USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 1836 > Part 16
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157
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
Names.
Capts. Time.
Names.
Capts. Time.
Lyon Aaron,
Bullock, 3 yrs.
Sage James,
Cole,
3 yrs.
Medbury Ben.
Franklin, do.
Turner Constant,
Hix,
do.
Michell ,
Bullock, do.
Turner Amos,
do. do.
McMellen John,
Hill, do.
Turner Nat.
do. do.
Negro Cæsar,
Cole, do.
Thresher Noah,
Bullock, do.
Newton Francis,
Bullock,
do.
Thresher Joseph,
do.
do.
Newton John,
Martin, do.
Thompson Edward, do.
do.
Ormsbee Joseph, do.
do.
Thresher Charles,
do.
do.
Peck Sylvester,
Hix,
8 no.
Turner Allen,
do.
do.
Perry Samuel,
Cole,
3 yrs.
True Solomon,
Hix,
do.
Pierce Jesse,
Bullock,
do.
Whittaker Nat.
Franklin,
do.
Peck Gains,
Carpenter, during
Wheeler Sam.
Hix,
do.
Perry Jesse,
do.
do.
Willmarth Valentine, do.
Pearce Philip,
Martin,
do.
Willmarth Benj.
do.
8 mo.
Perry Samuel,
Hill,
8 mo.
Waldren James, jr. Bullock, 3 yrs.
Round John,
Hix,
3 yrs.
Whittaker Jo.
Carpenter, do.
Round Isaac,
Cole,
do.
Wheeler James,
Martin,
do.
Round Wm.
Bullock,
do.
Whelen Luther,
Bullock, 15 mo.
Round Oin,
Martin,
do.
White Jabez,
Hix,
3 yrs.
Renough Charles,
Hill,
do.
Walker Nathan,
do.
do.
Ryle Nicholas,
do.
do.
Wilford Nicholas,
do.
do.
Reves Pompey,
do.
do.
Weeks Moses,
do.
during
Smith - ,
Peck,
do.
war.
Saunders Jesse,
do.
do.
Wilson Jno.
do.
3 yrs.
Smith Sam.
Ilix,
do.
Whittaker Rufus,
do.
do.
war.
Wheeler Jesse,
do.
do.
do.
AFFAIRS SUCCEEDING THE REVOLUTION.
In 1784, the town voted, "in addition to the money already granted for schooling, £20 for a grammar school."
" March 21, 1785. Voted to choose a committee to regu- late the fishery in the river, called Palmer's river." The fish caught here were shad, bass, and alewives. Before the erec- tion of the dam across Palmer's river, at the Orleans Factory, shad and alewives used to ascend the river as far as Rehoboth village.
Rehoboth, in common with the other towns of the colonies, felt severely the pressure of the times which immediately suc- ceeded the war. The large drafts made on the town for men and money to carry on the war, the scarcity of money and the great depreciation in the value of the paper currency with which the officers and soldiers had been paid for their services, the in- crease of public and private debts, the decay of business, and
158
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
the want of confidence in the government, overwhelmed the people with a multitude of embarrassments public and private, under which it seemed to them impossible to rise. These em- barrassments, which were styled " grievances," and which were the natural results of the long and protracted war through which they had just passed, were charged upon the government ; whence, too, they vainly looked for that relief, which could be found only in industry and economy. At the commencement of the war every sacrifice, required by the public good, was most cheerfully made, and every privation endured. The iron rod of tyranny was seen suspended over us, and all thoughts were lost in that of parrying the impending blow, and crippling the arm which threatened to deal it. But now, the danger being removed, that patriotism which had merged all interests in one, the general good, began to give place to views of private inter- est ; and the people, who had sacrificed long and nobly on the altar of liberty, now began to look for an answer to their vows, and to expect the immediate fruition of all those bright hopes which had started into existence anew on every mention of the sacred name of freedom. They looked for liberty, like the Hercules of fabled story, to strangle serpents in its cradle ; and to shower upon them, in its infant reign, all the blessings which its matured and experienced manhood has since been able to secure. In this they were disappointed. The state govern- ments were embarrassed with heavy debts, contracted by the war; and the general government, held together only by the frail and feeble tenure of the confederation, was ready to fall with the least internal commotion, and was, to all efficient pur- poses, powerless. This state of things, so different from what they had so long and so fondly anticipated from the return of peace and the establishment of their independence, the people charged upon the government, calling in question both its ad- ministration and the principles of its constitution. The cries for reform were loud and vehement on every side, and a large party was formed hostile to the existing state government, who soon pushed their claims at the point of the bayonet. This par- ty was headed by Daniel Shays, from whom this opposition re- ceived the name of " Shays' rebellion." A majority of the people in Rehoboth, as will be seen from the votes passed by the town at this time, favoured the opinions of this party.
