Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 9

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 9

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At the above said meeting the town vote that the selectmen should hier a scool- master to teach children to Reed and Wright and sifer.

By the year 1751 the population had so much increased that it was voted to build three school houses; two of these were sixteen feet square, and one twenty feet. From that time forward the town was gradually divided into more districts and better school houses erected as they were needed.

In 1767 the old meeting-house on the hill was burned by an incen- diary fire. The erection of a new house had been discussed for some time, the old one being too small. As usual, there were differences of opinion as to the best site for the new building, and it was finally found necessary to leave the question to referees. The names of five men were accordingly drawn from the juror box in Attleborough, who acted in the matter. After hearing arguments, they decided on Buck's Plain in preference to the old site and there the church was built; it was 55 by 45 feet, with 24-foot studs. The sum of £500 was appropriated by the town for building expenses. In after years the structure was cut down in height and used for a town hall. When a new town house was built the old one was sold.

Rev. Nathaniel Fisher, the first pastor of the Congregational Church, was succeeded by Rev. William Warren in 1802. Later pastors were Revs. Preston Cummings, Ezra Newton, E. Sanford, E. Dawes, E. J. Morse, William B. Green. The brick edifice was built in 1826.

The Second Congregational Church was organized in 1768, principally to satisfy those persons who objected to the change of site of the old 10

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

church to Buck Plain. The church edifice was erected near the Lower Four Corners, but the oncoming of the war and scarcity of money caused it to be left unfinished. After the war Col. Sylvester Richmond and Joseph Atwood gave two tracts of land to provide a ministerial fund, and in February, 1797, the society voted to sell the timber on the land, which was done, and $600 of the proceeds used in improving the church. Rev. Abraham Gushee was ordained pastor in 1803. When the orthodox Congregationalists and the Unitarians separated, Mr. Gushee joined the latter and the congregation worshiped in that faith from that time. The church edifice was extensively remodeled in 1861.

The town of Easton was the next one incorporated in Bristol county, the date being December 21, 1725. It was formerly a part of Norton, of which it was made the East Precinct in 1718 for the maintenance of a separate minister and church. The first town meeting in Easton was held March 2, 1726, and the following officers elected: John Phillips, town clerk; John Phillips, Josiah Keith, and Benjamin Drake, select- men; the same men were chosen assessors; Israel Randell, constable; Ephraim Randell, treasurer; Seth Babbitt and Benjamin Kinsley, sur- veyors of highways; Israel Randell, tithingman; John Daily and Timothy Cooper, hog reeves; Thomas Manley and Ephraim Hewitt, fence viewers. The name of this town was derived from its geograph- ical position as the East Precinct of Norton; hence, East Town, or Easton.

There were a few families of so-called squatters within the limits of Easton previous to the division of lands on the North Purchase in 1696. Among these were Clement Briggs, William Hayward, William Man- ley, Thomas Randell, sr. (or Randall), Thomas Randall, jr., John Phillips, Thomas Drake, and possibly a few others. The first settle- ments were made on or near the site of South Easton village. At the time of the incorporation of the town there were or had been about sixty families in the town. Of these Clement Briggs is regarded as the first settler. He bought a full share of land in 1694, coming hither from Weymouth with his step-father, Thomas Randall. He was for a period part owner of a saw mill which the Randalls built and erected the first grist mill in the town; these mills were at the Green.

William Manley was in the town as early as 1694 and was the ances- tor of all the Manleys in this section. He settled at South Easton and with his three sons owned lands at North Easton.

William Hayward was also in the town in 1694, his homestead being

FROM 1685 TO 1776.

near Simpson's Spring; he died March 26, 1697, leaving children Ruth and William.

Thomas Randall, sr., came from Weymouth with his son, Thomas, as early as 1694, and bought half of the share that Clement Briggs had previously purchased of Benjamin Dean. The fifty-first share was set off to them, which included the Green. The half north of the mill stream was owned by the first Randall and there he and his sons built the saw mill. He was father of what has been the most numerous fam - ily in Easton. His son Thomas took up twenty-six acres of land in North Easton village, having previously acquired eleven acres. There he built either the second or third saw mill in the town. He became a large property owner and was designated in 1727 to set up a public stocks.

