USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 7
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47
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
Crows, blackbirds, blue jays, and woodpeckers were very numerous, and did much injury to the grain- crops of the first settlers, so that a price was put upon their heads. May 23, 1715, the town " Voted to pay three half-pence a head for every flying blackbird or Jaw's head that should be kild in this town, and the heads brought to the selectmen, or John Smith, or Eliezer fisher, between this time and next March."
It may be interesting to some of our readers to know who were the hunters in those days; and we therefore make the following extract from the town-records: -
" Sept. the 19th, 1715, voted to pay - d.
S .
To Robert Tucker, for killing birds 02 09
To Benjamin Williams, for killing 19 birds 02 02
To Tho. Stephens, for killing 11 birds . 01 03
To John Hall, for killing six birds 00 09
To Ensign Wetherell, for killing 7 birds 00 10
To Simeon Wetherell, for killing 6 birds 00 09
To John Newland, Senior, for killing 10 birds 01 03
To Seth Babit, for killing four birds 00 06
To Benjamin Newland, for killing 5 birds 00 07
To John Hodges, for killing 20 birds 02 06
To Nicolas Smith, for killing four birds 00 06
To Lt. Brintnall, for killing 38 birds 04 09
To John Austin, for 3 birds
00 04."
March 20, 1717, " Voted three ha'pence for black- birds' heads, and Jayes and Woodpeckers."
March 19, 1718, by a vote of the town, "The act Revifed Conserning the kiling of birds ;" and it is supposed, that, for several years, a premium was thus paid for the destruction of these birds.
In September, 1741, the town " Voted to raise £40 for the Suport of the Scoole, and for the birds' and Squrils' heads, and the poor." We suppose this was for the support of " the poor," and not a bounty offered for cutting off their "heads."
April 4, 1803, " Voted to give 25 cents for every old crow that should be killed in the town of Norton and carried to the Town Treasurer."
48
TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.
April 2, 1804, " Voted to give 10 cents for old crows' heads the year ensuing." Whether the crows had be- come so diminished by the bounty of twenty-five cents the year previous, or whether it was found to draw too largely upon the treasury to pay that bounty, was the reason for diminishing the reward for killing them, we do not know ; but certain we are, that the destruction of these birds was a very unwise measure, and has now come to be so regarded. For all these birds, not even excepting the crow, do more good to the farmers, by destroying grubs, bugs, &c., than they do evil by eating a little corn ; for any of them will leave an ear of corn, to go and pick up a worm or insect that comes along.
But the most wanton destruction of birds and some wild animals was by means of "hunts " at " old elec- tion," or some other specified time, when the young men (and oftentimes the older ones) of town met together, and chose sides to see which party would kill the largest amount of game ; the party beaten paying for the supper and drink of nearly half of the town en- gaged in the affair.
I am told by Mr. Daniel Carpenter, that, when he was a boy, his associates sometimes chose sides to hunt birds' eggs; and the captain of the side that was beaten was required to stand upon a stone, and be pelted with the eggs found, as the grand finale of these bird- nesting depredations.
We are thankful that these " hunts" are now out of date, and trust they may never be revived ; but hope that young and old will spare the birds, and thus cul- tivate their society ; for they are the sweetest singers of earth, and the farmer's best friend.
49
INDIANS.
CHAPTER V.
INDIANS.
" The hunter leaning on his bow undrawn, The fisher lounging on the pebbled shores, Squaws in the clearing dropping the seed-corn, Young children peering through the wigwam-doors."
WHITTIER.
A FEW years previous to the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, some very malignant, and probably conta- gious, disease is supposed to have swept from the earth a large portion of the Indian tribes who peopled this part of Massachusetts. This seems almost to have been providential, to prepare the way for the more suc- cessful occupation of the territory by the Puritans and their descendants. The principal Indian nations in the vicinity of Norton were, - 1. The Wampanoags, numbering some three thousand warriors, of whom Ousamequin, better known as Massasoit, was the chief sachem, whose territory extended from Cape Cod to Narragansett Bay. 2. The Narragansetts, with five thousand warriors, of whom Canonicus was chief, who occupied the territory of Rhode Island west of Narra- gansett Bay. 3. The Massachusetts, mustering three thousand warriors, with Chickataubut for their king, occupying territory to the south of Boston, extending "From Nishamagoquanett, near Duxbery Mill, to Teghtacutt, neare Taunton, and to Nunckatatesett [a pond in the westerly part of Bridgewater, now called Nippenicket]; and from thence in a straight linne to Wanamampuke [Whiting's Pond, in Wrentham], which is the head of Charles River." 1
" A straight linne " from Nippenicket to Whiting's Pond would pass through the north-easterly part of Norton ; so that our town was probably the resort
1 Plymouth-Colony Records, vol. ii. p. 157.
5
50
INDIANS.
