Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 59, 1883

Chapter 59

Taunton is the oldest settlement in Bristol County, and the third in order of time, after Plymouth itself, in Plymouth Colony, Scituate having been incorporated in 1636, Duxbury in 1637, and Taunton in 1639.

A romantic interest attaches to the pioneers in any new enterprise, and especially to those who found a new settlement in a wild and uninhabited region. And when such enterprise is exposed to dangers from savage attack, made more fearful by reason of distance from friendly help, our admiration is kindled for adventure so daring and heroic.

Such an interest in the first settlers of Taunton must always be felt by the successive generations of dwellers in this ancient town. Could the name of the very first settler be known, the date when he " sat down" here, the location of the lands he first cleared, the spot on which stood his first rude dwelling, it would satisfy that strong natural desire to ascertain the origin of things, and a spot so interesting would doubtless be marked by some permanent memorial. But such certainty of knowledge is now probably unattainable by the most patient research. The settlement of Plymouth was made before the eyes of the world. Every detail in the movements of the " Mayflower," from Provincetown to Plymouth Harbor, has been preserved, and the rock on the shore upon which her immortal ship's company stepped as they landed has become the " head of the corner" in our national temple. The towns north and south of Plymouth, upon the sea-shore, were settled mostly by Plymouth men, and under the immediate supervision of the parent colony, and so their very earliest beginnings are known. But the early settlers of Taunton were not from Plymoutb, although they were men of a like spirit with those colonists. The location was far inland, and they had no annalist among them like Winslow or Bradford to record their doings. Their early history must be gleaned from the proprietary records, - often tantalizing in their character, - from the dealings of the government of Plymouth Colony with the town after its incorporation, and from deeds, wills, and correspondence that chance has preserved, and allusions found in the dealings of other towns with this.

The first Europeans who traversed the territory were undoubtedly Edward Winslow, afterwards Governor of Plymouth Colony, and Stephen Hopkins, on their journey to visit Massasoit in June or July, 1621. The narrative of this visit in " Mourt's Relation," written most probably by Winslow himself, has been often cited, but it has an appropriate place in this history, and is here given in part. The original orthography and punctuation are retained :

" It seemed good to the Company for many considerations to send some amongst them to Massasoyt, the greatest Commander amongst the Savages, bordering about us; partly to know where to find them, if occasion served, as also to see their strength, discover the Country, prevent abuses in their disorderly comming unto us, make satisfaction for some conceived injuries to be done on our parts, and to continue the league of Peace and Friendship between them and us. For these, and the like ends, it pleased the Governour to make choice of Steven Hopkins, & Edward Wiusloe to goe unto him, and having a fit opportunitie, by reason of a Savage, called Tisquantum (that could speake English) comming unto us; with all expedition provided a Horse-mans coat, of red cotton, and laced with a slight lace for a present, that both they and their message might be the more acceptable amongst them. The Message was as followeth: That forasmuch as his subjects came often and without feare, upon all occasions amongst us, so wee were now come unto him, and in witnesse of the love and good will the English beare unto him, the Governour bath sent him a coat, desiring that the Peace and Amitie that was betweene them and us might be continued, not that we feared them, but because we intended not to injure any desiring to live peaceably : and as with all men, so especially with them our nearest neighbours. But whereas his people came very often, and very many together unto us, bringing for the most part their wives and children with them, they were wellcome; yet we being but strangers as yet at Patuxet, alias New Plimmouth, and not knowing how our Come might prosper, we could no longer give them such entertainment as we had done, and as we desired still to doe: yet if he would be pleased to come himselfe, or any special! friend of his desired to see us, comming from him they should be wellcome; and to the end we might know them from others, our Governour had sent him a copper Chayne, desiring if any Messenger should come from him to us, we might know him by briuging it with him, and hearken and give credit to his Message accordingly. Also requesting him that such as have skins, should bring (hem to us, and that be would hinder the multitude from oppressing us with them, and whereas at our first arrivall at Paomet (called by us Cape Cod) we found there Come buried in the ground, and finding no inhabitants but some graves of dead new buryed, took the Corne, resolving if ever we could heare of any that had right thereunto, to make satisfaction to the full for it, yet since we understand the owners thereof were fled for feare of us, our desire was either to pay them with the like quantitie of corne, English meale, or any other Commodities we had to pleasure them withall; requesting him that some one of his men might signifiesomuch unto them, and we would content him for his paines. And last of all, our Governour requested one favour of him, which was, that he would exchange some of their Corne for feede with us, that we might make fyall which best agreed with the soyle where we live.

