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 3
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 3
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 3
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 3
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CHAPTER IV.
THE EARLY FRIENDS OR QUAKERS-FIRST MEETING- HOUSE, BUILT IN 1699-VISIT OF EARLY ENGLISH FRIENDS-JOSEPH RUSSELL, SEN. - CAUSES OF THE DECLINE OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS-RECORD OF MEETINGS - EARLY BUSINESS-JOSEPH RUSSELL, JR. --- HIS ANCESTOR RALPH RUSSELL.
As I have before stated, the Friends early found their way to Dartmouth. Their first meeting-house was built in the year 1699, but a monthly meeting had been established previous to this time, which was held at a private house. This meeting-house was very large, and occupied the spot where the present Apponeganset meeting is held. The old house, having become somewhat dilapidated, and larger than was needed, was taken down many years ago, and the present, a smaller one, erected upon the same place. A yearly, or half-yearly meeting was at one time held here. The land, con- taining six acres, was given to the society by Peleg Slocum, in the year 1698. The name of this an- cient Friend is mentioned in the journals of trav- elling ministers of the society at this time.
The Friends of Dartmouth were a numerous and influential people,' and in the early part of the last century comprised a considerable portion of all the inhabitants. The influence of their principles and peculiarities are observable among the people gen- erally of this quarter even at this day. Living at
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peace with all men, of frugal but hospitable hab- its, the Friends soon became a prosperous and happy body. Devoted to agriculture and other simple and honorable pursuits of life, their homes became the abodes of comfort and cheerfulness, and so they continued until the unfortunate schisms entered among them, which, as has proved the case with other large Christian bodies, have broken and weakened their numbers and influence. Many of the early distinguished ministers of the society from Great Britain, as well as those from other parts of this country, visited the Dartmouth Friends. Al- though the devoted founder of the sect, George Fox, was in New England, and at Newport, in the year 1672, it does not appear that he reached Dart- mouth, or the other meetings in this quarter. But Thomas Story and Samuel Bownas, who were among the original Friends, were here; the former as early as 1699, and again in 1704; the latter was in America as early as 1702, but did not reach Dartmouth until his second visit, in 1727. Samuel Bownas was a man of vigorous intellect, and an eloquent minister. He appears also to have been of a liberal spirit and a peace-maker, as the follow- ing extract from his journal shows. Speaking of a circumstance which occurred at that time in the meeting at Dartmouth, he says:
" A narrowness of spirit did some hurt amongst them, and produced some uneasiness, which I en- deavored to remove; it was chiefly occasioned by a young man's being, as some thought, too much in the fashion, although plain compared with some
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others; yet some thought this reason sufficient to refuse his proposal of marriage among them, al- though well recommended from the monthly meet- ing where he was a member ; upon which I shewed them that as he was so well recommended by certif- icate, they could not reject his proposal according to our discipline. The meeting, after we had some further conference about it, let the young people proceed, and matters grew easy, and the cloud of difference dispersed and vanished, which was like to have hurt both monthly meetings.
From thence [he adds] I went five miles to Joseph Russell's, in order to take shipping to Nan- tucket."
This Joseph Russell was the father of Joseph Russell, Jr., before spoken of as the founder of New Bedford. His house stood near the head of Wal- nut street.
The first Friends' meeting-house in New Bedford was built in the year 1785; this too was the first house built expressly for religious worship in New Bedford. A school-house had previously been their place of meeting. This building stood on the east side of Third street, between School and Wal- nut. The old meeting-house, having become too small for the society, was removed, and the pres- ent large and commodious brick edifice was built upon the lot the other had occupied, on Spring street, about thirty years ago. The land, compris- ing nearly half an acre, was given them by the afore- said Joseph Russell, who was a member of the society.
Until within a short time previous to this, the society of Friends in New Bedford as well as in
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Dartmouth had continued to prosper, and among its members were still included a large portion of the most respectable and enterprising inhabitants. But the palmy days of the society were fast passing away, and even as early as 1807, a writer on Nan= tucket says :
" The number of the Quakers [there] is probably diminishing, for many are driven from their society by the strictness of their discipline."
