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 21
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 21
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 21
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 21
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
332
of Bristol, died Oct. 26, 1803, in his 81st year. His residence was at " the old Spooner place," Long Plain. He was twice an Elector of President: in 1789 for Bristol and Dukes, and in 1800 for the " first southern district."
Edward Pope, Esq., also a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bristol, and subsequently a Collector for this district, a man of much ability and worth, died at his house on Main street June 10th, 1818, aged 78 years.
I shall be able only to give a list of the names of the later members of this profession, merely ob- serving that among them are several men of dis- tinction and legal acumen : * Thomas Hammond ; * Rhodolphus H. Williams ; John Mason Williams, late chief Justice of the Court of Common. Pleas, now a resident of New Bedford; * John Nye; + Lemuel Williams; * Timothy G. Coffin ; } Charles H. Warren, late Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; } Nathaniel S. Spooner, first Judge of the Police Court.
ACT OF THE TOWN OF DARTMOUTH IN RELATION TO BRITISH TAXATION, 1774.
"At a town meeting legally warned and held at the town house in Dartmouth the 18th day of July A. D. 1774,
The Honble Walter Spooner, Esq., chosen Mod- erator for sª meeting.
Voted to act on the warrant for calling this meeting.
* Deceased.
+ Living, but not residents of New Bedford at the present time.
F c t r
B
333
Voted that the Honble Walter Spooner, Esq", Benjamin Akin, Esq', Willm Davis, William Tall- man, Major Ebenezer Willis, Jirah Willis, Seth Pope, Seth Hathaway and Hannaniah Cornish be a committee to prepare and draw up what they shall think most proper relating to sd warrant, and make report to this meeting for the town's consideration as soon as they conveniently can. Voted to adjourn to three of the clock this afternoon.
The town meet according to adjournment, the above committee agreeable to order made the fol- lowing Report, which was voted by the Town.
Voted, that we are grieved at being necessitated to act a part which at first view appears unfriendly with respect our manufacturing Brethren and friends in Great Britian & Ireland. . But we trust we shall readily be excused by them when they consider that this part of our conduct is wholly de- signed & in our judgment will have the greatest tendency of any thing in our power to save both them and us from Bondage and Slavery. for upon Mature consideration we Judge the several late unconstitutional acts of the British Parliament have a direct tendency to destroy the harmony which has subsisted among all the British subjects and to entirely abolish the English Constitution and form of Government, and therefore as the most probable means to prevent those Destructive Pur- poses we unite with our American Brethren And Resolve, that we will not purchase any goods man- ufactured in Great Britain and Ireland which shall be imported from thence after this day, that we will not purchase any goods of any hawker or ped- ler, that we will not purchase any foreign teas whatever, that we will not export any flax seed to any foreign market, that we do acquiesce in the Nature and necessity of of Raising our proportion of Money to pay the Congress and to raise the sum by subscription, and that these resolves do remain
0
334
in force so long as the present grievous acts of the British Parliament remain unrepealed or until this town shall see fit to alter or revoke the said resolves, and that the town Clerk transcribe a fair copy of these proceedings for the Committee of Correspond- ence this Day chosen in order for a publication. Also voted that Benjamin Akin, Esqr, Messrs. Jireh Willis, William Davis, William Tallman, Seth Pope, Hannaniah Cornish and Jireh Swift, Jun "
The rest is wanting. These records are in a very mutilated condition.
Owing to the vicinity of the sea, the climate of New Bedford is less subject to the extremes of heat and cold, compared with places in the same latitude in the interior, and for healthfulnes's is probably unsurpassed by any section of New England. So far as my own observation has been made, I know of no particular disease as being peculiar to our vicinity; and of late years the number of cases of pulmonary consumption appears to be very small. Epidemics are rare; and we have never suffered from any of the more contagious or malignant disorders. Seated upon ground that gently descends to the river, great natural advan- tages are afforded for drainage, and this, with a good attention to neatness on the part of our municipal authorities, renders New Bedford prob- ably one of the healthiest and most agreeable cities for a residence in the land. Cases of extreme longevity are not infrequent, and mortality among the youth of either sex by no means great. The thermometer rarely falls below zero during the Winter, or rises above eighty degrees in Summer.
335
I have said that New Bedford is sometimes called by strangers the "city of palaces," and truly the many elegant mansions in the city, particularly on County street, as well as in the environs, fairly entitle it to such a distinction. It would be an invidious task to particularize those which the writer might prefer, and I shall therefore dispense with any further remarks than those contained in the tenth chapter.
