USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 1836 > Part 13
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
tapoysett river ; and from thence over the river eighty rod, to the south-east corner of the town, there being an heap of stones and a black oak marked : the west side of the town being bounded with Puttukett river on the west, and by the said river unto the Massachusetts line; and on the northerly side by the said line, until it cross the old road towards the bay, where the marked tree stands with a heap of stones; and thence a mile and a half east ; and thence by a direct line to the north- east corner of the present bound of Rehoboth ; and so back again home unto the said line between the governments. And this court, having examined the said writings and records, do approve, allow, and confirm all the bounds aforesaid to be the bounds of the said town of Rehoboth forever ; and that all the lands contained within the aforesaid boundaries shall be and remain unto the several proprietors thereof, according to each one's just right and title and interest of or into the same, and to their several heirs and assigns forever : with all and singular the benefits, profits, priviledges, woods, waters, rights and heredittaments whatsoever, within, between, belonging, or any ways accruing unto the same; to have and to hold unto the said town and proprietors respectively, to their and his heirs and assigns forever : According to the tenure of the Charter of Letters patents, granted by the Honourable Council at Plimouth, in the county of Dover, for the planting, ordering, and governing of New-England, direcatory from his Majesty king James the first, of happy memmory : and in testimony hereof doth allow the publick seal of this government to be affixed thereunto, for the further confirmation thereof." [Plymouth Col. Rec. of Deeds, vol. v. p. 341.]
June 11, 1686, the printed laws were publickly read in a town meeting by order of the Governour.
May 28, 1689. The town " voted that Mr. Angier should have a small tract of low ground, by the meeting house side, to make a garden plot near the orchard that Sam, the Indian, for- merly planted."
August 9, 1689. Samuel Peck and Thomas Cooper were chosen deputies, and instructed to endeavour " to procure from the worshipful Major Bradford " a quit-claim deed of the lands in the town of Rehoboth, and to sell enough of the undivided land, belonging to the town to obtain this deed. The following is a copy of the greater part of this deed, with the annexed list of the inhabitants and proprietors of the town ; in the transcribing of which I have preserved the original orthography, as in the
125
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
confirmation deed just preceding. This deed was entered on record at Bristol, April 21, 1735, in the 23d book, folio, pages 356 to 360 inclusive.
QUIT-CLAIM DEED OF WILLIAM BRADFORD, TO THE TOWN OF REHOBOTH.
"To all people to whom these presents shall come, William Bradford, of the town of New-Plimouth, in their Majesties colony of New-Plimouth, in New-England in America, Esq'r, the eldest son and next heir of William Bradford, Esq. late of Plimouth, deceased, sendeth greeting, &c. Whereas the said late William Bradford, my honoured father, was invested by virtue of a grant by Letters Patent from the Honourable Coun- cil, established at Plimouth, in the county of Devon, in the realm of England, for the planting, ruling and governing of New-England in America, derivating from our late Sovereign Lord, King James the first, in all that part of New-England, tract and tracts of land which lie within and between the limits and bounds of said letters patents, expressed to be granted, given, and confirmed unto the said William Bradford, his heirs, associates and assigns forever; and all lands, rivers, waters, havens, creeks, ports, fishing, and all hereditaments, profits, and commodities, situate, lying, or being, or ensuing within or between any the said limits (viz.) a certain rivulet or rundlet there commonly called Cohasset alias Conibasset towards the north, and the river commonly called Narraganset river towards the south, and the great western ocean towards the east, and between within a strait line directly extending up into the main land towards the west from the mouth of said river called Nar- raganset river to the utmost limits and bounds of a country or place in New-England commonly called Poconochet alias Sow- amset westward, and another straight line extending itself direct- ly from the mouth of the said river Cohasset alias Conihasset towards the west so far up into the main land westward as the utmost limits of the said country or place commonly called Pochanoket alias Sowwainset, do extend with all rights, royal- ties, privileges, franchises, as in said pattent is ratified and con- firmed under the common seal of said Council and signed by the Right Honourable Robert, Earle of Warwick, then President of said Council, bearing date the thirteenth day of January,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
