USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Scituate > History of Scituate, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1831 > Part 12
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In 1673, the Town paid their high respect to General Cud- worth, by granting him a family burying ground, as follows : "Feb. 26, 1673, it is agreed that Mr Cudworth has granted to him four rods and an half of land, on the south side of the meeting house, to fence in for a burying place, and for a place to set a horse, which land is to be from the stone wall north- ward, one rod and an halfe for the breadth of it, and to be in lengthe three rods." This place may now be easily discerned
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by tracing. the foundation of the old Meeting-house. There are several graves on the spot, but the grave stones are rough and unlettered. These are doubtless the graves of the wife and some of the children of that venerable man. He died in England.
In 1680, the second religious Society commenced a burying ground, near their then new Meeting-house on Timothy Fos- ter's land, a half mile north of Union Bridge. This was Soci- ety's land, as we believe.
In 1699, the Conihasset partners laid out a burying place "between the land of Thomas Hiland and John Pierce, with a way to the Country road to said burying place, not to exceed half an acre." Conihasset Rec. p. 32. This is now used by many families in the north-west part of the Town.
In 1707, the Town granted leave to the Church and Society up river, to set their Meeting-house on the Town's commons.
In 1725, the Town laid out a piece of land on " herring brook hill, for the accommodation of the southerly Meeting house, a burying place, training field and other special uses." The same year a burying place and training field was laid out nearly opposite to " Meeting house lane," and east of the " Buck field." This is now used for these purposes. The same year, ten acres near drummer Setson's (Samuel) for a burying place and training field. This is the place where the Episcopal Church first stood.
In 1804, the Town chose a committee to examine and re- port, how much land near the south Meeting-house, it was proper to fence in with the burying ground. The fencing was not accomplished until 1828, when it was done at the expense of the south Parish.
Besides these public burying grounds we may mention that of the Wanton family, on the west bank of the North River, near the ancient residence of the family, a few rods to the north-east. No lettered stone is seen there. The family tomb of John Cushing of the second generation to the present time, may be seen on "belle house neck."
The family of Dr. Stockbridge have a tomb on their ancient place, thirty rods north-east from their venerable mansion. Another branch of the Stockbridge family has a tomb at Mount Blue, where three generations of the family are laid. The family of the late Mr Joshua Bryant has a tomb on their place. And there is a burying ground of the family of Bowker near " burnt plain," where several generations have been buried.
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BILLS OF MORTALITY.
The average number of deaths may be forty-five per annum. The climate must be considered healthy, in which so many persons reach to an advanced age. For the want of accurate records we are unable to give many instances of longevity.
Isaac Randall died 1759, aged 101. | Widow Mch. Jackson d. 1827, a. 92. Widow Jane Palmer d. 1810, a. 101. Isaac Stetson d. 1811, a. 92.
Israel Sylvester d. 1812, a. 95.
Widow Sarah Clap, d. 1812, a. 91. Widow Zeporah Randall d. 1815, a. 97. Wid. Deborah Sylvester d. 1815, a. 96. Widow Mary Brooks d. 1818, a. 101. Hagar (color) d. 1821, a. 94. Widow Hette Young, d. 1821, a. 91. Rose (color) d. 1823, a. 97. David Dunbar d. 1823, a. 93. Lucy Whiton (color) d. 1825, a. 100. Widow Thankful Otis d. 1826, a. 91. Edmund Bowker d. 1827, a. 94.
James Barrell d. 1827, a 99 1-2. Widow Eliz. Briggs d. 1828, a. 92. Wid. Experience Stetson d. 1829, a. 92. Mary Clap d. 1829, a. 91.
Widow Sarah Bourn d. 1829, a. 91.
There are now living James Briggs aged 96.
Reuben Bates a. 95 3-4.
Widow Mary Ellmes a. 93.
Seth Stodder a. 91.
Lathrop Litchfield a. 90.
Widow Grace Totman (now of Brook- field) a. 99.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
In 1638, William Vassall and William Hatch were appointed by the Colony Court "to exercise the people in arms at Scit- uate." The year previous had been one of military operations against the Pequots, and a greater attention to discipline was now commenced. The part which Scituate bore in the war of 1637, we have not ascertained with much accuracy. The order of the Colony Court relating to that war, is as follows : " It is enacted that the Colony of New Plymouth shall send forth ayd to assist them of Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut, in their warres against the Pequin Indians, in reveng of the innocent blood of the English which the sª Pequins have shed and refuse to give satisfaction for."* We believe that this
The alarm excited by the Pequot War, led to the union of the Colonies, often referred to in this work. There was an informal union in 1638 : but in September 1643, articles of confederation were signed at Boston, by Commissioners from Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven Colonies. In 1662, Connecticut and New Haven were united in one Colony. The Commissioners chosen annually, held annual meetings at Boston, Plymouth, Hartford and New Haven, in rotation (with the exception that they met twice in succession at Boston) until 1664. The meetings were afterwards triennial, and continued to 1686, when the Charters were cancel- led, and Andros was appointed by the crown General Governor.
