USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 24
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9. John Crosman probably came to this country a widower and brought his son Robert with him, through whom there were numerous descendants.
10. John Deane made a permanent settlement in Cohannet and be- came a leader in public affairs. He was from Somersetshire and brought over with him his brother Walter and sister Margaret, wife of John Strong. He was made a freeman in December, 1638, and died in 1660. His homestead was on the river bank, and in his honor and that of his brother Walter, the thoroughfare there has always been called Dean street. He was father of John, who is supposed to have been
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the first white child born in the settlement, in 1639; Thomas, who set- tled at Taunton; Israel, died unmarried; Isaac, who was father of eight children, as also was Thomas, while John had nine. Through these families have come down numerous descendants, many of whom have occupied high places in public estimation. Walter Deane, brother of John, was a tanner and also a prominent citizen; he served as select- man more than twenty years and was deputy in 1640. He was father of Joseph, a "cordwainer of Taunton," who had four children; Ezra, with six children, one of the sons (also named Ezra) having sixteen children; Benjamin, with twelve children.
12. Francis Doughty (spelled also Douhty, Doutie, and Doty), is re- corded as having been "vicar of Sodbury, Gloucester, England, where he was silenced for nonconformity." He was a plain, outspoken man and his preaching at Cohannet was not always satisfactory. He went to Manhattan Island in 1643 and was the first Presbyterian minister in New York. His land in Taunton was sold to "Robert Hide of Taunton for the sum of twelve pounds," in 1667; it comprised in all twelve acres.
13. John Drake landed at Dorchester or Boston in 1630, with Gov- ernor Winthrop, according to Savage, and in the same year requested to be made a freeman. From Taunton he went to Windsor, Conn., and was accidentally killed there August 17, 1659.
14. William Dunn came over as master of a vessel, according to the best authority, and probably soon returned.
15. "Mr." Thomas Farwell, a first purchaser, whose name is on the military list of 1643, but not on the list of 1659 of those entitled to the division of lands. He was father of John, who, in 1700, through John Pole, a Boston merchant, as attorney, laid claim to Taunton lands as follows :
A parcel at Assonet Neck, an island in the Great River called Grassy Island, a piece on the eastward side of the river near a place known as the Needle's Eye, and a home lot in the town, on the northwestward side of Taunton River, bounded north- east by John Cobb's land and southwest by land of Shadrach Wilbore, deceased.
16. " Mr." John Gilbert, "a grave, honest gentleman," as the record has it, came over to Dorchester and brought with him "two well grown youths," Thomas and John; the three were among the Taunton first purchasers, a larger number than from any other one family. The father was made freeman in 1638, constable in 1640, and received a grant of forty acres for public service. In 1696-7 John Richmond in a deposition stated as follows:
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Mr. John Gilbert had a house at a meadow down on the westward side of Taunton Great river and there wintered cattle for some years and it was known as Mr. Gil- bert's farm meadow, afterward in the possession of John Smith.
Mr. Gilbert's will was made in 1654 and he probably died the next year; in it are mentioned sons Gyles, Joseph and Thomas, and daugh- ter Mary.
17. Thomas Gilbert, eldest son of the foregoing John, was made freeman in 1643, constable in 1648-9, and deputy in 1651. In 1653 he returned to England and died there in 1676, his wife and children re- maining in Taunton. He had a son named Thomas, who was prom- inent in the community, held the office of selectman nine years and other offices.
18. John Gilbert, younger son of the first John, returned to England earlier than his brother and never came back.
19. John Gingell (whose name is found spelled fourteen different ways), did not long remain in Taunton, and his name is entered as a freeman and resident of Dorchester in 1646 Richard Williams became owner of his Taunton lands, according to Mr. Emery, but a deed is in existence covering the sale by him to John Smith of " one full purchase Right in the Township of Taunton," which would seem to be in con- flict with the title of Mr. Williams.
20. William Hailstone was made a freeman in 1644; he was a tailor and held no public position.
21. George Hall was one of the prominent proprietors and admitted freeman in 1645; in that year he was constable and was chairman of the Selectmen from 1666 to the year of his death, 1669. He was a founder of the first church in Taunton and was interested in the iron " bloomery," serving as clerk and business manager at the time of his death, when his son John took the position. He had three sons. John, Joseph and Samuel, the family having produced many notable char- acters.
