USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with genealogical registers > Part 17
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* An eye witness to the scene testifies, that a third shot was fired ; but at the other barge which came to rescue the men of the first. Soon after the sails, water casks, &c. of the barge were picked up by the schooner Despatch of Duxbury, and carried into port. The barge was raised and towed into Plymouth on the afternoon of the same day. These affairs were the cause of a special deputation to the authorities at Plymouth on the part of the English commander, who sent a barge with a white flag to the town. The officer had an interview with Gen. Gooding, who agreed to return the barge, which gave ample satisfaction to the officer, whom they dismissed, having filled his barge with a large quantity of fresh provisions. When returning from Plymouth, they were met by a boat having on board Mr. David Turner and others of Duxbury, who held a short conversation with the British officer, who showed much feeling in regard to the outra- geous conduct, as he alleged, of the commander of the fort, expressing himself in strong terms, and declaring that he should be delivered to the exasperated fury of his men, should he be taken at any time. The officer of the fort, when informed of this shortly after, replied with perfect cool- ness, that " he would be a hard one to catch."
167
MARITIME AFFAIRS.
1814.]
- The schooner Despatch, owned by Nathaniel Winsor, Jr., Eliphalet Waterman and David Turner, and manned by Samuel Hunt, Noah Simmons, Joseph Prior and George Winsor (son of James, ) sailed from Duxbury about the 15th of July, 1814, and was captured at night on the following day by a barge from the Leander, and the prize sloop Rover, from the La Hogue, sailing in company. A transfer of their crews was made, those of the Despatch being placed in charge of the Rover, and ordered to follow the former. This they did for some time, using drags however to impede her progress ; but night coming on, they ventured to make their escape, and putting about for the Gurnet, they reached the harbor in safety, and the Rover was afterwards claimed by her rightful owners. The Despatch was then recovered by a series of cunning devices on the part of a single individual. After her capture, as above, she continued to cruise in the bay, and when near the Gurnet took a boat which was manned by Captains Matthew H. Mayo and Winslow L. Knowles,* whom they conveyed on board the flag ship Spencer, where they were kept three days, when they made an offer of $300 to ransom themselves and boat. Knowles was permitted to go to Boston, where he was advised by his friends and a certain naval officer to give up the scheme. After seven days Mayo was placed on board the Despatch as pilot, with three British officers and twenty men, with a brass four-pounder and other warlike implements. They were ordered to cruise in the bay; but after two days they experienced a severe north- wester, and were advised by Mayo to make a harbor under Billingsgate point. To make the schooner sail faster a portion of the ballast was thrown overboard, and Mayo hinted that it would be well to throw over more to make comfortable sleeping quarters. Being thus lightened, the schooner, as Mayo had expected, would not bear a sufficient press of canvass to reach the proposed harbor. Afterwards when ordered to anchor, he took occasion, while letting the anchor go, and just as the cook had called all hands below for dinner, to cut the cable nearly off with his knife. This
* These men belonged to Eastham, and had been to Boston with a load of rye, and having sold their cargo, and purchased articles for their own and other families, and exchanged their boat for a larger one were now returning home. The Despatch lie at anchor and apparently fishing and showing five men on deck. Suddenly a cannon was fired and the shot struck within fifty feet of the boat; but keeping on their course another was fired, which skipped over them, when they hove to, and were boarded and taken as in the text. Previously, however, Mayo had secretly thrown overboard his valuable spyglass to prevent its falling into the enemy's hands. Rev. Enoch Pratt's Hist. of Eastham, Orleans and Welfleet, 1845, from which the facts of the text are derived, as also from Soule's Sprague Memorial.
6
168
WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
[1814.
