USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Westport > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dartmouth > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
168
sallies of the young couple. An occasional farm- house and rural fields only interrupted the nobler features of nature, while in the pauses of conversa- tion might be heard the sweet and welcome notes of the wood thrush, or the rougher salutations of the blue jay, and crow. Onward they jog, and crossing Slade's-ferry, are fairly entered upon their way; so bidding them farewell, we must leave the re- mainder of the journey, for want of proper infor- mation,* to be filled up by our younger and more. imaginative readers, hazarding only the conclusion that a more auspicious prospect of happiness has rarely fallen to the lot of youthful lovers. And of this I have unquestionable proof at hand in the sequel, as the happy young couple were afterwards married, videlicet, on the 13th of November, 1783.
I have by me a pocket memorandum, or itinerary, which it is refreshing, in this age of unquiet and haste, to peruse, kept by Gilbert Russell on a sub- sequent journey, and, as will be seen, a few years after his marriage, through the same route, accom- panied by his uncle, William Russell, which will in some measure throw light upon his previous, and as we may conclude happier, journey. The time of absence having been duly calculated upon a broad margin, he records his almanac for the months of October and November of the year 1786 upon the first page of the cover of the book,
* The memoranda which I had relied upon for notes of this journey, I unexpectedly found to belong to another one-that which I have herein recorded.
169
the shape of which was chosen to be readily used from an inside breast pocket. Next follows the description of his watch, as follows:
"Marks of my watch: silver watch, made by Robt. Ovington, London; No. 38594 M. Steel chain; brass key; pinchback seal, with frame-fig- ure, man's head. Middling size figures for the minutes, and dots."
" Steel portmanteau key; chain figured, stampt. I. R. inside."
"Cash taken with me: 2 Jos, (48,) 4 16-3 guineas, (28,) 4 4-1 do., 1 8 5-£10 8 5; 20 dollars, 6-change, 4 2- £16 12 7."
" Wearing apparel taken with me: 3 shirts, 3 stocks, 3 pair stockings, 2 waistcoats, 1 pair breeches, 1 pair shoes, 1 pair buckles, 2 razors- besides what I have on."
Next follows-
"Description of my mare: about 14 hands high, dark chestnut colour; trots all; mane hangs upon the left side; star on her forehead; brand on her left thigh-marked thus, WP .; interferes. About 10 years old."
Mr. Russell was at this time in his twenty- seventh year, of small but genteel figure, modest and retiring manners, and great neatness of per- son and dress, which he retained throughout his life. All things thus ready, at half past two P. M., the 22d of October, 1786, they took their departure, the weather "cloudy and cold, wind N. E."
A shade of sadness undoubtedly passes over the mind of the younger gentleman at the thought of his former companion, his now fair young wife,
170
left behind him; but pleasant remembrances, and a slight dash of romance, take the place of sadder thoughts, and clapping his spurs to the old mare he hurries forward, calling to his more staid uncle William, to hasten on.
That evening they reach their friend Thomas Durfee's, in Fall River-eighteen miles,-where they remain over night.
The next morning (23d) the weather having changed to "warm and fine," they set off at quarter before eight, and dine three miles from Providence, R. I., on "pork, boiled mutton, cabbage, &c.," and reach Coventry, where they put up for the night, at William Love's, riding forty miles that day.
The next morning they "turn out at three o'clock, get under way at six, with a small air from the westward, clear and warm," ride five and a half miles, and oat their horses; cross Plainfield River, Connecticut, quarter past nine, eight miles from last stage, and breakfast. Passing through Ripley, "a small town," Windham, "a very pretty town," where they again oated, and dine at Lebanon on "fried pork and eggs."
The landlord "gone a courting an old maid of fifty-six, having buried his wife only six weeks before-he at the age of sixty." Starting again at four o'clock, they reach a tavern at nightfall; find the landlord at the door, who informs them that "the doors was shut." Fatigued, they "put on" in the dark for the next tavern, which they find full. Riding two and a half miles farther, they reach East Hartford, in all
171
fifty miles that day, "sup on bread and milk," and put up for the night.
