Acushnet Town (part 1 of 2)

Towns Of New Bedford & Acushnet

Bosworth & Baker. .Carpenters and Builders. Counters and Show Cases made to order Stores finished in any style in a superior manner. Doors, Sashes = { Blinds always on hand. "Moule's Patent Earth Closets," 24 Spring st

Bosworth Wm..House Carpenter and Builder, 81 Middie st. All orders attended to with nestness and my en eae werner) ee ay of all kinds ot Fancy Cottage Work, on the " tha's Vineyard Camp Ground" .

Provisions, Earthen Hardware, bl ager Hats, Pancy Articles, am pbell st B. & %. Dealers in Meats, Vegetables, Flour, Teas, Coffee, ete. of the apd Foreign y Goods in standard makes, at Popular New York and Boston Low Prices. One Price only. 42, 44, and 46 Purchase st » Haskell, E. P.. Merchant, res 85 Bush cor County st Jordan LTE AS in ne i ees Looking Glasses, Feathers, » and U) tery Curtain Shades, Fixtures, &o, ee Purst Jones Ed. C..Merehant. Res, 110 County st Kirk John..Dealer in Flour, Corn, Feed, &c, 225 Purst

Paine, S. 8S. Bro - Dealers in Lime, Cement, Brick, Caleined and Land Plaster, Plastering, Hair, Cement, Drain Pipe and Fertilizers, also Dealers in Flour and uce Barrels and Molasses Casks, N Front st

Parsons & Hriggs..Dealers in Parlor and Chamber Suits, Feather Beds and Mattresses, special attention Given to repairing, also old Furniture taken in - - _ for new, Warerooms 129 Union, Mfty 75 6th sz

Sylvia, A. L..Dealer in Ready-made Clothing, Furnishing Goods, Hats, Cups, Umbrellas, Trunks, Valis- és, Carpet Bags, &c., 123 & 159 S Water st, also Boarding and Lodging by the day or Week.

Sherman & Gifford..Plumbers, Steam and Gas Fitters, and Dealers in Gas Fixtures, Globes, Shades &c., Bell Hanging, Safe repairing, &e., 32 William st

Sullinzs Singman..Importers and Gener: ealers in English, German and American Hardware, Cutlery, Stoves, House Furnishing Goods, Agricultural Implements, &e., 123 Union st.

2d st Taber, Gordon & Co..General Commission Merchants and Dealers in Ship Chandlery, Groceries, &c., Central Wharf. Agents for N.Y. and Phila Packets. Henry F..Merchant, res 270 County st Tucker, - a & Co..Shipping Merchants, Commercial aS Vincent, es and General Dealer in Ship Chandlery, ware, Cutlery, House Furnishing Goods, Agricultural Implements, Cooking Stoves and Ranges, Boat and Horse Shoe Nails, Agent for Ri, Iron Beam Plows and Wood's Mowing Machines, 120 Union cor. 3d st Vera, Joseph..Merchant, res 45 S 6th st Waterman, N..Dealer in Wool Carpets. Mattings, Dry Goods, Cloths, Trunks, en ae Lookii Glasses, Clocks, Cutlery, P! Sj s, Smal Wares, &c., at "Waterman's New cor ith and Union sts Manufacturers. "Acushnet Coffee and S Mill". .Manfrs of Pure Coffee, Spice, Cream Tartar, &c., 59 High st T. Davis. T.C.

Gifford & Allen..Manufrs of Brass, and Lead Ware for Ship or Hote us partial mois t Copper. Botta, Composition. Nails, ipe and Sheet Cocks, &e., and all of "Gosnold Mills"..Manufrs of Hoop, Band, Scroll, Rod and Horse Shoe Iron, office 144 Ray st. J. D Thom Pres, J, W. Kingsbury, Hathawa: < Soule..Manufrs of Men's and Boys' Fine Call Boots and Shoes, Pleasant st near "City Library"

Leonant, Saml. & Son..Manatrs of Sperm, Whale, Elephant, Lubricating and Sewing Machine Oils, Sperm, Patent and Vesper Candles, Whale and s Oil Soaps, &e,, Leonard st

Macy, B. B, & F..Shipsmiths and Manutrs of Whale Craft of every description, cor, Front st & Sheey Lane "Mt. Washington Glass Works"..Manutfrs of Blown, and Cut Glass Ware, and Fine Decorated Goods; Salesrooms, 61 Milk st, Boston, 20 College Place, New York, Geo. R. Phillips, Treasurer, W. L. Libbey, Agent.

