USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Berkley > History of the town of Berkley, Mass. : including sketches of the lives of the two first ministers, Rev. Samuel Tobey, and Rev. Thomas Andros, whose united ministry continued ninety-one years > Part 4
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This town has steadily increased the appropriations for schools, though the population has somewhat diminished. In 1858 the population was 924, the appropriation for schools was $750, the valuation $261,405, the school districts seven, num-
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ber of scholars 238. But in 1870 the population was SS8, the valuation $316,002, number of schools six, number of scholars 178. But the appropriation for schools was $1 000. Thus it appears that thongh population diminished, the appropriation for schools in twelve years increased $250, allowing to each child for his education per year, $5.62, which compares well with towns of greater wealth.
A literary society was formed in 2810, which posessed Rees' Encyclopedia in twenty volumes, and other learned works, which were much read by the people generally.
PERSONS WHO RECEIVED A COLLEGE EDUCATION, OR WHAT WAS
EQUIVALENT.
Alvan Tobey, B. U. 1799, pastor, N. IL., died 1810.
Silas Tobey. B. U. 1804, died .1817.
James Barnaby, B. U. 1809, pastor, Harwich.
James Sandford, B. U. 1812, pastor Fabius, N. Y., died. . 1865. John Sanford, B. U. 1812, pastor, South Dennis, died. . . 1866. Enoch Sanford, B. U. 1820, pastor, Raynham.
Silas Axtel Crane, B. U. 1823, S. T. D. 1855, pastor, E. Green- wich.
Baalis Sanford, B. U. 1823, pastor, E. Bridgewater.
George Hathaway. B. U. 1824, teacher at the South.
William Mason Cornell, B. U. 1827, pastor, Quincy, M. D. L L. D.
Daniel Crane Burt, B. U. 1828, pastor, Acushnet.
Frederic Andros, M. D. at B. U., two years, never graduated.
Benjamin Crane, B. U. two years, an eminent teacher.
Thomas Tobey Richmond, studied with Rev. A. Cobb, West- ville, Taunton, and settled with him, pastor.
Richard Salter Storrs Andros, editor in New Bedford, then clerk of Secretary of State, then of Collector of Customs, Boston, then Deputy Collector, President of Insurance Com- pany, State Street, Boston ; appointed by Government in 1865, to establish Custom houses at the South. He died at middle age, in 1868, greatly lamented, and was buried near the Park in the family enclosure.
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Levi French was a man of general knowledge, though not a college graduate, instructed young men in fitting for college, was pastor at New Salem. He received a degree of A. M. from Brown University, in 1825.
Milton Andros, youngest son of Rev. T. Andros, was a jurist, and Assistant District Attorney of the U. S. at Boston.
Col. Alexander Baxter Crane, Amherst College, 1854, lawyer, N. Y. City.
Edward Crane, Amherst College, 1854, M. D., Paris, France. Philip Chester Porter, Amherst College, 1855.
PHYSICIANS.
Jesse Bullock, M. D., who resided in Freetown, had a large practice in this town about the beginning of the present cen- tury. Being a justice of the peace, he sometimes solemnized marriages.
William Carpenter, M. D., was much employed in this town, though he resided on the borders of Freetown. He was emi- nent as a temperance man and fought successfully, by his addresses in public and private, against the plague of drunk- ness.
Fuller, M. D., of Kingston, was settled for a while at the Cen- tre, and had he livel, would have succeeded in his profession.
Amos Allen, M. D., who graduated at B. U., 1804, studied medicine with Dr. Miller, of Franklin, was practicing physician in this town many years, and excelled as a surgeon. He at length removed to East Taunton.
Shadrach Hathaway, M. D., a native of this town, has for some years been successfully employed here and in Freetown as an intelligent physician. Dr. Job Godfrey and his son, Jonas Godfrey, B. U., 1793, of Taunton, were for many years the celebrated and acceptable physicians of this region.
