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HISTORY 


OF    THE 


Town    of    Easton 


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By   WILLIAM    L.   CHAFFIN. 


CAMBRIDGE : 

JOHN     WILSON     AND     SON. 

ZSnibersitj  ^tess. 

1886. 


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Copyright,  1886, 
By  William  L.  Chaffin. 


I 


TO   HIS   WIFE, 

WHOSE  DELIGHT   IT   HAS   BEEN 

O    SHARE    THE   TOIL    AND   THE   JOY    OF    THIS    AS    OF    EVERY 
WORK    OF    HIS    LIFE, 

2CI)ts  l^tstorg  is  Slffccttonatclg  EnscribeU 

BY  HER  HUSBAND, 

THE    WRITER. 


PREFACE, 


A  BOUT  thirteen  years  ago  the  writer  of  this  History- 
prepared  two  series  of  historical  sketches  of  Eas- 
ton,  which  were  pubHshed  in  the  "  Easton  Journal."     It 
was  probably  because  of   this  fact    that    he  was  asked, 
nearly  five  years  ago,  to  write  a  sketch  of  Easton  for  a 
proposed   History  of  Bristol  County.     In  the  endeavor 
to  do  that  work  thoroughly  he  collected  a  large  amount 
of    historical    material   of    exceptional    interest,    and    it 
seemed  desirable  that  this  material  should  not  be  lost, 
but  should  be  embodied  in  a  carefully  written  town  his- 
tory.    To  the  task  of  writing  such  a  history  he  accord- 
ingly addressed  himself  at  once  ;    and  since  that  time, 
with  the  exception  of  a  six  months'  rest  in   1885,  neces- 
sitated by  overwork,  he  has  devoted  to  it  nearly  every 
day  and  hour  that  he  could  command.     The  religious 
society  of  which  the  writer  is  pastor,  themselves  inter- 
ested in  the  completion  of  this  work,  kindly  permitted 
him  to  take  considerable  time  that  was  rightfully  theirs ; 
and  for  this  he  is  heartily  grateful.     He  would  certainly 
not  have  allowed  himself  to   use  this  time  if  the  work 

were  one  merely  of  personal  interest  and  profit  to  him- 

b 


VI 


PREFACE. 


self;  but  he  considered  the  enterprise  one  of  public  im- 
portance, and  has  been  constantly  assured  that  his  towns- 
men were  interested  in  seeing  it  accomplished.  It  was 
undertaken  entirely  at  the  writer's  own  risk,  and  with- 
out expectation  of  pecuniary  recompense :  he  has  his 
reward  in  the  work  itself,  and  in  the  satisfaction  he 
hopes  others  may  derive  from  it. 

With  what  success  it  has  been  accomplished  others 
must  judge.  But  the  writer  believes  himself  entitled  to 
claim  that  he  has  spared  himself  no  effort,  toil,  or  ex- 
pense to  make  this  History  as  accurate,  thorough,  and 
complete  as  the  nature  of  the  case  admitted.  Every 
available  source  of  information  on  the  subjects  treated 
has  been  carefully  examined,  —  days  and  weeks  having 
sometimes  been  spent  in  settling  even  those  small  details 
which  seemed,  to  the  writer  at  least,  indispensable  to  com- 
plete the  finished  mosaic  of  a  good  town  history. 

It  was  the  writer's  purpose  to  add  to  this  History  the 
genealogical  tables  of  Easton  families ;  but  that  purpose 
was  abandoned,  both  because  it  would  too  much  increase 
the  size  of  this  book,  and  because  accuracy  and  complete- 
ness in  such  tables  require  more  time  than  it  has  yet  been 
possible  to  give  them,  though  two  persons  besides  himself 
have  devoted  about  a  year  to  this  labor  alone.  The  ma- 
terial for  this  important  work  is  however  all  in  hand,  and 
the  writer  hopes  at  no  very  distant  day  to  publish  a  care- 
fully prepared  Genealogical  History  of  Easton. 

He  desires  to  express  his  gratitude  to  the  many  per- 
sons to  whom  he  has  applied  for  information,  by  all  of 
whom  he  is  happy  to  say  he  has  been  treated  with  a  real 


PREFACE.  vii 

kindness  that  was  something  more  than  courtesy.  To 
no  one,  however,  is  he  so  much  indebted  as  to  his  friend 
A.  W.  Stevens,  who  has  done  all  that  the  cultivated  taste 
of  an  accomplished  and  critical  proof-reader  could  do  to 
prune  away  the  imperfections  of  the  writer's  narrative, 
and  to  add  to  it  accuracy,  force,  and  finish.  Especially 
also  is  he  under  obligation  to  Edward  D.  Williams  and 
Samuel  D.  Simpson  of  Easton,  and  to  Macey  Randall 
of  Sharon,  for  valuable  documents  and  for  the  aid  ren- 
dered by  their  exceptionally  good  memories.  He  is  also 
indebted  to  the  Rev.  G.  G.  Withington,  Joseph  Bar- 
rows, Hiram  Williams,  D.  C.  Lillie,  Guilford  White, 
A.  A.  Gilmore,  L.  S.  Drake,  George  C.  Belcher,  the  Rev. 
L.  H.  Sheldon,  the  Rev.  John  W.  McCarthy  (now  of 
Providence,  R.I.),  Mrs.  F.  E.  Gilmore,  to  Comrade  David 
Howard,  and  to  many  other  Easton  persons  whom 
he  would  be  glad  to  name  did  space  permit.  He 
would  mention  Gilbert  Nash,  of  Weymouth,  with  par- 
ticular gratitude ;  and  he  has  been  kindly  assisted  by 
S.  A.  Bates  of  South  Braintree,  H.  C.  Kimball  of 
Stoughton,  and  E.  A.  Hewitt  of  Bridgewater.  He  is 
also  indebted  to  Dr.  Samuel  A.  Green,  Librarian  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  for  valuable  sug- 
gestions and  for  the  privilege  of  using  that  Society's 
library,  and  to  John  Ward  Dean  of  the  New  England 
Historic  Genealogical  Society  for  various  favors.  He 
cannot  be  too  grateful  to  Newton  Talbot  of  Boston ; 
also  to  Solomon  Talbot  of  Sharon,  Joshua  E.  Crane 
of  Bridgewater,  J.  W.  D.  Hall  of  Taunton,  Dr.  Wil- 
liam  B.  Lapham  of  Augusta,  Me.,  Mrs.  Mary  C.  DeWitt 


viil  PREFACE. 

Freeland  of  Sutton,  Mass.,  Dr.  Edward  Strong  of  the 
State  Secretary's  office,  the  Hon.  John  D.  Long,  Col. 
Carroll  D.  Wright,  Commodore  W.  S.  Schley  of  the 
U.  S.  Navy  Department,  the  Adjutant-Generals  of  Mass- 
achusetts, Rhode  Island,  New  York,  and  Illinois,  and 
to  many  others,  who  though  not  here  mentioned  are 
gratefully  remembered  by  the  writer. 

The  pictures  which  embellish  this  book  are  mainly 
the  work  of  the  Heliotype  Printing  Company,  of  Boston  ; 
and  for  them  the  reader  and  the  writer  are  indebted  to 
the  following  individuals:  To  Frederick  L.  Ames  for  six 
of  them ;  to  Oakes  A.  Ames  and  Governor  Oliver  Ames, 
acting  together,  for  five;  and  to  Mrs.  Oliver  Ames,  Sr., 
E.  W.  Gilmore,  Edward  N.  Morse,  George  V.  N.  Lothrop, 
the  Rev.  L.  H.  Sheldon,  the  late  Jason  G.  Howard,  for 
one  each.  The  Reed  families  furnished  the  picture  of 
Mrs.  Olive  Reed,  and  the  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Society  paid  the  expense  of  the  picture  of  their  church. 
The  three  remaining  illustrations  were  supplied  by  the 
writer. 


WILLIAM    L.    CHAFFIN. 


North  Easton, 

December  i,  188Q. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGE 

Topography   i 

Geology   of    Easton.  —  Glacial   Action.  —  Bog-Iron    Ore. — Swamps. — 
Brooks  and  Streams.  — Ponds.  —  Meadows  and  Plains.  —  Animals. 


CHAPTER    II. 
The  Taunton  North-Purchase 19 

The  Original  Purchase. — The  Boundary  Line  Controversy.  —  Indian 
Ownership  of  these  Lands.  —  The  Preservation  of  Timber.  —  The 
Division  of  Lands.  —  The  Books  of  the  Company. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Early  Settlers 39 

The  Seven  Families  of  Squatters.  —  Subsequent  Settlers.  —  Their  Pre- 
vious Places  of  Abode.  —  The  Time  of  their  Settlement  in  Taunton 
North-Purchase.  —  Location  of  their  Homesteads.  —  The  Oldest 
House  in  Town. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Elder  William  Pratt 58 

Origin  of  the  Easton  Church.  —  Its  First  Minister.  —  His  Call,  and  the 
Gift  of  Land  to  Him.  —  His  Previous  Life.  —  Missionary  Journey  to 
South  Carolina.  —  Second  Journey.  —  Final  Return  to  New  England. 
—  Settles  in  Easton.  —  His  Remarkable  Piety.  —  His  Short  Ministry 
and  Death. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

PAGE 

Precinct  and  Town 7^ 

A  Church  Needed  in  the  North  Purchase.  —  Contention  as  to  its  Loca- 
tion. —  Compromises.  —  Incorporation  of  Norton.— The  Norton 
Parish  extends  temporarily  Eastward  to  the  Bay  Road.  —  Formation 
of  the  East  Precinct  of  Norton.  — Incorporation  of  the  Town  of 
Easton. 

CHAPTER   VI. 

The  Ministry  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short 85 

Birth  and  Parentage.  —  Settlement  in  Attleborough.  —  Settlement  at  the 
East  Precinct  of  Taunton  North-Purchase.  —  Sickness  and  Recovery. 
—  His  two  published  Sermons.  —  Tlie  first  Meeting-House.  —Early 
Dissatisfaction  with  its  Location-  —  Death  of  Mr.  Short. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

The  Ministry  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher 94 

Distinction  between  Church  and  Parish. —  Call  and  Settlement  of  Mr. 
Belcher.  —  His  Antecedents.  —  The  Ordination.  —  Dissatisfied  with 
his  Salary.  —  Partial  Insanity.  —  Involved  in  Lawsuits.  —  Disappear- 
ance. 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

The    Rev.    Solomon    Prentice   and  a  Memorable    Church 

Controversy ,     102 

Rev.  Mr.  Prentice  accepts  a  Call  to  Easton.  —  His  Exciting  Ministerial 
Experience  at  Grafton.  —  He  is  a  "  New  Light." —  Where  shall  the 
Easton  New  Meeting-House  stand  ? —  Stormy  Times.  — The  General 
Court  invoked  to  interfere.  —  They  order  it  built  at  the  Centre.  —  It 
is  done,  but  Disaffection  increases.  —  Mr.  Prentice  Threatens  to 
"break  the  heads"  of  the  General  Court's  Committee.  —  The  Church 
and  Parish  divided.  —  Mr.  Prentice's  Friends  begin  to  build  a  Meet- 
ing-House.—  Church  Councils.  —  Personalities. 


CHAPTER    IX. 
The  Presbyterian  Society 128 

Mr.  Prentice's  Church  adopt  Presbyterianism. — Their  Statement  of 
Reasons  for  doing  so.  —  His  Wife  becomes  heretical,  and  joins  the 
Baptists.  —  He  allows  the  Baptists  to  have  a  Prayer  Meeting  at  his 
House. —Alarm  of  his  Church  at  such  Latitudinarianism.  —  The 
Presbytery  summoned  to  Easton,  and  Mr.  Prentice  Suspended. — 
His  subsequent  E.xperience.  —  His  Children. 


CONTENTS.  XI 


CHAPTER    X. 


PAGE 


The  Rev.  George  Farrar,  and  the  Conclusion  of  the 

Church  Controversy ^4^ 

Attempts  of  the  Town  to  get  Preaching  "  without  Money  and  without 
Price."  — The  New  Candidate.—  Birth  and  Ancestry.  —  His  Court- 
ing.—The  Church  Conflict  deepens.  —  Presbyterians  and  Baptists 
protest  against  the  Ordination. —  Tliey  Appeal  to  the  General  Court, 
but  without  Avail.  —  They  must  pay  to  support  a  Church  and  Minis- 
ter they  do  not  believe  in. —  Death  of  Mr.  Farrar. —The  Presby- 
terians give  up  the  Contest.—  Religion  at  a  Discount  in  Easton. 


CHAPTER    XL 

Easton  in  the  French  and  Indian  War 15^ 

Massachusetts  Military  Archives.  —  Hostility  of  the  French  and  English 
Colonists.  —  Captain  Nathaniel  Perry's  Company.  —  Sketch  of  Cap- 
tain Perry.  —  Easton  Men  in  Captain  Ebenezer  Dean's  Company.  — 
In  Captain  James  Andrew's  Company. —  Miscellaneous  Enlistments. 
—  Trying  Experiences  of  Easton  Volunteers.  —  The  Acadians.  


CHAPTER    XII. 
The  Baptist  Society i73 

Opposition  to  the  Ministerial  Tax.  — Growing  Dissent  from  the  Estab- 
lished Congregationalism.  —  Liberty  and  License.  —  Fanaticism 
thrives,  and  Immorality  puts  on  the  Livery  of  Heaven.  —  The  Bap- 
tist Society  organized.  —The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Stearns.  —The  Baptists 
dispute  the  Town's  Right  to  collect  the  Ministerial  tax  from  them, 
and  win  their  case.  —  The  Rev.  Eseck  Carr,  Minister  and  Cooper.  — 
The  Baptist  Meeting-House.  —  Decline  and  Death  of  the  Society. 


CHAPTER    Xni. 

The  Rev.  Archibald  Campbell 19° 

The  Church  of  Christ  in  Easton  calls  Archibald  Campbell.  —  His  Par- 
entage, Birth,  and  Education.  —  Fair  Prospect  of  a  Peaceful  Ministry. 

—  Gathering  Clouds.  —  Mr.  Campbell's  Wife  a  Stumbling  Block.— 
The  Minister  Slandered. —  He  is  Dismissed  with  a  Recommendation. 

—  Ministry  in  Charlton.— Domestic  Trouble  and  Disgrace.  — Dis- 
missal and  Sad  Subsequent  Experiences.  —  Extract  from  one  of  his 
Sermons.  —  His  Children.  —  "  The  Vale  of  Tears." 


xii  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

PAGE 

Easton  in  the  Revolutionary  War 206 

Difficulties  with  the  Mother  Country.  —  Easton  Discourages  the  use  of 
"  Forrin  Superfluities."  —  Easton  "  Daughters  of  Liberty."  —  The 
"Lexington  Alarm."  —  Enlistments  in  1775.  —  Enlistments  in  1776. 
—  Rhode  Island  "  Alarms."  —  Enlistments  in  1777  and  1778.  —  Eas- 
ton Men  at  Valley  Forge. — Later  Enlistments.  —  Continental  Cur- 
rency and  its  Depreciation.  —  Tories.  —  Biographies  of  Easton 
Military  Officers  :  Captains  Elisha  Harvey  and  James  Keith  ;  Colonel 
Abiel  Mitchell ;  Captains  James  Perry,  Matthew  Randall,  Josiah 
Keith,  Macey  Williams,  Seth  Pratt,  and  Ephraim  Burr.  —  Brigadier- 
General  Benjamin  Tupper  and  Major  Anselm  Tupper. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

The  Rev.  William  Reed 258 

The  Dawn  of  Peaceful  Times  for  the  Easton  Church.  —  The  Call  of 
William  Reed.  —  His  Birth  and  Ancestry.  —  "  Relation  "  of  his  Reli- 
gious Experience.  —  How  he  obtained  his  Wife.  —  The  Ordination 
Services.  —  Home  Life.  —  Church  Discipline.  —  The  Ministerial 
Land.  —  Incorporation  of  the  Parish.  —  The  Church  Bell.  —  Pecu- 
niary Struggles.  —  Mr.  Reed  as  a  Preacher. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

Industries  Prior  to  1800 275 

The  Randalls  build  the  first  Saw-Mill.  —  Clement  Briggs  starts  the  first 
Grist-Mill.  —  Eliphalet  Leonard  erects  Brummagem  Forge.  —  Other 
Iron  Industries.  —  Firearms  Manufactured  at  the  "  Quaker  Leonard 
Place."  —  Easton  said  to  Manufacture  the  first  Steel  made  in  this 
Country.  —  Miscellaneous  Industries. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

Old  Abandoned  Homesteads 290 

Struggles  of  Early  Settlers.  — A  Trip  through  the  Northeast  Corner  of 
the  Town.  —  Old  Places  in  and  about  North  Easton.  —  Down  the  old 
Meeting-House  Road.— About  Easton  Centre.  — In  South  Easton. 
—  On  and  near  the  Bay  Road.  —  In  the  Southwest  Part  of  the  Town. 


^ 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

PAGE 

The  War  of  1812 306 

New  England  not  actively  interested. — The  Military  Companies  of 
Easton.  —  Enlistments  in  the  United  States  Service.  —  Capt.  Noah 
Reed's  Company  at  New  Bedford.  —  A  practical  Joke  carried  too  far. 
—  Nathan  Buck  shoots  Charles  Gilbert.  —  Trial  and  Conviction. — 
Capt.  Isaac  Lothrop's  Company  at  Boston.  —  Capt.  Samuel  Cush- 
man's  Company  at  Plymouth. —  Lieut.  Elijah  Smith  and  his  Records, 

CHAPTER    XIX. 
The  First  Methodist  Society 314 

Beginning  of  Methodism  in  Easton.  —  Jesse  Lee,  the  Pioneer.  —  Isaac 
Stokes. —  The  Eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow.  —  The  First  Methodist 
Meeting-House.  —  The  Rev.  John  Tinkham.  —  Customs  and  In- 
novations. —  Successive  Preachers.  —  Father  Bates.  —  The  New 
Meeting-House.  —  Universalist  Preaching  makes  Trouble.  —  Great 
Revivals.  —  Later  Preachers. 

CHAPTER    XX. 

The   Rev.   Luther    Sheldon,  D.D.,  and   the   Division    of 

the  Parish 334 

Mr.  Luther  Sheldon  receives  a  Call.  —  His  Youth  and  Education.  — 
Kindness  of  the  Parish  to  their  Minister.  —  Divergence  of  Theologi- 
cal Opinions  among  the  Parishioners.  —  Mr.  Sheldon  ceases  to 
exchange  with  Neighboring  "  Liberal  "  Ministers.  —  The  Parish  re- 
quests him  to  continue  Fraternal  Relations  with  Them.  —  He  fails  to 
respond  to  the  Request.  —  An  Ex-parte  Council  summoned  by  the 
Parish.  —  The  Parish  excludes  Him  from  His  Pulpit.  —  Mr.  Sheldon's 
Friends  organize  and  begin  to  build  a  Meeting-House.  —  An  Exciting 
Controversy.  —  Lawsuits.  —  Mr.  Sheldon  re-enters  his  Pulpit.  —  Vari- 
ous attempts  at  Agreement. — A  Settlement  finally  effected. 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Easton  Centre  Churches.  —  Spiritualism 360 

The  First  Congregational  Parish  after  the  Division  :  Successive  Pastors, 

—  William  H.  Taylor,  Paul  Dean,  William  Whitwell,  George  G. 
Withington  ;  Services   Discontinued  ;  The  Meeting-House  Burned. 

—  The  Evangelical  Society:  Rev.  Dr.  Sheldon's  Resignation;  his 
Character  ;  The  Celebration  of  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  his  Settle- 
ment in  Easton  ;  Successive  Pastors  of  the  Evangelical  Society  ;  The 
New  Meeting-House ;  Sunday  Schools.  —  Spiritualism  in  Easton  : 
its  Origin ;  its  Patrons  ;  The  "  First  Spiritual  Society  of  Easton  ; " 
The  "  Easton  Society  of  Progressive  Spiritualists." 


xiv  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

PAGE 

Libraries 373 

The  First  Social  Library.— The  Washington  Benevolent  Society  and 
Library.— The  Second  Social  Library. —The  Methodist  Social 
Library. —The  No.  2  District  Library. —The  Agricultural  Library. 
—  The  North  Easton  Library  Association.  —  The  Ames  Free 
Library. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 
Public  Schools 3^° 

School  Management  of  the  last  Century. —  The  School-Committee  Sys- 
tem.—Superintending  Committee  since  1826. — Men  and  Women 
Teachers.  — Teachers'  Wages. —The  High  School.  —  The  Perkins 
Academy.  —  The  History  of  the  Schoolhouses  of  all  the  Districts. 
—  The  Oliver  Ames  Fund  for  Support  of  Schools.  —  The  Oakes 
Ames  Fund  for  North  Easton  Village.  —  Late  Statistics. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

North  Easton  Village  Churches 403 

Methodist  Protestant  Society.  —  Methodist  Episcopal  Movement ;  Its 
Failure.  —  Division  of  the  Washington  Street  Methodist  Society. — 
Formation  of  the  Main  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  ;  Reuben 
Meader  and  others  build  a  Meeting-House  for  it.  —  Lewis  B.  Bates 
and  Successors.  —  Origin  of  Unity  Church ;  C.  C.  Hussey,  its  first 
settled  Minister;  He  is  succeeded  by  William  L.  Chaffin ;  Hon. 
Oliver  Ames  builds  a  new  Church  and  presents  it  to  the  Society. — 
The  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  — The  Swedish  Church. 
—  The  Adventists. —  Denominational  Statistics  of  Easton.  —  Statis- 
tics of  Church-going. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

Shadows 41Q 

Rough  Life  in  the  early  Pioneer  Days. —  A  notorious  Gang  of  Thieves  ; 
George  White  the  Leader.  —  The  Bank  Robber.  —  Slavery.  —  Intem- 
perance. —  Pauperism. 


CONTENTS.  XV 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

PAGE 

Highways 45° 

Introductory  Remarks.  — Abandoned  Roads.  — The  Bay  Road,  Prospect 
Street,  and  Purchase  Street  laid  out  before  the  Incorporation  of  the 
Town.  — Other  old  Roads. —The  Taunton  and  South  Boston  Turn- 
pike Controversy.  —  Washington  Street.  —  Other  Easton  Highways.  — 
The  Oliver  Ames  Bequest  for  Public  Highways.  —Governor  Ames's 
Gift  for  the  Planting  of  Trees  along  the  Streets  and  Highways. 


CHAPTER    XXVn. 

Burial-Places 47° 

Burials  in  Private  Grounds  in  Early  Times.  — The  Old  Burying-Ground. 
—  Other  Graveyards  in  the  Order  of  their  Laying-out.—  Abandoned 
Graveyards.  —  Inscriptions  and  Epitaphs.  —  Unmarked  and  Neg- 
lected Graves. — Proposed  Remedy  for  them. 


CHAPTER  XXVHI. 

Militia  and  Military  History       506 

Old  Military  Days.  — First  Militia  Company  of  Easton.  — The  West 
Company.  —  The  East  Company.  —  The  Easton  Light  Infantry.  — 
The  Cavalry  Company. —Company  B,  Easton  Light  Infantry. — 
Captains  and  Higher  Military  Officers  of  Easton,  with  the  Dates  of 
their  Commissions.  —  Major-General  Sheperd  Leach. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 
The  Civil  War 520 

Opening  of  the  War.  —  Departure  of  Company  B,  Fourth  Regiment,  for 
Fortress  Monroe ;  its  Return.  —  Enlistments  in  the  Second  Regi- 
ment.—  Company  G,  Seventh  Regiment. —  Other  Enlistments  from 
Easton  in  1861.  —  Town  Action  in  1861. — Easton  Volunteers  in 
1862.  —  Artillery  Service.  —  Town  Action  in  1862.  —  Enlistments 
and  Service  of  Soldiers  in  1863.  — The  Drafts. —District  Subscrip- 
tion Papers. —  Town  Action  in  1863.  —  Volunteers  in  1864. — Town 
Action  in  1864. —The  Soldiers  Return  in  1865.  —  Easton  Soldiers  in 
the  Navy.  —  Town  Action  in  1S65.  —  Deserters  and  Shirkers. — 
Woman's  Service  and  Trials.  —  Summary  of  Enlistments.  —  Major 
Robert  Dollard.  —  Major  John  Fitzpatrick.  —  Complete  Record  of 
Easton  Soldiers  in  Alphabetical  Order, 


^y[  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

PAGE 

Industries  after  1800 5^4 

Furnaces  and  Foundries  at  the  Furnace  Village  :  Sheperd  Leach,  the 
Drakes  and  the  Belchers.  —  Other  Industries  in  that  Vicinity.  —  Suc- 
cessive Enterprises  at  the  Morse  Privilege.  —  Morse's  Thread  Fac- 
tory.—Industries  at  the  Green  ;  On  the  Turnpike.  —  North  Easton 
Village  Industries  :  Ames  Shovel  Works  ;  Gilmore's  Hinge  Factory, 
etc.  —  Various  other  Enterprises.  —  Latest  Industries. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

Banks  and  Organized  Societies 606 

The  First  National  Bank. —  The  North  Easton  Savings  Bank. —  Mili- 
tary Bands  of  Easton.  —  Paul  Dean  Lodge  of  Freemasons. —  Miz- 
pah  Chapter,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star. — A.  B.  Randall  Post, 
G  A.  R.,  No.  52.  —  The  Good  Templars.  —  Sons  of  Temperance. — 
The  Roman  Catholic  Lyceum.  —  The  Knights  of  Honor.  —  The 
Royal  Arcanum.  —The  Queset  Club.  —  The  North  Easton  Athletic 
Club.  —  The  Knights  of  Labor. 


CHAPTER    XXXn. 

Political  and  Official 624 

Early  Politics.  —  Federalists  and  Republicans.  —  Easton,  once  anti- Fed- 
eral, becomes  a  Whig  Town.  —  The  Harrison  Campaign.  —  The 
Know-Nothing  Party.  —  Easton  becomes  Republican.  —  Town  Mod- 
erators :  Elijah  Howard,  A.  A.  Gilmore.  —  Town  Clerks. —  Town 
Treasurers.  —  Selectmen.  —  Representatives  to  the  General  Court.  — 
State  Senators,  and  other  higher  Officers,  —  Biographical  Sketches  : 
Howard  Lothrop,  Oliver  Ames,  Sr.,  Oakes  Ames,  Oliver  Ames,  Jr., 
Governor  Oliver  Ames,  Lincoln  S.  Drake,  Frank  M.  Ames.  —  Post- 
offices  and  Postmasters. 


CHAPTER    XXXni. 
Statistics  of  Population  and  Industry 664 

Population  :  Comparative  Ages  of  Boys  and  Girls  ;  Conjugal  Condition  ; 
Nationality  ;  Parentage ;  Longevity.  —  Statistical  Table  of  Polls, 
Houses  and  Barns,  and  Domestic  Animals.  —  Voters  of  Easton  in 
I749-  — Town  Valuations.  — Statistics  of  Industry  in  1S37.  — Sta- 
tistics in  1845  ^^^  in  succeeding  Decades. 


CONTENTS.  XVII 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

PAGB 

Easton    in  1 886 684 

The  Old  Times  and  the  New.  —  North  Easton  village  as  it  is  To-day.  — 
The  Ames  Memorial  Hall. —  South  Easton  village  and  the  Green. — 
A  Trip  through  Easton  Centre,  and  a  Glance  at  Furnace  Village. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

Ministers 692 

Israel  Alger. — Jarvis  A.    Ames.  —  Matthew   Bolles. —  Silas   Brett. — 
Nelson  W.  Britton.  —  Charles  H.  Buck.  —  Daniel  EeBaron  Goodwin. 

—  Francis  Homes.  —  William  Keith.  —  Jason  Lothrop.  —  Ruel  Lo- 
throp.  —  Ephraim  Randall.  —  Joshua  Randall. — David  Reed, — 
William  Reed.  —  Nathan  P.  Selee. —  Luther  H.  Sheldon. —  Simeon 
Williams.  —  Bradford  Willis.  —  Martin  W.  Willis.  —  Henry  Wood. 

—  Roman  Catholic  Clergymen:  James  W.  Conlin. —  William  T. 
Doherty. — Edward  Farrell.  —  Michael  J.  Long.  —  John  W.  Mc- 
Carthy. —  Dennis  J.  Menton.  — John  D.  O'Keefe. 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

Physicians  and  Dentists 719 

Seth  Babbitt.  —  Charles  H.  Cogswell.  —  George  B  Cogswell.  —  Horatio 
F.  Copeland. —  Edgar  E.  Dean.  —  Edward  Dean.  —  James  B.  Dean. 

—  Samuel  Deans.  —  Henry  L.  Dickerman.  —  Jason  W.  Drake. — 
Daniel  Goodwin.  —  Samuel  Guild.  —  Samuel  Guild,  Jr.  —  Elisha 
Hayward.  —  Joseph  W.  Hayward.  —  James  Howard.  —  Ernest  W. 
Keith.  —  Edwin  Manley.  —  John  M.  Mills.  —  James  Perry.  —  William 
F.  Perry.  —  Seth  Pratt.  —  Seth  Pratt,  Jr.  —  Daniel  L.  Randall.  — 
Menzies  R.  Randall. —  Zephaniah  Randall.  —  Frederic  J.  Ripley. — 
W.  P.  Savary.  —  Caleb  Swan.  —  George  W.  J.  Swan. — James  C. 
Swan.  —  Jesse  J.  Swan.  —  W.  E.  Channing  Swan.  —  Byron  H.  Strout. 

—  F.Elmer  Tilden.  —  George  Brett.— Asahel  Smith.— William  B. 
Webster.  — John  P.Wilson. 


CHAPTER    XXXVn. 
Lawyers 74° 

Edmund  Andrews.  —  James  P.  Barlow. —  John  Augustus  Bolles.  —  Daniel 
F.  Buckley.  —  Charles  H.  Deans.  —  George  W.  Deans. —  Frederic  V. 
Fuller.  —  Henry  J.  Fuller.  —  Cyrus  Lothrop. —  George  V.  N.  Lo- 
throp. —  John  J.  O'Connell.  —  Jason  Reed.  —  Edward  Selee.  —  Lewis 
C.  Southard. —  Charles  L.  Swan.  —  Daniel  Wheaton. — George 
Wheaton.  —  Henry  G.  Wheaton. —Guilford  White. 


xviii  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

PAGE 

College  Graduates 752 

Frederick  L.  Ames.  — Oliver  Ames,  2d. —Charles  R.  Ballard.  —  Mait- 
laiid  C.  Lamprey.  —  Edwin  Howard  Lothrop.— Commander  George 
F.  F.  Wilde. 

CHAPTER    XXXIX. 
Miscellaneous 759 

Railroads.  —  Newspapers.  —  The  Great  Flood  of  1SS6.  —  David  Thomp- 
son, Jr.,  the  one-armed  Soldier.  —  James  Adams,  the  Poet.  —  Jonathan 
Lawrence  and  his  great  Expectations.  —  Has  Easton  an  Enoch  Ar- 
den  Case  ? — A  search  for  a  Slave-trader's  Fortune.  —  "Old  Bunn." 
—  The  Devil's  Visit  to  Easton.  —  Witches  and  Witchcraft.  —  Bird- 
hunting. —  Earmarks.  —  Singular  Death-records.  —  Conclusion. 


APPENDIX. 

I.  A  Sermon  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short,  preached  in  Easton 

IN  September,  1728 783 

II.  The  Easton  Church  Covenant's  of  1747  and  1764  .     .     •     .     793 


INDEX 803 


LIST     OF     ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

Gate-Lodge  of  Frederick  L.  Ames Frontispiece. 

The  Oldest  House  in  Easton 50 

Major  Anselm  Tupper 256 

Mrs.  Olive  Reed 266 

Rev.  Luther  Sheldon,  D.D 366 

The  Evangelical  Congregational  Church,  Easton  Centre      .  368 

The  Ames  Free  Library,  North  Easton 379 

Unity  Church  and  Parsonage,  North  Easton 411 

Thread  Mills  of  E.  J.  W.  Morse  &  Co.,  South  Easton  .     .     .  588 

Ames  Shovel  Works,  North  Easton 596 

E.  W.  Gilmore's  Hinge  Factory  and  House,  North  Easton  .  598 

The  Soldiers'  Monument 617 

Elijah  Howard 638 

Oliver  Ames,  Sr 648 

Oakes  Ames 650 

Oliver  Ames,  Jr 655 

Union  Pacific  Monument 657 

Governor  Oliver  Ames 658 

Old  Colony  Railroad  Station,  North  Easton 685 

Ames  Memorial  Hall,  North  Easton 687 

North  Easton  Village 689 

George  Van  Ness  Lothrop 744 

The  Map  of  Easton i 

The  Map  of  the  Taunton  North  Purchase 21 

The  Town  Survey  of  about  1750 451 

The  Map  of  North  Easton  Village  .     .     .     .    ' 464 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


CHAPTER     I. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Geology  of  Easton.  —  Glacial  Action.  —  Bog-Iron  Ore.  —  Swamps. 
^ — Brooks  and  Streams.  —  Ponds.  —  Meadows  and  Plains.  — 
Animals. 

THE  town  of  Easton  is  situated  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
Bristol  County,  Massachusetts.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Stoughton  and  Sharon  ;  on  the  east  by  Brockton  and  West 
Bridgewater;  on  the  south  by  Raynham,  Taunton,  and  Norton; 
and  on  the  west  by  Norton  and  Mansfield.  It  is  on  the  Old 
Colony  Railroad,  on  the  main  line  from  Boston  to  Fall  River 
and  Newport,  and  has  two  railroad  stations, — one  at  North-Easton 
village,  and  one  at  Easton  Centre.  Easton  Centre  is  twenty- 
four  and  a  half  miles  from  Boston,  twelve  from  Taunton,  twenty- 
six  from  Fall  River,  and  about  twenty  from  the  nearest  seashore. 
Easton  has  three  post-offices.  One  is  located  at  North-Easton 
village,  one  at  South  Easton,  and  one  at  the  Furnace  village,  so- 
called.^  The  principal  industry  of  the  town  is  the  great  shovel- 
making  business  carried  on  by  the  Messrs.  Ames.  There  are 
also  a  large  hinge  factory,  a  cotton-thread  factory,  foundries,  and 
other  industries  that  will  be  particularly  described  further  on. 
There  are  six  churches,  —  one  Orthodox  Congregational,  two 
Methodist,  one  Unitarian,  one  Catholic,  and  one  Swedish. 

The  surface  of  Easton  is  on  the  whole  quite  level,  though  in 
the  northeastern  part  there  is  a  pleasant  variety  of  elevation. 
The  area  is  twenty-nine  square  miles,  or,  more  precisely,  eighteen 

1  The  post-office  address  of  the  latter  is  Easton. 
I 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-four  square  acres,  of  which 
three  hundred  and  seventy  are  water,  —  the  water  being  that  of 
artificial  ponds  made  for  business  purposes. 

GEOLOGY    OF    EASTON. 

The  underlying  rock  formation  of  the  town  is  mainly  sienite, 
which  differs  from  granite  in  having  for  one  of  its  three  princi- 
pal ingredients  hornblende  instead  of  mica.  Very  definite  classi- 
fications of  rock  are,  however,  impossible,  as  the  varieties  often 
shade  into  each  other.  Most  of  our  sienite  has  a  pinkish  color 
which  makes  it  a  beautiful  building-stone.  In  the  northeast 
parts  of  the  town  sienite  predominates,  but  in  North-Easton 
village  and  south  of  this,  it  alternates  and  in  some  cases  mingles 
with  a  hard,  dark,  traplike  rock  that  is  sometimes  called  diorite. 
The  North-Easton  schoolhouse  stands  on  a  foundation  of  sienite, 
but  Memorial  Hall  is  supported  by  a  basis  of  both  sienite  and 
diorite.  The  rock  at  the  northeast  corner  of  that  hall  will  repay 
careful  study.  In  the  diorite  there  may  be  seen  veins  or  small 
dikes  of  sienite,  which  must  have  been  forced  into  the  parted 
seams  in  a  fluid  condition,  —  the  sienite,  if  once  a  conglomerate 
rock,  having  been  remelted  here.  The  two  formations  have  been 
curiously  welded  together.  Under  the  tower  is  an  example  of 
igneous  inclusion,  where  the  semi-fluid  diorite  lifted  a  block  of 
sienite,  and  was  able  to  hold  it  in  its  fiery  embrace  until  all  was 
solidified.  Close  to  it  is  a  narrow  inclosed  strip  of  a  stratified 
soft  shale,  wholly  different  from  the  igneous  rocks  that  imprison 
it.  The  shale  is  found  in  small  quantities  in  other  parts  of  the 
town.  Easton  is  in  fact  on  the  dividing  line,  where  the  sienite 
is  more  or  less  succeeded  by  the  shale  and  carboniferous  sand- 
stone. There  are  a  few  indications  of  coal,  which  increase  as 
we  go  southward.  On  the  railroad  just  below  the  town  is  a 
cutting  where  an  inferior  coal,  or  coal-like  stone,  may  be  seen. 
At  the  Centre,  and  in  the  west  and  southwest  sections  of  the 
town,  there  is  considerable  very  coarse,  inferior  sandstone.  An 
outcropping  of  it  is  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  second  field 
next  south  of  Daniel  M.  Dailey's  house,  on  which  the  powder- 
house  once  stood.  In  swampy  places  in  the  west  of  the  town 
this  sandstone  has  cleaved  very  curiously  into  large  flagstones. 
In  a  swamp  west  of  Charles  E.  Keith's  house  these  stones  are 


TOPOGRAPHY. 


crowded  together,  easily  separating  into  large  slabs  of  various 
sizes  and  thicknesses. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  rocks  in  town  is  the  immense 
outcropping  west  of  Stone's  Pond,  in  North  Easton  village.  In 
this  rock  sienite  and  diorite  are  mingled  and  welded  together 
in  a  curious  fashion.  Apparently  the  two  kinds  of  rock  were 
partially  melted,  and  while  in  this  semi-fluid  condition  formed 
an  imperfect  union. 

GLACIAL    ACTION. 

Among  the  most  interesting  things  about  the  topography  of 
Easton  are  the  plain  indications  and  results  of  the  glacial  action 
during  the  ice  period.  It  is  an  established  fact  that  the  north- 
ern half  of  North  America  was  once  covered  with  a  vast  sheet 
of  ice  several  thousand  feet  in  thickness.  Its  southern  limit 
was  south  of  New  York  City,  and  hence  the  territory  of  this 
section  was  covered  with  it.  Moving  slowly  southward  as  its 
lower  edge  melted  away,  its  immense  weight  bearing  with  incon- 
ceivable power  upon  the  rock  and  soil  below,  it  greatly  modified 
the  surface,  and  has  left  many  witnesses  in  town  of  its  action, 

1.  It  requires  only  a  glance  at  the  shape  of  the  rocky  summits 
of  our  hills  to  see  that  they  as  a  rule  slope  gently  towards  the 
north,  while  On  their  south  side  they  are  more  or  less  abrupt  and 
steep.  The  reason  is  obvious.  The  advancing  ice  ground  over 
the  northern  sides  of  these  summits,  gradually  planing  them  off 
and  wearing  them  down,  the  stones  and  gravel  frozen  into  the  bot- 
tom of  the  ice  acting  as  graving  tools  to  cut  and  wear  away  the 
rock.  The  technical  name  for  this  appearance  of  these  summit 
rocks  is  "  crag  and  tail."  It  may  be  plainly  seen  on  Mt.  Misery, 
on  the  highest  outcropping  rock  of  Unity-Church  Cemetery,  and 
on  the  hill  south  of  F.  L.  Ames's  lawn,  and  indeed  in  nearly  all 
the  outcroppings  of  the  underlying  rocks.  Two  excellent  speci- 
mens are  just  west  of  Washington  Street  south  of  Main  Street, 
where  a  clearing  was  lately  made.  So  marked  and  general  is 
this  appearance,  that  any  one  lost  in  the  woods  may,  by  noticing 
it,  easily  learn  the  points  of  compass  thereby. 

2.  The  second  evidence  of  this  powerful  glacial  action  is  in 
the  glacial  scratches,  or  grooves,  that  are  manifest  in  various 
places  in  town.     These  do  not  of  course  appear  upon  those  rock- 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


surfaces  that  have  for  ages  been  exposed  to  the  action  of  the 
elements,  for  there  they  have  been  obliterated.  But  they  may 
easily  be  found  by  uncovering  the  tops  of  stationary  rock  which 
have  been  protected  by  the  deposits  of  gravel  left  upon  them  by 
the  ice.  Thus  when  Unity-Church  Cemetery  was  made,  the 
soil  was  dug  away  from  the  summit  rock  there,  on  its  western 
slope,  and  many  square  feet  of  its  surface,  for  the  first  time  since 
the  ice  period,  were  laid  bare.  The  writer  discovered  upon  this 
surface  many  of  these  grooves  parallel  with  each  other  and  with  a 
direction  nearly  south,  but  slightly  east  of  a  direct  southerly  line. 
These  glacial  scratches  may  be  seen  in  other  parts  of  the  town. 

3.  The  same  thing  may  be  observed  in  the  stones  of  almost 
any  gravel-bank  in  town.  The  writer  has  found  them  in  the 
banks  made  by  the  cuttings  of  the  railroad  between  North 
Easton  village  and  the  Centre.  Not  all  the  stones  are  so 
marked,  because  not  all  of  them  were  so  placed  as  to  have 
their  surfaces  grazed.  But  many  of  them  may  be  seen  that 
have  two  or  more  sets  of  grooves,  indicating  a  shifting  of  their 
position  while  thus  under  pressure. 

4.  Another  indication  of  this  glacial  action  is  the  presence  of 
bowlders  that  could  have  been  brought  here  by  no  other  means 
than  the  mighty  force  of  advancing  ice.  They  have  been  torn 
from  the  hills  north  of  us  and  strewn  over  the  land.  Some  of 
them  show  by  their  smooth  and  rounded  form  that  they  have 
been  subjected  to  a  great  deal  of  wear  in  the  friction  caused  by 
their  being  forced  forward,  and  by  the  action  of  water  loaded 
with  sand  and  pebbles.  But  many  of  them  prove  by  their  angu- 
lar shape  that  they  have  come  from  short  distances  above  us. 
In  the  north  part  of  the  town,  especially,  the  prevalence  of  these 
bowlders  of  large  size  makes  a  striking  appearance,  the  largest 
of  them  being  almost  invariably  sienite.  Let  any  one  go  to  the 
vicinity  of  Story's  Swamp  west  of  Long  Pond,  and  he  will  find 
a  wild  and  rugged  scene.  Huge  bowlders  are  scattered  about 
everywhere,  as  though  hurled  by  giants  in  some  deadly  conflict. 
One  of  them  is  about  thirty  feet  long,  twenty  feet  high,  and 
twelve  in  thickness,  its  top  beautifully  tufted  with  Polypodium 

Vulgaris,  or  Rock  Polypod  fern. 

All  these  indications  of  glacial  action  may  be  seen  together  at 
the  rock  and  gravel-bank  on  the  hill  southeast  of  F.  L.  Ames's 


TOPOGRAPHY. 


farm-house  on  Main  Street.  The  three  summits  of  rock  are 
seen  to  slope  toward  the  north,  showing  the  wearing  action  of 
the  ice  in  its  southward  movement.  In  the  autumn  of  1884  a 
section  of  the  rock  on  the  northwest  face  was  laid  bare  by  the 
gravel  being  removed,  and  there  is  nowhere  a  more  striking  illus- 
tration of  the  glacial  scratches  than  there.  Hundreds  of  small 
parallel  grooves  have  been  cut  into  the  sloping  surface  of  the 
rock,  and  are  still  plainly  visible :  they  are  more  noticeable,  how- 
ever, when  the  rays  of  the  sun  are  horizontal.  The  third  indica- 
tion alluded  to  is  the  bowlder  upon  the  top.  If  this  bowlder  were 
rock  of  the  same  kind  as  that  upon  which  it  rests,  we  might  sup- 
pose that  it  had  once  formed  a  part  of  the  underlying  formation. 
But  it  is  not.  The  rock  below  is  a  sort  of  trap-rock,  mainly  com- 
posed of  hornblende,  before  spoken  of  as  diorite.  The  bowlder 
is  sienite,  and  it  must  have  been  left  there  by  the  melting  glacier 
when  the  ice-king  gave  the  signal  for  its  last  retreat. 

5.  The  moraine  deposits  within  the  limits  of  Easton  form  a 
very  interesting  study.  Nearly  every  one  knows  that  a  moraine 
is  an  accumulation  of  sand  and  gravel  caused  by  the  movement 
of  glaciers.  The  frontal  moraines  are  piles  of  such  gravel,  which 
were  pushed  along  in  front  of  the  slowly  moving  ice  in  its  suc- 
cessive advances,  and  left  in  their  present  positions  as  the  ice 
melted  away  and  retreated  northward.  They  were  generally 
longest  east  and  west,  though  their  present  form  has  been 
largely  modified  by  the  action  of  the  great  streams  of  water 
formed  by  the  melting  ice,  and  also  by  the  action  of  the  sea 
when  they  were  under  the  sea-level.  Very  interesting  illustra- 
tions of  the  frontal  moraines  may  be  seen  along  the  railroad 
between  North  Easton  and  the  Centre,  which  cuts  through  a 
succession  of  them.  As  one  walks  down  the  track  and  looks 
ahead,  he  will  see  that  these  moraine  deposits  rise  at  intervals 
like  successive  waves  of  the  sea.  They  present,  when  looked  at 
in  the  light  of  their  origin,  a  very  striking  appearance.  One  of 
the  larger  ones ,  which  is  below  the  DeWitt  farm,  is  composed  of 
two  distinct  accumulations,  the  upper  one  being  that  left  by  the 
last  advance  of  the  ice. 

6.  Another  very  interesting  effect  of  this  glacial  action  in  the 
ice  epoch  is  the  formation  known  as  "  ridge-hills,"  or  Karnes. 
These  decidedly  differ  from  the  ordinary  moraine  deposits  in 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


their  shape  and  in  their  line  of  direction.  They  are  narrow 
and  long,  bearing  quite  a  resemblance  to  artificial  embankments 
and  lines  of  earth-works,  and  their  line  of  direction  is  in  general 
nearly  north  and  south,  though  there  are  for  short  distances 
occasional  variations  from  this  line.  Specimens  of  these  ridge- 
hills  maybe  seen  in  the  valley  east  of  the  railroad  between  North 
Easton  village  and  the  Centre.  One  that  lies  just  southeast  of 
the  DeWitt  farm  is  quite  remarkable,  and  Professor  Shaler  told 
the  writer,  while  examining  it,  that  he  had  never  seen  so  sharp  a 
curve  in  one  before.  In  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  may 
be  seen  good  examples  of  the  same  formation,  one  particularly 
noticeable  being  behind  Edward  D.  Williams's  house,  near  the 
stream.  The  most  striking  one  in  town  is,  however,  the  one 
near  Simpson's  Spring,  beginning  north  of  it  and  extending 
about  a  mile  south,  and  looking  decidedly  like  an  artificial  work. 
In  fact  this  formation  is  more  or  less  continuous  through  the 
town,  and  is  repeated  in  Raynham  and  probably  farther  south. 
These  ridge-hills  are  not  lateral  moraines,  which  are  formed  only 
in  mountainous  districts ;  they  were  probably  caused  by  the 
large  and  powerful  streams  that  flowed  from  the  ice  when  it 
melted,  but  the  precise  manner  of  their  formation  is  not  yet  clear. 
No  doubt  our  valley  here  was  the  bed  of  a  sub-glacial  river. 
The  surface  contour  was  much  changed  by  the  drift  deposits, 
and  the  shape  of  these  deposits  was  more  or  less  modified  by 
the  streams  that  flowed  from  the  melting  ice,  and  by  the  action 
of  the  ocean  currents  and  waves  when  this  section  was  under 
wati  r,'as  eiiiinent  geologists  declare  it  was  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  ice  age,  the  absence  of  sea-fossils  here  being  explained  by 
Professor  Shaler  as  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  was  a  "barren  sea," 
like  the  Polar  Sea  now.  The  effect  of  this  action  of  the  sea  is 
plainly  noticeable  on  some  hills  where  the  stones  of  all  sizes 
stand  out  from  the  hillsides,  the  soil  and  lighter  gravel  having 
been  washed  out  from  between  them  by  the  force  of  the  sea- 
currents  and  the  wash  of  the  waves. 

All  these  indications  of  glacial  action  in  the  town  of  Easton 
open  a  field  of  delightful  and  interesting  study,  which  may  be 
pursued  in  detail  with  profit  and  pleasure.  It  presents  a  scene 
of  wildness  and  desolation,  to  think  of  the  vast  mantle  of  ice 
thousands  of  feet  thick  that  forced  its  way  southward,  grinding 


TOPOGRAPHY. 


the  rocks  to  powder,  planing  off  the  stony  ridges,  piHng  up  the 
hills  of  gravel,  tearing  away  from  their  beds  the  mighty  bowl- 
ders and  strewing  them  in  such  wild  confusion  over  the  land. 
Attractive  as  the  subject  is,  however,  the  limits  of  this  history 
make  its  further  treatment  here  out  of  place. 

BOG-IRON    ORE. 

Before  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  bog-iron  ore  was  discov- 
ered here  in  considerable  quantities.  This  discovery  excited  great 
interest,  because  it  promised  to  supply  the  raw  material  for  the 
manufacture  of  iron  implements,  tools,  etc.  The  deposits  of 
this  ore  were  in  low  boggy  places,  or  places  that  had  once  been 
such.  These  bog-ore  deposits  may  be  caused  by  springs,  by  de- 
composition of  iron  pyrites,  and  also  by  the  fossil  shields  of  ani- 
malculae  or  by  certain  diatomaceous  plants.  The  peroxide  of 
iron  held  in  solution  by  water  is  precipitated,  unites  with  earthy 
matters  and  produces  the  ore.  When  smelted  it  makes  an  iron 
especially  good  for  fine  castings,  the  large  amount  of  phosphorus 
it  contains  causing  an  excellent  surface  with  clean  lines  and 
edges.  This  ore  was  found  in  quantities  near  Lincoln  Spring, 
on  Lathrop's  plain,  in  the  low  lands  in  the  extreme  northeast 
corner  of  the  town,  in  many  places  in  Poquanticut,  and  in  other 
sections  of  Easton.  Early  in  this  century  Gen.  Sheperd  Leach 
caused  not  far  from  two  hundred  acres  to  be  dug  over  to  furnish 
ore  for  his  iron  works.  In  time  these  deposits  are  renewed,  the 
same  causes  that  originally  produced  them  being  still  in  opera- 
tion. Any  one  may  see  the  precipitation  going  on  in  diffe-fent 
parts  of  the  town,  the  most  marked  instance  known  to  the  writer 
being  in  the  brook  that  flows  through  the  field  west  of  Picker 
Lane  in  North  Easton  village.  At  the  foot  of  this  lane  and  just 
at  the  site  of  the  old  Ferguson  mill  the  water  is  colored  with  this 
solution,  and  the  stones  are  covered  with  yellow  incrustation. 

In  the  account  now  to  be  given  of  the  swamps,  brooks,  ponds, 
plains,  and  other  special  features  of  the  topography  of  the  town, 
care  has  been  taken  to  preserve  the  old  names  by  which  they 
were  once  known.  These  old  names  sometimes  present  a  curi- 
ous study.  Some  one  once  said  that  he  could  understand  how 
astronomers  could  calculate  the  distances,  determine  the  orbits, 


8  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


and  learn  other  wonderful  facts  about  the  planets  and  stars,  but 
he  could  not  understand  how  they  found  out  their  names.  The 
writer  of  this  history  is  in  a  similar  predicament  as  to  the  locali- 
ties referred  to  ;  it  is  easier  for  him  to  describe  them  than  to 
tell  how  our  original  settlers  "found  out  their  names." 

SWAMPS. 

The  land  in  Easton  slopes  toward  the  south,  the  water-shed 
for  this  region  being  a  northeast  line  from  the  upper  end  of 
Long  Pond,  in  Stoughton,  to  Randolph.  There  is  not  much 
fall,  however ;  and  this  fact,  together  with  the  numerous  springs 
that  abound,  makes  a  good  deal  of  swampy  land  in  almost  every 
part  of  the  town.  Of  these  swamps,  the  most  notable  is  the 
Great  Cedar-Swamp  so  prized  for  its  timber  in  the  early  days  of 
our  history.  There  were  two  swamps  called  Rocky  Swamp,  one 
in  Poquanticut,  and  one  around  and  east  of  the  present  site  of 
the  Easton  Railroad  station,  a  part  of  it  being  called  Pine-Bridge 
Swamp.  Grassy  Sivavip  is  often  referred  to,  and  is  about  an 
eighth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  street  leading  from  Daniel  W. 
Heath's  to  Daniel  Wheaton's  ;  it  was  once  covered  with  tall 
rank  grass,  whence  its  name,  but  is  now  nearly  filled  with 
high  laurel.  The  swamp  west  and  southwest  of  the  No.  2 
schoolhouse  was  first  called  Cooper's  Swamp,  being  named  for 
Timothy  Cooper,  but  it  came  later  to  be  known  as  the  Little 
Cedar-Swamp.  These  swampy  lands  have  very  little  value  now  ; 
but  they  contain  abundant  promise  of  making  the  best  farming 
portions  of  the  section.  They  only  need  thorough  draining  in 
order  to  utilize  their  deep,  rich,  vegetable  deposits,  and  turn  them 
into  fertile  fields.  The  day  is  coming  when  this  will  be  done. 
The  lands  of  Easton  are  not  such  as  to  make  it  a  farmer's  para- 
dise, especially  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  where  a  gravelly 
soil  disputes  possession  with  innumerable  overlying  bowlders. 
Only  by  hard  labor  are  these  lands  made  fruitful.  Constant 
cultivation  will  steadily  improve  them  ;  and  any  man  who  clears 
away  the  stones  and  changes  a  barren  waste  to  a  fruitful  field, 
may  perhaps  console  himself  for  present  loss  by  anticipating  the 
thanks  of  posterity  ;  for  every  such  man  increases  the  actual 
wealth  of  mankind.  There  are  a  few  beds  of  clay  in  town,  of 
small  extent,  from  which  brick  were  once  made. 


TOPOGRAPHY. 


BROOKS    AND    STREAMS. 

There  are  numerous  references  to  DorcJiester-Meadow  River 
in  the  North  Purchase  records.  This  is  the  stream  in  the  ex- 
treme northeast  part  of  the  town.  It  rises  in  the  swamp,  north 
of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  station,  in  Stoughton,  passes  several 
times  under  the  track  on  its  way  southward,  receives  a  tributary 
from  Dorchester  Swamp,  and  flows  down  by  French's  mill, 
through  the  Marshall  place  and  the  Captain  Drew  place,  on  the 
road  to  Brockton,  then  through  Tilden's  Corner,  and  finally  joins 
the  Oueset,  below  the  Easton  Shoddy-Mill.  The  name  Dor- 
chester was  given  to  it  because  that  town  once  included  all  the 
territory  of  Stoughton  where  this  stream  rises.  Why  shall  not 
this  stream,  in  memory  of  the  olden  time,  be  called  Dorchester 
Brook } 

The  region  south  of  the  now  Calvin  Marshall  place  went  for  a 
long  time  under  the  name  of  Cornipsiis.  It  got  the  name  before 
1744,  because  at  that  date  Eliphalet  Leonard  pitched  for  land 
there,  and  this  word  is  used  in  his  "  pitch."  The  hill  east  of  the 
Captain  Drew  saw-mill  got  the  name  of  Cornipsus  Hill.  The 
word  has  been  abbreviated  into  "  K'nipt,"  which  is  the  term  the 
boys  used  to  apply  to  the  swimming  hole  near  the  mill.  Martin 
Wild  informed  the  writer  that  Jonathan  Leonard  said  the  name 
originated  in  an  exclamation  made  by  some  Indians,  as  they 
stood  amazed,  watching  the  saw  in  the  mill,  as  it  noisily  cut  its 
way  through  the  logs.  They  were  heard  several  times  to  utter 
a  word  in  deep  and  forcible  gutturals, —  a  word  that  sounded  some- 
thing like  "  K'nipsus." 

South  of  Cornipsus,  and  west  of  Stone-House  Hill,  are  a 
swamp  and  meadow  which  were  called  before  1709  Tusseky 
Swamp,  and  Tusseky  Meadow.  It  derived  its  name,  of  course, 
from  the  tussocks,  or  tufts  of  grass,  abounding  there.  The  brook 
that  runs  out  of  it  in  a  southerly  course  was  known  as  Stojte- 
House  Brook. 

Long-Szvamp  Brook,  so  named  in  town  records  as  early  as 
1757,  rises  in  the  swampy  land  east  of  the  Nathan  Willis  place, 
and  flows  nearly  due  south  through  the  swamp  that  gives  this 
brook  its  name,  and  empties  into  the  pond  or  stream  a  few  rods 
east  of  the  Dean  privilege. 


lO  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Rocky-Meadoiu  Brook  was  the  name  by  which,  about  the  time 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  and  later,  the  little  brook  was 
known  which  flows  easterly  through  the  hollow  a  few  rods  north 
of  Daniel  Clark's  house. 

Queset  River  is  the  pleasant-sounding  name  that  is  now  given 
to  the  stream  which  runs  through  the  villages  of  North  and  South 
Easton.  The  earliest  time  this  name  is  recorded,  so  far  as  the 
writer  has  discovered,  is  in  the  agreement  made  in  1825,  by  own- 
ers of  water  privileges  upon  it,  to  enlarge  the  dam  at  the  lower 
end  of  Long  Pond.  The  application  of  the  name  to  this  stream 
occurred  by  a  lucky  accident  or  mistake,  which  is  too  curious  to 
pass  unnoticed.  The  earliest  name  given  to  it  was  Mill  River, 
if  we  except  the  name  Trout-Hole  Brook,  which,  however,  was 
only  applied  to  that  portion  of  it  which  runs  through  the  east  part 
of  North-Easton  village.  It  was  also  called  Saw-mill  River. 
After  Eliphalet  Leonard  had  built  a  forge  at  the  so-called  Red 
Factory  location,  and  had  christened  it  Brummagem  Forge,  this 
stream  was  sometimes  called  Brummagem  River.  But  the  ac- 
cepted name  during  the  last  century  was  Mill  River.  The 
probable  explanation  of  the  change  of  name  from  Mill  River  to 
Queset  River  is  as  follows :  Bridgewater  people,  imperfectly 
acquainted  with  the  North  Purchase,  had  often  heard  "  Coweset 
River  "  spoken  of  as  in  that  Purchase.  Coweset  River  was  in 
the  westerly  part,  in  Norton.  But  they  sometimes  mistakenly 
applied  the  name  to  the  stream  which  flowed  out  of  the  North 
Purchase,  or  Easton,  into  their  town.  Thus,  in  the  State  Ar- 
chives, vol.  cxiv.  p.  211,  may  be  seen  a  survey  of  the  "  West  pre- 
cinct of  Bridgewater."  On  that  map  our  stream,  known  only  in 
Easton  as  Mill  River,  was  erroneously  called  "  Cowisset  River." 
This  was  in  1736.  The  writer  has  seen  the  same  name  on  a 
deed  dated  1733,  made  in  Bridgewater.  Bridgewater  people 
came  to  know  it  by  this  name.  One  hundred  years  later 
Mitchell,  in  his  "  History  of  Bridgewater,"  gives  it  that  name. 
Originally  applied,  by  mistake,  it  came,  at  the  beginning  of  this 
century,  to  be  occasionally  used  by  Easton  people,  being  some- 
times called  "  Cowsett."  It  is  noticeable  that  some  of  the  par- 
ties forming  the  agreement  in  which  this  name  seems  first  to 
be  recorded  were  Bridgewater  men,  and  the  name  was  given  to 
it  with  which  they  were  most  familiar.     It  was  corrupted,  or 


TOPOGRAPHY.  i  i 


rather  refined,  into  the  name  of  Oueset.  There  is  much  in  a 
name,  and  Easton  may  well  be  grateful  for  that  mistake  of 
Bridgewater  people  which  changed  the  commonplace  name 
of  Saw-mill  River  into  the  agreeable  one  of  Queset.  The 
original  name  "  Coweset "  was  applied  to  a  tribe  of  Indians.  On 
Comstock  and  Kline's  Norfolk  County  map  this  stream  is,  for 
no  good  reason,  called  Cohasset. 

The  main  sources  of  this  stream  are  in  the  west  of  Stoughton 
and  the  east  of  Sharon.  It  has  two  principal  tributaries,  next 
to  be  spoken  of  In  1825  it  had  eight  water  privileges  upon  it 
in  Easton,  all  doing  business.  But  before  the  Long  Pond  and 
the  Flyaway  Pond  dams  collected  the  water,  the  stream  was 
sometimes  very  small  in  summer. 

The  first  tributary  is  that  which  comes  from  Flyaway  Pond 
which  is  fed  by  several  small  streams.  The  name  Plyaway 
Swamp  is  quite  old,  appearing  on  the  North  Purchase  records 
as  early  as  1766,  and  must  therefore  have  been  in  use  earlier. 
The  swamp  was  mainly  where  the  pond  now  is,  and  northwest 
of  it.  The  dam  which  makes  the  pond  was  built  in  1846.  The 
stream  running  from  it  forms  its  junction  with  the  Queset  at  the 
Picker  field. 

The  second  tributary  is  Whitman  s  Brook,  sometimes  called 
Mauley  s  Brook.  The  former  name  is  the  one  originally  given, 
and  ought  to  be  retained.  John  Whitman,  an  early  settler, 
about  1 71 2  built  his  house  near  the  stream  west  of  Avery 
Stone's  cranberry  meadow,  and  held  land  in  the  name  of 
Abiah  Whitman  his  father,  for  nearly  a  mile  up  and  down 
the  brook.  It  rises  in  the  lower  end  of  Dorchester  Swamp,  on 
its  way  down  the  valley  is  fed  by  several  springs  and  small 
brooks,  and  empties  into  Stone's  Pond. 

In  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  is  the  stream  once  called 
Mulberry-Meadow  Brook,  sometimes  now  called  Leacli  s  Stream. 
It  takes  its  name  from  the  mulberry  trees  that  once  grew  in  its 
meadows.  The  name  Mulberry  Brook  was  given  to  that  portion 
of  it  only  which  is  south  of  the  junction  of  the  two  streams, 
which  junction  is  formed  just  below  Belcher's  works.  It  empties 
into  Winneconnet  Pond. 

The  larger  of  the  two  branches  that  unite  to  form  it  is  Poqiian- 
ticut  Brook,  or  River,  the  branch  at  the  west.    This  stream  rises 


12  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

in  Sharon,  about  two  miles  north  of  Abijah  Tisdale's,  flows 
through  Wilbur's  Pond,  crosses  Rockland  Street  at  the  Archip- 
pus  Buck  place,  receives  a  tributary  where  it  crosses  Massapoag 
Avenue,  flows  southeasterly  and  supplies  the  reservoir  built  by 
General  Sheperd  Leach  west  of  the  Easton  furnace. 

Wilbur's  Pond  is,  however,  only  partly  made  by  the  water  from 
this  stream.  Another  brook  of  about  the  same  dimensions  flows 
into  this  pond  on  the  east.  This  brook  rises  in  Sharon  and 
Stoughton,  in  swampy,  springy  land  near  the  Bay  road  about  a 
mile  above  Easton.  It  had  a  sufflcient  water-supply  once  to 
have  several  mills  upon  it.  Briggs's  cotton-twine  factory  was 
one,  and  there  was  a  cotton-batting  factory  lower  down,  near 
the  road  by  the  Tisdale  cemetery ;  and  still  lower  down,  where  it 
enters  Easton,  was  a  saw-mill,  probably  owned  one  hundred  and 
forty  years  ago  by  Jedediah  Willis,  who  lived  five  or  six  rods 
from  it,  —  his  house  being  within  the  Easton  line,  and  the  mill  in 
Sharon.  These  two  streams  both  flowed  into  the  Poquanticut 
Cedar-Swamp,  where  Wilbur's  Pond  now  is.  They  united  in  the 
swamp,  the  main  outlet  for  the  swamp  being  the  same  as  the 
outlet  for  the  pond,  —  namely,  Poquanticut  Brook. 

Reference  was  made  above  to  a  tributary  of  the  last-named 
brook  which  united  with  it  near  Massapoag  Avenue.  This  small 
stream  had  its  source  in  the  swamp  spoken  of,  before  Wilbur's 
Pond  was  made.  It  was  considerably  larger  once  than  now,  be- 
cause it  helped  drain  the  swamp  ;  but  the  dam  checked  the  flow 
of  vi^ater  into  it,  and  cut  off  its  main  supply.  It  still  contrives 
to  live,  however,  drawing  from  the  swampy  land  through  which 
it  wends  its  sluggish  way  enough  water  to  make  a  stream.  It 
flows  southerly,  crossing  Rockland  Street  between  the  Tarteus 
Buck  and  the  Mrs.  Horace  Buck  places. 

The  other  stream  which  unites  with  Poquanticut  Brook  below 
Belcher's  works  to  form  Mulberry  Brook  was  known  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  ago  as  Little  Brook,  and  is  now  called  Beaver 
Brook.  Higher  up,  near  Rockland  Street,  it  was  early  known  as 
Cooper  s  Brook,  so  named  from  Timothy  Cooper,  who  owned  land 
near  it  there.  It  has  its  source  in  a  pond-hole  near  the  old  Gil- 
bert and  afterward  Ansel  Alger  place,  not  far  from  the  Bay  road, 
and  not  very  far  from  the  Sharon  line.  It  crosses  Britton  Street, 
and  also  Rockland   Street  near  the  Stimpson  Williams  place. 


TOPOGRAPHY.  13 


At  the  latter  spot,  about  1770,  Lieut.  Samuel  Coney  built  a  saw- 
mill, which  was  owned  about  fifteen  years  later  by  Capt.  James 
Perry.  The  stream  from  thence  flows  southerly,  and  near  Beaver 
Street,  which  it  crosses,  it  receives  a  small  tributary  which  rises 
east  of  the  Bay  road  above  Ebenezer  Randall's.  It  used  to 
furnish  water-power  for  the  Hayward  carriage  factory,  which  is 
now  removed,  and  it  makes  the  pond  just  below  for  the  Drake 
foundry,  the  dam  for  this  pond  having  been  constructed  in  1751, 
as  will  be  elsewhere  narrated. 

Spring  Brook  is  a  small  tributary  of  Mulberry  Brook,  flow- 
ing into  it  near  Walter  Henshaw's,  and  comes  down  from  some 
distance  northwest  of  this  place. 

Black  Brook  rises  in  the  swampy  lands  south  c^  Lincoln  Street 
and  considerably  east  of  the  Bay  road,  flows  southerly  until  it 
crosses  the  road  just  west  of  Edmund  Lothrop's,  thence  goes 
southeast  and  runs  through  Cranberry  Meadow,  crossing  the 
road  near  the  old  Dean  saw-mill,  and  so  on  in  a  southeasterly 
direction  into  West  Bridgewater,  where  it  flows  into  the  Town 
River.  The  name  Black  Brook  was  in  use  before  1763,  and  is 
now  applied  to  the  whole  stream  ;  but  for  a  long  time  the  name 
of  Cranberry-Meadoiv  Brook  was  given  to  that  portion  of  it 
below  its  entrance  into  Cranberry  Meadow. 

Cranberry-Meadow  Neck  is  a  ridge  of  land  about  one  hundred 
rods  west  of  the  mill-site,  running  north  and  south  and  nearly 
cutting  the  meadows  into  two  parts.  A  small  brook  flowed  past 
the  northerly  end  of  this  neck  and  ran,  or  rather  sluggishly 
crept,  downward  through  the  meadow,  emptying  into  the  larger 
stream. 

Gallozvs  Brook  is  a  little  brook  just  west  of  the  Finley  place. 
It  rises,  not  in  Cranberry  Meadow,  but  in  a  small  swamp  about 
west  of  the  Finley  place,  flows  northerly,  and  then  curves  and 
flows  east  by  south  into  Cranberry-Meadow  Brook.  It  was  so 
small  that  in  1750  it  had  no  bridge  over  it,  and  one  could  step 
across  it.  But  on  this  little  stream  Joshua  Howard  once  built  a 
dam,  meaning  to  get  a  supply  of  water  by  cutting  a  ditch  to 
Black  Brook  in  Cranberry  Meadow.  This  he  actually  did  ;  and 
it  led  to  trouble  with  James  Dean,  whose  saw-mill  privilege  was 
threatened  with  serious  loss  by  this  diversion  of  water  from  its 
water-supply.     After  these  parties  had  successively  opened  and 


14  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

closed  the  ditch  several  times,  Mr.  Howard  gave  up  the  contest 
and  abandoned  his  project  of  building  an  oil  mill.  We  shall, 
however,  see  that  the  contest  was  renewed.  The  traditionary 
origin  of  the  name  Gallows  Brook  is  this  :  An  unfortunate  ox 
was  once  browsing  by  the  roadside  near  the  brook,  at  a  place 
where  there  was  a  tangle  of  stout  grapevines.  He  either  slipped 
or  sank  into  the  mire,  getting  his  neck  fastened  among  the  vines 
in  such  a  way  as  to  be  strangled.  If  the  tradition  is  true,  we 
may  conclude  that  either  the  ox  was  very  weak,  or  the  grapevine 
very  strong. 

PONDS. 

Although  there  is  much  swampy  land  in  Easton,  there  were 
very  few  natural  ponds,  and  these  were  very  small.  At  some 
time  there  was  a  pond  at  Cranberry  Meadow,  but  it  was  one 
made  by  the  beavers.  There  were  several  small  beaver  ponds 
at  various  times.  Wilbur  s  Pond  m.  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town  was  made  by  General  Sheperd  Leach  about  the  year  1825. 
It  is  the  site  of  what  was  once  known  as  Poquanticut  Cedar- 
Swamp.  The  origin  of  the  other  artificial  ponds  in  Easton  will 
be  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  history  of  industrial  enter- 
prises here,  they  having  been  made  by  dams  to  furnish  water- 
power.  There  was  a  natural  pond  of  small  extent,  in  a  basin 
and  without  an  outlet,  in  North  Easton,  which  was  known  as 
early  as  the  incorporation  of  the  town  as  Horse-Grass  Pond.  It 
is  so  called  in  the  North  Purchase  records,  and  was  situated  just 
east  of  the  railroad  track,  some  rods  south  of  the  bridge  over 
Main  Street.  It  has  now  almost  disappeared.  Another  very 
small  pond  of  the  same  character,  but  which  must  once  have 
been  quite  deep  judging  by  the  accumulation  of  peat  or  muck 
in  it,  was  in  the  hollow  about  a  mile  south  of  the  North  Easton 
Railroad  station.  It  was  called  Lily  Pond  prior  to  1750.  The 
depth  of  the  peat  accumulation  has  not  yet  been  sounded.  The 
railroad  track  passes  over  it,  and  has  often  settled  so  that  many 
times  the  road-bed  has  had  to  be  raised  at  this  point.  The  peat 
deposit  was  formed  from  the  vegetation  that  grew  in  it,  and  from 
the  leaves  and  branches  that  fell  into  it  from  the  overhanging 
and  neighboring  trees.  Lily  Pond  is  referred  to  under  that 
name  in  1759.     While  the  farm  on  which  this  muck  deposit  is 


TOPOGRAPHY. 


15 


located  was  the  property  of  the  Messrs.  DeWitt,  a  large  quantity 
of  the  deposit  was  dug  up  and  carted  away  for  sale.  The  supply 
is  one  that  will  last  for  many  years.  There  is  also  a  small  pond 
west  of  Edward  D.  Williams's  and  on  the  west  side  of  Mulberry 
Brook,  known  as  Round  Pond.  In  very  dry  seasons  it  is  nearly 
or  quite  empty.  There  was  another,  once  called  Ragged-Plain 
Pond,  west  of  the  four  corners  beyond  Mr.  Selee's  and  north  of 
the  road. 

There  were  several  places  known  in  early  descriptions  as 
Beaver  Dam.  One  was  just  west  of  Stone-House  Hill ;  another 
was  in  the  extreme  northwest  part  of  the  town.  Numerous  small 
streams  and  swampy  places  made  the  town  a  congenial  home  for 
the  beaver.  Remains  of  a  beaver  dam  were  seen  by  Alonzo 
Marshall  near  the  stream  northeast  of  his  former  home,  and 
beavers  were  known  to  have  made  their  dams  at  Cranberry 
Meadow,  and  west  of  the  old  Nathaniel  Perry  place  near  the 
Mansfield  line.  The  dam  the  remains  of  which  were  found 
by  Mr.  Marshall  is  referred  to  in  the  North  Purchase  records 
as  early  as  1709.  There  was  also  a  Beaver  Pond,  so-called, 
as  late  as  1752,  on  Whitman's  Brook,  near  the  old  Joseph 
Drake  place. 

MEADOWS    AND    PLAINS. 

No  locality,  with  the  single  exception  of  Great  Cedar-Swamp, 
is  oftener  referred  to  in  the  old  records  than  Cranberry  Meadoiv. 
All  the  meadows  were  valuable  in  the  early  time  because  there 
were  few  clearings,  and  the  grass,  though  inferior  to  what  is  now 
raised  upon  grass  lands,  was  much  needed.  Cranberry  Meadow 
extends  quite  a  distance  westward  from  the  railroad  crossing  at 
the  old  Dean  saw-mill  on  Prospect  Street.  Lots  from  it  were  in 
great  demand  when  the  land  was  first  divided.  Much  of  it  was 
overflowed  in  the  winter.  It  was  originally  a  beaver  pond.  In 
the  action  of  Dean  vs.  Brett,  elsewhere  noticed,  the  following 
statements  were  offered  in  the  evidence  :  "  It  appears  that  said 
Meadow  was  formerly  flowed  by  the  beavers,  or  natives,  or  ante- 
diluvians, and  in  that  condition  was  found  by  [Timothy]  Cooper." 
Reference  is  made  to  "  the  time  the  natives  had  it  for  a  fishing 
pond,  after  they  had  destroyed  the  beavers  which  made  the  dams 
below.  ...  It  was  a  natural  pond  or  bog  when  Cooper  found  it 


l6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

in  1706."  In  fact,  however,  it  was  known  and  valued  over  ten 
years  before  this  date,  and  before  Cooper  settled  here.  But  he 
was  the  first  to  see  its  value  for  business  purposes  ;  and  in  1706 
he  was  shrewd  enough  to  have  twenty-six  acres  of  land  laid  out 
at  the  east  end  of  it,  crossing  the  present  mill-site. 

Hockomock  Meadow  is  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  town. 
It  does  not  appear  under  this  name  in  the  Taunton  North- 
Purchase  records.  It  was  in  earlier  times  a  swamp,  and  was 
called  the  Great  Swamp. 

Evin's  Meadow  is  frequently  named  in  the  early  records.  It 
is  the  low  land  west  of  the  old  Nathaniel  Perry  place,  near 
the  Mansfield  line.  It  became  the  property  of  Lieut.  James 
Leonard,  then  of  his  daughter  Mehitable,  who  married  John 
Willis,  and  on  his  death  married  Captain  Nathaniel  Perry. 
Cold-Spring  Meadoiv  is  next  below  ;  and  still  below  this,  and 
west  of  the  D welly  Coward  place,  is  Granny  Meadow.  Nicholas 
or  Nicies  Meadoiv  was  the  name  given  to  the  meadow  west  and 
southwest  of  Edmund  Lothrop's.  Little-Ci'anberry  Meadoiv  was 
north  of  Stone's  Pond,  perhaps  including  the  upper  part  of  what 
is  now  the  pond.  There  were  several  little  cranberry  meadows 
in  town.  LatJirofs  Plaiti  was  the  large  plain  south  of  Lincoln 
Street,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  North  Easton  Post-office, 
where  a  notable  muster  was  held  some  years  ago.  Rocky  Plain 
was  the  level  land  through  which  Centre  Street  now  runs,  the 
plain  being  mainly  on  the  west  of  it.  CrookJiorn  Plain  was  a 
name  in  common  use  as  early  as  1700,  and  may  have  been  given 
to  it  from  the  real  or  supposed  shape  of  the  plain.  It  is  the 
level  land  through  which  the  Bay  road  runs,  between  Furnace 
village  and  the  Sheperd  place,  though  it  was  most  of  it  upon  the 
west  side  of  the  road.  High  Plain  is  in  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  town,  and  the  plain  in  the  extreme  southwest  and  close 
to  Norton  line  was,  in  1730  and  earlier,  known  as  Meeting 
Plain.  Ragged  Plain  is  west  of  the  Selee  place,  near  Mans- 
field. Badcock's  Plain,  is  at  the  extreme  eastern  border  of 
Easton,  east  of  South-Easton  village.  It  was  known  later  as 
Stone  House  Plain.  Chestnut  Orchard  needs  no  special  de- 
scription, as  it  still  goes  by  this  name.  It  extended  farther 
south  in  the  early  days  than  now,  taking  in  the  Nathan  Willis 
place. 


TOPOGRAPHY. 


17 


ANIMALS. 

As  to  the  flora  and  fauna  of  Easton,  they  do  not  differ  from 
that  of  this  section  generally,  and  do  not  call  for  special  notice. 
The  bears,  wildcats,  deer,  etc.,  have  all  disappeared.  The  smaller 
animals  still  found  here  live  a  precarious  life,  there  being  several 
hunters  and  dogs  for  every  fox,  partridge,  rabbit,  or  squirrel. 
Rewards  were  at  first  offered  for  killing  wildcats,  and  we  have  a 
record  of  Benjamin  Drake  being  paid  five  shillings  for  such  ser- 
vice in  1724.  Deer  were  plentiful,  but  they  were  such  tempting 
game  that  there  was  great  danger  of  their  speedy  extinction.  In 
1698,  therefore,  a  law  was  passed  forbidding  any  one,  on  penalty 
of  two  pounds  for  the  first  offence  and  more  for  a  repetition  of 
it,  from  killing  any  deer  between  January  i  and  August  i.  A 
more  rigid  act  was  enacted  about  1739,  and  in  December  of  that 
year  a  town-meeting  was  held  "  to  chuse  two  good  and  lawful 
men  to  take  good  care  that  ye  late  act  is  not  broken  conserneing 
ye  killing  of  Dear  within  their  precincts  ;  and  we  maid  choise  of 
John  Dailey,  Sen.,  and  Geoi^ge  Keyzer  to  searve  in  yt  affeare." 
From  that  date  a  deer  constable,  or  "  Informer  of  deer,"  was 
regularly  chosen  in  town-meetings,  until  1789.  The  honor  of 
this  office  for  many  years  fell  upon  Benjamin  Harvey.  Harvey 
lived  on  the  old  Allen  road,  now  Britton  Street,  and  the  location 
of  the  house  may  still  be  seen,  just  east  of  the  old  house  now  in- 
habited by  the  "Twenty  Leonards."  One  pleasant  day  in  1747 
Mrs.  Harvey  was  sweeping,  and  she  put  her  little  baby  Sarah 
in  the  warm  sunshine  just  outside  the  door.  Presently  the  child 
began  to  cry,  and  the  mother  went  out  and  brought  her  in. 
She  had  no  sooner  done  so  than  a  bear,  that  had  been  attracted 
by  the  cry,  emerged  from  the  woods  near  by  and  came  close  to 
the  spot  where  but  a  moment  before  the  baby  had  been  lying. 
This  was  the  only  child  the  Harveys  ever  had,  and  we  may  well 
believe  that  this  circumstance  enforced  greater  caution  upon 
the  mother  in  the  future. 

There  are,  unfortunately,  very  few  authentic  bear-stories  that 
have  come  to  the  writer's  notice.  Many  years  ago,  old  Mr. 
Britton  used  to  tell  Tisdale  Harlow,  when  a  little  child,  the 
story  of  the  last  bear  killed  in  Poquanticut.  The  exact  date 
cannot  be  given,  but  it  was  more  than  a  century  ago.     It  had 

2 


20  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

the  rest  of  it.  Then  it  was  asked  how  much  it  was  and  how  it  lay  :  said 
Gentlemen  answered  it  was  all  the  land  between  Taunton  bounds  and 
Rehoboth  bounds,  and  between  Taunton  bounds  and  the  bay  line 
home  to  Bridgewater  Bounds,  excepting  two  parcells  that  was  granted 
unto  others  before.  So  we  made  a  bargain  accordingly  with  said  agents 
or  committee,  and  ten  of  us  became  bound  for  the  payment  of  what  we 
gave  for  said  lands,  &  a  deed  was  then  written  and  left  with  said  Wil- 
liam Harvey ;  but  we  then  not  knowing  all  who  would  be  proprietors 
in  said  lands,"  etc.^ 

Forty-three  other  persons  joined  with  the  ten  alluded  to  in 
this  statement ;  and  this  company  of  fifty-three  Taunton  men 
paid  to  the  Plymouth  Court  the  sum  of  £ioo  for  the  tract  of 
land  already  specified.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  original 
deed  of  sale  :  — 

"Whereas  the  Generall  Court  of  New  Plymouth  have  impowered 
Mr.  Thomas  Prence,  Major  Josias  Winslow,  Capt.  Thomas  Southworth, 
and  Mr.  Constant  Southworth  to  take  notice  of  some  purchases  of  land 
lately  made  by  Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  and  to  settle  and  dispose  the 
said  lands  for  the  Collonies'  use  :  Know  therefore  all  whom  it  may 
anyway  concern,  that  the  above  named  Mr.  Thomas  Prence,  Capt. 
Thomas  Southworth,  Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  and  Major  Josias 
Winslow,  by  vertue  of  power  by  and  from  the  said  Court  derived  unto 
them,  have  and  by  these  presents  doe  bargaine,  sell,  grant,  allien,  al- 
lott,  confer,  and  make  over  unto  Richard  Williams,  Walter  Deane, 
George  Macey,  James  Walker,  Joseph  Wilbore,  William  Harvey, 
Thomas  Leonard,  John  Turner,  Henery  Andrews,  John  Cobb,  Gorge 
Hall,  John  Hall,  Samuel  Hall,  James  Leonard,  Sen"'.,  Nathaniel  Wil- 
liams, Thomas  Williams,  Nicholas  White,  Sen'.,  Nicholas  White,  Jun'., 
Hezekiah  Hoar,  AUice  Dean,  Israel  Deane,  Robert  Grossman,  Shad- 
rach  Wilbore,  Thomas  Caswell,  John  Macomber,  John  Smith,  Edward 
Rue,  John  Parker,  Samuel  Paule,  Thomas  Linkon,  Sen'.,  Thomas 
Harvey  the  Elder,  Nathaniel  Thayer,  Thomas  Linkon,  Jun'.,  Peter 
Pitts,  Jonah  Austine,  Sen'.,  John  Richmond,  Samuell  Williams,  Chris- 
topher Thrasher,  Mistress  Jane  Gilbert,  Gorge  Watson,  Samuell  Smith, 
James  Burt,  Richard  Burt,  John  Tisdall,  Sen'.,  John  Tisdall,  Jun'., 
James  Phillips,  Edward  Bobbitt,  John  Hatheway,  Jonathan  Briggs, 
Encrease  Robinson,  John  Bryant,  Thomas  Harvey,  Jun'.,  Proprietars 

1  The  above  is  from  a  document  in  the  handwriting  of  Thomas  Leonard,  and  is 
one  of  the  numerous  and  interesting  historical  papers  preserved  by  the  late  Rev. 
George  Leonard,  of  Marshfield,  but  now  the  property  of  the  city  of  Taunton. 


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-Bounds  of  If^arth  Purdiosi' 
Sounds  of  Towns 


MAP 

OF- 

TAbfJioH  NoRTf-l  PLipcHASE 

AND    THE     TOWNS     OF 

EASTQN. NORTON  &  MANSFIELD 

DRAWN   ESPECIALLY     FOB    THIS   hJI^TCRY    BY 
E.B.HAYWARD,   C.E. 


Scala  XInch  -  SiJTtles 


Ge/^^S:Walker  aizCa  IfOt  Soston 


THE    TAUNTON    NORTH-PURCHASE.  21 

of  the  town  of  Taunton,  and  to  their  heirs  forever,  a  certaine  tract  of 
land  lying  and  being  on  the  northerly  syde  of  Taunton  aforesaid,  and 
is  bounded  as  followeth,  viz. :  beginning  on  the  northwest,  att  the 
bounds  of  the  lands  formerly  sold  by  us  unto  the  Town  of  Rehobeth, 
and  to  be  bounded  on  the  northerly  syde  by  the  Massachusetts  line, 
untill  it  Cometh  to  beare  with  the  western  bounds  of  the  town  of 
Bridgewater,  and  soe  from  the  said  Massachusetts  line  by  a  south  line 
home  to  the  bounds  of  Taunton,  and  thence  by  a  westerly  line  until  it 
meets  with  the  bounds  of  Rehobeth  aforesaid,  and  so  to  follow  the 
said  bounds  of  Rehobeth  until  it  comes  unto  the  bounds  first  men- 
sioned  upon  the  Massachusetts  line,  —  all  the  lands  within  this  compas, 
excepting  onley  a  small  parcel!  granted  unto  John  Bundey,  and  alsoe 
a  grant  made  unto  Thomas  Briggs  (the  son  of  Clement  Briggs),  to- 
gether with  the  meddows,  woods,  waters,  and  all  other  benefitts,  privi- 
leges, emoluments,  profitts,  and  ennuities  thereunto  appertaining  and 
belonging." 

"  To  Have  and  to  Hold,"  etc.     [Dated  June  i,  1668.] 

The  accompanying  map  u^ill  show^  the  exact  location  of  this 
tract  of  land. 

There  appear  to  be  no  data  for  determining  where  the  "  par- 
cell  granted  unto  John  Bundy "  was.  There  is  no  evidence 
that  he  settled  within  the  limits  of  the  North  Purchase.  For  a 
while  he  lived  at  Taunton,  and  his  name  appears  upon  the  Old 
Proprietors'  records  of  that  town,  his  land  then  being  described 
as  within  its  boundaries.  If  he  had  a  lot  within  the  limits  of 
the  North  Purchase  he  must  have  disposed  of  it  before  the 
lands  were  divided  there,  for  his  name  never  appears  upon  the 
books  of  this  company.  Neither  the  old  deeds  at  Plymouth 
nor  the  Bristol  County  deeds  at  Taunton  show  that  he  ever 
conveyed  any  lands  of  this  Purchase  to  any  other  parties. 
Some  details  concerning  John  Bundy  may  be  found  in  a  note 
on  page  4  of  Clarke's  "  History  of  Norton."  The  statement 
there  made,  however,  that  Bundy  was  probably  the  first  settler 
within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Easton,  is  unsupported  by 
evidence. 

The  second  "parcel! "  of  this  territory  not  included  in  the 
North  Purchase  was  that  owned  by  Thomas  Briggs.  He  was 
son  of  Clement  Briggs,  who  was  grandfather  to  the  first  settler 
of  Easton  of  that  name.  The  court-grant  to  Thomas  was  as 
follows  :  — 


22  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

"One  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  is  granted  to  Thomas  Briggs, 
son  of  Clement  Briggs  deceased,  and  twenty  acres  of  meadow,  if  it 
may  be  had  in  the  place  desired,  which  is  in  the  way  to  Deadum  from 
Taunton,  betwixt  a  pond  and  a  mill  river  which  comes  to  Taunton, 
betwixt  Taunton  and  Massapauge  Pond."  ^ 

This  was  dated  June  7,  1659.  The  location  of  this  grant  was 
in  the  northeast  part  of  what  is  now  Mansfield.  Thomas  Briggs 
was  probably  the  first  settler  within  the  limits  of  Taunton  North- 
Purchase.  He  had  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Samuel.  Thomas 
moved  to  Rhode  Island  and  became  a  ferryman  at  Kingston. 
Samuel  lived  on  the  old  homestead.  On  March  16,  1696, 
Thomas  Briggs  deeded  to  his  son  Samuel  one  half  the  upland 
and  meadow  that  he  had  at  a  place  called  Tyump,  and  "  like- 
wise my  whole  leantoo  in  my  Dwelling  house  &  one  Bay  in  my 
Barne,  but  not  of  the  leanto  of  my  barne,  upon  the  condition 
that  my  said  son  Samuel's  wife  shall  be  helpful  to  my  wife 
&  to  take  a  childlike  care  of  her."  ^  It  is  also  stipulated  that 
Samuel  is  to  take  care  of  his  father  in  case  of  need.  There  was 
a  daughter  who  married  John  Cobb.  Her  name  was  Susanna. 
Samuel  married  Mary  Hall.  He  died  prior  to  1707,  and  his 
widow  married  Benjamin  Caswell. 

These  two  grants  —  one  to  John  Bundy,  the  other  to  Thomas 
Briggs  —  were  the  only  tracts  in  the  North  Purchase  that  had 
actually  been  laid  out  to  persons  not  the  proprietors,  and  were 
therefore  excepted  from  the  sale.  But  it  seems  that  Plymouth 
Colony  had  promised  at  least  one  other  grant  within  this  terri- 
tory.    The  record  of  it  is  as  follows,  the  date  being  1665  :  — 

"  One  hundred  and  fifty  acres  are  granted  by  the  Court  unto  the 
three  sisters,  the  daughters  of  Roger  Chandler  deceased,  viz.  :  to  each 
of  them  fifty  acres,  lying  between  the  Bay  line  and  the  bounds  of 
Taunton,  according  to  the  desire  of  John  Bundy."  ^ 

The  proprietors  ordered  that  this  land  be  laid  out  to  these 
daughters,  and  a  survey  of  the  grant  was  made.  Some  meadow 
land  was  also  laid  out  to  them,  located  in  Cranberry  Meadow. 
Nothing  further  is  known  of  their  ownership  here.  No  deed  of 
sale  of  their  lands  appears.     But  such  sale  was  no  doubt  made, 

1  Plymouth  Colony  Records,  vol.  iii.  p.  164. 

2  Land  Records,  or  Deeds,  at  Taunton,  vol.  iv.  p.  123. 
^  Plymouth  Colony  Records,  vol.  iv.  p.  no. 


THE   TAUNTON    NORTH-PURCHASE.  23 


for  one  of  the  first  owners,  Abiah  Whitman,  has  land  laid  out  to 
him  "  on  the  right  of  the  daughters  of  Roger  Chandler."  They 
never  had  a  residence  in  the  North  Purchase.  Indeed,  it  is  very 
probable  that  this  grant  made  to  Roger  Chandler's  daughters, 
"  according  to  the  desire  of  John  Bundy,"  is  the  one  referred  to 
in  the  deed  before  quoted  as  the  "small  parcell  granted  unto 
John  Bundey."  Otherwise,  why  is  not  this  Chandler  grant 
alluded  to  in  that  document  ?  The  connection  of  his  name 
with  it  would  account  for  the  mistake. 

THE    BOUNDARY    LINE    CONTROVERSY. 

There  are  some  interesting  facts  that  deserve  notice,  concern- 
ing the  north  boundary  of  the  Taunton  North-Purchase  and  the 
troubles  that  grew  out  of  the  uncertainty  regarding  it.  This 
boundary  was  the  divisional  line  between  Plymouth  Colony  on 
the  south  and  Massachusetts  Colony  on  the  north,  which  line, 
as  finally  settled,  corresponds  to  the  boundary  between  Norfolk 
County  on  one  side  and  Plymouth  and  Bristol  counties  on  the 
other.i  poj.  about  thirty  years  after  the  settlement  of  Massa- 
chusetts Colony  there  had  been  controversies  as  to  the  exact 
location  of  the  line  between  the  two  colonies.  In  1663-64  com- 
missioners were  appointed  by  both  governments  to  settle  this 
line.  It  was  to  run  westerly  from  Accord  Pond,  which  was  sit- 
uated on  the  line  between  what  is  now  Hingham,  Scituate,  and 
Rockland,  to  a  point  "three  miles  southward  of  the  south  part 
of  Charles  River."  ^  In  running  this  line  west  by  southwest, 
these  commissioners  found,  when  they  were  within  a  few  miles 
of  Rhode  Island,  that  they  were  considerably  south  of  where 
they  ought  to  be.  But  instead  of  retracing  their  steps  they 
stopped  at  that  point,  and  marking  a  tree,  which  became  known 
as  the  "  Angle  Tree,"  they  changed  their  course  more  to  the 
north,  so  as  to  reach  the  point  designated  as  the  western  end  of 
the  boundary  line.  By  this  mistake  of  the  commissioners 
Plymouth  Colony  lost  a  large  gore  of  land,  which  began  in  a 
narrow  point  at  Accord  Pond  and  gradually  widened  as  the  line 
diverged  to  the  south.     The  old  surveyors  estimated  that  about 

1  See  Hobart's  "  Sketch  of  Abington,"  p.  95  £t  seq.,  where  the  question  of  this 
boundary  line  is  ably  presented,  though  without  reference  to  its  relation  to  the  North 
Purchase  of  Taunton.  2  state  Archives,  vol.  iii.  pp.  114.  "S- 


24  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

fourteen  thousand  acres  were  thus  cut  off  from  the  Old  Colony. 
What  induced  the  Plymouth  Colony  commissioners  to  sign  an 
agreement  so  detrimental  to  its  interests  can  only  be  conjectured. 
There  was  probably  a  greater  divergence  than  they  supposed ; 
moreover,  the  commissioners  were  no  doubt  fatigued  by  their 
laborious  journey  through  the  forest,  and  did  not  think  the  land 
of  sufficient  value  to  pay  for  the  labor  and  trouble  of  another 
survey.  But  as  soon  as  the  real  location  of  this  line  was 
discovered,  and  the  loss  to  Plymouth  Colony  understood,  great 
efforts  were  made  to  rectify  this  boundary. 

It  is  obvious  that  it  was  for  the  interest  of  the  Taunton  North- 
Purchase  proprietors  to  maintain  the  old  line.  Their  purchase 
extended  to  the  "  Massachusetts  line,"  and  if  they  could  main- 
tain their  right  to  the  territory  up  to  the  old  line,  it  would  make 
a  difference  of  probably  not  less  than  five  thousand  acres  in 
their  favor.  Gradually,  however,  the  line  of  1G64  came  to  be  ac- 
cepted as  the  authorized  boundary.  But  about  1700  it  was  dis- 
covered that  some  of  the  landmarks  of  this  boundary  were  not 
in  a  straight  line  between  Accord  Pond  and  Angle  Tree,  but 
were  a  considerable  distance  south  of  it,  and  of  course  much 
farther  south  of  the  original  line  between  the  two  colonies  than 
even  the  line  of  1664  was.  This  discovery  led  to  frequent  and 
prolonged  troubles.  Even  accepting  the  line  of  1664  between 
Accord  Pond  and  Angle  Tree,  that  line  itself  was  not  a  straight 
one,  and  cut  off  some  of  the  land  from  the  North  Purchase.  The 
proprietors  were  of  course  justly  indignant.  Their  records  for 
the  first  quarter  of  the  last  century  give  frequent  signs  of  the 
difficulty.  In  1702  they  appoint  "John  White  as  their  agent  to 
join  with  Dorchester  men  and  all  others  concerned,  to  run  and 
settle  a  straight  line  between  the  late  Coloneys  of  the  Massachu- 
setts and  Plymouth,  from  accord  pond  to  the  angle  tree."  ^  The 
result  of  this  survey  has  just  been  alluded  to  ;  and  as  it  would 
have  restored  to  the  North  Purchase  what  they  were  claiming, 
and  what  even  the  line  of  1664,  if  correctly  drawn,  would  have 
conceded  to  them,  Dorchester  (which  then  included  Stoughton 
and  Sharon)  refused  to  agree  to  the  result.  Accordingly  there 
were  frequent  contentions,  and  in  1710  this  action  was  taken  at 
a  meeting  of  the  proprietors :  "  Then  the  said  Proprietors  made 
1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  26. 


THE    TAUNTON    NORTH-PURCHASE.  25 

choice  of  Mr.  Edward  Fobes  and  George  Leonard  to  be  their 
agents,  to  Join  with  Bridgewater  men  in  Defending  the  riming 
of  the  Hne  that  was  last  run  by  the  agreement  by  and  between 
Bridgewater  men  and  said  North-Purchase  men  on  the  one  part 
and  Dorchester  men  on  the  other  part,  and  do  ingage  to  bear 
their  proportion  of  the  charge  thereof."  ^ 

In  May,  171 3,  another  attempt  was  made  to  settle  the  diffi- 
culty by  appointing  a  committee  to  run  a  new  line.  An 
effort  was  first  made  to  find  the  old  Angle  Tree  which  was 
marked  in  1664.  The  report  made  by  a  part  of  this  committee 
describes  the  search  for  this  tree,  and  the  evidence  upon  which 
they  were  satisfied  that  they  had  found  it.  But  here  at  the  very 
start  the  hope  of  the  settlement  of  the  trouble  by  this  committee 
vanished ;  for  "  The  gentleman  that  appeared  for  Attleborough 
and  Norton  would  not  own  the  tree,  and  refused  to  be  concerned 
in  running  the  line,"  ^  —  so  reads  the  report  of  the  minority  of 
the  committee,  Samuel  Thaxter  and  Jacob  Thompson.  In  this 
report  the  three  points  on  the  new  line  that  were  north  of  what 
is  now  Easton  are  as  follows  :  "  The  next  is  a  heap  of  stones 
on  a  great  rock  about  forty  or  fifty  rods  to  the  east  of  Dorchester- 
Meadow  Brook  ;  the  next  is  a  black  oak,  marked  about  eighteen  \\ 
rods  to  the  southwest  of  Jeremiah  Willis'  house  ;  the  next  is  a 
great,  hollow  black  oak  marked  with  stones  about  it  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Plain  that  is  in  the  west  side  of  Quantucket  Cedar- 
Swamp."  ^  This  Jeremiah  Willis  was  the  ancestor  of  one  branch 
of  the  Easton  Willises  ;  his  house  was  just  north  of  the  town 
line,  east  of  the  Bay  road,  and  but  for  the  mistake  of  the  com- 
missioners of  1664  would  have  been  within  the  town  limits. 
In  justice,  Easton  should  have  extended  farther  north  than  it 
does  now.  This  uncertainty  about  the  boundary  was  a  great 
annoyance  to  Mr.  Willis,  and  to  others  living  near  the  north 
border  of  the  North  Purchase.  Twice  he  "pitched"  for  land 
near  the  line,  and  twice  he  "  doth  let  drop  his  pitch  because  it 
falls  in  Dorchester."  Proprietors  found  in  some  cases  that  the 
land  that  had  been  laid  out  to  them  was,  by  the  new  Hne,  included 
in  Dorchester.  The  North-Purchase  Company  endeavored  to 
get  satisfaction  for  such  of  their  number  as  suffered  on  this  ac- 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  30. 

2  Massachusetts  Court  Records,  vol.  ix.  p.  280.  ^  Ibid. 


\ 


26  'HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

count.  In  December,  1717,  they  "Voted  that  the  committee 
formerly  chosen  to  lay  out  land  in  said  North  purchase,  shall 
have  full  power  to  make  satisfaction  to  those  that  are  Damnified 
by  the  runing  the  line  by  Dorchester  men,  and  the  surveyor  and 
any  two  of  said  committee  to  make  satisfaction  to  them  in  laying 
out  land  to  them,  either  in  quantity  or  quallity  ;  and  the  person 
Damnified  to  have  no  hand  in  Judging  his  own  Damage."^  In 
April,  1718,  it  was  "Voted  to  make  choice  of  a  committee  to 
take  care  and  use  all  proper  methods  as  shall  be  thought  meet 
and  convenient  for  the  maintaining  and  holding  their  right  and 
title  on  the  north  side  of  said  purchase,  home  to  the  ancient 
Plymouth  Colony  line  as  Granted  by  Charter,  whether  it  be  by 
renewing  the  bounds  with  the  Proprietors  adjoining,  or  by  any 
other  lawfull  way  or  means  whatsoever."  ^  In  1720  they  voted 
to  sell  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  land  to  defray  the 
charges  growing  out  of  these  diflficulties  ;  they  had  previously 
voted  a  sale  of  fifty  acres  for  the  same  purpose.  Sometimes 
these  troubles  assumed  a  dangerous  personal  character.  On 
June  2,  1722,  a  committee,  appointed  to  sell  a  piece  of  land  on 
the  border,  reported  that  they  were  opposed  in  their  attempts  to 
establish  boundaries.     They  affirmed  in  their  report  as  follows  :^ 

We  renewed  the  ancient  bounds  by  erecting  a  heap  of  stones, 
which  we  intended  for  the  first  boundary.  But  Ephraim  Fobes  & 
Edward  &  Ephraim  Howard  [Hayward]  jCame  and  told  us  that  we 
had  no  business  there,  and  that  we  had  better  take  up  the  compass 
&  be  gone.  Wee  answered  that  what  we  did  was  by  order  of  the 
General  Court ;  but  the  said  Edward  Howard  told  us  that  the  General 
Court  had  nothing  to  do  with  any  land  there,  —  whereupon  we  read  to 
them  the  Court's  order ;  and  then  the  said  Ephraim  Fobes  went  and 
threw  off  some  of  the  stones,  and  said  there  should  not  be  any  bounds 
there.  And  from  thence  they  went  forward  to  a  fence  where  the  line 
went,  and  there  the  said  Eph,  and  Edw.  Howard  warned  us  to  stand 
off  upon  our  Perill,  telling  us  that  we  came  like  Robbers,  Highway- 
men, and  Rioters  :  The  said  Edw.  Howard  had  an  axe  in  his  hand, 
and  the  sd.  Eph.  Howard  had  a  club.  Wee  told  them  we  might  pro- 
ceed on  the  business  wee  were  sent  for,  and  Col.  Thaxter,  who  carried 
the  line,  stepped  forward  with  the  compass,  to  go  over  the  fence  in 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  44, 

2  Ibid.,  p.  46. 

8  Massachusetts  General  Court  Records,  vol.  xi.  pp.  308,  309. 


THE   TAUNTON   NORTH-PURCHASE.  27 

the  course  of  the  line  ;  but  Edw.  Howard  &  Daniel  Howard  laid  vio- 
lent hands  upon  him  &  pushed  him  back,  so  that  we  were  obstructed,  . 
and  unless  we  would  have  come  to  Violence  &  Blood  shed  we  could 
not  have  gone  on  with  our  Business.  Therefore  we  pray  this  great  & 
Honorable  Court  would  be  pleased  to  consider  the  before  mentioned 
offence,  &  give  us  further  direction  in  the  Premises. 

Sam.  Thaxter. 

Robert  Spurr. 

John  Quincy. 

Edward  Hayward  and  his  three  companions  thought,  no  doubt, 
that  they  were  defending  their  just  rights.  But  the  General 
Court  took  a  different  view  of  the  matter,  and  ordered  that  they 
be  arrested  and  shut  up  in  Boston  jail.^  Several  weeks'  confine- 
ment therein  induced  them  to  offer  an  humble  petition  for  their 
release.  This  was  granted  them  upon  condition  that  they  pay 
damages,  and  give  security  for  better  behavior  in  the  future  ; 
which  they  did.^  Of  this  Edward  Hayward  we  shall  soon  hear 
more. 

In  the  year  1727  the  proprietors  voted  that  any  person  who 
will  prosecute  those  who  have  settled  upon  the  proprietor's  lands 
in  Stoughton,  but  south  of  the  line  as  run  by  Nathaniel  Wood- 
ward and  Solomon  Safery,  shall  have  one  third  of  the  land  which 
they  may  recover,  —  the  suits,  however,  to  be  conducted  at  the 
expense  and  risk  of  the  prosecutor. 

About  1729  it  was  determined  to  appeal  to  the  Crown,  and  a 
committee  was  chosen  and  money  raised  to  promote  this  appeal. 
It  is  in  reference  to  this  that  we  have  the  following  curious  vote 
in  a  meeting  held  May  2"],  1 729 :  — 

"  2ly.  the  Proprietors  voted  that  the  Handkercheife  which  was  the 
return  of  the  money  which  was  sent  to  England  should  be  sold,  and 
that  that  mr.  Ephraim  Howard  should  be  paid  two  pounds  and  Eight 
Shillings,  and  Lt.  James  Leonard  to  be  paid  Sixteen  Shillings,  and  mr. 
Edward  Shove  to  be  paid  Sixteen  Shillings  out  of  the  mone}'  that  said 
Handkerchiefe  should  be  sold  for,  and  that  the  rest  of  said  money 
should  be  let  out  to  Interest  for  the  use  of  sd  small  proprietors. 

"3ly.  said  Proprietors  voted  that  Lieut.  James  Leonard  and  major 
George  Leonard  shall  have  all  the  said  Handkerchiefe,  they  Giving 

1  Massachusetts  General  Court  Records,  vol.  xi.  p.  315. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  369. 


28  HISTORY   OF  EASTON. 

good  security  for  twenty-three  pounds  sixteen  shillings  to  the  Clerk, 
to  be  paid  within  one  year's  time,"  etc.  ^ 

What  do  these  curious  votes  mean  ?  The  word  "  handkerchief" 
is  evidently  used  to  signify  a  special  collection.  The  proprietors 
raised  money  for  specific  purposes,  and  kept  the  sums  thus  raised 
in  separate  amounts.  Silver  money  was  of  course  used  for  the 
purpose  alluded  to  in  this  case.  Was  it  tied  up  in  a  handkerchief  ? 
If  so,  perhaps  this  is  the  first  case  on  record  where  a  handker- 
chief was  ever  used  for  a  contribution-box.  For  some  reason 
the  proprietors  were  not  ready  to  use  this  collection  as  yet,  and 
they  therefore  voted  to  "sell  the  handkerchief," — meaning  by 
this,  to  put  its  contents  to  interest,  after  paying  the  expenses 
that  had  already  accrued. 

In  1750  the  proprietors  vote  to  choose  a  committee  to  act  with 
a  committee  of  the  Rehoboth  North-Purchase,  or  Attleborough,  to 
petition  the  General  Court  to  settle  the  line  between  the  two  late 
colonies  according  to  the  agreement  of  the  Commissioners  of 
1640.  In  both  1752  and  1753  they  voted  to  begin  an  action  to 
eject  all  persons  who  had,  without  authority  from  the  proprietors, 
settled  upon  these  disputed  lands. 

There  was  no  final  settlement  of  the  matter  until  1772.  The 
Court  then  appointed  a  committee  to  run  the  line  from  Accord 
Pond  to  Angle  Tree,  Artemas  Ward  being  the  chairman  of  the 
committee.  They  reported  in  favor  of  the  line  of  171 3,  made  by 
Thaxter  and  Thompson.  On  March  6,  1773,  an  act  passed  the 
Legislature,  providing  that  the  line  should  run  from  the  pond, 
so  often  alluded  to,  west  twenty  and  a  half  degrees  south  to 
the  Angle  Tree.  This  line  is  the  present  boundary  between 
Norfolk  County  on  the  north,  and  Plymouth  and  Bristol  coun- 
ties on  the  south.  In  1790,  a  stone  monument  was  by  order  of 
the  State  erected  on  the  spot  where  this  tree  stood. 

INDIAN    OWNERSHIP    OF    THESE    LANDS. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  the  people  of  Easton  to  know  what 
Indians  were  the  immediate  predecessors  of  the  whites  in  the 
ownership  of  the  territory  of  this  town,  which  was  on  or  very  near 
the  boundary  lines  that  separated  the  important  tribes  of  the 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  64. 


THE   TAUNTON    NORTH-PURCHASE. 


29 


Massachusetts  Indians  and  the  Wampanoags.  The  former  were 
north  of  the  limits  of  Bristol  County ;  the  latter,  according  to 
Baylies,  in  his  "  History  of  Plymouth  Colony,"  inhabited  Bristol 
County.  Massasoit  was  their  chief,  and  his  authority  was  recog- 
nized as  supreme  among  the  tribes  living  in  the  whole  of  the 
colony  of  Plymouth,  as  well  as  in  the  islands  of  Nantucket  and 
Martha's  Vineyard.  These  tribes  were  known  under  the  general 
name  of  Pokanokets.  Some  doubt  has  been  thrown  upon  the 
statement  that  the  whole  of  Bristol  County  was  once  the  posses- 
sion of  Massasoit,  and  after  him  of  Metacomet,  who  is  better 
known  to  us  as  King  Philip.  These  doubts  are  based  mainly 
upon  two  considerations,  which  deserve  a  brief  notice.  The 
first  of  these  rests  upon  a  deposition  of  five  Indians  made  in 
1650.     The  deposition  is  as  follows:  — 

Pecunke,  Ahiumpum,  Catscimah,  Webacowett,  and  Masbanomett 
doe  all  affirm  that  Chickataubut  his  bounds  did  extend  from  Nishama- 
goquannett,  near  Duxberry  Mill,  to  Teghtacutt  neare  Taunton,  and  to 
Nunckatatesett,  and  from  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  Wanamampuke, 
which  is  the  head  of  Charles  River.  This  they  doe  all  solemly  affirme, 
saying,  God  knoweth  it  to  be  true,  and  knoweth  their  hearts.  Dated 
the  first  of  the  fourth  month  1650. 

Witness  :  Encrease  Nowell. 

John  Elliot. 

John  Hoare.^ 

This  deposition  affirms  that  the  boundary  line  extended  from 
Duxbury  to  Titicut,  thence  to  Nippenicket  Pond,  and  thence  to 
Whiting's  Pond  in  Wrentham,  This  would  cut  off  what  is  now 
the  town  of  Easton  from  the  dominion  of  Massasoit.  But  were 
there  no  other  reason  to  doubt  the  correctness  of  this  boundary, 
its  great  irregularity  would  condemn  it,  or  at  least,  make  it  ex- 
tremely improbable.  There  are,  however,  other  and  convincing 
reasons. 

I.  Plymouth  Colony  invariably  recognized  Massasoit  as  the 
chief  sachem  of  all  the  territory  included  within  its  limits. 
Bridgewater  on  the  east,  and  the  lands  on  the  west  of  the  North 
Purchase  were  bought  of  Massasoit.  It  is  therefore  certain  that 
this  purchase,  being  in  the  same  range  as  these,  must  have  been 
in  his  jurisdiction. 

^  Plymouth  Colony  Records,  vol.  ii.  p.  157. 


30  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

2,  According  to  the  deed  of  the  above  said  purchase,  the  lands 
included  in  it  were  bought  of  the  Indians  by  Captain  Thomas 
Willett,  and  his  negotiations  were  unquestionably  with  Massasoit 
or  his  successors,  and  not  with  the  Massachusetts  Indians. 

3.  Several  confirmatory  deeds  might  be  cited,  were  there  suffi- 
cient occasion  for  so  doing,  which  assume  and  plainly  state  the 
fact  that  the  lands  south  of  the  Old  Colony  line  were  purchased 
of  Massasoit. 

Another  source  of  doubt  concerning  the  rightful  ownership  of 
this  territory  by  Massasoit  and  Philip  is  the  fact  that  two  deeds, 
at  least,  were  given  by  sachems  of  the  Massachusetts  Indians 
covering  a  part  of  these  lands.  One  of  them  appears,  on  the 
face  of  it,  to  acknowledge  their  ownership  in  the  North  Pur- 
chase. In  the  Book  of  Votes  of  the  Taunton  North-Purchase 
Company,  page  7,  is  the  following  record :  — 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  north  purchase  the  twenty- 
fourth  day  of  Feb'y  1686-7,  the  said  Proprietors  agreed  and  voted  to 
levey  and  raise  sixteen  pence  in  money  on  each  share  in  said  purchase, 
to  pay  Josiah  the  Indian  sachim  for  a  Deed  they  have  percured  of  him  ; 
and  it  is  to  be  paid  into  Thomas  Leonard  by  the  sixteenth  Day  of  next 
march." 

The  original  deed  just  referred  to  is  still  preserved,  being  among 
the  papers  left  by  the  Rev.  George  Leonard,  already  referred  to. 
That  this  sachem  Josiah,  who  was  one  of  the  feeble  remnant  of 
the  Massachusetts  Indians,  had  no  valid  claim  to  the  lands  he 
thus  deeded  away,  is  sufficiently  apparent  from  the  fact  that  in 
1770  Squamaug,  then  the  acting  chief  of  this  tribe,  made  an 
agreement  with  Philip  that  the  line  between  the  Plymouth  and 
Massachusetts  colonies  should  be  the  dividing-line  between  the 
Massachusetts  and  Wampanoag  Indians.^  Though  Josiah  was 
without  any  valid  claim  to  this  land,  the  North-Purchase  proprie- 
tors were  willing  to  give  him  the  small  pittance  he  asked  for 
rather  than  have  any  further  trouble  about  the  matter.  The 
whole  sum  he  received  was  only  three  pounds,  twelve  shillings. 
The  Indians  of  that  date  had  so  far  degenerated  that  they  could 
imitate  white  men  by  becoming  beggars.  "  Sometimes,  when 
our  fathers  had  purchased  lands  of  the  real  owner,  and  others 

1  Clarke's  History  of  Norton,  pp.  50,  51. 


THE   TAUNTON   NORTH-PURCHASE.  31 

afterwards  laid  some  claim  to  them,  they  would  buy  off  the  claim 
by  a  small  consideration  rather  than  suffer  a  controversy  or  leave 
a  doubt  to  disturb  private  or  individual  purchasers  hereafter. 
Thus  the  colonies  practised  what  are  called  'quieting  titles,' 
and  extinguished  claims  on  expediency,  and  without  regard  to 
their  validity."  ^ 

It  is  very  probable  that  the  boundaries  between  the  Indian 
tribes  were  rather  indefinite,  but  there  is  no  reasonable  ground 
to  doubt  that  the  territory  of  Easton  was  once  a  part  of  the 
hunting-gro.unds  of  the  celebrated  Massasoit  and  his  more  cele- 
brated son  Philip. 

Some  readers  may  be  disappointed  to  find  that  the  Indians 
have  done  nothing  to  add  to  the  interest  of  this  history.  This 
was  not  the  fault  of  the  savages.  They  would  very  cheerfully 
have  tomahawked  and  scalped  enough  of  our  early  settlers  to 
have  furnished  us  with  most  exciting  and  harrowing  tales  of 
bloodshed.  But  several  years  before  our  first  settler  built  his 
rude  dwelling  east  of  the  site  of  Dean's  mill  at  South  Easton, 
the  spirit  and  power  of  the  Indians  in  this  section  had  been 
thoroughly  broken,  —  King  PhiHp's  war  having  ended  in  1676. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  they  had  a  village  on  the  spot  just  indi- 
cated, east  of  "The  Green."  The  tradition  is  probably  correct, 
because,  first,  there  have  been  from  time  to  time  a  large  num- 
ber of  relics  ploughed  or  dug  up  from  the  field  there  ;  and  sec- 
ondly, the  selection  of  that  spot  by  the  first  comer  for  his 
homestead  makes  it  probable  that  it  was  a  clearing  where  the 
previous  occupants,  the  natives,  had  been  accustomed  to  culti- 
vate maize,  etc.  There  were,  no  doubt,  other  clearings  in  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  where  lands  were  easily  worked :  not 
even  an  Indian  would  be  foolish  enough  to  attempt  to  clear  the 
soil  in  the  northeast  quarter.  Indian  relics  have  been  found  in 
many  different  places  in  Easton.  Two  stone  pestles  were  dug 
from  a  gravel-bank  southeast  of  Daniel  Wheaton's  house.  They 
were  deep  enough  beneath  the  surface  to  make  it  probable  that 
they  were  buried  with  their  owner,  according  to  Indian  custom. 
Further  examination  there  might  possibly  indicate  the  pres- 
ence of  one  of  the  burying-grounds  of  the  natives.     That  some 

1  Manuscript  letter  from  the  late  Hon.  John  Daggett  of  Attleborough,  to  whose 
kindness  the  writer  is  indebted  for  some  facts  and  suggestions  used  in  this  chapter. 


32 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


Stragglers  among  the  Indians  remained  about  here  and  had 
come  to  sore  need,  is  indicated  by  the  following  action  of  the 
town  in  town-meeting  in  the  year  1763:  "Voted  to  James 
Linsey  one  pound  eleven  shillings,  for  provisions  and  clothes 
for  the  Indians." 

THE    PRESERVATION    OF    TIMBER. 

The  North-Purchase  proprietors  showed  much  interest  in  the 
preservation  of  the  timber,  especially  the  cedar,  which  grew  upon 
their  lands.  From  the  number  of  votes  passed  empowering 
committees  to  prosecute  persons  who  had  cut  cedar,  oak,  and 
other  timber,  it  is  evident  that  there  was  considerable  trespass- 
ing upon  the  undivided  lands.  As  early  as  1683  the  proprietors 
"Voted  and  agreed  that  there  shall  be  no  cedar  falne  that  Doth 
belong  to  the  said  north  purchase  or  improved  for  any  use,  until 
the  said  Proprietors  do  otherwise  agree."  A  committee  is  ap- 
pointed to  "  see  that  the  aforesaid  order  be  not  broken  nor  the 
cedar  wasted  ;  and  to  seize  any  cedar  fallen  or  improved,  or  the 
produce  thereof,  for  the  use  of  said  proprietors  ;  or  to  arrest 
the  person  or  persons  so  transgressing,  and  by  law  to  recover 
the  value  of  the  produce  of  such  cedar,  improved  contrary  to 
order,  or  what  damage  he  or  they  do  to  the  cedar  swamps." 
Such  votes  are  quite  common  for  many  years,  and  the  preser- 
vation of  the  cedar  in  the  Great  Cedar-Swamp  and  in  other 
places  appeared  to  be  a  matter  of  much  solicitude,  the  proprie- 
tors evidently  placing  a  high  value  upon  it.  In  the  year  1699 
there  is  this  curious  record :  "  Samuel  Briggs  having  bought 
about  1400  of  Claboards  and  long  shingles  of  an  Indian,  the 
stuff  being  got  in  the  North  Purchase,  the  Proprietors  by  vote 
agreed  that  he  shall  have  them,  paying  six  shillings  in  money  to 
the  proprietors,  —  which  he  then  did,  and  it  was  then  spent  in 
drink."  ^  This  was  in  Taunton  in  mid-winter,  and  a  good  drink 
was,  in  the  opinion  of  the  proprietors,  seasonable,  and  the  easiest 
solution  of  the  difificulty  of  disposing  of  this  unexpected  six  shil- 
lings. Whether  the  absent  proprietors,  who  were  not  on  hand  to 
share  this  good  cheer,  took  the  same  view  of  the  case  we  are  not 
informed.  This  Samuel  Briggs  was  son  of  Thomas,  of  whom  we 
have  already  heard.  How  this  unknown  Indian  became  pos- 
1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  22. 


THE    TAUNTON    NORTH-PURCHASE.  33 

sessed  of  these  "  Claboards  and  long  shingles  "  must  be  matter 
of  conjecture  only.  They  were  too  bulky  to  steal  and  carry 
away  ;  an  Indian  was  extremely  unlikely  to  be  a  regular  dealer 
in  such  merchandise  ;  and  we  are  therefore  obliged  to  imagine 
the  extraordinary  spectacle  of  one  of  these  wild  sons  of  the 
forest  laboriously  splitting  out  these  articles  from  the  trees 
among  which  he  had  so  often  roamed  in  his  hunts  for  game. 
The  mere  thought  of  it  touches  our  sympathy. 

THE    DIVISION    OF    LANDS. 

The  manner  in  which  lands  of  the  Taunton  North-Purchase 
Company  were  divided  is  a  subject  of  great  interest.  The  deed 
of  purchase  was  made  June  i,  1668.  The  Company  organized 
on  the  15th  day  of  September  following,  by  the  choice  of 
Thomas  Leonard  as  clerk,  and  the  election  of  a  committee  who 
were  intrusted  with  the  affairs  of  the  Company.  The  next  meet- 
ing took  place  November  15,  1671,  when  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  meet  other  committees  from  Rehoboth  and  Bridge- 
water,  to  settle  the  boundaries  between  the  North  Purchase  and 
those  towns.  On  December  31,  1674,  it  was  voted  to  "  lay  out  a 
Division  of  upland  in  the  North  purchase  to  each  Proprietor 
alike,  as  near  as  they  can  both  for  quantity  and  quallity,  no  lot 
to  be  under  a  hundred  acres,  nor  no  lot  above  six  score  of  acres." 
To  equalize  the  value  of  these  lots,  it  was  voted  that  their  size 
might  vary  from  one  another  by  a  difference  of  twenty  acres,  the 
number  being  according  to  the  worth  of  the  land.  Reference  is 
made  to  this  division  at  subsequent  meetings,  but  no  actual  sur- 
vey of  the  lots  was  made  prior  to  1695.  Meantime  several 
settlers  had  come  upon  the  lands,  they  having  purchased  a 
whole,  or  some  part  of,  a  share  from  some  of  the  original  pro- 
prietors or  from  their  heirs,  and  being  allowed  to  choose  a  loca- 
tion and  settle  upon  it.  When  the  first  division  of  lands  was 
made  in  1696,  as  will  be  presently  explained,  these  actual  set- 
tlers, instead  of  choosing  their  divisions  by  lot,  as  the  other 
shareholders  did,  were  assigned  the  land  upon  which  they  had 
already  located.  This  was  the  case  with  the  first  settlers  in  the 
east  part  of  the  North  Purchase,  now  Easton.  Clement  Briggs, 
Thomas  Randall,  William  Manley,  John  Phillips,  and  a  few  oth- 
ers whose   acquaintance  we   shall   soon   make,  were   residents 

3 


34 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


before  the  first  division  of  land.  Briggs  had  made  his  home 
east  of  "  the  Green  ;  "  Randall,  just  above  on  the  north  side 
of  the  stream  ;  Manley,  next  above  him  ;  and  Phillips,  at  the 
Morse  place. 

It  was  not  until  May  12,  1696,  that  the  first  general  division 
of  land  was  made.  It  was  a  notable  occasion  for  the  proprietors 
as  they  met  on  that  day  in  the  old  Taunton  meeting-house.  Fifty- 
four  sections  of  land,  of  about  one  hundred  acres  each,  had  been 
roughly  indicated  by  survey,  and  these  were  all  numbered.  This 
number  of  shares  corresponded  to  the  number  of  original  share- 
holders, except  that  one  share  was  added,  which  was  to  be  laid 
out  "  for  the  use  of  the  ministry,"  —  that  is,  for  the  support  of  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel.  Some  of  the  original  proprietors  were 
dead,  and  some  shares  were  owned  in  company  by  as  many  as 
four  different  persons  ;  in  which  case  each  was  entitled  to  a 
quarter-share,  or  about  twenty-five  acres.  Everything  being 
now  ready  for  the  lots  to  be  drawn,  the  names  of  the  original 
proprietors  were  called,  in  the  order  in  which  they  appear  upon 
the  deed.  As  the  names  were  announced,  these  proprietors,  or 
their  "  successors  "  as  they  are  termed,  drew  their  lots,  and  were 
assigned  the  divisions  of  land  corresponding  to  the  numbers 
drawn.  But  in  case  any  one  did  not  like  the  lot  that  fell  to  him, 
it  was  provided  that  he  might  choose  it  in  some  other  place. 
As  already  stated,  those  who  had  actually  settled  upon  any  land 
were  assigned  the  location  they  were  living  upon. 

The  divisions  had  thus  been  determined  and  numbered,  but  no 
careful  survey  of  them  had  been  made  except  the  three  lots 
named  below.  The  first  survey  was  made  on  the  6th  day  of 
January,  1696,  and  is  recorded  in  the  "  First  Book  of  Lands  "  of 
the  Company,  on  the  first  page.  It  was  the  homestead  lot  of 
Clement  Briggs  and  Thomas  Randall,  Sr.  The  lot  of  John 
Phillips  and  William  Manley  was  laid  out  on  the  same  day.  On 
the  next  day  the  lot  above  the  latter  was  laid  out  to  Thomas 
Randall,  Jr.,  and  the  Rev.  James  Keith,  —  the  latter  being  the 
minister  of  Bridgevvater.  It  was  more  than  a  year  before  lots 
were  surveyed  in  other  parts  of  the  North  Purchase,  which  fact 
confirms  the  claim  subsequently  made  by  the  settlers  in  what  is 
now  Easton  ;  namely,  that  they  were  the  "  first  settlers  "  of  the 
Taunton  North-Purchase. 


THE   TAUNTON   NORTH-PURCHASE. 


35 


Various  other  divisions  of  land  were  subsequently  made.  The 
one  we  have  been  considering  was  called  "  the  first  hundred-acre 
division."  This  was  of  upland.  In  January,  1699,  there  was 
a  second  division,  which  consisted  of  eight  acres  of  meadow-land. 
The  following  list  gives  all  the  divisions  of  land  from  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Company  to  the  present  time  :  — 


One  hundred  acres  of  upland 

.     In  the  ye 

ar  1696 

Eight  acres  of  meadow-land   . 

,     1699 

One  hundred  acres  of  upland 

,     1700 

Fifty 

,     1705 

Sixty                    „              „ 

,     1714 

Forty                   „              „ 

,     1724 

Thirty 

,     1729 

Forty-five             „              „ 

,     1731 

Twenty                „              „ 

,     1744 

Ten 

>     1755 

Eight 

,     1773 

Four                     „              „ 

.     1774 

Sixteen                 „              „ 

,     1779 

Eight 

,     1811 

Four                     „               „ 

,     1814 

Four                    „              „ 

,     1833 

The  aggregate  of  these  divisions  for  the  fifty-four  shares  is 
twenty-seven  thousand,  three  hundred  and  seventy-eight  acres. 
This  was  about  four  fifths  of  all  the  proprietors'  lands.  But  in 
addition  to  this  there  was  in  1699  a  division  of  "the  Great 
Cedar-Swamp  "  into  nine  shares  of  six  lots  each  ;  and  there  were 
subsequent  divisions  of  the  other  cedar  swamps.  Nearly  all  the 
remainder  of  the  land  of  the  North-Purchase  Company  was  sold 
to  raise  money  for  legal  and  other  expenses,  as  they  occurred. 
A  little  of  the  land  still  remains  undivided,  but  is  of  small  extent 
and  of  slight  value. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  this  Taunton  North-Purchase 
Company  still  exists,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  organizations  in 
the  State,  being  now  over  two  centuries  old.  The  clerkship  of 
the  Company  was  held  by  the  Leonard  family  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty-five  years,  —  Thomas  holding  it  for  the  first  forty-six 
years.  He  was  followed  in  turn  by  George,  Samuel,  George,  and 
George,  Jr.,  they  living  in  Taunton  or  Norton.     Alfred  Williams 


36  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

of  Taunton  was  chosen  clerk  in  1823,  and  Howard  Lothrop  of 
Easton  in  1836.  Alson  Gilmore  served  from  1861  to  1876,  when 
Edward  D,  Williams,  the  present  clerk,  was  elected.  The  last 
meeting  of  the  Company  was  held  November  25,  1876. 

THE    BOOKS    OF    THE    COMPANY. 

The  books  of  this  Land  Company  are  very  interesting  relics 
of  other  days,  and  they  are  exceedingly  valuable  to  the  anti- 
quarian and  local  historian.  The  old  "  Book  of  Votes,"  as  it  is 
called,  is  now  (1886)  two  hundred  and  eighteen  years  old.  It 
brings  the  record  of  the  business  meetings  of  the  Company  down 
to  1 712.  As  this  book  was  then  full,  a  new  book  was  bought, 
the  records  of  the  old  book  copied  into  it,  and  the  account  of 
subsequent  meetings  continued  down  to  the  present  time. 
Another  book  is  called  the  "  Book  of  Pitches."  When  land 
was  due  to  a  proprietor,  or  purchaser,  he  made  a  statement 
of  the  location  where  he  wished  his  lot  laid  out.  This  choice 
was  recorded  in  the  book  just  named.  This  was  called  a 
"pitch."     Here  is  an  example  of  one:  — 

February  22  :  1708-9.  John  Dayly,  on  Abiah  Whitman's  Right, 
doth  pitch  for  twelve  acres  and  halfe  of  Land  on  the  Stone-House 
Plaine,  Joining  to  Bridgewater  Line,  Joining  to  thomas  Drake's  lot  of 
his  second  division  on  the  northward  and  westward  Parts  thare  of,  and 
northward  of  William  Manley  seners,  eastward  of  John  Phillips  and 
southward  of  John  Dayleys,  if  the  Place  will  afford  :  if  not,  the  re- 
mainder to  be  Between  Tussuky  meadow  and  Bridgewater  Line  ;  .  .  . 
and  six  and  a  quarter  acres  of  Land  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
north  purchase,  Ranging  south  from  a  bever  dam  home  to  Bridgewater 
Line.^ 

The  original  "  Book  of  Pitches  "  is  not  preserved.  That  book 
brought  the  account  down  to  1745,  when  it  had  probably  become 
so  much  worn  as  to  need  transcribing.  A  new  book  was  bought, 
a  complete  copy  of  the  old  book  made  in  it,  and  the  records  con- 
tinued down  to  the  present  day.  This  book,  purchased  in  1745, 
and  much  used,  is  still  in  excellent  condition. 

There  are  three  books  called  "  Books  of  Lands,"  or  of  "  Sur- 
veys."    They  number  in  the  aggregate  nine  hundred  and  eighty- 

1  Book  of  Pitches,  p.  13. 


THE    TAUNTON    NORTH-PURCHASE.  37 

four  very  large  and  closely  written  pages.  They  contain  the 
surveys  or  laying  out  of  the  shares  of  land  due  the  proprietors 
on  the  several  divisions,  and  also  the  laying  out  of  the  various 
pitches  of  land  recorded  in  the  book  just  named.  The  following 
illustrates  what  has  been  said  :  — 

In  Taunton  North-Purchase  June  14th,  1699,  we  the  subscribers 
who  are  of  the  committee  chosen  by  the  proprietors  of  said  North  Pur- 
chase, we  have  laid  out  &  bounded  nine  acres  of  meadow  &  meadowish 
land  for  Mr.  Keith  and  Thomas  Randall,  Junior,  to  the  right  of  Sair^uel 
Smith  Deceased.  Said  meadow  lyeth  up  the  River  from  Thomas  Ran- 
dall's about  three  quarters  of  one  mile.  Bounded  at  the  lower  end 
Ranging  from  a  marked  tree  across  the  swamp  on  a  west  and  by  north 
point,  and  so  bounded  by  upland  on  both  sides  up  the  river  about 
one  hundred  &  five  or  six  rods  to  a  little  oak  tree,  from  thence  on  a 
west  point  across  the  meadow  to  the  upland  again. 

Thomas  Randall. 

Thomas  Harvey. 

John  White,  Sirvayer.  * 

The  first  survey  was  made  on  the  6th  day  of  January,  1696, 
and  the  last  on  July  18,  1882.  Some  of  the  boundary  marks  are 
interesting.  For  instance:  "We  began  at  a  May  Foal  [maple.''] 
tree."  "  We  began  at  a  saxifax  tree."  Frequently  the  bounds 
begin  at  "a  little  pile  of  stones,"  with  no  indication  of  where 
said  pile  of  stones  may  be  found.  On  June  21,  1765,  the  heirs 
of  Edward  Hayward,  Esq.,  have  a  lot  laid  out  to  them  "  north  on 
said  land  forty  rods  to  a  bird's  nest  with  one  egg  in  it  for  a 
corner" ^  —  a  not  very  lasting  boundary  line,  one  would  think. 
The  oldest  of  these  books  of  surveys  is  the  original  book,  which 
was  begun  in  1695,  and  is  not  a  copy.  It  is  very  valuable  in 
determining  the  location  of  the  homesteads  of  the  first  settlers 
of  this  region.  This  book  was  rebound  in  1782,  at  a  cost  of 
"  nine  silver  dollars  "  for  binding  and  the  trouble  and  expense 
connected  with  it. 

There  are  two  other  books  of  this  Company ;  namely,  the 
ledger  accounts.  One  is  that  of  the  "Original  Proprietors,"  and 
the  other  of  the  "  Present  Proprietors,"  as  they  were  called  in  1724. 
The  second  book  has  an  especial  value  to  the  genealogist,  be- 

1  J'irst  Book  of  Surveys,  p.  3.  2  Second  Book  of  Surveys,  p.  41. 


38  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

cause  in  the  transference  and  settlement  of  property  and  estates 
many  family  relationships  are  alluded  to.  These  books  have 
enabled  the  writer  to  fill  up  gaps  in  family  genealogies  by  infor- 
mation which  no  other  records  could  have  supplied.  The  pro- 
prietors now  living  ought  to  secure  the  safe  and  permanent 
keeping  of  these  valuable  and  ancient  records. 

No  thorough  and  adequate  account  of  the  Taunton  North- 
Purchase  and  its  celebrated  land  company  has  ever  before  been 
given  ;  and  this  is  a  sufficient  reason  for  the  extended  notice  it 
has  received  in  this  chapter. 


EARLY   SETTLERS. 


39 


CHAPTER    III. 

EARLY   SETTLERS. 

The  Seven  Families  of  Squatters.  —  Subsequent  Settlers.  — 
Their  Previous  Places  of  Abode.  —  The  Time  of  their  Set- 
tlement IN  Taunton  North-Purchase.  —  Location  of  their 
Homesteads.  —  The  Oldest  House  in  Town. 

IN  this  chapter  some  account  will  be  given  of  those  who  set- 
tled in  the  "East  end  of  Taunton  North-Purchase"  (now 
Easton)  previous  to  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  Thorough 
search  among  the  Bristol  County  deeds,  and  careful  study  of  the 
North-Purchase  records  have  enabled  the  writer  to  determine 
three  very  interesting  facts  concerning  these  settlers  ;  namely, 
their  previous  place  of  residence,  their  time  of  settlement,  and 
the  locations  of  their  dwelling-houses.  Most  of  the  settlements 
were  made  subsequent  to  the  first  division  of  lands,  in  1696.  A 
few  families  were  here,  however,  earlier  than  this,  settling  as 
squatters,  so  called.  Among  these  were  Clement  Briggs,  William 
Hayward,  William  Manley,  Thomas  Randall,  Sr.,  Thomas  Ran- 
dall, Jr.,  John  Phillips,  Thomas  Drake,  and  possibly  others.  The 
first  settlements  were  made  in  what  is  now  South  Easton  village. 
At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  a.  d.  1725,  there 
were,  or  had  been,  about  sixty  heads  of  families  here.  Of  these, 
fifteen  came  from  Weymouth,  fifteen  from  Taunton,  twelve  from 
Bridgewater,  and  the  rest  from  various  other  places.  Their 
names  are  given  here  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  order  of  their 
settlement. 

Clement  Briggs,  reputed  by  tradition  to  be  the  first  settler, 
bought  a  full  share  in  the  Taunton  North-Purchase,  in  1694.  He 
neglected  to  get  the  deed  recorded,  and  it  was  "defaced  and 
damnified  by  the  mice  eating  some  part  of  it,  so  that  it  was  not  fit 
to  pass  the  records  ;"  and  accordingly,  after  his  death,  in  order 


40  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

to  make  the  title  good,  the  heirs  of  the  grantor  (Benjamin  Dean) 
gave  to  Clement  Briggs's  heirs  a  new  deed.  He  was  domiciled 
as  early  as  1694,  and  his  house  was  on  the  north  side  of  Depot 
Street,  east  of  the  Green  and  near  the  head  of  Pine  Street.  He 
came  from  Weymouth,  with  Thomas  Randall  his  step-father,  and 
was  grandson  of  Clement  Briggs,  who  is  called  an  "  old  comer," 
having  arrived  in  Plymouth  in  the  ship  "Fortune,"  in  1621. 
Three  of  this  first  Clement's  children,  being  among  the  earliest 
born  in  the  colony,  received  grants  of  land  of  the  Government 
on  that  account.  He  was  a  felt-maker,  and  settled  very  early  in 
Weymouth.  His  grandson,  the  Clement  Briggs  who  settled  here, 
was  for  awhile  part  owner  of  the  saw-mill  which  the  Randalls 
had  built,  and  erected  the  first  grist-mill  in  town.  These  mills 
stood  near  where  the  mill  now  stands,  at  the  Green.  He  died 
previous  to  June,  1720,  and  left  a  family  of  seven  children. 

William  Manley  was  from  Weymouth,  and  was  residing  here 
as  early  as  1694.  He  was  a  squatter,  as  was  no  doubt  Clement 
Briggs  and  others.  It  is  therefore  possible  that  they  may  have 
been  settled  here  some  time  prior  to  the  appearance  of  their 
names  in  deeds  and  other  papers.  William  Manley  was  the  an- 
cestor of  all  the  Manleys  of  this  section.  He  owned  land,  and 
located  his  dwelling-house  a  little  below  where  Palmer  Newton 
now  lives,  in  South  Easton.  While  a  resident  of  Weymouth,  he 
served  in  the  army.  He  and  his  three  sons  owned  the  west- 
erly part  of  F.  L.  Ames's  estate  in  North  Easton,  and  also  owned 
both  north  and  south  of  that.  Like  some  others  of  this  early 
time,  he  had  to  "make  his  mark."     He  died  December  2,  171 7. 

William  Haywakd  was  here  in  1694.  He  was  not  one  of 
the  Bridgewater  Haywards,  but  was  the  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Sarah  Hay  ward,  of  Braintree,  and  was  born  February  6,  1669. 
His  homestead  was  near  Simpson's  Spring,  and  the  old  location 
can  still  be  identified,  about  fifteen  rods  to  the  east  of  the  spring. 
He  died  March  26,  1697,  leaving  two  children,  Ruth  and  William. 
His  widow  returned  to  Braintree,  and  in  two  years  married 
William  Thayer,  who  afterwards  settled  in  Easton. 

Thomas  Randall,  ist,  came  here  from  Weymouth,  and  was  a 
resident  in  Taunton  North-Purchase  no  doubt  as  early  as  1694. 
He  bought  half  the  share  which  Clement  Briggs  had  purchased 
of  Benjamin  Dean,     The  fifty-first  share  was  set  apart  to  them, 


EARLY   SETTLERS. 


41 


and  it  included  the  Green,  being  partly  west  but  chiefly  east  of  it, 
and  had  one  hundred  and  four  acres.  The  half  of  this  north  of 
the  mill-stream  was  owned  by  Thomas  Randall.  There,  but  a 
few  rods  from  the  saw-mill  which  he  and  his  sons  erected,  stood 
his  house.  He  was  son  of  Robert  Randall,  one  of  the  original 
settlers  of  Weymouth.  Three  sons  certainly,  and  probably  four, 
and  at  least  two  daughters,  came  with  him  to  settle  here.  His 
saw-mill  was  soon  built,  the  first  one  in  town,  and  the  noise  of 
its  wheel  was  the  sweetest  possible  music  to  the  new  settlement. 
He  is  interesting  to  us  as  the  father  of  what  has  been  the  most 
numerous  family  of  Easton.  He  married,  for  a  second  wife, 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Packard  of  Bridgewater,  and  widow 
of  Clement  Briggs,  who  was  father  to  our  first  settler,  Clement 
Briggs.     He  died  June  11,  171 1.     She  died  April  20,  1727. 

John  Phillips  came  here  from  Weymouth  at  the  same  time  as 
William  Manley,  they  dividing  one  share  of  land  (the  fifty-second 
lot)  between  them.  His  half  was  north  of  the  Manleys,  and  in- 
cluded the  Morse  privilege,  extending  north  of  Mr.  Morse's  house 
and  quite  a  distance  eastward.  His  house  was  on  the  spot  where 
the  house  (formerly  the  home)  of  Mr.  Morse  now  stands.  He 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  early  town  history,  and  was  the  first 
town  clerk,  serving  twelve  years  in  that  capacity.  His  first 
wife  was  Elizabeth  Drake  of  Weymouth,  sister  of  two  early  set- 
tlers, soon  to  be  mentioned.  He  was  the  first  captain  that  bore 
a  commission  in  the  town  of  Easton.  He  was  a  soldier  as  early 
as  1690,  serving  in  the  expedition  against  Quebec.  Forty  years 
afterwards  the  Colony  granted  the  township  of  Huntstown  (now 
Ashfield)  to  the  soldiers,  and  Captain  Phillips  had  some  shares. 
His  son  Thomas,  and  son-in-law  Richard  Ellis  of  Easton,  were 
the  first  settlers  of  that  town.     He  died  November  14,  1760. 

Thomas  Randall,  2d,  came  from  Weymouth  with  his  father. 
He  was  married  January  20,  1697,  to  Rachel  Lincoln,  of  Taunton. 
He  had  his  dwelling-house  a  little  north  of  John  Phillips,  the 
site  being  almost  exactly  where  the  barn  of  Benjamin  Macomber 
now  stands.  In  171 8  he  took  up  twenty-six  acres  of  land  in 
what  is  now  North  Easton,  on  both  sides  of  the  stream,  near 
the  Ames  office.  He  had  taken  up  five  acres  there,  in  1711. 
Here  he  built  either  the  second  or  third  saw-mill  in  town- 
His  first  wife  died  February  18,  1715,  and  in   1719  he  married 


42  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

widow  Hannah  Pratt,  of  Weymouth.  During  the  first  years  of 
the  settlement  he  was  the  largest  property  owner  among  the  resi- 
dents, paying  double  the  tax  of  any  other.  He  was  also  deacon 
of  the  church.  Indeed,  the  Randall  family  was  more  prolific  in 
what  in  later  times  Elijah  Howard  called  "deacon  timber"  than 
any  other  family  in  town.  In  1727  the  town  voted  that  Deacon 
Thomas  Randall  should  make  a  pair  of  stocks  for  the  use  of  the 
town.  Where  these  stocks  were  set  up  we  are  not  informed  ; 
but  more  than  one  culprit  of  both  sexes  had  a  chance  to  find  out 
H  Deacon  Randall  did  this  piece  of  work  well.  He  died  in  1752, 
dividing  a  large  property  among  several  children,  but  leaving 
his  homestead  to  his  son  Deacon  Robert  Randall. 

Thomas  Drake,  the  father  of  John  and  Benjamin  Drake,  soon 
to  be  noticed,  came  from  Weymouth,  and  had  a  house  here  as 
early  as  1695.  He  appears  to  have  lived  east  of  the  Morse  place 
at  South  Easton,  about  half  the  distance  to  the  Bridgewater  line. 
He  died  August  19,  1728,  three  days  after  the  death  of  his  wife 
Hannah.  She  was  his  third  wife,  as  deeds  at  Taunton  show  that 
this  Thomas  Drake  of  Weymouth,  in  1688,  had  a  second  wife 
Millicent,  who  was  widow  of  John  Carver  and  daughter  of 
William  Ford.^ 

These  seven  persons  and  their  families  appear  to  be  the  only 
settlers  in  what  is  now  Easton,  prior  to  1696 ;  for  on  July  20  of 
that  year  their  names  are  given  as  inclusive  of  all  the  "  neigh- 
bourhood "  in  the  east  end  of  the  North  Purchase.  This  appears 
by  the  following  vote  passed  at  a  meeting  of  the  North-Purchase 
proprietors  held  in  the  "Taunton  meeting-house,"  July  20,  1696: 
"  3dly,  at  the  same  time  Thomas  Randall  and  William  Manley 
Desired  the  Grass  this  year  on  the  meadows  in  the  North  pur- 
chase, between  the  great  Cedar  swamp  and  Dorchester  bounds 
and  Bridgewater  bounds,  and  as  far  southward  as  to  take  in 
Cranbury  meadow,  they  acting  for  themselves  and  the  rest  of 
the  Neighbourhood  ;  viz.,  William  Haward,  Thomas  Drake,  John 
Phillips,  Clement  Briggs,  and  Thomas  Randall,  2d,  for  which 
they  promise  to  pay  ten  Shillings  in  money  this  year  to  the 
Clerk ;  for  which  the  said  Proprietors  Promised  said  Grass  to 
them  for  this  year,  1696."  ^ 

1  See  also  Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary,  vol.  ii.  p.  71. 

*  Book  of  Votes  of  Taunton  North-Purchase  Proprietors,  p.  14. 


EARLY    SETTLERS.  43 


Jacob  Leonard,  of  Bridgewater,  had  built  a  house  as  early 
as  1697.  It  was  situated  fifteen  rods  directly  east  of  where 
William  C.  Howard  now  lives.  The  road  ran  between  Leonard's 
house  and  well,  the  latter  being  in  Bridgewater.  He  had  lived 
at  Weymouth,  and  then  at  Bridgewater,  before  coming  here. 
He  was  the  son  of  Solomon  Leonard,  of  Duxbury,  who  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Bridgewater. 

Israel  Randall  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Randall,  Sr.,  and 
had  a  dwelling-house  as  early  as  1697,  which  was  very  near 
the  spot  where  N.  W.  Perry  now  lives.  He  married  in  1701 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Experience  (Byram)  Willis  of 
Bridgewater.  In  March,  1710,  his  father,  "out  of  the  good- 
will and  natural  affection  which  I  bear  towards  my  son,"  as  the 
deed  runs,  gave  to  him  his  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
near  the  Green,  this  being  the  land  north  of  the  houses  of 
Dr.  Randall  and  N.  W.  Perry.  He  was  interested  in  the  saw- 
mill business  with  his  father  and  brothers.  He  died  March  24, 
1753.     His  widow  died  Nov.  29,  1760. 

James  Harris,  of  Bridgewater,  bought  the  estate  of  Jacob 
Leonard  in  November,  1697,  and  made  it  his  home.  He  was 
first  married  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Guido  Bailey  of  Bridge- 
water,  in  1693,  and  afterwards  to  Elizabeth  Irish,  in  1696.  He 
sued  Clement  Briggs  and  John  Phillips  for  cutting  and  carrying 
hay  from  his  lot  in  Cranberry  Meadow  ;  and  this  lawsuit  cost 
the  North-Purchase  proprietors  sixteen  pounds  sterling,  they 
disputing  his  ownership  to  the  lot  and  agreeing  to  sustain  the 
charges  of  the  suit.^  Timothy  Cooper,  who  lived  next  below 
him,  proved  to  be  a  very  uncomfortable  neighbor,  and  in  171 3 
Harris  sold  out  his  estate  to  Elder  William  Pratt. 

Timothy  Cooper  was  a  resident  here  in  1699  ;  how  much 
earlier  cannot  be  determined.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Abiah 
Whitman,  a  leading  citizen  of  Weymouth,  and  one  of  the 
largest  land-owners  in  the  North  Purchase.  Cooper  was  proba- 
bly of  Weymouth,  but  this  is  only  a  conjecture.  His  house  was 
a  few  rods  south  of  the  Roland  Howard  house,  where  Mr.  Collins 
now  resides,  the  land  on  which  it  stood  being  given  to  his  wife 
by  her  father.  In  1713  he  bought  three  fourths  of  the  saw-mill 
at  the  Green,  owning  it  at  his  death ;    or,  as  the  legal  record  has 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  pp.  15,  16. 


44 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


it,  "  he  died  seized  of  the  saw-mill."  He  was  killed  by  his  mill- 
wheel  in  1726,  probably  in  March.  Tradition  represents  him  as 
a  very  rough  man,  and  tradition  is  supported  by  documentary 
evidence,  which,  after  being  concealed  for  over  a  century  and 
a  half,  has  just  come  to  light,  and  has  been  examined  by  the 
writer.  His  violent  death  was  regarded  by  some  persons  as  a 
providential  punishment  for  his  sins.  He  left  a  family  of  five 
daughters,  one  of  them  marrying  Seth  Babbit,  who  was  admin- 
istrator of  the  estate  of  her  father.  The  old  road  ran  just  east 
of  Mr.  Cooper's  house,  and  thence  on  a  southwest  course  coming 
nearly  to  the  line  of  the  present  highway  in  front  of  David 
Howard's  house. 

Benjamin  Drake,  the  ancestor  of  many  of  the  Drakes  of 
Easton,  was  born  in  Weymouth,  January  15,  1677,  and  came 
here  in  the  year  1700.  In  June  of  that  year  he  bought  fifty 
acres  of  land,  with  a  dwelling-house,  on  what  is  now  the 
Cynthia  Drake  road,  or  Church  Street,  south  and  southwest 
of  the  old  burying-ground,  in  South  Easton.  In  that  house 
his  first  child,  Benjamin,  was  born  in  December  of  that  year. 
The  care  of  the  meeting-house,  after  it  was  erected,  was  for 
many  years  his  special  charge.  He  served  in  numerous  town 
offices. 

Ephraim  Hewitt  is  recorded  as  of  Taunton  North-Purchase 
in  1 701,  and  may  have  been  here  a  little  earlier.  He  was  prob- 
ably son  of  Ephraim  Hewitt,  of  Scituate,  and  afterwards  of  Hing- 
ham.  If  so,  he  was  born  in  1676.  He  owned  land  here  in  1700. 
His  home-lot  was  northerly  from  Mr.  Rankin's,  where  Mr. 
Littlefield  now  lives.  A  road  ran  on  the  south  side  of  his  house 
up  to  the  present  road  near  the  track  by  F.  L.  Ames's  saw-mill. 
It  is  interesting  to  note  that  he  and  his  wife  died  on  the  same 
day,  November  19,  1733, —  she  going  at  sunrise,  and  he  following 
her  at  the  sunset  hour. 

Samuel  Kinsley  was  grandson  of  Stephen,  of  Braintree. 
He  came  here  from  Bridgewater,  buying  his  home-lot  in  Decem- 
ber, 1 701.  It  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  Timothy 
Cooper's  place,  just  north  of  what  is  called  the  Thaxter  Hervey 
place,  about  six  rods  east  of  the  turnpike,  and  five  rods  north  of 
the  foundation  of  Cyrus  Alger's  old  forge.  He  built  his  house 
in    1702,  and  became  a  resident  at  that  time.      He  had  eight 


EARLY   SETTLERS. 


45 


children,  his  daughter  Hannah  marrying  Edward  Hayward,  Esq. 
He  died  about  1720. 

John  Drake  was  son  of  Thomas  and  brother  of  Benjamin, 
both  of  whom  moved  here  from  Weymouth.  He  bought  a  part 
of  a  share  of  land  of  Ephraim  Hewitt  in  April,  1702,  and  had  it 
laid  out  in  1703,  when  he  settled  upon  it.  It  joined  Bridgewater 
line  north  of  Stone-House  Hill,  and  probably  included  what  be- 
came known  a  century  later  as  the  North  Daily  place.  Some- 
where on  this  lot  he  had  his  home.  He  died,  leaving  seven 
children,  October  10,  171 7,  his  wife  Sarah  surviving  him  just 
ten  years. 

James  Hodge  is  a  settler  as  early  as  1704.  His  home  was 
next  west  of  John  Drake's,  north  of  the  old  road  running  almost 
due  west  from  Stone-House  Hill.  On  August  8,  1704,  Abiah 
Whitman,  of  Weymouth,  "in  consideration  of  the  faithful  service 
performed  by  James  Hogg  for  Captain  John  Thomas,  sone-in-law 
to  the  said  Abiah  Whitman,"  gave  to  him  the  land  on  which  he 
settled.  He  does  not  seem  to  have  prospered.  A  daughter 
Elizabeth  was  the  occasion  of  great  grief,  and  a  son  was  for 
many  years  a  town  charge. 

William  Manley,  Jr.,  was  of  Weymouth,  and  was  a  son  of 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers,  before  mentioned.  He  was  of  age 
in  1700,  and  settled  on  his  father's  place  just  above  Thomas 
Randall,  Sr.'s,  home-lot.  He  died  January  16,  1764,  eighty-five 
years  old.  His  wife  almost  completed  her  hundredth  year,  dying 
January  6,  1777. 

Thomas  Manley  was  the  second  son  of  William  Manley,  Sr. 
He  was  born  in  Weymouth  in  1680.  In  1701  he  married  Lydia 
Field,  of  Bridgewater.  He  built  his  house  on  the  upper  half  of 
his  father's  place,  a  little  south  of  the  No.  i  schoolhouse.  He 
was  father  of  six  sons  and  seven  daughters,  the  latter  being 
the  maternal  ancestors  of  many  persons  now  living  in  town. 
He  died  June  6,  1743,  leaving  considerable  property,  among 
which  was  "a  negro  boy  George,"  valued  at  ;^38.  His  will 
shows  that  he  meant  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  prevent  any  other 
man  from  taking  his  place  as  husband  of  Mrs.  Manley.  He 
ordains  that  the  quarter-right  in  the  saw-mill  is  to  be  hers  "dur- 
ing her  widowhood''  "  So  long  as  she  shall  remain  my  widow'* 
she  shall  have  his  dwelling-house  and  homestead  land.     But  "if 


46  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

my  well-beloved  wife  see  cause  to  change  her  condition  by  mar- 
rying," she  is  summarily  dismissed  from  the  premises,  and,  save 
the  pittance  of  ten  pounds,  loses  all  further  claim  to  the  property 
of  her  late  affectionate  spouse. 

Ephraim  Marvell  was  a  settler  concerning  whose  antece- 
dents nothing  can  be  learned.  He  was  an  early  settler,  coming 
here  certainly  prior  to  1710.  His  dwelling-house  was  a  little 
west  of  where  N.  W.  Perry  now  lives,  at  South  Easton.  He 
seems  chiefly  noted  as  the  possessor  of  an  orchard,  which  is 
several  times  referred  to  in  marking  boundaries.  His  name  is 
written  indifferently  Marble,  Maravell,  etc. ;  but  he  will  remain 
a  marvel  to  us,  for  nothing  further  can  be  learned  about  him. 

Ephraim  Randall  came  here  no  doubt  with  his  father 
Thomas.  He  is  taxed  as  a  resident  in  1708,  and  received  as  his 
portion  of  his  father's  estate  the  half  of  the  homestead  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  bounded  west  and  south  by  the  stream. 
The  old  house  where  he  lived,  and  his  father  before  him,  stood 
several  rods  nearer  the  grist-mill  than  does  the  house  now  stand- 
ing on  this  lot.  Five  months  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he 
swiftly  consoled  himself  by  marrying  a  second,  who  was  Lydia, 
the  daughter  of  Timothy  Cooper.  He  became  prominent  in 
town  and  church  matters,  and  was  a  deacon  as  early  as  1730. 
He  died  May  17,  1759,  aged  seventy-five  years. 

Thomas  Pratt  came  here  from  Middleboro  in  1710.  He  was 
born  in  Weymouth,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  of  Weymouth, 
and  brother  of  Elder  Pratt,  who  settled  here  about  the  same 
time.  He  moved  from  Weymouth  to  Middleboro  before  1700, 
and  was  selectman  there  in  1704,  and  town  treasurer  in  1705. 
His  house  stood  where  what  is  called  the  Sever  Pratt  house  now 
stands,  in  South  Easton,  just  above  the  cemetery,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  road.  The  old  homestead,  settled  in  17 10,  has  never 
passed  out  of  the  possession  of  the  family,  and  is  owned  to-day 
by  Isaac  L.  Pratt.  He  was  ancestor  of  the  late  Amos  Pratt,  of 
Alfred  Pratt,  and  of  many  others.  He  was  much  interested  in 
the  church  in  Easton,  and  was  a  deacon.  He  died  December 
I,  1744. 

George  Hall  was  a  resident  as  early  as  1708,  and  may  have 
come  here  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  1705.  His  house  was  at 
the  Caleb  Pratt  location,  nearly  opposite  and  a  little  west  from 


EARLY   SETTLERS.  47 


where  the  late  Jonathan  Pratt  lived.  He  was  son  of  Samuel  Hall, 
of  Taunton,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  Taunton  North- 
Purchase.  He  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Kathe- 
rine  Dean,  of  Taunton.  He  was  a  carpenter,  and  became  part 
owner  in  the  saw-mill  that  was  built  by  Josiah  Keith.  He  had 
nine  children,  but  they  moved  away  from  Easton.  He  was  alive 
as  late  as  1760. 

John  Daily  was  here  before  1708.  He  married  a  daughter 
of  Abiah  Whitman,  of  Weymouth,  and  may  have  come  from 
that  place ;  but  of  his  antecedents  nothing  has  been  deter- 
mined except  that  he  was  originally  a  native  of  the  north  of 
Ireland.  He  lived  just  east  of  the  brook  near  Stone-House 
Hill,  between  where  the  old  road  once  ran  and  the  present  road 
now  runs.  His  father-in-law  gave  him  part  of  a  lot  he  owned 
near  the  Bridgewater  line.  Daily  also  bought  land  of  Thomas 
Randall  "  for  5000  good  marchantable  boards  in  hand  paid." 
He  had  an  interest  in  the  saw-mill  at  the  Green  in  171 3.  He 
and  his  brother-in-law  John  Whitman  had  a  little  unpleasant- 
ness over  a  mowing  privilege,  which  made  considerable  family 
trouble. 

Daniel  Owen,  Sr.,  moved  here  from  Taunton  between  1705 
and  1 710.  He  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Samuel  Lincoln,  of 
Taunton.  His  house  was  on  the  Bay  road  about  thirty  rods 
north  of  the  head  of  Summer  Street,  sometimes  called  the 
Littlefield  road. 

Daniel  Owen,  Jr.,  settled  with  his  father,  and  lived  in  the  old 
homestead  for  awhile  after  his  father's  death.  He  then  located 
another  homestead  and  built  a  house.  It  was  forty  rods  south  of 
the  Tisdale  Harlow  place,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  at  the 
top  of  the  knoll  in  the  field  now  owned  by  the  Belchers,  The 
cellar  has  been  filled  and  ploughed  over.  The  old  well,  now 
filled  with  stones,  is  near  the  bars.  In  1730,  and  for  several 
succeeding  years,  he  was  an  innkeeper  and  a  licensed  retailer 
of  liquors. 

Nathaniel  Manley  was  the  third  son  of  William  Manley,  Sr. 
He  was  born  in  Weymouth,  but  probably  came  here  with  his 
father  as  early  as  1695.  He  was  a  resident  prior  to  1708,  and 
built  himself  a  house  where  F.  L.  Ames's  farm-house  now  stands. 
He  sold  this  house  and  considerable  land  near  it,  in  1 716,  to  James 


48  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


Leonard,  of  Taunton,  the  father  of  the  first  Eliphalet.  He  then 
built  nearly  opposite  where  Timothy  Marshall  lives.  The  old 
cellar  there  is  not  yet  entirely  filled,  and  the  well  may  be 
located.  He  died  April  21,  1753,  his  wife  dying  the  next 
day  ;  or,  according  to  another  record,  on  the  same  day. 

Joseph  Grossman  was  the  only  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  the 
son  of  Robert,  of  Taunton.  He  came  here  in  171 3,  and  then 
hailed  from  Bridgewater,  where  he  was  temporarily  residing  with 
his  sisters.  His  house  was  close  to,  if  not  exactly  upon,  the  spot 
where  Thomas  Randall  now  lives,  east  of  F.  L.  Ames's  farm- 
house. He  was  a  quiet,  pious,  and  influential  citizen,  and  be- 
came an  elder  in  the  church.  He  died  March  14,  1776,  at  the 
good  old  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

John  Whitman  was  son  of  Abiah  Whitman,  of  Weymouth, 
and  brother  of  Timothy  Cooper's  wife.  His  house  was  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  northwest  of  Avery  Stone's.  After  long  and 
careful  search  the  writer  found  the  remains  of  the  old  cellar  of 
his  house,  a  few  rods  west  of  the  dam  that  is  used  to  overflow 
Mr.  Stone's  cranberry  meadow,  near  the  brook  which  was  called 
afterwards  Whitman's  Brook.  The  land  on  which  his  house 
was  built  was  laid  out  to  his  father  in  1701,  and  was  a  lot 
of  a  hundred  acres.  It  was  a  narrow  strip  nine  tenths  of  a 
mile  long,  and  extended  south  into  the  meadow  east  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Ames's  estate.  He  married,  in  171 3,  Rebecca 
Manley,  after  whose  death  he  married  a  second  time.  He  died 
about  1757. 

Isaac  Leonard  was  son  of  Solomon,  of  Duxbury.  He  moved 
here  from  Bridgewater,  buying  his  lot  in  October,  171 3.  He 
purchased  the  land  about  the  site  of  the  old  hinge  factory,  now 
the  Novelty  Works,  at  North  Easton,  There  was  no  pond  there 
at  that  time.  This  became  his  homestead.  He  was  probably 
the  first  discoverer  of  the  bog-iron  ore  in  this  part  of  the  town. 
He  found  a  bed  of  it  in  some  land  of  his  brother-in-law,  Na- 
thaniel Manley,  not  far  from  Lincoln  spring.  For  this  service 
Nathaniel  Manley  deeded  to  him  one  third  part  of  all  the  iron 
ore  that  should  be  taken  from  it.  He  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Guido  Bailey,  of  Bridgewater,  and  daughter-in-law  of  Thomas 
Randall,  Sr.  In  1726  he  sold  his  house,  lands,  iron  ore,  etc.,  to 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  and  then  moved  away. 


EARLY   SETTLERS. 


49 


Edward  Hayward  was  son  of  Deacon  Joseph  Hayward,  of 
Bridgewater,  and  was  born  July  24,  1689.  He  moved  to  Taunton 
North-Purchase  about  1713,  and  February  2,  1714  (O.  S.  ?),  he 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Kinsley.  The  late  G.  W. 
Hayward,  in  his  account  of  the  Hayward  family,  calls  her  the 
daughter  of  Benjamin.  But  Benjamin  was  her  brother,  and  was 
then  only  sixteen  years  old.  Edward  Hayward  was  "  the  first 
Esquire  that  was  ever  in  the  town  of  Easton  ;  "  that  is,  the  first 
justice  of  the  peace.  This  title  of  Esquire  once  meant  some- 
thing, and  was  not  indiscriminately  applied  as  it  is  now.  He 
was  a  very  positive  man,  and  the  old  church  records  show  that 
several  church  meetings  were  held  in  order  to  labor  with  him 
and  others  with  whom  he  had  decided  differences.  In  the  long 
and  bitter  contention  that  began  about  1750  over  the  location  of 
the  new  meeting-house,  he  led  the  "  town  party,"  as  it  was 
called,  with  great  ability,  and  the  "  party  of  the  East  Part "  was 
led  by  the  Rev.  Solomon  Prentice,  a  man  of  great  force  of  char- 
acter. The  details  of  this  controversy,  and  of  Esquire  Hayward's 
connection  with  it  will  be  given  in  another  place.  He  lived 
where  the  house  of  the  late  G.  W.  Hayward  now  stands.  He 
was  a  captain  as  well  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  numerous 
town  offices.     He  died  May  21,  1760,  being  seventy  years  old. 

Seth  Babbitt  was  son  of  Edward,  who  was  son  of  Edward, 
all  of  Taunton.  In  early  times  the  name  was  usually  spelled 
Bobbet  or  Bobbot.  Seth  moved  from  Taunton  about  171 5,  and 
made  his  home  at  the  extreme  southwest  part  of  the  town.  His 
house  was  very  near  the  old  Francis  Goward  place,  or  more  prob- 
ably on  the  exact  site  of  the  old  house  now  there.  September  15, 
175 1,  as  the  town  records  put  it,  "  he  departed  this  life  for  abeter," 
He  was  then  fifty-nine  years  old. 

Erasmus  Babbitt,  brother  of  Seth,  settled  here  about  the 
same  time,  though  probably  a  little  later.  He  owned  land  north 
and  west  of  his  brother.  In  a  sterile  field  north  of  the  old  Gow- 
ard place,  less  than  a  hundred  rods  from  the  house,  may  be  found 
the  vestiges  of  an  old  cellar.  This  was  very  probably  the  loca- 
tion of  the  house  of  Erasmus  Babbitt.  He  was  a"joyner"  by 
trade.  He  was  father  of  Dr.  Seth  Babbitt,  who  was  a  soldier  in 
the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  who  died  of  smallpox  in  1761. 
There  were  several  families  of  the  Babbitts  in  this  section,  so 

4 


50  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

that  in  course  of  time  it  received  the  name  of  "  Babbitt-town." 
Erasmus  Babbitt  died  in  1730. 

Samuel  Kinsley,  Jr.,  was  son  of  Samuel,  of  Bridgewater. 
By  a  natural  and  easily  explained  error  the  usually  accurate  his- 
torian of  Bridgewater,  Nahum  Mitchell,  has  confounded  this 
man  with  his  father,  giving  to  the  latter  his  own  and  his  son's 
children,  thus  dropping  Samuel  Jr.  into  nonentity.  He  settled 
here  probably  in  171 3,  his  homestead  being  west  of  the  present 
Littlefield  place,  near  the  railroad,  and  southeast  of  Cranberry 
Meadow. 

William  Hayward,  son  of  the  William  who  was,  as  before 
said,  of  Braintree,  succeeded  to  his  father's  homestead  soon  after 
he  became  of  age  ;  this  was  in  1718.  The  location  of  this  home- 
stead has  been  given  in  what  was  said  of  his  father.  He  had  a 
large  family,  one  of  his  sons  being  Edward,  who  must  not  be 
confounded  with  the  Edwards  of  the  other  branch  of  the  Hay- 
wards.  He  had  a  son  William  who  died  in  the  French  War, 
several  other  sons  serving  in  the  same  war.  He  died  March 
27,  1774,  seventy-nine  years  old.  He  was  probably  the  first; 
child  born  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Easton. 

JosiAH  Keith  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  James  Keith,  of  Bridge- 
water.  In  1 71 7  he  bought  over  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
the  easterly  side  of  Mulberry-Meadow  Brook,  afterwards  called 
Leach's  Stream,  and  became  a  resident  here  either  that  year  or 
the  next.  In  1720  he  was  selectman  for  the  East  Precinct  of 
Norton,  now  Easton.  His  house  was  probably  built  in  1717, 
and  is  the  oldest  house  standing  in  town.  An  addition  was 
made  to  it  at  a  later  date.  The  old  part  of  it  is  the  west  end,  at 
the  left  of  the  accompanying  picture  as  seen  by  the  observer. 
This  remains  about  as  it  was,  and  is  an  interesting  relic  of  the 
olden  time.  It  was  used  for  an  inn  as  early  as  1724,  Josiah 
Keith  then  being  a  licensed  innkeeper.  The  house  is  now  the 
property  of,  and  is  occupied  by,  Edward  D.  Williams.  Not  long 
after  settling,  Keith  built  a  saw-mill ;  at  least  it  was  in  full 
operation  in  1724,  for  he  is  then  involved  in  a  lawsuit  concern- 
ing "  sawing  sundry  planks,  bords,  and  other  timber  at  his  saw- 
mill near  his  now  dwelling-house."  The  location  of  this  mill 
may  still  be  seen  west  of  Edward  D.  Williams's  house.  He 
died  Feb.  4,  1754. 


EARLY   SETTLERS. 


51 


Benjamin  Selee  was  a  son  of  Edward  Selee,  of  Bridgewater, 
and  was  born  in  1693.  He  was  a  resident  here  as  early  as  17 16, 
remaining  here  about  ten  years,  when  he  removed  to  Norton. 
His  house  was  probably  a  few  rods  south  of  where  his  brother, 
next  to  be  spoken  of,  lived. 

John  Selee,  brother  of  the  above,  was  born  April  10,  1697,  in 
Bridgewater.  He  was  the  direct  ancestor  of  the  Easton  Selees. 
He  settled  in  1718,  building  a  house  about  forty  rods  north- 
easterly from  where  John  A.  Selee  lives  now.  The  site  of  the 
original  dwelling-house  is  marked  by  an  old  ash-tree  now  grow- 
ing there.  The  farm  has  remained  in  the  possession  of  the 
family  to  this  day.  He  died  December  3,  1783,  over  eighty-six 
years  of  age.  The  name  has  been  variously  written,  as  follows : 
Sealey,  Silli,  Silly,  Selle,  Seele,  Selee,  etc. 

William  Thayer,  "a  weaver,"  settled  here  as  early  as  1720. 
About  this  time  he  sold  his  place  at  Braintree,  his  previous 
residence,  and  purchased  land  in  the  section  through  which  the 
north  road  to  Brockton  now  runs.  He  was  married  to  the 
widow  of  the  first  William  Hay  ward.  In  June,  1724,  in  order 
to  develop  the  resources  of  his  neighborhood,  he  gave  land 
and  needed  privileges  to  a  company  of  men,  who  immedi- 
ately built  the  first  saw-mill  in  that  vicinity.  The  stream 
then  went  by  the  name  of  Dorchester-Meadow  Brook.  William 
Thayer  had  an  eighth  ownership.  He  did  not  live  long,  dying 
May  5,  1727. 

Jonathan  Thayer  was  a  son  of  the  last-named.  He  appears 
to  have  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  his  father's  estate.  He 
married  Tabitha,  daughter  of  Timothy  Cooper,  January  11,  1727. 
His  sister  Bethia,  who  married  Samuel  Waters,  and  his  brother 
William  settled  near  him. 

Jonah  Newland,  of  Taunton,  was  a  settler  here  in  171 7.  He 
was  a  relative  of  the  Newlands  of  Norton,  and  lived  not  far  from 
them.  His  house  was  in  the  extreme  southwest  part  of  what 
is  now  Easton,  southeast  of  the  Babbitts,  on  what  became  the 
Norton  road.  There  are  known  to  have  been  at  least  three 
houses  on  that  road  between  Asa  Newcomb's  and  the  Norton 
line.  He  probably  lived  in  the  second  or  third.  He  married 
Joanna,  daughter  of  Thomas  Harvey,  of  Taunton,  and,  for  a 
second  wife,  Abigail  Babbitt. 


52 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


Benjamin  Drake,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born  in  Easton,  De- 
cember I,  1700.  He  married  Elizabeth  Hewitt  in  1723,  and  built 
his  house  just  north  of  where  Daniel  Daily  lives,  at  Easton 
Centre.  No  vestiges  of  the  cellar  can  now  be  seen.  In  June, 
1724,  he  distinguished  himself  by  killing  a  wildcat,  as  a  reward 
for  which  he  received  the  sum  of  five  shillings. 

William  Phillips  was  a  son  of  Captain  John  ;  but  whether 
born  before  or  after  his  father  left  Weymouth  cannot  now  be 
determined.  He  was  located  with  a  homestead  before  1720,  and 
owned  land  "  on  both  sides  of  the  road  that  leads  from  Joseph 
Crossman's  to  Boston,"  —  the  old  road  that  Washington  Street 
has  taken  the  place  of  He  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  not 
far  from,  probably  a  little  south  of,  where  Allan  Wade  now  lives. 
No  house  appears  there  on  the  oldest  map  of  Easton,  made 
about  1752,  and  it  had  probably  been  destroyed  by  that  time. 
Phillips  was  a  carpenter,  one  of  the  builders  and  owners  of  the 
saw-mill  near  William  Thayer's  house. 

Samuel  Smith,  Jr.,  was  of  Taunton,  —  a  grandson,  on  his 
mother's  side,  of  Hezekiah  Hoar,  one  of  the  original  proprie- 
tors of  the  North  Purchase.  In  deeds  at  Taunton  he  is 
spoken  of  in  1718  as  "living  at  Poquanticut."  At  that  date 
Poquanticut  was  a  more  indefinite  term  even  than  now,  includ- 
ing the  whole  of  the  northwest  corner  of  what  is  now  Easton. 
Samuel  Smith  lived  just  west  of  the  Bay  road,  near  the  Sharon 
line.  In  1721  he  sold  out  and  moved  away;  but  as  early  as 
1 73 1  his  wife  Mary  and  her  child  had  become  town  charges 
of   Easton. 

Eleazer  Gilbert  was  first  of  Taunton,  and  then  of  Norton. 
He  bought  out  Samuel  Smith,  Jr.,  and  lived  on  what  has  since 
been  known  as  the  Gilbert  place.  It  was  a  little  to  the  west 
of  the  Bay  road,  a  few  rods  northwest  of  the  pond-hole,  and 
up  the  hill.  Besides  this,  he  purchased  eighty-three  acres, 
some  of  it  being  in  Dorchester,  now  Sharon,  —  "a  gore  of 
land  which  Dorchester  line  cuts  off  from  the  lot  of  land 
which  Jeremiah  Willis's  house  stands  upon."  Reference  is 
here  made  to  the  fact  of  the  accidental  change  in  the  boun- 
dary line  between  the  two  colonies,  by  which  a  strip  of  land 
formerly  belonging  to  the  North  Purchase  was  cut  off  from  its 
northern  part. 


EARLY    SETTLERS.  53 


John  Phillips,  Jr.,  a  son  of  Captain  John,  was  born  at  Wey- 
mouth, in  1692.  He  owned  land  where  the  Dickerman  brothers 
now  live,  on  Washington  Street,  and  his  house  appears  to  have 
been  just  south  of  where  John  Dickerman  now  lives.  His  son 
Ebenezer,  the  Baptist  deacon,  lived  there  after  him,  and  the  first 
Baptist  minister  of  Easton  was  ordained  there.  He  died  Jan- 
uary 18,  1758. 

Benjamin  Kinsley  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Kinsley,  Sr.,  before 
mentioned.  He  was  born  May  16,  1701,  probably  in  Bridge- 
water.  He  married  Priscilla  Manley,  in  1732,  perhaps  for  a 
second  wife.  He  became  the  owner  of  his  father's  homestead, 
already  located.     He  died  March  13,  1759. 

John  Austin,  son  of  Jonah,  of  Taunton,  had  a  lot  laid  out  in 
1 7 19,  and  built  his  house  soon  afterwards.  It  was  southwest  of 
George  Hall's,  and  not  far  from  the  No.  3  schoolhouse.  He  was 
as  near  to  being  a  Mormon  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case 
would  admit.  In  January,  1726,  his  wife  Priscilla  dies  ;  in  the 
following  June  he  marries  Deborah  Caswell,  of  Norton  ;  and 
she  dying  in  August,  he  marries  in  the  next  March  Elizabeth 
Briggs,  —  thus  having  three  different  wives  in  fourteen  months. 
He  was  a  rough  character.  In  1739,  Esq.  Edward  Hay  ward 
sentences  him  to  pay  "  a  fine  of  ten  shillings  for  prophaine  curs- 
ing, for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Easton."  Were  pro- 
fanity taxable  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  Easton,  they  might 
always  have  lived  like  kings.  In  the  year  following,  Austin  is 
indicted  for  a  far  worse  offence.  By  trade  he  was  a  "  cord- 
wainer,"  or  shoemaker. 

Benjamin  Fobes  was  a  son  of  Deacon  Edward  Fobes,  of 
Bridgewater.  He  was  born  in  1692,  married  Martha  Hunt  in 
1721,  and  settled  in  Easton  at  once.  He  lived  on  what  is  now 
called  Pine  Street,  a  little  south  of  the  cemetery  on  the  hill. 
He  was  town-clerk  in  1732,  and  also  from  1740  to  1750  inclu- 
sive. His  handwriting  was  remarkably  good,  and  very  legible. 
He  died  April  10,  1770,  seventy-eight  years  old. 

Samuel  Waters  was  son  of  Samuel,  who  was  perhaps  of 
Salem,  and  then  of  Woburn.  He  was  ancestor  of  Asa  Waters, 
who  was  so  well  known  here  in  the  first  part  of  this  century,  and 
who  once  made  shovels,  in  company  with  Oliver  Ames.  In  the 
Waters  genealogy,  recently  published,  it  is  stated  on  the  authority 


54  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

of  Asa  Waters,  that  the  father  of  the  Samuel  under  consider- 
ation came  here  from  Woburn.  This  is  evidently  an  error. 
Samuel,  Sr.,  could  hardly  have  settled  here  without  having 
his  name  appear  on  the  North-Purchase  records,  or  on  the 
county  deeds  in  some  way.  There  is  no  trace  of  him  there. 
His  son  first  appears  in  this  locality  in  1722.  He  was  of 
Stoughton,  September  27,  1719,  when  he  "laid  hold  of"  the 
covenant  of  the  church  there.  He  lived  in  the  extreme  north- 
east quarter  of  what  is  now  Easton,  north  of  William  Thayer's. 
He  married  Bethiah,  daughter  of  William  Thayer,  and  lived 
here  until  1731.  In  October  of  that  year  he  sold  his  property 
here,  and  moved  afterwards  to  Stoughton.  In  the  old  town- 
records,  and  in  most  of  the  deeds  at  Taunton,  the  name  is 
spelled  Walters. 

Mark  Lothrop,  son  of  Samuel  Lothrop,  of  Bridgewater,  set^ 
tied  on  land  previously  laid  out  for  his  father,  who  was  an  exten- 
sive owner  in  the  North  Purchase.  His  homestead  was  about 
twenty-five  rods  east  of  where  Henry  Lothrop  now  lives.  Ruins 
may  still  be  seen  there.  The  name  was  at  that  time  spelled 
Lathrop.  He  was  born  September  9,  1689,  married  March  29, 
1722,  Hannah  Alden,  great-granddaughter  of  John  Alden,  and 
died  January  21,  1777. 

Eliphalet  Leonard,  born  in  1702,  was  the  son  of  Lieu- 
tenant James,  of  Taunton,  a  man  of  considerable  note.  Lieut. 
James  Leonard  was  a  "  bloomer,"  and  the  news  of  the  recent 
discovery  of  iron  ore  in  what  is  now  North  Easton  led  him  to 
think  of  erecting  a  forge  in  that  vicinity.  Accordingly,  he  pur- 
chased of  Nathaniel  Manley  thirty-five  acres  of  land  where 
Stone's  Pond  lies,  including  the  dwelling-house,  which  was  after- 
wards occupied  by  his  son  Eliphalet,  and  was  very  near  the  spot 
now  covered  by  F.  L,  Ames's  farm-house.  He  also  purchased 
the  three  acres  of  "iron  mine"  near  Lincoln  Spring.  The  exact 
date  of  the  erection  of  the  forge  where  the  Red  Factory  now 
stands,  cannot  be  determined.  It  was  an  accomplished  fact  be- 
fore October,  1723.  It  was  probably  between  1720  and  1723,  for 
at  the  former  date  Lieut.  James  Leonard  bought  the  land  below 
his  first  purchase,  and  apparently  where  the  forge  was  built. 
Eliphalet  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  his  name  is 
always  coupled  with  that  of   the  forge.     He  was  a  prominent 


EARLY    SETTLERS.  55 


man  in  town  and  church  affairs,  became  a  captain,  and  held 
various  offices  and  positions  of  trust.  He  was  grandfather  of 
the  well-known  Jonathan,  or  "  Quaker  Leonard."  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1786,  aged  eighty-four  years,  —  his  wife,  with  whom  he 
had  lived  over  fifty  years,  dying  two  months  afterwards.  Their 
tombstones  are  in  the  old  cemetery,  and  are  among  the  few  that 
have  survived  the  wear  of  time  and  the  vandalism  of  the  ruffians 
who  have  desecrated  by  their  violence  that  sacred  spot,  the  most 
interesting  historical  locality  in  Easton.  On  his  tombstone  one 
may  still  read  this  epitaph  :  — 

He  was  so  Just  his  friends  put  trust 
In  him  for  years  to  come. 
We  hope  the  Lord  will  him  reward. 
For  He  hath  called  him  home. 

Benjamin  Williams  was  a  son  of  Benjamin,  who  was  son 
of  Richard,  whose  name  heads  the  list  of  the  North-Purchase 
proprietors.  His  father  took  up  land  in  1700,  on  Mulberry- 
Meadow  Brook,  but  lived  at  Taunton.  The  son  Benjamin  does 
not  appear  to  have  settled  here  much  before  the  incorporation 
of  the  town,  in  1725.  He  and  his  brother,  next  to  be  mentioned, 
were  the  earliest  members  of  the  Williams  families  who  settled 
here.  The  location  of  Benjamin's  house  was  about  where  Daniel 
Wheaton  now  lives.  He  was  a  licensed  innkeeper  from  1726 
to  1730.  He  and  his  son  Benjamin  were  captains.  He  died 
April  5,  1775. 

John  Williams,  early  known  as  "  Ensign,"  was  brother  of  the 
last  named.  He  was  born  in  1700,  and  settled  here  about  the 
same  time  as  his  brother.  His  house  was  south  of  Benjamin's, 
and  was  where  Walter  Henshaw  now  lives.  When  his  brother 
gave  up  innkeeping  in  1730,  John  took  up  the  business  and 
carried  it  on  until  he  died,  in  1756.  His  wife  Abigail  continued 
the  same  for  three  years  afterwards.  Seldom  does  it  fall  to 
the  human  lot  to  have  such  an  accumulation  of  sorrows  within 
a  month  as  visited  this  bereaved  woman.  Hardly  regainng 
strength  after  the  birth  of  a  child,  she  buries,  late  in  September, 
a  son.  October  3,  another  son  dies;  on  the  15th  she  loses  a 
daughter ;  on  the  next  day  she  sees  her  husband  breathe  his 
last.     Four  days  after  that  another  son  passes  away ;    and  in  less 


56  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

than  one  month  afterward  still  another  son  is  gone.  She  loses 
a  husband  and  five  children  in  the  space  of  a  month  and  a  half. 
Ensign  Williams  was  one  of  the  builders  of  the  furnace  at  the 
Furnace  Village.  Both  he  and  his  brother  owned  each  a  negro 
slave.     He  died  October  i6,  1756. 

Joseph  Drake,  probably  of  Weymouth,  and  nephew  of 
Benjamin,  settled,  when  just  of  age,  in  1723.  His  house  was 
north  of  William  Phillips's,  and  south  of  John  Phillips's,  a  little 
north  of  the  No.  8  schoolhouse,  in  the  hollow  on  the  east 
side  of  Washington  Street.  He  must  be  distinguished  from 
Joseph,  Jr.,  son  of  Benjamin,  who  settled  at  the  Centre  soon 
afterwards. 

Thomas  Manley,  Jr.,  was  the  only  early  settler  who  can  boast 
that  he  was  a  grandson  of  an  original  settler.  His  house  was 
situated  a  few  rods  southwest  of  the  Philip  Willis  place,  in  the 
field  east  of  the  south  end  of  the  pond.  This  was  the  old 
house  bought  by  Philip  Willis,  the  one  in  which  he  lived  until  he 
built  the  house  now  standing.  There,  for  about  twenty  years, 
Mr.  Manley  kept  an  inn,  and  probably  did  something  at 
farming  also. 

Samuei,  Phillips,  son  of  Captain  John,  born  May  17,  1702, 
married  Damaris  Smith,  of  Taunton.  He  was  one  of  the  last 
settlers  before  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  The  location  of 
his  homestead  cannot  be  indicated  with  certainty.  It  seems 
probable  that  it  was  where  his  son  Samuel  afterwards  lived,  close 
by  the  location  known  fifty  years  ago  as  the  Turner  place,  near 
the  Old  Meeting-house  road,  west  of  the  DeWitt  place.  This 
may  be  seen  on  the  old  map. 

To  the  list  of  early  settlers  now  given  must  be  added  the 
names  of  Elder  William  Pratt  and  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short.  The 
former  came  here  in  171 1,  buying  land,  with  a  dwelling-house 
and  other  buildings,  south  of  Captain  John  Phillips's,  about 
where  the  factory  and  store  are  located.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Short 
came  probably  in  1722,  and  had  his  dwelling-house  on  the 
north  side  of  the  street  leading  from  the  Green  to  the  Railroad 
station,  a  few  rods  east  of  where  the  street  from  Morse's  factory 
joins  it.  As,  however.  Elder  Pratt  and  Mr.  Short  will  require 
our  particular  notice  further  on,  nothing  more  will  be  said  of 
them  in  this  chapter. 


EARLY    SETTLERS.  57 


We  have  thus  found  that  prior  to  the  incorporation  of  the 
town,  in  1725,  there  were  fifty-nine  families  that  settled  here. 
We  have  been  able  in  most  cases  to  state  their  previous  resi- 
dence, the  time  of  their  settlement,  and  the  location  of  their 
dwelling-houses.  This  list  is,  undoubtedly,  quite  complete  ;  for 
as  the  land  belonged  to  the  North-Purchase  Company,  their 
books  give  the  names  of  all  the  purchasers,  and  the  deeds  at 
Taunton  show  to  whom  these  purchasers  sold  any  part  of  their 
land. 

It  is  interesting  to  notice  how  many  of  these  old  names  have 
entirely  disappeared  from  the  town.  Briggs,  Manley,  Cooper, 
Kinsley,  Hodge,  Owen,  Crossman,  Whitman,  Babbitt,  Newland, 
and  Waters,  —  names  once  as  familiar  as  household  words,  —  no 
longer  remain,  except  as  they  are  carved  on  the  perishing  tomb- 
stones of  our  burying-grounds.  Some  of  their  descendants  are 
here,  however,  under  other  names. 

It  is  also  affecting  to  consider,  that  with  very  few  exceptions 
there  is  no  sign  to  mark  where  the  ashes  of  these  our  earliest 
settlers  rest.  These  exceptions  are  nearly  all  in  the  old  cemetery 
near  the  Green.  There  we  may  find  the  gravestones  of  Elder 
William  Pratt  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Eliphalet  Leonard  and  his 
wife  Ruth,  Ephraim  Randall  and  his  wife  Lydia,  Edward  Hay- 
ward  and  his  wife  Hannah,  John  Dailey  and  his  wife  Mary,  and 
Elder  Joseph  Crossman.  The  gravestone  of  the  Rev.  Matthew 
Short  was  removed  from  this  place  to  the  burying-ground  at  the 
Centre ;  this  being  done,  no  doubt,  to  rescue  it  from  the  dese- 
cration from  which  the  graves  of  our  ancestors  in  the  oldest 
cemetery  do  not  seem  safe. 


58  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

ELDER   WILLIAM    PRATT. 

Origin  of  the  Easton  Church.  —  Its  First  Minister.  —  His  Call, 
AND  THE  Gift  of  Land  to  him.  —  His  Previous  Life.  —  Mis- 
sionary Journey  to  South  Carolina.  —  Second  Journey.  — 
Final  Return  to  New  England.  —  Settles  in  Easton.  —  His 
Remarkable  Piety.  —  His  Short  Ministry  and  Death. 

IN  the  year  1696  there  were  in  the  East  End  of  the  Taunton 
North-Purchase  seven  faraihes.  Six  of  them  had  come 
from  Weymouth  and  one  from  Braintree.  They  were  piously 
inclined,  and  began  at  once  to  consider  what  they  should  do 
about  attending  public  worship.  They  were  within  the  bounds 
of  the  town  of  Taunton;  but  the  Taunton  church  was  twelve  miles 
away,  with  a  wilderness  between  it  and  them.  Much  the  nearest 
meeting  was  that  at  Bridgewater,  the  meeting-house  standing 
where  the  West  Bridgewater  Unitarian  Church  now  stands,  — 
that  society  being  in  fact  the  lineal  descendant  of  the  old 
Bridgewater  church.  These  families  therefore  applied  for  per- 
mission to  attend  the  Sunday  services  there  ;  and  the  result  was 
the  following  vote,  as  shown  by  the  Bridgewater  town-records  of 
1696:  "Thomas  Randall,  William  Manly,  and  their  neigiibors 
allowed  to  come  here  to  meeting,  and  to  make  a  horse-bridge 
over  Cutting-Cove  River."  This  bridge  was  over  the  stream 
a  few  rods  south  of  the  road  to  Copeland  and  Hartwell's  from 
the  Turnpike. 

The  families  of  this  neighborhood  continued  to  attend  services 
in  Bridgewater  until  they  were  strong  enough  to  found  a  church 
of  their  own.  After  the  Taunton  North-Purchase  was  incorpo- 
rated into  the  town  of  Norton,  that  part  of  the  Purchase  east  of 
the  Bay  road  was  not  included  within  the  Norton  parish,  and  its 
inhabitants  neither  attended  meeting  there  nor  had  anything 
to  do  with  the  support  of  its  religious  society.  Besides,  that 
society  was  not  organized  until  about  the  beginning  of  1710,  and 


ELDER   WILLIAM    PRATT. 


59 


at  that  time  the  people  at  the  East  End  (now  Easton)  began  to 
think  that  they  could  support  a  church  of  their  own. 

The  foundation  of  the  Easton  church  dates  back  certainly  to 
1 71 3.  There  were  twenty-six  families  here  then,  some  of  them 
possessed  of  what,  for  that  time,  was  considered  competent 
means.  They  therefore  decided  to  form  a  society.  The  lead- 
ing spirit  in  this  movement  was  Elder  William  Pratt,  one  of  our 
early  settlers,  —  a  man  of  exceptionally  pious  character,  good 
abilities,  and  prosperous  estate.  This  chapter  will  be  chiefly 
devoted  to  him, —  a  distinction  he  deserves,  as  being  the  first 
man  called  to  minister  to  our  religious  society. 

As  early  as  1699,  the  North-Purchase  proprietors  seem  to  have 
had  a  foresight  of  the  time  when  there  would  be  two  religious 
societies  within  the  limits  of  their  territory,  one  at  the  west  part 
and  one  at  the  east ;  for  they  voted  that  when  land  is  laid  out  for 
the  ministry,  it  shall  be  in  two  lots,  "half  toward  Bridgewater 
and  half  toward  Chartly  Iron-works."  The  first  clear  light  we 
get  concerning  the  date  of  the  formation  of  a  religious  society  at 
the  "  East  End  of  Taunton  North-Purchase  "  is  from  the  follow- 
ing interesting  document,  dated  September  11,  171 3,  which  is 
of  great  historic  interest  to  Easton  :  — 

"  To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  all  these  presents  shall  come  : 
Thomas  Pratt,  John  Phillips,  Thomas  Randall,  Israel  Randell,  & 
Ephraim  Randell,  all  of  Taunton  North-Purchase,  in  the  County  of 
Bristol  in  New  england,  send  Greeting  in  our  Lord  God  Everlasting. 
Forasmuch  as  Mr.  William  Pratt  late  of  Weymouth  hath  been  moved 
to  accept  of  the  Call  of  the  East  Society  of  sd  North  Purchase  to  come 
&  preach  the  word  of  God  among  them,  and  we  being  willing  accord- 
ing to  our  severall  abilities  to  give  Encouragement  to  so  pious  a  work  : 
Know  ye,  therefore,  that  we  the  Sd  Thomas  Pratt,  John  Phillips, 
Thomas  Randell,  Israel  Randell,  and  Ephraim  Randell,  for  ourselves 
and  for  our  Severall  and  Respective  heirs,  executors,  &  administrators, 
have  given  and  granted,  and  by  these  presents  do  fully,  freely.  Clearly, 
&  absolutely  give  and  grant  with  the  sd  William  Pratt,  his  heirs  & 
assigns,  Twenty-Two  acres  of  Land,  to  be  taken  out  of  the  second  & 
third  Divisions  of  Land  in  said  North  Purchase  of  each  of  us  Above 
named,  his  severall  proportion  as  followeth  ;  To  wit,  of  Thomas  Pratt 
Seven  acres,  of  John  Phillips  five  acres,  of  Thomas  Randall  five  acres, 
of  Israel  Randell  Two  acres  &  a  half,  and  of  Ephraim  Randell  Two 


6o  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

acres  &  a  half,  the  said  Land  being  now  Lotted  and  Bounded  out  to 
the  sd  William  Pratt  in  sd  North  purchase  in  a  place  commonly  called 
by  the  Name  of  Chestnut  Orchard,  on  the  Northeast  side  of  Daniel 
Owen's  Land,  —  To  Have  and  To  Hold,"  ^  etc. 

This  document  assumes  the  existence  of  the  religious  society, 
and  proves  that  it  was  organized  at  least  twelve  years  prior  to 
the  incorporation  of  the  town, —  that  is,  as  early  as  1713.  It  was 
probably  organized  at  just  this  time,  under  the  lead  and  with 
reference  to  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Pratt.  William  Pratt  was 
not  a  minister,  but  was  a  ruling  elder.  A  ruling  elder  might 
assist  a  minister,  or,  in  case  of  need,  might  carry  on  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  Thus  from  the  Bridgewater  records  of  1678  we 
find  that  "  Mr.  Keith  being  sick.  Elder  Brett  was  chosen  to 
assist  him  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  between  this 
and  May  next," 

A  ruling  elder  might  also  with  propriety  be  ordained  as  a  min- 
ister. It  is  certain  that  Elder  Pratt  was  invited  to  settle  as  a 
minister;  whether  or  not  any  ordination  took  place  there  is  no 
means  of  determining.  It  is  quite  evident  that  the  support  of 
Mr.  Pratt  was  entirely  voluntary.  There  was  then  no  organized 
precinct  or  town  which  could  form  a  legal  parish  and  compel  the 
payment  of  ministerial  rates.  But  the  expenses  were  small,  and 
Mr.  Pratt  was  a  man  of  means,  and  of  such  exemplary  piety 
and  interest  in  religious  things  that  he  would  be  satisfied  with 
such  moderate  support  as  the  voluntary  gifts  of  his  people 
would  afford. 

Who  was  this  Elder  William  Pratt  who  was  chosen  to  minister 
to  our  early  Easton  fathers  in  the  infant  days  of  their  church  ,'' 
He  has  left  behind  him  the  data  from  which  particulars  of  great 
interest  are  to  be  gathered.  The  form  in  which  these  data 
were  preserved  is  a  curious  combination  of  almanac  and  note- 
book bound  in  leather,  after  the  manner  of  a  pocket-book.  This 
precious  relic  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Joshua  E.  Crane,  of 
Bridgewater,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Elder  Pratt.  It  is  about  two 
hundred  years  old,  but  is  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  has 
afforded  the  materials  for  a  biography  of  its  early  owner  which 
is  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of  this  History. 

1  Bristol  County  deeds,  Book  x.xv.  p.  50. 


ELDER    WILLIAM    PRATT.  6 1 

William  Pratt  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Pratt,  of  Weymouth, 
who  was  "  Slayne  by  the  Indians  in  the  Sudbury  fight,  April  19, 
1676."  William  was  born  March  6,  1659.  October  26,  1680, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Baker,  of  Dorchester,  and  about  the  middle 
of  April,  1690,  he  moved  from  Weymouth  to  that  place.  He 
was  a  pious  member  of  the  church  there,  and  when  in  1695  a 
new  church  was  organized  to  carry  the  gospel  to  South  Carolina, 
Mr.  Pratt  joined  the  expedition  and  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  missionary  enterprise.  A  teacher,  Mr.  Joseph  Lord,  was 
chosen  pastor  of  this  missionary  church,  and  in  December,  1695, 
they  started  on  their  voyage  to  Charleston.  The  narrative  of 
this  voyage  deserves  to  be  published  in  full ;  as  it  is  an  account 
of  the  first  missionary  enterprise  undertaken  outside  of  New 
England  by  any  of  our  old  churches,  and  it  intimately  concerns 
the  pious  elder  who  first  ministered  to  the  early  settlers  of 
Easton  in  religious  things.  It  is  so  quaint  in  its  expression 
that  an  exact  copy  is  here  given :  — 

"  On  Dec.  the  3,  1695,  we  the  Church  that  was  gathered  in  order  to 
Caring  ye  gospel  ordinancis  to  South  Carolina,  at  this  time  sum  of  us 
went  into  a  long  bote  to  go  on  bord  the  Brigantine  frindship  of  boston 
in  new  ingland,  in  order  to  our  passing  to  Carolina  ;  but  raising  ye 
vessel  at  first,  we  by  reason  of  ye  strength  of  the  wind  could  not  come 
up  with  here  again,  but  were  constrained  to  endure  ye  cold  3  or  4  hours 
before  we  could  get  at  any  land,  til  at  length  we  got  to  Dorchester 
Neck,  &  from  there  returned  to  boston  all  in  safty. 

December  the  5  we  set  sail  in  ye  aforesaid  vessell  to  go  on  our 
voyage,  &  haveing  a  moderate  &  strong  gale  on  ye  Sabath  evening, 
which  was  the  8  Day  of  ye  month  &  ye  4th  day  of  our  being  upon  ye  sea, 
we  were  in  ye  latitude  of  ye  capes  of  Virginia.  this  evening  ye  wind 
begun  to  bluster  being  at  norwest,  &  ye  day  foloing  blew  hard,  continu- 
ally increasing  its  strength,  so  yt  on  monday  ye  9th  day  of  the  month 
in  ye  evening  we  were  fain  to  lie  by,  i.  e.  take  in  all  ye  sails  except  ye 
main  Course,  which  being  reafed  was  left  to  give  vesel  sum  way  as  well 
as  to  stedy  her,  the  helm  being  lashed  to  leward.  So  we  continued 
til  tusday  night ;  &  about  midnight  ye  wind  was  risen  so  high  that  ye 
vessel  had  like  to  have  sunk,  by  reson  that  ye  small  sail  was  enough 
then  to  run  her  under  water,  &  had  lik  to  have  don  it,  but  ye  seamen 
made  way  for  ye  vessel  to  rise  by  furling  ye  mainsail  &  bearing  up  be- 
fore ye  wind,  we  were  fain  to  scud  thus,  excepting  sumtimes  when 
ye  wind  abated,  as  by  fits  for  a  short  time  it  did  ;  at  which  times  we  lay 


62  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

by  as  before  all  ye  next  day  &  part  of  ye  day  following ;  either  on 
wedensday  or  thursday  we  agreed  to  set  apart  friday  to  seek  ye  lord 
by  fasting  &  prayer,  &  to  beg  of  him  prosperous  winds  &  weather.  .  .  . 
on  thursday  about  noon  ye  wind  began  to  fall  &  ye  sun  to  shine  out, 
which  it  had  not  don  so  as  that  there  mit  be  any  observasion  after  our 
going  out  before  ;  so  yt  on  frid?y  we  could  with  sum  comfort  cary  on  ye 
work  of  ye  day.  on  Saturday,  ye  loth  day  of  our  voyage,  we  found  yt 
we  were  geten  allmost  as  far  southward  as  the  latitude  31°,  &  wanted 
much  westing,  for  ye  northwest  wind  had  driven  us  southestward.  on 
Sabbath  day,  which  was  ye  15  day  of  ye  month,  we  were  so  favered 
with  wind  as  that  we  went  with  great  spead  on  our  course.  On  Mun- 
day  &  so  forward  ye  wind  often  shifted,  yet  not  so  as  to  hindr  our  go- 
ing on  in  our  desired  course,  tho  we  could  not  go  wth  so  much  speed 
as  we  desired,  thursday  morning,  being  ye  19th  day  of  ye  month,  we 
came  in  sight  of  the  land  of  Carolina,  but  were  by  a  disappointment 
hindered  from  geting  in  yt  day;  but  the  next  day  we  got  in  thro  divine 
goodness,  being  the  20th  day  of  december. 

when  we  cam  to  ye  town  our  vessel  fired  3  guns,  &  the  peepel  to 
welcom  us  to  the  land  fired  about  9  guns,  which  was  more  the  usial  ;  & 
when  we  came  to  an  ancor,  being  in  ye  evening,  many  of  ye  peepel  be- 
ing worthy  gentelmen  came  on  bord  us  &  bid  us  welcom  to  Carolina, 
&  invited  many  of  us  ashore  &  to  ther  housis.  I  was  among  the  rest 
kindly  entertained  that  night.  I  keept  in  Charlestoun  about  a  week, 
&  then  was  caried  by  water  up  to  mr.  normans.  increce  Sum-ner  &  I 
war  kindly  reseved  &  entertained  by  the  lady  Extel,'  &  the  two  other 
men  war  indevering  to  get  into  faviour  with  ye  lady  &  other  neigh- 
bors &  to  obtain  the  land  at  ashly  rever,^  &  that  we  mit  not  obtain 
it ;  yet  they  could  not  prevail,  for  as  soun  as  we  came,  the  lady  & 
others  of  ye  neighbors  did  more  hily  esstem  of  us  then  of  other,  as 
they  told  us,  &  reioysed  at  our  coming,  tho  ther  was  no  more  of 
ye  church  then  increce  Sumner  &  I ;  &  after  we  had  discorsed 
secretly  with  them  thay  war  not  only  very  kind  to  us,  but  allso  used 
all  menes  &  took  great  pains  to  obtain  our  setteling  upon  ashly  rever, 
&  that  we  shuld  indever  to  perswad  our  pastr  &  the  church  to  settel 
their. 

our  minister  was  at  this  time  up  at  landgrave  Morttons,  &  sum  of 
the  church  &  others  of  the  church  at  Charlestoun.  our  minister  & 
church  war  strongly  perswaded  by  ye  Lieut-general  blak  &  many  others 
to  go  to  new  london  to  settel,  &  upon  yt  acount  wer  perswaded  to  go 
to  landgrave  mortons,  wh  was  near  this  place. 

1  Lady  Axtell.  2  Ashley  River. 


ELDER    WILLIAM    PRATT.  6'' 

about  a  week  after,  we  went  by  land  to  Charlestoun,  &  war  carved  by- 
water  up  to  landgrave  mortons.  We,  many  of  us  together,  went  to  vew 
the  land  at  newlondon  ;  after  two  days  we  returned  to  landgrave  mort- 
tons.  mr.  lord  cald  me  aside,  &  I  had  much  discors  with  him  ;  &  when 
he  heard  what  I  had  to  say  consarning  ashly  rever  &  consarning  new- 
london, mr.  lord  was  wholy  of  my  mind,  &  willing  to  tak  up  at  upon 
thos  condishons  that  we  discorsed  about,  at  ashly  rever,  which  con- 
dishons  war  keept  privet,  between  to  or  3  of  us.  when  I  sought  arn- 
estly  to  god  for  wisdom  &  counsel  god  was  grasious  to  me,  for 
which  I  have  great  caus  to  prais  his  name,  as  well  as  for  many  other 
signel  marsys.  we  keept  sumthings  secrit  from  others,  which  was 
greatly  for  our  benefit,  we  came  from  there  to  mr.  curtesis,  &  from 
there  to  mr.  gilbosons.  we  were  very  kindly  entertained  at  every  plase 
wher  we  came  ;  but  where  we  came  we  herd  of  sum  of  thos  that  came 
from  newingland  that  had  ben  giltey  of  gros  miscareyis,  wh  was  a 
trobel  to  us.  but  mr.  gilboson  cald  me  aside  &  had  much  discors  with 
me  ;  afterward  he  told  me  he  was  very  glad  yt  I  came  to  Carolina,  & 
that  he  had  seen  me  &  had  opertunity  to  discors  with  me.  he  told  me 
he  was  much  discureged  to  see  ye  11  carey  ^  of  those  yt  came  from 
newingland  ;  but  afterward  he  was  beter  satisfied,  &  told  me  he  did 
think  ther  was  a  great  diferenc  betwen  the  parsons  ^  that  cam  from 
newingland;  tho  many  did  manifest  their  dislik  of  bad  parsons  yt  came 
from  newingland,  yet  thay  wer  glad  of  ye  coming  of  good  parsons,  we 
tarried  their  2  or  3  days,  being  kindly  entertained  ;  &  when  we  came 
away  thay  gave  us  provission  for  our  voyag  doun  to  charlstoun,  &  wer 
very  kind  to  us.  from  there  we  came  to  governor  blakes,  wher  we  wer 
kindly  entertained,  &  we  dind  with  them ;  &  after  sum  discors  with 
governor  blak  we  came  to  Mrs.  bamers,  where  we  lodge  all  night,  be- 
ing very  kindly  entreated  ;  next  day  peppel  being  very  kind,  we  had 
a  comfortable  voyag  doun  to  Charlestoun,  being  the  14th  of  Janir. 
The  i6th  of  January  was  ye  eleksion  day  at  Charlstoun  ;  after  this  mr. 
lord  &  sume  of  ye  church  came  up  to  ashly  rever,  &  upon  ye  sabath 
after,  being  ye  26th  day  of  Janry,  mr.  lord  precht  at  mr.  normans  hous 
upon  that  text  in  8  rom  i  vers,  ther  was  many  that  cam  to  hear,  of 
the  neighbors  round  about,  &  gave  diligent  atension. 

the  Second  day  of  feburary  being  sabath  day,  mr.  lord  precht  at 
ashly  rever  upon  yt  text  i  pet  3.  18.  most  of  ye  neightbors  came  to 
hear  ;  all  ye  next  neighbrs  &  severall  parsons  came  about  10  miles  to 
hear,  the  sacriment  of  ye  lord's  supper  was  administered  yt  day  &  2 
decons  chosen,    at  this  time  ther  was  great  Joy  among  the  good  pepel, 

1  111  carriage.  2  Persons. 


64  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

tho  I  have  sumtims  ben  il  &  afraid  of  sicknes  or  of  on  ^  treble  or  other 
yt  would  Happen  ;  yet  god  hath  ben  verygrasious  to  me,  &  hath  heard 
my  request  from  time  to  time  &  helped  me  &  shoed  me  great  marsy  ;  & 
when  I  was  ready  to  be  discuraged,  many  times  god  incureed  me  again 
and  delivered  out  of  my  trobles. 

the  first  day  of  feburary  being  the  last  day  of  yt  week,  &  the  sacri- 
ment  to  be  administred,  &  many  of  us  wer  to  come  away  on  second 
day  morning  to  Charlstoun  to  com  to  newingland, — we  got  apart 
sum  time  in  ye  afternoon  to  pray  unto  god,  &  there  was  much  of  the 
spirit  of  good  brething  in  that  ordinenc. 

&  when  we  took  our  leave  of  our  Christian  frinds  ther  was  weeping 
eyes  at  our  departuer,  &  we  had  many  a  blessing  from  them." 

Mr.  Pratt,  as  above  stated,  returned  to  New  England  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1696.  At  the  beginning  of  the  next  year  he  took  his 
family  to  South  Carolina.  The  following  is  his  account  of  the 
voyage  :  — 

"  When  I  came  from  newengland  to  South  Carolina  with  my  family, 
we  came  out  of  boston  the  8th  day  of  Janeuery  in  the  year  1696-7,  & 
we  sat  sail  from  nantasket  for  Carolina  the  nth  day,  the  2nd  day  of 
the  week,  the  15th  day  of  the  month.  The  6  day  of  the  week  it  began 
to  be  stormmy,  wind  and  Rain,  &  the  16  day  being  the  7th  day  of  the 
week  it  began  in  the  morning  to  be  very  violent,  &  wee  shept  in  abun- 
denc  of  water  ;  at  that  time  we  lost  the  bolsplit,^  &  it  continued  very 
stormy.  We  then  Sat  to  praying,  espesially  on  Saterday  night ;  but  on 
the  Saboth  we  had  sum  mettegasion,  but  afterward  it  gru  mor  stormmy 
again  &  much  rain,  &  on  the  4th  day  of  the  week  being  the  20th  day 
of  the  month  about  midnight  our  mast  fel  doun.  But  in  all  these  trobles 
ther  was  much  of  marsy  mixed  with  it,  for  altho  the  wind  was  very  high 
&  stormy  yet  it  was  fair  for  us,  &  that  we  sumtims  sum  metigasion,  es- 
pesially after  earnest  prayer ;  allso  that  when  our  mast  fel  doun  it  fel 
Right  along  about  the  medel  of  the  vesell  toward  the  stern,  &  did  not 
break  the  pumps  but  fel  Just  by  it ;  the  mast  being  so  exceding 
heavy,  falen  over  the  sid  of  the  vesel  we  mit  have  ben  all  lost. 

On  the  6th  day  of  the  week,  22nd  day  of  the  month,  we  with  the  free 
consent  of  the  master  &  mat  &  marchant,  we  all  of  us  together  keept 
a  solum  day  of  fasting  &  prayer  ;  &  on  the  next  day  we  had  calm 
weather  &  a  comfortable  opertunity  to  get  up  an  other  smal  mast, 
which  was  a  great  help  to  us ;  we  had  allso  a  fair  wind,  &  on  the  saboth 
day  we  had  a  fresh  gal  &  fair,  &  had  much  caus  to  prais  god ;  and  on 
1  He  means  one.  -  Probably  this  word  means  bowsprit. 


ELDER  WILLIAM   PRATT. 


65 


munday  the  wind  was  fair,  but  somuch  of  a  calm  that  ther  was  oper- 
tunity  to  lenkthon  our  mast  &  mak  it  beter  for  sailing ;  after  this  much 
calm  wether  but  fair  winds,  until  we  cam  in  sight  of  the  land. 

But  god  haveing  a  design  to  try  &  prove  us  furder,  &  to  sho  his  pour 
&  faithfullnes,  &  to  mak  us  to  pris  marsys  the  mor,  cased  a  violent  storm 
to  wris,  &  driveing  us  from  land  again  for  about  a  fortnite,  but  on  the 
23rd  of  feburary  brought  us  all  safe  to  land,  for  which  we  promised  to 
prais  his  holy  name." 

This  religious  colony  selected  a  spot  on  the  Ashley  River  in 
South  Carolina,  in  the  midst  of  an  unbroken  wilderness,  twenty 
miles  from  the  dwelling  of  any  whites,  and  called  the  place  Dor- 
chester, after  the  town  from  which  they  came.  Here  they  made 
their  settlement,  and  built  a  church  after  the  New  England 
model.  The  old  church  building  is  now  in  ruins.  The  Rev. 
E.  C.  L.  Browne,  now  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  has  visited 
the  interesting  settlement  and  the  site  of  this  old  church,  and 
has  written  of  it  as  follows  :  — 

"  A  few  dilapidated  dwellings  remain  :  and  of  the  brick  church  the 
tower  alone  stands,  two  courses  high  ;  its  woodwork  all  decayed,  its 
doors  and  windows  shown,  but  destroyed  in  their  outlines  by  the  bricks 
having  fallen  away.  Visiting  it  last  summer,  I  rode  my  horse  through 
its  crumbling  doorway  and  vestibule  into  what  was  once  the  body 
of  the  church,  making  my  way,  with  some  sense  of  desecration  and  a 
good  deal  of  difficulty,  through  the  tangle  of  tropical  vines  and  full- 
grown  trees  that  stand  and  lift  their  heads  to  heaven  where  once  a 
pilgrim  congregation  stood  and  prayed.  The  foundations  and  outline 
of  the  edifice  could  be  distinctly  traced  ;  and  all  around  were  the  fallen 
stones  and  broken  tombs  of  the  old  churchyard.  A  few  rods  distant 
the  concrete  walls  of  the'  old  fort  stand  on  the  banks  of  the  Ashley, 
which,  narrow,  sluggish,  and  dark  with  the  overarching  trees,  flows 
quietly  by."^ 

The  society  that  worshipped  here  moved  to  Medway,  Georgia, 
about  1752,  where  it  still  exists,  retaining  its  Congregational 
form.  It  took  the  lead  against  British  oppression  in  1776, 
when  Georgia  was  a  doubtful  State ;  and  it  opposed  Secession 
in  1 86 1,  but  was  swept  into  line  by  the  overwhelming  pressure 
brought  to  bear  upon  it. 

1  Unitarian  Review,  vol.  xxii.  p.  263  (1884). 
5 


66  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

It  must  already  have  been  noticed  that  Mr.  Pratt  was  very  ac- 
tive and  influential  in  this  planting  of  a  Congregational  church 
in  South  Carolina.  Not  only  his  narrative  proves  this,  but  we 
find  him,  December  i6,  1697,  "  ordained  as  a  ruling  elder  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  in  South  Carolina."  The  climate  not  agreeing 
with  him,  he  returned  to  Weymouth.  December  19,  1705,  he 
removed  to  Bridgewater.  It  is  not  probable  that  he  lived  there 
long,  for  when  he  moves  to  the  North  Purchase  he  is  spoken  of 
invariably  as  "  of  Weymouth."  The  precise  date  of  his  moving 
here  is  probably  June,  171 1.  At  that  time  he  purchased  twenty- 
eight  acres  of  land  of  John  Phillips,  mostly  on  the  "westerly 
side  of  Saw-mill  River,  and  bounded  southerly  by  land  of  William 
Manley,  —  land  with  housing  thereon."  This  was  just  south  of 
John  Phillips's  house,  and  must  have  been  very  near,  but  a  little 
west  of,  Morse's  factory.  He  bought,  in  171 3,  James  Harris's 
house  and  fifty-nine  acres  of  land,  the  house  being  back  of 
where  William  C.  Howard  now  lives.  The  deed  before  quoted, 
wherein  he  is  called  to  the  ministry,  gives  him  twenty-two  acres 
of  land  at  Chestnut  Orchard,  —  a  locality  that  has  kept  its 
ancient  name,  being  north  of  South  Easton  village,  and  includ- 
ing the  Nathan  Willis  place.  The  deed  is  dated  September 
II,  1 71 3.  But  the  gift  was  made  at  least  three  months  earlier  ; 
for  in  June  this  land,  with  sixteen  acres  more  not  named  in  the 
deed,  of  which  Abiah  Whitman  and  George  Hall  and  his  wife 
gave  a  part,  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  to  the  Elder.  Eight 
acres  of  this  land  were  at  Tusseky  Meadow,  which  is  the  low 
meadow-land  northwest  of  Stone-House  Hill.  As  the  sur- 
vey of  this  land  was  made  in  June,  Elder  Pratt's  invitation  to 
become  the  minister  must  have  somewhat  preceded  this  date. 
The  absence  of  records  prevents  our  knowing  whether  or  not  he 
was  ordained,  and  gives  us  no  details  about  his  ministry.  But 
there  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  that,  since  he  accepted  the  gift  of 
land,  he  also  comphed  with  the  condition  of  the  gift,  —  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  call  as  pastor.  He  must  have  been  a  most  pious 
and  faithful  one.  His  account  of  the  two  voyages  given  above 
evinces  an  unsurpassed  faith.  He  does  not  doubt  that  the  fierce 
storm  and  wind  are  sent  with  special  reference  to  the  little  band 
of  believers  who  are  to  plant  a  Christian  church  in  the  wilder- 
ness ;   he  does    not  doubt,  that,  because   on   Wednesday  they 


ELDER  WILLIAM   PRATT.  67 

agreed  "  to  set  apart  Friday  to  seek  ye  lord  by  fasting  &  prayer, 
&  to  beg  of  him  prosperous  winds  &  weather,"  therefore,  "  on 
Thursday  about  noon  ye  wind  began  to  fall  &  ye  sun  to  shine 
out."  What  could  exceed  the  faith  that  could  put  upon  a  violent 
storm  that  delays  them  two  weeks  the  interpretation  he  gives  in 
the  concluding  sentence  of  his  narrative  of  the  second  voyage  ? 
Thus  also  from  his  note-book  we  have  several  instances  where 
he  believes  rain  is  sent  as  special  answer  to  the  prayers  of  the 
church.  For  instance  :  "  The  20th  day  of  Jun.  the  Church  of 
Christ  at  dorchester  [South  Carolina]  keep  a  day  of  fasting  & 
prayer  to  seek  unto  god  for  rain.  The  next  day  it  pleased  god 
to  send  great  showers  of  rain,  &  much  refreshed  the  earth  & 
revived  the  corn." 

His  intensely  religious  spirit,  and  his  inward  dealings  with 
God  are  shown  in  such  experiences  as  the  following:  — 

'■^  A  fast  in  secret.  —  the  28th  day  of  august,  in  the  year  1699, 
I  keept  a  day  of  fasting  &  prayer  in  secret,  alltho  at  the  begin- 
ing  of  my  entering  upon  the  work  of  the  I  found  much  unability 
&  discuragings  in  my  self  &  lettel  liklihoud  that  I  shuld  hold  out 
to  go  thorow  the  work  of  the  day  alon.  But  at  the  begining  i 
beged  help  &  asistunts,  and  god  was  pleased  so  to  help  me  so  that 
I  hild  out  comfortablely  until  it  was  near  night ;  alltho  I  begun  under 
discuragments,  yet  g'd  was  pleased  so  to  asist  &  incuragment  me 
afterward  as  that  I  was  much  incuraged,  &  ended  the  work  of  the 
day  with  much  comfort." 

This  believing  spirit  in  Elder  Pratt  seems  to  have  bordered 
on  credulity,  especially  when  it  came  to  the  treatment  of  dis- 
eases. He  appears  to  have  had  almost  a  passion  for  collecting 
medical  prescriptions.  In  this  little  note-book  there  are  nearly 
a  hundred  of  them,  some  of  them  from  an  Indian  in  whose  medi- 
cal skill  he  placed  great  reliance.  Three  of  these  are  quoted 
below :  — 

"  For  a  great  cold  &  cof  that  leads  to  the  consumsion,  Take  youlk  of 
an  eag  &  sum  pouder  of  brimston,  &  put  to  it  &  tak  it  in  the  morning. 
Or  hunny  &  brimston,  &  after  that  take  the  youlk  of  a  newlayd  eag  & 
sum  good  win  mixtd  together." 

"To  stop  bleeding  take  sum  nip  &  hold  in  the  left  hand,  «S:  put  sum 
to  the  hollow  of  the  left  foot,  &  lay  sum  nip  in  the  neck." 


68  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

"When  nothing  ale  would  do  to  stop  the  excessive  bleeding  at  the 
nous,  the  pouder  of  a  dryed  toad  mixed  with  beesweax  put  to  the  nous 
hath  stoped  it :  the  toad  for  hast  was  dryed  in  the  ouven,  but  it  shuld 
be  hung  up  by  the  leag  alive  until  it  is  dead  «Sc  dry." 

From  this  ancient  almanac  we  extract  the  following  curious 
advertisement :  — 

"  There  is  now  in  the  Press,  and  will  suddenly  be  extant,  a  Second 
Impression  of  The  New-England  Primer  enlarged  ;  to  which  is  added 
more  Directions  for  Spelling,  the  prayer  of  K.  Edward  the  6th,  and 
Verses  made  by  Mr.  Rogers  the  Martyr,  left  as  a  Legacy  to  his 
Children. 

"  Sold  by  Benjamin  Harris,  at  the  London  Coffee-House  in  Boston." 

The  following  quotations  will  illustrate  the  variety  of  topics 
touched  upon  :  — 

"  Swaring  in  a  religious  maner  is  a  duty  when  called  unto  it  (Exodus 
20,  7 ;  Deut.  10,  20  ;  jer.  4,  2 ;  james  5,  12  ;  heb.  6,  16  ;  2  cor.  i,  23  ; 
nehe  13,  25)." 

"The  24th  day  of  feburary  (1698)  there  was  a  great  fire  in  Charls- 
toun,  which  burnt  down  a  great  part  of  the  town;  &  a  few  days  before 
the  fire  there  was  an  earthquak  in  Charlstoun." 

"I  have  given  a  bond  to  Capt  Rit,  of  Charlstoun,  to  pay  for  a  negro 
woman  twenty  &  five  pounds,  at  or  before  the  i8th  of  august  the  year 
1699." 

By  the  last  item  we  perceive  that  Elder  Pratt  was  a  slave- 
owner. What  became  of  this  female  slave  we  cannot  tell.  The 
inventory  of  his  estate  shows  that  he  owned  two  negro  slaves 
here  when  he  died  ;  but  as  their  story  will  be  told  when  the  sub- 
ject of  slavery  is  treated,  it  may  be  passed  for  the  present. 

Elder  William  Pratt  had  only  a  short  ministry,  for  he  died  the 
13th  of  January,  1714,  serving  but  a  few  months  in  his  pious 
work.  His  tombstone,  which  is  still  standing  well  preserved  in 
the  old  cemetery,  is  the  oldest  in  town,  and  ought  to  be  guarded 
with  sacred  care.     Upon  it  is  the  following  inscription  :  — 

HERE-LISE-THE-BODY 
OF-ELDER-WILLIAM 
PRATT-AGED-54-DIED 
IN-THE-YEA  1713-IANVARY 
THE-13- 


ELDER  WILLIAM    PRATT.  69 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  deed  of  land  to  Mr.  Pratt  was 
made  in  September,  1713,  while  the  date  of  his  death  is  Jan- 
uary 13,  1 713.  This  discrepancy  is  explained  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  the  date  upon  the  tombstone  is  according  to  "  Old 
Style."  In  fact,  according  to  the  "  New  Style"  or  present  method 
of  computation,  this  date  should  be  17 14. 

Elder  Pratt  left  behind  him  a  widow  and  a  daughter.  The 
latter,  whose  name  was  Thankful,  was  born  October  4,  1683, 
and  was  married  to  Daniel  Axtell  (probably  son  of  Lady  Axtell, 
of  South  Carolina)  May  12,  1702.  They  had  ten  children;  and 
among  their  descendants  are  Silas  Axtell  Crane,  D.D.,  of  Rhode 
Island  ;  Mrs.  Caroline  (Crane)  Marsh,  widow  of  the  late  Hon. 
George  P.  Marsh ;  Joshua  E.  Crane,  Esq.,  of  Bridgewater ;  and 
others.     The  inventory  of  Mr.  Pratt's  estate  is  as  follows :  — 

£■  s.  d. 

His  purse  and  apparel        15186 

Books II  03  6 

Bills  and  bonds        65  19  6 

1  horse,  3  cows,  and  2  calves         19  10  o 

Brass,  iron,  pewter,  bedding,  &  other  movables    .       20  o  o 

Dwelling-house  and  land 120  00  o 

Dwelling-house  and  land  known  by  the  name  of 

Harris's       105  00  o 

2  young  negroes 52  00  o 

Out  lands 20  00  o 

429  II  6 

The  question  may  naturally  arise,  How  is  it  that  Elder  Pratt 
can  have  accepted  a  call  of  the  East  Society  of  the  North  Pur- 
chase, and  have  served  it  as  their  minister,  and,  notwithstanding 
this,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Short  can  be  called  "The  first  minister  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  in  Easton".?  In  the  church  records  of 
1747  he  is  so  designated,  and  this  is  the  unquestioned  tradition. 
The  explanation  probably  is  that  the  church  over  which  Mr. 
Pratt  ministered  had  no  legal  existence.  This  East  End  of  the 
North  Purchase  was  then  neither  town  nor  precinct  ;  there  was 
therefore  no  legal  parish,  and  the  little  religious  society  here  was 
entirely  voluntary  in  its  character.  Not  until  the  formation  of 
the  precinct,  January  19,  1722,  did  the  settlers  here  have  a  legally 
organized  parish  and  church  ;  and  it  is  over  this  that  Mr.  Short 


70  HISTORY  OF   EASTON. 

was  soon  called  to  preside.  But  though  Mr.  Short  may  have  the 
technical  right  to  this  title,  and  it  may  not  be  well  to  attempt  to 
disturb  the  common  tradition,  we  cannot  but  regret  that  this 
pious  Elder,  who  ministered  to  the  little  band  of  believers  that 
were  the  founders  of  the  Easton  Church,  should  not  be  regarded 
as  our  first  minister.  The  writer  of  this  history  takes  great  sat- 
isfaction in  discovering  and  making  known  the  interesting  con- 
nection which  this  devout  and  excellent  man,  whose  tomb  is  with 
us  to  this  day,  has  had  with  the  religious  history  of  our  town. 

His  widow,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pratt,  lived  until  August  20,  1728, 
when  she  fell  a  victim  to  a  fatal  epidemic  sickness  which  pre- 
vailed in  town.  She  manumitted  her  two  slaves,  of  whom  we 
shall  hear  further,  and  made  them  a  present  of  a  piece  of  land  in 
town.  The  inscription  upon  her  tombstone,  clear-cut  to-day  as 
when  originally  made,  is  as  follows :  — 

Here  lyes  y^  body 
of  M  Elizabeth 
Pratt  wife  to 
Elder  William  Pratt 
Died  August  y^  20^"* 
1728  in  73'' 
Year  of  her  age. 

Let  us  close  this  chapter  with  the  words  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Short,  who  speaks  of  her  in  these  appreciative  terms:  — 

"  She  was,  I  trust,  a  Person  of  excelling  Piety  and  uncommon  Pru- 
dence, one  of  a  very  strict  and  religious  Conversation,  a  great  lover 
of  GOD'S  House,  one  of  a  Charitable  spirit,  and  knew  how  to  commu- 
nicate to  others,  and  when  there  was  real  Occasion  would  do  it  chear- 
fully.  O  that  these  eminent  Virtues  that  were  apparent  in  her  may 
be  imitated  and  practised  by  us  !  "  ^ 

1  See  Mr.  Short's  sermon  in  the  Appendix. 


PRECINCT   AND    TOWN.  71 


CHAPTER  V. 

PRECINCT  AND  TOWN. 

A  Church  Needed  in  the  North  Purchase.  —  Contention  as  to 
ITS  Location.  —  Compromises.  —  Incorporation  of  Norton.  — 
The  Norton  Parish  extends  temporarily  Eastward  to  the 
Bay  Road.  —  Formation  of  the  East  Precinct  of  Norton.  — 
Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Easton. 

WE  have  seen  how  the  tract  of  land,  of  which  Easton  forms 
a  half  part,  was  purchased,  managed,  divided,  and  settled, 
and  how  a  feeble  beginning  of  the  Gospel  ministration  was  made 
under  the  care  of  Elder  William  Pratt.  We  shall  now  trace  the 
steps  that  led  to  the  organization  of  the  precinct,  and  to  the  in- 
corporation of  the  town. 

It  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  North-Purchase  m.ap  con- 
tained in  this  volume,  that  the  north  part  of  Taunton  originally- 
extended  in  a  triangle  up  through  the  present  limits  of  Norton, 
the  apex  of  the  triangle  being  as  far  north  as  the  centre  of  what 
is  now  Mansfield.  As  this  section  of  the  town  became  settled, 
the  inhabitants  found  themselves  so  far  removed  from  the  church 
in  the  old  part  of  the  town  that  it  was  exceedingly  inconvenient 
to  attend  it.  They  were  living  from  five  and  a  half  to  eleven 
miles  away,  and  though  attendance  upon  the  worship  of  God  was 
considered  an  imperative  duty,  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that 
these  settlers  would  go  so  many  miles  through  the  wilderness, 
and  by  rough  cart-paths,  even  for  this  purpose.  Therefore  those 
living  in  this  angle,  and  in  parts  adjacent  thereto,  naturally  de- 
sired a  church  and  ministry  of  their  own.  They  asked  the  town 
to  consider  "the  vary  difficult  circumstances  that  we  are  under 
in  liveing  so  remote  from  the  publique  worship  of  God,  that  great 
part  of  the  year  we  cannot  come  to  the  meeting  :  so  that,  if  we 
continue  long  after  this  manner,  the  sowls  of  our  children,  and 
those  under  our  care  and  charge,  will  be  in  danger  of  perishing 


72  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

for  lack  of  knowledge.  For  it  is  Evident  from  scriptre  that  faith 
comes  by  heering,  and  heering  by  the  word  preacht."^  Accord- 
ingly they  petitioned  the  town  of  Taunton  to  allow  them  to  form  a 
distinct  precinct  of  their  own  for  the  building  of  a  church  and  the 
support  of  a  minister.  It  was  necessary  to  do  this  if  they  would 
be  exempted  from  the  support  of  the  town  minister.  The  town 
of  Taunton  was  unwilling,  however,  to  grant  their  request.  The 
petitioners,  therefore,  presented  their  request  to  the  "  Great  and 
General  Court"  at  Boston.  This  was  on  the  20th  of  October, 
1708.  They  represent  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  their  attend- 
ing the  meeting  at  Taunton,  and  cite  the  fact  of  their  having  pre- 
sented petitions  to  the  town  on  the  27th  of  November,  1707,  and 
on  the  23d  of  March,  1708  ;  which  petitions  were  refused.  They 
ask  that  their  precinct  may  include  all  the  territory  of  the  present 
towns  of  Norton  and  Mansfield,  and  also  extend  east  as  far  as  the 
Bay  road,  which  road  was  then  substantially  in  its  present  loca- 
tion.^ The  town  of  Taunton  strenuously  opposes  this  proposition. 
A  division  is  created  among  the  petitioners  themselves,  —  those 
who  live  nearest  to  the  church  having  found  that  they  will  not 
be  much  better  accommodated  by  the  proposed  new  meeting- 
house, which  is  to  be  built  too  far,  as  they  judge,  to  the  west. 
This  location  had  been  fixed  by  a  committee  that  had  been  sent 
out  by  the  General  Court  to  determine  the  limits  of  the  proposed 
new  precinct.  As  already  stated,  the  eastern  boundary  of  this 
proposed  precinct  was  the  Bay  road.  This  left  out  the  settlers 
in  the  east  part  of  the  North  Purchase  altogether,  —  the  people 
about  whom  the  readers  of  this  history  are  most  concerned. 
They  do  not  relish  this  cool  way  of  the  petitioners  in  ignoring 
them,  and  they  bestir  themselves  to  checkmate  the  proposition 
for  a  precinct.  The  petition  which  they  present,  which  is 
given  below,  is  very  interesting.  We  learn  from  it  that  the 
east  end  of  the  North  Purchase  was  the  first  part  of  that 
tract  of  land  to  be  settled,  the  first  settlements  being  in  what 
is  now  South  Easton  village  and  vicinity.  It  shows  also  that 
while  the  petitioners  objected  to  the  formation  of  a  precinct 
which  would  leave  them  outside  its  limits,  they  favored  the 
plan  of  having  the  whole  North  Purchase  formed  into  a  town, 


1  State  Papers,  vol.  cxiii.  p.  513. 
^  History  of  Norton,  pp.  19,  20. 


PRECINCT   AND    TOWN. 


73 


and  of  having  a  meeting-house  built  in  the  centre  of  it  for  the 
use  of  the  whole  town.  This  would  have  been  a  very  unfortu- 
nate arrangement,  as  it  would  have  left  many  of  the  settlers  over 
five  miles  away  from  the  meeting-house.  The  petition  is  as 
follows  :  — 

September  9,  1709. 
To  his  Excelleticy  jFoseph  Dudley^  Esqr.,  dv^r.  •• 

Wee,  ye  subscribers,  Inhabitance  and  propriators  of  Taunton 
North-purcheis  (so  called),  humbly  sheweth,  that  whereas  we  under- 
stand that  som  of  our  neighbours,  with  som  of  ye  inhabitants  of 
Taunton,  have  obtained  incoragement  from  this  General  Cort  to  be 
a  Precints  ;  but  forasmuch  as  our  neighbours  have  not  acquainted  us 
therewith  as  they  ought  to  do,  we,  being  major  part  of  sd.  purceis  in- 
habitance and  ye  first  Setlers,  do,  in  all  humble  submition,  ofer  to  your 
honors  ye  unhapy  effects  yt  may  happen,  not  only  to  ourselves,  but  to 
ye  whole  tract  of  Land  which  was  from  ye  foundation  intended  for  a 
township,  which  now  it  is  capable  of,  theire  being  many  inhabitance 
already  settled,  and  many  more  going  to  settel,  on  said  tract  of  Land. 
But  if  there  be  so  great  a  part  of  sd.  Land  taken  of  as  we  understand 
is  set  forth  for  a  precints  by  those  honorable  gentellmen  ye  committy, 
who  have  doon  according  to  their  plesure  ;  and  if  ye  meeting-hous  be 
bult  whare  sd.  committy  hath  appynted, — which  is  neare  ye  west  End 
of  sd.  purchies,  which  will  be  servicable  but  to  very  few,  wh.  will  be  a 
means  to  spyle  ye  sd.  tract  of  Land,  and  caus  it  to  be  wholly  unfitt  for 
a  township,  and  frusterate  ye  intention  of  us,  ye  proprietors  thereof, 
and  will  discorage  many  from  setling  on  their  Lands  in  sd.  purcheis. 

And  whareas  they  have  left  about  one  third  part  of  sd.  purchies  of 
ye  East  part,  supposing  Bridgewater  will  add  part  of  their  town  to  it 
to  make  ye  part  a  precints,  it  is  a  great  mistake,  —  ye  inhabitance  of 
Bridgewater  give  us  no  such  incoragement.  Therefore  we  pray  this 
honered  Cort  that  there  may  be  no  pertition-lines  between  ye  one  end 
of  our  sd.  purcheis  and  ye  other,  but  yt  if  ye  Honered  Court  thinks 
it  convenient,  wee  pray  yt  ye  Honered  Cort  would  grant  us  a  township 
with  all  the  privilidges  belonging  to  a  town,  to  ye  whole  north  pur- 
cheis, and  so  much  of  Taunton  old  township  as  belongs  to  our  military 
Company,  which  is  from  ye  mouth  of  a  Broock  called  Burt's  Brook, 
and  from  thence  to  wenaconett  bridge,  and  from  thence  north-East  to 
ye  sd.  north-purchies  line  ;  and  yt  ye  meeting-hous  may  be  set  in  ye 
most  conveniant  place  in  ye  senter,  between  the  East  and  ye  west  End, 
which  we  concive  will  be  most  convenient  for  ye  whole  town,  both  for 
ye  worship  of  God  on  Sabbath  dayes,  and  for  military  trainings  and  all 


76  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

worship  of  God,  and  several  familys  of  them  live  but  about  four  miles 
from  Bridgewater  meeting-house,  —  It  is  hereby  ordered,  that  a  line  be 
run  from  the  extent  of  sixty  rods  eastward  from  John  Austen's  house 
north  to  Dorchester  line;  and  that  all  that  do  or  shall  live  to  the 
eastward  of  said  line  shall  be  freed  from  paying  to  the  minister  on  the 
westward  side  of  said  line.  And  that  when  by  the  providence  of  God 
those  on  the  eastward  side  of  said  line  shall  be  Increased  so  as  to  be 
either  a  Town  or  a  precinct,  then  a  line  to  be  run  north  &  south  devid- 
ing  the  land  in  the  said  north  purchase  one  halfe  on  the  one  side  and 
the  other  halfe  on  the  other  side  of  said  line,  and  each  to  pay  to  the 
ministry  in  their  own  Town  or  precinct."  ^ 

The  proposed  line  of  division  referred  to  is  the  same,  or  nearly 
the  same,  as  the  present  vilest  boundary  of  Easton. 

But  the  people  of  the  East  End  of  Taunton  North-Purchase 
were  unable  to  defeat  the  formation  of  the  precinct  proposed. 
They  were  however  completely  satisfied  by  a  compromise.  In 
the  act  which  legalized  the  formation  of  this  precinct,  passed  by 
the  House  of  Representatives,  September  19,  1809,  this  addition 
was  made,  namely :  "  Provided,  that  the  East  End  of  the  North 
Purchase  shall  have  half  the  sa'd  Purchase  as  their  Precinct 
where  they  are  able  to  maintain  a  minister ;  and  this  Court  shall 
judge  them  so."^ 

By  this  proviso  the  East  End  people  only  temporarily  relin- 
quished their  plan  of  forming  a  precinct  or  township  that  should 
include  half  the  whole  North  Purchase.  Only  those  of  their 
number  who  lived  west  of  the  Bay  road  were  bound  to  pay  a 
ministerial  tax  to  the  new  precinct,  and  they  were,  at  that  date, 
only  two  or  three  families.  It  is  even  doubtful  if  any  family 
within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Easton  ever  paid  ministerial 
rates  in  the  North  Precinct  of  Taunton,  or  Norton.  Either  by 
specific  agreement,  or  by  common  understanding,  they  were 
•    doubtless  exempted  from  this  tax. 

In  less  than  two  years  from  this  time  (namely,  June  12, 
171 1)  this  North  Precinct  of  Taunton  was  incorporated  as  the 
town  of  Norton.  This  new  town  then  included  the  entire 
territory  of  the  present  towns  of  Norton,  Easton,  and  Mans- 
field,    But    the  wording   of   the  original   act  of   incorporation 

1  State  Papers,  vol.  cxiii.  p.  516. 

*  General  Court  Records,  vol.  viii.  p.  470. 


PRECINCT   AND   TOWN.  ']'] 

presents  a  curious  difficulty.     The  first  paragraph  of   that  act 
is  as  follows  :  — 

"  Whereas  the  tract  of  Land  commonly  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  the  North  Purchase,  Lying  situate  within  the  Township  of 
Taunton,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  circumscribed  within  the  Lines  and 
Bounderies  prescribed  by  a  committee  some  time  since  appointed  by 
the  General  Assembly,  as  follows ;  viz. :  Beginning  at  the  Line  be- 
tween the  two  late  Colonies  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth,  in 
the  line  of  the  said  North  purchase  and  Attleborough  ;  from  thence 
Running  Southward  to  Rehoboth  North-East  Corner  ;  and  from  thence 
Eastward,  on  the  North-purchase-Line,  to  Taunton  bounds ;  thence 
eastward  to  the  Mouth  of  the  Brook  calld  Burt's  Brook,  and  extend- 
ing from  the  mouth  of  Burt's  Brook  to  the  Bridge  over  the  Mill  River, 
near  Wm.  Witherel's  ;  and  from  thence  North-eastward  to  the  North- 
purchase  Line ;  and  from  the  North-purchase  Line,  the  road  that 
leads  from  the  said  Bridge  towards  Boston  to  be  the  Bounds  till  it 
come  to  the  Line  betwixt  the  two  Late  Colonies  aforesaid  ;  which  Line 
to  be  the  bounds  to  Attleborough  aforesaid  was  set  off  from  Taunton 
by  and  with  the  consent  of  that  Town,  and  by  an  order  of  the  General 
Assembly  passed  at  their  Session  in  March,  17 lo,  made  a  distinct  and 
separate  Town  from  Tawnton,  containing  a  sufficient  quantity  of  Lands 
and  a  competent  number  of  inhabitants  for  that  purpose,  and  named 
NORTON ;  the  full  perfecting  of  the  said  Grant  being  adjourned  and 
referred  to  the  present  Courts."  ^ 

It  is  absolutely  certain  that  the  whole  of  the  North  Purchase 
was  intended  to  be,  and  was  in  fact,  included  in  the  town  of 
Norton.  But  the  above  description  does  not  include  the  whole 
of  that  Purchase.  The  bounds  on  the  east  as  above  defined  cor- 
respond essentially  with  the  location  of  the  Bay  road,  leaving 
out  of  the  proposed  limits  of  Norton  that  part  of  the  North 
Purchase  between  the  Bay  road  and  Bridgewater.  This  may  be 
a  mistake  of  the  person  who  drafted  the  act  of  incorporation. 
He  probably  supposed  that  the  bounds  of  the  town  of  Norton 
were  to  be  the  same  as  those  of  the  North  Precinct  of  Taunton, 
for  he  has  copied  the  boundaries  of  that  precinct ;  and  he  appar- 
ently thought  that  the  whole  North  Purchase  was  included 
within  these  boundaries,  which  was  not  the  fact.     However  this 

1  See  Clark's  History  of  Norton,  pp.  35,  36. 


78  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

discrepancy  may  be  accounted  for,  two  facts  become  evident  by 
subsequent  events :  first,  the  people  of  the  East  End  of  the 
North  Purchase  acted  with  the  Norton  people  in  all  municipal 
affairs  ;  and  second,  they  were  independent  of  them  so  far  as  the 
support  of  public  worship  is  concerned.  Long  before  they  be- 
came a  separate  precinct  they  had  organized,  as  we  shall  soon 
see,  a  religious  society  of  their  own,  and  they  never  helped  sup- 
port the  Norton  Church.  But  until  the  incorporation  of  Easton, 
they  attended  and  voted  in  the  Norton  town-meetings,  electing 
officers  for  their  part  of  the  town.  Prior  to  1718,  this  part  is 
called  the  "  East  End  of  Norton." 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  people  of  the  East  End 
deemed  themselves  strong  enough  to  become  a  town  by  them- 
selves. The  following  extract  from  the  General  Court  records 
of  November,  171 5,  shows  that  an  attempt  was  thus  early  made 
to  organize  this  section  into  a  town  :  — 

Upon  reading  a  petition  of  several  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  East 
End  of  Taunton  North-Purchase,  setting  forth  that  it  being  formerly 
reserved  by  the  General  Court  in  their  grant  of  a  township  that  one 
half  part  of  Taunton  North- Purchase  (namely  the  Easterly  Part  thereof 
next  to  Bridgewater)  should  be  and  belong  to  the  inhabitants  thereof 
to  make  a  distinct  plantation  as  soon  as  the  Court  should  judge  them 
able  and  fit  to  have  the  privilege  of  a  distinct  village  or  plantation 
granted  them,  —  the  petitioners,  notwithstanding  their  poverty  and 
the  small  number  of  their  inhabitants,  humbly  praying  that  they  may 
be  formed  into  a  distinct  town,  and  that  they  may  have  the  privilege  of 
a  township  granted  to  them,  — 

In  the  House  of  Representatives.  —  Ordered  that  Sam'l  Thaxter, 
Jonah  Edson,  &  George  Leonard,  Esqs.,  be  a  committee  to  enquire 
into  the  state  &  number  of  the  inhabitants,  the  extent  and  quality 
of  their  lands,  &  whether  they  are  fit  to  be  created  into  a  township  or 
precinct,  and  make  return  to  this  Court  in  May  next,  the  petitioners 
to  bear  the  charge  of  ye  committee. 

In  Council.  —  Read  &  concurred. 

Consented  to,  Wm.  Tailer.^ 

This  attempt  to  organize  the  East  End  of  Norton  into  a  sepa- 
rate town,  in  171 5,  did  not  meet  with  success.  Two  years  after- 
ward an  effort  is  made  to  form  a  separate  precinct  of  this  half 

1  Court  Records,  vol  x.  pp.  8,  9. 


PRECINCT   AND   TOWN. 


79 


of  the  North  Purchase.  The  following  is  the  report  of  the 
action  of  the  General  Court  concerning  a  petition  for  this 
precinct :  — 

Oct.  30,  1 7 17,  a  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Easterly  part  of 
Taunton  North-Purchase,  shewing  that  whereas  the  Honble,  Court, 
when  they  granted  the  North  Precinct  in  Taunton  to  be  a  town  by  the 
name  of  Norton,  made  this  proviso,  —  that  the  East  end  of  the  North 
Purchase  shall  have  half  of  the  said  Purchase  as  their  precinct  when 
they  are  able  to  maintain  a  minister,  and  this  Court  judged  them  so  ; 
and  that  since  the  passing  of  that  order  of  the  General  Assembly 
(which  was  in  March  17,  1710-11)  the  number  of  the  settled  families 
in  the  said  East  end  of  Taunton  North-Purchase  is  much  increased, 
and  their  settlements  are  too  remote  from  any  place  where  the  public 
worship  is  carried  on  to  travel  comfortably  to  any  such  place,  they 
now  judge  themselves  in  a  capacity  to  support  a  minister  themselves  : 

Therefore,  praying  that  a  committee  be  appointed  between  them 
and  the  town  of  Norton,  that  they  may  know  their  bounds  of  the  half- 
part  of  the  North  Purchase,  and  that  this  Hon.  Court  would  grant 
them  to  be  a  distinct  Precinct  or  Township,  as  they  shall  in  their 
wisdom  think  fit.  And  the  petition  was  on  that  day  read  in  Council, 
and  sent  down  to  the  House  of  Representatives." 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  November  11.  —  Read,  and 
Ordered  that  the  said  East  end  of  Norton  be  made  as  a  precinct,  and 
have  the  powers  and  privileges  granted  by  law  to  precincts ;  and  that 
John  Field,  Ephraim  Howard,  and  John  White,  surveyor,  be  a  com- 
mittee to  run  and  settle  a  divisional  line,  by  which  it  is  to  be  set  off 
from  the  other  part  of  Norton, — pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  Court, 
March  17,  1710-11,  —  and  make  report  to  this  Court. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

In  Council.  —  Read  and  Concurred. 

Consented  to,  Saml.  Shute.^ 

The  committee  named  above  attended  to  their  work,  and  on 
May  13,  1718,  they  made  their  report.  The  dividing  line  that 
was  to  separate  the  proposed  precinct  from  the  rest  of  Norton 
was  about  the  same  as  that  which  now  forms  the  western  bound- 
ary of  Easton.  From  this  time  precinct-meetings  are  held,  a 
clerk  chosen,  and  business  conducted  under  the  name  of  the 
"  East   Precinct  of   Norton."     A  meeting-house  is  erected,  and 

1  Court  Records,  vol.  x.  pp.  169,  170. 


8o  HISTORY   OF    EASTON.     / 

the  people  are  considering  about  settling  a  minister,  when  it  is 
discovered  that  they  are  not,  after  all,  a  legal  precinct.  By  some 
informality  the  divisional  line  had  not  been  confirmed  by  the 
Court,  and  the  precinct  had  no  legal  existence.  The  proof  of 
this  is  the  following  :  — 

A  petition  of  Geo.  Hall  and  sundry  others,  Inhabitants  of  the  East 
end  of  Norton,  shewing  that  Whereas  the  general  Court  did  in  the  year 
1 710  appoint  a  committee  to  run  a  divisional  line  by  which  they  were 
to  be  sett  off  from  the  other  part  of  Norton,  and  the  said  committee 
did  run  the  said  divisional  line  accordingly,  &  gave  in  their  report  to  the 
General  Court  in  May,  17 18.  —  The  petitioners  were  negligent  in  the 
affair,  in  that  they  did  not  request  a  confirmation  of  the  line  accord- 
ing to  the  sd.  report.  But  since  they  cannot  procede  to  settle  a  gosple 
Ministry  amongst  them  before  the  sd.  line  is  settled,  therefore  praying 
that  the  sd.  Report  may  be  brought  for  acceptance,  and  they  may  be 
made  a  separate  &  distinct  precinct. 

In  Council.  —  Whereas  the  report  of  the  Committee  referred  to  in 
this  petition  is  not  accepted,  ordered  that  Jacob  Thompson,  Esq.,  with 
such  Persons  as  the  honble  House  of  Representatives  shall  appoint, 
be  a  committee  to  run  the  divisional  line  between  the  easterly  end  of 
Norton  &  the  other  part  thereof,  conformable  to  orders  of  the  General 
Court,  passed  March  17,  17 10,  and  make  report  to  the  General  Court 
at  their  session  in  May  next. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives. —  Read  &  concurred  ;  and  the 
Hon.  Samuel  Thaxter,  Esq.,  &  Mr.  Benjamin  Crane  are  joined  in  the 
affair. 

Consented  to,  Samuel  Shute.^ 

The  date  of  this  action  was  November  30,  1720.  A  new  appli- 
cation for  legalizing  the  proposed  precinct  was  necessary;  and  it 
was  not  until  January  19,  1722,  that  the  East  Precinct  of  Norton 
was  legally  constituted.  The  evidence  for  this  is  the  following 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Court  on  the  above- 
mentioned  date :  — 

A  petition  of  Divers  Inhabitants  of  the  East  end  of  Taunton  North- 
Purchase  praying  to  be  set  off  a  separate  Township  or  precinct,  by  a 
line  reported  by  John  Field,  Ephm.  Howard,  &  John  White,  in  the 
year  17 18,  &  pursuant  to  the  order  of  the  General  Court  that  they 

1  Court  Recods,  vol.  xi.  p.  72. 


PRECINCT    AND    TOWN. 


should  be  set  off  when  they  are  capable  of  settling  &  maintaining  a 
minister,  as  they  apprehend  they  now  are,  and  that  they  may  have  half 
of  ye  land  of  ye  North-Purchase  : 

In  the  House  of  Representatives.  —  Read  &  ordered  that  the  division- 
al line  between  the  East  end  of  Taunton  North-Purchase  &  the  other 
part  of  Norton,  be  according  to  the  report  of  Messrs.  John  Field, 
Ephraim  Howard,  &  John  White,  a  committee  appointed  by  this  Court 
on  ye  first  day  of  November,  1717,  to  run  the  same. 

In  Council.  —  Read  &  concurred,  that  the  East  End  of  Taunton 
North-Purchase  be  constituted  a  separate  precinct,  according  to  the 
sd.  line. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives.  —  Read  and  concurred. 

Consented  to,  Wm.  Dummer.^ 

It  is  therefore  evident  that  at  this  date,  which  was  January 
19,  1722,  the  East  Precinct  of  Norton  was  first  legally  consti- 
tuted, and  not  in  171 8,  as  even  the  residents  there  at  first 
supposed. 

There  had  been  considerable  disputing  prior  to  this  time  be- 
tween the  East  and  West  ends  of  Norton  relative  to  the  dividing 
line  between  them.  In  1720,  and  in  the  two  following  years, 
attempts  were  made  to  come  to  an  agreement.  After  the  final 
formation  of  the  East  Precinct  in  1722,  John  Phillips,  Edward 
Hayward,  and  Josiah  Keith  met  a  committee  from  the  other  part 
of  Norton,  and,  with  "Justice  Thompson  of  Middleborough  as 
umpire,"  made  a  settlement  of  the  line. 

In  1725  the  settlements  have  so  much  increased  in  the  new 
precinct  that  the  inhabitants  feel  themselves  strong  enough  to 
become  a  town,  and  they  petition  to  be  incorporated  as  such. 
December  9,  1725,  the  following  action  is  taken  in  the  Gen- 
eral Court :  — 

"  A  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  East  End  of  Taunton  North- 
Purchase  shows  that  in  the  setting  off  of  the  town  of  Norton  a  reserve 
was  made  of  land  in  the  East  End  of  the  North  Purchase  against  they 
should  be  of  a  competent  number  of  inhabitants  to  be  separated  from 
the  other  part ;  that  they  now  consist  of  between  forty  &  fifty  families, 
and  they  are  under  great  difficulty  in  attending  public  duties  at  Norton, 
therefore  praying  to  be  set  off  a  separate  &:  distinct  township. 

1  Court  Records,  vol.  xi.  pp.  509,  510. 
6 


82  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives.  —  Read  &  Ordered  that  the  prayer 
of  the  petitioners  be  granted,  and  the  petitioners  have  leave  to  bring  in 
a  bill  accordingly. 

"In  Council.  —  Read  &  concurred,"  etc.-' 

December  21,  1725,  an  engrossed  bill  entitled  "an  act  for 
dividing  Taunton  North-Purchase,  so  called,  in  the  Township  of 
Norton,  and  erecting  a  new  town  in  y"  Easterly  Half  thereof  by 
the  name  of  Easton,"  was  passed  and  enacted  by  both  Houses 
and  signed  by  the  Lieutenant-Governor.  The  following  is  the 
act :  — 

Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Easton. 

Whereas,  in  the  year  1710,^  When  the  township  of  Norton  was 
granted  by  the  general  assembly  of  this  province,  provision  was  made 
that  the  inhabitants  on  the  east  end  of  the  said  North  Purchase  should 
have  one  half  of  the  said  purchase  when  they  were  able  to  maintain  a 
minister,  and  this  court  judge  them  so  ;  and  the  said  east  h^lf  of 
the  said  North  Purchase  is  now  competently  filled  with  inhabitants, 
who  have  already  built  a  house  for  the  publick  worship  of  God,  and 
provided  an  able  and  orthodox  minister,  and  have  thereupon  ad- 
dressed this  court  that  they  may  be  set  off  a  distinct  and  separate 
town,  to  be  vested  with  all  the  powers  and  privileges  of  the  other 
towns  of  this  province,  — 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  Council,  and 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of 
the  same  — 

(Sect,  i.)  That  the  easterly  moyety  or  half  part  of  the  tract  of 
land  commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Taunton  North- 
Purchase,  bounded  westerly  on  the  township  of  Norton  (which  con- 
tains the  westerly  half  part  of  the  said  North  Purchase),  southerly 
upon  the  town  of  Taunton,  northerly  on  the  town  of  Dorchester,  and 
easterly  on  the  town  of  Bridgewater,  be  and  hereby  is  sett  off  and 
constituted  a  separate  township,  by  the  name  of  Easton  ;  and  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  said  lands,  as  before  described  and  bounded,  be 
and  hereby  are  vested  with  the  powers,  privileges,  and  immunities 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of  this  province  by  law  are  or  ought 
to  be  vested  with. 

("Sect.  2.)  And  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Easton 
do,  within   six  months  from  the  publication  of  this  act,  procure  and 

1  Court  Records,  vol.  xiii.  p.  69. 

2  It  was,  in  fact,  in  1711.     The  date  above  is  "  Old  Style." 


PRECINCT   AND    TOWN.  83 

maintain  a  schoolmaster  to  instruct  their  youth  in  writing  and  reading; 
and  that  thereupon  they  be  discharged  from  any  payments  for  the 
maintainance  of  the  school  at  Norton.  [Passed  December  21,  1725; 
published  January  3,  1725-26.] 

It  would  be  gratifying  to  know  positively  why  the  new  town 
was  given  the  name  of  Easton.  Elias  Nason  in  his  "  Massachu- 
setts Gazetteer"  states  that  it  was  named  after  Governor  Nicholas 
Easton.  The  statement  is  made  without  authority  ;  and  as  one 
guess  is  not  only  as  good  but  sometimes  better  than  another,  the 
writer  ventures  to  give  his  own  conjecture  as  to  the  reason  for 
the  adoption  of  this  name.  For  many  years  this  part  of  the 
North  Purchase  had  been  called  the  "  East  End  of  Taunton 
North-Purchase."  It  was,  after  the  incorporation  of  Norton, 
called  the  "  East  End  of  Norton."  For  several  years  it  was 
called  the  "  East  Precinct  of  Norton."  The  transition  from 
these  terms  to  that  of  East-Town,  abbreviated  finally  to  Easton, 
is  easy,  and  seems  the  most  natural  explanation  of  the  adoption 
of  this  name. 

On  the  date  of  the  passage  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation 
an  order  was  passed  for  calling  a  town-meeting.  It  was  as 
follows :  — 

/;/  the  House  of  Representatives. 

Ordered  that  Mr.  Josiah  Keith,  a  Principal  Inhabitant  of  the  Town 
of  Easton,  be  and  hereby  is  empowered  and  directed  to  notify  and 
summon  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Town,  duly  qualified  for  voters,  to 
assemble  and  meet  some  time  in  the  month  of  March  next  to  chuse 
Town  Officers  according  to  Law,  to  stand  for  the  year. 

In  Council.  —  Read  and  Concurred. 

Consented  to,  W.  Dummer.  ^ 

The  following  is  a  verbatim  copy  of  the  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  meeting  thus  called, — the  first  town-meeting  held 
in  Easton  :  — 

"  At  a  Leagal  meeting  and  warned  by  Leagal  authority  in  the 
Town  of  Easton,  for  the  Election  and  choice  of  Town  officers,  to 
be  on  the  second  day  of  March  in  the  year  1725-6,  and  accordingly 
met. 

"  I.  we  made  choice  of  Mr.  Josiah  Keith  modrator  for  said  meeting. 

1  Court  Records,  vol.  xiii.  p.  89. 


84  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

"2.  we  made  choyce  of  John  Phillips  for  our  Town  Clerk  for  the  year 
ensuing,  and  he  was  present  and  sworn. 

"3.  we  made  choice  of  John  Phillips,  Josiah  Keith,  and  Benjamin 
Drake  for  our  selectmen  of  said  town. 

"4.  we  made  choice  of  Josiah  Keith,  Benjemin  Drake,  and  John 
Phillips  assessors  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  thay  were  present  and 
were  sworn. 

"5.  we  made  choice  of  Israel  Randell  for  our  counstable,  and  by 
consent  of  the  Town  the  said  Israel  Randell  was  Released,  and  George 
Hall  was  chosen  in  his  roome,  and  was  present  and  was  sworn. 

"  6.  we  made  choice  of  Ephraim  Randell  Town  Treasurer  for  the 
year  ensuing,  and  he  was  present  and  was  sworn. 

"  7.  voted  to  make  choice  of  but  two  servairs  of  highways. 

"8.  we  made  choice  of  Seth  Babbat  and  Benjemin  Kinsly  servairs 
of  highways,  and  thay  were  present  and  was  sworn. 

"9.  we  made  choice  of  Israel  Randell  Tything  man,  and  he  was 
present  and  was  sworn. 

"  10.  we  made  choice  of  John  Daily  and  Timothy  Cooper  Hogreves. 

"  II.  we  made  choice  of  Thomas  Manley  and  Ephraim  Huett  fence- 
vewers,  and  thay  were  present  and  sworn."  ^ 

1  Town  Records,  vol.  i.  p.  i.  Whenever  the  town  records  are  referred  to  in  this 
History,  the  references  will  be  to  the  original  records,  and  not  to  the  copies  recently 
made. 


THE    MINISTRY    OF    REV.    MATTHEW    SHORT.  85 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE   MINISTRY   OF   THE   REV.    MATTHEW   SHORT. 

Birth  and  Parentage.  —  Settlement  in  Attleborough.  —  Settle- 
ment AT  the  East  Precinct  of  Taunton  North-Purchase. — 
Sickness  and  Recovery.  —  His  two  published  Sermons.  —  The 
FIRST  Meeting-house.  —  Early  Dissatisfaction  with  its  Loca- 
tion. —  Death  of  Mr.  Short. 

REV.  MATTHEW  SHORT  was  born  March  14,  1688. 
He  was  the  third  son  and  sixth  child  of  Henry  Short,  of 
Newbury,  and  Mary  ^  Whipple,  his  wife.  So  writes  J.  C.  Coffin 
in  his  "  History  of  Newbury  ; "  and  he  adds  that  Mary  died 
December  28,  169 1,  and  that  May  11,  1692,  Henry  married  Anne 
Longfellow,  and  died  October  23,  1706,  fifty-four  years  old. 
Matthew  Short  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1707.  From 
that  time  until  171 1  he  was  probably  teaching  school  or  study- 
ing divinity,  perhaps  both.  October  i,  171 1,  the  town  of  At- 
tleborough, being  met  "for  the  chosing  of  an  able  orthodox  min- 
ister of  good  conversation  to  Dispence  the  word  of  god  to  us," 
chose  Mr.  Short  for  their  minister.  He  was  to  have  jCs*^  ^ 
year  for  six  years,  —  one  third  to  be  in  money,  and  the  rest  in 
grain,  beef,  pork,  butter,  or  cheese,  or  any  or  either  of  them,  at 
current  prices.  By  a  vote  in  November,  17 10,  Attleborough  had 
agreed  to  give  away  the  house  that  was  built  upon  their  minis- 
terial land,  to  the  first  minister  that  should  serve  the  town  for 
seven  years.  Mr.  Short  was  not  destined  to  become  its  owner. 
Difficulties  arose  between  him  and  his  people.  Early  in  171 5 
an  attempt  was  made  to  come  to  some  agreement.  In  stating 
his  case  to  the  town  and  church  Mr.  Short  writes  as  follows  :^  — 

"This  you  may  expect  and  depend  upon,  that  unless  there  be  a 
speedy  and  friendly  composition  of  the  differences  amongst  us,  I  shall 
not  continue  the  exercise  of  my  ministry." 

^  Savage,  in  his  Genealogical  Dictionary  (vol.  iv.  p.  89)  names  her  Sarah. 
2  See  Attleborough  Town  Records.  2  Ibid. 


86  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

The  difficulty  was  some  misunderstanding  concerning  his 
salary,  as  well  as  other  money  promised  him.  The  town  did  not 
accept  his  terms,  but  proposed  others  on  condition  that  Mr. 
Short  "  will  forthwith  Desist  ye  ministry  in  this  town."  May 
31,  171 5,  he  requested  to  be  dismissed,  and  the  town  voted  to 
grant  his  desire.  While  in  Attleborough  he  married  Margaret 
Freeman,  of  that  place.  This  was  on  December  27,  171 1.  Two 
children,  Anna  and  Judith,  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Short 
while  they  were  in  Attleborough. 

Mr.  Short  is  next  heard  of  in  Saco,  Maine  (then,  however,  a 
part  of  Massachusetts),  where  he  is  preaching,  in  17 16.  He 
was  at  the  same  time  Chaplain  of  his  Majesty's  fort  at  Winter 
Harbor,  and  on  this  account  his  salary  was  paid  in  part  by  the 
General  Court.^  He  remained  there  until  some  time  in  1722. 
Two  of  his  children,  Matthew  and  Ebenezer,  were  born  during 
his  ministry  there. 

The  Rev.  Matthew  Short  appears  to  have  received  his  call  to 
settle  as  minister  of  the  church  in  the  East  Precinct  of  Norton, 
March  28,  1723.  This  appears  from  the  following  record  of  the 
General  Court  for  June  4,  1723  :  — 

A  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  East  End  of  Taunton  north- 
purchase,  setting  forth  that  the  inhabitants  met  together  on  the  28th 
of  March  last  &  passed  sevral  votes  relating  to  the  affairs  of  their 
precinct  &  for  the  encouragement  of  a  minister  to  settle  among  them, 
which  votes  were  passed  in  an  amicable  manner  &  with  good  agree- 
ment among  themselves,  but  the  said  meeting  .  .  .  not  being  le- 
gally warned,  they  doubted  that  some  difficulties  may  hereafter  arise 
about  the  matters  then  voted,  and  therefore  praying  that  the  sd.  votes 
(annexed  to  the  petition)  may  be  confirmed  by  this  Court. 

In  Council  read  and  ordered  that  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  be 
granted,  and  that  the  votes  passed  at  the  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  East  precinct  of  the  North  purchase  on  ye  28th  day  of  Mch.,  1723 
(which  votes  are  hereunto  annexed),  be  allowed,  ratified,  and  confirmed 
to  all  intents  &  purposes  whatsoever,  any  law,  usage,  or  custom  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives.  —  Read  &  Concurred. 

Consented  to,  Wm.  Dummer. 

1  State  Papers,  vol.  vi.  p.  330;  vii.  p.  yjT).  Folsom's  History  of  Saco  and  Bidde- 
ford,  pp.  203,  223,  etc. 


THE    MINISTRY    OF    REV.    MATTHEW    SHORT.  Sj 

Mr.  Short  began  his  ministerial  work  soon  after  his  call  in 
March,  or  certainly  before  August  31,  1723,  for  at  this  date 
there  is  a  record  of  a  marriage  performed  by  him  here.  A  deed 
dated  November  22,  1723,  states  that  it  was  — 

"agreed  with  a  minister  for  a  settlement;  afterward  voted  at  our 
Precinct  to  give  unto  Matthew  Short  fifty  acres  of  land,  .  .  .  and  to 
build  him  an  house  and  to  find  him  all  the  materialls  except  nayles, 
glass,  lime,  and  Iron  worke,  and  to  finish  it  if  he  would  comply  with 
said  offer."  ^ 

Mr.  Short's  house  was  situated  on  Depot  Street,  a  little  east 
of  its  intersection  by  Central  Street.  When  Depot  Street  was 
widened,  a  part  of  the  cellar  over  which  this  house  had  stood  was 
cut  off.  At  that  time  a  flat  stone  which  had  been  built  into  the 
chimney  was  found,  having  chiselled  upon  it  the  date  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  house.  Mr.  Short  was  presented  with  ten  acres  of 
land  at  this  place,  which  came  to  be  known  as  the  "  Short  Place." 
This  gift  was  a  personal  one,  made  by  Thomas  Randall,  John 
Phillips,  and  Mark  Lathrop,  who  gave  two  acres  each,  Timothy 
Cooper  who  gave  three,  and  Daniel  Owen  who  gave  one.  The 
Precinct,  as  before  stated,  gave  their  newly-chosen  minister  fifty 
acres  more,  as  an  encouragement  for  him  to  settle  here.  This 
was  on  November  22,  1723  ;  but  it  was  not  until  February,  1730, 
that  he  came  into  possession  of  this  latter  gift.  Nor  did  he  ac- 
quire a  quit-claim  deed  of  his  house  until  November,  1729,  though 
it  had  been  promised  him  much  earlier. 

The  town  however,  in  an  emergency  that  soon  occurred, 
treated  their  minister  in  a  way  that  won  his  heartfelt  gratitude. 
In  1728,  in  midsummer,  a  distressing  and  very  fatal  disease 
visited  the  town.  Mr.  Short  was  taken  sick  July  15,  and  was 
very  sick  for  two  months,  his  life  being  despaired  of.  The 
town  generously  provided  for  his  needs  at  this  time,  doing  all 
they  could  to  make  him  comfortable  and  to  restore  him  to 
health.  On  September  17  it  was  voted  in  town-meeting  "that 
thirteen  pounds  ten  shillings  and  eight  pence  be  assessed  on  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  town,  and  collected  of  them  and  paid  into  the 
Town  Treasury,  for  the  defraying  of  the  charges  towards  our 

^  Bristol  County  Deeds,  book  xv.  p.  213. 


88  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Pastor's  late  sickness  ;  and  sd.  money  to  be  paid  out  by  order 
of  the  Selectmen  of  this  town  to  those  persons  that  hath  don 
towards  said  sickness  as  they  shall  find  it  to  be  justly  don,  and 
if  there  be  any  money  Left  to  be  delivered  to  mr.  Short  for  his 
use." 

Soon  after  this,  their  minister,  pale  and  worn  with  his  sick- 
ness, met  his  people  in  the  little  log  meeting-house,  and  preached 
to  them  a  sermon  which  was  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  and 
was  entitled  "A  thankful  Memorial  of  God's  sparing  Mercy," 
This  was  followed  by  another  ;  and  they  made  such  an  impres- 
sion upon  his  congregation  that  he  was  requested  to  have  them 
printed.  This  was  done,  and  some  stray  copies  were  bound  up 
in  book  form  with  fugitive  sermons  of  other  ministers.  A  few  of 
these  books  are  still  extant.  A  sermon  preached  in  the  earliest 
meeting-house  in  Easton  by  its  first  minister,  as  long  ago  as 
1728,  is  a  very  interesting  relic  of  the  olden  time.  A  verbatim 
copy  of  the  first  of  these  sermons  may  be  seen  in  the  Appendix 
of  this  history.  In  these  sermons  he  says  that  he  was  visited 
by  Providence  "  with  a  sore  sickness,  whereby  I  was  brought 
nigh  unto  Death  ;  but  God  in  his  wonderful  goodness  spared 
me,  and  did  x\o\.  give  me  over  2into  Death,  for  which  I  would  now 
humbly  and  heartily  praise  his  holy  Name.  ...  I  freely  acknowl- 
edge the  Justice  and  Holiness  of  God  in  bringing  that  sore 
Chastisement  upon  me.  I  acknowledge  my  sin  deserved  it.  I 
acknowledge  the  unerring  Wisdom  of  God  in  sending  it  season- 
ably. I  plainly  see  that  I  needed  it,  and  therefore  I  hope  I 
heartily  thank  God  for  it.  ...  I  am  laid  under  a  new  Obligation 
to  you  by  the  endearing  Kindness  which  God  helped  you  to 
show  to  me  in  the  time  of  my  late  distressing  sickness.  .  .  .  God 
hath  taken  away  several  from  among  us  of  late  by  Death,  empty- 
ing a  House  hard  by  us,  and  sweeping  it  clean  as  it  were  by 
Death;  and  taking  away  the  principal  Person^  in  another,  whose 
Death  we  have  great  reason  to  lament."  The  fatality  of  this 
general  sickness  is  indicated  by  the  following  quotation  from  the 
second  sermon  :  "  Let  us  all  consider  how  awfully  the  holy  hand 
of  God  was  lifted  up  against  us  of  late.  If  it  had  pleased  the 
holy  God  to  have  gone  on  the  way  of  his  judgment  in  multiply- 
ing deaths  among  us  as  he  began,  every  person  in  the  Town 
1  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pratt,  widow  of  Elder  "William  Pratt. 


THE    MINISTRY    OF    REV.    MATTHEW   SHORT.  89 

would  have  been  swept  out  of  the  world  by  death.  But  the 
destroying  Angel  hath  been  commanded  to  put  up  his  sword  into 
his  sheath,  &  not  go  on  to  destroy." 

This  second  sermon  ends  with  the  following  interesting  quo- 
tation from  the  conclusion  of  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather:  — 

"  But  when  Sickness  Returns  upon  such  a  Man,  with  Circumstances 
that  intimate  his  Call  to  be  Go?ie,  what  a  Welcome  can  this  Man  give 
to  such  a  Call !  Welcome,  Sickness ;  Thou  Alessenger  of  Heaven  /  Wel- 
come The  Waggons  that  are  sent  now  to  fetch  me  away  unto  my  yesus  in 
all  His  Glory  I     Amen." 

The  following  quaintly  expressed  preface  to  these  two  ser- 
mons, addressed  to  this  church  and  congregation,  deserves  to  be 
perpetuated  here  :  — 

To  The  Church  &^  Congregation  in  Easton : 

Dearly  Beloved,  —  These  Discourses,  as  you  remember,  were 
delivered  immediately  after  my  late  Visitation  with  a  sore  Sickness  of 
about  two  Months  Continuance,  And  were  designed  in  some  measure 
(especially  the  former  of  them)  to  sute  that  occasion.  They  were  com- 
posed while  I  was  under  considerable  remains  of  bodily  Weakness 
and  without  any  Expectation  of  their  being  thus  made  publick.  But  a 
number  of  you  being  desirous  of  the  Publication  of  them,  and  having 
Grounds  to  think  that  they  will  be  acceptable  to  you  in  general,  as  I 
trust  they  were  in  the  preaching  (and  as,  I  bless  God  for  it,  my  other 
labors  have  been  among  you),  and  therefore  I  hope  profitable  ;  and  these 
Discourses  having  been  perused  by  a  Reverend  Brother  who  has  encour- 
aged their  going  to  the  Press,  I  have  yielded  to  the  Publication  of 
them,  humbly  hoping  that  it  will  be  acceptable  to  God  and  for  his 
Glory,  that  there  be  a  monument  of  this  Nature  erected  to  render  to 
God  the  praise  due  to  his  Name  for  his  memorable  Works  of  Mercy 
and  Goodness  towards  us  in  the  Time  of  our  Distress.  And  whereas 
there  is  some  mention  made  in  the  first  of  the  following  Discourses  of 
.  the  Kindness  which  God  helped  you  to  shew  to  me  in  the  Time  of 
my  distressing  sickness,  So  I  would  now  with  hearty  praises  to  God, 
and  with  a  due  Gratitude  to  you,  mention  the  Kindness  you  have 
shewn  me  since  my  Recovery  from  Sickness,  when  you  did  at  a 
public  meeting  grant  a  considerable  gratuity  for  me,  without  my  ask- 
ing it,  which  rendered  it  the  more  obliging  and  endearing.  In  Token 
of  Gratitude,  I  here  present  you  with  the  following  Discourses,  which 


92 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


though  the  work  drags  on  for  a  long  time  it  is  finally  completed, 
and  the  "  East-enders "  have  their  way.  They  foresaw  in- 
creasing trouble  with  the  determined  "West-enders"  concerning 
the  location  of  the  meeting-house.  They  therefore,  in  order 
to  strengthen  their  own  party,  tried  to  get  a  portion  of  Bridge- 
water  annexed  to  Easton.  This  would  increase  their  numbers, 
and  also  bring  their  locality  nearer  the  Centre.  In  January, 
1727,  John  Phillips,  Thomas  Randall,  and  sundry  others  pre- 
sented a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  citing  that  about  twelve 
families  of  the  west  part  of  the  North  Precinct  of  Bridgewater 
desired  to  be  annexed  to  Easton,  and  praying  that  their  desire 
might  be  granted.  The  General  Court  ordered  that  a  copy  of 
this  petition  be  served  on  the  town  of  Bridgewater,  and  also  on 
the  North  Precinct.  This  was  done  ;  and  after  further  hearing 
of  the  case  the  Court,  in  1728,  dismissed  the  petition. ^ 

June  4,  1736,  this  plan  was  again  proposed.  The  families 
living  near  the  Easton  line  in  the  North  Precinct  of  Bridgewater 
found  it  more  convenient  to  attend  the  Easton  church,  and  they 
petitioned  again  to  be  annexed  to  Easton,  but  with  no  better 
success  than  before. 

The  ministry  of  Matthew  Short  was,  upon  the  whole,  a  quiet 
one.  It  lasted  eight  years,  and  he  died  April  16,  1731,  forty- 
three  years  old.  A  proposition  was  made  in  town-meeting  to 
pay  eighteen  pounds,  eleven  shillings,  six  pence  for  his  funeral 
charges,  but  only  about  half  of  it  was  voted.  He  left  a  widow 
and  nine  children,  one  child  having  died  in  1728.  Six  of  these 
were  born  in  Easton.  The  family  record  will  be  given  in  detail 
in  the  "  Genealogical  History  of  Easton  "  which  the  writer  expects 
to  publish  in  about  a  year.  Mr.  Short  died  intestate.  He  owned 
at  his  death  his  house  and  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  That  he 
had  a  good  library,  for  that  day,  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact 
that  it  was  rated  in  the  appraisement  of  his  estate  at  £T,g,  ^s. 

Mrs.  Short  soon  found  consolation  for  the  loss  of  her  first 
husband  by  marrying  Jeremiah  Freeman,  by  which  marriage  she 
resumed  her  maiden  name.  She  sold  her  right  of  dower  to  her 
eldest  son,  Matthew.  It  illustrates  the  difference  in  the  education 
of  children  in  those  times  as  compared  with  the  present,  to  learn 
that  three  of  the  minister's  children,  perhaps  others,  were  unable 
'  General  Court  Records,  vol.  xiii.  p.  528. 


THE    MINISTRY    OF    REV.    MATTHEW    SHORT.  93 


to  write  their  own  names.  One  of  these,  Glover  Short,  finally 
became  a  town  charge,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  Rev. 
Matthew  Short's  remains  were  buried  in  the  old  cemetery,  not 
far  from  his  church.  But  the  continual  desecration  of  that 
sacred  place  led  ultimately  to  the  removal  of  his  gravestone  to 
the  burying-ground  north  of  the  Centre,  where  it  would  be  safe 
from  vandal  hands.  His  remains  were  also  removed.  Upon 
the  gravestone  is  the  following  inscription  :  — 

In  memory  of  ye  Rev'd.  Mr.  Matthew  Short.     Deceased  April 
ye  16th,  1 73 1,  in  ye  44th  year  of  his  age. 

"  The  sweet  remembrance  of  ye  Just 
Shall  flourish  when  he  sleeps  in  dust." 


94  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE  MINISTRY  OF  THE  REV.  JOSEPH  BELCHER. 

Distinction  between  Church  and  Parish. —  Call  and  Settlement 
OF  Mr.  Belcher.  —  His  Antecedents.  —  The  Ordination.  —  Dis- 
satisfied with  his  Salary.  —  Partial  Insanity.  —  Involved  in 
Lawsuits.  —  Disappearance. 

VERY  soon  after  the  death  of  the  first  minister  of  Easton, 
the  religious  society  became  much  interested  in  Mr.  Joseph 
Belcher,  who  preached  here  as  a  candidate  for  settlement.  The 
church  voted  to  give  him  a  call,  and  on  July  28,  1731,  the  town, 
in  town-meeting  assembled,  voted  to  concur  with  the  church  in 
this  invitation.  It  may  not  be  amiss  at  this  point  to  remind  the 
reader  that  in  those  early  days  the  parish  included  the  whole 
town.  By  the  "church"  was  meant  the  church-members,  one 
of  whose  special  prerogatives  was  that  of  choosing  the  minister. 
But  their  choice  must  be  ratified  by  a  vote  of  the  parish,  or  town, 
—  all  the  legal  voters  in  town  taking  part  in  this  as  in  any  of  the 
business  matters  that  came  before  them.  The  town  also  fixed 
the  amount  of  the  minister's  salary,  terms  of  settlement,  and 
attended  to  all  the  business  details  involved  in  the  management 
of  parish  affairs.  There  was  one  custom  of  the  time  that  was 
very  interesting,  at  least  from  the  standpoint  of  the  minister.  In 
addition  to  a  salary,  the  town  always  voted  him  what  was  called 
an  "  encouragement,"  or  "  settlement."  This  was  sometimes  a 
generous  gift,  and  was  intended  to  cover  the  expense  of  his 
getting  settled  in  a  new  place,  —  an  expense  that  was  often  a 
considerable  burden  in  days  when  goods  had  to  be  removed 
upon  ox-carts  through  the  wilderness. 

Mr.  Belcher  evidently  was  considered  a  prize,  and  had  also  a 
due  sense  of  his  own  value  ;  for  in  the  vote  giving  him  a  call 
there  is  this  clause  :  "  If  we  can  come  up  to  his  terms."  What 
are  his  terms  ?  Mr.  Short  had  been  receiving  fifty-six  pounds 
for  his  salary.     Mr.  Belcher  asks  for  eighty  pounds  yearly  for 


THE    MINISTRY    OF    REV.    JOSEPH   BELCHER.  95 

the  first  five  years,  ninety  pounds  for  the  sixth,  and  ever  after- 
ward one  hundred  pounds  a  year.  He  is  also  to  have  "  for  his 
incoridgment "  two  hundred  pounds.  Besides  this,  he  is  to  be 
given  the  "improvement"  —  that  is,  the  use — of  the  ministerial 
land.  They  vote  "  for  his  further  incoridgment  that  he  shall  im- 
prove the  Land  in  this  town  laid  out  for  the  use  of  the  ministry, 
as  he  shall  have  occasion  for  planting,  sowing,  mowing,  pastur- 
ing, timber  for  his  own  building,  and  firewood  for  his  family, 
fencing  stuf  for  his  own  fences,"  etc.  In  his  letter  of  acceptance, 
quoted  below,  he  has  an  eye  to  his  worldly  good,  for  he  expresses 
the  hope  that  his  people  will  not  be  wanting  in  kindness  "with 
respect  to  my  comfortable  subsistence  among  you."  We  shall 
see  that  this  shrewd  regard  for  his  financial  condition  is  a 
marked  peculiarity  of  the  new  minister,  and  gets  him  at  last 
into  serious  trouble. 

The  town  having  now  "  come  up  to  his  terms,"  Mr.  Belcher,  in 
a  rather  wordy  and  pretentious  epistle,  signifies  his  acceptance 
of  their  call.     The  following  is  the  document :  — 

To  the  Church  and  Congregation  in  Easton  : 

Beloved  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  —  Where  as  I  have  received 
a  call  from  you  to  settle  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  among  you,  I  de- 
sire to  observe  the  signal  conduct  of  the  Providence  of  Almighty  God 
in  bringing  me  among  you,  I  being  in  a  manner  a  stranger  to  you,  and 
in  disposing  and  inclining  your  hearts  to  this  uncommon  unanimity 
that  attended  your  call  of  me  to  the  Pastoral  office  among  you,  which 
I  look  upon  as  a  very  happy  circumstance  of  my  settlement,  and  as 
one  peculiar  encouragement  to  me  which  very  much  moves  upon  my 
inclinations  in  this  weighty  affair. 

I  am  sensible  that  the  work  and  service  unto  which  you  have  so 
kindly  invited  me  among  you  is  of  great  importance  and  concern, 
which  requireth  great  deliberation  and  serious  thought.  And  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  .-'  I  hope  I  have  taken  the  call  which  I  re- 
ceived from  you  to  settle  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  among  you  into 
serious  consideration,  and  I  hope  I  have  endeavored  to  deliberate 
thereupon  with  solemnity  and  becoming  affection  ;  and  I  hope  I  have 
reason  to  trust  that  I  have  had  the  Divine  direction  in  the  methods  of 
Piety,  together  with  the  advice  of  judicious  and  wise  counsellors  with 
respect  to  my  proceedings  in  the  weighty  affair  before  me.  And  taking 
notice  of  the  direction  of  Divine  Providence  in  the  several  steps  of 


96  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

your  proceedings  in  your  call  of  me  to  the  Pastoral  office  among  you, 
I  am  persuaded  that  the  Providence  of  God  calleth  me  to  an  accept- 
ance. Wherefore,  thanking  you  for  your  kind  regards  expressed  to 
me,  I  accept  of  the  call  received  from  you  to  settle  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  among  you  ;  and  my  answer  thereunto  is  in  the  affirmative, 
in  which  I  do  willingly  and  sincerely  give  up  myself  to  the  service 
of  Christ  in  the  Gospel  Ministry  among  you,  hoping  that  as  in  your 
ability  you  may  be  increased,  you  will  not  be  wanting  hereafter  in  your 
kindness  and  encouragement  towards  me  with  respect  to  my  comfort- 
able subsistence  among  you  as  my  circumstances  among  you  may 
require.  Thus,  bespeaking  you  to  join  with  me  in  most  hearty  and 
earnest  prayers  to  the  God  of  all  strength  and  grace  for  his  gracious 
assistance,  direction,  and  blessing  in  the  important  affair  before  us, 
and  wishing  that  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  may  be  multiplied  unto  you, 
I  subscribe  myself  your  true  friend  and  servant  in  office  of  love  and 
duty. 

Joseph  Belcher.^ 

Easton,  August  20th,  Annoq  Dom'",  1731. 

The  materials  for  a  biography  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher  are 
unfortunately  very  meagre.  He  came  of  what  is  called  "  good 
stock."  He  was  born  at  Braintree,  August  19,  1704,  and  was 
son  of  Gregory  and  Elizabeth  (Ruggles)  Belcher.  Gregory  was 
a  deacon  of  the  church,  and  was  associated  in  that  office  with 
Deacon  John  Adams,  father  of  President  Adams.  The  Ruggles 
family,  to  which  his  mother  belonged,  was  wealthy  and  influential. 
Joseph  was  sent  early  to  Harvard  University,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1723,  just  before  he  was  nineteen  years  old.  He 
is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher,  the  well- 
known  minister  of  Dedham,  who  was  his  uncle. 

Where  our  young  graduate  spent  his  days,  or  what  he  did, 
from  the  time  of  his  graduation  until  his  settlement  at  Easton, 
cannot  now  be  told.  For  a  part  of  this  time  he  was  studying 
divinity,  and  he  may  have  taught  school,  this  being  a  common 
thing  for  graduates  of  the  time  to  do.  He  was  not  settled  as 
minister  previous  to  coming  to  Easton,  as  his  ordination  oc- 
curred here.  He  married  a  wife  whose  given  name  was  Deborah, 
but  whose  family  name  is  unknown.  She  was  known  in  Easton 
as  "  Madam  "  Deborah  Belcher,  this  term  seldom  being  applied 

^  Town  Records,  vol.  i.  p.  25. 


THE   MINISTRY   OF    REV.   JOSEPH    BELCHER.  97 

then.  By  her  he  had  nine  children.  The  family  record  will  be 
given  in  the  Genealogical  History  of  Easton. 

Mr.  Belcher  was  ordained  minister  of  the  Easton  church  on 
Wednesday,  October  6,  1731.  The  sum  of  fourteen  pounds  was 
voted  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  ordination.  Ordination  ser- 
vices were  important  affairs  in  those  days.  Not  only  were  the 
most  impressive  religious  services  held,  but  there  was  also  a  great 
deal  of  hearty  feasting,  and  not  infrequently  considerable  money 
was  spent  for  good  liquors  as  well  as  for  food.  In  some  places, 
though  perhaps  never  in  Easton,  an  ordination  was  a  two  days' 
affair,  and  was  ended  with  a  ball,  at  which  were  music  and  dan- 
cing. It  is  well  to  think  of  these  things  when  we  are  tempted  to 
fall  into  the  too  common  cant  of  condemning  our  early  fathers  as 
so  rigidly  austere  and  gloomy.  Their  creed  may  have  been  so. 
But  while  a  gloomy  creed  may  oppress  a  few  sensitive  souls 
with  sorrow  or  despair,  most  believers  wear  it  easily.  Human 
nature  asserts  itself.  The  dark  shadows  are  in  the  distant 
background  ;  hope,  love,  common-sense  are  at  the  front,  and 
rule  our  common  life.  Our  early  fathers  loved  a  good  time. 
If  the  Sabbath  strictness  was  rather  hard  on  them,  they  knew 
how  to  unbend  on  other  occasions  ;  and  at  military  trainings 
even  the  minister  sometimes  became  more  lively  than  could 
be  accounted  for  except  by  reference  to  the  stimulants  that 
were  in  almost  universal  use.  We  may  therefore  be  sure  that 
if  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Belcher  was  a  solemn  occasion,  the  feast- 
ing which  followed  was  all  the  more  joyous.  The  people  were 
very  happy  in  the  belief  that  they  had  secured  an  exception- 
ally gifted  and  promising  minister,  —  an  expectation  that  was  to 
meet  with  sore  disappointment. 

In  March,  1732,  Mr.  Belcher  bought  of  Deacon  Joseph  Snow 
the  land  and  buildings  that  became  his  homestead  property. 
It  was  33  acres  of  land  just  east  of  the  Green,  part  of  it  be- 
ing between  the  road  and  the  brook,  and  not  far  from  the  mill. 
His  dwelling-house  was  on  the  north  side  of  Depot  Street,  just 
east  of  the  Green.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  east  of 
J.  O.  Dean's  house,  he  had  an  orchard,  of  which  some  persons 
now  living  remember  to  have  seen  the  vestiges. 

There  is  very  little  that  is  noteworthy  during  the  early  years 
of  Mr.  Belcher's  ministry.     His  salary,  according  to  the  original 

7 


98  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

agreement,  somewhat  increased  as  the  years  went  on  ;  but  this 
does  not  satisfy  him,  and  in  1739  he  asks  for  a  special  gift  of 
fifty-six  pounds.  This  may  have  been  because  of  a  depreciation 
of  tlie  currency,  for  the  older  issues  of  paper  money  called  "old 
tenor"  were  steadily  depreciating  in  value.  But  however  this 
may  be,  the  parish  regarded  his  request  as  unreasonable,  and 
at  a  meeting  on  February  5,  1740,  "Mr.  Moderator  put  it  to 
vote  to  see  if  the  town  would  choose  a  committy  of  three  men 
to  treet  with  Mr.  Belcher,  to  see  if  that  he  would  not  take  up 
with  Know  Lees  sume  then  he  Requested  for  ;  and  they  votted 
in  ye  affermitife,  3dly,  we  made  choice  of  Joseph  Grossman, 
George  Keyzer,  and  Nathl.  Perry  for  a  committy,  for  to  see  if 
that  no  Less  sume  than  fifty  and  six  pounds  would  satisfie  ye 
Revd.  Mr.  Joseph  Belcher."  Evidently  Mr.  Belcher  would  not 
be  thus  satisfied,  and  at  a  town-meeting  a  month  later  the 
town  refused  to  vote  to  him  the  money  he  requested.  He  was 
then  receiving  a  salary  of  one  hundred  pounds.  But  the  town 
was  two  years  in  arrears  in  the  payments  due  him  ;  and  this 
tedious  delay,  which  was  a  chronic  characteristic  of  the  town 
in  its  dealings  with  its  ministers  in  olden  times,  must  have 
been  very  embarrassing  to  Mr.  Belcher.  In  1742,  the  town  so 
far  complies  with  his  request  for  additional  pay  as  to  vote  him 
"  fourty  pounds  in  mony  old  tener,  or  other  spesee,  att  markit 
price  Betwixt  man  and  man  the  present  year."  Apparently 
disturbed  at  this  increase  of  its  expenses,  the  town  immedi- 
ately voted  "  not  to  Raise  any  mony  for  to  support  a  scholl." 
It  votes  the  same  additional  amount,  however,  the  next  year  to 
Mr.  Belcher,  which  proves  to  be  his  last  in  the  ministry.  He 
was  dismissed  from  his  pastorate  by  a  vote  of  the  town  passed 
April  16,  1744,  twenty-eight  voting  for  dismissal  to  twelve 
against  it.  No  cause  for  this  action  is  assigned.  A  common 
tradition  reports  that  Mr.  Belcher  became  partially  insane.  Jason 
Reed  heard  from  his  father,  the  Rev.  William  Reed,  that  Mr. 
Belcher  became  so  much  deranged  that  he  used  often  to  pray 
in  the  pulpit  for  "little  Gregory,"  one  of  his  children.  He 
would  sometimes  go  to  meeting  with  his  pockets  full  of  ser- 
mons, and  would  read  one  after  another  without  regard  to  the 
departure  of  his  audience,  ceasing  only  with  the  going  down 
of  the  sun.     Emery's  "History  of  the  Ministry  of  Taunton"  re- 


THE   MINISTRY   OF   REV.   JOSEPH    BELCHER.  99 

ports  this  tradition  ;  and  it  is  made  probable  by  the  subsequent 
conduct  of  Mr.  Belcher,  by  his  giving  up  the  ministry  at  the  age 
of  forty,  and  by  the  fact  that  insanity  appeared  in  the  family 
afterward.  His  grandson  Gregory  was  known  as  "  Crazy  Greg," 
and  used  to  roam  about  the  woods. 

Rev.  Mr.  Belcher  continued  to  make  Easton  his  home  until 
1754,  ten  years  after  his  dismissal.  That  his  insanity  was 
only  partial,  or  was  intermittent,  appears  from  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  part  of  this  time  teaching  school.  He  taught  school 
in  Stoughton  a  portion  of  each  year  from  1747  to  1752  inclu- 
sive, five  different  years  ;  but  old  account  books  show  that  his 
home  remained  in  Easton  all  this  time.  In  1748,  for  example, 
he  buys  here  a  bushel  of  corn  and  a  barrel  of  cider.  His 
children  are  born  here,  and  here  his  wife  dies,  March  21,  1753, 
—  three  days  after  the  birth  of  his  youngest  son,  Jonathan. 
Evidently  his  wife's  death  quite  unsettled  Mr,  Belcher,  for  he 
begins  about  this  time  to  do  business  in  a  reckless  manner, 
and  sometimes  in  such  a  way  that  only  the  plea  of  insanity 
can  save  him  from  the  charge  of  dishonesty ;  for  he  sells  land 
upon  which  an  attachment  had  already  with  his  knowledge 
been  made.  Apparently  advantage  is  taken  of  his  condition, 
for  a  prominent  but  not  always  upright  townsman  brings  suit 
for  one  hundred  pounds  against  him,  having  induced  him  to 
sign  a  note  for  that  amount  on  some  pretext.  But  Mr.  Belcher 
has  wit  enough  to  defend  himself,  and  not  only  wins  the  case 
but  recovers  the  cost  from  the  plaintiff.  He  borrows  money 
right  and  left,  however,  mortgaging  one  piece  of  land  after 
another.  In  March,  1753,  Edward  Hay  ward,  Esq.,  brings  suit 
against  Joseph  Belcher,  who  had,  as  the  writ  alleges,  bound 
himself  to  Mr.  Hayward  as  clerk.  Mr.  Belcher's  defence  is 
that  he  "  was  not  a  clerk  at  the  purchase  and  service  of  the 
plaintiff,  but  a  gentleman,"  etc.  This  defence  was  overruled, 
and  the  case  went  against  the  ex-minister,  who  appealed  to  the 
Superior  Court.  In  June,  1754,  Mr.  Hayward  brought  another 
suit  against  Mr.  Belcher,  and  won  the  case.  The  amount  in- 
volved, including  costs,  was  less  than  ten  pounds.  In  the 
Court's  decision  was  this  order :  "  We  command  you  to  take 
ye  body  of  ye  said  Joseph  Belcher  and  commit  him  to  our 
goal  in  Taunton,  and  detain   him   in  your  custody  in  our  goal 


lOO  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

until "  all  claims  against  him  are  settled.  What  a  change  is 
this  from  the  day  when,  having  "  come  up  to  his  terms,"  the 
parish  joyfully  ordained  him  and  were  so  proud  of  him !  Mr. 
Belcher  himself  feels  the  change,  and  determines  to  escape 
from  it,  and  when  the  sheriff  goes  for  him  is  nowhere  to  be 
found.  Then  a  committee  is  appointed  to  "  apprise  and  set  off 
so  much  of  the  estate "  as  will  satisfy  these  claims.  They  find 
one  lot  of  six  acres  and  twenty  rods  southeast  of  the  meeting- 
house, which  they  value  at  nine  pounds  ;  "  and  for  satisfaction 
of  ye  remaining  part  of  ye  execution  and  charges,  was  shown 
to  us  a  black  cow  of  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  both 
of  her  horns  cutt  of  at  ye  top,  which  we  apprised  at  twenty- 
six  shillings."  The  lot  designated  was  all  the  real  estate  of 
Mr.  Belcher  that  could  be  found,  and  this  was  made  over  to 
Mr.  Hayward.  Let  us  trust  that  the  poor  old  black  cow,  "  with 
both  of  her  horns  cutt  of  at  ye  top,"  which  had  furnished 
the  little  Belchers  with  milk  for  so  many  years,  was  merci- 
fully spared  to  the  now  motherless  and  (practically)  fatherless 
family  of  children.  Seven  of  these  children  were  placed  under 
the  guardianship  of  Ephraim  Hunt,  of  Greenwich,  Hampshire 
County.  Samuel  and  Jonathan  were  supported  by  the  town. 
Samuel  died  in  1755,  but  Jonathan,  and  his  children  after  him, 
were  supported  as  paupers  for  many  years.  It  is  a  matter  of 
sad  interest  to  think  that  children  of  the  first  two  ministers 
of  Easton  should  need  to  rely  upon  public  charity  for  sub- 
sistence !  The  oldest  daughter,  Hannah,  married  Deacon  Ste- 
phen Badlam,  of  Stoughton,  and  was  the  mother  of  two  sons, 
Ezra  and  Stephen,  who  became  distinguished  officers  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Joseph  was  a  soldier  in  the  French  and 
Indian  War,  as  well  as  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  finally 
settled  in  Stoughton.  William  was  killed  or  taken  prisoner 
while  in  his  country's  service  at  New  York,  in  September, 
1776.     Gregory  married  in  town  and  resided  here. 

What  became  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher  ?  Many  days  of 
careful  search  on  the  writer's  part  have  failed  to  find  an  answer 
to  this  question.  He  flies  from  his  creditors  before  April,  1754, 
for  at  that  time  the  town  is  considering  what  to  do  about  "  the 
circumstances  of  Mr.  Belcher's  children  and  estate."  Three 
years  afterward,  having  waited  in  vain  for  his  reappearance,  it 


THE    MINISTRY   OF    REV.   JOSEPH    BELCHER.         loi 

is  voted  to  sell  his  books  and  spend  the  money  as  far  as  it  will 
go  for  the  maintenance  of  his  pauper  children.  Mr.  Belcher 
thus  vanishes  into  thickest  darkness.  The  only  glimmer  of 
light  after  this  is  the  record  in  the  Harvard  Triennial  Cata- 
logue, that  he  died  in  1773.  Though  unable  to  verify  this 
statement,  we  may  accept  it  as  probably  correct.  And  so 
the  second  minister  of  Easton,  beginning  his  ministry  with 
brilliant  auspices,  ends  it  in  misfortune,  and  dies  in  deep 
obscurity. 


I02  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE   REVEREND   SOLOMON    PRENTICE   AND   A   MEMO- 
RABLE   CHURCH   CONTROVERSY. 

Rev.  Mr.  Prentice  accepts  a  Call  to  Easton. —  His  Exciting  Min- 
isterial Experience  at  Grafton.  —  He  is  a  "New  Light."  — 
Where  shall  the  Easton  New  Meeting-House  stand  ?  —  Stormy 
Times.  —  The  General  Court  invoked  to  interfere.  —  They 
order  it  built  at  the  Centre.  —  It  is  done,  but  Disaffection 
INCREASES.  —  Mr.  Prentice  Threatens  to  "break  the  heads" 
OF  the  General  Court's  Committee.  —  The  Church  and  Parish 
DIVIDED. — Mr.  Prentice's  Friends  begin  to  build  a  Meeting- 
House. —  Church  Councils. —  Personalities. 

THE  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher  was  dismissed  from  his  pasto- 
rate April  i6,  1744.  The  church  and  town  had  some 
trouble  in  finding  a  successor.  At  the  beginning  of  1745  the 
church  gave  a  call  to  the  Rev.  Silas  Brett,  of  Bridgewater,  to  be- 
come its  minister,  but  the  town  refused,  January  17,  to  concur  in 
this  call.  On  July  28,  1746,  a  call  from  church  and  town  was 
extended  to  Mr.  Solomon  Reed,  who  for  some  reason  did  not 
accept.  On  January  7,  1747,  a  call  is  given  to  Mr.  John  Wads- 
worth,  and  apparently  accepted,  as  arrangements  are  made  in 
March  for  his  "  Instolment."  But  he  unaccountably  disappears 
from  notice,  and  on  September  14,  1747,  the  Rev.  Solomon  Pren- 
tice, of  Grafton,  is  invited  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  in  Easton.  A  salary  of  ^230,  old  tenor,  was  voted  him, 
*'  together  with  ye  improvement  of  ye  ministerial  land,  (viz.)  to 
plant  and  sow  or  moo  or  pasturing,  to  gether  with  cutting  of  fier- 
wood  for  his  own  fier  and  fencing  stufe  for  to  fenc  ye  ministerial 
land  with  all."  Evidently  this  did  not  "  come  up  to  his  terms," 
for  in  October,  "  2ly,  We  voted  to  give  ye  Reverd  Mr  Solomon 
Printice  four  Hundred  pounds  old  tenner  for  his  yearly  Salery 
During  His  Ministry  amoung  us ;  and  Beef  att  twelve  pence  per 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  103 

pound  to  be  ye  standard  for  to  Eastimate  said  salary  by  as  said 
species  shall  be  sold  in  ye  town  of  Easton.  He  Being  Excluded 
from  any  improvement  on  ye  ministeriell  Lands.  Voted  in  ye 
Affermitive." 

This  statement  furnishes  a  means  of  estimating  the  present 
value  of  Mr.  Prentice's  salary.  The  paper  currency  known  as 
"  old  tenor  "  was,  as  we  have  said,  a  depreciating  one.  At  the 
date  of  Mr.  Prentice's  call  it  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
worth  one  third  of  its  face  value,  judging  it  by  the  standard 
of  the  price  of  beef ;  for  in  1730,  when  this  currency  had  al- 
ready lessened  in  value,  beef  was  fourpence  a  pound.  If  Mr. 
Prentice  therefore  received  ;^400  salary  when  beef  was  twelve 
pence  a  pound,  his  salary  was  equivalent  to  eight  thousand 
pounds  of  beef.  It  is  probable  that  this  means  the  wholesale 
price,  as  it  was  quite  the  custom  for  persons  to  buy  by  the 
quarter,  or  in  larger  amounts  than  at  the  present  day.  If  we 
reckon  the  present  value  of  beef  thus  bought  at  ten  cents  a 
pound,  we  find  that  Mr.  Prentice's  salary  amounted  to  eight 
hundred  dollars.  It  was,  at  all  events,  equivalent  to  eight  thou- 
sand pounds  of  beef. 

The  word  "  specie,"  as  used  in  the  above  vote,  and  as  else- 
where employed  in  records  of  that  date,  has  a  different  meaning 
from  that  to  which  it  is  now  limited.  It  does  not  mean  hard 
money,  but  rather  the  various  commodities  that  are  bought  with 
money,  and  whose  price  forms  a  standard  by  which  to  estimate 
the  real  value  of  a  fluctuating  currency.  Thus  on  June  8,  1730, 
it  was  voted  to  raise  ^^42  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Short  "  in  mony,  or 
in  speceia  at  the  set  price  following  par  Lahore  four  shillings  par 
day,  Indian  corn  at  five  shilings  par  bushel,  rye  at  six  and  six 
pence,  weate  at  nine  shilings,  mutton  at  six  pence  par  pound, 
beave  at  four  pence  par  pound,  porke  at  six  pence  per  pound, 
and  any  other  speshew  at  the  market  price." 

In  addition  to  the  salary  of  ^400,  the  town  voted  an  equal 
sum  for  Mr.  Prentice's  "settlement,"  —  a  very  liberal  offer.  With 
this  salary,  of  the  present  value  of  about  eight  hundred  dollars, 
and  a  gratuity  of  eight  hundred  more  promised, —  one  half  the  first 
year,  and  the  other  half  the  next,  —  we  can  see  that  there  is  far 
less  disproportion  between  the  old  time  and  the  present  pay  of 
ministers  than  is  commonly  supposed.     But  it  is  always  easier 


I04  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

to  vote  money  away  than  to  pay  it  out,  and  we  shall  see  Mr. 
Prentice  obliged  to  sue  the  town  at  Court  for  the  payment  of  the 
money  voted  to  him  with  such  apparent  generosity.  Happy 
however  in  his  ignorance  of  what  is  in  store  for  him  here,  Mr. 
Prentice  accepts  the  call  in  the  following  terms  :  — 

The  town  of  Easton  having  invited  and  called  me,  ye  subscriber,  to 

ye  work  and  office  of  a  gospel  minister  among  them,  and  voted  four 

hundred  pounds  old  tenor  for  my  settlement  among  them,  and  four 

hundred  pounds  old  tenor  for  my  annual  salary,  stated  as  their  vote  of 

October  ye  23,  1747,  doth  appear,  I  hereby  manifest  my  satisfaction 

therewith  and  declare  my  acceptance  thereof  ;  and  in  ye  name  and  fear 

of  God  give  up  myself  to  his  service  of  ye  ministry  among  them. 

