USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts > Part 34
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429
LAKEVILLE
1800]
Rochester, stands the house in which Governor Marcus Mor- ton was born and spent his early childhood days. The shores of this pond are exceedingly picturesque, and in recent years it has been a summer resort.
Great Quittacus, which takes its name from an Indian chief, has three rocky islands covered with pine-trees in its deep water. It was formerly noted for the variety and excellence of its fish. Upon the western shore, on the New Bedford turnpike, stood the house of Rev. Mr. Roberts. Later, the house passed into the hands of Mr. Jewett of New Bedford, and more recently was moved to where it now stands, on the Long Point road. In the early part of the last century it was used as a tavern.
Elder's Pond, much smaller but deeper than the others mentioned, takes' its name from John Montgomery, an elder in the First Baptist Church.
At the beginning of the last century Upper Four Corners had more inhabitants than the present Four Corners, and promised to be the industrial centre of the town. A store was kept by Colonel Levi Peirce, who afterwards moved to the Four Corners. That store forms the southern portion of the two-story house now standing.
A little to the north of this stands the residence of Major Peter Hoar, a well- known and influ- ential man, whose house is a fine sample of the colonial man- sions of those days. He served in the company of militia commanded by Cap- tain Isaac Wood at the battle of Lexing- ton, and later was in several of the expe- ditions into Rhode MAJOR PETER HOAR'S RESIDENCE
430
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1778
Island. He was major in the Fourth Regiment of militia of Massachusetts, and was afterwards promoted to the office of lieutenant-colonel, but retained the title of major instead of that of lieutenant-colonel. He was one of the selectmen of Middleboro for more than fifty years, and representative of the town in the legislature during the years 1809, 1810, and 18II. During his life he was an active member of the Second Baptist Church in Middleboro, and at his death he made pro- vision in his will for the church which worshipped in the Pond meeting-house.
Upon Main Street, toward the Four Corners, stands the house of Simeon Doggett, and a little to the westward, on the Rhode Island road, the house of Lemuel Ransome; a sketch of their lives has been given with the loyalists of Middleboro.
Gamaliel Rounseville, the proprietor of one of the stores at Muttock, had before his removal a store a little this side of the present house of John H. Nelson.
James Washburn, the first postmaster of Middleboro, built his house on the site of the present town house of Lakeville. He was unmarried, and after holding the office a few years, resigned in favor of Major Levi Peirce and afterwards moved to New Bedford.
Upon the road lead- ing from Main Street to the Ward place was formerly a mill for mak- ing cotton batting ; this THE WASHBURN HOUSE was in successful oper- ation until the breaking out of the War of 1812, which caused such financial disaster to many of the industries of New Eng- land. A little later, a successful tannery was established in place of the cotton mill, and the business was carried on for a number of years by General Ephraim Ward and Mr. Barrows.
A little distance to the west, at the corner of the road which
431
LAKEVILLE
1780]
leads to the station, stands the Ward house, probably the oldest house in town, but the exact age is unknown.
James Sproat,1 of Scituate in 171I, was the owner of a tract of land upon which this house stands, and in the next year was a resident of Middle- boro. This estate was conveyed in 1737 to his son Robert, and in 1778 to Zebedee Sproat ; later to Wil- liam and Ebenezer Nelson, who in 1806 sold the property to General Ephraim Ward, from whom THE WARD HOUSE the place takes its name. At first it seems to have been a single house, with a doorway and room on the front ; a most interesting relic of the past, which has been enlarged from time to time by suc- cessive additions. Several years ago its late owner, Sprague S. Stetson, in making some repairs on the ancient part of this house, found that it was boarded by two and one-half inch oak planks, which were spiked on to the sills and beams to form a garrison house against attacks from the Indians.
Over the chimney-piece in one of the chambers was the por- trait of King George, but upon the breaking out of the Revo- lutionary War, so intense was the patriotism of the owner, Mr. Robert Sproat, that a floral design was painted in its place, which can still be seen. This room was ceiled with panel work after the manner of ancient houses, and draperies were painted upon the walls. Before the house was much altered, there was a secret chamber, which it would have been almost impossible for a stranger to find. Upon the burning of Oliver Hall, some fifteen of the doors were taken out by Mr. Sproat and used for panels and ceilings in two of the chambers and upper entry way.
1 James and Ebenezer Sproat were sons of Robert, who came to America and settled in Scituate. His sons moved to Middleboro.
