USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > The Bristol County directory, 1875-6 > Part 3
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The original bounds of Attleborough, those recognized in the act of incorporation, included the township of what afterward became Cumberland, R. I. as well as Attleborough, and yet at that time is believed to have had less than two hundred English and European inhabitants, including the children of such born in the wilds of America.
The Daniel Boone or pioneer white settler in Attleborough was John Woodcock, who, with his stalwart sons commenced a settle- ment and laid out a farm of about three hundred acres adjoining the "Bay road," so called, the travelled way from Rehoboth to Bos- ton. Woodcock's lands beside this farm were of considerable ex- tent, and located in different sections of the town. His house was the Garrison or place of refuge and defence of the white people in their sometimes bloody conflicts with those former inhabitants, the red men, and aborigines of the country, against whose fero- cious attacks with bow and fire brand, spears, snaphanace, and tom- ahawk the "pale face" was not unfrequently obliged, with sword and "match lock," sternly to contend. Red men vs. white, powows and perseverance vs. prayers and powder.
So inveterate at length did John Woodcock's hate become, so terribly was his anger stirred up against the Indians, that the white man's "law of the land" had to be resorted to, to protect the red heathen against the even more savage practices of a white christian, the humiliating evidence of which fact still remains in the old colony records and in words following: "John Wood- cock, of Rehoboth, for going into an Indian house and taking away an Indian child and some goods, in lieu of a debt the Indian owed him, was sentenced to sit in the stocks at Rehoboth on a training day and to pay a fine of forty shillings.
That was in 1654, or about forty years before Attleborough was incorporated as a distinct town, and while yet a part of Rehoboth. John Woodcock for his naughtiness was taken to the nearest seat of legalized justice, for punishment, which judgment seat and stocks were in Rehoboth, and probably in that part of Rehoboth subse- quently Seekonk. Numerous were the encounters John Woodcock had with the Indian savages, and many the wounds that he re- ceived, his dead body furnishing, so said tradition, incontestible proof in the scars of seven bullet holes, and yet no one of these proved mortal, for at a greatly advanced age he died apparently a natural death at the home he had located in the wilderness, built up, and with such perils and hardships successfully defended.
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Added to pioneer settler and Indian fighter, John Woodcock was also the first or earliest tavern keeper at Attleborough, his license to set up, which being granted by the colonial court in ses- sion at Plymouth, and in words following.
"July 5th, 1670. John Woodcock is allowed by the court to keep an ordinary at the Ten Mile river, which is in the way from Rehoboth to the Bay, and likewise enjoined to keep good order, that no unruliness or ribaldry be permitted there.
On that spot "entertainment for man and beast" continued to be furnished by John Woodcock and succeeding generations for the long term of one hundred and seventy consecutive years.
The original house served for private or family dwelling, garri- son-house and tavern, and stood until 1806, or one hundred and thirty-six years, and at the date of its demolition, much of the timber was found to be entirely free from decay, but like its builder and first owner, scarred by many abullet discharged from an Indian's "snaphanace" in King Philip's war, or one entire cen- tury before the war of the American Revolution.
In contemplating these facts and describing these relics of a former age, how are we carried back in our minds eye, thoughts and feelings, and are thus enabled in some slight degree to realize the horrors of their true situation, as also the manifold blessings that we, their successors enjoy ; that our lot has indeed been cast in pleasant places when compared with theirs of toil, danger, unex- ampled privation and almost unequalled want; that upon the iden- tical spots where we, unmolested, sit under our vines and fig trees with none to harm, hurt or make afraid,
Loud howled the savage foe, While here their evening prayer arose, Two hundred years ago.
John Woodcock died Oct. 20th, 1701, or something like one hundred and seventy-four years since, a century and three quar- ters ago.
Attleborough is bounded northerly by Wrentham, easterly by Mansfield and Norton, southerly by Rehoboth, Seekonk and Paw- tucket, and westerly by Cumberland in Rhode Island, and is eleven miles from Taunton, eleven from Providence, R. I., and twenty- one miles from Boston.
These distances apply to the common carriage roads leading from Attleborough to the several places named. Attleborough prior to the date of its incorporation had been a part of the ancient township of Rehoboth.
Attleborough was a part of what was at first called "Rehoboth North Purchase." This was confirmed to Captain Thomas Willett,
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by Wamsutta, chief sachem of Pokanokett, for divers good causes and valuable considerations, and by a deed bearing the date of April 8th, 1661.
