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 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
Leprilete, born in Attleborough, Jan. 13, 1853; married Sophia Foster Hovey of Providence, R.I., Jan. 4, 1882. No children. Lydia Dunham, born in Worcester, April 26, 1854; died March 19, 1869.
Everett Henry, born in Worcester, Aug. 16, 1858; married Ida D. Grover of Mansfield, Dec. 30, 1880. Died in San Pedro, Cal., Aug. 3, 1893. Three children, one living.
Lucy Carpenter, born in Worcester, Dec. 29, 1855; a successful teacher; resides on the old Sweet homestead in Attleborough. Newton James, born in Attleborough, June 21, 1860; married Alice Williston Hatch of North Attleborough, June 3, 1884. Four children.
Mrs. Sweet was gifted as a writer both of prose and poetry, and in large part supported her family by her pen. She was a regular contributor to the Central Falls Visitor, and to the Attleborough Advocate, owned and edited by her sons Everett and Newton. Later she wrote for The Daily Sun. She was prominent in church and reform work; was the first secretary of the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union. When the Bristol W. C. T. U. was formed in 1885 she was chosen superintendent of scientific tem- perance instruction in the public schools, which position she held for eleven years. She also took great interest in missions. For twenty-five years she was president of the Ladies' Foreign Mis- sionary Society connected with the Congregational Church, and afterwards an officer in the Old Colony branch. She was interested in all that concerned the moral and religious welfare of the com- munity. Her spirit was broad and charitable. While she held positive convictions, she was willing that others should do the same. Her poems were written for many different occasions, in- cluding birthdays, weddings, deaths, and public anniversaries. She combined clear ideas with a flowing style, as may be seen in the following stanza: -
"But love now comes with winning grace And wedding bells are ringing; New ties fast supersede the old, Fresh cares and pleasures bringing.
385
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Ring softly, golden wedding bells, Your chimes oft change to dirges, So nearly sorrow's leaden foot On pleasure's pathway verges."
Mrs. Sweet was an active member of the Congregational Church for nearly sixty years, and for more than forty years a teacher in the Sunday-school. She died Dec. 13, 19 10.
"More blest our lives have been, more rich and full For the sweet memory of thine."
THATCHER, WILLIAM, son of Rev. James Joshua and Re- becca (Collins) Thatcher, was born in Swansea, Mass., Aug. 9, 1839. He came to Rehoboth to live in March, 1853. He married Ella Louisa Horton, daughter of John W. and Mary Ann (Wheeler) Horton of Rehoboth, June 23, 1872. He was a prosperous farmer and a respected citizen. In company with his brother Tristam he carried on the Thatcher farm until his death, which occurred May 8, 1908. He is survived by a widow and one son, two children having died in early childhood.
The son, Frank Dexter Thatcher, was born Aug. 7, 1880. He married Charlotte Catharine Carruthers of Rehoboth, June 27, 1906. They have two children: Anthony Carruthers, born Sept. 15, 1907, and Elizabeth May, born March 4, 1909.
VIALL, CHRISTOPHER CARPENTER, son of Samuel H. and Mary A. (Kent) Viall, was born in Rehoboth, Jan. 15, 1853. Among his teachers at the Annawan School were Hannah (Horton) Fisher and Frances (Carpenter) Bliss. He also attended the pri- vate school of J. K. Metcalf in 1861. Later he studied at The Phillips-Exeter Academy. He married, April 14, 1881, Clara G. Bowen of Rehoboth, daughter of Reuben and Sarah A. (George) Bowen. They have two children, Annie George, born in Sterling, Conn., Oct. 12, 1885; married April 29, 1907, Miles Gilman, U. S. N., son of Elvin and Mary Ann Gilman of Sangerville, Me .; they also have two children: Miriam, born in Rehoboth, Feb. 23, 1908, and Wilson Viall, born in Rehoboth, Dec. 13, 1910.
Mr. Viall's second daughter, Mary Adalaide, was born in Re- hoboth, Feb. 4, 1890; married June 27, 1914, Myron Stanley Walden of Attleborough, Mass., son of Stanley and Lillian Walden.
