History of the town of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, Part 22

Author: Hobart, Benjamin, 1781-1877
Publication date: 1866
Publisher: Boston, T. H. Carter and son
Number of Pages: 552


USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > History of the town of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement > Part 22


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


EPIDEMICS.


THE situation of the town may be considered favorable to health and longevity. Epidemical diseases have, in one or two cases, made their appearance. In 1751-2, a disease called the throat distemper prevailed ; and in the course of about a year carried off sixty persons, mostly children. In the fall of 1805, a malignant typhus fever made its appearance, which, in a crowded city, might have been taken for the yellow fever. It spread through the town, causing many deatlıs. In some cases nearly whole families were swept away. Many of the most healthy, robust, and active citizens, fell a prey to this disease. Nearly one-half who were at- tacked by it, died. At the time, the number of deaths was computed to be from fifty to sixty. The disease continued only for about two months. The population of the town at the first period above mentioned was about one-tenth part, and at the second one-fifth part of what it now is.


LONGEVITY.


The following is believed to be a pretty correct list of persons over the advanced age of eighty-five, who have died in this town, from the year 1761 to the present time (1865),-a little over a century :-


1761. Mary, widow of Matthew Pratt, 96


1772. Priscilla, widow of John Pettingell, . 87


1774. Hannah, widow of George Vining, . . 100


1789. Wife of Benjamin Bates, October 23, . 86


· (263)


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MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


1789.


Benjamin Bates, November 21, . .


. 88


1790. Thomas Mansfield, . .


·


.


1792. Sarah, widow of Captain Daniel Reed, .


89


1795. Eleazer Whiteon,


88


1795. Widow Gannett,


91


1796. William Sprague, ·


.


86


1797. Widow Experience Mansfield,


. 87


1797. Widow of Thomas Wilks,


91


1798. Joseph Shaw, .


87


1798. Widow Vinson,


87


1799. Elisha Vining, .


. 85


1801. Antony Dwight, (Tony,) colored, supposed


. 100


1801. Widow Meriam Hearsey, .


. 85


1802. Widow Deborah House, .


.


88


1805. Widow Morse, .


. 88


1805. Jedediah Beal, .


88


1806. Peleg Stetson, .


93


1807. Joseph Damon,


86


1807.


Stephen Dunbar,


90


1807.


Deacon Eleazer Whitman,


91


1808. Abigail, widow of James Reed,


91


1808. Ruth, widow of Nicholas Shaw,


91


1809.


Benjamin Farrow, .


93


1810. Joanna Pettingell,


88


1810. Mary, widow of Samuel Reed, .


86


1811. Widow Lydia Chesman, .


89


1811. Widow Silence Jackson,


. 90


1812. Bilhah, (a colored woman,)


95


1812.


Widow Lydia Richards,


89


1813. Widow Gannett,


. 87


1813. Thomas Remington, .


87


1814.


Jacob Noyes, .


87


1814.


Samuel Nash, . 93


93


1814. Widow Abigail Whitman,


91


1816. Daniel Lane, . 92


1817. John Fullerton,


.


.


87


87


1814. Widow Jane Porter,


265


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


1818. Widow Lucy Reed, .


91


1818. Kate, (colored,)


90


1820. Caleb Chard, . .


. 90


1821. Widow Mary Ramsdell,


. 90


1821. Benjamin Gardner, .


92


1821.


Noah Gurney, . . 86


1822.


Leah Farrow, .


. 101


1822. Joshua Pool,


86


1822. Ruth, widow of Adams Bailey,


86


1822. Elizabeth, widow of Nathaniel Bicknell,


94


1824. Mary, widow of Benjamin Farrow, . 86


1824. Jane, widow of Joseph Bicknell,


89


1826. Ruth, widow of Noalı Gurney, .


. 91


1828. Deboralı, widow of John Porter,


. 88


1828. James Dyer, ·


85


1829.


Joseph Shaw, .


. 87


1829. Rachel Bates, .


91


1830. David Torrey, .


85


1831.


Mary, widow of Joseph Shaw, .


91


1832. Thomas Tirrill,


. 86


1832. David Jenkins,


.


1833.


