USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Canton > History of the town of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts > Part 18
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 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
205
SECOND MINISTER.
in 1746. I bought it at an auction in 1882. It has auto- graphs of both its former owners.
Within these walls was once deposited probably the best- selected and most valuable collection of music-books in the country at that time. We quote a few of the titles: " Hol- yoke Repository," " Massachusetts Compiler," " Royal Har- mony," " Musical Magazine," " Holden's Union Harmony," " Harmony of Maine," " Harmony of Harmony," " Harmon- ica Americana," " Royal Melody," " Evangelical Harmony," "Anthems," "William Billing's Singers' Amusement," "Sacred Minstrels," " Robertson's Anthems," "Norfolk Harmony," " Oriental Harmony," " Dirges," " West Boston and Brattle street Music," "Select Music in MS."
The old clock, made by the best maker of his time, bears on its face the name of Simon Willard, also that it was made for Elijah Dunbar, Esq .; over the moons appear periodically a sinking ship, bearing the red flag with the conjoined crosses of Saint George and Saint Andrew. Utterly oblivious to the changes in dynasties or flags, it still keeps honest time.
Let us not forget the sainted dead that have been carried out from under the old-fashioned doorway, which yesterday was, and to-day is not, borne to the graveyard on the hill, where the earliest settlers lie, and placed with their kith and kin. The gravestones tell us they lie there in the hope of a glorious resurrection in the house not made with hands.
" We may build more splendid habitations, Fill our rooms with paintings and with sculptures, But we cannot Buy with gold the old associations."
206
HISTORY OF CANTON.
CHAPTER XII.
TAVERNS.
T HE first tavern in what is now Canton was kept by Gil- bert Endicott. The house was standing in 1700, and, tradition says, was situated directly in front of the house now occupied by George F. Capen, at the junction of Washington and Chapman streets. The cellar-hole can be seen distinctly to this day, although it was called "ye old cellar hole" in 1727. This tavern was running in 1702, when Mr. Endicott had neglected to take out a license, and was obliged to recognize to the court for good behavior in the future. He continued to keep this inn until 1707, when Daniel Morey appeared as landlord, and so continued until 1710. Mr. Endicott was absent in Boston, where his brothers William and John were innholders, and where he also kept an inn on Orange Street from June, 1709, to 1711. In 1713 he was again at his ancient tavern, and entertained Judge Sewall, who baited at his house on the 15th of September, 1716, about a month before Endi- cott's death.
Sewall says in 1709, "From Morey's at Ponkapog to Taun- ton, over the new road, rode fourteen miles without seeing a house."
J'ohn Vose, who was the son of Edward and grandson of Robert, was born Nov. 20, 1676. He established his tavern on the site now occupied by the old-fashioned hip-roofed house built by Capt. John Billings, still standing at the corner of Washington Street and the private way leading to Draper's woollen mill, sometimes called Vose's Lane.
The exact time at which Vose began business in Can- ton is not known; but James Blake, when on Moose Hill in 1714, observes, "Punkepog via Voses, N. E. 56° and little."
207
TAVERNS.
That he was "purvayor" at the ordination of Rev. Joseph Morse, our first minister, in 1717, the ancient receipts bear witness. Benjamin Lynde, Chief-Justice of the province, stopped at Vose's on Sabbath Day, Sept. 7, 1718. He at- tended sermon, and after supper proceeded to, and lodged at, Mrs. Billings's. In 1720 he again visits Vose's, and with the landlord and Mr. "Fenner " crossed over about five miles to the Roebuck Tavern, then kept by Nathaniel Kingsbury, where the Chief-Justice treated them to a quart of Madeira. Whether the judge heard any scandalous stories about "the keeping of ninepins," or the "allowing of gameing," he does not state; but Mr. Vose was accused of such misdemeanors, summoned before the court, and honorably acquitted, but had to pay the costs of court. In 1727 Vose asserted that he " has kept a tavern in Stoughton for diverse years past with- out any interruption ; " nevertheless, he seems to have had the weakness of other landlords, and was that year fined £10 for selling strong drink without a license; again in 1733, now promoted to captain, he sold drink without a license, and was accordingly fined.
On Sept. 4, 1730, the Chief-Justice was again at Vose's. Three years afterward he dined and lodged there, and spent the evening with the Rev. Samuel Dunbar. The next day being Sunday, he went to church and received the sacrament. Sept. 20, 1734, he supped at Vose's and dined on salmon trout. He heard Mr. Dunbar preach, noted down an ex- tract from his sermon, contributed fifteen shillings, and the next morning departed, having paid Mrs. Hewins for his horse, lodging, etc., twenty-six shillings. Mr. Vose died this year, and probably Mrs. Benjamin Hewins, his daughter, who subsequently married Samuel Cutter, was in charge.