22. William Harvey, first of Plymouth, settled at Cohannet and was there married in 1639; he lived on the north side of Cohannet street, between the training field and Mill River. After residing in Boston from 1641 .to 1646, he returned to Taunton, was selectman, member of the General Court, and held other offices. He was a large landholder.
23. Hezekiah Hoar had a house lot on the westerly corner of what is now Winter street; this street was once called Hoar's lane. The lot
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joined Walter Deane on the west. He was constable three years, and held other positions. In 1693 his lot passed to Ezra, son of Walter Deane.
24. Robert Hobell disappeared and probably died soon after be- coming one of the original purchasers.
25. William Holloway, whose name was spelled in varions ways, even as "Hallowell," removed to Boston about 1650. He became a freeman in 1644. There is evidence that he had four sons, William, Benjamin, John and Malachi, the last two being the elder ones and born in Taunton; Malachi was a large landholder in Taunton.
26. John Kingsley was one of the seven men whose name appears at the reorganization of the first church in Dorchester as one of its founda- tion members. He became a purchaser of Taunton and soon removed to Rehoboth, where he died in 1679. From this family have descended a number of men who have been prominent in this country. John Kingsley's rights in Taunton passed to Thomas Caswell.
27. John Luther, the original purchaser of 1638, may have been of Gloucester. In the proprietor's records is the following concerning the family :
This 19th of October, 1672, Samuel Luther, ye son of John Luther, hath this day made a demand of his father's purchase rights of ye town.
This demand was not met, as James Walker had at that time been in possession of the rights for thirty years, as stated in the records.
28. George Macey (or Macy) was in after years known as captain and lieutenant, and was surveyor of the town in 1649, 1655 and 1668; he was also selectman sixteen years, and deputy five or six years; and was one of the county magistrates of Plymouth in 1690. His will is dated June 20, 1693, and mentions six daughters. He had land on Deane street, which has been thought to have been his home lot, but he lived at a later time on land " lying on Mill River betwixt Timothy Holloway on the east and Richard Paul on the west, it being on the north side of Mill River." He also owned land on the south side of that river, and there built a fort which was of great importance in the Indian war.
29. William Parker was probably the first "keeper of records " of both the church and the town. He became a freeman in 1641, and in that year was appointed constable, holding the office in two other years also, and that of deputy three years and other town offices. His will is dated March 15, 1659, and mentions James Phillips (who was
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his nephew), Elizabeth, wife of James Walker, and his wife Alice; the latter married Stephen Paine of Rehoboth, in 1662.
30. John Parker, younger brother of William, was first of Hingham in 1636; was a freeman in 1641, represented Taunton in 1642 and was subject to military duty in 1643. He died February 26, 1667.
31. Richard Paull was probably in Boston before coming to Cohan- net, where his name is associated with the first recorded marriage, November 8, 1638, to Margery Turner. In 1640 he was licensed as an inn-holder, and in 1652 was a surveyor of highways. He died prior to 1654, and had two sons, William and Samuel, who left many descend- ants.
32. William Phillips was one of the older men of the first purchasers, his name appearing as one of those who had "taken up freedom " in 1648. He was surveyor in 1653, and his will is dated April 16, 1654, at which time he was represented as "aged three score and ten at least." The will mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and his son, James, who was executor. His wife was sister of William and John Parker, before mentioned. The son James was killed by the Indians in 1676.
33. "Mr." William Pole (written also Pool and Poole) was a son of Sir William Pole, of Devonshire, England, where representatives of the family still live. William, who came over with his sister Elizabeth, was one of three sons born at one time, probably in December, 1593, his baptism having taken place on December 4. He came to America about 1630 with his sister, who was baptized August 25, 1588, making her the elder by five years. After tarrying a while in Dorchester they migrated and made the settlement of which John Winthrop wrote, " in 1637, a plantation was begun at Tecticutt, by a gentlewoman, an ancient maid, one Mrs. Poole." This settlement was not where Taun- ton now lies, but on the river named Tetiquet by the Indians, and near the source of Taunton Great River; there she and her brother had their "Shute farm," so called in memory of their Devonshire home. It is quite well established that they settled on some satisfactory basis with the Indians for their lands, making what may properly be termed the "Tetiquet Purchase"-not including the territory of the present Taunton, but that. which she then occupied. When the forty-six pur- chasers bargained for the " Eight Miles Square " and made the settle- ment farther west, this " ancient maid " was of sufficient importance to be considered a chief proprietor, with lands and a home lot like the others. For two centuries this woman has borne the title of " virgin
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mother " of the town; she was a "chief promoter of the settlement " of Taunton. In 1639 William Pole, the brother, was named as Captain Pole and ordered to "exercise the inhabitants of Cohannet in their armes." He was a deputy in that year and again in 1641-43. In 1657 he was one of the Selectmen and held other positions. He removed to Dorchester and there died in 1674. His children, as named by Sav- age, were John, who removed to Boston; Nathaniel, Timothy, Mary and Bethesda, born in Taunton; and Theophilus, born in Dorchester.