of both the Massachusetts and Wampanoag Indians, who were subdivided into some thirty different tribes, under the rule of a petty sachem. Massasoit had one of his residences at Sowamset, in Swansea, or perhaps in Barrington, R.I .; and was the early and constant friend of the Plymouth settlers, till his death in the autumn of 1661. He was succeeded by his son Wam- sutta, or Alexander, who died in 1662, and was suc- ceeded by his brother Metacomet, or Philip, the most renowned Indian sachem of all New England.
Chickataubut, the chief ruler of the Massachusetts Indians, seems to have been uniformly friendly to the settlers of the Plymouth Colony. His principal resi- dence was in the neighborhood of Blue Hill, in Milton, " upon the River of Naponset, near the Massachusetts Fields, three miles to the north of Wessaguscus." 1 He died of the small-pox, as did many of his people, in the fall of 1633. He was succeeded by his son Wam- patuck, or Josiah, who was also sometimes called Chickataubut.
In 1669, he was " the chiefest general " of the New- England Indians in the expedition against the Mo- hawks; and was killed the same year, with many of his men, in an encounter with the enemy in the Mohawk country. After his death, his brother Squa- maug acted as sachem for a year or two during the minority of Jeremy, the son of Wampatuck; and Charles Josias, the son of Jeremy and great-grandson of Chickataubut, "is said to have been the last of his race." 2
There seems to have been some dispute between Philip and [Josiah ?] Chickataubut about the bounds of their respective territories ; and, in the year 1670, Philip and Squamaug - then the acting chief of the Massachusetts Indians - met at the house of William Hudson,3 on Wading River, to settle the matter. It
1 New-England Genealogical Register, vol. iii. p. 333.
2 Genealogical Register, vol. in. p. 341.
8 William Hudson probably lived within the present limits of Fox- borough; for, in October, 1669, three hundred acres of land were laid out
51
INDIANS.
was finally adjusted by an agreement that the bounds between the Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies should be the dividing-line between the Wampanoags and Massachusetts. This agreement, with the auto- graph of King Philip attached, is in the possession of S. G. Drake, Esq., of Boston, and has been read by the writer of these pages.
Squamaug's name is not attached ; but why, is not known. Perhaps Philip's assent was deemed sufficient. Yet, as the bounds thus agreed upon gave up to Philip a large tract of land that formerly was claimed by Chickataubut, it would seem proper that Squamaug should have signed the compact. It is, however, use- less to speculate relative to the matter.
Thus it will be seen that Philip's jurisdiction eventually covered the whole of the ancient and present limits of Norton. . His summer residence was but a few miles from Norton, near what was called Fowling Pond, in Raynham. He frequently visited Norton, especially the neighborhood of Winneconnet Pond, near which is situated Philip's Cave, where he no doubt had his head-quarters when on hunting and fishing expeditions to this vicinity. The soil around the pond, being light, was particularly adapted to the cul- tivation of corn, beans, and a few other vegetables, which the Indian women raised. The fields were prepared for culture by burning the underbrush and small trees in the autumn. The chief instruments for planting and hoeing were large clam-shells, or the shoulder- bone of some animal, - the deer or moose, for instance, - attached to a sort of handle.
There is every reason to believe that these only real native Americans roamed over all our plains and fished
for him " at Wayding Ryver," on the easterly side of " a great pond that Wading Ryver comes out of."* This " Capt." Hudson, as he was some- times called, seems to have been quite a man in the Massachusetts Colony ; in the records of which, frequent allusions are made to him.
* For bounds, see Records of Massachusetts Colony, vol. iv. part ii. pp. 439-40. It was probably the same place bought by Jacob Shepard in 1704. - See Genea- logical Register, vol. vi. p. 128.
52
INDIANS.
in all our streams, as well as planted and sported on the shores of our pond.
Various Indian implements have been found in dif- ferent localities in town. Stone hatchets, gouges, pestles, spear and arrow points, have been picked up from time to time, and some of them quite recently.1 On the old Leonard estate, several Indian encamp- ments were discovered and demolished by cultivating the land.2 Another similar encampment is believed to have been near the house of Melzar Burt, on the borders of Canoe River.