In 1732 the warrants for town meeting were posted at the public-house " nighest to the Meeting House."
Sarah Clapp, who on the 3d of July, 1700, became the good wife of the captain, was buried March 9, 1733; and on July 15, 1734, the captain was himself interred, - not, how- ever, without remembering the church in his will. When he had been dead about a month, Mr. Dunbar called a special
208
HISTORY OF CANTON.
church meeting for the purpose of informing the brethren that Captain Vose had by his last will and testament be- queathed to the Church of Christ £20, to purchase a piece of plate.
Some years ago I copied the inscription on Captain Vose's gravestone. Since then the frost has split the stone vertically, and no trace of the carving remains; the footstone, however, stands, with the initials and date upon it.
After the death of Captain Vose, his estate was purchased by Ebenezer Maudsley (Mosely), son of Thomas and Mary (Lawrence), who was born Sept. 4, 1673. In 1736, Chief- Justice Lynde, while performing his official duties, again put up at the old tavern. His lodging cost him twenty shillings, and five shillings more he distributed among the servants. It is a singular coincidence that Ebenezer Mandsley, who pur- chased Vose's estate, was also a benefactor to the church. Mr. Dunbar records his burial as follows: " Aug. 3, 1740 .- This day Mr. Ebenezer Mosely, our neighbor, an inhabitant of Stoughton, was interred at Dorchester. In his will he has given £20 to this church."
In 1743 the heirs of Maudsley sold the estate. to Capt. John Billings, who lived on it till his death, April 3, 1786, when it passed to his son Frederic, and a portion of this large farm is still owned by the descendants of John Billings.
Another benefactor of the church figures in connection with this old tavern. One Sunday morning, more than a hundred years ago, a party of young men assembled here. As the hours passed by, they drank freely, and in the course of the night reached the noisy stage of inebriation. The sound of their unseemly hilarity reached the ears of Mr. William Wheeler, who held the office of tithing-man, and whose duty it was to see that the laws against Sabbath- breaking were enforced. He accordingly procured his staff of office, and made a descent upon the tap-room of the tav- ern. Upon making known his errand, he was greeted with shouts of derision. He then, by the authority in him vested, ordered the Sabbath-breakers to disperse. Whereupon he was bound by the midnight revellers, and a glass of hot
209
TAVERNS.
toddy poured down his throat. He resisted vigorously, but it was of no use. Another glass was prepared, and he was obliged to swallow that. To this he did not object so strenu- ously as at the first. He was then unbound, and took the third of his own free will. Others followed in quick succession ; and the consequence was that the preserver of the public peace soon made more noise than all the rest, and was obliged to be carried home and put to bed by some of the more sober of the company. Nor was this the only fall from grace chargeable to this tavern. Preserved Tucker, whose name should have saved him, was disciplined by the church for excessive drinking, "being twice overtaken at Capt. Vose's, a public house."
In 1723 James Endicott was licensed as a retailer; and as he brought in a bill in 1738 for "Rhum, sugar, and plums," it is fair to believe he continued in the business up to that time. He was licensed to sell "without doors; " that is, to persons not guests of his house or inn.
As early as 1730 there were many places where entertain- ment could be obtained for man and beast; and the town authorities considered these public-houses as the most ap- propriate places whereon to post the warrants for the annual town meetings. In 1722 Moses Curtis was an innholder. In 1745 Edward Wentworth had facilities for entertaining guests in Canton.
The question of granting licenses came up in this town; and Samuel Billings, Daniel Talbot, Eleazer Robbins, The- ophilus Curtis, Benjamin Johnson, and Richard Stickney were granted the privilege to sell liquors. Several of our townsmen, however, "although they had no objection to the gentlemen above named, are still of the opinion that the multiplication of such houses has been of ill consequence to the town in general, especially to youths and the unthinking part of the town; " and they therefore prayed the selectmen that no more be licensed than had already been approved.
Deacon Joseph Tucker, one of the first settlers of Canton, appears to have kept an inn in 1742 "on the common and most general road to Rhode Island; " how long I cannot
14
210
HISTORY OF CANTON.
say, - possibly thirty years, for he was living on that site that length of time, and he probably did not begin to keep an inn in the latter part of his life. It was situated very near the site where stands the Crane schoolhouse. Chief-Justice Lynde mentions stopping here at one time.
After the death of the deacon, his widow, Susanna (Pelton) Tucker, continued the business, and finding she needed assist- ance, took into partnership, in a business and matrimonial way, Richard Stickney, who appears to have been the land- lord in 1757.