432
[1850
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
Mr. Zebedee Sproat was a man who showed much taste in beautifying this place ; he planted many trees about the house, and laid out a terrace garden with choice trees and shrubs, which remained until a late day. Tradition has come down that he was a very unpopular man. After the Revolutionary War, he committed many offences against the public and his family, and later was drummed out of town as a slight pun- ishment for the many wrongs which he had done. It is said that a daughter-in-law of Judge Oliver joined in the pro- cession which followed him as he left town. The story of the wrongs he inflicted upon his wife, Hannah Sproat, was pub- lished as a broadside in accordance with the custom of the time.
From 1806 until his death in 1856, this house was the resi- dence of General Ephraim Ward. General Ward was a promi- nent man, extensively engaged in many busi- ness affairs, and repre- sented the town in the General Court for sev- eral years. He served as aide-de-camp on the staff of General Lazell upon the threatened invasion of Plymouth in the War of 1812, and for a series of years after was connected with the local militia of the state; he was the father of General Eliab Ward, George, GEORGE WARD Rev. Ephraim, Mrs. Priscilla Stetson, the wife of Captain Peleg Stetson, and Mrs. Holmes, the wife of Horace Holmes. George Ward was born September 16, 1814. He was one of the first to manufacture shoes, in partnership
The FAITHFUL and LOVING WIFE's
GARLAND:
Being a ferious and folemn Warning and Caution to all falfe and treacherous HUSBANDS, who are often led aftray from their Families, by the delufive and flattering Arts of defigning Women.
[ Sung to a MOURNTUL TUNE. ] His love which like a flame has burnt [ 23. Thanks tomy Friends who took
" The Siren's fwect melodious voice ! IT Mag caufe the Sailor to rejoice ; " But ihould ne trop iv L . p .... r. - re: " His ruin is as fure as fate.
F ORTY . FIVE years of fleeting time Hath Swiftly roll'd away, Since this immortal 'part of mine Put on a form of clay.
2. The dupe of fortune I have been, Her weight upon me lies, All her viciffitudes I've feen, Difplay'd before mine eyes.
3 .. I've had a fhare of peace and joy Of happiness and wealth, Yea happinefs without alloy, In joy and perfect health.
4. Alafs ! a flare of woe and grief, Which rends my bleeding hearty No mortal hand 'can give relief, Or comfort can impart,
5. Caft from the pinnacle of peace, On mifery and woe,
Nothing on earth can give me cafe, Nor none my forrows know,
6. My Father di'd and left me here, A Mother yet i know,
Who brought me up with tender care, To them my thanks I owe.
7. When I ariiv'd to proper age, Myfelf for to look out,
I had an offer of marriage, Made me by Mr. S ---- T. Whofe kind propofals won my heart,
-- I gave to him my hand ; He played fo fair, fo kind a part, He feem'd a pleafant man.
9. In peace and joy our days we paft, For nearly twenty yeats, He fecmed wholly to be bent To keep my eyes fiom tears. Jo. I was by him almoft ador'd. And call'd his Angel bright, For many years could not afford To have me out of, fight.
And would not fhelter me one night From a moft tedious ftorm. 22. With cruelty beyond account, My youngeft child he fent It. But now alafs I the feene is turn'd, | Out of the ftate up to Vermont, And gloomy afpects rife,
What heart would not telent.
'my part.
And to ny Neighbors dear,
You ever fhall be near my heart. While I continue here. My Father and my Mother too, I bid you both farewell,
Since 1 am banithed from you, No more with you to dwell.
25. Farewell my SAM -- LUCINDA Farewell my little KATE; (too Since I can't longer live with you No more to hear you prate
26. PETER and SALLY Farewell too, I pray you may be bleit'd ;
I love you all though drove from you And JuoITH with the reft.
27. Farewell my Friends and Neigh- bors too,
To think I canbe i've with your But love doth ftill'remain:
28. And now thou falfe and trea cherous man,
O think of what you've done I
And juftify it if you can, Your glafs is almoft run.
29. When that is out you muft eppcar,
Whenever death doth call,
To anfwer fo: your conduct here Before the Judge of all.
30. And can you hope then to be found, To ftand among the juft,
When rifen from the duft.
31. I hope repentance you will bave Before that awful day, And he not lent down to the grave In fuch à thocking way.
32. Thefe lines which I to you do fend Don't entertain a doubt, But that they were compos'd and pen'd By injur'd HANNAH SPROUT.
