Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Biographical sketches (1 of 6 so headed), 1884 (part 4 of 4)

" Dr. Church was born in Newport in 1734, and was a grandson of the celebrated Col. Church of Indian fame. After graduating in Harvard, in 1754, and completing his studies in a medical college in London, he returned to Boston, and by his brilliant abilities soon rose to eminence as a physician and surgeon. He came to Bridgewater in 1757, and built a handsome dwelling-house, as a country residence, ou the farm now owned by Mr. Waldo Bassett, near Nippenicket Pond. The late Dr. Eleazar Carver was one of liis students and associates. Dr. Church was then a leading and popular Whig, a compeer of Hancock and Warren and other choice spirits of the Revolutionary school, a brilliant writer, orator, and poet. He was physician-general of the patriot army, and was assigned to the directorship of the general hospital ; also a member of the ' Provincial Congress,' in Boston, in 1774. By association with British officers he secretly became a loyalist and traitor, and finally, in 1775, was detected in attempting to send intelligence in ciphers by ' a woman' to an English officer of rank, relating to the movements of the patriot forces ;it Concord, Lexington, and Watertown. He was convicted by a court-martial, at wliicli Geu. AVasliiugton presided, in October of t'liat year, ' of lioldiug criminal correspondence with the enemy.' He was expelled from the Congress, dismissed from his official positions, and remanded to Cambridge jail, and alter a month to tiie jail in Norwich, Conn. He was released in 1776, in consequence of ill healtii, ' to leave the country,' and sailed in a vessel for the West Indies, which was never heard from. His widow was pensioned by the crown, and died in ].,ondou in 1798. The farm in Bridgewater was sold to James Starr in 1775. The house was burned over fifty years ago. The late Joseph Bassett became the purchaser of the estate, and built upon the site a larger residence than the former, which is now owned by his son, who resides there. The noted Daniel Leonard and many others became loyalists or semi-traitors, but whether Dr. Church, of Boston or Bridgewater, was the ' first traitor' there is some doubt. There is a record of about two hundred ' loyalists,' who were in doubt or weak-kneed, during ' the times that tried men's souls,' in 1775-7G."

Mr. Bassett married, June 11, 1850, Sarah J., daughter of Deacon Philip E. and Louisa P. (Leach) Hill, of an early family of Bridgewater. (Deacon Hill was for many years prominent in county and church aflairs.) Their cliildren are Ella J. (married William Savery, of Waroham), Joseph E., and Nathan A. Mr. and Mrs. Savery have two children.

Mr. Bassett is a quiet, retiring man of unassuming manners. He is in accord with the better class of the community iu all matters tending to advance or improve the interests of his native town. Ivepublican in politics, he has sedulously avoided public position, but steadily worked fur his party. lie was commissioned justice of the peace by Governor Washburn. Intelligent, thoughtful, fond of investigation, he keeps himself thoroughly informed on all matters of public moment, and ever gives his support and assistance to those movements his careful proving shows to be for the public weal. It is from such men and through such men that the perpetuity of republican institutions is assured in this country. No idea of personal advancement or striving for political notoriety swerves them from following the right, as it is given them to know the right, and it is a satisfaction to record that the class of which he is a good type is not a small one, but embraces the truly patriotic and thinking men all over our land. Kind in his domestic relations a valued friend, and a prized and estimable citizen, he is a safe counselor and worthily stands hi"h in the esteem of his townsmen.

Franklin Leacii

We find the first American ancestor of the Leach family of Bridgewater, Lawrence Leach, who came from England and settled iu Sulem, where he was made freeman in 1631. He was over fifty years of age when he came to this country, and had, by his wife Elizabeth, quite a family iu England, most of whom accompanied him here. Among his cliildren were John, James, Clement, Ivobert, Bichaid, and Giles.