"With these presents and message we set forward the tenth June, about 9 a clocks in the Morning, our guide resolving that night to rest at Namaschet, a Towne under Massasoyt, and conceived by us to bee very neere, because the Inhabitants flocked so thicke upon every slight occasion amongst us : but wee found it to bee some fifteen English myles. On the way we found some ten or twelve men women and children, which had pestered us, till wee were wearie of them, perceiving that (as the manner of them all is) where victual 1 is easiliest to be got, there they live, especially in the summer: ly reason whereof our Bay affording many Lobsters, they resort every spring tide thither: & now returned with us to Namaschet. Thither we came about 3 a clocke after noone, the Inhabitants entertaining us with joy, in the best manner they could, giving us a kinde of bread called by them Mausium. and the spawns of Shads, which then they got in abundance, in so much as they gave us spooues to eate them, with these they boyled mustie Acorns, but of the Shads we eate heartily. After this they desired one of our men to shoote at a Crow, complaining what damage they sustained in their Corne by them, who shooting some fourscore off and killing, they much admired it, as other shots on other occasions. After this Tisquantum told us wee should hardly in one day reach Pakanokick, moving us to goe some 8 myles furthur, where we should finde more store and better victuals than there : Being willing to hasten our journey we went, and came thither at Sunne setting, where we found many of the Namaschencks (they so calling the men of Namaschet) fishing uppon a Ware which they had made on a River which belonged to them, where they caught abundance of Basse. These welcommed us also, gave us of their fish, and we them of our victuals, not doubting but we should have enough where ere we came. There we lodged in the open fields: for houses they had none, though they spent the most of the Summer there. The head of this River is reported to bee not fane from the place of our abode, upon it are, and have been many Townes, it being a good length. The ground is very good on both sides, it being for the most part cleered : Thousands of men have lived there, which dyed in a great plague not long since : and pitty it was and is to see, so many goodly fiekles, & so well seated, without men to dress and manure the same. Upon this River dwelleth Massasoyt: It commeth into the Sea at the Narrohiganset Bay, where the French men so much use. A shipp may goe many myles up it, as the Salvages report, and a shallop to the head of it : but so farre as wee saw, wee are sure a Shallop may.

"But to returne to our Journey: The next morning wee brake our fast, tooke our leave and departed, being then accompanied with some sixe Salvages, having gone about sixe myles by the River side, at a knowne shole place, it beeing low water, they spake to us to put off our breeches, for we must wade thorow. Heere let me not forget the vallour and courrage of some of the Salvages, on the opposite side of the river, for there were remaining alive only 2 men, both aged, especially the one being above threescoure; These two espying a company of men entring the River, ran very swiftly & low in the grasse to meet us at the banck, where with shrill voyces and great courage standing charged upon us with their bowes, they demanded what we were, supposing us to be enemies, anil thinking to take advantage on us in the water: but seeing we were friends, they welcomed us with such foode as they had, and we bestowed a small bracelet of Beades on them. Thus farre wee are sure the Tide ebs and flows.

" Having here againe refreshed our selves, we proceeded in our Journey, the weather being very bote for travel!, yet the Country so well watered that a man could scarce be diie, but he should have a spring at hand to coole his thirst, beside small Rivers in abundance; but the Salvages will not willingly drinke, but at a spring head. When wee came to any small Brooke where no bridge was, two of them desired to carry us through of their owne accords, also fearing wee were or would be weary, offered to carry our peeces, also if we would lay off any of our clothes, we should have them carried; and as the one of them had foil ml more speciall kindnesse from one of the Messengers, and the other Salvage from the other so they shewed their thankefulnesse accordingly in affording us all helpe and furtherance in the Journey.

" As we passed along, we observed that there were few places by the River, but had beene inhabited, by reason whereof, much ground was (lean, save of weedes which grewe higher than our heads. There is much good Timber both Oake, Waltnut-tree, Firre, Beech, and exceeding great Chesnut-trees. The country in respect of the lying of it, is both Chainpanie and hilly, like many places in Kugland. In some places its very rockie both above ground and in it: And though the Countrey bee wilde and over giowne with woods, yet the trees stand not thicke, but a man may well ride a horse amongst them.

''Passing on at length, one of the company, an Indian, espied a man, and told the rest of it, we asked them if they feared any, they told us that if they were Narrohigganset men they wonld not trust them, whereat, we called for our peeces and bid them not to feare ; for though they were twenty, we two alone would not care for them : but they hayling him, hee proved a friend, and had onely t\vo women with him : their baskets wen' empty, but they fetched water in their bottles, so that we dranke with them and departed. Alter wo met another man with other two women, which bad beene at Randevow by the salt water, and their baskets were full of rested Crab fishes, and other dryed shell fish, of which they gave us, and wee eate and dranke with them : and gave each of the women a string of Beades, and departed.

The date given as the time of starting on this expedition is probably wrong, as the 10th of June fell on Sunday, when these strict observers of the Lord's day would be most unlikely to undertake such a journey. Morton, in the " New England Memorial," gives July 2d, which was Monday, as the time, and Bradford, in his " History of Plymouth Plantation," gives the same date. This agrees better with other events narrated by Winslow, and is probably correct.