Sold by the Travelling- Traders, ( Price Five Petice. )
PUBLIC LIBRAR MEDFORD
That in his prefence now of fate, I muft not fpeak a word :
16. Not to relations ne'er fo near, - Bor firment what keeps
Neither unto my children dear, One fingle word can fpeak.
17, Altho'ta pleafe him I have ftrove No pity can i have ;
But fiom his table I am drove, Juft like a negro flave. 18. My character he ftrove to ftain, By lying and deceit ,
But hitherto it is in vain,
And fell on his own pate.
19. So drunk with paffion in a rage, His hatred to difplay, Now in the decline of my age, Hath drove me quite away.
20. From. Friend and Neighbors banifhed, 1
And from my children dear, And all my hopes are vanifhed, Of being happy herc. 21. He drove me out with wret- ched fpite, In a moft ciuel form.
Now vanifhes and dies.
12. Firft he begins to look more ftern With frowns upon his brow. ) But never from him could [ learn What did difturb him now.
13. And then my company he flights, Mviore ftrange and churlifh grows, At length he leaves my bed a nights, And after others goes.
14. Heavy reproaches then he throws With many a bitter curfe,
And every day more angry grows, Treating me worfe and worfe. 15. His malice now is grown fo great, He treats me fo abfurd,
433
LAKEVILLE
1883]
with William E. Doggett. He built the house opposite the Ward place, which was occupied by his widow.
Upon the death of Captain Peleg Stetson, the old Ward place came into possession of his son, Sprague S. Stetson. He was born February 12, 1841, and died January 12, 1899. He was a successful farmer, and held many positions of public trust. He was a member of the legisla- ture representing Mid- dleboro and Lakeville in 1883, and was ap- pointed by Governor Greenhalge a member of the Board of Agri- culture, upon which board he served for several years. He was a member of the Plym- outh County Agricul- SPRAGUE S. STETSON tural Society. He was prudent yet enterprising, conscientious in the performance of every duty, always courteous and unassuming, and the cordial- ity of his manners and his thoughtful regard of others won the respect of the entire community.
On the road leading from the Ward place past the residence of the late Josiah C. Bump, there was at one time a forge, the dam connected with it flooding the meadow land to the west of the road.
In the early part of the last century, perhaps the most notable improvement in the western part of the town was the turnpike, constructed by private enterprise, running from the site of the present town house in Lakeville northerly in a straight course about six and one half miles to the Bridge- water line, and southerly, after winding about the western shore
434
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1850
of Assawampsett Pond, in substantially a straight direction to the Rochester line. The traffic between Boston and New Bed- ford made it desirable to have such a direct route as was being constructed in different parts of the state. It became the thoroughfare for the transportation of passengers in the stage- coaches and private conveyances, as well as the principal route for the baggage wagons with various kinds of merchandise. Tolls were charged between the town house and Bridgewa- ter. There were several toll-gates,1 one of which was opposite the site of the present town house. After the construction of this turnpike many houses were built, and it con- tinued to be one of the great highways until the building of the Fall River and New Bedford TOWN HOUSE railroads. In the year 1846 the town acquired possession of this road and kept it in excellent repair, but since the abandonment of the stage-coach and the baggage wagon there has been comparatively little travel, ex- cepting from the town house to New Bedford. That por- tion from the town house to Rochester was not included in the turnpike.
Among the prominent families in the last century were the Canedys, the Montgomerys, the McCullys, the Pickenses, the Strobridges, and the McCumbers.2 There is a tradition, which has always been regarded as true, that these families were of Scotch-Irish descent, and that, as protestants in the north of Ireland, they joined with William in the heroic resistance at the siege of Londonderry and the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.3
1 See chapter on Titicut.
2 Land first acquired in Middleboro by William Canedy (or Kanedy), Decem- ber 2, 1717, from Nathan Rowland. Plymouth Registry of Deeds, vol. xiv, p. 25. William Strowbridge, December 3, 1728, from Thomas Tomson and Samuel Bar- rows. Ibid. vol. xxviii, p. 28. Thomas Pickens, December 26, 1732, from Barnabas Eaton. Ibid. vol. xxviii, p. III. John Montgomery, May 19, 1735, from Elkanah Leonard. Ibid. vol. xxx, p. 92. John McCully, January 23, 1735, from Elkanah Leonard. Ibid, vol. xxxiii, p. 141.