25th. "Fine weather. Got under way a little
before sunrise." Cross Hartford-ferry at eight o'clock, and breakfast on steaks and chocolate in "the city." At eleven they arrive in Farmington, ten miles from Hartford, oat the horses, and then put on for Litchfield, our journalist in severe pain; but persevere, and reach their port a little after sunset, having rode thirty-eight miles. "Sup on one cup of chocolate, and no appetite."
26th. Good weather. Get under way before sunrise, although still " quite meagre," cross Mount Tom at eight o'clock, and breakfast on chocolate ten miles from Litchfield. Noon finds them at New Milford, where they oated; and at half past three arrive at their desired port, Nine Partners, after a ride of thirty miles,-a pretty good ride for a sick man; but it appears to have cured him, for no further mention is made of pain or "meagre."
This journey of one hundred and seventy-six miles they accomplished in a little less than five days, making a fraction over thirty-five miles per day. Here they remained among their friends and relatives, ten days. While here they attended a "quarterly meeting" of Friends, of which society they were members, and lodged at Daniel Davis's, where they found "a couple of funny men from Danbury, Conn., who kept them up till twelve o'clock, telling stories." These were undoubtedly joking Quakers, who, although rather rare, yet exist, and are usually found to be quite equal to the humorists of other sects.
172
On the afternoon of the 5th November, they start on what our journalist calls, the second part of their journey, and put up for the night at B. Thomas's.
The next day get under way at eight o'clock, cross Plymouth Hill, and "make the mountains on the west side of North River, thirty-six miles distant, although appearing not to be more than four; arrive at Redhook, twenty-two miles from Hudson, riding thirty-eight miles that day. Sup on chocolate, and pass the night at a Dutchman's house."
The next day (Nov. 7th) start at sunrise, ride fourteen miles, and breakfast in Livingston Manor, eight miles from Hudson, at a Dutchman's, on tea and buckwheat cakes; arrive in the city of Hudson at 11 A. M. Dine at Captain Marshall Jenkins's on corned beef, and sup at the inn on tea and steaks. "Supposed to be nearly two hundred dwelling-houses in this city, of all sizes. Thirty- four miles from Albany."
8th. Fine weather and warm. Leave Hudson, pass through Kinderhook, eighteen miles from Hudson, and "at sunset arrive at the ferry, daylight down."
Pass the night at Albany, and the next day (the 9th November) they cross the Mohawk River, and at 11 A. M. reach their long looked for port, Daniel Shepherd's, at Niskayuna.
On the 10th, attend a Justice's Court. Weather cold.
11th. Clear and pleasant. Go to Schenectady, sixteen miles distant. " The town contains about
173
five hundred houses, chiefly Dutch; a few English buildings that are very clever."
12th. They attend a Shaker meeting, and wit- ness the usual ceremonies, which are faithfully described.
On the 15th they proceed on their journey north- easterly; pass the battle-ground at Saratoga; and at sunset cross the North River again, pass through two miles of pine woods, and arrive at Thomas Dennis's, in Saratoga, at 7 P. M.
Here. he was joined by his father, Joseph Rus- sell, whose son Barnabas subsequently settled in Easton, opposite Saratoga, remaining until the 19th, when he "turned his face homeward," accom- panied by his father, and lodged that night in a log-house for the first time.
20th. Snow-storm. Dine at "Duel's, in the woods." Cold and tedious riding. Put up at a log-house again.
21st. Clear and warm, the ground covered with snow. Parts with Uncle William, at Akin's. At half past ten reaches Bennington, Vermont, and puts up for the night at "Lapham's," in Hoosack, where they find more snow.
Although his father's name is not mentioned on the return, I conclude, as he had a companion throughout the journey, that he was the one.
On the 27th, with "new horses," they continue their journey, with the "old sort of blue weather, cold and disagreeable." Bait their horses on the east side of the Green Woods, in Worthington ; and at five o'clock, having ridden thirty-five miles,
174
put up for the night within five miles of North- ampton, Mass., and sup on steaks and tea at Edward's Tavern.