done, he followed the rest to the repast. In a few moments the schooner was observed to be rolling and tossing about, and some of the crew rushing on deck cried out, "She's adrift ! " Mayo pretended to be much alarmed and exclaimed "Pay out !" But it proved in vain, for the anchor itself was gone. He then hauled in the cable, carefully rubbing the end, that no mark of a knife might be seen. He next advised them to make a harbor to the leeward ten miles distant. The place selected was about three-fourths of a mile from his own door at Eastham, where he ran her ashore on the flats. The officers now began to suspect him; but he only assured them that they were on the outer bar and would soon beat over, and advised the men to go below that they might not be suspected by the people on the shore, who were fast gather- ing; and giving them a gimlet they tapped a cask of New England rum and soon became intoxicated. As the tide ebbed the schooner heeled, when the officers finding them- selves deceived, ordered their men on deck for resistance; when Mayo, throwing overboard the arms on deck, threat- ened to shoot any who should attempt his life. He had previously picked the lock of the first officer's writing desk, and secured a brace of brass pistols and secreted them under his jacket. Going on shore the authorities were notified of his circumstances, and the militia ordered out, and they took possession of the vessel and men, who were marched to Mr. Thomas Crosby's tavern, and placed under guard for the night; but they were removed on the next morning to a barn, and then permitted to escape to the ship. The commander of the station demanded of Eastham the sum of $1200 in specie, and if not paid in twenty-four hours, he threatened to destroy the town, which was then paid. The owners of the schooner afterwards obtained her of the Government officer, who claimed her for the United States .* - The schooner Thomas Hardy, belonging to Mr. S. A. Frazar, was captured in the early part of the war, and her crew were soon released. - A small boat, the Liberty, owned and commanded by Capt. Joshua Brewster, was taken by the Leander, and soon after Capt. Brewster was allowed to return in his own boat, under pretence of obtaining a ransom, and thus effected his escape. - A sloop called the Christopher Columbus, owned by Joshua Winsor, and commanded by Capt. John Winsor, while near the shore of Scituate, discovered an enemy's barge in full pursuit of them, from the harbor of Scituate, where they had been to fire the shipping. They then abandoned the sloop in
* The Despatch, as were other of the enemy's prizes, was often seen off the Gurnet in disguise, with chairs hanging over her quarter, as if trans- porting merchandize along the coast.
169
MARITIME AFFAIRS.
1814.]
a boat and made for the shore, when the British boarded her, and having fired her in her cabin, left her. The crew now again took possession and having extinguished the fire, pro- ceeded on their cruise. - The schooner Maria, owned by Nathaniel Winsor, Sen., and under the command of Capt. Joseph Fish of Duxbury, was taken, and carried into Hali- fax, and the crew afterwards returned home safe. Capt. Fish afterward performed three voyages in privateer David Porter, a large schooner of two hundred and six tons, and mounting eight guns, with one long 24-pounder. These of Duxbury also accompanied him in different cruises, - Capt. Charles Soule, prize master and boarding officer; Capt. Geo. Soule, prize master; Asa Weston, prize master and quarter master; Capt. Otis Baker; Nathaniel Holmes; Eden Wads- worth, and a brother of Capt. Fish. The David Porter was a fine sailing vessel, and owned in Boston. On the second cruise, proceeding from Fairhaven in the month of August, 1813, they soon fell in with, and captured, an English brig, and on the next day, they took a valuable prize, a large English ship, laden with hides and tallow; and soon after a British brig, with an American captain, and first officer, bound for Halifax, from Liverpool, having on board the rigging and anchors for a frigate building on the Lakes, and mounting herself four guns, which were thrown overboard. On the next day, they fell in with the English privateer schooner Pictou, and gave chase; but, however, soon perceiv- ing that they were gaining upon the enemy, they put about, as they were not in a proper state for an engagement, their guns being so blocked up with the captured commodities, that it would have been almost impossible to have worked them, and having accomplished their object in frightening her away, they shaped their course in another direction. One prize, a schooner which they captured, was afterwards lost by the artful designs of two English boys, who were on board. Soon after her capture, they transferred the English crew, with the exception of these two boys, on board their own vessel, and putting on board a prize master with six or eight men, they ordered him to make for the nearest port. Some wine, which was on board, having been too freely indulged in by the officers and crew, watching an opportu- nity, when the captain was prostrate upon the deck in an intoxicated state, and the remainder of the men, with the exception of the man at the helm, were carousing in the fore- castle, they suddenly locked them down, and one seizing a handspike, threatened the life of the other man if he attempt- ed any resistance, while the other bound the captain, hand and foot. And thus having taken the vessel, they carried her unharmed into Halifax. Capt. Fish after having taken five
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170
ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE.