Sarah, widow of John Pool,


85


1834. Jacob Pool,


93


1834. Abigail, widow of Jacob Dyer, .


89


1834. Widow Jane Perry, .


85


1834. John Puffer,


87


1835. Benjamin Vining,


88


1835. Susanna Erskine,


94


1836. Widow Mary Porter,


85


1837.


Nathan Dawes,


87


1837. Meriam Hearsey,


87


1839. Widow Dolly Bates, .


91


1840. Widow Silence Puffer,


88


1840. Widow of Rev. Samuel Niles, .


86


1840. Deacon Ephraim Stetson, .


96


1841. Anna Dunbar, .


94


1842. Luther Lazell, .


88


266


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


1842. Widow Huldah Penniman,


. 85


1843. Widow of Thomas Reed, .


97


1845. Dr. Gridley Thaxter, ·


89


1845. Widow of Jacob Harden, . 87


1846. Widow of Robert Erskine, 89


1846. Widow of James Pool,


85


1848.


Widow of John Gurney, .


94


1848. Deborah Hearsey, .


88 87


1849. Widow of Benjamin Bates,


1849. Benjamin Norton, ·


88


1851. Widow of Asa Fullerton, . · 86


1851. Widow of Lieut. Bela Dyer,


91


1851. Joseph P. Gurney,


91


1853. Christopher Dyer,


88


1854. Elizabeth Wilks,


87


1854. James Reed,


86


1857. Asa Pool,


93


1857. Obadiah Reed's widow,


90


1858. Widow Perry, . .


. 85


1859. Widow of Paul Reed,


. 85


1859. Judith Thaxter, widow of William Little, . . 85


1860. Widow of Jolin Bennett, .


. 92


1860.


.Ebenezer Porter, .


91


1861. Widow of Jacob Reed,


. 90


1861. Widow of Samuel Gurney,


.


89


1861. Widow of John Bates,


88


1863. Widow Rebecca Wade, 85


1864. Abigail White,


86


1864. Samuel Porter,


85


.


The whole number for 104 years, is 107, averaging a fraction over one a year. Besides these persons who attained the age of 85 or more years, I find a record of sixteen whose names are not given, who reached the age of 84.


. 90


1856. Gibbens Sharp,


267


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


OLD FRENCH WAR.


This war was waged between England and France, con- tinued seven years, and was terminated in 1763. Massa- chusetts contributed largely to carry on this war for the defence of the Colonies, and the conquest of the dominions of France on this continent and in the West Indies. She had, in 1758, six thousand nine hundred and twenty-five men in the field actually engaged in this war, and about the same number through the whole period of its continuance-besides a large number of artificers and seamen. This force was about one-third of the whole effective force of the province. The State expended in this war over four millions of dollars, and received, by way of reimbursement from the mother country, about three millions.


The Provinces were stimulated in their great exertions by opposition to the French ; on the ocean they were our rivals in the fisheries on the coasts and the Grand Banks, whilst our settlements from Nova Scotia, around to the Lakes, were subject to alarms through their influence, by which the Indians were excited to war, murder, and continual depredations. There were too deep-rooted prejudices against them on ac- count of their religion.


Abington contributed largely of her strength to carry on this war. The following persons were in the service, and died therein, or on their way home : Abraham and Humphries, sons of Capt. John Burrill; Joseph Clark ; Peleg Cain ; David (colored), son of Anthony Dwight ; Noah, son of Jacob Ford ; . James, grandfather of the late Col. D. Gloyd; Jacob, son of Capt. Elijah Hearsey, drowned near Cape Sable Harbor ; Nathaniel Joy ; Noah, son of Gideon Parkman ; Asa, son of Deacon Samuel Pool, died at Halifax 1762; Ichabod, son of Capt. Ebenezer Reed ; Ezekiel, son of John Reed ; Samuel, son of William Sprague ; Job, son of Samuel Tirrill, killed by the Indians while crossing Lake Ontario in a batteau;


268


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


Jonathan Torrey, jr. ; Robert Townsend, jr. died of a wound received in the Crown Point Expedition ; Jacob White .*