28th. Clear and cold. Start . before sunrise, and breakfast in Northampton; proceed to the ferry; to their sorrow find the river frozen over, and being unable to prevail upon the ferryman to cut the ferry open, they go up the river, and find the ice strong enough to pass over with their horses; put on ten miles further, then oat and warm. The ink froze in his pocket. Pass the night in, the town of Palmer, twenty-three miles from Northampton. A colder day they never knew even in winter.
29th. Clear, and very cold. Ride thirty-eight miles, passing through Brimfield and Sturbridge, and halting at Woodstock to bait the horses. Here they find had lately been a severe hurricane, which had torn up apple-trees, large quantities of wood, stables, and roofs of houses. Put up at Killingly, Conn., twenty-eight miles from Providence, - the roads very hard and icy.
30th. Snow-storm. Ride six miles, and get breakfast in Gloucester, R. I. Cross Providence ferry at three P. M., and reach Thomas Durfee's, in Fall River, at seven o'clock, having made forty- eight miles this day.
Dec. 1. At one p. M. arrive at home, eighteen miles from last stage.
The whole number of miles on this journey, five hundred and thirteen; greatest number of miles any one day, fifty; amount of expenses, £5, 17 s.
175
10 d .; time of absence, from Oct. 22d to Dec. 1st, forty days.
I have made these copious abstracts from the aforesaid journal, as a good specimen of the habits and mode of travelling at this period, which, it will be remembered, was in the year 1786, and thinking it might be particularly interesting to the elder portion of my readers, who were conversant with the parties concerned.
Gilbert Russell, to whom we are indebted for these interesting reminiscences, son of Joseph and Judith Russell, was born August 12th, 1760, and died from an injury he received by being thrown from his carriage, August 22d, 1829. Lydia, his wife, a daughter of William Tallman, was born September 30th, 1759, and died September 11th, 1840.
Mr. Russell was a man of refined taste and of gentle and unassuming manners. He built the house, on County street, which he afterwards sold to its present owner, William R. Rotch, and of which I have before spoken as one of the most genteel residences in our place; also the pleas- ant and tasteful mansion on the corner of Rus- sell and Sixth streets, now owned by, and the residence of, S. G. Morgan.
His taste in horticulture employed many of his leisure hours. And few men in our community led more unexceptionable lives, or received more re- spect for their memory. Some of his experiments in horticulture were quite original. In his extensive and highly cultivated fruit-garden, now the property
176
of his son, William 'T. Russell, are two large rocks, which the writer remembers to have been used by this gentleman for the training of grape-vines, one of which was white, and the other black-washed, for the purpose of ascertaining which would ripen the fruit soonest. If the writer remembers correctly, there was no perceptible difference in the result.
Nearly all of this generation are now gone, and only one-a sister of the lady mentioned in the foregoing journey -remains of a large family, most of whom lived to a very advanced age. I refer to Mrs. Mary Hawes, daughter of William Tallman, 1st, and the widow of John Hawes, Esq., formerly Collector of this port. She is now (1858) in the ninety-first year of her age, and retains in a remarkable degree the cheerfulness and vivacity of her youth, which are only surpassed by her unyield- ing faith and hope in a higher and more enduring sphere of existence. With considerable skill in verse, the writer found her on a late visit still favored of the Muses, and listened with pleasure and instruc- tion to the recital by herself of some devotional stanzas, lately composed, and in which her own personal experiences at the present time are touch- ingly recorded.
Another sister, the late Mrs. Elizabeth Taber, was the widow of Captain William Taber of this place, who was a gunner on board the " Royal George " at the time of her loss in September, 1782, and was one of the few persons saved. Eight hundred, who were on board at the time the ship sunk, were lost. While the vessel was sink-
177
ing, Captain Taber threw a light spar overboard, and leaping into the water, with this aid swam ashore. This shocking calamity made so sad and deep an impression on his mind that he was rarely willing to speak of it; I am informed, however, by a gentleman who was an intimate acquaintance, that he had related to him the particulars of this occasion.