Dr. Samuel Robinson, a distinguished geologist, born in Attleborough, March, 1783, studied medicine with the cele- brated Dr. Nathan Smith, professor in Dartmouth College, and came to this town in 1805, and commenced practice, but he remained here only one year. He then moved to a town near
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Elizabeth City, N. C., where he practiced twenty years, and became a distinguished physician and surgeon. An anecdote related of him shows him to have been a benevolent man. The leg of a poor man required amputation, and a surgeon could not be obtained for want of sufficient compensation. Dr. Robinson hearing of the circumstance, travelled many miles, and performed the operation without hope of any recompense. The wife of the poor man afterwards having twins, and both sons, named one of them Samuel, and the other Robinson.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
IIon. Samuel Tobey was Justice of the Peace and Senator of the Commonwealth, and at length one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. He was the third child of Rev. Samuel Tobey, the first minister of the town, and stood high as a man of learning. sound judgment, and extensive influence. ITis presence was impressive and commanding. No one in the town was looked upon for fifty years with more respect and rever- ence. The wicked stood in fear of him, but the good loved him, because his influence was exerted for the improvement and welfare of all.
When the second meeting house was to be built and there was but one bank in the county, and money was hard to be obtained1, and the people knew not how to bear the expense. he made them believe they could do it; sent for freestone to Con- necticut for the foundation, and led on in procuring materials, and the house was built,
His pastor in the discourse at his funeral says of him: "Could all his virtues be enumerated and set in a just light. his example might long serve to put vice and meanness to the blush and to gui le and encourage those who aim to do well. I should be wanting in gratitude did I not honor him as one of my most generous, faithful, persevering friends That he was a man eminent for a disinterested public spirit all must testify who knew him. He took a deep interest in the welfare of his native town. But he was not one of those contracted minds who view the interests of their town or parish as tantamount to
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all others. Being convinced of the justice and utility of a measure, he pursued it with a zeal and firmness that no opposi- tion or temporary ill-success could conquer. To this quality is owing his success in enterprises deeply involving the welfare of the town. The general prosperity of the nation and the honor of the government un ler which he lived, being objects still of greater magnitude, more deeply engaged his benevolent wishes and exertions.
" He was honored with various posts in public life from the dawn of the Revolution till age and intirmity admonished him of the necessity of retirement. Yet he never was an office- seeker, he knew not how meanly to stoop to court the suffrage of the people. In the days of his greatest prosperity he affected no Inxurious or splendid style of living, yet no man ever made his friends more welcome to his house or appeared more delight- ed, if they were rendered comfortable by his hospitality. And even in his pecuniary embarassments he did not cease to be liberal."
Apollos Tobey was Justice of the Peace and sometimes had criminals before him. He was appointed judge of the Court of Sessions, whose business was something like the present duties of County Commissioner, to grant licenses to innholders and reg- ulate county affairs. He removed to New Bedford, and for several years was employed constantly in justice business
Simeon Burt was a justice, but had few occasions to exercise the functions of his office, so peaceful were the times, and the people who held the laws in high respect. Simeon Chase was an upright justice, a carpenter by trade, an exemplary man, who had the confidence of all who knew him.
Ephraim French, another justice, who afterwards held other offices in the town, and dying carly, was much lamented
Barzillai Crane, Justice of the Peace, was eminent for his in- tegrity and uprightness. As he had large means, he made use of them for the good of others
Levi French was another Justice of the Peace who well un- derstood town laws. He was a surveyor and settled estates. His knowledge of statutes concerning town matters was much
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invoked, and frequently saved to the town the expense of ob- taining legal opinions.
Alpheus Sanford, a Justice of the Peace and one of the six sons of Joseph Sanford, lived in this town till 1837, then mov- ed to Taunton, represented that town in the General Court in 1844. He excelled in building, selling and renting houses.
William Babbit, a Justice and Selectman, is prominent in the business of the town.
MECHANICS.