The following persons survived the service : Christopher Askins, jr. ; George Askins ; Jeremiah Campbell, at St. Johns, N. S., 1759; Caleb Chard ; Jonathan Chubbuck, at Newfoundland, 1762 ; Greenwood Cushing, at Halifax and Newfoundland ; Elisha Hersey, captain of a company in the Western Expeditions ; Edmund Jackson, jr. ; Abraham Josselyn ; Peter Nash ; Samuel Noyes ; Jacob Pool, at the taking of Fort Frontinac, under Col. Bradstreet, 1758, and at St. Johns, N. S. ; Samuel Pool ; Joseph Richards ; Isaac Stetson, under Gen. Wolf at the taking of Quebec ; Jacob Tirrell, at Halifax, 1759 ; Prince Stetson ; Ezekiel Townsend ; Robert Townsend, ensign of Capt. Benjamin Pratt's company, at the westward ; Jeremiah White.


This list is very incomplete, as will appear by the following extracted from the Journal of the House of Representatives :


Dec. 28, 1763. There was presented a petition of Elisha Hersey and sixty others, all of Abington, who had been in his majesty's service in the late wars, praying for a grant of land


* There are, among Mr. Dodge's manuscript sermons, several having special reference to this war. One, preached 23d March, 1755, is en- titled-"Sermon on account of thirteen of the congregations going into his majesty's service." In the conclusion of an appropriate address to the soldiers, he says, " We, your relatives, friends and acquaintances, by the grace of God, will send up our prayers to the throne of grace, that the God of power and goodness would encourage your hearts, cover your heads, strengthen your arms, and above all pardon your sins, and save your souls in the day of battle. " July 3, 1755 (Fast Day), he preached " a sermon occasioned by an expedition against divers of the French fortifications on His Majesty's territories in North America." Oct. 5, 1759, a "Thanksgiving sermon, occasioned by the reduction of Quebec, the capital of Canada, and the neighbor- ing villages and country." "Laus Deo," 7th Oct. 1762. A " Thanks- giving sermon upon the reduction of Martineco, and more espescially the surrender of the Havanna to his Brittianick Majesty's arms, together with the adjacent villages upon the island of Cuba."


-


269


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


for a township, eastward of the Penobscot River, in consider- ation of their services rendered.


REVOLUTIONARY WAR.


It will not be necessary to go into an extended account of this war. The history is written and well known ; portions of it appear in thousands of publications ; it is read in all our families, colleges, academies and schools. A few items only will be named that relate to this town, some of the doings of which have been noticed before.


The officers from Abington in the continental service were, Jacob Poole, Captain ; Luke Bicknell, Captain ; John Ford, Lieutenant ; David Jones, jr., Surgeon.


Among those who died in the service are the follow- ing : George Bennett ; Nathl. Bicknell, jr. ; James Clark ; Gershom, son of Benjamin Farrow ; Samuel Green ; David, son of Benj. Gardner ; Thomas Hunt, jr. ; Solomon, son of Samuel Nash ; David, son of Peter Nash ; Jacob Noyes, jr. ; Moses, son of Deacon John Noyes ; Prince Palmer; Abner Porter, jr. ; Nathaniel, son of Whitcomb Pratt ; Abel, son of James Reed; Cuff Rozarer (colored) ; Jesse Stoddard ; Thomas White ; Jonathan, son of Thomas Whitmarsh.


Almost every man in town capable of bearing arms was in the service for a longer or shorter period. The part taken by the inhabitants of this town in this contest was spirited and patriotic. They expended largely to encourage enlistments, and for the support of the war. To show the spirit and zeal of the town, I will quote some votes or resolves passed by the town at a meeting appointed for that purpose March 10, 1770. The names of the Committee who reported the Resolves, are Daniel Noyes, Samuel Pool, Aaron Hobart, David Jones, jr., Josepli Greenleaf and Thomas Wilkes. They were published in the Boston Gazette, by which they were pronounced " Noble Resolves." They were drawn up by Joseph Greenleaf, Esq.


1st. Voted, As the opinion of this town that all nations of men that dwell upon the face of the whole earth, and each individual of them naturally are free, and while in a state


270


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


of nature have a right to do themselves justice, when their natural rights are invaded.


2d. Voted, That mankind while in their natural state always had and now have a right to enter into compacts and form societies, and erect such kind of government as the majority of them shall judge most for the public good.