But the great schism, principally on doctrinal grounds, which commenced about thirty-five years since, gave the destructive blow to the society, and here as well as elsewhere its influence was severely felt. Many who had long been among the most in- fluential and exemplary members withdrew, or were disowned upon grounds of a difference of opinion on doctrinal points. Those who adhered to the doctrine of the Unity were denominated by the one party, " Hicksites," and those who adhered to the doctrine of the Trinity (although they repudi- ate this term) were called by the other, Orthodox. These distinctions still remain; but each party has suffered still further divisions in its ranks.
The society of Friends has done a good work ; and the cause of truth and humanity will ever be indebted to them for their support and promotion. Could they but exercise still further the true spirit of Christian liberality, their usefulness in the cause of human progress would be greater ; but the rigor of their rules and regulations ("the discipline" of the society, so called) is thought to be unfavorable to their increase as a sect.
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The early Friends were a plain and self-sacrific- ing people, and the testimonies which they bore with so much heroic fortitude against the bitterest persecution, were not without their influence upon many not members of their society.
It is fervently to be hoped, then, that a society on the perpetuity of whose peaceful principles so much of the well-being of mankind depends, will once more, forgetting all minor differences of opin- ion, become, in the language of the poet Cowper, "like kindred drops united into one."
There are at present 14 meetings of Friends within the limits of the old town of Dartmouth, - two at Apponeganset (the oldest,) one each at Smith's Neck and Allen's Neck, two in Westport, two at. Newtown (Smith's Mills,) two in New Bedford, and one each at Acushnet, Long Plain, Rochester and Fairhaven. These are divided into three monthly meetings, so called. According to a pamphlet published in 1849, Dartmouth had at that time 202 members, Westport 178 members, New Bedford 445 members-the aggregate 825 members. There are two quarterly meetings held annually in New Bedford, viz., on the first 5th- day in the 4th and 12th months, forming a part of the Sandwich quarterly meeting. The other two quarters are held at Sandwich and Falmouth.
The early business men, and many of the me- chanics, were members of the society of Friends, and to their industry and enterprise the present . prosperity of New Bedford is much indebted. They laid the foundation on which the superstruct-
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ure of our great commercial establishment has been built, now the third seaport in the tonnage of sailing vessels in the United States. Though the war with the mother country crushed the business of New Bedford, a portion of the place, as well as the shipping, having been burnt by the British troops, still they persevered, until finally, by the beginning of the present century, the village of Bedford had become next to Nantucket in number of vessels and amount invested in the whale-fishery. It is to be hoped that the example of these worthy men of business for probity will be respected and emulated, so that we may reasonably hope for a continuance of that prosperity which their honest enterprise did so much to produce.
It is my intention in this history to make a few biographical notices of some of the early set- tlers of New Bedford and the old township of Dartmouth, and of a few of the more prominent ones of a later date,-those identified with the growth and prosperity of our place. In these rec- ords I shall endeavor to be just and true, "nothing extenuate or set down aught in malice." Should I therefore give offence to any friend or relative of a subject under notice, it will be unintentional.
Joseph Russell, of whom I have before spoken as the founder of New Bedford, was born in the old township of Dartmouth, near the head of the present Walnut street, September 8th, 1722, O. S., and died at his house, which, as before stated, stood at the head of William street, September 16th,. 1840, aged 82 years. He was descended from
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Ralph Russell, before mentioned, whose name ap- pears the earliest among the settlers of Dartmouth, having established an iron-forge at "Russell's Mills," so called from this circumstance, and who had previously been connected with the Leonards in the iron business at Taunton, as will appear by the following record:
" In 1652, the first extensive iron-works in North America were erected at Taunton by James Leon: ard, Henry Leonard, and Ralph Russell, who came from Pontypool, Monmouthshire, England, and settled first at Braintree. It was at a town meet- ing conferred and agreed upon between the inhab- itants of Taunton and Henry Leonard of Brain- tree :
'Imprimis. It was agreed and granted by the town to the said Henry Leonard, and James Leon- ard his brother, and Ralph Russell, free consent to come hither and join with certain of our inhabit. ants to set up a bloomery-work on the "Two Mile River." '
Ralph Russell removed to Dartmouth and was the progenitor of a numerous and respectable pos- terity." Baylies' History Plymouth Colony, part II, page 268 ..
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CHAPTER V.
