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 5
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The next tributary to North River below the Third Herring Brook is a small brooklet from Seabury's woods. The next below is ROBINSON'S CREEK, later known as SCHOOSET CREEK, which flows into the river from the Pembroke side, just below the brick-kilns. The Two MILE BROOK, or FULLING MILL CREEK, flows into the river from Marshfield, east of and opposite the Bald Hills. A small stream, which formed the boundary of the Cornet Stetson grant on the north and of the Humphrey Johnson on the south, is next below. Joseph Tolman had a saw mill on this stream about thirty years ago. The next tributary comes into the river from Norwell, opposite and about a quarter of a mile above Gravelly Beach. This stream was called TILL'S CREEK as early as 1640, but later was named DWELLEY'S CREEK. after Richard Dwelley, who owned meadow land there, and died in 1692. The little stream that crosses the road in Norwell,
35
SECOND HERRING BROOK.
near Torrey's trunk factory, is called WANTON BROOK, and the old folks used to think that witches danced on its banks at mid- night. Mr. Cudworth once heard a horse running behind him near this brook, but never discovered the horse.
In 1785 a subscription was raised to build a bridge across the North River, near John Stetson's (the ancient Wanton) place. The town chose a committee to consult with the subscribers, and to learn what kind of a bridge was proposed, and how to be kept in repair. The town then voted their consent, on condition that a sufficient draw be kept. The project failed. It was revived in 1827, but again failed, and it is not likely that there will be a bridge there for some time to come.
The SECOND HERRING BROOK is the next tributary to the river, and, flowing from Norwell, enters at a point just below the old Chittenden yard. The Second Herring Brook is formed by numerous little brooklets that rise in Ridge Hill Swamp, Dead Swamp, and Black Pond. Herring ascended this brook to Black Pond until repelled by the mill-dams. Smelts now ascend as far as they can each year about the latter part of March. There used to be beaver dams on this brook, south of Dead Swamp. The bridge over the north branch of the Her- ring Brook, above Dead Swamp, was named many years ago BUMPAS' BRIDGE. CHAMBERLAIN PLAIN is northeast of Beaver Dam or Dead Swamp. WALNUT HILL is west of Beaver Dam, on the Second Herring Brook. SPRUCE SWAMP is south of CORDWOOD HILL and the Second Herring Brook. SPRING BROOK flows from the northwest into the Second Herring Brook. In 1829 there were on the Second Herring Brook two grist mills, a saw mill, and a shingle mill. A saw mill on the east branch of the brook was erected in 1831 by S. A. Turner, Esq. On the Second Herring Brook, about a half mile from its month, there was a saw mill built in 1690 by John Bryant, a house carpenter, who was a freeman in Scituate in 1639, and had a farm ten rods east of the mill. This mill was used as a grist mill later. "BRYANT'S BRIDGE, above the mill," Deane says, " was not a cart bridge until 1704." Long after the above mill was built another grist mill was built further up the stream. A saw mill was erected there at a later day. This mill was run by David Torrey, in connection with his steam mill or trunk factory on River street, until his death in 1884. In 1658-9 a foot bridge was built across the Second Herring Brook, very near its mouth. There was a bridge there before, as, in laying
36
OAKMAN'S FERRY - UNION BRIDGE.
out the path from the Block-house to Wanton's yard, the records of 1658 speak of crossing the Second Herring Brook, "where the old bridge did lye."
There is a small brooklet flowing from Scituate into the river, not far below the mouth of the Second Herring Brook ; but the next point of interest of North River (shipyards excepted) is UNION BRIDGE. Here was a public ferry-boat as early as 1644, when it was run by Elisha Bisby, whose house stood near the bridge on the west side of the river, and where his son Elisha kept a tavern for many years. Deane says there was a town landing at this ferry (which was called the Upper Ferry) in 1645. At this point, North River is about seven to eight rods wide at ordinary tide. The "Upper Ferry " was run by the Oakmans* of Marshfield until later than 1760-70, about which time John Tolman took charge ; and he was the last ferryman before the bridge was built. In 1799 it was proposed by the Town of Scituate to build and maintain a bridge over North River, at Oakman's Ferry. jointly with Marshfield. Three hundred and seventy dollars were raised, but the enterprise proved a failure because Marshfield refused to accomplish its part. In 1801 a corporation formed for the purpose of erect- ing a draw-bridge, with the privilege of taking toll. Union Bridge was built soon after. The income kept the bridge in repair, and paid 7% interest on the money invested, until 1850, when it was made a free bridge. Hatch Tilden, brother of Jotham and Luther Tilden of Scituate, and son of Dea. Sam- uel, of Marshfield, was toll collector for more than forty years. Ilis son Edward built vessels in Chelsea under the firm name of Curtis & Tilden. Hatch Tilden lived in the house next the bridge, on the easterly side of the road, in Marshfield. He married, in 1822, Hannah W., daughter of Nath. Waterman, who came into Marshfield about 1794. She was born in So. Scituate April 6, 1792, in the house afterward owned by Dr. Foster. Mrs. Tilden, now in her ninety-eighth year, still resides in the house by the bridge, where she has lived since her marriage. Calvin T. Phillips, of So. Hanover, Mass., in an article published in a recent number of "The Genealogical Journal." writes as follows :
" On page 354, Deane, in his 'History of Scituate,' states that ' Samuel Tilden (grandson of Elder Nathaniel) settled on the North
* See chapter on North River Pilots.