in the first year of the reign of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles the first, anno Domini 1629, doth and may more large appear, wherein, among other favours, is also expressed the said Council's great respect in said grant, that after so long travel and great pains so hopeful plantations might not only subsist but also might be encouraged to proceed in so pious a work which might effectually tend to the propagation of religion which was also the chief and known ened of their first adventure at their own proper cost through so many foreseen, after-felt difficulties, losses, and pinching distresses, in this then vast, howling desert, and was accordingly attended through the pious care of the said William Bradford, with the advice and consent of such as he took to him, to be his associates in Court or Council, in granting such competent lands to each township as the inhabitants thereof might not only be accommodated for their own subsistence but also be comfortably enabled to give encouragement and mainte- nance to such godly, able minister or preacher of the word as was or should be obtained amongst them : And whereas the said William Bradford, my father, his grants, surrender, or con- veyance of any part of said land and other the premises to his declared associates or assigns, and also his or their grants to particular persons or townships, and amongst others in the year of our Lord 1641, granted to Joseph Peck, Stephen Paine, Henry Smith, Alexander Winchester, Thomas Cooper, Gent. and others with them and such others as they should associate to themselves, a tract of land for a plantation or township, former- ly called by the natives Secunke, upwards of forty-five years since settled and planted, now called and known by the name of Rehoboth ; and likewise for several years since the inhabitants of said town did purchase a tract of land, as additional and en- larging of said town, of Thomas Prince, Esq'r. then Gover- nour, Major Josiah Winslow, Capt. Thomas Southworth and Constant Southworth, Esq'r. agent for the colony of New- Plimouth, as may fully appear by an instrument given in the name of the said colony, under the seals of the said agents, bearing date the tenth of April, anno Domini, 1666: the said lands lying within the county of Bristol, in said colony of New Plimouth in New-England, all which aforesaid lands are con- tained within the limits and boundaries expressed in the afore- said Pattent or grant from the Council established at Plimouth in the county of Devon, (for the planting, ruling, ordering and governing of New-England,) unto the said William Bradford,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
his heirs, associates, and assigns, together with power duly to dispose of said lands, for the ends aforesaid, to such as should be admitted inhabitants and proprietors with them in said town of Rehoboth, and such other privileges and immunities as are usually given to the inhabitants and proprietors in other towns within this their Majesties' most ancient colony of New- Plimouth aforesaid, for the more perfect sure-making and better confirmation thereof .- Now KNOW YEE, that I William Brad- ford of New-Plimouth, son and heir to the said William Brad- ford deceased aforesaid, as well in performance of the true in- tent and meaning of the said William Bradford, my father, in and by the said grant, and for the ends afore mentioned as also for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds in current money of New-England, to me in hand, at or before the un- sealing of these presents, well and truly paid by Daniel Smith, Esq'r. Capt. Peter Hunt, Capt. John Brown, Esq'r. John Peck, Lieut. Nicholas Peck, Gilbert Brooks, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Newman, William Carpenter, Samuel Peck, Steplien Paine, Richard Bowen, and Ensign Thomas Willmath, yeomen, some of the proprietors of said tract and tracts, and most of them ancient inhabitants of said town of Rehoboth, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and for divers other good causes and considerations especially at this time moving me, have granted, remised, released, and forever quit-claim, and by these presents for me and my heirs do grant, remise, release, and forever quit-claim, unto the said Daniel Smith, Peter Hunt, John Brown, Jolin Peck, Nicholas Peck, Gilbert Brooks, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Newman, William Carpenter, Samuel Peck, Stephen Paine, Richard Bowen, Thomas Willmarth, and to their heirs and assigns forever, in the behalf and use of them- selves and all other the allowed inhabitants and proprietors of the said town of Rehoboth, whose names are entered in the town records of Rehoboth as inhabitants or proprietors and by their own desire shall be specified by name in the schedule or list of names hereto annexed, in their and every of their full and peaceable possession and seizen now being accord- ing to their and every of their cominon or several and respective interest and to their and every of their heirs and assigns forever, all such right, estate, title, interest, possession and demand whatsoever which I, the said William Bradford, have or ought to have," &c.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
"A list of the names of the inhabitants and proprietors of the Towne of Rehoboth having Rights and Titles to the Meas- uages, Tenements and Lands contained in the above written Instrument hereunto annexed and affixed, which hath been reade and allowed in a full Towne meeting, ffebruary the 7th, 1689."