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expedition was conducted principally by voluntary enlistment ; and we notice in the list of volunteers for this Colony, Lieut. William Holmes, George Kenrick and Henry Ewell, who were Scituate men : Lieut. Holmes however resided mostly at Plymouth.
In 1643, the Colony Court ordered a list of the men liable to bear arms that year. The list of Scituate men liable to bear arms that year, embraced "John Hoar, John Williams, jr., Isaac Chittenden, Peter Collamore, Isaac Buck, Walter Hatch, William Curtis, Richard Curtis, Joseph Tilden, George Sutton, Simon Sutton, Ephraim Kempton, George Moore, John Vassall, William Peaks." By what rule these were liable to bear arms that year, we have not ascertained : it is probable, however, that many were exempted that year on account of former services. The same year we observe in the Colony Census, that there were in Scituate males over sixteen and under sixty, one hundred. Scituate had suffered a great deduction from her inhabitants in 1639 and 40: for we observe in the list of those liable to bear arms in Barnstable in 1643, "Richard Foxwell, Barnard Lombard, Thomas Lombard, Samuel Hinck- ley, Thomas Hinckley, William Crocker, John Russell, John Foxwell, Thomas Blossom," who were Scituate men three years before.
In 1652, Scituate was made " a military discipline," by act of Court, and officers commissioned, viz. James Cudworth, Capt. ; John Vassall, Lieut. and Joseph Tilden, Ensign.
That a military discipline was not created earlier in Scituate, was owing to the great removal to Barnstable, above alluded to. Plymouth, Duxbury and Marshfield had been made military disciplines in 1642.
A council of war had been occasionally held previous to 1653, but in that year it was regularly established by law, and its duties pointed out. This council consisted of eleven, of which number Scituate always furnished a large part. We observe in 1665, "Cornet Robert Stetson, Serj. John Daman, Mr Isaac Chittenden, Edward Jenkins, and Lieut. Isaac Buck." The veteran Cornet continued in the council of war until 1682.
In 1654, in the expedition ordered against the Dutch at Manhatoes (New York) by the Commissioners of the United Colonies, under Major Robert Sedgwick of Massachusetts, Plymouth Colony enlisted and impressed sixty men, to be commanded by Capt. Miles Standish, Lieut. Matthew Fuller, and Ensign Hezekiah Hoar. Mr Hoar had then removed from Scituate to Taunton.
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In 1658, a troop of horse was ordered by the Court, to be raised. Scituate was to furnish four men. Robert Stetson was appointed Cornet of that troop.
In 1666, the military of Scituate elected their officers, and made return to the Colony Court for ratification, viz. James Cudworth, Capt., and Michael Pierce, Lieut. The Court returned an answer as follows: "As to Mr Cudworth it is directly against the advice of the' Court, and as to Mr Pierce, he is a stranger to us : therefore Serj. John Daman is directed to take the command till further orders." The reader should be apprised that Mr Cudworth having been Captain in 1652, had also been deprived of his commission in 1659, on account of his opposition to the "rigorous laws against the Quakers : hence the jarring between the military of Scituate and the Colony Court. They returned their best man for the approbation of the Court, although they had previously been admonished to the contrary. The matter was accommodated in 1669, and Mr Pierce with whom the Court had now a better acquaintance, as it would seem, was commissioned as Captain, Isaac Buck as Lieut., and John Sutton as Ensign.
From the Pequot war in 1637, to the troubles with the Narragansetts and Philip of Pokanoket, which came to open war in the autumn of 1675, there had been peace with the Indians. This war was suspected and foreseen for several years. Neither Philip nor the Narragansetts would be faithful to their treaties of amity. It is not proper for us here to give a narrative of that war, except in so far as it had some particu- lar connexion with this Town.
The Colony Court had put their Jurisdiction into a state of mil- itary preparation, in 1674, on account of an expected expedition against the Dutch at New York. We observe in the records of the Colony, that the military officers in each town were required to make a " search of arms," and report deficiencies. We notice also, in the records of Scituate, that Capt. Cudworth was chosen to complete the Town's stock of arms and ammu- nition, and in particular he was ordered " to purchase seven sordes to complete the town's stock in that kinde."
