USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Kingston > Report of the proceedings and exercises at the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Kingston, Mass. : June 27, 1876 > Part 4
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William Bradford, the illustrious governor of Plymouth Colony, had a tract of land and a house at Stony Brook as early as 1637. 'Antiquarians have expressed doubts whether he ever lived so far from the town proper, but the following extracts from the records will seem to leave no doubt but that he resided in this part of the town, during portions of his life at least. In 1643, when he was governor, it was voted at a town meeting that "wolfe traps be made according to the order of court in manner following : 1st. That one trap be made at Jones River by the governor's family, Mr. Hanbury, and Mr. Prence and Matthew Fuller and Abraham Pierce." In 1644, when Winslow was governor, Mr. Bradford's family at Jones River was ordered "to furnish one person for a company in time of war or danger." Thus I see no reason for doubting that the governor lived here the two years last mentioned, if at no other time.
Francis Cook, the ancestor of the Cook family in this vicin- ity, lived at Rocky Nook. He was one of the first " layers out of land" in 1627, and died in 1663. His son John, who also came in the Mayflower when a child, lived at Rocky Nook. Another son, Jacob, who arrived shortly after the father, had
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lands near Smelt Brook. He was one of a member of soldiers who were " willing to goe upon service against the Pequent."
Clement Briggs owned land at Jones River and Rocky Nook previous to 1640.
Dr. Samuel Fuller, the first physician in the colony, had a house and farm at Rocky Nook, near Smelt Brook, although at the time of his death he dwelt in the town. He was a very valiable man in the colony, and in 1629, soon after the settle- ment at Salem, a general sickness prevailed there, and at the request of Mr. Endicott, Gov. Bradford sent him among them, which visit was greatly appreciated by the inhabitants of that new colony. In 1633 he himself fell a vieth to an alarming sickness that prevailed at Plymouth, and died much lamented. From him the Fuller family here has descended.
John Howland had land at Jones River about 1638. The latter part of his life he dwelt at the Nook, northerly from the house of the late Hezekiah Ripley, where the remains of his cellar are still visible. He died in 1672.
Stephen Hopkins had a grant of land in the north meadow by Jones River in 1640. He was very prominent in public affairs, and died in 1644.
Elder Thomas Cushman resided on the farm at Rocky Nook that had previously belonged to his father-in-law, Mr. Allerton. The Elder's spring is still to be seen, and is one of the few ancient landmarks that can be pointed out to the present generation. From him the Cushman family in America is descended. His wife was Mary Allerton, who came a child in the Mayflower, and was the last survivor of the first-comers, dying in 1699, aged ninety. He died in 1691, aged eighty- four.
John Winslow, a brother of Gov. Winslow, had lands at Jones River before 1657.
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As before stated, these persons I have noticed were of the earlier settlers, and now I will speak of prominent names of a later generation.
Major William Bradford, son of the governor, was one of the most important men in the colony. He resided at Stony Brook, probably in the same house that had belonged to his father, and the location of it can now be distinctly seen on the rising ground between the houses of Deacon Foster and the late Francis Drew. Persons now living in the neighborhood well recollect the old orchard that stood on the premises, and one tree still remains as a landmark of the past. Major Brad- ford was deputy governor from 1682 to 1686, and 1689 to 1692, when the colonial government terminated. Afterwards he was chosen a counsellor of Massachusetts.
In the year 1662, when Wamsutta or Alexander, the suc- cessor of Massasoit, was suspected of designs against the English, he was with Major Winslow when the chieftain was surprised and taken prisoner. The most eventful period of his life was during the years 1675-6, just two centuries ago. He was chief commander of the forces from Plymouth at the time King Philip and his people were attacked and routed from their stronghold in the Narragansett Swamp. The details of that bloody battle cannot be entered upon here. It is enough to say that on it seemed to depend the existence or destruction of the colonies. The English realized the situa- tion, and in the depth of winter made one of the most des- perate attacks on a savage foe that we find recorded in history. They gained the victory, but not without the loss of eighty men killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. In the year 1689 he is styled by the people of Rehoboth as the "Worshipful Major Bradford." Whether he was a member of the " secret fraternity" or not will be left for the Masonic brethren to
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decide. His estate comprised the whole of the present village of Stony Brook north of the brook, extending to the bounds of Duxbury, besides tracts of land in other parts of the town. All that portion first mentioned was bequeathed to his four younger sons, viz : Israel, Ephraim, David, and Hezekiah. Many interesting facts could be recounted relating to this dis- tinguished man, whom Kingston should never forget to honor, but the limited time forbids. He died Feb. 20, 1704, and was buried by the side of his father on the ancient burial hill at Plymouth. His gravestone bears the following inscription : -
Sere Ines the Body or THE . HONOURABLE MAJOR WILLIAM BRADFORD, WHO
EXPIRED FEBRUARY Y. 20th, 1700-1.
