USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > History of the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with family genealogies > Part 18
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James Hatch was a member of the first Board of Selectmen of Hanover. He and his father Jeremiah owned a large tract of land in this vicinity, mostly north of Indian Head river, which was allotted to them by the town of Scituate.
For nearly a century, this mill was used as a gristmill and saw- mill. In 1814, the old mills were torn down and a cotton factory erected, in which common cotton sheeting was woven. This bus- iness was prosperous for a while, but gradually decreased and but little was done after 1830.
After this, for a short time, Ezra Phillips manufactured shoe- pegs in this factory and in 1852 it burned. Soon after the burn- ing, Elijah Cushing erected a sawmill on the dam.
Some twenty years or more ago, Ezra Phillips & Sons bought the privilege, using the same as a reservoir for their factory below, and in 1889 they erected a tack-factory on the site, which they have
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since used in connection with their larger business at South Han- over. (Mr. Briggs will notice how liberally we have quoted).
In 1720, the town of Scituate granted to Capt. Joseph Barstow and Benjamin Stetson, two acres of land between Pine Hill and Rocky Run for the erection of a "forge and finery." Joseph Barstow had been part owner of the "old forge" at Luddens Ford.
Before constructing the works, Mr. Barstow conveyed to Thomas Bardin one-half of his share and Mr. Stetson conveyed to Nehe- miah Cushing one-half of his share; and these four persons con- structed the works before 1725.
The evidence of the facts stated will be found in a deed from Joseph Barstow to Thomas Bardin, dated 1725, and recorded with Plymouth Deeds, Book 20, Page 70; and also in a deed from Nehemiah Cushing to Thomas Bardin, dated 1728, and recorded with said deeds, Book 25, Page 68.
We quote quite freely from this latter deed, which was a con- firmatory one, and was given to take the place of a previous one, which was destroyed by fire. In this deed, Nehemiah Cushing conveys to Thomas Bardin one-fourth part of the new forge, land, and privilege. In this deed, he says that he had made a previous deed to Mr. Bardin, but the deed was in the dwelling house stand- ing on the granted premises, "when the house with the deed therein was burned to ashes, the deed not having been recorded." He also, in this deed, recites the fact that the forge was constructed by himself, Joseph Barstow, Benjamin Stetson, and Thomas Bardin. Joseph Barstow had died previous to this time.
Before 1730, Joseph Smith, Joseph Josselyn, and James Torrey, all of Hanover, seem to have each owned one-fourth part of this property.
In 1730, Joseph Smith conveyed to Elijah Cushing one-third of the new forge (Book 26, Page 32) and, the same year, James Torrey conveyed to said Elijah Cushing one-third part (Book 29, Page 30). Presumably these two deeds really conveyed but one- third of the property.
In 1739, Elijah Cushing owned one-half of this property, and he conveyed the same to Benjamin Bagnell, (Plymouth Deeds, Book 43, Page 74). Very likely Benjamin Bagnell reconveyed this to Elijah Cushing. The writer believes that Elijah Cushing was an important factor in these works until 1757, when, on Octo- ber 8th of that year, he sold to Josiah Palmer of Hanover one- fourth of the new forge, coal-house, dam and stream, and, on
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October 28th of the same year, Mr. Cushing conveyed to Joseph Woodworth one-half of the gristmill and one-half of two acres of land to the forge belonging. Also one-fourth part of the coal- house, dam and stream to the forge and mill belonging.
Very early, about the time the Iron Works were constructed, a corn-mill was erected on the Pembroke side of the stream, prob- ably by Isaac Buck,-and this mill was for a long time known as Buck's mill.
It has seemed proper to be thus explicit, that the pioneers in this work may be recognized.
Joseph Barstow and Benjamin Stetson were men prominent in the affairs of the town, as has been noted in another place. Mr Barstow died in 1728, at which time he owned but one-fourth part of this forge.
Nehemiah Cushing probably lived in Hanover, in that part which is now Hanson. He was an energetic man, and was early the owner of the Alihab mill.
Thomas Bardin was doubtless an excellent workman. He came to this country in 1716 from Wales, aged 28 years, and died in 1774. In speaking of his death, the Boston Evening Post of 1774 says that he "was the first that made bar-iron in New Eng- land." He resided on Broadway, in the house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Jane B. Reed. He was for many years a Select- man of the town. From records of marriages we take the follow- ing :- Sarah Bardin married Benjamin Barstow in 1729; Mary Bardin married Michael Sylvester in 1739; and Sage Bardin mar- ried Nathaniel Sylvester in 1742. Doubtless these were the daugh- ters of Thomas Bardin.