In 1675, an additional garrison of twelve men was ordered to be established at the house of Mr Joseph Barstow in Scituate. This was near the place now called Hanover Corners. The other garrisons in the Town were at the "block house" on the North River, at Charles Stockbridge's, (which was the princi- pal garrison), and at Capt. John Williams's, on farm neck.
The same year the Court ordered the Namassakesett Indians
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to be removed to Clark's Island near Plymouth, and not to leave the Island without license. It was also ordered that there be pressed for this war twenty-three men from Scituate, (from Plymouth fifteen, Taunton twenty, &c.)
October 4th, "At a Gen. Court held at Plymouth, Major James Cudworth was unanimously chosen and re-established in the office of General and Commander in Chief, to take charge of our forces that are or may be sent forth against the enemy, as occasions may require. Serjeant Robert Barker to be his Lieut. of his particular company."
Also, "General Cudworth, Mr Constant Southworth, Mr Barnabas Lothrop and Mr Isaac Chittenden ordered to be a committee in behalf of the Country, to take an account of the charges arising by this war."
The same year the Town of Scituate chose a committee " to procure clothing, &c. for the soldiers, viz. Gen. Cudworth, Cornet Stetson, Isaac Chittenden, Joseph White."
The Colony Court also resorted to the following strong measure of precaution : "It is ordered that every man that comes to meeting on the Lord's Day, bring with him his arms, with at least six charges of powder and shot," also "that who- ever shall shoot off a gun at any game whatsoever, except at an Indian or a wolf, shall forfeit 5s for such default, until further order."
It was determined, towards the close of this year, to make an expedition against the Narragansetts. It was commanded by Gov. Winslow in person, and though successful, so far as to destroy the Narragansett fort, and slay at least eleven hundred of the Indians, it was nevertheless the most memorable of all the actions in which the Plymouth forces were engaged, for the sufferings and hardships of the victors, it being on the last of December, and the country covered with a deep snow and the weather uncommonly severe. For a description of this battle see Hubbard or Church, or N. E. Memorial.
Scituate had twenty men in this battle; but we are unable to give any perfect list of their losses and sufferings. It is however due to those brave men to collect what we can, in the absence of any authentic report of killed and wounded. We learn from a letter of Gov. Winslow written from the scene of battle, that Serjeant Theophilus Witherell (son of Rev. William) was desperately wounded in storming the Narragansett Fort, December 19, 1675. We can also name John Wright, mentioned incidentally in Scituate records, as having been in that battle. We can name Joseph Turner, who had been
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wounded before, as it would seem, for the Town of Scituate had passed the following vote 1673: "Chose Serj. John Daman to go with Joseph Turner and procure a cure for him; also to support him at the Town's expense as long as he liveth." He recovered, it seems, and fought again. We extract from the Colony records the following particulars.
In 1678, "Ordered that William Perry of Scituate be re- leased from military duty on account of great wounds received in the late war." The next year he was "allowed 10£ from the Colony Treasury " on the same account. In 1678, "Ser- jeant Theophilus Witherell, on account of his severe wounds in the late war, by which he is crippled for life, is allowed 60€ silver money." In 1681, "Joseph Turner having served in the Narragansett fight, is freed from military duty." In 1683, "John Vinal having served in the Narragansett fight is freed from military duty." It is truly affecting to observe such trib- utes, trifling as they were in a pecuniary view, to the brave soldiers of the "Narragansett fight."
On the opening of the campaign against Philip in 1676, twenty-five men were ordered to be pressed from Scituate early in the spring. Gen. Cudworth, Lieut. Buck and Isaac Chittenden were appointed press-masters. The Town also chose a committee "to take account of all the service of the soldiers in all their goings out, and report to the Governor," viz. Gen. Cudworth, Lieut. Buck and John Cushing.
The Narragansetts early in the spring had committed ravages in Rhode Island ; parties had even penetrated to Plymouth and killed a number of inhabitants. On this alarm, Capt. Michael Pierce of Scituate, with a company of fifty Englishmen and twenty friendly Indians from Cape Cod, was ordered to pursue the Indians towards Rhode Island. He proceeded without any rencounter near to Pawtucket, in that part which has been called Attleboro Gore, when he discovered that there were Indians near him, but not suspecting that Canonchett was there, with all the collected force of the Narragansetts. He therefore ventured to cross the river and commence the attack, but soon found himself in the presence of an overwhelming force. To fly was impossible, and to retreat in order, before such an enemy, was equally desperate. His only resource was to fall back to the river's bank, in order to avoid being sur- rounded, and make the sacrifice of himself and of his brave men as costly as possible to the foe. But the Indians having a large disposable force, soon sent a party across the river to attack in the rear. This surprise only induced the Captain to change the front of half his company, and place them back
16
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to back; and in this position they fought until nearly every man fell, and with a bravery like that at Thermopyla, and deserving of as great success. Capt. Pierce fell earlier than many others; and it is due to the honor of one his friendly Indians called Amos, that he continued to stand by his com- mander and fight, until affairs were utterly desperate, and that then he escaped by blackening his face with powder as he saw the enemy had done, and so passing through their army without notice.
