USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
1 Proprietors' Records, p. 31.
1
th in E
h
b
G F T
377
BURYING-PLACES.
field, and to lay down some on the other side of the burying- place, - and, in so doing, will bring the burying-place near the middle of the training-field, which will be very inconvenient and unhandsome: We, therefore, whose names are underwrit- ten, being also proprietors in said north purchase, are very unwilling to any such alteration being made, and do here enter our protest against it ; as witness our hand, May 15, 1708, - George Leonard, Sylvanus Cambell, Benjamin Gurney, John Foster, Robert Tucker, Samuel Leonard, Samuel Brintnell, Thomas Skinner, Andrew Grover, Thomas Grover, Isaac Shepard, Peter Aldrich, Benjamin Williams, Joseph Brint- nell."
" We whose names are under-written, altho' we are not proprietors in said north purchase, yet we dwel neer the within-mentioned Common, and are very unwilling there should be any alteration made in it, and do humbly desire there may due care be taken that there be no alteration made in it; as witness our hands, May 17, 1708, - John Cobb, Thomas Braman, Sen., Benjamin Caswel, John Lane, Isreal Fisher, Eliezer Fisher, Ebenezer Eddy, Daniel Braman."
Notwithstanding these protests, William Hodges, having pitched his habitation on the easterly end of the Common, near the principal highway from Attle- borough to Bridgewater, was by no means disposed to pull up stakes, and go into the background; and therefore the town of Norton took up the matter, and, Oct. 6, 1713, voted, -
"That if William Hodges, or his father, give ye Town of Norton a deed of four acres and a quarter and seven Rods of Land, on the south side of the burying-place, and on the west side of it, neer his house 1 in Norton; and procure George Leonard also to Give the Town of Norton a deed of
1 From an examination of the ground, I am satisfied that Hodges' house was on the east end of the Common; and not on the west, as these words have been interpreted to mean. What is meant is, undoubtedly, that the " four acres and a quarter and seven rods of land" were near William Hodges', and bordered upon the south and west side of the burying-place. The oldest graves are near the middle of the ground, as it now is; and the taking-up of the east end for a house-lot, and laying down some at the west end, would bring about such a result as is stated by George Leonard and the other remonstrants. The occupation of the east end would also, as they stated it did, interfere with the training-field. Our oldest inhabitants have no tradition of a house at the westerly end of the Common.
32*
be th of st se to h- e- d e d f
nd, not
378
BURYING-PLACES.
the Remaining part of two acres of Land that was Layd out to him where Norton meeting-house stands, he haveing given the town a deed of part of it already,1 - yt then, and not els, the selectmen, in the Town's behalf, Give William Hodges a deed of four acres of Land, and a quarter and seven Rods which he hath Already fenced in, and on which his house and barn doth stand on in Norton ; and also that thay Give him a deed of a quarter of an acre more, in the corner of the com- mon Land, neer his Barn."
At a meeting of the North-Purchase proprietors, Feb. 3, 1713-14, after the above vote of the town had been read, the said proprietors -
" Voted there concurance with this vote; with this proviso, that William hodges shall give the deed of the four acres and a quarter and seven rods aforesd., joyning to the burying- place, to George Leonard, John Hodges, and Thomas Stevens, the presant selectmen of Norton, for and in the behalf of the proprietors of the north purchase, for their use and benefit, as well as to the inhabitants of the town of Norton, and to lye perpetually common for publick uses."
The matter, however, was not settled very speedily. Hodges held on to what he had got, with a tenacious grasp. At a meeting of the North-Purchase proprie- tors, June 15, 1727, -
"Thirdly, in Refference to the Land that William Hodges hath setled upon in said north purchase, that was laid out for a common or for publick uses, the proprietors voated to chuse a committee, and to Leave that affaire with them to deside that matter, by Giveing and takeing deeds of Exchaing of Land on the proprietors' behalf, and said William Hodges to pay the charge therof; the committee to consist of three men. And what said committee doth do on the proprietors' behalf, relating to that affaire, to be and remain firm and Good for Ever."
Finally, April 5, 1728, deeds of exchange of land between Hodges and the North-Purchase proprietors were executed, and the matter permanently adjusted.
1 This deed was given Dec. 16, 1712; and the amount of land conveyed to the town by it was three-fourths of an acrc.
379
BURYING-PLACES.