To those who are uninformed of the circum- stances relating to the loss of this noble vessel, the following may be interesting : it appears that the " Royal George," at the time of her loss, was lying at her anchors off Spithead, between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, where the royal navy fre- quently rendezvous, the weather calm and fine, her sails loosened and ensign and other bunting set, and visitors on board, when, by a light breeze against the sails, at the same time a large portion of those on board being upon the leeward side, the ship leaned over, and the lee ports being open, the water rushed in with such rapidity and in so great quantity that the noble vessel, with her brave eight hundred, and Admiral Kempenfelt, who at the time was seated in the cabin, were lost.
The following elegant and descriptive stanzas were written by the poet Cowper upon this sorrow- ful occasion, which struck not only to the heart of all England, but of the whole civilized world :
ON THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE, SEPTEMBER, 1782.
Toll for the brave! The brave that are no more!
All sunk beneath the wave Fast by their native shore!
178
Eight hundred of the brave, Whose courage well was tried, Had made the vessel heel, And laid her on her side.
A land breeze shook her shrouds, And she was overset; Down went the Royal George, With all her crew complete.
Toll for the brave! Brave Kempenfelt is gone. His last sea fight is fought; His work of glory done.
It was not in the battle; No tempest gave the shock; She sprang no fatal leak; She ran upon no rock:
His sword was in its sheath; His fingers held the pen, When Kempenfelt went down, With twice four hundred men.
Weigh the vessel up, Once dreaded by our foes! And mingle with our cup The tear that England owes.
Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again, Full charged with England's thunder, And plough the distant main.
But Kempenfelt is gone; His victories are o'er; And he and his eight hundred Shall plough the wave no more.
179
CHAPTER XV.
OLD SETTLERS - THE ORIGINAL SURVEYOR OF DARTMOUTH - GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES OF SEVERAL OLD FAMILIES - REMINISCENCES OF THE INDIANS.
IN this chapter I propose to enter a little more into the historical detail of my subject than I have done in my few last.
Below will be found a list of the early proprietors and settlers of the old township of Dartmouth, tak- en from the early records. These records or surveys are contained in five books, the first three of which comprise the early surveys, made by Benjamin Crane, and his successors, Benjamin Hammond, Daniel Wood, and Samuel Smith, but principally, and in fact most of them, by " old Crane," as he is familiarly called by those who have been accus- tomed to consult his surveys. Besides the larger books of records I have mentioned, there are twelve smaller ones, used by the old surveyor as pocket memorandums. The orthography is peculiar, and the penmanship, though quaint and somewhat fan- ciful, is generally quite legible, and possesses a uniformity, which when once learned, enables the reader to decipher it quite readily.
This old surveyor, Benjamin Crane, came from Taunton to Dartmouth, as recorded by himself in one of his pocket memorandum-books, October 2d, 1710. As is usually the fate of old records, those of Dartmouth previous to 1725 were destroyed by
180
fire; but the old surveyor, Crane, being then still living, transferred most of the surveys again from his memorandum or minutes, although undoubtedly much valuable information of an early date has perished with them.
The indifference, even on the part of those interested, in regard to early records, is quite sur- prising; men who in the ordinary pursuits of life are methodical and careful appear to possess no interest whatever, at least as far as any exertion is required of them, in their preservation; and these old records since the death of the last-chosen Proprie- tors' Clerk have had no authorized keeper. I would suggest that the records of the township of Dart- mouth prior to 1787, which, with the said Propri- etors' Records, belong equally to the several townships that formerly constituted the township of. old Dartmouth, be deposited with the City Clerk of New Bedford, to be kept with the other books of the town, where they could at any time be consulted by those desiring it. The latter records are particularly valuable for genealogical rescarches, as they contain a large portion of the births, marriages, and deaths of the early settlers.
