USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of shipbuilding on North river, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with genealogies of the shipbuilders, and accounts of the industries upon its tributaries, 1640 to 1872 > Part 24
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* See Miscellaneous Scituate Yards.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHITTENDEN YARD. - 1690-1871.
JOB RANDALL, EDWARD PROUTY, ISAAC PROUTY, ISAAC CHIT- TENDEN, NATHANIEL CHITTENDEN, OBADIAH MERRITT, NOAH MERRITT, SAMUEL SILVESTER, GEORGE TORREY, JAMES TOR- REY, ISAAC TORREY, GEORGE TORREY, JR., DAVID TORREY, JOSEPH NASH, ELISHA BARKER, LABAN SOUTHER, JOSEPH PRATT, CHARLES COLE, WALTER FOSTER, ELIJAH CUDWORTH, LABAN CUDWORTH, JOSEPH CUDWORTH, JOHN CUDWORTH, HENRY MERRITT, JOSEPH MERRITT.
T `HE Chittenden Yard was located next below the Wanton Yard, on the Norwell side of North River, on the first rise of land just above and near the mouth of the Second Herring Brook. In 1673, it was agreed that the land between the Sec- ond Herring Brook and Edward Wanton's land be reserved for the use of the ministry. It was sold in 1702-3. Until 1799, there was a Town Landing at this yard
Job Randall, who built here about 1690, was probably the first shipwright to occupy this yard. He was son of William Randall, who came to Marshfield from Rhode Island in 1636, and later moved into So. Scituate where he lived about twenty rods north of Till's, or Dwelley's Creek, on the site of the late Elisha Foster's residence. Job Randall was b. in 1654. He mar., and settled one-quarter of a mile south of Herring Brook Hill, where David Torrey lived later. He had children : 1. Mary, b. 1680. 2. Job, b. 1683, who settled on the Marshfield or Pembroke side of the river, at JJob's Landing. 3. James, h. 1685. 4. Nehemiah, b. 1688. 5. Lydia, b. 1690. 6. Sam- uel, b. 1694. This family has descendants in West Norwell,
244
JOB RANDALL - THIE PROUTYS - ISAAC CHITTENDEN.
Mass., in Topsham and other towns in Maine, and in Harps- well and Pembroke. Isaac, brother of Job, lived to be one hundred and two years old. It will be seen from the following records that Job Randall built mostly for Samuel Lillie and Andrew Belcher of Boston, and for Sandwich parties. Many of Andrew Belcher's vessels were privateers used in the French war.
The first record of vessels probably built at this yard was in 1694, brig't'n "HOPEWELL," 40 tons ; owners, Capt. Samuel Prince of Sandwich, and John Devin of Boston. Also the same year, 1694, sloop "DUBARTUS," 25 tons ; owners, An- drew Belcher, merchant, John Coleman, Boston ; master, Rob- ert Starkey. 1699. Ship " HANNAH," 70 tons, Capt. Thomas Lillie ; owner, Samuel Lillie of Boston. Also the same year, 1699, brig't'n " MARY," 40 tons, Capt. Thomas Parker ; owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. 1700. Ship " MEHETABLE," 86 tons, Capt. Jonathan Lambert ; owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. Also the same year, 1700, ship " TWO BROTHERS," 60 tons, Capt. John Welsh ; owners, Andrew Belcher, Samuel Lillie of Bos- ton, merchants. 1701. Sloop "TRYAL," 20 tons, of Sand- wich ; owners, Capt. Samuel Prince of Sandwich, Job Randall of Scituate, and Cateret Gillam of Saybrook. 1702. Ship "CONTENT," 120 tons, Capt. Hugh Shannon ; owner, Samuel Lillie. 1705. Brig't'n " ADVENTURE," 60 tons, built at Seit- nate, and lately called the " Randol"; owners, Andrew Belcher and Samuel Lillie of Boston, and David Bucklyn of Boston.
Job Randall was succeeded at this yard by either Edward or Isaac Prouty, or perhaps by both. They were brothers, and were sons of Richard, who came to Scituate in 1670, and each has descendants in Hanover, Spencer, and Scituate, Mass. No records of the vessels built by the Proutys seem to be in ex- istence.