The point of land between the Rumford and Coweset or Wading Rivers, near their junction, and about a mile and a half from the centre of the town, was once the scene of a battle between the Whites and Indians.
I have searched diligently for some authentic ac- count of this engagement; but I can find none. Seve- ral persons have informed me, that, in some history of the Indian wars, they had seen an account of it; but I think they must be mistaken, and have confounded tradition with history. Yet it is possible that some account has been printed ; but, if so, it is very strange that no one can point it out to us.
There is, however, no doubt that a battle ac- tually took place on this neck or point of land. In the records of the proprietors of Taunton Old Town 3 is to be found an agreement about land, made March 11, 1715-16, between John Hodges and Thomas Stephens. This land was situated " in Norton, on the south-west side of Rumford River, near where the two rivers (namely, Rumford and Coweset ) do meet ; " and the place is called "Lockety Neck." In 1712, land was laid out to Thomas Stephens near the place of " Lockety Fight," on "Lockety Neck."4. Thus there
1 We would suggest, as these things are becoming rare, that all that can be found be collected together, and deposited in some place of safety, as in- teresting memorials of the once noble race of men who peopled this region previous to its occupation by white men.
2 Rev. Pitt Clarke's Historical Sermon.
8 First Book of Lands, p. 60. 4 Ibid. p. 184.
53
INDIANS.
can be no questioning the actuality of the battle, and the locality of it.
Some years ago, the plain, which extends to within three or four rods of the junction of these rivers, was ploughed up, and large quantities of spear-points were found, with the appearance of having been thrown from the extreme point of the land, which is low ground, up to the plain, some twelve or fifteen feet higher; and this fact seems to agree with the tradi- tional account of the conflict.
The traditional accounts are somewhat conflicting, but amount to this : The Indians had either attacked, or were known to be planning an attack, upon Taun- ton. A party of the Tauntonians went out in pursuit of them ; and, leaving a portion of their number on each side of Three-mile River, where Rumford and Wading meet, the remainder divided their forces, and a part went up one river, and the rest the other, and crossed over on to the neck, just above a swamp - in which the Indians were secreted - that extended across from one river to the other, and drove the savages down to the junction of the rivers, where they were prevented from crossing by the men left to guard that point ; and thus, after a severe conflict, they suc- ceeded in killing or capturing the whole party of the enemy.
This swamp is supposed to have been the wet land extending from river to river between Elbridge G. Hunt's and the Copper-works. It might have been the wet land commencing a short distance below Mr. Robinson's wheelwright-shop, and extending through the Neck Woods to the Factory Pond at Barrowsville ; but I think it must have been the former locality. It must be remembered, that great changes have taken place within two hundred years in the physical ap-
pearance of the country. By clearing up the forests, many places that were called swamps have become so dry as not now to be known by that appellation.
. A remarkable instance of this kind is at what, two hundred years ago, was called Fowling Pond, in Rayn-
5*
54
INDIANS.
ham, where no vestige of a pond now remains. So this swamp where the Indians were concealed would hardly be known by that name at the present day.
The exact time of "Lockety Fight" is not known. It is supposed, however, to have been during Philip's war in 1675 and 76. In Baylies's " Memoir of Ply- mouth Colony," part iv. p. 165, he mentions a skirmish with the Indians, which might have been at this place. The reader will bear in mind that Norton was then a part of Taunton. Baylies says, -
"On the 6th of August [1676], an Indian fled to Taunton, and, seeking to make terms for himself, offered to conduct the English to a party of the enemy, representing that they might be taken with little difficulty or danger. Twenty of the Tauntonians ventured out, and surprised and captured the whole ; being twenty-six."
It is with great reluctance that I am compelled to leave this matter in some doubt. We hope, however, that what has been said will stimulate inquiry till the doubts are resolved.
It is well known that Taunton suffered less than almost any town from the Indians during Philip's war. Near Philip's summer residence, in what is now Rayn- ham, then Taunton, the Leonard family had established their iron-works. From them Philip had received many favors, and been on terms of great intimacy ; and this fact is supposed by Mr. Baylies to have been the reason why Taunton was so little molested. Mr. Baylies 1 says, -
"In his [Philip's] excursions, he had made himself ac- quainted with the Leonards. They repaired his guns, and supplied him with iron, and with such tools as are most prized by savages ; and uniformly treated him with kindness and attention. He had become more attached to this family than to any of the English ; and he gave his Indians, at the commencement of the war, the strictest orders that they should never injure a Leonard. As he knew, that, in a gene- ral attack on the town, this favorite family might be exposed
1 Part iii. p. 120.
55
INDIANS.
to dangers equal to those of the other inhabitants, it becomes, therefore, extremely probable that his attachment to the Leo- nards prevented the destruction of Taunton."