8 Sullivan, Two Centuries of Irish History, Part I, chap. i.
435
LAKEVILLE
1723]
For their services they were rewarded by the British Crown with various tracts of land in the New England colonies, and nearly a generation after, those residing in and about Londonderry determined to leave the land for which they had fought and seek a home where they would be free from the persecutions to which they had been so long subjected. These families were probably among those who in 1718 despatched Rev. William Bodye with an address to Governor Shute of Massachusetts, signed by two hundred and seventeen of their number. Such was their intelligence that of these, two hundred and ten wrote their names very plainly and applied to be allowed to emigrate to Massachusetts ; the governor's reply was such that they concluded to embark for Boston. It is said that some of these emigrants, after wandering about seeking in vain for a suitable home, finally came and settled in Lakeville, taking tracts of land, portions of which are still held by their descendants. They brought with them their sterling integrity and love for the English Crown and for the protestant faith.
Alexander Canedy, the first of the Canedy family, was the father of William Canedy, one of the eminent men in Mid- dleboro in the early part of the eighteenth century. He served as lieutenant against the Indians in Maine. Isaac Winslow, the commander of that expedition, sent a letter to Governor Drummond showing his appreciation : -
May it please your Hon"
this comes by Ensign Canada who I percieve has had some hope of your Honors favoring him with a Leuit Commission which if it be acceptible to all that are concerned he being very deserving of it in my opinion having acquitted himself very well ever since he hath been out. thus beging your favor for him I am your most obedient servant,
ISAAC WINSLOW.
Scituate January the 17 : 1723
In the troublous times preceding the Revolution, he could never forget the love he bore to his sovereign and to the home of his ancestors. He and Judge Oliver were among the first citizens of Middleboro to espouse the cause of the Crown,
436
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1720
and were included in the list of loyalists, but he was not ban- ished nor was his estate confiscated. He lived in that portion of Lakeville known as Beech Woods, in a two-story double house, of colonial style. This was taken down a few years since, but the site is still pointed out.
William Strobridge, a descendant of the family whose name he bears, was also a tory in the time of the Revolution. The land which was acquired by the Strobridges is in one of the most beautiful parts of the town, and the site of his house is still to be seen.
The numerous descendants of the Pickens family have al- ways occupied a prominent position in the affairs of the town and county.
Among the men who came about 1720 from the north of Ireland and settled in this locality was Nicholas Roach. He was a devout christian, holding with great tenacity the reli- gious faith of the protest- ants of Ireland, and was one of the founders of the Pre- cinct Church, contributing largely to its support. He is buried in the Thompson Hill burying-ground.
The tract of land originally owned by the Montgomery family was near Elder's Pond. From this family descended Hugh Montgomery, a lawyer in Boston of the last gener- ation, a man of learning, who added materially to the fortune inherited from his father.
CUDWORTH HOUSE The old Cudworth house is another example of the substantial dwelling of a hundred years ago. The building, commenced by Samuel Nelson and finished by his son Wil-
437
LAKEVILLE
1882]
liam, was bought in 1806 by General Ephraim Ward, and after- wards reconveyed to Mr. Nelson in exchange for the Ward place. At the beginning of the last century there was a store kept not far from the present town house; there has always been a store near the Precinct Church.
Before Lakeville was set off as a distinct township, there were a large number of school districts, known as the Upper Four Corners, the Haskins', Miller, Canedy, McCully, and Howland neighborhoods, the Tack Factory, the Bell school- house, and Beech Woods. The Bell schoolhouse is so called by reason of the bell placed upon it when it was used as a place of worship.
That portion of the town known as Beech Woods in the early part of the last century had the unenviable reputation of being the home of Malborne Briggs, the thief, one of the most notorious criminals in Plymouth County. He would never commit any depredations in his immediate neighborhood, his operations being confined to other parts of the town and county. He had a large family of seven sons, who inherited the criminal tastes of their father, and in 1823, when the com- mittee of the governor's council visited the state prison at Charlestown, he and his seven sons were there imprisoned.
The village known as the Tack Factory was early noted as a place of business activity in this part of the town. Upon the stream which flows through that neighborhood, there was a forge built by Major Thomas Leonard early in the century before the last, which was in operation for about eighty years. Later, there was a sawmill upon the same site, and afterwards a tack factory, from which this neighborhood takes its name, built by Albert Mason and three associates from Bridgewater. This enterprise was not a financial success, and was soon after abandoned, but is now in operation again. Albert T. Mason, whose house stood on Taunton Street, was the father of the chief justice of the Superior Court of the common- wealth, who was born here and educated in the public schools and Peirce Academy, and admitted to the bar at Plymouth in 1860. He served with distinction as captain in the War of
438
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1882
the Rebellion, and on returning to practice rose rapidly in his profession. While a resident of Plymouth he held the office of selectman, and was afterwards appointed chairman of the River and Harbor Commission of the commonwealth. In 1882 he was appointed by Governor Long one of the justices of the Superior Court, and afterwards, upon the promotion of Marcus Morton, was made its chief justice. He was recognized by the bar as one of the ablest of the judges of that court. On January 2, 1905, ELKANAH LEONARD HOUSE he died at his home in Brookline.