"New Bedford Doppar Co.".,Manufrs of Yellow and Bronze Meta heathing, Copper Sheathing, Bra, aters and Dimension Copper, Copper Bolts and Print Rollers, Yellow Metal Bolta, Spikes, Nails,

"New Bedford Flour Co."..Manufrs and Dealers in Flour, Graham Flour, Middlings, Corn, Meal, Oats, Fine Feed, Shorts, &c., cor N Water and Hillman st. Geo, R. Phillips, Prest. Jonn N. Bullard, Supt. & Treas

Perry, John H. & Co..Manutrs of White Lead, Verdigris and Colors, and Dealers in Oils, Varnishes, Japan, Window Gl: . &c. office 58 S Water st, factory & warehouse, 1 Walnut st

Pierce Charles M. Jr,.Manufr and Dealer in Masons' Building Materials, Land Fertilizers, &. 119 N Water st cor High. Press, Common and Fire Bricks, Cement Pipe for Sewers, Drains and Wells, from 3 to 26 inch Calibre constantly on hand. Res 273 County st

Taber, Robert B..Blank Books Manufd to order of the best quality of Paper,and Binding at short notice, all kinds of Letter, Note, Bill and Cap Paper Ruled to order, in any variety of Pattern or Color, and Printed or Lithographed to suit any taste, all kinds of Counting House Stationery constantly on hand, 49 Union st

Wade, Job..Manutr of Imitation of Glove and Goat Skins, also Culf Skins, Split Leather, Harness, Bag and Ship Leather. 73 High st, Boston, factory Wall st, New Bedford

"Taylor's Marble Works"..Manufrs of and Dealers in Monuments, Gravestoncs, Tablets, &c., of Foreign and American Marble. Also, Mantle and Marror Shelves, Vases, Wash Stands, Table Tops, all kinds of Building Work, Curbing and Posts for Cemieteries. Soapstone and Flagging. 6 Market st, South side of City Hall

Anthony Edmund & Sons..Publishers of " Daily Evening Standard," "Republican Standard," weekly, Printing of all kinds executed with Neatness and Despatch, 67 Union st

Fessenden & Baker..Publishers of "The Daily Mereury," and "The New Bedford Mercury." Job Printing executed with neatness and despatch. 92 Union st, cor S 2d st

Sweet Job & Son..'The world-renowned Natural Bone ~ Setters of New Bedford, have opened rooms at 1406 Washington st, Boston. Office in New Bedford, cor Kempton and Summer sts

Denham Thomas M..Manutacturer and Dealer in Fine Yoke Shirts, Custom Shirts manufactured trom actusl measurement, at reasonable prices, and warranted to fit. Kewdy-made Shirts the most ae me os fee at ials, and for strength and dur: it to wny aa shirt. Sales-room, re a William. ,

Dunham & West..Practical Painters, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Paints, Oils, Glass, &e. Graining and Paper Hanging done with neatness and despatch, Particular attention paid to Filling und Polishing Wood, 44 8 Water st

Gray C, A. & Co,.Teamsters. Are prepared to move Goods of all descriptions to and from the Depot, or between any points in the city and vicinity, upon reasonable terms. Oftice at N, B, & T.RR.

- _ WSpooner - s werner Acushnet U. aes Shop? 2 | 2 é ie tagoa Business Notices. SS Aaswell ee | "Acushnet Mill Cu"..Acushnet . Est - % Ss | "Acushnet Ico Co"..Acushnet, Depot on Mechanics' R - Re) Lane, New Bedford, Maas., Simeon Hawes, Agt SH ' A: Goaied tremens E -- \ radfor . A... Farmer a =o sea nilo Blackmer Seth M.. Resident ene CHervey Wet Clark Cyrus E..Surveyor and Postmaster' ¢ tod Clark David. . Resident = Cobb & Jenney..Manufrs,Wholesale and Retail Dealers LSS of Tin, Sheet Iron Ware, &c., Acushnet P B ns Cushm&n Emery..Soap and Candle Box Manufr _. SCHOOL, L.Dav tg Peale 18) Chase David. .Manufr of Packing Boxes and Shooks Sends, Ho* Hawes Simeon. .* Acushnet Mill Co.," Agent "Acushnet

School Town Of Fair Haven

"Boston and Fair Haven Iron Works"..Foundry and Machine Shop. Manufrs of Erinting Erowes; Paeet haftin: » Work Machinery, Sinks, Dry and Green Sand

"Fair Haven Institution for Savings".,Fair Haven, C. Fuller ¥. Bf, Dealer in Groseriea, Provisi Hardware, er F. M.. jer in visit Phoenix's Block

Source changes here: from History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, by Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Ed, published 1883; 10,925 words in this source stream.

