USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Freetown > History of the town of Freetown, Massachusetts : with an account of the Old Home Festival, July 30th, 1902 > Part 14
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Know all men by these presents, that we, Ossamequin, Wamsitta, Tattapanum, Natives, inhabiting and living within the government of New Plymouth, in New England in America, have bargained, sold, enfeoffed and confirmed unto Captain James Cudworth, Josiah Winslow Sr., Constant South worth, John Barns, John Tesdale, Humphrey Turner, Walter Hatch, Samuel House, Samuel Jackson, John Daman, Mr. Timothy Hatherly, Timothy Foster, Thomas Southworth, George Wat- son, Nathaniel Morton, Richard Moore, Edmund Chandler, Samuel Nash, Henry Howland, Mr. Ralph Partridge, Love Brewster, William Paybody, Christopher Wadsworth, Kenelme Winslow, Thomas Bourne and John Waterman, the son of Robert Waterman and do by these presents bargain, sell, enfeoff and confirm from us our heirs, unto James Cudworth, Josiah Winslow Senior, Constant Southworth, John Tesdale &c., and they and their heirs, all the tract of upland and meadow lying on the east- erly side of Taunton river, beginning or bounded toward the south with the river called the Falls or Quequechand, and so
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extending itself northerly until it comes to a little brook, called by the English by the name of Stacey's Creek; which brook issues out of the woods, into the marsh or bay of Assonate close by the narrowing of Assonate Neck, and from a marked tree, near the said brook at the head of the marsh, to extend itself into the woods on a north easterly point four miles, and from the head of said four miles on a straight line southerly until it meet with the head of the four mile line at Quequechand, or the Falls aforesaid, including all meadow, necks or islands lying and being between Assonate Neck and the Falls aforesaid, ( except the land that Tabatacason hath in present use ) and the meadow upon Assonate Neck, on the south side of the said neck, and all the meadow on the westerly side of Taunton River from Taunton bounds round until it come to the head of Weypoyset river, in all creeks, coves, rivers, and inland meadow not lying above four miles from the flowing of the tide in, and for the consideration of twenty coats, two rugs, two iron pots, two kettles and one little kettle, eight pair of shoes, six pair of stockings, one dozen hoes, one dozen of hatchets, two yards of broadcloth and a debt satisfied to John Barnes which was due from Wamsitta, unto John Barnes before the 24th of December 1657, all being unto us in hand paid, wherewith we, the said Ossamequin, Wamsitta Tattapanum, are fully satisfied, contented and paid, and do by these presents exonerate, acquit, and discharge, ( Here all the grantees are again named) they and either of them and each of the heirs and executors of them forever. Warranting the here- of from all persons from, by or under us, as laying any claim unto the premises from, by or under us, claiming any right or title thereunto, or unto any part or parcel thereof, the said ( grantees ) to have and to hold to them and their heirs forever, all the above upland and meadow as is before expressed, with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging from us, Ossamequin, Wamsitta and Tattapanum, and every of us, our heirs, and every of them forever, unto them, they, their heirs, executors, ad- ministrators and assigns forever, according to the tenure of East Greenwich, in free soccage and not in Capite nor by knights' service. Also the said Ossamequin, Wamsitta and Tattapanum do covenant and grant that it may be lawful for the said (grantees ) to enter the said deed in the court of Plymouth, or in any other court of record provided for in such case, in and for
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the true performance whereof Ossamequin, Wamsitta and Tatta- panum have hereunto set our hands and seals this 2nd day of April 1659.
SEAL
WAMSITTA his x mark. SEAL -
TATTAPANUM her x mark. SEAL
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of
THOMAS COOKE. JONATHAN BRIGD. JOHN SASSAMON.
Ossamequin ( Massasoit ) never signed the deed. He died about 1662.
It was acknowledged June 9, 1659, by Wamsitta (Wamsutta or Alexan- der) and the squaw Tattapanum (Nanumpum or Weetamoe) before Josiah Winslow and William Bradford, assistants.
Wamsutta died in 1662, and Weetamoe his wife was drowned in Taunton river in August, 1676.
Captain James Cudworth, Constant Southworth Josiah Winslow Sr. and John Tesdall were chosen a committee to view and divide the land into twenty-six parts, according to their judgement of quantity and quality, and to dispose of the same by lot, each owner binding himself to rest contented with the portion falling to him. It was also agreed that the owner of the lot in which should fall the land Tabadascon has in present use for the Indians that keep the Ferry, and which has been reserved by the grantors, should allow it until further agreement was made with the Indians; and as an Indian called Pianto had asked to have three or four acres on some plain to plant during his lifetime, the owner shall agree and the land shall return to him after Piantos decease. Each lot was to run from the river to the ex- treme eastern bounds, and any one cut off from any portion of his lot by neck water or marsh was to be allowed free passage over the land of another.