John Phillips came in from Weymouth with Thomas Manley, the two dividing the fifty-second share, his half being north of Manley's and including the Morse privilege.

Thomas Drake, father of John and Benjamin, had a home in the town as early as 1695, at South Easton. These seven families were probably the only settlers prior to 1696. Benjamin Drake, son of Thomas, and ancestor of the many Drakes of Easton, settled in 1700, purchasing fifty acres of land lying south and southwest of the old burial ground at South Easton. His brother John bought part of a share of Ephraim Hewitt in 1702.

Ephraim Hewitt owned land in the town in 1701 and settled probably the next year. Samuel Kinsley purchased his home lot in 1701 and built the house the next year; he was father of eight children. James Hodge settled as early as 1704 .- William Manley, jr., was of age in 1700 and settled on his father's place. Thomas Manley, his brother, built a house on the upper half of his father's place; he was father of six sons and seven daughters. Ephraim Marvel settled before 1710, but little is known of him. Ephraim Randall, son of Thomas, received half of his father's homestead, east of the river. Thomas Pratt came from Middleborough in 1710; the homestead continued in the family until recent years. George Hall, son of Samuel, one of the original proprietors of the North Purchase, settled as early as 1708; he was a carpenter and became owner of part of a saw mill built by Josiah Keith. John Daily settled before 1708 and had an interest in the saw mill at the Green in 1713. Daniel Owen, sr., came from Taunton before 1710; his son of the same name lived on the homestead after his father's

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

death. Nathaniel Manley, son of William, sr., probably came in with his father. Joseph Crossman settled in 1713. John Whitman came and built on land laid out to his father in 1701. Isaac Leonard came from Bridgewater in 1713 and bought land on the site of the Novelty Works at North Easton; he was probably the discoverer of bog iron ore in this town. Edward Hayward settled about 1713 and was the first justice of the peace in Easton. Seth Babbitt came from Taunton about 1715 and settled in the extreme southwest part of the town. Erasmus Babbitt, brother of Seth, settled a little later near his brother; he was a joiner. Samuel Kinsley, jr., settled probably in 1713 south-

east of the Cranberry Meadow. William Hayward, son of the William before mentioned, succeeded to the homestead soon after 1718; he is believed to have been the first child born within the limits of Easton. Josiah Keith bought, in 1717, over two hundred acres on the easterly side of Mulberry-Meadow Brook and built his house at the same time; he kept an inn as early as 1724 and also built a saw mill before that year. Benjamin Selee came here in 1716, remained about ten years and removed to Norton. John, his brother, was the ancestor of the Easton families of that name; he settled in 1718. William Thayer, a weaver, settled as early as 1720; in 1724 he gave land to a company on which to build a saw mill, the first in that section. The stream was then called Dorchester Meadow Brook; his son Jonathan succeeded to the estate. John Newland, of Taunton, settled in 1717, in the extreme southwest part of the town. Benjamin Drake, son of the Benjamin before noticed, was born in Easton in December, 1700; his home was at Easton Center. William Phillips, a son of Captain John, settled before 1720 on a homestead lying "on both sides of the road that leads from Joseph Crossman's to Boston: " he was a carpenter. Samuel Smith, jr., lived in 1718 " at Poquanticut," meaning the northwest part of Easton; he soon moved away. Eleazer Gilbert bought Smith's land and long lived there. John Phillips, jr., son of Captain John, settled on land on Washington street, where his son Ebenezer, the Baptist deacon lived. Benjamin Kinsley, son of Samuel, sr., became owner of the homestead. John Austin had a lot laid out to him in 1719 and built his house soon afterward not far from the site of No. 3 school house. Samuel Waters settled probably in 1722 in the northeast section of the town. Benjamin Fobes settled in 1721 on what is now Pine street; he was town clerk three separate terms. Mark Lothrop settled on land laid out for his father, Samuel Lothrop; the name was formerly spelled Lathrop.

FROM 1685 TO 1776.