Among the public buildings we have several valuable edifices more or less open to criticism in their architectural character. The Unitarian Church, built of native granite, is probably the finest specimen of architecture in New Bedford, its defect being the want of length for its other proportions -its beauties many. It was built in the years 1837-38, at the cost of $40,000, inclusive of the land on which it is situate.
The City Hall, also of native granite, and the Custom-House and Post-Office building, also of the same material, are handsome and substantial edifices. The former was built in the years 1838-39, at the cost, inclusive of land, of $60,000, and the latter in the year 1836, at the 'cost of 31,740, inclusive of land.
The house of the North Congregational society is a plain but agreeable edifice, also of native granite, built in the year 1836, at the cost, inclusive of the land, of $33,150. The other houses for relig- ious worship are of wood, with the exception of that of the Society of Friends, on Spring street, which is of brick, a notice of which I have before given.
336
A substantial edifice of brick, on the Academy lot, County street, is now being erected by the Elm-street Methodist society, which bids fair to be an ornament in the way of church architecture to the city. The corner-stone was laid May 29th, 1858.
The new City Library building is a plain but elegant structure of brick, the corner-stone of which was laid Aug. 28th, 1856; and the library was opened to the public Nov. 9th, 1857. The cost of this building, with the lot upon which it is situate, was $45,000.
Although a liberal appropriation is annually made by our city for the repairs of our roads and streets, still the great object, viz., well graded and hard surfaces, secure from dust during the summer and dry weather generally, as well as freedom from mud and water after rains and the coming out of the frost in the Spring, does not appear to be effected ; but, on the contrary, by the accumulation of loam and other material, many of our public streets and high-roads are really in a worse condition than they were formerly. Now it seems highly important for the public that this whole matter of roads should be investigated, and the cause of our failure ascertained. The usual reply to any query upon this subject is, " the want of gravel." : 'This, however, is not the real difficulty. Gravel is un- doubtedly scarce in this vicinity, but this article is by no means the best material for the surface of our streets and roads, as has been satisfactorily proved by the most accurate observers and writers
0
S
1 f p
0
a b b
he
0
P
337
upon this subject. We have plodded long enough through the combination of dirt and gravel, so heavy in summer and miry in winter, to satisfy any common observer that something more is necessary. A thorough system of drainage is of primary importance, and all unnecessary accumu- lation of dirt and gravel removed; a grade to the road in the most exact and thorough manner, and as a surface, the use of a material with which a bountiful nature has so plentifully supplied us, the best material ever yet discovered for making a smooth and appropriate surface for roads at all seasons and all weather, whether wet or dry,-the granite rocks and boulders which now so encumber the whole face of the county, to the great discom- fort of the agriculturist. These, broken up into pieces from six to eight ounces each, and strewn upon the properly prepared and graded surface of our roads and streets, and thoroughly rolled in, would give us such roads as we need. This system of road-making has been thoroughly tried and proved for many years in England and other parts of Great Britain, as well as in the vicinity of some of our own principal cities.
The subject of road-making has received the attention of many scientific men, particularly in England. To this subject the talented and scientific scholar, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, the father of Maria Edgeworth, contributed many valuable ideas in the latter part of the last century ; and during the present, the treatises of McAdam, Stephenson, Telford, Patterson, and others, have brought the
n
te.
d er m of e
n
C
f I 1
F
ut ich
338
matter to such practical results, that England and other parts of the United Kingdom, formerly noted for muddy and wretched roads, rendering travelling in carriages almost impossible, are now celebrated. for their beautiful and durable public thoroughfares and county roads.
Let us not be discouraged on account of our severe frost; this was one of the difficulties to be contended with in Great Britain, particularly in Scotland and the north of England, but it has all been surmounted; and truly we are not a people to surrender to any ordinary obstacle; a little more exercise of skill and science combined will conquer.
Let us not be understood as fault-finding; this is not our object. We believe that those engaged in the care and labor upon our roads have honestly endeavored to do their best for the public; but it can hardly be expected that a superintendent of highways or a mayor, however respectable and generally well-informed, without knowledge and experience, should be able to cope with an operation which has required years of patient and laborious study and experiment to produce a system that may be relied upon.
We may at some future time enter more into the detail of this subject; but our present object is principally to call the attention of our fellow- citizens to the importance of a thorough reform in our plan of operations upon our streets and roads. And to this end we would suggest that, both as a matter of economy and comfort as well as of taste, instead of leaving the annual expenditures to an
339
inexperienced person, a well-educated and scientific man be chosen for the especial superintendence of this matter, whose salary would be more than saved-ay, many times over-by well-digested and systematic operations. A correspondence upon this subject with the authorities of Boston, Cambridge, and other places which have succeeded in producing excellent roads upon the most unfa- vorable bases, would undoubtedly result in good.