Barry and Briggs both say that Joseph Barstow's son and his grandson conducted the forge until after the Revolution. The writer believes that they could not have been the chief factors here between the years 1730 and 1760. Barry says, "As far back as the period of the Revolution quite a business was done at this forge in the manufacture of cannon balls, the iron being melted at an ordinary forge fire."
Briggs says that, in 1795, the property was sold to Robert Sal- mond and others, and that he had associated with him, for a long time, Nathaniel Cushing and for a shorter time, Charles Josselyn. It is certain that March 31, 1795, Joshua Barstow conveyed to Robert Salmond one-third part of the forge and anchor shop, gristmill and privilege.
Robert Salmond & Sons were, in 1813, "making some large
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anchors for the Frigate that is building at Charlestown." Mr. Salmond died in 1829, aged 80 years. During the last few years of his life, Thomas Hobart of Abington was a part owner in the forge, there being also on the premises at that time a tack-factory and cornmill, the latter probably being the original Buck's mill.
In 1828, Mr. Salmond sold his interest in the business to Mr. Hobart, and Mr. Hobart took into the firm John Sylvester, who had been employed there since 1825. At this time, they were- manufacturing anchors, bar-iron and tacks.
In 1837, this partnership terminated and Mr. Sylvester formed the Hanover Forge Company, which continued until 1853, when Edward Y. Perry, Ezra Phillips, and Martin W. Stetson formed a partnership under the firm-name of E. Y. Perry & Company, for the purpose of carrying on the tack business.
The building in which Ezra Phillips & Sons now manufacture tacks is substantially the same as when it was occupied by Mr .. Sylvester as an anchor forge.
Mr. Stetson retired from this business in 1856 or '57 and, in 1874, Mr. Perry also retired and the business was continued under the name of Ezra Phillips & Sons, ( Calvin T. and Morrill A.)
The firm-name here remains unchanged, although Mr. Ezra Phillips and his son Calvin T. have been dead now for more than twenty years. The firm, as now organized, consists of Morrill A. Phillips and Edward M. Sweeeny.
A remarkable fact in relation to this establishment is that in all its history there has been but one fire, and that the one previous. to 1728, when the small house which stood on the premises was burned.
Below the works last described, Jesse Reed erected, about 1812, a gristmill at the foot of a steep ledge, on the Hanson side of the Indian Head river, at its junction with Rocky Run brook.
This is a most picturesque spot. Mr. Calvin T. Phillips in his life time purchased the grounds bordering the Indian Head river here, in order that their natural beauty might not be destroyed, and his family now own them.
For power, Mr. Reed first erected a dam at considerable expense, a short distance above the mouth of Rocky Run brook; but this. proved defective, and he then erected one farther up the stream,. near the house of James H. Dwelley and constructed a wooden trough, a quarter of a mile in length, leading to his mill; the water being delivered through the roof of the building. Evidences of"
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the location of this trough are still visible. A cable led from the mill to the pond and, by working this at the mill, he could lift the gate at the pond and let on the water, or lower the gate and shut off the water.
This mill was not in service for a great while, and later, he constructed a dam across the Indian Head river a few rods above the gristmill aforesaid, and here he erected a tack and nail factory. This dam is still visible and tacks and other evidences of his work can be gathered here. About the same time, he constructed a dam in Hanover, near Indian Head river, over the brook which flows across Broadway, a few rods east of the South Hanover railroad station. This formed a small pond, but for what purpose it was used the writer does not know.
Before coming to Hanover, Mr. Reed invented or greatly im- proved the original tack and nail machine which was patented in 1802. This machine made the nails from rods. The next plan was to roll the iron to a suitable thickness, slit it into strips of the right size for the body of the nail, and flatten the point. The third step was for the construction of a machine for cutting and heading at one operation. On this machine a patent was obtained, but it was soon laid aside. A heading-machine was next con- structed, into which, after the nails were cut, they were fed by hand, but this was also laid aside.
While in Hanover, he perfected his Reed machine for making tacks, and he here put the same into operation. These machines have all the elements of the modern machines which are in use, wherever tacks are made.
Mr. Reed's inventions were not confined to nail and tack ma- chines. His mechanical genius is still recgonized.
