USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts > Part 22
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264
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1874
PUBLIC LIBRARY
most of the books had disappeared and the organization was virtually extinct. Some time after 1870 the question of hav- ing a town library began to be discussed, and at a town meet- ing held on the 19th of September, 1874, it was voted to estab- lish the Middleboro Public Library, and to choose a board of nine trustees, who were to serve without compensation. Their duties were to select books and properly organize such a library as would be of service to the inhabitants of the town. About a year was spent by the trustees in obtaining books from dif- ferent sources, in making a catalogue, and in properly arrang- ing them for the convenience of the public. The library was formally opened September 27, 1875. The trustees succeeded in collecting many of the volumes which had formerly belonged to the old Social Library, as well as a few books from the Middleboro Agricultural Library, organized in 1860. They also received books from Peirce Academy and from the Young Men's Christian Association, which at that time had been abandoned. Many of the citizens of Middleboro contributed liberally either in books or in funds for this purpose.
265
LIBRARIES
1904]
Upon its opening, there were about two thousand volumes, some of them of rare value. It was first located in the north corner room of the town hall. After the erection of the high school building in 1886 and 1887, the library was moved to the rooms formerly occupied by the school, and in March, 1904, to the new building. During the first year of its organi- zation, in addition to the appropriations of the town, money was raised by contribution, public lectures, and other means. In 1899 the sum of $10,000 was received as a bequest from the will of the late Enoch Pratt of Baltimore, the income of which is used for its support. By the generous provision in the will of the late Thomas S. Peirce, a large and commodi- ous building has been erected upon North Main Street upon the site of the old garden of its liberal benefac- tor, who bequeathed the sum of $50,000 THOMAS SPROAT PEIRCE for that purpose. It is of brick and stone, with a large read- ing-room, a young people's room, and rooms for the trustees, besides the delivery and stack rooms for books. There are about twelve thousand volumes in the main library, and the stack-room is planned to contain sixty thousand. Another legacy by the same donor gives $50,000 for the purchase of books and periodicals.
The officers of the library have been as follows : -
Presidents : William H. Wood, 1874-75 ; William R. Peirce, 1875-95 ; Calvin D. Kingman, 1896 to present time.
Secretary and Treasurer : Joseph E. Beals, 1874 to present time.
266
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1704
Librarians : N. Josephine Bullard, 1875-83 ; Charles M. Thatcher, 1883-84; Adelaide K. Thatcher, 1884 to present time.1
NEWSPAPERS
We have spoken of the taverns as news centres, where the gossip of the town was learned, and where tidings from the outside world were brought as travellers stopped to rest. In the olden time this social intercourse was the usual method of disseminating news.
The printing of newspapers belongs to the nineteenth cen- tury. The first one in America, "Publick Occurrences," which appeared September 25, 1690, was discontinued shortly after its publication. Soon a paper was issued weekly in Phila- delphia, but in Boston the first daily, "The Boston News- Letter," was published April 20, 1704. This was printed on two pages of large folio sheets, the other two pages being blank so that letters could be written on that side; a bit
1 The following have been trustees : -
William H. Wood, 1874-82.
William R. Peirce, 1874-96.
George Brayton, 1874-97, and 1898 to present time.
Abner L. Westgate, 1874-86.
Joseph E. Beals, 1874 to present time.
James M. Coombs, 1874-1900.
W. Clarkson Ryder, 1874-77.
Willard T. Leonard, 1874-75.
N. F. C. Pratt, 1874.
Noah C. Perkins, 1875-80.
Edward S. Hathaway, 1876 to present time.
Everett Robinson, 1877-97.
Warren H. Southworth, 1881 to present time.
James H. Willoughby, 1883-86.
Amos H. Eaton, 1886-88.
Calvin D. Kingman, 1887 to present time.
Andrew M. Wood, 1889 to present time.
Nathan Washburn, 1896 to present time. Millard F. Johnson, 1897 and 1898.
David G. Pratt, 1899 to present time.
Warren B. Stetson, 1900-03.
Kenelm Winslow, 1903 to present time.
267
NEWSPAPERS
1852]
of economy and convenience much appreciated by merchants and business men, who could thus send public news with pri- vate messages. Soon other papers were printed, so that there were one thousand two hundred and fifty-eight published in this country by 1835, the year in which Middleboro's first paper appeared.
