London. He was in great demand for consultations, and rode hundreds of miles on horseback, often over rough roads. In 1813 he became professor in the newly established Medical Institute at Yale College. He delivered an annual course of lectures on "The Theory and Practice of Physic," besides one or more courses at Dartmouth and Bowdoin Colleges, and at the University of Vermont. By means of his influence he effected a great and salutary change in the medical profession over a large extent of the country. : Dr. Smith possessed a strong, discriminating and inquisitive mind, a retentive memory, a remarkable power of reducing all the knowledge he acquired to some practical purpose. He had an undaunted moral courage, a delicate and tender sensibility, and a benevolent heart. He died July 26, 1829, at New Haven, Conn. His works entitled "Medical and Surgical Memoirs" were published in 1831. Three of his sons became physicians.
STARKWEATHER, EPHRAIM, was the son of John and Mary (Herrick) Starkweather of Stonington, Conn. He was born at Stonington, Sept. 1, 1733, and was a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1755. He studied law at Litchfield, Conn., and was admitted to the bar, but never engaged in practice. From 1755 to 1770 he resided at Stonington, Providence, R.I., and Attle- borough, Mass. In 1770 he removed to Pawtucket, then a part of the town of Rehoboth, Mass., where he continued to reside until his death. He became interested in the manufacture of potash and pearlash, exporting his products, and also furs, to the British Isles and Holland. He was very successful in his business, and
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became a large land-owner in Pawtucket and its vicinity. He read extensively and taught the grammar school in Rehoboth for several terms (Town Treasurer's book, 1746-1790). He be- came interested in public affairs, espousing ardently the cause of the colonies. In 1773 he was chairman of the Committee of Correspondence, which prepared the instructions of the town of Rehoboth to its representative in the General Court, Capt. Joseph Barney, which document is set forth at length on pages 114 to 116 of this history. He was delegate from the town to the Third Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, which convened at Water- town, May 31, 1775. Also representative of the town in the Gen- eral Court in 1775 and 1778. Upon the adoption of the Constitu- tion in 1780, he was elected to the State Senate from the County of Bristol, and was re-elected in 1781, 1782 and 1783. He acted frequently as moderator of the annual town meetings of Rehoboth, and was repeatedly commissioned by the governors of Massa- chusetts as a justice of the peace for Bristol county. He was one of Gov. John Hancock's Committee of Four chosen from the Legislature to act in advisory capacity during the Revolutionary War. (Newman's "Rehoboth in the Past," p. 83.)
Although serving in one branch or the other of the Legislature during the greater part of the Revolutionary War, he also served for brief periods, on occasions of alarm, as a soldier. Thus, on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775, he served as a private in Capt. John Lyon's Company which marched from Rehoboth; and on the alarm at Bristol, R.I., Dec. 8, 1776, he served as a private in Capt. James Hill's Company which marched from Rehoboth; and on the alarm at Tiverton, R.I., July 31, 1780, he served as a private in Capt. Nathaniel Ide's Company which marched from Rehoboth.
Ephraim Starkweather was twice married. In September, 1758, at Attleborough, he married Sarah (Lawrence) Carpenter, the widow of Comfort Carpenter of Attleborough. She was the daugh- ter of Jonathan and Sarah (Pitts) Lawrence of Rehoboth. She was born at Rehoboth, July 14, 1732, and died at Norton, Mass., June 20, 1795. By her, Ephraim Starkweather had two children; namely, (1) Oliver, born at Attleborough, in 1759, married Miriam Clay at Rehoboth, Dec. 30, 1784, and died at Pawtucket, Mass., May 13, 1834; and (2) John, born at Attleborough in 1762, and died at Rehoboth, Oct. 25, 1782. He married at Walpole, Mass., Dec. 15, 1796, as his second wife, Rebecca Gay, daughter of Na- thaniel and Rebecca (Kingsbury) Gay of Walpole. She was born at Walpole, Sept. 19, 1749, and died at Pawtucket, Mass., Sept. 18, 1836, having no children. Ephraim Starkweather died at Paw- tucket, in the town of Rehoboth, June 10, 1809.
STARKWEATHER, OLIVER, was the son of Ephraim and Sarah (Lawrence) Starkweather of Rehoboth, Mass. He was born
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at Attleborough, Mass., in 1759, and accompanied his parents in 1770 when they removed to Pawtucket, then a part of the town of Rehoboth. During the Revolutionary War he served, for brief periods, as a soldier. He was actively engaged in mercantile pur- suits at Pawtucket. He was also a manufacturer of cotton yarns and cloths and accumulated a fortune. He owned large tracts of land at Pawtucket, and, in 1799, he erected a fine colonial resi- dence there on Walcott Street, which became the home of the family for several generations.
Oliver Starkweather was much interested in public affairs. In 1812 the town of Seekonk was set apart from Rehoboth and in- corporated; and, from that time until 1828, Pawtucket formed a part of Seekonk. In 1828, the town of Pawtucket was incor- porated. Mr. Starkweather was representative of the town of Seekonk in the General Court from 1812 to 1818, inclusive. In 1821 he was elected to the State Senate from the County of Bristol, and he was re-elected in 1822 and 1823. In 1828 he was chosen a Presidential Elector. He often acted as moderator at the annual town meetings of Seekonk, and also of Pawtucket; and he was for many years a justice of the peace for Bristol county.