This common-ground was, for many years, used conjointly for a burying-place and a training-field, and the regimental musters were frequently held on this spot ; so that it would seem, notwithstanding the encroachments of William Hodges, it was still available for military parades, and all the accompaniments of such occasions. April 5, 1802, the town chose Briga- dier Silas Cobb, and Isaac Hodges, jun., a committee " to look into and ascertain the Boundaries of Norton Common, so called." The next year, Laban Wheaton, Esq., Silas Cobb, Brian Hall, Isaac Hodges, and Wil- liam Burt, were chosen "a committee to settle the bounds of the common." How they discharged their duties, we are left to conjecture; but, until within a recent period, there was no fence or wall or any thing to mark the bounds between the " home of the dead " and the training-field. The four-footed beasts that were turned loose upon the " common " trampled upon the green sod that covered the loved of earth, till the exact resting-place of many was obliterated. This state of things continued till about a quarter of a century since. There was an article in the warrant for a town- meeting, March 7, 1825, " To see if the town will vote to sell a part of Norton Common, and appropriate the money . . . for fencing the burying-ground." It was voted "to request the selectmen to go and find where the road, or roads, ought to run, and where the fence around the burying-ground ought to be set." At the adjourned meeting, May 25, " voted that individuals might fence the burying-ground on Norton Common, so called, without any expense to said town;" and a committee of five were chosen to see where it was most convenient to have the roads run and the fence built. Soon afterwards, the now rather dilapidated stone wall that surrounds the burying-place was built by private contributions of time and money. It is better than nothing, but not what the honor and repu- tation of the town require it should be.
The Central Burying-ground, near the Trinitarian Meeting-house of Norton, is within the limits of the
380
BURYING-PLACES.
old township, or original purchase, of Taunton. Feb. 1, 1710, certain persons -
" Granted to the North Precinct some land to ly on the plain near Richard Briggs's, to ly common there for a burying- place, or some other publick uses, for the benefit of the said precinct; Said land being Given, by the persons hereafter named, for said use. John Witherell, two acres ; Isaac Dean's heirs, one acre; John Lincoln, one acre; William Leonard, one acre ; John Lincoln, Grand Senior, one acre; and Robert Crossman, one acre, - being seven acres in all." 1
Not a third part of the original seven acres is now occupied as a " burying-place, or other public use." How it has been diminished, and the changes in and around it, we shall briefly state.
Sept. 9, 1734, the town "voted that George Leonard, Esq., and John Hodges, the 1st, and John Briggs, the 2d, Be a Comitey to tacke Care and Renew the Bounds of the towne's Comons, neare to the Land of the Eyrs of Richard Briggs, deseased." Nov. 19, 1742, " Theyr was a voate called for, to Know whether the Towne wold clear aney of the town's comons by George Briggs ; and it past in the negative."
In the spring of 1753, Gershom Cambell, who lived near by, desired " to clear some of the town's common land, at or near the burying-place ;" but, on May 14 of that year, the town "voted not to give Liberty to Gershom Cambell to clear the Burying-place near Wil- liam Carpenter's Orchard, or any part thereof."
May 21, 1764, the town " voted to exchange some Land with William Carpenter, near sd. Carpenter's Dwelling-house ; " and a committee of three was " Im- powered " to give and receive a deed, &c.
At a town-meeting, May 11, 1778, "voted not to act on the article in the warrant with regard to selling the town's land near Carpenter's." Towards a dozen years later, Capt. Isaac Hodges and nine others pe- titioned for a town-meeting, to see if the town would
1 Proprietors' Book (Sixty-four-acre Division), p. 135.
-
381
BURYING-PLACES.
" sell their land which lies near Peter Carpenter's, and pay some of their debts with the money." The meet- ing was held Nov. 9, 1789; and it was " voted to sell the town's land lying near the house of Peter Carpen- ter; " and the selectmen were directed "to ascertain the bounds, and measure the same, and lay out a suitable part for a burying-ground."
At an adjourned meeting, Nov. 23, John Crane, Isaac Hodges, and Nathan Babbit, were authorized to sell at "Publick vendue [this common land,] Except one acre and threc-quarters of an acre reserved for a burying-ground, . . . unless sd. Committee shall find, on examining the proprietors' records, [the town] has not a right to sell the same." The same persons were further "Instructed, at the same time and in the same mode, to sell the wood standing on the land reserved for a Burying-Ground."
Probably, on an examination of the proprietors' books, it was decided that the town had a right to sell it; and it was accordingly disposed of to the highest bidder : and nothing now remains to the town of the original seven acres, except one acre and three-quar- ters.
