USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts > Part 49
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621
SIXTEEN SHILLING PURCHASE
1679]
hands and efixed our seals the # fourtinth dayt of May one thousand sixe hun- dred seventy and five : 1675
Signed sealed in the presents of us
Nicholas Byram The mark of 4 David
Samuell Edson alius Jokome
The mark
The marke of wetispi can
Pipiurphum alius Joseph
The mark W T of Wille Tispican
This deed was acknowledged by old Tus- paquine and his sone William Tuspaquine to be theire free act and Deed so acknow-
ledged the date abovesaid
Pr me Will Bradford Assistant.
The following are the original proprietors of the Sixteen Shilling Purchase, with the lots that were respectively assigned to them November 21, 1679 : -
I. Joseph Warren 1
2. George Partridge 1
3. John Howland 1
4. Adam Wright and John Tomson 1
5. Joseph Vaughan 1
6. Guido Bayley, (now Samuel Eaton) 1
7. Thomas Dogget
8. Lettice Morton 2
9. John Winslow 1
IO. Isaac Little 1
II. Edward Gray 1
12. Middleboro Ministrey
13. William Pontus 1
14. Peregrine White 1
15. John Alden 1
16. Samuel Wood 1
17. William Bassit 1
18. Gershom Cob 1
19. Andrew Ring 1
20. Plymouth Ministry
21. Jonathan Donham 1
22. John Jones 1
23. Benjamin Bartlett
24. John Wood of Plymouth 1
25. Serjant William Harlow 1
26. Giles Rickard, senior 1
27. William Cadman 1
28. David Wood,1 Joseph Wood,1 Benjamin Wood
29. Nathanel Warren 1
30. John Nelson 1
31. John Morton 1
32. Frances Walker and John Hascol, - A lot formerly belonging to Ephraim Lit- tle, now Thomas Palmer 1
33. William Nelson, Jr.1
34. William Bradford, Jr.
35. Frances Coombs 1
36. Josiah Winslow, Esq. 1
37. Phillip and Thomas Delano
38. Robert Sproat and Caleb Samson
39. Frances Billington 1
40. Samuel Fuller 1
41. Jonathan Wood 1
42. David Thomas, senior 1
43. Nathanel Morton 1
44. Experience Mitchell 1
45. Edward Gray 1
46. Anthony Snow 1
47. Elder Chipman
1 See chapter on Early Settlers, or other purchases.
2 She was the wife of John Morton.
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622
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1650
48. John Irish 1
60. Joseph Bumpas 1
49. Thomas Prence, Esq. 61. John Jordan 1
50. Thomas Pain
51. Zachariah Eddy 1
63. John Tomson, senior 1
64. Lieut. Ephraim Morton 1
65. John Soule 1
66. Frances Coombs 1
67. George Danson 1
68. Thomas Bordman 1
69. Samuel Little
70. Gabril Fallowell 1
71. John Sparrow 1
The proprietors of the Sixteen Shilling Purchase were numerous. Many of them were proprietors of the "Liberties of Middleberry " in 1677, and owners in the other purchases which made up the original town. The following are brief sketches of the lives of those not before mentioned : -
BENJAMIN BARTLETT was a son of Robert Bartlett. He married Sarah Brewster in 1656, and in 1678, Cecilia His home was in Duxbury, where he was regarded as one of the wealthy men, at his death in 1691 leaving property to the amount of nearly four hundred pounds.2
ELDER JOHN CHIPMAN, the son of Thomas Chipman, was born in Dorsesthire, England, about 1621. He came to this chiqman country with his cousin, Rich- ard Derby, in May, 1637, and landed in Plymouth. In 1646 he married Hope, a daughter of John Howland; in 1649 he was a freeman of Barnstable, and was the last ruling elder of that church. He was one of the committee appointed by the court in Plymouth, June, 1659, to attend the meetings of the Quakers, "to endeavor to reduce them from the error of their wayes." They recommended the repeal of the laws of the col- ony against Quakers, but their report did not meet with the