Inhabitants.
Inhabitants.
Jonathan Blise,
Joseph Buckland,
Baruk Buckland,
Samuell Paine,
Sillas Titus,
Nath. Paine, jun'r.
John Woodock, sen'r.
William Robenson,
Serj Thomas Reade,
Josiah Carpenter,
George Keuricke.
Thomas Willmath, jr.
ffrancis Stevens, jun'r.
Nichollas Ide, sen'r.
Richard Bowen, jun'r.
George Robinson, sen'r.
Joseph Millerd,
Robert Wheaton, .
Thomas Woodcok,
Benjamin Millerd,
Richard Martin,
Jonathan Woodcok,
John Bowen,
John Peren,
Samuel Newman, jr.
Benjamin Robinson,
Jonathan ffuller, sen'r.
David Newman,
Enoch Hunt,
Timothy Ide,
David ffuller,
John Hunt,
Jonathan ffuller, jun.
John Jenkings,
Ephrahim Hunt
Jeremiah Wheaton,
John Jonson,
Rice Leonard,
John Shawe,
Daniell Shepard, sen.
Sam'l. Butterworth,
Joseph Sabine,
David ffreeman,
Richard Whiteaker,
James Wilson,
ffrancis Stevens, sen'r.
Samuel Bullock,
James Welch,
John Ormsby,
Thomas Ormsby,
Nathaniel Chaffee,
Thomas Man,
Samuel Sabin,
Robert Millerd, sen'r.
Serj. Preserved Able,
Mr. Henry Sweeting,
Daniell Reade,
Jathniell Peck, __
Israll Reade,
Joshua Smith,
James Sabin,
John Smith,
Orphans.
John Sabin,
Richard Evens,
James Thurber
Sam'l. Bowen,
Jonathan Willmath,
Samuel Robinson,
John ffrench,
The Heires of Benjamin Buckland,
Mr. Christopher Sanders,
Joseph Peck, jun'r. ~
Jonah Palmer, sen'r.
Hezekiah Pecke,-
Samuell Palmer,
Richard Bowen,
Thomas Bowen, sen'r.
Jonathan Carpenter,
Nicholas Ide, jun'r.
Jonah Palmer, jun'r.
Sollomon Carpenter,
Sam'l. Millerd, sen'r.
Samuel Cooper,
Zacheriah Carpenter,
Sam'l. Millerd, jr.
Nathaniell Perry,
Jobe Hall,
John Daggett,
Abraham Carpenter, The Heires of Robert Joanes,
John Redway,
Thomas Cooper, Joseph Daggett,
Daniell Sabin, son of Ne- hemiah Sabin,
Samuell Tittus,
John ffuller,
Joseph Tittus,
Abiall ffuller,
John Carpenter
Nathaniell Whitaker, Eprahim Wheaton, Abiah Carpenter,
Benjamin Paine, George Robinson, jr.
Isake Mason,
Thomas Bowen,
James Carpenter, Samson Mason, Joseph Mason,
Inhabitants.
Joseph Buckland, jun'r.
Mr. Samuel Angeir, Decon Thomas Cooper, Joseph Peck, sen'r. John ffitch,
Joseph Browne,
William Carpenter, jr. Isack Allen,
John Woodcok, jun'r. Iserall Woodcok,
John Kinsley,
John Bullock,
John Callender,
John Bartlet's heires.