3d. Voted, That Great Britain had an undoubted right to erect a monarchical government or any other mode of govern- ment, had they thought proper, appoint a King and subject him to laws of their own ordaining ; and always had and now have, upon just occasions, a right to alter the Royal succession.


4th, Voted, That the right of Sovereignty over the inhab- itants of this Province, claimed by any former British King, or by lis present majesty by succession, was derived to him by the recognition of the forefathers of this country of his then majesty as their sovereign, upon the plan of the British Constitution, who accordingly plighted his royal faith, that himself, his heirs and successors had, and would grant, es- tablish and ordain, that all and every of his subjects, who should go to and inhabit this province, and every of their children, who should happen to be born here or on the sea in going hither or in returning from thence, should have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and natural subjects within any of their dominions, to all intents, construction, and purposes whatsoever, as if they and every of them were born in the realm of England.


5th. Voted, That the late acts of the Parliament of Great Britain imposing duties on American subjects for the sole purposes of raising a revenue, are an infringement of our national and constitutional liberty, and contrary to the spirit and letter of the above mentioned royal grant, ordination and establishment, of having and enjoying all the liberties and immunities of free and natural born subjects.


6th. Voted, That no acts passed in either the parliaments of France, Spain or England, for the aforesaid purpose of raising a revenue, are binding on us, and that the obedience due from us to his present majesty is no other in kind or


271


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


degree, than such as he has a constitutional right to from our fellow subjects in Great Britain.


7th, Voted, That therefore the above mentioned acts are in themselves a mere nullity, and that he who, vi et armis, seizes the property of an American subject for not paying the duties imposed upon him by said acts, ought to be deemed no better than a highwayman, and should be proceeded against in due course of law.


Sth. Voted, That the sending of troops (may they not more properly be called murderers) to Boston by Lord Hillsborough, at the request of Gov. Bernard, to aid and protect the Com- missioners of the Customs in levying the taxes imposed on us by the said acts, amounts to an open declaration of war against the liberties of America, and an unjust invasion of them ; and as we are refused any legal redress of grievances, we are in this instance reduced to a state of nature, whereby our natural right of opposing force is again devolved upon ns.


9th. Voted, That the agreement of the merchants and traders of Boston, relative to the non-importation, has a natural and righteous tendency to frustrate the schemes of the enemies of the Constitution, and to render ineffectual the said unconstitutional and unrighteous acts ; and is a superlative instance of self denial and public virtue, which we hope will be handed down to posterity, even to the latest generation, to their immortal honor.


10th, Voted, That those persons who have always persisted in the scheme of importation, and those also who have acceded to the agreement of non-importation, and have violated their promises, and, as it were, stolen their own goods and sold them to purchase chains and fetters ; ought to be by us held in the utmost contempt, and that we will have no sort of commercial connection with them, or any that deal with them ; and their names shall stand recorded in the town books, and be posted up in all public places in town, as enemies of their country.


11th. Voted, That we are in duty bound not to use or consume any articles from Great Britain, subject to duties on the foregoing plan ; and that we will not knowingly purchase


272


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


of any person whatever, any such articles until said acts are repealed ; neither will we use or suffer willingly to be used in our families any bohea tea, cases of sickness only excepted.


12th. Voted, That a respectful letter of thanks be addressed to the merchants and traders of the town of Boston, for the noble and disinterested and very expensive opposition made by them to the later attempts to enslave America ; and whereas it appears probable to us that the goods of the infamous importers, both in this and the neighboring gov- eruments, are vended among us by pedlers, therefore,


13th. Voted, That we will not purchase anything of them, or suffer any person under us to trade with them, but that we will, as much as in us lies, discourage them and endeavor to have the law executed against them, and all such innholders as entertain them, contrary to law.


14th. Voted, That a committee be chosen to inquire, who among us aet contrary to the foregoing votes, and return their names to the town clerk, to be entered in the town books, and published in Messrs. Eder's & Gill's paper, as persons confederating with the importers to the ruin of their country : and whereas the ears of our earthly sovereign, by the in- tervention of his wicked ministers, are rendered deaf to the cries of his oppressed American' subjects, and as we apprehend we have a righteous cause, and as we are assured the ears of the King of kings are always opened to the cries of the oppressed, therefore,


15th. Voted, That we will unitedly petition the throne of grace for protection against encroaching power whereby our civil liberties are so violently attacked, and our religious liberties endangered ; and that Thursday the 3d day of May next, be set apart by this town for said purpose ; and the Selectmen be a Committee to wait upon our Rev. Pastor, desiring him to lead in the exercises of the day, and that by an advertisement, they invite the neighboring towns to join with us in similar exercises, on said day.