Solomon  Prentice. 
Easton,  November  ye  2,  1747. 

This  brief  and  business-like  letter  contrasts  favorably  with  the 
verbose  and  affected  epistle  of  his  predecessor. 

The  Rev.  Solomon  Prentice,  the  son  of  Solomon,  was  born  in 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  May  11,  1705,  and  graduated  from 
Harvard  University  in  1727,  in  the  class  with  Governors  Hutch- 
inson and  Trumbull.  He  was  the  first  minister  of  Grafton, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  was  ordained  December  29,  1731.^ 
Towards  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry  in  Grafton  he  developed 
marked  pecuharities,  that  led  to  serious  trouble  with  his  parish. 
He  was  one  of  those  ministers  who  was  greatly  moved  by  the 
ministry  of  Whitefield.  Whitefield  arrived  in  Boston  in  the  latter 
part  of  1740,  and  the  churches  were  thrown  into  intense  agita- 
tion by  his  preaching.  Mr.  Prentice  espoused  his  cause,  and  be- 
came a  zealous  "New  Light."  Against  the  wishes  of  his  society, 
he  freely  admitted  itinerant  preachers  into  his  pulpit.  He  was 
charged  with  making  use  of  fanatical  and  extravagant  expres- 
sions, and  with  joining  in  the  general  condemnation  of  the  minis- 
ters of  the  land  as  unconverted  men.  In  1743  a  disaffection 
sprang  up  in  his  church  in  Grafton,  and  seven  members  withdrew. 
A  council  was  called  in  October,  1744,  and  it  resulted  in  showing 
that  the  neighboring  ministers  had  in  a  manner  lost  confidence 
in  his  judgment  and  discretion.  He  was  charged  with  saying 
that  "  we  were  to  love  none  but  such  as  are  savingly  converted;" 

^  For  details  of  Mr.  Prentice's  life  and  ministry  in  Grafton,  see  Pierce's  History 
of  that  town. 


A    MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  105 

that  the  "life  and  practice  are  the  negative  part  of  Christian- 
ity; that  a  converted  man  might  know  if  others  were  converted 
merely  by  conversing  with  them  ;  "  that  he  might,  in  fact,  "give  a 
near  guess,  if  they  held  their  tongues  "  !  It  was  declared  that 
he  said  of  Christ's  coming,  "  The  court  of  Heaven  was  ad- 
journed a  little  space,  till  one  of  the  members  came  down  from 
heaven  to  take  upon  himself  humanity."  These  expressions 
were  condemned  by  the  council  "  as  discovering  a  want  of  sound 
knowledge,  and  implying  a  variety  of  absurd  notions."  He  was 
said  to  have  used  the  following  language :  "  To  what  purpose 
is  it  to  preach  to  an  'unregenerate  man,  ...  to  tell  him  he  must 
not  kill,  must  not  steal,  must  not  do  these  and  those  things  ? 
for  he  has  no  power  to  resist  them,  for  he  is  the  Devil's  slave 
and  vassal,  and  doeth  just  what  the  Devil  would  have  him  do." 
This  was  considered  by  the  council  as  "carrying  the  matter 
rather  too  far"!  He  was  condemned  for  introducing  unedu- 
cated itinerants  and  exhorters  into  his  pulpit,  and  obtruding 
himself  into  the  parishes  of  other  ministers  ;  but  no  charge 
was  made  against  his  moral  character.  Peace  therefore  was 
advised,  and  his  people  were  recommended  to  listen  quietly  to 
his  ministrations,  if  he  should  accept  the  judgment  and  advice 
of  the  council. 

The  result  of  the  council  was  accepted  by  both  parties  ;  but 
it  brought  only  a  temporary  quiet.  In  1746  the  dissatisfaction 
broke  out  anew  ;  church  meetings  were  resumed  ;  council  fol- 
lowed council ;  advice  was  again  accepted,  but  again  disregarded. 
Mr.  Prentice  was  discouraged,  and  asked  for  a  dismissal,  which 
he  received  July  10,  1747.  In  his  communication  to  the  council 
he  shows  a  deep  concern  for  the  souls  of  his  people.  This  com- 
munication evinces  the  spirit  of  a  devoted  Christian  pastor.  He 
was  indeed  pious  and  pure-hearted,  but  had  a  zeal  tempered 
with  too  little  discretion;  he  was  strong  and  self-willed,  and 
determined  to  carry  out  whatever  he  began  to  do.  A  man  more 
unsuitable  for  the  trying  times  about  to  dawn  upon  the  Easton 
parish  could  not  have  been  selected.  A  peacemaker,  a  discreet 
and  considerate  man,  was  needed ;  but  Mr.  Prentice  was  a 
champion  of  the  church  militant,  one-sided,  positive,  excitable, 
and  with  sufficient  ability  to  make  these  qualities  productive  of 
serious  trouble  and  mischief. 


I06  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Mr.  Prentice  was  installed  minister  in  Easton,  November  i8, 
1747,  ten  churches  assisting  at  the  installation.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Balch,  of  Dedham,  preached  the  sermon  ;  Leonard  of  Plymouth, 
gave  the  charge,  and  Goddard  of  Leicester  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship.  Mr.  Prentice  began  immediately  to  look  after  the 
spiritual  interests  of  the  church,  which  seem  to  have  been  great- 
ly neglected.  He  is  surprised  to  find  a  church  with  no  church 
records  and  no  covenant.  There  was  not  even  a  list  of  church 
members.  He  proceeds  at  once  to  remedy  these  defects.  A 
meeting  of  the  church  is  called,  and  a  committee  appointed  to 
wait  upon  Mr.  Belcher  the  late  pastor,  who  was  still  living  here, 
•'  to  know  of  him  whither  there  were  in  his  hands,  or  whither  he 
knew  anything  of  a  Covenant  this  chh  had  submitted  unto ;  and 
to  Intreat  him  if  he  had  any,  to  deliver  it  up  to  said  Com'tee,  As 
also  any  other  Records  he  had  in  his  hands  that  belonged  or 
Related  to  this  chh." 

The  pastor,  with  "  Dea.  Edward  Hay  ward,  Capt.  Eliphalet 
Leonard,  and  Bro.  Jos.  Grossman,"  waited  upon  Mr.  Belcher  and 
got  from  him  an  answer  which  confirms  the  tradition  of  his  de- 
rangement. They  reported,  "  That  he  had  never  seen  or  sign*^, 
Neither  did  he  know  anything  about,  any  Covenant  the  chh  here 
had.  And  as  for  Records,  he  said  if  there  was  no  Covenant  there 
could  be  no  chh,  and  if  no  chh  no  Records  ;  and  further  he  saith 
not."  ^  This  comprehensive  answer  was  far  from  being  satisfac- 
tory, but  it  was  conclusive.  It  was  evident  that  the  demented 
ex-minister  had  either  lost  or  destroyed  both  the  records  and 
the  covenant.  Whereupon  the  church  voted  "that  it  is  altogether 
unfitt  &  Improper  for  a  chh  to  be  without  a  Covenant."  ^  These 
votes  were  passed  January  28,  1748.  Another  covenant  was  pre- 
pared and  signed ;  and  so  well  satisfied  were  the  church  at  what 
they  had  done  that  they  praised  themselves  thus :  "  Propos*?  that 
the  Conduct  of  this  chh  is  not  only  Justifiable  but  very  Comend- 
able,  in  that  when  they  Discovr'd  that  there  was  no  Covenant 
to  be  found,  that  they  took  proper  care  to  procure  a  Scriptual 
Covenant,  and  have  Solemnly  and  publickly  Enterd  there  into 
and  subscribed  the  same.     Voted  afirmat." 

This  covenant  (which  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  a  creed)  is 
printed  in  the  Appendix,  with  the  names  of  the  signers  thereto. 
1  Oldest  Easton  Church  Records,  p.  16.  2  ibid. 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  107 

Mr.  Prentice,  having  reorganized  the  church,  having  secured 
the  signing  of  a  covenant  and  begun  new  church  records, 
endeavored  to  promote  a  real  church  life  and  enforce  church 
discipline.  He  was  too  much  in  earnest  to  permit  careless  man- 
agement or  to  ignore  any  violation  of  ecclesiastical  order.  One 
of  the  first  things  done  is  to  call  some  of  the  brethren  to  account 
for  having  abruptly  left  meeting  contrary  to  rules.  He  tried 
to  enforce  the  Scriptural  methods  of  deciding  differences  and 
quarrels  between  the  brethren  by  church  exhortation,  counsel, 
and  rebuke,  reconciling  contending  brethren  without  appeal  to 
the  courts.  Thus  when  Samuel  Drake  complained  to  the  church 
that  Nathaniel  Perry  had  accused  him  of  keeping  false  accounts, 
the  church  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the  case  between 
the  two  brethren.  Several  meetings  are  held  about  the  affair. 
The  case  is  tried,  and  Mr.  Perry,  by  evidence  produced,  sustains 
his  charge,  and  Mr.  Drake  is  excluded  from  the  privilege  of 
"coming  to  the  Lord's  table."  It  reflects  credit  upon  Mr. 
Prentice  and  the  Easton  church  that  they  made  honesty  between 
men  a  necessary  condition  of  church  fellowship. 

A  difficulty  that  caused  the  church  serious  trouble  occurred 
between  Dea.  Edward  Hayward  and  Henry  Howard.  It  was 
after  the  bitter  contention  about  the  location  of  the  meeting- 
house, soon  to  be  narrated,  had  begun.  Deacon  Hayward  de- 
clared that  Mr.  Howard  had  told  him,  "  ten  times  within  three 
months,  that  ye  meeting-house  in  Easton  stood  in  the  suitablest 
place  to  keep  the  town  together."  Mr.  Howard  denied  the 
statement,  and  evidence  taken  sustained  the  denial.  The  church 
then  made  a  charge  of  misrepresentation  against  the  Deacon  ; 
and  when,  after  much  debate,  it  was  about  to  be  put  to  vote,  the 
following  interesting  scene  occurred,  which  is  recorded  by  Mr. 
Prentice  in  the  church  book :  — 

Upon  beholding  matters  bro't  to  such  a  crisis,  the  Dea.  Bow'd  his 
head,  and  with  tears  in  his  eyes  utter'd  and  caused  to  be  taken  down 
the  following  acknowledgement,  viz :  Wher'as  in  the  Late  day  of  tryal 
&  Temptation  I  have  spoken  very  rashly  &  unadvisedly,  and  espe- 
cially in  saying  that  I  could  prove  Bro'r  Henry  Howard  had  told  me 
Ten  times  within  three  months,  and  that  within  three  Weeks  he  had 
said,  that  the  Meeting  House  (in  Easton)  stood  in  the  most  suitable 
place  to  keep  the  Town  together,  as  appears  by  plentiful!  evidence  I 


I08  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

did,  —  I  do  acknowledge  it  was  very  rashl)'  said,  and  I  am  sorry  I  said 

so ;  and  I  ask  forgiveness  of  God  whom  I  have  offended,  as  also  of 

this  Chh,  &  of  Bro!  Henry  Howard  in  special,  &  I  promiss  by  Divine 

help  I  will  Carry  my  selfe  more  circumspectly  towards  God,  this  Chh, 

and  all  men  I  may  be  Concern^  with,  than  of  Late  I  have  Done. 

Edw^  Havward. 
Easton,  April  26,  1751. 

Upon  which,  Bror  Henry  Howard,  of  his  own  accord,  voluntaryly  De- 
clare' as  follows,  Viz:  I  am  sorry  for  any  thing  I  have  s?  or  acted 
Rashly  in  this  Late  dae  of  tryal.  Either  against  God,  this  Chh,  or  Dea. 
Hayward  in  particular ;  and  do  beg  forgiveness  of  God,  this  Chh,  & 
Deaf  Hayward  in  special.  H.  Howard. 

Which  the  Chh  beheld,  with  great  joy  and  surprizing  Delight,  Chear- 
fully  Vot?  their  agreeable  satisfaction  with,  Restor''  these  their  Breth"  to 
their  Charaty  &  Usual  standing  again.  With  which  hapyly  Ended  all 
matters  of  Difificulty  and  Uneasyness,  which  were  in  or  had  been  Laid 
before  the  Chh. 

Wher'upon  with  Thanksgiving,  Prayr,  &  Praise  the  Meeting  was 
Dissmiss? 

att"  S.  Prentice,   V.  D.  M. 

We  shall  now  attend  to  the  history  of  one  of  the  most  note- 
worthy church  contentions  that  ever  occurred  in  New  England, 
but  one  which  has  never  before  been  chronicled.  It  divided  the 
town,  mainly  on  territorial  lines,  into  two  warring  factions,  mak- 
ing in  some  cases  "a  man's  foes  those  of  his  own  household," 
and  did  a  harm  to  religion  that  was  felt  for  many  years.  Where 
shall  the  meeting-hoiise  stand?  This  was  the  rock  on  which  the 
church  split.  Shall  the  new  building  be  erected  on  the  site  of 
the  old  one,  to  suit  the  people  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  or 
shall  it  stand  at  or  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  better  to  accom- 
modate those  in  the  west  part .''  It  will  be  noticed  farther  on 
that  those  settlers  who  lived  in  the  northeast  part  (now  North 
Easton)  sided  with  the  East-Enders.  And  the  reason  for  this 
was  that  they  had  not  only  become  accustomed  to  the  old  lo- 
cation, but  the  road  thither  was  the  old  travelled  way,  there 
being  no  road,  but  only  a  rough  cart-path,  to  the  Centre. 

Curiously  enough,  even  before  the  incorporation  of  the  town 
we  can  see  the  first  rising  of  the  cloud  which  was  now  to  bring 
such  a  tempest  upon  the  people.    About  171 8  what  is  now  called 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  109 

the  Furnace  Village  was  just  being  settled,  and  it  was  giving 
promise  of  considerable  growth.  The  first  Josiah  Keith  (who 
had  built  a  house,  and  was  erecting  a  saw-mill)  and  some  of  his 
neighbors  foresaw  the  attempt  that  would  be  made,  and  soon 
was  successfully  made,  to  build  the  new  meeting-house  near  the 
Bridgewater  line  ;  for  a  precinct  was  petitioned  for,  and  had  just 
been  granted.  Keith  and  others  therefore,  as  early  as  June  5, 
1 71 8,  presented  to  the  General  Court  the  following  petition  :  — 

"  A  petition  of  several  of  the  Inhabitants  in  the  East  Precinct  in 
Norton,  Shewing  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Western  Part  of  said  East 
Precinct,  with  many  others  that  are  beginning  to  settle  upon  their 
Lands  in  the  said  Part,  will  be  much  discouraged  from  settling  there 
(which  will  be  much  to  the  Damage  of  the  said  new  village)  until  the 
publick  Meeting  House  for  Divine  Worship  be  built  in  the  Center 
of  the  said  Precinct ;  and  therefore  Praying  that  a  Committee  may  be 
appointed  by  this  Honourable  Court  to  find  out  the  said  Center  & 
appoint  the  place  where  the  said  Meeting  House  shall  be  built. 

"In  Council.  — Read  &  Ordered  that  the  Hon''!'^  Nathaniel  Payne, 
Esq.,  with  such  as  the  Hon''!"  House  of  Representatives  shall  join 
with  him,  be  a  committee  to  go  to  Norton,  &  View  &  Report  to  this 
Court  the  most  proper  &  convenient  Place  for  setting  up  the  said 
Meeting  House."  ^ 

These  petitioners  were  the  few  families  living  in  the  west  part 
of  what  is  now  Easton.  Their  petition  was  unavailing :  the 
precinct  will  not  build  a  meeting-house  at  the  centre  of  the  town. 
The  defeated  party  were  very  sore  over  the  result,  and  lost  no 
opportunity  to  manifest  their  displeasure.  In  1728  and  1729 
we  find  them,  as  before  narrated,  opposing  any  expenditure  of 
money  to  repair  and  improve  the  meeting-house.  They  are  out- 
voted ;  but  they  do  not  forget,  and  they  will  bide  their  time. 
Their  time  is  now  at  hand.  In  January,  1745,  they  are  strong 
enough,  with  the  aid  of  some  of  the  more  generous  of  the  east 
part,  to  get  a  vote  passed  "  to  Buld  a  publick  meeting  House 
for  ye  publick  worship  of  god  in  this  town,  in  ye  senter  or  within 
twenty  Rods  of  ye  senter.  Voted  to  have  it  finished  within  six 
years  from  ye  date  hereof."  Nearly  a  year  before,  a  committee 
of  out-of-town  men,  with  Lieut.  Morgan  Cobb  of  Taunton  for 
1  Massachusetts  General  Court  Records,  vol.  x.  pp.  237,  238. 


no  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

surveyor,  had  been  appointed  by  the  town  to  find  out  where  the 
centre  was.  It  was  found  to  be  on  Benjamin  Pettengill's  land, 
near  the  present  residence  of  L.  K.  Wilbur.  Nothing  is  done 
about  carrying  out  this  vote  to  build  a  meeting-house  for  four 
years.  On  Christmas  day,  1749  (no  regard  being  paid  to  Christ- 
mas in  those  days),  the  subject  was  revived.  The  people  of  the 
west  part  of  the  town  are  now  willing  to  make  a  concession  (are 
perhaps  forced  to  do  it  in  order  to  carry  their  point),  and  no 
longer  demand  that  it  shall  be  built  at  the  exact  centre,  near  Ben- 
jamin Pettengill's.  Several  votes  are  passed  and  reconsidered, 
and  the  town  votes  finally  to  build  the  meeting-house  "on  ye  half- 
acre  of  Land  that  Capt.  John  Phillips  had  laid  out  for  yt  Use, 
which  is  near  one  half  a  mile  east  from  ye  center  of  said  town  ; 
and  it  was  voted  to  raise  Fifteen  Hundred  Pounds  in  bills  of 
credit  of  ye  old  tenor  towards  Building  sd  Meeting  House." 
Let  it  be  remembered  that  this  vote  passed  by  a  large  majority ; 
that  many  voted  for  it  who  after  the  work  was  partially  done 
fought  against  it ;  and  that  even  Mr.  Prentice  indorsed  it  and 
co-operated  with  the  proposed  plan.  Mr.  Prentice  is  especially 
enthusiastic,  and  makes  a  generous  offer  of  assistance,  as  we 
see  by  the  following  vote  of  the  town  on  this  Christmas  day  :  — 

"  Voted  cherfully  and  thankfully  to  Accept  of  ye  Rev.  Mr  Solomons 
prentice  Kind  offer,  and  to  comply  with  ye  conditions  annex?  viz :  for 
ye  Encorragement  of  ye  town  Chearfully  &  Loveingly  to  go  forward 
in  Building  their  New  meeting  House,  mr  prentice  offers  &  hereby  En- 
gages to  stand  in  ye  place  &  pay  ye  tax  of  ye  fifth  Highest  payer  in 
town,  towards  building  &  finishing  said  meeting  House  (not  to  Ex- 
empt ye  said  fifth  man  from  paying,  but  to  help  ye  whole  town),  on  con- 
dision  said  prentice  may  Have  ye  Liberty  of  ye  fifth  choice  of  pews  in 
s?  meeting  House,  He  paying  what  ye  same  shall  be  set  att  by  ye  towns 
com'"" "  ^ 

Mr.  Prentice's  action  here  recorded  must  be  taken  into  ac- 
count in  our  judgment  of  the  strenuous  opposition  which  he 
soon  so  inconsistently  made  against  the  completion  of  the  new 
meeting-house,  and  against  worshipping  in  it  when  it  was  ready. 
At  first  the  people  went  busily  to  work.  Timber  was  cut 
and  hewn,  and  drawn  to  the  spot  where  the  building  was  to  be 

1  Original  Town  Records,  vol.  i.  p.  65. 


A    MEMORABLE    CHURCH     CONTROVERSY.  m 

raised.  But  an  undercurrent  of  opposition  set  in,  and  increased 
in  force.  On  February  26,  1750,  two  months  after  the  work 
was  determined  upon,  twenty  persons  entered  their  protest 
against  the  continuance  of  the  work  on  the  building.  It  is  in- 
teresting to  note  that  nearly  all  of  these  persons  were  from  the 
northeast  part  of  the  town,  among  them  being  Eliphalet  Leon- 
ard, John  Randall,  and  George  Ferguson.  The  dissatisfaction 
increased.  April  9,  1750,  a  town-meeting  was  called,  at  which 
the  malcontents  were  present  in  force.  It  was  "Voted  for  to 
build  ye  Meeting  House  in  some  other  place  than  where  ye 
timber  Now  lies  ; "  and  it  was  then  voted  to  build  it  four  rods 
northward  of  the  spot  where  it  was  formerly  voted.  This  lot 
was  bought  of  Benjamin  Drake.  The  concession  of  four  rods 
did  not  please  the  dissatisfied.  They  then  asked  that  the  north 
part  of  the  town  might  be  set  apart  as  a  separate  precinct;  but 
this  was  denied  them. 

Everything  was  now  in  readiness  for  raising  the  frame,  and 
the  committee  who  had  thus  far  attended  to  the  work  appointed 
a  day  for  this  to  be  done.  At  this  there  was  an  outcry  of  oppo- 
sition ;  so  much  so  that  three  of  the  committee  wavered,  and 
postponed  the  day.  They  reported  :  "  We  see  the  contenshon 
was  grate  about  the  Place  Perfixed  for  said  hous,  ...  so  we 
thot  it  our  Dutey  to  for  bid  the  Rasing  said  fraim  till  the  town 
could  be  coled  together,"  etc.  So  the  frame  lay  untouched  upon 
the  ground.  It  was  no  time  for  such  indecision.  The  town 
had  sufficiently  declared  its  purpose,  and  there  was  no  prospect 
of  better  agreement  in  another  town-meeting.  Fortunately  the 
town  party  had  a  leader  who  was  not  afraid  to  take  responsi- 
bility, and  "  Esquire  "  Edward  Hayward  (who  was  also  captain 
and  deacon)  with  others  raised  the  frame  in  spite  of  the  com- 
mittee's attempt  at  delay.  Two  of  the  committee  who  advised 
delay  were  dismissed  from  their  duties  ;  they  were  John  Dailey, 
Sr.,  and  Henry  Howard.  The  house  was  raised  in  four  days, 
beginning  Monday,  April  23,  1750;  and  unless  our  fathers  de- 
parted from  the  usual  custom  of  the  time,  there  was  plenty  of 
good  drink  to  enliven  the  occasion. 

Some  of  the  opposing  party,  when  they  saw  matters  proceed- 
ing thus  far  and  their  defeat  a  certainty,  began  to  yield.  Capt. 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  for  instance,  had  vowed  he  would  never  con- 


112  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

sent  to  a  church  being  built  upon  that  spot ;  but  taking  his 
short-stemmed  pipe  from  his  mouth,  he  told  the  leading  men 
that  if  they  would  save  his  vow  inviolate  by  moving  the  sills 
the  length  of  his  pipe-stem,  he  would  go  with  them.  They  how- 
ever would  not  yield  even  so  small  a  point  as  that ;  and  he 
went  away  in  wrath,  and,  next  to  Mr.  Prentice,  became  the  lead- 
ing opponent  of  the  town  party.  The  raising  was  completed 
on  Thursday,  April  26,  at  which  time  the  assembled  people, 
full  of  enthusiasm,  sang  the  one  hundredth  Psalm.  This  was 
doubtless  Watts's  versification.  Its  appropriateness  is  apparent 
from  the  fifth  stanza,  which  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  We  '11  crowd  thy  gates  with  thankful  songs, 
High  as  the  heavens  our  voices  raise  ; 
And  earth,  with  her  ten  thousand  tongues, 
Shall  fill  thy  courts  with  sounding  praise." 

It  is  interesting  to  imagine  that  throng  of  our  Easton  fathers 
and  mothers  with  their  families  grouped  about  this  solid  frame 
of  the  new  meeting-house,  and  lifting  up  their  voices  in  thanks- 
giving to  God.  We  cannot  help  thinking,  however,  that  mingled 
with  all  this  sacred  joy  the  West  End  people  must  have  felt  a 
little  human  exultation  at  their  victory,  and  that  those  opposed 
to  them,  such  as  were  present,  must  have  found  their  cup  mixed 
with  gall. 

John  Dailey,  Sr.,  and  Henry  Howard  having  been  dropped 
from  the  committee  appointed  to  build  the  meeting-house,  Lieut. 
John  Williams,  George  Keyzer,  and  Esquire  Hayward  were 
chosen,  but  not  without  protest.  Benjamin  Williams  and  Thomas 
Manley  were  already  on  the  committee.  The  work  now  rapidly 
progresses  during  the  summer  of  1750,  but  the  disaffection  in- 
creases. It  is  even  proposed  in  town-meeting,  September  24,  to 
divide  the  town  by  a  north  and  south  line,  so  as  to  make  two 
towns  of  Easton,  The  proposition  fails  of  sufficient  support. 
In  November  the  new  meeting-house,  though  not  finished,  is 
ready  for  occupancy.  On  November  5  the  town  votes  that  the 
committee  may  pull  down  the  old  building  when  they  think 
proper.  Two  of  the  committee  went  to  Mr.  Prentice  on  Satur- 
day evening,  told  him  they  meant  to  pull  the  old  house  down  on 
Monday,  and  asked  him  to  give  notice  that  services  would  hence- 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY. 


113 


forth  be  held  at  the  new  meeting-house.  We  have  this  account 
in  Mr.  Prentice's  own  words.  Writing  of  the  new  house,  he 
states  as  follows  :  — 

"By  Novf  (it)  is  so  far  Inclos^  that  2  of  the  Selectmen  on  Nov.  10, 
Saturday  night,  came  to  my  house  Informing  me  the  Town  desigher?  to 
pull  down  the  Old  Meeting  house  the  next  Week,  and  they  would  have 
me  to  Morrow  after  exercise  enform  the  congregation  ther'of,  that  ye 
town  might  meet  in  the  New  Meeting  house  the  Sabbath  after.  I  In- 
timate to  ye  gentlemen  I  thought  itt  did  not  pertain  to  me  to  do  that 
Business.  Accordingly  I  did  itt  not.  On  Nov'  12  the  Old  Meeting 
house  was  pulL'  Down."  ^ 

The  crisis  had  now  come.  The  new  meeting-house  was 
ready,  and,  to  allow  no  excuse  for  not  worshipping  in  it,  the  old 
house  was  pulled  down.  What  was  to  be  done  .-'  Shall  the  dis- 
affected minority  yield }  A  meeting  of  the  church  (that  is,  the 
church  members)  is  called.  Surely  the  assembly  of  the  saints 
will  counsel  peace  and  the  surrender  of  personal  preferences  for 
the  general  good.  On  Friday,  November  16,  at  one  p.  m., 
thirty-six  members  were  present,  and  they  voted,  twenty-three 
to  thirteen,  that  they  would  not  worship  in  the  new  meeting- 
house, and  that  they  would  meet  for  public  worship  at  "  Mr  W" 
Hayward's  New  House."  This  refusal  to  worship  at  the  meet- 
ing-house at  the  Centre,  which  had  been  built  by  vote  of  the 
town,  made  an  open  breach  between  the  two  parties.  On  the 
next  Sunday  probably  no  service  was  held  in  the  church,  and  on 
Tuesday  the  20th  Mr.  Prentice  received  the  following  letter :  — 

M"^  Prentice.  Rev.  Si^  —  We  the  Subscribers  desire  that  you  would 
attend  the  publick  Worship  of  God  On  y^  Sabbath  Days  for  y^  time  to 
come  att  Our  New  Meeting  House  in  Easton. 

Sighn?  Joshua  Howard,  ]    Selectmen  for  y' 

Nov'  20"'  1750.  John  Williams,    j    Town  of  Easton. 

Mr.  Prentice's  party  consult  the  Hon.  George  Leonard,  of  Nor- 
ton, and  other  legal  authority,  the  result  of  which  is  not  reported. 
They  however  are  determined  not  to  yield,  and  a  petition  headed 
by  Dea.  Robert  Randall,  with  fifty  signatures,  is  presented  to 
the  pastor  asking  him  to  preach  in  private  houses,  until  a  meet- 
ing-house is  erected  near  Israel  Randall's  corner,  —  that  is,  at 

1  Mr.  Prentice's  letter  to  the  General  Court.     State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  pp.  222-24. 

8 


114  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

the  Green.  The  majority  of  the  church  members,  at  least  of 
those  attending  the  meetings  that  are  called,  vote  to  the  same 
effect,  and  December  7  they  decided  to  hold  services  by  turns, — 
four  Sundays  at  William  Hayward's,  which  was  near  Simpson's 
Spring,  and  four  Sundays  at  James  Pratt,  Jr's.,  his  house  being  a 
little  south  of  the  South  Easton  Cemetery.  Mr.  Prentice  hesi- 
tated at  first  in  his  decision,  as  well  he  might ;  for  he  had  acqui- 
esced in  the  town's  vote  to  build  where  the  meeting-house  now 
stood.  "  I  was  frequently  with  them,  and  encouraged  them  what- 
ever I  could,"  he  had  written.  The  only  reason  he  gives  for  re- 
fusing to  preach  in  the  new  meeting-house  is  that  the  church 
has  voted  to  hold  services  elsewhere,  and  that  he  considers 
it  his  duty  to  obey  the  church. 

On  December  24,  1750,  the  town  voted  to  choose  a  committee 
of  five  men  to  treat  with  Mr.  Prentice,  and  "  to  see  if  he  will 
atend  and  preach  to  us  in  our  Meeting  House  in  Easton,  &  to 
know  of  a  Sertainty  whether  he  will  or  will  not."  On  the  26th 
the  committee  delivered  him  a  letter,  which  he  answered  immedi- 
ately, and  in  which  he  writes  :  "Upon  mature  consideration,  I  find 
myself  able  to  give  no  other  answer  there  unto  att  present  than 
this,  —  viz.,  I  must  scrupel  your  authority  by  proper  Deligation 
from  ye  town  determining  to  atend  public  worship  of  god  in  ye 
new  meeting  house,"  etc.  Until  this  scruple  is  removed,  he 
declares  that  he  will  obey  the  requirement  of  the  church.  He 
subscribes  himself  their  "  most  humble  ser't  &  most  affection- 
ate pastor,  most  willing  to  serve  both  town  &  church  wherin  I 
may."  What  can  the  town  do  ?  Mr.  Prentice  prefers  to  obey 
the  church  rather  than  the  parish.  The  first  thing  that  is  done 
after  this  is  that  on  January  15,  175 1,  the  town  refuses  to  vote 
him  his  yearly  salary.  At  the  same  meeting  they  choose  a  com- 
mittee "  to  Lay  our  Difficultys  before  ye  General  Court,  Relating 
to  a  number  of  ye  inhabitance  of  ye  town  in  there  absenting 
themselves  from  us  &  going  about  to  build  another  meeting- 
House  in  ye  easterly  part  of  Easton  ;  entreating  sd  Court  to  en- 
terpose  by  a  [all]  There  autority,  &  to  prevent  our  Runing  further 
into  confusion  &  Dificulties."  ^ 

Mr.  Prentice's  shrewdness  and  ability  are  proved  by  the  fact 
that  as  soon  as  this  vote  is  passed,  indeed  on  the  very  day  of  its 

1  Old  Town  Records,  p.  69.     The  date  of  1750  is  Old  Style;  it  is  really  1751. 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  115 

passage,  he  drew  up  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  himself,  got 
it  headed  by  Eliphalet  Leonard  and  signed  by  sixty  other  per- 
sons, and  forwarded  it  to  Boston  before  the  town's  committee 
presented  their  own  message.  The  petition  is  in  his  own  hand- 
writing, and  merely  asks  that  the  petitioners  shall  be  served 
with  a  copy  of  the  petition  about  to  be  presented  by  the  town's 
committee,  of  which  Esquire  Hayward  is  the  chairman.  This 
committee  prepared  a  statement  of  the  main  facts  relating  to  the 
building  of  the  meeting-house,  such  as  have  been  already  nar- 
rated, and  then  added  :  "  Ye  Inhabitants  In  general  went  chear- 
fully  on  with  ye  work,  until  lately  there  is  a  seperation  of  a 
considerable  number  of  ye  Inhabitants  yt  voted  to  have  ye  meet- 
ing House  where  it  now  stands,  which  seperatists  live  in  ye  east 
part  of  ye  town,  and  argot  to  such  a  head  yt  our  minister  hath 
joined  them  and  Refuseth  to  preach  to  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  town 
in  ye  meeting  House,  But  preaches  to  sd.  Seperate  party  in  a 
Private  house ;  and  sd  party  ace  about  building  a  meeting  house 
between  ye  new  meeting  House  &  Bridgewater  line,  on  ye  east 
side  of  sd  town,  tho  ye  meeting  House  now  built  stands  not  a 
mile  &  f  from  Bridgewater  line  and  more  than  three  miles  from 
Norton  line  and  ye  west  of  said  Easton,  and  was  placed  further 
east  to  accommodate  sd  Party.  Wherefore  as  two  separate  Par- 
ishes is  more  than  sd.  town  can  maintain,  they  humbly  pray  ye 
Interposition  of  the  Great  &  Gen.  Court  to  prevent  ye  proceed- 
ings of  sd.  party,  or  otherwise  to  Relieve  sd  town  as  shall  seem 
meet."  ^  A  copy  of  this  petition  is  sent  to  Eliphalet  Leonard, 
who  with  others  merely  answer  that  the  Centre  of  the  town  is 
very  unsuitable  for  the  meeting-house,  which  they  say  should  "  be 
set  in  the  center  of  the  Travial  of  the  present  Inhabitants."  Mr. 
Prentice  adds  to  this  a  long  paper  of  his  own,  already  alluded 
to.  He  does  not  present  the  matter  in  any  new  light ;  but  he 
is  especially  indignant  over  the  charge  that  his  party  are  "  Sep- 
aratists," for  he  writes  :  "  And  now  asking  yr  Hon'rs  Pardon 
for  my  Prolixity,  I  Humbly  Beg  the  faviour  of  this  Hon'ble 
Court,  that  the  chh  &  Pastor  may  be  acquitted  from  that  Infa- 
mous term  of  Seperatists  fixed  upon  us  by  the  Town's  Com'tee 
in  their  Petition.  Because  it  is  an  epithett  we  renounce  with 
abhorrence  and  Detestation."  ^ 

1  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  pp.  219,  220.  ^  Ibid.,  p.  224. 


Il6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

In  the  General  Court  the  whole  subject  was  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee, who,  hearing  the  parties  interested,  proposed  that  three 
persons  should  be  sent  to  Easton  "  to  view  their  circumstances  " 
etc.,  and  report  to  the  General  Court;  and  that  meantime  all  pro- 
ceedings as  to  "building  a  meeting  house  in  the  town  be  stayed." 
A  committee  was  accordingly  appointed,  consisting  of  James  Mi- 
not,  Esq.,  Captain  White,  and  Captain  Clapp.^  This  was  on  Feb- 
ruary 12,  175 1,  the  dates  in  the  original  papers  being  Old  Style. 

Mr.  Prentice's  party,  however,  had  already  decided  to  build  a 
meeting-house  of  their  own.  He  had  offered  a  lot  of  land  for  this 
purpose  ;  it  was  a  part  of  what  is  called  the  Green,  at  South 
Easton,  and  the  building  was  to  stand  at  the  southeast  part  of 
the  Green.  In  January,  175  i,  his  friends  were  collecting  materi- 
als for  erecting  it,  and  work  had  already  begun  with  great  enthu- 
siasm. But  this  order  of  the  General  Court,  that  all  proceedings 
as  to  building  a  new  house  be  stayed,  they  interpreted  as  apply- 
ing to  themselves  as  well  as  to  the  town  party.  Nothing  could 
exceed  the  ire  of  Mr.  Prentice  and  his  friends  at  being  obliged 
to  lay  down  their  tools  and  stop  work  on  the  meeting-house  they 
had  with  such  lively  interest  begun  to  build.  Hard  words  were 
uttered  by  both  sides,  and  an  especially  Hvely  colloquy  occurred 
between  Nehemiah  Randall  and  the  minister  at  the  house  of 
William  Hayward,  of  which  a  sworn  statement  is  as  follows  :  — 

Nehemiah  Randal,  of  Easton,  of  Lawful  age,  testifith  and  saith,  that 
He  being  at  the  House  of  William  Hayward  at  Easton,  on  the  Later 
end  of  febuarey  or  the  begining  of  March,  175 1,  and  thare  Discorsing 
with  Mr.  Solomon  prentis,  Late  or  then  Minister  of  Easton,  consarning 
the  Genaral  Corts  Commitey  that  did  Establish  the  Towns  meeting 
House;  and  then  the  Reverent  Mr.  prentis  Said  in  Conversation  with 
said  Nehemiah  Randal,  Discorsing  consarning  the  meeting  House  that 
Capt.  Leonard  and  a  number  of  the  Inhabitance  of  Easton  ware  then 
abuilding  in  Easton  on  Mr.  prentises  Land,  and  the  said  Nehemiah 
Asced  Mr.  prentis  whither  they  would  go  forward  with  building  there 
meeting  House,  and  he  said  he  se  nothing  to  hender ;  and  then  Nehe- 
miah said  it  may  be  the  Cort  will  send  a  Commetey  to  pul  it  down,  and 
Mr.  prentis  made  this  reply,  Let  them  Come  into  my  field,  I  will  breake 
theare  Heads  ;  when  it  was  answered  to  Him  that  the  Genaral  Cort's 
Committey  might  Command  Assistance,  and  he  would  not  be  abel  to  do 

1  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  p.  224. 


A    MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  117 

it,  and  His  reply  was  this :  I  do  not  fear  it,  I  can  have  anofe  to  assist 
me  in  that  afare  ;  Let  them  Come  in  to  my  field  if  they  Dare,  I  will 
split  theaire  braines  out. 

Nehemiah  Randall. 
Sworn  to  before  Edward  Hayward,  Justice  of  the  peace.' 

This  violent  language  of  Mr.  Prentice  proves  him  to  have 
been  a  man  of  passionate  feeling  and  little  discretion.  Glad 
enough  was  his  principal  opponent,  Esquire  Hayward,  to  get 
sworn  evidence  of  his  uttering  such  language  ;  and  he  will  use 
it  before  the  General  Court  and  before  church  councils  ere  the 
affair  is  over,  much  to  the  minister's  disadvantage. 

The  committee  of  the  General  Court  who  came  here  "to  view 
the  circumstances"  presented  their  report  on  April  12,  1751. 
They  reported  that  the  new  meeting-house  was  in  the  best  place 
to  accommodate  the  whole  town,  and  recommended  that  unless 
Mr.  Prentice  would  preach  therein  the  town  be  freed  from  pay- 
ing his  salary.  In  accordance  with  this  recommendation  the 
Governor's  Council  and  the  House  of  Representatives  concurred 
in  the  following  action  :  — 

"Inasmuch  as  the  said  Town  of  Easton  have,  by  a  Major  vote  of 
the  Inhabitants  thereof  at  a  great  expense  erected  a  large  meeting 
house  in  a  much  more  suitable  Place,  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
whole  town,  than  any  other  place  proposed  to  the  Committee  by  the 
Parties,  and  have  almost  finished  the  outside  of  said  house,  therefore 
ordered  that  the  Inhabitants  of  sd  Town  proceed  to  finish  said  house  ; 
and  that  they  be  freed  from  paying  anything  towards  the  support  of 
Mr.  Solomon  Prentice,  their  minister,  unless  he  complies  with  their 
vote  &  Desire  to  preach  in  the  new  meeting-house."  ^ 

These  recommendations  were  adopted,  and  when  the  fact  was 
made  known  in  Easton,  it  created  consternation  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Prentice  party.  Mr.  Prentice  must  now  retreat  from  his 
position  and  preach  in  the  Centre  meeting-house  or  forfeit  all 
claim  upon  the  town  for  his  salary.  He  broods  over  it  a  few 
days,  and  then  addresses  the  following  communication  to  the 
selectmen  :  — 

To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Easton  : 

Gentlemen,  —  Having  seen  &  perused  the  order  of  the  Great  & 
General  Court  relating  to  Affairs  of  this  Town  :  I  do  desire  and  insist 
^  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  p.  760.  "^  Ibid.,  p.  230 


Il8  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

upon  it,  that  there  be  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Easton,  qualified 
to  act  in  Town  Affairs,  forthwith  called,  to  see  if  the  Town  will  grant 
me  a  Dismission  from  my  Relation  to  them  as  a  minister. 

In  doing  of  which,  you  will  much  oblige  your  now  affectionate 
Pastor, 

Solomon  Prentice.^ 

Easton,  April  20,  1751. 

Mr,  Prentice's  request  for  a  town-meeting  to  grant  him  a  dis- 
missal does  not  seem  to  have  been  acted  upon.  The  annual 
March  meeting  had  been  adjourned  in  disorder.  The  excite- 
ment was  so  great  that  many  of  those  chosen  for  office  refused 
to  serve,  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  for  two  months.  In  May 
it  met  again,  and  with  difficulty  the  vacancies  in  town  offices 
were  filled.  It  is  observable  that  those  of  Mr.  Prentice's  party 
who  are  elected  refuse  to  serve,  and  the  town  officers  are  nearly 
all  chosen  from  the  new  meeting-house  party.  Thus  bitter  was 
the  feeling  generated  by  these  church  difficulties.  At  this  ad- 
journed meeting  in  May  no  allusion  is  made  to  Mr.  Prentice's 
request  for  a  dismissal,  nor  is  there  any  action  upon  it  at  the  next 
town-meeting,  in  July.  Evidently,  even  the  town  party  do  not 
wish  to  lose  their  minister  ;  and  instead  of  entertaining  his  pro- 
position for  release,  they  adopt  an  entirely  new  plan  for  the 
settlement  of  the  prevailing  difficulties.  They  propose  to  call  a 
council  of  churches.  The  State  had  interposed  in  vain  ;  it  was 
now  hoped  that  the  Church  might  succeed  in  promoting  peace. 

Accordingly  Edward  Hayward,  James  Dean,  and  others  of  the 
town  party,  one  week  after  his  letter  was  sent  to  the  selectmen, 
addressed  him  and  the  church  members  adhering  to  him,  ask- 
ing that  on  account  of  the  "  Difficulties  &  Unhappy  Sentements 
subsisting  among  us,"  and  because  of  the  "  frowns  of  God  " 
under  which  they  rested,  they  would  unite  with  them  "in  seting 
apart  a  day  of  Solemn  Fasting  &  Prayer,  and  Implore  Heavens 
Blessings  on  us,  and  call  a  Number  of  Neighbouring  Ministers 
to  assist  in  the  same,  and  Likewise  to  advise  with,"  etc.  This 
proposal,  however,  was  not  supported  by  a  single  vote  in  the 
church  meeting  of  Mr.  Prentice's  party,  held  a  few  days  after- 
ward. They  were  too  much  excited  and  disappointed  at  their 
defeat ;  they  distrusted  the  motives  of  the  men  making  the  pro- 

1  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  p.  717. 


A    MEMORABLE    CHURCH     CONTROVERSY.  119 

posal,  and  they  doubtless  anticipated  that  neighboring  ministers 
would  not  give  the  advice  they  cared  for.  This  plan  failing,  the 
town  party,  on  May  18,  requested  the  opposing  brethren  to 
agree  with  them  in  calling  an  ecclesiastical  council  of  a  number 
of  neighboring  ministers,  to  advise  with  them  and  endeavor  to 
heal  the  difficulties  they  labored  under.  This  proposition  was 
debated  by  the  church  party,  and  its  further  consideration  post- 
poned for  a  month.  Whereupon  the  town  party  called  a  council 
of  neighboring  churches  to  sit  at  Joshua  Howard's  house  on 
June  4,  at  9  a.  m.,  and  they,  "  with  all  due  Reverence  &  Respect, 
Do  intreat  our  Rev.  Pastor  &  chh  to  attend."  The  Prentice 
party,  however,  refused  to  attend  what  they  considered  an  ex- 
parte  council. 

After  duly  considering  the  grave  matters  presented  to  them, 
this  council  report  that  "the  minor  part  of  the  church"  have 
just  cause  to  be  aggrieved  that  Mr.  Prentice  will  not  attend  ser- 
vice in  the  town  meeting-house  ;  they  advise  him  in  obedience 
to  the  authority  of  the  land  and  for  the  good  of  religion  to  com- 
ply with  the  request  of  the  town  ;  they  counsel  charity  for  one 
and  all ;  and  if  he  will  not  comply,  they  would  urge  calling  a 
mutual  council,  etc.  The  words  "  minor  part  of  the  church  " 
refer  to  a  portion  of  the  town  party  ;  for  though  this  party  was 
in  the  majority  as  a  parish  and  in  town-meeting,  it  was  a  minority 
of  the  "  church  members,"  so  called.  Mr.  Prentice's  party  had 
just  about  two  thirds  of  the  church  members,  and  the  other 
party  one  third. 

All  prospect  of  settlement  seemed  now  so  faint,  that  the  ad- 
herents of  the  minister  determined  to  proceed  with  the  building 
of  their  own  church.  The  raising  of  the  frame  was  completed 
June  23,  1 75 1,  and  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  spot  at  the  time 
they  voted,  that,  in  case  it  was  fair  weather,  they  would  worship 
under  that  roof  the  next  Sabbath, — "which  accordingly  they 
did."  It  was  certainly  an  interesting  occasion.  The  building 
was  scarcely  yet  more  than  a  frame,  roofed  and  floored.  Chairs 
may  have  been  brought  from  neighboring  houses,  and  other  seats 
variously  extemporized,  while  many  of  the  worshippers  were 
probably  standing.  The  novelty  of  the  occasion  no  doubt  gave 
vigor  and  warmth  to  the  preacher's  utterance  ;  but  the  unfor- 
tunate contention,  which  none  could  forget,  makes  it  doubtful 


I20  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

whether  the  spirit  of  Christ  or  that  of  Adam  most  animated  the 
hearts  of  the  assembled  congregation. 

At  this  stage  of  the  controversy  the  town  party,  headed  by 
Edward  Hayward,  formulate  eleven  charges  against  Mr.  Pren- 
tice and  his  party.  These  are  submitted  in  church  meeting, 
July  I,  both  the  minority  and  majority  church-parties  being  pres- 
ent. They  are  read  in  order,  and  the  majority  of  the  church 
members  vote  that  they  "  are  fully  satisfied  &  easy  with  their 
Rev.  Pastor,  Notwithstanding  what  is  alleged,"  etc. 

"  Wher'upon  the  Pastor  turn^  to  Dea.  Hayward  &  the  rest  of  the  Sub- 
scribing Breth",  and  Demanded  satisfaction  of  them  all  for  those 
Scandlous  &  Sinfull  Reflections  they  had  cast  upon  him,  in  which  they 
had  gone  Contrary  to  y*"  Word  of  God  {vide  Math,  xviii.  15,  i6  ;  i  Tim. 
v.  19)  and  to  the  Solemn  Covenant  they  have  with  us  subscribf  {Vide 
Partic'  7th).  Which  being  Refussf  itt  was  with  Regrett  and  Concern 
proposs''  Whither  Dea''  Hayward  and  all  the  rest  of  the  Subscribing 
Breth",  —  Viz.,  Israel  Randall,  Ephraim  Randall,  Benj-^  Drake,  Tho' 
Drake,  Israel  Randall,  Ju',  Joseph  Randall,  Nehemiah  Randall,  James 
Dean,  John  Selle,  George  Keyzar,  Benjr  Pettingill,  Jonathan  Lothrop, 
&  Mathew  Hayward,  —  ought  not  to  be  suspended  from  the  commu- 
nion of  this  chh  in  all  Special  Ordanances,  untill  they  make  christian 
Satisfaction  to  the  Pastor  and  chh,  especially  in  those  Particulars  the 
chh  Voted  they  ought  too.      Vot^  affinnat."  ^ 

Mr.  Prentice's  party  again  refuse  to  join  in  a  mutual  council, 
which  seems  to  indicate  a  want  of  confidence  in  their  own  posi- 
tion. The  town  party  therefore  recall  the  council  termed  ex- 
parte  by  the  minister  and  his  friends,  which  holds  a  second 
meeting,  July  9.  The  church  party,  as  before,  refuse  to  acknowl- 
edge its  authority,  but  this  time  vote  to  send  a  committee  to  it 
"  to  save  the  council  from  being  Imposed  upon  by  false  light." 
The  council  meets  at  Joshua  Howard's  again.  There  is  a  very 
exciting  time.  Mr  Prentice  is  carried  away  by  his  feelings,  and 
uses  language  more  forcible  than  elegant  or  just,  in  which,  how- 
ever, he  is  not  alone.  The  charges  preferred  by  the  town  party 
against  the  minister  are  taken  up  one  by  one.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary to  speak  of  them  all  in  detail.  The  fourth  is  to  the  effect 
that  at  a  military  training  of  a  year  before  he  had  taken  more 

^  Old  Church  Records. 


A    MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  12I 

Strong  drink  than  was  consistent  with  sobriety.  So  Lieut. 
John  Williams  and  his  wife  had  alleged,  though  they  would  not 
so  testify  to  the  council.  The  vote  upon  this  charge  was  as 
follows  :  — 

"As  to  the  fourth  article,  we  think  that  though  it  be  not  sufficiently 
proved,  yet  that  Mr.  Prentice  has  given  his  aggrieved  brethren  great 
occasion  to  fear  that  he  is  too  much  given  to  wine  and  strong  drink." 

He  is  also  judged  as  having  in  his  conversation  with  Nehe- 
miah  Randall  (already  alluded  to)  "spoken  unworthily,  contemp- 
tuously, &  even  audaciously  of  the  Great  &  General  Court." 
The  council  concludes  that  both  parties  were  hasty  and  blame- 
worthy "  in  some  respects."  They  advise  the  aggrieved  brethren 
(the  town  party)  to  humble  themselves  before  God  for  not  deal- 
ing in  a  more  brotherly  way  with  Mr.  Prentice,  and  for  being 
too  ready  to  believe  and  spread  false  reports  about  him.  On 
the  other  hand  they  advise  him  to  render  Christian  satisfaction 
for  the  offences  he  had  committed  towards  them.  They  also 
recommend  that  if  Mr.  Prentice  will  not  attend  worship  in  the 
town  meeting-house,  he  shall  be  dismissed ;  and  they  conclude 
by  advising  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  all. 

Mr.  Prentice's  opinion  of  the  decision  of  the  council  may  be 
gathered  from  his  record  of  it.  He  says  that  his  committee 
"  offered  them  light,  but  they  refused  to  see  or  accept  itt,  and 
show  them  also  the  Darkness  and  Mistakes  they  Were  in 
danger  of,  but  they  would  not  Regard,  and  so  drew  up  a 
Result  founded  upon  falsehood  and  Lies,  to  the  Damage  and 
Defameing  both  Pastor  &  chh.  Lord  forgive  them,  for  they 
knew  not  what  they  did."  ^ 

On  the  next  day  after  the  adjournment  of  the  council,  Edward 
Hayward  and  nine  others  of  the  suspended  brethren  requested 
that  a  church  meeting  be  appointed,  in  order  that  they  might, 
in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  the  council,  make  Christian 
satisfaction  to  the  church.     This  they  do  in  the  following  terms  : 

To  the  Rev,  Mr.  Solomo?i  Prentice:  to  be  communicated  to  the  Brethren. 

Brethren,  we  desire  to  be  sorry  for  all  that  undue  heat  of  temper  we 

have  discovered,  and  for  all  those  hard  words  we  have  spoken  to  or  off 

I  Old  Church  Records. 


122  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

you  or  an)'  of  you  in  this  time  of  differrence  &  temptation,  and  par- 
ticularly for  not  following  the  Rules  of  the  Gospel  with  you  respecting 
our  greivances  ;  and  earnestly  ask  God's  forgiveness  and  yours  for 
christs  sake. 

Sighn'.'  by  all  the  Suspended  Brethren. 
Easton,  July  II,  1751. 

The  church,  however,  having  read  this  "  over  &  over,"  declared 
that  they  could  not  look  upon  this  as  amounting  to  Christian 
satisfaction.  And  as  the  signers  "  would  neither  add  too  nor 
diminish  from  what  they  had  subscribed,  the  chh  could  not 
and  did  not  restore,  but  continued  their  suspension  of  them. 
And  Edward  Hayward,  Esq.,  for  his  obstinancy  and  unworthy 
&  scandalous  treatment  of  our  Rev.  Pastor  at  one  time,  place, 
&  another,  the  chh.  Voted  should  be  thrust  out  from  all  the 
officies  he  did  sustain  or  was  chosen  into  in  the  chh,  viz., 
Deacon  and  Ruleing  Elder  Elect." 

Despairing  of  inducing  Mr.  Prentice  to  preach  in  the  meeting- 
house at  the  Centre,  the  town  party  voted  in  town-meeting,  July 
15.,  to  raise  money  for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit.  Some  of  the 
town  party,  as  we  have  said,  were  church  members  ;  but  the  ma- 
jority of  the  original  members,  apparently  about  two-thirds,  be- 
longed to  the  North  and  East  End  party.  The  church  members 
of  the  town  party  now  formed  a  separate  church  organization 
of  their  own,  and  voted  without  reference  to  the  church  of  the 
Prentice  party.  Edward  Hayward  was  its  clerk;  but  no  records 
of  this  minority  church  have  been  preserved,  and  it  is  only  by 
inference  that  we  know  of  its  action.  But  the  town  records 
prove  that  prior  to  July  3 1  this  minority  church  had  voted  to 
dismiss  Mr.  Prentice ;  for  on  that  date  the  town  voted  "  to  con- 
cur in  the  church's  vote  dismissing  the  Rev.  Mr.  Solomon  Pren- 
tice from  his  pastoral  ofifice  in  this  town."  Mr.  Prentice  and  his 
party  could  venture  to  laugh  at  that  vote,  for  it  was  a  vote  of 
the  minority  of  the  "  Church  of  Christ  in  Easton,"  who  were  in 
fact  suspended  members,  and  had  no  right  by  ecclesiastical  usage 
to  vote  at  all.  Their  action,  therefore,  in  dismissing  Mr.  Pren- 
tice was  entirely  invalid,  and  none  knew  it  better  than  he. 

It  was,  indeed,  a  novel  and  embarrassing  situation.  The  par- 
ish had  the  meeting-house  ;  the  church  had  the  minister.  The 
church  would  not  consent  to  his  preaching  in  the  meeting-house; 


A    MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  123 

the  parish  could  not  shake  him  off,  for  he  could  not  be  dismissed 
without  the  concurrent  vote  of  both  church  and  parish,  and  the 
church  stood  by  him.  In  April  he  had  asked  the  town  to  dis- 
miss him.  Now,  in  July,  he  held  his  grip  firmly  upon  the  town, 
and  would  not  accept  what,  shortly  before,  he  had  implored  them 
to  bestow.  The  town  had  one  consolation  :  with  the  sanction  of 
the  General  Court  it  refused  him  any  salary.  Things  were  thus 
at  a  dead-lock,  and  there  seemed  no  prospect  of  improvement. 
The  Prentice  party,  however,  attempted  a  flank  movement.  They 
voted  that  those  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town,  who  chose  to 
do  so,  might  worship  with  them  without  expense  either  for  build- 
ing a  meeting-house  or  for  supporting  the  minister.  But  this 
offer  was  more  politic  than  successful.  The  bait  was  not  taken. 
In  this  perplexing  situation  the  Prentice  party  thought  that 
they  in  their  turn  would  try  the  effect  of  an  ecclesiastical  council. 
On  August  27,  therefore,  at  the  pastor's  house,  they  voted  to 
call  a  council  to  consider  the  result  of  the  last  town  party's 
council,  "  and  to  see  if  the  scandalous  aspersions  there  in  cast 
upon  our  Rev.  Pastor  may  not  be  wiped  off,  and  to  give  us 
advice  with  Respect  to  ye  conduct  of  ye  suspended  Brethren  of 
this  church  in  consequence  of  said  Result."  Thirteen  churches 
were  invited  to  this  council.  Nine  churches  responded  to  the 
summons,  and  their  delegates  met  on  September  24  at  Capt. 
Eliphalet  Leonard's,  —  his  house  being  where  F.  L.  Ames's 
farm-house  now  stands  in  North  Easton  Village.  This  council 
seems  to  have  been  thoroughly  impartial,  as  we  may  judge  by 
the  following  interesting  report  of  their  action  :  — 

'*  A  Council  of  Nine  Churches  Convened  at  the  house  of  Capt. 
Eliphalet  Leonard  in  Easton,  ye  24"'  of  September,  1751,  at  the  Re- 
quest of  the  Revi  Mr.  Solomon  Prentice  &  that  Part  of  the  Church 
adhereing  to  his  Ministry.  After  Seeking  to  God  for  Direction  in  the 
Case  Depending,  we  found  that  a  Principle  Cause  of  their  troubles  was 
the  sd.  Mr.  Prentice's  refusing  to  attend  publick  worship  in  the  Towns 
Meeting  House  Established  by  the  Hon^I^  the  great  &  General  Court 
persuant  to  a  vote  of  y^^  Major  part  of  y^  Chh.,  and  more  particularly 
of  some  misconduct  that  attended  his  Refusing  to  meet  for  publick 
worship  in  sd.  House  ;  and  the  Council  first  laboured  to  shew  Mr. 
Prentice  and  the  Breth"  Adherein  to  him  itt  would  be  Dutifull  for 
them  to  attend  there.     Proposed,  that  Suitable  Confession  of  the  sins 


124  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

they  were  guilty  of  might  heal  all  Breachs  that  were  among  them,  and 
bring  all  persons  to  a  Comfortable  Reunion  ;  we  Labour*?  to  Convince 
Each  party  of  their  duty  with  respect  of  the  same  with  Desirable  Suc- 
cess. And  brought  them  to  make  Such  Concesions  as  were  Accepted 
by  the  ofended,  so  far  as  to  unite  both  Chh  and  Town  to  meet  together 
at  the  Meeting  house  Established  by  Law,  and  to  forgive  all  former 
offences,  and  also  to  Retract  all  Votes  pass'.'  by  the  Jarring  parties 
which  they  took  offence  att,  and  to  Nullify  and  make  Void  the  same. 

And  the  Council  finding  it  Needless  to  look  into  any  of  the  Articles 
touching  his  Moral  Character,  saveing  the  fourth,  which  was  That 
he  on  Publick  days,  especially  on  Training  days,  spends  so  much  of 
his  time  as  we  apprehend  in  Tipling  and  Vain  Conversation  ;  in  this 
we  have  a  more  Especial  Refference  to  a  Training  Day  at  the  house 
of  Lieut.  Williams,  last  fall  was  Twelve  month.  We  particularly  En- 
quired into  that,  and  as  to  the  Lnplication  in  it  of  His  being  guilty  of 
Intemperance,  We  find  from  the  persons  advancing  itt,  as  well  as 
others,  that  he  is  clear  of  guilt  therein.  And  in  as  much  as  it  is  the 
Request  of  Chh  &  Town  that  we  should  adjourn  and  not  Dissolve, 
that  if  there  should  be  any  Erruption  that  we  may  look  into  itt  and 
give  farther  advice  upon  the  same.  We  do  therfore  adjourn  Unto  the 
3*?  Tuesday  of  April  next,  to  meet  at  this  place  if  need  Require  and 
we  be  desired. 

"  And  now  Breth",  Rejoyceing  in  the  happy  Restoration  of  peace  and 
unity  among  you,  and  Earnestly  praying  for  the  Continuance  of  y" 
Same,  We  Commend  you  to  God  and  the  Word  of  his  grace,  whch  is 
able  to  build  you  up  and  give  you  an  Inheritance  among  them  that 
are  Sanctified  thro'  faith,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.    Amen."  ^ 

In  justice  to  Mr.  Prentice  it  should  be  distinctly  noted  here 
that  he  is  cleared  of  all  charges  against  his  character.  He  had 
spoken  rashly  and  passionately,  he  had  been  headstrong,  he  had 
been  rather  convivial  on  training  day  ;  but  in  neither  case  w^ere 
his  offences  such  as  to  deserve  that  charge  of  serious  misconduct 
which  his  opponents,  also  headstrong  and  passionate,  had  made 
against  him.  It  should  also  be  noted  that  this  council,  called 
by  Mr.  Prentice's  own  party,  advised  the  very  course  which  this 
party  had  opposed  and  which  the  town  party  had  demanded  ; 
namely,  that  he  should  preach  at  the  town  meeting-house  at 
the  Centre.  The  church  voted  that  "they  would  accept  the 
Result  of  their  Council,  and  abide  by  it  as  God  should  enable 
^  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  pp  720,  721. 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  1 25 

them  ;"  and  Mr.  Prentice  began  at  once  to  preach  in  the  Centre 
church.  Once  more,  therefore,  after  about  eleven  months'  sep- 
aration, the  two  parties  came  together  for  common  worship,  and 
met  in  the  town  meeting-house  in  a  service  that  was,  as  Mr. 
Prentice  records,  "  lovingly  attended." 

And  now  at  last  is  not  the  bitter  contention  over,  and  will 
not  peace  come  after  the  storm  .-'  We  shall  see.  It  looks  omi- 
nous to  find  Mr.  Prentice,  when  he  writes  that  this  service  was 
"  lovingly  attended,"  adding  thereto,  "  until  the  latter  end  of  No- 
vember." But  how  could  it  be  otherwise  than  that  fire  should  be 
smouldering  beneath  the  ashes,  —  fire  that  any  ill-fated  breeze 
might  kindle  anew .-'  A  two-years'  quarrel  will  not  be  settled  by 
the  recommendation  of  a  council ;  and  we  find  therefore  that 
fresh  trouble  began  at  a  church  meeting,  November  15,  called 
"  that  ye  chh  might  converse  &  Pray  together  in  order  to  their 
attending  the  Sact.  of  the  Lord's  Supper  together,  which  had 
been  long  omitted."  Do  not  these  words,  "  which  had  been  long 
omitted,"  tell  the  sad  story  of  the  decline  of  religious  interest 
consequent  upon  these  obstinate  quarrellings  ? 

The  church  members  belonging  to  the  town  party  do  not  at- 
tend this  meeting  ;  and  at  another  church  meeting  of  November 
22  those  of  this  party  who  do  attend  claim  that  they  come  as 
members  of  another  church,  assuming  that  their  minority  church- 
organization  is  as  truly  a  church  as  that  of  the  Prentice  party. 
They  are  evidently  wrong  in  this,  but  they  will  not  yield  the 
point,  and  so  there  is  no  real  agreement  after  all.  The  winter 
drags  along  in  this  way,  with  ill-suppressed  bad  feelings  and 
sour  looks,  and  no  real  harmony.  The  town-party  people  openly 
hinted  that  Mr.  Prentice  was  not  their  minister ;  they  had  dis- 
missed him.  They  would  not  attend  the  ordinances  when  he 
administered  them,  and  seldom  went  to  meeting  at  all. 

To  such  a  pass  have  things  now  come  that  the  East  End  party 
determine  to  shake  off  the  dust  of  their  feet  against  the  town 
of  Easton.  They  will  try  to  form  a  distinct  precinct,  with  a 
view  of  becoming  a  separate  town.  To  accomiDlish  this,  Elipha- 
let  Leonard  and  eleven  others  request  the  selectmen,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1752,  to  appoint  a  town-meeting  to  see  if  the  town  will  vote 
off  "the  Easterly  half  of  said  Easton  from  the  Centre  thereof," 
to  join  with  the  westerly  part  of  Bridge  water  to  form  a  distinct 


126 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


precinct.  The  selectmen  arbitrarily  refuse  to  call  such  a  meet- 
ing, upon  which  the  petitioners  appeal  to  Justice  George  Leonard, 
of  Norton,  who  not  only  calls  it,  but,  to  the  mortification  of  the 
town  party,  calls  it  to  be  held  in  the  "Easterly  meeting  house," 
that  is,  the  unfinished  building  where  the  Prentice  party  had  the 
summer  before  been  holding  services.  Both  parties  scoured  the 
town  for  voters.  The  vote  for  moderator  foreshadows  the  re- 
sult. Edward  Hayward  is  chosen,  and  the  town  refuses  to  vote 
off  the  east  part  as  a  precinct. 

What  shall  be  done  now  ?  Almost  in  despair,  the  Prentice 
party  summon  their  council  to  assemble  again,  which  it  accord- 
ingly does.  This  was  April  21,  1752.  Mr.  Prentice's  party  make 
a  statement  to  this  council,  reciting  their  grievances,  expressing 
the  belief  that  "the  breach  is  Irrepareable  &  ye  Wound  incure- 
able,"  and  therefore  praying  that  a  permanent  division  between 
the  two  parties  might  be  sought  and  obtained  of  the  General 
Court,  and  that  henceforth  they  might  separately  "enjoy  ye 
word  of  God  &  ordinances  of  ye  Gospel." 

The  council,  however,  chose  to  pass  this  request  by,  and  after 
admonishing  both  parties  made  another  vigorous  attempt  to  mix 
oil  and  water,  by  appointing  a  day  of  solemn  fasting  and  prayer. 
It  was  a  lively  council,  sitting  for  two  days.  Mr.  Prentice,  as 
usual,  got  excited  and  used  some  very  vigorous  language,  for 
which  "  exasperating  language  before  the  church,  towards  any 
person  to  ye  just  greife  &  offense  of  his  Brethren,  he  was  sorry 
and  asked  their  forgiveness."  At  the  church  meeting  where  he 
thus  apologized.  Brother  James  Dean  made  an  acknowledgment 
also,  which  the  church  voted  satisfactory,  heartily  forgiving  him  ; 
whereupon,  turning  upon  them,  "  Bro.  Dean  declared  he  was 
disappointed,  for  he  could  not  forgive  the  chh,  &  accordingly 
withdrew  from  itt."  At  a  later  meeting  of  the  church  Esquire 
Hayward  made  an  acknowledgment,  which  "  the  chh  could  not 
look  upon  to  amount  in  any  sort  to  Christian  satisfaction  for  his 
faults,  but  as  inhaunsing  rather  than  Diminishing  his  guilts  in 
the  apprehension  of  the  chh."  ^ 

June  12,  1752,  is  appointed  for  the  day  of  fasting  and  prayer, 
but  the  ministers  who  come  to  attend  it  have  some  doubts  of  its 
propriety,  and  turn  the  day  into  a  "Lecture."  June  17  is  then 
1  Old  Church  Records. 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY. 


127 


appointed  for  a  meeting  to  precede  "a  Fast,"  but  the  ministers 
invited  fail  to  appear.  Mr.  Prentice  and  his  church  wait  at  his 
house  for  them  from  one  until  three  o'clock,  and  then  go  to  the 
meeting-house.  There  he  finds  "Edward  Hay  ward  and  his  party," 
some  outside,  but  most  of  them  within.  As  soon  as  the  minister 
and  his  church  members  go  into  the  meeting-house,  the  other 
party  go  out.  After  awhile  the  moderator  calls  three  times 
for  the  meeting  to  come  to  order.  None  of  the  town  party, 
except  Thomas  Drake,  come  in.  As  the  ministers  do  not  arrive, 
at  half-past  four  "  it  was  at  length  moved  that  prayer  might  be 
attended  in  the  chh,  which  according  was ;  when,  to  our  sur- 
prise, Esq.  Hayward  and  his  party  still  refusing  to  come  in,  but 
satt  in  and  about  the  door  with  their  Hats  on  all  prayer  time, 
except  only  bro.  Dean  came  in,"^ — so  Mr.  Prentice  makes  record 
in  the  church  book. 

This  attempt  at  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  being  a  failure, 
another  is  proposed  ;  but  the  town  party  refuse  to  join  in  it  un- 
less they  can  choose  half  the  ministers  who  will  officiate,  "  which 
the  chh  looked  upon  as  an  Invasion  of  their  ecclesiastical  privi- 
leges." The  church  would,  however,  allow  their  opponents  to 
nominate  ministers  to  take  part  in  the  proposed  solemn  services, 
provided  they  did  not  nominate  four  who  were  especially  ob- 
noxious to  the  church.  But  no  ministers  were  willing  to  come. 
They  were  disgusted  with  such  continued  fractiousness,  and  had 
no  faith  in  their  power  to  reconcile  such  obstinate  factions. 

Despairing  of  help  from  any  other  quarter,  the  church,  on 
June  29,  propose  that  both  parties  shall  solemnly  renew  their 
covenant,  try  and  forget  their  differences,  and  meet  in  brotherly 
union  about  the  Lord's  table.  But  it  is  too  late.  The  town 
party  have  made  up  their  minds  that  they  will  not  unite  in 
religious  communion  with  any  of  their  brethren  who  insist  upon 
forcing  a  pastor  upon  a  society,  half  of  which  at  least  are 
bitterly  opposed  to  him.  This  last  attempt  at  reconciliation 
was  made  on  July  5,  1752.  Mr.  Prentice  records  the  state- 
ment that  the  town  party  "  both  explicitly  and  implicitly  de- 
clare they  will  have  nothing,  further  to  do  with  us."  Another 
crisis  is  now  reached,  and  this  memorable  controversy  assumes 
a  different  phase,  which  will  be  considered  in  the  next  chapter. 

1  Old  Church  Records. 


128  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE   PRESBYTERIAN    SOCIETY. 

Mr.  Prentice's  Church  adopt  Presbyterianism.  —  Their  State- 
ment OF  Reasons  for  doing  so.  —  His  Wife  becomes  hereti- 
cal, AND  JOINS  the  Baptists.  —  He  allows  the  Baptists  to  have 
a  Prayer  Meeting  at  his  House.  —  Alarm  of  his  Church 
at  such  Latitudinarianism.  —  The  Presbytery  summoned  to 
Easton,  and  Mr.  Prentice  Suspended.  —  His  subsequent  Expe- 
rience. —  His  Children. 

IT  began  now  to  be  plainly  evident  to  all  that  the  breach  be- 
tween the  contending  parties  could  not  be  repaired.  All 
attempts  at  reconciliation  had  failed.  Church  and  State  had 
been  appealed  to  in  vain  to  settle  the  long-standing  difficulties. 
Mr.  Prentice  continued  to  hold  services  at  the  Centre  meeting- 
house until  November  5.  Two  months  before  this  his  own 
church,  seeing  that  no  union  was  possible  with  the  other  party, 
began  to  talk  of  separating  themselves  and  having  a  church  and 
society  entirely  independent  of  the  rest  of  the  town^  It  will  be 
remembered  that  they  were  a  majority  of  the  church  members, 
were  nearly  equal  in  number  to  their  opponents  as  voters  in 
town-meeting,  and  had  tried  in  vain  to  be  allowed  to  become  a 
distinct  precinct.  Had  they  been  permitted  to  do  this  they  could 
have  had  a  legal  parish  organization,  and  been  relieved  from  the 
necessity  of  paying  to  support  the  town  church  and  its  minister, 
when  one  was  settled.  This  would  have  been  the  most  equita- 
ble method  of  settlement.  If  the  two  parties  could  thus  be  sep- 
arated, each  supporting  a  minister  and  worship  of  its  own,  there 
might  be  peace.  When  the  old  Scotch  minister  remonstrated 
with  a  parishioner  and  his  wife  who  were  notoriously  quarrel- 
some, and  said,  pointing  to  the  dog  and  cat  dozing  peaceably  on 
the  hearth,  "  Ye  might  tak  a  lesson  from  the  dog  and  cat,  and 
live  in  peace,"  the  ready  answer  came,  "Ah  !  but  ye  ken  they're 
na  tied  the  githery     So  our  two  factions  might  have  lived  peace- 


A    MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  129 

ably  as  independent  churches ;  but  they  were  thus  far  tied  to- 
gether,—  held  by  the  bonds  of  State  and  ecclesiastical  regula- 
tions now  happily  outgrown.  Mr.  Prentice's  party  proposed  a 
divorce  ;  but  the  town,  as  we  have  seen,  would  not  grant  it, 
claiming  that  they  were  not  strong  enough  to  support  two 
churches,  and  insisting  that  the  minority  party  should  come 
into  the  support  of  the  town  church.  We  shall  see  in  the  next 
chapter  the  trouble  this  legalized  injustice  leads  to.  Meantime, 
and  notwithstanding  the  majority's  attempts  at  coercion,  the 
minority  take  steps  for  permanent  separation.  They  begin  to 
revive  a  question  once  entertained  as  to  the  relative  merits  of 
the  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  systems.  Mr.  Prentice,  in 
September,  makes  this  record  :  — 

**  Now  the  Chh  being  tyred  out  &  quit  Discouraged  from  making 
any  further  attempts  for  accommodation  &  Reunion  In  yf  way  and 
method  of  Disapline  we  are  in,  Esq.  Hayward  and  his  party  being 
Deafe  to  all  Reasonable  and  Scriptural  Methods  of  accommodation 
as  it  appears  to  the  Chh,  the  Chh  Reasume  their  former  Motions 
Relating  to  Pressbyterian  Disapline." 

October  17,  the  church  adhering  to  Mr.  Prentice  votes  "to 
Renounce  and  come  off  from  ye  broken  Congregational  Consti- 
tution, and  Declare  for  and  come  in  with  the  Disapline  and 
order  of  the  Ancient  and  Renowned  chh  of  Scotland."  It  is 
also  voted  to  "  set  apart  a  Day  for  solemn  Fasting,  with  Prayer, 
in  their  own  Meeting  House,"  and  to  invite  ministers  from  the 
Presbytery  to  assist  them.  Captain  Leonard  and  Henry  How- 
ard are  despatched  to  the  Presbytery  at  Londonderry,  New 
Hampshire,  meet  with  a  kind  reception,  and  bring  back  a  fa- 
vorable answer.  November  2,  the  Prentice  church-party  decide 
that  since  "  the  chh  have  Voted  a  Change  of  their  Ecclesiasti- 
cal Government,  and  no  hope  Remains  of  glorifying  God,  serv- 
ing Relidgion,  or  advancing  the  Weal  of  this  place,  but  the 
Reverse,  by  Our  attending  the  Publick  worship  &  Ordinances 
in  the  Towne  Meeting  house  any  Longer,  —  This  Chh  look 
upon  itt  Duty,  and  accordingly  agree  that  the  Next  Sabath 
shall  be  the  last  Day  We  will  attend  the  Publick  worship  in 
said  House ;  and  publick  Mention  to  be  made  thereof  in  the 
close  y*^  Exercise  of  s*?   Sab^!",  and  that  thence  forward  we  will 

9 


130  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

attend  the  Publick  Worship  &  Ordinances  in  the  Pressbyterian 
Meeting  House  in  Easton." 

They  also  voted  that  a  statement  of  reasons  for  their  action 
should  be  prepared  and  read  to  the  congregation  on  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath,  November  5,  1752,  the  last  Sabbath  on  which 
Mr.  Prentice  would  preach  at  the  Centre.  This  was  a  deeply 
interesting  occasion.  The  final  step  was  to  be  taken,  fraught, 
as  all  could  see,  with  very  important  consequences  to  all  con- 
cerned. The  statement  was  read  at  the  close  of  the  afternoon 
services,  and  is  as  follows :  — 


"  Brethren  of  y^  Chh,  &  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Easton  :  God 
that  Rules  in  heaven  &  Earth,  &  orders  Every  man's  Lott,  Bro't  about 
the  settlement  of  yf  Gospel,  Minister,  and  Ordanances  in  this  place 
about  Five  Years  Since,  and  Care  was  taken  in  &  by  this  Chh  that 
Religion,  good  Order,  &  government  might  be  promoted  and  main- 
taini*  here ;  that  the  Gospel  Basis  on  which  this  Chh  was  then  setled 
might  be  made  strong  &  sound.  And  the  chh  had  Rest,  and  we  Re- 
joyced  in  the  hapy  prospect  of  y.*  Increase  of  Godliness,  peace,  & 
truth,  with  holiness,  among  us. 

"  But  the  same  spirit  that  Envy^  the  hapyness  of  our  first  Parents  in 
Paradice,  Seeing,  also  Envyed  our  Comfortable  state,  and  Rallying  his 
artillery  against  us  Left  not  off  plying  the  same  'till  he  was  suffer^ 
awfully  to  succeed,  to  the  sore  disappointing  our  growing  Expecta- 
tions, the  sad  distruction  of  peace  &  truth  and  Brotherly  love,  and  the 
Blasting  the  Religious  CEconemy,  growing  happyness,  and  tranquillity 
of  the  Place. 

"That  We  who  had  even  but  one  heart  and  one  Interest  are 
now  Necessitated  to  become  Two  bands.  Things  being  Reduced 
to  such  a  sad  &  Lamatable  state  among  us,  the  Chh  here  Reas- 
sumed  their  former  inclinations  of  Compareing  &  Weighing  Con- 
gregational and  Presbyterian  Ecclessiastical  government,  and  upon 
mature  Delibaration  &  repeated  Supplycations  to  the  God  of  Wis- 
dom for  direction  in  this  matter,  and  much  loveing  Conversation 
had  together  there  upon,  Came  into  the  following  Votes  &  unanimos 
conclusions,  viz  :  — 

"  I.  To  Come  off  from  the  broken  Congregational  Ecclesiastical 
Constitution,  and  declare  for  and  Come  in  with  the  Disapline  and 
order  of  the  Ancient  &  Renown'.'  Chh  of  Scoiiiand. 

"  2.  That  the  next  Sabath,  which  will  be  the  Fifth  Day  of  Novem- 
ber —  famous  in  the  annals  of  time  for  the  Whole  Nations  Delivery 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  131 


from  Ante  christian  Tyranny  &  Oppression  —  Shall  be  the  Last  Sab- 
ath  we  propose  to  attend  the  Publick  Worship  of  God  in  the  Tovvne 
Meeting  House,  But  thence  forward  to  att?  the  Publick  Worship  and 
Ordanances  of  the  Gospel  in  the  Presbyterian  Meeting  house  in 
Easton,  For  the  Reasons  following,  Viz." 

Then  follow  the  special  reasons,  the  substance  of  which  has 
already  been  given.     The  document  thus  concludes  :  — 

"And  the  beholding  the  unhappy  Jarrs  and  Contentions  in  this 
chh  and  Town,  Occasion  f  Specialy  by  the  stating  a  place  for  the  at- 
tending Publick  Worship,  and  a  part  of  y?  chh  &  Peoples,  together 
with  the  Conduct  of  some  others  (whom  we  should  have  Look^  for 
better  things  from)  in  Manageing  the  Unhapy  Strife  Among  us,  has 
been  a  Means  of  opening  our  Eyes,  and  Even  of  Constraining  of  us 
to  Search  '  till  we  have  seen  good  and  sufficient  reason  to  Conclude 
upon  the  alteration  of  Our  Disapline  as  in  the  foregoing  account. 

"  More  over  Brethren,  we  would  Now  Enform  you  in  the  Bowels  of 
Jesus  Christ  that  we  are  not  Come  into  the  foregoing  Conclusions 
from  a  Sismatical,  Divisive  Spirit,  but  purely  from  Necessity,  and  to 
promote  truth,  peace,  good  order,  and  the  advancement  of  the  glori- 
ous Kingdom  of  our  Blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  among  us 
&  Else  where. 

"  Constantly  Wishing  &  praying  there  for,  and  that  We  all  might  live 
in  Love,  that  the  God  of  Love  &  peace  might  perpetually  dwell  among 
us  all,  and  that  his  glorious  Kingdom  may  be  advanc?  every  where, 
that  the  Whole  Earth  may  be  full  of  his  Glory.     Amen."  ^ 

This  statement  was  read  in  church,  November  5,  1752.  Un- 
der the  date  of  the  next  day  the  following  entry  was  made  in  the 
town  records  by  the  town-clerk  :  — 

"Yester  Day  Being  Lords  Day,  mr  prentes  preacht  the  Last  or 
fare  well  sermon  in  the  Towns  meeting  house,  and  sayd  that  we  shuld 
se  his  fase  nor  hear  his  voise  nomore  in  that  hous  as  menestor." 

Mr.  Prentice,  as  before  stated,  had  given  to  his  society  some 
land  for  their  meeting-house  to  stand  upon.  Though  the  deed 
was  executed  at  a  later  date,  it  is  desirable  to  print  it  here ;  it 
is  as  follows  :  — 

1  Old  Church  Records. 


132 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


To  all  people  to  whorae  These  presents  shall  Come,  Greeting : 
Know  ye  that  I,  Solomon  Printice,  of  Easton,  in  ye  County  of  Bristol, 
in  his  majesties  province  of  ye  massachusetts  Bay,  in  New  England, 
Clerk,  for  Divers  Good  Causes  me  moving  There  unto,  more  Especially 
for  ye  Love  and  Good  will  I  Bare  too,  and  ye  Desire  I  have  for,  ye 
advancement  of  ye  KingDom  of  Jesus  Christ  in  ye  Groath  &  flourish- 
ing of  ye  Prispeterian  Society  which  usually  meet  in  Easton  afforesd 
for  ye  worship  of  God,  with  which  I  am  fully  Satisfied  and  Contented, 
&  thereof  and  of  Every  part  &  parcell  Thereof  Do  Exonerate,  acquit, 
&  Discharge  unto  Eliphelet  Leonard,  Gentleman,  Benjamin  Kinsely, 
yeoman,  James  Pratt,  Junr.,  mill  Right,  all  of  Easton,  in  y*""  County 
afforesd,  and  George  Hayward,  yeoman,  and  John  Kennedy,  Both 
of  Bridgewater  in  y?  County  of  Plymouth  in  ye  province  afforesd, 
which  five  men  above  named  was  Chosen  &  Deputed  by  ye  sd  Pris- 
beterian  society,  usually  meeting  in  Easton  afforesd,  a  Committe,  or 
Trustees,  for  this  following  purpose,  have  Given,  Grantd,  Bargained, 
Sold,  aliend,  Conveyed,  &  Confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  Do  freely, 
fully,  and  absolutely  Give,  Grant,  Bargain,  Sell,  Aliene,  Convey,  and 
Confirm  unto  ye  said  Eliphelet  Leonard,  Benjamin  Kinsley,  James 
Pratt,  Junr.,  George  Hayward,  and  John  Kenedy,  The  said  Comitt, 
or  trustees,  for  said  Prisbeterian  society,  and  there  Constituants, 
and  to  all  that  are  or  hereafter  may  be  members  of  said  Prisbe- 
terian Society,  and  shall  act  for  &  Bare  there  part  in  supporting  said 
Society  and  y^  worship  of  God  There  in,  &  to  there  heirs  for  Ever 
and  to  no  other,  A  Certain  Tract  or  parcell  of  Land  Situate,  Lying, 
and  being  in  Easton  afforesd,  on  which  y^  meeting  house  in  which 
y^  said  Prisbeterian  Society  now  meet  for  ye  publick  worship  of 
God  now  stands,  and  adjoyning  There  unto.  Containing  about  half 
an  acre, — 

To  have  and  to  hold  ye  sd  Granted  &  Bargained  premises,  with 
all  ye  appurtenances,  priviledges,  &  Commodities  to  y*"  same  belong- 
ing or  in  any  wise  Appertaining  to  Them,  ye  sd  Eliphelet  Leonard, 
Benj?  Kinsley,  James  Pratt,  Junr,  George  Hayward,  and  John  Kenedy, 
There  heirs  and  assigns,  for  ye  only  use  &  Benefitt  of  ye  Society 
afforesd  forEver. 

Fur  there  more,  I  ye  said  Solomon  Prentice,  for  my  selfe,  my  heirs, 
Excer  &  admr.  Do  Covenant  &  Engage  ye  above  Devised  premises  to 
them,  —  the  said  Eliphelet  Leonard,  Benj!'  Kinsley,  James  Pratt,  Jun^, 
George  Hayward,  &  John  Kennedy,  there  heirs  and  assigns,  —  as  only 
for  ye  use  and  Benefitt  of  the  Society  afforsd,  against  ye  Lawfull  Claims 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  133 

or  Demands  of  any  person  or  persons  what  so  Ever,  for  Ever  here 
after  to  warrant,  Serve,  &  Defend  by  there  presents.  In  witnes  where- 
unto,  I  ye  sd  Solomon  Prentice  have  here-unto  Set  my  hand  &  Seal, 
This  Twenty  Second  Day  of  October,  annoque  Domini,  One  Thousand 
Seven  hundred  and  fifty  Three,  And  in  ye  Twenty  Seventh  year  of 
his  present  majesties  Reign. 

Signed,  sealed,  &  Delivered  SOLOMON  PrentiCE. 

in  presence  of 

David  Dunbar, 

John  Turner.^ 

After  their  public  declaration  of  principles  Mr.  Prentice's 
church  worshipped  in  their  own  unfinished  meeting-house,  sit- 
uated on  the  Green.  Several  of  the  members  lived  over  the 
town  line,  in  Bridgewater.  The  rules  and  usages  of  the  church 
are  made  to  conform  to  the  Presbyterian  order.  Meetings  are 
held  at  private  houses,  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  for  instruc- 
tion in  the  catechism.  Four  elders  are  chosen ;  namely,  Dea. 
Robert  Randall,  Nathaniel  Perry,  Henry  Howard,  and  Samuel 
Hartwell.  Mr.  Hartwell  lived  across  the  Bridgewater  line.  Mr. 
Perry  lived  in  the  extreme  westerly  part  of  the  town  ;  but  he  was 
a  pious  church-member  who  was  greatly  interested  in  the  earnest 
religious  spirit  of  his  minister,  and  notwithstanding  that  he  lived 
so  far  away  he  attended  the  East  meeting-house,  and  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  Presbyterians.  We  find  that  Mr.  Prentice  enjoyed 
his  new  associations  under  the  Presbyterian  order  of  things,  that 
he  went  to  other  towns  and  preached  to  the  quickening  of  their 
congregations,  and  awakened  new  religious  interest  among  his 
own  people ;  but,  alas !  the  clouds  were  thickening  over  his  de- 
voted head.  March  17,  1753,  he  records  this  melancholy  obser- 
vation :  "  There  then  followed  a  most  distresing  &  Dying  time 
in  Easton."  It  is  probable  that  this  refers  to  the  social  animosi- 
ties not  yet  ended,  and  to  the  religious  decline  naturally  conse- 
quent upon  the  three  years  of  discord  through  which  they  had 
passed.  Mr.  Prentice  was  certainly  having  a  hard  time  of  it. 
The  town  had  just  refused  to  pay  his  salary  for  six  months, 
from  April,  1752,  which  was  really  due  him,  as  during  that  time 
he  had  preached  in  the  town  meeting-house.  In  addition  to 
this,  the  town  chose  a  committee  to  begin  an  action  against 

1  Bristol  County  Deeds,  book  xli.  p.  44. 


134  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

him  "for  his  Breach  of  covenant  or  contract,"  and  to  recover 
damages  for  the  same.  Deprived  of  his  salary,  for  which  he 
was  obliged  to  sue  the  town,  his  own  people  forced  by  law  to 
pay  taxes  for  the  town  church  from  which  they  had  separated, 
sued  at  law  for  a  breach  of  contract,  coldly  shunned  by  some 
and  insulted  by  others,  —  we  can  easily  understand  the  sorrow 
and  bitterness  of  his  heart  as  he  wrote  the  words,  "  There  then 
followed  a  most  distresing  &  Dying  time  in  Easton."  Soon 
afterward  one  of  his  best  friends  and  supporters  died,  as  we 
see  by  the  record  :  — 

"July  31.  Dear  Bror  Henry  Howard,  lately  chosen  an  Elder  in 
this  chh,  Died,  to  the  great  Loss  of  his  Famaly,  Pastor,  and  chh. 
Lord  Sanctifie  itt  to  us  all,  and  prepare  us  all  for  thy  Holy  Pleasure." 

But  other  and  greater  troubles  are  in  store  for  the  unfortunate 
minister.  One  can  bear  opposition  and  ill  treatment  in  the 
world,  if  he  is  sure  of  hearty  sympathy  at  home.  But,  alas  for 
Mr.  Prentice !  his  wife  was  wholly  at  variance  with  him  upon 
the  one  subject  that  interested  him  more  than  all  others,  —  that 
of  religion.  She  had  a  mind  and  will  of  her  own,  over  both  of 
which  this  strong-willed  husband  had  no  control.  She  had  con- 
victions as  decided  as  his,  which  were  formed  after  careful  study ; 
and  no  domestic  considerations,  public  scandal,  or  regard  for 
her  husband's  standing  and  influence  could  make  her  swerve 
from  following  those  convictions  to  their  ultimate  results.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Sarah  Sartell.  She  was  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Sarah  Sartell,  who  had  come  to  this  country  from  England 
or  Scotland,  about  1719.  Mr.  Sartell  was  a  man  of  considerable 
wealth,  and  he  determined  to  give  his  daughter  the  best  possible 
education.  He  therefore  sent  her  to  England,  where  she  was 
educated  in  a  convent.  Besides  the  ordinary  studies  then  pur- 
sued, she  became  skilful  at  embroidery.  "  Some  of  her  needle- 
work embroidery  is  still  preserved  in  the  hands  of  her  descend- 
ants, the  colors  as  fresh  as  they  ever  were."^  She  was  decidedly 
religious  in  her  nature,  took  much  interest  in  theological  ques- 
tions, and  was  a  careful  student  of  the  Bible,  being  able  it  is  said 
to  quote  any  part  of  it.  What  an  excellent  helpmeet  for  a  min- 
ister, provided  that,  like  a  dutiful  wife,  she  has  no  opinions  of  her 
1  N.  E.  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  vi.  p.  274. 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY. 


135 


own  and  submissively  accepts  those  of  her  husband !  With  no 
misgivings  on  that  score,  Mr.  Prentice,  October  6,  1732,  made 
her  his  wife.  What  mutual  studies,  what  comparison  of  ideas, 
what  discussions  they  may  have  had  at  home,  we  cannot  say  ; 
but  we  know  that  in  less  than  a  year  after  he  began  his  ministry 
in  Easton,  she  had  declared  against  the  government  and  doc- 
trines of  the  Congregational  Church,  at  that  time  very  dear  to 
him.  This  appears  in  his  record  in  the  church  book  of  the 
baptism  of  his  son  Solomon.     It  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  Solomon  Prentice,  Son  of  Solomon  &  Sarah  Prentice.  Ipsa  Dis- 
sentiente  de  constitutione  &  dissaplina  Ecclessiarum  Nov.  Anglarum. 
.  .  .  Aug:  14,  1748."^ 

It  must  have  been  particularly  trying  in  those  days  for  the 
minister  to  have  his  wife  an  open  dissenter  from  the  church 
order  and  belief  that  he  was  doing  his  best  to    uphold.     But 
something  far  more  mortifying  was  in  store  for  Mr.  Prentice. 
Various  causes  were  working  to  create  opposition  to  the  estab- 
lished order  of  things  in  religious  matters.     People  were  tired  of 
being  compelled  to  support  a  form  of  faith  and  worship  with 
which  they  had  no  sympathy.     There  was  also  —  partly  as  a  re- 
sult of  Whitefield's  influence — considerable  fermenting  going  on 
in  the  religious  opinions  and  feelings  of  the  time.     There  were 
sometimes  extravagant  and  fanatical  manifestations  of  a  dissent- 
ing spirit.     The  phase  it  took  here   (to  be  more   particularly 
described  in  another  chapter)  was  what  was  then  called  "  Ana- 
baptism."     This  term  simply  means  rebaptism, — its  advocates 
maintaining  that  infant   baptism   was   unscriptural   and   of   no 
avail.     Many  other  beliefs  connected  themselves  with  this,  and 
the  Anabaptists  in   Easton  affirmed  that  any  converted  man, 
though  unlicensed  and  unordained,  might  preach  and  baptize,  etc. 
Rational  as  this  idea  seems  to  be  in  itself,  it  nevertheless  opened 
the  way  for  much  fanaticism,  and  was  particularly  obnoxious  to 
the  upholders  of  the  New  England  orthodoxy.     What  then,  but 
the  defection  of  the  minister  himself,  could  have  caused  greater 
excitement  than  his  wife's  adoption  of  Anabaptist  opinions  and 
her  rebaptism  by  an  unordained  layman  ?     The  story  is  told,  and 

1  "  She  is  a  dissenter  from  the  constitution  and  doctrine  of  the   New  England 
churches."  — Baptis7nal  records  in  the  Old  Church  Book, 


136  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

his  disgust  and  intense  indignation  expressed,  in  the  following 
significant  record  of  his  daughter's  baptism  :  — 

Mary  Prentice,  Daughter  of  Solomon  &   Sarah  Prentice.      Ipsa 

Anna  baptista ;  Immersa   Indignissimo    Laico,   Viz., , 

Decemb'  5,  1750,  absente  marito.     Aug'  25.  1751.-^ 

It  will  be  observed  that  he  wisely  omitted  the  name  of  the 
layman  who  had  immersed  his  wife.  He  was  too  angry  and  dis- 
gusted to  be  present  at  the  ceremony.  Bitter  cup  indeed  for 
the  minister  to  drink !  — his  wife  deserting  his  church,  and,  cul- 
tivated lady  as  she  is,  led  into  the  water  and  immersed  "  indig- 
nissimo laico,"  —  immersed  in  midwinter  too  !  What  greater 
tribulation  can  he  have  ?  We  need  no  evidence  to  convince  us 
that  his  parish  are  indignant,  and  that  his  wife  is  talked  about  in 
angry  fashion.  She  is  too  much  in  earnest,  however,  in  her 
religious  consecration  to  be  much  disturbed  by  it  all.  Mr. 
Prentice  had  his  way  about  the  baptism  of  his  daughter,  for  it 
was  done  against  his  wife's  newly  adopted  principles  ;  but  she 
will  have  influence  enough  with  him  to  induce  him  to  allow  her 
fellow  Baptists  to  hold  meetings  in  his  house, —  and  this  will  be 
the  cause  of  his  ecclesiastical  undoing  in  the  town  of  Easton. 

How  long  these  meetings  were  held  in  Mr.  Prentice's  house 
cannot  now  be  told  ;  but  when  it  became  known  that  he  allowed 
the  heretical  Baptists  to  meet  for  prayer  and  exhortation  beneath 
his  roof,  and  was  even  known  to  speak  of  them  with  respect  as 
"  fellow  Christians,"  some  of  his  own  friends  remonstrated  with 
him.  But  he  could  see  nothing  wrong  in  his  course,  and  regarded 
them  as  narrow  and  bigoted.  In  retaliation  for  his  conduct  he 
is  forbidden  by  his  church  to  celebrate  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  as  we  see  by  this  record:  "Our  Sac'  to  be 
25  Novr,  but  it  was  put  By  Because  I  Rec'^  and  entain'!  some 
Strangers  into  my  house  &  heart  that  I  am  apt  to  think  are 
Sev'f  of  the  Most  high  God.  On  which  account  our  peace  and 
unity  seems  to  be  strangely  broken."  It  is  evident  from  this 
record  that  Mr.  Prentice  was  liberal  in  his  religious  sympathies. 
His  elders  and  some  of  his  people,  though  dissenters  themselves, 

1  "  She   is  an  Anabaptist.     She   was   immersed   by  a  most   despicable  layman, 

namely ,  December  5,  1750,  her  husband  being  absent."  —  Baptismal 

records  of  the  Old  Church  Book. 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  137 

believed  in  drawing  the  line  at  Presbyterianism.  For  nearly  a 
year  he  is  not  allowed  to  hold  the  sacrament  of  Communion, 
In  March,  1754,  "in  hopes,"  he  writes,  "of  easing  things  among 
us,  that  we  might  go  on  quietly  to  ye  administra'n  and  enjoy- 
ment of  all  Gospel  ordinances  among  us,"  two  new  elders  are 
chosen.  They  are  Eliphalet  Leonard  and  James  Pratt,  Jr.  But 
as  his  dear  friend  Elder  Howard  had  died,  so  now  early  in  July 
"Elder  Pratt  Died,  at  Taunton,  to  the  surprize  and  Greife  of  all 
his  freinds,  especially  chh  &  Pastor."  In  August  a  fast  is  ap- 
pointed "  to  Intreat  of  Almighty  God  to  show  us  why  he  is  thus 
contending  with  us." 

Evidently  Mr.  Prentice's  troubles  continue  and  thicken  about 
him.  He  is  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  a  lawsuit  to  get  his 
just  pay  of  the  town,  and  his  winning  the  case  causes  much 
bitter  feeling  among  his  townsmen.  His  own  people,  forced  as 
they  are  by  law  to  pay  taxes  for  the  maintenance  of  the  town 
church,  can  give  him  but  a  meagre  support,  and  some  of  them 
are  now  lukewarm  towards  him.  Besides,  as  we  shall  see  in  the 
next  chapter,  the  town  has  voted  to  call  a  pastor  for  the  town 
church,  and  the  two  factions  are  violently  at  war  again.  To  the 
renewed  remonstrances  of  his  church-members  against  his  allow- 
ing the  dissenting  Baptists  to  hold  prayer-meetings  at  his  house, 
he  replied  that  these  persons  were  Christians,  and  that  not  only 
would  he  not  forbid  them,  but  he  would  pray  with  them  as  fellow 
Christians.  Incensed  at  this,  the  church  complain  to  the  Pres- 
bytery, and  that  august  body  is  summoned  to  Easton,  where, 
November  12,  1754,  they  hold  a  session,  and  Mr.  Prentice  is 
summoned  before  the  elders  and  ministers.  We  have  seen  much 
in  him  to  criticise,  but  let  us  honor  his  courage  and  his  devotion 
to  his  convictions  at  this  critical  time.  Knowing  the  danger  of 
his  suspension  from  the  ministry  by  these  narrow-minded  eccle- 
siastics, he  nevertheless  defends  his  position  :  he  will  not  deny 
his  sympathy  and  fellowship  to  those  he  thinks  to  be  Christians, 
merely  because  their  opinions  differ  from  his  own.  The  Pres- 
bytery give  him  the  option  of  changing  his  course  or  being 
suspended.  Knowing  he  has  done  right,  he  will  make  no 
acknowledgment  of  sorrow,  and  will  promise  no  change  of  action. 
He  is  accordingly  suspended.  Let  us  hear  his  story  in  his  own 
words  :  — 


138  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

"Novl"  12,  1754.  The  Presbytery  Mett  at  Easton  According  to  ap- 
point' And  on  Nov.  13,  the  Presbytery  Clerk,  V  Order,  Read  a  Vote 
of  Presbytery  Concerning  S.  Prentice,  Pastor  of  yf  chh  in  Easton, 
(which  they  gave  him  no  Copy  off),  to  this  purpose,  Viz.,  that  Because 
I  had  Reef  a  few  of  my  fellow  Creatures  (and  fellow  Christians  as  far 
as  I  know)  into  my  House,  &  Suffer'^,  them  to  Pray  and  talk  about  the 
Scriptures,  &  Could  not  make  any  Acknowledgement  there  for  to  some 
of  my  Brethren  that  were  offended  there  att,  nor  to  the  Presbytery, 
that  he  the  s"!  S.  Prentice  be  Suspended  from  the  Discharge  of  his 
Publick  Ministry  Untill  the  Presbytery  meet  again,  Next  April. 

"  And  because  by  s"^  Vote  I  was  Deprived  of  y^  small  Subsistance  I 
had  among  my  People  at  Easton,  I  thot  it  Neccessary,  for  the  Hon]"  of 
God  and  good  of  my  famaly,  to  Remove  with  my  famaly  to  Grafton  ; 
which  accordingly  was  Done,  April  g^^,  1755. 

"  N.  B.  I  have  never  heard  a  word  from  the  Presbytery,  Neither  by 
Letter  Nor  other  wise.  Nor  they  from  me,  from  the  Day  of  my  Suspen- 
sion to  this  Day;  Viz.,  Sep'' 5,  1755."^ 

It  is  interesting  to  notice  that  the  power  which  Mr.  Prentice 
invoked  for  aid  against  the  town  party  proved  his  ultimate  eccle- 
siastical ruin  in  Easton.  He  had  rebelled  against  the  "broken 
Congregational  order,"  and  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  stricter  order 
he  had  chosen  as  a  substitute.  Thus  ended  his  troubled  and 
exciting  career  as  minister  in  Easton. 

One  of  Mr.  Prentice's  principal  trials  during  the  last  year  of 
his  ministry  in  Easton  was  the  call  by  the  town  party  of  the 
Rev.  George  Farrar  as  minister  of  the  town  church.  The  con- 
troversy growing  out  of  this  call  is  reserved  for  another  chapter, 
because  Mr.  Prentice,  being  already  in  trouble  with  some  of  his 
own  people,  does  not  take  an  active  part  in  it,  making  no  allu- 
sion to  it  in  his  church  record,  and  because  also  this  contest 
forms  a  distinct  topic  and  extends  in  time  long  beyond  his  stay 
in  Easton.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  intellectual  and  executive 
ability.  Most  of  the  papers  presented  to  the  General  Court  by 
his  party  are  in  his  handwriting,  are  undoubtedly  his  compo- 
sitions, and  are  skilfully  drawn  up.  He  had  a  deeply  religious 
nature ;  and  if  he  was  sometimes  betrayed  into  the  use  of  in- 
temperate language,  he  was  nevertheless  excellent  and  pious  as  a 
man  and  minister.     We  cannot  but  admire  his  religious  liber- 

1  Old  Church  Records. 


A   MEMORABLE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  139 

ality,  which  welcomed  to  his  sympathy  sincere  Christians  who 
were  condemned  as  heretics  by  the  dominant  orthodoxy.  It 
must  be  admitted,  however,  that  his  conduct  in  the  great  con- 
tention that  has  been  described  was  not  a  consistent  one.  He 
began  by  favoring  the  location  of  the  meeting-house  at  the 
Centre,  and  ended  by  refusing  to  preach  in  it :  his  defence  was 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  obey  the  instructions  of  his  church  rather 
than  the  vote  of  the  town.  Concerning  the  real  merits  of  this 
memorable  controversy  opinions  should  be  cautiously  formed,  as 
we  are  not  in  possession  of  all  the  facts.  There  is  no  doubt, 
however,  that,  on  the  main  question  of  the  location  of  the  meet- 
ing-house, the  East  End  and  North  End  party  were  in  the 
wrong :  and  this  was  the  root  of  the  whole  trouble.  As  to  the 
manner  of  conducting  this  affair,  very  little  can  be  said  to 
the  credit  of  either  party. 

Mr.  Prentice  made  his  home  in  Grafton  after  leaving  Easton  ; 
but  he  preached  for  a  short  time  in  Bellingham  and  other  places, 
and  for  a  longer  time  at  Hull.  He  went  to  Hull  in  the  spring  of 
1758  and  remained  four  years,  having  re-established  his  Congre- 
gational church  relations.  He  went  back  to  his  home  and  his 
farm  in  Grafton  in  1772.  May  22,  1773,  "he  fell  asleep  in 
expectation  of  a  glorious  immortality."  Mrs.  Prentice  died 
August  28,  1792,  at  her  son  John's  house  in  Ward,  now  Auburn, 
and  her  remains  were  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband's  grave 
in  the  old  burying-ground  at  Grafton. 

Mr.  Prentice  had  a  family  of  ten  children.  Eight  of  them 
were  born  in  Grafton,  and  two  of  them  —  the  second  Solomon,  and 
Mary  —  were  born  in  Easton.  It  is  interesting  to  know  that 
one  of  these  children,  Nathaniel  Prentice,  was  the  grandfather 
of  Gen.  Nathaniel  Prentice  Banks.  General  Banks's  grand- 
mother was  Martha  Howard,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  Howard, 
who  in  1 77 1  made  more  cider,  paid  a  larger  tax,  and  was  more 
of  a  farmer  than  any  other  man  in  Easton.  Joshua  Howard 
was  of  the  party  opposed  to  Mr.  Prentice,  and  it  was  at  his 
house — a  large  house  on  the  site  of  which  Mr.  Finley  now  lives  — 
that  the  councils  adverse  to  the  minister  met.  Nathaniel  Pren- 
tice taught  school  in  Easton  one  term  in  1752,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years ;  and  for  this  service  his  father  received  the  sum 
of  one  pound,  six  shillings,  lawful   money,  besides  his  board. 


I40  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

Perhaps  Martha  was  one  of  his  scholars.  They  were  both  of  the 
same  age,  were  not  estranged  by  the  quarrel  that  divided  their 
fathers,  kept  each  other  in  loving  remembrance  for  three  years 
after  Nathaniel  left  town,  and  were  married  October  13,  1757, 

Henry,  the  third  son  of  Solomon  Prentice,  enlisted  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War.  In  July,  1760,  he  was  taken  sick  at 
Crown  Point,  where  he  remained  an  invalid  until  October  20 ; 
he  was  then  brought  home  to  Grafton  with  considerable  diffi- 
culty and  expense,  and  it  was  two  months  after  his  arrival  be- 
fore he  was  able  to  dispense  with  a  nurse.  He  was  barely 
eighteen  years  old  then.  His  father  petitioned  to  the  General 
Court  for  an  allowance  to  be  made  on  account  of  this  trouble 
and  expense,  and  the  Court  granted  him  four  pounds,  fifteen 
shillings. 

Solomon  Prentice,  Jr.,  the  only  son  of  Mr,  Prentice  who  was 
born  in  Easton,  finally  moved  to  Edenton,  N.  C,  and  died 
there ;  and  Mary,  the  only  daughter  born  in  Easton,  married 
Amos  Binney,  of  Hull,  May  31,  1770,  and  became  the  maternal 
ancestor  of  a  somewhat  distinguished  family. 

Mr.  Prentice's  suspension  from  the  ministry  in  Easton  did  not 
cause  the  Presbyterian  society  to  disband.  It  remained  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  and  soon  gathered  strength  for  an- 
other vigorous  struggle  with  the  town  church.  This  forms  the 
third  and  closing  campaign  in  that  memorable  ecclesiastical 
conflict,  whose  evil  results  show  how  much  religion  sometimes 
suffers  in  the  house  of  its  friends. 


THE   REV.    GEORGE   FARRAR. 


141 


CHAPTER   X. 

THE  REV.  GEORGE  FARRAR,  AND  THE  CONCLUSION 
OF  THE  CHURCH  CONTROVERSY. 

Attempts  of  the  Town  to  get  Preaching  "without  Money  and 
WITHOUT  Price."  —  The  New  Candidate.  —  Birth  and  Ances- 
try.—  His  Courting. — The  Church  Conflict  deepens.  —  Pres- 
byterians and  Baptists  protest  against  the  Ordination.  — 
They  Appeal  to  the  General  Court,  but  without  Avail.  — 
They  must  pay  to  support  a  Church  and  Minister  they  do 
not  believe  in.  —  Death  of  Mr.  Farrar.  —  The  Presbyterians 
give  up  the  Contest.  —  Religion  at  a  Discount  in  Easton. 

THE  final  separation  of  the  East  and  North  End  party  from 
the  town  church  took  place  November  5,  1752.  For  the 
rest  of  this  year  and  throughout  the  next,  the  town  raised  money 
for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Vesey,  of  Hull, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vinal  supplied  for  some  time.  Having  got  what 
preaching  from  them  it  could,  the  town  refused  to  pay  them  for 
it.  Joshua  Howard  took  pity  on  Mr.  Vesey  and  advanced  him 
his  pay,  which  he  afterwards  recovered  of  the  town  by  a  law- 
suit. Mr.  Vinal,  after  long  waiting  in  vain  for  his  money,  sued 
the  town  and  received  his  just  dues.  Such  transactions  do  not 
reflect  much  honor  upon  the  town  ;  but  an  understanding  of  the 
exact  facts  of  the  case  will  modify  our  censure,  and  show  to 
whom  the  blame  belongs.  The  town  was  nearly  evenly  divided 
between  the  contesting  parties.  It  was  only  by  a  small  majority 
that  the  town-church  party  could  get  a  vote  to  have  preaching 
at  all  in  the  church  at  the  Centre  ;  but  while  they  would  thus 
vote  and  thereby  gain  their  way,  when  it  came  to  voting  money 
for  this  purpose,  a  few  of  their  number  through  indifference 
would  absent  themselves,  or  decline  to  vote,  and  thus  lose  to  the 
town-church  party  its  small  majority.  The  Presbyterians  voted 
against  such  appropriations  as  a  matter  of  conscience  as  well  as 
personal  interest ;  most  of  the  town-church  party  voted  for  them 


142  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

for  the  same  and  other  reasons  ;  and  the  failure  to  pay  is  there- 
fore to  be  charged  upon  the  indifferent  few,  who  cared  Httle  or 
nothing  for  the  reHgious  interests  of  the  town. 

On  the  20th  day  of  January,  1754,  a  young  man,  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  preached  in  Easton  as  a  candidate  for  settlement. 
His  name  was  George  Farrar  ;  and  as  he  was  the  next  minister 
of  Easton,  it  is  well  to  learn  something  about  his  antecedents. 
Two  old  interleaved  almanacs  which  he  kept  as  note-books 
furnish  us  with  most  of  the  desired  information,  some  of  it  of  a 
curious  kind. 

George  Farrar  the  third,  the  son  of  George  Farrar,  Jr.,  and 
Mary  Barrett,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Lincoln  (then  a  part  of  Con- 
cord), Mass.,  November  23,  1730.  He  graduated  at  Harvard 
University  in  175 1.  There  was  no  Divinity  School  then  con- 
nected with  the  College,  and  young  men  usually  prepared  for  the 
pulpit  by  studying  divinity  with  some  minister,  frequently  teach- 
ing school  at  the  same  time.  For  most  of  the  time  between  his 
graduation  and  his  beginning  to  preach,  Mr.  Farrar  taught 
school  at  Dighton,  Mass.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  lived  in 
the  minister's  family,  as  he  boarded  at  different  places,  usually 
about  six  weeks  at  each,  and  his  study  of  divinity  may  have  con- 
sisted almost  wholly  of  the  reading  of  theological  books,  perhaps 
under  the  direction  of  some  clergyman. 

One  thing  is  sure,  —  George  Farrar  had  good  ministerial 
blood  in  his  veins,  for  he  was  a  descendant  of  Dr.  Robert  Farrar, 
Bishop  of  St.  David's  in  England,  who  on  March  30,  1555,  in 
the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  bore  witness  to  his  faith  by  a  bloody 
martyrdom.  The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  this  country  was 
Jacob  Farrar,  who  was  born  in  England  about  1642,  came  to 
Lancaster,  Mass.,  about  1658,  and  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in 
King  Philip's  War,  August  22,  1675.  His  son  George,  grand- 
father of  George  Farrar,  of  Easton,  was  born  August  16,  1670, 
was  taken  to  Concord,  Mass.,  when  six  years  old,  soon  after  his 
father's  death,  and  brought  up  by  a  farmer,  a  Mr.  Globe.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  had  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  in  his  pocket 
as  his  capital  wherewith  to  start  in  life.  He  called  his  associ- 
ates together  and  spent  this  quarter  on  a  "  treat,"  saying  that  he 
meant  "to  begin  the  world  square,"  September  9,  1692,  he 
married  Mary  Howe;  he  died  May  15,  1760.     His  son,  George 


THE   REV.   GEORGE    FARRAR. 


143 


Farrar,  Jr.,  was  born  February  16,  1705,  and  lived  in  that  part 
of  Concord  which  is  now  Lincohi.  He  married  Mary  Barrett  of 
Concord,  she  being  born  April  6,  1706. 

March  11,  1753,  George  Farrar  the  third  joined  the  church  at 
Dighton,  and  made  in  his  note-book  the  following  record  there- 
of :  "  Martii  undecimo  publice  renunciavi  Diabolum  &  omnia 
opera  Iniquitatis,  &  fui  admissus  in  Ecclesiam  Christi  in  Digh- 
ton." Mr.  Farrar,  it  seems,  was  very  susceptible  to  the  charms 
of  the  other  sex,  and  his  note-book  of  1753  contains  an  account 
of  his  visits  to  various  young  ladies.  He  appears  to  have  been 
interested  in  three  different  ones  in  rapid  succession,  but  finally 
transferred  his  attentions  to  a  fourth,  of  whom  he  became  a  most 
constant  and  faithful  lover,  visiting  her  thirty-seven  times  in  the 
space  of  ten  months.  He  has  made  a  record  in  Latin  of  the 
date  and  number  of  each  visit,  and  he  leaves  us  no  room  to 
doubt  either  the  fervor  of  his  affection  or  the  enjoyment  of  his 
visits.  These  records  present  a  curious  study  to  the  antiquarian, 
for  whose  interest  the  first  one  is  given  here:  "Feb.  i.  I  went 
to  Berkly  to  the  marriage  of  Jonath"  Babbett  and  Eliz'^  Talbut, 
et  vexi  mecum  HI  T'  sororem  nupte,  et  pernoctavi  cum  ilia 
magna  cum  voluptate."  The  explanation  of  this  record  may  be 
found  by  reference  to  the  then  customary  method  of  courting, 
which,  however  opposed  to  the  good  judgment  and  taste  of  the 
present  time,  was  once  considered  proper  and  admissible.  That 
courting  was  not  out  of  order  on  Fast  Day  in  the  olden  time, 
appears  from  this  note  by  Mr.  Farrar:  "April  19  was  a  public 
fast  thro'  the  Provence,  et  nocte  visi  octavo  meam  bene  am-t-m." 
It  is  interesting  to  note  the  changes  of  his  feeling  as  time  went 
on  and  courting  became  an  old  story.  At  first  his  lady  is  vieam 
procain,  "  my  lady  love  ;  "  then  meam  bene  amatain,  "  my  dearly 
beloved,"  as  on  Fast  Day.  But  these  terms  of  endearment  grad- 
ually drop  out  of  the  record,  and  after  awhile  he  makes  a  busi- 
ness-like statement  like  this:  November  ye  12,  visi  37  mo, — 
"Nov.  12,  I  visited  for  the  37th  time."  What  happened  then 
we  do  not  know,  but  henceforth  he  has  another  "procam  meam." 
Her  name  is  Sarah  Dean,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Elizabeth 
(Nicholson)  Dean,  of  Norton.  She  became  an  orphan  when 
about  three  years  old,  and  was  then  taken  into  the  family  of  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Avery,  where  Mr.  Farrar  became  acquainted  with 


144 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


her.^  He  married  her  June  2,  1756  ;  and  about  two  months  later, 
she  not  then  being  of  age,  he  was  appointed  her  guardian,  —  a 
rather  singular  relationship  to  subsist  between  a  man  and  his  wife. 

Having  taught  school  about  two  years  at  Dighton,  reading 
theology  meanwhile,  he  on  December  16,  1753,  tried  his  hand 
for  the  first  time  at  preaching,  —  giving  a  sermon  from  the  text, 
"Love  not  the  world,"  etc.,  ist  Epistle  of  John,  ii.,  15.  He 
soon  gained  confidence  enough  to  preach  as  a  candidate,  and 
came  to  Easton  for  that  purpose  January  20,  1754,  as  already 
stated.  Having  preached  fourteen  Sundays  on  trial,  the  town 
voted,  April  22,  1754,  to  concur  with  the  church  in  giving  him 
a  call.  This  was  of  course  the  "  church "  of  the  town  party, 
they  claiming  that  the  other  church  members,  though  a  majority, 
had  "  gone  out  from "  the  real  historic  "  Church  of  Christ  in 
Easton."  The  sum  of  ^106  13^-.  8d  was  voted  "for  his  Inco- 
rigement  for  his  seteling ; "  and  he  was  also  to  be  allowed  the 
"  Leberty  of  his  giting  his  firewood  of  from  the  Menesteral 
Land."  His  salary  was  to  be  s£s3  6i".  8d.  Mr.  Farrar  had 
received  a  little  private  "  Incorigement "  prior  to  this  call ;  for 
he  gratefully  records  the  fact  that  on  April  5  Edward  Hayward, 
Esq.,  presented  him  with  a  pair  of  gloves,  and  James  Dean  gave 
him  "  a  pistoreine,"  a  gift  of  seventeen  cents  ! 

This  call  of  Mr.  Farrar  was  the  occasion  of  a  new  and  exciting 
conflict  between  the  Presbyterian  and  the  town  church.  Three 
weeks  after  the  call.  May  13,  1754,  Eliphalet  Leonard  and  forty- 
seven  other  men  addressed  a  vigorous  and  spicy  letter  to  the 
newly  called  minister,  —  a  letter  not  at  all  calculated  to  flatter 
the  young  man's  vanity,  or  to  promise  him  peace  and  quietness 
in  his  work.  "  Fearing  thro  your  youth  and  unacquaintedness 
with  men,"  they  sarcastically  write,  "you  might  be  inveigled  by 
flattery  &  smooth  tongues  to  engage  yourself  to  them  through 
inadvertency,  we  fear  there  is  danger  of  being  committed  to  your 
watch  &  care,"  etc.  They  entreat  of  him  "by  no  means  to 
think  of  settling  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  Easton,  for  the 
following  reasons  among  others  which  may  be  mentioned  att 
another  time  if  these  are  not  effectual :  "  — 

"  I.  Because,  from  the  Little  we  have  known  or  heard  of  your  publick 
performances  and  private  Conduct,  We  dont  look  upon  you  by  any 
1  See  Clarke's  History  of  Norton,  p.  370. 


THE    REV.    GEORGE    FARRAR. 


145 


means  Capable  off  or  Qualified  for  the  great  &  most  Solemn  work  of 
the  Gospel  ministry  in  this  place. 

"  2.  We  cant  but  look  upon  you  to  be  a  man  full  of  a  party  spirit,  or 
you  would  have  taken  some  oppertunity  to  have  visited  some  of  us 
since  you  have  been  in  Easton. 

"  3.  Because  we  have  a  minister  already  settled  among  us  whom  we 
Love  &  Value,  whose  ministry  we  sitt  under. 

"  4.  Because  we  hope  the  Rod  of  the  wicked  will  not  alwaie  Rest  on 
the  Lott  of  the  Righteous ;  and  if  ever  Justice  should  take  place,  and 
all  those  that  have  a  right  by  Law  to  act  in  Town  affairs  &  no  others 
be  allowed,  you  may  depend  upon  it  beforehand  you  '11  have  no  sup- 
port granted  by  the  Town  ;  and  in  the  meantime  you  must  not  look  to 
have  any  support  from  us,  or  any  of  us,  more  than  what  comes  by  the 
force  of  the  Law. 

"These  things.  Dear  Sr.,  we  look  upon  our  Duty  out  of  tenderness 
to  your  selfe,  our  selves  &  children,  to  lay  before  you  to  consider  of  ; 
and  if  these  dont  prove  available  to  your  Refusing  to  take  the  care  & 
oversight  of  our  souls  and  the  souls  of  our  children  (which  we  shall 
persist  in  refusing  to  committ  to  your  care  as  a  minister),  we  trust  we 
shall  have  an  Oppertunity  to  show  you  more  to  our  minds  at  some 
other  time  in  this  important  affair. 

"  While  we  Subscribe  yours,  concern*?  for  you,  ourselves  and  chil- 
dren." 1 

Forty-eight  men  signed  their  names  to  this  paper. 
There  is  another  protest  presented  to  him  by  seven  men  who 
are  dissenting  Baptists.     It  is  as  follows  :  — 

To  Mr.  George  Farrar : 

We,  the  Subscribers  dwellers  in  Easton,  haveing  heard  the  Town 
have  given  you  a  call  to  settle  among  them  in  the  way  and  manner  as 
they  have,  —  We  the  Subscribers  bear  our  open  &  joint  publick  testi- 
mony against  any  Ministers  being  maintained  by  Rate,  which  we  ap- 
prehend contrary  to  ye  Gospel  of  the  meek  and  Lowly  Jesus,  And 
if  these  reasons  herein  given  are  not  sufficient  to  Discourage  you  from 
settling  here,  We  hope  we  shall  have  further  oppertunity  to  give  you 
such  reasons  as  Will. 

John  Finney.  Joseph  Jones. 

Eben^  Jones.  John  Asten. 

Peter  Soulard.  Josiah  Allen. 

Simeon  Babbitt."  ^ 

^  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  pp.  72S,  729.  2  ibid.,  p.  730. 

10 


146  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

In  the  sarcastic  references  of  the  first  of  these  communica- 
tions, and  in  the  peremptory  tone  of  both,  one  may  find  a  spirit 
quite  as  "contrary  to  ye  Gospel  of  the  meek  and  Lowly  Jesus" 
as  that  implied  in  a  minister  "  being  maintained  by  Rate." 

Just  at  this  stage  of  the  contention  things  came  to  a  stand- 
still for  awhile.  Mr.  Farrar,  young  as  he  was,  had  sufficient 
discretion  to  pause  and  await  the  issue  of  the  new  contest  that 
was  gathering.  Without  accepting  his  call  at  once,  he  con- 
tinued to  preach  in  Easton  until  the  middle  of  August.  His 
delay  in  accepting  caused  a  temporary  quiet.  The  Presby- 
terians began  to  think  their  bold  tone  had  intimidated  him, 
and  nothing  further  was  done  in  the  matter  through  the  year 
1754.  Mr.  Farrar  preached  at  Winchester,  New  Hampshire, 
for  about  three  months,  and  then  on  November  24  returned  to 
Easton.  He  had  carefully  deliberated  upon  the  matter  of  his 
call,  and  on  January  18,  1755,  he  sent  to  the  town  and  church 
the  following  acceptance:  — 

To  the  CJmt'ch  of  Christ  and  Congregation  in  Easton  : 

Honored  and  Beloved,  —  Having  taken  under  serious  considera- 
tion your  call  given  me  to  settle  with  you  in  the  sacred  ministry  among 
you,  I  hereby  manifest  my  acceptation  of  your  invitation  upon  the 
terms  therein  proposed. 

George  Farrar. 
Easton,  January  ye  18th,  1755. 

There  is  a  town-meeting  February  20  to  make  arrangements 
for  the  ordination.  At  this  meeting  the  opposing  parties  are 
quite  evenly  balanced.  A  committee  is  chosen  "  to  provide  for 
the  Council "  that  must  meet  to  ordain  the  new  minister.  But 
when  the  question  of  raising  money  for  the  needful  expenses 
is  broached,  the  opposition  prevails ;  the  proposal  to  raise  forty 
pounds  in  money  for  that  purpose  is  voted  down,  as  also  that  to 
raise  twenty-five  pounds.  Hoping  to  do  better  at  another  meet- 
ing, the  town  party  procure  an  adjournment.  But  the  Presby- 
terians are  on  the  alert,  and  at  the  adjourned  meeting,  March  3, 
they  drum  up  their  forces  and  prevent  the  raising  of  any  money 
for  the  object  named.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  town  party  are 
determined  to  ordain  their  minister.  Benjamin  Williams  agrees 
to  advance  the  money  to  provide  for  the  entertainment  of  the 


THE   REV.    GEORGE   FARRAR. 


147 


council,  and  to  run  his  risk  of  collecting  it  of  the  town.  The 
council  accordingly  is  called,  and  meets  March  26.  The  Pres- 
byterian party  send  a  committee  to  it  with  a  long,  spirited,  and 
well  written  remonstrance  against  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Farrar. 
They  argue  that  the  rest  of  the  church  have  no  right  to  put  a 
minister  over  them  whom  they  will  be  called  upon  to  support,  — 
"no  more  right,"  they  say,  "to  choose  our  spiritual  food  than  our 
bodily  food."  They  claim  to  be  a  majority  of  the  church,  and 
insist  that  the  others  are  the  "  separatists."  "  We  are  of  a 
different  persuasion,"  they  remonstrate ;  "and  hence  the  gross 
injustice  of  settling  over  us,  &  making  us  pay  for,  a  man  we  do 
not  want  and  whose  doctrines  we  do  not  believe."  Upon  this 
point  they  argue  in  quite  stirring  and  eloquent  language,  for  in 
this  they  had  the  plainest  justice  on  their  side.  It  was  cer- 
tainly unjust  to  compel  them  to  pay  taxes  to  support  a  church 
in  whose  doctrines  and  polity  they  did  not  believe,  especially 
when  they  were  already  contributing  to  the  support  of  their 
own  church  and  minister.  This  was  in  the  days  when  Church 
and  State  were  practically  one  in  New  England  ;  and  in  Easton, 
as  in  other  places,  there  were  numerous  instances  of  persons 
who  were  to  some  degree  victims  of  this  legalized  ecclesiastical 
tyranny.  Hanging  and  banishment  for  religious  reasons  were 
not  practised  in  Plymouth  Colony,  but  persons  were  often  forced 
to  support  the  established  churches  to  which  they  were  consci- 
entiously opposed  or  in  which  they  had  no  interest.  This  was 
the  case  with  our  Easton  Presbyterians.  They  were  supporting 
their  own  church,  and  yet  they  were  by  law  forced  to  help  sup- 
port another  that  was  repugnant  to  them.  They  confess  to  the 
council  that  the  civil  law  will  compel  them  to  do  this,  but  they 
beg  that  the  council  "will  not  sanction  such  flagrant  injustice  & 
infamous  oppression,  even  if  the  action  would  be  upheld  by  the 
civil  lavv,"i  This  paper  is  headed  by  Eliphalet  Leonard  and 
signed  by  over  sixty  others,  including  most  of  the  residents  of 
the  east  and  northeast  parts  of  the  town. 

But  what  was  the  council  to  do  ?     There  was  no  minister  set- 
tled over  either  church  at  this  time.     Mr.  Prentice,  though  he 
was  a  resident,  was  under  ecclesiastical  suspension,  and  did  not 
officiate  as  minister  even  to  his  own  church.     The  town  church 
1  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  p.  731. 


148  HISTORY   OF  EASTON. 

had  chosen  Mr.  Farrar,  and  the  town  itself  had  voted  concur- 
rence. It  was  not  the  fault  of  the  council  that  the  civil  law 
might  bear  hard  upon  some  persons  ;  and  so  they  voted  that  the 
objections  offered  by  the  Presbyterians  "against  their  Proceed- 
ing in  the  solemn  affair,  were  not  sufficient  to  hinder  them." 
Mr.  Farrar  being  called  in  gave  his  profession  of  faith ;  the 
council  voted  it  satisfactory,  and  proceeded  to  ordain  him.^ 

Even  so  late  as  this  the  meeting-house  does  not  appear  to 
be  finished.  In  1754  the  town  voted  to  build  and  sell  some 
pews  ;  but  when  the  ordination  takes  place,  March  26,  1755,  a 
special  committee  is  chosen  "  to  provide  seats  for  the  council," 
So  that  it  is  evident  that  five  years  after  work  on  the  meeting- 
house began,  there  were  very  few  finished  pews.  What  accom- 
modations were  provided  for  seats  we  can  only  conjecture  ;  but 
they  were  probably  chairs,  stools,  forms,  and  other  things  of  a 
miscellaneous  character,  and  must  have  presented  a  motley  ap- 
pearance. Apparently  the  men  and  women  sat  apart.  At  least, 
there  is  frequent  reference  to  "  the  men's  seats  "  and  "  the  wo- 
men's seats."  To  illustrate  this,  a  deposition  of  Benjamin  and 
Joseph  Fobes  will  be  given  ;  it  is  copied  here  more  especially  to 
illustrate  the  contentious  and  party  spirit  that  prevailed  in  town- 
meetings  at  this  period.  The  two  parties  were  antagonized  not 
only  on  church  matters,  but  on  nearly  everything  that  came  be- 
fore them  in  town-meeting.  There  was  wrangling  over  the  elec- 
tion of  officers,  there  were  charges  of  unfairness  against  the 
moderator,  and  of  injustice  against  assessors,  etc.  On  March 
3,  1755,  not  long  before  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Farrar,  when  the 
excitement  was  at  its  height,  the  annual  town-meeting  was  held. 
It  was  a  bitterly  cold  day,  so  cold  that  "by  reson  of  the  ex- 
tremety  of  the  wether  they  "  adjourned  to  the  house  of  Joseph 
Drake,  which  was  quite  near.  The  following  deposition  will 
illustrate  what  has  just  been  stated  concerning  the  bitterness 
of  this  strife  :  — 

We,  Benj.'  Fobes  &  Joseph  Fobes  of  Lawful  age,  testifieth  &  saith, 
that  on  march  The  3,  1755,  &c  being  at  a  town  meeting  in  Easton  & 
hereing  of  Edward  Hayward,  Esq.,  as  moderator,  Saying,  if  it  be  your 
minds  That  timothy  Williams  should  be  town  Clerk   for  yeare  insuing 

^  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  p.  734. 


THE    REV.   GEORGE   FARRAR. 


149 


He  Desired  that  they  would  manifest  it  by  Holding  up  there  Hands,  & 
they  did.  The  vote  was  Disputed,  &  the  moderator  called  for  ye  Conte- 
ry  vote;  &  ye  moderator  pretended  that  he  Could  not  Deside  ye  matter 
without  they  that  ware  for  Mr.  Williams  would  move  into  ye  mens  Scats, 
&  they  that  ware  against  it  into  the  womans  Seats  ;  &  then  the  moderator 
Pretended  that  he  could  not  count  them,  But  ordered  them  to  go  out  a 
doors  &  to  Draw  up  into  two  Ranks,  &  then  he  would  Come  and  Count 
them  ;  &  then  he  came  out  &  went  to  that  part  that  was  for  Williams 
to  be  town  Clerk  &  Came  not  near  the  tother  part,  &  so  went  into  the 
meeting  House  &  Declared  timothy  Williams  town  Clerk. 

Benj'^  Fobes. 
^  Joseph  Fobes. ^ 

Earlier  in  this  controversy,  matters  came  to  such  a  pass  that 
at  an  annual  town-meeting  the  Prentice  party,  headed  by  Capt. 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  withdrew  to  one  side  of  the  meeting-house, 
and  two  town-meetings  were  in  progress  at  the  same  time,  electing 
two  sets  of  officers !  This  was  done  on  a  plea  that  the  valuation 
of  the  town  assessors  was  incorrect,  and  was  so  managed  as  to 
exclude  certain  of  the  Prentice  party  who  had  the  right  to  vote. 
Think  of  the  confusion  and  excitement  necessarily  attending  the 
carrying  on  of  two  town-meetings  at  the  same  time  in  the  same 
room  !  This  matter,  too,  goes  to  the  General  Court  in  the  shape 
of  a  petition  ^  presented  by  the  minority  party  ;  and  this  was 
answered  by  a  statement  of  Joshua  Howard  and  John  Williams, 
selectmen.  After  setting  the  matter  of  valuation  right,  they  go 
on  thus  :  "  Now  when  Capt.  Leonard  see  that  he  could  not  Regu- 
late the  meeting  as  he  Plezed  he  withdrue ;  and  the  town  Clarke 
being  one  of  his  associates  was  about  to  folio  him  at  his  Request, 
but  he  being  conserned  to  attend  his  duty  (as  a  Clarke  under 
oath)  did  not  folio  the  said  Leonard,  but  tarried  with  us  and  at- 
tended his  duty  in  his  office  until  thare  was  another  chosen  and 
sworn  in  his  rume  ;  and  we  went  on  to  chuse  our  town  officers  in 
a  Regular  manner,  who  were  sworn  as  the  Law  Derects."^  This 
report  states  that  "  those  which  joined  with  Capt.  Leonard  in 
his  pretended  meeting  was  much  ye  minor  part  of  ye  town  ;  and 
there  was  but  one  selectman  to  regulate  their  meeting,  and  they 
had  neither  warrand  or  notification  to  go  by."  The  whole  affair 
was  reported  upon  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  House  of 

^  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  p.  743.  2  i^j^j  p  227.  ^  Ibid  pp.  231,  232. 


150  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Representatives,  and  the  petition  of  Captain  Leonard  and  his 
associates  was  dismissed. 

Occurrences  of  a  similar  character  with  that  just  noted  were 
not  uncommon,  and  they  show  how  intense  and  deep-seated  was 
the  animosity  which  sprang  merely  from  a  difference  of  opinion 
as  to  the  location  of  the  meeting-house. 

The  members  of  the  church  adhering  to  Mr.  Prentice  had 
taken  away  the  communion  service.  They  were  entitled  to  ^o 
this,  because  they  were  a  majority  of  the  members,  and  because 
also  it  had  been,  in  part  at  least,  purchased  by  a  gift  of  silver 
from  Mr.  Prentice's  father.  The  town  church  therefore  were  at 
this  time  in  need  of  a  service,  and  we  shall  see  by  the  extract 
now  quoted  that  they  were  contented  with  a  modest  pewter  one  : 
"  Eph.  Randall  gave  to  Mr  James  Dean  three  shillings  Lawful 
money  to  purchase  Sacrement  Puter  for  the  Lords  Table,  &c., 
in  July  27th,  1755.     Mr.  Geo.  Farrar  being  minister." 

Mr.  Farrar  was,  as  we  have  seen,  ordained  March  26,  I755- 
The  Presbyterians  having  tried  in  vain  to  discourage  him  from 
accepting  his  call,  and  to  persuade  the  council  not  to  ordain  him, 
settled  down  sullenly  to  accept  the  situation.  They  remained 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  and  had  preachers  sent  out  to 
them,  Mr.  Prentice  having  moved  back  to  Grafton.  But  when 
the  taxes  became  due  and  they  were  forced  to  pay  for  the  sup- 
port of  Mr.  Farrar,  it  was  too  much  for  them  to  bear  without 
another  vigorous  attempt  at  relief.  Accordingly  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  next  year,  1756,  "more  than  sixty  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  Easton,  by  their  agent  Eliphalet  Leonard,"  presented  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Governor,  specifying  their  grievances  and  asking  for 
justice.  This  petition  recites  the  particulars  of  the  controversy, 
which  are  already  familiar  to  the  reader,  and  then  makes  a  strong 
statement  of  the  injustice  of  forcing  them  to  help  support  a 
church  and  minister  to  whom  they  were  decidedly  opposed.  It 
reads  :  "  Yet  notwithstanding  the  proper  distinction  of  the  two 
churches  in  Easton  made  by  sd.  council,  our  restless  neighbors, 
deaf  to  all  Intreaties,  continue  to  destrain  and  unjustly  take  away 
our  substance,  which  necessitates  us  to  make  our  humble  address 
to  your  honor,  ...  to  grant  us  &  leave  to  them  the  undisturbed 
enjiyment  of  those  religious  principles  each  party  is  in  con- 
science persuaded   &    obliged  to  choose  ;  .  .  .  that  you  would 


THE   REV.    GEORGE   FARRAR.  151 

relieve  us  by  freeing  us  from  the  charge  of  settling  and  support- 
ing Mr.  Farrar,  or  that  we  may  be  made  a  separate  precint,"^  etc. 
No  one  can  read  this  petition  without  a  feeling  of  sympathy  for 
those  who,  however  blameworthy  for  being  in  their  present  situa- 
tion, were  certainly  in  this  one  particular  victims  of  real,  even  if 
legaHzed,  injustice. 

This  petition  was  ordered  to  be  served  upon  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Easton.  In  their  behalf  their  minister  presents 
a  long,  clear,  and  well  written  statement  of  the  whole  subject  from 
the  beginning.^  The  only  argument  it  presents  to  answer  the 
charge  of  injustice  in  forcing  the  Presbyterians  to  assist  in  sup- 
porting the  town  church  is  presented  in  the  following  words  : 
"  The  circumstances  of  both  parties  are  such  that  neither  party 
is  able  to  maintain  and  support  the  Publick  worship  of  God  sepa- 
rately and  by  themselves  ; "  and  the  town  party  claim  that  as 
they  are  the  established  Congregational  Church,  and  are  a  ma- 
jority, their  church  and  minister  should  be  supported.  Perhaps 
also  they  claim  that  the  law  is  on  their  side.  This  statement 
was  followed  by  a  rejoinder  from  the  Presbyterians,  which  how- 
ever presents  nothing  materially  different  from  what  has  already 
been  noticed.  The  Governor  and  Council  appointed  a  committee 
of  three  men,  the  House  of  Representatives  adding  four  more, 
and  they  considered  the  petitions  and  all  accompanying  papers, 
and  reported  thereon.  This  committee  was  composed  of  liberal- 
minded  men,  and  after  careful  consideration  they  presented  a 
report,  in  which  they  recommended  that  the  Presbyterians  should 
pay  their  proportion  of  the  "settlement"  and  salary  of  Mr.  Farrar 
then  due  ;  and  they  added  this  excellent  recommendation :  — 

And  that  all  such  in  sd.  Town  who  now  call  themselves  Presbyte- 
reans,  upon  their  settling  a  Learned  Pious  Protistant  Presbyterean 
minister  over  them,  &  certifying  under  their  Hands  that  they  are  of  the 
Presbyterian  persuation,  and  lodging  such  certificate  in  the  Secretary's 
office,  shall  be  free  from  paying  anything  afterwards  towards  the  sup- 
port of  the  sd.  Mr.  George  Farrar,  anything  foregoing  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding. 

Sam.  Watts, 

For  the  Committee.^ 

Feb.  18,  1756. 

1  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  pp.  697-700.  ^  Ibid.  pp.  752. 


152 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


The  council  accepted  this  report.  The  recommendation  just 
quoted  was  ingeniously  guarded.  If  all  Presbyterians  were  al- 
lowed exemption  from  the  town  ministerial  tax,  large  numbers 
would  immediately  claim  to  be  Presbyterians,  and  the  town 
church  consequently  fail  of  its  support ;  it  was  therefore  pro- 
vided that  they  must  declare  their  belief  in  Presbyterianism  and 
be  actually  supporting  a  minister,  lodging  their  certificates  of  the 
fact  in  the  State  Secretary's  office,  before  they  could  claim  the 
desired  exemption. 

But  nothing  seems  to  have  been  settled  until  four  months 
later.  The  recommendation  of  the  committee  was  favored  by 
the  Council,  but  no  action  was  taken  upon  it  until  June  3.  At 
that  date  we  have  the  following  :  — 

"In  the  House  of  Rep^  June  3,  1756. — Ordered  that  this  Pet"  & 
answers  accompanying  the  same  be  rivived,  and  that  the  parties  be 
heard  by  Council  on  the  floor,  which  was  done"  accordingly.  And 
after  a  long  debate  — 

"Ordered  that  the  said  petition  be  dismissed,"  etc.^ 

Thus  we  see  that  a  church  quarrel  in  a  small  town  was  deemed 
of  sufficient  importance  to  employ  the  time  of  the  Governor  and 
his  Council  and  of  the  State  Legislature,  to  be  debated  upon  the 
floor  of  the  House  in  an  earnest  discussion,  and  that  only  "after 
a  long  debate  "  was  it  decided  !  And  yet  the  affair  was  not  as 
trivial  as  it  seemed  to  be.  Underneath  it  lay  a  question  of  jus- 
tice and  equity.  Should  citizens  holding  one  religious  belief  be 
required  by  law  to  support  another,  against  their  will  ?  This 
was  a  question  of  religious  liberty,  and  it  is  to  the  credit  of  the 
Easton  Presbyterians  that  they  rebelled  against  the  injustice 
which  wronged  both  their  conscience  and  estate,  and  that  they 
made  such  a  vigorous  attempt  to  secure  their  natural  rights.  It 
is  with  extreme  regret  that  we  read  that  their  petition  was  dis- 
missed. Even  the  recommendation  of  the  committee,  that  they 
should  be  exempted  from  future  taxes  to  support  the  town  min- 
ister as  soon  as  they  settled  a  minister  of  their  own,  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  adopted.  The  Legislature  would  not,  by 
any  special  act,  annul  the  legal  requirement  obliging  all  citizens 
of  a  town  to  support  the  town  minister.     Our  fathers  had  fled  to 

-  State  Papers,  vol.  xiii.  p.  700. 


THE   REV.    GEORGE   FARRAR.  1 53 

this  land  to  secure  liberty  of  worship  unmolested  _/£?r  themselves  ; 
but  they  were  not  in  a  hurry  to  allow  it  to  others  who  might  differ 
from  them  in  opinion  and  in  forms  of  worship.  The  record  of 
Plymouth  Colony  was,  however,  exceptionally  honorable  in  this 
regard.  But  the  State  Legislature,  even  in  1756,  was  not  ready 
to  take  the  ground  of  perfect  religious  freedom  ;  and  therefore 
Eliphalet  Leonard  and  his  committee  returned,  and  with  sorrow 
and  indignation  reported  the  result  to  their  fellow-worshippers. 
There  was  no  help  for  it  now.  Blamable  as  they  were  in  the 
beginning,  we  cannot  but  sympathize  with  them  when  they  are 
sent  home  from  this  last  attempt  to  have  justice  done  them,  and 
are  compelled  to  support  a  church  and  a  minister  they  had  come 
to  regard  with  distrust  and  animosity. 

Early  in  1756  Mr.  Farrar  bought  land  for  a  homestead  ;  it 
lay  a  number  of  rods  west  of  the  place  where  the  almshouse  is 
now  situated,  and  about  as  far  south  of  the  street.  There  he  set 
to  work  to  build  his  house,  which  was  finished  in  the  spring. 
His  farm  and  house  were  paid  for  largely  with  money  which  he 
borrowed.  His  principal  creditor  was  Isaac  Medberry,  to  whom, 
by  the  hand  of  Timothy  Williams,  he  sent  at  one  time  a  miscel- 
laneous collection  of  moneys,  as  indicated  in  the  following 
curious  receipt :  — 

Received  of  the  Revf  M'  George  Farrar,  of  Easton,  Two  Double 
Loons,  one  Joanna,  Thirteen  Dollars,  One  pistorene,  half  a  pistorene, 
Four  English  Shillings,  Two  black  Dogs,  and  Three  halves,  which  I 
promise  to  pay  this  day  for  the  s''.  Farrar  to  Isaac  Medberry,  in  Scitu- 
ate,  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island.-^ 

(Signed)  Tim';'  Williams. 

Easton,  August  ye  9"^,  1756. 

Mr.  Farrar  worked  hard  finishing  his  house,  to  which  he  con- 
ducted his  bride,  after  their  marriage,  June  2.  But  his  wedded 
life  was  destined  to  be  of  brief  duration.  He  went  about  the  ist 
of  September  to  visit  a  sister,  who  was  sick  with  a  fever  at  her 

^  The  doubloon  was  a  Spanish  gold  coin,  worth  about  $16.  Those  coined  in 
1772,  sixteen  years  later  than  this  receipt,  were  valued  at  $15.93.  The  "Joanna" 
was  probably  the  Portuguese  Johannes,  a  gold  coin  worth  about  $8.  A  "  pistorene  " 
(Spanish  pistareen)  was  a  silver  coin  worth  about  seventeen  cents.  What  piece  of 
money  the  "  black  dog  "  was  the  writer  does  not  know  ;  it  was  probably  a  colloquial 
term  that  may  now  be  obsolete. 


154  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

father's  house,  in  that  part  of  Concord  which  is  now  Lincoln. 
September  6  he  himself  was  so  seriously  attacked  with  the  same 
fever  that  he  made  his  will  that  day,  and  eleven  days  afterwards, 
September  17,  1756,  he  breathed  his  last.  His  remains  were 
laid  away  in  the  cemetery  at  Lincoln. 

And  now,  again,  the  town  of  Easton  is  without  a  minister,  and 
it  will  be  difficult  to  find  any  man  who  will  care  to  face  the  oppo- 
sition and  hatred  of  one  half  the  town,  when,  if  past  experience 
can  be  trusted,  he  will  also  have  to  encounter  the  indifference 
and  illiberality  of  many  of  the  other  half.  Mr.  Farrar  was  be- 
yond the  reach  of  strife  and  trouble ;  not  so  his  widow  and  his 
heirs.  The  town  refused  to  make  good  its  promises  regarding 
the  salary  and  settlement  of  their  late  pastor.  Vote  after  vote  in 
regard  to  these  just  payments  was  taken,  but  always  in  the  same 
monotonous  negative.  At  last  the  executors  of  Mr.  Farrar's 
estate,  following  the  examples  of  Mr.  Prentice,  Mr.  Vesey,  and 
Mr.  Vinal,  sued  the  town.  The  town  voted  to  let  the  suit 
for  the  salary  go  by  default,  but  to  contest  the  claim  for  the 
"settlement,"  which  was  ^106,  135'.  %d.  The  executors,  how- 
ever, won  the  case ;  and  not  only  the  settlement,  but  a  large 
bill  of  costs  was  wrung  from  the  unwilling  town.  It  was  not 
until  1759  that  the  promise  of  the  town  made  in  1755  was  re- 
deemed. These  are  not  pleasant  facts  to  contemplate  ;  but  the 
writer  has  undertaken  the  task  of  a  historian  rather  than  of  a 
eulogist,  and  will  therefore  try  to  state  facts  as  they  are,  and  let 
them  tell  their  own  story  of  praise  or  blame. 

The  young  widow,  Mrs.  Farrar,  who  was  under  age  at  the 
time  of  her  husband's  death,  did  not  long  remain  disconsolate  ; 
but  on  February  8,  1759,  she  married  Dr.  Gideon  Tiffany,  of 
Attleborough. 

The  death  of  the  minister  does  not  bring  peace  to  the  con- 
tending factions.  The  town  records,  both  on  their  face  and 
between  the  lines,  give  evidence  of  what  Mr.  Prentice  would  call 
"a  most  distressing  and  dying  time  in  Easton."  In  January,  1757, 
the  town  votes  to  raise  no  money  and  appoint  no  committee  for 
the  supply  of  the  pulpit.  Religion  seems  to  be  at  its  lowest 
ebb.  In  March  there  is  a  curious  attempt  at  an  adjustment 
of  affairs.  It  is  proposed  to  try,  first,  a  Congregational,  and 
then  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  then  allow  a  majority  vote  to 


END  OF  THE  CHURCH  CONTROVERSY.      155 

decide  which  of  the  two  shall  become  the  settled  pastor.  This 
proposition  does  not  meet  with  acceptance  ;  but  a  vote  is  passed 
to  hire  a  minister  to  preach  half  the  time  in  the  town  meeting- 
house, and  half  in  the  other.  This  seems  like  the  first  real  gleam 
of  light  in  the  darkness.  But  as  when,  on  the  face  of  the  sky,  the 
dark  clouds  part  for  a  moment  and  the  flash  of  sunlight  gives 
promise  that  the  storm  is  over,  and  then  suddenly  heavier  clouds 
gather,  bringing  deeper  darkness  and  a  fiercer  tempest,  so  was 
it  here :  the  attempt  at  peace  was  a  disastrous  failure.  The 
nearer  the  opposing  parties  were  brought  together  the  more  in- 
tense was  their  antagonism.  No  one,  except  in  irony,  would 
venture  to  apply  to  the  Easton  people  of  that  time  the  old 
words,  "  See  how  these  Christians  love  one  another !  "  There 
are  indications  that  the  majority  were  rather  hard  with  the 
minority.  Eliphalet  Leonard  and  others  earnestly  request  the 
selectmen  to  call  a  town-meeting,  which  they  unwarrantably 
refuse.  Whereupon  Captain  Leonard  and  twenty-two  of  his 
associates  petition  Justice  Godfrey  to  the  same  effect,  and  the 
meeting  is  summoned  by  him.  But  when  it  convenes,  Edward 
Hayward  is  chosen  moderator,  and  at  one  sweep  all  the  articles 
of  the  warrant  are  dismissed  and  the  meeting  adjourns.  Another 
meeting  is  held  a  few  hours  later,  with  Benjamin  Harvey  moder- 
ator, but  with  the  same  fate  for  the  proposed  articles  of  Captain 
Leonard. 

June  19,  1758,  further  action  looking  to  agreement  is  proposed. 
A  committee  is  chosen  to  devise  some  plan  of  accommodation. 
Dea.  Robert  Randall,  Dea.  James  Dean,  and  Solomon  Stone  are 
selected.  They  suggest,  first,  that  all  the  town  shall  meet  in  the 
town  meeting-house  until  next  spring  ;  secondly,  that  this  house 
shall  then  be  taken  down  and  carried  half  a  mile  farther  north, 
or  that  the  town  shall  pay  to  the  north  part  five  hundred  pounds, 
old  tenor,  if  that  will  satisfy  them  ;  thirdly,  that  the  Cambridge 
Platform  shall  be  adopted  ;  fourthly,  that  a  certain  number  of  min- 
isters and  churches  shall  be  convened  to  settle  decisively  all  mat- 
ters in  controversy.  These  propositions  met  with  favor,  though 
it  is  not  stated  which  alternative  in  the  second  proposal  was 
adopted.  It  was  voted  to  accept  them,  and  voted  also  to  choose 
a  committee  to  carry  them  into  effect.  Here  again  a  gleam 
of  light  appeared  for  a  moment,  but  it  immediately  vanished, 


156  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

leaving  thicker  darkness  behind  ;  for  when  they  attempted  to  ap- 
point the  committee,  "  thay  could  not  agrea  in  the  Chois,  and 
sum  got  very  [angry],  and  the  town  Dismist  ye  meeting." 

The  conviction  is  now  evidently  deepening  in  the  minds  of 
both  the  contending  parties  that  all  union  between  them  is 
impossible,  for  in  August  it  is  voted  that  the  Presbyterians 
should  be  set  off  as  a  separate  precinct :  this  would  have  ex- 
empted them  from  paying  for  the  support  of  the  town  church, 
though  all  in  their  precinct  would  be  taxed  for  the  church  there. 
This  vote  was,  however,  rescinded  at  the  same  meeting.  But 
in  September  it  was  voted  that  the  easterly  part  of  the  town 
(by  a  line  running  from  the  west  side  of  George  Ferguson's 
house  to  Solomon  Hewett's,  where  Daniel  Clark  now  lives,  and 
so  on  to  Raynham)  should  be  set  off  as  a  separate  township, 
with  the  singular  proviso  that  if  they  chose  to  do  so,  those  living 
on  either  side  of  this  line  might  be  annexed  to  the  other  side, 
and  assessed  accordingly.  Thirteen  living  on  the  east  side 
immediately  recorded  their  desire  to  be  counted  and  assessed 
with  those  on  the  west  side.  But  the  General  Court  would  not, 
of  course,  sanction  such  an  awkward  arrangement,  and  this  plan 
came  to  nought. 

Evidently  this  bitter  contention  over  a  church  matter  was  pro- 
ductive of  scepticism  or  indifference  in  regard  to  religion  itself. 
In  1759  two  town-meetings  refuse  to  raise  money  for  the  supply 
of  the  pulpit,  and  no  progress  toward  reconciliation  is  made  for 
two  years  after  this.  Another  attempt  is  made  in  1761  to  move 
the  town  meeting-house,  but  without  avail.  It  is  then  voted  to 
employ  a  committee  of  out-of-town  men  to  come  and  appoint  the 
place  most  convenient  for  a  meeting-house  ;  but  the  vote  is  recon- 
sidered before  the  meeting  that  passed  it  is  adjourned.  There  is 
trouble  about  the  disposition  of  the  pews  in  the  meeting-house. 
They  are  moved ;  new  ones  are  built ;  the  town  votes  to  refund 
to  former  purchasers  the  prices  they  paid  for  their  pews  that 
a  new  sale  may  be  made,  with  the  hope  perhaps  that  this  new 
start  may  secure  the  co-operation  of  some  of  the  opposing  party  ; 
but  it  is  noticeable  that  nearly  all  the  new  purchasers  are  of  the 
town  party. 

It  is  now  1762.  The  opponents  of  the  town-church  party  are 
discouraged.     They  have  fought  against  heavy  odds,  for  the  law 


END    OF   THE    CHURCH    CONTROVERSY.  157 

has  compelled  them  to  pay  for  the  support  of  the  town  church 
as  well  as  their  own.  Though  the  first  contestants  may  hold  out 
for  conscience'  sake  or  for  stubborn  pride,  new  adherents  do  not 
care  to  join  them.  And  so  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Easton, 
originating  in  a  dispute  about  the  location  of  the  meeting-house, 
vanishes  utterly  from  history  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  seventeen 
hundred  and  sixty-two. 

Here  were  tivelve  years  of  earnest,  sometimes  angry  and 
bitter,  strife.  Its  origin  was  not  doctrinal  ;  it  was  not  a  reli- 
gious conflict.  It  was  a  question,  at  first,  of  local  interest,  of 
personal  convenience,  and  was  rooted  therefore  in  human  selfish- 
ness. Let  us  not  blame  religion  for  it.  It  was  not  Christianity 
that  made  these  contestants  quarrel ;  it  was  the  want  of  it.  The 
unhappy  effects  of  this  strife  and  animosity  long  survived  in 
town.  As  we  have  said,  it  was  fruitful  in  scepticism  and  indiffer- 
ence. It  engendered  personal  strifes  that  lasted  through  the 
lives  of  the  actors,  and  then  became  family  traditions.  It  gave  a 
lower  tone  to  the  moral,  religious,  and  social  life  of  the  town ;  so 
that  Easton  obtained,  and  to  some  extent  deserved,  an  unenvi- 
able reputation  as  compared  with  neighboring  towns.  And 
now,  at  last,  shall  we  see  peace  and  quietness,  or  will  some  new 
contest  arise.'' 


158  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

EASTON   IN   THE   FRENCH   AND   INDIAN  WAR. 

Massachusetts  Military  Archives.  —  Hostility  of  the  French 
AND  English  Colonists.  —  Captain  Nathaniel  Perry's  Com- 
pany. —  Sketch  of  Captain  Perry.  —  Easton  Men  in  Captain 
Ebenezer  Dean's  Company, —  In  Captain  James  Andrew's  Com- 
pany. —  Miscellaneous  Enlistments.  —  Trying  Experiences  of 
Easton  Volunteers.  —  The  Acadians. 

IN  the  State  Archives  at  the  State  House  in  Boston  there  are 
ninety-nine  large  folio  volumes  of  muster-rolls,  pay-rolls, 
and  various  other  military  papers,  in  manuscript,  which  are 
arranged  with  a  care  and  order  that  are  very  creditable  to  the 
State  Secretary  and  those  who  have  had  charge  of  this  impor- 
tant work.  These  volumes  average  over  five  hundred  pages 
each,  making  not  less  than  fifty  thousand  pages,  chiefly  lists  of 
the  names,  residences,  rank,  etc.,  of  the  soldiers  in  King  George's 
War  (1744  to  1748),  the  French  and  Indian  War  (1754  to  1763), 
and  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  making  up  the  lists  of  Easton 
men  who  served  in  these  wars,  and  learning  facts  about  them, 
the  writer,  not  trusting  to  the  general  index,  has  carefully  exam- 
ined these  pages  in  detail.  The  lists  of  Easton  soldiers  given 
in  this  chapter,  as  well  as  in  the  chapter  on  "  Easton  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,"  are  therefore  full  and  complete. 

The  French  and  English  Colonies  in  North  America  regarded 
each  other  from  the  start  with  suspicion  and  jealousy.  Fre- 
quent acts  of  hostility  occurred,  in  which  the  Indians  often  took 
part ;  and  these  hostilities  were  sometimes  of  a  brutal  and  fero- 
cious kind.  The  brutality  and  ferocity  were  not,  however,  all 
on  one  side.  The  whites,  if  not  habitually  as  cruel  and  savage 
in  their  warfare  as  the  less  enlightened  red  men,  were,  in  their 
treatment  of  them,  guilty  of  acts  of  equal  perfidy  and  cruelty. 
And  considering  how  much  more  was  to  be  expected  of  the 
whites,  and  what  provocation  the  red  men  had  in  seeing  their 
possessions  falling  away  from  them,  and  in  being  slowly  driven 


EASTON    IN   THE    FRENCH   AND  INDIAN  WAR.       159 

back  from  their  beloved  hunting-grounds,  we  have  less  reason 
to  reproach  the  so-called  savages  than  to  condemn  those  who,  in 
their  eyes,  were  the  too  often  savage  invaders  of  their  country. 
For  the  most  part,  the  Indians  were  more  favorable  to  the 
French  than  to  the  English  colonists  in  the  successive  hostili- 
ties that  occurred  between  them.  Besides  the  two  wars  of  the 
Colonists  already  alluded  to,  there  were  two  others  considerably 
earlier,  —  King  William's  War  (1689  to  1697),  and  Queen  Anne's 
War  (1702  to  1 71 3).  But  the  Colonists  were  seldom  at  peace, 
and  there  was  constant  need  of  military  service. 

The  first  reference  in  the  State  Archives  to  the  military  ser- 
vice of  our  Easton  men  is  found  in  a  petition  of  Josiah  Edson 
in  behalf  of  Josiah  Keith,  of  Easton,  for  a  month's  wages  as  a 
soldier.!  The  petition  was  dated  April  8,  1748,  and  was  granted. 
This  Josiah  Keith  was  son  of  the  first  Josiah,  of  Easton,  and 
father  of  the  third  Josiah,  who  became  a  militia  Captain  and 
served  in  the  Revolution.  May  23,  1748,  it  was  voted  in  town- 
meeting  "  that  Capt.  Eliphalet  Leonard  shall  Have  ye  Liberty 
to  Hier  men  with  ye  money  yt  is  paid  to  him  by  men  that  is 
Impresed  into  his  Majesty's  service,  or  paid  for  that  purpose  to 
Hier  men  for  what  they  may  be  Hiered  for."  The  word  "  im- 
presed "  has  the  force  evidently  of  drafted,  since  the  impressed 
men  were  allowed  to  pay  for  a  substitute  or  for  exemption. 
Ephraim  Randall  had  been  thus  impressed,  June  17,  1746,  and 
was  out  in  service  until  July  26. 

June  6,  1754,  Nathaniel  Perry,  of  Easton,  received  a  captain's 
commission,  signed  by  Governor  Shirley.  He  was  made  a  cap- 
tain of  the  regiment  of  which  Col.  John  Winslow  was  colonel. 
He  served  in  the  struggle  then  going  on  at  the  eastern  frontier. 
On  the  date  of  November  8,  1754,  he  had  a  company  of  forty-six 
men,  with  the  following  from  Easton  :^  — 

Nathaniel  Perry,  Captain.  Joseph  Jones,  sentinel. 

Ebenezer  Jones,  sergeant.  Thomas  Babbitt,  sentinel. 

Nathaniel  Babbitt,  clerk.  Hezekiah  Drake,  sentinel. 

The  word  "  sentinel  "  is  equivalent  to  the  word  "  private."  We 
have  a  later  account  of  this  company  after  it  had  been  recruited 

1  State  Archives,  Military,  vol.  Ixxiii.  p.  125. 

2  Ibid.,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xciii.  p.  135. 


i6o 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


with  further  enhstments,  for  getting  which  Captain  Perry  had 
in  December,  1754,  received  a  warrant.  In  his  company  there 
were,  May  29,  1755,  ninety-six  men  ;  it  was  in  the  "2'^  battahon 
of  his  Excellency  Gov.  Shirley's  regiment,  raised  for  the  remov- 
ing the  French  incroachments  from  his  Majesty's  Government 
of  Nova  Scotia."  Among  these  ninety-six  soldiers  the  following 
were  from  Easton  :  ^  — 


Name. 

Rank. 

Age. 

Birthplace. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Lemuel  Gilbert    .  .  . 

Sergeant 

38 

Norton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Hezekiah  Smith  .  .  . 

Corporal 

30 

Swansea 

Easton 

Blacksmith 

Thomas  Dean  .... 

Private 

27 

Exeter 

Easton 

Tanner 

James  Galliway  .  .  , 

Private 

21 

Westbury 

Easton 

Laborer 

Danl  Vokentrugen    . 

Private 

21 

London 

Easton 

Tailor 

Daniel  Niles,  Jr.    .  . 

Private 

19 

Braintree 

Easton 

Laborer 

Nath!  Perry,  Jr.  .  .  . 

Private 

17 

Easton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Samuel  Perry  .... 

Private 

16 

Easton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Joseph  Packard  .  .  . 

Private 

25 

Easton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Beriah  Randall    .  .  . 

Private 

20 

Easton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Hezekiah  Drake  .  .  . 

Private 

18 

Easton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Thomas  Pratt   .... 

Private 

23 

Easton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Joseph  Belcher  ^    .  . 

Private 

19 

Easton 

Easton 

Laborer 

John  Hern 

Private 

25 

Black  Valley 

Easton 

Laborer 

Pendleton  Britton  .  . 

Private 

30 

Taunton 

Easton 

Laborer 

Joseph  Jones 

Private 

22 

Taunton 

Easton 

Yeoman 

Daniel  Finney .... 

Private 

22 

Norton 

Easton 

Laborer 

These  men  were  enlisted  about  five  months  "  earlier  than  the 
date  of  this  return.  It  was  made  from  the  Bason  of  Annapolis 
Royall,  Nova  Scotia."  Captain  Perry's  company  was  at  the 
siege  and  surrender  of  Fort  Cumberland,  concerning  which,  un- 
der date  of  June  24,  1775,  he  wrote  his  wife  :  "  By  the  good  hand 
of  God,  [after]  four  days'  seige  to  the  Fort  with  our  mortars  they 
surrendered  the  fort,  after  a  capitulation.  But  they  had  the  lib- 
erty of  carrying  off  their  effects.  And  upon  their  resignation, 
the  Bay  of  Vert  surrendered  upon  the  same  terms.  We  went 
and  took  possession  of  it  two  days  after  the  first  gave  up.     I 

^  This  muster-roll  belongs  to  N.  W.  Perry,  of  South  Easton,  a  descendant  of 
Captain  Perry. 

2  The  Joseph  Belcher  named  above  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher. 
After  returning  from  the  war,  he  settled  in  Stoughton. 


EASTON    IN   THE   FRENCH   AND    INDIAN   WAR.      i6l 

went  there  in  company  of  five  hundred  men,  where  I  tarried 
five  days.  The  place  was  very  pleasant,  and  the  land  exceed- 
ing good.  This  place  was  eighteen  miles  from  the  fort  we  took. 
Where  we  shall  remove  to  next  is  very  uncertain.  The  whole  of 
our  enterprise  seems  to  be  very  miraculous.  We  had  two  very 
smart  skirmishes,  allowed  to  be  much  smarter  than  any  at  the 
reduction  of  Cape  Breton.  We  have  lost  but  one  New-England 
man,  and  not  one  by  sickness  since  we  left  Boston  ;  and  it  is  a 
general  time  of  health  now.  I  with  my  two  sons  are  brave  and 
hearty,"  etc.  About  a  year  afterward,  however,  he  writes  his 
wife  that  he  is  in  poor  health,  and  earnestly  desires  her  to 
obtain  leave  of  absence  for  himself  and  his  two  sons,  who  are  in 
his  company.  He  soon  gets  the  order  for  his  release,  but  it 
was  written  by  the  hand  of  Death.  Far  away  from  home,  but 
ministered  to  tenderly  by  his  sons,  he  died  June  15,  1756,  at 
the  age  of  forty-four. 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Dinah 
Perry,  and  grandson  of  Ezra  and  Elizabeth  (Biirge)  Perry,  Ezra 
appearing  in  Sandwich  as  early  as  1644.  Nathaniel  was  born 
in  Sandwich,  July  2  (O.S.),  1713.  Benjamin  Perry  and  three 
sons  —  Josiah,  Benjamin,  and  Nathaniel  —  appear  in  Stoughton 
as  early  as  1734,  as  indicated  by  the  tax-lists;  and  Eliakim  and 
Abner  are  there  four  and  six  years  later,  respectively.  December 
2,  1736,  Nathaniel  married  Mrs.  Mehitable  Willis,  daughter  of 
Lieut.  James  Leonard,  of  Taunton,  and  widow  of  John  Willis,  of 
Easton.  Through  her  Captain  Perry  became  the  owner  of  the 
"  Perry  place,"  so  called,  on  Highland  Street,  west  of  the  Fur- 
nace Village,  this  having  been  the  gift  of  Lieutenant  Leonard  to 
Mehitable,  when  she  married  John  WiUis.  Captain  Perry  was 
a  pious  man,  one  of  the  stanch  supporters  of  the  Rev.  Solomon 
Prentice  in  the  trying  times  of  the  church  history  that  have 
already  been  considered.  His  military  experience  has  just  been 
described. 

The  Perry  family  developed  considerable  military  talent. 
Though  Edward  Perry,  a  brother  of  the  first  Ezra,  was  a 
Quaker,  and  a  very  stubborn  one,  his  descendants  have  fur- 
nished numerous  soldiers.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned 
Commodores  O.  H.  and  M.  C.  Perry,  Captains  Raymond  H.  J., 
James    A.,  and    N.  H.   Perry,  all   distinguished   naval  officers. 


l62  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Of  Ezra's  descendants  we  have  Captain  Nathaniel  and  his  son 
Captain  James  Perry.  Two  sons  of  Captain  Nathaniel  served 
with  him  in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  as  we  have  already 
seen.  And  we  have  noted  also  among  his  troops  Benjamin 
Tiipper,  a  son  of  Captain  Nathaniel's  sister  Remember,  who 
had  married  Thomas  Tapper,  Jr.  Benjamin  Tupper  and  his 
son  Anselm  both  showed  their  Perry  blood  by  decided  military 
talent  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  former  gaining  the 
rank  of  Brigadier-general.  Captain  Perry  left  a  widow  and  five 
children.     She  died  September  20,  1797. 

In  1755,  besides  the  men  serving  under  Captain  Perry,  Easton 
had  at  least  six  other  men  in  the  service.  These  were  partici- 
pants in  the  bloody  battle  at  Lake  George,  near  Crown  Point, 
September  8.  In  Capt.  Richard  Godfrey's  company  there  were 
Samuel  Drake  and  John  Wilson. ^  In  Col.  Ephraim  Leonard's 
regiment  2  were  John  Owen,  Lewis  Sweeting,  and  Benjamin 
Williams,  Jr.,  whose  father  was  then  a  captain.  Henry  Partridge 
was  there  also,  having  enlisted  from  Easton,  and  serving  in 
Capt.  Samuel  Clarke's  company.^  Nathan  Hewett  was  also  in 
the  service,  and  died  at  Oswego,  October  30,  1755,  but  we 
have  no  record  of  his  company.  Capt.  Benjamin  Williams, 
although  now  sixty  years  of  age,  raised  a  company  to  join  in 
an  expedition  against  Crown  Point  in  1756.  He  was  in  Colonel 
Gridley's  regiment,  and  his  company  served  from  February 
18  to  December  23.  Only  the  names  of  persons  enlisting  in 
Easton  are  given."* 

Benjamin  Williams,  Capt.  _  John  Smith. 

Nathan  Bryant,  Coi'poral.  James  Wright. 

Henry  Partridge.  Ehjah  White. 
John  Howard  Winslow. 

All  these  enlisted  at  Easton,  but  only  Elijah  White  was 
said  to  be  born  here.  The  muster-roll  states  that  Henry 
Partridge  was  "  killed  or  captivated."  ^  Notwithstanding  his 
age,  Capt.  Benjamin  Williams  remained  in  the  service  several 
years.     In  1760  he  commanded  a  company  in  Colonel  Thomas's 

1  State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xciv.  p.  32. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  xciii.  p.  245.  *  Ibid.,  vol.  xciv.  p.  193,  and  vol.  xcv.  p.  197. 

3  Ibid.,  vol.  xciv.  p.  69.  ^  ibid.,  vol.  xciv.  p.  436. 


EASTON    IN    THE    FRENCH    AND    INDIAN    WAR. 


163 


regiment.  In  another  company  in  this  same  expedition  was 
a  Spaniard,  who  enlisted  in  Easton,  and  who  bore  the  singular 
name  of  Manuel  Delopatogui.  He  was  in  a  Captain  Howard's 
company.  May  7,  of  this  year,  William  Hayward  (son  of  Wilham 
of  Easton)  died  at  Fort  WilHam  Henry.  During  the  next  year 
this  fort,  built  by  Sir  William  Johnson  in  1755,  and  situated 
near  the  head  of  Lake  George,  was  menaced  by  an  expedition 
of  French  and  Indians  under  Montcalm.  Intelligence  of  this 
danger  caused  great  excitement  in  the  New  England  towns, 
and  expeditions  were  planned  for  the  relief  of  this  important 
fortress.  There  was  much  interest  in  Easton  about  it,  and  the 
following  men  enlisted  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Dean, 
of  Taunton,  in  Col.  Ephraim  Leonard's  regiment:^  — 


Jacob  Hanks,  Sergeant. 
Benjamin  Tupper,  Corporal. 
Abial  Drake. 
Nathan  Selee. 
Thomas  Manley,  Jr. 
Jabez  Phillips. 
Samuel  Churchill. 
Henry  Howard. 
Nathan  Fobes. 
Jonathan  Hayward. 
Mark  Keith. 
Silas  Williams,  Jr. 
John  H.  Winslow. 
William  Pratt. 


Abiah  Randall. 

Seth  Manley. 

Joseph  Drake,  3'! 

Nehemiah  Randall. 

Robert  Randall. 

Silas  Kinsley. 

Peter  Sullard. 

Oliver  Gofte. 

John  Owen. 

Phillip  King,  Jr. 

Isaac  Dean. 

Meshack  Wilbore,  Jr. 

Benjamin  Dean,  Jr.,  clerk. 

Benjamin  Pettengill,  clerk. 


They  started  August  17,  1757,  but  had  marched  only  forty  miles 
when  they  learned  that  they  were  too  late.  After  a  brave  de- 
fence against  overwhelming  odds,  the  gallant  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Monroe  who  commanded  the  fort  was  compelled  to  surrender. 
This  was  on  the  9th  of  August.  As  the  prisoners  filed  out  of  the 
fort  they  were  plundered,  and  twenty  or  thirty  of  them  were  mas- 
sacred by  the  savages,  before  Montcalm  and  the  French  officers 
could  stop  them.  The  Easton  company  named  above  returned 
quietly  to  their  homes,  being  credited  with  five  days'  service. 

The  war  still  dragged  on.  April  13,  1758,  twenty-four  Easton 
men  enlisted  under  Capt.  James  Andrews,  in  Col.  Thomas  Doty's 


1  State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcv.  p.  547. 


1 64 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


regiment,  for  service  at  Crown   Point  or  Ticonderoga,     These 
were  as  follows  :  ^  — 

Benjamin  Williams,  2*  Lieutenant.  Isaac  Atwood. 

Benjamin  Tupper,  Corporal.  Seth  Bryant. 

Seth  Twinney.  Joseph  Drake. 

John  Winsiovv.  Thomas  Drake. 

Silas  Williams.  Samuel  Drake. 

Seth  Willis.  Thomas  Fling. 

Benjamin  Keith.  Nathan  Fobes. 

David  Keith.  Oliver  Goffe. 

John  Manley.  Edward  Hayward. 

Nahum  Niles.  John  Owen. 

Daniel  Niles,  William  Higgins. 

Peter  Sullard.  Ephraim  Hewett. 

These  troops  had  part  in  a  most  inglorious  campaign.  It  was 
not  their  fault,  however.  Before  Fort  Carillon,  at  Ticonderoga, 
they  fought  with  desperate  valor.  But  while  Montcalm  in  the 
thick  of  danger  cheered  on  his  men  and  directed  the  defence  in 
person,  the  English  Commander  Abercrombie  skulked  out  of 
sight ;  and  after  the  defeat,  though  his  forces  still  outnumbered 
Montcalm's  fourfold,  he  beat  a  disgraceful  retreat.  We  are  not 
therefore  surprised  that  several  of  our  Easton  soldiers  deserted. 
This  was  not  before,  nor  was  it  in  face  of,  a  battle.  They 
deserted  at  Half-Moon,  then  a  station  and  now  a  town  at  the 
junction  of  the  Hudson  and  Mohawk  rivers.  Lieut.  Benjamin 
Williams  was  sent  after  them,  who  found  and  brought  them 
back.  For  their  punishment,  seven  shillings  were  docked  from 
their  wages  and  given  to  Lieutenant  Williams.  He  brought 
back  sixty-four  deserters,  and  received  for  the  service  twenty- 
two  pounds,  eight  shillings.  Why  so  light  a  penalty  was  in- 
flicted for  so  grave  a  military  offence  does  not  appear  ;  either 
the  discipline  was  very  defective,  or  what  is  more  probable  and 
pleasanter  for  us  to  believe,  it  was  not  a  case  of  genuine  de- 
sertion. Benjamin  Keith  returned  home  after  the  defeat  of 
this  regiment,  and  as  his  name  was  not  replaced  upon  the 
roll  when  he  returned  to  his  company  his  father,  Josiah  Keith, 
petitioned  the  House  of  Representatives  to  rectify  the  mis- 
take.    The  House  answered  the  petition  favorably,  and  granted 

1    State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcvi.  pp.  534-537. 


EASTON    IN    THE    FRENCH    AND    INDIAN   WAR.      165 


Benjamin   Keith    the  wages  due   him,  —  ten  pounds,  nineteen 
shilHngs. 

In  the  campaign  just  spoken  of,  in  Capt.  Aaron  Willard's  com- 
pany, was  John  Packard,  of  Easton,  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah 
(Manley)  Packard.  He  died  in  the  army,  July  31,  1758,  after  the 
attack  on  Ticonderoga.i  Dr.  Seth  Babbitt  was  in  the  same 
service  as  a  volunteer.^  During  this  same  year,  1758,  there  were 
others  in  Easton  who  enlisted.    Their  names  are  as  follows  :2  — 

Charles  Finney.  John  Randall.  David  Randall. 

Nathan  Lincoln.  Edward  Keith.  Solomon  Smith. 

John  Mears.  Mark  Keith,  Jr.  Ebenezer  Bruce. 

Jonathan  Goodspeed.  Zachariah  Watkins. 

These  eleven  soldiers  were  in  Capt.  Samuel  Glover's  company 
at  the  seige  of  Louisburg,  a  strong  fortress  on  Cape  Breton  Island, 
northeast  of  Nova  Scotia.  Under  Amherst  and  Wolfe  a  vigor- 
ous attack  was  made,  and  the  place  was  carried  July  26.  Our 
Easton  men  saw  hard  fighting  there.  Captain  Glover's  com- 
pany remained  on  duty  at  that  place,  and  one  of  these  men,  — 
Edward  Keith,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Kingman)  Keith,  of 
Easton,  —  was  taken  very  sick.  A  petition  was  presented  to  the 
House  of  Representatives  after  his  return,  which  states  that  he 
was  sent  to  Boston  by  vessel,  but  was  so  sick  that  he  was  unable 
to  go  on  shore.  He  was  obliged  to  remain  aboard  until  two  of 
his  friends  came  from  Easton,  got  him  out  of  the  vessel,  and 
took  him  homeward  "on  or  in  a  hors  leter  27  miles  ;  but  before 
he  came  home  his  father  was  dead  and  his  mother  left  a  poor 
widoah  with  a  great  family,  &  he  just  come  of  age  k  he  nothing 
to  help  himself,  &  his  mother  though  willing  yet  unable  to  help 
him  ;  &  he  continued  sick  until  the  next  April,  &  not  able  to  due 
one  our  work ;  and  the  Dr's  bill  is  £2  2s.,  and  his  nursing  & 
bord  comes  to  £2  ys.  more,  besides  his  bringing  home,  —  which 
just  debt  he  is  unable  as  yet  to  pay,  besides  near  half  a  year's 
time  which  he  has  lost,"  etc.*  He  then  petitioned  for  aid,  and 
the  House  of  Representatives  allowed  him  ^3  6s.  ^d.     John 

^  State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcvi.  p.  451. 
2  Ibid.,  Military,  vol.  Ixxix.  p.  231. 
8  Ibid.,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcvii.  pp.  165,  167,  168. 
*  Ibid.,  Military,  vol.  Ixxix.  p.  276. 


r66  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Mears  named  above  was  an  apprentice  of  Capt.  Eliphalet  Leon- 
ard, who  drew  his  wages.  He  was  a  little  fellow,  who  did  not 
boast  of  being  able  to  fight  much,  but  who  was  an  expert  drum- 
mer. We  shall  hear  of  him  again  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Benaijah  Smith  also  petitioned  to  draw  the  pay  due  to  his  son 
Solomon  for  service  at  Louisburg.^ 

The  re-enlistments  in  1758  of  those  who  were  discharged 
October  10,  or  earlier,  were  — 

Nathan  Bryant.  John  Hearn.  John  Owen. 

Benjamin  Tupper.  Abiah  Drake.  Robert  Randall.^ 

Timothy  Gilbert. 

In  1759  an  expedition  was  sent  to  attack  the  forts  at  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point,  and  for  this  service  there  enlisted  from 
Easton,  in  Capt.  Lemuel  Bent's  company,  Colonel  Willard's  regi- 
ment the  following  :^  — 

Timothy  Manley,  Lietit.  Elijah  Niles.  Jonathan  Hayward. 

John  H.  Winslow.  Joseph  Packard.  John  Manley. 

John  Manley,  Jr.  Timothy  Higgins.  Abijah  Hill. 
Thomas  Drake. 

These  men  served  for  an  average  of  about  thirty-two  weeks 
from  May  19,  1759,  to  January  8,  1760.  They  were  with  General 
Amherst,  who  loitered  at  Crown  Point  after  its  surrender,  instead 
of  hurrying  on  to  join  the  gallant  Wolfe  in  his  attack  and  cap- 
ture of  Quebec,  which  capitulated  September  17,  1759. 

Two  Easton  men  who  enhsted  in  Captain  Bent's  company 
died,  —  John  Manley,  Jr.,  and  Elijah  Niles.  The  story  of  the 
latter's  death  is  told  in  the  following  petition  of  his  father,  which 
he  presented  to  the  General  Court:*  — 

Daniel  Niles,  your  petitioner,  humbly  sheweth  that  my  son  Elijah 
Niles  was  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Lemuel  Bent's  company  in  Col.  Wil- 
lard's Reg't,  and  returned  his  gun  into  Capt.  John  Fellows  at 
Crown  Point  on  the  2^^  day  of  Nov.  last  past,  and  was  taken  sick 
in  the  woods,  but  got  to  number  four  and  there  Died  ;  so  the  Re- 
cate  we  had  for  the  gun  was  lost.     Your  petitioner  prays  that  he 

1  State  Archives,  Military,  vol.  Ixxix.  p.  229. 

2  Ibid.,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcvii.  pp.  165,  167,  168. 

8  Ibid.,  vol.  xcvii.  p.  387.  *  Ibid.,  Military,  vol.  Ixxix.  p.  244. 


EASTON    IN   THE   FRENCH   AND    INDIAN   WAR.      167 

might  be  allowed  the  money  that  was  stoped  out  of  his  son's  wages 

for  said  gun.     As  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

Daniel  Niles. 
January  16,  1760. 

The  "  number  four  "  alluded  to  was  one  of  a  line  of  forts  ex- 
tending from  Canada  southward,  and  was  located  at  Charlestown, 
New  Hampshire.     The  petition  was  allowed. 

Jonathan  Hayward  of  the  same  company  had  a  trying  experi- 
ence. In  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  he  states  that  by  Cap- 
tain Bent's  order  he  was  left  at  Green  Bush,  where  he  had  cold 
lodging  in  a  barn  and  could  not  live  there;  that  he  "maid  a 
tempt "  to  travel,  and  travelled  about  six  miles,  and  could  go  no 
farther ;  his  friends  at  Easton  sent  for  him,  and  when  the  mes- 
senger came  to  take  him  away  he  paid  eleven  shillings  and  seven 
pence  for  his  boarding,  and  they  were  nineteen  days  on  the 
road  at  a  cost  of  two  pounds,  fourteen  shillings  ;  "your  petitioner 
prays  that  your  honors  would  take  his  case  into  your  wise  con- 
sideration, and  grant  him  such  Releaf  as  your  honors  in  your 
grat  wisdom  shall  think  best."  ^  It  is  observable  that  the 
"grat  wisdom"  of  their  honors  usually  granted  about  half  the 
amount  petitioned  for.  On  this  application  they  sent  to  Elipha- 
let  Leonard,  for  the  use  of  the  petitioner,  two  pounds,  nineteen 
shillings. 

During  the  same  year  (1759)  Dr.  Seth  Babbitt,  who  had  pre- 
viously served  at  Louisburg,  was  a  surgeon's  mate  in  Col. 
John  Thomas's  regiment,  stationed  at  Halifax.  He  enlisted 
March  31,^  and  continued  in  the  service  nearly  two  years  and  a 
half,  but  contracted  the  small-pox  while  in  the  army  and  re- 
turned home,  where  he  died  February  13,  1761.  It  was  not 
allowable  at  that  date  for  the  remains  of  those  who  died  of  small- 
pox to  be  carried  past  any  house,  and  his  were  deposited  in  a 
lonely  grave  that  crowns  a  small  hill  northeast  of  the  house 
where  he  died.  His  grave  may  still  be  traced  by  means  of  two 
stones,  scarcely  raised  above  the  level  of  the  soil.  The  house 
was  one  he  built  in  1756,  and  was  northwest  of  the  old  Goward 
place,  not  far  from  the  Mansfield  Hne.  In  the  same  regiment 
with  Dr.  Babbitt  served  Jonathan  Leonard,  of  Easton,  he  being 

1  State  Archives,  Military,  vol.  Ixxix.  p.  553. 

2  Ibid.,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcvii.  p.  278. 


l68  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

in  Capt.  Josiah  Thacher's  company  from  March  31  to  Novem- 
ber I.     They  landed  at  Halifax,  May  11,  1759.^ 

Seth  Manley  served  in  Capt.  Philip  Watkins's  company;''^  and 
John  Allen,  who  lived  with  Seth  Babbitt,  served  in  Capt.  Jona- 
than Eddy's  company.^  —  both  being  in  Col.  Thomas  Doty's  regi- 
ment. But  the  date  of  their  service  is  uncertain.  Seth  Manley 
took  his  own  gun,  and  was  charged  three  pounds  for  it  when 
he  was  mustered  out.  An  appeal  to  the  General  Court,  how- 
ever, rectified  the  mistake.* 

Gregory  Belcher,  son  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher,  enlisted 
in  Capt.  Stephen  Whipple's  company,  November  2,  1759, 
and  served  until  March  15,  1760.^  His  guardian  was  Peter 
Howard. 

In  1760  ten  Easton  men  enlisted  in  Capt.  Job  Williams's 
company,  of  Taunton.^     Their  record  is  as  follows:  — 

Name.  Enlisted.  Discharged. 

Benjamin  Williams,  ij-/ Z?>«/^;w«^    .     .     .  February  13  December     6 

Nathan  Bryant,  Sergeant March  6                  „           6 

WilHam  Bartlett „  3                   „           6 

Richard  Brumige „  6                  „           6 

Thomas  Fling „  6                  ,,           6 

John  Hayward  (sick) „  31  November  10 

William  Keith  (son  of  Mary) ^    ,,  6  December     6 

Thomas  Keith  (son  of  Ruth) „  6                  ,,            i 

Samuel  Perry „  27  November  30 

Beriah  Randall     .     .     .  ■ April  13  December     6 

In  the  company  of  Capt.  Josiah  Dunbar'^  were — • 

Name.  Enlisted.  Discharged. 

Thomas  Drake  (age  31) March  19  December    2 

Timothy  Higgins  (age  17) „        19  „  2 

Edward  Kingman ,,26  „  7 

In  another  company^  was  Benjamin  Cole,  of  Easton,  aged  31. 
In  Capt.  Jonathan  Eddy's  company  ^  there  were  from  Easton 
in  1760  — 

1  State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcvii.  p.  287. 

^  Ibid.,  vol.  xcvi.  p.  273.  3  ibid.,  p.  406. 

*  Ibid.,  Military,  vol.  Ixxix.  p.  272. 

^  Ibid.,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcviii.  p.  380. 

*  Ibid.,  pp.  244-246.  '^  Ibid.,  p.  317. 
8  Ibid.,  p.  127.  «  Ibid.,  p.  217. 


EASTON    IN   THE    FRENCH   AND    INDIAN   WAR.      169 


Name.  Enlisted. 

Abial  Drake April  6 

Timothy  Gilbert „     2(1759) 

John  Hearn >>     2 


Served. 

32  weeks,  5  days. 
85       ,,       6     „ 
4      »       I     ,. 


In  Capt.  Jeremiah  Green's  company  ^  was  William  Higgins, 
and  in  another  company  ^  (captain's  name  not  given)  were  Heze- 
kiah  Drake  and  William  Barclay,  —  the  latter  a  Scotchman, 
then  resident  in  Easton. 

Thomas  Keith,  who  was  in  Captain  Williams's  company,  con- 
tracted the  small-pox  while  in  the  service;  and  his  mother,  Ruth 
Keith,  being  at  much  expense  and  trouble  about  it,  petitioned 
the  General  Court  for  relief,  stating  it  had  cost  her  nine  pounds, 
one  shilling,  and  eight  pence.  She  was  allowed  five  pounds,  nine 
shillings.^ 

The  following  Easton  men  enlisted  in  Capt.  Samuel  Glover's 
company :  ^  — 


Name. 

John  Staples  (son  of  John)   . 

Solomon  Smith 

John  Holmes 

Silas  Williams  (deserted) 
Benjamin  Tupper  (Sergeant) 
John  Mears  (Drummer)    .     . 
Ebenezer  Bruce 


Enlisted. 

Serv 

ed. 

November  i, 

1759 

42 

weeks 

I  day 

h 

1759 

64 

J) 

4  days 

August     20, 

1760 

20 

» 

5     „ 

November  i, 

1759 

35 

V 

I 

)> 

62 

>» 

4    „ 

I 

>> 

62 

>> 

4    .. 

I 

» 

62 

;> 

4    „ 

The  Solomon  Smith  named  above  was  a  minor,  and  Paul  Pack- 
ard was  his  guardian. 

In  1 761  were  the  following  enlistments  or  re-enlistments  of 
Easton  men :  Richard  Brumfield  served  twenty-six  weeks  and 
two  days  in  Capt.  Job  Williams's  company;^  John  Mears  beat 
his  drum  for  Capt.  Lemuel  Dunbar's  company  about  thirty 
weeks  ;^  Timothy  Higgins  was  with  Capt.  Lemuel  Bent,''  and 
Edward  Kingman  with  Lieut.  Francis  Miller's  company,^  about 
thirty  weeks  each ;  Nathan  Bryant  served  as  sergeant  under 
Capt.  Job  Williams  for  thirty-two  weeks  ;  ^  William  Merry  and 


1  State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcviii.  p.  409. 

'  Il)icl.,  Military,  vol.  Ixxix.  p.  405. 

*  Ibid.,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcviii.  pp.  400,401. 

6  Ibid.,  p.  126.  ■'  Ibid.,  p.  146.  ^  ibid.,  p. 


2  Ibid.,  p.  8. 

5  Ibid.,  vol.  xcix.  p.  15. 
165.  9  Ibid.,  p.  183. 


170  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

David  Smith  served  twenty-eight  weeks  and  six  days  each  in 
the  company  of  Capt.  Edward  Blake.^  In  1762,  in  the  company 
of  Capt.  Timothy  Hammant,  little  John  Mears,  who  is  now  fond 
of  war,  turns  up  again.     The  record  is  as  follows  :  — 

Name.  Enlisted.  Discharged. 

John  Mears March  24  November    i 

Hopestill  Randall ,,        24  ,,             i 

John  Wood ,,        24  December  23 

John  Wood  Jr ,,24  ,,          23, 

Hopestill  Randall  was  evidently  transferred  to  another  com- 
pany, as  his  time  was  made  up  on  another  pay-roll.  He 
was  there  named  the  son  of  Baraciah  Randall,  which  is  a 
mistake.  He  served  thirty-two  weeks  and  three  days,^  but 
where  he  served  is  uncertain.  There  was  very  little  active 
service  rendered  this  year ;  the  French  power  in  America  was 
broken. 

In  Captain  Abel  Keen's  company  were  the  following  from 
Easton :  ^  — 

Name.  Enlisted.  Discharged. 

William  Keith March  27  November  20 

Luke  Keith ,,27  ,,          20 

Edward  Kingman ,,27  ,,            i 

Edmund  Andrews ,,27  ,,            i 

At  the  same  date  Thomas  Drake  enlisted  under  Capt.  Josiah 
Dunbar,  and  was  discharged  November  18.*  In  the  company  of 
Capt.  Timothy  Hammant  there  were  in  1762^  — 

Name.  Enlisted.  Discharged. 

Samuel  Drake March  24  November    r 

Thomas  Fling ,,24  ,,  19 

Ebenezer  Hayden ,,24  ,,  19 

And  the  Easton  records  of  enlistments  very  appropriately  end 
with  the  notice  of  the  re-enlistment,  the  next  day  after  being 
mustered  out  of  service,  of  our  diminutive  John  Mears,  who 
served  under  Captain  Hammant  until  June  3,  1763,  being  the 

^  State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcix.  p.  187.  2  ibid.,  p.  190. 

8  Ibid.,  pp.  197,  225.  *  Ibid.,  p.  237.  ^  ibid.,  p.  204. 


J 


EASTON    IN    THE    FRENCH    AND    INDIAN    WAR.      171 

last  Easton  soldier  to  leave  the  service.^  He  will  be  known  in 
later  years,  after  serving  through  the  Revolutionary  War,  as 
"  General  Mears,"  though  he  never  aspired  to  an  office  higher 
than  that  of  a  drummer. 

Easton  shared  with  other  towns  in  New  England  in  taking 
care  of  the  French  inhabitants  who  were  so  cruelly  expatriated 
from  Nova  Scotia,  This  painful  episode  of  the  French  and  In- 
dian War  is  familiar  to  most  of  our  readers.^  The  French  pro- 
vince of  Acadia  in  Nova  Scotia  was  occupied  by  the  English  in 
1755.  The  French  inhabitants,  refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  al- 
legiance to  England,  were  banished  from  their  homes  and  scat- 
tered through  the  colonies,  —  men,  women,  and  children.  Their 
houses  also  were  burned  and  their  farms  laid  waste.  Francis 
Parkman,  the  historian,  has  recently  (1885)  endeavored  to  ex- 
plain this  transaction  on  the  ground  that  it  was  considered 
a  military  necessity.  He  does  not,  however,  distinctly  defend 
it  as  such,  but  is  inclined  to  think  that  the  same  end  might 
have  been  gained  by  holding  some  of  the  principal  men  as 
hostages.  But  in  whatever  light  historians  may  view  it,  we 
cannot  help  thinking  it  a  cruel  act.  By  it  seven  thousand 
peaceable  people  were  torn  from  the  homes  they  loved,  and 
scattered  far  and  wide.  Many  of  them  were  quartered  in  New 
England  towns,  the  Government  allowing  the  towns  pay  for 
their  support.  Easton  had  its  share,  being  paid  at  various 
times  considerable  sums,  —  at  one  time  over  two  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds,  —  to  keep  these  unfortunate  people  from  starva- 
tion. Some  of  them  died  here,  and  were  buried  in  now  un- 
known graves.  The  town  took  pity  on  the  wretched  fugitives 
that  were  quartered  here;  and  in  town-meetings  voted  to  pay 
for  house-rent,  firewood,  etc.,  for  those  who  were  then  commonly 
called  the  "  Neutral  French." 

Those  who  would  read  a  touching  and  beautiful  account  of  this 
sad  event  will  find  it  in  Longfellow's  "  Evangeline,"  which  is 
founded  upon  it.  We  must  content  ourselves  here  with  the 
following  extract,  where  he  describes  the  embarkation  :  — 

1  State  Archives,  Muster  Rolls,  vol.  xcix.  p.  273. 

2  See  Higginson's  Young  Folks'  History  of  the  United  States,  p.  152.  Also  Ban- 
croft's United  States,  vol.  iv.  pp.  193-206,  for  a  full  and  interesting  account  of  the 
affair. 


172 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


"  Busily  plied  the  freighted  boats,  and  in  the  confusion 
Wives  were  torn  from  their  husbands,  and  mothers,  too  late,  saw  their  children 
Left  on  the  land,  extending  their  arms,  with  wildest  entreaties. 

On  the  falling  tide  the  freighted  vessels  departed, 
Bearing  a  nation,  with  all  its  household  gods,  into  exile,  — 
Exile  without  an  end,  and  without  an  example  in  story. 
Far  asunder,  on  separate  coasts,  the  Acadians  landed  ; 
Scattered  were  they  like  flakes  of  snow,  when  the  wind  from  the  northeast 
Strikes  aslant  through  the  fogs  that  darken  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland. 
P'riendless,  homeless,  hopeless,  they  wandered  from  city  to  city, 
From  the  cold  lakes  of  the  North  to  sultry  Southern  savannas,  — 


Friends  they  sought  and  homes  ;  and  many  despairing,  heart-broken, 
Asked  of  the  earth  but  a  grave,  and  no  longer  a  friend  nor  a  fireside." 


THE   BAPTIST   SOCIETY. 


^72> 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE    BAPTIST     SOCIETY. 

Opposition  to  the  Ministerial  Tax.  —  Growing  Dissent  from  the 
Established  Congregationalism.  —  Liberty  and  License.  — 
Fanaticism  thrives,  and  Immorality  puts  on  the  Livery  of 
Heaven.  —  The  Baptist  Society  organized.  —  The  Rev.  Eben- 
EZER  Stearns.  —  The  Baptists  dispute  the  Town's  Right  to  col- 
lect the  Ministerial  tax  from  them,  and  win  their  case.  — 
The  Rev.  Eseck  Carr,  Minister  and  Cooper.  —  The  Baptist 
Meeting-House.  —  Decline  and  Death  of  the  Society. 

WE  have  seen  that  compulsory  payment  of  taxes  to  sup- 
port the  church  caused  discontent  in  Easton,  and  was 
met  by  resistance  on  the  part  of  some.  This  practical  union  of 
Church  and  State  v^^as  felt  to  be  repugnant  to  religious  liberty. 
It  was  especially  oppressive  to  those  who  had  come  to  believe 
that  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  the  established  Congregational 
churches  were  not  in  harmony  with  the  Gospel,  and  who  ac- 
cepted a  different  faith  and  polity.  They  were  compelled  to  aid 
in  supporting  two  churches,  —  their  own,  and  another  to  which 
they  were  conscientiously  opposed.  This  unjust  though  legal 
compulsion  bred  indifference,  dissent,  scepticism,  and  infidelity 
much  faster  than  a  liberal  policy  would  have  done. 

Some  time  previous  to  1750,  much  dissatisfaction  with  the 
ministry  and  churches  of  New  England  had  been  created  by 
the  new  impulse,  excitement,  and  intellectual  activity  that  re- 
sulted from  the  preaching  of  Whitefield.  He  and  his  followers 
thought  that  the  New  England  churches  were  but  half  alive,  that 
many  of  their  ministers  were  unconverted  men,  that  the  "  half- 
way covenant"  was  a  concession  to  the  Devil,  and  that  a  stricter 
church  discipline  was  needed.  Those  who  adopted  these  views 
were  called  by  the  rather  indefinite  term  of  "  New  Lights." 
Sometimes  they  remained  in  the  Congregational  church.     The 


174  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

reader  of  this  history  will  remember  that  Mr.  Prentice,  when  he 
first  came  to  Easton,  was  strongly  in  sympathy  with  them.     He 
immediately  agitated  the  question  in  church  meetings,  whether 
or  not  the  "  Infant  Seed  of  real  Believers  only,  or  ye  Seed  of  all 
who  professed  their  faith  in  Christ  and  were  visibly  holy,"  were 
the  proper  subjects  of  baptism.     Evidently  he  favored  the  bap- 
tism only  of  the  children  of  communicants;  but  his  church  did 
not.     The  "  half-way  covenant "  meant  acknowledging  belief  in 
Christ  and  being  correct  in  outward  life.     It  did  not  necessarily 
imply  conversion ;    it  did    not  admit  to   the   sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper;    it  was  a  formal  arrangement   merely,  but  was 
necessary  in   order  to  secure  baptism  for  children.     This  was 
one  of  the  things  that  caused  dissent  on  the  part  of  many  earn- 
est Christians.     They  declared  that  persons  were  admitted  too 
easily  into  church  membership,  and  proposed  particular  exami- 
nation of  candidates.     Mr.  Prentice  took   this  ground,  and  in- 
duced his  church  to  require  a  public  account,  either  in  writing 
or  by  word  of  mouth,  of  God's  dealings  with  their  souls  before 
admission.     This  was  the  origin  of  the  custom  that  held  good 
for  many  years  in    Easton.     For  awhile  Mr.  Prentice  did  not 
carry  his  dissent  any  further.     Others  declared  against  paying 
the  minister  a  salary :    he  was  not  ready  to  take  this  ground. 
His  wife  was  an  open  dissenter  before  this  time,  and  she  found 
plenty    of   sympathy.      In    the   west    part   of    the    town,   espe- 
cially, there  were  persons  who  had  joined  a  dissenting  church 
in  Norton.     This  dissenting  church  was  organized  in  1747.     It 
was  founded   upon    the  principles  already  indicated,   requiring 
particular  examination  of  those  wishing  to  become  communi- 
cants, urging   strict   church    discipline,  opposing  salaried  min- 
isters and  the  half-way  covenant.     Among  the  Easton  people 
that   belonged   to   it   were   several   Babbitts,    Aliens,    Finneys, 
Benaijah  Smith,  Peter  Sullard  and  wife,  Silence  Hewett,  Daniel 
Niles,  and  a  few  others.     When  Seth  Babbitt  and  wife  were 
called   to  account  in    1749  for  absenting  themselves  from   the 
Easton  church,  they  merely  replied  that  "  the  Lord  had  called 
them  out,  and  they  could  not  help  going  out."     Brother  Benaijah 
Smith,  when  examined  for  the  same  thing,  quoted  "  some  texts 
of  Scripture  which  had  been  impressed  upon   his  mind."     The 
persons  above  named,  with  others  not  named,  became  a  seed  of 


THE   BAPTIST   SOCIETY. 


175 


dissent   in  Easton,   and  the  troubled   times  beginning  in   1750 
proved  a  fruitful  opportunity  for  their  cause. 

No  church  was  organized  at  once,  for  it  was  not  yet  evident 
into  what  form  of  dissent  their  movement  would  crystallize.  But 
meetings  were  held  at  private  houses,  at  which  any  one  might 
exhort  and  pray  and  expound  the  Scriptures.  Any  converted 
man  might  even  perform  the  sacrament  of  baptism.  In  this  free 
range  of  thought  and  expression,  —  in  times,  too,  when  ignorance 
was  far  more  general  than  now,  —  fanaticism  was  to  be  expected. 
Every  one  ventilated  his  new-found  notion,  and  always  discovered 
plenty  of  texts  to  support  it.  Common-sense  was  ruled  out  of 
court.  No  matter  how  extravagant  an  opinion  was  broached,  it 
was  a  sufficient  answer  to  an  objector  to  reply,  "  The  Bible  says 
so  "  !  In  the  hands  of  such  persons  the  Bible  became  an  instru- 
ment that  would  give  forth  any  tune  the  performer  chose  to  draw 
out  of  it.  The  sublime  teachings  of  Jesus  were  travestied  in  the 
absurd  conceits  of  ignorant  interpreters.  Some  of  them  main- 
tained that  they  were  "  already  immortal."  Could  they  not  quote, 
"  He  that  believeth  on  me  shall  never  die,"  and  did  not  they  be- 
lieve .-*  John  Finney  and  Ebenezer  Ward  and  others,  living  in 
Easton  but  belonging  still  to  the  Baptist  church  of  Norton,  were 
called  to  account  as  persons  "  who  were  erupt  in  princabls  and 
practes,"  and  "many  of  their  minds  appeared  greatly  intangled." 
They  made  fanatical  claims  for  themselves  as  specially  inspired. 
Three  meetings  were  held  concerning  them.  They  were  labored 
with  and  admonished;  and  as  they  continued  "more  cropt  in 
their  principles,"  communion  was  withdrawn  from  them.^  The 
records  of  the  early  Baptist  church  at  Norton  have  an  amusing 
illustration  of  the  extent  to  which  these  follies  could  go.  A 
brother  in  the  church  complained  of  a  sister  church-member  for 
"breaking  fellowship  with  them,  and  joining  with  the  world," 
because  in  going  to  and  from  meeting  she  preferred  the  com- 
pany of  her  husband  who  was  not  a  church-member,  to  that 
of  the  aforesaid  complainant  who  was !  Will  it  be  believed 
that  several  church  meetings,  with  delegates  summoned  even 
from  Middleborough,  were  needed  to  settle  this  momentous 
question  .''  Such  was  the  fact.  The  brother  aforesaid  was 
finally  admonished,  however,  and  suspended.^ 

1  See  records  of  the  Norton  Baptist  Church. 


176  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Such  things  illustrate  the  crudity  and  absurdity  attending  the 
peculiar  conditions  of  that  time.  This  was  bad  enough.  But 
unfortunately  these  follies  sometimes  developed  into  immoralities. 
What  was  to  be  expected  from  those  who  could  answer,  when 
called  to  account  for  their  conduct,  that  "  the  truly  converted 
man  could  not  sin,  but  that  everything  he  did  was  done  by  the 
will  of  God"?  Such  a  theory  afforded  convenient  justification 
for  any  evil  actions,  and  there  was  occasion  to  employ  it  for  that 
purpose.  The  writer  of  this  history  had  heard  long  ago  a  tradi- 
tion concerning  social  immoralities  practised  in  Easton  under  the 
cloak  of  a  pretended  faith,  —  a  tradition  too  gross  in  its  details 
to  be  repeated  here.  Distrusting  this  tradition  at  first,  he  has 
been  obliged  in  the  end  to  credit  it,  because  it  has  received 
undoubted  corroboration  from  a  historian  whose  authority  on 
this  point  cannot  reasonably  be  questioned.  The  Rev.  Isaac 
Backus,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  America," 
makes  the  following  statement  concerning  the  Baptist  church 
in  Norton:^  — 

"Some  of  the  members,  especially  they  who  lived  in  Easton,  had  run 
into  the  most  delusive  notions  that  could  be  conceived  of,  —  even  so 
far  as  to  forsake  their  lawful  wives  and  husbands,  and  to  take  others  ; 
and  they  got  so  far  as  to  declare  themselves  perfect  and  immortal,  or 
that  the  resurrection  was  past  already,  —  as  some  did  in  the  Apostolic 
age." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Backus  was  a  Baptist  minister  of  Middlebor- 
ough,  and  was  contemporary  with  the  facts  noticed.  He  was 
frequently  called  for  services  to  the  Norton  church,  was  present 
at  the  ordination  of  the  first  Baptist  minister  of  Easton  in  1762, 
and  had  therefore  abundant  means  of  information  relative  to  the 
facts  of  the  case.  Moreover,  as  they  pertained  to  the  religious 
body  of  which  he  was  a  member,  he  was  not  likely  to  overstate 
their  evil.  His  statement  confirms,  and  is  confirmed  by,  the 
tradition  referred  to  ;  and  it  is  further  supported  by  various  allu- 
sions in  the  old  records  of  the  Dissenting  Church  at  Norton, 
and  of  its  successor,  the  Baptist  Church. 

This  episode  in  the  history  of  Easton  is  a  most  unpleasant 
one  to  record.     But  let  it  not  be  misunderstood.     The  customs 

1  See  Backus's  History  of  the  Baptist  Church,  vol.  iii.  p.  160.     (New  Edition.) 


J 


THE    BAPTIST   SOCIETY. 


177 


and  practices  here  alluded  to  were  not  general,  but  were  confined 
to  a  few  fanatical,  low-minded  persons.  If  some  of  them  were 
honestly  duped,  the  rest  were  basely  hypocritical.  Their  mis- 
conduct was  not  the  result  of  their  faith  :  it  was  rooted  in  per- 
verted passions;  and  the  claim  of  its  being  sanctioned  or  allowed 
by  religion  was  the  shallowest  pretence.  But  if  any  one  doubts 
that  progress  in  morals  and  religion  has  been  made  in  town 
since  that  time,  let  him  reflect  that  such  a  pretence  on  the  part 
of  even  the  smallest  number  of  persons  not  actually  lunatics 
would  be  impossible  to-day. 

We  have  thus  far  in  this  chapter  been  considering  the  pecu- 
liar conditions  and  elements  that  preceded  the  formation  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  Easton.  It  is  but  justice  to  say  that  that 
church  is  not  responsible  for  the  most  objectionable  of  those 
conditions  and  elements.  And  we  would  again  remind  the  reader 
that  the  principal  cause  out  of  which  this  dissenting  church 
grew,  was  good  and  noble.  It  was  a  protest  against  compulsory 
taxation  for  the  support  of  religion,  —  a  religion  sometimes  op- 
posed to  the  honest  conviction  of  the  unwilling  tax-payer,  who 
had  many  provocations  of  intolerance  and  injustice;  for  even 
in  Easton  this  tax  was  extorted  by  imprisonment.  Though 
some  fanaticism  very  naturally  accompanied  the  origin  of  this 
church,  there  were  also  much  genuine  faith  and  perhaps  a 
more  earnest  piety  than  the  "  Standing  Order  "  of  churches 
could  boast  of. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  Baptist  movement  then  just 
developing  was  greatly  reinforced  in  1750  by  Mrs.  Prentice's 
openly  declaring  for  it,  and  by  her  midwinter  immersion  at  the 
hands  of  an  unordained  layman.  Under  date  of  December  30, 
1750,  Mr.  Prentice  made  record  concerning  Rebecca,  the  wife 
of  Elijah  Randall :  "  She  lately  turn"^.  Anna  Baptist,  Renoun- 
cing her  Infant  Bap.,  &  was  Dip^  by  Peter  Sullard,  a  poor  lay- 
man, without  any  license  thereunto."  It  will  be  remembered 
that  after  Mr.  Prentice  became  a  Presbyterian,  he  allowed  the 
Baptists  to  hold  meetings  in  his  house.  His  well-known  good 
opinion  of  them  tended  to  foster  the  movement.  In  March, 
1762,  Benaijah  Smith  and  Daniel  Niles  were  dismissed  from  the 
Baptist  church  in  Norton  and  "recommended  to  the  Baptist 
Bretherin  in  Easton,  in  order  for  the  building  up  of  a  church 

12 


178  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

there."  ^  Between  March  20  and  July  the  church  was  organ- 
ized, and  in  July  they  called  Ebenezar  Starns  (Stearns)  to  settle 
as  their  pastor,  or  elder.  The  account  of  his  ordination  was 
copied  into  the  Easton  town  records,  and  is  as  follows :  — 

A  council  of  three  churches  of  Christ  of  the  Baptist  Denomination, 
—  viz.,  the  first  in  Middleborough,  present  Isaak  Backus,  Pastor,  Dea- 
con Nathan  Shaw  and  Elezer  Snow,  Delegats  ;  the  Church  in  Norton, 
present  William  Carpenter,  Pastor,  Deacon  Gershom  Camble  and 
Deacon  Jabez  Brigs,  Delegates  ;  the  second  in  Middleborough,  present 
Ebenezer  Hinds,  Pastor,  Deacon  William  Smith,  delegate,  —  convened 
at  Easton  at  the  caul  of  the  Baptis  Church  of  Christ  there,  for  the  or- 
dination of  Ebenezer  Starns  to  the  office  of  Pastor  over  them.  The 
councel  met  at  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Philips  on  the  21"  of  July  in- 
stant, 1762,  and  after  solom  prayer  to  God  they  embodyed  together 
and  chose  Elder  Backus  Moderator,  &  Elder  Hinds  Scribe.  And  then 
we  proceeded  to  inquire  into  their  coming  into  a  Church  state,  and 
satisfaction  was  gained ;  Secondly,  their  calling  of  Ebenezer  Starns 
to  be  their  pastor;  3'^  his  answer;  4'^  his  quallifications  for  the  work. 
And  satisfaction  being  gained  in  all  points  that  they  in  a  good  measure 
acted  agreeable  to  the  ruls  of  the  Gospel,  we  proceded  to  the  pub- 
blick  work ;  &  Elder  Hinds  prayed  and  preached  a  sermon  from 
Coloshons  2^  5,  &  then  their  articles  of  faith  and  Church  Covenant 
ware  pubblickly  read,  and  the  Church  manifested  openly  their  abid- 
ing in  their  choice  of  Mr.  Starns  for  their  pastor,  and  Mr.  Starns 
likewise  his  accepting  of  that  work,  and  then  we  went  on.  Elder 
Bacus  prayed  while  we  laid  hands  on  Mr.  Starns,  and  then  gave  him 
his  charge,  and  Elder  Carpenter  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship 
and  made  the  last  prayer.  The  whole  was  transacted  with  decency 
and  divine  solemnity. 

Ebenezer  Hinds,  Scribe. 

A  true  coppy.     Examined  by  Ebenezer  Hinds,  Scribe. 

Matthew  Hayward,  To7vn  Clark} 

The  ordination  as  well  as  the  council  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Ebenezer  Phillips,  who  lived  nearly  on  the  site  of  the  house 
of  John  Dickerman.  On  the  old  map  this  is  the  place  marked 
"John  Phillips,  Jr.,"  Ebenezer  being  the  son  of  John. 

The  first  we  hear  of  this  Ebenezer  Stearns  in  Easton  is  the 
following:  — 

1  Norton  Baptist  Church  Records.  2  Town  Records,  vol.  ii.  pp.  17,  18. 


THE   BAPTIST   SOCIETY.  1 79 

Bristol  ss.     To  the  Constable  or  Constables   of  the   Town  of  Easton 
witlim  the  said  County,  or  to  either  of  the7n,  —  Greeting  : 

Whereas  Ebenez"^  Starns,  whose  last  residence  as  we  are  informed 
was  at  the  town  of  Douglass  (before  he  came  to  this  place),  came  to 
sojourn  and  dwell  in  the  said  town  of  Easton  on  or  about  the  tenth 
day  of  August,  annoque  Dominie  1761,  not  having  approbation  there- 
fore, —  These  are  therefore  in  his  Majesty's  name  to  will  and  require 
you  forthwith  to  warn  the  said  Ebenezer  Starns  to  depart  &  leave  the 
town  of  Easton,  and  not  to  intrude  himself  on  the  inhabitants  of  said 
town.  Given  under  our  hands  &  seals  this  31"  day  of  May  in  the 
2^  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign,  1762. 

Daniel  Williams,  \  s,i,,i„,,„ 
Robert  Randall,  \       of 
James  Dean,  )  Easton} 

The  above  was  the  customary  legal  form  of  warning  that  pre- 
vented a  new  resident  from  becoming  a  town  charge.  It  appears 
that  Mr.  Stearns  took  up  his  residence  in  Easton,  in  August, 

1 76 1.  In  1750  he  was  a  resident  of  Douglas,  being  a  surveyor 
of  highways  in  that  town.  He  was  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth 
Stearns,  of  Lexington,  where  he  was  born.  His  father  removed 
to  Stoughton  about  1716,  being  among  the  first  settlers  of  that 
town ;  was  deacon  of  the  Church  of  Canton  (then  Stoughton), 
and  died  about  1740.  Ebenezer  married,  September  19,  1734, 
Thankful  Clapp,  of  Walpole,  where  he  bought  real  estate,  and 
where  he  appears  to  have  lived  for  a  time.  He  probably  also 
lived  several  years  in  Stoughton  again  before  going  to  Doug- 
las, as  he  was  taxed  there  in  1739,  1748,  and  1749.  From 
Douglas  he  came  to  Easton,  as  already  stated.  He  did  not 
remain  here  long.  His  name  does  not  appear  upon  the  tax- 
list  of  1767,  the  oldest  list  that  has  been  preserved,  and  it  is 
at  this  date  that  his  successor  in  the  Baptist  ministry  ap- 
pears in  town.     For   his   second  wife  he  married,   August   12, 

1762,  Jean,  the  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  Phillips,  of  Eas- 
ton. "About  1770  he  moved  to  Maine  and  settled  on  Sheepscot 
River,  afterwards  of  Whitefield."  2  He  seems  to  have  had  nine 
children. 

^  Records  of  Bristol  County  Court  of  Sessions  (at  Taunton),  vol.  for  1 746-1767, 
pp.  271,  272. 

2  See  Bond's  History  of  Watertown,  p.  460. 


l8o  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

The  Baptist  Society  soon  began  to  have  trouble  in  the 
matter  of  tax-paying.  Its  expenses  were  very  light,  and  one 
might  belong  to  it  without  contributing  much  to  its  support. 
If  uniting  with  it  would  exempt  from  taxation  for  the  support 
of  the  Congregational  church,  there  was  a  temptation  to  be- 
come a  member  for  that  reason  alone.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
many  claimed  to  be  Baptists  at  a  later  time  for  no  other 
reason  than  to  escape  compulsory  taxation  for  the  support 
of  worship.  In  1728  a  law  was  passed  exempting  Baptists 
from  taxation  for  the  "Standing  Order"  of  churches:  but  as 
it  exempted  the  persons  only,  and  not  the  property  of  Baptists, 
it  did  not  avail  much.  Other  laws  were  passed  subsequently 
for  the  same  purpose  ;  but  they  were  so  clogged  with  diffi- 
cult conditions  that  they  did  not  afford  much  relief,  and  hard 
legal  fighting  was  needed  to  prevent  the  exactions  of  town 
assessors. 

Fortunately,  Easton  Baptists  had  among  their  number  some 
persons  who  would  not  easily  yield  to  injustice;  and  of  these  a 
committee  was  formed,  consisting  of  Ebenezer  Phillips,  Benjamin 
Harvey,  Daniel  Niles,  and  Samuel  Phillips,  Jr.,  to  assist  in  the 
defence  of  the  resisting  tax-payers.  They  made  out  a  list  of  the 
taxable  members  of  their  society,  presented  it  to  the  assessors 
July  19,  1764,  and  demanded  exemption,  not  only  as  a  matter  of 
justice,  but  as  a  point  of  law.  The  demand  was  refused  ;  the 
town  would  not  exempt  "  those  who  stile  themselves  Baptis, 
Except  those  Persons  zvJio  have  been  Baptised  by  Eviertion!'  On 
merely  nominal  Baptists  the  tax  was  levied.  James  Stacey  de- 
termined to  contest  the  right,  and  he  refused  to  pay  the  tax. 
He  was  seized,  April  8,  1765,  by  Seth  Pratt,  constable,  and  im- 
prisoned for  twenty-four  hours,  "until  he  paid  the  tax,  and  also 
paid  two  shillings  and  eight  pence  to  the  constable  for  arresting 
and  imprisoning  him."  Mr.  Stacey,  backed  by  his  friends, 
brought  an  action  in  the  court  of  Common  Pleas  against  Tim- 
othy Randall,  Silas  Kinsley,  and  Henry  Howard,  assessors  of 
Easton  for  1764,  because  "  they  illegally,  arbitrarily,  &  without 
possible  cause  or  reason  assessed  &  rated  the  plaintiff  to  said 
ministerial  rate,  I'^^s.  Sd."  He  claimed  that  in  showing  the  list  of 
Anabaptists  to  the  assessors,  the  law  had  been  complied  with, 
and  they  were  exempted  by  law ;    and  that  "  there  never    was 


I 


J 


THE    BAPTIST    SOCIETY.  l8l 

any  just  cause  or  legal  foundation  for  assessing  the  plaintif  as 
aforesaid;  and  that  the  said  Timothy,  Silas,  and  Henery  full  well 
knew  the  same  ;  and  that  their  doings  aforesaid  were  illegal  and 
arbitrary,  whereby  the  plaintif  suffered  greatly  in  his  estate, 
liberty,  &  peace  of  mind,  to  the  damage  of  the  said  James 
as  he  saith  the  sum  of  Thirty  pounds."  The  town  voted  to 
have  the  assessors  defend  themselves  against  this  "  professor  of 
antepedo  Baptis  princabel."  But  the  Court  awarded  him  £4, 
i^s.  and  costs.  The  town  appealed  to  the  Superior  Court. 
But  subsequently  better  counsels  prevailed  ;  a  committee  was 
appointed,  the  following  report  was  presented,  and  a  settlement 
made:  — 

We  the  Subscribers,  being  chosen  a  commety  by  The  Town  of 
Easton  to  treat  with  a  commety  that  ware  chosen  by  the  annabaptis 
Society  in  this  Town  in  order  to  come  into  an  agreement  amacably  to 
prevent  any  further  proses  in  law  in  regard  of  an  action  that  James 
Stacey  of  this  Town  brought  against  the  assesors,  &c.,  and  after  vari- 
ous reraonstranses  on  both  sides  the  following  agreement  was  entred 
into,  viz.  :  — 

ily.  That  the  baptis  remit  to  the  Town  one  third  of  the  legal  cost 
that  has  arose  on  their  part  on  account  of  sd  action.  2ly.  The  Baptis 
renounce  all  pretention  to  any  damage  brought  against  the  assesors 
at  the  last  inferior  Court  at  Taunton.  3]y.  That  those  persons  that 
have  been  distrest  for  their  rates  that  ware  of  the  Baptis  Society  in  the 
last  assesment  shall  have  their  money  returned  to  them  again  ;  and 
foinally,  for  the  futer,  that  all  such  persons  that  obtain  a  surtifi- 
cate  from  under  the  hand  of  three  of  the  princabel  members  of  the 
anabaptis  church  in  this  Town  shall  not  be  rated  to  the  menestiral 
tax,  &c.  It  is  to  be  understood  that  James  Stacey's  rates  is  to  be 
paid  back  by  the  Town.  Done  at  Easton  this  third  day  of  Octo- 
ber, A.  D.  1765. 

P.  S.  It  is  to  be  understood  that  all  those  persons  that  shall  here- 
after be  exempted  from  paying  the  menisteral  tax  in  this  Town  shall 
actually  be  in  covenant  with  and  under  the  watch  and  care  of  the 
Baptis  church. 

Benjamin  Williams. 

Matthew  Hayward. 

Zepheniah  Keith. 

Timothy  Randel. 

Henry  Ha  ward. 


l82 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


I  the  subscriber,  as  an  atorney,  do  promis  upon  the  Town's  agree- 
ing to  the  above  sd  articels  to  let  drop  all  Proses  in  behalf  of  James 
Stacey  of  Easton  against  the  assesors  of  sd  Easton  for  the  year 
A.  D.  1764. 

Edmon  Andrews. 
Easton,  the  third  of  October,  A.  D.  1765. 


We  the  subscribers  do  agree  to  the  above  Ritten  articels. 

Ebenezer  Phillips, 

BENJ'^  Harvey, 

Daniel  Niles, 

Samuel  Phillips,  Jun% 
Recorded  by  Matthew  Hayward,  Town  Clerk} 


A  cotnmety 

of  the 

aimahaptis  Church 

in  Easton. 


The  town  voted  to  James  Stacey  two  thirds  of  the  cost  of  the 
lawsuit,  and  refunded  to  those  Baptists  whose  names  were 
handed  to  the  assessors  in  1764  the  amounts  distrained  from 
them  for  the  ministerial  tax,  with  damages  for  the  distress  to 
which  they  had  been  subjected.  It  was  a  substantial  victory 
for  the  Baptists,  and  for  justice  too  ;  moreover  it  marks  progress, 
for  eight  years  before  this  the  Presbyterians  were  denied  the 
same  rights  that  were  now  wrung  from  the  unwilling  town. 

It  is  noticeable  that  the  town  makes  a  condition  to  exempt 
only  those  actually  in  covenant  relations  with  the  Baptist  church, 
—  that  is,  church  members.  The  reason  for  this  has  been  al- 
luded to.  Some  persons  joined  this  new  movement  merely  to 
evade  the  ministerial  tax  ;  and  the  town  wished  to  prevent  such 
subterfuge.  But  this  condition  put  a  premium  upon  hypocrisy. 
There  were  those  who  would  become  Baptist  church-members 
in  order  to  save  money,  for,  as  we  have  said,  the  Baptist  expen- 
ses were  very  light.  Perhaps  the  town  could  enforce  this  con- 
dition in  1765  ;  but  at  a  later  date  it  could  not.  Those  who 
in  1782  and  1791,  for  instance,  claimed  to  be  Baptists  merely 
in  belief  were  exempted,  being  especially  named  on  the  tax- 
lists.  The  valuation  for  1782  in  three  quarters  of  the  town 
had  sixty-one  tax-payers  who  claimed  to  be  Baptists  ;  and  the 
same  proportion  for  the  other  quarter  of  the  town  (whose  tax- 
list  for  that  year  is  missing)  would  give  a  total  of  eigJity  Baptist 
tax-payers.    Among  them  were  some  of  the  prominent  people  of 


1  Town  Records,  vol.  ii.  pp.  45,  46. 


THE   BAPTIST   SOCIETY. 


■83 


the  town,  —  Capt.  James  Perry,  Abisha  Leach,  Capt.  EHphalet 
Leonard,  Isaac  Stokes,  Lieut.  Seth  Pratt,  Benjamin  Harvey, 
Francis  Govvard,  Ziba  Randall,  Capt.  Macey  Williams,  and  oth- 
ers. In  1791  there  was  a  still  larger  number,  among  whom  we 
notice  Capt.  Elisha  Harvey,  Hopestill  Randall,  and  Lyman 
Wheelock.  It  is  evident  that  in  many  cases  opposition  to  com- 
pulsory taxation  for  the  support  of  worship  had  more  to  do  in 
increasing  the  membership  of  the  Baptist  Society  than  any 
sincere  acceptance  of  the  faith  itself.  This  opinion  is  justified 
by  three  considerations  :  first,  there  were  no  adequate  accommo- 
dations for  the  worship  of  so  many  families  where  the  Baptist 
services  were  held  ;  second,  just  as  soon  as  the  ministerial  tax 
was  abolished  we  hear  no  more  of  this  society ;  third,  this 
opinion  accords  perfectly  with  human  nature  in  general,  and 
with  what  the  writer  knows  was  the  particular  human  nature 
of  some  of  those  who  made  this  claim  of  Baptist  belief. 

Opposition  of  the  kind  that  has  been  described  was  not  con- 
fined, however,  to  those  claiming  to  be  Baptists.  Eleazer  Keith 
demanded  exemption  from  being  taxed  to  help  pay  for  building 
the  meeting-house,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  England.  He  refused  to  pay  the  tax,  was  seized  and 
imprisoned,  held  out  for  eight  days  in  his  opposition,  and  then,  in 
order  to  be  released  from  his  imprisonment,  paid  the  assessment, 
doing  it,  however,  under  protest.  In  1762  he  sued  for  damages, 
lost  the  case,  and  appealed  to  the  Superior  Court.  Apparently 
the  difficulty  was  settled  without  further  litigation,  and  eventu- 
ally he  became  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 

For  awhile  the  Baptist  Society,  as  already  stated,  worshipped 
in  private  houses;  but  in  1767  they  found  the  arrangement  in- 
adequate to  their  needs.  What  should  they  do  ?  They  did  not 
feel  able  to  build  a  meeting-house,  and  they  therefore  hit  upon  a 
novel  expedient.  Eseck  Carr,  their  second  and  last  minister, 
had  just  come  from  Warren,  Rhode  Island.  He  was  a  cooper 
by  trade,  as  his  grandfather  Eseck  was  before  him.  He  was  an 
earnest  Baptist,  and  though  not  educated  for  the  ministry,  he 
could  preach.  He  was  engaged  by  the  Baptists  of  Easton  as 
their  minister ;  and  at  once  they  set  about  to  provide  a  building 
which  should  serve  the  triple  purpose  of  meeting-house,  dwell- 
ing-house, and  cooper-shop.     Thirteen  Baptists  of  Easton   and 


1 84 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


five  of  Stoughton  contributed  according  to  their  several  abili- 
ties, and  bought  a  part  of  what  was  once  the  homestead  lot  of 
John  Whitman,  Jr.  He  had  sold  it  in  1758  to  Paul  Packard, 
who  sold  it  to  Ephraim  Burr,  from  whom,  December  22,  1767, 
these  eighteen  men  purchased  it  for  eighty  pounds.  The  con- 
tributors who  bought  it  and  became  joint-owners  were  Daniel 
Niles,  James  Stacey,  Ebenezer  Phillips,  Zachariah  Watkins,  Ben- 
jamin Harvey,  Solomon  Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  Abiah  Manley, 
Joseph  Packard,  Jr.,  Ichabod  Manley,  Abner  Randall,  Samuel 
Randall,  Stephen  Niles,  all  of  Easton  ;  and  Simon  Stearns, 
Benaijah  Smith,  Jonathan  Jordan,  George  Allen,  and  Terrel 
Allen,  of  Stoughton.  The  house  was  situated  on  the  north  side 
of  what  is  now  Elm  Street,  just  where  the  small  house  owned  by 
E.  W.  Gilmore  now  stands.  On  the  east  end  of  the  house,  and 
united  with  it,  they  built  a  large  addition  about  thirty  feet  square. 
This  room  was  used  for  Mr.  Carr's  cooper-shop  on  week-days, 
and  for  a  meeting-house  on  Sundays.  At  one  end  was  a  huge 
fireplace  ;  the  Baptists,  being  dissenters,  did  not  fear  the  inno- 
vation of  warming  the  meeting-house.  Rude  slab-seats  were 
probably  provided,  the  comfortable  side  uppermost.  There  was 
a  loft  overhead  with  a  sufficiently  close  floor  upon  the  rafters  to 
hold  the  corn  that  was  sometimes  stored  there,  as  well  as  the 
tools  and  materials  in  use  during  the  week ;  it  might  also 
serve  as  a  sleeping  chamber.  On  Saturday  afternoon  the  room 
was  carefully  swept,  the  barrels,  staves,  and  hoops  piled  upon 
one  side,  or  placed  in  the  loft  above  ;  and  if  the  audience  was 
larger  than  usual,  in  addition  to  the  slab  seats,  other  seats  were 
extemporized.  With  these  signs  of  wood-work  about  them, 
the  imaginations  of  the  worshippers  might  easily  be  reminded 
of  the  carpenter's  shop  at  Nazareth,  and  thus  find  these  lowly 
surroundings  an  incentive  rather  than  a  hindrance  to  worship. 
If  it  was  winter,  a  rousing  fire  in  the  great  fireplace  blazed 
and  crackled,  and  shed  a  cheerful  warmth  and  glow  over  all. 
What  could  be  more  pleasant  and  interesting.'*  Is  it  any  won- 
der that  such  a  place  should  seem  more  homelike  and  attractive 
than  the  barn-like  plainness  and  coldness  of  the  average  New 
England  church  }  It  need  shock  no  one  who  can  enter  into  the 
real  spirit  of  that  time  to  know  that  as  his  fellow-worshippers 
gathered  for  service,  their  hospitable  pastor  was  accustomed  to 


THE   BAPTIST   SOCIETY.  1 85 

bring  up  from  the  cellar  a  huge  jug  of  cider  for  their  refresh- 
ment. Thus  cooled  off  in  hot  weather,  or  warmed  up  in  winter, 
they  are  ready  for  the  exercises.  A  barrel  standing  on  end 
answers  for  a  pulpit,  and  a  Bible  lies  open  upon  the  top.  The 
singing  is  hearty,  if  not  artistic.  The  sermon  is  based  upon 
strong  Calvinistic  doctrine,  but  is  spiced  with  wise,  practical 
suggestions,  enforced  by  homely  but  telling  illustrations.  An 
eye-witness  and  hearer,  now  dead,  used  to  say  that  as  Mr.  Carr 
waxed  warm  and  earnest  with  his  exhortations  he  gesticulated 
vigorously,  his  gestures  corresponding  to  the  movements  of  a 
cooper  hammering  to  place  the  hoops  upon  a  barrel,  sometimes 
beginning  upon  one  side  and  working  entirely  round  to  the 
other.  The  writer  has  in  his  possession  a  manuscript  of  a  ser- 
mon preserved  among  the  papers  of  one  of  these  Baptists,  —  a 
sermon  that  may  have  been  preached  either  by  Mr.  Stearns  or 
Mr.  Carr.  Whether  by  one  or  the  other  or  by  neither,  it  was 
a  product  of  the  time,  and  well  illustrates  the  substance  and 
spirit  of  the  doctrines  then  in  vogue.  It  is  an  attempt  to  answer 
the  question,  "  What  hath  God  decreed  concerning  angels  and 
men.?"  The  answer  is,  that  "God,  by  an  Eternal  decree,  out 
of  Love  for  the  Praise  of  his  glorious  grace  to  be  manifested 
in  due  time,  hath  elected  some  angels  to  glory,  and  in  Christ 
hath  chosen  some  men  to  eternal  life.  He  has  mercy  on  whom 
he  will,  and  whom  he  will  he  hardneth."  The  doctrine  of  Elec- 
tion is  thus  preached  in  its  baldest  form.  The  following  illus- 
trations, or  proofs,  are  adduced  :  — 

"When  a  man  is  extremely  hungry,  and  can't  git  nothing  to  assvvage 
his  hunger  honestly,  he  will  steal  to  satisffie  that  painful  feeling.  Must 
we  not  think  that  almighty  power  could  a  hendred  that  if  it  pleased 
him  so  to  do  ?  But  he  will  never  alter  what  is  decreed.  ...  It  can't  be 
thoat  by  no  wise  Person  but  that  Adam  fell  from  his  purity  by  any 
other  Reason  than  it  being  the  Decree  of  god  ;  for  if  it  had  pleased 
god  to  a  held  Adam  in  his  state  of  Innocency,  he  had  power  to  a  don 
it ;  but  if  Adam  had  never  fell,  theie  never  would  a  ben  a  Christ  born 
to  wransome  the  fallen  Race,"  — 

and  much  more  to  the  same  effect.  These  extracts  will  illus- 
trate the  character  of  the  spiritual  food  served  in  those  days  by 
the  then  current  Calvinism. 


1 86  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Eseck  Carr  came  to  Easton  in  the  year  1766.  He  had  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Lydia  (Grinnell)  Simmons,  a  widow  witli  five  children. 
A  relative  of  Mr.  Carr  being  asked  how  he  was  willing  to  as- 
sume the  heavy  responsibility  of  adopting  so  large  a  family, 
replied,  "  Mrs.  Simmons  is  a  very  handsome  woman."  Calculat- 
ing prudence  vanished  before  the  charms  of  the  blooming  young 
widow.  She  had  also  a  touch  of  poetry  in  her  nature.  From  the 
top  of  Mount  Misery,  in  North-Easton  village,  she  saw,  one  night, 
just  before  the  Revolutionary  War,  a  wonderful  display  of  blood- 
red  Northern  Lights.  This  was  thought  to  bode  some  great  ca- 
lamity, and  so  stirred  was  the  soul  of  Mrs.  Carr  that  she  gave 
vent  to  her  feelings  in  some  rhyme,  of  which  one  stanza  has  been 
preserved,  and  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  That  very  night,  it  was  so  bright, 
So  plainly  I  did  see  — 
Both  sword  and  blood  looked  like  a  flood 
That  much  astonished  me." 

In  the  war  thus  supposed  to  be  foreshadowed,  Mr.  Carr  was 
drafted  for  a  soldier.  He  refused  to  serve,  claiming  no  doubt 
the  minister's  exemption  from  military  service.  His  claim  was 
not  at  first  allowed  by  the  town  authorities,  as  we  see  by  the 
following  order :  — 

Bristol,  ss.  To  Ephraim  Raiidell  ye  211  d.^  one  of  the  Constables  of  the 
town  of  Easton  in  the  County  of  Bristol,  —  Greeting  : 
Where  as  Eseck  Carr,  of  the  town  of  Easton,  was  By  us  the  sub- 
scribers appointed  a  sholdier  according  to  the  Direction  of  a  late  act  of 
this  government  for  Providing  a  Reinforcement  to  the  American  army, 
has  been  duly  notified  of  such  appointment,  and  did  not  within  twenty- 
foure  hours  after  such  notification  Pay  to  us  the  sum  of  ten  Pounds, 
nor  make  any  Reasonable  Excuse  ;  and  the  said  Eseck  Carr  was  on 
the  Eightenth  Day  of  December,  a.d.  1776,  Called  out,  according  to 
Law,  to  march,  But  neglected  so  to  do,  or  to  Provide  any  Person  in 
his  stead,  —  you,  the  said  Ephraim  Randell  ye  2nd.,  Constabell  of  the 
town  of  Easton,  are  therefore  hereby  Required  forthwith  to  apprehend 
the  said  Eseck  Carr,  and  him  commit  to  the  common  goal  in  said 
county;  and  you,  the  said  keeper  of  the  said  goal,  are  alike  required  to 
Receive  the  said  Eseck  Carr  into  your  Custody,  there  to  Remain  un- 
tell  he  pay  the  fine  of  twelve  Pounds,  as  ordered  in  said  act,  to  gather 


THE   BAPTIST   SOCIETY.  187 

with  charges  of  Committment  and  imprisonment,  or  Be  Discharged  By 
order  of  Law.     Hereof  fail  not. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  Seals  this  Eighth  Day  of  January,  a.d. 

1777. 

Joshua  Phillips,  Matthew  Randell,  Captain. 

Edward  Hayward,  Seth  Pratt,  Lieut. 

Lemuel  Willis,  Edward  Hayward  {2nd)  Lieut. 

Seth  Pratt,  Timothy  Randell,  Selectman. 
Joseph  Gilbert," 

Committee  of  Correspondance. 

Notwithstanding  this,  Mr.  Carr  presented  a  bold  front ;  and  the 
authorities,  not  being  able  to  intimidate  him,  and  being  doubtful 
about  their  position,  sent  the  following  order  to  the  constable, 
through  the  Captain  of  the  East  Company  of  the  militia:  — 

To  Mr.  Ephraim  Randall  the  2. 

Sir,  you  are  Desired  to  let  mr.  Eseck  Carr  a  Lone  at  present. 

Matthew  Randall.^ 
Easton,  January  the 1777. 

The  order  to  arrest  was  probably  never  executed,  and  Mr. 
Carr  was  "  let  a  Lone,"  and  without  doubt  exempted  from  mili- 
tary service,  as  other  ministers  then  were. 

He  continued  to  work  on  week-days  and  preach  on  Sundays, 
for  many  years.  He  sold  pickle-tubs,  barrels,  etc.,  and  was  not 
above  assisting  in  killing  pigs  and  receiving  pay  for  this  service. 
He  did  a  little  in  the  way  of  trade,  selling  quintals  of  fish  and 
other  things.  Such  items  are  recorded  upon  old  accounts  which 
the  writer  has  seen.  Something  of  this  kind  was  necessary  in 
order  to  eke  out  the  slender  support  gained  from  the  voluntary 
contributions  of  his  brethren.  In  common  with  many  others  of 
his  day  he  was  a  snuff-taker,  and  for  convenience'  sake,  instead 
of  a  snuff-box  he  had  a  small  leathern  breast-pocket,  or  pouch, 
on  his  coat,  in  which  he  carried  his  snuff,  which  was  thus  easily 
accessible. 

About  1784  there  was  a  sensible  decline  of  religious  interest 
in  the  Baptist  Society.  Even  as  early  as  1783  its  name  disap- 
peared from  the  Massachusetts  Directory.  This  decline  was  not 
peculiar  to  this  society  alone,  but  was  the  natural  consequence 
of  the  war  that  had  just  closed,  for  demoralizing  effects  nearly 
1  From  Papers  of  Macey  Randall. 


1 88  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

always  follow  war.  On  the  26th  day  of  August,  1785,  a  meeting 
of  the  society  was  called  at  Mr.  Carr's.  At  that  meeting,  Isaac 
Stokes,  Deacon  Phillips,  and  Abner  Randall  were  chosen  the 
Committee  of  the  Society  ;  Ephraim  Randall,  Jr.,  was  chosen 
clerk,  and  it  was  "  Voted  that  this  Society,  which  are  Baptis, 
should  come  in  to  a  covenant  agreement."  This  covenant  will 
be  given  here,  because,  with  the  exception  of  the  record  of  the 
meeting  just  alluded  to,  and  of  a  call  to  another  meeting  in 
1789,  it  is  the  only  written  record  of  the  old  Baptist  Society 
that  has  been  preserved.     It  is  as  follows  :  — 

"Where  as  it  is  a  time  of  Trouble  and  a  declining  of  Religeon,  and 
the  Love  of  many  wexes  Cold, — 

We  the  subscribers,  who  do  profes  our  selves  to  be  Annebaptis,  do 
think  it  our  Duty  to  come  in  to  a  Covenant  agreement  with  Each  Other, 
and  to  agree  in  friendship  and  Union  ;  and  there  fore  we  declare,  Con- 
siancianty  [?],  that  we  think  that  the  annabaptis  porswaision  is  more 
agreable  to  the  Rules  of  the  Gospel  then  Any  other  Oppinion  Which 
we  have  any  knowledge  of  ;  and  there  fore  under  this  Consideration  we 
promas  as  true  Covonant  Keepers,  as  far  as  we  are  Inabled,  to  up  hold, 
Support,  and  maintain  that  order  of  worship,  and  Especially  in  this 
Society  which  we  belong  to  in  Easton  ;  and  also  we  do  promas  to  at- 
tend the  publick  worship  on  Lords  days,  and  to  incourage  our  familys 
in  the  Same  duty  as  far  as  we  are  In  abled  Convianantly  so  to  do  ; 
and  also  we  do  promas  to  Each  other  that  we  will  attend  Society 
meetings,  if  they  are  Leagually  warned,  for  the  furtherance  of  our 
Establishment  and  good  orders,  and  the  Conducting  Some  measures 
for  the  Support  and  Bennefit  of  our  Society  as  a  Body  Joyned  to- 
gathar  ;  and  also  we  do  agree  with  Each  other  that  we  will  do  what 
in  us  Lies  to  keep  peace  among  us  ;  and  where  there  is  Disagrea- 
ments,  Quarils,  or  discord  we  will  Vse  our  indeavours  to  have  them 
Settled  in  friendship  again,  according  to  Scripture  Rules  ;  and  we  do 
promas  also  that  we  will  be  Charitable  and  helpful  to  one  another  in 
Sickness  and  Destress,  as  becomes  Rational  Creatuers  that  Lives  in 
Gospel  Light.  In  testimony  where  of  we  set  our  hands  as  True  Covo- 
nant keepers,  from  this  Second  day  of  September,  a.d.  1785."^ 

As  this  was  only  the  first  draft  of  the  covenant  the  names 
are  not  appended.  This  renewed  effort  probably  did  some- 
thing to  revive  the  religious  interest  for  awhile.     But  four  years 

1  Papers  of  Macey  Randall. 


THE    BAPTIST    SOCIETY.  189 

afterward,  in  1789,  there  came  a  serious  crisis,  which  is  referred 
to  thus:  "There  being  a  dif^culty  arisen  in  the  annabaptis 
Society  in  the  Town  of  Easton,  and  an  Uneasiness  in  the  minds 
of  the  people  of  the  Society,"  etc.,  a  meeting  is  requested  by 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Tisdale,  Capt.  Nathan  Packard,  Benjamin  Harvey, 
David  Manley,  Abner  Randall,  and  Deacon  Isaac  Stokes.  Ac- 
cordingly the  clerk,  Ephraim  Randall  2d,  calls  a  meeting  for 
August  17.  It  was  "  Earnestly  desired  that  all  Persons  who  are 
Ouallified  to  act  in  said  meeting  for  to  attend  without  fail ;  for 
it  is  a  thing  of  grate  Importance,  and  may  be  the  means  of 
peace  and  good  Order."  ^ 

It  would  be  exceedingly  interesting  to  know  what  this  "  Un- 
easiness" and  "thing  of  grate  Importance"  was,  but  no  means 
of  information  exist.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  measures 
adopted  at  the  meeting  that  was  called  had  no  permanent  effect. 
The  society  had  not  within  it  sufficient  life  to  thrive,  and  was 
unmistakably  on  the  wane.  It  continued,  however,  loyally  to 
rally  about  its  minister  as  infirmities  and  age  undermined  his 
vigor.  He  preached  as  long  as  he  had  strength  enough,  prob- 
ably until  within  two  or  three  years  of  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  February,  1794.  His  remains  were  buried  in 
a  little  cemetery  which  was  just  north  of  the  place  now  occupied 
by  E.  W,  Gilmore's  hinge-factory.  They  were  disinterred  when 
the  ground  was  broken  for  that  building,  and  were  deposited  by 
his  grandson,  Caleb  Carr,  in  the  cemetery  on  Washington  Street, 
opposite  the  Methodist  church.  With  him  died  the  Baptist  So- 
ciety of  Easton,  after  a  varied  but  not  prosperous  life  of  about 
thirty  years.  The  house,  and  the  combined  meeting-house  and 
cooper-shop  attached,  were  owned  by  members  of  the  Baptist 
Society.  It  gradually  passed  by  successive  purchases  into  the 
possession  of  Caleb  Carr,  Sr.,  the  son  of  Eseck.  The  last  pay- 
ment to  heirs  of  original  Baptist  owners  was  a  payment  of  about 
twenty  dollars,  made  by  his  grandson  Caleb,  now  living  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-nine,  and  who  is  universally  known  as 
"  Uncle  Caleb.".  The  meeting-house,  or  the  cooper-shop,  was 
torn  down  in  1822.  The  house  was  once  surrounded  by  huge 
apple-trees,  most  of  which  were  destroyed  in  the  great  September 
gale  of  1 81 5. 

1  Papers  of  Macey  Randall. 


igo  .      HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD   CAMPBELL. 

The  Church  of  Christ  in  Easton  calls  Archibald  Campbell.  — 
His  Parentage,  Birth,  and  Education.  —  Fair  Prospect  of  a 
Peaceful  Ministry.  —  Gathering  Clouds.  —  Mr.  Campbell's  Wife 
a  Stumbling  Block.  —  The  Minister  Slandered.  —  He  is  Dis- 
missed WITH  A  Recommendation.  —  Ministry  in  Charlton.  — 
Domestic  Trouble  and  Disgrace.  —  Dismissal  and  Sad  Subse- 
quent Experiences.  —  Extract  from  one  of  his  Sermons. — His 
Children.  —  "  The  Vale  of  Tears." 

AFTER  the  death  of  Mr.  Farrar,  in  September,  1756,  the 
Church  of  Christ  in  Easton  was  without  a  settled  pastor 
for  nearly  seven  years.  Neither  this  church  nor  the  Presby- 
terian church  felt  strong  enough  to  maintain  a  minister  alone, 
and  all  attempts  to  unite  or  to  compromise  had  failed.  Both 
societies,  and  with  them  the  religious  interests  of  the  town, 
were  in  a  languishing  condition.  In  1762,  however,  the  con- 
tention had  spent  its  force.  Death  became  a  peacemaker  by 
removing  some  of  the  leading  contestants.  The  town  party 
gained  by  new  arrivals,  and  they  now  felt  strong  enough  to 
settle  a  man.  Accordingly,  after  a  day  of  solemn  fasting  and 
prayer,  Mr.  Night  Sexton  received  a  call.  Arrangements  were 
made  about  salary,  and  even  about  ordination.  Mr.  Sexton, 
however,  after  looking  carefully  into  the  matter,  was  not  willing 
to  face  the  difficulties  of  the  situation,  and  declined  to  come. 

Early  in  1763  a  candidate  appears  who  wins  general  favor. 
March  25,  after  another  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  the  church 
gives  a  call  to  Archibald  Campbell.  At  a  town-meeting, 
April  II,  the  town  concurs  in  the  same.  He  is  offered  a  salary 
of  sixty-six  pounds,  thirteen  shillings,  and  four  pence.  Why  so 
fine  a  point  is  given  to  it  as  to  taper  it  down  to  four  pence  does 
not  appear.  But  it  does  denote  extreme  shrewdness  that  when 
it  is  voted  "  that  Mr.  Campbell  should  git  his  firewood  on  the 


THE    REV.    ARCHIBALD    CAMPBELL.  191 

menesterial  land  the  insewing  winter,"  a  committee  is  appointed 
"  to  inspect  the  same  to  see  that  good  Timber  was  not  cut  for 
sd  fire  wood."  Mr.  Campbell  accepts  the  call  in  the  following 
terms:  — 

To  the  ChiDxh  and  Congregation  of  Easton : 

Dear  Friends  and  Gentlemen,  —  Having  taken  under  mature 
and  deliberate  consideration  the  invitation  vv-hich  you  gave  me  to  settle 
with  you  in  the  arduous  and  laborious  work  of  the  Ministry,  on  the 
eleventh  of  April  last  past,  I  think  it  duty ;  and  therefore  I  do  now 
accept  of  your  invitation  and  the  proposals  which  you  then  made  me, 
depending  upon  it  that  you  will  be  ready  and  willing  as  your  abilities 
increase,  to  make  any  further  additions  to  my  salary  that  shall  be 
thought  reasonable,  if  my  necessities  require  it.  And  now  brethren, 
I  am  willing  to  be  ordained  to  the  pastoral  charge  over  you  at  any 
time  that  you  and  I  shall  mutually  agree  on,  promising  that  I  will  seek 
you  and  not  yours,  that  I  will  remain  among  you  in  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  my  duty,  as  far  and  as  long  as  God  shall  enable  me,  pro- 
vided you  remain,  as  I  flatter  myself  you  will,  a  ministerial  people. 
And  now  my  dear  brethren,  let  brotherly  love  continue ;  let  us  all  be 
of  one  heart  and  one  mind  ;  let  us  strive  unitedly  to  promote  the  peace- 
ful kingdom  of  the  dear  Redeemer  among  ourselves  and  on  earth  ;  let 
us  strive  to  forward  each  other  to  the  Heavenly  Zion  above,  that  we 
may  be  each  other's  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
So  wishing  that  the  smiles  of  Heaven  may  ever  rest  upon  all  your 
lawful  endeavors,  I  remain  your  servant  in  the  faith  and  fellowship  of 
the  Gospel  of  Christ.     Anient 

Archibald   Campbell. 

Easton,  June  5th,  1763. 

Mr,  Campbell  was  ordained  August  17,  1763.  Rev.  Mr.  Phipps, 
of  Douglas,  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins,  of  Bridge- 
water,  gave  the  charge.  Rev.  Mr.  Dunbar,  of  Stoughton,  gave 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  Rev.  Messrs.  Shaw  and  Porter,  of 
Bridgewater,  also  had  part.  "  The  whole  ceremony  was  carried 
on  with  great  Decency  and  good  Order."  ^ 

Archibald  Campbell  came  to  Easton  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven  years.  He  was  a  man  whose  gifts  and  antecedents  seemed 
to  promise  a  brilliant  and  happy  future ;  but  could  he  have  fore- 
seen through  what  experiences  he  must  pass  before  his  aged 

1  MassachuseUs  Gazette  and  Boston  News- Letter,  August  25,  1763. 


192  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

head,  whitened  by  the  cares  and  sorrows  of  more  than  four- 
score years,  would  he  at  rest  in  a  plain  pine  coffin  in  an  un- 
marked grave,  he  would  have  prayed  for  swift  release  from  life  ! 
He  was  forced  in  his  later  years  to  reflect  upon  the  mystery  of 
that  Providence  which  ordained  that  years  of  trouble  and  anguish 
should  follow  a  youthful  folly,  which  truth  to  history  forbids  us 
to  leave  wholly  unnoticed. 

Archibald  Campbell  was  the  ninth  and  youngest  child  of  the 
Rev.  John  Campbell,  of  Oxford,  Mass.  His  father  was  a  man  of 
marked  character  and  superior  gifts.  He  was  born  in  the  north 
of  Scotland  in  1691,  educated  at  Edinburgh,  having  the  benefits 
and  honors  of  the  University  ;  was  said  to  have  joined  the  army, 
espousing  the  cause  of  the  House  of  Stuart,  and  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  country.  He  came  to  New  England  in  171 7,  married 
Miss  Esther  Fairchild,  of  Boston,  and  was  ordained  pastor  at 
O.xford  in  1721.  He  was  a  great  swordsman,  was  skilled  in  law 
and  medicine,  and  a  man  of  influence  in  Oxford  and  the  neigh- 
borhood.    He  died  May  25,  1761. 

Archibald  was  born  in  Oxford  August  17,  1736,  according  to  his 
daughter's  statement,  which  varies  by  the  eleven  days  difference 
between  Old  and  New  Style  from  the  date  given  by  another  au- 
thority. His  father  was  careful  to  give  him  a  good  education.  He 
entered  Harvard  University  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and 
graduated  in  1761.  He  is  thus  referred  to  in  the  funeral  sermon 
preached  on  the  death  of  his  father,  by  the  Rev.  William  Phipps, 
who  afterwards  preached  Archibald's  ordination  sermon  :  — 

"  And  may  a  double  portion  of  the  Spirit  of  Wisdom  and  Grace  rest 
on  that  Son  who  has,  by  his  Father's  care  and  Kindness,  been  favored 
with  the  Advantages  of  a  liberal  Education,  and  who  may  in  due  time, 
if  God  will  (according  to  the  earnest  Desire  and  Hope  of  his  departed 
Father),  devote  himself  to  the  Service  of  God  in  the  Gospel  of  his 
Son  !   And  may  he  be  a  rich  blessing  to  the  Church  of  God  in  his  Day ! " 

Two  of  his  brothers  were  not  turning  out  well,  and  Archibald, 
if  we  may  judge  from  his  father's  will,  was  the  favorite;  for  he 
left  him,  in  addition  to  one  thousand  pounds  Old  Tenor  (then 
worth  about  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  pounds,  lawful  money), 
"  my  apparel  of  all  sorts,  my  whole  library  of  books,  my  watch, 
my  gold  wrist-buttons,  my  knee  and  shoe  buckles,  and  my  young 


THE   REV.    ARCHIBALD   CAMPBELL. 


193 


black  mare,  to  be  well  kept  and  supported  on  my  said  Farm  sum- 
mer and  winter,  cost  free,  when  said  Archibald  Campbell  has  no 
occasion  to  use  her." 

November  15,  1762,  he  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Barnard,  of  Sutton,  Mass.  Not  to  recognize  what  is  implied  in 
the  fact  that  this  was  a  compulsory  marriage,  would  be  to  miss 
the  one  clew  that  explains  much  that  otherwise  would  be  unin- 
telligible in  the  life  of  Mr.  Campbell.  But  we  must  pass  it  by  for 
the  present,  as  it  was  not  known  in  Easton  for  many  years  after- 
wards. All  that  was  at  first  known  was,  that  the  Easton  church 
had  secured  the  services  of  a  young  man  of  excellent  talent  and 
education,  who  came  to  its  ministry  after  a  long  period  of  discord 
and  strife  had  made  every  one  in  the  parish  desirous  of  peace. 
He  was  well  fitted  to  promote  peace,  and  tradition  has  repre- 
sented him  as  a  man  of  popular  gifts  and  affable  manners. 

Mr.  Campbell,  however,  found  affairs  very  much  disorganized 
in  the  Easton  church.    The  church  records  were  not  to  be  found. 
Mr.  Prentice  had  probably  carried  off  the  records,  which  he  be- 
gan in   1747.     Consequently  the  covenant  was  gone,  and    the 
church  must  begin  anew.     A  new  covenant  was  accordingly  pre- 
pared and  signed,  —  which  the  reader  may  find  in  the  Appendix 
to  this  History.    It  is  noticeable  that  among  the  signers  are  very 
!    few  of  those  who  were  of  the  Prentice  party,  and  there  are  less 
!    than  half  the  number  who  signed  the  covenant  of   1747.     Dea. 
James  Dean  is  appointed  clerk ;  Dea.  Robert  Randall  and  Joseph 
Crossman,  Sr.,  are  chosen  elders,  and  Samuel  Phillips  is  made 
j    "tuner."    The  "  Christening  bason"  is  brought  from  Joshua  Phil- 
1    lips's  house,  and  all  is  ready  for  active  religious  work.     During 
the  first  ten  years  of  his  ministry  Mr.  Campbell  had  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  baptisms.     Sometimes  whole  families  of  children, 
whose  baptism  had  been  neglected  during  the  times  of  church 
t    strife,  were  baptized  at  once.     There  are  interesting  cases  of 
;;    "  difficulties  "  between  church  members,  being  cases  of  misrep- 
f   resentation,  slander,  dishonesty,  etc.,  which  are  settled  by  wise 
J  action  and  counsel,  in  which  a  truly  Christian  spirit  seems  to 
il   prevail,  —  giving  evidence  that  the  church  is  under  wise  and 
ii  considerate  leadership. 

;       The  years  roll  by  bringing  no  events  of  special  importance. 
[  William  Pratt,  Jr.,  and  Daniel  Littlefield  are  chosen  deacons  in 

13 


194  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

1774,  and  accept  and  take  their  seats  in  the  deacon's  pew. 
EHjah  Copeland  and  Captain  Matthew  Randall  are  chosen 
tuners  in  1777.  Meantime  the  Revolutionary  War  had  come 
on.  In  our  chapter  upon  that  subject  we  shall  see  that  Mr. 
Campbell  had  a  good  word  for  the  great  cause,  though  his 
wife  was  suspected  to  have  Tory  proclivities.  He  had  bought 
for  his  homestead  the  house  built  by  Mr.  Farrar,  not  many 
rods  west  of  the  present  location  of  the  Almshouse,  with  the 
barn  and  surrounding  farm  of  thirty-five  acres,  purchasing  them 
of  David  Keith.  Here  he  lived  until  June,  1777,  when  he  sold 
his  place  to  Isaac  Lothrop,  of  Bridgewater,  uncle  of  Howard 
Lothrop. 

Not  long  after  this  the  clouds  began  to  gather  about  him. 
The  exact  nature  of  these  troubles  cannot  be  ascertained. 
Some  things  are,  however,  certain.  By  some  means  the  story  of 
that  early  act  which  led  to  his  compulsory  marriage  had  been 
whispered  among  his  people.  The  secret  had  rankled  in  his 
own  heart  for  many  years.  Such  things  were  not  uncommon  at 
the  time  ;  and  even  church-members  thus  guilty,  after  repent- 
ance and  public  confession,  were  "  restored  to  their  usual  stand- 
ing" in  church  and  society.  But  he  had  made  no  confession. 
H.e  had  come  to  them  loaded  with  a  sense  of  shame,  but  had 
withheld  all  knowledge  of  it,  for  what  no  doubt  seemed  to  him 
sufficient  reasons.  He  was  repentant :  should  he  blast  his  pros- 
pects and  ruin  his  chance  for  usefulness  in  the  world  by  a  revela- 
tion that  could  benefit  no  one }  Should  he  not  rather,  by  a 
devoted  life,  by  consecrated  effort,  and  lowly  though  secret  peni- 
tence, seek  to  atone  for  the  misdeed  of  his  ardent  youth  .''  So 
he  hoped  he  might  do  ;  so  for  some  years  it  appeared  he  would 
succeed  in  doing.  But  alas  for  any  man  whose  peace  depends 
upon  the  protection  of  secrecy !  He  could  not  hide  from  his 
own  heart  the  fact  that  all  this  time  he  was,  however  good  his 
reasons  for  doing  it,  violating  one  of  the  rules  of  his  church, — 
that  of  public  confession  and  humiliation.  And  now  the  story 
was  known,  and  he  was  required,  or  perhaps  volunteered,  to  per- 
form the  act  of  repentance.  On  the  nth  day  of  April,  1779, 
before  the  church  and  congregation  to  which  for  sixteen  years 
he  had  ministered,  he  made  his  public  confession  of  an  offence 
that  had  occurred  seventeen  years  before,  and  of  which  he  had 


I 


THE    REV.  ARCHIBALD   CAMPBELL. 


195 


already  bitterly  repented  !     His  acknowledgment  was  voted  satis- 
factory "  by  the  usual  signe  of  lifting  up  their  hands." 

For  the  time  the  matter  rests.  Mr.  Campbell  continued 
preaching,  and  there  seem  to  have  been  the  usual  number  of 
baptisms  and  admissions  to  the  church.  But  it  was  natural  that 
what  had  occurred  should  gradually  undermine  the  minister's 
popularity  and  influence.  Two  things  conspired  to  the  same 
result.  One  was  the  fact  that  his  wife  was  a  woman  who  neither 
gained  the  love  nor  deserved  the  respect  of  any  one.  She  was, 
let  the  truth  be  told,  the  bane  of  his  life.  She  never  joined  his 
church,  and  apparently  had  little  sympathy  with  it.  Not  only 
tradition,  but  direct  statements  of  those  who  knew  them  in  their 
later  days,  and  who  had  been  much  in  their  company,  represent 
her  as  addicted  to  intoxicating  drinks.  She  was,  withal,  proud- 
spirited, and  scorned  her  husband's  simple  tastes.  Such  a  wife 
must  have  been  not  only  a  burdensome  cross  to  the  minister, 
but  must  have  intensified  any  disaffection  that  had  arisen.  The 
second  trouble  was,  if  an  apparently  trustworthy  tradition  may 
be  credited,  a  case  of  slander.  It  is  said  that  some  person  made 
one  of  the  gravest  charges  against  him  that  could  affect  a  gentle- 
man's honor.  Although  this  charge  appears  to  have  been  re- 
tracted upon  the  dying  bed  of  the  slanderer  years  afterward,  the 
retraction  did  not  come  soon  enough  to  prevent  the  slander, 
when  once  started,  from  doing  its  venomous  work.  November 
21,  1 78 1,  a  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  "to  enquire  Into 
some  Reports  prevailing  among  the  People  Detrimental  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Campbell's  character."  This  matter  was  debated  in 
several  meetings.  Advice  was  sought  of  a  convention  of  minis- 
ters held  at  Taunton,  February  19,  1782.  The  slander,  after  all, 
does  not  seem  to  have  made  a  very  deep  impression,  and  the 
other  difificulties  do  not  appear  to  have  been  of  a  very  grave 
character,  as  the  church,  February  25,  agreed  that  if  "the  Pastor 
would  make  Christian  satisfaction  wherein  he  had  acted  out  of 
character,  they  would  receive  him  as  their  minister."  On  the  4th 
of  March  such  satisfaction  was  rendered,  and  "all  the  brethren 
voted  to  Receive  him  as  a  Brother,  and  all  excepting  two  voted 
to  Receive  him  as  their  pastor."  A  decided  opposition  to  Mr. 
Campbell,  however,  had  arisen  in  the  midst  of  all  this  trouble, 
headed  by  Capt.  Matthew  Hay  ward,  son  of  Edward  Hay  ward. 


196 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


Esq.,  —  the  same  who  was  the  leader  in  the  opposition  to  Mr. 

Prentice. 

One  of  the  humorous  anecdotes  that  have  come  down  to  us 
from  this  period,  illustrates  the  prominence  of  Captain  Hay  ward 
in  this  new  trouble  of  the  church  with  its  minister.  When 
Ebenezer  Ames  was  an  old  man,  he  was  accustomed  to  go  about 
putting  to  every  one  his  stereotyped  inquiry,  "What's  the  news.''" 
Meeting  another  and  quite  eccentric  old  man,  who  was  known 
by  the  not  very  respectful  name  of  Old  Drake,  Mr.  Ames  asked, 
"  Well,  Mr.  Drake,  what 's  the  news  ? "  "  The  news,"  said  Mr. 
Drake,  "  is  a  dream  that  I  had  last  night.  I  dreamed  that  I 
died  and  went,  —  well,  you  know  where  I  would  go  if  I  died. 
When  I  got  there,  I  rapped  upon  the  door,  and  some  of  Satan's 
imps  let  me  in  ;  and  I  must  say  I  was  never  treated  more  hand- 
somely in  my  life.  By  and  by  Satan  himself  came  in.  '  Hello  ! ' 
he  said  to  me,  '  where  did  you  come  from  ?'  '  I  came  from 
Easton,'  was  my  answer.  'Why,  that  is  where  they  are  having 
a  church  quarrel  over  their  minister,'  said  Satan  :  *  who  leads 
the  opposition  to  him  } '  I  told  him  it  was  Capt.  Matthew 
Hay  ward.  'Good!'  said  his  Satanic  Majesty,  '  that  is  exactly 
as  well  as  though  I  were  there  myself.'" 

On  May  26  Mr.  Campbell  "  refused  Preaching  with  the  People 
in  Easton  on  account  of  a  Disaffection  and  a  neglect  of  support, 
etc.,"  and  on  the  4th  of  July  next  he  asked  for  a  dismission 
from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  in  Easton.  This  brought 
matters  to  a  crisis,  and  the  church  and  town  joined  in  calling  a 
small  council  of  neighboring  churches  for  advice.  The  coun- 
cil met  July  31,  1782,  and  the  following  is  the  report  of  their 
action  :^  — 

"July  31,  1782.  The  Venerable  Council  met  and  Imbodied,  before 
whom  the  Pastor  Renewed  his  Request  for  a  Dismission  both  to  the 
Chh.  &  Congregation  ;  &  then  the  Council  advised  the  Pastor  & 
Chh.  to  a  mutual  Conferrence  In  order  to  see  If  they  Could  not  Come 
to  some  agreement.  Accordingly,  altho  by  far  the  greater  Part  of  the 
Chh.  were  unwilling  to  let  their  Pastor  go,  yet  at  length,  because  he 
Earnestly  Requested  It,  &  for  Peace  sake,  &  because  of  a  Consider- 
able alienation  of  affections  in  the  Congregation,  they  Consented,  and 
In  the  Presence  of  the  Council  Unanimously  voted  to  Dismiss  & 
1  See  second  book  of  Church  Records,  p.  11. 


■  .M 


THE   REV.    ARCHIBALD    CAMPBELL.  197 

Recommend  their  Pastor.  Further,  August  5*.'',  1782,  the  Council  Read 
their  Result  to  the  Congregation,  in  which  they  agreed  that  It  was 
Best  for  M^  Campbell  to  leave  this  People  because  of  Disaffection  & 
alienation  that  appeared  among  them,  signifying  that  the  Chh.  had 
Dismissed  him,  &  advised  the  Congregation  to  Concurr  with  the 
Chhs.  vote." 

It  is  to  be  especially  noted  that  the  council  recommended  that 
Mr.  Campbell  and  the  church  should  confer  together  again  to 
see  if  they  could  not  come  to  some  agreement  By  this  it  is 
evident  that  no  objections  of  any  really  serious  character  to 
the  pastor  had  been  sustained.  It  is  noteworthy  also,  that  "  by 
far  the  greater  Part  of  the  Chh.  were  unwilling  to  let  their  Pastor 
go,"  which  confirms  the  above  conclusion.  And  the  good  opinion 
of  the  parish  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  at  the  town-meeting 
next  subsequent  to  this  council,  the  town  actually  refused  to 
concur  with  the  council  in  their  recommendation  to  dismiss  Mr. 
Campbell.  It  is  also  to  be  considered  that  the  church  unani- 
mously voted  to  recommend  as  well  as  to  dismiss  their  pastor. 
All  these  facts  sufificiently  prove  that  the  Rev.  Archibald  Camp- 
bell, whatever  may  have  been  the  difficulties  and  alienations  re- 
ferred to,  left  the  church  and  town  with  a  good  record.  It  was 
not  until  five  months  after  the  church's  vote  to  dismiss  him  that 
the  town  would  consent  to  this  action,  and  it  was  done  then  at 
his  earnest  solicitation.  January  i,  1783,  the  church  renewed 
their  vote,  and  recommended  their  retiring  pastor  to  the  Gospel 
ministry  in  Charlton,  and  to  the  confidence  of  any  church  where 
his  lot  might  be  cast.  And  so  in  company  with  his  coarse  and 
unamiable  wife,  and  with  the  children  who  were  to  do  their  part 
towards  embittering  his  lot,  he  sadly  turned  his  back  upon  the 
scenes  of  his  first  ministry,  which  had  opened  with  bright  prom- 
ise, but  closed  in  disastrous  eclipse.  The  previous  dealings  of 
the  town  with  its  ministers  were  of  such  a  character  that  we  can 
now  feel  no  surprise  in  learning  that  more  than  seven  years 
elapsed  from  the  date  of  his  dismissal,  before  Mr.  Campbell  re- 
ceived in  full  the  payment  of  his  just  dues. 

He  was  installed  as  pastor  in  Charlton,  January  8,  1783.  His 
life  there  was  in  some  respects  a  repetition  of  his  experience  in 
Easton.  Beginning  with  the  interest  excited  by  his  gifts  as  a 
preacher,  and  by  his  amiable  personal  qualities,  it  was  not  long 


198  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

before  the  same  dark  fate  overtook  him  here  that  had  made  his 
last  years  in  Easton  unhappy.  His  wife  was  observed  to  take  no 
interest  in  his  work,  preferring,  as  she  now  did,  the  inspiration 
of  the  bottle  to  any  that  religion  had  to  offer  her.  Nor  was  it 
long  before  his  children  began  to  add  to  the  bitterness  of  the 
cup  he  was  forced  to  drink.  It  was  while  Mr.  Campbell  was  in 
Charlton  that  Stephen  Burroughs,  of  notorious  fame,  made  that 
place  his  home.  He  was  a  man  of  versatile  talent,  but  a  counter- 
feiter, a  rake,  and  a  thoroughly  unprincipled  villain.  He  taught 
school  in  Charlton,  and  was  arrested  and  brought  to  court 
charged  with  gross  improprieties  towards  some  of  his  pupils. 
Mr.  Campbell  was  present  at  the  trial,  and  Judge  Robert  Treat 
Paine  severely  reproved  the  town  of  Charlton  for  hiring,  and 
Mr.  Campbell  for  countenancing,  Mr.  Burroughs.  Mr.  Campbell 
undertook  to  reply,  but  was  peremptorily  silenced  by  the  court. 
The  most  damaging  thing  to  be  said  of  Mr.  Campbell  is  that 
he  received  a  compliment  from  Burroughs,  who  wrote  that  he 
"  was  a  man  of  feeling,  and  had  expressed  his  natural  repugnance 
at  my  imprisonment."  How  much  occasion  Mr.  Campbell  had 
to  rue  the  day  that  made  this  bad  man  an  acquaintance  in  his 
family,  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  one  of  his  daughters 
named  her  son,  born  before  marriage,  Hiram  Burroughs.  Mr. 
Campbell's  eldest  son,  Archibald,  Jr.,  brought  a  similar  disgrace 
upon  the  family  name,  the  victim  being  his  own  cousin.  It  is 
not  therefore  strange  that  our  sorrow-stricken  minister,  whose 
influence  for  good  was  now  destroyed,  and  whose  heart  was 
burdened  by  a  triple  load  of  shame,  should  wish  to  leave  this 
second  scene  of  trouble  and  sorrow.  Accordingly,  at  his  own 
request,  he  was  dismissed  from  his  ministry  in  Charlton,  April  9, 
1793,  —  a  ministry  of  ten  unhappy  years.  He  did  not  have  the 
heart  to  settle  again,  though  he  lived  for  twenty-five  years  after- 
wards, preaching  occasionally  as  opportunity  offered. 

Mr.  Campbell's  failure  to  settle  again  was  from  no  loss  of  ability, 
and  from  no  decline  of  religious  interest.  There  is  evidence,  as 
we  have  said,  that  he  was  a  man  of  superior  gifts  as  a  preacher ; 
and  his  services,  but  for  his  family,  would  anywhere  have  been 
eagerly  sought.  By  great  good  fortune,  and  through  the  kind- 
ness of  the  Rev.  T.  S.  Hubbard,  of  Stockbridge,  Vt.,  the  writer 
has  in  his  possession  a  manuscript  sermon  by  Mr.  Campbell.     A 


THE   REV.  ARCHIBALD    CAMPBELL.  199 

portion  of  it  will  be  given  below.  It  shows  exceptional  ability 
of  composition  and  much  rhetorical  power.  Its  theology  is  anti- 
quated, for  its  doctrine  of  the  atonement,  which  represents  Christ 
as  actually  suffering  under  the  wrath  of  an  incensed  God,  long 
since  gave  way  to  a  more  rational  and  merciful  theory.  But  it 
is  full  of  feeling  and  power.  It  shows  a  heart  deeply  affected  by 
love  of  Christ,  and  thoroughly  permeated  and  possessed  with  a 
devout  and  adoring  faith.  The  first  page,  with  the  text,  is  miss- 
ing. The  following  selection  will  be  read  with  interest ;  and  it 
will  prove  that  the  troubles  that  had  poured  like  a  flood  upon 
him  had  not  weakened,  and  may  even  have  intensified,  his  faith 
and  love :  — 

"  He  whose  Dignity  is  unchangeable,  undevided,  and  all  his  own, 
he  vouchsafed  to  wear  a  Body  of  Clay  ;  he  was  content  to  appear  as 
a  Bloody  Eclipse,  shorn  of  his  Resplendant  Beams,  and  surrounded 
with  a  night  of  horror  which  knew  not  one  Reviving  Ray.  Thus  he 
has  impowered  his  Church  to  tread  the  world  under  her  feet,^  and 
inspired  with  the  hope  of  Brighter  glory,  of  more  enduring  Bliss,  to 
triumph  over  all  the  vain  anxieties  and  vainer  amusements  of  this  sub- 
lunary transitory  world.  He  who  has  the  ControU  of  the  Lightnings 
that  formerly  laid  in  ashes  the  Licentious  Abodes  of  Lust  and  Vio- 
lence, that  will  ere  long  set  on  fire  the  elements,  and  Co-operate  in  the 
Conflagration  of  the  globe  ;  He  Who  Directs  you  when  to  sally  and 
when  to  strike  ;  He  who  Commissions  your  whirling  bolts  whom  to 
kill  and  whom  to  spare,  —  He  Resigned  his  Sacred  Person  to  the  most 
Barbarous  indignities.  Submitted  his  Beneficent  hands  to  the  Ponder- 
ous hammer  and  the  Piercing  nail,  yea,  withheld  not  his  heart  from 
the  stab  of  the  executioners  spear;  and  instead  of  flashing  Confusion 
on  his  outrageous  tormenters,  instead  of  striking  them  Dead  to  the 
earth,  or  Plunging  them  into  the  Depths  of  Hell  with  his  power,  he 
Cried  in  his  last  expiring  moments,  and  with  his  agonizing  lips  he 
Cried,  '  Father,  Forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  Do  ! '  A 
Pattern  of  Patience  for  his  saints  !  What  an  object  of  admiration  for 
angels !  Hence  it  is  that  we  are  not  trembling  under  lightnings  of 
Mount  Sinai ;  that  we  are  not  blasted  by  the  flames  of  Divine  Vean- 
gence,  or  Doomed  to  Dwell  with  everlasting  burnings.  He,  instead 
of  Discharging  the  furiousness  of  his  wrath  upon  a  guilty  world, 
Poured  out  his  Prayers  and  Sighs,  Poured  out  his  veiy  soul  for 
me  and  my  fellow  transgressors,  that  by  Virtue  of  his_  inestimable 

1  Rev.  xii.  i. 


200  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Propitiation  the  overflowings  of  Divine  good-will  might  be  extended  to 
sinful  men,  that  the  skies  might  Pour  Down  righteousness,  and  peace 
with  her  Downy  wings  and  balmy  Blessings  might  Descend  and  dwell 
on  the  earth.  He  uttered  a  infantile  cry  in  the  stable,  and  strong 
expiring  groans  on  the  accursed  tree,  that  he  might  in  the  gentlest 
accents  whisper  peace  to  our  souls,  and  at  length  tune  our  Voices  to 
the  melody  of  heaven. 

"  He,  in  the  unutterable  bitterness  of  his  spirit,  was  without  any  Com- 
forting sense  of  his  almighty  father's  Pressence  ;  he,  when  his  bones 
were  burnt  up  like  a  fire  brand  with  the  flames  of  avenging  wrath,  had 
not  one  Drop  of  that  sacred  Consolation  which  on  many  of  his  af- 
flicted servants  has  been  Distilled  like  the  evenings  Dew  and  given 
songs  in  the  night  of  Distress,  that  from  this  unallayed  and  inconsole- 
able  anguish  of  our  all-glorious  Master  we,  as  from  a  well  of  salva- 
tion, might  Derive  large  Draughts  of  spiritual  Refreshment.  He 
through  all  his  life  was  arrayed  in  the  humble  garb  of  Poverty,  and 
at  his  exit  wore  the  gorgeous  garment  of  Contempt,  in-so-much  that 
even  his  own  familiar  friends,  ashamed  or  afraid  to  own  him,  '  hid  as 
it  were  their  faces  from  him  '  (Isa.  liii.  3),  to  teach  us  a  becoming 
Disdain  for  the  unsubstantial  and  transitory  glitter  of  all  worldly  vani- 
ties, to  introduce  us  in  Robes  brighter  than  the  tinges  of  the  Resplen- 
dant  arch,  even  in  the  Robes  of  his  own  immaculate  righteosness, 
to  introduce  us  before  that  august  and  venerable  throne  which  the 
Peacful  Rainbow  surrounds.  As  a  Pledge  of  inviolable  fidelity  and 
infinite  mercy  he  went,  all  meek  and  gentle,  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter 
for  us ;  and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearer  is  Dumb,  so  he  opened  not 
his  mouth.  Thus  are  we  instructed  to  bear,  with  Decent  magnanimity, 
the  various  assaults  of  adversity,  and  to  Pass  with  a  becoming  tran- 
quility of  temper  through  the  Ruder  blasts  of  injurious  treatment ; 
thus  are  we  Delivered  from  the  unutterably  fiercer  storms  of  incensed 
and  inexorable  justice,  from  the  fire,  the  Brimstone,  and  the  horrible 
tempest  which  will  be  the  final  Portion  of  the  ungodly.  He  in  his 
holy  humanity  was  arraigned  as  a  Criminal,  and  though  innocence 
itself,  yea  the  very  Pattern  of  Perfection,  was  Condemned  to  die  like 
a  Criminal,  like  the  most  execrable  Miscreant,  as  a  Nuisance  to  so- 
ciety, and  the  very  bane  of  the  Public  happiness  ;  he  was  hurried  away 
to  execution  and  hammered  to  the  gibbet,  that  by  his  Blood  he  might 
Prepare  a  Sovreign  Medicine  to  Cure  us  of  a  more  fatal  Distemper 
than  the  Pestilence  which  walketh  in  Darkness  or  Destroyeth  at  noon- 
day, that  he  might  himself  say  to  our  last  enemy,  '  O  Death,  I  will  be 
thy  Plague !  O  grave,  I  will  be  thy  Destruction  ! '  Yes,  the  King  of 
heaven  and  Controller  of  universal  nature,  when  Dwelling  in  a  taber- 


THE   REV.  ARCHIBALD    CAMPBELL.  20I 

nacle  of  Clay,  was  exposed  to  Chilling  Damps  and  smitten  by  sultry 
beams ;  the  stars  in  their  Midnight  watches  heard  him  Pray,  and  the 
sun  in  his  Meridian  fervors  saw  him  toil :  Hence  are  our  frozen 
hearts  Dissolved  into  a  mingled  flow  of  wonder,  love,  and  joy,  being 
Conscious  of  a  Deliverance  from  those  insufferable  flames,  which 
kindled  by  Divine  indignation  burn  to  the  lowest  hell.  Our  allglori- 
ous  and  everblessed  Creator's  head  was  encircled  with  the  thorny 
wreath,  his  face  was  Defiled  with  Contemelous  spitting,  and  his  Body 
bathed  in  a  bloody  sweat,  that  we  might  wear  the  Crown  of  glory  that 
fadeth  not  away.  All  the  waves  of  vengeance  and  wrath,  of  tribula- 
tion and  anguish  passed  over  his  crusified  body  and  his  agonizing 
soul,  that  we  might  emerge  from  those  Depths  of  misery,  from  that 
abyss  of  guilt  into  which  we  were  Plunged  by  Adam's  fall  and  more 
erritreavbly  sunk  by  our  own  transgressions  ;  that  at  last  we  might  be 
restored  to  that  happy  world  which  is  Represented  in  the  vision  of 
god  as  having  'no  sea'  to  Denote  its  perpetual  stability  and  undis- 
turbed serenity.  He  who  Blesses  the  labors  of  the  husbandman,  and 
enriches  your  well-tilled  plains  with  waving  harvests,  and  Calls  forth 
the  staff  of  life  from  your  furrows.  He  was  no  stranger  to  Corroding 
hunger  and  parching  thirst.  He,  alas  !  ate  the  Bitter  Bread  of  wo, 
and  had  plenteous  of  tears  to  Drink  ;  yes,  he  who  supplies  all  the 
fountains  and  currents  of  water  from  his  own  overflowing  and  inex- 
haustible liberality,  —  he,  when  his  nerves  were  racked  with  exquisite 
pain  and  his  Blood  inflamed  by  a  Raging  fever,  Cried,  '  I  thirst,'  and 
was  Denied  the  poor  refreshment  of  a  single  Drop  of  water  in  his 
great  and  last  extremity,  that  we  having  all-sufficiency  in  all  things 
might  abound  unto  evry  good  word  and  work  ;  that  we  might  partake 
of  Richer  Daintes  than  those  produced  by  the  fountains  or  the  Dew 
of  heaven,  or  that  proceed  from  the  fatness  of  the  earth  ;  that  we 
might  feed  on  the  hidden  manna  and  eat  the  Bread  which  giveth  life, 
eternal  life  to  the  world,  and  be  filled  with  the  fulness  of  spiritual 
Blessings  here  and  hereafter,  be  satisfied  with  the  fulness  of  joy 
which  is  at  god's  Right  hand  forevermore. 

"  Our  Allglorious  and  everblessed  Creator's  head  was  incircled 
with  a  thorny  wreath,  his  face  Defiled  with  spitting,  and  his  Body 
bathed  in  a  Bloody  sweat.  He  sunk  beneath  a  load  of  woes,  —  woes 
insupportable,  but  not  his  own,  when  he  took  our  inequities  upon 
himself  and  heaved  the  more  than  mountaneous  burden  from  a 
guilty  world.  He  when  sojourning  on  earth  had  no  Riches  but  the 
Riches  of  Disinterested  Benevolence  ;  had  no  ornament  but  the  or- 
nament of  unspotted  purity.  Poor  he  was  in  his  Circumstances 
and   mean    in  all    his   accommodations,   that  we  might   be   Rich   in 


202  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

grace  and  obtain  salvation  with  eternal  glory ;  that  we  might  in- 
habit the  new  Jerusalem,  —  that  splendid  City  whose  streets  are 
paved  with  gold." 

That  this  sermon  was  written  in  his  old  age  is  apparent  from 
this  sentence  :  "  For  me  the  author  of  all  blessings  became  a 
curse ;  for  me  he  hung  with  streaming  veins  upon  the  cross  ; 
for  me  his  bones  were  dislocated  and  his  flesh  was  torn.  O, 
may  I  in  my  little  sphere,  and  amidst  the  scanty  circle  of  my  ac- 
quaintance, at  least  whisper  these  glad,  transporting  tidings, — 
whisper  them  from  my  old  hearth  If  at  this  time  he  could  write 
with  such  feeling  and  power,  it  is  obvious  that  in  his  prime  he 
must  have  been  a  preacher  of  uncommon  rhetorical  ability  and 
fervent  religious  spirit.  The  latter  half  of  the  sermon  is  a 
touching  appeal  to  rouse  in  his  hearers  a  devout  and  ardent 
gratitude  to  the  Redeemer,  whose  sufferings  for  their  sakes  he 
so  vividly  portrays.  He  makes  a  feeling  allusion  to  the  "  chil- 
dren of  poverty,"  which  must  have  been  wrung  from  his  own 
hard  experience.  And  in  the  light  of  his  special  sorrows,  it  is 
truly  pathetic  to  read  these  words  :  "  If  God  pleases  to  with- 
hold or  take  away  the  affection  of  children,  never  presume  that 
thy  happiness  is  blasted  because  of  such  disappointment." 

Mr.  Campbell  was  fifty-seven  years  old  when  he  was  dismissed 
from  his  pastoral  charge  at  Charlton.  Few  ministers  find  a  new 
settlement  after  that  age  ;  in  these  days,  at  least,  their  ripe  ex- 
perience and  wisdom  count  little  against  the  desire  for  younger, 
fresher,  perhaps  brighter  men.  But  Mr.  Campbell  was  too  dis- 
couraged and  heart-broken  to  seek  another  parish.  We  hear  of 
him  for  a  little  while  at  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  and  it  is  said  he 
preached  a  year  at  Alstead,  New  Hampshire.  He  made  his  home 
for  some  time  with  his  brother,  Capt.  William  Campbell,  of  Put- 
ney, Vermont.  There  he  might  be  seen  walking  on  the  street, 
dressed  in  his  small  clothes,  with  silver  knee  and  shoe  buckles, 
and  wearing  a  cocked  hat,  —  the  same  kind  of  costume  he  had 
worn  in  Easton.  He  finally  made  his  home  in  Stockbridge, 
Vermont,  preaching  when  he  had  opportunity.  He  was  there 
as  early  as  1802,  for  at  that  time  he  deeded  a  piece  of  land  in 
that  place  to  his  daughter  Sophia. 

One  day  a  Mr.  Littlefield,  of  Easton,  was  travelling  on  horse- 
back in  Vermont,  and  coming  to  a  pond   he  stopped  his  horse 


THE   REV.  ARCHIBALD    CAMPBELL. 


203 


to  let  him  drink.  A  short  distance  away  he  saw  an  old  man 
sitting  upon  a  rock,  fishing.  He  entered  into  conversation  with 
him,  and  when  he  told  him  that  he  lived  in  Easton,  Mass.,  the 
old  man  looked  up  with  sudden  interest,  and  with  much  feeling 
said  :  "  Easton  was  once  my  home.  My  name  is  Campbell  ;  I 
used  to  preach  there ;  but  they  were  cruel  and  drove  me  away, 
and  ruined  me."  Poor  old  man !  In  the  bitterness  of  his  soul 
it  was  a  relief  to  ascribe  to  others  the  ruin  that  had  been  brought 
upon  him  by  his  own  family. 

His  cup  was  nearly  full.  His  wife  and  one  son  and  daughter 
had  disgraced  him  ;  another  son  was  feeble-minded.  And  now 
to  the  darkness  of  his  soul  was  added  the  darkness  of  bodily 
sight ;  he  became  blind  !  What  could  be  more  deplorable  }  He 
was  once  the  pride  of  his  father's  heart,  carefully  educated,  of 
excellent  gifts,  with  the  prospect  of  a  brilliant  and  happy  future  ; 
and  here  he  was  at  last,  feeble,  penniless,  and  blind, — failure 
behind  him,  unhappy  remembrances  tormenting  him.  So  he 
dragged  out  his  weary  days  to  the  end.  Occasionally  he 
preached  even  after  he  was  blind,  being  led  into  the  pulpit  by 
some  one,  and  having  his  hymns  and  Scripture  lesson  com- 
mitted to  memory.  During  these  latter  days  he  lived  with  and 
was  mainly  supported  by  a  grandson,  Mr.  William  Demmond,  in 
Stockbridge,  who  had  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Archibald 
Campbell,  Jr.  The  Rev.  Archibald  Campbell's  wife  died  May 
24,  18 14,  and  his  lot  must  have  thenceforth  been  a  little  easier. 
Kindly  death  came  at  last  to  give  rest  to  his  troubled  spirit,  and, 
let  us  hope,  to  open  his  blind  eyes  to  the  light  of  everlasting 
day.  He  breathed  his  last  July  15,  18 18,  eighty-two  years  old. 
His  remains  were  placed  by  the  side  of  those  of  his  wife,  on 
Stockbridge  Common.  There  are  these  two  graves  unmarked 
as  yet,  still  possibly  able  to  be  identified,  but  soon  destined,  we 
fear,  to  be  forgotten. 

Of  Mr.  Campbell's  family  little  further  need  be  said.  Of  his 
first  child,  Susanna,  little  is  positively  known,  except  that  on 
August  24,  1763,  she  was  baptized  by  her  father.  The  writer 
of  this  history  has  corresponded  with  a  person  in  Stockbridge 
who  knew  the  daughter  Sophia,  and  who  says  the  other  daughter 
"married  a  shoemaker  and  went  west."  This  other  daughter 
must  have  been  Susanna.     The  son  Barnard  was  deficient   in 


204 


HISTORY  OF   EASTON. 


intellect ;  he  knew  enough  to  steal  a  horse,  but  not  enough 
to  escape  being  hung  for  the  theft.  Two  children,  John  and 
Hannah,  had  the  good  fortune  to  die  young, — John  dying  at  five 
years  of  age,  and  Hannah  at  three.  Their  remains,  doubtless, 
have  mingled  with  the  dust  in  unmarked  graves  in  the  old  ceme- 
tery in  Easton.  The  son  Archibald,  before  he  was  sixteen 
years  old,  served  for  two  short  campaigns  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  guilty  of  gross  immorality 
at  Charlton  ;  married,  however,  and  had  two  children,  —  Bar- 
nard, born  August  17,  1788,  and  Martha,  born  March  22,  1792. 
His  wife  then  dying,  he  deserted  his  children,  who  were  brought 
up  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  their  grandfather ;  and  afterward 
he  enlisted  in  the  army,  serving  under  General  Wayne.  Accord- 
ing to  records  at  Washington,  he  is  credited  with  such  service, 
but  nothing  shows  that  he  received  any  pay.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  last  heard  of  in  1803.  There  was,  however,  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts service  from  181 1  to  1813,  inclusive,  an  Archibald  Camp- 
bell, who  occupied  the  position  and  secured  the  pay  of  Brigade 
Quartermaster.  The  name  is  so  uncommon  that  it  seems  quite 
probable  that  this  may  have  been  the  Archibald  Campbell,  Jr., 
of  whom  we  are  now  writing.  He  disappears  from  the  list  of 
paid  officers  in  181 3.  The  only  other  child  was  Sophia.  We 
are  glad  to  be  able  to  record,  that,  notwithstanding  the  eccen- 
tricities and  misdeeds  of  earlier  days,  she  finally  settled  down 
and  married,  and  lived  a  penitent  and  Christian  life.  She  mar- 
ried Walter  Pollard,  who  was  in  some  military  service,  probably 
that  of  1812-1814.  He  died  at  Stockbridge,  July  27,  1857,  aged 
83  years,  the  same  age  as  Sophia.  She  outlived  him  and  re- 
ceived a  small  pension,  and  was  also  helped  by  the  town.  One 
who  was  acquainted  with  her,  and  with  whom  the  writer  has 
corresponded,  says  of  her,  "  She  was  one  of  the  nicest  old  ladies 
I  ever  knew."  By  lowly  repentance,  and  by  a  life  of  fruits  meet 
for  repentance,  she  atoned  for  the  past,  and  at  last,  with  faith 
in  redeeming  love,  she  joined  the  forgiven  and  the  blest. 

Thus  closes  the  strange  and  sad  story  of  the  Rev.  Archibald 
Campbell  and  his 'wayward  and  eccentric  family.  While  his 
troubles  began  with  his  own  misconduct,  he  was  a  man  "  more 
sinned  against  than  sinning."  With  the  one  exception  named, 
the  writer,  after  the  most  diligent  and  patient  search,  has  found 


i 


THE    REV.  ARCHIBALD    CAMPBELL.  205 

no  stain  upon  his  record,  and  no  act  that  could  cause  him  to 
blush  with  shame.  But  his  experience  illustrates  the  inexo- 
rable truth,  so  often  and  vividly  developed  in  the  writings  of 
George  Eliot,  that  some  early  departure  from  the  strict  line  of 
rectitude  may  involve  evil  consequences  that  seem  immensely 
out  of  proportion  to  the  error  or  guilt  incurred,  or  to  the 
punishment  originally  deserved, 

VVe  cannot  do  better  than  to  close  this  chapter  with  a  poem 
written  by  Mr.  Campbell,  and  copied  by  him  upon  the  last  page 
of  the  sermon  from  which  selections  have  already  been  made. 
It  shows  considerable  poetic  talent,  and  seems  a  fitting  epitome 
of  his  own  sad  experience. 

"THE   VALE    OF    TEARS." 

In  visions  which  are  not  of  night,  a  shadowy  vale  I  see. 

The  Path  of  Pilgrim  tribes  who  are,  who  have  been,  or  shall  be. 

At  either  end  are  lowering  clouds  impervious  to  the  sight, 

And  frequent  shadows  veil  through  out  each  gleam  of  Passing  light. 

A  Path  it  is  of  joys  and  griefs,  of  many  hopes  and  fears, 

Gladdened  at  times  by  sunny  smiles,  but  oftener  Dimmed  by  tears. 

Green  leaves  are  there,  —  they  quickly  fade  ;  bright  flowers,  but  soon  they  Die  ; 

Its  Banks  are  laved  by  pleasant  streams.  But  soon  their  Bed  is  dry. 

And  some  that  Roll  on  the  last  with  undiminished  force 

Have  lost  that  limpid  purity  which  graced  their  early  source ; 

They  seem  to  Borrow  in  their  flow  the  tinge  of  Darkening  years, 

And  ev'n  their  mournful  murmuring  sound  befits  the  vale  of  tears. 

Pleasant  that  valley's  opening  scenes  appear  to  Childhood's  view, — 

The  flowers  are  Bright,  the  turf  is  green,  the  sky  above  is  blew; 

A  Blast  may  Blight,  a  beam  may  scorch,  a  Cloud  may  intervene, 

But  lightly  marked  &  soon  forgot,  they  mar  not  such  a  scene ; 

Fancy  still  paints  the  future  Bright,  and  hope  the  present  cheers, 

Nor  can  we  Deem  the  path  we  tread  leads  through  a  vale  of  tears. 

But  soon,  too  soon,  the  flowers  that  Decked  our  earthly  pathway  side 

Have  Drooped  and  withered  on  their  stalks,  and  one  by  one  have  Died  ; 

The  turf  by  noontide's  heat  is  seared,  the  sky  is  overcast, 

There  's  thunder  in  the  torrent's  tone,  and  tempest  in  the  Blast. 

Fancy  is  but  a  phantom  found,  and  hope  a  Dream  appears, 

And  more  and  more  our  hearts  confess  this  life  's  a  vale  of  tears. 

Darker  and  Darker  seems  the  path,  how  sad  to  journey  on 

When  hands  and  hearts  which  gladdened  ours  appear  forever  gone  ! 

Some  Cold  in  Death,  and  some,  alas  !  we  fancied  could  not  Chill, 

Living  to  self  and  to  the  world  to  us  seem  colder  still. 

With  mournful  Retrospective  glance  we  look  for  brighter  years. 

But  tread  with  solitary  steps  the  thorny  vale  of  tears. 


2o6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

EASTON   IN   THE   REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

Difficulties   with  the   Mother   Country.  —  Eastox    Discourages 

THE    USE    of    "FORRIN    SUPERFLUITIES."  —  EASTON     "DAUGHTERS    OF 

Liberty."— The  "Lexington  Alarm." — Enlistments  in  1775.— 
Enlistments  in  1776. —  Rhode  Island  "Alarms."  —  Enlistments 
IN  1777  and  1778.  —  Easton  Men  at  Valley  Forge.  —  Later 
Enlistments.  —  Continental  Currency  and  its  Depreciation. — 
Tories.  —  Biographies  of  Easton  Military  Officers:  Captains 
Elisha  Harvey  and  James  Keith  ;  Colonel  Ariel  Mitchell  ;  Cap- 
tains James  Perry,  Matthew  Randall,  Josiah  Keith,  Macey 
Williams,  Seth  Pratt,  and  Ephraim  Burr. —  Brigadier-General 
Benjamin  Tupper  and  Major  Anselm  Tupper. 

THE  difficulties  with  the  Mother  Country  which  finally  cul- 
minated in  the  Revolutionary  War  date  back  eleven 
years  before  that  memorable  struggle  began.  In  1763  the 
colonies  were  fervently  attached  to  England  and  the  English 
Constitution.  In  1764,  however,  contrary  to  the  judgment  of 
William  Pitt  and  some  of  the  liberal  minds  of  England,  it  was 
decided  to  levy  taxes  on  the  colonies  in  order  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  long  war  which  had  just  closed.  This  policy  roused 
the  opposition  of  this  country,  our  people  taking  the  just  ground 
that  taxation  without  representation  was  a  dangerous  form  of 
oppression.  The  colonists  were  not  allowed  to  export  their  pro- 
ducts to  any  country  except  England.  Sheep-raising  and  weav- 
ing woollen  cloth  were  discouraged  by  an  Act  of  Parliament 
which  forbade  the  exportation  of  wool,  or  even  its  transportation 
across  the  line  of  one  province  into  another.  They  were  not 
allowed  to  print  a  Bible,  and  none  was  printed  here  until  after 
the  land  became  free.  In  this  land  of  the  beaver,  no  one  could 
be  a  hatter  who  had  not  served  an  apprenticeship  of  seven  years. 
The  duties  on  imports  were  largely  increased.  What  brought 
the  matter  closely  home  to  the  people  of  Easton  was  the  fact  that 
slitting-mills  and  forges,  of  which  there  were  several  here,  were 
pronounced  by  this  same  Act  to  be  "  nuisances." 


EASTON  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.     207 

And  now,  most  odious  of  all,  the  Stamp  Act,  which  had  re- 
ceived the  royal  sanction  March  22,  1765,  was  on  the  ist  of 
November  to  go  into  effect.^  The  act  was  not  of  itself  espe- 
cially severe.  It  merely  provided  that  deeds,  notes,  marriage 
certificates,  and  other  legal  documents  should  be  written  on 
stamped  paper,  —  the  money  for  the  sale  of  this  paper  going  to 
the  Government.  What  caused  the  intense  excitement  about  it 
in  the  colonies  was  that  it  involved  the  unjust  principle  of  taxa- 
tion without  representation.  The  excitement  of  course  extended 
to  Easton.  One  curious  indication  of  this  — an  indication  also 
that  our  townsmen  were  not  entirely  unanimous  on  the  subject- 
may  be  seen  in  the  "Boston  Gazette  "  of  December  23,  1765. 
It  is  as  follows  :  — 

"We  hear  from  Easton,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  that  a  certain  justice 
of  the  peace  in  said  town  in  conversation  said  that  he  would  not  give 
the  price  of  his  black  dog  to  prevent  the  Stamp  Act's  taking  pltce. 
Accordingly  he  had  the  mortification  to  find  his  black  dog  shot  the 
next  morning." 

The  Stamp  Act  could  not  be  enforced  in  the  colonies,  and  on 
the  nineteenth  day  of  March,  1766,  its  repeal  was  reluctantly 
signed  by  the  king. 

In  1767  new  and  severe  taxes  were  levied.  They  were  not  to 
be  collected  until  the  20th  of  November.  On  the  28th  of  Octo- 
ber the  people  of  Boston,  in  town-meeting  assembled,  voted  to 
avoid  the  importation  and  use  of  a  great  number  of  articles  of 
British  manufacture.  They  appointed  a  committee  to  secure 
the  co-operation  of  the  other  towns  of  the  Province  and  of  the 
other  colonies.  Easton  was  appealed  to,  and  made  a  quick 
response  by  summoning  its  voters  to  town-meeting  on  the  six- 
teenth day  of  November,  "  to  act  their  minds  relating  to  the 
Defeculty  the  Province  labours  under,"  etc.  At  this  meeting  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  consider  the  best  plan  of  action. 
This  committee,  which  consisted  of  Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  Capt. 
Benjamin  Williams,  Lieut.  Matthew  Hayward,  Benjamin  Pettin- 
gill,  and  Henry  Howard,  made  their  report  at  an  adjourned 
meeting,  which  was  held  on  the  7th  of  December.  The  follow- 
ing business  was  enacted  :  — 

1  See  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States,  vol.  v.  p.  265  et  seq. 


2o8  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


"  Whareas  this  Province  labours  under  a  heavey  Debt  in  curd  in  the 
course  of  the  late  Ware,  and  the  inhabitance  by  that  means  must  be 
subjected  to  very  Burdensum  taxes,  and  our  medeum  very  scarce, 
chiefly  Ocationd  by  the  excessive  Use  of  forrin  Superfluities  and  the 
Neglect  of  cultivating  and  improving  the  Natural  advantages  of  our 
own  Country, —  therefore  Voted  that  the  Town  will  take  all  Prudant  & 
legal  measurs  to  Promote  industry,  Oeconeme,  and  manufactors,  and 
to  lessen  the  Use  of  forrin  Superfluities  by  industreously  cultivating 
and  improving  the  Natural  advantages  of  our  own  Country.  The 
above  Was  Voted  Unanimusly."  ^ 

The  importation  of  British  goods  was  thus  greatly  discouraged. 
People  determined  to  forego  their  use  as  much  as  possible. 
Threadbare  clothes  became  fashionable.  The  noise  of  spin- 
ning-wheels and  shuttles  was  heard  in  our  homes.  "Every  day 
the  humor  spread  for  being  clad  in  homespun."  One  great  sav- 
ing was  that  made  at  funerals.  A  singular  custom  had  prevailed 
of  giving  away  great  numbers  of  mourning  gloves,  handkerchiefs, 
ribbons,  etc,  to  those  who  attended  funerals.  The  following 
from  the  "  Boston  Gazette"  of  December  14,  1767,  will  show  how 
Boston  started  a  reform  in  this  particular :  — 

"The  practice  of  the  Town  relative  to  Funerals  is  to  give  Gloves 
only  to  Bearers  and  Ministers ;  to  make  Use  of  no  other  Mourning  for 
the  nearest  Relations  than  a  Weed  in  the  Hat  for  Men,  and  a  black 
Bonnet,  Gloves,  Ribbons,  and  Handkerchiefs  for  Women.  Fifteen 
Hundred  or  Two  Thousand  Pair  of  British-made  Gloves  have  been 
given  or  rather  thrown  away  at  one  Funeral  before  the  new  practice 
took  Place ;  and  such  Families  in  Boston  as  then  expended  ;^ioo 
Sterling  or  ^150  Sterling  on  those  occasions,  now  expend  scarcely  ^8. 
What  a  Saving  will  there  be  to  the  Province  in  this  grand  particular !  " 

In  order  to  make  up  for  the  deficiency  of  imported  goods, 
associations  of  patriotic  ladies  were  formed  in  many  towns  to 
spin  and  knit  and  weave.  These  associations  called  themselves 
"  Daughters  of  Liberty."  Sometimes  they  met  at  the  house  of 
the  minister,  working  the  entire  day,  and  leaving  the  results  of 
their  labor  as  a  gift  to  the  minister's  wife.  In  the  Boston  papers 
of  that  period  there  were  many  accounts  of  such  gatherings. 

^  Old  Town  Records,  vol.  ii.  p.  58. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


209 


One  can  easily  imagine  how  animated  must  have  been  the 
scene,  where  the  busy  hum  of  spinning-wheels  and  the  lively 
sound  of  many  voices  made  music  the  whole  day  long.  At 
Bridgewater  the  Daughters  of  Liberty  adopted  the  plan  of 
doing  the  work  at  home,  and  carrying  the  results  of  their  labor 
to  the  minister's  house  afterwards.  Easton  had  its  associa- 
tion of  these  Daughters,  and  they  adopted  the  same  plan  as 
that  of  their  sisters  of  Bridgewater.  In  the  "  Boston  Gazette '.' 
of  October  24,  1774,  was  published  the  following  interesting 
account : — 

"  We  hear  from  Easton  that  on  Thursday  the  13th  Instant  53  of 
the  amiable  Daughters  of  Liberty  met  at  the  House  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Campbell,  about  One  O'clock  in  the  Afternoon,  and  presented  Mrs. 
Campbell  with  Two  Hundred  and  Eighty  Skeins  of  Cotton,  Linnen, 
Worsted,  Woolen,  and  Tow  Yarn,  likewise  some  pieces  of  Cloth,  Stock- 
ings, 8zc. ;  then  they  all  Walked  in  Orderly  Procession  to  the  Meeting- 
House,  where  a  sermon  was  Preached  suitable  to  the  Occasion  by 
their  Rev.  Pastor ;  and  after  Divine  Service  they  return'd  in  the  same 
orderly  Procession  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell's  House,  where  they 
pleasantly  regail'd  themselves  with  Cakes,  Cheese,  and  Wine,  and  then 
they  seasonably  retir'd  to  their  respective  Families.  The  whole  was 
Conducted  with  the  greatest  Decency  and  good  order ;  every  Counte- 
nance indicated  a  Noble  Spirit  for  Liberty  and  the  promotion  of  our 
own  Manufactures." 