AGED 79 YEARS.
He lived long but still was doing good And in his country's service lost much blood. After a life well spent he's now at rest, His very name and memory is blest.
Joseph Bradford, the youngest son of the governor, lived half a mile from the mouth of Jones River at a place called Flat House Dock. He died in 1715. Major John Bradford, the eldest son of Major William, lived in the house still in existence near the railroad at the Landing. This house was partially burned by the Indians during Philip's War. The circumstances connected with this event may be interesting to the younger people. The story is this : Major Bradford had removed to the guard-house (which may have been the ancient Cobb house, as there is a tradition that it was formerly a garrison or fort), and was returning in company with others to take some goods away when he discovered his house to be on fire, and saw an
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VICINITY OF JONES RIVER,
Stephen Fraaids.
House of
Maj. Wm. Bradford.
Massachusetts . . Path ....
A Ancient
Brick &
& Ship Yard,
ly Brook ..
: House of
Bridget
Route from Ferry 1636 Mouth of River.
Ancient road to Bridgewater.
Railroad.
...
House :
ad
Ola. Fra
·abraham
Lower stepping
Flat House Dock .
Diook.
Sy
Old Wading Place.
Rev. J. Store 1721.
Firs
First Road Bridge built - 1639. record 1637 .
Jones River.
Present Highway
located 1708.
with the Three Routes from Plymouth to Stephen Tracic's in the 17th Century and some of the localities noticed in the Historical Sketch .
From O. C. Records May 10, 1637. "It is agreed that the highways both for house and cart shall be as followeth. From the town of Plymouth to Jones River as it was cleared, provided it be holpen at Mr. Allerton's by going through the old cowe yard at the river, the place being commonly called the Old Wading Place and so through a valley up the hill and then to turn straight to Abraham Pierce's ground and through his ground as it is now marked and so the old path to Massachusetts leaving Mr. Bradford's house upon the west, and from Mr. Bradford's house to Steephen Tracey's ground as the way now lieth, being already trenched a foote way from the lower stepping stones to Steephen Tracie's the highway lying through Stephen Tracie's feild now en. closed. Also we allow a way from Francis Billington's ground through the nooke as it now lyeth to the ferry and from the ferry to Steephen Tracie's house and so through the meadow to the bridg."
Tussock Brook.
DUXBURY.
Sim
Mij John Bradford.
First Meeting
Sloncs.
··· boll - ping" buill- 1683,
·
·
King's Highway .. . 1684 : .
& Rev. J. Stacey art Bridge Juill 1715. 1724.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Indian on the brow of Abram's Hill, waving his blanket and shouting to his comrades that the white men were coming. They fled into a dense swamp by the frog.pond at the base of the hill, and were pursued by the major, who fired at them, kill- ing one as he supposed by seeing him fall, but on reaching the spot was surprised at not finding the body. As it happened, the Indian was only severely wounded, and was able immedi- ately to crawl behind a log of fallen wood, and thus escaped notice. After the war was over the affair was explained to Bradford by the Indian, and the marks of the wound in his side were shown. Major Bradford held many offices, being a deputy and representative to the General Court on several occasions. He was the principal founder of the new town, and a promoter of its interests by gifts of land for public purposes.
Caleb Cook, who will be remembered in connection with the death of King Philip, lived at Rocky Nook. He was a soldier and was placed with an Indian by Col. Church to watch, and if possible, kill Philip. When the chance came, Cook snapped his gun, but it missed fire. He then bade the Indian fire, and the mighty chieftain was instantly killed. The Indian gave up his gim to Cook, and it was kept in the family for several generations. Part of it is now in Pilgrim Hall as a relic.
Edward Gray, the most prosperous merchant in the colony at the time of his death in 1681, lived in Rocky Nook on the same estate where some of his descendants still dwell.