Namaschet, the Indian village where they first stopped, is in the town of Middleborough, upon Namasket River, which is an outlet of Assowompset Pond, and empties into Taunton River. There the first English settlement in that town was made, and it still bears the name of Namasket village. The place where they spent the night was on Taunton River, in the northwesterly part of Middleborough, called by the Indians, together with the region in that vicinity, Tetiquet. A pleasant village in the same locality perpetuates the name as Titicut. It was also anciently known as the Old Indian Wear. From there it seems they followed the river until they reached "the knowne shole place," which was undoubtedly at Squawbetty, or East Taunton, at or near the location of the Old Colony Iron-Works, where they crossed the river and continued their journey on the northerly and westerly side, probably along the route of the present road from East Taunton to Taunton Green, through Dean Street, and so following the river southerly, through the present towns of Dighton, Somerset, and Swansea, to " Packanokick," the residence of " Massasoyt," in what is now Warren, R. I.

In March, 1623, Winslow made another visit to Massasoit, his companion being John Hampden, thought by Hon. Francis Baylies, in his "History of Plymouth Colony," and by Dr. Belknap, in "American Biography," to be the English patriot of that name so prominent in the time of Charles I. The first part of Winslow's narrative is as follows:

" During the time that the captain (Standish) was at Macomet, news came to Plymouth that Massassowat was like to die, and that at the same time there was a Dutch ship driven so high on the shore by stress of weather, right before his dwelling, that till the tides increased she could not be got off. Now, it being a commendable manner of the Indians, when auy, especially of note are dangerously sick, for all that profess friendship to them to visit them in their extremity, either in their persons or else to send some acceptable persons to them ; therefore, it was thought meet, being a good and warrantable action, that as we had ever professed friendship so we should now maintain the same by observing this their laudable custom; and the rather because we desired to have some conference with the Dutch, not knowing when we should have so fit an opportunity. To that end myself, having formerly been there and understanding in some measure the Dutch tongue, the Governor laid this service upon m3'self, and fitted me with some cordials to administer to him ; having one Master John Hamden, a gentleman of London, who then wintered with us and desired much to see the country for my comfort, and Hobbamock for our guide. So we set forward and lodged the first night at Nemasket, where we had friendly entertainment.

" The next day about one of the clock we came to a ferry in Conbatants' country, where upon discharge of my piece divers Indians came to us from a house not far off."

Taunton

Fall River. It is reasonable to suppose that Winslow took the same route as on his former visit, stopping, as he says, the first night at " Nemasket," and following the river till he reached the ferry.

As to the identity of his companion with the John Hampden of the Englisli revolution, Drake, in his edition of Baylies, says, " It is pretty certain that the patriot was a resident of London between 1619 and 1623. On a survey of what is at present known on the subject, it seems quite probable that Dr. Belknap conjectured rationally, and that there is more than a probability that the afterwards renowned gentleman was once in New England." Savage, however, in " Genealogical Dictionary," strongly dissents from this conclusion, and rather ridicules the idea. In this balancing of probabilities, aided by the few known facts, the preponderance is rather in favor of the belief that the renowned patriot did winter in Plymouth, and desiring much to see the country, followed the course of our beautiful river from Titicut to the " ferry" with Winslow, and with him visited the sick sachem of the Wampanoags.

In the accounts of these visits, Winslow gives the only original description we have by an actual observer of the territory of Taunton and the other towns on Taunton River as it appeared before any settlements were made by the English. His graphic picture is of very deep interest. The ground was very good on both sides, springs and small streams abounded; thousands of men had lived there who died in a great plague ; much ground was clear, save of weeds, which grew higher than their heads; there was much good timber, and pity it was to see so many goodly fields, and so well seated, without men to dress and manure the same.

The vacant ground, deserted, depopulated, waited for a superior race to enter in and subdue it and multiply therein. Just how long it waited for the beginning of a permanent settlement we know not. There is a tradition, mentioned by Mr. Baylies, that settlers were here as early as 1626 ; but the tradition | fastens upon no names or localities, and has nothing to support it.

In Plymouth Colony Records, vol. i. p. 53, under date of March 7, 1636-37, there is a list of one hundred and twenty-three names, headed, "The names of the Freemen." At the end of the list, inclosed in a bracket, are the following seven names: Mr. William Poole, Mr. John Gilbert, Sr., Mr. Henry Andrews, John Stronge, John Deane, Walter Deane, Edward Case, and against them the words, "of Cohannett." This was the Indian name of the locality, and the name by which the settlement was at first designated. The residence of no others in the list is designated, except " Mr. John Lathrop, pastor of Scituate." The best of evidence is thus furnished that early in the year 1637 a settlement was already established here having at least seven freemen. In vol. xi. of the same records (Laws), p. 27, under date of ,Oct. 2,

1637, in the margin, are these words, " Taunton began here to be added to this booke." In vol. i. p. 105, Dec. 4, 1638, is this entry, " John Strong is sworne constable of Cohannett until June next." In vol. xi. again, p. 31, March 5, 1638-39, it is ordered, "That Captaine Poole shall exercise the inhabitants of Cohannett in their armes."

