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 5
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and Daniel Burt. Colonel Joseph Sanford, Jr., who died in 1827, at New York City, resided at Oswego, N. Y. He was the son of Captain Joseph Sanford, of this town.
CEMETERIES.
One of these is near the Park and contains the graves of those who first settled the town. Changing a few words we may apply to them a stanza from Gray's Elegy :
" Here rest their heads upon the lap of earth, Brave men to fortune and to fame unknown, Fair science frowned not on their humble birth, Nor melancholy marked them for its own."
They were as brave and self-denying men as settled any part of the country. It was not till within the last fifty years that marble could be generally obtained. The ancient graves have the blue stone which was prepared by Dea. Ebenezer Winslow, the only sculptor or stone-cutter in town, and not very skillful. The letters are cut so shallow as to be nearly obliterated. But in later years great improvements have been made in com- memorating the departed. This is proof of increased taste in the people, and their respect for deceased friends. Several family squares are finely enclosed and adorned.
The two first pastors are buried here. The grave of the Rev. Mr. Toby will soon be honored by an appropriate monunfent to be creeted by his descendants.
Another cemetery is situated in the lower part of the town in the vicinity of Assonet Neck: Some of the earliest settlers of Freetown and Taunton, were buried here ; including families of Axtel, Briggs, Burt, Crane, Paul, and Winslow. This cemetery is wel! enclosed and presents a pleasing aspect
BY REASON OF STRENGTH FOUR SCORE.
James Macomber, died December 31, 1803, aged 88 years. Rachel Drake, his wife, died December 1, 1809, aged 83 years. Lieut. George Sanford, died February 19, 1820, aged 96 years. Sarah Sanford, his daughter, died Jan., 1845, aged 82 years. Bernice Crane, died November, 1830, aged 86 years.
Joanna Axtel, his wife, died May 5, 1846, aged one hundred years, one month and fifteen days.
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Eleanor Macomber, widow of Capt. Joseph Sanford, died Angust 12, 1845, aged 82 years.
Rev. Thomas Andros, son of Benjamin Andros, died Dec. 30, 1845, aged 86 years.
SELECTMEN
from the organization of the town. The year is given in which they were elected : some served several years, having been re-elected.
Joseph Burt, John Paul, Benaiah Babbit, 1735
Samuel Thresher, Elkanah Babbit, 1736
Joseph Burt, Thomas Hathaway, . 1737
John French, Benaiah Paul, Ephraim Allen, 1740
Abial Atwood, Christopher Paul, Ebenezer Winslow, 1742
Gershom Crane, Joseph Burt, 1747
Samuel Thrasher, 1751
George Caswell, Saml. Thrasher, Abel Burt, 1752 Jacob French. 1753
Ebenezer French 1760
Samuel Gilbert. 1761
Samuel Tubbs, Ebenezer Paul 1763
John Crane, Joseph Burt, 1765
John Hathaway, Shadrach Haskins, 1769
John Paul, Geo. Caswell. 1770
John Babbit, Israel French, Abel Crane 1773
James Nichols, Levi French. 1777
Ebenezer Mirick, Stephen Webster, Jedadiah \ Briggs 1778
Simeon Burt 1782
Ebenezer Babbit, Nath. Tobey 1786
Ebenezer Paul, 1790
James Nichols, 1799
Luther Crane, James Dean. 1803
George Sanford, John Dillingham, George Shove. 1810
Christopher Paul, Dean Babbit, Apollos Tobey . 1812
Barzillai Crane, Ephraim French, . 1816
Barzillai Hathaway, Shadrach Burt, 1817
----
5-1
Levi French, Jabez Fox. 1823
Adoniram Crane, Saml. French 1826
Henry Crane, Tisdale Porter 1829
Milton Paul, Tamerlane Burt. 1832
George Briggs, Alpheus Sanford. 1835
Nathaniel G. Townsend, Jos. D. Hathaway, 1839
Ephraim French, Saml. Newhall 1840
Walter D. Nichols, Enoch Boyce, . 1849
Nath. G. Townsend, Nathan Chase, Ebenezer Williams. 1852
Thos. Strange, Thos. C. Dean 1857
Peter Hathaway, 1849
William Babbit, Issacher Dickerman . 1-57
Benjamin Crane, Benjamin Luther, John C. Crane 1860
Walter D. Nichols, William Babbit, Simeon ? Briggs . 1862
Thomas C. Dean, 1864
John D. Babbit, Daniel S. Briggs 1866
TOWN CLERKS.
Abel Burt. 1735
Asahel Hathaway 1826
Ebenezer Winslow. 1748
Samuel French, jr 1827
George Caswell 1751
Adoniram Crane 1830
Abel Crane 1756
Abiel B. Crane 1833
John Briggs, jr 1763
Philip K. Porter 1834
Samuel French. 1765
Ephraim French 1835
William S. Crane 1840
Samuel Tobey 1774
Stephen Burt 1790
Ephraim French . 1853
Nathaniel G. Townsend
Joseph Sanford 1795
Daniel S. Briggs 1863
Apollos Tobey 1798
Daniel C. Burt 1864
Adoniram Crane. . .. . 1810
T. Preston Burt 1866
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.