1 See chapter on Early Settlers, or other purchases.
2 Winsor, Duxbury, p. 225.
52. Nathanel Southworth 1
53. John Turner, senior
54. Isaac Howland 1
55. Ephraim Tinkham, senior 1
56. John Miller 1
57. Isaac Cushman and Elkanah Cushman
58. Matthew Fuller 1
59. John Rogers, senior 1
62. John Eddy
623
SIXTEEN SHILLING PURCHASE
1650]
approval of the court. While living in Barnstable, he filled many of the offices of the town, but in 1684, after his second marriage, he moved to Sandwich, where he died April 7, 1708.1
ISAAC and ELKANAH CUSHMAN were sons of Elder Thomas Cushman, and each received under the will of their father one half of lot 57 in the Sixteen Shilling Purchase. Isaac cushman Isaac Cushman was a cler- gyman, born February 8, 1647; he married Mary Rickard about 1675. He was one of the selectmen of the town of Plym- outh in 1685, 1690, and 1691 ; he was one of the deputies to the General Court at Plymouth, and was reelected in 1692 to the first General Court at the union of the provinces. Before the settlement of Mr. Fuller, he was called to the church in Middleboro, but declined ; after Mr. Fuller's death, he again received a call to be a pastor here, but at the same time the church in Plympton called him, and for thirty-seven years he acted as minister there, until his death, October 21, 1732.
Elkanah Cushman was born June 1, 1651, and lived in Plympton, where he was the deacon of the church about nine years. He represented the town at the General Court, and held the office of ensign in the military company of that town. He died the 4th of September, 1727.2
THOMAS DELANO, the second son of Philip Delano, was one of the earliest settlers of Duxbury, where he always lived. He married for his first wife Mary, a daughter of John Alden.3
THOMAS DOGGETT, a prominent citizen of Marshfield, was born in England in 1607, and arrived Them Joggal at Boston or Salem in May, 1637, in the Mary Ann. He first settled in Concord, where his wife died in 1642. He then moved to
1 Barnstable Families, vol. i, pp. 155, 159.
2 Cushman Genealogy, pp. 101-124.
3 Savage, Genealogical Dictionary vol. ii, p. 34.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1700
Weymouth, and finally settled in Marshfield, where he was an extensive land-owner. He died in Marshfield, August 18, 1692. His descendants in the middle and latter part of the eighteenth century were quite numerous in Middleboro, among whom were Jabez and Simeon Doggett, who served in the French and Indian War, the latter being one of the loyalists of the Revolution. Thomas Doggett gave to his son Samuel by deed "one-half of all my land in Middleboro." The Thomas Dogget who moved from Marshfield to Middleboro in 1741 was in 1732 a part owner of a sloop, called Middleboro.1
JOHN EDDY, a son of Samuel Eddy, was born December 25, 1637. In 1660 he was a blacksmith in Plymouth, and in 1689 was one of the proprietors of Taunton, where he lived for awhile. In 171I he resided in Tisbury, where he held public office until his death, in 1715. During King Philip's War he had a personal encounter with the Indians, and after killing one of them, he made his escape to the house. He never occupied the lot assigned him in the Sixteen Shilling Pur- chase, and was not a resident of Middleboro.2
SAMUEL LITTLE, son of Thomas Little, was born in 1656, and in 1682 married Sarah Gray. He was one of the family mentioned above who kept the Sproat Tavern.
THOMAS PAINE settled in Eastham, but at what date is not known. He married Mary, daughter of Nicholas Snow. In 1653 he was constable of Eastham ; in 1655 was one of the nineteen mentioned as townsmen of Eastham, and in 1658 was propounded at the colony court at Plymouth as a freeman. As one of the original purchasers of the Sixteen Shilling Pur- chase, he was assigned lot 50. He also purchased of Tispe- quin, the Black Sachem, and his son William, for ten pounds sterling, land adjoining John Alden's tract at Assawampsett Pond, and later owned land in Truro. In 1671 he represented Eastham at the colony court, and was a deputy for seven years.