U . .
-
n
e
d g
340
CHAPTER XXV.
SEPARATE NOTICES OF WESTPORT, DARTMOUTH, AND FAIRHAVEN -FREEMEN OF DARTMOUTH, 1686- WAR- RANTS OF COLONEL SAMUEL WILLIS FOR THE IMPRESS- MENT OF SOLDIERS-EXTRACTS FROM THE PLYMOUTH RECORDS RELATIVE TO THE EARLY AFFAIRS OF DART- MOUTH-FURTHER REMINISCENCES OF NAUSHON - NOTE RELATING TO THE NORTHMEN'S VISIT TO THIS COAST -PRIZE BROUGHT INTO NEW BEDFORD BY LIEU- TENANT THOMAS TRUXTON, 1776.
ALTHOUGH a considerable portion of the following historical sketches is but a recapitulation of what I have given in the foregoing pages, the earlier history of New Bedford being necessarily so iden- tified with that of the other parts of the old town- ship of Dartmouth, I have thought that succinct notices of each of these towns would be valuable as affording an opportunity for ready reference.
WESTPORT.
Westport is the westernmost portion of the old township of Dartmouth, and was separately incor- porated at the time of the division in 1787. It is about thirteen miles in length, and about four miles average breadth. Its Indian name was Acoaxet, and it was early settled by a hardy and industrious body of yeomen. Agriculture is still the chief employment of the inhabitants, and there are a number of valuable farms in the township.
341
The Westport River is a stream of considerable importance, and is divided into two branches, the east and the west. The east river, or Noquochoke, is supplied by two small streams, which take their rise in the township of Fall River. From the " head of the river," so called, to its mouth, where it unites with the west branch and empties into Buzzard's Bay, is about eight miles. The west branch is much shorter, being about three miles and a half from its head to its entrance. The widest part of each branch is about one mile, but where they unite a little more than two miles. The west branch is more properly called the Acoaxet.
There are two flourishing and considerable vil- lages in this township, the one at the head of the Noquochoke or east branch of the river, and the other at Westport . Point. The scenery at the Head of the River, as well as along the banks and at the "Point," is picturesque and agreeable. Westport has furnished a large number of the best seamen and ship-masters in the whaling service. At Westport Point there are eighteen ships and barks, one brig, and one schooner, amounting to 4233 tons. In 1837 there were but eight whaling vessels at this place, showing a considerable in- crease during the past twenty years. In the town- ship there are five meeting-houses : two for Friends, two for Baptists, and one for Methodists; also a society of Congregationalists. There is a cotton- mill in this town having 3072 spindles, which in 1837 consumed 300,000 pounds of cotton ; 270,000
342
pounds of cotton yarn were manufactured, the value of which was $67,500.
Westport is bounded on the north by Fall River, on the east by Dartmouth, on the south by Buz- zard's Bay, and on the west by Little Compton and Tiverton, R. I. The village at the head of the east river is eight miles from New Bedford. The amount of oil imported into Westport for the year ending Jan. 1st, 1858, was 4765 barrels of sperm and 396 barrels of whale.
DARTMOUTH.
With the ancient name, Dartmouth retained the largest proportion in the division of the old town- ship in 1787, its length being about fourteen miles, with an average breadth of about five miles-its widest parts being its northern line, a little more than six miles, and from Mosher's Point, near Clark's Cove, in a line due west six miles. The original township of Dartmouth, as it stood at the time of the division, was about thirteen miles square. The earliest record relative to Dartmouth bears date 2d March, 1640-41, when Governor Bradford surrendered to the freemen the patent of the Colony, which had been taken in his name, re- serving those tracts described in the instrument of assignment for the purchasers or old-comers. Vide Hazard's Collections, volume 1, page 468.
One of these tracts, the second named, was af- terwards known as the old township of Dartmouth, and is thus described in "Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation," lately published by the
1
343
Massachusetts Historical Society from the long- lost manuscript of the author :
" A place called Accoughcouss,* which lyeth in ye botome of ye bay adjoining to ye west side of Point Perill,¡ and two miles to ye westerne side of ye said river, to an other place called Acushente river, which entereth at ye westerne end of Nacata, 1 and two miles to ye eastward thereof, and to ex- tend 8 myles up into to ye countrie." Page 373.
For corroborative evidence, see Davis's Morton's Memorial, appendix, page 405.