"June 19, 1786. Voted to choose a committee to meet with other towns' committees, in the county of Bristol, in a
--
159
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
county convention, to consult on the rights of the people of said commonwealth, and to petition the General Court for redress of grievances, or to take any other measures, that the convention, when met, shall judge to be the right of the people of this com- monwealth." The town chose for this committee Capt. Phanuel Bishop, Maj. Frederick Drown, and Mr. William Daggett."
" December 25, 1786. The town voted that they wished to have an alteration in the present system of government in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, by a majority of 110 of what then voted."
"January 22, 1787. Voted that the selectmen be in- structed to remove the powder and other town stock, that is now at Col. Thomas Carpenter's, as soon as conveniently may be." Col. Carpenter was a staunch friend of the government.
The names of the following persons are registered in the town records, as having taken the oath of allegiance to the com- monwealth, and delivered up their arms, during March of 1787. These men belonged to the party of Shays, and had probably taken arms against the government.
Joseph Porter, Joseph Bowen,
William Fairbrother,
Simeon Round,
James Cole,
Laben Lake,
Nathan Hix, 2d,
Timothy Fuller, Nathaniel Thurber,
Cyril S nith, Jacob Bliss, jr.
Daniel Short,
Hezekiah Smith,
Square Goff, jr.
James Bullock,
Oliver Smith,
Benjamin Monroe, XNathan Newman,
Jacob Cole,
Jabez Round, 3d, Charles Round,
Samuel Carpenter,
Jarvis Peck, »,
Ezra Thayer,
James Martin,
Luke Bowen,
Jacob Bliss,
Isaac Burr,
Asa Bowen,
Israel Hicks,
Laben Briggs.
John Hopkins.
Abiel Horton,
Amos Cole,
November 26, 1787. The town chose Capt. Phanuel Bish- op, Maj. Frederick Drown, and William Windsor, Esq. dele- gates to the State Convention, to meet at Boston, the second Wednesday of January, 1788, " to consult on the Federal Constitution, recommended by the late Federal Convention, which set at Philadelphia the summer past."
This year "voted to raise £120 for schooling; £20 to be applied to the support of a grammar school."
" March 17, 1788. Voted to provide a work-house for the accommodation of the poor of this town."
×
Benjamin Bowen,
160
HISTORY OF RENOBOTH.
The votes for Governour, this year, were 102 for John Han- cock, and 263 for Elbridge Gerry.
The same sum was raised for schools for the three succeeding years as in the preceding year, and £20, as before, yearly de- voted to the support of a graminar school.
April 2, 1792. The town raised for the support of schools, " including the Latin school," £150. Also "voted that the selectmen be empowered to procure such grammar schools as shall answer the law, in the different parts of the town, for learning the Latin and Greek languages."
April 1, 1793. The town voted to raise for the support of schools, £150.
" October 6, 1794. Voted that the treasurer of this town be directed to pay to each non-commisioned officer and soldier, raised for this town's quota of eighty thousand men, ordered by Congress to be raised, forty shillings each, when they are order- ed to march out of this town on a campaign, and forty shillings each to every man aforesaid, for every month they shall con- tinued in the camp, after one month from the time they shall march : the money to be paid in one month after their return from service."
This army of " eighty thousand men " were raised to repel the threatened invasion of France ; and Washington was placed at their head.
" February 24,1794. Voted to remonstrate with the Legis- lature of Rhode Island against a bridge being built over Kelley's Ferry, near Warren."
May 6, 1795. A motion for petitioning the General Court, to incorporate the west precinct of Rehoboth into a separate town, was carried by vote in the negative. Voted to raise £175 for the support of schools, of which £25 was to be ap- propriated to a grammar school.