The Chittendens built here, as early as 1709, the sloop "SEA- FLOWER," 30 tons, Nathaniel Tilding, Moses Simons, Joseph Tilding, Isaac Chittenden, and Samuel Marshall of Boston, owners. They also built, as late as 1714, the sloop "SEA- FLOWER," 40 tons ; owners, Thomas Macomber, John Rog- ers and Isaac Chittenden of Scituate, and Samuel Doggett of Marshfield. The above are the only vessels that have been positively located as having been built at this yard by the Chit- tendens, though they probably built a great many, and some
245
CIIITTENDENS.
later than 1714. From the time of their ownership, probably before 1709, until the present time, the spot has ever been known as the Chittenden Yard. Members of the Chittenden family are buried in the "Old First Parish Cemetery," opposite No. 6 School-house, on the road to Greenbush. Isaac Chitten- den was son of Isaac, who was killed May 20, 1676, in defend- ing Scituate from the Indians during King Philip's War, and grandson of Isaac, one of the men of Kent, who came into Scituate with his father, Thomas, in 1633. Isaac was probably succeeded at the yard by his nephew Nathaniel, b. 1724. Na- thaniel's son Nathaniel, b. 1751, lived near the mouth of the Second Herring Brook, and probably built at this yard then. He mar. Ruth Foster, afterwards wife of Dea. Elisha James.
Forover chittenden a member of this family, was at one time, prior to 1700, a Selectman, and Surveyor of the town of Scituate. Descendants of the Chittendens moved to Charlestown, Prince- ton, and other towns in Massachusetts. The following, taken from the Boston News-Letter of Dec. 10, 1761, is interesting, as it shows that lighters or packets were used during the early days for transporting the necessaries of life :
" Saturday night last we had here very violent gusts of wind, which we hear has blown down considerable fencing in the neighboring towns; a Lighter going from this town to Hingham or Scituate was sunk near Spec- tacle Island ; the people with great difficulty got ashore alive."
Shipwreck, however, was but one of the dangers that men- aced our packets before the Revolution. Insults and assaults were frequent, until "patience ceased to be a virtue," and, added to the persecutions and unjust taxation, hastened to bring on that glorious struggle that made us free, the last centennial of which-the inauguration of Washington - we celebrated on April 30 of this year (1889), and which day our Governor, through some unexplained reason, failed to appoint a day of thanksgiving. Massachusetts, heretofore far ahead in patriot- ism, was certainly unpatriotic this time. We have had a pros- perous century, and let us hope that every true American gave thanks on that day, for the blessings of God and our present prosperous condition. Scituate bore her share of the persecu- tion during the Revolution, one instance of which is recorded in the Boston Gazette and Country Journal of Sept. 25, 1769 :
" On Friday last a Coaster, belonging to Seituate, was passing one of the ships of War in this harbour, when they dous'd their mainsail, but it not
246 VESSELS BUILT BY THE MERRITTS AND SAM'L SILVESTER.
being quite to the satisfaction of the commanding officer of the ship, they sent their boat on board and upon the Officer's stepping upon the sloop's deck he immediately drew a cutlass with which he struck the master of the coaster on the cheek, which cut a gash near three inches long, after which he damned him for not showing more respect to the King's ship and then cut the halliards of the main-sail and let the sail run down upon deck. We are told that the coaster apply'd to the Lieut. Gov. for his advice and assist- ance in procuring redress for this naval & insolent, but now-a-days, too common treatment, given some of his Majesty's American subjects. We do not yet learn how his Honor advised or concluded on this occasion "
While ship-building was probably the largest business car- ried on in Scituate at this early date, it was by no means the only business. The Boston Evening Post, Jan. 11, 1768, says :
" Last week a gentleman at Scituate sent up here (Boston) 15 samples of different kinds of cloths lately manufactured there, consisting of broad cloths, serges, tammys, shalloons, camblets, figur'd stuff's &c : which are said by good judges to be superior in quality to any of the sort usually im- ported from abroad."