Ancient Cohannett had thus both a civil and military organization. The appointment of constable was a recognition of the settlement as a separate town. No formal acts of incorporation were passed in that early time, as was the custom afterwards, but when a community had acquired the quality of permanence, had sufficient numbers to form a church and support a minister, and a reasonable prospect of being able to defend itself against Indian attacks, it was allowed by the government at Plymouth to have officers and an organization of its own, and was thenceforth treated as a political unit. The only civil officer, intrusted with executive functions also, appointed for the towns for a long time was the constable. He represented the power and authority of the General Court. He was the right hand of the government in each separate community. He performed the duties of a sheriff, of a police-officer, of a collector of public rates and taxes, and was the guardian of the good order and morals of the inhabitants. The importance and comprehensive nature of his duties may best be seen by the form of oath prescribed, which was as follows :

"You shall swear to be truly loyal to our sovereign lord, King Charles, his heirs and successors. You shall faithfully serve in the office of constable for the ward of for the present year, according to that measure of wisdom, understanding, and discretion God hath given you, in which time you shall diligently see that His Majesty's peace commanded be not broken, but shall carry the person or persons before the Governor of this corporation or some one of his assistants, and there attend the hearing of the case, and such order as shall be given you. You shall apprehend all suspicious persons and bring them before the said Governor or some one of his assistants as aforesaid. You shall duly and truly serve such warrants and give such summons as shall be directed to you from the Governor or assistants before mentioned, and shall labor to advance the peace and happiness of this corporation, and to oppose anything that shall seem to annoy the same by all due means and courses. So help you God, who is the God of truth and punisher of falsehood."

After the civil organization was effected, the next thing to be done was to appoint a military officer, who should form a company from those of suitable age and exercise them in their arms. And so Capt. Poole was appointed to that duty. Although the treaty made by the Plymouth Colony with Massasoit in 1621 had thus tar been faithfully kept, yet as the colonists were few in number and somewhat widely separated, and the Indian character was not entirely reliable, common prudence dictated the necessity of keeping themselves constantly on a war footing. The General Court made strict regulations as to the number of arms, the amount of ammunition and other military stores that should be kept in readiness by the towns, and prescribed regular days for the trainings.

Up to the year 1639 the whole body of the freemen had been required to attend the General Courts at Plymouth. In this body thus constituted resided the authority for making all needful regulations and laws. As the number of freemen increased, and new settlements sprang up at considerable distances from Plymouth, this duty became not only inconvenient but extremely burdensome. It was apparent that the system must soon become entirely impracticable. To meet this difficulty the General Court at a session held March 5, 1638, old style (1639, new style), inaugurated the representative system by passing an act as follows : " Whereas, complaint is made that the freemen are put to many inconveniences by their continual attendance at the courts ; it is therefore enacted by the court, and the authority thereof, for the care of the several towns of this government, that each town shall make choice of two of their freemen, and the town of Plymouth of four, to be committees or deputies to join with the bench, to enact and make all such laws and ordinances as shall be judged to be good and wholesome for the whole, provided that the laws they do enact shall be propounded one court to be considered of till the next, and then to be confirmed if they shall be approved of, except the case require present confirmation ; and if any act shall be confirmed by the court and committees which upon further deliberation shall prove prejudicial to the whole, that the freemen at the next election court, after meeting together, may repeal the same and enact any other useful for the whole ; and that every township shall bear their committee's charges, which is two shillings and sixpence a day, and that such as are not freemen but have taken the oath of fidelity, and are masters of families, and inhabitants of the said town, as they are to bear part in the charges of the committees, are to have a vote in the choice of them, provided they choose them, only of the freemen of the said town whereof they are ; but if such committees shall be insufficient or troublesome, that then the bench and the other committees may dismiss them, and the town to choose other freemen in their places."

At the next session of the General Court, June 4, 1639, deputies were present from Plymouth, Duxbury, Scituate, Sandwich, Cohannett, and Yarmouth. Capt. William Poole, Mr. John Gilbert, and Henry Andrews are named as the deputies from Cohannett. Among the acts passed at the session held March 3d following (1640) appears this brief statement : " That Cohannett shall be called Taunton." No further legislation upon the subject appears. By these few words the Indian Cohannett became the English Taunton. In a report made by a committee of the town many years after, the reason for the change of name is given in these words : " In honor and love to our dear and native country, we called this place Taunton." But this act was not the incorporation of the town, although it is commonly spoken of as such. No new powers were thereby conferred. Under its former name civil and military officers had been appointed, and it had been represented by deputies in the General Court. The precise date when the settlement became a town it may be difficult to fix, because, as has already been stated, no formal act creating the town was ever passed. The appointment of a constable in December, 1638, is a significant fact'; the naming of the seven freemen in March, 1637, as of Cohannett seems to be such a recognition of its distinct character as to warrant the belief that it was then clothed with the authority of a town.

The first purchase of territory, it is generally agreed, was made in 1637. The names of the purchasers, with the shares owned by each, stand in the following order :

The foregoing list is given upon the authority of Mr. Baylies. It is not identical with the list now to be found in the proprietors' records, which is the only one now known to exist. Mr. Baylies, writing fifty years ago, probably had access to some papers among the old records which have since been lost. The most of the names on both lists, however, are the same. The deed, if any was given by the Indian owners of the territory, has long since disappeared, and no copy of it is on record.