In 1796, the town voted for the support of grammar, and common schools, $666,66. The sum of $666 was thence raised yearly for the support of schools till 1804. In 1804, 1805, and 1806, $666,77 was raised for the same purpose; and in 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, $700 was raised, and in 1811, $800.
" THE FIGHTING TOWN MEETING."
A town meeting was held in May, 1811, which, from the violent measures to which party animosity gave way, has since
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH. 161
borne the appellation of " The Fighting Town Meeting." This disgraceful incident in our history would have been passed over in silence, if to have done so had been consistent with the character of a faithful historian, whose business it is to give not only the truth, but the whole truth.
The following report, prepared by the committee on contested elections, appointed by the House of Representatives, furnishes, probably, the best account of this meeting which we can possi- bly obtain : this report will be therefore given entire.
" COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
-
" In the House of Representatives.
" February 13, 1812.
" The committee on contested elections, in the case of the remonstrance of Stephen Bullock and four hundred and three others, inhabitants of the town of Rehoboth, in the county of Bristol, against the election of Elkanal French, Caleb Abell, John Medbury, Sebra Lawton and Timothy Walker, returned as members of this House from said town, report-
" That they find, that on the thirteenth day of May now last past, a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Rehoboth was holden in pursuance of a warrant, issued fourteen days before, for the choice of one or more representatives to the present General Court ; that, at this meeting, motions were made, sec- onded, and put, in order to obtain a decision on the questions, whether the town would send one representative or five repre- sentatives ; that the votes appeared to be so equally divided at the first trial, that the selectmen declared they could not decide on which side was the majority ; that afterwards it was agreed, that each voter in favor of sending five, should take by the hand a voter in favor of sending one, and march out of the house ;* and Capt. Cushing and Mr. Kennicut were appointed to count the files, and determine the question upon an inspection of those, on either side, who should be without partners ; that
* This motion was made by Dr. James Bliss.
21
162
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
after the said two gentlemen had counted two hundred and nine- ty-eight files, they were interrupted by Elkanah French, Esq. who told them it'was impossible to decide the question in this mode, it being evident, as he said, there was a mistake, that the question was not understood, for he saw "republicans" on the side for sending one. It was observed by Capt. Cushing in reply, that there could be no mistake; that they had already counted off five hundred and ninety six with correctness, and that, in a few minutes, the counting would be finished and a decision made ; but Mr. French persisted in his interference, took Capt. Cushing aside, and they were in conversation for some time. In the mean while, many thinking the counting was finished, left their places, and went into the meeting-house to hear the result declared, and shortly after, all the others follow- ed ; the selectmen, on being called upon to declare the result, observed, they could not decide, for the counting was not com- pleted. It appears there were from fifteen to twenty-five per- sons without partners, and that these fifteen to twenty-five con- stituted the majority for sending one representative ; but wheth- er this fact was known by the selectmen, the committee cannot determine. After these ineffectual attempts to obtain a decision on either question of sending one or five, it appears, that a motion for dissolving the meeting, and a motion for its adjourn- ment to Saturday, the eighteenth day of the same May, were regularly made, and submitted to the freemen for their decision. On the house being polled, the selectmen declared there were 331 for dissolving the meeting, and 327 for adjourning until Saturday ; and there being a majority of four for dissolving the meeting, it was dissolved accordingly.
" The committee further find, that on the next day, (to wit, on the 14th of the same May,) the selectmen, upon a petition signed by fifteen inhabitants, issued their warrants for a town meeting, to be holden on Saturday the 18th day of the same month, at 12 o'clock, noon, at the east meeting-house, for the purpose, as expressed in the warrant, of sending one or more representatives to the General Court ; that notifications to that effect were given verbally, or by reading copies of the warrant by the constables to the inhabitants they found at home, or met in the highways ; and when an officer did not find a voter at his home, and had not met him elsewhere, he stated verbally the purpose and time of the meeting to the wife, or other person or persons he found at the domicil of the qualified voter. It ap- pears that notifications were not posted at the meeting-house,
163
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
and no public day intervened from the issuing the warrant until the time of the meeting. The committee also find, that the uniform manner of calling town meetings in Rehoboth, for fifty- two years last past, has been by posting notifications at each meeting-house in said town, so long before the intended meet- ing, as to have two public days intervene between the time of posting up the notifications and the time of the meeting, and that this mode was never deviated from until the present instance.