1 Doggett Genealogy, pp. 325, 341. 2 Eddy Family, p. 103.
625
SIXTEEN SHILLING PURCHASE
1690]
He moved from Eastham to Boston previous to 1695, but died at Eastham, August 16, 1706.1
CALEB SAMPSON was a son of Henry Sampson, one of the first settlers of Duxbury, an account of whose life has been previously given. He was a resident of Duxbury, and married Mercy, a daughter of Alexander Standish.2
ROBERT SPROAT was in Scituate in 1660, but later became a resident of Middleboro, where he died in 1712. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Henry Sampson of Duxbury, and had several children. From him Colonel Ebenezer Sprout of Revo- lutionary fame descended. He left land at "Edy's Pond " to three daughters, and two lots in South Purchase to two others. He died in the Canada expedition in 1690, under Sir William Phipps, at the taking of Port Royal and the attempt upon Quebec.3
JOHN TURNER was the eldest son of Humphrey Turner, who arrived at Plymouth in 1628, and resided there probably until 1634, when he moved to Scituate, where he was one of the founders of the church. He married Mary Brewster, and in 1683 was still living.
BENJAMIN WOOD was the son of Henry Wood.4 On his father's death he, with Joseph and David, chose John Morton, Sr., to be their guardian. He was drafted into his Majesty's service in the expedition to Canada in 1690. On his way to Plymouth, July 19, 1690, in presence of John Tomson and John Allen, he made what is known as a noncupative will, as follows : " Being drafted upon his Majesty's service against Canada as he was on his way going to Plymouth on the 19th. day of July, 1690, did desire us whose names are under writ- ten to take knowledge of it if it should so please God that he should not return again that his brother James should have
1 Paine Genealogy, pp. 12-15. 2 Winsor, History of Duxbury, p. 300.
3 Deane's History of Scituate, pp. 131 and 340. 4 Eddy-Note Book.
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626
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1696
his estate." He probably died in the service, as his will was probated in Plymouth December 5, 1690. In his will he is called Benjamin Wood, alias Atwood.
As a boy he lived with his brothers Joseph and Samuel in Middleboro before the breaking out of King Philip's War, and was among those who returned upon the resettlement of the town.
EIGHT MEN'S PURCHASE
This purchase included about nine hundred acres, and ad- joined the Wood's Purchase ; its greatest width is about three hundred rods from the Wood's Purchase.
Whereas there was a meeting of the proprietors of a certain purchase of land lying within the township of Middleborough and is bounded northerly by the Indian path that goes from the wading place towards Lakenham : westerly it is bounded by Governour Prences Purchase : and southerly and easterly it is bounded by Henry Woods Purchase : said meeting was held at the house of Mr. Isaac Howland in Middleborough : June the : 3d : 1696 : At said meeting it is agreed by the said proprietors that the bounds should be renewed between the said purchase: and the other purchases adjacent And whereas there is eight shares in said purchase it is agreed that there should be fifty acres laid out to each share or more at the dis- cretion of the layers out : and to be laid out for Quantity ac- cording to the Quality : The men appointed to do said work are : Jacob Tomson : David Thomas : James Wood : George Shaw : and John Hascol Junior : and said proprietors have agreed that the charge of doing said work shall be equally defrayed amongst them : it was also agreed that when said work is done : that there should be a meeting of said proprietors warned for the drawing of the lots and defraying the charg : David Thomas and John Hascol Junior are apointed to warn said meeting. In witness whereof we the aforesaid proprie- tors have hereunto set our hands this third day of June one thousand six hundred ninety six.
George Shaw: for Daniel Done John Irish for himself and John Simmons David Thomas John Hascal Junr for himself & Francis Walker & John Blackwell James Wood
627
MINOR PURCHASES
1697]
The next year a meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of David Thomas, April 24, 1697, when a report was made of the laying out of the land included in this purchase, and the proprietors drew the lots of the first division in said purchase as follows : -
.