Acushnet Town

Conclusion. - We cannot more fittingly close our history of this grand old municipality than by quoting the language of one of her most illustrious and honored citizens, the Hon. William W. Crapo:

" Beautiful, indeed, for situation is this city of New Bedford. Few places are there on this continent, or elsewhere, which so well unite the institutions, benefits, and advantages of the city with the freshness and simplicity and comfort of rural life. Lying between green pastures on the one hand and the still waters of the river on the other, fronting upon this bay. which i> as charming as the Bay of Naples, and rising with the elevation of conscious pride from its shores, its physical condition and position are delightful beyond exception. We rejoice to observe and remember that those who have shaped its outward fortunes have been studious to make it attractive and healthful as the home of a cultured and enlightened people. Its well-made and well-kept avenues and streets, shaded by long lines of trees, which our lathers have planted ; its complete and cleanly drainage, which the incoming and outgoing tides make perfect and efficient; its abundant and pure water, distributed and available for all the purposes of domestic, mechanical, and protecting use; its trained, alert, and electric fire department; its well-diffused system for gas-lighting ; its schools, its churches and chapels, and bethel ; its hospital, its home for orphans, its many unions of hearts and hands for good works; its comfortable and pleasant homes, after the best methods of New England life, combine to make this municipality worthy of our best affections and of our constant effort for its prosperity and peace."

Chapter Xiii

ACUSHNET is alphabetically the first, and chronologically the last town in Bristol ; the section of land which bears this name being until recently parts of other towns. It is a pleasant little township in the southerly and easterly part of the county. It is bounded northerly by Freetown, easterly by Rochester (in Plymouth County), southerly by Fairhaven, and westerly by New Bedford. It derives its name from the Indian name of this section of old Dartmouth, which was variously spelled in the records of the seventeenth century, - Cushenagg, Accusshaneck, Acushena, Acquessent, Acusshna, Aquishnet, Aquset, and Acushnet.

From 1664 to 1787 nearly all of Acushnet that now is was a part of old Dartmouth; from 1787 to 1812 it was a part of New Bedford ; and from 1812 to 1860 it was included in Fairhaven. The subject of dividing the town of Fairhaven was agitated a long while before the act occurred. The people in the north part of the town felt that as that section was sparsely populated they did not get their share of the appropriation, especially for schools. Then after the old Presbyterian meeting-house was torn down, the question came where to build a new one. The people in the village of Fairhaven wanted it nearer them, and finally succeeded in having it built on an acre-lot just north of Woodside Cemetery, on the Fairhaven road. This building was subsequently burned by an incendiary fire. The meetings were then held down in Fairhaven village; this was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the " northenders" renewed their purpose for a division. Among the zealous advocates of the division and one of the leaders of the movement was Rev. Israel Washburn, who owned the farm on which he resided, situated next north of the present Laura Keene farm in Acushnet. Mr. Washburn was a man of firmness, of i a strong, positive nature, with a good intellect and : readiness of speech, and was well calculated to be chosen as leader in such a movement. He was born in this town in 1796, in the last house on the north side of the road leading eastward from White's factory. He was for many years in the Methodist ministry, before and after his residence in Acushnet at the time of the division, a part of which time he was in the grocery business at Parting Ways, as I. Washburn & Son (William H. Washburn). His name heads a petition made to the General Court of the winter of 1858-59, praying for a division of the town. The petition was before the legislative committee, but no other action was taken than to refer the subject to the next General Court. The petitioners at once set about procuring all that was necessary to aid them to success at the following session.

In a warrant issued for a town-meeting in Fairhaven April 4, 1859, article eleven asked action on the petitions of Rev. Israel Washburn and others, " now referred to the next Legislature," with reference to a division of the town, and it was voted that a committee of five be nominated by the chair to define a line of division of the town and report. This committee as appointed and chosen consisted of Isaac Wood, Arthur Cox, Jonathan Cowen, Cyrus E. Clark, Charles H. Adams, and John Ellis. This committee reported at a meeting of June 2, 1859, and this same committee was requested to appear before the next Legislature and present all the facts in the case that could be procured by them. They did so, and not only that, but a petitioii in favor of the division was also presented, signed by a large number of the residents of the south part of the town. A result of this was that the committee of the Legislature before which the matter was heard reported in favor of the division, and the report was adopted.