Thomas Cooper and Na- thaniell Cooper, sons of Nath. Cooper.
Mosses Reade,
Joseph Borsworth,
Samuell ffuller, The Heires of Eldad Kinsley,
Noah Mason, Samuell Mason,
John Marten,
David Carpenter,
Sam'l. Carpenter,
John Tittus,
Nathaniell Daggett,
Thomas Grant, John Willmath, Samuel Blise,
Noah Sabin,
The Hieres of Thomas Kenrick,
Philip Walker,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
The Heires of William Allen,
Thomas Smith,
Henry Smith, Abiall Smith, Ebennezar Walker,
John Reade and Thomas Reade,
The Heires of Jolm Reade, jun'r.
Eliphellet Carpenter,
Rebeka Carpenter, daugh- ter of Abiah Carpenter,
Mary Walker,
Mary Ormsby,
Jacob Ormsby's daughter. The Heires of Mr. Pilebeame,
James Myles and
Mr. Phillip Squire,
Obadiah Bowen, jun'r. John Paine,
Joseph Chaffee,
Henry Sweet, Mr. Samuel Myles,
Joseph Carpenter,
Benjamin Carpenter, John Carpenter, jun'r. Benjamin ffuller, Thomas Wood, Iserail Peek, John Allen, jun'r.
James Browne, Esq.
Thomas Daggett, Esq. Mr. Nathaniell Paine,
Elizabeth Patey,
Ens. Tho. Estabrooks,
William Howard,
Decon John Butterworth,
Mrs. Elizabeth Viall,
Daniell Allen,
Obidiah Bowen, sen'r. Samuell Viall,
William Ingraham,
Mr. Nichollas Taner,
Mr. Andrew Willet,
George Webb,
Thomas Barnes,
Richard Daggerworth,
Joseph Woodard, Thomas Patey.
The Heires of John Savage,
Philip Amidowne,
" December 17, 1692. The town council and selectmen of Rehoboth delivered to Ensign Thomas Read 136 pounds of powder and 250 pounds of bullets, to be taken care of by him for the town, and not to be disposed of but by the order of the selectmen of the town."
" May 1, 1693. . Samuel Peck was chosen and elected to serve as the town representative in the great and general assem- bly."
This was the year after the union of the colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay under the charter of William and Mary, and Mr. Peck was the first representative from the town to the General Court of Massachusetts.
"August 15, 1663. It was voted by the town, that as it was their desire, so it should be their utmost endeavour to obtain. Mr. Thomas Greenwood to dispense the word of God unto us in the time of our vacancy, until our reverend pastor, Mr. Angier, returns to continue with us. In order hereunto Mr. Samuel Peck and Joseph Browne were chosen by the town to go down to Mr. Greenwood, this week, to do their endeavour to bring him up this week, if it may." "A committee was also chosen to agree with Mr. Angier, in behalf of the town, respect- ing his support and maintenance."
Mr. Angier was at this time at Cambridge, whither he had removed in the latter part of 1692, or the early part of 1693, assigning, as the cause of his removal, ill health.
17
Henry Ammidowne,
Proprietors not inlabi- tants.
Mr. John Allen, sen'r. Mr. Henry Newman,
John Blakstone, Jarett Ingraliam, John Lovell,
Mr. Noah ffloaide,
Anthony Sprague, The Heirs of Humphrey Tiffany,
Nathaniel Myles, sons of Mr. John Myles,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
" September 11, 1693. It was voted that there should be a letter written in the town's name to our reverend pastor, Mr. Angier, that they may know his mind about his return."
This letter Mr. Angier answered in person; and, despairing of the recovery of his health so as to be able to resume his duties as minister of Rehoboth, he took his leave of his church and people, recommending to them the Rev. Thomas Greenwood as a suitable person to fill the station which he regretted to be obliged to resign.