From 1767 to 1787 this tavern was kept by Samuel Capen, who was born in 1745, and died Oct. 7, 1809. The fol- lowing extract from an old diary may or may not refer to the building of this house: "Sept. 3, 1757, Father at Mr. Capen's; Sam raises his house in the afternoon." In this tavern was born, May 27, 1777, his son Samuel, who was well known to the present generation, held many offices of trust in the town, and died in the house which he erected in 1849, at Canton Corner, Jan. 22, 1863.
Samuel, the landlord of the old tavern, was not only a famous singer, but a composer as well. He was the author of a book containing some exquisite tunes, entitled, " Norfolk Harmony; " and at his house were often held the meetings of the singing-club. From the tavern at South Canton he removed to Pleasant Street, and lived on the place opposite the terminus of Sherman Street. Here he resided in 1794; from here he went to Canton Corner, living in the old house built by John Wentworth, Jr., until his death. Gen. Elijah Crane took possession of the old tavern soon after Capen left it, and was landlord from 1789 to 1800. Here on the 9th of January, 1797, were decided all matters pertaining to the separation of Canton from Stoughton. In granting his li- cense as an innholder, the selectmen declared that he was " of sober life and conversation, suitably qualified and pro- vided for such employment, and attached to the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth." The committee on the fish business met at his tavern in 1795, and the following year the "Proprietors of the Common Field" met on the 25th of April, and chose their officers.
211
TAVERNS.
We have seen that Chief-Justice Benjamin Lynde, on a hot day in August, 1720, invited his Canton friends over to the Roebuck to test the quality of Kingsbury's Madeira. Judge Sewall also mentions that he lodged there the same year. On Fast Day, 1883, the Canton Historical Society, leaving the "old Ark" in Norwood, followed the king's highway, leading to the Providence Plantations. On the site of the house where now resides Simon Gould in East Walpole, they found the cellar of the old tavern. The old walls were intact, and many of the timbers showed that they had once belonged to a much older edifice.
On the site where stands the former residence of Dr. Ezra Abbot, there once stood a large house, erected by Jeremiah Ingraham, who came to this town from Attleboro' in 1740, married Susanna, daughter of Deacon Joseph Tucker, and resided upon this farm until his death, which occurred Feb. 11, 1773, in the ninetieth year of his age. He was a man of such prominence that this part of the town was known for many years as the Ingraham Neighborhood, the school near his house as the Ingraham Branch, and the corner of Washington and Neponset streets as Ingraham's Corner. His son Jeremiah married, Feb. 13, 1755, Abigail, daughter of Joseph Hartwell; and from this union are descended some of the most famous families in the annals of Maine, the Hon. Reuel Williams, United States Senator, and Joseph Hartwell Williams, Governor, being among the more distinguished. It was one of the places of meeting of the ancient musical society, and Elijah Dunbar makes frequent mention in his diary of a "sing at Ingraham's."
Jeremiah Ingraham, after the death of his father, sold to Supply Belcher, in 1778, the "home farm," as he described it, lying on both sides of the Taunton road, containing on the west of the highway twenty-four acres, running from Billings Lane, now Neponset Street, to the land of Abijah Jones. The larger portion on the east side of the road contained over sixty acres, and extended from the Great Elm opposite Church Street to near the house now owned by Arthur C. Kollock.
212
HISTORY OF CANTON.
Supply Belcher, the purchaser, commonly known as " Un- cle Ply," appears soon after he bought it to have opened a tavern, which on the map of 1785 is designated as Belcher's tavern. It probably was not kept by Belcher very long after this date. He was the son of Clifford Belcher, who was taken in such " a surprising manner " on the 23d of April, 1773, and died on the 26th. Supply was born on the borders of Canton, April 10, 1752. He removed to Augusta in 1785, thence to Farmington in 1791, which town he represented in the Legislature in 1798, 1799, 1801, 1802. He had a son, Hon. Hiram Belcher, who was a member of Congress. Sup- ply Belcher was a prominent member of the Stoughton Musical Society; often we see mention in old diaries of a " sing at Belcher's " while he was " mine host " of the tavern. In 1782 he and Elijah Dunbar, another famous singer, went to Commencement at Harvard, and enjoyed the musical part of the exercises. Nor was it alone as a singer that Supply Belcher was noted. He was a composer of no mean ability; and in 1794, when he issued his "Harmony of Maine," the pieces contained in it were so excellent that they gained for their author the title of " The Handel of Maine." He died June 9, 1836.