Mr. Viall was a charter member of Oak Hill Grange at Briggs Corner, and later Master of the Annawan Grange. He is also an honored Mason; was a charter member of Naomi Chapter O. E. S., of East Providence, R.I., and is a member of the Rising Sun Lodge, A. F. and A. M., also of East Providence.
He bought the Hiram Drown farm on Pine Street in 1888; is a successful farmer and milk producer, having delivered milk in Pawtucket daily for thirty years. He was elected a member of the Rehoboth School Committee in 1882, and after an absence of sev-
25
386
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
eral years in Connecticut, he was re-elected in 1888 and has held the office ever since. As a singer, Mr. Viall is gifted with a rich barytone voice and has been much in demand for quartet work. Mr. Viall's lineage is in part as follows: -
John Viall,1 the immigrant ancestor, a weaver, was born in Eng- land about 1619; was admitted to be an inhabitant of Boston, Mass., Jan. 11, 1639, and freeman, June 2, 1641. He kept the "Old Ship Tavern" at the North End from 1662 to 1679, when he removed to Swansea, afterwards Barrington. Died Feb. 26, 1685-6.
Benjamin,2 baptized April 14, 1672; lived at Wannamoiset, which came into Barrington in 1717, and into Rehoboth in 1747; died in Rehoboth, Sept. 6, 1750.
Nathaniel,3 baptized in Rehoboth Nov. 11, 1705; died Feb. 19, 1800, in his 94th year; buried in the Viall or "Little Neck" cemetery at Wannamoiset.
Benjamin,4 born 1731; married Keziah Brown; died March 22, 1819, in his 89th year; buried in the Viall yard.
John5 (Captain), born in Rehoboth Nov. 26, 1759; married Esther Peck; Lieut. of Artillery 1781; died April 7, 1833; buried in the Viall yard.
Samuel,6 born in Rehoboth, Nov. 25, 1782; lived in Rehoboth, Seekonk and elsewhere; cabinet-maker; married Bebe Jones; died Feb. 23, 1867; buried in the Viall yard.
Samuel H.,7 born April 8, 1811, in Pawtucket; lived for many years in Rehoboth; Civil War veteran; died Sept. 30, 1897; buried in the Lakeside Cemetery, East Providence.
Christopher Carpenter8 (see above sketch).
WEST, BENJAMIN, LL.D., a distinguished mathematician and scientist, was born at Rehoboth, near the Swansea line, in March, 1730. During his boyhood his parents removed to Bristol, R.I., where he was educated mostly through his own unaided ex- ertions. He was intensely fond of mathematical studies, in which his proficiency awakened general admiration. He established the first book-store in Providence, R.I., and carried on that business during the Revolutionary War, and at the same time manufac- tured clothing for the Continental soldiers. During these years he continued to pursue mathematical and astronomical studies. He published an almanac from 1763 to 1793, calculated for the meridian of Providence; a copy for 1772 is in the Rehoboth Anti- quarian collection. He furnished the Royal Society of London with his observations on the transit of Venus in 1769; taught mathematics in the Episcopal Seminary at Philadelphia, 1784- 86; was elected professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Brown University in 1786, and held the position with equal credit to himself and advantage to the institution till 1799, receiving in 1792 the degree of LL.D. for his distinguished services in the cause
387
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
of science. He was postmaster at Providence from 1802 till his death, Aug. 13, 1813, in his 83d year.
His wife was Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Benjamin Smith of Bristol, R.I. He left one son and three daughters.
WHEATON, CYRUS MARTIN, son of Jonathan and Sarepta (Martin) Wheaton, was born in Rehoboth, Nov. 4, 1794. He traced his ancestry on both sides to the early settlement of the town. Robert Wheaton, the first of the name in this country, came from England to Salem in 1636. Moved to Rehoboth in 1643-46; married Alice Bowen. He was born in Wales in 1605, died 1695 or '96, aged ninety. He suffered the horrors of King Philip's War, as he was Philip's nearest neighbor. On his mother's side Cyrus was a lineal descendant of John Martin of Swansea, who came to this country in 1663 with Rev. John Miles, pastor of the first Baptist Church in Swansea. The best traits of both families were combined in the subject of our sketch, and there was in him a happy balance of faculties as rare as it is desirable. He was prominent in the affairs of his native town and for half a century was closely identified with its history. He was interested in military affairs and was promoted in early life to the rank of colonel in the old First Regiment of the Massachusetts Militia. He was for many years one of Rehoboth's selectmen, and for thirty years its town clerk, and also justice of the peace. In 1874, on his eightieth birthday, he was honored by being elected to the State Legislature.