Another example serves also to illustrate Philip's humanity. A Mr. Cole had settled near to Philip, and lived in great friendship with him.
" In June, 1675, Philip informed him that his young men were very eager to go to war against the English ; but, when he could no longer restrain them, he would let him know. Accordingly, on an evening previous to the fatal 24th, canoes arrived from Mount Hope with advice from Philip, that Mr. Cole and family must go over to Rhode Island, as his people would begin the war. They embarked; and, the next morning, their dwellings were burned." 1
In these instances, we have exemplified one of the noblest traits of character belonging to civilized life ; which clearly indicates that Philip was not so terrible a monster as many supposed he was. In fact, we do not believe he was; but we regard him as one of the most patriotic and truly noble men that ever lived in any country. Had he been an Englishman, and mani- fested the same firm resolve and unfaltering devotion to the interests of his country, he would have been raised almost to the rank of a demigod.
It is said, that, a few years after the first settlement by Mr. Wetherell, a party of Indians, who were on a hunting expedition, came to his barn in the night, and killed a two-year-old colt, and roasted and ate him, and then raked up the coals, and left without disturbing the family. They are supposed to have been impelled to this act by necessity, game being rather scarce.
In the early history of the town, a party of Indians called at the house of one of Mr. Annes A. Lincoln's ancestors, and borrowed a kettle, and filled it with lit- tle mud-turtles, and then boiled and ate them. This was probably near where Seneca Lincoln now lives.
1 Church's History of Philip's War, p. 340.
56
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
Many years ago, there lived about half a mile from, and directly in front of, the present residence of George Lane, an Indian by the name of Quock; pro- bably the last of that noble and vigorous yet much- abused race who had a habitation within our borders. An orchard near where his wigwam stood is to this day known as "Quock's Orchard." This Indian is sup- posed to have been a slave the latter part of his life, first of Major George Leonard, and then of his son Ephraim. On our town-records we find this entry : " Dick, an Indian man, Major George Leonard, De- ceased, Gave to his son Ephraim; deyed the 4th of December, 1727." This is entered in the handwrit- ing of Col. George Leonard, then town-clerk, and a son of Major George.
In the index to the volume of births, deaths, &c., made by Col. Leonard, the death of " Dick " is entered under the letter Q; which seems to indicate that his surname began with that letter. Hence it is inferred that his whole name was Dick Quock.
To such a miserable end came many of those - the once proud owners of the soil on which we dwell - who were most cruelly deprived of their possessions, and crushed to the dust beneath the avarice of those calling themselves Christians.
CHAPTER VI.
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER, ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH, &c.
" Before the loftier throne of Heaven The hand is raised, the pledge is given, - One monarch to obey, one creed to own : That monarch, God; that creed, his word alone." SPRAGUE.
HAVING secured an answer to their prayer for a pre- cinct, the early settlers at once turn their attention to the great object they had in view during the precinct
57
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
struggles, - viz., the establishment of the gospel mini- stry among them.
Who preached the first sermon, or when it was preached, is, by the loss of the earliest records, left a blank.
But, of course, a candidate for the ministry was to be procured. " Whom shall we get ? Where shall we send? Who knows of the man that will come, and build us up in holy things ?" were questions frequently asked and discussed at the meetings of the early settlers. It is supposed, that, within a few weeks after the establishment of the precinct, a candidate was found; for the men engaged in this enterprise would not be slothful in their endeavors to establish the ministry of Christ in the newly created parish. Rev. Pitt Clarke, in his " Historical Sermon," already alluded to, says, "Several attempts were made to settle a gospel minister ; but the influence of Rev. Mr. Danforth, of Taunton, was so great, that they found it impracticable to ordain any one without his approba- tion. A Mr. Phillips, of Andover, received a unani- mous call, and gave an affirmative answer ; but, for the above reason, was not ordained." This was un- doubtedly Rev. Samuel Phillips, who was born at Salem, Feb. 17, 1689-90, and was the son of Samuel and Mary (Emerson) Phillips. He graduated at Harvard, 1708; and, no doubt, commenced preaching here about the 1st of January, 1710, and probably was here several months. The early settlers were men of intelligence, and hence were aware that mini- sters could not live by faith alone ; and therefore, " April 7th, 1710, a Rate was made of 401b. to Paye ye minister." 1
Undoubtedly Rev. Mr. Clarke is right in saying that Mr. Danforth's influence did not allow of Mr. Phillips's ordination. Those who were wishing to settle a mini-
1 This vote, and several others relating to the settlement of a minister, I found on a slip of paper; and they appear to have been copied from the old records that are now lost.