Financially, Mr. Reed's operations in Hanover were not success- ful, but his work was for mankind and doubtless he was satisfied. He resided in our town for ten years, perhaps, when he removed to Marshfield. It is said that he sold his patent for cutting nails for $20,000. He was born in North Bridgewater in 1778, and died in Marshfield, March 22, 1867. He married Louisa Lindsay at Marshfield in 1851. At this time, Col. Reed was 72 years of age, and his wife 29 years old. By this marriage there were three children : Mary L., born August 9, 1853 ; Jesse, Jr., born August 18, 1855, died August 29, 1855; Jesse E., born January 17, 1857. (By his first wife, Hannah Howard, he had eleven children : Eliza- beth, Hannah H., Horatio G., Simeon R., Thomas, Harriet W., Mary, Ann M., Roxanna, George W., and Jesse, who died young).
TACK WORKS OF RODOLPHUS C. WATERMAN AT PROJECT DALE
GRAIN STORE AND OFFICE OF PHILLIPS, BATES & CO.
E. H. CLAPP RUBBER COMPANY
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MILLS, MANUFACTURES AND INDUSTRIES.
As we descend Indian Head river, we reach Project Dale, the most beautiful bit of natural scenery in town. The river runs between the hills, which clothed with forest to the water's edge, shut in a most romantic spot.
Here is now located the tack works of R. C. Waterman. The following is offered in evidence that this privilege became opera- tive about 1726 :-
In 1726, Nathaniel Josselyn sold to Joseph Smith one half acre- of land, partly in Scituate (now Hanover) and partly in Pem- broke, on both sides of Indian Head river, with the dam already constructed thereon, and Smith was granted full liberty to build. and ever improve a fulling mill thereon and use the water, as oc- casion may require; Josselyn reserving the right to erect a grist- mill for his own use or any other mill, not to hurt the fulling-mill, which latter mill was to have the right to use the water every Wednesday forever-On other days, when the water should be- scarce, Josselyn was to have the first right; when the water was plenty, both mills were to use it.
In 1728, Frances Josselyn, administratrix of the estate of Na- thaniel Josselyn, sold to Joseph Smith and James Torrey four acres of land with the dwelling house thereon, with one-third part. of a dam and all the timber already gotten for a gristmill, lying on Indian Head river.
In 1730, Joseph Smith of Hanover conveyed to James Torrey of Hanover four acres of land in Hanover, with a dwelling-house, shop, fulling-mill and mill-house with a dyeing-copper therein, and all other tools belonging to said mill, for carrying on the clothing and fulling trade.
About 1737, Thomas Josselyn came into possession of the prop- erty.
We have no means of knowing to what extent or for how long- a time the fulling or clothing-mill was operated, but the cornmill did useful service as late certainly as 1856; as, in a deed of the- property of that date signed by Bethia Mann and Nancy Hall, daughters of Nathaniel Curtis, the cornmill, as well as the tack- factory, was described. This cornmill was know at different times as Josselyn's mill and Curtis's mill.
Space forbids the enumeration of the different owners here; but. prominent among them were Joseph Stetson, Elihu Hobart, Na- thaniel Curtis, and Charles Dyer. Mr. Hobart purchased the- property in 1829 and erected the tack-factory, Mr. Dyer acting- as his agent for carrying on the works until 1839, when Mr.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Hobart formed a partnership with Mr. E. Y. Perry, and they continued together until 1850, when Mr. Perry took entire charge of the business.
George Curtis was the owner of the property in 1870, when he conveyed it to Lemuel C. Waterman, Rodolphus C. Waterman, and George P. Clapp, since which time the business has been car- ried on by them or by Mr. R. C. Waterman, the present owner.
The line of goods manufactured here has always been of the highest standard, Mr. Waterman now supplying the upholstery trade.
Below Mr. Waterman's factory stands the rubber mill of the E. H. Clapp Rubber Company. For more than 150 years, how- ever, this location was noted for its anchor industry, and we give briefly the history of manufactures here from 1693 to the present time.
It is quite certain that the earliest manufactory of iron ore was established here.
This spot was known as Luddan's Ford and a fine granite arch bridge now spans the stream.