Although there had been a printing-office in East Middle- boro before the Revolution, from which almanacs, hand-bills, and small pamphlets had been issued, there seems to have been no newspaper in town until about the year 1835, when the "Old Colony Democrat," which had been published by Benjamin Drew, Jr., in Plymouth, was moved from that place to Middleboro Four Corners. Mr. Drew was an able editor, and a business man of sagacity, but for some reason the paper was not a success and was discontinued. About this time Benjamin Crandon began the publication of a small weekly paper, called the "Essay and Literary Journal," which was not long-lived.
In 1852 Mr. Samuel P. Brown edited the "Namasket Ga- zette," a small weekly printed on a sheet seventeen by twenty- four inches. For a country paper devoted especially to local news, it obtained quite a circulation, when in 1854 it was sold to Rev. Stillman Pratt, who changed its name to the " Middle- boro Gazette and Old Colony Advertiser." Mr Pratt was a re- tired clergyman of literary taste and culture. Under his charge the paper gained a wide reputation for the number of histori- cal communications relating to the early history of Plymouth Colony, and particularly relating to historic matters of the town. These communications were from Granville T. Sproat, General Ebenezer W. Peirce, Benjamin Wilder, and others. Mr. Pratt continued as editor and proprietor for about ten years, and at his death the paper passed into the hands of his son, Stillman B. Pratt. In 1869 he sold it to Mr. James M. Coombs, who enlarged it and changed the name to " Middle- boro Gazette." In August, 1894, the paper was purchased by Lorenzo Wood and Wallace Tinkham, who, in connection with this, publish the "Wareham Times."
268
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1770
In 1881 the growth of the town had become such that it was thought two newspapers could be well supported, and Mr. H. H. Sylvester published the " Middleboro News," which in 1901 was enlarged and issued semi-weekly. As an organ of the Republican party it has an extensive circulation, and is now owned and edited by Marcus M. Copeland.
POST-OFFICES
The early method of sending and delivering letters was rather precarious. In the colonial days before regular post- riders were appointed, letters were carried by chance travellers on horseback. In 1673 the first regular mounted post started from New York to Boston, but it was many years before the smaller towns had any service. In 1773 one Hugh Finlay was appointed postal surveyor from Quebec to St. Augustine. He reported carelessness as to mails and delivery ; letters were often left in tavern tap-rooms to be pulled over by any and all loungers who frequented these places, and were thus lost. The early post-riders and stage-coaches plying between Boston and New Bedford and Plymouth, later by way of Taunton, would leave letters and chance papers and parcels at Weston's, Sproat's, or Foster's (Sampson's Tavern).
A law was passed forbidding the carrying of letters by pri- vate messenger, as the postmaster's salary was paid according to the number of letters he carried. But these post-riders were chief offenders, carefully pocketing any money paid for postage, and carrying all way-letters at their own profit. No one would complain, lest he offend these petty officials ; it was part of the revolt of the colonies against the oppression of England. Bundles could be carried free by private persons, and to avoid any possible government detection letters were bound up in bundles. The stage-coach between Boston and New Bedford, driven by Rufus Godfrey, passed and stopped at the various taverns along the road : in Dorchester, at one kept by Mr. Eaton, next at Quincy, at Newcomb's Tavern, then through Weymouth, where there were two taverns, to
269
POST-OFFICES
1804]
Abington which boasted three, and on to the two taverns at Bridgewater. The last stop, before reaching New Bed- ford, was at Sampson's in Lakeville. The advertised route was : -
"New Bedford stage sets off from Waltons and Gales Broom- field Lane [Bromfield St., Boston] Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at 4 a. m. and arrives at New Bedford at 4 p. m. leaves New Bedford, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at 5 a. in. and arrives in Boston at 4 p. m."
In winter and stormy weather the journey took a longer time.
The first post-office of Middleboro was established about the year 1804, the office being not far from the present town house in Lakeville. It was a distributing office, and mails were left to be sent to the adjacent towns; the mail was usually carried on horseback. The rules of the post-office give the fol- lowing as the rates of postage : -
For a single letter, 40 miles 8 c IO C
90
150 66 12} c 300
17 C
500
20 C
and over 500
25 C
Magazines and pamphlets, not over 50 miles, I cent per sheet ; over 50 miles and not exceeding 100, I} cent ; over 100 miles, 2 cents.
Letters were enclosed in a bag, called a " post mantle," which could be carried on horseback or in the coach. They were usu- ally written upon one sheet, folded without an envelope, and addressed on the outside ; for a letter of two sheets, the post- age was double these rates.