[1815.
prizes in fifteen days, three of whom arrived safe in port, entered the harbor of Boston. Proceeding from this port on his third cruise, he shaped his course for the rock of Lisbon, and there fell in with and captured an English brig, bound for Trieste, and which was originally an American privateer. The English crew were taken out, and Capt. George Soule and a prize crew were put on board, and after a passage of seventy days, Capt. Soule made the American continent ; but unfortunately at this time, an English seventy-four hove in sight and took them. She was however afterwards recovered according to the treaty, for she happened to be re-taken after the declaration of peace; yet this was not accomplished with- out considerable expense. From the coast of Portugal, Capt. Fish went to South America, and after cruising with little success for some time, finally returned to New York, after the settlement of peace. Capt. Fish was an officer of great abilities, and his enterprizes were conducted with prudence and skill. He was afterwards lost at sea, and as he never was heard of, his vessel probably foundered.
The receipt of the news of the establishment of peace, which arrived late in an evening in February, was the occa- sion of much joy on the part of the inhabitants, and early on the following morning a salute was fired from the fort; and soon after a company of about seventy persons walked to the Gurnet on the ice, and spending here three or four hours in amusement, performing feats of agility and otherwise enter- taining themselves, returned in a body. On the next day salutes were fired again at the forts, at the Gurnet battery and at Plymouth.
171
HISTORY
OF THE
CHURCH OF DUXBURY.
1
FORMATION.
THE CHURCH OF DUXBURY was gathered about 1632, though they had not a settled pastor until some years after. Before this period, self-preservation dictated the policy which forbade the "erection of cottages remote from prompt protection ;" and we find the principal settlers of the suburbs of Duxbury town-dwellers (of Plymouth) in winter, that "they better repair to the worship of God." *
" In the year 1632, a number of the brethren inhabiting on the other side of the bay, at a place since called Duxborough, growing weary of attending the worship of God at such dis- tance, asked and were granted a dismission; and soon after, being embodied into a church, they procured the Rev. Mr. Partridge (a gracious man of great abilities, ) to be their pas- tor." Thus Duxbury appears to have been the second church in Plymouth colony. Previous to the settlement of their pastor, Elder Brewster, of the Plymouth church, who resided in Duxbury, assisted in the services.
REV. RALPH PARTRIDGE was the first minister, who was set- tled over the church in Duxbury in 1637. He had previously been a clergyman of the church of England, and had arrived at Boston on the 17th of November, 1636. The vessel in which he came had had a very boisterous passage, and was short of provisions.
* Their removal to Plymouth in the autumn was not required, however, a year or two after. Still, great precautions were necessary to insure their perfect security from the depredations of the savages ; and in 1634, we find that in the south-eastern part of the town, where Standish, Brewster, Pabodie, and others resided, a palisade was ordered to be erected beyond Eagle-nest creek. Among other considerations which prompted its erec- tion, doubtless was the defence which it would afford their cattle, and pre- serve them from the depredations of the Indians, to which they were greatly exposed. Their stocks were now considerably increased, and even as early as 1632, the Court had deemed it necessary to require that they should be confined in fenced pastures, and in 1638, it was considered desirable that an annual fair should be held at Duxbury, for the improvement of their cattle, and for the show of various commodities.
172
REV. RALPH PARTRIDGE.
[1637.
He soon came to Duxbury, at the invitation of the church, and was admitted a freeman on the 6th of March, 1637-8. In the same year he received a grant of forty acres to the southeast of North Hill, and also about this time bought land of William Basset and Francis Sprague in the southeastern part of the town; and in 1639 bought a house * of William Latham.