The inhabitants of those days were obliged to look into the dictionary to find out the meaning of the word "lazy." The Merritts built here before 1800. In 1785, the sch. "LIVELY," 56 tons, was built at Scituate ; Obadiah and Noah Merritt of Seit- uate, owners. Obadiah, b. 1723, was a descendant of Henry Mer- ritt, who was in Scituate in 1628. He has descendants living in Scituate and Norwell. His son Noah, b. 1759, has descend- ants at New Orleans, La. Early in the last century is recorded an accident happening at this yard : Bezaleel Palmer, b. 1706, was killed by a fall. He left a widow and children. He was son of Bezaleel, and grandson of Jolm, Jr. Among the first vessels built here after the Revolution were, in 1786, the sch. "BACHELOR," 44 tons ; owned by Noah and Abijah Otis and Gid. Chittenden of Scituate. 1789. Sch. "SALLY," 32 tons, of Scituate ; William Barker, owner, Scituate. 1793. Sch. "LYDIA," 50 tons, of Portsmouth. 1794. Ship " MER- CHANT," 179 tons, of Boston. 1795. Sch. "JANE," 65 tons, of Provincetown. 1795. Sch. " MARY & NANCY," 41 tons, of Scituate ; owned and probably built by Sam'l Silvester ; afterward sold to Boston. There used to be a Weymouth man who carted lumber to the ship-yard, and " Uncle " Sam Silvester, as he was called, was one of the workmen who was considered good at telling stories. One day, when the Weymouth man came, the carpenters got him to tell some stories, to see if he could get ahead of Uncle Sam. Ile tried to make out the Scituate peo-
247
THE TORREYS AT THE CHITTENDEN YARD.
ple quite ignorant compared with the people of Weymouth. He said that on his way over to Scituate, the Sunday before, to hear old Dr. Barnes preach, he called at a house on his way across lots to get a drink of water, and, finding the lady of the house washing, said, "Do you wash Sundays?" "No," she replied, " I do not intend to ; I did not know it was Sunday." Uncle Sam heard the story through, and then said, "I knew that woman ; she was a Weymouth woman."
Jam val Sites let also built at Cohasset,
among other vessels, the sch. "Hero," 57 tons, in 1806, for Job Turner of Cohasset. Prominent among the old school- masters of his time was Elisha Sylvester, of the same family. He was a good scholar and had a good school. When the Rev- olution commenced he did not like the idea of joining the army, so he became a Quaker, after which he was always called " Elisha Quaker."
George Torrey was building at this yard as early as 1794 .* He was son of Caleb, a direct descendant of Lieut. James, who was in Scituate before 1640. George's son George succeeded his father.
Calle 66 Torrey was representative to the General Court from Scituate in 1743, and from 1745 to 1749. There appears in The Massachusetts Spy of May 14, 1772, the following :
" Died, at Scituate, Capt. Caleb Torrey. He was formerly a representa- tive in the General Court for that town."
George Torrey built, at the Chittenden Yard, in 1794, the sch., afterwards brig, "BETSEY," 111 tons, of Boston. Owners, James Torrey of Boston, shipwright, Joseph and James Rogers and Samuel Truant of Marshfield, and George Torrey of Scituate. Benjamin Briggs, Jr., was captain of her. He built, mn 1796, the sch. "BETSEY," 95 tons. Owned by Samuel Truant, Sr., & Jr., George Torrey, Joseph and James Rogers, of Marshfield. In 1797 he built the sch. "THANK- FUL," 129 tons, of Marshfield. Owners, Joseph and James Rogers and Amos Hatch of Marshfield, George and James
* See Block-house Yard.
248
TORREY GENEALOGY.
Torrey of Scituate. This vessel is one of the claimants to the French spoliation. He built in 1799 the sch. "LYDIA," 81 tons. Owned by James Little and Oliver and Coleman Jenkins of Seituate. The shipbuilders in the Torrey family were all descendants of Lieut. James Torrey, a clothier who was in Scituate prior to 1640 (see Briggs Yard). James son of Capt. Caleb was b. in 1755 and had sons : James, who went to Maine ; Rev. William, who removed to Canandaigua ; and Charles, who deceased early. Isaac, brother of James, was b. in 1740, d. in 1812, unmarried. George Torrey, who built many vessels for the Rolfes of Virginia and other large ship owners prior to 1800, some of which are given above, was also son of Capt. Caleb. He was b. in 1758, d. July 13, 1813. Ife had children : 1. George, Jr. ; 2. David ; 3. Isaac, who had one dau., now residing in Maine; 4. Otis; 5. Sally, mar. twice, no children ; 6. Lucy, mar. twice, had two children ; 7. Betsey. George and David succeeded their father and built together on the river for some time, after which they dissolved partnership. George went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he built vessels for service on Lake Erie. David formed a co-partnership with William James and built vessels at Quincy as early as 1816, and Wm. James built there as late as 1822, and on North River later. George Torrey, Jr., mar. Day; they had children: 1. John D., who kept the South Shore House, Scituate, for many years. He mar. a widow Vinal; 2. Thankful O .; 3. George O., who mar. and has children. He was born Aug. 27, 1820, and until he was twelve years old worked on the farm the year round with the exception of three months winter schooling. At twelve he went to sea in the ship "Henry Took," to the East Indies. Vernon H. Brown the present great merchant of New York after whom the author of this book was named, was supercargo. He next went in the ship " Seaman," to New Orleans where she was sold, and he shipped in the "Concordia" of 700 tons. He went to Liverpool and then came home. At eighteen he entered one of the ship-yards of North River and learned the trade of ship-carpenter, which trade he followed for many years. Mr. Torrey has always been noted for his genial hearty laugh, and for his ability to excite something similar in others by his many jokes and stories. He is invariably in good spirits and a valuable man in a sick room. 4. Elizabeth ; 5. Henry ; 6. Otis ; 7. Josiah ; 8. Frances ; 9. Abigail ; 10. Albert, mar. dau. of Ira Barker and has several children. 11. Lucy
249
TORREY GENEALOGY - JOSEPH NASH.