In 1816 this tariff was changed by Congress, -a single letter carried not over thirty miles cost six and one-quarter cents, etc. Newspapers under one hundred miles or within the state where published, one cent, etc. A new tariff rate was adopted in 1845, another in 1855, and another in 1872.
270
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1824-46
The first postmaster was James Washburn, a lawyer, who was then in practice in that part of Middleboro. The post- office continued at this place until 1811, when it was moved to the Four Corners.
In 1893 the system of appointing the postmaster's assist- ants by civil service examination was inaugurated, as was the free delivery of mails. In 1902 the rural districts were in- cluded in the delivery.
POSTMASTERS
James Washburn, Cyrus Keith, John Smith, Levi Peirce, Allen Shaw, Levi Peirce (second term), Allen Shaw, Jacob B. Shaw, Sidney Tucker, Andrew L. Tinkham, Charles W. Tur- ner, Augustus M. Bearse, Thacher B. Lucas, and Augustus M. Bearse (second term)
In 1824 an office was reestablished in that part of Middle- boro now Lakeville, under the name of the Assawampsett post-office. Captain Daniel Smith was the first postmaster, and was succeeded by Elias Sampson, Jr. In 1831 the name was changed to the West Middleboro post-office, and the office was discontinued about the year 1846.
In 1833 a post-office was established at Eddyville known as the East Middleboro post-office. The first postmaster was W. F. H. Weld. He was succeeded by Andrew B. Cobb, Nathaniel Eddy, Joshua M. Eddy, Anna C. Eddy, and William Pratt.
In 1821 a post-office was established in Titicut, officially known as the North Middleboro post-office. Jared Pratt was first appointed postmaster, but was soon succeeded by Isaac Pratt, February I, 1821. He was succeeded by George Pick- ens, Jr., Rev. Philip Colby, Dr. Morrill Robinson, Solomon White, Nathan W. Pratt, Percy W. Keith, and Lucy H. Pratt.
In 1846 an office was established in the southern part of the town, known as South Middleboro post-office. C. LeBaron was appointed postmaster in 1846. He was succeeded by Chandler R. Smith, Nathaniel Sears, Simeon D. Wilbur, John S. Benson, James M. Clark, and E. H. Gammons.
27I
POST-OFFICES
1849]
In 1849 the Rock post-office was established. Israel Smith was appointed the first postmaster, and served until October, 1889. He was succeeded by John Q. Morton, Harvey N. Atwood, Herbert L. Cushman, Clarence L. Cushman, and Joseph L. Turner.
CHAPTER XVII
FOUR CORNERS
N the diary of Miss Rebecca Scollay we find many entertaining pictures of Middleboro life, and the places with which she was familiar. A quotation from this may help us to imagine the Four Corners of long ago.
" I remember my first visit to where is now the village of the Four Corners. There was not a house there then. There were several farms scattered on the way between there and Muttock village. Morton town was quite a neighborhood with a goodly number of houses. There was a tavern there, kept by Mr. Levi Wood and called Wood's Tavern. There was also a hall at the Morton house where the young people used to assemble and have their dances and winter pastimes."
This in 1775! It is hard to realize that the enterprising and flourishing centre of the town was then a densely wooded tract with a few houses at Court End. The tav- ern kept by Mr. Levi Wood stood on the site of the residence of the late Charles F. Peirce, and bore the usual sign of the king's coat of arms, which hung over the en- trance door. After the close of the Revolution THE SILAS WOOD HOUSE this sign was removed and some appropriate words substituted, indicating that it was a place of resort for the patriots.
The old Silas Wood house, now standing, was built shortly
1868]
FOUR CORNERS
273
THE OLD MORTON HOUSE
before the war, the date being on a tile in the chimney ; later it was occupied by Deacon Abiel Wood. A little to the south was the store kept by Mr. Silas Wood ; this, and that of Mr. Leach in Muttock, were the only stores in town. Mr. Wood was a wealthy and influential citizen, a man well known throughout the colony for his integrity and ability, and his opinions were sought after and respected in all matters relat- ing to public affairs.