This first purchase has been called by Mr. Baylies and by others following him the" Tetiquet purchase," on the supposition that it was made from the Tetiquet Indians. There are not sufficient grounds for such belief, as will hereafter be shown.

In 1640 the territory thus purchased was run out and bounded by a committee appointed by the court, in pursuance of the authority constantly exercised over purchases of lands and the boundaries of towns. The report of the committee is found in Plymouth Colonial Records, vol. ii. page 99, and is here given :

" The limits and bounds of the town of Taunton, alias Cohannett, within the Government of Plymouth, bounded and ranged for length and breadth, by order of the Court, by Miles Standish and John Brown, gentlemen assistants in the government, the nineteenth day of June, anno domini 1640, in XVI. year of our sovereign Lord, Charles etc., as follows, viz.:

"Imprimis. From two maiked trees near unto Assonet, a neck of land lying between Assonet and them lying southerly, and from the said marked trees ranging east and by south four miles; ranging also from the extent of the four miles north and by west; also from two marked trees near the Three-Mile River, lying southerly of Taunton, the range to run four miles west and by north; and from the extent of this last-mentioned four miles, the range to run north and by west eight miles; moreover, from the extent of this eight miles range, then the range to run on the east and by south line to meet with the former expressed north and by west line upon a long square; always provided, that if these ranges do not take in a place of Scbadingmore meadows, the said Scbadingmore meadows to be included as belonging to the aforesaid town of Taunton, with one thousand acres of upland near adjacent unto said meadows; provided likewise, that these lines do not entitle the said town of Taunton to intermeddle within two miles of Teightaquid.

John Brown, of the above committee, was the same person as Mr. John Brown the last in the list of purchasers. He afterwards removed to Rehoboth, and was for many years one of the Governor's assistants.

The only permanent monument given in the boundaries of the town is Three-Mile River. The starting point was undoubtedly on the east side of Taunton River, opposite to and somewhat north of the mouth of Three-Mile River. From thence the line extended four miles east and by south, thence north and by west, making an acute angle twenty-two and one-half degrees less than a right angle. Then returning, crossing the river, and starting from a point near Three-Mile River, where the present line between Taunton and Dighton first strikes the river, it ran four miles west and by north, making the whole line eight miles in length. Thence running eight miles north and by west, making an obtuse angle twenty-two and one-half degrees more than a right angle, and from thence running again east and by south, making an acute angle and meeting the first north and by west line. It was intended to be eight miles ou a side, but the measurements in those days were liberal. It was not rectangular but diamond-shaped, and was hence called a long square. The northerly angle was within about two miles of the Massachusetts Colony line, and near the centre of the present town of Mansfield.

It was not long before a request was made for an increase of pasture and meadow lands, and in March, 1640, the court answered it by passing the following order :

" Whereas, the inhabitants of Cohannett, now called Taunton, have complained of their great want of meadow grounds, the which has been seriously weighed and considered upon special order of the whole court, and finding their want to be such that unless they be supplied of meadow lauds they cannot comfortably there subsist, the court doth therefore now order and grant the meadow lands at Assonet and betwixt Taunton and Assonet on both sides of the river unto the said inhabitants of Taunton, provided always that the ministers and people now there which are fit and do precede and continue in a church estate there the space of seven years next ensuing (except Bome special act of God do binder the same), that then the meadow lands aforesaid shall be to them and their heirs forever. And the court doth further order that they will see Mr. Hooke, Mr. Streete, and Mrs. Pool shall have competent meadow and uplands for farms laid forth for them about May next, by Capt. Standish and such others with him as I shall be especially assigned thereto."

" The Court is willing to condescend thus far, that those lands which belong to Hesbone may be procured them by all due means, and with what convenient speed may be ; also, that the best and speediest means be used to procure them further enlargementou that side the main river to answer Mr. Hook's and Mr. Street's farms on the other side; and whereas, they desire the neck of Assonet for pasturing young beasts, it is also granted by the Court, provided leave can be procured from Ussamequin, and all payments to be made by themselves, without any charge to the country; but whereas, the timber is requested below the said bounds, that we cannot grant without great detriment to another plantation intended below that."

Rev. William Hooke, the first minister of Taunton, Rev. Nicholas Streete settled at the same time as teacher of the church, and the successor of Mr. Hooke in the pastoral office, and Elizabeth Pool, sister of Capt. William Pool, who has been called the foundress of Taunton, are the persons referred to by those names in the foregoing grants.

"The inhabitants of the town of Taunton having several times, for divers years, complained of the straitness of the bounds of their town, and having petitioned the Court for some enlargement, the Court, having desired some to take a view of what they have desired, and finding that it is not likely to be prejudicial to any, they grant as followetb, viz.: that the path which goeth from Namasakett to Assonet River be their bounds on the southeast, and so by a line from thence to Baiting Brook and from Baiting Brook a north line till it meet with their opposite line called the Long Square, provided that it come not within two miles of Tetacutt; also it is granted that the inhabitants of Taunton that have interest in the iron-works there shall have free liberty to cut wood on those lands for the use of their iron-works, but not any foreigner excepting Richard Church, of Hingham."