Eliphalet Leonard was son of James, of Taunton, before mentioned, a man of prominence and operator of the "bloomery" in that town. When iron ore was discovered in Easton he purchased thirty-five acres of land of Nathaniel Manley, where Stone's Pond is situated, including a house in which the son, Eliphalet, afterwards lived. He also pur- chased three acres of "iron mine " near Lincoln Spring. A forge was built before 1723. Eliphalet Leonard became a leading and public- spirited citizen and died in 1786.

Benjamin Williams, son of Benjamin, son of Richard, settled about 1725 on land on Mulberry-Meadow Brook, taken up by his father in 1700. He and his brother John were the earliest members of the Will- iams families to settle here. Benjamin was an inn-keeper in 1726-30. When he gave up this business John took it up and carried it on until his death in 1756. John was one of the builders of the furnace at Fur- nace Village. Joseph Drake, nephew of Benjamin, before noticed, set- tled in 1723. Thomas Manley, sr., was a grandson of an original settler and kept an inn. Samuel Phillips, son of Captain John, was one of the last settlers before the town was incorporated. Besides these, Elder William Pratt bought land in the town in 1711, and Rev. Matthew Short came in 1722.

While many of these names of pioneers have passed out of the town history, the descendants of others have contributed each in his way to develop and advance the interests and welfare of the community.

The men of Easton bore an honorable part in the French and Indian war, for which Capt. Nathaniel Perry raised a company and aided in defending the frontier. His company numbered ninety-six men, seven- teen of whom were from Easton .. Captain Perry saw considerable act- ive service before his death in 1756; two of his sons served with him. In 1755 six men were in the army from this town and participated in the battle of Lake George; two others were in Capt. Richard Godfrey's company and a number more in other organizations. When Fort Will- iam Henry at Lake George was menaced by Montcalm, twenty-eight men enlisted in Capt. Ebenezer Dean's Taunton company. In April, 1658, twenty-four Easton men enlisted under Capt. James Andrews for the disastrous Crown Point campaign, and in the same year eleven others enlisted. Another expedition for Crown Point and Ticonderoga was organized in 1759 and ten Easton men joined it, under Capt. Lem- uel Bent, while a few others joined other companies. During the re- maining years of that war enlistments from this town kept fully abreast

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

of those in other localities and the records give account of many deeds of heroism and suffering in which Easton men participated.

For a short period prior to 1696 the few families of Easton were compelled to attend meeting at Taunton, a distance of twelve miles. In that year they petitioned for the privilege of attending at Bridge- water, which was granted. The foundation of the first Easton church dates back to 1713, when there were twenty-six families already settled. The leading spirit in the movement was Elder William Pratt, one of the early settlers. To remunerate him, Thomas Pratt, John Phillips, Thomas Randall, Israel Randall and Ephraim Randall (spelled Randell in the early records) granted him twenty-two acres of land "to be taken out of the second and third Divisions of Land in said North Pur- chase of each of us." This grant is dated September 11, 1713. Thus Elder Pratt was settled as the first minister of the town; he died Jan- uary 13, 1714. Several petitions were sent to the General Court, pre- vious to the town incorporation, for the formation of a precinct includ- ing the territory of the present towns of Easton, Norton and Mansfield; one of these was sent in 1707 and one in the next year, both of which were refused. All of the petitions for and against the formation of new precincts and towns indicate that the dwellers in what became Easton, at least, were willing that the whole Purchase should be made a town, with a meeting-house in the center; but were unwilling that the west part should be made a precinct with the meeting-house so far distant that they could not well attend it. The west precinct was, however, formed, but with a provision that "the East End of the North Purchase shall have half the said Purchase as their Precinct where [when] they are able to maintain a minister." In 1715 an abortive effort was made to organize the east end of the Purchase into a town, and in October, 1717, the General Court reported favor- ably upon a petition for its formation into a precinct, appointing a committee to establish the division line. The committee reported May 13, 1718, and from that time forward until the incorporation of the town, meetings were held and business conducted under the name of the " East Precinct of Norton." This precinct, owing to the failure of the court to confirm the division line, did not obtain a legal exist- ence until 1722. A meeting-house was built prior to this date and probably as early as 1713, near the eastern bounds of the precinct. Rev. Matthew Short succeeded Elder Pratt as pastor, beginning in 1723 and continuing until his death in April, 1731.