Of the houses built at the close of King Philip's War none, perhaps, attained so much celebrity as the Morton house, which at the time of its removal in 1868 was undoubtedly the oldest house in town. There was no monument so closely connected with the early history as this old Morton house, which stood directly in front of the spot where the house of the late Al- bert G. Pickens now stands, and it was with great regret to many that this venerable pile, associated with so many inter- esting events, and the home of so many prominent men and women, should have been taken down in order to straighten Main Street at this point. Mr. Pickens decided that the house was too old to be moved, so he sold the timber, and it is now in one of the Crossman houses on Crossman Avenue. He built a new house near the old site, but farther back from the road,
274
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1830
on the land owned by a descendant of the Morton family until within a few years. There is a tradition that this house was built before King Philip's War, and was spared in the general destruction of houses on account of the friendship existing between King Philip and John Morton, but this is undoubtedly erroneous, as it lacks confirmation, and there are many facts which prove the contrary, so that we may say that the old Morton house was built soon after the resettle- ment of the town, by John Morton, Jr. The first house, built by John, Senior, was near the river, the site of which can still be identified. There John, Jr., probably lived as a boy, and on returning after the war he erected this house. At the time of its removal it was about sixty feet in length, twenty feet in width, of two stories, with a gambrel roof, and stood upon an open green, without fence, trees, or shrubbery about it, with an end toward the street. When it was first built, the street was probably at some little distance ; it was considerably en- larged, additions having been made at two different times. The southern part was the original building, and upon the walls were shingles made of the first growth of pine, put on when the house was built, but worn so thin by exposure to the weather that they were not much thicker than ordinary brown paper. Portions of the garret were known as the "Guinea rooms," from the fact that they were occupied by the slaves.
Ebenezer Morton inherited the place from his father. His wife, Madam Morton, a lady of remarkable intelligence and social influence, was an intimate friend of many in the colony, who often enjoyed the generous hospitality of her house. She was a devout christian woman, a member of the church, of strong will and energy, and a leader of the sect called the "New Lights." Their daughter Mary married Ebenezer Spooner in 1743, and their daughter Phœbe was the wife of Andrew Oli- ver. She did not choose to return to England with her father- in-law and family, but shortly after their banishment she came with her son and daughter to this house, where she lived until her death in 1831. Before the Revolution the many guests at Oliver Hall in Muttock were in the habit of visiting at the old
275
FOUR CORNERS
1750]
Morton house and enjoying the cheer and hospitality which the family and their friends so bountifully dispensed.
Another of the old houses in Morton Town was the Clark house, built about 1710 by Seth Morton, from whom it was called the Morton house until purchased by Dr. Clark. This nomenclature causes some confusion in the early history. Built of solid oak timber, with high pitched roof and steep gable ends, it was moved with difficulty to its pre- sent situation (the THE DR. CLARK HOUSE house now occupied by E. B. Dorrance) on rollers propelled by men with handspikes, a work of much interest to the towns- people. In the hurricane of 1815 much damage was done all through the village; the roof of this house was so wrecked that a new one was necessary.
Dr. Samuel Clark, a descendant from Thomas Clark, for whom Clark's Island was named, was born in Plymouth in 1732. He settled in Middleboro about the year 1752, and soon after married the daughter of Ebenezer Morton. He was not only a skilful physician, but a man of good judgment, commanding the universal respect of the people of the colony, scholarly in his tastes, and well informed on all matters of colonial his- tory. He kept a journal, in which he recorded the incidents of interest connected with the early history, particularly what had come to him from the first settlers relating to the Indian War and the struggles and hardships of those trying years. He was a friend of Dr. Franklin, and his journal contained an account of conversations, anecdotes, and interviews with him ; also, a minute description of Oliver Hall, of its distinguished guests, and of the reception which Dr. Peter Oliver gave to Dr. Franklin. It is a matter of the most profound regret that
276
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1775
this journal was lost, as its evidence would be invaluable upon matters relating to this history.
Another occupant of this house was Dr. Joseph Clark, son of Samuel Clark, who, upon the death of his father, succeeded to his practice of medicine in Middleboro and surrounding towns. He built what is known as the Briggs house soon after his marriage to Rebecca Scollay, an adopted daughter and niece of John Scollay.1 She, with her brilliant aunt of the same name, had come to Middleboro during the siege of Bos- ton. They stayed at the Peter Oliver, Jr. House (Dr. Oliver had gone to England), and here it was that Dr. Clark met his future wife. The aunt, Miss Rebecca Scollay,2 lived with her niece after the marriage. She was a woman of culture and of unusual intellectual gifts, a follower of Jonathan Edwards, and a friend of Dr. Hopkins and of Phillis Wheatley, the African poet. Dr. Clark, in addition to his extensive practice as a physician, was especially interested in matters of local history. He served as surgeon with General Cobb in the Revolution. He had a very retentive memory, and used to tell of thrilling scenes and experiences during the struggle for independence, and the interviews which he had with General Washington and other patriot leaders. He died in 1837, at the advanced age of eighty-seven.