With this honorable class the town has been well furnished especially if we include manufacturers and ship builders. The first mason, who built many grotesque and bulky chimneys was Jolm Sandford, who lived here as early as 1713 on a large and rough plantation a mile east of the Common. From him five generations have descended, though but few of that name now live in the town.
John Briggs was a mason, and performed the mason work on the second meeting house and in payment took a pew which he usually occupied on the sabbath.
Joseph Sanford learned the trade of him and pursued it mostly in Taunton. Three of his six sons learned and follow- ed the business till about the age of eighteen.
Of carpenters the number was greater. Elkanah Babbit was a noted builder of houses. He lived on a good farm a little south of the meeting house. His son Isaac as mentioned above was a celebrated and intelligent workman. He settled in Digliton. Two other sons, Warren and Benjamin, were skilled workmen, but after a while removed from town.
Simeon Chase built the fine house of the late Barzillai Crane, and many others. Alpheus Sanford built the town hall. Samuel Phillips and his brother Reuben, Baalis Phillips and John Newhall were builders of houses.
The principal ship builders were Henry Crane, Ephraim French, Nehemiah Newell, Thomas Burt with numberless others in their employment.
Abner Burt, senior, was a saddler and harness maker for more than fifty years, when saddles and pillions were in great
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demand. ITe lived to a great age. ITis two sons Shadrach and Dean were hatters and carried 'on the manufacture for many years. Dean was deputy Sheriff more than a quarter of of a century, to old age and died in office.
Of shoe makers there were many. George Sanford, one of the best was a cordwainer, that is sewed with thread. Enoch Babbit was an excellent boot maker. The early custom of shoemakers was to go once or twice a year to families and make or mend as the family required out of materials on hand, in the same manner as tailoresses circulated through the neigh- borhood ; there were no shoe stores in the country villages.
Those who slaughtered animals sent the hides to the tanner, and meat enough to pay for tanning. John Terry was a noted shoemaker and removed to Fall River.
Tisdale Porter who lived a little north of the meeting house was an ingenious blacksmith, made bolts and other iron work for ships ; he was from Freetown and married a daughter of Hon. S. Tobey. Seth Burt was architect of Winslow church, Taunton. John Perkins and William S. Crane were good blacksmiths at the Bridge village.
Celia Atwood deserves to be mentioned here, a tailoress more than fifty years, and extensively useful through the town.
FISHERIES.
These have ever been of considerable annual profit to the town, which like other towns on the river has had the privi- lege of running two seines four days in a week for a certain number of weeks. A fishing privilege for the season has usually been sold for $250 or $300. But so much has the river been seined and obstructed from Fall River to Middle- boro, that the herring have diminished, and the shad nearly ceased to run. Legislation to regulate these fisheries has not been satisfactory to all. At the southerly part of the town are beds of clams and oysters.
THE ALMS HOUSE
does not possess many occupants since the day of grogshops. The number has been gradually diminishing. Those who have
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been unfortunate, by loss of property or health, are received and cared for so well that one aged imate said it was called the poor house, but she called it the rich house. It was said in the first half century after the settlement of the town that there were no drunkards, and only one man maintained by the towns and that was the minister.
Mr. N. Gilbert Townsend has had the charge of this esta- blishment for many years.
The annual cost of supporting the poor is about six hundred dollars. The Alms House cost $3500, stock $1500, salary of the warden $150 yearly. In 1774, the poor were vendued to the lowest bidder at about four shillings a week each.
SEVERAL LADIES OF THIS TOWN
married educated men and persons of distinction from abroad. Daughters of Simeon Burt: Abigail married in 1810, Rev. James Barnaby, pastor, Harwich; Polly married William Car- peuter M. D. of Freetown ; and Clarissa married Mr. Peleg Gray, a grocer of New York.
Polly, daughter of Stephen Burt, married Amos Allen M. D. a physician of this town and East Taunton.