FROM 1685 TO 1776.

The location of the meeting-house, although it was central as far as population was concerned, was far from the geographical center. This fact led to agitation and dissension, beginning in 1728, which continued many years, finally divided the church and threatened a division of the town itself. When an attempt was made to make improvements in the old church, it was opposed by the inhabitants of the west end, led by Josiah Keith and Benjamin Williams; in June, 1728, they secured a vote for appointment of a committee "to appoynt a place for and where and when their should be a new meeting-house erected." The committee comprised seven men, all of whom were from the eastern part of the town. In December they naturally reported in favor of the old site, and the strife began.

Rev. Joseph Belcher was the next pastor and served the church from 1731 to 1744; he resided in the town about ten years thereafter, but his mind became impaired and he fled from his creditors in 1754. Rev. Solomon Prentice succeeded in 1747 and during his pastorate the church conflict ran its course. He was a positive, aggressive man, in- troduced many reforms, partially reorganizing the church, provided a written covenant, which the society had thus far been without, began new records, stimulated over-zealously the activity of the organization and was conspicuous in a contest that is memorable in the annals of the county. In January, 1745, the people in the west part of the town were strong enough to get a vote "to Build a publick meeting-House for ye publick worship of god in this town, in ye senter or within twenty Rods of ye senter." The center part of the town had already been ascertained. Here the matter rested four years. In 1749 agitation was revived, the western inhabitants now being willing that the house should be built "on ye half-acre of Land that Capt John Phillips had laid out for yt use, which is near one half mile east from the center of said town." It was voted to raise £1,500 old tenor with which to build a house. These votes were passed by a large majority, many voting favorably who later opposed the finishing of the edifice, among them the Rev. Mr. Prentice. The new house was raised in four days, beginning April 23, 1750, after much opposition, and as the work pro- gressed through that year the strife increased. It was even proposed in town meeting, September 4, to divide Easton into two towns by a north and south line, and on November 5 it was voted that the com- mittee might pull down the old building when they thought proper, which was done on the 12th. On the 16th a meeting was held and it

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

was voted (23 to 13) by the eastern inhabitants that they would not hold meetings in the new building. A petition was now issued, bearing fifty signatures, asking Mr. Prentice to hold meetings in dwellings until a house could be built at the Green, which he did for a time. Petitions from both factions were sent to the General Court and in February, 1751, a committee was appointed to examine into the situation. Mean- while the Prentice party had determined to build a house of their own, on the northeast part of the Green; but the work was stopped by a Court order, pending the report of the committee; the report was dated April 12, 1751, and was in effect that the new church stood in the best place for accommodation of the whole town and recommended that the town refuse to pay Mr. Prentice his salary unless he preached there. He thereupon asked for a dismissal. The strife continued and a council of churches was called in to settle the matter, but without any permanent results. It seemed that it was impossible to heal the breach, and the Prentice party, which included a majority of the church members, proceeded to build the second church, which was partially completed and services held there about July 1, 1751. The opposition now attacked Mr. Prentice with a catalogue of eleven charges, which he and others replied to at a meeting held at Joshua Howard's house. Other meetings were held and finally the Prentice faction called for another church council, which met September 24. Its action and report came near settling the whole difficulty, but the cause of the trouble was too deep-seated and agitation soon began again. In February, 1752, Eliphalet Leonard and eleven others of the east party asked the Selectmen to call a town meeting to see if the town would not set off "the easterly half of said Easton from the Centre thereof," to join with a part of Bridgewater and form another precinct or town. The meet- ing was held but the town refused to take such action. Again the council of churches met (it having retained its nominal existence) on April 21, endeavored to harmonize the opposing forces and appointed June 12 as a day of fasting and prayer over the trouble; but even for this commendable purpose the rival parties refused to come together. A final attempt at reconciliation was made early in July, but without avail.