"Section 1. All that part of the town of Fairhaven which lies northerly of the following described lines, viz. : Beginning at a stone monument at ' Tripp's Corner,' in the division lines between the towns of Fairhaven and Mattapoisett ; thence from sandstone monument in a south-westerly direction in a straight line to the southeast corner of the ' Royal Hathaway farm,' so called ; thence in the south line of said farm to the southwest corner bounds thereof; thence continuing westerly in the same direction to the centre of the channel of Acushnet River, or division line between the town of Fairhaven and the city of New Bedford, is hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name of Acushnet, and the said town of Acushnet is hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, rights and immunities, and shall be subject to all the duties and requisitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth.

"Section 2. Tho inhabitants of said town of Acushnet shall be hidden to pay to the collector of taxes of the town of Fairhaven all the arrearages of taxes legally assessed upon them before this act takes effect, and also their proportion of State and county taxes as may be assessed upon them before taking the next State valuation, said proportion to be ascertained and determined by the last valuation of the said town of Fairhaven ; and said town of Acushnet to pay four twenty-thirds of the debts due and owing from the town of Fairhaven at the lime of the passage of this act, and be entitled to receive four-twenty-thirds of all the real and personal property and assets owned by or due to the said town of Fail haven, and shall he liable to refund to said town of Fairhaven four-twenty-thirds of the 'surplus revenue' when the said is called for according to the provisions of law.

"Section 3. The said towns of Fairhaven and Acushnet shall be respectively liable for the support of all persons who now do and who may hereafter stand in need of relief as paupers whose settlement was gained by or derived within their respective limits.

" Section 4. The towns of Fairhaven and Acushnet shall hold the following described property, situated in their respective limits, as valued by their committee, appointed June twenty-fifth, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, 'for the purpose of presenting information to the Legislature to enable them to make a just and equitable apportionment of the public property, debts, and burdens between the towns,' viz.: The town of Fairhaven shall exclusively hold the almshouse, farm, and property appertaining thereto; the High School house, lot, and fixtures contained therein ; the engine-house and lot in Oxford village, and the engine and fixtures contained therein; the engine-house and lot in the village of Fairhaven, and the engine and fixtures therein; two second-hand engines now in the village, the town-house lot, the watchhouse and lot, L. S. Aiken's gravel lot, one safe in the town clerk's office, and so much of other property as will make nineteen-twentythirds of the public property as valued by said committee. The town of Acushnet shall exclusively hold the engine-house and lot, together with the engine and fixtures, in Acushnet village; the school-house and lot in school district number eighteen, two town pounds, the 'Freeman Hathaway' lot, the 'Samuel Stacy' lot, and so much of other property as will make four-twenty-thirds of the public property as valued by said committee. All other property which may hereafter be found to belong to the town of Fairhaven, and not specified by the said committee at the time of the passage of this act, shall be divided on the same basis, viz., nineteen-twenty-thirds to the town of Fairhaven and fourtwenty-thirds to the town of Acushnet.

"Section 5. The town of Acushnet shall remain a part of the same districts, representative, senatorial, councilor, and congressional, as the town of Fairhaven until said districts are altered by due authority of law."

The act of incorporation was approved Feb. 13, 1860. It was signed by N. P. Banks, Governor, and Oliver Warner, Secretary of State. Fairhaven, at the time of the "set off," was in the Twelfth (Bristol) Representative District, together with Freetown and Berkley. The district was entitled to two representatives.

The first public meeting of the legal voters of the new town was held March 14, 1860, in the "enginehouse," which stands in the village on the north side of the road, nearly opposite the parsonage house of the

Methodist Society. Jones Robinson, Esq., who resided on the Fairhaven road, a prominent man in public affairs, was chosen moderator. Jabez Wood was elected town clerk, collector, and treasurer. The other important offices were filled as follows: For selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor, Cyrus E. Clark, Benjamin Wilson, and Benjamin White; for school committee, Jabez Wood for three years, Rev. Philip Crandon for two years, and George P. Morse for one year ; and Philip A. Bradford was chosen constable, an office to which he has been reelected every year since. On the 24th of the following month Mr. Crandon resigned the office of school committee, and Walter Spooner was chosen his successor. There have been but few changes in the officers of the town, which speaks well for their fidelity.

