USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 1836 > Part 22
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"Mr. Ellis, observing these proceedings, and noticing the zeal and warmth of those who officiated ; sensible that he should not be permitted to perform the duties of the sanctuary without dis- turbance, retired from the house, and left the zealots to perform and conclude their exercises at pleasure. The meeting was continued much in the same manner as before ; singing, reading and exhorting, made a complete chain of exercise from nine of the clock in the forenoon, to nine of the clock in the af- ternoon. At this time there seemed to be a breakage in the tone, and one of the trustees of the society then observed that he thought it an unseasonable hour, for the people to continue assembled-he desired them to retire that the house might be shut and secure. At the same time he informed the people, that a lecture was appointed to be holden there the next morn- ing at nine of the clock ; still many refused to leave the house, and several continued in possession of it through the night. Early the next morning the meeting was begun and held much in the same manner it was the day before. At nine of the clock in the forenoon, the trustees waited on Mr. Ellis and in- troduced him to the pulpit, and informed the people, that agree- ably to appointment the evening before, they had repaired to the house for the purpose of holding a lecture, and wished the people to observe that order and decorum suitable on such an occasion. As soon as these words were uttered, clamor, jar.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
gon and confusion ensued. Some time after the trustees re- newed their request ; observed the illegality and injustice of any people forcibly, and in a tumultuous way, preventing the society from the use and occupation of their house. They commanded silence, and demanded the peaceable possession ; warning any one who should further interrupt, that he would be dealt with as a transgressor of the laws of the commonwealth. His admonition was disregarded, and a mixture of exercise again begun.
" The trustees waited for some time, expecting that there would be a cessation, or that the exercises would be concluded ; but finding their zeal, ardor, enthusiasm and warmth increasing with their continuance in exercise ; that requests and demands for the quiet and peaceable possession of the house were of no avail-the trustees, with Mr. Ellis, retired once more from the noise and confusion, and never formally took possession of the house again, till they obtained it by judgment of law. The meeting, however, did not thus end; it was continued for near a fortnight, day and night. A variety of characters exhibited on this emergency, and a variety of matters were exhibited. If it was not a school of morality, it was of novelty and wonders.
" At sometimes singing, at other times exhorting ; and a third part of the exercise, was reading, with a mixture of sympathiz- ing sighs, sounds and tones. Sometimes, to complete the rarity, they resolved into a precinct meeting ; a moderator was chosen -this could be easily done on this occasion, though notification had not been given. At some times, not more than three per- sons would be in the pulpit, at other times the pulpit was crowded, and the stairs thronged with reinforcements. Being thus prepared, there was scarcely any cessation ; for when one performer was fatigued or exhausted, another was at hand to supply his place. When they were generally fatigued, and the bodies had become weak, through constant and unwearied exer- tions, and required sustenance, provisions were supplied ; if the spiritual part failed, the corporeal part was sure to be refreshed and invigorated ; this naturally led them to conclude that every needed aid was granted. Thus the meeting was continued, and such was their worship. What soul could be benefited, or what being glorified thereby, I am at a loss to determine.
" This was all done under an idea, that they possessed a true zeal for pure and undefiled religion. Was the cloak sufficient
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to cover the deception ? Could not the eye of reason, by an impartial investigation, penetrate the mask, and discover motives very foreign from religious ones? The meeting, however, finally came to an end ; those persons of the society, who had attended and observed their proceedings, retired ; the others ceased their worship and left the house."