37
TILDEN GENEALOGY.
River, whose son Samuel was born 16S9 (by a first wife) ; his second wife was Sarah Curtis, 1694. The latter Samuel married Desire Oldham, 1717, and his son Samuel was born 1718. The latter was the father of the venerable Dea. Samuel Tilden.' This would make the line of Samuels as follows :
Samuel, born 1660 ; married 2d, Sarah Curtis, 1694. Samuel, born 16S9 ; married Desire Oldham, 1717. Samuel, born 1718 ; married Samuel, born 1739; (Deacon).
After careful examination of all known records, I can but think that Deane was mistaken in this line.
As to Samuel, born 1660, I find no trace of the 'first wife,' nor of any of her children ; but Marshfield town records give the birth of Samuel, son of Samuel and Sarah, Oct. 4, 1695. If there had been a Samuel, son of a first wife, living, another child would not have received the same name. The same records also give the birth of Samuel, son of Samuel and Desire, Sept. 14, 1739, and the death of 'Deacon Samuel Tilden,' June, 1834, aged 95, which agrees with the foregoing date of birth of the child of Samuel and De- sire. The record in the family Bible of Dr. Calvin Tilden (son of Dea. Samuel) fully corroborates the above, as it gives Sam- uel Tilden and Desire Oldham as the parents of Deacon Samuel, and the death of Samuel (husband of Desire) as March, 1774, aged 78, which agrees with the birth date of Samuel, son of Samuel and Sarah. I find no record of any Samuel born 1718.
I therefore conclude that, instead of the line of four Samuels, as given by Deane, there were but three, as follows :
Samuel, born 1660 ; married Sarah Curtis. Samuel, born 1695 ; married Desire Oldham. Samuel, born 1739; (Deacon)."
The children of Dea. Samuel Tilden were as follows : 1. Capt. Samuel, born 1765, died 1844. 2. Capt. Jotham, born 1767, died 1843. 3. Charles, born 1768, died 1851. 4. Elisha, born 1770, died 1852. 5. Benjamin, born 1772, died 1829. 6. Dr. Calvin, born 1774, died 1832. 7. Capt. Luther, born 1777, died 1857. 8. Mercy, born 1779, died 1817. 9. Hatch, born 1781. died 1861. 10. Nathan, born 1784, died 1856 .*
KING'S LANDING is on the Norwell side of North River, below Union Bridge. A cart-way leads to it from opposite Turner Hatch's.
The next tributary to North River, below Union Bridge, is
* See Block-house Yard for Tilden Genealogy.
38
DOGGETT'S FERRY -LITTLE'S BRIDGE.
STONY BROOK, which flows into the river from Scituate, and, though not a long stream, at some points it is quite wide. Nearly opposite and a little below is ROGERS' BROOK, which rises in Marshfield and flows along the foot of Rogers' Hill, below the Thomas Nelson place. Next we come to LITTLE'S BRIDGE.