" During Philip's War a great part of Dartmouth was laid desolate and many of the inhabitants killed. The most of the Plymouth forces were ordered hither. In coming to Russell's garrison at Ponaganset or Aponaganset in this town, they met with a number of the enemy that had surrendered themselves prisoners on terms promised by Captain Eels of the garrison, and Ralph Earl, who persuaded them to come in by a friendly Indian whom he employed. It is to be regretted, however, that not- withstanding the promises made by the above per- sons to the Indians, they were by the superior au- thorities carried away to Plymouth, 'then sold and transported out of the country, being about eight score persons.' That part of Dartmouth which was destroyed is about 5 miles south-west of New Bedford. The cellar of Russell's garrison is still to
* Accoughcouss, also written Acukus, afterwards Acoaxet, the Indian name of the west part of Westport.
t Now called Gooseberry Neck, the southernmost point of Westport.
# West's Island, near the east side of Sconticut Neck, Fairhaven. Wassamequin (Massasoit) in the year "1669, for £10 and another valuable and sufficient gratuity," sells to John Cook, of Akusenag, in Dartmouth, "one whole island near the towne, called Nokatay." Drake's History, &c., page 200.
t3
re ar
le
e
he n·
ton of
rd. for els
f
e
F
.
h
rer,
344
be seen. It is on the east bank of the Apponegan- set inlet, near its head. It is stated that Indians had a fort on the opposite side of the river or inlet, and used to show themselves, and act all manner of mockery to aggravate the English, they being at more than a common gunshot off. It is related, however, that an Indian came out at one time, as usual, and exposing himself in a contemptuous manner, some one having an uncommonly long gun fired and put an end to his mockery." Bar- ker's Historical Collections, page 116.
The agricultural interests of Dartmouth are con- siderable. There are many valuable farms within its limits, and a general prosperity and thrift is characteristic of the people. The three principal settlements are the villages of Smith's Mills, Pada- naram, and Russell's Mills. At each place there is a post-office, In the township there are four meet- · ing-houses for Friends, three for Baptists, one Con- gregationalist, and 1 for Methodists. The popula- tion of the town is about 4000.
In 1837, there were 5 vessels, amounting to 1490 tonnage, and the amount of sperm oil imported was 74,000 gallons, and of whale oil 73,978 gallons, employing 129 hands. Ship-building is also car- ried on to a considerable extent. The manufacture of salt is also considerable, and at this period, 1837, there were thirteen establishments for this business. On Jan. 1, 1858, Dartmouth had 10 ships and barks, amounting to 2807 tonnage. The amount of oil imported for the year preceding was 344 barrels sperm, 49 barrels whale, and 2110 pounds whale-
345
bone. Several of the citizens of Dartmouth, as well as Westport, are interested in the whale-fish- ery and other business in New Bedford.
The Pascamanset River, which rises at the north part of the township of New Bedford, flows through the centre of Dartmouth, and empties into Buz- zard's Bay, between Slocum's and Smith's Necks, a distance of some fourteen miles.
Dartmouth is bounded on the north by Fall River and Freetown, east by New Bedford, south and south-east by Buzzard's Bay.
FAIRHAVEN.
At the division of the old township of Dart- mouth in 1787, New Bedford and Fairhaven formed the township of New Bedford, bearing the name of the latter. They were divided into sep- arate townships in 1812. The settlement of the village of Fairhaven was coeval with that of New Bedford, 1764. It is said to have received its name from its pleasant situation, which more properly belongs to the north part of the village, known as Oxford, the ground being much higher, and the prospect from the houses consequently much more commanding. Fairhaven proper is really a pleas- ant place; but Oxford, upon the more elevated portion, is rarely surpassed for natural advantages.
Fairhaven is thirteen miles in length, and about three and a half miles in breadth. It is the eas- ternmost part of the old township of Dartmouth. It is bounded on the north by Freetown and Rochester, east by Rochester and Mattapoisett,
1 S
. 3
346
south by Buzzard's Bay, and west by New Bed- ford.
Fairhaven is a place of considerable importance in the whale-fishery, and, with New London, ranks next to New Bedford in point of tonnage in this department of commerce. Her interests in the whale-fishery exceed considerably our ancient and much-respected neighbor, Nantucket, the pioneer of this great enterprise.
" In 1837 Fairhaven had thirty-seven vessels employed in the whale-fishery, the tonnage of which was 11,564 tons. Sperm oil imported, 168,524 gallons ; whale oil imported, 350,944 gal- lons. Value of sperm oil, $144,178.56; value of whale oil, $152,780. Hands employed, 945. Cap- ital invested in the same, $957,000. Whalebone, 101,554 pounds ; value of same, $25,312.86."