Here follows the list of names of the early settlers and proprietors before mentioned, arranged in al- phabetical order :
ABRAHAM AKIN, JACOB AKIN, JOHN AKIN, JONATHAN AKIN, JOSEPH AKIN,
EBENEZER ALLEN,
GEORGE ALLEN,
INCREASE ALLEN,
JOHN ALLEN,
JOSEPH ALLEN,
ABRAHAM ALLEN,
JOSIAH ALLEN,
BENJAMIN ALLEN,
NOAH ALLEN,'
181
NOEL ALLEN, PHILLIP ALLEN, WILLIAM ALLEN, ZACHARIAH ALLEN, WILLIAM ALMY, CALEB ANTHONY, ABRAHAM ASHLEY, JETHRO ASHLEY, NATHANIEL BABBIT, BENJAMIN BABCOCK, GEORGE BABCOCK,
BENJAMIN BAKER, EBENEZER BAKER, JABEZ BARKER, JOSEPH BARKER, STEPHEN BARKER,
WILLIAM BARKER,
WILLIAM BARKER,
RICHARD BEDEN, SAMPSON BEDEN,
JEREMIAH BENNET,
BENJAMIN DURFEE,
BRIGGS DURFEE,
JOHN EARL, RALPH EARL,
WILLIAM EARL,
WILLIAM EARL'S heirs,
JOHN FISH,
THOMAS FITCH,
EDMUND FREEMAN,
THOMAS GETCHELL,
HENRY GIDLEY,
BENJAMIN GIFFORD,
CHRISTOPHER GIFFORD,
ENOS GIFFORD,
JEREMIAH GIFFORD,
JOSEPH GIFFORD,
LEVI GIFFORD,
ROBERT GIFFORD,
ROBERT GIFFORD,
WILLIAM GIFFORD,
BERIAH GODDARD,
JOHN HAMMOND, WILLIAM HART, BENJAMIN HATHAWAY,
ELISHA HATHAWAY,
THOMAS COLEMAN,
HANNAH CORNELL, JOHN CORNELL,
SAMUEL CORNELL, THOMAS CORNELL, SAMUEL CORNISH, BENJAMIN CORY,
CALEB CORY'S heirs, THOMAS CRANDON, CONSIDER CRAPO, PETER CRAPO, ABISHAI DELANO, JETHRO DELANO, JONATHAN DELANO,
NATHAN DELANO,
NATHANIEL DELANO,
SETH DELANO, THOMAS DELANO,
CHARMONTDEMORANVILLE,
JOSIAH DEMORANVILLE, LOUIS DEMORANVILLE, NEHEMIAH DEMORANVILLE,
JOHN DENNIS,
JEREMIAH DEVOLL,
MARY DEVOLL,
WILLIAM DEVOLL,
AKIN DURFEE,
JOHN BENNETT, STOTEN BOOTH, BENJAMIN BORDEN, EDWARD BORDEN, JOHN BORDEN,
JOHN BORDEN,
JOSEPH BORDEN,
WILLIAM BORDEN,
JOHN BRIGGS, THOMAS BRIGGS, HENRY BRIGHTMAN,
THOMAS BRIGHTMAN,
EZEKIEL BROWNELL,
GEORGE BROWNELL,
MEHITABLE BURRILL, JONATHAN BUTTS, GEORGE CADMAN, GEORGE CADMAN,
WILLIAM CADMAN,
ABRAHAM CHACE, BENJAMIN CHACE, DAVID CHACE, JACOB CHACE, JONATHAN CLARK,
JAMES HATHAWAY,
JETHRO HATHAWAY, JOHN HATHAWAY, JONATHAN HATHAWAY,
MELTIAH HATIIAWAY,
SETH HATHAWAY, SYLVANUS HATHAWAY,
I
182
THOMAS HATHAWAY, THOMAS HATHAWAY, 2D, JONATHAN HEAD, GABRIEL HIX, JOSEPH HIX, MARY HIX,
SAMUEL HIX, EXPERIENCE HOLMES,
ABNER HOWARD,
LEMUEL MILK,
WILLIAM HOWARD,
SETH MORTON,
BENJAMIN HOWLAND,
ABNER MOSHER,
BENJAMIN MOSHER,
CONSTANT MOSHER,
HENRY HOWLAND,
DANIEL MOSHER,
NATHANIEL HOWLAND,
HUGH MOSHER, JOHN MOSHER,
JONATHAN MOSHER,
JOSEPH MOSHER,
MAXSON MOSHER,
NICHOLAS MOSHER,
JOHN JENNE, +
SAMUEL MOTT,
JOHN JENNE, JR.,
NATHAN NYE,