Daughters of Rev. Samuel Tobey: Bathsheba married Deacon Gideon Babbit, of Dighton; Achsah married Roger French of Berkley, and of Barnard, Vt.
Daughters of Hon. Samuel Tobey : Bathsheba married Rev. Abraham Gushee, pastor Dighton for fifty seven years ; Peddy married Thomas Richmond M. D. of Dartmouth.
Abigail, daughter of Thomas Briggs, married William Cornell M. D. father of Rev. William M. Cornell L. L. D., M. D., editor, Boston.
Eleanor, daughter of James Macomber, married Capt. Joseph Sanford.
Sally, daughter of Ebenezer Paul, married, as his fifth wife, Capt. Jabez Fox, a navigator and importer.
Hannah, daughter of Abel Crane, married Apollos Tobey Esq., merchant, and for many years representative to General Court.
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Experience, daughter of Christopher Paul, Sen., married Hon. Samuel Tobey, Senator and Judge of Court of Common Pleas.
Clarissa, daughter of D. Dean, married Col. Adoniram Crane, an eminent singer and teacher.
Emma T, daughter of Tisdale Porter, married, 1829, Abiel B. Crane Esq. merchant.
Caroline, daughter of Benjamin Crane, married Hon. George P. Marsh, Ambassador from our Goverment to Greece, and also to Italy.
Betsy, grand-daughter and adopted daughter of IIon. Samuel Tobey, married Joseph Hathaway, agriculturist.
Jerusha, daughter of Ezra Chase, married Philip French.
Rebecca Porter, daughter of Abiel B. Crane, married, 1870, Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, Jr., of Somerville.
Polly, daughter of Elisha Crane, married Deputy Sheriff Dean Burt.
Daughters of Apollos Tobey Esq. : Eliza married Deacon Barzillai Crane Esq., a man of large property : Caroline Amelia, married Mr. Abel B. Sanford of Philadelphia.
Daughters of Dean Burt : Abby, married Rev. Baalis Sanford of East Bridgewater, pastor; Rowena, married Hon. Rodney French, Mayor of New Bedford.
Lora, daughter of Ezra Chase, married Joseph Tisdale, son of IIon. Jeseph Tisdale, Senator.
Hopestill, daughter of Elkanah Babbit, married George Sanford, Jr.
Betsy, daughter of Abel Crane, married Rev. Levi Lankton of Alstead, N. II.
Sophia, d. of Capt. Christopher Paul, in. Benjamin Crane, son of Benjamin, an eminent scholar and teacher, who was member of Brown University two years and failed in health.
Daughters of Rev. Thomas Andros : Lydia married Capt. Jolin Dean, of Freetown,
Priscilla Deane, married, 1827, Smith Winslow of Fall River, Mary, married William Babbit, manufacturer,
Sarah, married Mr. George F. Butters, horticulturist, Newton.
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Sarah Hastings Fox, adopted daughter of Shadrach Burt, married Thomas C. Dean, merchant and agriculturist.
Sally, d. of Seth Winslow m. Capt. Daniel Burt, 1814.
Daughters of Capt. Joseph Sanford : Eleanor, married Abner Pitts, of Taunton, jeweler ; Mary, married Capt. Theophihis Nickerson, of Sonth Dennis.
Rebecca, d. of Tisdale Porter, married Sanmel Newhall.
Danghters of Dea. Barzillai Crane: Susan Whitmarsh, m. Samuel Breck, a lawyer, now of Bridgewater, graduate of Harvard, 1831 ; Irene Lazel, married Thomas C. Nichols M. D. of Freetown.
Sophia, daughter of Capt. John Dean and his wife Sally, daughter of John and Esther (Sanford) Dillingham. married James Lothrop, of Raynham, a well-known singer and musician.
MUSIC.