He was an active member of the Congregational Church and Society, and served on the building committee which erected the present house of worship, dedicated Sunday, Nov. 3, 1839, the marriage of his eldest daughter constituting a part of the services of that day. He was always in his place at church on the Sabbath. As the time of his departure drew near, he said, "Pray for me that the Lord's will may be done and that I may be reconciled to his will."
Mr. Wheaton married, for his first wife, Nancy Carpenter, daughter of Peter and Nancy Carpenter of Rehoboth, Oct. 26, 1817. She died Oct. 15, 1855. They had six children: Nancy Carpenter, Sarepta Martin, Mary Carpenter, Cyrus Martin, Elizabeth Moulton, and Amanda Minerva. He married for his second wife, May 13, 1856, Mrs. Rosella (Carpenter) Perry, sister of his former wife. Mr. Wheaton lived to share the affection of twenty grandchildren and thirty-six great-grandchildren.
WHEATON, HORATIO G., M.D., a native of Rehoboth and brother of Josephus, was born in June, 1791. He was descended in a direct line from Robert Wheaton, the first of the name to come to America: Robert,1 Rev. Ephraim,2 James,3 James, 4 Capt. Jo- seph,5 Horatio. 6
388
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
Like his brother, he struggled hard for an education, graduating at Brown University in 1820. He studied medicine with Dr. J. W. Whitridge of Charleston, S.C. He had just entered on the practice of his profession in that city when he fell a victim to yellow fever and died Oct. 8, 1824. "He was a scholar of fine talents and a young man of high promise."
WHEATON, JESSE, M.D. Dr. Jesse Wheaton," James, James, 3 Rev. Ephraim,2 Robert.1 Brother of Capt. Joseph Whea- ton of Rehoboth, and James Wheaton of Pomfret, Conn. Born in Rehoboth, 1762-63, died in Dedham, Mass., Nov. 5, 1847. He lived in Dedham. Twice married: Betsey, who died Jan. 6, 1816, aged 52; Nancy Dixon of Boston, who died Nov. 24, 1842, aged 67. He was in the Revolutionary War, was captured by the British and imprisoned on the infamous prison ship "Jersey."
WHEATON, MARK O., son of William and Rachel (Burr) Wheaton, was born in Rehoboth in 1834. He married Ann E. Carpenter of Rehoboth, March 13, 1864. He took part in the Civil War in 1861, enlisting in the 3d Rhode Island Cavalry, and serving as private until its close. He resided in Attleborough and was bookkeeper for Charles E. Hayward & Co., afterwards taking Mr. Hayward's place in the firm, know as Wheaton, Richards & Co. Mr. Wheaton served two successive terms, 1894-96, in the lower branch of the Legislature. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and also a past commander of the G. A. R. He died June 22, 1896, in his sixty-third year. One daughter, Mrs. C. S. Smith of Attleborough, survives him.
WHEATON, REV. JOSEPHUS, A.M., son of Capt. Joseph and Sarah Sylvester (Sweet) Wheaton, was born in Rehoboth, March 16, 1787, one of fourteen children. His father kept a tavern in South Rehoboth, near the Seekonk line. His mother was a step-daughter of Rev. Robert Rogerson, - a most worthy woman. Young Wheaton early evinced a desire for a liberal education and worked his way through college, graduating at Brown University in 1812; served as tutor there for two years; studied Theology with Rev. Otis Thompson of Rehoboth; was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church at Holliston, Mass., Dec. 6, 1815, Mr. Thompson preaching the sermon. Mr. Wheaton's pastorate con- tinued until his death, which occurred Feb. 4, 1825, in his 38th year, of tuberculosis. "He was distinguished as a scholar of superior abilities, diligent application to his studies, amiable disposition and engaging manners." As a minister he was honored and be- loved. His portrait still hangs in the chapel at Holliston. He married (1) Mary Ide of Seekonk in January, 1816, and (2) Abigail F. Fales of Wrentham. Two children by his second wife survived him with their mother.