The  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  directed  the 
people  of  the  Province  to  perfect  themselves  in  military  skill, 
and  each  town  to  provide  a  stock  of  arms  and  ammunition. 
Accordingly  Easton  at  once  called  a  town-meeting,  and  voted 
the  sum  of  twenty-four  pounds  sterling  "  to  purchase  a  stock  of 
powder,  bullets,  and  flints  for  the  town."  This  was  Novem- 
ber 15,  1774.  The  two  military  companies  of  the  town  were 
equipped,  and  there  was  constant  practice  in  military  drill. 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.,  had  begun  the  manufacture  of  firearms 
at  what  is  now  called  the  Marshall  place,  and  the  need  of  the 
two  Easton  companies  in  this  particular  was  therefore  readily 
supplied.  The  conviction  was  daily  growing  stronger  that  war 
was  inevitable,  and  the  winter  was  spent  in  making  ready  for 
the  emergency. 

14 


2IO  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


A.D.    1775. 

The  towns  of  the  Province  were  urged  by  the  Provincial 
Congress  to  have  men  ready  to  take  the  field  at  a  moment's 
notice.  In  response  to  this  appeal  of  the  Boston  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  Easton  took  the  following  formal  action  :  — 

"  At  a  Town  meating  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Easton  on 
Munday  the  3d  day  of  April,  a.d.  1775,  the  Town  made  choice  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Gilbert  moderator  for  sd  meating;  then  the  Town  voted  to 
Rais  fifty  minute  [men],  twenty-five  out  of  each  Military  Company  in 
sd.  Easton;  then  the  town  voted  that  the  said  minit  men  should  be  Paid 
for  the  time  they  should  be  cauld  fourth  to  action  against  an  Enemie  ; 
then  the  meating  Was  Dismist." 

No  one  foresaw  how  soon  these  men  would  be  called  into 
active  service.  On  the  night  of  the  i8th  of  April,  1775,  eight 
hundred  British  troops  crossed  in  boats  from  the  foot  of  Bos- 
ton Common  to  East  Cambridge,  and  about  midnight  began 
their  march  to  Concord  to  destroy  the  military  stores  which 
had  been  collected  there.  Secret  as  the  movement  was,  it 
did  not  escape  the  vigilance  of  the  watchful  patriots.  Signal 
lights  were  hung  from  the  tower  of  the  North  Church,  and 
Paul  Revere  and  others  hastened  to  spread  the  alarm  to  the 
neighboring  towns.  The  memorable  fight  at  Lexington  and 
Concord,  and  the  disastrous  retreat  of  the  British  on  the 
19th  are  well-known  incidents  in  our  glorious  Revolutionary 
struggle. 

It  was  just  past  midday  when  a  galloping  horseman  came 
dashing  through  the  town  of  Easton,  bringing  to  our  people 
the  starthng  intelligence  that  the  Middlesex  farmers  had  fired 
the  first  shot  for  Independence  !  Messengers  hurried  imme- 
diately to  every  part  of  the  town  calling  the  minute  men  to 
arms,  and  before  nightfall  two  companies,  numbering  respec- 
tively forty-seven  and  fifty  men,  were  on  their  way  to  the 
scene  of  action.  Late  in  the  day  the  company  commanded 
by  Captain  Abiel  Mitchell  was  seen  marching,  to  the  stirring 
music  of  fife  and  drum,  along  the  old  Stoughton  turnpike.  It 
is  fitting  that  the  names  of  our  ancestors  of  Easton  who  took 
part  in   the   memorable  struggle   that   made  our  country  free. 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


211 


should  be  handed  down  to  posterity.  The  following  is  the 
"  Muster  Roll  of  Capt.  Abial  Mitchell  who  was  down  at  the 
Alarm  "  :  ^  — 


Abiel  Mitchell,  Captain. 

Jacob  Leonard,  Lieutenant. 

Silas  Kinsley,  Ensign  (died  May  19). 

Matthew  Randall,  Sergeatit. 

Daniel  Niles,  Sergeatit. 

Dominicus  'Record,  Sergeant. 

Seth  Manley,  Corporal. 

Jonah  Fobes,  Corporal. 

Benjamin  Kinsley,  Corporal. 

Samuel  Stone,  Jr.,  Corporal. 

John  Mears,  Drtcinmer. 

Seth  Watkins,  Fifer. 

Parmenas  Ames. 

William  Adams. 

William  Lawson. 

Jacob  Phillips. 

Silas  Phillips. 

Amasa  Phillips. 

Henry  Howard. 

Hezekiah  Drake. 

David  Dunbar. 

Noah  Drake. 

Nathaniel  Packard. 

Thomas  Fling. 


Joseph  Hayward. 
Isaac  Lincoln. 
Roger  Conant. 
Jonah  Drake. 
Zachariah  Drake. 
John  Holmes. 
Alexander  Keith. 
William  Lindsey. 
Nehemiah  Randall. 
James  Randall. 
John  Randall. 
Hopestill  Randall. 
Jonathan  Harris. 
Simeon  Keith.- 
Joseph  Drake,  y"^  3d. 
John  Stone. 
William  Pratt. 
James  Packard. 
Daniel  Fobes. 
John  Woodcock. 
Nathan  Woodcock. 
Oliver  Phillips. 
Ephraim  Randall. 


This  company  was  mainly  from  the  east  part  of  the  town. 
Another,  commanded  by  Capt.  Macey  Williams,  immediately  fol- 
lowed, and  going  by  the  old  Bay  road  took  up  their  night  march 
for  the  scene  of  action.     Their  names  are  as  follows  :^  — 


Macey  Williams,  Captain. 
Josiah  Keith,  Lietitenant. 
Elijah  Howard,  Ensign. 
David  Keith,  Sergeant. 
Jonathan  Pratt,  Setgeant. 
William  Randall,  Setgeant. 
Ebenezer  Woods,  Sergeant. 
Clement  Drake,  Corporal. 
Isaac  Fuller,  Corporal. 
Seth  Littlefield,  Corporal. 


Samuel  Gilbert,  Corporal. 
Jonathan  Keith,  Drummer. 
John  Dunbar. 
Francis  Goward. 
Marlborough  Williams. 
Seth  Williams. 
Jacob  Allen. 
Joseph  Hanks. 
John  Woods. 
Francis  Woods. 


^  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xiii.  p.  16. 


-  Ibid.,  p.  160. 


2J2  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Daniel  Woods.  John  Williams. 

William  Bonney.  David  Clarke. 

Joshua  Stearns.  Edward  Williams. 

Edward  Kingman.  Ammiruhami  Kimball. 

Benjamin  Kingman.  Paul  Lincoln. 

Lewis  Gilbert.  Amariah  Wood. 

Amasa  Record.  Anthony  Hayward.^ 

Ebenezer  Bruce.  Nathan  Gibbs. 

Nathaniel  Gilbert.  Seth  Keith. 

Phineas  Allen.  Stephen  Thayer. 

Lemuel  Andrews.  Thomas  Drake. 

Ebenezer  Bisbee.  Stoughton  Willis. 

Edward  Keith.  Zephaniah  Lothrop. 

Matthew  Keith.  Benjamin  Merrifield. 

Elijah  Williams.  John  Dailey. 

The  battles  of  Lexington  and  Concord  were  over,  and  the 
British  soldiers  had  retreated  to  Boston  before  our  two  Eas- 
ton  companies  arrived  upon  the  scene.  They  remained  in  the 
field  from  seven  to  eleven  days,  when  it  appeared  that  the 
immediate  emergency  was  over,  and  they  returned  home.  It 
was  now  the  28th  of  April.  On  the  4th  of  May  a  town- 
meeting  was  held.  It  was  voted  that  the  committee  of  inspec- 
tion should  be  a  committee  of  correspondence  also.  These 
"  committees  of  correspondence  and  safety "  were  appointed 
at  the  suggestion  of  that  sturdy  patriot  Samuel  Adams,  and 
they  rendered  efficient  service  in  keeping  the  several  towns 
informed  of  the  state  of  affairs,  and  in  pointing  out  to  them 
the  manner  in  which  they  could  best  aid  the  great  cause  of 
liberty.  The  soldiers  who  responded  to  the  Lexington  alarm 
having  returned,  enlistments  of  men  for  three  and  six  months' 
service  were  encouraged.  The  town  voted  at  this  meeting 
to  supply  with  blankets  those  who  enlisted.  The  Easton  men 
who  enlisted  at  this  time  were  mainly  in  the  companies  of 
Capt.  Francis  Luscomb,  of  Taunton,  and  Capt.  Macey  Wil- 
liams, of  this  town.  Some,  whose  names  are  given  below, 
were,  however,  in  other  companies.  Captain  Luscomb  formed  a 
company,  upon  the  muster-roll  of  which  appear  the  following 
Easton  names  :^  — 

^  This  Anthony  Hayward  was  a  slave,  the  property  of  Matthew  Hayward. 
'^  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xv.  p.  57;    Military  Papers,  vol.  Ivi. 
p.  141  ;    Coat  Rolls,  vol.  i.  p.  141. 


f 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


21 


Matthew  Randall,  Lietitenant. 
Seth  Pratt,  Ensign. 
Daniel  Niles,  Sergeant. 
Dominicus  Record,  Sergeant. 
Seth  Manley,  Corporal. 
Jonah  Fobes,  Corporal. 
Samuel  Stone,  Corporal. 
John  Mears,  Drjim  6r»  Fife. 
William  Adams. 
Simeon  Burr. 
Joseph  Drake,  y'=  3d. 
David  Dunbar. 
Noah  Drake. 
Simeon  Keitly.  t 
Isaac  Lincoln, 
William  Lawson. 
Oliver  Lincoln. 
Abiah  Manley. 
Samuel  Manley. 

John  Woodcock. 


Silas  Phillips. 
Amasa  Phillips. 
William  Pratt,  y^  3d. 
James  Packard. 
Ebenezer  Phillips. 
Hezekiah  Drake. 
Ebenezer  Dickerman, 
Daniel  Fobes. 
Henry  Hovi^ard. 
Bartimeus  Hevvett. 
Joseph  Hanks. 
John  Holmes. 
Jonathan  Harris. 
Solomon  Randall. 
Nehemiah  Randall. 
John  Stone. 
James  Stone. 
John  Turner. 
David  Taylor. 


Of  this  company,  John  Turner  died  July  30,  Joseph  Hanks 
September  2d,  John  Woodcock  the  nth,  and  Jonathan  Harris 
the  19th  of  the  same  month  ;  and  Daniel  Niles,  November  2. 
Captain  Luscomb's  company  served  for  six  months,  beginning 
May  3,  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  which  was  then  held  by  the 
British. 

Capt.  Macey  Williams's  company  was  enlisted  about  the  same 
time  and  for  the  same  service.  The  names  of  the  Easton  men 
in  this  company  are  as  follows  :  ^  — 


Macey  Williams,  Captain, 

Lemuel  Gilbert,  Sergeant. 

Marlborough  Williams,  Corporal. 

Unite  Keith,  Fifer. 

Lewis  Gilbert. 

Elijah  Williams. 

Matthew  Keith. 

Clement  Drake. 

Jacob  Thayer. 

Stephen  Thayer. 

Ebenezer  Gibbs. 

Moses  Downe. 


Daniel  Wood. 
Thomas  Willis. 
Ebenezer  Vining. 
Jonathan  Knapp. 
Joshua  Stearns. 
Ruel  Keith. 
Nathan  Gibbs. 
Seth  Williams. 
Zephaniah  Lothrop. 
Timothy  Gilbert. 
Japheth  Keith. 


^  State    Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xvi.  p.  80  ;    Military  Papers,  vol.  Ivi. 
p.  137  ;  Coat  Rolls,  vol.  i.  p.  37. 


214 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Of  this  company  Matthew  Keith  died  September  21,  1775. 
It  will  be  observed  that  most  of  the  men  in  these  two  companies 
were  among  those  who  went  out  on  the  Lexington  alarm.  Their 
names  are  given  here  because  they  served  at  this  time  from  three 
to  six  months.  They  were  in  the  twenty-second  regiment,  com- 
manded by  Col.  Timothy  Walker.  Easton  furnished  four  other 
captains  during  this  year ;  two  of  them  were  in  Col.  Paul  D. 
Sargent's  regiment.  They  had  in  their  companies  but  few 
Easton  men,  whose  names  are  given  below  :  ^  — 

James  Keith,  Captain.  David  Keith.  Nehemiah  Keith. 

Another  company^  contained  — 

James  Perry,  Captain.  David  Mehurin. 

John  Woods,  Corporal.  Nathan  Gibbs. 

Cornelius  Gibbs.  William  Hayward. 

In  the  same  regiment,  and  in  a  company  of  which  Frederic 
Pope  was  captain,  were  the  following  Easton  men  :^  — 

Elijah  Turner,  Sergeant.  Hugh  Washburn. 

Robert  Hill,  Corporal.  Jonah  Drake. 

Nathaniel  Packard.  Seth  Drake. 
Nathaniel  Stone. 

One  of  these  men,  Nathaniel  Packard,  died  September  10. 
In  another  company,  commanded  by  Capt.  John  Porter,  were 
the  following  :^  — 

Isaac  Fuller,  Lieutenant.  Benjamin  Hanks. 

Oliver  Mann,  Corporal.  Abraham  Howard. 

John  Freelove.  James  Manley. 
Oliver  Phillips. 

James  Manley  died  November  22.  In  Captain  Badlam's  com- 
pany, of  Colonel  Gridley's  regiment,  was  Seth  Watkins.^  In 
Captain  Curtis's  company,  of  Col.  Ephraim  Leonard's  regiment, 
was  Anthony  Hayward.*^  Moses  Hayward  enlisted  in  Capt. 
Daniel    Lothrop's    company,    of    Col.    John  Bailey's    regiment.^ 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xv.  p.  49.         2  Jbid.,  p.  87. 

8  Ibid.,  vol.  xvi.  p.  5.  «  Ibid.,  p.  16.  ^  Ibid.,  vol.  Ivi.  p.  267. 

6  Ibid.,  p.  18.  T  Ibid.,  p.  53. 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  21 5 

The  names  of  the  Easton  volunteers  already  noted  comprise  all 
who  served  from  this  town  during  the  year  1775- 

Those  enlisting  after  the  Lexington  alarm,  and  those  for  the 
eight  months'  service,  were  entitled  to  a  coat  as  bounty.  After 
their  return  they  sent  in  their  orders  for  the  coats.  The  follow- 
ing are  copies  of  orders  of  that  kind:  — 

Mr.  Richard  Devins,  Paymaster : 

Sir,  —  I  desire  you  to  let  Hopestill  Randall  the  bearer  hereof  have 
the  coat  [for  uniform],  or  cash  or  both,  that  is  due  to  my  late  husband 
Sergt.  Daniel  Niles,  who  deceased  Nov.  2nd,  1775  i  ^"<i  ^^  ^^^  belong 
to  Capt.  Luscomb's  company  under  Colonel  Walker. 

,'  administratrix 
Elizabeth  x  Niles  >  of 

mark  )       ^^^  estate.^ 

Easton,  December  y<=  26,  a.  d.  1775. 

Accompanying  this  paper  was  the  following  :  — 
To  the  Committee  of  Cloathifig  at  Watertown : 

This  may  Certify  that   Elizabeth  Niles    hath  taken  out  letters  of 

administration  on  the  estate  of  her  late  husband  Daniel  Niles,  who 

deceased  on  the  2d  day  of  last  Nov. ;  and  we  look  upon  it  that  she  has 

a  right  to  draw  the  coat  money. 

Timothy  Randall  )  Selectmen  of 

Ephraim  Randall  )     Easton? 
Easton,  January  y^  13th,  1776. 

"Solomon  Randall,  Amasa  Phillips,  Bartimeus  Hewett,  William 
Adams,  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Easton  in  Capt.  Luscomb's  Co., 
&  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  a  coat  each  from  David  Manley,  of 
Easton." 

£  s.  d. 
Two  coats  :  three  yards  &  half  at  seven  eights  wide  ...  2  5  4 
Two  coats :  three  yards  &  quarter  at  seven  eights  wide  ..228 

Francis  Luscomb,  Capt. 
Matthew  Randall,  Lieut ^^ 
RoxKURY  Camp,  Nov.  ye  14,  1775. 

Concerning  the  fate  of  Daniel  Niles,  alluded  to  above,  there 
is  something  very  interesting  stated  in  the  N.  E.  Historical  and 

1  State  Archives,  Military  Papers,  vol.  Ivii.  p.  14.  ^  Ibid.,  p.  14. 

"*  Ibid.,  p.  14. 


2i6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Genealogical  Register  for  1856.  At  this  date  there  was  stand- 
ing at  the  intersection  of  Austin  and  South  streets,  in  Jamaica 
Plain,  a  house  known  as  the  Commodore  Loring  Mansion.  It 
was  built  in  1760,  and  was  confiscated  and  used  as  a  hospital 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  Daniel  Niles  was  sick  in  this 
hospital,  with  some  of  his  companions.  Those  who  died  were 
buried  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  behind  the  hospital.  In  1856 
there  were  about  thirty  graves  still  to  be  seen  ;  but  among  all 
the  head-stones  at  the  place  there  was  only  one  that  showed 
the  mark  of  the  graver's  tool,  and  in  this  the  carving  was  well 
executed,  and  read  as  follows:  — 

"  Here  lies  y'^  Body  of  serg*  Dan!  Niles,  of  Easton, 
who  died  Nov?  y*"  a""*  a.  d.,  1775.     Aged  41  years."  ^ 

In  the  same  company  with  Sergeant  Niles  were  four  compan- 
ions from  Easton,  who  died  about  the  same  time,  —  John  Turner, 
Joseph  Hanks,  John  Woodcock,  and  Jonathan  Harris.  It  is 
probable  that  their  remains  lie  beside  those  of  their  comrade, 
but  in  unmarked  graves. 

Throughout  this  eventful  year  of  1775,  the  design  of  separat- 
ing from  the  Mother  Country  had  not  developed  except  in  the 
minds  of  some  of  the  boldest  and  most  far-seeing  of  the  patriots, 
like  Samuel  Adams.  Our  town-meetings  continued  to  be  called 
"in  his  Majesty's  name."  It  was  not  until  May,  1776,  that  this 
phrase  was  dropped,  and  our  people,  knowing  that  the  die  was 
cast,  issued  their  warrants  for  town-meetings  "  in  the  name  of 
the  government  and  people  of  Massachusetts'  Bay."  During 
1775  Eliphalet  Leonard  and  Benjamin  Pettingill  represented  the 
town  in  "  Congress,"  —  by  which  is  meant  the  "  Provincial  Con- 
gress" of  Massachusetts,  as  the  General  Court  was  several  times 
called. 

A.  D.    1776. 

It  is  now  the  year  1776.  Boston  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
British,  and  is  closely  beleaguered  by  the  American  forces 
commanded  by  Washington.  Little  is  being  done  during  the 
winter  months  in  the  way  of  active  operations,  and  most  of  the 
Easton  militia  return  to  their  homes.     At  a  town-meeting  of 

^  N.  E.  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  1856,  p.  23. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  21 7 

February  21,  a  committee  is  appointed  to  take  charge  of  such  of 
the  "  Poor  of  Boston  "  as  were  in  this  town.  The  passage  of  the 
Boston  Port  Bill  in  March  1774,  preventing  that  town  from  being 
a  port  of  entry,  had  paralyzed  business  and  caused  great  distress. 
Many  of  the  country  towns,  including  our  own,  received  numbers 
of  those  thus  impoverished,  or  of  refugees  who  left  Boston  on 
its  occupation  by  the  British,  and  kindly  supplied  their  needs. 
The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety  at  this  time  are 
Maj.  Abial  Mitchell,  Benjamin  Pettingill,  Jacob  Leonard,  Joshua 
Phillips,  Samuel  Guild,  and  George  Ferguson. 

In  the  next  March  meeting  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
and  Safety  who  are  chosen  are  Joshua  Phillips,  Seth  Pratt,  Lem- 
uel Willis,  Joseph  Gilbert,  Thomas  Manley,  Jr.,  Abisha  Leach, 
and  Edward  Hayward.  One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  encoun- 
tered by  General  Washington  was  that  of  securing  ammunition. 
In  order  to  assist  in  its  supply,  Easton  votes  that  this  committee 
shall  '  Incorage  the  manufacturin  of  Sault  Peter  in  this  town." 
March,  17,  owing  to  the  skilful  occupation  and  fortification  of 
Dorchester  Heights  by  Washington,  the  British  were  forced  to 
evacuate  Boston  in  haste.  In  the  following  June,  on  the  first 
anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  a  notable  town-meeting 
was  held  in  Easton.  It  was  voted  that  "If  the  Honerable  Con- 
tinantal  Congress  for  the  safety  of  the  United  Colonies  Declare 
them  indepandent  of  Great  Breton,  we  ingage,  Even  at  the 
Resque  of  life  and  fortin,  to  do  Whatever  is  in  our  Power  to 
Soport  them  in  sd.  measure."  And  before  the  citizens  met 
again,  the  famous  Declaration  of  Independence  was  adopted. 
July  17  it  was  ordered  in  Council  that  a  copy  of  the  same  be 
sent  to  every  minister  of  each  denomination  in  the  Province,  to 
be  read  to  the  various  congregations  on  the  first  Sunday  after 
its  reception,  as  soon  as  divine  service  was  ended  in  the  after- 
noon. It  was  a  most  interesting  occasion  when,  on  the  following 
Sunday,  the  Rev.  Archibald  Campbell,  the  minister  of  Easton  at 
that  time,  read  that  heart-stirring  document  to  an  eagerly  listen- 
ing audience,  many  of  whom  heard  it  then  for  the  first  time. 
Every  one  saw  that  a  long  and  desperate  struggle  of  the  feeble 
colonies  with  a  powerful  nation  was  inevitable.  It  was  also 
ordered  by  the  Council  that  after  the  reading  of  this  document 
each  minister  should  hand  it  to  the  town-clerk,  who  should  copy 


2i8  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

it  in  full  into  the  town  records.  This  was  done  here,  the  town- 
clerk  who  proudly  performed  that  office  being  Matthew  Hayward. 

Great  exertions  were  made  to  prepare  our  militia  for  active  ser- 
vice. Benjamin  Pettingill  was  sent  to  Providence,  and  Colonel 
Mitchell  elsewhere,  for  powder.  Ephraim  Randall,  one  of  the 
selectmen,  made  two  journeys  to  Watertown  to  procure  blankets. 
Capt.  Zephaniah  Keith  was  delegate  to  the  General  Court  at 
Cambridge. 

At  the  beginning  of  1776,  Capt.  James  Perry  raised  a  com- 
pany of  men  for  active  service.  Among  them  were  the  following 
Easton  men  :  ^  — 

James  Perry,  Captain.  Edward  Kingman. 

Nathaniel  Perry,  Sergeant.  Cornelius  Gibbs. 

Francis  Woods.  Robert  Owen. 

Timothy  Gilbert.  Seth  Macomber. 

Ebenezer  Gibbs.  John  Dailey. 

Thomas  Gibbs.  Jacob  Thayer. 
Japheth  Keith. 

These  men  enlisted  for  three  months,  and  afterwards  re- 
enlisted.  Edward  Kingman  was  killed  near  Stillwater,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1777. 

In  Capt.  Daniel  Lothrop's  company,  of  Colonel  Craft's  regi- 
ment of  artillery ,2  there  were  Seth  Watkins,  corporal^  and  William 
Adams,  gunner. 

In  Capt.  Isaac  Thayer's  company,  of  Col.  Thomas  Marshall's 
regiment,  William  Randall  was  lieutenant.^ 

Three  drafted  men  were  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Joshua  Wil- 
bore,  in  Col.  Ebenezer  Francis's  regiment.*  Their  names  were 
Daniel  Keith,  Joab  Willis,  and  Henry  Farr. 

In  Capt.  Simeon  Leach's  company,  in  Colonel  Gill's  regiment 
"  that  marched  to  the  assistance  of  the  Continental  troops  when 
they  fortified  the  Heights  of  Dorchester,"  there  were,  March  24, 
1776,  Joseph  Belcher  and  Benjamin  Crosswell.^  This  Belcher 
was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher.  The  son  Joseph  was 
living  at  Stoughton.  Benjamin  Crosswell  was  afterward  known 
as  "Priest"  Crosswell.     He  lived  near  the  Stoughton  line,  east 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xlvii.  p.  236. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  x.xxviii.  p.  90.  3  ibid.,  vol.  xxv.  pp.  91,  113. 
*  Ibid.,  vol.  xxiv.  p.  8.  6  ibid__  yoj.  xx.  p.  186. 


il 


EASTON  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.     219 

of  Washington  Street.  He  enlisted  again  April  18,  in  Capt. 
Robert  Swan's  company,  of  Stoughton,  for  twenty-four  days' 
service  in  Rhode  Island.^ 

Although  the  British  had  evacuated  Boston  in  March,  troops 
were  kept  on  duty  in  and  about  the  place  during  the  war. 
In  June  and  July  Matthew  Randall,  who  had  risen  from  the 
rank  of  ensign  to  that  of  captain,  had  a  company  encamped 
at  Hull,  and  afterward  at  Castle  Island.  The  Easton  men 
in  it  were^  — 

Matthew  Randall,  Captain.  Elijah  Pratt. 

John  Holmes,  Sergeant.  Solomon  Randall. 

John  Mears,  Driiimner.  John  Simons. 

John  Allen.  Shion  Turner. 

Seth  Burr.  David  Taylor. 

William  Grossman.  Jacob  Williams. 

Daniel  Dailey.  Fortune  Conking.  ^ 

Josiah  Jordan.  William  Hayward. 

Jacob  Keith.  William  Turner. 

Isaac  Lincoln.  Nathan  Finney. 

Abiah  Manley.  Rufus  Smith. 

Daniel  Macomber.  William  Lawson. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1776,  the  customary  congregation 
had  gathered  in  the  Easton  meeting-house.  There  were  moist 
eyes  when  the  minister,  Mr.  Campbell,  prayed  for  the  country, 
and  especially  for  those  who  had  gone  from  this  place  to  fight  its 
battles.  He  had  begun  his  sermon,  when  in  the  distance  was 
heard  the  hurried  clatter  of  horse's  hoofs.  It  came  nearer  and 
nearer.  The  minister  paused,  and  the  congregation  waited 
breathless  for  what  they  felt  must  be  evil  tidings,  and  might  be 
news  of  immediate  danger.  The  horseman  drove  to  the  door, 
jumped  from  his  saddle,  and  alarmed  the  people  assembled  by 
saying  that  the  British  had  landed  at  Newport,  and  that  every 
one  must  march  immediately  to  oppose  their  progress.  With 
a  few  words  of  earnest  exhortation  the  minister  dismissed  the 
congregation,  nearly  all  the  able-bodied  of  whom  hurried  home 
to  make  ready  for  the  march.  Before  the  day  was  over  the  two 
companies  of  militia,  commanded  respectively  by  Capt.  Matthew 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  iii.  p.  156. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  xxii.  p.  185;  vol.  x.xiii.  p.  72;  vol.  xxv.  p.  43. 

3  Probably  a  Slave. 


2  20 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Randall  and  Capt.  Josiah  Keith,  were  hurrying  toward  the  scene 
of  action. 

It  seems  that  two  English  and  two  Hessian  brigades,  under 
the  command  of  General  Clinton,  had  come  from  New  York, 
and  on  the  7th  of  December  had  taken  possession  of  Newport.^ 
Rhode  Island  could  offer  no  adequate  resistance,  and  therefore 
the  militia  was  summoned  from  the  other  New  England  colonies 
in  order  to  prevent  an  invasion  of  the  country,  should  that  be 
attempted.  It  was  said  that  the  enemy  intended  to  march  to 
Boston  by  way  of  Providence.  From  this  time  for  three  years, 
as  we  shall  see,  there  were  continual  alarms,  and  a  good  deal  of 
what  is  called  "  Rhode  Island  service  "  for  the  militia  of  the 
vicinity.  The  British  were  closely  watched  all  the  time,  and 
there  were  occasional  skirmishes  of  an  unimportant  character. 
The  two  companies  that  went  from  here  served  until  the  end  of 
the  month.  The  following  is  the  list  of  names  that  were  on  the 
pay-roll  of  Captain  Randall's  company,  in  Col.  George  Williams's 
resriment  :^  — 


Matthew  Randall,  Captai7i. 

Seth  Pratt,  Lieutenant. 

Edward  Hayward,  2d,  zd  Lieutenant. 

Dominicus  Record,  Clerk. 

Benjamin  Kinsley,  Sergeant. 

Thomas  Drake,  Sergeant. 

Lemuel  Willis,  Sergeant. 

Samuel  Manley,  Sergeant. 

Robert  Drake,  Corporal. 

Abner  Randall,  Corporal. 

John  Stone,  Corporal. 

Abner  Phillips,  Cot'poral. 

John  Mears,  Drummer. 

Parmenas  Ames. 

Jarvis  Randall. 

David  Dailey. 

Henry  Farr. 

Jonathan  Randall. 

William  Pratt. 

Elijah  Pratt. 

Shion  Turner. 

Reuben  Manley- 


Samuel  Stone. 
John  Randall. 
Joseph  Drake,  ye  3d. 
Benjamin  Fobes. 
Thomas  Fling. 
Daniel  Fobes. 
Edward  Hayward. 
David  Dunbar. 
Benjamin  Drake,  y''  3d. 
Ebenezer  Hayward. 
Ebenezer  Hanks. 
John  Lothrop. 
James  Packard. 
Rufus  Smith. 
Hugh  Washburn. 
John  Cameron. 
Alexander  Burt. 
Samuel  Mears. 
Thomas  Randall. 
Hopestill  Randall. 
Samuel  Packard. 
Joseph  Hayward. 


1  Bancroft's  United  States,  vol.  ix.  p.  200. 

2  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  iii.  p.  114. 


EASTON   IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  221 

William  Lindsey.  Isaac  Lincoln. 

Nathan  Woodcock.  David  Taylor. 

William  Lawson.  Zachariah  Drake. 

Francis  Drake.  Fortune  Conking. 

The  second  company  which  marched  the  same  day  was  Cap- 
tain Keith's,  in  Col.  John  Daggett's  regiment,  as  follows  :^  — 

Josiah  Keith,  Captain.  William  Howard. 

David  Keith,  Lieu/enant.  Isaac  Lothrop. 

Lemuel  Andrews,  Sergeant.  Nathan  Lothrop. 

Phineas  Allen,  Sergeant.  Edmund  Macomber. 

William  Bonney,  Sergeant.  Ichabod  Randall. 

Alexander  Keith,  Sergeant.  Job  Randall. 

Edward  Williams,  Corporal.  Jesse  Randall. 

George  Ferguson,  Corporal.  •                     John  Williams. 

Daniel  Macomber,  Corporal.  Macey  Williams. 

Benjamin  Pettingill,  Jr.,  Corporal.  Abijah  Felch. 

Zebediah  Kinsley,  Fifer.  Pendleton  Britton. 

Elijah  Copeland,  Driunmer.  Samuel  Keith. 

Benjamin  Pettingill.  John  Britton. 

Philip  l>ritton.  Jacob  Williams. 

Elisha  Dean.  Francis  Woods. 

Nathan  Finney.                     '  Joseph  Woods. 

A  mar  i  ah  Woods. 

In  addition  to  those  already  named  as  in  the  Rhode  Island 
service  for  this  occasion  were  John  Keith  and  Freeman  Keith, 
who  were  drafted  into  Capt.  Isaac  Hodges's  company,  in  Colonel 
Francis's  regiment.^  Benjamin  Pettingill,  Jr.,  also  served  in 
this  company,  as  well  as  in  that  last  named. 

In  the  company  of  Capt.  Eliakim  Howard,  in  Col.  Edward 
Mitchell's  regiment  that  marched  to  Braintree,  March  4  of  this 
year,  there  were  from  Easton^  David  Wade,  William  Hanks, 
Joshua  Howard,  and  Simeon  Keith. 

In  a  list  of  death-records  kept  by  Timothy  Randall  a  century 
ago  is  the  following  record:  "  Ebenezer  Smith,  Deceased  with 
Sickness  Sepr.  23,  1776,  at  Ticonderoga,  in  the  army."  On  the 
State  muster-rolls  Ebenezer  Smith  is  named  as  ensign  in  Jan- 
uary, 1776,  at  Ticonderoga;  he  was  in  Captain  Marshall's  com- 
pany, of  Col.  Asa  Whitcomb's  regiment.     In   October  he  was 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  ii.  p.  135. 

•^  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.  p.  86.  ^  ibid.,  vol.  xi.\.  p.  216. 


222  HISTORY  OF   EASTON. 


promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant,  and  before  December  fol- 
lowing he  was  made  first  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Noah  Allen's 
company.  This  does  not  agree  with  the  Randall  death-record 
just  quoted,  which  is  evidently  an  error  as  to  date. 

A.  D.    1777. 

On  the  28th  day  of  February  the  selectmen  and  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  and  Inspection  held  a  meeting  in 
order  to  fix  the  prices  of  labor  and  of  all  articles  of  merchan- 
dise. This  action  was  authorized  by  an  act  of  the  General 
Court,  and  seemed  justified  by  the  fluctuation  of  prices  at  the 
time,  and  by  the  advantage  which  was  taken  of  this  fluctua- 
tion by  covetous  persons.  According  to  the  schedule  of  prices 
then  adopted,  farm  labor  might  vary  from,  but  could  not  ex- 
ceed, two  or  three  shillings  a  day,  according  to  the  season  of 
the  year.  Wheat  was  set  at  seven  shillings  and  six  pence, 
corn  at  four  shillings,  rye  at  five,  and  oats  at  two  shillings  a 
bushel.  "Good  grass-fed  beef"  was  six  pence  a  pound,  cheese 
six,  and  butter  ten  pence ;  pork  four  pence  half-penny,  milk 
two  pence  a  quart,  veal  three  pence  a  pound,  mutton  and  lamb 
three  pence  half-penny.  Beans  were  six  shillings  a  bushel, 
turnips  one  shilling  six  pence;  "good  Spanish  Petatoes"  were 
one  shilling  and  four  pence  in  the  fall,  and  one  and  eight 
pence  in  the  spring.  "  Good  Marchantable  Westindia  Rum 
at  seven  shillings  ten  pence  half-penny  per  galon,  and  so  in 
proportion  according  to  the  usual  custom  for  any  smaller  quan- 
tity ; "  New  England  rum  was  four  shillings,  eight  pence,  and 
two  farthings.  "  Shewing  a  hors,  well  stealed  heel  and  too, 
five  shillings  and  four  pence  ;  and  shewing  a  pare  of  Oxen  ten 
shillings."  Good  meadow  hay  was  two  shillings  a  hundred  ; 
good  English  hay,  three  shillings  a  hundred.  For  making  a 
pair  of  men's  shoes,  two  shillings  and  six  pence  might  be 
charged ;  for  men's  neats  leather  shoes,  seven  shillings  and 
four  pence  a  pair  ;  for  women's  shoes  six  shillings.  Women's 
work  by  the  week  was  set  at  three  shillings  and  four  pence. 
Many  other  prices  were  designated,  but  a  sufficient  number 
have  been  quoted  here. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Inspection  for  this 
year  were  Capt.   Matthew  Randall,  Jacob   Packard,   Dominicus 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  223 

Record,  Joseph  Gilbert,  and  Abijah  Felch.  Fifty  pounds  ster- 
ling were  appropriated  "  to  purchase  firearms  for  a  town  stock, 
to  supply  the  poor  of  the  town  therewith."  Powder  was  brought 
from  Watertown  and  Stoughton.  At  a  town-meeting  of  Sep- 
tember 15  it  was  "Voted  that  those  Parsons  who  have  Received 
Powder,  haul,  or  flints  out  of  the  town  Stock,  and  dont  return 
the  same  before  the  next  assessment,  shall  be  assesed  for  the 
same  over  and  above  their  Proportion  of  the  other  expense 
of  the  town  at  the  following  rate :  Powder  at  five  shillings 
Pr  Pound,  flints  at  one  shilling  Pr  Doson,  lead  at  two  shil- 
lings Pr.  Pound." 

Twenty  pairs  of  shoes,  stockings,  and  mittens  were  purchased 
for  the  soldiers.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  provide  for  sol- 
diers' families,  some  of  whom  were  quite  destitute. 

In  March  of  this  year  the  following  men  were  enlisted  by 
Ephrain  Burr,  enlisting  officer:^  — 

Eliphalet  Beebe.  Jonah  Drake.  Abiah  Manley. 

Ezra  Gustin  [Justin  ?]  Amasa  Phillips.  Daniel  Wood. 

John  Stock. 

In  September  men  were  enlisted  for  what  is  called  "  a 
secret  expedition."  This  expedition  probably  refers  to  an  at- 
tempt which  was  made  in  October  to  dislodge  the  British  in 
Rhode  Island.  Nine  thousand  men  were  gathered  from  vari- 
ous quarters  in  the  most  secret  and  expeditious  manner  pos- 
sible, to  join  in  the  attack.  The  attempt  was  delayed  by 
storms  and  by  the  inefficiency  of  General  Spencer,  who  was 
in  command.  These  delays  disaffected  the  troops,  and  many 
withdrew ;  nearly  half  of  them  had  left  before  the  night  as- 
signed for  the  attempt.  A  council  of  officers  then  decided  that 
it  was  inexpedient  to  make  the  attack,  and  the  expedition  was 
abandoned.^  Thirty-two  Easton  men  enlisted  for  this  "  secret 
expedition." 

On  the  muster-roll  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Shaw's  company,  in 
Col.  George  Williams's  regiment,  for  September,  1777,  are  the 
following  Easton  names  of  men  who  were  in  this  service  :^  — 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xlii.  pp.  313,  319. 
^  See  Arnold's  History  of  Rhode  Island,  vol.  ii.  p.  408. 
3  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  iii.  p.  129. 


m 


224 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


Edward  Hayward,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Abiel  Williams,  -^d Lieutenant. 

Thomas  Randall,  Sei'geant. 

Abiel  Kinsley,  Corporal. 

William  Hayward. 

Joseph  Hayward. 

Reuben  Manley. 

Nathan  Randall. 

Ephraim  Randall. 

Isaiah   Randall. 

Samuel  Ripley. 

Benjamin  Hanks. 

Nathan  Woodcock. 

David  Taylor. 


Samuel  Stone. 
Nehemiah  Washburn. 
Richard  Mayberry. 
Daniel  Dailey. 
Samuel  Packard. 
Daniel  Keith. 
Ephraim  Niles. 
Simeon  Keith. 
Thomas  Lincoln. 
William  Makepeace. 
Seth  Makepeace. 
Joseph  Drake. 
Nathaniel  Britten. 


On  the  muster-roll  of  Capt.  Edward  Blake's  company  "  which 
marched  from  Taunton  on  a  secret  expedition,  September  29, 
1777,"  and  which  was  discharged  October  29,  the  following  are 
from  Easton  :  ^  — 


Jonathan  Pratt,  2d  Lieutenant. 
Phineas  Allen,  Sergeant. 
William  Britton. 
Pendleton  Britton. 
Clement  Drake. 
Abijah  Felch. 
Ruel  Keith. 
Isaac  Lathrop. 
Jonathan  Mehurin. 


James  Packard. 
Job  Randall. 
Amasa  Record. 
Nathan  Record. 
Isaac  Randall. 
John  Williams. 
Joseph  Woods. 
Joseph  Gilbert. 
Edmund  Andrews. 


On  this  same  expedition  there  were  in  Capt.  Thomas  New- 
comb's  company,  in  Col.  Theophilus  Eaton's  regiment,  the 
followinof  Easton  men  :^  — 


Zachariah  Watkins,  Lieutenant. 
Jonathan  Burr. 
Jonah  Fobes. 
Isaiah  Hayward. 


Alexander  Keith. 
Noah  Drake. 
William  Hanks. 
Thomas  Mears. 


On  the  muster-roll  of  Capt.  Abiel  Clapp's  company,  in  Colonel 
Carpenter's  regiment,  were  the  following  Easton  men  who 
marched  to  Rhode  Island,  July  24,  1777,  and  were  in  service 
one  month  and  four  days  :^  — 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xlvii.  p.  257. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.  p.  22.  ^  Ibjd.^  vol.  xviii.  p.  127. 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 


225 


David  Keith,  zd  Lieitienant.  Samuel  Guild. 

Thomas  French.  Bethuel  Hack. 

Ichabod  Fuller.  Unite  Keith. 

Thomas  Gibbs.  Nathan  Record. 

Cornelius  Gibbs.  Jacob  Williams. 
Edward  White. 

Capt.  Ebenezer  Dean  had  a  company  in  Col.  Thomas  Car- 
penter's regiment,  who  served  for  a  while  at  Bristol  and  Provi- 
dence during  this  year.  There  were  in  this  company  nine  men 
from  Easton  :  ^  — 


Seth  Pratt,  Lietiteiiant. 
John  Holmes,  Sergeant. 
Azel  Kinsley,  Flfer. 


Seth  Burr. 
Lot  Drake. 
William  Hayward. 


Simeon  Keith. 
Josiah  Manley. 
Ziba  Randall. 


In  Capt.  Robert  Swan's  company,  of  Stoughton,  in  Col.  Ben- 
jamin Gill's  regiment,  Benjamin  Croswell  served  for  twenty-four 
days  in  the  Rhode  Island  campaign  for  this  year.  He  had 
marched  to  Dorchester  Heights  in  another  Stoughton  company 
in  March,  1776. 

A.  D.  1778. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Inspection  for  1778 
was  Abijah  Felch,  Elijah  Howard,  Jacob  Macomber,  Nehemiah 
Howard,  Abiel  Mitchell,  Dominicus  Record,  and  William  Lind- 
sey.  Mindful  of  the  destitution  of  our  Easton  soldiers  in  re- 
gard to  clothing  at  Valley  Forge  during  the  previous  winter, 
the  town  chose  a  committee  to  provide  shirts,  shoes,  and  stock- 
ings "for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  in  the  Contenantal  armey  that 
went  from  and  for  the  Town  of  Easton."  Several  town-meet- 
ings were  held  in  order  to  settle  a  difficulty  that  had  arisen 
between  the  captains  of  the  two  militia  companies  in  town, — 
Capt.  Matthew  Randall,  and  Capt.  Josiah  Keith.  It  was  found 
that  there  were  four  men  whose  names  appeared  on  both  muster- 
rolls,  so  that  the  quota  required  of  the  town  lacked  four  of  being 
full.  The  selectmen  and  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  pe- 
titioned the  General  Court  to  appoint  a  committee  to  consider  the 
matter,  which  was  done.  The  appointment  of  Brig.-Gen.  George 
Godfrey  as  one  of  this  committee  was  unsatisfactory  to  the  west 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  .wiii.  p.  18S. 
15 


226  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


company,  whose  officers  petitioned  for  the  appointment  of  a  new 
committee.  In  answer  to  this  petition,  Col.  Benjamin  Gill,  of 
Stoughton,  and  Capt.  Barnabas  Howard,  of  Bridgewater,  were 
added  to  the  committee,  and  it  was  voted  that  the  decision  of  this 
committee  be  final.  The  result  of  their  decision  was  the  assign- 
ment of  two  of  these  men  to  each  company.    The  following  is  the 

"  Memorandum  of  Agreemejit  between  Capt.  MattJieiu  Randall  and  Capt. 
Josiah  Keith,  the  Captens  of  the  two  military  Companies  in  Easton. 

"  Where  as  there  has  been  a  Dispute  between  the  two  Captens  with 
regard  to  foure  Continantal  Soldiers  that  have  been  returned  by  both 
of  the  said  Captens,  —  namely,  Henry  Hewett,  Lemuel  Turner,  Asa 
Phillips,  and  Charles  Ranney,  —  it  is  Mutually  agread  by  the  Parties 
that  Captain  Randall  shall  hold  Henry  Hewett  and  Lemuel  Turner, 
and  Captain  Keith  is  to  hold  Asa  Phillips  and  Charles  Ranney ;  and 
it  is  further  agread  that  if  any  fines  or  forfitures  shall  accrew  to  the 
town  in  Consequence  of  the  neglect  of  either  of  the  sd  Captens  with 
regard  to  raising  their  Cota  of  soldiers  for  the  armey  when  cauled  on 
for  the  same,  sd  expence  shall  be  borne  by  that  part  of  the  Town 
where  the  Neglect  shall  bee." 

Many  causes  conspired  to  make  it  more  and  more  difficult  to 
raise  soldiers.  Great  exertions  were  put  forth  and  large  boun- 
ties offered  for  men  to  enlist  in  the  army.  In  consequence 
of  these  efforts,  and  because  of  the  need  of  troops  so  near 
home  as  Rhode  Island,  there  were  many  enlistments  during  the 
year,  as  will  be  seen  by  what  follows. 

It  was  during  this  winter  of  1 777-1 778  that  our  devoted  army 
underwent  those  terrible  privations  and  hardships  at  Valley  Forge 
which  make  the  history  of  that  season  so  heart-rending.  Insuffi- 
ciently supplied  with  food,  half  clothed,  many  of  them  without 
shoes,  so  that  their  steps  on  the  snow  made  bloody  footmarks,  it  is 
truly  amazing  that  the  army  did  not  disband.  Nothing  prevented 
this  but  their  devoted  attachment  to  Washington,  and  their  ar- 
dent love  of  liberty.  Easton  had  not  many  soldiers  at  Valley 
Forge,  but  there  were  at  least  twenty-three.  They  were  in  "  Capt. 
Ephraim  Burr's  company  in  the  ist  regiment,  Col.  John  Bailey  of 
Mass.  Bay  troops  in  the  Continental  service,  in  camp  near  Valley 
Forge,  January  24,  1778.  "  ^     Their  names  are  as  follows  :  — 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  x.  p.  85. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


227 


Ephraim  Burr,  Captain. 
Silas  Phillips,  Sergeant. 
Japheth  Keith,  Corporal. 
Eliphalet  Beebe. 
Benjamin  Brazier. 
John  Colwell. 
Nathan  Conant. 
William  Desilvia. 
Jonah  Drake. 
Joseph  Green. 
Ezra  Gustan  [Justin  ?] 


Henry  Howard. 
Abiah  Manley. 
John  Parker  [Packard .?] 
Amasa  Phillips. 
Asa  Phillips. 
Charles  Ranney. 
John  Sheperd. 
Ephraim  Smith. 
John  Stock. 
Lemuel  Turner. 
James  Woods. 


Of  these  the  following  deserted  :  Benjamhi  Brazier,  John  Col- 
well, John  Sheperd,  James  Woods,  —  none  of  them,  however, 
natives  of  Easton.  The  terrible  sufferings  to  which  they  were 
exposed  are  some  extenuation  for  this  act.  Amasa  Phillips 
died  June  18,  1778,  at  or  near  Philadelphia.  Joseph  Green  was 
a  mulatto.  Nathan  Conant  was  from  Concord,  Mass.,  but 
served  for  Easton.  Charles  Ranney  was  one  of  several  British 
prisoners  of  war  who  were  quartered  upon  the  town  of  Easton. 
Rather  than  live  a  prisoner  he  preferred  to  enlist  in  the  Ameri- 
can army.  The  prisoners  alluded  to  evidently  belonged  to  a 
Highland  regiment  ;  their  names  were  Donald  Grant,  Philip 
Chambers,  James  Simms,  Duncan  Stewart,  Alexander  McKey- 
sey,  James  Anderson,  and  Charles  Ranney.  Philip  Chambers 
enlisted  afterwards,  and  died  in  the  Continental  service. 

The  occupation  of  Rhode  Island  by  the  British  still  con- 
tinued. There  being  danger  of  an  invasion  from  that  quarter, 
Congress  earnestly  recommended  the  New  England  States  to 
keep  up  the  force  in  Rhode  Island.  The  town  of  Easton  made 
a  noble  response  to  this  appeal.  The  east  company  of  militia, 
Matthew  Randall,  captain,  served  in  Col.  John  Daggett's  regi- 
ment for  three  months,  beginning  January  i,  1778.  The  fol- 
lowing names  appear  on  the  pay-roll  of  said  company  :  1  — 


Matlhew  Randall,  Captain. 
Nathan  Hack,  \st  Lieutenant. 
John  Godfrey,  zd  Lieutenant. 
Lemuel  Willis,  Sergeant. 
Simeon  Smith,  Sergeant. 
Nathaniel  Pratt,  Sers^eant. 


Nathaniel  Leonard,  Sergeant. 
Robert  Drake,  Corporal. 
Ephraim  Richmond,  Corporal. 
Ebenezer  Woodward,  Corporal. 
John  Presbury,  Corporal. 
Azel  Kinsley,  Fifer. 


^  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  iii.  p.  117. 


228 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


John  Mears,  Drummer. 
James  Andrews. 
James  Ball. 
Samuel  Burt. 
Rufus  Cobb. 
Jolin  Cochran. 
Adam  Drake. 
Benjamin  Drake. 
Hezekiah  Drake. 
David  Dunbar. 
Rufus  Godfrey. 
Ebenezer  Hanks. 
Joel  Harvey. 
Rufus  Harvey. 
Samuel  Hayward. 
Samuel  Hoskins. 
Aaron  Knapp. 
Daniel  Lincoln. 
Levi  Lincoln. 
Thomas  Mitchell. 
Jabez  Nevvland. 
Seth  Pitts. 


Daniel  Pratt. 
John  Pratt. 
William  Pratt. 
Ephraim  Randall. 
Hopestiil  Randall. 
Isaiah   Randall. 
Isaiah  Reed. 
John  Simons. 
Alexander  Smith. 
Job  Smith. 
Josiah  (?)  Smith. 
Laban  Smith. 
Amos  Stacy. 
James  Stacy. 
Job  Stacy. 
Elijah  Tiiayer. 
Jonathan  Thayer. 
Elijah  Turner. 
Hugh  Washburn. 
Timothy  White. 
John  Willis. 
Ephraim  Wood. 


The  following  persons  served  for  three  months  at  Providence, 
beginning  December  30,  1777  :^  — 


William  Bonney. 
Elijah  Copeland. 
Francis  Goward. 


Zebediah  Kinsley. 
Paul  Lincoln. 
Edmund  Lothrop. 


Ichabod  Randall. 
Stephen  Tiiayer. 
Thomas  Williams. 


The  following  Easton  men  enlisted  for  six  weeks'  service  in 
Rhode  Island,  in  Capt  Ichabod  Leonard's  company  of  Col. 
Thomas  Carpenter's  regiment.^  The  enlistment  was  made  in 
July. 


Seth  Pratt,  Lieutenant. 
William  Cole,  Sergeant. 
John  Lothrop,  Corporal. 
Azel  Kinsley,  Fifer. 
Ebenezer  Dickerman. 
Adam  Drake. 
Hezekiah  Drake. 
Lot  Drake. 


Bartimeus  Hewett. 
Bethuel  Kinsley. 
Solomon  Lothrop. 
Josiah  Manley. 
John  Nichols. 
John  Phillips. 
Ziba  Randall. 
Simon  Record. 


1  Easton  Town  Treasurer's  First  Book,  p.  9S. 

2  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  ii.  p.  1S3. 


EASTON  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.     229 

Of  these  men,  Bethuel   Kinsley,  after  serving  for  twenty-nine 
days,  died. 

Those  who  are  named  above  as  having  enhsted  during  this 
year  did  not  see  very  much  hard  service.  Before  the  year  was 
over,  however,  there  was  some  desperate  fighting  done,  es- 
pecially at  the  battle  of  Rhode  Island.  Some  of  the  men  who 
belonged  in  the  following  companies  engaged  in  this  bloody 
contest.  Of  those  called  out  for  one  year's  service  in  Rhode 
Island,  there  were  in  Capt.  Joseph  Cole's  company,  of  Col.  John 
Jacobs's  regiment,^  — 

Nathan  Finney.  Jabez  Newland.  Joseph  Ward. 

Abial  Lapham.  Oliver  Randall.  Macey  Williams. 

In  Capt.  Calvin  Curtis's  company  of  the  same  regiment  there 
were  David  Taylor,  Gamaliel  Cook,  and  Elijah  Pratt.^  In  Capt. 
Jacob  Fuller's  company  of  the  same  regiment  were^  — 

Thomas  Fling.  Amasa  Record.  Philip  Thayer. 

Nathan  Randall.  Nathan  Record.  Silas  Williams. 

Capt.  Samuel  Robinson,  of  Col.  Wade's  regiment,  had  the 
following  Easton  men  in  his  company :  ^  — 

William  Britton.  Daniel  Macomber.  Jacob  Williams. 

Caleb  Dunham.  John  Martin.  Seth  Williams. 

Nathan  Finney.  Eleazer  Walker.  Palmer  Wood. 
Abiel  Lapham. 

Of  these  men,  Nathan  Finney  had  served  six  months  already 
and  now  re-enlisted,  while  Abial  Lapham  served  part  of  the 
time  in  another  company.  Captain  Robinson  had  another  en- 
listment after  the  above  were  discharged,  and  among  them 
Nathaniel  Gilbert,  Samuel  Ripley,  Josiah  White,  and  Palmer 
Wood  were  from  Easton.^  These  four  men,  and  some  in  Cap- 
tain Cole's  company,  probably  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Rhode 
Island,  which  took  place  August  29. 

The  following  nine  months  men  from  Easton  reported  at 
Fishkill  in  June,  1778,  some  and  perhaps  all  of  whom  were  in 
Col.  John  Daggett's  regiment:^  — 

^  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  i.  p.  109.       2  ibid.,  vol.  i.  p.  147. 
^  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.  p.  49.  *  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.  p.  106. 

*  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.  p.  107.  6  ibid.,  vol.  xlii.  pp.  222,  230,  231. 


230 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Joshua  Cary.  Oliver  Lincoln.  Solomon  Randall. 

Joshua  Felt.  John  Mears.  Hugh  Washburn. 

Daniel  Howard. 

Henry  Hewett,  of  Easton,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Job  Sumner's  com- 
pany, of  Col.  John  Greaton's  regiment,  in  the  second  battalion.^ 

In  August,  Captain  Keith  led  a  company  of  Easton  and  Nor- 
ton men  into  service  for  a  few  days  in  Rhode  Island.  Only 
the  names  of  the  men  from  Easton  are  given  here:^  — 

Josiah  Keith,  Captain.  Nehemiah  Keith. 

Ebenezer  Woods,  Sergeant.  Abisha  Leach. 

Abijah  Wetherell,  Sergeant.  Nehemiah   Leonard. 

Lemuel  Andrews.  Seth  Littlefield. 

Jabez  Briggs.  Nathan  Perry. 

Thomas  Buck.  William  Randall. 

Clement  Drake.  Macey  Williams. 

George  Ferguson.  Noah  Woodward. 

Of  the  casualties  that  occurred  to  our  Easton  troops  during 
this  year,  the  only  one  to  be  mentioned  now  is  that  of  Simeon 
Keith,  who  was  shot  in  the  arm  in  the  desperate  battle  of  Rhode 
Island.  Not  until  1792  was  he  allowed  pay  for  time  lost  on 
account  of  his  wound,  and  for  the  expense  of  medical  attend- 
ance. The  General  Court  then,  in  answer  to  his  petition, 
allowed  him  twelve  pounds,  thirteen  shillings,  and  sixpence. 
He  served  for  three  months  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Nathan 
Packard,  in  Col.  Thomas  Carpenter's  regiment.  Benjamin 
Kingman,  of  Easton,  enlisted  for  and  at  Stougtonhara  (Sharon) 
during  this  year. 

A.  D.   1779. 

There  is  not  much  of  interest  to  report  for  the  year  1779. 
The  active  campaign  was  transferred  from  the  North  to  the  South, 
some  of  the  Southern  states  suffering  severely.  The  British  still 
held  possession  of  Rhode  Island,  but  they  had  drawn  off  many 
of  their  troops  for  service  in  the  South,  so  that  they  con- 
tented themselves  here  with  forays  and  with  expeditions  for  plun- 
der and  destruction.  These  forays  were  most  cruelly  managed, 
being  usually  led  by  Tories.     In  October  the  Island  was  evacu- 

^  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  x.  p.  98.  2  ibid.,  vol.  ii.  p.  146. 


EASTON    IN   THE   REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  23 1 

ated  by  the  British,  in  order  to  enable  them  to  concentrate  their 
forces  for  the  Southern  campaign. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety  for  this  year  was 
Abial  Kinsley,  Isaac  Fuller,  and  Seth  Bailey.  Capt.  James  Perry 
represented  the  town  at  the  constitutional  convention  held  at 
Cambridge.  The  soldiers'  families  were  cared  for  as  usual. 
The  town  voted  to  adopt  measures  that  had  been  recommended 
by  a  convention  held  at  Concord,  to  regulate  prices.  A  commit- 
tee was  chosen  to  fix  prices,  and  another  committee  was  chosen 
"  to  see  that  No  parson  in  this  town  bought  or  sold  at  a  higher 
price  than  what  was  Prefixed  by  the  committee." 

Easton  had  a  number  of  troops  in  the  regular  Continental 
service.  The  following  enlisted  in  September  for  the  entire 
war:^  Japheth  Keith,  Ephraim  Smith,  Lemuel  Turner,  Elijah 
Pratt. 

In  Capt.  Joseph  Franklin's  company,  of  Col.  Nathan  Taylor's 
regiment,  stationed  in  Rhode  Island,  the  following  Easton  men 
.served  four  months  i^  Thomas  Fling,  Nathan  Randall,  Jedediah 
Packard,  Elijah  Turner. 

In  March  and  April  of  this  year  the  following  Easton  men 
were  in  Capt.  Isaac  Hodges's  company,  in  Colonel  Hathaway's 
regiment,  for  service  for  twenty-six  days  in  Rhode  Island:^  — 

Nehemiah  Leonard,  Sergeant,  Ebenezer  Hanks. 

Amasa  Record,  Corporal.  Daniel  Howard. 

Azel  Kinsley,  Fifer.  Oliver  Lincoln. 

Lot  Drake.  Solomon  Lothrop. 

Simeon  Eaton.  William  Makepeace. 

Jesse  Fobes.  Jabez  Newland. 

Thomas  French.  Asa  Smith. 

Benjamin  Hanks.  Stephen  Thayer. 

A.D.  1780. 
On  the  loth  of  July,  1780,  the  French  Admiral  de  Ternay, 
with  ten  ships  of  war  and  thirty-six  transports,  came  into  the 
harbor  of  Newport  with  a  detachment  of  about  six  thousand 
French  troops,  who  were  under  the  command  of  Count  de 
Rochambeau.  The  arrival  of  these  troops  was  hailed  with  joy 
throughout  the  country.     The  British  fleet  at  New  York  em- 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  x.  p.  88. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.  pp.  51,  53,  54;  vol.  xlii.  p.  234.  ^  Ibid.,  vol.  xix.  p.  198. 


232 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


barked  about  eight  thousand  men,  intending  to  attack  and  drive 
away  the  newly  arrived  allies  in  Rhode  Island.  This  fleet  ap- 
peared off  Newport,  July  21.  The  militia  of  the  surrounding 
region  were  quickly  summoned  to  the  aid  of  the  French.^  On 
the  27th  the  following  Easton  men,  of  Capt.  John  Allen's  com- 
pany, of  Colonel  Carpenter's  regiment,  were  on  the  march  :^ 


David  Keith,  LieKtenant. 
Daniel  Macomber,  Corporal. 
Lemuel  Andrews. 
Archibald  Campbell. 
Stephen  Clapp. 
Edward  Drake. 
Thomas  Drake. 
George  Ferguson. 
Joseph  Godfrey. 
Ephraim  Hewett. 

Palmer  Wood. 


Jonathan  Mehurin. 
Eliphalet  Pierce. 
Phillip  Pratt. 
Nathan  Record. 
Jacob  Thayer. 
Samuel  Thayer. 
Isaac  Thomas. 
Ebenezer  Williams. 
Macey  Williams. 
Silas  Williams. 


The  Archibald  Campbell  mentioned  above  was  not  the  minis- 
ter, but  his  son,  who  was  then  fifteen  years  and  six  months  old. 

This  company  arrived  on  the  scene  only  to  find  that  the  Brit- 
ish had  sailed  away.  The  militia  were  dismissed  to  their  homes, 
but  were  called  back  immediately  on  the  reappearance  of  the 
enemy.  This  time  the  alarm  was  greater  than  before.  The  two 
militia  companies  of  Easton,  under  the  command  respectively 
of  Capt.  Josiah  Keith  and  Capt.  Seth  Pratt,  were  soon  on  the 
move.  This  expedition  forms  what  became  known  as  the  "Tiv- 
erton Alarm."  The  east  company  enlisted  August  2,  and  be- 
longed to  Col.  James  Williams's  regiment.  Their  names  are  as 
follows  :^  — 


Seth  Pratt,  Captain. 
Edward  Hayward,  Lieutenant. 
Lemuel  Willis,  Sergeant. 
Samuel  Manley,  Sergeant. 
John  Randall,  Sergeant. 
Abner  Randall,  Corporal. 
Robert  Drake,  Jr.,  Corporal. 
David  Taylor,  Corporal. 
Parmenas  Ames. 


Roland  Bailey. 
Seth  Bailey. 
David  Clark. 
Benjamin  Grossman. 
Daniel  Grossman. 
Ebenezer  Dickerman. 
Ephraim  Drake,  Jr. 
Hezekiah  Drake. 
Jonah  Drake. 


^  Arnold's  History  of  Rhode  Island,  vol.  ii.  p.  462. 
2  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  i.  pp.  7,  8. 
^  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.  pp.  79,  80. 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


233 


Joseph  Drake,  ye  2d. 
Noah  Drake. 
Zachariah   Drake. 
David  Dunbar. 
Thomas  Fling. 
Jesse  Fobes. 
Joseph  Fobes,  Jr. 
Simeon  Fobes. 
Nehemiah  Hayward. 
William  Hayward. 
John  Holmes. 
Ebenezer  Howard. 
Joseph  Howard. 
Simeon  Keith. 
Abial  Kinsley. 
Adam  Kinsley. 
Joseph  Knapp. 
Joseph  Knapp,  Jr. 
Oliver  Lincoln. 
James  Lindsey,  ye  2d. 


William  Lindse}'. 
Jonathan  Lothrop, 
Nathan  Lothrop. 
Josiah  Manley. 
Reuben  Manley. 
James  Packard. 
Jacob  Phillips. 
John  Phillips. 
Silas  Phillips. 
Beriah  Randall. 
Ephraim  Randall,  ye  2d. 
Isaiah  Randall. 
Jonathan  Randall. 
Ziba  Randall. 
Simon  Record. 
John  Simons. 
James  Stone. 
Samuel  Stone. 
Jacob  Thayer. 
Levi  Tuttle. 


Nathan  Woodcock. 


The  west  company  started  two  days  later,  August  the  4th 
Their  muster-roll  is  as  follows  :^  — 


Josiah  Keith,  Captain. 
David  Keith,  \st  Lieutenant. 
Jonathan  Pratt,  2ci  Lieutenant. 
Abijah  Witherell,  Sergeant. 
William  Bonney,  Sergeant. 
Alexander  Keith,  Sergeant. 
Seth  Littlefield,  Sergeant. 
Daniel  Macomber,  CorporaL 
Thomas  Williams,  Corporal. 
Jonathan  Bosworth. 
Ebenezer  Brett. 
John  Britton. 
Thomas  Buck. 
Archibald  Campbell. 
Stephen  Clapp. 
Elijah  Copeland. 
Clement  Drake. 
Thomas  Drake. 
William  Drake. 
Jonathan  French. 


Cornelius  Gibbs. 
Nathan  Gibbs. 
Nathaniel  Gilbert. 
Joseph  Godfrey,  Jr. 
Francis  Goward. 
Ephraim  Hewett. 
Oliver  Howard. 
Nehemiah  Keith. 
Scotland  Keith. 
Isaac  King. 
Zebadiah  Kinsley. 
Abisha  Leach. 
Edmund  Macomber. 
David  Mehurin. 
Jonathan  Mehurin. 
Philip  Pratt. 
Nathan  Record. 
Joshua  Stearns. 
Jacob  Thayer. 
Lemuel  Thayer. 


1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  ii.  p.  140;  vol.  i.  p.  160. 


234 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Isaac  Thomas.  Jairus  Williams. 

Jolin  Tuckerman.  Macey  Williams. 

Josiah  White.  Josiah  Willis. 

Ebenezer  Williams.  Stoughton  Willis. 

Jacob  Williams.  Joseph   Woods. 

These  two  companies  were  not  destined  to  win  any  laurels  in 
the  field  at  this  time.  They  had  hardly  reached  Tiverton,  where 
they  were  to  co-operate  with  the  French  troops  in  case  of  attack, 
when  it  began  to  be  evident  that  no  attack  was  to  be  made  ;  and 
after  six  or  eight  days  they  marched  home,  covered  with  dust 
but  not  with  glory.  It  was  an  easy  way  to  win  the  fame  of  being 
Revolutionary  soldiers.  But  it  was  not  their  fault  that  they  did 
not  fight.  The  courage  and  valor  of  the  American  militia  at 
Bunker  Hill  and  elsewhere  give  good  assurance  that  our  Easton 
fathers  would  have  well  deserved  this  fame  if  the  British  had 
given  them  the  opportunity.  Some  of  them  had  already  seen, 
and  others  were  destined  to  see,  hard  and  dangerous  service, — 
were  even  to  sacrifice  their  lives  to  secure  the  liberty  of  their 
country. 

Another  company,  mainly  composed  of  out-of-town  militia,  and 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Randall,  were  oat  for  a  while 
apparently  on  this  same  Rhode  Island  service.  Among  them 
appear  the  following  names  of  Easton  men  :^  — 

Matthew  Randall,  Captain.  Simeon  Dutibar. 

Dominicus  Record,  1st  Lieutenant.  Andrew  Gilmore. 

Thomas  Drake,  Sergeant.  John  Keith. 

Jonah  Fobes,  Sergeant.  William  Lawson. 

Benjamin  Babbitt,  Sergeant.  Samuel  Leonard. 

Adam  Drake,  Drianmer.  Jedediah  Packard. 

Abijah  Woodward,  Fifer.  Job  Packard. 

Isaac  Babbitt.  Asa  Phillips. 

Seth  Grossman.  Solomon  Randall. 

Lot  Drake.  Thomas  Randall. 

Thomas  Drake.  Samuel  Ripley. 

On  this  muster-roll  there  are  possibly  a  few  other  Easton 
names,  but  as  the  residence  is  not  given,  only  those  have  been 
copied  above  who  are  known  to  have  been  living  here. 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xxii.  p.  i69. 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


235 


On  the  17th  of  July  nineteen  men  were  enlisted  for  six 
months'  service  in  the  regular  or  Continental  army.  These  saw 
difficult  service.     Their  names  are  as  follows  :  ^  — 

Nehemiah  Randall,  Sergeant.  Joshua  Felt. 

Thomas  French,  Se7'gea7it.  David   Keith. 

John  Mears,  DrtDiuner.  Solomon  Lothrop. 

Azel  Kinsley,  Fifer.  Seth  Manley. 

Abijah  Allen.  Thomas  Mitchell. 

John  Cameron.  Enoch  Pratt. 

Daniel  Dailey,  Jr.  Oliver  Randall. 

Nezer  Dailey.  Stephen  Thayer. 

Nathaniel  Dunbar.  Elijah  Turner. 
Joseph  Ward. 

The  list  below  is  especially  interesting,  because  it  contains  the 
names  of  men  who  enlisted  from  Easton  for  three  years,  or  for 
the  war.  Most  of  them  served  from  the  beginning  of  1777  to 
the  end  of  1780,  and  some  for  a  longer  time.  They  were  with 
General  Washington,  and  took  part  in  many  of  the  hardest-fought 
battles  of  the  war.  Some  of  their  names  have  already  been  men- 
tioned as  having  passed  through  the  terrible  sufferings  of  the 
winter  at  Valley  Forge.  They  deserve  to  be  held  in  special  re- 
membrance. Most  of  them  were  in  the  Second  Regiment,  com- 
manded by  Col.  John  Bailey,  and  in  the  fourth  company  of  the 
same,  of  which  the  captain  was  Abner  Hayward.  Their  time 
of  service  is  appended  to  their  nanes.^ 

Name 

Simeon  Burr   .     .     . 
Philip  Chambers  . 
Nathan  Conant     .     . 
William  Desilvia 
Jonah  Drake    .     . 
Joseph  Green  .     .     . 
Simeon  Hayward,  Seri 
Henry  Howard     .     . 
Japhet  Keith,  Corp.  . 
Benjamin  Kingman  . 
Daniel  Packard    . 
John  Packard       .     . 

^  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  xxv.  p.  242  ;  vol.  iv.  p.  no. 

2  For  all  but  the  first  name  on  this  list,  see  in  State  Archives  the  Regimental 
Book  of  the  Second  Regiment,  Col.  John  Bailey.  Simeon  Burr's  name  is  on  the 
Book  of  the  Fifth  Regiment. 


mos.  ( 

lays. 

Name 

36 

DO 

Amasa  Phillips 

8 

IS 

Asa  Phillips     . 

34 

16 

Silas  Phillips  . 

48 

00 

Elijah  Pratt     . 

36 

00 

Charles  Ranney 

47 

00 

Ephraim  Smith 

33 

16 

Henry  Smith  . 

36 

00 

John  Stock 

46 

16 

George  Taylor 

45 

ID 

Lemuel  Turner 

12 

CO 

Daniel  Wood  . 

43 

00 

mns. 

lays. 

17 

3 

36 

00 

36 

00 

II 

II 

47 

00 

46 

16 

12 

13 

48 

00 

6 

12 

36 

00 

37 

18 

236 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Inspection  for  this  year, 
1780,  were  John  Williams,  Dominicus  Record,  and  Ensign  Seth 
Lothrop.  Committees  were  appointed  to  hire  soldiers,  and  a 
good  deal  of  money  was  raised  to  pay  them.  It  is  to  be  noted 
that  at  this  time  the  currency  of  the  country  had  very  greatly 
depreciated.  The  price  of  a  good  pair  of  boots  was  about  six 
hundred  dollars,  and  at  the  old  rate  of  wages  it  took  nearly  a 
month's  pay  of  a  soldier  to  purchase  a  dinner.  The  distress  was 
universal  in  town  and  throughout  the  country  ;  and  yet  new  and 
extraordinary  exertions  were  needful  to  carry  on  the  war.  The 
successive  depreciations  of  the  currency  may  be  seen  by  the  fol- 
lowing interesting  table,  the  original  of  which  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  N.  W.  Perry  of  Easton.  The  data  for  1780  have  been 
somewhat  condensed  from  those  in  the  original  table. 


1777 


January 
February 
March    . 
April 
May  .     . 
June  .     . 
July    .     . 
August  . 
September 
October 
November 
December 


January 
February 
March     . 
April  .     . 
May   .     . 


June  .     .     , 
July    .     . 
August  . 
September 
October . 
November 
December 


1778 


1779. 


/loois  /105 

„  n  107 

„  „  109 

„  „  112 

,.  „  115 

„  „  120 

„  „  175 

V  „  275, 

„  „  310 


^100  is  ^325 
.»  „  350 
„  „  375 
„  ,,  400 
„  ,,  400 
400 
425 
450 

475 
500 

545 
634 


'>         5) 


January . 
February 
March    . 
April 
May  .     . 
June  .     . 
July   .     . 
August  . 
September 
October 
November  . 
December  . 


January  . 
February  . 
March  .  . 
April  .  . 
May  .  . 
June  .  . 
July  .  . 
August 
September 
October  . 
November 
December 


1780 


^100  is 

£7^^- 

868. 

1000. 

1 100. 

1215. 

1342. 

1477- 

1630. 

1800. 
2030. 
2308. 

2593- 

^ioois;^2934. 

)) 

,, 

3322. 

! 
) 

3736. 
4000. 

4600. 
6200. 

5 
) 

) 

J 

)) 
5    )) 

6900. 
7000. 
7100. 
7200. 
7300. 

, 

)    )> 

7400. 

EASTON  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.     237 

The  amounts  paid  the  soldiers  for  a  brief  service  seem  quite 
ludicrous.  For  a  few  days'  "  soldiering  "  Dominicus  Record  is 
paid  ;£'i200,  and  for  a  little  longer  service  John  Cameron  gets 
;^2i90.  Capt.  James  Perry  is  voted  £1062  for  his  time  and  ex- 
pense for  a  few  days  at  a  convention.  In  the  town-meeting  of 
next  March  it  was  — 

"Voted  to  Rais  a  sum  of  money  soficiant  to  Pay  twenty  Dollars,  in 
adition  to  the  fifty  Dollars  allready  Raised,  for  each  Bushel  of  Corn 
Due  to  the  soldiers  for  their  service  in  the  arme  last  season,  that  ware 
in  the  six  and  three  months'  service.  Then  the  town  Voted  that  those 
Parsons  that  went  to  Roadisland  last  Sumer  should  have  ten  Dollars 
Pr.  Day  in  adition  to  the  money  aulready  Voted  to  them.  It  is  to  be 
noted  that  the  Monies  abuv  menshoned  is  ment  to  be  of  the  Old 
Emitian." 

This  appears  to  be  the  first  time  that  the  word  "dollar"  is 
mentioned  in  the  town  records.  In  March,  1780,  Congress  en- 
deavored to  arrest  the  rapid  depreciation  of  the  currency  by 
"  cancelling  the  old  bills  as  fast  as  they  were  retui-ned  b}''  a 
monthly  State  taxation  of  fifteen  millions,  and  issuing  new  bills 
to  one-twentieth  of  the  amount ;  these  new  bills  to  be  based 
on  the  credit  of  the  separate  States  in  fair  proportion,  to  draw 
interest  at  five  per  cent,  and  to  be  redeemed  by  the  States  in  six 
years."  ^  One  dollar  of  this  new  emission  was  equal  to  forty  of 
the  old.  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  Delaware  were  the 
only  States  that  promptly  met  these  heavy  demands.  When 
the  war  was  over,  Capt.  James  Perry  and  others  in  town  could 
measure  their  Continental  money  by  the  peck,  and  it  soon  be- 
came good  for  nothing  but  to  serve  as  a  relic  of  those  hard 
times.     This  was  the  time 

"  When  paper  money  became  so  cheap, 
Folks  would  n't  count  it,  but  said  '  a  heap.'  " 

In  November  of  this  year  Col.  Abiel  Mitchell  presented  a  pe- 
tition to  the  General  Court,  stating  that  he  took  the  command 
of  a  regiment  of  militia  that  was  raised  to  serve  for  three  months 
"at  forty  shillings  per  month,  to  be  paid  in  Gold  or  Silver  or 
Continental  Bills  equivalent  thereto ;  and  your  petitioner  finds 

1  Arnold's  History  of  Rhode  Island,  vol.  ii.  p.  453. 


238 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


an  uneasiness  among  the  Soldiers  by  being  apprehensive  of  their 
being  paid  in  the  Emission  of  paper  money."  Colonel  Mitchell 
therefore  asked  for  directions  to  be  given  to  him  in  order  that  he 
might  instruct  the  captains  of  his  regiment  as  to  the  manner  in 
which  they  should  make  up  their  muster-rolls.  In  answer  to 
this  petition  the  General  Court  voted  "  That  each  private  soldier 
in  said  three  months'  service  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  pounds  per  month,  in  Continental  Bills  of  credit,  or 
equivalent  in  the  new  emission." 

A.D.    1781. 

A  year  of  discouragement  and  disaster  had  passed  away,  and 
a  brighter  era  was  about  to  dawn.  The  new  year  began  with 
mutiny  in  the  army,  which  was  put  down  by  force,  two  of  the 
ring-leaders  being  shot  by  sentence  of  a  court-martial.  The 
mutiny  grew  out  of  the  fact  that  the  new  recruits  received  large 
bounties,  while  the  older  troops  could  not  get  even  the  small 
wages  that  belonged  to  them.  Washington  recommended  that 
bounties  be  given  to  the  troops  that  had  been  long  in  the  service, 
and  great  exertions  were  made  to  obtain  money  and  supplies. 
Our  illustrious  Commander-in-chief  came  to  Rhode  Island  in 
March,  to  arrange  with  Rochambeau  for  an  active  campaign. 
On  the  fourteenth  a  grand  and  joyful  reception  was  given  him 
at  Providence,  at  which  a  company  commanded  by  our  Captain 
Keith,  then  in  Rhode  Island,  was  probably  present.  This  com- 
pany seems  to  have  been  composed  mainly  of  Norton  men. 
The  residence  of  its  members  is  not  given,  but  the  following 
were  from  Easton  :  ^  — 

Josiah  Keith,  Captain.  Elijah  Copeland. 

Ebenezer  Williams,  Sergeant.  Ephraim  Hewitt. 

Edmund  Macomber,  Co?-poral.  Isaac  Stearns. 

Amasa  Lincoln,  Dntviiner.  John  Tuckerman. 

John  Andrews.  Joseph  Ward. 

Joshua  Burr.  Jairus  Williams. 
Bethuel  Turner. 

This  company  was  on  guard-duty  for  about  thirteen  days.  It 
was  in  Col.  Isaac  Dean's  regiment  of  militia. 

1  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  ii.  p.  142. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


239 


At  the  same  time  Capt.  John  Sha\^^had  a  company  in  the  reg- 
iment commanded  by  Col.  Abiel  Mitchell,  and  they  were  out  on 
the  same  service,  being  gone,  however,  for  forty  days.  In  this 
company  were  the  following  Easton  men  :^  — 

Daniel  Dailey,  Seroeant.  Joseph  Drake. 

Samuel  Ripley,  Corporal.  Lot  Drake. 

^  William  Hack,  Corporal.  Timothy  Drake. 

Oliver  Drake,  Corporal.  David  Dunbar. 

Rufus  Burr.  Andrew  Gilmore. 

Sylvanus  Burr.  Job  Packard. 
Joseph  Packard. 

Early  in  the  war  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  ordered 
that  every  seventh  man  in  the  State  should  serve  for  three  years, 
or  for  the  war.  In  order  to  systematize  the  matter,  the  town  of 
Easton  divided  all  its  male  citizens  who  were  upwards  of  sixteen 
years  of  age  into  parties  of  seven  each.  These  were  called 
"classes,"  and  were  numbered  first,  second,  etc.  Each  class 
was  to  send  one  of  its  men  to  serve  in  the  army,  or  was  to  find 
some  one  who  would  serve  for  the  class.  In  order  to  do  this  it 
soon  became  necessary  to  pay  considerable  money  to  the  volun- 
teer.    In  one  of  the  old  town  books  is  this  record  :  — 

"These  may  certify,  that  as  the  General  Court  of  this  State  has  or- 
dered that  every  seventh  man  of  this  State,  from  sixteen  years  &  up- 
ward, shall  serve  in  the  armey  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war 
between  Great  Breton  and  America,  We  the  six  men  —  Samuel  Guild, 
Edward  Hayward  the  first,  John  Howard,  Jacob  Leonard,  Nehemiah 
Howard,  and  Abiel  Kinsley  —  have  agreed  with  and  hired  Ephraim 
Smith,  which  makes  the  seventh  man,  to  serve  as  aforesd  for  the  sum 
of  Eight  Pounds,  &  Sd.  Smith  has  inlisted  with  me,  as  Witness  my 
hand.  Abner  Hayward,  Lieutenant. 

Easton,  February  20,  1777. 

Early  in  1781  there  were  fourteen  men  due  from  Easton  for 
the  three  years'  service,  and  they  were  enlisted  according  to  the 
arrangement  just  alluded  to.  A  full  copy  of  the  names  of  these 
men  and  of  various  particulars  concerning  them  is  here  given  :^ 

'  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  iii.  p.  128. 
2  Ibid.,  vol.  xxxiv.  pp.  418,  419. 


240 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


Name. 

'Age. 

Stature. 

Occupation. 

E 

ilisted. 

Thomas  Clapp 

22 

5  ft.  6in. 

Laborer 

June 

26,   I7S1. 

Baron  DeBeauez 

16 

5  ft.  41  n. 

Laborer 

Jtily 

16,   I7S1. 

Jonali  Drake 

39 

5  ft.  6in. 

Laborer 

April 

II,    I781. 

Benjamin  Eddy 

44 

5ft.  loin. 

Laborer 

April 

17,   I7SI. 

Benjamin  Eddy,  Jr 

12 

4  ft.  g\n. 

April 

16,    I7S1. 

Oliver  Eddy  .     . 

14 

5  ft.  lin. 

April 

16,   I781. 

John  Hall      .     . 

22 

5  ft    5in. 

Seaman 

Aug. 

II,    I781. 

Oliver  Lincoln  . 

39 

5  ft.  1 1  in. 

Laborer 

T  7,Q  J 

I  /  0  I  . 

Joseph  Packard 

50 

5  ft.  8in. 

Laborer 

July 

6,  1781. 

Cyrus  Randall  . 

16 

5  ft.  4in. 

Laborer 

June 

I,  1781. 

Daniel  Taylor   . 

17 

5  ft.  7in. 

Laborer 

March 

28,  1781. 

Stephen  Thayer 

26 

5  ft.  Sin. 

Laborer 

July 

16,  1781. 

Isaac  Thomas    . 

18 

5  ft.  Bin. 

Laborer 

July 

23,  17S1. 

Christian  F.  Wille 

30 

5  ft.  Sin. 

Weaver 

June 

29,  1 78 1. 

The  last  man  on  the  list  was  what  has  in  later  times  been 
called  a  "  I3ounty-jumper  ;  "  he  was  claimed  by  "  the  town  of 
Boston,"  where  he  had  previously  enlisted  under  tlie  name  of 
Arthur  Hardcastle.  The  Benjamin  Eddy  of  this  list  is  the  sin- 
gular character  who  was  known  as  "  Old  Bunn,"  whom  some  of 
our  old  people  remember,  and  about  whom  more  may  be  found 
on  another  page.  Those  next  on  this  list  are  his  boys,  one  of 
whom  is  a  mere  stripling.  There  must  have  been  sore  need  in- 
deed of  troops  when  so  young  and  small  a  boy  could  be  accepted. 

These  fourteen  men  were  enlisted  for  three  years,  and  were 
allowed  the  large  bounty  of  about  three  hundred  dollars  in  silver. 
This  was  paid  by  the  town,  and  afterward,  in  part  at  least,  re- 
funded to  the  town  by  the  State.  Following  are  specimens  of 
the  receipts  given,  which  indicate  that  the  different  "  classes  " 
attended  to  the  business  of  enlistment :  ^  — 

Easton,  May  22,  1781.  Then  Received  of  Saml.  Guild,  as  head 
of  the  first  Class  of  said  Easton,  the  sum  of  ninety  Pounds  in  hard 
Money  Sz  securities,  for  my  serving  as  soldier  in  the  Continental  x'\.rmy 
for  three  years. 

Received  by  me.  Oliver  Linkon. 

July  ye  16,  1781.  The  subscriber  Being  engaged  in  the  Continental 
Service  for  three  years  for  the  town  of  Easton,  has  Received  of  Cap. 

1  State  Archives,  Military  Papers,  vol.  xxxiv.  pp.  505,  517. 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  24I 

Macey  Williams  (he  Being  the  head  of  a  Classe  in  sd.  Easton)  three 
Hundred  and  thurty  Spanish  milled  Dollars,  as  a  Bounty  for  going 
into  sd.  Service. 

Reed,  by  me.  Christian  Friederick  Wille. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Inspection  for  the 
year  1781  was  Col.  Abiel  Mitchell,  David  Manley,  and  Thomas 
Drake,  the  2d.  As  required  by  law,  Easton  continued  to  do  its 
part  in  furnishing  beef  for  the  army,  and  also  sent  clothing  to 
the  soldiers  who  were  absent  in  service,  besides  looking  after 
the  welfare  of  their  families.  After  this  date,  almost  the  only 
business  relating  to  the  war  that  is  transacted  in  the  town-meet- 
ings is  what  concerns  the  pay  of  the  soldiers  whose  wages  are 
in  arrears.  The  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown  was  the 
virtual  end  of  the  war,  although  there  was  some  fighting  after- 
wards, and  the  articles  of  peace  were  not  signed  until  about  two 
years  subsequent  to  that  surrender. 

The  town  of  Easton  did  its  fulL  part  in  the  great  struggle 
for  Independence.  The  muster-rolls  and  pay-rolls  which  have 
been  copied  here  show  how  large  a  number  of  our  citizens 
participated  in  that  contest.  But  there  are  others  who  de- 
serve to  share  the  credit  of  being  the  defenders  of  our  country's 
liberties,  who  did  not  go  into  the  field.  Edward  Williams,  for 
instance,  when  too  feeble  to  enlist  in  the  active  service,  har- 
nessed his  team  and  took  into  the  camp  near  Boston  food, 
blankets,  and  many  means  of  comfort,  to  procure  which  he 
stripped  his  house  and  received  the  most  generous  contribu- 
tions from  neighbors.  Meantime  the  Daughters  of  Liberty 
were  busy  with  their  needles,  and  forwarded  many  things  which 
they  provided  at  a  sacrifice  to  themselves.  They  were  real 
even  though  unrecorded  sufferers,  often  enduring  privation, 
and  always  full  of  anxiety  concerning  the  fate  of  those  who 
were  far  away  in  camp  and  field,  and  whom  they  might  never 
see  again. 

A  careful  comparison  of  the  muster-rolls  above  copied  with 
the  tax-lists  of  Easton  shows  that  nearly  every  able-bodied 
citizen  of  the  town,  and  even  many  of  the  boys,  served  their 
country  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  This  is  a  matter  for  honest 
town  pride.     Quite  a  number  died  in  service  ;  but  the  military 

16 


L 


242  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

experience  of  many  was  limited  to  frequent  trainings  and  an 
occasional  march  to  Rhode  Island  on  an  "  alarm."  Some  of 
them  never  even  saw  a  Red-coat.  A  study  of  the  military  rolls 
in  this  chapter  will  show  who  served  in  posts  of  danger,  who 
enlisted  for  long  periods,  who  suffered  at  Valley  Forge,  or  died 
in  battle  or  of  disease  consequent  upon  exposure,  privation,  and 
hard  service. 

On  the  subject  of  Tories  there  is  not  much  to  be  said.  Some- 
thing indeed  might  be  repeated  from  the  traditions  that  have 
come  down  to  us  ;  but  this  is  a  very  uncertain  means  of  in- 
formation, and  does  not  deserve  to  be  recorded  unless  it  can 
be  confirmed  by  documentary  evidence,  especially  where  it 
affects  the  reputation  of  any  one.  The  most  diligent  search 
which  the  writer  has  been  able  to  make,  has  revealed  only 
one  case  of  an  unmistakable  Tory  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Easton  during  the  Revolution.  It  is  as  well  that  his  name 
should  not  be  mentioned.  We  naturally  regard  such  persons 
with  odium  ;  and  yet  it  is  no  doubt  true  that  many  of  them 
were  conscientious  in  their  devotion  to  the  Crown,  and  looked 
upon  a  separation  from  the  Mother  Country  as  a  great  calamity. 
The  Tory  in  question  was  obliged  to  leave  the  town,  and  on 
the  8th  of  September,  1777,  Abijah  Felch,  of  Easton,  was 
appointed  agent  "  to  act  on  the  estate  of  said  absentee ;  and 
on  the  second  day  of  October,  1780,  sd.  agent  settled  his 
accounts." 

The  town  of  Easton  had  several  commissioned  officers  both 
in  the  Continental  and  Militia  service.  It  is  fitting  that  some 
notice  should  be  taken  of  them  in  the  chapter  that  treats  of  the 
war  in  which  they  bore  a  part. 

First  among  these  officers  to  be  named  is  Capt.  Elisha 
Harvey.  He  came  to  Easton  from  Taunton  before  1767,  and 
served  throughout  the  war,  being  present  at  the  battle  of 
Brooklyn  Heights,  the  execution  of  Major  Andre,  the  siege  of 
Yorktown,  and  at  many  of  the  most  important  battles.  He  wa3 
sergeant  in  Captain  Drury's  company  of  Knox's  Artillery  as 
early  as  May,  1776,  and  held  that  position  during  the  year,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  continuing  to  serve 
in  that  capacity  until  1780.     From  January,  1777,  until  January, 


EASTON  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.     243 

1780,  and  probably  afterward,  he  was  in  Colonel  Lamb's  artil- 
lery regiment.  He  was  probably  commissioned  a  captain  about 
the  close  of  the  war,  being  after  that  time  always  known  by 
this  title.  He  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  brave  officer. 
At  the  battle  of  Brooklyn  Heights,  the  company  to  which  he 
belonged  was  severely  cut  up  and  retreated  before  a  spirited 
charge  of  the  enemy.  Harvey,  then  only  a  sergeant,  alone 
stood  by  the  guns.  Two  of  them  were  loaded  and  ready  to 
be  discharged.  Touching  off  first  one  and  then  the  other,  he 
turned  the  gun-carriages  about,  dragged  them  hastily  to  the 
brow  of  the  bluff,  and  sent  them  rolling  down  the  steep  height, 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy.  This  done,  with  shot  flying 
about  him  on  every  side,  he  rushed  down  the  cliff,  entered  a 
boat,  and  gained  the  opposite  shore.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  lived  at  Taunton,  but  returned  to  Easton  in  1790  and 
spent  his  days  here,  —  dying  February  11,  1821.  During  his 
later  years  he  was  in  receipt  of  a  pension  of  thirty  dollars  a 
month.  Our  older  citizens  well  remember  him  in  his  suit  of 
homespun,  and  call  to  mind  the  interest  with  which  he  used 
to  narrate  his  war  experiences.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
celebrated  Society  of  the  Cincinnati, —  an  organization  com- 
posed of  the  officers  of  the  Continental  Army. 

Capt.  James  Keith  was  another  officer  in  the  regular  army. 
He  was  in  the  eighth  regiment,  a  captain  as  early  as  July,  1775. 
This  regiment  was  commanded  by  Col.  Michael  Jackson,  and 
saw  a  good  deal  of  hard  service.  March  8,  1780,  General  Heath 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fernald  wrote  letters  in  which  they 
stated,  that,  both  for  meritorious  conduct  and  by  regular  pro- 
motion, Capt.  James  Keith  was  entitled  to  the  rank  of  major  in 
Michael  Jackson's  regiment ;  and  he  was  accordingly  appointed 
to  fill  that  position,  and  served  in  that  capacity  to  the  end  of 
the  war.  After  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  a  letter  was  found  in 
the  pocket  of  a  British  soldier  who  was  killed  there  ;  he  was  a 
sergeant,  and  in  this  letter  was  a  list  of  "rebel"  officers,  and 
among  other  names  was  that  of  "Adjt.-Gen.  Jas.  Keith,  of 
Easton."  It  was  however  a  mistake  to  apply  this  title  to  him. 
Major  Keith  was  the  son  of  Josiah  Keith,  the  second  of  that 
name  in  Easton,  and  was  born  in   1751. 


244 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


Col.  Abiel  Mitchell  was  a  prominent  figure  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary matters  in  Easton,  serving  on  various  committees,  in  the 
General  Court,  as  a  delegate  for  the  town  at  several  conventions, 
and  in  other  ways.  We  are  concerned  here  only  with  his  part 
in  the  war.  We  have  seen  that  he  led  the  first  company  out  of 
the  town  on  the  memorable  19th  of  April,  the  day  of  the  battle 
of  Lexington.  At  this  time  he  was  captain.  Just  one  month 
from  that  day  he  was  appointed  major  of  the  third  regiment  of 
militia  in  Bristol  County.  In  February,  1776,  he  received  the 
appointment  of  colonel  of  the  same  regiment,  a  position  that  he 
continued  to  hold  throughout  the  war.  He  was  seldom  in  active 
service  in  the  field,  his  militia  being  called  out  only  upon  occa- 
sions of  especial  emergency.  He  served  at  least  a  few  days  in 
1775,  three  months  in  1780,  for  forty  days  in  1781,  and  perhaps 
for  one  or  two  other  brief  periods.  The  principal  assistance 
that  he  rendered,  however,  was  in  organizing  the  militia,  in  fur- 
nishing supplies,  and  in  other  such  measures  as  were  needed  to 
make  the  town  an  efficient  helper  in  the  great  cause  of  Indepen- 
dence. He  was  especially  active  in  stamping  out  any  Tory 
sentiment  that  dared  to  manifest  itself,  —  there  being  some  man- 
ifestations of  it  among  a  few  of  his  neighbors.  Even  when  an 
old  man,  the  mention  of  the  name  of  one  of  these  Tory  neighbors 
would  kindle  his  passion,  make  his  lips  tremble  and  his  eyes 
flash  fire.  Two  or  three  incidents  of  his  military  experience 
may  be  briefly  narrated  here. 

At  one  time  in  battle,  when  the  bullets  flew  thick  and  fast,  a 
captain  in  his  regiment,  terrified  at  the  fearful  buzz  and  hum  of 
those  death-dealing  missiles,  crouched  low  to  the  ground.  Col- 
onel Mitchell's  eye  caught  sight  of  him,  and  finding  that  he  was 
not  wounded,  but  only  thoroughly  scared,  he  told  him  that  if  he 
did  not  immediately  get  up  and  attend  to  his  duty  he  would 
himself  shoot  him  and  save  the  British  the  trouble  of  doing  it. 
The  poor  captain,  fearing  a  hundred  random  shots  less  than  one 
from  Colonel  Mitchell's  unerring  hand,  wisely  complied  with  the 
Colonel's  order. 

During  one  expedition  he  had  sent  out  a  guard  of  fifteen  men 
on  three  different  occasions.  Twice  the  guard  caifle  in  minus 
one  or  two  men.  No  clew  could  be  gained  as  to  the  cause  of 
their  disappearance.     At  the  third   service  they  had  orders  to 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


245 


shoot  at  any  moving  thing,  no  matter  what  it  might  seem  to  be. 
Far  into  the  night  a  hog  was  seen  moving  about.  Obedient  to 
orders,  one  of  the  soldiers  aimed  and  fired  at  the  animal,  when, 
instead  of  the  squeal  of  a  pig,  was  heard  the  loud  yell  of  a  savage, 
who  leaped  mortally  wounded  into  the  air  and  fell  dead.  The 
Indian  in  this  disguise  had  tomahawked  several  soldiers. 

At  one  place  where  the  Colonel  was  stationed,  the  ardent 
spirits,  then  regarded  as  one  of  the  necessaries  of  war  if  not  of 
life,  were  stored  in  a  building  under  lock  and  key,  and  a  sentinel 
placed  on  guard  to  prevent  any  one  from  getting  in.  But  a 
French  officer  well  known  to  the  soldiers  used  to  come  at  night, 
and  when  refused  admittance  would  draw  his  sword,  and  being 
a  very  skilful  swordsman  would  unfix  the  soldier's  bayonet,  walk 
in' and  help  himself.  This  was  several  times  repeated,  much  to 
the  discomfiture  of  the  guard  and  the  amusement  of  those  who 
happened  to  hear  of  it.  Colonel  Mitchell  begged  that  his  son 
Tom  might  be  put  on  guard  for  once.  This  was  done.  The 
officer  came  as  usual,  and  the  usual  scene  occurred,  except  that 
when  the  officer  had  unfixed  the  bayonet,  the  stout  sentinel 
picked  him  up  and  carried  him  off.  This  was  done  repeatedly, 
until  the  Frenchman  was  tired  out  and  gave  up  the  attempt. 
Ever  afterward  Tom  Mitchell  was  a  favorite  with  that  officer, 
and  when  he  returned  to  France  he  endeavored  to  persuade  the 
faithful  sentinel  to  return  with  him,  but  in  vain.  Col.  Abiel 
Mitchell  was  the  son  of  Timothy,  of  Bridgewater,  and  a  direct 
descendant  from  Experience  Mitchell,  one  of  the  forefathers' 
who  came  to  Plymouth  in  the  third  ship,  the  "Ann."  He  lived 
long,  enjoying  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens  ; 
was  once  candidate  for  State  senator,  and  served  for  twenty-one 
successive  years  as  representative  at  the  General  Court.  His 
grave  in  the  South-Easton  cemetery  is  annually  decorated  with 
flowers  and  with  the  flag  which  he  so  gallantly  defended. 

Another  prominent  Revolutionary  officer  of  Easton  was  Capt. 
James  Perry.  He  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry, 
already  spoken  of  as  having  died  in  the  service  of  his  country  in 
the  French  and  Indian  War.  In  1775  he  raised  a  company  of 
troops  for  the  eight  months  service.  Only  five  members  of  this 
company  were  from  Easton,  as  this  town  had  sent  nearly  all  its 


246  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

available  men  to  the  front.  He  served  in  the  army  about  two 
years  altogether,  being  present  at  the  battles  of  Trenton  and 
Princeton.  While  in  camp  in  New  Jersey  he  was  robbed  of 
money  that  he  had  received  for  the  payment  of  his  troops,  it 
being  taken  from  under  his  pillow.  Suspecting  the  offenders, 
he  got  the  following  permission  to  search  their  quarters: — ■ 

Capt.  James  Perry  having  lost  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  and 
expressing  a  desire  to  search  the  Houses  of  David  Coree  and  L.  Sland, 
is  impowered  to  do  it. 

By  order  of  Major-General  Sullivan, 

Lewis  Morris,  A.  D.  C. 
Springfield,  January  27,  1777. 

In  1779  he  returned  home  to  superintend  the  manufacture  of 
cannon  and  cannon-balls,  his  return  being  hastened  by  the  fol- 
lowing order  of  one  Paul  Allen,  and  by  similar  applications  :  — 

*'  Sir,  —  I  am  in  immediate  want  of  400  Pound  six-pound  Shott  and 
4000  Grape,  suitable  to  make  up  for  six-pound  Cannon.  Your  Clark 
nor  workmen  dare  not  engage  them  in  your  absence,  but  think  they 
could  make  them  all  next  week." 

Captain  Perry  was  at  this  time  the  owner  of  the  furnace  at 
the  Furnace  Village,  and  he  turned  this  to  account  in  the  service 
of  his  country.  There  is  evidence  that  he  parried  on  a  brisk 
business  in  this  line.  The  above  order  was  in  June,  1777;  and 
in  1782  in  the  Taunton  Court  Records  is  an  account  of  the  case 
of  James  Perry  of  Easton  vs.  Adam  Babcock  on  a  contract  for 
"  guns ;  also  for  converting  to  the  defendant's  use  two  iron 
cannon  of  the  plaintiff's."  If  the  word  "  guns  "  here  means 
muskets,  it  would  appear  that  Captain  Perry  manufactured  those 
also,  as  Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.,  was  doing  in  the  northeast  part 
of  the  town. 

After  the  war  was  over  Captain  Perry  had  a  painful  experi- 
ence, which  may  as  well  be  narrated  here  as  elsewhere.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  in  1786  there  was  an  insurrectionary  move- 
ment, mainly  in  Western  Massachusetts,  which  ultimately  became 
known  as  Shays's  Rebellion.  It  was  a  revolt  against  the  pressure 
of  taxation  and  other  grievances,  and  the  chief  remedy  proposed 
was  the  issue  of  paper  money,  —  a  proposition  with  which  our 


EASTON  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.     247 

own  generation  is  sufficiently  familiar.  Captain  Perry  was  ac- 
cused of  complicity  in  this  rebellion,  and  appears  to  have  been 
the  victim  of  great  injustice,  and  to  have  been  much  injured  in 
his  business  by  the  inconveniences  to  which  he  was  subjected. 
By  whom  or  for  what  purpose  this  accusation  was  made  against 
him  is  not  known.  But  February  10,  1787,  a  warrant  was  issued 
for  his  arrest  by  the  governor,  and  March  8  the  office  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  was  taken  from  him.^  Going  into  Berkshire 
County  on  business,  he  was,  February  21,  arrested  and  impris- 
oned in  the  Northampton  jail.  The  following  interesting  peti- 
tion written  by  him  in  jail  will  tell  the  whole  story  :  — 

To   his   Excellency    ya7nes   Bowdoin,   Esq.,    and  the    Honorable    the 
Council  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  : 

The  petition  of  James  Perry  of  Easton,  County  of  Bristol,  Humbly 
shews,  That  your  petitioner  went  from  his  home  in  Easton  in  the 
fourth  of  February  last  past,  in  order  to  settle  some  of  his  private 
business  in  the  County  of  Berkshire,  and  to  bring  back  some  patterns 
belonging  to  Easton  Furnace ;  and  having  finished  his  business,  as  he 
was  setting  out  for  home  was  on  the  21st  day  of  February  taken  up 
by  the  Lighlhorsemen  by  order  of  the  Honble  Major-Gen.  Lincoln, 
which  he  conceives  was  from  some  misrepresentation  to  the  General, 
and  sent  to  Northampton  Goal,  where  he  is  now  confined  by  a  State 
warrant,  being  obliged  to  leave  both  slay  &  horses  and  Furnace 
Patterns  &  other  articles,  at  Lenox,  —  which  disappointment,  together 
with  his  confinement,  will  entirely  prevent  his  making  a  blast  in  Easton 
Furnace  unless  soon  released,  which  will  render  him  forever  unable  to 
discharge  his  just  debts.  Besides,  your  petitioner  has  a  very  large 
family  to  support,  &  is  in  low  circumstances ;  that  he  hath  ventured  his 
life  &  fortune  in  the  late  war  against  Britain,  and  spared  no  pains  to 
protect  and  support  the  government  and  constitution  of  this  common- 
wealth through  the  war ;  that  he  hath  not  knowingly,  wittingly,  or  will- 
ingly said  or  done  any  thing  to  hurt  or  destroy  the  constitution  and  form 
of  Government  of  the  commonwealth  ;  that  he  hath  not  been  with,  aided 
or  assisted  the  Insurgents  in  the  late  tumults  in  the  western  Parts  of  the 
State  ;  that  he  had  a  long  fit  of  sickness  the  last  summer,  &  hath  con- 
stantly been  at  home  except  on  a  journey  to  Boston  ever  since  he  was 
sick,  which  he  could  not  consistant  with  his  buisness  avoid  ;  that  he 
conceives  there  have  been  many  misrepresentations  which  have  oper- 

1  State  Archives,  vol.  cl.xxxix.  pp.  127,  128,  185,  186. 


248  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

ated  to  his  injury.  He  therefore  prays  that  he  may  be  released  from 
his  confinement,  he  procuring  a  sufficient  bond  for  his  appearance  at 
the  time  of  trial ;  that  he  is  willing  to  have  an  impartial  trial  by  his 
Peers,  or  the  Laws  of  the  Land,  agreeable  to  the  constitution  and  form 
of  government ;  that  if  he  may  be  permitted  to  return  home  to  his  busi- 
ness he  conceives  that  he  shall  be  able  to  discharge  some  of  his  honest 
debts  by  making  a  blast  in  his  furnace  this  Spring,  and  thereby  do 
justice  to  himself  and  do  no  injury  to  government.  He  therefore  prays 
that  his  case  may  be  taken  into  your  wise  consideration,  and  release 
him  as  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  see  meet.     As  in  duty  bound  shall 

ever  pray 

James  Perry. ^ 
Northampton,  March  13,  1787. 

After  nearly  a  month's  tedious  waiting  in  vain,  the  selectmen 
of  Easton,  —  Abiel  Mitchell,  Seth  Pratt,  and  Jacob  Leonard, — 
presented  another  petition,  in  which  they  represented  that  the 
present  blast  must  fail  in  Captain  Perry's  furnace  because  of  his 
absence,  and  prayed  for  his  release.  To  their  petition  they 
added  the  following:  — 

N.  B.  We  further  certify  that  we  never  new  James  Perry,  Esq.,  ever 
heded  any  body  of  People  against  government,  or  ever  spoke  against 
the  same. 

Easton,  April  2,  17S7.2 

Similar  statements  and  requests  were  made  by  Samuel  Guild, 
and  by  Matthew  Hayward  the  town  clerk.  Another  month 
went  by  without  his  release;  and  on  the  third  of  May  he  ad- 
dressed a  pathetic  appeal  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  reciting 
his  services  in  the  war,  speaking  of  his  large  losses  by  the  de- 
preciation of  the  currency,  by  the  destruction  of  his  furnace  by 
fire,  and  by  other  unfortunate  circumstances,  and  pleading  that 
he  might  be  brought  to  a  speedy  trial,  or  at  least  be  removed  to 
the  jail  in  Bristol  County,  where  he  would  be  nearer  his  friends.^ 
Already,  however,  relief  was  on  the  way.  On  the  day  before 
this  petition  was  written,  being  the  second  day  of  May,  the 
Council  had  voted  to  release  him  if  sufficient  bail  were  given. 
Bail  was  imraedietely  secured,  and  Captain  Perry  came  home. 

1  State  Archives,  vol.  clxxxix.  p.  294. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  296.  3  Ibid.,  p.  293. 


EASTON    IN   THE    REVOLUTIOxN ARY   WAR.  249 

The  case  does  not  appear  ever  to  have  been  brought  to  trial.  No 
report  of  any  trial  appears  in  the  records  of  the  Superior  Court, 
to  which  the  case  was  referred,  nor  is  there  any  further  allusion  to 
it  in  the  meetings  of  the  Council.  The  conclusion  is  irresistible 
that  he  was  the  victim  of  a  false  accusation,  and  was  wrongfully 
imprisoned ;  but  he  never  received  any  satisfaction  for  the  losses 
that  he  had  thereby  sustained.  His  honor  was  not  even  vindi- 
cated by  the  trial  that  he  asked  for,  and  it  is  quite  probable 
that  this  may  account  for  the  fact  that 'he  never  received  a 
pension  on  account  of  his  military  services.  So  powerful  is 
slander  to  work  irreparable  mischief !  Further  particulars  con- 
cerning Captain  Perry  may  be  found  in  the  Genealogical  His- 
tory of  Easton. 

Another  Easton  officer  who  spent  considerable  time  in  the 
war  was  Capt.  Matthew  Randall.  He  was  son  of  Deacon 
Robert  Randall.  He  first  appears  as  a  sergeant  in  Captain 
Mitchell's  company,  which  marched  to  Lexington  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1775.  Returning  soon  afterward,  he  was  made  lieutenant 
in  Capt.  Francis  Luscomb's  company,  in  May,  and  served  through 
the  year  in  the  siege  of  Boston.  In  March,  1776,  he  became 
captain  of  the  fifth  company  of  the  third  regiment  of  Bristol 
County  Militia,  —  Abiel  Mitchell  having  just  been  made  the 
colonel  of  the  same.  During  a  large  part  of  this  year  he  was  on 
duty  in  and  about  Boston,  being  in  camp  at  Hull  in  June  and 
July,  and  on  Castle  Island  afterwards.  In  December  he  took  his 
company  into  service,  in  the  campaign  in  Rhode  Island.  He 
was  in  a  three  months  campaign  there  in  1778,  and  for  a  time 
also  in  1780.  About  the  period  of  the  close  of  the  war  he  moved 
to  Freetown,  of  which  place  he  became  a  resident,  and  where  he 
died  about  1790. 

Another  captain  who  belonged  in  Easton  was  Capt.  Josiah 
Keith.  He  was  the  third  of  that  name,  and  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  the  Rev.  James  Keith,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Bridge- 
water.  He  began  his  Revolutionary  experience  as  a  lieutenant 
in  Capt.  Macey  Williams's  company.  Not  long  afterwards  he 
was  made  captain  of  the  ninth  company  of  the  fourth  regiment 
of  the  Bristol  County  Militia,  commanded  by  Col.  John  Daggett. 


250 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


This  company  was  enlisted  mainly  from  the  west  part  of  the 
town,  and  was  known  as  the  West  Company,  Capt.  Matthew 
Randall  commanding  the  East  Company.  Captain  Keith  served 
with  his  company,  as  has  already  been  narrated  in  this  chapter, 
in  several  of  the  Rhode  Island  campaigns.  He  lived  on  the 
spot  where  the  house  of  Joel  S.  Drake  now  stands,  and  died  by 
suicide,  April  9,  1803,  aged  72  years. 

Capt.  Macey  Williams  was  another  officer  whom  Easton 
gave  to  the  Revolutionary  service.  He  was  a  resident  but  not  a 
native  of  Easton.  His  father  was  Josiah  Williams,  of  Taunton, 
who  settled  in  West  Bridge  water,  where  Macey  was  born  in 
1736.  He  was  captain  of  one  of  the  companies  of  minute  men 
that  marched  to  Lexington  on  the  evening  of  April  19,  1775. 
In  October  of  that  year  he  commanded  a  company  in  Col.  Timo- 
thy Walker's  regiment,  and  was  in  service  for  at  least  three 
months  from  that  time.  After  that  his  name  disappears  from 
the  muster-rolls,  and  for  some  reason  not  now  ascertainable  he 
probably  left  the  army.     He  died  in  Easton,  August  7,  1786. 

In  1780  Seth  Pratt,  who  had  served  some  time  as  lieuten- 
ant, took  the  command  towards  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  East 
Company.  He  served  as  ensign  in  Captain  Luscomb's  company 
in  1775.  He  subsequently  became  a  lieutenant  of  the  company 
which  he  afterwards  commanded.  He  was  in  service  in  several 
of  the  Rhode  Island  expeditions.  He  was  the  father  of  Dr. 
Seth  Pratt  and  of  Seaver  Pratt.  He  was  born  November  21, 
1738,  and  died  August  27,  1802. 

We  will  close  this  account  of  the  Easton  Revolutionary  cap- 
tains with  a  notice  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Burr.  He  was  son  of 
John  Burr,  of  West  Bridgewater,  where  he  was  born  in  1737, 
but  became  a  resident  of  Easton  as  early  as  1765.  At  that 
date  he  received  the  following  license:  — 

"  Ephraim  Burr  of  Easton  is  licensed  by  the  Court  to  sell  Tea, 
Coffy,  and  China  ware,  who  became  bound  as  principal  in  the  sum  of 
Ten  pounds  with  Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  his  suret}',  to  pay  to  the  Farmer 
on  sd  excise  the  duty  as  the  law  requires."  ^ 

1  See  Bristol  County  Court  of  Sessions,  1746-1777,  p.  360. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  25 1 

He  was  a  lieutenant  in  1776.  In  1777  he  was  made  a  cap- 
tain, and  in  March  of  that  year  enlisted  a  company  with  which 
he  saw  some  of  the  hardest  service  of  the  war.  He  wintered 
with  this  company  at  Valley  Forge,  losing  some  of  his  men  by 
death  and  some  by  desertion.  He  was  captain  in  Col.  John 
Bailey's  regiment  from  January  i,  1777,  to  September  10,  1779, 
and  was  very  active  in  the  enlistment  of  troops.  His  house 
was  on  Short  Street,  near  the  burying-ground.  He  died  by  his 
own  hand,  September  i,  1786. 

It  thus  appears  that  the  town  of  Easton  furnished  nine 
captains  for  the  Revolutionary  service.  Of  these,  one,  Abiel 
Mitchell,  became  a  major  and  soon  after  a  colonel  of  militia  ; 
another,  James  Keith,  became  a  major  in  the  regular  army. 
Most  of  these  captains  had  previously  been  lieutenants ;  but 
besides  them  the  following  also  were  lieutenants  at  some  period 
of  the  war:  Jacob  Leonard,  Isaac  Fuller,  Edward  Hayward, 
David  Keith,  Abiel  Williams,  Jonathan  Pratt,  Zachariah  Wat- 
kins,  Nathan  Hack,  John  Godfrey,  and  Dominicus  Record. 
Silas  Kinsley  and  Elijah  Howard  were  ensigns.  Capt.  Zeph- 
aniah  Keith  was  made  a  major  in  1778,  but  does  not  appear 
to  have  seen  active  service. 

In  addition  to  the  brief  biographies  already  given,  there  are 
two  others  that  deserve  to  be  added.  The  first  is  that  of  Brig.- 
Gen.  Benjamin  Tupper ;  and  the  second,  of  his  son  Major  Anselm 
Tupper,  Neither  was  a  resident  of  Easton  when  the  war  broke 
out ;  but  the  former  had  been  a  resident  for  about  ten  years,  and 
the  latter  was  a  native  of  the  town. 

Brig. -Gen.  Benjamin  Tupper  ^  was  a  citizen  of  Easton  for 
about  ten  years,  —  for  several  years  a  schoolmaster  here,  and  by 
marriage  closely  connected  with  several  Easton  families.  He 
was  born  in  Stoughton,  in  that  part  now  Sharon,  March  11, 
1738.  His  father  was  Thomas  Tupper,  Jr.,  of  Sandwich.  His 
mother  was   Remember  (Perry)  Tupper,  also  of  Sandwich,  and 

^  This  sketch  of  Brigadier-General  Tupper  is,  with  the  exception  of  such  items 
as  relate  to  Easton,  extracted  by  permission  from  the  excellent  series  of  articles  pub- 
lished in  1S83  in  the  "  Sharon  Advocate,"  and  written  by  Solomon  Talbot,  of  Sharon, 
Mass.    These  articles  deserve  to  be  republished  in  a  more  permanent  form. 


2^2  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


sister  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry,  of  Easton.  They  had  moved  to 
Stoughton  before  the  birth  of  their  son.  For  her  second  hus- 
band she  married,  October  4,  1742,  Jeremiah  Willis,  the  ancestor 
of  the  Philip  Willis  families.  Benjamin  lived  with  his  parents 
until  he  went  to  learn  the  tanner's  trade  with  Mr.  Withington, 
of  Dorchester.  This  was  in  his  boyhood,  for  he  was  appren- 
ticed very  early.  While  at  Dorchester  he  was  much  on  the 
water,  shooting  being  his  favorite  pastime  ;  and  he  there  gained 
that  familiarity  with  the  islands  of  Boston  Harbor  which  was 
of  such  advantage  in  his  efificient  Revolutionary  service  in  that 
locality,  which  will  presently  be  noticed.  In  the  French  and 
Indian  War  we  find  him,  when  but  sixteen  years  old,  in  the 
company  of  his  uncle,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry.  This  was  in  1754. 
After  this,  for  about  ten  years,  Easton  was  his  home.  He  was 
employed  upon  the  farm  of  Joshua  Howard,  though  he  owned 
and  may  have  cultivated  a  few  acres  of  land  which  he  bought  in 
1756.  He  served,  however,  in  several  campaigns  in  the  war  just 
named,  being  a  corporal  in  1757,  and  a  sergeant  in  1759.  In 
Easton  he  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  schoolmaster,  serving  in 
this  capacity  during  the  winter.     He  taught  as  early  as  1761. 

November  18,  1762,  Mr.  Tupper  married  Huldah,  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Kezia  White,  of  Bridgewater.  She  was  born  in 
1739.  Her  mother  Kezia  was  a  native  of  Easton,  being  the 
daughter  of  George  and  Katherine  (Dean)  Hall,  who  were  early 
settlers.  Mrs.  White  had  married  in  1748,  for  a  second  hus- 
band, Edward  PI  ay  ward,  Esq.,  already  so  well  known  in  this 
history.  The  latter  died  May  21,  1760.  She  lived  four  years 
of  widowhood,  and  then  in  1764  married  Deacon  Robert  Ran- 
dall. January  8,  1764,  Benjamin  Tupper  joined  the  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Easton.  A  few  months  after  this  he  moved 
to  Cliestcrfield,  where  he  was  an  active  citizen,  and  became  the 
first  deacon  of  the  church.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  he  was  a  lieutenant  of  militia.  He  proceeded  at 
once  to  Springfield,  and  dispersed  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
Crown  then  in  session  there.  He  then  marched  to  Roxbury, 
and  was  at  once  made  a  major  in  Colonel  Fellows's  regiment. 
About  the  middle  of  July,  1775,  he  made  an  expedition  with 
muffled  oars  to  Castle  Island,  burned  the  lighthouse,  and  brought 
off  considerable  property,  though  the  British  fleet  was  not  far  off. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


253 


The  British  endeavored  to  rebuild  the  lighthouse,  but  while 
the  work  of  restoration  was  in  progress,  Major  Tupper  embarked 
some  men  in  whale-boats,  taking  some  field-pieces  with  them. 
They  arrived  at  the  lighthouse  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning 
and  attacked  the  guard,  killed  the  officers  and  four  privates,  and 
captured  the  rest  of  the  troops.  Having  demolished  the  works 
they  were  about  to  depart,  but  the  tide  left  them,  and  the  Major 
himself  was  attacked  by  the  enemy's  boats.  But  sinking  one 
of  the  boats  with  his  field-piece,  he  escaped  with  the  loss  of  one 
man  killed  and  one  wounded.  He  killed  and  captured  fifty-three 
of  the  enemy  ;  and  among  the  captures  were  ten  Tories,  who 
were  immediately  sent  to  Springfield  jail.  This  brave  and  suc- 
cessful attack  won  great  praise.  Washington  thanked  Major 
Tupper  the  next  day  in  general  orders.  Jefferson  saw  in  it  "the 
adventurous  genius  and  intrepidity  of  the  New  Englanders  ; " 
and  the  British  Admiral  said  that  "  no  one  act  of  the  siege 
caused  so  much  chagrin  in  London  as  the  destruction  of  the 
lighthouse,  and  it  was  the  theme  of  the  most  biting  sarcasm." 

He  was  sent  to  Martha's  Vineyard  to  capture  two  vessels  in 
August,  1775.  In  the  following  September  he  embarked  with 
his  men  on  whale-boats  from  Dorchester,  landed  on  Governor's 
Island,  and  brought  off  eleven  head  of  cattle  and  two  fine  horses. 
While  the  enemy  held  Boston,  Colonel  Tupper  was  intrusted 
with  the  command  of  several  expeditions  that  cannot  be  de- 
tailed here,  but  which  showed  the  great  confidence  that  General 
Washington  had  in  his  good  judgment  and  courage.  The  follow- 
ing incident  illustrates  his  intrepidity  and  presence  of  mind:  — 

"Three  men  were  out  in  a  boat,  fishing  in  Boston  Harbor.  The 
wind  shifted,  and  the  broken  ice  completely  blocked  up  their  way,  so 
that  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  return.  Their  situation  was  one  of 
great  peril.  The  wind  blew  severely  cold,  and  the  men  must  soon 
have  perished  had  not  Colonel  Tupper  appeared,  who,  taking  in  the 
situation  at  a  glance,  procured  four  pairs  of  snow-shoes,  and  putting 
one  pair  upon  his  own  feet,  and  taking  the  others  under  his  arm,  he 
made  his  way  to  the  boat  over  the  floating  ice.  The  shoes  were 
fastened  to  the  feet  of  the  men,  and  Colonel  Tupper  brought  them 
all  away  safely  to  the  shore  amidst  the  shouts  and  congratulations  of 
the  people."  ^ 

1  See  articles  by  Solomon  Talbot,  already  mentioned. 


254 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Benjamin  Tupper  was  lieutenant-colonel  in  Colonel  Bailey's 
regiment,  from  January  i,  1777,  to  July  i,  at  which  time  he  be- 
came Colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment  of  Continental  troops, 
which  command  he  held  to  the  end  of  the  war.  From  Septem- 
ber I,  1778,  and  for  more  than  a  year  afterward,  he  was  inspec- 
tor in  General  Patterson's  brigade.^ 

During  the  memorable  winter  of  1 777-1 778,  his  regiment  was 
with  Washington  at  Valley  Forge;  and  on  January  28,  1778, 
he  addressed  a  pathetic  appeal  to  the  President  of  the  Council 
of  Massachusetts,  imploring  help  for  the  distressed  soldiers. 
He  served  with  honor  throughout  the  war,  and  towards  its  close 
was  appointed  brigadier-general  by  brevet.  He  took  charge  of 
the  military  organizations  at  Springfield  at  the  time  of  Shays's 
Rebellion,  and  repelled  the  attack  made  by  the  insurgents  on 
the  Armory.  He  and  General  Putnam  were  chiefly  instrumen- 
tal in  organizing  the  Ohio  Company,^  —  a  company  formed  to 
buy  and  encourage  the  settlement  of  the  fertile  lands  of  the 
Ohio  Valley.  General  Tupper  was  one  of  the  most  active  in 
surveying  and  laying  out  the  lands  and  inviting  their  occupation 
by  settlers.  We  cannot  follow  in  detail  all  his  interesting  West- 
ern experience  in  the  Ohio  territory.  He  was  appointed  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  1788  ;  was  a  Freemason  of  high 
rank,  and  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati. 

Perhaps  the  most  noteworthy  thing  in  the  life  of  General 
Tupper  is  the  fact,  based  on  what  seems  sufficient  evidence, 
that  he  was  the  real  inventor  of  the  screzv-propeller.  The  au- 
thority for  this  is  the  diary  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Manassah  Cutler,  a 
clergyman  of  note,  and  afterwards  a  member  of  Congress.  He 
was  with  General  Tupper  in  1788,  while  on  his  journey  to  Ohio. 
The  following  extract  from  his  diary  is  quoted  by  Solomon  Tal- 
bot in  his  account  of  General  Tupper  :  — 

1  State  Archives,  Continental  Officers,  vol.  for  1777  to  1779,  p.  13S. 

2  The  evidence  for  the  truth  of  this  statement  seems  to  the  writer  to  be  conclu- 
sive, notwithstanding  that  Hon.  George  B.  Loring  gives  the  chief  credit  of  the  affair 
to  Dr.  Manassah  Cutler,  of  Essex  County,  Mass.  Rufus  Putnam  and  Benjamin 
Tupper  joined  in  the  call  for  the  meeting  held  in  Boston  which  led  to  the  formation 
of  this  Company,  —  a  meeting  which  Dr.  Cutler  says  he  had  not  thought  of 
attending  until  urged  to  do  so  by  Winthrop  Sargent,  a  friend  of  General  Tupper. 
For  proof  of  these  statements  see  Nos.  10  and  11  of  the  articles  of  Solomon  Talbot 
already  alluded  to. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  255 

"Friday,  August  15,  1788.  —  This  morning  we  went  pretty  early  to 
the  boat.  General  Tupper  had  mentioned  to  me  a  mode  of  con- 
structing a  machine  to  work  in  the  head  or  stern  of  a  boat  instead  of 
oars.  It  appeared  to  me  highly  probable  that  it  might  succeed.  I 
therefore  proposed  that  we  should  make  the  experiment.  Assisted 
by  a  number  of  people,  we  went  to  work  and  constructed  a  machine 
in  the  form  of  a  screw,  with  short  blades,  and  placed  it  in  the  stern 
of  the  boat,  and  which  we  turned  with  a  crank.  It  succeeded  to  ad- 
miration, and  I  think  it  a  very  successful  discovery." 

It  would  thus  appear  that  General  Tupper,  ninety-eight  years 
ago,  anticipated  the  discovery  of  the  screw-propeller,  which  was 
nearly  half  a  century  in  coming  into  favor,  but  which  every 
ocean  steamship  now  employs. 

Troubled  times  with  the  Indians  soon  followed,  and  a  war  of 
several  years  duration  was  brought  to  an  end  by  General  Wayne, 
who  subdued  the  savages  in  1795.  But  General  Tupper  passed 
away  earlier,  dying  June  7,  1792,  at  fifty-four  years  of  age,  and 
was  buried  at  Marietta.  When  General  Lafayette  visited 
Marietta  in  1825,  and  the  names  of  the  pioneers  (many  of 
them  Revolutionary  soldiers)  were  read  to  him,  he  responded, 
"  I  know  them  all.  I  saw  them  at  Brandywine,  at  Yorktown, 
at  Monmouth,  and  at  Rhode  Island.  TJiey  zvere  the  bravest 
of  the  brave!' 

One  curious  thing  deserves  notice  here.  The  reader  may 
recall  the  fact  mentioned  at  the  beginning  of  this  sketch,  that 
Mrs.  Kezia  White,  the  mother  of  General  Tupper's  wife,  married 
for  her  second  husband  Edward  Hayward,  Esq.  In  the  course 
of  time  it  turned  out  that  Edward  Hayward's  grandson,  Capt. 
Rotheus  Hayward  (son  of  Deacon  Joseph)  married  the  grand- 
daughter of  General  Tupper.     Her  name  was  Panthia  Nye. 

Major  Anselm  Tupper,  eldest  son  of  General  Benjamin  and 
Huldah  (White)  Tupper,  whose  picture  is  here  presented  to  the 
reader,  was  born  in  Easton,  October  11,  1763.  When  the 
Revolutionary  War  began  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  His 
father,  of  course,  left  him  at  home  when  he  departed  for  the 
scene  of  action  ;  but  he  inherited  the  military  spirit  from  both 
the  Perrys  and  the  Tuppers,  and  the  brave  lad  could  not  re- 
main at  home.     Accordingly,  soon  after  the  battle  of  Le.xing- 


256 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


ton,  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Robert  West's  Chesterfield  company,^ 
which  was  assigned  to  Colonel  Fellows's  regiment,  in  which  his 
father  was  already  major.  It  is  interesting  to  think  of  this 
Revolutionary  soldier,  not  yet  twelve  years  old,  engaging  in  all 
the  toil,  hardship,  and  peril  of  war,  and  never  flinching  until  his 
country's  independence  was  achieved. 

Anselm  Tapper  remained  in  the  service  in  the  same  regiment 
with  his  father,  participating  with  him  in  the  engagement  on  the 
North  River  in  August,  1776,  being  in  his  regiment  also  at 
West  Point.  He  was  an  ensign  in  1779.  March  15,  1780,  he  be- 
gan to  serve  as  lieutenant,  though  not  at  that  time  commissioned 
as  such.  September  15,  1780,  Colonel  Tupper  recommended 
Anselm  Tupper  and  others  in  his  regiment  for  promotion.  The 
document  embodying  this  recommendation  is  very  interesting, 
because  it  is  indorsed  by  General  Washington,  who,  under  his 
own  signature,  earnestly  approved  and  urged  the  promotions 
suggested  by  Colonel  Tupper.^ 

The  appointment  was  made  September  26,  1780.  He  then 
began  to  be  paid  as  lieutenant.*^  From  January  i,  1782,  until 
January  i,  1783,  he  was  lieutenant  and  adjutant  in  Colonel 
Tupper's  regiment  in  the  Continental  army  (the  eleventh).*  His 
appointment  as  adjutant  began  presumably  on  the  former  of 
these  two  dates,  although  it  is  possible  he  may  have  been  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity  a  short  time  in  1781.  After  this  time  and 
until  the  close  of  the  war  he  served  as  adjutant  in  the  Con- 
tinental service  in  Col.  Ebenezer  Sprout's  regiment  (the  second, 
once  Colonel  Bailey's).  His  name  appears  as  of  that  rank  in  a 
list  of  officers  of  that  regiment  under  date  of  July  11,  1783.^ 

After  the  close  of  the  war''  he  was  engaged  as  surveyor  with 
his  father,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  Government  to  lay 
out  the  lands  in  the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio.      After 

^  State  Archives,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  Ivi.  p.  43. 

2  Ibid.,  Revolutionary  Letters,  vol.  cciii.  pp.  109,  no. 

s  Ibid.,  Continental  Officers,  vol.  for  17S0,  p.  87. 

*  Ibid.,  Revolutionary  Rolls,  vol.  Ix.  p.  13. 

6  Ibid.,  vol.  1.  p.  13. 

6  This  remaining  account  of  Major  Anselm  Tupper  was  mainly  written  by 
Anselm  Tupper  Nye,  the  nephew  of  Major  Tupper,  for  Solomon  Talbot,  who  has 
kindly  furnished  it  to  the  writer  of  this  History.  The  heliotype  print  here  given 
is  from  a  photograph  of  a  copy  of  a  painting  of  Major  Tupper,  the  original  being 
the  work  of  Sully. 


Major  Anselm  Tupper. 


EASTON    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  257 

completing  the  survey  of  the  seven  ranges  Major  Tapper  re- 
turned to  Massachusetts,  and  in  November,  1787,  was  appointed 
by  the  directors  of  the  Ohio  Company  as  surveyor  for  that  com- 
pany for  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  one  of  the  fa- 
mous pioneer  band  that  crossed  the  Alleghany  Mountains  in 
the  winter,  and  made  the  first  settlement  in  the  Northwest  Ter- 
ritory at  Marietta,  April  7,  1788.  The  survey  was  continued 
until  they  were  driven  off  by  the  attacks  of  the  Indians,  who 
afterwards,  in  1790,  surprised  a  settlement  up  the  Muskingum 
River  and  barbarously  butchered  one  woman,  two  children,  and 
eleven  men.  Major  Tupper  at  the  head  of  a  company  of  sol- 
diers went  to  this  sickening  scene  of  atrocity,  and  buried  the 
mutilated  bodies  side  by  side  where  they  fell. 

Anselm  Tupper  was  the  first  school-teacher  at  Marietta. 
When  we  consider  that  such  regular  schooling  as  he  possessed 
must  all  have  been  acquired  previous  to  his  entering  the  army 
(which  he  did  before  he  was  twelve  years  old),  it  may  seem 
strange  that  he  was  fitted  to  fill  the  position  of  teacher.  But 
he  had  no  doubt  improved  the  opportunities  afforded  by  associ- 
ation with  French  officers  of  education  and  culture,  probably 
learning  the  French  and  Latin  languages,  as  he  is  understood 
to  have  been  a  classical  scholar.  He  had  great  proficiency  in 
mathematics,  and  was  also  something  of  a  poet. 

Major  Tupper  is  said  to  have  possessed  a  polished  address 
and  fine  intellectual  ability,  and  was  a  great  favorite  in  society. 
He  never  married.  He  was  appointed  major  of  the  stockade 
at  Marietta  during  the  war,  and  afterwards  taught  school  in  one 
of  the  blockhouses.  In  a  vessel  built  at  Marietta  he  made  a 
voyage  as  second  officer  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers, 
across  the  Atlantic,  up  the  Mediterranean  and  Black  seas  to 
Trieste.  He  returned  home,  and  died  several  years  afterward. 
He  was  buried  in  the  Mound  Cemetery  at  Marietta,  near  his 
father,  and  his  epitaph  reads,  — 

Major  Anselm  Tupper,  born  at  Easton,  Mass, 
Oct.  II,  1763,  DIED  December  25TH,  1808. 

17 


258  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

CHAPTER    XV. 

THE  REV.  WILLIAM    REED. 

The  Dawn  of  Peackful  Times  for  the  Easton  Church. —  The  Call 
OF  William  Reed.  —  His  Birth  and  Ancestry.  —  "  Relation"  of 
HIS  Religious  Experience.  —  How  he  obtained  his  Wife.  —  The 
Ordination  Services.  —  Home  Life.  —  Church  Discipline.  — 
The  Ministerial  Land.  —  Incorporation  of  the  Parish.  — 
The  Church  Bell.  —  Pecuniary  Struggles.  —  Mr.  Reed  as 
a    Preacher. 

AT  last  in  the  religious  life  of  Easton  we  have  come  to  peace- 
ful times.  The  dreary  succession  of  storms  and  tempests 
is  over.  The  clouds  have  rolled  away,  and  though  we  continue 
to  hear  the  echoes  of  the  retreating  thunder,  though  all  about 
us  are  too  evident  signs  of  damage  and  desolation,  still  the  sky 
is  blue  above  our  heads,  and  the  sun  shines  bright  with  promise 
of  better  days.  For  half  a  century  now  we  shall  have  a  church 
life  of  comparative  peace. 

At  the  date  of  Mr.  Campbell's  dismissal,  1782,  the  church 
life  was  low.  The  church  had  suffered  in  the  late  dissension. 
Hard  feeling  and  alienations  and  consequent  declining  of  reli- 
gious interest  had  resulted.  Moreover,  the  long  war  of  the 
Revolution  had  done  much  to  unsettle  the  habits  of  the  people. 
Returning  soldiers  brought  back  rougher  manners  and  looser 
principles.  The  times,  too,  were  hard.  A  rapidly  depreciating 
currency  created  distrust  and  discontent.  Notwithstanding  this 
state  of  things  in  the  church  and  parish,  all  were  unanimous 
in  the  desire  to  have  the  Rev.  William  Reed  for  their  pastor. 
The  church  called  him,  July  25,  1783,  after  the  usual  fasting 
and  prayer.  The  town  unanimously  concurred  in  this  call 
August  25.  Deacon  Phillips  said  to  Mr.  Reed  that  he  must 
not  refuse  the  call,  for  if  he  did  they  would  "  be  all  broken  up." 
Esquire  Hubbard,  of  Abington,  told  Mrs.  Deacon  Pratt  that  Mr. 
Reed  was  too  good  a  man  for  a  town  like  Easton,  With  quick 
wit,  and   with   good   sense  too,   Mrs.    Pratt   responded   that   if 


THE   REV.    WILLIAM    REED. 


259 


Easton  people  were  as  wicked  as  he  had  intimated,  then  they 
needed  just  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Reed  for  their  minister.  Esquire 
Hubbard's  remark,  however,  shows  the  reputation  Easton  had 
acquired  in  the  vicinity. 

The  town  voted  Mr.  Reed  one  hundred  pounds  for  his  yearly 
salary  for  four  years,  and  after  that  eighty  pounds.  This  needs 
explanation.  Formerly  a  sum  about  equal  to  one  year's  salary 
had  been  voted  as  an  inducement  for  the  minister  to  settle,  and 
was  called  his  "  encouragement,"  or  "  settlement."  But  it  was 
not  found  easy  to  raise  this  extra  money  in  one  or  two  years.  It 
was  therefore  thought  better  to  distribute  it  through  several 
years ;  so  that  we  are,  in  fact,  to  understand  that  his  salary  for 
each  year  was  eighty  pounds,  and  the  addition  of  twenty  pounds 
a  year  for  the  first  four  years  was  his  "  encouragement."  Subse- 
quently they  voted  that  he  might  get  his  firewood  from  the  min- 
isterial land  ;  and  an  increasing  confidence  in  the  clergy  seems 
indicated  by  the  fact  that  they  did  not,  as  in  Mr.  Campbell's 
case,  appoint  some  one  to  watch  lest  "  good  timber  "  should 
be  cut  for  firewood.  Mr.  Reed  accepted  the  call  of  church  and 
parish  in  the  following  concise,  sensible  letter  :  — 

2^0  the  Church  and  Congregation  in  Easton : 

Brethren,  —  Having  taken  into  mature  consideration  the  request  of 
the  church,  together  with  the  concurring  voice  of  the  congregation,  to 
settle  amongst  you  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  ac- 
cept of  your  call.  Desiring  your  prayers  to  God  for  me  that  I  may  be 
faithful  and  successful  in  the  great  and  important  work,  I  am  with  re- 
spect, brethren,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

William  Reed. 
Easton,  Feb.  7,  1784. 

We  note  the  absence  of  all  professions,  promises,  and  verbal 
extravagance  in  this  brief  letter.  It  was  characteristic  of  Mr. 
Reed,  we  shall  find,  to  avoid  circumlocution,  to  say  no  more 
than  he  meant,  and  to  go  straight  to  his  mark. 

"  Rev.  William  Reed,  of  Easton,  was  the  son  of  William  and  Silence 
(Nash)  Reed  of  Abington,  and  was  descended  in  the  fifth  generation 
from  William  Reed  born  in  1605,  who  sailed  from  Gravesend  in  the 
county  of  Kent,  England,  in  the  '  Assurance  de  Lo '  (of  London)  in 
1635,  who  settled   in  Weymouth,  Mass.,   and  was  made  a  freeman 


26o  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Sept.  2,  1635.  The  direct  descendants  of  this  first  William  Reed  who 
came  to  this  country  were  William,  who  married  Esther  Thompson  of 
Middleboro  in  1675,  a  granddaughter  of  Francis  Cook,  one  of  the 
'  Mayflower  '  company.  Of  their  eight  children,  Jacob,  the  third  son, 
born  in  1691,  married  Sarah  Hersey,  and  their  son  William  was  the 
Rev.  William  Reed,  of  Easton. 

"  He  was  born  on  June  8,  1755,  and  as  it  was  Sunday  he  was  carried 
the  same  afternoon  two  miles  on  horseback  to  be  baptized,  in  con- 
formity wilh  the  custom  of  the  times.  Think  of  the  poor  little  infant 
wrapped  in  its  swaddling  clothes,  its  eyes  hardly  opened  to  the  light  of 
the  new  world  it  had  just  entered,  jolted  over  two  miles  of  a  country 
road  in  the  arms  of  a  nurse,  who  sat  on  a  pillion  behind  the  father  ! 
His  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  in  the  usual  labors  of  New  Eng- 
land farmers'  sons  of  that  day ;  and  being  nurtured  in  a  religious 
home,  and  surrounded  by  the  grave  influences  prevalent  at  that  time, 
he  early  became  religiously  disposed,  and  made  every  effort  to  obtain 
a  collegiate  education,  with  a  view  of  entering  the  Christian  ministry. 
His  advantages  were  meagre  in  the  imperfect  winter  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  various  circumstances  prevented  his  entering  on  his 
preparatory  studies  till  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Still  he  struggled  on. 
It  was  probably  at  this  time  that  he  publicly  connected  himself  with 
the  church,  for  we  find  the  following  curious  '  Relation,'  as  it  is 
called,  —  a  confession  of  his  unworthiness  and  sin,  and  of  his  con- 
viction that  he  had  found  the  grace  of  God,  which  confession  was 
publicly  made  as  a  preliminary  of  joining  the  church."  ^ 

The  "  relation  "  referred  to  above  we  shall  give  in  full,  be- 
cause it  illustrates  a  phase  of  church  life  and  discipline  which 
was  introduced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prentice  soon  after  his  settle- 
ment here,  and  continued  in  use  for  many  years.  The  writer 
has  seen  many  such  "relations,"  and  their  similarity  and  confor- 
mity to  an  established  type  make  them  appear  formal  and  con- 
ventional, wanting  the  individuality,  sincerity,  and  fresh  feeling 
which  the  expression  of  religious  experience  ought  to  indicate. 
The  temptation  to  make  a  good  statement  of  such  experience 
must  often  have  led  persons  to  express  more  than  they  really 
felt,  and  opened  the  way  to  insincerity  and  hypocrisy.  Mr. 
Reed's  "relation"  is  as  follows:  — 

1  Quoted  from  a  sketch  of  the  Rev.  William  Reed,  written  by  his  grandson,  Wil- 
liam Howells  Reed,  to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  interesting  personal  details 
in  this  chapter. 


THE   REV.    WILLIAM    REED.  261 


To  the  Rev.  Pastor  and  Church  of  Christ  in  this  place : 

The  all-wise  God,  whose  ways  are  unsarchable  and  whose  judge- 
ments are  past  finding  out,  was  pleased  in  his  boundless  mercy  to 
send  forth  his  holy  spirit  and  apprehend  me  while  in  a  state  of  secur- 
ity and  guilt,  and  awaken  me  to  a  solemn  concern  for  my  immortal 
soul.  I  was  brought  to  see  that  I  was  a  sinner  by  nature,  that  I  came 
into  the  world  in  a  state  of  pollution  and  guilt,  and  that  I  had  actually 
broken  the  law  of  God  in  thought,  word,  and  deed,  ways  and  times 
without  number,  and  was  thereby  exposed  to  eternal  death.  I  saw 
that  my  feet  stood  in  slippery  places,  and  that  I  was  in  the  utmost 
danger  every  moment  of  sliding  into  the  bottomless  gulf  of  eternal 
despair.  The  arrows  of  the  Almighty  so  pierced  my  soul  that  I  was 
ready  to  cry  out,  A  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear  1  Now  my  earnest 
enquiry  was,  How  shall  I  escape  the  wrath  of  an  angry  God,  which  I 
saw  revealed  from  heaven  against  all  the  workers  of  iniquity  ?  I  was 
ready  to  fly  to  the  law  for  relief,  but  all  in  vain  ;  for  I  found  that  the 
law  required  perfect  obedience,  and  condemned  for  the  least  offence, 
and  demanded  satisfaction  for  former  violations  which  I  saw  impos- 
sible for  me  ever  to  make  ;  therefore  I  was  convinced  that  I  could  not 
be  saved  by  the  deeds  of  the  law.  I  was  convinced  that  the  strictest 
outward  morality  would  never  entitle  me  to  the  favor  of  God,  — it  was 
the  heart  and  the  whole  heart  that  God  required.  I  saw  that  it  would 
be  just  with  God  to  cast  me  off  forever,  and  that  there  was  no  pos- 
sible way  to  escape  but  and  through  Jesus  Christ.  But  my  reluctant 
unbelieving  heart  was  unwilling  to  part  with  all  for  the  pearl  of  great 
price,  till  God  by  his  almighty  power  humbled  me  to  the  very  dust, 
and  brought  me  to  lie  at  the  foot  of  sovereign  mercy  ;  then  He  who 
is  rich  in  mercy  was  pleased  to  send  forth  a  ray  of  divine  light  and 
illuminate  my  dark  and  benighted  understanding,  and  give  me  to  see 
the  beauty,  excellency,  and  glory  of  God  shining  forth  in  the  face  of 
Jesus  Christ.  I  beheld  Christ  Jesus  by  an  eye  of  [faith]  to  be  an 
all-sufficient  glorious  Saviour,  and  saw  the  infinite  evil  of  sin,  and  be- 
held Jesus,  the  Lord  of  glory,  wounded  for  my  transgressions  and 
bruised  for  mine  iniquities.  I  saw  that  he  had  wrought  a  righteous- 
ness every  way  answering  the  demands  of  a  broken  law,  which  was 
sufficient  to  justify  the  vilest  sinner  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  was 
offered  freely  to  every  one  that  would  accept  of  it  without  money  and 
without  price.  Christ  Jesus  appeared  to  be  the  brightness  of  his 
father's  glory  and  the  express  Image  of  his  person,  the  chief  among 
ten  thousand,  and  the  one  altogether  lovely  ;  and  I  hope  and  trust  that 
I  was  enabled  by  faith  to  receive  him  for  my  Prophet,  Priest,  and 


262  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


King,  and  rest  my  soul  upon  his  all-perfect  righteousness.  I  trust 
that  1  was  brought  to  adopt  the  language  of  holy  Job,  and  say,  "  I  have 
heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eye  seeth  thee  ; 
wherefore  I  abhor  myself  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes."  This  I  offer 
to  your  consideration  for  admission  into  fellowship  and  communion 
with  this  Church,  desiring  your  reception  of  and  prayers  for  me  that  I 
may  live  and  walk  agreeable  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

William  Reed. 

Instead  of  being  the  outpouring  of  hearts  deeply  stirred  by 
gratitude  for  the  work  of  saving  grace,  these  "  relations  "  seem 
more  like  studied  rehearsals  of  the  scheme  of  Calvinistic  divin- 
ity. But  it  was  the  rule  of  the  church  in  Easton  that  such  a 
statement  should  be  made,  either  orally  or  in  writing. 

Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Lexington  Mr.  Reed  enlisted  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  served  in  Captain  Isaac 
Wood's  company  of  Middleborough  men,  being  for  several 
months  in  the  army  about  Boston.  He  also  served  for  a  few 
days  on  several  Rhode  Island  "  alarms."  At  the  expiration  of 
his  first  term  of  service,  having  realized  enough  from  his  pay  to 
procure  the  necessary  books,  he  began  his  studies  with  his  uncle, 
the  Rev.  Solomon  Reed,  of  Middleborough,  entering  Harvard 
University  in  1778,  and  graduating  in  1782.  He  then  spent  a 
year  in  teaching  school  and  reading  divinity,  the  theological 
education  of  candidates  for  the  ministry  being  at  that  time 
very  meagre  and  superficial  as  a  rule.  It  consisted  of  a  course 
of  reading  for  about  a  year,  usually  under  the  direction  of  a  set- 
tled clergyman  ;  candidates  were  then  examined  by  an  Asso- 
ciation of  ministers,  who,  if  the  examination  was  satisfactory, 
approbated  them,  and  recommended  them  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  certificate  given  to  Mr. 
Reed :  — 

We  whose  Names  are  underwritten  do  hereby  Certify  That  Mr, 
William  Reed,  late  of  Cambridge  College,  having  Offered  himself  to 
Examination  relative  to  his  Quallifications  for  the  Work  of  the  Gospel 
Ministry,  was  accordingly  Examined  by  us  Members  of  an  Associa- 
tion in  the  County  of  Plymouth  ;  and  it  appears  to  us,  upon  strict 
Enquiries  made,  &  the  Answers  he  returned.  Together  with  the  Rep- 
resentation   He  then   made  of  the  Sense  he   had  of  God   and  The 


THE   REV.   WILLIAM    REED.  263 

Things  of  Religion,  that  he  is  Suitably  Qualified  for,  and  therefore 
we  can  &  do  freely  recommend  him  unto,  the  Work  of  the  Gospel 
Ministry. 

John  Shaw. 

Solomon  Reed. 
Peres  Fobes. 

MiDDLEBOROUGH,  April  l8,  1 783.  ' 

Mr.  Reed  must  have  preached  at  Easton  very  soon  after  this 
date,  as  he  had  a  call  from  the  church  three  months  afterward. 
He  was  ordained  April  21,  1784.  Extensive  preparations  were 
made  for  the  service  of  ordination.  As  many  as  ten  churches 
were  invited  to  be  present,  —  including  the  church  ministered 
to  by  Mr.  Reed's  uncle  in  Middleborough,  the  four  churches  in 
Bridgewater,  and  the  churches  in  Abington,  Mansfield,  Norton, 
Taunton,  and  Raynham.  The  Rev.  Silas  Brett,  who  had  left 
his  charge  at  Freetown  to  become  a  citizen  of  Easton,  provided 
good  cheer  for  the  council,  to  the  amount  of  forty-five  dollars. 
The  meeting-house  had  been  allowed  to  get  shabby,  and  now  a 
decided  effort  was  made  to  have  it  put  in  good  order.  The 
windows  were  carefully  repaired,  and  Jedediah  Willis  was  ap- 
pointed to  provide  a  new  covering  for  the  pulpit  cushion. 
People  came  from  far  and  near  on  this  great  day,  many  of  the 
men  being  on  horseback,  with  their  wives  on  pillions  behind 
them.  They  drive  to  the  "horse-block,"  where  the  women  dis- 
mount. This  horse-block  was  about  seven  feet  long  and  three 
feet  wide,  and  six  or  eight  inches  thick.  It  was  a  large  slab  of 
stone  raised  about  three  feet  from  the  ground,  and  supported  by 
brick-work.  At  one  end  were  a  few  steps  by  which  ladies  might 
mount  the  block  or  descend  from  it.  Years  afterward  this  slab 
of  stone  became  the  door-step  at  Daniel  Reed's  store,  just  west 
of  the  church.  In  1828,  by  formal  vote,  the  parish  relinquished 
all  right  to  it. 

The  meeting-house  is  unpainted,  bare  and  weather-stained 
upon  the  outside.  We  may  enter  it  by  either  of  three  doors,  for 
there  is  one  on  the  east,  one  on  the  south,  and  another  on  the 
west  side  of  the  building.  The  angular  pulpit  was  on  the  north 
side,  and  had  a  sounding-board  suspended  over  it,  held  by  an 
iron  rod.  There  was  no  belfry  at  the  time,  and  no  porch  ;  these 
were  not  built  until  ten  years  later,  at  which  time  a  bell  was  also 


264  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

provided.  There  were  the  old,  square,  high-backed  pews.  The 
deacons'  pew  was  by  the  side  of  the  pulpit,  and  when  occupied 
it  helped  to  give  dignity  and  solemnity  to  the  scene.  The  front 
seats  of  the  centre  aisle  were  for  old  persons,  and  others  who 
were  hard  of  hearing.  The  "women's  seats"  were  on  one  side, 
the  "  men's  seats  "  on  the  other,  these  being  the  common  seats, 
and  not  including  the  family  box-pews.  On  one  side  of  the 
square  pews  the  seats  were  hung  upon  hinges,  so  that  as  the 
people  rose  "  in  prayer  time  "  the  seats  could  be  turned  up  and 
make  more  room  for  standing.  "And  we  can  imagine  the 
clatter  and  bang  of  these  rough  board  seats  as  they  were 
slammed  down,  not  always  softly  we  may  be  sure,  by  mischiev- 
ous urchins  who  liked  the  reverberations,  which  sounded  like 
the  irregular  firing  of  musketry,  as  each  seat  fell  in  its  place."  ^ 
The  church  had  a  low  gallery,  which  was  entered  on  one  side 
by  "  men's  stairs"  and  on  the  other  by  "  women's  stairs,"  the 
seats  on  one  side  being  for  men,  and  on  the  other  for  women. 
It  was  never  heated,  was  sometimes  freezing  cold,  and  even  the 
foot-stove  appears  to  have  been  an  innovation  of  a  later  time. 
Apparently,  at  this  time  instrumental  music  had  not  fought  its 
way  into  the  service  of  our  sanctuary  in  Easton,  for  the  church 
has  its  "  tuners"  to  sound  the  key-note  of  the  hymns,  and  to  lead 
in  the  singing.  At  this  date,  April,  1784,  Robert  Drake,  Jr.,  and 
two  others  are  the  tuners,  —  and  very  proud  no  doubt  they  are 
of  their  part  in  the  ordination  service  of  the  new  minister. 

Were  it  possible  for  us  to  go  back  one  century  and  look  in 
upon  the  large  audience  that  gathered  in  the  church  of  our 
fathers,  we  should  be  especially  struck  by  the  imposing  and 
reverend  appearance  of  the  half  score  of  clergymen  who  were 
seated  there,  with  their  white  wigs  and  quaint  old  costumes. 
But  what  would  interest  us  most  would  be  the  appearance  of  the 
minister,  and  of  the  young  lady  who  is  soon  to  be  his  bride. 
Curiously  enough,  the  record  of  the  costumes  they  wore  that 
day  has  been  carefully  preserved.  Mr.  Reed  has  on  a  light-blue 
mixed  coat,  black  lasting  vest  with  skirts  and  pockets  in  it,  and 
small  clothes  of  the  same,  white  linen  stockings,  and  silver  knee 
and  shoe  buckles,  white  wig,  and,  when  out  of  doors,  a  cocked 
hat.  It  was  the  same  suit  he  had  worn  at  his  graduation  the 
1  William  Howells  Reed's  statement. 


THE   REV.   WILLIAM   REED.  265 

year  before.  But  curiosity  is  on  tiptoe  to  see  the  young  lady, 
Miss  Olive  Pool,  who  was  soon  to  be  the  minister's  wife.  She 
dismounts  from  the  pillion  of  her  father's  horse  at  the  horse- 
block, and  the  staid  matrons  shake  their  heads  gravely  as  they 
catch  sight  of  the  slight  form  of  this  girl,  seventeen  years  old. 
She  comes  in  shyly  no  doubt,  with  happy  face  and  sparkling 
eyes,  in  her  scarlet  silk  dress  "trailing  half  a  yard,"  open  in 
front,  with  gauze  handkerchief,  white  petticoat,  and  embroidered 
apron  with  strings  tied  in  front,  and  with  high-heeled  shoes. 
She  had  worn  the  same  dress  at  his  graduation,  and  it  is  worth 
telling  how  she  got  it,  because  it  will  also  tell  us  how  she  got 
her  husband. 

Mr.  Samuel  Pool  lived  in  a  house  that  was  on  the  boundary  line 
between  Abington  and  Bridgewater.  He  had  several  daughters 
who  were  acquaintances  of  Mr.  Reed,  he  having  taught  in  the 
district  school  which  they  attended.  He  invited  the  oldest 
daughter  to  attend  his  graduation  at  Cambridge  ;  she  declined. 
He  then  asked  her  sister  next  of  age  ;  she  did  not  care  to  go. 
He  was  not  to  be  put  off  in  this  way,  and  he  invited  Olive,  then 
only  sixteen  years  of  age,  twelve  years  younger  than  himself. 
Much  surprised,  and  as  much  pleased,  she  said  she  would  like  to 
go  if  she  had  any  dress  fit  to  wear  on  such  an  occasion.  Mr. 
Reed  would  not  allow  this  deficiency  to  stand  in  the  way,  and  so 
he  bought  the  material  himself,  and  took  the  young  lady  with  it 
to  his  sisters  at  Abington,  and  they  made  it  up  for  her.  How 
much  sometimes  hangs  on  how  little !  It  was  doubtless  the 
declining  this  invitation  by  the  older  sisters  that  made  Olive  Pool 
the  wife  of  William  Reed.  Be  that  as  it  may,  one  month  after 
the  ordination  at  Easton,  May  20,  1784,  they  became  husband 
and  wife,  and  moved  to  Easton  on  the  8th  of  June  following.  It 
may  seem  strange  that  Mrs.  Reed  did  not  join  the  church  until 
1800,  but  such  is  the  fact.  She  evidently  meant  to  be  sure  of 
her  calling  and  election  before  taking  that  important  step. 

Mr.  Reed  bought  the  place  opposite  the  almshouse,  and 
moved  into  a  house  a  little  west  of  the  large  square  house  he 
soon  afterward  built.  The  well  that  belonged  to  the  old  house 
may  still  be  seen.  The  new  house  was  built  probably  in  1786, 
as  William,  Jr.,  born  in  1787,  was  the  first  child  born  there. 
This  house,  somewhat  enlarged  from  what  it  was  in  those  days, 


266  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

is  still  standing,  its  interior  in  many  respects  the  same.  There 
was  the  grand  old  kitchen,  the  living  room  of  the  house,  with 
its  large  chimney,  its  deep  fire-place,  and  the  blackened  crane 
from  which  hung  the  utensils  used  for  cooking.  There  was  the 
huge  back-log,  ablaze  with  cheerful  warmth.  There  was  the 
great  pantry  stored  with  the  good  things  made  by  the  careful 
and  hospitable  housewife.  There  in  the  long  winter  evenings 
might  be  heard  the  hum  of  the  spinning-wheel  and  the  flying 
shuttles  of  the  loom,  —  sounds  of  industry  often  prolonged  late 
into  the  night.  From  the  low  trundle-bed  the  children,  if  wake- 
ful, might  see  the  deft  and  loving  hands  of  the  dear  mother 
working  patiently  in  the  still  hours,  that  they,  in  their  rough  but 
strong  and  neat  homespun,  might  go  tidy  to  school.  It  was  not 
unusual  for  one  of  her  boys  to  tell  her  in  the  evening  that  he  had 
worn  out  his  mittens  and  needed  a  new  pair,  and  to  wake  up  in 
the  morning  and  find  the  new  pair  knit  and  ready  for  him  to  put 
on.  One  of  her  sons  returned  at  one  time  from  a  distant  school, 
and  within  twenty-four  hours  she  spun  and  wove  three  yards  of 
cotton  cloth,  and  made  a  shirt  for  him  to  take  away.  In  the 
midst  of  such  cares  came  the  first  sorrow  to  the  young  mother, 
in  the  loss  of  the  little  daughter  Olive,  in  the  month  of  August, 
1 793  >  the  child  being' seventeen  months  old.  The  little  coffin 
was  placed  upon  a  round  table  out  in  the  open  air  near  the  grave, 
which  was  under  a  walnut  tree  not  far  from  the  house.  It  was 
a  very  impressive  scene,  as  the  clergymen  in  their  white  wigs 
stood  there  reverently  conducting  the  service,  and  the  moaning 
of  the  bereaved  mother  mingled  with  the  rustling  of  the  leaves, 
the  songs  of  birds,  and  all  the  varied  sounds  of  Nature.  The 
interesting  picture  of  Mrs.  Reed  here  presented  is  from  a  da- 
guerrotype  taken  late  in  life.  It  gives  the  impression  of  serenity 
and  strength,  traits  conspicuous  in  her  character. 

In  the  parish  and  church  things  go  quietly  and  peacefully  on. 
There  is  at  first  a  lack  of  religious  interest.  The  church  meet- 
ings are  few,  and  not  well  attended.  It  is  easy  to  understand 
the  disappointment  of  the  excellent  minister  when  he  had  to  re- 
cord, as  he  sometimes  did,  "  The  meeting  was  dismissed,  owing 
to  the  small  number  present."  In  1784  Matthew  Hay  ward  is 
chosen  deacon,  and  some  years  later  Joseph  Drake  and  Abijah 
Reed  are  chosen  to  the  same  office,  Matthew  Hayward  having 


Mrs.  Olive  Reed. 


THE   REV.    WILLIAM    REED.  267 

moved  away.  It  is  refreshing  to  note  that  at  this  time  church 
discipline  means  something,  and  that  dishonesty,  intemperance, 
slander,  etc.,  unless  repented  of,  are  sufficient  grounds  for  open 
rebuke  and  even  expulsion.  As  an  example  we  give  the  follow- 
ing case  of  discipline,  the  Willis  named  being  Captain  Jedediah, 
who  leaves  no  descendants  here  to  be  troubled  by  this  record. 
It  was  voted  at  church  meeting,  August  20,  1792,  — 

"i.  That  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Jedediah  Willis  towards  Abijah 
Knapp,  a  member  of  the  church  in  Taunton,  was  unchristian,  in 
calling  hira  a  Rascal,  &  ordering  him  out  of  his  house  in  an  abrupt 
manner. 

"  2.  We  have  such  strong  suspicions,  from  circumstancial  evedence, 
that  said  Willis  has  given  himself  up  to  excessive  drinking  of  Spiritous 
Liquor,  that  we  are  unwilling  to  commune  with  him  at  the  Lord's  Table. 

"3.  That  he  has  been  guilty  of  slander  in  declaring  openly  &  re- 
peatedly that  the  Pastor  of  the  church  of  Christ  in  Easton  had  told 
him  thirty  Devilish  Lies. 

"For  which  offences,  Voted  unanimously  that  he,  the  said  Willis,  be 
suspended  from  our  Communion  and  from  all  church  privileges,  till  he 
make  a  publick  confession  to  church  and  congregation." 

In  1 79 1  the  town  petitioned  the  General  Court  to  pass  an  Act 
to  incorporate  the  parish  in  Easton.  It  was  allowed;  and  on 
February  4,  1792,  there  was  passed  "An  Act  to  establish  and 
incorporate  a  Religious  Society  in  the  Town  of  Easton  in  the 
County  of  Bristol,  by  the  name  of  the  Congregational  Parish  of 
Easton."  By  this  Act  those  who  usually  attended  or  should 
attend  services  with  the  Congregational  society  in  Easton,  and 
who  should  cause  their  names  to  be  registered  with  the  clerk 
of  said  society,  were  constituted  a  distinct  corporation,  with 
power  to  hold  meetings,  levy  and  collect  taxes,  and  transact  such 
business  as  other  parishes  of  the  Commonwealth  might  transact. 
One  effect  of  this  Act  was  to  take  the  parish  business  out  of  town- 
meetings,  and  to  have  it  managed  only  by  those  who  were  prop- 
erly members  of  the  parish.  This  was  a  very  great  gain,  saving 
as  it  did  much  wrangling  and  embarrassment  consequent  upon 
the  business  of  the  parish  being  shared  in  by  so  many  who  had 
no  real  interest  in  its  affairs.  It  also  enabled  the  parish  in  its 
corporate  capacity  to  hold  property  the  income  of  which  should 


268  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

not  exceed  ;!^I50,  and  provided  that  until  the  annual  income  of 
such  property  was  sufficient  to  support  a  public  teacher,  no  part 
of  it  should  be  "applied  or  used  for  any  other  purpose  than  to 
increase  the  principal  fund  or  estate."  The  strongest  motive 
for  incorporating  the  parish  was  doubtless  to  enable  its  mem- 
bers to  secure  for  the  sole  use  of  the  Congregational  society  the 
property  originally  designed  for  its  use.  A  sentiment  adverse 
to  this  had  been  developing.  The  Baptists,  the  rising  Metho- 
dist Society,  and  others  maintained,  that,  as  the  ministerial  lands 
had  been  originally  voted  to  the  whole  town  as  a  parish,  now 
that  the  town  was  divided  into  several  parishes  there  should  be 
an  equitable  division  of  the  property  among  all  of  them.  This 
proposition  seemed  plausible  and  just.  But  the  question  in- 
volved was  no  new  one  ;  it  had  been  discussed  and  definitely 
acted  upon  many  years  before.  In  1753,  when  the  Presbyterian 
society  was  organized  under  Mr.  Prentice,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  secure  a  part  of  this  property  for  the  use  of  this  society.  But 
the  Taunton  North-Purchase  Company  settled  the  question  au- 
thoritatively in  a  meeting  held  April  2,  1753.  After  defining 
the  boundaries  of  the  ministerial  lands  granted  by  said  company 
in  1684,  the  proprietors  voted  as  follows :  — 

"And  whereas  our  predecessors  who  voted  and  set  said  land  appart 
for  the  ministry  were  of,  and  belonged  to,  those  Churches  which  were 
then  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Congregational  Churches,  and 
we  apprehend  it  was  their  design  and  intent  that  the  above  mentioned 
lands  shall  be  improved  for  the  maintaining  of  the  ministers  of  those 
Churches  which  shall  be  of  those  principles  :  Therefore  we  now  vote 
that  the  whole  of  the  abovesaid  lands  shall  be  improved  for  the  main- 
taining of  the  ministers  of  the  several  Congregational  Churches  which 
belong  to  the  said  towns  above  mentioned,  and  be  improved  for  that 
end  only."  ^ 

It  was  therefore  just  that  this  property  should  be  used  for  the 
Congregational  society  alone,  and  by  having  it  vested  in  the 
corporation  now  organized  it  would  be  no  longer  in  danger  of 
division  or  misappropriation. 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  86.  The  "  said  towns  above  men- 
tioned "  were  Norton  and  Easton. 


THE   REV.    WILLIAM    REED.  269 

This  Act  did  not  exempt  all  persons  except  members  of  this 
parish  from  taxation  for  the  support  of  worship.  Those  who 
were  connected  with  other  religious  organizations  were  thus 
exempted  by  a  vote  of  the  parish  ;  but  those  who  were  con- 
nected with  none  were  not  exempted.  The  Act  abolishing  com- 
pulsory taxation  for  the  support  of  worship,  and  making  such 
support  entirely  voluntary  was  not  passed  until  1832.  It  is  prob- 
able, however,  that  before  that  date  it  had  long  been  a  dead  letter, 
and  that  even  in  1793  and  afterward  the  law,  which  must  have 
been  increasingly  odious,  was  not  very  rigidly  enforced. 

The  Act  of  incorporation  referred  to  provided  for  the  choice 
of  five  trustees  besides  the  minister,  who  should  receive,  hold, 
and  manage  the  parish  funds.  These  trustees  were  to  be 
chosen  annually.  The  Act  was  amended  in  18 10,  after  the 
death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Reed,  by  repealing  so  much  of  it  as  required 
that  the  minister  of  the  society  should  be  one  of  the  trustees. 
The  first  board  of  trustees  was  the  Rev.  William  Reed,  Matthew 
Hayward,  Abiel  Mitchell,  Samuel  Guild,  Abisha  Leach,  and 
Elijah  Hayward.  But  when  the  first  meeting  was  held  for 
organization  of  the  corporation,  John  Howard  and  Edward 
Williams  were  chosen  trustees  in  place  of  Matthew  Hayward 
and  Samuel  Guild.  Elijah  Howard  was  elected  clerk  and 
treasurer.  A  parish  record  was  begun,  which  still  exists  in 
perfect  order,  and  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Congregational 
(Unitarian)  Parish  of  Easton. 

In  1793,  after  the  incorporation  of  the  parish,  it  was  found 
that  the  town  of  Easton  had  about  three  hundred  pounds'  worth 
of  unappropriated  property.  An  attempt  was  made  to  increase 
the  parish  fund  by  adding  to  it  this  property,  after  deducting 
from  it  and  allowing  to  "  people  of  other  denominations  being 
inhabitants  of  the  Town  "  such  proportion  as  should  appear  to 
be  their  due  according  to  the  amounts  assessed  upon  them  for 
taxes,  and  allowing  them  to  use  it  as  they  saw  fit.  It  does 
not  appear  whether  this  plan  was  proposed  or  opposed  by  the 
parish,  but  it  was  voted;  and  the  Baptist  Society  which  was 
just  dying,  and  the  Methodist  Society  which  was  just  being 
born,  might  hope  for  some  advantage  by  having  town  funds 
thus  divided.  But  their  hopes  were  dashed  ;  for  in  April  of 
the  next  year  the  vote  was  rescinded,  and  the  unappropriated 


'&£' 


270  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

property  of  the  town  was  turned  over  to  the  payment  of  regular 
town  charges.  In  October,  1792,  the  following  proceedings  are 
recorded  :  — 

"  It  is  observable  that  the  People  of  this  Town  are  very  irregular  as 
to  the  time  of  attending  Publick  worship.  To  prevent  this  Disorder, 
We,  the  subscribers,  are  desireous  of  procuring  a  Bell  to  the  Meeting- 
house, and  promise  to  pay  the  sums  affixed  to  our  Names  for  that 
purpose,"  etc. 

Nearly  fifty  pounds  were  subscribed,  Mr.  Reed  giving  the 
largest  sum  (;^3,  18s.),  his  parishioners  refraining  with  singular 
delicacy  from  exceeding  the  amount  given  by  their  minister. 
The  bell  was  cast  by  Ezekiel  Reed.  The  metal  put  into  it  was 
one  old  bell  of  346  pounds  weight,  and  274^  pounds  of  copper 
and  block  tin,  a  total  of  620^^  pounds.  It  cost  £48,  Ss.,  $d. 
August  15,  1793,  it  was  voted  to  give  the  new  bell  for  the  use 
of  the  parish,  "  And  the  Town,  or  any  inhabitant  of  The  Town 
of  Easton,  shall  not  be  Prohibited  the  use  of  said  Bell  on  any 
Necessary  Occasion."  On  the  2d  of  September  the  parish  voted 
to  accept  the  bell  of  the  donors,  and  to  build  a  belfry  from  the 
garret  beams  to  hang  the  bell  in.  The  work  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  done,  nor  the  bell  to  have  been  hung  until  nearly 
June,  1794.  It  was  voted,  June  23,  that  any  individual  might 
have  the  bell  tolled  on  the  death  of  a  friend,  provided  he  would 
bear  the  expense  of  tolling  it.  The  access  to  the  belfry,  that  is 
to  the  platform  on  which  the  bell  frame  was  placed,  was  by  one 
or  two  flights  of  stairs  to  a  floor,  and  there  a  ladder  about  six 
feet  in  length  admitted  one  to  the  fioor  of  the  belfry.  A  spire 
surmounted  the  belfry,  and  at  this  time  a  porch  was  added  to  the 
meeting-house. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  salary  of  Mr.  Reed  was 
fixed  at  eighty  pounds  a  year,  an  addition  of  twenty  pounds 
yearly  being  made  for  the  first  four  years  for  his  "  settlement." 
This  money  for  many  years  succeeding  the  Revolutionary  War 
had  a  very  uncertain  value,  as  we  have  already  shown,  —  a  value 
considerably  less  than  the  present  worth  of  the  English  pound 
sterling.  With  his  family  growing  up  about  him,  and  with  the 
large  demands  of  hospitality  which  a  country  clergyman  at  that 
time   must  meet,    his  salary   proved  too   small.      This    became 


THE    REV.    WILLIAM    REED. 


271 


known,  and  in  1796  the  parish  voted  that  a  committee  be  chosen 
to  "  take  into  consideration  the  surcumstances  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Reed,"  and  to  name  what  would  be  the  proper  sum  to  pay  him 
for  a  salary.  The  committee  reported  that  one  hundred  pounds 
was  about  the  right  sum,  and  this  was  voted.  The  real  value  of 
this  salary  at  that  date  was  only  three  hundred  dollars.  Of  course 
the  necessaries  of  life  then  were  cheaper  than  they  are  now,  and 
Mr.  Reed  was  able  to  get  something  from  the  unwilling  soil. 
But  it  was  a  hard  struggle.  To  meet  the  growing  demands  of  a 
large  family  and  the  claims  of  hospitality  required  on  that  salary 
such  toil  in  the  field  by  the  goodman,  and  at  the  spinning-wheel 
and  loom  by  the  prudent  housewife,  such  economy  and  self- 
sacrifice,  as  the  present  generation  knows  little  of.  There  were 
some  in  the  society  who  saw  and  appreciated  the  situation,  and 
in  1801,  through  their  influence,  a  vote  was  passed  to  make  Mr. 
Reed's  salary  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  the  exact  value 
of  which  then  was  four  hundred  dollars.  Instantly  the  parish  was 
in  a  ferment.  It  would  not  do  to  encourage  such  extravagance. 
Numbers  actually  withdrew  from  the  parish  ;  others  threatened 
to  do  so.  Daniel  VVheaton  headed  a  petition,  "  Viewing  with 
concern  the  state  of  the  affairs  of  said  parish,"  and  proposing, 
first,  to  sell  enough  of  the  parish  land  as  would  increase  the  in- 
come of  the  parish  fund  sufficiently  to  pay  parish  charges  ;  or, 
if  this  were  negatived,  to  add  the  four  hundred  dollars  voted  for 
Mr.  Reed's  salary  to  the  parish  fund,  making  its  interest  about 
ninety  pounds,  or  three  hundred  dollars,  provided  Mr.  Reed 
would  accept  that  amount  for  his  salary  if  he  could  receive  it 
semi-annually.  The  meeting  was  called.  The  parish  voted  not  to 
sell  any  of  the  parish  land.  The  yeas  and  nays  were  taken  as  to 
whether  the  parish  wished  Mr.  Reed  to  relinquish  any  part  of 
the  salary  of  four  hundred  dollars  they  had  voted  him.  There 
were  twenty-eight  yeas  and  thirty-eight  nays.  The  situation  was 
critical  with  votes  so  nearly  equal.  The  meeting  adjourned  for 
ten  days  to  give  time  to  think  over  the  situation.  The  disaffec- 
tion at  the  increased  salary  grew,  and  a  compromise  became 
necessary.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  the  parish  voted  that  if 
he  would  allow  the  four  hundred  dollars  voted  him  to  be  added 
to  the  parish  fund,  he  should  have  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  payable  in  two  instalments,  and  if  the  price  of  labor 


272  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

rose  above  three  shillings  a  day  his  salary  should  rise  in  like 
proportion.  They  also  voted  that  "  he  shall  have  the  privilege 
of  a  free  public  contribution  twice  a  year."  This  last  proposi- 
tion must  have  been  hard  to  accept ;  it  seemed  to  make  their 
faithful  servant,  to  whom  they  were  bound  to  give  an  adequate 
support  in  an  honorable  manner,  an  object  of  semi-annual 
charity.  But  Mr.  Reed  was  a  prudent  man  ;  and  if  a  sense  of 
proper,  manly  independence  tempted  him  to  refuse  the  disagree- 
able proffer  the  sight  of  his  large  family  made  him  control  and 
conceal  his  feelings,  and  submit  to  receive  as  a  charity  what  was 
due  him  for  service  well  rendered.  When  we  consider  that  the 
interest  of  the  parish  fund  was  now  three  hundred  dollars,  and 
that  expenses  other  than  the  minister's  salary  were  very  light 
(less  than  one  hundred  dollars),  this  action  of  the  parish  forces 
upon  us  one  of  two  conclusions,  —  either  that  the  people  were 
very  poor,  or  that  they  meant  to  adopt  as  far  as  possible  the 
Scriptural  suggestion  of  getting  the  truth  "  without  money  and 
without  price."  Mr.  Reed  did  not,  however,  long  receive  the 
amount  granted  him.  The  parish  fund  increased  to  $5,773.86, 
and  he  was  voted  the  interest  of  it  for  his  salary.  For  several 
years  this  interest  amounted  to  $327.36.  Once  they  voted  that 
wood  enough  be  sold  from  the  parish  land  "  to  pay  for  ringing  the 
bell,  sweeping  the  meeting-house,  and  shovelling  snow  from  the 
meeting-house  doors;"  and  thus  with  the  salary  paid  from  the 
interest  of  the  parish  fund  and  other  expenses  from  the  sale  of 
wood,  the  Scriptural  promise  alluded  to  seems  almost  literally  to 
have  been  fulfilled. 

It  is  not  pleasant  to  report  such  facts,  but  the  writer  did  not 
invent  them,  and  truth  to  history  forbids  him  to  suppress  them. 
Those  whose  ancestors  were  represented  in  the  parish  of  that 
date  are  at  liberty  to  imagine  that  they  belonged  to  the  more 
generous  majority,  who  for  the  sake  of  retaining  the  disaffected 
among  their  number  made  up  to  their  minister  by  private  gifts 
the  deficiency  already  mentioned.  The  parish  voted  him  the 
next  year  a  gift  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  allow  for  past  loss  by 
depreciation  of  currency.  It  must  also  in  justice  be  said  that 
the  town  was  poor  at  this  time.  The  court  records  at  Taunton 
show  an  astonishing  number  of  lawsuits  growing  out  of  the  fail- 
ures and  troubles  of  a  depressed  and  unsettled  business  condition. 


THE    REV.    WILLIAM    REED.  273 

Everything  then  was  conceived  and  executed  upon  a  different 
scale  from  the  present,  and  we  may  easily  err  in  applying  to 
another  time  the  standards  of  judgment  current  and  appropriate 
to  this. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Reed's  sermons  are  curious-looking  little  manu- 
scripts, six  inches  long  by  three  and  three  quarters  inches  wide, 
being  written  when  paper  was  costly  and  money  scarce.  Con- 
trary to  our  traditional  ideas  of  the  sermons  of  a  century  ago, 
these  are  short,  and,  unless  Mr.  Reed's  delivery  was  exception- 
ally slow,  would  not  average  over  fifteen  minutes  in  their  preach- 
ing. It  is  probable,  however,  that  he  may  have  extemporized 
the  "  improvement"  or  application  at  the  end.  After  the  main 
statements  in  some  of  them  there  is  the  word  "  Enlarge,"  —  a 
word  that  seriously  endangers  the  brevity  of  a  sermon.  These 
sermons  are  just  such  as  a  moderate  Calvinist  of  that  time, 
with  an  even  temperament  and  practical  good  sense,  might  be 
expected  to  write.  They  are  wanting  in  originality  of  thought, 
in  fertility  of  imagination,  and  in  fervent  feeling.  They  are 
calm,  commonplace,  and,  unless  relieved  by  extemporaneous 
additions,  dull.  They  do  not  show  the  least  sign  of  departure 
from  the  prevailing  Calvinism  of  the  period.  They  abound  in 
statements  that  are  technical  reproductions  of  the  then  current 
theories  of  God,  man,  and  human  destiny.  There  is  nothing 
harrowing  to  the  feelings  in  them  ;  but  this  peculiarity  results 
rather  from  deficiency  of  imagination  than  from  any  apparent 
lack  of  sturdy  belief  in  Calvinistic  doctrines.  For  he,  too,  can 
preach  about  the  "  wrath  of  an  incensed  God."  He  also  repeats 
the  absurdity  that  sin  deserves  an  infinite  penalty  because  it  is 
sin  against  an  infinite  being,  and  gives  as  a  reason  for  the  resur- 
rection of  the  body,  that  the  body,  being  the  soul's  partner  in 
sin,  deserves  to  suffer  with  the  soul  the  penalties  of  hell-fire ! 
In  sermon  No.  136  (for  his  sermons  are  all  carefully  numbered 
and  labelled),  a  sermon  from  the  text  "  No  man  can  come  unto 
me  except  the  Father  draw  him,"  he  argues  that  while  man  is 
utterly  unable  to  come  to  Christ,  he  is  no  less  culpable  because 
of  his  inability.  After  stating  that  men  are  wholly  blind  to  all 
spiritual  things  in  the  natural  state  he  reasons  as  follows  :  — 

"  Our  understandings  are  darkened  so  that  we  cannot  see  the  excel- 
lency and  beauty  of  the  divine  character.     We  have  lost  the  image 

18 


274  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

of  our  God,  which  consisted  in  knowledge,  righteousness,  and  holi- 
ness ;  and  it  is  not  in  our  power  again  to  restore  the  image  of  God, 
for  by  this  loss  we  are  become  weak  and  impotent ;  and  what  is  still 
worse  we  are  insensible  of  our  weakness,  wretchedness,  and  misery. 
By  our  apostasy  from  God  we  have  lost  our  strength  (Romans,  v.  6)  ; 
for  when  we  were  yet  without  strength,  in  due  time  Christ  died  for 
the  ungodly.  Had  not  Christ  have  died,  there  would  have  been  no 
possible  way  for  us  to  have  been  saved,  —  for  without  shedding  of 
blood  there  could  be  no  remission  of  sins.  Now  the  way  of  life  and 
salvation  is  opened  by  the  blood  of  Christ ;  but  we  have  no  strength 
to  return.  In  the  first  place  we  are  blind  in  a  spiritual  sense  and 
unable  to  see  the  necessity  of  returning  to  God  from  whom  we  have 
revolted  ;  and  without  the  illumination  of  the  divine  Spirit  we  should 
all  forever  remain  in  this  state  of  blindness  and  opposition  to  God. 
It  is  not  in  the  power  of  man  to  open  the  eyes  of  his  understanding ; 
and  therefore  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  discover  the  beauties  and 
excellencies  of  a  Savior,  and  consequently  they  cannot  come  and 
heartily  embrace  and  receive  him.  For  persons  that  come  and  receive 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  their  redeemer  and  Savior  are  always  ravished 
with  his  beauty  and  charmed  with  his  excellencies." 

The  above  is  an  average  specimen  of  Mr.  Reed's  sermons, — 
calm,  clear,  rehearsing  the  commonplaces  of  the  Calvinistic  sys- 
tem without  really  penetrating  to  its  marrow  and  essence. 

We  gladly  turn,  however,  to  another  side  of  the  picture. 
What  gave  Mr.  Reed  his  real  power  and  influence  were  the  moral 
earnestness,  the  unquestioning  faith,  the  serious  purpose  and 
spirit  that  pervaded  his  discourses.  It  is  these  that  tell  in  the 
long  run,  in  pulpit  ministrations,  more  than  originality  of  thought 
or  oratorical  power.  Behind  these  sermons  was  an  earnest,  up- 
right, high-minded  life  ;  and  this  life  told  upon  the  character  and 
conduct  of  others,  commanding  respect,  inviting  imitation.  Mr. 
Reed  died  November  i6,  1809,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four,  having 
been  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Society  in  Easton  over  twenty- 
five  years.  Forty  years  later,  March  26,  1850,  his  widow  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three,  beloved  and  respected  by  all  for  her  gen- 
tleness, serenity,  and  peace-loving  spirit.  At  her  funeral  her 
eight  children  gathered  in  one  company  at  the  old  homestead  to 
mingle  their  tears  and  prayers  at  their  mother's  bier,  and  to  lay 
her  precious  dust  away  tenderly  by  their  father's  side. 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO    1800. 


275 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO    1800. 

The  Randalls  build  the  first  Saw-Mill.  —  Clement  Briggs 
STARTS  the  first  Grist-Mill.  —  Eliphalet  Leonard  erects 
Brummagem  Forge.  —  Other  Iron  Industries.  —  Firearms  Man- 
ufactured AT  THE  "Quaker  Leonard  Place."  —  Easton  said 
TO  Manufacture  the  first  Steel  made  in  this  Country. 
—  Miscellaneous  Industries. 

ONE  of  the  necessities  of  a  settlement  in  the  old  New- 
England  times  was  a  saw-mill.  The  first  dwellings  of 
the  early  settlers  were  built  of  hewn  logs,  the  interstices  be- 
ing filled  with  clay  or  mud.  In  some  cases  the  floor  was  the 
ground,  smoothed  for  the  purpose.  These  quarters  were  small, 
and  all  conveniences  of  the  rudest  kind.  The  transportation 
for  long  distances  of  boards  and  other  lumber  must  have  been, 
in  the  absence  of  roads,  nearly  out  of  the  question.  Yet  such 
lumber  became  an  immediate  necessity  ;  and  therefore  an  eli- 
gible site  for  a  mill  had  to  be  selected  at  once,  a  dam  con- 
structed, a  mill  erected,  saws  and  other  apparatus  set  in  place, 
and  work  begun.  No  music  was  more  delightful  to  the  ears 
of  those  pioneers  than  the  harsh  humming  of  the  saw  as  it  cut 
its  way  through  the  logs. 

It  might  seem  more  systematic  to  group  similar  industries  to- 
gether in  the  following  account  ;  but  the  writer  prefers  to  present 
them  in  chronological  order,  that  the  reader  may  understand  the 
gradual  development  of  the  business  enterprises  of  Easton. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  town  was  made  at  what  is  now 
South  Easton  village.  This  was  in  1694.  Thomas  Randall,  Sr., 
located  a  few  rods  northeast  of  the  stream,  upon  which  J.  O. 
&  T.  H.  Dean's  mill  now  stands.  He  was  a  man  of  some  means, 
and  his  son  Thomas  Randall,  Jr.,  was  soon  worth  more  than 
his  father.      They  were  the  principal  builders  and  owners  of  the 


276  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

original  mill.  This  is  put  beyond  question  by  old  deeds  at 
Taunton  ;  by  these  it  appears  that  Thomas  Randall,  Jr.,  was  a 
half  owner,  Thomas  Randall,  Sr.,  a  quarter  owner,  and  Nathaniel 
Packard,  of  Bridgewater,  brother-in-law  of  the  latter,  was  also  a 
quarter  owner.  The  exact  date  of  the  building  of  this  mill  can- 
not now  be  determined.  It  was  an  accepted  fact  in  March, 
1703,  at  which  time  it  is  referred  to  in  the  North-Purchase  re- 
cords in  the  laying  out  of  a  road.^  It  was  without  doubt  erected 
before  1700,  and  probably  quite  near  the  date  of  settlement 
given  above.  This  mill  stood  close  by  the  north  end  of  the 
present  dam.  In  17 13  Thomas  Randall,  2d,  his  father  being 
dead,  sold  one  quarter  of  the  mill-privilege  to  Timothy  Cooper, 
and  another  quarter  to  John  Daily,  who  at  once  deeded  it,  either 
as  a  sale  or  as  security,  to  Timothy  Cooper.  Ephraim  and  Israel 
Randall,  who  inherited  a  quarter  of  it  from  their  father,  sold  their 
share  of  it  to  Clement  Briggs,  who  sold  it  to  Timothy  Cooper. 
The  latter  owned  it  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1726. 

A  grist-mill  had  been  built  at  the  same  place  by  Clement 
Briggs,  prior  to  171 3.  How  long  before  this  date  it  may  have 
been  in  operation  there  is  no  means  of  determining.  But  in- 
asmuch as  a  grist-mill  was  a  prime  necessity  to  a  young  settle- 
ment, it  is  very  probable  that  this  one  was  erected  not  long 
after  the  settlement  was  begun,  perhaps  even  before  1700.  Cle- 
ment Briggs,  the  first  settler,  was  dead  as  early  as  June,  1720; 
and  the  oldest  son,  Clement,  in  February,  1723,  sold  the  grist- 
mill to  Timothy  Cooper.  In  1729  the  grist-mill  appears  to  have 
been  in  the  possession  of  Ephraim  Randall,  passing  afterward  into 
the  ownership  of  his  son  Timothy.  The  old  mill  was  torn  down 
in  1750,  and  another  was  built, —  Robert  Ripley  being  the  car- 
penter who  did  the  work.  Timothy  Randall  owned  it  as  late 
as  February,  1781,  when  he  died.  It  then  became  the  prop- 
erty of  his  son  Timothy,  who  owned  it  until  1803.  The  saw- 
mill had  disappeared  long  before  this  time  ;  it  does  not,  at  least, 
appear  in  the  valuation  for  1771. 

We  have  seen  that  the  first  business  enterprise  in  what   is 

now  Easton  was  the  Randall  saw-mill  at  South   Easton  village, 

and  the  second  was   Clement   Briggs's  grist-mill  at  the  same 

dam.     It  cannot  be  positively  determined  which  was  the  third. 

^  See  First  Book  of  Surveys,  p.  21. 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO    1800.  277 

The  third  to  be  positively  knozvn  is  the  Leonard  forge  at  the 
foot  of  Stone's  Pond,  now  so  called  ;  that  we  know  to  have 
been  in  operation  in  October,  1723.  But  it  is  probable  that 
Josiah  Keith's  saw-mill  was  built  a  little  earlier  than  this  forge. 
May  24,  1 71 7,  he  bought  of  Nathaniel  Ames,  of  Bridgewater,  one 
hundred  and  eight  acres  of  land  where  the  farm  of  Edward  D. 
Williams  is  situated.  In  1724  he  was  sued  by  William  Britton, 
who  with  his  brother  seems  to  have  worked  for  Mr.  Keith,  and 
he  was  forced  to  deliver  to  the  plaintiff  twenty-one  thousand 
shingles,  besides  paying  the  cost  of  suit.  Reference  is  made  in 
another  suit  against  Mr.  Keith  to  the  "  saw-mill  near  his  now 
dwelling-house."  There  being  no  saw-mill  in  that  part  of  the 
town  before,  it  is  very  probable  that  this  one  was  erected  soon 
after  Mr.  Keith's  settlement  there,  which  was  as  early  as  1718  ; 
the  site  of  this  mill  may  still  be  found  west  of  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Williams.  Josiah  Keith  soon  became  involved,  and  other 
persons  became  owners  in  the  mill.  George  Hall,  living  at  the 
Daniel  Heath  place,  became  half  owner,  and  finally  sold  his  share 
to  James  Williams,  of  Taunton.  In  1734  Mr.  Keith  sold  a 
quarter-share  of  the  mill  to  George  Leonard,  of  Norton,  and  in 
1735  he  sold  another  quarter  to  Eleazer  Keith,  together  with 
the  farm  and  buildings,  his  ownership  of  mill  and  homestead 
then  ceasing.  James  Williams  sold  a  quarter  share  of  the  mill 
to  Silas  Williams,  in  1738.  Another  quarter  was  owned  by 
Thomas  Manley,  Sr.,  when  he  made  his  will  in  1743,  in  which 
it  was  called  "  Keith's  old  saw-mill."  How  much  or  how  long 
it  was  used  after  this  time  is  not  known,  but  it  was  abandoned 
before  1 771,  as  it  does  not  then  appear  upon  the  valuation  of 
the   town. 

The  discovery  of  bog-iron  ore  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
town,  which  has  already  been  mentioned,  induced  Capt.  James 
Leonard  to  start  the  iron  business  there.  In  December,  1716, 
he  purchased  of  Nathaniel  Manley  thirty-five  acres  upon  both 
sides  of  "  Trought-hole  Brook,"  as  it  was  called  and  misspelled. 
In  June,  1720,  he  made  a  further  purchase  of  eight  and  a  half 
acres  at  the  same  place.  These  purchases  included  the  present 
location  of  the  Red  Factory  in  North  Easton  village,  and  land 
on  both  sides  of  the  stream  north  of  that  location.  The  exact 
date  of  the  building  of  the  dam  to  make  the  pond,  and  of  the 


278  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

erection  of  the  forge,  cannot  be  given  ;  it  was  however  in  full 
operation  before  October,  1723,  and  was  probably  begun  in  1720, 
as  that  was  the  date  of  the  last  purchase,  and  as  Capt.  Leonard's 
son  Eliphalet,  who  always  managed  the  business,  had  just  then 
reached  an  age  when  he  could  look  after  this  work.  It  was  the 
first  forge  built  within  the  limits  of  what  soon  after  became 
the  town  of  Easton.  It  was  christened  the  Brummagem  Forge. 
The  word  Brummagem  is  a  corruption  of  Birmingham,  the 
famous  iron-working  place  in  England  ;  and  it  gave  the  clerks 
and  surveyors  of  the  North-Purchase  Company  much  trouble, 
they  in  their  efforts  to  master  it  showing  great  originality  in 
their  spelling.  It  was  written  Bramingium,  Bromajam,  Brum- 
majam,  etc.  This  name  was  for  a  time  applied  alike  to  the 
stream  and  the  pond.  But  the  forge  was  soon  known  as  Eli- 
phalet Leonard's  Forge.  Here  the  bog-iron  ore  was  brought 
from  the  lot  near  Lincoln  Spring  and  from  other  places,  and  by 
fire  and  hammer  was  reduced  to  malleable  iron  of  an  excellent 
quality.  In  October,  1723,  Thomas  Manley,  Sr.,  became  a  quar- 
ter owner  of  the  forge,  but  sold  out  his  share  in  June,  1728,  to 
Eliphalet  Leonard.  In  August,  1742,  Eliphalet's  father,  James 
Leonard,  gave  him  the  entire  ownership.  This  Captain  Eliphalet 
carried  on  the  business  until  1782,  when  he  deeded  it  to  his  son 
Jacob.  It  does  not  appear  to  have  been  very  prosperous  at  any 
time.  The  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  Isaac  Leonard, 
son  of  Jacob,  who  was  its  owner  in  1800.  In  September,  1802, 
he  sold  the  forge,  coal-house,  grist-mill,  etc.,  to  Timothy  Mitchell 
and  Giles  Leach.  In  February,  1805,  Leach  sold  out  his  in- 
terest in  this  property  to  his  partner.  Isaac  Leonard  the  year 
before  this,  April,  1804,  sold  his  homestead,  now  the  F.  L.  Ames 
farm-place,  to  Richard  Wild  ;  and  thus  the  Leonard  ownership 
of  this  property  ceased. 

Some  time  before  1771  Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.,  had  erected 
a  forge  at  what  is  now  called  the  Marshall  place,  on  the  road 
east  of  the  Washington  Street  Methodist  Meeting-house.  It 
appears  on  the  valuation  of  the  above  date.  Eliphalet,  Jr., 
was  deeded  the  land  where  his  house  stood  at  the  Marshall 
place  in  1765,  and  this  forge  was  erected  without  doubt  not  long 
afterward.  It  is  a  point  of  great  interest  to  be  told  by  good 
authority  that  he  was  the  first  person  to  attempt  the  making  of 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO    1800.  279 

steel  in  this  country.  We  are  aware  that  claims  like  this  must 
be  received  with  caution  ;  but  it  was  made  by  the  well-known 
Jonathan  Leonard,  of  the  firm  of  Leonard  &  Kinsley,  of  Canton. 
He  was  a  son  of  this  second  Eliphalet,  was  well  informed  in 
such  matters,  and  in  a  letter  dated  February  23,  1826,^  he  writes 
as  follows  :  — 

"As  to  the  making  of  steely  the  first  attempt  made  in  this  country, 
so  far  as  my  knowledge  goes,  was  by  my  father,  Eliphalet  Leonard,  of 
Easton,  about  the  year  1775  or  1776.  He  was  led  to  that  attempt  by 
the  extreme  scarcity  of  steel,  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  it  for  his 
manufactury  of  firearms,  then  in  great  demand  for  the  defence  of  the 
country.  He  constructed  several  furnaces,  and  so  far  succeeded  as 
to  supply  himself  and  some  of  the  most  urgent  wants  of  his  neigh- 
bors. In  1787  I  obtained  further  insight  into  the  business,  and 
erected  at  Easton  a  furnace  capable  of  making  three  tons  at  a  batch. 
This  was  continued  until  1808,  when  in  consequence  of  commercial 
restrictions  I  erected  another  in  the  same  place  capable  of  making 
ten  tons  at  a  batch,  and  afterwards  from  twenty  to  thirty  tons  a  year. 
In  1813  I  erected  another  furnace  at  Canton,  where  I  now  (1826) 
live,  where  I  made  at  times  about  one  hundred  tons  of  steel  a  year." 

These  are  very  interesting  statements.  The  one  concerning 
the  manufacture  of  firearms  by  Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.,  at  the 
Marshall  place  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  does  not  rest 
wholly  upon  the  statement  of  his  son.  Samuel  Simpson  has 
informed  the  writer  that  he  once  owned  one  of  these  Leonard 
muskets  ;  other  old  citizens  used  them  with  fatal  execution 
in  defence  of  their  country.  The  steel  furnace  first  alluded  to 
was  connected  with  the  forge  at  the  Marshall  place.  It  was 
there,  also,  that  Jonathan  Leonard  erected  a  steel  furnace  in 
1787,  and  another  in  1808.  As  to  the  manner  in  which  he  "ob- 
tained further  insight  into  the  business,"  curious  things  are  told. 
Hearing  that  steel  was  manufactured  by  an  improved  process 
in  Pennsylvania,  he  went  there,  and  when  he  came  to  the  fur- 
nace where  it  was  made  he  assumed  the  ways  of  a  simpleton  ; 
gradually  however  exciting  the  pitying  or  humorous  interest  of 
the  workmen,  he  received  some  menial  employment  about  the 
furnace,  meanwhile  keeping  his  eyes  wide  open,  and  profiting 

1  N.  E.  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  vol.  xi.  pp.  289-290. 


28o  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

later  by  the  knowledge  he  thus  surreptitiously  gained  by  ap- 
plying it  on  his  return  in  his  own  manufacture  of  steel.  Jona- 
than Leonard,  who  came  to  be  known  as  Quaker  Leonard, 
the  road  past  the  Marshall  place  retaining  this  name,  was 
certainly  eccentric  and  bright  enough  to  have  done  what  is 
thus  attributed  to  him.  He  paid  his  first  poll-tax  in  Easton 
in  1785,  and  after  1792  his  name  disappears  for  about  ten 
years,  after  which  he  was  taxed  as  a  non-resident,  though  he 
continued  running  the  business  where  he  had  erected  his  steel 
furnace. 

About  1792  or  1793  the  third  Eliphalet  Leonard,  brother  of 
Jonathan,  built  the  dam  which  made  what  is  known  as  the  Shovel- 
shop  Pond.  The  dam  was  not  so  high  then  as  now,  and  the 
pond  was  consequently  smaller.  He  also  put  up  a  forge  with  a 
trip-hammer,  and  a  nailers'  shop  was  built  in  the  same  place. 
He  subsequently  built  a  house  there,  —  esteemed  a  fine  house 
for  those  days.  It  was  the  first  painted  house  in  North  Easton 
village,  exciting  considerable  notice  on  that  account  ;  it  is  the 
house  in  which  Oakes  Ames  was  born,  and  is  still  standing, 
unsuspected  of  ever  having  excited  wonder  and  envy  by  a  coat 
of  paint.  This  third  Eliphalet  did  not  meet  with  success  in 
his  business;  he  was  a  bankrupt  in  1801,  —  Daniel  Wheaton 
being  assignee  of  his  property,  which  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Abiezer  Alger,  of  Bridgewater,  who  sold  it,  August  i,  1803,  to 
Oliver  Ames,  as  will  be  narrated  in  another  chapter. 

In  this  section  of  the  town  the  iron  business,  prior  to  1800, 
was  carried  on  exclusively  by  the  Leonards,  who  acquired  dis- 
tinction as  iron-workers.  About  the  date  named  it  passed  out 
of  their  hands,  except  that  Jonathan  Leonard  continued  it  for 
some  years  at  the  Marshall  place. 

There  was  a  forge  erected  in  1724  at  the  present  site  of 
the  old  Dean  saw-mill  at  Cranberry  Meadow.  January  10  of 
that  year  Timothy  Cooper,  John  Dailey,  Edward  Hayward, 
Jonathan  Hayward,  and  Benjamin  Fobes  entered  into  an 
agreement  to  build  this  forge.  Some  ore  had  been  discovered 
near  by,  and  other  similar  discoveries  were  expected.  Nearly 
twenty  years  previous  to  this,  Timothy  Cooper  had  seen  the 
possibilities  of  the  situation,  and  had  purchased  twenty-six  acres 
of  land,   of  which   the   present  mill-site   was    near   the   centre. 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR    TO    1800.  281 

He  saw  that  to  raise  a  dam  there  would  cause  the  water  to  over- 
flow the  south  side  of  the  meadow  west  of  it,  and  he  shrewdly  ob- 
tained possession  of  a  long  and  very  narrow  strip  of  land  by  the 
meadow's  edge  ;  and  then  he  bided  his  time.  The  time  came 
as  above  stated.  The  dam  was  built  in  its  present  location,  and 
to  prevent  the  overflow  southward  a  bank  was  raised  by  means 
of  logs  covered  with  earth.  It  was  called  in  the  famous  Dean 
and  Brett  litigation,  which  will  be  noticed  in  due  time,  "the 
log  dam."  Another  dam,  or  an  extension  of  the  dam  just  no- 
ticed, was  made  of  slabs.  The  forge  was  erected  and  the  busi- 
ness started.  But  it  did  not  pay.  Timothy  Cooper,  the  leading 
man  in  the  enterprise,  soon  died,  and  his  heirs  and  the  other 
partners  sold  out  in  1 727-1 729  to  Josiah  Winslow,  of  Bridge- 
water,  he  finally  owning  all  but  one  ninth.  He  did  not  make 
a  success  of  it,  but  he  found  a  ready  purchaser  in  Eliphalet 
Leonard,  who  bought  out  his  entire  interest,  with  dwelling- 
house,  land,  etc.  But  after  owning  it  for  ten  years,  with  appa- 
rently no  profit,  he  sold  out  to  Edward  Hayvvard.  The  forge 
was  pulled  down,  and  James  Dean,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Hay- 
ward,  built  a  hammer-shop  and  carried  on  blacksmithing  until 
1750,  when  another  change  was  made  in  the  business,  which  will 
be  considered  in  the  proper  place. 

June  9,  1724,  William  Thayer,  then  living  near  the  mill- 
site  on  the  north  road  to  Brockton,  gave  to  eight  persons  as 
much  land  as  would  be  required  to  build  a  dam,  flow  a  pond, 
build  a  saw-mill,  etc.,  with  privilege  of  passing  through  land 
with  timber,  provided  they  would  build  and  maintain  such  a 
saw-mill.  These  eight  persons  were  Daniel  Owen,  William 
Phillips,  Samuel  Waters,  Thomas  Manley,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Thayer, 
Samuel  Phillips,  Clement  Briggs,  and  Ebenezer  Drake.  They 
went  to  work  at  once  and  soon  completed  the  mill.  Eliphalet 
Leonard  thereupon  obtained  possession  of  three  eighths  of  it, 
mortgaging  his  purchase  in  order  to  raise  money  for  the  pay- 
ment. Two  Boston  men,  Samuel  Clark  and  William  Lee,  who 
figured  largely  in  such  transactions  in  Easton  in  early  times,  fur- 
nished Leonard  the  money.  Subsequently  the  controlling  in- 
terest in  the  saw-mill  came  into  the  possession  of  Clark  and  Lee. 
Praisever  Littlefield  became  owner  of  three  eighths  and  one  six- 
teenth of  this  property,  and  in  1743  sold  his  portion  to  Samuel 


282  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Stone,  then  of  Stoughton,  who  settled  near  the  mill.  The  latter 
retained  this  part-ownership  until  his  death  in  1776,  when  his 
son  Samuel  sold  it  to  George  Monk,  of  Stoughton,  Mr.  Monk 
lived  in  Stoughton  until  about  1795,  when  he  removed  to  Easton 
and  continued  owner  of  the  mill. 

West  of  the  Ames  office  in  North  Easton  village  there  is  a 
cart-way  leading  southwest.  This  cart-way  was  once  the  location 
of  a  mill-dam  ;  the  pond  spread  over  the  meadow  above  the  dam. 
Here  as  early  as  1728  was  a  saw-mill,  which  was  built  and 
owned  by  Thomas  Randall,  2d.^  It  was  doubtless  built  sev- 
eral years  earlier  than  this  date,  for  the  land  where  it  was  situ- 
ated was  taken  up  by  Deacon  Randall  in  1718,  and  was  probably 
taken  with  reference  to  the  erection  of  this  mill.  It  may  there- 
fore have  been  built  previous  to  the  mill  last  mentioned,  and  even 
previous  to  Josiah  Keith's  mill  ;  but  the  first  positive  knowl- 
edge we  have  of  its  existence  is  at  the  beginning  of  1729.  By 
his  will  Deacon  Randall  left  this  property  and  the  land  about 
it  to  his  sons  John  and  Samuel,  John  living  within  a  stone's 
throw  southeast  of  the  mill,  A  grist-mill  had  been  erected 
there  also  previous  to  1760,  but  the  exact  date  is  unknown. 
About  1760  these  mills  seem  to  have  changed  ownership  several 
times.  In  1761  Ephraim  Randall,  Jr.,  Samuel  Phillips,  and  Israel 
Woodward,  —  the  former  a  half  owner,  the  latter  two  quarter 
owners  of  the  grist-mill, —  came  to  an  agreement  as  to  the 
management  of  the  same.  But  the  next  year  it  is  owned  by 
Seth  Manley  and  Ephraim  Burr,  who  remain  in  partnership 
for  several  years.  The  saw-mill  does  not  seem  to  have  amounted 
to  much  at  this  time,  as  in  the  several  agreements  made 
it  is  stipulated  that  the  grist-mill  shall  have  the  use  of  the 
water,  and  if  any  can  be  spared  it  shall  be  allowed  for  the 
saw-mill. 

In  1764  Seth  Manley  and  Ephraim  Burr,  the  owners  of  this 
"  corn-mill,"  brought  an  action  against  David  Gay,  William  Mer- 
riam,  and  Nathan  Drake,  of  Stoughton,  because  in  May,  1763, 
they,  by  building  a  dam  on  George  Ferguson's  land,  injured 
their  mill  privilege.  This  dam  was  built  by  these  Stoughton 
men  for  the  purpose  of  flowing  the  meadows  north  of  it.  It 
had  the  effect  of  turning  a  part  of  the  stream  away  from  its 
^  North  Purchase  First  Book  of  Surveys,  p.  213. 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO   1800.  28 


o 


natural  course,  so  that  it  ran  "  partly  through  the  land  of  one 
Ephraim  Randall  and  partly  through  the  land  of  Jacob  Hewins," 
that  is,  into  the  stream  that  flows  through  William  King's  land. 
This  was  of  course  a  serious  loss  to  the  Burr  and  Manley  mill, 
and  they  were  awarded  damages.  The  dam  alluded  to  was  the 
same  as  the  present  dam  at  the  lower  end  of  Long  Pond, 
being  now,  however,  much  higher  than  it  was  then. 

In  1771  the  grist-mill  we  are  considering  was  managed  by 
Ephraim  Randall  and  others,  though  the  real  owner  was  Ben- 
jamin Kinsley,  who  bought  it  of  Abiah  Manley  in  1770.  It 
was  known  in  1780  as  Benjamin  Kinsley's  grist-mill.  March 
15  of  that  year  he  sold  it  to  Thomas  Willis.  The  saw-mill 
adjoining  this  grist-mill  was  bought  in  1762  by  Robert  Ripley, 
a  carpenter,  the  ancestor  of  the  Easton  Ripleys.  The  scarcity 
of  water  did  not  allow  of  much  work  being  accomplished  by  it, 
as  the  grist-mill  had  the  precedence  in  the  use  of  the  stream  ; 
but  he  owned  it  until  March  15,  1780,  when  he  sold  it  to 
Thomas  Willis,  this  being  the  same  date  as  the  latter's  purchase 
of  the  grist-mill.  The  saw-mill  was  henceforth  discontinued. 
Mr.  Willis  owned  the  grist-mill  for  ten  years,  when,  December 
14,  1790,  he  sold  it  to  Jonathan  Randall,  who  carried  on  the 
mill  business  until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  1 1,  1805. 
His  widow,  familiarly  known  as  Aunt  Lucy,  was  a  strong,  capa- 
ble woman,  and  she  ran  the  mill  herself  for  several  years. 
Richard  Wild,  the  guardian  of  Jonathan  Randall's  children, 
sold  the  mill  to  Samuel  Hodges,  who  on  May  26,  181 3,  sold  it 
to  Oliver  Ames. 

In  May,  1742,  there  was  a  saw-mill  erected  on  Mulberry- 
Meadow  Brook  at  the  Furnace  Village,  a  short  distance  below 
the  furnace,  by  Eleazer  Keith,  Silas  Williams,  and  Benjamin 
Williams.  This  date  is  made  known  by  a  suit  brought  in  1749 
against  these  parties  by  Mark  Keith  and  John  Manley,  whose 
lands  had  been  damaged  by  being  flowed,^  The  case  was  re- 
ferred to  persons  who  met  at  the  house  of  John  Williams,  inn- 
keeper, and  they  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  Mark  Keith  and 
John  Manley  were  "yearly  damnified  to  the  amount  of  four 
pounds  each,  old  tenor."  The  court  allowed  this  amount  of 
damage.  In  1765  this  saw-mill  had  become  a  grist-mill,  and  at 
1  Records  of  Court  of  Sessions,  1 746-1 767,  p.  44. 


284  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

this  date  was  deeded  to  Lemuel  Keith  by  his  father  Eleazer, 
and  continued  in  his  possession  until  after  1800. 

The  first  industry  at  the  Morse  privilege,  South  Easton  village, 
was  a  saw-milh  In  1739  Daniel  Williams  bought  a  large  piece 
of  land  on  the  west  side  of  Mill  River  at  this  place,  with  house, 
barn,  orchards,  fences,  etc.  Between  that  time  and  1747  this 
saw-mill  was  erected.  There  is  no  trace  of  it  prior  to  1739; 
but  in  1747  Daniel  Williams  brought  a  suit  against  Daniel  Keith 
because  the  latter  had  promised,  November  11,  1747  —  but  had 
failed  to  fulfil  the  promise  —  to  deliver  to  him  "white  oak  Loggs 
enough  to  make  one  thousand  feet  of  good  merchantable  plank, 
delivered  on  the  Def 'ts  homestead  in  Easton  all  ready  cutt  &  butt 
and  easy  to  come  at,  at  or  before  the  last  of  November,  1747." 
The  case  was  won  by  Daniel  Williams.  He  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness here  for  many  years,  probably  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1782.  In  1792  this  property,  or  a  portion  of  it  including 
the  saw-mill  and  dwelling-house,  was  bought  by  Eliphalet  Leon- 
ard;  September  16,  1797,  he  sold  it  to  Josiah  Copeland.  The 
latter  was  then  residing  at  Bridgewater,  though  he  had  lived  in 
Easton  with  his  father  until  about  two  years  before  this  time. 

Some  distance  above  the  Morse  privilege,  about  west  of  the 
Macombers,  another  dam  was  built  at  one  time.  No  definite 
information  can  be  given  about  the  date  of  its  construction  or 
its  precise  purpose.  Samuel  Simpson  was  told  by  Daniel  Ran- 
dall, Sr.,  many  years  ago,  that  three  men  named  Orr,  Barclay, 
and  Adams  erected  the  dam.  The  Mr.  Orr  was  probably  Hugh 
Orr,  who  came  from  Scotland  in  1740,  and  settled  in  Bridge- 
water,  and  engaged  there  in  the  iron  manufacture  ;  the  Barclay 
was  William  Barclay,  who  settled  in  Easton  ;  and  the  Adams  was 
probably  William  Adams,  who  also  settled  here,  and  became  an 
artillery  man  in  the  Revolution.  As  to  the  time  of  the  con- 
struction of  this  dam,  it  may  be  said  that  William  Barclay's 
name  does  not  appear  upon  a  full  list  of  the  residents  of  Easton 
in  1757,  and  it  does  appear  on  the  oldest  tax-list  now  preserved, 
which  is  dated  1767.  The  dam  was  therefore  probably  built 
between  those  two  dates.  The  fact  that  Hugh  Orr  engaged  in 
Bridgewater  in  various  kinds  of  iron  manufacture,  and  that  Wil- 
liam Barclay  worked  for  Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.,  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  firearms  at  the  now  named  Marshall  place,  are  sufficient 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO   ISOO.  285 

reasons  for  assuming  that  they  meant  to  erect  here  a  foundry  or 
furnace  to  carry  on  some  description  of  the  iron  business. 

Why  this  enterprise  was  abandoned  when  the  dam  was  con- 
structed is  a  matter  of  conjecture  only.  It  may  be  that  it  in- 
terfered with  the  Daniel  Williams  privilege  below.  It  may  be 
also  that  Williams  had  the  right  to  raise  his  dam,  and  so  raised  it 
as  to  make  the  upper  privilege  untenable  ;  and  that  he  thus  drove 
off  the  enterprising  Scotchmen,  who  might  have  built  up  a  flour- 
ishing business  to  the  great  benefit  of  that  neighborhood, — just 
as  Cyrus  Alger  was  prevented  about  half  a  century  later  from 
doing  the  same  thing  at  the  now  Dean  privilege  below.  One 
thing  however  is  certain,  —  the  dam  was  constructed,  and  may 
now  be  seen,  with  the  site  of  its  sluiceway,  when  Morse's  Pond 
is  at  low  water.  A  road  or  travelled  lane  once  went  over  this 
dam,  connecting  Washington  Street  with  Short  Street,  and  run- 
ning past  the  Lyman  Wheelock  house,  which  was  for  awhile  an 
inn.     It  was  known  as  the  Scotch  dam. 

The  origin  of  the  furnace  business  at  the  Furnace  Village 
came  to  light  only  after  many  days  of  patient  investigation 
among  the  thousands  of  deeds  at  the  Register's  office  at  Taun- 
ton. At  last  in  Book  41,  p.  66,  was  found  the  "Articles  of 
agreement  made  and  concluded  upon  the  thirteenth  day  of  De- 
cember, in  ye  25th  year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord 
George  the  second  of  Great  Brittian,  annoque  Domini  one  Thou- 
sand seven  hundred  &  fifty-one  ;  witnesseth  that  John  Williams, 
gent.,  Daniel  Williams,  gent.,  Matthew  Hayward,  yeoman,  Jo- 
siah  Keith,  Jr.,  yeoman,  Timothy  Williams,  yeoman,  Josiah 
Churchill,  founder,  Benjamin  Wilhams,  Jr.,  laborer,  Jabez 
Churchill,  laborer,  all  of  Easton  ;  and  James  Godfry,  yeoman, 
of  Norton,"  etc.  John  Williams  and  Daniel  Williams  were  to 
own  a  quarter  part  each,  Matthew  Hayward  one  eighth  part, 
and  each  of  the  others  one  sixteenth  part.  The  terms  and  con- 
ditions of  the  contract,  and  the  stipulations  of  the  management, 
etc.,  are  very  elaborately  stated,  the  contractors  evidently  feeling 
that  the  undertaking  was  one  of  immense  importance.  The 
dam  and  furnace  were  to  be  erected  on  what  was  then  called 
Little  Brook,  now  Beaver  Brook,  on  land  leased  by  Simeon 
Williams.  It  was  to  be  begun  at  once,  and  finished  ready  for  a 
blast  November  i  the  next  year.     No  one  was  to  sell  his  shares 


286  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

to  outsiders  until  he  had  given  the  other  shareholders  the  privi- 
lege of  buying,  etc.  The  Easton  furnace  was  therefore  begun 
in  December,  1751,  and  completed,  ready  for  active  business, 
late  in  1752.  With  various  changes  of  ownership,  and  some 
variations  in  the  kind  and  method  of  business,  it  has  been  in 
operation  ever  since. 

It  is  the  oldest  industry  now  carried  on  in  Easton,  with  the 
exception  of  the  grist-mill  business  at  the  Green.  About  ten 
years  before  the  Revolutionary  War  it  became  the  property  of 
Capt.  Zephaniah  Keith.  Capt.  James  Perry  bought  a  quarter 
ownership  in  April,  1773.  He  and  Matthew  Hay  ward  were 
partners  until  June,  1776,  when  the  latter  sold  out  his  interest, 
and  Captain  Perry  became  sole  owner.  This  furnace  did  good 
service  in  the  Revolution,  turning  out  small  cannon  and  cannon 
balls.  Not  far  from  the  village,  in  a  depression  between  two 
hills  near  the  Sharon  road,  these  cannon  used  to  be  tested  ;  and 
many  balls  have  since  been  dug  out  of  one  of  the  banks  or  hill- 
sides there,  and  some  fragments  of  a  cannon  that  had  burst 
were  taken  from  a  brook.  About  1783  the  furnace  building 
became  dilapidated,  and  a  new  one  was  erected  in  place  of  it. 
Captain  Perry  became  greatly  involved  in  his  business  affairs 
after  the  Revolution,  owing  to  the  depreciation  of  Continental 
currency,  and  to  other  causes  noticed  in  the  sketch  of  his  life.^ 
In  1784  several  executions  were  served  upon  his  estate,  and  his 
property  became  heavily  mortgaged.  About  1780  he  built  a 
forge  on  the  same  dam  where  the  furnace  was,  and  carried  on  the 
forge  as  well  as  the  furnace  business.  Before  1800  he  sold 
out  the  forge  to  Abisha  Leach.  Though  his  furnace  was  mort- 
gaged to  other  parties  he  continued  to  manage  the  business  ; 
but  September  29,  1798,  the  real  owners,  Samuel  Leonard  of 
Taunton,  Josiah  Dean  of  Raynham,  and  Thomas  Green,  a  store- 
keeper of  Easton,  sold  the  property  to  John  Brown,  of  Provi- 
dence, in  whose  hands  we  will  leave  it  until  we  consider  the 
industries  of  Easton  after  1800. 

In  1750  James  Dean  and  Matthew  Hay  ward  entered  into 
partnership  to  build  a  saw-mill  at  the  Cranberry  Meadow  dam, 
now  known  as  the  Dean  place  and  owned  by  F.  L.  Ames.  They 
conducted  the  business  together;  but  in   1769  Jonathan  Pratt 

1  See  p.  245  et  seq. 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO    1800.  287 

bought  out  Mr.  Hayward,  and  the  new  partnership  —  Dean  & 
Pratt  —  built  a  new  mill  and  carried  on  the  business  together. 
This  new  mill  lasted  thirty  years,  when  in  1800  it  gave  place 
to  another. 

In  1757  Matthew  Hayward  bought  of  Simeon  Williams  the 
right  to  erect  a  saw-mill  upon  the  Furnace  dam  at  the  Furnace 
Village.  The  mill  was  soon  erected,  and  was  managed  by  Mr. 
Hayward  until  1764,  when  he  sold  it  to  Abisha  Leach. 

In  November,  1747,  George  Ferguson,  then  of  Falmouth 
(Portland),  Maine,  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town.  Before  1759,  but  at  just  what  date  cannot  be  as- 
certained, he  had  erected  a  saw-mill  at  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Picker  place.  Though  it  was  somewhat  encumbered  by 
mortgages,  he  retained  ownership  of  it  until  about  1786,  when 
it  passed  into  the  possession  of  George  Ferguson,  Jr.,  who  soon 
rebuilt  it.  October  21,  1801,  the  latter  sold  it  to  Capt.  Elisha 
Harvey;  and  Capt.  Harvey,  November  12,  1802,  sold  a  half 
ownership  in  it  to  Ziba  Randall.  The  saw-mill  business  was 
discontinued   here  about   181 5. 

As  early  as  1754  James  Dean  was  making  brick  upon  his 
land  not  far  from  the  present  Finley  place.  This  is  evident 
from  various  bills  now  in  possession  of  the  writer,  which  show 
that  the  Rev.  George  Farrar  purchased  brick  from  Mr.  Dean  and 
paid  for  hauling  them  from  his  brick-yard.  Brick-clay  is  found 
southeast  of  Mr.  Finley's  house.  There  was  a  brick-yard  also 
on  land  now  owned  by  David  Howard,  and  just  northeast  of 
his  house,  there  being  many  plain  indications  that  brick-making 
was  carried  on  there. 

During  the  last  century,  but  at  what  date  cannot  be  deter- 
mined, a  saw-mill  was  erected  in  Poquanticut  either  by  the  first 
John  Selee  or  by  his  son  Nathan,  —  more  probably  by  the  former, 
as  the  need  of  such  a  mill  must  have  been  very  early  felt  in  the 
locality  where  he  lived.  It  was  not  far  from  the  old  Selee  place 
and  northeast  of  the  house  of  John  Selee  now  living.  The 
location  of  it  may  still  be  seen.  Nathan  Selee  sawed  lumber 
there  late  in  the  century ;  and  strange  stories  were  told,  and 
even  believed  by  superstitious  people,  about  the  Devil  or  his 
imps  running  the  mill  at  night,  Nathan  Selee  being  reported 
as  knowing  too  much  about  magic  arts,  and  being  on  too  good 


288  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

terms  for  awhile  with  their  author.  But  sawing  logs  by  water- 
power  on  cold  nights  seems  rather  uncongenial  work  for  his 
Satanic  Majesty ;  it  would  be  more  easy  to  credit  his  running 
a  steam  saw-mill,  with  a  blazing  furnace.  It  is  wiser  to  acquit 
Mr.  Selee  of  any  such  questionable  partnership,  and  to  think 
that  the  rolling  and  buzzing  of  wheel  and  saw,  which  the 
belated  passers-by  supposed  they  heard,  were  all  in  their  own 
brains,  and  might  easily  be  accounted  for  by  the  strength  and 
quantity  of  hard  cider  gr  New  England  rum  they  had  taken. 
But  it  is  said  that  more  than  one  horseless  Tam  O'Shanter 
made  hot  speed  past  the  old  mill,  and  got  home  breathless  with 
running  and  fright.  This  mill  ceased  doing  service  about  fifty 
years  ago. 

In  the  last  quarter  of  the  century  the  tanning  business  was 
carried  on  by  Edward  Williams,  an  eighth  of  a  mile  west  of  the 
Lemuel  Keith  mill  at  the  Furnace  Village.  There  was  also  a 
tannery  not  far  west  of  where  Daniel  Heath  lives,  carried  on 
by  Mr.  Pratt. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Coney,  who  moved  from  Sharon  to  Easton 
about  1770,  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  road  running  westward  from 
the  No.  10  schoolhouse.  It  was  on  a  brook  then  called  Cooper's 
Brook,  in  the  hollow  by  the  Stimpson  Williams  place.  Lieu- 
tenant Coney  soon  left  town  and  went  to  Maine.  The  site  of 
the  mill  can  still  be  found ;  but  the  location  did  not  admit  of 
a  large  collection  of  water,  and  the  mill  could  have  had  a 
water-supply  for  only  a  short  time  in  ordinary  seasons.  In 
1779  James  Perry  bought  a  two-thirds  ownership  in  this  mill, 
and  might  have  been  sole  owner  without  being  any  better  off 
financially. 

There  was  a  grist-mill  at  the  foot  of  Stone's  Pond  close  by 
the  forge  before  1800,  owned  evidently  at  one  time  by  Abiel 
Mitchell,  and  at  another  by  Capt.  Jacob  Leonard. 

In  1760  Lieut.  Joshua  Howard  built  a  dam  on  Gallows  Brook 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  flax-mill,  and  he  dug  a  ditch  from 
Cranberry  Meadow  in  order  to  increase  his  supply  of  water. 
But  he  was  not  allowed  to  keep  the  ditch  open,  because  in  tap- 
ping the  stream  that  supplied  Dean's  mill-pond  he  damaged  that 
privilege.  In  1792,  however,  Josiah  Copeland  and  Calvin  Brett 
built  an  oil-mill  at  the  dam  which  was  constructed  thirty  years 


INDUSTRIES    PRIOR   TO    1800.  289 

before  by  Joshua  Howard,  the  mill  being  used  to  press  the  oil 
out  of  flax-seed.  In  1802  Mr.  Copeland  sold  his  half  interest 
in  the  oil-mill  to  his  partner.  In  order  to  get  sufficient  water- 
power,  Mr.  Brett  opened  the  ditch  to  Cranberry  Meadow  again, 
or  dug  a  new  one.  It  was  closed  by  James  Dean,  and  opened 
again  by  Mr.  Brett.  The  affair  finally  led  to  a  long,  vexing,  and 
expensive  law-suit,  costing  the  latter,  who  lost  the  case,  over  a 
thousand  dollars.  Having  no  sufficient  supply  of  water  this 
mill  fell  into  disuse.  Its  site  may  be  seen  a  few  rods  from  the 
Finley  house. 

We  have  thus  described  all  the  principal  industries  that  were 
in  operation  previous  to  1 800.  There  were,  in  addition  to  what 
have  been  noticed,  other  kinds  of  business,  such  as  pot  and 
pearlash  works,  blacksmith  shops,  cooper  shops,  stores,  and  the 
various  trades  that  were  needed  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
people.  But  to  mention  these  would  be  to  go  into  too  much  de- 
tail. The  later  industries,  beginning  about  1800,  will  be  treated 
of  in  a  separate  chapter. 


19 


290  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

OLD   ABANDONED   HOMESTEADS. 

Struggles  of  Early  Settlers.  —  A  Trip  through  the  North- 
east Corner  of  the  Town.  —  Old  Places  in  and  about  North 
Easton.  —  Down  the  old  Meeting-house  Road.  — About  Easton 
Centre.  —  In  South  Easton.  —  On  and  near  the  Bay  Road. — 
In  the  Southwest  Part  of  the  Town. 

ANY  one  who  goes  about  the  town  of  Easton  with  his  eyes 
open  will  see  many  indications  of  old  homesteads  now 
abandoned,  —  old  houses  tumbling  to  decay,  or  cellars  over  which 
a  century  or  more  ago  dwellings  stood  that  were  homes  of  fami- 
lies long  since  departed,  about  whose  doors  played  little  chil- 
dren who  grew  to  maturity  and  old  age,  and  were  long  since 
numbered  with  the  dead.  Going  about  in  the  woods  one  some- 
times stumbles  upon  a  small  clearing  where  once  the  woodman's 
axe  was  heard  cutting  away  the  primeval  forest,  where  he  reared 
his  log-house  and  brought  his  young  wife,  and  struggled  against 
almost  insuperable  obstacles  in  his  endeavor  to  draw  from  the 
unwilling  soil  a  support  for  his  growing  family.  Many  of  these 
attempts  were  failures  :  the  return  was  often  less  than  the  out- 
lay. One  is  at  loss  to  understand  how  good  judgment  could 
approve  or  courage  be  adequate  to  plant  a  homestead  in  many 
places  where  may  now  be  seen  the  indications  of  former  habi- 
tations,—  especially  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  where  even 
when  a  clearing  was  made  (as  for  example  at  the  two  old  Drake 
places  north  of  Avery  Stone's)  it  only  revealed  a  gravelly  soil 
covered  with  bowlders  great  and  small.  It  is  easy  to  under- 
stand why  these  hardy  settlers  succumbed  in  the  unequal  struggle, 
and  why  their  homesteads  were  finally  abandoned  to  the  inhospi- 
table Nature  that  gave  them  such  poor  welcome.  It  is  the  pur- 
pose of  this  chapter  to  take  the  reader  about  the  town,  and 
gratify  his  curiosity  so  far  as  possible  concerning  the  former 
settlers  or  dwellers  in  these  abandoned  places  of  habitation. 


OLD   ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS.  291 

If  one  does  not  care  for  this  trip,  he  may  pass  on  to  another 
chapter ;  but  to  those  who  have  any  curiosity  about  it  the  writer 
offers  his  escort.  In  this  search  for  old  places  we  will  take  an 
ancient  road,  to  begin  with.  Not  long  after  the  incorporation  of 
the  town  a  few  settlements  were  made  in  the  extreme  northeast 
quarter,  and  an  old  road  ran  (as  the  old  map  which  is  given 
in  the  chapter  on  Highways  in  this  volume  will  show)  north- 
erly from  the  village  of  North  Easton  nearly  to  the  Stoughton 
line,  and  thence  easterly,  and  so  round  by  Washington  Street. 
Starting  on  this  road  and  going  north  as  far  as  Simeon  Ran- 
dall's, we  may,  with  his  permission,  go  into  his  garden  north  of 
his  house  and  stand  upon  the  site  of  James  Stacey's  house,  all 
signs  of  which  have  now,  after  about  a  century  and  a  half,  dis- 
appeared. We  turn  off  the  road  for  a  moment,  and  go  across 
the  fields  toward  the  railroad,  and  on  the  elevated  ground  west 
of  the  track  we  may  see  the  vestiges  of  a  cellar  where  Jonathan 
Harvey  and  others  dwelt.  If  we  go  up  the  track  to  Mr.  Fisher's 
field,  and  then  strike  off  eastwardly  through  the  undergrowth 
toward  the  dam  of  Avery  Stone's  cranberry  meadow,  we  shall 
find  by  careful  searching  a  small  cellar  on  the  west  slope  toward 
the  dam,  —  a  cellar  dug  just  about  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  years  ago  by  John  Whitman,  who  then  built  his  house 
there,  and  made  that  lonely  spot  his  home.  We  shall  notice  in 
nearly  all  cases  that  the  first  houses  were  built  near  springs  or 
streams  of  water,  as  the  task  of  digging  wells  was  then  too  la- 
borious to  be  often  undertaken.  Farther  up  the  track,  on  an 
elevation  south  of  where  Whitman's  Brook  runs  under  the  rail- 
road, there  is  a  cellar  which  was  half  cut  away  recently  for  the 
new  track,  and  where  John  Mears,  the  famous  little  drummer,  is 
said  to  have  lived. 

Retracing  our  steps,  we  start  again  from  Simeon  Randall's 
and  go  north  to  the  spot  where  the  road  branches.  There,  in 
the  angle  made  by  the  two  branches,  stood  the  house  of  Ephraim 
Randall,  and  on  the  knoll  just  opposite  is  the  ruin  where  once 
Capt.  Elisha  Harvey  found  a  home.  Instead  of  going  directly 
north  we  will  take  the  left  hand,  sometimes  called  the  Solomon 
Foster  road,  and  after  a  few  minutes'  travel  we  come  to  a  pond- 
hole  on  the  right.  If  we  climb  the  fence  we  shall  discover  just 
above  this  an  old  well  now  filled,  and  a  slight  depression  in  the 


292  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

soil  will  tell  us  where  stood  the  house  of  Daniel  Manley,  and 
then  of  Dennis  Taylor.  Farther  yet  we  go,  until  close  by  the 
Stoughton  line  we  see  the  house  where  Solomon  Foster  lived, 
and  where  he  recently  died.  Here  was  the  homestead  of  Solo- 
mon Randall,  maternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Foster ;  and  here 
lived  also  at  one  time  William  and  Thomas  Butler.  Crossing 
easterly  by  a  foot-path  we  come  to  Egg  Rock;  close  by  the 
rock  at  the  southeast,  and  within  a  few  feet  of  the  cart-path,  is  a 
small  ruined  cellar  that  was  once  the  Hixon  place.  South  of 
this,  on  the  old  cart-path,  is  the  depression  where  another  cellar 
and  house  were  located,  which  was  owned  by,  and  was  the  home 
of,  a  Packard  ;  still  north  of  this,  and  near  a  large  and  excellent 
spring  in  an  open  pasture  close  to  the  town  line,  was  the  house 
of  Joseph  Packard.  Crossing  Whitman's  Brook  we  find  a  cellar 
just  east  of  the  track,  south  of  the  pine-grove  and  close  by  the 
town  line,  where  probably  Joseph  Packard,  Jr.,  lived,  and  which 
he  sold  or  mortgaged  to  Ephraim  Burr  in  1763.  In  the  second 
field  north  of  Alonzo  Marshall's  (now  Oliver  Day's)  old  barn 
was  the  house  of  Zachariah  Watkins,  no  vestiges  of  which,  how- 
ever, appear ;  there,  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago,  he  sup- 
plied drink  to  thirsty  customers.  But  south  of  the  barn,  and 
some  distance  behind  Mr.  Day's  house,  is  plainly  seen  the  loca- 
tion of  the  house  of  Ichabod  Manley  ;  in  this  place  is  still  visi- 
ble the  well  in  which,  in  1805,  little  Elijah  Bartlett  was  drowned. 
Opposite  the  Sion  Morse  house,  east  of  the  Turnpike,  lived 
Benaijah  Smith ;  and  we  may  by  careful  search  find  about 
twenty-five  rods  farther  east  the  location  of  "  Priest "  Crosswell's 
house,  who  came  here  from  Plymouth.  It  was  down  the  chim- 
ney of  this  house  that  a  mischievous  fellow  in  sepulchral  tones 
shouted  a  message  which  the  pious  man  supposed  was  a  mes- 
sage from  the  Lord. 

Starting  eastward  from  Washington  Street,  and  going  on 
Union  Street  past  the  first  group  of  houses,  we  find  a  cart-path 
leading  northward  that  was  sometimes  called  the  Allen  road, 
though  it  was  never  a  town  way.  About  eighty  rods  from  the 
entrance,  a  short  distance  to  the  right  of  this  cart-path,  is  a  small 
cellar,  where  stood  a  house  which  the  oldest  inhabitant  knows 
nothing  about,  but  where  perhaps  one  of  the  several  Stone 
families  lived.     North  of  this  is    the  well-known  Allen  place. 


OLD   ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS.  293 

where  prior  to  1750  David  Stone  erected  a  commodious  house  ; 
the  well-made  cellar  is  still  intact  though  somewhat  filled, 
and  the  front  door-stone  may  yet  be  seen.  If  we  may  judge 
from  the  softness  of  the  turf,  the  soil  is  excellent  about  it. 
On  the  south  side  a  pretty  enclosure  marks  the  spot  where  a 
century  ago  was  one  of  the  best  gardens  in  this  section,  at 
the  end  of  which  large  lilacs  filled  the  air  with  fragrance  when 
the  writer  visited  it ;  roses  still  blossom  luxuriantly  here.  This 
is  where  Turell  Allen  lived  at  one  time. 

Not  far  from  fifty  rods  east  of  this  is  the  so-called  Adams 
cellar,  where  probably  lived  William  Adams,  who  served  as  an 
artillery  man  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Down  the  north  slope 
from  this  cellar  is  the  old  well  ;  taking  the  cart-path  south  of 
this,  careful  scrutiny  will  detect,  by  the  wall  that  separates  two 
small  fields  northwest  of  the  pond,  the  tansy,  rosebushes,  and 
shrubbery  that  mark  the  site  of  the  house  of  Henry  Farr,  also 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  East  of  the  mill  and  a  few  rods  west 
of  Ramoth  Monk's  is  where  Samuel  Stone,  ist,  lived.  The  old 
well  with  the  well-sweep  may  yet  be  seen  by  the  wall. 

Some  distance  west  of  Howard  French's,  on  an  elevation  north 
of  the  road,  are  observable  in  summer-time  large  masses  of  lilies, 
and  above  them  groups  of  lilac  bushes,  which  mark  the  location 
of  the  house  of  Jacob  Phillips  very  early  in  this  century.  He 
died  in  1812  ;  and  three  years  afterward  the  September  gale  so 
seriously  tried  the  strength  of  the  dwelling  that  its  inmates  fled, 
carrying  away  in  their  arms  an  invalid  woman  :  the  house  fell 
soon  afterward.  They  took  refuge  in  a  little  shop  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street  a  few  rods  west  of  the  ruined  dwelling  ;  they 
were  allowed  to  live  there  afterward,  and  an  addition  was  made 
to  the  shop,  so  that  it  became  their  dwelling-place.  The  cellar 
is  plainly  visible.  One  who  visits  this  spot  will  be  well  rewarded 
by  going  a  few  rods  southeast  into  the  woods,  where  there  is  a 
magnificent  chestnut-tree,  probably  the  largest  in  town  ;  a  no- 
ble oak  near  by  contests  for  supremacy,  and  in  the  open  lot 
nearer  the  road  is  a  large  and  beautiful  ash-tree. 

Coming  down  Washington  Street,  we  may  follow  a  cart-path 
west  of  the  schoolhouse  towards  Whitman's  Brook,  and  on  a 
rocky  knoll  near  the  sluggish  stream  we  find  the  ruined  cellar 
where  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  John  Drake  built 


294  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

his  house,  and  a  Httle  down  the  hill  the  old  well  may  also  be 
found.  This  sunny,  rocky  slope  is  east  of  the  track,  in  plain 
sight  from  the  passing  cars,  a  little  south  of  where  the  brook 
runs  under  the  track  from  west  to  east ;  it  is  a  famous  resort 
of  black  snakes.  Near  by,  but  a  little  south,  a  very  careful 
search  will  be  rewarded  by  the  sight  of  the  location,  on  a  small 
and  rather  steep  slope,  of  the  house  of  Joseph  Drake.  It  is 
difficult  to  imagine  what  could  have  induced  these  men  to  settle 
in  such  a  rocky  and  unpromising  place.  We  go  back  to 
Washington  Street,  and  nearly  opposite  the  schoolhouse  and 
now  tumbling  to  decay  is  the  old  house  built  by  Hezekiah 
Drake,  where  after  him  William  and  David  Snow  lived,  and 
where  a  few  years  ago  "  Sol "  Thayer  and  his  wife  died  on  the 
same  morning.  Taking  the  lane  to  Joseph  H.  Marshall's,  we 
can  trace  in  his  dooryard  the  lines  that  mark  the  site  of  the 
house  which  a  hundred  years  ago  was  the  home  of  William 
Pratt. 

Still  farther  south,  ten  rods  below  Kay  Fitton's  house,  on  a 
little  eminence  back  from  the  road,  is  the  depression  that  marks 
the  cellar  of  the  house  where  Nathaniel  Manley  lived  for  many 
years.  If  you  enter  the  second  pair  of  bars  south  of  this,  on 
Washington  Street,  and  go  eastward  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  long  pasture  now  owned  by  Timothy  Marshall,  then  climb 
the  wall  and  go  east  about  two  hundred  yards,  you  may  find  the 
cellar  of  the  house  of  Joseph  Drake,  3d,  who  lived  there  a 
century  and  a  half  ago,  and  later.  East  of  it,  and  near  the  wall, 
is  a  beautiful  spring  of  the  coldest,  clearest  water,  from  which 
during  the  drought  of  the  present  year,  1886,  the  writer  found  a 
copious  stream  bubbling  and  flowing.  The  presence  of  such  a 
beautiful  spring  explains  the  location  of  the  house,  for  it  saved 
digging  a  well.     It  is  not,  however,  perennial. 

If  we  return  to  the  village  by  way  of  Main  Street  we  may  see 
nearly  opposite  Mr.  Kennedy's  house,  and  near  the  pond,  a  small 
cellar,  on  which  a  few  years  ago  stood  the  house  where  the  gifted 
but  eccentric  James  Adams  once  lived.  This  house  was  moved 
about  1840  to  this  location  from  a  few  rods  farther  west,  where 
it  had  once  been  occupied  as  a  store  by  Capt.  Gurdon  Stone. 

Taking  a  new  start  from  North  Easton  village  and  passing 
up  Canton  Street,  we  find  the  old  house  of  George  Ferguson  still 


OLD   ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS.  295 

standing,  but  destined  ere  long  to  be  numbered  among  the 
things  that  were.  Mr.  Ferguson  bought  the  place  in  1747,  and 
probably  built  the  house  about  that  time,  —  a  large  house  for  that 
day,  and  the  oldest  one  in  this  vicinity.  Down  the  brook  and  a 
few  rods  southwest  of  the  field  opposite  the  Catholic  cemetery, 
on  the  top  of  a  small  knoll,  are  the  remains  of  a  cellar  where  in 
his  young  days  Macey  Randall  used  to  secrete  himself  and  shoot 
the  snipe  just  below,  and  near  which  the  writer  has  seen  snipe 
recently  ;  this  place,  Mr.  Randall  thinks,  was  once  owned  by 
a  Waters,  though  for  this  there  is  only  an  uncertain  tradition. 
Near  the  southwestern  edge  off  Long  Pond  may  still  be  traced  at 
low  water  the  cellar  where  once  lived  David  Taylor  and  Solomon 
Randall ;  it  is  about  three  rods  east  of  the  shore  at  high  water, 
and  the  precise  spot  is  marked  by  a  small  willow-tree.  West 
of  this  place,  on  the  hill,  is  the  clearing  where  the  Story 
house  stood,  which  may  be  reached  by  the  lane  leading  from 
Mr.  Sharpe's.  Not  far  up  the  lane  are  traces  of  the  cabin 
which  was  once  the  dwelling-place  of  the  ever-moving  "  Old 
Bunn." 

On  Lincoln  Street,  just  west  of  Mr.  Mackey's,  are  the  ruins  of 
the  house  of  Paul  Lincoln  ;  and  back  of  the  Philip  Willis  place 
is  the  clearing,  with  apple-trees  still  standing,  and  the  cellar 
where  was  the  homestead  of  Israel  Woodward,  the  Quaker  who 
was  once  fined  for  taking  a  journey  on  Sunday,  and  where 
Daniel  Macomber  and  then  Abiah  Manley  lived,  after  him.  The 
"  Old  Castle  "  makes  a  noticeable  ruin  in  the  pine-grove  south 
of  Lincoln  Street,  some  distance  southeast  of  the  old  and  now 
abandoned  burial-ground.  The  house  was  built  by  David 
Randall. 

West  of  the  DeWitt  place,  now  owned  by  L.  L.  Berry,  was  the 
Turner  place.  The  house  was  standing  until  a  few  months 
previous  to  this  writing,  but  is  now  pulled  down  ;  the  cellar  is 
close  by  the  pine-grove  and  just  east  of  the  old  meeting-house 
road.  The  house  was  built  by  Bethuel  Turner  just  about  a 
hundred  years  ago,  he  making  with  his  own  hands  the  wrought 
nails  used  in  building  it.  Some  distance  north  of  him  on  the 
other  side  of  the  road,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  northern- 
most enclosed  lot,  one  may  find  the  vestiges  of  the  cellar  of 
Elijah    Niles's    house.     Several  Phillips   families    lived    in    this 


296  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

vicinity,  —  a  Samuel  and  Benjamin;  but  if  there  were  cellars 
to  their  houses  or  cabins,  there  is  nothing  now  left  to  indicate 
their  location. 

In  a  field  on  the  west  side  of  the  old  meeting-house  road,  due 
west  from  Mr.  Atwood's  house,  is  the  cellar  of  the  old  Seth 
Manley  place,  out  of  which  are  now  growing  an  arbor-vitse, 
hemlock,  and  pomegranate  tree.  Here,  after  Manley  had  no  fur- 
ther need  of  an  earthly  habitation,  lived  William  Austin,  Sr. 
He  was  a  singular  man,  and  his  barn  might  be  seen  partly 
covered  with  the  numerous  pelts  of  squirrels,  rabbits,  and  even 
polecats,  which  formed  a  portion  of  his  ordinary  fare.  He  was 
a  rather  short  but  powerful  man,  and  interesting  stories  are  told 
of  his  wonderful  strength  and  skill  as  a  wrestler. 

Just  behind  Patrick  Menton's  is  the  depression  which  marks 
the  cellar  of  the  house  where  this  Austin  just  spoken  of  lived 
before  he  came  into  possession  of  the  Seth  Manley  place. 
Austin  bought  the  place  in  1800  and  built  his  house.  It  was 
occupied  by  different  persons  until  not  far  from  1820,  when  it 
had  become  a  disreputable  house.  The  wish  was  expressed 
that  it  might  be  broken  up.  Some  young  men  took  the  hint, 
and  on  a  cold  windy  night  made  a  crusade  against  it.  They 
armed  themselves  with  rails  and  sticks,  quietly  surrounded  the 
house,  and  at  a  given  signal  crash  went  doors  and  windows 
into  atoms.  The  young  men  vanished  and  kept  their  secret. 
This  closed  up  the  establishment  forever. 

On  the  north  end  of  an  elevation  in  the  valley  southeast  of 
the  DeWitt  place  is  the  cellar,  with  old  apple-trees  near  by, 
where  Thomas  Randall,  3d,  made  his  home,  as  seen  on  the  old 
map.  If  we  pass  down  the  track  to  Short  Street,  go  to  the  little 
cemetery  on  that  street  and  take  the  lane  leading  northward 
from  that  spot,  we  shall  find,  after  a  quarter  of  a  mile's  walk,  the 
Lyman  Wheelock  place,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  ruins  in 
town.  The  location,  though  not  very  elevated,  is  a  beautiful 
one,  for  from  it  one  may  command  quite  an  extended  view. 
Here  lived  Lyman  Wheelock,  the  Revolutionary  soldier  and 
pensioner,  who  at  one  time  kept  an  inn.  The  lane  that  ran 
by  his  house  crossed  the  stream  not  far  from  the  Macombers 
at  South  Easton,  and  led  over  what  is  known  to  have  been  an 
ancient  dam  called  the  Scotch  dam. 


OLD   ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS.  297 

At  the  Centre  is  an  old  cellar  in  the  field  north  of  the  Daniel 
Reed  house.  Charles  Hayden's  house  once  stood  on  this  foun- 
dation ;  it  was  moved  to  the  Samuel  Phillips  place  near  the 
Easton  railroad  station  about  1870,  and  is  now  occupied  by 
Jerry  Buckley.  South  of  this,  about  half  way  from  the  station 
to  the  old  saw-mill,  and  just  west  of  the  track,  are  plainly  visi- 
ble the  remains  of  a  cellar,  over  which,  before  1750,  Nehemiah 
Randal]  had  his  house  and  made  his  home. 

In  South  Easton  most  of  the  vestiges  of  the  oldest  settle- 
ments have  been  obliterated,  because  the  locations  of  the  ancient 
dwellings  have  been  demanded  by  modern  ones.  It  required 
careful  study  to  enable  the  writer  to  locate  the  spots  on  which 
some  of  the  first  settlers  erected  their  rude  habitations  ;  and  as 
the  ruins  do  not  appear,  there  is  no  occasion  to  add  anything  to 
what  has  already  been  written  about  them.  The  sites  of  the 
houses  of  Clement  Briggs,  Thomas  Randall,  ist  and  2d,  Elder 
William  Pratt,  Rev.  Matthew  Short,  and  others  have  been  spoken 
of  in  another  chapter,  and  may  still  be  pointed  out  by  the  very 
few  persons  who  have  made  the  subject  a  study  ;  but  no  ruins 
appear  that  attract  the  attention  of  the  ordinary  observer.  We 
can  still  see  where,  a  few  rods  east  of  Simpson's  Spring,  Wil- 
liam Hayward,  one  of  the  very  earliest  of  our  settlers,  built  his 
house.  We  can  find  Timothy  Cooper's  location  south  of  the 
Collins  (once  the  Roland  Howard)  house.  The  ruined  cellar  a 
little  northeast  of  Thaxter  Hervey's  was  the  foundation  of  the 
furnace  owned  and  run  by  Cyrus  Alger  and  Ichabod  Macomber 
early  in  this  century.  On  the  north  side  of  the  road  east  of 
Cyrus  Alger's  house,  and  near  the  Cocheset  line,  is  the  cellar  of 
the  house  once  the  home  of  Benjamin  Alger. 

On  Purchase  Street,  east  of  William  Henry  Lothrop's,  are 
the  remains  of  the  cellar  of  the  large  two-story  house  of  Isaac 
Lothrop,  where  once  he  kept  an  inn  ;  and  still  farther  east> 
quite  near  the  swamp,  was  the  site  of  Benjamin  Hanks's  house  : 
a  gravel  cutting  has,  however,  nearly  obliterated  all  signs  of  the 
cellar  here.  Northeast  of  this  location  and  west  of  Washington 
Street,  between  Joseph  Town's  and  Alonzo  Marshall's,  are  partial 
clearings  and  the  vestiges  of  two  homesteads,  in  one  of  which 
lived  a  Hayward.  Behind  W.  C.  Howard's,  on  the  Easton  and 
Bridgewater  line,  stood  the   house    built   nearly  two   hundred 


298  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

years  ago  by  Jacob  Leonard,  bought  of  him  by  James  Harris, 
and  sold  by  the  latter  to  Elder  Pratt,  where,  when  later  occu- 
pants sat  at  the  table,  the  husband  was  in  Easton  and  the  wife 
in  Bridgewater.  Farther  north,  and  in  the  angle  made  by  the 
junction  of  Pine  and  Depot  streets,  a  depression  may  be  seen 
where,  as  appears  on  the  old  map,  was  the  cellar  of  the  house 
of  Abiah  Manley. 

Farther  north  yet,  on  Grove  Street,  just  west  of  Stone-House 
Hill  and  on  the  plateau  north  of  the  road  and  east  of  the  brook, 
the  first  John  Daily  had  his  house.  On  the  south  side  of  the 
same  street,  nearer  South  Easton  village,  may  be  seen  the  loca- 
tion and  vestiges  of  the  cellar  of  a  house  last  occupied  by  John 
Humphrey;  before  that,  inhabited  by  Jonas  Howard,  and  about 
the  beginning  of  the  century  by  Daniel  Dickerman.  It  seems 
to  have  been  the  homestead  first  owned  by  Seth  Burr,  which 
the  town  a  hundred  years  ago  bought  for  a  poor-house  but  did 
not  use  for  that  purpose,  or,  if  so  used,  it  was  for  only  a  few 
months  ;  its  site  may  be  determined  by  the  young  balm-of- 
gilead-trees  growing  there.  Directly  east  of  Deacon  Mitchell's, 
and  less  than  half  way  to  Stone-House  Hill,  is  the  cellar  of  the 
first  dwelling  of  Ensign  John  Daily  ;  it  was  on  the  old  road, 
and  its  location  may  be  seen  on  the  old  map.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, that  afterwards  the  Ensign  moved  north  into  the  woods 
about  sixty  or  eighty  rods  south  of  the  present  road  to  Brockton 
from  North  Easton,  not  far  west  of  the  hill ;  it  is  nearly  a  mile 
north  of  Grove  Street,  and  where,  in  1703,  John  Drake  took  up 
land  and  settled.  The  clearings  may  yet  be  seen  ;  well  made 
stone-walls  form  several  enclosures  ;  the  cellar  still  appears  ; 
the  thick,  elastic  sod  shows  a  good  soil ;  barberry  bushes  and 
grapevines  cluster  about,  and  out  of  the  cellar  is  growing  an 
arbor-vitas  tree.  Massive  door-stones,  a  good  bulkhead-way,  and 
other  signs  are  indications  of  a  once  well-appointed  house.  The 
writer  visited  this  pretty  spot  on  a  sweet  spring  day,  when  the 
graceful  barberry  bushes  were  full  of  blossoms,  the  air  musical 
with  the  songs  of  numerous  birds,  and  everything  was  fragrant, 
beautiful,  and  peaceful.  A  partridge,  startled  by  the  writer's 
little  dog,  quietly  crept  a  dozen  paces  away,  and  then  noisily  rose 
into  the  air,  cunningly  designing  to  draw  attention  from  the 
spot  where  she  first  started,  and  where,  at  the  foot  of  a  tree. 


OLD    ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS. 


299 


she  had  been  sitting  upon  a  nest  of  a  dozen  eggs.  This 
homestead  in  1780  was  the  residence  of  Lewis  Daily,  son  of 
Ensign  John.  Why  it  was  abandoned  is  a  matter  of  conjecture  ; 
mosquitoes  would  seem  to  be  a  suiificient  reason,  for  they  are 
bred  in  multitudes  in  the  swampy  surroundings.  Early  in  this 
century  no  one  was  living  there.  It  was  known  as  the  North 
Daily  place  then.  Lewis  Daily  afterwards  built  a  house  on 
the  south  slope  of  Stone-House  Hill,  just  east  of  the  Easton 
line,  and  the  crowded  lilac  bushes  only  partly  conceal  the  ruins 
of  the  cellar.  His  remains  and  those  of  his  wife  were  first 
buried  just  west  of  the  brook  near  by,  and  when  the  bank  where 
they  were  deposited  was  opened  for  supplies  of  gravel,  they  were 
removed  to  the  pretty  burying-ground  at  Marshall's  Corner. 

In  District  No.  3,  opposite  the  house  of  Henry  L.  Howard, 
may  be  seen  the  site  and  part  of  the  foundation  of  the  house  of 
Israel  Randall,  2d  ;  and  in  a  field  some  distance  northeast  on  the 
other  side  of  the  road  lived  Ephraim  Randall.  But  the  location 
has  been  ploughed  over  and  is  hardly  recognizable. 

There  were  some  homesteads  near  the  Sharon  line  west  of 
the  Bay  road.  The  oldest  was  that  of  Jedediah  Willis,  son  of 
Jeremiah  and  brother  of  Solomon  and  Seth.  It  is  rather  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  almost  due  south  of  Abijah  Tisdale's, 
south  of  the  brook  and  near  the  site  of  an  old  dam.  The  loca- 
tion of  the  cellar  may  be  made  out  near  the  wall  in  the  mowing- 
field  near  by.  On  the  dam  was  said  to  have  been  a  mill  owned 
by  Jedediah,  but  the  dam  and  mill  are  just  outside  the  Easton 
line.  Close  by  the  road  northeast  of  this  place,  and  quite  a 
distance  eastward,  were  other  homesteads,  but  no  sign  of  them 
now  appears.  West  of  Dr.  Asahel  Smith's  place  and  what  is 
now  close  by  Wilbur's  Pond  was  the  homestead  of  Melzar  Drake  ; 
two  green  spots  in  the  field  mark  the  old  location  of  house  and 
barn.  Not  far  south  is  still  to  be  seen  the  well  near  the  loca- 
tion of  what  is  said  to  have  been  the  home  of  John  Daily,  who 
in  Revolutionary  times  owned  a  place  here  ;  but  it  is  not  easy  to 
discover  any  vestiges  of  the  cellar  of  the  house,  and  the  state- 
ment of  Daily's  living  there  needs  verification. 

About  fifteen  or  twenty  rods  east  of  Edward  Drake's,  whose 
house  is  east  of  the  Bay  road  close  to  the  Stoughton  line,  is  the 
cellar  of  the  old  Seth  Willis  place.     When  his  nephew,  Philip 


300  HISTORY   OF    EASTOxN. 

Willis,  set  up  housekeeping  about  a  hundred  years  ago,  he 
bought  this  place,  the  house  being  already  old  ;  there  part  of 
his  children  were  born.  Afterward  Mr.  Willis  bought  the  old 
Thomas  Manley,  Jr.,  house,  and  moved  there  before  building 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Philip  Willis  house.  Southeast  of 
the  Seth  Willis  place,  in  what  is  known  as  the  Snell  pasture, 
Hugh  Washburn  over  a  century  ago  located  a  homestead  and 
built  a  house.  It  is  quite  a  pleasant  location  ;  Mr.  Snell  after- 
wards lived  there.  On  Britton  Street,  once  called  the  Allen 
road,  east  of  the  Thompson  Allen  house  recently  inhabited  by 
the  "  twenty  Leonards,"  we  can  still  see  the  cellar  of  the  second 
house  built  by  Benjamin  Harvey.  The  first  was  on  the  west 
side  of  the  road  south  of  this  place  ;  but  at  the  second  we  may 
stand  on  the  spot  by  the  old  doorstep  where  his  infant  daugh- 
ter so  narrowly  escaped  the  jaws  of  the  hungry  bear.  Harvey 
died  in  1799,  and  old  "  Deacon"  Pierce  lived  in  this  house  after 
him  ;  and  coming  home  one  night  from  Hodges's  tavern  near 
by,  where  he  had  been  too  convivial,  he  fell  and  was  actually 
drowned  in  a  street  puddle. 

Going  down  the  Bay  road,  we  see  in  the  sharp  angle  made 
by  the  junction  of  Randall  Street  with  it  the  cellar  of  the  house 
not  long  since  burned,  where  J.  Frank  Williams  once  lived. 
The  house  appears  to  have  been  originally  built  by  Thomas 
Willis  ;  he  once  had  a  little  store  there.  A  few  rods  farther 
south  is  the  location  of  a  house  which  some  years  ago  Ellis 
Hewitt  built,  but  which  has  also  been  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  old  cellar  on  Randall  Street,  about  fifty  rods  southeast  of 
Nathan  Randall's,  belonged  to  the  house  of  Edward  Drake,  son 
of  Richard.  A  little  above,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  road, 
John  Turner,  who  settled  in  town  about  1750,  once  had  a  house, 
but  its  location  is  only  indicated  by  the  slight  depression  that 
marks  where  the  cellar  was.  If  we  go  to  Summer  Street  from 
here  and  turn  to  the  right,  we  find  south  of  that  street,  before 
reaching  Abiel  Littlefield's,  a  lane  that  leads  to  the  location  of 
the  Ebenezer  Littlefield  place  still  to  be  traced,  and  farther 
west  are  the  cellar  and  foundation  of  the  house  and  nail-shop  of 
Apollos  Clark. 

Going  west  from  there  to  the  Bay  road  we  may  see,  a  little 
northeast  of  Ebenezer  Randall's,  the  site  of  the  old  Kingman 


fOLD   ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS.  301 

tavern  ;  and  a  few  rods  southwest  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
is  the  cellar  of  one  of  the  Dunbar  houses,  originally  the  home 
of  one  of  the  Shaw  families.  Just  south  of  Langdon  Randall's 
was,  until  recently,  an  old  plastered  house,  the  cellar  of  which 
may  yet  be  located  ;  it  was  the  home  of  Eliphalet  Shaw,  Jr. 
West  of  this,  fifty  rods  from  the  Bay  road,  we  may  find  the 
cellar  of  the  house  of  the  first  Eliphalet  Shaw. 

From  the  Bay  road,  between  the  two  houses  south  of  Guil- 
ford Newcomb's,  a  lane  runs  westward.  By  the  side  of  the 
third  enclosure  of  land  a  pile  of  stones  on  the  left  side  marks 
the  cellar  of  one  of  the  David  Keiths  of  a  century  and  a  quarter 
ago ;  this  lane  was  for  a  short  time  a  town  way,  which  was 
superseded  by  Beaver  Street.  Opposite  Mr.  Newcomb's  was 
the  house  of  Josiah  Keith,  the  site  of  which  is  marked  by  the 
remains  of  brick  still  visible. 

On  the  south  side  of  Foundry  Street  east  of  the  Bay  road, 
and  not  very  far  away,  was  the  homestead  occupied  fifty  years 
ago  by  Simeon  Woodward.  On  the  same  side  of  this  street, 
about  two  thirds  of  the  distance  from  the  Bay  road  to  Prospect 
Street,  is  an  apple  orchard,  and  the  cellar  in  the  same  enclosure 
marks  the  location  where  stood  the  house  of  James  S.  Randall, 
who  died  in  1862.  On  the  north  side  of  Beaver  Street,  not  far 
from  the  Bay  road,  may  be  noticed  a  well  and  a  cellar ;  it  is  not 
the  site  of  an  ancient  homestead,  however,  but  is  where  Ambrose 
Randall  began  to  build  a  house,  and  abandoned  the  attempt. 
Some  fifty  rods  north  of  this  spot  there  lived,  about  1820,  a 
Mrs.  Lindell,  in  a  house  then  owned  by  Howard  Lothrop, 
formerly  the  home  of  James  Pratt,  from  whom  Mr.  Lothrop 
bought  it  in  181 1.  There  was  once  a  good  orchard  there, 
and  in  the  great  September  gale  of  181 5  Mrs.  Lindell  found 
her  way  somehow  through  the  storm  to  Mr.  Lothrop's,  and 
informed  him  that  all  the  apples  were  blowing  off  his  trees 
where  she  lived.  What  she  expected  him  to  do  about  it  does 
not  clearly  appear.  The  gale  did  not  treat  her  with  much  de- 
corum, as  it  rolled  her  over  in  the  yard. 

If  any  reader  of  this  chapter  desires  to  explore  the  ancient 
places  in  the  southwest  part  of  Easton,  he  will  do  well  to  secure 
the  guidance  of  Edward  D.  Williams,  whose  retentive  memory 
allows  nothing  once  presented  to  it  to  escape.     He  will  take 


mt. 


302 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


you  down  to  the  stream  northwest  of  his  house  and  show  you 
the  remains  of  the  old  dam,  where  in  1720  Josiah  Keith  had 
his  saw-mill,  and  he  will  point  out  in  the  brook  even  one  of  the 
sills  of  this  vanished  structure.  A  few  minutes  walk  farther 
northwest  will  bring  you  to  the  so-called  "  Bear  hole,"  where 
reliable  tradition  informs  us  was  a  cabin  whose  occupant,  startled 
at  night  by  the  squeals  of  his  pig,  rushed  out  and  fired  almost  a 
random  shot,  which  proved  to  be  a  lucky  one,  for  it  furnished 
him  with  bear-meat  for  several  days  and  a  good  bear-skin  for  a 
more  permanent  trophy.  Our  guide  will  then  test  your  powers 
of  locomotion  by  hurrying  you  to  a  spot  about  two  hundred 
rods  northwest  of  his  house,  where  once  was  the  homestead  of 
Ephraim  Hewett,  2d,  the  location  of  which  is  marked  on  the 
old  map  ;  the  cellar  is  now  filled  with  stones.  Some  distance 
south  of  this  he  will  show  you  Round  Pond,  a  shallow  body 
of  water  of  about  an  acre  in  area,  nearly  circular,  and  sur- 
rounded by  trees  and  bushes.  Still  farther  west,  perhaps  thir- 
teen rods,  we  come  to  a  clearing  that  used  to  go  by  the  name 
of  Jairus's  Orchard.  There  was  once  a  good  orchard  there,  and 
the  decayed  trunks  of  some  of  the  apple-trees  are  melancholy 
monuments  of  its  former  glory  ;  the  cellar  in  this  clearing  is 
nearly  filled  up  with  stones.  Here  Jairus  Williams,  the  son  of 
Paul  and  grandson  of  Silas,  located  about  a  century  ago.  And 
now,  if  you  can  brave  a  good  contest  with  the  crowded  under- 
growth, and  a  scratching  of  the  horse-brier  and  blackberry  vines, 
our  guide  will  take  you  by  a  short  cut  through  close-growing 
brambles  about  eighty  rods  farther  west,  to  a  cellar  in  a  small 
clearing,  the  early  ownership  of  which  must  be  left  to  conjecture. 
The  writer,  however,  has  good  ground  for  conjecturing  that  it 
was  the  homestead  of  one  of  the  children  of  Nathaniel  Thayer, 
though  it  was  known  later  as  the  Clark  place.  Nathaniel  Thayer 
had  a  homestead  still  farther  from  the  Bay  road  and  nearer 
Highland  Street,  and  over  fifty  years  ago  the  place  was  known 
as  the  Thayer  Orchard.  The  dwelling  had  then  disappeared  ; 
but  at  the  beginning  of  the  century  and  earlier  there  was  quite 
a  family  of  Thayers  here. 

We  have  now  followed  our  guide  to  Highland  Street,  near 
its  intersection  with  Foundry  Street.  It  was  a  little  east  of 
this  spot  where  began  "  ye  way  to   Babbitts  across   ye   High 


OLD    ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS. 


303 


Plain,"  which  led  slightly  southwest,  as  seen  on  the  old  map. 
We  return  to  the  Bay  road  south  of  Mr.  Kimball's,  and  about 
thirty  rods  east  of  this  road,  and  fifty  rods  above  George  E. 
Williams's  house,  is  the  old  cellar  of  one  of  the  Keith  families, 
where  years  ago  it  was  a  pastime  to  hunt  and  kill  black  snakes, 
over  a  hundred  having  been  destroyed  at  one  time.  On  the 
north  and  also  on  the  south  side  of  George  WiUiams's  house  is  a 
well,  now  covered,  —  and  these  wells  mark  the  locations  of  the 
houses  of  Mark  and  William  Keith,  as  seen  on  the  old  map. 

We  have  now  returned  to  the  house  of  our  guide  ;  and  if  the 
reader  accompanies  him  on  a  day  as  hot  as  that  on  which 
the  writer  followed  his  leadership,  he  will  be  glad  enough  to 
take  a  draught  from  the  "  Old  Oaken  Bucket "  of  the  well  in 
the  oldest  house  in  Easton,  —  a  draught  so  cool  as  to  render  ice 
superfluous. 

Continuing  now  alone  our  investigation,  and  going  farther 
down  the  Bay  road,  on  the  east  side  and  north  of  Walter  Hen- 
shaw's,  we  find  the  site  of  the  house  where  Adonijah  White 
lived,  and  where  his  son  Alanson  was  born.  Levi  Drew  once 
lived  there.  On  the  west  side  of  the  road,  north  of  Mr.  God- 
frey's, was  the  site  of  the  original  Silas  Williams's  house ;  and 
across  the  brook  behind  Daniel  Wheaton's  may  be  seen  two 
small  ruins,  from  one  of  which  sites  the  house  that  was  after- 
wards used  as  the  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  4  was  moved  ; 
at  the  other  was  the  dwelling  where  Robert  West  lived  fifty 
years  ago. 

If  we  go  to  the  extreme  southwest  part  of  the  town,  we  see 
in  a  field  south  of  Asa  Newcomb's  a  well,  and  also  the  indications 
of  a  former  dwelling,  where  Asa  Smith,  Capt.  Edward  Kingman, 
and  a  Mr.  Newcomb  once  lived.  On  the  same  side  of  the  street 
with  the  house  of  Asa  Newcomb,  about  half  way  to  the  Norton 
line,  is  the  small  ruin  of  the  dwelling  that  was  once  the  home 
of  Peleg  West,  which  was  afterwards  owned  by  O.  F.  Lincoln, 
and  later  still  was  the  home  of  L.  A.  Lincoln  ;  it  was  only 
recently  destroyed.  On  the  Mansfield  road,  west  of  the  Dvvelly 
Goward  place,  are  the  ruins  of  the  house  of  Dr.  Seth  Babbitt, 
built  not  far  from  a  century  and  a  half  ago.  Less  than  a  hun- 
dred rods  north  of  the  Goward  place  may  still  be  seen  the 
remains  of  an  old  cellar  which  was  probably  the  location  of  the 


1^ 


304 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


home  of  Erasmus  Babbitt.  Farther  north  a  lane  once  led  from 
Highland  Street  to  Chestnut  Street,  on  which  was  formerly  the 
homestead  of  Zachariah  Britton. 

On  the  east  side  of  Poquanticut  Avenue,  and  south  of  the 
Tisdale  Harlow  location,  are  the  vestiges  that  mark  the  home- 
stead lot  of  the  earliest  Hayward  who  settled  in  this  part  of  the 
town.  Nearer  Mr.  Harlow's,  on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  is 
the  second  Daniel  Owen  place,  the  cellar  which  was  on  the  top 
of  the  knoll  being  now  filled  and  undiscoverable  ;  but  the  old 
well  may  still  be  seen  near  the  wall  by  the  bars,  at  the  side  of 
the  road.  Some  distance  southwest  of  this  spot  we  come  upon 
the  double-cellared  location,  once  a  den  of  thieves,  as  will  be 
explained  in  the  chapter  entitled  Shadows,  and  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  Fullers  ;  and  farther  west,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
south  of  Josiah  Woodbury's,  is  the  old  Mehurin  place,  from 
which  the  Mehurins  went  bravely  forth  to  the  war  of  Inde- 
pendence. 

If  we  pass  westward  beyond  Josiah  Woodbury's  until  we 
reach  the  end  of  the  street,  we  come  to  the  ruins  of  a  house 
built  a  century  ago  by  David  Thompson,  the  one-armed  soldier 
of  the  French  and  Indian  war  ;  it  is  on  the  line  between  Easton 
and  Mansfield.  One  of  Thompson's  daughters  named  Ruth 
in  1798  married  Tarteus  Buck,  who  built  a  house  about  twenty- 
five  rods  east  of  where  Chester  Buck  now  lives  ;  the  house 
stood  until  a  few  years  ago ;  the  cellar  remains  to  mark  the 
spot.  The  location  of  the  cellar  of  the  Nathan  Selee  house 
just  east  of  John  Selee's  is  still  visible,  the  original  Selee  place 
being,  however,  a  few  rods  north.  And  on  our  way  home,  east 
of  the  Stimpson  Williams  place,  on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  is 
the  cellar  or  foundation  of  a  barn,  which  was  used  until  recently 
as  a  home  by  Lemuel  Tirrell,  and  which  is  now  no  more. 

In  our  journey  about  the  town  we  have  found  more  than  a 
hundred  deserted  homesteads  and  vestiges  of  former  habita- 
tions. In  some  instances  the  old  houses  have  simply  gone  to 
decay,  and  have  been  replaced  by  others  ;  but  there  are  many 
homesteads  that  have  been  entirely  abandoned,  and  the  once  cul- 
tivated fields,  won  by  painful  toil  from  the  primeval  forest,  have, 
after  an  unequal  struggle,  been  surrendered  to  the  dominion  of 


OLD   ABANDONED    HOMESTEADS. 


305 


Nature,  and  are  being  covered  with  trees  and  undergrowth. 
These  deserted  places  are  clear  indications  of  the  unprofitable- 
ness of  farming  in  New  England  as  ordinarily  managed.  It  has 
been  found  easier  to  support  life  by  mechanical  pursuits  ;  and  in 
order  to  conduct  these  successfully  it  is  necessary  for  people  to 
congregate  in  villages.  Some  of  those  who  prefer  farming  as  a 
means  of  livelihood  have  emigrated  to  the  more  fertile  West. 
The  stirring  life  and  possibilities  of  the  great  cities  have  also 
attracted  many  of  the  young  and  enterprising  from  the  quiet 
country  homes  where  they  were  reared  ;  so  that  when  the  fathers 
pass  away,  none  are  left  to  carry  on  the  farms  and  keep  the  old 
places  in  repair. 


I 


3o6 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

New  England  not  actively  interested.  —  The  Military  Compa- 
nies OF  Easton.  —  Enlistments  in  the  United  States  Service. 
—  Capt.  Noah  Reed's  Company  at  New  Bedford.  —  A  practi- 
cal Joke  carried  too  far.  —  Nathan  Buck  shoots  Charles 
Gilbert.  —  Trial  and  Conviction.  —  Capt.  Isaac  Lothrop's  Com- 
pany at  Boston.  —  Capt.  Samuel  Cushman's  Company  at  Ply- 
mouth. —  Lieut.  Elijah  Smith  and  his  Records. 

IN  the  year  1807  occurred  the  affair  of  the  "  Chesapeake  "  and 
the  "  Leopard."  The  British  frigate,  asserting  the  right  of 
recovering  British  seamen  vi^herever  found,  attacked  an  armed 
American  vessel,  compelling  her  surrender,  and  then  took  from 
her  four  seamen,  three  of  whom  were  undoubtedly  Americans. 
This  affair  caused  such  a  feeling  of  exasperation  as  to  hasten  the 
war,  which  followed  in  18 12.  There  was  an  immediate  call  for 
troops  to  be  ready  for  action,  and  Easton  responded  with  the 
following  vote:  — 

"Voted  Eighteen  Dollars  pr.  month  [for]  those  persons  called  for 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  be  detached  from  the  seve- 
ral companies  in  this  Town,  including  their  pay  from  Government. 
Voted  likewise  to  give  those  men  who  enlist  in  this  town  $1.50  for 
each  day's  extra  training." 

The  Government  declared  an  embargo,  prohibiting  all  vessels 
from  sailing  for  foreign  ports.  This  was  a  heavy  blow  for  New 
England,  and  it  helped  make  the  war,  when  it  finally  came  in 
1 8 12,  unpopular  in  this  section.  Massachusetts  did  little  more 
than  to  guard  her  own  seaports.  Very  meagre  reference  to 
the  subject  appears  in  the  town  records  of  Easton.  April  6, 
1 8 12,  it  was,  however,  voted  "to  supply  the  training  soldiers 
with  ammunition,"  at  the  request  of  Capt.  Noah  Reed,  Capt. 
Isaac  Lothrop,  and  a  number  of  others.     "Voted  the  command- 


THE   WAR   OF   1812. 


307 


ing  officers  shall  receive  the  soldier's  ammunition  at  their  dis- 
cretion, by  their  being  accountable  for  the  same  to  said  town." 
There  was  at  this  time  a  uniformed  company  of  Light  Infantry, 
upon  whose  roll  will  be  found  the  names  of  many  prominent  citi- 
zens of  the  town.  It  was  a  company  that  gained  an  enviable 
reputation  for  their  fine  military  appearance  and  proficiency  in 
drill.  It  was  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Isaac  Lothrop. 
Capt.  Noah  Reed  had  a  company  of  militia,  composed  only  in 
part  of  Easton  men,  the  rest  coming  from  towns  west  of  Easton. 
These  companies  were  kept  properly  prepared  for  any  emer- 
gency that  might  arise.  It  was  over  two  years  before  their 
services  were  called  for,  as  will  be  presently  narrated.  Another 
militia  company  was  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  but  they  do 
not  appear  to  have  entered  the  service  as  a  company. 

Meantime  a  recruiting  station  had  been  established  at  Capt. 
Samuel  Hodges's  tavern  on  the  Bay  road,  now  known  as  the 
Shepard  place,  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting  soldiers  in  the  United 
States  service.  There  in  the  bar-room,  over  hot  punches,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  awaken  a  military  ardor,  but  it  was  rather 
unsuccessful.  Ebenezer  Bartlett  and  Joseph  Bartlett  enlisted. 
Joseph  was  said  to  have  been  killed  at  the  battle  of  Lundy's 
Lane,  sometimes  called  the  battle  of  Bridgewater,  or  Niagara. 
Ebenezer  was  wounded  there,  and  afterward  received  a  pension. 
Caleb  Randall  enlisted  and  died  in  the  service.  Joseph  Pursho 
and  one  of  the  Easton  Crossmans  was  in  this  company  also. 
Lemuel  Clark,  father  of  Daniel  Clark,  enlisted  in  the  same  ser- 
vice, and  was  for  awhile  the  orderly  sergeant  of  his  company. 
Lemuel  Lincoln  went  as  a  fifer.  There  were  also  in  this  com- 
pany Calvin  Washburn  and  his  brother  Zephaniah,  both  sons  of 
Hugh.  The  latter  enlisted  at  a  later  date  in  the  United  States 
regular  service,  probably  not  long  after  1820,  and  died  in 
Florida.  Ellis  Ames  states  that  volunteers  from  Easton  and 
surrounding  towns  in  181 3  enlisted  in  Col.  Thomas  Aspin- 
wall's  regiment,  the  ninth,  and  saw  service  at  Sackett's  Harbor 
and  other  places.^  It  is  probable  that  these  volunteers  above 
named,  and  possibly  a  few  other  Easton  men,  were  in  this  regi- 
ment. They  were  recruited  under  Capt.  Samuel  Hodges,  Jr., 
who  however  stepped  out  when  he  had  made  his  enlistments, 
1  See  Proceedings  of  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  vol.  xv.  p.  56. 


3o8 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


as  he  preferred  to  "  live  to  fight  some  other  day."  These 
Easton  men  saw  active  and  hard  service  under  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott  and  Gen.  Jacob  Brown. 

By  general  orders  issued  in  July,  1814,  and  regimental  orders 
issued  in  August,  Capt.  Noah  Reed's  company  of  infantry  were 
ordered  to  appear  for  coast-guard  service  at  New  Bedford,  there 
being  some  apprehension  that  this  place  might  be  attacked  by 
the  British  men-of-war.  This  company  consisted  of  seventy- 
seven  men,  of  whom  thirty-two  were  from  Attleborough,  sixteen 
from  Norton,  fourteen  from  Mansfield,  one  from  Westfield,  and 
thirteen  from  Easton,  whose  names  are  given  below.  This  com- 
pany was  in  the  Bristol  County  Fourth  Regiment,  Second  Brig- 
ade, Fifth  Division.  The  officer  in  command  was  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  (afterwards  General)  Benjamin  Lincoln.  The  time  of 
service  began  August  10,  18 14,  and  lasted  twenty-nine  days.  A 
town-meeting  was  called,  and  on  the  22d  of  August  it  was  — 

"  Voted  to  Raise  $341.50  for  the  Tov/n's  Stock  [of  ammunition]  and 
equipments.  Voted  to  raise  the  Soldiers'  pay  to  $15  Dollars  pr. 
month,  encluding  the  publick  pay  for  the  time  of  their  service  when 
detached,  and  to  raise  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  Musicians 
in  proportion  with  the  publick  pay,  the  same  sum  from  the  Town  to 
be  added  to  their  wages.  Voted  to  Raise  $241  Dollars  for  expenses 
for  the  use  of  the  Soldiers." 

The  muster  and  pay  rolls  of  Captain  Reed's  company  are  in 
the  Treasury  Department  at  Washington,  copies  of  which,  as 
well  as  of  Captain  Lothrop's  company,  have  been  kindly  fur- 
nished the  writer  by  the  Third  Auditor  of  that  department. 
Copies  of  Captain  Reed's  roll  are  also  deposited  in  the  New 
Bedford  Public  Library.  The  following  are  the  Easton  names 
in  the  latter  company  :  — 

Noah  Reed,  Captain.  Jona.  Drake. 

Simeon  Drake,  Lieiiteiiant.  John  Drew,  Jr. 

Joseph  Hayward,  Jr.,  Sergeant.  Silas  Phillips,  Jr. 

Martin  Copeland,  Drtinwier.  Joseph  Purshoe. 

W.  Downing.  Francis  Russell. 

Elijah  Drake.  Zeph.  Thayer. 
Howe  White. 

A  very  sad  affair  occurred  while  this  company  was  stationed 
at  New  Bedford.     In  the  "Bristol  County  History,"  p.  117,  occurs 


THE   WAR   OF   1812. 


309 


the  following  statement :  "  Charles  Gilbert  was  killed  by  a 
stupid  sentinel  stationed  at  the  gun-house  on  Spring  Street, 
near  Sixth.  He  was  going  the  rounds  in  the  night,  inspecting 
the  posts,  and  not  answering  promptly  the  first  demand  for  the 
countersign,  he  was  shot  and  instantly  killed."  As  this  sentinel 
was  Nathan  Buck,  of  Easton,  a  private  in  Capt.  Noah  Reed's 
Company,  it  is  proper  that  this  statement  should  be  examined, 
and  the  event  to  which  it  relates  correctly  described. 

It  seems  that  as  there  was  little  active  service  to  be  done 
by  the  troops  at  New  Bedford,  there  was  plenty  of  time  for  them 
to  indulge  in  fun.  Charles  Gilbert  and  others  had  got  into  the 
habit  of  playing  tricks  upon  the  guards  by  way  of  putting  them 
to  the  test,  to  see  how  they  would  stick  to  their  post  and  do 
their  duty,  in  some  cases  even  getting  away  their  guns.  They 
tried  this  on  an  old  Easton  soldier,  Elijah  Drake,  urging  a  horse 
forward  towards  him  in  the  thick  darkness.  A  bullet  through 
the  horse  from  Elijah's  gun  proved  that  he  was  not  a  safe  man 
to  experiment  upon.  They  then  selected  Nathan  Buck,  another 
Easton  soldier,  who  was  not,  it  must  be  confessed,  especially 
bright.  Captain  Reed  had  given  orders  for  the  sentinel  to  hail 
three  times,  and  then  fire.  This,  Nathan  Buck  did  ;  but  he  was 
too  precipitate,  having  in  mind  perhaps  the  trick  tried  upon 
Elijah  Drake.  He  was  said  to  have  challenged  three  times 
in  rapid  succession,  and  then  fired,  killing  Charles  Gilbert. 
Jonathan  Drake,  also  an  Easton  man  and  an  orderly  of  the  com- 
pany, declared  however  that  Buck  obeyed  orders  and  did  just 
right.  He  was  nevertheless  arrested,  and  instead  of  being  tried 
by  military  court-martial,  where  he  would  probably  have  been 
acquitted,  he  was  delivered  to  the  civil  power,  was  tried  in  the 
Superior  Judicial  Court  in  the  October  term  of  18 14,  and  was 
found  guilty  of  manslaughter.  He  was  sentenced  to  ten  days 
soHtary  confinement  in  the  prison  at  Charlestown,  and  after  that 
to  three  years  of  hard  labor  in  the  same  prison.  Under  the  cir- 
cumstances this  was  an  unjust  sentence.  He  was  not  however 
long  kept  in  confinement,  for  his  health  was  so  much  affected  by 
his  prison  life  that  he  was  soon  released,  and  came  home  to  his 
family  to  die.     He  passed  away  October  7  (or  8),  18 15. 

The  indictment  of  Nathan  Buck  is  such  a  singular  specimen 
of  the  absurd  extremes  of  technical  legal  expression  that  it  is 


3IO  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

here  given  in  full.  Any  one  who  is  inclined  to  think  it  a 
caricature  may  find  the  original  in  the  records  of  the  Superior 
Judicial  Court,  at  Taunton,  vol.  ii.  p.  472. 

Cotnnio7iweaIth   of  Massachusetts  vs.  Nathan  Buck,  of  Easton,  in  our 
said  County  of  Bristol,  Laborer,  Defendant. 

In  a  Bill  of  Indictment  found  by  the  Jurors  of  the  Commonwealth 
aforesaid,  who  upon  their  Oath  present  that  Nathan  Buck,  of  Easton, 
in  the  said  county  of  Bristol,  Labourer,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  August 
now  last  past,  with  force  and  arms,  at  New  Bedford  in  the  county 
aforesaid,  in  and  upon  one  Charles  Gilbert,  in  the  peace  of  the  said 
Commonwealth,  then  and  there  being,  feloniously  and  in  the  fury  ot 
the  mind  of  him  the  said  Nathan  Buck,  did  make  an  assault :  And 
that  the  said  Nathan  Buck  a  certain  gun  of  the  value  of  Five  dollars 
then  and  there  loaded  and  charged  with  Gun-powder  and  one  leaden 
bullet,  which  Gun  he  the  said  Nathan  Buck,  in  both  his  hands  then 
and  there  had  and  held  against  and  upon  the  said  Charles  Gilbert, 
then  and  there  feloniously  and  in  the  fury  of  his  mind  did  shoot  and 
discharge  :  And  that  he  the  said  Nathan  Buck,  with  the  leaden  Bullet 
aforesaid,  out  of  the  Gun  aforesaid,  then  and  there  by  force  of  the 
gun-powder  shot  and  sent  forth  as  aforesaid  the  aforesaid  Charles 
Gilbert  in  and  upon  the  right  breast  of  him  the  said  Charles  Gilbert, 
then  and  there  with  the  leaden  Bullet  aforesaid,  by  the  said  Nathan 
Buck,  so  as  aforesaid  shot,  discharged,  and  sent  forth  feloniously  and 
in  the  fury  of  his  mind,  did  strike,  penetrate,  and  wound,  giving  to  the 
said  Charles  Gilbert,  then  and  there  with  the  leaden  bullet  aforesaid,  so 
as  aforesaid  shot,  discharged,  and  sent  forth  out  of  the  gun  aforesaid, 
by  the  said  Nathan  Buck,  in  and  upon  the  said  right  breast  of  him  the 
said  Charles  Gilbert,  one  mortal  wound  of  the  depth  of  six  inches  and 
of  the  breadth  of  half  an  inch,  of  which  mortal  wound  the  said  Charles 
Gilbert  then  and  there  instantly  died.  And  so  the  Jurors  aforesaid,  upon 
their  oath  aforesaid,  do  say  that  the  said  Nathan  Buck  the  said  Charles 
Gilbert  then  and  there  in  manner  aforesaid,  feloniously  and  in  the  fury 
of  his  mind,  did  kill  and  slay  against  the  peace  of  said  Commonwealth, 
and  against  the  form  of  the  statute  in  such  case  made  and  provided. 

And  now  at  this  Term  the  said  Nathan  Buck  is  set  to  the  Bar  and 
has  this  Indictment  read  to  him,  he  says  that  thereof  he  is  not  Guilty, 
and  puts  himself  on  the  country  for  trial.  Whereupon  a  jury  is  im- 
pannelled  and  sworn  to  try  the  issue,  consisting  of  Abijah  Reed,  Jr., 
Foreman,  and  fellows,  viz.  •  .  .  j  who,  after  hearing  all  matters  and 
things  concerning  the  same,  return  a  verdict  thereon,  and  upon  their 
oath  say  as  follows,  to  wit,  "We  find  the  Defendant  Guilty." 


THE   WAR   OF    1812. 


311 


It  is  therefore  considered  and  ordered  by  the  Court  here,  that  the 
said  Nathan  Buck  be  punished  by  solitary  confinement  in  the  Com- 
monwealth's Prison  in  Charlestown,  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  for 
the  space  of  Ten  days  ;  after  the  expiration  of  which  time,  that  he  be 
confined  to  hard  labour  in  the  same  prison  for  the  term  of  Three  years, 
and  stand  committed  until  he  be  removed  according  to  the  law. 

Two  days  before  Captain  Reed's  company  was  discharged, 
Capt.  Isaac  Lothrop's  Company  was  ordered  into  service,  being 
assigned  to  duty  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  They  were  in  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Tovvne's  regiment  of  General  Maltby's  brigade, 
and  under  Major-General  Whiton.  There  were  forty-three 
members  of  this  company,  some  of  whom  were,  or  afterwards 
became,  prominent  citizens  of  the  town.  They  served  a  part  of 
September  and  October,  18 14,  and  were  quartered  on  what  is 
now  Broadway  Street,  South  Boston,  being  simply  on  guard  duty, 
but  seeing  no  fighting.  They,  however,  enjoyed  this  pre-emi- 
nence over  the  members  of  the  other  company,  —  they  did  get 
sight  of  some  of  the  Redcoats.  Joseph  Ward,  one  member  of 
the  company,  used  to  tell  about  seeing  some  British  soldiers 
march  over  Boston  Neck,  while  he  was  secreting  himself  by  ly- 
ing alongside  or  behind  a  signboard  of  some  kind.  But  Joseph's 
reclining  by  a  signboard  may  perhaps  be  otherwise  accounted 
for,  as  also  the  apparition  of  Redcoats.  The  following  is  the 
roll  of  Capt.  Isaac  Lothrop's  Company  of  Light  Infantry:  — 


Isaac  Lothrop,  Captain. 
Seth  Williams,  Lieutenant. 
Melvin  Gilmore,  Ensign. 
Howard  Lothrop,  Sergeant. 
Oliver  Pool,  „ 

Simeon  Leach,  ,, 

Dwelly  Williams,        „ 
Azel  Pratt,         Corporal. 
George  Alger, 
Lewis  Williams, 
Charles  Wilbur, 
John  Pool,  Jr., 
David  Macomber,  Mzisic. 
Ethan  Howard,  ,, 

Thomas  Howard,        „ 
Silas  H.  Brett,         Private. 
Alanson  Cobb,  „ 


Horatio  Copeland,    Private. 
Wade  Daily,  „ 

Daniel  S.  Dickerman,  „ 
Lincoln  Drake,  ,, 

Reuben  Drake,  „ 

Zenas  Drake,  ,, 

Nathaniel  Guild,  „ 

Asa  Harlow,  „ 

Tisdale  Harlow,  Waiter. 
Nahum  Hay  ward,  Private. 
Charles  Howard, 
George  Howard, 
Warren  Howard, 
Lemuel  Keith, 
Joshua  Lothrop, 
Eliphalet  Mitchell, 
Leonard  Mitchell, 


312 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Elijah  Randall, 

Private. 

Alanson  White, 

Private. 

William  Reed, 

» 

Isaiah  Wilbur, 

>) 

Simeon  Thayer, 

)» 

Jason  Wilbur, 

Waiter. 

Joseph  Ward, 

)) 

Joseph  Wilbur, 

Private. 

Larnard  Williams. 

Another  company  of  Easton  men  did  coast-guard  duty  at 
Plymouth,  from  September  26  to  October  19.  A  copy  of  the 
pay-roll  of  this  company  was  found  among  the  papers  of  Elijah 
Smith,  who  was  one  of  its  lieutenants.  Elijah  Smith  lived  near 
the  No.  8  schoolhouse.  He  was  for  many  years  the  clerk  of  the 
Methodist  Society  on  Washington  Street,  and  a  man  of  charac- 
ter and  influence.  August  21,  18 10,  he  was  elected  lieutenant 
of  a  company  in  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Infantry  in  the  Second 
Brigade,  and  received  his  commission  September  20,  the  com- 
mission being  still  preserved.  After  the  war,  on  the  sixth  day 
of  June,  1 81 7,  he  received  a  captain's  commission. 

The  following  is  the  "  Pay  Roll  of  Sam'i  Cushman's  Company 
of  Infantry  detached  from  the  4th  R'gt,  2nd  Brig.,  &  5th  Divi'n 
of  M.  M.,  in  obedience  of  Division  orders,  17th  Sept.,  1814,  &  Sta- 
tioned at  Plymouth,  28  Instant,  under  the  command  of  Lieut- 
Col'n  C.  Howard."  All  but  four  were  from  Easton,  the  captain 
and  two  others  being  from  Attleborough,  and  the  fourth  from 
Mansfield.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  Easton  men  in 
this  company  :  — 


Elijah  Smith,  Lieutenant. 
Thatcher  Pierce,  Sergeant. 
Andrew  Blaisdal,  Sergeant. 
Daniel  Burt,  Sergeaiit. 
Seth  Tisdale,  Corporal. 
Jonathan  French,  Corporal. 
Barnabas  Randall,  Corporal. 
Solomon  Belcher. 
Josiah  Bonney. 
Edward  Capen. 
Charles  Dean. 
Isaac  Drake. 
John  Drew,  Jr. 
Israel  Goward. 
Caleb  Hammon. 
Asaph  Howard. 

Greenfield  WiUiams, 


Barnabas  Howard. 
Oliver  Johnson. 
Daniel  Keith. 
Cyrus  Lothrop. 
Sihon  Morse. 
Amasa  Phillips. 
Veranes  Pratt. 
Alvin  Randall. 
Caleb  Randall. 
Nathan  Randall. 
Moses  Robbins. 
Nathan  Snow. 
Enoch  Thomas,  Jr. 
David  Thompson,  3d. 
Asa  White. 
Willis  White. 


THE    WAR   OF    1812. 


313 


By  another  list,  kept  by  Lieut.  Elijah  Smith,  it  appears  that 
John  Willis,  Jr.,  became  a  substitute  for  Israel  Goward,  Warner 
Downing  for  Willis  White,  and  that  Daniel  Burt,  named  above, 
was  a  substitute  for  Thomas  Britton.  William  Snow  became  a 
substitute  for  Edward  Capen,  Israel  Randall  for  Daniel  Keith, 
Tisdale  Wetherel  for  Oliver  Johnson,  and  Solomon  Randall  for 
Caleb  Randall. 

For  twenty-four  days'  service  the  captain  received  $32 ;  the 
lieutenant,  1^24;  the  sergeants,  ^11.20;  the  corporals,  ^10.40;  and 
the  privates,  ^8.8o.  Lieutenant  Smith  had  his  copy  of  this  pay- 
roll in  a  little  note-book,  in  which  he  has  the  following  notes : 

"  Sept.  26th,  18 14.  Capt.  Samuel  Cushman's  company  met  at 
I.  Kimball's  in  Easton  and  marched  to  Wd.  Lazel's  in  Bridgewater. 
27.  Marched  to  Plymounth.  28.  Made  return  to  the  Col.;  Benjamin 
King  got  his  discharge.  29.  Cyrus  Lothrop  got  his  discharge.  30. 
Barnabas  Howard  got  his  discharge.  Oct  8.  Sihon  Morse  and  John 
Drew  got  a  furlough  for  4  days.  Od.  12.  Due  for  Brandy,  Shugar,  & 
Sigars,  $1.35  ;  Asaph  Howard,  Jonathan  French,  &  Snow  got  a  fur- 
lough for  5  days ;  likewise  Thatcher  Pierce  for  five  days.  Oct.  13. 
Sihon  Morse  and  Thatcher  Pierce  returned ;  Seth  Tisdal  &  Green- 
field Williams  got  discharged.  14.  Warner  Downing  was  furloughed. 
15.  John  Willis,  Jr.,  was  furloughed." 

It  was  thought  necessary  in  those  days  for  an  officer  to  "treat" 
the  company  occasionally,  and  we  are  accordingly  not  surprised  to 
find  that  Lieutenant  Smith  is  charged  in  his  note-book,  Sep- 
tember 30,  181 5,  with  "rum  and  shuger  for  training,"  ^4.00.  At 
that  time  a  gallon  of  rum  cost  ^1.25,  and  sugar  was  twenty  cents 
a  pound.  One  year  from  that  date  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain, and  there  was  no  doubt  a  still  larger  outlay  for  "  rum  and 
shuger  for  training  "  than  when  he  was  merely  lieutenant. 

March  20,  18 15,  the  town  "Voted  to  make  up  the  wages  of 
the  soldiers  L.  Infantry  company  the  same  as  Capt.  Reed's  men, 
without  any  deduction  for  their  uniform."  This  is  the  last 
echo  of  any  action  of  the  town  relative  to  the  War  of  181'' 


314  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE   FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY. 

Beginning  of  Methodism  in  Easton.  —  Jesse  Lee,  the  Pioneer.  — 
Isaac  Stokes.  —  The  Eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow.  —  The  First 
Methodist  Meeting-House.  —  The  Rev.  John  Tinkham.  —  Cus- 
toms AND  Innovations.  —  Successive  Preachers.  —  Father 
Bates.  —  The  New  Meeting-House.  —  Universalist  Preaching 
makes  Trouble.  —  Great  Revivals.  —  Later  Preachers. 

THE  Methodist  movement  in  Easton  dates  its  origin  from 
the  year  1792.  At  that  time  the  Baptist  Society  was  prac- 
tically dead,  and  the  field  was  ready  for  a  new  occupant.  Metho- 
dism came  with  a  better  prospect  of  success  than  the  Baptists 
could  command.  The  latter  professed  belief  in  a  dark  and 
hopeless  Calvinism,  whose  doctrine  of  unconditional  election 
tended  to  discourage  hope  and  paralyze  effort.  "  What  is  the 
use  of  doing  anything  about  it  ? "  people  said.  "  If  we  are 
elected  to  salvation  we  shall  be  saved  ;  if  not,  we  shall  be 
damned,  and  we  cannot  help  it."  But  Methodism  declared  that 
everybody  had  a  fair  chance,  and  that  if  any  one  were  lost  it 
would  be  his  own  fault.  "  Salvation  's  free  !  "  was  the  Methodist 
watchword.  This  brought  unspeakable  relief,  after  the  old  fatal- 
ism with  which  people  were  familiar.  Moreover,  the  town  min- 
isterial tax  could  be  avoided  by  connection  with  the  Methodists 
as  well  as  with  the  Baptists,  so  that  nothing  would  be  lost  on 
this  ground  by  the  change. 

John  Wesley  was  born  in  1703,  and  was  sixty-three  years  old 
when  in  1766,  in  New  York  City,  a  company  of  Irish  immigrants 
established  the  first  Methodist  Society  in  this  country.  At 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  there  were  13,740  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  America,  and  43  preachers.  Up  to  this 
time  they  regarded  themselves  as  only  a  reformed  Episcopal 
Church  ;  but  a  separation  from  the  mother  church  was  inevi- 
table. Wesley  assumed  the  function  of  a  bishop,  and  ordained 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Coke  as  bishop  of  the  American  churches,  in 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY.  315 

1784.  On  Christmas  day  of  that  year  Coke  was  recognized  for 
that  office  in  Baltimore,  and  he  appointed  Asbury  as  a  coadjutor 
bishop.  A  separate  church  was  then,  with  Wesley's  permission, 
organized,  and  styled  "  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America." 

From  this  time  the  most  earnest  and  zealous  efforts  were 
made  to  preach  the  gospel  in  this  new  way.  Itinerant  preachers 
scoured  the  country,  penetrating  to  the  remotest  hamlets  and 
rousing  people  out  of  indifference  and  sin.  The  accepted  tra- 
dition in  Easton  is  that  not  far  from  1785  a  pioneer  preacher, 
supposed  to  be  Jesse  Lee,  preached  in  Easton  the  first  Metho- 
dist sermon  under  an  apple-tree  somewhere  in  front  of  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Methodist  church  in  North  Easton  village.  But 
Jesse  Lee^  refers  to  his  coming  first  to  Easton  in  August  18, 
1792.  His  record  is  :  "  I  rode  to  Brother  Stokes's  in  Easton,  and 
met  the  class  at  five  o'clock."  This  class  was  no  doubt  newly 
organized,  for  in  1791  Mr.  Stokes  claimed  on  the  Easton  tax-lists 
to  be  a  Baptist.  Class-meetings  continued  to  be  held  at  Mr. 
Stokes's,  perhaps  at  Thomas  Willis's  and  at  other  houses,  but 
the  church  was  not  yet  organized.  Jesse  Lee  visited  Easton 
again  in  March,  1793.  He  thus  writes  ^  of  a  third  visit  to 
Easton  in  February,  1795  :  — 

Monday,  16.  I  preached  at  Stokes's  at  i  o'clock  on  ist  Peter, 
iii.  9.  Though  we  had  a  small  company  we  had  a  melting  season. 
Brother  N.  Chapin  closed  the  meeting  by  prayer.  We  then  consulted 
about  building  a  meeting-house,  and  determined  to  begin  to  build  it 
in  the  lower  part  of  Easton,  near  Bridgewater,  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  people  seem  to  be  in  good  spirits  about  it,  though  they  are  very 
poor.     At  night  I  preached  at  brother  Churchill's  in  Bridgewater." 

By  the  "  lower  part  of  Easton "  was  meant  the  part  towards 
Boston,  this  being,  as  the  late  Martin  Wild  informed  the  writer, 
what  the  phrase  meant  early  in  this  century.  About  this  time 
Jesse  Lee  writes  ^  that  "  good  prospects  of  a  revival  of  religion 
[in  Easton]  cheered  me  exceedingly." 

It  was  Isaac  Stokes  to  whom  Jesse  Lee  refers.  His  house 
was  on  Main  Street,  where  the  house  of  Benjamin  Russell  now 

1  Life  of  Jesse  Lee,  p.  181.  ^  ibid.,  p.  214.  »  ibid.,  p.  216. 


3i6 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


stands.  Tradition  has  uniformly  represented  him  as  a  local 
Methodist  preacher,  but  this  tradition  is  wholly  incorrect.  Its 
only  basis  is  an  orthographical  mistake.  Upon  his  tombstone  in 
the  cemetery  at  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Washington  streets  he  is 
spoken  of  as  the  first  "  Parson  "  buried  in  that  place.  It  was  not 
uncommon  in  those  days  to  s,^.y  parson  iox person.  In  later  days 
the  word  "parson"  on  the  tombstone  was  understood  to  mean 
minister,  and  this  not  unnatural  mistake  is  the  sole  foundation 
of  the  tradition  alluded  to.  In  fact  Isaac  Stokes  was  a  nailer 
by  trade,  and  not  a  parson  at  all.  Before  coming  to  this  country 
he  was  a  soldier  in  Ireland,  His  name  first  appears  upon  the 
Easton  tax-lists  in  1782,  and  ^he  then  claimed  to  be  a  Baptist. 
He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  committee  of  the  Baptist  So- 
ciety in  1785.  He  was  deacon  of  that  church  in  1789,  and 
appeared  as  a  Baptist  again  on  the  tax-lists  of  1791.  There  is 
no  record  of  his  ever  having  preached  at  all. 

Another  pioneer  of  Methodism  who  visited  and  preached  in 
Easton  before  the  Methodist  Society  was  organized,  was  the 
eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow.  The  first  time  Dow  appeared  in  Easton 
was  April  3,  1796,  when  he  preached  near  the  house  of  Dwelly 
Goward  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He  writes  of  this  event 
in  his  journal  as  follows:  "  3r^  [April,  1796.]  This  dav  for 
the  first  time  I  gave  out  a  text  before  a  Methodist  preacher  ; 
and  I  being  young  both  in  years  and  ministry,  the  expecta- 
tions of  many  were  raised  who  did  not  bear  with  my  weakness 
and  strong  doctrine,  but  judged  me  very  hard,  and  would  not 
consent  that  I  should  preach  there  any  more  for  some  time."^ 
He  speaks  of  preaching  at  Raynham,  and  writes  that  on  the 
"  15th  I  rode  twenty  miles  to  the  upper  part  of  East  town, 
where  we  had  a  solemn  time."  He  was  not  much  mistaken  in 
the  distance,  for  he  probably  went  a  round-about  way,  as  the 
Great  Cedar  Swamp  road  was  then  unopened.  He  continues 
his   journal    thus :    "  Here  lived    a   person   who  was  esteemed 

very  pious  by  the  connection  in  general,  by  name  Phily  C ." 

He  says  that  on  the  17th  he  spoke  to  about  two  hundred  atten- 
tive people.     On  page  58  he  writes :  "  During  my  stay  on  the 

circuit,  Phily  C requested  to  know  what  it  was  that  lay 

with  such  weight  upon  my  mind,  which  I  declined  telling  for 

^  See  Life  of  Lorenzo  Dow,  p.  53. 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY. 


317 


[notwithstanding]  many  importunities.  At  last,  having  ob- 
tained a  solemn  promise  before  God  that  it  should  not  be  di- 
vulged, I  manifested  it."  He  then  confided  to  her  that  some  one 
on  account  of  his  youth  placed  a  temptation  before  him,  and  he, 
not  recollecting  any  Scripture  that  forbade  it,  but  one  that  he 
thought  favored  it,  partly  complied  ;  "  but  in  my  conscience 
immediately  I  felt  such  [agony]  that  for  nine  days  I  was  almost 
in  black  despair  for  mercy,  fearing  I  had  committed  the  un- 
pardonable sin.  Oh,  my  tears  and  groans  !  But  on  the  ninth 
day  I  found  pardon."  ^  The  nature  of  his  temptation  is  left  to 
conjecture.  But  he  had  made  a  poor  confidant,  for  the  next 
time  Jesse  Lee  came  round  she  repeated  the  story  to  him  ;  and 
we  hear  of  it  in  June,  1797,  in  Dow's  journal  as  follows: 
"  Met  J.  Lee,  to  my  sorrow  and  joy.  He  mentioned  some  things 
he  had   heard  concerning  me  in  the  east  (by  the  treachery  of 

Phily  C )  ;  and   he  began  to  question  me  very  close,  but 

got  no  satisfactory  answers.  As  I  perceived  him  upon  the  criti- 
cal order,  I  was  cautious  in  my  answers." 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  Dow's  indignation  against  Phily  C . 

One  who  knew  her  has  informed  the  writer  that  this  was  Phily 
Churchill,  whose  father,  Ephraim  Churchill,  lived  just  over  the 
Easton  fine  on  the  north  road  to  Brockton,  and  that  she  was 
very  far  from  deserving  the  reputation  for  piety  which  Dow  re- 
ported that  she  enjoyed  among  "the  connection  in  general." 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  speaking  Easton  was  on  what 
was  called  the  Warren  Circuit,  which  included  Mansfield,  Nor- 
ton, and  other  towns  ;  and  Dow  was  a  preacher  on  that  cir- 
cuit. He  was  an  exceedingly  eccentric  man,  one  of  his  oddi- 
ties being  that  of  wearing  a  long  beard.  Beards  were  not  the 
fashion  then,  and  were  especially  esteemed  much  out  of  place 
on  ministers.  Dow  became  for  this  and  other  reasons  a  genuine 
notable,  and  was  able  to  draw  large  crowds  to  hear  him  preach. 
After  the  Methodist  meeting-house  here  was  finished,  he  was  an- 
nounced to  preach  in  it  one  evening.  When  he  arrived  he  found 
the  church  crowded,  even  the  aisles  being  full.  It  was  dimly 
lighted  ;  two  candles  were  upon  the  pulpit  and  a  few  elsewhere. 
Crouching  low,  so  that  he  might  not  be  seen  by  the  audience, 
Dow  glided  up  the  crowded  aisle  and  suddenly  rose  like  an 
1  See  Life  of  Lorenzo  Dow,  p.  58. 


3i8  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

apparition  in  the  pulpit.  His  first  act  was  to  take  one  of  the 
candles,  hold  it  up  to  his  face  and  turn  from  side  to  side,  so 
that  the  audience  might  gratify  their  curiosity  as  to  his  looks. 
It  was  as  much  as  to  say :  "  You  have  heard  of  the  full-bearded 
preacher,  and  now  you  see  him.  Having  satisfied  your  eyes, 
perhaps  you  will  attend  with  your  ears." 

On  one  occasion,  perhaps  on  the  last  one  mentioned,  the  church 
was  crowded,  the  windows  raised,  and  people  even  sat  upon  the 
window-sills.  Several  young  fellows  seated  in  the  rear  of  the 
church  made  considerable  disturbance  during  the  meeting.  It 
was  too  much  to  bear  patiently ;  and  suddenly  Dow  stopped, 
looked  at  them  and  said:  "Those  young  men  have  come  here 
to  disturb  the  meeting  ;  they  are  like  the  dog  in  the  manger,  — 
they  will  neither  hear  themselves,  nor  let  others  hear.  But  let 
them  alone ;  they  are  only  advertising  their  own  characters." 