THE FIRST REPRESENTATIVE TO THE OLD COLONY COURT, JOHN RUSSELL-NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAD TAKEN THE OATH OF FIDELITY, 1684-OLD RECORD -EARLY LAND-OWNERS-LONGEVITY OF EARLY INHABITANTS- FIRST HOUSE IN THE VILLAGE OF BEDFORD -FIRST SHIP -HER PART IN THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY.
1665. THE township of Dartmouth was rep- resented at the Old Colony Court, Plymouth, for the first time, by John Russell, who was probably a son of Ralph Russell, before mentioned, who established the iron-forge.at Russell's Mills. This- village was at that time and for many years after- wards the head-quarters of Dartmouth. It is pleasantly situated upon the west side of the Pas- camanset or Slocum's River, and the scenery around is remarkable for its picturesque beauty. This river takes its rise in the north part of the township of New Bedford, at the beautiful little lake near the residence of Jonathan Tobey, about eight miles from the city. This lake or pond is generally known as "Myles's Pond," but the Indian name for it was " Sassaquin."* The stream affords valuable water-power in its course, particularly at the pleasant and thriving little village of Smith's Mills, North Dartmouth, where there is a substan-
* Sassaquin was probably the name of a chief who resided upon the shore of this lake; as Tispaquin, a small lake in Plymouth County, was so called from the sachem of that name -sometimes in the old records written Watuspaquin.
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tial stone grist-mill and a factory, owned by Messrs. William & John Cummings.
John Russell represented the town of Dartmouth from 1665 to 1683, with the exception of two years, 1666 and 1673, when John Cooke, whose name, as well as that of John Russell, is among those of the original proprietors mentioned in the confirmatory deed of 1692, was chosen. 1685, Joseph 'Tripp was the representative; 1686, John Cooke; 1689-90, Seth Pope. It is probable for several of the first years the representative made his journey to Plymouth on foot and by the old Indian paths. The distance from Russell's Mills to Plymouth could not have been less than forty miles. This journey in the winter season must have been quite a formidable affair, as the snow would be deep in the woods and render snow-shoes necessary. We can imagine one of these sturdy yeomen, warmly wrapped up in his home-manu- factured wool, perhaps with a friendly Indian as guide, plodding his way through the narrow forest path, his mind possessed with the importance of his office and his mission. The number of rep- resentatives would undoubtedly be satisfactorily small to the closest economist if such a mode of reaching the seat of government were now required.
" 1684. Here follows the names of those that have taken the oath of fidelity:
JOHN COOKE, JOHN RUSSELL, JOHN SMITH, ARTHUR HATHAWAY, SAMUEL
RICHARD KIRBY, JOSEPH TRIPP,
JONATHAN DELANO, THOMAS TABER,
JONATHAN RUSSELL,
C ...
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JAMES LAWSON, JOHN SHEARMAN,
WILLIAM WOOD, SAMUEL CORNELL." Dartmouth Records.
The books in which these early records were kept are in a very dilapidated state, and a con- siderable portion on separate leaves, without any order or arrangement. They have evidently been consulted a great deal, appearing much worn, and in some parts quite illegible. Those descended from the early settlers who are desirous of making a genealogical record will find these old books of value for reference.
The " Proprietors' Records "* are quite volumin- ous, and contain records of the original purchases, and the surveys made by "old Crane," as he is familiarly termed, who held his commission, as before stated, under Queen Anne. I shall for the present leave these old records for future reference, and make such extracts from them from time to time, as may be necessary for my object.
Previous to the Revolution, the land of New Bedford lying between the " Cove" and the " Head of the River" was mostly owned by a few families; commencing south with the Allens, thence north, the Russells, Kemptons, Willises, Peckhams, Hathaways, and the Wrightingtons. These peo- ple were substantial farmers, and the old large and comfortable farm-houses of each of these families generally stood upon the west side of the County road, and within the memory of many now living.
* These are now in the safe of the Register of Deeds office, New Bedford.