Mather and others relate also pleasing anecdotes of two or three other of Capt. Pierce's friendly Indians, who escaped by equally curious artifices and presence of mind. One who was flying and closely pressed by a hostile Indian sought the shelter of a large rock. Thus the two were waiting in awful suspense to shoot each other. Capt. Pierce's Indian putting his cap on the end of a stick or his gun, gently raised it to the view of his enemy, who immediately discharged his gun at the cap, and the next moment was shot dead by the friendly Indian. Another in his flight pretended to pursue an Englishman, with hostile demonstrations, and thus escaped.
It was little consolation to learn, after this disaster, that this brave band had slain thrice their own number of the Indians. It was by far the severest calamity that befel Plymouth Colony during this bloody war, and peculiarly disastrous to Scituate.
It has generally been stated that every Englishman was killed : but we are fortunately able to furnish what may be" the most accurate and authentic account of the losses in that battle, that is extant. It is a letter from the Rev. Noah New- man of Rehoboth, dated the day after the battle, to his friend the Rev. John Cotton of Plymouth. He assisted in burying the dead.
of the first " Rehoboth, 27 ,76.
" Reverend and dear Sir.
"I received yours dated the 20th of this Instant wherein you gave me a doleful relation of what had happened with you, and what a distressing Sabbath you had past. I have now, according to the words of your own letter, an oppor- tunity to retaliate your account with a relation of what yesterday happened to the great saddening of our hearts, filling us with an awful expectation of what further evils it may be anteceda- neous to, both respecting ourselves and you. Upon the 25th of this Instant, Capt. Pierce went forth with a small party of his men and Indians with him, and upon discovering the enemy,
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fought him, without damage to himself, and judged that he had considerably damnified them. Yet he, being of no great force, chose rather to retreat and go out the next morning with a recruit of men ; and accordingly he did, taking Pilots from us, that were acquainted with the ground. But it pleased the Sovereign God so to order it, that they were enclosed with a great multitude of the enemy, which hath slain fifty-two of our Englishmen, and eleven Indians. The account of their names is as follows. From Scituate 18, of whom 15 slain, viz. Capt. Pierce, Samuel Russell, Benjamin Chittenden, John Lothrope, Gershom Dodson, Samuel Pratt, Thomas Savary, Joseph Wade, William Wilcome, Jeremiah Barstow, John Ensign, Joseph Cowen, Joseph Perry, John Perry, John Rowse, (Rose). Marshfield 9 slain : Thomas Little, John Eams, Joseph White, John Burrows, Joseph Philips, Samuel Bump, John Low, More-John Brance. Duxbury 4 slain : John Sprague, Ben- jamin Soal, Thomas Hunt, Joshua Fobes. Sandwich 5 slain : Benjamin Nye, David Bessey, Caleb Blake, Job Gibbs, Stephen Wing. Barnstable 6 slain : Lieut. Fuller, John Lewis, Eleazer C-, (probably Clapp), Samuel Linnet, Samuel Childs, Samuel Bereman. Yarmouth 5 slain : John Matthews, John Gage, William Gage, Henry Gage, Henry Gold. Eastham 4 slain : Joseph Nessefield, John Walker, John M-, (torn off), John Fits, jr., John Miller, jr. Thomas Man is just returned with a sore wound.
"Thus Sir, you have a sad account of the continuance of God's displeasure against us : yet still I desire steadfastly to look unto him who is not only able but willing to save all such as are fit for his salvation. It is a day of the wicked's tryumph, but the sure word of God tells us his tryumphing is brief. O that we may not lengthen it out by our sins. The Lord help us to joyne issue in our prayers, instantly and earnestly, for the healing and helping of our Land. Our Extremity is God's opportunity.
" Thus with our dearest respects to you and Mrs. Cotton, and such sorrowful friends as are with you, I remain
"Your ever assured friend "NOAH NEWMAN."*
Note in the lower margin, probably in the hand writing of Mr. Cotton.