mar. - Tower. Five of these are now living. David Torrey, bro. of George, Jr., mar. Vesta Howard, of West Bridgewater. He d. Oct. 10, 1877, aged 90 years, 7 months. They had children : 1. MARY OTIs, who mar. Walter Robbins, no children. 2. GEORGE HOWARD mar. Harriett Cushing and has three children : Howard Cushing, George Everett and Florence. 3. DAVID, JR., mar. Eveline Bowker ; he d. in 1884. They had two children : Emma Howard, who mar. Edgar Bates, and Edwin Bowker. 4. VESTA H., who mar. 1st, Albion Turner, by whom she had children, who d. young ; 2nd, Job A. Turner, by whom she had two children : Carrie, who mar. George F. Blake, Jr., of Worcester, and Albion Bryant, now of Boston, who mar. Alice Rawson of Newton. 5. CHARLES. now of Boston, who mar. Adelaide J. Bowen. They have three children : Charles Everett, who mar. Lucy K. Paine of Cali- fornia, Edith A., who mar. Fred Allen, and Harry B., who is unmarried. 6. EVERETT, now of Boston, mar. 1st, Eliza D. Webb, who d. in 1884, 2nd, Julia Stetson of Lexington, no children. 7. FRANKLIN, who has resided in Italy since 1851; mar. Sarah Lincoln Spinney, of Boston. They have two chil- dren : Sarah Vesta Hermenia, who mar. Edward J. Berwind, of New York ; and Charles Franklin, who mar. Margaret Rolfe, of London, a descendant of the Rolfes of Virginia. They now reside in London. Margaret Rolfe christened the steamship " Missouri," when launched, the same vessel which lately rescued 700 persons from the "Danmark," in mid-ocean. The firm of Charles Franklin Torrey, Williams & Field built the " Missouri," which is running in their steamship line. 8. WILLARD, now a special sheriff for Plymouth county residing in Norwell, mar. Martha R. Merritt. They have three children : Frank H., (who mar. Grace E. Gassett, of Boston, and now resides in Melrose, Mass.,) ; Walter Robbins, (who mar. Nellie T. Fogg of Nor- well) ; and Martha Willard.
In 1800 the sloop "PACKET," 37 tons, was built and owned in Scituate, by James Little, Lemuel & William Vinal, Jr. Joseph Nash was her master builder at Scituate. This vessel was undoubtedly built at this yard and Joseph Nash probably belonged to the large family of that name who lived on " No Pork Hill," in Norwell. This may have been the following Joseph Nash : Joseph Nash, son of Joseph and Deborah Nash, was b. Feb. 24, 1739 ; he d., Nov. 1818. This was probably the same Joseph Nash who mar., Feb. 7, 1799, Lucy Mayhew,
250
ELISHA BARKER -GEORGE TORREY.
of Scituate. They had children : William, b. Oct. 30, 1799 ; Joseph Parker, b. Dec. 18, 1800; Benjamin, May 25, 1803; Lemuel, b. July 1. 1806 ; Thomas, b. Sept. 13, 1808 ; Lucy Ann, b. Feb. 5, 1811.
In 1801 was built the sch. " ROVER," 89 tons, by George Torrey, master builder ; owners, William and Lemuel Vinal, James Collier, Ira Bryant, and Cushing Otis, of Scituate, and the same year, 1801, George Torrey built the sch. " ALMIRA," 86 tons, owned by James Little, Oliver and Elijah Jenkins of Scituate, and in 1802, the sch. "JAMES BAYARD," 85 tons, of Boston, owned by Peleg Jenkins, Cushing Otis, and Isaac Torrey, of Scituate.