None were sent from this town during the first forty years, on account of the expense, as every town was obliged to pay its own representative. Usually, afterwards, one was elected only once in three or four years.
Ebenezer Phillips .1767
George Crane 1849
John Crane . 1792
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Samuel Tobey, jr 1775, 1776
James Nichols 1779
John Babbit. 1788
Samuel Tobey . 1784, 1789, 1792, 1794
Apollos Tobey, 1801, 1803, 1807, 1809, 1811, 1812, 1814, 1819, 1821.
Adoniram Crane 1817. 1815
John Dillingham 1824
Samuel French 1825, 1826, 1829. 1830, 1835
Adoniram Crane 1832
Rev. Thomas Andros 1836
Tamerlane Burt. 1839
Nathaniel Townsend .
1841, 1842, 1843
Leander Andros . . 1844
Samuel Newhall .1845
Abel Baxter Crane. 1851, 1864
William S. Crane 1859
William Babbit 1861, 1871
Giles L. Leach 1852
Samuel Tobey, member of Convention for forming Consti-
tution 1779
Jabez Fox, member of Convention for revising Constitution 1820 Samuel French . .1853
Senators of the Commonwealth from this town, Hon. Samuel Tobey, Hon. Samuel French, and Hon. Walter D. Nichols.
DOINGS OF THE TOWN.
In 1739, voted that £3 be added to Mr. Tobey's salary. In 1740, not to give John Townsend anything for collecting taxes. Voted to Mr. Tobey .£107 salary. For nine months school keeping Mr. Benjamin Paul received from the town nine pounds. 1746, voted to Mr. Toby [150 salary, also voted to build pews in the meeting house this year, to lath and plaster below under the galleries, and mend the glass, and voted £160 for the work ; £200 old tenor to the minister, and dismissed the article of building a school house. Committee sent to the Gen- eral Court to petition that Taunton and not Dighton, shall be the shire town, as some wished. For sweeping the meeting house,
-
£
56
Joseph Babbit received from the town £2 15s. To pay for schooling £6 were voted in 1750.
Mr. Tobey's salary partly paid in farm produce, rye four shillings per bushel ; Indian corn, three shillings four pence; beef, two pence per pound ; pork, four pence per pound ; flax, at nine pence per pound; oak wood, 9s. 4d. per cord. 1751, voted £5 lawful money for support of schools, voted next year £10. John Paul to let the pews in the meeting house and every man to give a note to the treasurer payable in one year. Pews rented on an average for less than one pound.
Voted for schools in 1755, £18; in 1757, €24.
Voted to join in a lottery with Taunton to raise money to clear out Taunton river.
James Macomber and Christopher Paul having been in his Majesty's service, were exempted from taxes.
Voted 1761, to choose four wardens in the town of Berkley in obedience to an act passed by the General Court as a means to prevent the profanation of the Lord's day. Voted to Roland Gavin four pounds, by reason of his having to leave teaching and move out of his house on account of the small pox.
In the eleventh year of King George III, £60 lawful money voted to Mr. Tobey. In 1772 the town is to be divided into four districts and a school house to be built in each, costing $64. May, 22, 1775. Samuel Tobey, Jr., was sent to represent the town in the Provincial Congress, at Cambridge, for six months, the first representative sent by the town to any State or Provin- cial assembly. He was sent also a representative to the Gen- eral Court, which met in Watertown. July 19, 1775. £120 voted for schools 1779. In 1793 voted .C300 to pay soldiers. and for support of schools; £300, also to enlarge the meeting house by adding fourteen feet.
In 1795 the two fish privileges sold for £38 cach.
Various vagabonds or itinerant poor about this time were warned, according to law, to leave town within fourteen days, or they would be proceeded against.
Voted March 5, 1798, to pay the Rev. Thomas Andros in the following articles annually, so long as he shall remain in
£
57
the work of the Gospel Ministry in said town of Berkley, in lieu of $250, which was the original contract, which was as follows, viz. :
52 Bushels of Corn at .. 3
15 Bushels of Rye at.
4 0
2 Barrels of Flour at. 33 0
12 Pounds of Tea at. 2
60 Pounds of Sugar at
0
9
18 Gallons of Mollasses at 2 0
15 Cords of Wood at. 8
5 Tons of English Hay at 4
8
3 Bushels of Salt at. 3
0
400 Pounds of Beef at. 20
0
500 Pounds of Pork at 4 0
100 Pounds of Flax at 8
0
40 Pounds of Sheep's Wool at 1
6
6 Pairs of Mens' Shoes at 8
0
5 Barrels of Cyder at. 6
0
200 Pounds of Cheese at. 0 6
400 Pounds of Butter at. 0
8
Which makes. £70 3
Also $16 and 17 shillings 4 17
£75 0
The above articles voted by the town of Berkley at Mr. An- dros' own request in writing.