The first society early took measures to cultivate good singing. John Paul was appointed chorister and tuner of psahus Jan. 25, 1737. The class of tunes at first used was that to which Mear, St. Martin's and Old Hundred belonged. Then came Billings' shrill fleeting tunes which had a long run. Some think his class of tunes wrought a great improvement and agreeable variety, but they have long since been superseded by the harmonious and devotional hymns of the present day. June 3, 1773, the church voted that Nathaniel Haskins and Simeon Burt should assist Shadrach Burt in leading the psahn.
Dr. Isaac Watt's psalms and hymns began to be used in 1788, and Azael Hathaway and James Babbit were chosen choristers.
Nov. 3, 1823, it was voted by the church that Henry Crane be second chorister,-Dea. George Sanford being appointed to lead when the church observe the communion, and the choir join with the church. Also that Col. Adoniram Crane be chief chorister and that it be left to him to say who shall lead when he is absent. Hle was a noted singer for about thirty years, was president of the Beethoven Society, which was composed of the best singers of several towns. He sung perhaps for ten years in the second Con'l Church of this town. Dea. G. Sanford
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taught singing schools, and Col. Crane succeeded him many winters. Stringed instruments were long used.
OFFICERS OF THE FIRST CHURCHI.
Ruling Elders.
Daniel Axtell. 1750 Jacob French 1750
John Paul.
1764 Ebenezer Crane. . 1789
Dec. 23. 1798, Barzillai Hathaway was chosen as agent to manage the funds of the church.
Deacons.
Gershom Crane. 1737 Daniel Axtell 1737
Jacob French.
1748 John Paul. 1748
Samuel Tubbs.
1764 Ebenezer Crane. 1764
Ebenezer Winslow 1789 Samuel Tobey 1789
George Sanford ..
1807 Luther Cranc. 1807
Tisdale Briggs
1820 Barzillai Crane. 1837
Thomas C. Dean
1847 James Hathaway 1847
CHURCH DISCIPLINE.
Jany. 25, 1737. The church met and voted that liberty should be granted to persons to be admitted to the church with a relation or without as they may see their way clear.
Jany. 7, 1749. At a church meeting the following vote was passed : That if any of the brethren or children of the church should allow of frolicking in their houses, or go abroad to frol- ick in any other house, they should be deemed offending. That if any of the church should neglect to attend at church meet- ings without satisfactory reasons given, they should be deemed offending.
That if any of the church should invite into their house any of the separate Baptist teachers to preach, or follow them abroad, they should be deemed offending.
July 25, 1750. Daniel Axtell and Jacob French were 'or- dained as ruling elders. The ordaining services were performed by delegates from the churches in Rochester and Freetown. The church usually held a lecture monthly. When one had fallen into sin and was restored, he was required to make confession, and ask forgivness before the congregation on the sabbath. .
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Feb. 16, 1762. Voted to inquire into the reason of Brother Pickens for his neglecting special ordinances, and also for his attending on Mr. Hind's ministry, who is an anabaptist. Mr. Pickens, reasons were that he did not profit by Mr. Turner's ministry, and the church voted that they were not satisfied with his reasons.
Feb. 29, 1816. Voted that Brother Elijah French be admon- ished not to attend the meetings of heretical sectarian preachers. HIe being present received the admonition and promised amend- ment. This aged brother was a very pious man, and being hard of hearing was fond of meetings at dwelling houses.
Voted also, that Mrs. Polly Hathaway be admonished for the same disorderly conduct, as also for absenting herself from the communions, and attending a seperate and opposition meeting, and for holding heretical opinions of Elias Smith. She being present gave some encouragement of reformation and four months were given her to consider and reform in respect to those charges.
It is a question whether the venerable pastor was not too . rigid in some acts of church discipline. These are barely specimens ; numerous other instances of little importance are re- corded in an almost illegible handwriting.
THE MINISTERIAL TAX.