First lot
John Simmons
Second lot
Daniel Done
Third lot
John Blackwell
Fourth lot
Francis Walker
Fifth lot David Thomas
Sixth lot
James Wood
Seventh lot
John Irish
Eighth lot .
John Hascol Jr.
Nothing definite is known concerning the owners of the first three lots. The others have been mentioned before.
Other purchases of small tracts of land lying between the ones mentioned above were made at different times. Some of these are the following : -
Tispequin sold two small tracts of land for £2 5s. to James Cole and John Rickard. One was at Tippicunnicut, beginning at a brook called Cadohunset, bounded on the south by a swamp, on the north by a meadow compassing it, and so along Tippecunnicut brook; the other was on the west side of Tippecunnicut brook, on the south side of the old Ne- masket path, up to Mahuchet, and so running southward to the south end of the pond. The time of this sale is not speci- fied.1
JAMES COLE was in Plymouth in 1633, and was the first oc- cupant of the hill where the early pilgrims were buried. He kept an inn from 1638 to 1660, and was living in 1688, “very aged." He had a son James, who was called Junior in 1643, and was enrolled among those able to bear arms. It is doubt- ful whether it is the father or son who is referred to in the purchase. He probably moved early to Kennebec.
1 Eddy Note-Book.
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628
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1651-69
JOHN RICKARD, son of Giles, married Esther Barnes in 1651, and had several children.
June 21, 1666, Wampatuck sold for £20 a tract called Sammauchamoi, bounded north by the former purchase, south by Nemasket (Assawampsett) pond, southwest by a little brook which lies southwest of Rootey brook, and so northward to the pond which is the bound of the former purchase : ex- cepting one hundred acres of upland reserved for his loving friend John Winslow, Jr., to be laid out from Nemasket River to a pond lying by Taunton path; and also one fourth of the meadow lying upon Rootey brook.
1668, October 29. " Whereas a former graunt hath bine made by the court unto Experience Michell, Henery Sampson, Benjamin Church and Thomas Little to look out for land for thire accomodation ; and that since the said graunt they have sought out a prsell of land for that end lying at Namassakett pond these are to be a memorandum that none shall Interfere soe as to deprive them of the said land untill the Court have taken course for the purchase of it and settling such a proportion thereof to the said prsons as shall be by the Court thought meet ;
"The Court have graunted libertie unto the Govr Mr Thomas Prence to ex- change fifty acres of land adjoining to his land on the south side of the brooke that falls out of Tuspaquins pond :
" Likewise that in case it may be purchased that a competencye of Land be graunted and Reserved thereabouts or neare unto it for the use of the ministry att Namassakett."
1668. "Thomas Prence and Francis Coombe, by order of the General Court of New Plymouth, purchased a large tract in Middleborough at Namassaket."
It was subsequently ordered by the court that the remainder not disposed of - the commonage and profits -"should belong to Prence and Combe until otherwise disposed of by the court ; and the charges of the purchase to be paid by such as it was disposed of unto." An "ancient bound" of this Purchase to the east stood about one hundred and ninety rods north of the southerly range of the Eight Men's Purchase.
1669. " March 4, Phillip, alias Metacom, sachem of Pocano- kett and Tispequin alias the Black Sachem, in consideration of thirteen pounds sterling paid by Mr. Constant Southworth, treasurer, in behalf of the colony, sell a tract at Namassakett pond (Nesamamset) bounded on the south-east with the lands of Thomas Little & Experience Mitchells & others and to ex- tend along the said pond for the breadth of it three quarters
629
MINOR PURCHASES
1669-75]
of a mile upon a line including all the land home to the pond - and to run from sd pond a mile for the length of it up into the woods," etc.
" Wit. - Benj. Church, Nathl. Morton, Thomas the Inter- preter," and " William the Black Sachems son."