In July 1682 the Court ordered that the inhabitants of the Freeman's land at the Fall River shall be a township having a constable and Grand Jury Man and henceforth be called Freetown.
A part of Tiverton, East Freetown, was annexed in 1747.
Fall River was set off February 26, 1803.
A part was annexed to Fairhaven June 15, 1815.
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COLONEL THOMAS GILBERT'S LETTER TO GENERAL RUGGLES. FREETOWN, April ye 5, 1775,
HONORABLE SIR:
I received your favor of the 31st of March. Nothing could animate the spirits of the friends to government to a greater height, than to have the approbation of the General. My son took a long boat and went to the man of war, and brought back a letter from Captain Wallis to the Admiral, which I send to your care by a poor man, which is the safest way that can be thought on at this critical time. I hear from Captain Wallis that he fears to venture up the river with his ship fearing there is not sufficient depth of water. A vessel of less force might answer the purpose. Except there be support by land or water there is reason to fear the friends of government will give out, for they are daily threatened with all kinds of punishments even with death itself. Last Monday the rebels mustered from Middleborough and Berkley and Swansea and Dighton and made up a hundred and forty in arms; marched by my house where was twenty five with the Kings' arms well loaded. I went out before my door told them they were a poor set of deluded rebels so they marched off without tearing down my house or killing me as the day before they swore they would do. I had the pleasure to see the Generals' letter to the Justices. I expect but little assistance from those out of town but if the General sends troops here they shall have houses of my own sufficient for them. We are in high expectation of seeing the day of their arrival, when we may hope to sleep without fear. There has been no act of violence since my last, except the three men were at Boston last week on their return were pursued at or near Raynham bridge, by a number of men, some on horseback but they took the bush and made their escape. My son and others say I have a thousand curses every day, but don't say the Lord hath part, but thank God I neither love nor fear them. Pray give my compliments to all true friends. I am your obliged. obedient and humble servant.
THOMAS GILBERT.
THE FIRST ACTUAL WAR MOVEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION.
On the 9th of April, 1775, ten days before the battle of Lexington, an expedition of minute men from the
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other towns in the county, principally from Attleboro, was formed to march to Assonet Village, to seize arms and munitions collected there by Col. Thomas Gilbert, and capture him and three hundred other Royalists said to be harboring there. Col. John Daggett of Attleboro commanded the expedition, which numbered upwards of two thousand men. Capt. Charles Strange, who then lived on the present town farm, saw the troops as they passed his house in the night. Col. Gilbert on learn- ing of the approach of the expedition took what he could of the munitions and with some of his followers went on board one of the English men-of-war at Newport.
Col. Daggett, after seizing the arms and ammunition left behind by the fleeing Tories, sent out scouting parties and without bloodshed, twenty-nine men who had signed enlistments in the colonel's company to join the King's troops were taken prisoners. "At Taunton in the after- noon the prisoners were separately examined, eighteen of whom made such humble acknowledgements of their past bad conduct, and solemn promises to behave better for the future, they were dismissed; but the other eleven, being obstinate and insulting, a party were ordered to carry them to Simsbury Mines, but they were sufficiently hum- bled before they had got fourteen miles on their way thither, upon which they were brought back the next day, and after signing proper articles to behave better for the future, were escorted to Freetown."
The foregoing quotation is from a Boston letter that was published in the Essex Gazette of Salem, April 18, 1775.
THE BATTLE OF FREETOWN.