16th. Voted, That the foregoing votes be recorded, and a copy thereof be forthwith transmitted to the committee of


273


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


inspection in Boston, together with our letter of thanks to the merchants and traders there.


GRADUATES.


The following is a list of such natives of the town as have received a Collegiate education, with the time and place of their graduation :-


John Porter, 1736 * H. U. | Moses Noyes, 1801 B. U.


Edward Bates, 1738 . H. U.


William Norton, 1802 B. U.


Solomon Reed, 1739 . H. U. John King, 1802. . H. U.


Josiah Brown, 1761 . H. U.


Jacob Porter, 1803 . Yale.


Adams Porter, 1761 . . H. U.


Benjamin Hobart, . 1804 . B. U.


Elias Jones, 1767 Princeton Col.


John Shaw, 1805 . B. U.


Jesse Reed, 1769


Samuel Nash, 1770 * B. U.


William Reed, 1782 . Il. U.


Nathaniel Hobart, 1784 .


. H. U.


Ezekiel Thaxter, 1812


H. U.


Jesse Remington, 1784 . H. U.


Daniel Noyes, 1812


.


Yale.


Jacob Norton, 1786. . H. U.


Asahel Cobb, - Hamilton.


Jarius Remington, 1794


James Gurney, 1795 . B. U.


Abel Richmond, 1797 B. U.


B. U. Ebenezer P. Dyer, 1833 . B. U. T. H. Perry, 1835 Waterville, Me. Benj. Wormelle, 1860 Amherst


Enoch Brown, 1801 .


. B. U. Bradford M. Fullerton, 1861 "


BANKS.


The Abington Bank was incorporated and commenced business October 1, 1850, with an authorized capital of one hundred thousand dollars. The first Board of Directors were, Asaph Dunbar, President ; Jenkins Lane, Harvey Torrey, Joshua Whitmarsh, Goddard Reed, Joseph Cleverly, Samuel Blake, jr., Baxter Cobb, all of Abington; and Cushing Mitchell, of East Bridgewater.


Judson N. Farrar of Boston, Cashier.


Par value of shares, one hundred dollars each. By authority of the Legislature, the capital of the Bank was increased in the sum of fifty thousand dollars in July, 1853.


Mr. Dunbar served as President of the Bank until Oct. 1859, nine years. He declined a re-election, and Baxter Cobb, Esq., succeeded him in that office.


* H. U. is for Harvard, and B. U. for Brown University. Ministers in Italics.


B. U.


Jared Whitman, 1805 Aaron Hobart, 1805 .


B. U.


James Richards, 1809 Williams.


274


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC.


The Bank has made the following semi-annual dividends : two of three per cent., five of three and one-half per cent., eighteen of four per cent., one of four and one-half per cent., and one of five per cent.


The Abington Savings Bank was incorporated in 1853, and commenced business July 1st of that year.


Doctor Ezekiel Thaxter was the first President of the In- stitution, and Judson N. Farrar was appointed Treasurer.


The deposits for the first year amounted to about twenty thousand dollars, and for the eleventh year to about ninety thousand dollars.


Regular semi-annual dividends have been made of two and a half per cent. for the whole term of years, and two extra dividends, averaging for the first five years seven per cent., aud for the second term of five years, six and one-fourth per cent.


Jenkins Lane, Esq., the present President, was chosen in 1855.


INSURANCE OFFICE.


The Abington Mutual Fire Insurance Company was in- corporated by a Special Act of the Legislature, May 30, 1856.


The first meeting called was held on April 17th, 1857, the Act of Incorporation accepted, and the following gentlemen chosen Directors, viz. : Asaph Dunbar, Thomas J. Hunt, William Brown, Zophar D. Ramsdell, Baxter Cobb, Jen- kins Lane, Washington Reed, Joseph Cleverly, William P. Corthell.