Giles', born in Salem, 1632, went as a young man to Weymouth, where, in 1656, he married Anne Noakes or Nokes. He resided there until 1664, when he removed to Bridgewater, and became a permanent resident of this town. He had numerous children, of whom John was probably the firstborn in this town. John', by his wife Alice, had ten children, and died in 1774. Neheniiah ', born 1709, married, first, Mercy Staples, and had two children ; second, lluth (?) Bryant, of Plymptou. By second wife he had nine children, of whom James ^, born in 1737, married Hazadiah, daughter of Robert Keith, in 1765, and had ten children, of whom Apollos was second son. Apollos' married, in 1796, Chloe, daughter of Christopher, and granddaughter of William Dyer, who settled iu Bridgewater prior to 1609, and was surveyor, juror, and constable in 1708. They had six children, - Philo, Sarah, Olive, Daniel, Franklin, and Philander. Mr. Leach was a farmer and carpenter, which trade he followed for many years, and was noted for the good quality of his work. An unpretentious man of industry and moral worth, he enjoyed the esteem, confidence, and friendship of the community, and died in October, 1832.

Franklin Leach (eighth generation), son of Apollos and Chloe (Dyer) Leach, was born in Scotland, Bridgewater, Mass., Jau. 14, 1809. He had commonschool and academic advantages of educatiofi ; learned the carpenter's trade of his father, and worked with him. On attaining his majority he became connected in business with his oldest brother, I'liilo. With hini for some years, and afterwards alone, he has worked as carpenter and builder over half a century. During these years he has pursued his trade in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Raynham, Taunton, Holbrook, Brockton, and Boston, as well as Bridgewater, where, for several years, he was in the employ of the cuttongiri works. Naturally ingenious and of a mechanical tuin of mind, he has put genuine love into his labor, and even now, though seventy-five years of age, docs much work in which younger men would take pride. Prudent, diligeut, economical, and persevering, his labors have been rewarded with well-earned competency. He has also been somewhat of a farmer, but has never desired to follow that avocation. He has taken great interest in militia matters; was elected captain, and comiuissioned March 21, 1835; commissioned major, July 18, 1S3G; commissioned colonel, Dec. 13, 1838, ;uid lioiiurably di.-icli;u;ied Maicli 7, IS-tO. He was tirst eouiini.«sioned justice of the peace by Govenidi- Boutwell, Au;_'. -H, 1352, and still holds the office. Whi^ ;iiid Uijpublicaii in politics, he has held various luincir luwu offices, and served conseieutiously in them. He has hctii a Freemason since lS5t!; has been W'or.-liipful Master of Fellowship Lodjje, Biidfjewater, for three years ; received his chapter degress at Muuut Zion Chapter, Slou'^hton, Mass.. in 18r»7, aud is now affiliated with llarmoiiy Cli:ipter, R. A. M., Brid>iewater. He married, Nov. 13, 1S32, Mary, daughter of I.<aac and Mary (Hayward) Fobes. They have had three children, - Olive F. (died aged six years), Mary F. (married James R. Tracy, of Raynham, and has two children, Huldah M. and Louise M.), and Susan M. (married Henry J. Clarke, Esq., of Webster, and has one child).

Mrs. Leach is a descendant in the seventh generation from John Fobes, an original proprietor of Bridgewater, the line being John ', Edward*, John^, Josiah*, Alpheus*, Isaac'. Isaac Fobes, born in 1789, was a machinist aud farmer. After working at his trade in various places he returned to Scotlaud, where he died, June 22, 1855. He married, first, Mary, daughter of Timothy Hayward; second, Olive, daughter of Edward Mitchell, and widow of Dr. Rufus Walker. Mr. Fobes was an intelligent genealogist and antiquarian, devoting much time in his later years to researches in that direction. He was a Congregationalist in religious belief, possessed a handsome property, and was a valued citizen.

Mr. and Mrs. Leach have been for many years members of Trinity Episcopal Church, Mr. Leach being warden for several years, vestryman at present, and one of its trustees for a long time. Col. Leach and his wife have during their fifty-one years of connubial felicity practiced the cardinal virtues of diligence and industry. To the outside world these years of their life have been uneventful, but to them each year has brought both sad and pleasant occurrences. One of the most pleasant of these was on the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage (Nov. 13, 1882), when their descendants and a large circle of relatives and friends gathered at the home they had occupied for half a century to celebrate their golden wedding, bringing many gifts of love and friendship. Another was the marriage in Raynham of their granddaughter, Huldah M. Tracy, to Rev. Winfield

W. Hall (a Methodist Episcopal clergyman), on the fifty-first anniversary of their marriage (Nov. 13, 1883). All along life's pathway have all laudable charities met with a hearty response from them, and a generous hospitality been a characteristic of their home. They are now passing down the declivity of life with the esteem of a large circle of friends, and leading lives that their descendants may worthily emulate.