Mr. Angier was born in 1655, (probably at Cambridge), and graduated at Harvard College in 1673, and was a member of the board of Fellows of that university. He was settled as the pastor of Rehoboth, in the year 1679, whence he removed, as was before stated, in 1692 or 1693, to Cambridge. His resi- dence at Cambridge was short. Having regained his health, he was chosen on the 28th of August, 1696, by the church in that part of ancient Watertown, which is now Waltham, to be their pastor ; and on the 21st of September following, the town con- curred in the choice, and he was installed pastor of Watertown, May 25, 1697. Here, after an eminent and successful ministry, he died, January 21, 1719, aged sixty-five .*
Mr. Angier married the daughter of the Rev. Urian Oakes, fourth president of Harvard University, and her mother was the daughter of the celebrated Dr. William Ames, author of the " Medulla Theologia," and a professor at the university of Rotterdam. His son, the Rev. John Angier, was the first pas- tor of the east parish of the ancient Bridgewater, where he was ordained, October 28, 1724. He was born in 1701, graduated at Harvard University in 1720, married a daughter of Ezra Bourne, Esq. of Sandwich, and died April 14, 1787, aged eighty-six, having been minister of East Bridgewater fifty-two years. His son, Samuel, who graduated at Harvard in 1763, was ordained his colleague at East Bridgewater, December 23, 1767, and died January 18, 1805, in the sixty second year of his age. His other son, Oakes Angier, was an attorney settled at Bridgewater, and a man of some eminence in his profession. He left a family, one of whom, John, settled at Belfast, Me
* For many of the facts here stated respecting the Rev. Samuel Angier, see Mass. Hist. Coll. 2d series, vol. VII, pp. 165, 166, Description of Bridgewater, art. furnished by the Hon. Nahum Mitchell, late of East Bridgewater, now libra- rian of the Mass. Hist. Soc. Boston. See also Baylies' Memoir of Plymouth Colony, vol. II. part iv. chap. 3, pp. 88, 89.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
A daughter of the Rev. John Angier was married to the Rev. Ephraim Hyde, subsequently a minister of Rehoboth.
" October 1, 1693, the town voted that the former committee chosen by the town, August 15th last, shall be further empow- ered, not only to treat with Mr. Thomas Greenwood for his support and maintenance, while he continues in the work of the ministry among us, but also have full power to treat and agree with him respecting his settlement as the minister of the town.
Mr. Greenwood complied with the invitation, and was settled as the minister of Rehoboth, in October of 1693. The town agreed to give him " ninety-five pounds of current silver money of New-England towards his settlement ; and, for his comforta- ble subsistence, the contribution of strangers and seventy pounds yearly, to be paid him, one third in current silver money, as aforesaid, and the other two-thirds in beef, pork, and all sorts of merchantable corn, rye, and butter, and cheese, and merchanta- ble boards, at the current price, set upon them yearly by the selectmen of the town."
The use of the pastors' and teachers' lands was also granted him, so long as he should continue in the work of the ministry in Rehoboth.
July 6, 1696. Deacon Samuel Newman was chosen repre- sentative to the General Court at Boston. This was the third meeting for the choice of a representative, this year; a great number having been successively elected, but immediately de- clined serving.
This year there is mention made of a Doctor Richard Bowen, who was chosen, July 27th, one of the assessors.
"January 4, 1697. The town voted that the stray Indians should be warned out of town, that are hunting in town."
" October 4, 1698. The town voted, that a schoolmaster, as the law directs, should be attained, and the selectmen should endeavour the gaining one, and likewise agree with him, when attained, for his encouragement to keep school."
" November 21, 1698. The selectmen met and ordered that the school-house should be repaired and made fit for to keep school in, and ordered William Carpenter to procure shingles, boards, and nails, and what else is wanting for fitting it up, on the town's account."
" March 15, 1699. The selectmen made an agreement with Thomas Robinson, of this town, to keep a reading and writing school, for the term of three months, to begin the first or second
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
week in April, at the farthest ; and for his labour he is to have three pounds, half in silver money, the one half of it when he has kept half the term, and the other half when his quarter is expired : the last part of his pay in corn equivalent to money."