The Battle of Freetown was fought near the southern boundry of the town on Sunday, May 25, 1778. About one hundred and fifty English soldiers, under the com- mand of Maj. Ayers, came up Mount Hope Bay in boats in the night and landed near where the Quequechan river empties into it. The English soldiers occupying the south
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part of Rhode Island, and the English sailors from the ships hovering off our coast were constantly committing depredations and harassing the people living on the main land, destroying their property and often making prisoners of them. Col. Joseph Durfee, a brave and patriot citizen, who had already served as an officer in the American Army, and who had taken an active part in the battle of White Plains, had returned home. Finding his fellow citizens in dire distress and exposed to the depredations of the enemy, he obtained from Gen. Sullivan at Providence permission to raise a guard for their protection. He established a guard house on the shore near what is now the foot of Central St .. Fall River. Before daylight on the date above mentioned, Samuel Reed, the sentinel, discovered a boat stealthily approaching the shore. His challenge not being answered, he fired his musket. The guard thus alarmed formed behind a stone wall and gave battle. The enemy, having a cannon opened with grape shot. Col. Durfee with his men retired slowly up the hill until they reached a bridge that crossed the stream near where the city hall of Fall River now stands. Here he made a determined stand, and so valiantly was he supported by the loyal volunteers of old Freetown and Tiverton, who had rallied around him, that the enemy soon sounded the retreat. They took away their wounded but left one dead and one dying soldier on the field. When the enemy landed they burned a new house, a saw-mill and a grist-mill that be- longed to Thomas Borden. On their retreat they set fire to the house and other buildings of Richard Borden, an aged man, and took him away prisoner. Col. Durfee fol- lowed closely with his men, who kept up an annoying musketry fire upon the retreating troops. He also saved the latter burning buildings from destruction. One Eng- lish soldier was killed after they had taken to their boats. Hoping to stop the firing by our men they ordered Mr. Borden to stand up in the boat, where he could be recog- nized. This he refused to do, and threw himself flat on
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the bottom of the boat. When questioned he positively refused to give any information to the enemy. After a few days they released him on parole. The two English soldiers that were killed were buried at mid-day near where they fell. Our brave band of patriots suffered no loss. Twenty-five years later that part of Freetown where the battle was fought was incorporated as the town of Fall River. Col. Joseph Durfee at one time owned and lived in the house on Water street, Assonet Village, now occu- pied by Mrs. Daniel Johnson. He was the grandfather of our late honored fellow citizen, John Durfee Wilson.
BRISTOL COUNTY.
Bristol County, established in 1685 when Plymouth Colony was divided into three counties, now contains about six hundred square miles of territory. Originally it also embraced the towns of Tiverton, Little Compton, Bristol, Warren, Barrington and Cumberland, R. I. Bristol was made the county town much to the displeasure of Taunton. It was in 1746 that the above mentioned towns were made a part of the state of Rhode Island. The county kept its original name and Taunton was made the county or shire town. In 1828, after much controversy over the matter, New Bedford was made a half-shire town. At one stage of this controversy there was a fair prospect that Freetown might be made the shire town as a compromise. In 1877 the justices of the superior court were authorized by statute to adjourn any of the terms of that court to Fall River, where a court house and jail have since been built, and a Registry of Deeds established. There are now three cities and seventeen towns in the county, only five of which, Taunton, Rehoboth, Dartmouth, Swansea and Freetown were in existence when the county was formed. Norton, Mansfield, Dighton, Berkley, Raynham and Easton were formerly a part of Taunton; Attleboro, North Attleboro and Seekonk a part of Rehoboth; New Bedford, Acushnet, Fairhaven and Westport a part of Dartmouth. Somerset
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was set off from Swansea, and Fall River from Freetown. The population of the county by the census of 1900 was 252,029, a gain of 33,000 since the census of 1895.
The first settlement in the county was within the limits of Taunton. Bog iron ore is found in several localities notably in Freetown, where it was once extensively dug and worked.
The territory embraced in the county was formerly largely occupied by the Wampanoag. Pocasset and Nemas- ket Indians, who were ruled over by Massasoit who died in 1661, leaving two sons, Alexander or Wamsutta who died in 1662, and Philip or Metacomet who died in 1676.
POPULATION OF FREETOWN.
The population of Freetown in the year 1765 was 1492; in 1776, 1901 ; in 1790, 2202; in 1800, 2535 ; in 1810, 1878 ;- Fall River was set off from Freetown in 1803-in 1820, 1863 ;- A part of Freetown was annexed to Fairhaven in 1815-in 1830, 1909; in 1840, 1772: in 1850, 1615; in 1860, 1521; in 1870, 1372; in 1850, 1329; in 1890, 1417; and in 1900, 1394.
It will be noted that there was a steady increase in population in the territory now called Freetown up to and including the census of 1830. Undoubtedly the decline in population in the town commenced with the advent of railroads in the county, or about the year 1835, as they at once diverted the freight traffic from the smaller rivers, and the towns located on them, to such places as had con- veniences for reshipping by rail.
VALUATION OF FREETOWN, 1831.