The office of town clerk, collector, and treasurer was filled from 1860-65, inclusive, by Jabez Wood ; from 1866-70, inclusive, by Benjamin White; 1871, by George P. Morse ; 1872, by George F. Glasse, who was partially disabled in the late war; from 1873-81, inclusive, George P. Morse ; and in 1882 Caleb Slade was chosen. For selectmen, overseers of the poor, and assessors, Cyrus E. Clark served in 1860-65 ; Benjamin Wilson, in 1860-63; Benjamin White, in 1860- 63, 1867-70, 1872-73; Capt. Pardon Taber, Jr., from 1864-82, inclusive; Walter Spooner, from 1864-82, inclusive, excepting the year 1879; John Tuck, in 1871 ; Joshua Morse, in 1875-78 ; Joshua Leonard, from 1878-82, inclusive. The following persons have served on the school committee : Jabez Wood, Rev. Philip Crandon, George P. Morse, Walter Spooner, Marcus Ashley, Amos H. Has well, George T. Russell, Jr., Rev. Josephus W. Horton, Richard Davis, Jr., Frederick Wing, Walter A. Davis, Augustus White, Charles L. Russell, Leonard Keene, Jonathan Taber, George F. Glasse, Burrage Y. Warner, Capt. Edward R. Ashley, Thomas E. Bradley, Caleb Slade, Perez S. Doty. The longest term of service was that of George P. Morse, who was a member of the committee.

Acushnet being in the district with other towns, it is entitled to a representation to the General Court but occasionally. It has sent four since its incorporation. The first representative was William H. Washburn, Esq. Mr. Washburn was a son of Rev. Israel Washburn, and for many years a resident of the town, being engaged in the grocery and wheelwright business. Always interested in the welfare of the town, he was especially so during the war, when he had charge of enlisting, drafting, and filling quotas, and served two years in the Legislature to the great satisfaction of his constituents. The next was Walter Spooner, Esq., who has faithfully served the town in many capacities. He was in the House two years. Mr. Spooner, who is the son of Dr. Rounsevel Spooner, is from " honorable" stock, his great-grandfather being Hon. Walter Spooner, and his grandfather was Hon. Alden Spooner, who was an uncle of the Hon. Nathaniel Spooner, all of .this town.

The third representative was Benjamin White, Esq., a highly-esteemed citizen of the town, and who has been honored by it with many offices of trust and responsibility. In consequence of redisricting the State, Mr. White was in the Legislature but one year.

The next one was Capt. Joseph Burt, Jr. He formerly resided in New Bedford, did good service in the army, and since the war has lived in this town, which he represented one year. Acushnet has furnished one senator to the General Court, Hon. Joshua Morse filling the office. The above were all Republicans.

Acushnet is fifty-five miles from Boston, and its only railroad facilities are the Old Colony, which passes along and about a mile west of its western boundary. The land is generally quite even, and the soil in some parts well adapted to agricultural purposes. Most of the land is high, dry, and admirably suited to residence. Perry Hill, though but a mile from the river, on the easterly side of the town, is nearly one hundred and fifty feet above the sea. A spot near this was selected as one of the stations of the State Trigonometrical Survey. In addition to the beautiful Acushnet River, which flows southerly through its centre, it has another attractive stream which flows out of its southeast angle and empties into the Mattapoisett River.

The Acushnet water, which supplies the city of New Bedford, is from ponds located in the north part of the town, and from which flows the Acushnet River. The reservoir of nearly three hundred acres is located in a romantic spot. The dam which is built to form this impounding reservoir and to elevate the waters of the Acushnet to forty feet above mean tide is on the Wilson farm, about seven miles from New Bedford. The drainage above this dam comprises between three and four thousand acres, and is exceedingly well adapted for the collection and storage of a large supply of pure water. The reservoir is two and a half miles long and from one-eighth to nearly one-half mile wide, giving a storage capacity of four hundred million gallons of water.

In 1875 Acushnet had a total population of 1059, most of whom are engaged in general farming, market gardening, and producing milk. The number of farms is 142, covering 8041 acres, which, together with 4600 acres of woodland, is valued at $446,750. The geological formation is feldspathic gneiss and granite. It has seven saw-mills, which turn out large quantities of long lumber, shingles, box-boards, and bark, which are exported.