This neighborhood was also the home of Elkanah Leonard, an account of whose life has been given in the chapter on Lawyers.
CHAPTER XXVI
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
ITH the early settlers of Middleboro, in common with those in the other towns of the Old Colony, the reli- gious life entered so largely into their thoughts, du- ties, and activities that any account of those times would be incomplete which did not consider with more or less detail their church history.
Their church organization and those who worshipped with its members included almost the entire population, and aside from the family, the church, its order, its care, and its teach- ings seems ever to have been foremost in their minds. It was here that they were strengthened in the faith and doctrines to which they adhered with such tenacity ; here they were encouraged to meet manfully not only the duties but the perils and hardships attendant upon their frontier life ; it was here at the weekly service on the Sabbath that they met their fellow citizens and learned the news of the day. The church meeting was the great social cord which bound them together. For more than one hundred years, the meeting-house of the First Church was generally the place for the transaction of all public business of the town.
In 1675 the General Court at Plymouth, by an ordinance, enacted that every township within the colony should have a house of worship and a church duly organized, with proper provision for the support of an ordained minister, who offici- ated over such church. So few were the families, and so far removed were they from each other, that no church was organ- ized until December 26, 1694. Provision was made in 1675 for the support of the gospel, although the war prevented any action being taken until after the resettlement.1 Mr. Fuller had, how-
1 " Whereas a committee was appointed and chosen by the proprietors of Mid- dlebery the 18th. of May in Anno 1675 vis. - Mr. Constant Southworth, Left.
440
[1678
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
ever, preached here before that time. Indian churches had been organized at Assawampsett, Nemasket, and Titicut. These were prosperous until the war, but afterwards seem to have been disbanded, and the members worshipped with other churches. Probably the majority of the early settlers were members of the church in Plymouth or in some of the neigh- boring towns from which they had come, and not a few of them were in the habit of attending public worship at Plym- outh, taking their families with them.
In 1678 the inhabitants called Mr. Samuel Fuller to become their pastor, and the question of his accepting the call came before the church at Plymouth, of which he was a member, on the 19th of December.1 On the 16th of January, 1679, the church unanimously recommended that he should preach to
Morton, John Thompson, Joseph Warren and Isack Howland, who were im- powered to meet together for some orders in reference to the prosecuting and supportation of some help to teach . . . of God att Middlebery and to settle some course to procure means for the erecting of a meeting house there, and for building of bridges and setteling high ways in that town, they the said pro- prietors did at this meeting reestablish and confirm the said order and did ratify the said power and settle it on the forenamed persons to act as aforesaid." Early Records of Middleboro, p. 18.
1 " 1678. December 19 : Our brother, Mr. Samuel Fuller being called to preach at Midlebury did aske counsell of the chh, which motion they tooke into serious consideration till the next chh-meeting, which was on Jan. 16: & then the chh. did unanimously advise & encourage him to attend preaching to them as oft as he could, but not yet to remove his family but waite awhile to see what further encouragement God might give for his more setled attendance upon that service there.
" 1694. November 28: Divers of our brethren at Midlebury sent letters to us to desire our Counsell about their gathering a chh & calling a Teaching officer with them, the chh tooke it into consideration & after some-time manifested to them our consent to & approbation of their motion. Then those brethren & those of other ches & some others who offered to joyne with them sent let- ters to desire our Pastor with other brethren to helpe them in carrying on that worke on Dec. 26: the chh chose Deac; Faunce, Deac; George Morton, Bro : Eliezer Churchel & Bro: Ephraim Morton to accompany the Pastor thither on that occasion, & voted, that if God carryed on the worke, that wee dismisse our members, namely, five brethren & 4 sisters to be of that chh; that Pastor & those chh-messengers went at the time appointed, the chh was gathered, & then Mr. Samuel Fuller was chosen & ordained to be their Teacher." Records of First Church, Plymouth, vol. i, deposited in Pilgrim Hall.
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