Polls 363, dwellings 220, barns 158, shops 30, tan houses 4, warehouses 2, saw mills 9, gristmills s, carding mills 1, fulling mills 1, other mills 1, iron works and fur- naces 5, other buildings 19, tonnage 854, superficial feet of wharf land 26,720, acres of tillage land 604, mowing land 971, fresh meadow 207, salt marsh 90, pasturage 2303,
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woodland unenclosed 1706, unimproved land 8343, unim- provable land 752, land in roads 270, land under water 81 acres.
Horses 94, mules 5, oxen 214, cows 315, steers and heifers 333, sheep 985, swine 242.
Bushels of corn raised 55+7, rye 885, oats 218, barley 50, tons English hay cut 589, fresh hay 135, salt hay 87 1/2.
Stock in trade $14,705. Money at interest $20,199. Money on hand and on draft $2842.
Bank stock $21,300. Total valuation $302,675.
VALUATION OF FREETOWN, 1861.
Polls 372, dwellings 287, barns 213, shops 9, tan houses 1, warehouses 16, saw mills 3, gristmills 4, other mills 4, cotton factories 1, spindles 150, woolen factories 1, cards 2, bleacheries 1, tool factories 2, small arms fac- tories 1, nail and tool machines 20, other works and buildings 142, tonnage 464. Acres of tillage land 560, orchards 205, mowing land 1092, woodland 12,276, land under water 124. Tons of hay cut 848, cords of wood cut 1014.
Number of horses 147, oxen 26, cows 314, steers and heifers 176, sheep 355, swine 292.
Stock in trade $11,350. Money at interest $69,384. Money on hand and on draft $21,214.
Bank, railroad and insurance stocks $85, 141.
Value of real estate $473,049. Value of personal estate $351,102. Total valuation $824,151.
Amount raised, including highway tax, $6066.19. Rate of tax $6.50 on $1000.
Tax on polls, highway 58 cents and in money $1.50.
Total number of acres of land taxed 20,482. Acres of land in the town, by special survey, 24,975.
VALUATION OF FREETOWN, 1902.
Polls 365, dwellings 385, grist mills 1. bleacheries 1, small arms manufactories 1, other buildings -, tonnage none. Acres of land taxed 21,571. Horses 275, cows 228,
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oxen 20, steers and heifers 60, sheep 25, swine 63, fowl 2235. Real estate $693,670, personal estate $114,535, total valuation $sos,205, amount raised $10,970, rate of tax $12.70 on $1000, poll tax $2. Miles of highway in the town 67, dogs licensed 125, births 33, marriages S, deaths 19.
FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.
Job Winslow's yeare marks for his cretures is a hole in the right yeare and a slot in the left yeare.
At a legal town meeting at the public meeting house July the 7, 1777, the town of Freetown voted to set up a salt works at or near Boomer's Cedars. Stephen Borden, Jonathan Read and Benjamin Davis being appointed a committee to carry on the said works.
July 22, 1780. Salt works sold at auction for one year to Joseph Winslow for 10 Bu. salt to be paid in the fall.
NOTE. - Boomer's Cedars were near the present location of the Mechanics Mills, Fall River.
EAST FREETOWN.
East or New Freetown, formerly a part of Tiverton, was annexed to West or old Freetown in 1747. The easterly line of the freemen's purchase was the line that divided old Freetown on the east from that part of Tiver- ton. For a time two tax books were kept by the assessors. One for "New Freetown not including the District of Slab Bridge," and one for " Old Freetown including the District of Slab Bridge."
East Freetown on account of its balmy atmosphere, shady drives and beautiful ponds, which afford excellent boating, bathing and fishing, is fast becoming a popular summer resort. The visitors come from New Bedford, Taunton, Boston, Providence, New York and other places. The local settlements are Pleasantville, Beach Bluff, Round Hill, Cleveland Park and Morton Park.
EARLY TRANSPORTATION.