The  Methodist  Society  was  organized  in  1795.  A  board  of 
trustees  was  chosen,  consisting  of  Ephraim  Churchill,  of  Bridge- 
water,  and  George  Monk,  Nehemiah  Randall,  Isaiah  Randall, 
and  Thomas  Willis,  of  Easton.  October  13,  1795,  they  for  five 
dollars  purchased  of  Thomas  Drake  the  land  now  occupied  by 
the  church  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Elm  streets  and 
the  old  part  of  the  cemetery.^  They  were  to  hold  it  "  upon 
special  trust  and  confidence  "  for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Society,  "  and  no  other  person  to  have  and  en- 
joy the  free  use  of  the  premises,"  etc.  These  trustees  were  to 
be  self-perpetuating.  The  church  was  soon  built,  but  it  was 
a  rude  affair,  judged  by  modern  standards.  It  was  thirty  by 
thirty-six  feet,  and  was  nine  or  ten  feet  high  in  the  walls.  It 
was  unplastered,  with  no  entries  ;  and  as  heating  a  church  was 
then  regarded  as  an  unchristian  luxury,  it  had  no  chimneys. 
The  seats  were  oak  slabs,  the  bark  sides  underneath,  without 
backs,  and  with  legs  fitted  into  auger  holes,  as  in  the  ordinary 
milking-stool.  It  was  a  long  time  afterwards,  perhaps  fifteen 
years,  before  there  was  any  change  in  these  appointments  ;  and 
then  about  twenty  of  the  old-fashioned  box-pews,  with  seats  on 
three  sides,  took  the  place  of  most  of  the  slab  seats,  some  of 
which  however  remained.  The  building  of  this  church  was  the 
cause  of  great  rejoicing  among  the  Methodists.  Bishop  Asbury 
1  See  the  deed,  in  Land  Records  of  Bristol  County,  book  75,  p.  383. 


THE    FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY. 


319 


was  present  at  its  dedication.  It  stood  until  1830,  when  it  was 
moved  a  little  distance  backward  in  order  to  give  place  to  a  new 
church,  but  was  soon  sold  to  an  Englishman  named  Trimble,  who 
moved  it  to  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Ames  Free  Library, 
where  it  eventually  became  a  tenement  house  owned  by  Oliver 
Ames  &  Sons.  It  is  now  one  of  the  row  of  houses  owned  by 
the  Ames  Corporation  on  the  north  side  of  Lincoln  Street. 

Services  continued  to  be  conducted  in  the  Methodist  meeting- 
house by  the  preachers  on  the  Warren  Circuit  for  some  years. 
Meetings  were  sometimes  held  also  at  private  houses  in  other 
parts  of  the  town.  The  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling  and  Solomon 
Langdon  were  preachers  on  this  circuit  in  1800.  Mr.  Snelling 
managed  to  come  to  Easton  about  once  in  three  weeks.  In  his 
Memoir  there  is  an  interesting  account  of  meetings  held  at  the 
residence  of  Oliver  Howard,  which  still  stands  on  Short  Street, 
east  of  the  railroad  track.  Mr.  Howard's  wife  was  an  ardent 
Methodist,  his  house  was  commodious,  and  large  meetings  were 
held  there.  Mr.  Snelling  relates  that  at  one  of  these  the  house 
was  full  to  overflowing,  and  in  every  part  of  it  might  be  heard 
some  praying  for  mercy,  and  others  praising  God  for  redeem- 
ing grace.  The  Congregational  minister  (the  Rev.  Mr.  Reed) 
was  present,  and  the  meeting  was  continued  "  tmtil  three  d clock 
i?i  the  morning ! "  A  lady  converted  at  this  meeting  arose, 
"  and  in  a  very  solemn  and  eloquent  manner  told  what  the  Lord 
had  done  for  her  soul."  She  was  to  have  been  baptized  three 
weeks  afterwards,  but  before  that  time  Mr.  Snelling  was  called 
to  attend  her  funeral.  Her  last  message  to  him  was,  "  Tell 
Brother  Snelling  that  I  hope  to  meet  him  in  heaven,  when  we 
shall  have  a  better  meeting  than  we  had  at  Ohver  Howard's." 
It  was  estimated  that  a  thousand  persons  attended  this  funeral, 
which  was  conducted  according  to  the  Episcopal  form.  Meet- 
ings were  continued  to  be  held  occasionally  at  Oliver  Howard's 
until  his  wife's  death,  about  1825. 

A  new  circuit  was  organized  in  1806,  including  eleven  towns, 
of  which  Easton  had  the  oldest  society.  According  to  the 
"  Minutes  of  Methodist  Conferences,"  vol.  i.  p.  394,  Easton  and 
Norton  together  numbered  eighty  church-members,  and  were 
ministered  to  by  the  same  preacher.  The  first  one  under  the 
new  arrangement  was  Nehemiah  Coye.    This  was  the  year  1806; 


320 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


and  it  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  while  the  "  Massachusetts 
Register"  names  this  society  in  1796,  the  first  time  it  is  men- 
tioned in  the  list  of  churches  in  the  Methodist  "  Minutes,"  is 
ten  years  later,  1806.  In  1807  Thomas  Perry  was  preacher 
of  Norton  and  Easton,  and  Mansfield  was  added  to  his  charge. 
He  was  followed  by  Samuel  Cutler  in  1808.  In  1809  Easton 
was  fortunate  in  having  John  Tinkham  sent  to  the  Methodist 
church. 

Mr.  Tinkham  was  the  son  of  Abel  Tinkham,  of  Middleboro. 
He  was  born  June  4,  1782,  in  Thompson,  Conn.,  and  was  the 
oldest  of  twelve  children.  He  and  Lewis  Bates  were  both  or- 
dained deacons  in  1806,  having  been  admitted  on  trial  in  1804. 
They  were  elected  and  ordained  elders  in  1808  ;  and  that  year 
Mr.  Tinkham  was  stationed  at  Needham.  February  3  of  this 
year  he  had  married  Zerviah  Blish,  of  Gilson,  New  Hampshire. 
Through  1809  Mr.  Tinkham  labored  in  Easton  with  great  ac- 
ceptance. He  was  returned  for  18 10,  and  decided  to  locate 
here,  making  Easton  his  permanent  home,  and  preaching  as  oc- 
casion offered  in  the  vicinity.  Acceptable  as  he  was,  attention 
is  arrested  by  the  fact  that  almost  no  gains  of  church-members 
were  made  under  his  ministry.  Vol.  I.  p.  394  of  the  Conference 
"Minutes"  reported  for  1806  eighty  members  for  Norton  and 
Easton.  In  18 10  the  number  was  one  hundred  and  eleven  (page 
484),  and  in  181 1  it  was  ninety-seven  (page  518),  —  a  loss  of  four- 
teen members  in  the  last  year,  and  an  actual  gain  of  only  seven- 
teen members  in  the  two  churches  for  five  years.  So  far  as 
Mr.  Tinkham  was  concerned  this  fact  is  easily  explained.  He 
was  a  man  of  clear,  practical,  common-sense,  who  believed  that 
efficiency  and  success  as  a  minister  of  Christ  were  not  to  be 
measured  by  the  number  of  conversions  so  much  as  by  raising 
the  standard  of  morals,  improving  the  conduct,  and  Christian- 
izing the  average  daily  life  of  the  people.  He  did  not  do  much 
to  increase  the  church  membership  ;  but  he  did  increase  church 
attendance,  and  church  matters  prospered. 

Mr.  Tinkham  could  not  only  preach  admirably,  —  he  could 
also  lift  as  heavy  stones,  build  as  much  stone-wall  in  a  day, 
make  as  good  a  garden,  and  have  as  fine  a  nursery  as  any  one. 
He  was  a  man  of  popular  gifts,  and  made  friends  of  old  and 
young.     The  general  esteem    in    which  he  came  to  be  held  is 


iJ 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST    SOCIETY. 


321 


shown  by  the  fact,  that,  though  a  Methodist  minister  living  in 
one  corner  of  the  town,  he  was  twice  sent  to  the  legislature  as 
representative.  This  was  in  18 12  and  18 13,  when  he  went  as 
associate  representative  with  Calvin  Brett,  Easton  sending  two 
for  several  years. 

A  few  facts  may  here  be  stated  that  will  illustrate  the  life  and 
customs  of  that  time.  Few  ministers  would  be  satisfied  to-day 
with  either  the  quantity  or  quality  of  Mr.  Tinkham's  salary, —  if 
the  word  "  salary  "  can  properly  be  applied  to  the  desultory  and 
miscellaneous  payments  he  received  for  his  ministerial  services. 
His  old  account  books  are  still  preserved,  and  it  is  surprising 
to  see  how  seldom  the  words  "  cash  "  and  "  money  "  appear  on 
their  pages.  One  man  pays  him  eighteen  pounds  of  veal  at  six 
cents  a  pound;  another,  twenty-nine  pounds  of  beef  for  ^1.52. 
Wood,  boards,  shingles,  hay,  shoes,  and  even  cider  are  among 
the  items  received  for  salary.  One  noticeable  entry  is  "money 
and  potash."  In  some  cases  no  little  dunning  was  necessary 
in  order  to  get  even  these  things.  One  afternoon,  driving  into 
his  yard  after  such  a  parochial  and  business  call,  he  astonished 
his  little  son  Jason  by  drawing  from  beneath  his  blanket  a  small 
black  pig,  which  was  received,  according  to  the  cash-book  record, 
"in  payment  for  preaching  the  Gospel." 

Another  incident  will  illustrate  what  minute  personal  super- 
vision the  church  exercised  over  the  habits  and  conduct  of  its 
members.  During  Mr.  Tinkham's  ministry,  while  a  "  Love 
Feast"  was  being  celebrated,  two  lady  members  presented  them- 
selves for  admission  ;  but  they  were  not  allowed  entrance 
solely  because  they  had  bows  on  their  bonnets  !  Unsanctified 
ornaments  like  these,  jewelry,  useless  ribbons  and  trimmings, 
were  not  merely  discouraged, —  they  were  openly  condemned  by 
ministers  who  thought  nothing  of  calling  attention  to  them  in  a 
sermon,  and  they  were  sometimes  positively  forbidden  by  Confer- 
ence votes.  What  would  our  Methodist  fathers  think  could  they 
see  one  of  our  city  Methodist  congregations  to-day,  worshipping 
in  a  costly  and  ornate  church,  with  splendid  organ,  paid  quar- 
tette music,  and  where  even  the  church-members  are  arrayed  in 
costly  silks  and  adorned  with  expensive  jewelry ! 

While  writing  of  dress,  we  may  allude  to  the  conservatism 
of  three  male  members,  who  were  accustomed  to  come  to  meet- 


322 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


ing  with  their  leather  aprons  on.  Wearing  them  constantly 
during  the  week,  they  felt  ill  at  ease  without  them,  and  they 
saw  no  inconsistency  in  appearing  with  them  at  the  sanctuary. 
But  they  were  objects  of  notice  and  occasions  of  merriment 
with  the  young  people.  These  men  were  therefore  waited 
upon  and  reasoned  with.  Two  of  them  agreed  to  lay  aside 
their  aprons  on  Sunday  ;  but  Ephraim  Churchill,  of  whose 
daughter  Phily  we  have  already  heard,  was  for  a  long  time 
proof  against  opposition  and  ridicule.  He  continued  to  wear 
his  leather  apron  to  church  even  in  winter,  when  he  buttoned 
it  under  his  overcoat.  His  answer  to  all  criticism  was  that 
he  did  not  discontinue  it  "  for  fear  of  taking  cold,"  —  the  same 
excuse  an  old  lady  once  gave  for  being  unwilling  to  give  up 
her  apron.  But  even  Mr.  Churchill  could  not  withstand  the 
march  of  progress  ;  he  agreed  at  last  to  concede  so  much  to  the 
demands  of  reform  as  to  come  to  church  with  a  new  apron. 
This  being  known,  there  was  a  full  attendance  on  the  Sunday 
following  this  agreement  ;  but  the  lovers  of  fun  were  dis- 
appointed when  Sunday  came,  to  see  him  appear  with  no 
apron  at  all.  And  thus  leather  aprons  disappeared  from  the 
sanctuary.^ 

Another  change  marks  this  time.  It  is  the  introduction  of 
instrumental  music.  This  proposed  innovation  met  with  violent 
opposition  at  first.  To  bring  a  bass-viol  into  church  and  profane 
the  solemn  worship  by  "  scraping  a  big  fiddle  "  was  represented 
as  tempting  a  righteous  Providence.  In  vain  its  advocates  main- 
tained that  it  was  only  a  restoration  of  the  good  old  Bible  times, 
when  men  praised  God  with  harp  and  timbrel  and  "  with  an 
instrument  of  ten  strings."  But  here  was  no  harp  or  timbrel  ; 
and  instead  of  the    Biblical  ten-stringed  instrument,  here  was 


1  "  Another  principal  bass-singer  was  old  Joe  Stedman,  who  asserted  his  demo- 
cratic right  to  do  just  as  he  had  a  mind  to,  by  always  appearing  every  Sunday  in  a 
clean  leather  apron  of  precisely  the  form  he  wore  about  his  weekly  work.  Of  course 
all  the  well-conducted  upper  classes  were  scandalized,  and  Joe  was  privately  ad- 
monished of  the  impropriety,  which  greatly  increased  his  satisfaction,  and  caused 
him  to  regard  himself  as  a  person  of  vast  importance.  It  was  reported  that  the 
minister  had  told  him  that  there  was  more  pride  in  his  leather  apron  than  in  Cap- 
tain Browne's  scarlet  cloak ;  but  Joe  settled  the  matter  by  declaring  that  the  apron 
was  a  matter  of  conscience  with  him,  and  of  course  after  that  there  was  nothing 
more  to  be  said."  —  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe's  Oldtowii  Folks,  pp.  49,  50. 


THE    FIRST   METHODIST    SOCIETY. 


323 


an  instrument  with  but  four  strings.  Perhaps  the  conservatives 
feared  that  as  the  walls  of  Jericho  went  down  before  the  blast  of 
trumpets,  so  the  walls  of  their  Zion  might  collapse  at  the  first 
twang  of  tlie  viol-string.  The  bass-viol  party  prevailed,  how- 
ever; the  instrument  was  brought  into  meeting,  but  when  the 
bow  was  first  drawn  across  the  strings  some  of  the  worshippers 
arose  abruptly  and  left  the  house.  This  was  several  times 
repeated  ;  but  it  was  not  long  before  the  opposition  began  to 
diminish,  and  the  bass-viol  soon  came  to  be  recognized  as  a 
necessary  part  of  church  furnishings.  March  30,  181 5,  in  the 
society  records  there  is  this  entry  :  "  Voted  to  have  the  Base- 
viol  used  on  such  Days  as  the  pulpit  is  supplied  by  the  Rev. 
John  Tinkham." 

There  are  no  church  records  dating  back  of  the  division  of  the 
society  in  i860,  as  will  be  explained  on  another  page,  but  the  so- 
ciety records  date  back  to  about  18 10.  After  18 12,  Elijah  Smith 
was  the  clerk  of  the  society  for  some  years.  March  9,  18 12, 
it  was  voted  to  sweep  the  meeting-house  once  a  month,  and 
shovel  away  the  snow  in  the  winter ;  and  this  service  was  sold 
to  the  lowest  bidder,  Ebenezer  Bartlett,  who  agreed  to  do  it 
for  $1.75  a  year.  Two  hundred  dollars  were  raised  this  year 
for  the  support  of  the  gospel.  Until  his  death,  Mr.  Tinkham 
preached  more  than  half  the  time  in  Easton.  Sometimes  the 
society  engaged  him  for  half  the  year,  sometimes  for  three- 
fourths,  raising  as  much  as  they  thought  they  could  afford.  In 
1 8 14  they  paid  him  $170  for  his  preaching  one  half  the  year. 
He  did  not  disdain  to  do  humble  work, —  as  for  example,  in  1818, 
the  society  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Tinkham  two  dollars  for  washing 
the  meeting-house  once  and  sweeping  it  four  times  for  the  en- 
suing year!  The  great  innovation  of  stoves  was  introduced  in 
1 8 19,  two  or  three  years  earlier  than  by  the  more  conservative 
First  Parish.  In  1822,  and  for  other  years,  to  save  the  expense 
of  a  sexton,  Calvin  Marshall  and  others  volunteered  to  sweep  the 
meeting-house  in  turn.  About  this  time  there  was  quite  a  large 
membership  in  this  society  from  surrounding  towns,  there  being 
twenty-seven,  for  instance,  from  North  Bridgewater. 

The  Rev.  John  Tinkham  while  settled  here  as  local  preacher 
preached  with  considerable  regularity  in  various  towns  in  the 
vicinity,  sometimes  however  going  to  quite  a  distance.     Under 


324  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

his  administration  a  class  was  formed  in  Stoughton,  and  eventu- 
ally a  church  was  organized  there,  and  a  meeting-house  erected. 
He  died  in  Easton,  greatly  respected  and  beloved,  January  24, 
1824,  and  his  remains  lie  in  the  Washington  Street  Cemetery, 
near  the  site  of  the  church  where  he  labored,  and  of  the  home 
where  he  so  happily  lived. 

We  have  seen  that  Mr.  Tinkham,  after  two  years  service  as 
minister  here,  the  longest  time  then  allowed  in  one  place,  was 
made  a  local  preacher.  In  181 1  Artemas  Stebbins  was  ap- 
pointed to  have  charge  of  Easton  and  Mansfield.  In  1812 
Theophilus  Smith  had  the  same  appointment.  In  181 3  the 
"  Minutes "  state  that  Francis  Dane  and  J,  F.  Chamberlain 
were  sent  to  Mansfield ;  and  though  Easton  is  not  mentioned, 
it  was  no  doubt  included  in  their  charge,  F'rom  this  time  until 
his  death  the  pulpit  appears  to  have  been  mainly  supplied  by 
Mr.  Tinkham,  who,  however,  gave  only  a  portion  of  his  time  to 
preaching  in  Easton.  There  were  a  few  irregular  supplies  also 
for  the  same  period. 

In  the  June  following  Mr.  Tinkham's  death  the  Conference 
(1824)  appointed  Charles  Virgin  to  this  post,  with  Hiram  Walden 
as  colleague.  They  had  both  Easton  and  Stoughton  under  their 
charge.  Quite  a  revival  occurred  at  this  time.  Mr.  Virgin  was 
a  very  excitable  man,  just  the  man  for  the  "  protracted  meetings  " 
of  those  days.  These  meetings  were  assisted  by  Murray  Jay,  a 
powerful  and  magnetic  exhorter  and  a  stirring  singer.  He  cre- 
ated great  interest  and  much  increased  the  excitement.  Stories 
are  told  of  gatherings  in  private  houses  where  he  was  present, 
when  a  strong  mesmeric  influence  would  overcome  many,  and 
several  would  fall  to  the  floor  at  once.  Such  abnormal  magnetic 
power  seems  to  have  no  necessary  connection  either  with  morals 
or  religion,  for  persons  of  a  low  grade  of  morals  sometimes  pos- 
sess it,  and  in  their  hands  it  is  a  dangerous  instrument.  It  was 
so  in  the  case  of  Murray  Jay.  His  character  came  under  suspi- 
cion, so  much  so  that  the  church  was  led  to  dispense  with  his 
services.  He  then  endeavored  to  hold  opposition  meetings  in 
the  open  air,  but  with  little  success,  and  finally  departed  for  New 
Jersey.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  young  lady  of  Stoughton,  a 
good  singer,  who  went,  under  the  promise  of  becoming  his  wife, 
to  assist  him  in  his  meetings.     In  two  years  she  returned  with 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY.  325 

a  little  child,  feeling  very  bitter  against  Jay,  who  was  already, 
as  she  had  discovered,  a  married  man. 

Charles  Virgin  was  returned  to  Easton  in  1825.  He  paid  the 
natural  penalty  of  indulging  in  extraordinary  excitements,  being 
finally  deposed  from  the  ministry  because  of  insanity.  Mr. 
Virgin  was  followed  at  Easton  by  Phineas  Peck,  who  remained 
here  one  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Ebenezer  Blake,  with 
Elias  Scott  as  colleague.  This  was  at  the  time  when  there  was 
a  strong  anti-Masonic  movement.  Mr.  Blake  was  known  to  have 
once  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  though  he  de- 
clared he  had  not  attended  its  meetings  for  twenty  years,  his  for- 
mer membership  created  disaffection,  and  he  found  it  advisable 
to  leave  town  a  few  weeks  before  his  second  year  was  completed, 
when  for  a  few  Sundays  there  was  no  preaching  in  the  Metho- 
dist church. 

In  1829  Lewis  Bates,  familiarly  known  as  Father  Bates, 
was  appointed  for  this  station.  The  revivals  increased  the 
church  membership.  The  Methodist  "  Minutes  of  Conferences" 
report  for  that  year  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  members  for 
Easton  and  Stoughton,  and  this  number  was  still  further  in- 
creased by  a  powerful  revival  which  occurred  under  Father 
Bates's  ministry,  extending  even  to  Northwest  Bridgewater,  now 
Brockton  Heights.  In  the  latter  place  a  class  was  formed.  At 
the  close  of  the  first  year  of  his  ministry  the  church  was  found 
to  be  too  small  to  accommodate  the  large  congregations  that 
assembled,  and  a  new  church  was  talked  of.  The  old  one  was 
moved  back  from  the  street,  and  the  new  one  was  erected  on  its 
site  in  1830,  and  was  dedicated  in  October,  the  dedication  ser- 
mon being  preached  by  George  Pickering.  Father  Bates  made 
the  dedicatory  prayer,  and  a  full  choir,  assisted  by  a  band  of 
twelve  pieces,  made  the  occasion  glorious.  The  Easton  Metho- 
dists were  very  proud  of  their  new  church.  The  Northwest 
Bridsrewater  Methodists  also  built  a  house  of  their  own  about 
the  same  time.  During  this  year  Sandford  Benton  was  made 
colleague  with  Father  Bates,  who  was  returned  for  the  second 
year. 

In  the  same  year  the  Sunday-school  of  this  church  was  first 
organized.  James  Dickerman  was  appointed  superintendent,  an 
office  his  son  of  the  same  name  fills  to-day,  as  for  many  years  he 


326  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


has  done.     The  society  had  been  in  existence  for  about  forty 
years  without  a  Sunday-school. 

Father  Bates  was  a  man  of  mark.  He  had  great  force  of 
character,  was  physically  very  powerful,  and  had  good  natural 
talents.  He  made  it  his  boast  that  he  was  not  educated.  He 
had  a  contempt  for  an  educated  minister  who  came  from  an  "old 
Gospel  shop,"  as  he  styled  a  divinity  school.  He  claimed  to  be 
a  "  self-made  man,"  and  he  certainly  succeeded  in  doing  a  better 
piece  of  work  than  many  people  who  make  such  a  claim.  But 
he  was  largely  such  a  man  as  God  made  him, — a  fact  which 
"  self-made  men"  sometimes  forget.  If  the  divinity  school  could 
have  had  a  hand  at  finishing  him,  he  would  have  been  none  the 
worse  for  it. 

It  was  not  long  before  the   new  meeting-house  became  the 
occasion  of  serious  trouble.     In  order  to  raise  funds  to  build  it, 
application  for  aid  had  been  made  to  some  of  the  village  people 
who  were   Universalists    and   Unitarians.      Among  these  were 
Oakes   Ames  and  John   Bisbee.     They  and   others   responded 
liberally  to  this  application,  with  the  understanding  that  they 
should  be  allowed  occasionally  to  have  preachers  of  their  own 
faith  occupy  the  pulpit  of  the  new  church,  provided  this  were  not 
done  at  any  time  that  would  interfere  with  the  regular  services. 
For  a  time  this  was  permitted,  and  Universalist  preachers  some- 
times held  services  there.     But,  naturally  enough,  a  strong  oppo- 
sition was  soon  developed  against  the  preaching  of  what  the 
regular  worshippers  regarded  as   most  dangerous  doctrine,  im- 
perilling the  soul's  salvation.      The  wonder  is  that  they  should 
originally  have  granted  any  such  permission.    Vigorous  attempts 
were  now  made  to  prevent  Universalist  preaching  in  the  pulpit. 
On  one  occasion  the  church-door  was  padlocked  after  the  regular 
service,  so  as  to  prevent  holding  the  Universalist  service  that 
had  been  announced  for  the  evening.    The  padlock  was  however 
torn  off  and  thrown  under  the  church,  where  it  was  discovered 
years  afterward.     Locks  were  then  screwed  on  the  doors,  but 
were  easily  removed  with  screw-drivers.     The  locks  were  then 
riveted  on,  but  the  rivets  were  cut  or  drilled  out,  and  the  locks 
demolished.    Thomas  Whittemore,  a  noted  Universalist  minister, 
was  on  one   occasion  announced   to   preach.      The  doors  were 
fastened  again,  and  his  opponents  stood  on  guard  outside  ;  but  a 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY. 


327 


stout  stick  broke  the  fastenings,  the  doors  were  forced,  and  the 
crowd  entered.  One  of  the  church-members,  a  tall,  strong  man, 
blockaded  the  approach  to  the  pulpit  ;  but  the  preacher  sprang 
lightly  by  him,  reached  the  pulpit,  and  proceeded  with  his  ser- 
vice without  further  molestation.  Such  contentions,  however, 
soon  became  tiresome  to  both  sides.  The  consent  of  the  leading 
subscribers  was  finally  obtained,  and  the  church  deeded  to  the 
Conference.     This  of  course  closed  its  doors  to  Universalism. 

In  183 1  John  Lovejoy  was  appointed  for  this  station,  with 
D.  S.  King  as  colleague.  Lemuel  Harlow  succeeded  in  1832, 
followed  in  1833  by  Warren  Emerson,  after  whom  Mr.  Harlow 
was  returned  for  another  year.  In  1835  came  Thomas  Stetson. 
In  1836  Amos  Binney  received  the  appointment,  and  retained  it 
for  two  years.  The  spiritual  interest  at  this  time  is  reported  to 
have  been  at  a  low  ebb.  Judged  by  the  accepted  Methodist 
standard  of  success,  the  church  membership,  no  progress  had 
been  made  for  twenty-five  years.  In  181 1  the  "  Minutes  "  re- 
ported ninety-seven  members  for  Stoughton  and  Easton,  and  in 
1836  the  number  was  but  ninety.  In  1829  the  number  reported 
for  these  towns  was  one  hundred  and  eighty-four,  and  even  this 
number  was  increased,  as  we  have  seen,  by  the  revival  under 
Father  Bates.  But  seven  years  later,  as  just  stated,  there  were 
only  ninety  members,  —  a  loss  of  ninety-four.  In  1838,  how- 
ever, this  number  was  increased  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine. 
These  great  fluctuations  in  the  number  of  church-members  pre- 
sent an  interesting  study,  and  are  calculated  to  make  serious 
persons  thoughtful.  They  are  to  be  explained  by  the  revival 
system.  Extraordinary  excitement  would  temporarily  impress 
large  numbers,  who  would  pass  through  various  phases  of  feel- 
ing, and  believe  themselves  converted.  Then  the  parable  of  the 
sower  would  be  illustrated.  Abundant  seed  would  be  sown,  and 
would  even  take  root ;  but  much  of  it  would  be  in  shallow 
ground,  or  among  thorns,  or  by  the  wayside,  and  after  periods 
of  unnatural  interest  there  would  follow  a  reaction,  a  correspond- 
ing depression.  Such  proved  to  be  the  case  after  Father 
Bates's  meetings.  There  were  many  "  backsliders,"  who,  as  a 
rule,  were  harmed  by  their  experience.  The  number  of  church- 
members  declined,  and  a  time  of  spiritual  dearth  and  insensibility 
followed. 


328  HISTORY   OF   EASTOxN. 

This  is  merely  a  statement  of  facts  based  upon  the  figures 
of  the  Conference  "  Minutes,"  and  is  not  offered  as  a  criticism 
by  the  writer,  though  the  facts  themselves  deserve  attentive 
study. 

In  1839  John  Bailey  had  the  appointment  for  Easton  and 
Stoughton,  In  1839  ^^^  1840  Nathan  Payne  was  the  preacher, 
and  he  was  followed  by  Edward  Lyons,  who  will  be  remembered 
for  peculiarities  not  altogether  ministerial.  Under  the  last  two 
men  there  were  revivals  which  considerably  increased  the  church 
membership.  At  this  time  a  parsonage  was  bought.  It  was  the 
house  which,  though  remodelled,  is  now  owned  by  Jonathan  A. 
Keith,  and  is  not  far  north  of  the  meeting-house. 

In  1842  Joel  Steel  was  appointed  for  Easton.  This  was  at 
the  time  of  the  great  Second  Adventist  excitement,  then  com- 
monly known  as  Millerism.  Mr.  Steel  took  strong  ground 
against  this  doctrine,  and  it  did  not  affect  many  in  his  church. 
The  revivals  of  one  and  two  years  before  were  followed  by  a 
period  of  depression,  and  the  society  passed  through  discourag- 
ing vicissitudes,  not  being  fortunate  in  some  of  its  preachers,  and 
losing  some  of  its  influential  members  by  a  division  that  occurred 
in  1843,  which  will  be  considered  in  its  proper  place. 

The  next  appointment  after  Mr.  Steel  was  William  Holmes  ; 
but  the  more  Mr.  Holmes  preached,  the  stronger  the  conviction 
grew  in  the  minds  of  his  hearers  that  he  had  mistaken  his  call- 
ing, —  an  impression  they  contrived  to  impart  to  him  in  so 
unequivocal  a  manner  as  to  lead  to  his  departure  before  the  year 
was  out.  Stephen  Palmer,  a  local  preacher,  was  hired  to  fill  out 
the  year,  and  on  the  last  day  that  he  tried  to  preach  made  a  most 
embarrassing  failure.  But  his  failure  at  preaching  was  as  noth- 
ing to  his  failure  to  practise,  and  it  will  be  as  well  to  drop  him 
here  and  forget  him. 

In  1844  Mr.  Fisk  was  appointed  for  Easton  ;  and  he  was  fol- 
lowed by  Nathaniel  Bemis,  whom,  however,  the  society  refused 
to  receive,  exercising  upon  this  and  some  other  occasions,  not- 
withstanding their  denominational  rules,  a  sort  of  veto  power 
upon  the  appointing  authorities,  —  a  power  they  could  enforce 
by  cutting  off  supplies.  Various  occupants  filled  the  pulpit 
during  1845,  among  whom  Mr.  Worcester  will  be  remembered 
for  the  scolding:  and  scathing:  sermon  with  which  he  shook  off 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST   SOCIETY. 


329 


the  dust  of  his  feet  against  the  people.  A  new  bell  was  pur- 
chased during  the  year  1845. 

For  about  eleven  years  after  this  time  the  church  had  almost 
no  connection  with  the  Conference.  During  these  eleven  years, 
according  to  the  records  of  the  Washington  Street  Society,  "  the 
church  experienced  rather  turbulent  times."  There  was  a  steady 
decline  of  interest.  James  Hall,  an  English  Methodist  preacher, 
was  engaged,  and  occupied  the  pulpit  until  1849.  During  this 
time  he  joined  the  Wesleyan  Methodists.  In  1849  John  B. 
Clough  took  charge  for  a  year,  and  he  was  followed  by  Lorenzo 
White.  In  185 1  Paul  Townsend,  an  old  retired  minister  who 
lived  in  West  Bridgewater,  preached  here,  and  continued  to  con- 
duct Sunday  services  for  about  three  years.  In  March,  1856, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon,  who  in  1855  had  retired  from  the  active 
ministry  of  the  Congregational  Society  at  Easton  Centre,  was 
engaged  to  preach  in  this  Methodist  church,  and  did  so  until 
the  autumn,  when  the  keeper  of  the  church  records  says  :  "  The 
life  of  the  Society  became  so  nearly  extinct  that  the  house  was 
closed  for  the  winter."  During  this  year  Gurdon  Stone,  Avery 
Stone,  and  Joel  Randall  dissolved  their  connection  with  the  so- 
ciety, though  Avery  Stone  continued  to  act  with  it. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  another  rally  was  made,  and  the  Confer- 
ence was  applied  to  for  a  preacher.  The  result  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  John  B.  Hunt,  who  proved  to  be  a  very  efficient  minister. 
By  his  efforts  a  great  revival  began,  which  added  many  mem- 
bers to  the  church  and  placed  it  in  a  better  condition  than  it  had 
enjoyed  for  many  years.  This  was  for  Easton  the  last  of  the 
great  revivals  that  used  to  thrill  whole  communities,  and  which 
were  carried  on  amidst  excitements  such  as  would  astonish  the 
young  people  of  this  generation.  For  this  reason,  we  propose  as 
clearly  and  truthfully  as  possible  to  describe  it. 

To  originate  and  promote  this  revival,  strong  preachers  were 
engaged,  who  addressed  the  feelings,  appealing  to  hopes  and 
fears.  They  selected  such  themes  as  the  dread  certainty  of 
death,  the  awfulness  of  hell,  the  amazing  love  of  Jesus  bleeding 
upon  the  cross  for  the  salvation  of  guilty  sinners  ;  and  with 
flowing  tears,  violent  gestures,  and  excited  tones,  preached  with 
thrilling  effect.  From  every  part  of  the  house  responses  of 
"Amen,"  "Glory,"  and  similar  ejaculations,  mingled  with  groans 


330 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


and  sighs,  gradually  wrought  up  the  feehngs  of  the  listeners. 
Stirring  hymns  were  sung  with  kindling  effect ;  loud  and  frenzied 
appeals  for  mercy,  as  of  those  who  were  on  the  brink  of  an  abyss 
that  might  at  any  moment  open  to  receive  them,  were  heard. 
And  when  this  was  over,  or  even  while  it  was  in  progress,  earnest 
Christians,  themselves  deeply  moved,  appealed  to  friends  as  they 
passed  from  pew  to  pew,  urging  them  to  flee  from  the  impending 
doom  and  accept  the  gracious  call  that  would  open  to  them  the 
gates  of  heaven.  The  effect  was  often  indescribable.  Sometimes 
persons  were  actually  prostrated  upon  the  floor  in  the  intensity 
of  their  feelings  ;  it  was  only  strong  natures  that  could  resist 
the  influence.  Many  who  went  to  scoff,  would  soon  be  seen 
kneeling  at  the  altar  to  pray.  At  one  of  the  very  meetings 
we  are  speaking  of,  a  woman  prayed  so  loud  and  long  as  to  be 
too  exhausted  to  rise  from  her  knees.  Serious  results  some- 
times followed  with  sensitive  natures.  While  Mr.  Collier,  of 
Cocheset,  whose  piercing  black  eyes  seemed  to  threaten  judg- 
ment to  come,  was  preaching,  a  man  was  seized  with  a  nervous 
spasm,  his  head  thrown  back,  his  limbs  rigid,  his  face  like  death 
itself.  He  was  supported  by  friends  on  either  side,  who  were 
forced  to  stretch  him  out  at  full  length  upon  a  seat  or  the  floor. 
Many  of  the  audience  were  terrified  and  left  the  house  ;  but  the 
preacher,  accustomed  to  such  scenes,  perhaps  elated  with  this 
evidence  of  his  power  as  an  exhorter,  made  the  house  ring  with 
his  shouts  of  "Glory"  and  "Hallelujah."  Similar  results  oc- 
curred here  and  in  South  Easton  village  several  times.  Tempo- 
rary and  even  permanent  insanity  was  not  wholly  unexampled. 
The  entire  work  of  conviction,  repentance,  and  conversion  was 
supposed  to  be  compressed  into  an  hour.  Services  sometimes 
began  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  with  little  intermission 
lasted  until  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  We  have  already  seen, 
by  the  testimony  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling,  that  at  Oliver 
Howard's,  in  1800,  the  meeting  lasted  until  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  These  "  four  days'  meetings,"  as  they  were  called, 
sometimes  lasted  several  weeks. 

All  this  is  a  simple  statement  of  facts.  They  are  not  men- 
tioned for  the  sake  of  criticism.  No  criticism  could  be  so  telling 
now  as  the  statement  of  the  facts  themselves  ;  but  truth  to  his- 
tory demands  that  such  a  record  be  made  as  a  picture  of  the 


THE    FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY.  33I 

times.  Great  good  was  sometimes  done  to  hardened  natures 
that  could  not  otherwise  be  aroused  ;  but  many  who  rose  on 
the  flood-tide  of  feeling  were  carried  back  on  the  ebbing  current 
and  settled  into  their  ordinary  state  of  feeling.  The  number  of 
"backsliders"  was  usually  proportioned  to  the  urgency  and  ex- 
citement of  the  revival  that  awakened  them. 

There  was  one  frequent  accompaniment  of  such  meetings  that 
was  painful  to  those  earnestly  participating  in  them,  and  dis- 
graceful to  those  causing  it ;  we  refer  to  the  rowdyish  attempts  to 
disturb  these  religious  exercises.  Young  fellows  often  attended 
them  solely  to  make  disturbance.  Copious  quantities  of  dry 
beans  were  brought  in  their  pockets  and  snapped  singly  or 
thrown  by  handfuls  among  the  audience,  or  even  at  the  preachers 
themselves.  Their  shouts  and  cat-calls  added  to  the  confu- 
sion, and  altogether  their  disorderly  conduct  sorely  vexed  the 
brethren.  Round  bits  of  steel  were  punched  out,  polished, 
blasphemously  marked,  and  dropped  into  the  contribution-box. 
On  one  occasion  several  of  these  persons  pretended  to  be  under 
conviction,  went  forward  for  prayers,  and  were  said  to  have 
passed  a  bottle  of  drink  about  while  on  their  knees.  Unruly 
fellows  upon  the  outside  sometimes  added  to  the  disturbance. 
All  manner  of  derisive  shouting  was  heard.  At  one  time  a  team 
was  driven  so  that  it  grated  horribly  against  the  side  of  the 
church.  At  another,  wood  was  piled  against  the  doors  so  as  to 
prevent  any  one  from  coming  out,  and  then  the  bell  was  rung 
furiously.  Some  of  these  disturbers  were  once  arrested  and 
taken  before  Justice  Selee,  but  nothing  was  done  to  punish 
them  ;  it  was  difficult  to  make  out  a  case  against  them.  Happily 
these  things  are  of  the  past.  Religious  meetings  are  so  con- 
ducted now  as  to  give  no  provocation  for  such  gross  misconduct, 
and  if  it  should  be  attempted  it  would  not  be  tolerated  to-day. 

John  B.  Hunt,  during  whose  ministry  the  great  revival  oc- 
curred, died  while  in  service  here,  in  October,  1858,  and  his 
remains  were  buried  in  the  cemetery  on  the  corner  opposite  the 
church  where  he  preached.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  different 
persons  during  the  rest  of  the  year. 

The  society  records  furnish  us  with  one  incident  of  this  year 
which  deserves  to  be  noted  here.  In  December,  1858,  a  subscrip- 
tion paper  was  circulated  which  was  prefaced  as  follows  :  — 


332  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

"  We  the  undersigned  agree  to  pay  the  sum  set  opposite  our  names 
for  the  purpose  of  buying  a  pew  to  enlarge  the  free  pew,  so  we  can 
warm  ourselves  without  being  in  danger  of  scorching  our  clothes." 

Twenty-seven  ladies  subscribed,  and  the  space  about  the 
stove  was  thereby  enlarged.  When  it  is  remembered  that  this 
was  at  the  time  when  hoopskirts  had  attained  a  circumference 
which  would  be  incredible  now  were  the  dimensions  to  be  given, 
we  can  appreciate  the  desire  of  the  twenty-seven  ladies  to  en- 
large the  standing-room  around  the  stove,  and  thereby  lessen 
the  "danger  of  scorching  our  clothes." 

In  the  spring  of  1859  Lewis  B.  Bates  received  the  Confer- 
ence appointment  to  Easton.  It  was  during  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Bates  that  the  division  of  the  society  occurred.  The  account  of 
this  division  will  be  more  appropriately  given  when  we  treat 
of  the  history  of  the  Methodist  Society  in  North  Easton  village, 
as  this  society  originated  in  the  division  alluded  to.  Passing 
that  interesting  episode  by  therefore  for  the  present,  it  is  suffi- 
cient to  state  here  that  Mr.  Bates,  by  order  of  the  bishop,  ceased 
preaching  at  the  Washington  Street  church  soon  after  his  ap- 
pointment in  i860.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Spilsted, 
who  was  followed  in  1861  by  the  Rev.  Franklin  Gavitt.  The 
Rev.  Abel  Allton  was  appointed  for  1862,  and  the  Rev.  H.  S. 
Smith  in  1863,  the  latter  serving  for  three  years.  In  1866  this 
church  united  with  the  Northwest  Bridgewater  church,  and 
the  Conference  sent  the  Rev.  Freeman  R3'der  for  that  year, 
and  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Washburn  in  1868,  each  of  them  serving  for 
two  years.  The  interest  of  the  religious  services  in  the  Wash- 
ington Street  church  was  increased  in  1866  by  the  purchase  of 
an  organ. 

In  the  year  1870  the  church  stood  alone  again,  and  it  was 
served  for  three  years  with  singular  devotion  by  the  Rev.  Elisha 
Dunham.  Mr.  Dunham  is  now  a  minister  in  the  Orthodox 
Congregational  communion.  The  church  was  very  fortunate 
also  in  its  next  minister,  the  Rev.  M.  M.  Kugler,  a  man  whose 
spiritual  face  was  the  index  of  a  consecrated  heart.  He  re- 
mained two  years,  from  1873  to  1875.  The  Rev.  S.  Hamilton 
Day  was  appointed  in  1875,  and  was  returned  for  a  second  year. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  James  Dickerman.     The  Rev.  J.  H. 


THE    FIRST   METHODIST   SOCIETY. 


333 


Nelson  was  sent  in  1877,  and  the  Rev.  M.  F.  Colburn  came  in 
1878.  In  the  year  1879  i^  ^^^s  deemed  advisable  to  unite  with 
the  North  Easton  village  church  in  supporting  a  pastor,  who 
should  preach  half  the  time  in  each  church  and  have  the  care  of 
both  parishes.  The  ministers  under  this  arrangement  have  been 
the  Rev.  S.  E.  Evans,  in  1879,  ^^^^  has  since  joined  the  Ortho- 
dox Congregationalists  ;  the  Rev.  William  Kirkby,  a  genial  and 
friendly  man  who  served  for  two  years,  and  left  many  friends  be- 
hind him  ;  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Thomas,  who  also  remained  two  years  ; 
and,  in  1884,  the  Rev.  Merrick  Ransom,  who  is  now  serving  for 
the  third  year,  and  who  when  he  leaves  will  carry  away  with 
him  the  respect  and  good-will  of  all  who  know  him.  In  the 
spring  of  1885  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  discontinue  regular 
services  in  the  Washington  Street  church ;  and  they  have  not 
yet  been  resumed. 


334 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

THE  REV.  LUTHER  SHELDON,  D.D.,  AND  THE  DIVISION 
OF   THE   PARISH. 

Mr.  Luther  Sheldon  receives  a  Call.  —  His  Youth  and  Educa- 
tion. —  Kindness  of  the  Parish  to  their  Minister.  —  Diver- 
gence OF  Theological  Opinions  among  the  Parishioners.  —  Mr. 
Sheldon  ceases  to  exchange  with  Neighboring  "Liberal" 
Ministers.  —  The  Parish  requests  him  to  continue  Fraternal 
Relations  with  Them.  —  He  fails  to  respond  to  the  Request. 

—  An  Ex-parte  Council  summoned  by  the  Parish.  —  The  Par- 
ish EXCLUDES  Him  from  His  Pulpit.  —  Mr.  Sheldon's  Friends 
organize  and  begin  to  build  a  Meeting-House.  —  An  Exciting 
Controversy.  —  Lawsuits. — Mr.  Sheldon  re-enters  his  Pulpit. 

—  Various  attempts  at  Agreement. — A  Settlement  finally 
effected. 

DURING  the  year  following  Rev.  Mr.  Reed's  death,  August 
13,  18  ro,  the  church  and  parish  extended  a  call  to  Mr. 
Luther  Sheldon.  They  offered  him  a  salary  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  and  agreed  to  give  him  five  cords  of  wood  an- 
nually until  he  became  "a  housekeeper,"  when  it  was  to  be  in- 
creased to  twelve  cords  ;  and  it  was  to  be  cut  and  corded  for  him 
in  the  woods.  Mr.  Sheldon  accepted  the  call  in  a  well  written 
letter,  in  which,  however,  he  regrets  the  short  acquaintance  they 
have  had,  remarks  upon  the  evils  likely  to  result  from  precipi- 
tancy in  such  important  affairs,  is  not  willing  to  agree  to  the 
proposition  made  to  him  that  the  pastoral  connection  may  be 
dissolved  without  a  council,  and  asks  for  the  privilege  of  "four 
weeks  yearly  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  my  friends  at  a  distance," 
etc.  The  parish  granted  him  the  yearly  vacation  he  asked  for, 
and  agreed  with  him  that  "  in  case  any  root  of  bitterness  shall 
arise  among  us  so  that  the  minds  of  two  thirds  of  the  members 
of  the  parish  shall  be  alienated  from  their  minister,  by  giving 
him  a  year's  notice  that  they  do  not  desire  his  continuance  with 
them  as  a  minister  any  longer,  he  may  be  discharged  with  a 
mutual  council." 


REV.    LUTHER    SHELDON. 


335 


In  preparing  for  the  ordination  the  church  was  repaired,  the 
supports  of  the  galleries  strengthened,  and  a  committee  ap- 
pointed to  wait  upon  strangers.  "The  Band"  was  invited  to  at- 
tend and  furnish  music,  if  they  would  do  it  with  no  compensation 
except  the  entertainment.  It  was  voted  that  "  all  the  council  and 
their  ladies,  and  all  the  gentlemen  of  Public  Education  and  their 
ladies "  may  attend  the  entertainment.  Joel  Drake  agreed  to 
provide  the  collation  for  eighty  dollars,  provided  not  over  sixty 
persons  attended  it.  The  Rev.  Holland  Weeks  preached  the 
ordination  sermon.     This  was  October  24,   1810. 

The  Rev.  Luther  Sheldon,  D.D.  was  born  in  Rupert,  Vt., 
February  18,  1785.  He  was  the  fourth  child  of  the  Hon.  David 
and  Sarah  (Harmon)  Sheldon,  the  oldest  son,  Thomas,  being 
the  first  child  born  in  Rupert.  David  Sheldon  in  early  man- 
hood, leaving  a  young  wife  and  infant  in  Sufiield,  Conn.,  had 
emigrated,  axe  in  hand,  alone  and  on  horseback  to  the  primeval 
forest,  driving  a  couple  of  cows  before  him.  There,  at  what 
is  now  Rupert,  he  made  his  clearing,  built  his  log  house,  put 
in  his  crops,  and  then  brought  to  this  lonely  spot  his  wife  and 
infant  son.  Soon  some  of  his  former  neighbors  and  relatives 
joined  him,  and  a  settlement  was  formed.  He  improved  his 
land,  and  gradually  made  an  extensive  and  beautiful  farm  in  a 
pleasant  valley  between  high  hills,  owning  land  nearly  to  their 
summits,  where  his  large  flocks  found  a  cool  retreat  in  the  heat 
of  summer.  A  beautiful  trout-stream  ran  through  the  intervale, 
and  furnished  many  a  sweet  morsel  for  the  farmer's  table. 

About  three  years  after  he  settled  here  his  son  Luther  was 
born.  It  was  the  desire  and  intention  of  the  parents  that  this 
fourth  son  should  inherit  the  farm  and  care  for  the  "  old  folks," 
and  his  early  training  and  education  were  directed  to  this  end. 
He  acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of  every  kind  of  farm-work, 
and  developed  a  robust  constitution  and  physical  strength  and 
endurance.  But  several  years  before  he  reached  his  majority  he 
became  particularly  interested  in  religion,  and  urged  his  parents 
to  give  him  a  more  liberal  education  in  order  that  he  might  pre- 
pare for  the  ministry.  They  however  did  not  feel  willing  to 
give  up  their  cherished  plans,  and  held  him  to  the  homestead 
until  he  was  nearly  twenty-one.  At  that  age  he  began  to  fit  for 
college  under  a  private  tutor ;  and  he  applied  himself  with  such 


336  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

diligence  and  enthusiasm  that  in  a  little  more  than  a  year  he 
not  only  mastered  the  Preparatory  studies,  but  also  those  of 
the  Freshman  and  Sophomore  years,  and  entered  college  in  the 
Junior  class,  graduating  with  honor  in  1808.  Forty-three  years 
after  this  his  Alma  Mater  gave  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity. 

He  began  the  study  of  theology  with  the  Rev.  Holland  Weeks, 
of  Pittsfield,  Vt.,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Rutland  Association 
May  30,  1 810.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  on  the  first  Sun- 
day in  June,  in  Rupert,  the  next  on  the  second  Sunday  in 
Suffield,  Conn.,  the  home  of  his  ancestors  for  several  genera- 
tions, and  his  third  sermon  he  preached  in  Easton,  where,  after 
preaching  for  about  two  months,  he  received  a  call,  and  where 
he  was  ordained  in  the  following  October,  as  already  narrated. 
He  at  once  purchased  a  small  farm  with  a  residence  a  few  rods 
northeast  of  the  church.  September  26,  181 2,  he  married  and 
brought  to  his  parish  and  home  Miss  Sarah  Johnson  Harris, 
who  was  born  in  Canaan,  New  Hampshire,  January  30,  1790. 
She  had  gained  quite  a  reputation  as  a  teacher,  and  afterwards 
materially  aided  her  husband  in  the  family  school  which  he  kept 
in  his  own  house,  to  eke  out  the  slender  salary  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  and  twelve  cords  of  wood.  She  was  an  intelli- 
gent. Christian  lady,  well  read,  entertaining  in  conversation,  no 
mean  opponent  in  argument,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  her 
home  and  the  welfare  of  the  parish.  She  became  in  the  latter 
part  of  her  life  deeply  interested  in  the  abolition  of  slavery.  It 
was  at  a  day  when  "  Abolitionist "  was  a  term  of  reproach ;  but 
she  never  shrank  from  declaring  her  sympathy  for  the  down- 
trodden slave,  and  avowed  her  faith  in  his  ultimate  redemption 
from  bondage.  She  died  October  10,  1853,  sixty-three  years  of 
age.  Her  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Richard  S.  Storrs, 
of  Braintree,  from  Acts  ix.  36,  37. 

October  24,  1855,  two  years  after  the  death  of  Mrs.  Sheldon, 
Dr.  Sheldon  was  married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Keith,  a  widow, 
daughter  of  Bernard  and  Elizabeth  Alger.  She  was  an  intelli- 
gent and  estimable  lady,  an  especial  favorite  of  Dr.  Sheldon's 
first  wife,  and  greatly  beloved  by  the  family.  There  was  con- 
siderable disparity  in  their  ages,  but  this  increased  rather  than 
lessened  her  endeavors  to  render  his  life  pleasant  and  fruitful 


REV.    LUTHER    SHELDON. 


337 


of  good.  She  endeared  herself  to  his  friends  by  her  watchful 
care  for  his  comfort  as  the  infirmities  of  age  came  upon  him. 
She  died   October    14,    1863. 

When  the  youthful  pastor  began  his  ministerial  labors  in 
Easton,  his  work  was  hard.  The  parish  included  all  the  town 
except  those  who  belonged  to  some  other  society,  and  there  was 
then  no  other  society  in  town  but  the  Methodist,  which  was 
small.  Two  written  sermons  must  be  prepared  for  Sunday,  and 
there  was  a  Sunday  evening  "  lecture  "  expected,  with  occasional 
week-day  services  in  schoolhouses  or  private  dwellings  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  town.  There  were  extended  religious  services 
at  funerals,  and  a  good  deal  of  parish  work.  All  this  made  the 
life  of  the  young  minister  full  and  crowded  ;  and  here  his  vigor- 
ous constitution  proved  a  great  blessing. 

In  1 81 5  the  subject  of  building  a  new  church  was  agitated. 
January  29,  1816,  it  was  voted  "to  set  it  north  of  the  old  meet- 
ing-house," and  additional  land  was  purchased  of  Capt.  Oliver 
Pool.  Josiah  Copeland  and  Captain  Pool  were  given  the  con- 
tract for  building  it,  and  they  were  not  to  exceed  an  expense  of 
seven  thousand  dollars.  Wade  Dailey  was  the  master  carpenter. 
The  frame  was  raised  June  10,  18 16,  the  day  after  a  great  frost, 
when  the  frost  could  be  scraped  from  the  timbers.  This  was 
the  "  year  without  a  summer,"  when  there  was  a  frost  every 
month,  and  corn  and  vegetables  were  destroyed  in  August. 
The  church  was  finished  in  181 7,  and  was  dedicated  on  the 
third  Wednesday  of  September,  Mr.  Sheldon  preaching  the 
dedication   sermon.      The  sheds  were  built  the  next  year. 

At  this  time  there  were  no  stoves  in  church,  though  the  now 
antiquated  foot-stove,  being  a  perforated  tin  or  sheet-iron  box  in 
a  wooden  frame  with  a  pan  inside  for  receiving  coals,  was  in 
general  use,  and  was  pushed  from  one  person  to  another  in  the 
pew  in  order  that  at  least  the  feet  might  have  the  chill  taken 
from  them  for  a  few  minutes.  The  cold  was  sometimes  so  in- 
tense that  there  would  be  quite  a  general  knocking  of  the  feet 
together  and  rubbing  of  the  hands  ;  the  minister's  breath  would 
be  frosty,  and  one  might  suppose  that  his  allusions  to  nether 
fires  would  lose  their  force  upon  those  whose  chattering  teeth 
and  shivering  limbs  made  fire  a  welcome  thought.  Why  it  took 
our  ancestors  nearly  two  hundred  years  to  discover  that  comfort 

22 


338  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

was  not  a  sin,  and  that  a  stove  might  be  a  means  rather  than  a 
hindrance  to  grace  in  our  churches,  it  is  difficult  to  understand. 
But  it  is  quite  certain  that  it  was  not  until  late  in  the  winter  of 
1822  that  this  innovation  was  timidly  and  not  without  protest 
introduced.  Even  then  it  was  tried  on  the  plea  of  merely  mak- 
ing an  experiment.  In  May,  1822,  it  was  voted  "  to  continue  the 
stove  in  the  meeting-house  until  the  effects  of  it  can  be  fairly 
proved."  The  "effects  of  it"  appear  to  have  been  satisfactory, 
and  we  find  that  in  1826  the  parish  accepted  the  gift  of  a  stove 
from  Gen.  Sheperd  Leach.  The  spirit  of  innovation  was  abroad, 
and  the  parish,  after  setting  up  the  new  stove,  voted  to  paint  the 
meeting-house.  It  was  also  voted  to  procure  a  new  bell  that 
should  weigh  twelve  hundred  pounds. 

The  cost  to  the  worshippers  for  church  expenses  of  every  kind 
must  have  been  quite  small,  as  the  parish  fund  had  an  income 
sufficient  to  pay  the  minister's  salary,  and  other  expenses  were 
light.  Mr.  Sheldon  was  a  prudent  and  careful  manager,  and 
was  able  by  means  of  his  farm  and  his  family  school,  in  addi- 
tion to  his  salary,  to  provide  for  and  educate  his  children  well, 
and  to  save  money  besides.  The  kindness  and  generosity  of 
his  people  made  many  substantial  additions  to  his  income  in 
various  ways.  General  Sheperd  Leach  for  years  presented  him 
with  fifty  dollars  credit  on  his  store  account,  a  quarter  of  beef, 
a  huge  cheese,  and  various  other  articles  as  occasion  offered. 
Many  others  were  equally  generous  in  proportion  to  their  means. 
From  the  time  of  his  settlement  it  was  the  custom  of  the  people 
to  make  the  minister  and  wife  annually  a  "  donation  visit."  At 
such  times  substantial  presents  of  money  and  of  many  useful 
articles  were  freely  bestowed.  After  a  hearty  repast  the  evening 
would  be  spent  in  pleasant  social  intercourse  by  the  older  ones, 
while  the  youth  and  children  enjoyed  a  merry  bout  at  their 
games.  They  were  seasons  of  real  old-fashioned  social  enjoy- 
ment, —  the  pastor,  who  was  no  gloomy  ascetic,  entering  with 
much  zest  into  the  innocent  pastimes  of  the  children,  greatly 
to  their  delight.  These  happy  occasions  were  closed  with  hymn 
and  prayer.  All  these  things  show  the  strong  hold  which  Mr. 
Sheldon  had  upon  the  affections  of  his  friends.  The  material 
aid  which  their  generosity  provided  formed  no  small  part  of  his 
yearly  support. 


DIVISION    OF    THE    PARISH. 


339 


We  come  now  to  a  consideration  of  the  controversy  which 
led  to  a  division  of  the  parish  and  church.  A  few  of  the  par- 
ticipants still  live,  and  many  descendants  of  those  who  took  part 
on  either  side  have  often  heard  the  story  of  that  long  and  dis- 
tressing contention.  It  is  natural  that  they  should  justify  the 
party  which  they  or  their  parents  and  friends  espoused.  The 
stories  and  traditions  that  have  come  down  to  us  need  careful 
sifting  because  they  were  colored  by  strong  feelings,  which 
necessarily  distort  and  misrepresent.  The  writer  has  availed 
himself  of  every  means  known  to  him  to  get  at  the  exact  facts, 
and,  what  is  quite  as  important,  to  put  upon  those  facts  the  cor- 
rect interpretation. 

It  is  well  known  that  early  in  this  century  there  had  grown 
up  a  decided  divergence  of  opinion  among  the  ministers  and 
people  of  the  Massachusetts  Congregational  Churches.  There 
was  a  silent,  steadily  growing  modification  of  the  extreme  Cal- 
vinism that  had  been  prevalent.  This  made  two  parties  in 
nearly  all  the  churches,  —  parties  that  came  to  be  known  as 
Orthodox  and  Unitarian.  In  many  of  the  churches  this  diver- 
gence of  opinion  caused  an  open  rupture  and  separation.  When 
this  occurred  there  was  usually  a  secession  of  the  minority  from 
the  parish,  and  the  formation  by  them  of  a  separate  church. 
In  most  parishes  the  Unitarians  were  found  to  be  in  the 
majority  when  the  division  took  place,  and  they  therefore  held 
the  old  churches  and  church  property,  and  the  Orthodox  with- 
drew and  built  anew.  In  Plymouth  County,  for  instance,  all 
but  one  or  two  of  the  original  Pilgrim  churches  were  found  to 
be  Unitarian.  A  majority  of  the  voters  in  these  parishes  sym- 
pathized with  the  new  movement,  and  their  votes  controlled 
the  issue.  The  church,  strictly  speaking,  was  the  body  of  the 
church-members,  a  voluntary  association  not  legally  recognized, 
and  having  no  separate  voice  in  the  control  of  the  business 
affairs  of  the  parish.  Probably  in  most  cases  the  majority  of 
the  church-members  remained  Orthodox. 

The  division  of  most  of  the  churches  occurred  during  the 
early  years  of  Mr.  Sheldon's  ministry.  Of  course  there  were 
two  parties  in  Easton  as  elsewhere.  There  was  the  same  fer- 
ment of  opinions.  It  was  less  marked  here  because,  notwith- 
standing an  impression  to  the  contrary,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reed,  the 


340 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


last  minister,  had  not  espoused  the  new  views,  and  his  preaching 
seems  to  have  ignored  all  these  controverted  questions.  Never- 
theless there  was  a  steady  growth  of  Arminian  and  Unitarian 
opinion  in  the  parish.  This  was  perhaps  more  marked  because 
of  the  decided  conservatism  of  the  minister,  Mr.  Sheldon.  "  In 
his  religious  belief  he  was  notoriously  Evangelical,  rigidly  Or- 
thodox, as  most  would  say  from  the  present  stand-point.  He 
called  himself  a  Hopkinsian,  though  he  differed  on  some  doc- 
trinal points  from  Hopkins,  and  coincided  with  those  called  Cal- 
vinistic."  This  is  the  statement  of  his  son,  the  Rev.  Luther 
H.  Sheldon. 

The  two  parties  in  the  parish  ardently  espoused  their  own 
particular  views,  and  were  gradually  developing  into  decided  dis- 
agreement. But  it  deserves  especial  notice  that  Mr.  Sheldon 
had  ministered  to  the  parish  for  the  long  term  of  twenty  years 
before  there  was  any  open  contest.  June  8,  1830,  the  first  action 
was  taken,  according  to  the  parish  records,  which  recognized  the 
existence  of  any  trouble.  It  was  then  "voted  that  it  is  the  wish 
of  the  Parish  that  neighboring  Congregational  ministers  in  regu- 
lar standing  should  minister  with  this  society  as  was  formerly' 
the  practice."  This  vote  needs  explanation.  When  the  division' 
of  the  Congregational  churches  into  Orthodox  and  Unitarian 
took  place,  a  considerable  number  of  the  neighboring  churches 
took  the  Unitarian  position.  Taunton,  Norton,  and  the  Bridge- 
waters  were  examples.  It  was  natural  that  Mr.  Sheldon,  regard- 
ing the  views  of  the  ministers  of  these  churches  as  heretical  and 
dangerous,  should  not  wish  to  have  these  views  presented  in  his 
pulpit,  and  hence  that  he  should  drop  these  preachers  from  his 
list  of  exchanges.  It  was  equally  natural  that  the  majority  of 
the  parish  who  favored  these  views,  or  who  at  least  desired  that 
the  old  friendly  relations  between  these  parishes  should  be  con- 
tinued, should  be  aggrieved  by  the  position  of  Mr.  Sheldon, 
The  vote  just  noted  had  no  effect. 

The  parish  waited  for  a  year  Snd  a  half,  and  then  in  Novem- 
ber, 1 83 1,  voted  "to  request  the  Rev.  Luther  Sheldon  to  ex- 
change pulpit  services  with  the  neighboring  Congregational 
ministers  indiscriminately,  agreeable  to  the  practice  that  pre- 
vailed at  the  time  of  his  settlement."  Elijah  Howard,  Daniel 
Wheaton,  and  John  Pool  were  appointed  a  committee  to  inform 


DIVISION    OF    THE    PARISH. 


341 


Mr.  Sheldon  of  this  vote,  and  to  request  an  answer  of  him  in 
writing.  In  a  parish  meeting  held  April  16,  1832,  this  com- 
mittee reported  that  they  had  served  him  with  a  copy  of  the 
vote  alluded  to,  and  "that  he  has  not  seen  fit  either  to  make  the 
reply  or  the  exchanges,  agreeable  to  the  vote  of  the  parish."  In 
their  report  they  complain  that  by  the  course  he  has  adopted, 
the  society  is  "entirely  cut  off  from  all  intercourse  with  a  large 
majority  of  the  societies  with  whom  we  have  had  connection." 
They  complain  that  all  communications  with  Mr.  Sheldon  on 
this  subject  "  have  been  met  only  by  studied  neglect  or  taunting 
rebuke,"  and  they  thus  continue  :  — 

"  Upon  a  view  of  his  whole  conduct  in  relation  to  this  subject,  the 
Committee  are  fully  convinced  that  it  is  his  intention  not  to  comply 
with  the  vote  of  the  Parish.  Under  these  circumstances,  it  becomes 
a  question  of  importance  what  measures  it  is  advisable  for  the  Parish 
to  adopt.  That  a  refusal  of  Mr.  Sheldon  to  conform  to  the  known 
and  long  established  customs  and  usages  of  all  former  ministers  of 
this  Parish  is  such  a  breach  of  his  duties  as  will  exonerate  the  Parish 
from  the  obligations  on  their  part,  there  can  be  no  doubt." 

This  brings  us  to  the  gist  of  the  whole  controversy.  The 
main  point  at  issue  was  this  :  Did  the  refusal  of  a  Congrega- 
tional minister  to  exchange  with  neighboring  ministers  at  the 
request  of  his  parish  constitute  a  breach  of  his  covenant,  ex- 
onerate the  parish  from  the  payment  of  his  salary,  or  form  a 
sufificient  ground  for  his  dismissal  ?  The  committee  of  the 
society  answered  this  question  in  the  affirmative.  The  Court, 
as  we  shall  see,  ultimately  decided  it  in  the  negative. 

In  regard  to  his  complying  with  the  request  of  the  parish,  it 
should  be  noted  that  a  large  minority  of  the  parish  and  a  de- 
cided majority  of  the  regular  church-goers  joined  with  him  in  op- 
posing such  exchanges.  The  contest  waxed  warmer.  May  12, 
1832,  a  committee  of  twenty  persons,  representing  both  parties, 
were  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  situation  ;  but 
they  could  come  to  no  agreement  and  made  no  report.  June  4 
the  parish  instructed  the  trustees  to  propose  to  Mr.  Sheldon 
that  he  continue  to  officiate  as  pastor,  provided  he  would  ex- 
change with  Congregational  ministers  in  the  vicinity  according 
to  custom  ;  and  in  case  he  would  not  do  this,  to  ask  him  to  join 


342 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


in  calling  a  mutual  council  to  dissolve  the  connection  between 
him  and  the  parish  ;  and  if  he  refused  to  join  in  calling  a  mutual 
council,  the  trustees  were  instructed  to  call  an  ex-parte  council 
for  that  purpose.  They  were  also  authorized  to  supply  the 
pulpit  until  further  notice. 

June  II  the  trustees  informed  Mr.  Sheldon  of  the  action  of 
the  parish  ;  he  took  no  notice  of  their  communication.  July 
24  they  requested  him  to  join  with  them  in  calling  a  mutual 
council  ;  he  paid  no  attention  to  their  request.  This  persist- 
ent silence  was,  of  course,  exasperating;  the  trustees  and  their 
adherents  interpreted  it  as  an  intentional  slight.  His  silence 
was,  however,  maintained  by  legal  advice ;  but  some  notice 
might,  it  would  seem,  have  been  taken  of  such  official  commu- 
nications without  compromising  him  in  a  legal  point  of  view. 
This  question  also  arises  :  Knowing  that  at  least  half  the  voting 
parish,  among  whom  were  many  leading  men,  were  decidedly 
opposed  to  him,  why  did  not  Mr.  Sheldon  consent  to  call  a 
mutual  council  and  dissolve  the  connection  .-'  This  would  have 
stilled  the  strife,  and  his  friends  might  then  have  rallied  about 
him  and  formed  a  new  church.  Several  considerations  help  us 
to  answer  this  question.  Foremost  of  all,  no  doubt,  was  that  of 
the  parish  fund.  The  adherents  of  Mr.  Sheldon  were  members 
of  the  parish,  and  therefore  had  a  claim  upon  this  fund.  If  they 
withdrew  from  the  parish  to  form  another  society  they  would 
lose  this  claim,  and  the  fund  would  fall  wholly  under  the  control 
of  their  opponents. 

Mr.  Sheldon's  friends  had,  in  fact,  proposed  a  peaceable  settle- 
ment in  the  May  preceding.  They  proposed  that  the  meeting- 
house and  all  the  parish  property  should  be  sold,  and  the  proceeds 
divided  among  the  members  of  the  parish  corporation  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  taxes  they  severally  paid.  They  suggested, 
if  this  plan  failed,  two  other  propositions:  (i)  That  the  income 
of  the  parish  property  should  be  annually  divided  among  all  the 
religious  societies  that  were  or  should  be  organized  in  Easton 
and  which  should  be  provided  with  a  place  of  worship ;  {2)  That 
the  parish  property  should  be  sold  and  be  divided  among  such 
societies.  But  these  propositions  were  all  voted  down  in  parish 
meeting.  This  will  answer  the  question,  Why  was  not  Mr. 
Sheldon  willing  to  call  a  mutual  council  and  accept  a  dismissal  .-* 


1 


DIVISION    OF   THE   PARISH.  343 

To  do  this,  and  form  a  new  society  of  his  adherents,  would 
forfeit  their  claim  to  any  share  in  the  parish  funds.  The  two 
parties  were  so  nearly  equal  in  numbers  that  Mr.  Sheldon's 
friends  might  hope  by  holding  on  to  gain  a  voting  majority, 
when  they  would  be  able  to  control  the  parish  organization 
and  manage  the  fund. 

Another  reason  for  this  refusal  was  that  the  Orthodox  Asso- 
ciation to  which  Mr.  Sheldon  belonged  desired  him  to  test,  and 
thereby  to  settle,  the  question  whether  or  not  the  refusal  of  a  Con- 
gregational minister  to  exchange  with  certain  other  ministers 
at  the  request  of  his  parish,  formed  a  valid  legal  reason  for  his 
dismissal.  The  question  of  the  non-payment  of  Mr.  Sheldon's 
salary  had  not  yet  arisen,  for  this  was  in  July,  1832,  and  June  4 
the  parish  had  voted  to  pay  him  his  salary  to  October  24. 

In  August  the  trustees  of  the  parish  issued  letters-missive, 
calling  for  an  ex-parte  council.  Then  Mr.  Sheldon  first  broke 
the  silence,  sending  a  letter  in  which  he  declined  to  assist  in 
calling  a  mutual  council,  and  declaring  that  the  trustees  had  no 
authority  in  the  matter. 

September  6,  1832,  the  ex-parte  council  assembled.  The 
specifications  against  Mr.  Sheldon  were  read.  They  were,  first, 
his  refusal  to  comply  with  the  request  of  the  parish  to  exchange 
with  neighboring  ministers,  by  which  "clergymen  of  the  liberal 
denomination  "  were  excluded  from  the  pulpit ;  second,  that  he 
had  never  deigned  to  answer  any  of  the  communications  ad- 
dressed to  him  by  the  parish  ;  third,  that  he  had  endeavored  to 
drive  from  the  parish  individuals  opposed  to  him  ;  fourth,  that 
he  had  neglected  the  duty  of  making  pastoral  visits ;  fifth,  that 
owing  to  want  of  confidence  in  him  his  usefulness  as  a  pastor 
was  impaired  ;  sixth,  a  want  of  confidence  in  his  moral  honesty 
and  integrity  by  many  in  the  parish. 

At  this  conference  the  Rev.  Pitt  Clarke,  of  Norton,  was  mod- 
erator, and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Farley,  of  Providence,  Scribe.  Mr. 
Sheldon  was  invited  to  appear,  and  he  came  and  presented  a 
paper  objecting  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Council.  This  Council 
adopted  a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  his  refusal  to  exchange  with 
neighboring  ministers,  his  neglect  to  reply  to  the  communications 
officially  made  to  him  by  the  parish,  "  and  his  loss  of  the  confi- 
dence of  a  large  portion  of  his  parishioners  in  his  moral  honesty 


344  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

and  integrity,  having  been  substantiated  by  the  evidence  offered 
by  the  committee  on  the  part  of  the  parish,  require  a  dissolu- 
tion of  the  ministerial  connection  now  subsisting  between  him 
and  the  parish,  there  appearing  to  be  no  ground  for  a  belief  that 
peace  and  harmony  can  otherwise  be  restored  to  said  parish." 

As  justice  is  the  highest  of  all  considerations,  it  should  not  be 
forgotten  that  this  was  an  ex-parte  council,  where  evidence  upon 
only  one  side  was  given.  No  proof  of  a  "  want  of  honesty  and 
integrity "  in  Mr.  Sheldon  was  declared  to  exist,  but  only  of  a 
"loss  of  confidence"  by  a  part  of  the  parish  in  his  possession 
of  those  qualities.  The  Council  resolved  that  the  situation  was 
such  as  to  "  require  the  dissolution  ;  "  but  they  did  not  venture 
to  pronounce  the  pastoral  relation  dissolved.  Their  word  was 
advisory  rather  than  decisive. 

The  Council  was  held  on  the  6th  of  September,  1832.  On 
the  8th  the  trustees  reported  the  result  to  Mr.  Sheldon,  and  no- 
tified him  that  after  the  following  Sunday  his  services  would  be 
dispensed  with.  It  is  dif^cult  to  understand  why  the  trustees 
committed  so  obvious  an  error  as  this.  It  would  seem  that 
they  must  either  have  misunderstood  the  action  of  the  Council, 
which,  while  it  resolved  that  the  circumstances  of  the  case  "  re- 
quired "  a  dissolution,  did  not  venture  to  pronounce  the  pastoral 
relation  dissolved,  or  they  supposed  the  Courts  would,  if  appealed 
to,  confirm  their  action.  Mr.  Sheldon  was  neither  ecclesiastically 
nor  legally  dismissed,  and  the  action  of  the  trustees  therefore  in 
dispensing  with  his  services  had  no  validity  whatever,  as  they  had 
no  authority  to  dismiss  him.  He  was  still  the  minister,  was  en- 
titled to  preach,  to  draw  his  salary,  and  to  perform  all  the  duties 
and  claim  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  his  position  as  minister. 

Sunday,  September  16,  1832,  the  circumstances  occurred 
which  led  to  the  open  and  final  breach  between  the  friends  and 
the  opposers  of  Mr.  Sheldon.  It  was  the  second  Sunday  after 
the  session  of  the  ex-parte  council.  The  trustees  having  noti- 
fied him  that  his  services  would  be  dispensed  with,  engaged 
another  minister  to  preach.  Perfectly  confident  of  the  validity 
of  his  position,  Mr.  Sheldon,  with  characteristic  determination, 
prepared  to  maintain  it.  Accordingly,  on  the  Sunday  morning 
in  question  he  entered  the  church  fifteen  minutes  earlier  than 
had  been   his  custom,  and  took  possession  of  the  pulpit.     He 


DIVISION    OF    THE    PARISH. 


345 


began  the  services  early  and  conducted  them  to  the  end  without 
interruption.  But  his  opponents  determined  that  he  should  not 
preach  in  the  afternoon.  They  took  care  that  the  clergyman 
whom  the  trustees  had  hired  was  in  the  pulpit  before  the  time 
of  beginning  service,  and  they  prepared  to-  prevent,  forcibly  if 
necessary,  its  occupancy  by  Mr.  Sheldon.  It  was  understood 
that  some  one  should  guard  the  head  of  each  aisle.  When 
Mr.  Sheldon  appeared,  Daniel  Wheaton  rose  and  told  him  that 
the  pulpit  was  occupied.  Paying  no  heed  to  this,  he  passed 
up  the  aisle  ;  whereupon  Elijah  Howard  stepped  in  front  of 
him  and  informed  him  that  there  was  already  a  minister  in 
the  pulpit.  The  pulpit  being  so  high  as  to  conceal  the  occu- 
pant, Mr.  Sheldon  said,  "  I  see  no  one  there,"  and  endeavored  to 
force  his  way  past.  "The  pulpit  is  occupied,"  rejoined  Mr, 
Howard,  and  pushed  him  back.  Another  effort  to  pass  v/as 
equally  unsuccessful.  Meantime  great  excitement  prevailed. 
Loud  murmurs  were  heard,  and  not  a  few  women  sobbed  aloud. 
**  Don't  let  them  hurt  my  minister ! "  one  of  them  cried  out. 
William  Rotch,  much  excited,  started  up  as  if  to  take  some  part 
in  the  affair,  but  the  towering  form  of  Horatio  Ames  confront- 
ing him,  made  him  feel  that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of 
valor.  From  the  singers'  seats  in  the  gallery  rose  the  gigantic 
Solomon  Leach,  six  feet,  six  inches  in  height.  Looking  down 
into  the  body  of  the  church  he  shouted,  "  Look  out  what  you 
do  down  there,  or  I  '11  be  amongst  you." 

Finding  that  he  could  not  gain  his  pulpit  without  violence, 
and  that  the  excitement  was  increasing,  Mr.  Sheldon  stepped 
back  into  his  own  pew  and  said,  "  If  those  who  wish  to  hear  me 
preach  will  retire  to  my  grove,  I  will  speak  there."  Immedi- 
ately a  large  majority  of  the  church-members  and  of  the  audi- 
ence followed  Mr.  Sheldon  out  of  the  meeting-house  and  into 
his  grove,  one  woman  taking  her  pew  cushion  with  her. 

After  this  he  conducted  services  in  the  chapel  until  the  new 
meeting-house,  already  begun,  was  completed,  which  was  in  June 
of  the  next  year.  This  chapel  was  a  small  two-story  building, 
standing  near  the  meeting-house.  Neither  the  upper  nor  the 
lower  room  was,  however,  large  enough  for  the  audience  that 
gathered  to  hear  Mr.  Sheldon.  To  remedy  this  defect  a  novel 
expedient  was  adopted.     About  eight  feet  in  front  of  the  desk 


346  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

where  he  preached  upstairs,  a  hole  about  six  feet  in  diameter 
was  cut  through  the  floor  ;  this  was  surrounded  by  a  Httle  rail- 
ing. The  male  portion  of  his  audience  convened  in  the  lower 
room,  and  the  female,  with  the  choir,  in  the  upper.  "  Faith 
comes  by  hearing,"  not  by  seeing  ;  and  the  ground-floor  audience 
might  therefore  hope  for  spiritual  advantage,  though  they  were 
deprived  of  the  sight  of  their  pastor's  face.  This  building  is 
now  occupied  as  a  shoe-factory  by  Lackey  &  Davie,  but  was 
for  many  years  a  barn  and  work-shop  of  the  late  Daniel  Reed, 
behind  whose  house  it  now  stands. 

After  Mr.  Sheldon  and  his  friends  had  left  the  church,  as  be- 
fore narrated,  a  slim  audience  was  left;  but  the  services  then 
proceeded.  It  is  not,  however,  to  be  supposed  that  these  ser- 
vices were  very  edifying,  considering  the  excitement  that  pre- 
vailed. Henceforth  the  trustees  supplied  the  pulpit  by  transient 
preachers,  though  a  Mr.  Damon  served  some  time,  and  was 
much  liked.  Meantime  through  the  week  the  sound  of  axe, 
hammer,  and  saw  was  heard,  and  a  new  church  was  steadily 
rising  but  a  stone's  throw  to  the  east.  Mr.  Sheldon  was  not 
allowed  to  preach  in  the  old  church,  though  he  was  satisfied  that 
he  was  illegally  excluded  from  its  pulpit.  Party  feeling  ran  high, 
and  unpleasant  things  were  said  on  both  sides. 

Though  the  parish  held  out  against  Mr.  Sheldon,  it  will  be 
remembered  that  the  church — that  is,  the  organization  of  the 
church-members  —  adhered  to  him.  It  was  therefore  proper  that 
he  should  retain  the  church  (not  the  parish)  records,  and  transmit 
them  to  his  successors.  But  the  church  was  not  a  business 
organization ;  and  as  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends  began,  even  before 
this  rupture,  to  build  a  meeting-house,  it  was  necessary  for  them 
to  have  some  kind  of  business  organization.  They  accordingly 
organized  as  early  as  May  7,  1832,  choosing  Lincoln  Drake  for 
secretary, — a  position  he  held  for  many  years.  They  called  them- 
selves "  Proprietors  of  the  Easton  new  Meeting-house,"  and  they 
began  at  once  to  make  arrangements  for  building  such  a  house. 
The  land  was  purchased  in  the  summer  of  1832,  subscriptions 
were  received,  shares  taken,  and  the  work  proceeded  with  vigor. 
In  about  a  year  from  its  first  inception,  —  that  is,  June  20, 
1833,  —  the  new  church  was  dedicated.  This  association  of 
"  Proprietors  "  continued   its  existence,  holding  and   managing 


DIVISION    OF   THE    PARISH.  347 

the  church  property.  Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  "  Evan- 
gelical Congregational  Society  of  Easton,"  in  January,  1839,  the 
association  did  business  like  any  other  religious  society.  It 
voted  concerning  Mr.  Sheldon's  salary,  negotiated  as  another 
organization  with  the  old  parish,  and  acted  for  the  material  and 
other  interests  of  the  new  society,  of  which  it  was  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  the  business  organization.  Its  existence  continued 
down  to  1882,  when  it  transferred  to  the  Evangelical  Society 
its  ownership  and  right  to  such  property  as  was  left  after  the 
burning  of  the  church,  its  members  being  members  of  that 
society,  and  then  dissolved.  It  was  quite  an  anomaly  in  eccle- 
siastical arrangements,  and  arose  out  of  the  complications  of 
the  contention  we  are  considering. 

Early  in  the  controversy  Shepard  Leach,  after  consultation 
with  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends,  made  this  proposition  to  the  other 
party,  —  to  buy  all  the  property  of  the  latter  in  the  church, 
pews,  sheds,  etc.,  and  pay  one  hundred  per  cent  on  its  value,  or 
to  sell  out  all  the  interest  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends  held  in  the  same 
property  for  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar.  But  the  parish  who  were 
opposed  to  the  minister  did  not  care,  by  thus  selling,  to  turn 
themselves  out  of  doors  ;  and  it  was  no  object  to  them  to  buy  at 
any  price,  as  they  already  had  more  room  than  they  needed,  if 
they  were  left  to  themselves. 

We  come  now  to  an  exciting  stage  of  the  contest,  and  one 
that  has  been  generally  misunderstood.  September  2,  1833,  ^ 
parish  meeting  was  held,  and  when  the  vote  for  moderator  was 
taken,  Elijah  Howard,  the  clerk  of  the  parish,  refused  to  receive 
the  votes  of  Lemuel  Keith  and  others  who  were  active  in  sup- 
port of  Mr.  Sheldon.  This  unexpected  action  caused  intense 
excitement.  These  men  had  previously  always  voted,  but  now 
they  were  persistently  refused  the  right.  To  their  demands  Mr. 
Howard  said,  "  If  you  think  I  am  wrong,  you  have  your  rem- 
edy at  the  law.  You  can  sue  me  and  obtain  your  rights."  It 
has  been  represented  that  Mr.  Howard  saw  that  the  majority 
of  those  present  were  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends,  and  that  he  arbi- 
trarily excluded  enough  of  them  from  voting,  to  give  the  ma- 
jority to  the  opposing  party.  In  the  suit  which  Lemuel  Keith 
entered  against  Mr.  Howard,  he  charged  him  with  "  maliciously, 
fraudulently,  and  injuriously"  intending  to  deprive  the  plaintiff 


348 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


"of  his  privilege  of  voting  for  the  moderator  of  said  meeting, 
and  him  to  disfranchise,"  etc.  But  the  facts  show  that  Mr. 
Howard  acted  according  to  the  instructions  of  the  parish,  and 
not  on  his  own  personal  authority.  The  position  taken  by  the 
parish  proved  to  be  illegal,  but  until  so  proved,  he  as  clerk  felt 
bound  to  maintain  it.  In  the  parish  meeting  of  April  i,  1833, 
the  trustees  were  instructed  "to  revise  and  correct  the  list  of  par- 
ishioners ; "  and  before  the  meeting  of  September  2  they  had  at- 
tended to  the  work.  From  the  old  list  were  dropped  the  names 
of  Lemuel  Keith  and  others,  active  friends  of  Mr.  Sheldon.  Why 
was  this  done  ?  At  first  sight  it  appears  to  have  been  an  arbi- 
trary and  unjust  proceeding,  and  has  always  been  so  regarded  by 
Mr.  Sheldon's  friends.  But  the  leading  men  in  the  parish  had 
too  much  character  to  commit  an  act  of  obvious  injustice,  an  act 
for  which  they  did  not  suppose  they  had  sufficient  justification. 
The  reader  may  judge  for  himself  concerning  the  soundness  of 
their  position,  but  if  he  carefully  attends  to  the  explanation  of 
their  action  in  the  following  paragraph,  he  cannot  help  allowing 
that  it  must  have  seemed  sound  and  honorable  to  them. 

In  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  parish  it  was  provided  that 
"  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Easton,  who  now  usually 
attend  public  worship  with  the  Congregational  Society  of  which 
the  Rev.  William  Reed  is  the  present  minister,"  shall  be  made  a 
corporation,  etc.  Now,  however  justified  the  adherents  of  Mr. 
Sheldon  were  in  the  course  they  were  pursuing,  it  is  evident  that 
they  did  not  at  this  time,  1833,  "usually  attend  worship  with  the 
Congregational  Society,"  that  is,  the  First  Parish  ;  they  did  not 
attend  there  at  all.  It  was  therefore  natural  that  those  who  did 
thus  attend  should  think  that  these  non-attendants  had  forfeited 
their  rights  as  parishioners  according  to  the  terms  of  the  Act 
of  Incorporation.  Moreover,  these  non-attendants  had  actually 
formed  another  organization,  which  was  substantially  another 
religious  society,  or  parish,  though  they  carefully  avoided  calling 
it  such.  As  before  stated,  they  assumed  for  their  organization 
the  title  of  "  Proprietors  of  the  Easton  new  Meeting-house  ;  "  but 
their  opponents  regarded  this  as  a  mere  evasion,  for  they  were 
doing  business  as  a  regular  religious  society,  were  building  and 
furnishing  a  meeting-house,  were  raising  money  to  support  a 
minister,  and  were  transacting  all  other  business  necessary  to  the 


DIVISION    OF    THE    PARISH. 


349 


maintenance  of  a  religious  society.  Now,  as  the  Act  of  Incor- 
poration did  not  allow  any  persons  to  belong  to  two  religious 
societies  at  the  same  time,  and  as  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends  had  not 
only  absented  themselves  from  the  parish  church,  but  had  in 
fact,  if  not  in  form,  organized  a  new  society,  it  was  natural 
that  the  majority  should  regard  them  as  having  forfeited  the 
rights  of  members,  or  parishioners,  of  the  old  parish.  It  was  for 
this  reason  that  their  names  were  dropped  from  the  parish  roll. 

That  this  is  the  true  explanation  of  this  transaction  is  proved 
beyond  question  by  the  fact  that  the  revision  of  the  list  of 
parishioners  adopted  in  September,  1833,  consisted  simply  in 
erasing  from  the  old  list  the  names  of  the  "  Proprietors  of  the 
Easton  new  Meeting-house."  They  had  all  been  omitted  from 
the  new  list  because  they  were  members  of  the  new  corporation, 
which  the  parish  committee  naturally  looked  upon  as  a  new  so- 
ciety. What  seemed  to  the  committee  to  be  a  sufficient  reason  for 
dropping  these  names  did  not  prove  to  be  sufficient  in  law ;  but 
the  unbiassed  reader  will  concede  that  Mr.  Sheldon's  opponents 
believed  that  their  action  was  justified  by  the  circumstances.  It 
is  at  least  perfectly  evident  that  Mr.  Howard's  refusal  to  take 
the  vote  of  Mr.  Keith,  and  of  others  whose  names  had  been 
dropped  by  order  of  the  parish  committee  who  had  been  author- 
ized to  revise  the  list,  was  not,  as  has  been  alleged,  the  prompt- 
ing of  the  moment  to  secure  a  majority  for  his  party,  but  was 
merely  the  enforcing  of  the  decision  made  by  the  majority  vote 
of  the  parish  taken  six  months  before.  He  simply  did  his 
duty  as  the  parish  clerk. 

By  a  lawsuit  Mr.  Keith  established  his  legal  right,  and  there- 
by that  of  the  others  whose  names  had  been  dropped,  to  vote  in 
parish  meetings.  But  the  Court's  opinion  of  the  essential  justice 
of  his  case  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  while  Mr.  Keith 
sued  for  one  thousand  dollars  damages,  the  verdict  allowed  him 
one  dollar  and  costs.^ 

It  is  worth  telling  here  that  when  the  right  to  vote  had  been 
conceded  to  the  excluded  members,  Joseph  Hayward,  familiarly 
known  as  "  Deacon  Joe,"  came  forward  holding  up  his  vote  to 
Mr.  Howard,  and  in  his  piping  voice,  tremulous  with  triumph, 
said,  "I  guess  you'll  have  to  take  my  vote  this  time;"  and  the 

1  Superior  Judicial  Court  Records,  vol.  v.  p.  215,  at  the  Court  House  in  Taunton, 
Massachusetts. 


350 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


quick-witted  clerk  responded  :  "Yes,  we've  got  short  of  deacon- 
timber,  and  thought  we  would  let  you  in." 

An  unprejudiced  judgment  will  probably  concede  that  both 
parties  believed  that  their  respective  courses  of  action  were 
justified  by  the  situation,  and  will  allow  that  in  this,  as  in  most 
similar  cases,  there  is  something  to  be  said  upon  both  sides. 
The  men  arrayed  thus  earnestly  against  one  another  were  most 
of  them  men  of  too  much  character  consciously  or  deliberately 
to  do  an  act  of  injustice  or  unfairness. 

The  excitement  was  now  at  a  high  pitch,  and  an  incident 
soon  occurred  which  did  not  tend  to  allay  it.  A  short  time  after 
the  parish  meeting  of  September  2,  1833,  the  worshippers  of  the 
old  society  were  amazed,  on  entering  the  meeting-house,  to  find 
that  some  of  the  pews  belonging  to  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends  had 
been  securely  fastened  with  padlocks.  One  afternoon  of  the 
previous  week  a  blacksmith  had  come  from  the  Furnace  Village 
with  an  assistant,  and  called  at  Mr.  Sheldon's  house.  He  read 
a  list  of  names  of  persons  who  desired  to  have  their  pews  fast- 
ened up,  and  asked  Mr.  Sheldon  to  go  to  the  church  with  him  and 
point  out  their  pews,  which  he  did.  It  was  easy,  of  course,  for 
the  men  attending  church  the  next  Sunday  to  step  over  into  the 
pews.  It  was  also  easy  to  unlock  and  remove  the  padlocks  ; 
and  this  was  done. 

But  this  was  not  the  end  of  it  ;  for  not  long  afterward  a  lad 
was  driving  his  cows  to  pasture  in  the  morning,  and  on  return- 
ing, as  he  neared  the  meeting-house,  he  heard  the  clinking  of 
tools  within.  Looking  inside  he  saw  two  men  at  work  appar- 
ently under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Sheldon,  this  time  fastening 
up  the  pews  with  iron  straps,  which  were  securely  riveted.i 
Only  a  few  pews  had  been  fastened  up  in  the  first  instance,  but] 
now  a  large  number,  probably  nearly  all  those  belonging  to  thej 
friends  of  the  minister,  were  thus  secured.  Though  there  is  no 
evidence  that  Mr.  Sheldon  instigated  this  proceeding,  his  pres- 
ence at  the  church  makes  it  certain  that  he  sympathized  with 
it.  It  was  alleged  as  a  reason  for  this  transaction  that  one  or 
two  of  the  pews  had  been  shamefully  used  ;  but  if  so,  it  was  by 
some  rascal  whose  conduct  was  sure  to  meet  the  disapproval  of 
all  respectable  persons.  This  second  fastening  was  done  very 
early  in  the  day,  for  it  was  just  at  sunrise  when  the  lad  referred  to, 


DIVISION    OF    THE    PARISH. 


351 


who  is  now  living  and  whose  memory  is  perfectly  clear  about 
this  circumstance,  stood  and  looked  in  at  the  door.^  Mr.  Shel- 
don waved  him  away,  and  fastened  the  door  behind  him.  This 
second  pew-fastening  greatly  increased  the  excitement.  It  was 
not  long,  however,  before  the  Furnace  Village  iron  straps  were 
cut  away  by  North  Easton  cold-chisels,  the  head  of  the  hammer 
used  being  covered  with  leather  to  prevent  making  any  noise. 

January  13,  1834,  the  parish  party  appointed  a  committee 
consisting  of  Howard  Lothrop,  Daniel  Wheaton,  and  Roland 
Howard,  with  whom  any  one  might  confer  in  the  endeavor  to 
bring  about  a  just  and  equitable  settlement  of  affairs.  Howard 
Lothrop  had  contended  from  the  first  that  in  law  Mr.  Sheldon 
was  entitled  to  his  salary,  and  he  desired  that  some  accommoda- 
tion of  differences  might  now  be  made.  But  Mr.  Sheldon's 
friends  at  this  juncture  were  in  no  mood  to  accept  an  overture 
of  this  kind.  In  April  this  committee  "to  receive  propositions 
from  the  friends  of  Luther  Sheldon  for  a  settlement  of  all  diffi- 
culties existing  between  him  and  said  parish,"  reported  that  no 
propositions,  either  verbally  or  in  writing,  had  ever  been  made  by 
Mr.  Sheldon  or  his  friends.  It  was  then  voted  that  the  trustees 
should  be  associated  with  this  committee  for  the  purpose  already 
specified.  Evidently,  the  parish  felt  that  its  position  was  legally 
weak,  and  hoped  for  some  proposition  for  settlement.  The  other 
party  knew  that  its  position  was  legally  strong,  and  were  already 
taking  steps  to  punish  the  parish  for  its  blunder  of  September, 
1832. 

In  the  March  term  of  1834  Mr.  Sheldon  sued  the  parish  for  a 
year's  unpaid  salary,  due  October  24,  1833,  including  the  twelve 

1  The  impression  has  gained  ground  that  this  work  was  done  by  candlelight, 
before  daybreak.  But  there  is  no  good  reason  to  doubt  that  it  was  done  during  the 
early  morning  by  the  two  blacksmiths  before  mentioned,  who  finished  it  soon  after 
sunrise.  The  impression  referred  to  has  been  strengthened  by  a  statement  in  a 
stanza  of  a  satirical  poem  written  during  this  controversy  by  the  eccentric  James 
Adams,  —  a  poem  which  purports  to  be  a  "  New  Year's  Address  "  of  Mr.  Sheldon 
to  his  parishioners.  The  statement  that  access  was  gained  by  the  window  is  untrue, 
and  the  holding  of  the  light  may  be  regarded  as  a  poetic  license.  The  stanza  alluded 
to  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  With  iron  plates  some  two,  three  score. 
With  iron  bolts  as  many  more, 
We  from  the  window  gain'd  the  floor 

At  dead  of  night ; 
Then  firmly  fasten'd  each  pew  door  : 
I  held  the  light." 


352  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

cords  of  wood  promised  annually.  The  salary  was  $450,  and  the 
wood  was  rated  at  $36.  The  interest  was  carefully  computed,  and 
the  claim  for  salary  was  $500.03.  There  was  an  additional  claim 
for  ;^500,  the  suit  being  for  $1000.  In  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  Mr.  Sheldon's  plea  was  pronounced  "  bad  and  insufficient 
in  law,"  and  the  Court  awarded  the  parish  the  cost  of  the  suit.^ 
Mr.  Sheldon  appealed,  and  the  case  was  finally  settled  in  the 
Superior  Court  of  April,  1836.  He  sued  for  ;^  1,000,  but  the 
Court  awarded  him  $563.65  and  the  costs  at  $141.44.^  He  in- 
stituted another  suit  in  September,  1835,  for  his  salary  for  1834, 
including  the  twelve  cords  of  wood  and  interest  due,  —  the  whole 
amounting  to  $500.59.  This  suit,  like  the  first  one,  went  against 
him  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,^  but  in  the  Superior  Court 
in  April,  1836,  he  recovered  $546.27  and  costs  of  suit  at  $46.95.^ 
These  appear  to  be  the  only  suits  recorded  in  the  Bristol  County 
courts.  The  two  suits  for  unpaid  salary  resulted  in  his  favor  ; 
the  additional  claim  of  $500  made  in  the  first  suit  was  not  allowed 
him,  the  Court  merely  deciding  that  the  parish  was  still  bound  to 
pay  his  salary.  Incidentally,  of  course,  it  was  decided  that  the 
refusal  of  a  minister,  for  conscientious  reasons,  to  exchange  with 
neighboring  ministers  at  the  request  of  his  parish  was  not  a  suffi- 
cient ground  for  his  dismissal,  and  hence  that  Mr.  Sheldon  was 
neither  ecclesiastically  nor  legally  dismissed. 

The  suits  having  been  decided  against  the  parish,  Mr.  Sheldon 
claimed  the  salary  allowed  by  the  Court.  The  parish  declined 
to  pay  it,  notwithstanding  the  Court's  decision  ;  and  here  a  sin- 
gular complication  arose.  It  was  obvious  that  if  his  salary  were 
to  be  paid  by  a  general  parish  tax,  it  would  fall  proportionally 
upon  his  friends  who  had  already  supported  him  during  the  time 
for  which  he  sued.  But  the  original  contract  provided  that  when 
the  parish  fund  had  an  income  equal  to  his  salary,  which  was 
now  $450,  that  income  should  be  used  for  its  payment.  The 
income  had  once  exceeded  this  amount,  and  Mr.  Sheldon  be- 
lieved that  it  did  so  at  this  time,  especially  as  a  large  amount  of 
wood  had  recently  been  sold  from  the  parish  land.  If  the  parish 
could   be  forced  to  pay  his  salary  from  this  income,  then  the 

1  Court  of  Common  Pleas  (Bristol  County),  vol.  .xxxi.     March  term. 

2  Superior  Judicial  Court,  vol.  v.  p.  214. 

3  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  September,  1S35. 
*  Superior  Judicial  Court,  vol.  v.  p.  220. 


DIVISIOxN    OP^    THE    PARISH. 


)53 


members  of  his  society,  already  paying  large  sums  for  church 
expenses  without  a  fund  to  assist  them,  would  not  have  to  share 
this  additional  burden.  He  therefore  appealed  to  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court,  asking  that  the  trustees  of  the  parish  be  sum- 
moned to  disclose  the  facts  relative  to  the  amount  of  annual 
income  from  this  fund,  and  of  the  disposition  made  of  the  same. 
The  appeal  was  allowed,  and  the  disclosure  ordered.  But  it  was 
found  that  the  annual  income  for  the  years  in  question  was  less 
than  the  amount  of  the  minister's  salary  ;  and  this  being  the  case, 
the  salary  was,  according  to  the  original  contract,  to  be  paid  by  a 
tax  upon  the  parish.  This  the  parish  were  in  no  mood  to  allow  ; 
besides,  it  would  have  been  burdensome  to  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends, 
who  had  already,  as  has  just  been  stated,  borne  a  heavy  expense. 

What  was  to  be  done  now  .-'  How  could  the  Courts  decision 
be  enforced  .-'  Mr.  Sheldon  was  obliged  to  avail  himself  of  the 
law  which  made  individual  corporators  liable  for  the  debts  that 
their  corporation  failed  to  pay.  The  individual  selected  to  be 
levied  upon  in  this  case  was  Howard  Lothrop.  In  theology 
Mr.  Sheldon  and  Mr.  Lothrop  were  in  agreement.  Moreover, 
Mr.  Lothrop  had  assured  the  parish  from  the  start  that  they 
would  have  this  salary  to  pay  ;  he  thought,  however,  that  Mr. 
Sheldon  did  wrong  to  stay  and  divide  the  parish,  and  averred 
that  he  had  heard  Mr.  Sheldon  say  that  he  would  never  be 
the  means  of  dividing  it.  But  the  latter  doubtless  considered 
that  circumstances  alter  cases  ;  that  the  divergence  between 
the  two  parties  was  deeper  than  any  personal  question  ;  and 
that  the  changed  condition  of  things  justified  a  change  in  his 
decision.  However  this  may  be,  Mr.  Lothrop's  property  was 
sold  under  the  sheriff's  hammer  in  order  to  pay  Mr.  Sheldon's 
claim.  Mr.  Lothrop  then,  in  order  to  recover  what  had  thus 
been  wrung  from  him,  attached  the  property  of  two  other  mem- 
bers of  the  parish,  Lemuel  Keith  and  Bernard  Alger,  friends  of 
Mr.  Sheldon.  Mr.  Keith  had  instituted  two  lawsuits  to  prove 
that  he  was  still  a  legal  member  of  the  parish  ;  and  now  Mr. 
Lothrop,  in  his  practical  way,  reminds  him  of  one  of  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  the  situation.  This  unexpected  counter-move 
by  Mr.  Lothrop  created  consternation ;  it  seemed  to  open  an  end- 
less vista  of  legal  contentions.  In  fact  the  ball  was  kept  roll- 
ing ;  Mr.  Lothrop  having  recovered  of  Bernard  Alger,  Mr.  Alger 


354 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


instituted  a  suit  against  Alson  Gilmore  ;  and  if  the  difficulty  had 
not  been  settled,  Mr.  Gilmore  would  have  retaliated  upon  some 
one  else,  —  he  had,  in  fact,  selected  the  next  victim.  If  Mr. 
Sheldon's  friends  remained  in  the  parish,  therefore,  they  were 
liable  to  be  taxed  to  defray  the  costs  of  defending  lawsuits,  even 
though  these  should  be  decided  in  favor  of  their  party.  The 
situation  was  very  peculiar.  There  seemed  to  be  no  way  out  of 
the  difficulty,  no  thoroughfare  for  either  side. 

Here  were  two  meeting-houses,  side  by  side.  Here  were 
practically  two  societies.  One  of  them  wanted  the  minister,  and 
the  other  did  not.  The  courts  had  decided  that  under  the  pres- 
ent arrangement  the  society  that  did  not  want  him  must  pay  his 
salary.  The  question  naturally  arises  here,  Why  did  not  Mr. 
Sheldon  at  this  time  make  some  proposition  for  settlement.^ 
The  legal  question,  for  the  decision  of  which  the  Orthodox  As- 
sociation had  urged  him  to  make  a  stand,  had  been  settled,  and 
settled  in  his  favor.  The  courts  had  decided  that  he  was  entitled 
to  his  salary.  He  could  no  longer  hope  that  his  friends  would 
get  the  control  of  the  parish.  What  could  be  gained  by  delay  .■* 
Perhaps  he  thought  the  parish  were  in  no  mood  for  propositions 
of  settlement.  Besides,  he  could  afford  to  wait ;  he  was  in  a 
situation  now  to  dictate  terms.  He  might  argue  that  it  was  as 
much  their  duty  as  his  to  make  the  first  advance.  Above  all, 
they  had  persisted  in  refusing  to  pay  his  salary  though  the 
courts  awarded  it  to  him.  Instead  of  any  attempt  at  pacifica- 
tion being  made  at  this  juncture,  the  parish,  April  21,  1837,  in- 
structed its  committee  "to  direct  Luther  Sheldon  to  supply  the 
pulpit  of  the  parish." 

This  was  an  extraordinary  measure.  It  was  just  four  and  a 
half  years  since  the  trustees  had  excluded  him  from  the  pulpit. 
It  had  now  been  decided  by  law  that  the  exclusion  was  legally 
unsound,  and  that  he  was  yet  minister  of  the  parish.  But  those 
who  still  worshipped  in  the  old  church  did  not  wish  to  hear  him 
preach  ;  they  regarded  his  connection  with  them  as  a  vexatious 
misfortune.  Nevertheless,  they  directed  him  to  come  and  preach 
to  them.  What  could  have  been  their  reason  ?  Did  they  hope 
to  break  up  the  new  society  by  taking  its  minister  away  .''  Did 
they  expect  the  new  society  would  follow  him  back  to  the  old 
church  .''     Or  did  they  hope  to  weary  Mr.  Sheldon  and  his  friends 


DIVISION    OF   THE   PARISH. 


355 


by  this  arrangement,  so  as  to  obtain  more  favorable  terms  of 
settlement  ?  If  the  latter,  they  underrated  the  staying  and  en- 
during power  of  the  minister,  and  failed  to  see  that  if  it  were  a 
question  of  wearying,  he  would  under  the  new  arrangement  have 
the  advantage,  and  would  be  sure  to  get  the  best  of  it  in  the 
end.  Therefore  their  summons  did  not  in  the  least  intimidate 
Mr.  Sheldon.  One  is  filled  with  amazement,  not  unmingled  with 
admiration,  at  the  nerve  and  resolution  which  enabled  him  to 
face  this  unfriendly  audience,  knowing  that  they  entertained  to- 
wards him  feelings  of  dislike  and  hostility,  —  and  to  do  this,  not 
merely  on  some  one  decisive  occasion  that  might  be  met  and 
soon  passed,  but  week  after  week,  for  more  than  a  year.  How  he 
could  conduct  religious  services,  preach  and  pray,  in  the  presence 
of  an  unsympathizing  congregation,  is  a  problem  difficult  to  solve. 
Not  more  than  one  minister  in  a  thousand  could  have  done  it ; 
but  the  parish  had  yet  to  learn  that  in  this  regard  Mr.  Sheldon 
was  this  one  in  a  thousand.  It  was,  indeed,  a  critical  and  mo- 
mentous occasion  when  for  the  first  time,  after  four  and  a  half 
years,  he  stood  up  again  in  his  pulpit  in  the  old  church  to  con- 
duct religious  services.  His  sermon  is  foreshadowed  by  his  text, 
which  was  from  Acts  x.  29 :  "  Therefore  came  I  unto  you  with- 
out gainsaying  as  soon  as  I  was  sent  for :  I  ask  therefore  for 
what  intent  ye  have  sent  for  me .-'  " 

This  new  arrangement  did  not  prevent  Mr.  Sheldon  from  con- 
tinuing to  minister  to  his  own  flock,  nor  did  any  of  his  people 
follow  him  back  to  the  old  church.  For  a  time  he  conducted 
services  in  both  houses,  —  four  services  a  day,  besides  evening 
meeting.  In  order  to  do  this  he  shortened  the  services  in  the 
parish  church.  This  provoked  his  unfriendly  hearers,  not  be- 
cause they  desired  his  long  services,  but  because  they  did  not 
wish  the  other  society  to  profit  even  by  what  they  might  other- 
wise esteem  an  advantage  to  themselves.  They  therefore  in- 
sisted that  if  they  must  pay  his  salary  they  were  entitled  to  his 
full  services,  long  sermons  and  all.  They  soon  had  cause  to 
regret  this  demand.  They  were  handling  a  two-edged  sword, 
and  were  dealing  with  a  man  who  could  give  as  well  as  take. 
Mr.  Sheldon's  sermons  thenceforth  gave  no  cause  of  complaint 
because  of  brevity ;  and  his  opponents  soon  found  that  they 
could  not  annoy  him  without  equally  annoying  themselves.     To 


356  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


accomplish  their  purpose,  however,  they  were  willing  to  submit 
to  considerable  discomfort.  Daniel  Wheaton,  Sr.,  a  tall  man  and 
not  very  well,  used  occasionally  to  stand  during  the  latter  part 
of  a  long  sermon,  not  to  show  disrespect,  but  to  rest  his  long 
legs,  which  were  cramped  by  sitting  through  lengthy  discourses. 
Some  of  the  more  impatient  ones  would  take  out  their  news- 
papers and  letters  and  read  them.  Bernard  Alger  on  the  turn- 
pike, and  Daniel  Wheaton  at  the  south  end  of  the  Bay  road 
were  postmasters,  and  they  or  their  neighbors  used  to  bring 
mail  matter  to  church  on  Sunday  mornings  to  distribute,  —  which 
explains  the  presence  of  papers  and  letters  at  church. 

Mr.  Sheldon  soon  employed  a  licentiate  from  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary  to  act  as  his  colleague,  who  preached  half  a 
day  in  each  church.  The  parish  complained  of  this  arrange- 
ment ;  they  renewed  their  demands  for  exchanges  with  neigh- 
boring Congregational  ministers ;  they  also  charged  Mr.  Sheldon 
with  restricting  his  parish  visiting  to  the  members  of  the  other 
society.  He  however  insisted  on  his  right  to  provide  this  sub- 
stitute for  half  the  time;  the  matter  of  exchanges  had  already 
been  disposed  of ;  and  as  for  visiting  them  in  their  homes,  he 
might  urge  that  this  could  be  pleasant  and  profitable  neither  to 
them  nor  to  himself.  But  the  parish  even  went  so  far  as  to  vote 
to  hire  a  man  to  come  and  do  the  parish  work  which  they  al- 
leged Mr.  Sheldon  neglected.  Doubtless  some  of  them  found 
new  cause  for  vexation  in  the  fact  that  Mr.  Sheldon  under  the 
new  arrangement  was  actually  having  an  easier  time  of  it  than 
before,  in  regard  to  the  preparation  for  the  pulpit  at  least ;  for, 
preaching  but  half  the  day  in  each  meeting-house,  he  had  now 
but  one  sermon  a  week  to  write,  instead  of  two  as  formerly. 
The  weapon  his  opponents  had  used  proved  to  be  to  them  a 
boomerang. 

This  state  of  things  could  not  continue  indefinitely.  A  meet- 
ing of  the  parish  was  called  for  April  7,  1838.  It  was  known 
that  important  action  relative  to  existing  difficulties  might  be 
taken,  and  there  was  a  full  meeting.  There  were  one  hundred 
and  ninety-six  votes  cast  for  moderator,  of  which  Oakes  Ames 
had  one  hundred  and  thirty-two.  This  was  after  the  once  ex- 
cluded members  were  again  allowed  to  vote.  It  was  proposed 
and  voted  that  the  parish  were  willing  to  leave  the  whole  case 


^DIVISION    OF   THE    PARISH.  357 

out  to  the  arbitration  of  three  disinterested  persons,  to  be  agreed 
upon  by  the  two  parties,  whose  award  should  be  final.  Five 
days  after  this  the  "  Proprietors,"  acting  as  a  society,  at  a  meet- 
ing held  in  the  chapel,  appointed  a  committee  "to  carry  the  Rev. 
Luther  Sheldon's  communication  to  the  parish  trustees."^  The 
same  Proprietors,  May  7,  proposed,  if  pending  negotiations  failed, 
that  "  we  will  all  attend  at  the  old  house,  and  fill  the  house  up 
and  stick  to  them."  This  proposition  was  not  adopted.  They 
then  proposed  that  "  every  person  withdraw  his  name  from  the 
parish  list,  and  Mr.  Sheldon  to  leave  the  old  house  and  preach  in 
the  new  house,  and  in  case  the  parish  bring  a  suit  against  Mr. 
Sheldon  for  damages,  we  will  defend  the  suit  and  leave  him 
harmless."  This  proposition  was  "  accepted  by  a  small  majority, 
but  finally  not  put  in  practice  until  further  consideration."  A 
committee,  consisting  of  Capt.  Lewis  Williams,  Dr.  Caleb  Swan, 
Capt.  Isaac  Lothrop,  Capt.  Tisdale  Harlow,  Bernard  Alger,  Esq., 
Martin  Wild,  Joel  Drake,  and  Lincoln  Drake,  was  chosen  to 
meet  the  trustees  and  make  propositions  for  settlement.  They 
proposed  to  be  satisfied  if  the  parish  would  pay  Mr.  Sheldon 
what  was  due  on  his  salary.  May  21  they  voted  "that  in  case 
the  trustees  will  not  accept  of  the  proposition  that  is  presented 
by  the  Committee  by  the  last  day  of  May,  that  we  will  attend 
meeting  at  the  old  house." 

The  negotiations  between  the  rival  societies  made  very  slow 
progress,  and  June  25  the  Proprietors  "voted  to  go  back  to  the 
old  meeting-house  one  week  from  next  Sabbath."  It  seems  that 
pending  these  negotiations  Mr.  Sheldon  had  not  been  required 
to  preach  there,  for  the  Proprietors  vote  also  to  inform  Mr.  Shel- 
don "  that  negotiations  are  closed,  and  request  him  to  notify  the 
parish  clerk  that  he  shall  resume  preaching  in  the  old  house." 
The  day  proposed  for  going  back  to  the  old  house  was  July  8. 
For  some  reason  this  intention  was  not  carried  out.  On  Mon- 
day the  Proprietors  held  a  meeting,  at  which  "various  subjects 
were  discussed  and  much  said  about  returning  to  the  old  house." 
Capt.  Lewis  Williams  and  Joel  Drake  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  call  on  Daniel  Wheaton  and  Oliver  Ames,  Esq.,  and 

1  This  quotation  and  those  that  follow  are  taken  from  the  Proprietors'  records, 
now  in  the  possession  of  L.  S.  Drake,  by  whose  courtesy  the  writer  was  permitted  to 
examine  them. 


358  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


see  if  there  was  not  some  misunderstanding  relative  to  the  pro- 
position for  settlement.  The  Proprietors  met  again  the  next 
day,  and  their  committee  reported  "  that  the  other  committee 
would  give  three  thousand  dollars  and  no  more."  The  Proprie- 
tors asked  that  in  addition  to  this  they  should  pay  the  "cost  that 
has  been  made  on  account  of  Mr.  Sheldon's  claim."  The  parish 
would  not  agree  to  this.  Subsequently  Mr.  Sheldon  agreed  to 
relinquish  all  claims  of  whatever  kind  upon  the  parish  if  the 
parish  would  pay  to  him  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars. 
November  19,  1838,  Mr.  Sheldon  and  Lemuel  Keith  signed  an 
agreement  releasing  the  Congregational  parish  from  all  charges, 
liabilities,  contracts,  etc.,  **  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to 
this  day." 

Neither  in  this  settlement  nor  in  the  negotiations  preceding 
it  is  anything  said  about  any  division  of  the  parish  fund.  A 
large  part  of  the  three  thousand  dollars  paid  to  Mr.  Sheldon 
seems  to  have  been  due  on  his  salary.  It  was  almost  six  years 
since  the  parish  had  voted  him  any  salary,  and  there  is  no  record 
of  his  receiving  any  from  the  parish  during  that  time.  The 
parish,  therefore,  in  this  settlement  did  little  if  anything  more 
than  pay  the  salary  due  to  Mr.  Sheldon.  The  parish  fund, 
moreover,  was  not  divided  ;  the  debt  for  salary  was  largely  paid 
by  sales  of  the  parish  land.  The  contest  had  cost  both  parties 
heavily.  The  parish,  in  addition  to  lawyers'  fees,  had  the  court 
costs  to  pay,  which  in  the  two  suits  of  Mr.  Sheldon  amounted 
to  1^188.39.  They  had  also  paid  for  the  supply  of  the  parish  pul- 
pit while  Mr.  Sheldon  was  preaching  in  the  new  meeting-house. 
But  of  course  the  pecuniary  expense  was  far  more  burdensome 
to  Mr.  Sheldon's  friends  than  to  the  parish,  because  the  latter 
could  pay  charges  with  the  parish  fund,  while  the  former  must 
pay  from  their  own  pockets.  Their  willingness,  however,  to 
bear  so  heavy  a  burden  is  sufficient  indication  of  their  earnest- 
ness and  devotion  to  their  position.  It  was  one  of  great 
sacrifice,  involving  not  only  the  payment  of  the  legal  charges 
referred  to,  but  also  the  erection  of  a  new  meeting-house  at  a 
cost  of  about  six  thousand  dollars.  As  the  new  society  had 
since  October,  1832,  been  paying  Mr.  Sheldon  a  salary,  they 
had  a  just  claim  to  the  three  thousand  dollars  paid  him  by 
the  old  society. 


DIVISION    OF    THE    PARISH. 


359 


And  thus  ended  the  memorable  controversy.  It  dates  from  a 
vote  passed  by  the  parish  June  8,  1830,  and  continued  over  eight 
years.  It  awakened  a  strong  party  spirit,  caused  hard  feeUng, 
separated  friends,  and  divided  families.  Its  unhappy  effects  were 
felt  for  many  years.  Outsiders  and  thoughtful  young  persons 
were  heard  to  say,  "If  this  is  what  churches  come  to,  we  will 
get  along  without  them."  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the 
cause  of  true  religion  would  have  been  the  gainer  if  either  party 
had  yielded  enough  at  the  beginning  to  prevent  this  unfriendly 
strife. 

In  the  account  of  this  controversy  the  writer  has  done  his  best 
to  place  the  exact  facts  before  his  readers,  only  indulging  in  such 
comments  as  seemed  necessary  to  the  elucidation  of  the  facts. 
His  statements  are  based  mainly  upon  the  parish  and  court 
records,  the  records  of  the  "  Proprietors  of  the  Easton  new  Meet- 
ing-house," and  upon  such  personal  testimony  as  appeared,  after 
careful  sifting  and  comparison  with  other  sources  of  informa- 
tion, to  be  entirely  trustworthy.  Nearly  fifty  years  have  elapsed 
since  the  settlement  of  the  contest.  Most  of  the  contestants 
have  passed  away,  and  those  who  remain  can  talk  calmly  together 
about  those  exciting  events  of  long  ago.  Before  his  death, 
Dr.  Sheldon  was  a  welcome  guest  and  friend  in  the  families  of 
those  who  once  were  arrayed  against  him.  Many  unfounded  or 
distorted  traditions  have  grown  up  regarding  the  controversy 
in  question,  which  do  injustice  to  both  parties.  It  is  hoped  that 
this  account  may  do  something  to  silence  such  traditions,  to  pro- 
mote a  better  understanding,  and  thus  to  serve  the  interests  of 
justice  and  charity. 


360  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XXL 

EASTON  CENTRE  CHURCHES.  —  SPIRITUALISM. 

The  First  Congregational  Parish  after  the  Division:  Successive 
Pastors, —  William  H.  Taylor,  Paul  Dean,  William  Whitwell, 
George  G.  Withington;  Services  Discontinued;  The  Meeting- 
house Burned.  —  The  Evangelical  Society  :  Rev.  Dr.  Shel- 
don's Resignation;  his  Character;  The  Celebration  of  the 
Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  his  Settlement  in  Easton;  Succes- 
sive Pastors  of  the  Evangelical  Society  ;  The  New  Meeting- 
house ;  Sunday  Schools. —  Spiritualism  in  Easton:  its  Origin; 
its  Patrons;  The  "First  Spiritual  Society  of  Easton;"  The 
"Easton  Society  of  Progressive  Spiritualists." 

THE    FIRST    CONGREGATIONAL    PARISH. 

XT  7HEN  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon  was  notified  in  September, 
*  '  1832,  that  his  services  would  be  dispensed  with,  the  par- 
ish made  arrangement  for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit.  No  new 
minister  of  course  was  settled,  but  supplies  were  provided  prob- 
ably for  most  of  the  time  until  Mr.  Sheldon,  having  by  law  es- 
tablished his  right  to  the  pulpit,  was  directed  to  occupy  it, 
which  was  in  April,  1837,  ^^^^^  ^"^  ^  ^^^^  years  after  he  had 
been  excluded  from  it.  In  November,  1838,  affairs  were  ad- 
justed between  the  contending  parties,  as  we  have  seen,  and 
both  societies  were  henceforth  entirely  independent  of  each 
other.  On  the  29th  of  April,  1839,  the  parish  voted  "that  the 
committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit  be  instructed  to  employ  some 
person,  if  practicable,  who  will  not  make  doctrines  or  sectarian- 
ism a  leading  feature  in  his  discourses,  but  will  insist  mainly  on 
the  moral  duties  and  obligations  of  his  hearers." 

June  8  they  extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  William  H.  Taylor  to 
become  their  minister,  at  a  salary  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. Their  past  experience  led  them  to  make  it  a  condition 
that  after  the  first  year  the  connection  of  minister  and   parish 


EASTON  CENTRE  CHURCHES.  361 

might  be  dissolved  by  a  three  months  notice  being  given  in 
writing  by  either  party.  Mr.  Taylor  accepted  the  call  in  a  letter 
written  the  next  day  after  the  call  was  given.  He  came  here 
from  Lynn,  the  parish  paying  the  expense  of  his  moving.  It 
was  immediately  voted  to  build  a  parsonage,  which  was  done  at 
an  expense  of  about  a  thousand  dollars,  and  it  was  situated  a 
few  rods  west  of  the  church.  Mr.  Taylor  did  not  long  remain  : 
he  was  thought  to  be  more  interested  in  phrenology  than  in  re- 
ligion ;  and  he  excited  considerable  amusement  in  the  course  of 
a  lecture  at  North  Easton  by  examining  the  head  of  the  ingen- 
ious and  witty  rhymster  James  Adams,  and  pronouncing  him 
decidedly  deficient  in  the  poetic  faculty.  But  he  had  the  grace 
afterward,  when  some  of  Adams's  stanzas  were  recited  to  him, 
to  acknowledge  that  they  had  a  true  poetic  ring. 

About  this  time  the  pulpit  was  supplied  for  a  few  months 
each  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  A.  Barnard  and  a  Rev.  Mr.  Dudley. 
There  was  some  disposition  to  hear  Universalist  preaching  ;  and 
at  a  parish  meeting  in  April,  1841,  a  vote  to  engage  such  preach- 
ing was  passed,  but  it  was  so  strenuously  opposed  by  the  minority 
that  it  was  reconsidered.  In  April,  1843,  with  a  glance  back  at 
the  past,  the  parish  instructed  their  committee  to  have  any  min- 
ister who  may  supply  for  more  than  four  Sabbaths  exchange 
pulpits  with  ministers  of  societies  in  adjoining  towns.  This 
remained  a  sensitive  matter  with  the  parish,  and  was  made 
prominent  at  various  times.  In  1845  the  meeting-house  under- 
went thorough  remodelling.  A  second  floor  was  built,  making 
a  church-audience  room  above,  and  a  hall  below.  This  hall  was 
hired  by  the  town,  and  was  used  for  town-meetings  until  the 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  church  was  re-dedicated 
on  the  24th  of  December,  1845,  and  at  the  same  service  a  newly 
chosen  pastor  was  installed,  of  whom  mention  will  now  be 
made. 

In  April,  1845,  the  parish  expressed  a  wish  that  the  Rev.  Paul 
Dean  be  employed  to  supply  the  pulpit.  He  was  accordingly 
engaged  by  the  parish  committee,  and  continued  pastor  for  five 
years.  Mr.  Dean  was  a  man  of  character,  refinement,  and  ability. 
He  was  born  in  Barnard,  Windsor  County,  Vermont,  on  the  28th 
of  March,  1783.  He  had  been  connected  with  the  Universalist 
denomination,  but  was  so  disgusted  with  the  ultra  opinions  of 


362  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


the  then  dominant  wing  of  that  sect,  —  who  denied  any  future 
retribution,  and  affirmed  the  immediate  salvation  of  all  men  at 
death,  and  were  therefore  styled  "  death-and-glory "  Universal- 
ists,  —  that  he  with  Adin  Ballou  and  others  left  them  and  be- 
came known  as  Independent  Restorationists.  His  theology  was 
more  conservative  than  that  of  the  conservative  Unitarianism  of 
to-day,  and  except  in  his  pronounced  restorationism  he  stood  on 
fully  as  conservative  ground  as  that  which  gives  promise  of  be- 
coming the  dominant  Orthodoxy  of  this  time.  He  was  eminently 
a  Christian  gentleman,  dignified  and  courteous,  of  comely  figure 
and  pleasant  countenance,  and  was  noted  for  a  graceful  and  per- 
suasive pulpit  oratory,  making  practical  piety  and  morality  the 
substance  of  his  preaching,  and  treating  other  denominations 
with  candor  and  charity.  Mr.  Dean  became  well  known  and 
highly  respected,  preaching  numerous  occasional  discourses,  in- 
cluding an  annual  Election  sermon  before  the  General  Court  in 
1832  ;  he  also  left  a  volume  of  lecture  sermons  on  Universal 
Restoration.  His  connection  with  Masonry  is  well  known  in 
this  town,  as  the  Masonic  lodge  is  named  for  him,  —  Paul  Dean 
Lodge ;  in  the  lodge-room  may  be  seen  an  excellent  crayon  pic- 
ture of  him.  He  died  at  Framingham,  Massachusetts,  on  the 
18th  of  October,  i860. 

Soon  after  the  Rev.  Paul  Dean  left  Easton,  which  was  in 
April,  1850,  the  parish  engaged  the  services  of  the  Rev.  William 
Whitwell,  who  remained  as  an  acting  pastor  for  about  seven 
years,  his  ministry  being  quiet  and  uneventful.  He  was  a  good 
man  and  a  cultivated  scholar.  He  was  afterward  settled  at 
Chestnut  Hill.  At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Whitwell's  ministry 
the  Ames  families  discontinued  attendance  upon  the  First  Parish 
Church,  as  a  Unitarian  Society  had  been  formed  at  North  Easton 
village,  where  they  resided.  A  proposition  was  made  to  unite 
with  the  latter  society  in  the  support  of  a  minister  who  should 
supply  both  pulpits,  but  the  proposition  was  not  carried  into 
effect. 

In  May,  1858,  the  parish  extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  George  G. 
Withington,  who  accepted  it  and  remained  as  pastor  for  over 
twelve  years,  retiring  from  the  parish  and  from  the  active  minis- 
try in  November,  1870.  Mr.  Withington  was  the  son  of  George 
R.  Withington,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  in  Bolton,  and  afterwards  in  Lan- 


EASTON  CENTRE  CHURCHES.  363 

caster,  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  in  Bolton  on  the  26th  of 
July,  1 83 1.  He  graduated  at  the  Meadville  Pennsylvania  Theo- 
logical School  in  the  class  of  1854,  and  for  the  succeeding  year 
was  engaged  in  the  West  as  a  missionary,  acting  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Western  Unitarian  Conference.  He  was  or- 
dained at  Hillsboro,  Illinois,  as  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  society 
in  that  place  in  1855,  remaining  there  two  years,  and  afterward, 
as  already  stated,  settling  in  Easton.  On  the  22d  of  January, 
i860,  Mr.  Withington  married  Ellen  Jeannette,  daughter  of  the 
Hon.  Elijah  Howard,  of  Easton.  In  the  years  1868  and  1869, 
besides  attending  to  his  ministerial  duties,  Mr.  Withington  was 
master  of  the  High  School  in  Easton. 

Since  his  retirement  from  the  ministry,  Mr.  Withington  has 
engaged  in  the  druggist  business  in  North  Easton.  He  served 
the  town  as  a  member  of  the  school  committee  from  1859  to 
1 87 1,  and  has  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  and  treasurer  for  ten 
consecutive  years,  discharging  its  duties  with  exceptional  ability, 
his  clear  head  and  painstaking  thoroughness  giving  him  a  special 
aptitude  for  such  work.  He  has  been  Master  of  Paul  Dean  Ma- 
sonic Lodge,  and  now  holds  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Withington  was  the  last  settled  pastor  of  the 
First  Parish  of  Easton.  Preaching  was  discontinued  after  his 
resignation.  As  there  seemed  to  be  considerable  doubt  about 
the  parsonage  being  any  longer  needed,  it  was  sold  in  1872,  and 
was  bought  by  Albert  A.  Rotch  for  one  thousand  dollars.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  months  of  1874  and  1875  the  church  was  opened 
for  afternoon  services,  the  pulpit  being  supplied  by  the  Rev. 
Edward  C.  Towne,  who  was  then  living  at  North  Easton.  For 
another  season  it  was  opened  for  afternoon  services,  the  preacher 
being  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beal,  of  Brockton.  The  society  is  at  present 
quite  small,  and  perhaps  owes  its  continued  existence  to  the 
parish  fund,  which  however  is  not  large.  On  the  morning  of 
January  27,  1886,  the  meeting-house  of  this  old  First  Parish  of 
Easton  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  town  subsequently  bought 
the  parish  lot  of  land  on  which  it  stood,  and  has  erected  upon  it 
a  town  hall,  —  a  building  which,  though  not  especially  orna- 
mental, is  likely  to  be  useful. 


364  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


THE  EVANGELICAL    CONGREGATIONAL    SOCIETY. 

When  the  First  Congregational  Parish,  as  before  narrated, 
had  made  a  settlement  with  Mr.  Sheldon,  forty-one  members 
withdrew  from  it.  Others  soon  joined  them,  and  on  the  28th 
day  of  January,  1839,  these  friends  of  Mr.  Sheldon  formally 
organized  themselves  into  a  religious  society,  adopting  the  name 
of  the  Evangelical  Congregational  Society  of  Easton.  April  8, 
the  society  entered  into  an  agreement  with  Mr.  Sheldon  in  re- 
gard to  his  becoming  their  permanent  minister.  Some  such 
agreement  was  necessary,  because  his  connection  with  the  old 
parish  had  terminated  and  a  new  society  had  been  formed.  He 
was  given  a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  payable  semi-annually, 
was  allowed  a  vacation  of  four  weeks,  and  it  was  agreed  that  in 
case  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  connection  were  desirable  it 
should  be  effected  by  means  of  a  mutual  council.  It  was  further 
agreed  that  an  installation  was  unnecessary.  There  is  nothing 
of  special  interest  to  record  during  the  remaining  years  of  Mr. 
Sheldon's  active  ministry  over  this  society. 

In  March,  1855,  it  was  voted  that  a  committee  be  appointed 
to  confer  with  Mr.  Sheldon  in  regard  to  a  dissolution  of  the  con- 
nection between  him  and  the  society.  It  had  for  some  time  been 
thought  desirable  that  this  change  should  be  made  ;  and  after 
a  conference  of  two  committees  with  him,  on  the  3d  of  May, 
1855,  he>  resigned  his  connection  as  active  pastor  of  the  society, 
which  resignation  was  accepted.  Subsequent  to  this  action  there 
was  some  doubt  as  to  the  precise  nature  of  the  relation  which 
Mr.  Sheldon  sustained  to  the  church  and  society.  He  always 
maintained  that  he  resigned  merely  his  active  charge  and  labors 
and  salary,  but  still  stood  in  the  relation  of  senior  pastor.  This 
gave  rise  to  some  discussion.  His  successor,  before  accepting 
a  call,  desired  the  opinion  of  the  committee  "  as  to  whether  Mr. 
Sheldon  does  or  does  not  stand  in  any  connection  with  this 
church  or  society  which  might  render  the  position  of  another 
minister  embarrassing."  The  committee  replied  "  that  so  far 
as  the  society  was  concerned,  all  connection  with  him  had  been 
dissolved."  This  was  obvious,  as  the  society  had  entered  into  a 
business  contract  with  him  which  was  now  cancelled.  Whether 
or  not  Mr.  Sheldon  retained  the  connection  of  senior  pastor  to 


EASTON  CENTRE  CHURCHES.  365 


the  church  is  an  interesting  problem.  The  church  had  origi- 
nally, in  18 10,  joined  with  the  parish  in  settling  him  :  the  church 
had  taken  no  action  to  dissolve  its  connection.  The  church 
committee,  when  asked  for  "  information  respecting  his  pastoral 
relation  to  the  church,"  answered  ambiguously  "that  all  matters 
relating  to  Mr.  Sheldon's  connection  with  the  church  might  and 
would  be  amicably  adjusted,  so  that  there  would  be  no  occasion 
for  anything  to  arise  that  would  be  unpleasant."  Mr.  Sheldon's 
own  mind  was  clear  upon  the  subject,  and  in  the  church  records 
he  states  that  "by  mutual  understanding,  also,  the  relation  of 
pastor  and  minister,  with  its  appropriate  privileges,  was  to  remain 
unchanged." 

Thus  closed  an  active  and  eventful  ministry  of  forty-five  years. 
The  account  that  has  been  given  of  the  great  controversy  has 
shown  us  one  side  of  Mr.  Sheldon's  character,  —  his  conserva- 
tism, his  unwavering  adherence  to  his  principles,  his  strong  will 
and  inflexible  resolution.  But  his  conservative  views  did  not 
prevent  his  manifesting  a  cheerful  disposition.  His  prayer- 
meetings  he  tried  to  make  social  and  cheerful.  He  was  accus- 
tomed to  say,  "  If  any  person  in  the  world  ought  to  be  happy,  it 
is  the  Christian."  Mr.  Sheldon  was  very  fond  of  children,  and 
might  often  be  seen  chatting  pleasantly  with  them,  or  allowing 
them  to  "  catch  a  ride"  in  his  wagon  as  he  drove  along  the  road. 
He  could  engage  in  a  hearty  laugh  as  well  as  any  one,  and  even 
the  "  Minister's  Wooing  "  was  not  too  heretical  for  him  heartily 
to  enjoy  reading.  He  had  a  fondness  for  pets;  and  in  addition 
to  the  usual  fowls  of  the  homestead,  one  might  see  upon  his  prem- 
ises turkeys,  guinea-hens,  peacocks,  pigeons,  rabbits,  and  dogs. 
Sometimes  gray  squirrels  having  a  home  in  his  attic  would  sit 
on  his  shoulder,  pry  into  his  pockets,  or  run  about  his  grounds. 
The  noisy  martins  were  comfortably  provided  for,  and  the  air 
was  vocal  with  the  hum  of  honey-bees,  many  swarms  of  which 
he  delighted  to  keep  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Sheldon  never  lost  his  love  for  farm-life,  and  enjoyed 
grappling  with  the  roughest  labor  of  the  season.  He  was  very 
skilful  in  the  use  of  farming-tools,  as  the  following  statement  of 
his  son  will  show  :  — 

"  I  shall  never  forget  a  laughable  incident  which  I  witnessed  in 
my  boyhood,  which  will  illustrate  his  activity  and  cleverness  in  this 


366  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

respect.  The  neighbors,  some  eight  or  ten  of  them,  had  generously 
turned  out  to  cut  his  grass  one  hot  July  morning.  Among  them  was 
a  young  giant,  who  boasted  of  his  ability  to  cut  any  one  of  them  out 
of  his  swath.  Said  an  old  resident  who  lived  across  the  road  from 
the  minister,  — 

"  '  I  can  give  you  a  man  who  can  cut  a  neater  and  wider  swath  than 
you,  and  do  it  quicker  too.' 

"  '  Bring  him  on  ! '  said  the  young  boaster. 

"Just  then  Mr.  Sheldon  came  into  the  field  with  his  study-gown  on, 
and  the  neighbor  handed  him  his  scythe,  saying,  — 

"  '  You  have  not  forgotten  how  you  used  to  mow  ;  now  give  the 
boys  a  lesson.' 

"  Mr.  Sheldon  laid  aside  his  robe,  put  an  edge  on  the  scythe,  and 
started  in.     Turning  to  Argyle,  Mr.  D.  said, — 

" '  There  's  your  man  ;  now  let  us  see  you  mow  around  him.' 

"  All  stood  by  to  see  the  fun  ;  soon  the  young  man  was  left  far  in 
the  rear.  He  complained  bitterly  of  his  dull  scythe  ;  it  would  not  cut, 
although  he  vigorously  applied  stone  and  rifle.  Mr.  Sheldon  came  in 
many  rods  ahead,  amid  the  shouts  of  the  lookers-on." 

In  the  winter  of  1853  Mr.  Sheldon  w^as  sent  by  the  citizens  of 
Easton  to  Boston  as  their  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion ;  for  eleven  years  he  served  upon  the  board  of  school  commit- 
tee. July  14,  i860,  he  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his 
settlement  in  Easton.  In  the  little  grove  at  the  foot  of  his  garden, 
surrounded  by  his  children  and  two  or  three  hundred  friends 
who  were  seated  at  well-loaded  tables,  he  recalled  with  them  the 
events  of  the  past,  and  they  sang  together  the  hymns  of  the  olden 
time.  On  that  occasion  he  stated  that  he  had  preached  six 
thousand  written  sermons,  solemnized  four  hundred  marriages, 
and  declined  eight  calls  to  other  parishes  offering  larger  salaries 
than  Easton.  In  speaking  of  the  trying  times  through  which  he 
had  passed  in  conflict  with  men  whom  he  honored,  he  said  that 
he  did  not  now  recall  one  who  if  alive  would  not  welcome  him  to 
his  home  and  hospitality  ;  they  had  outlived  and  outgrown  their 
hostility.  He  expressed  his  strong  affection  for  the  home  of  his 
life-ministry,  and  said  that  though  often  solicited  to  go  and  live 
with  his  children,  he  preferred  to  spend  the  remnant  of  his  days 
here,  and  to  have  his  body  laid  at  rest  beside  those  of  his  friends 
in  the  cemetery  near  at  hand.     Mr.  Sheldon  died  September  16, 


Rev.  Luther  Sheldon,  D.D. 


EASTON  CENTRE  CHURCHES.  367 

1866.  He  was  really  one  of  the  strongly  marked  characters  of 
Easton,  and  has  made  a  permanent  impression  upon  its  life  and 
institutions. 

In  preparing  this  sketch  of  his  life  in  Easton,  the  writer  has 
labored  under  the  great  disadvantage  of  never  having  any  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  Dr.  Sheldon  ;  and  therefore  to  those 
who  did  know  him  and  who  read  what  is  here  written,  this  ac- 
count may  seem  inadequate.  The  writer,  however,  has  endeav- 
ored to  give  as  faithful  a  narrative  as  the  circumstances  of  the 
case  admit,  and  in  the  account  of  the  parochial  controversy  he 
is  conscious  of  having  written  without  bias. 

October  i,  1855,  the  Rev.  Lyman  White  received  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  settle  as  minister  of  the  Evangelical  Society. 
He  was  voted  a  salary  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  it 
was  agreed  that  if  either  party  desired  a  dissolution  of  the  con- 
nection, a  three  months  notice  from  that  party  would  be  suffi- 
cient to  accomplish  it.  In  October,  1862,  the  society  gave  such 
notice  to  Mr.  White,  assuring  him,  however,  that  the  only  reason 
for  their  action  was  their  inability  to  raise  a  sufficient  sum  to 
pay  the  present  expenses  of  the  pulpit.  Mr.  White  was  very 
highly  esteemed  as  a  minister.  His  resignation  was  given  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1862,  a  council  being  called  to  dissolve  the  connection. 
It  was  found  difficult  at  this  time  to  pay  the  necessary  expenses. 
The  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society  rendered  generous  assistance, 
and  instead  of  depending  entirely  upon  subscriptions  for  the 
support  of  worship,  the  society  voted  to  raise  about  two  thirds 
of  the  needed  amount  by  a  tax  upon  the  pews. 

June  3,  1863,  the  Rev.  Charles  E.  Lord  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  society  on  a  salary  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ;  the 
Rev.  Lyman  Whiting  preached  the  sermon  of  installation.  Mr. 
Lord  remained  less  than  two  years,  resigning  March  26,  1865, 
because  his  wife's  health  demanded  his  removal  to  a  dryer 
climate.  He  was  the  last  minister  of  this  society  regularly 
settled  by  a  council  with  an  installation  service.  Since  his  time 
the  society  has  been  ministered  to  by  "  acting  pastors."  The 
Rev.  Charles  L.  Mills  served  from  December  8,  1865,  to  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1868.  The  Rev.  D.  W.  Richardson,  in  October,  1869, 
accepted  the  offer  of  preaching  for  an  indefinite  time  to  the 
society  for  one  thousand   dollars  a  year,  either  party  to  close 


368 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


the  engagement  by  a  two  months  notice.  Mr.  Richardson  re- 
signed in  1872,  his  resignation  taking  effect  the  last  Sunday  in 
November. 

The  Rev.  M.  B.  Angier  then  preached  for  a  few  months. 
The  Rev.  A.  S.  Hudson  served  as  acting  pastor  from  Septem- 
ber 4,  1873,  to  April,  1875.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev. 
Luther  H.  Sheldon,  son  of  Dr.  Sheldon,  who  served  with  great 
acceptance  from  August,  1875,  until  October,  1878,  when  he  was 
called  to  be  the  superintendent  of  the  State  Reform  School  at 
Westboro.'  Rev.  S.  D.  Hosmer  supplied  from  October,  1878, 
to  July,  1879.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  L.  H.  Angier,  who 
had  charge  until  April,  1881.  The  Rev.  W.  H,  Dowden  was 
acting  pastor  from  July,  1881,  to  December,  1884.  The  society 
in  voting  him  a  call  also  voted  to  settle  him  with  a  council. 
On  being  conferred  with  concerning  a  council,  Mr.  Dowden 
postponed  the  matter  to  a  more  "  convenient  season,"  which 
season    never   arrived. 

The  parsonage  of  the  Evangelical  Society  was  built  in  1879, 
and  stands  nearly  opposite  the  church.  On  the  evening  of  Sep- 
tember 6,  1882,  the  meeting-house  was  entirely  consumed  by 
fire  ;  there  was  no  insurance  upon  it.  The  society  henceforth, 
until  the  vestry-room  of  the  new  church  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy, worshipped  in  the  Unitarian  church  at  Easton  Centre. 
September  27,  1882,  it  was  authoritatively  pronounced  a  legally 
organized  corporation  by  the  Secretary  of  the  State.  A  new 
church  building  was  begun  in  the  autumn  of  1883,  and  was 
completed  in  March,  1885  ;  it  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
^11,500.  The  organ,  built  by  Mr.  Holbrook,  of  East  Medway, 
cost  $1500,  and  the  furnishings  $700.  The  audience-room  will 
seat  about  three  hundred,  and  a  gallery  affords  accommodation 
for  about  fifty  more.  There  is  a  convenient  vestry  under  the 
audience-room.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  March  19,  1885, 
the  Rev.  Luther  H.  Sheldon  preaching  the  sermon.  Besides 
the  Orthodox  Congregational  ministers  invited  to  assist  in  these 
services,  the  Rev.  Merrick  Ranson  (Methodist)  and  the  Rev.  W. 
L.  Chaffin  (Unitarian),  both  of  North  Easton,  took  part  in  the 
exercises. 

July  I,  1885,  the  present  acting  pastor,  the  Rev.  F.  P.  Chapin, 
began  his  work  here,  and   still    continues.     He   is   the  son    of 


The  Evangelical  Congregational  Church,  Easton  Centre. 


EASTON  CENTRE  CHURCHES.  369 


Ebenezer  and  Sarah  Chapin,  and  was  born  in  Gill,  Massachu- 
setts, August  14,  1827;  he  graduated  at  Amherst  College  and 
Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  was  settled  ten  years  in  Camden, 
Maine,  three  years  in  the  East  Parish  of  Amherst,  Massachu- 
setts, and  twelve  years  at  North  Weymouth.  Mr.  Chapin  was 
first  married  to  Sarah  S.  Wallace,  of  Hadley,  Massachusetts, 
December  3,  1857.  She  died  at  Amherst,  January  14,  1868, 
leaving  four  children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  was 
married  the  second  time  to  Margaret  Macfarlane,  of  Camden, 
Maine,  January  12,  1871.  She  died  at  North  Weymouth,  Octo- 
ber 25,  1882,  leaving  one  child. 

There  have  been  three  Sunday-schools  connected  with  this 
church.  Until  recently  there  was  but  one,  which  appears  to 
have  been  organized  by  Mr.  Sheldon  about  181 5  ;  it  was  held 
at  the  Centre.  But  this  arrangement  was  so  inconvenient  for 
many  of  the  children  of  the  parish  that  it  was  thought  best 
to  organize  a  Sunday-school  in  two  other  sections,  —  one  at 
South  Easton,  and  one  at  the  Furnace  Village. 

White's  Village  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  White's  Hall 
by  the  Rev.  A.  S.  Hudson,  June  14,  1874,  assisted  by  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Congregational  Church,  of  which  he  was  the 
pastor.  It  began  with  seven  teachers  and  fifty-three  scholars. 
Francis  Homes  was  superintendent  of  the  school  for  the  first  six 
years.  In  1850  Deacon  J.  O.  Dean  took  charge  of  the  work  till 
the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1884.  The  success  of  the 
work  is  indicated  by  a  few  statistics:  the  record  for  1878  gives 
the  total  membership  as  one  hundred  and  five,  average  attend- 
ance fifty-five,  largest  number  on  any  one  Sunday  seventy-four ; 
families  represented,  forty-two.  A  library  of  several  hundred 
volumes  was  in  constant  use.  Papers,  both  weekly  and  monthly, 
were  supplied  to  every  family.  A  temperance  society  called 
the  "  Anti  Society"  was  organized  in  1876,  which  received  the 
written  pledge  of  nearly  all  the  members. 

The  Furnace  Village  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  Harmony 
Hall  by  members  of  the  Evangehcal  Church,  November  18,  1877. 
Andrew  Hamilton  was  the  first  superintendent.  In  1884  he 
was  succeeded  by  George  Sylvester,  who  is  still  in  charge.  The 
school  began  with  sixty  members,  and  has  now  about  eighty. 
Nearly  every  Protestant  family  in  the  vicinity  is  represented  in 

24 


370  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

it.  Papers  of  different  grades  are  given  to  each  family,  and  all 
the  members  have  access  to  a  library  of  nearly  five  hundred 
volumes,  —  a  privilege  which  they  highly  prize. 

SPIRITUALISM    IN    EASTON. 

Although  the  Spiritualists  are  not,  strictly  speaking,  a  religious 
denomination,  they  represent  a  certain  phase  of  speculation  up- 
on religion  and  some  of  its  related  topics,  and  it  is  desirable 
that  there  should  be  some  record  of  the  various  efforts  made  in 
Easton  by  Spiritualists  to  form  some  permanent  organization 
of  those  holding  their  views.  The  central  idea  of  Spiritualism 
is  that  there  is  a  vital  connection  between  the  seen  and  the 
unseen  worlds  by  which  communication  between  the  two  can 
be  maintained,  and  that  departed  spirits  can  manifest  themselves 
by  means  of  what  are  usually  termed  "  mediums."  It  is  not 
claimed  that  this  idea  is  new ;  it  is  indeed  generally  admitted  to 
be  one  that  in  some  form  has  been  entertained  by  many  persons 
in  all  Christian  denominations,  who  have  fondly  believed  that 
their  departed  friends  did  not  lose  sight  of  them,  and  that  in 
times  of  special  need  they  might  influence  them  for  good.  This 
comforting  belief  is  still  held  by  multitudes  of  persons  who  can 
conscientiously  entertain  it  without  renouncing  their  present  re- 
ligious and  denominational  connections. 

In  this  country  modern  Spiritualism  dates  from  the  "  Roch- 
ester knockings  "  in  the  village  of  Hydesville  in  Rochester,  New 
York,  in  1848,  where  the  Fox  sisters  attracted  so  much  notice 
by  the  strange  phenomena  alleged  to  take  place  by  their  raedi- 
umship.  In  Eastdn,  interest  in  this  subject  first  appeared  on 
the  Bay  road.  In  1850  Asahel  Smith,  Amos  Hewett,  Willard 
Lothrop,  and  others  became  much  interested  in  the  matter. 
Several  Easton  people  soon  displayed  mediumistic  powers.  Cir- 
cles were  held.  There  were  knockings  and  table-tippings  and 
experiments  in  the  production  of  musical  sounds,  etc.  It  was 
not  found  necessary  to  import  trance  speakers,  for  native  talent 
in  that  direction  was  soon  developed.  Much  attention  was  given 
to  this  subject  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  town.  There  were  strong 
believers  and  equally  strong  disbelievers  in  the  theory  offered  to 
explain  the  phenomena  produced.  Lectures  were  given  upon 
the  subject  by  persons  who  claimed  to  be  trance-speakers  con- 


SPIRITUALISM.  371 


trolled  by  disembodied  spirits.  In  1852  or  1853  the  Protestant 
Methodist  Church  in  North  Easton  village  was  opened  for  such 
a  lecture,  and  in  1854  there  were  several  given  in  White's  Hall, 
South  Easton,  attracting  great  attention.  In  1859  a-"<i  i860 
public  meetings  were  held  in  Ripley's  Hall,  North  Easton,  and 
about  the  same  time  in  Harmony  Hall  at  the  Furnace  Village. 
Meetings  for  the  same  purpose  were  held  in  1862,  and  for  several 
years  afterward,  in  No.  i  Schoolhouse.  Public  interest  then 
flagged  for  several  years.  But  after  a  series  of  meetings  in 
White's  Hall  an  organization  was  effected  in  November,  1872, 
and  was  known  as  the  "  First  Spiritual  Society  of  Easton,"  — 
N.  W.  Perry,  President;  Fred  C.  Thayer,  Vice-President;  Ellen 
F.  Thayer,  Secretary.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  Easton  Uni- 
tarian Church  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  White's  Hall  in  the  eve- 
ning. These  meetings  continued  for  only  a  short  time,  and  but 
little  notice  was  taken  of  the  subject  for  several  years. 

In  District  No.  8,  in  the  year  1877,  there  was  a  revival  of  in- 
terest. Private  circles  were  held,  and  in  January,  1878,  another 
organization  was  effected.  It  was  called  "The  Easton  Society 
of  Progressive  Spiritualists."  Its  total  membership  was  twenty- 
two.  Its  first  president  was  Charles  R.  Dickerman  ;  its  vice- 
president,  William  B.  Webster  ;  and  its  secretary,  Mrs.  David 
Wade.  Mr.  Dickerman  resigned  in  a  few  weeks,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  F.  G.  Keith.  A  few  public  meetings  were  held, 
private  circles  met  weekly  for  about  four  months,  when  this 
transient  interest  died  out,  and  the  "  Easton  Society  of  Pro- 
gressive Spiritualists  "  vanished  from  sight. 

March  31,  1880,  there  was  at  the  G.  A.  R.  Hall  in  South 
Easton  village  a  celebration  of  the  thirty-second  anniversary  of 
the  birth  of  modern  Spiritualism.  The  exercises  consisted  of  a 
lecture  by  Mrs.  N.  J.  Willis,  of  Cambridgeport,  music,  recitations, 
tableaux,  a  free  supper  and  dancing,  and  was  attended  it  is  said 
by  about  five  hundred  persons.  Since  that  time  no  public  meet- 
ings have  been  held  in  Easton. 

One  of  the  most  intelligent  Spiritualists  in  Easton  assigns 
as  the  reason  why  these  organizations  here  are  so  short-lived, 
that  "  there  is  some  expense  and  some  sacrifice  to  be  made, 
and  no  pne  is  willing  to  assume  the  leadership  and  take  the  re- 
sponsibility."    If  this  be  true,  it  would  appear  to  indicate  a  lack 


ZT^ 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


of  sufficient  inspiring  power  in  the  cause  itself  to  prompt  the 
requisite  sacrifice.  It  seems  plainly  evident  that  there  is  a  basis 
of  fact  beneath  the  so-called  "  manifestations,"  that  a  belief  in 
the  occasional  presence  and  influence  of  the  departed  gives  great 
comfort  to  many  sorrowing  hearts,  and  that  it  has  saved  many 
souls  from  making  shipwreck  of  their  faith  in  immortality. 
Spiritualists  have,  however,  as  we  have  already  intimated,  no 
monopoly  of  this  belief  in  spiritual  influence  from  the  unseen 
world.  It  is  held  by  many  Christians  of  every  name,  and  is  as 
old  as  belief  in  immortality.  How  many  Spiritualists  there  are 
now  in  Easton  cannot  be  accurately  estimated. 


LIBRARIES. 


373 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

LIBRARIES, 

The  First  Social  Library.  —  The  Washington  Benevolent  Socie- 
ty AND  Library.  —  The  Second  Social  Library.  —  The  Metho- 
dist Social  Library.  —  The  No.  2  District  Library.  —  The 
Agricultural  Library. — The  North  Easton  Library  Associa- 
tion. —  The  Ames  Free  Library, 

THE    FIRST    SOCIAL    LIBRARY. 

A  LIBRARY  association  with  the  above  name  existed  in 
Easton  as  early  as  1800.  It  was  located  in  the  south- 
east part  of  the  town.  The  books  were  kept  at  the  house  of 
Roland  Howard,  who  appears  to  have  been  the  librarian.  An 
informant  speaks  of  the  strong  impression  made  upon  her  mind 
by  the  reading  of  the  "  History  of  Cain,"  one  of  the  books  of 
this  library.  About  fifty  of  the  books  are  still  at  their  old 
headquarters  in  the  Roland  Howard  house,  now  Mr.  Collins's 
home.  They  are  mainly  of  an  agricultural  character,  and  are 
of  course  considerably  dilapidated. 

THE    WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY    AND    LIBRARY. 

At  the  time  of  the  War  of  18 12  the  country  was  divided 
between  the  Federalist  and  Anti-federalist  parties,  the  latter 
being  sometimes  called  Republican.  Party  feeling  was  intense 
and  bitter.  In  New  England  the  opposition  to  the  war  was 
very  strong  on  the  part  of  the  Federalists.  The  latter  were 
in  a  minority  in  Easton,  and  felt  the  need  of  union  for  sym- 
pathy and  counsel.  They  therefore  organized  themselves  into 
a  society  with  the  name  given  above.  The  name  of  Washington 
was  used  because  he  had  sympathized  with  Federalist  principles, 
and  because  his  name  was  held  in  high  honor.  But  why  the  so- 
ciety was  called  "Benevolent"  does  not  appear.  There  seemed 
to  be  no  better  reason  for  its  adoption  than  that  it  sounded  well ; 


374 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


it  certainly  laid  the  society  open  to  the  ridicule  of  the  Republi- 
cans, who  did  not  spare  its  members.  This  society  was  more 
like  a  political  club  ;  it  had  meetings  for  political  purposes, 
addresses  sometimes  being  given  upon  subjects  in  which  its 
members  were  interested.  Melvin  Gilmore  gave  one  address  in 
the  meeting-house.  He  felt  it  to  be  a  momentous  occasion,  and 
therefore  fortified  himself  for  it  in  a  way  customary  in  those  days. 
He  had  engaged  a  friend  also  to  watch  him  and  give  him  a  sign 
of  warning  if  anything  went  wrong.  When  in  the  full  tide  of 
his  speech,  which  was  written,  he  accidentally  turned  two  leaves 
of  his  manuscript  at  once.  His  friend  noticed  the  mishap  and 
endeavored  to  signal  him  ;  but  it  was  in  vain,  for  Mr.  Gilmore 
was  under  too  great  momentum  to  be  checked  in  his  course. 
Afterward  he  asked,  "  How  did  it  go  .''  "  "  Go  !  "  responded  his 
friend,  "you  made  an  outrageous  blunder;  you  turned  two  leaves 
at  once."  Somewhat  chagrined,  Mr.  Gilmore  said,  "  Well,  I 
thought  there  was  one  place  where  it  did  n't  hitch  on  very  well, 
but  I  did  n't  know  what  the  trouble  was." 

As  the  name  indicates,  this  society  owned  a  library,  which 
was  doubtless  composed  principally  of  political  works  and  peri- 
odicals. The  society  appears  to  have  been  organized  about  1812, 
and  it  continued  in  existence  nearly  ten  years.  The  members 
were  charged  an  initiation  fee  of  two  dollars  each.  As  it  may 
be  of  interest  to  their  descendants  and  others  to  know  who  were 
the  Federalists  of  that  day  in  Easton,  their  names  are  appended 
here:  — 


Thomas  Britton. 
Alpha  Grossman. 
James  Dean. 
Bartholomew  Drake, 
James  Drake. 
Simeon  Drake. 
Thomas  B.  Drake. 
John  Gilmore. 
Joshua  Gilmore,  Esq. 
Melvin  Gilmore. 
Joseph  Hayward. 
Joseph  Hayward,  Jr. 
Nahum  Hayward. 
Solomon  Hayward. 


Asa  Howard. 
Edwin  Howard. 
Elijah  Howard,  Esq. 
Elijah  Howard,  Jr. 
Nathaniel  Howard. 
Roland  Howard,  Esq. 
Isaac  Kimball. 
James  Lothrop. 
John  Lothrop. 
Solomon  Lothrop,  Jr. 
Ichabod  Macomber. 
Nathaniel  Perry. 
John  Pool,  Esq. 
Capt.  Oliver  Pool. 


LIBRARIES. 


375 


Ziba  Randall.  Daniel  Wheaton,  Esq. 

Calvin  Seaver.  Alanson  White. 

Wendell  Seaver.  Capt.  Joshua  Williams. 

Asa  Waters.  Capt.  Lewis  Williams. 

Otis  Williams. 

This  list  does  not  include  the  names  of  all  the  Federalists  of 
Easton.  Oliver  Ames  was  an  ardent  Federalist,  but  his  name 
does  not  appear  here,  perhaps  because  he  was  living  in  Plymouth 
when  the  society  was  organized.  After  the  War  of  1812  was 
over,  and  when  the  Hartford  Convention  had  given  the  Federal 
party  its  death-blow,  this  Washington  Benevolent  Society  and 
Library  languished.  Its  affairs  were  not  entirely  settled,  how- 
ever, until  1823.  Lewis  Williams  was  then  its  treasurer,  and  from 
a  carefully  written  paper  which  he  prepared  we  learn  that  its 
membership  was  thirty- seven  ;  its  amount  of  fees,  ^73.00  (one 
member  paying  only  a  half  fee)  ;  the  amount  realized  from  the 
sale  of  books,  $25.25  ;  the  amount  of  assessments  all  told, 
i^33-75  ;  ^1^^  that  the  total  amount  finally  disbursed  among  exist- 
ing members  was  $70.65. 

Should  a  descendant  of  any  member  of  the  Washington  Be- 
nevolent Society  and  Library  chance  to  find  among  the  relics 
of  olden  times  a  small  black  cockade,  he  will  then  behold  the 
emblem  by  which  these  members  distinguished  themselves  ;  for 
they  all  wore  a  black  cockade,  so  fastened  as  to  reach  above  the 
crown  of  the  hat  on  the  left  side. 

THE    SECOND    SOCIAL    LIBRARY. 

Before  1823  there  was  formed  a  Library  Association  in  Easton 
named  as  above.  In  order  to  form  themselves  into  a  "legal  so- 
ciety "  as  they  termed  it,  a  meeting  was  regularly  called  at  the 
request  of  five  members,  and  was  held  February  6,  1823,  "at 
the  chapel  near  the  Congregational  meeting-house,"  where  it 
was  legally  organized.  Israel  Turner  was  made  clerk  ;  Daniel 
Reed,  librarian  ;  and  Welcome  Lothrop,  treasurer.  Dr.  Samuel 
Deans,  James  Dean,  and  John  Pool  were  chosen  to  inspect  and 
superintend  the  concerns  of  the  library.  Among  the  members 
were  Joseph  Hayward,  Sr.,  Lewis  Williams,  Dr.  Caleb  Swan, 
Alanson  White,  Sheperd  Leach,  Oakes  Ames,  Lincoln  Drake, 
and  twenty-five  other  citizens  of  Easton.     At  the  second  quar- 


376  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

terly  meeting  a  share  (which  included  membership)  was  pre- 
sented by  the  proprietors  to  the  Rev.  Luther  Sheldon.  The 
first  book  in  the  little  catalogue  was  the  "  Theory  of  Agreeable 
Sensations."  Then  came  Bacon's  Essays,  Burns's  Works,  Plu- 
tarch's "Lives,"  the  "Scottish  Chiefs,"  Hume's  "England,"  and 
a  few  other  standard  works.  But  most  of  the  books  are  no 
longer  read  and  are  seldom  heard  of.  This  library  existed  until 
about  1840. 

THE    METHODIST    SOCIAL    LIBRARY. 

In  1 83 1  a  Library  Association  similar  to  the  one  last  men- 
tioned was  organized  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town.  It  was 
called  the  Methodist  Social  Library.  Its  first  meeting  for  or- 
ganization was  held  May  3,  1831.  Dr.  Zephaniah  Randall  was 
chosen  president  ;  Joel  Randall,  vice-president ;  William  Sawyer, 
clerk  ;  Henry  R.  Healey,  treasurer  ;  and  John  A.  Bates,  librarian. 
The  standing  committee  were  Phineas  Randall,  Oakes  Ames, 
John  Bisbee,  Francis  French,  and  James  Dickerman.  A  closet 
was  built  in  the  then  new  Methodist  meeting-house  to  hold  the 
books  of  the  library.  There  were  fifty-six  shareholders.  The 
first  book  on  the  list  was  Wesley's  "  Sermons,"  and  the  next  the 
"  American  Constitution."  Then  followed  "  Pilgrim's  Progress," 
Opie  on  "  Lying,"  Hervey's  "  Meditations,"  etc.  A  large  propor- 
tion of  the  books  were  theological  and  religious.  It  was  not, 
however,  a  long-lived  society,  its  last  meeting  being  held  May  i, 
1837.     Its  records  are  still  preserved. 

THE    NO.    2    DISTRICT    LIBRARY. 

In  1838,  as  Guilford  White  informs  the  writer,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Upham,  of  Salem,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  lectured 
in  schoolhouses,  with  a  view  to  establish  district  libraries.  Such 
a  library  was  formed  by  individual  subscription  in  District  No.  2, 
and  about  one  hundred  books,  some  of  them  excellent  in  charac- 
ter, were  collected.  After  about  twenty-five  years  there  was  very 
little  interest  taken  in  it,  and  when  the  Sunday-school  in  White's 
Hall  was  organized,  such  books  of  the  district  library  as  re- 
mained,—  about  forty  or  fifty, — were  turned  into  the  Sunday- 
school  library.  This  school  collected  at  last  about  three  hundred 
volumes,  but  when  the  hall  was  burned,  August  25,  1884,  they 
were  all  consumed. 


LIBRARIES. 


377 


THE    AGRICULTURAL    LIBRARY. 

In  i860,  under  the  direction  of  John  Raynolds,  of  Concord, 
Massachusetts,  who  was  connected  with  the  "  New  England  Far- 
mer," an  agricultural  library  was  organized  in  Easton.  Its  first 
president  was  Oliver  Ames,  Jr.  ;  its  vice-president,  George  W. 
Hayward  ;  its  secretary,  Henry  Daily  ;  and  John  R.  Howard  was 
chosen  its  treasurer  and  librarian.  The  committee  for  the  selec- 
tion of  books  was  Charles  B.  Pool,  Oliver  Ames,  Jr.,  and  David 
Hervey.  There  were  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  very  carefully 
selected  books,  besides  duplicates.  These  books  treated  of  the 
various  branches  of  agriculture,  horse  and  cattle  breeding,  and 
kindred  subjects,  and  they  were  well  studied  and  of  great  service. 
After  the  death  of  the  librarian  the  books  were  removed  to  Mr. 
Manahan's,  where  most  of  them  remain  to-day.  The  associa- 
tion is  now  practically  dead,  however. 

THE    NORTH    EASTON    LIBRARY    ASSOCIATION. 

January  25,  1869,  the  above  named  association  was  organized 
at  North  Easton  village.  Joseph  Barrows  was  chosen  president ; 
Cyrus  Lothrop,  vice-president ;  F.  L.  Ames,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer ;  and  A.  A.  Gilmore,  Reuben  Meader,  Michael  Macready, 
W.  L.  Chaffin,  and  P.  A.  Gifford,  were  elected  directors.  Per- 
sons became  shareholders  by  the  purchase  of  one  or  more  shares, 
each  costing  five  dollars.  There  were  fifty  shareholders,  and 
ninety-five  shares  were  sold.  Any  one  might  become  a  subscri- 
ber and  have  the  use  of  the  library  and  reading-room  by  paying 
at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  per  year.  There  was  an  annual  assess- 
ment of  one  dollar  on  each  share.  This  library  was  located  in 
the  same  building  with  the  post-office,  and  George  B.  Cogswell 
was  chosen  librarian.  A  convenient  reading-room  was  fitted  up 
there,  papers  and  magazines  provided,  and  it  became  for  eleven 
years  a  place  of  pleasant  resort  which  will  long  be  remembered 
by  those  accustomed  to  frequent  it.  In  1880,  in  anticipation 
of  the  opening  of  the  Ames  Free  Library,  the  association  voted 
to  appraise  and  sell  its  property,  to  close  up  its  affairs,  and  to 
dissolve.     This  it  did  about  the  end  of  the  year. 


378  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


THE    AMES    FREE    LIBRARY. 

The  Ames  Free  Library  of  Easton,  Massachusetts,  originated 
in  a  bequest  of  the  Hon.  OHver  Ames,  the  second  of  that  name, 
who  died  March  9,  1877.  The  following  is  the  bequest  copied 
from  the  will :  — 

"  Clause  10.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  executors  hereinafter 
named  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  in  trust,  for  the  construction 
of  a  library  building  and  the  support  of  a  library  for  the  benefit  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Easton.  The  building  is  to  be  located 
by  my  executors  at  such  place  in  School  District  No.  7  in  Easton  as 
will  in  their  judgment  best  accommodate  its  users.  Not  more  than 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  of  the  above  sum  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars  shall  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  the  land  and  in  erecting 
the  library  building,  and  ten  thousand  dollars  only  shall  be  in  the  first 
place  expended  for  books,  maps,  and  furniture  for  the  library;  and  the 
remaining  fifteen  thousand  dollars  shall  constitute  a  permanent  fund 
to  be  invested  in  stock  of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Company,  the  in- 
come of  which  shall  be  devoted  to  increasing  the  library  and  keeping 
the  building  and  its  appurtenances  and  contents  in  repair.  When  the 
building  is  completed  and  the  library  purchased  as  aforesaid,  I  direct 
my  executors  to  convey  the  same,  by  a  suitable  deed  of  trust  securing 
the  purposes  above  set  forth,  to  five  trustees,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Unitarian  Society  at  North  Easton  ;  and  the  said  trustees  shall  have 
charge  and  control  of  the  building  and  land  under  and  belonging  to 
the  same,  and  the  library  and  its  funds.  Any  vacancy  in  the  board  of 
trustees  shall  be  filled  in  the  same  manner  the  original  appointment 
is  made." 

The  amounts  for  the  several  purposes  named  in  the  bequest 
were  largely  increased  by  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Ames.  The  cost  of 
the  building,  books,  appurtenances,  the  cataloguing  of  the  books, 
etc.,  up  to  the  date  of  the  opening  of  the  library,  was  upwards 
of  eighty  thousand  dollars.  The  permanent  fund  was  increased 
from  fifteen  thousand  dollars  to  forty  thousand  dollars  by  a  gift 
of  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Ames,  widow  of  the  donor.  The  library  was 
opened  to  the  public  March  10,  1883. 

In  accordance  with  a  condition  prescribed  by  the  will,  a  board 
of  five  trustees  was  chosen  at  a  meeting  of  the  Unitarian  Society 
of  North  Easton,  held  February  17,  1883.    The  following  persons 


•t«4j 


LIBRARIES. 


379 


were  chosen  trustees:  Frederick  L.  Ames,  William  L.  Chaffin, 
Lincoln  S.  Drake,  Cyrus  Lothrop,  and  George  W.  Kennedy. 

There  are  now  over  eleven  thousand  books  in  this  library, 
which  were  very  carefully  selected  in  order  to  form  the  basis  of  a 
first-class  collection.  The  catalogue  is  thoroughly  and  elaborately 
prepared.  A  large  number  of  papers  and  periodicals  supply  the 
needs  of  the  beautiful  reading-room.  The  library  is  an  inesti- 
mable advantage  to  the  town,  furnishing  the  means  of  extending 
and  elevating  the  knowledge  and  increasing  the  rational  enjoy- 
ment of  its  residents,  by  whom  it  is  liberally  patronized.  The 
library  building  is  a  handsome  edifice,  built  of  sienite  from  a 
quarry  a  stone's  throw  distant,  and  has  red  sandstone  trimmings. 
It  is  elaborately  finished  inside,  the  waiting-room  and  reading- 
room  being  of  black  walnut,  the  latter  having  a  massive  and 
beautifully  carved  fireplace  of  red  sandstone,  the  stone-work  on 
each  side  of  and  above  the  fireplace  reaching  to  the  ceiling, 
with  a  medallion  of  Mr.  Ames  in  the  centre.  The  library-room 
proper  has  two  tiers  of  alcoves,  and  the  exquisite  wood-work  is 
of  pohshed  butternut.  In  the  second  story  of  the  building  is  a 
tenement  for  the  librarian.  The  accompanying  picture  of  this 
building  makes  further  description  of  it  unnecessary.  H.  H. 
Richardson  was  its  architect. 

Charles  R.  Ballard  was  appointed  librarian  on  the  opening  of 
the  library,  and  he  still  occupies  this  position. 


380  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 

School  Management  of  the  last  Century.  —  The  School-Committee 
System.  —  Superintending  Committee  since  1826.  —  Men  and  Wo- 
men Teachers. — Teachers'  Wages.  —  The  High  School.  —  The 
Perkins  Academy.  —  The  History  of  the  Schoolhouses  of  all 
the  Districts.  —  The  Oliver  Ames  Fund  for  Support  of  Schools. 
—  The  Oakes  Ames  Fund  for  North  Easton  Village.  —  Late 
Statistics. 

THREE  children  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short  were  unable  to 
write  their  names  when  far  along  in  their  "  teens."  Quite 
a  number  of  the  early  settlers  of  Easton,  especially  of  the  wo- 
men, had  to  "make  their  mark."  This  appears  not  only  in  wills 
which  might  have  been  signed  in  sickness  when  the  signer  had 
no  strength  to  write,  but  also  in  deeds,  surveys,  etc.,  made  in 
full  health.  Our  early  ancestors  were  much  more  interested  in 
churches  than  in  schools,  and  were  far  more  liberal  in  providing 
for  the  former  than  for  the  latter.  The  importance  of  education 
was  however  recognized  by  the  General  Court.  Section  2  of  the 
Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  town  of  Easton  reads  as  follows  :  — 

"  And  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Easton  do,  within 
six  months  from  the  publication  of  this  Act,  procure  and  maintain  a 
schoolmaster  to  instruct  their  youth  in  writing  and  reading  ;  and  that 
thereupon  they  be  discharged  from  any  payments  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  school  at  Norton." 

This  was  December  21,  1725.  No  notice  was  taken  of  this 
requirement  until  fifteen  months  after  Easton  became  a  town. 
Attention  was  then  called  to  it,  and  the  people  felt  that  some- 
thing must  be  done.  The  town  voted  for  a  schoolmaster  ;  but 
some  opponent  of  the  scheme,  evidently  wishing  to  defeat  it, 
proposed  a  salary  for  the  master  equal  to  that  of  the  minister. 
The  following  votes  on  the  subject  will  illustrate  the  animus  of 
the  voters  in  this  matter :  — 


PUBLIC   SCHOOLS.  381 


"Easton,  March  the  thirty-first  clay,  1727,  at  a  Leagall  meeting  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  said  town  for  to  make  choice  of  a  schollmaster,  and 
to  rais  money  to  pay  him,  and  to  appoint  a  place  for  the  school  to  be 
Keept,  .  .  •  ,  — 

"  I.     We  made  choice  of  Josiah  Keith,  moderator  for  said  meeting. 

"  2ly.  A  vote  was  called  for  to  give  fourty  pounds  to  a  schollmaster 
for  one  year  to  keep  schoU,  but  not  voted. 

"3ly.  A  vote  was  called  for  to  give  twenty  pounds  to  a  schollmas- 
ter to  keep  scholl  one  year,  but  not  voted. 

"  4ly.  A  vote  was  called  for  to  give  ten  pounds  to  a  schollmaster  to 
keep  scholl  for  one  year,  but  not  voted. 

"  5ly.  A  vote  was  called  for  to  give  five  pounds  to  a  schollmaster 
to  keep  scholl  for  one  year,  but  not  voted. 

"  61y.  Voted  and  agreed  to  give  three  pounds  to  a  schollmaster  for 
one  year  to  teach  youths  to  Read  and  to  write,  and  to  keep  it  at  his 
own  House,  and  to  find  himself  diete."  ^ 

This  action  illustrates  the  sentiment  of  the  small  community 
of  early  settlers  on  the  subject  of  education.  Yet  this  vote  of 
three  pounds  for  the  salary  of  the  schoolmaster,  who  must  use 
his  own  house  for  a  schoolhouse  and  board  himself,  was  the 
most  liberal  school  appropriation  made  in  Easton  for  thirteen 
years  ;  in  fact,  it  was  the  only  one.  This  was  in  March.  The 
people  talked  the  matter  over,  and  the  opposition  even  to  so 
small  an  appropriation  increased.  It  seemed  a  useless  waste  of 
treasure,  and  the  town  repented  such  extravagance.  In  the 
next  November  in  town-meeting  they  "Voted  and  Dismissed 
paying  the  Schoolmaster."  This  vote  seems  ambiguous  ;  it 
looks  like  a  refusal  to  pay  the  master.  There  is  no  subsequent 
record  of  any  payment  having  been  made,  and  Thomas  Pratt, 
Jr.,  the  first  schoolmaster,  dropped  the  birch  rod,  and  quietly 
accepted  the  situation. 

For  the  next  nine  years  nothing  was  done  toward  maintain- 
ing a  school  in  Easton.  One  might  conjecture  that  for  love  or 
money  the  minister  might  have  done  some  teaching,  were  it  not 
that  several  of  his  own  children,  as  before  stated,  could  not 
write  their  names.  Of  course,  some  private  attention  must  have 
been  given  in  the  homes  of  the  more  intelligent  to  reading  and 
writing  and  arithmetic  ;  but  no  public  action  was  again  taken 

1  Town  Records,  vol  i.  p.  5. 


382  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

until  March,  1736,  when,  no  doubt  fearing  that  a  legal  fine 
would  be  imposed  for  such  neglect,  it  was  "  voted  and  agreed 
that  the  Town  shall  be  provided  with  a  schoolmaster."  But  no 
appropriation  was  made  to  cover  expenses,  and  nothing  was 
done  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect.  In  1740  it  was  again  voted 
to  have  a  schoolmaster,  and  it  was  "voted  to  raise  fourty  pounds 
for  to  support  and  uphold  a  school  in  Easton  in  ye  1740."  Ap- 
parently this  appropriation  lasted  two  years ;  for  the  next  action 
was  in  March,  1742,  when,  seized  with  another  economical  spasm, 
the  town  "voted  not  to  raise  any  money  to  support  school." 

But  the  remissness  of  Easton  in  regard  to  education  had  been 
made  a  subject  of  complaint,  and  in  1743  an  action  was  begun 
in  the  Bristol  County  Court  of  Common  Pleas  against  the  town 
for  not  providing  for  the  instruction  of  its  children  according  to 
law.  Now,  at  last,  a  stir  was  made,  a  town-meeting  called,  and 
it  was  "  voted  to  Raise  money  for  ye  support  of  a  school  for  ye 
Instructing  of  children  in  Reading  and  writing  one  quarter  of 
a  year."  A  schoolmaster  was  immediately  hired,  and  then 
Benjamin  Drake,  one  of  the  selectmen,  hastened  to  Bristol 
(now  of  Rhode  Island,  but  then  our  county  seat),  assumed  an 
innocent  manner,  and  stated  that  there  waz  a  schoolmaster  in 
Easton.  The  fine  was  therefore  remitted,  the  town  however 
paying  the  costs  of  the  prosecution.  But,  alas  !  in  November  of 
the  same  year,  though  voting  money  for  a  school  for  one  quarter, 
the  town  also  voted  "  not  to  keep  any  school  for  the  present ; " 
and  foreseeing  the  penalty,  but  knowing  that  it  was  cheaper  to 
pay  the  fine  than  to  pay  the  schoolmaster,  it  was  "  voted  to  Raise 
teen  shillings  in  money  to  pay  Mr.  Benj.'  Drake  for  His  paying 
ye  fine  yt  ye  town  was  likely  to  pay  for  want  of  a  schoolmaster." 

Prosecutions  of  this  kind  were  brought  against  the  town  in 
1747,  1750,  and  1756.  Either  being  thus  so  sharply  looked  after 
by  the  law,  or,  let  us  hope,  being  more  alive  to  educational  needs, 
the  town  henceforth  showed  more  regard  for  the  maintenance 
of  schools.  Until  1746  there  had  been  but  one  school  for  the 
whole  town  at  any  time,  and  in  some  years,  as  we  have  seen, 
none  at  all.  But  at  this  date  it  was  decided  to  keep  school  in 
three  parts  of  the  town,  —  the  southwest,  southeast,  and  north- 
east parts.  Evidently  the  same  master  had  charge  of  them  all, 
teaching   alternately   in   these    several   localities.     In   1754    the 


PUBLIC   SCHOOLS.  383 


town  was  divided  into  four  school  quarters,  and  we  see  the  be- 
ginning of  the  district  system,  in  the  fact  that  at  this  date  the 
town  voted  that  the  inhabitants  of  each  of  the  four  quarters 
should  determine  where  their  school  should  be  kept.  The  town 
then  voted  to  pay  for  the  boarding  of  the  schoolmasters.  No 
schoolhouses  were  as  yet  erected.  In  1768  the  plan  of  1754 
was  still  further  developed.  Each  quarter  of  the  town  was  to 
draw  its  proportion  of  the  school  money,  the  whole  amount 
raised  being  thirty  pounds.  This  was  to  be  done  by  a  person 
chosen  in  each  one  of  the  four  quarters  of  the  town.  This  was 
for  Easton  the  beginning  of  the  prudential  committee  plan  that 
so  long  prevailed  in  New  England  towns.  There  was  no  super- 
intending committee  then,  as  in  later  years.  In  addition  to  the 
four  quarters  alluded  to,  there  was  set  apart  in  1768  a  centre 
district  or  "school  rick,"  as  it  was  called,  which  centred  at 
Benjamin  Pettingill's  (now  L.  K.  Wilbur's),  where  had  been 
erected  "the  monument,"  — a  stone  post  that  indicated  the  exact 
centre  of  the  town. 

Ten  years  before  this  there  was  established  a  Grammar 
School,  which  was  independent  of  the  common  English  schools. 
This  was  in  accordance  with  an  old  law  of  1647,  which  required 
that  every  town  of  one  hundred  families,  in  addition  to  the 
elementary  schools,  should  establish  and  maintain  a  Grammar 
School,  where  pupils  might  fit  for  Harvard  University.  This 
was  in  fact  a  High  School,  where  at  least  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages  might  be  studied.  From  1759  the  Grammar  School 
is  frequently  referred  to  on  our  town  records.  For  many  years 
of  its  early  history  it  was  taught  by  a  Mr.  Joseph  Snell,  of 
Bridgewater,  a  Harvard  graduate.  Jn  the  arrangement  of  1768 
the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  draw  from  the  appropriation 
for  schools  the  amount  needed  to  support  the  Grammar  School, 
and  the  amount  left  was  to  be  divided  among  the  five  "  school 
ricks "  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  the  school  tax  respec- 
tively paid  by  these  districts.  Only  thirty  pounds  were  appro- 
priated ;  as  a  result  schools  were  kept  for  a  short  time  only, 
and  the  pay  for  teachers  was  very  small.  Mr.  Snell  received 
six  pounds  per  quarter,  and  the  masters  of  the  English  schools 
rather  less.  The  town  usually  paid  their  board.  Widow  Mary 
Kingman,  who  kept  an  inn  a  few  rods  northeast  of  Ebenezer 


384  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

Randall's  house  on  the  Bay  road,  received  five  shillings  a  week 
for  boarding  Schoolmaster  Webb ;  and  the  town  also  voted  her 
"  four  shillings  for  finding  him  an  hors  to  ride  to  meating,"  so 
careful  were  they  to  have  their  schoolmasters  set  the  good  ex- 
ample of  church-going.  The  inn  alluded  to  was,  by  the  way, 
the  same  in  which  General  Washington  stopped  over  night 
when  he  journeyed  between  Boston  and  New  York  during  the 
Revolutionary  War. 

As  already  indicated,  under  the  new  system  of  1768  each  dis- 
trict chose  its  own  committee.  The  first  prudential  committee 
ever  chosen  in  town  were  Benjamin  Pettingill  for  the  Centre, 
Henry  Howard  for  the  southeast  quarter,  Joseph  Grossman  for 
the  northeast,  Silas  WiUiams  for  the  southwest,  and  Joseph 
Gilbert  for  the  northwest.  For  a  time  the  Grammar  School 
seems  to  have  been  under  the  charge  of  the  selectmen.  In 
1772  the  northeast  quarter,  which  extended  south  to  the  Green, 
was  divided  into  two  school  districts  by  a  line  running  east  and 
west.  In  1779  the  district  now  called  No.  3  was  made.  Before 
1800  there  were  eleven  districts  ;  but  their  numbers  did  not  in 
all  cases  correspond  to  the  numbers  as  finally  settled,  and  the 
limits  frequently  changed,  because  families  were  set  from  one 
district  to  another  for  convenience'  sake.  About  this  time  also 
the  name  "  school  rick "  was  changed  to  "  school  wards."  In 
April,  1790,  it  was  voted  to  have  the  Grammar  School  kept 
in  the  four  quarters  of  the  town,  and  it  was  put  in  charge  of 
a  special  committee,  —  Elijah  Howard,  Abisha  Leach,  Macy 
Tisdale,  and  Samuel  Guild.  This  was  a  general  committee  ; 
but  it  did  not  have  charge  of  the  district  schools,  and  after  some 
years  this  committee  was  jiot  chosen  with  much  regularity. 
The  arrangement  was  in  consequence  of  a  law  passed  in  1789. 

In  the  year  1810  the  town  began  the  practice  of  choosing  one 
committee-man  for  each  district.  These  men  were  probably 
nominated  by  the  districts  to  which  they  severally  belonged, 
.each  district  managing  its  own  school  affairs.  The  system  of 
having  a  superintending  school-committee  was  adopted  in  con- 
sequence of  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  passed  in  1826,  requiring 
towns  to  choose  a  school  committee  of  not  less  than  five  persons 
to  "  have  the  general  charge  of  all  the  public  schools  in  their 
respective  towns."     They  were  to  examine  and  approbate  teach- 


PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 


385 


ers,  visit  schools,  and  have  a  general  oversight ;  they  were  also 
required  to  make  an  annual  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. They  were  not  required  to  make  any  report  to  the 
town  until  after  1838,  at  which  date  a  law  was  passed  making 
this  also  a  part  of  their  duty.  All  the  business  details,  such  as 
hiring  teachers,  care  of  schoolhouses,  etc.,  were  managed  by  the 
district  committees.  This  plan  continued  until  the  district  sys- 
tem was  abolished  in  1869,  when  the  entire  management  of  all 
school  matters  was  put  into  the  hands  of  the  superintending 
committee.  The  number  of  this  committee  was  at  first  not  less 
than  five  ;  but  the  law  was  subsequently  changed,  making  the 
required  number  either  three,  or  some  multiple  of  three.  In 
Easton  the  number  continued  to  be  five  until  1840,  when  it  was 
changed  to  three,  and  remained  so  until  1875  ;  it  was  then  in- 
creased to  six,  but  after  four  years  it  was  restored  to  three. 
The  following  is  the  list  of  members  of  the  superintending  school- 
committee  of  Easton,  the  first  being  chosen  in  1827  :  — 


Rev.   L.   Sheldon,    1827,    1841-1847, 

1852-1855,  1857,  —  eleven  years. 
Daniel    Wheaton,    1827-1832, — five 

years. 
Dr.  Caleb  Svi^an,  1827-1840,  1841, — 

fourteen  years. 
Cyrus     Lothrop,     1827-1837,  —  ten 

years. 
Dr.  Samuel  Deans,  1827-1838,  1840, 

1S43-1846,  —  fifteen  years. 
Perez   Marshall,   1828-1S36,  —  eight 

years. 
Oliver  Ames,  Jr.,    1833-1840,   1841, 

1842,  —  nine  years. 
Joshua  Britton,  1837. 
Jonathan  Pratt,  1837. 
Tisdale  Godfrey,  1838. 
George    W.     Hayward,     1838-1841, 

1844,  1846,  —  five  years. 
Tisdale  Harlow,  183S-1841, -- three 

years. 
H.  B.  W.  Wightman,  1842. 
William  Reed,  1843. 
Rev.   Paul   Dean,    1845,  1846,   1848- 

185 1,  —  five  years. 


Isaac  Perkins,  1845. 

Eugene  W.  Williams,  1847,  1848,  - 

two  years 
Thomas    F.    Davidson,    1847,    1850, 

1S56,  —  three  years. 
Joseph  Barrows,  1847,  1854,  1856, — 

three  years. 
Hiram  A.  Pratt,  1848. 
Amos  Pratt,  1849-1852.  1855,  —  four 

years. 
George  L.  Torrey,  1849. 
Guilford  H.  White,  1851. 
Erastus  Brown,  1851. 
Rev.    William    A.    Whitwell,    1852- 

1855,  —  three  years. 
Rev.     Lyman     White,     1852,     1857, 

185S,  —  three  years. 
Charles  E.  Keith,  1853. 
Daniel  H.   Pratt,   1855,    1S58,   1861- 

1864,  —  five  years. 
Anson  E.  York,  1855. 
Harrison  Pool,  1856. 
L.  S.  Greenleaf,  1857. 
Oliver    Ames,    3^;   1858,    1 866-1869, 

1870-187S,  —  twelve  years. 


25 


386 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


Rev.  G.  G.  Withington,  1859-1871,  — 

twelve  years. 
Rev.  L.  B.  Bate-s,   1860-1862,  —  two 

years. 
H.J.  Fuller,  1862-1866,— four  years. 
Rev.    C.    C.    Hussey,    1864-1867, — 

three  years. 
E.  R.   Hayward,   1 867-1 870,  —  three 

years. 
Rev.    William    L.    Chaffin,    1869   to 

date,  —  eighteen  years. 
Oliver  Howard,  1S71. 
A.  A.  Rotch,  1872-1S77,  —  five  years. 


Sarah  W.  Barrows,  1873,  —  elected, 

but  resigned. 
Rev.    Francis  Homes,  1875-1878, — 

three  years. 
J.  O.  Dean,  1875-1880,  —five  years. 
L.  S.  Drake,  1875  to  date,  —  twelve 

years. 
George  C.  Belcher,  1875-1879,  —  four 

years. 
Rev.  L.  H.  Sheldon,  1878. 
James    Rankin,    1879-1886,    -  seven 

years. 
E.  B.  Hayward,  1886. 


In  early  days  in  Easton  the  teaching  was  done  only  by 
men.  It  was  not  thought  possible  that  women  could  maintain 
discipline.  Those  were  more  unruly  times,  and  large,  rough 
boys  attended  the  winter  sessions,  who  were  supposed  to  respect 
the  authority  of  no  one  who  had  not  a  strong  arm  to  wield  the 
rod.  Not  until  1762  is  there  any  mention  of  hiring  a  lady  to 
teach  school.  The  proposal  was  then  made  that  permission 
so  to  do  be  granted,  if  a  sufficient  number  of  persons  asked  for 
it.  But  the  matter  was  not  felt  to  be  of  sufficient  importance 
to  be  acted  upon,  and  we  merely  have  the  record,  "  Nothing 
done  on  the  article  relating  to  hiring  a  scool-dame."  Another 
allusion  is  made  to  the  subject  in  1768  ;  but  no  school-mistress 
is  yet  employed,  though  the  experiment  was  soon  tried.  When 
women  came  to  be  regularly  employed  it  was  only  for  the  sum- 
mer terms.  During  the  winter  terms,  when  grown-up  young 
men  often  attended  in  order  to  learn  reading,  writing,  and  a 
little  arithmetic,  the  schools  were  taught  by  masters.  As  late 
as  1845  the  school-committee  of  Easton  refer  to  the  employ- 
ment of  female  teachers  for  winter  schools  as  having  been 
tried  only  "  within  a  few  years  past,"  and  state  that  the  experi- 
ment had  met  considerable  opposition,  though  it  had  become 
a  decided  success.  At  the  present  time  women  are  not  only 
very  generally  en-<ployed  in  our  schools,  but  they  are  continued 
throughout  the  year,  thus  avoiding  the  constant  change  of 
teachers  in  summer  and   winter  as   under  the  old  system. 

It  is  difficult  to  realize  the  changes  that   have  occurred   in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  schools  since  those  olden  times  of  which. 


PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 


387 


we  have  spoken.  Then  the  schooling  was  frequently  confined 
to  a  few  weeks  in  the  winter,  and  sometimes  there  would,  in 
some  districts,  be  no  school  for  many  months.  The  instruction, 
save  in  what  was  called  the  Grammar  School,  was  almost 
entirely  confined  to  reading,  spelling,  writing,  and  sometimes 
"  ciphering  to  the  rule  of  three."  Occasionally  enough  grammar 
was  taught  to  burden  the  minds  of  the  few  older  children  with 
technical  and  unfruitful  definitions  ;  but  this  was  exceptional 
and  comparatively  modern.  There  was  not  work  enough  with 
text-books  to  fill  the  whole  time  of  school  sessions,  so  the  girls 
brought  their  sewing  and  knitting  and  fancy  work,  in  which 
the  teacher,  if  a  woman,  sometimes  gave  assistance.  It  was 
not  thought  of  much  importance  to  teach  arithmetic  to  girls. 
The  teachers  tried  to  fill  the  spare  time  of  the  boys  with  long 
"  sums."  The  text-books  were  very  few,  and  as  a  rule,  com- 
pared with  present  standards,  poor  and  uninteresting.  Brains 
however  are  better  than  text-books,  and  intelligent  teachers 
often  taught  with  marked  success  within  their  limited  range  of 
instruction. 

The  pay  of  the  teachers  was,  of  course,  small.  Before  the 
Revolutionary  War  schoolmasters  received  the  equivalent  of 
about  one  dollar  and  a  half  a  week,  besides  their  board,  which 
was  paid  for  by  the  district.  In  1776  Samuel  Randall's  "school 
rick "  hired  Solomon  Randall  to  teach  school  at  six  dollars  a 
month,  and  "ye  said  Sol'n  Randell  to  bord  himself."  In  1808 
the  pay  of  a  lady  teacher  was  not  over  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  a 
week,  besides  board,  which  was  seventy-five  cents  a  week ;  and 
in  one  case  a  lady  taught  for  a  dollar  a  week  and  boarded  her- 
self!  A.  A.  Gilmore  began  his  teaching  about  forty-five  years 
ago  on  twenty  dollars  a  month  and  board.  It  is  to  be  noted, 
however,  that  expenses  are  very  different  now  from  what  they 
were  then ;  and  the  whole  method  and  style  of  living  are  so 
much  more  costly,  that  the  difference  of  wages  between  the 
old  time  and  the  present  is  much  less  than  the  figures  seem 
to  indicate. 

THE    HIGH    SCHOOL. 

The  Easton  High-School  was  established  by  a  vote  of  the 
town  in  November,  1867,  and  the  school-committee  were  then 


388 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


instructed  to  open  such  a  school  on  the  first  Monday  of  March, 
1868.  The  first  term  was  held  at  Easton  Centre,  the  second  at 
South  Easton,  the  third  at  Furnace  Village,  and  the  fourth  at 
North  Easton  village,  being  terms  of  ten  weeks  each.  For  the 
first  three  terms  the  teacher  was  the  Rev.  George  G.  Withington  ; 
and  for  the  fourth,  which  was  held  in  the  hall  over  the  Ames 
store,  Edward  H.  Peabody  was  teacher.  Mr.  Withington  taught 
this  school  through  its  second  year,  two  terms  being  at  North 
Easton,  one  at  South  Easton,  and  one  at  the  Furnace  Village. 
The  disadvantage  of  this  system  of  having  the  High  School  on 
wheels  as  it  were,  holding  its  different  terms  in  localities  so  dis- 
tant from  one  another,  was  very  apparent;  and  it  was  seen  that 
only  by  establishing  it  permanently  in  one  locality  could  it  be- 
come a  success.  In  1870  it  was  voted  to  have  it  so  established 
at  Easton  Centre  ;  but  this  vote  was  rescinded  at  a  subsequent 
town-meeting,  when,  after  a  warm  discussion,  it  was  decided  to 
establish  it  at  the  new  schoolhouse  at  North  Easton  for  twenty- 
six  weeks,  and  at  the  Furnace  Village  for  fourteen  weeks.  This 
was  accordingly  done  ;  but  the  masters  hired  for  each  place 
were  continued  through  the  year  there,  so  that  the  studies  could 
be  pursued  without  interruption  in  both  places.  This  system 
practically  furnished  the  town  with  two  High  Schools.  At  the 
Furnace  Village,  when  scholars  desired  to  graduate,  the  same 
course  of  study  was  pursued  to  the  end  as  at  North  Easton, 
and  some  scholars  graduated  there,  receiving  their  High  School 
diplomas.  Latterly,  however,  this  plan  has  not  been  continued. 
The  scholars  now  prefer,  when  wishing  to  complete  the  full 
course,  to  attend  the  regular  High  School  at  North  Easton. 
C.  M.  Barrows  taught  this  school  two  terms  in  1870-1871,  and 
C.  C.  Sheldon  taught  the  spring  term  in  187 1.  In  September 
of  that  year  Charles  R.  Ballard,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Vermont,  accepted  the  position  of  master  here,  holding  the  po- 
sition for  six  years,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  defective 
hearing.  He  was  succeeded  in  1877  by  Maitland  C.  Lamprey, 
a  Dartmouth  College  graduate,  who  still  remains. 

The  High  School  of  Easton  is  well  equipped  with  apparatus 
and  means  of  instruction.  Besides  mechanical  and  chemical 
apparatus  it  has  an  excellent  skeleton  and  a  costly  manikin  im- 
ported from  Paris.     It  has  also  a  cabinet  of  increasing  interest. 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS.  389 


This  school  has  been  of  great  service  in  the  education  of  the 
children  of  Easton.  That  its  advantages  are  appreciated  is  evi- 
dent from  the  fact  that  in  few  towns  is  there  so  large  a  propor- 
tion of  High  School  graduates  as  here. 

SCHOOLHOUSES. 

Tradition  has  located  the  first  schoolhouse  in  Easton  at 
South  Easton  village ;  but  this  tradition  proves  to  be  three 
years  too  late.  There  is  documentary  evidence  going  to  show 
that  the  first  schoolhouse  in  South  Easton  village  was  built  in 
1773.  But  a  document  written  by  Timothy  Randall,  long  a 
selectman  of  Easton,  narrates  some  account  of  a  school  trouble 
in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  and  contains  this  statement : 
"  The  S.  E.  Quarter  raised  their  schoolhouse  near  Mr.  Seth 
Lathrop's  on  ye  14th  day  of  December,  a.d.  1770."  Other  docu- 
ments confirm  this  statement.  This  schoolhouse  was  located  on 
the  north  side  of  Purchase  Street,  a  little  east  of  where  William 
Henry  Lothrop  now  lives,  and  just  west  of  the  site  of  Isaac  Lo- 
throp's  house.  Prior  to  this  the  school  had  been  kept  in  the 
house  of  Mark  Lothrop  part  of  the  time,  and  at  Nehemiah  How- 
ard's part  of  the  time.  As  this  district  was  a  very  large  one, 
another  building  was  erected  farther  south,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  turnpike,  a  little  below  where  Robert  Ripner  now  lives.  This 
appears  to  have  been  built  somewhat  before  1808,  for  at  that 
date  it  was  called  the  "  new  schoolhouse."  These  were  not  re- 
garded as  two  separate  districts,  nor  were  schools  kept  in  these 
two  schoolhouses  at  the  same  time.  The  money  for  the  whole 
quarter  was  divided,  and  the  terms  of  school  were  kept  alter- 
nately in  the  two  schoolhouses.  This  arrangement  better  ac- 
commodated those  living  in  the  extreme  north  and  south  parts 
of  the  whole  quarter ;  but  scholars  who  chose  so  to  do  were 
allowed  to  attend  school  in  both  schoolhouses  in  turn.  This 
arrangement  continued  until  18 18.  June  i  of  that  year,  Asa 
Howard  sold  land  for  a  schoolhouse  where  the  Branch  Turn- 
pike intersects  the  Taunton  and  South  Turnpike,  the  site  now 
occupied  by  the  present  building.  The  schoolhouse  first  erected 
there  was  superseded  in  1869  by  the  present  building. 

The  second  schoolhouse  in  Easton  was  built  in  i773.  ir*  what 
is  now  South  Easton  village.     An  assessment  was  made  August 


390 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


14  of  that  year,  when  the  building  was  nearly  done  ;  and  the 
statement  is  made  in  the  assessors'  document  that  "The  School 
House  cost  Twenty  pounds  &  three  shillings   lawful  money." 
It  was  not    however   finished  at  that  date,  and  not  until  No- 
vember 7,  1774,  was  it  decided  to  complete  it.     The  building 
was  very  near  or  upon   the  spot   now  occupied  by  Copeland's 
store.     It  was  very  small,  with  a  hip  roof,  and  very  low  in  the 
walls  ;  and  if  it  was  like  the  other  schoolhouses  that  were  soon 
afterward  built,   it  had  high  windows  to  prevent  the  children's 
attention   from   being  attracted  by  anything  that  occurred  out- 
side, and  the  seats  were  parallel   to  the  sides  of  the  building, 
with  the  aisle  running  through  the  centre.     After  this  house 
was  discontinued  as  a  schoolhouse  it  was  occupied  as  a  dwell- 
ing by  "  Old  Bunn,"  or  Benjamin  Benoni,  who  is  spoken  of  in 
another  chapter,  and  who  seems  to  have  lived  in  nearly  all  the 
deserted  and  tumble-down  buildings  of  this  date.     The  second 
schoolhouse  built  in  South  Easton  was  quite  near  the  location 
of  the  present  No.  i  schoolhouse,  but  not  so  far  from  the  road. 
It  was  built  in  1794  on  land  then  owned  by  John  Randall,  and 
was  superseded    about    1821   by  a   brick  schoolhouse    built   on 
about   the  same  spot.     Dr.  Caleb   Swan,  September    13,    1821, 
sold  a  piece  of  land   to  enlarge  the  school   lot,  and  Nathaniel 
Guild  sold  an   additional  piece  for  the  same  purpose  in   1825. 
The  tax  for  this  new  brick  building  was  levied  on  the  district 
in  1822.     This  schoolhouse  stood  until   1848,  when  the  present 
building  was  erected. 

The  third  schoolhouse  built  in  town  appears  to  have  been 
erected  in  1783,  in  North  Easton.  A  paper  still  preserved 
begins  as  follows  :  — 

"  We  the  subscribers,  Inhabitence  of  the  Town  of  Easton,  do  each 
of  us  Volentarily  agree  to  build  a  School  House  in  our  Rick,  which 
was  formerly  called  Samuel  Randall's  School  Rick,  and  to  build  said 
house  about  fifteen  feet  squar,  and  to  set  said  house  near  the  corner 
where  one  Road  leads  to  Mr.  Ferguson's  and  the  other  Road  to  the 
Widow  Stacey's,"  etc. 

They  agreed  "  to  go  about  building  said  house  forthwith." 
This  was  February  8,  1783.  The  agreement  was  signed  by 
William  Manley,  Isaac  Stokes,  John  Mears,  Solomon  Randall, 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 


391 


and  nine  others.  The  place  named  was  not  far  from  the  present 
site  of  Unity  Church.  The  Widow  Stacey  lived  where  Simeon 
Randall  now  lives  ;  and  the  old  road  to  George  Ferguson's  left 
the  other  road  alluded  to,  now  Main  Street,  south  of  where  Can- 
ton Street  intersects  it,  so  that  the  corner  alluded  to  could  not 
have  been  far  from  Unity  Church.  This  little  schoolhouse, 
"fifteen  feet  squar,"  was  perhaps  too  small  in  1795,  because, 
February  16  of  that  year,  fourteen  persons  "  belonging  to  the 
Middle  School  Rick  in  the  north  part  of  said  Easton"  agree  to 
build  a  schoolhouse,  and  "  to  go  on  with  the  Building  said  house 
fourth  with."  Ephraim  Randall,  Capt.  Elisha  Harvey,  Caleb 
Carr,  Sr.,  and  other  familiar  names  are  appended  to  this  agree- 
ment. The  house  was  to  stand  on  its  old  site.  It  was  not  built 
at  once,  however,  for  two  years  afterward  only  the  frame  had 
been  erected.  Perhaps  the  old  house  was  still  in  use.  Some 
difference  of  opinion  had  developed  as  to  the  best  place  for  the 
new  house  to  stand,  and  in  a  meeting  of  the  district,  held  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1797,  it  was  "voted  to  move  the  school-house  frame. 
Voted  to  have  the  frame  at  the  corner  by  the  button-wood  tree." 
This  was  just  in  front  of  the  house  where  Ziba  Randall  now 
lives.  The  "button-wood  tree"  has  left  successors  on  the  same 
spot  to  testify  of  its  former  presence.  Caleb  Carr,  now  living 
(1886),  remembers  attending  school  in  this  little  schoolhouse.  In 
1808  the  northwest  district  was  divided  ;  and  that  part  of  it  that 
was  on  the  Bay  road  and  on  the  west  end  of  Lincoln  Street  was 
"  set  to  the  Randall  district  (so  called),"  now  No.  7.  This  change 
excited  much  hard  feeling.  The  Bay-road  people  and  those  near 
that  road  counted  it  a  hardship  to  have  their  children  go  so  far 
as  the  old  schoolhouse  at  the  north  end  of  the  village.  After 
much  discussion  it  was  voted  to  move  this  building  to  the  centre 
of  the  district.  It  was  accordingly  taken  to  Lincoln  Street,  and 
at  first  was  carried  to  the  middle  of  the  plain  on  the  south  side  of 
the  road  opposite  Lincoln  Spring  ;  but  after  considerable  alter- 
cation it  was  moved  to  the  side  of  the  road  near  where  Mr. 
Mahony  now  lives.  Its  location  is  still  observable,  and  there 
are  several  persons  now  living  who  remember  attending  school 
there.  It  was  finally  purchased  by  Oliver  Ames,  was  hauled 
by  oxen  to  the  hill-side  where  Lewis  Smith  lives,  was  let  down 
the  hill,  the  oxen  holding  it  with  ropes  from  above  to  prevent 


392 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


its  sliding  clown  too  fast,  was  then  moved  to  the  corner  opposite 
the  old  Lockup  on  Pond  Street,  an  addition  made  to  it,  when 
it  was  occupied  as  a  tenement  house  by  a  Mr.  Barlow,  ■ — a  very 
pious  man,  who  charged  Mr.  Ames  for  handling  more  shovels 
in  a  given  time  than  Mr.  Ames  had  in  that  time  manufactured. 
The  third  schoolhouse  built  in  North  Easton  village  stood  at 
the  lower  part  of  the  open  space  in  front  of  the  Cairn.  It  was 
built  in  1 8 19,  was  subsequently  moved  to  the  place  where  it 
now  stands,  next  east  of  Ripley's  store,  and  has  since  been  oc- 
cupied as  a  dwelling-house.  A  little  above  the  old  location  of 
this  schoolhouse  a  new  building  was  erected  in  1844,  ^^  ^  cost 
of  twelve  hundred  dollars,  which  is  referred  to  in  the  elaborate 
school-report  of  the  next  year  as  "an  honor  to  the  district,  and 
well  worth  the  imitation  and  rivalship  of  other  districts  in  town 
and  out  of  town."  How  strange  it  would  seem  to-day  to  hear  a 
small  one-story  schoolhouse  thus  spoken  of!  Some  years  after- 
ward the  increasing  population  of  the  district  made  it  necessary 
to  provide  more  room,  and  it  was  voted  to  raise  up  this  building, 
turn  it  around,  and  add  a  new  story  to  it.  The  matter  was 
left  to  the  discretion  of  a  committee,  who  added  a  furnace  and 
"  Boston  desks,"  and  who  created  much  excitement  by  spending 
double  the  amount  appropriated.  Some  of  the  tax-payers  for 
a  time  refused  to  pay  their  assessments,  one  of  them  on  the 
ground  that  they  had  voted  to  turn  the  schoolhouse  around,  and 
the  committee  turned  it  only  half  aronnd !  But  all  of  them  were 
soon  grateful  to  the  committee,  who  saw  so  much  better  than 
they  what  was  needed,  and  were  not  afraid  to  take  the  responsi- 
bility of  providing  it.  This  two-story  building  was  in  use  until 
1869.  It  was  then  moved  next  north  of  the  shoe-factory  close 
by,  and  became  a  tenement  house. 

In  1868  work  was  begun  on  the  three-story  schoolhouse  that 
now  crowns  the  hill  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  a  conspicuous 
object  for  miles  around.  The  Ames  Company  agreed  to  erect  a 
large  and  well  appointed  building,  provided  the  district  would 
purchase  the  land  and  build  the  cellar,  the  Company  paying 
their  proportion  of  the  same.  This  proposition  was  accepted 
by  the  district.  The  expense  of  the  cellar  was  heavy,  owing  to 
the  amount  of  blasting  necessary  to  be  done.  The  building 
was  only  partially  completed,  when  by  the    close  vote  of   one 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS.  393 


hundred  and  one  to  ninety-nine  the  district  system  was  abol- 
ished, and  it  was  no  longer  possible  to  make  what  had  been 
District  No.   7  the  owner  of  the  property. 

Here  an  interesting  complication  occurred.  The  law  pro- 
vided that  when  the  district  system  was  discontinued  in  any 
town,  that  town  should  take  possession  of  all  the  school  property 
of  the  several  districts  which  the  districts  might  lawfully  sell 
and  convey.  The  property  so  taken  was  to  be  appraised,  and 
a  tax  levied  upon  the  whole  town  equal  to  the  amount  of  said 
appraisal,  and  from  the  tax  of  each  district  was  to  be  deducted 
the  appraised  value  of  its  own  school  property.  Two  simple 
statements  will  show  how  the  matter  was  arranged,  so  far  as  the 
gift  of  the  new  schoolhouse  was  concerned. 

1.  It  was  no  longer  possible  to  fulfil  the  original  purpose 
of  presenting  the  schoolhouse  to  District  No.  7,  since  there 
no  longer  was  any  such  district.  But  the  intent  of  that  agree- 
ment was  fully  carried  out  by  the  Ames  Company  paying  such 
a  proportion  of  the  assessment  of  the  tax-payers  of  No.  7  as 
would  cover  their  part  of  the  cost  of  the  new  building  above 
the  underpinning. 

2.  When  the  town  assessment  was  made  to  pay  the  districts 
for  the  school  property  which  the  town  had  taken,  it  was  found 
that  the  appraised  value  of  the  school  property  of  No.  7  exceeded 
the  tax  due  from  No.  7  by  $7,304.  This  amount  would  therefore 
have  to  be  paid  to  No.  7  by  the  tax-payers  in  other  parts  of  the 
town,  unless  some  other  arrangement  was  made.  It  was  natural 
that  those  living  in  other  parts  of  the  town  should  feel  it  a  burden 
to  help  pay  for  an  expensive  building  at  North  Easton.  Fore- 
seeing this,  the  Ames  Company,  August  21,  1869,  volunteered 
to  pay  this  amount,  so  that  no  one  outside  of  No.  7  should  pay 
anything  towards  the  expense  of  the  school  property  in  North 
Easton  village.  The  following  is  the  text  of  the  Ames  Com- 
pany's proposition  :  — 

North  Easton,  August  21,  1869. 
To  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Easton  : 

Gentlemen,  —  It  being  our  desire  that  no  portion  of  the  cost  of 
the  new  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  7  should  fall  on  any  other  part  of 
the  town,  we  hereby  authorize  you  to  remit  the  sum  of  seventy-three 
hundred  and   four  dollars  ($7,304)  on  the  tax  assessed  on  all  persons 


394  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

residing  in  Easton  outside  of  School  District  No.  7,  said  sum  being  the 
surplus  which  would  otherwise  come  to  District  No.  7  over  and  above 
the  tax  assessed  on  said  district,  on  account  of  the  appropriations 
made  by  the  town  for  schoolhouse  purposes. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Oliver  Ames  &  Sons. 

For  some  reason,  accountable  only  on  the  supposition  that 
it  was  wholly  misunderstood,  this  proposition  was  rejected  at 
the  town-meeting  where  it  was  first  proposed.  A  subsequent 
meeting  was  held,  when  the  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  in  clear  and 
forcible  language,  showed  the  town  that  they  were  simply  refus- 
ing  a  gift  of  $7,304.  When  thus  explained,  the  town  decided 
by  unanimous  vote  to  accept  the  proposition.  The  double 
effect  of  the  whole  transaction  was  that  no  one  outside  of 
No.  7  was  taxed  to  pay  for  the  school  property  of  this  district, 
and  no  one  in  No.  7  was  taxed  to  pay  for  school  property  out 
of  this  district. 

The  fourth  schoolhouse  built  in  Easton  was  probably  the  one 
southwest  of  the  Furnace  Village,  on  the  site  afterward  occupied 
by  the  "old  brick  schoolhouse,"  now  destroyed.  September  21, 
1790,  James  Perry  deeded  to  the  southwest  "school  rick"  a 
quarter  of  an  acre  of  land  as  a  site  for  a  schoolhouse.  A  small 
wooden  building  was  put  up  and  served  for  a  schoolhouse  until 
about  1820,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  brook  west  of  the  old 
Nathaniel  Perry  place,  where  it  served  as  a  tack-mill  and  paint- 
shop,  and  then  being  moved  again,  became  a  shed  or  carriage- 
house,  as  elsewhere  described.  About  1820  four  brick  school- 
houses  were  erected  in  town,  and  one  of  them  was  on  the  site 
of  the  old  one  just  described.  This  served  as  the  schoolhouse 
for  most  of  the  children  in  the  Furnace  Village,  then  a  part  of 
District  No.  5,  which  reached  to  the  Norton  and  Mansfield  line. 
School  was  discontinued  in  this  building  in  1869,  and  after  re- 
maining unused  for  some  years,  this  "old  brick  schoolhouse," 
as  it  was  called,  was  torn  down. 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  8  stood  close  to  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Augustus  Bird's  house,  on  the  east  side  of  Washington 
Street.  It  was  probably  built  about  1793.  This  was  the  date  of 
the  erection  of  several  of  the  schoolhouses  in  town,  and  their 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS.  395 


being  built  about  the  same  time  seems  to  be  explained  by  the 
following  vote  in  town-meeting,  passed  April  i,  1793:  — 

"  Voted  to  appropriate  eighty  pounds  of  this  Town's  unappropri- 
ated property  for  the  use  of  an  English  school  in  this  Town  the 
present  year,  and  that  each  School  Rick  shall  have  the  liberty  to 
appropriate  a  part  or  the  whole  of  their  proportion  of  the  said  eighty 
pounds  for  building  Schoolhouses  as  they  shall  agree." 

Several  of  the  districts  availed  themselves  of  this  privilege,  and 
spent  the  money  raised  for  keeping  the  school  to  help  pay  for  their 
school  buildings.  This  first  little  schoolhouse  in  District  No.  8 
was  used  until  1822,  when  the  brick  schoolhouse  was  built  a  few 
rods  north  of  Abijah  Buck's  house  on  the  east  side  of  Washing- 
ton Street.  The  yard  in  which  it  stood  may  yet  be  seen,  as  the 
stone  wall  that  surrounded  it  is  still  standing.  This  school  was 
open  to  scholars  from  that  part  of  Stoughton  near  the  town  line 
in  this  section,  and  was  supported  in  part  by  both  towns.  This 
arrangement,  however,  no  longer  exists.  The  present  school- 
house  at  No.  8  was  built  in  i860. 

June  6,  1793,  Job  Randall,  "yeoman,  for  the  consideration  of 
six  shillings  paid  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Westerly  English 
School  District  in  the  Southeast  Quarter  of  the  town  of  Eas- 
ton,"  sold  "  a  lot  for  a  Schoolhouse  lot,"  containing  five  rods  of 
land.  This  was  in  what  was  afterward  known  as  District  No.  3. 
June  17  of  the  same  year,  fourteen  residents  of  that  district  had 
begun  a  subscription  paper  and  had  raised  about  twenty-five 
pounds,  or  in  the  then  value  of  money  about  eighty  dollars,  for 
the  purpose  of  building  a  schoolhouse,  "  said  House  to  be  set  on 
the  land  of  Jobe  Randall  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  Rode,  Near 
the  North  corner  of  the  old  Sixty-acre  lot  formerly  belonging  to 
Israel  and  Ephraim  Randall."  This  location  was  a  few  rods 
south  of  the  present  schoolhouse  and  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  road.  The  schoolhouse  was  therefore  built  here  in  I793» 
about  the  same  date  as  others  in  different  parts  of  the  town. 
The  second  and  present  schoolhouse  of  this  district  was  built 
in  1845  on  the  site  where  it  now  stands,  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred 
dollars  above  the  underpinning. 

About  1793  it  was  decided  to  build  a  schoolhouse  in  Poquan- 
ticut,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  house  of  Thomas  E.  Williams. 


396  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Work  was  begun,  and  the  schoolhouse  frame  was  hewed  out, 
when  a  division  arose.  It  was  thought  more  convenient  for  the 
whole  district  to  have  the  building  located  farther  to  the  west. 
Accordingly  the  site  just  named  was  exchanged  for  one  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  westward.  The  timbers  were  carried  there 
and  the  house  built.  But  after  thirty  years  the  centre  of  popu- 
lation had  somewhat  changed,  and  it  was  determined  to  locate 
the  house  farther  northwest.  Land  was  bought  October  6, 
1827,  of  Archippus  Buck,  and  not  long  afterward  the  old  school- 
house  was  moved  across  the  fields  to  the  new  school  lot.  An 
addition  of  about  ten  feet  was  made  to  the  building,  and  though 
in  its  last  days  it  was  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  it  continued  in 
use  until  1871,  when  a  new  one  was  erected  better  suited  to  the 
needs  and  comfort  of  the  scholars.  The  old  one  was  purchased 
by  Solomon  Foster,  and  moved  to  the  so-called  Solomon  Foster 
road,  where  it  now  serves  as  the  dwellin:r-house  of  Cornelius 
Harvey. 

The  Centre  district,  now  No.  9,  was  different  at  first  from 
what  it  is  now.  It  extended  farther  west  and  not  so  far  east, 
having  its  centre  at  Benjamin  Pettingill's,  now  L.  K.  Wilbur's. 
It  was  however  afterward  changed  so  as  to  make  the  meeting- 
house the  central  location.  The  first  schoolhouse  in  this  district 
stood  about  two  rods  northeast  of  the  present  site  of  Charles 
Reed's  barn.  It  was  a  small  wooden  building,  and  was  probably 
erected  about  1793.  It  stood  until  18 18,  when  a  brick  school- 
house  was  built  upon  the  same  spot.  The  new  building  was 
thought  to  be  a  grand  affair,  as  were  probably  the  other  brick 
schoolhouses  built  about  the  same  time.  It  had  a  central  aisle 
running  lengthwise  from  the  door  to  the  teacher's  desk  ;  on 
either  side  of  this  were  several  rows  of  desks,  each  row  being  a 
step  higher  than  the  one  in  front.  The  boys  sat  on  one  side,  and 
the  girls  on  the  other,  directly  opposite  each  other,  thus  facili- 
tating the  interchange  of  such  facial  expressions  as  school  boys 
and  girls  from  time  immemorial  have  been  happy  to  indulge  in. 
The  fireplace  of  olden  times  had  given  way  to  a  stove,  which 
occupied  the  centre,  before  whose  red-hot  sides  the  scholars 
roasted  their  cheeks,  scorched  their  clothes,  and  burned  the  toes 
of  their  boots  and  shoes.  The  older  scholars  sat  in  the  "  back 
row "  of  desks,  which   were  high  enough  to  enable  their  occu- 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 


397 


pants  to  look  out  of  the  high  windows,  where  the  glances  they 
stole  at  the  outside  world  excited  the  envy  of  the  small  scholars, 
who  considered  it  a  rare  treat  to  be  occasionally  allowed  to  visit 
"a  big  scholar"  in  a  back  seat.  About  1845  this  house  was 
sadly  out  of  repair,  the  floor  being  so  decayed  that  there  was 
danger  of  its  falling  through.  The  building  was  thoroughly 
repaired,  and  new  desks  provided,  all  facing  the  same  way ;  and 
with  its  new  coat  of  paint  inside,  the  house  outshone  its  ancient 
glory.  It  continued  in  use  for  a  score  of  years  afterward.  In 
1856,  after  several  exciting  district  meetings,  and  some  dissatis- 
faction with  the  town,  the  district  built  the  schoolhouse  now 
standing  opposite  the  Evangelical  church. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  arrangement  and  number- 
ing of  the  districts  was  different  at  different  times.  So  late  as 
1825  the  north  half  of  what  is  now  District  No.  10  was  a  sepa- 
rate district  by  itself,  being  known  as  No.  ii.  In  1803  $65.64 
was  raised  by  taxation,  and  this  with  the  lumber  and  labor  fur- 
nished by  the  district  was  sufficient  to  build  a  small  schoolhouse. 
It  was  situated  at  the  junction  of  Lincoln  Street  and  the  Bay 
road,  on  the  northeast  corner,  the  small  cleared  space  where  it 
stood  being  still  visible.  In  the  summer  the  school  was  taught 
there  for  some  time  by  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Kinsley,  who 
lived  a  little  north  of  this  corner.  In  1808,  as  previously  stated, 
the  Bay-road  section  of  this  district  was  united  with  No.  8  (now 
No.  7),  and  this  school  discontinued,  though  not  without  exciting 
much  hard  feeling. 

The  limits  of  District  No.  10  have  varied  at  different  times. 
At  the  time  of  the  building  of  its  first  schoolhouse  it  extended 
south  to  the  Furnace  Village,  and  did  not  take  in  the  north  part 
of  the  Bay  road.  Its  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1806,  and 
was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  between  the  present 
houses  of  Charles  E.  and  Thomas  Keith.  Like  others  built 
about  that  date,  it  was  of  wood,  and  very  small.  It  remained 
at  the  above  mentioned  location  until  1840,  when  the  district 
bounds  were  made  to  extend  farther  north  ;  at  which  time  it 
was  moved  to  where  the  present  schoolhouse  now  stands,  and 
an  addition  made  to  it.  There  it  remained  for  thirty  years.  In 
1869  an  attempt  was  made  to  unite  districts  No.  6  and  10,  and 
to  have  a  schoolhouse  near  James  Britton's  house.     But  the  plan 


398  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

was  not  carried  out  ;  and  in  1870,  after  the  abolishing  of  the  dis- 
trict system,  the  town  voted  to  move  the  old  schoolhouse  from 
the  Furnace  Village  to  the  school  lot  in  No.  10.  The  old  No.  10 
house  was  moved  to  Day  Street  in  North  Easton,  where  it  is 
now  used  as  a  dwelling-house.  The  Furnace  Village  schoolhouse 
was  moved  to  take  its  place,  and  still  does  service  for  the  Bay- 
road  scholars. 

The  old  District  No.  4  was  in  the  Williams  neighborhood.  It 
had  no  schoolhouse  until  1828  ;  previous  to  that  time  school 
had  been  usually  kept  in  private  houses  when  kept  at  all.  In 
1827  there  stood  west  of  Daniel  Wheaton's,  and  on  the  west 
side  of  the  stream,  a  small  house  probably  built  by  Joshua 
Williams.  Daniel  Wheaton  then  owned  it,  and  he  volunteered 
to  present  it  to  the  district  if  the  district  would  move  it  and  fit 
it  up  for  use  as  a  schoolhouse  without  taxing  him  therefor.  This 
they  agreed  to  do.  In  the  winter  of  1827-28,  this  house  was 
moved  over  the  snow  and  set  upon  the  east  side  of  the  Bay  road, 
south  of  where  Edward  D.  Williams's  saw-mill  now  stands,  but 
for  nearly  a  year  was  not  made  into  a  schoolhouse.  The  first 
school  was  kept  in  it  in  1829.  This  building  was  enlarged  in 
1850,  and  continued  in  use  twenty  years  longer,  at  which  time 
school  was  discontinued  there,  as  it  was  at  No.  5,  and  the  schol- 
ars sent  to  the  school  in  Furnace  Village.  This  old  building 
was  then  purchased,  moved  to  North  Easton  village,  and  located 
on  Day  Street,  where  it  degenerated  from  a  school  of  knowledge 
to  a  school  of  vice,  having  been  used  for  years  as  an  unlicensed 
groghouse. 

The  district  lately  known  as  No.  11  was  set  off  from  No.  5,  of 
which  it  had  long  formed  a  part,  in  1846.  Previous  to  this  time 
most  of  the  Furnace  Village  scholars  had  tramped  out  to  the 
Four  Corners  to  the  brick  schoolhouse,  or  in  earlier  days  to 
its  predecessor.  After  considerable  contention  the  division  was 
made,  and  a  school  for  the  village  was  held  in  Harmony  Hall 
for  a  time.  In  1869  a  schoolhouse,  then  the  largest  in  town, 
was  erected,  standing  north  of  Lincoln  Drake's  house.  March 
I,  1869,  districts  No.  4,  5,  and  ii  were  consolidated  under  the 
name  of  the  Union  District ;  and  during  that  year  the  two-story 
building  now  in  use  was  built,  and  the  scholars  were  graded  into 
two  schools,  answering  to  primary  and  grammar  grades,  though 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 


399 


for  some  years  High  School  studies  were  taught  by  competent 
teachers,  and  several  scholars  regularly  graduated  from  it  after 
completing  substantially  the  same  course  of  study  as  that  pur- 
sued in  the  Easton  High-School. 

SCHOOL    FUNDS. 

In  pecuniary  means  for  educational  purposes  Easton  probably 
ranks  first  among  the  towns  of  the  State.  By  the  will  of  the  Hon. 
Oliver  Ames,  who  died  in  1877,  the  town  was  endowed  with  a 
bequest  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  the  income  of  which  is  to  be 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  schools.  In  order  that  such  a 
fund  might  not  tempt  the  town  to  reduce  its  own  appropriations 
for  schools,  the  terms  of  the  will  provide  that  the  bequest  shall 
be  forfeited  unless  the  town  shall  every  year  appropriate  for  the 
support  of  schools  an  amount  per  scholar  equal  to  the  average 
amount  per  scholar  appropriated  for  the  preceding  year  by  the 
towns  of  the  State.  The  income  of  this  fund  is  at  present  four 
thousand  dollars  annually-  This  with  the  regular  appropriation 
enables  the  school-committee  to  hire  teachers  of  exceptionable 
ability,  to  provide  supplementary  books  and  apparatus,  and  fur- 
nishes means  for  conducting  the  schools  in  the  most  efficient 
manner.     The  following  is  the  text  of  Mr.  Ames's  bequest:  — 

•'  I  give  and  bequeath,  upon  the  conditions  hereinafter  set  forth,  to 
the  town  of  Easton,  to  be  held  in  trust  as  a  permanent  fund  for  the 
purposes  herein  named,  $50,000  of  the  'eight  per  cent  sinking-fund 
bonds  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company,'  at  their  par  value,  the 
income  of  which  shall  be  used  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools  of 
the  town  of  Easton,  as  follows  :  Three  fourths  of  said  income  shall  be 
appropriated  to  the  support  of  the  common  schools  and  High  School 
kept  in  the  schoolhouse  built  by  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons,  in  North 
Easton,  or  any  schoolhouse  built  on  the  same  site  designed  to  accom- 
modate the  scholars  of  School  District  No.  7  in  North  Easton,  or  High- 
School  scholars  ;  and  the  other  quarter  of  said  income  for  the  support 
of  the  other  public  schools  of  said  Easton.  Provided,  however,  that  if 
said  town  of  Easton  shall  in  any  year  fail  to  raise  by  taxation,  for 
the  support  of  its  public  schools,  an  amount  of  money  per  scholar 
equal  to  the  average  amount  per  scholar  raised  by  the  several  towns 
in  the  State  of  Massachusetts  in  the  preceding  year  for  the  same  pur- 
pose, or  if  the  amount  appropriated  by  said  town  from  its  money  raised 


400 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


by  taxation  for  the  schools  kept  in  said  schoolhouse,  or  other  build- 
ing on  the  same  site,  shall  in  any  year  be  less  per  scholar  than  the 
average  amount  per  scholar  appropriated  by  said  town  from  its  money 
raised  by  taxation  for  the  support  of  all  its  schools,  then  the  said 
bonds,  or  other  proceeds  constituting  said  fund,  shall  revert  to  and 
become  the  property  of  my  heirs-at-law,  to  be  by  them  donated  to  some 
charitable  purpose,  one  half  of  the  amount  to  be  given  for  the  support 
of  the  above-named  schools  in  North  Easton." 

Eminent  legal  authority  has  decided  that  by  the  word  "tov^^ns" 
in  the  bequest  may  be  meant  either  towns  exclusive  or  inclusive 
of  cities,  either  definition  being  legally  admissible.  The  execu- 
tors and  school-committee  have  agreed  upon  the  first  definition, 
as  this  gives  an  appropriation  adequate  to  the  school  needs  of 
the  town.  The  conditions  named  in  the  bequest  have  been 
found  to  be  eminently  wise  and  just.  It  became  available  in 
1878,  and  has  been  of  very  great  benefit  to  the  schools. 

Besides  this,  there  is  another  fund  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  be- 
queathed by  the  Hon.  Oakes  Ames.  This  bequest  was  written 
before  the  district  system  was  abolished,  and  it  was  intended, 
and  can  only  properly  be  used  for,  the  benefit  of  the  children  of 
No.  7.     The  following  is  the  text  of  the  bequest :  — 

"I  give  Fifty  thousand  dollars  in  seven  per  cent  Railroad  Bonds, 
the  income  of  which  shall  be  used  for  the  support  of  schools  in,  and 
for  the  benefit  of  the  children  in,  what  is  now  School  District  No.  7, 
in  North  Easton." 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  income  of  this  fund  is  not  all 
necessarily  applied  to  school  purposes.  It  may  be  used  tor 
whatever  is  "  for  the  benefit  of  the  children  "  of  North  Easton 
village,  and  it  furnishes  an  opportunity  of  good  which  is  deserv- 
ing of  careful  study.  It  has  been  used  for  various  purposes 
hitherto.  By  means  of  it,  illustrated  and  scientific  lectures  are 
given  weekly  through  the  winter  months  in  Memorial  Hall,  in- 
tended more  especially  for  the  children,  but  open  to  all  without 
admission  fee.  Magazines  have  been  subscribed  for  and  sent, 
one  to  each  family  of  all  North  Easton  scholars  ;  and  one  of  the 
executors  of  this  fund,  Lieut.-Gov.  Oliver  Ames,  in  order  that  all 
the  scholars  of  the  town  may  have  magazines,  has  sent  them  tor 
several  years  at  his  own  expense  to  the  school  children  of  Easton 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS.  401 


outside  of  No.  7.  Besides  lectures  and  magazines,  supplemen- 
tary books  have  been  furnished  and  apparatus  has  been  bought, 
including  the  skeleton  and  manikin  already  spoken  of.  The 
teachers  of  industrial  classes,  including  sewing  for  the  girls  and 
the  use  of  wood-working  tools  for  the  boys,  and  latterly  mechani- 
cal drawing,  are  paid  by  this  fund.  A  Kindergarten  school  is 
also  supported  by  it  in  North  Easton.  It  opens  a  field  of  use- 
fulness which  will  be  occupied  as  time  goes  on  and  the  best  way 
to  use  it  becomes  clear. 

There  are  now  in  Easton  nineteen  schools,  including  the  High 
School,  seven  of  these  being  mixed  or  district  schools.  Two, 
those  at  Furnace  Village,  are  partially  graded.  The  ten  at 
North  Easton  village  are  thoroughly  graded,  and  include  four 
Primary,  four  Grammar,  one  High  School,  and  also  the  Kinder- 
garten school  just  alluded  to.  There  are  about  eight  hundred 
children  in  town  between  five  and  fifteen  years  of  age.  Nearly 
nine  hundred  and  fifty  different  scholars  are  annually  enrolled 
upon  the  school  registers,  and  nearly  nine  thousand  dollars  is 
annually  appropriated  for  support  of  schools,  besides  an  appro- 
priation for  repairs.  In  attendance  of  scholars,  Easton  ranks 
considerably  above  the  average  of  towns  in  the  State. 

The  liberal  means  applicable  to  educational  purposes  and  for 
the  benefit  of  the  young  in  this  place  ought  to  make  Easton,  and 
particularly  North  Easton  village,  in  some  respects  a  children's 
paradise.  Its  exceptionally  low  taxes,  its  excellent  public  library, 
beautiful  residences  and  grounds,  together  with  the  school  ad- 
vantages already  described,  render  it  a  desirable  place  for  those 
who  have  children  to  educate.  In  1886  the  town,  in  order  that 
nothing  might  be  wanting  to  raise  the  schools  to  the  highest 
point  of  efficiency,  wisely  voted  to  employ  a  superintendent. 
The  committee  appointed  William  C.  Bates,  who  is  also  super- 
intendent for  Canton,  and  our  schools  were  never  so  well  con- 
ducted as  now.  Mr.  Bates  is  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  and 
has  had  excellent  success  as  a  teacher  in  Hingham,  Massachu- 
setts, and  as  a  school  superintendent  in  Canton  and  Walpole. 

THE    PERKINS    ACADEMY. 

There  have  been  in  Easton  a  few  private  schools,  but  none 
that  require  special  notice.     The  Rev.  Dr.  Sheldon  at  one  time 

26 


402 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


had  such  a  school.  Miss  Sarah  Barrows  kept  a  private  school 
for  small  scholars  in  North  Easton  village  for  some  time,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Miss  Alice  Lynch.  The  private  school  best 
known,  however,  was  the  Perkins  Academy.  In  1844  Isaac 
Perkins,  who  had  kept  Day's  Academy  at  VVrentham  for  many 
years,  went  to  Easton  Centre  and  opened  a  term  of  school  in 
the  Chapel.  It  was  managed  like  the  old-time  academy.  He 
had  at  one  time  about  forty  pupils,  among  whom  was  the 
Hon.  Edward  L.  Pierce.  A  certain  number  of  town  pupils  was 
guaranteed  to  Professor  Perkins.  The  school  was  never  in  a 
very  flourishing  condition,  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  the 
number  of  town  pupils  decreased  and  continued  to  do  so  until 
1847,  when  the  Academy  closed.^ 

1  These  facts  are  kindly  communicated  by  Miss  M.  E.  Perkins,  of  East  Walpole, 
Massachusetts,  daughter  of  the  above  named  principal  of  the  Academy. 


NORTH    EASTON    VILLAGE    CHURCHES.  403 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

NORTH  EASTON  VILLAGE  CHURCHES. 

Methodist  Protestant  Society.  —  Methodist  Episcopal  Move- 
ment ;  Its  Failure.  —  Division  of  the  Washington  Street 
Methodist  Society. — Formation  of  the  Main  Street  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Society  ;  Reuben  Meader  and  others  build  a 
Meeting-House  for  it.  —  Lewis  B.  Bates  and  Successors. — 
Origin  of  Unity  Church;  C.  C.  Hussey,  its  first  settled 
Minister  ;  He  is  succeeded  by  William  L.  Chaffin  ;  Hon. 
Oliver  Ames  builds  a  new  Church  and  presents  it  to  the 
Society. — The  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  —  The 
Swedish  Church. —  The  Adventists.  —  Denominational  Statis- 
tics of  Easton.  —  Statistics  of  Church-going. 

'"T^HE  population  of  North  Easton  village  steadily  increased 
-1-  after  the  building  up  of  the  shovel  business  in  its  midst. 
It  seems,  at  first  thought,  surprising  that  no  religious  society 
should  have  sprung  into  existence  here  until  more  than  fifty 
years  after  the  old  Baptist  Society  had  disappeared.  The 
reason  for  it  was,  that  societies  were  already  established  in 
other  parts  of  the  town,  and  many  of  the  North  Easton  village 
people  had  become  connected  with  them.  Some  of  them  at- 
tended the  Unitarian  Society  and  some  the  Orthodox  Society 
at  the  Centre,  and  many  were  in  the  habit  of  worshipping  at 
the  Methodist  Church  on  Washington  Street.  But  this  con- 
dition of  things  became  in  time  very  inconvenient,  and  it  was 
found  necessary  to  establisTi  societies  in  this  village. 

THE    METHODIST    PROTESTANT    SOCIETY. 

In  1843  there  developed  in  the  Washington  Street  Society 
much  dissatisfaction  with  the  form  of  government  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  One  cause  of  this  dissatisfaction  was 
the  fact  that  several  unsatisfactory  ministers  had  been  sent  to 
this  society,  and  some  of  its  members  believed  that  the  laity 
ought   to  be  represented  in  the  Conference,  thus  giving  them 


404  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

some  influence  in  the  selection  of  ministers  and  in  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Church.  The  most  prominent  man  in  the  society, 
James  Dickerman,  Sr,,  asked  the  privilege  of  having  some 
Methodist  Protestant  preaching  in  their  meeting-house  at  such 
an  hour  in  the  afternoon  as  would  not  interfere  with  the  regular 
services.  Much  as  he  had  done  for  this  church  his  request 
was  refused.  Thereupon  he  withdrew  from  the  society,  and 
invited  Methodist  Protestant  ministers  to  preach  during  pleas- 
ant weather  in  the  grove  behind  his  house. 

When  the  weather  became  unfavorable  for  open-air  meetings, 
services  were  held  at  Torrey's  Hall  in  the  village.  This  hall 
stood  just  west  of  Ripley's  store,  and  was  destroyed  many  years 
ago  by  fire.  During  the  winter  of  1 843-1 844,  services  were 
conducted  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  McLeish.  He  was  a  fluent,  rhetori- 
cal speaker,  and  is  described  as  having  "  a  remarkable  flow  of 
words."  Before  coming  here  he  was  minister  and  doctor  at  the 
same  time,  and  thus  both  preached  and  practised,  which  some 
ministers  fail  to  do.  But  it  was  medicine  rather  than  religion 
that  he  practised,  for  he  went  to  California,  fell  into  dissipated 
ways,  and  became  a  wretched  drunkard.  He  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  N.  R.  Parsons,  an  excellent  preacher  and  a  Chris- 
tian gentleman.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Latham  was  the  next  min- 
ister, his  services  beginning  in   1845. 

The  need  of  a  church  building  was  now  felt,  and  it  was 
thought  that  the  erection  of  one  would  secure  the  permanent 
success  of  the  society.  Liberal  aid  was  contributed  by  the 
village  people,  and  work  was  at  once  begun.  In  the  spring  of 
1845  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  appropriate  exercises.  The 
Rev.  Stephen  Lovell,  editor  of  the  Boston  "  Olive  Branch," 
preached  the  sermon,  and  a  full  band,  composed  of  citizens  of 
the  place,  furnished  the  music  for  the  occasion.  It  was  built  at 
a  cost  of  ^2,200.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Latham  preached  here  for  about 
two  years.  In  1847  the  Rev.  John  M.  Mills  of  the  New  York 
Conference,  who  had  previously  preached  at  Milford,  New  York, 
and  Carver,  Massachusetts,  was  minister  here  for  a  time.  He 
soon  ceased  preaching,  and  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
town,  and  died  here  May  17,  187 1.  A  Rev.  Mr.  Shedd  tried 
the  experiment  next,  but  with  poor  success.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  Stephen  Lovell,  who  gave  general  satisfac- 


NORTH    EASTON   VILLAGE   CHURCHES.  405 

tion.  While  he  preached  here  there  was  trouble  in  the  choir, 
—  a  not  wholly  unprecedented  event  in  ordinary  church  life. 
On  the  Sunday  following  this  trouble  only  one  singer  was  in 
the  gallery.  Mr.  Lovell  rose,  announced  and  read  his  hymn, 
closed  the  book  and  laid  it  upon  the  desk,  saying,  "  When  the 
choir  is  ready  to  sing,  I  shall  be  ready  to  preach,  but  not 
before."  He  then  sat  down  with  the  air  of  one  who  meant  to 
abide  by  his  word.  An  awkward  silence  ensued,  which  every 
moment  grew  more  oppressive.  Finally  Edwin  Russell  came 
down  from  the  gallery,  and  beckoned  to  three  young  girls,  one 
of  them  his  daughter.  They  followed  him  to  the  gallery,  and 
with  this  extemporized  choir  the  hymn  was  sung.  The  oldest 
of  these  girls  was  but  eleven  years  of  age.  Mr.  Lovell  paid 
them  a  well  deserved  compliment  for  their  courage.  He  re- 
mained here  until  the  summer  of  1850,  when  the  interest  in  the 
Protestant  Methodist  movement  was  found  to  be  so  feeble  that 
it  was  abandoned,  and  services  were  discontinued. 

THE    CENTRAL    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

After  the  failure  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Society,  the 
church  in  which  it  had  worshipped  was  for  a  year  or  two  seldom 
used.  At  last  the  people  in  the  village,  thinking  it  too  far  to 
go  to  Washington  Street  to  church,  took  measures  to  have 
Methodist  Episcopal  services  in  the  meeting-house  now  vacant. 
The  Rev.  A.  B.  Wheeler,  then  of  North  Bridgewater,  a  man  of 
more  ability  as  a  preacher  than  integrity  or  at  least  ability  as 
a  financier,  conducted  services  for  about  two  years,  long  enough 
to  get  considerably  in  debt  to  some  of  his  too  confiding  fel- 
low-worshippers. The  latter  used  to  meet  him  at  annual  Con- 
ferences, and  were  sometimics  able  by  various  species  of  pressure 
to  extract  from  him  small  portions  of  the  debts  he  owed  them. 
After  he  left,  a  Rev.  Mr.  Harlowe  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a  few 
months ;  but  little  is  remembered  of  him,  except  that  in  making 
parish  calls  at  certain  dwellings  on  the  Bay  road  he  was  ac- 
customed, when  about  to  pray,  to  spread  his  handkerchief  under 
his  knees  upon  the  floor,  —  a  practice  that  did  not  put  the 
housekeepers  he  visited  in  a  very  devotional  mood. 

These  two  preachers  did  not  serve  to  make  the  cause  of 
Methodism  prosper  in  the  village,  and  most  of  those  who  had 


406  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

hoped  to  form  a  society  here  returned  to  the  Washington  Street 
church.  Nothing  further  was  done  about  forming  a  Methodist 
Society  in  North  Easton  village  until  1859.  This  was  the  first 
year  of  the  Rev.  Lewis  B.  Bates's  appointment  for  Easton.  The 
village  members  of  the  Washington  Street  church,  still  dis- 
satisfied to  go  so  far  to  attend  services,  began  once  more  to 
agitate  the  question  of  having  a  preacher  sent  to  them.  Before 
the  Conference  of  i860  assembled  they  quietly  consulted 
together,  and  decided  to  send  a  committee  to  the  Conference 
to  say  that  if  Mr.  Bates  could  be  returned  to  them  and  preach 
in  the  village,  they  would  guarantee  the  payment  of  his  salary. 
With  this  movement  it  soon  appeared  that  Mr.  Bates  and  the 
presiding  elder  were  both  in  sympathy.  But  the  Washington 
Street  people,  learning  what  was  on  foot,  despatched  a  com- 
mittee of  their  own  to  ask  that  the  preacher  be  returned  to 
them,  as  before  ;  and  they  also  guaranteed  that  he  should  be 
paid.  The  Conference  made  a  compromise  between  the  con- 
testing parties,  and  returned  Mr.  Bates  with  the  understanding 
that  he  should  preach  half  the  time  at  one  place,  and  half  at 
the  other.  But  this  arrangement,  like  most  compromises,  had 
the  effect  of  not  being  agreeable  to  either  of  the  two  parties 
for  whom  it  was  made.  The  question  immediately  arose  as  to 
the  manner  of  dividing  the  ministerial  service.  The  village 
people  proposed  that  Mr.  Bates  should  preach  six  months  in 
one  place  and  six  months  in  the  other.  This  plan  was  not 
accordant  with  the  wishes  of  the  rest,  who  preferred  preaching 
half  a  day,  each  Sunday,  at  each  place.  A  meeting  was  held 
immediately  after  service,  on  the  first  Sunday  following  the 
return  of  Mr.  Bates  to  the  old  church,  at  which  the  question 
was  discussed  ;  and  as  the  village  people  had  the  majority  in 
the  Board  of  Stewards,  they  carried  the  day,  and  it  was  de- 
cided to  hold  the  services  six  months  in  one  place  and  six 
months  in  the  other.  It  was  then  agreed  by  the  stewards  to 
canvass  the  town  for  subscriptions  to  support  the  preaching. 
South  Easton  agreed  to  raise  twenty-six  dollars ;  North  Easton 
village  four  hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars,  provided  the  ser- 
vices could  be  held  six  months  continuously  there,  as  voted.  But 
the  people  on  Washington  Street  objected  "  to  the  smallest  sub- 
scription under  the  present  arrangement  for  division  of  services," 


NORTH   EASTON   VILLAGE   CHURCHES.  407 

that  arrangement  being  made  in  opposition  to  their  wishes. 
Thereupon  the  presiding  elder,  who  was  in  sympathy  with  the 
village  people,  without  informing  the  other  party  of  what  he  was 
about  to  do  and  thereby  giving  them  an  opportunity  to  explain 
their  position,  wrote  to  the  Bishop  concerning  the  result  of  the 
subscription.  The  Bishop  at  once  ordered  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Bates  to  the  village  to  preach  there  all  the  time.  On  the  third 
Sunday  after  his  return  to  the  Washington  Street  church,  Mr. 
Bates  exchanged  with  a  neighboring  minister,  who  after  the  ser- 
vice read  the  letter  of  the  presiding  elder  ordering  the  change 
aforesaid.  This  action  came  upon  the  Washington  Street 
people  with  stunning  effect.  They  were  ignorant  of  what  had 
been  going  on,  and  could  therefore  take  no  measures  to  prevent 
it.  But  the  order  of  the  Bishop  must  be  obeyed,  and  those 
who  were  discontented  were  forced  to  submit.  Mr.  Bates 
henceforth  preached  at  the  village  ;  but  though  a  popular  man 
and  a  good  preacher,  he  did  not  succeed  in  drawing  after  him 
the  Washington  Street  people,  who  determined  to  sustain  wor- 
ship and  keep  their  own  church  alive.  They  accordingly  ob- 
tained supplies  for  the  rest  of  the  year,  —  among  the  ministers 
preaching  for  them  being  Mr.  Winchester  and  Mr.  Spilsted. 

At  first  both  parties  claimed  to  be  the  old  church,  and  to  have 
a  right  to  its  property,  under  which  claim  the  village  portion  of 
the  society  removed  some  of  the  church  property.  But  the 
Washington  Street  party  continued  the  old  organization,  elected 
new  officers,  and  went  on  as  before.  At  the  Conference  of  1861, 
the  Rev.  Franklin  Gavitt  was  appointed  to  the  old  church  and 
the  Rev.  W.  V.  Morrison  was  appointed  for  the  village  ;  and 
Mr.  Morrison  was  informed  by  the  bishop  that  if  the  village 
people  wished  to  go  on  with  preaching,  it  would  be  necessary 
for  them  to  form  a  new  church  organization.  Disliking  to 
relinquish  their  claim  to  be  the  old  church,  the  village  people 
for  a  while  declined  to  receive  Mr.  Morrison.  Their  objections 
to  this  they  finally  withdrew,  however,  and  the  organization  of 
a  new  church  was  completed  by  Mr.  Morrison.  At  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  at  North  Easton,  August  31,  1861,  he  reported 
as  follows:  "I  have  completed  the  work  of  organizing  the  church 
on  the  plan  proposed  by  the  Bishop."  It  was  called  the  North 
Easton  village  Church.     In   1872,  at  a  Providence  Conference, 


4o8  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

the  name  was  changed  to  the  Main  Street  Church.  Two  years 
before  that,  the  name  of  the  old  society  had  been  changed  to 
the  Washington  Street  Church. 

After  the  division  under  Mr.  Bates,  the  village  people  wor- 
shipped   in    Ripley's    Hall  until    1864,    when   Messrs.   Reuben 
Meader,  Joel  Randall,  and  others  built  the  Main  Street  church, 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Swedish  Society.     It  was  dedi- 
cated July  8,  1864,  and  was  occupied  by  the  Methodist  Society 
for  twelve  years.     In  1875  the  Unitarian  Society  began  to  wor- 
ship in  the  new  church  built  and  presented  to  them  by  Oliver 
Ames,  and  in  1876  Mr.  Ames  made  a  present  of  the  meeting- 
house vacated   by  that  society  to    the    Methodist    Society,    on 
condition  that  they  would  move  it  and  fit  it  up  without  running 
into  debt  by  so  doing.      This  condition  they  gladly  complied 
with  ;   and    in  November  the  house  was  moved  to  its  present 
convenient  location,  where  it  was  reopened   December  28,  the 
sermon   being  preached  by  the  Rev.   L.  B.  Bates.     The  name 
of  the  church  was  changed  after  occupying  this  building,  and 
it  is  now  known  as  the  Central  Methodist  Episcopal   Church. 
The  ministers  of  this  society  since  its  organization  have  been 
as  follows:  the  Rev.  Lewis  B.  Bates   in   i860,   one   year;    the 
Rev.  William  V.  Morrison  in  1861,  one  year;  the  Rev.  Charles 
Hammond,  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Adams,  the  Rev.  F.  A.  Loomis,  each 
serving  a  year.     In   1865  the  Rev.  Edward  Edson  came,  and  in 
1867  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Husted,  each  serving  two  years.     In   1869 
the    Rev.   George   H.   Bates  was   appointed,  and    stayed  three 
years.     He  was  followed  in  turn  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Humphrey, 
the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Dreese,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Hammond,  the 
Rev.   John   Faville,  the  Rev.  John  Jones,  and  the  Rev.  W,  J. 
Hodges,  each  serving  a  year.      From   October   11,   1878,  until 
April  21,  1879,  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Davis  acted  as  a  supply.     At  this 
time,  as  noticed  in  a  previous  chapter,  it  was  thought  best  to 
unite  with  the  Washington  Street  Church  under  the   ministry 
of  the  same  preacher.      The   Rev.  S.   E.  Evans  was  the  first 
preacher  under  this  arrangement.     The   Rev.  William  Kirkby 
followed  him  in  1880  and  remained  two  years,  as  also  did  the 
Rev.  J.  S.  Thomas,  who  came  in  1882.     The  present  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Merrick  Ransom,  was  appointed  in  1884,  and  still  remains 
pastor,  but  of  the  village  church  alone. 


NORTH   EASTON   VILLAGE   CHURCHES.  409 


THE    UNITARIAN    SOCIETY  :    UNITY    CHURCH. 

It  has  already  been  shown  that  an  attempt  was  made  prior  to 
1855  to  establish  a  Methodist  Protestant  Society,  and  also  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society,  in  North  Easton  village,  and  that 
both  attempts  failed.  The  church  building  erected  for  the 
former  society  was  now  unoccupied,  and  the  field  was  open. 
Accordingly  it  was  agreed  by  numbers  of  the  village  people  that 
they  would  hear  candidates  from  several  denominations;  and  that 
when  these  had  been  heard,  those  interested  should  take  a  vote 
and  sustain  the  kind  of  preaching  desired  by  the  majority. 
They  further  agreed  to  support  such  preaching  for  a  year,  the 
minority  setting  aside  all  personal  preferences  so  far  as  possible. 
This  was  certainly  a  democratic  method  of  establishing  religious 
worship.  After  hearing  several  preachers  a  meeting  was  held, 
and  a  vote  was  taken,  first,  upon  a  Rev.  Mr.  Farnum,  Orthodox, 
who  failed  to  have  a  majority.  A  vote  for  Methodist  preaching 
shared  the  same  fate.  A.  A.  Gilmore  then  moved  that  inasmuch 
as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Farnum  had  had  the  largest  number  of  votes, 
they  should  agree  to  ask  him  to  preach  for  a  year.  The  motion 
prevailed.  But  it  is  easier  voting  to  spend  money  than  it  is  to 
raise  it ;  and  a  subscription  paper  proved  to  be  a  touchstone, 
which  showed  that  while  the  people  were  not  unwilling  to 
listen  to  uncongenial  preaching,  they  were  not  quite  ready  to 
pay  for  it. 

A  sufficient  amount  could  not  be  raised  to  pay  for  Mr. 
Farnum's  services,  and  this  plan  was  therefore  abandoned. 
John  H.  Swain  then  said  to  Oliver  Ames,  Sr.,  "  Why  can  we  not 
have  Unitarian  preaching  ?  How  much  will  you  give  towards 
it .''  "  Mr.  Ames,  who  had  been  giving  a  hundred  dollars  a  year 
to  assist  in  carrying  on  worship  in  the  village  church,  responded, 
"I  will  give  three  hundred  dollars."  This  was  the  beginning  of 
the  movement  that  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  North  Easton 
Unitarian  Society,  now  known  as  Unity  Church.  A  subscrip- 
tion paper  was  passed  about,  and  a  sufficient  sum  was  guaran- 
teed to  support  Unitarian  preaching,  which  from  that  time  to 
the  present  has  continued  without  interruption.  This  was  in 
the  autumn  of  1855.  The  first  Unitarian  preacher  who  offi- 
ciated under  this   arrangement  was  the  Rev.  Charles    Brooks. 


4IO 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


He  supplied  the  pulpit  for  about  a  year.  The  Rev.  Joseph 
Angier  preached  nearly  a  year;  and  for  the  rest  of  the  time 
previous  to  i860  the  pulpit  was  occupied  by  transient  supplies, 
during  which  time  many  of  the  most  gifted  Unitarian  ministers 
brought  their  choicest  intellectual  and  spiritual  treasures  to  the 
worshippers  who  gathered  in  the  little  church  from  week  to 
week.  As  many  as  eighty  different  preachers  were  heard  in 
this  way.  Among  others,  the  Rev.  Charles  Briggs  was  a  fre- 
quent and  welcome  supply. 

But  it  was  evident  that  this  method  of  pulpit  supply  was  not 
for  the  best  interest  of  the  people,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to 
settle  some  one  permanently  as  minister.  The  result  of  this  at- 
tempt was  the  engagement,  in  i860,  of  Christopher  C.  Hussey  as 
pastor.  There  being  then  no  society  organization,  Mr.  Hussey 's 
call  was  made  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  congregation  taken 
on  Sunday,  He  was  installed  by  services  in  which  the  Rev. 
James  Freeman  Clarke  preached  the  sermon,  and  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Withington  of  Easton,  Brigham  of  Taunton,  and  Water- 
ston  of  Boston  took  part. 

Mr.  Hussey  was  born  June  19,  1820,  on  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket, and  was  of  Quaker  ancestry  through  several  generations. 
He  was  descended  from  Christopher  Hussey,  who  came  from 
Dorking  in  Surrey,  England,  in  1632.  He  began  his  public 
life  as  a  minister  among  the  Quakers,  but  afterward  became 
a  Unitarian.  His  ministry  at  North  Easton  was  successful. 
One  especial  feature  of  it  was  the  inauguration  of  the  Vesper 
Service,  which,  being  then  a  novelty,  attracted  many  from 
Easton  and  the  surrounding  towns.  In  1866  he  removed  to 
Billerica,  Massachusetts,  where  he  became  pastor  of  the  First 
Parish,  a  position  he  still  holds.  In  1874,  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  his  parishioner  Governor  Talbot,  he  was  made  a 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Education,  serving  a  term  of 
eight  years.  April  16,  1843,  Mr.  Hussey  married  Lydia  C, 
daughter  of  William   B.  and  Deborah  Coffin  of  Nantucket. 

After  Mr.  Hussey's  departure  the  North  Easton  Unitarian 
Society  was  without  a  pastor  for  nearly  two  years,  when  it  ex- 
tended a  call  to  William  L.  Chaffin.  Mr.  Chaffin  was  the  son 
of  William  Farwell  and  Louisa  (Shattuck)  Chaffin,  and  was 
born  in  Oxford,  Maine,  August  16,  1837,  but  early  removed  to 


i« 


NORTH   EASTON   VILLAGE   CHURCHES.  411 

Concord,  New  Hampshire.  He  graduated  at  the  Meadville 
(Pennsylvania)  Theological  School  in  1 861,  married  August  12, 
1862,  Rebecca  Huidekoper,  daughter  of  Michael  Hodge  and 
Margaret  (Hazlett)  Bagley,  of  Meadville.  He  was  pastor  for 
about  three  years  and  a  half  of  a  Unitarian  Society  in  Phila- 
delphia. His  engagement  at  North  Easton  began  January  i, 
1868,  and  he  still  continues  the  minister  of  the  Unitarian 
Society  in  that  place. 

In  1874  the  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  the  second  of  that  name,  be- 
gan the  erection  of  a  new  and  beautiful  church  for  this  society. 
It  is  located  on  the  gentle  slope  just  north  of  where  Mr.  Ames 
himself  lived,  is  Gothic  in  design,  cruciform  in  shape,  has  a 
chapel  connected  with  it  which  is  used  for  the  Sunday-school, 
and  has  rooms  for  social  purposes  below  the  auditorium.  Its 
walls  are  of  the  native  sienite  from  the  quarry  west  of  the 
schoolhouse,  much  of  the  stone  having  a  warm  pinkish  hue. 
The  rear  walls  are  mainly  built  of  the  hard,  dark  trap-rock 
taken  from  a  wide  dike  a  few  rods  southwest  of  the  same 
quarry.  The  trimmings  came  from  Randolph.  The  spire  is 
built  of  bluish  sienite  from  a  quarry  in  Storey's  Swamp,  west 
of  Long  Pond,  and  is  surmounted  by  a  large  stone  cross.  The 
beautifully  finished  wood-work  of  the  interior  of  the  church 
is  of  black  walnut,  and  of  the  Sunday-school  room  it  is  of 
cherry.  The  organ  and  choir  are  at  the  right  of  the  pulpit  as 
one  faces  it. 

The  window  at  the  right,  in  the  east  transept, —  a  large  and 
beautiful  one  designed  by  John  A.  Mitchell,  the  architect  of  the 
church,  —  is  in  memory  of  the  Hon.  Oakes  Ames.  This  window 
is  in  three  vertical  sections.  The  central  and  main  section  has  in 
it  a  representation  of  the  archangel  Michael  at  the  moment  of  his 
victory  over  Satan.  The  side  sections  are  composed  of  geomet- 
rical figures,  which  both  in  form  and  coloring  produce  an  excel- 
lent effect.  The  window  opposite,  in  the  west  transept,  which 
is  most  exquisite  in  its  design  and  workmanship,  is  in  memory 
of  Helen  Angier  Ames,  There  are  three  figures  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  window.  The  central  one  is  standing,  and  represents 
the  angel  of  Help.  The  other  two  figures  are  seated  ;  the  one  at 
the  right  of  the  central  figure  personating  Want,  and  that  at 
the  left,  Sorrow.     To  both  of  these  the  angel  of  Help  is  kindly 


412  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

ministering.  Above  these  figures  angels  are  pointing  to  a  beauti- 
ful urn,  upon  which  are  inscribed  the  words  "  In  Memoriam." 
No  words  can  fittingly  describe  the  graceful  symmetry  of  form 
and  grouping,  and  the  richness  and  harmony  of  color  in  this 
window.  It  is  the  work  of  Lafarge,  and  is  regarded  as  his 
masterpiece. 

A  large  white  marble  tablet  in  the  transept  at  the  left,  near 
the  window,  perpetuates  the  memory  of  the  founder  of  the 
Society,  the  first  Oliver  Ames,  and  was  placed  there  by  his 
son,  the  builder  of  the  church.  After  the  death  of  the  latter, 
a  marble  bust  with  a  large  and  exquisite  tablet  of  Mexican 
onyx,  appropriately  inscribed,  was  placed  by  his  family  near 
the  memorial  just  named,  and  it  will  not  cease  to  remind  the 
worshippers  who  gather  there  of  their  generous  benefactor. 
The  church  was  dedicated  August  26,  1875,  the  Rev.  Rush  R. 
Shippen,  then  Secretary  of  the  American  Unitarian  Associa- 
tion, preaching  the  sermon.  The  Revs.  C.  H.  Brigham,  Joseph 
Osgood,  John  Snyder,  and  the  pastor  also  took  part  in  the 
exercises.  At  the  following  annual  meeting  in  January,  1876, 
Mr.  Ames  presented  the  church  to  the  society, — a  generous 
gift,  costing  not  far  from  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  At 
the  same  meeting  the  society,  which  though  its  existence  dates 
from  1855  was  not  organized  until  the  beginning  of  the  min- 
istry of  the  present  pastor,  assumed  the  name  of  Unity  Church. 
By  his  will,  Mr.  Ames  bequeathed  money  for  the  erection  of  a 
parsonage,  which  was  completed  in  1878.  It  is  built  of  stone, 
and  of  a  style  to  harmonize  with  the  church.  He  left  a  sum  of 
money  sufficient  to  keep  the  church  and  parsonage  in  repair. 
The  accompanying  picture  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of 
the  beauty  of  the  church  and  its  surroundings. 

The  Sunday-school  of  this  society  was  organized  in  1856  under 
the  Rev.  Charles  Brooks.  Its  first  superintendent  was  Joseph 
Barrows.  William  Higginbottom  was  chosen  for  that  office  in 
1865,  and  served  with  great  constancy  and  fidelity  for  twenty 
years.  He  then  resigned,  respected  and  beloved  by  all  who^ 
knew  him.  John  H.  Swain  was  appointed  his  successor.  The 
library  of  this  Sunday-school  has  been  selected,  and  is  managed, 
with  great  care.  It  contains  over  fifteen  hundred  books,  and  has 
a  printed  catalogue. 


NORTH    EASTON  VILLAGE   CHURCHES.  413 


THE    CHURCH    OF    THE    IMMACULATE    CONCEPTION. 

In  1840  there  were  only  a  few  Roman  Catholics  in  Easton. 
The  first  audience  that  gathered  numbered  fifteen.  The  first 
Mass  was  celebrated  by  the  Rev.  Father  Riley,  an  American 
convert.  Services  were  held  for  a  time  in  private  houses  ;  but 
soon  the  dining-room  of  the  "Boarding-House"  owned  by  the 
Ames  Company  was  ofiered  and  used  for  services,  which  how- 
ever were  only  occasionally  held,  as  the  missions  were  large  and 
the  priests  few.  This  boarding-house  stood  where  the  coal  pile 
for  the  shovel  works  is  now  located.  Its  dining-room  was  spa- 
cious enough  for  a  good  audience,  so  that  it  was  sometimes 
occupied  for  lyceum  meetings  and  lectures.  In  1849  the 
audience  of  Roman  Catholics  had  increased  to  forty-five;  in 
1852  it  was  one  hundred  and  fifty;  in  i860  it  numbered  four 
hundred;  and  at  this  date  (1886)  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
in  Easton  embraces  within  its  fold  nearly  fourteen  hundred 
members,  including   children. 

Among  the  earliest  officiating  priests,  besides  Father  Riley, 
were  the  Rev.  John  O'Beirn  and  the  Rev.  Richard  A.  Wilson. 
They  are  all  dead,  —  the  first  dying  in  Providence,  the  second  in 
Boston,  and  the  last  in  Cuba,  whither  he  had  gone  for  his  health. 
About  1848  the  Rev.  Thomas  Fitzsimmons  had  charge.  The 
audience  was  fast  increasing,  and  it  became  necessary  to  provide 
better  accommodations  for  holding  services.  In  1850  the  Ames 
Company  gave  the  Roman  Catholics  a  piece  of  land  near  the 
Shovel-shop  Pond,  and  work  was  begun  upon  a  chapel.  It  was 
completed  and  occupied  in  185 1  under  the  direction  of  Father 
Fitzsimmons.  He  continued  in  charge  of  the  church  for  about 
five  years  from  the  time  of  his  first  coming  here,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  Rev.  A.  F.  Roach,  who  stayed  three  or  four  years. 
In  1856  the  Rev.  T.  B.  McNulty,  of  North  Bridgewater,  took 
possession,  and  was  in  charge  for  fourteen  years.  They  were 
years  of  rapid  increase  in  the  Roman  Catholic  population. 
Father  McNulty  put  an  addition  to  the  chapel,  bought  the  lot 
and  established  the  Roman  Catholic  cemetery,  and  in  1864 
bought  a  lot  on  Main  Street  and  began  the  erection  of  the 
church  which  was  finished  and  occupied  in  1865.  His  labors 
closed  here  in   1870.     In  January,  1871,  the  Rev.  Francis  A. 


414  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

Quinn  was  sent  to  take  charge  of  the  church,  and  he  was  the 
first  parish  priest  of  Easton.  He  purchased  the  homestead 
place  of  Elbridge  G.  Morse,  had  the  house  remodelled,  and 
occupied  it  as  a  parsonage.  Father  Quinn,  in  1872,  caused 
the  church  to  be  thoroughly  remodelled  and  decorated  at  con- 
siderable expense.  He  was  here  until  the  beginning  of  1873, 
being  subsequently  stationed  at  Fall  River  and  elsewhere,  but 
finally  dying  in  France,  whither  he  went  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health.  Father  Quinn's  successor  in  Easton  was  the  Rev. 
Michael  Fitzgerald,  who  came  in  January,  1873,  and  remained 
until  June.  Though  here  for  only  a  short  time  he  gained  the 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him,  as  also  the  sincere  affection  of 
his  own  people.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  F. 
Carroll,  who  held  the  office  until  October  25,  1882,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  the  present  priest,  the  Rev.  William  J. 
McComb,  who  took  charge  November  i  of  the  same  year. 

From  1840  to  1850  Mass  was  held  in  Easton  but  once  in 
three  months.  From  1850  to  i860  it  was  conducted  every 
second  Sunday  ;  and  from  that  day  to  this  it  has  been  held 
every  Sunday.  There  are  several  services  on  Sunday  in  this 
church,  all  of  which  are  very  fully  attended.  There  is  an  early 
Mass  at  eight  o'clock,  which  is  followed  by  instruction  to  the 
children  at  nine  o'clock.  At  half-past  ten  the  principal  Mass 
is  held;  and  in  the  afternoon  is  the  Sunday-school,  which  is 
followed  by  Vespers,  —  making  Sunday  a  day  of  hard  work  for 
the  officiating  priest.  There  are  also  many  occasional  services 
in  celebration  of  holy  days  and  festivals. 

THE    SWEDISH    EVANGELICAL    EBED    MELECH    CHURCH. 

There  is  a  steadily  increasing  Swedish  population  in  Easton, 
and  they  make  a  welcome  addition  to  our  inhabitants.  In  1880 
their  number  was  one  hundred,  but  it  is  considerably  more  now. 
Until  recently  there  was  no  Swedish  church  nearer  than  Brock- 
ton, but  on  the  29th  of  December,  1883,  a  meeting  was  held  for 
the  organization  of  a  church  in  North  Easton  village.  John 
Rhoden  was  chosen  president;  Augustus  Anderson,  vice-presi- 
dent; C.  A.  Larson,  secretary;  A.  B.  Anderson,  Charles  Sand- 
gren,  Andrew  Anderson,  Charles  Dahlborg,  and  William  Borg, 


NORTH    EASTON   VILLAGE   CHURCHES.  415 

trustees  ;  and  Charles  Dahlborg  was  made  treasurer.  This 
church  is  regularly  incorporated  according  to  the  laws  of  the 
State.  January  16,  1884,  they  bought  the  Main  Street  meeting- 
house, once  occupied  by  the  Methodist  Society,  paying  for  it 
fourteen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  being  helped  by  liberal  sub- 
scriptions from  North  Easton  people.  The  Swedish  church 
called  the  Rev.  Axel  Mellander  to  their  service  as  minister, 
and  he  came  here  to  reside  September  i,  1884.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Mellander  left  on  account  of  ill  health  in  April,  1886,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Emil  Holmblad,  who  came  to  Easton 
May  15.  He  preaches  to  this  church  every  other  Sunday,  and 
on  two  Wednesdays  of  each  month. 


THE    ADVENTISTS. 

For  the  last  fifteen  years  a  small  but  earnest  and  faithful 
band  of  Adventists  have  held  meetings  with  more  or  less  fre- 
quency in  North  Easton  village.  Adventist  meetings  were 
held  at  an  earlier  time  on  the  Bay  road  ;  but  regular  meetings 
began  to  be  held  about  1871  in  the  ante-room  of  Ripley's  Hall, 
where  they  continued  for  six  or  seven  months.  In  1873  ser- 
vices were  conducted  in  Good  Templars  Hall  for  a  little  over 
a  year.  Since  that  time  they  have  been  occasionally  held  in 
private  houses  and  in  the  ante-room  above  mentioned.  About 
fifteen  or  twenty  different  preachers  have  at  various  times 
officiated  here.  The  Adventists  are  feeble  in  numbers  but 
strong  in  faith,  and  some  of  them  set  examples  of  a  good  life 
which  their  critics  might  profitably  imitate. 


RELIGIOUS    STATISTICS    OF    EASTON. 

Care  was  taken  during  the  collecting  of  the  census  statistics 
of  May,  1885,  to  ascertain  the  denominational  connections  of  the 
families  of  Easton.  The  results,  which  are  given  below,  are  not 
a  part  of  the  authorized  State  census,  but  they  have  been  care- 
fully gathered  by  our  accurate  census-taker,  and  may  be  trusted 
as  approximately  correct.  The  statistics  are  of  families,  and  are 
as  follows :  — 


4l6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Number  of  Roman  Catholic  famjlies     . 274 

,,  „  Orthodox  Congregational  families 103 

„  „  Unitarian 96 

„  „  Methodist 77 

„  „  Swedish  ^ 42 

,,  „  Adventist 6 

„  „  Non-Churchgoing* 302 

Total  number  of  families  May  I,  1885 900 

STATISTICS    OF    CHURCH    ATTENDANCE. 

In  the  statistics  just  given  most  readers  will  be  surprised  at 
the  large  proportion  of  non-churchgoing  families  among  the 
Protestant^  portion  of  our  population.  The  Roman  Catholics 
are  nearly  all  church-goers ;  they  are  therefore  not  included  in 
the  following  estimates.  In  May,  1885,  there  were  626  Protes- 
tant families  in  Easton.  Of  these,  302  families  were  non-church- 
goers. This  is  forty-eight  per  cent  of  the  entire  Protestant 
population.  If  we  deduct  from  the  total  626  the  42  Swedish 
families,  we  have  a  total  of  584  native  American  families.  Our 
statistics  show  that  over  half  of  the  latter,  or  nearly  fifty-two 
per  cent,  are  non-churchgoers,  are  connected  with  no  religious 
society,  and  seldom  if  ever  attend  church. 

Even  these  figures  do  not  give  us  the  full  proportion  of  non- 
churchgoers,  because  many  of  the  families  classed  as  church- 
going  are  inconstant  in  their  attendance  upon  worship,  and 
some  of  their  members  never  attend.  A  careful  canvass  made 
some  years  ago  throughout  the  southern  half  of  the  town 
elicited  the  fact  that  only  about  one  third  of  the  people  in  that 
section  were  in  the  habit  of  attending  public  worship.  The 
proportion  of  church-goers  among  the  Protestants  is  larger  in 
North  Easton  village  than  it  is  elsewhere  in  town.     A  careful 

1  Part  of  the  Swedish  families  are  Lutherans,  and  part  are  members  of  the  two 
branches  of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  church,  —  the  progressive  and  the  conservative. 
At  least  one  of  the  families  is  Unitarian,  and  a  few  should  be  classed  among  non- 
churchgoers. 

^  Including  some  Spiritualists.  Many  church-goers,  however,  believe  in  occa- 
sional spiritual  communications  from  departed  friends,  and  they  are  not  the  less 
Orthodox,  Unitarian,  or  Methodist  on  that  account. 

3  Many  families  are  Protestants  only  in  the  negative  sense  of  not  being  Roman 
Catholics.  They  are  not  Protestants  in  any  positive  religious  or  even  denomina- 
tional sense. 


NORTH    EASTON   VILLAGE   CHURCHES.  417 

canvass  which  the  writer,  assisted  by  one  of  the  town-assessors, 
made  of  this  village  in  1878  resulted  in  finding  421  families, — 
of  whom  there  were  242  Roman  Catholic,  68  church-going  Uni- 
tarians, 34  church-going  Methodist,  7  Second  Adventists,  and 
70  non-churchgoing  families.  (These  figures  do  not  include 
the  Swedish  families.)  Just  about  forty  per  cent  of  the  Prot- 
estant families  were  non-churchgoing.  But  in  the  so-called 
church-going  families  of  North  Easton  village  there  are  indi- 
viduals who  never  attend  church,  and  there  are  others  who 
attend  so  seldom  that  it  is  a  stretch  of  courtesy  and  truth  to 
call  them  church-goers.  Still,  the  attendance  is  proportionately 
larger  in  this  village  than  elsewhere  in  Easton,  mainly  perhaps 
because  the  churches  are  in  the  centre  of  population,  which  is 
not  true  of  other  parts  of  the  town.  A  church  at  South  Easton 
village  and  another  at  the  Furnace  Village,  instead  of  one  at  the 
Centre  answering  for  both  places,  would  probably  increase  the 
church  attendance  for  the  southeastern  and  southwestern  parts 
of  the  town.  The  disadvantage,  however,  of  having  that  church 
so  far  from  the  two  villages  where  so  many  of  the  worshippers 
dwell  is  in  part  compensated  for  by  having  a  separate  Sunday- 
school  and  special  meetings  in  each  of  those  places. 

It  appears  from  what  has  now  been  stated  that  fully  fifty  per 
cent  of  the  American  Protestant  families  of  Easton  are  non- 
churchgoers;^  and  the  proportion  of  individuals  in  town  who  do 
not  attend  worship  is  even  larger.  It  is  probable,  however,  that 
in  this  regard  Easton  is  neither  worse  nor  better  than  are  New 
England  towns  generally. 

Many  reasons  besides  irreligion  combine  to  produce  this  state 
of  things,  for  some  of  those  who  neither  attend  nor  help  to  sup- 
port worship  are  persons  of  good  character  and  honorable  con- 
duct. Among  the  explanations  offered  for  non-churchgoing 
are  the  following:  (i)  The  expense  of  hiring  a  pew  and  sup- 
porting the  church ;  (2)  The  trouble  and  difficulty  of  going  the 
long  distance  sometimes  required;  (3)  The  entertaining  reading 
available  at  home,  especially  the  Sunday  newspaper  ;  (4)  Some 
of  the  poor  cannot  dress  as  well  as  others,  and  do  not  have  the 
courage  to  let  their  poverty  thus  appear;  (5)  The  hard-working 

1  It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  that  some  of  the  children  of  these  families  attend 
Sunday-school  ;  and  but  for  this  they  would  have  no  definite  religious  instruction. 

27 


4l8  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

claim  that  they  need  to  stay  at  home  and  rest ;  (6)  The  natural 
reaction  against  the  strictness  of  former  Sabbath  observance 
has  not  spent  its  force  ;  (7)  Some  persons  declare  that  churches 
are  nurseries  of  sectarianism,  and  that  the  ministers  are  too 
dogmatic  and  unpractical  in  their  preaching. 

Undoubtedly  churches  might  do  much  to  make  themselves 
more  worthy  of  support.  They  might  encourage  a  more  social 
and  democratic  spirit,  be  more  solicitous  to  do  good,  might  preach 
a  more  rational  and  practical  faith.  But  instead  of  standing 
aloof  from  them  until  such  a  high  ideal  is  reached,  vi^hy  do  not 
non-churchgoers  do  what  they  can  by  attendance  and  otherwise 
to  hold  the  churches  to  this  ideal  ?  Much  more  money  is  usually 
expended  for  superfiuities  than  is  needed  to  support  the  church ; 
one  may  read  and  rest  sufficiently  and  attend  church  besides ; 
the  benefit  of  having  the  Christian  faith  in  God,  duty,  immor- 
tality, and  the  high  ideals  of  Christian  disposition  and  conduct 
presented  as  they  are  done  in  the  Sunday  worship  is  incalcu- 
lable ;  and  it  will  be  found  that  in  New  England  towns  a  fairly 
even  ratio  exists  between  the  morality  and  true  prosperity  and 
the  church-going  habits  of  their  inhabitants.  Churches  could 
not  die  out  of  any  community  without  causing  a  drift  towards 
lower  ideals,  conduct,  and  character,  and  a  consequent  increase 
of  immorality  and  crime.  This  fact,  evident  enough  to  those 
who  have  studied  its  practical  illustrations,  proves  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  all  to  help  maintain  churches  and  make  them  effi- 
cient instruments  in  benevolent,  social,  intellectual,  moral,  and 
relisiious  work. 


SHADOWS.  419 


CHAPTER     XXV. 

SHADOWS. 

Rough  Life  in  the  early  Pioneer  Days.  —  A  notorious  Gang  of 
Thieves  ;  George  White  the  Leader.  —  The  Bank  Robber.  — 
Slavery.  —  Intemperance.  —  Pauperism. 

NO  picture  is  perfect  without  shadows  or  contrasts.  It  is 
not,  however,  for  artistic  reasons  that  the  writer  has  in- 
troduced them  into  his  picture  of  Easton  Hfe  of  the  last  two 
centuries ;  it  is  for  the  sake  of  correct  impression.  It  would 
be  pleasanter  as  well  as  more  gratifying  to  town  pride  to  omit 
all  reference  to  the  darker  side  of  the  subject ;  but  this  would 
not  conduce  to  the  only  end  we  have  kept  in  view, —  the  pro- 
duction of  an  accurate  historical  sketch.  These  shadows  wilb 
however,  be  drawn  in  such  a  manner  as  neither  to  offend 
against  a  reasonable  sense  of  propriety,  nor  to  bring  shame 
upon  the  living. 

ROUGH    LIFE    IN    THE    EARLIER    DAYS. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  regard  the  Pilgrims  who  settled  Plymouth 
as  the  true  type  of  the  early  settlers  of  all  our  New  England 
towns.  There  is  plenty  of  evidence  accessible  to  show  that 
there  was  in  the  early  history  of  many  of  these  towns  consider- 
able of  that  rough  life  which  is  a  usual  accompaniment  of  new 
settlements  ;  this  at  least  was  true  of  Easton.  There  was  little 
opportunity  then  to  enjoy  the  innocent  diversions  and  varying 
interests  that  are  so  abundant  now.  Intellectual  cultivation 
was  comparatively  low  ;  for  the  first  twenty-five  years  after  its 
settlement,  as  we  have  seen,  the  town  did  almost  nothing 
for  the  maintenance  of  schools.  There  were  at  first  no  news- 
papers and  few  books  ;  and  the  demand  for  recreation  must 
sometimes,  in  the  absence  of  better  things,  have  led  to  evil  in- 
dulgences.    This  will  partly  account  for  the  greater  intemper- 


420  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

ance  in  those  days  among  our  native-born  inhabitants  as 
compared  with  this  time,  —  a  subject  that  will  be  treated  fur- 
ther on.  It  may  account  also  for  the  apparently  more  frequent 
misdemeanors  and  sins  in  the  relations  of  the  sexes;  for  the 
court  records  of  Taunton  and  the  cases  of  church  discipline 
seem  to  show  that  there  was  a  larger  proportion  of  such  immo- 
ralities in  those  early  times  in  our  town  than  at  present.  Sev- 
eral of  our  early  settlers,  although  men  of  prominence,  were 
exceedingly  lawless  characters  ;  and  both  men  and  women  were 
exposed  in  the  stocks,  and  were  fined,  and  condemned  "to 
receive  ten  [or  twenty]  stripes  upon  the  naked  back,  well  laid 
on,"  for  these  sins  against  purity  and  virtue.  The  town  stocks 
were  several  times  repaired,  or  new  stocks  provided  ;  and  they 
must  have  had  considerable  use.  It  is  not  desirable  to  go  into 
more  specific  statement  of  this  matter  ;  but  the  writer  is  of  the 
opinion,  as  the  result  of  his  investigations,  that  in  this  regard 
the  sentiment  and  practice  of  the  present  time  is  superior  to 
that  of  the  last  century  in  the  town  of  Easton.  At  the  same 
time,  it  may  be  true  that  there  were  not  then  so  many  means 
of  concealment ;  conduct  was  under  more  rigid  inspection  ;  mis- 
demeanors were  more  ruthlessly  exposed  and  rigorously  dealt 
with.  And  it  should  be  added  also  that  great  caution  is  needed 
in  instituting  comparisons  of  this  kind,  since  we  are  very  prone 
to  make  confident  generalizations  from  too  few  facts. 

Cases  sometimes  occurred  that  are  amusing  to  read  of  now, 
though  they  caused  much  trouble  at  the  time.  For  instance, 
January  2,  1769,  George  Ferguson  lost  a  "  bever  Hatt "  worth 
twenty  shillings,  which  was  found  and  apparently  kept  by  Nathan 
Woodward.  Mr.  Ferguson  took  the  case  to  Esquire  Daniel 
Williams,  who  fined  Woodward  twenty-five  shillings.  The  latter 
appealed,  and  the  Superior  Court  sustained  the  appeal  ;  and  Mr. 
Ferguson  had  a  bill  of  costs  to  pay  after  two  court  trials,  all 
about  a  hat ! 

Isaac  Lothrop  in  1778  lost  "a  fat  red  steer  &  reddish  white 
ox,"  which  George  Howard  of  Bridgewater  found  and  sold, 
"  well  knowing  that  the  said  ox  and  steer  belonged  to  the  said 
Isaac,  yet  minding  to  defraud  the  said  Isaac  of  his  said  ox  & 
steer,"  etc.  The  case  on  the  first  trial  went  against  Howard, 
who  appealed  to  the  Superior  Court. 


SHADOWS.  421 


Israel  Woodward,  about  the  time  he  became  a  citizen  of 
Easton,  was  arrested,  with  his  brothers  Caleb  and  David  and 
others,  for  travelling  on  the  Sabbath  day.  The  indictment 
however  was  quashed.  Woodward  was  a  Quaker,  and  on  that 
ground  refused  to  qualify  himself  for  the  office  of  constable, 
—  for  which  he  was  fined  five  pounds  and  costs.  Elsewhere  in 
this  History  some  account  is  given  of  the  case  of  John  Austin, 
who  in  1738  was  sentenced  by  Esquire  Edward  Hayward  to 
pay  a  fine  of  ten  shillings  "for  prophaine  cursing,  for  the  use 
of  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Easton," 

Jacob  Leonard  accused  another  citizen  of  detaining  Leonard's 
"  sorrel  white-faced  gelding  horse  with  a  light-colored  tail  and 
mane,  at  a  place  called  Willis's  shed  in  Easton."  The  plaintiff 
sued  for  one  hundred  dollars.  The  case  went  from  court  to 
court,  and  finally  Mr.  Leonard  received  one  cent  damages ! 

These  are  samples  of  cases  that  were  constantly  occurring. 
There  were  many  suits  for  assault  and  battery,  for  thefts,  for 
slander,  and  other  offences  ;  and  when  allowance  is  made  for  the 
much  fewer  inhabitants  in  Easton  a  century  ago,  one  cannot 
resist  the  impression  that  there  is  a  smaller  proportion  of  such 
offences  now  than  there  were  then.  Persons  were  more  ready, 
fifty  and  a  hundred  years  ago  than  now,  to  resort  to  the  law  for 
the  settlement  of  differences  and  quarrels.  This  is  evidently 
true  concerning  cases  of  a  civil  character.  There  was  a  sur- 
prising number  of  lawsuits  growing  out  of  uncertain  boundaries, 
trespass,  and  business  troubles  of  every  kind.  There  seemed  to 
be  a  decided  appetite  for  litigation  on  the  part  of  certain  persons 
whose  names  are  constantly  seen  in  these  court  cases.  Law- 
suits were  fought  with  extraordinary  stubbornness,  and  hundreds 
of  dollars  were  sometimes  spent  merely  to  postpone  yielding  a 
point  whose  final  surrender  was  inevitable.  It  was  truly  a  mil- 
lennium for  the  lawyers.  In  the  year  1800  the  total  population 
of  Easton  was  fifteen  hundred  and  fifty,  but  the  lawsuits  for  the 
preceding  year  numbered  thirty-five,  and  in  1798  they  num- 
bered thirty-four.  This  was  in  the  Bristol  County  courts  alone, 
and  probably  does  not  represent  the  whole  number  actually 
engaged  in. 

The  practice  of  imprisonment  for  debt  was  in  full  force  in  the 
last  century,  and  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  present ;  and  there 


422  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

are  numerous  instances  in  which  payment  was  forced  from  un- 
willing and  impecunious  debtors  by  lodging  them  in  jail  until 
their  debts  were  paid,  payment  sometimes  being  thus  extorted 
from  the  unfortunate  at  a  great  sacrifice  to  them. 

The  unpleasant  story  of  Easton  church  quarrels  has  been  told 
in  other  chapters,  and  it  is  hardly  possible  to  understand  the  in- 
tensity of  passion  and  animosity  that  divided  the  opposing  par- 
ties in  the  long  contention  beginning  about  1750,  which  gave 
rise  to  slander,  recrimination,  to  excited  church  councils,  court 
trials,  legislative  hearings,  social,  and  even  domestic  strife.  Be- 
ginning with  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short,  there  were  during  the 
first  century  after  the  incorporation  of  Easton  seven  ministers 
of  the  parish  church,  and  all  but  two  of  these  were  obliged  to 
extort  their  salaries  from  the  town  by  legal  process  ;  and  these 
two,  Mr.  Short  and  Mr.  Reed,  were  patient  enough  to  endure 
long  and  embarrassing  delays.  Several  others  who  preached 
as  temporary  supplies  had  a  similar  experience  with  the  town. 
These  facts  seem  to  disprove  the  commonly  made  assertion,  at 
least  so  far  as  Easton  is  concerned,  that  the  clergy  were  once 
regarded  with  special  reverence.  It  must  be  confessed,  however, 
that  some  of  them  did  not  deserve  to  be  so  regarded.  True 
ministers  may  well  be  thankful  that  they  are  now  judged  as 
other  men  are,  not  by  some  artificial  standard  of  official  respect, 
but  solely  on  their  personal  merits  and  their  fidelity  to  their 
chosen  calling. 

The  following  action  of  the  town  which  was  taken  in  town- 
meeting  in  1810,  is  a  plain  indication  of  the  existence  of  con- 
siderable vagabondism  here  early  in  this  century :  — 

"Voted  that  the  selectmen  post  up  all  persons  who  are  likely  to  be- 
come chargeable  to  the  town  by  means  of  idleness  and  excessive 
drinking,  headed  Vagabond  List." 

This  list  was  exhibited  at  stores  and  other  conspicuous  places. 
Mr.  Simpson  remembers  being  in  Elijah  Howard's  store  when  a 
man  whose  name  was  thus  posted  entered,  and  tried  to  buy  some 
liquor.  "  See  there  !  "  thundered  Mr.  Howard,  as  he  pointed  to 
the  Vagabond  List  where  the  man's  name  appeared  ;  and  he 
slunk  away  in  shame.  Store-keepers  and  retailers  of  liquor 
were  forbidden  to  sell  to  such  persons. 


SHADOWS. 


423 


At  the  date  referred  to,  the  town  also  "Voted  that  the  select- 
men commit  Idle  Vagabond  persons  to  the  house  of  Correction, 
there  to  be  detained  and  imployed  till  they  pay  all  charges  which 
have  been  made  to  the  town  on  acount  of  their  Idleness  and 
imprudent  conduct."  It  was  also  "Voted  that  those  persons 
going  to  gaol  for  debt  and  making  expense  for  the  town  should 
be  excluded  from  the  pauper  list." 

CRIMES    AND    PENALTIES. 

The  fact  has  already  been  explained  that  Easton  did  not 
have  a  very  enviable  reputation  among  her  neighbors  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  One  thing  that  contributed 
to  this  result  was  the  existence  here,  about  1800,  of  an  organ- 
ized gang  of  thieves.  They  were  mainly  located  in  the  west 
part  of  the  town,  and  carried  on  their  nefarious  business  by 
wholesale.  The  names  of  about  a  dozen  of  them  and  of  some 
of  their  confederates  are  known,  but  these  names,  with  one  ex- 
ception, are  for  obvious  reasons  not  given  here.  This  gang  is 
reported  by  tradition  to  have  been  one  link  in  a  chain  of  evil 
conspirators  reaching  to  Canada  ;  they  are  represented  also  as 
a  band  of  horse-thieves.  The  writer's  acquaintance  with  their 
doings  has  been  made  chiefly  through  the  court  records  at 
Taunton,  this  thieving  organization  having  been  unearthed  in 
1803,  and  its  members  arrested,  tried,  and  sentenced.  In  those 
trials  there  is  no  case  of  horse-thieving  reported ;  but  as  these 
criminals  stole  nearly  all  other  kinds  of  merchandise,  they  are 
not  likely  to  have  made  an  exception  of  horses  ;  in  fact  there 
are  authentic  traditions  of  their  horse-thieving. 

East  of  the  Bay  road,  in  the  then  thick  woods  not  far  south  of 
the  Stoughton  line,  this  gang  is  said  to  have  had  a  secret  ex- 
cavation, or  cellar,  far  enough  from  the  road  to  prevent  risk  of 
discovery  by  persons  travelling  past;  and  in  this  place  of  con- 
cealment there  were  once  found  seven  stolen  horses.  The 
thieves  were  well  organized,  and  carried  on  their  work  so 
shrewdly  as  to  secure  a  vast  amount  of  booty  before  they  were 
finally  brought  to  punishment.  They  had  skilful  means  of  con- 
cealing stolen  goods.  At  one  place  was  a  house  the  cellar  of 
which  is  said  to   have  been   so  arranged  as  to  enable  one  to 


424  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

drive  a  horse  and  wagon  into  it,  so  that  if  pursued  a  team  might 
suddenly  disappear. 

Some  distance  southwest  of  the  Tisdale  Harlow  house  may 
be  seen  the  old  Fuller  place.  The  dwelling-house  that  once 
stood  there  long  since  disappeared  ;  but  the  site  it  occupied  at- 
tracts special  notice  from  its  having  two  cellars,  unconnected 
with  each  other,  with  several  feet  thickness  of  earth  between 
them.  One  of  them  was  a  secret  cellar.  At  one  time  there  was 
the  strongest  evidence  that  stolen  goods  had  been  taken  to  this 
house ;  but  when  the  officers  came  and  made  a  thorough  search 
from  cellar  to  garret,  nothing  was  found.  The  housekeeper  was 
washing  clothes  when  they  came,  and  it  was  afterward  remem- 
bered that  her  tub  was  stationed  upon  a  trap-door  which  formed 
the  entrance  to  the  secret  cellar. 

This  gang  of  thieves  had  their  confederates  in  other  places, 
by  whom  they  were  enabled  to  dispose  of  their  stolen  goods. 
They  had  their  passwords  and  secret  signs,  and  were  the  terror 
of  the  neighborhood  for  miles  around.  The  stores  of  Easton, 
Norton,  and  Mansfield,  as  well  as  the  mills  and  foundries  of  the 
vicinity,  were  robbed  of  large  amounts  of  goods  at  different 
times.  At  length  a  young  man  who  had  set  up  a  store  and  been 
robbed  of  many  things,  vowed  that  he  would  do  no  more  work 
until  he  had  rooted  out  this  gang  of  thieves.  He  drove  to  the 
double-cellared  house  before  alluded  to,  and  represented  that  he 
had  some  goods  he  would  like  to  have  concealed.  As  he  had 
acquainted  himself  already  with  some  of  their  secret  signs  he 
was  welcomed,  and  joined  the  gang,  and  even  accompanied  them 
on  some  of  their  thieving  excursions.  Meantime,  not  being  in 
good  health,  he  occasionally  went  to  Dr.  Samuel  Guild  at  South 
Easton,  ostensibly  for  medical  consultation,  but  really  to  com- 
municate with  him  on  this  business.  Dr.  Guild  being  then  justice 
of  the  peace.  When  the  plans  and  operations  of  the  thieves 
were  thus  fully  disclosed,  it  was  determined  to  arrest  them  ;  but 
here  a  difficulty  presented  itself.  The  Easton  constable  to  whom 
they  would  have  applied  was  himself  a  member  of  the  gang,  and 
the  deputy  sheriff  was  a  receiver  of  stolen  goods.  With  some 
trouble  other  officers  were  procured,  a  raid  was  made  upon  the 
thieves,  and  a  large  amount  of  stolen  goods  recovered.  This  was 
in  1803.    Several  of  the  gang,  including  at  least  one  woman,  were 


SHADOWS.  425 


arrested,  and  were  charged  with  numerous  thefts.  They  had 
stolen  from  Jonathan  Smith,  Edward  Kingman,  and  Abiezer 
Alger,  of  Easton  ;  Isaac  Barrett,  George  Gilbert,  and  others,  of 
Norton  and  Mansfield.  Indictment  after  indictment  was  pre- 
sented against  them,  nearly  all  of  which  resulted  in  conviction. 
The  matter  had  been  so  thoroughly  worked  up  that  the  num- 
ber of  cases  finally  tired  out  the  district  attorney,  and  several  of 
them  were  therefore  not  presented  at  all.  Many  kinds  of  goods 
were  included  in  the  stealing ;  there  were  broadcloth,  linen, 
towels,  shirts,  spoons,  crockery,  cutlery,  combs,  brandy,  rum, 
razors,  nail-rods,  cast-iron  ware,  meal-bags,  corn,  etc.  The 
woman  alluded  to  was  convicted  of  stealing  from  Edward  King- 
man, July  I,  1802,  thirteen  earthen  plates,  one  half-dozen 
cups  and  saucers,  and  one  mug.  She  was  fined  five  dollars 
and  costs,  and  also  made  to  pay  Mr.  Kingman  ^3.42,  the  treble 
value  of  the  goods.  In  1842  she  and  two  of  her  daughters  were 
prisoners  in  Taunton  jail  in  punishment  for  various  offences. 
They  were  there  seen  by  Easton  visitors,  showing  no  shame 
whatever,  but  appearing  to  feel  perfectly  at  home. 

The  sentences  of  some  of  the  gang  were  severe.  The  leader 
was  on  several  different  counts,  as  will  soon  be  more  particularly 
described,  condemned  not  only  to  pay  costs  and  damages,  but 
also  "  to  sit  on  the  gallows  for  the  space  of  one  hour  with  the 
rope  about  his  neck,  and  one  end  thereof  cast  over  the  gallows, 
and  be  whipped  twenty  stripes,  and  that  he  be  confined  to  hard 
labor  for  five  years."  These  convictions  show  that  public  expo- 
sure of  criminals  upon  the  pillory  or  gallows,  and  public  whip- 
ping for  ordinary  crimes  have  been  practised  in  our  vicinity 
during  the  present  century.  It  must  have  been  felt  by  some  to 
be  a  terrible  disgrace  to  sit  thus  exposed  to  public  view,  sneered 
at  and  insulted  by  lookers  on,  a  rope  ignominiously  hanging  from 
the  neck  to  the  ground,  at  which  doubtless  those  so  disposed 
might  give  many  a  vicious  jerk.  The  sherifT  before  alluded  to 
was  sentenced  to  this  punishment,  but  presented  a  powerfully 
backed  petition  to  the  Governor  and  Council  asking  that  so 
much  of  his  penalty  as  related  to  sitting  on  the  gallows  and  the 
whipping  be  remitted.  The  petition  was  granted.  A  promi- 
nent confederate  of  this  gang  by  means  of  suicide  transferred 
the  scene  of  his  trial  to  a  higher  court. 


426  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

The  ringleader  of  this  band  of  thieves  was  so  remarkable  a 
man  in  his  way  as  to  call  for  a  more  extended  personal  notice 
here.  As  he  was  unmarried  and  left  no  descendants  to  blush 
for  his  crimes,  and  as  his  kindred  have  seemed  proud  to  narrate 
his  achievements,  and  as,  moreover,  his  name  is  an  open  secret 
known  to  many  citizens  of  Easton,  there  is  no  impropriety  in 
stating  that  the  ringleader  under  notice  was  George  White.  He 
was  a  most  ingenious  and  notorious  scamp,  to  whom  stealing 
was  a  profession,  and  whose  biography,  if  written,  would  rank 
with  that  of  the  shrewdest  and  boldest  of  his  class,  delighting 
the  hearts  of  dime-novel  readers. 

White  was  once  fleeing  on  horseback  from  two  mounted  offi- 
cers ;  finding  that  they  were  gaining  on  him,  and  coming  to  a 
turn  in  the  road  he  hastily  dismounted,  gave  the  horse  a  cut 
with  the  whip  so  as  to  start  him  on,  threw  away  his  hat  and 
donned  a  small  cap,  assumed  other  disguises  kept  ready  for  such 
occasions,  and  then  coolly  started  back  on  foot.  He  was  im- 
mediately met  by  the  officers,  but  was  not  recognized  by  them. 
In  answer  to  their  question,  "Did  you  see  a  man  on  horseback 
running  away .-' "  he  replied,  "  Yes,  I  saw  him  going  as  though 
he  thought  the  Devil  was  after  him."  White  escaped  this  time, 
and  had  another  good  story  to  tell. 

There  was  no  audacity  of  which  this  artful  rogue  was  not 
capable.  At  one  time  he  stole  a  horse,  trimmed  his  mane, 
shortened  his  tail,  and  painted  or  dyed  his  hair  in  such  a  skilful 
way  as  thoroughly  to  disguise  the  animal,  and  then  led  him 
innocently  to  the  man  from  whom  he  had  stolen  him,  and, 
saying  that  he  had  heard  he  wanted  a  horse,  actually  sold  him 
to  his  owner.  The  horse  appeared  so  much  at  home  and  showed 
such  evident  acquaintance  with  his  master  that  suspicions  were 
soon  aroused,  and  the  fading  out  of  the  colored  spots  revealed 
the  trick.  But  the  quickwitted  thief  found  some  easy  way  out 
of  his  unpleasant  situation. 

George  White  was  at  one  time  on  a  journey  in  search  of 
profitable  adventure,  and  turned  up  at  a  tavern  in  New  York 
State.  He  was  out  of  money,  and  being  a  great  gambler  tried 
to  make  something  by  this  occupation,  but  found  no  victims.  He 
began  to  look  about  him  for  means  whereby  to  pay  his  tavern- 
bill,  —  though  why  he  had  any  scruples  about  leaving  it  unpaid 


M 


SHADOWS. 


427 


Iocs  not  appear.  The  innkeeper  had  taken  him  to  a  pasture 
md  showed  him  a  noble  black  horse  of  which  he  was  very  proud, 
md  which  suggested  a  stroke  of  business  to  the  fertile  mind  of 
;he  guest.  Telling  his  landlord  he  was  going  to  a  neighboring 
)lace  for  a  day  or  two,  he  left  his  things  behind  him,  having  first 
secreted  a  bridle  in  a  wood  near  the  pasture.  He  stayed  in  the 
vood  until  early  daybreak,  when  he  bridled  the  horse  and  was 
loon  far  away.  He  sold  the  horse  during  the  day,  stole  him 
igain  the  same  night,  and  repeated  the  operation  the  next  day 
md  night,  coming  back  a  few  days  afterward  with  the  horse, 
Afhich  he  restored  to  his  pasture.  He  then  paid  his  bill  with  the 
noney  thus  acquired,  the  owner  in  the  mean  time  not  having 
nissed  the  animal.  Before  leaving,  White  said  to  the  innkeeper 
;hat  he  would  like  one  more  sight  of  his  fine  horse  ;  and  they 
^'ent  to  the  pasture  together,  talked  over  the  good  points  of  the 
lorse,  and  bade  each  other  farewell.  Such  is  the  story,  and  it 
s  implicitly  believed  by  elderly  people  who  heard  it  in  their 
y'ounger  days.  The  only  serious  doubt  of  its  truth  lies  in  the 
:haracter  of  the  original  story-teller,  who  was  probably  the  thief 
limself.  He  loved  to  boast  of  such  achievements,  and  his 
iindred  took  great  pride  in  repeating  the  story  of  his  deeds. 

White  was  a  hard  man  to  catch,  and  a  harder  one  to  keep 
ivhen  caught.  Handcuffs  were  purely  ornamental  to  him,  for 
:iis  wrists  were  large  and  his  hands  were  small,  so  that  he  could 
slip  off  these  steel  bracelets  at  pleasure.  He  had  a  perfect 
understanding  also  with  jail-doors,  or  with  their  keepers.  He 
was  regarded  as  so  dangerous  a  person  that  in  order  to  ad- 
vertise his  character  his  forehead  was  branded  with  the  letters 
H.  T. ;  that  is,  Jiorse-tJitef.  To  conceal  this  brand  he  wore  his  hair 
low  on  his  forehead,  and  was  thus  perhaps  the  first  person  to  in- 
troduce into  Easton  the  fashion  of  wearing  "banged"  hair. 

At  the  October  term  of  the  Superior  Judicial  Court  at 
Taunton,  for  1803,  George  White  was  convicted  of  theft  on  six 
several  indictments,  sentenced  on  each  to  be  whipped  and  set 
on  the  gallows,  "confined  to  hard  labor  in  our  State  Prison 
for  the  terms  in  the  aforesaid  sentences  expressed,  making  an 
aggregate  number  of  twenty-five  years."  ^     He  was  confined  in 

^  See  "Commissions,  Proclamations,  Pardons,"  etc.,  1799-1813.  The  pardon 
from  which  the  above  quotation  is  made  makes  a  mistake  of  a  year  in  stating  that 
his  trial  was  in  1802 ;  it  was  in  1803. 


428  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

the  State  Prison  at  Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  His  first  term 
of  five  years  ended  October  22,  1808  ;  he  served  nearly  three 
years  on  his  second  term,  and  was  then  on  supplication  for 
mercy  pardoned,  and  "the  residue  of  the  punishment  which  by 
the  sentences  aforesaid  he  is  still  liable  to  suffer"  was  remitted. 
The  date  of  the  pardon  is  June  4,  181 1,  and  it  took  effect  June 
26.  Thus  he  served  for  only  one  third  of  the  time  for  which 
he  was  sentenced. 

To  secure  his  pardon  White  had  made  many  promises  of 
amendment,  and  for  some  time  he  either  really  kept  those 
promises  or  managed  to  escape  detection  for  his  crimes.  But 
five  years  afterward  we  find  him  again  in  the  Superior  Court, 
and  this  time  at  Greenfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  tried 
for  larceny  and  condemned  "  to  be  punished  as  a  common  and 
notorious  thief  by  solitary  imprisonment  for  a  term  of  twenty- 
one  days,  and  by  confinement  afterward  to  hard  labor  for  the 
term  of  ten  years."  This  term  he  served  out,  and  was  dis- 
charged July  5,  1827. 

But  this  man  was  too  inveterate  a  thief  to  reform.  Choosing 
a  new  field  of  operations  where  he  was  not  known,  we  next  hear 
of  him  in  the  Superior  Court  at  Plymouth,  where  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  May,  1830,  he  was  tried  and  convicted  of  larceny,  and 
was  sentenced  to  two  days  of  solitary  confinement  and  one  year 
of  hard  labor  in  the  State  Prison.  The  danger  of  having  such  an 
inveterate  criminal  at  large  in  the  community  induced  some  one 
to  take  advantage  of  a  law  then  in  force,  which  rendered  a  per- 
son who  had  serv^ed  three  terms  of  years  in  State  Prison  liable 
to  imprisonment  for  life.  In  the  Municipal  Court  of  Boston, 
therefore.  May  12,  183 1,  only  one  day  before  his  term  of  impris- 
onment had  expired.  White  was  sentenced  for  life  for  having 
served  three  terms.  To  all  appearance  he  now  had  a  dreary 
enough  prospect  before  him  ;  but  after  being  in  prison  for  a  little 
over  two  years  he  was  taken  out  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  and 
June  27,  1833,  was  discharged  by  the  Superior  Court  of  Boston 
and  set  at  liberty.  He  petitioned  for  this  on  the  ground  that 
his  last  sentence  was  for  one  year  alone  and  not  for  "a  term  of 
years,"  and  hence  that  he  had  not  served  for  "  three  terms  of 
years."  This  point,  verbal  and  technical  as  it  seemed  to  be,  was 
nevertheless  sustained  by  the  court,  which  is  said  to  have  ad- 


SHADOWS. 


429 


monished  him  to  leave  the  State.  Not  much  more  is  heard  of 
him  until  finally  (at  what  date  cannot  be  determined)  he  wrote 
from  the  Ohio  Penitentiary,  where  he  had  been  imprisoned  for 
another  crime,  requesting  some  of  his  relatives  in  Easton  to  visit 
him,  as  he  was  on  his  dying  bed.  But  they  did  not  go,  for  they 
distrusted  any  word  coming  from  him,  and  he  died  alone  and  in 
misery.  He  must  have  taken  another  name  when  he  went  West, 
for  application  by  the  writer  to  the  clerk  of  the  Ohio  Penitentiary 
brought  the  answer  that  no  George  White  had  been  imprisoned 
and  died  there  since  the  time  of  his  discharge  from  the  State 
Prison  at  Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  Thus  ended  the  strange 
:areer  of  this  notorious  criminal. 

The  persistence  of  family  traits  through  several  generations 
tias  been  painfully  illustrated  in  the  fact,  that  several  of  the 
descendants  of  this  gang  have  been  notoriously  immoral,  being 
guilty  of  similar  thieving  operations  in  later  times  ;  and  only 
-ecently  one  of  them  ended  his  days  in  jail.  To  relate  here  the 
miserable  career  of  some  of  them,  of  the  women  especially ; 
:o  describe  the  wretched  end  of  several  and  the  foul  mischief 
:hey  have  caused,  —  would  make  a  revelation  of  depravity  unfit 
"or  these  pages. 