William Paddy and Thomas Willet, merchants, bought a house at Jones River in 1648 belonging to Edmond Freeman, of Sandwich. Mr. Willet traded with the Dutch at New York, and became so accustomed to them, their language, etc., that after the surrender of the place to the English, he rendered the Commissioners of Appeals great service, and became so popular 4
.
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that he was elected the first English mayor of New York. He died in Swansey in 1674.
Thomas Prence, the governor of Plymouth Colony seventeen years, at one time owned the farm that first belonged to Mr. Allerton and afterwards to Elder Cushman.
Charles Chauncy, the minister of Plymouth and Scituate, and finally President of Harvard College, had a grant of ten acres of land at the North Meadow by the river in 1640.
The names of Armstrong, Bartlett, Brown, Combe, Crowe, Curtis, Cole, Doane, Lec, Wright, Winter, and others appear upon the records as land owners in this vicinity. Thus an attempt has been made to notice all the principal persons who took up lands or resided in this part of the colony, and it is pleasing to know that so many of the distinguished founders once inhabited the soil of Kingston, and that the events connected with their lives can thus be perpetnated in the memory of their posterity, and others who may from time to time occupy those same lands once trodden by the Pilgrims. May future gen- erations forever cherish the names of those "ancient worthies " who first planted the seeds of civilization on these Western shores and bequeathed to us so many blessings !
HIGHWAYS.
For an unknown period previous to the settlement of the col- onies by the English the country had been inhabited by tribes of Indians, who had their paths or trails connecting different points and the more distant regions one with another. Those paths in many cases were doubtless used by our forefathers in passing from place to place, and finally became established roads. In the carly records the " path to the Massachusetts" or the " Massachusetts path " (which connected this part of the colony with that in the vicinity of Boston) is often mentioned.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
It probably crossed Jones River near the ahnshouse, and then up Abram's Hill, through the valley just north of the house of the late Wiswall S. Stetson, and thence in a northeasterly direction towards the present estate of Samuel Loring, Esq., of Duxbury. The first bridge over Jones River was built in 1639, near the place just mentioned, and in a few years afterwards another one was built farther down the river near the fish wharf. As early as 1636 there was a ferry established nearly at the mouth of the river, and Joseph Rogers was allowed a penny for the transportation of each person. In 1684 the King's highway was laid ont, and after passing from Plymouth through Rocky Nook, crossed the river at the lower bridge. In 1707 the town voted "that it is a great burden and charge to maintain two bridges over Jones River when one might answer, and that application be made to the County Court and the Court of Barnstable that a bridge might be built higher up the river." The next year, 1708, the highway was changed to its present location, and the first cart-bridge was built there in 1715 at a cost of £80. About the time this new road was opened, the old lower bridge was burned, as was supposed by an incen- diary. While the officers of the law were endeavoring to detect the person, a wag reported to them that he saw a man going to the bridge with a live coal in his hand, but on being pressed for further information, at last told them it was only a certain gentleman walking hand in hand with a young lady whose name was Cole. The other old bridge near by the new road was ordered by the court to be taken down, as it was dangerous for travel.
In the early times there was a road from Stony Brook, run- ning towards Bridgewater across the corner of Evergreen Cem- etery, following nearly the footpath that still exists. There was also a highway across the old burying-ground, from where
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the Town Hall is now located, to a point near the house of Mr. Lewis Ripley, thus separating the old church from the grave- yard. Any one can now notice that the old gravestones, say previous to 1760, are to be found at the northwest part of the old ground. The road from the church to the Patuxet House was not laid out until 1759.
JONES RIVER PARISH, INCORPORATION OF KINGSTON, ETC.
At the beginning of the last centary, or soon after the year 1700, the inhabitants in the region of JJones River had so increased that they numbered more than forty families, and they began to feel the necessity of a withdrawal from the old town, but there was no action in the matter until March, 1717, when a request was made to the town for a separation. This was refused, and shortly after a petition signed by forty-one persons was directed to " His Excellency, Samuel Shute, Esq., Captain General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over His Maj- esty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, etc. The Council and Representatives in General Court assembled," in which they set forth the difficulties they labored under by living so far from the meeting-house, many residing at a distance of six or seven miles, and the most of them above four miles, etc., etc. After a full hearing upon the question, the General Court passed an Act in November, 1717, setting off the north part of Plymouth with a small portion of Plympton and Pembroke, as a precinct or parish. As the Act provided that they should suitably maintain a minister, the people of the new parish soon began to make preparations to build the meeting-house, and a call was given to Mr. Thomas Paine to be their minister, but he was not settled, and nothing more is recorded concerning the ministry until we find that " Mr. Joseph Stacie began to preach July 26, 1720." On the 5th of January, 1721, Major
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John Bradford deeded a lot of land to the minister, on which was soon erected the parsonage house. Mr. Stacey sold this house to Thomas Croade in 1724, and afterwards lived in the house that formerly stood near the large ehm-tree on the grounds of Joseph A. Holmes, and which was not taken down until about 1843.