The state house at Boston and the Congregational Church at Assonet, are both on the same meridian, Boston
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horas as soured Complaints: Las loommato made of ourall Strangeindian which hunt within the town of free townrokishindians bolongoth to other towns which indians. Comosand hunts withouttoque no the inhabitants of fratown for the morcondorly huntingly invians
Do things are agre that no Indian inhabiting in any xisforensey buthod frayine unaf anou yra fury pays uneet rope
ilings areason and when so he has pay od saisum ko shall kan aticket sixof grayuneft to hans man & wo yut que hus the ghan wages toft tuny go who when he is questioned shall produto lis ticket under god winsle
and allso ordensI also to give tithots unto surhets
and it is further agrid upon that if any indian or indians shall prosty busquets your you jung any of the inhabitants gay hold and isoruro his gun and trop it in his Guestity I ho has born with the rolostor and has agreed with him
up. my of fl range of any want indian shall pay him that that has sorurod the gun throw shitings Ris trouble a in haus his gun again and not bofors
of
THE HAND-WRITING OF JOHN READ, JR , TOWN CLERK. FAC-SIMILE OF AN ENTRY IN THE FREETOWN RECORDS
being 40 miles due north of the villiage by post road, and 45 miles by railroad. Before the advent of railroads a four horse passenger and mail coach passed through the village having connections at Fall River and Taunton for other important points. Baggage wagons also ran between New- port and Boston once or twice a week. Rufus B. Kinsley, the founder of Kinsley's express, was the proprietor of both lines, and drove one of the coaches. There was also a stage coach line from New Bedford to Boston that passed through East Freetown. The stage left New Bedford every Tuesday morning, arriving at Taunton in the even- ing. The passenger fare was three pence ( six cents ) per mile.
LATER TRANSPORTATION.
The owners of the Fall River railroad, which was opened to Myricks in June 1845, and extended to South Braintree in 1546, desired to run along the east shore of the bay, and cross the river on a draw bridge near Bass Rock Point. The survey then ran up what is now Pleasant Street to Porters' pasture, thence out by the Tripp farm. This being objected to by the shipping interests, they pro- posed to strike the river near Lawtons' wharf run along its east bank, and cross Elm Street near Phillips' barn. A third survey crossed High Street near the pound, and Elm Street near the residence of George Clark. These locations also being strongly objected to, they declared they would get as far away from the village as possible. They did so, they went well up on the side of Break Neck Hill. The grade at the curve just south of the Assonet Station is said to be seventy feet higher than at the wharf station in Fall River, and to be the highest point above tide water between Fall River and Boston.
The opening of this railroad to Myricks gave Assonet Village a route to Boston and Providence via the New Bedford and Taunton railroad running through East Free- town, which was opened in 1540, the Taunton Branch rail-
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road running from Taunton to Mansfield opened in 1836, and the Boston and Providence railroad opened in 1835. The extension of the Fall River railroad to South Braintree gave the village a second route to Boston, via Middleboro and Brockton, and the building of the road from Somerset Junction to South Braintree a third route, via Taunton and Randolph. There is little choice in these routes as regards distance. The railroad stations in the town are East Free- town, and Braleys on the New Bedford road, and Assonet and Crystal Spring on the Fall River road. The morning train to, and the evening train from Boston will stop at Terry's on signal. An electric railway from New Bedford to Middleboro, passing through East Freetown was built in 1899. A franchise has been granted for an electric road from Fall River to Taunton, via Assonet and Berkley.
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
Soon after the opening of the Fall River railroad a freight train ran off the north end of the turn out at the Assonet station, ditching the locomotive and several freight cars. No one was injured.
On account of a washout at the time of the freshet in 1886 a train of empty coal cars plunged into Hopping Paul Brook, killing the fireman.
Before daylight October 26, 1860, the two rear passen- ger cars of the steamboat train from Fall River to Boston, which was running very fast at the time, left the rails at the Forge crossing and were dragged over the sleepers some distance, when the rear car struck a wood pile and was thrown on its side. In this position it was dragged about thirty rods further. This car contained thirty-five passengers. None of the passengers were killed, but sev- eral were severely injured, including a seven years' old child and a Mrs. Drinkwater, who had her left arm wrenched off at the shoulder, and her right arm dislo- cated. The late Gov. John A. Andrew was a passenger on the train, he having been to Fall River to speak at a
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political meeting the night before. The cause of the acci- dent was the breaking of a rail that spanned a small cul- vert at the Forge crossing.
There was a smash-up of freight trains on the New Bedford railroad between East Freetown and Braleys stations, about the year 1886. No one was injured.
GOOD ROADS.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1902, an appro- priation was made and a committee chosen to purchase a stone crusher, with a view of improving the condition of the roads in the town.
The State Highway Commission allotted five thousand dollars of the state's appropriation, for the building of a state road in East Freetown, from the New Bedford to the Lakeville lines, on the county road, a distance of three and one-third miles. The stone crusher after its purchase was located there, and during the season about one mile of the road was built. For the season of 1903, the State Highway Commission has allotted $6500 for the continua- tion of this work.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1903, $1000 of the town's appropriation of $2500 for highways, was allotted for the building of a macadam road from the East Freetown road station towards the county road provided, however, that the citizens of East Freetown raise $500 by subscrip- tion for the same purpose.
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