The river here is over nine rods wide, and grows wider below the bridge, expanding to over half a mile in width at FOURTH CLIFF BAY, formerly called NEW HARBOR, where the channel divides, but unites again a mile below. Where Little's Bridge is now located there was a ferry as early as 1637, which year two hundred acres of land were granted to Mr. William Vassall,* " on condition that he keepe a ferry against his farme toll 1d. for a man and 4d. for a beast." This was then called NEW HARBOR FERRY The ferry was located in front of his resi- dence, which was on "Belle House Neck," Scituate. In 1730 this ferry was kept by Capt. John Doggett, a descendant of Thomas Doggett, the first of that name in Marshfield, who mar- ried Joane, widow of Thomas Chillingworth, of Marshfield, in 1654. After Captain Doggett took the ferry it was called DOG- GETT'S FERRY. In 1755, Capt. John Doggett's son, Capt. John, Jr., then only fifteen years of age, kept the ferry. Thomas, the first, bought in 1659 a farm where he lived until his death in 1692. This farm was a portion of the upland overlooking the mouth of the North River and the extensive view of the ocean beyond. It was the first farm on the Marsh- field side of the river, with one of the dividing lines starting opposite the point where the North and South Rivers enter the sea. Ont on the marsh opposite the upland there is an oasis of cedars, old and gnarled, called DOGGETT'S CEDARS, while beyond is DOGGETT'S BEACH names which are perpetuated by old deeds, and known to a few of the older inhabitants as being so called for the family, who for many years resided here. Among the descendants of Thomas Doggett were many who were "mari- ners," and of them the following were prominent : Samuel Doggett, named for his father, and a grandson of Thomas, was the first of the family called " mariner," and he began sailing from North River about the year 1700. His homestead was a piece of upland containing thirty acres of land, together with five acres of marsh, now called Bryant's Pasture, which is located near where the railroad bridge crosses the river, and
* See Briggs' Ship Yard.
39
DOGGETT FAMILY.
was bounded on one side by the river, "beginning at ye mouth of ye great creek by ye North River." He bought two lots of land in Marshfield about the time he purchased his homestead in 1710, and they were spoken of as adjacent to PUDDER WHARF BROOK, which doubtless suggests the name of one of the North River wharves. Samuel Doggett was Town Treasurer of Marsh- field for several years, and prominent in the shipping interests of the river from which he sailed. He was interested in the settlement of Maine, and combined with Boston capitalists and used his vessels to carry families there to settle. Many of these were Marshfield people, who doubtless sailed for their new home from North River. The growth of Boston, and Mr. Doggett's increasing interests there, led him to leave Marshfield in 1744 and make his home in that growing commercial centre, where he soon afterward died. At the time of his death he owned the sloops "Dolphin " and " Swan," valued at £1100 and £750 respectively. He had a brother, Ebenezer Doggett, also a sea captain, living at one time in Plymouth and after- ward in Boston, whose landed interests in Marshfield often took him to the vicinity of the North River. Like his brother Samuel, he was well acquainted with the Atlantic coast, from Newfoundland to the West Indies, to which, as well as to the intermediate ports he often sailed. Capt. Samuel Doggett had a son Noah, also a sea captain, who was born in Marshfield and removed to Boston with his father. Capt. Noah Doggett sailed from Boston to Atlantic and European ports until the time of the Revolution, when he retired and spent his declining years in the town of Boston, where he died in 1805. His grandson, Nathaniel B. Dogget, lives in the mansion house corner of llol- lis and Tremont streets, Boston. The branch of the Doggett family who kept the ferry resided in Scituate, and their descend- ants are in Nova Scotia. John Doggett, first of "Doggett's Ferry," had a brother Thomas Doggett, of Marshfield, who was a yeoman, but was also interested in shipping, as appears from the following :
" Jan. 12, 1732-3. Isaac Little of Pembroke receipts to Thomas Doggett Jr. in full for the earnings of 1-3 and 1-4 part of the sloop ' Middleboro ' the past year, a fishing voyage and also what he was to allow for his berth and the berth of Nathaniel Stetson."
A toll-bridge was erected at Doggett's Ferry in 1825, and called Little's Bridge, from a family of that name who lived near, on the Marshfield side. This was made a free bridge March 20, 1865.
40
WW. VASSALL'S OYSTER BANK.
Just below Little's Bridge, William Vassall planted some oysters in 1640, making an oyster bank or bed. The oldest man now living in the neighborhood does not remember that any oysters were ever taken from the river, though fresh-water clams are very plenty along the banks as far up as Chapman's Landing, in Hanover. The inference seems to be that the oys- ter was not common to this river in early times. The following is from the Colony Records :
" 1639, December. Licence of liberty is granted to Mr. William Vassall to make an oyster bank in the North River sixty rods in length and across the said river in some convenient place near his farm there called the ' West Newland' and to appropriate it to his own use forbidding all others to use the same without his licence."
Mr. Vassall built a bridge over Rotten Marsh Creek before 1636. William Vassall died in the Parish of St. Michael, in the Island of Barbadoes, in 1655 .* The following items rela- tive to the Vassall family are taken from newspapers of early dates. From The Boston Evening Post, Jan. 28, 1760 :
" On Thursday morning died Mrs. Anne Vassall, the agreeable consort of Wm. Vassall, Esq. We hear her funeral will be attended this after- noon."