After the removal of Supply Belcher to Maine, the house was occupied by Capt. Thomas Crane, who resided here until his death, May 5, 1787. He was a brother of Major- Gen. Elijah Crane. The selectmen were accustomed to meet at Crane's and Smith's alternately during this period ; and a well-worn path existed from what is now the town farm to this tavern, crossing Pequit Brook near the bridge on Sherman Street. In 1788 Eunice Crane, the widow of Captain Thomas, advertised the house for sale, and said that it "has been improved for a tavern for many years." When Dr. Abbot purchased the place in 1836, the old tavern was de- molished, and such portions of it as were sound, used in the erection of the present house.
Jonathan Leonard, commonly called "Quaker" Leonard, was a member of the Society of Friends. He built the southerly portion of the present Massapoag House in 1789, and occu-
213
TAVERNS.
pied it as a private residence for many years; unsuccessful, however, in his business affairs, he was obliged to surrender the old house to his creditors. After he left town, the house was occupied by David Spaulding, who kept a public-house. In front of the tavern was the sign of a stage-coach with four horses attached. It was during his day that the Canton Ly- ceum flourished, and at his tavern their meetings were held. Spaulding left the tavern in 1834. He died June 12, 1838, aged thirty-eight years, and was buried in the Canton Ceme- tery; and James Bent, the son of Capt. William Bent, the landlord of the Eagle Inn, took charge of the house. The old sign was replaced by one bearing the legend, "James Bent, 1834." A stage driven by the "Bent boys " made regular trips to Boston. Mr. Bent continued as landlord until his death, which occurred Feb. 3, 1847, on which occa- sion Mr. Elijah Crane wrote from Savannah, "I regret to hear of the sudden demise of our old friend Bent. He was an honest man, which is the noblest work of God. Peace to his ashes !" and Mr. Crane adds, "I am in better health than I was when I carted wood from Canton to Boston barefoot." We have pleasant recollections of this old tavern and Mr. Bent's kindness to little boys. The year following the death of Mr. Bent the tavern was in charge of his twin sons, Nathaniel and Elijah. Shortly afterward the old hostelry was altered by Mr. Lyman Kinsley. He remodelled the old house, raised it a story, and on the northerly side built a new hall. This hall was considered a very fine one in its day. Well do we remember its dedication, which took place Feb. 3, 1848, when the following gentlemen acted as the managers of the ball on that evening: F. W. Lincoln, Lyman Kinsley, James S. Shepard, Vernon A. Messinger, Ezra Abbot, Charles H. French, William Tucker, C. W. Marden, Uriah Billings, Oliver Deane, S. B. Noyes, Ellis Tucker, William Tucker, 2d, A. O. Sinclair, Alonzo Kinsley, J. Mason Everett. The name "Massapoag," which was given to the hotel at this time, has been retained to the present day. For some years, under the care of Mr. Stetson, it was a first-class country hotel. Many families came from Boston to spend
214
HISTORY OF CANTON.
the summer here; but after Stetson left it, it deteriorated, the smoke from the forge was in certain directions of the wind disagreeable, and it gradually descended from a second to a third class house of entertainment.
In the old hall have been held some of the liveliest politi- cal meetings that have been seen in a country town. For many years it was our only dance-hall; and here were wit- nessed the last of those old-time contra-dances, now gone by. No more the vision of Mrs. Sinclair as she "took the steps," or Nathaniel Bent as he cut the "pigeon's wing," will glad- den our eyes; but the recollections of the happy nights passed in the old hall will linger in the memory till time with us shall be no more.
At the southeast corner of Washington and Pleasant streets stood, during the Revolution, May's tavern. The old well, sixty feet deep, now covered by a large flat stone, may still be seen under the catalpa-trees, which were brought from Georgia. Before the days of the Aqueduct Company this well was used by the whole neighborhood, and a great trough furnished water to the thirsty horses. No trace of the house exists to-day; but its site is approximately fixed by a large black-heart cherry-tree, which still produces luscious fruit. To the traveller from Taunton and beyond, journeying toward Boston, May's tavern was a convenient stopping-place. There was no turnpike built until the first quarter of the present century; consequently nearly all travellers passed this house. As early as 1735 Nathaniel May was fined for travelling on the Sabbath Day; and as early as 1740 Samuel May had a shop on this corner. In 1747 Nathaniel May furnished the motive-power at the raising of the third meeting-house. In 1766, in the month of October, the selectmen dined there. Five of them paid for their dinner at five shillings per man, and four of them had "boles of tody" at five shillings per bowl, old tenor. Two years afterward Joseph Billings was fortunate enough to kill fifty-eight rattlesnakes; overjoyed at his success, he invited his friend, Joseph Hewins, to dine with him. The landlord of May's tavern presented him with the following bill: -
1
215
TAVERNS.