The largest addition of territory was made in June, 1668, and was called the North Purchase. It comprised all the lands between Bridgewater on the east, Rehoboth North Purchase (now Attleborough) on the west, the Massachusetts line on the north, and Taunton first purchase on the south. The whole of the present town of Easton, nearly all of Mansfield, and almost half of Norton was included in this purchase. The movement culminating in this purchase commenced as early as 1661. In October of that year the Plymouth Court made this order: "The Court have granted unto the ancient freemen of Taunton, . that in case any land can be found on the north side of Taunton bounds, towards Secounke cartway, which will not fall within any lands already put in for by the children of the first comers, that they may make report thereof to the Court ; and a competency shall be granted unto them, if the Court shall see reason."

The matter was again referred to by the court held in June, 1662, when the major, Capt. South worth, and Capt. Bradford were appointed to purchase lands on the northerly bounds of Taunton of the Indians in behalf of thirty-two persons named in the order, several of whom belonged in Plymouth. In October following Capt. Willett and some others whom he should think best were requested by the court to view the bounds of Taunton, wherein they desired to be enlarged, and if he should see it convenient, and

" Whereas the General Court of New Plymouth have empowered 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 Colony's 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 virtue of power by and from the said Court, devised unto them, have and by these presents do bargain, sell, grant, alien, allott, confer and make over unto Richard Williams, Walter Dean, George Macy, James Walker, Joseph Wilbore, William Harvey, Thomas Leonard, John Turner, Henry Andrews, John Cobb, George Hall, John Hall, Samuel Hall, James Leonard, sen'r., Nathaniel Williams, Thomas Williams, Nicholas White, sen'r, Nicholas White, jun'r., Hezekiah Hoar, Alice Dean, Robert Grossman, Shadrach Wilbore, Thomas Caswell, John Macomber, John Smith, Edward Rew, John Parker, Samuel Paul, Thomas Liukon, sen'r., Thomas Harvey, the elder, Nathaniel Thayer, Thomas Linkon, Jr., Peter Pitts, Jonah Austin, sen'r., John Richmond, Samuel Williams, Christopher Thrasher, Mistress Jane Gilbert, George Watson, Samuel Smith, James Burt, Richard Burt, John Tisdale, sen'r., John Tisdale, jun'r., James Phillips, Edward Babbitt, John Hatheway, Jonathan Briggs, Increase Robinson, John Bryant, Thomas Harvey, jun'r., Proprietors of the town of Taunton, and to their heirs forever, a certain tract of land lying and being on the northerly side of Taunton, aforesaid, and is bounded as followeth, viz.: Beginning on the northwest, at the bounds of the lands formerly sold by us unto the town of Rehoboth, and to be bounded on the northerly side by the Massachusetts line, until it cometh to beare with the western bounds of the town of Bridgewater, and so 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 Rehoboth, aforesaid, and so to follow all the lands within this compass, excepting only a small parcell grauted unto John Bundy, and also a grant made unto Thomas Briggs (the son of Clement Briggs), together with the meadows, woods, waters, and all other benefits, privileges, emoluments, profits, and immunities thereunto appertaining and belonging. " To Have and to Hold," etc.

The name of Mr. George Shove was afterwards, March 8, 1682, affixed in the margin by order of the court upon satisfactory proof that he was a proprietor. Mr. Shove was the third minister of Taunton.

Meantime a movement had been set on foot to procure lands down the river for an enlargement in that direction. In July, 1667, the court granted unto some ancient freemen living in Taunton, viz. : Richard Williams, Walter Dean, George Hall, Allis Dean, (the wife of John Dean, deceased), Mr. John Pool, Peter Pitts, James Walker, and Henry Andrews, that they shall have some supplies of land upon the west side of Taunton River, if not already granted to any other, or some other place if it may be obtained.

Again, in March, 1672, "James Walker and John Richmond are authorized by the court to purchase the land of the Indians in the behalf of the town of Taunton, lying on the west side of Taunton River, from the Three Mile River down to a place called the Store House."

"This 6th of May, 1669. The town hath voted and chosen Lieut. George Macy, Henry Andrews, and Joseph Wilbore to go down to Philip Sachem and confirm with him about buying of ye land from the Three Stile Kiver down as far as Store House point, as far as the meadows, and to buy it of ye Sachem as far as they can into ye woods from ye Great River, and what bargain the above said men shall make with him the town doth engage to perform, aud the above said men are to go down about the abovesaid design the next week."

"This 18th of December, 1671. It is voted and agreed upon by ye town that the selectmen now in being are now empowered to use the best of their discretion for ye procuring of ye land down ye river from ye Three-Mile River to Store House point, that it may be confirmed to our township by the Court."