It  would  not  be  just  to  give  the  impression  that  such  charac- 
;ers  as  have  been  described  lived  in  the  west  part  of  the  town 
)nly.  December  2,  1774,  there  was  born,  probably  not  far  north 
)f  Easton  Centre,  an  innocent  babe  who  was  destined  to  do  the 
Tiost  scientific  act  of  stealing  ever  accomplished  by  any  son  of 
Easton.  In  1818  he  had  become  a  junk-dealer  in  Portland,  near 
:he  head  of  Long  Wharf.  He  was  one  day  in  Ellis's  blacksmith 
shop,  and  saw  there  the  locks  of  the  Cumberland  Bank,  which 
:he  directors  had  sent  to  Ellis  for  repairs.  Our  Easton  man 
Aras  a  shrewd  fellow,  and  he  went  to  Joseph  Noble's  foundry, 
sorrowed  some  moulding  sand,  and  succeeded  in  getting  a  good 
mpression  of  the  keys.  At  this  point  we  will  allow  another  to 
:ontinue  the  narrative:  — 

"  One  Monday  morning  not  long  after,  when  Joseph  Swift  the 
:ashier  [of  the  bank]  opened  his  vault,  he  was  surprised  to  find  all 
he  valuables  gone,  absolutely  nothing  left  in  the  way  of  money  but 
I  little  loose  change.  The  excitement  ran  high  throughout  the  town, 
rhe  bank  had  not  failed,  but  had  been  cleaned  out.     Who  did  it  ? 


430 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


I 


"  From  the  fact  that  no  violence  was  shown  upon  the  doors,  it  was 
evident  that  the  entrance  had  been  made  by  false  keys.  Suspicion 
turned  to  the  blacksmith,  but  he  was  found  to  be  innocent.  It  occurred 
to  one  of  the  directors  that  some  one  had  possibly  cast  a  key,  and  by 
inquiry  at  the  foundries  in  town  it  was  ascertained  that  the  unsavory 
M.  had  borrowed  a  little  moulding  sand  a  short  time  before  at  Joseph 
Noble's  foundry.  Everybody  who  had  a  Cumberland  bank-bill  was 
looked  upon  with  suspicion  ;  if  a  person  had  several  such  bills  he  had 
to  give  an  account  of  where  he  got  them.  From  one  and  another  cir- 
cumstance it  was  evident  that  M.  would  bear  watching.  A  canvas 
bag,  such  as  was  used  to  hold  specie,  was  found  in  M.'s  back-yard,  and 
strengthened  suspicion.  He  had  with  him  a  man  whose  reputation 
was  not  good  ;  and  this  man,  Rolf,  was  connected  with  M.  in  some 
way  with  the  robbery.  Some  of  the  managers  of  the  bank  persuaded 
Rolf  that  he  was  in  danger  of  being  arrested  for  the  burglary.  They 
told  him  if  he  would  turn  State's  evidence  they  would  shield  him. 
Accordingly,  he  started  off  in  secrecy  with  one  or  two  of  the  directors, 
promising  them  that  he  would  show  them  where  the  money  was  buried. 
M.  had  got  a  hint  that  all  was  not  right,  and  he  started  ahead  and  dug 
up  the  money.  Rolf  goes  with  his  party  down  to  a  spot  between  the 
present  location  of  the  Portland  Company's  Works  and  Fish  Point, 
and  tells  them  to  dig  up  the  buried  treasure  ;  when,  lo  !  the  hole  is 
empty  and  the  game  is  gone  !  Rolf  had  not  been  without  distrust  of 
his  confederate.  He  had  doubtless  feared  that  M.  would  beat  him, 
and  thus  his  story  would  have  no  proof.  Seeing  his  position  and  find- 
ing that  he  was  in  a  very  sorry  plight,  he  takes  a  small  pistol  from  his 
pocket,  puts  it  to  his  head  and  shoots  himself,  falling  lifeless  over  the 
empty  spot  where  in  a  dark  night  they  had  put  all  the  valuables  of  the 
Cumberland  Bank. 

"  The  case  now  looked  more  dark  for  the  recovery  of  the  money. 
But  th6  quick-witted  old  men  who  managed  the  case  for  the  bank  went 
at  once  to  M.  before  he  could  in  any  way  hear  of  Rolf's  death,  and 
told  him  that  Rolf  had  confessed  all,  and  that  to  save  himself  he  might 
as  well  own  up,  which  he  did.  The  bank  h'ad  offered  a  considerable 
reward  for  the  stolen  treasure,  and  M.  was  bargained  with  that  if  he 
would  deliver  the  goods  he  should  receive  the  reward.  Accordingly  he 
informed  the  directors  that  if  they  would  accompany  him  to  a  place  in 
Scarborough,  they  might  possibly  find  something  valuable.  They  went 
along  the  road  until  they  came  to  a  spot  where  M.  remarked  that  it 
looked  to  him  as  if  this  would  be  a  good  place  to  bury  money.  There 
were  some  men  named  Libby,  who  living  near  were  attracted  by  the 
strangers,  and  hearing  the  remark  remembered  some  recently  upturned 


SHADOWS. 


431 


earth  which  they  had  not  been  able  to  account  for,  hastened  to  the 
spot  and  unearthed  the  buried  treasure  before  M.  could  reach  the  place. 
One  screamed  out  to  his  father,  'Dad,  I've  found  it!'  Of  course 
the  Libbys  claimed  the  reward.  But  it  was  afterward  divided,  so  that 
M.  received  one  half  as  the  reward  of  his  own  wickedness.  The  bank 
recovered  all  but  one  small  bag  of  pistareens.  M.  was  afterward 
tried  and  sentenced  to  the  prison  at  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  for 
twelve  years.  His  latter  days  were  spent  in  this  city,  where  he  lived 
for  years  apparently  quite  unmoved  by  his  former  career."^ 

This  man  whom  we  have  designated  as  M.  is  said  to  have 
built  the  Thatcher  Pierce  house,  so  called,  opposite  the  home- 
stead of  the  late  Edwin  Russell.  An  exciting  incident  occurred 
there  when  Samuel  Wilbur,  a  sheriff  of  Raynham,  came  to  arrest 
him  for  some  offence  against  the  law.  He  had  secreted  himself 
upstairs,  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  congenial  mate  for  such  a  man, 
was  to  oppose  the  sheriff's  progress  if  he  attempted  to  ascend 
the  staircase.  When  he  insisted  on  going  up  and  endeavored 
to  force  his  way,  she  stoutly  opposed  his  passage,  and  hanging 
by  her  hands  on  a  cross-piece  over  the  staircase,  she  suddenly 
planted  both  her  feet  against  the  sheriff's  chest  and  knocked  him 
down.  Before  he  could  manage  to  overcome  this  Amazon  and 
make  his  way  upstairs,  M.  had  let  himself  down  from  the  east 
chamber  window  and  made  his  best  paces  towards  the  Stoughton 
line,  which  he  reached  in  advance  of  the  sheriff  ;  and  being  then 
in  another  county,  this  officer  could  not  arrest  him. 

Penalties  for  crime  were  not  only  different  in  character  a  cen- 
tury ago  from  what  they  are  now,  they  were  also  more  severe. 
On  another  page  is  given  some  account  of  Benjamin  Benoni,  or 
"  Old  Bunn  "  as  he  is  known  by  tradition.  One  of  his  children, 
Benjamin  Benoni,  Jr.,  in  November,  1782,  stole  a  silk  handker- 
chief from  Eliphalet  Leonard,  for  which  theft  he  was  sentenced 

1  The  above  is  from  an  historical  sketch  of  the  Portland  (Maine)  banks,  written 
by  William  E.  Gould,  Esq.,  and  printed  in  the  Portland  "  Weekly  Advertiser," 
December  21,  1883.  The  records  of  the  Massachusetts  State  Prison  at  Charlestown 
show  that  on  October  7,  1818,  at  Portland,  this  thief  was  convicted  of  "robbing  the 
Portland  Bank  "  and  was  sentenced  to  twelve  years'  imprisonment.  He  was  par- 
doned March  5,  1829. 

The  reader  will  not  fail  to  note  the  surprising  and  painful  fact,  that  this  Mr. 
Gould  is  the  man  who  recently  proved  to  be  a  bank  defaulter  in  Portland.  See  Bos- 
ton "  Globe,"  September  20,  1SS6,  and  other  Boston  papers  of  about  the  same  date. 


432  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

to  pay  treble  the  cost  of  the  handkerchief  (eighteen  shillings)  and 
"to  receive  ten  stripes  on  his  naked  back,  well  laid  on."  As  he 
could  not  pay  the  fine,  he  was  bound  out  to  serve  Mr.  Leonard 
"  the  full  and  compleat  space  of  time  of  fotir  years  and  six 
vwnths  !  "  He  had  enlisted  for  three  years'  service  in  the  Re- 
volutionary War  only  eighteen  months  before,  and  had  been 
discharged.  His  sister  Judith  had  stolen  a  quilted  petticoat 
from  Daniel  Alger's  house,  and  was  sentenced  to  pay  treble 
damages  and  cost  of  prosecution  ;  but  having  nothing  to  pay 
with,  she  was  bound  out  to  serve  Mr.  Alger  ^ve  years.  ^ 

SLAVERY. 

The  Boston  papers  of  the  last  century  have  numerous  refer- 
ences to  the  existence  of  slavery  in  New  England.  There  are 
notices  of  arrivals  of  slaves  who  are  for  sale,  advertisements  of 
runaways  with  their  description  and  the  offer  of  a  reward  for 
their  capture,  and  announcements  also  of  young  negro  children 
to  be  given  away,  their  owners  wishing  to  avoid  the  expense 
of  bringing  them  up,  because  their  speedy  emancipation  was  a 
foregone  conclusion.  The  first  notice  of  slaves  in  Massachusetts 
is  one  concerning  their  importation  from  Tortugas  in  1637.  A 
stringent  law  was  passed  in  1641,  prohibiting  any  "bond  slave- 
rie,  villinage,  or  captivitie  among  us."  But  the  law  quoted  con- 
tained a  qualification  which  practically  nullified  it;  namely, 
•'unless  it  be  lawfull  captives  taken  in  just  warres,  and  such 
strangers  as  willingly  sell  themselves,  or  are  sold  to  21s."  We  are 
not  therefore  surprised  to  find  that  soon  afterward,  in  1654,  there 
were  4,489  slaves  in  Massachusetts  (including  Maine). 

Easton  was  once  a  slaveholding  town.  The  first  authentic 
record  of  the  existence  of  slaves  here  is  found  in  the  inventory 
of  the  estate  of  Elder  William  Pratt,  the  first  man  who  served 
the  people  at  the  "  East  End  of  Taunton  North-Purchase  "  as  a 
minister.  Among  other  items  was  this:  "two  young  negroes, 
;^50."  He  probably  brought  them  with  him  from  Charleston, 
S.  C.  These  young  negroes  were  named  Heber  and  Hagar,  a 
boy  and  a  girl.  They  became  the  property  of  Mr.  Pratt's  widow, 
and  lived  with  her  until  she  gave  them  their  freedom.     This  she 

1  Records  of  the  Court  of  Sessions,  at  Taunton,  vol.  from  1777-1801. 


SHADOWS. 


did  in  February,  1722;  and  in  a  deed  bestowing  upon  them  a 
portion  of  land  she  speaks  in  high  terms  of  them.  When  we 
consider  that  these  slaves,  valued  when  young  at  £$0,  were  now 
adults  and  might  have  been  sold  for  a  large  sum  of  money,  this 
act  of  Mrs.  Pratt  in  manumitting  them,  and  providing  them  with 
a  homestead  of  their  own,  is  seen  to  have  been  a  very  kind  and 
gracious  one,  and  confirms  the  truth  of  the  high  estimate  of  her 
character  given  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Short.     The  deed  runs  thus  : 

To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  greeting  :  Know 
ye  that  I,  Elizabeth  Prat,  widow,  living  in  the  East  End  of  taunton 
north-purchase,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  in  the  Province  of  the  niassa- 
chusetts  Bay,  in  newengland,  for  &  in  consideration  of  the  good  and 
faithfuU  service  of  my  negro  man-servant,  whose  name  is  heber,  and 
of  my  Negro  maid-servant,  whose  name  is  hagar,  —  both  Now  dwell- 
ing with  me  in  sd.  East  End  of  Taunton  north-purchase,  —  in  considera- 
tion of  their  tender  and  Dutifull  affection  towards  me,  &  their  Ready 
&  willing  &:  faithfull  service  done  for  me  in  my  age  &:  widowhood,  & 
for  their  Incouragement  in  well  doing,  have  given,  granted,  aliened, 
conveyed,  &  confirmed,  &  by  these  presents  do  fully,  freely,  clearly, 
&  absolutely  give,  grant,  alien,  enfeoff,  convey,  &  confirm  unto  my 
abovesd  negro  servant,  mr.  heber  and  hagar,  one  tract  or  parcel  of  land, 
scituate,  being,  and  Lying  in  sd  East  End  of  taunton  North-purchase, 
containing  by  Estimation  ten  acres,  be  the  same  more  or  Less,  which 
Land  I  purchased  of  Daniel  owen.  Long  since  the  Decease  of  my 
honored  &  Beloved  husband  william  pratt,  of  sd  East  End  of  taunton 
North-purchase,  Being  part  of  the  home  Lott  of  the  sd.  Daniel  owen, 
as  by  his  Deed  of  sd  Land  to  me  may  appear.  [Here  follow  the 
boundaries.] 

This  twenty-eighth   day  of  febuary,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord   one 

thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-two. 

her 

Signed,  Sealed,  &  Delivered  in  presence  of  ELIZABETH    E  Prat. 

Mathew  Short,  mark. 

Daniel  Owen. 

Mrs.  Pratt,  it  will  be  noticed,  "  makes  her  mark."  She  may 
have  been  too  sick  at  the  time  to  write. 

It  is  probable  that  Heber  and  Hagar  were  married,  as  this 
land  is  given  to  them  both  in  one  deed.  Evidently  Heber  fol- 
lowed the  good  examples  of  Elder  and  Mrs.  Pratt,  for  he  got  the 
name  of  Heber  Honesty,  or  Honestman, —  this  being  the  name 

28 


434 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


by  which  he  is  several  times  referred  to  in  the  North-Purchase 
records  and  in  old  deeds,  and  it  shows  the  estimation  in  which 
he  was  held.     He  is  always  spoken  of  as  a  "  free  Negro  man." 

This  grant  of  land  was  just  north  of  the  Littlefield  road,  and 
not  very  far  east  of  the  Bay  road,  —  the  Littlefield  road  being 
part  of  the  "  way"  leading  through  the  town  from  the  old  meet- 
ing-house to  the  Selee  place.  If  Hagar  was  Ileber's  wife,  she 
must  have  died  previous  to  1735,  as  June  26,  1735,  he  married 
Susanna  Cordner,  of  Bridgewater.  He  had  a  son  Adam,  born 
December  23,  1736.  In  1740  Heber  appears  to  have  sold  his 
place  to  Josiah  Pratt,  of  Norton. 

There  are  various  incidental  allusions  that  assert  or  imply 
the  existence  of  slaves  in  Easton  in  the  last  century,  though  the 
number  seems  to  have  been  quite  small  at  any  time.  Thus 
among  the  recently  discovered  Leonard  papers  is  one  in  the 
handwriting  of  Thomas  Leonard,  the  town  clerk  of  the  Taunton 
North-Purchase,  as  follows:  ** June  ye  30,  1721.  Then  lent  to 
Edw.  Hayward  of  T.  N.  P.  ten  pounds  in  money,  he  then  going 
to  buy  a  negro  and  some  sheep's  wool."  James  Leonard  by  his 
will  gave  to  Eliphalet,  who  settled  in  Easton,  "  my  negro  woman 
and  the  child  born  of  her  body,  which  I  value  at  thirty  pounds." 
He  also  willed  to  his  son  Stephen  a  negro  girl  then  in  Stephen's 
possession.  Stephen  was  not  of  Easton,  but  Eliphalet  was  ;  and 
he  no  doubt  had  with  him  here  the  two  slaves  thus  bequeathed 
him,  and  perhaps  others.  In  the  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Thomas 
Manley  was  "one  negro,  ^38."  In  his  will,  made  in  1743,  we 
read  :  "  And  further  my  will  is  that  my  negro  boy  George  shall  be 
at  the  disposal  of  my  executrix  and  executor,  as  other  movable 
estate."  In  the  inventory  of  the  estate  of  John  Williams,  dated 
1757,  a  "negro  woman"  is  valued  at  forty  pounds.  Her  name 
was  Affaba.  In  the  town  valuation  of  1771,  Joshua  Howard  and 
Matthew  Hayward  are  each  credited  with  a  "  servant  for  life," 
between  fourteen  and  fifteen  years  old.  Five  years  afterward  the 
servant  of  the  former  gave  birth  to  an  infant  that  was  found  dead 
under  suspicious  circumstances.  The  following  death-record 
will  explain  it:  "Jan.  i.  Lieut,  Joshua  Hay  ward's  [Howard's] 
Negro  child,  a  servant,  Deceased  January  ist  Day,  1777,  a  Jury 
passed  &  agred  it  was  over  Laid  in  the  night,  it  Being  found 
Dead  in  the  morning."     The  slave  owned  by  Matthew  Hayward 


I 


SHADOWS.  A-,^ 

4jD 


took  his  master's  name,  and  was  known  as  Antony  Hayward, 
though  he  was  usually  called  Antone.  He  enlisted  in  Capt. 
Macey  Williams's  company  in  1775,  for  the  Lexington  alarm. 
Sometimes  masters  offered  slaves  their  liberty  if  they  would 
enlist  in  the  Continental  service.  Antony  Hayward  returned  to 
Easton  and  lived  here.  He  died  sometime  previous  to  1803, 
and  his  wife  Abigail  became  a  town  charge.  Another  Antony, 
who  lived  northwest  of  Mrs.  Francis  E.  Gilmore's  house,  at  a 
place  now  called  Antony's  Acre,  was  a  black  man  who  moved 
here  from  Stoughton.  The  tradition  that  he  was  an  Indian 
arose  from  the  fact  that  one  of  his  wives  was  an  Indian  ;  the 
other  (Margaret)  was  a  negro.  He  himself  was  a  negro,  and 
his  grave  and  those  of  his  two  wives  are  numbered  31,  32,  and 
33  of  the  numbered  graves  in  the  Pine  Grove  Cemetery. 

John  Dailey,  the  first  of  that  name  in  town,  was  the  owner  of 
at  least  one  slave.  Daniel  Manley,  Jonathan  Hayward,  and 
others  were  slaveholders  also.  In  the  old  church  records,  under 
date  of  Jan.  31,  1773,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  notes  the  fact  that  he 
"  baptized  London,  a  negro  servant,  who  owned  the  covenant." 
He  was  the  property  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Williams,  who  refers 
to  him  in  his  will  as  "my  negro  man,  London."  London,  com- 
monly called  "  Lonon,"  died  September  6,  1776,  not  long  after 
the  death  of  the  master  whom  he  loved  and  served. 

Jones  Godfrey  states  that  his  grandfather  Joseph  used  to 
come  up  with  his  slaves  from  Taunton  and  cultivate  his  lands  in 
summer  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  near  the  Bay  road,  and 
then  take  them  back  with  him  to  spend  the  winter. 

Silas  Williams,  Jr.,  was  the  owner  of  at  least  one  slave.  This 
was  Kate,  who  just  after  the  death  of  her  master,  and  when  five 
years  old,  was  baptized.  The  baptism  was  September  23,  1764. 
It  is  to  be  noted  that  slaves  were  admitted  to  the  full  privileges 
of  the  church.  Kate  served  her  mistress  six  years  following  the 
date  just  given,  when  she  was  sold  to  James  Dean,  and  we  are 
indebted  to  the  antiquarian  instincts  of  Edward  D.  Williams  for 
the  preservation  of  the  bill  of  sale.  The  bill  of  sale  for  a  slave 
in  Easton  is  a  valuable  curiosity.     The  following  is  a  copy  :  — 

This  Bill  of  Sail,  Made  this  first  Day  of  September,  A.  D.,  1770, 
Witneseth  that  I,  Lidiah  Williams,  of  Easton,  in  the  County  ot  Bristol, 


436  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Wedow,  for  an  in  Consideration  of  thirty  Pounds  lawful  money  to  me 

in  hand  Paid  by  James  Dean  of  sd  Easton,  in  the  County  aforesd, 

yeoman,  the  Recept  Where  of  [is  hereby  acknowledged],    I  the  sd. 

Lidiah  Williams  Do  Set  over  and  Convey  to  him,  the  sd  James  Dean, 

a  Certain  Negro  girl,   a   Slave   about  Eleven    years  of   age.  Named 

Gate,  to  him  the  sd   Dean,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  for  ever.    And  also 

Warrant  her  to  the  sd.  Dean  against  the  lavvfuU  Clams  and  Demands 

of  any  Parson  or  Parsons  Whatsoever.     In  Witness  Whereof  I  have 

set  my  hand  and  seal  the  Day  and  year  above  mentioned,  being  in  the 

tenth  year  of  his  Majestes  Reign. 

Lydia  Williams. 
Signed,  Sealed,  and  Delivered  in  presence  of 

Nathl.  Perry, 

Mathew  Hayward. 

Kate  remained  the  property  of  James  Dean  as  long  as  slave 
property  could  be  legally  held.  By  a  decision  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Massachusetts  in  1783,  the  Declaration  of  Rights,  that 
"  All  Men  are  born  free  and  equal,"  was  so  interpreted  as  to 
make  slavery  illegal.  Kate,  however,  had  a  pleasant  home,  and 
did  not  care  to  seek  another ;  she  therefore  continued  to  live 
with  Mr.  Dean  until  his  death.  In  his  will  of  March  2,  1790, 
he  directs  that  his  executor  shall  "  free  and  discharge  my  negro 
woman  Cate  from  all  future  service  to  me,  my  heirs  and  assigns, 
forever.  I  also  give  to  the  sd  Cate  all  her  wearing  aparil ;  also  the 
bead  she  has  generally  lain  on,  with  furniture  for  sd  bead  sofi- 
cient  for  Summer  and  Winter.  It  is  also  my  will  that  my  execu- 
tor Pay  &  Deliver  to  the  sd  Cate  out  of  my  estate  a  number  of 
Sheaps,  to  the  value  of  five  dollars." 

The  will  was  probated  March  30,  1803.  Her  freedom  Kate 
was  entitled  to  by  law,  and  could  long  before  have  claimed  it ; 
but  she  had  all  the  freedom  she  cared  for.  The  settlement  of 
this  provision  of  the  will  was  made  by  Edward  Dean,  the  son 
of  James  and  the  executor  of  the  will.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  his  discharge  :  — 

Know  all  Men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Cate  Dean,  of  Easton,  in 
the  County  of  Bristol,  Spinster,  a  Black  Woman,  have  received  of 
Edward  Dean,  Executor  of  the  last  will  and  Testament  of  Deacon 
James  Dean,  late  of  Easton,  Deceased,  all  my  wearing  apparil ;  also, 
the  Bed  that  I  have  usually  lain  upon,  together  with  Furniture  for  said 
Bed  Sufficient  for  Summer  and  Winter,  and  a  number 'of  Sheep,  to 


SHADOWS. 


437 


he  value  of  five  Dollars,  and  all  other  Articles  and  Things  in  Full  as 
jiven  or  Bequeathed  to  me  in  and  by  said  last  will  and  Testament ; 
\nd  two  Chests  and  two  Dollars  in  Money,  in  full  of  all  Demands 
igainst  said  Deceased's  Estate,  and  in  full  of  all  Demands  against  said 
Executor  as  Such,  or  of  or  from  him  in  said  Capasity  or  any  other, 
[n  witness  Whereof,  I  have  hereunto  Set  my  hand  and  Seal  the  Ninth 
lay  of  May,  Anno  Domini,  1S03. 

her 
Jignecl,  Sealed,  and  Delivered  in  presence  of  CatE  -|-  DeaN. 

Elijah  Howard,  mark. 

Elisha  Dean. 

In  the  Lieut.  John  Williams  grave-yard,  near  Daniel  Wheaton's 
md  in  the  west  row  of  graves,  may  be  seen  to-day  the  grave  of 
he  last  slave  in  the  town  of  Easton  ;  and  it  cannot  but  be  re- 
garded as  an  object  of  peculiar  interest.  The  gravestone  is  in 
jood  preservation,  and  is  inscribed  with  the  name  of  Catherine 
Vliller,  who  died  January  i,  1809,  forty-nine  years  old.  She 
lever  married.  She  died  at  the  house  of  Edward  Johnson,  a 
:olored  man  in  Easton. 


INTEMPERANCE. 

The  growth  of  the  temperance  sentiment  of  this  country  is 
»n]y  about  half  a  century  old.  Previous  to  that  time  it  was  con- 
idered  proper  to  furnish  liquor  for  social  occasions,  for  all  fes- 
ivities,  and  even  for  ordinations  and  funerals  ;  and  it  was  almost 
tniversally  used.  No  person  lost  caste  by  being  occasionally 
a  little  the  worse  for  liquor."  It  was  not  considered  hospitable 
mless  the  decanter  of  spirits  was  offered  to  callers  and  visitors. 
Ministers  sometimes  fortified  themselves  for  long  sermons  by  a 
:ood  potation,  endeavoring  to  supply  the  defect  of  the  spiritual 
y  the  use  of  the  spirituous.  The  Rev.  Solomon  Prentice,  it 
riW  be  remembered,  was  thought  to  have  been  a  little  too  happy 
n  a  training  day,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell's  wife  to  have 
een  so  free  with  the  bottle  as  to  create  scandal,  and  finally 
0  be  enslaved  by  her  appetite.  An  Easton  resident  writing 
rom  a  neighboring  town  reports  that  the  minister  of  that  town 
^as  away  on  exchange,  and  "  at  noon  the  preacher's  wife,  as  was 
he  custom,  set  some  spirits  before  him  and  invited  him  to  drink, 
diich  he  did  to  such  an  extent  that  he  could  not  preach  in  the 


438  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

afternoon,  and  the  people  had  to  go  home."  After  ordination 
dinners,  spirits,  pipes,  and  tobacco  were  in  order,  and  the  clergy 
did  full  justice  to  them.  Ordination  expenses  nearly  always  in- 
cluded a  bill  for  spirits.  Bearers  at  funerals  were  invited  to 
drink  ;  this  was  often  done  within  the  recollection  of  many  per- 
sons now  living.  Samuel  Simpson  remembers  that  when  a  boy 
he  was  a  bearer  at  the  funeral  of  a  child,  the  daughter  of  one 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  Easton  ;  and  the  young  bearers  were 
taken  upstairs  by  the  person  in  charge  of  the  exercises,  and 
were  shown  a  table  with  decanters  containing  various  kinds  of 
liquor.  This  person  no  doubt  considered  that  he  took  very  radi- 
cal ground  when  he  offered  this  caution  :  "  Now,  boys,  I  would 
advise  you  not  to  take  anything  stronger  than  wine." 

Even  as  late  as  1826  the  Rev.  Luther  Sheldon,  who  soon  be- 
came a  strong  temperance  man,  furnished  New  England  rum  to 
the  company  of  merry  buskers  who  met  to  husk  his  corn.     At 
the  same  date  Oliver  Ames,  who  very  soon  gave  up  the  practice, 
carried  a  supply  of  spirits  daily  to  the  workmen  who  were  build- 
ing the  upper  dam.     Wood-chopping,  harvesting,  house-raising, 
and  all  work  of  this  kind  seemed  to  make  spirits  a  necessity, 
while  extraordinary  occasions    called  for   more  generous    sup- 
plies.     Macey  Randall  remembers   that   when    the   coal-house 
east  of  the  hoe-shop  was  burned,  about   seventy  years  ago,  a 
pail  of  rum  and  a  bucket  of  sugar  were  furnished  to  those  who 
had  taken  part  in  extinguishing  the  fire  ;  and  in  his  account  of 
it  he  adds  :  "  As  I  was  the  smallest  boy  there  the  men  nearly 
all  gave  me  the  sugar  at  the  bottom  of  their  tumblers.     My 
head  soon  began  to  grow  dizzy,  when  I  put  for  home,  and  after 
some  lofty  circus  tumbling  over  fences  and  in  the  road  I  reached 
there  ;  but  I  knew  nothing  about  the  fire  for  the  next  twenty- 
four  hours." 

It  is  almost  superfluous  to  add  that  when  the  sentiments  of 
the  community  favored  such  a  free  and  generous  use  of  spirituous 
liquors,  intemperance  must  have  been  more  prevalent  than  now; 
this  is  known  to  be  a  fact  so  far  as  the  native  population  is  con- 
cerned. There  is,  alas  !  considerable  drinking  at  the  present 
time.  Weak  and  bad  men,  enslaved  by  this  disgusting  and  now 
disgraceful  habit,  may  be  seen  sneaking  into  the  three  unlicensed 
grog-shops  and  the  more  than  a  dozen  grog-houses  that  curse  this 


SHADOWS.  439 


town,  where  rum-selling  men  and  rum-selling  women  ply  their 
corrupting  traffic.  Still,  it  is  true  that  the  sentiment  and  prac- 
tice of  the  earlier  times  among  our  people  were  considerably 
lower  than  among  their  descendants  now.  How  many  persons 
there  are  in  this  town  who  remember  that  class  among  our  now 
departed  citizens  who  were  called  "  old  topers,"  —  men  who  were 
steeped  in  New  England  rum  !  How  common  it  was  for  what 
were  called  respectable  men  to  congregate  at  the  stores  or  in  the 
bar-rooms  of  the  inns  where  liquor  was  freely  sold,  and  spend 
their  time  and  money  together  !  This  was  the  case  at  David 
Manley's  store,  for  instance.  Some  curious  scenes  have  been 
described  to  the  writer  by  the  late  Martin  Wild,  who  was  once 
a  clerk  in  this  store.  He  told  of  a  stormy  day  when  neighbors 
thus  met  in  the  store  and  drank  together,  on  which  occasion 
William  Manley  filled  the  water-pitcher  with  gin.  They  poured 
from  this  pitcher  supposing  they  were  diluting  their  drams,  and 
were  soon  so  tipsy  that  they  could  not  get  away,  and  had  to  be 
carried  home,  —  one  well-known  citizen  of  North  Bridgewater 
being  stretched  upon  his  wood-cart  that  had  been  long  standing 
before  the  door. 

The  misery  and  degradation  caused  by  these  habits  are  be- 
yond description.  There  is  one  fact  which  the  writer  has  often 
had  occasion  to  consider  in  his  careful  study  of  the  genealogies 
of  Easton,  —  and  that  is  the  deterioration  of  certain  families  con- 
sequent upon  intemperance  and  the  evils  necessarily  accompa- 
nying it.  It  would  not  be  proper  to  publish  specific  illustrations 
of  this  fact,  although  many  might  be  given.  Intemperate  parents 
in  Easton  have  bequeathed  to  their  innocent  children  moral,  in- 
tellectual, and  physical  infirmities,  predisposing  them  to  the  appe- 
tite for  strong  drink,  and  robbing  them  in  advance  of  the  power 
to  resist.  Partial  idiocy  has  sometimes  resulted  from  the  same 
cause,  and  some  families  have  thus  died  out  altogether. 

From  the  earliest  times  in  New  England  it  was  necessary  to 
obtain  a  license  in  order  to  become  an  innkeeper  with  the  privi- 
lege of  selling  liquor,  or  to  become  a  retailer.  Down  to  1749 
there  was  an  average  of  three  innkeepers  and  liquor  retailers 
in  Easton.  In  those  days  of  bad  roads  and  slow  travel  these 
country  inns  were  a  necessity.  In  1726,  the  year  after  the  in- 
corporation of  the  town,  and  for  the  three  following  years,  there 


440  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

were  only  two  in  town,  —  one  kept  by  Benjamin  Williams  on  the 
Bay  road  near  Norton,  and  the  other  by  Thomas  Manley,  Jr., 
south  of  Lincoln  Street,  at  what  is  now  nearly  the  extreme 
south  limit  of  Flyaway  Pond.  In  1730  John  Williams  undertook 
the  business,  his  brother  Benjamin  having  discontinued  it,  and 
Daniel  Owen  who  lived  near  the  Harlow  place  began  it  also. 
In  1732  Eliphalet  Leonard  was  added  to  the  list  as  a  retailer 
merely.  In  1744  Daniel  Williams,  of  South  Easton,  who  began 
a  saw-mill  at  the  now  Morse  place,  opened  an  inn.  In  1747 
James  Stacey,  living  at  the  present  Simeon  Randall  place,  was 
a  retailer.  Josiah  Kingman  had  a  licensed  inn  close  by  Eben- 
ezer  Randall's  in  1749;  and  so  also,  the  next  year,  had  Joseph 
Gilbert,  on  the  Bay  road  near  the  Stoughton  line  :  the  Bay  road 
was  then  coming  to  be  a  frequented  stage  route.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary to  complete  the  list  down  to  the  present  time,  but  among 
the  licensed  inn-holders  we  notice  such  familiar  names  as  Mat- 
thew Hayward,  Abiel  Mitchell,  John  Dailey,  Henry  Howard, 
Josiah  Keith,  James  Perry,  Isaac  Lothrop,  Ebenezer  Tisdale, 
John  Pool,  Isaac  Kimball,  Josiah  Copeland,  Joshua  Gilmore, 
Charles  Hayden,  Isaiah  Packard,  and  many  others  who  might 
be  named.  Sometimes  as  many  as  eight  licensed  inn-holders 
did  business  in  town  at  the  same  time.  The  following  is  a 
copy  of  a  petition  to  authorize  James  Perry  to  retail  liquor:  — 

To  His  Majestyes  Justicescs  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessiofis  of  the 
Peace  Now  Setting  at  Taunton  for  and  within  the  county  of  Bristol : 
We  the  subscribers  Do  apprehend  That  James  Peny  of  this  town 
of  Easton  is  a  Person  of  a  Sober  Life  and  conversation  Suteably 
Qualified  to  Keep  a  House  to  Retail  Liqurious  Spirits,  and  we  Desire 
that  he  may  be  Licensed  for  that  purpose  ;  and  as  in  Duty  Bound  shall 
ever  pray. 

Abial  Mitchell,      \  Selectmen 
Timothy  Randell,  \       of 
Seth  Lothrop,         )    Easton. 

Easton,  September  23,  a.d.  1773. 

It  is  very  curious  to  note  that  one  was  recommended  for  the 
position  of  a  liquor-seller  on  the  ground  that  he  was  "a  person 
of  a  sober  life  and  conversation." 

There  was,  however,  another  class  of  dealers  who  were  allowed 


SHADOWS.  441 


to  sell  liquor  in  larger  quantities,  but  were  not  allowed  to  retail 
it.  Thus  in  1762  an  action  was  preferred  against  James  Gilmore, 
of  Easton,  a  "  set-work  cooper,"  "  that  sd.  James  did  contrary  to 
law  by  selling  less  than  thirty  gallons  of  Rum  to  a  single  per- 
son." The  case  was  not  made  out,  and  Gilmore  was  acquitted  ; 
but  the  incident  proves  the  existence  of  these  two  kinds  of  li- 
cense. Temperance  motives  had  nothing  to  do  with  this  system 
of  license,  which  was  not  intended  to  check  the  freest  use  of  in- 
toxicating spirits.  Licenses  for  the  sale  of  groceries  and  other 
kinds  of  goods  were  also  required. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  free  use  of  spirits  as  late  as 
1826,  at  which  time  there  was  no  real  temperance  sentiment 
existing  except  what  was  indicated  by  the  fact  that  church- 
members  were  sometimes  admonished  by  the  church  for  in- 
temperance. Soon  after  1826,  however,  the  attention  of  the 
public  was  called  to  the  folly,  wickedness,  and  disastrous  con- 
sequences of  the  drinking  habit.  Oliver  Ames,  Jr.,  and  others 
took  decided  ground.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon  and  Oliver  Ames, 
Sr.,  decided  not  to  furnish  liquor  to  their  farm-hands  and  work- 
men. The  former  once  at  the  close  of  a  week's  toil  called  in  his 
hired  men,  stated  to  them  his  convictions  as  to  the  needlessness 
and  injury  of  the  common  drinking  practices,  and  proposed  to 
add  to  the  usual  wages  of  the  men  the  value  of  the  liquor  fur- 
nished them  if  they  would  abstain  from  the  use  of  all  intoxi- 
cants while  in  his  employ.  To  this  they  assented  ;  and  they 
soon  proved  to  others  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  the  use  of 
alcoholic  drinks  while  at  work.  Oliver  Ames  adopted  the  same 
plan,  and  others  followed  it  ;  so  that  this  rule  came  to  be  es- 
tablished in  town  with  farm-hands,  and  coffee  was  substituted 
in  the  place  of  spirituous  liquors.  Mr.  Sheldon  and  others  dis- 
couraged the  use  of  liquor  at  weddings,  and  reform  in  that  re- 
spect resulted.  Dr.  Caleb  Swan  became  an  earnest  advocate 
of  the  new  movement,  as  also  did  Howard  Lothrop,  Lincoln 
Drake,  and  other  good  men.  Meetings  were  held,  discussions 
engaged  in,  and  the  whole  community  was  stirred  up  on  the 
subject.  The  first  public  meeting  especially  devoted  to  this 
cause  was  held  somewhere  between  1830  and  1840,  and  was 
addressed  by  Charles  Jewett.  It  was  a  large  meeting.  At  its 
close  Mr.  Jewett  presented  the  temperance  pledge,  and  urged  his 


442  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

hearers  to  sign  it ;  but  of  the  large  number  present  only  three 
persons  signed  the  pledge.  These  persons  were  Oliver  Ames,  Jr. 
(probably  the  first  person  in  Easton  to  take  the  total  abstinence 
pledge),  E.  J.  W.  Morse,  and  a  Mr.  King  who  subsequently 
moved  to  Mansfield.  In  1840  the  school  children  of  Easton 
were  organized  into  a  Cold  Water  Army  and  held  a  grand  pic- 
nic in  Lucius  Howard's  grove,  marching  there  with  banners, 
wearing  badges,  singing  songs,  listening  to  addresses,  and  having 
an  interesting  celebration. 

The  effect  of  the  temperance  agitation  was  soon  apparent  in 
the  votes  of  town-meetings.  As  early  as  March,  1830,  the  town 
"  voted  that  the  selectmen  shall  not  approbate  any  persons  to 
sell  any  distilled  spirits  in  town."  In  1832,  "voted  not  to  have 
any  licensed  houses  to  sell  distilled  spirits  or  wine,"  and  also 
to  "  disapprobate  the  County  Commissioners  for  licensing  pub- 
lic houses  in  Easton  where  liquor  might  be  retailed."  Subse- 
quently the  town  undertook  to  manage  and  control  the  sale  of 
liquor  by  appointing  an  agent  who  was  licensed  under  certain 
restrictions  to  carry  on  the  business.  It  was  for  a  time  done  at 
the  Almshouse. 

Temperance  agitation  was  kept  up  for  years,  and  occasionally 
some  action  in  town-meeting  indicates  how  much  it  occupied 
public  attention.  Thus  in  1847  it  was  voted  "  to  procure  a 
blank  book  for  the  registration  of  temperance  men,  women,  and 
children's  names,  together  with  the  total-abstinence  pledge." 
At  the  same  meeting  a  committee  of  one  person  in  each  school 
district  was  chosen  to  circulate  the  book  and  obtain  signatures 
to  the  pledge. 

It  has  meant  much  for  temperance  in  Easton  that  it  early 
gained  the  support  of  men  of  character  and  ability.  Their 
strong  and  steady  adherence  to  temperance  principles,  and  their 
practice  of  total  abstinence  have  been  mainly  instrumental  in 
fostering  temperance  sentiments  and  encouraging  temperance 
habits.  Among  people  of  education  and  character  it  is  no 
longer  respectable  here  to  indulge  in  the  drinking  habit  ;  and 
even  occasional  drunkenness,  which  was  once  regarded  with 
easy  indulgence  or  as  a  good  joke,  is  now  justly  considered  as  a 
real  disgrace.  Among  some  classes,  however,  there  is  consider- 
able drinking  yet ;  though  the  town  annually  votes  "  no  license," 


SHADOWS. 


443 


there  are  usually  over  a  dozen  places  where  beer,  cider,  and 
stronger  drinks  may  be  had.  Occasional  convictions  and  pay- 
ment of  fines  present  some  check  to  this  illegal  sale,  but  do  not 
stop  it.  The  rascals  who  sell  usually  keep  selling  until  death 
calls  them  to  account,  and  relieves  the  community  of  their  bane- 
ful presence.  Eternal  vigilance  on  the  part  of  parents,  teach- 
ers, churches,  Sunday-schools,  and  other  means  of  influence  in 
implanting  temperance  sentiments  in  the  young  and  fostering 
temperance  principles  in  the  town,  will  prove  the  only  effective 
means  to  cope  with  this  debasing  evil,  and  hold  in  check  its  de- 
grading and  ruinous  power  over  health,  personal  industry  and 
integrity,  over  domestic  peace  and  the  general  welfare. 

PAUPERISM. 

Another  shadow  must  now  be  added  to  the  picture,  —  that  of 
pauperism.  It  may  properly  follow  our  last  topic,  since  pauper- 
ism is  a  common  sequel  to  intemperance.  It  conjures  up  a  sad 
spectacle  to  think  of  the  poor,  crippled,  friendless,  diseased,  de- 
mented, and  idiotic  persons  who  from  generation  to  generation 
have  had  to  depend  upon  the  town  for  their  maintenance. 
Sadder  even  than  this  is  it  to  think  of  some  who  were  tenderly 
reared,  and  who  by  misfortunes  they  could  not  prevent  were 
forced  to  bear  the  misery  and  shame  of  a  pauper's  life. 

The  pauper  history  of  Easton  does  not  differ  materially  from 
that  of  other  New  England  towns.  The  early  practice  was  to 
bid  the  poor  off  at  auction  to  the  lowest  bidder,  who  agreed  for 
the  sum  named  to  provide  for  them.  This  may  naturally  re- 
mind us  of  a  slave  auction.  To  those  who  had  any  sensitiveness 
it  must  have  been  exceedingly  painful  to  be  thus  disposed  of 
from  year  to  year.  It  is  easy  to  see  that  under  this  system  they 
must  often  have  fared  extremely  hard.  The  prices  paid  for  this 
keeping  were  very  small.  In  1791  Hopestill  Randall  received 
but  X5.  14s.  Sd.  for  keeping  a  poor  widow  for  a  year  ;  even  this 
was  in  depreciated  currency,  and  amounted  to  not  over  twenty 
dollars.  Of  course  in  some  instances  the  poor  could  render 
some  return  to  their  keepers  by  labor.  The  bills  of  charges  for 
their  maintenance  were  voted  in  town-meetings,  and  this  served 
to  keep  the  names  of  the  poor  unpleasantly  prominent.  When 
the  town  was  not  in  good  humor  these  bills  were  sometimes  set 


444  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

aside  ;  and  this  was  likely  to  exasperate  those  to  whom  they 
were  due,  and  make  them  more  indifferent  to  the  comfort  of  the 
paupers  in  their  charge.  Some  of  these  accounts  go  into  minute 
details.  At  one  time  salt  was  voted  to  Widow  Lucy  Randall, 
and  a  winding  sheet  for  Jonah  Drake's  wife.  In  May,  1799,  the 
town  "voted  to  Abiel  Kinsly  Nine  Pounds,  foure  shillings,  for 
shoger  and  Rum  for  David  Randall's  famely.  Voted  to  Thomas 
Manly  foure  Pounds,  ten  shillings,  for  a  coffin  and  diging  the 
grave  for  Seth  Hogg.  Voted  to  Israel  Woodward  foure  Pounds 
for  a  grave  clooth  for  Seth  Hogg,  and  two  quarts  of  Rum  ex- 
pended about  the  time  of  his  death."  As  a  fitting  sequel  to  an 
appropriation  for  rum  for  David  Randall's  family,  the  following, 
recorded  a  few  months  later,  speaks  for  itself  :  "Voted  to  Abner 
Randall  nine  Pounds  for  a  coffin  for  David  Randall.  Voted  to 
Paul  Lincoln  seven  Pounds,  ten  shillings,  for  diging  a  grave  for 
same."  It  should  be  noted  that  these  apparently  large  sums  of 
money  are  in  the  much  depreciated  Continental  currency.  Paul 
Lincoln  had  to  wait  nine  years  for  his  pay,  and  then  his  ^7.  los. 
had  shrunk  to  two  shillings  of  good  money.  Seth  Hodge,  whose 
name  is  misspelled  above,  was  son  of  James  Hodge,  one  of  the 
early  settlers,  and  he  was  for  many  years  a  town  charge.  It 
was  probably  of  him  that  we  have  the  record  as  a  person  who 
was  "  none  come  posements,"  which  we  shall  understand  better 
by  abbreviating  to  jwu  compos  meiitis}  David  Randall  lived  in 
the  Old  Castle,  close  by  which  his  grave  was  dug,  near  a  rock 
on  the  east  side  of  it.  This  Old  Castle  is  in  ruins,  which  ruins 
may  yet  be  found  in  a  pine-grove  not  far  south  of  Lincoln 
Street,  and  southeast  of  the  old  Israel  Woodward  cemetery. 
In  the  latter  days  of  this  Castle,  long  after  the  Randalls  left  it, 
it  became  a  disreputable  place, — a  scene  of  drunkenness  and 
associated  vices.     Fortunately  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

In  1785  an  attempt  was  made  "to  come  into  some  more  regu- 
lar method  of  supporting  the  poor  of  the  town."  A  house  was 
bought  of  Jacob  Macomber,  and  it  was  appropriated  to  the  use  of 
the  poor,  "  if  needed."  In  1786,  with  reference  to  collecting  and 
caring  for  the  poor  in  this  house,  Joseph  Gilbert  was  chosen  an 
inspector  or  overseer  of  the  poor  of  this  town  "  in  case  it  should 

1  Another  demented  Easton  man,  for  whom  a  guardian  was  about  to  be  appointed, 
was  called  an  "  uncompas  person." 


SHADOWS. 


445 


be  necessary."  This  was  the  first  choice  of  a  special  officer 
for  this  duty,  though  apparently  he  had  no  duties  to  perform. 
The  town  abandoned  the  proposed  plan,  sold  the  house  above 
alluded  to,  and  appropriated  part  of  the  proceeds  for  the  support 
of  the  poor.  In  1788  the  plan  was  reconsidered,  and  a  house  on 
Grove  Street  near  the  North  Bridgewater  line  was  purchased  of 
Seth  Burr  to  be  used  for  a  poor-house  ;  and  for  the  first  time  the 
selectmen  were  named  "  overseers  of  the  poor,"  though  the  term 
was  dropped  the  next  year.  But  this  attempt  at  establishing  an 
almshouse  was  given  up,  and  for  many  years  afterward  the  poor 
were  assigned  to  the  lowest  bidders  as  formerly.  Sometimes 
they  fell  into  unfeeling  hands  ;  for  offering  them  to  the  lowest 
bidder  set  a  premium  upon  meanness  and  cruelty.  There  were 
cases  where  the  poor  were  miserably  clad  and  insufficiently  fed. 
The  fate  of  the  insane  poor  was  especially  deplorable,  since  there 
were  then  no  insane  asylums.  These  demented  paupers  were  a 
great  trouble  to  care  for,  and  the  theory  of  the  time  was  that 
severe  treatment  was  the  best  for  them.  They  were  caged  or 
locked  up  in  cellars  and  garrets  ;  not  infrequently  they  were 
cruelly  beaten,  so  that  death  was  hastened.  There  was  one 
private  poor-house  kept  at  the  Sheperd  place  on  the  Bay  road 
by  Alby  Willis  that  may  be  spoken  of  here,  since  he  leaves  no 
descendants  to  blush  for  his  cruelty.  Complaints  were  rife 
concerning  the  hard  lot  of  the  poor  in  his  charge ;  six  inmates 
died  in  1821,  and  stories  of  their  unkind  treatment  were  told 
which  need  not  be  repeated  here.  When  the  subject  of  bid- 
ding off  the  poor  next  came  up,  Calvin  Marshall,  Sr.,  boldly 
ventilated  the  whole  affair ;  and  Philip  Willis  rose  in  town- 
meeting  and  said,  "  I  move  that  the  bid  of  Alby  Willis  be 
not  taken."  His  motion  prevailed,  and  many  a  poor  friendless 
soul  in  Easton  felt  a  thrill  of  relief  at  the  good  news.  By  a 
strange  turn  of  fortune,  Alby  Willis  himself  ended  his  days  in 
the  Easton  Almshouse. 

One  singular  method  of  disposing  of  the  poor  was  that  of 
selling  their  maintenance  for  life  to  the  lowest  bidder.  For  a 
stipulated  sum  a  person  would  agree  to  take  a  pauper  off  the 
hands  of  the  town  and  care  for  him  during  his  lifetime.  The 
following  document  copied  from  the  town  records  is  an  illustra- 
tion of  this  method  :  — 


446  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Easton,  February  8,  1781. 
I  the  subscriber  do,  for  Value  received,  Promis  that  I  Will  Maintain 
David  Gurney  in  Sickness  and  in  health  During  his  Natural  life,  and 
I  Will  Pay  coast  &  treble  that  the  town  of  Easton  Shall  be  Put  to  by 
Reason  of  the  above  Named  Gurnies  Not  being  honerabelly  Main- 
tained as  above.     As  witness  my  hand, 

Macey  Williams. 
Test.        Seth  Pratt,         )  Sckdvicn  of 
Elijah  Howard,  \     [Easton. 

Of  course  the  sooner  such  a  pauper  died  the  more  money 
accrued  to  the  person  making  such  contract,  the  pauper's  money- 
value  having  a  direct  proportion  to  his  supposed  nearness  to  the 
grave.  Sometimes  a  pauper  child  v^as  bound  out  to  some  one 
until  he  became  of  age,  the  town  paying  something  for  his  sup- 
port. Thus  in  1805  "the  town  voted  that  Mr.  Charles  Hayden 
should  keep  John  Wilson  untill  he  is  twenty-one  years  of  age  ; 
that  he  should  have  him  bound  to  him,  give  him  decent  clothing, 
schooling,  &c.,  and  receive  of  the  town  of  Easton  twenty-five 
dollars." 

Easton  (and  New  England  towns  generally)  exercised  the 
utmost  vigilance  to  prevent  those  who  moved  in  from  other 
places  from  acquiring  a  legal  residence  ;  this  was  done  in  order 
that  in  case  of  poverty  they  should  not  be  chargeable  to  Easton, 
but  rather  to  the  towns  where  they  had  previously  resided.  The 
method  of  accomplishing  this  was  to  warn  such  new-comers  out 
of  town.  This  was  done  by  a  legal  process  regularly  served 
upon  them,  of  which  the  warrant  below  is  a  sample.  It  con- 
cerns John  Lincoln,  of  Taunton,  who  came  to  Benjamin  Drake, 
Jr's,  to  live  about  1730.  There  was  no  objection  to  him  per- 
sonally ;  not  long  afterward  he  became,  in  fact,  a  town  officer. 
But  the  town  wished  to  avoid  any  responsibility  for  his  main- 
tenance in  case  he  became  a  pauper.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  document :  — 

"  Bristol,  ss.  To  Mr.  Be?ijamin  Fobes,  corns  tabic  for  the  Town  of 
Easton^  —  That  where  as  John  Linckhorn  Doth  contrary  to  the  Law 
of  this  province  reside  in  this  Town  with  out  Law  or  consent  from  sd 
Town  of  Easton,  these  are  therefore  in  his  Majestis  name  to  command 
you  forthwith,  upon  Site  of  the  above  sd  John  Linckon,  to  warn  him 
to  Depart  the  town  forth  with,  on  paine  and  penalty  of  the  Law  made 


SHADOWS. 


447 


and  provided  in  that  case.  And  you  are  hereby  Required  to  warn  Ben- 
jemin  Drake,  Jun.,  that  he  Doth  not  Intertain  said  Linckon  on  paine 
and  penalty  of  the  Law.  In  that  case  hereby  fail  not,  and  make  Due 
Return  of  your  [doings]  herein  unto  us  the  subscribers  at  or  before 
the  first  Day  of  March  next  ensuing.  The  Date  here  of  given  under 
our  hand  in  Easton,  January  the  fourteenth  Day,  and  in  the  fourth 
year  of  his  Majesties  Reign,  Anno  Dom.,  1730. 

JosiAH  Keith,  ^    ^^^^^^^^^^^ 


Mark  Lothrop,  Kforthctoxvn 

Eliphalet  Leonard,  j   °f  ^'''^'^■ 


Bristol  ss.  In  observance  of  this  warrant  on  January  y^  18,  1730, 
then  I  warned  y*"  above  sd  John  Linkhorn  to  Depart  this  town  on  pen- 
alty of  y*^  Law;  and  Likwise  the  above  said  Benjemin  Drake,  Jun., 
I  for  warned  him  of  Intertaining  the  above  said  John  Linkhorn  on 
penalty  of  the  Law. 

Benjemin  Fobes,  Constable. 

Two  months  afterward  a  woman  —  Mary,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Smith  —  was  warned  out.  This  method  was  pursued  through 
the  last  century,  many  of  the  warnings  being  recorded  in  the 
court  records  at  Taunton.  These  documents  are  of  great  ser- 
vice to  the  antiquarian,  who  is  able  by  them  to  ascertain  the 
previous  residence  of  new-comers,  and  thereby  to  trace  their 
genealogies.  The  form  of  these  warrants  seemed  harsh  and  in- 
imical ;  but  this  was  only  in  form.  Persons  were  legally  warned 
out  under  various  pains  and  penalties,  whose  departure  would 
have  been  regarded  as  a  public  calamity.  Some  of  them  had 
been  living  here  for  a  long  time  before  this  was  done,  —  business 
men,  and  even  tovv^n  officials.  In  1790  one  hundred  families  and 
forty-nine  individuals  were  thus  warned  out,  notwithstanding  that 
their  departure  would  have  reduced  the  population  of  the  town 
at  that  date  by  one  third.  In  other  cases  this  warrant  meant 
business.  Poor  persons  were  waited  upon  by  a  constable,  and 
forced  to  "  move  on  "  until  they  found  a  town  whose  officers  were 
less  alert,  or  where  the  feeling  of  humanity  was  stronger  than 
that  of  self-interest.  There  were  various  instances  in  which  our 
constables  were  paid  for  this  unpleasant  service  of  ejecting  the 
poor  and  unfortunate  beyond  the  town  limits. 


448  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


The  plan  proposed  in  1785  to  keep  the  poor  together  in  one 
house,  which  was  revived  three  years  afterward  but  not  carried 
out,   was   occasionally  suggested    in   following   years.      It  was 
formally  voted  in  18 18,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements.     Nothing  was  done  at  once 
about  it,  nor  was  a  similar  movement  in  1822  successful.     In 
1823  the  town  "voted  the  whole  21  poor  be  sold  together  on  this 
condition,  —  the  three  children  the  selectmen  to  bind  out,  and 
the  same  expense  per  week  to  be  deducted  from  the  time  they 
leave  the  poor-house  ^  to  the  expiration  of  the  year,  which  it  costs 
each  person   of  the  whole    number   per  week   for   supporting, 
which  is  ^580."     In  1835  a  committee  was  appointed  in  town- 
meeting  to  consider  the  proposition  of  buying  a  farm  to  be  used 
as  a  home  for  the  poor.     While  the  question  was  pending,  the 
town  "  voted  to  instruct  the  selectmen  to  get  our  present  poor 
kept  as  cheap  as  they  can  in  their  opinion  for  the  ensuing  year." 
An  unsuccessful  attempt  was  then  made  to  hire  West  Bridge- 
water   to    take  our   paupers  into  their  almshouse.      In  March, 
1837,  it  was  for  the  last  time  "voted  to  sell  the  poor  of  Easton 
at  auction ;  .  .  .  and  they  were  struck  off  to  Capt.  Lewis  Wil- 
liams for  the  sum  of  thirteen  hundred  dollars." 

January,  1838,  the  town  purchased  of  Jedediah  Packard  his 
farm,  with  buildings  thereon,  being  the  present  Town-farm  of 
Easton.  The  necessary  stock,  tools,  furniture,  etc.  were  pur- 
chased, and  at  last  the  friendless  poor  of  the  town  of  Easton 
had  the  prospect  of  being  domesticated  in  some  semblance  of  a 
home.  They  had  been  publicly  struck  off  to  the  lowest  bidder 
from  year  to  year  for  over  a  century ;  had  been  taken  from  house 
to  house,  often  living  on  hard  fare,  and  feeling  the  disgrace  of  a 
condition  which  to  some  of  them  was  the  result  of  misfortune 
for  which  they  were  not  to  blame. 

The  real  goodness  and  the  refined  Christian  feeling  of  a  town 
can  have  no  surer  test  than  its  care  of  its  unfortunate  poor. 
Their  condition  at  the  best  appeals  deeply  to  our  sympathies, 
and  a  tender,  benevolent  interest  in  their  comfort  and  welfare 
ought  to  be  cultivated.  No  one  can  absolutely  know  that  he 
himself,  or  those  dear  to  him,  may  not  sometime  become  inmates 

^  The  word  "  poor-liouse  "  was  sometimes  thus  publicly  used  with  reference  to 
the  private  house  where  the  poor  were  kept.  The  quotation  above  seems  ambiguous, 
but  the  ^580  appears  to  be  the  bid  for  the  whole. 


SHADOWS. 


449 


of  the  Almshouse.  Several  persons  once  prominent  in  the  town 
have  thus  "  come  upon  the  town."  At  the  time  of  the  church 
controversy  fifty  years  ago  the  Unitarian  bell  was  hung  so  as 
to  swing  north  and  south,  and  the  Orthodox  bell  so  as  to  swing 
east  and  west.  Some  one  facetiously  remarked  that  one  bell  was 
to  call  Mr.  Ames  from  the  north  and  Mr.  Pool  from  the  south  ; 
the  other  to  call  Mr.  Hayden  from  the  east  and  General  Leach 
from  the  west,  —  naming  them,  because  they  were  the  most  influ- 
ential persons  in  the  two  congregations.  And  yet  the  widow  of 
"  Mr.  Hayden  from  the  east,"  notwithstanding  her  husband's  once 
prominent  position,  was  ultimately  forced  to  accept  the  Alms- 
house as  her  home  ;  and  she  lived  there  for  five  years,  dying  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years.  It  will  illustrate  the  sen- 
sitiveness naturally  felt  by  many  who  have  thus  had  to  accept 
the  charity  of  the  town,  to  record  that  this  poor  old  lady  worked 
hard  at  braiding  straw  for  the  last  few  months  of  her  life  in 
order  to  earn  money  enough  to  pay  all  her  funeral  charges. 
She  shrank  with  pain  from  the  thought  of  being  buried  at  the 
expense  of  the  town. 

Besides  the  amount  spent  at  the  Almshouse  annually,  the  town 
of  Easton  spends  large  sums  upon  the  poor  in  town  outside  of 
the  Almshouse.  There  are  many  families  that  cannot  fully  sup- 
port themselves,  but  who  are  able  to  get  along  with  a  little  aid 
judiciously  given.  This  part  of  the  work  of  the  selectmen  calls 
for  good  judgment  as  well  as  kind  feeling,  and  is  often  very 
embarrassing.  The  present  annual  cost  of  the  poor  of  Easton 
to  the  town  is  between  six  and  seven  thousand  dollars. 

The  wardens  of  the  Almshouse  have  been  as  follows  :  Elea- 
zer  Keith  was  warden  for  1839  ^.nd  1840;  Archippus  Buck, 
1841  ;  Seth  Field,  1842  and  1843  ;  Joel  Sampson,  1844  to  1849  ; 
Alvin  Drake,  1849;  David  Hervey,  1850  to  1854;  Silas  V. 
Clapp,  1854  to  1858;  David  Hervey,  1858  to  1861  ;  Francis 
Dunbar,  1861  and  1862  ;  Charles  Howard,  1863  and  1864  ;  Fran- 
cis Dunbar,  1865  to  1868;  Jeremiah  Hayes,  1868;  Triscom 
Hobson,  1869  ;  Charles  T.  Wade,  1870  and  1871  ;  Isaac  Osgood, 
1872;  Charles  T.  Wade,  1873  to  1876;  James  C.  Rounds,  1876 
to  1879  ;  John  T,  Barden,  1879  ;  Charles  T.  Wade,  1880  to  1885  ; 
Nathaniel  Fuller,  1885,  and  he  still  serves  as  warden. 

29 


450  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

HIGHWAYS. 

Introductory  Remarks. — Abandoned  Roads.  —  The  Bay  Road, 
Prospect  Street,  and  Purchase  Street  laid  out  before  the 
Incorporation  of  the  Town.  —  Other  old  Roads. — The  Taun- 
ton and  South  Boston  Turnpike  Controversy.  —  Washington 
Street.  —  Other  Easton  Highways. — The  Oliver  Ames  Be- 
quest for  Public  Highways.  —  Governor  Ames's  Gift  for  the 
Planting  of  Trees  along  the  Streets  and  Highways. 

THE  subject  of  public  highways  does  not  promise  to  be  es- 
pecially interesting.  Exciting  as  contests  over  tovvn-v^rays 
sometimes  are  in  town-meetings,  they  do  not  make  very  enter- 
taining history.  But  so  much  of  town  business  pertains  to  them, 
their  laying-out  so  often  needs  to  be  referred  to,  and  the  history 
of  some  of  them  has  been  so  peculiar,  that  it  is  desirable  a  chap- 
ter should  be  given  to  them  in  this  work.  The  controversy,  for 
example,  concerning  the  road  through  the  Great  Cedar-Swamp 
was  so  earnest,  bitter,  long-continued  and  expensive,  and  was  so 
absorbing  at  the  time,  that  it  deserves  description  in  these  pages. 
Interesting  matters  come  up  in  the  history  of  several  other  roads. 
They  will  all  be  noticed  here  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  order 
of  their  laying-out.  But  the  "  laying-out "  and  adoption  of  a 
road  in  early  times  did  not  always  mean  what  it  does  now.,  and 
many  of  the  old  laid-out  roads  were  mere  cart-paths.  The  lo- 
cation of  the  roads  upon  the  old  town  map  here  given  is 
quite  inaccurate.  Some  roads  voted  for  by  the  town  before  this 
map  was  made  do  not  appear  on  it,  and  some  of  the  roads  that 
do  appear  were  not  town-ways,  —  as,  for  example,  that  from 
South  Easton  village  northwest  across  the  valley  to  North 
Easton  village. 

There  are  a  number  of  abandoned  roads  in  Easton  that  were 
once  considerably  used  highways.     There  was  one  from  North 


"a  plan  of  ye 
JnwfJ  uf  EAsjDfJ 

WITH    THE   PLASES   OF    VE    HOUSES   & 


l,,^,^  HIGHWAYS    THEREON 

e.-^fcuilt,^ri>r^Jiis  ffigtorv  by  ^ 

Ji.  BJIayfrari,  CE. 


0 


OutJj>n-i 


etb"" 


'ftIlK» 


,t»*V 


(;ii»^''\ 


^etyusono 


Thomas  Afmiley 
Xsnael  fVooitrrard  ^ 


^:iVaih*J^ran 


cr-  , 


cTohiiuiustin 
Penibertan  BriOnn 

JJavui  (hren 


..^ 

# 


"  rjas.  Dhnkt  -3 
c/o*.  Crossni 

^Jas.  Pmlt  gr 

ifasJ'ratt'fr 
Jianiel  J^nUs 
Thomas  PnUt. 

— o- — _^ 

^--dk,  SolamonJiewett     ^^f^eitttn' 
\  ^•,  I 'i^"'"' Phuitii 

/we  HO. 
*  navnard       \ 

f\  (Joe  Forbes 

,    -^beruzer Amef        [^ 


-o---    -e^      •TosiiihTit'MJi  Jr. 
^ohn  Mariler 


f    A        MEE 


j4(V^^,,i<*>    "^Jf^ 


/ 


6        Eleazei\Keith 


'Jotm^Burti 


\Hlinraid\ 


(Sxfnijrhiti 


THE    ORIGINAL     PI  AN     WAS    DRAWN  BY 

BENrJ.   COBB.     Surveyor 

r ABOUT  :-'cc  ; 


Geo'JiVfalke)  jr  C'-   '",i'^'-  '°'--'- 


HIGHWAYS. 


451 


Easton  village  to  Solomon  Foster's  place,  and  so  round  east  to 
the  old  Stoughton  road,  now  Washington  Street.  It  is  not  yet 
obliterated,  and  may  be  traced  throughout  where  it  was  once 
travelled.  Two  roads  diverged  from  near  Thomas  Manley,  Jr's, 
or  the  Willis  place  on  Lincoln  Street,  —  one  going  southwest 
crossing  the  Bay  road  south  of  the  old  cemetery;  the  other  run- 
ning northwest  from  east  of  John  Lincoln's  to  the  Gilbert  place. 
Another  old  road  ran  from  the  Edward  Hayward  place,  first 
northwest  and  then  northeast,  coming  into  Purchase  Street  east 
of  Mr.  Rankin's.  A  road  ran  to  the  Selee  place  from  the  south- 
east, some  distance  west  of  Tisdale  Harlow's  ;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter place  a  road  led  southeastwardly  through  the  town  as  far 
as  Eliphalet  Leonard's  forge,  and  may  still  be  traced  much  of 
the  way  ;  it  crosses  Centre  Street  just  south  of  Horace  Thomp- 
son's. The  old  Meeting-house  road  now  superseded  by  Centre 
Street,  the  old  Stoughton  road,  and  some  others  will  be  referred 
to  in  the  proper  place. 

The  town  survey  of  about  1750  is  given  here  in  order  to  show 
the  location  of  these  ancient  roadways.  The  survey  was  taken 
to  exhibit  the  location  of  the  dwelling-houses  and  highways,  and 
thereby  to  assist  in  determining  the  most  suitable  situation  for 
the  new  meeting-house,  —  a  subject  that  caused  the  fierce  con- 
tention already  narrated  in  this  History.  The  original  of  this 
map  was  preserved  by  Macey  Randall. 

In  the  account  which  follows,  the  writer  has  adhered  to  the 
names  of  the  streets  and  highways  given  upon  the  map  of  E.  B. 
Hayward,  which  was  drawn  in  1883,  those  names  having  been 
afterward  adopted  in  town-meeting. 

The  Bay  road,  according  to  tradition,  was  first  located  on 
an  old  Indian  trail.  However  this  may  be,  it  is  spoken  of  in 
1697  in  the  Taunton  North-Purchase  records  as  the  "new  Rhode 
that  leadeth  from  John  Witherell's  to  the  bay."  ^  John  Witherell 
lived  in  Norton,  south  of  Easton,  and  the  "  bay  "  was  Massachu- 
setts Bay.  This  road,  therefore,  is  about  two  hundred  years  old, 
and  is  probably  the  oldest  within  the  limits  of  the  town.  There 
is  no  record  of  its  first  laying-out,  which  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  done  by  the  North-Purchase  proprietors.     Alterations  on 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Surveys,  vol.  i.  p.  9. 


452  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

the  southern  part  of  it  were  made  in  1735.  In  March,  1754,  as 
it  was  becoming  an  important  highway,  it  was  laid  out  forty  feet 
wide  through  the  town.  There  were  then  two  inns  upon  it,  — 
John  Williams's  at  the  south  part  of  the  town,  and  that  of  Josiah 
Kingman,  who  had  opened  his  tavern  five  years  before,  just  above 
Ebenezer  Randall's  present  house.  There  were  ten  houses  on 
the  road  at  this  time  in  town,  and  several  others  quite  near.  But 
business  increased  along  this  travelled  way.  New  houses  were 
built,  a  few  stores  appeared,  and,  save  at  the  Furnace  Village,  it 
then  had  a  much  livelier  appearance  than  it  has  to-day.  Matthew 
Hayvvard  built  a  large  house,  now  standing  below  Mr.  Kimball's, 
and  kept  an  inn  ;  and  at  the  Sheperd  place  Ebenezer  Tisdale,  and 
after  him  Macey  Tisdale  and  others,  furnished  entertainment  for 
man  and  beast.  Joseph  Gilbert  for  a  time  retailed  spirits  not  far 
north  of  the  Tisdale  Tavern.  There  was  certainly  no  reason  why 
any  one  should  be  thirsty  in  travelling  along  the  Bay  road  in 
Easton  in  those  days.  Robert  Ripley  housewright,  Joseph  Tink- 
ham  cordwainer  and  trader,  the  Shaws,  and  others  lived  on  this 
road.  Isaac  Kimball  at  the  now  Kimball  location  became  a  re- 
tailer of  spirits;  two  blacksmith  shops  sprung  up  along  the  way; 
and  about  1 790  Nathaniel  Wetherby  succeeded  the  Tisdales  in  the 
tavern  business,  having  ten  years  later  at  his  inn  the  first  post- 
office  in  town,  though  Daniel  Wheaton  received  the  appointment 
in  his  stead  six  months  later,  there  being  no  other  post-office  here 
for  eleven  years.  With  the  mail-coaches  and  heavy  teams  and 
various  conveyances  passing  along  the  road  constantly  between 
Boston  at  one  end  and  New  Bedford  at  the  other,  with  Taunton 
between,  we  can  imagine  that  the  old  Bay  road  often  presented 
a  much  more  animated  scene  than  it  does  to-day.  There  were 
for  a  time  two  schoolhouses,  —  one  below  Charles  Keith's  house 
on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  and  the  other  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Lincoln  Street  and  this  road.  At  the  Sheperd  place 
in  18 12,  the  tavern  being  then  kept  by  Capt.  Samuel  Hodges, 
the  younger  Captain  Hodges  recruited  a  company  for  the  na- 
tional army,  —  a  company  of  wild  fellows,  who  drank  more  of 
the  old  captain's  rum  than  they  paid  for,  who  amused  them- 
selves with  smashing  the  gravestones  in  the  cemetery  near  by, 
and  who  were  the  terror  of  the  neighborhood  while  they  stayed, 
their  pranks  even  extending  to  North  Easton  village. 


HIGHWAYS. 


453 


Such  was  the  Bay  road  of  other  days.  The  fact  has  been  noted 
that  it  was  laid  out  forty  feet  wide  through  the  town  in  1754. 
But  this  road  originally  was  not  well  made ;  and  so  many  persons 
outside  of  Easton  were  interested  in  it  that  we  are  not  surprised 
to  find  that  more  than  once  Easton  is  admonished  by  the  Supe- 
rior Court,  and  obliged  to  pay  a  fine,  "by  reason  of  the  bad- 
ness of  their  roads."  In  January,  1771,  they  paid  a  fine  of  ten 
pounds.  This  waked  up  the  town.  Money  was  raised  to  repair 
the  road.  In  1772  a  section  of  it  near  Summer  Street  was 
straightened.  But  by  1797  "the  town  of  Easton  is  under  pre- 
sentment of  the  Grand  Jury  for  the  County  of  Bristol  by  Infor- 
mation of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Deficiency  of  the  Northward 
part  of  the  Highway  called  the  Bay  road  ;  "  and  June  16,  1797, 
Abisha  Leach  and  Seth  Littlefield  made  a  careful  survey  of  it 
from  the  Stoughton  line  to  Furnace  Village.  A  committee  was 
chosen  to  act  for  the  town  in  court,  and  the  road  was  put  in 
repair.  But  only  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  dollars  were  ex- 
pended, and  consequently  complaint  was  soon  made  again,  and 
the  town  had  to  answer  the  summons  of  the  Supreme  Court 
at  Taunton,  in  1803,  for  its  neglect  to  repair  the  "Post  Road." 
Three  hundred  dollars  were  spent  this  year  for  repairs  on  it. 
In  1 81 2  the  same  trouble  occurred  again.  The  town  had  to 
appear  by  its  agent  in  court,  and  on  the  next  year  a  fine  was 
imposed  for  neglect.  Evidently  the  town  considered  it  a  bur- 
den to  keep  a  road  in  repair  that  was  so  much  used  by  non- 
residents. 

Although  the  Bay  road  was  the  oldest  highway  in  the  "East 
End  "  of  the  Taunton  North-Purchase,  the  first  recorded  laying- 
out  of  a  highway  by  the  North-Purchase  proprietors  in  what  is 
now  Easton  was  on  June  1 1,  1697.  This  highway  began  "  at  the 
line  between  Bridgwater  &  Taunton  North-Purchase,  where  the 
way  now  goeth  by  marked  trees,  which  is  called  the  uper  way, 
&  so  up  along  badcock's  plain  to  &  through  Clement  Briggs's 
land  &  William  Manlies  land  where  the  way  now  goeth,  &  so 
along  by  Thomas  Randals  Junior  land  into  the  undevided  land."^ 
This  road  very  nearly  corresponded  to  the  Taunton  and  South 
Boston  Turnpike,  between  William  C.  Howard's  and  the  Shoddy 
Mill  ;  it  then  extended  in  a  northwesterly  direction  somewhat 
1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Surveys,  book  i.  p.  9. 


454  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

over  half  a  mile.  This  latter  part  of  the  road  has  now  disap- 
peared. At  the  same  date,  June  ii,  1697,  a  highway  was  laid 
out  from  Clement  Briggs's  towards  Cranberry  Meadow,  passing 
probably  not  far  north  of  Simpson's  Spring,  where  an  old  cart- 
path  was  easily  traceable  half  a  century  ago.^  This  road  was 
long  since  given  up,  being  superseded  by  the  road  which  ran 
from  the  mill  at  the  Green  to  Cranberry  Meadow. 

The  Taunton  and  South  Boston  Turnpike  runs  from  the 
town  line  by  the  Shoddy  Mill  place,  nearly  south  to  the  Great 
Cedar-Swamp,  and  then  in  a  slightly  southwest  course  through 
the  swamp  into  Raynham.  We  have  just  seen  that  a  part  of  it 
was  laid  out  in  June,  1697.  It  took  the  place  of  the  old  road  laid 
out  as  a  southerly  extension  of  Pine  Street,  which  ran  "to  Bridge- 
water  line  near  Harris's,  and  then  on  the  east  side  of  Harris's 
house  and  on  the  westerly  side  of  his  well,  &  so  to  Timothy 
Cooper's  house  on  the  easterly  side  thereof,  &  so  by  marked  trees 
to  the  westerly  side  of  Samuel  Kinsley's  house."  ^  James  Harris 
lived  between  William  C.  Howard's  house  and  mill,  and  from 
there  the  old  road  may  be  traced,  crossing  Purchase  Street  be- 
low Edwin  T.  Coward's  barn,  running  east  of  Mr.  Collins's 
and  then  southwest  nearly  to  the  present  road.  It  was  at 
later  dates  extended  farther  north  and  south  ;  in  its  southern 
part  it  was  considerably  east  of  where  the  turnpike  now  is. 
There  was  then  no  road  through  Cedar  Swamp.  Trees  were 
however  felled,  and  on  these  by  hard  work  pedestrians  at  cer- 
tain seasons  could  pick  their  way  through  from  Easton  to 
Raynham,  or  return. 

In  1792  very  exciting  times  began  for  the  town.  Raynham 
had  petitioned  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  for  Bristol  County, 
to  require  Easton  to  build  a  road  through  the  swamp  to  connect 
the  two  towns.  The  advantages  of  such  a  road  were  obvious. 
But  Easton  stood  aghast  at  the  prospect  of  incurring  the  expense 
of  building  a  causeway  such  a  distance  and  in  such  depths  of 
mire.  The  difficulty  is  illustrated  by  the  fact  that  as  Joshua 
Gilmore  was  going  on  the  footpath  through  the  swamp  one  day 
with  his  wife,  carrying  a  little  child  in  his  arms,  Mrs.  Gilmore 
was  speaking  of  the  difficulty  of  the  passage,  and  her  husband 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Surveys,  book  i.  p.  9.  ^  Ibid.  vol.  i.  p.  21. 


HIGHWAYS.  455 


replied  that  some  day  the  child  would  ride  through  the  swamp 
in  a  carriage  ;  and  the  idea  struck  her  as  so  essentially  prepos- 
terous that  she  had  a  hearty  laugh  over  it.  However,  the  Court 
of  Sessions  did  not,  it  would  seem,  share  her  scepticism,  for  it 
ordered  Easton  to  construct  the  road.  Seeing  that  to  build  a 
causeway  through  the  swamp  would  involve  a  heavy  expense,  the 
town  voted  to  petition  the  General  Court  that  the  cost  of  such  a 
highway  should  be  borne  by  the  county ;  and  the  Court  conse- 
quently voted  to  apportion  the  cost  upon  the  several  towns  of  the 
county.^  After  this  not  much  was  heard  of  the  project  for  about 
five  years,  when,  the  action  of  the  General  Court  just  noted  hav- 
ing apparently  in  the  mean  time  been  vetoed  or  reversed,  we  find 
in  October,  1797,  that  Easton  in  town-meeting  appointed  a  com- 
mittee "  to  consult  with  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Raynham 
concerning  the  Highway  through  the  Cedar  Swamp,  and  gave 
their  committee  the  following  Instructions:  ist.  To  see  if  the 
Town  of  Raynham  will  take  one  half  or  any  part  of  said  way  to 
make,  or  if  they  will  help  us  in  any  other  way  to  ease  the  town 
of  the  burden  of  making  said  way.  2dly.  To  see  if  the  Town 
of  Raynham  will  join  this  town  in  a  Petition  to  the  General 
Court  for  a  Lottery  for  making  said  Highway ;  3d.  To  see  how 
they  can  agree  with  any  persons  to  make  said  Highway."  This 
proposition  to  gain  the  Court's  permission  for  a  lottery  to  raise 
money  to  pay  the  expense  of  building  this  road  may  seem 
strange  to  us  in  Massachusetts  to-day,  but  it  was  very  common 
then.  Costly  bridges  and  extraordinary  public  works  were  fre- 
quently paid  for  by  a  grand  lottery  authorized  by  the  General 
Court. 

The  committee  appointed  by  Easton  was  Col.  Abiel  Mitchell, 
Samuel  Guild,  Esq.,  and  Elijah  Howard,  Esq.,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing March  they  reported  thus :  "  Pursuant  to  the  Directions 
given  to  the  committee,  they  have  consulted  with  the  selectmen 
of  the  Town  of  Raynham  concerning  the  highway  through  the 
Cedar  Swamp,  but  cannot  get  the  Least  Encouragement  of 
any  help  from  the  Town  of  Raynham  in  Respect  to  the  expense 
of  the  said  Highway,  in  the  method  proposed  or  in  any  other 
way."  Easton  therefore  stubbornly  hung  back,  and  little  if  any- 
thing was  done  on  the  proposed  road.  In  the  summer  of  the 
1  General-Court  Records,  vol.  liii.  pp.  141,  200. 


456  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

same  year  Raynham  people  again  petitioned  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions to  force  Easton  to  make  the  highway  through  the  swamp 
as  ordered.    August  20,  1798,  Easton  appointed  Daniel  Wheaton 
to  appear  in  said  court  and  oppose  the  petition.     He  was  unsuc- 
cessful ;  and  then  the  town  sent  Colonel  Mitchell  and  Dr.  Ed- 
ward Dean  with  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  asking  the  Court 
to  send  down  a  committee  at  the  town's  expense  to  see  the  road, 
and  to  judge  if  it  were  reasonable  for  the  town  to  pay  the  entire 
expense  of  building  it.     The  hoped-for  relief  did  not  come  as 
expected;  and  in  March,  1800,  the  Court  of   Sessions  pressed 
the  matter,  so  that  Easton  sent  additional  agents  to  the  General 
Court  to  renew  the  petition,  and  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the 
town  the  acceptance  of  the  road  under  discussion  was   nega- 
tived.    All  this  was  expensive  to  the  town,  but  the  people  were 
determined  not  to  yield.     They  even  proposed  to  make  a  gift  of 
a  part  of  Cedar   Swamp  to  Raynham,  —  a  gift  which  under  the 
circumstances    Raynham    did    not   feel   eager    to    receive.      In 
August,  1802,  new  committees  were  appointed,  one  to  petition 
the  Court  of  Sessions,  the  other  the  General  Court.     The  for- 
mer   committee,  consisting  of    Daniel  Wheaton,   Esq.,  Colonel 
Mitchell,    and   Capt.  John   Tisdale,   drew  up  a  strong  petition 
that  was  quite  pathetic  in   its  appeal.     It  states  that  this  road 
"  passes  through   Cedar  Swamp,   the   mire  of   which  is  of  un- 
common depth,  and  wholly  impassable  ;  "  that  a  large  portion  of 
it  must  be  causewayed,  "  the  whole  expense  of  which   will  be 
far  beyond  their  ability  to  bear,  and  as  they  humbly  conceive  a 
greater  burden  than  was  ever  fixed  upon  one  town;"  that  "it 
will  nearly  Bankrupt  the  whole  town,  and  will  entail  a  burden 
upon  posterity  too  great  to  be  bourne,  and  will  tend  greatly  to 
depopulate  the  town."  ^     The  committee  prayed  that  the  road 
be    therefore  discontinued,   and   that   those   who   had  been    to 
expense  on  it  (meaning  Raynham   people)  might  be  refunded 
what  it  had  cost  them. 

The  Court  was  not  proof  against  such  a  pathetic  and  eloquent 
appeal,  and  the  petition  was  granted.  But  the  town  had  to  pay 
the  original  Raynham  petitioners  for  the  work  they  had  done  on 
the  road.  And  here  another  wrangle  occurred  :  the  two  towns 
could    not  agree  on  the  terms  of  settlement.      Easton    offered 

1  See  Report  of  Court  of  Sessions,  Bristol  County,  vol.  from  1S01-1814,  pp.  23,24. 


HIGHWAYS.  457 


five  hundred  dollars,  which  the  petitioners  declined.  The  next 
year  Easton  added  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  this  sum, 
but  took  tzvo  hundred  of  it  from  the  amount  previously  appro- 
priated for  schools !  Finally,  there  seemed  no  way  of  settling 
this  matter  except  by  the  formation  of  a  turnpike  corporation 
which  should  build  the  road.  Easton  opposed  the  formation  of 
the  corporation  unless  it  would  assume  and  discharge  the  town's 
obligation  to  Raynham. 

Notwithstanding  the  opposition  of  the  town,  however,  and 
on  petition  of  John  Gilmore,  Joshua  Gilmore,  Samuel  Bass, 
William  P.  Whiting,  and  other  corporators,  an  Act  was  passed 
June  24,  1806,  incorporating  the  "Taunton  and  South  Boston 
Turnpike."  Easton,  moreover,  was  obliged  to  pay  the  demands 
of  Raynham,  although  she  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  defeating 
the  original  petitioners  who  had  endeavored  to  have  the  Cedar 
Swamp  road  built  at  her  expense.  But  it  was  a  costly  victory 
for  the  town  ;  for  during  the  fourteen  years  through  which  the 
contention  lasted,  there  were  constant  and  large  expenses  of  its 
agents  at  Taunton  and  Boston,  lawyers'  fees,  and  the  entertain- 
ment and  other  expenses  of  legislative  and  court  committees 
to  pay,  —  and  such  committees  could  do  a  little  junketing  then 
as  well  as  now. 

The  turnpike  was  to  go  "  from  Taunton  Green,  so  called,  to 
the  Blue  Hill  Turnpike."  The  corporation  issued  three  hun- 
dred shares,  and  the  first  assessment,  of  ten  dollars  a  share,  was 
made  March  20,  1807,  the  last  assessment  being  two  years  later, 
—  the  whole  expense  amounting  to  one  hundred  and  forty  dol- 
lars a  share,  or  a  total  of  forty-two  thousand  dollars.  The 
turnpike  was  completed  in  1809,  and  became  a  great  thorough- 
fare, dividing  with  its  older  rival,  the  Bay  road,  the  travel  be- 
tween Boston  and  Taunton.  A  turnpike  gate  was  kept  for  a 
time  at  the  Four  Corners,  and  after  that  about  thirty  rods 
below.  Melvin  Gilmore  was  the  first  toll-gate  keeper,  and 
after  Him  John  Gilmore;  for  many  years  Silas  Phillips,  and 
afterwards  Samuel  R.  Clarke,  his  son-in-law,  were  also  gate- 
keepers. Coaches,  heavy  teams,  and  other  vehicles  made  the 
road  lively,  and  taverns  sprang  up  along  the  way.  Joshua 
Gilmore  tried  innkeeping  in  1807,  but  soon  gave  it  up.  Asa 
Howard  and  Charles  Hayden  also  had  inns  on  this  road.     Jona- 


458  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

than  Shaw,  John  Gilmore,  and  Alson  Gihnore,  were  in  turn 
treasurers  of  the  turnpike.  The  toll-gate  naturally  became 
unpopular,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  prove  it  an  outlaw 
because  it  had  not  been  kept  forty  feet  wide,  according  to 
charter ;  but  a  special  Act  of  the  Legislature  modified  its 
charter  to  meet  this  difficulty.  The  toll-gate  was  kept  until 
October,  1851,  and  the  affairs  of  this  road  were  settled  a  year 
afterward.  It  had  become  an  unprofitable  piece  of  property. 
Turnpikes  were  soon  superseded  by  railroads. 

Prospect  Street  starts  from  the  Bay  road  north  of  Daniel 
Wheaton's,  and  runs  east  and  northeast  to  Purchase  Street  at 
Rotheus  Reed's.  It  was  first  laid  out  between  1697  and  1699, 
as  may  appear  from  the  following  :  — 

We  whose  names  are  underwritten  have  laid  out  a  highway,  begin- 
ning at  the  new  Rhode  that  leadeth  from  John  Witherells  to  the  bay.^ 
Turning  out  eastwardly  by  the  pine  swamp,  so  running  as  the  path 
now  goeth  to  Cranberry  Meadow,  so  running  on  the  east  side  of  Cran- 
berry Meadow  to  Israel  Randall's  house,  &  from  thence  to  Thomas 
Randall's  house  senior,  and  so  as  the  way  now  leads  to  Thomas 
Randall  Junior's." 

Thomas  Harvey, 
George  Leonard, 
William  Manlev.^ 

There  have  been  some  slight  alterations  in  this  highway  since 
that  time,  although  the  direction  is  substantially  the  same.  But 
where  Prospect  Street  now  ends  at  Rotheus  Reed's  house  it 
then  continued,  crossing  Purchase  Street  and  running  back  of 
Lucius  Howard's,  and  thence  northerly  until  it  led  into  what 
is  now  Church  Street,  as  any  one  may  see  even  to-day.  The 
continuation  noted  above  to  Thomas  Randall,  Jr.'s,  was  a  short 
distance  up  what  is  now  Washington  Street.  In  1852  Prospect 
Street  as  now  settled  was  laid  out  by  the  County  Commissioners. 

Purchase  Street  begins  on  the  West  Bridgewater  line  near 
Edwin  T.  Goward's,  passes  James  Rankin's  and  Lucius  How- 
ard's, and  ends  on  Depot  Street,  east  of  the  Orthodox  church. 

1  Tliis  was  the  Bay  Road.      '^  Taunton  North-Purchase  Surveys,  book  i.  p.  9. 


HIGHWAYS. 


459 


The  easterly  portion  of  it  before  its  alteration  was  very  old.  It 
crossed  the  swamp  west  of  Washington  Street,  on  a  ridge  north 
of  the  present  road,  and  so  extended  easterly  towards  VV.  C. 
Howard's.  It  also  went  on  the  south  of  the  Littlefield  house 
towards  Cranberry  Meadow,  this  part  being  laid  out,  as  the  old 
Leonard  papers  at  Taunton  show,  in  1699  ;  and  the  part  east  of 
there  was  laid  out  in  1703.^  In  March,  1763,  that  section  of 
the  road  which  runs  past  Lucius  Howard's  was  voted  ;  but  it 
extended  farther  north  than  now,  in  order  to  reach  the  old 
road  to  the  meeting-house  at  the  Centre.  This  old  road  was 
discontinued  in  1801  ;  and  the  new  one  from  just  north  of  Lucius 
Howard's  to  the  church  and  past  Clapp's  crossing  was  accepted, 
this  being  now  an  extension  of  Purchase  Street.  In  1810  quite 
an  alteration  was  made  in  this  road  east  of  Mr.  Rankin's. 

Church  Street  was  once  known  as  the  Cynthia  Drake  road. 
The  old  road  was  a  travelled  way  very  soon  after  the  settlement 
of  South  Easton.  It  is  referred  to  in  1703  as  "The  Rhode  that 
goeth  from  Cranbery  Meadow  to  the  Sawmill,"  ^  and  was  laid 
out  as  a  highway  in  1697,  or  soon  after.  In  March,  1773,  that 
part  of  the  road  from  A.  C.  Wade's  to  where  it  joins  the  old  road 
that  extended  from  Rotheus  Reed's  and  passed  behind  Lucius 
Howard's,  was  voted  by  the  town  ;  and  it  is  given  as  three  rods 
wide,  though  the  old  road  is  only  thirty  feet  wide,  and  this  is 
spoken  of  as  "  going  between  where  the  old  Meeting-house  stood 
and  the  Burying  Place."  This  street  was  straightened  and  re- 
laid  in   1 88 1. 

Pine  Street  begins  on  Depot  Street  east  of  the  Green,  and 
runs  southeasterly  over  the  ridge  to  the  turnpike  at  William 
C.  Howard's.  It  was  first  marked  out  in  1703.  December  2, 
1762,  this  road,  which  seems  to  have  been  hardly  more  than  a 
cart-path  at  this  time,  was  regularly  laid  out,  and  was  adopted 
the  next  March. 

Washington  Street  is  referred  to  in  17 19  in  the  North  Pur- 
chase records  as  the  "  Rhode  that  leads  from  Joseph  Crossman's 
to   Boston,"  —  Joseph    Crossman    then    living  at  what  is    now 

^  Taunton  North-Purchase  Surveys,  vol.  i.  p.  21.  ^  Ibid. 


460  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Thomas  Randall's  place,  on  Main  Street  near  Washington  Street, 
in  North  Easton  village.  But  that  part  of  the  street  which  ran 
through  South  Easton  village  is  alluded  to  before  1700.  The 
first  recorded  laying  out  of  any  part  of  it  is  dated  September  30, 
1726,  when  it  was  laid  out  from  just  below  the  South  Easton 
cemetery  to  the  Green.  June  18,  1728,  it  was  laid  out  from  the 
Stoughton  line  to  Joseph  Grossman's  ;  and  March  25,  1737,  the 
survey  was  continued  to  South  Easton,  where  the  survey  of  Sep- 
tember, 1726,  began.  The  old  road  was  quite  different  from  the 
present,  and  may  be  traced  most  of  the  way  at  least  throughout 
District  No.  8.  It  began  fifteen  rods  west  of  the  present  road  at 
the  Stoughton  line,  crossed  the  new  road  diagonally  on  the  hill 
where  the  Dickermans  live,  kept  slightly  east  of  the  new  road 
until  some  distance  south  of  Timothy  Marshall's,  then  crossed 
the  road  southwesterly  to  avoid  the  swamp,  going  to  the  west  of 
it,  and  then,  as  may  be  still  clearly  seen,  passed  nearly  due 
south,  coming  out  into  the  present  road  just  in  front  of  the 
Nathan  Willis  place.  South  of  this  the  divergence  was  less  than 
above.  The  extension  of  Washington  Street  southward  from 
the  Green  was  made  in  1807.  The  Stoughton  Turnpike  Asso- 
ciation had  then  been  formed,  having  been  petitioned  for  as 
early  as  1803.  There  had  been  a  great  wrangle  on  this  question 
of  turnpikes.  The  General  Court  in  1805  sent  out  a  committee 
to  view  the  several  routes  proposed.  The  town  was  not  in  a 
pleasant  mood.  It  voted  that  it  wanted  a  turnpike,  but  not  by 
the  Bay  road,  nor  by  the  Stoughton  road  (Washington  Street), 
nor  by  "  Gilmore's  rout  (so  called)."  The  town  was  however 
overruled,  and  not  only  was  the  turnpike  by  "  Gilmore's  rout 
(so  called) "  allowed,  but  the  Stoughton  route  was  also  allowed. 
The  Stoughton  Turnpike  Association  was  formed,  and  on  peti- 
tion to  the  Court  of  Sessions  at  Taunton  a  committee,  consisting 
of  the  Hon.  Stephen  Bullock  of  Rehoboth,  Samuel  Tobey,  Esq., 
of  Berkley,  James  Williams  and  James  Tisdale  of  Taunton,  and 
John  Pool  of  Easton,  was  appointed,  and  proceeded  to  lay  out  a 
road  "four  rods  wide  as  the  law  directs."  This  was  done  Sep- 
tember, 1807.  The  divergence  from  the  old  road  has  been  indi- 
cated above,  and  the  survey  was  most  carefully  made. 

Some  of  the  older  residents  of  Easton  will  be  interested  in 
knowing  who  the  then  land-owners  were,  in  their  order  from  the 


HIGHWAYS. 


461 


Stoughton  line  to  the  intersection  with  the  Taunton  and  South 
Bridgewater  Turnpike.  They  were  Joseph  Morse,  Ebenezer 
Dickerman,  James  Dickerman,  Joseph  Drake,  Widow  Drake, 
Elijah  Smith,  Ephraim  Willis,  Jonathan  Leonard,  Ebenezer 
Randall,  Hopestill  Randall,  Esquire  Guild,  Dr.  Seth  Pratt,  Es- 
quire Guild,  Thomas  Willis,  "  Widow  Pratt's  improvement  to 
the  well  of  water  and  Sever  Pratt  by'  the  burying-place,"  Cal- 
vin Howard,  Abial  Mitchell,  "  part  on  the  old  road,"  and  Lyman 
Wheelock  ;  "  and  on  the  old  road,"  Barney  Randall,  Bela  Reed, 
Esquire  Guild,  Phineas  Randall,  and  Daniel  Randall;  "same 
course  eight  rods  on  the  old  road  to  the  Green,"  James 
Guild,  James  Willis,  Daniel  Randall,  Edward  Howard  [Hay- 
ward],  Lsrael  Alger,  Isaac  Lothrop,  John  Lothrop,  Asa  Howard, 
Roland  Howard,  "ending  at  the  Boston  and  Bristol  Turnpike." 
There  was  no  turnpike  gate  on  this  road  in  Easton,  but  there 
was  one  in  Stoughton.  The  part  of  the  old  road  south  of  the 
Methodist  meeting-house  to  its  intersection  with  the  turnpike 
was  discontinued  in  1809,  that  south  of  this  place  to  the 
Nathan  Willis  place  in  18 12,  and  that  from  the  Stoughton 
line  to  the  turnpike  in   18 15. 

Depot  Street  extends  from  the  Bay  road  at  the  Furnace 
Village  through  the  Centre,  past  the  railroad  station,  through 
the  Green  and  to  the  turnpike.  Sections  of  it  were  laid  out  at 
different  times ;  that  near  the  Centre  is  alluded  to  as  early  as 
1 7 16,  and  that  part  just  east  of  the  Green,  in  1703.  It  was  laid 
out  from  the  Furnace  Village  to  Black  Brook  in  1752  ;  from 
the  Centre  to  Black  Brook  it  appears  to  have  been  relaid  in 
1838,  and  in  1885  it  was  widened.  The  extreme  eastern  end 
was  added  in  1848. 

The  first  road  laid  out  by  the  selectmen  of  Easton  was  sur- 
veyed September  30,  1726.  It  began  at  the  Bridgewater  line  by 
Stone-House  Hill,  and  starting  southwesterly  across  Stone- 
House  Brook  went  west  to  Washington  Street.  The  old  cause- 
way by  which  the  brook  was  crossed  may  still  be  seen  a  few 
rods  north  of  where  Grove  Street  now  crosses  it.  Just  west  of 
Long-Swamp  Brook  is  the  cellar  of  Ensign  Daily's  house,  which 
stood  on  the  north  side  of  this  old  road  ;  and  the  little  pond 


462  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

noted  in  the  survey,^  along  whose  south  side  the  road  ran, 
though  smaller  now  than  then,  is  still  visible.  This  now  discon- 
tinued road  came  out  very  near  Deacon  Mitchell's. 

Foundry  Street  extends  from  the  Cocheset  line  northwest 
across  Prospect  Street,  through  the  Furnace  Village,  past 
Belcher's  and  Drake's  Works,  then  curving  to  the  southwest 
terminates  in  Norton  Avenue.  Its  different  sections  were  laid 
out  at  very  different  times.  The  east  part  of  it,  from  the 
old  Capt.  Edward  Hayward  place  to  Cocheset,  was  laid  out  in 
1735,  though  a  century  later  it  was  considerably  changed  from 
the  turnpike  east  to  the  town  line.  The  west  part  from  the 
Bay  road  to  Highland  Street  was  laid  out  in  1741,  and  that 
from  the  Hayward  place  to  Jonathan  Pratt's  was  laid  out  in 
1782.  The  next  extension  of  it  (northwest)  was  voted  in  18 12, 
and  formed  a  connection  with  the  Bay  road  three  rods  north 
of  Isaac  Kimball's  store,  so  as  to  connect  with  Highland  Street ; 
but  June  28,  181 3,  it  was  changed  to  a  straighter  course,  so  as 
to  come  out  by  Ichabod  Macomber's  shop  on  the  Bay  road, 
near  the  now  Joel  S.  Drake  place.  At  the  same  date  the  next 
section,  that  from  the  Bay  road  to  the  furnaces,  was  laid  out. 
The  southwest  portion  of  it  was  made  in  1757.  Alterations 
were  made  in   1842,  1871,  and  at  other  times. 

Rockland  Street  extends  from  the  Bay  road  opposite  No. 
10  Schoolhouse  to  Mansfield.  It  appears  to  have  been  part  of 
the  way  once  leading  from  the  old  church  to  the  Selee  place, 
a  way  in  use  before  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  and  which 
at  one  time  divided  the  town  into  two  constable  and  surveyors 
"ricks."  It  was  first  laid  out  in  1738.  In  1816  it  was  laid  out 
from  the  Tarteus  Buck  (then  Calvin  Packard)  place,  past  Mr. 
Selee's  to  Mansfield,  though  this  work  remained  unfinished  for 
some  time.  It  did  not  run  the  same  as  now,  but  curved  and 
passed  on  the  north  side  of  Mrs.  Horace  Buck's  place.  It 
was  widened  and  straightened  in   1840. 

Summer  Street,  or  the  Littlefield  road,  was  first  laid  out 
February  23,  1738.  It  was  virtually  a  continuation  of  the  last 
named  road,  being  connected  with  it  by  the  Bay  road.     Twenty 

1  Town  Records,  vol.  i.  p.  3. 


HIGHWAYS.  46; 


years  before  this  it  was  a  trodden  cart-path,  and  formed  part  of 
a  rough  road  leading  from  South  Easton  to  the  Selee's.  Sum- 
mer Street  was  widened  and  completed  in  1842. 

Short  Street  was  a  continuation  of  Summer  Street,  being 
connected  with  it  by  that  part  of  Centre  Street  now  between 
the  two.  It  was  named  for  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short,  past 
whose  place  it  led  on  its  way  to  the  old  meeting-house.  Its 
course  has  been  somewhat  changed. 

Highland  Street  runs  from  the  Mansfield  line  to  Kimball's 
store  on  the  Bay  road.  In  1741  that  part  of  it  from  the  Bay 
road  to  the  old  Nathaniel  Perry  place  was  laid  out.  The  sec- 
tion west  of  this  place  to  the  Mansfield  line  was  laid  out  in  1772. 
The  east  end  of  it  subsequently  underwent  some  change.  It 
formerly  joined  the  Bay  road  a  few  rods  north  of  its  present 
eastern  terminus.  The  eastern  section  of  this  road  was  widened 
in  1878. 

Norton  Avenue,  which  extends  from  the  Norton  line  past  the 
old  Coward  place  to  the  Mansfield  line,  was  first  laid  out  in  1744. 
That  part  of  it  from  the  Coward  place  south  to  the  Norton  line 
was  carefully  surveyed  in  1806,  its  acceptance  opposed  by  the 
town,  but  finally  accepted  on  compulsion  by  order  of  the  Court 
of  Sessions.     It  was  then  called  the  Danforth  road. 

Main  Street,  in  North  Easton  village,  was  first  laid  out 
in  1744.  It  began  a  little  south  of  Joseph  Crossman's  (now 
Thomas  Randall's),  passed  between  the  gravel  bank  and  the  hill 
just  west  of  it,  came  out  where  the  road  now  runs  east  of  F.  L. 
Ames's  farm-house,  kept  through  the  village,  and  was  continued 
nearly  to  the  Stoughton  line  just  above  the  Solomon  R.  Foster 
place.  Those  residents  who  had  houses  on  this  street  in  1744 
were  Joseph  Crossman,  at  the  east  end ;  Eliphalet  Leonard, 
near  the  Red  Factory,  where  he  had  a  forge  ;  Samuel  Randall, 
near  the  railroad  bridge  ;  John  Randall,  near  the  machine  shop  ; 
Richard  Williams,  on  the  Unity  Church  location  ;  James  Stacy, 
at  the  now  Simeon  Randall  place  ;  and  Daniel  Manley,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Sol.  Foster  road,  so  called.  In  18 12  Main  Street 
was  straightened  at  its  east  end,  and  continued  to  the  then  new 


464  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

Stoughton  turnpike, —  this  extension  being  continued  in  1850 
to  the  North  Bridgewater  (now  Brockton)  line.  The  Solomon 
Foster  end  has  not  fared  well.  Voted  in  1744,  voted  again  in 
1772,  it  has  had  but  little  done  to  it.  It  is  no  longer  a  thorough- 
fare to  Stoughton,  and  was  in  fact  very  early  superseded  in  that 
respect  by  the  other  two  roads  to  that  town. 

Canton  Street,  in  North  Easton  village,  runs  from  Main 
Street  to  the  Stoughton  line,  near  Long  Pond.  The  first  settler 
on  this  street  was  George  Ferguson,  who  came  here  in  1747.  A 
cart-path  that  was  laid  out  in  1763  as  a  highway  ran  from  his 
house  to  the  saw-mill,  where  the  Ames  office  now  is.  It  came 
out  upon  Main  Street,  farther  south  than  at  present,  going 
southerly  through  what  is  now  Lemuel  Randall's  place,  east  of 
the  highest  point  in  the  cemetery.  In  1772  the  road  was 
extended  from  Mr.  Ferguson's  house  to  the  Stoughton  line 
northwest.  In  1861  it  was  straightened  from  Jason  Willis's 
to  Edwin  Russell's,  and  in  1878  the  County  Commissioners 
widened  and  straightened  the  entire  street. 

Lincoln  Street  was  laid  out  in  February,  1757.  It  "began 
at  a  grate  Rock  By  the  side  of  the  Rhode,  a  little  west  of  Samuel 
Randall's  Dwelling-house."  This  rock  is  still  in  sight  on  the 
south  side  of  Main  Street,  just  west  of  the  railroad  bridge.  The 
road  kept  nearly  on  its  present  course,  past  Lincoln  Spring, 
"  nere  six  feete  Northerly  from  the  hed  of  the  mane  spring  so  as 
to  leve  the  spring  for  a  convenante  watering-plase."  Many  of 
our  older  citizens  remember  that  before  the  present  road-bed 
was  raised  in  the  hollow,  the  main  spring  was  upon  the  south 
side  of  the  road  as  above  described.  It  was  a  "  springy  swamp  " 
there,  abounding  in  iron  ore,  all  of  which  found  in  the  roadway 
was  to  belong  to  Israel  Woodward,  who  owned  the  land.  The 
road  ran  nearly  west  from  here  for  some  distance  past  the  site 
of  Flyaway  Pond,  when  it  diverged  to  the  northwest,  and  came 
out  on  the  Bay  road  near  the  Gilbert  places.  This  end  of  the 
road  is  now  discontinued,  but  it  may  be  followed  even  with  a 
team  at  the  present  day,  and  its  roughness  gives  us  a  good 
sample  of  many  of  our  roads  in  the  olden  time.  When  this 
part  of  the  road  was  given  up  in  March,   1772,  Lincoln  Street 


MAP  OF 

NORTH    EASTON 

TOWN     OF     EASTON 
Jtrmm    especuMf    >r    ihis  JFSMoty    V> 
E.  B.  HA  YWARD.  €.E. 


HIGHWAYS. 


465 


was  continued  westerly  to  the  Bay  road  by  the  Sheperd  place. 
Complaint  of  this  discontinuance  was  made  to  the  Court  of 
Sessions,  and  in  1773  the  town  was  required  to  relay  this  part 
of  the  road  to  the  Gilberts,  thirty  feet  wide  ;  and  it  was  in  use 
as  a  road  for  many  years  afterward.  In  1853  Lincoln  Street 
was  made  forty  feet  wide  from  the  Bay  road  to  Woodward's 
Spring,  so  called. 

Centre  Street  connects  North  Easton  village  with  Easton 
Centre.  A  very  small  section  of  this  street,  that  from  Daniel 
Clark's  to  Short  Street,  was  laid  out  in  1738,  and  was,  as  before 
stated,  the  connecting  link  between  what  are  now  Summer  and 
Short  streets.  But  just  after  the  building  of  the  new  meeting- 
house at  the  Centre  in  1752,  it  was  extended  both  south  from 
Short  Street  and  north  to  Samuel  Phillips,  Jr.'s,  west  of  the 
DeWitt  farm.  This  was  a  part  of  what  was  known  as  the  old 
Meeting-house  road.  The  north  part  of  this  old  road  was  laid 
out  in  1764.  It  began  "south  of  the  Cart-bridg  near  John 
Randall's"  (that  is,  near  the  Ames  store),  went  up  the  hill,  then 
westerly  a  short  distance  on  Lincoln  Street,  and  then  south  to 
join  that  part  of  the  road  laid  out  in  1752.  There  were  then 
living  along  the  line  of  this  proposed  road  Mrs.  Whitman,  widow 
of  John  Whitman,  whose  house  was  on  Lincoln  Street ;  and  also 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south,  Nahum  Niles.  Some  distance 
below  him  lived  Benjamin  Phillips,  and  still  farther  south  Samuel 
Phillips,  Jr.,  where  the  new  road  formed  a  connection  with  the 
old.  This  road  may  still  be  traversed  from  end  to  end.  The 
writer  drove  through  it  with  a  horse  and  buggy  in  the  summer 
of  1886,  It  was  discontinued  in  1828,  though  a  little  money 
has  been  expended  on  it  just  above  Daniel  Clark's,  where  Patrick 
Menton  now  lives.  This  discontinuance  was  in  consequence  of 
the  laying-out  of  the  new  road,  now  Centre  Street,  in  1828. 
There  was  considerable  disagreement  about  this  laying-out,  but 
it  was  finally  accomplished.  There  have  been  some  changes  in 
the  grading,  etc.,  but  the  road  remains  substantially  the  same 
as  when  laid  out. 

Howard  Street,  from  Norton  line  to  Prospect  Street,  past 
No.  3  Schoolhouse,  was  laid  out  in  1753.  In  1845  it  was 
changed  and  straightened. 


466  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Union  Street,  sometimes  called  Pleasant  Street,  and  also 
the  North  road  to  Brockton,  was  laid  out  thirty  feet  wide  in 
1753,  and  voted  in  1754.     It  was  relaid  April  18,  1855. 

Grove  Street,  from  South  Easton  to  Brockton,  was  laid  out 
in  1757,  and  corrected  in  1761.  It  was  widened  near  Washing- 
ton Street  in  1884. 

PoouANTicuT  Avenue  was  laid  out  in  1763.  At  that  time 
South  Street  was  apparently  a  part  of  it,  judging  from  the 
laying-out  as  recorded  in  the  town  book.  On  or  very  near  this 
street,  north  of  the  Hayward  place,  lived  William  Hack,  Robert 
Randall,  Jr.,  Thomas  Drake,  David  Gurney,  and  Edmund 
Andrews,  the  latter's  house  standing  about  where  Henry  Buck 
now  lives.  Like  other  streets  this  has  undergone  considerable 
alteration. 

Britton  Street,  formerly  known  as  the  Allen  road,  was  laid 
out  in  part,  —  that  is,  from  the  old  Benjamin  Harvey  place  to  the 
Bay  road,  —  in  1766,  and,  with  some  alteration,  remained  a  town 
way.  The  extension  west  and  south  to  Rockland  Street  was 
several  times  voted  and  discontinued  before  its  final  adoption. 

Cross  Street,  leading  from  the  Bay  road  south  of  Beaver 
Street,  southwesterly  to  Depot  Street,  near  Black  Brook,  was 
laid  out  in  1766. 

Beaver  Street,  from  the  Bay  Road  north  of  Furnace  village 
to  Poquanticut  Avenue,  was  first  laid  out  in  1766.  It  took  the 
place  of  a  road  running  in  the  same  direction  and  connecting 
the  Bay  road  and  Poquanticut  Avenue,  the  discontinued  road 
being  south  of  Guilford  Newcomb's. 

Randall  Street  runs  from  the  Bay  road  southeast,  past 
Nathan  Randall's,  to  Summer  Street.  It  was  laid  out  thirty  feet 
wide,  and  adopted  in  1768.  It  went  past  Josiah  and  Phineas 
Allen's  houses. 

Dean  Street  connects  the  extension  of  Howard  Street  in 
Norton  with  the  Bay  road,  skirting  a  part  of  the  south  limits  of 
the  town.     It  was  laid  out  in  1785. 


HIGHWAYS. 


467 


Chestnut  Street  leads  from  Poquanticut  Avenue  near 
Macey  Record's  westerly  to  Mansfield  line,  and  was  laid  out  in 
1803. 

Central  Street  extends  from  Washington  Street  near 
Morse's  factory  westerly  to  Short  Street.  At  the  request  of 
Samuel  Guild  and  others  it  was  laid  out  by  the  selectmen  in 
February,  1809.  But  the  town  several  times  refused  to  grant 
the  road.  Mr.  Guild  then  headed  a  petition  to  the  Court  of 
Sessions,  asking  that  the  town  be  compelled  to  build  the  road. 
The  court  appointed  a  committee,  who  met  and  were  sworn  at 
the  house  of  Josiah  Copeland,  June  9,  1810.  The  matter  was 
carefully  canvassed,  the  committee  reported  favorably,  and  the 
petition  was  granted.  The  town  was  therefore  obliged  to  con- 
struct the  road.  March  9,  1874,  that  part  of  the  road  curving 
to  the  north  just  west  of  the  factory  was  discontinued,  a  more 
direct  road  having  been  made  to  take  its  place. 

Elm  Street,  in  North  Easton  village,  was  laid  out  September 
16,  1820,  as  far  as  Washington  Street.  Its  extension  to  the 
North  Bridgewater  line,  once  called  the  Quaker  Leonard  road, 
was  voted  in  1822,  rejected,  and  then  subsequently  adopted. 

Massapoag  Avenue  extends  from  Poquanticut  Avenue,  past 
No.  6  Schoolhouse,  to  the  Sharon  line.  The  part  north  of  Rock- 
land Street  was  laid  out  in  1824,  and  after  some  delay  was 
adopted.     The  rest  of  it  was  finally  laid  out  in   1834. 

High  Street  connects  Pine  Street  with  the  Turnpike,  and 
was  laid  out  apparently  first  in  1830,  and  relaid  in  1875. 

Mill  Street,  leading  from  east  of  Mr.  Selee's  southwest  to 
Mansfield,  was  laid  out  at  two  different  times  by  the  County 
Commissioners,  —  the  north  end  of  it  in  1836,  and  that  part 
from  Preston  Drake's,  near  the  schoolhouse,  to  the  town  line 
in  1843. 

The  newer  streets  in  North  Easton  village  are  as  follows  :  — 
Oliver  Street — east  section — was  voted  in   1857.     It  was 
extended  to  Main  Street  in  1863,  and  this  was  widened  in  1886. 


468  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Barrows  Street  was  laid  out  in  1862,  and  extended  or  relaid 
in  1871. 

Oakland  Avenue  was  voted  in  1862,  and  widened  in  1882. 

Williams  Street  was  in  part  voted  in  1870,  and  extended 
south  and  west  in  1877. 

Day  Street  was  adopted  in  1871,  and  altered  in  1878. 

Mechanic  Street  and  Andrews  Street  were  voted  in  1873, 
Jenny  Lind  Street  in  1875,  and  extended  in  1883  ;  Pond 
Street  in  1881,  and  Bridge  Street  in  1884. 

The  town  of  Easton  is  especially  favored  in  the  matter  of 
roads  as  in  other  ways.  The  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  dying  in 
1877,  left  a  fund  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  the  town,  the  in- 
terest of  which  is  to  be  devoted  to  improvements  of  highways, 
the  town  to  raise  annually  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars 
for  the  same  purpose.  This  will  enable  Easton  to  have  in 
time  roads  unsurpassed  by  those  of  any  country  town  in  the 
Commonwealth.  The  improvement,  where  permanent  road- 
beds of  crushed  stone  are  laid,  is  already  very  marked.  The 
following  text  of  the  bequest  is  copied  here  for  convenient 
reference :  — 

the    OLIVER   AMES    BEQUEST    FOR    PUBLIC    HIGHWAYS. 

"  I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  trustees  of  the  Unitarian  Society  afore- 
said, and  their  successors  in  said  trust  appointed  under  the  provision 
of  said  deed,  $50,000  in  the  'eight  per  cent  sinking  fund  bonds  of  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company,'  to  be  held  by  them  and  their  suc- 
cessors in  said  trust  as  a  permanent  fund,  the  income  thereof  to  be 
applied  annually  for  the  repair  of  public  highways  in  the  town  of 
Easton,  —  but  upon  condition  that  said  fund  shall  be  exempted  from 
taxation  by  said  town,  and  that  said  town  shall  annually  raise  by  tax- 
ation not  less  than  $2,000  in  money,  and  apply  the  same  to  the  repair 
of  its  public  highways.  The  said  trustees  and  their  successors  shall 
in  each  year,  upon  receiving  from  the  town  treasurer  a  certificate  to 
the  effect  that  said  sum  of  $2,000  has  been  voted  by  the  town,  to  be 
raised  by  taxation  in  money  and  applied  to  the  repair  of  its  public 
highways,  pay  over  to  the  treasurer  aforesaid  the  income  of  said  fund 
then  on  hand  (but  not  exceeding  $4,000  in  any  year),  to  be  expended 
for  the  repair  of  the  public  highways  in  said  town,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Selectmen  or  Road  Commissioners,  as  the  town  in  open  town- 


HIGHWAYS.  469 


meeting  may  direct.  In  case  of  the  failure  by  said  town  to  raise  in  any 
one  year,  by  taxation,  said  sum  of  $2,000  and  apply  the  same  to  the 
repair  of  its  public  highways,  I  direct  the  said  trustees  and  their  suc- 
cessors to  pay  over  the  income  of  said  fund  to  my  heirs-at-law  during 
such  year  ;  and  in  case  such  failure  shall  be  repeated  for  three  sue-  ||| 

cessive  years,  then  I  direct  the  said  trustees  and  their  successors  to 
terminate  this  trust,  and  pay  over  the  balance  of  the  trust  fund  then 
in  their  hands  to  my  heirs-at-law." 

It  is  proper  to  refer  at  the  end  of  this  chapter  to  the  proposi- 
tion of  Lieutenant-Governor  Oliver  Ames,  made  in  town-meeting, 
March,  1886,  and  then  accepted  by  the  town,  to  give  two  thou- 
sand dollars  annually  for  the  purpose  of  planting  shade-trees 
along  the  public  highways,  on  condition  that  the  town  appro- 
priate annually  fifty  cents  per  poll  for  the  same  purpose,  which 
will  add  about  five  hundred  dollars  to  the  gift  of  Mr.  Ames. 
This  benefaction  will  continue  until  all  the  highways  have  shade- 
trees  ;  and  by  means  of  it  the  town  will  be  much  improved  and 
beautified. 


470  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

BURIAL-PLACES. 

Burials  in  Private  Grounds  in  Early  Times.  —  The  Old  Bury- 
ing-Ground.  — Other  Graveyards  in  the  Order  of  their  Laying- 
out. —  Abandoned  Graveyards.  —  Inscriptions  and  Epitaphs. 
—  Unmarked  and  Neglected  Graves.  —  Proposed  Remedy  for 

THEM. 

A  MINISTER'S  WIFE,  somewhat  nervous,  who  had  re- 
cently settled  in  Easton  and  had  already  seen  much  of 
the  town,  when  asked  if  she  would  like  to  take  a  drive,  replied, 
"Yes,  if  you  will  promise  not  to  choose  a  new  road  ;  for  on  every 
one  we  have  travelled  I  have  seen  graveyards,  and  I  don't  care  to 
see  any  more."  The  force  of  her  remark  will  be  seen  when  it  is 
known  that  in  Easton  there  are  thirty-one  burying-grounds. 
In  this  chapter  the  writer  intends  to  give  some  account  of  their 
origin,  and  to  state  the  most  interesting  facts  concerning  them. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  town  it  was  quite  common  for  the 
dead  to  be  buried  in  some  quiet  corner  of  an  orchard  or  field  be- 
longing to  the  homestead  where  they  had  lived.  Deaths  some- 
times occurred  when  the  roads,  always  bad,  were  nearly  impassa- 
ble. It  was  natural  that  such  burial-places  should  be  chosen. 
In  many  cases  there  were  no  chiselled  headstones  erected,  a  few 
rough  stones  only  being  piled  upon  the  grave.  Time  served  to 
obliterate  the  traces  of  such  graves,  or  the  farms  on  which  they 
were  located  passed  into  the  ownership  of  those  who  had  no 
interest  in  the  graves,  and  the  ploughshare  soon  destroyed  all 
traces  of  them.  Timothy  Marshall,  when  a  boy,  found  upon 
his  father's  farm,  which  is  now  owned  by  O.  A.  Day,  a  flat 
square  stone  which  was  marked  with  the  letters  D.  W.,  ^  all 
other  indications  of  a  grave  having  disappeared.  There  have 
doubtless  been  many  such  graves  scattered  over  the  town  that 
have  left  no  traceable  signs  behind  them.     There  is  one  solitary 

1  It  was  probably  in  memory  of  David  Watkins,  who  once  lived  there. 


BURIAL-PLACES.  471 


grave — that  of  Dr.  Seth  Babbit,  who  died  February  18,  1761  — 
which  the  writer,  by  the  aid  of  a  friend  who  had  once  known 
the  spot  well,  found  with  difficulty.  It  is  on  the  southern  slope 
of  a  hill  northwest  of  the  old  Dwelly  Goward  place  ;  but  un- 
less care  be  taken  to  mark  the  place,  it  will  soon  be  forgotten. 
There  was  once  a  small  family  burying-ground  where  Albert 
Hayward  built  his  house ;  but  the  remains  buried  there  were 
removed  to  the  Dr.  Edward  Dean  cemetery  when  the  house 
was  built. 

There  are  three  graves  near  the  edge  of  Flyaway  Pond,  a  few 
rods  northeast  of  the  Maliff  house.  This  house  was  once  the 
home  of  Perez  Packard,  and  the  three  graves  contain  his  remains 
and  those  of  a  very  young  son  and  of  a  daughter  about  twenty 
years  old.  The  mounds  may  still  be  seen,  having  been  respected 
by  the  present  owners  of  the  place  ;  but  unless  care  be  taken  to 
preserve  them,  all  traces  of  them  will  soon  disappear. 

There  were  once  two  graves  near  or  on  the  site  of  Andrew 
Erickson's  house  in  North  Easton  village,  on  Andrews  Street. 
John  Barlow  lived  in  the  low  house  on  the  corner  of  Pond  and 
Andrews  streets,  and  his  garden  extended  south,  taking  in  the 
Erickson  lot.  The  remains  of  two  children  were  buried  there. 
One  of  them,  a  young  daughter,  died  July  23,  1819,  and  at  the 
funeral  young  girls  acted  as  bearers.  This  novel  arrangement 
was  according  to  the  advice  of  an  English  family  who  had  moved 
into  the  house,  and  who  stated  that  this  was  the  way  they  did  it 
in  England.  Perhaps  it  is  the  only  instance  of  girls  acting  as 
bearers  in  Easton.  Two  long  towels  were  twisted  about  the 
coffin,  one  at  each  end,  and  the  bearers  carried  it  by  means  of 
them. 

On  the  brow  of  a  hill  west  of  the  Bay  road  near  the  Sharon 
line,  and  just  south  of  the  Ansel  Alger  house,  a  small  gravestone 
stands  alone,  recording  the  death  of  Mary  Howard,  daughter 
of  Ansel  and  Polly  Alger,  who  died  August  11,  1819,  in  the  third 
year  of  her  age.  A  solitary  rosebush  growing  near  seems  to 
emphasize  the  epitaph  upon  this  stone,  which  is  as  follows :  — 

The  blooming  rose  that  bids  so  fair, 
From  parents  's  gone  &  is  no  more. 

There  are  still  in  town  several  such  small  family  graveyards  ; 
and  in  some  cases,  as  in  that  of  the  Copeland  yard  on  the  Bay 


472  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

road  and  the  Wilbur  yard  on  Peter  McDermott's  farm,  the  land 
where  they  are  located  has  passed  into  the  ownership  of  individ- 
uals who  have  no  personal  interest  in  them.  It  would  be  better 
for  the  remains  in  such  places  to  be  removed  to  some  of  the 
larger  cemeteries,  where  the  graves  will  be  cared  for.  It  would 
also  be  a  gracious  thing  for  the  town  to  make  such  removals  when 
no  kindred  of  the  dead  remain  who  are  able  to  bear  the  expense. 

THE    OLD    BURYING-GROUND, 

The  oldest  cemetery  in  Easton  is  situated  on  Church  Street, 
once  called  the  Cynthia  Drake  road.  The  first  action  of  the 
Taunton  North-Purchase  proprietors  in  regard  to  the  setting 
apart  of  land  for  burial  purposes  at  the  east  end  of  their  territory 
was  taken  April  2,  1705,  at  a  meeting  held  by  them  on  that 
date  at  the  Taunton  meeting-house.  It  was  there  "  voted  and 
granted  that  the  land  lying  between  Benjamin  Drake's  and 
Israel  Randall's  shall  lie  as  perpetual  Common  for  a  burying- 
place  or  training-place,  or  some  other  publick  use,  not  exceeding 
six  acres."  ^ 

Although  this  grant  was  not  surveyed  until  fourteen  years 
after  this  date,  it  was  used  for  burial  purposes.  The  first  meet- 
ing-house was  built,  and  several  burials  doubtless  occurred  there 
before  the  survey.  One  burial,  that  of  the  remains  of  Elder 
William  Pratt,  was  made  as  early  as  17 14  (171 3,  O.  S.),  and  al- 
though this  is  the  earliest  one  known,  there  may  have  been  a 
few  earlier  still  of  which  time  has  left  no  trace.  The  survey  in 
accordance  with  the  above  vote  is  as  follows  :  — 

jfime  the  elevetith  day,  17 19.  Then  we  the  subscribers  who  are 
Impowered  to  lay  out  Land  in  Taunton  north-purchase  have  laid  out 
six  acres  of  Land  according  to  pitch  in  said  north-purchase  for  some 
publick  use,  between  Benjamin  drakes  house  and  Israel  Randals  house, 
round  the  meeting-house.  The  Bounds  is  as  followeth  :  we  began  at  a 
stake  set  for  a  corner  with  stones  about  it;  thence  we  ran  south  forty 
degrees  east  twenty-eight  rods  to  a  corner  stake  with  stones  about  it ; 
thence  we  ran  east  forty  degrees  north  thirty-eight  rods  to  a  corner 
stake  with  stones  about  it ;  thence  north  forty  degrees  west  twenty- 
eight  rods  to  a  corner  stake  with  stones  about  it ;  thence  west  forty 
degrees  south  thirty-eight  rods  to  the  first  corner  stake  that  we  began 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  28. 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


473 


at.  Note  that  there  is  Land  allowed  within  said  bounds  for  a  high- 
way forty  futs  wide  to  lead  from  said  Israel  Randals  house  towards 
said  Benjamin  drakes  house. 

John  Phillips. 
Recorded  march  the  17th,  1719/20  ThOMAS   Randale. 

by  Samuel  Leonard,  Clerk.  JOHN  White,  Surveyor} 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  that  six  acres  of  land  are  to 
be  perpetually  reserved  for  some  public  use.  This  land  was 
recently  surveyed  and  landmarks  set  up,  but  some  of  them  are 
torn  away.  The  boundaries  ought  to  be  carefully  re-established 
and  preserved,  in  order  to  prevent  encroachment  upon  this  public 
land. 

Most  of  the  interments  at  this  place  were  made  in  the  last 
century.  The  writer  was  able  several  years  ago  to  collect  the 
death-records  from  fifty-seven  headstones,  but  some  of  these 
stones  have  disappeared  since  their  inscriptions  were  copied. 
Even  this  most  venerable  of  our  cemeteries,  where  the  ashes  of 
some  of  the  most  honored  and  worthy  of  our  ancestors  rest,  has 
not  escaped  that  churchyard  vandalism  which  has  desecrated 
other  sacred  enclosures  in  Easton,  but  none  so  disgracefully  as 
this.  Gravestones  have  been  stolen  from  this  burial-place  and 
put  to  commonest  uses,  and  a  cart-path  has  been  made  among 
and  over  the  very  graves  themselves.  This  has  been  done  even 
since  the  place  was  cleared  and  put  in  order  in  accordance  with 
a  vote  of  the  town.  Such  disregard  of  common  decency  as  well 
as  contempt  of  town  authority  deserves  severe  punishment. 

Among  those  whose  dust  reposes  in  this  most  ancient  of  our 
burying-grounds  may  be  mentioned  Elder  William  Pratt  and 
wife,  the  first  John  Dailey  and  wife,  Deacon  Ephraim  Randall 
and  wife,  Edward  Hayward,  Esq.,  Elder  Joseph  Grossman  and 
his  son  Joseph  (who  died  within  a  month  of  each  other),  Joshua 
Howard  and  wife,  Gaptain  Eliphalet  Leonard  and  wife,  Benja- 
mim  Fobes  (for  many  years  town  clerk),  Ebenezer  Ames,  and 
others  well  and  honorably  known  in  their  day. 

This  cemetery  extends  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and  although 
some  mounds  that  once  marked  the  resting-places  of  the  dead 
are  now  levelled,  the  location  of  many  more  than  the  fifty-seven 
graves  already  noted  may  be  easily  traced. 

1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Surveys,  vol.  i.  p.  93. 


474  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


THE    THOMAS    MANLEY    CEMETERY. 

The  level  plain  east  and  southeast  of  the  old  Philip  Willis 
place  always  went  by  the  name  of  Lathrop's  Plain  in  the  last 
century.  East  of  that  plain  is  a  small  hill,  the  summit  of  which 
is  a  plateau  ;  this  is  the  location  of  a  now  unused  graveyard, 
one  of  the  oldest  in  town.  It  is  about  one  hundred  yards  from 
Lincoln  Street,  and  about  two  hundred  yards  southeast  of  Lin- 
coln Spring.  It  may  be  found  by  following  the  cart-path  south 
from  Lincoln  Street  a  hundred  yards,  and  then  striking  due  west 
through  the  bushes  about  twenty-five  yards.  It  is  now  entirely 
overgrown  with  a  mass  of  shrubbery,  and  there  are  no  means 
of  ascertaining  its  exact  boundary  lines.  There  are  nearly  forty 
ancient  mounds  marked  with  stones  piled  upon  them.  In  a 
few  cases  there  are  flat  stones  that  serve  as  headstones,  but  no 
stone  has  any  inscription  upon  it.  The  stones  were  so  well  placed 
that  after  more  than  a  century  the  graves  may  nearly  all  be  dis- 
tinctly made  out.  It  is  pathetic,  however,  to  consider  that  all 
these  are  nameless  graves ;  and  whose  remains  are  buried  there 
is,  in  many  cases,  a  matter  of  conjecture  merely.  About  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  westward  lived  Thomas  Manley,  Jr.,  and  Israel  Wood- 
ward the  Quaker,  the  latter  being  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Macomber  place.  Thomas  Manley's  daughter  Elizabeth  died  in 
1736,  and  quite  probably  this  cemetery  was  begun  by  the  burial 
of  her  remains  there,  where  the  low  sighing  of  the  pines  made  a 
mournful  requiem  over  her  solitary  grave.  Eleven  years  after- 
ward her  mother  died,  and  her  grave  and  others  were  soon 
added  to  this  place.  It  is  said  that  Thomas  Manley,  Jr.,  gave  a 
quarter  of  an  acre  of  land  here  for  burial  purposes,  and  the 
statement  is  probably  correct,  though  no  deed  of  it  appears. 
This  cemetery  was  used  by  some  of  the  Lincoln  families.  Paul 
Lincoln's  body  was  placed  there  about  seventy-five  years  ago  ; 
also  the  body  of  Nathaniel  Lincoln.  Paul's  daughter  Jemima, 
with  her  husband  (whose  name  was  Oilman)  and  their  daughter 
Caroline  have  their  graves  here,  the  burial  of  the  body  of  the 
latter  occurring  as  late  as  seventeen  years  ago.  Only  nine  years 
ago  the  remains  of  an  infant  child  of  Henry  James  were  buried 
there,  this  being  the  last  burial  at  this  spot.  There  must  be  over 
fifty  graves  in  this  place.     In    1802  this   graveyard  is  referred 


BURIAL-PLACES.  475 


to  in  a  deed  given  by  Jacob  Leonard,  as  follows :  "  A  quarter 
of  an  acre  is  reserved  for  a  public  Burying-place  to  the  road," 
etc.^  The  grave  of  at  least  one  Revolutionary  soldier,  Hugh 
Washburn,  is  here,  and  can  still  be  identified.  It  ought  to  be 
marked  in  some  way,  or  it  will  soon  be  forgotten  forever.  This 
is  probably  the  second  oldest  cemetery  in  the  town  of  Easton. 

THE    LIEUT.    JOHN    WILLIAMS    BURYING-GROUND. 

On  the  south  side  of  Prospect  Street,  a  few  rods  from  the 
Bay  road,  is  a  small  cemetery,  which  is  second  or  third  in  order 
of  age  among  the  burying-grounds  of  Easton.  It  is  uncertain 
whether  this  or  the  one  just  described  is  the  older.  The  land 
was  originally  owned  by  John  Williams,  of  Taunton,  whose  son 
Lieutenant  John,  as  he  came  to  be  called,  inherited  this  part 
of  the  estate,  living  where  Daniel  Wheaton  now  resides.  De- 
cember 16,  1739,  his  infant  daughter,  Abigail,  a  year  old,  died, 
and  he  then  no  doubt  first  set  apart  this  little  spot  of  land 
upon  a  gently  sloping  mound  beneath  the  pine-trees.  It  is 
certain  that  this  was  the  first  interment  at  this  place.  It  was 
followed  the  next  year  by  the  burial  of  the  remains  of  a  son 
John,  five  years  old.  A  large  portion  of  the  burials  in  this  grave- 
yard were  of  members  of  the  Williams  families.  It  is  a  plot  of  land 
containing  about  fifty  square  rods.  Some  of  the  gravestones 
have  disappeared,  but  doubtless  there  were  originally  over  fifty, 
which  is  about  the  number  of  graves  that  can  now  be  counted. 
Some  of  the  stones  were  moved  to  prevent  being  injured,  when 
the  trees  that  had  grown  up  among  them  were  cut  down  a  few 
years  ago.  These  stones  need  replacing ;  and  this  should  be 
done  while  there  are  those  living  who  know  where  they  belong. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  of  these  graves  is  that  of  Margaret 
Miller,  the  last  slave  of  Easton,  who  is  spoken  of  in  another 
chapter.  One  notes  here  the  graves  of  two  captains,  father  and 
son,  both  named  Benjamin  Williams,  —  the  father  dying  in  1775, 
and  the  son  in  1776.  It  is  sad  to  think  of  the  affliction  that 
visited  the  family  of  Lieut.  John  Williams,  in  which,  as  the 
record  of  the  tombstones  shows,  there  occurred  four  deaths  in 
the  month  of  October,  1756,  and  another  in  the  next  month. 

1  See  Bristol  County  Deeds,  book  Ixxxiii.  p.  2S6. 


476  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Conspicuous  among  the  old  and  dilapidated  slate-stones  in 
this  graveyard  may  be  seen  a  beautiful  marble  tombstone,  which 
was  erected  in  memory  of  a  young  woman  whose  last  days  were 
spent  in  a  house  near  by,  and  about  whose  closing  life  there 
hung  the  shadow  of  some  inconsolable  sorrow,  disappointment, 
and  perhaps  tragedy.  Fading  away  under  that  shadow,  she 
wished  for  nothing  so  much  as  for  death,  which  alone  she  felt 
could  bring  her  rest.  The  following  is  the  inscription  upon  her 
tombstone,  the  first  sentence  being  her  own  words  of  sorrow  and 
despair  :  — 

Bury  me  among  the  Pines.     Their 
sighs  will  soothe  my  troubled  spirits. 

Mother. 

Emma  A. 'Griggs. 

Died 

August  19, 

1866. 

Aged  31  Years. 

Peace !   Peace !    Peace  I 

THE    FERGUSON    BURYING-GROUND. 

At  the  foot  of  the  lane  leading  to  the  Picker  field  in  North 
Easton  village,  close  by  the  stream  and  upon  a  small  natural 
mound,  there  is  a  cemetery  now  over  one  hundred  and  twenty 
years  old.  It  owes  its  origin  to  the  fact  that  John  Ferguson,  the 
son  of  George  and  Katherine,  who  lived  in  the  so-called  Ferguson 
house,  died  in  1764  of  small-pox  ;  and  as  at  that  time  it  was  not 
allowable  to  carry  the  body  of  one  who  had  died  of  small-pox 
past  a  dwelling-house,  George  Ferguson  selected  this  spot  for 
the  grave  of  his  son,  it  being  close  by  his  mill.  The  next  in- 
terment here  was  that  of  the  body  of  "  Jane,  ye  wife  of  James 
Woodside,  Esq.,  who  died  July  20,  1775,  in  the  78th  year  of  her 
age."  A  strong  stone  marks  this  grave,  at  the  top  of  which 
may  be  seen  the  familiar  inscription,  Sic  transit  gloria  viiindi. 
Two  other  stones  record  the  fact  that  George  Ferguson  and  his 
wife  Katherine  died,  the  first  in  1787,  the  second  in  1794,  aged 
respectively  seventy-eight  and  eighty-seven  years.  A  tomb  was 
built  here  by  George  Ferguson,  Jr.,  and  David  Manley.  A  marble 
slab  was  once  attached  to  it  bearing  the  words,  "  George  Fer- 
guson and  David  Manley's  Tomb:  1801."     This  slab  has  been 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


477 


torn  away  and  broken  by  brutal  hands.  Besides  this  tomb,  there 
are  nine  or  ten  graves.  Here  is  the  grave  of  Ziba  Randall, 
who  died  Aug.  lO,  1843,  and  others  of  his  family.  But  the  con- 
dition of  these  graves  and  of  their  headstones  is  such  as  to 
excite  the  indignation  and  disgust  of  all  persons  of  right  feeling. 
An  entrance  has  been  forced  into  the  tomb,  and  its  contents 
disturbed.  The  headstones  were  of  slate  of  the  best  quality  and 
nicest  finish,  but  they  have  been  broken  and  smashed  in  a  most 
outrageous  manner  by  unfeeling  scoundrels.  The  writer  first 
saw  this  place  in  1880,  and  the  indications  then  were  that  this 
gross  and  sacrilegious  outrage  had  been  recently  perpetrated. 
He  carefully  gathered  the  fragments  together,  fitting  them  to 
place,  and  copied  the  inscriptions  of  such  as  could  be  deci- 
phered. One  is  at  loss  to  understand  the  state  of  mind  and 
heart  that  can  find  pleasure  in  such  desecration  of  the  sacred 
memorials  of  the  dead. 

THE    OLD    BAY-ROAD    CEMETERY. 

Previous  to  1772  several  interments  had  been  made  on  the 
undivided  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Bay  road  just  south  of 
Joseph  Randall's  place.  December  22,  1772,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
North-Purchase  Company,  it  was  voted  by  the  proprietors  "  that 
a  piece  of  land  sixteen  rods  square  shall  be  laid  out  in  Easton,  on 
the  easterly  side  of  the  road  that  leads  towards  Boston  on  Crook- 
horn  Plain,  where  several  people  have  been  buried  already,  for  a 
perpetual  burying-place  forever  hereafter."  ^ 

The  same  company,  May  26,  1788,  "  voted  to  enlarge  the 
burying-ground  on  Crookhorn  Plain,  so  called,  in  Easton,  so  as 
to  make  it  in  the  whole  twenty  rods  square."  ^  The  addition 
was  made  on  the  north  and  east  sides,  and  the  bounds,  both  of 
the  original  grant  and  of  the  addition  just  named,  are  preserved 
to-day,  and  ought  to  be  carefully  perpetuated. 

The  Bay  road  was  straightened  in  1797,  and  in  the  laying-out 
of  it,  as  reported  in  the  town  records  under  date  of  June  16, 
1797,  occurs  the  following:  "  A  straight  line  to  the  northwest 
corner  heap  of  stones  of  the  burying-place,  thence  south  six 
degrees  east  on  the  west  line  of  said  burying-place  21  rods  and 
1  Taunton  North-Purchase  Book  of  Votes,  p.  96.  -  Ibid.,  p.  118. 


478  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

lo  links  to  the  southwest  corner  heap  of  stones  of  said  burying- 
place."  The  extra  rod  and  ten  links  were  thrown  in  perhaps  to 
make  a  generous  measure,  land  then  being  very  cheap.  It  is 
impossible  to  discover  exactly  how  many  interments  were  made 
in  this  ancient  cemetery.  About  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
graves  are  visible  there  now,  and  probably  others  once  existed 
all  signs  of  which  have  disappeared.  There  were  originally  here 
a  good  number  of  headstones,  but  they  have  been  smashed  to 
fragments  by  the  villanous  vandalism  of  low-minded  fellows. 
Some  of  this  outrageous  desecration,  it  is  said,  was  done  by 
certain  recruits  enlisted  in  1 8 13  at  Captain  Hodges's  tavern  (now 
the  Sheperd  place),  just  above,  who  were  inflamed  by  the  liquor 
which  gave  them  the  courage  to  enlist.  No  stone  in  this  ceme- 
tery is  uninjured,  and  only  two  are  standing  in  such  shape  as  to 
leave  the  inscription  legible.     One  of  them  is  as  follows:  — 

Erected  in  Memory 
OF  Mrs  Abigal,  the  wife  of 
Mr  Joshua  Shaw,  who  died 
April  the  8,  A.D.  1801, 
IN  the  71  st  year  of  her  age. 

Housed  in  the  dust  my  partner  lies. 

Secure  from  mortal  strife  ; 
Released  from  all  the  cares  and  ties 

Of  this  distracted  life. 

Another  stone  is  — 

In  memory  of  Sarah, 

Wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Tinkham, 

who  died  Feb.  27TH,  1796, 

IN   THE   22ND   YR   OF   HER   AGE. 

Stop,  kind  reader  !  drop  a  tear. 
Think  on  the  dust  that  slumbers  here  ; 
My  tender  years  and  life's  Gay  flower 
From  death  would  not  exempt  one  hour. 

There  are  two  rough  flat  stones  over  two  other  graves,  —  one 
marked  "  1789,  A.r.S. ;"  the  other,  "  A.n.S."  These  were  over 
the  graves  of  Archippus  Selee  and  his  half-sister  Annie,  children 
of  Nathan,  —  one  of  whom  died  in  1789,  and  the  other  in  1809. 

The  writer  was  able  to  collect  the  fragments  of  another  stone, 

which   was  in  memory  of  Nathan  Harvey,  who  died 4th, 

1797,  eighty-four  years  old.     A  foot-stone  of  another  grave  was 


L. 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


479 


lettered  "  F.  H."  These  are  the  sum-total  of  all  the  inscriptions  at 
this  cemetery.  This  was  the  burial-place  of  the  Harveys,  Shaws, 
and  others  living  in  this  section.  There  was  once  a  tomb  here, 
which  has  now  fallen  to  ruin.  Eliphalet  Shaw  and  his  wife  and 
two  of  their  sons,  Ezra  and  Silas,  were  buried  in  this  yard. 
Here  the  body  of  Captain  Samuel  Hodges  was  laid  ;  but  it  was 
afterward  exhumed  and  carried  to  Stoughton.  Here  also  the 
town's  poor  who  died  at  Alby  Willis's  poor-house  (the  Sheperd 
place),  and  who  died  too  fast  there,  were  brought  for  burial. 

A  comparatively  small  portion  of  the  old  cemetery  is  occupied 
by  graves  ;  and  it  is  not  very  likely  to  be  used  again  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  graves  are  on  the  front  part  of  it  near  the  road,  and 
the  whole  place  was  until  recently  a  mass  of  crowded  scrub-oak ; 
but  in  obedience  to  the  vote  of  the  town  passed  in  1885  it  has 
been  cleared,  and  the  enclosure  surrounded  by  a  wire  fence,  with 
iron  rods  for  posts,  —  wood  being  likely  to  be  burned  by  brush 
fires,  which  are  constantly  occurring  in  this  vicinity. 

THE    ELIJAH    HOWARD    CEMETERY. 

Not  many  rods  east  of  the  Asa  R.  Howard  place  and  on  the 
south  side  of  the  road  is  a  burying-ground,  fifty  by  eighty  feet 
in  dimensions.  It  was  carefully  made,  and  is  on  a  level  with 
the  top  of  the  front  stone-wall.  The  land  was  given  by  Elijah 
Howard,  Esq.,  the  first  of  that  name.  The  first  interment  was 
that  of  Elijah,  a  son  of  Mr.  Howard,  who  died  October  5,  1775, 
aged  2  years.  The  grave  of  this  son  as  well  of  some  other  chil- 
dren is  unmarked.  The  first  adult  whose  remains  were  placed 
there  was  Abiah  Randall,  who  died  November  20,  18 15,  ']^ 
years  old.  Most  of  the  graves  are  of  connections  of  the  Elijah 
Howard  family,  Elijah  himself  dying  and  being  buried  in  183 1, 
aged  86  years,  and  his  wife  Keziah  in  1836,  aged  85  years. 
There  seem  to  be  twenty-six  graves  in  all  in  the  yard  ;  one  of 
them  has  the  G.  A.  R.  soldier's  stick,  marked  E.  Hudson. 

THE    PINE-GROVE    CEMETERY. 

January  4,  1796,  Joseph  Hay  ward  presented  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Easton  forty-two  rods  of  land  "  to  be  occupied  by  them  as  a 
burying-field,"  they  to  "  keep  the  same  well  fenced,"  etc.  The 
land  had  probably  been  devoted  to  this  purpose  a  little  earlier, 


480  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

as  we  find  there  the  grave  of  John  Howard,  who  died  February 
27,  1795-  This  was  the  first  interment.  John  was  father  of 
Roland  Howard.  A  strong  old-fashioned  headstone  marks  the 
grave,  and  on  it  is  an  inscription  beginning  thus  :  "  In  memory 
of  Mr.  John  Howard,  in  whom  Prudence,  Economy,  Benevo- 
lence, &   Generosity  were   happily  united." 

September  24,  1858,  H.  M.  Pool  and  twelve  others  organized 
the  Pine-Grove  Cemetery  Corporation,  and  on  the  2d  of  Oc- 
tober the  cemetery  was  extended  by  purchasing  land  on  the 
northwest  side  from  George  W.  Hayward,  and  on  the  east  from 
H.  M.  Pool.  The  present  area  of  the  cemetery  is  274  feet  by 
177  feet,  or  about  one  acre  and  eighteen  rods.  E.  R.  Hayward 
has  charge  of  it  at  present. 

There  are  two  hundred  graves  in  this  yard,  of  which  thirty- 
nine  are  without  inscribed  headstones  ;  but  nearly  all  the  latter 
have  a  small  marble  stone  upon  which  is  chiselled  a  number  ;  this 
number  corresponds  to  a  record  made  in  a  book  by  the  secretary 
of  the  Cemetery  Corporation,  which  gives  the  name  of  the  per- 
sons over  whose  graves  these  numbered  stones  stand.  This  is 
an  excellent  arrangement,  inexpensive  and  simple,  and  deserves 
to  be  adopted  by  the  managers  of  all  the  other  cemeteries  in 
town.  One  of  the  most  noticeable  inscriptions  in  this  yard  is 
that  on  the  gravestone  of  Israel  Alger,  which  gives  a  condensed 
biography  of  his  life.  On  the  inscribed  gravestones  we  meet 
the  name  of  Pratt  twenty-four  times ;  Howard,  nineteen  ;  Pool, 
seventeen  ;  Hayward,  thirteen  ;  Alger,  twelve  ;  Ripley,  ten  ;  and 
Randall,  Gilmore,  and  Williams,  nine  times  each.  Among  those 
whose  graves  are  in  this  yard  may  be  mentioned  Joshua  Gil- 
more,  Dea.  Samuel  Pool  (who  lived  to  be  ninety-four  years  old), 
Roland  Howard,  Asa  R.  Howard,  Joseph  Hayward  (who  gave 
the  original  lot  to  the  town),  George  W.  Hayward,  Lieut.  Jona- 
than Pratt  and  his  son  Capt.  Jonathan,  John  Pool,  and  Horace 
M.  Pool. 

WASHINGTON    STREET    CEMETERY. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  land  upon  which  the 
Methodist  church  on  Washington  Street  stands,  and  also  that 
now  included  in  the  old  part  of  the  cemetery,  was  purchased  of 
Thomas  Drake,  October  13,  1795,  by  the  trustees  of  the  Metho- 


BURIAL-PLACES.  48 1 


dist  Society.  Part  of  it  was  set  apart  very  soon  afterward  for 
a  burying-ground.  This  cemetery  contained,  before  the  addition 
to  it  was  made  by  Jason  Tinkham,  over  one  hundred  and  twenty 
square  rods  ;  but  some  of  it  was  cut  off  on  the  east  side  by  a 
change  in  the  running  of  the  road.  It  was  and  is  under  the 
control  of  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Society.  The  first 
interment  was  that  of  Isaac  Stokes,  who  died  April  19,  1796; 
his  grave  is  in  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  yard.  The 
gravestone  is  inscribed  with  an  epitaph  which  was  written  by 
the  Rev.  Joshua  Randall,  who  married  a  granddaughter  of  Mr. 
Stokes.     It  is  as  follows  :  — 

THE  FIRST  Parson 
Buried  in  this  Yard. 

Here  Isaac  Stokes  doth  Lay. 

The  time  he  died  is  fix'd 
In  April  the  twentieth  Day, 

Seventeen  Hundred  ninety-six, 
Seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

He  went  his  trial  through, 
So  left  this  mortal  stage, 

And  bid  the  world  adieu. 
You  that  are  now  in  health, 

And  puting  far  a  way 
The  solemn  hour  of  Death 

And  the  great  Judgment  day, 
Consider  this  I  pray. 

That  soon  or  late  you  must 
God's  solemn  word  obey, 

And  strait  return  to  Dust. 

This  burying-ground  contains  the  graves  of  many  persons 
who  were  prominent  citizens  of  Easton,  among  whom  may  be 
named  Capt.  David  Wade,  James  Dickerman,  the  Bartletts,  and 
Thomas  Drake.  The  mortal  remains  of  several  clergymen  here 
find  their  resting-place.  One  was  the  Rev.  John  Tinkham, 
who  died  January  29,  1824.  His  tombstone  has  the  follow- 
ing epitaph :  — 

My  message  I  declared. 

My  pilgrimage  is  o'er; 

I  cannot  stay, 

I  must  away 

To  Canaan's  happy  shore. 


482  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

This  stone  may  just  remind 
That  such  a  man  did  live, 
And  now  lies  here. 
Then  drop  one  tear, 
For  I  have  none  to  give. 

Another  clergyman's  grave  is  that  of  the  Rev.  John  B.  Hunt. 
A  monument  erected  over  his  grave  has  the  following  inscrip- 
tion :  — 

„B£    YE     ALSO     RBADy, 


Rev. 

John  B.  Hunt 

Left  Earth  for  Heaven 

Oct.  10,  1858, 

aged  39. 

Servant  of  God,  well  done ! 

Tiiy  glorious  warfare  's  past ; 

The  battle  's  fought,  the  race  is  won, 

Thou  art  crowned  at  last. 


This  monument  was  once  overthrown  by  a  man  who  was  said 
to  have  been  incensed  at  the  refusal  of  the  widow  of  Mr.  Hunt 
to  receive  any  attentions  from  him !  It  was  subsequently  re- 
placed, but  shows  the  damage  caused  by  its  fall. 

The  old  portion  of  this  cemetery  contains  also  the  remains  of 
the  Rev.  Ephraim  Randall,  —  Uncle  Ephraim  as  he  was  famil- 
iarly called.  An  excellent  marble  headstone  marks  the  spot 
where  his  ashes  rest.  Had  he  foreseen  its  costliness  he  would 
have  made  a  desperate  effort  to  live  ;  for  he  left  orders  that  his 
coffin  should  not  cost  over  ten  dollars. 

There  is  a  tomb  in  this  yard  built  by  E.  Bartlett  and  H. 
Crooker,  which  is  in  rather  a  dilapidated  condition  at  present. 
As  the  old  yard  was  about  full,  in  May,  1868,  Jason  Tinkham 
made  an  addition  of  sixty-four  square  rods  on  the  west  side. 
Most  of  the  lots  in  this  new  part  are  now  taken. 

THE    ISAAC    LOTHROP    CEMETERY. 

On  Purchase  Street,  near  the  corner  by  Joseph  Towne's,  is  a 
burying-ground  whose  dimensions  are  on  the  front  one  hundred 


I 


jM 


BURIAL-PLACES.  483 


id  twenty-one  feet,  on  the  back  line  one  hundred  and  seven- 
:en  feet,  on  the  east  line  sixty-two  feet,  and  on  the  west  line 
xty-seven  feet.  This  land  was  owned  by  Isaac  Lothrop  and  his 
rother  John,  and  was  set  apart  by  them  as  a  graveyard  in  1796 

0  doubt,  as  that  was  the  date  of  the  first  burial  here,  which 
as  of  Ruth,  daughter  of  Isaac  Lothrop,  who  died  March  23, 
796.  Isaac  Lothrop's  grave  is  here  ;  he  died  suddenly  while  in 
le  field  ploughing.  May  11,  18 14.  In  this  cemetery  are  about 
;venty  graves.  Among  those  without  headstones  is  that  of 
ohn  Lothrop,  which  is  marked  only  by  a  stake  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Lmong  the  other  unmarked  graves,  Joshua  Towne  remembers 
!aleb  Lothrop  and  wife,  Mrs.  Simeon  Leach,  Leonard  Ayers, 
)ren  Packard,  Michael  Egan,  the  wife  of  a  son  of  Samuel 
.othrop,  a  Mr.  Gleason  and  wife,  a  Mr.  Drake  from  the  Alms- 
ouse,  and  others.  When  Jarvis  Lothrop  bid  off  the  town's  poor, 
t  a  time  when  they  were  left  to  the  care  of  the  lowest  bidder,  he 
uried  in  one  corner  of  this  yard  such  as  died  while  with  him. 

Among  the  noticeable  inscriptions  here  may  be  mentioned  that 
n  Jotham  Ames's  tombstone,  an  inscription  which  traces  his 
enealogy  back  to  the  first  comer,  William  Ames,  who  settled 

1  Brain  tree  in  1640. 

In  this  yard  lie  the  remains  also  of  several  members  of  Lothrop 
amilies.  Here  are  the  tombstones  of  Dea.  Abijah  Reed,  Rufus 
^mes,  Simeon  Leach,  Enoch  P.  Towne,  and  others  well  known 
1  their  day. 

THE    COL.   JOHN    WILLIAMS    GRAVEYARD. 

On  the  north  side  of  Prospect  Street,  nearly  opposite  the  old 
Villiams  graveyard,  is  another  small  cemetery.  At  first  sight 
ine  might  suppose  it  to  be  an  extension  of  the  older  cemetery 
pposite,  and  that  the  street  had  been  cut  directly  through, 
eparating  these  two  parts.  In  fact,  however,  an  old  cart-path 
.nciently  ran  where  the  road  is  now  located,  and  the  burying- 
Tound  on  the  north  side  was  never  connected  with  the  one  on 
he  south.  The  land  was  originally  set  apart  for  burial  uses  by 
"ol.  John  Williams,  son  of  Silas  ;  it  has  been  somewhat  enlarged 
ince,  and  is  now  controlled  by  his  grandchildren.  It  contains 
it  present  about  twenty  square  rods.  There  are  over  sixty 
graves  in  it,  and  there  have  been  apparently  several  removals. 


484  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

The  oldest  gravestone  here  is  that  of  Marcy,  wife  of  Samuel 
Kimball,  she  having  died  January  12,  1797.  Possibly  there  may 
have  been  a  few  even  older  graves,  the  stones  of  which  have 
perished.  This  yard  contains  the  remains  of  Capt.  Tisdale  God- 
frey and  other  Godfreys,  besides  a  number  of  the  descendants  of 
Col.  John  Williams.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  on  the  east 
side  of  this  yard  a  gravel  bank  has  been  opened,  for  this  serious- 
ly injures  the  looks  of  the  place.  A  fence  once,  in  part  at  least, 
enclosed  this  burial-ground,  and  it  ought  to  be  replaced. 

THE    SETH    PRATT    CEMETERY. 

The  land  first  set  apart  for  burial  purposes  south  of  the  Pratt 
homestead  in  South  Easton  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  was 
the  gift  of  Lieut.  Seth  Pratt.  It  was  given  most  probably  in 
1800,  for  the  first  interment  was  in  March,  1801  ;  this  was  of 
Martin,  a  son  of  Samuel  Guild,  Esq.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years.  In  1865  an  addition  was  made  to  this  burying- 
ground  by  Isaac  L.  Pratt,  who  now  controls  it,  selling  lots  for 
his  remuneration;  the  business  is  in  the  charge  of  Dea.  Harri- 
son T.  Mitchell.  This  yard  now  contains  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  square  rods.  There  are  as  many  as  two  hundred  and 
fourteen  graves  here,  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  of  which  have 
headstones ;  and  ninety,  or  over  one-third  of  the  whole,  are  un- 
marked, which  is  much  to  be  regretted.  There  are  probably  a 
few  other  unmarked  graves,  all  signs  of  which  have  now  disap- 
peared. Among  the  graves  with  headstones  there  are  twenty 
with  the  name  of  Randall,  ten  of  Mitchell,  nine  of  Howard,  eight 
of  Pratt  and  of  Wild,  and  seven  of  Brett.  Among  well-known 
persons  whose  remains  lie  here  may  be  mentioned  Daniel  Ran- 
dall, Seth  Pratt,  Sever  Pratt,  Samuel  Guild,  Lyman  Wheelock, 
Col.  Abial  Mitchell,  Richard  and  Martin  Wild,  Calvin  Brett, 
and   Solomon  Stone. 

It  seems  desirable  that  the  names  of  persons  buried  in  un- 
marked graves  should  not  be  forgotten,  and  the  following  partial 
list  has  been  furnished  the  writer  by  Dea.  H.  T.  Mitchell :  Mary, 
wife  of  William  Randall,  Polly  Randall,  and  Eva,  daughter  of  Levi 
C.  Randall ;  Nathaniel  Guild,  and  Harriet,  his  wife  ;  Jonathan 
Drake,  and  his  wife  Hannah  ;  Eleazar  Clark,  and  his  wife  Susan  ; 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Ludden  ;  Charles  Howard ;  Kate,  the  wife  of  Peter 


BURIAL-PLACES.  485 


Lunn  ;  Solomon  Stone  and  wife,  Chester  Stone,  Solomon  Stone, 
Jr.,  Georgiana,  Albert,  Harland,  and  Vesta  Stone.  Grave- 
stones may  yet  be  placed  over  a  few  of  these  graves.  There 
are  besides  these  nearly  fourscore,  perhaps  more,  that  will  soon 
be  numbered  among  the  myriads  of  forgotten  graves,  every  trace 
of  which  will  soon  be  lost  forever.  In  the  southeast  corner  of 
this  cemetery  the  Swedes  of  Easton  have  been  accustomed  to 
bury  their  dead. 

There  is  one  inscription  in  this  yard  which  perhaps  deserves 
record  here.  It  is  that  on  the  gravestone  of  Dr.  Seth  Pratt, 
and  is  as  follows  :  — 

One  eye  on  death  and  one  full  fix'd  on  heaven, 
Becomes  a  mortal  and  immortal  man. 

THE    CENTRAL    CEMETERY. 

The  cemetery  north  of  the  Centre  dates  back  to  April,  1803. 
Its  origin  is  thus  described  by  Seth  Reed,  of  Baltimore  :  — 

"The  first  person  there  buried  was  Mrs.  [Bethuel]  Drake,  the 
grandmother  of  Charles  Henry  Reed.  When  she  died,  a  grave  was 
being  dug  to  place  her  remains  in,  in  a  field  on  the  south  side  of  a 
wood-lot  close  to  the  fence.  When  it  became  known  to  Uncle  Bates 
where  the  deceased  was  to  be  buried,  he  said,  '  Bury  the  deceased  in 
my  field.'     This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Centre  Cemetery." 

The  "Uncle  Bates"  referred  to  was  Benjamin  Bates,  who 
built  and  lived  in  the  Sheldon  house  at  the  Centre.  He  gave 
a  small  piece  of  land  for  burial  purposes,  which  forms  the  older 
part  of  the  present  cemetery.  Mrs.  Drake,  whose  body  was  the 
first  to  be  buried  there,  died  April  17,  1803.  In  1854  the  yard 
was  about  full,  and  twenty  persons  petitioned  William  Reed  to 
call  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  cemetery  corpo- 
ration. The  meeting  was  held  April  i,  1854,  and  a  corporation 
was  organized  under  the  name  of  the  Central  Cemetery  Corpo- 
ration, They  bought  additional  pieces  of  land  on  the  north, 
west,  and  south  sides  of  the  old  cemetery,  making  the  whole 
area  an  acre  and  a  half.  Soon  after  these  additions  were  made 
there  were  several  removals  of  remains  to  this  place  from  other 
cemeteries.  Joseph  Drake's  remains  were  removed  from  the 
oldest  burying-ground.     The  remains  of  Jacob  Reed  and  of  an- 


486  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Other  Reed  were  taken  from  a  field  west  of  Morse's  factory  on 
the  old  Bela  Reed  place  and  reinterred  here.  The  remahis  of 
the  infant  daughter  of  the  Rev.  William  Reed  were  taken  from 
under  a  walnut-tree  which  stood  between  the  house  once  used 
as  the  Unitarian  parsonage  and  the  road,  and  placed  beside  those 
of  her  father,  who  was  buried  in  the  front  part  of  the  old  yard. 
When  the  yard  was  enlarged,  the  remains  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reed 
and  of  his  wife  and  daughter  and  others  were  removed  to  the 
new  ground.  The  remains  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short  were 
taken  from  the  first  cemetery  of  Easton  and  brought  here,  to 
secure  the  grave  from  the  abuse  which  befell  the  graves  in  that 
neglected  spot  ;  the  original  gravestone  may  be  seen  in  the 
Central  Cemetery.  When  the  removal  was  made,  William  Reed 
who  took  charge  of  it  found  that  the  hair  of  the  old  minister 
was  perfectly  preserved,  although  this  was  over  one  hundred  and 
twenty  years  after  his  death.  He  took  some  of  it  and  sent  it  to 
the  Rev.  Wm.  R  Lunt,  Unitarian  minister  of  Quincy,  who  was 
a  descendant  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Short.  The  remains  from  the 
graves  in  the  Howard  Lothrop  lot  in  this  yard  have  been  re- 
moved tc  the  Village  Cemetery  in  North  Easton. 

There  are  over  two  hundred  and  seventy  graves  in  the  Central 
Cemetery,  of  which  ninety-five  are  unmarked.  There  are  no 
very  striking  epitaphs  in  this  yard,  the  most  interesting  one 
perhaps  being  that  for  Wade  and  Ruth  Dailey,  — 

United  on  earth  for  60  years,  reunited  in  heaven  for  eternity. 
THE    OLIVER    HOWARD    BURYING-GROUND. 

On  the  south  side  of  Short  Street,  east  of  the  railroad  track, 
there  is  a  small  family  cemetery  which  was  laid  out  in  1803  by 
Oliver  Howard.  It  is  in  the  shape  of  a  trapezoid,  being  about 
one  hundred  feet  on  the  front,  forty  feet  on  the  rear,  seventy- 
five  feet  on  the  east  side,  and  sixty  feet  on  the  other,  and  is 
surrounded  by  a  stone-wall.  The  first  interment  here  was  that 
of  an  infant  child  of  Oliver  and  Rebecca  Howard,  which  died 
unnamed  November  22,  1803,  five  days  old.  There  appear  to  be 
eighteen  graves  in  the  yard,  all  but  four  of  which  have  headstones 
with  inscriptions.  Buried  here  are  the  remains  of  Oliver  How- 
ard, who  died  December  27,  1835,  eighty  years  old  ;  of  Rebecca 


BURIAL-PLACES.  487 


his  wife,  who  died  August  17,  1825,  sixty-five  years  old;  also 
of  Asaph,  Marza,  Amasa,  Thomas  and  Oliver  Howard,  the  latter 
twenty-two  years,  and  of  others  mainly  children  of  the  Howards. 
This  yard  was  pleasantly  located,  but  its  surroundings  have  been 
rendered  unpleasant  because  of  the  gravel-bank  opened  on  the 
west  side  of  it,  which  leaves  exposed  a  rough  and  unsightly 
mass  of  stones  and  bowlders.  When  the  farm  here  was  sold, 
a  reservation  was  made  of  this'  burying-ground,  which  is  still 
the  property  of  the  descendants  of  Oliver  Howard. 

THE    WILBUR    GRAVEYARD. 

In  the  extreme  northwest  corner  of  the  town,  on  the  farm-land 
of  Peter  McDermott,  and  about  fifty  rods  northeast  of  his  house, 
is  a  small  graveyard  thirty  by  seventy  feet  in  area,  walled  in 
on  three  sides.  On  the  west  side  there  is  an  excavation  where 
apparently  it  was  the  purpose  to  build  a  tomb  ;  but  the  attempt 
was  abandoned  and  the  wall  was  not  finished,  so  that  the  little 
enclosure  is  open  to  the  incursion  of  cattle  from  the  surrounding 
pasture.  It  contains  three  graves,  one  of  a  child  which  has 
no  inscribed  headstone.  Of  the  other  two,  which  have  strong 
and  well  made  headstones,  one  is  in  memory  of  "  Mrs.  Bessey, 
wife  of  Mr.  George  Wilbur,  who  died  May  the  3d,  a.  d.  1807,  in 
the  forty-ninth  year  of  her  age,"  having  upon  it  the  following 
couplet :  — 

Death  is  a  debt  to  Nature  due  : 
As  I  have  paid  it,  so  must  you. 

The  other  stone  is  "  in  memory  of  Mr.  George  Wilbar.  He 
died  June  11,  18 13,  in  his  fifty-sixth  year." 

Depart  my  friends,  wipe  off  your  tears, 
Here  I  must  lie  till  Christ  appears. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  name  is  spelled  differently  upon 
the  two  gravestones,  and  Mitchell,  in  his  "  History  of  Bridge- 
water,"  spells  it  Wilbor,  differing  from  both  these  inscriptions. 
This  George  Wilbur  moved  into  town  just  a  century  ago,  and 
built  the  house  now  the  property  and  home  of  Peter  McDer- 
mott. He  was  father  of  Joseph  Wilbur,  who  was  for  many 
years  Register  of  Deeds  at  Taunton,  and  whose  son,  Joseph  E. 
Wilbur,  now  holds  the  same  position. 


488  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


THE    KEITH    GRAVEYARD    ON    THE    BAY    ROAD, 

This  cemetery  is  just  south  of  Thomas  Keith's,  and  a  little 
distance  north  of  Beaver  Street,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Bay  road. 
It  was  first  laid  out  in  1 812  by  Eleazer  Keith,  on  his  own  land. 
It  was  afterward  enlarged  by  the  Dunbars,  Mr.  Keith  giving 
additional  land  on  condition  that  they  would  extend  the  front 
wall.  Two  sides  of  the  yard  are  as  yet  not  walled  in.  No  deed 
of  the  land  has  been  given  to  any  one,  and  it  is  therefore  the 
property  of  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Keith.  The  dimensions  of  this 
cemetery  are  five  rods  on  the  front  by  six  rods  deep,  and  it  con- 
tains about  sixty  graves.  The  first  interment  was  that  of  the 
body  of  Mrs.  Sally  Keith,  wife  of  Eleazer,  who  died  September 
17,  1 812,  aged  twenty-nine  years.  The  graves  of  two  other 
wives  of  Mr.  Keith  are  there,  and  his  own  tombstone  records 
the  fact  of  his  death  May  6,  1863,  aged  eighty-two  years,  eleven 
months,  and  twenty-four  days. 

The  grave  of  Ebenezer  Randall  is  also  there,  he  dying  June  9, 
1850,  aged  eighty-four.  His  wife's  grave  is  unmarked,  as  also 
those  of  Joseph  Randall  and  his  wife  and  daughter,  and  others. 
Here  is  the  grave  of  Henry  James  and  some  of  his  children,  as 
also  of  Alfred  Gibbs  and  two  children,  and  Galen  Randall,  seve- 
ral Crocketts,  and  others,  all  unmarked  save  by  rough  round 
stones.  Here  too  are  the  graves  of  several  Littlefield  families, 
all  with  inscribed  headstones,  except  that  of  Ebenezer  Little- 
field,  Sr.,  who  provided  for  the  erection  of  one  for  his  own  grave, 
but  which  provision  has  never  been  carried  out.  In  this  ceme- 
tery are  the  graves  of  Kingmans  and  Dunbars.  One  headstone 
records  the  fact  that  Jesse  Dunbar,  who  died  in  Boston  Septem- 
ber 28,  1834,  aged  twenty-one  years,  was  first  officer  of  the  brig 
"  Pandora." 

THE   WILLIAM    DEAN    CEMETERY. 

Opposite  the  Archippus  Buck  place  in  Poquanticut  is  a  small 
cemetery,  fifty  by  eighty  feet  in  dimensions,  which  is  well  laid 
out  and  carefully  walled  in.  It  now  contains  twenty-eight  graves, 
some  removals  having  been  made  from  it.  The  land  was  given 
by  William  Dean.  The  first  interment  was  that  of  the  remains 
of  Nathan  Selee,  who  died  in  181 5,  which  gives  us  the  date  of 


BURIAL-PLACES.  489 


the  laying-out  of  this  burying-ground.  Nathan  Selee's  remains 
were  subsequently  removed  to  the  new  cemetery  which  his  son 
John  Selee  laid  out. 

Here  are  the  remains  of  Benjamin  Buck,  who  died  in  1852, 
ninety-one  years  old,  and  of  his  wife  Milly,  who  died  fifteen  years 
later,  being  a  century  old  lacking  ten  months.  Capt.  Archippus 
Buck's  remains  also  lie  here  ;  and  those  of  his  wife,  familiarly 
known  as  Aunt  Sylva,  were  recently  placed  beside  her  husband's. 
On  the  stone  over  the  grave  of  Cynthia  B.  Dean,  a  child  seven 
years  old,  is  this  inscription:  — 

Cropp'd  as  a  bud  from  yonder  tree ; 
From  death's  arrest  no  age  is  free. 

On  the  stone  dedicated  to  William  Dean  and  Keziah  his  wife 
are  the  words  :  "  They  always  made  home  happy." 

THE    DR.    EDWARD    DEAN    CEMETERY. 

On  a  gravelly  knoll  at  the  Furnace  Village,  just  south  of  the 
schoolhouse  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  is  a  burying- 
ground  with  a  front  of  about  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet 
and  a  width  of  one  hundred  feet,  a  parallelogram  in  shape.  The 
land  was  given  originally  by  Dr.  Edward  Dean,  and  an  addi- 
tion on  the  west  end  of  it  was  subsequently  made  by  Edward 
Williams.  In  this  yard  there  are  two  hundred  and  fourteen 
graves  that  have  headstones  with  inscriptions,  and  there  are 
others  unmarked  save  by  some  rough  stones  or  a  mound  of 
earth.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the  first  interment  at  this 
place  was  that  of  the  body  of  Dr.  Dean,  who  made  the  gift  of 
the  land  for  the  cemetery.  He  died  September  26,  18 16.  Two 
other  physicians.  Dr.  Samuel  Guild,  and  Dr.  Seth  Pratt,  had  died 
in  Easton  the  same  year,  and  two  in  the  neighboring  towns,  — 
Dr.  Godfrey  of  Taunton,  and  Dr.  Bryant  of  Bridgewater.  These 
facts  are  alluded  to  in  the  inscription  upon  the  stone  at  the  head 
of  Dr.  Dean's  grave.     It  is  as  follows :  — 

Erected  to  the  memory  of 
DOCTOR     EDWARD      DEAN, 
Who  died  Sept.  26,  1816, 
Aged  68  years. 

The  tliird  physician  Easton  ever  lost. 
Those  Guild  and  Pratt  not  five  months  past. 


490  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

A  short  time  since  we  lived  as  friends,  — 

Godfrey,  Guild,  Pratt,  Bryant  too. 

Physicians,  all  our  labor  ends, 

We  've  bid  the  world  adieu  ; 

To  brighter  worlds  our  spirits  rise, 

And  view  at  distance  there 

The  vain  results  of  busy  Man, 

And  smile  at  human  care. 

The  first  person  buried  in  this  yard. 

There  are  the  remains  of  persons  buried  here  who  died  earlier 
than  Dr.  Dean,  but  they  were  removed  from  other  places.  Thus 
when  Albert  Hayward  built  his  house  opposite  the  old  site  of 
the  Hayward  carriage-shop,  he  removed  the  remains  of  Jonathan 
Hayward  and  his  wives  Rebecca  and  Mary,  which  had  been 
buried  where  he  desired  to  build  his  house.  Other  similar  re- 
movals were  of  the  remains  of  Dr.  Samuel  Deans  and  his  wife 
Hannah  LeBaron,  of  Daniel  Wheaton,  Esq.,  Rebecca  and  Thomas 
Kimball,  and  a  few  others.  One  stone  here  is  in  memory  of 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry,  who  died  June  15,  1756,  in  Nova  Scotia, 
while  serving  in  the  French  and  Indian  War.  In  this  yard  is 
the  grave  of  the  eccentric  George  Washington  Drake,  who  so 
long  lived  a  hermit's  life,  and  who  died  March  i,  1883,  over 
eighty-three  years  old.  It  deserves  to  be  recorded  that  his 
relative,  Hiram  P.  Drake,  has  erected  over  his  grave  a  beautiful 
and  substantial  headstone,  as  he  has  done  in  the  case  of  other 
relatives,  whose  graves  but  for  his  thoughtful  kindness  might 
soon  have  been  nameless  and  forgotten. 

Among  the  noticeable  inscriptions  on  the  headstones  of  graves 
in  this  cemetery  several  deserve,  for  one  reason  or  another,  to  be 
recorded  here.  On  the  gravestone  of  an  infant  which  died  at 
the  age  of  seven  months  is  the  inscription,  — 

Joyless  sojourner  was  I, 
Only  bom  to  weep  and  die. 

Of  Simeon  Woodward,  who  died  in  1865,  at  the  age  of  three- 
score years  and  ten,  and  who  had  mourned  the  death  of  his  wife 
for  thirteen  years,  it  is  said  :  — 

The  lids  he  so  seldom  could  close, 
By  sorrow  forbidden  to  sleep. 
Sealed  up  in  a  lengthy  repose. 
Have  now  forgotten  to  weep. 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


491 


Sometimes  a  little  theology  gets  carved  in  the  marble,  as  in 
this  case :  — 

Ten  thousand  talents  I  did  owe, 
But  Jesus  Christ  hath  paid  tlie  debt ; 
Believe,  and  sure  you  '11  find 
To  glory  Death  is  but  a  step. 

The  writer's  observations  lead  him  to  think  that  regard  for 
rhythm  and  poetry  is  better  shown  by  selected  than  by  origi- 
nal inscriptions.  The  following  seems  to  be  a  combination  of 
original  and  selected  lines  :  — 

Friends  and  physicians  could  not  save 
Her  mortal  body  from  the  grave  ; 
Sleep,  dear  Harriet,  in  thy  peaceful  tomb. 
We  hope  to  meet  thee  in  the  world  to  come. 

On  another  stone  we  read  the  words,  — 

An  angel's  arm  could  n't  save  me  from  the  grave  ; 
Legions  of  angels  can't  confine  me  there. 

Of  a  little  boy  eleven  years  old  the  simple  but  expressive 
praise  is  given, — 

Always  so  pleasant. 

A  widow  who  had  parted  in  turn  from  two  husbands  is  repre- 
sented on  her  tombstone  as  saying  with  suggestive  ambiguity,  — 
I  go  to  them  that  are  at  rest. 

In  this  cemetery  are  the  graves  of  Capt.  James  Perry,  Dr. 
James  Perry,  Daniel  Wheaton,  Esq.,  Lewis  Williams,  Isaac 
Kimball,  Gen.  Sheperd  Leach,  and  other  well  known  citizens  of 
Easton. 

THE  ELIJAH  COPELAND  GRAVEYARD. 

South  of  the  old  Copeland  place  on  the  Bay  road,  just  opposite 
the  end  of  Beaver  Street  and  some  distance  from  the  road,  is  a 
small  family  graveyard  containing  four  graves.  One  of  them  is 
of  Elijah  Copeland,  who  died  September  8,  18 17,  seventy-eight 
years  old  ;  another  is  of  Rhoda  his  wife,  who  died  October  5, 
1825,  aged  eighty-two  years.  The  remains  of  Martin  Copeland's 
wife,  who  died  in  1835,  lie  in  an  unmarked  grave  in  the  same 
place,  and  also  the  remains  of  one  of  his  children.    This  burying- 


492  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

ground  is  but   twenty  feet  square,  and  is   enclosed  by  chains 
stretched  from  eight  stone-posts. 

THE  NEHEMIAH  HOWARD  GRAVEYARD. 

Just  north  of  the  Horace  Howard  place  is  a  cemetery  which 
was  set  apart  by  Nehemiah  Howard  as  early  as  1818.  It  con- 
tains about  twelve  square  rods,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  neat  and 
substantial  fence  of  iron  railings.  It  contains  thirteen  graves 
with  headstones  ;  and  there  are  two,  perhaps  more,  unmarked 
graves.  The  first  interment  was  that  of  Olive  W.,  daughter  of 
Asa  Howard,  who  died  November  25,  18 18,  two  years  and  two 
months  old.  The  remains  of  Nehemiah  Howard,  who  died  in 
1825,  and  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  1820,  lie  here.  There  is  an 
excellent  granite  monument  near  the  centre  of  the  yard,  about 
twelve  feet  high,  erected  in  memory  of  Horace  D.  Howard, 
which  serves  as  his  family  monument. 

THE    CAPT.    JEDEDIAH   WILLIS    GRAVEYARD, 

In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  field,  next  south  of  the  Sheperd 
house  on  the  Bay  road,  is  a  small  cemetery  which  seems  to  have 
been  entirely  devoted  to  a  branch  of  the  Willis  family.  It  is 
about  forty  feet  wide  and  fifty  feet  deep,  well  walled,  and  with 
an  open  gateway  in  front  about  six  feet  wide.  It  has  in  it  ten 
or  twelve  graves.  Only  two  of  them  have  regular  gravestones, 
the  rest  being  marked  by  round  headstones  and  footstones. 
One  of  the  two  stones  alluded  to  has  this  inscription  :  "  In  mem- 
ory of  Capt.  Jedediah  Willis,  who  died  January  30,  1820,  in  his 
seventy-seventh  year."  The  other  records  the  fact  that  "  Mrs. 
Susanna  Willis,  wife  of  Capt.  Jedediah  Willis,  died  November 
22,  181 8,  in  her  sixty-third  year."  Both  the  poetical  selections 
carved  upon  these  stones  reflect  the  strange  belief  that  the  per- 
sons whose  names  these  stones  perpetuate  lie  sleeping  beneath 
the  sod,  waiting  there  for  the  final  resurrection. 

THE  ASA  NEWCOMB  GRAVEYARD. 

On  the  north  side  of  Maple  Street,  in  the  extreme  southwest 
corner  of  the  town,  there  is  a  small  private  burying-ground  care- 
fully enclosed  and  well  cared  for.  There  are  but  two  tombstones 
in  it.     One  records  the  fact  that  Asa  Newcomb  died  January  27, 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


493 


1827,  aged  sixty-seven  years ;  and  the  other  that  Sally,  his  wife, 
died  April  3,  1836,  sixty-five  years  old.  It  is  pleasant  to  notice 
that  small  and  isolated  as  this  little  enclosure  is,  it  does  not 
suffer  from  the  neglect  of  forgetful  relatives  and  friends,  but  is 
always  kept  in  good  order,  and  presents  an  example  worthy  of 
imitation. 

THE    ASAPH    HOWARD    BURYING-GROUND. 

On  the  west  side  of  Pine  Street,  a  short  distance  south  of 
High  Street,  is  a  small  cemetery  containing  about  five  hundred 
square  yards  of  land.  It  was  set  apart  by  Asaph  Howard  at 
the  time  of  the  death  of  his  infant  son,  who  died  April  9,  1831, 
twelve  days  old.  There  is,  it  is  true,  an  older  stone  here  over 
the  grave  of  Charles  T.,  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  Dunbar, 
which  is  dated  September  16,  1824  ;  but  this  was  a  removal  from 
the  small  yard  just  over  the  line  of  West  Bridgewater.  The 
remains  of  Thomas  Dunbar,  Jr.,  were  brought  from  the  same 
place.  The  grave  marked  only  by  a  soldier's  post  and  flag  is 
that  of  old  Thomas  Dunbar,  who  was  known  far  and  near  as 
"the  old  fifer,"  and  was  called  into  service  in  the  War  of  18 12. 
There  are  ten  graves  here  with  headstones,  among  them  being 
several  members  of  the  Asaph  Howard  and  Thomas  Dunbar 
families.  There  are  also  three  or  four  unmarked  graves,  two  of 
them  being  the  graves  of  Abijah  Knapp  and  Chloe  his  wife. 

THE    APOLLOS    CLARK    BURYING-GROUND. 

About  fifty  rods  south  of  the  Littlefield  road,  now  named 
Summer  Street,  and  a  little  west  of  Abiel  Littlefield's,  there  is  a 
small  burying-ground.  It  is  a  few  rods  south  of  the  old  home- 
stead place  of  Apollos  Clark,  who  had  a  house,  barn,  and  nailers' 
shop  there,  only  the  cellar  being  now  visible.  This  burying- 
ground  is  thirty  feet  square,  surrounded  by  a  shallow  trench 
filled  with  stones,  the  intention  evidently  having  been  to  build  a 
wall ;  but  this  was  not  done.  There  are  two  good  headstones 
there,  —  one  over  the  remains  of  Apollos  Clark,  who  died  Jan- 
uary 2,  1832,  aged  sixty-one  years.  He  fell  from  his  team  when 
out  in  the  woods,  and  was  run  over  and  killed.  Capt.  Ziba  Ran- 
dall's record  had  it  as  follows  :  "  Apolous  Clark,  Killd  with  a 
wheel  January  4,  aged  sixty-one."     The  date  here  given  is  two 


494 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


days  too  late.  When  the  body  of  Mr.  Clark  was  found,  his  dog 
was  faithfully  watching  and  guarding  it.  The  other  gravestone 
mentioned  is  sacred  to  the  memory  of  Phoebe,  the  wife  of  Caleb 
Gifford,  who  died  January  12,  1835,  aged  twenty- four  years,  six 
months,  and  eight  days.  There  are  four  other  graves  here  that 
are  unmarked  save  by  small  uncut  stones,  —  one  being  the  grave 
of  a  child,  one  of  a  youth,  and  the  other  two  apparently  of  adults. 

THE    RECORD    CEMETERY. 

On  the  street  running  west  from  Macey  Record's  is  a  small 
cemetery,  which  was  originally  intended,  no  doubt,  for  the  Record 
family  only.  It  is  a  little  east  of  Josiah  Woodbury's  house,  and 
on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  The  oldest  gravestone  is  that 
of  Fanny  D.,  daughter  of  Macey  and  Mary  Record,  who  died 
January  13,  1834,  nearly  eleven  years  old.  On  the  headstone  of 
Macey  Record,  who  died  in  1856,  is  the  inscription,  "May  we 
meet  again ! "  and  on  the  headstone  of  his  wife,  who  died  in 
1869,  is  the  happy  response,  "We  meet  again."  There  are 
eighteen  or  nineteen  graves  here,  half  of  them  having  no  carved 
headstones.  The  yard  is  sixty  feet  square,  neatly  laid  out,  and 
surrounded  by  a  stone-wall. 

THE   JOHN    SELEE    CEMETERY. 

The  above-named  burying-ground  is  on  the  west  side  of  Mill 
Street,  a  few  rods  from  Rockland  Street.  It  is  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  size.  The 
land  was  given  by  John  Selee,  son  of  Nathan,  and  father  of  John 
A.  Selee  ;  the  right  of  ownership  in  lots  is  now  conferred  by  the 
last-named  person.  The  first  burial  in  this  yard  was  that  of  the 
body  of  Joseph  Ward,  who  was  probably  the  Ward  dying  in 
1836  ;  his  grave  has  no  stone  over  it.  That  year  seems  to  be 
the  date  of  the  setting  apart  of  this  land  for  burial  purposes. 
There  are  now  about  ninety  graves  in  it,  thirty-five  of  which 
are  unmarked.  The  remains  of  Nathan  Selee  and  of  his  wife 
Sabrina,  which  were  once  in  the  William  Dean  yard  near  by, 
were  reinterred  here  ;  and  there  were  also  two  or  three  other 
removals.  The  unmarked  graves  are  of  Mrs.  Catherine  S.  Willis 
and  three  children  ;  an  infant  child  of  N.  P.  Selee  ;  Zeno,  Har- 
riet, Jane,  Thankful,  and   Ruth   Buck ;   Susan,   Floyer,   Frank, 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


495 


and  Charles  Britton  ;  Joseph  Ward,  Eben  Allen  and  wife  Helen, 
Mrs.  Laban  Drake,  Ida  and  Charles  Johnson  ;  a  child  of  Azel 
Snow,  and  Joseph  Washburn,  wife,  and  child  ;  two  children  of 
Wesley  Smith,  three  of  Martin  Williams,  and  four  grandchil- 
dren of  James  and  Rachel  Reed  ;  Lewis  Lane,  Edwin  West, 
James  Reed,  G.  A.  Boodry,  and  the  soldier  B.  F.  Boodry.  Suf- 
ficient pains  has  not  been  taken  in  this  cemetery  to  keep  the 
lots  distinct  ;  where  there  are  many  unmarked  graves  there  is 
always  danger  of  the  boundary  lines  being  obliterated,  and  lots 
overlapping. 

THE    SILAS    PHILLIPS    GRAVEYARD. 

On  the  north  side  of  Depot  Street,  west  of  the  old  Silas  Phillips 
place,  is  a  small  burying-ground  about  fifty  by  eighty  feet  in  area, 
which  was  set  apart  by  Silas  Phillips,  Jr.,  in  1842.  The  first  inter- 
ment in  this  yard  was  of  the  remains  of  Miss  Louise  Phillips,  a 
sister  of  Silas,  Jr.,  who  died  July  11,  1842,  sixty-four  years  old. 
The  remains  of  Silas  Phillips,  Sr.,  who  died  in  182 1,  were  removed 
to  this  place  from  the  old  cemetery  near  by.  On  his  gravestone 
are  the  words,  "  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution."  His  grave 
deserves  special  honor,  because  he  was  one  of  the  very  few 
Easton  men  who  were  in  service  through  the  terrible  winter  of 
1 777-1 778  at  Valley  Forge.  He  was  at  that  time  a  sergeant  in 
Capt.  Ephraim  Burr's  company.  Amasa  and  Asa  Phillips  were 
with  him,  —  Amasa  dying  in  service  in  June,  1778.  This  yard 
was  intended  for  use  as  a  Phillips  family  cemetery;  but  in  1848 
Capt.  Barsillai  Dean  bought  it,  and  began  to  build  upon  it  a 
family  tomb.  As  it  is  level  ground  there  was  but  little  excava- 
tion, the  tomb  being  mostly  above  ground.  On  the  29th  day  of 
June,  1848,  Captain  Dean  was  at  work  in  the  tomb,  when  one  of 
the  cross-stones  at  the  top  gave  way  and  fell  upon  him,  causing 
his  death.  His  remains  were  deposited  in  this  yard  ;  but  when 
the  tomb  was  finished,  —  which  was  about  two  months  after- 
ward,—  his  body  was  placed  in  it,  and  remained  there  about 
fifteen  years.  It  was  then  removed  to  the  Easton  cemetery  on 
Washington  Street. 

In  this  Silas  Phillips  cemetery  there  appear  to  be  eight  graves. 
One  of  them  is  unmarked,  and  one  has  a  soldier's  stake  with  the 
name  of  J.  Legrow.     The  yard  has  a  stone-wall  upon  two  sides, 


496  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

and  a  fence  upon  the  other  two.  A  few  beautiful  pines  grow  in 
and  near  it,  and  the  wind  through  their  branches  makes  a  peace- 
ful requiem  over  this  home  of  the  dead.  It  is  now  the  property 
of  the  heirs  of  Silas  Phillips. 

THE    ALMSHOUSE    BURYING-GROUND. 

It  frequently  happens  that  inmates  of  the  Almshouse,  before 
dying,  express  some  wish  as  to  burial,  —  perhaps  desiring  that 
their  bodies  may  lie  near  the  graves  of  relatives  or  friends. 
These  wishes  are  generally  respected,  and  the  town's  poor  have 
been  buried  in  different  cemeteries.  But  there  are  cases  in 
which  no  such  wish  is  expressed,  the  dying  poor  having  no  rela- 
tives or  friends  here.  It  was  therefore  desirable  that  some 
special  burial-place  should  be  provided  by  the  town  for  such 
cases.  This  was  done  some  years  after  the  purchase  of  the 
present  Almshouse  property.  A  lot  of  land  sixty  by  forty-five 
feet  was  laid  out  three  hundred  yards  southwest  of  the  present 
site  of  the  Almshouse.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  good  stone-wall, 
is  shaded  by  fir-trees,  and  is  neatly  kept.  There  are  nineteen  or 
twenty  graves  in  it,  all  of  which  are  unmarked.  Would  it  not 
be  well  for  the  town  to  provide  inexpensive  but  substantial 
headstones,  upon  which  the  names  and  dates  of  birth  and  death 
might  be  inscribed  ? 

One  of  these  graves  —  that  of  old  Mrs.  Rebecca  Allen,  who 
died  in  1881,  aged  eighty  —  deserves  this  consideration.  The 
writer  once  observed  a  funeral  procession  approach  the  Central 
Cemetery,  and  this  poor  demented  lady,  seeing  a  fallen  branch  of 
a  tree  obstructing  its  entrance,  thoughtfully  removed  it,  and  then 
stood  at  the  gate,  like  the  figure  of  Old  Mortality,  bowed  in  re- 
spectful and  reverent  courtesy,  while  the  procession  passed  in. 
It  was  an  act  as  good  in  its  way,  and  as  gracefully  done,  as  that 
of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  when  he  spread  his  cloak  in  the  mud  for 
the  Queen  to  walk  upon. 

THE    FURNACE    VILLAGE   CEMETERY. 

In  the  year  1849  Lincoln  Drake  gave  to  Daniel  Belcher  and 
others  a  piece  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  South  Street  in  the 
Furnace  Village,  four  hundred  and  twenty-nine  feet  long  by  one 
hundred  and  fifty-two  wide.     This  they  were  to   manage  for 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


497 


burial  purposes  for  the  benefit  of  the  village.  No  corporation 
has  at  this  date  (1886)  been  formed,  though  one  is  contem- 
plated. It  is  at  present  under  the  management  of  Daniel 
Belcher.  The  yard  is  surrounded  by  arbor-vitae  trees,  whose 
perpetual  evergreen  may  well  symbolize  our  immortality.  An 
addition  of  the  same  length  as  the  old  yard,  and  of  one  hundred 
feet  in  width,  has  just  been  made  upon  the  south  side  by  Daniel 
Belcher.  The  first  interment  in  the  yard  was  that  of  Charles 
Francis,  son  of  Lincoln  and  Caroline  Drake,  who  died  July  16, 
1849.  There  appear  to  be  one  hundred  and  forty  graves  here, 
of  which  forty-three  are  unmarked.  Among  once  well-known 
citizens  whose  remains  are  buried  in  this  yard  may  be  men- 
tioned Lincoln  Drake,  Tisdale  Harlow,  Emory  Goward,  Nahum 
Williams,  Francis  and  Dwelly  Goward,  Albert  A.  Rotch,  Henry 
Hamilton,  and  Greenfield  Williams.  One  notices  here  the 
graves  of  John  Gardiner  and  Catherine  his  wife,  who  Feb.  i, 
1880,  were  burned  in  their  house  from  an  accident  caused  by 
two  fiery  fluids,  —  rum  and  kerosene.  And  those  familiar  with 
the  place  will  look  at  another  grave  with  tragic  interest,  for  they 
will  remember  the  suspicious  circumstances  of  a  woman's  death, 
—  the  investigation  ordered,  the  exhuming  of  the  body,  the  dis- 
covery of  poison  in  the  stomach,  the  flight  of  the  husband,  the 
reinterment  of  the  body,  and  its  being  afterward  stolen  from  the 
grave.  Though  the  law  was  foiled,  however,  justice  will  yet  be 
done.  No  man  can  escape  that  conscience  whose  retributive 
lash  will  sooner  or  later  wield  heavier  and  sharper  strokes  than 
legal  justice  can  possibly  inflict.  This  dreadful  affair  was  not 
the  only  instance  in  which  poison  was  employed  by  the  guilty 
parties,  though  in  the  other  instances  known  to  the  writer  the 
poison  was  given  to  animals  as  a  means  of  revenge  against  their 
owners. 

THE  EASTON  CEMETERY  (sOUTH  EASTON). 

Under  date  of  September  4,  1S50,  Jason  G.  Howard  and  eleven 
others  made  application  to  Joseph  Barrows,  Esq.,  to  issue  a  war- 
rant to  call  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  corpora- 
tion to  be  known  as  the  Easton  Cemetery  Corporation.  The 
organization  was  accomplished  September  11,  1850,  Elijah  How- 
ard being  chosen  president.     The  first  purchase  of  land  was  made 

32 


498  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

of  Dr.  Caleb  Swan  and  David  L.  Pratt  in  1850,  consisting  of  two 
acres  and  one  rod,  and  costing  $86.  In  1875  ^  purchase  of 
thirty-two  acres  was  made  of  Palmer  Newton,  for  1^350.  Only  a 
small  part  of  this  latter  purchase  has  been  fenced  in. 

This  cemetery  is  situated  above  South  Easton  village  on  the 
west  side  of  Washington  Street.  It  is  a  level  tract  of  light 
sandy  soil,  has  been  planted  with  evergreen  trees,  and  is  neatly 
kept.  The  first  interment  here  was  that  of  Catherine  Lothrop, 
wife  of  Thomas  J.  Johnson,  "who  died  at  Newtonville,  together 
with  an  infant  son,"  May  27,  185 1,  thirty-five  years  of  age.  At 
the  date  of  this  writing  (November,  1885)  there  can  be  counted 
two  hundred  and  seventy-one  graves,  forty-four  of  which  are 
unmarked  ;  of  these  latter,  however,  many  are  new  graves,  to 
which  headstones  will  probably  be  supplied.  The  following  are 
names  of  most  of  those  buried  in  these  unmarked  graves  :  Dean 
Ramsdell,  Lizzie  Ramsdell,  and  Emma,  wife  of  Dean  Ramsdell, 
Jr. ;  Joseph  Heath,  a  soldier,  and  Fred  H.  Greenleaf ;  a  child 
of  Fred  Clapp,  also  one  of  Lucius  Darling,  of  James  Willis, 
of  H.  Y.  Mitchell,  of  Fred  C.  Thayer,  and  of  Warren  Jones  ;  two 
children  of  Eugene  Willis  and  others  of  Martin  Willis  ;  Mrs. 
Carrie  Kilburn  and  child  ;  Rosanna,  wife  of  Thomas  James  ;  Re- 
becca, wife  of  John  Bailey,  and  the  wife  of  John  Bailey,  Jr.  ;  Ella, 
wife  of  F.  C.  Thayer  ;  Tyler  F.  Clapp,  a  soldier  ;  Hattie  Bosworth, 
Caleb  S.  Lothrop,  Frank  Nelson,  and  Asa  Packard.  There  are 
a  few  others  whose  names  are  not  easily  ascertainable. 

Among  the  well-known  citizens  of  other  days  whose  graves 
are  here  may  be  mentioned  those  of  E.  J.  W.  Morse,  Solomon 
W.  Morse,  Elijah  Howard,  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  Capt.  Barzillai 
Dean,  Larnard  Williams,  Capt.  Milo  Williams,  Col.  John  Torrey, 
and  John  Bisbee,  the  latter  well  deserving  the  inscription  upon 
his  tombstone,  "  An  honest  man  ;  the  noblest  work  of  God." 

Among  inscriptions  worth  copying  is  the  following  :  — 

God  doeth  all  things  well ; 
And  so  long  as  I  think  so, 
I  am  content  with  what  his  hand  brings  forth. 

An  epitaph  upon  the  gravestone  of  a  lad  of  nine  years,  who 
was  drowned  by  breaking  through  the  ice,  bears  evident  marks 
of  being  original :  — 


BURIAL-PLACES.  ^gg 


Bright,  cheerful,  and  gay,  o'er  the  ice  did  I  play, 
Not  aware  of  the  dangerous  road  ; 
When  sudden  as  thought  my  life's  thread  was  cut, 
And  straight  I  ascended  to  God. 

One  notices  here  with  interest  the  graves  of  several  soldiers 
who  served  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  some  of  them  dying 
far  from  home,  on  battle-field,  in  hospitals,  or  in  Rebel  prisons. 
Among  these  are  Sergt.  George  Davis,  who  died  at  Annapolis 
from  disease  contracted  in  the  Salisbury  (N.  C.)  prison  ;  Sergt. 
Charles  A.  Morse,  died  at  Falmouth,  Va. ;  D.  Jackson,  wounded 
at  luka,  Miss. ;  and  Linton  Waldron,  J.  F.  Clapp,  C.  H.  Willis, 
and  Joseph  Heath. 

There  have  been  some  removals  from  this  cemetery,  among 
which  were  the  remains  of  several  members  of  the  Ames  fam- 
ilies. The  family  lot  of  Edward  N.  Morse  is  beautifully  laid 
out,  and  adorned  with  an  excellent  and  appropriate  statue  in 
the  centre. 

THE    ROMAN    CATHOLIC    CEMETERY. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1857,  the  Rev.  Thomas  B.  McNulty, 
who  then  conducted  Roman  Catholic  services  in  North  Easton, 
purchased  of  Ohver  Ames  &  Sons  about  two  acres  of  land  to  be 
used  by  the  Roman  Catholics  for  a  burying-ground.  This  land 
is  on  the  north  side  of  Canton  Street,  just  west  of  the  old  Fer- 
guson place,  and  is  very  pleasantly  situated,  sloping  up  from  the 
road  and  extending  over  the  crest  of  the  hill.  The  cemetery  was 
dedicated  by  Father  McNulty,  and  shortly  afterward  occurred 
the  first  interment,  —  that  of  a  child  of  Patrick  Hefferman. 
There  are  now  about  three  hundred  and  forty  graves  here,  of 
which  over  two  hundred  are  unmarked.  The  first  monument 
was  erected  by  Michael  O'Beirne.  With  one  exception  there  is 
probably  no  cemetery  in  Easton  where  the  headstones  and  monu- 
ments average  so  costly  as  here.  This  yard  is  divided  into  small 
lots,  most  of  them  having  room  for  only  two  graves.  The  lots 
have  nearly  all  been  taken,  and  an  addition  of  another  piece  of 
land  will  soon  be  needed.  A  strong  handsome  wall  was  built  on 
the  street  side  in  1881,  and  a  good  deal  has  lately  been  done  in 
the  way  of  improving  the  premises.  The  site  of  this  burying- 
ground  is  pleasant,  and  by  the  planting  of  trees  and  by  sufficient 


500 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


care  it  may  be  made  a  beautiful  spot.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
the  lots  are  raised  considerably  above  the  general  level.  It  is 
very  difficult  to  keep  such  raised  lots  in  good  order,  as  the  ter- 
races are  continually  wearing  down  ;  and  they  detract  from, 
rather  than  add  to,  the  beauty  of  a  cemetery.  There  are  twenty 
soldiers'  graves  here,  of  which  a  record  will  be  found  in  the 
account  given  further  on  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  of  Easton. 

THE    VILLAGE    CEMETERY. 

The  Village  Cemetery  of  North  Easton  was  begun  in  Sep- 
tember, 1875, — a  month  after  the  dedication  of  Unity  Church, 
near  which  this  cemetery  is  located.  The  ground  it  occu- 
pies was  then  crowded  with  stones  and  bowlders,  and  a  large 
force  of  men  was  engaged  for  about  a  year  in  digging  out 
and  removing  them.  The  expense  of  this  work  was  borne  by 
Oliver  Ames,  the  donor  of  the  church,  by  F.  L.  Ames,  Oakes 
A,  Ames,  and  Oliver  Ames,  2d.  It  contains  about  five  acres, 
and  is  nearly  surrounded  by  a  stone-wall  which  is  about  four  feet 
thick  at  the  base,  and  has  an  average  height  of  seven  feet.  It 
is  carefully  laid  out  in  drives  and  walks,  and  contains  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  lots.  There  is  an  excellent  tomb  here  for 
the  temporary  deposit  of  the  remains  of  the  dead.  A  large  ledge 
of  sienite,  which  is  the  underlying  rock  at  this  place,  crowns 
the  highest  part  of  the  cemetery.  East  of  this  is  the  Ames 
family  lot.  It  is  a  noteworthy  and  affecting  fact  that  the  first 
burial-service  held  here  was  at  the  grave  of  Oliver  Ames,  under 
whose  lead  this  cemetery  was  laid  out  and  prepared.  The  only 
remains  that  were  deposited  here  previous  to  this  were  those 
removed  from  another  burying-ground.  Near  by  the  grave  of 
Oliver  Ames  repose  the  ashes  of  his  father  and  his  brother 
Oakes,  and  of  other  members  of  the  family  ;  and  just  beside  his 
own  grave  is  that  of  his  daughter,  Helen  Angier  Ames,  who 
died  suddenly  in  the  prime  of  a  life  of  thoughtful  and  generous 
service,  deeply  honored,  loved,  and  lamented  by  all  who  knew 
her.  A  tall  granite  shaft  records  the  names  of  Oakes  Ames,  and 
of  his  wife  and  his  son  Henry.  Large  granite  sarcophagi  stand 
on  the  lots  of  the  first  and  second  Oliver  Ames  and  of  E.  W. 
Gilmore.  There  are  now  (October,  1886)  ninety-three  graves 
in   this  cemetery,  twenty-six  of  them  being  as  yet  unmarked. 


BURIAL-PLACES.  50I 


Most  of  the  latter  are  the  graves  recently  made,  and  some  of 
them  will  in  due  time  be  provided  with  tombstones.  Forty-four 
of  the  graves  are  of  those  whose  remains  have  been  removed 
from  other  cemeteries. 

The  management  of  this  cemetery  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
Village  Cemetery  Corporation,  which  was  incorporated  in  1878, 
and  of  which  all  proprietors  of  lots  are  members.  A  printed  set 
of  by-laws  prescribes  the  rules  according  to  which  the  cemetery 
is  managed.  Among  these  it  is  provided  that  no  one  shall  build 
therein  any  fence,  hedge,  or  curbing.  This  excellent  rule  pre- 
vents the  burying-ground  from  being  cut  up  into  numerous 
small  enclosures,  and  gives  it  an  open,  lawn-like  appearance, 
which  is  much  more  agreeable  to  the  eye.  A  fund  of  ten  thou- 
sand dollars,  bequeathed  by  Oliver  Ames,  who  died  in  1877, 
provides  for  the  perpetual  care  of  this  cemetery.  Those  who 
have  an  interest  in  this  beautiful  spot  have  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  it  will  always  be  neatly  kept,  and  not  be  allowed 
to  run  to  the  dreary,  neglected  waste  that  is  the  fate  of  many  of 
our  country  burying-grounds. 

In  addition  to  the  burying-grounds  now  noticed,  there  were 
at  least  two  others  that  have  been  not  only  abandoned,  but  that 
have  left  no  trace  of  their  former  uses  behind  them.  One  of 
them  was  just  west  of  a  large  bowlder  on  the  Alonzo  Marshall 
(now  O.  A.  Day)  place,  not  far  east  of  the  railroad-track.  It 
contains  three  Manley  graves,  one  of  a  child  of  Peter  Bartlett, 
and  three  other  graves.     All  are  now  indistinguishable. 

There  was  also  a  graveyard  in  the  field  owned  by  E.  W.  Gil- 
more,  near  where  his  hinge-factory  stands.  About  fifteen  graves 
were  here.  Among  them  were  those  of  the  Rev.  Eseck  Carr 
and  wife,  Caleb  Carr,  Sr.,  and  wife,  whose  remains  were  removed 
by  their  son  Caleb  when  the  factory  was  built,  and  deposited 
in  the  Washington  Street  Cemetery.  The  remains  of  Capt. 
Elisha  Harvey  and  his  wife  still  lie  in  the  field  alluded  to,  and 
are  only  a  few  feet  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  factory. 
It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  this  old  hero  that  his  and  his  wife's 
remains  should  be  disinterred  and  deposited  elsewhere,  with 
some  fitting  gravestones  to  mark  the  spot  and  perpetuate  their 
memory.     The  others  whose  remains  were  buried  in  this  place 


502  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

were  Elizabeth  Simmons,  John  Simmons,  and  Jeremiah  his 
son  ;  an  old  Mrs.  Packard  ;  John  and  Tiley  Carr,  children  of 
Caleb,  Sr. ;  Horatio  Packard,  and  also  his  mother,  who  was  wife 
of  Jedediah  Packard.  Two  of  her  children  were  buried  here. 
Elizabeth  Simmons  died  as  early  as  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
hers  was  the  first  burial  in  this  yard.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Mrs.  Eseck  Carr  by  her  first  husband. 

One  notices  in  reading  the  inscriptions  upon  the  tombstones 
in  some  of  our  burying-grounds  a  strange  confusion  of  thought 
concerning  the  condition  of  the  soul  after  death.  This  results 
from  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection  of  the  body.  The  spiritual 
imagination  of  most  persons  is  feeble.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive 
of  the  spirit  as  separate  from  the  body  ;  and  the  belief  that  the 
body  was  to  be  raised  up  again  at  the  last  day  made  it  quite 
natural  to  think  that  the  dead  really  were  slumbering  in  the 
grave  in  a  state  of  unconsciousness,  from  which  the  last  trump 
would  wake  them.     For  example  :  — 

Kind  angels  watch  the  sleeping  dust 
Till  Jesus  comes  to  raise  the  just. 
Then  may  he  wake  with  sweet  surprise, 
And  in  his  Saviour's  image  rise. 

In  this  stanza,  found  on  one  of  our  tombstones,  it  is  plainly 
implied  that  the  just  man,  whom  this  stone  commemorates,  is 
sleeping  below  the  sod. 

On  another  stone  we  read  :  — 

Underneath  this  stone  doth  lie 
As  much  virtue  as  could  die.^ 

1  This  couplet  was  doubtless  suggested  by  the  famous  "  Epitaph  on  Elizabeth 
L.  H.,"  written  by  Ben  Jonson,  a  part  of  which  reads  as  follows  :  — 

"  Underneath  this  stone  doth  lye 
As  much  beauty  as  could  dye  ; 
Which  in  life  did  harbour  give 
To  more  virtue  than  doth  live." 

To  the  couplet  quoted  above  in  the  text  two  original  lines  were  added,  and  they 
make  the  whole  stanza  upon  the  tombstone  a  medley  at  which  old  Ben  Jonson 
would  have  stood  aghast.     The  stanza  is  as  follows :  — 

"  Underneath  this  stone  doth  lie 
As  much  virtue  as  could  die ; 
With  earnest  prayer  they  sought  to  God 
To  wash  them  in  Christ  Jesus'  blood." 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


503 


Another  inscription  begins  :  — 

Housed  in  the  dust  my  partner  lies. 

There  are  many  inscriptions  of  like  tenor,  all  plainly  teaching 
that  the  persons  over  whose  graves  they  are  written  are  really 
sleeping  beneath. 

There  are  some  of  a  different  kind,  which  seem  to  fluctuate 
between  the  idea  of  personal  unconsciousness  in  the  grave  and 
that  of  the  soul's  present  existence  in  heaven.     For  example  : 

Sleep  on,  dear  child,  and  take  thy  rest ; 
God  called  thee  home,  —  He  thought  it  best. 

In  the  first  line  of  this  couplet  the  child  is  thought  of  as  sleep- 
ing quietly  in  the  grave,  while  in  the  second  the  words  "  God 
called  thee  home  "  would  suggest  the  contrary  supposition,  — 
that  the  child  is  now  living  with  God  in  heaven.  Thus  the 
doctrine  of  the  physical  resurrection  confuses  the  thought,  and 
tends  to  hold  it  down  to  the  grave  in  expectation  of  the  time 
when  the  body  shall  rise  again.  But  on  the  later  tombstones 
we  find  that  the  resurrection  of  the  body  is  more  seldom  alluded 
to.  The  inscriptions  now  are,  as  a  rule,  those  that  suggest,  not 
a  future,  but  an  immediate  rising  to  God. 

It  is  difficult  to  conjecture  by  what  principle  people  were 
sometimes  guided  in  their  selections  of  Scripture  or  poetry  for 
inscriptions  upon  the  tombstones  of  their  friends.  These  often 
show  poor  judgment  as  well  as  wretched  taste.  What,  for  in- 
stance, could  induce  one  to  choose  a  stanza  like  the  following, 
which  is  carved  upon  the  headstone  of  a  young  man  well 
known  in  his  time :  — 

In  the  cold  grave  this  frame  must  rest, 
And  worms  shall  feed  on  this  poor  breast ; 
These  hands  will  then  be  useless  grown, 
And  I,  alas !  no  more  be  known. 

It  is  a  dishonor  to  the  departed  to  represent  them  as  uttering 
any  such  shocking  and  comfortless  doggerel  as  this. 

How,  too,  shall  we  account  for  the  selection  of  the  following 
passage  of  Scripture  for  the  motto  upon  the  tombstone  of  one 
whom  the  writer  is  informed  was  an  excellent  woman  :  — 

"  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God." 


504 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


Probably  those  who  chose  this  considered  it  the  right  thing  to 
have  some  Scripture  on  the  gravestone,  and  were  careless  about 
the  inevitable  suggestions  of  this  passage. 

The  burying-ground  gives  us  painful  illustrations  of  the  weak- 
nesses of  human  nature.  One  of  them  is  an  amiable  weakness,  — 
that  of  the  over-praise  of  the  dead,  as  shown  by  the  inscriptions 
the  living  cause  to  be  carved  upon  the  headstones  of  deceased 
friends.  It  is  no  wonder  that  Charles  Lamb,  walking  when  a 
boy  with  his  sister  in  a  graveyard,  and  noticing  the  saintly  char- 
acters given  to  the  dead  by  these  inscriptions,  asked,  "  Sister, 
where  are  the  (5<fz<3?  people  buried  }  "  It  is  not  needful,  though  it 
might  sometimes  be  salutary,  to  publish  the  sins  of  the  wicked 
upon  their  gravestones  ;  but  it  is  quite  shocking  to  the  sense  of 
truth  to  read  laudatory  epitaphs  which  are  known  by  some  to 
be  monumental  falsehoods  concerning  the  dead.  "  God's  acre  " 
ought  not  to  become  a  field  of  lies. 

It  is  also  painful  in  the  extreme  to  see  neglect  of  family-lots 
and  of  individual  graves  on  the  part  of  many  of  the  living.  This 
is  no  sure  proof  of  real  forgetfulness  of  the  dead,  but  it  is,  to 
say  the  least, most  reprehensible  thoughtlessness.  There  are  cases 
in  this  town  where  the  family  quarrels  of  survivors,  or  other 
selfish  reasons,  have  led  them  wholly  to  neglect  the  grave  per- 
haps of  a  worthy  and  affectionate  parent,  over  whose  remains 
filial  duty  demands  the  raising  of  some  memorial  stone. 

Attention  has  been  called  to  the  numerous  unmarked  graves  in 
our  cemeteries.  Sometimes  duty  to  the  living  may  make  it  diffi- 
cult, perhaps  impossible,  to  spend  money  for  a  gravestone.  But 
such  cases  are  rare,  and  these  unmarked  graves  show  how  easily 
agonized  grief  may  be  comforted  or  forgotten.  In  the  case  of 
graves  that  have  no  inscribed  headstones,  it  is  very  desirable 
that  the  method  adopted  by  the  managers  of  the  Pine  Grove 
Cemetery  should  be  followed,  —  that  of  putting  a  small  num- 
bered stone  at  the  head  of  such  graves,  and  having  the  names 
of  the  dead  recorded  in  a  book  opposite  the  numbers  of  the 
graves.  This  method  would  be  inexpensive  and  easy,  and  its 
advantages  are  obvious.  The  desirability  of  this  plan  was  re- 
cently illustrated  by  the  fact  that  though  Asa  Drake,  an  inmate 
of  the  Almshouse,  had  made  a  special  request  to  be  buried  beside 
his  parents,  it  was  found,  after  the  interment  had  been  made, 


BURIAL-PLACES. 


505 


that  he  was  buried  in  the  wrong  place.  This  mistake  was  recti- 
fied, but  it  would  not  have  occurred  if  some  such  plan  of  desig- 
nating graves  had  been  in  operation. 

It  is  very  sad  to  look  upon  toppling  gravestones  that  a  few 
hours'  labor  might  set  upright,  or  to  see  neglected  lots  over- 
grown with  weeds,  perhaps  bushes,  that  a  little  labor  would 
clear  away.  Care  should  always  be  taken  that  the  foundation 
for  a  gravestone  be  laid  well  below  frost  ;  then  the  stone  will 
remain  erect.  The  town  has  recently  cleared  up  two  ceme- 
teries ;  it  would  be  well  occasionally  to  do  the  same  to  all  the 
cemeteries  that  the  town  has  any  right  to  improve.  This  was 
formerly  done.  In  October,  1772,  it  was  voted  to  choose  a  com- 
mittee to  clear  the  burying-places  in  town.  Similar  action  was 
taken  again  in  February,  1783,  and  at  later  times. 

It  is  pleasant  to  note,  in  conclusion,  that  a  great  change  of 
feeling  has  taken  place  regarding  the  care  of  cemeteries.  In- 
stead of  being  the  most  forsaken  and  uncared  for  spots,  as  they 
formerly  were,  they  are  fast  becoming,  in  many  towns  and  cities, 
most  beautiful  places.  The  same  change  is  noticeable  in  Easton. 
May  her  citizens  show  their  respect  for  the  dead  and  their  ten- 
der appreciation  of  the  sacredness  of  the  associations  connected 
with  death,  by  protecting  and  improving  the  burial-places  within 
her  borders. 


5o6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 


MILITIA   AND   MILITARY   HISTORY. 

Old  Military  Days.  —  First  Militia  Company  of  Easton. — The 
V/est  Company. — The  East  Company.  —  The  Easton  Light  In- 
fantry.—  The  Cavalry  Company.  —  Company  B,  Easton  Light 
Infantry. —  Captains  and  Higher  Military  Officers  of  Easton, 
with  the  Dates  of  their  Commissions.  —  Major-General  Shep- 
ERD  Leach. 

THE  military  days  with  which  some  of  us  were  famihar  in 
our  youth  have  passed  away.  The  fife  and  drum  no 
longer  wake  the  echoes  as  of  yore.  The  ununiformed  com- 
panies of  militia  which  sometimes  were  irreverently  spoken  of 
as  the  "  String  Beans  "  or  "  Cowyard  Company,"  clad  in  home- 
spun of  every  variety,  parade  our  streets  no  longer.  The  mus- 
ters, with  their  several  days  of  encampment  upon  the  field,  their 
gingerbread  and  cider  booths,  their  sham-fights,  at  which  timid 
women  shrieked  and  young  urchins  grew  pale,  their  drunken- 
ness, gambling,  fighting,  and  wrestling,  —  these,  fortunately,  are 
no  more.  "Major"  A.,  "Captain"  B.,  "Lieutenant"  C,  and 
"  Ensign"  D.  are  dignitaries  whose  cheaply  earned  titles  are  no 
longer  familiar  to  our  ears.  But  in  earlier  days  military  matters 
excited  much  interest  and  received  great  attention  in  our  coun- 
try towns  ;  and  Easton  was  no  exception  to  the  rule. 

FIRST    MILITIA    COMPANY    OF    EASTON. 

There  was  a  military  company  in  the  North  Purchase  twenty- 
five  years  before  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Easton.  But 
it  did  not  extend  its  limits  to  the  east  part  of  the  Purchase  ; 
and  if  any  of  the  settlers  living  in  this  part  cared  to  unite 
with  any  company,  they  no  doubt  served  with  Bridgewater  men. 
Easton  had  its  own  company,  however,  very  early.  Its  captain 
was  John  Phillips,  and  its  lieutenants  were  Edward  Hayward  and 
Eliphalet  Leonard.  Edward  Hayward  served  as  captain  in  1732 
and  afterward,  with  Eliphalet  Leonard  as  his  successor  in  1744. 


MILITIA   AND   MILITARY   HISTORY. 


507 


Benjamin  Williams  was  the  next  captain.  Sometime  before  the 
Revolutionary  War  this  company  was  divided  into  two  com- 
panies of  militia,  —  one  in  the  east,  and  one  in  the  west  part  of 
the  town. 

We  have  under  date  of  April  7,  1757,  an  authentic  record  of 
the  first  military  company  of  Easton.  As  this  is  the  most  com- 
plete list  now  extant  of  the  male  residents  of  the  town  of  so  early 
a  period,  it  is  desirable  for  purposes  of  reference  to  publish  it 
in  full  here.  It  does  not  however  include  all  who  were  then 
residents,  as  Capt.  Benjamin  Williams  and  others  were  away  on 
miUtary  service  in  other  companies. 

A  Rooll  or  List  of  the  Soldires  in  Easton  under  the  command  of  the 
following  offisers,  April  7,  1757  : 

Eliphalet  Leonard,  Captain. 


Joshua  Hayward/  Lieittenattt. 
Matthew  Hayward,  Ensign. 
Thomas  Manley,  Sergeant. 
Silas  Williams,  ,, 

Joseph  Fobes,  Drianmer. 
Daniel  Keith,  ,, 

Joseph  Grossman,    Corporal. 
Joseph  Gilbert,  ,, 

Josiah  Keith,  ,, 

Jonathan  Lathrop,  ,, 

Ebenezer  Ames,      Private. 
Edmund  Andrews,         ,, 
Adam  Arnolt,  ,, 

Simeon  Babbitt,  ,, 

Nathan  Bryant,  „ 

Thomas  Butler,  ,, 

Ebenezer  Campbell,        ,, 
Samuel  Churchill,  ,, 

Daniel  Dailey,  „ 

Abial  Drake,  ,, 

Benjamin  Drake,  3d,      ,, 
Ephraim  Drake,  ,, 

Hezekiah  Drake,  ,, 

John  Drake,  ,, 

Joseph  Drake,  Jr.,  „ 

Joseph  Drake,  3d,  ,, 

Joseph  Drake,  4th,  ,, 

^  This   was   Joshua   Howard, 
confounded. 


Robert  Drake,         Private. 

Thomas  Drake,  „ 

Thomas  Fling,  ,, 

Benjamin  Fobes,  Jr.,  ,, 

Nathan  Fobes,  ,, 

Nathan  Gibbs,  ,, 

Jonathan  Goodspeed,  ,, 

Ebenezer  Hadon,  ,, 

Jacob  Hanks,  ,, 

Benjamin  Harvey,  „ 

Edward  Hayward,  ,, 

Henry  Hayward,  ,, 

,                    Jonathan  Hayward,  ,, 

,                     Ephraim  Hewitt,  „ 

,                     Solomon  Hewitt,  ,, 

,                     Benjamin  Keith,  ,, 

,                     Edward  Keith,  ,, 

,                     Mark  Keith,  „ 

Mark  Keith,  Jr.,  ,, 

,                    William  Keith,  „ 

,                    Zephaniah  Keith,  ,, 

,                     Nathan  Kinsley,  ,, 

,                     Silas  Kinsley,  ,, 

,                    Josiah  Kingman,  „ 

,  Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr. ,  „ 

,                    John  Lincoln,  Jr.,  ,, 

,                     Nathan  Lincoln,  ,, 

,                    James  Linsday,  ,, 

The   names    Hayward   and  Howard  were  often 


5o8 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


Jacob  Macomber,       Private. 

David  Manly,  ,, 

John  Manly,  „ 

John  Manly,  Jr.,  „ 

Seth  Manly,  „ 

Thomas  Manly,  Jr.,  ,, 

Timothy  Manly,  „ 

William  Manly,  Jr.,  „ 

William  Morrison,  „ 

John  Nape  [Knapp  ?],  ,, 

Daniel  Niles,  „ 

Daniel  Niles,  Jr.,  ,, 

Daniel  Owen,  „ 

John  Owen,  ,, 

John  Packard,  ,, 

Joseph  Packard,  Jr.,  ,, 

Benjamin  Pettingill,  ,, 

Joshua  Phillips,  ,, 

Samuel  Phillips,  Jr.,  ,, 

Ephraim  Pratt,  ,, 

Jonathan  Pratt,  ,, 

Seth  Pratt,  ,, 

William  Pratt,  „ 

William  Pratt,  Jr.,  „ 

Abiah  Randall,  ,, 

Beriah  Randall,  ,, 

Ebenezer  Randall,  ,, 

Ephraim  Randall,  Jr.,  „ 


Ephraim  Randall,  3d,  Private. 

Israel  Randall,  „ 

John  Randall,  Jr.,  ,, 

Joseph  Randall,  ,, 

Nehemiah  Randall,  „ 

Robert  Randall,  Jr.,  ,, 

Samuel  Randall,  ,, 

Samuel  Randall,  Jr.,  ,, 

Thomas  Randall,  „ 

Timothy  Randall,  ,, 

Nathan  Selee,  ,, 

Benaijah  Smith,  ,, 
Walter  Solard  [Sullard],        ,, 

James  Stacy,  ,, 

Samuel  Stone,  „ 

Benjamin  Tupper,  ,, 

John  Turner,  ,, 

Dennis  Tyler,  „ 

Zachariah  Watkins,  ,, 

Antony  Weldland  (?),  ,, 

John  Whitman,  Jr.,  „ 

Ebenezer  Williams,  ,, 

Paul  Williams,  ,, 

Seth  Williams,  „ 

Silas  Williams,  Jr.,  ,, 

Timothy  Williams,  „ 
Seth  Willis, 

John  Howard  Winslow,  ,, 


Israel  Woodward,  Private. 

A  true  list  of  the  training  Soldires  by  me 

Abiah  Manly,  Clark.^ 

Following  this  is  a  supplementary  list  which  includes  some 
who  were  not  regular  "  training  soldires,"  but  who  were  obliged 
to  serve  in  an  emergency.  In  this  list  are  the  exempted  men, 
such  as  deacons,  justices  of  the  peace,  and  others  who  were  then 
not  obliged  to  do  ordinary  military  service. 

A  list  of  those  under  sixty  years  of  eage  that  are  obliged  by  law   to 
appare  upone  An  alarm  that  are  not  training  soldiers. 


Nathaniel  Babbitt. 
John  Daily,  Ensign. 
James  Dean,  Deacon. 


Richard  Drake,  deaf. 
George  Ferguson. 
Timothy  Gilbert. 


^  State  Archives,  vol.  xcv.  p.  273. 


MILITIA   AND  MILITARY  HISTORY.  509 

David  Gurney.  Samuel  Phillips. 

Moses  Hayward.  John  Randall. 

Ebenezer  Jones.  Robert  Randall,  Deacon. 

Ichabod  Manly.  John  Stacey. 

Joseph  Packard.  David  Stone. 

Ebenezer  Phillips.  Peter  Sullard. 

Daniel  Williams. 

Abiah  Manly,  Clark.^ 

THE    WEST    COMPANY    OF    MILITIA. 

The  Easton  company  was  not  divided  until  after  1762. 
March  25  of  that  year  Eliphalet  Leonard  was  captain,  Matthew 
Hayward  lieutenant,  and  Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.,  ensign.^  The 
company  belonged  to  the  Third  Regiment  of  Militia.  Sometime 
afterward,  and  prior  to  1771,  this  company  was  large  enough  to 
divide.  The  division  was  made  by  a  north  and  south  line  run- 
ning through  the  town.  The  company  in  the  west  part  of  the 
town  was  called  the  First  Company,  and  afterward  the  West 
Company ;  it  continued  the  organization  of  the  original  militia 
company,  and  kept  its  place  for  a  time  in  the  Third  Regiment. 
In  1 77 1  Capt.  Zephaniah  Keith  had  command  of  it,  Nathan 
Kinsley  being  lieutenant,  and  Macey  Williams  ensign.  In  1775 
Macey  Williams  had  been  promoted  to  be  captain,  Josiah  Keith 
to  be  lieutenant,  and  Elijah  Howard  ensign.  Thus  organized, 
this  company  marched  on  the  Lexington  "  alarm."  Not  long 
after  this.  Captain  Williams  enlisted  another  company ;  and  the 
command  of  the  West  Company  of  Easton  militia  devolved  upon 
Josiah  Keith,  with  David  Keith  as  lieutenant.  Josiah  Keith 
remained  in  command  of  this  company  until  the  end  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  being  occasionally  summoned  with  it  to  an 
"  alarm  "  in  Rhode  Island.  He  appears  to  have  been  succeeded 
in  command  by  the  following  captains  in  the  order  given : 
Jonathan  Pratt,  John  Williams,  Abijah  Wetherell,  Nathaniel 
Wetherby,  Sheperd  Leach,  Edward  Kingman.  The  latter  was 
commissioned  in  1809.  During  the  War  of  1812  this  company 
was  not  called  into  service. 

The  successors  of  Captain  Kingman  were  as  follows :  Tis- 
dale  Godfrey,  Bartholomew  Drake,  Jonathan  Pratt,  Archippus 
Buck,  Frederic    Fuller,    Perez    Marshall,    Tisdale    Godfrey,  Jr., 

1  State  Archives,  vol.  xcv.  p.  272.  2  ibid.,  vol.  xci.\.  p.  48. 


5IO  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Elbridge  G.  Reed,  and  John  R.  Drake.  Captain  Drake  was  the 
last  captain  of  this  company.  At  one  of  the  trainings,  for  rea- 
sons less  obvious  to  himself  than  to  others,  he  gave  the  exact 
opposite  of  the  order  intended  ;  and  the  company,  though  seeing 
the  folly  of  it,  obeyed  with  military  precision,  and  brought  up  at 
last  in  a  cowyard.  This  gave  it  the  name  of  the  "  Cowyard 
Company."  It  disbanded  about  1840.  During  that  year  Captain 
Drake  surrendered  his  commission. 

THE    EAST    COMPANY    OF    MILITIA. 

When  the  old  militia  company  of  Easton  was  divided,  the  new 
or  second  company  was  m_ade  up  of  the  residents  in  the  east  part 
of  the  town.  It  was  the  fifth  company  of  the  Third  Regiment, 
Bristol  County  Militia.  In  1771  it  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.  ;  Abiel  Mitchell  was  lieutenant,  and  Seth 
Lothrop  ensign.  In  1775,  at  the  time  of  the  Lexington  "alarm," 
Abiel  Mitchell  was  captain,  Jacob  Leonard  lieutenant,  and  Silas 
Kinsley  ensign.  Captain  Mitchell  was  soon  promoted  to  be 
major  and  afterward  colonel,  and  the  command  of  this  company 
was  given  to  Matthew  Randall,  with  Seth  Pratt  first  lieutenant, 
and  Edward  Hayward,  2d,  the  second  lieutenant.  Ephraim  Burr 
•was  first  lieutenant  in  1776.  In  1777  Nathan  Hack  was  first 
lieutenant,  and  John  Godfrey  second  lieutenant.  Seth  Pratt 
became  acting  captain  of  this  company  in  1780,  though  after- 
ward known  only  as  lieutenant.  Matthew  Randall  had  mean- 
time raised  another  company.  The  militia  company  of  which 
we  are  speaking  continued  in  existence  many  years  afterward, 
constantly  changing  its  officers,  parading  on  training  days,  going 
to  musters,  etc.  Among  its  captains  after  the  Revolution  were 
Jacob  Leonard,  Edward  Hayward,  2d,  Jedediah  Willis,  John 
Tisdale,  Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr.,  David  Wade,  and  Timothy 
Mitchell. 

At  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  18 12,  Noah 
Reed  was  the  captain  of  this  company,  and  Simeon  Drake  was 
lieutenant.  As  already  noted,  it  did  guard  duty  at  New  Bed- 
ford. Captain  Reed  was  succeeded  by  Capt.  Elijah  Smith,  after 
whom  came  David  Manley,  John  Gilmore,  Asa  Bartlett,  Gurdon 
Stone,  Henry  French,  Barzillai  Dean,  George  Washington  Hay- 
ward, and  Edward  W.  Dean,  the  latter  being  the  last  captain. 


MILITIA   AND   MILITARY   HISTORY.  51I 

Its  last  annual  training  was  in  May,  1835.  Captain  Dean  or- 
dered another  inspection  in  the  following  year,  but  by  this  time 
the  whole  matter  began  to  be  considered  useless ;  the  interest 
had  died  out,  and  the  organization  fell  to  pieces. 

It  has  been  stated  that  the  militia  appeared  in  ordinary  cloth- 
ing without  regular  uniform.  But  the  contrast  presented  be- 
tween the  two  militia  companies  and  the  Light  Infantry  was  too 
unpleasant  to  the  former,  and  the  militia  therefore  adopted  dark 
(usually  dark-blue)  coats  and  white  pantaloons.  They  also  wore 
the  tall  hats  that  were  then  in  almost  universal  use,  each  hat 
having  in  it  a  small  cockade.  This  gave  a  decided  military 
appearance  to  these  two  companies  of  militia. 

THE    EASTON    LIGHT    INFANTRY. 

February  27,  18 10,  Leonard  Perry  and  others  petitioned  for 
leave  to  raise  a  Light  Infantry  Company  in  Easton.  A  special 
committee  recommended  that  this  petition  be  granted,  "provided 
it  shall  not  reduce  any  of  the  established  companies  in  said 
town  of  Easton  below  the  number  prescribed  by  law."  ^  It  was 
therefore  ''Resolved,  That  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the 
advice  of  his  council,  be  and  hereby  is  authorized  to  raise  by 
voluntary  enlistment  a  company  of  Light  Infantry  in  the  town 
of  Easton,  in  the  county  of  Bristol,  in  the  Fourth  Regiment  of 
the  Second  Brigade  and  Fifth  Division  of  the  Militia  of  this 
Commonwealth."  ^ 

This  company  was  immediately  raised,  and  it  organized  with 
the  choice  of  Isaac  Lothrop  as  captain,  Seth  Williams  lieuten- 
ant, and  Melvin  Gilmore  ensign.  These  three  officers  were 
commissioned  May  17,  iSio.^  John  Williams  had  in  1808 
been  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  to  which  this 
company  was  assigned,  and  he  was  succeeded  August  9,  i8og,  by 
Capt.  Sheperd  Leach,  who  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel 
at  this  date,  holding  the  position  nine  years.  He  was  promoted 
to  be  colonel  and  brigadier-general,  and  February  16,  1827,  he 

'  Council  Records,  vol.  xxxv.  p.  405. 

^  General  Court  Records,  vol.  xlvii.  p.  235. 

3  The  dates  of  appointments  have  been  gathered  from  official  communications 
from  the  United  States  War  Department,  the  Regimental  Rosters,  and  the  Adjutant- 
General's  office  in  Boston,  and  from  the  books  of  the  company,  which  were  loaned 
to  the  writer  by  L.  S.  Drake. 


512  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

was  elected  to  the  office  of  major-general.  Under  Capt.  Isaac 
Lothrop,  in  the  autumn  of  1814,  this  company  went  to  Boston  on 
guard-duty  and  remained  there  about  two  months.  Captain 
Lothrop  was  succeeded  in  his  command  by  Oliver  Pool,  who  was 
commissioned  May  22,  181 5,  and  held  the  place  about  three 
years.  George  Alger  was  made  captain,  May  5,  1818.  Other 
captains  serving  were  Lewis  Williams,  Lincoln  Drake,  Alanson 
White,  Welcome  Lothrop,  Jarvis  Lothrop,  Henry  Day,  and  Tis- 
dale  Harlow.  The  latter  was  the  last  captain,  and  was  commis- 
sioned April  18,  1833.  The  Easton  Light  Infantry  dissolved 
March  28,  1834. 

Before  1790  there  was  a  squadron  of  cavalry  belonging  to  the 
Fifth  Division,  which  was  composed  of  men  from  Norton,  Esston, 
Mansfield,  and  perhaps  a  few  other  towns.  Among  the  Easton 
men  belonging  were  Cyrus  Alger,  Simeon  Leach,  Bezer  Keith, 
James  Guild,  Josiah  Copeland,  Cyrus  Williams,  James  Keith,  and 
James  Dean.  Thomas  Williams  was  commissioned  lieutenant, 
December  16,  1793.  Joshua  Williams  was  appointed  cornet  in 
1 80 1,  lieutenant  in  1806,  and  captain  April  28,  1809.  They 
expected  to  be  called  out  for  service  in  the  War  of  18 12,  and 
had  orders  to  the  effect  that  if  when  summoned  any  one  was 
without  a  horse,  he  must  impress  one  into  the  service.  They 
were  not  however  called  for. 

COMPANY    B,    EASTON    LIGHT    INFANTRY. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  companies  whose  history  has 
been  given  above,  the  interest  in  military  matters  had  a  lull  for 
a  time  in  Easton  ;  a  few  residents,  however,  were  members  of 
organizations  in  neighboring  towns.  The  military  spirit  began 
to  revive  again  in  1852.  A  charter  for  an  infantry  company, 
signed  by  Governor  Boutwell,  was  secured  December  3,  1852, 
and  the  company  organized  on  the  22d.  The  following  officers 
were  chosen  :  William  E.  Bump,  captain  ;  Francis  Tilden,  first 
lieutenant;  Oliver  Ames,  3d,  second  lieutenant;  John  Carr, 
third  lieutenant ;  Rufus  Willis,  fourth  lieutenant.  This  com- 
pany and  one  then  recently  formed  at  Canton  were  organized  as 
the  second  battalion  of  light  infantry,  second  brigade  and  first 
division,  the  Easton  company  being  known  as  Company  B.  Of 
this  battalion  Oliver  Ames,  3d,  was  chosen  adjutant.     He  was 


MILITIA   AND   MILITARY  HISTORY. 


51. 


afterward  promoted  to  be  major,  and  then  lieutenant-colonel ; 
and  Frank  M,  Ames  was  made  quartermaster  and  then  major. 
The  State  furnished  this  company  with  fifty  guns,  bayonets,  and 
other  accoutrements,  besides  swords  for  the  officers.  The  record 
book  states  that  the  State  also  forwarded  "  i  Brass  Kittle  drum 
in  good  order,  and  i  Fife,  crooked  and  unfit  for  use."  By  the 
end  of  1853  about  fifty  men  had  joined  the  Easton  Light  Infantry. 
The  first  parade  of  the  company  was  on  the  25th  of  May,  1853, 
with  music  by  the  North  Bridgewater  Band.  Inspections,  train- 
ings, musters,  etc.,  were  attended  at  various  places  from  time  to 
time,  the  company  gratefully  acknowledging  treats  of  lemonade 
and  other  refreshments  from  persons  here  and  elsewhere. 

In  1856,  beginning  August  20,  there  was  a  notable  muster  on 
the  plain  south  of  Lincoln  Street.  Companies  were  present 
from  various  places,  and  encamped  on  the  ground.  The  first 
two  days  were  rainy,  and  there  was  no  parade  until  the  third 
day,  when  Governor  Gardner  and  Brigadier-General  Pierce  were 
present.  This  muster  had  the  usual  accompaniment  of  such 
occasions,  —  rioting,  gambling,  and  drunkenness.  Company  B 
attended  the  famous  encampment  at  Concord,  the  State  Muster 
of  1859.  J^me  16,  1859,  Milo  M.  Williams  was  elected  captain, 
and  Linton  Waldron  first  lieutenant.  October  18,  i860,  the 
company  attended  a  reception  in  Boston  given  to  the  Prince 
of  Wales,  before  whom  they  passed  in  review.  This  company, 
however,  was  destined  to  do  something  more  than  play  at  sol- 
diering. The  war  clouds  of  rebellion  were  gathering,  and  soon 
the  thunders  of  cannon  were  sounding  in  Charleston  Harbor. 
The  remaining  history  of  this  company  will  be  found  in  the 
chapter  on  Easton  in  the  Rebellion. 

CAPTAINS    AND    HIGHER    MILITARY    OFFICERS    OF   EASTON. 

The  list  below  contains  the  names  of  those  military  ofificers 
who  have  risen  to  and  above  the  rank  of  captain.  It  has  been 
impossible  to  ascertain  the  exact  date  of  the  commissions  of 
some  of  the  earlier  officers;  but  the  dates  after  1781  are  nearly 
all  official,  as  are  a  few  of  those  before  this  time.  The  others 
are  based  upon  the  town  records,  tax-lists,  and  other  documents 
where  titles  are  given,  and  may  be  depended  upon  as  approxi- 
mately correct. 

33 


5^4 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Captains. 


John  Phillips    .     . 
Edward  Hayward 
Eliphalet  Leonard 
Benjamin  Williams 
Nathaniel  Perry    . 
Eliphalet  Phillips 
Matthew  Hayward 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  J 
Zephaniah  Keith  . 
Benjamin  Williams, 
Abiel  Mitchell 
Macey  Williams    . 
James  Keith     . 
James  Perry     .     . 
Matthew  Randall 
Josiah  Keith     .     . 
Ephraim  Burr  .     . 
Ebenezer  Tisdale  ^ 
Seth  Pratt  2      .     . 
Abner  Hayward  ^ 
Elisha  Harvey  *    . 
Jacob  Leonard 
Jonathan  Pratt 
John  Williams 
Edward  Hayward,  2d 
Abijah  Wetherell 
Jedediah  Willis     . 
John  Tisdale    .     . 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  Jr 
Nathaniel  Wetherby 
David  Wade     .     . 
Sheperd  Leach 
Timothy  Mitchell 
Joshua  WiUiams  . 
Edward  Kingman 
Noah  Reed       .     . 
Isaac  Lothrop,  2d. 


Jur 


1726 
1732 

1744 
1749 
1754 
1760 
1765 
1770 
1771 
1774 
1774 
1775 

1775 
1776 
1776 

1777 

before  1779 

.     .     1780 

about  1780 

about  1 78 1 

.     .     1781 

.     .     1786 

April  30,  1788 

June    9,  1788 

April    8,  17S9 

June  12,  1789 

Feb.     3,  1794 

April  14,  1794 

April    I,  1802 

March  28,  1803 

Nov.    4,  1803 

March  25,  1805 

April  28,  1809 

Oct.     9,  1809 

April    9,  1810 

May  17,  1 8 ID 


Tisdale  Godfrey 
Oliver  Pool 
Elijah  Smith     . 
George  Alger  . 
David  Manley  . 
Bartholomew  Drake 
Seba  Howard  . 
John  Gil  more  . 
Lewis  Williams 
Jonathan  Pratt 
Lincoln  Drake 
Asa  Bartlett     . 
Gurdon  Stone 
Alanson  White 
Archippus  Buck 
Henry  French 
Frederic  Fuller 
Welcome  Lothrop 
John  Torrey     . 
Jarvis  Lothrop 
Barzillai  Dean 
Perez  Marshall 
Henry  Day 
Tisdale  Godfrey,  Jr. 
Geo.  W.  Hayward 
Tisdale  Harlow     . 
Elbridge  G.  Reed 
Edward  W.  Dean 
John  R.  Drake      . 
William  E.  Bump 
Milo  M.  Williams,  Jr 
Ward  L.  Foster    . 
John  Fitzpatrick  . 
Robert  Dollard     . 
Frank  A.  Mitchell 
William  E.  Reed  ^    . 


May    2,  1815 

„    22,  1815 

Sept.  27,  1816 

May    5,  1818 

„      5,  1818 

„    19,  1818 

Oct.    4,  1819 

„       7,  1819 

June     5,  1820 

„     26,  1820 

„     20,  1821 

May     7,  1822 

June  10,  1823 

May  23,  1825 

Aug.  18,  1825 

„     23,  T826 

„     24,  1826 

Oct.     9,  1826 

May  30,  1827 

March  4,  1828 

„      4,  1828 

4,  1828 

I,  1830 

I,  1830 

3.  1831 

April  18,  1S33 

»     18,  1833 

»     18,  1833 

Jan.    25,  1834 

Dec.  22,  1852 

June  16,  1859 

„     15, i86r 

Nov.  10,  1862 

Dec.  14,  1863 

Feb.         1865 

April     I,  1S65 


May 

It 
June 


1  Was  captain  before  he  moved  to  Easton  from  Stoughtonham  (Sharon),  in  1778. 

2  Always  known,  however,  as  Lieut.  Seth  Pratt.  He  served  as  a  captain,  but  was 
perhaps  not  commissioned. 

3  Moved  to  Easton  from  Bridgewater  in  1793  or  1794. 

*  Served  as  lieutenant  to  the  end  of  the  war,  getting  his  title  of  captain  prob- 
ably by  brevet. 

5  A  native  of  Easton  though  not  enlisting  here.  In  his  second  enlistment  his 
effects  were  sent  to  his  father's  at  Easton,  and  he  considered  this  town  his  home. 
He  is  son  of  William  G.  Reed. 


MILITIA  AND    MILITARY  HISTORY. 


515 


Adjutants. 


Anselm  Tupper 
Charles  Hayden 


Jan.  6, 


1781 
1806 


Cyrus  Lothrop 
Oliver  Ames,  3d 


July  15,  1816 
March,   1853 


Regimental  Surgeons. 


Samuel  Deans 
George  B.  Cogswell 


Aug.  25,  1825 
Aug.    7,  1862 


Majors. 


Zephaniah  Keith 
Benjamin  Tupper 
Abiel  Mitchell 
James  Keith 
Anselm  Tupper 
John  Williams 
Noah  Reed 
John  Gilmore  . 
Seba  Howard  . 


BenjaminTupper 
Zephaniah  Keith 
John  Williams 
Sheperd  Leach 
David  Manley 
John  Gilmore 


Abiel  Mitchell 
Benjamin  Tupper* 


probably  1774 
.    (May)  1775 

May  19,  1775 
.  March,  1780 
.     about  1789 

Oct.    8,  1793 

April    9,  1 8 10 

,,       5,  1822 

Oct.  20,  1824 


George  Wheaton 
Alanson  White 
John  Torrey 
Oliver  Ames,  3d. 
Frank  M.  Ames    . 
Robert  DoUard  ^  . 
Joseph  W.  Hayward 
John  Fitzpatrick   . 


Sept.  23,  1825 
,,  9,  1828 
Oct.  3,  1829 
Dec.  25,  1854 
July  10,  1857 
Oct.  25,  1864 
March  13,  1865 
May  10,  1866 


L  ieiitenant-  Colonels. 


Nov.  4,  1775 
March,  1776 
Aug.  I,  1803 
„  7,  1809 
Sept.  17,  1819 
Aug.  23,  1823 


Alanson  White  .  .  Feb.  12,  1827 
John  Torrey  .  .  .  Sept.  22,  183 1 
Oliver  Ames,  3d. .  .  July  10,  1857 
Henry  L.  Dickerman,  March  30,  1883 
George  F.  F.  Wilde,^    Sept.  25,  1885 


Colonels. 

Feb.,  1776  I  Sheperd  Leach 
July  I,  1777  I  John  Torrey     . 

Bris^adier-Generals. 


June  20,  1816 
Oct.  31,  1832 


Benjamin  Tupper 
Sheperd  Leach 


.     .     .     1782 
July    8,  1819 


Major-  General. 
Sheperd  Leach,  Feb.  16,  1827,  discharged  March  10,  1830. 

1  Captain  Dollard  was  appointed  major  by  General  Butler  on  the  battle-field  in 
front  of  Richmond,  September  29,  1864.     The  above  is  the  date  of  his  commission. 

2  He  was  then  assistant-surgeon.  He  was  appointed  "  major  by  brevet  ...  to 
rank  as  such  for  faithful  and  meritorious  service." 

'^  Commander  Wilde's  name  appears  here  because  a  commander  in  the  United 
States  Navy  ranks  as  lieutenant-colonel. 

*  This  is  not  the  exact  date  of  Colonel  Tupper's  commission ;  it  is  the  date  at 
which  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of  a  regiment.  It  was  the  eleventh  regiment  in 
the  Continental  Army,  and  at  this  time  was  at  West  Point. 


5l6  HISTORY   OF    EASTOxN. 

It  will  be  appropriate  to  close  this  chapter  with  a  brief  sketch 
of  the  man  who  acquired  the  highest  military  title  of  any  son  of 
Easton.^ 

Major-General  Sheperd  Leach  was  a  descendant  in  the 
fifth  generation  from  Giles  Leach,  of  Weymouth,  He  was  son 
of  Abisha  and  Patience  (Woods)  Leach,  and  was  born  in  Easton, 
April  30,  1778.  He  was  early  instructed  in  the  business  fol- 
lowed by  his  father,  which  was  the  iron-foundry  business,  in 
which  the  son  became  quite  celebrated.  His  ambition  was  to 
have  a  monopoly  of  it  in  New  England  ;  therefore  he  purchased 
all  the  foundries  of  which  he  could  get  possession.  In  Cyrus 
Alger  he  recognized  a  dangerous  rival,  and  when  he  bought  out 
his  interest  in  the  business  in  Easton  he  stipulated  that  Mr. 
Alger  should  not  have  a  foundry  within  twenty  miles  of  the 
town.  Mr.  Alger  obeyed  the  letter  of  this  stipulation,  but 
started  at  South  Boston  the  iron  foundry  that  later  became  a 
flourishing  competitor  of  General  Leach's  business.  This  busi- 
ness ambition  of  General  Leach  was  the  cause  of  his  final 
disaster.  He  acquired  the  ownership  of  more  property  than  he 
could  profitably  manage,  and  at  his  death  his  business  affairs 
were  in  a  bad  condition. 

General  Leach  took  much  interest  in  military  matters.  "My 
earliest  recollection  of  him,"  writes  the  Rev.  Luther  H.  Sheldon, 
"was  of  his  fine  appearance  on  his  dapple-gray  parade  horse  on 
the  muster-field, — a  horse  which  he  kept  solely  for  this  purpose. 
The  General  was  large,  fleshy,  of  a  commanding  appearance, 
a  fine  officer  on  the  field,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  his  position 
as  general."  He  was  commissioned  captain  November  4,  1803, 
lieutenant-colonel  August  7,  1809,  colonel  June  20,  18 16,  brig- 
adier-general July  8,  1 819,  and  major-general  February  16, 
1827. 

General  Leach  was  sincerely  attached  to  the  new  society 
formed  in  the  first  years  of  the  controversy  during  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sheldon's  ministry  ;  but  he  was  careful  not  to  be  drawn  into 
any  angry  disputes  in  those  exciting  times.  He  thoughtfully 
matured  any  propositions  he  wished  to  make  in  any  of  the  parish 
meetings  of    that  day,  and   submitted  them   in  writing.      The 

1  The  Rev.  Luther  H.  Sheldon  has  kindly  supplied  most  of  the  facts  and  incidents 
here  given,  and  the  estimate  of  General  Leach's  character  is  also  his 


MILITIA   AND   MILITARY   HISTORY. 


517 


Evangelical  Society  had  in  him  a  stanch  and  liberal  friend. 
On  stormy  Sundays  he  would  get  out  an  immense  covered 
wagon  that  he  owned,  and  drive  from  house  to  house  until  it  was 
filled  with  church-goers,  and  then  drive  to  meeting.  When  doinof 
business  in  Boston,  he  would  drive  out  to  Easton  to  attend  the 
Thursday  evening  meeting,  changing  horses  on  the  way,  and 
then  drive  back  the  next  morning.  When  the  church-bell  was 
broken,  he  was  asked  to  start  a  subscription  for  a  new  one,  and 
responded  by  at  once  subscribing  enough  to  cover  the  cost  of 
exchanging  the  old  bell  for  a  new  one.  The  Rev.  L.  H.  Shel- 
don gives  this  illustration  of  his  generosity  :  "  I  remember  start- 
ing out  one  Monday  morning  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beckwith  on  a 
tour  round  town  to  get  a  donation  for  the  Peace  Society.  We 
called  first  on  the  General,  and  he  said,  '  I  was  interested  in 
your  discourse  yesterday.  How  much  do  you  expect  to  get  in 
town .'' '  'I  was  in  hopes  to  get  about  fifty  dollars,'  said  Mr, 
Beckwith.  'Well,'  said  General  Leach,  'you  ought  to  get  that  ; 
but  our  people  have  been  pretty  well  taxed  lately,  and  as  your 
time  is  valuable  to  you,  I  might  as  well  hand  you  the  fifty  dol- 
lars and  let  you  go  back  to  Boston,'  And  he  gave  him  the 
money."  Mr.  Sheldon  further  writes,  "  He  would  frequently 
come  to  my  father  and  say,  *  I  have  been  quite  prosperous  in 
my  business  of  late.  Here  is  a  little  money  for  the  poor  and 
sick  in  town.  You  know  better  than  I  who  are  the  needy  ones : 
distribute  it  for  me.'  My  father  would  take  the  package  of  bills, 
one  hundred  dollars,  or  two  hundred  dollars,  and  send  him  the 
names  of  those  helped,  and  the  amounts  given  each.  This  was 
of  frequent  occurrence." 

General  Leach  used  to  have  men  dig  bog-iron  ore  in  this 
vicinity.  He  once  gave  a  man  a  certain  sum  for  the  privilege  of 
digging  over  his  pasture  for  the  ore.  More  ore  was  found  than 
was  anticipated,  and  the  man  came  to  General  Leach  with  a 
pitiful  story.  "  I  happened  to  be  in  the  General's  ofiice,"  Mr. 
Sheldon  states,  "  when  the  man  came  and  said,  *'  My  cow-pasture 
is  spoiled,  and  I  ought  to  have  a  good  deal  more  than  you 
agreed  for  the  damage.'  The  General  smiled  and  said,  '  Did  I 
not  give  you  all  you  asked  .? '  '  Yes,'  was  the  reply,  '  but  I  did 
not  think  you  were  going  to  get  so  much.'  The  General  then 
said,  '  I  guess  we  wont  have  any  hard  feelings  about  it ;   how 


5l8  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

much  more  do  you  want  ?'     The  man  brightened  up  and  named 
the  sum,  which  was  given  him  on  the  spot." 

General  Leach's  generosity  to  his  minister  has  been  referred 
to  in  another  chapter,  but  something  on  that  subject  may  be 
added  here.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Sheldon's  sleigh  broke  down  near 
the  General's  house.  The  latter  asked  Mr.  Sheldon  to  hitch  his 
horse  into  a  new  sleigh  and  leave  the  old  one  with  him,  saying 
that  he  would  send  for  the  new  one  when  he  wanted  it.  When 
he  was  spoken  to  about  it  afterward,  he  replied  with  a  smile, 
"  I  told  you  I  would  send  for  it  when  I  wanted  it."  The  reader 
anticipates  the  result :  it  was  never  sent  for.  Few  ministers 
were  ever  more  fortunate  in  a  parishioner  than  Dr.  Sheldon  was 
in  this  generous  helper. 

Though  not  much  of  a  singer  himself,  General  Leach  was 
very  fond  of  singing,  and  would  lead  the  choir,  standing  with  his 
back  to  the  audience  and  beating  time  in  the  most  approved 
style.  He  hired  a  Boston  teacher,  Mr.  Coburn,  to  come  to  Eas- 
ton  at  ten  dollars  per  evening  to  give  singing  lessons  and  drill 
the  choir.  The  Evangelical  Society  had  the  name  of  having 
the  best  choir  of  any  country  church  in  this  vicinity.  One  Sun- 
day while  singing  during  the  noon  intermission  at  church,  one 
of  his  men  came  galloping  up,  his  horse  white  with  foam,  and 
told  the  General  that  the  flume  of  the  great  pond  had  broken 
away  and  the  flood  was  pouring  through,  sweeping  away  bridges 
and  doing  immense  damage.  The  General  calmly  said,  "  You 
can't  stop  it,  can  you.-*"  "  Why,  no  !"  said  the  excited  horseman. 
"  Well,  then,  let  it  run,"  said  General  Leach  ;  "  let  us  sing  an- 
other tune." 

The  General  was  fond  of  children,  though  he  had  none  of  his 
own.  He  was  accustomed  to  adopt  young  girls  and  keep  them 
until  they  were  married.  "  He  was  a  great  friend  to  the  chil- 
dren," Mr.  Sheldon  writes,  "and  always  had  a  pleasant  word  for 
any  little  one  who  chanced  to  be  near.  I  well  remember  his  can- 
tering by  the  guard  on  the  muster-field  up  to  where  a  squad 
of  Easton  boys  were  watching  the  parade,  and  saying,  *  Here, 
Luther,  take  this  money  and  treat  all  the  boys  to  cake  and 
lemonade.' " 

General  Leach  married  Phoebe  Torrey,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Torrey,  of  Hanover.     He  was  thrown  out  of  his  chaise  in  1832, 


MILITIA  AND  MILITARY   HISTORY.  519 


and  sustained,  it  was  thought,  some  internal  injuries,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  died.  His  death  occurred  September  19, 
1832.  He  was  reputed  in  his  day  to  be  the  wealthiest  man  in 
Easton;  he  was  certainly  a  man  of  mark,  with  popular  and 
engaging  qualities,  and  will  long  be  honorably  remembered  in 
town*"  His  widow,  April  10,  1837,  was  married  to  Dea.  Dwelly 
Williams.     She  was  born  in  1784,  and  died  December  22,  1851. 


520  HISTORY   OF   EASTON, 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

Opening  of  the  War.  —  Departure  of  Company  B,  Fourth  Regiment, 
FOR  Fortress  Monroe  ;  its  Return.  —  Enlistments  in  the 
Second  Regiment. —  Company  G,  Seventh  Regiment. —  Other 
Enlistments  from  Easton  in  i86i.  — Town  Action  in  i86i. — 
Easton  Volunteers  in  1862.  —  Artillery  Service.  —  Town  Ac- 
tion in  1862.  —  Enlistments  and  Service  of  Soldiers  in  1863. — 
The  Drafts.  —  District  Subscription  Papers.  —  Town  Action  in 
1863.  —  Volunteers  in  1864.  —  Town  Action  in  1864. — The  Sol- 
diers Return  in  1865.  —  Easton  Soldiers  in  the  Navy.  —  Town 
Action  in  1865. — Deserters  and  Shirkers.  —  Woman's  Service 
and  Trials.  —  Summary  of  Enlistments.  —  Major  Robert  Dol- 
lard.  —  Major  John  Fitzpatrick.  —  Complete  Record  of  Easton 
Soldiers  in  Alphabetical  Order. 

IT  hardly  needed  a  prophet's  vision  to  foresee  that  the  exist- 
ence in  our  free  country  of  a  system  of  slavery,  in  which 
human  beings  were  bought  and  sold  like  cattle,  must  lead  to  an 
irrepressible  conflict.  For  many  years  preceding  the  Rebellion, 
the  antagonism  between  the  North  and  South  had  increased  and 
intensified.  Various  measures,  among  others  the  infamous  Fugi- 
tive-Slave Law,  which  the  Slave-power,  aided  by  Northern  allies 
of  both  parties,  forced  upon  the  country,  had  roused  a  spirit  of 
opposition  which  refused  to  be  quieted,  and  it  soon  became  evi- 
dent to  the  more  clear-sighted  that  if  the  Union  was  to  be  pre- 
served. Slavery  must  go.  The  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in 
i860  was  followed  by  the  formal  secession  from  the  Union  of 
several  of  the  Southern  States.  Andrew  Jackson  years  before 
had  squelched  a  similar  movement  by  one  stamp  of  his  foot. 
But  President  Buchanan,  unmanned  by  his  divided  sympathies, 
faltered.  The  conspiracy  gained  rapid  headway,  and  immediately 
organized  itself  for  action,- — the  purpose  of  the  Southern  States 
being  to  withdraw  from  the  Union  and  form  a  separate  and  rival 
nation,  with  Slavery  as  its  corner-stone.  The  first  open  act  of 
war  was  the  firing  upon  the  United  States  national  transport 


^ 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


521 


the  "  Star  of  the  West,"  in  Charleston  Harbor.  This  was  Jan- 
uary 9,  1861.  The  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  by  the  Rebels 
began  April  12,  and  they  intended  to  follow  up  this  blow  by 
seizing  the  national  capital.  April  15,  President  Lincoln  called 
for  seventy-five  thousand  troops  for  three  months'  service.  The 
call  met  a  swift  response  ;  thousands  of  loyal  men  were  soon 
on  the  move,  and  Washington  was  saved.  But  the  long  and 
bloody  conflict  had  begun. 

1861. 

Among  the  first  regiments  called  into  the  field  was  the  Fourth 
MassacJmsetts,  composed  in  part  of  companies  in  the  Old  Colony. 
Within  twelve  hours  after  being  summoned,  all  the  companies  of 
this  regiment  reported  for  duty  at  Faneuil  Hall  in  Boston.  This 
was  April  16,  only  three  days  after  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter 
and  the  next  day  after  President  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for 
troops.  The  regiment  was  quartered  for  the  night  with  other 
troops  in  Faneuil  Hall.  On  the  next  day  they  were  fitted  out 
with  overcoats,  blankets,  knapsacks,  and  haversacks,  with  three 
days'  rations,  and  the  old  guns  were  exchanged  for  new  Spring- 
field rifled  muskets.  Before  starting,  the  regiment  was  addressed 
in  the  following  eloquent  terms  by  Governor  Andrew :  — 

"It  gives  me  unspeakable  pleasure  to  witness  this  array  from  the 
good  Old  Colony.  You  have  come  from  the  shores  of  the  sounding 
sea,  where  lie  the  ashes  of  Pilgrims,  and  you  are  bound  on  a  high 
and  noble  pilgrimage  for  liberty,  for  the  Union  and  Constitution  of 
your  country.  Soldiers  of  the  Old  Bay  State  !  sons  of  sires  who  never 
disgraced  their  flag  in  civil  life  or  on  the  tented  field  !  I  thank  you  from 
the  bottom  of  my  heart  for  this  noble  response  to  the  call  of  your 
State  and  your  Country.  You  cannot  wait  for  words.  I  bid  you  God 
speed  and  an  affectionate  farewell !  " 

The  march  to  the  Old  Colony  Station  was  made  amid  intense 
excitement.  At  ten  p.  m.  on  the  17th  the  regiment  had  em- 
barked on  the  steamer  "State  of  Maine,"  at  Fail  River,  reaching 
New  York  at  five  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  i8th.  While 
waiting  at  the  wharf  they  witnessed  the  landing  of  Major  An- 
derson, the  hero  and  defender  of  Sumter,  who  was  received  with 
indescribable  enthusiasm.     That  evening  a  row-boat  came  along- 


522  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

side  the  vessel  with  whiskey  for  sale.  The  venders  were  said  to 
be  Rebel  sympathizers,  who  had  poisoned  the  liquor.  The  story 
is  doubtful,  though  it  is  certain  that  some  who  drank  of  it  were 
made  sick;  and  one  of  them,  an  Easton  man,  died  from  the 
effects  of  it  in  great  agony.  At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  19th  the  steamer  started  for  Fortress  Monroe.  Considerable 
anxiety  was  felt  by  those  on  board,  as  it  was  not  known  who  was 
in  possession  of  the  fort ;  but  at  sunrise  on  Saturday,  April  20, 
the  soldiers  on  the  steamer  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  unfurled  to  the  breeze  on  the  fortress  walls. 
For  over  a  month  the  Fourth  Regiment  remained  on  duty  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  then  with  a  regiment  from  New  York  and 
one  from  Vermont  they  took  possession  of  Newport  News. 

A  portion  of  this  regiment,  not  however  including  Company  B 
of  Easton,  took  part  in  the  attack  on  Big  Bethel,  which  ended  dis- 
astrously in  the  repulse  of  our  troops.  After  being  encamped  at 
Hampton  until  July  11  they  marched  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
on  the  15th  they  embarked  on  the  steamer  "  S.  R.  Spaulding," 
arriving  at  Boston  after  a  pleasant  passage.  They  landed  on 
Long  Island  and  remained  there  until  the  22d,  when  they  came 
up  to  Long  Wharf,  from  whence  they  marched  to  the  Common, 
where  they  had  an  enthusiastic  reception.  The  Fourth  Regi- 
ment was  the  first  to  leave  Massachusetts,  and  the  first  to  land 
on  the  soil  of  Virginia. 

On  their  return  home  the  citizens  of  Easton  gave  their  patriot 
soldiers  a  most  cordial  reception.  This  reception  took  place  in 
a  little  grove  just  north  of  Unity  Church  parsonage,  to  which  the 
returned  volunteers  were  escorted  by  a  juvenile  military  com- 
pany and  by  the  town's  people,  and  where  speeches  were  made 
by  citizens  of  Easton. 

The  following  is  the  muster-roll  of  Company  B,  Fourth  Regi- 
ment, omitting  those  who  were  not  from  Easton :  — 

Milo  M.  Williams,  Captain.  George  Richards,     Corporal. 

Linton  Waldron,  \st  Lieutenant.  James  N.  Mackay,         ,, 

William  E.  Bump,  Jr.,  2d  Lieut.  Albert  Tilden,  ,, 

John  A.  Lynch,  Sergeant.  William  H.  Willis,  Musician. 

Rufus  H.  Willis,         ,,  Charles  Baker,  Private. 

Robert  Clifford,  ,,  Charles  Bellows,  ,, 

Alfred  B.  Richmond,  ,,  Daniel  B.  Blaisdell, 

John  W.  Gerry,    Cotporal.  Oliver  H.  Blaisdell,        ,, 


THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


523 


William  Crockett,     Private. 
George  H.  Davis, 
Robert  DoUard, 
John  Duffy, 
David  Fisher, 
Bernard  Galligan, 
Reuben  Harlow, 
William  H.  Keenan 


Charles  Maguire,      Private. 
James  T.  Morley, 
James  H.  Motherwell,^ 
David  Mulhearn^ 
Jacob  J.  Randall, 
Michael  F.  Sheehan 
William  F.  Story, 
Robert  Watts, 


Of  these  all  returned  except  Charles  Bellows,  whose  death  has 
been  noted,  and  who  was  not  mustered  into  service.  Most  of 
them  re-enlisted,  and  saw  much  more  service  in  the  war. 

In  Company  A  of  the  same  regiment,  which  was  composed 
of  men  mainly  from  Canton,  Sharon,  and  Stoughton,  were  the 
following  Easton  men :  Ellis  B.  Hewitt,  William  R.  Roberts, 
Frederick  A.  Smith,  and  Hiram  White.  They  were  in  the  second 
detachment,  which  reached  Fortress  Monroe,  May  19. 

The  second  enlistment  of  men  from  Easton  were  those  who 
joined  Company  H  of  the  Second  Regiment,  and  were  mustered 
into  service  on  the  25th  of  May,  1861.  This  regiment  deserves 
special  notice,  because  it  was  the  first  loyal  regiment  raised  for 
three  years,  or  the  war.  It  went  into  camp  in  West  Roxbury, 
at  Brook  Farm,  the  property  of  the  Rev.  James  Freeman  Clarke, 
who  offered  it  free  of  charge  for  that  purpose.  It  was  there 
thoroughly  drilled  by  experienced  officers.  The  ladies  of  Boston 
presented  it  with  its  regimental  colors.  On  the  8th  of  July  the 
regiment  broke  camp,  and  under  orders  from  General  Scott 
started  southward,  arriving  at  Hagarstown,  Maryland,  July  10, 
and  joined  General  Patterson  at  Martinsburg  on  the  12th.  Sub- 
sequently they  went  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and  were  afterward 
under  command  of  General  Banks,  who  removed  them  to  Sandy 
Hook.  The  regiment  did  picket  and  other  duty,  having  some 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  In  January,  1862,  it  encamped  near 
Frederick.  We  shall  follow  its  fortunes  further  in  succeeding 
years,  but  give  here  the  names  of  the  men  who  enlisted  in  it  from 
Easton  at  this  time  for  three  years.     They  were  in  Company  H. 


1  Incorrectly  given  as  John  Motherwell  in  Adjutant-General's  reports. 

2  Mulhearn  was  left  behind  at  Boston  and  went  to  Fortress  Monroe  afterward 
with  the  Eighth  Regiment.  He  was  received  by  his  comrades  with  three  hearty 
cheers. 


524 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


David  A.  Middleton,      Corporal.  John  Murphy,  2d,         Prh 


Vernon  Randall, 
Jeremiah  Murray. 
Thomas  Murray, 
Thomas  Duffy, 
Patrick  J.  Healan. 
James  Lehane, 
James  McCread}\ 
John  Motherwell. 


Musician. 
Private. 


Hugh  S.  O'Donnell, 
James  Powers, 
Richard  Powers, 
Patrick  Reynolds, 
Silas  K.  Riple}^, 
Richard  Seavers, 
John  S.  Smith, 
John  Welsh, 


ate. 


Ezra  G.  Whittemore,  Private. 

In  Company  K  of  the  same  regiment  the  name  of  Michael 
McMullen  of  North  Easton  is  given,  and  Hugh  S.  O'Donnell  is 
of  Company  H,  but  is  incorrectly  credited  to  North  Bridgewater. 
Richard  Powers  is  credited  to  Boston,  but  by  mistake.  David 
A.  Middleton  and  Richard  Powers  left  the  infantry  and  enlisted 
in  the  navy,  Vernon  Randall  and  Jeremiah  Murray,  for  reasons 
best  known  to  themselves,  left  the  service  in  mid-summer.^ 

The  third  enlistment  of  volunteers  in  Easton  was  in  Company 
C,  —  Captain  Ward  L.  Foster,  —  in  the  SeventJi  Regiment.  This 
regiment  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Couch,  of  Taunton,  a  West 
Point  graduate.  It  was  sworn  into  service  June  15,  1861,  left 
camp  July  12,  arrived  in  Washington  on  the  evening  of  the  15th, 
and  encamped  on  Kalorama  Heights  near  Georgetown.  In 
August  it  moved  to  Camp  Brightwood,  District  of  Columbia,  and 
went  into  winter  quarters. 

Company  G  recruited  in  April  and  May.  The  town  of  Eas- 
ton paid  each  member  of  this  company  fifteen  dollars  bounty, 
and  fifteen  dollars  per  month.  The  Easton  men  in  it  were  as 
follows :  — 


Ward  L.  Foster,  Captain. 
Augustus  W.  Lothrop,  \st  Lietit. 
Munroe  F.  Williams,  id  Lietit. 
George  W.  Andrews,  Sergeant. 
Philander  W.  Fecto,         ,, 
Seth  T.  Dunbar,     Corporal. 
Freeman  E.  Wells,        ,, 
James  A.  Humphrey,     I\Iusician. 
Edward  W.  Hansell,  ,, 

James  Wells,  Wagoner. 


Eustis  E.  Burt,         Private. 

Daniel  Donovan,  ,, 

Jason  F.  Eldridge,  ,, 

Philip  Fay,  ,, 

Billings  Fisher,  ,, 

Matthew  F.  Flaherty,  ,, 

Samuel  H.  Gilmore,  ,, 

Frederic  E.  Healy,  ,, 

Caleb  R.  Holbrook,  ,, 

James  H.  Keenan,  „ 


1  Record  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  vol.  ii.  pp.  4S,  49,  50,  51,  57. 


THE  CIVIL   WAR.  ^35 


Albert  A.  Lincoln,  Private.  Charles  O'Brien,         Private. 

Charles  F.  Lothrop,  ,,  William  O'Rourke,  „ 

Michael  McCool,  ,,  William  W.  Packard,  ,, 

James  McCullough,  ,,  Henry  W.  Peck,  ,, 

John  McKeehan,  ,,  Asaph  W.  Phillips,  ,, 

Thomas  McNamara,  „  Howard  W.  Phillips,  ,, 

James  P.  Middleton,  „  Nathan  P.  Randall,  ,, 

George  M.  Murphy,  ,,  Charles  S.  Torry,  ,, 

James  H.  Murphy,  ,,  Samuel  R.  White,  ,, 
Charles  E.  Williams,  Private. 

There  were  a  few  later  enlistments  in  this  company  that  will 
be  mentioned  in  giving  an  account  of  it  in  successive  years. 
The  above  are  those  who  were  mustered  in  daring  1861. 

In  Company  H  of  this  Seventh  Regiment  there  enlisted  from 
Easton  Josiah  Williams,  corporal,  Francis  Drake  and  Mason  A. 
Hill.  The  last  two  named  were  privates,  but  both  were  pro- 
moted to  be  sergeants. 

Thomas  McNamara,  William  O'Rourke,  Charles  E.  Williams, 
and  Philip  Fay,  after  a  few  days,  repented  their  rashness  in  be- 
coming soldiers,  and  concluded  to  serve  their  country  by  remain- 
ing at  home.  This  statement  is  rather  a  free  paraphrase  of  the 
record  as  reported  on  the  regimental  rolls. ^ 

The  Eleventh  Regiment  had  in  1861  but  one  Easton  volunteer; 
this  was  Simeon  Randall,  who  enlisted  December  12,  and  was 
discharged  in  August,  1862,  for  disability,  having  very  badly 
sprained  his  knee,  from  which  injury  he  has  never  recovered. 

The  Tivelfth  Regiment  had  during  the  first  year  of  the  war  but 
six  Easton  men  ;  they  were  mustered  in  June  26  for  three  years' 
service,  and  were  as  follows  :  — 

Co.  F,  George  G.  Smith.  Co.  I,  Charles  A.  Gilmore. 

Co.   I,  John  Goulding,  Corporal.  ,,      Peleg  F.  Randall. 

„       Hiram  F.  French.  ,,      John  Watts. 

Seth  L.  French,  of  Easton,  enlisted  in  Company  E,  and  is 
credited  to  Natick.  Henry  R.  Packard,  of  Easton,  was  musician 
in  Company  E.  This  regiment  was  commanded  by  Col.  Fletcher 
Webster  ;  it  reported  for  duty  at  Harper's  Ferry,  July  27,  and 
remained  in  Maryland  during  the  winter. 

1  For  this  Seventh  Regiment,  see  Record  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  vol.  ii. 
p.  63  f/  seq. 


526 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


In  the  EigJiteenth  Regiment  there  enlisted  in  i86r,  in  Company 
B,  two  Easton  men,  —  Martin  Cunningham  and  John  Mullen  ; 
and  in  Company  K,  Virgil  Bird  and  Benjamin  F.  Boodry. 

In  the  Tzveiiticth  Regiment  Reuben  Harlow,  who  had  just 
been  discharged  from  the  Fourth  Regiment,  re-enlisted  August 
24,  in  Company  G.  This  regiment  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Ball's  Bluff,  at  which  Harlow  was  taken  prisoner.  He  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  December  20. 

In  the  Tiventy-tJiird  Regiment  Robert  Dollard  re-enlisted  Sep- 
tember 28  as  sergeant  in  Company  E. 

In  Company  A,  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  Charles  Baker 
re-enlisted  September  12,  and  Charles  H.  McGuire  ^  September 
13  ;  and  in  Company  G  there  enlisted  in  1861  — 


George  N.  Blanchard,  Sept.  24. 
Irving  Dickerman,  Oct.  12. 


Denison  S.  Drew,  Sept.  23. 
Henry  T.  Drew,  Sept.  24. 


In  Company  C  of  the  same  regiment  Ellis  R.  Holbrook  served 
as  musician,  and  in  Company  H  William  S.  Mitchell  enlisted 
September  10. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  was  recruited  at  Camp  Chase, 
Lowell.  The  colonel  and  many  officers  and  men  of  this  regi- 
ment were  of  the  gallant  Sixth  M.  V.  M.  Company  C,  Capt, 
E.  W.  Thayer,  of  Pawtucket,  had  the  following  Easton  men, 
who  enlisted  in  September  and  October:  — 

John  A.  Lynch,  \st  Liejitenant.         James  L.  Howard,         Private. 


Albert  Tilden,  7.d  Lieutenant. 
William  Crockett,  Sergeattt. 
Elijah  G.  Howard,  Corporal. 
George  H.  Davis,  ,, 

William  E.  Cole,   Private. 
Major  Crockett,  ,, 

Joshua  Hardy,  ,, 

Phineas  A. 


William  H.  Keenan, 
Addison  A.  Lothrop, 
David  Middleton, 
Charles  Mitchell, 
Theodore  Mitchell, 
Timothy  Murphy, 
George  B.  Randall, 
Randall,  Private. 


This  regiment  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  21st  of  November, 
and  went  to  Ship  Island,  Louisiana.  We  shall  see  in  the  ac- 
count of  it  for  1862  that  Lieutenant  Lynch  became  captain  of 
Company  C,  and  that  this  regiment  saw  active  service.     In  the 

1  The  middle  initial  H.  was  an  unauthorized  addition,  but  McGuire  concluded 
to  let  it  stand. 


THE   CIVIL  WAR. 


527 


printed  muster-rolls  the  name  of  William  H.  Keenan  is  incor- 
rectly reported  on  the  quota  of  Attleborough.  He  happened  to 
be  at  work  there  ;  but  he  was  a  resident  of  Easton,  paid  his  taxes 
here  during  the  war,  received  no  bounty  from  Attleborough,  and 
enlisted  as  an  Easton  soldier.  This  is  his  own  statement,  made 
personally  to  the  writer. 

In  the  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  which  was  composed  princi- 
pally of  Irishmen,  there  enlisted  in  1861  Cornelius  Slattery  in 
Company  D,  and  James  McEvoy  in  Company  F.  Other  Easton 
recruits  joined  the  latter  company  after  this  year,  and  will  be  re- 
ported further  on.  This  regiment  did  not  leave  for  the  seat  of 
war  until  January  11,  1862. 

The  Tzventy-ninth  Regiment  had  seven  companies  that  had 
seen  previous  service  in  the  Massachusetts  Third  and  Fourth 
regiments.  These  seven  companies,  without  returning  home, 
had  been  organized  for  three  years'  service  ;  and  after  the  other 
companies  of  the  Third  and  F"ourth  left  the  seat  of  war,  July  16, 
1 86 1,  this  being  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  service,  these 
seven  companies  were  placed  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Barnes,  of  Company  K,  and  were  known  as  the  Massachusetts 
Battalion,  performing  valuable  services.  In  December,  three 
other  companies  were  added  to  the  battalion,  and  it  was  then 
organized  as  the  Twenty-ninth.  Of  the  Easton  men  who  en- 
listed in  this  regiment  in  1861  there  were  — 

Dr.  George  B.  Cogswell,  Ass't-Sur.  Daniel  B.  Blaisclell,  Private. 

Alfred  B.  Richmond,  Sei-gcant.  Willard  Drake,  ,, 

Robert  L.  Watts,  „  Solomon  R.  Foster,  „ 

Lemuel  Capen,  Corporal.  Minot  E.  Phillips,  ,, 

James  H.  Ladd,  Wagoner.  Nelson  M.  Randall,  ,, 

John  Bartlett,  Private.  Charles  Roberts,  ,, 
Charles  H.  Smith,  Private. 

These  twelve  men  were  in  Company  G.  Others  afterward 
joined  them,  and  this  regiment  saw  a  good  deal  of  hard  service. 

In  the  First  Massachusetts  Cavalry,  Horace  F.  Pool  was  mus- 
tered in  as  a  member  of  Company  I,  December  1 1,  1861.  Rufus 
H.  Willis  had  previously  enlisted,  and  was  credited  to  Bridge- 
water. 


528  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


TOWN    ACTION    IN    1 86 1. 

In  the  year  1861  the  town  of  Easton  took  all  needful  means 
to  do  its  part  in  the  opening  conflict  of  the  great  Civil  War. 
On  the  29th  of  April  the  first  legal  town-meeting  to  act  upon 
matters  relating  to  the  war  was  held,  and  it  was  then  voted  to 
pay  each  inhabitant  (except  commissioned  officers)  of  Easton, 
when  called  into  the  military  service  of  the  country,  fifteen 
dollars  as  a  gift,  and  "fifteen  dollars  a  month  for  each  month 
he  shall  remain  in  said  service."  It  was  voted  that  the  soldiers 
who  had  already  gone  should  have  the  same  pay  as  those  who 
might  go.  The  town  treasurer  was  authorized  to  borrow  ten 
thousand  dollars  in  aid  of  those  who  should  enlist.  Oliver  Ames, 
Jr.,  A.  A.  Rotch,  and  Lincoln  Drake  were  appointed  a  commit- 
tee to  disburse  funds,  and  to  aid  soldiers'  families  if  needed. 
This  prompt  action  shows  that  the  town  was  fully  alive  to  the 
exigencies  of  the  great  crisis. 

July  1 1  the  town  voted  to  raise  by  taxation  three  thousand 
dollars  to  defray  expense  already  incurred,  and  to  fulfil  contracts 
made  with  volunteers  who  had  been  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States.  The  same  amount  was  voted  in  aid  of 
soldiers'  wives  and  families  as  State  aid,  to  be  reimbursed  to 
the  town  as  provided  by  a  law  of  the  Commonwealth. 

1862. 

In  the  account  of  Easton  volunteers  for  1862,  instead  of  fol- 
lowing the  precise  order  of  time  of  the  several  enlistments,  it 
will  be  more  systematic  to  notice  the  regiments  in  their  numeri- 
cal order. 

In  the  Second  Regiment  there  were  already  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year  thirteen  Easton  men.  This  regiment  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Cedar  Mountain,  and  Antietam,  be- 
sides sharing  in  many  minor  engagements.  It  saw  hard  fight- 
ing ;  and  at  Cedar  Mountain  and  Antietam  its  casualties  were 
one  third  of  the  number  engaged  in  action.  There  were  no  new 
enlistments  from  Easton  in  this  regiment  in  1862.  Thomas 
Duffy  was  killed  August  9  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  and 
November  19  James  McCready  was  discharged  for  disability. 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


529 


September  29  four  men  enlisted  from  Easton  in  the  Third 
Regiment,  M.  V.  M.  for  nine  months.  This  regiment  left  camp 
October  22  and  went  to  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  where  it  en- 
gaged in  arduous  service  in  an  active  campaign,  sometimes 
marching  with  the  thermometer  one  hundred  and  seven  degrees 
in  the  shade,  and  sometimes  bivouacking  on  the  ground  without 
shelter  when  the  water  froze  in  the  canteens.  It  was  mustered 
out  June  26,  1863,  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service. 
The  Easton  men  were  Henry  H.  Delano,  Cyrus  S.  Howard, 
George  A.  Lackey,  Issachar  K.  Snell. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  had  already  served  in  1861  at  and  near 
Fortress  Monroe.  When  the  call  was  made  in  1862  for  nine 
months'  regiments  it  again  volunteered.  The  Easton  men  en- 
hsted  September  23  ;  the  regiment  left  camp  December  27,  and 
sailed  for  Louisiana.  It  saw  severe  service,  participating  in  the 
labors  and  hardships  of  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson,  and  taking 
part  in  the  assault  ;  but  as  this  was  in  1863,  it  will  be  spoken  of 
further  on. 

The  Easton  men  who  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Regiment  were 
as  follows  :  — 

Co.  A,  John  Duffy.  Co.  K,  Michael  Milrick. 


„        Michael  E.  Roach. 
Co.  C,  William  C.  Ashley.^ 
Co.  E,  Ichabod  Dean. 
Co.  K,  James  H.  Leach,  Corporal. 
Daniel  W.  Burrill. 
,,       David  Howard. 
„       Daniel  Murphy. 

David  Whalen. 


Enoch  O'Shea. 
George  E.  Packard. 
William  M.  Packard. 
Daniel  Quane. 
John  Rigney. 
Henry  E.  Strout. 
George  A.  Tilden. 


The  Seventh  Regiment  was  in  winter  quarters  in  the  District 
of  Columbia  in  1861  and  1862.  March  29  it  arrived  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  April  5  it  participated  in  the  engagement  before  Wil- 
liamsburg. May  31  and  June  i  it  was  in  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  took  some  part  at  Antietam,  and  also  in  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  and  performed  difficult  and  dangerous  service 

1  Ashley  was  a  temporary  resident,  perhaps  only  a  visitor,  in  Easton.  Our  very 
imperfect  Town  Rebellion  Record  reports  him  as  sick  when  the  regiment  left  camp, 
and  states  that  he  was  furloughed,  but  was  never  called  for.  The  Record  of  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers  credits  him  with  service  and  with  a  regular  discharge.  See 
Record  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  vol.  i.  p.  185. 

34 


530  HISTORY   OF    EASTOxN. 

during  the  year.  This  regiment  contained  a  large  number  of 
Easton  men,  already  reported  as  enlisting  in  1861.  There  en- 
listed in  1862,  in  Company  G,  Edward  E.  Randall  and  Charles 
H.  Willis.  George  E.  Willis  enlisted  in  Company  B,  and  Albert 
M.  Hayward  enlisted  for  Boston  in  Company  H.  Munroe  Wil- 
liams was  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  November  i  ;  George 
Andrews  was  made  second  lieutenant,  August  1 1  ;  Augustus 
W.  Lothrop  resigned  July  17;  Charles  H.  Willis  died  at  Fort- 
ress Monroe,  October  10 ;  James  A.  Humphrey  died  at  David's 
Island  Hospital,  September  30,  and  not  at  Alexandria,  as  re- 
ported in  the  official  record  ;^  Jason  F.  Eldridge  died  at  Bellevue 
Hospital,  Virginia,  August  27  ;  and  Matthew  T.  Flaherty  and 
Josiah  Williams  were  discharged  for  disability.  Albert  A.  Lin- 
coln and  William  W.  Packard  no  longer  put  in  an  appearance. 
Samuel  H.  Gilmore  had  returned  home  and  died  at  Easton, 
January  4,  1863. 

In  the  Twelfth  Regiment  six  men  from  Easton,  as  before  re- 
ported, enlisted  in  1861.  In  1862  Franklin  H.  Godfrey,  Web- 
ster Howard,  and  Tyler  F.  Clapp  enlisted  in  the  same ;  the 
latter  was  discharged  for  disability,  December  6.  This  regiment 
in  1862  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Cedar  Mountain,  second 
Bull  Run,  Antietam,  and  Fredericksburg. 

In  the  EigJiteenth  Regiment  Hiram  A.  Randall  enlisted  Au- 
gust 13.  Martin  Cunningham  was  killed  at  Bull  Run,  August 
30  ;  and  Virgil  Bird  was  discharged  for  disability,  September 
28.  This  regiment  was  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Fredericks- 
burg, and  other  engagements.  At  Bull  Run  it  lost  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  men  ;  and  at 
Fredericksburg,  one  hundred  and  thirty-four.  This  indicates 
the  perilous  and  active  service  in  which  it  engaged. 

In  the  Twe7ity-third  Regiment  Robert  Dollard  was  made 
second  lieutenant,  December  29. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  served  in  the  expedition  of 
General  Burnside  in  North  Carolina,  seeing  arduous  service  ; 
but  no  changes  were  made  among  the  few  Easton  men  in  the 

1  Humphrey  belonged  to  the  band,  and  ought  to  have  been  released  when  the 
band  was  mustered  out ;  but  in  order  to  oblige  Captain  Foster  he  agreed  to  serve 
temporarily  as  a  corporal.  He  was  not  allowed  to  leave,  was  taken  sick,  and  died 
soon  after  his  father  found  him  at  the  hospital. 


THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


531 


regiment,  except  that  November  24  Denison  S.  Drew  was  dis- 
charged  for  disabiHty. 

There  were  no  new  enlistments  in  the  Twenty-sixth  Regiment, 
but  there  were  several  changes.  John  A.  Lynch  was  promoted  to 
be  captain,  September  30  ;  Albert  Tilden  became  first  lieutenant 
July  22  ;  Joshua  Hardy  was  discharged  for  disability,  October  13, 
and  also  George  B.  Randall,  September  17.  Theodore  Mitchell 
died  at  New  Orleans,  July  5  ;  and  on  the  next  day  at  the  same 
place  Phineas  A.  Randall  breathed  his  last.  This  regiment 
served  in  Louisiana.  From  November  28,  1862,  to  June  20, 
1863,  it  remained  on  provost  duty  in  New  Orleans.  Seth  L. 
French  was  discharged  for  disability,  December  30. 

The  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  with  six  Easton  men  in  it,  saw 
service  near  the  coast  in  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  and  later 
came  northward  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Antietam, 
Fredericksburg,  and  other  important  engagements.  The  changes 
for  the  year  among  the  Easton  men  were  James  McEvoy,  dis- 
charged for  disability,  September  25,  having  been  severely 
wounded  in  the  head  ;  Cornelius  Slattery,  killed  at  Fredericks- 
burg, December  13  ;  Thomas  Conway  enlisted  January  i  and 
vanished  before  August  25  ;  Nicholas  Murphy  enlisted  January  i, 
and  Timothy  Murphy  enlisted  August  12. 

The  Twenty-nintJi  Regiment  at  the  beginning  of  1862  con- 
tained twelve  Easton  men.  January  i,  Charles  S.  Packard  en- 
listed ;  and  June  20,  Alfred  Lincoln.  Charles  F.  Roberts  also 
joined  in  1862  ;  he  and  Alfred  Lincoln  enlisted  in  i86r,  but 
were  rejected  as  being  too  young  ;  they  were  however  taken  as 
orderlies  to  Newport  News,  and  afterward  placed  on  the  rolls  of 
Company  G.  August  7,  Dr.  George  B.  Cogswell  was  promoted 
from  assistant-surgeon  to  the  rank  of  surgeon.  Minot  E.  Phillips 
was  taken  by  the  Rebels  near  Richmond,  became  sick,  and 
died  at  Belle  Isle  in  July.  Alfred  B.  Richmond  and  James  H. 
Ladd  were  discharged  for  disability,  —  the  former,  September 
20  ;  the  latter,  November  20.  Daniel  B.  Blaisdell  was  reported 
a  deserter,  July  2,  but  the  case  needs  explanation.  Colonel 
Pierce  engaged  him  for  a  body  servant  to  serve  him  while  he 
was  at  the  front ;  in  order  to  do  this  it  was  necessary  for  Blais- 
dell to  be  enrolled  as  a  soldier,  but  it  was  with  the  understanding 
that  he  was  to  act  only  in  the  capacity  named.     When  Colonel 


532 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Pierce  came  home,  Blaisdell  came  with  him,  and  was  naturally 
unwilling  to  return  and  serve  as  soldier,  contrary  to  contract ; 
hence  the  report  of  his  desertion.  This  excuse  for  Blaisdell 
came  to  the  writer  from  apparently  good  authority. 

The  Twenty-ninth  served  at  Newport  News,  Norfolk,  Ports- 
mouth, and  other  places  in  Virginia  early  in  1862.  June  9  it 
was  assigned  to  the  "  Irish  Brigade,"  commanded  by  General 
Thomas  F.  Meagher,  and  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Gaines's 
Mills,  Savage's  Station,  Malvern  Hill,  Antietam,  and  Fredericks- 
burg. It  would  be  very  interesting  to  follow  in  detail  the  excit- 
ing account  of  the  marches,  battles,  and  various  experiences  of 
this  regiment,  but  to  do  so  would  too  much  extend  the  limits  of 
this  chapter.  The  well-written  "  History  of  the  Twenty-ninth 
Regiment"  gives  full  and  interesting  details. 

Linus  W.  Drake's  record  is  not  reported,  but  the  town-book 
states  that  he  was  discharged  March  15.  The  other  enlistments 
for  1862  were  as  follows  :  — 

Nathaniel  B.  Lincoln  enlisted,  August  9,  in  the  Thirty-fifth 
Regiment ;  but  his  record  is  blank,  for  he  did  not  go  to  the 
front,  an  extemporized  colic  serving  to  get  him  left  behind. 

Edward  E.  Randall,  January  31,  enlisted  in  Company  I,  of 
the  Thirty-seve}it]i  Regiment. 

In  Company  A  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Regimejtt,  August  18, 
George  J.  Boodry,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Bean  enlisted. 

Gustavus  Alden  joined  Company  F,  of  the  Fortieth  Regiment, 
September  3. 

Frank  A.  Mitchell,  September  12,  joined  Company  F  of  the 
Forty-fourth  Regiment,  and  served  for  nine  months. 

John  McCready  enlisted  in  Boston  in  Company  I  of  the  Forty- 
fifth  Regiment,  October  15,  but  soon  after  was  missing,  and  en- 
listed in  the  Navy  as  explained  further  on. 

In  Company  G,  Forty-eighth  Regiment,  John  Richards  en- 
listed October  i.^ 

Hosea  S.  Packard  May  30,  and  Wilson  P.  Packard  June  16, 
enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Light  Battery  of  sixth  months'  troops,  the 

^  The  Record  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  vol.  ii.  p.  328,  incorrectly  states  that 
he  served  to  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  September  3,  1863.  In  fact  he 
died  at  the  United  States  Hospital  at  Albany,  August  31.  His  widow  is  in  posses- 
sion of  letters  from  hospital  officers  proving  this,  and  his  body  was  sent  on  and 
buried  at  Randolph. 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


533 


former  enlisting  for  North  Bridgewater.  This  battery  left  Bos- 
ton for  Washington  June  25.  A  melancholy  accident  occurred 
a  short  distance  south  of  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  the  train  being 
thrown  from  the  track,  and  Hosea  Packard  and  another  man 
killed.     Wilson  Packard  was  discharged  November  29. 

In   the  Ninth  LigJit  Battery,   August    10,  Peter   Fisher,  Jr., 
Thomas  Fisher,  and  John  W.  McDonald  enlisted. 
'  Thomas    McGrath    of    Easton   enlisted,  October    22,    in    the 
TzvelftJi  Battery,  and  is  credited  to  Boston. 

October  8,  ten  Easton  men  enlisted  at  Providence  in  Battery 
H,  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery.  (In  the  town-book  this 
is  incorrectly  reported  as  Battery  Eighth.)  Their  names  were 
as  follows :  — 

Job  Randall,  Corporal.  Luther  A.  Phillips. 

Warner  Alden.  Uriah  Houghton  Reed. 

Charles  E.  Elison.  Silas  K.  Ripley. 

Henry  A.  Phillips.  Asahel  Smith. 

John  Phillips.  Frederic  A.  Smith. 

They  were  mustered  into  service  on  the  14th  of  October. 
The  battery  to  which  they  belonged  was  stationed  at  Washing- 
ton much  of  the  time  during  its  service,  but  it  saw  some  active 
campaigning  in  Virginia.  Though  these  men  did  not  enlist  for 
the  town  of  Easton,  an  attempt  was  made  to  have  them  credited 
to  the  town  as  part  of  its  quota.  On  this  account  they  claimed 
a  bounty  from  Easton  in  addition  to  the  bounties  they  had  re- 
ceived from  Providence.  Similar  claims  were  made  by  other 
Easton  men  who  enlisted  elsewhere,  but  were  reported  as  part 
of  Easton's  quota  ;  but  as  their  claims  were  not  valid  they  were 
not  allowed.  Residents  of  Easton  who  enlisted  to  the  credit  of 
other  towns  could  not  of  course  rightly  be  claimed  as  a  part  of 
the  quota  of  Easton.  To  report  them  as  such  would  be  to  credit 
two  towns  with  the  same  men,  and  this  would  make  the  actual 
number  of  soldiers  enlisted  throughout  the  State  to  be  much 
smaller  than  the  aggregate  number  reported  from  the  several 
towns  of  the  State. 

TOWN    ACTION    IN    1862. 

During  the  year  1862  Easton  took  active  and  generous  meas- 
ures to  encourage  enlistments.     July  19  the  town  voted  to  pay 


534  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

each  volunteer  who  should  enlist  for  three  years'  service,  and  be 
credited  to  the  quota  of  the  town,  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  dol- 
lars, "in  addition  to  the  pay  and  bounty  of  the  Government." 
The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  act  as  recruiting  officers. 
Oliver  Ames,  Jr.,  Charles  L.  Swan,  and  H.  J.  Fuller  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  series  of  resolutions  ;  they 
reported  the  following,  which  were  adopted  in  town-meeting 
with  enthusiasm:  — 

Resolved,  That  the  brilliant  success  that  has  attended  our  efforts  in 
crushing  this  wicked  rebellion  inspire  our  hearts  with  gratitude  and 
nerve  our  hands  to  strike  heavier  blows  for  the  triumph  of  Freedom. 

Resolved,  That  we  heartily  respond  to  the  call  of  the  President  for 
Volunteers,  believing  that  an  overwhelming  force  now  put  into  the 
field  will  make  short  work  with  the  Rebellion,  cover  our  army  with 
glory,  and  make  our  glorious  Republic  the  strongest  as  well  as  the 
freest  government  of  the  world. 

Resolved,  That  we  the  inhabitants  of  Easton,  deeply  sensible  of  the 
importance  of  a  speedy  compliance  with  the  President's  late  call,  al- 
though we  have  already  made  heavy  contributions  to  the  army,  yet  we 
will  spare  no  efforts  to  place  our  quota  promptly  in  the  field. 

Resolved,  That  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  the  Constitution, 
and  the  crisis  of  the  hour  call  upon  us  to  sacrifice  with  a  military 
heart  our  lives  and  our  fortunes  upon  the  altar  of  our  Country. 

August  II,  the  town  voted  to  give  seventy-five  dollars  to  each 
volunteer  in  addition  to  the  one  hundred  dollars  already  voted. 
On  the  19th  it  was  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  to  each  volunteer  for  nine  months'  service,  who  en- 
listed and  was  credited  to  the  quota  of  the  town.  December  6, 
to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town,  the  bounty  was  raised  to  two  hun- 
dred dollars  to  each  volunteer,  "whether  he  is  an  inhabitant  of 
the  town  of  Easton  or  otherwise." 

Meantime  the  ladies  of  the  town  were  very  active  in  organ- 
izing circles  to  prepare  and  forward  lint,  bandages,  garments, 
and  many  other  things  needed  for  the  comfort  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  camp  and  hospital. 

1863. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1863  eleven  Easton  men  were 
still  serving  in  the  Second  Regiment  of  three  years'  men.     This 


THE    CIVIL   WAR.  r^c 


regiment  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Gettys- 
burg, and  was  on  duty  at  New  York  City  from  August  22  to  Sep- 
tember 5  for  the  suppression  of  riots  ;  September  27  it  left  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  to  reinforce  the  army  of  General  Rosecrans, 
and  when  the  year  closed  was  stationed  at  Elk  River  Railroad 
Bridge  in  Tennessee  on  guard  duty.  The  changes  among  the 
Easton  men  in  this  regiment  were  as  follows  :  Patrick  Reynolds 
was  discharged  for  disability  March  4,  and  Silas  K.  Ripley  July  7  ; 
Richard  Seavers  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  3  ; 
John  S.  Smith  was  transferred  to  another  arm  of  service,  Octo- 
ber I  ;  December  3 1  Ezra  G.  Whittemore  re-enlisted. 

The  names  of  the  Easton  men  in  the  Fourth  Regiment  have 
already  been  given.  It  arrived  in  Louisiana  early  in  1863,  and 
was  actively  engaged  in  the  campaign  there.  It  took  part  in 
the  siege  and  assault  of  Port  Hudson.  Company  K,  in  which 
were  fourteen  Easton  men,  was  one  of  the  five  companies  de- 
tailed to  carry  hand-grenades  in  the  advance  of  the  storming 
column  ;  and  Captain  Bartlett,  who  led  these  companies,  fell 
mortally  wounded  on  the  very  breastworks  of  the  enem3^  In 
the  attack  on  Port  Hudson  of  June  14,  1863,  this  regiment  lost 
in  killed  and  wounded  sixty-eight  men.  There  was  later  con- 
siderable difficulty  with  some  members  of  this  regiment,  who 
demanded  to  be  released  from  service  when  their  term  of  enlist- 
ment expired  ;  but  as  this  was  a  critical  time  and  their  services 
were  much  needed,  they  were  required  to  remain.  Incensed  at 
this,  many  of  them  refused  to  obey  orders,  and  a  part  of  the 
regiment  was  put  under  arrest  ;  but  no  Easton  man  was  included 
in  this  number. 

Of  the  Easton  men  in  this  regiment,  John  Duffy  was  killed  in 
the  attack  on  Port  Hudson,  June  14,  1863  ;  Michael  E.  Roach 
was  wounded  in  the  foot  on  the  same  date,  and  died  July  5  at 
New  Orleans  ;  Michael  Milrick  died  June  21  at  Brashear  City  ; 
William  M.  Packard  died  July  12  at  Baton  Rouge;  and  George 
A.  Tilden  died  at  Port  Hudson  July  30.  The  others  were  mus- 
tered out  of  service  August  28,  1863,  having  served  over  eleven 
months  though  enlisting  as  a  nine  months'  regiment.  Its  entire 
loss  was  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  had  thirty-three  Easton  men  when 
the  year  opened,  all  but  three  being  in  Company  G,  commanded 


536  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

by  Capt.  Ward  L.  Foster.  It  served  in  1863  in  several  engage- 
ments, —  the  most  important  being  at  Marye's  Hill  May  3,  at 
Gettysburg  July  3,  and  at  Rappahannock  Station  November  7. 
It  saw  hard  fighting  at  the  first  named  battle  near  Fredericks- 
burg, where  out  of  about  five  hundred  men  its  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded  were  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  of  whom  twenty- 
three  were  killed.  The  following  changes  among  Easton  men  in 
this  regiment  occurred  this  year :  Munroe  F.Williams,  first  lieuten- 
ant, was  severely  wounded  in  the  shoulder  at  the  battle  of  Marye's 
Hill;  he  resigned,  and  August  14  was  discharged,  George  W. 
Andrews  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant  February  2,  and  re- 
signed June  17.  James  Wells  was  discharged  for  disability  Janu- 
ary 3,  Norman  L.  Dunbar  November  14,  Henry  Peck  January  3, 
and  Francis  Drake  February  19.  Charles  O'Brien  was  trans- 
ferred November  16  to  the  gunboat  "  Benton,"  and  James  Murphy 
was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  i. 

In  the  Twelfth  Regiment  nine  Easton  men  were  serving,  and 
they  were  at  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg. 
Thomas  Flood,  who  enlisted  October  10,  was  transferred  to 
the  Thirty-ninth.  George  B.  Randall  re-enlisted  October  13. 
Three  men  were  discharged  for  disability,  —  Webster  Howard, 
April  29 ;  Hiram  F.  French,  February  10;  and  Peleg  F.  Randall 
February  3.  Tyler  F,  Clapp  enlisted  August  13,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability  December  6. 

The  EigJiteenth  Regiment  saw  about  the  same  service  as  the 
last  named.  It  had  three  Easton  men,  one  of  whom,  John  Mul- 
len, died  at  Camp  Parole,  Maryland,  February  5. 

From  the  Twentieth  Regiment  George  H.  Howard  disappeared 
in  August. 

Charles  L.  Britton,  Jr.,  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-second  Regi- 
ment July  16. 

The  Twenty-fo7irth  Regiment  had  four  Easton  men.  It  was 
in  service  in  North  and  South  Carolina  and  Florida,  with  very 
interesting  experiences  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina. Henry  T.  Drew  died  November  15,  at  Port  Royal.  William 
S.  Mitchell,  April  23,  and  Ellis  R.  Holbrook,  August  28,  were 
discharged,  the  former  for  disability. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  had  fourteen  Easton  men  in 
January  of  this  year.     It  was  on  provost  duty  at  New  Orleans 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


537 


until  June  20.  Its  active  service  in  Louisiana  during  the  rest 
of  the  year  was  inconsiderable.  Corporal  Elijah  G.  Howard 
died  May  27  at  New  Orleans.  The  following  were  discharged 
for  disability :  Major  Crockett  November  16;  David  Middleton 
July  24;  and  William  E.  Cole  May  18.  December  31  Sergeant 
William  Crockett,  Corporal  George  H.  Davis,  and  Timothy 
Murphy  were  discharged  to  re-enlist,  which  they  did  at  once. 
This  Timothy  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  Timothy  W.  Murphy, 
who  distinguished  himself  only  by  conspicuous  absence. 

In  the  Twenty-eigJith  Regiment  the  enlistment  of  Daniel  E. 
Sanderson,  a  temporary  resident  in  town,  is  credited  to  Easton 
for  November  11.  Nicholas  Murphy  was  discharged  for  disa- 
bility January  9.  Timothy  W.  Murphy's  record  has  just  been 
alluded  to. 

The  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  served  in  1863  in  Kentucky,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  Tennessee.  It  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  from 
June  17  to  July  4,  the  siege  of  Jackson  from  July  11  to  the  i6th, 
the  battle  of  Blue  Springs  October  10,  the  battle  of  Campbell's 
Station  November  16,  and  the  siege  of  Knoxville  from  Novem- 
ber 17  to  December  5.  Solomon  R.  Foster  was  discharged  for 
disability,  February  10,  and  Nelson  M.  Randall,  March  19. 

Edward  E.  Randall  was  serving  in  the  Thirty-seventJi  Regi- 
vient. 

Thomas  Bean  and  George  J.  Boodry  were  serving  in  the 
Th iriy-n in  th  R egim ent. 

Frank  A.  Mitchell  was  discharged  from  the  Forty-fourth  Regi- 
metit  in  June. 

John  D.  Haney  re-enlisted  in  the  Third  Battery,  Light  Artil- 
lery, December  28. 

Peter  Fisher  enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Battery  December  26. 

James  T.  Morley,  who  enlisted  in  the  Fotirih  Regiment  in 
1 86 1,  re-enlisted  December  26,  1863,  in  the  Fonrth  Regiment  of 
Cavalry. 

George  H.  Drake  was  discharged  June  3  from  the  Sixth  Regi- 
ment of  Cavalry,  this  being  the  limit  of  his  term  of  enlistment. 

From  the  Rhode  Island  Battery  H,  which  had  ten  Easton  men, 
Uriah  H.  (best  known  as  Houghton)  Reed  was  discharged  in 
February.  When  Mr.  Reed  was  about  to  enlist,  he  was  remon- 
strated with  by  Oliver  Ames,  Jr.,  for  he  then  had  a  lame  knee, 


538  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

for  which,  in  fact,  he  was  subsequently  discharged.  But  Mr. 
Reed,  who  had  once  been  a  circus  performer,  turned  three 
somersaults  in  quick  succession  as  a  sufficient  answer  to  Mr. 
Ames's  doubt  of  his  physical  ability.  When  later  he  applied  for 
a  discharge  for  disability,  the  sceptical  surgeon  gave  him  severe 
tests  of  cupping,  etc.,  that  made  him  almost  repent  of  his  appli- 
cation ;  he  was,  however,  discharged.  John  Phillips  died  in 
camp  near  Fairfax  Station,  Virginia,  March  i,  and  his  body  was 
sent  home  for  burial.  Henry  A.  Phillips  was  transferred  to  the 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  12,  and  did  not  again  go  into 
service.  Asahel  Smith  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps  and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Portsmouth  Grove,  Rhode 
Island,  and  discharged  March  13,  1863. 