Considerable business has been and is still carried on on the stream above the village. The first fullingmill in this section was on this stream. The building is still standing and has been used as a saw-mill by the Acushnet Saw-Mill Company, consisting of Simeon and Jonathan Hawes and N. Hervey Wilbor. Since 1809 there is turned out here annually about six hundred thousand feet of box-boards, sixty-six thousand feet of long lumber, and forty thousand shingles.

There was originally only a saw- and grist-mill here, afterwards a fulling-, dressing-, and cardingmill, at which time it was in possession of William Rotch. Subsequently for many years it was owned by Morgan & Lund, and used for the manufacture of paper.

About a mile up the stream, on a cross-road, was originally another saw-mill. The property came into the hands of Phineas White, who built a cotton-mill there in 1811. Mr. White had associated with him Capt. Joseph Whelden and Ansel White. Business prospered, and Capt. Whelden withdrew and built a stone cotton-factory on the stream a mile farther north, the walls of which are now standing.

On a stream which enters the Acushnet near the Whelden Mill is situated another saw-mill, run by George P. and Edward Morse. Ansel White, brother of Phineas, withdrew from the lower factory and built a cotton-mill in connection with a saw-mill which stood on the stream to the westward of Long Plain. No cotton machinery has been run in town for many years. The Phineas White mill privilege was purchased by S. B. Hamblin, an extensive lumber merchant, who uses it exclusively for sawing.

Another item of business worth noting is that of Ebenezer Leonard, who has carried on boat-building in town since the 1st of January, 1852. He has constructed during the time nine hundred and twentyseven whale-boats for the New Bedford shipping, carrying them thence, a distance of six miles, on trucks. This gives an average of about thirty-one boats a year, and some years he has built one a week.

Many of the inhabitants of Acushnet have been engaged in the whale fishery ; among the number the following with others were master-mariners: Jacob Taber, Cornelius Howland, Pardon Taber, Jr., Godfrey Macomber, Andrew Wing, William Ashley, Mason Taber, Edward R. Ashley, Joseph Bennett, Obed. Nye, Henry Packard, David Corcoran, James R. Allen, Stephen Hathaway, Martin Bowen, Stephen Kempton, Marcus Taber, Stephen Braley, Francis Butts, Stephen Taber.

Quite an extensive business has been carried on in town in the manufacture of candle- and soap-boxes. The principal ones engaged in it now are John Lombard and Emory Cushman, on the Long Plain road. The factory of the latter occupies the site of one of the oldest landmarks in the county. It is situated about three quarters of a mile to the north of Parting Ways and an eighth of a mile eastward of the road. There was a saw- and grist-mill here in the early day of the settlement of this section, and subsequently a fulling-mill. Wool was carded, cloth fulled and dressed, and buttons made here. Near the factory stood, till quite recently consumed by fire, one of the oldest houses in the county. It was exceedingly oldfashioned, the upper story projecting beyond the lower one several feet all around. A massive stone chimney was in the centre, and doors and windows were very antique. It was built by Jacob Taber, and was subsequently occupied by his son Amaziah. Thankful, daughter of Amaziah, became the wife of Gideon Wood, of Dartmouth, and the old farm came into the Wood family by will from Amaziah to Gideon's son Thomas, where it has remained till very lately. The last one of the Wood family that occupied it was Jabez, the son of Thomas ; he was the first town clerk of Acushnet. Henry T. Wood, of New Bedford, son of Thomas, has a painting by the artist William A Wall of the old house and an interesting scene near it. Amaziah Taber, who was a Friend, was on peaceful and confidential terms with the.Indians, who were numerous about here then. During the King Philip war some scouts had been up in the Squawbetty country, to the eastward of the house, and had captured some of these Indians. As they were marching past the old house on their way to the camps of the white men they halted, and Amaziah had a conversation with them. This real incident is very faithfully represented in the painting.