For the year ending Jan. 1st, 1858, Fairhaven had forty-seven ships and barks and one schooner, amounting to 16,840 tonnage. Amount of oil imported during this year, 5500 barrels sperm, 17,417 barrels whale, and 103,200 pounds whale- bone.
" The names of the townsmen of Dartmouth who had taken the oath of fidelity or freemen's oath," March 24th, 1686:
JOHN COOKE, JOHN RUSSELL, SEN.,
JONATHAN RUSSELL, JONATHAN DELINO, THOMAS TABOR, SAMUEL CORNWELL,
JOHN SMITH,
SAMUEL JENE, SEN.,
ARTHUR HATHAWAY, WILLIAM WOODE, JAMES SAMSON, JOHN SHERMAN, SETH POPE, JOSEPH TRIPP,
JAMES SISSON, JOHN SPOONER,
NATHANIEL SOULL, GEORGE SOULL,
JOHN JENE, ELIAZER SMITH,
R L
347
RETURN BADCOCK, WILLIAM SPOONER, LETTICE JENEY, GEORGE CADMAN,
JAMES TRIP, SAMUEL JENEY, JR.,
JOHN HATHAWAY,
JOSEPH SMITH,
JAMES FRANKLIN,
SAMUEL SPOONER,
WILLIAM WOOD,
ANTHONY SAVORY.
44 Bristol ss
Pursuant to his Excellency ye Governours War- rant to me Directed -you are hereby ordered forthwith to Impress for his majesty's service in the Frontier, Two able bodied effective men out of your Company of Militia ; to be well armed - and see that you have them at the dwelling house of Stephen Shearmam in Dartmouth on Sunday the 27th day of June instant at ten of ye clock in the forenoon - for which this shall be your Warrant and make due return with your Doings herein
Given under my Hand & Seal at Dartmouth the 17th day of June A. D. 1746
SAMI WILLIS Colo
To major Wm Richmond in his absence to Lieut James Pierce in little Compton "
" Bristol st.
Pursuant to his Excellency the Governours War- rant to me Directed- You are hereby Required forthwith to Impress for His Majesty's service in the Eastern Frontier three able bodied effective men out of your company of Militia ; and see that you have them at ye dwelling House of Lieut Lot Strange in Freetown on Wednesday ye 30th of July Instant at ten of the clock in the forenoon - For which this shall be your sufficient Warrant - make due Return with your doings herein unto myself or Order - Given under my Hand & Seal at Dartmouth the 17th day of July A. D. 1746.
HOWLAND, JOHN EARLE,
RALPH EARLE, JR.,
STEPHEN PECKUM,
RALPH EARL, (son of William, )
WILLIAM MACOMBER, SAMUEL WILLCOCKS,
JOSEPH RUSSELL,
HEZIKIAH SMITH,
DELIVERANCE SMITH, SHERMAN,
I
· f
1
E
e
3
e
1
1
1
d
SAMI WILLIS Colo
348
P. S. the Souldiers to be raised, and that were to meet at M' Salsbury's, you are to bring with you at time and place above mentioned -there with them must be had.
To Maj" Richmond or in his absence to his Lieut." The superscription is as follows :
" On his Majesty's Service Majr Win Richmond In Little Compton if absent to his Lieutenant"
ADDITIONAL EXTRACTS FROM THE PLYMOUTH COLONY RECORDS.
In the bill of rates of the several towns, October 5, 1652, Dartmouth is assessed £2. Vide Court Orders, vol. 3, page 19.
" Town officers of Acushnet: 1662, Samuel Jen- ney; 1663, William Spooner; 1664, James Shaw; 1665, Daniel Wilcockes; 1666, William Palmer."
,,1667. Celect Men, Dartmouth: John Russell, Samuel Hickes, Arthur Hatheway." Court Orders, vol. 4, page 150.
"1667, October 30. In reference to a contro- uersy between the English and the Indians about running the line of the bounds of Dartmouth, the Court have ordered that in case Robert Hazard, of Rhode Island, may be procured, that he run the line with the inspection of such as shall be approved both by the English of the said town and the In- dians; but in case he cannot be procured, that. John Cobb, of Taunton, shall run the said line, and that this shall be the final end of this controversy, and that the charge of the business shall be borne by the said town." Court Orders, vol. 4, page 168.
"1668, June 3. The Court haveing taken into consideration the controversy att Dartmouth, aris-
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.