Massachusetts Spy, Feb. 20, 1772 :
" Died, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, widow, sister to Wm. Vassall, Esq."
Massachusetts Spy, April 30, 1772 :
" Married, Mr. Richard Smith, merchant to Miss Lucretia Frances Vas- sall, daughter of Wm. Vassall, Esq."
Deane, in his "History of Scituate," says, "we have often regretted that the town was not called after the name of Hath- erly." It certainly does seem strange that the inhabitants of So. Scituate should go so far out of their way as to name their town Norwell, when they have so many debts of honor to pay to the men who have made the town what it is to-day. None are more prominent among these than Timothy Hatherly, Wil- liam Vassall, the Cushings, the Otises, the Cudworths, the Wantons, the Stetsons, and others, whose intelligence and benevolence have, years ago, won for their names a prominent place in the town.
* Historical Soc. Papers, Vol. IV. See also Deane's History of Scituate for a full account of this distinguished man.
41
FIRST SAW MLIL IN THE COLONY.
We next come to the RAILROAD BRIDGE, which is at the time of writing inexcusably without a draw. The next point of interest below the Railroad Bridge is WILL'S ISLAND.
The last tributary to North River from Scituate is the FIRST HERRING BROOK, which rises in George Moore's Pond and Swamp (or Town Swamp) and Brushy Hill Swamp, in the central part of the town, and flows into North River at New Harbor marshes. Its whole length is scarcely three miles. Until mills were erected on this Herring Brook, alewives ascended as far as George Moore's Pond, and, as the stream was narrow, they were easily taken with nets. There were in early times beaver dams on the Herring Brook at the ancient fulling mill. LONG MARSH, SO called in 1640, was on the First Herring Brook above the mills. GEORGE MOORE'S SWAMP and BRIDGE, on the south bank of the Herring Brook, were so named for George Moore, who came into Scituate from Ply- mouth, and in 1642 owned a large tract of land near Stock- bridge's Mill Pond. His house was on the road from the mill to George Moore's brook on the northeast side, and near the brook. He died suddenly in 1677. JJury's verdiet :
" That George Moore came to his death by a fainting fit or a sud- den stopping of his breath. RHODOLPHUS ELLMES, Foreman."
George Moore's Bridge was erected about 1653.
Leaving this locality, and following the course of the First Herring Brook, we next come to the CLAPP MILLS. James Tor- rey erected a CLOTHING MILL here in 1653. His house stood in the NEAL FIELD, ten rods south of the gate to the road that leads to Hobart's Landing. Samuel Clapp occupied this mill in 1690, and many years later his son, Capt. John Clapp, had a grist mill and fulling mill at the same spot. On the Herring Brook, about a half mile below this site, was built a saw mill prior to 1646 by Isaac Stedman, who was in Scituate as early as 1637, and was later a merchant in Boston. He died in 1678. This was probably the first saw mill erected in the colony. In 1646 Isaac Stedman sold his house ( which stood ten rods south of the dam), land, and saw mill to George Russell, previously of Hingham. In 1656 John Stockbridge * purchased of George Russell one half the mill privilege, and together they erected a grist mill. John left to his son, Charles Stockbridge, his half
* The common ancestor of the Stockbridges, who located on the Third Herring Brook and in Hanover. See Deane's History of Scituate. .
42
"THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET."
of the grist mill at Scituate, and Charles purchased, in 1665, George Russell's half. The sons of Charles, and their descend- ants, fell heirs to the property, which has always been known as STOCKBRIDGE'S MILLS. There was a bridge across the First Herring Brook at this point about 1640, and in 1670 the town, having obtained permission of Charles Stockbridge, voted "that the common roade shall pass over his mill dam." Lemuel and Samuel A. Turner began the manufacture of nails in their fac- tory on the First Herring Brook in 1825, and in 1829 there was one nail factory and one grist mill in operation on this brook.
The First Herring Brook flows through that delightful part of Scituate referred to by Samuel Woodworth in his poem, " The Old Oaken Bucket." Here is the "deep tangled wild- wood," "the brook and the meadow," "the cataract," "the mill," and not far from the mill is the residence of Mr. John Northey, the old homestead of Woodworth, and the well in which the "Old Oaken Bucket" hung. Charles O. Ellms, in the South Shore Herald, in October, 1885, gives two versions of the circumstances which inspired the poem, as follows :
" When Woodworth was sitting in his office one sultry afternoon, feeling thirsty, one of his friends, a tailor, went out and proenred a bottle of Falernian. After both had drunk, 'There,' said the poet, ' that is the best thing I ever drank.' The tailor hung his head and said, 'Not so, I know one thing that bea's it. When I was a boy after mowing I would go and draw the old oaken bucket from the well and drink the cold water. That excels this.'