The society, by the process entered into by them against the precinct, under the statute of forcible entry and detainer, ob- tained possession of the meeting house. This induced the pre- cinct to procure a writ of ejectment. This form of action brought the title of the meeting-house regularly and legally in question, the decision of which would be final to both parties. This, and the action for the recovery of the fund, were pending for a long time. Ancient records were searched, and hidden things brought to view. They at length came to a trial ; and in both the society were successful. In the one they recovered their costs ; it appearing that the precinct, as a precinct, had no title to the meeting-house they had sued for ; in the other, the said society had judgment to recover the funds sued for, and their costs ; it appearing that ' the intentions of the original do- nors, in giving the fund, were for the benefit of Congregation- alists, and none other.' From both of these decisions the precinct appealed to the Supreme Judicial court ; at which court, at Taunton, in the October term, 1794, both cases were tried and determined. "The court, knowing the disputes had been of long continuance ; that a great number of people felt interested in the event ; and that, for the peace and order of the inhabitants in the aforesaid precinct, it was necessary that there should be a final and solemn decision in the actions, granted ev- ery reasonable and legal indulgence to the parties. A very full and candid hearing, continuing for two days and a half, was given both by judges and jurors. All records, from the settle- ment of the town of Rehoboth, were brought into view, the facts fully stated, and the law candidly considered. Counsel, learned and experienced in the law, were employed on both sides. The judges, in their several charges to the juries, in a summary, though plain manner, stated the facts, explained the points of the law referred to, and insisted upon in the trials. The juries to whom the causes were committed, returned ver- dict in favour of the society ; thereby comporting with the ver- dicts of the juries at the court of common pleas." Thus were these long and unpleasant contentions, at last, terminated.
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
Mr. Ellis was succeeded by the Rev. John Hill, a native of Lewistown, in the state of Delaware. He was born February 11, 1759 ; was educated at Lewistown ; and began to preach No- vember 29, 1787. He was employed as an itinerant preacher, in the Methodist connexion, in the southern and New England states, (in the latter he preached principally in Lynn, Waltham, and Boston,) till about the year 1795 ; when he dissolved his connexion with the Methodists, and taught a school, for eight years, in Warren, R. I. He was installed over this church,
September 22, 1802. Here, in addition to his pastoral duties, he kept a private school throughout the year, and was a popular teacher of the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, and also of the various departments of English literature. Mr. Hill was very much beloved by the people of his charge, and especially by the children and youth. He continued his pastoral services, and preached on the Sabbath preceding his death, which occur- red in 1816. His wife was Miss Roby Bowen, who was born in Coventry, R. I., November 29, 1766. They were married September 1, 1794 ; and had two children, Sarah (now de- ceased,) and Maria V. Mrs. Hill still survives, and resides in Seekonk.
The next settled minister was the Rev. James O. Barney, the present pastor. He was born at Providence, R. I. Septem- ber, 30, 1795; graduated at Brown university in September, 1821, and was ordained over this church, February 4, 1824. He married Miss Eliza Lathe, of Charlton, Mass., in May, 1825.
The present state of the church and society is prosperous ; and, connected with it, and under the supervision of the pastor, is an interesting and flourishing sabbath school, with a fine juve- nile library.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The first meeting for discussing the propriety of attempting to establish a Baptist church in this part of the town, and, after a resolution had been formed to that effect, for devising means to accomplish it, was held on the 17th of December, 1793 .*
* For most of the facts in the history of this church, I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Zenas B. Newman, a graduate of Brown university, and formerly a member of this church.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
After several meetings, the church was organized, November 27, 1794, consisting of forty members. The first minister who preached to this church, was the Rev. John P. Jones, a member of the Baptist church in Newport, R. I. After preaching nearly a year, in the capacity of a licentiate from the afore-men- tioned church, he was ordained as pastor, March 18, 1795. Messrs. Caleb Mason and Charles Peck were at the same time appointed deacons. Mr. Jones continued to perform his pasto- ral duties with satisfaction and success, till August 25, 1798, when the decline of his health compelled him to relinquish them. His successor was the Rev. John Pitman, who had oc- casionally assisted Mr. Jones. In 1801, the church enjoyed a revival of religion, and considerable additions were made to its numbers. In December, 1807, Mr. Joseph Bucklin was ap- pointed deacon, and also in March, 1808, Mr. Samuel Brown. With the exception of the year 1815, Mr. Pitman supplied the desk regularly, from 1798 till his death, in July, 1822. In December, 1815, Mr. David Brown was elected deacon, which office he still sustains. This last-mentioned year is noticed as the date of another revival in this church. In 1819, Messrs. Sylvanus Newman and John Read were appointed deacons. The former still continues in the office, but the latter has for several years been in the ministry. During the autumn of 1822, the church enjoyed no regular preaching; and in the winter of 1823, it was supplied by two clergymen, one of whom was the Rev. Ezra Going. From October 5, 1823, till 1828, it enjoyed the permanent labors of the Rev. Bartlett Pease. During the year 1829, the desk was supplied by several different clergy- men, among whom was the Rev. Mr. Green, who previously, as well as subsequently, preached to the Baptist church in Digh- ton. In May, 1829, the Rev. Benjamin Grafton, of Plymouth, Conn., became the pastor of the church, and continued till July, 1831. Mr. Grafton now preaches in Taunton. Mr. Grafton was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Bestor, who continued till August, 1833. In August of this year, Mr. Viall Medbury was chosen deacon. In September, 1833, the church invited the Rev. Henry Clark, a licentiate from the church at Harwich, to supply them for a season. His labors were so successful that during the year 1834, between sixty and seventy members were added to the church. Mr. Clark was ordained over this church in 1834.
