Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Chapter 14, 1884

Casualties and Miscellaneous Events. - lu or about the year 1725, Heary Kingman came from the West Parish (now West Bridgewaterj, and settled on the .spot where the late Seth Kingman lived and died. He was about twenty-one years of age, and unmarried. Soon after iiis arrival at his new home, he proceeded to the woods for the purpose of cuttinL? fencing, about ten or eleven o'clock a.m. While in the act of splitting a large oak log, it split prematurely, and the axe entered the calf of his leg, nearly severing it, only a small portion of flesh remaining on each side to connect the parts; the bone was cut off entirely. It was a bitter cold day, and all he had to bandage with was his small handkerchief, iu which was his luncheon. This he used as best he could, tied up the wound, and dragged himself to a small bridge, where he remained till evening, when, by the merest accident, so.me one heard him cry out for help, and even then passers-by supposed it was only the wild animals in the woods, which in that day were quite common. At-last some person found him; a litter was made, on which to carry him home, and when he reached his boarding-place, a messenger was dispatched four miles or more to West Bridgewater, for a physician. A long time must have elapsed before one could reach him, as the snow was deep and very bad traveling. But, strange as it may appear to the reader, the parts grew together, and he afterwards became an efficient officer in the army.

1739, February 5. The first meeting of the North Parisli was held to-day. Timotliy Keith, moderator ; Robert Howard, clerii, who continued to hold that uiEcc thirty-two years in succession.

1748. Indian corn sold for thirty-two shillings per bushel ; rye, forty-six shillings per bushel ; wheat, three pounds per bushel ; flour, ten pounds per hundred.

17-t'J. This summer the most severe drought ever experienced by the oldest person then living. In the last of May the grass was all burnt by tlie sun, the ground looked white, the earth was dried to a powder at a great depth, and many wells, springs, brooks, and river.s were dried, so that fish lay dead on the bottom. The pastures were so scorched that cattle grew poor. Hay had to be brought from England to supply their wants, which sold for three pounds ten shillings per hundredweight. Barley and oats were so much injured they scarcely saved enough for seed. Flax was a total failure. Corn rolled and wilted. Herbs of all sorts wore destroyed. During all these troubles government ordered a day of fa-sting and prayer, and on the Gth of July copious showers of rain fell to refresh them, and things looked brighter, and what was fortunate for the people, the next winter was very mild. After the plentiful rains, a day of public thanksgiving was ordered.

1751, June 17. Severe hail-storm. Hailstones large as English walnuts were in abundance, breaking glass and doing other damage to a large amount.

England and America had begun, and the importation of foreign goods was stopped, it became customary for people to manufacture their own clothing I and in many places the young ladies had spinningmatches at their minister's, for the benefit of their families. On the 15th of August, 17G9, at two o'clock P.M., ninety-seven young ladies met ut the house of their pastor, the Rev. John Porter, and generously gave his lady, for the use of her family, 3322 knots of linen, tow, cotton, and woolen yarn, which they had spun for that purpose. At three o'clock something, of American produce only, was set before them for their refreshment, which was more agreeable to them than any foreign dainties, considering the situation of the country at that time. At four o'clock the ladies walked in procession to the meeting-house, where a discourse was delivered by their pastor from Acts ix. 36 : ' This woman was full of good works,' in which piety, industry, frugality, and benevolence were recommended and encouraged. The closing prayer being made, the following lines, composed by their pastor, were sung :

David, son of Rev. John Porter, was riding in a chaise when about ten years of age ; the horse took fright, ran, and threw him out, breaking one of his legs, which was soon after amputated. He survived but a short time. Died May, 1767.

1780, May 19. Remarkably dark day. Betweeo twelve aud oue o'clock people could not work ; were oblified to lij^lit caodles to see to eat dioner ; looked very melancholy indeed; but little rain. The evening was very dark.

1820, December 22. Rev. Daniel Huntington delivered a discourse in the meeting-house of the North Parish, it being the Second Centennial Anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Text, Psalms xliv. 1-3.

1821, July 4. The first town-meeting was held in North Bridgewater this day. The meeting was opened by prayer by Rev. Daniel Huntington. Over two hundred were present, and the first yearly town officers were chosen. Joseph Sylvester was moderator. Col. Edward Southworth was chosen town clerk.

1821, October 31. Messrs. Daniel Temple, of Reading, Mass., and Isaac Bird were ordained as missionaries to the heathen, in the old meeting-house. Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.D., of Braiotree, preached the sermon ; Rev. Daniel Thomas, of Abington, gave the charge ; and Rev. S. Green the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Temple married Miss Rachel B. Dix, of Boscowen, N. H., and sailed for Malta Jan. 2, 1822, on the brig " Cypress," from Boston. In 1823, Rev. Isaac Bird sailed for Beyroot as missionary. Mr. Temple has since died, Aug. 9, 1850.

1823, November 13. David Brown, a native of the Cherokee tribe of Indians, delivered an address in the meeting-house of the First Church, after which a collection was taken for supporting schools in his nation.