" December 4, 1699. The selectmen agreed with Mr. Robert Dickson to keep school in Rehoboth for six months, to begin on Thursday, the seventh of this instant ; he engaging to do his utmost endeavour to teach both sexes of boys and girls to read English, and write, and cast accounts. In consideration of said service, the said selectmen, in the town's behalf, do engage to pay him thirteen pounds, one half in silver money, and the other half in good merchantable boards, at the current aud merchantable price ; the boards to be delivered at the land- ing place, at Samuel Walker's and Sergeant Butterworth's mill." This landing place was at the cove at the mouth of the Ten- mile river in Seekonk. It is said, that early in the history of the town there were wharves built out into the river near the mouth of this cove, that stores were erected here, and consid- erable trade carried on, and that the people of Providence fre- quently came over here to purchase their goods."*
"June 11, 1700. The committee appointed by the town, to procure a schoolmaster for this year, agreed with the Rev. Thomas Greenwood, their minister, to teach the school, for the sum of thirty pounds in current silver money."
"October 3, 1700. The town voted to repair the meeting- house."
" April 2, 1701. The town voted to enlarge the meeting- house, by bringing the front gallery two seats farther forward, and the side galleries, each one seat farther forward."
The name of "Oak Swamp" occurs in the records for the first time this year.
" November 12, 1703. The town voted, that the school- master, Mr. Joseph Metcalf, shall keep school at Palmer's river half the year, viz : the last six months of this present year, that the said schoolmaster is hired for ; and the inhabitants of that part of the town are to provide a convenient place for the schoolmaster to keep school in."
May 15, 1704. Benjamin Allen was chosen representative,
* I had these facts from the mouth of the venerable Moses Brown of Provi- dence.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTHI.
but was "ejected the House of Representatives" (for what reason the town records do not state) ; and, on the 7th day of June, Capt. Enoch Hunt was elected in his place.
" March 19, 1705. It was voted by the town, that Ichabod Bosworth shall have liberty to set up a hammer to go by water, for the blacksmith's trade, and a shop and coal-house upon the Ox-pasture run, where the foot-path goeth down the hill, at the point of said hill : and the said Bosworth nor his heirs are not to raise a dam higher than to flow about an acre and a half."
Mr. John Rogers was employed by the town to teach school during half the year, for the sum of fifteen pounds in current silver money of New England. He was to commence on the 9th day of July.
" March 18, 1706. The town appointed a committee to procure a schoolmaster for one whole year, to be qualified as the law directs." This year, Joseph Avery was employed "to keep school within the Ring of the Green, for a quarter of a year, for seven pounds ten shillings, silver money."
" October 25, 1708. The town voted that there shall be a pound set up on Palmer's river."
Mr. John Lynn taught a school in Rehoboth during three months of the year 1708, agreeing to instruct in reading, writing, grammar, and arithmetic, for the sum of seven pounds in current money of New-England.
Mr. John Lynn entered into another engagement with the town, to teach school one year from the 28th day of February, 1709, for the sum of twenty-nine pounds in current money of New-England. The different divisions of the town, in which the school was to be kept successively, this year, and from each of which one of the school committee was taken, are named as fol- lows in the records, with the length of time allotted to each : " The ring of the town" and " the neighbourhood on the east side of the ring of the town," 21 weeks ; " Palmer's river," 14 weeks ; " Watchemoquet neck,"* 13 weeks ; "Capt. Enoch Hunt's neighbourhood, " and " the mile and a half," 9 weeks.
Mr. Lynn was again employed by the town as their school- master in 1710, and received for his services thirty pounds.
* This name was given to that part of the present town of Seekonk which lies below the mouth of the Ten-mile river, along the Seekonk or Pawtucket river and Narraganset bay, as far down, probably, as the point of land now called " Bullock's neck," and including it.
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