In 1693, Joseph Curtis and Josiah Palmer, with their partners, Edward Wanton, William Perry, Thomas Stockbridge, and Joseph Bates, entered into an agreement "for erecting a saw mill on some part of the stream called Indian Head River, upon land of said Palmer and said Stockbridge, the same to be made and set up a little above the cartway that leads through said River upon our land, that is to say upon the land of said Palmer on the northeast side and on the land of said Joseph Stockbridge on the southwest side of said river, do hereby give and grant, for ourselves and our several heirs, so much of each of our lands adjoining to said River at the most convenient place for the same as shall be needed for the Pond, Dam, and "Ways Off" from and to the same; that is to say, we hereby grant, assign and make over unto ourselves and partners, that is to say, unto Edward Wanton, William Perry, Thomas Stockbridge, and Joseph Bates of Scituate, aforesaid,- the said Palmer and Thomas Stockbridge to carry on and have each of them one quarter part of said mill, and the said Wanton, Joseph Stockbridge, William Perry, and Joseph Bates to carry on each of them one-eighth part of said mill, which said owners and partners shall see cause thereto erect and make, and to have and to hold, etc., and we, the subscribers and partners, etc., do hereby covenant that no one of us shall sell or dispose of his respective
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MILLS. MANUFACTURES AND INDUSTRIES.
part of said mill or mills, but that he shall first proffer and sell the same to his fellow-partners, provided they shall give as much for the same as another person shall do."-Dated July 31st, 1693. -Probably at this date a saw and gristmill were built. As early as March, 1703, the Iron Works had been constructed, as at that time the Selectmen of Scituate laid out a highway, a transcript of a part of their location of the said highway being here given .- The full description is given under the Chapter on Highways. "A highway laid out at Indian Head River, beginning about one rod and a half below the horse bridge, at a sapling standing near the River, and thence about nine and one half rods to a stake and stone standing forty rods from the Iron Works, which way so far is through Josiah Palmer's land, and thence on the common land up to the coal-house, and thence turning northeast or something more northerly, as it now goeth until it comes to a white oak tree, -thence through the swamp as the cart-way now goeth up the hill and over the little brook to the cart-path leading to the Country Road, and as the cart-path now goeth until it comes to the Country Road that leads from Barstow's Bridge toward Hingham." This describes very carefully Elm street in Hanover and Broadway from the end of Elm street to the Four Corners.
June 22nd, 1704, the owners had erected the Iron Works here, as is shown by a deed from Josiah Palmer to his partners, by which he conveys one half an acre of land "for the use and benefit of the Iron Works and Mills that are or shall be set up on the Indian Head River where the Iron Works now standeth."
We have been thus explicit that due credit may be given the pioneers here. Dean and Barry both speak of these works as having been erected by Mr. Bardin. Thomas Bardin was born in 1688 and came to this country from Wales in 1716, and was less than fifteen years old when the evidence shows the works were con- structed. The shares in this property changed often.
In 1701, Thomas Stockbridge sold his quarter to Edward Wan- ton and Job Randall. In 1704, Edward Wanton sold his one- fourth to his son-in-law, Robert Barker, and, later in the same year, Job Randall sold his one-eighth to his son-in-law, Joseph Barstow, Jr. In 1707, William Perry sold his one-eighth to Joseph Barstow, Jr., also.
This Joseph Barstow, Jr., with others, constructed the forge and finery at South Hanover.
In 1708, Isaac Little purchased Josiah Palmer's one-eighth, and Joseph Stockbridge sold his part to Jabez Josselyn. In 1720,
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
"The Forge" is spoken of as "Josselyn's Forge," and, in 1721, as the "Old Forge," in distinction from the "New Forge" at South Hanover. In 1725, the Josselyns owned the major part of the shares and continued to own them until some time about 1790.
In 1791, this property came into possession of the Curtis family, Lemuel, Reuben, and Consider being for quite a long time the owners. George Curtis and Lemuel Dwelley were for a while associated as owners here. Lemuel Dwelley sold his in- terest to George Curtis in 1839, thus leaving him in possession of the property. Mr. Curtis carried on the works for thirty years thereafter, making anchors which ranged in weight from one thousand to ten thousand pounds each. During the War of the Rebellion, Mr. Curtis made a great many anchors for the Govern- ment. Many anchors were also made at these works in the early part of the nineteenth century, some of them weighing five tons.
The anchors for the old warship Constitution were forged here.
In 1873, Mr. Curtis sold the property to Eugene H. Clapp, who was at that time in company with his cousin, Fred W. Clapp, the latter dying in 1880. Their business was the grinding of all products which contained rubber "and the cleansing the ground product of its worthless material for the purpose of preserving the rubber, a substance which can be used over and over again."
They took the old buildings in the condition in which Mr. Curtis had left them and fitted them up for the new business.
In 1881, the factory building (The Old Forge) was entirely destroyed by fire. Mr. Clapp immediately constructed a much larger mill and repeated additions have been made until the present establishment covers several acres, partly in Pembroke. This business has for several years been conducted by the E. H. Clapp Rubber Company, which company was organized in 1892.