Another old dwelling is the Tobey house, a gableroofed building on the east side of Mill road, about one quarter of a mile above the bridge in the village. It was at one time occupied by Dr. Elisha Tobey, one of the earliest physicians of the locality. He was born in 1722, probably in this house. Capt. Lemuel S. Aiken, of Fairhaven, says that when the British marauders made their excursion through the village of Acushnet in 1778, a party left the main body where the Mill road begins near the bridge, and went up as far as this old house, the first one they came to. The good wife was baking pork and beans, and, attracted by the appetizing odor, they made a raid on the oven in the cellar, and soon put its contents out of sight. Capt. Aiken goes on to say, "They then robbed the house of what they wanted and endeavored to destroy the rest. But the British pilferers, in going down the cellar, left the door wide open, and that effectually prevented their seeing another door immediately behind it leading to a room where their mos.t valuable clothing was deposited, and by that means was saved. Another instance of the same occurred at Bartholomew Tuber's (just northeast of the present village of Fairhaven). They burned several houses at the Head of the River, among them one belonging to Capt. Crandon, who, to revenge himself on the British marauders, would not suffer his new house to be placed over the old cellar, nor suffer the cellar to be filled up, until his son, having the management in some measure of his father's business, accomplished it. It was at Acushnet village that Lieut. Metcalf was mortally wounded. He was from

Boston, and belonged to the Continental army. The first building they burned after leaving the Head of the River was a house a half-mile below Parting Ways, on the west side of the road, on the premises now owned by David Russell, then occupied by Col. Pope, of the Continental army. Eldad Tupper, a Tory, well acquainted in these parts, acted as their guide, and would inform them of all holding office or commissions. As they proceeded south near by they came to Stephen and Thomas Hathaway's. The latler was a man of handsome property for those days and without children, but he had a ward living with him (Jonathan Kempton), who eventually inherited it. At the time the fleet anchored he was at the lower end of Sconticut Neck, and he left immediately for home to remove the household furniture to a place of safety.

"After packing up he took a small trunk, containing quite a valuable quantity of silver. As he stepped out of the door he was met by their advance-guard, who told him they would relieve him from any further care of the trunk. After taking what things they wanted from the house, they collected beds and bedding in a chamber and set fire to them, and very luckily shut the doors. They took Mr. Kempton a prisoner, and told him they should take him to New York. He entreated them to set him at liberty. After carrying him to the end of a lane leading to the house they consented, after taking one of the two pairs of breeches that he had on. That he had two pair they knew from having robbed him of his watch, but they informed him that they must fire at him as a deserter, which they did, whether with the intention of hitting him or not he never knew. The ball, however, hit a large cherry-tree, one of a number that lined the lane leading to his house. Mr. Kempton returned to the house in time to extinguish the fire."

This Stephen Hathaway house still stands on a rocky hill on the east side of the Fairhaven road, a half-mile north of the Acushnet line. A quarter of a mile south of this house, on the same side of the road, and a few yards northeast of a well at present in the highway, stood a store belonging to either Obed or Micah Hathaway. This was also burned. No more damage was done by the excursionists until they reached the Fairhaven line, an eighth of a mile farther south.

Jonathan 1>. Butts, on the U. S. S. " Lodona ;" Walter A. Pierce, on the U. S. S. " Fley," and on the " Congress" when she was sunk ; George I). Whiting, on the gunboat "Chlicora;" Lemuel Dillingham, on the U. S. S. "Gemsbok," and on the " Vanderbilt-" George C. Tinkliam, Augustus H. Mendall, on the "Congress;" Francis I'ittsley, Jr., on the " Hartford."

One of the oldest and most interesting landmarks hereabouts is the old burying-place on. the hill just west of Acushnet village, near the Parting Ways. Some of the headstones of this old colonial cemetery, established in the reign of Queen Anne, have dates nearly back to the seventeenth century. There are nearly six hundred and fifty tombstones with names and dates upon them, and more than one thousand unlettered ones. The latter mark the resting-places not only of some of the earliest settlers of Dartmouth, but of Plymouth Colony. The land for this burying-ground was given by John Jenne (or Jenney, as the name is now spelled). He Avas doubtless a son of John Jenne, who came to Plymouth in the " James" in 1623, and who was one of the Governor's assistants at Plymouth in 1637-39. Since those days the name has been very numerous in this section.

The deed of gift by which the ground was presented to the Presbyterian parish is a curiously spelled old paper. It is recorded in the North Bristol registry of deeds office, and reads as follows :

"To all Christian people to whome these Presents Shall Come, John Jenne, Senr., of the town of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol And Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Sendeth greeting.