34. The Widow Randall is the only woman whose name appears among the first purchasers. Of this one almost nothing is positively known.
35. John Richmond, the first purchaser, is not on the list of 1643 as between sixteen and sixty years old, and had probably gone to Rhode Island where he was in 1655; but he returned to Taunton and there died March 20, 1663-4. His will is dated December 14, 1663. He had sons John and Edward, and daughters Mary and Sarah. The elder son, John, became prominent in the community. In 1671 he, with James Walker, his brother-in law, was appointed by the court "to pur- chase, in behalf of the Town of Taunton, land of the Indians, lying on the west side of Taunton river from the three mile river down to a place called the Store house." He also held the office of constable and other positions of trust. He died October 7, 1715. He was father of eleven children.
36. The name of Hugh Rossiter appears in the list of " those of Co- hannet that have taken the oath of fidelity," but is not on the military list of 1643. His daughter Jane married Thomas Gilbert. Joseph Willis claimed under Rossiter's rights in 1675; it is uncertain whether he removed to Connecticut or went back to England.
37. William Scadding, he whose name is perpetuated in Scadding's Pond, probably had land near that beautiful sheet of water. After taking the oath his record is lost.
38. Anthony Slocom, the first purchaser, was admitted a freeman in 1657 and was surveyor in 1654 and 1662; soon afterward he removed to Dartmouth where his sons, Eleazer, Giles and Peleg, married and were proprietors in 1694. Slocom's house lot was on Deane street.
39. Richard Smith took the oath of fidelity in 1638 and was proposed as freeman in the next year. He soon afterward left the locality prob- ably for Rhode Island. Joseph Wilbore claimed under his rights in 1675.
29
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40. John Smith was propounded as freeman in 1639 and doubtless soon afterward removed to Long Island. He had a number of children, some of whom probably remained in Taunton. His relationship, if any, to the foregoing Richard is unknown.
41. Francis Street's name is in the list of 1643 and he took the oath of fidelity in 1657. Very little is known of him; the inventory of his estate was "exhibited to the General Court held at Plymouth the 7th of January, 1665, on the oath of Elizabeth Street, widow."
42. John Strong came over early, married for his second wife, Abi- gail, daughter of Thomas Ford, of Dorchester, and came to Taunton in 1637. He was the first constable of Taunton, 1638-39, and was deputy in 1641, 1642, and 1643. He was prominent in public affairs and a most respected citizen. His home lot was on Deane street, next west of John Deane. He went to Windsor to live, but just when is not known, Walter Deane having been selected by him to dispose of his Taunton real estate. In Windsor he married his third wife. His three wives bore him seventeen children, and among his many descendants were men and women of distinction.
43. Henry Uxley was a first purchaser of whom almost nothing is now known, except that his house and lot were sold to Richard Will- iams; when he came and whither he went are unknown.
44. Richard Williams was for many years a leading man in the town and was, without much doubt, descended by blood from Cromwell. He was baptized in his native town of Gloucester, England, January 28, 1606, and married Frances Deighton February 11, 1632. They had nine children, two of whom were born in England and died young; five of the others were sons, through whom there are a host of descend- ants, many of whom have been distinguished in the annals of the country. It is not known just when Richard Williams left Dorchester for Taunton; some authorities claim that he was the first settler. He was a deputy in 1643 and also in twelve other years and was eleven years a selectman; he was also prominent in the church and in all pub- lic affairs. He died in 1693, and his wife in 1706.