It would seem by the following record, in 1637, that the character of the settlers which were pouring into the newly established town did not agree in all respects with the feelings of the founders. " Upon peticon prferred to us by Mr. Partrich on behalf of the Church and neighbourhood of that side, wherein they shewed the danger of the disolution of their church estate, except the Court would bee pleased to consider their necessyty, and help them therein. That seeing the church of Plymouth now called home their members who held much lands on that side, and they being but few, and the lands there were desposed in a great part to servants and other yeong men, from whom they could expect little help, they humbly requested that such lands, as were yet ungranted betwixt the North and South rivers might be reserved for farms to such fitt men, as they should approve of, and might be fitt and help- full unto them. It was therefore granted unto them by the
* This was a two-story gambrel-roofed building, somewhat superior to the common habitations of the settlers. On the lower floor was the parlor, an ordinary room, carpeted however, and furnished in a manner which might be considered luxurious. Here in the centre was a round table ; and another, though of less pretensions, was placed against the wall. In the fire-place were the andirons and tongs, and against the wall hung a looking glass. In the corner was his staff and cane. Here was also kept the silver plate, and on the table was placed " his silver beer cup," which was re- tained in the family of his daughter Mary, as a family heir-loom. Three high chairs, and one wooden one, with two cushions, completed the furni-
ture of the room. Adjoining this was his study ; in the midst was a small table, and a desk, before which was placed a cushioned stool. Two book- cases were placed against the wall, one called his Latin case, wherein were arranged his library of about four hundred volumes. An old safe stood in the corner, and various kinds of personal apparel were scattered around the room. Next to this was another but smaller room, and on this floor was also the kitchen. In the cellar below were nine beer casks, affording, no doubt, abundance of the beverage to his visiting parishioners. In the second story was the parlor chamber, furnished with a valanced bed, and a cupboard of drawers, with a cloth upon it. The kitchen chamber had like- wise a bed. On each side of these was a small leanto chamber, having in them two beds, and one truckle bed. And above all was the attic. Near the house was his orchard, and a cow-house. His stock of cattle was four oxen, one bull, seven cows, two yearlings, two calves, two ewes, and two swine ; with also six hens and five chickens ; and a cart, plough, &c., con- stituted his farming implements. These items are given to show the state of the earliest inhabitants in their domestic situation. The above was the condition of the estate of Mr. Partridge at his death, as appears from the inventory. He died possessed of about 150 acres of land.
173
REV. RALPH PARTRIDGE.
1637.]
Court, that not any of those lands should be granted, but such as these foure, viz., Mr. William Collyer, Mr. Ralph Partrich, Jonathan Brewster and Willm. Basset should approve of as fitt for their societie." They feared, it seems, the dissolution of their church for want of support; the motley throng which would assemble there, if left entirely open and free, would not be able or willing to contribute to their aid; and they thus wished for measures to insure to them a congregation of men, which would be a benefit to the town.
1638. A. Sampson was presented to the Court, "for strik- ing and abusing John Washburn the younger in the meeting- house on the Lord's day."
1641. There were eight churches in Plymouth colony, eight in Connecticut, and twenty-three or four in Massachu- setts Bay.
1650. Edward Hunt fined for shooting deer on the Sab- bath. Abraham Peirce, for idleness and neglecting public worship.
1651. Nathaniel Basset and Jo : Prior were fined twenty shillings each, for disturbing the church; and at the next town meeting or training-day each to be bound to a post for two hours in some public place, with a paper on their heads, with their crime written thereon in capital letters.
1652. James Lindall, at his death, left to the church one cow and one calf. George Russell was fined for not attending church at Namasakeeset in the liberties of Duxbury.
1658. The church suffered a sad bereavement in the death of their beloved pastor, which occurred in the present year. And here it seems best to follow the words of Secretary Mor- ton, who, in recording his death in his Memorial, thus men- tions him :
" Mr. Ralph Partridge died in a good old Age, having for the space of fourty years dispensed the Word of God with very little impediment by sickness. His pious and blameless life became very advantageous to his Doctrine; he was much honored and loved by all that conversed with him. He was of a sound and solid judgement in the main Truths of Jesus Christ, and very able in his Disputation to defend them; he was very singular in this, that notwithstanding the paucity and poverty of his Flock, he continued in his Work amongst them to the end of his life. He went to his grave in peace, as a Shock of Corn fully ripe, and was honorably buried at Duxbury.
" In whose Remembrance, one who was a true Admirer of his worth, presented these at his Funerall :
" Not Rage, but Age ; not Age, but God's decree,
Did call me hence my Saviour Christ to see
174
REV. RALPH PARTRIDGE. [1658.