At  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  which  occurred  May  2  and  3, 
Patrick  McCourt  of  Easton,  who  was  in  the  Sixty-sixth  Nezv  York 
Infantry  was  killed.  The  evidence  of  this  seems  to  be  conclu- 
sive, although  an  application  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  New 
York  brought  back  the  statement  to  the  writer  that  he  was 
reported  as  a  deserter  on  the  rolls  of  the  New  York  Sixty-sixth 
Regiment.  But  the  writer  has  carefully  questioned  several 
persons  who  conversed  with  one  of  McCourt's  comrades  who 
saw  him  shot  through  the  body,  and  who  endeavored,  though  in 
vain,  to  get  him  off  the  field.  The  evidence  of  his  death  was  con- 
clusive enough  to  secure  a  pension  for  his  mother ;  and  though 
this  was  subsequently  withdrawn,  the  withdrawal  was  owing  to 
the  discovery  that  she  had  a  husband,  and  had  not  been  depen- 
dent upon  her  son  for  support.  This  particular  statement  is 
due  to  the  memory  of  a  man  who  died  fighting  for  his  country. 
These  facts  have  been  communicated  to  the  Adjutant-General  of 
New  York  State,  who  has  acknowledged  their  receipt ;  and  the 
record  of  McCourt  will  probably  be  changed,  so  that  this  stain 
upon  his  memory  may  be  wiped  out.  It  was  not  uncommon  for 
missing  men  to  be  reported  as  deserters,  and  gross  injustice  was 
sometimes  unintentionally  done  in  this  way. 

THE    DRAFT. 

In  July,  1863,  occurred  the  draft  for  soldiers,  —  the  volunteer 
enlistments  failing  to  furnish  a  sufficient  number  of  troops. 
The  first  draft  that  included  Easton  was  made  at  Taunton,  under 


THE   CIVIL   WAR.  539 


charge  of  Capt.  J.  W.  D.  Hall,  then  provost-marshal.  It  was  a 
time  of  intense  anxiety  to  men  liable  to  military  service,  and 
many  held  their  breath  ;  for  the  drafted  must  either  enter  the 
army,  provide  substitutes  at  considerable  cost,  suddenly  become 
invalids,  or  emigrate  to  Canada.  Seventy-seven  men  were  drawn 
at  this  time  as  the  quota  for  Easton. 

It  has  long  been  understood  that  health  was  endangered  by 
getting  in  a  draught.  This  opinion  was  confirmed  by  the  result 
of  the  draft  of  July,  1863.  One  third  of  our  Easton  drafted  men 
suddenly  found  themselves  invalids.  Like  Saint  Paul,  they  could 
say,  "  I  take  pleasure  in  my  infirmities."  Hitherto  unsuspected 
disabilities  were  now  immediately  developed.  The  medical  ex- 
aminers were  now  able  to  discover  radical  physical  defects  of 
which  their  possessors  were  before  unconscious.  These  dis- 
coveries were  sometimes  said  to  be  stimulated  by  substantial 
considerations  secretly  given  to  the  examiners  ;  but  of  course 
this  is  the  envious  slander  of  those  who  could  not  afford,  or  were 
not  mean  enough,  to  give  a  bribe.  Undoubtedly,  however,  many 
persons  —  say,  one  third  of  those  drafted  —  were  not  strong 
enough  for  hard  military  service,  and  were  properly  enough  ex- 
empted. Of  the  remaining  two  thirds,  a  few  suddenly  found  that 
they  had  important  engagements  elsewhere,  though  most  of  them 
either  provided  substitutes  or  went  into  the  army  themselves. 

There  was  a  second  draft  in  May  and  June,  1864.  But  it  was 
found  that  the  town  of  Easton  was  at  that  time  only  six  men 
short  of  its  full  quota.  This  deficiency  was  at  once  made  up, 
so  that  it  was  not  necessary  to  draft  any  more  Easton  men. 
Great  exertions  had  been  made  by  collecting  money  in  town  to 
fill  the  quotas  ordered  in  1863  and  1864;  and  the  liberal  sums 
subscribed  enabled  Easton  to  send  into  the  field  more  than  her 
needed   proportion   of  soldiers. 

The  writer  has  seen  a  curious  document  which  was  prepared 
about  the  beginning  of  1864.  It  is  a  printed  copy  of  the 
"  Easton  Subscription  List,"  and  contains  the  names  of  all  persons 
in  Easton  who  subscribed  toward  filling  the  town's  share  of  the 
quotas  under  the  call  of  October  17,  1863,  and  that  of  February 
I,  1864.  The  town  was  canvassed  by  districts.  Four  hundred 
and  forty-two  men  subscribed.  In  several  districts  —  Nos.  4,  6> 
and  9  —  the  paper  was  circulated  among  the  ladies,  forty-seven 


540  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

of  whom  gave  their  aid.  In  the  ladies'  list  it  is  pleasant  to  see 
the  names  of  several  little  girls,  two  of  whom  subscribed  five 
cents  each,  doing  it  with  real  pride,  no  doubt,  and  not  without 
a  little  self-sacrifice,  —  for  five  cents  means  much  to  a  child. 
The  whole  sum  collected  was  $'J,^6<^.^0.  The  most  interesting 
particulars  of  this  subscription  paper  are  the  observations  of  the 
committee  that  had  it  in  charge.  They  publish  the  names  of 
those  "  who  have  not  given  anything  for  the  filling  of  the  quota," 
enlivening  the  list  with  some  pointed  comments.  After  several 
names  of  those  who  in  the  committee's  judgment  ought  to  pay 
but  would  not,  they  have  the  words,  "  Not  excusable."  There 
are  some  who  have  "nothing  to  give  ;  are  excusable."  One  man, 
whose  name  is  given,  "  subscribed  ^5,  but  will  not  pay  it ;  not 
excused."  Another  subscribed  ^35,  and  then  repented  of  his 
generosity  ;  and  a  note  gives  his  name,  and  states  that  he  "  refuses 
to  pay  more  than  $10  of  his  subscription."  A  note  at  the  end 
of  the  list  of  names  in  District  No.  11,  —  a  list  headed  by  the 
name  of  Lincoln  Drake,  who  subscribed  $100  —  is  as  follows: 
"  N.  B.  —  This  subscription  was  for  the  quota  in  December,  1863  ; 
some  people  in  this  district  being  a  little  *  copperish '  did  not 
wish  to  have  the  last  list  printed  ;  and  as  it  could  not  be  obtained 
of  the  committee,  could  not  be  printed." 

TOWN    ACTION    IN    1 863. 

No  special  action  was  necessary  to  be  taken  by  the  town  in 
1863  to  fill  its  quota  of  volunteers  for  the  year.  Up  to  February 
I,  Easton  had  furnished  37  three  months'  men,  147  three  years' 
men,  and  23  nine  months'  men,  —  making  a  total  of  207.  The 
whole  number  required  of  the  town,  exclusive  of  three  months' 
men,  was  190,  and  170  of  this  number  had  been  furnished.  The 
deficiency  was  speedily  supplied,  the  town  becoming  active  in 
the  enlistment  of  troops.  December  i,  1864,  the  Adjutant- 
General's  report  shows  that  Easton  had,  according  to  the  report 
of  the  selectmen,  furnished  thirty-two  more  men  than  were  really 
needed  to  fill  the  town's  quota. 

1864. 

In  the  Second  Regiment,  at  the  beginning  of  1864,  there  were 
left   but   seven   Easton   men    out   of   the  eighteen   who  had   at 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


541 


various  times  enlisted.  This  regiment,  after  a  month's  furlough, 
reported,  March  i,  in  Tennessee  for  active  duty;  it  was  busily 
engaged  in  forcing  the  enemy  southward,  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Resaca.  But  the  term  of  enlistment  for  six  of  our  men 
was  then  ended,  and  on  the  28th  of  May  Patrick  J.  Heelan, 
John  Motherwell,  John  Murphy,  2d,  Thomas  Murray,  Hugh  S. 
O'Donnell,  and  John  Welsh  were  mustered  out.  At  the  battle 
of  Resaca  John  Murphy,  2d,  was  shot  through  the  left  arm  with 
a  grape-shot,  and  the  arm  was  subsequently  amputated.  If  any 
one  would  have  proof  of  the  arduous  and  dangerous  service  of 
this  regiment,  let  him  go  to  the  rotunda  in  the  State  House  and 
see  the  three  battle-flags  of  the  Second  Regiment,  —  two  of  the 
flag-staffs  broken,  and  all  the  flags  tattered  and  riddled  with  shot. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  was  mustered  in  for  one  hundred  days'  ser- 
vice, July  20.  Most  of  its  time  of  service  was  at  Fort  Delaware, 
Maryland,  guarding  Rebel  prisoners.  The  following  Easton 
men  enlisted  July  16:  Lucius  Howard,  Oliver  Howard,  Henry 
L.  Reed  (in  Adjutant-General's  report  incorrectly  credited  to 
Boston),!  and  Robert  Ripner,  —  all  in  Company  F;  Charles 
W.  Holmes  enlisted  July  19.  They  were  mustered  out  of  service 
at  Readville,  Mass.,  October  27.  Henry  L.  Reed  re-enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Sixty-second  Regiment,  March  31,  1865. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  was  engaged  in  hard  and  dangerous 
duty  during  its  term  of  service  this  year,  being  in  the  bat- 
tles of  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna  River,  Cold 
Harbor,  etc.,  —  a  severe  campaign.  It  would  be  interesting  to 
follow  its  experience  more  in  detail,  but  the  necessary  limits  of 
this  chapter  forbid  it.  John  Johnson  enlisted  in  this  regiment 
January  4.  June  27,  the  term  of  service  of  many  of  the  men  ex- 
pired, and  the  following  were  then  mustered  out  :  — 

Ward  L.  Foster,  Captain.  Charles  F.  Lothrop,  Private. 

Philander  W.  Fecto,  \st  Sergeant.  Michael  McCool,  „ 

Freeman  E  Wells,  Sergeant.  John  McKeehan, 

Frederic  E.  Healey,  Corporal.  James  P.  Middleton,       „ 

Eustis  E.  Burt,      Private.  George  M.  Murphy,       „ 

Billings  Fisher  „  Asaph  W.  Phillips, 

James  H.   Keenan,      „  Samuel  R.  White, 

1  The  ease  with  which  the  names  Boston  and  Easton  were  mistaken  for  each 
other  led  to  several  mistakes  on  the  muster-rolls  as  printed. 


542  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Sergeant  Fecto  had  the  end  of  his  nose  clipped  off  at  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness.  The  piece  hanging  by  the  skin,  he  replaced 
it  and  got  the  surgeon  to  sew  it  on,  making  his  nose  in  the  end 
as  good  as  new. 

Edward  E.  Randall,  Howard  W.  Phillips,  and  John  Johnson 
were  transferred  to  the  Thirty-seventh  Infantry,  June  14,  and 
George  E.  Willis  on  the  15th.  Frederic  E.  Healey  was  dis- 
charged June  15.  James  H.  Murphy  and  Nathan  P.  Randall 
were  reported  as  deserters  ;  but  the  former  had  served  out  his 
three  years  with  the  exception  of  a  few  days,  and  the  latter  was 
discharged  and  had  re-enlisted  at  Philadelphia,  and  then  de- 
serted. James  McCullough  died,  May  15,  of  wounds  at  Fred- 
ericksburg ;  Daniel  Donovan  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  May  6 ;  Mason  A,  Hill  was  killed  at  Spottsylvania, 
May  8  ;  and  Seth  T.  Dunbar  was  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  June 
12.  The  death  of  Dunbar  was  particularly  sad,  both  because 
he  was  about  to  be  discharged  and  go  home,  and  because  it  was 
in  consequence  of  his  own  rashness.  The  regiment  was  pre- 
paring to  leave  the  rifle-pits  where  they  were  lying,  closely 
watched  by  the  foe.  Dunbar  rose  and  stood  exposed  to  view. 
Two  bullets  whizzed  past  him.  "  Get  down,  Dunbar  !  "  shouted 
Sergeant  Fecto,  "  or  you  will  be  shot  !  "  Dunbar  delayed  a  fatal 
instant,  for  a  ball  from  a  sharpshooter's  rifle  passed  through  his 
neck,  severing  his  jugular  vein  and  resulting  in  speedy  death. 
Charles  S.  Torrey,  of  this  same  regiment,  died  in  the  Rebel 
prison  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  August  17.  Albert  M.  Hay  ward 
was  discharged  June  27,  his  term  of  service  having  expired. 
This  finishes  the  record  of  Easton  men  in  the  Massachusetts 
Seventh,  —  a  record  that  deserves  the  highest  praise. 

In  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  one  hundred  days'  men,  the  follow- 
ing Easton  men  joined  Company  I,  July  17  :  Michael  F.  Sheehan, 
corporal ;  Joseph  Bump,  John  Toal  (Towle),  William  A.  Watts, 
and  Sanford  N.  Whiting.  They  served  out  their  time,  and  were 
discharged  November  10. 

The  Twelfth  Regiment  served  in  the  same  campaign  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  same  battles  as  the  last-named  regiment,  and 
was  also  at  the  battle  of  Petersburg,  where  it  suffered  severely. 
Its  term  of  service  expired  June  25,  when  it  proceeded  to  Bos- 
ton, and   was  mustered   out  July  8.      The  changes  to   Easton 


THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


543 


men  were  as  follows:  George  B.  Randall,  May  15,  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  as  also  was  George  G. 
Smith,  February  20 ;  Franklin  M.  Godfrey  died  January  23,  at 
Richmond  ;  Seth  Ramsdell  was  killed  in  action  at  Cold  Harbor, 
June  18  ;  John  Goulding  died  at  Alexandria,  March  22  ;  Charles 
A.  Gilmore,  John  Watts,  and  Henry  R.  Packard,  musicians, 
were  mustered  out  July  8,  their  three  years'  term  of  service 
having  expired. 

The  two  Easton  men  who  were  left  at  the  beginning  of  1864 
in  the  EigJiteentJi  Regiment,  —  Hiram  A.  Randall  and  Benjamin 
F.  Boodry,  —  were  discharged  September  2  ;  this  date  complet- 
ing their  term  of  enlistment.  They  had  been  in  over  twenty 
battles. 

In  the  Twentieth  Regiment,  Howard  W.  Phillips  enlisted  Jan- 
uary 21. 

In  the  Twenty-second  Regiment,  Charles  L.  Britton,  Jr.,  died 
at  Washington,  July  9,  in  consequence  of  wounds. 

On  the  I  St  of  June  Lieut.  Robert  Dollard,  of  the  Twenty- 
third  Regiment,  was  promoted  to  be  captain  of  the  Second 
U.  S.  Colored  Cavalry.  A  more  particular  account  of  his  ser- 
vices will  be  found  later  on  in  this  chapter. 

George  N.  Blanchard  and  Irving  Dickerman  were  serving  in 
the  Twenty-fonrth  Regiment.  They  were  discharged,  to  re- 
enlist  January  3,  —  the  latter  re-enlisting  for  Berkeley,  and  serv- 
ing until  January  20,   1866. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  after  a  furlough,  returned  to 
Louisiana,  whence  after  a  short  service  it  embarked  for  Virginia 
and  took  part  in  the  famous  Shenandoah  campaign,  participat- 
ing in  the  battles  of  Winchester  and  Cedar  Creek.  Sergts. 
William  Crockett  and  George  H.  Davis,  Corp.  Addison  A. 
Lothrop,  Timothy  Murphy,  and  George  H.  Richards  re-enlisted 
January  i.  Corporal  Lothrop  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Win- 
chester, September  19,  At  the  same  battle  Timothy  Murphy 
lost  an  arm,  Sergeant  Crockett  was  wounded,  and  George  H. 
Davis  was  taken  prisoner.  Lieut.  Albert  Tilden  was  shot  through 
the  lungs  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  October  19.  He  lay  on 
the  battle-field  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  while  it  was  in  the 
possession  of  the  Rebels,  and  was  then  found  stripped  of  every- 
thing but  his  underclothing.     He  was  taken  to  a  hospital,  and 


544 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


died  of  the  wound  on  the  21st.  His  remains  were  sent  home 
and  buried  at  Stoughton,  as  were  also  those  of  his  brother 
George.  Lieutenant  Tilden  had  served  throughout  the  war  up 
to  this  date,  was  for  a  time  connected  with  General  McMillin's 
staff,  and  was  reported  a  brave  and  efficient  officer.  Captain 
Lynch,  James  L.  Howard,  and  Charles  Mitchell  were  discharged 
November  7,  because  of  the  expiration  of  their  service  ;  and  there 
were  then  left  but  four  Easton  men  in  this  regiment. 

The  Tiventy-nintJi  Regiment  had  seven  Easton  men  in  it  at 
the  beginning  of  this  year.  It  served  early  in  the  year  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  afterward  in  Kentucky,  —  the  earlier  service  being 
one  of  hardship.  January  i,  Lemuel  Capen,  Charles  F.  Roberts, 
and  Charles  H.  Smith  were  discharged,  to  re-enlist,  —  the  latter 
on  this  re-enlistment  being  credited  to  Mansfield.  Dr.  Cogs- 
well, the  surgeon  of  the  regiment,  was  discharged  for  disability 
the  15th  of  March,  and  John  Bartlett  December  30,  his  term  of 
service  having  expired. 

Thomas  Flood  was  in  the  Thirty -ninth  Regiment,  but  he  con- 
cluded. May  31,  to  take  a  vacation,  and  went  into  safe  seclusion 
with  friends  living  conveniently  near  the  Canada  line. 

In  the  Fifty-sixth  Regiment  Frank  A  Mitchell  was  promoted 
first  lieutenant,  March  17.  In  this  regiment  Ansel  B.  Randall, 
a  native  of  Easton,  but  credited  to  East  Abington,  served  as 
captain.     Some  account  of  him  may  be  found  on  another  page. 

Early  in  this  year  fourteen  Easton  men  enlisted  in  the  Fifty- 
eighth  Regiment.  This  regiment  was  formed  late  in  1863, 
and  was  completed  April  25,  1864.  It  reported  at  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  April  30,  went  immediately  to  the  front,  and  was  as- 
signed to  the  Ninth  Army  Corps.  It  was  engaged  in  the  most 
active  and  dangerous  service,  taking  part  in  the  battles  of  the 
Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Cold  Harbor,  Peters- 
burg, Weldon  Railroad,  Poplar  Spring  Church,  etc.  At  Peters- 
burg it  shared  in  the  terrible  assault  on  the  forts. 

The  following  Easton  men  were  in  this  regiment :  February  8 
there  enlisted  in  Company  B  Matthew  Fisher,  John  Fisher, 
William  A.  Lothrop,  and  John  M.  Randall ;  and  in  Company  C, 
February  20,  Orin  S.  Marshall.  On  the  ist  of  March  there 
enlisted  in  Company  D  Charles  A.  Crocker,  sergeant ;  George  A. 
Lackey,  sergeant ;    Nelson  M.  Randall,  Peleg  F.  Randall,  and 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


545 


Berlin  White.  April  i8,  George  E.  R.  Leighton  enlisted  in 
Company  H  ;  and  on  the  20th,  Hiram  A.  Monk  in  Company  C, 
and  Calvin  A.  Marshall  in  Company  F.  Nathaniel  H.  Talbot 
was  second  lieutenant  in  this  regiment,  and  on  the  8th  of 
August  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant.  June  7,  at  Wash- 
ington, Peleg  F.  Randall  died  of  wounds.  On  the  loth,  Calvin 
A.  Marshall  died  at  White  House  Landing;  and  September  15, 
William  A.  Lothrop  breathed  his  last  in  the  prison  pen  at 
Andersonville. 

In  the  Sixtieth  Regiment,  of  one  hundred  days'  men,  Herbert 
A.  Hewett  enlisted  in  Company  A,  July  18  ;  and  Abbot  B.  Bar- 
rows in  Company  G,  on  the  19th.  Both  men  were  discharged 
November  30.     This  regiment  was  stationed  at  Indianapolis. 

In  the  Third  Battery  Light  Artillery  John  D.  Haney  was 
killed  June  4  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Virginia.  Taking 
advantage  of  a  time  when  not  engaged  in  action,  he  had  seated 
himself  under  a  tree  for  the  purpose  of  writing  to  his  wife  ;  and 
while  thus  engaged  a  ball  pierced  his  temples,  and  he  died  be- 
fore he  could  be  conveyed  to  the  hospital.  His  last  thoughts 
were  thus  turned  lovingly  homeward  to  the  wife  he  was  not  to 
see  again  on  earth. 

In  the  Ninth  Battery  William  D.  Forsyth  and  George  Mc- 
Farland  enlisted  January  14,  and  Patrick  Conlan  February  9. 

Richard  M.  Davis,  corporal,  joined  the  Twelfth  Battery  Janu- 
ary 13  ;  Bernard  McDermott,  November  9;  and  Timothy  Cotter, 
December  12,  —  the  latter,  however,  December  20,  is  registered 
as  a  "rejected  recruit."  Thomas  McGrath  was  already  serving 
in  this  battery. 

May  27,  Jason  Manley  Tinkham  joined  the  Fourteenth  Battery. 
He  was  severely  vi'ounded  in  the  side  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell 
at  the  battle  of  Petersburg,  August  22.  Several  men  were  killed 
at  the  same  time,  among  them  Charles  Taylor,  of  Stoughton. 
Mr.  Tinkham  was  carried  to  a  hospital  in  Washington,  and  died 
there  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds  September  21.  His  remains 
were  buried  in  the  hospital  cemetery  and  the  grave  properly 
marked.  It  was  identified  twelve  years  afterward,  and  probably 
may  still  be  seen. 

James  Roberts  enlisted  in  Company  B  of  the  First  Regiment 
of  Cavalry,  November  10. 

35 


546  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Three  Easton  men  were  in  the  FoiirtJi  Regiment  of  Cavalry  at 
this  time.  James  T.  Morley  was  a  bugler  in  Company  A  of  this 
regiment.  Horace  F.  Pool  was  in  Company  I,  and  Rufus  H. 
Willis  was  sergeant  in  Company  I.  The  record  of  the  latter 
shows  continual  promotion.  He  was  in  Company  B,  Fourth 
Regiment  of  three  months'  men  ;  re-enlisted  for  Bridgewater  in 
First  Cavalry  September  14,  1861  ;  September  24,  1864,  he  was 
appointed  quartermaster's  sergeant ;  December  27  was  made  ser- 
geant-major, and  June  5,  1865,  second  lieutenant,  being  through 
1864  and  to  the  close  of  the  ^ar  in  the  Fourth  Cavalry,  with 
which  the  First  Cavalry  was  consolidated.  He  was  detailed  at 
the  time  of  the  struggle  about  Petersburg  in  April,  1865,  as  act- 
ing aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Maj.-Gen.  John  Gibbon,  com- 
manding the  Twenty-Fourth  Army  Corps,  and  had  the  satisfaction 
of  standing  within  twenty  feet  of  Generals  Grant  and  Lee  when 
they  had  their  talk  together  after  the  surrender.  He  speaks  thus 
of  the  interview :  "  I  shall  never  forget  the  fine  personal  appear- 
ance of  General  Lee,  and  the  rather  slovenly  one  of  General 
Grant.  Lee  did  nearly  all  the  talking,  and  while  doing  so  tears 
rolled  down  his  manly  face.  I  was  one  of  the  first  party  to  go 
inside  the  Rebel  lines  to  '  shake  hands  across  the  bloody  chasm,' 
which  I  assure  you  was  done  in  earnest,  as  the  officers  were 
nearly  all  acquainted  with  each  other.  I  had  command  of  a  de- 
tail of  cavalry  to  go  inside  the  Rebel  lines  to  collect  the  battle- 
flags,  which  was  done  to  the  number  of  seventy-three." 

Lieut.  Rufus  H.  Willis  returned  to  Easton  after  the  war,  and 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  shoemaker.  He  has  been  a  com- 
mander of  Post  Fifty-two  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was  for  a 
long  time  chief  presiding  officer  of  Bristol  Lodge  of  Good  Tem- 
plars, and  held  the  office  of  deputy-sheriff  of  Bristol  County 
for  thirteen  years.  About  nine  years  ago  he  moved  to  New 
Bedford.  At  present  he  is  much  interested  in  the  new  labor 
movements,  and  his  standing  among  the  workingmen,  as  well 
as  the  confidence  reposed  by  them  in  him,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  fact  that  he  is  master  workman  (the  chief  officer)  of 
Equality  Assembly  No.  3,542  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  in 
New  Bedford,  to  which  Assembly  belong  about  eight  hundred 
members.  To  this  office  he  was  appointed  when  the  Assem- 
bly was   organized,  January,   1885,  and  he  has  since  been  re- 


THE    CIVIL  WAR.  r^y 


elected.  At  the  last  State  election  (November,  1886)  he  was 
chosen  to  be  a  member  of  the  legislature. 

December  7  Franklin  Buck,  Zeno  F.  Buck,  Laban  W.  Drake, 
Jesse  Fowler,  and  Henry  M.  Willis  volunteered,  and  were  as- 
signed to  the  EigJiteeiitJi  Unattached  Compaiiy.  John  B.  Wilson 
enlisted  in  the  same  company  on  the  day  before.  All  the  above 
were  on  the  quota  of  Easton.  This  quota  being  now  full,  the 
following  who  enlisted  in  the  same  company  were  credited  to 
other  towns,  as  will  be  specified  in  the  alphabetical  list.  Decem- 
ber 6  Samuel  H.  Gooch,  Simeon  H.  Leach,  and  Zeri  B.  Martis 
enlisted,  and  December  7  Theodore  H.  Hunnewell.  These  ten 
men  were  in  camp  at  Readville,  were  not  called  to  the  front,  and 
were  discharged  May  12,  1865. 

Stillman  D.  Eddy  enlisted  for  Taunton  in  the  Third  Regi- 
ment of  Heavy  Artillery  August  29  ;  discharged  June  17,  1865. 
Tisdale  F.  Drake,  James  H.  Keenan,  and  Charles  E.  Osgood 
enlisted  in  the  Twenty-ninth  Company  of  Heavy  Artillery 
August  29,  and  were  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

TOWN    ACTION    IN    1 864. 

During  the  year  1864  various  town-meetings  were  held  to 
meet  the  pressing  exigencies  of  the  situation. 

April  18  the  town  voted  to  refund  to  the  contributors  three 
fourths  of  the  money  paid  by  them  to  assist  in  filling  the  town 
quotas  of  volunteers  for  military  service,  under  the  calls  of  the 
President  for  October,  1863,  and  February,  1864;  also,  to  raise 
by  taxation  ten  thousand  dollars  for  recruiting  expenses,  and  the 
payment  of  bounties  to  volunteers  to  fill  the  quota  of  Easton 
under  the  then  recent  calls  of  the  President  for  more  men. 
July  26,  it  was  voted  to  raise  money  by  taxation,  and  to  pay  a 
bounty  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  each  volunteer 
who  should  enlist  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the  call  of 
the  President,  dated  July  18,  1864. 

1865. 

The  closing  year  of  our  great  struggle  had  now  begun.  After 
hard  fighting  about  Richmond,  General  Lee  surrendered  to  the 
immortal  Grant,  and  the  Rebellion  was  practically  at  an  end. 
The  great  conflict,  so  memorable  for  its  fearful  waste  of  blood 


548  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

and  treasure,  and  so  prolific  in  sorrows  and  agonies  that  never 
will  and  never  can  be  described,  did  nevertheless,  under  the 
good  Providence  that  presides  over  human  destinies,  prove  an 
instrument  of  blessing.  It  struck  the  chains  from  four  million 
slaves,  indissolubly  cemented  the  Union  of  the  States,  and  blot- 
ted out  the  stain  from  our  national  banner ;  so  that  henceforth  it 
may  really  be  true  that  our  country  is  "  the  land  of  the  free  and 
the  home  of  the  brave." 

It  was  now  the  pleasant  duty  of  the  town  to  welcome  back  the 
scarred  and  toil-worn  heroes  who  had  done  their  part  to  achieve 
this  glorious  result ;  to  welcome  again  to  pleasant  homes  and 
thankful  hearts  the  brave  men  who  had  fought  in  our  stead. 
And  ever  shall  it  be  ours  to  hold  the  priceless  services  of  these 
gallant  men  in  fitting  remembrance. 

Taking  the  regiments  in  their  order,  we  find  in  the  Seco/id  the. 
only  remaining  Easton  soldier  was  Ezra  G.  Whittemore,  who  was 
discharged  July  14,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service. 

In  the  Tzventieth  Regiment  there  were  no  Easton  men  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year,  but  Howard  W.  Phillips  and  John  Johnson 
were  both  transferred  to  it  June  21,  and  were  discharged  July  16. 

In  the  Tivciity-foiirtJi  Regiment,  George  N.  Blanchard  was 
wounded  in  the  left  arm,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  for 
disability  October  9. 

In  the  Tweuty-sixtJi  Regiment  there  remained  but  three  Eas- 
ton men  out  of  the  eighteen  who  were  once  connected  with  it. 
This  regiment  was  sent  south  to  Savannah.  Sergeant  William 
Crockett  and  George  H.  Richards  were  discharged  August  26. 
at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  service.  George  PI.  Davis  had 
lost  his  health  in  consequence  of  privation  and  ill  treatment 
in  Rebel  prisons,  where  he  had  been  confined  since  the  battle 
of  Winchester.  Though  exchanged,  the  poor  fellow  had  not 
strength  to  reach  home,  and  died  on  the  way  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland.  Timothy  Murphy  continued  in  service  until  Septem- 
ber 9,  when  he  was  discharged  for  disability. 

Daniel  E.  Sanderson  was.  mustered  out  of  the  Tzuetity-eighth 
Regiment  June  30. 

Only  two  Easton  men  remained  in  the  Tzventy-nintli  Regi- 
ment, and  they  after  hard  service  in  Virginia  were  mustered  out 
July  29.     They  were  Alfred  Lincoln  and  Charles  H.  Smith. 


THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


549 


Edward  E.  Randall  was  discharged  from  the  Thirty-seventh 
Regijnent  ]i\r\e  30. 

June  16,  Gustaviis  Alden  was  mustered  out  of  the  Fortieth 
Regiment.  Frank  A.  Mitchell,  March  ii,  was  commissioned 
assistant-quartermaster,  with  rank  as  captain,  and  discharged 
March  13  for  disability,  caused  by  a  gunshot  wound  received  at 
Cold  Harbor. 

In  the  Fifty-eighth  Regiment  there  were,  at  the  beginning  of 
this  year,  eleven  Easton  men.  This  regiment  was  posted  near 
Petersburg,  and  held  a  dangerous  and  exposed  position.  It  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Fort  Sedgewick  and  Fort  Mahone. 
John  M.  Randall  died  January  10  in  the  Rebel  prison  at  Salis- 
bury, North  Carolina.  May  1 1  Sergeant  George  A.  Lackey  was 
discharged  for  disability,  caused  by  a  severe  wound  in  the  foot 
received  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House, — a  wound  which  has 
necessitated  two  amputations  of  the  leg  below  the  knee  and 
several  minor  surgical  operations,  and  has  caused  him  great  pain 
and  serious  inconvenience  ever  since.  Berlin  White  was,  May 
31,  discharged  for  disability;  also  Nelson  M.  Randall  on  the 
25th,  and  Orin  S.  Marshall  on  the  8th  of  June.  George  E.  R. 
Leighton  was  mustered  out  June  10,  and  Matthew  Fisher  June 
19.  First  Lieut.  N.  H.  Talbut,  Second  Lieut.  Charles  A. 
Crocker,  and  John  Fisher  were  discharged  by  reason  of  expira- 
tion of  service  July  14,  and  also  the  following  day  Hiram  A. 
Monk.  It  deserves  notice  that  Matthew  and  John  Fisher,  twins, 
were  sons  of  Peter  Fisher,  who  was  a  volunteer  with  two  other 
sons  in  the  Ninth  Battery  of  Light  Artillery,  Mrs.  Fisher  re- 
maining at  home  and  carrying  on  the  farm  in  the  absence  of  her 
husband  and  sons. 

From  the  Nijith  Battery  just  alluded  to  there  were  discharged 
June  6,  after  active  service  before  Petersburg  in  the  closing 
campaign :  Patrick  Conlan,  Peter  Fisher,  Peter  Fisher,  Jr., 
Thomas  Fisher,  William  D.  Forsyth,  George  McFarland,  and 
John  W.  McDonald,  —  all  Easton  men. 

From  the  Twelfth  Battery,  July  25,  Corporal  Richard  M. 
Davis  and  Bernard  McDermott  were  mustered  out. 

June  26,  James  Roberts  was  discharged  from  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  Cavalry. 

In  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Cavalry  were  three  Easton  men. 


550  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

One  of  them,  Lieut.  Rufus  H.  Willis,  resigned  June  13  ;  James 
T.  Morley  was  mustered  out  November  14  ;  and  Horace  F.  Pool, 
after  having  been  a  prisoner  in  the  Rebel  prison  at  Salisbury, 
died  March  i  at  Smithville,  North  Carolina.  It  is  erroneously 
stated  in  Adjutant-General  Schouler's  reports  that  he  died  at 
Andersonville,  Georgia. 

There  were  in  Battery  H,  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery, 
at  the  beginning  of  1865  five  men,  and  one  in  Battery  G.  They 
were  all  mustered  out  in  June.  Other  Easton  men  served  in 
organizations  outside  the  State.  John  Fitzpatrick,  Michael  F. 
Sheehan  (who  had  once  enlisted  also  for  Easton),  and  Patrick 
McCourt  were  serving,  or  had  served,  in  New  York  regiments. 

Hiram  W.  Copeland  was  in  the  Fii'st  Rhode  Island  Cavalry, 
and  had  also  served  for  North  Bridgewater  in  the  infantry. 

George  H.  Kelley  was  in  the  Thirteenth  Illinois  Cavalry. 
The  militar}'  record  of  all  these  men  may  be  read  in  the  alpha- 
betical list  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 

Here  ends  the  brief  and  inadequate  sketch  of  the  history  of 
the  Easton  men  who  enlisted  to  subdue  the  Rebellion.  It  is  at 
best  only  a  bare  outline,  but  it  could  not  well  be  otherwise 
without  exceeding  the  proper  limits  of  this  chapter.  It  would 
be  highly  interesting  to  give  the  experiences  of  our  men  on 
the  march  and  on  the  battlefields,  and  repeat  their  stories  of 
hardship,  danger,  and  hairbreadth  escapes,  or  of  suffering  in  the 
Rebel  prisons  ;  but  to  do  so  would  require  a  book  instead  of  a 
chapter.  The  writer  reluctantly  avoids  entering  further  into 
this  tempting  field,  and  must  leave  to  tradition  the  task  of 
transmitting  to  generations  yet  to  come  the  memory  of  those 
personal  experiences. 

EASTON    SOLDIERS    IN    THE    NAVY. 

The  town  of  Easton  was  well  represented  in  the  United  States 
Navy  during  the  Rebellion.  Warren  Packard,  Charles  H.  Samp- 
son, and  Elijah  Smith  served  for  about  a  year  on  the  United 
States  Steamship  "  Colorado."  John  McCready,  dropping  for  pru- 
dential reasons  his  own  surname  and  substituting  for  it  that  of 
McDonald,  concluded  to  leave  the  infantry,  thinking  he  might 
serve  himself  and  perhaps  his  country  better  in  the  navy,  and  he 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


551 


enlisted  in  the  "Alabama"  and  the  "  Santiago  de  Cuba."  A 
similar  conclusion  was  reached  by  David  A.  Middleton  and  by- 
Richard  Powers,  the  former  serving  on  several  different  vessels, 
the  latter  enlisting  and  then  vanishing  into  oblivion.  Edward 
McCready  served  a  year  on  the  "  Flag."  James  Donovan  and 
Daniel  E.  Sullivan  were  firemen  on  the  "  Aries  "  for  a  year.  The 
latter  believed  himself  credited  to  Easton,  but  the  muster-rolls 
credit  him  to  Gloucester.  Other  instances  of  this  apparent  mis- 
take occur;  and  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  the  re- 
cruiting officers,  taking  advantage  of  the  inexperience  of  the  new 
recruits,  sometimes  themselves  pocketed  the  sums  offered  by 
different  towns  for  recruits,  and  then  without  their  knowledge 
assigned  them  to  the  quotas  of  those  towns.  The  war,  in  fact, 
afforded  many  opportunities  for  stealing  on  the  part  of  town  offi- 
cials and  recruiting  officers,  the  poor  soldiers  as  well  as  the  Gov- 
ernment being  the  victims  of  such  rascality.  Oliver  H.  Blaisdell, 
served  on  the  steamships  "  Niphon  "  and  "  Sunflower."  James 
F.  Gooch  was  a  seaman  on  the  "  Honduras,"  and  Benjamin  T.  Nye 
was  a  carpenter's  mate  on  the  same  vessel.  John  McCafferty 
left  college  at  Worcester,  and  entered  service  in  April,  1861,  on 
the  "  Cairo,"  and  afterward  on  the  "  New  Era,"  and  has  remained 
in  the  navy  most  of  the  time  since.  William  Hepburn  was 
armorer's  mate  for  a  year  on  the  "  Massasoit."  David  Mulhern 
served  on  the  "San  Jacinto"  and  "Hendrick  Hudson,"  Charles 
O'Brien  was  transferred  from  the  Seventh  Regiment  to  the  gun- 
boat "  Benton,"  where  he  completed  his  three  years,  and  then 
re-enlisted  in  the  navy.  In  addition  to  these  Easton  men,  the 
town  had  thirty-one  other  navy  enlistments  credited  to  it.  Six 
of  these  were  voluntarily  furnished  by  Easton  men,  who  paid  the 
recruits  large  bounties.  Four  of  this  six  and  ten  of  the  whole 
thirty-one  deserted.  The  exact  particulars  of  the  record  of  Eas- 
ton men  in  the  navy  may  be  seen  in  the  list  at  the  end  of  this 
chapter. 

TOWN    ACTION    IN    1 865. 

"June  17,  Voted,  to  refund  all  money  contributed  by  individuals 
during  1864,  in  aid  of  recruiting  men  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town,  pro- 
vided the  claim  shall  be  presented  in  writing  to  the  selectmen  before 
the  first  day  of  January  next,  and  persons  who  have  served  one  year  in 
the  military  service  shall  not  be  taxed  to  pay  any  part  of  said  amounts. 


552  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

"The  whole  amount  of  money  appropriated  and  expended  by  the 
town  on  account  of  the  war,  exclusive  of  State  aid,  was  forty  thousand 
five  hundred  and  three  dollars  ($40,503.00).  The  amount  of  money 
raised  and  expended  by  ,the  town  during  the  four  years  of  the  war 
for  State  aid  to  soldiers'  families,  and  which  was  afterwards  repaid 
by  the  Commonwealth,  was  as  follows:  In  1861,  $2,052.53;  in  1862, 
$5,947.40;  in  1863,  $4,905.56;  in  1864,  $4,800;  in  1865,  $2,800. 
Total  amount  in  four  years,  $20,505.59."^ 

DESERTERS. 

It  is  not  pleasant  to  record  the  fact  that  of  the  two  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  residents  of  Easton  who  volunteered  in  the  service 
eighteen  were  deserters  ;  but  of  these  only  four  were  natives  of 
Easton.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  writer  at  first  to  publish 
the  complete  record  of  all  the  Easton  soldiers,  not  withholding 
the  fact  of  any  one's  desertion^  but  letting  the  muster-rolls  tell 
their  own  story ;  for  it  would  be  a  falsification  of  history  to  give 
the  impression  that  Easton  furnished  no  deserters.  But  the 
writer  has  found  by  careful  examination  that  the  muster-rolls 
were  especially  liable  to  error  on  this  subject  of  desertion.  Men 
were  sometimes  taken  prisoners,  or  were  missing  for  good  rea- 
sons, and  were  reported  deserters  merely  because  their  absence 
could  not  be  accounted  for.  There  were  five  men  of  Company 
G,  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  wrongly  reported  as  deserters.^  It 
would  be  a  gross  injustice  therefore  to  record  any  one  as  a  de- 
serter unless  his  desertion  were  proven  true  beyond  any  shadow 
of  doubt,  and  the  writer  prefers  to  giv^e  those  thus  accused  the 
benefit  of  the  doubt  where  any  exists.  Besides,  there  are  various 
degrees  of  guilt  in  the  matter  of  desertion.  From  a  military  point 
of  view,  to  desert  to  the  enemy  is  justly  regarded  as  a  heinous 
crime.  But  there  were  no  Easton  deserters  in  this  sense  of  the 
word  ;  our  men  did  not  go  over  to  the  enemy  when  they  deserted 
from  our  ranks.  Two  Easton  men  deserted  because  they  had 
trouble  with  an  officer  whom  they  regarded  as  overbearing.  But 
they  immediately  enlisted  in  the  navy,  and  served  the  country 
there.     Two  left  for  home  only  a  few  days  before  their  time  was 

1  See  Schouler's  "  Massachusetts  in  the  Rebellion,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  129,  130.     This 
account  was  written  by  Joseph  Barrows,  Esq. 

2  See  History  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  M.  V.,  pp.  260,  261. 


THE   CIVIL   WAR.  553 


oat,  and  when  no  more  fighting  was  to  be  done.  There  were 
two  or  three  cases  also  where  another  bounty  tempted  men  to 
desert,  — ■  not  to  leave  the  service,  but  to  re-enlist.  In  other 
instances  "  the  spirit  was  willing,  but  the  flesh  was  weak  ; "  so 
that  in  sight  or  prospect  of  battle-smoke  or  leaden  hail,  men 
took  to  their  heels,  —  men  born  for  peace  and  not  for  war, — 
who  are  good  citizens  now,  and  who  would  be  more  severely 
punished  by  being  branded  "  deserter"  in  these  pages  than  their 
misdoing  seems  to  warrant.  There  was,  however,  one  Easton 
man  who  boasted  of  having  deserted  eleven  times.  He  lied 
as  to  the  number  of  his  desertions  ;  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
he  deserted  whenever  he  had  a  good  opportunity. 

The  desertion  of  non-resident  volunteers  who  were  hired  to 
fill  the  quota  is  spoken  of  elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  But  there 
were  men  among  our  Easton  volunteers  whose  conduct  was 
quite  as  blameworthy  as  that  of  these  deserters,  and  truth  to 
history  demands  at  least  a  general  statement  of  the  facts  about 
them.  There  was  one  case  of  an  Easton  man  enlisting  for  a 
bounty,  who  knew  that  he  had  a  physical  disability  that  unfitted 
him  for  active  service,  but  who  intended  to  conceal  it  for  a  time 
and  then  secure  his  discharge  on  account  of  it,  —  a  plan  which 
he  carried  out  to  the  letter.  There  were  others  who,  so  to  speak, 
kept  sickness  "  on  tap,"  and  could  turn  it  on  at  once  when  the 
prospect  of  battle  loomed  up  ahead.  Such  convenient  maladies, 
made  to  order  at  the  slightest  notice,  were  by  no  means  confined 
to  private  soldiers,  as  some  of  our  Easton  men  can  well  remem- 
ber. There  was  one  instance  of  an  Easton  volunteer  who  was 
taken  (apparently)  with  an  acute  attack  of  some  gastric  trouble 
a  few  hours  before  the  regiment  he  belonged  to  was  to  start 
for  the  front,  and  who  was  left  behind  on  the  presumption  that 
such  an  invalid  would  be  an  impediment,  but  who  was  seen  the 
same  day  at  the  railroad  station  on  his  way  home  curing  this 
dangerous  attack  by  a  copious  dose  of  mince-pie  and  hot  coffee ! 
On  the  strength  of  this  illness  he  afterward  went  to  some  kind 
of  a  gathering  in  an  adjoining  town,  and  there  played  the  part 
of  an  invalid  soldier  so  cleverly  as  to  excite  sympathy  enough 
to  collect  over  sixteen  dollars  for  his  aid. 

To  omit  all  reference  to  such  facts  ;  to  say  that  all  men  enlisted 
solely  for  loyalty  and  patriotism,  and  not  for  bounties  ;  to  imply 


554 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


that  every  Easton  man  was  a  hero,  and  none  was  a  sneak  ;  to 
conceal  the  fact  that  men  were  known  here  in  town  secretly  to 
rejoice  over  Union  defeats,  and  even  to  chuckle  clandestinely 
over  the  assassination  of  the  immortal  Lincoln,  —  this  would 
be  to  flatter  a  shallow  town  pride,  but  it  would  also  be  to  leave 
a  false  impression,  and  to  omit  those  shadows  which  belong  to 
a  faithful  picture  of  the  times.  And  yet  these  were  hardly  more 
than  spots  on  the  sun.  Easton  nobly  responded  with  money 
and  with  men  to  the  supreme  needs  of  the  hour ;  and  she  has 
no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  the  record  her  sons  made  on  the 
many  bloody  battle-fields  where  they  met  the  foe.  Many  of  them 
left  us  never  to  return,  and  their  ashes  rest  to-day  in  quiet 
forest  glades  of  the  South,  or  on  the  hills  and  plains  or  beside 
the  murmuring  streams  where  they  poured  out  their  blood  in 
defence  of  the  flag  they  loved,  —  their  graves  undecorated  save 
by  the  wild,  flowers  dropped  by  Nature's  kindly  hand,  and  un- 
celebrated by  any  requiem  save  that  sung  by  sighing  winds  and 
rustling  leaves,  and  by  the  sweet  songsters  of  the  sunny  land. 

But  the  honor  and  gratitude  we  owe  to  the  dead  should  not 
blind  us  to  the  equal  debt  due  to  the  living,  who  were  spared 
to  return.  They  blistered  under  the  fierce  Southern  sun  or 
shivered  in  the  winter's  cold.  They  trod  wearily  in  dust  or 
mire  through  toilsome  marches,  often  fainting  beside  the  way. 
They  faced  the  ranks  of  glittering  bayonets  or  lines  of  murder- 
ous fire.  They  lay  bleeding  on  the  field,  or  languishing  in  the 
hospital,  or  starving  in  Rebel  prisons  hopeless  of  safe  return. 
And  many  of  them,  by  wounds  and  sickness  that  have  enfeebled 
them  for  life,  are  living  martyrs  still  for  the  cause  of  Union  and 
Liberty,  and  are  deserving  the  ceaseless  gratitude  of  those  for 
whom  they  have  made  this  costly  sacrifice. 

This  chapter  would  not  be  complete  if  it  did  not  recognize  the 
trials  borne  and  the  services  rendered  by  the  women  of  Easton 
during  the  painful  crisis  in  our  country's  history  which  we  have 
been  considering.  It  was  easier  for  men  who  were  nerved  by 
the  excitements  and  moved  by  the  stirring  sentiments  of  the 
hour  to  go  to  the  scene  of  struggle,  than  it  was  for  their  wives 
and  mothers  to  bid  them  farewell,  knowing  they  might  never 
see  them  again.     Brooding  over  their  separation  from  husbands, 


THE   CIVIL   WAR.  555 


sons,  and  brothers,  and  harassed  by  torturing  anxieties  in  the 
quiet  of  their  homes,  the  women  sometimes  had  a  heavier  burden 
of  pain  and  self-sacrifice  to  bear  than  did  the  men  whose  absence 
was  deplored.  But  they  bore  it  with  patience  and  with  a  patri- 
otic spirit.  They  did  not  stop  to  repine,  but  took  an  active 
part  in  rendering  such  services  as  lay  in  their  power.  They  or- 
ganized societies  and  circles  for  making  garments,  for  preparing 
lint  and  bandages,  and  for  collecting  such  delicacies  and  neces- 
sities as  would  alleviate  the  condition  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
in  field  and  hospital.  In  all  such  efforts  our  Northern  women 
were  indefatigable,  and  many  a  life  was  thus  saved  ;  many  a 
soldier's  heart  was  animated  with  new  courage,  and  beat  with 
grateful  love  as  he  received  from  the  home  he  had  left  these 
tokens  of  thoughtful  affection,  these  comforts  and  blessings 
which  made  his  hard  lot  so  much  easier  to  bear. 

SUMMARY    OF    ENLISTMENTS. 

In  Schouler's  "  Massachusetts  in  the  Rebellion,"  vol.  ii. 
pp.  129,  130,  is  the  statement  that  the  number  of  enlistments  for 
the  town  of  Easton  was  three  hundred  and  thirty-four.  This 
number  is  too  small  by  fifty-one.  The  actual  number,  ascer- 
tained by  thorough  examination,  is  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
five.  Of  these,  two  hundred  and  forty-two  were  residents  of 
Easton  at  the  time  of  enlistment,  and  one  hundred  and  forty- 
three  were  non-residents,  who  were  hired  at  various  times  to  fill 
the  town's  quotas.  But  besides  these  there  were  thirty-five 
residents  of  Easton  who  enlisted  and  were  credited  to  other 
towns.  Easton  therefore  contributed  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  citizens  as  soldiers  to  enter  the  ranks  of  loyal  men,  and  in 
addition  to  this  hired  one  hundred  and  forty-three  non-residents. 

These  non-residents,  though  credited  to  Easton,  were  many  of 
them  anything  but  a  credit  to  the  town.  More  than  one  third 
deserted  of  the  seventy-one  whose  record  it  was  possible  to  follow. 
Some  of  them  skipped  away  with  their  bounty  a  few  days  after 
enlistment.  One  Isaac  H.  Baker  enlisted  and  deserted  on  the 
same  day.  Most  of  these  "bounty  jumpers"  were  cunning 
enough  to  enlist  under  assumed  names,  and  therefore  several  dif- 
ferent names  upon  the  military  rolls  often  represent  but  one  man, 
—  who  was  in  fact  not  a  man,  but  a  sneak  and  a  thief.     Some 


556  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

shrewd  fellows  by  their  successive  enlistments  and  desertions 
made  small  fortunes.  It  was  impossible  to  hold  them  in  our 
poorly  guarded  recruiting  camps  if  they  really  were  determined 
to  desert.  At  the  front  they  were  sometimes  a  source  of  weak- 
ness rather  than  of  strength,  for  there  were  cases  where  one 
regiment  was  needed  to  guard  a  regiment  of  these  bounty  men 
and  keep  them  from  running  away.  Several  thousand  dollars  of 
Easton  money  went  into  the  pockets  of  these  rascals  ;  and  yet 
the  town's  duty  was  fulfilled  in  hiring  them, 

MAJORS    ROBERT    BOLLARD    AND    JOHN    FITZPATRICK. 

The  two  Easton  soldiers  who  gained  a  higher  rank  than  any 
other  of  our  volunteers  were  Robert  Dollard  and  John  Fitz- 
patrick.  Of  these  the  former  was  an  Irish-American,  born  in 
Fall  River ;  and  the  latter  an  Irishman,  born  in  Ireland.  Both 
were  living  at  the  Furnace  Village,  and  both  were  in  the  employ 
of  the  Belchers  at  their  foundry.  Both  also  were  brave  soldiers, 
and  after  other  service  were  officers  of  colored  troops.  Both  at- 
tained the  rank  of  major,  though  the  second  named  had  his  only 
by  brevet.  The  first  is  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  an  influential 
citizen  of  Dakota ;  the  second  fell  a  victim  to  disease  contracted 
in  the  service,  and  thus  died  a  martyr  to  the  cause :  his  ashes 
sleep  in  the  quiet  of  the  Roman  Catholic  cemetery  in  this  town. 
It  is  fitting  that  these  two  brave  and  efficient  officers  should 
have  a  prominent  notice  in  this  chapter. 

Robert  Dollard  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Colyer) 
Dollard,  and  was  born  in  Fall  River,  Massachusetts,  March  14, 
1842.  Thomas  Dollard  the  father  came  from  the  county  of  Kil- 
kenny, Ireland,  which,  if  common  tradition  about  that  county  be 
true,  may  help  to  account  for  the  excellent  fighting  qualities  of 
the  son.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  Robert  was  obliged  to 
depend  upon  his  own  exertions  for  a  living ;  he  worked  on  a 
farm  for  two  years,  and  then  in  i860  became  an  apprentice  to 
Daniel  Belcher  at  his  foundry  in  Easton.  While  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Belcher,  an  incident  occurred  which  well  illustrates  the 
brave  spirit  that  early  animated  him.  The  chimney  of  the  fur- 
nace was  about  ninety  feet  high,  having  a  square  flue  about  two 
feet  in  diameter  and  very  smooth.     At  the  chimney-top,  over- 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


557 


hanging  the  flue,  were  some  loose  bricks  that  it  was  very  desir- 
able to  have  removed,  as  they  endangered  the  safety  of  workmen 
below.  The  melter  remarked:  "  I  will  give  twenty-five  dollars 
to  any  man  who  will  remove  those  bricks."  "  Will  you  make 
that  offer  to  a  boy  .'' "  asked  young  Dollard,  Being  answered 
affirmatively,  he  began  to  work  his  way  up  the  smooth  flue.  By 
incredible  exertions  he  reached  the  top  and  removed  the  bricks. 
The  descent  now  threatened  to  be  even  more  perilous  than  had 
been  the  ascent ;  while  at  the  same  time  the  intrepid  youth 
began  to  realize  that  his  strength  was  giving  way.  Several 
times,  in  attempting  the  descent,  he  slid  down  rapidly  perhaps 
ten  feet,  bruising  his  hands  and  knees ;  but  by  a  desperate  effort 
he  was  able  to  check  himself,  and  bracing  against  the  sides  of 
the  flue,  to  gain  a  moment's  breathing  spell.  At  last,  lacerated 
and  bleeding,  and  covered  with  soot  and  dirt,  he  emerged  from 
the  bottom  and  presented  himself  to  the  view  of  the  amazed 
workmen  and  villagers  who  had  rapidly  collected  to  witness  the 
daring  feat.  The  twenty-five  dollars  was  fairly  won,  but  the 
boy  declined  it. 

Dollard  was  a  member  of  Company  B  of  the  Fourth  Regiment 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Militia,  and  started  with  them  April  i6, 
1 86 1,  for  Fortress  Monroe.  From  this  service  he  was  mus- 
tered out  July  22.  He  joined  the  Havelock  Guards  at  Boston, 
September  5  ;  and  this  company  disbanding,  the  members  were 
assigned  to  companies  of  their  choice  in  the  Twenty-third  Mas- 
sachusetts Infantry,  in  which,  September  28,  Dollard  was  made 
sergeant  of  Company  E.  This  regiment  served  in  the  Burnside 
expedition,  was  at  the  battles  of  Roanoke  Island,  Newbern,  Golds- 
borough,  etc.  It  served  also  in  General  Foster's  expedition  to 
co-operate  with  General  Hunter's  attack  on  Charleston,  South 
Carolina.  Dollard  returned  to  North  Carolina  in  April,  1863. 
He  had  now  become  second  lieutenant,  and  on  recommendation 
of  his  superior  officers  was  made  a  captain  in  the  Second  United 
States  Colored  Cavalry,  which  it  was  then  understood  would  be- 
come a  part  of  the  regular  army.  In  March,  1864,  this  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Suffolk,  Virginia  ;  and  shortly  afterward  his  com- 
pany with  three  others,  numbering  about  two  hundred  men  with 
two  small  howitzers,  were  drawn  into  an  ambush  and  attacked 
by  over  three  thousand  Rebel  infantry  and  a  regiment  of  cavalry, 


558  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

with  six  pieces  of  artillery.  With  the  memory  of  the  massacre 
of  colored  troops  at  Fort  Pillow  in  mind,  where  no  quarter  was 
given,  Captain  Dollard  and  his  companions  struggled  desperately, 
and  succeeded  in  extricating  themselves  with  a  loss  of.  thirty 
men,  fifty  horses,  and  one  howitzer.  In  this  fight  Captain  Dol- 
lard made  a  charge  in  which  he  drove  the  enemy's  cavalry  into 
Suftblk.  Later  in  the  struggle,  in  order  to  shield  himself  from 
the  thickly  flying  bullets,  he  was  obliged  to  escape  Indian  fash- 
ion, throwing  himself  on  the  nigh  side  of  his  horse,  holding  by 
the  right  leg  to  the  saddle,  and  by  the  right  hand  to  the  breast- 
strap.  By  a  plunge  of  his  horse  he  was  thrown  to  the  ground, 
but  lay  still  for  a  few  seconds,  being  screened  by  a  board  fence 
near  which  he  had  fortunately  fallen,  and  then  in  the  general 
confusion  made  good  his  escape. 

After  the  battle  of  Suffolk,  Virginia,  Captain  Dollard  was  en- 
gaged with  others  at  the  battle  of  Jones's  Bridge,  on  the  Chick- 
ahominy.  No  impression  had  been  made  upon  the  enemy's 
works,  until  Captain  Dollard,  who  had  been  ordered  to  take  a 
squad  of  men  on  skirmish  duty  on  the  enemy's  extreme  left, 
came  close  to  them  under  cover  of  the  timber.  Here  he  planned 
a  piece  of  strategy.  Arranging  with  his  men  that  he  should 
shout,  "  Second  Battalion,  charge  !  "  loud  enough  for  the  Rebels 
to  hear  it,  so  as  to  give  the  impression  that  instead  of  a  small 
squad  there  was  a  battalion,  he  led  on  the  attack.  The  ruse  was 
successful,  and  the  enemy  retreated  so  hastily  as  to  leave  horses, 
arms,  and  equipments  behind  them.  Captain  Dollard  and  his 
little  band  occupying  the  works,  and  this  at  the  very  moment 
when  the  Union  headquarters'  bugle  was  sounding  a  retreat. 

Through  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864  Captain  Dollard  and 
his  little  squadron  of  cavalry  saw  much  active  and  dangerous 
service  ;  and  it  is  said  that  an  advance  which  he  made  April  9, 
1864,  drew  the  first  fire  from  the  Petersburg  works,  this  being  just 
a  year  before  the  last  shot  on  the  Petersburg  line.  We  cannot  go 
into  detail  in  this  narrative  sufficiently  to  describe  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  our  captain  took  part.  September  29,  1864,  he 
led  the  advance  of  the  Union  right  at  Deep  Bottom,  "Virginia, 
where,  after  driving  the  enemy  out  of  his  rifle-pits,  he  was  dan- 
gerously wounded.  General  Butler,  then  commanding,  in  prais- 
ing officers  and  men  for  their  gallantry  in  this  engagement,  said  : 


THE   CIVIL   WAR.  ^^g 


"  Capt.  Robert  Dollard,  Second  United  States  Cavalry,  acting  as 
field  officer  and  in  charge  of  the  skirmish  line  at  New  Market 
Heights,  inspired  his  command  by  his  great  personal  bravery, 
coolness,  and  ability,  until  he  fell  severely  wounded  near  the 
enemy's  main  line  ;  and  he  is  hereby  promoted  to  be  major." 

Though  kept  out  of  service  for  a  time  by  his  wound.  Major 
Dollard  assumed  command  of  his  regiment  before  Richmond  in 
December,  1864,  being  one  of  the  youngest  regimental  officers  in 
the  army  of  the  James  and  Potomac.  He  remained  in  active 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  although  suffering  from  the 
open  wound  in  his  head,  where  he  continued  to  carry  a  portion 
of  the  bullet  that  struck  him  down  at  New  Market. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  in  June,  1865,  Major  Dollard  was 
ordered  to  place  his  regiment  on  board  transports  at  Hampton 
Roads  preparatory  to  sailing  for  the  Rio  Grande,  this  being  at 
the  time  when  Maximilian  was  in  Mexico.  But  a  report  got 
abroad  among  the  colored  troops  that  they  were  to  be  kept  in 
service  for  five  years  to  raise  cotton  to  pay  the  national  debt. 
This  led  them  to  mutiny,  and  soon  they  became  a  dangerous 
mob  ;  but  by  prompt  and  decisive  action,  and  with  the  aid  of  a 
white  regiment,  the  Major  succeeded  in  getting  them  under  con- 
trol, arrested  thirty  of  the  ringleaders,  and  a  few  days  later  pro- 
ceeded to  sea,  notwithstanding  threats  from  the  colored  troops 
that  they  would  overpower  the  thirteen  officers  and  take  the 
ship.  This  command  soon  formed  a  part  of  the  United  States 
army  in  Texas,  who  were  there  to  vindicate  the  Monroe  Doctrine, 
threatened  with  violation  by  the  presence  of  a  French  army  in 
Mexico.  February  12,  1866,  Major  Dollard  was  discharged,  after 
a  nearly  continuous  service  of  four  years  and  ten  months. 

The  Major  shortly  afterward  located  at  Galesburg,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  provision  business,  which 
however  he  soon  abandoned,  spending  the  following  year  in  the 
South.  He  returned  to  Galesburg  in  1868,  began  the  study  of 
the  law,  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1870,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  a  general  law  practice  ever  since.  In  1875  he  married  Caroline 
E.  Dunn,  of  Yates  City,  Illinois,  daughter  of  Imri  Dunn,  Esq.  ; 
they  have  no  children.  In  1879  Major  Dollard  located  at  Da- 
kota, and  since  1880  has  resided  at  Scotland,  Bon  Homme 
County,  in  that  territory.     He  was  one  of  the  leading  members 


560  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

of  the  Constitutional  Conventions  of  South  Dakota  in  1883  and 
1885,  was  unanimously  elected  district-attorney  of  his  county  in 
1884,  and  then  attorney-general  of  the  proposed  State  of  South 
Dakota  in  1885, 

This  extended  notice  of  Major,  now  Attorney-General,  Dol- 
lard  seems  justified  by  his  character  and  ability,  by  the  eventful 
career  through  which  he  has  passed,  and  the  bright  promise 
that  is  yet  before  him.  The  town  of  Easton  may  well  feel  proud 
of  having  sent  into  the  war  so  brave  a  soldier  and  so  true  and 
able  a  man. 

John  Fitzpatrick  was  born  in  Ireland,  October  20,  1834. 
He  came  to  this  country  with  his  widowed  mother  in  1851,  and 
settled  in  Easton,  Mass.,  where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  as 
moulder  with  Daniel  Belcher.  He  was  a  member  in  i86r  of 
Company  B  of  Easton,  and  in  January  had  voted  "yes"  in  an- 
swer to  the  question  to  the  members  of  that  company  asking  if 
they  were  willing  to  go  into  active  service  if  called  for.  John 
however  did  not  go  with  his  company  in  April  as  his  friend 
DoUard  did,  for  he  was  not  ready  on  so  short  notice  to  leave  his 
widowed  mother.  But  when  he  saw  that  war  had  begun  in  ear- 
nest, he  arranged  his  affairs  and  went  to  New  York,  and  there, 
September  5,  he  enlisted  as  sergeant  in  the  New  York  Sixty- 
third  Regiment,  —  this  regiment  forming  a  part  of  the  Irish 
Brigade,  so  well  known  for  its  excellent  fighting  qualities.  Fitz- 
patrick was  then  twenty-seven  years  old,  having  a  fair  education, 
possessing  very  good  skill  as  a  penman,  and  with  the  qualities 
altogether  of  a  man  of  character  and  ability.  He  soon  secured 
the  position  of  second  lieutenant.  In  a  letter  written  from  Vir- 
ginia to  Daniel  Belcher,  dated  January  3,  1862,  he  describes  the 
journey  of  his  regiment  from  New  York  to  Washington.  He 
says  :  "  From  the  time  of  our  departure  at  the  pier  in  New 
York  until  we  reached  Washington,  two  thirds  of  the  regi- 
ment were  in  a  beastly  state  of  intoxication.  One  man  jumped 
overboard  and  two  others  died  in  the  cars  from  the  effects 
of  rum.  When  we  reached  Philadelphia  our  appearance  beg- 
gars description,  —  all  covered  over  with  blood  and  filth,  black 
eyes  and  cut  faces,  and  hats  caved  in,  and  so  on  was  the  order 
of  the  day.     I  never  saw,  and   hope  never  again  to  see,  such 


THE   CIVIL  WAR. 


561 


a  degraded  and  God-forsaken  crew."  In  this  condition  they 
reached  Washington,  November  30,  and  much  to  Fitzpatrick's 
chagi-in,  were  sent  at  once  to  the  front.  He  expresses  a  strong 
and  wholesome  indignation  against  the  many  forms  of  miscon- 
duct he  saw  in  the  army,  and  says  :  "  We  have  about  fifty  incar- 
nate fiends  in  our  regiment,  who  are  not  fit  to  live  in  the  same 
sphere  with  decent  people."  He  had  exciting  personal  encoun- 
ters with  some  of  them  in  the  way  of  enforcing  discipline. 

Like  a  loyal  Irishman,  Fitzpatrick  expresses  great  disappoint- 
ment at  the  Government  giving  up  Mason  and  Slidell.  "  I  had 
great  hopes,"  he  writes,  "  that  we  should  have  a  war  with  the 
bastards  of  Great  Britain.  With  me  it  would  be  an  individual 
war,  a  squaring  up  of  old  accounts,  an  outlet  for  the  pent-up 
revenge  of  five  hundred  years  handed  down  from  sire  to  son." 

March  27,  1862,  our  young  soldier  was  appointed  first  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Fourth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers.  Under 
date  of  September  19  of  this  year,  he  wrote  to  his  mother  a 
very  interesting  description  of  the  battle  of  Antietam,  where  he 
says,  "  I  had  the  honor  of  being  under  fire  in  action  on  the  17th 
from  six  in  the  morning  until  five  in  the  afternoon."  The 
following  excellent  description  of  the  work  in  front  of  the  Irish 
Brigade  deserves  to  be  perpetuated  in  print :  — 

"Max  Webber,  though  a  very  fine  fellow,  made  an  atrocious  blun- 
der in  bringing  us  into  action.  Instead  of  throwing  out  skirmishers 
to  feel  our  way,  he  brought  us  up  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the 
Rebel  line  before  we  could  see  their  dirty,  ashy  uniforms,  while  the 
scoundrels  were  leisurely  waiting  our  nearer  approach  and  drawing 
a  bead  on  every  blue  jacket.  Notwithstanding  this  advantage  over 
us,  we  gave  them  the  first  round  and  immediately  they  returned  fire. 
The  scenes  of  carnage  and  murder  that  followed  without  a  moment's 
interval  for  the  next  ten  hours  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe.  My 
company  broke  in  two  halves  after  the  first  fire ;  the  captain  and 
myself  tried  to  close  them  up  again  in  line  in  order  to  keep  a  firm 
front.  In  doing  this,  Captain  Downs  was  shot  through  the  groin  and 
died  within  an  hour.  About  the  same  time  my  sword  scabbard  was 
torn  off  by  a  bullet,  and  another  struck  the  toe  of  my  shoe  between 
the  sole  and  welt,  doing  no  further  injury  than  to  rip  the  sole  from  the 
the  point.  As  we  fired  our  eighty  rounds  the  order  was  given  to 
charge.    We  did  so,  and  took  out  eighty-five  prisoners;  and  filed  out  of 

^6 


562  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

action  with  a  loss  of  two  hundred  men,  two  officers  killed,  and  four 
wounded.  In  coming  out  I  was  struck  on  the  shoulder  by  a  piece  of 
shell,  bruising  me  a  very  little,  in  fact  not  worth  speaking  of.  However, 
it  left  me  minus  a  shoulder-strap.  I  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death 
on  several  occasions,  for  which  I  can  never  be  too  grateful  to  God. 
After  we  filed  out,  the  second  line  came  up,  in  which  was  the  Irish  Brig- 
ade, going  exactly  over  our  ground.  I  can  never  forget  that  glorious 
charge  of  our  countrymen.  Their  line  was  solid,  every  man  in  his 
place  ;  and  without  a  word  they  fired  one  round.  Then  the  green,  bat- 
tered, powder-stained,  riddled  flag  was  thrown  to  the  breeze.  A  wild 
yell  and  brilliant  charge  followed.  The  Sixty-ninth  and  Sixty-third 
came  off  the  field,  each  having  but  one  hundred  men  left." 

For  meritorious  service  Fitzpatrick  v^^as  commissioned,  Novem- 
ber 10,  a  captain  of  Company  H  of  the  Fourth  New  York  Vol- 
unteers, then  known  as  Scott's  Life  Guards,  with  rank  dating 
from  October  23,  he  having  been  already  in  command  of  Com- 
pany A.  Under  date  of  December  20,  1862,  he  writes  to  his 
mother,  giving  her  a  spirited  account  of  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, which  he  says  the  soldiers  truthfully  called  "  Burnside's 
slaughter-house."  He  describes  the  charge  of  the  brigade  to 
which  he  belonged,  and  says  that  — 

"  Colonel  McGregor  stepped  in  front  with  an  expression  of  anger 
when  our  men  faltered  under  the  terrible  fire;  but  his  features  relaxed 
when  he  saw  how  quick  the  men  closed  up.  '  Follow  me.  Life  Guards ! ' 
he  said,  and  away  we  went  double-quick  with  a  cheer,  over  the  level 
plain,  under  a  murderous  fire  of  artillery.  Every  few  moments  a  man 
would  scream  and  fall  down.  We  reached  the  first  line  of  rifle-pits  ; 
the  sharpshooters  retreated.  Colonel  Andrews,  our  acting  Brigadier- 
General,  ordered  us  to  lie  dov/n  in  shelter.  He  stuck  his  nose  in  the 
mud  like  a  hedgehog,  and  there  we  would  have  remained  ever  since 
had  not  Hancock's  division  come  up  in  the  second  line  and  passed 
right  over  us.  There  walked  the  intrepid  Hancock  and  fearless 
Meagher  (the  only  general  officers  on  the  field)  in  the  rank  of  file 
closers,  with  captains  and  lieutenants,  cheering  the  men  onward. 
Where  are  Couch  and  French  ?  Where  are  our  three  brigade  generals  ? 
Nobody  knows;  everybody  knows.  'Get  up!  forward,  everybody ! ' 
roared  Hancock.      Up  we  jumped   and  on  we  went." 

The  letter  goes  on  to  describe  the  terrific  carnage  which  fol- 
lowed, compared  to  which  Fitzpatrick  speaks  of  Antietam   as 


THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


563 


a  skirmish.  "  Yes,  we  are  back  again,"  he  writes,  "  after  being 
whipped,  beaten,  disheartened,  disorganized,  demoralized." 

On  the  25th  of  May,  1863,  Captain  Fitzpatrick  was  discharged, 
and  returned  to  Easton  to  his  old  employment.  But  he  could  not 
remain  content  at  home  while  brave  men  were  needed  at  the  front. 
Mr.  Belcher  interested  Oakes  Ames,  then  in  Congress,  in  the 
Captain,  and  through  him  he  received  the  appointment  of  second 
lieutenant  in  Company  C  of  the  Thirtieth  Regiment  of  Colored 
Volunteers,  with  the  understanding  that  this  regiment  would 
form  part  of  the  regular  army.  Fitzpatrick  at  this  time  passed 
the  West  Point  examination.  The  date  of  this  second  enlist- 
ment was  February  13,  1864.  In  this  organization  he  rose  to 
the  command  of  captain,  and  saw  plenty  of  hard  service,  of  which 
the  writer  has  hardly  any  data  at  hand  to  give  a  narrative. 
Robert  Dollard  has  however  furnished  one  very  interesting  in- 
cident of  Fitzpatrick's  experience,  as  the  latter  related  it  to  him. 
July  30,  1864,  at  the  mine  explosion  in  front  of  Petersburg,  the 
division  in  which  Fitzpatrick  was  a  captain  led  the  charge,  and 
it  was  mercilessly  slaughtered.  Chief  among  the  commands 
opposed  to  it  was  that  of  General  Mahone,  now  United  States 
Senator  from  Virginia.  After  the  battle  an  armistice  to  bury  the 
dead  was  arranged.  The  ground  was  strewn  with  the  bodies  of 
the  black  soldiers  who  had  fallen  by  hundreds.  Captain  Fitzpat- 
rick met  General  Mahone,  and  they  engaged  in  conversation  on 
war  topics,  during  which  Mahone,  pointing  with  his  foot  to  the 
dead  bodies  of  the  negro  troops,  said  indignantly,  ''  Next,  you  will 
be  fighting  ?is  zvith  dogs''  He  did  not  foresee  the  day  when  he 
himself  would  solicit,  and  be  elected  by,  the  votes  of  negroes ! 

Captain  Fitzpatrick  was  at  one  time  in  command  of  Roanoke 
Island.  At  that  place  he  was  discharged  December  10,  1865. 
May  10,  1866,  he  was  appointed  major  by  brevet,  "for  faithful 
and  efficient  services,"  his  appointment  having  the  autograph 
signatures  of  Andrew  Johnson  and  Edwin  M.  Stanton.  His 
health  being  much  impaired  by  his  military  service,  he  removed 
to  Chicago  and  did  some  light  work,  having  charge  of  a  foundry 
in  that  city  ;  but  his  strength  gave  way  to  such  an  extent  that 
he  returned  to  Easton  to  his  mother's,  where  he  lived  only  about 
a  year,  dying  December  8,  1869.  No  green  turf  in  town  rests 
over  the  remains  of  a  braver  soldier  or  more  loyal    man  than 


564  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

that  which  covers  the  grave  of  Major  John  Fitzpatrick.      Let 
us  hold  his  name  in  honored  and  perpetual  remembrance  ! 

EASTON    SOLDIERS    IN    THE    WAR    OF    THE    UNION. 

The  following  alphabetical  list  gives  the  record  of  Easton  men 
who  served  their  country  in  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion. 
Great  care  has  been  bestowed  upon  it,  and  errors  so  far  as  pos- 
sible avoided.  Where  no  rank  is  given,  that  of  private  is  to  be 
understood  ;  and  the  enlistments  are  for  Easton,  unless  otherwise 
designated.  Some  persons  whose  names  are  below  will  notice 
that  the  dates  and  other  statements  here  given  do  not,  in  all  cases, 
harmonize  with  those  they  have  reported  to  the  writer.  '  He  has, 
however,  copied  directly  from  official  documents,  deviating  from 
them  only  when  they  have  been  proved  to  be  incorrect. 

Alden,  Gustavus,  Company  F  Fortieth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 3,  1862  ;  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

Alden,  Warner,  Battery  H  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery;  mustered 
in  for  Rhode  Island  October  14,  1862  ;  discharged  June  28,  1865.^ 

Andrews,  George  W.,  first  sergeant  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment  ; 
mustered  in  June  15,  1861 ;  promoted  second  lieutenant  August 
II,  1862  ;  promoted  first  lieutenant  February  2,  1863;  resigned 
June  17,   1863. 

Ashley,  William  C,  Company  C  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1862. 

Baker,  Charles,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment;  mustered  in  April  22, 
186 1  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  corporal  Company  A 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  September  12  ;  discharged  for  disability 
September  2,  1862, 

Barrows,  Abbott  B.,  Company  G  Sixtieth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  July 
19,  1364  ;  discharged  November  30. 

Bartlett,  John,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  No- 
vember 9,  1861  ;  discharged  December  30,  1864. 

Bean,  Thomas,  corporal  Company  A  Thirty-ninth  Regiment;  mustered 
in  August  18,  1862  ;  discharged  June  2,  1865. 

Bellows,  Charles,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  enlisted  April  16, 
186 1  ;  died  at  New  York  on  steamboat,  April  19.  Was  not  mus- 
tered into  service. 

^  One  authority  gives  the  date  of  discharge  of  Warner  Alden  and  his  comrades 
as  July  3.  The  above  date  of  June  28  is  however  official,  being  furnished  the  writer 
by  the  Adjutant-General  of  Rhode  Island. 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


565 


Bird,  Virgil,  Conipanj'  K  Eighteenth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  August 
24,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  September  28,  1862. 

Blaisdell,  Daniel  B.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April 
22,  186 1  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  Company  G  Twenty- 
ninth  Regiment,  October  31,  to  serve  as  body-servant  of  Colonel 
Pierce  ;  came  home  with  him,  and  declined,  as  explained  on  a  pre- 
ceding page,  to  return  to  the  front. 

Blaisdell,  Oliver  H.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April 
22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  first-class  fireman  on 
gunboat  "  Niphon,"  March  30,  1863,  and  served  also  on  the  "  Sun- 
flower;" discharged  June  i,  1864. 

Blanchard,  George  N.,  Company  G  Twenty-fourth  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  September  24,  186 1  ;  discharged  January  3,  1864  ; 
re-enlisted  in  Company  D  January  4 ;  wounded  in  left  arm  ; 
discharged  for  disability  October  g,   1865. 

Boodry,  Benjamin  F.,  Company  K  Eighteenth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
August  24,  186 1  ;  discharged  September  2,  1864;  died  at  Easton. 

Boodry,  George  J.,  Jr.,  Company  A  Thirty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  August  18,  1862  ;  discharged  June  2,  1865. 

Britton,  Charles  L.,  Jr.,  Company  A  Twenty-second  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  July  16,  1863  ;  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  July 
9,  1864. 

Buck,  Franklin,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company ;  mustered  in  De- 
cember 7,  1864;  discharged  May  12,  1865  ;  in  camp  at  Readville. 

Buck,  Zeno  F.,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company  ;  mustered  in  Decem- 
ber 7,  1864  ;  discharged  May  12,  1865  ;  in  camp  at  Readville. 

Bump,  Joseph,  Company  I  Eighth  Regiment;  mustered  in  July  17, 
1864;  discharged  November   10. 

Bump,  William  E.,  Jr.,  second  lieutenant  Company  B  Fourth  Regi- 
ment;  mustered  in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Burrill,  Daniel  W.,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Burt,  Eustis  E.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment;  mustered  in  June  15, 
1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Capen,  Lemuel,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
November  i,  1S61  ;  discharged  January  i.  1864;  re-enlisted  for 
Sharon,  corporal,  January  2  ;  discharged  July  29,  1865. 

Clapp,  Tyler  F.,  Twelfth  Regiment;  mustered  in  August  13,  1862; 
discharged  for  disability  December  6  ;  unassigned  recruit. 

Clifford,  Robert,  sergeant  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  April    22,   1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 


566  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Cogswell,  George  B.,  assistant-surgeon  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  ;  mus- 
tered in  December  14,  1861  ;  promoted  surgeon  August  7,  1862  ; 
discharged  for  disability  March  15,  1864. 

Cole,  William  E.,  corporal  Company  K  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  ; 
mustered  in  September  10,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  May 
18,  1863. 

Conlan,  Patrick,  Ninth  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in  Febru- 
ary 9,  1864  ;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Conway,  Thomas,  Company  F  Twenty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
January  i,  1862  ;  deserted  August  25,  1862. 

Copeland,  Hiram  W.,  second  lieutenant  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  for  North  Bridgewater  June  26,  1861  ;  resigned  January  8,  1862  ; 
re-enlisted  in  First  Rhode  Island  Cavalry  October  10  ;  transferred 
to  Troop  A  December  21,  1864;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Copeland,  Horatio  F.,  acting  assistant-surgeon  United  States  Army  in 
January,  1865,  with  Twenty-third  Regiment  Colored  Troops  ; 
afterward  had  charge  of  Post  and  small-pox  hospital  at  Bermuda 
Hundred,  Virginia,  and  resigned  about  June  i,  1865. 

Cotter,  Timothy,  Twelfth  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in  Decem- 
ber 12,  1864;  discharged  as  rejected  recruit  December  20. 

Crocker,  Charles  A.,  sergeant  Company  D  Fifty-eighth  Regiment  ; 
mustered  in  March  i,  1864;  promoted  second  lieutenant  May  3, 
1865  ;  discharged  July  14. 

Crockett,  Major,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
October  5,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  November  16,  1863  ; 
and  died  at  New  Orleans. 

Crockett,  William,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April 
22,  1 86 1  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  sergeant,  in  Company 
C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  September  28  ;  discharged  December 
31,  1863;  re-enlisted,  sergeant,  January  i,  1864;  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Winchester;  discharged  August  26,  1865. 

Cunningham,  Martin,  Company  B  Eighteenth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
August  24,  1861  ;  killed  at  Bull  Run,  Virginia,  August  30,  1862. 

Davis,  George  H.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April 
22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  corporal  Company  C 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  October  25  ;  discharged  December  31, 
1863  ;  re-enlisted,  sergeant,  January  i,  1864;  taken  prisoner  at  the 
battle  of  Winchester  and  sent  to  Rebel  prison  at  Salisbury,  North 
Carolina;  died  March  19,  1865,  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  after  ex- 
change of  prisoners,  being  too  sick  to  reach  home. 

Davis,  Richard  M.,  corporal  Twelfth  Battery  Light  Artillery  ;  mustered 
in  January  13,  1864;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


567 


Dean,  Ichabod,  Company  E  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Septem- 
ber 26,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Dean,  William  A.,  Company  A  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in 
August  9,  1862  ;  discharged  June  9,  1865,  —  absent  and  sick. 

Delano,  Henry  H.,  Company  K  Third  Regiment;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  June  26,  1863. 

Dickerman,  Irving,  Company  G  Twenty-fourth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  October  12,  1861  ;  discharged  January  3,  1864;  re-enlisted  for 
Berkeley,  January  4  ;  discharged  January  20,  1866,  in  Company  D. 

Dollard,  Robert,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April 
22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22;  re-enlisted  September  5,  in  Have- 
lock  Guards  at  Boston,  which  was  disbanded  ;  assigned  as  sergeant 
in  Company  E  Twenty-Third  Infantry,  September  28  ;  promoted 
first  sergeant  May,  1862  ;  promoted  second  lieutenant  December 
29  ;  promoted  captain,  Second  United  States  Colored  Cavalry,  Jan- 
uary I,  1864  ;  promoted  major  September  29  on  battle-field,  com- 
mission dated  October  25  ;  discharged  February  12,  1866,  after 
nearly  continuous  service  of  four  years  and  ten  months. 

Donovan,  Daniel,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1 86 1  ;  killed  at  the  Wilderness,  Virginia,  May  6,  1864. 

Donovan,  James,  second-class  fireman  ;  mustered  in  July  13,  1863, 
on  the  gunboat  "Aries  ;"  discharged  August  9,  1864. 

Drake,  Francis,  sergeant  Company  H  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  February  19,  1863. 

Drake,  George  H.,  Company  C  Sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  for 
Lowell,  August  31,  1862  ;  discharged  June  3,   1863. 

Drake,  Laban  W.,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company ;  mustered 
in  December  7,  1864;  discharged  May  12,  1865;  in  camp  at 
Readville. 

Drake,  Linus  Willard,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  November  5,  186 1  ;  discharged  for  disability  March  15,  1862 
(so  the  town  book  :  Record  of  Massachusetts  Volunteers  is  blank 
on  discharge). 

Drake,  Tisdale  F.,  Twenty-ninth  Unattached  Company  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery ;  mustered  in  for  Stoughton  September  3,  1864;  discharged 
June  16,  1865. 

Drew,  Dennison  S.,  Company  G  Twenty-fourth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  September  24,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  November  24, 
1862. 

Drew,  Henry  T.,  Company  G  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in 
September  23,  1861  ;  died  at  Port  Royal,  South  Carolina,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1863. 


568  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Dufify,  John,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April  22, 
1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  in  Company  A  September 
23,  1862  ;  killed  at  Port  Hudson,  Louisiana,  June  14,  1863. 

Duffy,  Thomas,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May  25, 
1861  ;  killed  at  Cedar  Mountain,  Virginia,  August  9,  1862. 

Dunbar,  Norman  L.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
September  4,  186 1  ;  discharged  November  14,  1863,  for  disability 
caused  by  a  shot  through  the  left  thigh  at  the  battle  of  Marye's 
Hill,  May  3,   1863. 

Dunbar,  Seth  T.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Virginia,  June  12,  1864. 

Eddy,    Stillman  D.,   Company  H  Third   Regiment  Heavy   Artillery  ; 

mustered  in  for  Taunton  August  29,   1864;  discharged  June  17, 

1865. 
Eldredge,  Jason  F.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 

15,  1861  ;  died  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  Virginia,  August  27,  1862. 
Ellison,  Charles  E.,  Battery  H   First   Rhode   Island   Light  Artillery; 

mustered  in  for  Rhode  Island  October  14,  1862  ;  discharged  May 

22,  1865. 

Fay,  Philip,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment;  mustered  in  June  15, 
1861  ;  left  the  service  June  20. 

Fecto,  Philander  W.,  first  sergeant  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ; 
mustered  in  June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Fisher,  Billings,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June  15, 
1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Fisher,  David,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April  22, 
1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Fisher,  John,  Company  B  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Febru- 
ary 8,  1864  ;  discharged  July  14,  1865. 

Fisher,  Matthew,  Company  B  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
February  8,  1864;  discharged  June  19,  1865. 

Fisher,  Peter,  Ninth  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in  December 
26,  1863  ;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Fisher,  Peter,  Jr.,  Ninth  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in  August 
10,  1862  ;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Fisher,  Thomas,  Ninth  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in  August 
10,  1862  ;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Fitzpatrick,  John,  sergeant  Company  E  Sixty-third  Regiment  New 
York  Volunteers;  mustered  in  September  24,  1861  ;  soon  pro- 
moted second  lieutenant  ;  discharged  February  26,  1862  ;  re- 
enlisted,  first  lieutenant  Fourth  Regiment,  March  27  ;   promoted 


THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


569 


captain  Company  H,  November  10,  with  rank  from  October  23; 
discharged  May  25,  1863  ;  re-enlisted,  second  lieutenant  Com- 
pany C  Thirtieth  Regiment  Colored  Troops,  February  13,  1864; 
promoted  captain;  discharged  December  10,  1865;  promoted 
major  by  brevet  May   10,   1866. 

Flaherty,  Matthew  T.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  February  19,  1862. 

Flood,  Thomas,  Company  C  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  October 
10,  1863  ;  transferred,  October  16,  to  Company  E  Thirty-ninth 
Regiment;  deserted  May  31,  1864. 

Forsyth,  William  D.,  Ninth  Battery  Light  Artillery  ;  mustered  in  Jan- 
uary 14,  1864;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

Foster,  Solomon  R.,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  December  9,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  February  10, 
1863. 

Foster,  Ward  L.,  captain  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment;  mustered 
in  June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Fowler,  Jesse,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company  ;  mustered  in  Decem- 
ber 7,  1864  ;  discharged  May  12,  1865  ;  in  camp  at  Readville. 

French,  Hiram  F.,  Company  I  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
26,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  February  10,  1863. 

French,  Seth  L.,  Company  E  Twelfth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  for 
Natick  June  26,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  December  30, 
1862. 

Galligan,  Bernard,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April 

22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 
Gerry,  John  W.,  corporal  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 

April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;    re-enlisted  Company  F  First 

Regiment,  February  21,  1862  ;  deserted  in  December. 
Gilmore,  Charles  A.,  Company  I  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 

26,  186 1  ;  discharged  July  8,  1864. 
Gilmore,  Samuel   H.,  Company  G   Seventh  Regiment  :  mustered  in 

June   15,  186 1  ;  died  at  Easton  January  4,  1863. 
Godfrey,  Franklin  M.,  Company  F  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 

August  14,  1862  ;  died  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  January  23,  1864. 
Gooch,    James    F.,   seaman  on  gunboat    "  Honduras ; "  mustered  in 

August   10,   1864;  discharged  June  30,   1865. 
Gooch,  Samuel  H.,  Company  H  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  for 

Mansfield,  June  15,   1861  ;  discharged  June  27,   1864:  re-enlisted 

for  Foxborough,  in  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company,  December  6  ; 

discharged  May  12,  1865. 


570  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

Goulding,  John,  corporal  Company  I  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
June  26,  1861  ;  died  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  March  22,  1864. 

Haney,  John  D.,  Third  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in  for 
Charlestown  August  13,  1862  ;  discharged  December  27,  1863  ;  re- 
enlisted  for  Easton  December  28  ;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Virginia, 
June  4,  1864. 

Hansell,  Edward  W.,  band,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  by  order  of  War  Department 
August  II,  1862  ;  died  at  Stoughton. 

Hardy,  Joshua,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
October  5,  186 1  ;  discharged  for  disability  October  13,  1862. 

Harlow,  Reuben,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May  6, 
1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  Company  G  Twentieth  Regi- 
ment, August  24;  taken  prisoner  at  Ball's  Blufif;  discharged  for 
disability  December  20  ;  re-enlisted  for  Middleborough,  Company 
C  Fourth  Regiment,  September  23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28, 
1863. 

Hayward,  Albert  M.,  Company  H  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
for  Boston  August  30,   1862  ;  discharged  June  27,   1864. 

Hayward,  Joseph  W.,  appointed  medical  cadet  United  States  Army, 
March  13,  1863  ;  served  at  Washington  General  Hospital,  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  to  February  11,  1864;  at  Brown  General  Hospital, 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  until  March  11  ;  appointed  assistant-surgeon 
United  States  Volunteers  July  5,  1864;  served  as  acting  operating- 
surgeon  of  Artillery  Brigade  Tenth  Corps,  then  as  staff-surgeon  at 
Headquarters  of  the  Department,  and  then  assistant  medical- 
director;  brevetted  major  March  13,  1865  ;  discharged  November, 
1865. 

Healey,  Frederic  E.,  corporal  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  15,  1864. 

Heelan,  Patrick  J.,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 
25,  1861  ;  discharged  May  28,  1864. 

Hepburn,  William,  armorer's  mate  on  gunboat  "  Massasoit ; "  mus- 
tered in  August  ID,  1864  ;  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Hewitt,  Ellis  B.,  Company  A  Fourth  Regiment;  mustered  in  May  22, 
186 1  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Hewitt,  Herbert  A.,  Company  A  Sixtieth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  for 
Abington  July  18,  1864;  discharged  November  30. 

Hill,  Mason  A.,  sergeant  Company  H  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  June  15,  1861 ;  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Virginia, 
May  8,  1864. 


THE   CIVIL  WAR. 


571 


Holbrook,  Ellis  R.,  musician,  Company  C  Twenty-fourth  Regiment ; 
mustered  in  September  23,  1861  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863  ; 
re-enlisted,  corporal  Company  D  Fifty-eighth  Regiment,  for  West 
Bridgewater,  March  i,  1864 ;  discharged  July  22,  1865. 

Holmes,  Charles  W.,  Company  F  Sixth  Regiment;  mustered  in  July 
19,  1864;  discharged  October  27. 

Howard,  Cyrus  S.,  Company  K  Third  Regiment;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  June  26,  1863. 

Howard,  David,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Howard,  Elijah  G.,  corporal  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ; 
mustered  in  October  5,  186 1  ;  died  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
May  27,  1863. 

Howard,  George  H.,  Company  A  Twentieth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
August  10,  1861  ;  left  the  service  August,  1863. 

Howard,  James  L.,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
October  5,  1861  ;  discharged  November  7,  1864. 

Howard,  Lucius,  Jr.,  Company  F  Sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  July 
16,  1864;  discharged  October  27. 

Howard,  Oliver,  Company  F  Sixth  Regiment;  mustered  in  July  16, 
1864;  discharged  October  27. 

Howard,  Webster,  Company  F  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  August 

14,  1862  ;  discharged  for  disability  April  29,  1863. 

Humphrey,  James  A.,  musician,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ; 
mustered  in  June  15,  1861  ;  died  at  David's  Island  Hospital  Sep- 
tember 30,  1862. 

Hunnewell,  Theodore  H.,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company  ;  mustered 
in  for  Foxborough  December  7,  1864;  discharged  May  12,  1865. 

Johnson,  John,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  January 
4,  1864;  transferred  to  Company  A  Thirty-seventh  Regiment  June 
14  ;  transferred  to  Company  C  Twentieth  Regiment  June  21,  1865  ; 
discharged  July  16. 

Keenan,  James  H.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 

15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864;  re-enlisted  for  North  Bridge- 
water,  Twent}'-ninth  Unattached  Company  Heavy  Artillery,  August 
29;  discharged  June  16,  1865. 

Keenan,  William  H.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
April  22,  1861 ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  for  Attleborough,^ 

1  So  on  muster-rolls ;  he  claims  that  he  enlisted  on  the  quota  of  Easton,  as 
already  explained. 


572 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  October  5  ;  discharged  No- 
vember 7,  1864. 

Keith,  Jonathan  W.,  musician  Third  Brigade  Band,  First  Division 
Sixth  Army  Corps;  mustered  in  for  Stoughton  January  i,  1864; 
discharged  July  i,   1865. 

Kelley,  George  H.,  Company  G  Thirteenth  TUinois  Cavalry  ;  mustered 
in  for  Geneseo,  lUinois,  December  30,  1861  ;  transferred  to  Com- 
pany C;  discharged  December  30,  1864. 

Lackey,  George  A.,  Company  K  Third  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  June  26,  1863;  re-enlisted,  sergeant 
Company  D  Fifty-eighth  Regiment,  March  i,  1864;  discharged 
for  disability  (amputation  of  leg)   May   11,   1865. 

Ladd,  James  H.,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
December  2,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  November  20,  1862. 

Leach,  James  H.,  corporal  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  September  23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Leach,  Simeon  H.,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company  ;  mustered  in  for 
Taunton  December  6,  1864;  discharged  May  12,  1865. 

Leahy,  Daniel,  Company  G  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May  25, 
1861  ;  deserted  July  9  ;  never  returned  to  Easton. 

Lehane  James,  Company  H  Second  Regiment;  mustered  in  May  25, 
186 1  ;  discharged  May  28,  1864. 

Leighton,  George  E.  R.,  Company  H  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  April  18,  1864;  discharged  June  10,  1865. 

Lincoln,  Albert  A.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861;  deserted  December  11,  1862. 

Lincoln,  Alfred ;  enlisted  in  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  1861  ;  rejected 
as  being  too  young,  but  served  as  orderly ;  transferred  January  20, 
1862,  to  rolls  of  Company  G;  discharged  July  29,  1865. 

Lothrop,  Addison  A.,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  October  5,  1861  ;  discharged  December  31,  1863;  re-enlisted, 
corporal,  January  i,  1864;  killed  at  Winchester,  Virginia.  Septem- 
ber 19,  1864. 

Lothrop,  Augustus  W.,  first  lieutenant  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ; 
mustered  in  June  15,  1861  ;  resigned  July  17,  1862. 

Lothrop,  Charles  F.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Lothrop,  Willard,  Company  B  Nineteenth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  for 
Lynn  August  28,  1862  ;  discharged  for  disability  December  23. 

Lothrop,  William  A.,  Company  B  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  February  8,  1864;  died  at  Andersonville,  Georgia,  September 
15,   1864. 


THE   CIVIL  WAR. 


573 


Lynch,  John  A.,  first  sergeant  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  first 
lieutenant  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  September  17; 
promoted  captain  September  30,  1862  ;  discharged  November  7, 
1864. 

McCafferty,  John;  mustered  in  April,  1861,  on  gunboat  "Cairo;" 
served  as  ship's  cook  from  April  4,  1862,  on  gunboat  "  New  Era ;  " 
discharged  April  3,  1865  ;  re-enlisted  August  11,  and  has  served  in 
the  United  States  Navy  nearly  all  the  time  since. 

McCool,  Michael,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

McCourt,  Patrick,  corporal  Company  G  Sixty-sixth  Regiment,  New 
York  ;  mustered  in  September  19,  186 1  ;  killed  at  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville,  Virginia,  May  3,  1S63. 

McCready,  Edward,  landsman  on  gunboat  "  Flag,"  mustered  in  for 
Braintree  December  12,  1863  ;  discharged  January  26,  1865. 

McCready,  James,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 
25,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  November  19,  1862. 

McCready,  John,  Company  I  Forty-fifth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Octo- 
ber 15,  1862  ;  disappeared  October  27  ;  mustered  in  December  15, 
for  Rowley,  under  the  name  of  John  McDonald,  as  coal-heaver  on 
gunboat  "Alabama;"  discharged  September  18,  1863,  and  trans- 
ferred, but  did  not  report  on  the  receiving-ship ;  re-enlisted  for 
Attleborough  May  31,  1864,  as  first-class  fireman  on  gunboat 
"Santiago  de  Cuba;"  discharged  June  17,   1865. 

McCulIough,  James,  corpora]  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  June  15,  1861  ;  "  died  of  wounds  at  Fredericksburg,  Vir- 
ginia, May  15,  1864;"  so  reported  on  muster-rolls. 

McDermott,  Bernard,  Twelfth  Battery  Light  Artillery;  mustered  in 
November  9,   1864;  discharged  July  25,   1865. 

McDonald,  Daniel  F.,  Company  A  Sixtieth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
for  Abington  July  19,  1864;  discharged  November  30. 

McDonald,  John  W.,  Ninth  Battery  Light  Artillery;  mustered  in 
August   10,   1862  ;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

McEvoy,  James,  Company  F  Twenty-eighth  Regiment  ;  mustered 
in  December  20,  1861  ;  severely  wounded  in  the  head;  discharged 
for  disability  September  25,  1862. 

McFarland,  George,  Ninth  Battery  Light  Artillery:  mustered  in  Janu- 
ary 14,  1864;  discharged  June  6,  1865. 

McGrath,  Thomas,  Twelfth  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in  for 
Boston  October  28,  1862;  discharged  July  25,  1865. 


574  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

McGuire,  Charles  H.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  for  Sharon,  Com- 
pany A  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  September  13,  186 1  ;  discharged 
December  20,  1863;  re-enlisted  for  Roxbury,  corporal,  December 
21  ;  discharged  January  20,  1866,  having  served  four  years  seven 
months  and  seven  days. 

McKeehan,  John,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Mackey,  James  N.,  corporal  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

McMullen,  Michael,  Company  K  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 
25,  186 1  ;  discharged  October,  1863. 

McNamara,  Thomas,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  enlisted  June 
15,  186 1,  and  remained  a  soldier  ten  days. 

Marshall,  Calvin  A.,  Company  F  Fifty-eighth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in 
April  20,  1864;  died  at  White  House  Landing,  Virginia,  June  10. 

Marshall,  Orin  S.,  Company  C  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
February  20,  1864;  discharged  for  disability  June  8,  1865. 

Martis,  Zeri  B.,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company;  mustered  in  for 
Foxborough  December  6,  1864;  discharged  May  12,  1865. 

Middleton,  David,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
October  23,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  July  24,  1863. 

Middleton,  David  A.,  Company  H  Second  Regiment;  mustered  in 
May  25,  1S61,  but  took  leave  July  7,  and  enlisted  in  the  navy  ; 
served  on  gunboats  "Ino,"  "Sea  Bird,"  and  "Hibiscus;"  re- 
enlisted  as  John  Logue,  October  23,  1864,  on  the  "Roebuck;" 
serving  also  on  the  "  San  Jacinto,"  from  which  he  was  discharged 
September  23,  1865. 

Middleton,  James  P.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment  ;  mustered  in 
June  15,  1 86 1  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Mills,  John  A.,  Company  F  Sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  for  Lawrence, 
April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  August  2  ;  resided  then  in  North 
Easton,  but  re-enlisted  for  Somerville,  Company  B  Fifth  Regiment, 
September  ig,  1862  ;  discharged  July  2,  1863. 

Milric,  Michael,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862  ;  died  at  Brashear  City,  Louisiana,  June  21,  1863. 

Mitchell,  Charles,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
October  11,   1861  ;  discharged  November  7,  1864. 

Mitchell,  Frank  A.,  Company  F  Forty-fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in 
September  12,  1862  ;  discharged  June  18,  1863  ;  re-enlisted,  second 
lieutenant.  Fifty-sixth  Regiment,  September  5,  1863  ;  promoted 
first  lieutenant  May   17,  1864;    promoted   assistant-quartermaster. 


THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


575 


with  rank  of  captain,  February,  1865  ;  discharged  March  13  for  dis- 
ability caused  by  gunshot  wound  in  the  side  at  Cold  Harbor. 

Mitchell,  Theodore,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
September  30,  186 1  ;  died  of  scurvy  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
July  5,  1862. 

Mitchell,  William  S.,  Company  H  Twenty-fourth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  September  10,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  April  23,  1863. 

Monk,  Hiram  A.,  Company  C  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
April  20,   1864;  discharged  July   15,   1865. 

Morley,  James  T.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment,  mustered  in  April  22, 
1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  bugler.  Company  A  Fourth 
Cavalry,  December  26,  1863;  discharged  November  14,  1865. 

Motherwell,  James  M.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Motherwell,  John,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 
25,  1861  ;  discharged  May  28,  1864. 

Mulhearn,  David,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  April 
22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22;  re-enlisted  in  gunboat  "San  Ja- 
cinto," October  7,  1862,  and  served  also  on  the  "  Hendrick  Hud- 
son ;"  discharged  from  the  "  Ohio,"  October  6,  1863. 

Mullen,  John,  Company  B  Eighteenth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  August 

24,  1861  ;  died  of  wounds  at  Camp  Parole,  Maryland,  February  5, 
1863. 

Murphy,  Daniel,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Murphy,  George  M.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Murphy,  James,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June  15, 
186 1  ;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  September  i,  1863. 

Murphy,  James  H.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  deserted  May  5,  1864. 

Murphy,  John,  2d,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 

25,  186 1  ;  shot  through  the  arm  at  the  battle  of  Resaca,  and  the 
arm  was  amputated;  discharged  May  28,  1864. 

Murphy,  Nicholas,  Company  F  Twenty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
January  i,  1862  ;  discharged  for  disability  January  9,  1863. 

Murphy,  Timothy,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  October  23,  1861  ;  discharged  December  31,  1863;  re-enlisted 
January  i,  1864;  lost  an  arm  at  the  battle  of  Winchester;  dis- 
charged for  disability  September  9,  1865. 

Murphy,  Timothy  W.,  Company  B  Twenty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  August  12,  1862  ;  deserted  November,  1863. 


576  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Murray,  Jeremiah,  Company  H  Second  Regiment  ;   mustered  in  May 

25,  1861  ;  deserted  August  i. 
Murray,  Thomas,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 

25,   1861  ;  discharged  May  28,   1864. 

Nye,  Benjamin  T.,  carpenter's  mate  ;  mustered  in  on  gunboat  "  Hon- 
duras," August  10,  1864  ;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

O'Brien,  Charles,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment;  mustered  in  June  15, 
1861  ;  transferred  to  gunboat  "  Benton  "  November  16,  1863  ;  served 
out  his  three  years  and  then  re-enlisted  in  the  navy. 

(J'Donnell,  Hugh  S.,  Company  H  Second  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  for 
North  Bridgewater,  May  25,  1861  ;  discharged  May  28,  1864. 

O'Rourke,  ^Villiam,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 

15,  1861  ;  deserted  June  25. 

Osgood,  Charles  E.,  Twenty-ninth  Unattached  Company  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery ;  mustered  in  for  Norton  August  29,  1864  ;  discharged  June 

16,  1865. 

O'Shea,  Enoch  J.,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Packard,  Charles  S.,  Company  F  Twenty-ninth  Regiment;  mustered  in 
January  i,  1862  ;  discharged  February  i,  1863. 

Packard,  George  E.,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Packard,  Henry  R.,  musician,  Company  E  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  June  26,  1861 ;  discharged  July  8,   1864. 

Packard,  Hosea  S.,  Eighth  Battery  Light  Artillery  ;  mustered  in  for 
North  Bridgewater  May  30,  1862  ;  killed  on  railroad,  Trenton, 
New  Jersey,  June  25. 

Packard,  Warren,  landsman  on  gunboat  "  Colorado ; "  mustered  in 
August  12,   1862  ;  discharged  September  8,   1863- 

Packard,  William  M.,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
September  23,  1862;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  July  12, 
1863. 

Packard,  William  W.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
June  15,  1861  ;  deserted  December  11,  1862. 

Packard,  Wilson  P.,  Eighth  Battery  Light  Artillery ;  mustered  in 
June   16,   1862;  discharged  November  29. 

Peck,  Henry  W.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  January  3,  1863. 

Phillips,  Asaph  W.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 


I 


THE    CIVIL   WAR. 


577 


Phillips,  Henry  A.,  Battery  H  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery  : 
mustered  in  for  Rhode  Island,  October  14,  1862  ;  transferred  to 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps  September  12,  1863;  did  not  return  to 
active  service. 

Phillips,  Howard  W.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  January  20,  1864  ;  re-enlisted  January 
21  ;  transferred  to  Company  E  Thirty-seventh  Regiment,  June  14; 
transferred  to  Company  C  Twentieth  Regiment,  June  21,^  1865  ; 
discharged  July  16. 

Phillips,  John,  Battery  H  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery  ;  mus- 
tered in  for  Rhode  Island,  October  14,  1862  ;  died  in  camp  near 
Fairfax  Station,  Virginia,  March  i,  1863. 

Phillips,  Luther  A.,  Battery  H  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery  ; 
mustered  in  for  Rhode  Island,  October  14,  1862  ;  discharged  June 
28,  1865. 

Phillips,  Minot  E.,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
November  26,  1861  ;  died  at  Belle  Isle,  Virginia,  July,  1862. 

Pool,  Horace  F.,  Company  I  First  Cavalry  ;  mustered  in  December 
II,  1861  ;  transferred  to  Company  I  Fourth  Cavalry;  made  pris- 
oner, and  confined  in  Salisbury  Prison  ;  died  at  Smithfield,  North 
Carolina,  March  i,  1865. 

Powers,  James,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May  25, 
1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  June  30. 

Powers,  Richard,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 
25,  1861  ;  left  July  9,  and  supposed  to  have  enlisted  in  the  navy; 
never  heard  of  again. 

Quane,  Daniel,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment;  mustered  in  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Ramsdell,  Seth,  Company  G  Twelfth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  August 
15,  1862  ;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Virginia,  June  18,  1864. 

Randall,  Ansel  B.,  sergeant  Company  G  Fort3-third  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  for  Abington,  September  12,  1862;  discharged  July  30,  1863; 
re-enlisted  for  Abington,  first  lieutenant  Company  A  Fifty-sixth  Regi- 
ment, November  21  ;  injured  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  ;  pro- 
moted captain  May  7,  1864 ;  furloughed  to  recover  from  wound ;  soon 
returned,  and  was  killed  at  Hatcher's  Run,  Virginia,  April  2,  1865. 

Randall,  Edward  E.,  Company  A  Seventh  Regiment;  mustered  in 
January  31,  1862  ;  transferred  to  Company  I  Thirty-seventh  Regi- 
ment, June  14,  1864  ;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

1  Erroneously  given  as  June  20  on  the  rolls  of  the  Twentieth  and  Thirty-seventh 
regiments. 

37 


578  HISTORY   OF   EASTON, 

Randall,  George  B.,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
September  28,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  September  17,  1862  ; 
re-enlisted  Company   D    Twelfth    Regiment,    October    13,    1863 ; 

transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  May  15,   1864. 
Randall,  Hiram  A.,  Company  K  Eighteenth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 

August  13,  1862  ;  discharged  September  2,  1864. 
Randall,  Jacob  J.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  April 

22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 
Randall,  Job,  corporal  Battery  H  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery  ; 

mustered  in  for  Rhode  Island,  October  14,  1862  ;  discharged  June 

28,  1865. 
Randall,  John  M.,  Company  B  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;   mustered  in 

February  8,  1864;  died  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  January  10, 

1865. 
Randall,  Langdon  H.,  landsman   on  gunboats  "  Hendrick  Hudson," 

"  Stars  and  Stripes,"  and  "  Fox  ;"  mustered  in  August  10,   1864  ; 

discharged  June  29,  1865. 
Randall,  Martin,  Seventh  Regiment;  mustered  in  January  31,  1862  ; 

discharged    as    rejected    recruit   April    11,    he   being   too  old   for 

service. 
Randall,   Nathan   P.,  Company  G   Seventh  Regiment ;    mustered   in 

June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  March  17,  1864;  re-enlisted  for  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania,  March  18  ;  deserted  June  3. 
Randall,  Nelson  M.,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment ;  mustered 

in  November  26,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  March  19,  1863  ; 

re-enlisted  Company  D  Fifty-eighth  Regiment,  March  i,  1864;  dis- 
charged May  25,   1865. 
Randall,  Peleg  F.,  Company  I  Twelfth  Regiment;  mustered  in  June 

26,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  February  3,  1863  ;  re-enlisted 

Company  D  Fifty-eighth  Regiment,  March  i,  1864  J  died  of  wounds 

at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  June  7. 
Randall,  Phineas  A.,  Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered 

in  October  25,  1861  ;  died  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  July  6,  1862, 

of  intermittent  fever. 
Randall,   Simeon   A.,  Company  D   Eleventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 

December  12,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  (a  severe  sprain  of 

his  knee)  August  17,  1862. 
Randall,  Vernon,  Company  H   Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 

25,   1861 ;  deserted  August  i. 
Reed,  Henry  L.,  Company  F  Sixth  Regiment;  mustered  in  July  16, 

1864  ;  discharged  October  27  ;  re-enlisted  Company  C  Sixty-second 

Regiment,  March  31,  1865  ;  discharged  May  5. 


i 


THE    CIVIL   WAR.  57^ 


Reed,  William  E.,  sergeant  Company  H  Thirty-second  Regiment ; 
mustered  in  for  Framingham  August  19,  1862  ;  promoted  second 
lieutenant  September  13,  1863;  discharged  January  4,  1864;  re- 
enlisted  first  sergeant,  January  5  ;  promoted  first  lieutenant  July 
21  ;  promoted  captain  April  i,  1865  ;  discharged  June  29.  While 
serving  as  lieutenant  and  captain  he  is  credited  on  the  muster-rolls 
to  Easton.  Served  as  sergeant  after  appointment  of  second  eu- 
tenant  only  because  no  vacancy  in  the  latter  office  had  occurred. 
Commanded  the  company  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  where  he 
was  severely  wounded. 

Reed,  Uriah  H.,  Battery  H  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery;  mus- 
tered in  for  Rhode  Island,  October  14,  1862;  discharged  for  dis- 
ability in  February,  1863. 

Reynolds,  Patrick,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 

25,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  March  4,  1863. 

Richards,  George  H.,  corporal  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment;  mus- 
tered in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  Company 
C  Twenty- sixth  Regiment,  January   i,   1864;  discharged    August 

26,  1865. 

Richards,  John,  Company  G  Forty-eighth  Regiment;  mustered  in 
October  i,  1862  ;  died  at  United  States  Hospital,  Albany,  New 
York,  August  31,  1863. 

Richmond,  Alfred  B.,  sergeant  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment;  mus- 
tered in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  sergeant 
Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  November  14,  1861  ;  dis- 
charged for  disability  September  20,   1862. 

Rigney,  John,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment;  mustered  in  September 
23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Ripley,  Silas  K.,  Company  H  Second  Regiment;  mustered  in  May 
15,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  July  7,  1863  ;^  re-enlisted  Com- 
pany C  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery  October  13,  1862 ; 
assigned  to  Battery  G  December  23,  1864;  wounded  in  heel  at 
battle  of  Cedar  Creek  October  19,  1864;  discharged  June  24, 
1865  ;  has  served  in  the  Regular  Army  seven  years  since. 

Ripner,  Robert  S.,  Company  F  Sixth  Regiment;  mustered  in  July  16, 
1864;  discharged  October  27. 

Roach,  Michael  E.,  Company  A  Fourth  Regiment;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  wounded  in  the  foot  at  Port  Hudson ;  died  at 
New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  July  5,  1863. 

Roberts,  Charles  F.,  enlisted  in  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  1861,  rejected 
as  too  young,  but  served  as  orderly,  and  in  1862  transferred  to 

1  Ripley  states  that  he  was  discharged  June  20  ;  the  Record  of  Massachusetts 
Volunteers  has  it  July  7,  as  above. 


580  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment;  discharged  January  i,  1864; 

re-enlisted,  corporal,  January  2  ;  discharged  July  29,  1865. 
Roberts,  James,  Company  B  First  Cavalry  ;  mustered  in   November 

10,  1864;  discharged  June  26,  1865. 
Roberts,  William  R.,  Company  A  Fourth  Regiment;  mustered  in  May 

22,  1S61;  discharged  July  22. 

Sampson,  Charles  A.,  landsman  on  gunboat  "  Colorado  ;  "  mustered 
in  August  12,  1862  ;  discharged  September  8,  1863. 

Sanderson,  Daniel  E.,  Company  E Twenty-eighth  Regiment;  mustered 
in  August  II,  1863  ;  discharged  June  30,  1865. 

Seavers,  Richard,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 

25,  1861  ;  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  3,  1863. 

Sheehan,  Michael  F.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  sergeant  Company 
E  Sixty-third  New  York  Volunteers,  September  17  ;  served  about 
three  years  ;  dropped  by  consolidation  of  regiments  ;  re-enlisted, 
corporal  Company  I  Eighth  Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteer 
Militia,  July  17,  1864;  discharged  November  10. 

Slattery,  Cornelius,  Company  D  Tweiity-eighth  Regiment  ;  mustered 
in  December  13,  1861  ;  killed  at  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  Decem- 
ber 13,  1862. 

Smith,  Albert  D.,  Company  A  Sixtieth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  for 
Abington  July  19,  1864;  discharged  November  30. 

Smith,  Asahel,  Battery  H  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery  ;  mus- 
tered in  for  Rhode  Island,  October  14,  1862  ;  transferred  to  Vet- 
eran Reserve  Corps,  and  discharged  March  13,  1863. 

Smith,  Charles  H.,  Company  G  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in 
December  9,  1861  ;  discharged  January  i,  1864  ;  re-enlisted  for 
Mansfield  January  2  ;  discharged  July  29,  1865. 

Smith,  Elijah,  landsman  on  gunboat  "Colorado;"  mustered  in  for 
Lowell  August  15,   1862  ;  discharged  September  8,   1863. 

Smith,  Frederic  A.,  Company  A  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May 
22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  as  corporal  Battery  H 
First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery  October  14,  1862  ;  discharged 
June  28,  1865. 

Smith,  George  G.,  Company  F  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 

26,  1861  ;   transferred    to  Veteran    Reserve   Corps    February   20, 
1864  ;    discharged  June  26. 

Smith,  John  S.,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May  25, 
1861  ;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  October  i,  1863. 

Snell,  Issachar  K.,  Company  K  Third  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862  ;  discharged  for  disability  March  12,  1863. 


THE   CIVIL  WAR. 


581 


Story,  William  F.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  April 
22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Strout,  Henry  E.,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

Sullivan,  Daniel  E.,  second-class  fireman  on  gunboat  "  Aries  ; "  mus- 
tered in  for  Gloucester  July  11,  1863  ;  discharged  July  17,  1864. 

Talbot,  Nathaniel  H.,  Company  D  Forty-third  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
for  Dedham  September  12,  1862  ;  discharged  July  30,  1863  ;  re- 
enlisted  for  Easton,  second  lieutenant  Company  B  Fifty-eighth 
Regiment,  June  4,  1864  ;  promoted  first  lieutenant  August  8 ;  dis- 
charged July  14,  1865. 

Thayer,  Hiram,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in  April  22, 
1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Tilden,  Albert,  corporal  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment  ;  mustered  in 
April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  second  lieutenant 
Company  C  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  September  25  ;  promoted  first 
lieutenant  July  22,  1862  ;  wounded  October  19,  1864,  at  Cedar 
Creek,  Virginia;  died  October  21. 

Tilden,  George  A.,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  for 
Taunton  September  23,  1862  ;  died  at  Port  Hudson,  Louisiana, 
July  30,   1863. 

Tinkham,  Jason  M.,  Fourteenth  Battery  Light  Artillery  ;  mustered  in 
February  27,  1864  ;  fatally  wounded  at  battle  of  Petersburg  by  ex- 
plosion of  a  shell,  August  22  ;  died  of  this  wound  at  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia,  September  21. 

Toal,  John,  Company  I  Eighth  Regiment;  mustered  in  July  17,  1864  ; 
discharged  November  10. 

Torrey,  Charles  S.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  died  at  Andersonville,  Georgia,  August  17,  1864. 

Waldron,  Linton,  first  lieutenant  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment  ;  mus- 
tered in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Watts,  John,  Company  I  Twelfth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June  26, 
1861  ;  discharged  July  8,   1S64. 

Watts,  Robert  L.,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment;  mustered  in  April 
22,  186 1  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted,  sergeant  Company  G 
Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  November  i  ;  left  without  leave  May  5, 
1863. 

Watts,  William  A.,  Company  I  Eighth  Regiment;  mustered  in  July  17, 
1864  ;  discharged  November  10. 

Welsh,  John,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May  25, 
1861  ;  discharged  May  28,   1864. 


582  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Wells,  Freeman  E.,  sergeant  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Wells,  James,  wagoner  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment,  mustered  in 
June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  January  3,  1863. 

Whalen,  David,  Company  K  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862  ;  discharged  August  28,  1863. 

White,  Berlin,  Company  D  Fifty-eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  March 
I,  1864;  discharged  for  disability  May  31,  1865. 

White,  Hiram,  Company  A  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  May  22, 
1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

While,  Samuel  R.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  June 
15,  1861  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Whiting,  Sanford  N.,  Company  I  Eighth  Regiment ;  mustered  in  July 
17,  1864;  discharged  November  lo- 

Whittemore,  Ezra  G.,  Company  H  Second  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
May  25,  1861  ;  discharged  December  30,  1863  ;  re-enlisted  De- 
cember 31  ;  discharged  July  14,  1865. 

Williams,  Charles  E.,  Company  G  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
June  15,  1861  ;  disappeared  June  20. 

Williams,  Charles  T.,  Company  H  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
for  Norton  August  8,  1862  ;  wounded  by  a  minnie  ball  in  the  leg 
at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  ;  discharged  June  27,  1864. 

Williams,  Josiah,  corporal  Company  H  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  June  15,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  March  18,  1862. 

Williams,  Milo  M.,  Jr.,  captain  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Williams,   Munroe  F.,  second  lieutenant  Company  G  Seventh  Regi- 
ment 3  mustered    in   June    15,    1861  ;    promoted    first    lieutenant 
November  i,  1862  ;  resigned  August  14,   1863,  being  disabled  by 
severe  gun-shot  wound  in  left  shoulder  at  the  battle  of  Marye's 
Hill. 
Willis,  Charles  H.,  Company  A  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Janu- 
ary 31,  1862  ;  died  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Virginia,  October  10. 
Willis,  George  E.,  Company  B  Seventh  Regiment ;  mustered  in  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1862  ;  transferred  to  Company  K  Thirty-seventh  Regiment 
June  15,  1864  ;  discharged  January  27,  1865. 
Willis,   Henry   M.,    Eighteenth    Unattached    Company;  mustered    in 
December  7,  1864;  discharged  May  12,  1865  ;  in  camp  at  Read- 
ville. 
Willis,  Rufus  H.,  sergeant  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mustered  in 
April   22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22  ;  re-enlisted  for  Bridgewater 
Company  I   First  Regiment    Cavalry   September  14  ;   discharged 


THE   CIVIL  WAR.  583 


December  31,  1863  ;  re-enlisted  for  Easton  January  i,  1864  ;  trans- 
ferred to  Company  I  Fourth  Cavalry ;  promoted  quartermaster- 
sergeant  September  24 ;  promoted  sergeant-major  December  27  ; 
promoted  second  lieutenant  January  5,  1865  j  served  for  a  time  as 
acting  aide-de-camp  on  Major-General  John  Gibbon's  staff,  and 
resigned  June   13,  1865. 

Willis,  William  H.,  musician,  Company  B  Fourth  Regiment ;  mus- 
tered in  April  22,  1861  ;  discharged  July  22. 

Wilson,  Eliphalet  Selwyn,  Company  F  Fifty-sixth  Regiment ;  mustered 
in  for  Foxborough,  January  12,  1864;  discharged  while  absent 
because  of  wounds,  July  12,  1865. 

Wilson,  John  B.,  Eighteenth  Unattached  Company ;  mustered  in  De- 
cember 6,  1864;  discharged  May  12,  1S65  j  ^^  camp  at  Readville. 


584  HISTORY  OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

INDUSTRIES    AFTER    1800. 

Furnaces  and  Foundries  at  the  Furnace  Village  :  Sheperd  Leach, 
THE  Drakes  and  the  Belchers. — Other  Industries  in  that 
Vicinity. —  Successive  Enterprises  at  the  Morse  Privilege. — 
Morse's  Thread  Factory.  —  Industries  at  the  Green  ;  On 
the  Turnpike.  —  North  Easton  village  Industries  :  Ames 
Shovel  Works  ;  Gilmore's  Hinge  Factory,  etc.  — Various  other 
Enterprises.  —  Latest  Industries. 

SOME  account  of  the  industries  of  the  town  down  to  the 
year  1800  has  already  been  given.  This  chapter  will  con- 
tinue the  subject  to  the  present  time,  giving  as  much  detail  as 
is  consistent  with  the  scope  of  this  History. 

We  learned  that  the  Furnace,  founded  in  175  i,  passed  through 
several  different  ownerships,  being  longest  held  by  Capt.  James 
Perry,  from  whose  hands  it  parsed  by  mortgage  sale,  becoming 
in  1798  the  property  of  John  Brown,  of  Providence.  The  latter 
appears  to  have  willed  or  deeded  it  to  his  daughter,  who  was  the 
wife  of  James  Mason,  of  Providence  ;  and  of  him  Cyrus  Alger 
bought  it,  March  6,  1804.  Mr.  Alger  was  an  iron-worker,  a 
trader,  and  an  able  business  man. 

At  this  time  a  young  man  of  character  and  ability  was  mak- 
ing some  headway  in  business  enterprises  at  the  Furnace  Vil- 
lage ;  it  was  Sheperd  Leach,  son  of  Abisha.  His  name  first 
appears  on  the  tax-lists  of  Easton  as  a  poll-tax  payer  in  1800. 
August  24,  1804,  he  bought  an  interest  —  probably  a  half  inter- 
est—  in  the  furnace  of  Cyrus  Alger.  May  6,  1805,  Mr.  Alger 
sold  his  interest  to  Ichabod  Macomber,  who,  December  12,  1808, 
sold  out  to  Mr.  (then  Captain)  Leach;  before  this,  in  1802,  the 
latter  had  bought  the  forge  and  furnace-dam  of  his  father.  'At 
the  beginning  of  18 10  he  was  the  sole  owner  and  manager  of 
forge  and  furnace^  and  he  at  once  made  preparations  for  doing 
an  extensive  business.  He  built  the  large  reservoir  west  of 
the  furnace ;  and  in  order  to  get  the  bog-iron  ore,  upon  which 


INDUSTRIES    AFTER   1800.  585 

he  depended  for  his  supply  of  the  raw  material,  he  bought  sev- 
eral hundred  acres  of  land  in  Easton  where  that  ore  was  to  be 
found,  or  bought  the  privilege  of  digging  out  ore.  He  owned 
furnaces  in  other  places  besides  this  town,  and  was  engaged  in 
other  industries  here,  which  will  be  noticed  when  we  consider 
the  business  enterprises  at  the  various  localities  in  town.  In 
1823  he  was  running  seven  furnaces  in  Easton,  as  the  tax-lists 
show  ;  in  1832  the  number  was  four.  After  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1832,  the  business  passed  into  the  hands  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Lincoln  Drake.  Mr.  Drake  carried  it  on  under 
such  changing  conditions  as  trade  demanded,  until  his  death  in 
1872,  though  during  his  later  years  it  was  in  the  charge  of  his 
two  sons,  L.  S.  and  A.  L.  Drake  ;  they  now  own  it  and  do  a 
successful  foundry  business,  making  castings  for  schoolhouse 
furniture,  hot-water  heating  apparatus,  machinery,  etc. 

Opposite  the  Drake  foundry  are  the  Daniel  Belcher  Malleable 
Iron  Works.  This  business  was  started  in  1837  by  Lincoln 
Drake,  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  Boyden  &  Co.,  Mr.  Boyden 
acting  as  superintendent  for  about  two  years.  Daniel  Belcher 
then  took  charge  of  the  business  for  Mr.  Drake.  Brass-castings 
were  for  a  time  made  there.  In  1849  Daniel  Belcher  bought 
the  business,  which  has  been  prosecuted  ever  since,  except  for  a 
few  weeks  after  the  works  were  destroyed  by  fire.  The  castings 
are  for  agricultural  implements,  carriage  and  saddlery  trimmings, 
cotton  and  woollen  machinery,  and  many  similar  things  that  take 
the  place  of  difficult  forgings.  These  things  are  sent  all  over 
the  country,  and  the  firm  enjoys  a  high  reputation  for  the 
excellence  of  its  work. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  same  street  where  these  works  are 
situated,  and  a  little  west  of  them,  in  a  building  now  standing, 
Edward  J.  W.  Morse  in  1834  engaged  in  the  business  of  mak- 
ing cotton  thread.  Mr.  Morse  had  about  the  same  time  six 
places  in  Easton  where  thread-making  was  in  some  of  its  pro- 
cesses carried  on,  from  spinning  the  cotton  down  to  the  making 
of  the  finished  thread. 

A  little  way  down  the  stream  from  the  last  named  works  is 
the  privilege  now  used  for  saw-mill  purposes,  bought  by  James 
Belcher  about  1878.  As  stated  in  a  previous  chapter,  a  saw- 
mill was  erected  there  in   1742  by  Eleazer  Keith  and  others. 


586  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Mr.  Keith  eventually  becoming  the  sole  owner.  Prior  to  1765 
it  was  changed  to  a  grist-mill,  and  at  this  date  was  given  by  Mr. 
Keith  to  his  son  Lemuel.  The  latter,  April  2,  1801,  sold  it  to 
his  son  Lemuel  Keith,  Jr.  Sometime  before  1823  the  latter 
had  added  to  it  an  oil-mill,  of  which  Isaac  Lothrop  had  a  half 
ownership.  The  oil-mill  was  given  up  in  1830,  and  in  1834  a 
shingle-mill  took  its  place.  At  a  later  time  Mr.  Keith  went  into 
partnership  with  A.  A.  Rotch  and  another  man,  in  order  to 
manufacture  thread,  and  after  his  death  in  1859  ^^^  ^^n  Hiram 
was  in  the  firm,  as  also  William  Davidson.  This  business  is 
said  to  have  been  discontinued  in  1861.  For  some  years  the 
building  was  unused,  but  was  purchased  at  last  by  Isaac  L. 
Pratt,  of  Illinois,  and  a  thread  factory  was  started  by  Pratt, 
Belcher,  &  Co.  Amos  Pratt  owned  the  property  for  a  few  years, 
and  manufactured  cotton-batting  and  shingles.  It  was  bought 
by  James  Belcher  in  1878,  and  is  now  used  for  a  saw-mill. 

Tanning  continued  to  be  carried  on  at  the  old  Edward 
Williams  tannery,  referred  to  in  a  previous  chapter,  for  many 
years  after  this  century  opened. 

We  must  not  pass  by  the  little  industry  that  once  existed 
on  the  brook  just  beyond  the  old  Nathaniel  Perry  place,  west 
of  the  Furnace  Village,  and  which  succeeded  the  old  saw-mill 
built  there  prior  to  1772.  When  the  No.  5  schoolhouse  was 
moved  away,  about  1820,  to  give  place  to  the  brick  one,  it  was 
taken  to  the  locality  just  named,  and  was  for  a  time  used  as 
a  mill  for  cutting  tacks.  It  afterward  became  a  paint-shop,  and 
now  serves  the  humble  purpose  of  a  carriage-house  for  Michael 
Mulligan. 

South  of  the  Furnace  Village  and  on  the  turnpike,  there  was 
erected  in  1844  the  first  belt  saw-mill  built  in  this  vicinity.  The 
builders  and  owners  were  Lewis  Williams  and  his  son  Edward 
D.  Williams.  It  has  been  in  operation  ever  since,  being  now 
owned  by  the  last  named  gentleman. 

Just  before  1840  Alonzo  A.  Fuller,  of  Raynham,  set  up  the 
wheelwright  business  on  the  Bay  road  in  a  building  owned  by 
Bravo  C.  Dunbar.  He  continued  in  the  business  about  twelve 
years.  The  blacksmith  shop  in  which  he  worked  was  afterward 
changed  to  a  dwelling-house,  and  is  now  occupied  by  James 
Gooch. 


INDUSTRIES    AFTER    1800. 


587 


In  or  about  the  year  1841  Guilford  Godfrey  put  up  a  small 
saw-mill  on  Leach's  stream,  a  few  rods  below  Highland  Street. 
It  was  however  bought  not  long  afterward  by  the  owners  of  the 
privilege  next  above.  In  1852  he  built  a  small  dam  on  the  same 
stream  southwest  of  Edward  D.  Williams's  mill,  erected  a  saw- 
mill there,  and  used  it  more  or  less  until  his  death  in  1863.  His 
son  Nahum  Godfrey  ran  it  for  about  two  years  afterward,  when 
it  was  discontinued. 

Close  by  his  dwelling-house  at  the  corner  of  Prospect  and 
Howard  Streets,  Asa  R,  Howard  had  years  ago  a  shop  where 
he  used  to  make  hoes.  When  a  sufficient  number  were  ready, 
he  was  accustomed  to  take  them  to  Calvin  Brett's  mill  to  have 
them  polished. 

Not  long  after  1800,  Oliver  Pool  put  up  a  building  at  the 
Centre  in  which  to  manufacture  cards  for  carding  wool.  It  was 
located  east  of  the  church  ;  but  the  enterprise  was  abandoned, 
and  the  building  used  for  a  store. 

We  have  seen  that  the  saw-mill  privilege  at  what  is  now  the 
Morse  place,  first  improved  by  Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  about  1745, 
was  bought  by  Josiah  Copeland  in  1797.  He  owned  the  saw- 
mill there  until  about  1825,  when  Hiram  Copeland  owned  it  for 
a  time.  To  this  place  in  1802  Josiah  Copeland  moved  a  build- 
ing which  he  used  for  some  years  as  an  oil-mill,  and  in  which 
also  he  had  a  card-wool  machine.  This  building  had  originally 
stood  on  Windmill  Hill,  where  it  was  erected  and  owned  by 
Samuel  Guild,  Calvin  Brett,  Josiah  Copeland,  and  Edward 
Hayward,  who  intended  to  use  it  for  an  oil-mill ;  but  their  ven- 
ture proving  unsuccessful,  they  sold  it  to  Mr.  Copeland,  on  con- 
dition that  he  would  move  it  away  within  eight  months. 

May  I,  1 8 10,  Josiah  Copeland,  Nathan  Reed,  Bela  Reed,  Bezer 
Keith,  and  Rufus  Fuller  formed  a  co-partnership,  agreeing  to 
provide  buildings  and  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
yarn  at  this  same  place.  Instead  of  erecting  a  new  building  they 
enlarged  the  oil-mill,  adding  a  story  to  it,  and  set  up  five  frames 
in  it,  each  frame  containing  sixty  spindles.  Rufus  Fuller  was 
made  superintendent  of  the  work,  receiving  for  his  services  a 
dollar  and  a  half  a  day.  Josiah  Copeland  was  to  have  any  sur- 
plusage of  water  there  might  be  from  October  15  to  June  i,  for 
the  use  of  his  saw-mill,   and  the   wool-carding  machine  might 


588  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

have  such  surplusage  for  the  rest  of  the  year.  The  business 
prospered  for  a  time,  but  ran  down  after  the  war,  the  firm  ceas- 
ing to  exist  after  1817.  The  property  was  purchased  by,  or  came 
into  the  possession  of,  David  Manley,  acting  probably  as  agent 
for  the  Easton  Manufacturing  Company,  whose  factory  was  at 
North  Easton  village.  At  a  later  date,  probably  1826,  Sheperd 
Leach  bought  one  half  of  it,  and  in  1830  he  purchased  the 
remainder. 

E.  J.  W.  Morse  first  came  to  Easton  in  1829,  and  not  long 
after  that  time  he  engaged  in  the  cotton-thread  business  at  the 
Furnace  Village.  February  27,  1837,  he  purchased  one  quarter  of 
the  property  at  the  Morse  privilege  of  Lincoln  Drake,  the  latter 
holding  it  probably  as  executor  of  the  estate  of  Gen.  Sheperd 
Leach.  December  22,  1840,  Mr.  Morse  bought  of  Mr.  Drake 
another  quarter  of  the  same  property.  The  other  half  Mr.  Drake 
sold  June  21,  1845,  to  Robert  Lunn  and  Daniel  W.  Heath.  Mr. 
Lunn  sold  his  quarter  interest  May  14,  1853,  and  Mr.  Heath  his 
quarter  April  14,  1856,  —  both  selling  to  Edward  N.  Morse. 
E.  J.  VV.  Morse  at  the  time  of  his  first  purchase  began  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  thread,  having  in  other  sections  of  the  town 
already  conducted  some  branches  of  this  work.  The  thread  was 
manufactured  from  combed  sea-island  cotton.  In  1844  a  steam- 
engine  was  added  as  supplementary  to  the  usual  water-power  ;  it 
was  the  first  steam-engine  used  in  Easton.  This  firm  keep  the 
name  of  E.  J.  W.  Morse  &  Co.,  and  claim  to  be  the  oldest  cotton- 
thread  company  in  the  United  States  now  in  operation.  They 
employ  about  fifty  hands,  producing  an  article  in  general  use, 
which  is  manufactured  on  as  expensive  and  complete  a  sys- 
tem of  machinery  as  is  now  used  in  any  similar  business.  The 
view  of  the  Morse  thread-factory  here  given  is  from  the  north, 
overlooking  a  part  of  the  pond. 

In  this  connection  may  be  mentioned  the  interesting  fact  that 
in  1882,  Alfred  B.  Morse,  then  eighteen  years  of  age,  built  a 
steam  yacht,  which  he  launched  in  Easton  waters  June  21.  In 
the  summer  of  1883  it  was  run  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  was 
found  to  have  a  speed  of  ten  miles  an  hour. 

At  the  Green  there  was  in  1800  a  grist-mill,  owned  by  Timothy 
Randall,  the  second  of  that  name.  In  1803  he  sold  his  mill- 
property  to  Ichabod  Macomber,  who  bought  it  for  himself  and 


*^ 


''^"ys^r^.-r'^^  jii_miK-iv^ 


INDUSTRIES    AFTER    1800. 


589 


partner,  Cyrus  Alger,  It  was  said  to  have  been  their  intention  to 
enlarge  the  pond,  put  up  a  forge,  and  perhaps  also  a  furnace,  and 
to  start  an  extensive  iron  business.  This  move  was  checkmated 
by  Josiah  Copeland,  Calvin  Brett,  and  others,  who  bought  the 
privilege  below  this  dam,  and  who  also  bought  land  so  near  as 
to  prevent  the  enlargement  of  the  pond  as  proposed.  What 
might  have  been  the  result  upon  the  prosperity  of  South  Easton 
had  Alger  &  Macomber  not  been  defeated  in  their  plan,  is  mat- 
ter of  interesting  conjecture.  Being  thus  balked  they  deeded 
back  the  property  to  Timothy  Randall,  who  took  it  because  the 
parties  opposed  to  Alger  &  Macomber  agreed  to  buy  it  of  him. 
Accordingly,  February  23,  1804,  it  was  bought  by  Josiah  Cope- 
land,  Bezer  Keith,  Calvin  Brett,  and  James  Guild,  —  Copeland 
and  Keith  taking  three  fourths  of  it,  and  Brett  and  Guild  taking 
the  other  fourth. 

In  1807  Joseph  Hay  ward,  Roland  Howard,  Josiah  Copeland, 
and  Elijah  Howard,  Jr.,  entered  into  a  partnership  under  the 
name  of  Elijah  Howard  &  Co.  In  1809  the  Company  expended 
twenty-eight  hundred  dollars  in  building  a  forge.  Cyrus  Alger, 
Nathaniel  Howard,  and  Willard  Babbitt  were  for  a  time  con- 
nected with  the  Company  ;  but  Alger's  interest  was  bought  out  in 
1 810,  and  the  Company's  connection  with  Nathaniel  Howard 
and  Willard  Babbitt  also  soon  ceased.  In  August,  1810,  Calvin 
Brett  and  James  Guild  sold  out  their  interest  in  the  grist-mill  to 
the  Company.  About  a  year  after  this  Elijah  Howard  &  Co. 
lost  by  fire  a  coal- house  and  coal  worth  about  fifteen  hundred 
dollars.  They  had  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  bar-iron,  nail- 
rods,  etc.;  but  the  forge  business  proved  worthless,  entailing  a 
loss  of  more  than  the  original  capital  paid  in,  which  was  two 
thousand  dollars.  The  Company  then  began  here  the  manufac- 
ture of  cut  nails,  a  business  which  they  had  already  started  at 
the  Red  Factory  location  at  North  Easton  village.  They  also 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarn  and  of  cloth.  Dur- 
ing the  War  of  1812-1815  they  did  a  large  business;  but  the 
losses  by  depreciation  of  currency  and  bad  debts  just  after  the 
war  left  them  for  a  time  in  a  bankrupt  condition.  In  1823 
the  cut-nail  business  was  moved  to  Braintree,  where  it  flourished. 
The  Company  ran  two  factories  in  town,  that  at  South  Easton 
being  called  the  Village  Factory  Co.,  and  that  at  the  Red  Factory 


590  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

the  Federal  Factory  Co.  They  manufactured  yarn,  bed-ticking, 
apron-check,  and  other  goods.  About  1840  the  Village  Factory 
Co.  sold  out  to  Capt.  Barzillai  Dean,  who  manufactured  cotton- 
print  goods  of  a  light  texture.  Captain  Dean  was  killed  by  a 
distressing  accident  in  1848,  and  from  that  time  this  factory, 
since  enlarged,  has  been  a  machine-shop,  and  with  the  grist-mill 
has  been  the  property  of  T.  H.  and  J.  O.  Dean.  They  manu- 
facture pianoforte  machinery,  wooden  slipper-heels,  and  other 
articles.  For  the  manufacture  of  wooden  slipper-heels  new  ma- 
chinery has  lately  been  introduced,  and  the  work  is  very  ingen- 
iously done.  This  Company  own  a  valuable  patent  for  the 
manufacture  of  leather  slipper-heels,  and  are  doing  an  increas- 
ing  business  in    this  line. 

On  the  South  Boston  and  Taunton  Turnpike,  east  of  the 
Green,  there  is  a  very  ancient  mill-privilege.  In  1757  it  is 
spoken  of  in  the  perambulation  of  Easton  and  Bridgewater  as 
the  "  Old  Saw-mill  Dam."  The  dam,  and  doubtless  also  the 
mill,  were  there  early  in  the  last  century,  perhaps  even  before 
1700;  the  sills  of  the  old  mill  were  laid  bare  by  the  recent  wash- 
out. A  long  and  careful  search  among  the  Bristol  County  deeds 
failed  to  elicit  any  information  regarding  it,  and  it  is  evident  that 
.the  ancient  mill  was  not  within  the  limits  of  Easton,  but  must 
have  been  just  far  enough  east  to  bring  it  within  the  Bridge- 
water  boundary.  This  conclusion  is  necessitated  by  convincing 
evidence.  One  of  the  Bridgewater  Bretts  owned  this  mill  about 
1780.  It  has  been  already  stated  that  Calvin  Brett  and  others 
bought  this  privilege  at  the  time  that  Alger  &  Macomber  started 
the  forge  business  at  the  Green.  In  1814  was  formed  the  firm 
of  Solomon  Stone  &  Co.,  who  had  a  carding-mill  at  this  place 
on  the  Turnpike,  the  dam  and  buildings  being  reconstructed, 
bringing  them  within  the  Easton  line.  After  Mr.  Stone's  death 
the  firm  was  reorganized,  and  several  kinds  of  business  in  the 
course  of  time  were  done  there.  They  had  a  cotton  factory  as 
well  as  carding  mill.  Calvin  Brett  had  also  a  fulling-mill  there. 
There  were  two  buildings,  and  yarn  was  made  in  one  of  them. 
Brett  and  Guild  at  one  time  manufacured  satinet,  and  afterward 
John  C.  Brett  made  shoe-pegs  at  the  same  place.  In  1848  Solo- 
mon W.  Morse  bought  the  whole  privilege,  and  changed  it  into  a 
mill  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth.     It  finally  came  into  the 


INDUSTRIES    AFTER    1800. 


591 


possession  of  E.  J.  W.  Morse.  During  the  Civil  War  Franklin 
Keith  made  shoddy  there,  since  which  time  it  has  been  called 
the  Shoddy  Mill.  It  was  not  in  use  for  some  years,  and  in  1879 
the  buildings  were  burned,  —  a  year,  by  the  way,  in  which  so 
many  fires  occurred  in  the  south  half  of  the  town  as  naturally  to 
suggest  the  presence  of  an  incendiary,  a  suspicion  since  that 
time  strongly  confirmed. 

Farther  south  on  the  Turnpike  Guilford  White  in  1850  be- 
gan the  manufacture  of  shoes,  and  continued  it  for  six  years. 
For  several  years  afterward  the  same  business  was  carried  on 
by  Horatio  Thayer  and  Nathaniel  R.  Packard.  In  1858  Lewis 
Thayer  built  a  factory  north  of  Mr.  White's,  and  continued  in 
the  shoe-business  until  1870.  Irving  and  Emory  Packard  began 
the  manufacture  of  shoes  in  West  Bridgewater  in  February, 
1868,  but  January  i,  1869,  they  moved  into  Mr.  White's  build- 
ing in  Easton.  They  continued  in  the  business  there  until  they 
were  burned  out,  August  25,  1884.  They  then  moved  to  North 
Easton  into  the  building  opposite  Memorial  Hall,  where  they 
still  remain. 

Not  long  after  the  century  opened,  Cyrus  Alger  and  Ichabod 
Macomber  built  and  carried  on  a  furnace  a  short  distance  north- 
east of  the  Thaxter  Harvey  place  ;  but  the  business  did  not 
prove  a  success.  The  ruins,  at  least  the  foundations,  of  this  old 
furnace  may  still  be  seen. 

In  the  south  part  of  the  town,  in  the  year  1828,  J.  and  H.  M. 
Poole  began  the  manufacture  of  mathematical  instruments  on  a 
small  scale.  A  strong  prejudice  for  foreign-made  instruments 
was  only  slowly  overcome.  Poole's  work  was  said  not  only  to 
equal  but  even  to  excel  the  imported.  In  1878  John  M.  Poole, 
who  had  for  twenty-five  years  been  foreman,  succeeded  to  the 
business.  He  manufactures  surveyors'  transits,  builders'  levels, 
land  and  telescopic  compasses,  and  many  other  instruments  of 
this  kind. 

The  saw-mill  at  Cranberry-Meadow  Pond  was  owned  in  1800 
by  Dr.  Edward  Dean.  Dr.  Dean  deeded  it  to  his  son  James, 
who  deeded  it  to  his  son  Edward  W.  Dean  in  1850.  It  after- 
ward passed  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  and  subse- 
quently became  the  property  of  Oliver  Ames.  It  is  now  owned 
by  F.  L.  Ames,  and  is  no  longer  used  as  a  mill. 


592  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

The  saw-mill  built  by  George  Ferguson  about  1750  at  the 
location  now  known  as  the  Picker  place,  and  rebuilt  about 
1786,  was  owned  in  1802  by  Captain  Elisha  Harvey  and  Ziba 
Randall,  the  latter  having  charge  of  the  work,  which  was  discon- 
tinued about  18 15.  One  of  the  first  enterprises  to  follow  it  at 
the  same  location  was  a  cut-nail  factory  started  by  Col.  David 
Manley,  in  which  Oliver  Ames  and  Asa  Waters  both  had  some 
interest. 

Several  such  factories  were  built  about  the  same  time  in  town. 
Colonel  Mauley's  enterprise  proved  unlucky,  because  just  as  he 
had  a  large  stock  of  nails  packed  the  mill  was  burned  to  ashes, 
and  the  nails  and  machinery  spoiled.  Another  nail-factory  was 
then  built  at  this  old  Ferguson  dam.  A  grist-mill  was  also 
erected,  and  the  grindstones  for  it  were  brought  up  from  the 
Jonathan  Randall  mill  at  the  Ames  office  location.  In  1830 
David  Manley  sold  to  Sheperd  Leach  "  his  right  and  title  to  the 
grist-mill  near  Ziba  Randall's."  About  this  time  E.  J.  W.  Morse 
hired  the  nail-factory  building  and  put  up  in  it  a  cotton-picking 
machine,  or  else  hired  a  picker  previously  set  up,  which  he 
worked  as  late  as  1835  ;  it  was  from  this  business  that  the  place 
became  known  as  the  Picker  place.  It  became  the  property  of 
Oliver  Ames,  Sr.,  not  long  after  Sheperd  Leach's  death,  and  about 
1835  he  set  up  his  brother  John  Ames  there  in  the  manufacture 
of  knives,  a  business  that  was  continued  about  ten  years.  After 
that  a  trip-hammer  was  put  up,  and  used  in  the  welding  of  straps 
upon  shovels.  The  building  was  subsequently  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  since  that  time  this  privilege  has  not  been  used. 

Next  below  the  last  named  place  is  the  Hoe  Shop  privilege. 
In  April,  1804,  Nathan  Pratt,  blacksmith,  bought  of  Jacob 
Leonard  a  tract  of  land  which  included  this  privilege,  and 
May  26  he  bought  also  a  large  lot  of  George  Ferguson.  Mr. 
Pratt  began  at  once  to  build  the  Hoe  Shop  dam,  and  in  less 
than  a  year  he  had  completed  it  and  had  also  erected  a  trip- 
hammer shop,  where  he  began  the  manufacture  of  hoes,  Lewis 
Drake  being  connected  with  him  in  the  business.  Mr.  Pratt 
moved  to  Plymouth  with  Oliver  Ames  soon  after  the  latter  went 
there,  which  was  in  1807,  and  returned  with  him  several  years 
later.  Obed  Harlow  was  in  the  Hoe  Shop  for  a  time.  Asa 
Waters  manufactured  shovels  at    Mr.  Ames's  Shovel  Shop  for 


INDUSTRIES   AFTER   1800. 


593 


several  years  before  Mr.  Ames  returned  from  Plymouth,  though 
the  latter  as  already  stated  had  begun  that  business  soon  after 
buying  the  Shovel-Shop  Pond  privilege,  in  August,  1803.  After 
his  return  from  Plymouth  in  1814  the  Hoe  Shop  place  became 
his  property,  and  has  since  been  used  for  Shovel  Shop  purposes. 
There  was  a  repair  or  wheelwright  shop  just  below,  and  still 
farther  east  a  blacksmith  shop  which  was  long  occupied  by  Na- 
than Pratt,  and  which  was  a  delightful  resort  for  young  children, 
who  felt  at  home  with  the  good-natured  blacksmith,  and  had 
rare  fun  in  his  shop. 

In  181 5  the  Easton  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized, 
Col.  David  Manley  being  the  leading  man  in  the  concern.  They 
built  their  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth  on  the 
present  location  of  the  Ames  Machine  Shop.  They  had  con- 
siderable capital  and  a  large  amount  of  property,  owning  two  fac- 
tories, a  saw-mill,  a  grist-mill,  and  two  blacksmith  shops  ;  they 
also  carried  on  "the  store,"  which  was  at  the  present  location  of 
the  Ames  store.  About  18 17  their  building  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  another  was  erected.  In  1826  the  Company  found 
themselves  heavily  involved.  At  this  time  Sheperd  Leach  ac- 
quired some  claim  to  the  Company's  property;  and  in  1830  he 
became  the  owner  of  it,  having  possession  of  their  two  factories, 
—  the  one  just  mentioned,  and  the  Copeland,  Fuller,  &  Co.  Fac- 
tory,—  and  also  of  the  saw-mill  and  grist-mill.  The  grist-mill 
was  in  or  adjoining  to  the  North  Easton  factory  building. 
Shortly  after  this  Martin  Bliss  made  spool  cotton  there.  A 
nailer's  shop  was  for  a  time  connected  with  it,  and  also  a  cot- 
ton picker,  which  was  run  by  E.  J.  W.  Morse.  About  1836  it 
was  purchased  by  Oakes  Ames,  who  set  up  David  Barlow,  of 
New  York,  in  the  manufacture  of  covered  bonnet-wire.  Six 
hands  were  employed  in  this  business,  ten  thousand  dollars  in- 
vested, and  twenty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  wire  manufactured 
in  one  year.^  This  factory  building  was  finally  purchased  by 
Oliver  Ames  &  Sons,  and  in  1857  they  erected  the  machine 
shop  that  now  stands  there. 

Before  Oliver  Ames,  the  founder  of  the  great  Shovel  Works 
in  Easton  was  born,  his  father,  Capt.  John  Ames,  had  begun  in 
West  Bridgewater  the   manufacture  of  shovels.     This  was  as 

1  Branches  of  Industry  in  Massachusetts,  J.  P.  Bigelow,  pp.  134,  135. 

38 


594  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

early  as  1776.  His  son  learned  the  business,  and  shortly  after 
he  became  of  age  began  to  look  about  for  a  good  place  in  which 
to  start  business  for  himself.  At  just  this  time  Eiiphalet 
Leonard,  the  third  of  that  name,  had  become  bankrupt.  He 
had,  about  1793,  built  the  Shovel-Shop  Pond  dam,  and  erected 
there  a  forge  with  a  trip-hammer  and  a  nailer's  shop.  He 
was  unsuccessful,  and  in  1801  failed  in  business,  his  property 
going  into  the  possession  of  Abiezer  Alger,  of  Bridgewater. 
Mr.  Ames  came  and  inspected  the  property,  and  August  i, 
1803,  purchased  it  for  sixteen  hundred  dollars,  several  other 
pieces  of  land  being  included  in  the  same  purchase.  He  at 
once  and  with  energy  prepared  to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of 
shovels. 

In  the  "Atlantic  Monthly"  of  September,  1870,  Azel  Ames, 
Jr.,  dated  the  origin  of  this  business  in  the  year  18 12,  This  is  a 
mistake  of  nine  years.  The  following  items  of  the  account 
between  Ziba  Randall  and  Mr.  Ames,  copied  verbatim  from 
Mr.  Randall's  original  account  book,  are  conclusive  as  to  this 
point.  The  last  two  items,  it  will  be  observed,  are  first  in  the 
order  of  time  :  — 

May  1804,  Oliver  Ames,  dr.,  for  plank  &  a  hub $1.20 

may  21,  for  bringing  up  Iron  from  Gibsons,  boston      .     .     .  5.00 

Novr.,  for  two  pounds  of  wool .56 

april  17,  1805,  for  Carting  6  Dousin  of  Shovels  to  boston     .  i.oo 

April  28,  1S06,  for  bringing  one  log  from  Jonathan  Howards  2.25 

Oct.,  1806,  for  Carting  iron  &  Ctel  from  boston 4.40 

April  21,  for  Carting  Iron  from  Boston  to  the  tip  Shop     .     .  5.00 

1807,  for  timber  for  2  Scale  beams,  August  ye  12    ....  .62 

Novr.,  1803,  for  father's  Joists .75 

for  sawing  timber .75 

The  shovels  which  Mr.  Ames  made  before  those  carted  in 
April,  1805,  he  probably  took  to  Boston  himself.  He  converted 
the  nailer's  shop  at  the  Shovel-Shop  Pond  dam  into  a  shovel- 
handle  shop,  as  it  is  reported  in  a  subsequent  deed,  indicating 
that  at  that  date  he  manufactured  the  handles  here  also.  In 
1807  he  moved  to  Plymouth,  thinking  the  business  might  be 
more  favorably  conducted  there,  but  he  did  not  give  up  his  enter- 
prise at  Easton  ;  it  seems  to  have  been  managed  during  part  of 
the  time  of  his  absence  by  Asa  Waters.    Either  at  the  Hoe  Shop, 


INDUSTRIES  AFTER  1800. 


595 


or  at  the  place  where  he  began,  he  was,  even  when  absent  at  Ply- 
mouth, interested  in  the  manufacture  of  hoes,  and  in  the  space  of 
three  months  in  1808  sent  about  eight  hundred  to  Boston.  In 
1 814  he  returned  from  Plymouth,  and  for  a  year  was  in  partnership 
with  the  firm  name  of  Ames,  Waters,  &  Co.  This  partnership 
was  probably  concerned  only  with  the  Hoe  Shop  business,  and 
lasted  but  one  year.  Mr.  Ames  by  various  purchases  added 
largely  to  his  ownership  of  real  estate,  buying  in  1813  the  land 
on  which  the  office  and  his  house  are  situated.  His  business 
increased,  but  it  had  its  vicissitudes  ;  and  there  was  a  period 
when  only  his  known  business  character  and  ability  saved  him 
from  complete  financial  disaster.  Gradually,  however,  he  was 
relieved  from  embarrassment,  and  his  business  became  a  marked 
success. 

In  1844  he  gave  his  property  to  his  sons  Oakes  and  Oliver, 
reserving  a  life  interest  in  it  and  one  third  of  the  profits  of 
the  business.  It  was  then  that  the  firm  of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons 
was  formed.  In  1863  Oliver  Ames,  Sr.,  died,  and  his  one  third 
interest  was  divided  between  F.  L.  Ames,  Oakes  A.  Ames,  and 
Oliver  Ames,  2d,  they  being  then  taken  into  the  firm.  In  1876 
the  firm  reorganized  as  a  corporation,  with  the  name  of  the 
Oliver  Ames  &  Sons  Corporation. 

Prior  to  1852  the  business  was  carried  on  mainly  in  the  shops 
at  the  lower  end  of  Shovel-Shop  Pond.  March  2  of  that  year 
the  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire.  Immediately  the  firm 
sent  into  neighboring  towns  and  collected  a  large  number  of  car- 
penters, and  in  three  weeks  had  temporary  shops  erected  and 
work  begun.  These  temporary  shops  were  constructed  with 
reference  to  being  divided  and  made  into  dwelling-houses. 
Several  of  the  tenement  houses  on  the  "  Island "  were  made 
from  these  works,  and  in  the  following  winter  of  185 2-1 85 3  the 
two  houses  now  standing  on  the  north  side  of  Oliver  Street,  east 
of  the  railroad,  were  moved  across  the  pond  on  the  ice  from  the 
Shovel-Shop  Pond  dam.  In  1852,  soon  after  the  temporary 
works  were  occupied,  the  Long  Shop  was  built,  which  is  five 
hundred  and  thirty  feet  long,  two  stories  high,  and  made  of 
stone.  The  large  wing  now  known  as  the  Machine  Shop  was 
put  up  in  1857,  the  wooden  factory  building  having  been  bought 
of  Oakes  Ames  by  the  Company,  and  moved  to  the  north  side 


596  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

of  Oliver  Street  west  of  the  track,  and  made  into  the  two  houses 
now  standing  there.  Other  shovel  shops  were  added  as  need 
occurred.  The  Red  Factory  privilege  was  bought  of  Elijah 
Howard  by  the  Company  in    185 1. 

In  order  to  provide  for  a  larger  storage  of  water  for  manufac- 
turing purposes  the  owners  of  the  various  privileges  on  Queset 
River,  both  in  Easton  and  farther  down  the  stream,  united  as 
early  as  May,  1825,  and  greatly  enlarged  the  dam  at  the  foot 
of  what  was  afterward,  more  appropriately  than  before,  called 
Long  Pond.  The  original  dam  there  was  built  in  1763  by 
Stoughton  parties,  to  flow  the  meadows  above.  The  Hammer 
Shop  at  this  dam  was  built  soon  after  the  dam  was  finished. 
The  other  reservoir,  called  Fly-away  Pond,  was  made  in  1845, 
The  Trip-hammer  Shop  was  built  in  1853,  the  Antrim  Shop  in 
1865,  the  Handle  Shop  in  1866,  and  the  New  Shop  east  of  the 
Long  Shop  in  1870.  Besides  these  numerous  buildings  in  North 
Easton,  the  Ames  Corporation  have  other  shops  in  Canton,  West 
Bridgewater,  and  South  Braintree.  If  all  the  stone  shops  in 
use  by  the  Corporation  were  placed  end  to  end,  they  would 
reach  about  twenty-five  hundred  feet,  or  nearly  half  a  mile.  The 
view  of  the  Shovel  Shops  here  presented  is  perhaps  as  good  a 
general  view  as  can  be  taken.  The  point  of  view  is  the  railroad 
track  south  of  the  bridge,  under  which  runs  the  street.  About 
five  hundred  employees  work  for  the  Corporation.  They  manu- 
facture from  110,000  to  125,000  dozens  of  shovels  a  year.  Tak- 
ing the  average  of  these  figures,  117,500  dozens,  it  makes  the 
almost  incredible  number  of  1,410,000  shovels  a  year,  or  27,115 
a  week,  4,519  a  day,  and  over  451  each  working  hour.  From 
1,200  to  1,500  tons  of  Swedish  iron,  and  from  1,200  to  1,400  tons 
of  steel  are  annually  used  in  this  manufacture. 

The  Ames  Company's  vast  interests  at  North  Easton,  the 
large  number  of  hands  employed,  and  of  shovels  manufactured 
and  shipped  away,  the  care  of  machinery,  buildings,  tenements, 
etc.,  require  careful  and  diligent  oversight.  This  responsibility 
rests  upon  Oakes  A.  Ames,  the  authorized  superintendent. 
Having  perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  details  of  the  manufacture, 
being  shrewd,  conservative,  sound  in  judgment,  and  what  is 
especially  important,  being  a  man  whose  conduct  and  character 
command  respect,  he  is  remarkably  well  fitted  for  his  position, 


INDUSTRIES   AFTER   1800. 


597 


to  which  he  gives  very  close  application ;  he  is  one  of  the  super- 
intendents who  superintends. 

What  is  called  the  Red  Factory  privilege  is  at  the  foot  of 
Stone's  Pond,  near  F.  L.  Ames's  farm-house.  There,  as  narrated 
already,  the  forge  business  was  begun  about  1720.  Late  in  the 
century  a  grist-mill  had  been  added.  After  passing  through 
the  hands  of  Jacob  and  Isaac  Leonard  it  became  the  property 
of  Giles  Leach  and  Timothy  Mitchell  in  1802,  and  February  15, 
1805,  Mitchell  became  sole  owner.  Several  years  afterward  it 
became  the  property  of  Elijah  Howard  &  Co.  This  Com- 
pany began  here  the  cut-nail  business  about  1808,  and  contin- 
ued it  four  years,  when  they  moved  their  nail  machines  to  the 
Green.  December  13,  18 14,  they  sold  a  part  interest  in  this 
privilege  to  William  G.  Andrews,  and  the  firm  of  William  G. 
Andrews  &  Co.  began  at  once  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarn, 
and  at  a  later  date  of  cotton  sheeting,  which  they  continued 
to  make  until  Mr.  Andrews  died,  in  1828.  Gurdon  Stone  & 
Co.  succeeded  this  firm  for  two  years,  and  the  business  then 
became  known  as  the  Federal  Cotton  Factory,  being  owned 
and  managed  by  Elijah  Howard  &  Co.  and  Gurdon  Stone.  In 
1837  Jason  G.  Howard  bought  out  Mr.  Stone.  In  1839  nine 
tack-machines  were  put  in,  and  the"  manufacture  of  tacks  was 
begun.  E.  J.  W.  Morse  about  1840  to  1850  rented  a  part  of 
the  factory  and  manufactured  knitting  cotton,  Timothy  Kaley 
being  the  superintendent.  Mr.  Morse  had  also  a  cotton-picker 
there. 

Except  the  tack  business,  which  was  very  profitable,  the 
various  enterprises  of  Elijah  Howard  &  Co.  in  Easton  were 
not  prosperous.  Mr.  Howard  in  a  review  of  the  whole  subject 
wrote :  "  So  far  as  manufacturing  cotton  has  been  carried  on  by 
the  Company,  they  have  in  every  instance  lost  money  by  it,  and 
in  some  cases  to  the  extent  of  thousands  of  dollars."  Their 
business  at  Braintree  proved  very  remunerative,  and  alone  saved 
the  Company  from  ruin.  In  1851  the  Company  had  lost  two  of 
its  members  by  death,  —  Joseph  Hay  ward  in  1843,  and  Roland 
Howard  later,  which  left  Elijah  Howard  as  principal  owner. 
He  sold  the  Red  Factory  privilege  in  185 1  to  Oakes  and  Oliver 
Ames,  who  have  used  it  for  various  purposes  connected  with 
the  shovel  business,  latterly  for  the  grinding  of  shovels.     When 


598  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

there  is  water-power  to  spare  at  this  privilege  it  is  used  for 
running  the  stone-crusher  owned  by  the  town. 

The  industry  of  next  importance  in  town  to  the  shovel  business 
is  the  manufacture  of  hinges  by  E.  W.  Gilmore.  In  1854  the 
firm  of  E.  W.  Gilmore  &  Co.,  the  other  partners  being  Oakes 
Ames  and  Oliver  Ames,  began  in  a  small  way  the  manufacture 
of  strap-  and  T-hinges,  ship-scrapers,  wrought  iron-washers,  and 
other  articles.  This  business  was  started  in  the  building  at  the 
Shovel-Shop  Pond  dam  formerly  used  by  the  Ames  Company  for 
the  manufacture  of  shovels.  In  1871  E.  W.  Gilmore  bought  out 
the  Ames  interest  in  the  business  first  named  ;  he  then  built  the 
large  works  which  he  now  occupies,  and  moved  into  them  in  Jan- 
uary, 1872.  His  power  is  furnished  by  a  sixty  horse-power  Cor- 
liss engine.  Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  practical  and  ingenious  machinist, 
and  from  time  to  time  has  invented  and  introduced  important  im- 
provements in  the  way  of  machinery  and  labor-saving  processes. 
By  this  means,  by  hard  work  of  brain  and  hand,  and  by  excellent 
business  ability,  he  has  achieved  success.  When  full  of  work  he 
employs  about  seventy-five  men  and  boys,  making  about  fifteen 
thousand  strap-  and  T-hinges  per  day,  besides  other  articles. 
In  1884  Mr.  Gilmore  added  another  industry  to  his  business, 
that  of  making  wire  picture-cord.  A  view  of  the  Hinge  Factory 
is  here  given. 

In  1 85 1  there  was  organized  in  North  Easton  the  firm  of 
A.  A.  Gilmore  &  Co.,  the  other  members  of  the  firm  being 
Elisha  T.  Andrews  and  Oakes  A.  Ames.  They  manufactured 
fine  calf-skin  boots  in  a  building  owned  by  Cyrus  Lothrop. 
Oakes  Ames  succeeded  to  the  interest  first  owned  by  Oakes 
A.  Ames.  In  1870,  Messrs  Gilmore  and  Andrews  bought  out 
Oakes  Ames.  This  firm,  which  for  some  time  did  quite  an  ex- 
tensive business,  gave  up  the  manufacture  of  boots  in  1879;  but 
the  firm  did  not  dissolve  until  death  broke  up  the  long  partner- 
ship, Mr.  Andrews  dying  in  1883. 

In  1855  William  Andrews  built  vi'hat  is  known  as  the  Brett 
Shop  (now  Middleton's  Market),  and  went  into  the  business  of 
shoe-manufacturing  with  Ward  L.  Foster ;  but  the  business 
crisis  of  1857  made  this  attempt  a  failure.  The  firm  of  Pratt, 
Foster,  &  Co.  manufactured  for  a  time  in  the  same  building. 
In  1863  George  Brett  made  ladies'  shoes   in  this  building  for 


^,'-^,  ^*^ 


INDUSTRIES  AFTER  1800.  599 


E.  H.  Johnson,  of  Lynn.  In  1855  he  went  into  business  in 
the  same  place  for  himself,  and  continued  in  it  for  ten  years, 
when  it  closed. 

Captain  John  A.  Lynch  once  carried  on  the  shoe  business  in 
the  village,  as  also  did  John  Bailey. 

In  1865  John  B.  King,  with  P.  A.  Gififord  as  partner,  began 
to  make  boots  and  shoes.  In  1871  Mr.  King  bought  out  his 
partner's  interest,  and  has  conducted  a  successful  business  ever 
since.  He  now  employs  about  fifty  hands  in  his  work ;  his 
goods  go  chiefly  west  and  northwest. 

The  mill  on  the  north  road  to  Brockton  has  never  been  an 
important  enterprise,  the  water-supply  being  inadequate.  It  is 
probable  that  the  supply  was  larger  here  and  in  other  localities 
in  town  a  century  and  a  half  ago.  As  stated  already,  this  mill 
was  sold  by  the  heirs  of  Samuel  Stone  in  1776  to  George  Monk, 
then  of  Stoughton,  but  living  near  the  mill.  July  30,  1812,  Mr. 
Monk  sold  the  mill  and  privilege  to  Edward  Capen,  it  being  then 
"  an  old  corn-mill."  Mr.  Capen  carried  it  on  as  a  grist-mill,  and 
in  1829  he  sold  it  to  Merrit  and  Francis  French.  For  two  years 
it  was  regarded  as  too  insignificant  a  piece  of  property  even  to 
be  taxed.  It  was  then  repaired  and  set  to  work  again.  The 
mill  is  now  the  property  of  Simeon  French,  and  is  at  present 
(1886)  the  tenement  of  a  solitary  resident. 

At  the  so-called  Marshall  place  on  the  Quaker  Leonard  road 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  2d,  owned  a  forge  and  steel  furnace  in  1800. 
The  first  steel  furnace  was  erected  at  the  beginning  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary War  ;  and  Jonathan  Leonard,  son  of  Eliphalet,  had 
built  a  second  at  this  place  in  1787,  and  he  was  living  there  at 
this  time.  The  old  Leonard  house  was  just  west  of  where  the 
Box  Factory  now  stands,  and  had  an  immense  central  chimney. 
This  whole  property,  March  i,  1804,  was  deeded  to  Jonathan, 
though  the  latter  then  lived  in  Canton.  In  1808  he  built  another 
furnace  in  the  same  place  capable  of  making  at  first  ten,  and 
then  twenty,  tons  of  steel  at  a  batch.  Here  for  a  time  was  also 
operated  a  machine  for  breaking  flax.  Jonathan  Leonard  re- 
tained the  ownership  of  this  place  until  nearly  1827,  when  it 
passed  into  the  possession  of  Amos  Binney,  of  Boston.  But 
prior  to  this  a  great  excitement  was  made  by  the  supposed  dis- 
covery of  lead-ore  at  this  place.     A  company  was  organized,  and 


600  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

in  1824  mining  was  begun.  A  large  amount  of  capital  was  sunk, 
one  or  two  lives  lost,  and  nothing  was  left  to  show  for  it  at  last 
but  a  dismal  hole  in  the  ground.  February  8,  1825,  Joel  White 
was  injured  by  a  premature  explosion  here,  and  lived  but  ten 
days  afterward. 

About  1833  this  old  Leonard  place  became  the  property  of 
Calvin  Marshall,  and  he  soon  sold  the  right  of  the  mill-privilege 
to  Jeremiah  Kelley  and  Samuel  B.  King,  who  built  a  stone  fac- 
tory here,  intending  to  manufacture  cotton  batting.  They  put 
in  two  machines  and  began  work,  but  soon  became  financially 
embarrassed  and  were  unable  to  carry  on  the  business.  Not 
long  afterward  Nathaniel  Hayward,  assisted  by  his  brother,  man- 
ufactured in  this  building  rubber  sheeting,  which  was  made  up 
into  ladies'  rubber  aprons  by  women  who  worked  in  a  shop  on 
the  east  side  of  Washington  Street,  not  far  above  the  church. 
This  manufacture  also  was  not  long  continued ;  and  then  the 
mill  fell  into  disuse,  suffering  meantime  from  the  depredations  of 
boys,  who  smashed  the  windows  and  did  what  damage  they 
could.  Not  far  from  i860  William  Morse  obtained  possession  of 
the  property,  and  Isaac  Merritt  began  in  it  a  box-factory.  There 
was  soon  some  disagreement  with  Mr.  Marshall,  leading  to  long 
and  costly  lawsuits,  which  ended  by  Mr.  Marshall  buying  the 
building  of  Mr.  Morse.  He  put  a  new  wheel  into  it,  and  it  has 
since  been  run  as  a  box-factory.  Near  it  are  now  the  commodi- 
ous ice-houses  of  the  Brockton  Ice  Company,  who  do  an  exten- 
sive business. 

At  South  Easton,  Samuel  Simpson,  February  4,  1828,  began 
the  business  of  blacksmithing,  and  continued  working  at  it  until 
age  and  failing  strength  obliged  him  to  desist.  The  wheel- 
wright business  was  added  in  1852,  and  the  painting  and  trim- 
ming business  in  i88r.  In  1884  the  business  firm  was  reorgan- 
ized under  the  name  of  S.  D.  Simpson  &  Sons. 

Simpson's  Spring  has  already  been  spoken  of.  Though  the 
water  of  this  spring  had  long  been  known  to  be  especially  good,  it 
was  not  until  1878  that  it  was  analyzed  and  became  an  article  of 
sale.  Since  that  time  there  has  been  an  increasing  demand  for 
it,  the  water  being  sold  all  over  the  country,  and  even  sent  to 
South  America.  Considerable  business  is  done  in  bottling  and 
carbonizing  this   water,  which   being  flavored   in   various   ways 


INDUSTRIES   AFTER   1800.  6oi 

makes  a  pleasant  and  wholesome  beverage.  The  proprietor  of 
this  growing  business  is  Samuel  D.  Simpson. 

As  early  as  1830  four  Hay  ward  brothers  —  Nathaniel,  Daniel, 
Albert,  and  Charles  —  began  the  wheelwright  business  in  the 
old  shop  now  standing  on  Poquanticut  Avenue,  south  of  the 
intersection  of  Beaver  Street,  Within  five  or  six  years  of  that 
time  Daniel  and  Nathaniel,  who  were  interested  in  trying  to 
make  improvements  in  the  manufacture  of  rubber  goods,  left 
the  business.  Subsequently  Charles  also  gave  up  his  interest 
in  it,  and  it  was  conducted  alone  by  Albert  until  1872,  when  he 
took  his  son,  Albert  M.  Hay  ward,  into  partnership.  In  1882 
the  latter  bought  out  his  father's  interest,  and  still  continues  the 
business.  In  the  spring  of  1886  he  moved  his  factory  to  the 
Furnace  Village,  placing  it  on  the  corner  opposite  Joel  S.  Drake's 
old  store  stand. 

Daniel  Hayward,  after  leaving  the  partnership  as  above  said, 
built  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  carriages.  The  canvas  for 
them  was  prepared  by  a  process  of  his  own  invention,  being 
made  with  what  he  called  friction  cement.  He  continued  this 
business  until  about  1850,  without,  however,  making  it  a  success. 
He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  rubber  manufacture,  and  experi- 
mented a  good  deal  with  it,  showing  remarkable  intelligence, 
perseverance,  and  inventive  genius.  He  was  the  first  person 
to  make  a  success  of  the  glazed  rubber  cloth.  He  went  into 
partnership  with  Dr.  Hartshorn,  of  Providence, — the  latter  fur- 
nishing the  money  for  the  business,  the  former  supplying  what 
is  scarcer  than  money;  that  is,  brains.  This  was  about  1853. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  entertaining  the  idea  of  putting 
up  large  rubber  works  in  Easton,  locating  them  south  of  Tisdale 
Harlow's.  His  brother  Nathaniel  was  in  the  rubber  business 
also,  finally  settling  in  Colchester,  Connecticut,  making  consider- 
able money.  Daniel  was  with  him  there  for  a  short  time.  The 
Hayward  Rubber  Company,  at  present  a  great  success,  was  an 
outgrowth  of  the  perseverance,  inventiveness,  and  enterprise  of 
these  Easton  Haywards. 

About  twenty-five  years  ago  Jephtha  Buck  built  a  small  grist- 
mill at  the  southeast  end  of  the  little  pond  near  the  intersection 
of  Rockland  and  Mill  streets.  It  had  in  it  a  saw  for  cutting 
wood.     It  has  been  occasionally  used  by  Mr.  Buck  until  recently. 


602  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Cider  was  sometimes  made  there.  It  is  now  occupied  by  El- 
bridge  Williams,  who  manufactures  baskets  in  it. 

The  great  gale  of  September  8,  1869,  levelled  to  the  ground 
many  acres  of  forest  in  Easton.  More  than  twenty-five  acres  of 
some  of  Edward  R.  Hayward's  largest  timber  in  the  swamp 
south  of  his  residence  thus  suffered.  Mr.  Hayward  immedi- 
ately decided  to  erect  a  steam  saw-mill  at  this  locality, — the 
only  steam  saw-mill  in  town,  and  the  largest  one  in  the  vicinity. 
He  put  in  a  thirty-five  horse-power  engine,  with  a  fifty  horse- 
power tubular  boiler,  and  provided  a  large  circular-saw  for  saw- 
ing long  timber.  He  runs  also  a  circular-saw  for  sawing  wood, 
slabs,  and  the  like. 

This  mill  was  in  operation  before  the  close  of  the  year  1869, 
and  in  twelve  months  thereafter  it  had  sawed  out  more  than  one 
million  three  hundred  thousand  feet  of  lumber.  Mr.  Hayward 
sometimes  markets  more  than  one  thousand  cords  of  wood  a 
y'ear,  and  gets  out  a  large  quantity  of  posts  and  rails  for  fencing. 
He  also  gets  out  ties  for  the  Old  Colony  Railroad.  This  Rail- 
road Company  has  built  for  him  at  its  own  expense  a  private 
track. 

Mr.  Hayward  also  runs  a  large  farm,  paying  considerable 
attention  to  the  cultivation  of  hops  ;  he  has  a  building  on  his 
premises  for  curing,  drying,  and  bailing  hops  for  the  market. 

An  excellent  example  of  success  in  farming  in  Easton  has 
been  given  by  Mr.  James  Rankin.  He  has  also  invented  an 
incubator  which  is  rapidly  displacing  other  incubators  in  the 
market,  and  the  business  of  manufacturing  them  is  steadily  in- 
creasing. At  the  request  of  the  writer  Mr.  Rankin  has  pre- 
pared a  statement  descriptive  of  his  business  experience  in  town, 
and  it  is  here  given  in  his  own  words  :  — 

"In  April,  1874,  I  bought  a  farm  in  Easton  known  as  the  Deacon 
Reed  farm,  and  moved  on  in  September  of  the  same  year.  I  found 
it  very  much  run  down,  keeping  with  difficulty  three  or  four  cows  and 
a  horse.  The  buildings  also,  both  house  and  barns,  were  in  a  very 
bad  condition.  I  repaired  the  house,  built  a  new  barn,  and  started  in 
confidently.  I  had  bought  the  place  for  its  possibilities,  it  being  a 
fine  plot  of  loamy  land,  free  from  stone  and  sloping  gently  to  the  south- 
east. By  utilizing  all  the  fertilizers  at  my  command  with  scrupulous 
care  in  composting  them,  also  by  the  judicious  application  of  ground 


INDUSTRIES   AFTER   1800.  603 

bone,  some  three  or  four  tons  each  year,  with  the  component  parts  of 
potash  and  nitrogenous  salts,  the  farm  cut  more  than  sixty  tons  of  hay 
and  easily  kept  twenty-five  head  of  cattle  with  provender  to  spare. 

"  Previous  to  locating  in  Easton  I  had  been  growing  poultry  on 
a  large  scale,  and  found  it  by  far  the  most  profitable  part  of  farm  in- 
dustry. I  had  also  been  experimenting  somewhat  with  incubators,  and 
became  convinced  that  if  the  artificial  system  could  be  made  a  success 
it  would  greatly  enhance  the  profits  of  the  business.  In  1879  I  con- 
structed a  machine  with  a  hot  water  circulation  and  an  automatic  reg- 
ulation, relying  upon  the  expansive  and  contractive  force  of  the  water 
in  the  tank  to  regulate  the  heat  in  the  egg  chamber,  —  thus  making 
the  very  principle  which  generated  the  superfluous  heat  provide  for  its 
own  escape.  The  thing  worked  admirably,  and  I  was  enabled  to  dis- 
continue the  use  of  hens  entirely  for  purposes  of  incubation.  Others 
wished  me  to  construct  machines  for  them.  The  demand  for  them 
became  so  great  that  I  eventually  patented  it,  put  it  out  in  public 
competition  with  all  other  machines  whenever  opportunity  offered,  in- 
variably winning  by  its  meritorious  work  all  honors  and  the  first  pre- 
miums over  all  the  first  class  machines  in  the  country.  The  past 
winter  we  employed  some  fifteen  or  sixteen  hands  in  the  manufacture 
of  incubators,  and  could  hardly  fill  the  orders  we  received." 

There  are  a  number  of  cranberry  meadows  in  Easton.  The 
names  Cranberry  Meadov\^  and  Little  Cranberry  Meadow  were 
given  to  localities  in  Easton  already  spoken  of,  which  proves 
that  our  early  settlers  found  cranberries  growing  here.  They 
are  now  carefully  cultivated  in  several  places  in  town.  Avery 
Stone  and  Levi  C.  Fitton  have  meadows  northwest  of  their 
homes.  Samuel  K.  Kelley,  who  has  for  some  years  culti- 
vated them  east  of  the  Bay  road  in  Stoughton,  has  lately,  in 
company  with  Edward  R.  Hayward,  prepared  and  planted  some 
fine  meadows  in  the  valley  of  the  Whitman  Brook  west  of  the 
railroad,  near  the  town  line.  They  are  already  yielding  a  crop. 
Oliver  A.  Day  is  also  engaging  in  the  same  industry  just  below 
Kelley  and  Hayward's  meadows.  Other  persons  have  small 
cranberry  meadows  in  town.  The  swampy  lands  and  numerous 
small  watercourses  of  Easton  offer  favorable  opportunities  for 
this  important  business. 

For  many  years  William  King,  in  a  small  building  west  of  his 
dwelling-house,  has  manufactured  awls,  and  has  added  to  this 


604  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

business  the  making  of  various  kinds  of  cement  and  some  other 
goods. 

In  1880  at  Easton  Centre,  in  a  building  that  was  once  the  old 
Chapel  and  subsequently  a  coffin  manufactory,  Reed  &  Lincoln 
began  the  manufacture  of  a  variety  of  shoes.  There  has  been 
an  addition  made  to  the  building,  and  the  industry  is  now  carried 
on  by  Lackey  &  Davie,  who  employ  about  twenty-four  hands 
and  are  doing  an  increasing  business. 

In  the  fall  of  1880  D.  H.  Packard  began  the  manufacture  of 
shoes  in  North  Easton  but  soon  gave  up  the  business. 

In  March,  1880,  A.  J.  Leavitt  established  a  business  which 
goes  under  the  name  of  the  New  England  Specialty  Company. 
He  manufactures  a  large  variety  of  such  articles  as  screw- 
drivers, can-openers,  sewing-machine  trimmings,  steel-keys,  etc. 
His  shop  is  the  former  hinge-factory  of  E.  W.  Gilmore  east  of 
Shovel-Shop  Pond. 

In  March,  1883,  W.  B.  Drew  and  J.  W.  Keith  formed  a  co- 
partnership for  the  manufacture  of  boot  and  shoe  heels.  In 
October,  1884,  they  erected  a  building  just  north  of  the  No.  8 
schoolhouse  on  Washington  Street,  and  have  since  done  a 
thriving  business,  employing  about  twelve  workmen. 

In  January,  1885,  the  Howard  Shoe  Company  began  business 
in  White's  Village.  Its  members  are  J.  M.  Howard,  J.  E.  How- 
ard, and  M.  H.  Willis.  This  Company  has  been  doing  business 
on  a  small  scale  for  a  year,  but  has  just  erected  a  building  sixty 
by  twenty-two  feet,  where  they  will  employ  more  hands  and  in- 
crease the  amount  of  goods  manufactured. 

December  22,  1885,  Walter  Hill,  of  Easton,  patented  a  cart- 
ridge-loading machine,  which  is  named  the  Acme  Cartridge 
Loader.  It  is  a  very  ingenious  but  also  a  simple  contrivance  by 
means  of  which,  though  working  by  hand,  one  person  can  load 
two  hundred  cartridges  in  an  hour.  It  is  thus  described  by  Mr. 
Hill :  — 

"  The  machine  consists  of  a  powder  and  shot  reservoir,  also  a  recep- 
tacle for  supplying  wads,  which  are  fed  and  driven  automatically  by 
the  use  of  a  lever.  It  is  so  constructed  that  by  the  simple  turn  of 
a  thumb-screw  any  desired  charge  can  be  used.  Sufficient  powder, 
shot,  and  wads  for  the  loading  of  one  hundred  shells  can  be  placed 
in  the  receiver.     A  glass  is  placed  in  front  of  each  receiver,  so  that 


I 


INDUSTRIES   AFTER   1800. 


605 


at  any  time  the  amount  of  powder  and  shot  in  them  can  be  seen. 
The  shell  is  placed  in  a  brass  sleeve,  and  with  one  motion  of  the 
hand  it  is  placed  in  position  ready  for  the  charge.  Three  quick 
motions  of  the  lever,  and  the  shell  is  loaded ;  one  motion  of  the 
hand  tips  back  the  sleeve  containing  the  cartridge  and  puts  it  in 
position  to  be  crimped  ;  two  turns  of  the  crimper,  and  the  cartridge 
is  ready  for  use." 

These  machines  are  at  present  manufactured  at  Drake's 
foundry  and  machine  works. 

In  September,  1886,  there  M^as  organized  in  North  Easton  vil- 
lage a  corporation  under  the  title  of  the  North  Easton  Boot  & 
Shoe  Manufacturing  Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  not  less 
than  thirteen  thousand  dollars.  The  corporation  was  formed, 
not  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  boots  and  shoes,  but  in 
order  to  provide  a  building  where  such  manufacturing  could  be 
done,  —  this  building  being  specially  designed  for  D.  B.  Closson 
&  Company,  shoe  manufacturers,  previously  located  at  Brock- 
ton, Mr.  Closson's  partner  being  N.  S.  Gould.  Mr.  Closson  is 
well  known  in  North  Easton,  having  for  a  short  time  carried 
on  the  shoe  business  here.  The  corporation  chose  for  directors 
Josiah  Goward,  Henry  Carr,  Hiram  Williams,  L.  L.  Berry,  and 
P.  A,  Gilford.  Mr.  Goward  was  elected  president,  E.  B.  Hay- 
ward  secretary,  and  Mr.  Gifford  treasurer. 

A  lot  of  land  on  Mechanic  Street  a  few  rods  east  of  the  rail- 
road was  purchased  ;  the  first  spadeful  of  earth  was  removed 
October  7,  and  on  the  14th  the  first  stone  of  the  foundation  was 
laid.  The  building  is  expected  to  be  ready  for  occupancy  in 
the  coming  winter  of  1 886-1 887.  Its  dimensions  are  to  be  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  and  thirty-five  feet  high,  with  two 
projections.  The  front  projection  will  be  fifty-four  by  thirty-two 
feet,  and  the  boiler-house  thirty-three  by  thirty-two  feet  It  will 
be  four  stories  high. 

It  is  hardly  desirable  to  go  into  further  and  more  minute 
details  in  regard  to  the  business  interests  of  Easton.  The  town 
has  its  carpenters,  masons,  painters,  and  paper-hangers,  market- 
men,  butchers,  milliners,  tin-men,  tailors,  cobblers,  livery-stable 
keepers,  druggists,  store-keepers,  etc.,  like  other  towns ;  but 
they  would  be  more  properly  specified  in  a  town  business 
directory. 


6o6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

BANKS    AND  ORGANIZED  SOCIETIES. 

The  First  National  Bank,  —  The  North  Easton  Savings  Bank. — 
Military  Bands  of  Easton.  —  Paul  Dean  Lodge  of  Freema- 
sons. —  MizPAH  Chapter,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  —  A.  B. 
Randall  Post,  G.  A.  R.  No.  52.  —  The  Good  Templars. —  Sons 
of  Temperance.  —  The  Roman  Catholic  Lyceum.  —  The  Knights 
OF  Honor.  —  The  Royal  Arcanum.  — ■  The  Queset  Club.  —  The 
North  Easton  Athletic  Club.  —  The  Knights  of  Labor. 

BANKS. 

THE  First  National  Bank  of  Easton  was  organized  in  March, 
1864,  and  opened  for  business  on  the  ist  of  July  fol- 
lowing. Its  first  board  of  ofificers  was  as  follows :  President, 
John  H.  Swain  ;  Cashier,  Pardon  A.  Gifford ;  Directors,  Oliver 
Ames,  Reuben  Header,  John  H.  Swain,  E.  W.  Gilmore,  Oakes 
A.  Ames,  and  Frederick  L.  Ames.  Mr.  Swain  held  the  office  of 
president  for  three  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Oliver  Ames  in 
January,  1867,  who  filled  the  position  until  his  death  in  March, 
1877.  Frederick  L,  Ames  was  then  elected  president,  and  still 
retains  the  position.  The  death  of  Oliver  Ames  made  a  vacancy 
in  the  board  of  directors,  and  this  was  filled  by  the  election  of 
Oliver  Ames,  the  son  of  Oakes.  George  Barrows  succeeded 
Reuben  Header  in  1880,  on  the  same  board. 

The  capital  stock  of  this  bank  when  it  organized  in  1864  was 
^100,000  ;  and  twice  in  that  year  it  was  voted  to  increase  it  by 
the  addition  of  ^100,000  more,  —  making  a  total  of  1^300,000, 
which  is  the  amount  at  this  date  (August,  1886).  The  surplus 
earnings  are  over  ^100,000.  This  bank  has  been  very  successful 
from  the  start.     Pardon  A.  Gifford  still  remains  cashier. 

The  North  Easton  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  February 
2,  1864,  on  petition  of  Oliver  Ames,  A.  A.  Gilmore,  and  John 
H.  Swain.  It  was  approved  by  the  Governor,  February  8.  The 
original  petitioners   associated  with  themselves  P.  A.  Gifford, 


BANKS   AND   ORGANIZED   SOCIETIES.  607 


Oakes  Ames,  C.  C.  Hussey,  Cyrus  Lothrop,  Henry  W.  French, 
Oakes  A.  Ames,  Horace  M.  Pool,  Daniel  Belcher,  Edward  N. 
Morse,  and  Thomas  H.  Dean  as  members  of  the  corporation, 
which  organized  in  August,  1864,  by  the  choice  of  the  following 
officers  :  President,  A.  A.  Gilmore  ;  Vice-Presidents,  J.  H.  Swain, 
George  W.  Kennedy,  F.  L.  Ames  ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  P. 

A.  Gifford  ;  trustees,  Oakes  Ames,  Reuben  Meader,  Henry  J. 
Fuller,  John  Kimball,  Lincoln  Drake,  Oliver  Ames,  Oliver 
Ames,  2d,  Henry  McArdle,  E.  W.  Gilmore,  Thomas  H.  Dean, 
T.  M.  Porter,  and  Joseph  Barrows.  Only  three  of  the  original 
trustees  remain,  except  the  officers,  who  also  act  in  that  capa- 
city. The  vacancies  have  been  filled,  and  four  additional  trus- 
tees are  added  to  the  board.  The  Savings  Bank  opened  for 
business  in  October,  1864. 

In  January,  1867,  F.  L.  Ames  was  chosen  president,  A.  A. 
Gilmore  having  declined  re-election.  The  bank  has  always  done 
a  good  business.  In  1879  its  deposits  had  reached  the  sum  of 
^320,000.  This  was  at  the  time  of  alarm,  when  there  was  a  great 
run  upon  savings  banks.  The  North  Easton  Savings  Bank  paid 
out  at  that  time  about  ^90,000.  It  did  not  then  ask,  nor  has  it 
ever  asked,  for  a  day's  previous  notice  in  order  to  meet  any  calls 
made  upon  it.  It  does  a  safe  and  prosperous  business,  and  its 
present  deposits  amount  to  about  $480,000.  It  has  considerable 
influence  in  promoting  thrifty  habits  among  the  working  people, 
who  frequently  deposit  portions  of  their  earnings  therein,  and 
who  place  in  its  security  a  confidence  that  is  well  deserved. 

MILITARY    BANDS    OF    EASTON. 

I.  The  first  military  band  of  Easton  was  organized  at  the 
Furnace  Village,  September  8,  1841.  Albert  A.  Rotch  was 
chosen  first  leader,  Daniel  Belcher  second  leader,  and  William 
P.  Howard,  clerk.  The  original  members  were  Albert  A.  Rotch, 
George  L.  Torrey,  Daniel  Belcher,  S.  W.  Morse,  Clifford  Belcher, 

B.  F.  Johnson,  George  Williams,  William  P.  Howard,  Ira  C.  Root, 
Robert  Lunn,  Guilford  White,  Zenas  Packard,  Ezekiel  Dicker- 
man,  Isaiah  Packard,  Abner  Drake,  Jr.,  Charles  Briggs,  and 
Lysander  White.  Others  afterward  joined  at  different  times, 
but  the  above  are  the  names  first  entered  as  members  upon  the 
band-book  of  records.     These  records  were  begun  by  William  P. 


i 


6io 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


The  Lodge  was  named  after  the  Rev.  Paul  Dean,  a  Unitarian 
clergyman,  who  was  settled  over  the  Unitarian  Society  at  Easton 
in  1845,  and  continued  their  pastor  for  five  years.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent Mason,  having  served  in  almost  every  official  position,  being 
grand- master  of  Masons  in  Massachusetts  in  1838,  1839,  ^"<i 
1840.  Paul  Dean  Lodge  first  met  in  the  building  now  occupied 
by  the  post-office,  which  then  stood  on  the  land  now  used  as  the 
schoolhouse  yard.  On  the  ist  of  January,  1868,  they  removed 
to  the  upper  hall  in  E.  P.  Spooner's  building.  The  hall  was  dedi- 
cated and  the  officers  publicly  installed  by  the  officers  of  the 
Grand  Lodge,  March  24,  1868,  the  installation,  however,  occur- 
ring in  the  Methodist  Church.  The  Lodge  occupied  this  hall 
until  the  completion  of  the  Ames  Memorial  Hall,  elegant  apart- 
ments having  been  provided  for  them  in  the  upper  part  of  that 
building,  and  secured  for  fifty  years  at  a  rental  of  one  dollar  per 
year  ;  they  were  dedicated  by  the  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 
November  22,  1881,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  the 
brethren  and  of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  After  the  dedication 
exercises  were  over,  while  sitting  in  the  ante-room,  the  record- 
ing grand-secretary,  Tracy  P.  Cheever,  remarked :  "  My  record 
is  finished  ;  it  will  read  right  a  hundred  years  hence."  Within 
half  an  hour  he  was  taken  suddenly  ill,  and  was  carried  from  the 
hall  in  an  unconscious  state.  He  died  of  apoplexy  about  three 
o'clock  the  following  afternoon,  without  having  recovered  his 
consciousness. 

The  Lodge  has  grown  to  a  membership  of  one  hundred,  and  is 
now  in  a  prosperous  condition.  The  following  brothers  have 
served  as  masters  :  — 


Geo.  B.Cogswell,  1868,  1870. and  1871. 
George  G.  Withington,  1869. 
Lewis  H.  Smith,  1872  and  1873. 
Edward  R.  Hayward,  1874. 
Samuel  K.  Kelley,  1875  and  1876. 


John  H.  Swain,  1877  and  1878. 
J.  D.  Atwood,  1879  and  1880. 
Luther  Sisson,  1881  and  1882. 
George  K.  Davis,  1883. 
L.  B.  Crockett,  1884,  1885,  and  li 


MIZPAH    CHAPTER,    ORDER    OF    THE    EASTERN    STAR. 

The  order  of  which  the  local  organization  known  as  the  Miz- 
pah  Chapter  formed  a  part,  is  an  association  composed  of  the 
wives,  daughters,  mothers,  widows,  and  sisters  of  Master  Masons, 
who  unite  for  purposes  of  friendship,  sympathy,  and  aid,  similar 


BANKS    AND   ORGANIZED    SOCIETIES.  6ll 

to  some  of  the  objects  of  Freemasonry.  This  order  is  not  in 
any  proper  sense  a  branch  of  Masonry,  and  its  members  cannot 
therefore  with  propriety  be  called  Lady-Masons,  as  they  have 
been.  The  presiding  officer,  however,  is  a  Master  Mason. 
Mizpah  Chapter  was  instituted  in  North  Easton,  September, 
1874.     The  first  list  of  officers  was  as  follows:  — 

Mr.  Henry  P.  Waite Worshipful  Patron. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Smith Worshipful  Matron. 

Mrs.  Joan  B.  Waite Assistant  Matron. 

The  second  board  of  officers  was  — 

Mr.  Frank  P.  Keith Worshipful  Patron. 

Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Sisson Worshipful  Matron. 

Mrs.  Nellie  M.  Pinkham       ....     Assistant  Matron. 

The  meetings  of  this  Chapter  were  discontinued  in  December, 
1882. 

A.    B.    RANDALL    POST,    G.  A.  R.,  NO.  52. 

The  A.  B.  Randall  Post  of  Easton  was  organized  at  North 
Easton,  March  9,  1868.  The  charter  members  were  Dr.  George 
B.  Cogswell,  A.  W.  Thompson,  R.  H.  Willis,  N.  H.  Talbot,  John 
A.  Lynch.  William  H.  Willis,  M.  F.  Williams,  William  E.  Bump, 
Jr.,  Charles  S.  Packard,  and  R.  F.  J.  White. 

It  was  styled  A.  B.  Randall  Post,  in  honor  of  the  brave  cap- 
tain of  that  name,  who,  though  serving  on  the  quota  of  Abing- 
ton,  was  born  and  brought  up  in  Easton.  He  enlisted  first  in 
a  nine  months'  regiment,  and  served  out  his  full  time.  After 
being  mustered  out  he  found  that  he  could  not  be  contented  to 
stay  at  home.  He  converted  his  dentist's  office  into  a  recruiting 
station,  and  was  soon  at  the  front  again.  He  received  an  injury 
at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  came  home,  but  was  un- 
willing to  wait  for  perfect  recovery  before  returning  to  duty,  and 
was  soon  participating  in  the  siege  of  Richmond.  Randall  had 
first  enlisted,  a  sergeant,  in  Company  G,  Forty-third  Regiment ; 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  Fifty-sixth 
Regiment,  and  afterward  promoted  captain,  May  17,  1864.  Cap- 
tain Randall  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  attack  on  Petersburg, 
being  shot  in  the  head  by  a  sharpshooter,  surviving  the  wound 


6l2  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

only  five  hours.    He  was  rightly  named  Ansel,  which  means  "  an 
heroic  defender." 

The  Post  had  its  headquarters  at  North  Easton  until  January, 
1878,  at  which  time  the  interest  had  so  declined  that  it  was 
thought  advisable  to  surrender  the  charter.  But  the  suggestion 
was  made  to  establish  its  headquarters  at  South  Easton  in  the 
hope  of  adding  to  its  membership  soldiers  from  the  borders  of 
neighboring  towns  on  the  east.  The  experiment  proved  a  sub- 
stantial success,  for  there  has  been  a  constantly  enlarging  mem- 
bership ever  since,  the  number  at  the  present  time  being  over 
eighty.  White's  Hall  became  the  Post  headquarters,  and  was  so 
used  until  August,  1884,  when  the  building  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  in  which  was  consumed  nearly  the  entire  property  of  the 
organization.  Since  that  time  the  meetings  have  been  held  in 
the  upper  hall  of  Spooner's  building,  at  North  Easton.  Aided  by 
subscriptions  from  non-members,  and  generously  contributing 
themselves,  the  Post  has  just  erected  a  new  hall  at  White's 
Village,  upon  which  there  still  remains  a  considerable  debt, 
which  it  is  hoped  will  be  liquidated  by  further  contributions. 
The  following  is  the  list  of  different  commanders  in  the  order 
of  their  service  :  John  A.  Lynch,  John  W.  Allen,  Thomas  Bean, 
Oliver  H.  Blaisdell,  S.  Herbert  Bates,  Willard  Lothrop,  R.  H. 
Willis,  William  L.  Chaffin,  William  A.  Linehan,  George  A. 
Lackey,  and  Ellis  R.  Holbrook,  the  present  commander. 

The  present  organization  of  the  Post  is  as  follows  :  — 

Commander Ellis  R.  Holbrook. 

Senior-Vice  Cotnmander George  G.  Smith. 

Junior- Vice  Comma7ider Luther  H.  Clark. 

Adjutant John  N.  Lufkin. 

Quartermaster David  Howard. 

Surgeon John  A.  Freese. 

Chaplain Daniel  W.  Burrell. 

Officer  of  the  Day Cyrus  A.  Freeman. 

Officer  of  the  Guard William  Crockett. 

Sergea7it- Major Emory  Packard. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant Charles  S.  Packard. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  present  members  of  the  Post 
in  alphabetical  order  :  — 


BANKS    AND    ORGANIZED    SOCIETIES. 


613 


Willard  Ames. 
Frank  H.  Amsden. 
Ansel  T.  Bartlett. 
Samuel  D.  Bartlett. 
Thomas  Bean. 
Clark  T.  Berry. 
George  N.  Blanchard. 
Luther  Blood. 
William  H.  Bosworth. 
John  Brown. 
Daniel  W.  Burrell. 
Oscar  Calkins. 
Dennis  Callahan. 
James  S.  Card. 
William  L.  Chaffin. 
Luther  H.  Clark. 
William  E.  Cobbett. 
George  B.  Cogswell. 
William  E.  Cole. 
Patrick  Conlan. 
Charles  F.  Cook. 
Thomas  Cox. 
William  Crockett. 
Theodore  Darling. 
Marcus  F.  Delano. 
Thomas  Donahue. 
James  Donovan. 


Patrick  Dorgan. 
George  H.  Drake. 
Lucius  Dunbar. 
Philander  W.  Fecto. 
Peter  Fisher. 
Andrew  H.  Frame. 
Cyrus  A.  Freeman. 
John  A.  Freese. 
Bernard  F.  Galligan. 
Andrew  N.  Grady. 
Linus  E.  Hayward. 
Herbert  A    Hewitt. 
Ellis  R    Holbrook. 
David  Howard. 
William  H.  Jennings. 
James  H.  Keenan. 
William  H.  Keenan. 
George  A.  Lackey. 
Maitland  C.  Lamprey. 
James  K.  Lashure. 
Jacob  Leason. 
Augustus  J.  Leavett. 
William  A.  Linehan. 
Augustus  W.  Lothrop. 
Azel  Lothrop. 
Willard  Lothrop. 
John  N.  Lufkin. 


James  N.  Mackey. 
John  W.  McDonald. 
Thomas  McGrath. 
Charles  H.  McGuire. 
Thomas  Mason. 
Henry  G.  Mitchell. 
Charles  T.  Morse. 
Thomas  Murray. 
Charles  S.  Packard. 
Emory  Packard. 
George  T.  Packard. 
Henry  A.  Phillips. 
William  W.  Prince. 
Simeon  A.  Randall. 
Alfred  A.  Rhodes. 
Charles  E.  Simmons. 
Ansel  Small. 
George  G.  Smith. 
William  B.  Smith. 
John  Sweeney. 
Oliver  Thompson. 
Luther  C.  Turner. 
Clinton  B.  Webster. 
Berlin  White. 
Ezra  G.  Whittemore. 
Munroe  F.  Williams. 
Rufus  H.  Willis. 


Since  the  organization  of  Post  No.  52  it  has  expended  about 
two  thousand  dollars  for  relief  and  charity,  the  recipients  being 
sick  comrades,  or  widows  and  orphans  of  soldiers.  Efforts  to 
increase  its  charity  fund  deserve  the  hearty  support  of  all  our 
townspeople,  and  also  of  the  friends  of  the  members  of  the  Post. 
This  fund  at  present  consists  of  less  than  three  hundred  dollars, 
and  it  is  steadily  decreasing,  as  there  are  more  calls  than  usual 
upon  it  at  the  present  writing. 

From  the  date  of  its  organization  in  1868,  A.B.Randall  Post 
has  faithfully  observed  Memorial  Day.  Its  members,  either  in  a 
body  or  by  special  detachments,  have  strewn  the  graves  of  their 
fallen  comrades  with  flowers,  placed  a  flag  over  each,  and  some- 
times in  the  larger  cemeteries  have  held  appropriate  services. 
Since  the  erection  of  the  soldiers'  monument,  however,  the  graves 
are  decorated  without  religious  services,  and  a  single  service  is 
celebrated  at  the  monument,  there  being  at  that  place  a  prayer, 


6l4  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

addresses,  an  oration,  and  music.  The  floral  and  flag  decora- 
tions are  not  restricted  to  the  graves  of  those  who  served  in  the 
Rebellion  ;  the  graves  of  those  who  fought  for  their  country  in 
other  wars  are  also  remembered.  This  is  especially  appropriate 
in  the  case  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Perry,  who  died  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War,  and  also  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes  ;  but  it 
does  not  seem  so  fitting  for  the  Easton  soldiers  in  the  War  of 
1812,  since  scarcely  one  of  them  saw  any  active  service,  their 
military  experience  being  confined  to  a  few  weeks  of  guard  duty 
with  no  Redcoat  in  sight.  Moreover,  this  decoration  has  been 
limited  to  a  few  graves  of  those  soldiers,  while  there  are  many 
other  graves  equally  entitled  to  this  notice.  It  would  be  better 
either  to  discontinue  decorating  any  graves  of  these  1812  sol- 
diers, or  to  decorate  them  all.  The  chapter  on  the  War  of  1812 
in  this  History  will  furnish  the  information  necessary,  if  the 
latter  alternative  is  accepted. 

Below  is  given  a  list  of  soldiers  whose  graves  are  in  our 
several  cemeteries  at  this  date  (November  1886.)  It  should  be 
distinctly  noted  that  this  is  not  intended  as  a  complete  list  of 
Easton  soldiers  who  died  in  the  Civil  War,  but  only  of  those 
whose  remains  are  buried  in  this  town,  —  although  in  a  few  in- 
stances graves  have  been  made  in  honor  of  soldiers  whose  re- 
mains were  not  brought  here. 

Easton  Cemetery  {South  Eastott). 

Tyler  F.  Clapp.  Charles  A.  Morse. 

Eleazer  B.  Clark.^  O.  Marshall  Phillips. 

Arthur  Clifford.  Edward  E.  Randall. 

George  H.  Davis.  John  M.  Randall. 

Willard  Drake. 1  Peleg  F.  Randall. 

Joseph  Heath.  Linton  VValdron. 

Jackson  D.  Mitchell.  Milo  M.  Williams. 

John  W.  Mitchell.  Charles  H.  Willis. 

The  Roinan  Catholic  Cemetery  (^North  Easton). 

John  Connell.  John  Finnigan. 

Patrick  Conroy.  John  Fitzpatrick. 

Edward  A.  Cotter.  Edward  Galligher. 

Daniel  Donovan.  John  Johnson. 

1  The  graves  of  Clark  and  Drake  are  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  in  the  older 
Seth  Pratt  Cemetery. 


BANKS    AND    ORGANIZED    SOCIETIES.  615 


Michael  McCool.  David  Mulhern. 

Patrick  McCourt.^  John  Mulhern. 

Daniel  F.  McDonald.  Nicholas  Murphy. 

James  McEvoy.  Timothy  Murphy. 

David  Middleton.  James  Powers. 

James  P.  Middleton.  Cornelius  Slattery.i 

The  Village  Cemetery  {North  E  as  ton). 

William  Hepburn.  James  A.  Morse. 

George  McFarland.  Ansel  B.  Randall. 

Jacob  J.  Randall. 

Washington  St7'eet  Cemetery. 

Charles  E,  Ellison.  Oren  S.  Marshall. 

David  Fisher.  John  A.  Mills. 

Solomon  R.  Foster.  Job  Randall. 

Calvin  A.  Marshall.  J.  Manley  Tinkham. 
James  Wells. 

The  Central  Cemetery. 

Billings  Fisher.  Minot  E.  Phillips. 

William  M.  Packard.  Henry  L.  Reed. 

John  Phillips.  Uriah  H.  Reed. 

The  Furnace  Village  Cemetery. 

Dennison  S.  Drew.  Mason  A.  Hill. 

John  A.  Henry.  Benjamin  W.  Price. 

Wallace  W.  Smith. 

Dr.  Edward  Dean  Cemetery  {Highland  Street). 
Franklin  M.  Godfrey.  Josiah  Williams. 

Pine-Grove  Cetnetery. 

William  S.  Henrys.  H.  Frank  Pool. 

William  A.  Lothrop.  Bernard  L.  Ripley. 

1  Patrick  McCourt  and  Cornelius  Slattery  were  both  killed  in  battle,  and  their 
remains  were  not  recovered.  But  graves  have  been  made  here  in  their  memory,  and 
their  names  are  accordingly  included  in  the  above  list  in  order  that  they  may  not  be 
overlooked  in  the  annual  decoration  of  graves.  The  same  is  true  of  Timothy  Mur- 
phy, whose  remains  are  still  in  the  Canton  burying-ground. 


6l6  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Elijah  Howard  Cemetery  {Prospect  Street). 
Edward  Hudson. 

Isaac  Lothrop  Cemetery  {Purchase  Street). 
Frank  Lambert. 

Silas  Phillips  Cemetery  {Depot  Street). 
Joseph  Legro. 

Keith  Cemeteiy  {Bay  road  near  Beaver  Street). 
Major  Crockett. 

Selee  Cetnetery. 
Benjamin  F.  Boodry. 

The  Soldiers'  Monument  was  erected  in  accordance  with  a 
vote  of  the  town  in  March,  1881,  and  was  ready  for  dedication 
on  Memorial  Day,  1882.  The  picture  here  presented  renders 
any  detailed  description  of  it  needless.  It  is  made  of  a  very 
fine  granite,  and  stands  at  Easton  Centre  where  Centre  Street 
joins  Depot  Street ;  the  excellent  statue  at  the  top  faces  the 
southeast.  The  monument  is  twenty-five  feet  high  including  the 
statue,  which  is  eight  feet,  and  is  inscribed  with  the  names  of 
forty-seven  Easton  men  who  enlisted  in  the  Civil  War  and  died 
before  its  close.  It  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  exercises  May 
30,  1882.  Dr.  George  B.  Cogswell  was  President  of  the  day.  The 
Rev.  William  H.  Dowden  offered  prayer.  Introductory  remarks 
were  made  by  the  President  of  the  day  ;  Joseph  Barrows,  Esq;, 
gave  the  Historical  Address,  and  William  L.  Chaffin  the  Ora- 
tion. Charles  R.  Ballard  recited  an  original  Memorial  Poem, 
and  addresses  were  made  by  Capt.  Nahum  Leonard,  of  Bridge- 
water,  and  Capt,  A.  C.  Munroe,  of  Brockton.  The  vocal  music 
was  furnished  by  the  Gilbert  Quartette,  and  the  instrumental 
music  by  Martland's  Band,  of  Brockton.  A  platform  erected 
in  front  of  the  Unitarian  church  was  occupied  during  the  exer- 
cises by  members  of  A.  B.  Randall  Post,  of  Easton,  and  Post 
No.  13,  of  Brockton,  besides  the  speakers  and  singers.  Seats 
were  arranged  in  front  of  the  platform  in  a  semicircle,  and  more 
than  two  hundred  carriages  were  in  the  rear  of  them.  About 
two  thousand  persons  were   present.      The  day  was  pleasant, 


BANKS    AND    ORGANIZED   SOCIETIES. 


617 


;xcellent  order  prevailed,  and  nothing  occurred  to  disturb  the 
lannony  and  interest  of  the  occasion.  The  monument  is  re- 
rarded  by  many  as  exceptionally  fine  and  satisfactory.     As  the 


THE   SOLDIERS     MONUMENT. 


observer  gazes  at  it  and  considers  the  sacred  purpose  for  which 
it  was  erected,  he  may  well  repeat  the  prayer  expressed  on 
the  day  of  its  dedication  by  Charles  R.  Ballard  in  his  Memorial 
Poem, — 


^ 


6l8  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


Heaven  guard  it !  and  let  no  rude  hand 

Deface  or  mar  this  sacred  Shrine  ; 
But  in  its  beauty  let  it  stand, 

Wiiile  suns  unnumbered  rise  and  shine. 

While  Spring  arrays  the  fields  in  green, 

While  Summer  lends  her  ruddy  glow, 
While  Autumn  spreads  her  mellow  sheen, 

While  Winter  robes  the  earth  in  snow  ; 

By  day,  by  night,  in  weal  or  woe, 

When  sun  shall  parch  or  torrent  pour; 
'  Mid  calm  or  storm,  'mid  rain  or  snow, 

When  lightnings  flash  and  thunders  roar, — 

Safe  may  it  stand,  where  three  ways  meet, 

To  catch  the  traveller's  peering  eye, 
To  check  betimes  his  hurrying  feet. 

And  prompt  him  meekly  to  draw  nigh, 

And  read  the  names  recorded  here 

Of  those  who  once  War's  havoc  braved, 
And  offer  thanks  and  praise  sincere 

For  home  and  friends  and  Nation  saved  ! 

GOOD    TEMPLARS. 

On  the  1 6th  of  May,  1872,  there  was  organized  at  North  Eas- 
ton  a  temperance  lodge  of  Good  Templars.  The  leading  spirit  in 
inaugurating  this  movement  was  David  S.  Hasty,  editor  of  the 
"  Easton  Journal."  This  society  took  the  name  of  Bristol  Lodge, 
No.  136.  It  organized  of  course  on  the  total  abstinence  basis, 
rapidly  acquired  a  large  membership,  and  became  vigorous  and 
full  of  life.  It  united  people  socially,  and  had  a  decided  influ- 
ence in  quickening  a  temperance  sentiment  in  the  minds  of  many 
young  persons  whose  attention  might  not  otherwise  have  been 
drawn  to  the  subject.  Both  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  eligible 
to  its  offices.  Its  meetings  were  lively,  interesting,  and  help- 
ful ;  and  it  was  for  some  time  considered  to  be  one  of  the 
brightest  and  most  flourishing  lodges  in  the  State.  It  met  in 
Spooner's  Hall,  which  was  pleasantly  fitted  up.  But  the  his- 
tory of  this  organization  was  like  that  of  most  of  its  kind, — 
speedy  growth,  lively  interest,  prosperity,  and  then,  when  the 
novelty  was  gone,  a  slow  decline  and  death.  It  did  a  good  work, 
however,  and  afforded  much  pleasure  to  its  numerous  members, 
many  of  whom  will  recall  with  great  satisfaction  the  evenings 


BANKS    AND    ORGANIZED   SOCIETIES.  619 

spent  in  the  literary  and  social  exercises  of  the  lodge-room.  For 
the  last  year  or  two  Rufus  H.  Willis  was  the  presiding  officer. 
Bristol  Lodge  disbanded  early  in  1879,  having  lived  nearly  seven 
years.  It  left  a  fund  of  about  one  hundred  dollars,  which  was 
finally  given  to  A.  B.  Randall  Post  52,  of  Easton,  to  assist  in 
building  their  new  hall. 

SONS    OF    TEMPERANCE. 

In  February,  1883,  there  was  organized  a  division  of  the  Sons 
of  Temperance  in  North  Easton.  It  took  the  name  of  Arcana 
Division  No.  4,  and  met  in  the  upper  hall  of  Spooner's  building. 
It  acquired  a  membership  of  about  forty  persons,  and  held  weekly 
meetings  devoted  to  social,  musical,  and  literary  entertainment, 
with  special  reference  usually  to  the  cultivation  of  the  temper- 
ance sentiment.  It  had  its  day  and  ceased  to  be,  disbanding 
late  in  18S5. 

THE    ROMAN    CATHOLIC    LYCEUM. 

In  May,  1871,  under  the  lead  of  the  Rev.  Father  Quinn,  there 
was  organized  in  North  Easton  a  society  called  the  Catholic 
Lyceum.  William  Twohig  was  the  first  president ;  Cornelius 
Doherty,  vice-president ;  M.  D.  Schindler,  treasurer.  It  attained 
a  membership  of  about  two  hundred.  Its  headquarters  were  the 
chapel  by  the  pond,  in  which  it  had  a  reading-room,  a  library, 
and  the  appointments  for  social  games  of  draughts,  cards,  etc. 
There  were  debates  and  dramatic  entertainments,  and  the  society 
was  the  means  of  much  pleasure  and  benefit  to  its  members. 
It  is  now  discontinued.  The  chapel,  however,  is  occasionally 
used  by  the  young  people  for  dramatic  performances  and  other 
purposes. 

KNIGHTS    OF    HONOR. 

This  organization  is  for  insurance  purposes,  the  amount  of 
insurance  in  each  case  being  two  thousand  dollars.  The  lodge 
in  Easton  was  instituted  November  5,  1879,  Dr.  George  B. 
Cogswell,  William  Robinson,  and  twelve  others  being  the  char- 
ter members.  It  took  the  name  of  Easton  Lodge  of  Knights  of 
Honor,  No.  1,859,  and  hired  for  its  headquarters  the  old  Masonic 
Hall   in   Spooner's   building,  which   hall  it   now  controls.     The 


622  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


KNIGHTS    OF    LABOR. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1886  a  movement  was  started  looking 
to  the  establishment  of  an  Assembly  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  in 
North  Easton  village  ;  but  this  occurred  at  the  time  when  an  in- 
junction had  been  issued  from  the  headquarters  of  the  order  for- 
bidding, until  further  notice,  the  instituting  of  any  new  assemblies. 
The  organization  of  the  Assembly  in  North  Easton  was  therefore 
delayed  until  the  evening  of  May  26,  when  it  was  effected  under 
the  charge  of  an  officer  from  the  Assembly  in  Brockton.  Its  name 
is  The  Workingmen's  Assembly  of  North  Easton,  No.  7,627. 
The  master-workman  (the  chief  officer)  of  this  Assembly  of 
Knights  is  Patrick  Costello,  and  it  has  a  large  membership, 
there  being  at  this  date  (September  10,  1886)  two  hundred  and 
eighty  members. 

The  interest  now  attaching  to  the  Knights  of  Labor  organiza- 
tion in  this  country  is  so  great  that  it  seems  desirable  to  state 
here  the  essential  principles  for  which  it  exists. 

The  Knights  of  Labor  demand  the  public  lands  for  actual 
settlers  ;  the  enactment  of  laws  to  compel  corporations  to  make 
weekly  payments  of  wages  to  their  employees  ;  the  abolition  of 
the  contract  system  on  public  works  ;  the  prohibition  of  the  im- 
portation of  foreign  labor  under  contract  ;  the  prohibition  by 
law  of  the  employment  of  children  under  fifteen  years  of  age  in 
work-shops,  mines,  and  factories  ;  the  prohibition  of  hiring  out 
convict  labor  ;  the  levy  of  a  graduated  income  tax  ;  the  abolition 
of  banking  corporations,  and  the  issue  of  a  circulating  medium 
direct  to  the  people.  They  demand  that  no  interest-bearing  bonds 
shall  be  issued  by  Government,  but  that  when  need  arises,  the 
emergency  shall  be  met  by  the  issue  of  legal  tender,  non-interest 
bearing  money ;  that  the  Government  shall  organize  financial 
exchanges,  safe  deposits,  and  facilities  of  deposit  of  the  savings 
of  the  people  ;  that  the  Government  shall  purchase  and  control 
all  telegraphs,  telephones,  and  railroads,  "  and  that  hereafter  no 
charter  or  license  be  issued  to  any  corporation  for  construction 
or  operation  of  any  means  of  transporting  intelligence,  passen- 
gers, or  freight."  The  Knights  of  Labor  advocate  also  the  es- 
tablishment of  co-operative  institutions  to  supersede  the  wage 
system,  the  giving  of  equal  pay  to  both  sexes  for  equal  work, 


BANKS    AND    ORGANIZED    SOCIETIES.  623 

the  adoption  of  the  eight-hour  system,  and  the  regulation  of 
differences  between  employers  and  employed  by  arbitration. 
On  the  face  side  of  their  blank  form  of  "  Proposition  for  Mem- 
bership "  is  printed  the  following  sentence,  which  is  condensed 
from  their  Declaration  of  Principles  :  "  N.  B.  No  proposition  [for 
membership]  can  be  received  from  a  lawyer,  banker,  rumseller, 
or  professional  gambler." 


626  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

Easton  was  held  in  the  old  town  hall  a  short  time  before  the 
election  for  President  in  the  Fall  of  1832,  and  so  intense  was 
the  antagonism  between  the  parties  here  that  this  meeting  was 
assaulted  by  a  mob.  The  assailants  gathered  outside,  making 
noisy  and  riotous  demonstrations.  The  door  being  closed  against 
them,  they  procured  a  stick  of  timber  and  broke  it  in,  and  not 
without  some  violence  dispersed  the  meeting.  This  mob  was  not 
instigated  by  the  Masons,  of  whom  there  were  very  few  in 
town ;  a  leading  Whig  was  understood  to  have  incited  it,  or  at 
least  to  have  been  its  leading  spirit. 

It  was  at  just  this  time  that  the  ecclesiastical  contest  in  the 
Congregational  parish  was  at  its  height.  The  whole  town  was  di- 
vided on  the  issue  ol pro  or  anti  Sheldon.  Beginning  about  1830, 
this  division  existed  more  or  less  for  the  next  ten  years.  Its  in- 
fluence affected  the  town-meetings,  candidates  for  town  offices 
being  selected  with  reference  to  their  position  on  the  church  quar- 
rel, and  the  voting  determined  by  sectarian  considerations. 

This  unpleasant  condition  of  things  was  greatly  changed  by 
the  absorbing  political  canvass  that  took  place  in  1840,  with 
"  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  as  candidates.  This  was  the  fa- 
mous "  Log  Cabin  and  Hard  Cider  "  campaign.  The  Whigs  of 
Easton  entered  into  the  contest  with  zeal  and  vigor.  They  or- 
ganized an  association  called  the  Democratic  Republican  Whig 
Association  of  Easton,  a  sufficiently  comprehensive  title.  Oliver 
Ames,  Sr.,  was  president.  They  met  weekly  in  the  old  chapel ; 
they  formed  a  glee  club  to  sing  campaign  songs,  that  fell  from 
the  press  as  thick  as  snow-flakes.  The  Democrats  did  what 
they  could  to  stem  the  swelling  tide  of  enthusiasm.  They  ac- 
cused their  opponents  of  stealing  their  name,  and  called  them 
Federalists  and  British  Whigs.  The  Whigs  retaliated  by  throw- 
ing at  them  the  name  of  "  Loco-focos,"  which  was  all  the  more 
offensive  because  its  meaning  was  not  understood. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July  the  Whig  Association  turned  out  to  at- 
tend the  Whig  celebration  at  Bridgewater.  The  old  stage-driver, 
John  Taylor,  drove  an  omnibus  with  six  horses  gayly  decked  with 
flags.  About  one  hundred  carriages  were  in  the  procession. 
Elisha  Page,  the  chief  marshal,  and  his  assistants  wore  white 
sashes  and  Harrison  badges,  and  carried  batons.  The  procession 
was  over  a  mile  in  length.    As  they  wheeled  round  Asa  Howard's 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL. 


627 


corner,  a  squad  of  Democrats  stood  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road  with  an  effigy  of  Harrison  dressed  as  an  old  woman,  in  red 
petticoats  ;  they  called  Harrison  the  "  old  granny  candidate." 
Soon  after  this  the  Association  got  up  a  meeting  at  Easton 
Centre.  Speaking  began  in  the  Unitarian  Church  ;  but  the  crowd 
was  larger  outside  than  inside,  and  so  the  windows  were  taken 
out,  and  some  of  the  speakers  stood  in  the  windows  as  they 
addressed  both  the  out-door  and  in-door  meeting.  John  H. 
Clifford  and  T.  D.  Eliot  of  New  Bedford,  Thomas  Prince  Beal 
of  Kingston,  and  John  C.  Park  of  Boston  were  among  the 
speakers.  Great  excitement  was  caused  by  Oliver  Ames  read- 
ing letters  from  fifteen  Easton  Democrats,  who  renounced  their 
party  and  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  Whigs.  The  "  Boston  At- 
las" published  these  letters  ;  and  the  "  Boston  Post,"  to  offset  the 
effect  of  them,  charged  that  they  were  obtained  by  fraud,  that 
the  men  who  signed  them  were  "  of  no  account  any  way,"  etc. 

Soon  after  this  the  Democrats  got  up  a  great  meeting  at  the 
same  place,  with  John  A.  Bates,  Col.  Seth  J.  Thomas,  of  Boston, 
and  other  eminent  speakers.  The  Whig  Association  made  a 
fine  show  in  attending  a  celebration  in  Boston  on  the  loth  of 
September,  Col.  Alanson  White  being  marshal.  Party  feeling 
ran  high  in  town  ;  exciting  discussions  often  occurred  in  stores 
and  shops,  where  Macey  Randall,  Linus  Manley,  Alva  Holcomb, 
Daniel  Randall,  and  scores  besides,  measured  swords  with  one 
another  in  political  discussion. 

The  Whigs,  though  eighty  votes  behind  the  Democrats  in  Eas- 
ton the  year  before,  had  now,  in  1840,  made  such  gains  that  they 
had  some  hope  of  electing  a  representative  to  the  Legislature. 
The  Democrats  nominated  their  strong  man,  Jonathan  Pratt, 
father  of  the  late  Jonathan  A.  Pratt.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Orthodox  society.  In  order  to  counterbalance  any  advantage 
arising  from  that  fact,  it  was  desirable  for  the  Whigs  to  nominate 
a  man  from  the  same  society.  But  how  would  that  suit  the  Uni- 
tarians ?  Shrewdly  then,  the  leading  Whigs  got  all  their  followers 
pledged  to  vote  for  any  one  whom  the  Whig  Association  might 
nominate.  It  then  nominated  Lincoln  Drake,  also  a  member 
of  the  Orthodox  society,  who  was  personally  very  popular,  and 
was  sure  to  secure  the  votes  of  some  Morton  men.  On  the 
vote  for  governor,  Marcus  Morton,  Democrat,  had  a  majority 


628  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

of  seventeen  votes,  George  W.  Johnson,  then  of  Easton,  receiv- 
ing three  votes  as  a  candidate  of  the  Liberty  Party.  The 
voting  for  representative  excited  the  most  intense  interest.  It 
resulted  in  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  for  Pratt,  one  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  for  Drake,  and  three  scattering.  There  was  no 
choice ;  and  neither  party  feeling  confidence  enough  to  risk  a 
second  ballot,  there  was  no  representative  elected  from  Easton 
for  that  year.  The  next  year,  1841,  Morton  had  a  plurality 
only,  and  not  a  majority.  Lincoln  Drake  was  the  Whig  candi- 
date for  representative,  Moses  C.  Dunbar  the  Democratic,  and 
Martin  Wild  the  Liberty  Party  candidate.  Drake  had  a  plu- 
rality, but  not  a  majority,  and  there  was  no  choice  on  the  first 
ballot.  On  the  second  ballot  he  was  chosen  ;  and  for  the  first 
time  Easton  elected  a  Whig  representative. 

This  marks  the  turning  point  in  the  politics  of  Easton,  which 
was  hereafter  to  be  a  Whig  town.  The  Democrats  foresaw  this, 
but  postponed  the  result  one  year  by  combining  with  the  Lib- 
erty Party  men  and  electing  the  candidate  of  the  latter,  Lewis 
Williams,  for  representative.  There  was  only  one  other  Liberty 
Party  man  in  the  State  Legislature  that  year,  and  there  was  so 
nearly  a  tie  between  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  that  the  latter 
nominated  Lewis  Williams  for  speaker,  who  failed  of  election  by 
only  three  votes.  In  1843  Mr.  Drake,  Whig,  was  elected  repre- 
sentative from  Easton  by  a  majority  vote,  and  was  re-elected  for 
the  succeeding  three  years  by  increasing  majorities. 

The  Presidential  canvass  of  1844,  Henry  Clay  and  James  K. 
Polk  being  candidates,  was  an  exciting  one  in  town.  Clay  awak- 
ened an  ardent  personal  attachment,  and  the  Whigs  worked  for 
him  with  a  hearty  will.  They  attended  a  great  convention  at 
Taunton,  September  10,  which  was  presided  over  by  Daniel 
Webster.  The  ladies  of  Taunton  had  promised  to  give  a  silk 
banner  to  the  Whigs  of  any  town  who  would  send  to  the  Con- 
vention the  largest  delegation  proportioned  to  their  vote  for 
governor  in  1842.  The  vote  of  Easton  for  John  Davis  in  1842 
was  one  hundred  and  fourteen,  and  its  delegation  to  Taunton 
consisted  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  showing  a  larger  propor- 
tional gain  than  any  town  there  represented.  The  banner  was 
therefore  bestowed  upon  the  Easton  Whigs,  Daniel  Webster 
himself  proposing  three  cheers  for  Easton,  which  were  heartily 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL.  629 


given.  Oliver  Ames,  Jr.,  was  chosen  to  make  the  response 
to  the  presentation.  The  banner  is  now  in  Memorial  Hall; 
on  one  side  of  it  is  a  portrait  of  Henry  Clay.  As  Easton 
cast  only  two  hundred  and  two  votes  for  Clay,  one  wonders 
what  became  of  the  forty-eight  other  Whigs  who  were  in  the 
delegation. 

Many  interesting  incidents  occurred  in  town  in  this  exciting 
campaign.  The  result  of  the  election  was  for  some  time  in 
doubt,  inasmuch  as  the  returns  from  New  York,  on  which  State 
the  final  decision  depended,  came  in  slowly.  On  the  Turnpike 
were  two  shoe-shops,  one  hired  by  Samuel  R.  Clark  and  Israel 
Randall,  the  other  by  the  Clapp  brothers,  the  former  being  a 
rallying  place  for  Whigs,  the  latter  for  Democrats.  It  seems 
that  the  coon  figured  largely  in  this  campaign  as  a  Whig  sym- 
bol. In  a  Democratic  song  modelled  after  "Old  Dan  Tucker" 
occurred  this  stanza  :  — 

"  High  on  a  limb  that  same  old  coon 
Was  singing  to  himself  this  tune,  — 
'  Get  out  of  the  way  you  old  Sir  Harry, 
That  coon  ticket  we  don't  carry.' " 

When  the  first  fall  State  elections,  prior  to  the  national  elec- 
tion, appeared  unfavorable  to  Clay,  Cyrus  Alger  procured  a  dead 
woodchuck,  in  default  of  a  coon,  and  hung  him  on  a  stick  nailed 
on  a  front  corner  of  the  Clapp  shop,  projecting  towards  the 
street.  The  woodchuck  was  fastened  by  the  legs  to  the  stick  so 
as  to  hang  below  it,  back  downward.  When  news  came  of  a 
State  going  Democratic,  Mr.  Alger  would  draw  the  legs  closer  to- 
gether, and  the  woodchuck  soon  presented  a  sorry  appearance.  It 
hung  there  until  th^  November  Presidential  election.  When  it 
was  finally  known  that  everything  depended  upon  the  vote  of  New 
York  State,  a  copy  of  the  "  Boston  Atlas  "  came  out  reporting 
that  New  York  had  gone  for  Clay,  and  he  was  therefore  elected. 
Whereupon  A,  A.  Gilmore  and  two  companions  took  away  the 
woodchuck  from  Clapp's  shop,  and  set  it  right  side  up  on  the 
top  of  a  pole  ten  feet  above  the  roof  of  the  Whig  headquarters, 
where  it  appeared  to  be  in  much  better  spirits.  But  the  "  Atlas  " 
was  mistaken  ;  Clay  was  not  elected,  and  the  woodchuck  made 
an  ignominious  descent  from  his  high  perch.    This  was  a  sample 


630  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

of  the  practical  jokes  that  were  quite  common  in  those  exciting 
election  times. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Free  Soil  movement  was  growing,  and 
in  this  town  it  received  many  accessions  from  the  Democrats. 
Dr.  Caleb  Swan  was  their  candidate  for  member  of  Congress, 
Several  elections  resulting  in  no  choice  were  held  ;  but  Artemas 
Hale,  the  Whig  candidate,  was  finally  chosen.  In  1852  the  vote 
for  President  was  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  for  Winfield 
Scott,  one  hundred  and  forty-three  for  John  P.  Hale,  forty-nine 
for  Franklin  Pierce,  and  four  for  Daniel  Webster,  who  was  dead. 
This  vote  shows  the  political  complexion  of  the  town,  and  con- 
firms the  statement  of  the  adoption  of  the  Free  Soil  position  by 
many  Democrats.  Horace  Mann,  the  Free  Soil  candidate  for 
governor,  received  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  votes  in  Easton, 
one  more  than  the  Whig  candidate,  John  H.  Clifford  ;  and  on  a 
second  ballot,  and  with  the  help  of  Democrats,  the  Free  Soil 
candidate  for  representative.  Wade  Daily,  was  elected.  Hiram 
Keith  was  chosen  for  the  same  office  in  1853.  At  the  same 
time  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon  was  elected  a  member  of  the  consti- 
tutional convention  soon  to  be  held,  having  a  majority  of  seventy- 
nine  over  Elijah  Howard,  the  Whig  candidate.  This  date  marks 
the  vanishing  point  of  the  Whig  party  in  Easton,  as  elsewhere. 
It  is  related  that  when  Mr.  Sheldon  was  speaking  in  the  conven- 
tion alluded  to,  he  addressed  the  audience  as  "  My  hearers."  He 
was  called  to  order  by  N.  P.  Banks,  the  president  of  the  conven- 
tion, for  not  addressing  the  chair.  Mr.  Sheldon  made  a  neat 
apology,  in  which,  referring  to  the  inattention  with  which  his 
remarks  had  been  received,  he  said  :  "  I  have  been  accustomed 
to  address  an  audience  in  which  I  have  had,  at  least,  hearers." 

In  1854  occurred  the  Native  American  fanaticism,  which  by 
secret  lodges  was  organized  into  the  Know  Nothing  Party,  —  a 
party  which  though  claiming  to  be  distinctively  American  was, 
both  in  its  principles  and  methods,  out  of  harmony  with  the  real 
spirit  of  American  institutions.  But  this  fanaticism  swept  over 
Easton  like  wildfire.  Henry  J.  Gardner  received  in  this  town 
two  hundred  and  forty-seven  out  of  a  total  of  four  hundred  votes, 
and  Dea.  Harrison  T.  Mitchell  was  elected  to  the  Legislature. 
In  1855  Easton  gave  Governor  Gardner  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  votes,  and  elected  William  Barrows  representative  by  two 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL. 


631 


hundred  and  forty  votes.  In  1856  Governor  Gardner  had  two 
hundred  and  forty-two  votes  here,  and  by  a  vote  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty-nine  John  Kimball  was  sent  to  the  Legislature.  The 
National  Republican  party  had  already  been  organized,  and  in 
1856  nominated  John  C.  Fremont  for  a  Presidential  candidate. 
The  Know  Nothings  kept  up  their  State  organization  in  1856, 
but  voted  for  the  Republican  National  ticket.  Fremont's  vote 
in  Easton  was  very  large,  being  three  hundred  and  forty-nine  out 
of  a  total  of  four  hundred  and  sixty-five  votes.  Soon  afterward 
the  Know  Nothing  Party  collapsed.  It  will  be  remembered  for 
one  good  thing  its  Legislature  did,  which  was  the  enactment 
usually  called  the  "  Know  Nothing  Station,"  which  obliges  rail- 
road trains  to  come  to  a  full  stop  before  crossing  another 
railroad. 

Since  1856  Easton  has  been  strongly  Republican,  though 
its  vote  in  1883  was  cast  for  General  Butler  as  Democratic 
candidate  for  governor  ;  and  L.  S.  Drake,  a  Democrat,  by  the 
help  of  Republican  votes,  was  sent  to  the  Legislature  for  one 
year. 

VOTES    FOR    GOVERNORS. 

The  votes  of  Easton  for  governors  are  here  given,  and  they  are 
a  good  index  of  the  political  changes  of  the  town  for  successive 
years.  The  name  first  recorded  in  the  vote  of  each  year  is  that 
of  the  successful  candidate.  When  there  was  no  election  by  pop- 
ular vote,  the  name  of  the  governor  chosen  by  the  General  Court 
is  given  in  italics.  For  some  unaccountable  reason,  the  votes  of 
Easton  for  governor  for  the  first  six  years  are  not  given  in  the 
town  records  ;  the  first  vote  recorded  was  that  of  1787.  In  a 
few  instances  but  one  name  occurs,  the  vote  being  in  some 
years  unanimous,  and  in  other  cases  so  nearly  so  that  the  town 
clerk  may  have  thought  it  unimportant  to  report  the  minority 
vote.  Until  1831  the  election  was  in  April,  and  the  governor 
was  inaugurated  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  May.  The  State  Con- 
stitution was  then  amended,  so  that  the  election  should  be  held 
in  November  and  the  governor  be  inaugurated  the  first  Wednes- 
day in  the  January  following.  After  1831,  therefore,  the  dates 
are  for  the  years  of  service,  not  the  date  of  election. 


632 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


1787. 
John  Hancock 85 

1788. 
John  Hancock    ......         8 

Elbridge  Gerry 


35 


1789. 


John  Hancock 58 

1790. 


John  Hancock 


78 


1791. 


John  Hancock 61 

1792. 
John  Hancock 39 

1793- 
John  Hancock 56 

1794. 

Samuel  Adams 5° 

William  Gushing 4 


1 801. 

Caleb  Strong 35 

Elbridge  Gerry 79 

1802. 

Caleb  Strong 49 

Elbridge  Gerry 70 


1803. 


Caleb  Strong 


82 


1795- 


Samuel  Adams 


1796. 


Samuel  Adams 32 

Increase  Sumner 9 

Scattering 2 

1797. 

Increase  Sumner 9 

James  Sullivan 33 

Moses  Gill 17 

1798- 

Increase  Sumner 72 

1799- 

Increase  Sumner 49 

William  Heath 'S'] 

Elbridge  Gerry 5 

1800. 

Caleb  Strong 14 

Elbridge  Gerry 113 

Moses  Gill 3 


Caleb  Strong 27 

James  SulHvan no 

1805. 

Caleb  Strong 29 

James  Sullivan 117 

1806. 

Caleb  Strong 42 

James  Sullivan 103 

William  Heath 4 

1807. 

Caleb  Strong 46 

James  Sullivan 114 

Levi  Lincoln 5 

1808. 

James  SuUivan 108 

Christopher  Gore 34 


Christopher  Gore 43 

Levi  Lincoln 139 

1810. 

Elbridge  Gerry 150 

Christopher  Gore 46 

Scattering 2 

i8ir. 

Elbridge  Gerry 150 

Christopher  Gore 45 

Caleb  Strong 2 

1812. 

Caleb  Strong 69 

Elbridge  Gerry 150 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL. 


633 


1813. 

Caleb  Strong 107 

Joseph  B.  Varnum 144 

1814. 

Caleb  Strong 107 

Samuel  Dexter 122 

1815. 

Caleb  Strong 116 

Samuel  Dexter 134 

1816. 

John  Brooks 78 

Samuel  Dexter 117 


John  Brooks 73 

Henry  Dearborn 100 

William  King 2 


John  Brooks ()"] 

Benjamin  W.  Crown! nshield     .  79 

Benjamin  Crowninshield       .     .  6 

1819. 

John  Brooks 76 

Benjamin  W.  Crowninshield     .  106 

Scattering 2 


John  Brooks 86 

William  Eustis ^'j 


John  Brooks 63 

William  Eustis 99 

Scattering 2 

1822. 

WiUiam  Eustis 93 

John  Brooks 45 

1823. 

William  Eustis 127 

Harrison  G.  Otis 74 


1824. 

Wilham  Eustis 162 

Samuel  Lothrop 102 

1825. 

Levi  Lincoln 120 

1826. 

Levi  Lincoln 106 

1827. 

Levi  Lincoln 135 

Marcus  Morton 2 

1828. 

Levi  Lincoln 141 

Scattering 4 

1829. 

Levi  Lincoln 122 

Scattering 8 

1830. 

Levi  Lincoln 10 1 

Marcus  Morton 47 

Scattering 2 

1831. 

Levi  Lincoln 212 

Marcus  Morton 8 

William  Ingalls 5 

1832. 

Levi  Lincoln 197 

Samuel  Lothrop 114 

Marcus  Morton 7 

James  L.  Hodges 2 

1833- 

Levi  Lincoln 182 

Samuel  Lothrop 115 

Marcus  Morton n 


1834. 

yohn  Davis  .  .  . 
John  Quincy  Adams 
Marcus  Morton 


123 

146 

17 


634 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


1835- 

John  Davis 125 

John  Barclay 109 

Marcus  Morton 20 

Samuel  C.  Allen 6 


1S36. 
Edward  Everett 78 


Marcus  Morton       .     . 
Samuel  T.  Armstrong 


1837. 


Edward  Everett 
Marcus  Morton 


66 
18 


68 

122 


Edward  Everett 128 

Marcus  Morton 143 

1839. 

Edward  Everett 112 

Marcus  Morton 156 

1840. 

Marcus  Morton 210 

Edward  Everett 130 


John  Davis 178 

Marcus  Morton ^15 

George  W.  Johnson    ....  3 

1842. 

John  Davis 148 

Marcus  Morton 161 

Lucius  Boltwood 26 

1843. 

Marcus  Morton 153 

John  Davis 114 

Samuel  E.  Sewall 44 

1844. 

George  N.  Briggs 181 

Marcus  Morton 133 

Samuel  E.  Sewall   .... 


1845. 

George  N.  Briggs 206 

George  Bancroft 145 

Samuel  E.  Sewall 57 

1846. 

Georg^e  N.  Briggs i8q 


Isaac  Davis 120 

Samuel  E.  Sewall z,-] 

Henry  Shaw 6 

1847- 

George  N.  Briggs 191 

Isaac  Davis  . 94 

Samuel  E.  Sewall 67 

Francis  Baylies 22 

1848. 

George  N.  Briggs 177 

Caleb  Gushing 102 

Samuel  E.  Sewall 63 

Francis  Baylies 44 

1849. 

George  N.  Briggs 211 

Stephen  C.  Phillips      ....  181 

Caleb  Gushing 37 


1850. 

George  N.  Briggs  . 
Stephen  C.  PhilHps 
George  S.  Boutwell 

1851. 
George  S.  Boutwell 


179 
137 
44 


36 


George  N.  Briggs 198 

Stephen  C.  Phillips      ....     185 
Francis  Coo;swell 10 


1852. 

George  S.  Boutwell 
Robert  C.  Winthrop 
John  G.  Palfrey  .     . 


49 
192 

179 


1853- 

Joh7i  H.  Clifford 187 

Horace  Mann 188 

49    Henry  W.  Bishop 45 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL. 


635 


1854. 

Emory  Washburn 181 

Henry  Wilson 180 

Henry  W.  Bishop 64 

Scattering 3 

1855. 

Henry  J.  Gardner 247 

Henry  Wilson 70 

Emory  Washburn 69 

H.  W.  Bishop 13 

1856. 

Henry  J.  Gardner        ....  234 

Julius  Rockwood 180 

Erasmus  D.  Beach      ....  42 

Samuel  H   Walley 13 

1857. 

Henry  J.  Gardner 242 

Erasmus  D.  Beach      ....  69 

George  W.  Gordon      ....  33 

Scattering 36 


Nathaniel  P.  Banks 
Henry  J.  Gardner  . 
Erasmus  D.  Beach 
Caleb  Swan    .     .     . 


1859- 
Nathaniel  P.  Banks 
Erasmus  D.  Beach 
Amos  A.  Lawrence 

i860. 

Nathaniel  P.  Banks 
Benjamin  F.  Butler 
George  N.  Briggs  . 


180 
142 

47 
II 


250 

56 
29 


135 

55 
46 


1861. 

John  A.  Andrew 280 

Amos  A  Lawrence 50 

Erasmus  D.  Beach 45 

Benjamin  F.  Butler     ....  6 

1862. 

John  A.  Andrew 134 

Isaac  Davis 36 


1863. 

John  A.  Andrew 251 

Charles  Devens 130 

1864. 

John  A.  Andrew 138 

Henry  W.  Paine 45 

1865. 

John  A.  Andrew 355 

Henry  W.  Paine 97 

1866. 

Alexander  H.  Bullock      ...  96 

Darius  N.  Gooch 15 


1867. 

Alexander  H.  Bullock     .     .     .  202 

Theodore  H.  Sweetser     ...  20 

1868. 

Alexander  H.  Bullock      .     .     .  254 

John  Quincy  Adams    ....  102 

1869. 

William  Claflin 357 

John  Quincy  Adams    ....  70 

Scattering 2 

1870. 

William  Claflin 199 

Edwin  M.  Chamberlain    .     .     .  140 

John  Quincy  Adams    ....  68 

Scattering 2 


1871. 

WiUiam  Claflin  .  .  . 
Wendell  Phillips  .  . 
John  Quincy  Adams    . 

1872. 

William  B.  Washburn 
John  Quincy  Adams    . 
Edwin  M.  Chamberlain 
Robert  C.  Pitman  .     . 


1873- 
William  B.  Washburn 
Francis  W.  Bird     .     . 


270 
86 
52 


185 
54 


335 
203 


636 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


1S74. 

William  B.  Washburn      ...  92 

William  Gaston 42 

1875. 

William  Gaston 144 

Thomas  Talbot 217 

1876. 

Alexander  H.  Rice      ....  120 

WiHiam  Gaston 96 

John  I.  Baker 14 

1877. 

Alexander  H.  Rice      ....  322 

Charles  Francis  Adams    .     .     .  217 

John  I.  Baker 39 

1878. 

Alexander  H.  Rice      ....  152 

William  Gaston 85 

Robert  C.  Pitman 14 

1879. 

Thomas  Talbot 286 

Benjamin  F.  Butler     ....  230 

Josiah  G.  Abbott 26 

A.  A.  Miner 2 

1880. 

John  D.  Long 283 

Benjamin  F.  Butler     ....  216 

John  Ouincy  Adams    ....  17 

Daniel  C.  Eddy 2 


1881. 

John  D.  Long 301 

Charles  P.  Thompson      .     .     .  230 

Charles  Almy 3 

1882. 

John  D.  Long 220 

Charles  P.  Thompson      .     .     .  142 

Charles  Almy 3 

1883. 

Benjamin  F.  Butler      ....  292 

Robert  R.  Bishop 193 

Charles  Almy 4 

1884. 

George  D.  Robinson  ....  293 

Benjamin  F.  Butler      ....  291 

Charles  Almy 7 

1S85. 

George  D.  Robinson  ....  283 

WiUiam  E.  Endicott  ....  227 

Julius  H.  Seelye 20 

Matthew  J.  McCaflferty     ...  17 

1886. 

George  D.  Robinson  ....  154 

Frederic  O.  Prince      .     .     .     .  128 

Thomas  J.  Lothrop      ....  4 

1887. 

Oliver  Ames 332 

John  F.  Andrew 144 

Thomas  J.  Lothrop     ....  4 


Moderators  of  Annual  Town  Meetings. 

Josiah  Keith,  1 726-1 731,  1732,  1757,  —  seven  years. 

Benjamin  Drake,  1731. 

Capt.  John  PhiHips,  1733,  1734,  1737,  i74o,  1741,  i744,  1 75 1»  — seven 

years. 
Capt.  Edward  Hayward  (also  called  Esquire  &  Deacon)   1735,  1738, 

i739j  1742,  1743?  1746,  17475  1752-1756,  1758,  —  twelve  years. 
Lieut.  John  Williams,  1745,  1756,  —  two  years. 
Capt.  Eliphalet  Leonard,  1736,  1748,  1750,  1768-1771,1772,  —  seven 

years. 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL.  637 

Benjamin  Kinsley,  1749. 

3eth  Williams,  1759. 

Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  1761-1764,  1767,  —  four  years,  and  probably 
for  1760,  where  record  is  wanting. 

Ilapt.  Benjamin  Williams,  1764. 

^ephaniah  Keith,  1765,  1766,  1771,  —  three  years. 

:ol.  Abiel  Mitchell,  1773,  1774,  1775,  1785,  1795-1799'  iSoo,  1802,— 
ten  years. 

Lieut.  Seth  Pratt,  17  76-1 783,  1784,  1 786-1791,  —  thirteen  years. 

rhomas  Williams,  1792-1795,  —  three  years. 

(\bisha  Leach,  1799. 

Elijah  Howard,  iSoi. 

[oshua  Britton,  1803,  1805-1808,  1809,  1810,  1813-1820,  1822,  1824- 
1827,  1830,  1837,  —  nineteen  years. 

[Calvin  Brett,  1804,  18 12,  —  two  years. 

Samuel  Guild,  1808. 

Roland  Howard,  1815,  182 1,  1823,  —  three  years. 

fohn  Pool,  1820. 

Elijah  Howard,  Jr.,  1827-1830,  1833-1836,  1840-1850,  1856,  —  seven- 
teen years. 

[onathan  Pratt,  1831,  1832,  1839, — three  years. 

Dr.  Samuel  Deans,  1S36. 

Lewis  Williams,  1838. 

risdale  Harlow,  1850,  1851,  — two  years. 

<^lson  A.  Gilmore,  1852,1858-1863,1865-1875,  1876,  1880-1887,— 
twenty-four  years. 

[Guilford  White,  1853. 

Albert  A.  Rotch,  1854. 

William  Barrows,  1855. 

kVilliam  S.  Andrews,  1857. 

Henry  J.  Fuller,  1864. 

David  S.  Hasty,  1875,  1877,  —  two  years. 

foseph  Barrows,  1878,  1879,  —  two  years. 

Among  the  moderators  of  Easton  during  the  present  century 
:here  are  two  vi^ho  have  served  v^rith  signal  ability  and  who  deserve 
especial  notice  in  this  connection. 

The  Hon.  Elijah  Howard,  Jr.,  the  first  of  these,  was  the  son 
)£  Elijah  and  Keziah  (Hayward)  Howard,  and  was  born  in  Eas- 
:on,  May  30,  1787,  being  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation 
"rem  John  Howard,  who  came  from  England  about  1643.    Elijah 


638  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

Howard,  Jr.,  was  for  half  a  century  one  of  the  leading  busine 
men  of  Easton,  and  one  of  the  earliest  in  the  country  to^ 
manufacture  cotton  cloth  by  power  looms  ;  he  was  also  one  of 
the  first  to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of  cut  nails,  buying  some 
of  the  machines  invented  and  patented  by  Jesse  Reed.  His 
business  experience  has  been  considered  in  the  chapter  on  in- 
dustries in  Easton  since  1800.  He  served  on  the  board  of  se- 
lectmen during  the  years  1824,  1825,  and  1830,  and  in  the  State 
Legislature  for  five  successive  years,  beginning  with  1827,  and 
also  for  the  year  1835.  In  1832  he  was  chosen  by  joint  conven- 
tion of  the  two  houses  of  the  State  Legislature  to  the  office  of 
State  senator,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Eben- 
ezer  Daggett,  being  qualified  for  this  office  March  8,  1832. 
About  the  same  time  he  was  nominated  by  the  Whig  Party 
as  a  candidate  for  representative  to  Congress,  which  honor  how- 
ever he  declined. 

Mr.  Howard  was  a  noted  parliamentarian.  His  clear  head, 
strong  will,  force  of  character,  and  perfect  self-possession  emi- 
nently fitted  him  to  preside  over  public  assemblies.  As  we  have 
seen,  he  was  chosen  moderator  of  annual  town-meetings  for 
seventeen  years  ;  he  also  presided  over  other  public  assemblies 
in  Easton  forty-nine  times.  Few  persons  had  the  temerity  to 
dispute  his  authority  as  presiding  officer.  There  are  persons 
living  now  who  remember  the  resolute  tone  of  command,  which 
it  was  impossible  to  disobey,  with  which  in  town-meeting  Mr. 
Howard  once  spoke  to  Howard  Lothrop  when  he  continued 
speaking  after  being  called  to  order.  "  Sit  down,  Mr.  Lothrop, 
sit  down,  I  tell  you  !  "  he  ordered  in  resolute  tones,  and  did  not 
desist  until  he  was  obeyed. 

Mr.  Howard  was  a  decided  Unitarian  in  religious  belief.  He 
was,  in  fact,  the  leading  spirit  in  the  party  opposed  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Sheldon  during  the  memorable  controversy  that  resulted  in 
the  division  of  the  town  parish.  This  leading  position  was 
recognized  by  both  parties,  and  he  was  accordingly  blamed  by 
Mr.  Sheldon's  friends  more  than  he  deserved.  The  writer  has 
shown  by  convincing  evidence  that  the  main  reason  given  for 
this  censure,  —  namely,  his  refusal  to  allow  Mr.  Sheldon's  ad- 
herents to  vote  at  a  certain  parish  meeting,  —  is  groundless,  and 
that  Mr.  Howard  did  only  what  any  parish  clerk  under  the  cir- 


'\ 


B?  ^^:^i^  lyl<y^^       £:P?^/?'-«v<-j«-'VS5^ 


POLITICAL  AND    OFFICIAL. 


639 


cumstances  was  bound  to  do.  But  the  feeling  towards  him  is 
illustrated  by  the  following  dialogue  which  some  jocose  "Liberal" 
declared  was  taught  as  a  part  of  the  catechism  in  the  Evangelical 
Sunday-school :  — 

Qites.     Who  is  the  worst  old  man  ? 

Ans.     Daniel  Wheaton. 

Q.    Who  is  the  worst  young  man  ? 

A.     Oliver  Ames. 

Q.     Who  is  the  worst  man  ? 

A.     Elijah  Howard. 

Decided  and  persistent  as  Mr.  Howard  was  in  promoting  any 
cause  in  which  he  was  interested,  those  who  knew  him  best  say 
that  he  was  eminently  a  just  man,  and  would  not  knowingly 
wrong  any  one.  He  was  a  man  of  mark  and  character,  a  good 
type  indeed  of  a  strong,  able,  high-minded  man. 

March  6,  18 10,  Mr.  Howard  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Ferguson)  Guild.  By  her  he  had  Jason 
G.,  who  was  born  January  4,  181 3,  and  two  other  children.  Jason 
G.  Howard  married  May  10,  1838,  Mrs.  Martha  (Bartlett)  Brett, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Bartlett  and  widow  of  Jonathan  Brett,  and 
had  three  children,  of  whom  two  survive  him,  —  Davis  W.  and 
Emogen  B.,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  Commander  George 
F.  F.  Wilde  of  the  United  States  Navy.  Jason  G.  Howard 
died  September  8,  1885.     His  brother  Frederic  is  still  alive. 

Mrs.  Elijah  Howard  died  September  30,  1818  ;  and  Novem- 
ber 23,  18 19,  Elijah  Howard  married  for  a  second  wife  Fidelia 
Williams,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Sarah  (Lothrop)  Williams, 
who  was  born  in  Easton  in  1799.  They  had  two  sons.  Mrs. 
Howard  died  April  15,  1822;  and  September  18,  1823,  Mr. 
Howard  married  for  a  third  wife  Nancy,  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Elizabeth  (Harris)  Johnson,  of  Enfield,  New  Hampshire.  She  was 
born  July,  1796.  Eight  children  were  the  issue  of  this  marriage. 
It  is  a  very  remarkable  circumstance  that  Elijah  Howard  and  his 
third  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wedding.  He  died  universally 
respected,  July  4,  1874.     She  died,  December  16,  1882. 

Alson  Augustus  Gilmore,  the  second  of  these  moderators, 
was  the  son  of  Alson  and  Rachel  (Alger)  Gilmore,  and  though  a 
lifelong  resident  of  Easton,  was  born  in  New  Bedford,  June  12, 


640  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

1822.  He  graduated  from  the  Bridgewater  Normal  School  in 
1842,  and  spent  several  years  afterward  in  teaching.  In  1851 
he  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  manufacture  with  Elisha  T. 
Andrews,  continuing  this  partnership  long  after  suspending  the 
business,  and  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Andrews,  in  1883.  In  1863 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  as  also  in  1885.  He  will 
chiefly  be  remembered  in  town  as  the  "model  moderator,"  hav- 
ing served  in  that  capacity  in  twenty-four  annual  town-meetings, 
and  seventeen  special  town-meetings,  besides  other  public  as- 
semblies, —  including  that  which  dedicated  the  Oakes  Ames 
Memorial  Hall,  and  the  famous  "Love-feast"  of  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Ames  soon  after  he  was  made  lieutenant-governor, 
at  which  meeting  nearly  every  phase  of  Massachusetts  State 
politics  was  represented. 

Mr.  Gilmore  has  been  president  of  the  Unitarian  Society  in 
North  Easton  roost  of  the  time  since  its  organization  in  1855, 
was  president  of  the  North  Easton  Savings  Bank  for  the  first 
three  years  of  its  history,  and  is  vice-president  of  the  Unitarian 
Plymouth  and  Bay  Conference. 

March  22,  1848,  Mr.  Gilmore  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Jotham  and  Meriel  Lincoln,  of  Hingham.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one  only  is  now  living.  Mrs.  Gilmore  died  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1867  ;  and  March  18,  1868,  Mr.  Gilmore  married  Clara 
M.,  daughter  of  Humphrey  and  Rhoda  (Nash)  Welsh  of  Bath, 
Maine.     They  have  one  child. 

Town  Clerks. 
[Before  their  office  was  united  with  that  of  town  treasurer.] 
Captain  John  Phillips,  1726-1732,  1734-1739,  1753,  —  twelve  years. 
Benjamin  Fobes,  1732,  1733,  1 739-1751,  1760,  —  fifteen  years. 
Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  1751,  1752,  —  two  years. 
Timothy  Williams,  1 754-1 759,  — five  years. 
Mathew  Hayward,  1761-1788,  —  twenty-seven  years.^ 

Town  Treasurers. 
[Before  their  office  was  united  with  that  of  town  clerk.] 
Ephraim  Randall,  1726. 

Edward  Hayward,  Esq.,  1727,  1733,  —  two  years. 
Eliphalet  Leonard,  1728-1730,  1736,  —  three  years. 

1  From  1 788  the  offices  of  town  clerk  and  town  treasurer  were  merged  in  one. 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL.  64 1  JlllJ 

Benjamin  Drake,  1731. 

Thomas  Mania}',  Sr.,  1732. 

Daniel  Owen,  1734. 

Benjamin  Kinsley,  1735. 

Thomas  Pratt,  Jr.,  1737. 

John  Dailey,  Sr.,  1738-1742,  1744,  —  five  years. 

Henry  Howard,  1742,  1743,  —  two  years. 

Joshua  Howard,  1745,  1746,  —  two  years. 

Joseph  Crossman,  1747. 

Thomas  Manley,  1748-1751,  1759-1771,  —  fifteen  years.  1 

Joseph  Gilbert,  1751. 

Lieut.  John  Williams,  1752,  1753,  — ^two  years. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Williams,  1754,  1755,  —  two  years.  |i| 

Joseph  Drake,  Jr.,  1756.  if,. 

Josiah  Keith,  1757,  1758,  —  two  years. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Coney,  1771-1774, — ^  three  years. 

Jacob  Leonard,  1774,  1775,  — two  years. 

Rufus  Ames,  1 776-1 782,  — six  years. 

Abisha  Leach,  1782. 

Seth  Littlefield,  1 783-1788, —  five  years. 

Town  Clerks  and  Treasurers. 
[After  the  two  offices  were  united.] 

Elijah  Howard,  1 788-1 799,  —  eleven  years. 

John  Pool,  1799-1811,  —  twelve  years. 

Howard  Lothrop,  1811-1827,  1833-1836,  —  nineteen  years. 

Isaac  Lothrop,  1827-1833,  —  six  years. 

Tisdale  Harlow,  1836-1841,  1845-1849,  —  nine  years. 

Martin  Wild,  1841. 

William  Reed,  1842-1845,  —  three  years. 

Joel  S.  Drake,  1849-1853,  — four  years. 

John  Kimball,  1853-1855,  1856-1873,  —  nineteen  years. 

Albert  A.  Rotch,  1855. 

Sanford  Strout,  1873-1876,  —  three  years. 

George  G.  Withington,  1876  to  date,  —  eleven  years. 

The  town  records  give  ample  proof  that  the  town  has  usually 
shown  excellent  judgment  in  the  choice  of  its  clerks  ;  the  books 
have,  as  a  rule,  been  kept  with  remarkably  good  care. 

Selectmen. 

John  Phillips,  1726,  1734,  1744,  1 746-1 749»  — six  years. 
Josiah  Keith,  1726,  1727-1731,  1732,  1738,  — seven  years. 

41 


642  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Benjamin  Drake,   1726,  1728,   1731,  1 733-1 736,  1738,  1 743-1 746,— 

ten  years. 
Thomas  Pratt,  1727. 

John  Dailey,  1727,  1745,  —  two  years.  > 

Ephraim  Randall,  1728. 
Joseph  Snow,  1729. 

Mark  Lothrop,  1730,  1732,  1736,  1737,  —  four  years. 
Eliphalet   Leonard,   1730-1734,   1736,  1737,    1739-1743,    1746-1751, 

1 761,   1764,   1765,  —  eighteen  years.  H 

Dr.  James  Hay  ward  (Howard),  1731. 
Lieut.  John  WiUiams,   1733-1736,  i739-i743,  i744,  i745>  1749-1757. 

—  seventeen  years. 
Thomas  Manley,  Sr.,  1735,  1738,  —  two  years. 
Samuel  Kinsley,  1736,  1737,  1743,  —  three  years. 
Edward  Hay  ward,  Esq.,  1 739-1 743,  1 746-1 749, —  seven  years. 
Henry  Howard,  1 743. 
Benjamin  Kinsley,  1749. 

Joshua  Howard,  1750,  1755,  1756,  1764,    1765,  —  five  years. 
Timothy  Williams,  1751-1755,  —  four  years. 
Josiah  Keith,  Jr.,  1 751-1755,  1756,  — five  years. 
Robert  Randall,  1755,1757,  1761-1764,1766,  —  six  years. 
Nathan  Kinsley,  1757.^ 
Abiah  Manley,  1757. 
Silas  Kinsley,  1757. 

Benjamin  Pettengill,  1757,  1777,  1778,  —  three  years. 
Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  1758,  1 760-1 764,  1767,  —  six  years. 
Matthew  Hayward,  1758,  1766,  1767,  1770,  1775,  1776,  —  six  years. 
Samuel  Stone,  1758. 

James  Dean,  1759,  1761,  1762,  — three  years. 
Josiah  Kingman,  1759. 
Ebenezer  Ames,  1759. 
George  Ferguson,  1760. 

Thomas  Manley,  2d,  1763,  1768,  —  two  years. 
Zephaniah  Keith,  1764-1767,  1770,  —  four  years. 
Capt.  Benjamin  Williams,  1767. 
Timothy  Randall,  1768-1777, — nine  years. 
Col.  Abiel  Mitchell,  1768,  1769,  1771-1775,   1779,  1783-1786,  1787- 

1798,  —  twenty-one  years. 
Seth  Lothrop,  1769,  1772,  1773, —  three  years. 
Samuel  Coney,  1771. 
Abisha  Leach,  1774,  1790-1799, — ten  years. 

1  There  were  five  selectmen  this  year. 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL.  643 

Ephraim  Randall,  2d,  1775. 

Jacob  Leonard,  1776,  1778,  1787,  —  three  years. 

Seth  Pratt,  1777,  1 780-1 785,  1 786-1 790, — ten  years. 

Dr.  Samuel  Guild,  1777,  1785,  —  two  years. 

Joseph  Gilbert,  1778. 

Elijah  Howard,  1779-1782,  1785,  1786,  —  five  years. 

Dea.  William  Pratt,  1779. 

Lieut.  Jonathan  Pratt,  1780-1785,  —  five  years. 

Joseph  Drake,  2d,  1782. 

Rufus  Ames,  1786,  1788,  — two  years. 

John  Howard,  1789-1793, —  four  years. 

Seth  Littlefield,  1794-1803,  —  nine  years. 

Ephraim  Randall,  3d,  1 798-1802,  —  four  years. 

Edward  Williams,  1 799-1802,  —  three  years. 

Josiah  Williams,  1802-18 11,  —  nine  years. 

Daniel  Macomber,  1802-1813,  —  eleven  years. 

Calvin  Brett,  1803-1821,  —  eighteen  years. 

Josiah  Copeland,  1811-1816,  —  five  years. 

Moses  C.  Dunbar,  1813-1817,  1819,  1820,  1823-1829,  1845,  —  thirteen 

years. 
Elijah  Smith,  1816-1819,  1822, — four  years. 
Isaac  Lothrop,  1817-1828, — eleven  years. 
Richard  Wild,  1821. 

Roland  Howard,  1821,  1822, — two  years. 
John  Pool,  1823,  1833-1836,  —  four  years. 
Elijah  Howard,  Jr.,  1824,  1825,  1830,  —  three  years. 
Capt.  Jonathan  Pratt,  1826-1830,  1831,  1832,  1845-1849,  — ten  years. 
Joel  Drake,  1828-1833,  —  five  years. 
Thatcher  Pierce,  1829. 
Daniel  Wheaton,  1830. 
Wade  Dailey,  1831,  1832,  —  two  years. 
Henry  French,  1833. 
John  Selee,  1833. 

Nathaniel  Howard,  1834,  1835,  1 841-1 844,  —  five  years. 
Perez  Marshall,  1834,  1835, — two  years. 
Lewis  Williams,  1 836-1 839,  —  three  years. 
Nathaniel  Guild,  1836. 
Nathan  Willis,  1836,  1837,  —  two  years. 
Bernard  Alger,  1837,  1838,  —  two  years. 
Seba  Howard,  1838. 

Daniel  Randall,  Jr.,  1839,  1840, —  two  years. 
Horatio  Copeland,  1839-1843,  —  four  years. 


644  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

Archippus  Buck,  1839,  1840,  —  two  years. 

Albeit  A.  Rotch,  1 841-1845,  —  four  years. 

Seneca  Hills,  1843,  1844,  —  two  years. 

Linus  Manley,  1844. 

Galen  Sylvester,  1845,  1846,  —  two  years. 

Daniel  B.  Wheaton,  1846-1853,  1855, —  eight  years. 

Tisclale  Harlow,  1847. 

Jason  G.  Howard,  1848. 

Alson  Gilmore,  1849,  ^^5°' — two  years. 

George  W.  Hayward,  1849-1855,  1856,  —  seven  years. 

Horace  D.  Howard,  1851,  1852,  1854,  1855,  1857-1873,  —  twenty  years. 

Nahum  Williams, —  1853. 

Cyrus  Alger;  1853. 

Elbridge  G.  Morse,  1854. 

Ward  L.  Foster,  1855. 

Joel  S.  Drake,  1856-1860,  —  four  years. 

Hiram  Williams,  1856-1860,  1874,  to  date,  —  seventeen  years. 

John  Kimball,  1 860-1 873,  —  thirteen  years. 

Dan  W.  Heath,  i860. 

Joseph  Barrows,  1861-1874,  —  thirteen  years. 

William  C.  Howard,  1 873-1882,  —  nine  years. 

Jonathan  A.  Pratt,  1 873-1 886,  —  thirteen  years. 

George  Copeland,  1882  to  date,  —  five  years. 

Henry  W.  Heath,  1886. 

By  the  above  list  it  will  be  seen  that  one  hundred  and  four 
different  men  have  served  the  town  of  Easton  as  selectmen, 
many  of  them  holding  the  office  for  only  a  year  or  two.  The  ten- 
dency lately  has  been  to  retain  them  longer  in  service  than  for- 
merly. The  wisdom  of  this  is  obvious.  The  duties  of  the  ofifice 
are  so  varied,  important,  and  sometimes  perplexing  as  to  require 
considerable  experience  in  order  to  do  them  well.  When  such 
experience  has  been  gained,  it  is  desirable  for  the  town  to  reap 
the  advantage  of  it.  Until  1790  the  assessors  were  a  separate 
board  of  officers,  but  from  that  date  the  selectmen  appear  to  be 
chosen  for  that  office  also.  It  was  not  formerly  the  custom  for 
the  selectmen  to  present  reports  to  the  town  of  their  doings. 
Most  of  the  business  now  done  by  them  was  once  done  in  town- 
meetings,  the  tovv^n  acting  as  a  body  even  in  minute  and  ludi- 
crous details.  The  first  printed  town  report  of  the  selectmen 
was  for  the  year  ending  March  i,  1844,  when  Nathaniel  Howard, 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL.  645 


A.  A.  Rotch  (then  spelled  Roach),  and  Seneca  Hills  were  select- 
men. It  is  printed  upon  one  side  of  a  single  sheet,  which  is 
nineteen  by  twenty-four  inches  in  size,  and  is  elaborately  done. 
The  report  is  surrounded  by  a  heavy  ornamental  border,  in  which 
at  the  topis  a  picture  of  a  sheaf  of  grain  with  a  sickle,  rake,  pitch- 
fork, and  spade,  and  at  the  bottom  an  old-time  hip-roofed  house. 
It  bears  the  imprimatur  of  "  Butts,  Printer,  School  Street,  Bos- 
ton," and  must  have  been  unfolded  with  immense  pride  by  the 
selectmen  to  the  astonished  gaze  of  congregated  citizens. 

REPRESENTATIVES  TO  THE  GENERAL  COURT. 

Until  1772  the  town  of  Easton  chose  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court  only  four  times.  The  first  one  was  Capt.  Elipha- 
let  Leonard,  who  was  elected  in  1746;  the  second,  Capt.  John 
Phillips,  in  1754  ;  the  third,  Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  in  1755  ;  and 
Captain  Leonard  was  chosen  again  in  1760. 

The  years  when  the  town  does  not  appear  to  have  had  any 
representative  are  1 726-1 746,  1 747-1 754,  1 756-1 760,  1 761-1772, 
1774,  1776,  1779,  1780,  1815-1823,  1836,  1837,  1841,  1848,  1849, 
1 85 1,  1854.  Some  of  the  last  seven  omissions  were  cases  in 
which  there  were  several  candidates,  none  of  whom  received  a 
majority.  In  1856  a  new  representative  system  was  adopted, 
and  Raynham  was  united  with  Easton  in  one  district,  —  Easton 
being  entitled  to  three  representatives  every  five  years,  and 
Raynham  to  two.  In  1886  Mansfield  was  united  in  one  district 
with  Easton  and  Raynham. 

Following  this  is  the  list  of  Easton  representatives  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  drawn  from  the  records  of  the  Court  at  the  State 
House.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  for  some  of  the  years  when  Easton 
was  represented,  no  account  of  an  election  appears  upon  our  town 
records  ;  these  are  several  of  the  blank  years  when  the  town  ap- 
pointed what  was  called  an  "  agent "  to  present  some  special 
town  interest  to  the  General  Court.  Thus  in  1774  Capt.  Elipha- 
let  Leonard  served  as  "agent,"  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress.  In  1776  Capt.  Zephaniah  Keith  served  in 
the  same  capacity.  For  the  years  1778,  1810-1814,  1828,  1838, 
1839,  there  were  two  representatives  from  the  town. 

The  dates  following  the  names  below  represent  the  years  of 
service,  not  the  time  of  election  :  — 


646  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Eliphalet  Leonard,  1746,  1760.  Wade  Dailey,  1853. 

John  Phillips,  1754.  Dea.  Harrison  T.  Mitchell,  1855. 

Daniel  Williams,  Esq.,  1755.  William  Barrows,  1856. 

Matthew  Hay  ward,  1772,  1773,  1777.  John  Kimball,  1857. 

Benjamin  Pettengill,  1775.  Horace  D.  Howard,  1858. 

James  Perry,  1778,  1781-1784.  Hiram  A.  Pratt,  i860. 

Col.  Abiel  Mitchell,  1778,  1785-1806.  Charles  B.  Pool,  1862. 

Capt.  John  Tisdale,  1806-1812.  Alson  A.  Gilmore,  1863,  1885. 

Charles  Hayden,  1810.  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  1865. 

Calvin  Brett,  1811-1814.  Joseph  Barrows,  1867. 

The  Rev.  John  Tinkham,  1812,  1813.  John  H.  Swain,  1868. 

Howard  Lothrop,  1823-1827.  Thomas  Bean,  1870. 

Elijah  Howard,  Jr.,  1827-1832,  1835.  The  Rev.  Geo.  H.  Bates,  1872. 

Oliver  Ames,  Sr.,  1828,  1833,  1834.  George  Copeland,  1873. 

Nathauiel  Guild,  1838,  1839.  Alpheus  Fobes,  1875. 

Martin  Wild,  1838,  1839.  William  C.  Howard,  1877. 

Jonathan  Pratt,  1840.  George  C.  Belcher,  1878. 

Lincoln  Drake,  1842,  1844-1848.  Hiram  Williams,  1880. 

Lewis  Williams,  1843.  L.  S.  Drake,  1882. 

Alanson  White,  1850.  George  A.  Lackey,  1883. 

Galen  Sylvester,  1852.  Louis  C.  Southard,  1887. 

In  addition  to  the  town  officers  and  members  of  the  State 
Legislature  already  noted,  there  are  those  who  attained  higher 
positions. 

The  first  Easton  man  who  was  elected  to  the  office  of  State 
senator  was  Howard  Lothrop,  who  was  chosen  in  1827,  and 
served  four  years.  Elijah  Howard,  as  already  stated,  was  chosen 
to  the  same  office  in  1832,  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  Senator  Ebenezer  Daggett.  The  next  senator  was  Oliver 
Ames,  Sr.,  who  without  seeking  the  office,  and  even  contrary  to 
his  wishes,  was  elected  in  1845.  In  1852  his  son,  Oliver  Ames, 
Jr.,  was  chosen  State  senator  by  the  Legislature,  there  being  no 
choice  by  the  people,  and  in  1857  he  was  chosen  by  popular 
vote  to  the  same  office.  In  1867  Dr.  Caleb  Swan  was  elected 
to  the  same  position.  In  1872  it  was  filled  by  Frederick  L. 
Ames  ;  and  in  1880  and  1881  by  Oliver  Ames,  the  son  of  Oakes. 
In  1882  L.  S.  Drake,  a  Democrat  of  Easton,  having  many  Re- 
pubHcan  friends,  was  chosen  State  senator,  and  held  the  office 
for  a  year.  Frank  M.  Ames,  a  native  of  Easton  but  a  resident 
of  Canton,  was  elected  senator  in  1884. 

Two  Easton  men  have  been  members  of  the  Governor's  coun- 
cil, —  Howard  Lothrop  from  1832  to  1836,  and  Oakes  Ames,  who 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL. 


647 


in  1 861  and  1862  was  in  the  council  of  the  able  and  honored 
war  governor,  John  A.  Andrew.  He  has  also  the  honor  of  being 
the  only  citizen  of  Easton  who  has  been  elected  to  the  National 
Congress  as  representative,  to  which  position  he  was  chosen  in 
1862,  and  served  therein  for  the  ten  succeeding  years. 

Oliver  Ames  was  elected  lieutenant-governor  in  1881,  be- 
ing chosen  on  the  Republican  ticket,  though  General  Butler, 
the  Democratic  candidate  for  governor,  was  also  elected.  For 
the  three  years  following  Mr.  Ames  continued  in  the  same  office, 
George  D.  Robinson  being  governor.  In  September,  1886,  he 
was  nominated  for  governor  almost  unanimously  on  the  first  bal- 
lot in  the  Republican  convention  ;  and  Tuesday,  November  2,  the 
town  of  Easton  rejoiced  to  see  one  of  its  citizens  elected  to  the 
highest  office  within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  Massachusetts. 

The  most  conspicuous  office  in  some  respects  ever  held  by  an 
Easton  man  is  that  of  United  States  Minister  to  Russia,  —  an 
office  now  filled  by  George  Van  Ness  Lothrop,  who  was  appointed 
to  this  position  by  President  Cleveland  in  1885, 

It  is  fitting  that  there  should  follow  here  brief  sketches  of 
those  citizens  of  Easton  who  have  held  the  positions  of  trust  and 
honor  which  have  just  been  mentioned.  Some  of  them  are,  how- 
ever, more  appropriately  given  in  other  chapters. 

The  Hon.  Howard  Lothrop,  son  of  Edmund  and  Betty 
(Howard)  Lothrop,  was  born  in  Easton,  December  17,  1776. 
After  becoming  of  age  he  invested  in  a  furnace  in  Pittsford, 
Vermont,  and  managed  in  time  to  make  it  a  real  success,  be- 
coming its  superintendent  and  sole  owner.  He  sold  it  in  1809, 
the  failure  of  his  father's  health  leading  him  to  settle  perma- 
nently upon  the  old  homestead  in  Easton,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Lothrop  was  town  clerk  of  Easton  for  nineteen  years,  as 
long  a  term  of  service  as  held  by  any  one  in  town  except  Mat- 
thew Hayward,  who  continued  in  the  office  for  twenty-seven 
years,  from  1761  to  1788.  Mr.  Lothrop  served  from  181 1  to 
1827,  and  from  1833  to  1836,  being  a  very  accurate  and  com- 
petent officer.  He  was  also  for  many  years  the  clerk  of  the 
Taunton  North-Purchase  Company.  From  1823  to  1827  he  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  for  the  next  four  years 


648  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

he  was  in  the  State  senate.  For  four  years  following  this,  from 
1832  to  1836,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Governor's  council,  —  thus 
serving  four  years  each  successively  in  the  three  official  positions 
just  named.  He  was  also  one  of  the  candidates  for  presidential 
elector  on  the  Webster  ticket  in  1836.  He  was  conservative 
in  his  opinions  ;  for  though  opposed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon 
during  the  great  controversy  already  described,  he  remained 
Orthodox  in  his  religious  views.  Although  Mr.  Lothrop  called 
himself  a  farmer,  he  did  considerable  business  of  a  partially 
legal  character,  being  often  called  upon  to  prepare  and  to  ex- 
ecute wills  and  make  the  settlement  of  estates,  for  which  work 
his  superior  business  qualities  and  excellent  judgment  especially 
fitted  him. 

June  13,  1805,  Mr,  Lothrop  married  Sally,  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward and  Sarah  (Lothrop)  Williams,  of  Easton,  who  was  born 
May  9,  1787.  He  died  August  23,  1857,  and  she  May  15,  1864. 
They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  only  four  now  sur- 
vive,—  namely,  Sarah,  who  married  the  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  Jr.  ; 
George  Van  Ness,  now  minister  to  Russia ;  Howard  Augustus, 
who  resides  in  Sharon  ;  and  Cyrus,  who  lives  in  North  Easton. 

The  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  founder  of  the  great  manufacturing 
firm  of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons,  was  born  in  West  Bridgewater, 
Mass.,  April  11,  1779,  being  ^^e  youngest  son  of  Capt.  John  and 
Susanna  (Howard)  Ames,  and  a  lineal  descendant  of  William 
Ames,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1638  and  settled  in  Brain- 
tree.  Mass.  His  early  education  was  gained  by  ordinary  com- 
mon-school instruction,  and  by  the  practical  experience  of  hard 
work  in  his  father's  blacksmith  shop.  These  furnished  him 
the  groundwork  of  a  sober  judgment,  industrious  habits,  and 
a  stable  and  energetic  character.  In  April,  1803,  he  married 
Susanna  Angier ;  and  by  this  marriage  two  distinct  branches 
of  the  English  family  of  Ames,  which  had  sent  representatives 
to  this  country,  were  united,  —  for  Susanna  Angier  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Dr.  William  Ames,  a  famous  author  and  professor. 
Very  soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Ames  removed  from  Bridge- 
water  to  Easton,  and  began  the  manufacture  of  shovels  and 
hoes.  He  bought  the  Shovel-Shop  Pond  privilege  August  i, 
1803.     He  continued  here  for  three  years,  and  then  moved  to 


|<?>^^-^  -A 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL. 


649 


Plymouth  to  manufacture  shovels  for  Messrs.  Russell,  Davis,  & 
Co.  Mr.  Ames  did  not  however  give  up  his  property  or  his 
business  in  Easton,  but  carried  on  here  the  manufacture  of  hoes 
and  shovels,  the  work  being  done  by  others  under  his  over- 
sight.i  l^Q  ^a.s  also  one  of  the  partners  in  the  cotton  factory 
managed  by  Col.  David  Manley,  Difficulties  and  embarrass- 
ments that  would  have  disheartened  and  defeated  any  one  but  a 
man  of  persistent  energy  and  great  ability  beset  him  in  those 
early  days.  The  effect  upon  business  of  the  War  of  181 2  was  still 
felt ;  the  cotton  factory  had  been  burned  ;  he  was  endeavoring 
to  restore  the  business  of  his  father  to  a  prosperous  condition, 
and  had  made  great  outlays  in  getting  established  at  Easton. 
But  his  credit  was  good  and  his  courage  strong ;  his  character 
and  ability  alike  inspired  unlimited  confidence,  and  he  worked 
steadily  on  to  a  sure  and  lasting  success. 

With  only  an  humble  beginning,  shovels  being  made  by  hand 
and  carried  to  market  upon  a  one-horse  wagon,  the  business 
steadily  grew,  shop  being  added  to  shop,  workmen  increasing 
by  scores,  until  the  business  became  by  far  the  largest  and  most 
prosperous  shovel  business  in  the  world.  Mr.  Ames  would  not 
allow  any  work  to  be  sent  to  the  market  that  was  imperfect, 
and  he  thus  laid  the  foundation  for  the  great  reputation  which 
the  Ames  shovel  has  borne  and  which  it  continues  to  bear. 

In  1828,  1833,  and  1834  he  represented  his  town  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Legislature,  serving  with  marked  ability  upon  the  com- 
mittee on  manufactures.  In  1845  he  was  elected,  contrary  to 
his  desires  and  by  a  large  vote,  to  the  Massachusetts  senate. 
He  was  however  no  lover  of  office,  being  only  ambitious  to  have 
the  charge  of  the  highways  of  his  town  intrusted  to  him,  —  a 
charge  he  took  pride  in  and  faithfully  fulfilled.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  and  resolute  will,  of  great  force  of  character,  indomitable 
energy,  and  persevering  industry.  He  was  the  possessor  of  a 
splendid  physique,  and  easily  bore  off  the  palm  in  all  feats  of 
strength  and  skill,  especially  in  wrestling,  of  which  he  was  very 
fond.  His  manly  and  dignified  bearing  gave  every  one  who  saw 
him  the  impression  that  they  looked  upon  a  man  of  mark.  He 
was  such  a  man  as  a  stranger,  meeting  him  upon  the  street, 
would  turn  to  look  at  a  second  time.    Born  of  the  people,  he  was 

^  For  particulars  concerning  his  early  business  enterprises  see  chapter  xxx. 


650  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

always  very  simple  in  his  tastes,  as  well  as  democratic  in  his 
feelings  and  principles.  In  his  likes  and  dislikes  he  was  equally 
decided  ;  but  his  judgments  of  persons  were  based  upon  what  he 
believed  to  be  the  real  worth  of  any  one,  without  reference  to 
station  or  condition.  He  was  consequently  greatly  respected 
and   beloved  by  his  neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen. 

Mr.  Ames  was  enthusiastically  fond  of  farming,  and  like  Dan- 
iel Webster  was  especially  fond  of  fine  oxen,  always  obtaining 
the  best,  and  taking  great  pleasure  in  their  management.  He 
took  an  early  stand,  both  as  a  matter  of  principle  and  practice, 
in  favor  of  temperance,  bringing  up  his  family  according  to  total 
abstinence  principles.  He  was  a  decided  Unitarian  in  his  reli- 
gious convictions,  having  a  cordial  dislike  to  the  rigid  tenets  of 
the  Calvinism  of  his  day,  and  was  liberal  in  his  aid  to  religious 
institutions  ;  to  the  church  he  gave  the  sanction  of  his  personal 
attendance.  His  charities  were  large  ;  nor  were  they  bounded 
by  the  limits  of  his  sect  or  neighborhood.  His  defects  were 
such  as  pertained  merely  to  his  limited  culture  and  to  the  stern 
conflict  and  discipline  of  his  early  life. 

Mr.  Ames  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four  years,  dying 
in  North  Easton,  September  11,  1863.  His  wife  died  March  28, 
1847.  Their  remains  now  repose  in  the  Ames  family  lot  in  the 
Village  Cemetery  near  Unity  Church  in  North  Easton.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  Oakes,  born  January  10,  1804,  died 
May  8,  1873;  Horatio,  born  November  18,  T805,  died  January 
28,  1 871  ;  Oliver,  Jr.,  born  November  5,  1807,  died  March  9, 
1877;  Angier,  born  February  19,  1810,  died  July  27,  1811; 
William  L.,  born  July  9,  1812,  died  February  8,  1873  ;  Sarah  A., 
born  September  9,  1814,  died  June  5,  1886;  John,  born  April 
18,  1817,  died  May  14,  1844;  Harriet,  born  September  12,  1819, 
and  still  survives. 

'  The  Hon.  Oakes  Ames  is  the  most  widely  known  of  any  of 
the  citizens  of  Easton,  and  the  one  who  has  had  the  greatest  in- 
fluence upon  the  fortunes  and  affairs  of  the  country.  To  him 
more  than  to  any  other  man  belongs  the  credit  of  accomplish- 
ing one  of  the  grandest  enterprises  of  this  generation,  —  the 
building  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad.  For  that  work,  which 
has  been   of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  country  in  many  ways, 


Oakes   Ames. 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL. 


651 


he  deserves  the  gratitude  of  all  its  citizens,  and  his  name  will 
always  be  associated  with  that  splendid  achievement. 

Oakes  Ames  was  the  oldest  son  of  Oliver  and  Susanna  (Angier) 
Ames,  and  was  born  in  Easton,  Massachusetts,  January  10,  1804. 
He  passed  his  youth  here,  acquiring  a  common-school  education, 
and  assisting  his  father  in  the  workshop  and  on  the  farm.  He 
gained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  shovel  business,  in  which 
his  father  was  engaged,  and  devoted  to  it  for  years  a  laborious 
industry  and  great  energy,  early  becoming  its  overseer.  In 
1844  his  father,  having  reached  the  age  of  sixty-five,  withdrew 
from  active  participation  in  the  business,  turning  it  over  to  his 
sons  Oakes  and  Oliver  ;  and  from  this  date  the  firm  bore  the 
name  of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons.  The  discovery  of  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia and  Australia,  and  the  vast  increase  of  railroad  building, 
gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  shovel  business,  so  that  it  rapidly 
grew  to  extensive  proportions,  and  became  very  profitable.  It 
was  managed  with  great  enterprise,  weathered  the  financial 
storm  of  1857  without  serious  disturbance,  and  went  on  to 
increasing  success. 

In  i860  Oakes  Ames  was  elected  councillor  from  the  Bristol 
district,  serving  as  one  of  the  cabinet  officers  of  Governor  An- 
drew, by  whom  he  was  highly  esteemed.  He  was  soon  solicited 
to  become  a  candidate  for  Congress  from  the  Second  District. 
On  the  informal  ballot  at  the  nominating  convention  he  received 
two  thirds  of  all  the  votes  cast,  was  then  formally  nominated, 
and  was  elected  by  a  large  popular  vote.  This  was  for  the 
Thirty-eighth  Congress ;  and  to  the  four  succeeding  Congresses 
he  was  continuously  elected,  serving  ten  years  altogether.  Dur- 
ing these  ten  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  several  committees 
on  manufactures,  on  the  Pacific  railroad,  on  Revolutionary 
claims,  and  on  roads  and  canals,  his  business  experience  and 
sound  practical  judgment  making  his  services  especially  valu- 
able in  all  these  positions.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  President 
Lincoln,  and  enjoyed  his  personal  confidence. 

It  was  as  a  member  of  the  committee  on  railroads  that  he 
first  became  interested  in  the  Government  project  of  building  a 
road  to  the  Pacific.  In  July,  1862,  Congress  passed  an  Act  au- 
thorizing and  making  some  provision  for  the  construction  of  a 
railroad  and  telegraph  line  from  the  Missouri  River  to  the  Pacific 


652  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


1 


slope.  Scarcely  anything,  however,  was  done  about  it.  In  July, 
1864,  the  need  of  such  aline  of  communication  between  the  East 
and  the  West  was  imperatively  felt,  and  Congress  passed  a  second 
Act  more  liberal  than  the  first,  doubling  the  land-grant,  authoriz- 
ing the  issue  of  mortgage  bonds  to  the  same  amount  as  the  Gov- 
ernment bonds,  making  the  latter  a  second  mortgage,  and  offer- 
ing to  withhold  only  one  half  the  money  the  road  might  earn 
for  Government  transportation.  One  attempt  to  construct  the 
road  under  this  new  arrangement  signally  failed.  Oakes  Ames 
was  then  looked  to  as  the  man  competent  to  undertake  and  com- 
plete this  gigantic  work.  Many  prominent  men,  among  them 
President  Lincoln,  urged  him  to  undertake  it  for  the  public  good. 
After  nearly  a  year  of  such  solicitation,  and  after  careful  deliber- 
ation, he  decided  to  do  it,  and  thus  to  connect  his  name  with  one 
of  the  greatest  works  of  the  century  in  this  country. 

It  is  impossible  in  the  necessary  limits  of  this  brief  sketch  to 
trace  even  in  outline  the  progress  and  successful  completion  of 
that  great  work,  or  to  do  more  than  allude  to  the  famous  Credit 
Mobilier  affair,  which  engaged  such  general  attention  and  created 
such  absurd  excitement.  The  building  of  the  Pacific  Railroad 
once  undertaken,  Oakes  Ames  gave  to  the  work  all  his  accus- 
tomed energy.  He  invested  a  million  dollars  outright,  and 
hazarded  his  entire  fortune  in  the  enterprise.  He  invited  his 
friends  to  join  him  and  invest  their  capital,  —  men  in  and  out  of 
Congress  being  invited  to  engage  in  it  on  the  same  terms. 

The  obstacles  to  be  overcome  in  this  work,  both  physical  and 
financial,  were  immense.  But  they  were  overcome,  and  on  the 
lOth  of  May,  1869,  the  rails  of  the  Union  Pacific  and  Central 
Pacific  were  joined  at  Promontory  Point,  and  the  Pacific  Railroad 
was  complete,  —  the  East  and  West  were  united  ;  and  this  was 
seven  years  earlier  than  the  terms  of  the  contract  required. 

As  to  the  Credit  Mobilier  affair,  it  is  noticeable  that  those 
were  freest  to  condemn  it  who  knew  least  about  it.  It  is  safe 
to  assert  that  not  one  in  a  hundred  of  those  who  used  that 
term  as  a  symbol  of  business  iniquity  really  understood  what  it 
meant.  It  was  for  this  very  reason  a  convenient  and  powerful 
weapon  to  wield  in  a  time  of  great  political  excitement,  inas- 
much as  it  suggested  unknown  horrors  and  depths  of  wicked- 
ness.    In  fact,  however,  it  was  merely  a  construction  company. 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL.  653 


Roads  had  been  built  by  the  same  method  before;  they  are  com- 
monly built  in  the  same  way  in  the  West  to-day. 

It  was  not  until  this  matter  was  given  a  political  turn  that 
anything  wrong  was  suspected.  It  was  found  that  several  Con- 
gressmen had  a  financial  interest  in  it,  and  it  was  asserted  that 
Mr.  Ames  had  interested  them  with  corrupt  intent  in  order 
to  influence  their  legislation  ;  in  short,  he  was  accused  of  hav- 
ing bribed  these  men.  Yielding  to  popular  clamor,  Congress 
demanded  an  investigation.  Two  committees  were  appointed  to 
make  it.  They  sat  for  months,  made  their  reports  to  Congress, 
and  on  the  28th  day  of  February  the  House  passed  a  resolution 
condemning  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Ames  "in  seeking,"  —  so  reads 
the  resolve,  —  "to  procure  Congressional  attention  to  the  affairs 
of  a  corporation  in  which  he  was  interested,"  etc.  He  alone 
was  made  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  storm  and  be  offered  up  as  a 
scapegoat,  when  in  reality  no  sacrifice  was  needed.  He  was 
charged  with  bribery  when  it  did  not  appear  that  any  man  had 
been  bribed.  The  charge  rested  upon  the  assertion  of  one  man, 
and  that  man  an  interested  party,  whose  word  was  good  for 
nothing  in  the  face  of  Mr.  Ames's  denial.  In  fact,  no  special 
legislation  for  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  was  desired  or  even 
looked  for.  Mr.  Ames,  for  the  good  of  the  enterprise,  endeav- 
ored to  enlist  the  influence  of  prominent  men  in  different  parts 
of  the  country.  There  was  no  more  reason  why  ownership  in 
the  stock  referred  to  should  embarrass  a  congressman  than  his 
ownership  of  stock  in  a  national  bank,  an  iron  furnace,  a  woollen- 
mill,  or  even  in  government  bonds.  Those  congressmen  who 
openly  declared  their  ownership  in  the  Credit  Mobilier  stock  and 
regretted  that  they  had  so  little,  are  held  in  honor  to-day ;  but 
those  who,  fearful  of  the  result  of  such  confession  upon  their 
political  chances,  sought  to  evade  the  matter,  have  been  perma- 
nently disgraced.  From  that  day  to  this,  in  proportion  as  the 
case  is  understood  and  his  services  appreciated,  Oakes  Ames 
has  risen  in  popular  regard. 

As  to  the  censure  passed  upon  him,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  best  known,  has  spoken  unequivocally  ;  for  in  the  spring  of 
1883  her  Legislature  passed  the  following  resolution  :  — 

'"''Resolved^  In  view  of  the  great  services  of  Oakes  Ames,  represen- 
tative from  the  Massachusetts  Second  Congressional  District  for  ten 


I 


654  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

years  ending  March  4,  1873,  in  achieving  the  construction  of  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  the  most  vital  contribution  to  the  integrity 
and  growth  of  the  National  Union  since  the  war  ; 

"  In  view  of  his  unflinching  truthfulness  and  honesty,  which  refused 
to  suppress,  in  his  own  or  any  other  interest,  any  fact,  and  so  made 
him  the  victim  of  an  intense  and  misdirected  public  excitement,  and 
subjected  him  to  a  vote  of  censure  by  the  Forty-Second  Congress  at 
the  close  of  its  session  ; 

"  And  in  view  of  the  later  deliberate  public  sentiment,  which  upon  a 
review  of  all  the  facts  holds  him  in  an  esteem  irreconcilable  with  his 
condemnation,  and  which  throughout  the  whole  country  recognizes  the 
value  and  patriotism  of  his  achievement,  and  his  innocence  of  corrupt 
motive  or  conduct,  — 

"  Therefore  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  hereby  expresses  its 
gratitude  for  his  work  and  its  faith  in  his  integrity  of  purpose  and 
character,  and  asks  for  like  recognition  thereof  on  the  part  of  the 
National  Congress." 

Oakes  Ames  was  a  man  of  large  and  powerful  frame,  "the 
broad-shouldered  Ames,"  as  Mr.  Lincoln  called  him.  He  was 
courageous  and  enterprising  in  business  affairs,  with  a  special 
aptitude  for  large  undertakings.  The  Pacific  Railroad  suited 
his  liking  and  capacity  for  great  and  adventurous  tasks.  He 
was  very  temperate,  a  total  abstainer  from  all  intoxicating 
drinks,  simple  and  democratic  in  his  tastes,  caring  little  for 
the  luxuries  that  usually  accompany  great  wealth.  His  busi- 
ness integrity  was  unquestioned.  Under  a  rugged  exterior  he 
carried  a  kind  heart ;  and  after  his  death  scores  of  letters  from 
various  quarters  told  his  friends  of  numerous  kindnesses  done 
by  him,  but  until  then  unknown  to  them.  His  bequest  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars  for  the  benefit  of  the  children  of  North  Easton 
village  has  been  considered  in  the  chapter  on  Schools. 

November  29,  1827,  Oakes  Ames  married  Eveline  O.,  daughter 
of  Joshua  and  Hannah  [Lothrop]  Gilmore,  of  Easton.  Of  this 
union  there  was  born  Oakes  Angier,  April  15,  1829;  Oliver, 
February  4,  183 1  ;  Frank  Morton,  August  14,  1833  ;  Henry  G., 
April  10,  1839,  who  died  in  September,  1841  ;  and  Susan  Eveline, 
May  12,  1 841,  who  on  January  i,  1861,  was  married  to  Henry  W. 
French,  of  Pawtucket,  Rhode  Island. 

Oakes  Ames,  while  suffering  from  an  attack  of  pneumonia, 
was  May  5,  1873,  stricken  with   paralysis,  and  died  three  days 


POLITICAL  AND   OFFICIAL. 


655 


afterward.  His  remains  lie  in  the  Village  Cemetery  at  North 
Easton,  where  a  tall  shaft  of  beautiful  granite  perpetuates  his 
memory.  His  wife  was  born  in  Easton,  June  14,  1809,  and  died 
July  20,  1882. 

The  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  the  second  of  that  name,  was  the 
third  son  of  Hon.  Oliver  and  Susanna  (Angier)  Ames.  He  was 
born  in  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  November  5,  1807.  In  1813 
he  became  a  resident  of  Easton  by  his  father's  removal  to  this 
place,  after  which  time  Easton  was  his  home.  In  his  youth  his 
time  was  divided  between  attending  school  and  working  in  the 
Shovel  Works.  He  became  an  expert  and  thorough  workman 
in  every  branch  of  the  shovel  manufacture.  He  also  showed  great 
aptitude  for  study,  and  in  1828,  being  disabled  for  active  labor 
by  a  severe  fall,  he  entered  an  academy  at  North  Andover, 
Massachusetts,  intending  to  prepare  for  college,  and  ultimately 
to  study  law,  for  which  pursuit  his  talents  peculiarly  fitted  him  ; 
but  after  spending  a  year  and  a  half  at  the  academy,  he  entered 
as  a  law  student  the  office  of  William  Baylies,  Esq.,  of  West 
Bridgewater.  The  confinement  of  the  office  proving  unfavorable 
to  his  health,  together  with  the  increasing  demands  of  business 
at  home,  led  him  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  that  of  his  father  and 
his  brother  Oakes.  In  1844  he  entered  into  copartnership  with 
them,  forming  the  house  of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons,  and  becom- 
ing the  efficient  colaborer  of  his  brother  in  the  management 
of  their  great  business.  As  early  as  1826  he  was  much  inter- 
ested in  the  temperance  movement,  supporting  the  cause  of  total 
abstinence,  of  which  from  that  time  he  was  a  consistent  and 
earnest  advocate,  serving  it  actively,  contributing  to  it  largely, 
and  being  the  first  man  in  Easton  to  sign  the  total  abstinence 
pledge. 

Mr.  Ames  was  a  member  of  the  Whig  Party,  and  at  its  disso- 
lution joined  the  Republican  Party,  taking  a  lively  interest  in  its 
principles  and  measures.  In  1852  he  was  elected  to  the  senate 
of  Massachusetts  by  the  Legislature,  there  being  no  choice  by 
the  people,  and  did  excellent  service  upon  several  important 
committees.  In  1857  he  was  elected  to  the  same  office  by  popu- 
lar vote.  In  some  of  the  campaigns  he  made  effective  speeches 
upon  the  issues  of  the  hour.     In  1855  the  Messrs.  Ames  built 


656  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

the  Easton  Branch  Railroad,  and  after  this  became  interested  in 
those  important  railroad  enterprises  in  which  the  two  brothers 
were  so  deservedly  famous.  Though  Oakes  Ames,  as  we  have 
said,  with  characteristic  courage  took  the  initiative  in  con- 
structing the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  yet  the  prosecution  and 
completion  of  this  magnificent  undertaking  was  owing  to  the 
united  efforts  of  the  two  brothers.  In  1866  Oliver  Ames  was 
elected  president  of  that  railroad,  an  office  he  held  with  sig- 
nal ability  until  March,  iS/r.  During  this  time  the  road  passed 
through  some  of  its  stormiest  days  and  severest  trials.  His 
sound  judgment,  great  business  capacity,  and  inflexible  integrity 
were  of  immense  service  in  carrying  this  great  enterprise  safely 
through  difficulty  and  peril  to  final  success. 

Oliver  Ames  held  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility, 
of  which  a  few  may  be  mentioned.  Besides  his  service  as  State 
senator  he  was  a  trustee  in  the  Taunton  Insane  Asylum  for  about 
twenty  years  ;  was  president  of  the  National  Bank  of  Easton,  of 
the  Ames  Plow  Company  and  the  Kinsley  Iron  and  Machine 
Company ;  a  director  of  the  Union  Pacific,  Atlantic  and  Pacific, 
Kansas  Pacific,  Denver  Pacific,  Colorado  Central,  Old  Colony 
and  Newport,  and  other  railroads  ;  also  of  the  Bristol  County 
National  Bank,  and  other  corporations.  His  public  spirit  led 
him  to  take  great  interest  in  enterprises  of  education,  philan- 
thropy, and  reform.  He  was  identified  with  agricultural,  histor- 
ical, and  other  societies,  and  willingly  served  for  years  on  the 
board  of  school  committee  of  Easton.  He  was  always  interested 
in  the  Unitarian  churches  of  Easton  and  North  Easton,  was 
very  constant  in  his  attendance  upon  religious  service,  and  for 
several  years  was  a  Sunday-school  superintendent.  He  died  at 
North  Easton,  March  9,  1877. 

Oliver  Ames  stood  among  the  foremost  in  his  reputation  for 
a  manly  and  unblemished  character  and  for  business  ability,  - — 
a  reputation  he  well  deserved.  No  one  could  be  with  him  with- 
out seeing  that  he  was  a  strong,  substantial,  able,  and  honorable 
man.  His  name  was  felt  to  be  a  sufficient  indorsement  of  the 
worth  and  promise  of  any  enterprise. 

Business  cares  were  not  allowed  to  engross  all  of  Mr.  Ames's 
attention.  He  continued  to  the  last  his  interest  in  Hterature, 
kept   himself   familiar   with    the    great   questions    that    agitate 


F()rbcs  Albortype — Bost^ 


MONUMENT 

IN    MEMORY    OF    OAKES    AMES    AND    OLIVER     AMES, 

Erected  by  tlie  Union   Pacific  Railway  Company,  at  Sliernian,  Wyoniintr  Territory,— the 

highest  point  readied  by  its  railroad.     Base,  60  feet  square.     Ileiylit,  60  feet. 

Sumrnit,  8,350  feet  above  level  of  the  sea. 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL. 


657 


thought  and  life,  enjoyed  the  society  of  cultivated  persons,  and 
often  surprised  them  by  the  clearness  and  comprehensiveness 
of  his  carefully  formed  opinions.  In  his  character  there  were 
blended  an  admirable  simplicity  and  a  most  cordial  fellow-feel- 
ing, with  a  real  dignity  and  refinement.  He  was  noted  for  his 
generosity.  No  help  was  denied  any  object  that  commanded  his 
confidence  ;  but  he  shrank  from  all  publicity  in  his  benefactions. 
He  had  a  high  sense  of  honor,  that  was  prompt  to  rebuke  any- 
thing mean  and  dishonorable.  He  was  not  only  a  philanthropic, 
but  also  a  religious  man,  with  a  strong  faith  in  God  and  in  im- 
mortality, —  a  faith  that  at  the  last  ripened  into  glad  anticipation. 

Many  of  his  benefactions  have  not  been  disclosed,  but  those 
he  was  known  to  have  bestowed  were  most  wisely  made,  and  are 
doing  a  good  that  is  incalculable.  Reference  has  already  been 
made  to  some  of  his  large  bequests,  —  to  his  gifts  of  a  fund  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars  each  for  the  schools,  the  roads,  and  a  free 
public  library,  as  well  as  that  of  a  beautiful  and  costly  church  to 
the  Unitarian  Society.  Besides  these  may  be  mentioned  his  gift 
of  about  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  Plymouth  monument, 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  building  Unity  Church  parsonage,  and 
two  other  bequests  of  the  same  amount  to  keep  the  church,  par- 
sonage, and  cemetery  in  repair. 

The  picture  of  the  monument  erected  by  the  Union  Pacific 
Railway  Company  in  commemoration  of  Oakes  and  Oliver 
Ames  at  Sherman,  Wyoming  Territory,  is  here  presented. 

June  12,  1833,  Oliver  Ames  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  the 
Hon.  Howard  and  Sally  (Williams)  Lothrop,  of  Easton.  Their 
children  were  Frederick  Lothrop  Ames,  born  June  8,  1835  ; 
and  Helen  Angier  Ames,  born  November  11,  1836,  and  died 
December  13,  1882. 