45-46. Benjamin Wilson and Robert Wilson, the first purchasers, are believed to have been brothers; but of the details of their lives very little is known. Benjamin's name appears in the military list of 1643, and in 1675 John Hall and Samuel Hall, sons of George Hall, claimed on the rights of the Wilsons. Nothing further is known of them.
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The foregoing brief record gives the reader a brief conception of most of the original purchasers in old Cohannet; but it must not be inferred that all of them became permanently interested in the town. The names of those settled here permanently, who made the early history of the town and whose descendants kept alive the ancestral honor, number only fourteen, as follows: Henry Andrews, Richard Burt, John Crosman, John Deane, Walter Deane, George Hall, William Harvey, George Macey, John Parker, William Parker, Richard Paull, William Phillips, John Richmond, Richard Williams; to these should be added William Pole and Elizabeth Pole, the former of whom passed a large part of his New England life here, and the latter is entitled to enduring fame for her devotion to the early welfare of the town. John Smith left the town and died elsewhere, but their children remained and the families are still represented, and the same is true of John Browne.
There is a second list of thirty-five names of persons who, according to the record, " have paid their twelve shillings and by virtue thereof have and shall have right in all future divisions." (These "twelve shillings " being for "public use " and to extinguish the Indian title). The names are as follows:
1. Edward Bobit, 1 13. William Hodges, 25. Ralfe Russel,
2. James Burt, 14. Samuel Holloway, 26. William Shepard,
3. Thomas Coggan, 15. Thomas Joans, 27. Giles Slocom,
4. Robert Crosman, 16. Aaron Knap, 28. Richard Stacy,
5. Bennajah Dunham, 17. Henry Leonard,
6. William Evins,
18. James Leonard,
30. Christopher Thrasher,
7. John Gallop,
19. Thomas Lincoln, sr.,
20. Thomas Lincoln, jr.,
32. John Turner,
33. James Walker,
34. James Wiatt,
11. Thomas Harvey, 23. Oliver Purchase,
12. Nicholas Hathaway, 24. Edward Rew,
29. Robert Thornton,
31. John Tisdale,
8. Giles Gilbert,
9. Joseph Gilbert,
21. John Macomber,
10. Richard Hart, 22. Clement Maxfield,
35. Jacob Wilson.
These men and their families were identified with early history and some of them, like Edward Bobit, Robert Crosman, John Gallop, Will- iam Hodges, James Leonard, Thomas Lincoln, senior and junior, John Macomber, Oliver Purchase, John Tisdale, John Turner, James Walker and James Wiatt, were prominent in the public affairs of the com- munity. Bobit settled in what is now Berkley, and was "slaine by
1 In this and other lists, as well as in individual names in these pages, which are taken from records, the spelling there found is followed, though it is frequently changed and different from that of the present day.
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the Indians " in 1676; he had eight children. Robert Crosman was a son of the first purchaser (John) and father of Robert who was a noted miller. He was a skillful mechanic and has been called in one publi- cation "the drum-maker of New England." He was father of twelve children, some of whom were prominent. Nathaniel was executor of his father's estate and inherited the grist mill and handed it down to his sons, Robert and Joshua. Robert rose high in military authority and kept a hotel which was headquarters in the time of the Revolution. The old mill was finally closed and removed in 1823, after an existence of one hundred and seventy-one years, as described farther on.
William Hodges of this list settled in a part of the town which has . marked the family residence ever since-the corner of Washington and Tremont streets. His name is on the military list of 1643 and he died April 2, 1654. James Leonard and his brother Henry were long prom- inently identified with the iron industry in early times, as elsewhere noticed. They, with Ralph Russell, established "a Bloomery work on Two Mile river " in 1652. Thomas Lincoln, sr., was a miller and pur- sued that business in Taunton; he had a house on the mill lot west of the mill and became a large landholder; he died in 1683.
John Macomber was the progenitor of a large and influential family and was a surveyor in 1671. "Although not an office bearer, as a rule, he was a most successful, worthy member of the settlement." It was to John Macomber, in connection with Henry Andrews, in 1659, that permission was given by the town " to erect a saw mill " on Mill River, " if it be not hurtful of the grist mill."