Oliver Starkweather was married at Rehoboth, Dec. 30, 1784, to Miriam Clay, daughter of Capt. James Clay (who was rep- resentative of the town of Rehoboth in the General Court from 1763 to 1769, inclusive) and Lydia (Walker) Clay. Mi- riam Clay was born at Rehoboth, Nov. 3, 1764, and died there Sept. 18, 1805. By her Oliver Starkweather had the following children: (1), John, born at Rehoboth, June 21, 1785, married Olive Carpenter at Rehoboth, March 14, 1809, and died at Upton, Mass., in 1858; (2), Sarah, born at Rehoboth, Aug. 20, 1788, married William Allen at Providence, R.I., July 22, 1810, and died at Seekonk Jan. 5, 1819; (3), James Clay, born at Rehoboth Feb. 7, 1794, and died there Sept. 12, 1795; (4), James Clay, born at Rehoboth in 1795, married Almira Chapin Underwood at Seekonk, Nov. 23, 1820, and died at Pawtucket July 26, 1856; (5), Samuel, born at Rehoboth, Dec. 27, 1798, married Julia Judd at Cleveland, Ohio, June 25, 1828, and died at Cleveland, July 5, 1876; and (6), Rebecca Gay, born at Rehoboth in 1802, married Lyman Claflin at Seekonk, March 5, 1822, and died at Pawtucket, April 5, 1864.
Oliver Starkweather died May 13, 1834, at Pawtucket, Mass.
STEVENS, GRENVILLE, was born in Raynham, Mass., Oct. 21, 1797. At the age of four years he was bound out with a Mr. Gilmore until he was twenty. After that he spent ten years in the swamps of North Carolina, shaving cedar shingles, the work in those days being done by hand. He was married to Olive Smith of Rehoboth, Oct. 2, 1828. In 1829 he came to North Rehoboth and bought the place owned by Elijah J. Sandford. With the ex-
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ception of two years, 1846-47, spent in Fall River, he resided here until 1859. His place became known as Stevens' Corner. He kept a public house, store and post-office, a daily stage running through from Providence to Taunton changing horses at his barn. At this period he was very prosperous and made many friends. His trade often amounted to $10,000 a year. He was an active supporter of the M. E. Church and gave the land on which the meeting-house stands. He was representative to the General Court for two terms, 1845-46.
After 1859 he resided eight years in Whitefield, N.H., and was engaged in the lumber business. At the same time he probably kept store and carried on a farm, as he is spoken of as a "merchant farmer." Here he married his second wife, Betsey Snow of White- field, in 1863, who died in August, 1864, after giving birth to a son, Sherman. As the near relatives of his wife were about to move to California, he went with them and settled in Vallejo, Cal. He afterwards came east and spent six years in Rehoboth, then re- turned to Tustin, Orange Co., Cal., where he died in 1891 at the advanced age of ninety years.
By his first wife Mr. Stevens had three sons:
Grenville Smith, born July 10, 1829; married Hannah Wheaton Smith of Warren, R.I., in 1856, no children. Was a physician in Providence, R.I .; died Sept. 16, 1909.
Othniel Gilmore, born Sept. 30, 1830; married Abagail M. Morse of Rehoboth, October, 1853; seven children. Lived on a farm in Rehoboth. Died Jan. 3, 1913.
Francis Wesley, born Jan. 1, 1833; married Sophia A. Crane of Taunton, Jan. 4, 1855; one son. Resided on the old home- stead in Rehoboth until his death, Jan. 10, 1918.
Sherman, the youngest son, resides in California, whither he went when a child with his father.
SWEET, LUCY BLISS (CARPENTER), was born in Rehoboth Village, Aug. 1, 1824. Her father was Joseph Carpenter, son of James and grandson of Col. Thomas, a descendant of William, who came to this country from England in 1638. Since that time the family has been prominent in the annals of old Rehoboth. Her mother was Nancy Mason Bullock, daughter of Abel and Lois (Mason) Bullock, and descendant of Richard Bullock, one of the landed proprietors of Rehoboth.
Joseph Carpenter served in the War of 1812. In middle life he moved to Attleborough, where he resided until his death in 1880 in his ninety-first year.
Lucy Bliss Carpenter was one of fourteen children, ten of whom lived to maturity. A sister, Sarah Martin Carpenter, became missionary of the Young Woman's Christian Association of Boston. A nephew, George Moulton Carpenter, became judge of the United States District Court of the District of Rhode Island. Lucy re-
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ceived her education in the "old red school-house" near Rehoboth Village, and also enjoyed special instruction from Miss Fidelia Thompson, from whom she imbibed a fondness for English lit- erature. She was married to Everett Leprilete Sweet of Attle- borough, March 6, 1851. He was a descendant of Henry Sweet who came to Attleborough in 1690. With the exception of five years spent in Worcester, they continued to reside in Attleborough, where Mr. Sweet died in 1868, leaving Mrs. Sweet with five chil- dren, the eldest fifteen and the youngest eight. In the way of means she had only a home, and the entire burden of the house- hold rested upon her hands. The names of her children are as follows:
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