To 2 Dinners
O 9 0
" Rum
3
4
" Flip and other liquors
7 0
" Rum
I
8
£1. 0. 12.
The flip was delicious; and for fear the secret should be lost, we will reveal the mystery of its decoction. Four pounds of New Orleans sugar, four eggs, and one pint of cream were thoroughly mixed and allowed to stand two days; then when the anxious customers appeared, a quart-mug nearly full of beer was drawn, and four large teaspoonfuls of the compound put into the beer; then the loggerhead, well heated, was applied to each mug, then one gill of rum added to each mug; and the work, as far as the landlord was concerned, was completed. All that remained was to uncover, and drink the king's health.
Years passed by; the old sign still swung listlessly on its hinges.
" Oh, the days are gone when the merry horn Awakened the echoes of smiling morn, As, breaking the slumber of village street, The foaming leaders' galloping feet
Told of the rattling, swift approach Of the well-appointed old stage-coach."
The easy times of peace passed away; and as the select- men met at the tavern they had other matters to discuss than the larder or cellar. Nathaniel May was now "mine host; " and his tavern was designated by Captain Endicott as the place of meeting of the men of Canton who were willing to answer the alarm. Nor only this; but troops from the towns beyond stopped at the old tavern, and night after night every floor was covered with the recumbent forms of young volunteers.
In later years a singular incident happened in this old tav- ern. The house was at one time occupied by a lone woman, who, hearing some noise in the night, got out of bed, lighted a candle, and made a thorough search, as she supposed, for robbers. Finding no one, she went to bed and went to sleep.
216
HISTORY OF CANTON.
A few weeks afterward, a man was arrested for an offence committed in another town, and while confined in Dedham jail, confessed, among other matters, that he broke into May's tavern on that very night; that he heard the woman descend- ing; that he saw the light, and at once climbed up the yawn- ing kitchen chimney and sat upon the crossbar until all had become quiet.
In 1777 an advertisement in the "Continental Journal" informed the Stoughton friends of the soldiers in the army to the southward that if they would lodge their letters either at Mrs. May's tavern, in Stoughton, or at Mr. Randall's, in Stoughtonham, on the 8th day of January, 1777, and pay three shillings per letter, they would be duly forwarded to their destination by William Shurtleff, post-rider. When the news of the first alarm reached Stoughton there was as much excitement as at Canton. The men procured their arms and started for May's tavern, from which they marched to Boston.
This tavern was the resort of the early musical society. In 1766, on account of some difficulty, " the Singing Meeting at May's was broke up; " but the next year, March 9, 1767, there was a meeting of the singers at May's, " all differences were made up," and there seemed to be "great love and harmony." Here also were held meetings where great love and harmony did not prevail; such as meetings concerning the building of the schoolhouse in 1770, the draft in 1776, and the meeting of the Committee of Correspondence in regard to the Tories, and their trial, where Squire John Kenney presided.
After the death of Nathaniel May, April 18, 1774, his widow sold out her household effects, and Capt. William Bent became landlord in 1780. Luther May appears to have kept the tavern from 1800 up to the time when the nightmare carried him off, on the 12th of April, 1812. In 1807 a singing-school was kept at Luther May's, but "there were so few pupils that were like to make singers that they flung it up." The material consisted of Adam Morse, A. Kinsley, A. Upham, E. Pitcher, T. Wentworth, George Downes, Charles Taunt, Gideon Mackintosh, Dr. Stone, D. Leonard,
217
TAVERNS.
Eliza Carroll, Mary Billings, Sally Wentworth, Eliza Downes, Ruth Fisher, Polly and Ruth McKendry, Avis, Elizabeth, and Polly Wentworth.
From 1796 to 1812 all the school-district meetings of the Corner were held at May's.
In 1822 the old tavern was unoccupied. The following account of it at that time has been preserved : -
" I have been and examined Mrs. May's, and find it bad enough, in all conscience. The kitchen is poor and miserably old, with an antique fireplace, with the oven in the side, hard by the back. In one end is a place they call the bar ; but it is not unlike a small sheep-pen. The door opens into it directly from without, with a wooden latch ; the cracks on each side are sufficient to let in wind and weather ; one of the chambers is painted with skim-milk and Spanish brown, which gives it a very unique appearance. There are two small bedrooms under the roof, for I forgot to mention that it was a back lean-to house, in the style of sixty years since. These chambers are so near the roof that there would be no danger of falling out on the back side. Besides, I presume the house is not destitute of inhabitants, though human beings there were none."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.