On the same page of the records are the two following entries : -
"In reference unto a former grant of accommodations of land under Mr. Thomas Cushman The Court doth grant and confirme unto him the one half of the last purchase of land made by the Treasurer of Philip sachem of Pocanokett : viz : the one half of that tract of land purchased by Mr. Constant Southworth Treasurer lying and being at Assowamsett ponds on the easterly syde of the said ponds : The other half belong- ing unto Thomas Little : Likewise the Court have granted unto the said Thomas Cushman that in case any meddow can be found to be neare or convenient unto the aforesaid land that he shall have a convenient proportion thereof.
"Likewise Mr. Constant Southworth is appointed by the Court to sett the bounds of the said Tract of land and Mr. William Crow and Mr. Edward Gray are appointed by the Court to make a division thereof between the said Thomas Cushman & Thomas Little."
June 10, 1670, Tispequin with his son William sold to Ed- ward Gray, who purchased as usual in behalf of the colony, all their meadow in or near Middleboro on the west side of a tract belonging to John Alden and Constant Southworth, between Assawampsett Pond and Taunton path (which runs upon what is now the Assonet road, from the Four Corners). They sold also a small lot of meadow on the other, the north side of Taunton path, near or next to one of the three other parcels which was that formerly sold to Major Winslow and the other proprietors of Purchade. The deed was witnessed by Annie, the wife of Tispequin.
The Titicut Purchase was made April 20, 1675, from Owen, alias Thomas Hanter, and Popennohoc, alias Peter. Considera- tion, twelve pounds. They sold a tract from Pachusett brook on the east, where it runs into Titicut or Great River, to the lands before purchased; and from the mouth of the brook
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630
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1673-90
westward, butting upon the river, one mile, till it meets with cer- tain trees by the side of the river, and thence to the Taunton bounds at the highway to Taunton and Rhode Island, where a brook runs through it.
" At a Court at Plymouth the 4th of July 1673; Liberty is granted unto Benjamin Church to purches a certaine parsell of land and swamp of Tispequin the Black Sachim and Wil- liam his sonne for the inhabitants and proprietors of the town of Middleborrow : and that the said Inhabitants and proprietors have Liberty untill the last of November next to make pay- ment to him or his order of what he shall disburse for the said lands for the purchas thereof : and in case they shall neglect to make payment thereof by the time perfixed that then the said land is to be his : vera copia as apears of records in Plymouth book of acts and passages of Court the day & year above written. Examined March the 18:1694/5.
SAML SPRAGUE
Keeper of Records."
1677. "Att this Court it was agreed by and between Mr. Constant Southworth and Philip the Sachem in reference to the land att Assowampsett pond that whereas the land pur- chased of the said sachem there was formerly to go three quar- ters of a mile broad and to goe over Wachamotussett brook ; it is now bounded by the said brook below ; and soe to goe up by a pond ; and what is wanting below by reason the breadth is cutt short ; by the said brook. it is to make up above."
"On the 6th. day of Nov., 1690, Felix, an Indian of Assa- wampsett, conveyed in consideration of 4 pounds, to John Tomson Sr., of Middleboro, and Capt. Nath. Thomas, of Mansfield, the following described parcel of upland, being a part of Felix land at Assawampsett Neck out of the head, so called, of the land which he then owned. This tract of land was bounded at the Northerly corner with a heap of stones on the East side of a great stump; and thence ranging South- west half a point Southerly 90 rods to a heap of stones ; thence ranging Southeast, half a point Easterly 59 rods to a heap of stones between 2 saplins, and from these ranging Northeast- erly 90 rods to a heap of stones; and from thence ranging Northwesterly, half a point Westerly 59 rods to a heap of stones first mentioned."
CHAPTER XXXI
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
F
OR many years there have been in Middleboro various organizations having the general object of rendering assistance when needed, and of giving mutual and social benefit to the personal welfare of their respec- tive members. They are for the most part in a prosperous condition. A detailed account of its history, object of its work, with a list of officers and members, can be readily obtained from each society.