" This 19th October, 1672. It is voted, aud ye town hath chosen Lieut. George Macy, Ensign Thomas Leonard, and William Witherell, to go to Plymouth to act for ye good of ye town, about ye new purchase down ye river as need may require for ye good of ye town.

" This 2d of September, 1672. The purchasers or free inhabitants of Taunton being in a probable way to purchase a certain tract of land lying down ye great river, of Philip Sachem, therefore, for the better managing of ye purchase of ye said land, and for the procuring of firm deeds from ye said Sachem and for ye looking to ye payment of ye purchase of the said land, the abovesaid purchasers hath chosen this committee following: William Brenton, Esq., Walter Dean, William Harvey, Lieut. George Macy, James Walker, John Richmond, Richard Williams."

This committee were given full power to make deeds of the Indians, proportion what every man should pay, and if any man should fail to pay he should lose his right. In furtherance of the plan this committee obtained a deed from Philip, the son of Massasoit and sachem of the Pokanokets, conveying a tract three miles by four, beginning at Three-Mile River, and extending southerly by the Great River three miles, and westerly from the river four miles, for the consideration of one hundred and forty-three pounds. This deed was dated Sept. 28, 1672. By a deed dated Oct. 1, 1672, Philip conveyed to Mr. Constant Southworth, treasurer of the colony, " the other mile in breadth and four miles in length, adjoining the three miles in breadth and four miles in length already sold to Taunton men," which deed Mr. Southworth assigned to the committee. The consideration paid was forty-seven pounds. The whole tract, four miles square, was conveyed by the committee to the associates by a declaratory deed, which is recorded in the Taunton Proprietors' Records, vol. iv. p. 232, and is as follows :

"Know all men whom it may concern, that whereas we, William Brenton, Esqr., Richard Williams, Walter Dean, James Walker, William Harvey, and John Richmond, hath through difficulty obtained of Philip, Sachem, and of Mr. Constant Southworth, as Treasurer for ye Colony of New Plymouth, a tract of land containing four mile square, lying and situate below ye Three-Mile River (so called), for themselves and their associates, as appears by deeds, we, ye abovesaid William Brenton, Esq., Richard Williams, Walter Dean, James Walker, William Harvey, and John Richmond, do, by these presents, declare to be our associates, and to be equally interested in ye abovesaid four miles of land, the now living free inhabitants of ye town of Taunton, whose names are underwritten, always provided that all these associates shall truly and faithfully pay, or cause to be paid, their full proportion to ye purchase, and all other necessary charges expended in or about ye abovesaid land, as they shall be appointed, both to ye sum and specia and time and place of payment; but if any of these associates shall refuse or fail to pay their full proportion to all payments as abovesaid, they shall lose their right and interest to ye abovesaid land, and it shall be forfeited to ye remainder of ye associates. 3dly. That these associates shall not make any alienation of their part or interest in ye abovesaid land to any foreigner, except first approved by the town of Taunton. The names of ye associates.

Assonet Neck was conveyed, Nov. 12, 1677, by Constant Southworth, treasurer of the colony, to George Shove, James Walker, James Tisdale, Walter Dean, William Harvey, and Richard Williams. This and several other unoccupied tracts of territory in this part of the colony had been pledged by the government for the payment of the soldiers engaged in the Indian war of 1675 and 1676. The lands on the east side of Taunton River, between the bounds of the first purchase and Assonet Neck, seem to have been included in the previous grants of 1640 and 1643, which were in somewhat indefinite terms. In July, 1682, the following order was passed: "This court orders the land called Assonett Necke, being purchased by some of Taunton, that the said tract of land shall be in the township of Taunton." This was the last grant of territory to the town of Taunton. It now included the present towns of Dighton, Berkley, Raynham, Norton, Easton, and Mansfield. But it was not until 1711, when Norton was incorporated, that it began to be shorn of its large dimensions.

As to the question of whom the first purchase was made, in the absence of the original deed and of any copy, other proof must be resorted to for an answer. In the first place the purchase was made under the direction and bv the permission of the Plymouth Court, who acknowledged Massasoit as the chief sachem and owner of all the territory in Plymouth Colony. The boundaries as fixed by Standish and Browne provide that these lines do not entitle the said town of Taunton to intermeddle within two miles of Titicut. The territory of Bridgewater was bought of Massasoit. The North Purchase is said to have been made of King Philip, the son and successor of Massasoit, by the committee of the General Court, who conveyed it to the Taunton proprietors. The South Purchase was also made of Philip. In a confirmatory deed, given by Governor Hinckley in 1685, intended to include all the lands then belonging to

Taunton, it is recited that " the first settlers, proprietors, and some of the said inhabitants, having also purchased the said lands of Woosoquequen (alias Ousamequin, Massasoit), the then chief sachem of Mount Hope and the Pokanket country, and since confirmed unto them by Philip, his son," etc. This is a significant recognition of the fact that the first purchase was made of Massasoit.