When the Timothy-Plain Burying-ground was laid out, is uncertain. Feb. 16, 1742, Benjamin and John Williams deeded to Benjamin Copeland " a meadow- lot of two acres," bounded "Easterly by Goosberrough- meadow River," and westerly "partly by an acre of Land laid out to John Wetherel for a burying-place." This must be the ground at Timothy Plain, on the westerly side of Canoe River; for this stream was once called "Goosberry brook." Whether the lot was intended as a public or private ground, we are unable to say ; but most probably for public use. At any rate, it is now considered as public property. This ground is in a sad condition : it is overgrown with bushes and brambles, and unfenced.
It presents a most gloomy aspect to the passer-by, and a melancholy commentary upon the public spirit of the town.
382
BURYING-PLACES.
Probably the people in the neighborhood of Winne- connet for many years buried their dead at the old ground (now unused) situated beside the meadow, forty or fifty rods north-easterly of the outlet of the pond, near the line of Taunton.
This ground is, no doubt, the oldest within the limits of Norton, and yet was probably never formally set apart for burial purposes. Here, we presume, was buried the first settler, - William Wetherell. The spot is now situated in a " pasture-lot," and not protected from the tramp of the sheep and cattle that find a home there during the summer months. It was given up on account of its proximity to the meadow ; the graves, when dug, becoming partially filled with water. This led to the opening of the burial-places farther up towards Winneconnet Village, which are separated by a narrow road.
The burying-place nearly a mile north-easterly of the schoolhouse, in District No. 5, was originally com- menced as a private burial-place by the Babbit Family. From the Babbits the estate passed into the hands of William Cobb, who deeded it to the town for a public burial-place. This deed, in the course of time, was lost, and Judge Wheaton had succeeded to the owner- ship of the land; who, on being assured that it had once been deeded to the town, gave a new deed of a quarter of an acre to the town for a burial-place. About twenty years ago, a wall was built around this ground by the private contribution of those who had friends interred within.
There are many other places - most, if not all, of them of a private character - where the dead lie buried in town. It is to be hoped, however, that these private grounds may not be increased. For many reasons, it is better that there should be but few ceme- teries in a town ; for where there are so many " private grounds," or even a multiplicity of public ones, it is difficult to make an appropriation to keep the ceme- teries in a respectable condition.
And this difficulty was experienced here no longer
d
of
di
to
383
BURYING-PLACES.
ago than 1854, when the attempt was made by the town to beautify and adorn our burying-grounds ; which were, and still are, in a most lamentable con- dition. We hope, however, for the honor and credit of the town, that these habitations of the dead will remain not long in their present poverty-stricken con- dition.
HEARSES.
Until within the memory of many now living, there was no hearse in town for the transportation of the dead to the place of burial. April 2, 1804, the town " voted to build one hearse, to be kept at the centre of the town." Previous to this time, the dead were always carried - and in some instances, of course, several miles - on a bier, upon the shoulders of the bearers. Where the distance was long, others besides the bearers joined in the procession, for the purpose of " taking turns" at carrying the dead.1
April 1, 1805, the town " voted to build or buy a house to put the hearse in ; " and the selectmen were to have the oversight of the matter. A house was built near the end of the horse-sheds, back of the old Meeting-house, on the northerly side of the Centre Common, a few feet from where the Hayscales now are.
Here it remained until 1837, when the town con- sented that it " might be removed to the corner of the burying-ground, near Dr. Leavit Bates's, if it can be done free of expense to the town," &c .; and it was accordingly removed. The same year, Nov. 14, the town agreed to purchase a suitable hearse and harness. Sept. 30, 1839, the selectmen were authorized "to repair the Hearse-House as much as they think proper, at the expense of the town." In 1856, a new hearse was purchased by a vote of the town, at an expense of
1 Mr. David Makepeace, the oldest man now living in town, informs me he has assisted in carrying more than fifty corpses in this way; and does not recollect seeing a single corpse carried to the grave in any kind of a carriage till the hearse was purchased.
d
384
THE OLD FRENCH AND
two hundred dollars; making the third hearse the town has owned within a little more than fifty years. The first time this new hearse was used,1 it was found to be too small to admit the coffin of the deceased ; and the old hearse had to be sent for to carry the corpse to the grave.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE OLD FRENCH AND THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
" Ez fer war, I call it murder; There you hev it, plan an' flat: I don't want to go no furder Than my Testyment fer that." BIGLOW PAPERS.
THOUGH we like not war, nor any of its works; though we believe, that, in every instance, all difficulties be- tween nations might be settled without a resort to the sword, -still our duty as an historian compels us faith- fully to chronicle those events wherein man, -
" Like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven As make the angels weep."