Besides what became Attleborough, Rehoboth North Purchase also embraced that which subsequently became Cumberland, R. I., and also a tract of country, one mile and a half in width, extending east and west, and which tract was annexed to Rehoboth as an enlargement to that town, and a part of Mansfield and Norton. That annexed to Rehoboth was afterward detached and annexed to Attleborough.
So numerous have been the changes in the English names be- stowed upon the different localities, and so many times have boun- daries and division lines been altered, that an attentive and some- what prolonged study is required to learn all the facts, and a care- ful reading to understand the true story of these facts, when set forth by the pen attempting to portray a knowledge of the same.
At the first meeting of the legal voters of Attleborough, for the choice of town officers, (and of which a record remains), were elec- ted for Assessors, Israel Woodcock, Thomas Tingley, and Samuel Titus. This meeting was held May 11, 1696.
March 22, 1697, were chosen as follows : Anthony Sprague, Town Clerk; John Woodcock, Anthony Sprague, Daniel Jenks, Jonathan Fuller, and Thomas Tingley, Selectmen; Israel Wood- cock, Constable; Nicholas Ide and Joseph Cowel, Surveyors of Highways; John Woodcock, Anthony Sprague, and Daniel Jenks, Assessors; Thomas Tingley and Samuel Titus, Fence Viewers ; Henry Sweet, Tithingman, and John Lane, Grand Juryman.
At the next town meeting holden May 10, 1697, the town records inform that the town voted not to send a representative or "assem- bly man to the great and general court, by reason that the town was excused by law," and this town, probably for the same cause, omitted to send a representative for the first fourteen years imme- diately after its incorporation. In 1709, 1710 and 1711, David Freeman represented Attleboro' in the Colonial Legislature, and he was re-elected to that office in 1713-15-16-17-18-20 and 21, or for ten sessions. Captain Joseph Brown was elected a representative in 1712-26-27 and 28. He was a son of Mr. John Brown, of Reho- both, renowned in the early history of that ancient locality, and whose body has lain "mouldering in the ground" for the greater part of two centuries, and yet his deeds still live on history's brightest page, for "His soul is marching on."
Rev. Matthew Short was Attleborough's earliest settled minis- ter. He was called, by vote of the town, Oct 1, 1711, and
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ordained to the work of the gospel ministry Nov. 12, 1712. Diffi- culties arose between priest and people and these culminated in his dismission, May 31, 1715. The labors of Reverend Matthew Short were of a remarkably short duration in Attleborough for those old times, when forty years was not an uncommon stay for a minister to make in one place, or to continue breaking the bread of life to the same people.
Mr. Short exchanged his field of labor in Attleboro' for a similar position in the "Vineyard of the Lord" at Easton.
For teaching Attleborough sinners the error of their way, the Rev. Mr. Short was to have fifty pounds a year for the first six . years, and this to be paid, one third in money and the other two thirds in grain, beef, pork, butter, or cheese ; any, or either of them at current prices. At the seventh year his salary was to be increased to sixty pounds per year, but, as before the seventh year of his ministry had by him been attained, 'twas by authority said "his bishopric let another take," so the earnest simply, of that goodly inheritance, was all that the Rev. Mr. Short was per- mitted to enjoy. He, however, had the use of the ministerial house and lands in Attleborough while he did remain there.
The prices fixed upon for these eatables, of which two-thirds of Mr. Short's salary might be made to consist, were as follows: Indian corn, 2s 6d per bushel; rye, 3s 6d per bushel; pork, 3d per pound; beef, 2d per pound; butter, 6d per pound, and good new milk cheese, 4d per pound. With such a "price current" t'was no wonder that the parson of "deserted village" was
"Passing rich with forty pounds a year."
and yet Rev Mr. Short's salary while at Attleborough was £10 better than Goldsmith's heavenly hero and model minister.
The first church edifice in Attleborough was commenced in 1710 and completed in 1714. It was thirty feet square, and sixteen feet between joints as then expressed, or sixteen feet in height.
Rev. Ebenezer White was the second minister, and the people made choice of him, July 18th, 1715. Death closed his labors Sept. 4th, 1726. Rev. Habijah Weld, the third minister of Attleborough, was born in Dunstable, Mass., Sept. 2d, 1702, ordained at Attle- borough Oct. 1st, 1727, and died May 14, 1782, full of years and usefulness. During the long period of fifty-five years, he was never once detained from the pulpit or from any other of his pas- toral duties.