The  Hon.  Oliver  Ames,  now  (November  4,  1886)  Governor- 
elect  of  Massachusetts,  is  the  second  son  of  Oakes  and  Eveline 
(Gilmore)  Ames,  and  was  born  in  Easton,  February  4,  183 1. 
His  early  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  in  the  academies  of  North  Attleborough  and 
Leicester ;  he  then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years  in  the 
Shovel  Works,  where  he  gained  a  practical  knowledge  of  the 
shovel  manufacture  in  all  its  branches.     At  the  age  of  twenty 

42 


658  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

years  he  entered  Brown  University,  pursuing  there  only  a  par- 
tial course  of  study  ;  after  which  he  continued  to  work  in  the 
shovel  shops  at  home,  and  was  also  employed  for  a  short  time 
as  travelling  agent  for  the  firm.  Governor  Ames  has  always 
been  heartily  interested  in  the  local  affairs  of  his  native  town. 
He  was  elected  in  1852  second  lieutenant  of  the  Easton  Light 
Infantry,  afterward  Company  B  of  the  Massachusetts  Fourth 
Regiment ;  in  1853  he  was  chosen  adjutant,  in  1854  major,  and 
in  1857  lieutenant-colonel.  He  also  served  for  twelve  3'ears 
upon  the  school  committee  of  Easton. 

Governor  Ames  enjoys  a  well  deserved  reputation  as  a  busi- 
ness man  and  financier.  At  the  time  of  his  father's  death  the 
management  of  the  great  enterprises  and  of  the  large  estate  left 
by  him  devolved  upon  his  two  sons,  Oakes  A.  and  Oliver,  as 
executors,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  conducted  these  affairs 
is  sufficient  evidence  of  their  uncommon  business  ability.  The 
estate  was  then  burdened  with  immense  obligations  ;  th6  times 
were  unpropitious,  and  men  of  large  experience  and  careful  judg- 
ment in  financial  matters  advised  them  to  hand  the  estate  over  to 
the  creditors.  This  the  executors  determined  not  to  do  ;  and 
after  years  of  energetic  struggle  against  seemingly  insuperable  ob- 
stacles, they  succeeded  not  only  in  discharging  all  the  obligations 
involved,  but  also  in  paying  all  the  legacies  and  having  a  hand- 
some fortune  left  besides.  Oliver  Ames  is  interested  in  many 
extensive  business  enterprises,  and  has  been  able  by  means  of 
them  to  acquire  a  large  fortune. 

Governor  Ames's  connection  with  politics  began  with  his  ser- 
vice as  a  member  of  the  Republican  town  committee  of  Easton, 
of  which  committee  he  has  been  chairman  and  treasurer.  In 
1880  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate,  and  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  position  in  1881,  serving  during  both  years  on  the 
committees  on  railroads  and  education.  In  1882  he  received 
the  republican  nomination  for  lieutenant-governor  on  the  ticket 
headed  by  the  name  of  the  Hon.  Robert  R.  Bishop.  Mr.  Bishop 
was  defeated  by  General  Butler,  the  Democratic  candidate  for 
governor,  but  Mr.  Ames  was  elected  lieutenant-governor  by  a 
plurality  vote.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office  for  the 
three  years  following,  with  George  D.  Robinson  as  governor.  In 
1886  he  received  an  almost  unanimous  vote  on  the  first  ballot  of 
the  delegates  to  the  Republican  State  convention  as  candidate 


HELIOTVPE    PSINTINO    CO.,    BOSTON. 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL. 


659 


for  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  after  a  campaign  which  was 
signalized  by  its  freedom  from  abusive  personaHties,  he  was  on 
Tuesday,  November  2,  elected  to  that  office. 

March  14,  i860,  Mr.  Ames  married  Anna  C,  daughter  of  Obed 
and  Anna  W.  Ray,  of  Nantucket,  Massachusetts.  They  have  had 
six  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Ames  makes  his  home 
in  North  Easton  and  in  Boston,  residing  at  the  former  place  dur- 
ing the  summer  months,  and  living  for  the  rest  of  the  year  at  his 
elegant  city  residence  on  Commonwealth  Avenue.  In  1885  he 
was  chosen  president  of  the  Merchants'  Club  in  Boston,  and  was 
re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  1886.  He  is  also  president  of 
the  Boston  Art  Club. 

One  of  Governor  Ames's  most  marked  traits  is  his  devotion  to 
the  memory  of  his  father,  Oakes  Ames,  in  whose  perfect  integ- 
rity he  has  absolute  confidence,  whom  he  believes  to  have  been 
grievously  wronged  by  the  Congressional  vote  of  censure,  and 
the  vindication  of  whose  honor  he  has  made  the  most  cherished 
purpose  of  his  life. 

The  Hon.  Lincoln  S.  Drake,  son  of  Lincoln  and  Caroline 
(Torrey)  Drake,  was  born  in  Easton,  April  8,  1840.  He  is  now 
serving  his  twelfth  consecutive  year  as  member  of  the  school 
committee,  has  been  member  of  the  prudential  committee  of  the 
Evangelical  Society  for  about  fifteen  years,  and  clerk  of  the 
church  since  1882.  In  politics  Mr.  Drake  is  a  Democrat,  but 
his  well-known  independence  has  made  him  popular  outside  his 
party,  and  the  two  principal  offices  he  has  held  were  secured  by 
the  aid  of  Republican  votes,  more  particularly  in  Easton.  In  1882 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  in  the  autumn  of  that 
year  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate, —  his  sound  temperance 
principles,  and  his  popularity  in  Taunton  and  at  home,  securing 
his  election  in  a  Republican  district.  In  the  senate  he  was  on 
the  committees  on  manufactures,  printing,  and  woman's  suffrage. 
He  has  served  many  years  on  the  Easton  Democratic  committee, 
has  for  ten  years  been  a  member  of  the  Second  District  Congres- 
sional committee,  and  its  chairman  since  1882,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Democratic  committee  in  1882  and  1883,  being 
on  the  executive  committee  in  the  latter  year.  In  1880  he  was 
appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by  Governor  Long.  For  twenty- 
nine  years  he  has  been  organist  of  the  Evangelical  Society.     He 


66o  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

is  engaged  in  the  foundry  business  in  Easton  with  his  brother, 
Abbott  L.  Drake. 

May  9,  1861,  Mr.  Drake  was  married  to  Sarah  L.,  daughter  of 
Adonijah  and  Sarah  (Dean)  White.  They  had  five  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs.  Drake  died  June  25,  1882  ;  and 
March  4,  1885,  Mr.  Drake  was  married  to  Ellen  M.,  daughter  of 
Charles  T.  and  Margaret  French. 

The  Hon.  Frank  M.  Ames,  youngest  son  of  Oakes  and  Eveline 
(Gilmore)  Ames,  was  born  in  Easton,  August  14,  1833.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Leicester  and  Andover  academies,  after  leaving 
which  he  entered  the  Shovel  Works  at  North  Easton,  remaining 
there  several  years  and  gaining  a  thorough  practical  acquaint- 
ance with  the  varied  details  of  the  manufacture,  and  with  much 
of  the  management  of  the  extensive  business  interests  involved  in 
it.  July  10,  1857,  he  was  appointed  major  in  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment, M.V. M.,  having  previously  served  as  sergeant-major  and  as 
quartermaster.      His  commission  as  major  he  resigned  in  i860. 

In  1858  Mr.  Ames  moved  to  Canton,  Massachusetts,  to  take 
charge  of  the  business  of  the  Kinsley  Iron  and  Machine  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  now  the  principal  owner.  He  has  also  other 
business  interests  ;  was  for  several  years  the  trustee  and  man- 
ager of  the  New  Orleans,  Mobile,  and  Texas  Railroad,  and  now 
owns  and  manages  a  large  plantation  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  New  Orleans,  cultivating  about  fif- 
teen hundred  acres  of  sugar-cane  and  many  acres  of  rice,  besides 
having  a  large  amount  of  land  for  grazing. 

Mr.  Ames  is  much  interested  in  politics,  and  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican. In  1869,  and  also  in  1882,  he  was  a  representative  to 
the  General  Court,  serving  on  the  committee  on  railroads.  In 
1884  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate,  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  drainage  and  manufactures,  and 
was  chairman  of  a  special  committee  on  the  metropolitan  police 
bill  for  the  city  of  Boston.  He  was  a  delegate  in  1884  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago. 

November  13,  1856,  Mr.  Ames  married  Catherine  Hayward, 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Lurana  (Copeland)  Copeland.  They  have 
had  seven  children,  all  but  one  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Ames's 
summer  home  is  in  Canton,  and  his  winter  residence  is  on  Com- 
monwealth Avenue,  Boston. 


POLITICAL   AND    OFFICIAL.  66 1 


POST-OFFICES. 

The  accepted  tradition  regarding  the  first  post-office  in  Easton 
is  that  it  was  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  that  Daniel 
Wheaton  was  the  first  postmaster,  that  he  received  his  commis- 
sion from  President  George  Washington,  and  that  therefore  he 
was  appointed  as  early  as  1796.  This  tradition  is  wrong  in 
all  four  particulars.  The  first  postmaster  of  Easton  was  Na- 
thaniel Wetherby.  His  office  was  at  his  inn  on  the  Bay  road 
at  the  location  known  as  the  Sheperd  place,  where  he  had  been 
a  licensed  innkeeper  for  several  years.  His  appointment  was 
dated  July  i,  1800,  —  and  he  must  therefore  have  received  his 
commission  from  President  John  Adams.  These  facts,  as  well 
as  those  relating  to  the  establishment  of  the  post-ofifices  in 
Easton  and  the  appointment  of  postmasters,  are  all  official,  be- 
ing obtained  by  the  writer,  with  the  kind  assistance  of  the 
Hon.  John  D.  Long,  directly  from  the  Post-office  Department 
at  Washington. 

This  first  post-office  was  designed  to  accommodate  the  three 
towns  of  Norton,  Mansfield,  and  Easton  ;  it  was  not  until  about 
18 1 7  that  Norton  had  a  post-ofBce  of  its  own.  Mr.  Wetherby 
held  his  office  for  only  a  little  over  six  months.  It  was  prob- 
ably found  that  his  location  would  not  accommodate  Easton  and 
Norton  as  well  as  some  situation  farther  south.  Accordingly, 
January  27,  1801,  Daniel  Wheaton  was  appointed  postmaster  in 
place  of  Mr.  Wetherby,  and  he  kept  his  office  in  a  cottage  below 
where  Daniel  B.  Wheaton  now  lives.  In  1815  it  was  removed 
to  Daniel  Wheaton's  house.  About  1828  the  office  was  re- 
moved to  Dr.  Samuel  Deans's  in  the  Furnace  Village ;  but 
Daniel  Wheaton  continued  postmaster,  holding  the  office  for 
forty  years  and  six  months.  His  successor  was  Henry  W.  B- 
Wightman,  who  was  appointed  July  24.  1841.  The  post-office 
was  located  in  Lincoln  Drake's  store,  and  was  kept  there  until 
the  appointment  of  John  Kimball.  Mr.  Wightman  held  the  posi- 
tion for  nearly  nine  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  F. 
Davidson,  the  date  of  whose  appointment  was  February  22, 
1850.  Mr.  Davidson  was  in  office  for  over  eleven  years,  and 
was  followed  by  Lincoln  S.  Drake,  who  was  appointed  Novem- 
ber 14,  1 861,  and  was  postmaster  one  year  and  six  months. 
April  2,  1863,  John  Kimball  received  his  commission,  and  the 


662  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

office  for  the  succeeding  nineteen  years  was  kept  in  his  store. 
April  4,  1882,  Mrs.  Helen  E.  Goward  received  the  appointment 
for  this  office,  which  was  then  transferred  to  the  old  stand  of 
Lincoln  Drake's  store  near  the  foundry.  Mrs.  Goward  still 
holds  the  position. 

The  second  post-office  was  first  known  as  Easton  No.  2,  and 
was  established  January  28,  181 1,  at  which  date  Israel  Alger 
was  made  postmaster,  the  post-office  being  located  at  his  house, 
in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town.  Mr.  Alger  held  the  office  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  in  1825,  when  John  Gilmore,  Octo- 
ber 27,  1825,  received  the  appointment,  holding  the  position  for 
three  years  and  a  half.  April  27,  1829,  Easton  No.  2  post- 
office  received  a  new  name.  The  Post-office  Department  christ- 
ened it  Easton  Four  Corners  post-office,  and  it  was  located  on 
the  Turnpike  at  the  Four  Corners,  in  the  Alger  neighborhood. 
At  the  date  just  named,  when  this  change  was  made,  Matthew 
Bolles  was  made  postmaster.  He  was  a  Baptist  minister,  who 
preached  at  Cocheset,  but  lived  in  Easton  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Turnpike,  just  north  of  the  Four  Corners.  He  held  the  position 
scarcely  more  than  a  year,  being  succeeded  May  29,  1830,  by 
Bernard  Alger.  Exactly  eleven  years  from  this  date,  May  29, 
1 841,  the  Easton  Four  Corners  post-office  was  discontinued, 
Bernard  Alger  remaining  postmaster  to  the  end. 

Two  years  before  the  discontinuance  of  the  last  named  office 
the  North  Easton  post-office  was  established.  This  was  June 
20,  1839.  Previous  to  this  time  the  North  Easton  residents, 
whose  business  was  growing  fast,  had  suffered  considerable  in- 
convenience in  regard  to  the  mails.  One  line  of  mail  coaches 
ran  on  the  Bay  road  and  one  on  the  Taunton  and  South  Boston 
Turnpike,  and  North  Easton  village  was  between  them  both, 
the  post-offices  being  four  miles  away.  At  the  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  Main  streets  a  large  box  with  a  cover  was  set  upon 
a  post,  and  mail  (at  least  newspapers  and  heavy  n-iail)  was  put 
into  and  taken  from  this  box  by  the  drivers  of  the  passing 
mail-coaches.  On  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  North 
Easton  post-office,  June  20,  1839,  John  Ames,  2d,  was  appointed 
postmaster.  Mr.  Ames  died  May  14,  1844,  and  Augustus 
O.  Howard  succeeded  him,  receiving  his  commission  June  7, 
1844.  He  held  the  office  for  twelve  years,  and  his  successor, 
David  L.  Pratt,  was  the  next  postmaster.     Mr.  Pratt  did  not 


i 


POLITICAL   AND   OFFICIAL. 


663 


give  good  satisfaction  ;  many  persons  preferred  to  send  their  let- 
ters to  Boston  by  other  means  than  the  mail,  and  a  lawsuit  was 
brought  against  Conductor  Tilden  and  A.  A.  Gilmore  for  carry- 
ing them.  Such  transmission  of  letters  was  illegal ;  but  the 
offence  did  not  involve,  as  one  of  the  lawyers  expressed  it,  any 
"  great  moral  turpitude,"  and  the  prosecution  did  not  have  much 
sympathy.  It  was  abandoned  because  of  some  technical  infor- 
mality about  it  ;  and  when  another  suit  was  preferred  against 
Conductor  Tilden,  it  shared  a  similar  fate.  It  was  ascertained 
that  if  the  words  "  transm.itted  on,"  with  the  date  attached,  were 
written  or  printed  on  letters,  they  might  be  legally  transported 
and  mailed  in  another  place.  Accordingly,  the  Ames  Company 
and  various  individuals  procured  envelopes  thus  lettered,  and 
regularly  sent  their  mail  to  Boston. 

David  L.  Pratt  was  succeeded  in  his  office  January  19,  i860, 
by  Jonathan  A.  Pratt,  who  held  the  position  about  fifteen  months. 
On  the  incoming  of  Lincoln's  administration.  Dr.  George  B. 
Cogswell  received  the  appointment,  his  commission  being  dated 
April  8,  1861.  During  his  absence  in  the  war  several  different 
persons  performed  the  duties  of  postmaster,  among  others  John 
B.  King,  who  seemed  in  some  magical  way  to  anticipate  the 
entrance  of  letter-seekers,  as  they  were  sure  to  find  their  mail  on 
the  counter  ready  for  them  when  they  entered,  though  Mr.  King 
was  busily  engaged  at  his  work.  Dr.  Cogswell  held  the  office 
over  twenty-four  years.  His  successor,  the  present  postmaster, 
is  William  J.  Twohig,  who  was  appointed  September  17,  1885. 

The  fourth  post-office  of  Easton  (the  second,  however,  having 
been  discontinued)  was  established  under  the  name  of  the  South 
Easton  post-ofihce,  at  South  Easton  village.  The  first  postmaster 
was  Luke  S.  Greenleaf,  who  was  appointed  August  16,  1849,  the 
date  of  the  establishment  of  this  office.  The  second  postmaster 
was  Joseph  B.  Sandford,  who  was  commissioned  November  28, 

1853,  holding  the  office  however  only  four  months.     March  31, 

1854,  Horatio  Copeland  succeeded  him,  and  served  seven  years 
and  a  half.  October  4,  1861,  George  Copeland  received  the  ap- 
pointment, and  still  holds  the  place  after  a  service  of  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  For  a  time  the  South  Easton  post-office  was  located 
in  the  counting-room  of  E.  J.  W.  Morse  &  Co.,  but  for  many 
years  past  it  has  been  in  Mr.  Copeland's  store. 


664 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

STATISTICS    OF    POPULATION    AND   INDUSTRY. 

Population  :  Comparative  Ages  of  Boys  and  Girls  ;  Conjugal 
Condition  ;  Nationality  ;  Parentage  ;  Longevity.  —  Statistical 
Table  of  Polls,  Houses  and  Barns,  and  Domestic  Animals.  — 
Voters  of  Easton  in  1749.  —  Town  Valuations.  —  Statistics 
of  Industry  in  1837.  —  Statistics  in  1845  and  in  succeeding 
Decades. 


POPULATION. 

IN  regard  to  the  population  of  Easton,  no  exact  census  seems 
to  have  been   preserved  earher  than  the  year   1765.     The 
following  table,  compiled  from    advanced    sheets   of  the  State 
Census  report  of  1885,  will  show  the  successive  changes  for  the     _ 
last  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  :  —  9 


A.  D. 

1765 

1776 

1790 

1800 

181O  -   .   .    .   . 

1820 

1830 

1840 2,074 


Population. 
.  837 

•  1,172 
1,466 

•  1-55° 

•  L557 
.     1,803 

.     1,756 


A.  D.                                                 Population. 
1850 2,337 


1855 
i860 
1865 
1870 

1875 
1880 
1885 


2,748 
3,067 
3,076 

3,668 
3,898 
3,902 
3,948 


It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  table  that  there  has  been  a  gain, 
though  sometimes  only  a  slight  one,  during  every  decade  except 
that  following  1820,  during  which  there  was  a  loss  of  forty-seven. 
The  most  rapid  gain  was  made  in  the  half  decade  immediately 
following  the  closing  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  —  from  1865 
to  1870,  —  when  the  gain  was  five  hundred  and  ninety-two. 
From  1875  to  1880  there  was  a  gain  of  only  four,  and  for  the 
next  five  years  of  forty-six. 


STATISTICS    OF   POPULATION    AND    INDUSTRY.     665 

There  are  several  interesting  facts  brought  to  hght  by  the 
late  Census  which  deserve  notice  here.^  On  the  first  day  of 
May,  1885,  in  a  total  population  in  the  town  of  Easton  of  3,948, 
there  were  2,011  males  and  1,937  females,  —  an  excess  of  sev- 
enty-four males.  This  fact  is  noticeable,  because  in  the  popu- 
lation of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  there  was,  in  a  total  of 
1,942,141,  an  excess  of  76,373  females,  —  a  difference  of  nearly 
four  per  cent  ;  whereas  in  Easton  there  is  an  excess  of  one 
and  one  third  per  cent  of  males.  This  is  easily  accounted  for 
by  the  fact  that  the  industries  of  Easton  make  a  much  larger 
demand  for  workmen  than  for  workwomen.  In  old  countries 
there  is  usually  a  slight  excess  of  females,  owing  partly  to  the 
fact  that  more  males  than  females  emigrate  to  new  countries, 
and  males  are  exposed  to  greater  risks  of  life.  The  United 
States  as  a  whole  has  a  larger  male  population  than  female, 
owing  to  immigration. 

There  is  another  thing  deserving  particular  notice  in  the 
statistics  of  Easton.  While  out  of  a  total  of  332  children  be- 
tween ten  and  thirteen  years  of  age  there  was  an  excess  of  14 
boys,  or  four  per  cent  of  the  whole,  in  the  next  period,  beginning 
with  fourteen  years,  there  is  an  excess  of  70  boys,  or  over  fourteen 
per  cent.  This  reported  sudden  increase  of  ten  per  cent  in  the 
excess  of  boys  over  girls  presents  a  curious  problem.  No  suffi- 
cient cause  can  be  assigned  for  it.  Some  account  must,  how- 
ever, be  made  of  the  removal  of  a  few  families  whose  children 
are  mainly  daughters.  Such  families  sometimes  leave  Easton 
for  Fall  River,  Taunton,  or  Brockton,  where  the  girls  can  find 
employment  in  factories  ;  but  such  removals  would  not  much 
reduce  the  percentage  of  excess  of  boys  just  noted.  In  fact  the 
figures  are  false  ;  there  is  no  such  remarkable  increase  in  that 
excess.  The  false  figures  are  not  the  fault  of  the  census-taker, 
who  must  report  the  ages  as  they  are  given  him.  But  one  who 
has  served  upon  the  school  committee  of  a  manufacturing  town, 
where  boys  are  more  generally  employed  than  girls,  finds  no  dif- 
ficulty in  solving  the  problem  presented  in  the  above  figures. 
The  explanation  is  this :  At  fourteen  years  of  age  children  may 

1  For  information  in  this  chapter  relating  to  the  Census  of  1885  the  writer  is 
indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Col.  Carroll  D.  Wright,  who  has  not  only  forwarded 
such  facts  as  were  printed,  but  has  even  furnished  as  yet  unpublished  items  of 
information. 


666  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


be  employed  continuously  in  manufacturing  establishments  ;  and 
parents  who  are  eager  to  get  their  children  to  work  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  children  who  are  tired  of  school  and  wish  to  try 
something  new,  are  strongly  tempted  to  falsify  as  to  their  age, 
and  often  claim  to  be  fourteen  years  old  before  they  really  are 
so.  The  temptation  exists  in  some  degree  in  the  case  of  girls, 
but  to  no  such  extent  here  in  Easton  as  in  the  case  of  boys,  be- 
cause there  is  plenty  of  employment  for  boys  near  at  hand,  while 
girls  must  go,  as  a  rule,  to  Brockton  for  work.  The  reported 
amazing  increase  in  the  excess  of  the  number  of  boys  at  fourteen 
years  represents  merely  the  increase  in  the  percentage  of  lying. 
It  has  become  a  proverb  that  "  figures  do  not  lie,"  but  in  fact 
no  symbols  are  oftener  made  the  servants  of  falsehood  than 
numbers.  School  committees  of  all  manufacturing  towns  should 
have  at  hand  the  means  of  testing  the  correctness  of  the  reported 
ages  of  children  who  may  be  tempted  to  overstate  them. 

As  regards  the  conjugal  condition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Easton, 
the  following  are  the  only  facts  that  require  notice  :  Out  of  a 
total  population  in  1885  of  3,948  there  were  1,511  who  were 
married,  268  widowed,  and  7  divorced.  Of  the  divorced,  four 
were  males  and  three  females, — all  seven  being  native  born. 
Of  the  widowed  persons,  eighty-six  were  males  and  one  hundred 
and  eighty-two  were  females.  This  great  difference  in  the 
relative  numbers  of  widowed  males  and  females  is  a  striking 
fact.  Of  the  whole  number  thirty-two  per  cent  only  are  males, 
and  over  twice  that,  or  sixty-eight  per  cent,  are  females.  These 
figures  seem  to  indicate  that  widowers  in  Easton  are  twice  as 
likely  to  re-marry  as  widows.  Why  this  is  so  is  a  question  that 
it  does  not  enter  into  the  province  of  this  History  to  discuss. 

NATIONALITY. 

Several  facts  regarding  the  nationality  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Easton  deserve  mention,  and  the  writer  has  condensed  them  in 
the  following  tables  :  — 

Total  population  of  Easton,  May  i,  1885 3 1948 

Native  born 3iOi8 

Foreign  born        930 

From  Ireland  (a  loss  of  53  in  ten  years) 594 


STATISTICS    OF   POPULATION   AND    INDUSTRY.     667 

From  Sweden  (a  gain  of  69  in  ten  years) 164 

From  Nova  Scotia 38 


From  England 


34 


From  Canada 19 

From  Prince  Edward  Island 13 

From  other  foreign  countries -.         22 

By  the  foregoing  table  it  appears  that  about  seventy-six  per 
cent  of  the  inhabitants  of  Easton  are  natives,  and  twenty-four 
per  cent  foreigners.  Of  the  natives,  however,  many  are  of 
foreign  descent. 

PARENTAGE. 

The  parentage  of  the  inhabitants  is  given  in  the  following 
table  :  — 

Total  population  of  Easton,  May  2,  1885 3)948 

Number,  both  of  whose  parents  were  native 1,990 

Number,  both  of  whose  parents  were  foreign i)8i5 

Number,  whose  father  was  native  and  mother  foreign  ...  53 

Number,  whose  father  was  foreign  and  mother  native  ...  77 

Number,  with  one  parent  native  and  the  other  unknown   .     .  5 

Number,  with  both  parents  unknown 8 

Number  born  of  Irish  parentage i)339 

Of  whom  there  were  foreign  born 594 

The  remainder  being  native  born 745 

Number  born  of  English  or  Scotch  parentage       ....  124 

Of  whom  there  were  foreign  born 39 

The  remainder  native  born 85 

Number  born  of  other  foreign  parentage 258 

Of  whom  there  were  foreign  born 203 

The  remainder  native  born 55 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  table  that  just  about  fifty  per 
cent  of  the  residents  of  Easton  are  of  native-born  parents,  about 
forty-six  per  cent  of  foreign-born  parents,  and  nearly  four  per 
cent  have  one  parent  native  and  one  foreign  ;  also  that  of  those 
coming  from  Irish  parentage  fifty-six  per  cent  are  native  born, 
and  forty-four  per  cent  were  born  in  Ireland,  there  being  one 
hundred  and  fifty-one  more  native  born  than  foreign  born. 


668  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


LONGEVITY. 

From  the  ages  of  sixty  to  eighty  years  the  number  of  males 
and  females  in  town  May  i,  1885,  was  about  even.  But  it  is 
noteworthy  that  of  the  40  persons  in  town  over  eighty  years  of 
age  at  that  date  only  13  were  males,  and  27,  or  two  thirds  of  the 
whole,  were  females.  The  general  fact  holds  good  (though  the 
percentage  varies)  for  all  the  years  of  the  town's  history.  From 
all  available  sources  of  information  the  writer  has  compiled  a 
list  of  persons  who  have  died  in  Easton  eighty  years  old  and 
upwards.  The  whole  number  is  356.  Of  these  207,  or  about 
fifty-seven  per  cent,  were  females  ;  and  149,  or  about  forty-three 
per  cent,  were  males.  So  far,  therefore,  as  Easton  is  concerned, 
fifteen  per  cent  more  females  than  males  arrive  at  or  exceed 
the  age  of  eighty  years.  There  has  been  even  a  greater  differ- 
ence in  the  comparative  numbers  of  males  and  females  in  Easton 
who  have  lived  to  attain  the  age  of  ninety  years.  The  whole 
number  has  been  60  ;  of  whom  37  were  females  and  23  males, — 
the  former  being  about  sixty-two  per  cent  of  the  whole,  the  lat- 
ter about  thirty-eight  per  cent ;  an  excess  of  twenty-four  per  cent 
of  women. 

The  oldest  person  in  Easton  at  the  present  time  is  Mrs.  Phebe 
(Shattuck)  Houghton,  who  lives  with  her  nephew  at  Unity 
Church  parsonage.  She  was  born  February  18,  1790,  is  in  ex- 
cellent health,  and  bids  fair  to  round  out  a  century,  or  as  Madam 
Rothschild  wittily  expressed  it,  "  to  live  long  enough  to  be  quoted 
at  par." 

Below  is  a  list  of  persons  dying  in  Easton  who  have  reached 
or  exceeded  the  age  of  fourscore  years.  It  is  not  intended  to 
include  the  names  of  all  Easton  people  who  have  reached  that 
age,  some  of  whom  may  have  died  in  other  places,  but  only  of 
those  who  have  died  in  town.  In  some  cases  the  date  and  ages 
given  below  do  not  agree  with  those  recorded  in  the  town  books 
or  even  inscribed  upon  gravestones  ;  but  this  list  has  been  com- 
piled with  great  care  and  labor,  and  the  writer  has  sometimes 
been  forced  by  convincing  evidence  to  differ  from  the  authorities 
referred  to.  It  is  a  subject  where  there  is  special  liability  to 
error :  town  records  of  deaths  were  once  kept  with  much  less 
care  than  now  ;  and  even  of  late  several  deaths  of  aged  persons 


STATISTICS    OF   POPULATION   AND    INDUSTRY.     669 


have  not  been  reported  to  the  town  clerk,  and  consequently  did 
not  get  upon  the  town  records. 


A.  D. 

Age. 

A.  U. 

Age. 

1792. 

Mrs.  Mary  Phillips      .     . 

80 

1850. 

Joshua  Pratt      .     .     . 

81 

1806. 

William  Pratt     .... 

80 

1858. 

Deborah  Downing  .     . 

81 

1S22. 

Mrs.  Mary  Dean    .     .     . 

80 

1866. 

Rev.  Luther  Sheldon,  D.I 

).  81 

1823. 

Josiah  White      .... 

80 

1867. 

Jotham  Ames     .     .     . 

81 

1826. 

Benjamin  Kingman      .     . 

80 

1870. 

Mrs.  Ruth  Dailey  .     . 

81 

1831. 

Mrs.  Betty  Lothrop    .     . 

80 

187I. 

Warren  Drake  .     .     . 

81 

1835- 

Oliver  Howard  .... 

80 

187I. 

Mrs.  Ann  Orrell     .     . 

81 

1836. 

Mrs.  Nehemiah  Keith      . 

80 

1873- 

William  Ames    .     .     . 

81 

1838. 

Eunice  Keith     .... 

80 

1875. 

Hannah  Drake  .     .     . 

81 

1838. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Leach 

80 

1876. 

Vesta  Randall    .     .     . 

81 

I84I. 

Adam  Drake      .... 

80 

1878. 

Daniel  Reed      .     .     . 

81 

1843. 

Mrs.  Joanna  Dickerman  . 

80 

1879. 

Mrs.  Hannah  L.  B.  Dean< 

;     81 

1844. 

Abiijail  Sheperson       .     . 

80 

1882. 

Mrs.  Chloe  Carr    .     .     . 

81 

1848. 

Calvin  Howard  .... 

80 

1848. 

Mrs.  Chloe  Howard    . 

80 

1760. 

Mrs.  Mary  Hanks  .     . 

82 

1849. 

Jacob  Chipman       .     .     . 

80 

1766. 

Thomas  Willis  .     .     . 

82 

I85I. 

Mrs.  Amity  Carr    .     . 

80 

I781. 

Mrs.  Susanna  Howard 

82 

1856. 

Abiel  Edson,  Jr.     .     .     . 

80 

1806. 

Jacob  Reed  .... 

82 

1857. 

Howard  Lothrop    . 

80 

1807. 

Mrs.  Content  Lothrop 

.     82 

1865. 

Timothy  Blackman      .     . 

80 

1807. 

William  Reed    .     .     . 

82 

1865. 

Macey  Randall .... 

80 

1815. 

Nathan  Selee     .     .     . 

82 

1867. 

Joseph  Holmes  .... 

80 

1816. 

Samuel  Packard     .     . 

82 

1872. 

Mrs.  Honora  Mahony     . 

80 

1824. 

William  Drake  .     .     . 

82 

1874- 

Mrs.  Jane  Holt      .     .     . 

80 

1825. 

Mrs.  Rhoda  Copeland 

82 

1874. 

Marshall  Manning       .     . 

80 

1833- 

Mrs.  Susanna  Bartlett 

82 

1876. 

Mrs.  Ellen  Lyons  .     .     . 

80 

1843. 

Solomon  Lothrop   .     . 

.     82 

1879. 

Mrs.  Melancy  Lawton 

80 

1844- 

John  Drake  .... 

82 

1879. 

Mrs.  Mary  Mullen      .     . 

80 

1846. 

Mark  Howard   .     .     . 

.     82 

I88I. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Allen    .     . 

80 

1847. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Alger    . 

82 

I88I. 

William  T.  Austin      .     . 

80 

1853- 

Titus  Drake       .     .     . 

82 

188I. 

Mrs.  Philinda  Snow   .     . 

80 

1854. 

Mrs.  Polly  Anthony    . 

82 

1882. 

Dennis  Sheehan     .     .     . 

80 

1854. 

Timothy  Mitchell  .     . 

82 

1883. 

James  Adams     .... 

80 

1857. 

Mrs.  Betsy  Fuller  .     . 

82 

1886. 

Tertius  Buck     .... 

80 

1857. 

Isaac  Lothrop    .     .     . 

82 

1886. 

Mrs.  Jeannette  Kingman 

80 

i860. 

Nathan  Pratt     .     .     . 

82 

1861. 

Mehitable  Manley  .     . 

82 

1772. 

Benjamin  Fobes     .     .     . 

8t 

1861. 

Mrs.  Margaret  McReady 

82 

1777. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Lothrop     . 

81 

1862. 

Mrs.  Kezia  Randall     . 

82 

1786. 

Mrs.  Ruth  Leonard     .     . 

8r 

1863. 

Eleazer  Keith    .     .     . 

82 

1815. 

Mrs.  Abiah  Littlefield      . 

81 

1866. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Lothrop 

82 

1824. 

Mrs.  Abijah(?)  Witherell 

81 

1867. 

Mrs.  Sally  Godfrey     . 

82 

1828. 

Mrs.  Susanna  Keith    .     . 

81 

1867. 

Mrs.  Mary  Record 

82 

1830. 

Mrs.  Mary  Randall      .     . 

81 

1869. 

Mrs.  Betsy  Kinsley    . 

82 

1840. 

Lydia  Goodspeed  .     .     . 

81 

1870. 

Hannah  Perry    .     .     . 

82 

1843- 

Mrs.  Lydia  Hayward  .     . 

81 

187I. 

Joseph  Ripley    .     .     . 

82 

1843. 

Mrs.  Ruth  Simmons  .     . 

81 

1879- 

Abijah  Knapp     .    .     . 

82 

670 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


A.  D.  Age. 

1 88 1.  Mrs.  Esther  Morse     .     .  82 

1881.  Mrs.  Ann  Stone      ...  82 

1882.  Mrs.  Kezia  Dean    ...  82 

1882.  Solomon  Stone.     ...  82 

1883.  George  W.  Ouinley  -  .  82 
1883.  Mrs.  Rhoda  Wade  .  .  82 
1885.  Mrs.  Amanda  L.  Williams  82 

1820.  Joseph  Godfrey       ...  83 

1824.  Mrs.  George  Monk     .     .  83 

183 1.  Jacob  Macomber    ...  83 

1842.  Mrs.  Mary  French       .     .  83 

1843.  Mrs.  Calvin  Snow  ...  83 
1850.  Mrs.  Olive  Reed    ...  83 

1852.  Mrs.  Mary  Wilbur      .     .  83 

1853.  Mrs.  Ruth  Buck     ...  83 

1854.  Barney  Randall       ...  83 

1855.  Dependence  French    .     .  S3 

1858.  Eliphalet  Mitchell  ...  83 

1859.  Mrs.  Phebe  Howard  .  .  83 
1859.  Lemuel  Keith  ....  83 
1859.  Caleb  Randall    ....  83 

1861.  James  WiUis      ....  83 

1862.  Ebenezer  Randall  ...  83 
1865.  Joshua  Lothrop  ...  83 
1872.  Bernard  Alger  ....  83 
1874.  Archippus  Buck     ...  83 

1877.  Mrs.  Abigail  Reed      .     .  83 

1878.  Mrs.  Deborah  Dean   .     .  83 

1879.  Mrs.  Sarah  Meader     .     .  8;} 

1880.  Jesse  Willis 83 

1881.  Mrs.  Betsy  Bisbee      .     .  83 

1882.  Asahel  Wade     ....  83 

1883.  Geo.  Washington  Drake  83 
1885.  Mrs.  L.  G.  Withington    .  83 

1779.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Wade  .     .  84 

1786.  Eliphalet  Leonard  ...  84 

1797.  Nathan  Harvey 

1806.  Pendleton  Britton 

1809.  Joseph  Lothrop       ...  84 

1818.  Mrs.  Mary  Wade 

1821.  Eleazer  Keith    . 

1822.  Elisha  Dean 
1830.  Mrs.  Abiah  Randall  .  .  84 
1842.  Mrs.  Sarah  Lothrop  .  .  84 
1844.  Mrs.  Betsy  Randall     .     .  84 

1847.  Calvin  Brett       ....  84 

1848.  Stimpson  WiUiams     .     .  84 


850.  Mrs.  Hannah  Drake 

850.  Ebenezer  Randall  . 

852.  Josiah  Copeland 

852.  James  Dean  . 

856.  Mrs.  Cynthia  Britton 

856.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Fisher 

857.  Adonijah  White      . 

860.  Mrs.  Lovina  Randall 

861.  Moses  C.  Dunbar  . 

862.  Mrs.  Catherine  Reed 

863.  Oliver  Ames      .     . 
863.  Caleb  Lothrop  . 
863.  Hannah  Macomber 
863.  Hannah  Niles    . 

865.  Mrs.  Abigail  Randall 

866.  Judson  Gilbert  . 

867.  Mrs.  Hannah  Dunbar 

869.  Mrs.  Mary  Record 

870.  Samuel  Cordner 

870.  Mindwell  Randall  . 

871.  John  Bisbee  .     .     . 

871.  Bezaleel  Hall     .     . 

872.  Mrs.  Hannah  A.  Russell 

873.  Mrs.  Susanna  Drake 
875.  Mrs.  Margaret  Cahill . 
882.  Linus  Manley    .     .     . 
882.  Mrs.  Rhoda  Smith      . 
884.  Charles  W.  Evans 
884.  Mrs.  Hannah  H.  Ripley 

764.  William  Manley      .     . 

781.  Lieut.  Joshua  Howard 

791.  Joseph  Drake,  2d    .     . 

797.  Jonathan  Harvey    . 

803.  Dea.  James  Dean  . 

803.  Mrs.  Mary  Kingman  . 

810.  Mrs.  Lydia  Willis 

812.  Dea.  Joseph  Drake,  3d 

813.  Ruth  Harvey      .     .     . 
821.  Mrs.  Susanna  Ames   . 
825.  Nehemiah  Howard 
829.  Benjamin  Marshall 
832.  Mrs.  Mary  Goward 
834.  Mrs.  Esther  Macomber 
834.  Mrs.  Abigail  Randall  . 
836.  Mrs.  Kezia  Howard    . 

856.  Mrs.  Lavinia  Howard 

857.  Phineas  Randall      .     . 

859.  Mrs.  Susanna  Copeland 

860.  Lewis  Williams 


Age. 
84 
84 
84 
84 


STATISTICS    OF    POPULATION    AND    INDUSTRY.     67 1 


A.  D. 

Age. 

A.  D. 

Age. 

1864. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Mitchell 

•     85 

1777. 

Mark  Lothrop   .     .     . 

87 

1866. 

Mrs.  Mary  Packard    . 

•     85 

1792. 

Joshua  Phillips  .     . 

87 

1868. 

Cyrus  Williams      .      . 

•     8s 

1799. 

William  Manley     .     . 

87 

I87I. 

Mrs.  Anna  Howard     . 

•     85 

1800. 

Dea.  Daniel  Littlefield 

•     87 

I87I. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Pratt    . 

•     85 

1820. 

Mrs.  Susanna  Pratt    . 

•     87 

1872. 

Mrs.  Bridget  Kerley  . 

•     85 

1827. 

Mrs.  Mary  Mitchell    . 

•     87 

1873. 

Mrs.  Julia  Crowley 

.     85 

1832. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Dailey      . 

.     87 

1873- 

Mrs.  Mary  Marshall  . 

•     85 

1833- 

Nathan  Howard     .     . 

•     87 

1876. 

Mrs.  Temperance  White 

8S 

1836. 

Olive  Brett    .... 

•     87 

1881. 

John  Morse  .... 

•     85 

1837- 

Mrs.  Mercy  Wheelock 

•     87 

1883. 

Mrs.  Bridget  Norman 

.     85 

1852. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Randall    , 

•     S7 

1884. 

Ruth  Buck    .... 

.     Ss 

i8s7. 

Mrs.  Rachel  Ames 

■     87 

1884. 

Mrs.  Julia  Long      .     . 

•  85 

1859. 

Ebenezer  Littlefield    . 

•     87 

1885. 

Abiel  A.  Litdefield      . 

.     8s 

1870. 

Mrs.  Susanna  Howard 

•     87 

1885. 

Miss  Lucy  Packard     . 

•     85 

1874. 

Elijah  Howard  .     .     . 

•     87 

1885. 

John  0.  Sullivan    . 

■     85 

1879. 

Mrs.  Polly  King     .     . 

87 

1886. 

Mrs.  Sally  Booth    .     . 

.     8s 

1881. 

Nathaniel  Talbot    .     . 

87 

i88s. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Russell 

.     87 

1783- 

John  Selee     .... 

.     86 

1886. 

Mrs.  Dorcas  Day  .     . 

87 

1793- 

George  Ferguson  . 

86 

1802. 

Mrs.  Kezia  Randall    . 

86 

1772. 

Mrs.  Mary  Keith    .     . 

88 

1S09. 

Mrs.  Sarah  (?)  Phillips 

86 

1821. 

Col.  Abiel  Mitchell     . 

.     88 

1831. 

Elijah  Howard  .     .     . 

86 

1828. 

Mrs.  Mindwell  Pratt  . 

88 

1846. 

Lyman  Wheelock  .     . 

86 

1837. 

Mrs.  Mary  Lothrop     . 

88 

1851. 

Mrs.  Nabby  Burr  .     . 

86 

1S42. 

Mrs.  Love  Selee     .     . 

.     88 

1855. 

Mrs.  Parnel  Bonney  . 

86 

1846. 

Mrs.  Tamar  Cordner  . 

88 

1857. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Willis  .     . 

86 

i8si. 

Mrs.  Rachel  Alger      . 

.     88 

1863. 

Mrs.  Nabby  Gardner 

86 

i8s2. 

Barnabas  Buck       .     . 

88 

1863. 

Patty  Randall    .     .       . 

86 

1852. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Buck     . 

88 

1866 

Mrs-  Susanna  Randall 

86 

1852. 

Mrs.  H.  L.  B.  Wheaton 

.     88 

1869. 

Wade  Dailey     .     .     . 

86 

1854. 

Mrs.  Betsy  Packard    . 

88 

1869. 

Thomas  Hefferman     . 

86 

1861. 

Mrs.  Olive  French 

88 

1869. 

Mrs.  Mary  Nye      .     . 

86 

1863. 

Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Keith  . 

88 

1871. 

Ephraim  Randall    . 

86 

1865. 

Mrs.  Mary  Jarvis    . 

88 

1871. 

Mrs.  Anna  Williams   . 

86 

1870. 

John  Leonard     .     .     . 

88 

1874. 

Clifford  Belcher      .     . 

86 

1870. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Lincoln 

88 

1874. 

James  Conlin     .      .     . 

86 

1870. 

Howe  White      .     .     . 

88 

1874. 

Hannah  Hunt    .     .     . 

86 

1874. 

Cornelius  Linnehan     .     . 

88 

1877- 

Edwin  Howard .     .     . 

86 

1875- 

Mrs.  Betsy  Randall     . 

88 

1880. 

Capt.  Lincoln  Drake  . 

86 

1877. 

Mrs.  Anstress  Whittemor 

e   88 

1881. 

Reuben  Meader      .     .     . 

86 

1880. 

Mrs.  Nabby  Sylvester     . 

88 

1882. 

Mrs.  Nancy  H.  Howard 

86 

1881. 

Benjamin  Buck       .     .     . 

88 

1883. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Bragdon  . 

86 

1885. 

Mrs.  Sylvia  Buck  .     .     . 

88 

1884. 

John  McDavitt  .     .     . 

86 

1886. 

Mrs.  Sally  Dickerman 

88 

1885. 

Mrs.  Bridget  Bayle     . 

86 

1886. 

Mrs.  Abigail  H.  Puringtoi 

1    88 

1885. 

Charles  Gurney 

89 

1885. 

Olive  L.  Randall     .     . 

86 

1755- 

Benjamin  Hanks    .     .     . 

89 

1886. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Godfrey 

86 

1807. 

David  Manley   .     .     . 

89 

1S86. 

Ichabod  Pope    .     .     . 

86 

1828. 

Rufus  Ames       .     .     .     . 

89 

1886. 

Betsy  Keith  .... 

86 

1831- 

Mrs.  Jemima  Drake    .     . 

89 

672 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


A.  D. 

1831.  Mrs.  Submit  Randall 

1836.  Mrs.  Mary  Phillips 

1841.  Alice  Reed    .     .     . 

1843.  Mrs,  Hannah  Edson 

1843.  Joseph  Hayward     . 

1854.  Mrs.  Betsy  Packard 

1861.  Mrs.  Sally  Crockett 

1865.  Mrs.  Mary  Pool     . 

1865.  Mrs.  Olive  Randall 

1872.  Sarah  Littlefield     . 

1879.  Mrs.  Rachel  Blake 

1S86.  Mrs.  Lavina  WiUiams 


1798.  Mrs.  Drusilla  Kinsley 

1802.  Joseph  Gilbert  .     .     . 

1805.  Ebenezer  Ames      .     . 

1819.  Mrs.  Mary  Jones    .     . 

1836.  Thomas  Willis  .     .     . 

1839.  Mrs.  Martha  Kingman 
1844.  Mrs.  Susanna  Phillips 
1853-  Jonas  Howard  . 
1859.  Mrs.  Sally  Drake  . 
1861.  Mrs.  Patience  Shaw 

1866.  Mrs.  Mary  Goward 
1879.  Mrs.  Annie  Savage 
1883.  Alanson  White  .     . 

1794.  Eleazer  Keith     .     .     . 

1805.  Mrs.  Bethia  Drake      . 

1852.  Benjamin  Buck  .     .     . 

1864.  Mrs.  Hannah  Gilmore 

1867.  Mrs.  Sally  Godfrey     . 

1797.  Mrs.  Mehitable  Perry 

1805.  Mrs.  Susanna  Perkins 

1806.  Mrs.  Sarah  Harvey 
181 2.  Mrs.  Charity  Drake 
1825.  Thornas  Fling    . 

1840.  John  Lothrop  .  . 
1863.  Mrs.  Anna  Hayden 
1867.  Francis  Williams  . 
187 1.  Mrs.  Hannah  French 


Age.  a.  d. 
881. 
882. 


89 
89 
89 


90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 
90 

91 
91 
91 
91 
91 

92 
92 
92 
92 
92 
9.2 

92 
92 
92 


807. 

824. 
836. 
838. 

839- 
844. 

859. 
883. 


830. 
865. 
865. 
867. 
872. 

874- 
874. 

798. 

801. 

835- 

858. 


Nathan  Willis    .     .      . 
Mrs.  Martha  Lothrop 

Mrs.  Experience  Allen 
Abiel  Drake  .  . 
Zachariah  Britton  . 
Mrs.  Sarah  Reed  . 
Seth  Littlefield  .  . 
Mrs.  Sarah  Lothrop 
Mrs.  Abigail  Godfrey 
Mrs.  Hannah  Drake 

Mrs.  Thankful  Brett 
Samuel  Pool 
John  Pool      .     .     . 
Joshua  Williams     . 
Francis  Goward 
Mrs.  Esther  Clapp 
Mrs.  Mary  Gorman 
Mrs.  Sylvia  Stone  . 


Mrs.  Kezia  Keith    .     . 
Mrs.  Catherine  (?)  Howard 
Mrs.  Tamar  Randall   . 
Mrs.  Sarah  Ward  .     . 


870.  Mrs.  Ann  Donovan 

775.  Mrs.  Sarah  Drake 

835.  Mrs.  Ruth  Pool      . 

834.  Timothy  Manley    . 

836.  David  Thompson  . 

867.  Mrs.  Melatiah  Buck 

']']'].  Mrs.  Mercy  Manley 

828,  Mrs.  Mary  Drake  . 

838.  Jonathan  Knowles 

805.  Jonathan  Thayer    . 

877.  Constantine  Kerley 


Age. 
92 
92 

93 
93 
93 
93 
93 
93 
93 
93 

94 
94 
94 
94 
94 
94 
94 
94 

95 
95 
95 
95 

96 

97 
97 


98 

99 

100 
100 
100 

102 
102 


VOTERS  IN  1749. 

We  give  below  a  list  of  the  voters  of  Easton  for  the  year  1749. 
It  is  not  inclusive  of  all  the  male  inhabitants,  for  all  could  not 
vote  at  this  period    on    account   of  the   property  qualification 


STATISTICS    OF   POPULATION    AND    INDUSTRY.     673 


required,  which  was  not  abolished  until  1820.  A  fuller  list,  made 
eight  years  later  and  including  all  liable  to  bear  arms,  may  be 
found  on  pages  507,  508  of  this  History.  The  writer  has  ven- 
tured to  change  the  spelling  of  a  few  names  in  copying  this  list, 
but  he  has  done  so  only  in  cases  where  he  knew  that  errors  had 
been  made.  The  names  are  given  here  in  alphabetical  order, 
though  not  so  written  on  the  original  document:  — 


Nathaniel  Alger. 
Thomas  Alger. 
Ebenezer  Ames. 
John  Austin. 
Seth  Babbitt. 
William  Babbitt. 
Josiah  Churchill. 
Joseph  Crossman,  Sr. 
John  Dailey. 
James  Dean, 
Benjamin  Drake. 
Joseph  Drake,  2d. 
Richard  Drake. 
Robert  Drake. 
Thomas  Drake 
George  Ferguson. 
Benjamin  Fobes. 
Joseph  Gilbert. 
Timothy  Gilbert. 
James  Gilmore. 
David  Gurney. 
Jacob  Hanks. 
Benjamin  Harvey. 


Edward  Hayward. 
William  Hayward. 
Ephraim  Hewitt. 
Henry  Howard. 
Joshua  Howard. 
Eleazer  Keith. 
Josiah  Keith. 
Mark  Keith. 
George  Keyzar. 
Josiah  Kingman. 
Benjamin  Kinsley. 
Nathan  Kinsley. 
Eliphalet  Leonard. 
Mark  Lothrop. 
Abiah  Manley. 
Daniel  Manley. 
Ichabod  Manley. 
John  Manley. 
Thomas  Manley. 
William  Manley. 
Jonah  Newland. 
Daniel  Niles. 
Joseph  Packard,  Sr. 


Nathaniel  Perry. 
Benjamin  Pettengill. 
John  Phillips. 
John  Phillips. 
James  Pratt. 
James  Pratt. 
Thomas  Pratt. 
Ephraim  Randall. 
Israel  Randall. 
Israel  Randall. 
John  Randall. 
Samuel  Randall. 
Thomas  Randall. 
John  Selee. 
Benaijah  Smith. 
Samuel  Stone. 
John  Whitman. 
Benjamin  Williams. 
Daniel  Williams. 
John  Williams. 
Silas  Williams. 
Timothy  Williams. 
Israel  Woodward. 


A  list  of  the  voters  in  the  town  of  Easton  taken  by  us  the  subscribers  in 
the  year  1749. 

Eliphalet  Leonard,  )  Selectmen 
John  Williams,  V  ■'^^^^^jr 

Benjamin  Kinsley,     }    Easton.^ 


STATISTICAL    TABLE    OF    POLLS,    HOUSES,    ETC. 

The  following  table  has  been  compiled  by  the  writer  from 
various  sources  ;  and  it  will  show  to  those  who  are  interested 
in  such  matters  the  successive  changes  which  have  taken  place 

1  State  Archives,  vol.  xiii.  p.  701. 


674 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


from  time  to  time  in  regard  to  the  ratable  polls  and  the  various 
species  of  property  named.  Most  of  these  figures  are  taken  from 
the  valuations  and  statistics  of  the  assessors  of  Easton  :  — 


Years. 

Polls. 

Houses. 

Bams. 

Horses. 

Oxen. 

Cows. 

Sheep. 

Swine. 

I771I 

249 

144 

109 

140 

380 

993 

23 

I781 

254 

156 

112 

119 

178 

51 

1470 

136 

1 791 

270 

163 

113 

94 

198 

559 

261 

180I 

278 

178 

136 

137 

220 

577 

246 

181I 

286 

195 

143 

117 

181 

551 

189 

182I 

292 

229 

170 

124 

197 

556 

294 

183I 

443 

274 

198 

156 

193 

533 

356 

233 

1841 

414 

267 

179 

160 

100 

307 

156 

259 

1851 

828 

86 

274 

242 

IIO 

399 

31 

152 

1861 

835 

511 

276 

245 

106 

440 

26 

153 

1870 

lOOI 

632 

301 

290 

78 

395 

45 

178 

1880 

103 1 

699 

373 

384 

48 

409 

I 

152 

In  1885  the  number  of  ratable  polls  in  Easton  was  1,151  ;  of 
these  851  were  voters,  49  not  voters,  and  251  aliens.  Of  the 
851  voters  705  were  native  born,  and  146  were  foreign-born  nat- 
uralized citizens,  who  live  mainly  in  North  Easton  village.^ 

In  the  above  table  the  numbers  of  polls  at  the  different  periods 
prior  to  1861  are  not  exactly  the  same  as  those  reported  to  the 
State,  which  are  in  every  instance  larger.  They  are  simply  the 
ratable  polls,  and  the  figures  are  copied  from  the  tax-lists  of 
the  town.  In  the  numbers  reported  to  the  State  there  seemed 
in  some  cases  to  be  mistakes,  and  the  writer  judged  it  safer  to 
adhere  to  the  Easton  tax-lists,  which,  as  the  names  of  the  per- 
sons rated  are  given,  were  likely  to  be  correct. 

It  is  worth  while  to  call  attention  to  a  few  particulars  in  this 
table.     One  noticeable  fact   is   that  the  gain  from  1771  to  1791 

-  In  the  statistics  for  1771,  which  were  elaborately  and  carefully  made  out  by 
Timothy  Randall,  selectman,  the  notation  of  the  fractions  presented  a  curious  puzzle 
until  the  writer  discovered  the  clew  that  solved  it.  Instead  of  being  expressed  ac- 
cording to  our  method,  the  numerators  and  denominators  were  inverted.  Thus  ^ 
was  written  x,  and  other  fractions  were  expressed  in  the  same  way.  This  method 
seems  to  have  been  original  with  the  paston  selectmen;  their  inventiveness  supplied 
the  lack  of  knowledge,  and  they  managed  to  reach  correct  results. 

2  See  forthcoming  Census  of  Massachusetts,  Population  and  Sex,  p.  104. 


STATISTICS    OF   POPULATION   AND    INDUSTRY.     675 


was  very  slight.  The  polls  number  only  twenty-one  more  at 
the  later  date,  and  the  difference  is  small  in  the  other  items. 
This  was  of  course  owing  to  the  unsettled  condition  of  things, 
especially  of  the  currency,  consequent  upon  the  long  war  whh 
Great  Britain.  It  was  a  period  of  great  financial  distress  in 
Easton.  Failures  were  numerous,  lawsuits  were  almost  an  epi- 
demic, and  indeed  few  people  seemed  to  thrive  except  the 
lawyers.  There  was  however  a  gradual  improvement  up  to 
1831.  But  the  decade  following— from  1831  to  1841  —showed 
no  progress,  and  there  was  an  actual  loss  in  nearly  all  the  items 
noted  :  it  included  the  great  financial  distress  of  1837.  For  the 
next  ten  years  the  gain  was  a  rapid  one,  and  there  was  consid- 
erable increase  until  1870,  since  which  time  there  has  not  been 
much  growth  of  business  or  population  here. 

One  notices  with  interest  the  dechne  of  sheep  culture  in 
Easton.  In  1781  the  number  of  sheep  in  town  was,  1,470;  in 
1880  the  assessors  reported  07ie  sheep!  This  solitary  creature 
was  a  child's  pet.  In  earlier  days  sheep  were  needed  to  provide 
the  material  for  the  homespun  clothing  then  almost  universally 
worn.  But  when  this  necessity  no  longer  existed,  it  was  found 
that  sheep-raising  did  not  pay. 

It  is  interesting  also  to  note  the  substitution  of  horses  for 
oxen  for  draught  purposes.  The  number  of  oxen  in  town  in 
1 78 1  was  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight;  but  a  century  later,  in 
1880,  the  number  was  but  fortv-eight. 


VALUATIONS. 


The  valuations  of  the  town,  so  far  as  ascertainable,  at  different 
periods  are  represented  by  the  following  figures  :  — 


n  1767 ;^4i79o 

^n^     ^11,773' 

I79I          ;^2,2I3 

I80I 19,852 

I8II $11,717 

I82I $13,963 


In  1831 $340,036 

„    1841 $421,385 

„    1851 $1,064,221 

„    1861 $1,162,538 

„   1870 $2,274,278 

„    1880 $3,192,957 


The  next  figures  are  taken  from  the  report  of  the  selectmen 
and  assessors  of  Easton  for  1885. 

1  The  currency,  when  this  amount  was  reported,  had  much  depreciated. 


676  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


Valuatioti  as  Assessed  m  May  1,   1885. 

Value  of  real  estate $1,210,918 

,,    of  personal  property 2,196,523 

Total $3,407,441 

Increase  of  real  estate  for  one  year $95>85 

,,       of  personal  estate  for  one  year 95754 

Total  increase        $19)339 

Rate  of  taxation,  $5.50  on  $1,000. 
Number  of  polls,  1,039. 
Poll  tax,  $2. 

Total  tax  for  State,  County,  and  Town  purposes $20,821.77 

Number  of  dwelling-houses  taxed 754 

,,         acres  of  land  taxed ^i  5)833 

,,         horses  taxed 455 

„        cows  taxed 421 


STATISTICS    OF    INDUSTRY. 

The  statistics  which  follow  have  been  taken  from  the  reports 
made  by  assessors  to  the  State  for  the  several  periods  named. 
They  may  be  of  interest  to  only  a  few  persons,  but  it  is  desirable 
that  they  be  recorded  here  for  purposes  of  reference.  There 
are  a  few  obvious  errors  in  them,  but  the  writer  has  no  means  of 
rectifying  them,  and  has  copied  verbatim  from  the  State  reports. 
Considerable  experience  with  such  statistics  destroys  one's  con- 
fidence in  their  absolute  accuracy.  Some  manufacturers,  for 
instance,  now  refuse  to  give  the  statistics  of  their  products  and 
industries,  being  very  naturally  unwilling  to  make  public  the 
details  of  their  business  affairs.  There  are  at  least  two  note- 
worthy omissions  in  the  following  records.  Many  of  the  figures 
also  are  mere  guesses,  made  sometimes  with  a  bias  towards  the 
largest  possible  showing  of  results. 

Statistics  of  Industry  for  the  year  e tiding  April  i,  1837. 
Cotton  mills,  4;  cotton  spindles,  1,824;  cotton  consumed,  77,000  pounds; 
cotton  goods  manufactured,  180,000  yards,  —  value  of  same,  $32,400  ;  males 
employed,  11;  females  employed,  45 ;  capital,  $31,000.  Sperm  oil  consumed 
in  the  manufacture  of  woollen  goods,  1000  gallons  (no  other  particulars  stated 
in  regard  to  woollen  manufacture).  Common  sheep,  350;  average  weight  of 
fleece,  2  pounds;  value  of  wool,  $300. 


STATISTICS    OF    POPULATION   AND    INDUSTRY.     677 


Hands  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  141  males  and  40 
females  ;  "  56,200  pairs  of  boots,  and  26,400  pairs  of  shoes  bottomed." 

Furnace  for  manufacture  of  pig-iron,  i  (no  particulars  stated).  Air  and 
cupola  furnaces,  4;  iron-castings  made,  250  tons,  —  value  of  same,  $20,000  ; 
hands  employed,  20  ;  capital,  $10,000.  Manufactory  of  cutlery,  i,  —  value  of 
cutlery  manufactured,  $5,000  ;  hands  employed,  8  ;  capital,  $1000. 

Manufactories  of  shovels,  spades,  forks,  and  hoes,  2,  —  value  of  same, 
$108,000;  hands  employed,  84;  capital,  $51,000.  Straw  bonnets  manufac- 
tured, 15,000, —  value  of  same,  $14,000.  Wire  manufactory,  i,  —  value  of  wire, 
$20,000;  capital,  $10,000;  hands  employed,  6.  Manufactory  of  surveyors' 
instruments,  i, —  value  of  instruments,  $4,500;  capital,  $3,000;  hands  em- 
ployed, 6.  Manufactory  of  pegs,  i,  — value  of  pegs,  $3,200;  capital,  $1,100  ; 
hands  employed,  14.^ 

Statistics  for  1845. 

Cotton  mills,  5  ;  spindles,  2,256  ;  cotton  consumed,  112,023  pounds  ;  print- 
ing cloth  manufactured,  110,000  yards,  —  value,  $6,500  ;  cotton  yarn  manu- 
factured and  not  made  into  cloth,  45,061  pounds,  —  value,  $10,979;  cotton 
thread,  19,000  pounds, — value,  $11,750;  cotton  batting,  2,575  pounds, — 
value,  $154;  cord,  9.000  pounds,  —  value,  $2,520;  twine  and  wicking,  6,525 
pounds,  —  value,  $976;  capital,  $24,000;  males  employed,  22;  females  em- 
ployed, 37. 

Furnaces  for  the  manufacture  of  hollow-ware  and  castings  other  than  pig- 
iron,  2;  hollow-ware  and  castings  made,  350  tons,  —  value,  $36,250;  capital, 
$35,000  ;  employees,  35.  Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  cutlery,  i, — 
value  of  cutlery  manufactured,  $11,000  ;  capital,  $5,000;  employees,  20.  Tack 
and  Brad  m.anufactories,  i, —  value  of  tacks  and  brads  manufactured,  $6,000  ; 
capital,  $4,500;  employees,  8. 

Shovel,  spade,  fork,  and  hoe  manufactories,!,  —  value  of  articles  manufac- 
tured, $136,000  ;  capital,  $40,500  ;  employees,  72.  Saddle,  harness,  and  trunk 
manufactories,  r,  —  value  of  articles  manufactured,  $400;  capital,  $100; 
employees,  2.  Establishments  for  manufacture  of  railroad  cars  and  other 
vehicles,  3,  —  value  of  vehicles  manufactured,  $2,000;  capital,  $700  ;  em- 
ployees, 5. 

Boots  manufactured,  36,637  pairs ;  shoes,  42,8 10  pairs, —  value  of  boots  and 
shoes,  $87,718  ;  males  employed,  91 ;  females  employed,  50.  Straw  bonnets 
and  hats  manufactured,  4,611,  —  value,  $1,150;  value  of  straw  braid  manu- 
factured and  not  made  into  bonnets  and  hats,  $500;  females  employed,  100. 

Value  of  mathematical  instruments  manufactured,  $4,250  ;  employees,  6. 
Lumber  prepared,  200,000  feet,  — value,  $2,000;  employees,  10.  Firewood 
prepared,  1,91 7  cords,  — value,  $5,751  ;  employees,  6.  Box  factories,  i ;  boxes 
manufactured,  3,000, —value,  $875  ;  capital,  $200;  employee,  i. 

Sperm-oil  consumed  in  manufacturing,  668  gallons,  —  value,  $668  ;  whale- 
oil,  32  gallons, —  value,  $30;  anthracite  coal  consumed  in  manufacturing, 
500  tons, —  value,  $3,350;  foreign  bituminous  coal,  350  chaldrons,  —  value, 
1  Industry  of  Massachusetts,  1837,  by  John  P.  Biglow,  pp.  134,  I3S- 


678  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

$2,925  ;  value  of  all  other  articles  of  American  production  consumed  in  manu- 
facturing, excepting  cotton,  wool,  and  iron,  $16,150;  value  of  all  other  arti- 
cles of  foreign  production  consumed,  excepting  as  above,  $14,000. 

Sheep,  189,  —  value,  $189;  w^ool  produced,  524  pounds,  —  value,  $157. 
Asses  and  mules,  i,  —  value,  $50;  horses,  193,  —  value,  $9,650  ;  neat  cattle, 
734,  —  value,  $12,000  ;  swine,  234,  —  value,  $2,500.  Indian  corn  or  maize 
raised,  4.974  bushels,  —  value,  $3,730  ;  rye,  378  bushels,  —  value,  $284  ;  bar- 
ley, 159  bushels,  —  value,  $118  ;  oats,  790  bushels, —  value,  $276  ;  potatoes, 
29,896  bushels,  —  value,  $5,979  ;  other  esculent  vegetables,  6,400  bushels,  — 
value,  $1,600  ;  hay,  1,423  tons,  —  value,  $14,769.  Fruit  raised,  10,155  bushels, 
—  value,  $2,031.  Butter,  16,073  pounds,  —  value,  $1,928;  cheese,  8,307 
pounds,  —  value,  $498;  honey,  100  pounds,  —  value,  $12;  beeswax,  18 
pounds,  —  value,  $4.^ 

Statistics  for  1855. 

Cotton  mills,  6  ;  spindles,  2,390  ;  cotton  consumed,  132,800  pounds  ;  yarn 
manufactured,  82,000  pounds, — value  of  yarn,  $16,500  ;  thread  manufactured, 
36,700  pounds,  —  value  of  thread,  $27,600;  batting  manufactured,  4,050 
pounds,  —  value  of  batting,  $524;  capital,  $43,500;  males  employed,  21; 
females  employed,  48.  Furnaces  for  manufacture  of  hollow-ware  and  cast- 
ings other  than  pig-iron,  2  ;  hollow-ware  and  other  castings  manufactured, 
554  tons,  —  value  of  hollow-ware  and  castings,  $44,500;  capital,  $11,000; 
employees,  50.  Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton,  woollen,  and 
other  machinery,  i, — value  of  machinery  manufactured,  $2,000;  capital, 
$2,500 ;  employees,  4. 

Manufactories  of  shovels,  spades,  forks,  and  hoes,  i,  —  value  of  shovels, 
etc.,  $600,000  ;  capital,  $200,000  ;  employees,  330.  Daguerreotype  artists,  i ; 
daguerreotypes  taken,  500  ;  capital.  $600  ;  employee,!.  Establishments  for 
manufacture  of  railroad  cars,  coaches,  chaises,  wagons,  sleighs,  and  other 
vehicles,  4,  —  value  of  the  same  manufactured,  $46,000 ;  capital,  $4,675  ; 
employees,  23. 

Boots  of  all  kinds  manufactured,  38,000  pairs  ;  shoes  of  all  kinds  manu- 
factured, 87,000  pairs,  —  value  of  boots  and  shoes,  $153,200  ;  males  employed, 
215  ;  females  employed,  92.  Charcoal  made,  9,190  bushels,  —  value  of  same, 
$1,003;  employees,  15. 

Lumber  prepared  for  market,  202,500  feet,  —  value  of  lumber,  $2,680  ;  em- 
ployees, 28.  Firewood  prepared  for  market,  2,577  cords,  —  value  of  firewood, 
$9,807  ;  employees,  115. 

All  kinds  of  sheep,  51,  —  value  of  all  sheep,  $125  ;  all  wool  produced, 
135  pounds.  Horses,  230,  —  value  of  horses,  $20,252  ;  oxen  over  three  years 
old,  157;  steers  under  three  years  old,  33,  —  value  of  oxen  and  steers, 
$9,176  ;  swine  raised,  352,  —  value,  $3,137  ;  milch  cows,  451  ;  heifers,  59, — 
value  of  cows  and  heifers,  $14,965.  Butter,  18,440  pounds,  —  value  of  but- 
ter, $4,610;  cheese,  6,980  pounds,  —  value  of  cheese,  $837;  honey,  160 
pounds,  —  value  of  honey,  $32. 

1  Industry  of  Massachusetts,  1845,  ^y  John  G.  Palfrey,  pp.  272,  273. 


STATISTICS    OF    POPULATION   AND    INDUSTRY.     679 


Indian  corn,  252  acres  ;  Indian  corn  per  acre,  26  bushels,  —value,  $6,552. 
Wheat,  li  acres  ;  wheat  per  acre,  10  bushels,  —value,  $30.  Rye,  44  acres  ; 
rye  per  acre,  9  bushels,  —  value,  $590.  Barley,  22^^  acres  ;  barley  per  acre,  12 
bushels,  —  value,  $270.  Oats,  29  acres  ;  oats  per  acre,  i6i  bushels,  —value, 
I310.  Potatoes,  187^  acres  ;  potatoes  per  acre,  84  bushels,  — value,  $11,780. 
Onions,  i  acre  ;  onions  per  acre,  560  bushels,  — value,  $336.  Turnips  culti- 
vated as  a  field  crop,  5  acres  ;  turnips  per  acre,  350  bushels,  —value,  $440. 
Carrots,  ^  acre  ;  carrots  per  acre,  200  bushels,—  value,  $12.  Beets  and  other 
esculent  vegetables,  i  acre,  — value,  $100;  all  other  grain  or  root  crops,  i 
acre,  — value,  $120.  Millet,  3  acres,  —  value,  $40.  English  mowing,  1,581 
acres  ;  English  hay,  1,144  tons, —value,  $22,880.  Wet  meadow  or  swale  hay, 
639  tons,  —  value,  $6,390. 

Apple-trees  cultivated  for  their  fruit,  1 1,044,  —  value,  $3,488.  Pear-trees 
cultivated  for  their  fruit,  619,  — value,  $85.  Fruit  of  various  kinds  raised  dur- 
ing the  year,  1,750  bushels.  Cranberries,  78  acres,  —  value,  $[,109.  Bees- 
wax, 17  pounds,  —  value,  $6. 

Gross  value  of  all  other  articles  manufactured  in  the  town  during  the  year, 
$24,152;  capital,  $9,600;  employees,  51.  Said  articles  are  reported  to  be 
"  wooden  hoops,  philosophical  instruments,  mathematical  instruments,  shoe- 
makers' awls,  cord,  twine,  and  wicking,  castors,  piano-forte  tools,  spools,  deck 
scrapers  and  washers." ' 

Statistics  for  1865. 

Cotton  mills,  3;  spindles,  2,270  ;  cotton  consumed,  39,240  pounds,  —  gross 
value  of  stock  used,  $32,800.  Thread  manufactured,  32,200  pounds,  —  value, 
$55,400;  capital,  $15,000;  males  employed,  9 ;  females  employed,  22.  Es- 
tablishments for  the  manufacture  of  shoddy,  i,  —  value  of  stock  used,  $200  ; 
shoddy  manufactured,  1,800  pounds,  —  value,  $594;  capital,  $2,000  ;  employee* 
I.  Furnaces  for  the  manufacture  of  hollow-ware  and  castings  other  than 
pig-iron,  3,  —  value  of  stock  used,  $35,956  ;  hollow-ware  and  other  castings 
manufactured,  279  tons, —  value  of  same,  $58,426 ;  capital,  $6,000  ;  employees, 
38.  Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  butts  or  hinges,  i,  —  value  of  stock, 
$40,000  ;  butts  or  hinges  manufactured,  30,000  dozen, —  value,  $60,000  ;  capi- 
ta ,  $20,000  ;  employees,  35. 

Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  shovels,  spades,  forks,  and  hoes,  i, 
—  value  of  stock  used,  $575,000  ;  shovels,  spades,  forks,  and  hoes  manufac- 
tured, 65,500  dozen,  —  value,  $982,500  ;  capital,  $280,000;  employees,  250. 
Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  detached  parts  of  piano-fortes,  i, — 
value  of  instruments  manufactured,  $3,000;  value  of  stock  used,  $1,200; 
capital,  $5,000;  employees,  5.  Daguerrian  and  photographic  establishments, 
I,  —  value  of  stock  used,  $80;  daguerreotypes  and  photographs  taken,  1,000, 

value,  $166  ;  capital,  $200  ;  male  employed,  i. 

Railroad  cars,  coaches,  chaises,  wagons,  sleighs,  and  other  vehicles,  i  ; 
wagons  manufactured,  10,  —value,  $600  ;  value  of  stock  used,  $200  ;  capital, 

1  Industry  of  Massachusetts,  1855,  pp.  75-  7^,  77- 


68o  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

$400  ;  employee,  i.  Blacksmith  shops,  3,  — value  of  stock  used,  $300;  value 
of  work  done,  $1,220  ;  capital,  $700  ;  employees,  3.  Flouring  mills,  4  ;  corn 
ground,  6,400  bushels, — value,  $8,000;  capital,  $3,000  ;  employees,  2. 

Boots  of  all  kinds  manufactured,  19,332  pairs  ;  shoes  of  all  kinds  manufac- 
tured, 44,500  pairs,  —  gross  value  of  stock  used  in  the  manufacture  of  boots 
and  shoes,  $95,000, —  value  of  boots  and  shoes  manufactured,  $146,000  ;  capi- 
tal, $23,900;  males  employed,  65  ;  females  employed,  7.  Straw-braid  manu- 
factured and  not  made  into  bonnets  or  hats,  — value,  $4,000. 

Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  philosophical,  nautical,  astronomi- 
cal, and  mathematical  instruments,  2  ;  instruments  manufactured  :  3  theodo" 
lites,  6  engineers'  transits,  15  surveyors'  compasses,  12  portable  compasses, 
12  gas  protracters,  30  engineers'  levelling  rods,  6  ektroponuters,  100  land 
chains,  125  levels,  9  pendulum  gun-sights,  15  gun  calipers,  100  chain- 
pins,  9,000  thermometers,  —  value,  $5,500;  value  of  stock  used,  $1,300; 
employees,  7. 

Establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  boxes,  i,  —  value  of  stock  used, 
$300 ;  value  of  wooden  boxes  manufactured,  $500 ;  capital,  $700 ;  males 
employed,  2.  Establishments  for  the  preservation  of  ice  for  market,  i  ;  ice 
preserved,  600  tons,  —  value,  $250  ;  capital,  $1,000;  employee,  i.  Saw-mills, 
2;  lumber  prepared  for  market,  33,000  feet,  —  value,  $480;  capital,  Sr,ooo; 
employees,  2.  Firewood  and  bark  prepared  for  market,  1,216  cords,  —  value, 
$3,650;  capital,  $1,520;  employees,  2  (?).  Charcoal  manufactured,  3,000 
bushels,  —  value,  $405  ;  capital,  $300;  employee,  i. 

Farms,  91  ;  acres,  4,108,  —  value,  including  buildings,  $194,508  ;  land  im- 
proved, 3,893  acres  ;  employees,  91.  Unimproved  land,  1,484  acres.  Unim- 
provable land,  106  acres.     Woodland,  6,113  acres,  —  value,  $121,379. 

Indian  corn,  190  acres;  Indian  corn,  4,842  bushels,  —  value  $7,463. 
Wheat,  2i  acres  ;  wheat,  22  bushels,  — value,  $44.  Rye,  28  acres  ;  rye,  286 
bushels,  — value,  $429.  Barley,  25  acres  ;  barley,  10  bushels,  —  value,  $400. 
Buckwheat,  J  acre  ;  buckwheat,  10  bushels, — value,  $10.  Oats,  24  acres  ; 
oats,  315  bushels,  —  value,  $250.  Potatoes,  161  acres;  12,986  bushels, — 
value,  $9,090.  Turnips  cultivated  as  a  field-crop,  7  acres  ;  1,615  bushels, — 
value,  $505.  Onions,  ^  acre;  75  bushels,  —  value,  $75.  Carrots,  ^  acre; 
104  bushels,  —  value,  $25.  Cabbages,  2  acres,  —  value,  $720.  Beets,  and 
other  esculent  vegetables,  i  acre;  500  bushels,  —  value,  $250.  Hops,  | 
acre;  1,350  pounds, — value,  $550.  Tobacco,  |  acre  ;  800  pounds, — value, 
$200.     Cranberries,  ^  acre  ;  10  bushels,  —  value,  $20. 

English  mowing,  1,436  acres;  English  hay,  958  tons, — value,  $19,160. 
Wet-meadow  or  swale  hay,  1,436  acres  ;  wet-meadow  hay,  423  tons,  —  value, 

$3,807- 

Apple-trees  cultivated  for  their  fruit,  8,300,  —  approximate  value,  $2,866. 
Pear-trees  cultivated  for  their  fruit,  910,  —  value,  $131.  All  other  trees  culti- 
vated for  their  fruit,  96,  —  value,  $45.  Value  of  nuts  and  berries  cultivated 
for  market,  $50. 

Merino  sheep  of  different  grades,  2;  all  other  grades,  22,  — gross  value  of 
all  sheep,  $176;    merino  wool,  6  pounds,  —  value,  $6  ;  all  other  wool,  6;^ 


STATISTICS    OF   POPULATION   AND    INDUSTRY.     68 1 


pounds,  —  value,  $57.  Horses,  225,  —  value,  $15,985.  Oxen  over  four  years 
old,  84;  steers  under  four  years,  20,  —  value  of  oxen  and  steers,  $7,550. 
Milch  cows,  381 ;  heifers,  108,  —  value  of  cows  and  heifers,  $19,490;  value  of 
neat  stock  not  embraced  above  (10  goats  and  9  bulls),  $400,  Milk  sold, 
13,498  gallons,  —  value,  $2,700.  Butter  sold,  4,500  pounds,  —value,  $1,800. 
Cheese  sold,  220  pounds,  — value,  $44. 

Beef  dressed,  76,104  pounds,  —  value,  $14,088.  Pork  dressed,  83,650,  — 
value,  $8,365.  Mutton  dressed,  600  pounds,  —  value,  $90.  Veal  dressed, 
10,500  pounds,  —  value,  $1,050.  Swine,  207,  —  value,  $3,100.  Value  of 
poultry  sold,  $1,693  ;  value  of  eggs  sold,  $850.  Honey,  75  pounds,  —  value, 
$20.     Value  of  unenumerated  articles  of  farm  produce,  $325.^ 

The  following  estimates  have  been  condensed  from  the  Massa- 
chusetts Census  Report  of  1875,  made  under  the  charge  of  Col. 
Carroll  D.  Wright.  One  looks  in  vain  among  them  for  any  ac- 
count of  two  very  important  Easton  products  ;  namely,  hinges 
and  cotton  thread.  Such  noticeable  omissions  vitiate  the  value 
of  such  reports.  The  writer  has  for  the  sake  of  saving  space 
passed  over  a  few  unimportant  items. 

Statistics  for  1875. 

Manufactories.'^  —  One  awl  manufactory;  capital,  $1,000,  —  value 
of  goods  made,  $400  ;  2  boot  manufactories  ;  capital  invested,  $10,000, 

—  value  of  goods  made,  $110,000.  Two  boot  and  shoe  manufactories  ; 
capital,  $3,500,  — value  of  goods  made,  $30,900.  One  carriage  manu- 
factory; capital,  $3,000, — value  of  goods  made,  $1,700.  One  car- 
riage, wagon,  and  cart  manufactory;  capital,  $600,  —  value  of  goods 
made,  $1,840.  One  clothing  manufactory';  capital,  $600, — value  of 
goods  made,  $2,500.  One  cotton-batting  and  shingle  manufactory  ; 
capital,  $2,000, — value  of  goods  made,  $3,000.  Two  iron  casting 
manufactories  ;  capital,  $4,500,  —  value  of  goods  made,  $53,469.  Two 
lumber  manufactories;  capital,  $5,000,  —  value  of  goods  made, 
^2,751.  One  lumber  and  box  manufactory;  capital,  $1,000,  —  value 
of  goods  made,  $1,700.  One  meal  manufactory;  capital,  $20,000, — 
value  of  goods  made,  $62,000.    One  shoe  manufactory  ;  capital,  6,500, 

—  value  of  goods,  $40,000.  One  shovel  and  spade  manufactory ; 
capital,  $400,000,  —  value  of  goods  made,  $1,500,000.  One  soft-soap 
manufactory;  capital,  $250,  —  value  of  goods  made,  $500.  One  sur- 
veyors' and  engineers'  instruments  manufactory;  capital,  $1,000, — 
value  of  goods  made,  $3,700.  One  thermometer  manufactory  ;  capital, 
$900,  —  value  of  goods  made,  $2,800. 

1  Industry  of  Massachusetts,  1865,  pp.  85,  86,  87. 

2  Massachusetts  Census  Report.  1875,  vol.  ii.  p.  21. 


682 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


Occupation.^  —  Three  of  blacksmithing  ;  capital,  $3,630,  —  value 
of  goods  made,  $2,020.  Four  of  butchering  ;  capital,  $6,000,  — value 
of  productions,  $9,100.  One  machinists'  works;  capital,  $10,000, — 
value  of  goods  made,  $5,000.     One  of  house-painting  ;  capital,  $1,000, 

—  value  of  work  done,  $400.  One  of  paper  and  wood  hanging, — 
value  of  work  done,  $50.  One  of  tinsmithing;  capital,  $1,000, — 
value  of  goods  made,  $1,000.     Two  of  wheel-wrighting  ;  capital,  $270, 

—  value  of  goods  made,  $1,320. 

Capital  invested  in  manufactures $500,750^ 

Total  yearly  wages  estimated        $575,683 

Stock  used  in  manufacturing $232,501 

Value  of  goods  made  and  work  done   ....    $1,836,150 

Males  employed  in  manufacturing 763 

Females  employed  in  manufacturing     ....  85 

The  following  are  the  principal  farm  products  :  ^  — 

Butter 13,567  pounds. 

Cider 12,353  gallons. 

Firewood 2,601  cords. 

Charcoal 9,650  bushels. 

Apples 4,013  bushels. 

Beef 9,707  pounds- 
Corn  1,055  bushels. 

Cranberries      ....  409  bushels. 

Eggs 11,960  dozen. 

Hay,  English   ....        1,076  tons. 
Hay,  meadow  ....  419  tons. 

Hops 4,300  pounds. 

Milk 100,887  gallons. 

Pork 32,145  pounds. 

Potatoes 7,708  bushels. 

The  total  value  of  farm  products  is  reported  to  be  ^100,979. 
There  were  three  farms  under  ten  acres  in  extent,  and  seventy- 
seven   above  ten   acres.*      Their  value  was  given  as  ^312,437. 

1  Massachusetts  Census  Report,  1875,  ^ol-  "•  P-  2i- 

^  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.  pp.  759,  862.  The  hinge  and  cotton-thread  statistics  are  not  in- 
cluded in  these  figures. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.  p.  37.  The  items  noted  include  both  those  that  were  sold  and 
those  that  were  used  by  home  consumption. 

*  For  the  estimates  relating  to  value  of  farms  and  farm  property,  see  Massachusetts 
Census  Reports,  vol.  iii.  p.  440. 


lue,  $5,045 

1,987 

8,266 

1,590 

2,320 

839 

„         1,049 

879 

3.310 

„       26,514 

5,341 

1,588 

„       20,208 

3,186 

5,806 

STATISTICS   OF   POPULATION    AND    INDUSTRY.     683 


They  had  upon  them  one  hundred  and  nine  houses,  and  one 
hundred  and  seven  barns  ;  and  these  with  all  other  buildine-s 

O 

were  valued  at  $141,165.     The  land  was  valued  as  follows  : 


Land  under  crops 
Orchards     .     .     . 
Unimproved  land 
Unimprovable  land 
Woodland    .     .     . 


1,899  acres. 

Value, 

^7o>785 

14     „ 

,, 

57,910 

2,629     M 

J, 

43,533 

24     „ 

»» 

no 

2,975     » 

>, 

55,734 

There  were  1,951  apple-trees  valued  at  $5,852  ;  pear-trees,  291, 
—  value,  $566;  peach-trees,  20,  —  value,  $50.  The  total  value 
of  domestic  animals  on  the  farms  was  $34,301  ;  of  agricultural 
implements  in  use  on  farms,  $10,650. 

This  History  is  issued  too  soon  for  the  publication  of  the  in- 
dustrial statistics  of  Easton  for  the  year  t886  ;  they  have  not 
yet  been  published  by  the  State  Bureau  of  Statistics.  While 
this  necessary  omission  is  to  be  regretted,  it  is  of  less  impor- 
tance than  it  would  otherwise  be,  because  there  has  not  for  the 
last  decade  been  any  considerable  change  in  the  business  of 
the  town. 


684  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

EASTON    IN   1886. 

The  Old  Times  and  the  New.  —  North  Easton  village  as  it  is 
To-day.  —  The  Ames  Memorial  Hall.  —  South  Easton  village 
and  the  Green.  —  A  Trip  through  Easton  Centre,  and  a  Glance 
AT  Furnace  Village. 

WE  have  now  nearly  completed  our  survey  of  the  history  of 
Easton.  How  the  Wampanoag  Indian  sachems,  Massa- 
soit  and  Philip,  sold  the  land,  and  the  fifty-three  purchasers 
thereof  organized  a  great  Land  Company  ;  how  the  lands  were 
divided  and  settled  ;  how  Clement  Briggs,  the  Randalls,  Capt. 
John  Phillips,  the  Manleys,  and  others  came  here  from  Wey- 
mouth and  elsewhere  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago,  built  their 
log  houses,  cleared  away  the  forests,  erected  their  mills,  organ- 
ized a  church  and  incorporated  the  town  ;  how  ministers  came 
and  went,  church  controversies  arose,  and  the  clamor  of  tongues 
waxed  loud  and  then  grew  still ;  how,  led  by  stirring  fife  and 
drum,  our  fathers  proudly  marched  the  streets  on  training  days, 
or  faced  the  foe  on  bloody  battle-fields  ;  how  industries  have 
risen  and  prospered,  log  cabins  given  place  to  beautiful  homes 
and  stately  mansions,  and  the  old  stage-coach  been  banished 
by  steam-cars ;  how  friction  matches  have  succeeded  flint  and 
tinder-box,  and  the  pitchpine  torch  and  tallow  dip  given  way 
to  gas  and  kerosene  ;  how  our  fathers  were  content  with  letters 
once  a  week,  and  the  newspaper  was  to  them  a  curiosity,  while 
we  may  now  read  the  daily  papers  at  breakfast  and  get  our  letters 
thrice  a  day  ;  nay,  how  we  annihilate  time  and  space,  and  stand- 
ing at  the  telephone  may  actually  converse  with  friends  who  are 
miles  away,  —  all  this  is  but  part  of  the  story  of  the  last  two 
hundred  years  in  Easton. 

We  have  as  yet  made  no  attempt  to  describe  the  town  as  it 
is  to-day.  For  residents  such  description  is  needless  ;  but  for 
those  who  once  lived  here  and  have  long  been  absent,  and  for 


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EASTON    IN    1886. 


685 


others  who  have  not  been  here,  an  attempt  at  a  description  must 
be  made,  although  the  result  will  necessarily  be  inadequate. 
Carefully  prepared  maps  of  the  town  are  given,  showing  the 
location  and  ownership  of  dweUing-houses  and  other  buildings, 
as  also  the  location  of  highways,  streams,  and  ponds.  In  order 
to  secure  sufficient  space  for  names,  it  was  necessary  to  give  the 
map  of  North  Easton  village  on  a  separate  sheet. 

The  visitor  who  came  to  Easton  a  few  years  ago  by  cars  and 
stopped  at  North  Easton,  received  an  unpleasant  impression  of 
the  place  at  once  by  alighting  in  a  dark  and  smoky  station,  and 
seeing  only  dismal  waiting-rooms  and  surroundings  singularly 
unattractive.  He  would  now,  however,  in  alighting  find  himself 
upon  the  platform  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful  small  railroad 
stations  in  the  country.  It  is  the  generous  gift  to  the  Old  Col- 
ony Railroad  of  F.  L.  Ames ;  but  the  real  intent  of  it  is  to 
beautify  and  benefit  the  village  where  it  stands,  and  its  giver 
has  laid  the  whole  community  under  obligations  for  his  kind- 
ness. It  is  the  work  of  the  noted  architect,  the  late  H.  H. 
Richardson  ;  is  built  of  Braggville  granite,  so-called,  and  brown 
sandstone,  and  has  spacious  and  elaborately  finished  waiting- 
rooms.  A  heliotype  print  of  it  is  presented  to  the  reader's  at- 
tention ;  it  is  a  view  taken  from  the  southeast,  and  gives  some 
idea,  though  an  imperfect  one,  of  the  well  laid-out  grounds  about 
the  station.  All  the  surroundings  have  been  greatly  improved. 
Concrete  sidewalks  are  laid  on  Oliver  Street,  which  is  north  of 
the  station,  and  which  has  recently  been  widened  and  straight- 
ened. The  large  Hinge  Factory  of  E.  W.  Gilmore  and  the  long 
substantial  stone  shops  of  the  Ames  Shovel  Works  give  a  de- 
cided business  aspect  to  this  locality. 

A  little  way  east  of  this  building  are  the  spacious  grounds 
owned  by  Governor  Oliver  Ames  and  F.  L.  Ames.  These 
grounds  are  finely  laid  out.  The  large  stone  house  at  the  left, 
not  far  from  the  entrance,  is  that  of  Governor  Ames.  A  few 
minutes'  walk,  leading  across  the  pond  by  the  stone  bridge,  brings 
us  in  sight  of  the  stately  residence  of  F.  L.  Ames ;  and  beyond 
this  we  may  see  his  roomy  and  handsome  stable,  beautifully 
finished  with  furniture  maple  ;  and  still  farther  on  his  extensive 
greenhouse,  which  is  justly  esteemed  one  of  the  most  interest- 


686  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


ing  objects  of  the  village,  it  being  kindly  open  to  visitors,  who 
may  find  themselves  in  a  moment  transported  to  the  tropics, 
feasting  their  eyes  upon  the  sight  of  the  richness  and  luxuriance 
of  tropical  vegetation,  —  graceful  palms  and  ferns,  wonderful  fo- 
liage-plants and  orchids,  exciting  constant  surprise  and  admira- 
tion. One  room  in  this  greenhouse,  called  the  fernery,  is  so  ex- 
quisitely beautiful  that  it  brings  a  strain  upon  one's  vocabulary 
if  he  attempts  to  give  adequate  expression  to  his  feelings  at  the 
sight  of  it.  Many  tons  of  porous  limestone  brought  here  from 
New  York  State  are  piled  in  masses  in  this  fernery,  are  covered 
with  mosses,  ferns,  and  vines,  and  from  among  them  rise  tall 
palms  and  Australian  tree  ferns.  The  collection  of  orchids  in 
this  greenhouse  is  with  one  exception  the  most  extensive  and 
valuable  in  this  country. 

Leaving  the  greenhouse  and  going  north  by  the  carriage-way, 
we  soon  arrive  at  the  very  unique  and  interesting  Gate-lodge 
which  stands  at  the  northern  entrance  of  Mr.  Ames's  grounds. 
The  view  as  we  approach  it  is  the  same  as  that  seen  in  the 
picture  which  serves  as  the  frontispiece  of  this  book.  The  ob- 
server will  notice  that  it  is  built  of  large,  roundish,  moss-covered 
stones  solidly  cemented  together.  The  circular  section  at  the 
right,  with  its  conical  roof,  contains  a  lofty  room,  which  is  used 
for  the  storage  of  plants  in  winter,  while  the  part  at  the  left  serves 
the  purpose  of  a  dwelling,  the  two  sections  being  connected  by 
a  massive  arch  of  Longmeadow  sandstone.  H.  H.  Richardson 
was  its  architect,  and  it  is  greatly  admired  by  the  many  persons 
who  see  it. 

Passing  under  the  arch  of  the  Gate-lodge,  we  are  facing  the 
north,  and  find  ourselves  on  Elm  Street.  At  the  right  we  may 
see  the  Washington  Street  Methodist  church  in  the  distance, 
now  unused  for  regular  services.  If  we  went  that  way  we 
should  find  on  Washington  Street,  north  of  the  church,  almost  a 
village  of  thrifty  looking  houses.  This  section  is  known  as  the 
Other  Neighborhood,  as  Unionville,  the  Dickerman  Neighbor- 
hood, the  Dark  Corner,  and  Square-top,  the  last  name  being 
given  with  reference  to  the  shape  of  the  tower  on  the  church. 

Departing  from  the  Gate-lodge  and  approaching  North  Easton 
village  by  Elm  Street,  we  pass  the  tenement  houses  that  bear  the 
suggestive  name  of  Battle  Row,  —  a  name  they  do  not  appear 


EASTON    IN    1886. 


687 


to  deserve  at  the  present  time,  —  and  leaving  E.  W.  Gilmore's 
Hinge  Factory  and  house  upon  the  left,  we  enter  Main  Street 
opposite  the  beautiful  vine-covered  parsonage  of  Unity  Church. 
From  this  point  Canton  Street  diverges  to  the  northwest,  while 

Main  Street  extending  northward  terminates    in  the  woods, 

suggesting  that  Western  road,  so  wittily  described  by  Emerson, 
which  was  first  a  cartpath,  then  a  footpath,  then  a  squirrel-track, 
and  then  ran  up  a  tree.  We  shall,  however,  turn  to  the  left 
and  go  south  on  Main  Street.  Unity  Church  is  at  our  right, 
standing  upon  ground  that  is  just  one  hundred  and  forty-five 
feet  above  sea-level,  Schoolhouse  Hill  being  forty-seven  feet 
higher.  Beyond  the  church,  which  has  been  described  in  another 
chapter,  we  go  down  Main  Street,  passing  several  dwelling-houses, 
including  the  large  residence  with  the  beautifully  kept  garden  of 
Mrs.  Oliver  Ames,  Sr.,  and  also  the  old  Ames  homestead,  when 
we  have  the  Shovel  Works  on  our  left,  and  the  attractive  grounds 
and  residence  of  O.  A.  Ames  on  the  right.  In  the  valley,  on 
one  side  of  the  street,  are  the  large  store  and  small  post-office, 
both  more  useful  than  ornamental.  But  we  shall  strive  to  keep 
the  visitor's  gaze  fixed  upon  the  other  side  of  the  street,  where 
he  may  see  the  beautiful  Public  Library  building,  which  has  been 
spoken  of  also  in  another  chapter,  and  the  noble  and  massive 
Memorial  Hall,  also  elsewhere  mentioned,  before  which  we  must 
pause  for  a  few  moments.  This  Hall  was  built  in  memory  of 
Oakes  Ames  by  his  children,  and  was  presented  by  them  to  the 
town.  It  stands  on  the  solid  foundation  of  a  natural  ledge,  from 
the  northeast  corner  of  which  rises  the  beautiful  octagonal  tower, 
on  whose  frieze  are  carved  the  twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac.  For 
the  entire  length  in  front  the  building  is  ornamented  with  an 
arcade  having  five  arches,  which  rest  upon  low  strong  columns 
with  carved  capitals.  The  material  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  first  story  of  this  building  is  the  sienite  stone  from  a  quarry 
only  a  few  rods  distant,  the  second  story  being  finished  in  hand- 
some brick ;  the  trimmings  are  of  red  sandstone,  and  the  steep 
imposing  roof  is  covered  with  red  tiles.  Over  the  front  dormer 
window  appears  a  monogram  formed  of  the  letters  O.  A.  The 
Hall  stands  at  a  high  elevation  above  the  road,  though  near 
to  it,  and  is  approached  by  wide  stone  staircases,  terminating 
on  stone  platforms,  and  so  combined  with  the  natural  stone-work 


688  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

as  to  present  a  grand  appearance.  On  the  first  floor  of  the  build- 
ing are  two  small  halls  ;  on  the  second  floor  is  the  main  hall, 
which,  exclusive  of  a  large  stage,  is  fifty-nine  feet  in  length, 
forty-seven  in  width,  and  twenty  in  height,  —  the  stage  measur- 
ing twenty-six  by  eighteen  feet.  The  upper  room  is  beautifully 
finished  as  a  Masonic  Hall.  The  whole  building  outside,  exclud- 
ing the  tower,  is  ninety-six  and  one  third  feet  in  length.  The 
architect  of  this  noble  building  was  H.  H.  Richardson. 

Memorial  Hafl  was  dedicated  November  17,  188  r,  with  inter- 
esting exercises  ;  and  on  that  occasion  it  was  formally  presented 
by  Oliver  Ames  to  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  who 
were  to  hold  and  manage  the  building  for  the  benefit  of  the  town 
of  Easton.  The  chairman  was  Lewis  H.  Smith,  who  made  an 
appropriate  response  to  the  presentation  address  of  Mr.  Ames. 
The  trustees  alluded  to  are  members  of  a  legal  corporation  called 
the  Oakes  Ames  Memorial  Hall  Association.  This  corporation 
has  entire  control  of  all  the  property,  and  of  its  management.  The 
town  can  have  "  the  full  and  free  use  of  said  premises,  without 
payment  of  rent  for  all  the  ordinary  purposes  of  a  Town  Hall,"  ^ 
if  it  chooses  to  do  so.  But  the  building  is  not  centrally  enough 
located  for  town-meeting  purposes,  and  is  not  likely  to  be  used 
for  them,  the  town  having  just  built  a  new  town-hall  at  Easton 
Centre.  A  fund  of  two  thousand  dollars  has  been  given  to  the 
trustees  of  Memorial  Hall,  the  interest  of  which  may  be  applied 
to  the  payment  of  insurance,  and  the  unexpended  balance  used 
for  repairs.  For  several  years  the  Hall  has  realized  about  one 
hundred  dollars  annually  above  expenses,  and  this  sum  has  been 
paid  into  the  town  treasury. 

In  front  of  this  building,  in  the  large  triangular  piece  of 
o-round  enclosed  between  Lincoln  Street  and  the  two  branches 

o 

of  Main  Street,  has  been  built  by  the  Ames  Corporation,  from 
designs  by  Fred  Law  Olmstead,  an  extensive  rockwork,  or  cairn. 
It  is  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  twenty-five  feet  high  at 
one  end,  and  wide  enough  at  the  top  for  a  carriage  to  drive  upon 
it  and  turn  around.  Underneath  it  is  an  arch,  and  from  the 
highest  part  of  it  rises  a  tall  flag-staff.  The  whole  is  nearly 
covered  with  vines  and  shrubbery  in  the  summer-time,  and  pre- 

1  Quoted  from  the  Deed  of  Trust,  which  is  printed  in  full  in  the  Town  Report  of 
Easton  for  i88i. 


* 


w 


EASTON   IN   1886. 


689 


sents  a  striking  appearance.  At  the  east  end  Centre  Street 
diverges  from  Main  Street,  running  southerly,  its  northern  part 
being  the  location  of  Carr's  market,  several  stores,  Spooner's 
building,  and  John  King's  boot-shop,  beyond  which  point  the 
street  presents  a  very  neat  and  attractive  appearance. 

Near  the  cairn  Main  Street  curves  to  the  east,  crossing  the 
railroad  bridge  above  the  track.  In  the  hollow,  northward,  on 
Mechanic  Street,  will  soon  rise  to  view  the  new  boot-shop,  built 
for  Gould  and  Closson.  On  the  hill  at  the  right  is  the  residence 
of  Dr.  Cogswell  ;  the  Methodist  church  is  seen  a  few  rods  to  the 
left  of  the  street,  and  farther  on  is  the  Roman  Catholic  church 
and  its  parsonage.  The  visitor  will  hardly  fail  to  notice  the 
nicely  kept  grounds  of  Lucius  Seaver,  and  next  it  the  new  dwell- 
ing-house of  George  W.  Kennedy.  From  just  beyond  this  the 
view  looking  northward  up  the  pond  to  the  stone  bridge,  and 
across  the  lawn  and  grounds  of  F.  L.  Ames,  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  in  town. 

Before  taking  leave  of  North  Easton  village  a  word  of  explana- 
tion concerning  the  picture  here  given  is  desirable.  The  point 
of  view  is  the  tower  of  Governor  Ames's  house,  with  a  portion  of 
his  premises  in  the  foreground.  The  central  object  in  the  dis- 
tance is  the  schoolhouse  rising  conspicuously  above  the  other 
buildings,  and  the  large  edifice  at  the  right  will  be  recognized 
as  Memorial  Hall.  The  long  roofs  and  high  chimneys  of  the 
Shovel  Shops  show  plainly  at  the  right,  and  Shovel  Shop  Pond 
is  seen  at  the  left.  It  may  seem  strange  to  have  a  picture  of  a 
New  England  village  with  no  church  in  sight,  but  Unity  Church 
is  too  far  to  the  right,  and  the  Methodist  and  Roman  Catholic 
churches  too  far  to  the  left,  to  come  within  the  range  of  this 
view.  This  village  is  now  furnished  with  street  lights,  and  con- 
crete walks  are  added  every  year  ;  it  will  soon  also  be  provided 
with  water-works. 

North  Easton  must  not,  however,  longer  claim  our  time,  and  we 
therefore  pass  on  to  Washington  Street,  by  which  we  shall  soon 
reach  South  Easton  village.  Any  one  who  has  been  to  this  village 
before,  and  who  visits  it  now,  will  notice  a  striking  change  re- 
cently made.  Edward  N.  Morse  has  taken  the  Dr.  Swan  house 
for  his  home,  has  thoroughly  remodelled  it,  cleared  the  land, 
built  about  it  a  strong  and  handsome  wall,  secured  the  straight- 

44 


690  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


ening  of  the  highway,  and  is  making  of  the  place  an  extensive 
and  fine  looking  homestead.  At  the  right  as  we  continue  south- 
ward we  see  the  Thread  Factory,  of  which  a  picture  has  already 
been  presented  to  the  reader  ;  and  farther  down,  at  the  most 
ancient  mill-site  in  town,  T.  H.  and  J.  O.  Dean  have  their  grist- 
mill and  machine  shop.  This  locality,  where  Washington  and 
Depot  streets  cross  each  other,  is  the  Green,  so  called  for  many 
years,  the  exact  site,  as  already  told,  of  the  Rev.  Solomon  Pren- 
tice's Presbyterian  meeting-house,  part  of  the  lot  of  land  he 
deeded  for  that  purpose  being  now  taken  for  highways.  Several 
new  and  excellent  houses  have  recently  been  built  near  by.  Just 
below  is  Mr.  Simpson's  wheelwright  shop.  Depot  Street  leads 
easterly  to  the  Turnpike,  where  we  find  the  recently  built  Grand 
Army  Hall  which  was  dedicated  December  9,  1886  ;  also  a  new 
shoe-shop,  and  a  cluster  of  houses  up  and  down  the  street  known 
as  White's  Village. 

Taking  Depot  Street  westward,  we  pass  the  head  of  Church 
Street,  with  the  old  cemetery  just  in  sight,  and  about  a  mile 
beyond  cross  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  track  near  the  Easton 
railroad  station.  Continuing  farther  we  soon  come  to  the  Evan- 
gelical church,  of  which  a  picture  has  been  given,  and  we  suc- 
cessively pass  the  Soldier's  Monument,  the  new  Town  Hall,  and 
the  Almshouse.  This  locality,  with  about  fifteen  dwelling-houses, 
a  railroad  station,  and  the  boot-shop  of  Lackey  &  Davie,  is  known 
as  Easton  Centre. 

Pursuing  our  journey  nearly  two  miles  southwest  of  the  Centre 
we  arrive  at  the  Furnace  Village,  a  pleasant  and  enterprising 
place.  Depot  Street  terminates  at  the  Bay  road,  where  it  is 
crossed  by  Foundry  Street.  At  this  spot  is  the  old  corner  store 
long  the  property  of  Joel  S.  Drake,  and  just  opposite  is  the  new 
carriage  factory  of  Albert  M.  Hayward.  A  short  distance  west- 
ward from  this  corner  may  be  seen  the  foundries  of  the  Drakes 
and  Belchers,  which  we  do  not  expect  to  find  ornamental  in 
their  appearance,  but  which  have  long  added  and  continue  to 
add  materially  to  the  prosperity  of  the  village.  Farther  south 
on  the  Bay  road  is  the  Kimball  store-stand  where  once  stood 
the  old  Kimball  tavern,  and  westward  may  be  seen  the  two- 
story  schoolhouse.  This  neighborhood  is  enterprising  and 
thrifty,  the  village  is  pleasant,  and  its  inhabitants  boast  with 


EASTON    IN   1886.  69 1 


apparent  good  reason  that  no  intoxicating  liquors  are  retailed 
within  their  borders. 

We  must  here  close  our  very  imperfect  survey  of  the  town, 
having  noticed  the  several  centres  of  population.  As  a  whole, 
Easton  has  no  reason  to  shun  comparison  with  the  average  New 
England  town  ;  while  its  excellent  roads,  several  of  its  industries, 
its  educational  advantages,  and  some  of  its  public  buildings  and 
private  residences  give  it  pre-eminence  over  other  towns  of  its 
class. 


692  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


MINISTERS. 

Israel  Alger.  —  Jarvis  A.  Ames.  —  Matthew  Bolles.  —  Silas  Brett. 

—  Nelson  W.  Britton.  —  Charles  H.  Buck.  —  Daniel  LeBaron 
Goodwin.  —  Francis  Homes. — William  Keith. — Jason  Lothrop. 

—  RUEL  Lothrop.  —  Ephraim  Randall.  —  Joshua  Randall.  — 
David  Reed. — William  Reed.  —  Nathan  P.  Selee.  —  Luther  H. 
Sheldon.  —  Simeon  Williams.  —  Bradford  Willis.  — Martin  W. 
Willis.  —  Henry  Wood.  —  Roman  Catholic  Clergymen:  James  W. 
Conlin.  —  William  T.  Doherty.  —  Edward  Farrell.  —  Michael 
J.  Long. —John  W.  McCarthy.  —  Dennis  J.  Menton. — John  D. 
O'Keefe. 

THE  present  chapter  and  the  three  that  follow  it  will  be 
made  up  of  brief  biographical  sketches  of  natives  and  resi- 
dents of  Easton  who  have  been  devoted  to  the  professions  of  the 
ministry,  medicine,  or  the  law,  or  who  were  college  graduates. 
It  is  customary  in  town  histories  to  give  sketches  of  such  pro- 
fessional men  as  belong  to  the  town  ;  but  while  the  writer  fol- 
lows the  accepted  custom,  he  recognizes  the  fact  that  there  have 
been  many  citizens  of  Easton  whose  natural  abilities  and  ster- 
ling character  render  them  more  deserving  a  biographical  notice 
than  some  persons  who  are  written  about  in  the  following  four 
chapters  of  this  History.  The  Easton  reader,  as  he  finds  here 
some  account  of  men  of  scarcely  average  worth  or  ability,  may 
feel  inclined  to  complain,  and  not  without  reason,  that  better  and 
abler  men,  his  kindred  perhaps,  are  not  brought  into  at  least  as 
prominent  notice.  Yet  completeness  in  the  treatment  of  these 
chapters  on  the  professions  demands  that  no  omissions  should 
be  made,  however  little  some  of  the  persons  treated  of  may  de- 
serve to  be  considered.  The  deficiency  complained  of  will  be 
remedied,  so  far  as  the  writer  can  do  it,  in  another  book,  which 
will  be  distinctly  genealogical  and  biographical. 

The  settled  ministers  of  Easton  are  not  noticed  in  this  chap- 
ter, for  the  reason  that  they  have  already  been  written  about  in 


MINISTERS. 


693 


the  accounts  of  the  churches  to  which  they  have  severally  min- 
istered. For  convenient  reference,  the  names  in  this  chapter 
are  given  in  two  lists :  the  first  are  the  Protestant,  the  second 
the  Roman  Catholic  clergymen. 

The  Rev.  Israel  Alger,i  son  of  Israel  and  Rachel  (Howard) 
Alger,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  3,  1787.  He  became  early  in- 
terested in  religion,  and  began  to  preach  in  the  Baptist  church 
at  West  Bridgewater  when  only  nineteen  years  old.  He  then 
fitted  himself  for  Brown  University,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
181 1,  receiving  later  the  degree  of  A.M.  He  returned  home  to 
preach,  but  was  not  strong  enough  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a 
minister.  He  therefore  removed  to  Boston  and  established 
a  private  school,  being  for  a  few  years  master  also  of  the  old 
May  hew  School.  He  was,  with  one  exception,  more  of  a  lite- 
rary character  than  any  other  son  of  Easton,  though  his  books 
were  not  very  original,  being  mainly  adaptations  of  school- 
books,  chiefly  grammatical  and  linguistic.  He  published  a  new 
"Practical  Book-Keeper,"  and  in  1821  the  "Elements  of  Or- 
thography." In  1823  and  1824  he  pubHshed  a  number  of  Lind- 
ley  Murray's  works,  which  he  revised  and  improved ;  among 
them  were  "The  Pronouncing  Introductor,"  "The  Pronouncing 
English  Reader,"  "The  English  Teacher  or  Private  Learner's 
Guide,"  "  Murray's  English  Exercises,"  and  "  Alger's  Murray." 
The  latter  is  highly  spoken  of.  In  1825  he  published  "Alger's 
Perry,"  which  was  a  revised  spelling-book  according  to  "  a  new 
scheme,  containing  also  moral  lessons,  fables,  and  much  useful 
matter  for  the  instruction  of  youth."  In  the  same  year  he  also 
published  "  The  Pronouncing  Bible,"  a  copy  of  which  the  writer 
now  has  before  him.  The  pronunciation  is  according  to  Walker, 
all  the  words  of  the  Bible  that  could  present  any  difficulty, 
and  many  that  presented  none,  being  so  accented  as  to  make 
the  pronunciation  easy.  The  first  words  thus  accented  in  this 
book  are,  in  their  order,  earth,  sptr'tt,  divided,  and  were.  Foot- 
notes on  various  pages  explain  that  said  should  be  pronounced 
sed  ;  aprons,  a'piirnz  ;  fruit,  froot ;  "  ti  long  after  r  sounds  like 
00."  One  is  not  allowed  to  go  astray  regarding  victuals, 
laugh  {"  pronounced  laf  "),  zvomen,  riband  ("rib'bin  "),  etc.  And 
1  See  Memorial  of  the  Descendants  of  Thomas  Alger,  p.  19. 


694  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


lest  such  words  might  be  forgotten,  the  pronunciation  of  said, 
furnace,  leopard,  mirth,  guard  (gyard),  vineyards  (vin'yerdz), 
girl,  watch  (wotsh),  sky  (skel),  and  woman  ("  wiim'un,  i.  e. 
w66m'iin  ")  are  constantly  repeated  as  foot-notes.  This  work 
ended  our  author's  literary  career.  He  died  in  Easton,  Septem- 
ber 23,  1825. 

The  Rev.  Jarvis  Adams  Ames,  son  of  Jotham  and  Polly  (Lo- 
throp)  Ames,  was  born  in  Easton,  November  8,  1826.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  he  went  to  Boston  to  seek  his  fortune.  In 
a  window  on  Washington  Street  he  saw  a  placard,  on  which  were 
printed  the  words,  "  Boy  wanted  ; "  he  entered  the  store,  secured 
the  situation,  and  remained  there  nine  years.  It  was  Partridge's 
millinery  store  in  Boston,  where  he  became  a  partner  in  the  busi- 
ness when  twenty  years  old.  He  left  the  store  about  1850,  studied 
at  Wilbraham  Academy,  Mass.,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  as  a 
Methodist,  February  28,  1852.  From  1853  to  1855  he  was  at  the 
General  Biblical  Institute,  Concord,  N.  H.,  where  he  graduated. 
He  preached  during  this  term  of  study  in  Goffstown,  Canter- 
bury, and  Salisbury,  and  later  for  a  time  in  Townsend,  Mass. 
Mr.  Ames  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Jaynes  at  Salem  in 
April,  1856,  and  as  elder  by  Bishop  Scott  at  Worcester,  April  1 1, 
1858.  He  was  stationed  at  Townsend  in  1856  ;  Woburn  in  1857 
and  1858  ;  Maple  Street  Church  in  Lynn  for  the  next  two  years  ; 
at  Medford  for  the  next  two  ;  at  the  Purchase  Street  Church  in 
Newburyport  for  the  next  two  years;  at  Rockport  from  1866 
to  1868;  at  the  City  Mission,  Boston,  for  three  years,  and  at 
the  Hanover  Street  Mission  two  years  ;  afterward  at  Cam- 
bridgeport  and  West  Medford  ;  at  Sudbury  in  1880;  and  at 
Ruggles  Street  Church,  Boston,  in  1881  and  1882.  He  be- 
came superannuated  in  1883,  and  died  at  Bellevue,  Florida, 
July  18,  1885. 

Mr.  Ames  married,  April  14,  1856,  Ruby  M.  Sedgwick,  of 
Palmer,  Mass.,  who  proved  a  helpmeet  indeed  in  his  labors,  oc- 
casionally lecturing  in  his  pulpit  and  otherwise  assisting  him. 
They  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  An 
extended  notice  of  him  may  be  found  in  the  "Minutes  of  the 
M.  E.  N.  E.  Conference"  for  1886,  which  gives  him  a  most  ex- 
cellent character. 


MINISTERS. 


695 


The  Rev.  Matthew  Bolles  was  for  several  years  a  resident  of 
Easton,  though  he  preached  in  the  Baptist  church  at  Cocheset. 
He  lived  on  the  west  side  of  the  Turnpike,  just  north  of  Alger's 
Four  Corners,  and  was  postmaster  there  in  1829.  Mr.  Bolles  was 
the  second  child  of  the  Rev.  David  Bolles,  and  was  born  at 
Ashford,  now  Eastford,  Connecticut,  April  21,  1769.  He  mar- 
ried Anna,  daughter  of  Eliphaz  and  Jerusha  (Pride)  Hibbard, 
of  Mansfield,  Connecticut,  September  15,  1793;  was  in  active 
business  life  until  he  became  a  Baptist  preacher ;  was  ordained 
at  Lyme,  Connecticut,  and  afterward  preached  in  Fairfield, 
Connecticut,  Milford,  New  Hampshire,  Marblehead  and  West 
Bridgewater  (Cocheset),  Massachusetts  ;  and  died  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  September  26,  1838.  He  had  nine  children,  among 
whom  were  Matthew,  now  a  prominent  banker  of  Boston,  and 
John  Augustus,  who  will  be  spoken  of  in  another  chapter. 

The  Rev.  Silas  Brett,  though  not  a  native  of  Easton,  was  a 
resident  here  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  and  is  entitled  to 
a  notice  in  these  pages.  He  was  the  son  of  Seth  and  Sarah 
(Alden)  Brett,  and  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  February  29,  17 16. 
Mitchell  states  that  "  Silas  entered  college,  but  left  it  and  be- 
came a  preacher,  and  was  settled  in  Berkeley."  ^  Records  of  Free- 
town, where  he  was  afterward  settled,  state  that  he  was  educated 
at  Yale  College,  and  studied  divinity  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Angier, 
of  Bridgewater.  November  6,  1744,  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
Easton  gave  him  a  call  to  become  their  pastor ;  but  already  the 
contest  over  the  location  of  the  meeting-house  was  taking  shape, 
and  the  church  and  parish  were  not  in  accord  on  this  subject. 
The  contention  thus  started  will  probably  account  for  the  follow- 
ing vote  of  the  town,  taken  January  31,  1745:  "Voted  in  ye 
Negative  not  for  to  concure  with  ye  Churche's  vote  in  giveing  of 
Mr.  Silas  Britt  a  call." 

December  i,  1747,  Mr.  Brett  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  of  Freetown,  the  Rev.  John  Porter,  of 
Bridgewater,  preaching  the  sermon.  The  church  was  small, 
and  at  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  War  violent  dissensions 
arose  in  it  which  interfered  with  the  support  of  the  pastor,  and 
he  was  accordingly  dismissed  May  i,  1776.     There  is  no  record 

1  History  of  Bridgewater,  p.  120. 


696  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


that  the  church,  then  consisting  of  twenty-two  members,  ever 
met  again.  After  living  nearly  twenty  years  in  Freetown  Mr, 
Brett  settled  in  Easton,  where,  though  he  occasionally  supplied 
pulpits  elsewhere,  he  remained  a  resident  until  his  death,  fifteen 
years  later.  He  was  paid  forty-five  dollars  for  providing  for  the 
council  at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  William  Reed  in  1784. 

May  10,  1747,  Mr.  Brett  married  Thankful,  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant Joshua  and  Susanna  (Hayward)  Howard.  They  had  sev- 
eral children,  the  best  known  of  whom  was  Calvin  Brett,  who 
was  a  prominent  man  in  town.  The  Rev.  Silas  Brett  died  April 
17,  1 79 1,  and  Thankful,  his  wife,  March  26,  1822.  Their  remains 
lie  in  the  Pine  Grove  Cemetery. 

The  Rev.  Nelson  Williams  Britton,  son  of  William  Britton, 
Jr.,  and  his  wife  Maria  B.  (Williams),  was  born  in  Easton,  August 
10,  1830,  from  which  place  his  family  removed  to  Mansfield  when 
he  was  about  nine  years  old.  He  was  educated  at  the  Mansfield 
Academy,  and  at  the  East  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  Academy,  after- 
ward teaching  school  at  West  Bridgewater  and  Norton.  In 
January,  1855,  he  received  a  license  to  preach  from  the  Meth- 
odist Protestant  Church,  and  joined  the  Boston  District  Confer- 
ence of  that  Church,  receiving  deacon's  orders  March,  1858,  and 
elder's  orders  in  August  of  the  same  year.  From  this  time  until 
1866  he  preached  first  at  Marion  and  then  at  Pocasset,  both  in 
Massachusetts,  remaining  at  Pocasset  five  years.  Being  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Annual  Conference  of  Non-Episcopal  Methodists  held 
at  Cincinnati  in  1866,  he  was  at  his  own  request  transferred  to 
the  New  York  district.  He  was  then  stationed  at  Norwalk, 
Conn.,  where  he  labored  two  years,  going  thence  to  Peekskill, 
N.  Y.,  where  a  bronchial  trouble  obliged  him  to  give  up  public 
speaking,  and  consequently  the  ministry.  He  then  removed  to 
East  Providence,  R.  I. 

May  31,  1857,  Mr.  Britton  was  married  to  Sarah  H.  Case.  In 
1870  he  was  appointed  station  agent  of  the  Boston  and  Provi- 
dence Railroad  at  East  Providence,  a  position  he  still  holds. 
He  has  also  been  postmaster  about  twelve  years,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Providence,  of  the  Cavalry  Com- 
mandry.  Knights  Templars  (Masonic),  and  has  held  several 
town  offices. 


MINISTERS. 


697 


The  Rev.  Charles  H.  Buck,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Clarissa 
(Bryant)  Buck,  was  born  in  Easton,  January  10,  1841.  When  a 
boy  his  parents  moved  to  Dorchester  (now  Boston),  where  he 
graduated  from  the  Washington  Grammar  School  in  1858.  He 
graduated  from  the  Wesleyan  Academy  at  Wilbraham  in  i860, 
and  from  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  in 
1864,  and  then  joining  the  New  York  East  (Methodist)  Con- 
ference, began  to  preach  in  Simsbury,  Conn.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  May  29,  1866,  he  married  Julia  O.  Foy,  of 
Simsbury.  He  preached  in  1866  at  Westville  ;  for  the  next 
three  years  at  Bristol ;  the  next  three  at  New  Britain  ;  the  next 
three  at  New  Haven,  in  the  St.  John  Street  Church  ;  and 
again  three  years  at  Bristol.  For  a  second  time  also  he  preached 
for  three  years  at  the  large  MethodLst  Society  in  New  Britain, 
and  for  the  next  three  years  he  was  in  New  Haven  at  the  First 
Church.  He  is  now  (1886)  preaching  for  the  third  year  at 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  over  a  very  large  church.  His  three  years'  stay 
in  important  places,  and  his  being  returned  afterward  to  the 
same  churches,  justify  his  reputation  as  an  able  and  eloquent 
preacher  and  an  efficient  pastor. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  LeBaron  Goodwin,  son  of  Daniel  and 
Polly  (Briggs)  Goodwin,  was  born  in  Easton,  July  28,  1800.  His 
grandfather  was  Benjamin  Goodwin,  who  bought  land  in  Easton 
in  1783,  moving  here  from  Boston  late  in  1784  or  early  in  1785, 
and  two  of  whose  daughters  were  wives  of  Daniel  Wheaton, 
Esq.  Daniel  Goodwin,  Sr.,  moved  to  Norton  about  1802,  where 
he  had  three  other  sons,  all  of  whom  became  ministers. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  LeBaron  Goodwin  was  fitted  for  college  at 
Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Mass.,  graduated  from  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  1822,  and  May  3,  1825,  was  ordained  a  deacon  in  St. 
Paul's  Church  in  Boston.  On  the  15th  of  July  following  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Sutton  as  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  where  he 
remained  till  April,  1854,  when  he  removed  to  Providence,  R.  I., 
and  was  employed  as  "church  missionary  "  for  that  city.  Decem- 
ber 12,  1825,  he  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  WilHam  Wilkinson, 
Esq.,  of  Providence,  and  had  ten  children.  He  died  at  Provi- 
dence, December  25,  1867.  Mrs.  Goodwin,  now  eighty-five  years 
of  age,  is  still  alive,  and  resides  at  Bristol,  R.  I.    Five  of  the  chil- 


698  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

dren  are  also  living  ;  namely,  Miss  Sarah  W.  Goodwin  of  Bristol, 
Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin,  rector  of  St.  Luke's  Church,  East  Green- 
wich, R.  I.,  Mrs.  Hannah  W.  Drury  of  Bristol,  Mrs.  Anne  D. 
Deane  of  Fairhaven,  Mass.,  and  Mrs.  Susan  W.  Munro,  wife  of 
Wilfred  H.  Munro,  the  president  of  De  Veaux  College,  Suspen- 
sion Bridge,  New  York. 

The  Rev.  Francis  Homes,  though  not  a  native  of  Easton,  has 
been  a  citizen  of  the  town  for  fifteen  years.  He  is  the  son  of 
Henry  and  Isabella  Homes,  of  Boston,  long  the  residence  of  his 
ancestors,  where  he  was  born  July  17,  1826.  He  was  educated 
at  Phillips  Academy  in  Andover,  graduated  at  Amherst  College 
in  1848,  and  subsequently  passed  through  the  Andover  Theo- 
logical School.  He  preached  some  time  in  the  State  of  Missouri, 
and  then  in  Massachusetts,  in  the  latter  State  serving  as  pastor 
in  Congregational  Orthodox  churches  in  Granville,  Westfield, 
Marblehead,  and  Lynn.  In  the  year  1871  he  settled  in  Easton, 
where  he  has  engaged  in  farming. 

Mr.  Homes  is  a  man  of  intelligence,  and  of  straightforward 
decided  character,  much  interested  in  morals  and  religion,  and 
long  served  as  superintendent  in  the  Sunday-school  at  White's 
Hall.  He  takes  much  interest  in  education  also,  and  was  for 
three  years  an  efBcient  member  of  the  Easton  school  committee. 
In  1864  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Hooper  Broughton,  of  Marble- 
head.  She  soon  died,  and  in  1867  he  married  Mary  Angelina 
Tuck,  of  Lynn. 

The  Rev.  William  Keith  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass.,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1776.  He  was  converted  in  1794,  and  soon  after  joined 
the  Methodist  Church.  His  mind  was  greatly  exercised  in  re- 
gard to  becoming  a  preacher,  and  after  sore  conflicts  of  spirit  he 
entered,  in  1798,  into  the  work  of  the  ministry,  being  first  sta- 
tioned on  the  Albany  circuit.  "  Having  to  ride,"  he  says,  "  three 
hundred  miles  in  four  weeks,  and  preach  forty-three  times,  and 
sometimes  travel  on  foot  through  storms  and  snows,  I  was  so 
worn  out  that  in  the  month  of  April,  1799,  I  returned  home  un- 
able to  ride  any  more."  Soon  after  this  he  became  dejected, 
lost  his  religious  fervor,  and  being  harshly  reproved  for  it  by 
preachers  from  whom  he  had  a  right  to  expect  sympathy,  he 


MINISTERS. 


699 


"withdrew  from  the  connection"  in  1801.  After  a  year  and  a 
half  of  darkness  (a  consequence  no  doubt  of  ill-health,  though 
his  biographer  fails  to  see  it)  he  had  so  improved  in  health  and 
spirit  that  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  join  the  Methodists  again.  On 
this  occasion  he  writes :  "  As  soon  as  I  consented  to  bear  the 
cross  and  join  the  Methodists  again,  I  felt  a  return  of  the  favor 
of  God,  and  could  truly  say,  '  My  Jesus  is  mine  and  I  am  his.' " 
Mr.  Keith  labored  as  a  local  preacher  about  two  years,  and  then 
entered  the  itinerant  connection  again.  In  1806,  1807,  ^^  was 
on  the  Newburgh  circuit,  in  1808  on  the  Montgomery,  and  in 
1809  he  was  stationed  at  New  York  City.  There  he  ended  his 
days,  September  8,  18 10,  aged  thirty-three  years,  eleven  months, 
and  twenty-three  days,  leaving  a  widow  and  three  children. 
His  biographer  speaks  of  his  character,  and  of  his  ability  and 
success  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  terms  of  high  praise.^ 
"  Sound  in  doctrine,  deep  in  experience,  uniform  in  practice,  he 
was  able  to  look  a  congregation  in  the  face  while  he  denounced 
the  terrors  of  the  law  to  sinners  and  administered  the  promises 
of  the  gospel  to  mourners  and  believers." 

It  would  be  gratifying  to  know  who  were  the  parents  of  the 
Rev.  William  Keith  ;  for  it  is  not  to  be  presumed  that,  like 
Melchisedek  he  was  "  without  father,  without  mother,  without 
descent."  The  most  painstaking  efforts  have  not,  however,  suc- 
ceeded in  discovering  his  parentage. 

The  Rev.  Jason  Lothrop,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Cook) 
Lothrop,  was  born  in  Easton,  May  16,  1794.  His  father  moved 
to  Easton  in  the  year  1782,  or  early  in  1783,  and  lived  here 
twenty-five  years,  when  he  moved  to  Cornish,  New  Hampshire. 
All  his  children  were  born  in  Easton,  except  the  oldest,  Calvin, 
who  was  born  in  Stoughton,  though  the  "  Lathrop  Family  Me- 
moir "  states  erroneously  that  he  was  born  in  Bridgewater.  In 
accordance  with  the  well  known  notion  that  the  seventh  child  is 
especially  endowed  with  the  healing  gift,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  named  Jason,  which  is  the  Greek  for  /lea/er  or  doctor  ; 

1  See  Minutes  of  Methodist  Conferences,  vol.  i.  p.  509-  His  biographer  speaks 
of  certain  "  Experiences  "  written  by  the  Rev.  William  Keith,  referring  to  them  by 
pages,  as  if  a  printed  book.  The  writer  has  searched  the  Boston  and  New  York 
libraries,  and  even  the  Congressional  Library  at  Washington,  but  no  trace  of  such 
a  book  appears ;  it  may  have  existed  only  in  manuscript. 


yoo  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

and  he  states  that  with  this  destiny  marked  out  for  him  by  fate 
he  was  permitted  to  go  to  school  at  sixteen  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Lothrop  studied  medicine  at  an  early  age,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  for  a  time  in  Yale  College.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
taught  school  in  New  Hampshire,  and  later  applied  himself  so 
closely  to  the  study  of  medicine  as  to  impair  his  health,  being 
forced  to  devote  himself  to  recreation  in  the  effort  to  restore 
his  physical  powers  to  a  good  condition.  In  the  year  1815, 
being  then  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  went  to  Utica,  New  York, 
where  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  editorial  management 
of  the  "  Baptist  Register  "  published  in  that  city,  showing  marked 
ability  in  the  work.  He  went  to  Newport,  Herkimer  County, 
New  York,  in  18 18,  and  preached  there  for  about  ten  years  as 
the  minister  of  the  Baptist  church  ;  was  then  settled  for  a  time 
at  Pulaski,  and  from  there  went  to  Oswego,  where  he  had  a  large 
and  intelligent  congregation.  He  afterward  became  principal  of 
an  academy  in  Hannibal. 

In  1834  Mr.  Lothrop  was  one  of  a  company  that  organized  at 
Hannibal,  New  York,  a  Western  Emigration  Society,  the  mem- 
bers of  which  proceeded  at  once  to  settle  in  what  became  Keno- 
sha, Wisconsin.  In  this  society  he  was  quite  prominent,  being 
one  of  five  to  draw  up  its  Constitution.  He  established  the 
first  school  in  Kenosha,  acting  as  its  teacher.  In  1838  Mr.  Lo- 
throp organized  the  first  Baptist  church  in  the  same  place,  and 
was  for  nine  years  thereafter  its  pastor,  resigning,  according  to 
his  own  account,  because  of  ill  health,  but  according  to  another 
account  because  he  differed  from  his  church  upon  some  car- 
dinal points  of  doctrine.^ 

"  Mr.  Jason  Lothrop,  who  while  living  East  had  been  many  years  a 
Baptist  minister  and  afterward  a  school  teacher,  was  next  found  in 
September,  1835,  in  the  'far  West'  engaged  in  keeping  a  boarding- 
house  at  Kenosha.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  talent,  and  of 
some  eccentricity  of  character.  Having  no  part  of  his  family  with  him, 
he  had  necessarily  to  perform  all  the  duties  which  pertain  to  such  an 
establishment,  such  as  cooking,  washing,  and  general  housewifery,  and 
also  the  accustomed  duties  of  'host.'  Notwithstanding  the  Elder  was 
a  man  of  fine  education,  and  of  more  than  average  natural  abilities, 

1  See  Mr.  Lothrop's  account  of  the  Western  Emigration  Society,  in  Wisconsin 
Historical  Collections,  vol.  ii.  p.  450  et  seq. 


MINISTERS.  701 


and  had  been  accustomed  at  one  time  of  his  life  to  elegance  of 
living,  and  for  these  reasons  not  familiar  with  such  avocations,  yet 
he  performed  all  the  diversified  offices  which  his  new  occupation 
demanded,  with  aptness  in  one  department  and  with  good  address  in 
another."  ^ 

The  writer  has  a  photograph  of  Mr.  Lothrop  before  him.  It 
is  a  face  of  marked  character  and  strength,  resolute,  sturdy,  and 
indicative  of  superior  common-sense.  When  it  is  considered 
that  he  was  six  feet  one  and  a  half  inches  in  height,  and  must 
have  weighed  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  it  would  touch 
our  pity,  if  it  did  not  more  decidedly  appeal  to  our  sense  of  the 
ludicrous,  to  think  of  him  with  apron  on  and  rolled-up  sleeves, 
mixing  dough,  rolling  out  doughnuts,  making  pies,  washing 
dishes,  and  attending  to  all  the  little  details  of  housekeeping. 
He  was  however  apt  at  anything  he  put  his  hand  to.  He  had 
a  domestic  printing-office,  the  second  in  the  State  of  Wiscon- 
sin, in  which  he  first  printed  a  small  pamphlet,  and  then  two 
hundred  and  fifty  copies  of  a  volume  of  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  pages.  He  also  made  a  rude  printing-press  himself,  and 
worked  it  "  placed  upon  a  stump."  In  addition  to  this  he  acted 
as  a  land-surveyor,  and  after  asthma  prevented  his  preaching  he 
turned  his  attention  to  horticulture. 

Jason  Lothrop  should  be  of  interest  to  Easton  readers,  not 
only  on  account  of  the  vigor  and  originality  of  his  mind  and  char- 
acter, but  because  he  was  perhaps  a  more  prolific  author  than  any 
other  native  of  the  town.  His  own  account  of  his  literary  work 
is  as  follows  :  — 

"  I  first  published  the '  Poetical  Precepts,'  a  little  book  for  children, 
which  went  through  five  editions ;  then  the  '  History  of  Almera ;  Or 
the  Advantages  of  a  good  Education,'  which  died  as  it  ought  with  the 
first  edition  ;  then  '  Letters  to  a  Young  Gentleman,'  a  book  of  about 
two  hundred  pages,  which  is  defunct ;  then,  in  Utica,  New  York,  the 
'Juvenile  Philosopher 'which  went  through  three  or  four  editions,  but 
I  sold  the  copyright  and  have  not  heard  much  of  it  since.  This  was 
extensively  used  in  Western  New  York  and  in  Canada."  ~ 

1  Wisconsin  Historical  Collections,  vol.  iii.  p.  405. 

2  From  a  letter  to  his  nephew  David  W.  Lothrop,  West  Medford,  written  in 
1865. 


702  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Jason  Lothrop  was  married  February  i6,  1817,  to  Susan  Jud- 
kins,  who  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  August  3,  1797.  By 
her  he  had  four  children,  —  Lucius,  born  in  1818  and  died  young; 
Jason,  born  January  13,  1820,  married  Jane  Burnside,  had  six 
children,  and  is  now  living  in  Kenosha,  Wisconsin  ;  Susan  Har- 
riet, born  August  25,  1824,  married  to  David  Barton  Burr,  had 
three  children,  and  is  living  with  her  brother  Jason ;  Lucian, 
born  September  i,  1827,  married  Sarah  J.  Haggerty,  had  three 
children,  and  died  in  1875.  In  1841  Jason  Lothrop  married  for 
a  second  wife  Ruth  Belinda  Foster,  who  died  in  1863.  He  died 
in  Kenosha,  September  2,  1870,  highly  honored  as  a  man  of 
varied  learning,  great  ability,  and  excellent  character. 

The  Rev.  Ruel  Lothrop,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Cook)  Lo- 
throp, was  born  in  Easton,  July  7,  1789.  He  became  a  Baptist 
minister,  preaching  in  Sutton,  New  Hampshire,  from  1816  to 
1819.^  Very  little  definite  information  can  be  gained  about  Ruel 
Lothrop,  except  that  he  was  married  twice,  —  the  first  time,  No- 
vember 6,  1 82 1,  to  Sally,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Hannah  (Clark) 
Spaulding  ;  and  the  second  time  to  a  lady  whose  name  is  un- 
known to  the  writer.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  a  son,  James  Win- 
chell  Lothrop,  born  in  December,  1823,  and  died  June  9,  1849.^ 

The  Rev.  Ephraim  Randall,  son  of  Hopestill  and  Submit 
(Bruce)  Randall,  was  born  in  Easton,  November  29,  1785.  He 
graduated  at  Brown  University  in  the  class  of  18 12,^  and  was  or- 
dained a  minister  at  New  Bedford,  October  26,  18 14.  Several 
years  prior  to  this  date  "  unhappy  divisions  began  to  appear  "  in 
the  North  Congregational  Church  of  that  city.  The  majority  of 
the  church-members  adhered  to  the  more  conservative  views, 
and  the  minority  of  the  church,  with  a  majority  of  the  society, 
preferred  the  new  and  milder  views  then  becoming  prevalent. 
They  were  not  then  known  as  Unitarian  views,  but  gradually 
developed  into  them.  The  ordination  of  Mr.  Randall  was  pro- 
tested against  by  the  conservative  part  of  the  church,  although 

1  See  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Cummings's  "History  of  the  Baptist  Churches  in  New 
Hampshire." 

2  So  given  in  the  Spaulding  Genealogy. 

8  The  History  of  Middlesex  County,  Massachusetts,  is  in  error  in  stating  (vol. 
ii.  p.  479)  that  the  Rev.  Ephraim  Randall  graduated  at  Harvard  Uuiversity. 


1 


MINISTERS.  70- 


they  had  three  years  before  formed  another  society  and  settled  a 
minister.  They  still  claimed,  however,  to  be  the  old  church,  and 
objected  to  Mr.  Randall  because  "  he  did  not,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  church,  speak  the  things  that  become  sound  doctrine,"  etc.^ 
He  was  ordained,  notwithstanding,  October  26.2 

Mr.  Randall  married,  soon  after  his  settlement,  Eliza  Bryant. 
His  marriage  for  some  reason  tended  to  weaken  his  hold  upon 
his  parish,  and  he  resigned  his  position  in  less  than  two  years. 
He  then  went  into  the  business  of  storekeeping  at  New  Bed- 
ford, but  did  not  make  a  success  of  it.  Being  an  excellent 
singer,  after  he  ceased  preaching  he  sang  in  the  choir  of  the 
church  of  which  he  had  been  pastor.  From  New  Bedford  Mr. 
Randall  returned  to  Easton,  where  he  had  a  little  store  on  the 
Turnpike,  selling  drugs  and  various  small  goods,  sparing  no  pains 
to  save  all  the  money  he  could.  Not  succeeding  in  this  enter- 
prise to  realize  his  hopes,  he  turned  to  the  ministry  again,  preach- 
ing for  a  time  at  Stoughton,  and  was  soon  settled  at  Saugus, 
Massachusetts,  October  3,  1826,  from  which  place  he  was  dis- 
missed August  7,  1827.  April  30,  1829,  he  was  settled  at  West- 
ford,  but  his  connection  with  this  church  closed  in  two  years.^ 

An  infirmity  that  may  be  mildly  characterized  as  excessive 
economy  became  a  ruling  passion  with  Mr.  Randall,  and  was 
sure  to  create  a  speedy  opposition  to  him  wherever  he  went. 
But  the  writer  is  informed  that  this  propensity,  while  it  sub- 
ordinated nearly  all  his  feelings  and  purposes,  never  tempted 
him  to  overstep  the  limits  of  honesty.  His  abilities  were  excel- 
lent, and  but  for  the  reason  already  assigned  he  might  have  been 
an  able  and  useful  minister. 

After  his  regular  settlements,  Mr.  Randall  preached  in  differ- 
ent places  as  he  had  opportunity,  not  being  particular  where  it 
was,  or  what  kind  of  doctrine  was  demanded.  He  taught  school 
for  a  time  in  Easton.  While  being  examined  by  the  school  com- 
mittee for  the  position,  he  failed  to  answer  some  questions  re- 
lating to  certain  details  with  which  a  teacher  was  expected  to  be 


1  See  History  of  Bristol  County,  p.  75. 

2  Another  authority  gives  the  date  of  the  ordination  August  25.  But  the  state- 
ment in  the  text  is  that  of  the  Rev.  William  J.  Potter,  of  New  Bedford,  who  kindly 
examined  the  records  of  the  church  of  which  Mr.  Randall  was  pastor. 

3  The  authority  for  this  is  the  "History  of  Middlesex  County,"  as  above. 


\ 


704  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

familiar,  and  getting  a  little  excited,  he  said,  "  It  is  n't  to  be 
expected  that  a  man  of  my  abilities  should  know  about  these 
little  things !  "  The  latter  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  South 
Easton  village,  where  he  lived  almost  a  hermit  life  in  the  little 
house  opposite  Mr.  Lackey's.  There  he  died  December  16, 
1871,  over  eighty-six  years  old.  His  remains  lie  buried  in  the 
Washington  Street  Cemetery,  and  over  them  stands,  in  spite  of 
his  expressed  desire  for  a  cheaper  memorial,  a  beautiful  marble 
gravestone. 

The  Rev.  Joshua  Randall,  son  of  Timothy  and  Zerviah 
(Bruce)  Randall,  was  born  in  Easton,  April  28,  1771,  and  was, 
as  this  sketch  will  prove,  one  of  the  most  marked  characters  the 
town  has  produced.  He  married,  July  25,  1792,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Stokes)  Robbins.  Her  mother, 
Sarah  Stokes,  was  daughter  of  Isaac  Stokes,  of  Easton  ;  her 
father  was  a  sea  captain.  Captain  Robbins  was  away  on  a  voyage 
when  his  daughter  was  born,  and  as  his  wife  died  at  the  child's 
birth,  the  little  infant  was  sent  to  her  Grandfather  Stokes,  at  Eas- 
ton. The  Captain  remained  away  for  twelve  years.  When  he 
came  to  Easton  to  see  his  daughter  for  the  first  time,  as  he  passed 
the  window  of  Mr.  Stokes's  house  she  happened  to  be  looking 
out  of  it,  and  he  recognized  her  from  her  resemblance  to  her 
mother.     She  lived  with  her  grandfather  until  her  marriage. 

Joshua  Randall  became  interested  in  Methodism  quite  early, 
and  decided  to  devote  himself  to  the  ministry.  He  lived  in 
Easton  until  after  the  death  of  Isaac  Stokes,  which  occurred 
April  19,  1796,  soon  after  which  he  removed  from  Easton  to 
Sutton,  Massachusetts,  where  he  lived  until  about  1800,  when 
he  went  to  Dixfield,  Maine,  taking  with  him  his  wife  and  four 
children.  He  settled  in  what  is  now  Wilton,  going  ten  miles 
from  the  settlement  in  Dixfield  through  an  unbroken  wilderness, 
by  marked  trees,  carrying  his  then  youngest  child,  Eseck,  in 
his  arms.  He  began  the  work  of  the  itinerant  ministry,  and  it 
is  concerning  his  ministerial  and  theological  experience  that  we 
are  most  interested.  In  1808  he  was  "admitted  on  trial"  to  the 
New  England  Methodist  Conference.  In  18 10  he  was  ordained 
deacon,  and  in  181 1  ordained  elder.  He  preached  by  appoint- 
ment in  different  towns,  in  Maine  and  afterward  in  Vermont. 


MINISTERS.  705 


Joshua  Randall  believed  it  to  be  every  one's  serious  duty  to 
test  for  himself  by  Scripture  and  reason  the  traditional  opinions 
he  had  inherited.  He  therefore  entered  into  a  careful  and 
thorough  examination  of  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  ;  and  the 
result  of  this  examination  was  a  view  of  the  Atonement  which 
seemed  to  relieve  it  from  the  objections  growing  out  of  man's 
sense  of  justice  and  goodness.  His  heart  glowed  with  enthu- 
siasm as  the  light  of  Scripture  and  reason  revealed  this  new  and 
better  way.  Waiting,  however,  until  he  had  carefully  tested  and 
matured  his  opinions,  he  published  them  in  a  sermon  entitled 
"The  Universality  of  the  Atonement."  In  this  sermon  he 
maintained  that  Christ  made  a  full  and  complete  atonement  for 
Adam's  transgression,  so  that  Adam's  sin  and  guilt  could  no 
longer  be  imputed  to  his  posterity,  and  so  that  thenceforth  all 
men  were  born  not  under  a  curse,  as  had  been  commonly  taught, 
but  in  a  justified  state,  and  that  they  remained  justified  until 
they  had  themselves  sinned  ;  that  therefore  infants  were  saved, 
as  they  could  not  consistently  be  under  the  old  view  ;  that  the 
atonement  was  not  made  for  the  actual  transgressions  of  men 
under  the  new  covenant  of  the  gospel,  but  that  "  every  man  is  to 
stand  or  fall  by  his  own  personal  obedience  or  disobedience," 
being  under  a  covenant  of  forgiving  grace  which  freely  pardons 
upon  sincere  repentance. 

Such  in  brief  is  the  theory,  carefully  thought  out  and  strongly 
and  clearly  stated  by  this  born  theologian.  It  is  certainly  re- 
markable that  a  man  of  very  limited  education  should  be  so 
close,  careful,  and  comprehensive  a  thinker  as  Mr.  Randall 
proved  himself  to  be,  and  should  have  expressed  himself  in  such 
terse  and  vigorous  language.  This  sermon  was  printed  in 
Windsor,  Vermont,  in  December,  1821.  He  was  immediately 
suspected  of  heresy;  and  the  Methodist  Conference  of  1822 
appointed  a  committee  to  examine  his  sentiments,  who  soon 
summoned  him  to  meet  a  council  of  preachers  in  Gorham,  at 
the  dwelHng-house  of  Elkanah  Hardings,  to  answer  to  the 
charge  of  disseminating,  "directly  or  indirectly,  in  said  sermon, 
doctrines  which  are  contrary  to  the  articles  of  our  religion; 
that  is,  that  Christ  made  no  atonement  for  actual  sins."-^     In 

1  Quoted  from  the  summons,  which  Mr.  Randall  printed  in  his  "  Defence,"  a 
copy  of  which  is  in  the  hands  of  the  writer. 

45 


706  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

his  defence,  Mr.  Randall  admits  the  truth  of  the  charge  of  his 
teaching  that  the  atonement  does  not  apply  to  actual  sins  under 
the  new  covenant,  reiterating  the  view  that  has  already  been 
given.     The  decision  of  the  Council  was  thus  stated :  — 

"  The  Council,  after  examining  his  Sermon  and  Defence,  are  of 
opinion  that  if  he  will  engage  not  to  disseminate  said  doctrine  in 
public  or  private,  he  may  be  borne  with  until  the  next  Annual 
Conference  ;  but  if  he  do  not  so  engage,  he  shall  be  suspended 
from  all  official  services  in  the  Church  until  the  next  Annual 
Conference. 

"  Brother  Randall  refusing  to  so  engage,  is  suspended  from  all  offi- 
cial services  in  the  Church  until  the  ensuing  Annual  Conference."  ^ 

In  1824  Joshua  Randall's  case  came  up  for  definite  action,  and 
he  was  "  left  without  an  appointment  until  he  complies  with  the 
order  of  the  Conference."  ^  But  when  he  had  once  carefully  and 
conscientiously  adopted  opinions,  Mr.  Randall  was  very  tena- 
cious of  them,  and  would  neither  deny  nor  suppress  them.  More- 
over, he  knew  that  Bishop  Soule  and  other  able  preachers  of  the 
Methodist  body  favored  his  views.  He  consequently  appealed 
to  the  General  Conference.  It  met  in  Pittsburg,  Ohio  ;  and  Mr, 
Randall  saddled  and  bridled  his  spirited  three-year  old  colt,  and 
actually  travelled  on  horseback  to  Ohio  in  the  hope  of  vindicat- 
ing his  favorite  doctrine  from  the  charge  of  heresy.  This  action 
speaks  well  for  the  strength,  resolution,  and  faith  of  this  noble 
son  of  Easton,  of  whose  devotion  to  what  he  deemed  the  cause 
of  truth  his  native  town  may  well  be  proud.  The  writer  is 
informed  that  after  due  consideration  the  General  Conference, 
unwilling  to  expel  so  evidently  earnest,  able,  and  consecrated  a 
preacher,  "remanded  him  back  to  the  New  England  Conference." 
The  result  of  this  action  was,  however,  equivalent  to  a  dismissal, 
since  the  latter  Conference  had  voted  to  leave  him  without  ap- 
pointments until  he  renounced  his  views,  which  he  would  never 
do  until  convinced  that  they  were  erroneous.  It  is  unnecessary 
to  blame  the  Conference.  It  could  do  no  less  perhaps  than  dis- 
countenance and  dismiss  him  ;  its  creed  was  thought  to  be  final, 
and  no  radical  divergence  from  it  could  be  tolerated.     Mr.  Ran- 

1  Quoted  from  Mr.  Randall's  printed  "  Defence." 

2  Minutes  of  the  New  England  Methodist  Conference,  1824. 


i 


MINISTERS.  707 


dall  had  to  pay  the  penalty  of  originality  and  independence,  and 
became  an  outcast  from  the  religious  communion  he  devotedly 
loved. 

But  it  was  not  possible  for  a  man  like  Joshua  Randall  to  be 
idle,  and  refrain  from  preaching  the  gospel  as  opportunity  oc- 
curred. Making  his  home  upon  his  farm,  he  yet  sought  occa- 
sions where  he  might  preach  and  minister  in  the  duties  and 
offices  of  religion.  A  sermon  by  Elder  Benjamin  Randall,  the 
founder  of  the  Free-Will  Baptists  in  New  Hampshire,  fell  into 
his  hands,  and  he  noticed  a  correspondence  between  its  doctrine 
and  his  own.  He  was  drawn  to  this  Free-Will  Baptist  Elder 
also  by  a  similarity  of  experience :  both  had  advanced  original 
conceptions  of  Christian  doctrine,  and  both  had  suffered  the 
penalty  of  exclusion.  In  1828  he  applied  to  the  Free-Will 
Baptist  body  for  admission  to  their  ranks  as  a  preacher.  A 
committee  was  appointed  at  their  second  General  Conference 
held  in  October  of  that  year  at  Sandwich,  New  Hampshire,  "  to 
set  with  and  examine  the  doctrine  of  Elder  Joshua  Randall  as 
contained  in  his  pamphlets,  and  make  report  to  the  Confer- 
ence." ^  By  the  "  pamphlets  "  are  meant  his  sermon  originally 
published  in  December,  1821,  at  Windsor,  Vermont,  and  re- 
published in  1824  and  also  in  1826,  there  being  added  to  the 
latter  a  Vindication,  and  other  documents  defending  his  views, 
making  a  pamphlet  of  ninety-six  pages  ;  there  was  also  a  sermon 
on  the  doctrine  of  Election  published  in  1822.  The  committee 
appointed  "to  set  with"  Elder  Joshua  Randall  reported  that 
they  could  see  nothing  incorrect  in  his  doctrine  of  the  Atone- 
ment.2  He  was  therefore  admitted  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Free- 
Will  Baptists,  remaining  with  them  nearly  seven  years.  About 
this  time  the  seventh  General  Conference  of  Free-Will  Baptist 
churches  published  a  treatise  on  their  faith.  It  was  character- 
istic of  Mr.  Randall  that  he  should  immediately  subject  this 
treatise  to  a  thorough  examination,  the  result  of  which  showed 
him  that  he  was  not  in  harmony  with  the  doctrine  of  the  Atone- 
ment therein  stated.  Unwilling  to  compromise  his  associates, 
or  to  be  himself  compromised  by  a  false  position,  he  frankly 
stated  his  disagreement,  and  manfully  withdrew  from  the  Free- 

1  Minutes  of  the  Second  General  Conference  of  Free-Will  Baptists. 

2  See  "Morning  Star,"  vol.  iii.  no  32,  December  10,  1828. 


7o8  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

Will  Baptist  Church  in  Wilton,  and  from  the  denomination  itself, 
—  his  dismissal  from  the  church  in  Wilton,  bearing  date  of 
November  ii,  1835,  highly  recommending  him  to  any  church  to 
which  he  might  be  disposed  to  apply. 

But  our  veteran  theologian  was  now  sixty-four  years  old,  and 
though  he  lived  nearly  twenty  years  longer  he  did  not  feel  like 
continuing  in  the  active  ministry,  especially  as  he  found  no 
denomination  wholly  sympathizing  with  his  own  views.  His 
desire  for  a  larger  and  freer  fellowship  is  indicated  by  his  pres- 
ence at  North  Easton  village  in  1845  at  the  dedication  of  the 
new  Methodist  Protestant  meeting-house,  at  which  time  he  took 
part  in  the  Conference  held  on  that  occasion,  and  seems  to  have 
been  admitted  to  the  fellowship  of  that  religious  body.  Making 
his  home  in  Wilton,  Maine,  he  still  preached  occasionally  until 
the  close  of  his  life. 

The  Rev.  Joshua  Randall  was  a  vigorous  and  telling  preacher, 
a  hard  and  successful  worker  in  the  organization  of  new  societies, 
riding  far  and  near  and  preaching  by  day  and  night.  He  had 
an  astonishing  memory,  quoting  whole  chapters  of  the  Bible  at 
once,  and,  what  is  more  remarkable,  being  able  to  give  chapter 
and  verse  of  any  passage  repeated  to  him  ;  and  he  knew  the 
Methodist  hymn-book  almost  by  heart.  He  was  very  social  and 
companionable,  and  his  house  was  a  home  where  ministers  of  all 
denominations  were  welcome,  Orthodox  and  Universalists  some- 
times meeting  together  there. 

Mr.  Randall  had  seven  children,  of  whom  two,  Barron  and 
Rachel,  were  born  in  Easton  ;  two,  Joshua  L.  and  Eseck,  were 
born  in  Sutton ;  and  the  remaining  three,  George  Robbins,  Eliza- 
beth, and  Isaac,  in  Wilton.  All  five  of  these  sons  taught  school  ; 
two  of  them,  Joshua  and  Isaac,  were  college  graduates,  and  be- 
came successful  lawyers.  Barron,  the  only  son  native  to  Easton, 
became  a  noted  surveyor,  was  often  chosen  as  referee  in  impor- 
tant disputes,  and  did  a  large  amount  of  probate  business,  being 
frequently  engaged  in  the  execution  of  wills  and  settlement  of 
estates.  The  father's  vigor  of  mind  and  strength  of  character 
descended  to  his  children,  and  were  in  fact  the  richest  bequest 
that  he  could  leave  them.  His  independence  and  liberalism 
found  a  further  development  in  the  children,  some  of  whom  were 
pronounced  supporters   of  what  is   called  the  Liberal  theology. 


MINISTERS.  yoo 


The  only  remaining  son,  Isaac,  now  nearly  seventy-eight  years 
old,  resides  at  Dixfield,  Maine,  and  is  one  of  the  principal  sup- 
porters of  the  Unitarian  Church  in  that  place. 

June  19,  1846,  Elizabeth  the  wife  of  Joshua  Randall  died.  A 
few  years  afterward  he  married  Mrs.  Margaret,  widow  of  Jason 
Hall,  of  Wilton,  whose  farm  was  adjoining  his  own.  He  himself 
died  February  13,  1853,  aged  eighty-one  years,  nine  months,  and 
sixteen  days.  On  his  tombstone  is  the  appropriate  inscription, 
"Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature." 

The  Rev.  David  Reed,  son  of  the  Rev.  William  and  Olive 
(Pool)  Reed,  was  born  in  Easton,  February  6,  1790.^  Under 
the  happy  influences  of  his  home  his  mind  developed,  and  until 
he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he  pursued  his  studies  of  Latin  and 
Greek  under  the  care  of  his  father.  These  studies  were  con- 
tinued in  his  preparation  for  college  with  his  uncle,  the  Rev. 
David  Gurney,  of  Titicut ;  and  he  entered  Brown  University, 
where  he  graduated  in  1809,  the  youngest  man  in  his  class,  with 
its  highest  honors.  His  father  had  died  in  1809,  and  with  a 
large  family  of  younger  brothers  dependent  upon  him  he  as- 
sumed the  charge  of  the  Bridgewater  Academy,  at  the  same 
time  pursuing  a  course  of  theological  study  with  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sanger.  In  1813,  encouraged  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kirkland,  he 
went  to  Cambridge  as  a  resident  graduate,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1814,  his  first  sermon  being  delivered  from  his  father's 
pulpit  in  Easton.  He  afterward  supplied  pulpits  at  Wayland, 
Sterling,  Lunenberg,  and  Salem,  Mass.,  and  at  Bennington, 
N.  H.,  and  although  never  regularly  ordained  as  a  clergy- 
man, during  the  five  years  which  followed  he  supplied  various 
pulpits  throughout  New  England.  During  the  years  from  18 15 
to  1820,  while  residing  in  Boston,  with  the  temporary  absences 
noted  above,  he  formed  a  close  intimacy  with  the  leaders  who 
were  engaged  in  revolt  from  the  old  Orthodox  creeds,  in  the 
well  known  Unitarian  controversy.  Channing,  Ware,  Kirkland, 
Norton,  and  Everett  were  his  friends.  These  noble  companion- 
ships and  precious  intimacies  had  a  lasting  influence  upon  him. 

1  This  sketch  of  the  Rev.  David  Reed  is  contributed  by  his  son,  William 
Howell  Reed,  of  Boston. 


7IO 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


t 


During  these  years  of  preaching  in  Boston  and  in  many  New 
England  parishes,  few  men  had  better  opportunity  to  study  the 
drift  of  religious  opinion  and  to  notice  the  extent  of  the  revolt 
from  Calvinism  than  Mr.  Reed,  and  this  suggested  to  him  the 
need  of  a  journal  that  should  be  the  organ  of  the  Liberal  faith  ; 
and  in  1821,  in  pursuance  of  this  thought,  he  established  the 
"  Christian  Register."  The  enterprise  began  without  any  visible 
constituency,  and  a  support  from  it  seemed  precarious  enough  ; 
but  with  an  enthusiasm  that  never  was  quenched,  and  a  per- 
severance that  never  quailed,  he  carried  it  forward  through  half 
a  century  of  tireless  labor  and  sacrifice.  The  history  of  the 
"Christian  Register "  for  fifty  years  was  his  history.  His  life 
and  thought  went  into  it ;  and  the  reputation  it  made  in  its  fear- 
less discussion  of  the  highest  themes,  always  conducted  with 
candor,  courtesy,  and  with  a  gentle  spirit,  was  due  to  the  impress 
of  his  own  mild  temper  upon  it.  Its  motto  was,  "  Liberty,  Holi- 
ness, Love ; "  and  this  well  characterized  the  spirit  of  the  paper 
during  his  long  connection  with  it. 

Mr.  Reed  retired  from  all  active  pursuits  in  1870,  and  died  on 
the  8th  of  June  of  that  year  in  his  eighty-first  year.  In  those  sa- 
cred years  which  bring  threescore  and  ten  up  to  fourscore,  one 
saw  in  him  a  rounded  life,  the  Christian  gentleman,  so  truly  gentle 
and  so  simply  Christian.  Always  ready  to  maintain  his  opinions, 
always  tolerant  of  his  neighbor's,  more  careless  of  controversy  as 
he  grew  older,  and  more  single  and  simple  in  the  definitions  of 
his  faith,  his  was  a  life  which  made  those  who  knew  him  sure  of 
the  value  of  that  faith  and  hope  which  can  make  old  age,  even 
after  storms,  so'  serene  and  brave. 

May  2,  1836,  David  Reed  married  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Howell  Williams,  of  Brooklyn,  Conn.  They  had  three 
children,  of  whom  William   Howell  alone  survives. 

The  Rev.  William  Reed,  "  son  of  the  Rev.  William,  of  Eas- 
ton,  was  born  December  12,  1787.  He  graduated  at  Brown 
University  in  18 10.  In  November,  1812,  he  married  Betsy 
Drake,  daughter  of  Bethuel  Drake,  of  Easton.  Their  children 
were  (i)  William  Gurney,  born  in  Plymouth,  September  25, 
1813  ;  (2)  Lieuphemia  Eustatia,  born  in  Easton,  September  13, 
1815  ;    (3)  Charles  Henry,  born   in  Milton,   February  5,   18 18. 


MINISTERS.  «jj 


His  wife  died  in  Milton,  August  9,  1821.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Abigail,  widow  of  Calvin  Howe,  of  Boston,  in  No- 
vember, 1822.  On  leaving  college  he  spent  several  years  as  a 
teacher,  first  in  Plymouth  and  then  in  charge  of  the  Milton 
Academy,  being  popular  and  successful  in  both  places.  He 
afterward  completed  a  course  of  study  at  the  Divinity  School, 
Cambridge,  and  preached  for  several  years,  but  never  took  per- 
manent charge  of  a  parish.  In  middle  life  he  settled  on  the 
homestead  of  his  father  in  Easton,  where  for  many  years  he 
held  the  commission  and  performed  the  duties  of  a  justice  of 
the  peace."  ^ 

The  Rev.  Nathan  P.  Selee,  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Pierce)  Selee,  was  born  in  Easton,  September  25,  1829.  He 
graduated  at  the  Wesleyan  University  in  the  class  of  1856, 
and  studied  theology  at  the  Methodist  Bibhcal  Institute,  Con- 
cord, N.  H.  He  had  however  been  licensed  to  preach  before 
he  went  to  college,  and  when  only  twenty  years  old.  He 
was  ordained  in  1854  by  Bishop  Morris,  preached  one  year  at 
Amherst,  N.  H.,  and  two  years  each  in  the  towns  of  Truro, 
Hanson,  and  East  Harwich,  all  in  Massachusetts,  when  he 
was  compelled  by  ill  health  to  give  up  active  ministerial  work. 
Mr.  Selee  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  hair- 
dye,  tooth-wash,  lung  compound,  etc.,  in  which  he  has  gained 
a  business  success.  He  is  located  at  Melrose,  Mass.  Mr.  Selee 
married  in  1856  Annie  Maria  Case,  of  South  Manchester,  Conn., 
and  they  have  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  His 
daughter  Lucy  is  a  graduate  of  Boston  University,  and  teaches 
Latin  in  the  Maiden  High  School.  His  wife,  after  having  had 
six  children,  studied  medicine  in  the  Medical  School  of  the 
Boston  University,  from  which  she  graduated  ;  she  has  now  a 
large  medical  practice  in  Melrose.  Mr.  Selee  taught  several 
terms  of  school  in  Easton,  Sharon,  and  Mansfield. 

The  Rev.  Luther  Harris   Sheldon,  son  of  the   Rev.   Dr. 
Luther  and  Sarah  J.  (Harris)  Sheldon,  was  born  in  Easton,  No- 
vember 22,    181 5,   and    was    educated   at   Middlebury  College, 
graduating  there  in  1839.     He  studied  divinity  at  the  Andover 
1  From  the  History  of  the  Reed  Family,  p.  329. 


712 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


Theological  Seminary,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1842.  He 
preached  for  a  time  in  Washington,  D.  C.  July  24,  1844,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  H.  Flagg,  of  Andover,  and  August  i  following  he  was 
settled  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  remaining  a  pastor  thereabout  twelve 
years.  He  was  next  settled  over  the  Evangelical  Church  and 
Society  in  Westborough,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  over  eleven 
years.  During  the  last  year  of  the  war  he  went  to  labor  among 
the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

In  March,  1867,  Mr,  Sheldon  was  invited  by  the  trustees  of  the 
State  Reform  School  of  New  Jersey  to  inaugurate  and  superin- 
tend a  school  for  criminal  boys  in  Jamesburg ;  the  school  began 
in  July.  A  new  and  interesting  feature  in  it  was  the  keeping  of 
these  vagrant  and  criminal  boys  upon  an  open  farm  of  six  hun- 
dred acres,  without  any  of  the  usual  prison  restraints.  They 
were  to  be  held,  if  possible,  by  kind  and  watchful  parental  inter- 
est. There  was  only  one  other  school  of  the  kind  in  the  United 
States  ;  that  being  at  Lancaster,  Ohio.  Doubtful  as  the  experi- 
ment was  at  first  considered,  it  has  proved  one  of  the  most 
successful  schools  from  the  start ;  and  the  principles  of  its  man- 
agement have  been  introduced  into  most  of  the  reform  schools 
founded  since,  the  idea  of  a  well  ordered  family  being  the  con- 
trolling thought.  After  serving  seven  years  in  this  position, 
Mr.  Sheldon  preached  with  great  acceptance  for  nearly  two  years 
in  the  pulpit  of  the  Evangelical  Church  of  Easton,  so  long  oc- 
cupied by  his  father.  He  was  then  called  to  the  superintend- 
ency  of  the  State  Reform  School  at  Westborough,  Mass.,  where 
he  remained  about  three  years.  Since  that  time  he  has  made 
his  home  in  Andover,  Mass. 

Mr.  Sheldon  is  a  preacher  of  more  than  average  ability,  earn- 
est, practical,  and  sympathetic,  very  decided  in  his  convictions, 
but  free  from  narrowness.  His  warm  social  feelings,  clear-sighted 
common-sense  and  wise  tact  make  him  an  admirable  pastor. 
He  has  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 

The  Rev.  Simeon  Williams^  was  born  in  Easton  in  1743. 

He  graduated  at  New  Jersey  College  in  1765,  and  was  ordained 

at   South  Weymouth,  Mass.,    October   26,   1768,  as   the  second 

pastor  of  the  Second  Church  in  Weymouth,  his  first  and  only 

1  See  Historical  Sketch  of  the  town  of  Weymouth,  p.  179. 


MINISTERS.  ^j- 


pastorate.  He  was  minister  there  over  half  a  century,  and  died 
there  May  31,  1 8 19.  Mr.  WilHams  was  married  in  the  autumn 
of  1770  to  Mrs.  Anna  Crocker,  of  Eastham,  Mass.,  by  whom  he 
had  seven  children  ;  she  died  August  10,  1823,  aged  seventy- 
four  years.  A  monument  perpetuates  his  memory,  and  on  it  is 
the  following  inscription  :  — 


"  Though  earthly  shepherds  dwell  in  dust, 

The  aged  and  the  young  ; 
The  watchful  eye  in  darkness  closed, 

And  mute  the  instructive  tongue,  — 
The  eternal  Shepherd  still  survives. 

New  comfort  to  impart ; 
His  eyes  still  guide  us,  and  Ilis  voice 

Still  animates  our  heart." 


The  Rev.  Bradford  Willis,  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah 
(Dean)  Willis,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  8,  1802.  His  father 
was  four  times  married,  had  twenty-one  children,  and  was  de- 
scended from  Dea.  John  Willis,  of  Duxbury,  then  of  Bridge- 
water.  Bradford  secured  enough  of  an  education  to  become  a 
schoolmaster,  and  after  that  a  Methodist  minister ;  not  much 
education,  however,  was  required  for  either  in  his  time.  He  did 
not  preach  long,  for  he  died  quite  young ;  and  his  name  does  not 
appear  upon  the  "  Minutes  of  the  Methodist  New  England 
Conference. " 

The  Rev.  Martin  Wyman  Willis,  son  of  Thomas  and  Fran- 
ces Willis,  was  born  in  Easton,  December  i,  1821.  He  was 
half-brother  to  Bradford,  who  has  just  been  mentioned.  His 
mother  removed  to  Boston  in  his  infancy,  taking  her  children 
with  her.  Martin  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  the 
Chauncy  Hall  School  at  Boston,  graduated  from  the  Harvard  Di- 
vinity school  in  1843,  and  was  ordained  in  Walpole,  N.  H.,  over 
the  Unitarian  society  there,  December  6  of  the  same  year.  After 
a  ministry  of  five  years  in  Walpole,  he  preached  for  some  years 
in  Petersham,  Mass.,  and  in  Bath,  Maine.  In  1853  he  had  a 
unanimous  call  to  settle  in  Nashua,  N.  H.,  which  call  he  ac- 
cepted, remaining  there  nine  years.  The  writer  heard  Mr. 
Willis  preach  on  exchange  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  about  1854,  and 
remembers  him  as  an  acceptable  and  popular  preacher. 


714  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  Mr.  Willis  accepted 
the  position  of  chaplain,  and  was  with  the  expedition  of  Sherman 
to  Hilton  Head.  He  was  however  disabled  by  sickness,  granted 
a  furlough,  and  afterward  honorably  discharged.  Subsequently 
he  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  Church  in  Ouincy,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  elected  Grand  Orator  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of 
Illinois.  After  four  years  of  service  in  Ouincy,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  of  Missouri  as  Commissioner  of  Im- 
migration for  that  State,  his  office  being  to  encourage  the  filling 
of  the  waste  places  of  Missouri,  rent  and  desolated  by  the  war, 
with  loyal  Northern  people.  This  he  aided  in  doing  by  writing 
for  the  press  and  by  lecturing  through  the  Northern  States. 

In  1866  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  has  since  contri- 
buted to  leading  journals  and  devoted  himself  to  literature.  In 
1857  he  received  from  Harvard  College  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts.  In  1884  the  St.  Louis  University  conferred  upon  him  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy,  and  in  1886  that  of  Doctor  of 
Laws.  Perhaps  no  Easton  name  can  claim  a  longer  appendage 
of  alphabetical  symbols  than  that  of  the  Rev.  Martin  Willis, 
A.M.,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Post  Graduate 
Society  of  the  St.  Louis  University,  —  a  society  of  about  seventy 
gentlemen,  who  are  devoting  themselves  to  the  study  of  phi- 
losophy, science,  philology,  and  history. 

June  I,  1845,  Mr.  Willis  married  Miss  Hannah  Ann  Mason, 
of  Chichester,  N.  H.  They  have  sons  and  daughters  comfort- 
ably settled  in  life.  Of  his  wife,  himself,  and  family,  Mr.  Willis 
writes  as  follows  :  — 

"  For  forty  years  she  has  won  the  love  of  all  who  knew  her.  With 
a  wonderfully  even  temper  and  a  rare  common-sense,  she  has  brought 
up  to  honor  and  usefulness  an  excellent  family.  Mr.  Willis  has  won 
recognition  both  East  and  West  as  a  man  of  letters  and  varied  cul- 
ture. Hundreds  of  families  like  that  of  Mr.  Willis  are  carrying  into 
the  '  wild  West '  the  culture,  the  thrift,  and  the  sound  principles  that 
have  made  New  England  rich  in  history  and  powerful  in  influence." 

The  Rev.  Henry  Wood,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Wood, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Coole,  Westmeath  County,  Ireland,  Oc- 
tober 31,  1857,  and  came  to  Easton  in  September,  1869.  He 
graduated  from  the  Easton  High  School  in  the  class  of  1878, 


MINISTERS.  ^  71  c 


from  Tufts  College  in  1882,  and  from  the  Episcopal  Theological 
School  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  1885.  He  was  ordained  deacon, 
June  17,  1885,  and  was  called  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  James's 
Parish,  Amesbury,  Mass.,  July  10.  He  was  ordained  priest, 
June  8,  1886. 

ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CLERGYMEN.^ 

The  Rev.  James  W.  Conlin  was  born  in  Easton,  Septem- 
ber 6,  1856.  After  due  consideration  he  resolved  to  study  for 
the  Church,  and  in  March,  1873,  entered  the  Jesuit  College  in 
Boston.  In  September,  1874,  he  went  to  Montreal  College, 
where  he  spent  four  years.  In  1878  he  completed  his  prepara- 
tory studies  for  theology  at  the  Seminary  of  Our  Lady  of 
Angels,  Niagara  Falls,  New  York.  In  1879  he  began  the  study 
of  theology  at  the  Montreal  Grand  Seminary,  —  a  celebrated  in- 
stitution, and  a  nursery  for  aspirants  to  the  priesthood,  —  and 
three  and  a  half  years  subsequently,  December  23,  1882,  was  or- 
dained priest  by  the  Right  Rev.  E.  C.  Fabre,  Bishop  of  Montreal. 
St.  Lawrence  Parish,  New  Bedford,  has  been  the  scene  of  his 
labors  since  he  began  his  ministry. 

The  Rev.  William  T,  Doherty  was  born  in  Easton,  July  7, 
1858.  In  order  to  secure  the  advantages  of  the  classics,  so  ne- 
cessary for  the  clerical  state,  he  entered  in  the  fall  of  1873  St. 
Charles's  College,  Maryland,  founded  by  Charles  Carroll  of  Car- 
roUton,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
His  six  years  at  St,  Charles's  were  years  of  close  study,  untiring 
preparation,  and  self-culture  for  his  chosen  vocation.  In  1879 
he  began  the  study  of  philosophy  and  theology  at  St.  Mary's 
Seminary,  Baltimore,  and  December  22,  1883,  received  from  the 
hands  of  Archbishop  Gibbons  the  Sacrament  of  Holy  Orders. 
Returning  ta  the  Episcopal  city  of  the  diocese,  Providence,  he 
was  made  chaplain  at  the  celebrated  Seminary  of  Elmhurst,  — 
a  young  ladies'  academy  situated  in  the  suburbs  of  Providence, 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 

Edward  Farrell,  another  of  Easton's  sons,  was  born  No- 
vember 22,  1859,  and  having  completed  his  school  education  so 

1  The  sketches  of  the  latter  have  been  kindly  prepared  for  the  writer  by  the 
Rev.  John  W.  McCarthy  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 


7l6  ^         HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

far  as  the  district  school  afforded  opportunity,  entered  the  Sem- 
inary of  St.  Sulpice,  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1874.  His  college 
education  ended  within  a  year ;  for  having  contracted  a  cold, 
which  in  the  severe  Canadian  climate  quickly  developed  into 
consumption,  he  returned  home  to  North  Easton,  where  he 
died  May  8,   1875. 

Michael  J.  Long  was  born  in  Easton,  March  2,  i860.  In 
September,  1874,  he  entered  the  college  of  St.  Sulpice,  Montreal, 
Canada,  and  having  passed  two  years  at  that  institution  entered 
Boston  College,  where  he  graduated  and  received  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  in  June,  1881.  Entering  Montreal  Grand  Seminary,  Sep- 
tember, 1 88 1,  he  began  immediate  preparation  for  the  Catholic 
priesthood.  His  fond  hopes  were  however  never  realized,  for 
scarcely  six  months  had  elapsed  before  he  died,  February  27,  1882, 
at  the  Seminary  Hospital,  Montreal.  His  death  was  rendered 
most  sad,  not  alone  from  the  fact  that  it  was  unexpected,  but  also 
because  he  was  separated  from  the  loved  ones  at  home.  His 
body  was  brought  from  Montreal,  and  lies  buried  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  cemetery  in  North  Easton  village. 

The  Rev.  John  W.  McCarthy  was  born  in  New  Bedford,  but 
early  removed  with  his  family  to  North  Easton.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland.  He  studied  in  the  class  in  the 
Easton  High  School  some  of  whose  members  were  among  the 
first  to  receive  diplomas  of  graduation,  Dr.  F.  E.  Tilden  being 
for  a  time  member  of  the  same  class.  Of  a  well  balanced  char- 
acter, a  quiet,  thoughtful  boy,  he  early  gave  promise  of  unusual 
reliability.  Desiring  to  become  a  priest,  he  entered  the  Jesuit 
College  in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  the  spring  of  1874,  with  a  view  to 
making  the  necessary  preparatory  studies.  After  spending  six 
years  in  this  college  he  was  graduated  in  June,  1880,  receiving 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  Making  known  to  the  Bishop  of  the  dio- 
cese his  intention  of  entering  the  clerical  state,  he  was  sent  to 
the  Grand  Seminary,  Montreal,  Canada,  and  for  three  years 
and  three  months  earnestly  and  successfully  pursued  the  higher 
ecclesiastical  studies.  Being  ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Fabre, 
December  22,  1883,  he  was  immediately  sent  by  Bishop  Hen- 
dricken   as   assistant   pastor  to   the  church   of  the  Immaculate 


MINISTERS.  717 


Conception  in  Providence.  Blest  with  excellent  health  and  a 
good  constitution,  he  gives  promise  of  many  years  of  usefulness 
in  the  work  of  his  choice. 

The  Rev.  Dennis  J.  Menton  was  born  in  Easton,  February 
22,  1859.  I"  1S70,  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  he  entered  the 
High  School  at  North  Easton.  He  there  showed  an  intellectual 
ability,  a  sound  judgment,  and  resolute  self-reliance  much  beyond 
his  years,  and  was  in  most  respects  the  best  student  of  his  class. 
He  graduated  there  with  high  honor  in  1874,  fifteen  years  old. 
In  September  of  the  same  year  he  entered  St.  Charles's  College, 
Maryland,  where  his  schoolmates  Doherty  and  O'Keefe  had  en- 
tered the  preceding  year.  As  time  passed  on  he  gave  full  scope 
to  his  love  for  knowledge,  and  ranked  the  first  among  many  bright 
and  intellectual  youths.  His  constant  application,  however, 
tended  to  impair  his  health.  Advised  to  secure  a  change  of 
climate,  he  entered  St.  Michael's  College,  Toronto,  Canada,  in 
1877,  and  completed  his  philosophical  studies  with  extraordinary 
honors.  As  from  the  beginning,  he  still  persevered  in  his  inten- 
tion of  becoming  a  priest,  and  for  this  purpose  entered  upon  the 
study  of  theology  at  the  Grand  Seminary  of  Montreal,  Septem- 
ber, 1878.  After  a  brilliant  course  of  three  and  a  half  years  he 
was  elevated  to  the  priesthood  at  Mount  St.  Mary's  Convent, 
December  26,  1881.  But  years  of  unceasing  toil  had  shattered 
his  once  powerful  frame,  and  his  declining  health  rendered  the 
days  of  his  priesthood  few.  He  passed  quietly  away  to  his  re- 
ward on  the  morning  of  July  19,  1882.  To  unusual  knowledge 
for  his  years,  Father  Menton  added  an  admirable  humility, 
simplicity,  and  virtue. 

The  Rev.  John  D.  O'Keefe  was  born  in  Easton,  March  2, 
1856.  At  an  early  age  aspiring  to  the  priesthood,  he  was  sent 
together  with  his  friend  Doherty  to  St.  Charles's  College,  Mary- 
land, where  he  pursued  the  study  of  the  classics  for  six  years, 
graduating  in  1879.  While  in  this  institution  he  developed  ex- 
cellent qualities,  and  the  edifice  of  true  manhood  quickly  assumed 
proportions.  He  then  spent  a  year  on  philosophy  at  St.  Mary's, 
Baltimore,  entered  upon  the  study  of  theology  at  the  same  in- 
stitution, and  was  ordained  a  priest  April   19,  1884,  at  Wood- 


7l8  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


Stock,  Maryland,  by  Archbishop,  now  Cardinal,  Gibbons.  He 
was  appointed  immediately  after  his  ordination  to  the  vacant 
chaplaincy  at  Bay  View  Seminary,  on  Narragansett  Bay.  After 
remaining  at  this  place  a  year,  he  was  promoted  to  be  assistant 
pastor  at  St.  Mary's  church,  Fall  River,  Mass.,  a  position  he 
still  holds. 


PHYSICIANS    AND    DENTISTS. 


719 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

PHYSICIANS     AND      DENTISTS. 

Seth  Babbitt.  —  Charles  H.  Cogswell.  —  George  B.  Cogswell.  — 
Horatio  F.  Copeland.  —  Edgar  E.  Dean.  —  Edward  Dean.  — 
James  B.  Dean. —  Samuel  Deans.  —  Henry  L.  Dickerman.  —  Jason 
W.  Drake. —  Daniel  Goodwin. —  Samuel  Guild. —  Samuel  Guild, 
Jr.  — Elisha  Hayward.  — Joseph  W.  Hayward. —  James  Howard. 
—  Ernest  W.  Keith.  — Edwin  Manley.  — John  M.  Mills. — James 
Perry.  —  William  F.  Perry.  —  Seth  Pratt.  —  Seth  Pratt,  Jr. — 
Daniel  L.  Randall.  —  Menzies  R.  Randall.  —  Zephaniah  Ran- 
dall.—  Frederic  J.  Ripley.  —  W.  P.  Savary.  ^  Caleb  Swan. — 
George  W.  J.  Swan.  — James  C.  Swan.  —  Jesse  J.  Swan.  —  W.  E. 
Channing  Swan.  —  Byron  H.  Strout.  —  F.  Elmer  Tilden.  — 
George  Brett. — Asahel  Smith. — William  B.  Webster.  —  John 
P.  Wilson. 

THE  present  chapter  is  devoted  to  brief  biographical  sketches 
of  the  physicians  (including  dentists)  who  were  natives  or 
residents  of  Easton.  They  are  given  in  alphabetical  order,  but 
in  two  series,  —  the  second  series,  near  the  end  of  the  chapter,  be- 
ing sketches  of  those  who,  though  not  regularly  educated  for  the 
profession,  have  nevertheless  engaged  in  their  own  way,  and  with 
more  or  less  success,  in  the  practice  of  the  healing  art.  Several 
even  of  those  in  the  first  list  did  not  receive  the  degree  of  M.D., 
and  had  no  diplomas  of  graduation  to  show ;  but  they  had  some 
regular  instruction,  and  practised  by  the  usual  and  regular 
methods.  The  title  of  M.D.  is  therefore  given  to  them  here  by 
courtesy,  and  because  the  confidence  it  naturally  inspires  was 
accorded  them  on  account  of  their  experience. 

Seth  Babbitt,  M.D.,  was  the  son  of  Erasmus  and  Abigail 
Babbitt,  and  was  born  in  Easton,  April  20,  1730.  He  was  a  vol- 
unteer in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  served  at  Louisburg. 
In  1759  he  was  surgeon's  mate  in  Colonel  John  Thomas's  Regi- 
ment, stationed  at  Halifax  ;  served  about  two  years,  contracted  the 


720  HISTORY  OF    EASTON. 

small-pox,  and  came  home  to  die,  his  death  occurring  Febru- 
ary 13,  1 76 1.  Mr.  Babbitt  married  Elizabeth  Vinton,  of  South 
Hadley,  and  had  two  daughters.^ 

Charles  Hale  Cogswell,  M.D.,  son  of  George  B.  and 
Catherine  (Brown)  Cogswell,  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  Massa- 
chusetts, March  23,  1859.  ^^  graduated  at  the  Easton  High 
School  in  1876,  and  from  Dartmouth  College,  June  24,  1880, 
studied  medicine  in  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  graduating 
June  27,  1883,  and  soon  afterward  received  the  appointment  of 
assistant  port-physician  of  Boston,  a  position  he  still  holds.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society. 

George  Badger  Cogswell,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  George  and 
Abigail  (Parker)  Cogswell,  was  born  September  15,  1834,  in 
Bradford,  Massachusetts.  He  fitted  for  college  at  the  Gilmanton 
Academ}'-,  and  entered  Dartmouth  College  in  185  i,  but  did  not 
complete  the  college  course.  From  1853  to  1855  he  followed  a 
sailor's  life  before  the  mast,  going  around  the  world.  After 
returning  home  he  attended  lectures  at  the  Harvard  Medical 
School,  and  in  1857  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  Dart- 
mouth Medical  College,  New  Hampshire.  He  was  resident  phy- 
sician at  the  State  Almshouse  in  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts, 
from  June  1857  to  July  1859,  ^.nd  removed  to  North  Easton 
village  in  i860.  He  was  mustered  into  service  in  the  war  of 
the  Union  as  assistant-surgeon  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment 
Massachusetts  Volunteers,  December  14,  1861,  and  promoted 
to  be  surgeon  August  7,  1862.  He  was  discharged  for  disability 
March  15,  1864.  Dr.  Cogswell  was  for  a  time  on  the  staff  of 
General  Wilcox,  as  acting  medical  inspector  of  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps,  gave  himself  up  as  a  prisoner  in  order  to  be  of  service  to 
the  Union  sick  and  wounded  men  who  were  prisoners,  and  was 
on  service  at  Libby  Prison  in  Richmond.  During  an  exchange 
of  prisoners,  knowing  that  the  lives  of  some  members  of  his 
regiment  depended  upon  their  immediate  release,  Dr.  Cogswell 
presented  himself  to  the  guard  of  the  prison  with  the  air  of  one 
having  authority,  and  ordered  two  members  of  the  Twenty-ninth 
away  with  him.     The  young  officer  on  guard  questioned  his  au- 

^  For  further  particulars  concerning  Dr.  Seth  Babbitt,  see  p.  167. 


PHYSICIANS   AND   DENTISTS.  721 


thority,  and  was  met  with  well  assumed  indignation  on  the  part 
of  the  Doctor  for  his  presuming  to  question  an  alleged  order  from 
the  superior  officer  to  whom  the  Doctor  referred  by  name.  The 
ruse  was  successful,  and  the  two  men  followed  their  liberator, 
and  were  exchanged.  One  of  them,  who  is  a  citizen  of  Easton, 
has  declared  to  the  writer  that  but  for  this  move  of  his  surgeon 
he  would  not  be  alive  to-day.  Dr.  Cogswell  liberated  others  of 
his  regiment  in  the  same  way,  and  probably  saved  some  of  their 
lives  thereby. 

February  18,  1858,  Dr.  Cogswell  married  Catherine  B.  Brown, 
daughter  of  Addison  and  Catherine  B.  (Griffin)  Brown.  She  was 
born  August  13,  1835,  i"  West  Newbury,  Massachusetts.  They 
have  had  two  children,  —  Charles  Hale  and  Kittie  Badger.  The 
former  is  noticed  in  this  chapter.  The  latter  married,  September 
25,  1883,  Charles  VV.  Welch,  of  Stoughton.  Dr.  Cogswell  was 
postmaster  of  North  Easton  from  1861  to  1885.  He  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  A.M.  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1880. 
North  Easton  is  still  his  home,  and  he  has  an  extensive  practice 
here  and  in  the  vicinity.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Medical  Society. 

Horatio  Franklin  Copeland,  M.D.,  son  of  Horatio  and 
Delia  (Howard)  Copeland,  was  born  in  Easton,  November  15, 
1842.  He  fitted  for  college  in  Thetford  Academy,  Vermont, 
but  instead  of  entering,  decided  to  study  medicine,  which  he  did 
with  Dr.  Caleb  Swan.  He  studied  also  in  the  Harvard  Medi- 
cal School,  graduating  there  in  1865.  He  served  as  assistant- 
surgeon  in  the  United  States  Army  at  Chapin's  Farm,  near 
Richmond,  Virginia,  and  subsequently  had  charge  of  the  post 
and  small-pox  hospitals  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  Virginia.  On 
his  discharge  from  the  United  States  service  he  entered  upon 
his  profession  at  South  Abington  (now  Whitman),  Massachus- 
etts, where  he  has  a  large  practice. 

Edgar  Everett  Dean,  M.D.,  son  of  Charles  and  Lydia 
(Wilbur)  Dean,  was  born  in  Easton,  December  17,  1837.  He 
was  a  student  at  Bristol  Academy  for  three  years,  leaving  there 
in  1856  ;  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Luther  Clarke,  of  Boston  ; 
graduated  from  the  Harvard  Medical  School;  practised  for  a  time 

46 


!'■ 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


in  Boston,  but  in  June,  1861,  removed  to  North  Bridgewater, 
succeeding  to  the  business  of  Dr.  Alexander  Hichborn.  He 
afterward  spent  a  year  in  Europe  in  order  to  perfect  his  medi- 
cal knowledge.  Since  his  return  he  has  acquired  a  large  and 
successful  practice  in  his  profession.  In  1883  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Governor  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  State  Board 
of  Health,  Lunacy,  and  Charity,  retaining  this  position  until 
June,  1886,  when  the  Health  Department  was  made  a  separate 
board.  He  still,  however,  holds  his  place  as  a  commissioner  of 
Lunacy  and  Charity. 

January  17,  1866,  Dr.  Dean  married  Helen  Amanda  Packard, 
of  North  Bridgewater  (now  Brockton).  They  have  had  three 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Edward  Dean,  M.D.,  son  of  Deacon  James  and  Hannah 
(Hay ward)  Dean,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  30,  1748.  On  the 
6th  of  March,  1768,  he  married  Joanna,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  | 
Rebecca  (Hunt)  Williams,  They  had  two  children,  and  she 
died  March  i,  1772.  He  then  married,  December  25,  1788, 
Anne  Hayward.  He  was,  until  his  death,  a  practising  physician, 
though  he  did  not  have  a  regular  medical  education.  He  died 
September  26,  181 6,  and  his  remains  were  the  first  to  be  buried 
in  the  old  cemetery  south  of  the  schoolhouse  at  the  Furnace 
Village.  Four  physicians  who  were  fast  friends  died  that  year, 
and  the  fact  is  appropriately  recorded  in  rhyme  on  Dr.  Dean's 
tombstone.-"- 

James  B.  Dean,  M.D.,  son  of  James  and  Polly  Dean,  was 
born  in  Easton,  April  6,  1809.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Caleb  Swan,  and  took  a  two  years'  course  in  the  Harvard  Medi- 
cal School  at  the  same  time  with  Dr.  Seth  Pratt,  Jr.,  graduating 
in  1832.  He  then  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Taunton,  where  he  has  remained  until  the  present  time,  ex- 
cept about  a  year,  when  he  was  in  practice  in  North  Easton 
village.    James  B.  Dean  married  Elizabeth  Holmes,  of  Plymouth. 

Samuel  Deans,  M.D.,  was  the  son  of  Elijah  and  Irene  Deans, 
of  Eastford,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  born  August  27,  1794. 

1  See  the  Dr.  Edward  Dean  Cemetery,  in  the  chapter  on  Cemeteries. 


PHYSICIANS   AND   DENTISTS.  72 


His  father  was  a  farmer  with  thirteen  children,  and  Samuel's 
education  was  gained  mainly  by  his  own  efforts  after  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  He  studied  medicine  in  the  New  Haven 
Medical  School,  and  came  to  Easton  to  practise  his  profession, 
locating  at  the  Furnace  Village.  He  was  a  man  of  character 
and  ability.  His  interest  in  education  was  warm  and  constant, 
being  a  member  of  the  Easton  board  of  school  committee  for 
fifteen  years,  and  serving  in  that  capacity  with  efficiency  and 
zeal.  He  was  very  particular  to  give  his  children  a  good  edu- 
cation. 

November  14,  1821,  Dr.  Deans  married  Hannah  LeBaron, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Wheaton,  Esq.,  and  had  six  children,  two  of 
whom,  Fideha  and  Charlotte,  died  when  two  years  old.  His 
oldest  daughter,  Elizabeth,  and  his  youngest,  Hannah,  were  edu- 
cated at  the  Wheaton  Seminary  in  Norton.  Elizabeth  taught 
school  very  successfully  many  years  in  Easton,  and  afterward  in 
Medway,  where  she  died  October  15,  1870.  Hannah  has  also 
devoted  her  life  to  teaching.  The  two  sons,  George  Wheaton 
and  Charles  Henry,  both  became  lawyers,  and  will  be  noticed  in 
the  proper  place.  Dr.  Deans  died  in  Easton  April  22,  1872. 
His  wife  died  December  29,  1879. 

Henry  Lee  Dickerman,  DD.S.,  son  of  Zophar  and  Nancy 
(Webster)  Dickerman,  was  born  in  Easton,  July  29,  1849.  He 
studied  dentistry  in  Taunton  in  1868  and  1869  with  his  kins- 
man Dr.  D.  S.  Dickerman,  and  December  13,  1869,  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  James  Utley  of  the  same  city,  remaining  there  one 
year.  He  entered  the  Harvard  Medical  School  November  2, 
1870,  and  completed  his  studies  there  in  1872.  In  1871  he 
opened  an  office  in  Stoughton,  and  also  practised  a  short  time 
in  North  Easton  and  Fall  River.  After  finishing  his  studies. 
Dr.  Dickerman  practised  in  Taunton  several  years.  In  1879  he 
took  charge  of  Dr.  George  H.  Ames's  office  in  Providence,  R.  I., 
and  July  i,  1880,  opened  an  office  for  himself  in  the  same  city. 
He  claims  to  use  neither  wedges,  engine,  gas,  nor  ether. 

March  30,  1833,  Dr.  Dickerman  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Slocum  Light  Guards,  holding  the  office  for  two  years. 
November  26,  1885,  he  married  Louise,  the  second  daughter  of 
William  Corner,  of  Providence. 


724  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

Jason  Williams  Drake,  M  D.,  son  of  Jason  G.  and  Mary 
W.  (Record)  Drake,  was  born  in  Easton,  January  29,  1835,  ^"^1 
was  educated  at  Pierce  Academy,  in  Middleborough,  Mass.  He 
enlisted  in  the  quota  of  Fitchburg  as  private  in  Company  B, 
Fifty-third  Regiment,  nine  months'  men,  October  17,  1862,  and 
was  discharged  September  2,  1863,  having  served  under  General 
Banks  in  Louisiana.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Dover,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  began  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  1867  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical  College,  and 
returned  to  Dover,  where  he  continued  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  20.  1885.  Dr. 
Drake  was  a  coroner,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  prominently 
identified  with  the  public  schools  of  Dover.  He  is  spoken  of 
as  "  a  noble-hearted,  manly  man,  and  his  death  was  universally 
regretted.  He  gave  to  the  poor  his  best  services  without  hope 
of  pay  as  freely  as  where  compensation  was  assured.  He  had 
many  personal  friends,  and  the  death  of  no  one  could  be  more 
sincerely  felt  than  his."  ^  December  20,  1857,  Dr.  Drake  married 
Phebe  J.  Keith,  of  Easton,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter. 

Daniel  Goodwin,  M.D.,  was  son  of  Benjamin  Goodwin,  first 
of  Boston,  and  then  of  Easton,  who  came  to  the  latter  place 
about  1785.  He  succeeded  to  his  father's  estate  in  Easton  about 
1794  ;  this  was  said  to  be  the  old  Kingman  tavern,  located  close 
by  Ebenezer  Randall's,  on  the  Bay  road.  In  the  old  Town 
treasurer's  book  he  is  paid  for  doctoring  the  poor  in  1801  and 
1802.  He  soon  moved  to  Norton,  and  probably  abandoned  the 
practice  of  medicine,  as  Mr.  Clark  in  the  "  History  of  Norton  " 
does  not  include  him  among  the  physicians  of  that  town.  He 
was  brother-in-law  of  Daniel  Wheaton,  Esq.  Dr.  Goodwin  mar- 
ried Polly,  daughter  of  Deacon  Timothy  and  Abigail  (Patten) 
Briggs,  of  Norton. 

Samuel  Guild,  M.D.,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Boyden) 
Guild,  was  born  in  Walpole,  October  23,  1746;  studied  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Daggett,  of  Medfield,  and  settled  in  Easton  in 
1768,  where  he  had  a  good  practice  for  forty-eight  years.  He 
officiated  at  the  births  of  over  a  thousand  children.     During  the 

1  Letter  of  O.  A.  Dodge,  Esq.,  of  Dover. 


PHYSICIANS   AND   DENTISTS.  725 


earlier  part  of  his  life  here  he  taught  school  for  several  years,  his 
pay  in  1771  being  £1  i6s.  per  month,  and  he  to  board  himself. 
He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  more  than  thirty  years.  Gov. 
Elbridge  Gerry  appointed  him  also  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions. He  was  very  active  as  a  member  of  the  Easton  "  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  and  Safety"  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  served  for  a  while  as  surgeon  in  the  army.  Dr.  Guild 
was  descended  from  John  Guild,  who  came  to  this  country  from 
Scotland  in  1636,  and  settled  in  Dedham,  —  the  descent  being 
John,  Samuel,  Nathaniel,  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  Samuel.  December  25, 
1770,  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  and  Catherine 
(Starrett)  Ferguson,  and  by  her  had  five  children.  She  died 
August  20,  1784.  when  he  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Elipha- 
let  and  Silence  (Hayward)  Leonard,  by  whom  he  had  five  chil- 
dren. The  Doctor  himself  died  May  11,  1816,  after  an  active, 
useful,  and  influential  life. 

Samuel  Guild,  Jr.,  M.D.,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born 
July  19,  1775,  studied  medicine,  and  became  a  practising  physi- 
cian. He  married  May  28,  1799,  Vesta,  daughter  cf  John  and 
Mercy  (Fobes)  Howard.  He  left  town  about  1806,  and  in  18 13 
his  wife  sued  for  and  obtained  a  divorce  on  the  ground  of  deser- 
tion. He  is  said  to  have  taught  school  for  twenty  years.  He 
died  in  Maryland,  April  3,  1821. 

Elisha  Hayward,  M.D.,  son  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Barrows) 
Hayward,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  26,  1791.  He  graduated  at 
Brown  University,  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Ebenezer  Allen  of 
Randolph,  and  settled  in  Raynham,  where  he  practised  his  pro- 
fession. In  1 82 1  he  married  Betsy  Townsend,  of  Middleborough, 
and  died  March  16,  1866. 

Joseph  W.  Hayward,  M.D.,  son  of  George  W.  and  Sylvia 
(Pratt)  Hayward,  was  born  in  Easton,  July  11,  1841  ;  graduated 
at  the  Bridgewater  Normal  School  in  the  spring  of  i860,  and 
taught  school  two  winters.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  Edgar  E.  Dean,  of  North  Bridgewater,  in  1861,  and 
entered  Harvard  Medical  School  in  the  fall  of  1862.  March 
13,  1863,  having  passed  the  examination  of  the  Regular  Army 


726  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Board  of  Philadelphia,  he  was  appointed  medical  cadet  of  the 
United  States  Army,  and  was  soon  on  duty  at  the  Washing- 
ton General  Hospital  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  served  un- 
til February  i  r,  1864;  and  for  the  balance  of  his  year  —  until 
March  11  —  he  was  on  duty  at  the  Brown  General  Hospital  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky. 

Dr.  Hayward  then  returned  home  and  entered  the  Medical 
School  at  Bowdoin,  Maine,  from  which,  having  passed  the  required 
examination,  he  graduated  in  June,  1864.  A  few  days  later 
he  passed  the  examination  of  the  United  States  Medical  Board 
at  New  York  City,  and  was  appointed  assistant-surgeon  United 
States  Army  by  President  Lincoln.  He  was  ordered  to  report 
to  General  Butler  in  Virginia,  and  was  sent  to  the  Second 
Division  of  the  Tenth  Corps,  in  front  of  Petersburg.  In  a  few 
days  he  was  made  operating  surgeon  of  the  Tenth  Corps  Artillery 
Brigade,  making  his  headquarters  with  the  Fourth  New  Jersey 
Battery.  After  Butler  was  superseded  by  General  Ord,  Dr. 
Hayward  was  assigned  Jo  the  position  of  staff-surgeon,  serving 
in  this  capacity  until  after  Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox. 
Reaching  Richmond  April  12,  1865,  he  was  retained  upon  the 
Department  Staff  as  assistant  medical  director,  which  position 
he  held  until  his  resignation  in  November  following.  March  13, 
1865,  he  was  brevetted  major  United  States  Volunteers. 

In  the  winter  of  1865-66  Dr.  Hayward  attended  lectures  at 
the  Bellevue  Medical  College  in  New  York  City.  April  i,  1866, 
he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Dr.  George  Barrows,  of  Taun- 
ton, the  copartnership  continuing  six  years.  In  1867  he  was 
commissioned  surgeon  of  the  Third  Regiment  Massachusetts  Vol- 
unteer Militia,  and  in  1874  was  made  medical  director  of  the 
First  Brigade,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  holding  this 
position  until  an  Act  of  Legislature  discharged  all  its  military 
officers  "  for  the  good  of  the  service."  In  1877  he  was  appointed 
United  States  pension  surgeon,  and  still  holds  that  position.  In 
1878  he  was  added  to  the  full  faculty  of  the  Boston  University 
School  of  Medicine  as  special  lecturer  upon  "fractures,  dislo- 
cations, and  gunshot  wounds,"  and  still  acts  in  this  capacity. 
He  has  served  for  nine  years  on  the  school  board  at  Taunton, 
is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Homoeopathic  State  Medical 
Society,  and  has  been  vice-president  of  the  American  Institute 


PHYSICIAxNS    AND   DENTISTS.  ^27 


of  Homoeopathy.     He  still  resides  at  Taunton,  and  has  a  large 
and  successful  practice. 

June  9,  1866,  Dr.  Hay  ward  married  Lemira  Harris,  daughter 
of  John  R.  Drake,  of  Easton,  by  whom  he  had  four  children. 

James  Howard,  M.D.  —  The  first  physician  named  in  records 
relating  to  the  town  of  Easton  was  Dr.  James  Hayward,  who  was 
elected  as  one  of  the  selectmen  in  1731.  The  names  "  Hayward  " 
and  "  Howard  "  were  once  pronounced  Hozuard,  and  were  con- 
sequently often  confounded,  which  is  a  source  of  much  perplexity 
to  the  genealogist.  This  physician  was  probably  James  Howard, 
son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Washburn)  Howard,  who  was  born 
in  Bridgewater  in  1690.  Mitchell^  states  that  he  married  Eliza- 
beth VVallis  (Willis)  in  1710,  and  had  Mercy,  1741,  and  Huldah, 
1 716,  and  that  he  was  said  to  have  moved  to  Stoughton  and  then 
to  Woodstock.  His  name  does  not  appear  upon  the  tax-lists  of 
Stoughton.  He  probably  lived  in  Easton  a  few  years  after  1731, 
as  in  1738  he  makes  charges  in  Stoughton  for  medicines  and 
visits,  showing  a  continued  residence  in  this  vicinity. 

Ernest  W.  Keith,  M.D.,  the  son  of  F.  Granville  and  Mercy 
(Wardwell)  Keith,  was  born  in  Easton,  August  7,  1862  ;  gradu- 
ated from  the  Easton  High  School  in  1878,  and  from  the  Medical 
School  of  the  Boston  University,  June  2,  1885.  He  is  now  resi- 
dent physician  and  surgeon  in  the  Homoeopathic  Department  of 
Cook  County  Hospital  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  receiving  the  appoint- 
ment September  i,  1885. 

Edwin  Manley,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Easton,  May  3,  18 18. 
He  did  not  study  medicine  early  in  life,  but  was  a  workman  in 
the  Ames  Shovel  Works.  Having  injured  his  hand  so  as  to 
make  work  difficult  for  him,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  med- 
ical profession,  studying  first  at  the  Tremont  Medical  School, 
and  then,  from  1856  to  i860,  taking  a  full  course  of  study  at  the 
Harvard  Medical  School.  Dr.  Manley  practised  for  a  time  at 
Stoneham  and  then  at  Easton,  locating  in  North  Easton  village. 
From  here  he  went  to  Taunton,  where  he  was  for  several  years 
librarian  of  the  Taunton  Public  Library.    He  had  a  decided  taste 

1  History  of  Bridgewater,  p.   193. 


728  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

for  reading  and  study,  and  it  is  said  would  become  so  absorbed 
in  the  study  of  chemistry  and  in  making  experiments,  that  the 
night  would  sometimes  be  far  spent  before  he  sought  rest. 

Edwin  Manley  married,  first,  Faustina  Smith,  of  Maine,  an  ac- 
complished lady  ;  and  after  her  death  he  married  Emmeline  Le- 
land  Hatch,  of  Kennebunk,  Maine.  The  last  eight  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  California.    He  died  in  San  Francisco,  June  4,  1884. 

(Rev.)  John  M.  Mills,  M.D.,  was  the  son  of  Ralph  and  of 
Sarah  Mills,  and  was  born  December  21,  1800,  in  Lancaster, 
England.  He  came  to  this  country  when  young,  and  studied 
medicine  in  New  York  City.  He  did  not  at  once  complete  his 
medical  course,  but  returned  to  England,  where  he  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Martha  Potter,  of  Edinburgh. 
Coming  back  to  the  United  States,  he  finished  his  medical  edu- 
cation in  the  Homoeopathic  College  in  New  York  City,  from 
which  he  graduated  and  received  a  diploma.  In  that  city  he 
practised  medicine  for  over  ten  years,  and  then  went  to  Bufialo. 
Not  long  afterward,  urged  by  his  family  and  friends,  he  became 
a  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  preaching  first 
in  Milford,  New  York,  and  then,  in  1841,  going  to  Carver,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  he  preached  for  three  years.  For  the  next 
three  years  he  preached  in  Milford,  Massachusetts,  and  then 
settled  over  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  in  North  Easton 
village,  coming  here  March  25,  1847.  He  soon  began  to  have 
serious  trouble  with  his  eyes,  and  suffered  considerably  with  a 
bronchial  difficulty,  but  was  able  to  preach  for  about  two  years, 
at  the  end  of  that  time  being  obliged  to  give  up  the  ministry  on 
account  of  his  failing  sight  and  voice.  He  had  always  practised 
medicine  somewhat  during  his  ministerial  work,  and  after  ceas- 
ing to  preach  he  devoted  himself  entirely  to  the  profession  of 
medicine,  practising  in  Easton  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  except 
when  prevented  by  failing  health  and  almost  total  blindness.  He 
lived  in  the  house  next  east  of  James  N.  Mackay's,  on  Lincoln 
Street.     Dr.  Mills  died  in  Easton,  May  17,  1871. 

James  Perry,  M.D.,  son  of  Captain  James  and  Zerviah  (With- 
erell)  Perry,  was  born  in  Easton,  October  12,  1767.  He  studied 
medicine,  and  was  for  many  years   a  prominent  physician   in 


PHYSICIANS   AND    DENTISTS.  729 


town.  James  Perry  married,  April  9,  1793,  Adah  Sheperdson, 
of  Mansfield,  and  they  had  six  children,  one  of  whom,  next 
to  be  mentioned,  became  a  distinguished  physician.  He  died 
May  2,  1825. 

William  F.  Perry,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  James,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 9,  1809.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  decided  to  study 
medicine  ;  but  having  to  depend  upon  himself,  he  worked  and 
studied  alternately  with  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  of  Easton.  He  at- 
tended one  course  of  medical  lectures  at  Bowdoin  College,  in 
1 83 1,  one  at  the  Harvard  Medical  School  in  1832,  and  in  1833 
another  at  Bowdoin,  where  he  received  his  diploma.  In  1835  he 
settled  in  Mansfield,  Mass.,  where  he  became  a  skilful  and  suc- 
cessful physician.  Dr.  Perry  had  a  laborious  practice  for  thirty- 
eight  years,  never  except  for  two  days  being  prevented  by  illness 
from  visiting  his  patients,  and  being  absent  only  twice,  —  once 
for  ten  days  in  1858  on  a  trip  West,  and  again  in  1873  for  a  few 
days  in  New  York.  He  was  a  man  of  decided  convictions,  strong 
character,  and  wide  reading  in  his  special  department  of  study. 
The  Doctor  died  suddenly,  October  17,  1873,  while  visiting  a 
poor  family  who  needed  his  services.  An  interesting  and  much 
more  extended  notice  of  him  may  be  found  in  the  cumbersome 
"  History  of  Bristol  County,"  pp.  458-460. 

Seth  Pratt,  M.D.,  son  of  Lieutenant  Seth  and  of  Mindwell 
(Stone)  Pratt,  was  born  in  Easton,  March  8,  1780;  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Issachar  Snell,  of  North  Bridgewater,  and  was 
a  practising  physician  in  Easton  until  his  death.  He  lived  in  the 
house  built  about  1745,  and  used  as  a  residence  by  the  Rev.  Solo- 
mon Prentice.  It  was  on  the  east  side  of  Washington  Street,  just 
above  Grove  Street,  in  South  Easton  village,  on  the  exact  site  of 
the  house  of  Mr.  Snell.  April  7,  1807,  Dr.  Pratt  married  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  Lyman  and  Mercy  (WiUiams)  Wheelock,  and 
left  three  children,  —  Seth,  Erasmus  D.,  and  Sarah  M.,  who 
married  Captain  Seneca  Hills,  of  Franklin,  Massachusetts,  and 
is  now  living  with  her  children  at  Taunton,  Massachusetts.  Dr. 
Seth  Pratt  died  August  12,  1816;  he  is  spoken  of  in  terms  of 
high  praise  as  a  man  and  a  physician  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sheldon, 
who  preached  his  funeral  sermon.    His  widow  survived  him  fifty- 


730 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


six  years,  dying  October  13,  1871.     Dr.  Caleb  Swan  succeeded 
to  his  practice. 

Seth  Pratt,  Jr.,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  Seth  and  Rebecca  (Whee- 
lock)  Pratt,  was  born  in  Easton,  January  12,  1809;  studied  med- 
icine at  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  and  received  his  diploma 
February  25,  1832.  He  at  once  located  at  Myricksville,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  remained  there  two  years.  In  1834  he  removed  to 
Assonet  village,  three  miles  from  his  first  location.  Dr.  Pratt 
was  much  interested  in  the  temperance  cause,  aud  delivered  lec- 
tures upon  the  subject.  His  health  soon  failed  him,  and  he 
abandoned  his  business  and  returned  to  Easton,  where  he  died 
October  10,  1836. 

Daniel  L.  Randall,  M.D.,  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah 
(Ingalls)  Randall,  was  born  in  Easton,  January  12,  1842.  He 
attended  medical  lectures  at  the  Harvard  Medical  School  for 
three  successive  winters,  beginning  in  1862-63,  studying  mean- 
time with  Drs.  Caleb  Swan  and  George  W.  J.  Swan.  He  re- 
ceived his  diploma  from  the  Medical  School  July  10,  1865,  and 
began  the  regular  practice  of  medicine  in  Easton  shortly  after 
the  death  of  Dr.  George  Swan,  which  occurred  January  10,  1S70, 
and  has  continued  in  practice  here  ever  since. 

Menzies  Rayner  Randall,  M.D.,  son  of  Daniel  and  Molly 
Randall,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  10,  1794.  He  studied  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  and  became  his  partner,  but  moved 
from  Easton  to  Rehoboth  early  in  the  year  1825,  and  practised 
medicine  there  until  a  short  time  before  his  death.  He  did  not 
receive  his  medical  diploma  until  1832,  when  one  was  given 
him  by  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  where  he  had  passed  an 
examination. 

Dr.  Randall  married,  first,  Eliza  Edson,  July  3,  1823,  who 
died  January  8,  1833;  and  March  27,  1834,  he  married  Almira 
Guild,  who  died  April  15,  1873  ;  he  himself  died  July  23,  1882. 
The  Doctor  had  three  children.  One  was  Eliza,  who  was  born 
in  Easton  June  15,  1824,  and  died  in  Taunton  March  18,  1874; 
she  was  the  wife  of  William  G.  French.  Two  sons,  born  in 
Rehoboth,  are  both  physicians,  —  Dr.  George  A.  Randall,  who 


PHYSICIANS    AND   DENTISTS.  y^i 


lives  in  Rehoboth  ;    and  Dr.  D.  Fordyce  Randall,  who  follows 
his  profession  in  Chesterfield,  New  Hampshire. 

Zephaniah  Randall,  M.D.,  the  son  of  Ephraim  and  Louise 
(Stone)  Randall,  was  born  in  Easton,  September  24,  1783,  and 
was  practising  medicine  as  early  as  1 816,  at  which  time  the  town 
pays  him  for  doctoring  certain  poor  people.  He  lived  in  the 
house  on  the  corner  of  Canton  and  Main  streets,  now  occupied 
by  Ziba  Randall.  Dr.  Zephaniah  was  an  eccentric  man.  If  one 
went  at  night  to  call  on  him  for  some  medical  service,  he  would 
probably  be  found  lying  on  a  buffalo  robe  on  the  floor,  with  his 
feet  towards  the  fire,  and  dressed  as  in  the  day-time.  Being 
called,  he  would  rouse  himself,  take  his  large  handbox  of  medi- 
cine, and,  if  not  required  to  go  very  far,  would  trudge  along  on 
foot  with  his  summoner.  Otherwise  he  would  harness  his  horse 
into  his  sulky,  put  on  his  gray  surtout,  which  was  as  famous  in 
a  small  way  as  Horace  Greeley's  old  gray  coat,  and  would  soon 
present  himself  for  action.  He  was  an  old-time  physician,  who 
believed  in  medicines  both  strong  and  copious.  One  soon  got 
used  to  the  snuff  that  he  sprinkled  about  as  he  freely  regaled 
himself.  But  it  was  as  well  for  the  patient  under  his  care  not 
to  watch  him  as  he  made  his  pills  and  rolled  them  under  his 
snuffy  hands  up  and  down  his  pantaloons'  leg. 

Unfortunately  Dr.  Zephaniah  Randall  took  something  stronger 
than  snuff,  and  a  good  deal  of  it  too.  In  this  he  fovmd  a  meet  com- 
panion in  his  second  wife.  His  first  wife,  Hannah  Bullard,  was 
an  excellent  woman,  and  one  cannot  help  thinking  that  had  she 
lived  she  might  have  made  an  altogether  different  man  of  him. 
Many  a  man  in  Easton,  as  elsewhere,  has  owed  his  character  and 
success  to  a  good  wife  ;  and  here,  as  elsewhere,  some  have  been 
undone  by  a  bad  one.  Hannah  had  died  in  1822,  and  ten  years 
later,  September  23,  1832,  Dr.  Randall  married  Lucy  Gilbert,  who 
was  nearly  thirty  years  his  junior,  but  was  older  than  he  in  in- 
temperate depravity.  A  sorry  couple  they  looked  as  they  drove 
about, —  he,  full,  but  self-controlled  ;  she,  maudlin,  and  redolent 
not  only  with  rum,  but  with  essence  of  peppermint,  with  lauda- 
num, and  especially  with  ether,  which  the  Doctor  could  not  keep 
away  from  her.  This  bad  habit  and  his  filthy  ways  did  not,  how- 
ever, prevent  his  having  a  good  practice.     People  often  tolerate 


732  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

irregularities  in  a  physician  that  would  ruin  the  reputation  of  any 
one  else.  They  are  only  "  eccentricities,"  which  are  supposed 
by  some  persons  to  add  a  certain  piquancy  and  interest  to  a 
doctor,  but  which  are  sometimes  disgraceful  moral  depravities. 
The  pure  and  high-minded  regard  these  eccentricities  in  their 
true  light  as  sins,  and  would  not  tolerate  them  were  there  other 
medical  service  available.  If  any  man  ought  to  be  pure,  tem- 
perate, and  good,  it  is  the  physician,  who  often  comes  nearer 
to  the  real  heart  of  persons  and  of  homes  than  even  the  min- 
ister, and  who  might  be  a  helper  not  only  to  the  body,  but  to 
the  spirit,  in  noble  and  Christian  ways,  in  those  pathetic  scenes 
of  sickness  and  sorrow  where  his  duty  often  calls  him. 

Dr.  Zephaniah  would,  however,  when  he  had  a  severe  case  un- 
der treatment,  keep  sober.  There  were  persons  who  regarded 
him  as  very  skilful,  and  said  that  the  sight  of  his  old  gray  sur- 
tout  did  them  more  good  than  the  learned  practice  of  more  edu- 
cated doctors.  "  Dr.  Zeph."  will  long  be  remembered,  and  not 
without  pity,  as  one  of  the  "characters"  of  Easton.  He  died 
June  5,  1855. 

Frederic  J.  Ripley,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Easton,  November 
10,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  B.  and  Rebecca  (Bisbee) 
Ripley.  He  graduated  from  the  Easton  High  School  in  June, 
1876,  entered  Dartmouth  College,  and  graduated  there  June  24, 
1880.  He  studied  medicine  in  the  Harvard  Medical  School, 
graduating  June  27,  1883,  and  began  practice  as  a  physician  in 
the  city  of  Brockton,  September  12  ;  was  elected  city  physician 
in  January,  1884,  and  re-elected  in  January,  1885  and  1886,  and 
served  on  the  Brockton  Board  of  Health  as  clerk  for  1884  and 
1885.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society, 
and  is  one  of  the  censors  of  the  Plymouth  District  Medical 
Society. 

Dr.  W.  P.  Savary,  son  of  Charles  P.  and  Sarah  H.  Savary, 
was  born  in  Groveland,  Massachusetts,  April  10,  1852.  He 
began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  H.  E.  Wales,  of  Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,  in  1878.  In  1881  he  was  employed  as  as- 
sistant in  the  office  of  Dr.  Packard,  of  Brockton,  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  North  Easton,  December  30,  1884,  where  he  still 


PHYSICIANS    AND    DENTISTS.  -r-,^ 

/  60 


continues  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  August  3,  1879,  Dr. 
Savary  married  Alice  M.  Richardson,  of  Haverhill  ;  they  have 
now  three  children. 

Caleb  Swan,  M.D.,  the  youngest  child  of  Caleb  and  Sarah 
(Semple)  Swan,  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1793.  He  entered  Harvard  University  in  181 1,  and 
graduated  in  18 14,  maintaining  while  there,  it  is  said,  a  credit- 
able standing  for  talent,  behavior,  and  application.  Among  his 
classmates  were  Dr.  James  Walker,  later  president  of  the  Col- 
lege, and  William  H.  Prescott  the  historian.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  Caleb  Swan  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  the 
instruction  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Wales,  Jr.,  of  Randolph,  Massachu- 
setts, and  after  obtaining  his  degree  settled  in  Easton,  in  the 
year  1816,  continuing  here  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  never 
interrupted  for  more  than  a  week  or  two  by  sickness  or  travel, 
for  fifty-four  years.     He  died  March  18,  1870. 

On  coming  to  Easton  Dr.  Swan  began  at  once  to  inspire  confi- 
dence as  a  physician,  and  to  build  up  a  medical  practice  that  grad- 
ually extended  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town,  he  being  often 
called  for  consultation  in  cases  of  serious  illness  for  many  miles 
around.  In  his  later  years  he  showed  decided  leanings  towards 
Homoeopathy,  and  for  this  reason  his  name  was  dropped  from 
the  membership  rolls  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society, 
which  he  had  joined  in  1833.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Bristol  North  District  Medical  Society  in  1849,  o^  which, 
March  10,  1852,  he  was  made  president  for  one  year.  Four  of 
his  sons  have  become  physicians.  His  reputation  drew  many 
students  into  his  ofifice,  and  few  doctors  have  had  so  large  a 
number  of  young  men  for  medical  pupils  as  he. 

Dr.  Swan  became  very  early  identified  with  various  humani- 
tarian enterprises.  In  the  great  temperance  movement  of  1826 
and  the  following  years  he  was  an  active  participant,  encour- 
aging it  in  every  way,  being  accustomed  to  make  public  addres- 
ses upon  it,  —  addresses  characterized  by  vigor,  point,  and  good 
sense.  He  was  always  interested  in  education,  and  frequently 
spoke  upon  this  topic ;  and  while  he  steadily  refused  all  other 
offices,  he  was  willing  to  serve  upon  the  board  of  school  com- 
mittee of  Easton,  in  which  position  he  rendered  efficient  service. 


734  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

At  one  time  Dr.  Swan  was  interested  and  prominent  in  politics, 
being  in  1840  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  election  of  General 
Harrison,  at  the  same  time  declaring  that  if  Harrison  was  elected 
he  would  join  the  Liberty  Party,  afterward  known  as  the  Free 
Soil  Party.  This  he  did,  and  became  a  very  pronounced  Anti- 
slavery  man.  He  was  a  candidate  on  the  Free  Soil  ticket  for 
representative  to  Congress,  his  principal  opponent  being  Ar- 
temus  Hale,  of  Bridgewater,  who,  after  several  elections  result- 
ing in  no  choice,  was  finally  chosen.  Dr.  Swan,  on  the  same 
party's  ticket,  ran  for  governor  against  N.  P.  Banks.  In  1S65, 
being  chosen  on  the  ticket  of  the  Republican  Party  which  had 
grown  out  of  the  Free  Soil  Party,  Dr.  Swan  served  as  repre- 
sentative in  the  State  Legislature,  and  in  1867  was  chosen  a 
State  senator.  He  was  intensely  opposed  to  the  Know  Nothing 
movement,  which  swept  the  State  like  an  epidemic,  and  had  a 
most  surprising  and  not  yet  understood  means  of  knowing  what 
went  on  in  the  secret  meetings  of  that  party. 

In  his  intercourse  with  others  Dr.  Swan  was  suave,  genial,  and 
agreeable,  a  companionable  man,  and  as  welcome  in  a  social  as 
in  a  professional  way  in  the  homes  of  those  who  knew  him.  But 
with  all  his  suavity  he  never  yielded  a  hair's  breadth  in  discus- 
sion or  action  in  matters  of  political  principle.  In  religious 
views  he  was  a  Swedenborgian.  His  brother-in-law,  the  late 
George  W.  Johnson,  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  under  date  of  1839, 
wrote  of  him  as  follows  :  — 

"  His  heart  is  in  his  profession.  Like  most  others  of  his  profession 
he  possesses  great  knowledge  of  men,  and  tact  in  managing  their 
weaknesses.  He  possesses  also  a  placable  and  generous  temper,  is 
fond  of  wit  and  humor,  which  he  has  displayed  from  a  child,  and  has 
few  or  no  enemies.  His  mind  delights  in  the  investigation  and  dis- 
covery of  truth.  He  rejects  no  theory  till  he  has  sounded  it  and 
found  it  wanting,  examining  everything  for  himself.  Yet  he  is  no 
visionary.  His  mind  is  characterized  by  activity,  love  of  research, 
and  caution.     I  believe  he  had  one  of  the  best  of  hearts." 

Caleb  Swan  was  three  times  married,  first  to  Ruth  Barrell,  of 
East  Bridgewater,  October  3,  18 16,  who  died  January  13,  1830. 
He  was  again  married,  February  14,  1831,  to  Louisa  S.  John- 
son, of  Enfield,  New  Hampshire,  who  died  September  6,  i860. 


1 


PHYSICIANS   AND   DENTISTS.  735 


He  had  four  children  by  his  first,  seven  by  his  second,  and  none 
by  his  last  marriage.  Four  of  the  children  died  before  coming 
to  maturity,  and  two  afterward.  Four  of  his  sons  became  phy- 
sicians, and  one  a  lawyer.  Of  the  two  daughters  now  livin<y, 
Ruth  Barrell  was  married  September  17,  1851,  to  the  Hon. 
Justin  S.  Morrill,  so  long  and  still  honorably  known  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Vermont  ;  the  other,  Louisa  S.  Swan, 
makes  her  home  with  her  sister  just  named, 

George  W.  J.  Swan,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  Caleb  and  Louisa  S. 
(Johnson)  Swan,  was  born  in  Easton,  September  8,  1836; 
studied  at  Exeter  Academy,  took  several  courses  of  lectures  at 
the  Harvard  Medical  School,  and  some  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia.  He  settled  in  Easton,  and  engaged  here 
in  the  practice  of  medicine.  November  13,  1856,  he  married 
Elizabeth  E.  Hayward.  Dr.  George  Swan  died  in  Easton,  Jan- 
uary 10,  1870  ;  his  wife  died  December  6,  1880. 

James  Caleb  Swan,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  Caleb  and  of  Ruth 
(Barrell)  Swan,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  2,  1828  ;  studied 
medicine  with  his  father,  attended  lectures  at  the  Harvard 
Medical  School  in  1847-49,  and  other  lectures  at  the  Jefierson 
Medical  College  in  Philadelphia,  but  graduated  from  neither. 
Settling  finally  at  Cocheset  Village,  in  West  Bridgewater,  he 
has  built  up  a  large  practice,  —  having  also  an  office  in  Brock- 
ton. June  9,  1850,  James  C.  Swan  married  Harriet  A.  Copeland. 
They  have  had  three  children,  one  of  whom,  Caleb,  became  a 
Homoeopathic  physician,  and  settled  in  Taunton.  Mrs.  Swan 
died  December  7,  1880,  —  the  Doctor  marrying  for  a  second  wife 
Ada  Hervey. 

Jesse  Johnson  Swan,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  Caleb  and  Louisa  S. 
(Johnson)  Swan,  was  born  in  Easton,  December  14,  1849; 
studied  at  Bristol  Academy,  Taunton,  and  at  the  Stoughton- 
ham  Institute  at  Sharon.  He  read  medicine  two  years  with 
his  father,  and  one  with  his  brother  Channing ;  attended  two 
courses  of  lectures  at  the  Harvard  Medical  School  in  1869-71, 
and  one  course  at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  in  Chicago, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  March,  1882.     He  began  in  April, 


736  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

1872,  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Easton,  where  he  still  resides, 
although  he  has  at  times  practised  elsewhere. 

William  E.  Channing  Swan,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  Caleb  and  of 
Louisa  S.  (Johnson)  Swan,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  14,  1842  ; 
studied  at  the  Thetford  Academy,  and  attended  lectures  at 
the  Harvard  Medical  School,  receiving  his  diploma  March  8, 
1865.  He  had,  however,  settled  in  Stoughton  in  1863,  where 
he  began  practice,  and  attended  the  medical  lectures  afterward. 
November  27,  1866,  he  married  Estelle  J.  Parker,  of  Stoughton, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Charles  L.,  born  December  17,  1867. 
Dr.  Swan  still  resides  at  Stoughton,  and  has  a  large  practice 
there  and  in  the  vicinity. 

Byron  H.  Strout,  DD.S.,  son  of  Sanford  B.  and  of  Melvina 
(Torrey)  Strout,  was  born  in  Easton,  July  28,  1861.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  Boston  Dental  College  in  1882,  began  the  practice 
of  dentistry  in  Boston  in  March  of  that  year,  and  continued 
there  until  October,  1883,  during  which  time  he  was  also  de- 
monstrator in  charge  of  the  mechanical  department  of  the  Den- 
tal College.  He  removed  to  Taunton  in  October,  1883,  where 
he  still  follows  his  profession.  Dr.  Strout  was  married  June  2, 
1881,  to  Alice  H.  Mertins,  of  Evergreen,  Alabama,  whither  he 
had  removed   with  his  parents   from   Easton,  in    1875. 

Frank  Elmer  Tilden,  M.D.,  son  of  Francis  and  Alvira  M. 
Tilden,  was  born  in  Easton,  April  13,  1853,  received  a  High 
School  education  in  Easton,  and  took  a  full  course  of  study  in 
the  Medical  School  of  Harvard  University,  from  which  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  June  28,  1876.  For  a 
short  time  he  was  assistant  in  the  Free  Dispensary  for  Women 
in  Boston,  and  began  practice  in  Easton  in  the  fall  of  1876, 
locating  in  North  Easton  village,  where  he  still  follows  his 
profession,  November  12,  1884,  Dr.  Tilden  married  Ellen  L. 
Leonard. 

The  foregoing  physicians  are  those  who  have  had  a  more  or 
less  complete  medical  education,  and  have  practised  their  pro- 
fession according  to  the  reo:ular  methods.     But  in  addition  to 


PHYSICIANS   AND   DENTISTS.  737 


these  regular  practitioners  there  are  others  who  have  devoted 
themselves  to  the  art  of  healing,  carrying  it  on  by  methods  of 
their  own,  and  not  without  success.  There  is  no  sufficient  rea- 
son why,  because  they  have  not  followed  the  customary  standards 
of  medical  practice,  they  should  not  have  a  notice  here ;  brief 
sketches  of  them  are  accordingly  given. 

Dr.  George  Brett,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Martha  (Bartlett) 
Brett,  was  born  in  Boston,  December  3,  1829.  His  father  died 
September  30,  1834,  and  his  mother  then  returned  to  Easton, 
where  May  10,  1838,  she  was  married  to  Jason  G.  Howard. 
George  Brett  became  a  shoe-manufacturer,  carrying  on  busi- 
ness for  some  years  in  North  Easton  village.  Since  he  was 
twenty-five  years  of  age  he  has  cured  headaches  and  neuralgia 
by  manipulation.  In  1875  he  was  induced  to  try  his  power 
upon  a  rheumatic  patient  in  East  Stoughton,  who  had  suffered 
severely,  and  who  had  not  been  able  for  two  months  to  move 
his  swollen  ankle.  The  patient  experienced  immediate  relief. 
"  I  went  home,"  said  Mr.  Brett,  "never  dreaming  there  was  busi- 
ness in  it."  The  result  of  his  success  in  this  case  was  that  the 
halt,  lame,  and  sick  of  East  Stoughton  began  a  pilgrimage  to 
him.  "  What  will  you  go  to  East  Stoughton  and  see  ten  sick 
people  for?"  some  one  asked  him.  "Ten  dollars"  he  answered. 
He  went,  receiving  his  first  money  as  a  practitioner,  and  in  one 
year  thereafter  did  a  business  worth  three  thousand  dollars.  His 
fame  increased.  He  opened  an  office  in  Brockton  and  East 
Stoughton.  Some  Boston  people  induced  him,  in  the  spring  of 
1876,  to  open  an  office  in  that  city.  Patients  come  to  him  now 
from  nearly  every  State  in  the  Union,  and  from  the  Provinces 
also.  Dr.  Brett  claims  to  possess  the  "  gift  of  healing,  without 
medicine  or  liniment,"  but  makes  no  pretension  to  clairvoyance 
or  "spirit  influence"  or  "  Faith-cure."  He  says  that  he  can  di- 
agnose accurately  seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  cases  presented 
to  him,  and  does  it  merely  by  taking  the  patient  by  the  hand. 
Twenty-five  per  cent  do  not  respond,  and  he  tells  them  he  can- 
not help  them.  He  also  claims  that  he  can  do  as  well  in  one 
disease  as  in  another,  and  that  he  can  treat  forty  patients  in 
a  day,  and  suffer  no  exhaustion  therefrom.  The  Doctor  has  a 
very  extensive  and  lucrative  practice. 

47 


y2,S  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

Dr.  AsAHEL  Smith,  son  of  Michael  and  Betsy  (Crane)  Smith, 
of  Canton,  was  born  in  Bradford,  New  Hampshire,  July  25,  1814. 
He  began  to  practise  the  healing  art  in  Easton,  in  the  year  1850. 
His  method  is  called  clairvoyance,  a  species  of  trance,  by  means 
of  which  he  claims  to  diagnose  diseases.  His  remedies  are 
chiefly  botanical  specifics.  Dr.  Smith  married  Almira  Gilbert, 
of  Sharon,  and  they  have  had  ten  children. 

Dr.  William  B.  Webster,  son  of  Isaac  and  Betsy  (French) 
Webster,  was  born  in  Stark,  Maine,  June  11,  1832.  His  parents 
removed  to  North  Bridgewater  in  1838,  where  he  continued  to 
live,  though  they  subsequently  returned  to  Maine.  Mr.  Webster 
was  for  several  years  a  shoemaker  ;  but  fourteen  years  ago  he 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Easton,  claiming  to  diagnose 
diseases  by  means  of  clairvoyance.  His  remedies  are  mainly 
botanical,  and  he  is  said  to  prepare  them  with  great  care.  March 
31,  1858,  he  married  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Rachel 
(Sumner)  French,  of  North  Bridgewater,  who  was  born  August 
12,  1836.     They  have  one  child,  a  son. 

Dr.  John  P.  Wilson,  son  of  Eliphalet  and  Almira  (Randall) 
Wilson,  was  born  in  Easton,  October  19,  1837.  Mr.  Wilson 
became  quite  early  a  clairvoyant  physician.  During  a  sick- 
ness, in  which  he  was  treated  by  Dr.  Asahel  Smith,  the  latter 
suggested  to  him  that  he  might  develop  this  clairvoyant  power 
and  make  his  living  by  its  exercise.  The  suggestion  was 
adopted.  Mr.  Wilson  practised  upon  the  West  Bridgewater 
people  for  a  short  apprenticeship  of  six  months,  in  1857.  In 
1858  he  began  the  same  treatment  in  Easton,  living  in  Poquan- 
ticut  until  about  twelve  years  ago.  He  then  moved  to  Mansfield, 
where  he  set  up  a  drug  store,  which  he  carries  on  in  connection 
with  his  practice.  December  6,  1864,  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier, 
and  went  into  camp  at  Readville ;  was  not  however  called  to  the 
front,  but  was  discharged  May  12,  1865.  November  25,  1858, 
Mr.  Wilson  married  Susan  L,  Buck.  They  have  had  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

Before  concluding  this  chapter  four  other  persons  ought  to  be 
briefly  mentioned,  inasmuch  as  they  have  assumed  or  acquired 
the  title  of  doctor. 


I 


PHYSICIANS   AND   DENTISTS.  730 


One  of  them  was  Dr.  Joseph  Belcher,  a  son  of  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Belcher,  of  Easton.  Doctor  Belcher  early  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Stoughton,  was  a  volunteer  in  the  French  and  Indian 
War,  and  gained  what  little  reputation  he  enjoyed  as  a  physician 
"  by  preparing  eye-water  and  a  medicine  for  rickets,  either  of  his 
own  invention  or  from  a  recipe  which  he  got  from  some  one 
else.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Israel  Guild,  continued  to  make  eye- 
water until  within  my  time."  ^ 

On  page  458  of  the  "  History  of  Bristol  County  "  the  statement 
is  made  that  James  L.  Perry,  son  of  Dr.  James  Perry,  was  a 
doctor  of  dental  surgery.  The  writer  can  discover  no  sufficient 
evidence  that  this  statement  is  true.  The  real  fact  is  that  James 
Leonard  Perry  was  what  would  now  be  designated  as  a  veteri- 
nary surgeon,  but  what  half  a  century  ago  was  plainly  called  a 
"horse  doctor."  He  kept  an  inn  on  the  Bay  road,  south  of 
Easton,  and  afterward  lived  in  Mansfield,  near  Easton,  at  both 
of  which  places  he  carried  on  his  business  with  success,  and 
gained  high  repute  in  his  art  for  many  miles  around.  He  was 
born  in  Easton,  March  9,  1802,  married  November  20,  1825, 
Phebe  N.  Hodges,  of  Norton,  who  died  April  18,  1848.  He  died 
March  8,  1 878. 

Washington  L.  Ames,  now  of  Bridgewater,  prefixes  to  his 
signature  the  title  of  doctor.  This  is  assumed  on  account  of  his 
having  practised  as  a  veterinary  surgeon.  Mr.  Ames,  the  son  of 
Jotham  and  Polly  (Lothrop)  Ames,  was  born  in  Easton,  July  20, 
18 1 2.  He  has  made  his  home  in  Bridgewater  for  many  years- 
There  is  one  other  native  of  Easton,  claiming  the  title  of 
doctor,  to  whom  we  ought  perhaps  at  least  to  allude  before  clos- 
ing this  chapter.  This  person  was  a  woman,  who  practised  one 
branch  of  medical  science,  but  whose  career  is  clouded  with 
infamy,  and  whom  it  will  be  better  to  leave  nameless. 

Residents  of  Easton  have  no  doubt  observed  that  the  writer  has 
maintained  a  judicious  silence  in  regard  to  more  than  one  person 
who  has  been  noticed  in  this  chapter.  Let  not  his  silence,  however, 
be  interpreted  as  indifference  concerning  the  gross  immoralities 
he  has  left  unmentioned,  for  such  things  cannot  be  thought  of  by 
any  true  man  or  woman  without  deep  sorrow  and  indignation. 

1  From  a  letter  of  Newton  Talbot,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  to  the  writer. 


740  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


LAWYERS. 

Edmund  Andrews.  —  James  P.  Barlow.  —  John  Augustus  Bolles. 

—  Daniel  F.  Buckley.  —  Charles  H.  Deans.  —  George  W.  Deans. 

—  Frederic  V.  Fuller.  —  Henry  J.  Fuller. —  Cyrus  Lothrop. — 
George  Van  Ness  Lothrop.  —  John  J.  O'Connell.  —  Jason 
Reed.  —  Edward  Selee.  —  Louis  C.  Southard.  —  Charles  L. 
Swan.  —  Daniel  Wheaton.  —  George  Wheaton.  —  Henry  G. 
Wheaton.  —  Guilford  White. 

THIS  chapter  will  give  some  account  of  the  lawyers  who  were 
native  to  or  have  practised  their  profession  in  Easton. 
They  are  mentioned  in  alphabetical  order. 

Edmund  Andrews  is  the  first  resident  of  Easton  who  is 
positively  known  to  have  practised  the  profession  of  the  law, 
being  the  attorney  chosen  by  the  Baptists  to  defend  their  cause 
when  several  of  them  were  arrested  and  imprisoned  in  1764  for 
refusing  to  pay  the  ministerial  rates  for  the  support  of  the  town 
church.  Edmund  was  a  son  of  Capt.  Edmund  Andrews,  of 
Taunton,  and  in  October,  1742,  he  married  Keziah  Dean  and 
moved  to  Norton,  where  he  resided  until  after  1746,  coming  to 
Easton  probably  not  long  after  1750,  He  saw  some  service  in 
the  French  and  Indian  War.  Mr.  Andrews  did  not  have  much 
legal  business,  but  turned  his  hand  to  farming  and  innkeeping, 
being  licensed  for  the  latter  from  1761  to  1773.  His  house  was 
on  what  is  now  Poquanticut  Avenue,  not  far  from  its  northern 
end.  His  name  is  found  on  the  tax-lists  for  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  the  town  until  1784,  when  it  no  longer  appears,  and  he 
must  then  have  died  or  moved  away,  —  probably  the  latter,  as 
no  record  of  his  death  appears,  and  none  of  his  family  were  left 
here. 


LAWYERS.  741 

James  P.  Barlow  was  born  in  Easton,  February  22,  1863, 
and  graduated  from  the  Easton  High  School  in  June,  1879. 
For  five  years  afterward  he  was  working  most  of  the  time  in 
shoe-shops  in  Brockton.  October  i,  1884,  he  entered  the  Boston 
University  Law  School,  from  which  he  graduated  June  2,  1886. 
He  took  the  Suffolk  Bar  examination  June  19  of  the  same  year, 
and  was  admitted  to  practise  law  July  20. 

John  Augustus  Bolles  was  a  resident  of  Easton  while  a 
member  of  Brown  University,  for  a  time  taught  school  in  the 
No.  2  schoolhouse,  and  in  1831  was  librarian  of  the  Methodist 
Social  Library.  He  was  the  eighth  child  ^  of  the  Rev.  Matthew 
and  Anna  (Hibbard)  Bolles;  was  born  in  Ashford,  now  Eastford, 
Connecticut,  April  16,  1809;  graduated  at  Brown  University, 
Providence,  Rhode  Island,  1829;  Master  of  Arts,  1832  ;  subse- 
quently made  LL.D. ;  admitted  to  the  Boston  Bar  in  1833;  Sec- 
retary of  State  of  Massachusetts,  1843  ;  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  ;  Commissioner  of  Boston  Harbor  and  Back  Bay, 
1852  ;  and  Judge-Advocate  Seventh  Army  Corps,  1862.  He  was 
on  the  stafifof  his  brother-in-law,  Maj.-Gen.  John  A.  Dix,  until  the 
close  of  the  Civil  War,  and  then  went  into  the  Navy  Department 
as  Judge-Advocate,  remaining  there  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred May  25,  1878.  Mr.  Bolles  was  the  author  of  a  prize  essay 
on  a  Congress  of  Nations,  published  by  the  American  Peace 
Society ;  of  an  essay  on  Usury  and  Usury  Laws,  published  by 
the  Boston  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  which  led  to  the  suspen- 
sion of  the  usury  laws  on  short  bills  of  exchange;  of  various 
articles  in  the  North  American  Review,  Christian  Examiner, 
Christian  Review,  New  England  Magazine,  and  other  periodicals, 
and  was  the  first  editor  of  the  Boston  Daily  Journal. 

November  11,  1834,  Mr.  Bolles  married  Catherine  Hartwell 
Dix,  daughter  of  Col.  Timothy  Dix,  of  Boscawen,  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  they  had  six  children,  one  of  whom,  Timothy  Dix,  is 
lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Navy,  and  another,  Frank,  is 
connected  with  Harvard  College, 

Daniel  F.  Buckley  was  born  in  Easton,  December  3,  1864, 
and  graduated  from  the  High  School  of  Easton  in  1881;  studied 

1  The  above  facts  were  kindly  furnished  the  writer  by  Matthew  Bolles,  Esq.,  of 
Boston,  brother  of  John  A.  Bolles. 


742  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

law  at  the  Boston  University  Law  School,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1885.  Mr.  Buckley  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar  at  Taunton,  April  30,  1886. 

Charles  Henry  Deans,  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  and  of  Hannah 
LeBaron  (Wheaton)  Deans,  was  born  in  Easton,  May  2,  1832. 
He  pursued  a  course  of  classical  study  in  the  Academy  in  New 
Hampton,  N.  H.,  for  four  years,  and  entered  in  1854  the  Sopho- 
more class  of  Brown  University,  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  At 
the  close  of  this  year  his  health  failed,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  college  without  graduating,  —  his  class  graduating  in  1857. 
Subsequently  to  leaving  college  he  studied  law  with  Samuel  B. 
Noyes,  Esq.,  and  with  Ellis  Ames,  Esq.,  of  Canton,  Mass.,  being 
admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Bristol  County  in  1858.  He  immediately 
opened  an  office  in  West  Medway,  where  he  has  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Deans  served 
the  Government  two  years  during  the  Civil  War  as  commissioner 
on  the  Board  of  Enrollment,  has  held  the  office  of  trial  justice 
for  twenty  years,  and  served  on  the  school  board  for  eighteen 
years,  being  still  a  member.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Med- 
way Savings  Bank,  being  one  of  its  original  petitioners  for  a 
charter,  and  for  fourteen  years  has  been  president  of  the  New 
England  Awl  and  Needle  Company,  a  position  he  still  holds. 
He  has  also  been  president  of  the  Evergreen  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation since  its  incorporation  in  1871.  November  21,  1861, 
Mr.  Deans  married  Mary  M.  Harris,  of  Westborough.  They 
have  had  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  The  eldest,  who 
is  their  only  son,  Harris  Wheaton  Deans,  is  now  in  business  at 
Jamaica  Plain. 

George  Wheaton  Deans,  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  and  Hannah 
LeBaron  (Wheaton)  Deans,  was  born  in  Easton,  May  29,  1827. 
He  was  two  years  in  Brown  University,  studied  law  in  the  Har- 
vard Law  School,  went  to  California  in  1849,  where  he  stayed 
about  four  years,  having  some  success  in  mining.  He  returned 
to  Taunton  about  1855  and  practised  law,  but  after  two  years 
went  into  the  hardware  business  in  Boston,  and  made  money. 
In  the  hard  times  beginning  in  1872  he  suffered  reverses,  and 
finally  abandoned  mercantile  pursuits  and  returned  to  his  profes- 


LAWYERS.  y.^ 

sion,  which  he  practised  in  Jacksonville,  Florida,  whither  he  went 
on  account  of  his  health.  George  W.  Deans  married,  January 
25,  1855,  Nancy  Shaw  Richards,  of  Dedham.  Of  their  three 
children,  one  alone,  George  DeWolf  Deans,  survives,  who  lives 
in  Boston. 

Frederic  V.  Fuller,  son  of  Henry  J.  and  Rebecca  (Vincent) 
Fuller,  was  born  in  Easton,  September  9,  1863.  He  studied  one 
year  at  Harvard  College,  and  then  left  it  to  enter  the  Law  School 
of  the  Boston  University,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1884.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  September  9,  1884,  the  day  he  became 
twenty-one  years  old.  Mr.  Fuller  is  associated  with  his  father 
in  the  practice  of  the  law  in  Taunton.  February  2,  1886,  he 
married  Ettie  C.  Strange,  of  Taunton. 

Henry  J.  Fuller,  son  of  Harrison  and  Mary  (Morse)  Fuller, 
was  born  in  Mansfield,  May  5,  1834.  He  fitted  for  college  at 
the  East  Greenwich  Academy,  entered  the  Wesleyan  University 
at  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1853,  and  graduated  with  one  of  the 
honors  of  the  class  in  1857.  He  had  intended  to  enter  the  min- 
istry, but  was  induced  by  his  room-mate  to  study  law  ;  spent 
some  time  in  the  law-office  of  Mr.  Hyde,  at  Worcester,  studied  a 
year  in  the  law  school  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  completed  his  stud- 
ies in  the  office  of  Ellis  Ames,  Esq.,  of  Canton.  Mr.  Fuller 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  April  10,  i860,  in  the  Supreme  Court 
at  Dedham.  At  the  urgent  request  of  Ellis  Ames  he  then  went 
to  Easton  to  assist  him  in  closing  up  some  cases  in  which 
Mr.  Ames  had  engaged  with  Edward  Selee,  who  had  practised 
law  here  a  short  time  and  had  just  died.  Mr.  Fuller  remained 
in  Easton  seven  years,  removing  to  Taunton  April  13,  1867, 
where  he  has  since  followed  his  profession.  Both  in  Easton 
and  Taunton  Mr.  Fuller  served  several  years  on  the  school 
board,  and  at  least  at  the  former  place  was  the  terror  of  back- 
ward scholars,  whose  intellects  under  his  close  questioning  were 
soon  put  to  hopeless  confusion.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
Public  Library  at  Taunton,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  city 
government  for  several  years,  but  has  held  no  other  important 
official  positions,  wisely  deeming  it  best  for  him  to  attend  strictly 
to  his  profession.     This  will  account  for  his  high  standing  therein 


744  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

and  the  excellent  success  he  has  secured.  Mr.  Fuller  is  a 
man  of  character  and  ability,  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Taunton. 

November  9,  1862,  Henry  J.  Fuller  was  married  to  Rebecca 
J.  Vincent,  of  Edgartovvn.  She  died  March  31,  1872.  He  has 
two  children,  both  sons,  and  natives  of  Easton ;  the  older  one 
has  just  been  spoken  of ;  the  younger  one,  Albert,  is  now  a 
senior  in  Harvard  College. 

Cyrus  Lothrop,  the  son  of  Edmund  and  of  Betty  (Howard) 
Lothrop,  was  born  in  Easton,  in  1789,  graduated  from  Brown 
University  in  18 10,  and  subsequently  graduated  from  the  Litch- 
field Law  School.  He  married,  probably  in  18 14,  Abby  W., 
daughter  of  Dea.  John  Seabury,  of  Taunton,  Mass.  She  was 
born  May  22,  1795,  and  died  in  her  native  town,  Nov.  22,  1851, 
a  lady  of  great  personal  excellence  and  worth. ^  Mr.  Lothrop 
was  a  lawyer  of  ability.  The  elaborate  and  eulogistic  inscription 
upon  his  tombstone,  however,  is  to  be  read  with  caution.  His 
death  was  the  result  of  an  accident  by  which  he  was  thrown 
from  his  carriage;  this  accident  occurred  in  Taunton,  May  21, 
1854. 

George  Van  Ness  Lothrop,  attorney-at-law,  Detroit,  son 
of  Howard  and  Sally  (Williams)  Lothrop,  was  born  in  Easton, 
August  8,  1817.^  His  early  years  were  spent  on  his  father's 
farm.  After  an  academical  course  he  entered  Brown  University, 
and  graduated  in  the  year  1838.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he 
entered  the  Law  School  of  Harvard  University,  then  in  charge 
of  Judge  Story  and  Professor  Greenleaf  In  the  summer  of  1839, 
being  somewhat  out  of  health,  Mr.  Lothrop  came  to  Prairie 
Ronde,  Kalamazoo  County,  Michigan,  where  his  brother,  the 
Hon.  Edwin  H.  Lothrop,  a  man  of  note  in  the  State  politics 
and  government  of  Michigan,  owned  and  cultivated  an  extensive 
and  productive  farm.  Here  intermitting  his  studies,  he  spent 
most  of  his  time  for  two  or  three  years  in  practical  farming,  and 
in  building  up  his  health. 

^  Lathrop  Family  Memoir,  p.  342. 

2  For  this  admirable  sketch  of  the  life  and  character  of  Mr.  Lothrop,  the  writer 
is  indebted  to  D.  Bethune  Dufi&eld,  Esq.,  of  Detroit,  Michigan. 


UK^^^ 


HELIOTYPE     PRINTING    CO.     BOSTON 


LAWYERS.  j.c 

In  the  spring  of  1843  Mr.  Lothrop  came  to  Detroit,  and 
resumed  the  study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of  Joy  &  Porter,  then 
prominent  members  of  the  Bar  of  that  city.  The  first  case  he 
ever  argued  was  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  prior 
to  his  admission  to  the  Bar,  special  leave  being  granted  by  the 
court  for  the  purpose.  It  was  the  celebrated  case  of  the  Michi- 
gan State  Bank  against  Hastings  and  others.^  So  ably  was 
the  case  presented  by  the  young  student,  that  the  members  of 
the  court  did  not  hesitate  openly  to  express  their  admiration 
of  the  effort,  and  to  predict  for  him  that  brilliant  career  which 
he  has  since  realized.  In  the  spring  of  1844  he  began  to  prac- 
tise in  Detroit  as  a  law  partner  of  D.  Bethune  Dufifield,  Esq., 
under  the  firm  name  of  Lothrop  &  Dufifield,  which  continued 
until  1856. 

In  April,  1848,  Mr.  Lothrop  was  appointed  attorney-general 
of  the  State,  —  the  former  attorney-general,  Hon.  Edward  Mun- 
day,  having  been  appointed  to  a  seat  on  the  Supreme  Bench 
of  the  State,  —  and  held  the  ofifice  until  January,  185 1.  Some 
excitement  occurring  about  this  time,  in  consequence  of  a  real 
or  supposed  purpose  on  the  part  of  the  Roman  Catholics  in 
Detroit  to  secure  a  portion  of  the  school  funds  for  the  benefit  of 
their  schools,  Mr.  Lothrop  enlisted  earnestly  in  a  popular  move- 
ment to  counteract  the  scheme.  An  independent  ticket  for  city 
officers  was  the  result,  and  he  became  the  nominee  for  recorder 
of  the  city,  being  triumphantly  elected  to  a  position  for  which 
he  certainly  could  have  no  personal  ambition.  Mr.  Lothrop  has 
two  or  three  times  received  the  vote  of  the  Democratic  members 
of  the  State  Legislature  for  United  States  Senator,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  of  1867,  the 
records  of  which  bear  abundant  evidence  of  his  position  and 
influence  in  that  body.  The  Legislature  of  1873  authorized  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  to  prepare  amendments  to  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  State  ;  and  the  Governor,  Hon.  John  J.  Bagley, 
looking  to  both  political  parties  for  members  of  the  commission, 
recognized  Mr.  Lothrop's  position  in  his  party  by  appointing  him 
to  a  seat  in  the  body.     This,  however,  was  respectfully  declined. 

For  twenty-five  years  Mr.  Lothrop  has  been  general  attorney 
of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company,  and  still  continues 

1  See  I  Douglass's  Michigan  Reports,  p.  225. 


746  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

to  be  their  adviser,  besides  being  also  a  trusted  adviser  of  many 
other  corporations.  He  is  essentially  a  man  of  work,  —  idleness 
is  unknown  to  him  ;  and  as  the  fruit  of  such  a  life  of  industry 
he  enjoys  a  moderately  large  fortune.  From  the  time  of  his 
entrance  upon  active  professional  life  (1844)  Mr.  Lothrop  has 
enjoyed  a  wide  celebrity  throughout  Michigan  as  a  lawyer, 
politician,  and  cultured,  courteous,  and  honorable  gentleman. 
His  legal  record  runs  through  the  entire  catalogue  of  Michigan 
Reports,  embracing  a  period  of  more  than  thirty-five  years. 

Mr.  Lothrop  very  early  became  a  representative  man  in  the 
Democratic  party  ;  and  had  that  party  remained  in  power,  a  seat 
in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  would  have  been  tendered 
him,  unsolicited.  Indeed,  he  has,  by  a  prevailing  sentiment, 
been  looked  upon  as  having  a  right  to  the  best  positions,  and 
has  been  the  standard  by  which  other  public  men  have  been 
measured  in  the  field  of  legal  learning,  eloquence,  and  general 
attainments.  No  man  in  the  State  is  his  superior  as  an  orator. 
He  possesses  a  peculiar  charm  of  voice  and  manner  ;  and  that 
which  with  some  advocates  would  in  the  energy  of  forensic 
appeal  seem  bitterness,  with  him  is  simple  earnestness.  A  true 
chivalry  seems  to  inspire  Mr.  Lothrop's  every  act.  Without 
ever  being  time-serving,  but  always  obeying  conviction  regard- 
less of  consequences,  he  yet  has  never  been  unpopular,  —  al- 
though this  species  of  valor  would  appear  to  be  fatal  to  most 
public  men.  If  ambitious,  ambition  has  been  his  servant,  not 
his  master.  A  change  of  political  profession  with  the  turn  of 
political  tide  would  have  secured  for  him  the  highest  honors  ; 
but  he  believed  in  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  Party,  and 
his  views  must  change  before  a  shred  of  his  political  gar- 
ment could  change.  Mr.  Lothrop  twice  led  the  forlorn  hope 
of  his  party  as  their  candidate  for  Congress  in  his  district, 
when  the  power  of  the  opposition  was  so  overwhelming  that 
defeat  was  a  foregone  conclusion.  He  led  the  Michigan  dele- 
gation at  the  Charleston  National  Convention,  in  i860;  and 
it  may  also  be  said  that  he  led  the  Douglas  sentiment  in 
that  body,  where  he  was  pitted  against  the  ablest  as  well  as 
the  most  inveterate  and  malignant  champions  of  that  political 
schism  which  was  the  first  really  audible  muttering  of  the 
storm    that  in  less  than  a  year    burst    upon    the   country.     In 


LAWYERS.  7.7 

that  emergency  Mr.  Lothrop  maintained  his  ground  with  a 
courage  and  constancy  that  would  have  suffered  martyrdom 
rather  than  yield  a  principle.  He  believed  that  a  vital  principle 
was  at  stake,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  characterize  the  disorgan- 
izing element  in  the  convention  as  the  premeditated  secession 
and  treason  which  it  subsequently  proved  to  be. 

Mr.  Lothrop  gave  a  cordial  support  to  all  just  and  necessary 
measures  of  the  Government  during  the  war,  but  not  to  those 
that  he  considered  unjust.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Vallandigham's 
arrest  Mr.  Lothrop  addressed  a  public  meeting  in  Detroit  in 
protest  against  it,  not  that  he  would  shield  Mr.  Vallandigham 
from  the  just  consequences  of  his  acts,  but  that  all  should  be 
done  according  to  law  and  not  in  defiance  of  it.  He  understood 
the  professional  bearing  of  the  case,  and  regarded  the  occasion 
as  seriously  imperilling  the  most  sacred  rights  if  a  citizen  could 
be  arrested  by  a  mere  military  order,  and  subjected  to  pains  and 
penalties  without  even  being  permitted  the  benefit  of  a  remedial 
writ.  Many  a  man  in  his  position  would  have  shrunk  from 
taking  this  stand  at  a  time  when  not  only  partisan  spirit  ran 
high,  but  when  to  oppose  the  popular  sentiment  was  deemed 
little  short  of  treason.  But  personal  considerations  were  prob- 
ably not  regarded  by  Mr.  Lothrop.  He  was  a  sentinel  on  the 
watch-tower  of  the  law  ;  the  law  was  everything,  —  he  was 
nothing  in  comparison. 

In  1885,  after  Mr.  Cleveland's  administration  came  into  power, 
Mr.  Lothrop  was  appointed  United  States  Minister  to  Russia, — 
a  position  which  his  ability  and  learning,  his  known  worth  of 
character  and  the  dignity  of  his  bearing,  qualify  him  to  fill  with 
exceptional  honor  to  the  country  he  represents.  He  now  resides 
at  St.  Petersburg  with  his  wife  and  daughters. 

May  13,  1847,  Mr.  Lothrop  married  Almira,  daughter  of  Gen- 
eral Oliver  and  Anna  (Chapin)  Strong  ;  they  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, —  George  Howard,  Charles  Bradley,  Henry  Brown,  Annie 
Strong,  Cyrus  Edwin,  and  Helen  Ames.  ■  Their  first  child,  George 
Howard,  died  in  infancy. 

John  J.  O'Connell  was  born  in  Easton,  October  2,  i860. 
In  September,  1875,  he  entered  the  college  of  St.  Sulpice,  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  a  preparatory  seminary  for  those  desiring  to  enter 


748  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

the  clerical  state.  Here  he  spent  three  years,  when  in  Septem- 
ber, 1878,  he  entered  Boston  College,  where  he  graduated  and 
received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  the  third  of  Easton's 
sons  to  receive  the  honor  from  the  same  institution  of  learning. 
In  October  of  the  same  year  he  began  to  read  law  at  the  Boston 
University  Law  School,  and  after  three  years  of  study  received 
a  diploma  from  that  institution  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar. 
He  was  admitted  to  practise  at  the  Bristol  County  Bar  in  June, 
1885,  June  19,  1886,  Mr.  O'Connell  received  an  appointment 
to  a  clerkship  in  the  Law  division  of  the  Treasury  department 
at  Washington. 

Jason  Reed,  son  of  the  Rev.  William  and  Olive  (Pool)  Reed, 
was  born  in  Easton,  October  14,  1794.  Evincing  a  taste  for 
study  quite  early,  his  father  began  fitting  him  for  college,  but 
was  interrupted  by  death,  after  which  Jason's  preparation  was 
completed  by  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  David  Gurney,  of  Middlebor- 
ough  ;  and  entering  Harvard  in  18 12  he  graduated  in  18 16.  Hav- 
ing chosen  the  law  for  a  profession,  he  began  a  course  of  study 
with  the  Hon.  William  Morton  Davis,  of  Plymouth,  Massachu- 
setts, completing  it  with  the  Hon.  Frederic  Allen,  of  Hallowell, 
Maine,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1820.  He  began  law- 
practice  in  Jefferson,  Maine,  soon  afterward,  but  the  climate 
proving  too  severe  for  his  health  he  removed  to  Lexington, 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  Reed  married.  May  19,  1824,  Nancy  Eliza- 
beth Coates,  of  Milton,  daughter  of  Ezra  Coates,  Esq.  His 
health  declining,  he  was  forced  to  engage  in  a  more  active  out- 
of-door  life  and  abandon  the  profession  which  he  loved.  In 
1836  he  went  to  Milton,  purchased  the  estate  of  his  late  father- 
in-law,  and  lived  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Reed 
held  several  offices  in  Milton,  —  was  town  clerk  for  over  thirty 
years,  and  town  treasurer  for  seventeen  years ;  was  a  member  of 
the  school  committee,  and  for  several  years  a  member  of  the 
Legislature.  He  was  also  for  many  years  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Milton  Unitarian  Society,  and  was  universally  loved 
and  respected  by  his  townsmen  as  a  man  of  unswerving  integ- 
rity and  kindly  courtesy.  Only  a  year  or  two  ago  in  his  memory 
they  named  a  road  cut  through  his  estate  the  "  Reedsdale  "  road. 
Mrs,  Reed  died  February  18,  1873.     Mr.  Reed  was  stricken  with 


LAWYERS.  74^ 

sickness  a  week  later,  and  died  July  13  following.     He  left  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth  Lyman  Reed,  who  now  resides  in  Milton. 

Edward  Selee,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Pierce)  Selee, 
was  born  in  Easton,  May  2,  1831.  Edward  taught  school  for 
some  time,  as  did  all  his  brothers  except  John.  He  entered 
Amherst  College,  but  did  not  remain  long  enough  to  graduate  ; 
studied  law  with  Ellis  Ames,  Esq.,  of  Canton,  and  was\dmitted 
to  the  Bar  in  the  spring  of  1859.  He  opened  a  law-ofifice  at 
North  Easton  village  and  continued  in  practice  here  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Selee  married  June  23,  i860,  Mary  L.  Hartwell. 
He  was  sick  with  typhoid  fever  at  the  time,  and  hopeless  of 
recovery ;  the  marriage  was  to  enable  her  to  inherit  his  prop- 
erty. He  died  five  days  afterward.  Mr.  Selee  was  spoken  of  as 
diligent,  hard-working,  and  likely  to  win  a  good  success  in  his 
profession.  The  inscription  upon  his  tombstone  reads :  "  He 
was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Bar,  with  a  strong  mind,  a  warm 
heart ;  and  was  a  true  friend." 

Louis  C.  Southard  was  born  in  Portland,  Maine,  April  i, 
1854;  studied  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Thomas 
and  Clarence  Hale  in  Portland,  and  was  in  the  class  of  1877  at 
the  Boston  University  Law  School,  but  was  prevented  by  a 
serious  illness  from  graduating  with  his  class.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Portland,  in  July, 
1877,  and  located  at  North  Easton  village  on  the  ist  day  of 
November  following.  Mr.  Southard  had  already  begun  law 
practice  in  Portland,  was  admitted  to  the  Massachusetts  Bar  in 
December,  and  remained  local  attorney  in  North  Easton  for  two 
years,  since  which  time  he  has  had  a  law-ofifice,  with  increasing 
business,  in  Boston.  June  i,  1881,  Mr.  Southard  married  Nellie, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lucy  Ann  (Keith)  Copeland. 

Charles  L.  Swan,  son  of  Dr.  Caleb  and  Louisa  S.  (Johnson) 
Swan,  was  born  in  Easton,  February  2,  1840.  He  entered  Har- 
vard College  in  1855,  and  graduated  in  1859  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  being  the  fifth  in  rank  in  a  class  of  one  hundred.  He 
studied  law  in  the  Harvard  Law  School,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1862,  taking  the  second  prize.     Continuing  his  studies 


750 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


in  the  office  of  Ellis  Ames,  Esq.,  he  finally  settled  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Stoughton,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  appointed  a  trial  justice  and  a  commissioner  of  insolvency. 
He  was  prominent  also  in  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  Swan 
died  November  29,  1865,  and  his  funeral  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Rev.  St.  John  Chambre  of  the  Universalist  Church  in 
Stoughton.  He  was  regarded  as  very  promising,  and  his  early 
death  was  much  lamented. 

Daniel  Wheaton  was  the  son  of  Dr.  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Morey)  Wheaton,  of  Norton,  where  he  was  born,  September  10, 
1767.  Dr.  George  was  the  son  of  Ephraim,  Jr.,  the  grandson 
of  Ephraim,  both  of  Swansea,  and  great-grandson  of  Robert 
Wheaton,  who  was  of  Rehoboth  as  early  as  1643.  Daniel 
Wheaton  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1791,  studied  law, 
and  moved  to  Easton  in  April,  1796,  locating  on  the  Bay  road 
near  where  his  son  Daniel  B.  Wheaton  now  lives.  He  practised 
law  throughout  his  life,  being  often  employed  by  the  town  in  its 
lawsuits,  which  were  frequent ;  but  he  seldom  held  any  town 
office.  Mr.  Wheaton  was  made  postmaster  January  27,  1801, 
and  held  that  position  over  forty  years.  He  married  Hannah 
LeBaron  Goodwin,  February  3,  1794,  and  had  six  children.  She 
died  July  31,  1831.  He  then  married  her  sister,  Mary  R.,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1832,  who  died  November  14,  1834.  November  13, 
1836,  he  married  Hannah  LeBaron,  who  died  December  6,  1852. 
Mr.  Wheaton  died  September  i,  1841,  the  date  on  the  tombstone, 
September  11,  being  incorrect. 

George  Wheaton  was  the  oldest  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah 
(Goodwin)  Wheaton,  and  was  born  in  Easton,  May  10,  1796. 
He  fitted  for  college  with  the  Rev.  David  Gurney,  of  Middle- 
borough,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1814;  studied 
law  in  the  Cambridge  Law  School,  and  practised  the  profession 
for  one  year  at  Uxbridge,  Massachusetts,  about  1822.  He  then 
removed  to  Taunton,  Massachusetts,  and  practised  there  until 
his  death,  or  about  three  years.  Mr.  Wheaton  married  Frances 
Willard,  of  Taunton.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  able  lawyer 
and  a  popular  man  ;  was  much  interested  in  military  matters, 
and   September  23,   1825,  was  appointed  major  of  the   Second 


LAWYERS.  yci 

Brigade,  Fifth  Division,  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Militia.     Mr. 
Wheaton  died  in  the  autumn  of  1826. 

Henry  G.  Wheaton,  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  (Goodwin) 
Wheaton,  was  born  in  Easton,  December  13,  1799;  fitted  for 
college  with  his  father,  and  graduated  from  Harvard  Univer- 
sity in  1820.  He  then  studied  law  with  William  Baylies,  Esq., 
of  West  Bridgewater,  and  subsequently  located  at  Albany,  New 
York,  where  he  practised  law  for  about  thirty  years.  Novem- 
ber 6,  1825,  he  married  Rachel  Lush,  of  Albany.  Later  in  life 
Mr.  Wheaton  removed  to  New  York  City.  His  death  was 
caused  by  an  accident  on  the  Harlem  Railroad,  August  26, 
1865.  Stepping  at  night  from  the  wrong  side  of  the  cars,  he 
was  struck  by  a  passing  train  and  instantly  killed.  His  neck 
was  broken,  although  no  sign  of  injury  appeared  on  his  body 
except  a  slight  bruise  on  one  shoulder. 

Guilford  White,  son  of  Alanson  and  Rebecca  (Billings) 
White,  was  born  in  Easton,  August  17,  1822.  He  attended  the 
North  Bridgewater  Academy  and  Mr.  Perkins's  school  in  the  old 
chapel  at  Easton  Centre.  In  January,  1857,  he  began  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  J.  H.  &  T.  L.  Wakefield  at  Boston  ;  was 
examined  for  admission  to  the  Bar  in  August,  1858,  by  PHny 
Merrick,  one  of  the  Supreme  Court  Judges,  and  was  admitted  in 
the  Supreme  Court  at  Boston,  in  September.  In  October,  1867, 
he  was  admitted  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  at  Boston, 
on  motion  of  George  S.  Hilliard,  then  United  States  District 
Attorney,  and  opened  an  office  in  Boston,  and  still  has  one 
there.  Mr.  White  married,  September  14,  1845,  Olivia  J.  Jack- 
son.   He  has  always  made  his  home  at  South  Easton. 


752  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

COLLEGE  GRADUATES. 

Frederick  L.  Ames.  —  Oliver  Ames,  2d.  —  Charles  R.  Ballard.  — 
Maitland  C.  Lamprey.  —  Edwin  Howard  Lothrop. — Commander 
George  F.  F.  Wilde. 

THIS  chapter  is  not  intended,  as  its  title  might  imply,  to 
give  a  sketch  of  all  the  college  graduates  of  Easton, 
inasmuch  as  many  of  them  have  already  been  spoken  of  in  pre- 
ceding chapters ;  it  will  merely  include  those  natives  or  citizens 
of  Easton  who  have  graduated  from  college,  and  have  not  devoted 
themselves  to  either  one  of  the  three  professions  of  divinity, 
medicine,  or  law. 

The  Hon.  Frederick  Lothrop  Ames,  son  of  Oliver  and  of 
Sarah  (Lothrop)  Ames,  was  born  in  Easton,  June  8,  1835.  He 
was  prepared  for  college  by  three  years'  study  at  Concord,  Mass., 
and  by  finishing  the  full  course  of  study  at  Phillips  Exeter  Acad- 
emy. He  entered  Harvard  University  as  Sophomore  in  185 1, 
and  graduated  in    1854. 

Mr.  Ames  soon  entered  business  life  not  only  as  a  member  of  the 
great  firm  of  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons,  but  also  on  his  own  account ; 
and  long  before  he  became  an  heir  to  a  portion  of  his  father's 
estate,  he  had  amassed  a  large  fortune  of  his  own  by  the  exercise 
of  extraordinary  business  abilities  that  leave  him  few  rivals  and 
perhaps  no  superiors  among  the  business  men  of  New  England. 
Oliver  and  Oakes,  his  father  and  uncle,  it  is  well  known,  had 
become  interested  in  great  railroad  enterprises,  notably  among 
them  being  the  Union  Pacific,  and  F.  L.  Ames  soon  engaged 
largely  in  such  interests  himself ;  and  although  he  has  organized 
and  carried  on  many  other  successful  enterprises,  he  is  best 
known  in  the  business  world  as  a  railroad  man.  His  extensive 
undertakings,  experience,  and  success    in  railroad   affairs  will 


COLLEGE   GRADUATES.  753 


account   for   the    fact   that   his    advice   and   co-operation   in   all 
such  matters  are  eagerly  sought  and  highly  valued. 

Mr.  Ames  is  vice-president  of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Com- 
pany and  the  Old  Colony  Steamship  Company  ;  he  is  also  a 
director  in  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company,  the  Union 
Pacific  Railway  Company,  the  Missouri  Pacific,  the  Texas  Pa- 
cific, the  Missouri,  Kansas,  and  Texas  Railroad  Companies,  and 
many  others.  In  1884,  in  the  United  States,  Canadian,  and 
Mexican  Directory  of  railroad  directors,  he  is  recorded  as  a 
director  in  fifty-two  different  railroad  companies,  and  he  has 
been  elected  to  similar  positions  since  that  time.  Although  he 
cannot,  of  course,  take  an  active  part  in  the  management  of  so 
many  railroads,  the  fact  that  he  is  thus  connected  with  them 
shows  the  recognized  weight  of  his  influence  and  the  strength 
of  his  name  in  this  direction.  All  this  is  too  well  known  to 
need  any  further  statement  here.  Mr.  Ames  is  also  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Easton,  and  of  the  North  Easton 
Savings  Bank,  and  also  of  the  Hoosac  Tunnel  Dock  and  Ele- 
vator Company.  It  is  not  desirable  here  to  extend  the  list  of 
the  numerous  official  positions  he  is  solicited  to  fill,  or  at  least 
to  allow  his  name  to  be  connected  with. 

Mr.  Ames  was  in  1872  a  member  of  the  State  senate,  and 
served  while  there  on  the  committees  on  manufactures  and  agri- 
culture. He  does  not  however  cherish  political  aspirations,  and 
his  tastes  disincline  him  to  seek  for  positions  that  will  bring  him 
into  public  notice. 

Mr  Ames's  judgment  is  clear,  cool,  and  sound,  unmoved  by 
mere  hope,  enthusiasm,  or  excitement  of  any  kind,  but  going 
straight  to  the  mark.  Neither  elated  by  success,  nor  depressed 
by  failure,  he  keeps  an  even  mind  amid  the  distractions  of  a 
crowded  business  life.  Finding  a  keen  delight  in  farming,  and 
especially  in  floriculture  and  the  cultivation  of  rare  plants,  mam- 
taining  also  a  decided  and  intelligent  interest  in  Hterary  matters, 
which  he  will  allow  no  pressure  of  business  to  prevent  him  from 
cultivating,  and  delighting  in  the  pleasures  and  blessings  of  a 
happy  home,  he  is  able  to  stand  as  firmly  under  the  burden  and 
to  bear  as  evenly  the  friction  of  great  business  affairs  as  any 
man.  He  combines  reserve  and  dignity  with  gentlemanly  cour- 
tesy ;  and  while  he  is  exceptionally  strong  in  his  convictions  and 


754  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

independent  in  his  character,  he  is  willing  others  shall  enjoy  their 
own  convictions  undisturbed  and  be  as  independent  as  himself. 

June  7,  i860,  Mr.  F.  L.  Ames  married  Rebecca  C,  daughter 
of  James  and  Nancy  Blair,  of  St.  Louis.  They  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  all  but  the  first-born  are  living.  He  and  his 
family  divide  the  year  between  their  home  on  the  corner  of 
Commonwealth  Avenue  and  Dartmouth  Street,  in  Boston,  and 
their  large  and  beautiful  place  at  North  Easton. 

Oliver  Ames,  2d,  son  of  Frederick  L.  and  Rebecca  C.  (Blair) 
Ames,  was  born  in  Easton,  October  21,  1864.  He  was  prepared 
for  college  at  the  Adams  Academy  at  Ouincy,  and  at  George 
W.  C.  Noble's  school  in  Boston,  entering  Harvard  University  in 
1882,  and  graduating  in  1886.  At  present,  and  before  entering 
upon  an  active  business  life,  he  is  enjoying  the  pleasure  and 
receiving  the  benefit  of  a  trip  round  the  world, — visiting  Japan, 
China,  India,  Egypt,  as  well  as  several  European  countries. 

Charles  R.  Ballard  was  born  in  Tinmouth,  Vermont,  in 
1827,  fitted  for  college  at  Castleton  (Vermont)  Seminary,  en- 
tered the  Universi'y  of  Vermont,  at  Burlington,  in  September, 
1850,  and  graduated  in  August,  1854.  He  taught  school  seven 
winter  terms  previous  to  graduation.  In  the  September  after 
graduation  Mr.  Ballard  began  teaching  as  assistant  principal 
in  Castleton  Seminary,  remaining  there  three  years.  He  was 
then  principal  for  ten  years  of  academies  in  Vermont  and  New 
York,  and  after  that  of  normal  and  high  schools  in  Vermont. 
While  in  charge  of  the  Woodstock  (Vermont)  High  School,  he 
received  and  accepted  an  invitation  to  take  charge  of  the  Eas- 
ton High  School,  coming  to  Easton  and  beginning  work  in  Sep- 
tember, 1 87 1.  For  six  years  he  did  faithful  and  successful  ser- 
vice in  the  High  School  here,  and  after  resigning  this  position 
he  engaged  for  about  three  years  in  teaching  private  pupils. 
March  15,  1880,  he  began  work  as  the  librarian  of  the  Ames 
Free  Library  of  Easton,  a  place  which  he  holds  at  the  present 
time. 

Maitland  C.  Lamprey,  son  of  Ephraim  and  Bridget  (Phelps) 
Lamprey,  was  born  in  Groton,  New  Hampshire,  September  30, 
1838.     His  boyhood  was  spent  in  hard  farm- work,  alternating 


COLLEGE   GRADUATES.  755 


with  short  terms  of  school  in  the  winter.     He  prepared  for  col- 
lege at  New  Hampton,  N.  H.,  and  entered  Dartmouth  College 
in  the  class  of    1863.     But  the  demands  of  the  country  being 
urgent,   Maitland  in   1862  enhsted    in    Company   D,   Sixteenth 
Regiment  of    New   Hampshire  Volunteers,  which  went  South 
with  General  Banks's  expedition,  and  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  River  on  the  last  day  of  1862.     This  regiment  par- 
ticipated in  the  dreary  and  exhausting  campaign  in  Louisiana, 
and  was  so  affected  by  the  poisonous  malaria  of  surrounding 
swamps  as  seldom  to  have  more  than  one  hundred  men  fit  for 
duty.     Mr.  Lamprey  was  at  the  engagement  at  Butte  a  la  Rose, 
and  was  with  his  regiment  at  the  siege  and  capture  of  Port 
Hudson.     Like  so  many  of  his  comrades,  he  was  attacked  with 
chills  and  fever,  and  this  was  followed,  after  the  capture  of  Port 
,  Hudson,  with  a  serious  form  of  dysentery.     After  a  week  of  this 
sickness,  which  greatly  reduced  him,  news  came  that  his  regiment 
was  ordered  North.      He  was  carried  on  board  the  steamboat 
with  what  seemed  a  slim  chance  of  reaching  home,  was  twice 
singled  out  at  Vicksburg  by  the  surgeons  to  be  left  behind,  but 
begged  for  the  privilege  of  being  taken  at  least  as  far  North  as 
Cairo.     The  surgeons  shrugged  their  shoulders  as  they  granted 
his  request.     For  weary,  painful  days  and  sleepless  nights,  kept 
up  by  force  of   will   and    the   hope  of   reaching   home   and   a 
mother's  care,  he  managed  at  last,  more  dead   than  alive,  to 
alight  at  the  railroad  station  in  Concord,  New  Hampshire,  then 
his  father's  residence. 

It  was  nearly  two  years  before  Mr.  Lamprey  recovered  his 
health  sufficiently  to  enable  him  to  undertake  any  serious  occu- 
pation. Though  intending  to  study  law  after  leaving  college, 
he  was  induced  to  open  a  private  school  while  on  a  visit  at 
Solon,  Ohio,  and  this  determined  his  future  caUing.  He  taught 
four  years  in  Iowa,  filled  for  a  time  the  Chair  of  languages  at 
the  Normal  School  in  Emporia,  Kansas,  was  principal  of  the 
Academy  in  South  Berwick,  Maine,  and  of  the  high  schools  of 
Ellsworth,  Maine,  and  Rochester,  New  Hampshire.  He  became 
principal  of  the  Easton  High  School  in  1877,  and  still  holds  the 
position,  doing  in  it  thorough  and  successful  work. 

Mr.  Lamprey  married,  July  12,  1869,  Abbie  C,  daughter  of 
Capt.  John  Davis,  of  Yarmouth,  Maine  ;  they  have  two  children. 


756  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

Edwin  Howard  Lothrop,  the  son  of  Howard  and  of  Sally 
(Williams)  Lothrop,  was  born  in  Easton,  March  22,  1806.  He 
graduated  at  Amherst  College  in  1828.  "  In  1830  he  went  into 
the  territory  of  Michigan  and  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land, 
on  which  he  settled.  He  married,  December  22,  1831,  Hannah 
R.,  daughter  of  the  Rev,  Benjamin  and  Mary  Taylor,  who  was  a 
native  of  Swansea,  Massachusetts.  He  removed  from  his  farm 
to  Three  Rivers,  Michigan,  in  1855,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Lothrop  was  considerably  employed  in  public  life, 
and  represented  his  town  in  the  State  Legislature,  in  which  in 
1844  he  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He 
was  also  President  of  the  State  Board  of  Internal  Improve- 
ments. Mr.  Lothrop  died  February  17,  1874."  ^  The  citizens 
of  Three  Rivers  turned  out  en  masse  at  his  funeral,  fifteen  hun- 
dred persons  being  estimated  as  in  the  procession  that  followed 
his  remains  to  the  grave. 

Commander  George  Francis  Faxon  Wilde,^  U.  S.  Navy, 
son  of  William  Reed  and  Mary  (Thayer)  Wilde,  was  born  in 
Braintree,  Massachusetts,  February  23,  1845.  After  preparation 
in  the  Hollis  Institute  and  High  School,  he  entered  the  U.  S. 
Naval  Academy,  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  November  30,  1861, 
having  won  the  cadetship  at  a  competitive  examination  of 
eighty  applicants.  At  the  semi-annual  examination  of  Febru- 
ary, 1862,  the  first  forty  in  this  class  were  selected  to  complete 
the  entire  four  years'  course  in  three  years,  in  order  the  sooner 
to  supply  the  great  demand  for  officers  in  the  Civil  War,  then  go- 
ing on.  Thirty-two  of  the  forty  succeeded  in  accomplishing  the 
difficult  task,  among  whom  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
graduated  in  November,  1864,  and  from  December  of  that  year 
until  February,  1865,  he  served  on  the  war  vessel  "New  Hamp- 
shire," and  for  the  rest  of  the  year  on  the  flag-ship  "  Susquehanna," 
in  the  Brazil  squadron.  He  was  on  the  "  Nipsic  "  during  most  of 
1866,  but  December  i,  1866,  was  promoted  to  be  Master  on  the 
steamer  "  Kearsarge,"  South  Pacific  station,  and  March  12,  1868, 
was  commissioned  lieutenant,  serving  on  the  flag-ship  "  Contoo- 

1  See  the  Lathrop  Family  Memoir,  pp.  358,  359,  where  further  details  are  given. 

2  Commander  Wilde  is  properly  included  in  this  list  of  college  graduates,  because 
the  Naval  Academy  curriculum  ranks  as  a  regular  University  course. 


COLLEGE    GRADUATES.  757 


cook"  during  that  year.  December  18,  1868,  Lieutenant  Wilde 
was  commissioned  lieutenant-commander,  and  was  on  duty  on 
the  United  States  Steamer  "Tennessee,"  from  1869  to  1871,  on 
special  service  connected  with  the  St.  Domingo  annexation 
scheme.  In  1872  he  was  on  the  flag-ship  "Wabash"  and  the 
steamer  "  Plymouth  ;"  commanded  the  iron-clad  "  Canonicus  "  in 
1873  and  1874;  was  at  Torpedo  station  1875,  and  at  the  Navy 
yard,  Boston,  1875  to  1877.  During  1878  Commander  Wilde 
was  Inspector  of  Ordnance  at  the  South  Boston  Iron  Com- 
pany's works,  superintending  the  constructing  of  rifled  cannon, 
and  afterward,  until  1881,  served  on  the  United  States  steamer 
"  Vandalia,"  twice  receiving  while  on  this  vessel  the  thanks  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  for  cool  and  courageous  conduct. 
From  1882  to  1885  he  was  Commandant  at  the  Key  West  naval 
station,  and  also  was  light-house  inspector  of  the  Seventh  Dis- 
trict.    September  25,  1885,  he  was  commissioned  Commander. 

November  26,  1886,  Commander  Wilde  received  the  high 
honor  of  being  appointed  to  the  finest  command  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy,  —  that  of  the  new  United  States  steamship  "Dolphin,"  a 
command  entirely  unsolicited  on  his  part.  The  "  Dolphin  "  is 
built  of  American  steel,  is  256  feet  in  extreme  length,  32  feet 
beam,  with  2,300  horse-power,  1,485  tons  displacement,  and  a 
speed  of  15  knots,  or  17-^Q  miles  per  hour.  She  has  collision 
bulk-heads,  and  properly  fitted  water-tight  compartments.  She 
is  the  fastest  vessel  in  the  navy,  has  every  modern  improvement, 
and  is  sumptuously  fitted  out.  Her  battery  is  one  six-inch 
breech-loading  rifle  cannon  in  pivot,  and  four  Ilotchkiss  can- 
non in  armored  towers.  The  bow  is  ram-shaped,  and  espe- 
cially strong.  In  battle  she  would  have  the  Admiral  and  Staff 
on  board,  as  it  is  considered  essential  that  the  commanding 
admiral  should  be  on  board  a  swift  vessel,  in  order  to  move  rap- 
idly from  one  part  of  his  fleet  to  another.  The  governing  con- 
dition in  the  design  of  the  "  Dolphin  "  has  been  the  attainment 
of  a  high  rate  of  speed  that  could  be  maintained  for  several 
days.  Commander  Wilde  and  his  vessel  are  every  way  worthy 
of  each  other. 

February  13,  1868,  Commander  Wilde  married  Emogen  B., 
daughter  of  Jason  G.  and  Martha  (Bartlett)  Howard.  Their 
only  child,  George  H.,  was  born  December  8,  1868.     He  was  an 


758 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


interesting  boy,  frank  and  generous  in  disposition,  and  full  of 
promise  ;  but  after  a  long  sickness,  borne  with  wonderful  pa- 
tience and  courage,  he  passed  away,  November  6,  1885,  to  the 
life  and  joy  of  another  world. 

Commander  Wilde  is  "  a  man  without  fear  and  without  re- 
proach," who  harmonizes  in  himself  the  soldier  and  the  gentle- 
man. Long  may  Easton  have  him  for  a  citizen,  and  our  country 
claim  him  as  one  of  her  defenders ! 


MISCELLANEOUS.  ^rg 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Railroads,  —  Newspapers.  —  The  Great  Flood  of  1886.— David 
Thompson,  Jr.,  the  one-armed  Soldier.  —  James  Adams  the  Poet. 
—  Jonathan  Lawrence  and  his  great  Expectations. —  Has  Eas- 
ton  an  Enoch  Arden  case?  — A  search  for  a  Slave-trader's 
Fortune.  — '-Old  Bunn."  — The  Devil's  Visit  to  Easton. — 
Witches  and  Witchcraft.  —  Bird-hunting.  —  Ear-marks.  — 
Singular  Death-records.  —  Conclusion. 

RAILROADS. 

THE  first  railroad  connection  with  Boston  enjoyed  by  Eas- 
ton people  was  by  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad, 
a  stage-coach  running  from  Easton  to  Canton,  where  the  cars 
were  taken.  Subsequently,  on  the  completion  of  the  Stoughton 
Branch  of  the  Boston  and  Providence  line,  the  stages  ran  from 
Easton  to  Stoughton  to  make  connection  with  the  cars.  Early 
in  1854  "  Oliver  Ames,  Oakes  Ames,  Howard  Lothrop,  and 
their  associates  and  successors  "  petitioned  the  Legislature  for 
leave  to  incorporate  a  railroad  company  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Easton  Branch  Railroad  Company."  March  3,  1854,  this  peti- 
tion was  approved  by  the  Governor  ;  work  was  at  once  begun 
on  the  new  road,  and  in  less  than  a  year  it  was  completed,  the 
first  passenger  train  arriving  at  North  Easton  May  16,  1855. 
The  next  morning,  when  the  train  first  started  on  its  return, 
the  rails  spread  and  the  engine  got  off  the  track.  After  it 
was  again  on  the  track.  Green  Hodsdon  the  conductor,  who 
was  much  disinclined  to  come  to  North  Easton  at  all,  said  to 
David  Standish  the  engineer,  "  Get  on  to  the  engine  David,  and 
we  '11  leave  this  place  to  once!'' 

In  1866  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Company,  which  had  pre- 
viously run  trains  to  Fall  River  and  Newport  only  by  the  line 
through  the  Bridgewaters,  built  a  new  road,  which  passed  through 
Stoughton,  Easton,  Taunton,  etc.,  and  has  become  the  main  line 


760  HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 

for  the  New  York  boat-express  trains.  The  first  passenger  train 
to  North  Easton  arrived  September  24,  1866.  This,  of  course, 
superseded  the  Easton  Branch  Railroad  Company,  although  the 
connection  with  Stoughton  by  the  old  line  is  still  maintained  for 
convenience  in  transporting  freight  to  connect  with  the  Boston 
and  Providence  Railroad. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

Easton  has  never  published  a  local  newspaper,  but  has  relied 
upon  Stoughton  to  keep  her  informed  as  to  what  was  passing 
within  her  borders.  The  first  time  the  name  of  the  town  figured 
in  a  newspaper  heading  was  December  10,  1864,  when  the  initial 
copy  of  the  "  North  Easton  Budget  "  was  issued  from  the  press 
of  Wood  &  Co.,  in  Stoughton.  Its  principal  contributor  was 
Jeremy  Lake,  who  wrote  in  an  easy  and  vivacious  style.  One 
of  the  local  items  of  this  first  issue  is  worth  quoting,  as  it  illus- 
trates a  phase  of  "  progress"  now  happily  extinct.  The  item  is 
as  follows  :  — 

"  Mrs.  Dr.  Cox,  who  proposed  giving  a  course  of  lectures  here  last 
week,  but  failed  for  want  of  hearers,  gave  cause  of  considerable  merri- 
ment by  promenading  the  streets  dressed  in  male  attire,  —  her  usual 
costume." 

The  "North  Easton  Budget"  continued  in  existence  about 
one  year  and  a  half. 

At  the  beginning  of  1872,  David  S.  Hasty,  a  young  man  of 
excellent  abilities  and  of  independent  character,  began  the  pub- 
lication of  the  "  Easton  Journal."  Mr.  Hasty  lived  in  North 
Easton  village,  but  published  the  paper  in  Stoughton,  conduct- 
ing it  successfully  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  24,  1877- 
Some  time  afterward  A.  P.  Smith  was  the  owner  and  proprietor. 
At  present  it  is  in  the  hands  of  L.  W.  Standish,  of  Stoughton. 

THE    GREAT    FLOOD    OF    FEBRUARY,    1886. 

Until  1886  it  had  hardly  entered  into  the  calculations  of  Eas- 
ton people  that  a  serious  flood  was  possible  in  their  town.  But 
on  the  evening  of  February  12,  after  hours  of  heavy  pouring  rains 
which  filled  the  ponds  to  overflowing,  considerable  anxiety  was 
felt  regarding  the  dam  at  Long  Pond.     The  flood-gate  had  been 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


761 


opened,  but  it  did  not  allow  an  escape  equal  to  the  increase  of 
water  in  the  Pond  ;  and  after  eleven  o'clock  at  night  it  was  found 
that  the  water  was  not  only  flowing  over  the  dam,  but  eating  out 
channels  that  threatened  swift  destruction  to  the  whole  structure. 
If  that  dam  had  given  way  and  the  whole  body  of  water  been 
let  loose  at  once,  the  mischief  would  have  been  most  serious. 
It  would  have  swept  the  lower  dams  away,  would  have  swiftly 
washed  out  Main  Street  near  the  store,  and  perhaps  near  the  sta- 
ble, would  have  floated  off  the  store,  probably  have  undermined 
the  Hammer  Shop,  and  have  swept  "  the  Island "  clear  of 
dwellings.  Though  the  torrent  might  have  previously  divided 
near  Long  Pond,  and  a  portion  of  it  gone  by  William  King's, 
the  streams  would  all  have  united  at  the  Red  Factory,  taking 
away  the  buildings  near  there,  carrying  the  Morse  and  Dean 
Factories  away  at  South  Easton,  and  then  rushing  on  its  work  of 
destruction  through  West  Bridgewater,  Bridgewater,  and  lower 
down  the  stream.  Under  the  circumstances,  therefore,  it  was  of 
incalculable  importance  to  prevent  the  dam  from  breaking  away. 
Oakes  A.  Ames,  who  was  on  the  ground,  ordered  an  alarm.  The 
shop-bell  was  rung  ;  men  were  aroused,  to  the  number  of  fifty  or 
sixty  ;  several  loads  of  hay  were  carted  to  the  spot  from  the 
Ames  barn,  and  then  in  a  pouring  rain  began  the  fight  to  save 
the  dam.  The  hay  was  thrown  into  the  channels  which  the 
water  was  rapidly  cutting  out,  and  stones,  earth,  ashes,  and  other 
materials  were  heaped  upon  it,  until  after  several  hours  of  the 
hardest  work  the  streams  were  stopped  and  the  dam  was  made 
secure.  But  there  was  a  large  overflow  of  water  notwithstanding, 
and  a  part  of  it  cut  across  Canton  Street  above  Picker  lane,  and 
down  through  Edwin  Russell's  land  into  William  King's  brook, 
causing  a  very  bad  railroad  wash-out  a  few  rods  above  Elm  Street 
crossing.  The  various  streams  met  again  in  Stone's  Pond,  and 
poured  thence  in  a  flood  over  Main  Street  by  the  Red  Factory, 
washing  it  out  so  as  to  render  it  impassable  to  vehicles.  The 
upper  end  of  the  arch  of  F.  L.  Ames's  stone  bridge  was  under- 
mined. Mr.  Morse's  bridge  at  South  Easton  was  carried  away, 
houses  were  flooded  there,  and  the  road  between  Mr.  Morse's 
and  Mr.  Dean's  made  impassable.  On  the  Turnpike  there  was 
a  wash-out  of  about  thirty  feet  in  width  and  over  ten  in  depth, 
this  being  the  most  serious  damage  inflicted  at  any  one  place. 


762  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

On  Saturday  and  Saturday  night  great  anxiety  was  felt  lest 
Leach's  reservoir  at  the  Furnace  Village  should  give  way ;  but 
the  same  preventive  measures  were  taken  that  had  been  success- 
ful at  North  Easton,  and  the  reservoir  was  saved.  Great  damage 
was  however  done  the  road  by  the  overflow,  which  washed  it  out 
and  made  it  impassable  to  teams.  The  dam  at  the  old  Pond  at 
Drake's  foundry  had  already  given  way,  causing  much  damage. 
All  over  the  town  roads  were  overflowed,  bridges  washed  away, 
small  rills  became  rivers,  and  little  pools  became  broad  lakes. 
In  North  Easton  half  the  cellars  were  flooded,  some  of  them 
having  three  or  four  feet  depth  of  water  in  them.  The  damage 
to  the  public  highways  and  bridges  was  estimated  at  not  less 
than  three  thousand  dollars.  There  was  a  serious  wash-out  not 
only  just  above  Elm  Street  on  the  railroad,  but  also  near  the 
railroad  bridge  above  the  town,  and  no  train  ran  between  Easton 
and  Boston  from  Friday  night  until  the  following  Wednesday. 
It  was  an  occasion  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  the  town. 
About  seven  inches  of  water  fell,  the  melting  of  the  snow  add- 
ing three  inches  more  ;  as  the  ground  was  frozen  it  could 
not  soak  away,  but  gathered  rapidly  into  powerful  streams.  It 
is  noteworthy  that  on  Saturday  morning  song  sparrows  were 
abundant,  and  bluebirds  and  robins  were  seen.  The  sweet 
notes  of  the  song  sparrow  seemed  a  prophecy  of  swift-coming 
spring,  —  a  prophecy  soon  proved  false,  for  not  long  afterward 
came  four  days  of  steady  and  powerful  northwest  gales,  intensely 
cold,  being  the  most  inclement  weather  known  for  years. 

DAVID    THOMPSON,    JR.,    THE    ONE-ARMED    SOLDIER. 

The  following  interesting  obituary  of  an  old  resident  of  Eas- 
ton is  presented  to  the  reader,  not  only  on  account  of  the  inter- 
esting information  it  gives  concerning  him,  but  also  because  of 
its  romantic  story  concerning  his  grandmother.  This  obituary 
was  written  by  Isaac  Stearns,  of  Mansfield,  and  printed  for  dis- 
tribution :  — 

"  Died  in  Easton,  Mass.,  on  the  5th  of  August,  1836,  Mr.  David 
Thompson,  aged  98  years,  6  months,  and  22  days.  Mr.  Thompson 
during  his  long  life  was  much  respected.  He  belonged  to  the  Con- 
gregational Church  and  Society  at  the  time  of  his  death,  having  been 


MISCELLANEOUS.  ^g, 


a  communicant  forty-four  years.     He  left  at  his  death  six  children 
thirty-eight  grandchildren,  and  one  hundred  great-grandchildren. 

Mr.  Thompson  at  the  age  of  sixteen  enlisted  in  the  old  French 
War,  and  lost  his  left  arm  by  a  bomb  in  the  storming  of  Fort  Henry  by 
the  French  in  1757.  He  received  a  pension  until  his  decease,  and  was 
the  last  surviving  pensioner  who  took  part  in  that  war. 

His  grandmother,  Mrs.  Mary  Houghton,  was  one  of  the  three  whose 
lives  were  saved  at  the  sinking  of  Port  Royal  in  Jamaica  by  an  earth- 
quake in  June,  1692.  She  heard  and  felt  the  shock,  and  rushed  to 
the  door.  As  the  place  sunk  in  the  water  she  clung  to  the  sill  of  the 
house,  which  separated  from  the  building.  She  remained  in  the  water 
three  days  and  three  nights,  when  a  vessel  passed  near  her  and  she 
was  taken  on  board.  Her  trunk  of  clothing  floated  near  her  and  was 
also  saved.^ 

She  afterwards  lived  at  a  public  house  in  Dorchester,  and  waited 
upon  guests.  Several  years  had  elapsed  since  the  occurrence  of  the 
earthquake,  when  her  husband  entered  the  house  in  which  she  re- 
sided to  obtain  lodgings  for  the  night ;  they  immediately  recognized 
each  other,  and  the  surprise  was  so  great  that  Mary  fainted.  The  hus- 
band supposed  she  had  perished  at  the  time  of  the  earthquake,  and 
she  believed  he  was  lost  at  sea,  he  being  absent  on  a  voyage  at  the 
time  of  the  disaster. 

She  died  in  1768  at  the  advanced  age  of  105." 

David  Thompson,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  the  above  obituary,  was 
the  oldest  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Blackman)  Thompson,  of 
Stoughton,  where  he  was  born  January  14,  1738.  The  fact  of 
his  being  in  the  French  and  Indian  War  has  been  mentioned. 
He  became  a  pensioner  January  25,  1758,  as  he  himself  states 
in  a  petition  for  an  increase  of  pension  made  in  I'JJJ?  The 
writer  has  found  several  such  petitions  presented  by  Mr.  Thomp- 
son for  the  same  purpose,  on  account  of  the  continued  deprecia- 
tion of  the  currency.^     April  7,  1760,  David  Thompson  married 

1  This  narrative  appears  to  be  intended  as  a  sober  statement  of  facts  ;  yet  one 
knows  not  which  most  to  wonder  at,  —  the  readiness  with  which  the  door-sill  de- 
tached itself  from  the  house  to  serve  for  a  raft,  the  accommodating  disposition  of  the 
trunk,  apparently  packed  for  the  occasion,  in  floating  so  conveniently  near  as  to  be 
ready  for  an  emergency,  or  the  unparalleled  endurance  of  the  woman  who  could  live 
three  days  and  three  nights  in  the  deep  upon  a  door-sill  ! 

2  State  Archives,  vol.  clxxxii.  p.  93. 

8  Ibid.,  vol.  clxxx.  p.  99,  vol.  ccxvii.  p.  134,  vol.  ccxxiii.  p.  351,  vol.  ccxxix. 
p.  379,  etc. 


764  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

Sarah  Osgood,  of  Stoughton,  with  whom  he  had  seven  children, 
several  daughters  marrying  in  Easton.  He  bought  land  in 
Easton  in  1783  and  soon  moved  here,  although  his  name  does 
not  appear  on  the  town  tax-lists  before  1786.  His  house  was  on 
Mill  Street,  on  the  line  separating  Easton  and  Mansfield. 

JAMES    ADAMS    THE    POET. 

One  of  Easton's  marked  and  eccentric  characters  was  James 
Adams  the  poet.  By  trade  a  blacksmith,  he  was  for  many  years 
employed  in  the  Ames  Shovel  Works,  being  a  skilful  workman 
and  very  ingenious,  making  several  improvements  in  machin- 
ery. His  was  a  keen  and  vigorous  mind.  In  a  debating  society, 
of  which  Dr.  Caleb  Swan,  Oliver  Ames,  Jr.,  Joseph  Barrows,  and 
others  were  active  members,  Mr.  Adams  was  a  ready  debater. 
He  was  best  known  however  for  his  poetical  gifts,  for  he  was 
more  than  an  ingenious  and  prolific  rhymester,  —  he  was  a  poet 
of  real  merit.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  his  nature  was  not  of 
a  higher  grade,  otherwise  he  might  have  produced  some  poems 
that  would  have  deserved  to  live.  But  he  seldom  attempted  any- 
thing higher  than  personal  satire  ;  his  lampoons  were  witty,  but 
sarcastic  and  even  abusive.  Reference  has  already  been  made 
in  the  note  on  page  351  of  this  History  to  the  satirical  poem 
which  took  for  its  subject  the  exciting  church  controversy,  be- 
ginning in  1832.  It  was  printed  in  January,  1835,  but  its  per- 
sonal character  makes  it  unfair  to  reproduce  it  here  ;  three 
stanzas  not  thus  personal  may  however  be  given  to  show  its 
style  and  spirit :  — 

"  This  sacred  truth  they  've  all  denied, 
That  God  begat  Himself,  then  died 
All  men  to  rescue  from  the  tide 

Of  God's  fierce  wrath  : 
And  will  with  Nick  at  last  divide. 

And  scarce  get  half. 

"  How  God,  by  absolute  decree, 
Foredoom'd  that  all  should  damned  be 
In  Hell  to  all  eternity,  — 

Their  righteous  due  ; 
And  us  ordained  joint  heirs  to  be 

A  chosen  few. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


765 


"  When  sweeping  vengeance  from  above, 
Cloth'd  with  vindictive  wrath  and  love, 
Shall  o'er  a  cursed  creation  move 

With  vengeful  ire, 
You  then  your  heresies  may  prove 

'  Mid  flames  of  fire." 

The  severest  lampoon  that  James  Adams  wrote  was  entitled 
"  Our  Hero  :  a  Descriptive  Poem,"  —  the  subject  of  it  being  Col. 
John  Torrey.  It  is  published  in  a  pamphlet  seven  inches  long, 
contains  over  sixteen  pages  of  forty-six  lines  each,  and  is  not 
merely  satirical,  but  derisive  and  scathing.  It  has  considerable 
poetic  merit,  but  cannot  be  quoted  here  without  manifest  im- 
propriety. It  is  matter  of  sad  regret  that  talents  of  so  high 
an  order  as  our  poet  possessed  could  not  have  been  inspired  by 
a  better  spirit  and  devoted  to  nobler  ends.  Mr.  Adams  followed 
the  ruinous  path  of  many  a  bright  genius,  becoming  a  victim  of 
that  ruthless  destroyer  that  respects  nothing  human  or  divine, — 
the  drinking  habit.  This  kept  him  poor,  dulled  his  wits,  and  de- 
graded his  character.  His  latter  days  found  him  travelling 
about  the  vicinity  as  a  clock-tinker,  making  his  home  at  the 
Almshouse,  where  he  died  May  11,  1883,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years  and  eleven  months. 

JONATHAN    LAWRENCE,  AND    HIS    GREAT    EXPECTATIONS. 

Many  readers  of  this  History  have  heard  of  the  celebrated 
Lawrence  Townley  and  Chase  Townley  Estate  case,  which  has 
excited  great  interest  in  this  country  and  in  England,  —  the  Law- 
rences and  the  Chases  both  claiming  to  be  descendants  of  Mary 
Townley,  who  became  heiress  to  a  vast  and  still  unsettled  estate 
in  England.  From  a  "  History  of  the  Lawrence  Townley  and 
Chase  Townley  Estates  and  Families,"  and  from  other  sources, 
the  following  statements  have  been  derived  :  — 

1.  Mary  Townley  married  John  Lawrence  and  emigrated  to 
America,  and  had  but  one  son,  Jonathan. 

2.  Jonathan  married,  1738,  Hannah  Robbins,  of  Walpole,  and 
they  had  two  sons,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  and  William,  —  Jonathan,  Sr., 
being  by  English  law  heir  to  his  mother's  estate. 

3.  Jonathan,  Jr.,  "  married  Rachel  Smith  of  Easton,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1762.     This  fact  is  proved  by  the  town  records  of 


766  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

Easton   and    by    ofificial    documents    in    the   possession    of    the 
present  Jasiel  Lawrence." 

4.  This  Jonathan  Lawrence,  Jr.,  and  Rachel  his  wife  had  two 
sons,  one  of  whom,  Jasiel,  was  born  in  Easton,  in  1772,  and  died 
in  Durhamville,  New  York,  in  1842. 

5.  Jasiel  left  a  Jasiel,  Jr.,  born  September  30,  1808,  oldest  sur- 
viving son  and  heir  to  the  estate. 

In  reference  to  these  statements  the  writer  presents  all  the 
facts  he  can  discover  after  careful  examination  of  the  town  books 
and  other  documents. 

