USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, 1836 > Part 7
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May 15, 1666. In town meeting, " It was agreed by joint consent, that a third man alone for the work of the ministry should be forthwith looked for, and such a one as may preach to the satisfaction of the whole, (if it be the will of God for the settling of peace amongst us, according to the former renewed counsel sent us from our honored Governor and Assistants.) The meeting was adjourned to the 19th, to make choice of a committee to obtain a " third man alone for the work of the ministry." " Richard Bullock declared his protest against this act, as judging it the sole work of the church."
May 19, 1666. " At a town meeting lawfully warned, the town concluded to have a meeting upon the last Tuesday in June, to consider of the meadows on the north side of the town, how they may be disposed of for this present year; it is there- fore agreed by this town, that no man shall mow a load or part of a load of grass, before the town hath disposed of them, upon the penalty of twenty shillings the load or part of a load."
" May 23, 1666. Mr. Symes was admitted by the town as an inhabitant, to purchase or hire for his money."
" At the same time Mr. Myles was voted to be invited to preach, viz : once a fortnight on the week day, and once on the Sabbath day."
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
June 26, 1666. " Stephen Paine, senior, Mr. Browne, and Goodman Allen were chosen Selectmen to answer the Court order."
They were the first Selectmen chosen by the town. The Townsmen still continued to be chosen as usual.
" August the 13th, 1666. It was voted and agreed upon by the town that an able man for the work of the ministry shall, with all convenient speed, be looked for, as an officer for this church, and a minister for. the town, such a one as may be sat- isfactory to the generality."
" At the same time it was also voted and agreed upon by the town, that Mr. Myles shall still continue to lecture on the week day, and further on the Sabbath, if he be thereunto legally cal- led."
" At the same time, the town made choice of Deacon Cooper, Lieutenant Hunt, Nicholas Peck, and Ensign. Smith, as mes- sengers; to look out for an able man for the work of the minis- try, according to the vote aforesaid, and they are to go in the first place to Mr. Esterbrook's."
October 16, 1666. "At a town meeting it was concluded, that the purchased lands on the north side of the town shall be divided between this and the first of May next ensuing."
It was also voted by the town, "that no person shall fall any trees upon the aforesaid lands on the north side of our town before the said lands be divided, upon the penalty of ten shil- lings for every tree so fallen."
The same day, "John Doggett, John Woodcock, and John Titus were chosen by the town to see what timber trees are fallen on the late purchased lands, on the north side of our town, and they shall have the forfeiture for their pains, and the trees to those that the land shall fall to."
December 10, 1666. " At a town meeting it was voted and agreed upon, that Mr. Burkley should continue still amongst us till the first of April next ensuing, upon further trial, in refer- ence to the vote of August 13, -66, which is in order to the settlement in the ministry, if he be approved of."
The same day, Thomas Esterbrook was admitted as an in- habitant.
"June 22, 1667. At a town-meeting it was voted by the town that the meadows lying on the north side of the town shall be for this present year as they were last year."
Since the disturbances caused in the church at Rehoboth, in
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
1649, by Obadiah Holmes and his adherents, the religious affairs of the town had been far from being in a quiet state ; and the number of Baptists, so far from being lessened by persecu- tion, had been gradually increasing. In 1663 it was strength- ened by the arrival of the Rev. John Myles, with a part of his church, from Swansea, in Wales, (England,) whence he had been ejected for non-conformity. This church he had founded at Swansea (Wales) in 1649. On their removal to this coun- try, they brought with them their records, which were in Welch,* large extracts from which, says Benedict, in his History of the Baptists, were made by Mr. Backus, and sent over to Mr. Thomas of Leominster, England, the historian of the Welsh Baptists. In 1663, Mr. Myles formed a Baptist church in Re- hoboth, the fourth formed in America. It was organized in the house of John Butterworth, and commenced with seven mem- bers. Their names were, John Miles, (or Myles, as more fre- quently spelled in the records,) pastor, James Brown, Nicholas Tanner, Joseph Carpenter, John Butterworth, Eldad Kingsley, and Benjamin Alby. This measure was offensive to the Con- gregational church of the town, and to the other churches of the colony ; and the interposition of the Court of Plymouth was soon called for to arrest the growing schism. Each member of this new church was fined £5, prohibited from worship, for the space of one month ; and they were advised to remove from Rehoboth to some place where they might not prejudice any existing church. In pursuance with this advice, they removed to Wannamoiset, and erected a house near Kelley's bridge, on a neck of land which is now in the town of Barrington. After- wards they erected another house, on the east side of Palmer's river, about half a mile from the bridge, which is still known by the name of "Myles's bridge." It stood a short distance from the spot where the present house of the same church now stands. In 1667, these Baptists were incorporated into a town
* Benedict states that these records, in Welch, are still in the possession of this church. The only records which that church now possesses are in Eng- lish. These commence in 1649, at Swansea, Wales, and contain copies of letters addressed to the church by several Baptist churches of England and Ireland. I am inclined to think that the whole of the original Welch records were sent to England by Mr. Backus, and there translated into English ; and that a copy of the translation was returned to the Swansey church. They are in an excellent state of preservation, and written in a hand altogether too modern for the date which they bear.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
by the name of Swansey .* This town originally comprised within its limits the present town, together with Somerset, Mass., Barrington, and the greater part of Warren, R. I.