"In duty prompt at every call," well might Hon. David Daggett say, "Mr. Weld was a more strict observer of the divine law, and more eminently holy than any man whom I ever knew," and
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justly did Dr. Dwight add, "if all clergymen sustained the same character, and lived in the same manner, the world would speedily assume a new aspect and its inhabitants a new character."
"The memory of the just is blessed."
A second meeting house was built by the town in 1728. This took the place of that completed only fourteen years before. The new house was fifty feet long, forty feet wide, and of a sufficient height for one tier of galleries.
April 7th, 1742 the town was divided into two parishes, the west parish being denominated the first, and the east the second par- ish-Rev. Peter Thacher was the first or earliest minister of the east or second parish. His labors with that people commenced Aug. 20th, 1743-Ordained and settled Nov. 30th, 1748. Mr. Thacher suffered a stroke of palsy that destroyed his usefulness as a minis- ter, and as a consequence he was dismissed Oct. 26th, 1784.
Rev. Peter Thacher continued in the ministry at Attleborough about forty-one years. He died Sept. 13th, 1785. He was a son of Rev. Peter Thacher of Middleborough, where the Attleborough minister was born in or about 1715 ; grandson of Rev. Peter Thacher of Milton; great-grandson of Rev. Thomas Thacher of Boston.
The North Baptist church was constituted in 1769. The earliest ministers of this church were Nathaniel Shepard, Abraham Bloss, Job Seamens and William Williams. Elder, and not Rev. was the title they gave to their ministers. In Nov. 1789 Elder Abner Lewis, who had been pastor of the Third Calvanistic Baptist church in Freetown, went to 'Attleborough and preached to the North Baptist church until Sept. 1795, when he was succeeded by Mr. Laban Thurber whose labors were continued until April 1797.
In April 1800, Elder James Read from Assonet village, com- menced to preach to this people. Like one Simon of the Scripture, so was Mr. Read, a tanner. He was born in that part of Freetown now Fall River, and a son of Joseph Read and wife Mary Cornell, grandson of Oliver Read and wife Martha Durfee, great- grandson of John Read, Jr., and wife Mary Pearce, a daughter of Ensign John Pearce of Tiverton, Rhode Island. The church.in Dec. 1800, gave Elder Read an invitation to settle, and he removed his family from Freetown to Attleborough in Feb. 1801. He was installed Aug. 18th, 1801, and here continued in the work of the ministry until his death Oct. 21st, 1814. He left a good record be- hind. April 28th, 1815, Rev. Stephen S. Nelson of Bellingham received a call which he accepted, and here remained until May 1820. He was a son of Thomas Nelson and wife Anna Smith, and
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was born in that part of Middleborough now Lakeville, grandson of Lieut. Thomas Nelson and wife Judith Peirce. A South Bap- tist church existed for a time,-Elder Elihu Daggett was the first minister, and he was succeeded by Elder Elisha Carpenter.
John Daggett from Rehoboth laid out lands at the Falls, and in 1677 sold fifty acres of these to his brother Thomas Daggett of Mar- tha's Vineyard.
The first mill for grinding corn is said to have been erected at the Falls, by Joseph Daggett. The water at the Falls at a much later period was utilized to carry the machinery of the so-called " Falls Factory," a cotton mill owned by a company incorporated in 1813. This mill was commenced in 1809, and destroyed by fire in Feb. 1811, but immediately rebuilt.
A factory was erected on Beaver Dam at a still earlier date, and this was burned in 1832.
At the Falls a new reservoir was raised in 1831, and in addition to a cotton factory, was built a machine shop, a saw mill, black- smith shop and grist mill. Added to these in this town was the "Farmer's Factory," established in 1813, and the "Mechanic's Fac- tory," commenced in 1811. "Dodge's Factory," "Atherton Fac- tory," "City Factory, " "Lanesville Factory," "Manufactory of Power Looms", the "Button Factory," and manufactory on a very extensive scale, of jewelry, so large indeed, as to give to the arti- cles manufactured the world-wide name of " Attleborough Jew- elry. "
In each of the wars in which our country from time to time has been engaged, Attleborough has taken a prominent part, contribu- ting freely of her best blood and treasure. Thus in one of the early conflicts with the Indians, Attleborough furnished soldiers who were not afraid to "speak with the enemy in the gate."
In May 1676 Attleborough suffered an Indian attack, and Nathaniel Woodcock, who was at work in a cornfield, was slain. One other white man was killed and one wounded. John Wood- cock of Attleborough, father of Nathaniel Woodcock, participated in the attack upon a body of Indians in what became the town of Franklin, and in which from 20 to 24 Indians were killed.