1835, November 6. Miss Susan Hersey, a young miss of sixteen, who resided in the family of Deacon John Crafts, was drowned in Howard's Pond.

1844, November 6. Hon. John Quincy Adams delivered a discourse to the citizens of North Bridgewater in the meeting-house of the First Congregational Church.

1847, August 14. Lorenzo D. Hervey had his left arm fractured by coming in contact with another train at South Boston, which was standing on a side track, his arm resting at the time on the side window.

1849, May 22. Ethan and Henry Leach (brothers) were thrown from a chaise while crossing the railroad at the burying-ground crossing, aud instantly killed.

1851, October 30. Timothy Sullivan was killed by couiinir in contact with a bridge at the north end of the village, known as " Harlow's Bridge."

1852, July 26. Eugene Marshall was a passenger on board the steamer " Atlantic," that sunk on Lake Erie. The steamer came in contact with the " Ogdensburg" near Longport, two o'clock Friday morning. Three hundred lives lost. One hundred and fifty men and women were drowned in the cabin. Mr. Marshall narrowly escaped drowning.

1853, February 5. George Wasliington, son of Levi French, was badly .scalded, injuring him so much that he died the next day (Sunday). Age, two years and ton months.

1853, February 26. Edward Elmer, son of Perez Marshall, was drowned while attempting to cross a pond near his father's house. Age, six years and live months.

1853, February. Eldridge G. Cobb, and one hundred and seven others, sent a petition to the Legislature opposing the passage of a law restricting the sale of intoxicating liqours.

1853, November 21. A collision took place between two trains of cars on the railroad, one of which was the steamboat train ; four persons severely injured. One died soon after.

1853. Alonzo S. Drisko, a workman ensiased in building the new house of worship for the First Congregational Church, had an arm broken by a board falling from aloft.

1854, March 18. Severe gale. Railroad-crossing sign at Court Street blown down. The steeple of the Porter Church was somewhat damaged by the force of wind, which was pretty general throughout this section of country.

Thermometer stood at ninety in the .shade. Hailstones as large as cherries fell in abundance. Zuphar Field's house struck. Cow belonging to Chandler Sprague, Esq., instantly killed.

1854, June 19. The house of Weaton Simmons, known as the " Poor Farm," was struck by lightning, instantly killing Lemuel Reyiiold.s, who had just stepped into the house for protection from the storm.

1855, September 20. Tu-day was observed as a holiday for the purpose of holding a fair to obtain means for erecting a fence around the new cemetery. A large and brilliant procession, consisting of the various fire-engine companies in full uniform, drawing their engines, handsomely decorated, preceded by a band of music ; also the North Bridgewater Light Dragoons, under the command of Capt. J. Freeman Ellis, together with a representation of the various trades in large numbers. The procession was formed at one o'clock, when, after marching about the various streets, they proceeded to Yale's mammoth tent, which had been erected for the purpose of serving the dinner, in a lot owned by Frederick Perkins, and opposite tlie residence of Franklin Ames, Ea(i. The procession was under the care of Francis M. French, Esq., as chief marshal.

By an act of the Legislature passed April 19, 1856, a Probate Court was established at North Bridgewater, to be held the last Tuesday of July in each year.

1856, June 3. The centennial celebration of the four Bridgewaters was held to-day, and the bells of all the four towns were rung half an hour before sunrise, and cannon fired on Trooper's Hill.

1856, June 4. A meeting was held to show the feeling in regard to the assault on Charles Sumner at Washington, at which resolutions were passed condemning the act in the strongest terms.

1857, January 18. Very severe snow-storm. Trains on the railroad were blocked for several days. The thermometer during the day was sixteen degrees below zero. The sky was obscured by a dense cloud of snow, that extended in every direction. At night the weather moderated ; but the wind increased to a gale, piling the snow in huge drifts. The storm in the night was of unexampled severity. The force of the wind caused the spire of the church at Campello, which had bceu erected but a short time, to break just below the clock, and the bell to break through the roof aud lodge in the vestry below. The damage to tlie hou^e by this fall was about three thousand dollars.

1857, April 6. Some fiend placed some iron rails upon the railroad track about one mile north of the village, causing the locomotive called the " Pilgrim" to run oflf the track aud injure the train, breaking Aldeu Reed's jaw-bone, an employe of the road in charge of the train.

1857, May 31. Terrible hail-storm, doing great damage to crops and fruit-trees in the town. Hailstones, as large as robin's eggs, fell to the depth of an inch, continuing about one-half hour.

1858, March 30. Emma Olivia, daughter of F. B. Washburn, was so severely burned while at play that she died in fifteen hours after. Age, seven years and eight months.

1858, September 21. Frank Richmond, son of Philo W. Richmond, broke his leg by falling from a ladder while at work painting on the east side of Kingman's brick block.

1859, June 3. Gershom I. Sylvester, son of F. M. Sylvester, seven years of age, was run over by cars near Keith's mills, and injured so that he died soon after.

1859, July 30. Mrs. Harriet Everson and Thacher Everson, wife and daughter of Joseph H. Everson, of Hanson, were killed by a locomotive near Keith's mills. George W. Monroe and Miss Sarah F. Stetson were in the covered wagon at the time and severely injured.