But the one to be relied upon, says Mr. Ellms, is by his old friend, Geo. P. Morris, who, with the poet, established the New York Mirror. Morris afterwards established with N. P. Willis the Home Journal, and in the latter paper gives an account which reads as follows :- ' The Old Oaken Bucket was written in the spring or summer of 1817. The family were living in Duane street. The poet came home to dinner one very warm day, having walked from his office, somewhere near the foot of Wall street. Being somewhat heated with the exercise, he poured out a glass of water (New York pump water) and drank it at a draught, exclaiming, as he placed the tumbler on the table: 'That is very refreshing ; but how much more refreshing to take a good long draught, this warm day, from the old oaken bucket I left hanging in my father's well at home.' Hearing this, the poet's wife, who was always a suggestive body, said: 'Selim, why wouldn't that be a pretty subject for a poen ?' The poet took the hint, and under the inspiration of the moment sat down and poured forth from his very soul those beautiful lines which have immortalized the name of Woodworth.
The poet was instructed in the classics by the Rev. Nehemiah Thomas of Scituate, afterwards he was apprenticed to Benj. Russell, editor of the
43
" THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET."
Columbia Sentinel, Boston. After serving his time he removed to New Haven, and started a periodical entitled The Belles Lettres Repository. Then we find him in 1813 in New York city, conducting a paper called the War. In 1823, with Geo. P. Morris, he established the New York Mirror. In 1827 he edits a paper called the Partheon. Among his published works are : 'Beasts at Law or Zoologian Jurisprudence,' ' Quarter Day or the Horrors of the First of May,' and the ' Champions of Freedom.' Besides the above works he contributed poems from time to time to the papers of the day, also dramatic works for the stage ; one, the ' Forest Rose ' has had a great run."
During the first part of August, 1879, there appeared the fol- lowing in the Boston Herald :
" To the Editor of the Herald : Seeing a few lines in your issue of yester- day, stating that ' The Old Oaken Bucket ' was produced under the ' inspir- ation ' of a glass of brandy and water, I am sure that the particulars relat- ing to said ' inspiration' will prove interesting to many of your Sunday readers : Samuel Woodworth, the author of ' The Old Oaken Bucket," died at New York in 1842, aged 57. He was a printer, and served his apprenticeship at Boston, in the office of Major Russell, the publisher of the Centinel. The popular and beautiful ballad, for which he is best known, is said to have had its origin under the following circumstances : He was employed in an office on the corner of Chestnut and Chambers strests, in New York. One day, with a knot of brother typos, he dropped in at an establishment kept by Mallory, on Franklin street, for the purpose of taking some brandy and water, which Mallory was famous for keeping. The liquor was excellent, and Woodworth seemed inspired by it; for, after taking a draught, he set his glass upon the table, and smacking his lips, declared that Mallory's eau de vie was superior to anything he ever tasted. ' No,' said a comrade, 'you are quite mistaken : there was one thing which, in both our estimations, far surpassed this, in the way of drinking.' ' What was that? ' asked Woodworth, dubiously. 'The draught of pure fresh spring water that we used to drink from the old oaken bucket that hung in the well, after our return from the labors of the field, on a sultry day in summer.' The teardrop glistened for a moment in Woodworth's eye. ' True ! true !' he replied and soon after quitted the place. He returned to the office, grasped the pen, and in half an hour ' The Old Oaken Bucket,' one of the most delightful compositions in the English language, was ready, in manuscript, to be embalmed to the memories of succeeding genera- tions .- C. E. W."
Although the poem is familiar to every American it is inserted here, being descriptive of this locality.
THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET.
How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood, When fond recollection presents them to view, The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wild wood, And every loved spot which my infancy knew.
44
" THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET."
The wide spreading pond and the mill which stood by it,
The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell, The cot of my father, the dairy house nigh it, And e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well. The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket,
The moss covered bucket which hung in the well.
The moss covered bucket, I hail as a treasure, For often at noon when returned from the field. I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure,
The purest and sweetest that nature can yield. How ardent I seized it with hands that were glowing, And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it fell, Then, soon, with the emblem of truth overflowing, And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well. The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket,
The moss covered bucket arose from the well.
How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it, As poised on the curb it inclined to my lips. Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it, Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips. And now far removed from the loved situation, The tear of regret will intrusively swell As fancy reverts to my father's plantation, And sighs for the bucket, which hangs in the well. The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket,
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