At an adjourned meeting April 24, 1856, four additional Directors were chosen : George W. Bryant, of North Bridge- water, Philip D. Kingman, of Bridgewater, Isaac Wilder, of Hanover, and Martin Bryant, of Pembroke. At the same meeting Baxter Cobb was elected President, Jolın N. Noyes, Secretary, and Joshua L. Nash, Treasurer.


The first policies issued by the company, were from June 15, 1856, on 148 risks, amounting to $102,935. Premiums on the same, $1,223.78. The amount insured by policies


275


DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS.


outstanding Ang. 22, 1864, is $403,557. Amount paid for losses in eight years, $4,750.63. Present amount of cash funds, $3,629.64; to which add deposit notes, $10,680.50. Total of available funds, $14,309.14.


The present Directors are Asaph Dunbar, Baxter Cobb, Wm. Brown, Joshua L. Nash, Edward W. Cobb, Judson N. Farrar, Joseph Vaughn, Wm. P. Corthell, Wm. Ripley, Albert Chamberlin and Sumner Shaw, of Abington, Philip D. Kingman, of Bridgewater, and Chandler Sprague, of North Bridgewater. BAXTER COBB, President.


FREEMAN P. HOWLAND,


Secretary and Treasurer.


CHAPTER XXXIII.


Distinguished Characters, and their Doings, viz. : - Isaac Hobart, Aaron Hobart, Dr. David Jones, Dr. David Jones, jr., Wood- bridge Brown, Joseph Greenleaf, Jacob Smith, Daniel Lane, Josiah Torrey, Nathan Gurney, Samuel Norton, James Bates and Micalı Pool .- In the Military line : - Colonel Luke Bicknell, Major Luke Nash, Colonel Brackley Cushing, Captain Noah Ford and Major- General Benjamin King. - Some Remarks respecting the Author of this Book.


ISAAC HOBART, the first named, was my grandfather ; he is not, however, to be noticed on account of that relation, but on account of a noted work which he undertook in his day (1745). This was making a tunnel under ground, nearly fifteen rods in length, with deep euts at the entrance and at the outlet ; some portions of it being about twenty feet deep from the surface of the ground. It was walled on the sides, and covered over at the top with large flat stones ; the width at the bottom was five feet ; at the top, four; the height was from five to six feet. A canal, one mile long, conveying the water to this tunnel, was dug; and, by means of it, two


276


DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS.


streams were united to enlarge a mill privilege. The inhabi- tants agreed, as an inducement, to allow him to take three quarts of corn as toll for grinding a bushel, instead of two, as provided by law. This monopoly continued over thirty years, until my father, Aaron Hobart, who inherited the mills and privilege, relinquished it in the Revolutionary War, as stated before.


This work, for that day, was a great undertaking ; and its accomplishment by a farmer, with limited means, shows great energy and perseverance of character. This tunnnel, so far as I know, was the first dug in this country ; and it has con- tinued to be used to this day, with but very little repairs. There have been important results from the construction of this tunnel. Except for the union of the two streams, the present extensive works for making tacks, brads, shoe-nails, and many other useful articles, would probably never have been established. My honored grandfather, who emigrated to this town over one hundred and forty years ago, little thought, when he was doing this work, that he was laying the founda- tion of so great an establishment in the days of one of his grandsons, the writer of this article .*


Another one of the same name, Col. Aaron Hobart, my honored father, requires some notice, not, as I said above, (of my grandfather), because he was my father, but because lie was a noted man in his day, and did honor to the town.


* Mr. Hobart was very exemplary in his walk and conversation. As an illustration of this, the following incident is related : - He tended his grist-mill; and, at one time, mistaking the day of the week, went to grinding on a Sabbath-day morning. A neighbor going to meeting at about ten o'clock, hearing the mill going, stepped in and said to him, "It is the Sabbath-day." He exclaimed, "Oh !" with a long emphasis, (as was his way when anything surprised him,) and instantly stopped the mill, leaving everything just as it was. He then hastily dressed himself, and went to meeting .. On the next morning, (Monday,) he kept himself and family from all labor, as on Sabbath mornings, until ten o'clock, to make up for not keeping the Sabbath the previous morning to that hour.




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