389
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
WHEELER, DEXTER, was born in the old Wheeler-Horton house on Summer Street in Rehoboth, May 5, 1777. He was the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Thurber) Wheeler (Dexter,7 Jere- miah,6 Jeremiah,5 James,4 James,3 Henry,2 John1). He was a natural mechanic and, when a young man, made shovels and their handles in the shop across the way. To give the handles the right crook, he steamed them and placed the ends in holes bored in a sill and skilfully weighted the other end. These augur-holes may still be seen in the old shop. Here in 1805 he demonstrated the spinning of cotton yarn by horse-power. Here also Mr. Wheeler made the cotton machinery for the "Swansea Factory" in the first years of the eighteenth century; and in 1809, for the cotton-mill at Re- hoboth Village. He was one of the six partners who constituted the Union Manufacturing Co. About 1813 he removed to Fall River and was in company with his uncle, Nathaniel Wheeler, and David Anthony. Here he built the first two cotton factories known as the "Troy" and the "White" mills. Before he died he sold out his interest in Fall River and moved to Poplar Ridge, Cayuga Co., N.Y., where he bought a farm, on which Henry J. Wheeler, son of his brother Cyrenius, now lives.
In 1811 Mr. Wheeler received a patent signed by President Madison for a tide-mill water-wheel. One of these wheels was used at Kelly's Bridge, at Warren, R.I., to operate a grist-mill. He also received a patent for the bearings for a water-wheel in which he substituted rollers for balls.
A nephew of Mr. Wheeler, Cyrenius Wheeler, Jr., a former mayor of Auburn, N.Y., received a patent for the first two- wheeled mowing machine, and sold the patent right to the Mc- Cormick Mowing Machine Co.
WILLETT, THOMAS, was one of the founders of Rehoboth, as well as one of the most distinguished men of Old Plymouth Colony. Born in England, he spent his early years, as did Mr. Brown, in Holland, where he learned the Dutch language, manners and customs, and became acquainted with the Pilgrims. He was about nineteen years old when he landed at Plymouth in 1629. He had charge of the English trading port at Kennebec, Me. Mr. Willett married Mary Brown, daughter of John Brown, July 6, 1636, by whom he had thirteen children. In 1647 he succeeded Myles Standish as captain of the Plymouth militia. In 1651 he was elected one of the Governor's assistants and held the office till 1665, when he was succeeded by his brother-in-law, James Brown, of Swansea. He was appointed as agent of the Colony in organizing the government at New York and reducing affairs to English customs, and as a result was chosen to be the first gov- ernor or mayor of the town, and was re-elected to the position. The Dutch also had so much confidence in Mr. Willett that they chose him to arbitrate on the disputed boundary between New York
390
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
and New Haven. In February, 1660, Mr. Willett became a free- holder in Rehoboth, residing at Wannamoiset, then a wardship of Rehoboth, but within the territory of Sowams or Sowamsett. Until recently the chimney of his house was standing on the main road, near Riverside, R.I., and not far from the home of his father- in-law, Hon. John Brown.
Mr. Willett cultivated friendly relations with the Indians and bought the Rehoboth North Purchase (now Attleborough, North Attleborough, and Cumberland), the Taunton North Purchase (Norton and Mansfield), and other large tracts. For his services to Rehoboth, the town, on the 21st of February, 1660, voted "that Mr. Willett should have liberty to take five hundred or six hun- dred acres of land northward or eastward, beyond the bounds of our town, where he shall think it most convenient for himself." With John Miles and John Brown he was influential in the grant and settlement of the town of Swansea, and the foundation of the Baptist Church in that town, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Miles, the ancestor of Major General Nelson A. Miles, U. S. A. After a few years residence in New York, Mr. Willett returned to his home in Wannamoiset, where he closed a useful and honored life, Aug. 4, 1674, aged 63 years. A rough stone in the Little Neck Cemetery, at the head of Bullock's Cove, bears this inscrip- tion :-
"Here lyeth the body of the worthy Thomas Willett, Esq., Who died August ye 4th, in the 64th year of his age.