Mr. Miles continued the minister of Swansea till his death, which occurred February 3, 1683. His wife was Ann, the daughter of John Humphrey. [ Baylies' Mem. of Plym. Col. ii. 213, 235-250. Allen's Am. Biog. & Hist. Dic. Back- us' and Benedict's Histories of the Baptists.]
On the 30th of March, 1668, Philip, who had succeeded his brother Alexander, as Sachem of the Wampanoags, or Pokano- kets, as they are sometimes called, confirmed to the town the purchase of the " eight miles square," made of Massassoit, or Ossamequin, his father, in 1641, and relinquished all claim and title to the same, by giving the town a quit-claim warrantee deed. + Of this deed the following is an exact copy ; in trans- cribing it the original orthography has been preserved.
QUIT-CLAIM DEED OF KING PHILIP.
" Know all men by these presents that, whereas Osamequin, Sachem, deceased, did, for good and valluable considerations, in the year one thousand Six Hundred and forty and one, give, grant, convey, assure ence offe, and confirm unto Mr. John Brown, and Mr. Edward Winslow deceased, a tract of land of Eight miles square, scituate, lying and being both on the East and west sides of a river now called Palmer's river to the prop- erty and behoof of the townsmen of Seacunck, alias Rehoboth : I Phillip Sachem, eldest son, heir and successor to the said Os- amequin Sachem, do hereby for my self, mine heires, assigns
* This name has been written in three different ways, viz : Swansea, Swan- zey, and Swansey. The first is the way in which it is written in the earliest records, and is the orthography of the town in Wales, from which this derived its name.
tThe original deed is still extant, and in the possession of the proprietors of Rehoboth, in the keeping of Capt. Worcester Carpenter, proprietor's clerk. The mark of Philip is large and bold, resembling a Roman p, or, perhaps, more nearly a short dagger. I hope the proprietors will be induced to deposit this deed in the archives of the Rhode Island Historical Society, at Providence. There it would be carefully preserved, and be within only a short distance of Rehoboth.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
and successors remise, release, and for ever quit all manner of right, title, claime or interest that I the said phillip Sachem have, or by any colour or pretence whatsoever might or ought to have to the said tract of lands Eight mile square, lying on the East and west sides of Palmer's river aforesaid, unto Mr. Stephen Paine the elder, Peter Hunt, John Allen, Henry Smith, and others, the select men of the town of Rehoboth ; ffor and to the use of themselves and of all the other Townsmen of the said town, as they are respectively concerned and estated therine, and to the use of all and every of their heires and assigns for ever. And furthermore I the said Phillip sachem do hereby firmly bind my self, mine heires, assigns and successors to free and discharge, secure and save harmlesse the said Stephen Pain, Peter Hunt, John Allen, Henry Smith and the select men afore- said, and all other the Inhabitants of Rehoboth, their heirs and assigns for ever from all former and other bargains, sales titles, and all other incumbrances whatsoever had, made, done or suf- fered by me the said phillip sachem, or the said Osemequin my father deceased; or hereafter to be made, done, committed or suffered by me the said phillip sachem, mine heires, assigns or successors. In witnesse whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal, the thirtieth day of the ffirst Month, Called March, In the yeare of our lord one Thousand Six Hundred Sixty and Eight."
" Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of
the mark of Umptakisok T Counsellor.
the mark of phillip
Counseller.
the mark of S Sunconewhew phillip's brother.
the mark of peebee T Counsellor.
" be it remembered that Philip aknowledged be- fore the ensealing and delivery hereof that os- emequin receaved full satisfaction of the said Mr. Brown and Mr. Winslow for the said Eight mile square, and ffor the hundred acres, lying on the south side of the bounds of Reho- both, now called by the name of the Hundred acres to the use of the said town.