1799. Assonet Neek was annexed to Berkley.
The bell for the second meeting house was purchased by subscription. The weight of it was 635 pounds, and the whole cost was $276. Forty-eight persons subscribed toward its purchase. Samuel Tobey and son paid $41.
Two fish grounds sold in 1803 for $261 each.
In 1806 there were 406 children between the age of four and twenty years in the common schools.
The fund given by Elijah Briggs for the support of the min-
S.
d.
6
5
0
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istry of the first church in Berkley was incorporated m 1813, and when it had increased to $2,000 the interest was to be ex- pended for that purpose. The income of it is now about $150 annually.
Voted, 1819, that a stove may be put in the meeting house. In 1837 voted that the school committee have no compensa- tions for their services.
Aug. 30, 1862. Voted a bounty of $150 for cach of the soldiers of the town enlisting for the war of the Rebellion, for nine months' service.
The town officers have managed its finances so well that it is now free from debt.
DATES OF INCORPORATION
of towns in Bristol County in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Taunton. Sept. 3, 1639. Dighton. . .. . May 30, 1712.
Rehoboth. June 4, 1645. Easton. . .Dec. 21, 1725.
Dartmouth. June 8, 1664. Raynham. . . April 2, 1731.
Swansey . . . Oct. 30, 1667. Berkley . . . . April 18, 1735.
Freetown. . . . July, 1683. Mansfield . .. April 26, 1770.
Attleborough . .. Oet. 19, 1694. New Bedford Feb. 23, 1787.
Norton June 12, 1711. Somerset.
Westport. . . . July 2, 1787. Feb. 20, 1790.
In 1800, Berkley contained 115 houses and a population of 1,013, the least of any town in the county. The fifteen towns together contained a population of 33,880.
ROCK HOUSE AND SPRING.
The " Rock House," which was occupied by Robert San- ford, son of Robert and grandson of John Sandford, as his homestead, was an object of interest. It stood on the summit of a rock of broad surface, near the road to Newport. A cavity or hollow in the solid rock, some six feet deep and ten or twelve in width, formed the cellar. The face of the rock sloped away, covering about a quarter of an aere. This house was occupied about seventy years. No one can now tell how or why the cellar was excavated in this manner, or why one should
59
wish to build a house many rods distant from any spring or well. The builder sought evidently to avoid a sandy founda- tion. There is another house, similar to this, with a cellar out in the rock, still standing in another part of the town.
Another object of interest, and which has attracted consider- able attention, is a spring on the farm formerly owned by Israel Briggs, who, moving to Conway, sold his land to Samuel Philips. This is a mineral spring, which bubbles up an inch or two above the surface. It continues through the year, but is most active in the warm season. The spring, now surround- ed by woods, is situated ou the east side of the road leading to Pole plain, or rather Poole plain, as it is written in the old re- cords in the Register's office, so called possibly after Mistress Elizabeth Poole, the spiuster foundress of Taunton,
MONUMENTUM ASSONETENSE.
The " writing rock," in the lower part of the town, on the farm of David Dean, sometimes called the Dighton Rock, has puzzled the most astute antiquarians. Savans have given four interpretations wholly unlike each other; three of them at least must be incorrect. The lines and figures still remain just what one wishes to call them. General Washington, after ex- amining a copy of the inscription in the museum of Harvard College, expressed his opinion that it was the work of the Indians, having in his early life seen similar writing, which was unquestionably made by the natives.
A French writer, in a learned treatise, read in Paris in 1825, honored it with the classical name given above. Numerous writers have employed folios in describing the rock, but it should be seen in order to have a correct impression of it.
Assonet neck, where the famous rock is situated, was held by the Wampanoags, the tribe over which Philip was king. nutil 1678, when this territory, conquered from them, was sold by the Plymouth government to the town of Taunton for one hun- dred and fifty pounds, and subsequently divided among six proprietors. Later the neck was included within the Inits of the town of Dighton ; but since 1735, that part of it bounded by Taunton River and Assonet Bay was ceded to Berkley.
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In 1680, we find the first record of the inscription, given by Rev. Mr. Danforth, who alluded to a tradition existing among the oldest Indians-that there came a wooden house and men of another country swimming on the River Assonet. Within the succeeding one hundred and fifty years there have been taken a dozen or more drawings of the rock. Some of these have been copied in a work, printed at Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1837, entitled, " Antiquitutes Americance sive Scriptores Septen- trionales Rerum ante Columbianarum in America, etc.
Some writers state that the inseription is composed of two parts-one cut by the Indians, the other by the Northinen. The latter has been deciphered, and the name of Thorfin, cut in Latin letters, plainly to be read. It is stated that the rock has been purchased by Mr. N. Arnzen, of Fall River, to be presented to the Antiquarian Society at Copenhagen, a weighty gift, eleven feet in length and four and a half in height.
FINIS.
F 81926
6057
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