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Their farms extended to the river on the east, and about the same distance on the west, embracing extensive fields, pastures, and woodlands. The . observer will be surprised to ascertain upon survey how large a portion of this section was arranged into farms more than a hundred years ago, regularly walled, with the stone in their natural state, and in many places standing as firmly at the present day as when first built. The amount of labor done by these worthies in clearing, fencing, and bringing into a state of culture these large tracts of land, must have been very great. There was no com- plaint of poor soil in those days; large families were reared; and the products of the soil supplied all the necessaries and many of the comforts of life. A more robust, happy, and prosperous people than the old yeomanry of Dartmouth could hardly be found. The original stock of the people of New Bedford was a long-lived race, many of them reaching ninety years; and one case of extreme longevity, that of Patience Kempton, who died in the year 1779, aged one hundred and five years six months. She was a daughter of Elder John Faunce, of Plymouth, who died in 1745, aged ninety-nine years. It is my intention hereafter to make a record of those of our inhabitants remark- able for longevity.
"In the winter of 1760, John Loudon of Pem- broke purchased of Joseph Russell an acre of land, . the first lot that was sold from his homestead farm, a few rods south of what is now called the Four Corners, on which he erected a house in the sum-
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mer of 1761. The deed of the land was drawn by Jireh Willis, Esq. This was the first house erected within the limits of the then contemplated village. Several other houses had been erected previous to the year 1765, when Joseph Rotch made his purchase."
The older houses upon the farms along the County road were not included in the village.
In the year 1767 the first ship was launched. She was built under some buttonwood trees, near where Hazard's wharf now lies. Her name was the Dartmouth, and belonged to Francis,* son of Joseph Rotch. The first voyage she made was to London, with a cargo of whale oil, and while going out of the bay struck upon a ledge of rocks, but was not materially injured. This was one of the vessels that carried the tea into Boston harbor which was thrown overboard.
The following account of this affair, so important in its consequences, is from Gordon's History of the American Revolution, the oldest record of the circumstances I have been able to obtain, and written by a cotemporary. The author, William Gordon, D. D., although an Englishman, appears in this sketch, as well as in his other historical records of the events of the Revolution, to have been free from undue bias against the Americans.
"The day before the last meeting [the meeting of the Governor and his Council, 29th November, 1773] Captain Hall, in the Dartmouth, came to an
* The widow of this gentleman is still living in this city at an advanced age, by whom I am informed that it was her husband, and not his father, who owned the Dartmouth.
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anchor near the castle, having on board one hun- dred and fourteen chests of tea; and on the day of their meeting comes into the harbor. On the same day a notification is posted up in all the parts of the town, inviting every friend to his country to meet at nine o'clock to make united resistance to the most destructive measures of the administration.
The meeting of the people at Boston and the neighboring towns is continued by adjournment to the next day (November 30th,) when it is deter- mined that the tea shall be returned. Faneuil Hall being too small for the assembly, they adjourn to the Old South meeting-house, and confirm the former determination by voting 'that the tea shall not be landed, that no duties shall be paid, and that it shall be sent back in the same bottom.' They further vote 'that Mr. Rotch, the owner of the vessel, be directed not to enter the tea at his peril, and that Captain Hall be informed, and at his peril not to suffer any of the tea to be landed.' They also appointed a watch of twenty-five men to be a guard upon the Dartmouth, lying at Grif- fin's wharf. A letter is received from the con- signees, offering to store the teas till they can write and receive further orders, but the proposal is re- jected. Mr. Greenleaf, the sheriff, appears, and begs leave to read a proclamation from the Govern- or, which requires the people forthwith to disperse, and to surcease all further proceedings. He is allowed to do it; and upon finishing, there is a loud and general hiss. The people afterward vote ' that Captain Bruce on his arrival do conform to the votes respecting Hall's vessel; that no tea from Great Britain be landed or sold till the act impos- ing the duty is repealed; that the captain of the present watch be desired to make out a list for the next night, and so on until the vessels leave the harbor; that should the watch be molested, that the inhabitants be alarmed by the tolling of the
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bells at night, and the ringing of them in the day; that six persons be appointed to give notice to the country towns upon any important occasion; that every vessel with tea have a proper watch; and that their brethren in the country be desired. to afford their assistance on the first notice.'"