Among the houses of interest before the Revolution was that of Ebenezer Spooner, which stood upon what was then called Spooner Hill, probably on the site of the house owned by the late Alpha Crossman. Although not a resident of Middleboro at the breaking out of the war, he with the other loyalists espoused the cause of the English Crown, and left with Governor Gage and his troops in 1776, never to return.3
From Morton Town there was a cow-path leading to the garrison house of Thomas Barrows on Main Street. This
1 A well-known merchant of Boston, for whom Scollay Square was named.
2 Mr. Pemberton (from whose family Pemberton Square in Boston was named) was an ardent admirer, but she declined his offer of marriage. At his death he left her furniture, money, and his coat of arms, which was hung in the Clark house.
Sabine, American Loyalists, vol. ii, p. 580.
277
FOUR CORNERS
1700]
is perhaps one of the oldest houses now standing, having been built in 1700 near the site of the house of Samuel Barrows. After the resettlement of the town, so many Indians lived in Titicut and Lakeville that for many years most of the houses built were garrison houses, framed, cov- ered with oak plank from two to two and one half inches thick instead of boards, to be bullet - proof in case of attack. This house was built with . THE OLD BARROWS HOUSE small windows, very high from the ground, lest any shot should reach the family. There is still a port-hole to be seen in the corner of the house.
The fort, or garrison house, built before King Philip's War and burned in 1675, stood on the brow of the hill not far from the Barrows house, some two or three hundred feet from Main Street where it turns to descend to the Star Mills. But slight description of this has come down to us. It was a large palisado, enclosed by logs set firmly in the ground, standing some eight or ten feet above the level, and there must have been a well inside. Tradition says that Miles Standish's encounter with Corbitant in 1621 took place near here.
The Briggs house formerly stood near the old town house. Dr. Joseph Clark sold this in 1812 to James Sproat, who sold it to Joseph Clark, Jr., for a public house ; from his hands it passed to Lemuel Briggs, from whom it takes its name. Next the Briggs house was the home of Judge Wood, built by John Morton and occupied by Judge Wood during his lifetime, and later by his sons. Between the Judge Wood place and the place known as the Thomas house stood the old town house, where Grove Street now crosses Main Street. Beyond the Thomas house, on the same side of the road, was the Major
278
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1815
JUDGE WOOD'S HOUSE
THE OLD BOURNE HOUSE
Bourne mansion, now known as the Charles F. Peirce place, by far the most pretentious of all the houses then standing at Court End. A schoolhouse on the corner of this land was the only building from here to the Silas Wood place. The old Bourne house was built by Dr. Samuel Clarke about 1752, and was afterwards sold to Captain Abner Bourne. Near the site of the present high school building stood the old Washburn place, which was moved to Webster Street in 1887, to give place to the high school building.
In 1815 Judge Wilkes Wood 1 gave an historical address before
1 In memoranda left by Judge Wood, 1838, he gives his recollection of the houses from the town house on the road to Plymouth as follows : -
"The owners of dwelling-houses at my earliest memory standing N. E. of the Town House in Middleborough on road to Plymouth.
" The house now owned and occupied by Maj. William Bourne, was owned, that is the back part of it, by Leon Wood. Sd. Bourne's house on the S. E. of the highway by Elias Miller. Sd. Bournes 3d. house formerly owned by his father Dea. Abner Bourne by Doct. Samuel Clark. The next house on the N. W. now owned by Abiel Wood by his Grandfather Silas Wood. On the S. E. near the present widow Miller's house, a small house by Abraham Miller. Next N. W. a small old house on the spot where I. Stevens since built a house. Next the house now owned by Abiel Washburn, by Isaac Cushman. Next on the N. W. a house since removed, standing where Elisha Tucker's house stands, by David Thomas. Next N. W. a house where Capt. Silvanus Barrows' house now stands, by Isaac Miller, with whom his father and mother lived. Next N. E. the house where Capt. Abner Barrows has since enlarged and now lives in by Abner Bar- rows now deceased. Next following old road, the house now owned by Albert Thomas, standing N. W. out of the road by Jabez Thomas and his son Jabez Thomas. Next a house long since removed, by Tilson Ripley. Next a house S. side near the river bridge by Widow Ruth Bennett and his sons William and
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