Mr. Clark was the son of Seth Clark, and was born in Can-
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HISTORY OF SEEKONK.
terbury, Windham county, Conn., in November, 1810; was educated at the literary and theological institution, at Hamilton, N. Y., and was married to Miss Mary Tillinghast Doane, of Warwick, R. I., in January, 1834.
This church now consists of 207 members.
LYCEUM.
A Lyceum was established in Seekonk in the winter of 1834, which has been sustained ever since with great spirit and inter- est. Besides the resources of its own members, it is enabled from its proximity to Providence, to avail itself of the aid of the learned and scientific men of that city, and of the able professors of Brown university. During the last year, a neat and commo- dious building was erected by the members of the Lyceum, for their meetings.
SEEKONK CLASSICAL INSTITUTE.
A school with the above title, in which the classics and higher English branches, with the modern languages, are taught, was established in the village of Seekonk, in the autumn of 1835, and is now in successful operation, consisting of about thirty scholars.
HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
In 1828, the north-west part of Seekonk was, by an act of the Legislature, and in compliance with a petition of a majority of the inhabitants of that part of the town, incorporated into an independent township, resuming its ancient Indian name, Paw- tucket .* The following is a copy of the
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
"SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the north-west part of the town of Seekonk, within the following lines, namely : beginning at a bend of the Seekonk river, about forty rods south of the mouth of Beverage brook, so called, thence running a due east course till it strikes the Ten-mile river, so called, thence by said river till it comes to the Attleborough line, including the island on which Kent's factory is situated, also the bridge a few rods north of said Kent's factory, which shall in future be supported by said town of Pawtucket ; thence westerly on the Attleborough line till it comes to the Rhode Island line; thence southerly on said Rhode Island line till it comes to the first corner, with all the inhabitants living thereon, be incorporated into a town by the name of Pawtucket, with all the powers and privileges, and subjected to the duties and requisitions, that towns within this commonwealth do, or may enjoy, or be subject to.
" SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the said town of Pawtucket shall be holden to pay all arrears of taxes, which have been assessed upon them by the town of See- konk, together with their proportion of all debts due from said town of Seekonk, prior to the date of this act; and the said town of Pawtucket shall be entitled to receive their proportion of all debts and taxes due to the said town of Seekonk, when
* For the signification of the word Pawtucket, see supra, Hist. of Rehoboth, p. 3.
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
collected and paid into the treasury of said town ; and the said town of Pawtucket shall be entitled to hold their proportion, according to the last valuation, of all the real and personal prop- erty, including the legacy of the late Eliphalet Slack, belonging to the town of Seekonk before the passing of this act, except so much of said property as is hereafter mentioned ; and, whereas, by an act of this General Court passed the twenty- sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve, entitled an act to establish the town of Seekonk, it is enacted that all the expenses arising for the support of the poor, which had become chargeable to the town of Rehoboth, together with such poor as have removed out of said Rehoboth prior to the said act, but who might there- after be lawfully returned to said town for support, shall be equally divided between the towns of Rehoboth and Seekonk.
" SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the said town of Paw- tucket shall be held to pay one third of the expenses to which the said town of Seekonk may hereafter become liable in con- sequence of said provision, and when the said town of Paw- tucket shall be organized, the paupers supported by said town of Seekonk, in pursuance of said provision, whether the same be supported in whole or in part only, shall be divided as near- ly as may be, and one third thereof delivered over to the over- seers of the said town of Rehoboth, to be by them in future supported, and all persons who may hereafter become charge- able as paupers to the said towns of Seekonk and Pawtucket, shall be considered as belonging to that town on the limits of which they had their settlement at the time of the passing of this act, and shall in future be chargeable to that town only.
" SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, that the poor now supported by the town of Seekonk, and all such who may hereafter be returned for support, in virtue of having acquired a settlement in said town, shall be supported by the town within the territo- rial limits of which they have acquired their settlement.
" SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That until a new valuation is taken by the commonwealth, the state and county taxes, and any reimbursements required by the commonwealth for the rep- resentation of the present and past years, of the said town of Seekonk, which may be called for from said towns of Seekonk and Pawtucket, shall be paid jointly by said towns, and in the proportion of two thirds for said town of Seekonk, and one third for said town of Pawtucket.
" SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That the said town of Paw-
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tucket shall have no claim in the town-house, and also a certain parcel of real estate, known by the name of Kettle Point, and is owned by the towns of Seekonk and Rehoboth ; and the said town of Pawtucket shall not be liable to pay any expenses that have, or may accrue, on occasion of said estate, and the said town of Seekonk shall also retain to their own use, the school fund, so called.
"SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That any justice of the peace, in the county of Bristol, be, and is hereby authorised to issue his warrant, directed to some suitable inhabitant of Paw- tucket, requiring him to notify, and warn the inhabitants of the said town of Pawtucket, to assemble and meet at such convenient time and place as shall be appointed in said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose and appoint at their annual town meetings.
" Approved by the governor, March 1, 1828."
The first town meeting of the inhabitants of Pawtucket, was held March 17, 1828, when the following town officers were elected :- Oliver Starkweather, moderator; David Bucklin, Elijah Ingraham, and Remember Kent, selectmen ; James C. Starkweather, town clerk ; and William Allen, town treasurer.
The second annual meeting was held April 6, 1829, when the same officers were re-elected. At the next annual meeting, April 5, 1830, George W. Hill was chosen town clerk; the other town officers were the same as in the two preceding years.
At the fourth annual meeting of the town, April 4, 1831, Amos A. Tillinghast was chosen town clerk ; Elijah Ingraham, Wellington Kent, and John Burbank, selectmen; and William Allen, town treasurer.
At the fifth annual meeting, April 2, 1832, Amos A. Til- linghast was chosen town clerk ; Wellington Kent, Amos Arnold, and Asa Draper, selectmen; and Edward Walcott, town treasurer.
At the sixth annual meeting, April 1, 1833, the same town officers were re-elected, with the exception of the treasurer, whose place was supplied by Ira D. Ellis. At the annual meet- ing, April 7, 1834, the officers of the preceding year were re- elected.
April 6, 1835, at the eighth annual town meeting, Thomas Esten was chosen town clerk; Wellington Kent, Ira Draper,
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
and John Craine, jr. selectmen ; and Ira D. Ellis, town treasurer.
It is readily foreseen that the materials for the history of Pawtucket, as a separate and independent township, must ne- cessarily, from its recent existence as such, be very scanty and limited. " Pierce's Fight," which took place a short distance above the village, on the Pawtucket or Blackstone river, was related in our history of Rehoboth, at pp. 87 to 93, and also the capture of Canonchet, supposed to be taken near the same spot will be found at pp. 97 to 101, of the same. We have already given the few facts respecting its history that the re- cords of the town afford. The previous notices that we find of Pawtucket relate to the village of Pawtucket ; but as the por- tions of the village, on both sides of the river, grew up together, whatever may throw light upon the growth of the whole, will help to exhibit that of the part which falls within the incorpora- ted town.