In the spring of 1744, hostilities between England and France were declared. This war is sometimes called the OLD FRENCH WAR, to distinguish it from that of a subsequent date ; but perhaps is more commonly known as KING GEORGE'S WAR. As a matter of course, the hostile feeling between the mother-countries ex- tended to their respective Colonies in America. The most important event this side of the Atlantic, con- nected with the war, was the attack upon, and capture from the French, of Louisburg, a strongly fortified place on the Island of Cape Breton. A plan for the reduction of this place, communicated by Gov. Shirly,
1 Nov. 14, 1856, at the funeral of Mrs. Eunice Adams.
I
e C
385
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
was adopted by the General Court of Massachusetts, early in the year 1745, by a majority of one vote. A company of soldiers to go on this expedition was raised in Norton and vicinity. In the " History of the Hodges Family," by A. D. Hodges, p. 18, I find "A List of the Soldiers listed to go in the (Expedition) at Cape Bre- ton, under the command of Major Joseph Hodges, Lieut. - , and Ensign Caswell." This was John Caswell, of this town; and, there being no lieutenant, he was soon promoted to that office.1
. We copy only the names of those belonging to Norton : -
Drummer, Thomas Braman ; Phillip Atherton, Jeremiah Cambell, Micajah Dorman, Abijah Fisher, John Fisher, Eleazer Fisher, John Forrist, Isaiah Forrist, Samuel Forrist, Thomas Grover, Zepheniah Lane, Ephraim Thayer.
Seven men were transferred from Major Hodges' to Nathaniel Williams's company. Three of these - viz., John Finny, John Finny, jun., and Jonathan Lane - are supposed to have belonged to Norton. From this expedition Major Hodges never returned. One account says, "He died in the early part of the war, when stationed on the lines between the present state of Maine and Canada." Another account says, " that, on his returning voyage [from Cape Breton] in a French vessel, he died suddenly ; and there was sus- picion that he was poisoned."
He is represented " as a man of a brave, chivalrous spirit." 2
I have searched the Muster Rolls at the State House, Boston ; but can find nothing relating to the company under the command of Major Hodges.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
After a peace of only a few years' duration, Eng- land and France again formally declared war in 1756.
1 See French-war letters in Genealogical Register, vol. iv. p. 27.
2 For further account of him, see deacons, p. 215.
33
386
THE OLD FRENCH AND
Hostilities between the French and English Colonies in America had, however, been carried on about two years before open war was proclaimed. This war extended from 1756 to 1763. To assist in carrying it on, Nor- ton furnished her full quota of officers and soldiers. In Capt. Nathaniel Perry's company, of Easton, - on service from the middle of June to the middle of Sep- tember, 1754, employed for the defence of the eastern frontier, - I find the names of the following men belonging to Norton : -
Jonathan Eddy, William Rogers, Levi Lane, Samuel Pratt, Elijah Smith, John Thayer, George Wetherell, Elisha Thayer, and Ephraim Briggs.1
In the autumn of 1755, in an expedition to Crown Point, were the following persons, either born, or re- siding at the time, in Norton : -
Samuel Eddy, Eleazer Eddy, Nicholas White, jun., Ben- jamin Bailey, Joseph Mitchell, Seth Gilbert, Ephraim Briggs, John Cobb, Daniel Tiffany, Nathan Lawrence.2
From a muster-roll of Capt. Hodges' company, dated Boston, May 5, 1756 ; and also from a return of said company, dated at Albany, May 29, 1756,3 - I take the names of the following Nortonians, who went in an " Expedition against Crown Point." There were others in the company, but they were not of this town.
Capt. Joseph Hodges ; Ensign Gideon Basset ; 4 Sergeants Oliver Eddy, John Thayer; Corporals George Braman,4 Obediah Eddy; 4 Thomas Winchel, John White, Martin Dassance, Joseph Tucker, Samuel Brintnell,4 Josiah King, Joseph Brintnell, Jonathan Newland, Jotham Basset, Elkanah Wellman, Elisha Thayer, Isaac Day,4 David Coleson,4 John Holmes, John Martin,5 Thomas Nichols, David Smith, Jacob Grover, James Pearson.
1 Muster Rolls, 1749-55.
2 Ibid. 1749-55, pp. 192, 245.
8 Ibid. 1755-6, pp. 176 and 337; where ages may be seen.
4 These men are supposed to have been killed with Capt. Hodges (see Muster Rolls, 1757, p. 266).
5 Dead before May 29, 1756.
t
a
I
de
th
ga P
21
il C
387
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
Capt. Hodges, who commanded this company, was the son of Major Joseph, already mentioned ; and was the first child baptized here after the church was gathered. He was a man of "desperate bravery." Probably while stationed near Lake George, " he went out on what was termed an Indian Scout" (a kind of service requiring great prudence and courage), and, with his whole party, fell into the hands of the Indians ; and they were all killed, Sept. 19, 1756, except one. man by the name of William Merry. Merry was taken prisoner, but finally returned home to relate the melancholy fate of his brave but unfortunate captain and associates.