Only a little more than seven years had elapsed after the incorporation of Jones River parish when a serious trouble arose concerning the schools. As early as 1696 it was voted by the town that the school-master for the fourth quarter should " remove no farther southward in said torne for settlement to keepe scool than John Gray's." In 1714 £20 was allowed to the north end of the town " to build a school house somewhere necre Jacob Cook's," and the same year Major John Bradford gave a lot of land for it to be built upon near the corner, just westerly from the house of the late Capt. James Sever. A school-house which stood on the same land is well remembered by many persons, as it was not removed until 1826, just fifty years ago. At a very excited meeting Feb. 15, 1725, it was voted to have but one school in the town. As the inhabi- tants in the north parish had enjoyed for several years a sepa- rate school, this action of the town greatly exasperated them, and to compromise the matter somewhat, it was voted at the next meeting to allow them what they were annually rated or taxed for the school, and no more, towards maintaining one among themselves. The result of this meeting seemed to determine the future action of the people of Jones River parish, for the same month they voted at a precinct meeting " to peli- tion y Great and General Court to become a township." Dur- ing that year the matter was urged and opposed by the different parties, as a majority of the people of the town of Plymouth were strongly against the separation ; but on the third day of
.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
June, 1726, the bounds of the intended new town were decided upon, and on the 16th day O. S., corresponding to the 27th N. S., the following Act passed : -
ANNO REGNI REGIS GEORGH DUODECIMO.
AN ACT
Passed by the Great and General Court of Assembly of His Majesty's Province of the Marra. chusetts Bay for Dividing the Town of Plymouth, and erecting a New Town there by the name of Kingston.
Whereas the town of Plymouth within the county of Plymouth is of great extent for length and lyes commodiously for Two Townships and the North Precinct thereof being of late sufficiently filled with Inhabi- tants who labour under great Difficulties on several accounts and have there upon addressed this Court that they may be set off a distinct and sepa- rate Township: Be it therefore Enacted by the Lieat. Governor, Conneil and Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same ; That all the Lands lying within the said North Precinct in Plymouth aforesaid, particularly described and bounded by an Order of this Court passed at their present Session, be and hereby are set off and constituted a separate Township by the name of Kingston ; And that the Inhabitants of said Township be vested with the Powers, Privileges and Immunities that the Inhabitants of any Town of this Province, by Law are or onght to be vested with. Provided, and be it further enacted ; That nothing in this act contained, shall be construed, deemed, judged or intended to hinder or prejudice the right and interest of all or any persons whatsoever in any of the Common and Undivided Lands within the Towns of Plymouth and Kingston aforesaid, but the same shall remain as here- tofore. Provided also, and be it further Enacted, That the Inhabitants of the said Town of Kingston shall be liable and subject (notwithstanding their being set off and constituted a Township aforesaid) to pay their proportion of all Province, County and Town rates for this present year in the Towns to which they respectively belonged, and shall be accord- ingly assessed in such Towns in the same manner as they would have been if this Act had never been made ; Anything before contained to the con- trary notwithstanding.
Passed in Council and signed,
J. WILLARD, Sec'y.
Passed in the House of Representatives and signed,
WM. DUDLEY, Spl'r. -
Consented to,
WM. DUMMER.
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It is said that Lieut .- Gov. Dummer suggested the name of the new town on the 28th of May, that being the birthday of His Majesty King George the First, then the reigning sovereign of England.