" December 14th .. The people of Boston and the neighboring towns that have agreed to act in concert with Boston meet at the Old South meeting- house, and conclude upon ordering Mr. Rotch to apply immediately for a clearance for his ship. Meanwhile the Governor receiving intimation that she would be sent to sea, and that it might not be through the ordinary channel by the castle, ac- quaints Admiral Montague, and desires him to take the proper precautions ; on which the Admiral- orders the Active and King Fisher to be fitted for sea, and to fall down and guard the passages out of the harbor. . The Governor likewise renews in writing his orders to Colonel Leslie to suffer no vessel, coasters excepted, to pass the fortress from the town without a permit signed by himself. A sufficient number of guns are loaded on this special occasion."
" The assembly are acquainted that the Collector cannot give Mr. Rotch a clearance until the vessel is discharged of dutiable articles.
November 16. Mr. Samuel Phillips Savage, of Weston, is chosen moderator. The number assembled from town and country is thought to be some thousands. Upon the present crisis sev- eral gentlemen deliver their sentiments; and Mr. Josiah Quincy, Jr., his, to the following purpose :
'It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors within these walls that must stand us in stead. The exertions of this day will call forth events which will make a very different spirit necessary for our salvation. Whoever supposes that shouts
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and hosannas will terminate the trials of this day entertains a childish fancy. We must be grossly ignorant of the importance and value of the prize for which we contend; we must be equally ignorant of the power of those who have combined against us; we must be blind to that malice, inveteracy, and insatiable revenge, which actuate our enemies, public and private, abroad and in our bosom, to hope that we shall end this without the sharpest conflicts-to flatter ourselves that popular resolves, popular harangues, popular acclamations, and pop- ular vapor, will vanquish our foes. Let us consider before we advance to those measures which must bring on the most trying and terrible struggle this country ever saw.'
About three o'clock in the afternoon the ques- tion is put: 'Will you abide by your former resolution with respect to not suffering the tea to . be landed?' It passes in the affirmative, nem. con. Mr. Rotch is ordered to make a protest and pro- cure a pass for his vessel. He waits upon the Governor at Milton, who offers to give him a letter to the Admiral for protection, which he declines, fearing in that case the rage of the people, and being in no concern about his ship, as that is not the object of resentment, but the tea. He inti- mates to the Governor that some of the leaders of the people wish the ship to go down and be stopped at the castle, 'for then they will be rid of the affair, and may say they have done all in their power.' While Mr. Rotch is absent, the speakers in the meeting keep the people together by engaging their attention till he returns, which is before six o'clock, when he informs the body that upon apply- ing to the Governor for a pass, he received for an answer, ' I cannot give you a pass consistent with the laws and my duty to my King, unless the vessel is properly qualified from the Custom- House.' Upon this there is a great deal of dis-
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puting, when a person disguised like an Indian gives the war-hoop in the front gallery, where there are few if any besides himself. Upon this signal it is moved and voted that the meeting be imme- diately dissolved. The people crowd out and run in numbers to Griffin's wharf. At the same in- stant a number of persons, chiefly masters of vessels and ship-builders from the north end of the town, about seventeen, though judged to be many more as they run along across Fort Hill, dressed as Indians and repair to the tea-ships, and in about two hours hoist out of them and break open three hundred and forty-two chests of tea, and discharge their contents into the salt water. They are not in the least molested. The multitude of spectators upon and about the wharf serve as a covering party. The whole business is conducted with very little tumult, and no damage done to the vessels or any other property; when finished, the people return quietly to their own towns and habitations."
I have made an extract of this full and particular account of that famous event sometimes styled the "Boston Tea-Party," for the purpose of show- ing the part which one of our early citizens and his ship held in the matter. P
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CHAPTER VI.
THE WHALE-FISHERY - BURKE'S TRIBUTE TO THE EARLY WHALEMEN -EARLY ENTERPRISES -THE EFFECTS OF THE REVOLUTION -THE OLD SHIP REBECCA - ANEC- DOTE OF THE EARLY STRICTNESS OF FRIENDS - RELICS OF WHALING IN THE OLDEN TIME.
THE beautiful and eloquent tribute of Edmund Burke to the early whalemen of New England, in his noble speech before the British House of Com- mons in behalf of the American colonies, has been often quoted ; but I do not know of a more appro- priate. introduction to the sketch of this most im- portant branch of commercial enterprise, in which. our history is so intimately interested, than by bringing it before my readers in this place.
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