9
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
The mark of phillip p sachem.
the mark of T Tom Interpreter.
(seal.)
John Myles Junio :
John ¡ Landon's mark.
Phillip the Sachem did acknowledge this deed, this first of June, 1668, Before Jos. Winslow,
the mark ^ of wm. Hammon.
Joseph Sabin.
Assist.
April 10, 1668. At a town meeting "it was voted that, whereas the select townsmen did give Philip, Sachem a gratuity at the sealing of an evidence of our eight mile square, the sum of eight pounds twelve shillings ; that the said select townsmen shall make a rate for the payment of it."
At the same meeting the town chose a committee, "to go and view the meadows that are in the North Purchase, and to acre them out, to divide them into three score and eighteen parts and a half, and to mark and bound out each part, and put in such swamps as in their prudence they think meet, to be laid out in the said division : provided they do it equally as they can. The said committee are Anthony Perry, Philip Walker, Thomas Wilmot, Nicholas Ide ; to be paid by the whole com- pany of purchasers.
May 13, 1668. " It was voted and agreed upon that the new book of records should be recorded at Plymouth, this next June Court."
" William Carpenter at the same time was chosen Town Clerk."
Voted, that the deed given by the Indians to the town "be delivered to the committee of the town, that they may record it at the Court of New Plymouth, the next June Court."
Voted, " that a committee shall be chosen to draw up a peti- tion to send to the Court at Plymouth, the next General Court, that we might have some redress in respect of the difficulty of the transportation of our county rates. The committee chosen, were Mr. Stephen Payne, sen., Lieut. Hunt, and Ensign Smith, committe to sign this petition in the name of the town."
It was also voted " that the rates upon the north side of the town be lowered, and part taken off; that is to say, whereas
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
the lands upon the North Purchase paid forty shillings of 5 pounds in all rates, that now the said lands shall pay 20 shillings in 5 pounds, until the town see cause to alter it."
May 26, 1668. " It was voted and agreed upon for the en- couragement of a brickmaker, in the town, the town ordered that if any come, he shall have free liberty of wood and clay, at the half-mile swamp, to make what brick he will."
The same day lots were drawn for the meadow lands in the North Purchase by the following persons :
Obadiah Bowen,
James Gilson,
Samuel Luther,
Rice Leonard,
Stephen Paine, sen.
Samuel Newman,
John Savage,
John Doggett,
Goody Hide,
Anthony Perry,
Children's lands,
Thomas Cooper, jun.
Thomas Reade,
George Kendricke,
Preserved Abell,
John Butterworth,
William Carpenter,
Mr. Myles,
Gilbert Brooks,
Richard Bowen, jun.
Thomas & Jacob Ormsby,
Mr. Newman,
Robert Jones,
- Joseph Peck,
John Reade, sen. Nathaniel Paine, sen.
William Sabin, -
- Robert Wheaton,
Widow Carpenter,
Mr. Browne,
Benjamin Buckland,
Philip Walker,
Robert Miller, John Titus,
John Peren, sen. John Ormsby,
J Nathaniel Peck, George Robinson, Robert Fuller, John Fitch,
Jaret Ingraham,
Nathaniel Paine, jun.
Henry Smith,
Nicholas Peck,
Thomas Willmot, William Buckland, John Kinslye, Jonathan Fuller,
Jonathan Bosworth, Samuel Carpenter, Richard Whitaker,
John Miller, sen. Joseph Carpenter,
Mr. Tanner, Stephen Paine, jun. Jonathan Palmer, James Redeway, Nicholas Ide, Deacon Cooper,
Samuel Peck, Sampson Mason, John Allin, jun. John Reade, jun.
John Lowell,
Ichabod Miller, jun.
Mr. Daniel Smith,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
Joseph Buckland,
Francis Stephens,
Thomas Grant,
Edward Hall,
Israel Peck,
John Woodcock,
Captain Willet,
John Allin, sen.
Jonathan Bliss,
Abraham Martin,
Lieutenant Hunt,
Ovid Bullock.
Eldad Kinsly,
During this year, the Rev. Noah Newman, son of the Rev. Samuel Newman, was settled by the church and town as their minister.