The following is a description of the village of Pawtucket, as it was in 1810, by Dr. Dwight, found in his travels, vol. II. p. 27-8.
" In the northwestern corner of Rehoboth there is a compact and neat settlement on the Pawtucket, or Providence river. This, with another on the western bank, form what is called North Providence ; although this name, in strict propriety, be- longs only to the latter. This village is well built, and wears a flourishing aspect. The river is a large mill-stream ; and just below the village becomes navigable for boats. Directly under the bridge commences a romantic fall, which, extending obliquely down the river, furnishes a number of excellent mill- seats. Of this advantage the inhabitants have availed them- selves. There is probably no spot in New England, of the same extent, in which the same quantity, or variety, of manu- facturing business is carried on. In the year 1796, there were here three Anchor-forges, one Tanning Mill, one Flowering Mill, one Slitting Mill, three Snuff Mills, one Oil Mill, three Fulling Mills, one Clothier's Works, one Cotton Factory, two Machines for cutting nails, one Furnace for casting hollow ware ; all moved by water, one Machine for cutting screws, moved by a horse, and several forges for smiths' work.
" The whole descent of the river is said to be fifty feet. The principal fall is about thirty. The mass of rocks, by which it is
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HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET.
produced, is thrown together in the wildest confusion. When we passed this place, the river was low. In 1807, while cross- ing the ferry, just below, in an oblique direction near a mile in extent, I had a remarkably fine view of this cataract. The river was full, and fell in a circuitous extent of little less than two hundred feet, and in a great variety of forms of wildness and grandeur.
" Most of the manufactures at this place have been carried on successfully. The number of workmen employed, the nuin- ber of buildings, and the mass of capital, have therefore contin- ually increased. But in the year 1806, the deluge of rain, which fell in the beginning of February, raised the river to an unprecedented height ; and swept away in a moment the labo- rious efforts of many years."
The following notice, extracted from a gazeteer of Rhode Isl- and and Connecticut, published at Hartford in 1819, may serve to give us another birds-eye view of the village of Pawtucket, nine years later than the date of the one preceeding : -
" The village of Pawtucket is situated in the north-east sec- tion of the town [North Providence,] four miles northeast of Providence, on the border of the Seekonk river; its site being principally the deelivity of a hill, and it is highly romantic and picturesque. The river here affords numerous natural sites for manufacturing establishments, mills and hydraulic works. of almost every description, which are scarcely rivalled, and which are occupied to a great extent. The rapid march of manufac- turing and mechanical industry, which the short annals of this place disclose, has few examples in our country, and has pro- duced one of the most considerable and flourishing manufactur- ing villages in the United States. The river here forms the boundary line between the two states, and the village is built upon both sides of it ; being partly in Rhode Island and partly in Massachusetts. That part of the village which is in this state [Rhode Island,] is principally built on four streets ; and com- prizes eighty-three Dwelling-houses, twelve Mercantile stores, two Churches, a Post Office, an incorporated Bank, an Acad- emy, and two or three flourishing schools. Of the ten Cotton Mills in the town, three are at this place, and upon an exten- sive scale. There are six shops engaged in the manufacturing of machinery, having the advantage of water power, and vari- ous other mechanical establishments, affording extensive employ- ment, and supporting a dense population. Upon the Massa-
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chusetts side of the river, there is a village of nearly equal sizo and consequence, for its manufacturing and other interests."
As early as 1712, we find, in a report, made to the Massa- chusetts legislature, by a committee consisting of three of the Council and two of the House of Representatives, respecting the most advantageous location for a bridge proposed to be erected by the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, over Pawtucket river, a mention made of " Iron Works " near " Paw- tucket Falls." And it is probable, that the excellent water privileges at the falls early attracted the attention of the first settlers, and that mills were erected here at an early date; but the village was small and of comparatively little importance, till the introduction of Cotton manufactures by the late Samuel Slater, in 1790. Since that period the growth and prosperity of the village have been unrivalled.
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