John Tisdale was killed by the Indians in 1675, and his house burned. His descendants in later years were large land owners on both sides of Main street in Taunton. John Turner was superintendent or foreman of the forge in Taunton in 1656, and was a surveyor in 1675. James Walker came over, when only fifteen years old, with his sister Sarah, who married John Tisdale, in care of "Mr. John Browne." Walker served as constable two years, was one to "order town affairs " four years, was deputy fourteen years and selectman eight years. James Wyatt was also frequently in public office, holding the position of deputy nine years. Others in the foregoing list, while not so con- spicuous in public affairs, where men of stalwart character, indomitable perseverance, rigid morality, and exerted their share of influence upon the well-being of the community in early years. The names of other men and records of their deeds will appear as we proceed.
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CHAPTER X.
CITY OF TAUNTON.
Early Settlements and Land Grants.
The pioneers of Taunton found a region of country somewhat similar in its physical features to the one they had left in England; it has even been suggested that this was one of its attractions to them, but this is doubtful. It is certain, however, that the abundance of fish in the streams offered a strong inducement to them to make their permanent settlements along the Great River and the smaller streams. What is now known as Mill River was famous among the Indians, as well as the early white settlers, for the abundance and quality of its herring. The fisheries were, therefore, guarded with jealous care for many years. 1
As the first settlers took up their lands and built homes along the several rivers that have been mentioned and as their number increased, some of them made repeated calls for more of what they called " meadow lands." The first reply of the General Court to one of these calls was dated March 3, 1640, and from the fact that it was favorable to the applications of " Mr. Hooke and Mr. Streete," one of whom had settled at the place as pastor and the other as teacher, and also to Mrs. Pole, it is here given in full:
Whereas the inhabitants of Cohannet, now called Taunton, have complained of their great want of meadow grounds, the which has been seriously weighed and con- sidered upon special order of the whole Court and finding their want to be such that unless they be supplied of meadow lands, they cannot comfortably there subsist,
1 "The ancient standers remember that hundreds of Indians would come from Mount Hope & other places every year in April, with great dancings and shoutings to catch fish at Cohannit, and set up theyr tents about that place until the season for catching alewives was past and would load their backs with burdens of fish & load ye canoes to carry home for their supply for the rest of the year and a great part of the support of ye natives was from the alewives. The first English planters in Taunton found great relief from this kind of fish, both for food and raysing of corne and prized them so highly that they took care that when Goodman Linkon first craved leave to set up a grist mill at that place, a town vote should be passed that fish should not be stopped." -From paper given Mr. Emery by James M. Cushman, signed by William Briggs less than a cen- tury after the settlement.
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the Court doth therefore now order and grant the meadow lands of Assonet and be- twixt Assonet and Taunton on both sides of the river unto the said inhabitants of Taunton, provided always that the ministers and people now there are fit and do precede and continue in a church estate there the space of seven years next ensuing (except some special act of God do hinder the same) that then the meadow lands aforesaid shall be to them and their heirs forever. And the Court doth further order that they will see Mr. Hooke, Mr. Streete and Mrs. Poole shall have competent meadow and uplands for farms laid forth for them about May next by Captain Standish and such others with him as shall be especially assigned thereto.
This grant and others that succeeded it was a great encouragement to the infant settlement, and also indicates the high esteem in which Elizabeth Pole was held. The home lots of the ministers joined hers, but they had farm land in what is now Berkley. When they left for New Haven their farm lands became the property of John Hathway, Edward Bobbett and Timothy Holloway, all of Taunton.
Other applications to the court for additional land may be briefly noticed: In 1643 the inhabitants asked for " those lands which belong to Mr. Hesbone," and for "further enlargement on that side of the Main River to answer to Mr. Hooke and Mr. Streete's farms on the other side," and for "the Neck of Assonet for pasturing young beasts." These requests were granted with the exception of the Neck, and this also, "provided leave can be procured from Ousamequin." This land was probably bought from Ousamequin (Massasoit), for there is a con- firmatory deed of it made by his son Philip in 1663.
In 1663 the southern boundary of Taunton was established by the General Court as it is recorded in the Plymouth Records, vol. iv, p. 45. On June 2, 1646, the town was granted the right to purchase a "calves pasture," "lying at Namasket Pond," which they could retain until "there shalbe a plantacon erected thereabouts to whom it may be helpfull." This tract was probably beyond the limits of the original Taunton purchase, and it was conveyed in the next year to Henry An- drews in payment for erecting the meeting-house. The deed is in the Plymouth Records, vol. ii, p. 57.
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