MICAH PARKER,
JOSEPH PECKHAM,
STEPHEN PECKHAM,
MARK JENNE,
SAMUEL PERRY,
SAMUEL JENNE, SETH JENNE, SAMUEL JOY,
EDMUND POPE,
JAMES KEMPTON,
ISAAC POPE,
MANASSEH KEMPTON,
SETH POPE, ICHABOD POTTER,
JOHN KIRBY,
JOHN POTTER,
NATHANIEL KIRBY,
NATHANIEL POTTER,
ROBERT KIRBY,
STEPHEN POTTER,
ISAAC LAKE,
STOKES POTTER,
JOSEPH LAKE,
ELEAZER PRATT,
NATHANIEL LAKE,
JONATHAN RICKETSON,
JOHN LAPHAM,
TIMOTHY RICKETSON,
NICOLAS LAPHAM,
WILLIAM RICKETSON,
GEORGE LAWTON,
SAMUEL RIDER,
ABIAL MACOMBER,
WILLIAM RIDER,
EPHRAIM MACOMBER,
DANIEL ROGERS,
JOHN MACOMBER,
PHILIP ROGERS,
SAMUEL MACOMBER,
GEORGE ROWSE,
THOMAS MACOMBER,
JOHN RUSSELL,
WILLIAM MACOMBER,
JOHN RUSSELL, JR.,
EDMUND MAXFIELD,
JONATHAN RUSSELL,
* This is the same name now spelt Jenney.
t John Jenne came over in the ship James in 1623, and was clected an assistant of Plymouth Colony in 1637, 1638, and 1639.
7
NICOLAS HOWLAND,
ZOETH HOWLAND,
SAMUEL HUNT,
JOHN MAXFIELD, TIMOTHY MAXFIELD, ZADOCK MAXFIELD, SAMUEL MENDALL, JONAH MERRIHEW, JOSEPH MERRIHEW, PETER MERRIHEW, JOB MILK,
GIDEON HOWLAND,
GILES HOWLAND,
VALENTINE HUTTLESTONE, JOB JENNE,*
LETTICE JENNE'S heirs,
LUTHER JENNE,
DAVID PETTY,
JACOB KENNY,
183
JOSEPH RUSSELL, JOSEPH RUSSELL, JR., THOMAS RUSSELL, HENRY SAMPSON, JAMES SAMPSON, JAMES SAMPSON, JR., JOSEPH SAMPSON, STEPHEN SAMPSON, DANIEL SHEARMAN, EDMUND SHEARMAN, JOB SHEARMAN, JOHN SHEARMAN, JOSHUA SHEARMAN, PELEG SHEARMAN,
PHILIP SHEARMAN, SAMUEL SHEARMAN, WILLIAM SHEARMAN, DANIEL SHEPHERD, JOHN SHEPHERD, JAMES SISSON, ELEAZER SLOCUM,
THOMAS TABER, JR.,
WILLIAM TABER,
JONATHAN TALLMAN, EBENEZER TINKHAM, JOHN TINKHAM, PETER TINKHAM,
GILES SLOCUM,
ELISHA TOBEY,
MARY SLOCUM,
ELNATHAN TOBEY,
PELEG SLOCUM,
JONATHAN TOBEY,
BENJAMIN SMITH,
WILLIAM TOBEY,
DELIVERANCE SMITH,
ZACHEUS TOBEY,
ELEAZER SMITH,
JOHN TOMPSON,
ELIASHAP SMITH,
ABIAL TRIPP,
GERSHOM SMITH,
BENJAMIN TRIPP,
HENRY SMITH,
EBENEZER TRIPP,
HEPSIBAH SMITH,
JAMES TRIPP,
HEZEKIAH SMITH,
JAMES TRIPP,
HUMPHREY SMITH,
JOHN TRIPP,
INCREASE SMITH,
JOSEPH TRIPP,
JUDAH SMITH,
PELEG TRIPP,
MARY SMITH,
RICHARD TRIPP,
PELEG SMITH,
TIMOTHY TRIPP,
AMOS SNELL,
ABRAHAM TUCKER,
BENJAMIN SOWLE,
HENRY TUCKER,
JOHN TUCKER,
JOSEPH TUCKER and sons,
CHRISTOPHER TURNER,
NATHANIEL SOWLE,
REUBEN WAIT,
TIMOTHY SOWLE,
THOMAS WAIT,
WILLIAM SOWLE,
RICHARD WARD, THOMAS WARD,
MOSES WASHBURN,
PETER WASHBURN,
ELI WASTE,
NATHAN WASTE,
MICAH SPOONER, NATHANIEL SPOONER, JR.,