There was also built in 1802, the sch. "SALLY," 95 tons, at Scituate, by Elisha Barker, master builder ; owned by Cor- nelius Church, Samuel Donnel, Stephen Stockbridge, Silas Morton, Elisha Barker, Elisha Curtis, Horatio Cushing, and Reuben Curtis of Hanover. It is doubtful if the "Sally " was built at this yard, but it is more than probable, as she was built "up river."
In 1803, the brig "LIGHT HORSE," 162 tons, of Boston, was built here by George Torrey, master carpenter ; owners, William Vinal, Jr., Cushing Otis, Nehemiah Manson, James Torrey, and others, Scituate. This vessel was afterward cast away and lost. Also in 1803, Geo. Torrey built the sch. " SO- PHRONIA," 83 tons; James Little, of Scituate, owner. In 1804, the brig "INDEPENDENCE," 160 tons, of Boston, was built by George Torrey ; owners, William Vinal, Jr., Oliver Jenkins, Elisha Tolman, Cushing Otis, and George Torrey of Scituate, Amos Hatch and Joseph Rogers of Marshfield. In 1805, he built the ship " WILLIAM TELL," 258 tons, of Bos- ton ; owned by William Vinal, Quincy ; Joseph Rogers, Marsh- field ; Cushing Otis, Oliver and Elijah Jenkins, James Torrey, and George Torrey, all of Scituate. George Torrey also built in this yard, in 1806, the sch. "ENTERPRISE," 119 tons, of Scituate ; owners, Samuel Eells and Timothy Church, Hanover ; Elisha and Charles Tolman, Jr., Lemuel Haskins, Lemuel Jen- kins, Ezra Vinal, and George Torrey, of Scituate ; and in 1807, the ship "REGULUS," 237 tons, of Boston ; owners, Capt. Trouant and Nathaniel Clift of Marshfield ; Samuel Eells, Timothy Church, Hanover ; John Ruggles, Jr., Lemuel Has- kins, Elisha Turner, Elisha Tolman, Samuel Foster, James,
pushing the
251
CUSHING OTIS.
George, Jr., and David Torrey of Scituate; and Capt. Brooks, Jr.
Cushing Otis
who was interested in so many of the vessels built on North River, was a promi- nent man of his day. He was son of Dr. James Otis of Scituate, a distinguished physician, and nephew of Dr. Isaac Otis, Jr., a distinguished physician of Bridgewater. He was a descendant of Dr. Isaac Otis, Sr., in the following line : ISAAC OTIS, M. D., mar. Deborah - He d. Nov. 11, 1777, aged 78 ; she d. March 17, 1783, aged 84. They had six children : Isaac, M. D., Deborah, William, Stephen, Hannah, JAMES, M. D. Dr. James Otis mar. Lucy He d. May 24, 1807, aged 73; she d. June 24, 1816, aged 80. They had seven children : Lucy, James, Hannah, CUSHING, M. D., Elizabeth, Abigail, and Thomas. Cushing Otis graduated from Harvard College in 1789, and studied his profession under Dr. Hitchcock. In 1792 he returned to his native town, and practiced in connec- tion with his father. He soon became distinguished for his skill in the healing art, and was repeatedly elected one of the counsellors of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he was a member to the time of his death. His forensic powers were of a high order, his enunciation clear, and his diction ele- gant. His oration in commemoration of American Independence, pronounced at Scituate, July 4, 1800, at the request of the in- habitants, though the production of his youth, gave evidence of a highly cultivated mind and rhetorical powers. In 1801 he was elected a member of the Massachusetts Humane Society, John Warren, President. He was elected from his district to the House of Representatives in 1809 and 1812, and to the Senate in 1822-23. On Nov. 11, 1830, he was chosen Presi- dent of the Franklin Association for Mutual Improvement, South Scituate, John Foster, JJr., Secretary. He was also a member of the Bunker Hill Monument Association. On July 15, 1831, he presented the Second or South Society with a handsome elock, which was placed in front of the gallery of the church. He mar. Abigail, dan. of Judge Nathan Cushing. Ile d. Oct. 16, 1837, aged 68; she d. June 9, 1852, aged 77. Their only child, Abigail T. Otis, did much for this Society during her life, and at her death left goodly sums to the church and town. She died in So. Scituate, Oet. 15, 1884, aged 73.