58
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
ster in the new precinct were members of Mr. Dan- forth's church at Taunton, and naturally would con- sult his wishes relative to the man they should settle. Finding that Mr. Danforth's influence was against him, Mr. Phillips took a final leave of this neighbor- hood; and, in the latter part of the year 1710, turned his steps to Andover, and commenced preaching in the south parish of that town, where he was ordained Oct. 17, 1711. He married Hannah White, of Haverhill, Jan. 17, 1711-12; and was the father of Hon. Samuel Phillips of Andover, and Hon. John Phillips of Exeter, N.H., - the founders of Phillips Academy at Ando- ver, and of Phillips Exeter Academy at Exeter, N.H. Mr. Phillips is said to have been an excellent man, but so economical as to blow out his candle when he began the evening prayer. Yet he was very punctilious in distributing among the poor a full tenth of his income, of which he kept an account.1
As a portion of the old township of Taunton was in- corporated into the North Precinct, and as many of the settlers of the said precinct were either proprietors, or intimately connected with the proprietors, of the old town, the latter naturally felt some interest in the prosperity of the precinct, and especially in the settlement and support of a minister. Hence divers of them made each a small contribution of land for whatever minister should be settled in the new parish. Here is the proof : -
" We, the subscribers for the Encouragement of a Learned, orthodox, pious minister to settle in the Sacred employ of the ministry in Taunton North precinct, Do hereby Give and Grant the severall quantities of land annexed to our names, hereunder written, unto the first minister who shall settle in said North precinct ; Desiring of the proprietors of Taunton old Township that it may be layed out on the next Division of land in said Township, Either in one Entire tract or more, in such place or places where it may be most convenient and
1 For further particulars of him and his portrait, see Bond's History of Watertown, p. 877, &c.
59
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
pleasing to the first minister that shall there settle, on any lands, as yet common or undivided, in that part of the old Township lands which now ffall to be within the line of the North precinct ; and particularly on land, now common, which lyes near the place appointed by Authority for the meeting- house to be sett upon, on the north and south side of the way, as shall be most convanient.
No. of Acres.
No. of Acres.
John Pool
. 12
Samuel Danforth
1₴
Robert Godfree
1
Henry Hodges
1
Joseph Hall
1 Thomas Harvey, Grand Senior. 1
James Hall
1 Nicholas White
1
Isaac Marrick .
1
John Andrews
1
Increase Robinson
2
John Tisdale .
1
Phillip King
1
John Hodges . Thomas Leonard
3
Abram Jones .
1
John Smith, Grand Senior
1
James Phillips
1
James Leonard, Jun.
1
Benjamin Wilbore
3
John Macomber . 1
James Burt
1
Thomas Dean .
1
Samuel Blake
2
Seth Williams
1
Joseph Willis .
2 John Smith, Junior
-10
Nicholas Stephens
1
Joseph Wilbore
1
Benjamin Hall
1
John White
Samuel Knap .
1
John Leonard .
1
John Mason
1
Ezra Dean, Senior
1
Nathaniel Williams James Tisdale 1
William Haskins .
2
John Crossman
1
William Wetherell, Sen.
2
Thomas Willis
Edward Leonard
1
Ebenezer Robinson
1
John Richmond, Senior
1
Joseph Tisdale
2
Ens. Thomas Gilbert
1
Mr. Giles Gilbert 1 Joseph Williams .
1
" All these severall parcells of land mentioned in this paper is Granted to the first minister that shall settle in the work of the ministry in the north precinct, on both sides of the way that goeth from Nathaniel Hodges' to the meeting-house in said precinct, and on both sides of the way that leadeth from the meeting-house in said precinct to Samuel Hodges' house, and partly on the northerly side of said meeting-house, runing up towards the land of Major Leonard; to be Laid out as may be most convenient for the first minister that shall settle in said precinct. the whole sum granted is seventy-three acres and three-quarters, on the sixty-four-acre division.
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