Still more significant is the confirmatory deed of King Philip given in 1663. Mr. Baylies simply refers to the deed without giving a copy, and as it is interesting in itself and has an important bearing upon the point in question it is here presented:

Philip'S Confirmatory Deed

PHILIP'S CONFIRMATORY DEED. " March 23, 1663. These Presents witnesseth, That whereas there was a plantation granted by the Court of Plymouth in the year one thousand six hundred thirty-eight (named Taunton) to sundry persons who there sat down, viz., Capt. William Pool, Mr. John Gilbert, Henry Andrews, John Dean, Walter Dean, and suudry others, the bounds of which plantation are expressed in the grant of the Court of Plymouth according to the several points of the compass, therein expressed, which plantation so bounded as above mentioned, together with the meadows upon the Great River downward so far as the Store House Point so called, with all the meadows of Assonett and Broad Cove, with a small tract of land bought of Ishben lying betwixt the marked tree at the pond and the mouth of the Nistoquahamock on the Three-Mile River, which lands and meadows with their appurtenances immunities, and privileges whatsoever so bought of Ossamequin by the parties above-mentioned : I Philip Sachem do therefore by these presents, ratify and confirm for myself my heirs and successors the granted premises made by the Court of Plymouth and also assented unto by Ossamequin my father, to the aforesaid inhabitants of Taunton and their heirs and successors forever, peaceably to enjoy without molestation or disturbance from, by or under me. Witness my hand and seal the day and year above written.

A communication from John Richmond, son of the first John Richmond, refers to the first purchase as to a matter within his personal knowledge, and would seem to settle the question. Such parts as have a bearing upon the matter are as follows:

"Taunton, April 30, 1698. A communication from John Richmond addressed to Lieut.-Col. Elisha Hutchinson, Esq., Capt. Samuel Sewall, Esq., and Elisha Cook, Esq., Boston."

"And, first, I desire it may be considered how inconsistent to justice their sense is, for they say and sense it that although Taunton hath the eldest grant, yet it is theirs notwithstanding, because it was granted before; and although it be Taunton's by purchase from the Indians three times over, for we bought it first of Woosamequin in the year '39 or '40 (this was in my minority), the sum paid I know not; then we bought all again of Philip, and paid him sixteen pounds for it ; then we bought that very spot of Josiah, he claiming some land there, as appears by his deed ; then we bought that spot again, with other lands, of Maj. Bradford, he had twenty pounds more ; and they have owned that they never made any purchase, yet theirs because granted before," etc. (State Archives, vol. cxiii. p. 167.)

The evidence to support the contrary view consists of a statement made in a quit-claim deed given in 1686 to a committee of the town of Taunton by Josiah, alias Charles, and Peter and David Hunter, three Indians, - Josiah being the great-grandson of Chickatabut and the other two Indians of Titicut. The statement is as follows :

" Know ye, that whereas it doth appear to the said Josiah aud Peter and David, both by Indian and English testimonies, that Mrs. Elizabeth Pool, formerly of Taunton, in the government of New Plymouth aforesaid did, for and in behalf of the said town of Taunton, purchase the lands of Titicut in the year 1637, aud that the right owners of the said lands did then make sale thereof to the said Mrs. Elizabeth Pool as abovesaid, and received pay of her for it, and those Indians or Indian Sachems that formerly were the right owners of those lands at said Titicut being those that were the predecessors of the said Josiah, alias Charles, and Peter and David. Know ye therefore," etc.

The deed purports to convey "so much of the lands of all sorts, formerly called Titicut lands, as are and do lie within the township of said Taunton, by virtue of agreements made between the agents of said Taunton and the agents of Bridgewater, on the northwestwardly side of Titicut River, and between the agents of said Taunton and the agents of Middlebury on the southeastwardly side of said river." The object of this deed is apparent. There had been controversies between Taunton and Bridgewater and Taunton and Middleborough about their respective bounds. These controversies had been mutually settled by the agents of the towns, and the three Indians named claimed that the bounds of Taunton, as thus established, included some of the Titicut lands bordering on the Titicut River. The Taunton proprietors were willing to pay a small sum to quiet the title, and so the deed was procured. The subject matter of the deed has nothing to do with the original eight-mile purchase of the territory of Taunton, and whatever else it may prove or suggest, it has no tendency to prove that Elizabeth Pool or any other person made that purchase of the Titicut Indians.

There is a deposition of five Indians preserved in the Plymouth Colony Records, vol. ii. p. 157, relating to the extent of Chickatabut's lands, which tends to the same conclusion. It is as follows :

" Pecunke. Alnumpum, Catscimah, Webacowett, and Masbanomett do all affirm that Chickatawbutt his bounds did extend from Nishamagoquanett, near Duxbery mill, to Teghtacutt, near Taunton, and to Nunckatatesett, and from thence in a straight line to Wauamampuke, which is the head of Charles River; this they do all solemnly affirm, saying, God knoweth it to be true, and knoweth their hearts. " Dated the 1st of the 4th month, 1650.

The military affairs of the town can be more satisfactorily treated in a separate chapter, which will next be given, and afterwards the general history so far as practicable.