December 4, 1668, the following vote was passed by the town relative to his support; " that Mr. Newman should have forty pounds a year and his wood provided, to begin last March, for his comfortable maintenance, for the carrying in end the work of the ministry amongst us. Deacon Carpenter, Lieutenant Hunt, and Goodman Roades were chosen to see that the aforesaid order should be accomplished, and to speak to those that are defective in their not doing their duty."
From the above vote it appears that Mr. Newman commen- ced his ministry in Rehoboth, in March.
January 1, 1668-9 .* " It was voted that there should be some land broke and fenced about the minister's house, for the planting of an orchard, and other conveniences ; and the towns- men were appointed to see the thing accomplished."
May 14, 1669. " It was voted and agreed upon, that the house which was built for the ministry Mr. Newman should en- joy as long as he continues in the work of the ministry amongst us."
" It was also at the same time voted, that Mr. Newman should also, enjoy the lands, meadows, commons, &c. of the pastors
* Style is Old and New. In Old Style the year commenced on the 25th of March. The correction of the calender by Pope Gregory, in 1582, was not adopted by the British Parliament till 1751, when it was ordered that eleven days should be struck out of September of 1752, and the third day of that month was reckoned the fourteenth. « This latter mode of reckoning is called New Style, and the year commenced on the first of January. Before the year 1752, there was sometimes a confusion in dates, it being difficult to determine whether January, February, and a part of March closed the year or began another. Hence the mode of double dates, as " Jan. 1, 1668-9," which is 1669 New style. And in order to find the day of the month in New Style, corre- sponding to a given day of any month in Old Style, we must consider the latter as eleven days in advance of the former, and add eleven days to the present date. For instance, the 24th of March 1668, Old Style, corresponds to April 4th, 1669, New Style.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
and teachers, as long as he continues in the work of the ministry amongst us : excepting there shall be another officer chosen and settled amongst us, and then Mr. Newman is to have one of the accommodations of pastors or teachers, and the other officer, if ever any be joined with him, is to have the other accommoda- tions so long as they attend their work."
" At the same time it was voted, enacted, and agreed upon, that, seeing it is the intention of the town to preserve the house built for the ministry, and to keep it for that use; the town therefore seeth cause to engage themselves, that, if it should please God, that by his providence he should remove Mr. New- man by death, while he continues in the ministerial work, and should leave a wife and family behind him; that his wife or family that he leaves behind him, shall have four-score pounds paid to her or them, at their leaving or removing out of the house, and the said four-score pounds to be raised by a rate of the inhabitants of the town, according to their several propor- tions. The former word family, to be interpreted Mr. New- man's children."
" At the same time it was also voted, that Mr. Newman should have three-score pounds a year paid him yearly, for his comfortable subsistence in the work of the ministry. And Mr. Stephen Pain, senior, Deacon Cooper, and William Sabin, were chosen by the town, desiring them to take some pains to see how it might be raised : that if it might be, it might be raised freely ; for every person whom it concerns to contribute towards it freely ; and that thenceforward persons will take care that it might be effectually accomplished ; and also, that the forty pounds a year which is past be inquired into, to see if it be ac- complished : and if these persons do apprehend that the afore- said way will not effect the thing, then the town are to seriously consider of some other way, that it may be effected for the comfortable carrying on of the worship and ordinances of God amongst us."
At the same meeting, " the town with one consent declared by vote, that the proposition from the Court about sales of guns, powder, and shot to the Indians, they apprehend it will be greatly detrimental to our English interest, and therefore declare themselves against it."
July 29, 1669. At a town meeting it was voted " that a rate should be made to answer the warrant from the Court; and the raters chosen were Mr. Stephen Paine, senior, Lieutenant
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
Hunt, Henry Smith, Nicholas Peck, Deacon Cooper, Philip Walker."
" Voted that those that pay butter, shall pay for the trans- portation of butter, and they that pay wheat, shall pay for the transportation of their wheat, and they that pay money, to pay for no transportation of either wheat or butter."
There was a rate made the 30th of July, 1669, being the first part of the payment of the county rate, amounting to the sum of £13 3s.
November 4, 1669. " It was voted and agreed that there should be a rate made for the purchasing of powder and lead, as much as will make up the town stock, according to the order of the Court, with what there is already. Mr. Stephen Paine, Lieutenant Hunt, Ensign Smith, Philip Walker, and Nicholas Peck, were chosen to make the rate."
December 12, 1670. At a town meeting, " Deacon Cooper, Lieutenant Hunt, John Reade, senior, and William Sabin, were chosen raters, to make a rate for Mr. Newman's maintenance, according to a former vote."