Stillman 0. Keith

The Keith families are descended from Robert, chieftain of the Calti, who, having joined Malcolm Second at the battle of Panbridge, in 1006, was instrumental in gaining a great victory over the Danes, aud slew with his own hand Camus, the Danish leader, which, King Malcolm perceiving, he dipped his spear into the blood and made three strokes or pales on the top of Robert's shield, and these have been the arras of his descendants. In lOlO he was advanced to the hereditary dignity of marshal of Scotland, aud rewarded with a barony in Lothian, called field-marshal. The first American ancestor of the Keith family was the Rev. James Keith, who came over from Scotland about the year 1662. He was educated at Aberdeen, but being only about eighteen years old he had not completed his studies when he came to Bridgewater; but he proved an efficient and faithful servant of the Lord. He was settled and ordained Feb. 18, 1664. He possessed the spirit of a Christian hero, and proved himself to be peculiarly qualified for the trying circumstances under which he was placed when, twelve years after his settlement, Bridgewater seemed about to be extirpated by the savages. By his strong, courageous spirit and teachings he inspired the people with the same spirit and courage, and they were successful in subduiug their savage enemy. Rev. James Keith was highly esteemed throughout the colony, his praise was in all the churches. In the year 1688, when the proprietors of Bridgewater petitioned the General Court at Plymouth for an enlargetuent of their territory, their request was granted on this eoudition, showing their kind regard and estimation of Mr. Keith : "That the said town of Bridgewater be careful to accomiuodate Mr. Keith willi a fumpeteney of land," and though they had given him a house and twelve acres of land, they further made him a til'tysisth shareholder in the township. Rev. James Keith was probably the first to sound the alarm in regard to intemperance in this country, for even as early as the beginning of the seventeenth century the

Stillman 0. Keith, son of Benjamin and Lucy (Fobes) Keith, was born in Scotland, Bridgewatcr, Jan. 13, 1827. He is a descendant from Piev. James Keith, ill the seventh generation, the line being James', Samuel", Benjamin^, Benjamin*, Benjamin^, Stillman". His fatiier was a farmer, a quiet unostentatious man, kind and unobtrusive, iudustriou.s, and a good citizen, pursuing the even tenor of his way. His religious belief was tiiat of the Cougregatioualists. He died Sept. IS, 1S79, at the age of eightyfour. The children of Benjamin and Lucy (Fobes) Keith were Stillman, lloyal, and Lucia (Mrs. Simon Burnett). Stillman's education was at the common schools. At the age of nineteen he went to learn the carpenter's trade with Ebenezer Shaw, of Middleboro', he remained there three years. In 1850, he went to Boston, and after working at his trade a year or two he entered into partnership with C. C. Howard, by wliom he had been employed. They erected several buildings and stores, and continued together doing a good business, until his health failed, when he returned to Scotland, where he remains to this day, occupying a portion of his father's farm. Since his return to this place he has dealt in real estate quite largely, owning and renting several store.-i and tenements in Brockton.

On Dec. 29, 1856, Mr. Keith married Clara W., daughter of Col. Oliver and Diana (^lilaton) Eaton, of Middleboro'. Mrs. Keith comes also of an early and prominent New England family, and her father has, during a long life of over eighty years, filled hoi»estly and satisfactorily important public trusts. Both her parents are still living in North Middleboro', at very advanced ages, cherished and beloved by all who know them.

Mr. Keith is a pleasant, social companion, retiring and unassuming, possesses good taste, evidenced by the attractiveness of his home and its surroundings. He is prized by his townsmen as a good citizen, public-spirited, and industrious. He takes no part in politics, other than to support with his vote the Republican party. Devoting himself to business, he has acquired a handsome competency.