Anno-
WHO WAS THE FIRST MAYOR OF NEW YORK, AND TWICE DID SUSTAIN THE PLACE."
His wife, Mary, died in 1669, and is buried by his side.
The City Club of New York placed at his grave a memorial granite boulder on which is a bronze tablet inscribed as follows :---
"Thomas Willett 1610-1674 First Mayor of New York Served 1665 and 1667. Erected by the City Club of New York, 1913. WILLETT."
(See opposite page 131)
WILLIS, DR. HARRISON, was born in the Willis house on Pine Street in Rehoboth, July 5, 1836. He was the son of Amasa and Lydia (Woodward) Willis. She was the daughter of Isaac and Martha (Luther) Woodward and died in Rehoboth, Dec. 10, 1890, aged 94 years.
Young Willis taught school in Swansea at the age of fifteen, and at twenty-one tried farming in Kansas, but owing to the warm
391
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
climate and the rattlesnakes he soon returned East and engaged in cutting and selling wood. In 1862 he attended medical lectures in Pittsfield, Mass., and in 1865 graduated at the Cleveland (Ohio) Homeopathic Medical College. After practicing awhile in Clinton, N.Y., he located in Brooklyn. He was a hard student and very progressive in his profession, being one of the original staff of the Homeopathic Hospital of Brooklyn. He performed successfully the operations of ovariotomy, apendectomy, caesarian section, and others. He became one of the foremost surgeons of his time in connection with the Homeopathic School of Medicine, and saved many lives by his skill in obstetrical surgery. In 1894 he opened a private hospital of his own, which he continued until his death, Dec. 3, 1898.
Dr. Willis was married twice: (1) to Miss Ellen M. White of Pawtucket, R.I., who had three children and died in September, 1871. (2) To Miss Isabella M. Mirrielees of Brooklyn, N.Y., in May, 1874, who bore him nine children. She died at Hollis, Long Island, in April, 1917. Of his twelve children, seven are still living (1917). Three of his sons are physicians, one of whom, Dr. Har- rison Willis, is superintendent of the Willis Sanitarium in Brooklyn.
WILMARTH, PASCHAL ELERY, son of Paschal Elery and Abigail Maria (Day) Wilmarth, was born in Seekonk, Mass., Aug. 11, 1839. His mother dying when he was three years old, his great-uncle and aunt, Daniel Wilmarth and his wife, brought him up as if he were their own son, making him the heir to their estate. Their home was the old Wilmarth homestead on Broad Street in Rehoboth, which has belonged in part to the same fam- ily since the time of Thomas Wilmarth, a settler of the first genera- tion. Young Wilmarth was educated in the public schools of Rehoboth, and grew up an enterprising farmer. He was one of the first to open a milk route to Providence, and erected the first windmill in town, used to pump water to his house from a bubbling spring a thousand feet distant in his field. When he later installed an engine to do the work he illustrated the progressive activity of his nature. He was road commissioner from 1875 to 1900, and was active in building and caring for the state road. As a good citizen, Mr. Wilmarth was ever interested in town affairs without caring to hold office. For many years he was an honored trustee of the Congregational Society, and also of the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society, which position he held from the beginning. He, with the assistance of George Henry Horton, for thirty successive years brought from Providence the big tent for the annual clambake. He served the Horse Detecting Society for several years as its secre- tary. When some of the public schools were for a time consolidated he purchased a barge that he might carry the children in safety and comfort. Mr. Wilmarth was a member of the Rising Sun
392
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
Lodge of Masons in East Providence. He died Jan. 5, 1918. The Wilmarth line of descent is as follows: -
Thomas,1 whose name appears among those drawing lots for the meadows on the north side of the town in 1658.
John,2 born 1646, who married Ruth Kendrick.