This tax was assessed on the inhabitants, like other taxes, according to law. It was opposed by those who did not wor- ship with the First Society. One man had his horse distrained for non-payment of a small ministerial tax, but afterwards it was given up as being exempt from such seizure. Another man, Zephaniah Jones, was taken by warrant, and lodged in jail for refusal to pay such tax, but some friend soon released him. It was soon seen that this mode of compelling men to support the ministry was impolitic, and not necessary for the maintenance of the Church. Hence, in 1820, the law of the State was repealed, and the voluntary system of supporting the ministry henceforth obtained.
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1776.
This town was well represented in the anny of the Revolu- tion, though the population and means were small. Rev. Thomas Andros as stated al ove, was a soldier in the Continen- tal army. Only a few others am I able to give.
Ezra Chase enlisted in the army of Rhode Island, and being wounded in a sham fight drew a pension from that State, pay- able semi-annually so long as he lived. He resided on a farm in the casterly part of the town, and his nine chidren, five sons and four daughters, have long been dead.
Josiah Macomber, son of James, was in the Continental army over two years. After the war he became non compos mentis, and received a pension from 1818, by his guardian.
Joseph Sanford at the age of eighteen, entered the army, served at South Boston and Dorchester Heights, also in Provi- dence, in all about two years : drew a pension from 1818 to the time of his death, excepting a few years when it was withheld from those whose income was more than two Imindred dollars a year, and after his decease it was paid to his widow by act of Congress allowing it to soldiers' widows married previous to the year 1795. Hle was the son of George Sanford. Sen .. who was in 1756 a lieutenant in the army under command of the British General Lord Londoun, and marched against the French at Crown Point and Ticonderoga. This was the " French War," which resulted in the conquest of Canada by the British and American forces. Lient. Sanford was the youngest eluld of Jolm Sandford and his wife Abigail, daughter of Sammel Pitts.
Samuel Paul, William Evans and Paul Briggs, were soldiers of the Revolution and drew pensions.
Colonel John Hathaway, father of Barzillai, commanded a regiment in the war, was eminent for his patriotism, had full confidence in the success of our arms, and when there was no chaplain would pray on horseback at the head of his command.
In 1774 the town voted that the resolves of the Continental Congress be strictly adhered to in every particular, and John Hathaway and others were a committee to see that these resolves
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were regarded by the people. 1775. Voted that the militia train hall' a day in a week, and be allowed one shilling; that each minute man have five dollars as a bounty if called into the service of his country.
July 22, 1776. Voted to raise £75 10 ... as an additional bounty allowed to the soldiers bound to New York, and that volunteer and drafted soldiers be exempt from paying any part of it.
Feb., 1777. Voted to choose militia officers ; to hire our quota required for the Continental army, and to give each soldier ten pounds additional to what is given by the General Court. They were to enlist for three years.
Nov. 24. Voted £234 to be assessed to pay soldier's bounty. Feb., 17 78. Voted £620 to pay Continental soldiers. In 1778, voted £151 12s., for soldiers. Voted £1,320 19s. to pay soldiers hired by the town. Sixty-four soldiers at different times serving for three months in the army were allowed from three to ten pounds each.
After Independence, the military spirit was dominant. The law required trainings in May, and muster in the autumn annu- ally. All able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, were required to attend at a given time and place, equiped with gun, bayonet, knapsack, cartouch box, and some twenty rounds of powder and ball. For absence without legal excuse two dollars was the fine. Every town was required by law to have a powder house with a certain amount of powder and ammunition to be ready for invasion or war.
The captain and other officers of the militia wore uniforms consisting of a military hat with feathers ; red-faced coats, with epauletts of silver fringes; two-edged sword, or cutlass, with silver hilt, and spontoon.
Abner Burt, Jr., was adjutant, many years. Among the captains were Samuel French, Sen., and his son, the Senator, Joseph Sanford, Christopher Paul, 2d., Freeman Briggs, Giles G. Chase, who in the war of 1812, marched his company to New Bedford, to defend the coast against the incursions of the British. Other captains were Nathaniel Staples, Nathaniel Townsend,
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