The first Masonic organization in Middleboro was Social Harmony Lodge, formed in 1823. In 1828, by vote of the members, it moved to Wareham, holding meetings there for a few years. At this time the opposition to Masonry became so strong throughout the country that this, with most other societies, was abandoned, and was not revived until the year 1856, when Benjamin Leonard of Middleboro and Thomas Savery of Wareham met at the latter place and organized a society under the old charter, taking the name of the May- flower Lodge. Two hundred and sixty-six persons had been admitted to membership in 1903.
Assawampsett Division, No. 34, Sons of Temperance, was organized May 12, 1858. About the year 1867 women were admitted to full membership, new interest was aroused, and the division became the largest one in the state, and held that distinction for some time. Later the interest declined again, and at the end of its forty-seventh year it had less than thirty members.
E. W. Peirce Encampment, Post 8, Grand Army of the Republic, is the oldest in Plymouth County. It was organized
632
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1885
by Austin S. Cushman in 1867, and was named for General Ebenezer W. Peirce of Freetown, Mass. From the beginning to the present time, there have been three hundred and one members, but at present the membership has been reduced by death to one hundred and twenty.
In connection with the E. W. Peirce Encampment, Post 8, G. A. R., is the Woman's Relief Corps, which was organized January 20, 1885, with forty charter members.
The Union Veteran's Union, Stephen Thomas Command, No. 23, with twenty-four charter members, was organized June 23, 1896.
The Sons of Veterans, T. B. Griffith Camp, No. 22, Divi- sion of Massachusetts, was organized November 10, 1887, with thirty-three charter members.
At one time there was a society in connection with this post, called the Ladies' Aid Society, but this has gone out of existence.
The Nemasket Tribe I. O. R. M. of Middleboro was instituted June 25, 1889, with thirty-two charter members. The member- ship at the present time is one hundred and seventy-three.
The Middleboro Lodge, No. 665, of the Knights of Honor was instituted June 11, 1877, with but three charter members ; its present membership is between sixty and seventy.
American Legion of Honor, Old Colony Council, No. 1152, was established in Middleboro August 9, 1883, with thirty-six charter members, but its present membership seems to be reduced to about ten.
Lenhart Lodge, No. 102, A. O. U. W., was formed August 14, 1889. It has, at present, a membership of about one hundred.
Middleboro Lodge, No. 135, I. O. O. F., was organized May 14, 1884, and has, at present, a membership of one hundred and seventy-nine.
633
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
1888]
Colfax Encampment, No. 64, I. O. O. F., was instituted April 17, 1888, with thirteen charter members. It has, at present, a membership of one hundred and four.
Assawampsett Lodge, No. 6995, I. O. O. F., M. U., was formed May 24, 1890, with a charter membership of twenty- three, and has now grown to a membership of one hundred and fifty.
The Nemasket Grange, No. 158, was formed on the 9th of February, 1888, largely through the influence of the late Elbridge Cushman of Lakeville, to advance the interest of agriculture throughout the county. It has, at present, a mem- bership of ninety-two persons.
Progress Assembly, No. 202, R. S. G. F., was organized October 9, 1888, with thirty-four charter members. This went into a receiver's hands in December, 1905.
Tispequin Council, No. 23, Jr. O. U. A. M., was organized June 26, 1890, with twenty-three charter members. There are now about fifty members.
The Citizen's Aid Society was organized September 28, 1893. It has a membership of forty-eight.
Arbutus Lodge, No. 123, K. of P., was instituted November 17, 1895. It has a membership of fifty-eight.
Knights of Columbus was organized, in Middleboro, April 29, 1897. It has a membership of fifty.
The Business Men's Club is one of the active organizations, combining business and social elements, with a membership of more than one hundred.
The Cabot Club was organized by the women of Middle- boro March 4, 1897. The present membership is over one hundred.
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