Nathaniel,3 born Dec. 29, 1677, who married Mary Perry.
Daniel,4 born Nov. 5, 1699, who married Bethiah Wilson Beverly.
Daniel,5 born Oct. 21, 1750, who married Susannah Luther.
John,6 born Nov. 22, 1773, who married Rachel Fuller.
Paschal Elery,7 born in Seekonk, Jan. 30, 1805, who married (1)
Abigail Day, daughter of David and Abigail (Armington) Day, by whom he had two sons, Paschal Elery and Augustus Day; and (2) Mary Webster, of Berkley, Mass. Their chil- dren were Daniel, John Nicholas, Mary and Abby. He was noted for his great strength and was a "terror to evil-doers." Paschal Elery,8 who married, May 2, 1862, Ellen Frances Dean, daughter of Benjamin and Polly (French) Dean; born Jan. 2, 1843. She is a descendant of Walter and Eleanor (Cogan) Dean, early settlers in Taunton; and of Mayflower descent; also of Richard E. and Frances (Dighton) Williams.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilmarth celebrated their golden wedding May 2, 1912, more than four hundred guests being present, and an original poem was read by Hon. T. W. Bicknell. Their children were: - -
Abbie Maria, born April 11, 1865; married John Francis Marvel, Nov. 28, 1899. One daughter, Ruth Wilmarth, born July 24, 1902.
Wilson Elery, born Dec. 31, 1866; married Hattie Wheaton, daughter of Williams and Mary (Wheaton) Lake, Nov. 10, 1886. Three children: Nellie Frances, born Oct. 12, 1887, married Harry Webb Standish of Willimantic, Conn .; Jessie, born Dec. 7, 1890, married Charles Holt Starr of Willimantic, Conn .; Wilson Ellery, Jr., born Jan. 25, 1907.
Augustus Day, born Feb. 26, 1870; died Jan. 5, 1889.
Grace May, born Nov. 23, 1871. Resides with her parents.
PASCHAL E. WILMARTH
-
JOHN F. MARVEL
----
CHAPTER XV MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
REHOBOTH ROADS
THE first lines of travel were the Indian trails, determined largely by the lay of the land. The direct route from Cohannet westward through Rehoboth must have run north of Squannakonk Swamp, to be followed in due time by the turnpike. This trail is known to have passed to the west of the Village, toward Rocky Hill, run- ning either over it into Seekonk or around it over Jacob's Hill to East Providence Center.
Another Indian trail would naturally run across the town south of the great swamp just named, between that and the "Bad Luck" swamp and where the Long Hill road now runs. Another trail from the east would come through by way of the Oak Swamp set- tlement north of the "Manwhague" and on past Horton's Signal and the Orleans Factory toward Watchemoket. These trails would be intersected by others according to convenience. The leading trails would be followed by the early white settlers who would gradually improve them into bridle paths and cart roads. For more than a hundred years, even to the beginning of the nineteenth century, people in the country traveled almost wholly on foot or horseback. Women rode to church either on a side- saddle or pillion. Dr. Fowler, who died in 1808, visited his pa- tients, carrying his medicines in saddle-bags, up to the last day of his life; and even his successor, Dr. Royal Carpenter, did the same for some years. Almost the only vehicles in town were farm wagons, ox-carts and hayricks, with crude sleds in the winter. By these rustic conveyances the young people, - and the older ones too, - often rode over rough roads to parties and entertainments, which they doubtless enjoyed no less than their sons and daughters of the present time.
In the year 1826 some men of progressive ideas planned to build a turnpike running directly from Taunton to Providence and pass- ing of course through Rehoboth. They reasoned that such a road would be a boon to the public and at the same time a paying in- vestment. A joint stock company was formed under the name of the Taunton and Providence Turnpike Corporation, for which a charter was granted by the state, March 3, 1826. The prime movers were Samuel Crocker, Jesse Smith, John West, Francis Baylies, James L. Hodges and D. G. W. Cobb, citizens of Taunton. John S. Luther was employed to survey the route. The contract to build the road was let out to Messrs. Dudley and Balkam for $17,000, making it cost about $1,000 a mile. The contractors
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.