The following is William Merry's account of the death of Capt. Hodges, as given by Rev. Joseph Hodges, of North Oxford, Mass., in a letter to A. D. Hodges, Esq. : 1 -
" Capt. Hodges volunteered his services on this occasion, and those who accompanied him were volunteers. His com- mand numbered sixty men. The company had marched nearly to the point designated in the order given to Capt. Hodges, when he made a halt for the purpose of refreshment. A party was despatched to the lake, with canteens, for water .. They returned immediately with the alarming information,. that they saw on the shore of the lake hundreds of fresh. tracks of Indians in the sand. The order was immediately given to resume the march. The company had proceeded! but a short distance, when the firing from every quarter con- vinced them that they were surrounded by Indians. Capt .. Hodges charged his men 'to fight for their lives.' He set his men the example by the energetic use of his own gun - which he carried on this occasion - instead of his sword. But they were overpowered by numbers. Merry's testi- mony was that he fought by the side of his commander, who was first wounded in the ankle by a musket-ball; when he dropped on his knees, and continued to fire, and encourage his men. Another ball struck him in the breast. Placing one hand on the wound to check the flowing blood, with his musket in the other he still kept the Indians at bay, one
1 Hodges Family, p. 16.
in ars ed
rs. on
n
1 3
388
THE OLD FRENCH AND
of whom reached forward to sever his scalp. Foiled thus, the Indian levelled his gun, and shot him through the head, when the brave captain fell. It was Merry's custom to re- late with pride that he killed the Indian who aimed the last fatal shot at his commander, of whose bravery and character he spoke in the highest terms. After being a prisoner with the Indians five years, Merry made his escape, and returned to Norton ; where he passed the remainder of his days in a quiet and humble life. He had the reputation of being an honest, simple-hearted man ; and his statement may be relied on as faithful."
From the return of Benjamin Williams's company, of Easton, dated " Boston, the 7th May, 1756;" and from a return of the same company, raised for the expedition against Crown Point, dated Fort Edward, 26th of July, 1756,1- I extract the names of those who were born in or hailed from Norton at that time ; viz. : -
f
Clerk, John Basset; Nathaniel White,2 William Merry, Ebenezer Turner, Nicholas Smith.
This Capt. Benjamin Williams was great-grandfather of our townsman, Rodolphus H. Williams, Esq., in whose family is a standard, said to have been taken from the French in this war. It is a curious relic of olden times. The design, painted on both sides, is a human face, dotted all over with eyes; and underneath is the motto, " VIGILANTIBUS." We believe the tradition rela- tive to this "standard " is very unreliable; for, in different branches of the family, it is very conflicting. Mr. Williams has also in his possession a pair of " smoking-tongs," that belonged to his ancestor, Capt. Benjamin Williams; whereon his name is engraved, and dated " FORT WM. HENRY, 1756." They are very curiously made, and are worthy of an examination as an article of camp furniture one hundred years ago.
In the return of Capt. David White's company,3 of
1 Muster Rolls, 1755-6, pp. 193 and 332.
2 He was dead Feb. 24, 1757 (see Muster Rolls for that year, p. 197).
8 Muster Rolls, 1755-6, p. 356. See also letters of Col. Ephraim Leo- nard, Muster Rolls, 1755-6, pp. 248-9 and 339-40.
I
m tl e
C
of
389
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
Mendon,- who was also in the Crown-Point expedition of 1756, - are a few names of Norton men : -
Lieut. Nathan Hodges, Josiah Tucker, Thomas Ray, Jo- seph Woodard, Joseph Mitchell, Robert Craig, Job Tucker.1
Phillip White was in an expedition for the reduction of Canada in 1758 ; and George Wheaton was surgeon's mate in Thomas Doty's regiment for the same purpose the same year. Four men from Norton went on an expedition to Crown Point in Capt. Thomas Cobb's company,2 of Taunton; the time of service, from May 11, 1759, to Jan. 2, 1760. First lieutenant, Ephraim Lane; Nathaniel Lane, Simeon Cobb, Abiel Lane.
From May 12, 1759, to Jan. 2, 1760, Capt. Nathan Hodges, of Norton, was out with a company of men from this town, whose names we here record : 3 __
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.