Several Rehoboth soldiers were slain in the battle that came off March 26th, 1676, the whites being lead by Capt. Michael Peirce of Scituate, and the Indians by the proud chieftain Conauchet ; but whether any of these Rehoboth men who were then slain and who, a contemporary historian says, fighting "in such a cause and under such disadvantage," may certainly be said to have expired "on the bed of honor," whether any of these heroes I say, belonged to that part of Rehoboth, now Attleborough, I am unable to deter- mine.
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BRISTOL COUNTY HISTORY.
It is deeply to be regretted that so small an amount of the mate- , rial necessary to form the military history of this town, and to convey to future generations a knowledge of its acts in the several wars, from King Phillip's to that of the American revolution, has been preserved. Here is a hiatus of an entire century, wherein brave deeds and daring exploits have been forgotten, and the knowledge is now obscured by the mantle of oblivion, and I fear, hopelessly and irretrievably lost. But for the noble labors of Hon. John Daggett, whose timely efforts have saved so much, I could have given to the reading public concerning the town that gave him birth, a very small amount of what is here presented. Mr. Daggett took "time by the forelock," commencing to gather up the fragments of this town's history more than forty years ago, and in which well-timed and well-directed effort he was a pioneer; seeing as he then did, what scarcely anybody else saw, and realiz- ing what many now do, but what hardly any one else then did.
While we mourn so much lost, let us at the same time rejoice and be glad that such men as Hon. John Daggett have saved from destruction such a multitude of valuable and highly interesting facts, that but for their singular care and forethought, would ere this been as completely lost to sight, to mind and to memory, no evidence of the truth remaining.
Within the ancient and original limits of Attleborough, viz. in that part set off and which became Cumberland, R. I., it is by some historic writers claimed that the severe and bloody engage- ment called "Pierce's Fight," was enacted. That battle was fought on Sunday, March 26, 1676, near the banks of the Black- stone River. Tradition, (and I think, perhaps tradition alone,) has preserved the knowledge of the precise spot where that sanguinary scene occurred. Tradition may be correct, but as a rule I do not place implicit confidence in tradition unsupported by reliable evi- dence of concurrent facts. That was probably the most sternly contested battle on the part of the white people, of any fought dur- ing "King Philip's War," for, in the language of a writer of that date, the white men "fought until nearly every man fell, and with a bravery like that at Thermopyla, and deserving as great suc- cess."
"And Sanguinetto tells you where the dead Made the earth wet, and turned the unwilling waters red."
The names of train band captains in the local militia of Attle- borough, from the date of incorporation in 1694 to 1762, a period of 68 years, cannot now be definitely and reliably given, as no offi- cial record of these remain in the archives of the state.
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To approximate the truth is therefore all that we claim to be able to perform, or propose to do. The office of "train band captain" used generally to be conferred on a man of "credit and renown," and to be found enrolled on such a "roster" was of itself sufficient to settle the question of a gentleman's social position and standing in the community in which he lived. With jealous care did these officer's sons and daughters preserve the knowledge of the fact that their progenitors had arrived at the honor of holding the com- mission of Captain, Lieutenant, or even that of Ensign in the local militia, their titles being carefully and repectfully conferred, wheth- er in verbal or written address to the living, and engraven on their tomb stones when dead. It is therefore to these incidental evi- dences, such as the giving of titles when recording any facts con- cerning particular persons elected to town office, and moss cov- ered tablets in the "cities of the dead," that we are indebted, rather than to the imperfect records of the captain general's office, for what herein appears from 1694 to 1762.
Militia Captains of Attleborough from 1694 to 1762: Joseph Brown, John Foster, Mayhew Daggett, and Samuel Tyler.
Lieutenants : Nicholas Ide, Josiah Maxey.
In 1762 the militia of Attleborough consisted of three compa- nies, of which the commissioned officers were as follows:
First Company: Daniel Reed, Captain; Jonathan Day, Lieu- tenant, and Jacob Ide, Ensign.
Second Company: Henry Sweet, Captain; Daniel Wilmarth, Lieut., and John Daggett, Ensign.
Third Company: John Stearns, Captain; Daniel Stanley, Lieut., and James Pullen, Ensign.
At that date, (viz. 1762,) the militia of this town formed a part of the third Bristol County Reg't, of which the field officers were, Samuel White, of Taunton, Colonel; George Leonard, Jr., of Nor- ton, Lieut Colonel; Thomas Morey, of Norton, and Seth Williams, of Taunton, Majors.