1.  There  is  nothing  in  the  town  records,  notwithstanding  the 
positive  assertion  to  the  contrary  quoted  above,  to  show  that 
Jonathan  Lawrence  married  Rachel  Smith,  of  Easton,  in  1762. 
Bridgewater  records  show  that  Jonathan  Lawrence  married 
Rachel  Smith  in  Bridgewater,  May  22,  1765.  Easton  had  a 
Rachel  Smith  at  this  time  ;  she  was  daughter  of  Benaijah.  But 
on  the  Bridgewater  records  the  Rachel  spoken  of  is  not  called 
"of  Easton  ;"  and  Easton's  Rachel,  November  11,  1767,  married 
Jonah  Drake. 

2.  There  is  no  record  of  the  birth  of  Jasiel  Lawrence  on  the 
town  books  of  Easton,  though  this  omission  is  no  proof  that 
he  was  not  born  in  town,  as  omissions  of  birth  records  were 
then  very  common. 

3.  In  the  first  treasurer's  book  of  Easton  a  "  Mr.  Larrence  " 
is  alluded  to  as  follows :  "June  3d.,  1762.  —  Paid  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Kinsley  as  Adminst'r  of  the  Estate  of  Mr.  Larrence  Disceased, 
for  what  he  was  over  Rated  in  yr  1757,  in  full,  the  sume  of  Js. 
^dy  This  was  not  Jonathan  Lawrence,  Jr.,  who  appears  in  town 
later.  No  Lawrence  appears  upon  the  list  of  persons  in  town 
liable  to  do  military  duty  in  1757.  This  would  suggest  the  prob- 
ability that  the  Lawrence  whose  estate  was  settled  was  Jona- 
than, Sr.,  who  may  have  been  too  old  for  military  service ;  the 
date  of  his  birth  however  does  not  seem  to  be  given  in  the 
statements  first  quoted. 

4.  Jonathan  Lawrence  is  on  the  valuation  list  of  Easton  for 
1 771,  and  he  seems  to  be  quite  poor,  owning  only  one  cow  and 
six  sheep. 

5.  In  the  second  volume  of  the  town  records,  page  100,  we 
have  the  following,  under  date  of  October  9,   1775  :  "Voted  to 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


767 


Thomas  Manley,  Jr.,  six  shillings  and  six  Pence,  one  farthing,  for 
Jonathan  Lawrance's  Rates  which  he  could  not  collect." 

Easton  records  furnish  no  further  information  relative  to  the 
supposed  heir  of  the  Townley  estates,  and  such  information  as  is 
here  furnished  is  not  likely  either  to  make  the  Lawrences  very 
jubilant  or  the  rival  aspirants  for  this  vast  fortune,  the  Chases, 
very  despondent. 

HAS    EASTON    AN    ENOCH    ARDEN    CASE  } 

On  page  1 1  of  the  book  written  concerning  the  "  Townley  and 
Chase  Townley  Estates  and  Families,"  already  referred  to,  may 
be  found  the  following  interesting  narrative  :  — 

"  Among  the  romantic  incidents  connected  with  the  family  efforts  to 
reach  the  estate  now  in  question  is  the  following:  In  1774  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Jr.,  grandson  of  John  and  Mary  Lawrence,  then  a  man  of 
thirty-five,  reared  like  his  father  in  the  rough  ways  of  a  sailor  and 
rover,  conceived  it  necessary  to  go  to  England  to  secure  his  rights  by 
proving  his  loyalty.  He  was  a  British  subject,  and  pardy  from  dread 
of  the  Revolution,  as  well  as  with  a  certain  undefined  notion  of  his  in- 
heritance, for  which  he  was  in  the  main  indifferent,  he  left  Nova  Scotia, 
brought  his  wdfe  and  her  two  sons  to  her  Massachusetts  home  [mean- 
ing Easton],  and  set  sail  for  England,  but  was  shipwrecked  and  reported 
to  have  been  lost  at  sea.  He  was  however  picked  up  by  a  vessel 
bound  for  the  East  Indies  and  carried  to  its  destination.  It  was  three 
years  later  when  he  reached  England,  and  in  his  sailor-like  listless- 
ness  —  especially  while  the  war  was  in  active  progress  —  he  seems 
to  have  made  no  eifort  to  communicate  with  the  family  in  America. 
Upon  the  declaration  of  peace,  however,  he  determined  to  return  to 
America  to  look  after  them.  On  his  arrival  he  learned  that  his  wife, 
supposing  him  to  have  been  lost  at  sea,  had  married  again,  and  had  re- 
moved to  the  western  part  of  the  State,  having  children  by  this  second 
husband  ;  and  without  communicating  with  her  he  returned  by  the  same 
ship  which  had  brought  him  over,  succeeding,  however,  in  gaining  pos- 
session of  his  youngest  son,  whom  he  now  took  with  him." 

This  is  very  romantic  and  interesting,  and  the  writer  is  pained 
to  throw  any  discredit  upon  so  good  a  story.  But  if  its  author 
were  at  hand,  he  would  ask  him  how  this  roving  sailor,  Jonathan, 
could  have  been  so  wonderfully  far-sighted  as  to  anticipate  the 


768  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

Revolutionary  War  over  four  years  before  it  broke  out ;  for  by 
the  author's  own  previous  statement  this  return  of  Jonathan 
to  bring  "his  wife  and  her  two  sons  to  her  Massachusetts  home" 
must  have  occurred  prior  to  1771,  since  at  that  date  he  had 
moved  from  Nova  Scotia  and  become  a  resident  of  Easton,  as 
the  town  valuation  shows.  Moreover,  as  Jasiel,  the  second  son, 
is  not  born  until  1772  according  to  our  author,  and  is  then  born 
in  Easton,  Jonathan  could  only  be  spoken  of  in  a  prophetic 
sense  as  coming  with  "  his  two  sons  "  from  Nova  Scotia.  And 
furthermore,  why  is  it  that  the  marriage  of  Mrs.  Lawrence,  above 
asserted,  does  not  appear  upon  the  records  of  Easton,  after  the 
departure  of  her  husband  ?  —  for  the  marriage  records,  unlike 
the  town  birth  and  death  lists,  are  very  complete.  How  is  it, 
indeed,  that  Jonathan  is  able  to  take  his  youngest  son  from 
home  "  without  communicating  with"  the  boy's  mother  .-^  It  is 
exceedingly  interesting  also  to  note,  that  in  order  to  make  the 
claim  of  Jasiel,  Jr.,  to  the  great  Townley  estates  perfectly  valid, 
Libbeus,  Jasiel  Sr.'s  older  and  only  brother,  and  John  A.,  the 
only  son  of  Libbeus,  kindly  take  themselves  out  of  the  way, 
having  no  longer  an  interest  in  any  title  except  that  "to  man- 
sions in  the  skies." 

A    SEARCH    FOR    A    SLAVE-TRADEr's    FORTUNE. 

On  the  second  day  of  May,  1766,  Isaac  Phillips,  a  son  of 
Dea.  Ebenezer  Phillips,  was  born  in  Easton.  March  15,  1786, 
he  married  Rachel  Hayden.  They  had  one  child,  but  finally 
separated.  It  is  said  that  about  181 3  he  went  South,  engaged 
in  the  slave-trade,  acquired  a  fortune,  gaining  an  estate  and 
having  a  large  deposit  of  money  in  the  Manhattan  Bank  in 
New  York  City,  and  died  about  1834,  leaving  no  family  to  inherit 
his  property.  In  1871  the  relatives  of  Isaac  Phillips  living  in 
Easton  and  elsewhere,  hearing  of  these  facts  or  supposed  facts, 
made  strenuous  exertions  to  obtain  further  information  in  the 
hope  of  getting  possession  of  the  property  left.  They  were  able 
to  learn  from  an  official  in  St,  Stephens,  the  county-seat  of 
Washington  County,  Alabama,  that  an  Isaac  Phillips  from  the 
North  had  lived  in  that  county  and  died  there  about  1834,  leav- 
ing an  estate  which  was  held  by  a  person  who  was  thought  to 
have  a  very  imperfect   title  or   right    to    it.      Application    was 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


769 


made  to  the  Surrogate  Court  at  New  York  for  authority  to 
oblige  the  Manhattan  Bank  to  disclose  any  facts  relative  to  a 
deposit  of  money  there  by  Isaac  Phillips  ;  but  the  Judge  of  the 
Surrogate  decided  that  this  could  not  be  done  until  those  mak- 
ing the  demand  should  furnish  information  of  the  time  and  place 
of  death  of  said  Phillips.  This  they  had  no  means  of  doing,  and 
nothing  further  was  done  about  the  matter. 

While  these  proceedings  were  going  on,  it  was  thought  desira- 
ble to  get  the  authentic  record  of  the  birth  of  Isaac  Phillips  and 
also  of  his  family  connections,  whose  descendants  might  claim 
some  share  in  the  fortune  that  was  supposed  to  have  been  left. 
Then  the  question  arose  as  to  where  was  the  old  family  Bible. 
Deacon  Phillips,  pious  Baptist  that  he  was,  was  sure  to  have  had 
one,  and  to  have  made  a  careful  family  record.  It  was  remem- 
bered that  his  son  Jacob  had  inherited  this  Bible  ;  that  Jacob 
fell  from  a  load  of  hay  July  17,  18 12,  and  broke  his  neck  ;  that 
his  widow  was  dead,  and  the  Bible  had  descended  to  the  daugh- 
ter Susanna,  who  was  second  wife  of  Mr.  Macy  Randall,  and 
who  died  June  4,  1866.  It  was  remembered  also  that  at  her 
earnest  request  this  family  Bible  had  been  laid  under  her  head 
in  her  coffin  and  buried  with  her  in  the  Washington  Street 
cemetery.  Permission  to  open  the  grave  was  applied  for  and 
obtained  of  the  selectmen.  The  grave  was  opened  and  the 
Bible  removed,  whch  was  found  somewhat,  but  not  seriously, 
decayed.  The  birth  and  death  records  were  thus  obtained  ;  and 
the  Bible  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Lewis  Randall. 

No  progress  has  been  made  toward  recovering  the  fortune 
supposed  to  have  been  left  by  the  slaveholding  Isaac  Phillips. 
The  statements  made  are  however  sufficiently  probable  and 
well  authenticated  to  warrant  further  investment  in  the  attempt 
to  regain  it.  The  story  is  interesting,  and  when  first  given  to 
the  papers  by  D.  C.  Lillie,  of  Easton,  it  excited  much  comment 
and  inquiry. 

"old  bunn." 

Few  persons  have  left  a  more  marked  impress  upon  the 
traditions  of  Easton  than  the  singular  character  whom  our 
fathers  called  Old  Bunn.  Probably  no  one  was  known  by  more 
various  names.     The  first  documentary  reference  to  him  is  in 

49 


770 


HISTORY    OF   EASTON. 


the  warrant  ^  warning  him  out  of  town.  This  warrant  begins  as 
follows  :  "  Whereas  Benjamin  Brewer,  also  called  Eddy  Benna- 
wine,  and  his  wife  Thankful,  and  their  two  sons  Oliver  and 
Benjamin,  whose  last  place  of  residence  was  Raynham,"  etc. 
This  warrant  shows  that  he  was  a  contribution  to  Easton  from 
Raynham,  and  it  also  gives  the  exact  date  of  his  coming  here, 
which  was  July  14,  1759.  The  writer  has  found  him  bearing 
not  only  the  three  names  already  given,  but  also  Bunedy,  Ben- 
jamin Benoni,  Benjamin  Edy,  Eddy  Beniway,  and  Edy  Benqy. 
He  is  said  to  have  come  from  Canada  with  returned  troops,  after 
the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  to  have  been  a  half-breed,  or 
Canadian-Indian.  In  a  list  of  death-records  he  is  called  a 
Frenchman.^  He  appears  to  have  made  Raynham  his  home, 
and  to  have  found  some  Raynham  woman  simple  enough  to 
marry  him.  He  brought  with  him  to  Easton  also  two  sons,  as 
already  noted,  and  not  long  after  coming  here  a  daughter,  Judith 
by  name,  was  added  to  the  family.  Old  Bunn  supported  him- 
self by  two  kinds  of  business,  —  wood-carving  and  stealing.  At 
the  first  he  was  an  adept ;  a  good  specimen  of  his  work  being  a 
well-wrought  wooden  sugar-scoop  belonging  to  Mrs.  Bernard 
Alger,  of  North  Easton. 

But  his  energies  were  frequently  employed,  as  we  know  by 
trustworthy  traditions,  in  his  second  line  of  business,  and  many 
stories  are  told  of  his  petty  thefts  of  vegetables,  fowls,  wood,  etc. 
Considering  his  reputation,  it  was  quite  natural  that  he  should 
be  charged  with  thefts  perpetrated  by  other  parties.  On  one 
occasion  he  was  justly  indignant  at  being  arrested  on  a  charge  of 
which  he  was  innocent,  and  then  made  the  significant  remark,  "A 
good  many  people  in  this  town  are  stealing  on  my  credit."  He 
was  usually,  in  regard  to  thieving  habits,  the  dread  of  the  neigh- 
borhood in  which  he  happened  to  be  living ;  and  sometimes  his 
neighbors  clubbed  together,  made  him  a  visit,  took  him  to  the 
woods,  and  gave  him  a  good  thrashing.  When  one  locality  be- 
came too  warm  for  him  he  would  find  his  home  in  another  part 
of  the  town,  so  that  all  sections  had  an  opportunity  to  form  his 
acquaintance.     Whether  his  children  learned  his  trade  of  wood- 

1  Records  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  at  Taunton,  vol.  fr.  1746-1767,  p.  424. 

2  The  record  is  as  follows  :  "  Eddy  Beniway  ye  frenchman  child,  Deceased  may 
2q,  1776." 


MISCELLANEOUS.  77  j 


carving  or  not  cannot  now  be  determined,  but  he  transmitted  to 
them  his  thieving  propensity.  We  have  already  referred  to  the 
arrest  and  conviction  of  Benjamin  Benoni,  Jr.,  and  Judith  Benoni 
for  larceny,  —  the  former  of  a  silk  handkerchief,  and  the  latter  of 
a  quilted  petticoat. 

Old  Bunn  was  a  nomad.  The  writer  has  found  him  living  in 
various  localities  at  different  times.  Perhaps  his  first  residence 
was  in  the  old  unfinished  Presbyterian  meeting-house  at  the 
Green,  whose  bare  walls  were  profaned  by  frequent  ejaculations 
of  God's  holy  name  that  would  have  deeply  shocked  the  Rev. 
Solomon  Prentice  and  his  pious  though  somewhat  belligerent 
followers.  Women  and  children  were  afraid  to  pass  by  his  hab- 
itation, for  Bunn's  swarthy  countenance  struck  terror  to  timid 
hearts.  We  hear  from  him  again  in  a  cabin  near  Edward  D. 
Howard's,  in  another  cabin  northwest  of  Mr.  Sharp's,  in  the 
old  Hugh  Washburn  or  Snell  place,  at  the  Thomas  Randall,  3d, 
place,  east  of  the  DeWitt  farm,  and  in  other  localities.  The 
Randall  place  was  owned  by  Oliver  Howard  when  Bunn  was 
there,  and  Mr.  Howard  ordered  him  to  vacate  the  premises. 
Bunn  paying  no  attention  to  his  order,  Mr.  Howard  sent  Hope- 
still  Randall  with  his  ox-team  to  move  him  and  his  family 
away.  The  latter  tried  to  do  it,  but  Bunn  resisted,  and  Hope- 
still  did  not  care  to  stir  too  deeply  his  Indian  blood.  The  re- 
sult was  reported  to  Mr.  Howard,  who  said,  "  Come  to-morrow, 
and  I  will  go  with  you."  Early  the  next  day  they  went  together 
to  the  house.  Bunn  was  absent.  His  wife  was  willing  to  com- 
ply with  Mr.  Howard's  demand,  but  the  daughter  Judith  was  in 
bed  and  refused  to  get  up.  Mr.  Howard  flourished  his  whip 
over  her  and  said,  "  Get  up,  Jude,  or  I  '11  horsewhip  you  ! "  She 
obeyed,  and  the  whole  household  furniture  was  soon  heaped  upon 
Hopestill's  cart.  Bunn  meantime  had  returned,  and  they  then 
began  a  weary  pilgrimage  about  the  town  in  search  of  another 
home.  Different  places  were  asked  for,  but  Bunn's  reputation 
made  his  applications  unsuccessful.  They  finally  became 
wearied  and  discouraged,  and  Hopestill,  who  did  not  at  any 
time  excel  in  patience,  became  thoroughly  provoked.  The  level 
rays  of  the  sun  showed  that  the  day  was  nearly  done,  and  they 
were  then  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  far  from  Hopestill's 
house.     The  jeers  of  bystanders,  who  laughed  to  see  this  forlorn 


772 


HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 


caravan,  did  not  serve  to  soothe  his  troubled  spirit ;  and  in  a 
sudden  flash  of  temper  he  tipped  up  his  cart  and  dumped  the 
goods  in  a  heap  by  the  wayside.  Being  asked  the  next  day  by 
Mr.  Howard  where  he  had  left  Bunn's  family  and  furniture, 
Hopestill  answered  evasively  that  he  had  "  tipped  them  up,"  and 
being  pressed  for  exact  information  as  to  where  he  had  "  tipped 
them  up,"  he  angrily  named  a  locality  where  goods  of  that  de- 
scription would  speedily  be  converted  into  smoke. 

Bunn  at  one  time,  it  seems,  essayed  to  be  a  householder,  as 
would  appear  from  the  following  :  — 

Easton,  Nov.  22,  1776. 

These  may  certify  that  I  the  subscriber  have  sold  and  do  by  these 

Presents  sell  unto  Edy  Benoy  my  hous  standing  on  the  common  land, 

at  what  is  cauled  Rocky  Playin,  for  a  consideration  of  Twelve  shillings, 

for  his  own  Proper  use  for  Ever.     As  witnes  my  hand. 

her 

Deborah  X  Higgins.^ 
Attest  :  Samuel  Guild.  mark 

This  place  was  on  the  east  side  of  Randall  Street,  just  south 
of  the  ancient  cartway  that  ran  from  behind  the  old  Bay-road 
Cemetery  past  the  Macomber  place  to  Lincoln  Street,  near 
the  Spring.  There  is  now  no  vestige  left  of  this  old  dwelling- 
house,  which  was  hardly  more  than  a  shanty,  and  had  no  cellar. 

On  page  240  of  this  History  we  have  a  record  of  the  enlist- 
ment in  1 78 1  of  Bunn  under  the  name  of  Benjamin  Eddy,  and 
he  is  there  said  to  be  forty-four  years  of  age.  His  two  sons  also 
enlisted,  and  they  were  all  allowed  the  very  large  bounty  of  three 
hundred  dollars  in  silver.  The  record  of  the  ages  of  the  sons 
presents  a  difficulty.  Benjamin,  Jr.,  is  stated  as  twelve,  and 
Oliver  as  fourteen  years  old,  which  if  true  would  show  that  one 
was  born  in  1767,  and  the  other  in  1769.  But  sons  of  the  same 
names  were  brought  with  him  from  Raynham  to  Easton  in  1759. 
Either  the  record  is  incorrect  or,  what  is  not  wholly  improbable, 
the  first  sons  may  have  died  and  others  born  later  may  have  been 
given  the  same  names. 

The  nine  hundred  silver  dollars  do  not  prevent  the  family 
from  becoming  paupers  as  early  as  1785.  The  town  refused 
to   provide  for   their   maintenance,  whereupon   Bunn  makes  a 

1  First  Town  Book  of  births  and  deaths,  p.  378. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  77- 


figure  in   the   General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  as  we  see  by 
the  following  :  — 

"Benjamin  Edy  petitioned  the  General  Court  that  the  Overseers 
of  the  Poor  in  Easton  be  authorized  and  directed  to  take  charge  of 
the  said  Benjamin,  his  wife  and  children,  the  same  as  though  they 
were  the  poor  of  Easton.  Passed,  and  sd.  overseers  directed  so  to 
provide,  and  present  their  accounts  for  the  same  to  the  General  Court 
for  allowance  and  payment."  ' 

This  was  passed  June  27,  1785.  The  town  does  not  appear 
to  have  presented  any  bill  of  expenses  on  Bunn's  account  to  the 
State,  as  it  did  of  other  State  paupers  living  here.  Two  years 
afterward,  however.  Dr.  Edward  Dean  was  allowed  £'j  \6s.  M. 
"  for  medicine  and  attendance  on  account  of  Benjamin  Eddy  and 
family,  poor  of  the  State,  from  September  5,  1785,  to  May  18, 
1787."  2     At  this  date  the  Bunns  vanish  from  sight. 

THE    devil's    visit    TO    EASTON. 

Easton  appears  to  be  the  only  town  in  New  England  that  has 
no  "  Devil's  Den."  This  is  not  because  it  has  no  place  romantic 
or  beautiful  enough  for  his  resort,  —  the  loveliest  nooks  and  dells 
being  usually  christened  with  his  name.  The  deficiency  noted 
would  indicate  a  sterility  of  imagination  in  our  ancient  residents, 
were  it  not  that  they  have  left  us  a  genuine  story  of  a  visit  of 
the  character  aforesaid  to  our  town.  The  following  is  an  old 
lesrend  that  has  been  handed  down  from  our  Easton  ancestors. 
It  was  condensed  into  this  interesting  narrative  by  Mrs.  F.  E. 
Gilmore  :  — 

In  the  days  when  the  Devil  amused  himself  with  "  going  to 
and  fro  upon  the  earth  and  walking  up  and  down  in  it,"  his 
travels  brought  him,  so  our  traditions  tell  us,  to  the  spot  known 
as  the  Great  Cedar-Swamp,  lying  in  the  southern  part  of 
Easton.  Tradition  assigns  no  motive  for  his  acts  ;  but  we  may 
infer  the  "  Devil  had  business  on  his  mind,"  for  the  legend  states 
that  he  set  to  work  picking  up  the  stones  lying  about  till  he  had 
filled  his  apron,  and  then  continued  his  travels  northwaid. 
About  two  miles  north  of  the  swamp,  on  one  of  the  farms  of 

1  Massachusetts  Resolves,  vol.  vi.  pp.  344,  345- 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  vii.  p.  387. 


774 


HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 


Easton,  there  is,  or  was,  a  barren  field  formerly  called  the  "  Hop 
Field."  We  are  told  that  this  field,  lying  directly  in  the  Devil's 
way,  attracted  his  attention,  and  he  took  pains  to  hop  completely 
round  it :  hence  the  name  and  the  barrenness. 

Still  on  business  intent,  the  Devil  turned  his  steps  a  little 
more  to  the  west,  and  we  hear  of  him  next  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Easton  Centre,  where  the  prints  of  his  hoofs,  we  are  told, 
may  be  seen  in  the  solid  rock  to  this  day.  In  the  field  belong- 
ing to  the  Town  Farm  and  known  as  the  "ox-pasture,"  may  be 
seen  two  rocks,  one  near  the  eastern  side  of  the  field  and  the 
other  near  the  western  side,  with  the  plain  print  of  a  cloven 
hoof  deeply  imbedded  in  each.  The  legend  tells  us  that  when 
the  Devil  reached  that  spot,  and  as  he  was  stepping  from  one 
of  the  stones  that  bears  the  print  of  his  hoof  to  the  other,  his 
apron-string  broke  and  he  dropped  all  the  stones.  Discourage- 
ment must  have  seized  upon  him  then  and  there,  for  we  have  no 
further  account  of  him  or  his  travels.  But  the  stones  and  the 
footprints  remain  to  this  day  to  prove  the  truth  of  this  story. 

Among  the  people  of  that  region  the  footprints  have  always 
been  called  the  prints  of  the  Devil's  foot ;  and  within  the  memory 
of  the  "  oldest  inhabitant "  the  belated  cow-boy,  if  forced  to  drive 
his  herd  by  the  "  ox-pasture  "  after  dark,  or  when  the  "  shades 
of  night  were  falling,"  would  urge  the  luckless  cattle  on  at  as 
mad  a  gallop  as  Tam  O'Shanter's  mare  Meg  took  past  "  Allo- 
way's  auld  haunted  kirk,"  with  a  kindred  terror  of  "  Agld  Nick," 
of  whose  visit  to  that  place  there  was  such  visible  proof.^ 

WITCHES    AND    WITCHCRAFT. 

No  New  England  town  history  is  complete  without  a  witch 
story.     Fortunately  the  writer  does  not  need  to  invent  one,  as 

1  These  so-called  "  footprints  "  are  still  plainly  visible.  On  one  large  rock  in  the 
pasture  behind  Charles  H.  Reed's  house  there  are  two  such  footprints  several 
inches  deep,  one  bearing  a  near  resemblance  to  the  impression  of  a  cloven  foot.  It 
has  been  commonly  supposed  that  these  deep  concavities  were  hollowed  out  by  the 
Indians  to  be  used  as  mortars  in  which  to  grind  corn.  That  they  were  thus  used  is 
very  probable,  but  there  is  no  sufficient  reason  to  suppose  that  they  were  made  by  the 
Indians.  By  careful  search  in  the  same  field  the  writer  found  similar  cavities  in 
other  rocks  in  positions  that  could  not  be  made  available  for  human  uses.  In  fact, 
there  are  soft  shaley  spots  in  some  of  these  rocks,  and  natural  causes  sufficiently 
explain  the  hollows  in  them.  The  Indians  were  very  willing  to  avoid  all  labor  they 
could  get  Nature  to  do  for  them. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  nyr 


he  finds  several  ready  made,  the  truth  of  which  is  most  firmly 
believed  even  to-day.  Poquanticut  seems  to  have  been  the 
favorite  locality  for  the  operation  of  the  "  black  art."  What  is 
now  called  clairvoyance,  and  all  that  is  akin  to  it,  was  at  that 
time  supposed  to  betoken  the  possession  of  familiar  spirits  from 
the  nether  regions.  A  century  ago  Nathan  Selee,  an  able  and 
worthy  man,  was  supposed  to  possess  something  of  this  myste- 
rious power,  in  which  belief  he  himself  devoutly  shared.  Allu- 
sion has  already  been  made  to  the  belief  that  Satan  came  at 
night  to  run  his  saw-mill.  He  was  thought  to  be  ambitious  to 
delve  in  the  dangerous  mysteries  of  supernatural  things.  Mr. 
Selee  was  a  clairvoyant,  and  many  stories  are  current  of  what 
he  saw  and  foretold.  He  was  in  Stimson  Williams's  house  on 
one  occasion,  and  knowing  his  gifts  in  that  direction,  one  of 
Mr.  Williams's  daughters  asked  him  to  tell  her  fortune,  but  he 
declined  ;  and  after  leaving  the  house,  he  said  to  a  man  who 
came  out  with  him  that  if  she  could  see  what  the  next  week 
would  bring  her,  she  would  not  have  asked  to  have  her  fortune 
told.     She  died  the  next  week. 

The  story  is  still  believed  also,  that,  having  sought  long  for 
a  certain  book  on  magic  which  he  thought  would  perfect  him  in 
the  art,  the  door  of  his  shop  opened  one  day  and  a  stranger 
handed  him  the  book  and  vanished.  Directly  upon  the  de- 
parture of  this  strange  visitant  a  wild  storm  began  to  rage  ;  the 
winds  howled,  the  hghtnings  flashed,  the  thunders  roared,  and 
destruction  seemed  to  impend.  Mr.  Selee  took  the  book  and  all 
other  books  of  the  kind  that  he  possessed,  and  threw  them  into 
the  fire;  and  then  going  to  the  door  and  looking  out  he  saw  the 
sun  shining,  and  everything  beautiful  and  peaceful.  This  deter- 
mined him  to  have  no  more  to  do  with  the  dangerous  subject. 

His  sister  Thankful  (Selee)  Buck  was  reputed  a  witch,  though 
there  is  no  tradition  of  her  having  done  anything  especially 
wicked.  She  is  said  to  have  performed  her  incantations  at  mid- 
night with  her  daughters,  one  of  whom  inherited  her  name  and 
reputation,  by  pouring  water  from  one  pan  into  another.  Loads 
of  hay  were  sometimes  stopped  in  front  of  her  house,  and  could 
not  move  until  she  gave  the  signal,  when  a  black  cat  was  seen 
to  come  out  from  under  the  hay  and  glide  away.  She  once  sent 
her  husband  to  some  distance  to  get  a  certain  kind  of  wool  she 


776  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

particularly  desired.  He  failed  to  procure  it,  and  on  his  return 
found  it  impossible  to  enter  his  own  door  ;  nor  could  he  do  so 
until  he  had  returned  and  procured  the  desired  wool.  A  neigh- 
bor was  said  to  have  caught  a  black  cat  doing  some  mischief,  and 
to  have  given  her  a  severe  beating  on  the  head  ;  the  next  day 
it  was  observed  that  Thankful  Buck  had  lost  an  eye.  Why  she 
did  not  use  her  magic  power  to  save  her  eye  is  a  question  only 
a  carping  sceptic  will  ask. 

The  above  are  samples  of  numerous  stories  that  are  told,  and 
which  the  writer  has  ample  evidence  are  by  some  persons  still 
believed,  concerning  the  magical  powers  and  even  witchcraft 
exercised  in  Poquanticut  many  years  ago.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  in  Easton  as  elsewhere,  when  hanging  was  no  longer  to  be 
feared  by  witches,  some  shrewd  persons  practised  upon  the 
credulity  of  others,  and  enjoyed  the  sense  of  power  which  the 
reputation  of  being  a  little  uncanny  gave  them. 

BIRD-HUNTING. 

At  different  times  in  the  history  of  the  town  rewards  were 
offered  for  killing  crows  and  blackbirds,  which  were  supposed  to 
be  very  destructive  to  corn.  In  the  town  treasurer's  accounts 
there  are  occasionally  entries  of  payments  of  bounties  for  these 
birds.  In  1793,  for  instance,  the  town  voted  to  give  sixpence  a 
head  for  crows  killed  before  the  first  of  July. 

Scarcely  two  generations  ago  the  custom  prevailed  of  young 
men  choosing  sides,  and  each  side  on  a  given  day  starting  out 
and  killing  all  the  birds  they  could.  The  day  chosen  was  the  old 
"  Election  day  "  so  called,  the  last  Wednesday  in  May,  once  the 
time  for  the  convening  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  which  came 
to  be  known  as  "  Nigger  'lection."  It  was  one  of  the  greatest 
holidays  of  the  year  for  the  boys.  The  sides  having  been  pre- 
viously chosen,  those  taking  part  in  the  shooting  started  out  at 
daybreak  and  killed  as  many  birds  as  possible.  They  usually 
met  at  some  appointed  place  before  dinner,  to  count  the  birds 
and  see  which  side  had  won  the  victory.  In  North  Easton,  the 
rendezvous  was  Howard's  store,  now  the  small  house  next  west 
of  the  railroad  bridge  on  the  north  side  of  Main  Street,  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Pinkham.  The  understanding  was  that  only  harmful 
birds  should  be  killed  ;  but  it  was  easy  to  include  nearly  all  birds 


MISCELLANEOUS.  777 


in  this  category,  because,  it  was  argued,  bobolinks  and  swal- 
lows destroyed  bees,  and  robins  stole  cherries,  etc.  In  some 
places  the  party  beaten  paid  for  the  dinner  and  drinks  of  all, 
and  oftentimes  a  large  number  were  engaged  in  the  sport.  Now, 
the  law  wisely  protects  the  birds  from  such  thoughtless  and 
cruel  slaughter. 

EAR-MARKS. 

The  generally  unfenced  condition  of  the  early  lands  in  town 
made  it  unavoidable  that  cattle  should  run  at  large.  It  was 
therefore  necessary  that  their  owners  should  have  some  means 
by  which  to  distinguish  them  and  prove  their  own  property. 
This  they  usually  accomplished  by  cropping,  slitting,  or  brand- 
ing their  cattle's  ears,  and  having  the  particular  marks  they 
adopted  recorded  by  the  town  clerk.  A  few  specimens  will  suffi- 
ciently illustrate  this  custom.  The  earliest  ones  in  the  old  town 
records  are  the  first  two  following,  to  which  others  will  be 
added  :  — 

"  April  ye  20,  1727.  —  A  mare  of  Samuel  Phillipses,  of  Easton  ;  of  a 
mouse-culer  black,  branded  with  a  P  on  the  Left  shoulder ;  one  white 
foot  on  the  near  side  behind  ;  a  black  List  on  the  back  ;  four  year 
old  ;  no  eare  mark,  so  described." 

"April  the  20,  1727.  —  A  redish  hors  of  Joshua  Phillipses,  of  Eas- 
ton ;  a  white  strak  in  the  face,  branded  with  a  P  on  the  near  shoulder; 
a  bout  foure  years  old  ;  no  ear  mark,  so  described." 

"  The  Earmark  that  Joseph  Pettengill  Marks  his  sheep  with  is  a 
Wier  in  each  Ear.  Easton,  Janawary  22nd,  1768,  Recorded  by  Mat- 
thew Hayward,  Town  Clark." 

"  The  Earmark  that  Stephen  Brigs  marks  his  creaturs  with  is  an  Ell 
in  the  left  Ear,  a  small  swallos  tail  in  the  Right  Ear,  a  halfpenney  the 
under  side  of  the  Right  Ear,  and  a  hole  through  the  same.  Easton, 
May  25,  1767." 

''The  Eare  mark  that  Ephram  Drake  eare-marks  his  creatures  with 
is  a  hapeny  upon  the  uper  side  at  the  Left,  and  slit  Betwene  the  head 
and  the  hapeny.    Ephraram  Drake,  Easton,  febuary  ye  nth,  1758." 

"Thomas  Drake  of  Easton  ear  marke  wherewith  he  marks  his  crea- 
turs withall  is  to  cut  off  the  top  of  the  Left  ear,  and  a  gad  on  the  uper 
side  of  the  same  ear.     January  23d,  1755-" 

"  The  Eare  mark  which  Seth  Williams  Earemarks  his  catel  is  a  hole 
thrue  each  Eare.     Easton.  July  ye  3,  i753-" 


778  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

Animals  were  sometimes  taken  up  and  their  description  re- 
corded in  order  that  owners  from  whose  vicinity  they  had 
strayed  might  appear  and  recover  them.  Samples  of  such 
records  are  here  given:  — 

"Taken  up  and  impounded  by  me  ye  subscriber  a  white  farow  pidg 
of  about  6  month  groth.     Easton,  aprill  i6,  1743,  Daniel  Williams." 

"  September  the  4th  1776.  —  This  Day  Taken  up  a  black  Ram;  the 
marks  are  as  followeth  :  as  to  the  arlifycial  marks,  it  has  two  half- 
penneys  on  the  under  side  of  the  left  Ear  and  one  the  uper  side  of 
the  same  Ear,  and  one  halfpenney  the  under  side  of  the  Right  Ear;  and 
as  to  his  Natural  Marks,  the  Ram  is  all  over  black  Except  a  few  white 
bars  on  the  End  of  his  Nose,  with  one  Very  Short  horn.  These  are  to 
Request  you  forthwith  to  Post  the  Ram  as  the  law  Directs.  Pr  me, 
Daniel  Wood.     Entered  by  Matthew  Hayward,  Town  Clark." 

SINGULAR    DEATH    RECORDS. 

The  following  are  quotations  from  death  records  kept  by  dif- 
ferent individuals  :  — 

"  Joseph  Randall  son  James  Deceased  April  7, 1 753 ;  also  said  Joseph 
R.  Two  Daughters,  Mary  and  Charity  Randall,  Dec'd  April  8,  1753; 
all  three  Buried  in  one  day  &c  !  and  in  one  grave." 

"  Mercy  and  Content,  Both  Being  ye  2  of  his  3  twines,  Daughters,  yt. 
is  Mr.  William  Hay  wards,  ye  deceased,  may  7,  1763." 

"  Mr.  Edward  Haywards  wife  Named  Zilpha,  Deceased  by  mur- 
dering herself  as  supposed,  June  3  day,  at  10  or  11  o'clock  forenoon, 
1776." 

"  Old  Mis  Mercy  Manley  Deceased  January  ye  6,  1777  ;  aged  about 
100  years.  The  oldest  person  in  Town.  Also  Mr.  Jacob  Macomber, 
Jr.,  child,  ye  third  day  after  it  was  born.  Deceased  January  6,  1777. 
The  youngest  person  in  town.     Both  died  amonday." 

"Mr.  Daniel  Keith  Deceased  on  Friday  ye  12  Day  of  November, 
A.D.  1779.     An  Engeanous  Bonsetter  and  other  usefullness." 

"One  man  killed  in  Boston  digging  a  grave  august  10,  1796,  with 
lightning." 

"  Beriah  Randall  kild.  with  a  tree  falling,  Novr.  11,  1800  ;  aged  61." 

"Avery,  son  of  Matthew  harlow,  hung  himself  July  12,  1805  ;  aged 

"  Mazy  howard  taken  up  out  of  his  grave  Nov.  2,  1809." 
"Jacob  Phillips  died  July  17,  1812  ;  Fell  of  from  a  lode  of  hay  and 
broke  his  neck." 


MISCELLANEOUS.  nyg 


"Isaac  Lothrop  fell  dead  aplowing,  may  ii,  1815." 

"Isaac  Shepard  kild  with  a  wheel  by  Isaac  Davenport,  January  15, 
1817." 

"  Samuel  Clap  kild  by  a  waggon's  wheels  running  over  his  body, 
august  17,  1817;  aged  :i3." 

"  Thomas  Gushing  hung  himself  at  Easton  manfactory  July  13, 1823  ; 
aged  13." 

"Joel  White  blowd  up  at  Leonards,  8th  of  feb.  1825,  and  died  18, 
aged  24." 

"  Thomas  Frenches  Con  Drowned  in  punkypog  thanksgiving  day, 
1827  j  aged  14." 

CONCLUSION. 

The  writer's  task  is  now  accomplished.  He  lingers  here 
only  to  express  a  thought  that  has  often  occurred  to  him 
during  the  progress  of  this  work,  —  that  while  the  true  wel- 
fare of  a  town  depends  as  much  upon  women  as  upon  men, 
the  former  are  almost  unnoticed  in  a  town  history.  There  is  an 
apparent,  perhaps  a  real,  injustice  in  this  fact.  But  town  his- 
tories are  largely  records  of  public,  or  at  least  of  noteworthy, 
actions  and  events,  —  of  war,  politics,  business,  municipal  and 
ecclesiastical  affairs,  —  and  these  have  not  come  within  the 
range  of  women's  hitherto  recognized  sphere  ;  for  even  in  the 
church,  in  which  she  manifests  a  greater  interest  than  does  man, 
she  has  had  no  vote  and  no  controlling  voice.  But  if  this  History 
were  intended  to  enshrine  the  memory  of  private  virtues  and  of 
guileless  and  noble  character,  half  its  pages  at  least  would  pay 
homage  to  the  women  of  Easton.  In  the  home-life,  where  are 
the  real  springs  of  public  welfare  as  well  as  private  blessing, 
woman's  influence  is  more  potent  than  man's  ;  and  while  town 
historians  may  narrate  the  deeds  and  herald  the  fame  almost 
alone  of  man,  her  praise  is  written  in  the  grateful  affections  that 
will  survive  when  the  printed  page  shall  moulder  to  dust,  and 
may  be  safely  intrusted  to  the  Recording  Angel  who  writes  for 
Eternity  as  we  do  but  write  for  time. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


I. 


A  THANKFUL   MEMORIAL   OF   GOD'S   SPARING   MERCY. 

[A  Sermon  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Short,  preached  in  Easton 
IN  September,  1728.] 

THE  Lord  hath  chastened  me  sore ;  but  he  hath  not  given  me  over  unto 
Death.  Open  to  me  the  Gates  of  Righteousjiess  ;  I  will  go  into  them, 
and  I  will  praise  the  Lord.  —  Psalm  cxviii.  18,  ig. 

THIS  Psalm  was  most  probably  composed  by  the  royal  Prophet, 
David,  after  the  Wars  and  Troubles  between  the  Houses  of 
Saul  and  David  were  ended,  and  when  David  was  newly  settled  in 
the  Kingdom  over  all  Israel,  and  had  newly  brought  up  the  Ark  of 
GOD  to  his  royal  City.  But  tho'  this  seemed  to  be  the  Occasion,  yet 
there  seems  to  be  a  further  and  higher  Design  in  it,  especially  in  the 
latter  Part  of  it,  which  was  to  carry  the  Readers'  Thoughts  beyond  the 
Type  to  the  Antitype,  the  Messiah  and  his  Kingdom,  who  was  chiefly 
intended  in  it,  which  is  apparent  from  the  Testimonies  produced  out  of 
the  new  Testament  to  this  Purpose.  Matt.  xxi.  9  ;  Acts  iv.  11.  But  to 
consider  the  Words  particularly,  —  The  Lord  hath  chastned  me  sore;  but 
he  hath  not  given  me  over  unto  Death.  Open  to  me  the  Gates  of  Right- 
eousfiess :  I  will  go  into  them,  and  /  will  praise  the  Lord.  These  Words 
doubtless  refer  to  David,  though  the  latter  Part  of  the  Psalm  seems  ulti- 
mately to  refer  to  Christ.  The  Lord  hath  chastened  me  sore,  either  by 
Enemies  or  by  some  other  great  Troubles  and  Dangers  ;  but  GOD  mer- 
cifully spared  him  in  those  great  Dangers,  and  did  not  then  give  him 
over  unto  Death,  upon  which  he  said,  Open  to  me  the  Gates  of  Right- 
eousness :  L  will  go  into  them,  and  L  will  praise  the  Lord     Open  to  me. 


784  HISTORY    OF    EASTON. 

This  seems  to  imply  that  they  had  been  some  time  shut  against  him, 
as  in  Saul's  Time,  when  he  was  debarred  from  the  publick  Worship 
and  Ordinances  of  GOD,  which  he  so  greatly  delighted  in.  The  Gates 
of  Righteousjiess ;  i.  e.  The  Gates  of  the  Lord's  Tabernacles,  which 
might  be  called  the  Gates  of  Righteousness,  because  there  was  the 
proper  and  usual  Place  for  the  Performance  of  the  Duty  here  follow- 
ing, viz.,  of  praising  GOD  for  his  great  Mercies,  which  is  an  Act  of 
Righteousness  ;  and  partly  because  the  Rule  of  Righteousness  was  kept 
and  taught  there,  the  Sacrifices  of  Righteousness  were  offered  there, 
and  because  these  Gates  were  to  be  opened  to  righteous  Persons,  of 
which  number  David  professed  and  proved  himself  to  be ;  upon  which 
Account  he  looked  upon  it  as  his  great  and  just  privilege,  whereas 
those  that  were  apparently  unclean  and  unrighteous  were  to  be  ex- 
cluded. 2  Chron.  xxiii.  19  :  And  he  set  Porters  at  the  Gates  of  the 
House  of  the  Lord,  that  none  which  were  unclean  should  enter  in.  The 
Lord  hath  chastened  me  sore,  but  hath  not  given  tne  over  unto  Death. 
Open  to  me  the  Gates  of  Righteousness :  I  will  go  into  them,  I  will  praise 
the  Lord. 

From  hence  we  may  note  several  Doctrines. 

DOCT.  I.  THE  Afflictions  or  Chastisemetits  which  the  Child?-en  of 
Men  do  meet  withal,  are  sent  by  GOD. 

He  wisely  orders  our  Afflictions  and  Punishments,  both  to  the  godly 
and  ungodly,  when  and  how  he  pleaseth,  though  in  a  very  different 
manner :  to  the  one  in  Wrath ;  to  the  other  in  great  Love  and  Mercy,  to 
purge  away  their  Sins,  and  to  prepare  them  for  himself.  But  all  the 
Afflictions  that  come  either  on  the  godly  or  ungodly  are  sent  and 
ordered  by  GOD.  He  wisely  orders  the  Kind,  Time,  Measure,  and 
Continuance  of  all  the  Troubles  Men  meet  withal.  Affliction  cometh 
not  forth  of  the  Dust.  Job  v.  6.  Thus  in  Isaiah  xlv.  7,  L  forfn  the 
Light,  and  create  Darkness :  /  make  Peace,  and  create  Evil :  L  the  Lord 
do  all  these  Things.  By  evil  here  is  meant  only  the  Evil  of  Punishment 
or  Affliction,  with  which  GOD  visits  the  Children  of  Men  when  he 
pleaseth.  Thus  in  Amos  iii.  6,  Shall  there  be  Evil  in  a  City,  and  the 
Lord  hath  not  done  it  ?  Which  intends  only  the  Evil  of  Punishment 
which  GOD  justly  brings  upon  a  People  for  their  Sins.  But  I  need 
not  further  insist  to  prove  this,  but  will  improve  it  as  GOD  shall  help. 
And  — 

I.  ARE  all  Afflictions  sent  by  GOD  ?  Let  this  forever  silence  all 
Murmurings  against  GOD  under  Afflictions.  Are  they  sent  by  a  gra- 
cious, wise,  just,  holy,  sovereign  GOD,  who  is  holy  in  all  his  ways 
and  righteous  in  all  his  Works,  and  whose  way  is  perfect  1  Let  this 
forever  stop  our  Mouths  against  all  Murmurings  under  Afflictions  ; 


APPENDIX. 


785 


considering  also  how  exceeding  vile  we  are,  and  deserve  to  be  utterly 
rejected  by  GOD,  and  are  punished  far  less  than  our  Iniquities  have 
deserved. 

2.  ARE  Afflictions  sent  by  a  wise  and  holy  GOD?  They  must 
needs  then  be  sent  for  some  wise  and  holy  end,  for  the  infinitely  wise 
GOD  doth  nothing  in  vain.  We  should,  therefore,  labour  that  Afflic- 
tions may  have  a  good  Effect  upon  us  ;  that  by  them  we  may  be  made 
more  holy  and  humble,  more  lively  and  diligent  in  all  Acts  of  Duty 
and  Obedience  towards  GOD  ;  and  that  the  Rod  and  Reproof  may 
teach  us  Wisdom  ;  that  we  may  learn  Righteousness  by  the  afflictive 
Dispensation  of  GOD  towards  ourselves  and  others. 

3.  WE  may  hence  see  Reason  to  admire  the  Wisdom  and  Goodness  of 
GOD  in  causing  Afflictions  to  be  so  accomodable  and  serviceable  to  those 
glorious  and  holy  Ends  for  which  he  sends  them  on  his  people.  He  visits 
them  with  Affliction  to  prepare  them  for  special  Mercies,  and  that  they 
may  be  Partakers  of  his  Holiness.  Heb.  xii.  10,  11.  And  that  they 
may  be  prepared  for  Eternal  Happiness.  2  Cor.  iv.  17  :  For  our  light 
Affliction,  tvhich  is  but  for  a  Moment,  worketh  for  us  afar  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  Weight  of  Glory. 

DOCT.  II.  THAT  the  gracious,  holy,  righteous,  sovereign  GOD  doth 
sometimes  sorely  chastise  his  own  children.  Indeed,  Chastisements  are 
common  to  all  GOD'S  Children,  and  there  are  none  of  them  all  ex- 
empted. Heb.  xii.  6,  7,  8  :  For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chastencth,  and 
scour geth  every  Son  whom  he  receiveth.  If  you  endure  Chastening,  GOD 
dealeth  with  you  as  with  Sons  ;  for  what  Son  is  he  ivhom  the  Father  chast- 
encth not  ?  But  if  ye  be  without  Chastisement,  whereof  all  are  Partakers, 
then  are  ye  Bastards,  and  not  Softs.  But  though  all  the  Children  of 
GOD  are  visited  with  Afflictions,  yet  are  they  not  all  chastised  alike. 
Some  are  more  dull  and  slothful  than  others  in  the  School  of  Christ, 
and  may,  therefore,  be  visited  with  heavier  Afflictions.  Others  may  be 
designed  by  GOD  for  some  special  and  eminent  Services,  for  the  Glory 
of  his  name ;  and  therefore  GOD  may  purifie  them  by  Afflictions,  to 
prepare  them  for  it.  It  might  probably  be  thus  with  holy  David.  GOD 
designed  him  for,  and  improved  him  in,  very  eminent  Services,  for  the 
Glory  of  his  Name  and  the  good  of  his  People.  But  before  this  high 
Honour  of  being  improved  in  very  eminent  services  for  GOD,  he  must 
be  disciplined  a  long  Time  in  the  School  of  Affliction,  without  doubt, 
to  fit  and  prepare  him  for  the  signal  and  glorious  Services  which 
afterwards  he  was  employed  in.  Even  David  could  say.  The  Lord 
hath  chastened  me  sore,  as  in  the  Text.  And  in  Psalm  xviii.  5,  The  Sor- 
rows of  Hell  Compassed  me  about.  And  in  the  verse  immediately  fol- 
lowing :  ///  my  Distress  I  called  upon  the  Lord,  and  cried  unto  my  GOD  : 

50 


786  HISTORY  OF  EASTON. 

he  heard  my  voice  out  of  his  Temple,  and  iny  cry  came  before  him,  even 
into  his  ears. 

Now  this  may  be  improved,  i.  TO  excite  the  Childreji  ^GOD  to  a 
chearful,  patient  bearing  of  Afflictio7i ;  Seeing  they  came  from  so  kind 
and  loving  a  Hand,  and  are  sent  also  with  a  gracious  Design  of  great 
good  to  them,  for  the  purging  away  their  Sins,  and  for  the  further 
fitting  them  for  the  serving  GOD  here  and  for  the  Enjoyment  of  him 
forever. 

2.  THIS  should  excite  the  Childreji  of  God  to  use  their  best  Endeavour 
to  improve  Afflictions  aright,  atid  to  profit  under  them,  as  Means  appointed 
by  G  OD  for  their  good  and  sent  to  thetn  for  that  End,  and  to  be  fruitful 
under  Afflictions.     Surely  this  may  be  justly  expected  from  them. 

3.  THIS  may  serve  for  the  just  Reproof  of  those  that  censure  and 
condemn  Persons  as  wicked,  because  they  are  greatly  afflicted.  Job's 
three  Friends  were  not  clear  in  this  Matter,  and  therefore  we  find 
them  reproved  for  it.     Job  xlii.  7,  8. 

DOCT.  HI.  WHEN  it  pleaseth  GOD  sorely  to  chastise  his  own 
children,  and  bring  thetn  nigh  unto  Death,  his  tvonderful  Potver,  Mercy, 
and  Goodness  doth  sometimes  appear  ifi  sparing  them,  and  not  givifig  them 
overtinto  Death.  Thus  in  Psalm  ix.  13  :  Thou  that  liftest  me  up  from  the 
Gates  of  Death.  Psalm  Ixviii.  20 :  Unto  GOD  the  Lord  belong  the  Issues 
from  Death.  Indeed,  GOD  sometimes  spares  the  ungodly  when  they 
are  brought  nigh  unto  Death,  and  recovers  them  from  Sickness  ;  so 
that  it  is  not  peculiar  to  the  godly  to  be  spared  when  brought  very 
low.  Nevertheless,  there  are  peculiar  Favours  shown  to  the  godly 
herein  which  are  not  shown  to  the  wicked.  When  GOD  thus  spares 
the  godly,  he  does  it  out  of  fatherly  Pity,  Kindness,  and  Compassion 
towards  them  ;  or  for  the  sake  of  others  which  they  stand  in  some 
relation  to ;  or  because  GOD  hath  further  work  for  them  to  do  in  the 
World.  The  wicked  may  be  spared  that  they  may  have  further  Time 
of  Trial,  and  that  GOD  may  magnify  the  Riches  of  his  forbearing 
Goodness  and  Patience  towards  Sinners,  that  they  may  have  a  further 
space  for  Repentance  ;  that  they  may  either  repent,  or  fill  up  the  meas- 
ure of  their  Sins,  and  fit  themselves  for  an  amazing  and  dreadful 
Damnation  ;  whereas  the  Children  of  GOD,  by  sickness  and  by  other 
Afflictions,  are  more  fitted  for  the  Enjoyment  of  eternal  Happiness. 

BUT  I  need  not  further  insist  on  the  Proof  of  the  Doctrine  :  it  is  a 
truth  which  needs  not  so  much  to  be  proved  as  to  be  improved,  and  it 
may  concern  myself  as  much  or  more  than  any  one  in  the  Assembly  to 
mprove  it.  And  I  desire  your  fervent  Prayers  for  me,  that  GOD  will 
help  me  to  improve  it  aright.  The  holy,  righteous,  sovereign  GOD 
has  of  late   (as  you  well  know)   been  pleased,  in  his  wise  and  holy 


APPENDIX.  -gy 


/o/ 


Providence,  to  visit  me  with  a  sore  sickness.i  whereby  I  was  brought 
nigh  unto  Death  ;  but  GOD  in  his  wonderful  Goodness  spared  me,  and 
did  not  give  me  over  unto  Death,  for  which  I  would  now  humbly  and 
heartily  praise  his  holy  Name.  I  acknowledge  the  new  Obligations 
that  are  hereby  laid  upon  me  to  honour  GOD,  and  serve  him  in  the 
best  Manner  that  possibly  I  can,  even  to  the  Day  of  my  Death.  I 
freely  acknowledge  the  Justice  and  Hohness  of  GOD  in  bringing  that 
sore  chastisement  upon  me.  I  acknowledge  my  Sins  deserved  it.  I 
acknowledge  the  unerring  Wisdom  of  GOD  in  sending  it  seasonably. 
I  plainly  see  that  I  needed  it,  and  therefore  I  hope  I  heartily  thank 
GOD  for  it,  in  that  he  has  dealt  with  me  herein  as  he  deals  with  his 
own  dear  Children,  of  which  Number  I  own  myself  one  of  the  mean- 
est and  most  unworthy,  if  I  may  lay  claim  to  that  high  and  glorious 
Privilege.  And  as  GOD  hath  been  graciously  pleased  to  spare  me 
from  Death,  and  to  give  me  as  it  were  a  new  Life,  So  I  would  gladly  be 
serving  the  Interest  of  your  Souls  with  new  and  fresh  Strength,  Vigour, 
and  Activity,  as  knowing  that  the  very  best  and  utmost  that  I  can  do 
for  you  is  your  just  due,  and  what  you  may  justly  expect  from  me. 
My  Time  is  in  some  respects  yours  ;  my  Talents,  such  as  they  are, 
yours,  and  should  be  improved  in  the  best  Manner  and  to  the  utmost 
in  the  Service  of  your  Souls  ;  and  I  would  chuse  to  spend  the  most  of 
my  time  for  you  in  my  Studies,  Visits,  Catechisings,  &c.,  unless  by  a 
very  pressing  Necessity  I  should  at  any  time  be  called  off  from  my 
Studies  to  get  my  Bread,  &  even  then  I  should  be  serving  of  you 
while  I  am  laboring  to  support  my  Life  to  spend  for  you.  I  hope  I 
can  truly  say  that  I  am  willing  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  you.  And 
besides  the  great  Obligations  lying  upon  me  from  the  Relation  I  stand 
in  to  you,  I  am  laid  under  a  new  Obligation  to  you  by  the  endearing 
Kindness  which  GOD  helped  you  to  show  to  me  in  the  Time  of  my 
late  distressing  Sickness.  May  the  Kindness  shown  to  me  by  you  be 
rewarded  into  your  Bosoms  with  the  blessed  influences  of  the  Spirit 
and  Grace  of  GOD  in  this  Life,  &  with  an  unfading  Crown  of  Glory  in 
the  Next  !  I  hope  I  have  with  some  sincerity  laboured  for  the  good  of 
your  Souls,  ever  since  my  coming  among  you,  though  in  much  Weak- 
ness and  Infirmity,  and  under  great  Discouragements.  And  that 
which  I  now  desire  is,  that  my  Love  for  your  Souls,  and  my  Concern 
and  Labours  for  you,  may  be  increased  and  strengthened  ;  and  I  hope 
you  will  be  willing  to  encourage  my  Endeavours  this  Way.  But  al- 
tho'  you  should  fail  ever  so  much  in  your  duty  towards  me,  yet  I 
shall  endeavour,  I  hope,  thro'  the  gracious  Help  of  GOD,  to  serve  the 
Interests  of  your  precious  Souls  in  the  best  Manner  I  possibly  can. 
1  Of  about  two  months'  Continuance,  from  July  15,  1728. 


788  HISTORY   OF    EASTON. 

And  in  Case  I  should  grow  apparently  Negligent  in  my  Duty  toward 
you,  Do  you,  O  my  dear  People,  put  me  in  mind  of  it,  observing  the 
Rule  in  i  Tim.  v.  i.  And  let  us  all  unite  in  our  Endeavours  to  pro- 
mote the  Honour  of  GOD  and  the  good  of  each  other's  Souls.  Let  us 
endeavour  to  be  religious  to  Purpose,  that  we  may  not  decieve  our  own 
Souls.  Let  us  consider  the  loud  Calls  of  GOD  to  us  to  turn  to  him, 
and  to  seek  and  serve  him  with  our  whole  Hearts.  And  let  us  atten- 
tively and  obediently  hearken  to  the  Voice  of  the  glorious  GOD  by  his 
holy  Providence  in  the  late  Sickness  and  Deaths  among  us.  GOD  hath 
taken  away  several  from  among  us  of  late  by  Death,  emptying  a  House 
hard  by  us,  and  sweeping  it  clean,  as  it  were,  by  Death,  and  taking 
away  the  principal  Person  ;•*  in  another,  whose  Death  we  have  great 
Reason  to  lament,  who  was,  I  trust,  a  Person  of  excelling  Piety  and  un- 
common Prudence, — one  of  a  very  strict  and  religious  Conversation, 
a  great  Lover  of  GOD'S  House,  one  of  a  charitable  Spirit,  and  knew 
how  to  communicate  to  others,  and  when  there  was  real  Occasion  for  it 
would  do  it  chearfully.  O  that  these  eminent  Virtues  that  were  appar- 
ent in  her  may  be  imitated  and  practised  by  us !  And  I  would  ac- 
knowledge, to  the  Honour  and  Glory  of  GOD,  the  Righteousness  and 
Equity  of  his  dealings  with  myself,  in  the  Breach  he  has  made  in  my 
Family  of  late,  in  taking  away  one  of  my  Children  by  Death.  O,  may 
we  all  from  hence  see  the  Uncertainty  of  our  worldly  Enjoyments,  and 
be  excited  the  more  firmly  to  trust  in,  and  the  more  diligently  and 
faithfully  to  serve,  the  everliving  JEHOVAH,  who  is  the  everlasting 
Portion  and  Happiness  of  his  People  ! 

And  let  us  by  the  repeated  Warnings  that  are  given  us  be  excited 
to  prepare  for  our  own  Death.  Let  us  labour  to  avoid  every  thing 
which  is  displeasing  to  GOD,  and  that  would  make  a  Death-Bed  un- 
easy to  us.  And  let  us  be  careful  to  observe  and  do  the  Things  which 
he  has  commanded  us.  Let  us  have  a  tender  and  sincere  Regard  to 
the  holy  Sabbath,  and  take  special  Care  to  observe  and  sanctify  it. 
And  let  us  diligently  instruct  our  Children  m  the  Ways  of  GOD,  and 
lead  them  therein  by  our  own  Examples.  And  let  the  Truth  and 
Reality  of  our  Love  appear  towards  GOD,  and  to  his  House,  Worship, 
and  Ordinances  ;  that  so,  after  our  joining  together  in  worshipping  and 
praising  GOD  here  on  Earth,  we  may,  with  the  general  Assembly  and 
Church  of  the  first  born,  which  are  written  in  Heaven,  unite  in  praising 
GOD  to  all  Eternity. 

DOCT.  IV.  THAT  to  wait  upon  GOD  in  his  Honse,  Worship,  and 
Ordinances  is  very  amiable  and  desirable  to  the  Children  of  GOD,  and 

1  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pratt. 


APPENDIX. 


789 


particularly  to  those  who  have  for  some  time  beeti  debarred  from  them.     I 
might  speak  to  this  doctrine  in  two  propositions. 

PROP.  I.  THE  Childre7i  of  GOD  are  sometimes  visited  with  the 
Affliction  of  being  for  some  time  debarred  from  the  House  and  Ordinances 
of  GOD.  Thus  David,  and  thus  many  of  the  Saints  of  GOD,  have 
been  exercised  with  the  sore  trouble  of  being  kept  from  the  House  of 
GOD.  Many  instances  might  be  given  hereof ;  but  I  proceed  to  the 
second  Proposition. 

PROP.  II.  THAT  to  wait  upon  GOD  in  his  House  and  Ordinances 
is  very  desirable  atid  amiable  to  the  Children  of  GOD,  and  particularly 
to  those  who  have  so77ietime  been  debarred  there-from. 

Thus  the  holy  royal  Psalmist  expressed  his  Love  to  the  House  of 
GOD.  Psalm  xxvi.  8  :  Lord,  I  have  loved  the  Habitation  of  thy  House, 
and  the  Place  where  thine  Honor  dwelleth.  And  in  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  1,2: 
Hoiu  amiable  are  thy  Tabernacles,  O  Lord  of  Hosts  I  My  Soul  longeth, 
yea,  even  fainteth  for  the  Courts  of  the  Lord :  my  Heart  and  my  Flesh 
crieth  out  for  the  liinng  God.  But  here  we  may  inquire,  Whence  is 
it  that  the  House,  Worship,  and  Ordinances  of  GOD  are  so  amiable 
and  desirable  to  the  Children  of  GOD,  or  for  what  Reasons  ?  For 
Answer,  — 

I.  And  principally,  BECAUSE  GOD  does  graciously  manifest  him- 
self there,  affording  his  Special  Presence,  as  in  that  forementioned 
Psalm  xxvi.  8.  The  Gracious  Presence  of  GOD  in  and  with  his  Ordi- 
nances is  that  which  renders  them  exceedingly  sweet,  amiable,  and 
desirable  to  the  Children  of  GOD.  They  love  to  meet  with  GOD,  to 
enjoy  his  gracious  Presence  &  sweet  Communion  with  him  in  his 
House.  Therefore,  they  love  GOD'S  House,  and  highly  prize  the 
Ways  of  his  Appointment. 

3.  The  House,  Worship,  and  Ordinances  of  GOD  are  very  amiable 
and  desirable  to  the  Godly,  because  there  they  expect  and  hope  to  have  their 
Souls  cojnforted.  For  there  the  Word  of  GOD,  the  Rule  of  Righteous- 
ness, is  dispensed,  and  the  precious  Doctrines  and  Truths  of  the  Gos- 
pel delivered.  There  the  godly  expect  to  receive  Light  and  Direction 
in  the  Ways  of  GOD.  There  they  hope  to  have  their  doubts  solved, 
their  Darkness  dispelled,  and  their  Fears  removed  and  their  burdened 
Souls  eased.  There  it  is  that  they  hope  to  have  their  Graces  in- 
creased, as  their  Faith,  Hope,  Love,  &c.,  whereby  they  become  more 

ripe  for  Heaven. 

3.  THERE  is  the  Fellowship  and  Cojntnunion  of  Saints,  in  their  pub- 
lick  asse?nbling,  worshipping,  and  praising  GOD  together.  This  is  an 
Emblem  and  Representation  of  the  Saints  uniting  and  joining  ni  the 
Praises  of  GOD  in  Heaven,  and  therefore  must  needs  bo  amiable  to 


790  HISTORY  OF  EASTON. 

the  Saints  and  Children  of  GOD,  who  shall  be  united  in  the  Praises  of 
GOD  unto  all  Eternity. 

4.  THE  House  and  Worship  of  GOD  is  very  amiable  and  desirable 
to  the  Saints,  and  should  be  so  to  all,  because  there  the  Means  are  afforded 
and  enjoyed  for  the  fitting  Persons  for  the  greatest  Good  and  Happiness. 
For  there  ordinarily  it  is  that  Persons  are  thorowly  awakened,  effect- 
ually convinced,  and  savingly  converted.  And  this,  we  would  think, 
were  enough  to  endear  the  publick  Worship  and  Appointments  of 
GOD  to  every  one  that  desires  to  be  saved.  Is  it  not  desireable  to  be 
at  the  Place  where  the  greatest  Good  is  to  be  enjoyed,  that  we  are 
capable  of  enjoying  while  in  this  Frail  and  Mortal  State  ?  Is  it  not 
desireable  to  be  at  the  Place  where  GOD  doth  ordinarily  bestow  the 
rich  Blessing  of  Converting  Grace  and  a  new  Heart;  and  where  GOD 
does  vouchsafe  to  visit  and  refresh  the  Souls  of  his  People  with  his 
special  Grace,  with  the  sweet  Fruits  of  his  Love  and  Favour,  and  the 
joyful  foretastes  of  Heaven  ?     But  to  improve  this, — 

1.  WE  may  from  hence  infer  the  sad  and  doleful  State  of  those  that 
have  no  true  Love  to  the  House,  Worship,  and  Ordinances  of  GOD. 
For  if  the  Doctrine  be  true,  it  hence  necessarily  follows  that  such  are 
not  the  true  children  of  GOD ;  and  if  not,  there  is  but  one  Denomina- 
tion that  can  belong  unto  them,  and  that  a  very  dreadful  one  ! 

2.  THIS  may  be  improved  to  excite  our  Endeavours  to  obtain  such  a 
sincere  undessembled  Love  to  the  publick  Worship  and  holy  Appointments 
of  GOD,  as  may  be  a  good  and cotnfortable  Evidence  that  we  are  the  Chil- 
dren of  GOD.  Merly  to  attend  the  publick  Worship,  though  in  a 
constant  Course,  is  not  such  an  Evidence.  Oh,  let  us  labour  for  some- 
thing further  than  a  Meer  Attendance  on  publick  and  private  Duties 
of  Religion  !  and  let  us  see  to  it,  that  our  Love  be  not  in  Word  and 
Tongue  only,  but  in  Deed  and  in  Truth,  that  so  we  may  not  miss  at 
last  of  entering  into  GOD'S  House  and  Kingdom  above. 

DOCT.  V.  THAT  signal  and  eminent  Mercies  and  Deliverances 
should  be  followed  with  publick  and  hearty  Praises  to  GOD.  Psalm  cvii., 
throughout,  particularly  Ver.  31,  32:  Oh  that  men  would  praise  the 
Lord  for  his  Goodness,  and  for  his  wonderful  Works  to  the  Children  of 
Men  f  Let  them  exalt  him  also  in  the  Congregation  of  the  People,  and 
praise  him  in  the  Assembly  of  the  Elders.  It  would  be  a  great  Stupidity, 
or  at  least  a  great  Neglect  of  Duty,  not  to  render  hearty  and  publick 
Praises  to  GOD  for  signal  and  eminent  Mercies  received  from  him. 
And  here  vve  may  consider,  — 

I.  THAT  GOD  is  infinitely  worthy  to  have  the  Honour  of  being  pub- 
lickly  acknoivledged  and  praised  for  signal  and  eminent  Mercies.  Praise 
is  justly  due  to  GOD,  even  for  the  least  Mercy.    Surely,  then,  for  great 


APPENDIX.  ,-QT 

_^ /  7  *■ 

and  signal  Mercies  and  Deliverances  we  should  express  our  hearty 
Gratitude  to  him  as  he  requires.  We  are  utterly  unworthy  in  our- 
selves to  receive  the  least  Mercy.  How  thankful,  then,  should  we  be 
when  very  signal  and  remarkable  Mercies  are  freely  and  graciously 
granted  to  us  !  And  how  ready  should  we  be  to  render  publick  and 
hearty  praises  to  GOD,  as  he  hath  required  ! 

2.  BY  rendering  publick  and  hearty  Praises  to  GOD  he  is  glorified. 
Psalm  1.  23  :  Whoso  offereth  praise  glorifieth  me.  Surely  it  becomes 
us  in  this  Way  to  give  Glory  to  GOD.  But  here  we  may  consider 
some  of  the  signal  and  eminent  Mercies  for  which  publick  and  hearty 
Praises  are  due  to  GOD. 

1.  THE  happy  Deliverance  of  elect  afid  believing  Souls  from  eternal 
Death  hy  JESUS  CHRIST  is  a  signal  and  eminent  Mercy  for  which 
publick  and  hearty  Praises  are  due  to  God.  If  this  eminent  and  unpar- 
allel'd  Mercy  had  not  been  granted  to  us,  we  must  have  been  Fellow- 
Commoners  and  Fellow-Prisoners  with  Devils  forever.  Oh,  what  great 
Reason  have  we,  heartily  and  publickly  and  perpetually,  to  praise  GOD 
for  the  unparallel'd  Mercy,  and  with  Hearts  full  of  Gratitude  to  say, 
with  the  blessed  Apostle,  2  Cor.  ix.  15  :  Thanks  be  unto  GOD  for  his 
unspeakable  Gift  I     But  then  — 

2.  TO  enjoy  the  Gospel  and  the  holy  Ordinances  of  GOD  in  their 
Purity  and  Order,  with  a  free  Liberty  of  attending  them,  is  a  Mercy  for 
which  publick  aiid  hearty  Praises  are  due  to  GOD.  Something  of  the 
worth  of  this  Mercy  was  sometimes  seen  by  the  want  of  it  in  our 
Nation,  when  this  precious  Liberty  was  prohibited  unto  many  hun- 
dreds of  christian  Assemblies.  Oh  that  NEW  ENGLAND  may 
prize  their  precious  GOSPEL-Privileges,  and  beware  that  they  do 
not  provoke  GOD  to  deprive  them  of  their  most  valuable  Liberties  ! 
Let  us  prize  and  improve  such  rich  Mercies  and  Privileges  while  we 
enjoy  them. 

3.  THE  restoring  Persons  to  the  sweet  afid  desirable  Enjoyments  of 
GOD'S  Worship  and  Ordinances  in  his  House,  that  have  been  so/ne- 
time  detained  therefrom,  is  a  Mercy  that  is  worthy  to  be  heartily  and  pub- 
lickly acknowledged,  and  celebrated  to  the  Honour  and  Praise  of  GOD. 
And  for  this  Mercy  I  would  now  renew  my  Thanksgivings  to  GOD. 

4.  WHEN  Persons  are  recovered  from  a  very  sore  and  dangerous 
Sickness,  or  experience  sotne  great  Deliverance  from  great  and  imminent 
Danger.  Such  a  Mercy  and  Deliverance  should  be  sincerely  and  pub- 
lickly acknowledged,  to  the  Praise  of  GOD. 

But  to  improve  this,  — 

I.  FOR  the  Just  Reproof  of  our  great  Ingratitude  toward  GOD,  for 
the  signal  and  eminent  Mercies  bestowed  upon  us.     How  little  afifected 


792  HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 

are  the  Hearts  of  the  Generality  of  Men  with  the  greatest  of  Mercies  ! 
How  few  are  there  that  prize  a  precious  CHRIST,  and  the  Wonderful 
Offers  of  Life  and  Salvation  through  him  !  How  many  are  guilty  of 
crucifying  him  afresh  by  their  shameful  and  horrible  Continuance  in 
Sin  !  and  how  few  are  there,  comparatively,  that  prize  a  precious  Gospel 
and  the  Ordinances  of  it !  And  what  a  great  Occasion  for  the  renewal  of 
that  awful  Complaint,  Isaiah  liii.  i  :  Who  hath  believed  our  Report]  and 
to  tt'hom  is  the  Arm  of  the  Lord  revealed  "^  Alas  !  How  many  persist  in 
their  Impenitency  and  Unbelief  under  the  Gospel,  notwithstanding  the 
repeated  Calls,  Warnings,  and  Reproofs  that  are  given  them !  how  ill 
do  we  requite  the  Lord  for  his  distinguished  Kindness  to  us  in  favour- 
ing us  with  the  blessed  Gospel,  when  this  Blessing  is  denied  to  vast 
Empires  and  Nations  in  the  World  !  O  that  we  might  be  humbled 
for  our  great  Ingratitude  to  GOD,  and  that  we  might  be  more  thankful 
to  him  for  his  Mercies  !  Those  that  live  in  known  Sins  under  the 
Gospel  are  highly  ungrateful  towards  GOD.  They  are  not  truly  thank- 
ful to  GOD  for  GOSPEL-Mercies,  and  therefore  are  worthy  to  be 
reproved  for  their  great  ingratitude  to  GOD. 

2.  THIS  may  be  improved  to  lead  and  excite  us  to  a  holy  Conte77ipla- 
tion  and  just  Admiration  of  the  glorious  Perfect ioJis  of  GOD.  The 
great  and  wonderful  Mercies  &  Deliverances  which  GOD  sometimes 
grants  to  his  People  do  plainly  show  forth  his  Glory  and  Greatness, 
his  infinite  Power  and  Goodness,  which  should  be  admired  and  cele- 
brated by  us. 

3.  THIS  should  excite  us  to  fear  GOD.  Surely  we  should  be  afraid 
to  sin  against  a  GOD  of  infinite  Power  and  Goodness,  agreeable  to  that 
Expression,  Hosea  iii.  5  :  And  shall  fear  the  Lord  and  his  Goodness. 

THE  next  Use  is  of  Exhortation  :  Let  us  be  exhorted  heartily  to 
praise  GOD  for  his  Mercies,  especially  for  great  and  eminent  Mercies. 
And  for  motives,  consider  — 

1.  THAT  it  is  most  just  that  we  should  acknowledge  GOD  in  the 
Mercies  we  receive  from  him,  and  heartily  praise  hi77i  for  the77i.  It  is 
that  which  GOD  expressly  requires  in  his  written  Word,  and  it  is 
that  which  the  Light  of  Nature  teacheth,  even  to  be  thankful  to  our 
Benefactors. 

2.  IT  is  a  very  delightful,  pleasant,  and  comely  Thing  to  praise  the 
Lord.  Psalm  cxxxv.  3  :  Praise  ye  the  Lord ;  for  the  Lord  is  good :  Si7ig 
Praises  unto  his  Na77ie  ;  for  it  is  pleasa7it.  And  Psalm  cxlvii.  i  :  Praise 
ye  the  Lord :  for  it  is  good  to  sing  praises  to  our  G  OD  ;  for  it  is  pleasa7it ; 
a7id  P?-aise  is  co77tely. 

3.  PRAISING  GOD  is  our  heavenly  E77iploy77ie7it :  it  is  that  which 
the  Saints  are  e77iployed  i7i  for  ever  in  Heave7i ;  a7id  a  right  praisi7ig 


APPENDIX.  ^^^ 
/  Vo 

GOD  on  Earth  is  one  of  the  Means  to  prepare  us  for  Heaven.  Let  us, 
therefore,  be  much  in  the  holy  and  heavenly  exercise  of  praising  GOD. 
Let  us  be  heartily  thankful  for  the  Common  Mercies  we  receive  from 
GOD,  and  praise  him  for  them.  Especially  let  us  praise  GOD  for 
special  and  eminent  Mercies.  Let  us  praise  GOD,  who  spared  not  his 
own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us,  that  we  might  be  delivered  from 
the  Pams  of  Hell,  and  enjoy  those  Pleasures  which  are  at  GOD'S 
right  hand  for  ever  more.  Let  us  praise  GOD  for  Gospel-Mercies,  and 
labour  to  evidence  our  Thankfulness  by  a  Life  of  Obedience,  doing 
the  Things  which  GOD  hath  Commanded,  and  avoiding  those  thingt 
which  he  has  forbidden,  that  so  GOD'S  favour  may  be  towards  us, 
and  the  sweet  Light  of  his  Countenance  shining  upon  us  in  Christ, 
that  we  may  be  saved.     Amen. 


II. 

THE  EASTON  CHURCH  COVENANT  OF   1747. 

The  following  covenant  and  the  preliminary  statement  are  from  the 
oldest  church  records  in  Easton  :  — 

The  First  Pastor  in  Easton,  Rev.  Mr.  Mathew  Short.  Died  ap.  16, 
1 731,  aged  43. 

The  Second  Pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Belcher,  Dissmiss'd  from  his 
pastoral  office  A  Dom  :  1744. 

After  which  the  chh,  perceiving  that  there  was  no  Covenant  to  be 
found  that  ever  this  Chh  had  Subjected  too,  they  thot  itt  Expedient  to 
procure  a  Covenant  agreeable  to  the  Scripture,  and  Sighn  and  Subject 
themselves  unto  which  accordingly  they  did,  which  is  as  follows  :  — 

Easton  Chh  Covenant. 

We,  the  Subscribers,  Members  of  the  Chh  of  Christ  in  Easton,  Mett 
together  the  Sixth  day  of  April,  A  Domini  1747-  Apprehending  itt 
our  duty,  under  our  present  Circumstances,  Solemnly  &  Explicidy  to 
renew  our  Covenant  with  God,  Do  therefore  personally  pressent  our- 
selves this  day  in  the  holy  prescence  of  God  to  transact  with  him  this 
important  affair  of  his  Kingdom  &  Glory,  And  humbling  ourselves 
before  the  Lord  for  all  our  Sins  and  the  Sins  of  Ours  ;  Earnestly  pray- 
ing for  pardoning  Mercy  &  Reconcilliation  with  God  thro  the  Blood  of 


794  HISTORY  OF  EASTON. 

our  Lord  Jesus,  And  for  the  gracious  prescence  and  assistance  of  his 
holy  Spirit,  Under  a  deep  Sense  of  Our  Own  Weakness  &  Unworthy- 
ness,  and  with  an  Humble  Confidence  of  his  faviourable  Acceptation  ; 
Each  of  us  for  ourselves,  and  all  of  us  jointly  together,  do  Renewedly 
Enter  into  Covenant  with  God  and  One  with  Another  in  the  terms 
following  ;  that  is  to  say  :  — 

First  of  all,  we  do  Solemnly  avouch  the  Lord  of  Jehova  Father,  Son, 
&  Holy  Ghost  for  our  portion  &  cheife  good,  and  give  up  ourselves, 
Body  &  Soul,  to  him  to  be  his  Servants  ;  promissing  (by  his  aid  & 
assistance)  to  love  him  &  fear  him,  trust  in  him,  &  yeild  obedience  to 
him  in  all  things,  all  y*"  days  of  our  Lives. 

2ly.  Wher'as  the  Son  of  God  in  our  nature  is  Exalted  as  a  prince 
&  a  Saviour,  the  only  Mediator  of  y*"  New  Covenant  and  Means  of 
Coming  unto  God,  We  do  therefore,  thro  Grace,  accept  of  him  accord- 
ing to  the  Tennor  of  y"  Gospel  offer,  —  that  is  to  say,  as  the  Prophet, 
Preist,  &  King  of  our  Immortal  Souls,  — purpossing  &  promissing  to 
attend  his  teaching  by  his  Word  &  Spirit,  to  Lean  upon  his  Merritt 
and  Intersesscion  with  the  Father  as  the  only  way  for  y*"  obtainment  of 
y^  pardon  of  our  Sins,  the  faviour  of  God,  &  Continuance  therein  ; 
And,  finally,  the  Subduing  all  our  Enemies,  and  working  all  his  works 
in  us  and  for  us. 

3ly.  Wher'as  there  are  different  apprehensions  among  those  that 
profess  Christianity  with  respect  to  y"  Doctrines  of  Religion,  We  do 
declare  our  Consent  &  Adhere  to  the  West  Minster  Assembly's 
Shorter  Chatechism,  Apprehending  in  our  judgment  &  Conscience  that 
itt  is  agreeable  to  the  Word  of  God. 

4ly.  Wher'as  God  has  promiss'!  to  be  a  God  unto  his  People  and 
their  Children  after  them,  We  do  therefore  Dedicate  our  Children  to 
the  Service  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  Promissing  that  we  wil  Season- 
ably bring  those  of  them  that  are  Unbaptized  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the 
Ordinance  of  Baptism  ;  and  as  they  grow  into  years  of  Understanding, 
Instruct  them  in  y"  Nature,  use,  and  End  of  that  Ordinance,  and  Into 
the  Principles  of  y"  Christian  Religion  (So  far  as  need  is).  That  we 
will  Sett  good  Examples  of  Righteousness,  Piety,  and  Sobriety  before 
them  ;  Restrain  them,  as  we  are  able,  from  being  carry'!  away  with  ye 
Temptations  of  their  age  and  time  ;  Endeavouring  that  they  may  be 
preparl  for  the  Enjoyment  of  Christ  in  all  his  Ordinances  ;  And, 
finally,  be  much  in  Prayer  to  God  for  their  Conversion  and  Salvation. 

5ly.  We  promiss  that  we  will  (by  the  help  of  God)  avoid  all  y*" 
Superstitions  &  Inventions  of  men  in  the  Worship  of  God,  as  Deroga- 
tory from  the  Sovereighnty  and  Wisdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Supreme  head  of  his  Chh  ;  that  we  will  not  Scandalously  absent  our- 


APPENDIX. 


795 


selves  from  any  part  of  Instituted  Worship  ;  Do  what  in  us  lies  to 
prepare  ourselves  for,  uphold,  &  Improve  all  the  Ordinances  of  Christ, 
to  the  Scriptural  benefitt  &  advantage  of  our  Souls,  Leaning  upon  the 
promiss  that  God  will  meet  those  that  Rejoyce  and  work  Rightiousness 
and  Remember  him  in  his  ways. 

61y.  We  promiss  (by  the  help  of  God)  that  we  will,  with  as  much 
frequency  as  may  be,  Read,  or  Cause  y"  Word  of  God  to  be  Re'd,  in 
our  houses  or  families,  that  so  the  Word  of  God  may  dwell  Richly 
in  us  ;  Seasonably  and  Constantly  upholding  the  Worship  of  God 
there,  &  attending  the  same  with  Sincerity  and  affection. 

7ly.  Wher'as  we  have  given  up  ourselves  to  y'  Lord  &  to  One 
another  in  the  Lord,  We  purposs  and  promiss  that  we  will  live  to- 
gether in  holy  fellowship  and  all  holy  watchfullness  over  Each  other, 
to  the  prevention  off",  or  Recovery  from,  any  Scandalous  Evils  that, 
thro'  y^  Temptations  of  Satan  or  Corruptions  of  our  own  heart,  we  may 
at  any  time  be  overtaken  with  :  That  we  will  be  as  Spedy  as  may  be  in 
making  up  any  difference  that  may  arise  in  some  Orderly  way  ;  En- 
deavouring also  the  Temporal  &  Spiritual  good  one  of  another. 

Sly.  We  promiss  that,  by  the  help  of  God,  we  will  have  Respect 
unto  all  the  Dutys  Enjoined  in  the  2^  Table  as  being  Necessary  parts 
of  a  right  Ordered  Conversation  ;  Particularly  be  true  and  faithfuU  to 
all  our  Civil  Contracts  and  agreements  with  one  another  and  all  men 
we  have  to  do  with,  that  so  none  may  have  Occascion  to  speak  Evil 
of  our  profession. 

gly.  And,  finally,  wher'as  there  is  a  Strong  Propensity  in  our  Na- 
tures to  what  is  Evil  and  Sinfull,  we  purpose  and  promiss  that,  by  the 
help  of  God's  Spirit,  We  will  keep  our  hearts  and  Mortify  those  Lusts 
that  dwell  in  us  ;  Avoiding  all  such  Temptations  as  our  Sinfull  hearts 
are  wont  to  be  drawn  aside  withall,  and  that  we  may  keep  this  Cove- 
nant Inviolable  for  Ever  in  all  the  Branches  of  itt ;  We  desire  to 
Deny  Ourselves,  not  trusting  in  our  own  Wisdom  or  Strength,  humbly 
and  beleivingly  Depending  upon  God  in  and  thro'  Jesus  Christ  and  the 
prescence  of  his  holy  Spirit  with  us,  and  where  we  Come  Short,  there 
to  wait  on  him  for  pardon  and  healing,  for  his  Names  Sake. 

Solomon  Prentice,  pasr. 

Josiah  Perry.  James  Stacy. 

Joseph  Randall.  Thos.  Randall. 

James  Dean.  Ephraim  Randall. 

John  Kinsley.  I-'^rael  Randall. 

Geor-e  Keyzar.  Thol  Randall. 

Benajah  Smith.  Sam'.'  Phillips,  Jun: 

Nath'.'  Perry.  fEben^  Ames. 


796 


HISTORY   OF   EASTON. 


f  David  Newland. 

John  Drake. 
fHenry  Howard. 

Benj^  Pettingill. 
f  Samuel  Briggs. 
fDaniel  Niles. 

Mathew  Hayward. 

Nath"  Allger. 

Tho':  Randal],  Jun': 

Sam'.'  Phillips. 
Presbyterians  admitl'1 :  - 
fW™  Pratt,  Jun^ 

Sam'.'  Randall. 

Tho?  Drake. 

Sam'.'  Drake. 

James  Pratt,  Jun^ 

John  Whitman,  Jun": 

Jos.  Grossman,  Jun^ 

Jonath.  Lothrop. 

Nehemi  Randall. 

Jos.  Lothrop. 


John  Drake,  Jun": 
Abrah :   Drake. 
John  Selle. 
Wetherell  Wittum. 
James  Pratt. 
Robert  Randall. 
Ephriam  Randall. 
Israel  Randall. 
Edward  Hayward. 
Joseph  Grossman. 
Seth  Babbitt. 
John  Phillips,  Jun': 
Tho^.  Pratt. 
Joseph  Drake. 
Eliphalet  Leonard. 
Tho^  Allger. 
Benj?  Drake. 
Ebenr  Phillips. 
Joshua  Phillips. 
Israel  Randall,  Jun': 
Solomon  Hewitt. 


i 


I 


Note.  —  Those  who  joined  after  April,  1747,  are  marked  thus,  t.     The  others 
were  no  doubt  the  original  signers. 

The  names  of  the  Women  Members  of  the  Chh  of  Christ  in  Easton 
follows  ;  viz.  :  — 


1.  Hannah  Hayward. 

2.  Mary  Daily. 

3.  Sarah  Allger. 

4.  Hannah  Lothrop. 

5.  Rebecca  Phillips. 

6.  Ruth  Leonard. 

7.  Sarah  Babbitt. 

8.  Damaris  Phillips. 

9.  Hannah  Pratt. 
ID.  Mary  Pratt. 

11.  Mehittable  Perry. 

12.  Martha  Randall. 

13.  Hannah  Dean. 

14.  Mercy  Randall. 

15.  Sarah  Manley. 

16.  Elizab.  Phillips. 

17.  Mary  Keith. 

18.  Eliza  Keyzar. 

19.  Abigail  Williams. 

20.  Lydia  Howard. 


21.  Elizab  :  Drake. 

22.  Susanna  Hewitt. 

23.  Mary  Williams. 

24.  Martha  Pratt. 

25.  Hepzibeth  Pratt. 

26.  Lydia  Randall. 

27.  Mercy  Drake. 

28.  Hannah  Selle. 

29.  Mary  Smith. 

30.  Mary  Randall. 

31.  Mary  Perry. 

32.  Tamar  Drake. 

33.  Sarah  Whitman. 

34.  Mary  Whitman. 

35.  Hannah  Woodward. 

36.  Susanora  Lincoln. 
^7.  Mary  Turner. 

38.  Anna  Randall. 

39.  Mary  Randall. 

40.  Experience  Hudson. 


APPENDIX. 


797 


41.  Sarah  Ames.f  51.  Sarah  Drake. 

42.  Prudence  Drake.  52.  Mercy  Manley. 

43-  Experience  Randall.  53.  Lydia  Manley,  Widow. 

44-  Rachel  Gilbert.  54.  Bettie  Kinsley. 

45-  Abigail  Grossman.  55.  Mary  Pettingill. 

46.  Jane  Allger.  56.  Kezia  Hayward.f 

47.  Mary  Grossman. f  57.  Abigail  Newland.f 

48.  Sussanna  Lothrop.  58.  Sarah  Phillips.f 
49-  Bethiah  Sullard.f  59.  Hannah  Fobes.f 
50.  Mehitable  Stacy.f  60.  Sarah  Jordan.f 

Note.  —  Those  who  joined  after  April,  1747,  are  marked  thus.t. 

The  Second  Church  Covenant,  1764. 

There  is  a  gap  in  the  church  records  of  about  eight  years  (1754- 
1762).  A  new  book  is  bought  in  December,  1763,  but  the  records 
begin  June  25,  1762.  The  book  begins  with  a  new  covenant  and  list 
of  church-members,  —  probably  drawn  up  after  Mr.  Campbell  was 
settled   (1764). 

Covenant  of  1764. 

We,  the  Subscribers,  Each  of  us  for  ourselves  and  all  of  us  Joyntly, 
Do  Enter  Into  Covenant  with  God  and  with  one  another  in  y'^  manner 
Following;  viz.:  — 

I.  First  of  all,  v/e  Do  Avouch  y*"  Lord  JEHOVAH,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  for  our  Portion  and  Cheife  good  ;  and  give  up  our  selves, 
Bodys  &  Souls,  to  him,  to  be  his  servants,  promising,  by  his  ade  & 
assistance,  to  love,  Fear,  Trust  in,  &  yeald  obedience  to  him  In  all 
things  all  the  Days  of  our  lives. 

II.  We  Do  accept  of  Jesus  Christ  (through  grace),  according  to  the 
Gospel  offer  (viz.),  as  a  Prophet,  Priest,  &  King;  Purposing  by  his 
grace  to  Attend  his  Teaching  by  his  word  and  Spirit,  Relying  upon 
his  Merrits  &  Intercession  with  the  Father  as  the  only  way  for  ob- 
taining y'=  Pardon  of  Sin,  y^  favour  of  God,  and  our  Souls  Everlasting 
Salvation. 

III.  Where  as  there  are  Different  Apprehensions  among  those  that 
Profess  Christianity  with  Respect  to  y"  Doctrines  of  Religion,  We 
Declare  our  assent  to  y'  Assemblys  Shorter  Catechism,  as  Containing 
those  Doctrines  that  are  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God. 

IV.  We  Do  Promise  to  Dedicate  our  Children  to  God  In  Jesus 
Christ  In  y'=  ordinance  of  Baptism,  &  as  they  grow  to  years  of  under- 
standing we  will  Instruct  them  Into  the  Principles  of  the  Christian 


798  HISTORY  OF  EASTON. 

Religion  ;  and  that  we  will  set  good  examples  of  Piety  before  them,  & 
Restraine  them  as  far  as  we  are  able  from  y^  prevailing  Sins  of  their 
age  &  Time,  &  Indeavour  that  they  may  be  prepared  for  the  Injoy- 
ment  of  God  in  all  his  ordinances,  and,  finally,  be  much  In  prayer  for 
them  ourselves. 

V.  We  Do  Promise,  by  y^  help  of  God,  that  we  will,  with  as  much 
frequency  as  may  be,  Read  the  word  of  God  In  our  famelys,  that  So  y^ 
word  of  God  may  Dwell  Richly  among  us,  &  that  we  will  Constantly 
uphold  y"  worship  of  God  therein. 

VI.  We  Do  promise,  by  the  help  of  God,  to  avoid  all  Superstitions 
and  inventions  of  men  In  the  worship  of  God,  that  we  will  not  scandel- 
ously  absint  ourselves  from  any  part  of  Instituted  worship,  and  Do 
what  In  us  lies  for  the  upholding  of  all  y*"  ordinances  of  Christ  to  our 
Spiritual  benifits,  and  we  will  make  Choice  of  two  or  more  Elders  in 
ye  Chh. 

VII.  Where  as  we  have  given  our  selves  to  the  Lord,  &  to  one 
another  In  y"  Lord,  we  Do  promise  to  live  together  In  holy  fellowship 
&  watchfulness  over  Each  other  to  y^  prevention  of,  or  Recovery  from, 
any  Scandalous  Evils  that  we  may  be  overtaken  with  ;  that  we  will  be 
as  speedy  as  may  be  In  making  up  any  Difference  that  may  arise  In 
some  orderly  way  ;  and  if  any  Ecclesiastical  Differences  shall  arise 
which  y''  Chh  Cannot  Issue  among  themselves,  the  said  Difference  or 
Differences  shall  be  Referred  to  such  a  Number  of  ministers  &  Chh'.  In 
Regular  standing  as  the  Chh  :  shall  chuse,  and  the  Determination  of 
y*"  major  part  of  them  shall  be  the  final  Decision  of  all  Differences  of 
Ecclesiastical  Controversies  Referred  to  them. 

VIII.  And,  lastly,  that  we  may  keep  this  Cov'  Inviolably  In  all  y^ 
Branches  of  It,  we  Desire  to  Deny  ourselves,  not  Trusting  In  our  own 
Wisdom  or  Strength,  &  Believingly  Depending  upon  God  In  &  through 
Jesus  Christ  &  the  Influences  of  his  holy  Spirit  on  us,  where  we  Come 
Short,  there  to  waite  on  him  for  Pardon  and  healing  for  his  Name 
Sake. 

The  following  Persons  Signed  upon  y"  Renewal  of  the  Covenant : 

Robert  Randall.  James  Pratt. 

James  Deane.  Israel  Randall. 

Joseph  Drake.  Joseph  Randall. 

Benjamin  Drake.  Thomas  Pratt. 

Benjamin  Drake,  2.  Benjamin  Pettingell. 

John  Selee.  Jonathan  Lathrop. 

Thomas  Drake.  Nehemiah  Randall. 

Joseph  Grossman.  Mathew  Haward. 

Samuel  Phillips.  Joseph   Gilbert. 


APPENDIX. 


799 


William  Pratt,  2"<i. 
Joseph  Grossman,  Jun. 
Samuel  Randall. 
Sarah  Drake. 
Elizabeth  Keyzar. 
Hannah  Lathrop. 
Abigail  Williams. 
Mary  Manley. 
Elizabeth  Drake. 
Damerus  Phillips. 
Coziah  Haward. 


Ruth  Keith. 
Hannah  Brittain. 
Hannah  Fobes. 
Susannah  Lathrop. 
Sarah  Drake. 
Martha  Randall. 
Mercy  Randall. 
Hannah  Deane. 
Rebeka  Williams. 
Hannah  Williams. 


The  small  number  of  these  signers  as  compared  with  those  who 
signed  in  1747  is  noteworthy.  It  betokens  the  decrease  of  regard  for 
the  institutions  of  religion  consequent  upon  the  bitter  contentions  that 
had  meantime  occurred.  Thus  religion  ever  suffers  most  in  the  house 
of  its  friends. 


INDEX, 


5' 


INDEX. 


Adams,  Rev.  C.  C,  40S. 
Adams,  Charles  Francis,  638. 
Adams,  James,  294,  351,  note^  661,  669;  men- 
tion of,  with  extracts  from  his  poetry,  764. 
Adams,  John,  624. 
Adams,  Deacon  John,  96. 
Adams,  John  Quincy,  633,  635,  636. 
Adams,  Samuel,  216,  624,  632. 
Adams,  William,  211,  213,  215,  218,  284,  293. 
Alden,  Gustavus,  532,  549,  564. 

John,  54. 

Warner,  533,  564. 

Abiezer,  280,  425,  594. 

Ansel,  12,  471. 

Benjamin,  297. 

Bernard,  336,  353, 356,  357,  643,  662, 670. 

Bernard,  Mrs.,  770. 

Cyrus,  44,  285,  297,  512,  516,  584,  589, 

629,  644. 

Daniel,  432. 

Elizabeth,  336. 

Capt.  George,  311,  512,  514. 

Mrs.  Hannah,  669. 

Israel,  461,  480,  662,  693. 

Rev.  Israel,  brief  biographical  sketch  of. 


Alden, 
Alden, 
Alger 
Alger, 
Alger, 
Alger 
Alger 
Alger 

591 

Alger, 
Alger, 
Alger, 
Alger' 
Alger 
Alger, 

693 
Alger 
Alger, 
Alger, 
Alger, 
Alger, 
Alger^ 
Alger, 
Allen 
Allen 
Allen, 
Allen 
Allen 
Allen 
Allen, 
Allen 
Allen 
Allen 


Jane,  797. 

Mary  Howard,  471. 

Nathaniel,  673,  796. 

Polly,  471. 

Rachel  Howard,  671,  693. 

Sarah,  796. 

Thomas,  673,  796. 

Abijah,  235. 

Eben,  495. 

Dr.  Ebenezer,  725. 

Mrs.  Experience,  672. 

George,  184. 

Helen,  495. 

Jacob,  211. 

Capt.  John,  168,  219,  232. 

John  W.,  612. 

Josiah,  145. 


Allen,  Paul,  246. 

Allen,  Phineas,  212,  220,  224. 

Allen,  Rebecca,  496,  669. 

Allen,  Samuel  C,  625,  634. 

Allen,  Turell,  184,  293. 

Allen,  Thompson,  300. 

Allton,  Rev.  Abel,  332. 

Almy,  Charles,  636. 

Ames,  Angier,  650. 

Ames,  Mrs.  Anna  C,  659. 

Ames,  Azel,  Jr.,  594. 

Ames,  Catharine  Hayward,  660. 

Ames,  Ebenezer,  473,  507,  642,  672,  673,  795. 

Ames,  Ellis,  307,  742,  743,  749. 

Ames,  Eveline  Gilmore,  657,  660. 

Ames,  Eveline  O.,  654. 

Ames,  Frank  M.,  513,  515,  646,654;  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch,  660. 

Ames,  Hon.  Frederick  Lothrop,  3,  4,  40, 44, 47, 
54,  123,  278,  286,  377,  379,  500,  591,  595, 
606,  607,  646,  657;  the  new  station  presented 
by  him  to  the  Old  Colony  R.  R.,  6S5  ;  his 
house  and  grounds,  685 ;  his  early  business 
life,  752;  positions  of  honor  and  trust  held 
by  him,  753;  his  personal  characteristics,  753. 

Ames,  Dr.  George  H.,  723. 

Ames,  Harriet,  650. 

Ames,  Helen  Angier,  411,  500,  657. 

Ames,  Henry  G.,  500,  654. 

Ames,  Hobart,  621. 

Ames,  Horatio,  345,  650. 

Ames,  Rev.  Jarvis  Adams,  brief  sketch  of  his 
early  life  and  later  labors  in  the  ministry,  694. 

Ames,  Capt.  John,  593,  64S. 

Ames,  John,  592. 

Ames,  John,  2d,  650,  662. 

Ames,  Jotham,  4S3,  669,  694,  739. 

Ames,  Nathaniel,  74,  277. 

Ames,  Hon.  Oakes,  280,  326,  356,  375,  376. 
593.  595.  597,  59S,  607,  646,  650,  657,  660, 
759;  his  bequest  to  town  for  school  fund, 
400  ;  with  his  brother  assumes  control  of  his 
father's  business,  651  ;  his  political  life,  651  ; 
his  connection  with  the  building  of  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad,  651-654;  the  Credit  Mobi- 


8o4 


INDEX. 


lier  affair  and  its  outcome,  652,  653;  resolu- 
tion of  the  Mass.  Legislature  in  his  honor, 
653;  strong  points  of  his  character,  654;  his 
family,  654;  his  death,  654;  the  Memorial 
Hall  built  by  his  sons,  687. 

Ames,  Oakes  Angier,  500,  595,  596,  598,  606, 
607,  654,  6S7. 

Ames,  Hon.  Oliver,  Sr.,  53,  2S0,  2S3,  375, 
391,  409,  438,  441,  592,  593,  595,  626,  627, 
646,  651,  655,  670;  his  birth  and  parentage, 
648;  establishes  his  shovel  factory  at  Easton, 
648 ;  his  political  service,  649 ;  striking  points 
of  his  character,  649,  650;  his  family,  650, 

Ames,  Hon.  Oliver,  Jr.,  357, 377,  385,  500,  528, 
534,  591,  595.  597.  59^)  606,  607,  629,  646, 
648,  650,  752,  759,  764;  his  bequest  for  a 
free  library  at  Easton,  378 ;  assists  to  build  a 
schoolhouse  for  North  Easton,  393 ;  his  be- 
quest to  the  town  for  a  school  fund,  399 ; 
builds  a  new  church  for  the  Unitarian  So- 
ciety, 411;  his  efforts  for  temperance,  441; 
bequeaths  fund  for  improvements  on  public 
highways,  468;  bequeaths  fund  for  care  of 
village  cemetery,  501 ;  his  early  life  at  Easton, 
655;  his  political  affiliations  and  services, 
655  ;  his  co-operation  with  Oakes  in  the 
building  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  656; 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  656; 
his  private  life  and  character,  656 ;  as  a 
philanthropist,  657. 

Ames,  Gov.  Oliver,  3S5,  400,  512,  515,  595, 
606,  607,  640,  646,  647,  654,  685,  688,  754  ; 
his  bequest  to  the  town  of  Easton  for  plant- 
ing trees  along  the  highways,  469;  brief 
biographical  sketch,  —  his  birth  and  early 
education,  657;  as  a  business  man  and  finan- 
cier, 65  S  ;  his  connection  with  politics,  658; 
his  marriage  and  home  life,  659. 

Ames,  Oliver,  2d,  754. 

Ames,  Parmenas,  211,  220,  232. 

Ames,  Polly  Lothrop,  694,  739. 

Ames,  Mrs.  Rachel,  671. 

Ames,  Rebecca  Blair,  754. 

Ames,  Ruby  Sedgwick,  694. 

Ames,  Rufus,  483,  641,  643,  671. 

Ames,  Sarah  Lothrop  (Mrs.  Oliver),  27^,  648, 
657,687,  752,  797. 

Ames,  Susanna  Angier,  648,  650,  651,  655. 

Ames,  Susanna  Howard,  648,  670. 

Ames,  Washington  L.,  739. 

Ames,  Willard,  613. 

Ames,  William,  74,  669. 

Ames,  William,  483. 

Ames,  Dr.  William,  64S. 

Ames,  William  L.,  650. 

Amsden,  Frank  H.,  613. 

Anderson,  A.  B.,  414. 

Anderson,  Andrew,  414. 

Anderson,  Augustus,  414. 

Anderson,  James,  227. 


Anderson,  Major,  521. 

Andrew,  Gov.  John  A.,  521,  635,  647. 

Andrew,  John  F.,  636. 

Andrews,   Edmund,   170,  182,  224,  507;  brief 

biographical  sketch  of,  740. 
Andrews,  Capt.  Edmund,  740. 
Andrews,  Elisha  T.,  598,  640. 
Andrews,  Lieut.  George  W.,  524,  530,  536,  565. 
Andrews,  Henry,  20. 
Andrews,  Capt.  James,  163,  228. 
Andrews,  John,  238. 
Andrews,  Keziah  Dean,  740. 
Andrews,  Lemuel,  212,  220,  230,  232. 
Andrews,  William  G.,  597. 
Andrews,  William  S.,  598,  637. 
Angier,  Rev.  Joseph,  410. 
Angier,  Rev.  L.  H.,  368. 
Angier,  Rev.  M.  B.  368. 
Anthony,  Mrs.  Polly,  669. 
Armstrong,  Samuel  T.,  625,  634. 
Arnolt,  Adam,  507. 
Ashley,  William  C,  529  and  note,  565. 
Aspinwall,  Col.  Thomas,  307. 
Atwood,  Isaac,  164. 
Atwood,  J.  D.,  610,  620. 
Austin,  Deborah  Caswell,  53. 
Austin,  Elizabeth  Briggs,  53. 
Austin,  John,  early  settler  in  Easton,  prior  to 

incorporation,  20,  53,  76,  145,  673. 
Austin,  Jonah,  53. 
Austin,  Priscilla,  53. 
Austin,  William,  Sr.,  296. 
Austin,  William  T.,  669. 
Avery,  Rev.  Joseph,  143. 
Axtel,  Lady,  69. 
Axtel,  Thankful  Pratt,  69. 
Axtell,  Daniel,  69. 
Ayers,  Leonard,  483. 


B. 


Babbitt,  Abigail,  719. 

Babbitt,  Benjamin,  234. 

Babbitt,  Edward,  20. 

Babbitt,  Elizabeth  Vinton,  720. 

Babbitt,  Erasmus,  719;  early  settler  in  Easton 
prior  to  incorporation,  49,  304. 

Babbitt,  Isaac,  234. 

Babbitt,  Nathaniel,  159,  50S. 

Babbitt,  Sarah,  796. 

Babbitt,  Seth,  673,  796  ;  early  settler  in  Eas- 
ton prior  to  incorporation,  44,  49,  84,  168, 
174. 

Babbitt,  Dr.  Seth,  49,  165,  167,  303,  471 ;  brief 
biographical  sketch  of,  719. 

Babbitt,  Simeon,  145,  507. 

Babbitt,  Thomas,  159. 

Babbitt,  Willard,  589. 

Babbitt,  William,  673. 


INDEX. 


805 


Babcock,  Adam,  246. 

Backus,  Rev.  Isaac,  quoted,  176. 

Badlam,  Ezra,  100. 

Badlam,  Hannah  Belcher,  100. 

Badlam,  Stephen,  100. 

Badlam,  Deacon  Stephen,  100. 

Bagley,  Rebecca  Huidekoper,  411, 

Bailey,  Guido,  48. 

Bailey,  John,  498. 

Bailey,  John,  Jr.,  498. 

Bailey,  Col.  John,  214,  226,  235,  251. 

Bailey,  Rev.  John,  328. 

Bailey,  Rebecca,  498. 

Bailey,  Roland,  232. 

Bailey,  Seth,  231,  232. 

Baker,  Charles,  522,  526,  564. 

Baker,  Isaac  H.,  555. 

Baker,  John  I.,  636. 

Balch,  Rev.  Mr.,  106. 

Baldwin,  William  F.,  6og,  620. 

Ball,  James,  228. 

Ballard,  Charles  R.,  379,  388,  616 ;  his  poem 
at  the  dedication  of  the  soldiers'  monument, 
quoted,  617 ;  brief  biographical  sketch  of,  754. 

Ballou,  Adin,  362. 

Bancroft,  George,  625,  634. 

Bands,  military,  their  organization  and  mem- 
bers,  607-609. 

Banks  in  Easton,  organization  and  officers  of, 
606,  667. 

Banks,  N.  P.  630,  635. 

Barclay,  John,  625,  634. 

Barclay,  William,  169,  284. 

Barden,  John  T.,  449. 

Barlow,  David,  593. 

Barlow,  James  P.,  brief  biographical  sketch  of, 
741. 

Barlow,  John,  471. 

Barnard,  Isaac,  193. 

Barnard,  Rev.  Stephen  A.,  361. 

Barrett,  Isaac,  425. 

Barrows,  Abbot  B.,  545,  564. 

Barrows,  C.  M.,  388. 

Barrows,  George,  606,  609. 

Barrows,  Dr.  George,  726. 

Barrows,  Joseph,  -^-j-]^  3S3,  412,  497,  607,  616, 
637,  644,  646,  764. 

Barrows,  Miss  Sarah  W.,  386,  402. 

Barrows,  William,  630,  637,  646. 

Bartlett,  Ansel  T.,  613. 

Bartlett,  Capt.  Asa,  510,  514. 

Bartlett,  Benjamin,  639. 

Bartlett,  Ebenezer,  307,  323. 

Bartlett,  Elijah,  292. 

Bartlett,  John,  527,  544,  564. 

Bartlett,  Joseph,  307. 

Bartlett,  Peter,  501. 

Bartlett,  Samuel  D.,  613. 

Bartlett,  Mrs.  Susanna,  66g. 

Bartlett,  William,  16S. 


Bass,  Samuel,  457. 

Bates,  Benjamin,  485. 

Bates,  Rev.  George  H.,  408,  612,  646. 

Bates,  John  A.,  376,  627. 

Bates,  Rev.  Lewis  B.,  332,  386,  408;  his 
appointment  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  North  Easton,  320,  406 ;  division 
of  the  church  during  his  ministry,  406-408. 

Bates,  William  C,  401. 

Baylies,  Francis,  634. 

Baylies,  William,  655,  751. 

Beach,  Erasmus  D.,  635. 

Beal,  Rev.  Mr.,  363. 

Beal,  Thomas  Prince,  627. 

Bean,  Thomas,  532,  537,  564,  612,  613,  646. 

Beaver  Brook,  formerly  called  Little  or  Coop- 
er's Brook,  12. 

Beaver  Dam,  1 5. 

Beaver  Pond,  15. 

Beebe,  Eliphalet,  223,  227. 

Belcher,  Clifford,  607,  608,  671. 

Belcher,  Daniel,  496,  556,  560,  585,  607,  608. 

Belcher,  Madam  Deborah,  96. 

Belcher,  Elizabeth  Ruggles,  96. 

Belcher,  Gregory,  ist,  96. 

Belcher,  Gregory,  2d,  100,  168. 

Belcher,  George  C,  386,  646. 

Belcher,  George  W.,  608. 

Belcher,  James,  585,  5S6. 

Belcher,  Jonathan,  99. 

Belcher,  Dr.,  Joseph,  100,  160,  and  note,  218, 

739- 

Belcher,  Rev.  Joseph,  of  Dedham,  96. 

Belcher,  Rev.  Joseph,  106;  called  to  his  first 
settlement  at  Easton,  94 ;  the  terms  of  his 
settlement,  94,  95  ;  his  acceptance  of  the 
call,  95  ;  his  parentage  and  eaily  life,  96 ; 
his  ordination  at  Easton,  97 ;  his  difficulties 
with  the  parish,  and  is  finally  dismissed  from 
his  pastorate,  98 ;  his  reported  insanity,  98  ; 
continues  to  reside  in  Easton  after  his  dis- 
missal, 99 ;  his  subsequent  difficulties  and 
law-suits  with  various  townsmen,  99;  con- 
demned to  jail,  but  escapes,  100  ;  final  dis- 
position of  his  property  and  his  children, 
100 ;  uncertainty  as  to  his  subsequent  career, 
100,  loi,  739. 

Belcher,  Samuel,  100. 

Belcher,  Solomon,  312. 

Belcher,  William,  100. 

Bellows,  Charles,  522,  564. 

Bemis,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  328. 

Benoni,  Benjamin  ("  Old  Bunn  "),  390,  431. 

Benoni,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  431. 

Bent,  Capt.  Lemuel,  166,  169. 

Benton,  Sandford,  325. 

Berry,  Clark  T.,  613. 

Berry,  L.  L.,  295,  605,  609,  620. 

Binney,  Amos,  140,  327,  599. 

Bird,  Augustus,  394. 


8o6 


INDEX. 


Bird,  Francis  W.,  635. 

Bird,  Virgil,  526,  530,  565. 

Bisbee,  Mrs.  Betsey,  670. 

Bisbee,  Ebenezer,  212. 

Bisbee,  John,  326,  376,  498,  670. 

Bishop,  Henry  VV.,  634,  635. 

Bishop,  Hon.  Robert  R.,  636,  658. 

Blackman,  Timothy,  669. 

Blair,  James,  754. 

Blair,  Nancy,  754. 

Blaisdell,  Andrew,  312. 

Blaisdell,  Benjamin  G.,  609. 

Blaisdell,  Daniel  B.,  522,  527,  531,  565. 

Blaisdell,  Oliver  H.,  522,  551,  565,  612. 

Blake,  Rev.  Ebenezer,  325. 

Blake,  Capt.  Edward,  170,  224. 

Blake,  Mrs.  Rachel,  672. 

Blanchard,  George  N.,  526,  543,  548,  565,  613. 

Bliss,  George  T.,  608. 

Bliss,  Martin,  592. 

Blood,  Luther,  613. 

Bolles,  Anna  Hibbard,  695,  741. 

Bolles,  Catherine  Hartwell  Dix,  741. 

Bolles,  Rev.  David,  695. 

Bolles,  Frank,  741. 

Bolles,  John  Augustus,  695  ;  brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  741. 
Bolles,  Matthew,  662,  741,  note. 
Bolles,  Matthew,  Jr.,  695. 
Bolles,   Rev.  Matthew,  741 ;  sketch  of,  695. 
Bolles,  Timothy  Dix,  741. 
Boltwood,  Lucius,  634. 
Bond,  Alonzo,  609. 
Bonney,  Josiah,  312, 
Bonney,  Lucien,  6og. 
Bonney,  Mrs.  Parnell,  671. 
Bonney,  William,  212,  221,  228,  233. 
Boodry,  B.  F.,  495,  526,  543,  565,  615. 
Boodry,  G.  A.,  495. 
Boodiy,  George  J.  Jr.,  532,  537,  565. 
Booth,  Mrs.  Sally,  671. 
Borg,  William,  414. 
Boston  Gazette,  quoted,  207,  208,  209. 
Bosworth,  Hattie,  49S. 
Bosworth,  Jonathan,  233. 
Bosworth,  William  H.,  613. 
Boutwell,  George  S.,  634. 
Boyden,  A.,  585. 
Boyle,  Mrs.  Bridget,  671. 
Bragdon,  Mrs.  Sarah,  671. 
Brazier,  Benjamin,  227. 
Brett,  Calvin,  288,321,484,  587,  5S9,  590,637, 

643,  646,  670,  696. 
Brett,  Ebenezer,  233. 
Brett,  Dr.  George,  598,  609  ;  brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  737. 
Brett,  John  C,  590. 
Brett,  Jonathan,  639,  ^yj. 
Brett,  Martha  Bartlett,  Til- 
Brett,  Olive,  671. 


Brett,  Sarah  Alden,  695. 
Brett,  Seth,  695. 

Brett,  Rev.  Silas,  60, 102,  263  ;  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  695. 
Brett,  Silas  H.,  311. 
Brett,  Mrs.  Thankful,  672. 

Brett,  Thankful  Howard,  696. 

Briggs,  Abigail  Patten,  724. 

Briggs,  Charles,  607. 

Briggs,  Rev.  Charles,  410. 

Briggs,  Clement,  21,  33,  6S4 ;  first  settler  in 
Easton,  39,  42,  43,  74,  276,  281,  297. . 

Briggs,  George  N.,  625,  634,  635. 

Briggs,  Jabez,  230. 

Briggs,  Jonathan,  20.  - 

Briggs,  Samuel,  21,  32,  796.    — 

Briggs,  Thomas,    21 ;  first  settler  within  the 
Taunton  North  Purchase,  22. 

Briggs,  Thomas,  Jr.,  21. 

Briggs,  Timothy,  724. 

Brigham,  Rev.  C.  H.,  410,  412. 

Britton,  Charles,  495. 

Britton,  Charles  L.,  Jr.,  536,  543,  565. 

Britton,  Mrs.  Cynthia,  670. 

Britton,  Floyer,  494. 

Britton,  Frank,  494. 

Britton,  Hannah,  799. 

Britton,  James,  397. 

Britton,  John,  221,  233. 

Britton,  Joshua,  3S5,  637. 

Britton,  Maria  B.,  696. 

Britton,  Nathaniel,  224. 

Britton,  Rev.  Nelson  Williams,  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  696. 

Britton,  Pendleton,  17,  160,  221,  224,  670. 

Britton,  Philip,  221. 

Britton,  Sarah  H.,  696. 

Britton,  Susan,  494. 

Britton,  Thomas,  313,  374. 

Britton,  William,  224,  229,  277. 

Britton,  W^illiam,  Jr.,  696. 

Britton,  Zachariah,  304,  672. 

Bromfield,  Richard,  169. 

Brook,  Black,  13. 

Brook,  Beaver,  12. 

Brook,  Cooper's,  12. 

Brook,  Cranberry  Meadow,  13. 

Brook,  Gallows,  13. 

Brook,  Little,  t2. 

Brook,  Long  Swamp,  g. 

Brook,  Mauley's,  11. 

Brook,  Mulberry-Meadow,  11. 

Brook,  Poquanticut,  11. 

Brook,  Rocky-Meadow,  10. 

Brook,  Spring,  13. 

Brook,  W^hitman's,  11. 

Brooks,  Rev.  Charles,  409,  412. 

Brooks,  John,  633. 

Brown,  Addison,  721. 

Brown,  Catherine  B.  Griffin,  721. 


INDEX. 


807 


Brown,  Erastus,  3S5. 

Brown,  Rev.  E.  C.  L.,  quoted  in  reference  to 
the  ruins  of  the  old  religious  settlement  at 
Dorchester,  S.  C,  65. 
Brown,  Gen.  Jacob,  308. 
Brown,  John,  286,  584,  613. 
Bruce,  Ebenezer,  165,  169,  212. 
Brumige,  Richard,  168. 
Bryant,  Dr.,  of  Bridgewater,  489. 
Bryant,  John,  20. 

Bryant,  Nathan,  162,  166,  168,  169,  507. 
Bryant,  Seth,  164. 
Buck,  Abijah,  395. 
Buck,  Archippus,  12,  396,  449,  489,  509,  514, 

644,  670. 
Buck,  Barnabas,  671. 
Buck,  Benjamin,  489,  671,  672,  697. 
Buck,  Clarissa  Brj'ant,  697. 
Buck,  Chester,  304. 
Buck,  Rev.    Charles    H.,    brief    biographical 

sketch  of,  697. 
Buck,  Franklin,  547,  565. 
Buck,  Harriet,  494. 
Buck,  Mrs.  Hannah,  671. 
Buck,  Mrs.  Horace,  12. 
Buck,  Jane,  494. 
Buck,  Jeptha,  601. 
Buck,  Julia  O.,  697. 
Buck,  Milly,  4S9. 
Buck,  Mrs.  Melatiah,  672. 
Buck,  Nathan,  309 ;    unfortunate  shooting  of 
Charles  Gilbert  at   New  Bedford,  309;  his 
indictment  and  trial,  310. 
Buck,  Ruth,  494,  670,  671. 
Buck,  Ruth  Thompson,  304. 
Buck,  Mrs.  Sylvia,  489,  671. 
Buck,  Tarteus,  12,  304,  669. 
Buck,  Thankful  Selee,  494,  775. 
Buck,  Thomas,  230,  233. 
Buck,  Zeno,  494. 
Buck,  Zeno  F.,  547,  565. 
Buchanan,  President,  520. 
Buckley,    Daniel   F.,   biographical   sketch   of, 

741. 
Buckley,  Jerry,  297. 
Bullock,  Alexander  H.,  635. 
Bullock,  Hon.  Stephen,  460. 
Bump,  Joseph,  542,  565. 
Bump,  Capt.  William  E.,  512,  514. 
Bump,  William  E.,  Jr.,  522,  565,  611. 
Bundy,  John,  his  grant  in  the  Taunton  North- 
Purchase  Territory,  21. 
Burial  Places,  former  custom  of  having  family 
graves  in  private  grounds,  470  ;   the  action 
of  the  Taunton  North-Purchase  Company  in 
regard  to  granting  land  for  burial  purposes, 
472 ;    the   Old   Burying  Ground,    472 ;    the 
Thomas  Manley  Cemetery,  474  ;  the  Lieut, 
John    Williams    burying-ground,    475 ;    the 
Ferguson    burying-ground,    477;     the    Old 


Bay-road  Cemetery,  477  ;  the  Elijah  Howard 
Cemetery,  479,  616;  the  Pine  Grove  Ceme- 
tery, 479,  615  ;  Washington  Street  Cemetery, 
4S0,  615  ;  the  Isaac  Lothrop  Cemetery,  4S2, 
6x6 ;  the  Col.  John  Williams  graveyard, 
483 ;  the  Seth  Pratt  Cemetery,  484 ;  the 
Central  Cemetery,  485,  615;  the  Oliver 
Howard  burying-ground,  486;  the  Wilbur 
graveyard,  487  ;  the  Keith  graveyard  on  the 
Bay  road,  488,616;  the  William  Dean  Ceme- 
tery, 488 ;  the  Dr.  Edward  Dean  Cemetery, 
4S9, 61 5  ;  the  Elijah  Copeland  graveyard,  491 ; 
the  Nehemiah  Howard  graveyard,  492;  the 
Capt.  Jedediah  Willis  graveyard,  492;  the 
Asa  Newcomb  graveyard,  492 ;  the  Asaph 
Howard  graveyard,  493  :  the  Apollos  Clark 
burying-ground,  493 ;  the  Record  Cemetery, 
494;  the  John  Selee  Cemetery,  494,  616;  the 
Silas  Phillips  graveyard,  495,  616;  the  Alms- 
house burying-ground,  496;  the  Furnace 
Village  Cemetery,  496,  615;  the  Fasten 
Cemetery,  497,  614  ;  the  Roman  Catholic 
Cemetery,  499,  614  ;  the  Village  Cemetery, 
500,  615:  abandoned  graveyards,  501  ;  pro- 
posed remedy  for  unmarked  and  neglected 
graves,  504  ;  names  of  soldiers  buried  in  the 
town  cemeteries,  614-616. 

Burr,  David  Barton,  702. 

Burr,  Capt.  Ephraim,  1S4,  227,  282,  292,  514  ; 
brief  sketch  of  his  military  career,  250,  510. 

Burr,  John,  250. 

Burr,  Jonathan,  224. 

Burr,  Joshua,  23S. 

Burr,  Mrs.  Nabby,  671. 

Burr,  Rufus,  239. 

Burr,  Seth,  219,  225,  298. 

Burr,  Simeon,  213,  235,  and  note. 

Burr,  Susan  Harriet,  702. 

Burr,  Sylvanus,  239. 

Burrell,  Daniel  W.,  529,  565,  609,  612,  613. 

Burroughs,  Stephen,  198. 

Burt,  Alexander,  220. 

Burt,  Daniel,  312,  313. 

Burt,  Eustis  E.,  524,  541,  565. 

Burt,  James,  20. 

Burt,  Richard,  20. 

Burt,  Samuel,  228. 

Butler,  Gen.  B.  F.,  558,  631.  635,  636,  647, 
658. 

Butler,  Thomas,  292,  507. 

Butler,  William,  292. 


Cahill,  Mrs.  Margaret,  670. 
Calkins,  Oscar,  613. 
Callahan,  Dennis,  613. 
Cameron,  John,  220,  235,  237. 


8o8 


INDEX. 


Campbell,  Rev.  Archibald,  435  ;  called  by  the 
church  of  Christ  at  Easton,  190  ;  his  accept- 
ance and  ordination,  191  ;  brief  sketch  of  his 
parentage,  birth,  and  education,  191-193; 
reorganizes  the  Easton  Church,  193 ;  his 
difficulties  begin,  194;  his  unhappy  family 
relations,  195  ;  slanderous  charges  preferred 
against  him,  195  ;  requests  and  obtains  his 
dismissal  with  a  recommendation,  196,  197  ; 
his  later  ministry  in  Charlton,  197;  further 
domestic  trouble  and  disgrace,  198;  extract 
from  one  of  his  sermons,  199-202  ;  his  expe- 
riences subsequent  to  dismissal  from  Charl- 
ton, 202,  203 ;  his  children,  203  ;  "  The  Vale 
of  Tears,"  quoted.  205. 

Campbell,  Archibald,  Jr.,  198,  204,  232,  233. 

Campbell,  Barnard,  203. 

Campbell,  Ebenezer,  507. 

Campbell,  Esther  Fairchild,  192. 

Campbell,  Hannah  Barnard,  193. 

Campbell,  Rev.  John,  192. 

Campbell,  Susanna,  203. 

Campbell,  Capt.  William,  202. 

Capen,  Edward,  312,  313,  599. 

Capen,  Lemuel,  527,  544,  565. 

Card,  James  S.,  613. 

Carpenter,  Col.  Thomas,  224,  228,  230,  232. 

Carr,  Mrs.  Amity,  669. 

Carr,  Caleb,  189,  391,  501. 

Carr,  Caleb,  Jr.,  189,  391. 

Carr,  Mrs.  Chloe,  669. 

Carr,  C.  B.,  621. 

Carr,  Rev.  Eseck,  called  by  the  Baptist  Society 
at  Easton,  183;  is  drafted,  but  claims  ex- 
emption from  military  duty,  186 ;  his  death, 
189;  removal  of  his  remains,  501,  502. 

Carr,  F.  H.,  621. 

Carr,  Henry,  605. 

Carr,  John,  502. 

Carr,  Lieut.  John,  512. 

Carr,  Lydia  Grinnell,  186. 

Carr,  Tiley,  502. 

Carroll,  Rev.  Thomas  F.,  414. 

Carver,  John,  42. 

Cary,  Joshua,  230. 

Caswell,  Thomas,  20. 

Census  Statistics  :  table  showing  the  rate  of  in- 
crease of  population  in  Easton  since  1765, 
664  ;  proportion  of  male  and  female  popula- 
tion, 665  ;  ages  of  boys  and  girls,  665  ;  con- 
jugal condition  of  Easton  inhabitants,  666 ; 
statistics  of  nationality,  666 ;  of  parentage, 
667  ;  statistics  of  longevity,  with  names  of 
the  oldest  living  inhabitants  of  Easton,  668- 
672;  list  of  voters  in  Easton  in  1749,  672, 
673 ;  statistical  table  of  polls,  houses,  ani- 
mals, etc.,  673-675  ;  town  valuations,  675  ; 
statistics  of  industries  since  1S37,  arranged 
mainly  by  decades,  676-682  ;  farm-produce, 
682. 


Chaffin,  Rebecca  Bagley,  411. 

Chaffin,  Rev.  William  L.,  377,  379,  386,  411, 
612,  613,  616. 

Chamberlain,  Edwin  M.,  635. 

Chamberlain,  Rev.  J.  T.,  324. 

Chambers,  Philip,  227,  235. 

Chambre,  Rev.  St.  John,  750. 

Chandler,  Roger,  22. 

Chapin,  Ebenezer,  369. 

Chapin,  Rev.  F.  P.,  36S. 

Chapin,  Margaret  Macfarlane,  369. 

Chapin,  N.,  315. 

Chapin,  Sarah,  369. 

Chapin,  Sarah  Wallace,  369. 

Cheever,  Tracy  P.,  610. 

Chipman,  Jacob,  669. 

Church  and  Parish  distinguished,  94. 

Churchill,  Ephraim,  317,  322, 

Churchill,  Jabez,  2S5. 

Churchill,  Josiah,  2S5,  673. 

Churchill,  Philley,  316,  317. 

Churchill,  Samuel,  163,  507. 

Churches  in  North  Easton  :  Methodist  Pro- 
testant Society,  403-405  ;  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Society,  405-40S ;  origin  of  Unity 
Church,  409-412  ;  the  Church  of  the  Imma- 
culate Conception,  413,  414 ;  the  Swedish 
Church,  414;  the  Adventists,  415  ;  denomi- 
national statistics,  415  ;  statistics  of  church 
attendance,  416-418. 

Civil  War,  The :  early  response  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  call  for  troops,  521  ;  Eas- 
ton's  representation  in  the  Fourth  Mass. 
Regiment,  522 ;  the  second  enlistment  from 
Easton  in  the  Second  Mass.,  523  ;  third  en- 
listment in  Seventh  Mass.,  524,  525  ;  other 
enlistments  from  Easton  during  the  first 
year,  525  ;  early  town  action  taken  in  regard 
to  the  war,  528  ;  Easton  volunteers  in  1862, 
and  their  service,  528-533  ;  town  action  in 

1862  to  encourage  enlistments,  533  ;  enlist- 
ments and  service  of  Easton  men  in  1863, 
534;  the  drafts  in  1863-1864  and  Easton's 
ready  response,  538  ;  canvass  of  the  town  in 

1863  for  subscriptions,  539;  town  action  in 
1863,  540  ;  enlistments  and  service  of  Easton 
men  in  1S64,  540-547 ;  town  action  in  1864, 
547  ;  the  end  of  the  war,  547  ;  return  home 
of  the  Easton  volunteers,  548-550;  Easton's 
representation  in  the  navy,  550  ;  town  action 
in  1865,  551 ;  deserters  or  shirkers,  552-554  ; 
the  women  of  Easton  during  the  war,  554  ; 
summary  of  enlistments  for  Easton,  555  ; 
brief  sketches  of  Majors  Robert  Dollard  and 
John  Fitzpatrick,  556-564 ;  alphabetical  list 
of  Easton  soldiers,  564-583. 

Claflin,  William,  635. 
Clapp,  Capt.  Abiel,  116,  224. 
Clapp,  Mrs.  Esther,  672. 
Clapp,  Fred,  498. 


INDEX. 


809 


Clapp,  J.  F.,499, 

Clapp,  Stephen,  232,  233. 

Clapp,  Thomas.  240. 

Clapp,  Tyler  F.,  498,  530,  546,  565,  614. 

Clark,  Apollos,  493,  300. 

Clark,  C.  J.,  620. 

Clark,  Eleazar,  4S4. 

Clark,  Daniel,  10,  156,  307. 

Clark,  Luther  H.,  612,  613. 

Clark,  Samuel,  281. 

Clark,  Samuel  R.,  457,  629. 

Clark,  Susan,  4S4. 

Clarke,  David,  212,  232. 

Clarke,  Eleazer  B.,  614  and  note. ' 

Clarke,  Rev.  James  Freeman,  523,  410. 

Clarke,  Lemuel,  307. 

Clarke,  Dr.  Luther,  721. 

Clarke,  Rev.  Pitt,  343. 

Clarke,  Capt.  Samuel,  162. 

Clay,  Henry,  628,  629. 

Clements,  W.  H.,  620. 

Clifford,  Arthur,  614. 

Clifford,  John  H.,  630,  634 

Clifford,  Robert,  522,  565. 

Closson,  D.  B.,  605. 

Clough,  Rev.  John  B.,  329 

Coates,  Ezra,  748. 

Cobb,  Alanson,  311. 

Cobb,  John,  20,  22. 

Cobb,  Lieut.  Morgan,  log 

Cobb,  Rufus,  228. 

Cobbett,  William  E.,  613. 

Cochran,  John,  228. 

Coffin,  Deborah,  410. 

Coffin,  J.  C,  85. 

Coffin,  William  B.,  410. 

Cogswell,  Abigail  Parker,  720. 

Cogswell,  Catherine  Brown,  720. 

Cogswell,  Mrs.  Catherine  B.  Brown,  721. 

Cogswell,  Dr.  Charles  Hale,  brief  biographical 
sketch  of,  720,  721. 

Cogswell,  Francis,  634. 

Cogswell,  Dr.  George  B.,  377,  515,  527,  531, 
544,  566,  609,  610,  611,  613,  616,  619, 
620,  663,  689 ;  brief  biographical  sketch  of, 
720. 

Coke,  Rev.  Thomas,  314. 

Colburn,  Rev.  M.  F.,  333. 

Cole,  Benjamin,  168, 

Cole,  Capt.  Joseph,  228. 

Cole,  William,  228. 

Cole,  William  E.,  526,  537,  566,  613. 

College  Graduates  :  brief  sketches  of  those 
not  in  professional  life,  752-758  ;  Hon.  F.  L. 
Ames,  752-754 ;  Oliver  -Ames,  2d,  754 ; 
Charles  R.  Ballard,  754 ;  Maitland  C.  Lam- 
prey, 754,  755  ;  Edwin  Howard  Lothrop, 
756 ;  Commander  George  Francis  Faxon 
Wilde,  756-758. 

Collins,  Mr,,  43. 


Colonists,  the  French  and  English,  their  hos- 
tility towards  each  other,  158  ;  their  injustice 
towards  the  Indians,  159. 

Colwell,  John,  227. 

Cook,  Francis,  260. 

Cook,  Gamaliel,  229. 

Cooke,  Charles  F.,  613. 

Cooper,  Timothy,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 
to  incorporation,  8,  12,  15,  45,  46,  48,  84,  87, 
276,  280,  297. 

Conant,  Nathan,  227,  235. 

Conant,  Roger,  211. 

Coney,  Lieut.  Samuel,  13.  288,  641,  642. 

Conking,  Fortune,  219  and  note^  221. 

Conlan,  Patrick,  545,  549,  566,  613. 

Conlin,  James,  671. 

Conlin,  Rev.  James  W.,  715. 

Connell,  D.  J.,  609. 

Connell,  John,  614. 

Conroy,  Patrick,  614. 

Conway,  Thomas,  531,  566. 

Copeland,  Delia  Howard,  721. 

Copeland,  Elijah,  194,  221,  22S,  233,  238,  491. 

Copeland,  George,  644,  646,  663. 

Copeland,  Hiram,  587,  660. 

Copeland,  Hiram  W.,  550,  566. 

Copeland,  Horatio,  311,643,  663,  721. 

Copeland,  Dr.  Horatio  Franklin,  566;  brief 
biographical  sketch  of,  721. 

Copeland,  Joseph,  749. 

Copeland,  Josiah,  2S4,  288,  337,  512,  587,  589, 
643,  670. 

Copeland,  Lucy  .Ann,  749. 

Copeland,  Lurana  Copeland,  660. 

Copeland,  Martin,  30S,  491. 

Copeland,  Mrs.  Rhoda,  491,  669, 

Copeland,  Mrs.  Susanna,  670. 

Cordner,  Samuel,  670. 

Cordner,  Mrs.  Tamar,  671. 

Cornipsus  (River  and  Hill),  9. 

Costello,  Patrick,  622. 

Cotter,  Edward  A.,  614. 

Cotter,  Timothy,  545,  566. 

Couch,  Colonel,  524. 

Cox,  Thomas,  613. 

Coye,  Rev.  Nehemiah,  319. 

Crane,  Benjamin,  80. 

Crane,  Joshua  E.,  60,  69. 

Crane,  Dr.  Silas  Axtell,  69. 

Crimes  and  Penalties  in  Easton  in  olden  times, 
423-432. 

Crocker,  Lieut.  Charles  .\.,  544,  549,  566. 

Crockett,  L.  B.,  610,  620,  621. 

Crockett,  Major,  526,  537,  566,  615. 

Crockett,  Mrs.  Sally,  672. 

Crockett,  William,  523,  526,  537,  543,  548,  566, 
612,  613. 

Crooker,  H.,  4S2. 

Grossman,  Abigail,  797. 

Grossman,  Alpha,  374. 


52 


lO 


INDEX. 


Grossman,  Benjamin,  232. 

Grossman,  Daniel,  232. 

Grossman,  Joseph,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 
to  incorporation,  48,  52,  57,  98,  106,  193, 
384,  463.  473^  5°7,  641,  673,  796,  798. 

Grossman,  Joseph,  Jr.,  796,  799. 

Grossman,  Mary,  797. 

Grossman,  Robert,  20. 

Grossman,  Seth,  234. 

Grossman,  William,  219. 

Grosswell,  Benjamin,  218,  225. 

Growninshield,  Benjamin  W.,  633. 

Gunningham,  Martin,  526,  530,  566. 

Curtis,  Gapt.  Galvin,  214,  229. 

Gushing,  Caleb,  634. 

Gushing,  William,  632. 

Cushman,  Samuel,  312. 

Cutler,  Rev.  Dr.  Manassah,  254  7iote  ;  e.vtract 
from  his  diary,  255. 

Cutler,  Rev.  Samuel,  320. 


D. 


Daggett,  Hon.  Ebenezer,  638,  646. 

Daggett,  Col.  John,  221,  227,  228,  249. 

Daggett,  Hon.  John,  31,  note. 

Dahlborg,  Charles,  414. 

Dailey,  Daniel,  219,  224,  239,  507. 

Dailey,  Daniel,  Jr.,  235, 

Dailey,  Daniel  M.,  2,  52. 

Dailey,  David,  220. 

Dailey,  Henry,  377. 

Dailey,  John,  17,  36;   early  settler  in  Easton 

prior  to  incorporation,  47,   57,   74,  84,   91, 

III,  112,  212,  218,  276,  280,  29S,  299,  435, 

440,  473,  641,  642,  673. 
Dailey,  Ensign  John,  508. 
Dailey,  Lewis,  299. 
Dailey,  Mary,  57,  796. 
Dailey,  Nezer,  235. 
Dailey,  Mrs.  Ruth,  4S6,  66g. 
Dailey,  Mrs.  Sarah,  671. 
Dailey,  Wade,  311,  t^-^t,  486,  630,  643,  646, 

671. 
Dana,  N.  B.,  609. 
Dane,  Rev.  Francis,  324'. 
Darling,  Lucius,  498. 
Darling,  Theodore,  613. 
Davidson,  Thomas  F.,  385,  661. 
Davidson,  William,  586. 
Davis,  Sergt.  George  H.,  499,  523,  526,  537, 

543,  548,  5'^6,  614. 
Davis,  George  K.,  610,  620. 
Davis,  Isaac,  634,  635. 
Davis,  Rev.  J.  S.,  40S. 
Davis,  John,  625,  628,  633,  634. 
Davis,  Gapt.  John,  755. 
Davis,  Richard  M.,  545,  549,  566. 
Davis,  Hon.  William  Morton,  748. 


Day,  Mrs.  Dorcas,  671. 

Da)',  Gapt.  Henry,  512,  514. 

Day,  Oliver  A.,  292,  470,  603. 

Day,  Rev.  S.  Hamilton,  332. 

Dean,  Alice,  20. 

Dean,  Anne  Hayward,  722. 

Dean,  Gapt.  Barzillai,  495,  498,  510,  514,  590. 

Dean,  Benjamin,  40. 

Dean,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  163. 

Dean,  Charles,  312,  721. 

Dean,  Charlotte,  723. 

Dean,  Cynthia  B.,  489. 

Dean,  Mrs.  Deborah,  670. 

Dean,  Gapt.  Ebenezer,  163,  225. 

Dean,  Dr.  Edgar   Everett,   brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  721,  725. 
Dean,  Dr.  Edward,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  436,  456,  4S9,  491,  722. 
Dean,  Edward  W.,  591. 
Dean,  Gapt.  Edward  W.,  510,  514. 
Dean,  Elisha,  221,  670. 
Dean,  Elizabeth  Holmes,  722. 
Dean,  Elizabeth  Nicholson,  143. 
Dean,  Fidelia,  723. 
Dean,  Hannah,  796,  799. 
Dean,  Hannah  Hayward,  722. 
Dean,  Helen  Amanda  Packard,  722-, 
Dean,  Ichabod,  529,  567. 
Dean,  Isaac,  163,  238. 
Dean,  Israel,  20. 

Dean,  J.  O.,  97,  271;,  369,  386,  590,  696. 
Dean,  James,  13,  118,  120,  126,  144,  150,  15;, 

193,  281,  2S6,  287,  289,  374,  375,  435,  436, 

508,  591,  642,  670,  673,  722,  795,  798. 
Dean,  Dr.  James  B.,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  722. 
Dean,  Joanna  Williams,  722. 
Dean,  Josiah,  286. 
Dean,  Kate,  437. 
Dean,  Katharine,  47. 
Dean,  Mrs.  Keziah,  489,  670. 
Dean,  Lydia  Wilbur,  721. 
Dean,  Mrs.  Mary,  669. 
Dean,  Nathan,  143. 
Dean,  Rev.  Paul,  361,  385,  610. 
Dean,  Polly,  722. 
Dean,  T.  H.,  275,  590,  607,  690. 
Dean,  Thomas,  47,  160. 
Dean,  Walter,  20. 
Dean,  William,  488,  489. 
Dean,  William  A.,  567. 
Deane,  Mrs.  Annie  D.,  698. 
Deans,  Ghas.  Henry,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  723,  742. 
Deans,  Elijah,  722. 
Deans,  Elizabeth,  723. 
Deans,  George  DeWolf,  743. 
Deans,   George   Wheaton,    brief    biographical 

sketch  of,  723,  742. 
Deans,  Hannah,  490,  723, 


INDEX. 


8ll 


Deans,  Hannah  LeBaron  Wheaton,  669,  723, 

742. 
Deans,  Irene,  722. 
Deans,  Mary  M.  Harris,  742. 
Deans,  Nancy  Shaw  Richards,  743. 
Deans,  Dr.  Samuel,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  375,  385,  490.  575>  637,  661,  722,  742. 
Dearborn,  Henry,  633. 
DeBeauez,  Baron,  240. 
Delano,  Henry  H.,  529,  567. 
Delrno,  Marcus  F.,  613. 
Delopatogui,  Manuel,  163. 
Demmond,  Martha  Campbell,  203. 
Demmond,  William,  203. 
Desilvia,  William,  227,  235. 
Devens,  Charles,  635. 
Devins,  Richard,  215. 
DeWitt,  Messrs.,  15. 
Dexter,  Samuel,  624,  633. 
Dickerman,  Charles  R.,  371. 
Dickerman,  Dr.  D.  S.,  723. 
Dickerman,  Daniel,  298,  311. 
Dickerman,  Ebenezer,  213,  228,  232,  461. 
Dickerman,  Ezekiel,  607,  608. 
Dickerman,  Dr.   Henry  Lee,   515;   brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  723. 
Dickerman,  Irving,  526,  543,  567. 
Dickerman,  James,  325,  332,  374,  461,  481. 
Dickerman,  Mrs.  Joanna,  669. 
Dickerman,  John,  53,  178. 
Dickerman,  Louise  Gomer,  723. 
Dickerman,  Nancy  Webster,  723. 
Dickerman,  Mrs.  Sally,  671. 
Dickerman,  Zopher,  723. 
Dix,  Col.  Timothy,  741. 
Doherty,  Cornelius,  619. 
Doherty,  Rev.  William  T.,  715. 
Dollard,  Mrs.  Caroline  Dunn,  559. 
Dollard,  Mary  (Colye),  556. 
Dollard,  Major  Robert,  514,515,  523,  526,530, 

543,  567  ;  his  parentage  and  early  life,  556? 

his  military  service,  557-559;  his  home  and 

occupation  since  the  war,  559. 
Dollard,  Thomas,  556. 
Donahue,  Thomas,  613. 
Donovan,  Mrs.  Ann,  672, 
Donovan,  Daniel,  524,  542,  567,  614^ 
Donovan,  James,  551,  567,  613- 
Dorgan,  Patrick,  613. 
Doty,  Col.  Thomas,  163,  168. 
Dow,  Lorenzo,  Methodist  pioneer  preacher  irt 

Easton,  316-318. 
Dowden,  Rev.  William  H.,  36S,  616. 
Downe,  Moses,  213. 
Downing,  Deborah,  66g. 
Downing,  Warner,  308,  313. 
Drake,  Abiali,  166. 
Drake,  Abial,  163,  169,  507,  672, 
Drake,  Abner,  Jr.,  607,  608. 
Drake,  Abraham,  796. 


Drake,  Adam,  228,  234,  669. 

Drake,  Alvin,  449. 

Drake,  A.  L.,  585. 

Drake,  Capt.  Bartholomew,  374,  509,  514. 

Drake,  Benjamin,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 

to  incorporation,  17,  42,  44,  45,  56,  74,  84, 

90,  91 ,  III,  112,  22S,  2S2,  636,  64 1 ,  642, 673, 

796,  798. 
Drake,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  early  settler  in  Easton 

prior  to  incorporation,  36,  42,  45,  52,  74,  120, 

164,   166,  16S,  170,  212,  220,  232,  233,  746, 

798. 
Drake,  Benjamin,  3d,  220,  507. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Bethia,  672. 
Drake,  Bethuel,  710. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Bethuel,  485. 
Drake,  Caroline  Torrey,  497,  659. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Charity,  672. 
Drake,  Clement,  211,  213,  224,  230,  233. 
Drake,  Cynthia,  902. 
Drake,  Ebenezer,  281. 
Drake,  Edward,  232,  300. 
Drake,  Edward,  Jr.,  299. 
Drake,  Elijah,  30S,  309. 
Drake,  Elizabeth,  52,  796,  799. 
Drake,  Ellen  M.,660. 
Drake,  Ephraim,  507. 
Drake,  Ephraim,  Jr.,  232. 
Drake,  Francis,  221,  497,  525,  536,  567. 
Drake,  George  H.,  537,  567,  613. 
Drake,  George  Washington,  490,  670. 
Drake,  Hannah,  669. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Hannah,  42,  484,  670,  672. 
Drake,  Hezekiah,  159,  160,  169,  211,  213,  22S, 

232,  294,  507. 
Drake,  Hiram  P.,  490. 
Drake,  Isaac,  312. 
Drake,  James,  374. 
Drake,  Jason  G.,  724. 
Drake,  Dr.  Jason  Williams,  brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  724. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Jemima,  671. 
Drake,  Joel,  335,  357,  643. 
Drake,  Joel  S.,  250,  601,  60S,  641,  644,  690. 
Drake,  Jonah,  211,  214,  223,  227,  232,  235,  240, 

766. 
Drake,  Jonathan,  30S,  309,  4S4. 
Drake,  John,  42  ;  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 

to  incorporation,  45,  74,  293,  298,  507,  796. 
Drake,  Mrs.  John,  45. 
Drake,  Capt.  John  R.,  510,  514,  727. 
Drake,  Joseph,  early  settler  in  Easton  before 

incorporation,  15,  56^  164,  224,  239,  266,  294, 

461,485,  796,  798. 
Drake,  Joseph,  Jr,,  56,  233,  507,  641, 
Drake,  Joseph,  2d,  643,  670,  673. 
Drake,  Joseph,  3d,  163,  211,   213,    220,   294, 

507. 
Drake,  Joseph,  4th,  507. 
Drake,  Labafi  W.,  547, 567, 


8l2 


INDEX. 


Drake,  Mrs.  Laban,  495. 

Drake,  Lewis,  592. 

Drake,  Lincoln,  311,   346,  357,  375,  398,  441, 

496,  497,  512,  5M,  528,  540,  5S5,  58S,  607, 

627,  62S,  646,  659,  661,  671. 
Drake,   Hon.    Lincoln  S  ,  379,  386,  631,  661  ; 

brief  biographical  sketch  of,  659,  660. 
Drake,  Linus  W.,  532,  567. 
Drake,  Lot,  225,  228,231,  234,  239. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Mary,  672. 
Drake,  Mary  W.  Record,  724. 
Drake,  Melzar,  299. 
Drake,  Mercy,  796. 
Drake,  Millicent,  42. 
Drake,  Nathan,  2S2. 
Drake,  Noah,  211,  213,  224,  233. 
Drake,  Oliver,  239. 
Drake,  Phebe  J.  Keith,  724. 
Drake,  Prudence,  797. 
Drake,  Rachel  Smith,  766. 
Drake,  Reuben,  311. 
Drake,  Richard,  300,  508,  673. 
Drake,  Robert,  220,  227,  507,  673. 
Drake,  Robert,  Jr.,  232,  264. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Sally,  672. 
Drake,  Samuel,  107,  162,  164,  170,  796. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Sarah,  672,  797,  799. 
Drake,  Sarah  L.,  660. 
Drake,  Seth,  214. 

Drake,  Lieut.  Simeon,  308,  374,  510. 
Drake,  Mrs.  Susanna,  670. 
Drake,  Tamar,  796. 
Drake,  Thomas,  one  of  the  early  settlers  prior 

to  1696,  36,  42-45,  74. 
Drake,  Thomas,  2d,   120,   164,  166,   168,   170, 
212,  220,  232,  233,234,  241,  318,  480,481, 

507,  (>73^  796,  798. 
Drake,  Thomas  B.,  374. 
Drake,  Timothy,  239. 
Drake,  Tisdale  F.,  547,  567. 
Drake,  Titus,  669. 
Drake,  Warren,  669. 
Drake,  Willard,  527,  614  and  7iote. 
Drake,  William,  233,  669. 
Drake,  Zachariah,  211,  221,  233. 
Drake,  Zenas,  311. 
Dreese,  Rev.  Charles  W.,  40S. 
Drew,  Dennison  S.,  526,  567,  615. 
Drew,  Henry  T.,  526,  536,  567. 
Drew,  John,  Jr.,  30S,  312,  796. 
Drew,  Levi,  303. 
Drew,  W.  B.,  604. 
Drury,  Mrs.  Hannah  W.,  698. 
Dudley,  Rev.  Mr.,  361. 
Duffield,  D.  Bethune,  744  note,  745. 
Duffy,  John,  523,  529,  535,  56S. 
Duffy,  Thomas,  524,  52S,  568. 
Dummer,  William,  8i,  83,  86. 
Dunbar,  Bravo  C,  5S6. 
Dunbar,  Charles  T,,  493. 


Dunbar,  David,  133,  211,  213,  220,  228,  233, 

239- 
Dunbar,  Francis,  449. 
Dunbar,  Mrs.   Hannah,  493,  670. 
Dunbar,  Jesse,  488. 
Dunbar,  John,  211. 
Dunbar,  Capt.  Josiah,  16S,  170. 
Dunbar,  Capt.  Lemuel,   169. 
Dunbar,  Lucius,  613. 
Dunbar,  Nathaniel,  235. 
Dunbar,  Norman  L.  536,  568. 
Dunbar,  Moses  C,  628,  643,  670. 
Dunbar,  Rev.  Mr.,  T91. 
Dunbar,  Seth  T.,  524,  542,  56S. 
Dunbar,  Simeon,  234. 
Dunbar,  Thomas,  493. 
Dunbar,  Thomas,  Jr.,  493. 
Dunham,  Caleb,  229. 
Dunham,  Rev.  Elisha,  332. 
Dunham,  Brig. -Gen.  Htnry,  608. 
Dunn,  Imri,  559. 


E. 


Easton,  its  present  boundaries,  i.  Geology, 
2;  indications  of  glacial  action,  3-7.  Bog- 
iron  ore,  7.  Swamps,  S  ;  streams  and  ponds, 
9-15  ;  meadows  and  plains,  15,  16  ;  animals, 
17.  Early  Indian  ownership  of  lands,  28- 
32.  Earliest  settkrs,  39-57.  Origin  of  the 
first  church,  58 ;  calls  William  Pratt  as  min- 
ister, 59,  60.  Final  incorporation  as  town, 
Si,  82  ;  origin  of  its  name,  83  ;  calls  its  first 
town-meeting,  and  records  of  the  same,  S3, 
84  ;  calls  Matthew  Short,  87.  First  meeting- 
house, 90  ;  early  dissatisfaction  with  its  loca- 
tion, 91.  Attempted  annexation  of  a  part  of 
Bridgewater,  92.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Short, 
Mr.  Belcher  is  called,  94  ;  Solomon  Prentice 
is  called,  102-104.  Contention  over  the  loca- 
tion of  the  meeting-house,  108  ;  petition  to 
the  General  Court  in  the  matter,  and  their 
order  to  build  it  at  the  Centre,  109,  112  ;  di- 
vision of  the  church  and  parish  on  this  sub- 
ject, 112;  interference  of  the  General  Court, 
114,  117;  council  of  churches  called  by  the 
town  party  for  the  settlement  of  the  difficulty, 
118;  a  meeting-house  begun  by  the  Prentice 
party,  119  ;  the  Prentice  party  holds  a  coun- 
cil of  churches  which  effects  a  temporary  rec- 
onciliation, 123-125  ;  an  unsuccessful  attempt 
at  dividing  the  town,  125,  126  ;  councils  and 
meetings  for  the  settlement  of  the  difficulties, 
126,  127;  a  Presbyterian  church  established 
by  the  Prentice  party,  128-131.  The  call  of 
Mr.  Farrar  occasions  further  trouble  between 
the  Presbyterians  and  town  party,  144-146; 
new  appeals  to  the  General  Court,  and  their  re- 
sult, 147,  151-153;  attempted  adjustment  of 


INDEX. 


813 


difficulties  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Farrar,  155 
156  ;  religion  at  a  low  ebb,  156  ;  the  Presby- 
terians give  up  the  contest,  157.  French  and 
Indian  War,  159-170;  a  place  of  refuge  for 
the  French  outcasts  from  Acadia,  171.  Pop- 
ular opposition  to  the  ministerial  tax,  173- 
182  ;  growing  dissent  from  the  established 
Congregationalism,  173  ;  a  Baptist  Society  is 
organized,  and  settles  Ebenezer  Steams,  177, 
1 78  ;  the  Baptists  dispute  right  of  town  to 
collect  from  them  the  ministerial  tax,  180- 
182  ;  the  Baptist  Society  calls  Eseck  Carr  as 
its  second  minister,  183  ;  the  Society  declines, 
and  dies,  1S7-1S9.  The  town  church  cJls 
the  Rev.  Archibald  Campbell,  190;  his  ac- 
ceptance and  ordination,  191.  Excitement 
over  the  Stamp  Act,  207 ;  the  use  of  British 
articles  of  manufacture  discouraged,  207 ; 
"  Daughters  of  Liberty,"  209  ;  military  prep- 
arations, 209;  minute  men,  210;  the  Lexing- 
ton Alarm,  210-212;  enlistments  in  1775, 
210-216;  enlistments  in  1776,  216-222;  De- 
claration of  Independence,  217;  Rhode  Isl- 
and Alarm,  219;  enlistments  in  1777,  1778, 
222-230 ;  scale  of  prices  for  labor  and  mer- 
chandise at  this  time,  222;  later  enlistments, 
230-240  ;  "  Tiverton  Alarm,"  232  ;  Tories, 
242  ;  commissioned  officers,  242-257  ;  Valley 
Forge,  257.  Return  of  peaceful  times  for 
the  Easton  Church,  258 ;  William  Reed  be- 
comes pastor,  25S;  enforcement  of  church 
discipline,  267  ;  incorporation  of  the  parish, 
267,  269;  the  church  bell,  270;  pecuniary 
struggles  and  complications  in  the  new  parish, 
270-273.  Industries  prior  to  1800,  275-2S9. 
Old  town  homesteads  now  abandoned,  290- 
305.  Military  companies  during  the  War  of 
18 1 2,  and  their  service,  307-313  ;  unfortunate 
shooting  of  Charles  Gilbert  by  Nathan  Buck, 
308-310.  Beginning  of  Methodism,  314; 
visits  of  Jesse  Lee,  315  ;  organization  of  the 
Methodist  Society  and  building  of  first  Meth- 
odist meeting-houses,  318;  early  ministers, 
319  ;  John  Tinkham's  ministry,  320-324  ; 
his  immediate  successors,  324,  325  ;  Father 
Bates,  325  ;  new  meeting-house  the  occasion 
of  serious  trouble,  326;  revival  meetings,  327, 
329-331  ;  later  ministers,  327-329,  332,  ^33  > 
Luther  Sheldon  called  by  the  First  Church 
and  Parish,  334  ;  a  new  church  built,  337 ; 
dissension  in  the  parish  over  his  refusal  to 
exchange  with  neighboring  ministers,  339- 
342  ;  he  is  excluded  from  the  pulpit,  343  ; 
incidents  of  the  controversy,  347-357.  The 
First  Congregational  Parish  after  the  divi- 
sion, and  its  successive  pastors,  360-363  ;  its 
services  discontinued,  and  the  meeting-house 
destroyed  by  fire,  363.  Organization  of  the 
Evangelical  Congregational  Society,  with  Mr. 
Sheldon  as  its  minister,  364  ;  his  successors. 


367-370 ;  new  meeting-house  built  by  this 
Society  on  the  destruction  of  the  old  one  by 
fire,  368 ;  Sunday-schools  connected  with  the 
Society,  369.  The  development  of  Spiritual- 
ism, 370-372.  Libraries,  373-379.  Early 
action  of  the  town  in  regard  to  schools,  3S0- 
384  ;  the  school-committee  system,  384  ;  mem- 
bers of  the  superintending  committee  since 
1826,  385  ;  men  and  women  teachers,  3S6  ; 
teachers'  wages,  387;  the  High  School,  387- 
389  ;  the  town  school-houses,  past  and  pres- 
ent, 389-398  ;  the  Oliver  Ames  and  the  Oakes 
Ames  funds  for  school  purposes,  399,  400  ; 
late  school  statistics,  401  ;  private  schools, 
401.  Churches  of  North  Easton  village,  403- 
418;  statistics  of  denominational  connection 
and  church  attendance,  415-418.  Rough  life 
in  the  early  pioneer  days,  419;  cases  of  church 
and  court  discipline,  420-423  ;  a  notorious 
gang  of  thieves,  423-425  ;  George  White, 
leader  of  the  band,  426-429 ;  the  bank-robber 
and  other  criminals,  429-432.  Slavery  in  the 
town,  432-437.  The  free  use  of  liquor  by 
early  inhabitants,  437-441  ;  the  Temperance 
reform,  441.  Pauperism,  443;  early  dispo- 
sition of  its  poor,  445  ;  establishment  of  an 
almshouse,  44S ;  its  wardens,  449.  Town 
highways,  past  and  present,  450-469 ;  old 
roads  now  abandoned,  450  ;  the  Bay  road 
and  others  laid  out  before  the  incorporation 
of  the  town,  451-461;  the  Taunton  and 
South  Boston  Turnpike  controversy,  454- 
458  ;  roads  since  incorporation  of  the  town, 
461-468  ;  the  Oliver  Ames  bequest  for  public 
highways,  468 ;  Governor  Ames's  gift  for 
planting  of  trees  along  the  roadsides,  469. 
The  several  burial-places  in  the  town,  470- 
500;  old  custom  of  burial  in  private  grounds, 
470;  abandoned  bury ing-grounds,  501.  Mili- 
tia and  military  history,  506-519;  list  of 
captains  and  higher  military  officers,  513- 
519.  Opening  of  the  Civil  War,  520  ;  enlist- 
ments in  1861,  522-527  ;  early  town  action, 
528;  volunteers  in  1862,  and  their  service, 
528-533  ;  town  action  in  1862  to  encourage 
enlistments,  533  ;  enlistments  in  1863,  533- 
538;  the  drafts  in  1863  and  1864,  538-539; 
town  action  in  1863,340;  enlistments  and 
service  in  1864,  540-547  ;  town  action  in  1S64, 
547  ;  return  of  soldiers  at  the  close  of  the  War, 
54S-550  ;  enlistments  in  the  navy,  550 ; 
town  action  in  1865,  551  ;  deserters  and 
shirkers,  552-554  ;  service  rendered  by  the 
women  at  home  during  the  War,  554  ;  sum- 
mary of  enlistments,  555  ;  brief  sketches  of 
Majors  Robert  Dollard  and  John  Fitzpat- 
rick,  556-564;  alphabetical  list  of  soldiers, 
564-583.  Industries  since  1800,  5S4-605. 
Banks,  606.  Military  bands,  607-609.  A.  B. 
Randall  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  52,611-613; 


8i4 


INDEX. 


List  of  soldiers  of  the  Civil  War  buried  in 
town,  614-616.  I'be  Soldiers'  Monument, 
616-618.  Various  organizations,  including 
Knights  of  Labor,  618-622.  Politics:  town 
anti-Federal,  but  becomes  Whig,  624-630 ; 
Free  Soil  and  Know  Nothing  nioveii!ients,63o, 
631  ;  votes  since  1787  for  Governor,  632-636  ; 
moderators  since  1726,  636-640  ;  other  town 
officers,  640-644  ;  representatives  and  higher 
officers,  645-660;  post-offices  and  post-mas- 
ters, 661-663.  Population  as  shown  by 
census  statistics  since  1765,664-667.  Statis- 
tics of  longevity,  688-672.  Voters,  polls, 
property,  672-675.  Industries  since  1837, 
676-682.  The  town  in  1886,685-691.  Bio- 
graphical sketches:  of  ministeis,  692-^718; 
of  physicians,  719-739  ;  of  lawyers,  740-751  ; 
of  college  graduates,  752-758.  Railroads  and 
newspapers,  759,  760.  The  great  flood  of 
1S86,  760-762.  Miscellaneous  facts  and  anec- 
dotes of  interest.  762-779, 

Easton,  Gov.  Nicholas,  83. 

Eaton,  Simeon,  231. 

Eaton,  Col.  Theophilus,  224. 

Eddy,  Benjamin  ("  Old  Bunn  "),  240.- 

Eddy,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  240. 

Eddy,  Daniel  C,  636. 

Eddy,  Capt.  Jonathan,  168. 

Eddy,  Oliver.  240. 

Eddy,  Stillman  D.,  547,  568. 

Edson,  Abiel,  Jr.,  669- 

Edson,  Rev.  Edward,  408, 

Edson,  Mrs.  Hannah,  672, 

Edson,  Josiali,  159. 

Egan,  Michael,  483. 

Eldridge,  Jason  F.,  524,  530,.  56S. 

Eliot,  T.  D.,627, 

Elliott,  John,  29. 

Ellis,  Richard,  41. 

Ellison,  Charles  E.,  533,  568,  615. 

Emerson,  Rev.  Warren,  327. 

Endicott,  William  E.,  636. 

Eustis,  William,  625,  633. 

Evans,  Charles  W,,  670. 

Evans,  Rev.  S.  E,,  ^33}  408,- 

Everett,  Edward,  625,  634, 


Farley,  Rev.  Mr.,  343, 

Famum,  Rev.  Mr.,  409. 

Farr,  Henry,  220,  293. 

Farrar,  George,  142. 

Farrar,  George,  Jr.,  142,  T43,. 

Farrar,  Rev.  George,  138,  287;  a  candidate' 
for  settlement  at  Easton,.  142;  his  ancestry 
and  early  life,  142-144;  his  courting,  143; 
preaches  his  first  sermon,  144  ;  called  by  the 
Easton  town  church,  144^  his  call  to  Easton 


the  occasion  of  further  trouble  between  the 
conflicting  chxnch  parties,  144,  145  ;  his  let- 
ter of  acceptance,  146;  Presbyterians  and 
Baptists  protest  against  his  ordination,  147  ; 
ordination,  148;  sickness  and  death,  153, 
154;  suit  against  the  town  to  recover  salary, 
154. 

Farrar,  Jacob,  142. 

Farrar,  Mary  Barrett,  142,  143. 

Farrar,  Mary  Howe,  142. 

Farrar,  Dr.  Robert,  144. 

Farrar,  Sarah  Dean,  143. 

Farrell,  Edward,  brief  biographical  sketch  of, 

715- 
Faville,  Rev,  John,  408. 
Fay,  Philip,  524,  525,  568. 
Fecto,  Philander  W.,  524,  541,  542,  568,  613. 
Felch,  Abijah,  221,  223,  224,  225,  242. 
Fellows,  Capt.  John,  166. 
Felt,  Joshua,  230,  235. 
Ferguson,  Catherine  Starrett,  476,  725. 
Ferguson,  George,  111,  156,  221,  230,  232,  282, 

287,  294,  391,  420,  464,  476,  508,  592,  642, 

671,673,  725. 
Ferguson,  George,  Jr.,  2S7,  476, 
Ferguson,  John,  476. 
Fernald,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  243. 
Field,  John,  79,  80, 
Field,  Seth,  449. 
Fitton,  Kay,  294, 
Fitton,  Levi  C,  603, 
Finney,  Charles,  165. 
Finney,  Daniel,  160, 
Finney,  John,  145,  175. 
Finney,  Nathan,  219,  221,  229. 
Finnigan,  John,  614. 
Fisher,  Billings,  524,  541,  568,  615. 
Fisher,  David,  523,  568,615. 
Fisher,  John,  544,  549,  568. 
Fisher,  Matthew,  544,  549,  568, 
Fisher,  Peter,  537,  549,  568,  613. 
Fisher,  Peter,  Jr.,  533,  549,  568. 
Fisher,  Mrs.  Peter,  549, 
Fisher,  Mrs.  Rebecca,  670. 
Fisher,  Thomas,  533,  549,  56S. 
Fitzgerald,  Rev.  Michael,  414. 
Fitzpatrick,   Major  John,  514,  515,  550,  56S, 

614  ;  his  birth  and  early  life  in  Easton,  560; 

enlists  for  the  civil  war,  560  ;   brief  sketch 

of  his  service,  with  extracts  from  his  letters, 

561-563. 
Fitzsimmons,  Rev,  Thomas,  413, 
Flaherty,  Matthew  F.,  524,  530,  569. 
Fling,  Thomas,  164,  168,  170,  220,  229,  230, 

233,  507,  672. 
Flood,  Thomas,  536,-  544,.  569, 
Fobes,  Alpheus,  646. 
Fobes,  Benjamin,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 

to  incorporation,  53,  i'48,-  220,  280,  447,  473, 

640,.  669,  673,. 


INDEX. 


815 


Fobes,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  507. 
Fobes,  Daniel,  211,  213,  220. 

Fobes,  Edward,  25,  53. 

Fobes,  Ephraim,  26. 
Fobes,  Hannah,  797,  799. 

Fobes,  Jesse,  231,  233. 

Fobes,  Jonali,  211,  213,  224,  234. 

Fobes,  Joseph,  14S,  507. 

Fobes,  Joseph,  Jr.,  233. 

Fobes,  Nathan,  163,  164,  507. 

Fobes,  Rev.  Peres,  263. 

Fobes,  Simeon,  233. 

Ford,  William,  42. 

Forsyth,  William  D.,  545,  549,  569. 

Foster,  Solomon  R.,  291,  292,  396,  527,  537, 
569,  615. 

Foster,  Capt.  Ward   L.,  514,  524,   536,  541, 
569,  598. 

Fowler,  Jesse,  547,  569. 

Frame,  Andrew  H.,  613. 

Franklin,  Capt.  Joseph,  231, 

Freelove,  John,  214. 

Freeman,  Cyrus  A.,  612,  613. 

Freeman,  Jeremiah,  92. 

Freese,  John  A.,  612,  613. 

Fremont,  John  C,  631. 

French,  Charles  T.,  660. 

French,  Dependence,  670. 

French,  Eliza  Randall,  730. 

French,  Francis,  376,  599. 

French,  Mrs.  Hannah,  672. 

French,  Capt.  Henry,  510,  514,  643. 

French,  Henry  W.,  607,  654. 

French,  Hiram  F.,  525,  536,  569. 

French,  Howard,  293. 

French  and  Indian   War,  the,  Easton's  repre- 
sentation and  service  in,  159-170. 

French,  Jonathan,  233,  312. 

French,  Levi,  738. 

French,  Margaret,  660. 

French,  Mrs.  Mary,  670. 

French,  Mrs.  Olive,  671. 

French,  Rachel  Sumner,  738. 

French,  Seth  L.,  525,  569. 

French,  Simeon,  599. 

French,  Capt.  Stephen,  74. 

French,  Susan  E.,  654. 

French,  Thomas,  225,  231,  235. 

French,  William  G.,  730. 

Frost,  William  H.,  609. 

Fuller,  Albert,  744. 

Fuller,  Alonzo  A.,  586. 

Fuller,  Mrs.  Betsy,  669. 

Fuller,  Ettie  C.  Strange,  743. 

Fuller,  Capt.  Frederic,  509,  514. 

Fuller,  Frederic  V.,  brief  biographical  sketch 

oi,  743- 

Fuller,  Harrison,  743. 

Fuller,  Henry  J.,  386,  534,  607,  637;  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  743. 


Fuller,  Ichabod,  225. 

Fuller,  Lieut.  Isaac,  211,  214,  231,  251. 

Fuller,  Capt.  Jacob,  229. 

Fuller,  Mary  Morse,  743. 

Fuller,  Rebecca  Vincent,  743,  744. 

Fuller,  Rufus,  587. 

Furnace  Village,  709. 


G. 


Galligan,  Bernard  F.,  523,  569,  613. 

Galligher,  Edward,  614. 

Galliway,  James,  160. 

Gardiner,  Catherine,  497. 

Gardiner,  John,  497. 

Gardner,  Henry  J.,  630,  635. 

Gardner,  Mrs.  Nabby,  671. 

Gaston,  William,  636. 

Gavitt,  Rev.  Franklin,  332,  407. 

Gay,  David,  282. 

Gerry,  Elbridge,  624,  632. 

Gerry,  John  W.,  522,  569. 

Gibbon,  Maj.-Gen.  John,  546. 

Gibbs,  Alfred,  488. 

Gibbs,  Cornelius,  214,  218,  225,  233. 

Gibbs,  Ebenezer,  213,  21S. 

Gibbs,  Nathan,  212,  213,  214,  233,  507. 

Gibbs,  Thomas,  218,  225. 

Gifford,  Caleb,  494. 

Gifford,  Pardon  A.,  377,  599,  605,  606,  607. 

Gifford,  Phebe,  494. 

Gilbert,  Charles,  309,  310. 

Gilbert,  Eleazer,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 
to  incorporation,  52. 

Gilbert,  George,  425. 

Gilbert,  Jane,  20. 

Gilbert,  Joseph,  187,  217,  223,  224,  384,  440, 
444.  452,  507,  641,  643,  672,  673,  798. 

Gilbert,  Judson,  670. 

Gilbert,  Lemuel,  160,  213. 

Gilbert,  Lewis,  212,  213. 

Gilbert,  Nathaniel,  212,  229,  233. 

Gilbert,  Rachel,  797. 

Gilbert,  Samuel,  211. 

Gilbert,  Timothy,  166,  169,  213,  218,  508. 

Gill,  Col.  Benjamin,  218,  225,  226. 

Gill,  Moses,  632. 

Gilman,  Jemima  Lincoln,  474. 

Gilmore,  Alson,  36,  354,  458,  639,  644. 

Gilmore,  Alson  Augustus,  377,  3S7,  409,  598, 
606,  607,  629,  637,  646,  663  :  town  modera- 
tor of  Easton,  brief  biographical  sketch  of, 
639,  640. 

Gilmore,  Andrew,  234,  239. 

Gilmore,  Charles  A.,  525,  543,  569. 

Gilmore,  Clara  Welsh,  640. 

Gilmore,  E.  W,,  184,  500,  598,  606,  607,  68<;. 

Gilmore,  Mrs.  F.  E.,  435,  773. 

Gilmore,  Mrs.  Hannah.  672. 


8i6 


INDEX. 


Gilmore,  Hannah  Lincoln,  640^ 

Gilmore,  Hannah  Lothrop,  654. 

Gilmore,  James,  673. 

Gilmore,  Col.  John,  374,  457,  458,  510,  514, 
515,  662. 

Gilmore,  Joshua,  374,  440,  454,  457,  480,  654. 

Gilmore,  Melvin,  311,  374,  457,  511. 

Gilmore,  Rachel  Alger,  639. 

Gilmore,  Samuel  H.,  524,  530,  569. 

Glover,  Capt.  Samuel,  165,  169. 

Goddard,  Rev.  Mr.,  106. 

Godfrey,  Mrs.  Abigail,  672. 

Godfrey,  Mrs.  Eliza,  671. 

Godfrey,  Franklin  M.,  530.  543,  569,  615. 

Godfrey,  Brig.-Gen.  George,  225. 

Godfrey,  Guilford,  5S7. 

Godfrey,  James,  285. 

Godfrey,  Lieut.  John,  227,  251,  510. 

Godfrey,  Jones,  435. 

Godfrey,  Joseph,  232,  245,  670. 

Godfrey,  Joseph,  Jr.,  233. 

Godfrey,  Nahuni,  5S7. 

Godfrey,  Capt.  Richard,  162. 

Godfrey,  Rufus,  22S. 

Godfrey,  Mrs.  Sally,  669,  672. 

Godfrey,  Capt.  Tisdale,  484,  509,  514. 

Godfrey,  Capt.  Tisdale,  Jr.,  385,  509,  514. 

Goffe,  Oliver,  163,  164. 

Gooch,  Darius  N.,  635. 

Gooch,  James  F.,  551,  569,  586. 

Gooch,  Samuel  H.,  347,  569. 

Goodspeed,  Jonathan,  165,  507. 

Goodspeed,  Lydia,  669. 

Goodwin,  Benjamin,  697,  724. 

Goodwin,  Daniel,  697. 

Goodwin,  Dr.  Daniel,  brief  biographical  sketch 
of,  724. 

Goodwin,  Rev.  Daniel,  698. 

Goodwin,  Rev.  Daniel  LeBaron,  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  697. 

Goodwin,  Polly  Briggs,  697,  724. 

Goodwin,  Rebecca  Wilkinson,  697. 

Goodwin,  Sarah  W.,  698. 

Gordon,  George  W.,  635. 

Gore,  Christopher,  632. 

Gorman,  Mrs.  Mary,  672. 

Gorner,  William,  723. 

Gould,  N.  S.,  605. 

Gould,  William  E.,  431  7iote. 

Goulding,  John,  525,  543,  570. 

Goward,  Dwelly,  16,  303,  497. 

Goward,  Emory,  497. 

Goward,  Francis,  49,  183,211,  228,  233,  497, 
672. 

Goward,  Mrs.  Helen  E.,  662. 

Goward,  Israel,  312,  313. 

Goward,  Josiah,  605. 

Goward,  Mrs.  Mary,  670,  672. 

Grady,  Andrew  N.,  613. 

Grant,  Donald,  227. 


Greaton,  Col.  John,  230. 

Green,  Capt.  Jeremiah,  i6g. 

Green,  Joseph,  227,  235. 

Green,  Thomas,  286. 

Greenleaf,  Fred  H.,  498. 

Greenleaf,  Luke  S.,  385,  663. 

Gridley,  Colonel,  162,  214. 

Griggs,  Emma  A.,  476. 

Guild,  Catherine  Leonard,  725. 

Guild,  Elizabeth  Ferguson,  639,  725. 

Guild,  Harriet,  434. 

Guild,  Mrs.  Israel,  739. 

Guild,  James,  461,  512,  589. 

Guild,  John,  725. 

Guild,  Mary  Boyden,  724. 

Guild,  Nathaniel,  311,  390,  484,  643,  646,  724, 

725- 
Guild,  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  725. 
Guild,   Dr.  Samuel,  217,  225,   239,  240,  243, 

269,  384,  424,  455,  467,  484,  489,  587,  637, 

639,  643;  brief  biographical  sketch  of,  724, 

725. 
Guild,    Dr.    Samuel,    Jr.,    brief    biographical 

sketch  of,  725. 
Guild,  Vesta  Howard,  725, 
Gurney,  Charles,  671. 
Gurney,  David,  509,  673. 
Gurney,  Rev.  David,  709,  74S. 


H. 


Hack,  Lieut.  Nathan,  227,  251,  510. 

Hack,  William,  239. 

Hadon,  Ebenezer,  507. 

Hale,  Artemus,  630. 

Hale,  John  P.,  630. 

Hall,  Bezaleel,  670. 

Hall,  George,  early  settler  in  Easton,  prior  to 

incorporation,  20,  46,  53,  66,  74,  80,  84,  252, 

277. 
Hall,  Capt.  J.  W.  D.,  539. 
Hall,  Rev.  James,  329. 
Hall,  Jason,  709. 
Hall,  John,  20,  240. 
Hall,  Katharine  Dean,  252. 
Hall,  Lydia  Dean,  47. 
Hall,  S.  W.,  620,  621. 
Hall,  Samuel,  20,  47. 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  624. 
Hamilton,  Andrew,  369. 
Hamilton,  Henry,  497. 
Hammant,  Capt.  Timothy,  170. 
Hammon,  Caleb,  312. 
Hammond,  Rev.  Charles,  408. 
Hammond,  Rev.  Joseph,  408. 
Hancock,  John,  632. 
Haney,  John  D.,  537,  545,  570. 
Hanks,  Benjamin,  214,  224,  231,297,671. 
Hanks.  Ebenezer,  220,  228,  231. 


INDEX. 


817 


Hanks,  Jacob,  163,  507,  673.  1 

Hanks,  Joseph,  211,  213,  216. 

Hanks,  Mrs.  Mary,  66g. 

Hanks,  William,  221,  224. 

Hansel],  Edward  W.,  524,  570. 

Hardy,  Joshua,  526,  531,  570. 

Harlow,  Asa,  311. 

Harlow,  Rev.  Lemuel,  327. 

Harlow,  Obecl,  592. 

Harlow,  Reuben,  523,  526.570. 

Harlow,  Capt.  Tisdale,  17,  47,  304.  3">  357; 
3S5,  497.  512,  514.  637,  641,  644. 

Harris,  Elizabeth  Bailey,  43. 

Harris,  Elizabeth  Irish,  43. 

Harris,  James,  66,  74.  298,  454  ;  early  settler  in 
Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  43. 

Harris,  Jonathan,  211,  213,  216. 

Hartshorn,  Dr.,  601. 

Hartwell,  Samuel,  133 


480, 


Hayward  (Howard),  Ephraim,  26,  27. 

Hayward,  George,  132. 

Hayward,  Capt.  George  \V.,  59,  377,  38;, 

510,  514,  644,  725. 
Hayward,  Hannah,  796. 
Hayward,  Hannah  Kinsley,  45.  49,  57. 
Hayward  (Howard),  Henry,  507. 
Hayward,  Isaiah,  224. 
Hayward  (Howard),  Dr.  James,  642. 
Hayward,  John,  168. 

Hayward,  Jonathan,  40,  163, 166,  167,  280,435, 
1      490, 507. 
Hayward,  Dea.  Joseph,  74,  211,  220,  224,  255, 

349,    374.    375i    479,    4S0,    589,    597.    672, 

725- 
Hayward,  Joseph,  Jr.,  30S,  374. 
Hayward,  Dr.  Joseph  W.,  515,  570,  725. 
Hayward,  Kezia,  797,  799- 
Hayward,  Lemira  Harris,  727. 


Harvev,  Benjamin,  17,  155,  'So,  1S2,  1S3,  184,    Hayward,  Linus  E.,  613. 


189,  300,  507,  673. 
Harvey,  Cornelius,  396. 
Harvey,  Capt.  Elisha,   183.  2S 

of  his  military  career,   242, 

■501,  514- 
Harvey,  Joel,  228. 
Harvey,  Jonathan,  291,  670. 
Harvey,  Nathan,  478,  670. 
Harvey,  Rufus,  228. 
Harvey,  Ruth,  670. 
Harvey,  Mrs.  Sarah,  672. 
Harvey,  Thomas,  20,  37,  51,  45^- 
Harvey,  William,  19,  20. 
Hasty,  David  S.,  618,  637,  760. 
Hatheway,  Colonel,  231. 
Hatheway.  John,  20. 
Hayden,  Mrs.  Anna,  672. 
Hayden,    Charles,    297,    44°,    446,    457,    S'S 

646. 
Hayden,  Ebenezer,  170. 
Hayes,  Jeremiah,  449. 
Hayward,  Capt.  Abner,  235,  239,  514- 
Hayward,  Albert,  471,  49°,  601. 
Hayward,  Albert  M.,  530,  542.  57o,  601,  690. 
Hayward,  Anthony,  212  and  ttote,  214,43s- 
Hayward,  Betsy  Townsend,  725. 
Hayward,  Charles,  601. 

Hayward,  Daniel,  601. 

Hayward,  E.  B.,  386,  45',  605 • 

Hayward,  Capt.  Edward,  2d,  164,  223,  224,  232, 

251,  510,  514,  587-  __   „ 

Havward,  Edward,  Esq.,  26,  37,49,  53,  d/>  »'' 
99,106,107,  III,  "2,  115,  118,  120, 122,. 26, 

129,   144,  187,  195,  217,  239,  252,  255,  280, 
28.   473,  506,514,636,640,642,673,796. 
Hayward,  Edward  R.,  386,  480,  602,  603,  609, 

620. 
Hayward,  Elijah,  269. 
Hayward,  Dr.  Elisha,  briet  biographical  sketch 

of,  725- 


Hayward,  Mrs.  Lydia,  669. 
Hayward,  Lydia  Barrows,  725. 
brief  sketch  I  Havward,  Mary,  490. 
291,  391,   592,     Hayward,  Capt.  Matthew,  120,  178,  181.  182, 
195,  207,  212  note,  218.  248,  266.  269,  285, 
286',  287,  434,  440,  452,  507,  509,  5 '4,  640, 
642,  646,  647,  796.  798- 
Hayward,  Moses,  214,  509. 
Hayward.  Nahum,  311,  374- 
Hayward,  Nathaniel,  600,  601. 
Hayward,  Nehemiah,  233. 
Haj-ward,  Panthia  Nye,  255. 
Hayward,  Rebecca,  490. 
Hayward,  Capt.  Rotheus,  255. 
Hayward,  Ruth,  40. 
Hayward,  Samuel,  228. 
Hayward,  Sarah,  40. 
Hayward,  Simeon,  235. 
Hayward,  Solomon,  374. 
Hayward,  Sylvia  Pratt,  725. 
Hayward,  William,  42, 51,  297 ;  one  of  the  early 

settlers  in  Easton  prior  to  1696,  40. 
Havward,  William,  Jr.,  40,  "3,  "4.  673  \  early 

settler  in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  50. 
Hayward,  William,  3d,  163. 
Hayward,  William,  214,  219,  224,  232,  297. 
Hayward,  William  R.,  60S. 
Healey,  Frederic  E.,  524,  541,  542,  570. 
Healey,  Henry  R.,  376- 
Heath,  General,  243. 
Heath,  Daniel  W.,  8,  277,  288,  5SS,  644 
Heath,  Henry  W..  644. 
Heath,  Joseph,  498,  499,  614- 
Heath,  William,  632. 
Heelan,  Patrick  J.,  524, 
Hefferman,  Patrick,  499- 
Hefferman,  Thomas,  671- 
Henry.  John  A.,  615. 
Henrys,  William  S.,  615. 
Henshaw.  Walter,  13,  55, 


541,  570- 


303 


53 


8i8 


INDEX. 


I 


Hepburn,  William,  551,  570,  615. 

Hern,  John,  160,  166,  169. 

Hervey,  David,  377,  449. 

Hervey,  Thaxter,  44,  297,  591. 

Hewett,  Amos,  370. 

Hewett,  Bartimeus,  213,  215,  228. 

Hewett,  Henry,  230. 

Hewett,  Herbert  A.,  545,  570,  613. 

Hewett,  Nathan,  162. 

Hewett,  Silence,  174. 

Hewins,  Jacob,  2S3. 

Hewitt,  Ellis  B.,  300,  523,  570. 

Hewitt,  Ephraim,  45,  74,  84 ;  early  settler  in 

Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  44. 
Hewitt,  Ephraim,  164,  232,  233,  238,  302,  507, 

673. 

Hewitt,  Solomon,  156,  507,  796. 

Hewitt,  Susanna,  796. 

Hibbard,  Elephaz,  695. 

Hibbard,  Jerusha  Pride,  695. 

Hichborn,  Dr.  Alexander,  722. 

Higginbottom,  William,  412. 

Higgins,  Timothy,  166,  168,  169. 

Higgins,  William,  164,  169. 

Highways  in  Easton  :  old  roads  in  common  use, 
but  now  abandoned,  450;  the  Bay  road,  its 
original  laying-out  and  subsequent  repairs, 
451-453  ;  the  first  recorded  laying-out  of  a 
highway  by  the  North-Purchase  proprietors, 
453  ;  the  Taunton  and  South  Boston  Turn- 
pike controversy,  454-458  ;  Prospect  Street, 
Purchase  Street,  and  other  roads  laid  out 
before  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  458- 
461  ;  other  old  roads,  461-467  ;  the  newer 
roads,  467 ;  the  Oliver  Ames  bequest  for 
public  highways,  468  ;  Governor  Ames's  gift 
for  planting  trees  along  the  roadsides,  469. 

Hill,  Abijah,  166. 

Hill,  Mason  A.,  525,  542,  570,  615. 

Hill,  Robert,  214. 

Hill,  Walter,  604. 

Hills,  Sarah  M.  Pratt,  729. 

Hills,  Capt.  Seneca,  644,  645,  729. 

Hinds,  Ebenezer,  178. 

Hoar,  Hezekiah,  20,  52. 

Hoare,  John,  29. 

Hobson,  Triscom,  449. 

Hodge,  James,  early  settler  in  Easton,  prior  to 
incorporation,  45. 

Hodge,  Seth,  444. 

Hodges,  Capt.  Isaac,  221,  231,  452, 

Hodges,  James  L.,  633. 

Hodges,  Capt.  Samuel,  2S3,  307,  452,  479. 

Hodges,  Capt.  Samuel,  Jr.,  307. 

Hodges,  Rev.  W.  J.,  408. 

Holbrook,  Ellis  R.,  526,  536,  571,  612,  613. 

Holcomb,  Alva,  627. 

Holmblad,  Rev.  Emil,  415. 

Holmes,  Charles  W.,  541,  571. 

Holmes,  Jesse,  608. 


Holmes,  John,  169,  211,  213,  219,  225,  233. 

Holmes,  Joseph,  669. 

Holmes,  Rev.  William,  328. 

Holt,  Mrs.  Jane,  669. 

Homes,  Rev.  Francis,  369,  3S6 ;  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  698. 

Homes,  Henry,  698. 

Homes,  Isabella,  698. 

Homes,  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  698. 

Homes,  Mrs.  Sarah  H.,  698. 

Honesty,  Heber,  433. 

Hoskins,  Samuel,  228. 

Hosmer,  Rev.  S.  D.,  368. 

Houghton,  Mrs.  Mary,  763. 

Houghton,  Mrs.  Phebe  Shattuck,  668. 

Howard,  Abraham,  214. 

Howard,  Amasa,  487. 

Howard,  Mrs.  Anna,  671. 

Howard,  Asa,  374,  3S9,  457,  461,  492,  626. 

Howard,  Asa  R.,  480,  587. 

Howard,  Asaph,  312,  487,  493. 

Howard,  Augustus  O.,  662. 

Howard,  Capt.  Barnabas,  226,  312,  313. 

Howard,  Col.  C,  312. 

Howard,  Calvin,  461,  669. 

Howard,  Mrs.  Catherine,  (?)  672. 

Howard,  Charles,  311,  449,  484. 

Howard,  Mrs.  Chloe,  669. 

Howard,  Cyrus  S.,  529,  571. 

Howard,  Daniel,  230,  231. 

Howard,  David,  44,  287,  529,  571,  612,  613. 

Howard,  Davis  W.,  639. 

Howard,  Ebenezer,  233. 

Howard,  Edwin,  671,  374. 

Howard,  Capt.  Eliakim,  221. 

Howard,  Elijah,  211,  225,  251,  269,  374, 
3S4,  479.  497)  498,  509,  5".  641,  643, 
671. 

Howard,  Hon.  Elijah,  42,  340,  345,  347,  349, 
363,  422,  455,  589,  596,  597,  625,  630,  643, 
646,  671  ;  his  birth  and  parentage,  637;  his 
business  and  political  life,  638  ;  his  family, 
639  ;  celebrates  his  golden  wedding  with  his 
third  wife,  639. 

Howard,  Elijah  G.,  526,  537,  571. 

Howard,  Elizabeth  Washburn,  727. 

Howard,  Elizabeth  Willis,  727. 

Howard,  Ephraim,  74,  79,  80. 

Howard,  Ethan,  311. 

Howard,  Fidelia  Williams,  639. 

Howard,  Frederic,  639. 

Howard,  George,  311. 

Howard,  George  H.,  536,  571. 

Howard,  Henry,  107,  iii,  112,  129,  133,  134, 
163,  iSo,  207,  211,  213,  227,235,384,440, 
641,  642,673,  796. 

Howard,  Henry  L.,  299. 

Howard,  Horace  D.,  492,  644,  646. 

Howard,  Huldah,  727. 

Howard,  J.  E.,  604. 


INDEX. 


819 


Howard,  J.  M.,  604. 
Howard,  James,  727. 
Howard,  Dr.  James,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  727, 
Howard,  James  L.,  526,  544,  571. 
Howard,  Jason  G.,  497,  s<i7,  608,  639,  644,  737, 

757. 
Howard,  John,  239,  269,  480,  643,  725. 
Howard,  Jonas,  298,  672. 
Howard,  Lieut.  Joshua,  13,  113,  119,  120,  139, 
141,  149,  221,  252,  288,  434,  473,  507,  641, 
642,  670,  673,  696. 
Howard,  Keziah  Hayward,  479,  637,  670. 
Howard,  Mrs.  Lavinia,  670. 
Howard,  Lucius,  442,  541,  571. 
Howard,  Lydia,  796. 
Howard,  Mark,  669. 
Howard,  Martha  Bartlett,  639,  757. 
Howard,  Marza,  487. 
Howard,  Mercy  Fobes,  725. 
Howard,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.,  639,  671. 
Howard,  Nathan,  671. 
Howard,  Nathaniel,  374,  589,  643,  644. 
Howard,  Nehemiah,  225,  239,  389,  492,  670. 
Howard,  Olive  W.,  492. 
Howard,  Oliver,  233,  319,  486,669,  771. 
Howard,  Oliver,  Jr.,  386,  541,  571. 
Howard,  Peter,  168. 
Howard,  Mrs.  Phebe,  670. 
Howard,  Rebecca,  486. 
Howard,  Roland,  43,  297,  351,  373)  374.  461, 

480,  589,  597,  637,  643. 
Howard,  Capt.  Seba,  514,  515,  643. 
Howard,  Susanna  Guild,  639,  669,  671,  696. 
Howard,  Thomas,  311,  487. 
Howard,  Warren,  311. 
Howard,  Webster,  530,  536,  511. 
Howard,  William,  221,  607,  608. 
Howard,  William  C,  43,  66,  297,  644,  646. 
Howe,  Calvin,  711. 
Hubbard,  Rev.  T.  S.,  198. 
Hudson,  Rev.  A.  S.,  368,  369. 
Hudson,  E.,  479. 
Hudson,  Edward,  615. 
Hudson,  Experience,  796. 
Humphrey,  Rev.  J.  H.,  408. 
Humphrey,   James   A.,   524,    530    and    note, 

571- 
Humphrey,  John,  298. 
Hunnewell,  Theodore  H.,  547,  571. 
Hunt,  Ephraim,  74,  99. 
Hunt,  Hannah,  671. 
Hunt,  Rev.    John    B.,  his  ministry   over  the 

Methodist  Society  at  Easton,  329-331  ;  his 

grave  and  epitaph,  482. 
Hussey,  Rev.  C.  C,  386,  410,  607. 
Hussey,  Mrs.  Lydia  Coffin,  410. 
: lusted,  Rev.  J.  B.,  408. 
Hutchinson,  Governor,  104. 


Industries:  the  Randall  saw-mill,  275;  the 
Keith  saw-mill,  277 ;  Eliphalet  Leonard 
builds  the  Brummagem  forge,  277-279 ; 
claim  that  Easton  produced  the  first  steel 
made  in  America,  279;  other  iron  industries, 
280;  miscellaneous  industries,  281-289; 
origin  and  history  of  the  furnace  business 
at  Furnace  Village,  285,  584,  585;  other  in- 
dustries in  this  vicinity,  58^-587  ;  successive 
enterprises  at  the  Morse  privilege,  587 ;  the 
Cotton-Thread  Factory  belonging  to  E.  J.  W. 
Morse  &  Co.,  587,  588;  manufacturing  en- 
terprises at  the  Green  and  on  the  Turnpike, 
589-591 ;  industries  in  the  village  of  North 
Easton,  — notably  the  Ames  Shovel  Works 
and  the  Gilmore  Hinge  Factory,  592-599  ; 
miscellaneous  industries,  600-602;  farming 
enterprises,  602,  603;  latest  enterprises, 
603-605. 

Ingalls,  William,  633. 


J. 


Jackson,  Andrew,  520. 

Jackson,  D.,  499- 

Jackson,  Col.  Michael,  243. 

Jacob,  Col.  John,  229. 

James,  Henry,  488. 

James,  Rosanna,  498. 

James,  Thomas,  498. 

Jarvis,  Mrs.  Mary,  671. 

Jay,  Rev.  Murray,  324. 

Jennings,  William  H.,  613. 

Jewett,  Charies,  440. 

Johnson,  Andrew,  563. 

Johnson,  Benjamin  T.,  607,  608. 

Johnson,  Charies,  495. 

Johnson,  E.  H.,  599." 

Johnson,  Elizabeth  Harris,  639. 

Johnson,  George  W.,  628,  634,  734- 

Johnson,  Ida,  495. 

Johnson,  Jesse,  639. 

Johnson,  John,  541,  542.  548,  57'.  ^M- 

Johnson,  Oliver,  312,  313. 

Johnson,  Thomas  J.,  498. 

Jones,  Ebenezer,  145,  i59.  509- 

Jones,  Rev.  John,  408. 

Jones,  Joseph,  145,  '59.  '6°- 

Jones,  Mrs.  Mary,  672, 

Jones,  Warren,  498. 

Jonson,  Ben,  quoted,  502  note. 

Jordan,  Jonathan,  185. 

Jordan,  Josiah,  219. 

Jordan,  Sarah,  797- 

Justin,  Ezra,  223,  227. 


»20 


INDEX. 


K. 


Kaley,  Timothy,  597. 

Keen,  Capt.  Abel,  170. 

Keenan,  James  H.,  524.  541,  547,  571,  613. 

Keenan,  William  H.,  523.  526,  527,  571,  613. 

Keith,  Alexander,  21 1,  221,  224,  233. 

Keith,  Benjamin,  164,  507. 

Keith,  Betsy,  671. 

Keith,  Bezer,  512,  587.  5S9. 

Keith,  Charles  E.,  2,  3S5,  397. 

Keith,  Daniel,  21S,  224,  2S4,  312,  313,  507. 

Keitli,  David,  164. 

Keith,  Lieut.  David,  194,  211,  213,  214,  221, 
225,  232,  233,  235,  251,   5C9. 

Keith,  Edward,  165,  212,  507. 
^   Keith,  Eleazer,  672,  673. 

Keith,  Eleazer,  2d,  183,  277,  283,  58 5,  670. 

Keith,  Eleazer,  3d,  449,  669. 

Keith,  Dr.  Ernest  W.,  brief  biographical  sketch 
of,  727. 

Keith,  Eunice,  669. 

Keith,  F.  Granville,  727. 

Keith,  JMrs.  Frank  P.,  611. 

Keith,  Franklin,  591. 

Keith,  Freeman,  221. 

Keith,  Hiram,  630. 

Keith,  Jacob,  219. 

Keith,  Major  James.  74,  214,  251,  512,  514, 
515  ;  brief  sketch  of  his  military  career,  243. 

Keith,  Rev.  James,  34,  50,  60,  249. 

Keith,  Japhet,  213,  21S,  227,  231,  235. 

Keith,  John,  221,  234. 

Keith,  Jonathan,  211. 

Keith,  Jonathan  W.,  328,  572,  604,  609. 

Keith,  Josiah,  37,  47,  81,  83,  84,  91,  109,  164, 
277.  3°2.  3S1,  440.  447,  636,  641,  673;  set- 
tled in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  and 
built  the  oldest  house  now  standing,  50. 

Keith,  Capt.  Josiah,  159,  211,  220,  221,  225, 
230.  232,  233,  238,  243,  285,  507,  509,  514, 
642  ;  his  military  career,  249. 

Keith,  Josiah,  Jr.,  301. 

Keith,  Mrs.  Keziah,  672. 

Keith,  Lemuel,  2S4,  311,  5S6. 

Keith,  Lemuel,  Jr.,  347,  353,  358,  586,  670. 

Keith,  Luke,  170. 

Keith,  Mark,  163,  2S3,  303,  507,  673. 

Keith,  Mark,  Jr.,  165,  507. 

Keith,  Mrs.  Mary,  671,  796. 

Keith,  Mary  Kingman,  165. 

Keith,  Matthew,  212,  213. 

Keith,  Mercy  VVardwell,  727. 

Keith,  Xehemiah,  230,  233. 

Keith,  Mrs.  Nehemiah,  669. 

Keith.  Ruel,  213,  224. 

Keith,  Ruth,  169,  799. 

Keith,  Mrs.  Sally,  488. 

Keith,  Samuel,  221. 

Keith,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.,  671. 


Keith,  Scotland,  233. 

Keith,  Seth,  212. 

Keith,  Simeon,  21  t.  213,  221,  224,  225,  230,  233. 

Keith,  !\trs.  Susanna,  669. 

Keith,  Thomas,  168,  169,  397. 

Keith,  Unite,  213,  225. 

Keith,  William,  195,  168,  170,  303,  507. 

Keith,  Rev.  William,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  698. 
Keith,  Col.  Zephaniah,  181,  218,  251,  286,  507, 

509,  514,  ^15,637,  642,  645. 
Kelley,  George  H.,  550,  572. 
Kelley,  Jeremiah,  600. 
Kelley,  Samuel  K.,  603,  610,  620. 
Kennedy,  E.  H.,  621. 
Kennedy,  George  W.,  379,  607,  6S9. 
Kennedy,  John,  132. 
Kerley,  Mrs.  Bridget,  671. 
Kerley,  Constantine,  672. 
Keyzar,  Eliza,  796. 
Keyzar,  Elizabeth,  799. 
Keyzer,  George,  17,  98,  112,  120,  673,  795. 
Kilburn,  Mrs.  Carrie,  498. 
Kimball,  Ammiruhami,  212. 
Kimball,  Isaac,  374,  440,  452,  491. 
Kimball,  John,  607,  631,  641,  644,  646,  661. 
Kimball,  Marcy,  484. 
Kimball,  Rebecca,  490. 
Kimball,  Samuel,  484. 
Kimball,  Thomas,  490. 
King,  Benjamin,  313. 
King,  D.  S.,  327, 
King,  Isaac,  233. 
King,  John  B.,  599,  609,  663. 
King,  Philip,  Jr.,  163. 
King,  Mrs.  Polly,  671. 
King,  Samuel  B.,  600. 
King,  William,  283,  603,  633. 
Kingman,  Benjamin,  212,  230,  235,  669. 
Kingman,    Edward,    16S,    169,    170,  212,  218, 

303,  425- 
Kingman,  Capt    Edward,  509,  514. 
Kingman,  Mrs.  Jeannette,  669. 
Kingman,  Josiah,  440,  452,  507,  642,  673. 
Kingman,  Mrs.  Martha,  672. 
Kingman,  Widow  Mary,  383,  670. 
Kinsley,  Abiel,  224,  231,  233,  239. 
Kinsley,  Adam,  233. 
Kinsley,  Azel,  225,  227,  228,  231,  235. 
Kinsley,  Benjamin,  49,  84,  132,  211,  220,   283, 

637,  641,  642,  673;    early  settler  in    Easton 

prior  to  incorporation,  53. 
Kinsley,  Bethuel,  228. 
Kinsley,  Mrs.  Betsy,  669,  797. 
Kinsley,  Mrs.  Drusilla,  672. 
Kinsley,  John,  795. 

Kinsley,  Lieut.  Nathan,  507,  509,  642,  673. 
Kinsley,  Priscilla  Manley,  53. 
Kinsley.  Samuel,  49,  53;  early  settler  in  Easton 

prior  to  incorporation,  44. 


i 


INDEX. 


;2i 


Kinsley,  Samuel,  Jr.,  642  ;  early  settler  in  Eas- 

ton  prior  to  incorporation,  50. 
Kinsley,  Silas.  163,  180,  2it,  251,  507,  510,  642. 
Kinsley,  Stephen.  44. 
Kinsley,  Zebediah,  221,  228,  233. 
Kirby,  Rev.  William,  333,  408. 
Knapp,  Aaron,  228. 
Knapp,  Abijah,  267,  493,  669. 
Knapp,  Chloe,  403. 
Knapp,  Jonathan,  213. 
Knapp,  Joseph,  213. 
Knapp,  Joseph,  Jr.,  233. 
Knowles,  Jonathan,  672. 
Kughler,  Rev.  M.  M.,  332. 


Lackey,  George  A.,  529,  544,  549,  572,  612, 

613,  646. 
Ladd,  James  H.,  527,  531,  572. 
Lafayette,  General,  255. 
Lake,  Jeremy,  760. 
Lamb,  Charles,  quoted,  504. 
Lambert,  Frank,  615. 
Lamprey,  Abbie  Davis,  755. 
Lamprey,   Maitland   C,   38S,  613;   brief   bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  754. 
Lane,  Lewis,  495. 
Langdon,  Rev.  Solomon,  319. 
Lapham,  Abiel,  229. 
Lashure,  James  K.,  613. 
Lathrop,  Jonathan,  507. 
Lawrence,  AmosA.,  635. 
Lawrence,  Hannah  Robbins,  765. 
Lawrence,  Jasiel,  766.  768. 
Lawrence,  Jasiel,  Jr.,  766,  768. 
Lawrence,  John,  765,  767,  768. 
Lawrence,  John  A.,  76S. 

Lawrence,   Jonathan,   796,   798;    his   expecta- 
tions from  the  Townley  estate,  765-767. 
Lawrence,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  765,  767. 
Lawrence,  Libbeus,  768. 
Lawrence,  Mary  Townley,  765,  767. 
Lawrence,  Rachel  Smith,  765. 
Lawrence,  William,  765. 
Lawson,  William,  211,  213,  219,  221,  234. 
Lawton,  Mrs.  Melancy,  669. 
Lawyers :    Edmund  Andrews,  740 ;   James  P. 
Barlow,    741  ;    John  Augustus   Bolles,   741 ; 
Daniel    F.    Buckley,    741  ;    Charles    Henry 
Deans,   742 ;  George  Wheaton  Deans,  742 ; 
Frederic  V.  Fuller,   743;    Henry  J.  Fuller, 
743;    Cyrus    Lothrop,    744;    George   Van 
Ness  Lothrop,  744-747  !  Jo^"  J-  O'Connell, 
747 ;  Jason  Reed,  748 ;  Edward  Selee,  749 ; 
Louis  C.  Southard,  749 ;  Charles  L.  Swan, 
749;  Daniel  Wheaton,  750;  George  Wheaton, 
750;     Henry    G.    Wheaton,    751;    Guilford 
White,  751. 


Leach,  .^bisha,   183,  217,  230,  233,  269,  286, 

287.  3S4.  453.  5S4,  637,  641,  642. 
Leach,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  669. 
Leach,  Giles,  278,  516,  597. 
Leach,  James  H.,  529,  572. 
Leach,  Patience  Woods,  516. 
Leach,  Phebe  Torrey,  518. 
Leach,  Samuel,  74. 

Leach,  Maj.-Gen.  Sheperd,  7,  t2,  14,  338,  347, 
375-  49>>  509,  514.  515.  584-  5S8,  592,  593; 
his  birth  and  parentage,  516  ;  his  eirly  occu- 
pation, 516  ;  his  interest  in  military  matters, 
516  ;  his  open-handed  generosity  and  interest 
in  church  matters,  ^17;  anecdotes  showing 
his  fondness  for  music  and  children,  51S; 
his  marriage  and  his  death,  519. 
Leach,  Simeon,  21S,  311,  4S3,  512. 
Leach,  Mrs.  Simeon,  483. 
Leach,  Simeon  H.,  547,  572. 
Leach,  Solomon,  345. 
Leahy,  Daniel,  572. 
Leason,  Jacob,  613. 
Leavitt,  Augustus  J.,  604,  613,  620. 
Lee,  Jesse,  the  pioneer  of  Methodism  at  Fas- 
ten, 315. 
Lee,  William,  281. 
Legro,  Joseph,  495,  616. 
Lehane,  James,  524,  572. 
Leighton,  George  E.  R.,  545,  549,  572. 
Leonard,  Rev.  Mr.,  106. 
Leonard,  Capt.  Eliphalet,  10,  48,  57,  106,  in, 
115,  123,  132,  137,  144,  147,  149,  150,  155, 
159,  166,  167,  216,  278,  281,  434,  440,  447. 
463,  473,  506,  507,  509,  514,  636,  640,  642. 
645,  646,  670,  673,  725,  796;  early  settler  in 
Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  54. 
Leonard,  Capt.  Eliphalet,  Jr.,  183,  209,  246. 

278,  279,  284,  431,  507,  509,  510,  514,  599. 
Leonard,  Capt.  Eliphalet,  3d,  280,  514,  594- 
Leonard,  Col.  Ephraim,  162,  163,  214. 
Leonard,  Major  George,  25,  27,  78, 126,  277,  458. 
Leonard,  Rev.  George,  30. 
Leonard,  Capt.  Ichabod,  228. 
Leonard,  Isaac,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 

to  incorporation,  48. 
Leonard,  Isaac,  278,  597. 
Leonard,  Jacob,  early  settler  in  Easton.  43. 
Leonard,  Capt.  Jacob,  211,  217,  239,  248,  251, 
278,  288,  298,  421,  473,  510,  514,  592,  597. 
641,  643. 
Leonard,  Capt.  James,  16,  20,  27,  48,  161,  434  ; 
purchases  "iron  mine"  in  Easton  and  builds 
forgo,  54. 
Leonard,  John,  671. 

Leonard,  Jonathan,  9,  55, 167,  279,  2S0, 461,  599. 
Leonard,  Mary  Bailey,  48. 
Leonard,  Mehitable,  16. 
Leonard,  Capt.  Nahum,  616. 
Leonard,  Nathaniel,  227. 
Leonard,  Nehemiah,  230,  231. 


822 


INDEX. 


Leonard,  Mrs.  Ruth,  57,  669,  796. 

Leonard,  Samuel,  234,  286. 

Leonard,  Silence  Hay  ward,  725. 

Leonard,  Solomon,  43,  48. 

Leonard,  Thomas,  434  ;  testimony  in  reference 
to  the  Taunton  North  Purchase,  19,  20;  be- 
comes clerk  of  Taunton  North-Purchase  Com- 
pany. 33- 

Library,  The  Agricultural,  its  organization  and 
officers,  y]"]. 

Library,  The  Ames  Free,  its  origin  and  fund, 
378. 

Library  Association,  The  North  Easton,  its  or- 
ganization and  board  of  officers,  y]"]. 

Library,  The  First  Social,  373. 

Library,  The  Methodist  Social,  its  organization 
and  officers,  376. 

Library,  The  No.  2  District,  its  origin,  376. 

Library,  The  Second  Social,  its  organization 
and  officers,  375. 

Library,  The  Washington  Benevolent  Society, 
and,  its  organization  and  object,  y]T, ;  its 
membership,  374  ;  its  discontinuance  375. 

Lillie,  D.  C,  769. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  520,  652. 

Lincoln,  Albert  A.,  525,  530,  572. 

Lincoln,  Alfred,  531,  548,  572. 

Lincoln,  Amasa,  238. 

Lincoln,  Gen.  Benjamin,  308. 

Lincoln,  Daniel,  228. 

Lincoln,  Mrs.  Hannah,  671. 

Lincoln,  Isaac,  211,  213,  219,  221. 

Lincoln,  John,  Jr.,  446,  507. 

Lincoln,  Jothani,  640. 

Lincoln,  L.  A.,  303. 

Lincoln,  Lemuel,  307. 

Lincoln,  Levi,  228,  624,  625,  632,  633. 

Lincoln,  Meriel,  640. 

Lincoln,  Nathan,  165,  507. 

Lincoln,  Nathaniel,  227,  474. 

Lincoln,  Nathaniel  B.,  532. 

Lincoln,  O.  F.,  303. 

Lincoln,  Oliver,  213,  230,  231,  233,  240. 

Lincoln,  Otis,  620. 

Lincoln,  Paul,  212,  228,  295,  444,  474. 

Lincoln,  Samuel,  47. 

Lincoln,  Susanora  (Susanna),  796. 

Lincoln  (Linkon),  Thomas,  20,  224. 

Lindell,  Mrs.,  301. 

Lindsay,  James,  32,  507. 

Lindsay,  James,  2d,  233. 

Lindsay,  William,  211,  221,  225,  233. 

Linehan,  William  A.,  612,  613. 

Linnehan,  Cornelius,  671. 

Littlefield,  Mrs.  Abiah,  669. 

Littlefield,  Abiel,  300. 

Littlefield,  Abiel  A.,  671. 

Littlefield,  Dea.  Daniel,  193,  671. 

Littlefield,  Ebenezer,  300,  488,  671. 

Littlefield,  Praisever,  281. 


Littlefield,  Sarah,  672. 

Littlefield,  Seth.  211,  230,  233,  453,  641,643, 

672. 
Long,  Hon.  John  D.,  636,  661. 
Long,  Mrs.  Julia,  671. 
Long,  Rev.  Michael  J.,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  716. 
Longfellow,  Henry  Wadsworth,  quoted,  172. 
Loomis,  Rev.  F.  A.,  40S. 
Lord,  Rev.  Charles  E.,  367. 
Lord,  Joseph,  61. 

Loring,  Hon.  George  B.,  254  note. 
Lothrop,  Abby  W.,  744. 
Lothrop,  Addison  A.,  526,  543,  572. 
Lothrop,  Almira  Strong,  747. 
Lothrop,  Annie  Strong,  747. 
Lothrop,  Lieut.  Augustus  W.,  524,  530,  572, 

613. 

Lothrop,  Azel,  613. 

Lothrop,  Mrs.  Betty,  669. 

Lothrop,  Betty  Howard,  647.  744. 

Lothrop,  Caleb,  483,  670. 

Lothrop,  Caleb  S.,  498. 

Lothrop,  Calvin,  699. 

Lothrop,  Charles  Bradley,  747. 

Lothrop,  Charles  F.,  525,  541,  572. 

Lothrop,  Mrs.  Content,  669. 

Lothrop,  Cyrus,  312,  313,  379,  385,  515,  598, 
607  ;  brief  biographical  sketch  of,  744. 

Lothrop,  Cyrus,  648. 

Lothrop,  Cyrus  Edwin,  747. 

Lothrop,  Capt.  Daniel,  214,  218. 

Lothrop,  David  W.,  701  note. 

Lothrop,  Edmund,  13,  16,  228,  647,  744. 

Lothrop,  Edwin  Howard,  744  ;  brief  biograph- 
ical sketch  of,  756. 

Lothrop,  George  Howard,  747. 

Lothrop,  Hon.  George  Van  Ness,  647,  648 ; 
biographical  sketch  of,  744-747, 

Lothrop,  Mrs.  Hannah,  669,  796,  799. 

Lothrop,  Hannah  Alden,  54. 

Lothrop,  Hannah  Taylor,  756. 

Lothrop,  Helen  Ames,  747. 

Lothrop,  Henry  (William  Henry),  54. 

Lothrop,  Henry  Brown,  747, 

Lothrop,  Hon.  Howard,  36,  194,  301,311,  351, 
353>  441.  486,  625,  638,  641,  669,  744,  756, 
759  ;  his  birth  and  parentage,  646,  647 ;  his 
political  and  public  service,  647 ;  his  family, 
648,  657. 

Lothrop,  Howard  Augustus,  648. 

Lothrop,  Capt.  Isaac,  194,  221,  224,  297,  306, 

3°7,  31I1  357>  389,  420,  440,  461,  483.  5". 

512,  514,  586,643,  669. 
Lothrop,  James,  374. 
Lothrop,  James  Winchell,  702. 
Lothrop,  Mrs.  Jane  Bumside,  702. 
Lothrop,  Capt.  Jarvis,  483,  512,  514. 
Lothrop,  Rev.  Jason,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  699,  702. 


INDEX. 


823 


Lothrop,  Jason  J.,  702. 

Lothrop,   Corporal  John,  228,  374,  461,  483, 

672. 
Lothrop,  Jonathan,  120,  233,  796,  798. 
Lothrop,  Joseph,  670,  796. 
Lothrop,  Joshua,  311,  670. 
Lothrop,  Lucian,  702. 

Lothrop,  Mark,  87,  91,  389,  447,  642,  671,  673  ; 
early  settler  in  Easton   prior  to   incorpora- 
tion, 54. 
Lothrop,  Mrs.  Martha,  672. 
Lothrop,  Mrs.  Mary,  671. 
Lothrop,  Nathan,  221,  233. 
Lothrop,  Rev.  Ruel,  sketch  of,  702. 
Lothrop,  Ruth  Belinda,  702. 
Lothrop,  Sally  Spaulding,  702. 
Lothrop,  Sally  Williams,  648,  657,  744,  756. 
Lothrop,  Samuel,  633. 
Lothrop,  Samuel,  Jr.,  74. 
Lothrop,  Mrs.  Sarah,  670,  672. 
Lothrop,  Mrs.  Sarah  Cook,  699,  702. 

Lothrop,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.,  702. 

Lothrop,  Ensign  Seth,  236,  389,  510,  642. 

Lothrop,    Solomon,    43,    48,    228,    231,    235, 
669. 

Lothrop,  Solomon,  Jr.,  374. 

Lothrop,  Susan  Judkins,  702. 

Lothrop,  Susanna,  797,  799. 

Lothrop,  Capt.  Welcome,  375,  512,  514. 

Lothrop,  Willard,  370,  572,  612,  613. 

Lothrop,  William  A.,  544,  545,  572,  615. 

Lothrop,  William  H.,  297. 

Lothrop,  Zephaniah,  212,  213. 

Lovejoy,  Rev.  John,  327. 

Ludden,  Mrs.  Lizzie,  4S4. 

Lufkin,  John  N.,  612,  613. 

Lunn,  Kate,  484. 

Lunn,  Peter,  4S5 

Lunn,  Robert,  58S,  607,  608. 

Lunt,  Rev.  Wm.  P.,  4S6. 

Luscomb,  Capt.  Francis,  212,  215,  249,  250. 

Lynch,  Miss  Alice,  402. 

Lynch,  Capt.  John  A.,  522,  526,  531,  544,  572 
599,  609,  611,  612. 

Lyons,  Rev.  Edward,  328. 

Lyons,  Mrs.  Ellen,  669. 


M. 


Macey,  George,  20. 

Mackey,  James  N.,  522,  574,  613. 

Macomber,  Benjamin,  41. 

Macomber,    Daniel,   219,   221,   229,   232,  233, 

295.  643- 
Macomber,  David,  311. 
Macomber,  Edmund,  221,  233,  238. 
Macomber,  Mrs.  Esther,  670. 
Macomber,  Hannah,  670. 
Macomber,  Ichabod,  297,  374,  584,  58S,  591. 


Macomber,  Jacob,  225,  508,  670. 

Macomber,  John,  20. 

Macomber,  Seth,  218. 

Macready,  Michael,  377. 

Mahoney,  Mrs.  Honora,  669. 

Makepeace,  Seth,  224. 

Makepeace,  William,  224,  231. 

Manley,  Abiah,    1S4,  213,  219,  223,  227,  283, 

295,  298,   508,  642,  673. 
Manley,  Daniel,  292,  435,  463,  673. 
Manley,  David,  189,  241,  476,  671. 
Manley,  Col.  David,  439,  510,  514,  515,  588,  592, 

593,  649. 
Manley,  Dr.  Edwin,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  727. 
Manley,  Elizabeth,  474. 
Manley,  Emmeline  Leland  Hatch,  728. 
Manley,  Faustina  Smith,  728. 
Manley,  Ichabod,  184,  292,  509,  673. 
Manley,  James,  214. 
Manley,  John,  164,  166,  283,  50S,  673. 
Manley,  John,  Jr.,  166. 
Manley,  Josiah,  225,  228,  233. 
Manley,  Linus,  627,  644,  670. 
Manley,  Widow  Lydia,  797^ 
Manley,  Lydia  Field,  45. 
Manley,  Mary,  799. 

Manley,  Mehitable,  669. 

Manley,  Mrs.  Mercy,  672,  797. 
Manley,  Nathaniel,  54,  277,  294  ;  early  settler 
in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  47,  48. 

Manley,  Reuben,  220,  224,  233. 

Manley,  Samuel,  213,  220,  232. 

Manley,  Sarah,  496. 

Manley,  Seth,  163,  16S,  211,  213,  235,  282,  296, 
50S. 

Manley,  Thomas,  84,  91,  277,  278, 434,444.  5°7. 
641,  642,  643,  673;  early  settler  in  Easton 
prior  to  incorporation,  45. 

Manley,  Thomas,  Jr.,  112,  163,  217,281,  300, 
440,  473,  50S  ;  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 
to  incorporation,  36. 

Manley,  Thomas,  2d,  642. 

Manley,  Timothy,  166,  508,  672. 

Manley,  William,  33,  36,  39,  42,  45,  47,  48,  66, 
74)  75;  45S)  670,  673  ;  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  Easton,  40. 

Manley,  William,  Jr.,  508,  671  ;  early  settler  in 
Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  45. 

Mann,  Horace,  630,  634. 

Mann,  Oliver,  214. 

Manning,  Marshall,  669. 

Marsh,  Caroline  Crane,  69. 

Marsh,  Hon.  George  P.,  69. 

Marshall,  Alonzo,  15,  292,  297. 

Marshall,  Benjamin,  670. 

Marshall,  Calvin,  9,  323,  445,  600. 

Marshall,  Calvin  A.,  545,  574.  615. 

Marshall,  Joseph  H.,  294. 

Marshall,  Orin  S.,  544,  549,  574,  615. 


824 


IxNDEX. 


Marshall,  Capt.  Perez,  385,  509,  514,  643. 

Marshall,  Col.  Thomas,  218. 

Marshall,  Timothy,  4S,  294,  470. 

Martin,  John,  229. 

Martis,  Zeri  B.,  547,  574. 

Marvel,  Ephraim,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 

to  incorporation,  46. 
Mason,  James,  584. 
Mason,  Thomas,  613. 
Massachusetts,  the  State  military  archives  of, 

158. 
Massasoit,  evidence  of  his  early  ownership  of 

the  Taunton  North  Purchase,  29,  30. 
Mather,  Cotton,  quoted,  89. 
Mayberry,  Richard,  224. 
McArdle,  Henry,  607. 
McCafferty,  John,  551,  573. 
McCafferty,  Matthew,  Jr.,  636. 
McCarthy,  Kev.  John  W  ,  715  note;  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  716. 
McConib,  Rev.  William  J.,  414. 
McCool,  Michael,  525,  541,  573,  615. 
McCourt,  Patrick,  538,  550,  573,  615  and  note. 
McCready,  Edward,  551,  573. 
McCready,  James,  524,  528,  573. 
McCready,  John,  532,  550,  573. 
McCullough,  James,  525,  542,  573. 
McDavitt,  John,  671. 
McDerniott,  Bernard,  545,  549,  573. 
McDermott,  Peter,  487. 
McDonald,  Daniel  F.,  573,  615. 
McDonald,  John  VV.,  533,  549,  573,  613. 
McEvoy,  James,  527,  531,  573,  615. 
McFarland,  George,  545,  549,  573,  615. 
McGrath,  Thomas,  533,  545,  573,  613. 
McGuire,  Charles  H.,  523,  526,  574,  613. 
McKeehan,  John,  525,  541,  574. 
McKeysey,  Alexander,  227. 
McMullen,  Michael,  524,  574. 
McNamara,  Thomas,  525,  574. 
McNulty,  Rev.  Thomas  B.,  413,499. 
McReady,  Mrs.  Margaret,  669. 
Meader,  Reuben,  377,  606,  607,  671. 
Meader,  Mrs.  Sarah,  670. 
Meadows:    Cranberry,    15;    Hockomock,    16; 

Evin's,   16  ;  Cold  Spring,  16  ;  Granny,  16  ; 

Little  Cranberry,  16;   Nicholas's,  16. 
Meagher,  Gen.  Thomas  F.,  532. 
Meats,  John,  165,  169,  170,  211,  213,  219,  220, 

228,  230,  235,  291,  390. 
Mears,  Samuel,  220. 
Mears,  Thomas,  224. 
Medberry,  Isaac,  153. 
Mehurin,  David,  214,  233. 
Mehurin,  Jonathan,  224,  232,  233. 
Mellander,  Rev.  Alexander,  415. 
Menton,    Rev.    Dennis   J  ,    brief    biographical 

sketch  of,  71  7. 
Menton,  Patrick,  296. 
Merriam,  William,  282. 


Merrifield,  Benjamin,  212. 

Merritt,  Isaac,  600. 

Merry,  William,  169. 

Middleton,  David,  526,  537,  574,  61  t. 

Middleton,  David  A.,  524,  551,  574. 

Middleton,  James  P.,  525,  541,  574,  615. 

Militia  and  military  history  :  first  militia  com- 
pany, 506-509  ;  the  West  Company,  509  ;  the 
East  Company,  510  ;  the  Light  Infantry,  51 1  ; 
Company  B  Easton  Light  Infantry,  512 ; 
military  officers.  513-519;  names  of  soldiers 
buried  in  the  town.  614-616  ;  the  Soldiers' 
Monument,  616-618. 

Miller,  Catherine  (Margaret),  last  slave  in 
Easton,  437,  475. 

Miller,  D.  A.,  621. 

Miller,  Lieut.  Francis,  169. 

Miller,  I.  L.,  620. 

Mills,  Rev.  Charles  L.,  367. 

Mills,  John  A.,  574,  615. 

Mills,  Dr.  John  M.,  brief  biogiaphical  sketch 
of,  72S. 

Mills,  Ralph,  728. 

Mills,  Sarah,  72S. 

Mills,  Sarah  Potter,  728. 

Milrlck,  Michael,  529,  535,  574. 

Miner,  Rev.  A.  A.,  636. 

Ministers  :  brief  biographical  sketches  of,  692- 
718;  Rev.  Israel  Alger,  693;  Rev.  Jarvis 
Adams  Ames,  694  ;  Rev.  Matthew  Bolles, 
695  ;  Rev.  Silas  Brett,  695 ;  Rev.  Nelson 
Williams  Britton,  696;  Rev.  Charles  H. 
Buck,  697 ;  Rev.  Daniel  LeBaron  Goodwin, 
697;  Rev.  Francis  Homes,  698;  Rev.  W^il- 
liam  Keith,  698;  Rev.  Jason  Lothrop,  699- 
702  ;  Rev.  Ruel  Lothrop,  702  ;  Rev,  Ephraim 
Randall,  702-704 ;  Rev.  Joshua  Randall, 
704-709;  Rev.  David  Reed,  709,  710;  Rev. 
William  Reed,  710;  Rev.  Nathan  P.  Selee, 
711;  Rev.  Luther  Harris  Sheldon,  711; 
Rev.  Simeon  Williams,  712  ;  Rev.  Bradford 
Willis,  713;  Rev.  Martin  Wyman  Willis^ 
713;  Rev.  Henry  Wood,  714;  Rev.  James 
W.  Conlin,  715  ;  Rev.  William  T.  Doherty, 
715  ;  Edward  Farrell,  715  ;  Michael  J. 
Long,  716;  Rev.  John  W.  McCarthy,  716; 
Rev.  Dennis  J.  Menton,  717  ;  Rev.  John  D. 
O'Keefe,  717. 

Minot,  James,  1 16. 

Mitchell,  Colonel  Abiel,  210,  211,  217,  225, 
237,  247,  248,  249,  251,  269,  288,  440,  455, 
456,  461,  484,  510,  514,  515,  637,  642,  646, 
671  ;  brief  sketch  of  his  military  career, 
244,  245. 

Mitchell,  Charles,  526,  544,  574. 

Mitchell,  Col.  Edward,  221. 

Mitchell,  Eliphalet,  311,  670. 

Mitchell,  Experience,  245. 

Mitchell,  Captain  Frank  A.,  514,  532,  537,  544, 
549,  574- 


INDEX. 


82 


Mitchell,  Mrs.  Hannah,  671. 

Mitchell,  Deacon  Harrison  T.,  4S4,  630,  646. 

Mitchell,  H.  Y.,  49S,  613. 

Mitchell,  Jackson  D.,  614. 

Mitchell,  John  A.,  411. 

Mitchell,  John  VV.,  614. 

Mitchell,  Leonard,  311. 

Mitchell,  Mrs.  Mary,  671. 

Mitchell,  Nahiini,  50. 

Mitchell,  Theodore,  526,  531,  575. 

Mitchell,  Thomas,  22S,  235,245. 

Mitchell,  Timothy,  245,  278,  597,  669. 

Mitchell,  Capt.  Timothy,  510,  514. 

Mitchell,  William  S.,  526,  536,  575. 

Monk,  George,  2S2,  -^iS,  599. 

Monk,  Mrs.  George,  670. 

Monk,  Hiram  A.,  545,  549,  375,  609. 

Monk,  Ramoth,  293. 

Monroe,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  163. 

Morley,  James  T.,  523,  537,  546,  550,  575. 

Morrill,  Hon.  Justin  S.,  735. 

Morrill,  Ruth  Barrel  1  Swan,  735. 

Morris,  Lewis,  246. 

Morrison,  Rev.  W.  V.,  407,  408. 

Morrison,  William,  50S. 

Morse,  Alfred  B.,  5S8. 

Morse,  Charles  A.,  499,  614. 

Morse,  Charles  T.,  613. 

Morse,  Edward  J.  W.,  442,  498,  585,  588,  591, 

592,  593>  597- 
Morse,  Edward  N.,  499,  588,  607,  689. 
Morse,  Elbridge  G.,  414,  644. 
Morse,  Mrs.  Esther,  670. 
Morse,  James  A.,  615. 
Morse,  Joseph,  461. 
Morse,  Sion,  292,  312,  313. 
Morse,  Solomon  W.,  498,  590,  607,  608. 
Morse,  William,  600. 
Morton,  Marcus,  625,  627,  633,  634. 
Motherwell,  James  M.,  523  and  noie,  575. 
Motherwell,  John,  524,  541,  575. 
Mulhern,  David,  523  and  note,  551,  575,  615. 
Mullen,  John,  526,  536,  575. 
Mullen,  Mrs.  Mary,  669. 
Mulligan,  Michael,  5S6. 
Munday,  Hon.  Edward,  745. 
Munro,  Mrs.  Susan  W.,  698. 
Munro,  Wilfred  H.,  698. 
Munroe,  Captain  A.  C,  616. 
Murphy,  Daniel,  529,  575. 
Murphy,  George  M.,  525,  541,  575. 
Murphy,  James,  536,  575. 
Murphy,  James  H.,  525,  542,  575. 
Murphy,  John,  2d,  524,  541,  575. 
Murphy,  Nicholas,  531,  537,  575,  615. 
Murphy,    Timothy,   526,    531,  537,   543,  548, 

575.615- 
Murphy,  Timothy  W.,  537,575- 
Murray,  Jeremiah,  524,  575. 
Murray,  Thomas,  525,  524,  541,  576,  613. 


N. 

Nape  (Knapp?),  John,  508. 

Nason,  Elias,  S3. 

Nelson,  Frank,  49S. 

Nelson,  Rev.  J.  H.,  333. 

Newcomb,  Asa,  492. 

Newcomb,  Asa,  2d,  51,  303. 

Newcomb,  Guilford,  301. 

Newcomb,  Sally,  493. 

Newcomb,  Capt.  Thomas,  224. 

Newland,  Abigail  Babbitt,  51,  797. 

Newland,  David,  796. 

Newland,  Jabez,  228,  229,  231. 

Newland,  Joanna  Harvey,  51. 

Newland,  Jonali,  673  ;  early  settler  in  Easton 
prior  to  incorporation,  51. 

Newton,  Palmer,  40,  498. 

Nichols,  John,  228. 

Niles,  Daniel,  164,  166,  174,  177,  180,  182,  184, 
211,  213,  215,673,  796. 

Niles,  Daniel,  Jr.,  160,  508. 

Niles,  Elijah,  166,  295. 

Niles,  Elizabeth,  215. 

Niles,  Ephraim,  224. 

Niles,  Hannah,  670. 

Niles,  Nahum,  164,  465. 

Niles,  Stephen,  184. 

Noble,  Joseph,  429. 

Norton,  set  apart  from  the  town  of  Taunton, 
77 ;  unsuccessful  attempt  at  organization  of 
the  "  East  End  "  as  separate  town,  78  ;  peti- 
tions for  setting  apart  the  "  East  End  "  as 
separate  precinct  and  their  final  success,  78- 
81  ;  incorporation  of  the  '•  East  End  "  as  Eas- 
ton, 82. 

Nowell,  Increase,  29, 

Noyes,  Samuel  B.,  742. 

Nye,  Anselm  Tupper,  256  note. 

Nye,  Benjamin  T.,  551,  576. 

Nye,  Mrs.  Mary,  671. 


o. 


O'Beirn,  Rev.  John,  413. 

O'Beirne,  Michael,  499. 

O'Brien,  Charles,  525,  536,  557,  576. 

O'Connell,  John  J.,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  747. 
O'Donnell,  Hugh  S..  524,  541,  576. 
O'Keefe,   Rev.    John    D.,   brief    biographical 

sketch  of,  717. 
O'Rourke,  William,  525,  576. 
O'Shea,  Enoch,  529,  576. 
"Old  Bunn  "  (Benjamin  Eddy),  anecdotes  of, 

769-773- 
Olmstead,  Fred  Law,  688. 
Orr,  Hugh,  284. 


54 


826 


INDEX. 


Orrell,  Mrs.  Ann,  669. 

Osgood,  Charles  E.,  547,  576. 

Osgood,  Rev.  Joseph,  412. 

Otis,  Harrison  G.,  633. 

Owen,  Anna  Lincoln,  47. 

Owen,  Daniel,  60  ;  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 

to  incorporation,  47. 
Owen,  Daniel,  Jr..  87,  281,  304,  440,  508,  641  ; 

early  settler,  47. 
Owen,  John,  162,  163,  164,  166,  508. 
Owen,  Robert,  218. 


P. 


Packard,  Abijah  W.,  608. 

Packard,  Asa,  498. 

Packard,  Mrs.  Betsy,  671. 

Packard,  Charles  S.,  531,  576,  611,  612,  613. 

Packard,  Clayton,  620. 

Packard,  D.  H.,  604. 

Packard,  Daniel,  235. 

Packard,  Emory,  591,  608.  612,  613. 

Packard,  George  E.,  529,  576. 

Packard,  George  T.,  613. 

Packard,  Hannah  Manley,  165. 

Packard,  Henry  R.,  525,  543,  576. 

Packard,  Horatio,  502. 

Packard,  Hosea  S.,  532,  533,  576. 

Packard,  Irving,  591. 

Packard,  Isaiah,  440,  607. 

Packard,  Jacob,  222. 

Packard,  James,  211,  213,  220,  224,  233. 

Packard,  Jedediah,  231,  234. 

Packard,  Jedediah,  2d,  448,  502. 

Packard,  Job,  234,  239. 

Packard,  John,  165,  227,  235,  508. 

Packard,  Joseph,  673. 

Packard,  Joseph,  Jr.,  160,  165,   166,   184,  239, 

240,  292,  508. 
Packard,  M.  M.,  620. 
Packard,  Miss  Lucy,  671. 
Packard,  Mrs.  Mary,  671. 
Packard,  Capt.  Nathan,  189,  230. 
Packard,  Nathaniel,  74,  211,  214,  276. 
Packard,  Nathaniel  R.,  591. 
Packard,  Oren,  483. 
Packard,  Paul,  169,  184. 
Packard,  Perez,  471. 
Packard,  Samuel,  41,  220,  224,  669. 
Packard,  Warren,  550,  576. 
Packard,  William  M.,  529,  535,  576,  615. 
Packard,  William  W.,  525,  530,  576. 
Packard,  Wilson  P.,  532,  533,  576. 
Packard,  Zenas,  607. 
Page,  Elisha,  626. 
Paine,  Henry  W.,  635. 
Paine,  Judge  Robert  Treat,  19S. 


Palfrey,  John  G.,  634. 

Palmer,  Rev.  Stephen,  328. 

Park,  John  C,  627. 

Parker,  John,  20,  227. 

Partridge,  Henry,  162. 

Paule,  Samuel,  20. 

Pauperism,  its  management  in  Easton,  443- 
449 ;  early  method  of  disposing  of  the  town 
poor  at  auction,  445  ;  final  maintenance  of 
an  almshouse,  448. 

Payne,  Rev.  Nathan,  328. 

Payne,  Hon.  Nathaniel,  109. 

Peabody,  Edward  H.,  388.     ' 

Peck,  Henry  W.,  525,  536,  576. 

Peck,  Rev.  Phineas,  325. 

Perkins,  Isaac,  385,  402. 

Perkins,  Miss  M.  E.,  402  note. 

Perkins,  Mrs.  Susanna,  672. 

Perry,  Abner,  161. 

Perry,  Adah  Sheperdson,  729. 

Perry,  Benjamin,  161. 

Perry,  Dinah,  161. 

Perry,  Edward,  16 1. 

Perry,  Eliakim,  161. 

Perry,  Elizabeth  Burge,  i6i. 

Perry,  Ezra,  161. 

Perry,  Hannah,  669. 

Perry,  Capt.  James,  13,  16,  183,  214,  218, 
231,  237,  286,  288,  394,  440,  491,  514,  584, 
646,  72S  ;  brief  sketch  of  his  military  ca- 
reer, 245  ;  unjustly  accused  of  complicity  in 
Shays's  Rebellion,  and  imprisoned,  246- 
249. 

Perry,  Dr.  James,  491,  739;  brief  biographical 
sketch  of,  728,  729. 

Perry,  Capt.  James  A.,  161. 

Perry,  James  L.,  739. 

Perry,  Josiah,  161,  795. 

Perry,  Leonard,  511. 

Perry,  Commodore  M.  C,  161. 

Perry,  Mary,  796. 

Perry,  Mrs.  Mehitable,  161,  672,  796. 

Perry,  Capt.  N.  H.,  161. 

Perry,  N.  W.,  43,  46,  160  note,  236,  371. 

PeiTy,  Nathan,  230. 

Perry,  Capt.  Nathaniel,  15,  16,  98,  107,  133, 
218,  245,  252,  374,  490,  514,  586,  614,  673, 
795 ;  serves  in  French  and  Indian  War,  159  ; 
extracts  from  his  own  mention  of  his  military 
service,  160  ;  his  death,  161 ;  brief  sketch  of, 
161. 

Perry,  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  160. 

Perry,  Commodore  O.  H.,  161. 

Perry,  Phebe  N.  Hodges,  739. 

Perry,  Capt.  Raymond  H.  J.,  161. 

Perry,  Samuel,  160,  168. 

Perry,  Rev.  Thomas,  320. 

Perry,  Dr.  William  P.,  brief  biographical  sketch 
of,  729. 

Perry,  Zerviah  Witherell,  728. 


INDEX. 


827 


Pettengill,  Benjamin,  no,  120,  163,  207,  216, 

217,  21S,  221,  383,  384,396,508,642,  646, 

673-  796,  798- 
Pettengill,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  221. 
Pettengill,  Mary,  797. 
Phillips,  Abner,  220. 
Phillips,  Amasa,  211,  213,  215,  223,  227,  235, 

312,  495. 
Phillips,  Asa,  227,  234,  235,  495. 
Phillips,  Asaph  W.,  525,  541,  576. 
Phillips,  Benjamin,  296,  465. 
Phillips,  Daniaris,  56,  796,  799. 
Phillips,  Dea.  Ebenezer,  53,  178,  180,  182,  184, 

188,  213,  50S,  509,  768,  796. 
Phillips,  Capt.  Eliphalet,  514. 
Phillips,  Elizabeth,  41,  796. 
Phillips,  Henry  A.,  533,  538,  577,  613. 
Phillips,    Howard    W.,    525,    542,    543,   548, 

577- 
Phillips,  Isaac,  search  for  his  supposed  fortune 

gained  in  the  slave-trade,  768. 
Phillips,  Jabez,  163. 
Phillips,  Jacob,  211,  233,  293. 
Phillips,  James,  20. 
Phillips,  John,  533,  53S,  577,  615. 
Phillips,  John,   Jr.,   178,  228.  233,   796;  early 

settler   in    Easton    prior   to    incorporation, 

53- 

Phillips,  Capt.  John,  33,  36,  42,  43,  52,  56,  59, 
66,  74,  75,  81,  84,  87,  92,  no,  473,  506,  514, 
636,  640,  641,  645,  646,  673,  6S4;  one  of  the 
early  settlers  in  Easton  prior  to  1696,  41. 

Phillips,  Joshua,  1S7,  193,  217,  671,  796. 

Phillips,  Louise,  495. 

Phillips,  Luther  A.,  533,  577. 

Phillips,  Mrs.  Mary,  669,  672. 

Phillips,  Minot  E.,  527,  531,  577,  615. 

Phillips,  Nathaniel  B.,  609. 

Phillips,  Oliver,  211,  214. 

Phillips,  O.  Marshall,  614. 

Phillips,  Rachel,  768. 

Phillips,  Rebecca,  796. 

Phillips,  Samuel,  193,  281,  509,  796,  798;  early 
settler  in  Easton  prior  to  its  incorporation, 
56. 

Phillips,  Samuel,  Jr.,  iSo,   182,   190,  282,  296, 

297,  465,  508,  795- 
Phillips,  Mrs.  Sarah  (?),  671,  797. 
Phillips,  Silas,  211,  213,  227,  233,  235,  495. 
Phillips,  Silas.  Jr.,  308,  457,  495- 
Phillips,  Stephen  C,  634. 
Phillips,  Mrs.  Susanna,  672. 
Phillips,  Thomas,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 

Ashfield,  41. 
Phillips,  Wendell,  635. 
Phillips,    William,    56,   281;    early   settler   m 

Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  52. 
Phipps,  Rev.  William.  191,  192. 
Physicians  and  Dentists:  Seth  Babbitt,  719; 

Charles  Hale  Cogswell,  720;  George  Badger 


Cogswell,  720  ;  Horatio  Franklin  Copeland, 
721;  Edgar  Everett  Dean,  721 ;  Edward  Dean, 
722;  James  B.  Dean,  722;  Samuel  Deans, 
722 ;  Henry  Lee  Dickerman,  723 ;  Jason 
Williams  Drake,  724;  Daniel  Goodwin,  724; 
Samuel  Guild,  724;  Samuel  Guild,  Jr.,  725; 
Elisha  Hayward,  723  ;  Joseph  W.  Hayward, 
725  ;  James  Howard,  727  ;  Ernest  W.  Keith, 
727;  Edwin  Manley,  72S  ;  John  M.  Mills, 
728;  James  Perry,  72S ;  William  F.  Perr>', 
729;  Seth  Pratt,  729;  Seth  Pratt,  Jr.,  730; 
Daniel  L.  Randall,  730 ;  Menzies  Rayner 
Randall,  730  ;  Zephaniah  Randall,  731 ; 
Frederic  J.  Ripley,  732;  W.  P.  Savary,  732; 
Caleb  Swan,  733;  George  W.  J.  Swan,  735  ; 
James  Caleb  Swan,  735  ;  Jesse  Johnson  Swan, 
735  !  W-  E.  Channing  Swan,  736  ;  Byron  H. 
Strout,  736 ;  Frank  Elmer  Tilden,  736 ; 
George  Brett,  737;  Asahel  Smith,  738;  Wil- 
liam B.  Webster,  73S;  John  B.  Wilson,  738; 
Joseph  Belcher,  739  ;  James  L.  Perr)-,  739; 
Washington  L.  Ames,  739. 

Pickering,  Rev.  George,  325. 

Pierce,  Hon.  Edward  L.,  402. 

Pierce,  Eliphalet,  232. 

Pierce,  Franklin,  630. 

Pierce,  Thatcher,  312,  431,  643. 

Pinkham,  A.  E.,  620. 

Pinkham  Mrs.  Nellie  M.,  611. 

Pitman,  Robert  C,  635,  636. 

Pitts,  Peter,  20. 

Pitts,  Seth,  228. 

Plains  :  Lathrop's,  16;  Rocky,  16  ;  Crookhom, 
16;  High,  16;  Meeting,  t6  ;  Ragged  16; 
Badcock's,  16;  Stone  House,  16. 

Politics  :  early  politics  of  Easton,  624,  625  ; 
change  of  politics,  625  ;  the  Harrison  cam- 
paign, and  election  of  first  Whig  represen- 
tative from  Easton,  626-628 ;  the  Clay 
campaign  and  growth  of  the  Free  Soil  move- 
ment, 628-630 ;  the  Know  Nothing  party  in 
Easton  and  the  later  politics  of  the  town, 
630,  631  ;  voters  of  the  town  for  Governor 
since  1787,  632-636. 

Pool,  Charles  B.,  377,  646. 

Pool,  Harrison.  3S5. 

Pool,  Horace  F.,  527,  546,  550,  577,  615. 

Pool,  Horace  M.,  480,  591,  607. 

Pool,  John,  340,  374,  375i  44°-  4^°>  4^0,  591, 
637,  641,  643,  672. 

Pool,  John,  Jr.,  3n. 

Pool,  John  M.,  591. 

Pool,  Mrs.  Mary,  672. 

Pool,  Capt.  Oliver,  30,  337,  374.   512,  5«4. 

587. 
Pool,  Mrs.  Ruth,  672. 
Pool,  Samuel,  265,  480,  672, 
Polk,  James  K.,  628. 
Pollard,  Sophia  Campbell,  204. 
Pollard.  Walter,  204. 


828 


INDEX. 


Ponds:  Cranberry-Meadow,  14;  Wilbur's,   14; 
Horse-Grass,     14;    Lily,     14;    Round,    15; 
Ragged-Plain,  15;  Beaver,   15. 
Pope,  Ichabod,  671. 
Porter,  H.  L.,  621. 
Porter,  Rev.  John,  191,  695. 
Porter,  T.  M.,  607. 
Potter,  John,  728. 
Potter,  Martha,  728. 
Potter,  Rev.  William,  J.,  703  tioie. 
Powers,  James,  524,  577,  615. 
Powers,  Richard,  524,  551.  577. 
Pratt,  A.  Frank,  621. 
Pratt,  Alfred,  46,  609. 
Pratt,  Amos,  46,  385,  5S6. 
Pratt,  Azel,  311. 
Pratt,  Caleb.  46. 
Pratt,  Daniel,  228. 
Pratt,  Daniel  H.,  3S5. 
Pratt,  David  L.,  498.  662,  663. 
Pratt,  Elijah,  219,  220,  229.  231,  235. 
Pratt,  Elizabeth    Baker,  widow  of   Elder  Wil- 
liam, 57,  70,  433. 
Pratt,  Enoch,  235 
Pratt,  Ephraim,  508. 
Pratt,  Erasmus  D.,  729. 
Pratt,  Hannah,  796. 
Pratt,  Widow  Hannah,  42. 
Pratt,  Hepzibeth,  796. 
Pratt,  Hiram  A.,  385,  646. 
Pratt,  Isaac  L.,  46,  484,  586. 
Pratt,  James,  301. 
Pratt,   James,   Jr.,    114,    132,    137,    673,    796, 

798. 
Pratt,  John,  228. 
Pratt,  Capt.  Jonathan,  385,  509,  514,  614,  627, 

637,  646. 
Pratt,  Lieut.  Jonathan,  211,  224,  233,  286,  480, 

508,  643. 
Pratt,  Jonathan  A.,  47,  644,  663. 
Pratt,  Joshua,  669. 
Pratt,  Martha,  796. 
Pratt,  Mary,  796. 
Pratt,  Mrs.  Mindwell,  671,  729. 
Pratt,  Nathan,  592,  593,  669. 
Pratt,  Nathaniel,  227. 
Pratt,  Philip,  232,  233. 
Pratt,  Mrs.  Rebecca,  671,  729,  730. 
Pratt,  Seaver,  250,  461,  484. 
Pratt,  Dr.  Seth,  250,  461,  4S5,  489;  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  729,  730. 
Pratt,  Dr.  Seth,  Jr.,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  729,  1j°- 
Pratt,  Lieut.  Seth,  180,  1S3,  187,  213,  217,  220, 

225,  228,  232,  248,  484,  508,  510,  514,  637, 

643,  729. 
Pratt,  Mrs.  Susanna,  671. 
Pratt,  Thomas,  of  Weymouth,  59,  61. 
Pratt,   Thomas.    SQ.  9'>  642;   early  settler  in 

Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  46. 


Pratt,  Thomas,  Jr.,  381,  641,  646,  673,  796, 
79S. 

Pratt,  Thomas,  2d,  160. 

Pratt,  Vcranes,  312. 

Pratt,  Elder  William,  43,  46,  294,  297,  298.  473  ; 
early  settler  in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation, 
56  ;  receives  grant  of  land  as  minister,  ^9  ; 
his  parentage  and  early  missionary  journeys 
to  the  South,  61-64  :  settles  in  Easton,  66  ; 
his  piety,  66,  67;  extracts  from  his  notebook, 
67,  68  ;  his  death,  68 ;  inventory  of  his  estate, 
69  ;  a  slaveholder,  432. 

Pratt,  William,  163,  211,  220,  228,  50S. 

Pratt,  William,  Jr.,  193,  796. 

Pratt,  William,  2d,  508,  669,  673,  799. 

Pratt,  ^^'i!liam,  3d.  213. 

Prentice,  Henry,  140. 

Prentice,  Martha  Howard,  139. 

Prentice,  Mary,  136,  140. 

Prentice,  Nathaniel,  139. 

Prentice,  Sarah  Sartell,  wife  of  Rev.  Solomon, 
134-136;  becomes  a  Baptist,  135  ;  her  death, 

139- 

Prentice,  Rev.  Solomon,  49;  called  as  minister 
to  the  church  at  Easton,  102  ;  his  salary,  103  ; 
letter  of  acceptance,  104  ;  parentage  and  pre- 
vious labors,  104;  a  zealous  "New  Light" 
and  disciple  of  Whitefield,  104,  T74;  minis- 
terial experience  at  Grafton,  105  ;  installation 
at  Easton,  106;  reorganization  of  the  church, 
107;  his  enforcement  of  church  discipline, 
107  ;  first  favors  and  then  opposes  the 
building  a  new  church  at  the  Centre,  no; 
the  Society  divides  on  this  question,  113-1 17  ; 
his  friends  propose  buildmg  a  separate  meet- 
ing-house, 116;  interference  of  the  General 
Court,  117  ;  demands  a  dismissal  consequent 
on  the  order  of  the  General  Court  releasing 
the  town  from  payment  of  his  salary,  117, 
118;  personal  charges  against  his  character 
preferred  by  his  opponents,  120;  councils 
of  churches  called,  119-128;  with  his  party 
adopts  Presbyterianism,  128-132  ;  involved 
in  law-suits,  134,  137;  his  liberality  towards 
the  Baptists  arouses  the  opposition  of  his 
church,  136;  summoned  before  a  council  of 
the  Presbytery  and  suspended  from  his  min- 
istry, 137  ;  brief  summary  of  his  character, 
138;  his  subsequent  experience,  139;  his 
children,  139. 

Prentice,  Solomon,  Jr.,  135,  140. 

Presbury,  John,  227. 

Prescott,  William  H.,  733. 

Price,  Benjamin  W.,  615. 

Prince,  Frederic  O.,  636. 

Prince,  Gov.  Thomas,  19,  20. 

Prince,  William  W.,  613. 

Purington,  Mrs.  Abigail,  671. 

Pursho,  Joseph,  307,  308. 

Putnam,  Rufus,  254  note. 


INDEX. 


829 


Q- 

Quane,  Daniel,  529,  577. 
Quincy,  John,  27. 
Quimley,  Georgu  W.,  670. 
Quinn,  Rev.  Francis  A.,  414,  619. 


R. 


Railroad  facilities  of  Easton,  759. 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  496. 

Ramsdell,  Dean,  49S. 

Ramsdell,  Emma,  498. 

Ramsdell,  Lizzie,  49S. 

Ramsdell,  Seth.  543,  577. 

Randall,  Abiah,  163,  479,  508,  670. 

Randall,  Mrs.  Abigail,  671. 

Randall  Abner,  184,  188,  189,  220,  232,  444. 

Randall,  Alvin,  312. 

Randall,  Almira  Guild,  730. 

Randall,  Ambrose,  301. 

Randall,  Anna,  796. 

Randall,  Ansel  B.,  544,  577,  611,  615. 

Randall,  Barnabas,  312. 

Randall,  Barney,  461,  670. 

Randall,  Barron,  708. 

Randall,  Elder  Benjamin,  707. 

Randall,  Beriah,  160,  16S,  233,  508. 

Randall,  Mrs.  Betsy,  670,  671. 

Randall,  Caleb,  307,  312,  313,  670. 

Randall,  Cyrus,  240. 

Randall,  Daniel,  2S4,  461,  484. 

Randall,  Daniel,  Jr.,  627,  643,  730. 

Randall,  Dr.  D.  Fordyce,  ^2,0. 

Randall,  Dr.  Daniel  L.,  43  ;  brief  biographical 
sketch  of,  730. 

Randall,  David,  165,  295,  444. 

Randall,  Ebenezer,  ist,  508. 

Randall,  Ebenezer,  2d,  488,  670. 

Randall,  Ebenezer,  3d,  461,  670. 

Randall,  Ebenezer,  4th,  13,  300,  384,  461, 
724. 

Randall,  Edward  E.,  530,  532,  537,  S42,  549i 
577,  614. 

Randall,  Elijah,  177,  312. 

Randall,  Mrs.  Eliza  Bryant,  703. 

Randall,  Eliza  Edson,  730. 

Randall,  Elizabeth,  708. 

Randall,  Elizabeth  Robbins,  704. 

Randall,  Ephraim,  57,  59,  84,  120,  150,  276, 
291,  473,  640,  642,  673,  795  ;  early  settler  in 
Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  46. 

Randall,  Ephraim,  2d,  159,  1S7,  211,  215,  218, 
283,  299,  395,  508,  643,  796. 

Randall,  Ephraim,  3d,  188,  189,  224,  228,  233, 
282,   391,  508,  671,  731. 

Randall,  Rev.  Ephraim,  482,  671;  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of,  702-704. 

Randall,  Eseck,  704,  708. 


Randall,  Eva,  484. 
Randall,  E.xperience,  797. 
Randall,  Galen,  48S. 
Randall,  Dr.  George  A.,  730. 

Randall,  George  B.,  526,  531,  536,  543,  578. 

Randall,  George  Robbins,  708. 
Randall,  Hannah  Bullard,  731. 

Randall,  Hannah  Ingalls,  730. 

Randall,  Hiram  A.,  530,  543,  578. 

Randall,  Hopestill,  170,  183,211,220,  228,443, 
461,  702,  771. 

Randall.  Ichabod,  221,  228. 

Randall,  Isaac,  224. 

Randall,  Isaac,  708. 

Randall,  Isaiah,  224,  228,  233,  318. 

Randall,  Israel,  59,  84,  90,  113,  120,  276,  508, 
673,  795  ;  early  settler  in  Easton  prior  to  in- 
corporation, 43. 

Randall,  Israel,  Jr.,  299,  395,  508,  796,  798. 

Randall,  Israel,  2d,  313,  629. 

Randal,  Jacob  J.,  523,  578. 

Randall,  James  S.,  301. 

Randall,  Jarvis,  220. 

Randall,  Jesse,  221. 

Randall,  Job,  221,  224,  395,  533,  615. 

Randall,  Joel,  329,  376. 

Randall,  John,  iii,  165,  2ti,  220,  232,  282,  390, 
463,  509,  673. 

Randall,  John,  Jr.,  508. 

Randall,  John  M.,  544,  549,  57S,  614. 

Randall,  Jonathan,  220,  233,  283,  592. 

Randall,  Joseph,  120,  488,  508,  795,  798. 

Randall,  Rev.  Joshua,  481  ;  his  birth  and  par- 
entage, 704  ;  enters  the  ministry  as  an  itiner- 
ant Methodist  preacher,  704  ;  is  charged  with 
heresy,  705  ;  applies  to  the  Free-Will  Bap- 
tists for  admission  to  their  ranks  as  a  preacher, 
707  :  his  later  years,  708  ;  his  family,  708. 

Randall,  Joshua  L.,  708. 

Randall,  Mrs.  Keziah,  669,  671. 

Randall,  Langdon  H.,  301,  578. 

Randall,  Levi  C,  484. 

Randall,  Louise  Stone,  731. 

Randall,  Mrs.  Lovina,  670. 

Randall,  Lucy  Gilbert,  731. 

Randall,  Lydia  Cooper,  46,  57,  796. 

Randall,  Macey,  669,  769. 

Randall,  Macey,  Jr.,  187  note,  295,  438,  451, 
627. 

Randall,  Mrs.  Margaret,  709. 

Randall,  Martha,  796,  799. 

Randall,  Martin,  578. 

Randall.  Mary,  43,  796. 

Randall,  Mrs.  Mary,  669. 

Randall,  Mary  Willis,  43. 

Randall,  Capt.  Matthew,  187,  194,  211,  213, 
215,  219,  220,  222,  225,  227,  234,  244,  250, 
510,  514. 

Randall,  Dr.  Menzies  Rayner,  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  730. 


830 


INDEX. 


Randall,  Mercy,  796,  799. 

Randal!,  Mindwell,  670. 

Randall,  Molly,  730. 

Randall,  Nathan,  224,  229,  231,  300,  312. 

Randall,  Nathan  P.,  525,  542,  578. 

Randall,  Nehemiah,  116,  120, 163,  211,  213,  235, 

297,  318)  508-  796,  798. 
Randall,  Nelson  M.,  527,  537,  544,  549,  578. 
Randall,  Mrs.  Olive,  672. 
Randall,  Olive  L.,  671. 
Randall,  Oliver,  229,  235. 
Randall,  Patty,  671. 

Randall,  Peleg  F.,  525,  536,  544, 545,  578,  614. 
Randall,  Phineas,  376,  461,  670. 
Randall,  Phineas  A.,  526,  531,  578. 
Randall,  Polly,  484. 
Randall,  Rachel,  70S. 
Randall,  Rachel  Lincoln,  41. 
Randall,  Rebecca,  177. 
Randall,  Robert,  of  Weymouth,  41,  42. 
Randall,  Robert,  113,  133,  155,  163,  166,  195, 

249,  252,  509,  642,  796,  798. 
Randall,  Robert,  Jr.,  508. 
Randall  R.  C,  621. 
Randall,  Samuel,  184,  282,  387,  463,  50S,  673, 

796,  799. 
Randall,  Samuel,  Jr.,  508. 
Randall,  Mrs.  Sarah,  671. 
Randall,  Simeon,  291,  391,  525. 
Randall,  Simeon  A.,  578,  613. 
Randall,  Solomon,  213,  215,  219,  230,  234,  292, 

295'  3i3>  387,  39°- 
Randall,  Mrs.  Submit,  672,  702. 
Randall,  Susanna,  769. 
Randall,  Mrs.  Susanna,  671. 
Randall,  Mrs.  Tamar,  672. 
Randall,  Thomas,  ist,  33,  34,  ■i,';,  45,  47,  48,  58, 

59,  275,  276,  297  ;  one  of  the  early  settlers 

in  Easton  prior  to  1696,  40,  41. 
Randall,  Thomas,  2d,  34,  37,  75,  87,  91,  92, 

275,  276,  2S2,  297,  473,  673,  795  ;  one  of  the 

early  settlers  in  Easton  prior  to  1696,  41,  42. 
Randall,  Thomas,  3d,  220,  224,  234,  296,  508, 

796. 
Randall,  Thomas,  4th,  48. 
Randall,  Timothy,  180,  181,  187,  215,  221,  276, 

389,  642,  674  note,  704. 
Randall,  Timothy,  Jr.,  276,  5S8,  589. 
Randall,  Vernon,  524,  578. 
Randall,  Vesta,  669. 
Randall,  William,  211,  218,  230,  484. 
Randall,  Dr.  Zephaniah,  376  ;  brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  731. 
Randall,  Mrs.  Zervia  Bruce,  704. 
Randall,  Ziba,  ist,  183,  225,  228,  233,  287,  375, 

477,  592,  594- 
Randall,  Ziba,  2d,  391,  731. 
Rankin,  James,  386,  602-603. 
Ranney,  Charles,  227,  235. 
Ransom,  Rev.  Merrick,  2o7,t  3^8,  408. 


Ray,  Anna  W..  659. 

Ray,  Obed,  659. 

Record,  Amasa,  212,  224,  229,  231. 

Record,  Lieutenant  Dominicus,  211,  213,  220, 

222,  225,  234,  236,  237,  251. 
Record,  F"anny  D.,  494. 
Record,  Macey,  494. 
Record,  Mrs.  Mary,  669. 
Record,  Mrs.  Mary,  494,  670. 
Record,  Nathan,  224,  225,  229,  232,  233. 
Record,  Simon,  228,  233. 
Reed,  Mrs.  Abigail,  670,  711. 
Reed,  Abijah,  266,  483. 
Reed,  Alice,  672. 
Reed,  Bela,  461,  587. 
Reed,  Betsy  Drake,  710. 
Reed,  Mrs.  Catherine,  670. 
Reed,  Charles  Henry,  396,  485,  710. 
Reed,  Daniel,  263,  297,  346,  375,  669. 
Reed,  Rev.  David,  brief  biographical  sketch  of, 

709-710. 
Reed,  Capt.  Elbridge  G.,  510,  514. 
Reed,  Elizabeth  Lyman,  749. 
Reed,  Esther  Thompson,  260. 
Reed,  Ezekiel,  270. 
Reed,  Henry  L.,  541,  578,  615. 
Reed,  Isaiah,  228. 
Reed,  Jacob,  260,  485,  669. 
Reed,  James,  495. 
Reed,  Jason,  98  ;  brief  biographical  sketch  of, 

748. 
Reed,  Jesse,  638. 
Reed,  Lieuphemia  Eustatia,  710. 
Reed,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann,  710. 
Reed,  Nancy  Elizabeth  Coates,  748. 
Reed,  Nathan,  5S7. 
Reed,   Major  Noah,  306,  307,  308,   510,   514, 

515- 

Reed,  Mrs.  Olive,  265,  274,  670,  709,  748. 

Reed,  Rachel,  495. 

Reed,  Mrs.  Sarah,  672. 

Reed,  Sarah  Hersey,  260. 

Reed,  Seth,  485. 

Reed,  Silence  Nash,  259. 

Reed,  Rev.  Solomon,  102,  262,  263. 

Reed,  Uriah  Houghton,  533,  537,  579,  615. 

Reed,  William,  259,  312,  385,  485,  641, 
669. 

Reed,  Rev.  William,  98  ;  receives  and  accepts  a 
call  to  the  church  at  Easton,  258  ;  his  birth 
and  ancestry,  259  ;  relation  of  his  early  reli- 
gious experience,  261  ;  his  early  life  before 
entering  the  ministry,  262  ;  his  ordination  at 
Easton,  263-265  ;  story  of  his  marriage,  265  ; 
his  home  life  in  Easton,  265  ;  his  experiences 
with  the  parish  in  regard  to  salary,  270-273  ; 
as  a  preacher,  273  ;  his  death,  274. 

Reed,  Rev.  William,  2d,  265,  485,  486 ;  brief 
biographical  sketch  of,  710. 

Reed,  Capt.  William  E.,  514,  579. 


INDEX. 


831 


Reed,  William  Gurney,  514  note,  710. 
Reed,  William  Howells,  260  note,  710. 
Rennie,  Samuel  M.,  620,  621. 
Revere,  Paul,  210. 

Revolutionary  War,  the,  England's  policy 
which  culminated  in  its  outhreak,  206 ;  the 
Stamp  Act  and  its  reception,  207 ;  general 
disuse  by  the  colonists  of  British  articles  of 
manufacture,  207  ;  popular  encouragement  of 
home  manufactures,  208  ;  military  prepara- 
tions and  organization,  209,  210  ;  Easton's 
response  to  the  Lexington  alarm,  210-212 ; 
enlistments  from  Easton  in  1775,  210-216; 
the  Rhode  Island  alarm,  219;  enlistments 
from  1776-177S,  222-230;  arrival  of  French 
troops  at  Newport,  231  ;  later  enlistments 
from  Easton,  230-240 ;  the  "  Tiverton 
Alarm,"  232  ;  continental  currency  and  its 
depreciation  during  the  war,  236-23S. 

Reynolds,  Patrick,  524,  535,  579. 

Rhoden,  John,  414. 

Rhodes,  Alfred  A.,  613. 

Rice,  Alexander  H.,  636. 

Rice,  E.  F.,  621. 

Richards,  George  H.,  522,  543,  548,  579. 

Richards,  John,  532  and  note,  579. 

Richardson,  Rev.  D.  W.,  367. 

Richardson,  H.  H.,  685,  686,  688. 

Richmond,  Alfred  B.,  522,  527,  531,  579. 

Richmond,  Ephraim,  227. 

Richmond,  John,  20. 

Rigney,  John,  529,  579. 

Riley,  Rev.  Father,  413. 

Ripley,  Bernard  L.,  615. 

Ripley,    Dr.    Frederic  J.,    brief    biographical 
sketch  of,  732. 

Ripley,  Mrs.  Hannah  H.,  670. 

Ripley,  Joseph,  669. 

Ripley,  M.  VV.,  609. 

Ripley,  Rebecca  Bisbee,  732. 

Ripley,  Robert,  276,  283,  452. 

Ripley,  Samuel,  224,  229,  234,  239. 

Ripley,  Samuel  B.,  732. 

Ripley,  Silas  K.,  524,  533,  535,  579- 

Ripner,  Robert  S.,  541,  579. 

Rivers:  Dorchester,  9 ;  Queset,  10;  Mill,  10. 

Roach,  Rev.  A.  F.,  413. 

Roach,  Michael  E.,  529,  535,  579. 

Robbins,  Capt.  George,  704. 

Robbins,  Moses,  312. 

Robbins,  Mrs.  Sarah  Stokes,  704. 

Roberts,  Charles  F.,  527,  531,  544'  579- 

Roberts,  James,  545,  549>  5^°- 

Roberts,  William  R.,  523,  580. 

Robinson,  Gov.  George  D.,  636,  646,  658. 

Robinson,  Increase,  20. 

Robinson,  Capt.  Samuel,  229. 

Robinson,  William,  619,  620. 

Rochambeau,  Count  de,  231. 

Rockvvood,  Julius,  635. 


Root,  Ira  C,  607. 

Rotch,  Albert  A.,  363,  386,  497,  528,  586,  607, 

608,  637,  641,  644,  645. 
Rotch,  Hiram,  586. 
Rotch,  William,  345. 
Rue,  Edward,  20. 
Russell,  Edwin,  405,  431. 
Russell,  Francis,  308. 
Russell,  Mrs.  Hannah  A.,  670. 
Russell,  Mrs.  Rebecca,  671. 
Ryder,  Rev.  Freeman,  332. 


Safery,  Solomon,  27. 

Sampson,  Charles  A.    550,  580. 

Sampson,  Joel,  449. 

Sanderson,  Daniel  E.,  537-548,  580. 

Sandford,  Joseph  B.,  663. 

Sandgren,  Charles,  414. 

Sargent,  Col.  Paul  D.,  214. 

Sargent,  Winthrop,  254. 

Sartell,  Nathaniel,  134. 

Sartell,  Sarah,  134. 

Savage,  Mrs.  Annie.  672. 

Savary,  Alice  M.  Richardson,  733. 

Savary,  Dr.  W.  P.,  brief  biographical  sketch  of, 

732- 

Sawyer,  William,  376. 

Schindler,  M.  D.,  619. 

Schools :  early  action  of  Easton  in  regard  to, 
380-384 ;  introduction  of  school  committee 
system,  384  ;  members  of  the  superintending 
committee  since  1826,  385  ;  men  and  women 
as  teachers,  3S6 ;  teachers'  wages,  387 ;  the 
High  School,  387-3S9 ;  the  town  school- 
houses,  389-398  ;  Oliver  Ames  &  Sons  erect 
a  schoolhouse  for  North  Easton  village,  392- 
394  ;  the  Oliver  Ames  fund  for  support  of 
schools,  399 ;  the  Oakes  Ames  fund  for  North 
Easton  village,  400 ;  late  statistics,  401  ;  the 
Perkins  Academy  and  other  private  schools, 
401. 

Scott,  Elias,  325. 

Scott,  Gen.  Winfield,  308,  630. 

Seabury,  Dea.  John,  744. 

Seaver,  Calvin,  375. 

Seaver,  Lucius,  689. 

Seaver,  Wendell,  375. 

Seavers,  Richard,  524,  535,  580. 

Seelye,  Julius  H.,  636. 

Selee,  Anna  Maria,  711. 

Selee,  Annie.  478. 

Selee,  Archippus,  478. 

Selee,  Benjamin,  early  settler  in  Easton  prior 
to  incorporation,  51. 

Selee,  Catherine  Pierce,  711. 

Selee,  Edward,  51,  743!  ti^ief  biographical 
sketch  of,  749- 


832 


INDEX. 


Selee,  Hannah,  796. 

Selee,  John,  ist,  120,  287,  671,  673,  796,  798; 
early  settler  in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation, 

51- 

Selee,  John,  2d,  489,  494,  643,  711. 

Selee,  John  A.,  51,  304,  494. 

Selee,  Leonard,  609. 

Selee,  Mrs.  Love,  671. 

Selee,  Miss  Lucy,  711. 

Selee,  Mary  L.  Hartwell,  749. 

Selee,  Nathan,  163,  287,  304,  478,  488,  494,  508, 
669. 

Selee,  Rev.  Nathan  P.,  494;  brief  biographical 
sketch  of,  711. 

Selee,  Sabrina,  494. 

Sewall,  Samuel  E.,  625-634. 

Sexton,  Rev.  Night,  190. 

Shaw,  Eliphalet,  301,  479. 

Shaw,  Eliphalet,  Jr.,  301. 

Shaw,  Ezra,  479. 

Shaw,  Henry,  634. 

Shaw,  Kev.  John,  191,  263. 

Shaw,  Capt.  Jonathan,  223,  458. 

Shaw,  Joshua,  478. 

Shaw,  Mrs.  Patience,  672. 

Shaw,  Silas,  479. 

Sheehan,  Dennis,  669. 

Sheehan,  Michael  P.,  523,  542,  550,  580. 

Sheldon,  C.  C,  388. 

Sheldon,  Hon.  David,  335. 

Sheldon,  Elizabeth  Alger,  336. 

Sheldon,  Rev.  Luther,  329,  376,  385,  401,  43S, 
630,  66g,  711  ;  receives  call  to  preach  at  Eas- 
ton, 334 ;  youth  and  education,  335  ;  first 
settlement,  336  :  hardships  of  his  settlement 
at  Easton  and  the  kindness  of  his  parish, 
337,  338 ;  divergence  of  theological  opinion 
among  his  parishioners,  339 :  refuses  to  ex- 
change services  with  the  neighbxiring  liberal 
ministers,  340-342  ;  his  exclusion  from  the 
pulpit,  343  ;  the  parish  divided  in  the  matter, 
345-347  ;  his  friends  build  a  new  meeting- 
house, 345  ;  incidents  of  the  controversy,  347- 
351  ;  law-suits  growing  out  of  the  trouble, 
351-354;  he  re-enters  the  pulpit,  355  ;  contin- 
uation of  the  difficulties  in  spite  of  the  various 
attempts  at  agreement,  355-357  ;  a  settle- 
ment finally  effected,  357;  installed  as  the 
pastor  of  the  newly  organized  Evangelical 
Congregational  Society,  364  ;  his  resignation, 
364  ;  brief  sketch  of  his  character,  365  ;  his 
successors,  367-370. 

Sheldon,  Rev.  Luther  Harris,  368,  386 ;  cited, 
516  note;  brief  biographical  sketch  of,  711- 
712. 

Sheldon,  Sarah  Harmon,  335. 

Sheldon,  Sarah  H.  Flagg,  712. 

Sheldon,  Sarah  J.  Harris,  336,  711. 

Sheldon,  Thomas,  335. 

Sheperd,  John,  227. 


Sheperson,  .Abigail,  669. 

Shippen,  Rev.  Rush  R.,  412. 

Shirley,  Governor,  159. 

Short,  Anne  Longfellow,  85. 

Short,  Glover,  93. 

Short,  Henry,  of  Newbury,  85. 

Short,  Margaret  Freeman,  86,  92. 

Short,  Mary  Whipple,  85. 

Short,  Rev.  Matthew,  early  settler  in  Easton 
before  incorporation,  56,  57;  minister  of  the 
first  legally  organized  church  iu  Easton,  69  ; 
his  birth  and  parentage,  85  ;  settled  in  Attle- 
borough,  85  ;  gives  up  his  parish  there  on  ac- 
count of  difficulty  with  his  people,  and  later 
is  settled  at  Saco,  Maine,  85,  86  ;  is  called 
to  the  East  Precinct  of  Norton,  86,  %■]  \  the 
town's  generous  treatment  of  him  during 
sickness.  87  ;  his  two  sermons  on  recovery, 
88,  89,  —  preface  to  same,  89  ;  his  death,  92  ; 
his  remains  removed,  486  ;  "  A  Thankful 
Memorial  of  God's  Sparing  Mercy  "  (a  ser- 
mon), 783-793. 

Short,  Matthew,  Jr.,  92. 

Shove,  Edward,  27.  ^ 

Shute,  Samuel,  79,  80. 

Simmons,  Charles  E.,  613. 

Simmons,  Elizabeth,  502. 

Simmons,  Jeremiah,  502. 

Simmons,  John,  219,  22S,  233,  502. 

Simmons,  Mrs.  Ruth,  669. 

Simms,  James,  227. 

Simpson,  Samuel,  279,  284,  600,  601. 

Sisson,  Luther,  610. 

Sisson,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.,  611. 

Slattery,  Cornelius,  527,  531,  580,  615  and 
7iote. 

Slavery,  records  of  its  early  existence  in  Eas- 
ton, 432-437. 

Small,  Ansel.  613. 

Smith,  A.  P.,  760. 

Smith,  Albert  D.,  580. 

Smith,  Alexander,  228. 

Smith,  Almira  Gilbert,  738. 

Smith,  Asa,  231.  303. 

Smith,  Dr.  Asahel,  299,  370,  533,  538,  580  ; 
brief  biographical  sketch  of,  738. 

Smith,  Benaijah,  166,   174,  177-1S4,  292,  5o8r 

673.  766,  795- 
Smith,  Betsy  Crane,  738. 
Smith,  Charles  H.,  527,  544,  548,  580. 
Smith,  David,  170. 
Smith,  Ebenezer,  221. 
Smith,  Elijah,  550. 
Smith,  Capt.  Elijah,  312,    323,  461,   510,  514? 

580,  643. 
Smith,  Ephraim,  227,  231,  235.  239. 
Smith,  Frederic  A.,  523,  533,  580. 
Smith,     George     G.,    525,     543,     580,     612, 

613. 
Smith,  Rev.  H.  S.,  332. 


INDEX. 


833 


Smith,  Henry,  235. 

Smith,  Hezekiah.  460. 

Smith,  Job,  228. 

Smith,  John,  20. 

Smith,  John,  162. 

Smith,  John  S.,  524,  535,  580, 

Smith,  Jonathan,  425. 

Smith,  Josiah,  228. 

Smith,  Laban,  228. 

Smith,   Lewis    H.,   391,   609,    610,   620,   621, 

688. 
Smith,  Mary,  52,  796. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  611. 
Smith,  Michael,  738. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Rhoda,  670. 
Smith,  Riifus,  219,  220. 
Smith,  Samuel,  20,  36  ;   early  settler  in  Easton 

prior  to  incorporation,  52,  184. 
Smith,  Simeon,  227. 
Smith,  Solomon,  165,  166,  169,  1S4. 
Smith,  Rev.  Theophilus,  324. 
Smith,  Wesley,  495. 
Smith,  William  B.,613. 
Snell,  Issachar  K.,  529,  580. 
Snell,  Joseph,  383. 
Snelling,  Rev.  Joseph,  319,  330. 
Snow,  Azel,  495. 
Snow,  Mrs.  Calvin,  670. 
Snow,  David,  294. 
Snow,  Joseph,  91,  97,  642. 
Snow,  Nathan,  312. 
Snow,  Mrs.  Philinda,  669. 
Snow,  William,  294,  313. 
Snyder,  Rev.  John,  412. 
Southworth,  Constant,  20. 
Southworth,  Capt.  Thomas,  19.  20. 
Southard,    Louis    C,   620,   646;    biographical 

sketch  of,  749. 
Southard,  Nellie  Copeland,  749. 
Societies:  Paul  Dean   Lodge  of   Freemasons, 
609;    Mizpah  Chapter,  order  of  the  Eastern 
Star,  610 ;    A.  B.    Randall   Post,   G.  A.  R. 
No.  52,  611-613;  Good  Templars,  618  ;  Sons 
of  Temperance,  619;    Roman  Catholic  Ly- 
ceum, 619  ;    Knights  of  Honor.  619  ;  Royal 
Arcanum,  620  ;  the  Queset  Club,  620 ;  the 
North  Easton  Athletic  Club,  621  ;  Knights 
of  Labor,  622. 
Spaulding,  Hannah  Clark,  702. 
Spaulding,  Jesse,  702. 
Spilsted,  Rev.  Mr.,  332. 

Spiritualism,  its  origin  and  development  m  this 
country,  370 ;  its  appearance  in  Easton,  and 
its  patrons  there,  370-3/2. 
Spooner,  E.  P.,  609.  610,  620. 
Sprout,  Col.  Ebenezer,  256. 
Spurr,  Robert,  27. 
Stacy,  Amos,  22S. 
Stacy,  Job,  22S. 
Stacy,  Mehitable,  391,  797- 


Stacey,  James,  180,  1S4,  228,  291,  440,  463.  50^ 

795- 
Stacey,  John,  509. 
Standish,  L.  W.,  760. 
Stanton,  Edwin  M.,  563. 
Staples,  John,  169. 

Stearns,  Ebenezer,  ordained  and  settled  as  mir 
ister  over  the  Baptist  Society  at  Easton,  178 
his  parentage  and  family,  179. 
Stearns,  Elizabeth,  179. 
Stearns,  Isaac,  179,  23S,  762. 
Stearns,  Jean  Phillips,  179. 
Stearns,  Joshua,  212,  213,  233. 
Stearns,  Simon,  184. 
Stearns,  Thankful  Clapp,  i79- 
Stebbins,  Artemas,  324. 
Steel,  Rev.  Joel,  328. 
Stetson,  Rev.  Thomas,  327. 
Stewart,  Duncan,  227. 
Stock,  John,  223,  227,  233. 
Stokes,   Isaac,   183,  188,   189,   315,  39°.  48' 
704. 

Stone,  Albert,  485. 

Stone,  Mrs.  Anna,  670. 

Stone,  Avery,  48,  290,  329,  603. 

Stone,  Chester,  485. 

Stone,  David,  293,  509. 

Stone,  Georgiana,  485. 

Stone,  Capt.  Gurdon,  294,  329,  510.  514.  597- 

Stone,  Harland,  485. 

Stone,  James,  213,  233. 

Stone,  John,  211,  213,  220. 

Stone,  Nathaniel,  214. 

Stone,  Samuel,  282,  293,  50S,  599,  642,  673. 

Stone,  Samuel,   Jr.,   211,  213,  220,  224,  23- 

282. 

Stone,  Solomon,  155,  4S4.  4S5,  59°.  67°- 

Stone,  Solomon,  Jr.,  485. 

Stone,  Mrs.  Sylvia,  672. 

Stone,  Vesta,  485. 

Storrs,  Rev.  Richard  S.,  336. 

Story,  William  F.,  523,  581. 

Strong,  Caleb,  632,  633. 

Strout,  Alice  H.  Mertins,  736-         ,.,,.. 

Strout,  Dr.  Byron  H.,  brief  biographical  sket( 

of,  736- 
Strout,  Henry  E.,  529,  581. 
Strout,  Melvina  Torry,  736. 
Strout,  Sanford  B.,  641,  736- 
Sullard,  Bethiah,  797. 
Sullard,  Peter,  i45-  1^3,  164,  '74,  '77.  509- 
Sullard,  Walter,  50S. 
Sullivan,  Daniel  E.,  551,  581- 
Sullivan,  James,  624,  632. 
Sullivan,  John  O.,  671. 
Sullivan,  Major-General,  246. 
Sumner,  Increase,  632. 
Sumner,  Capt.  Job,  230. 
Swain,  John  H.,  409.  412,606,607,609"^'. 

610,  646. 


55 


>34 


INDEX. 


^  wamps  :    Great  Cedar,   8  ;    Rocky,  8  ;    Pine 

Bridge,  8  ;  Grassy,  8 ;    Cooper's,  8  ;   Little 

Cedar,  8  ;  Tusseky,  9. 

Aan,  Ada  Hervey,  735. 

wan.  Dr.  Caleb,  357,  375,  385,  390,  441,  498, 
591,  630,  635,  646,  721,  722,  729,  730  ;   brief 

biographical  sketch  of,  733-735. 

wan,  Charles  L.,  534,  736  ;  brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  749. 

vvan.  Elizabeth  E.  Hayward,  735. 

ivan,  Estelle  J.  Parker,  736. 

.van,  Dr.  George  W.  J.,  730;  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  735. 

ivan,  Harriet  A.  Copeland,  735. 

wan,    Dr.    James    Caleb,  brief    biographical 

sketch  of,  735. 

tvan,   Dr.  Jesse  Johnson,  brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  735. 
■  iVan,  Louisa  S,,  735. 

A'an,  Louisa  S.  Johnson,  734,  735,  736,  749. 

wan,  Capt.  Robert,  219,  225. 
:  wan,  Ruth  Barrell,  734,  735. 
-wan,  Sarah  Semple,  733. 
:  wan.  Dr.  William  E.  Channing,  736. 
Sweeney,  John,  613. 
:  weeting,  Lewis,  162. 

weetser,  Theodore  H.,  635. 

vlvester,  Galen,  644,  646. 
'ylvester,  George,  369. 
iylvester,  Mrs.  Nabby,  671. 


T. 


AILER,  William,  78. 

aunton  North  Purchase,  negotiations  for,  19  ; 
deed  of  sale  for  same,  20 ;  previous  grants 
of  land  excepted  from  the  North-Purchase 
sale,  21-23  ;  repeated  controversies  in  regard 
to  the  boundary  line,  23-28 ;  efforts  for  the 
preservation  of  timber,  32  ;  division  of  the 
lands,  33-36  ;  interesting  books  and  records 
of,  36-38 ;  proposed  formation  of  precinct, 
71,  72 ;  contention  as  to  the  location  of 
church,  72  ;  petitions  to  General  Court  for 
making  whole  North-Purchase  one  township, 
73-75  ;  compromise  in  the  precinct  division 
and  establishing  of  church,  75,  76 ;  incor- 
poration of  Easton,  7S-82 ;  the  ministerial 
land,  268 ;  setting  aside  land  for  graveyards, 
472,  477- 

aylor,  Rev.  Benjamin,  756. 

aylor,  Charles,  545. 
.'aylor,  Daniel,  240. 
!  aylor,  David,  213,  219,  221,  224,  229,  232,  295. 

'aylor  (Tyler),  Dennis,  292,  50S. 
i'aylor,  George,  235. 

aylor,  John,  626. 
'aylor,  Mary,  756. 
Baylor,  Col.  Nathan,  231. 


Taylor,  Rev.  William  H.,  360. 

Talbot,  Nathaniel,  671. 

Talbot,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  H.,  545,  549,  581, 
611. 

Talbot,  Newton,  739  note. 

Talbot,  Solomon,  251  note^  254  note,  256  note. 

Talbot,  Thomas,  636. 

Thacher,  Capt.  Josiah,  168. 

Thaxter,  Samuel,  25,  27,  -jZ,  80. 

Thayer,  Elijah,  228. 

Thayer,  Ella,  498. 

Thayer,  Ellen  F.,  371. 

Thayer,  E.  W.,  526. 

Thayer,  Fred  C,  371,  498, 

Thayer,  Hiram,  581. 

Thayer,  Horatio,  591. 

Thayer,  Capt.  Isaac,  218. 

Thayer,  Jacob,  213,  218,  232,  233. 

Thayer,  Jonathan,  281,  672  ;  early  settler  in 
Easton  prior  to  incorporation,   51. 

Thayer,  Jonathan,  2d,  228. 

Thayer,  Lemuel,  233. 

Thayer,  Lewis,  591. 

Thayer,  Nathaniel,  20,  302, 

Thayer,  Philip,  229. 

Thayer,  Samuel,  232. 

Thayer,  Simeon,  312. 

Thayer,  "Sol,"  294. 

Thayer,  Stephen,  212,  213,  228,  231,  235,  240. 

Thayer,  Tabitha  Cooper,  5 1 . 

Thayer,  William,  40,  52,  54,  281  ;  early  settler 
in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  51. 

Thomas,  Enoch,  Jr.,  312. 

Thomas,  Isaac,  232,  234,  240. 

Thomas,  Capt.  John,  45. 

Thomas,  Col.  John,  167. 

Thomas,  Rev.  J.  S.,  333,  408. 

Thomas,  Col.  Seth  J.,  627. 

Thompson,  A.  W.,  611. 

Thompson,  Charles  P.,  636. 

Thompson,  David,  763. 

Thompson,  David,  Jr.,  304,  672  ;  brief  sketch 
of  his  life,  with  his  obituary,  762-764. 

Thompson,  David,  3d,  312. 

Thompson,  Jacob,  25,  So,  Si. 

Thompson,  Mary  Blackman,  763. 

Thompson,  Oliver,  613. 

Thompson,  Sarah  Osgood,  764. 

Thrasher,  Christopher,  20. 

Tiffany,  Dr.  Gideon,  154. 

Tilden,  Lieut.  Albert,  522,  526,  531,  543,  544, 
5S1. 

Tilden,  Alvira  M.,  736. 

Tilden,  Ellen  L.  Leonard,  736. 

Tilden,  Francis  (Conductor),  512,  663,  736. 

Tilden,  Dr.  Frank  Elmer,  716  ;  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  736. 

Tilden,  George  A.,  529,  535,  581. 

Tmkham,  Jason,  4S1.  4S2. 

Tinkham,  Jason  Manley,  545,  581,  615. 


INDEX. 


S35 


Tinkham,  Rev.  John,  Methodist  preacher  at 
Easton,  320 ;  his  birth  and  parentage,  320  ; 
his  ministry  at  Easton,  320-324  ;  his  succes- 
sors, 324  ;  his  epitaph,  481,  646. 

Tinkham,  Joseph,  452,  478. 

Tinkham,  Zervia  Blish,  320. 

Tirrell,  Lemuel,  304. 

Tisdale,  Abijah,  12,  299. 

Tisdale,  Capt.  Ebenezer,  189,  440,  452,  514. 

Tisdale,  James,  460. 

Tisdale,  Capt.  John,  20,  456,  510,  514,  646. 

Tisdale,  Macy,  384,  452. 

Tisdale,  Seth,  312,  314. 

Toal,  John,  542,  581. 

Tobey,  Samuel,  460. 

Terry,  Charles  S.,  525,  542,  581. 

Torrey,  George  L.,  3S5,  607. 

Torrey,  Col.  John,  498,  514,  515,  765. 

Town,  Joseph,  297,  518. 

Towne,  Rev.  Edward  C,  363. 

Towne,  Enoch  P.,  48-5. 

Towne,  Joshua,  483. 

Townsend,  Rev.  Paul,  329. 

Trumbull,  Governor,  104. 

Tuckerman,  John,  234,  238. 

Tapper,  Maj.  Anselm,  161,515;  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  255. 

Tupper,  Brig.-Gen.  Benjamin,  161,  163,  164, 
166,  169,  508,  515  ;  brief  biographical  sketch 
of,  251-255;  the  real  inventor  of  the  screw- 
propeller,  254. 

Tupper,  Huldah  White,  252,  255. 

Tupper,  Remember  Perry,  161,  251. 

Tupper,  Thomas,  Jr.,  161,  251. 

Turner,  Bethuel,  23S,  295. 

Turner,  Elijah,  214,  228,  231,  235. 

Turner,  Israel,  375. 

Turner,  John,  20. 

Turner,  John,  2d,  133,  213,  216,  300,  508. 

Turner,  Lemuel,  227,  231,  235. 

Turner,  Luther  C,  613. 

Turner,  Mary,  796. 

Turner,  Shion,  219,  220. 

Turner,  William,  219. 

Tuttle,  Levi,  233. 

Twinney,  Seth,  164. 

Twohig,  William,  619.  ^ 

Twohig,  William  J.,  663. 


u. 


Utley,  Dr.  James,  723. 


Varnum,  Joseph  B.,  633. 
Vesey,  Rev.  Samuel,  141. 
Vinal,  Rev.  Mr.,  141. 


Vining,  Ebenezer,  213. 
Virgin,  Rev.  Charles,  324,  325. 
Vokentrugen,  Daniel,  160. 


w. 

Wade,  Allan,  52. 

Wade,  Asahel,  670. 

Wade,  Charles  T.,  449. 

Wade,  Capt.  David,  221,  481,  510,  514. 

Wade,  Mrs.  David,  371. 

Wade,  Mrs.  Mary,  670. 

Wade,  Mrs.  Rebecca,  670. 

Wade,  Mrs.  Rhoda,  670. 

Wadsworth,  Rev.  John,  102. 

Waite,  Mrs.  Joan  B.,  611. 

Waite,  Henry  P.,  609,  611. 

Walden,  Rev.  Hiram,  324. 

Waldron,   Lieut.  Linton,  499,   513,  522,    581, 

614. 
Wales,  Dr.  H.  E.,  732. 
Walker,  Eleazer,  229. 
Walker,  James,  20. 
Walker,  Dr.  James,  733. 
Walker,  Col.  Timothy,  214,  250. 
Walley,  Samuel  H.,  635. 
Ward,  Artemas,  28. 
Ward,  Ebenezer,  175. 
Ward,  Joseph,   229,  235,  238,  311,  312,   494, 

495- 

Ward,  Mrs.  Sarah,  672. 

War  of  1812,  its  cause,  306;  New  England's 
comparative  lack  of  enthusiasm  in,  306  ;  Eas- 
ton's  military  companies  in,  307-313. 

Washburn,  Calvin,  307. 

Washburn,  Emory,  635. 

Washburn,  Hugh,  214,  220,  228,  230,  300,  307, 

475- 
Washburn,  Joseph,  495. 
Washburn,  Rev.  J.  B.,  332. 
Washburn,  Nehemiah,  224. 
Washburn,  William  B.,  635,  636. 
Washburn,  Zephaniah,  307. 
Washington,  George,  624. 
Waters,  Asa,  53,  375.  592.  594. 
Waters,  Bethia  Thayer,  51,  53. 
Waters,  Samuel,  53. 
Waters,  Samuel,  Jr.,  51,  281;  early  settler  m 

Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  53. 
Waterston,  Rev.  Mr.,  410. 
Watkins,  David,  470  note. 
Watkins,  Capt.  Philip,  16S. 
Watkins,  Seth,  211,  214,  218. 
Watkins,  Lieut.  Zachariah,  165,  184,  224,  251, 

292,  50S. 
Watson,  George,  20. 
Watts,  John,  525,  543,  581. 
Watts,  Robert  L.,  523,  527,  581. 


836 


INDEX. 


Watts,  William  A.,  542,  581. 

Webster,  Betsy  French,  738. 

Webster,  Clinton  B.,  613. 

Webster,  Daniel,  628,  630,  650. 

Webster,  Col.  Fletcher,  525. 

Webster,  Isaac,  738. 

Webster,  Mary  Jane,  738. 

Webster,  Dr.  William  B.,  371 ;  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  738. 

Weeks,  Rev.  Holland,  335,  •:;36. 

Welch,  Charles  W.,  721. 

Welch,  Kittle  Badger  Cogswell,  721. 

Weldland,  Antony,  508. 

Wells,  Freeman  E.,  524,  541,  582. 

Wells,  James,  524,  536,  582. 

Welsh,  Humphrey,  640. 

Welsh,  John,  524,  541,  581. 

Welsh,  Rhoda  Nash,  640. 

Wesley,  John,  314. 

West,  Edwin,  495. 

West,  Peleg,  303. 

West,  Capt.  Robert,  256,  30'^. 

Wetherby,  Capt.  Nathaniel,  452,  509,  514,  661. 

Wetherell,  Capt.  Abijah,  230,  509,  514. 

Wetherell,  Tisdale,  313. 

Whalen,  David  C,  529,  582. 

Wheaton,  Daniel,  271,  280,  340,  345,  356,  357, 
375.  385.  398,  452,  456,  490.  49^  643,  661, 
697,  724,  75°.  751- 

Wheaton,  Daniel  B.,  8,  55,  303,  351,  475,  644, 
66i,  750. 

Wheaton,  Elizabeth  Morey,  750. 

Wheaton,  Ephraim,  750. 

Wheaton,  Ephraim,  Jr.,  750. 

Wheaton,  Frances  Willard,  750. 

Wheaton,  Major  George,  515  ;  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  750. 

Wheaton,  Dr.  George,  750. 

Wheaton,  Hannah  Goodwin,  750,  751. 

Wheaton,  Hannah  LeBaron,  671,  750. 

Wheaton,  Henry  G.,  brief  biographical  sketch 
of,  751. 

Wheaton,  Mary  R.  Goodwin,  750. 

Wheaton,  Rachel  Lush,  751. 

Wheaton,  Robert,  750. 

Wheeler,  Rev.  A.  B.,  405. 

Wheelock,  Lyman,  183,  285,  296,  461,484,671, 
729. 

Wheelock,  Mrs.  Mercy,  671,  729. 

Whipple,  Capt.  Stephen,  168. 

Whitcomb,  Col.  .Asa,  221. 

White,  Adonijah,  303,  660,  670. 

White,  Lieut. -Col.  Alanson,  303,  312,  375,  512, 
514,  627,  646,  672,  751. 

White,  Asa,  312. 

White,  Berlin,  545,  549,  382,  613. 

White,  Edward,  225,  252. 

White,  Elijah,  162. 

White,  George,  leader  of  a  gang  of  thieves  at 
Easton,  426  ;  anecdotes  of  his  career,  426-429. 


White,  Guilford,  376,  385,  591,  607,  637  ;  brief 

biographical  sketch  of,  751. 
White,  Hiram,  523,  582. 
White,  Howe,  671. 
White,  Joel,  600. 

White,  John,  24,  ^y,  79,  80,  473.    •' 
White,  Josiah,  229,  234,  669. 
White,  Keziah  Hall,  252,  255. 
White,  Rev.  Lyman,  367,  385. 
White,  Lysander,  607,  608. 
White,  Nicholas,  20. 
White,  Olivia  J.  Jackson,  751. 
White,  Rebecca  Billings,  751. 
White,  R.  F.  J.,  611. 
White,  Samuel  R.,  525,  541,  582. 
White,  Sarah  Dean,  660. 
White,  Timothy,  228. 
White,  Willis,  312,  313. 
Whiting,  Rev.  Lyman,  367. 
Whiting,  Sanford  N.,  542,  582. 
Whiting,  William  P.,  457. 
Whitman,  Abiah,  11,  23,  36,  43,  45,  47,  48,  66. 
Whitman,  John,  11,  47,  291,  465,  673  ;  early 

.settler  in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  48. 
Whitman,  John,  Jr.,  184,  50S,  796. 
Whitman,  Mary,  796. 
Whitman,  Rebecca  Manley,  48. 
Whitman,  Sarah,  796. 
Whittemore,  Mrs.  Anstress,  671. 
Whittemore,    Ezra    G.,    524,    535,    548,    582, 

613. 
Whittemore,  Rev.  Thomas,  -^26. 
Whitwell,  Rev.  Wilham  A.,  362,  385. 
Wightman,  Henry  W.  B.,  385,  661. 
Wilbore,  Joseph,  20. 
Wilbore,  Captain  Joshua,  218. 
Wilbore,  Meshack,  Jr.,  163. 
Wilbore,  Shadrach,  20. 
Wilbur,  Mrs.  Bessey,  487. 
Wilbur,  Charles,  311. 
Wilbur,  George,  487. 
Wilbur,  Isaiah,  312. 
Wilbur,  Jason,  312. 
Wilbur,  Joseph,  312. 
Wilbur,  Joseph,  2d,  4S7. 
Wilbur,  Joseph  E.,  487. 
Wilbur,  L.  K.,  110,  383,  396. 
Wilbur,  Mrs.  Mary,  670. 
Wilbur,  Samuel,  431. 
Wild,   Martin,  9,  315,  357,  439,  484,  628,  641, 

646. 
Wild,  Richard,  27S,  2S3,  484,  643. 
Wilde,  Emogen  Howard,  639,  757. 
Wilde,    Commander    George    Francis  Faxon, 

515,  639;  brief  biographical  sketch  of,  756 

75S. 
Wilde,  George  H.,  758. 
Wilde,  Mary  Thayer,  736. 
Wilde,  William  Reed,  756. 
Willard  Capt.  Aaron,  165. 


I 


inde: 


^37 


Wille,  Christian,  F.  (alias  Arthur  Hardcastle), 

240. 
Willett,  Capt.  Thomas,  ig,  20,  30. 
Williams,  Lieut.  Abiel,  224,  251. 
Williams,  Abigail,  55,  796,  799. 
Williams,  Alfred,  35. 
Williams,  Mrs.  Amanda  L.,  670. 
Williams,  Mrs.  Anna,  671,  713. 
Williams,  Benjamin,  55. 
Williams,  Capt.  Benjamin,  91,  112,  146,  162, 

181,  207,283,  435,  440,  475,  514,  637,641, 

642,  673  ;  early  settler  in  Easton  prior  to  in- 
corporation, 55. 
Williams,  Capt.  Benjamin,  Jr.,  164,  i6iS,  285, 

475i  514- 
Williams,  Charles  E.,  525,  5S2. 
Williams,  Charles  T.,  582. 
Williams,  Cyrus,  512,  671. 
Williams,  Daniel,  207,  2S4,  285,  420,  440,  ^09, 

587,  637,  640,  642,  645,  646.  673,  722. 
Williams,  Dwelly,  311,  519. 
Williams,  Ebenezer,  232,  234,  238,  508. 
Williams,  Edward,  212,  221,  241,  269,  288,489, 

,86,  643,  648. 
Williams,  Edward  D.,6,  15,  36,  50,  277,  301, 

39S,  435>  586,  5S7. 
Williams,  Elbridge,  602. 
Williams,  Elijah,  212,  213. 
Williams,  Eugene  W.,  385. 
Williams,  Francis,  672. 
Williams,  George,  607,  608. 
Williams,  Col.  George,  220,  223. 
Williams,  George  E.,  303. 
Williams,  Greenfield,  312,  313,  497. 
Williams,  Hannah,  799. 
Williams,  Hiram,  605,  644,  646. 
Williams,  Capt.  Howell,  710. 
Williams,  Jacob,  219,  221,  225,  229,  234. 
Williams,  Jainis,  234,  238,  302. 
Williams,  Col.  James,  232,  277,  460. 
Williams,  J.  Frank,  300. 
Williams,  J.  M.,  620. 
Williams,  Capt.  Job,  16S,  169. 
Williams,  John  (of  Taunton),  475. 
Williams,  Lieut.  John,  112,  113,  121,  149,  2S5, 

434,  440,  452,  475,  636,  641,  642,  673  ;  early 

settler  in  Easton  prior  to  incorporation,  55. 
Williams,  John,  3d,  212,  221,  224,  236. 
Williams,  Col.  John,  483,  509,  511,  514,  515. 
Williams,  Capt.  Joshua,  375,  398,  512,  514,672. 
Williams,  Josiah,  250,  525,  530,  582,  615,  643. 
Williams,  Larnard,  49S,  512. 
Williams,  Mrs.  Lavina,  672. 
Williams,  Capt.  Lewis,  311,  357,  375-448.  49i. 

512,  514,  586,  62S,  637,  643,  646,  670. 
Williams,  Mrs.  Lydia,  436. 
Williams,  Capt.  Macey,  183,  211,  212,  213,  221, 

229,  230,  232,  234,  241,  249,  446,  509,  514; 

his  military  career,  250. 
Williams,  Marlborough,  211,  213. 


;  49S,  513,  5'4.    522. 


'^^  •---  e  F.,  524,   530,  536, 

5S2,  611,  613. 
Williams,  \ahum,  497,  644. 
Williams,  Nathaniel,  20. 
Williams,  Otis,  375. 
Williams,  Paul,  302,  502. 
Williams,  Rebecca  Hunt,  722,  799. 
Williams,  Richard,  20,  55. 
Williams,  Richard,  2d,  463. 
Williams,  Samuel,  20. 
Williams,  Sarah  Lothrop,  648. 
Williams,  Seth,  211,  213,  229,  311,  508,  637. 
Williams,  Lieut.  Seth,  511. 
Williams,  Silas,  277,  28-5,  302,  303,  384,  507, 

673- 
Williams,  Silas,  Jr.,  163,  164,  169,  229,  232, 

435,  4S3,  508. 
Williams,  Simeon,  285,  287. 
Williams,    Rev.    Simeon,    brief    biographical 

sketch  of,  712. 
Williams,  Stimpson,  12,  288,  304,  670. 
Williams,  Thomas,  20. 
Williams,  Corporal  Thomas,  228,  233. 
Williams,  Lieut.  Thomas,  512,  637. 
Williams,  Thomas  E.,  395. 
Williams,   Timothy,   153,  2S5,  508,  640,  642, 

673- 
Willis,  Alby,  445. 
W'illis,  Rev.  Bradford,  713. 
Willis,  Catherine  S.,  494. 
Willis,  Charles  H.,  499,  5S2,  614. 
Willis,  Ephraim,  461. 
Willis,  Eugene,  498. 
Willis,  Experience  Byram,  43. 
Willis,  Mrs.  Frances,  713. 
Willis,  George  E.,  530,  542,  582. 
Willis,  Mrs.  Hannah  Ann,  714. 
Willis,  Hannah  Dean,  713. 
Willis,  Henry  M.,  547,  582. 
Willis,  James,  461,  498,  670. 
Willis,   Captain  Jedediah,   12,   263,  267,  299, 

492,  510,  514. 
Willis,  Jeremiah,  25,  52,  252,  299. 
Willis,  Jesse,  670. 
Willis,  Joab,  218. 
Willis,  John,  43,  713. 
Willis,  John,  2d,  16,  161. 
Willis,  John,  3d,  228. 
Willis,  John,  Jr.,  313. 
Willis,  Josiah,  234. 

Willis,  Lemuel,  1S7,  217,  220,  227,  232. 
Willis,  Mrs.  Lydia,  670. 
Willis,  Martin,  498. 
Willis,  Rev.  Martin  Wyman,  brief  biographical 

sketch  of,  713-7" 5- 
Willis,  Nathan,  9,  16,  66,643,  672- 


838 


INDEX. 


Willis,  Mrs.  N.  J 

Willis,  Philip,  56 

Willis,  Lieut.  Ru  h  55°> 

582,  611,612,  I 

Willis,  Mrs.  Sarr 

Willis,  Seth,  164. 

Willis,  Solomon,  2^^. 

Willis,  Stoughton,  212,  234. 

Willis,  Susanna,  492. 

Willis,  Thomas,  669. 

Willis,  Thomas,  2d,  213,  2S3,  318,  461,672,  713. 

Willis,  Thomas,  3d,  300. 

Willis,  William  H.,  522,  583,  604,  6n. 

Wilson,  Almira  Randall,  738. 

Wilson,  Eljphalet  S.,  583,  738. 

Wilson,  Henry,  635. 

Wilson,  John,  162. 

Wilson,  Dr.  John  B.,  547,  583  ;  brief  biographi- 
cal sketch  of,  738. 

Wilson,  Rev.  Richard  A.,  413. 

Wilson,  Susan  L.  Buck,  738. 

Winslovv,  Colonel  John,  159. 

Winslow,  John  Howard,  162.  163,  164,  166,  508. 

Winslow,  Josiah,  2S1. 

Winslow,  Major  Josias,  20. 

Winthrop,  Robert  C,  634. 

Witherell,  Abijah,  233. 

Witherell,  Mrs.  Abijah  (.?),  666. 

Witherell,  John,  451. 

Withington,  Ellen  Howard,  363. 

Withington,  Rev.  George  G.,  362,  386,  388,  410, 
610,  621,  641. 

Withington,  George  R.,  362. 

Withington,  Mrs.  L.  G.,  670. 

Wirt,  William,  625. 

Wittum,  Wetherell,  796. 

Wood,  Elizabeth,  714. 

Wood,  Ephraim,  228. 


Wood,  Rev.  Henry,  brief  biographical  sketch 

of,  714. 
Wood,  Capt.  Isaac,  262. 
Wood,  John,  170. 
Wood,  John,  Jr.,  170. 
Wood,  Palmer,  229,  232. 
Wood,  Robert,  714. 
Woodbury,  Josiah,  304. 
Woodcock,  John,  211,  213,  216. 
Woodcock,  Nathan,  211,  221,  224,  233. 
Woods,  Amariah,  212,  221. 
Woods,  Daniel,  212,  213,  223,  235. 
Woods,  Ebenezer,  211,  230. 
Woods,  Francis,  211,  218,  221. 
Woods,  James,  227. 
Woods,  John,  211,  214. 
Woods,  Joseph,  221,  224,  234. 
Woodside,  James,  Esq.,  476. 
Woodside,  Jane,  476. 
Woodward,  Abijah,  234. 
Woodward,  Caleb,  421. 
Woodward,  David,  421. 
Woodward,  Ebenezer,  227. 
Woodward,  Hannah,  796. 
Woodward,  Israel,  282,  295,  421,  464,  474,  50S, 

673- 
Woodward,  Nathan,  420. 
Woodward,  Nathaniel,  27. 
Woodward,  Noah,  230. 
Woodward,  Simeon,  301,  490. 
Wright,  Col.  Carroll  D.,  665  note. 
W^right,  James,  162. 


Y. 

York,  Anson  E.,  385. 


University  Press:  John  Wilson  &  Son,  Cambridge. 


4-