By order of the General Court Major Bradford issued on the 13th of August the first warrant for a town meeting, to be held on the 29th of the same month, and at that meeting the follow- ing officers were chosen; Major John Bradford, Moderator ; Joseph Mitchell, Clerk ; Benj. Eaton, Thomas Croad, and Jacob Mitchell, Selectmen and Assessors; Ensign Wrestling Brews- ter, Treasurer; Joseph Mitchell, Constable; Seth Chipman, Tithing Man; John Gray and Samuel Foster, Hog Reeves ; Robert Cook and Jacob Cook Jr., Fence Viewers; Samuel Ring, Surveyor.
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
Having passed the period of the incorporation of Kingston, I must necessarily pass rapidly over the next fifty years, simply noting a few facts or events. In 1730 the name of Giles Rickard, the school-master, first appears upon the records, though he had probably been employed previously. In 1740 Capt. Gershom Bradford was sent as the first representative to the General Court. Previous to this, the town had sent excuses for not sending. Rev. Joseph Stacey died Ang. 25, 1741, after a ministry of twenty-one years. Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty was the next settled minister, being ordained in November, 1742. In 1743 a reward of ten pounds was offered to any one who should kill a wolf within the limits of the town, and the following year it is recorded that a wolf was killed. In 1745, during Rev. George Whitefield's career in this vicinity a trouble arose with the minister, Mr. Maccarty. The town voted " not to allow itinerant preachers to preach in the meet-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
ing house," and " that hooks and staples be put to the casements that nobody may get in at unseasonable hours to do damage in ye meeting house, etc., etc." Mr. Maccarty was displeased and asked for his dismission, which was readily granted in November, 1745. It is said that both minister and people afterwards regretted the action taken at that the.
The third minister was Rev. William Rand, who was settled in 1746. He had previously been settled at Sunderland, and his opinion in regard to Mr. Whitefield was just the opposite of Mr. Maccarty's.
Joseph Mitchell, who had held the office of clerk since the incorporation of the town with the exception of two years, died 1754. It was voted in 1756, "that the town stores of pow- der, balls, &c., be lodged in the garret of the meeting-house." Until 1764 the meeting-house had no steeple, and that year one was built and the first bell of the town was placed in it. This year died Nicholas Sever, Esq., aged eighty-four years. He was the first of the once prominent family of that name in Kingston, and now but one of his descendants resides in the town. He graduated at Harvard College, 1701, was ordained minister at Dover, N. HI., 1711, and dismissed 1715. After being a tutor in Harvard College, he settled in Kingston about 1728, and was, for a number years, a judge of one of the Plymouth County Courts. After the disturbances at Boston, caused by the Stamp Act of 1766, a meeting was called to see if the town would vote for compensation to the sufferers by the riotous proceedings, and a majority was against it.
Deacon Wrestling Brewster, the first town treasurer, who continued in that office until 1751, died Jan. 1, 1767, in his seventy-third year. He was of the third generation in descont from the Elder, and was born in Duxbury, removing to Kings- ton previous to 1720, as about that time he built the house
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
belonging to the estate of the late Elisha Brewster. Oct. 14, 1771, it was voted "to allow Benj. Cook the sum of eight shillings for a coffin and liquor at the funeral of James How- land." Although this person was one of the town's poor, vet, according to the custom of those days, all proper respect was shown him.
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
On the 12th of January, 1773, a meeting was called to con- sider a pamphlet published by order of the town of Boston, in which many infringements of the rights of the inhabitants were pointed out, etc. On the 4th of February, the town addressed the following answer to the Committee of Correspondence, of Boston : -
Gentlemen :- The town having duly considered the same, are clearly of the opinion that they are fully entitled to all those rights as by you stated, and that any attempt to deprive us of them is an infringement of our just rights. It gives us the greatest concern to see that. notwithstanding the immense advantages accruing to Great Britain from her trade with the colonies, advantages vastly exceeding the expenses incurred for their protection, that the Parliament of Great Britain should adopt a system with regard to the colonies which effectually divests them of their rights as Englishmen and subjects, and reduces them to a condition little better than that of slaves, -a system which, if adhered to, will, we fear event- ually terminate in their own ruin. But notwithstanding such has been the unremitted, unvaried plan of administration towards the colonies for years past, we cannot but hope a due regard for their own safety and real interest will at length induce them to redress the grievances we so justly complain of. We shall always be ready to co-operate with our brethren in any legal and constitutional measures tending thereto. Slavery is ever preceded by sleep: May the colonists be over watchful over their just rights, and may their liberties be fixed on such a basis as that they may be transmitted inviolate to the latest posterity.
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