Ten years later, (viz. 1772,) the militia of Attleborough was officered as follows:
First Company: John Daggett, Captain; Moses Wilmarth, Lieut., and William Bolcom, Second Lieut.
Second Company: Jonathan Stanley, Captain; Jabez Ellis, Lieut., and Elisha May, Second Lieut.
Third Company: Jacob Ide, Captain ; Moses Tyler, Lieut., and Samuel Robinson, Second Lieut.
At this date, (viz. 1772.) the militia of this town continued to form a part of the Third Regiment, the field officers and adjutant being as follows: George Leonard, Jr., Esq., of Norton, Colonel;
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BRISTOL COUNTY HISTORY.
Daniel Leonard, Esq., of Taunton, Lieut. Colonel; George God- frey, Esq., and George Williams, both of Taunton, Majors; Apol- los Leonard, Adjutant.
We are next brought to the consideration of some of the facts that characterized the opening scenes of the American Revolution, those "days that tried men's souls," when the spirit of our people was, "give me liberty or give me death," and this sentiment in Attleborough was speedily expressed by a corresponding action.
The local militia of Attleboro', Mansfield and Norton, as one of the "first fruits" of that terrible uprising and an earnest of a mighty struggle in store, soon to burst its bands, involving the weal of a nation, and shaking christendom, from centre to circumference, were detatched from the Third Regiment of Bristol County, and made to constitute a new and distinct regimental organization, thenceforth known as the Fourth Regiment.
It thus continued to be known and designated for the long term of about sixty-five years, and until its disbandment by legislative enactment April 24, 1840, in times of "piping peace," when pulpit, press, and forum seemed quite unanimous that the millennium was indeed about to dawn, lions to change diet and become thorough vegetarians, and christian nations to "learn war no more." Why might not the Fourth Regiment, thus shone upon by the "sun of righteousnesss," just then arisen, be disbanded. Pulpit asked why? Press said why? People repeated why? Legislators sagely considered why, and echos sent back the question why? The conclusion that it should be disbanded was inevitable, and on the 24th of April, 1840, the deed was done. Militia men of Attle- borough, Mansfield, and Norton, on the 24th of that month, in the opening year, when all fools have their day, and in the year of grace, 1840, were permitted to commence beating their old battle blades into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks. War was not to be taught, learned or practiced any more, and none henceforth might tell his neighbor to know the Lord, for everybody else as well as ministers, editors, legislators, etc., etc., had suddenly become so wise.
At the organization of the Fourth Regiment, at its formation in 1775, Captain John Daggett, of Attleborough was commissioned Colonel; Captain Ephraim Lane, of Norton, Lieut Colonel; Isaac Dean, of Mansfield, First Major; and Enoch Clapp, Second Major.
For Attleborough is claimed the honor of having furnished the leader of the "Minute Men" of every town in Bristol County; that, with volunteer militia men, made up a force estimated at the time as about two thousand in arms, (but this I think was rather
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more than were embodied on that occasion), and which force let the numbers have been what they may, on the night of April 8th, 1775, with arms and ammunition made a descent on the tories resid- ing at, and near Assonet in Freetown, capturing 29 of those adher- ents to the crown, and utterly dispersing the remainder. This force of the gallant sons of Liberty it is claimed were led by Col. John Daggett of Attleborough, who, as commander in chief on that occasion brought matters to such a successful issue and happy termination.
To the victors fell the spoils of thirty-five good English Muskets, two case bottles of powder and a basket of bullets.
Colonel John Daggett, of Attleborough, in Dec., 1774. conducted an expedition to the town of Franklin, (that now is, but then a parish in Wrentham), where a tory named Nathan Aldis was selling British goods contrary to the resolutions of the Massachu- setts General Court.
Aldis and his friends at first offered resistance with force and arms, but finding themselves overpowered, Aldis and his company surrendered.
It is a noteworthy fact that both these bold and successful expe- ditions ante-dated the battles of Concord and Lexington, that to Franklin being more than three months earlier, and that to Free- town ten days before the blood of murdered freemen wet the sods of Concord and Lexington, and like the blood of righteous Abel, cried for vengeance from the ground.
Names of Attleborough gentlemen who held the commissions of Field Officers and Adjutants of the 4th Regiment in Bristol Coun- ty Brigade, of the 5th Division Massachusetts Militia-dates of their commissions, etc.
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