SAMUEL SPOONER, SETH SPOONER, WALTER SPOONER, WILLIAM SPOONER, JOSEPH STAFFORD, JOHN SUMMERS, JACOB TABER, JACOB TABER, JR., JOHN TABER,
JONATHAN TABER, JOSEPH TABER, PHILIP TABER,
PHILIP TABER, JR., STEPHEN TABER, THOMAS TABER,
JOSEPH WEAVER,
JACOB SOWLE,
JOHN SOWLE,
JONATHAN SOWLE,
BENJAMIN WAIT,
BENJAMIN SPOONER, ISAAC SPOONER,
JOHN SPOONER,
JOHN SPOONER, JR.,
GEORGE SOWLE,
184
BARTHOLOMEW WEST, SAMUEL WEST, STEPHEN WEST, JOSEPH WHALEN, GEORGE WHITE,
DANIEL WILLCOX,
JEREMIAH WILLCOX,
SAMUEL WILLCOX,
SAMUEL WILLIS,
JOSEPH WING, MATHEW WING,
JOHN WHITE, ROGERS WHITE,
DANIEL WOOD,
SAMUEL WHITE,
GEORGE WOOD,
WILLIAM WHITE,
GEORGE WOOD, JR.,
SCIPIO WILBOUR,
WILLIAM WOOD.
STEPHEN WILCOX,
It will be remembered that the first purchase of Dartmouth was made of the Indian sachems, Wasamequin and Wamsutta, by William Brad- ford and others, in the year 1652, and by them sold to fifty-six persons, whose names I have already given,* as mentioned in the confirmatory deed from the said William Bradford, then governor of Plymouth Colony, dated Nov. 13th, 1694. Many of those whose names are included in the foregoing list were either the heirs of the original proprietors or later purchasers of the same.
For more than forty years Dartmouth had been settled when the aforesaid deed was given, and a number of the earliest settlers do not appear in this list of names; among whom were Ralph Russell and Anthony Slocum, the two earliest settlers of whom we have any account, and who were undoubtedly deceased at the time the said confirmatory deed was given.
The land appears to have been regularly pur- chased by the carliest settlers, of the Plymouth . people, and to have lain in a kind of common or undivided state for many years, each one choosing
* See page 33.
185
such a location as he pleased. The parts first settled were, as before stated, at Russell's Mills and Acushnet, also upon the banks of the Pascamanset and Acoaxet Rivers, and upon the necks of land on Buzzard's Bay now known as Smith's and Slocum's Necks. The former was called by the Indians and early settlers Nomquid.
Among the first settlers in these necks were Deliverance and Judah Smith, Giles and Peleg Slocum, Benjamin and Nathaniel Howland. The homestead farm of Benjamin Howland, containing one hundred and forty-six acres, on Nomquid Neck, was surveyed May 12th, 1712, and that of Nathaniel Howland May 8th, 1712.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.