" The committee further find, that at the meeting on the 18th of May, immediately after the petition and warrant were read, a motion was regularly made and seconded, that the town should send one representative and no more ; and immediately follow- ing this motion, another was made and seconded to send five ;- that Elkanah French, Esq. (the presiding selectman at this meeting) declared in a loud voice as follows-" I will hear none of your motions, and I will put none of your motions. I will manage this meeting according to my own mind. If you do not like my proceedings, or if I do wrong, prosecute me ; bring in your votes for from one to five representatives." That at the time the first motion was made, or the instant before, a voter put his ballot into the box ; and this voter swore to his bleeif, that his vote was in, the moment previous to the first motion being made.
" The committee further find, that the meeting was unusually orderly and quiet, until the declarations of refusal to put motions were made by said French as aforesaid ; that, consequent upon those declarations, much confusion and tumult ensued ; some insisting that the motions should be put and decided before any votes were received; others insisting upon voting, and others, that they should not vote ; and in some instances, personal con- tests arose between the voters, and blows were given ; that the selectmen ordered one person, who appeared to them to be the most riotous, to be carried out of the meeting by the peace of- ficers, and he was by them carried out without any resistance being offered them, excepting that made by the individual him- self; that most of the tumult and confusion was immediately in front of the seat of the selectmen ; that the presiding selectman repeatedly called for order, and declared, that unless there was order, he would turn the box in five minutes ; that for a short time after the tumult commenced, the noise was so great, that it was with difficulty either the moderator or any other person could be heard.
164
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
" The committee also find, that when six or eight ballots were in the box, a motion was made and seconded for an adjourn- ment of the meeting for half an hour, and reasons in support of the motion were assigned to this effect :- " That it was evident there was much agitation and confusion in the meeting, caused by the refusal to put the former motions ; that the question " how many representatives the town would send," had, at all previous town meetings, been submitted for decision to the free- men as a matter of course ; that a refusal in this instance, was altogether unexpected, and considered by many as a gross in- fringement of the rights of the people, and that an adjournment for a short period would give opportunity for tumult to subside, passions to cool, and the electors to vote with regularity." This motion also was, by the said Elkanah French, utterly refused to be put. He declared he would not put it, and ordered the mover to sit down and hold his tongue.
" The commitee further find, that the presiding selectman or- dered the aisles to be cleared, and repeated his calls for order, and for votes to be brought in; and that he ordered the voters to come up the western aisle, vote, and then go down the east- ern aisle. They also find that the manner of the elector's voting at the east meeting-house has, uniformly, for twenty-two years, been, to come up the eastern aisle, vote, and then go down the western aisle ; that, consequently, the eastern aisle was very much crowded with voters, who were there in the expectation of passing up that aisle, voting, and of going down the western, as usual ; that when the order was given to go down the eastern and come up the western aisle, six or eight who had voted en- deavored to force themselves down the eastern aisle, and formed a phalanx at its head, which contributed to the confusion.
" The committee further find, that after the presiding select- man had received a few ballots, Nathaniel Drowne, Esq. one of the selectmen, declared the town had a constitutional right to send six representatives : that upon this declaration, the said French turned the votes then received out of the box upon the table and ordered the voters to bring in their votes for from one to six representatives ; that after the voting had proceeded a short time under the last order, the said French took up the votes which had been turned out, and returned them to the box, and they were counted with the others.
" The committee further find, that after the order was given
165
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
as aforesaid, to bring in votes for from one to six representatives, votes to the number of six or seven were received by the select- men, and deposited in the ballot box; which votes were not received directly from the hands of the voters, but were collect- ed by one Thomas Bowen, (after he had himself voted) from persons in the crowd, and were by him delivered to the afore- said Nathaniel Drowne, who put them into the box; that in other instances, votes were passed from hand to hand over the heads of voters, until they arrived at, and were deposited in the ballot box.