1859, September 9. Mr. Henry Volney French, who had just arrived at the depot in the Centre Village from New York, in the steamboat train, attempted to jump from the cars while the train was in motion, was thrown upon the track and run over by the train, and lived but two hours after the accident. Mr. French was of the firm of French & Howard, shoe manufacturers. He was a man of excellent luibits, smart, active, and very exemplary in all the w;j.lks of life. A deep feeling of sadness pervaded the entire community upon learning of the sad afiFair. His wife and children were absent from home at the time of the accident, in Maine.

1859, November 26. When the four o'clock truin was approaching Campello, and near the brick factory, from Boston, a woman named Joanna Barrett, in attempting to cross the track, was struck by the locomotive and injured so that she died in a few moments.

1860, August 2. A young child of Daniel Hayward, eighteen months old, fell from an attic of a twostory house to the ground, a distance of thirty feet, through the carelessness of a domestic ; taken up apparently uninjured.

1861. Mr. G. E. Wilbor and Thaddeus Keith made a bet on the election of Abraham Lincoln, Wilbor betting he would be elected and Keith that he would not ; the condition was that the one that lost wa.s to walk to Boston. Mr. Keith, having lost the bet, started for Boston March 6th, and walked the entire distance to the city in five hours. He was accompanied through the village by fife and drum.

1861, April 8. As Mrs. John Ellis and another lady were riding from North Bridgewater village to Campello, they were robbed of their pocket-books. The rogue was caught soon after, and punished.

1863, September 24.' William Tolman, son of Elijah Tolman, engineer at Ellis Packard & Co.'s steammill, had an arm broken and otherwise severely inj ured.

1863, October 20. Leroy Hamilton, a driver in the employ of Hancock's express, was struck by a locomotive while crossing the track at Elliot Street crossing. The wagon was made a complete wreck. Mr. Hamilton escaped with a few bruises only.

1864, September 26. A boy in the employ of Harrison Rogers was dragged about by a horse till life was extinct, by incautiously fastening the rope-halter around his arms. The horse became unmanageable, so the boy could not releiise himself.

1864. The drought of 1864 has had no parallel for years. For June and July only 2.38 inches of rain fell; May previous, only two inches; July, 1.32 inches ; June, 1.06 inches. In 1854, ten years in August previoas, there was no rain.

1864, January 3. The body of an unknown man was found on the railroad-track, about a half-mile south of Campcllo depot ; supposed to have fallen from the New York train. The body was terribly mangled, so that it could hardly be identified.

1864, October 27. Five cattle were killed by a Fall River train at Howard's crossing, in the north part of the town, and others badly injured.

1864. Adeline Harris was appointed teacher by the Freedmau's Relief Association, stationed at Newberne, N. C, and sailed from New York December 8th.

1816. Dwelling-house of Arza Keith partially burned ; caused while making varnish in one of the rooms. Mr. Keith was injured by inhaling smoke, from the effects of which he never recovered.

183G, March 6. Dwelling-house formerly belonging to Rev. Daniel Huntington, uiid occupied by Dr. A. K. Borden and George II. Brown, destroyed by fire.

1847, March 19. Store owned by George Clark destroyed by fire at eleven o'clock P.M. Also a dwelling-house belonging to Micah Packard nearly consumed at the same time.

1850, February 6. Ruel Richmond's wheelwrightshop consumed by fire at three o'clock a.m. Weather severely cold ; engines could not work well ; thermometer 6° below zero.

1853, March 31. The last and boot manufactory owned by Chandler Sprague, Esq., and formerly known as the " Old Cotton Factory," was totally destroyed by fire at half-past three o'clock a.m. Loss, 84000.

1853, May 23. The steam-mill connected with the furniture manufacturing establishment of Josiah W. Kingman, at Campello, took fire about a quarter to one o'clock p.m., communicating with the lumberyard and buildings around, destroying the dwellingbouse of Mr. Kingman, stable, warehouse, and finishing-shop, tiiree workshops belonging to the same, also the dwelling-house owned and occupied by Anson Morse, dwelling of David Allen, meeting-house, and fire-eugine-house belonging to Enterprise Engine Company, No. 2. Many other buildings took fire from these, but by the prompt and energetic working of seven different engines were saved from the devouring element. The loss by this fire was estimated at about $50,000, with a very small insurance, a severe loss to the village, besides throwing a large number of workmen out of employment.

1856, October 5. The grocery-store near the depot in the village, occupied by William H. Pierce, partly destroyed between two and three o'clock a.m.

1859, September 8. Dwelling-house and stable of Marcus Packard, on Mount Ashland, about eleven o'clock A.M. Loss, $9000. Also^ a lot of wood near by, caused by sparks from the same.

1860, October 19. Barn belonging to William F. Brett, containing thirty-two tons of hay and one cow, destroyed at twelve o'clock at night. Loss, $700.

1861, March 2. Barn belonging to Galen Packard, together with one horse and three cows, destroyed by fire about five o'clock A.M. Loss, 8600. No insurance.