" from Mr Newman March 27, 1676, Newman, Shove, Walley, Maj. Bradford, Capt. Oliver, Keith, Fr. Mather, Moth. Mather, Sister Mather Seaborn Cotton, Walker, Moody, Mrs. Newman. " Read."
* The authenticity of this letteris beyond doubt. It came into our possession in the following manner. We (the compiler of this work) remembered to
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The greater number of the unfortunate fifteen of Scituate, were heads of families, viz. Capt. Pierce, Samuel Russell, Benjamin Chittenden, John Lothrop, Gershom Dodson, Tho- mas Savary, Jeremiah Barstow, John Ensign. John Lothrop was not the son of the Rev. John Lothrop, but he is called in Scituate records, an Irishman. Thomas Man, who returned " with a sore wound," was of Scituate.
Immediately after the above calamity,* the council of war decided that the danger of the crisis was such, that the utmost strength of the Colony must be put forth. The quota of sol- diers to be raised by Scituate, according to their plan, was fifty. They were to rendezvous at Plymouth on the 11th April 1676, where they were to meet the council of war and receive their directions. But when the council assembled at Plymouth to meet their new raised forces, they found that it had not been possible to muster so many men as their well laid plan had contemplated. "There was a special deficiency of Scituate and Sandwich," says the New England Memorial, and the whole design was for the present abandoned. We shall do what we can to account for the unfortunate deficiency so far as Scituate is concerned. Ten days after the day appointed for the assembling of the soldiers at Plymouth, an attack was made on Scituate by a large body of Indians, which had been seen about Weymouth some days before. "They however were bravely repulsed by the inhabitants of Scituate ;" so record Hubbard and Mather. We are to recollect too that Capt. Pierce with fifteen of the best men of Scituate had been slain, but a few days previous to the day of rendezvous. It was not within the compass of probability certainly, that Scituate could
have been shown a copy of it, several years since, by Hayward Pierce, Esq. a lineal descendant of Capt. Michael Pierce, and to have been informed by him, that the original was in the possession of Rossitter Cotton, Esq. of Plymouth, a descendant of the Rev. Mr Cotton to whom the letter was addressed. We applied to this gentleman, who informed us that he had sent the letter, with others, to the Antiquarian Society at Worcester. By the politeness of the venerable President of that Society, the original letter was found, and copied for us by Emory Washburn, Esq. of Worcester. Rev. Mr Newman deceased April 16, 1678.
* It may be pleasing to the reader to be informed, that Canonchett was taken prisoner a few days after, by Capt. Denison of Stonington. A young soldier of the company Robert Staunton, put some questions to the Sachem, when he received this proud and disdainful answer: " You too much child - no understand matters of war - let your Capt. come - him I will answer." And when he was informed that it was determined to put him to death, he said, " I like it well - I shall die before my heart is soft, or before I have spoken any thing unworthy of myself." Hubbard's Indian Wars.
Canonchett was son of the famous Miantonomoh, chief Sachem of the Narragansetts.
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have furnished fifty men, without leaving their homes defence- less, and their garrisons unmanned.
Again on the 20th of May following, another and the last desperate attack was made upon the Town.
They had made an attack upon Hingham on the 19th, killing John Jacob of Glad Tidings plain. The next morning, after burning five houses in Hingham, they hastened to Scituate by the Plymouth road. They came into Scituate by the " Indian path," so called, which led from Scituate to the Matakeeset settlements at Indian head ponds, by "the Cornet's mill," on the third Herring brook, near the residence of the late Major Winslow. This saw mill they burnt; and tradition tells that they wounded and burnt a man in it; but this is doubtful. They then proceeded to Capt. Joseph Sylvester's and burnt his house. It stood north of the Episcopal Church hill, (now known as such), and nearly on the same spot where stands the mansion of Mr Samuel Waterman. There was a garrison of twelve men at Joseph Barstow's, three fourths of a mile south of Capt. Sylvester's, which they probably avoided, and proceed- ed down towards the Town, burning as they went .* But
unfortunately we are able only to mention a few of the houses so destroyed, which we find incidentally mentioned in our Town records. The next house which they burnt (of which we have certain record) was William Blackmore's. It stood where stands the house of the late Capt. Elijah Curtis, forty rods west of the head of the lane that leads to Union Bridge, and on the north side of the street. William Blackmore was killed that day, f but whether in attempting to defend his house or not, and what was the fate of his family, we have not learned, probably however they had escaped to the "block house," on the bank of the river, but fifty rods distant. The block-house was attacked but not carried; John James, however, whose house was near the block-house, received a mortal wound, lingered about six weeks, and died. The Indians then hastened forward to attack the principal garrison at Charles Stockbridge's.
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