November 8, 1670. " At a town meeting lawfully warned, it was voted that the line should be forthwith run between the North Purchase and the mile and a half given to the town for enlargement."
The "mile and a half," here referred to, was the subject of considerable dispute between the town of Rehoboth and the proprietors of the North Purchase, being claimed by both. It was given to Rehoboth by a mere verbal grant from commis- sioners of the Colony ; and was at length confirmed to them by the Plymouth Court, in the following act of June, 1668. " This Court have ordered, that a tract of land, containing a mile and a half, lying on the north side of the town of Rehoboth, is al- lowed to be the proper right of the said township. And such lands as are lying betwixt the Bay line and it, is to be accounted within the constablerick of Rehoboth, until the Court shall order otherwise. And that such farms as lyeth within the said liber- ties shall be responsible in point of rating at the Colony's dis- posal."-Plym. Col. Records.
November 23, 1670. A committee was chosen to meet the Treasurer of Taunton to settle the bounds between the North Purchase, and Taunton North Purchase. The committee were Ensign Smith, William Sabin, and William Carpenter.
"January 9, 1670-1. At a town meeting lawfully warned, it was voted and agreed, that Capt. Hudson of Boston, and
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
John Fitch (probably of Rehoboth) shall have liberty to build a ware-house at the water side, and a wharf; and Mr. Paine, senior, and Ensign Smith were chosen to appoint them the place and quantity of ground for the ware-house .- John Dog- get also had the like liberty granted him."
May 12, 1671. "It was voted and agreed upon by the town, that, whereas Mr. Newman's maintenance hath not reach- ed unto what hath been engaged unto him by the towne, that there shall be a trial made by contribution every Sabbath day, to see whether it may amount to his comfortable maintenance ; and that the next Sabbath day there be a trial made, and all persons whom it concerns do bring in, the first Sabbath, for the time that is past from the first of March last."
November 7, 1671. " It was voted that a fence be built to the minister's house, and weather-boards put upon the house for the preservation of it; and the townsmen were chosen to see it effected, and also they were empowered to make a rate for the payment of it."
May 16, 1692. "It was agreed and voted that the towns- men are to draw up such particulars as may be necessary for the general good of the town, as instructions for the deputies to manage at the Court."
February 6, 1673. "It was voted and agreed that the townsmen and Anthony Page should treat with our Reverend Pastor, Mr. Noah Newman, respecting the house and lot that he lives in."
May 14, 1673. John Woodcock, Thomas Willmarth, Josiah Palmer, Thomas Reade, and John Ormsby, were propounded to the freemen at the town meeting, to take up their freedom, and approved of.
May 20, 1673. " At a town meeting lawfully warned, it was voted and agreed upon, that the house that our Reverend Pas- tor now lives in, and the lot that the house stands upon shall be his forever, in consideration and in lieu of the four-score pounds that was engaged at Mr. Newman's death ; and that the former act of the town, concerning the four-score pounds, shall be in- valid when the town give our Reverend Pastor assurance of the aforesaid house and lot."
November 13, 1674. " It was voted and agreed upon, that to every hundred pounds estate rate, such persons shall carry in to our Reverend pastor half a cord of wood for his winter fire."
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH.
" It was also agreed upon, that a due proportion be made upon the polls, for the raising of fifty pounds for our Reverend Pas- tor for the present year."
" It was also agreed upon that a new meeting-house should be built, and the townsmen were chosen to take into consideration the business of it, and what is material to the furthering of it; and to bring in their apprehensions the next town-meeting.
INDIAN WAR.
In 1675 commenced the bloody and destructive Indian war, known by the name of " Philip's War." Of the miseries of this war, Rehoboth, from its proximity to Mount Hope, the res- idence of Philip, or Pometacom,* the prime mover of the war, was destined to suffer its full share. The first blood was spilled within the original jurisdiction of Rehoboth ; and the last of Philip's generals, the stern and intrepid old warrior and coun- sellor, Annawon, was captured within the present limits of the same town. During this war, which lasted nearly two years, the inhabitants of Rehoboth were kept in almost constant alarm ; a number of them were, at different times, slain ; and the whole town, the garrison-houses excepted, was at one time laid in ashes. This town was also the scene of Pierce's Fight, one of the most disastrous battles to the English that occurred during the whole war. The events of this war, so far as connected with Rehoboth, as they occupy a prominent place in the hardships, dangers, and sufferings of the early settlers of the town, will be minutely detailed ; and all for this purpose will be brought to our aid which history or tradition can supply.
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