On the Pembroke side of this dam there originally stood a saw- mill and a gristmill, using a part of the power of the river, which drove the wheels of the forge. At one time also there was here a mill for carding wool.
Fire destroyed the gristmill and the forge in 1848. The saw- mill was in use when the property was purchased by E. H. Clapp for his rubber works. This old mill was owned at one time by George Curtis and Haviland Torrey. The carding-mill was built by Col. Jesse Reed, farther up stream, and moved down to this place.
This carding-mill now forms the ell of the house on Hanover street, where Thomas Damon resided.
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In 1723, Peter Collamer, Joseph Curtis, William Curtis, Samuel Curtis, Jr., Timothy White, Benjamin Stetson, Jr., Joseph Curtis, Jr., and Josiah Curtis entered into an agreement about the man- agement and improvement of a sawmill which they had lately erected. (See Book 17, Page 141 of Plymouth Registry of Deeds) . It is doubtful if Peter Collamer or Timothy White were ever resi- dents of the territory now Hanover. Probably all the others were. Timothy White owned the land which is flowed by the northerly part of the pond, and Peter Collamer, that land flowed by the central part of the pond, while Samuel owned that part which includes the southerly part of the pond and the mill yard.
This site has for nearly two hundred years been improved for sawing lumber, and the present mill is the fifth one which has occupied the premises, the two preceding the present one having been burned since the retirement of Deacon John Brooks.
The mill was for a long time improved by the Curtis family and later by the Brooks family, Joseph Brooks and Deacon John Brooks, the latter being perhaps the longest continuous owner.
It is now owned and occupied by Wallace Hackett, his father having owned it for a long time. Between the ownership of the Hacketts, father and son, it was owned and occupied by Albert G. Mann.
This mill was first known as Curtis' mill,-later as Brooks' mill, and now as Hackett's mill. When the mill was constructed the stream was called Burnt Plain brook.
Just north of the mill last described, Nathaniel Gill, Benjamin Mann, Jr., and Timothy White erected a mill on what is now Webster street. This was erected some time before 1754. (See deed from Nathaniel Gill to Benjamin Mann, Jr., dated 1754, and recorded with Plymouth Deeds, Book 42, Page 193). The brook on which this mill was erected was called Mathias brook. The dam is still plainly visible. This mill did service for many years, Caleb Mann being the last to improve it.
In the woods, a half mile west of Hackett's mill, Joseph Brooks, as early as 1820, constructed a shingle and box-board mill, and this was improved by Mr. Brooks as late as 1860. At one time Mr. Prouty polished the iron work for his ploughs here, this busi- ness being referred to in another place.
This mill occupied a most picturesque spot, as it stood sur- rounded on all sides by a forest, the trees being large and many of them a century old at least.
-
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
The Curtis family, probably Lemuel, as early as 1750 erected a gristmill on Hughs' Cross brook, west of Washington street.
This mill was in use for many years but was taken down about 1860. It occupied a picturesque spot.
Thomas Tindale now utilizes the water on this stream in con- nection with his cranberry bog.
We copy the following from the Church Records: "1767, June 27-(Died)-Lemuel, son of Lemuel Curtis, Sr., aged 14 years. Drowned in his father's mill pond."
There was at one time a small gristmill on Iron Mine brook, near the house of Alpheus N. Chamberlin. This was in use for a few years, but it could not have been a mill of great service.
WOOD WORKING.
The forests of Hanover cover one half of her territory. They have ever been a fruitful source of income. First, in supplying material for her buildings and fuel for her fires, and, secondly, in supplying the demand for her surplus wood; her pine logs to the Hingham coopers and the sawn boards to the trunk and box- makers of Boston, Norwell, Rockland, and other towns. Boxes and buckets were made in small quantities at Elihab's mill at an early date and probably in other places. There was, however, but little manufacture of boxes in Hanover previous to 1850.
.In 1845, by the Industrial Statistics of that year it appears that the value of the wooden ware manufactured in the town was only nine hundred and one dollars, and the value of such manufacture did not greatly increase until 1870.
During the year 1845, the statistics show that the lumber pre- pared (mostly sawn boards) was 453,583 feet, valued at $3,867. The principal market for this lumber was out of town. The num- ber of cords of firewood prepared for market during the year named was 906 cords, valued at $2,855.
In 1871, Edward Y. Perry, Ezra Phillips, and his brother, Lot Phillips, erected a steam-mill at West Hanover. This mill was equipped with machinery for sawing long boards, box boards and shingles, and for the manufacture of boxes.
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