" The committee further find, that the votes of five or six qualified voters were by them offered to the presiding select- man, and were by him refused to be received ; that, in most of these instances, no reasons 'were assigned for the refusal ; in one instance, he assigned as a reason, that he was about turning the box, and that he would not receive any more votes ; but after he had thus said, and thus refused, he did receive the votes of three persons, other than those he had refused as aforesaid, and then turned the box, and made declaration, that the whole num- ber of votes was twenty-five; that Caleb Abell, John Med- bury, Sebra Lawton, Elkanah French, and Timothy Walker had 23 votes, and were chosen, and that Peter Hunt had two votes, and then left his seat; and immediately Nathaniel Drowne, Esq. one of the selectmen, made declaration that all the above six were elected, and the meeting was dissolved.
" The committee further find, that at the time the box was turned, the tumult and confusion had, in some degree, subsided, and that no assault or personal violence was made upon, nor of- fered to any of the selectmen, either in going to or returning from the meeting ; and that the authority vested in the select- men by the constitution and laws, was not wrested from them during the meeting.
" The committee also find, that at the meeting and while the selectmen were calling for, and receiving votes, the leaf of the table of the Deacons' seat was violently broken down, and the breastwork of the pew pressed in toward the Selectmen, and blows were aimed over the heads of some persons at the presi- ding Selectman, which, in the opinion of the witness, adduced to this fact, would have reached him unless he had avoided them by reclining towards the pulpit.
" The committee further find, that there were between six and seven hundred qualified voters present at the meeting,
166
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
twenty-five of whom voted-and one witness testified that in his opinion, no more votes would have been given in ; but when it was demanded of the voters if their votes were in, the ans- wer No! no! was generally given ; that the time which elap- sed from commencing to receive votes, until the box was turned and the result declared, was not more than twelve minutes, and that the time from the opening to the dissolving of the meeting was twenty eight minutes, and that immediately after the disso- lution of the meeting, the aforesaid Elkanah French, Esq. upon. some one expostulating with him on his conduct, openly declared he intended to manage the meeting according to his own mind, and that he had done it.
" The committee have the honor to exhibit the above state- ment of all the facts which can be considered material; long as it appears, it is as much condensed as possible from the mass of documents and evidence adduced in the case-and they feel themselves obliged respectfully to suggest, that in their very elaborate inquiry into, and minute and laborious investigation of the facts and circumstances attending this election, they have been actuated by an anxious desire to discharge their duty with great care and fidelity, in a case of much more than ordinary import, whether considered as affecting the rights of the people of this Commonwealth, the immunities of the large and respect- able town of Rehoboth, the privileges of the sitting members- or as affording precedents for the governing of towns in the ex- ercise of the elective franchise in the choice of representatives.
" Upon mature consideration of the aforegoing facts, and a careful application of the principles of the Constitution and law to them, the committee report, that the supposed election of representatives to this House from said town of Rehoboth, on the eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thous- and eight hundred and eleven, is altogether void and of no effect, and consequently that the seats of Caleb Abell, John Medbury, Elkanah French, Sebra Lawton and Timothy Walker, Esquires, returned as members as aforesaid, be declared va- cated.
" All which is respectfully submitted by order of the com- mittee.
" CHARLES DAVIS, Chairman.
" On the question, Shall this report be accepted ? the yeas were 208, nays 181."
167
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
Such are the details of this disgraceful town meeting. It has been repeatedly urged, and with reason, that, for the honour of the town, the record of this event should be suppressed, and not again be made public, to revive, perhaps, animosities that time had long since buried, and to garnish and perpetuate a monu- ment of disgrace. But it should be recollected, that history is a record of the past, for the instruction of the present and future ; and that valuable lessons may be drawn as well from the errors as from the virtues of mankind. A faithful chart will point out not only the path which should be pursued, but also the shoals which must be avoided. The report of the " Com- mittee on Contested Elections," being sufficiently minute, has been made use of in narrating this event, as not being liable to the charge of partiality, and involving no more personalities than are absolutely necessary in giving the leading facts. Much amusing anecdote might be given of the scuffle in the meeting- house, and of individual prowess, did not the recital necessarily lead too much to personalities.
This meeting gave rise to the division of the town in 1812, the year succeeding, when the west part was incorporated into a separate township, with the name of Seekonk.
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