Mr. Prentice continued to hold services until November 5, while the minority began to consider plans for permanent separation, a factor in which was the relative merit of the Presbyterian and the Congregational systems. In October the church adhering to Mr. Prentice voted to re-

FROM 1685 TO 1776.

nounce Congregationalism and take up "the Ancient and Renowned chh of Scotland," and continued their worship in the unfinished house on the Green. But this prolonged feud had greatly weakened his in- fluence, as well as the cause of religion in the town. Mr. Prentice's wife adopted the belief of the Anabaptists, still further discouraging him, and her course led to meetings of that sect being held in his own house. This gave rise to antagonism on the part of some of the elders of his own church, greatly aggravated his troubles and caused a com- plaint to be made to the Presbytery, which convened in Easton, No- vember 12, 1754, and called the pastor before it. The result was his suspension. He died in Grafton May 22, 1773.

Rev. George Farrar began preaching in Easton in January, 1754. His call was made a subject of renewed dissension between the Pres- byterians and the old church. Petitions and counter-petitions went up to the General Court, a committee was appointed which rendered a report adverse to the Prentice church, and so the warfare went on for thirteen years, its details being altogether too voluminous for repro- duction here. On August 17, 1763, Rev. Archibald Campbell was or- dained pastor of the Congregational society, continuing until 1782, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Reed, who preached until his death in November, 1809. Rev. Luther Sheldon followed in October, 1810, and was pastor until 1838. His administration was also marked by much dissension in the church, caused chiefly by his refusal to exchange pulpits with neighboring Congregational ministers. In November, 1838, forty-one members of his church withdrew and organized the Evangelical Congregational Society of Easton.

In 1816 the old meeting-house was removed and used for a town hall, and a new one built near the same site. This was remodeled and re- dedicated in 1845. This parish subsequently became distinctly Uni- tarian. Rev. William H. Taylor succeeded Mr. Sheldon in 1839; other pastors of the early period were Revs. Paul Dean, William Whitwell and George G. Withington. Mr. Sheldon continued pastor of the Evan- gelical society until his death in 1866, and was succeeded by Rev. Ly- man Clark and others. The church edifice was burned in 1882 and re- built the next year.

The only other church organized in Easton before the Revolutionary war was a Baptist, which was formed in 1762 at North Easton. Rev. Ebenezer Stearns was ordained pastor. It had a hard struggle, pro- testing against being assessed to support the ministry of the town 11

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

meeting-house, and suffering legal prosecution therefor; in the action the society was successful and was exempted from the tax. In 1794 the church was absorbed by the Methodists, which is noticed further on.

The act incorporating Easton made provision for educating children. Section 2 reads as follows :

And that the inhabitants of the said town of Easton do, within six months from the publication of this Act, procure and maintain a schoolmaster to instruct their youth in writing and reading; and that thereupon they be discharged from any pay- ments for the maintenance of the school at Norton.

The first action taken under this provision was at a town meeting held March 31, 1727, where, after considerable opposition, it was

Voted and agreed to give three pounds to a schoolmaster for one year to teach youths to Read and to write and to keep it at his own House, and to find himself diete.

This was not a very encouraging proposition for a teacher; moreover, it was the only one made for a school in thirteen years. At the town meeting in November, 1727, the people "Voted and Dismissed paying the Schoolmaster." This was Thomas Pratt, the first teacher, who was thus summarily disposed of. No further public action on the sub ject was taken until 1736, when it was "voted and agreed that the Town shall be provided with a schoolmaster." This was not acted upon. In 1740 a similar vote was passed to " raise fourty pounds for to support and uphold a school in Easton in ye 1740." In 1742 it was voted "not to raise any money to support school." In the next year legal action was taken against the town for not providing means of edu. cating children and a fine was imposed, which was paid in the latter part of the year. Other similar prosecutions were brought against the town in 1747, 1750, and 1756, after which a more liberal spirit was shown. In 1746 it was decided to have three schools, one in the south- west, one in the southeast, and one in the northwest part; one teacher probably taught alternately in the three places. In 1754 the town was divided into four quarters, which was the inception of the district sys. tem. In addition to these four quarters there was set apart in 1768 a center district. Ten years earlier, in accordance with a law of 1747, a grammar school was opened, which was taught many years by Joseph Snell. Under the Prudential Committee system, beginning in 1758, and as necessity demanded, new districts were formed, school houses erected, and efficient teachers employed, as shown in the various re- ports.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 9

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub Publication date: 1899 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company Number of Pages: 1399

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399