And to embrace, and from his hand receive My Crown of Glory : Oh who would not leave A flattering World, nay Friends, or what's most dear, The Saints' Communion that's enjoyed here, At once to have God, Christ, Saints, Angels, all, To make compleat, and sum our Joyes totall ? Now I behold God's Glory face to face ; Now I sit down with Christ, who've run my race ; Now I sing praise to God, and to the Lamb ; Now I Companion to the Angels am ; Now I behold with greatest joy my Sons And Daughters all ; I mean Converted ones, Which I was instrumentall in my place To bring to God, but all of his Free Grace. How am I changed ! that of late was weak, Above the force of Satan now to break ? How am I changed ! Son of Sorrow late, But now triumphing in my heavenly state. How was I vex'd with pains, with griefs molested ! How in a moment am I now Invested With Royal Robes, with Crowns, with Diadems, With God's Eternall loves ? Such precious Gems, He hath in Store for them his Saints that are ; For such indeed he counts his Jewels rare. Oh Brethren, Sisters, Neighbours, Country, Friends, I'me now above you : Hark to them God sends, As yet surviving in their worthy Charge, Whose work it is God's Vineyard to enlarge. God and my Conscience, your Experience knows, Whiles I was with you, I was one of those, That labour'd faithfully God's Vineyard in, Sowing his Seed, and plucking up of Sin. Now is the Harvest to my self indeed ; The Lord grant a supply of one to feed Your Souls with heavenly food, and one to lead In wayes of God, untill his Courts do tread. Next to God's love, my Flock, love one another, And next to Christ, preserve love to thy brother. Let ever precious be in your esteem God's holy Word, and such as slight it, deem Of Serpents brood : whatever they pretend, By no means to such Blasphemies attend. Decline all wanderings, lest from all you stray ; If stept aside, return in this your day : Keep close to God, so he that is Most High Shall you preserve as Apple of his Eye,
175
1658.]
REV. RALPH PARTRIDGE.
And give you peace, on Earth Tranquillity,
Mansions in Heaven to Eternity ;
Where we that Death doth for a time now sever,
Shall meet, Embrace, and shall not part forever.
" Run is his Race, And his work done ; Left Earthly place, Partridge is gone.
He's with the Father and the Son.
Pure joyes and constant do attend, All that so live, such is their End. Return he shall with Christ agen, To Judge both just and Sinful men. Rais'd is this Bird of Paradise : Ioy heaven entred breaks the ice.
Death under foot he trodden hath ;
Grace is to Glory Straitest Path,
E ver Enjoyes Love free from wrath."
His ministry was peaceful and happy. No jars served to disturb the quiet of the church, and his gentleness of spirit and meekness of heart brought upon him the affection of his people, and secured for him that name, which has been hand- ed to posterity as a token of holiness. The fanciful Mather in his Magnalia in giving the life of Mr. Partridge, thus wrote : -
" When David was driven from his Friends into the Wilder- ness he made this Pathetical Representation of his Condition. ' Twas as when one doth hunt a Partridge in the Mountains.' Among the many worthy persons who were persecuted into an American Wilderness for their Fidelity to the Ecclesiastical Kingdom of our true David, there was one that bore the Name, as well as the State of an hunted Partridge. What befel him, was, a Bede saith of what was done by Felix, Juxta nominis sui sacramentum.
" This was Mr. Ralph Partridge, who for no Fault, but the Delicacy of his good Spirit, being distress'd by the Eccle- siastical Setters, had no Defence, neither of Beak, nor Claw, but a Flight over the Ocean.
" The Place where he took covert, was the Colony of Ply- mouth, and the Town of Duxbury in that Colony.
" This Partridge had not only the Innocence of the Dove, conspicuous in his blameless and pious Life, which made him very acceptable in his Conversation; but also the Loftiness of
176
REV. RALPH PARTRIDGE.
[1658.
an Eagle, in the great Soar of his intellectual Abilities. There are some Interpreters, who understanding Church Officers by the living Creatures, in the Fourth Chapter of the Apocalypse, will have the Teacher to be intended by the Eagle there, for his quick Insight into remote and hidden things. The Church of Duxbury had such an Eagle in their Partridge, when they enjoy'd such a Teacher."
Mr. Mather then continues to speak of his connection with the Cambridge Synod of 1647, at which Mr. Partridge was the only delegate from Plymouth Colony, but whether he went at the instance of his church is not known.
"By the same token, when the Platform of Church Disci- pline was to be compos'd, the Synod at Cambridge appointed three persons to draw up each of them, A Model of Church- Government, according to the Word of God, unto the end, that out of those, the Synod might form what should be most agreeable ; which three persons were Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Mather, and Mr. Partridge. So that in the opinion of that Reverend Assembly, this person did not come far behind this first three, for some of his accomplishments.
" After he had been Forty Years a faithful and painful Preacher of the Gospel, rarely, if ever, in all that while interrupted in his works, by any Bodily Sickness, he dy'd in a good Old Age about the Year 1658."
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