252
TORREY - PRATT - COLE.
In religious sentiment Dr. Otis was decidedly liberal. He was a distinguished member of Rev. Samuei J. May's church. While he stood aloof from those who would "call down fire from Heaven," he was far from being a latitudinarian. He was content with the privilege of believing his faith to be right, without exhibiting any disposition to represent others as being in the wrong. Whatever might have been his particular form of faith, he was a firm believer in the great essential truths of natural and revealed religion. He adopted Christianity as a Divine system on the ground of its great external evidence, its perfect adaptation to human nature, and the truth and divine philanthropy which gives life and vigor to all its precepts. In social converse he was affable, communicative, and instructive. His refined taste, unaffected and habitual courtesy, vivacity of spirit, and discriminating mind rendered his society at all times endearing, and his death created a void in the community not easily filled.
George Torrey & Sons built their last vessel at this yard in 1812, the sch. "NEW SALLY," 56 tons; owned by Ensign Otis, Jr., Nehemiah Manson, Ephraim L. Young, George and David Torrey, Joseph Rogers, and Isaac Pierce of Scituate. Afterward sold to Waldoboro. The Torreys about this time removed to the Block-House Yard. They were succeeded at the Chittenden Yard by Laban Sonther, who at first built alone, but later formed a partnership with Elijah Cudworth, under the firm name of Souther & Cudworth.
Joseph Pratt is said to have built at this yard at one time.
Charles Cole, probably, also built at this yard, and he cer- tainly was interested in vessels built at the Harbor. He built in Scituate, in 1811, the sch. "INDEPENDENCE," 87 tons, of Boston ; owned by Charles Cole, Elijah Curtis, Perez Pynchon of Scituate, and others. Years later, Charles Cole purchased a wreck on the Scituate coast, which he had repaired on North River. He lived in Beech Wood, below "No Pork " Hill, Nor- well, where his grandson, Charles Alfred Litchfield, now re- sides. His son Charles removed to Boston, and was at one time President of the Mechanics Bank, So. Boston. Charles Cole was son of James Cole, and was b. Sept. 1, 1759, and d. in 1840. He had three sons and five daughters. Mary, b. June 1, 1801, mother of C. A. Litchfield, is the only child now living.
253
SOUTHIER - FOSTER - CUDWORTHI.
Laban Souther came from Cohasset. He was uncle to Elijah Cudworth, and lived just north of the gate on the road leading to the residence of Samuel C. Cudworth, Esq. He d. Dec. 19, 1840, aged 78, and was buried in the First Parish Cemetery, Norwell. He probably left no descendants. He laid the keel of the "President," May 9, 1816, and she was launched March 29, 1817. In 1816, the sch. "PRESIDENT," 85 tons, of Bos- ton, was built at Scituate by Laban Souther, master carpenter. In 1816, the sch. "MARGARET," 89 tons, of Cohasset, was built at Scituate by Walter Foster * and Elijah Cudworth. In our researches into the business of ship-building on the North River, we find that no man stood higher, or has left a better record of honesty and industry, than Elijah Cudworth. He was a descendant of Gen. James Cudworth of Scituate, and son of Capt. Joseph Cudworth and Elizabeth Souther. Deane, in his "History of Scituate," gives an elaborate account of Gen. James Cudworth. In 1675, when over seventy years of age, he was chosen "General and Commander-in-Chief of all the forces that are or may be sent forth against the enemy," which office he continued in until the end of King Philip's War. He died in London, Eng., of small-pox, in 1682, where he was sent by the Colony as their agent. The Boston Cudworths were probably a branch of this family. The following item is taken from an old paper, and dated "Scituate, Dec. 4, 1764 : "
" Ran away from his Master, Benjamin Jacob, a Negro Fellow named Prince, not very black, about 26 Years old, has an Impediment in his Speech : Had on when he went away, a brown homespun Coat, with brass Buttons, a Pair of new Shoes, a black Jacket lin'd with yellow, brown Breeches, and old light blue Great Coat. Whoever shall take up said Negro, and bring him to his Master in Scituate or to Mr. Benjamin Cud- worth in Boston, shall be well rewarded, and have all necessary charges paid. All Masters of Vessels and others are forbid concealing, harbouring or carrying off said Servant, as they will be prosecuted for so doing."- The Massachusetts Gazette & Boston News Letter.
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