" Know ye that I the sd John Jenne hath for & in Consideration of the want of a Convenient Burying Place but more Esptially a Place whereon to Set or Build an house or Houses for the people of God Called Presbyterians orderly to essemble and meet in for the Carrying on of the true worship of God as also because In the Sd John Jenne Veryly Believes in his heart that the Presbyterians do worship God after the due Order most agreeable to the order of the primitive Christians, by these Presents Given granted Eiifeoffeds aliened & confirmed unto the Sd Presbyterians for the end and use aforesaid one acre of Land Lying and Being in the town ship of Dartmouth afores'1, where the meeting House Built by the S'1 Presbyterians now stands. Butted and Bounded Westerly Northerly Easterly by the Land of Sd John Jenne and southerly on or by the County Road, with all the Trees, Herbiage, Priveledgesand Apportenances Liberties Profits and Benefits Belo another time he started for church on horseback, supposing his wife on a pillion, the way of riding in those days, and did not learn to the contrary until lie was questioned about Mrs. West by one of the good deacons. One day, while talking with a man in front of his house without his hat, the individual started, and the doctor accompanied him, still absorbed in conversation. Before he came to himself he had walked four miles.

" Samuel West, D.D., Ac, the son of Dr. Shackfield West, by bis wife, Ruth Jenkins, was born at Yarmouth, CO., March 3, 1729-30, 0. S., ordained in this place June 3, 1761. Relinquished his pastoral charge June, 1803. Died at Tiverton, B. I., Sept. 24, 1807."

From 1803 to 1829 the society seems to have fallen into decay, and had become reduced by death and removal to only three members, - Jonathan Swift, Mary Worth, and Susannah Pope. Up to 1811 the Methodists, which had an organized society in the neighborhood, occupied the old meeting-house. At this time the Congregational people made an effort to revive the old church, and undertook to supply the pulpit with a minister of their own denomination. They did not succeed, however, and the church was closed until 1828. About this time a successful endeavor was made to resuscitate it, members were added and services regularly held.

Rev. Sylvester Holmes officiated as a supernumerary pastor, and at this time probably the church changed from a Presbyterian to a Congregational system of government. Joel Packard, Mary Russel, and Rufus Holmes were the first who were admitted to membership in the church, and were received by letter. The first received on a profession of faith were Mrs. T. Mayhew, Mrs. James Taber, Mrs. David Perry, Mrs. Freeman Taber, Branch Harlow, Caroline Augusta Waggoner, and Jabez Hathaway and wife. In 1830, Rev. Pardon T. Seabury was settled over the church, and that year the society built a house on the west side of the river. The old house was torn down in 1837.

The next meeting-house built in Acushnet was that of the Friends, which stood where the present one does, just to the east of Parting Ways. The deed of the lot on which it stood conveyed the land from Stephen West, Jr., of Dartmouth, to Nicholas Davis, of Rochester, Joseph Russell, Abram Mott, and John Tasker, of Dartmouth, in trust for the Friends' Society, and bears date 9th of 11th mo., 1727.

The original meeting-house was built in 1727, though meetings of the society had been held in the neighborhood for two years or more previous to this date. During the Revolutionary war an addition to the east side smaller in dimensions than the original was made, and between these were shutters for dividing the house. The old house being in poor condition, it was replaced by a new one. This is a commodious house, painted inside and out, with carpeted aisles and cushioned seats. In an ante-room is hung a door of the old house, on which is the date of its erection, 1727. The building and repairs about the grounds have been in charge of Edward Dillingham, a minister of the society and a resident of Acushnet.

Christian Church, Long Plain. - The religious society that comes next in order of date is that of the Christian at Long Plain, a village at the north end of the town, so named from the extensive plateau on which it stands. Elder Daniel Hix, who was pastor of a flourishing church of this denomination at Hixville, in the northwest part of Dartmouth, was invited to hold meetings here. This resulted in a successful movement to build a church. The first meeting in relation to building was held Oct. 8, 1795, when Elder Hix and Silas Simmons were appointed a committee to select a lot of land and place a church thereon. This was very near the site of the present church. The first bill contracted on the church is dated July 30, 1796, and was for lumber and other materials to the amount of one hundred and twentyeight dollars. Among the " other materials" was seven gallons of West India rum, an indispensable article in building a church in those primitive times. Another interesting reminiscence is that when the edifice was completed the congregation (such of them as had already purchased) were invited to build their pews on the spots owned by them. Aug. 29, 1805, Elder Hix accepted an invitation to preach two Sundays a month. The distance from his residence was nine miles, and for the year's service he received fifty dollars. In 1804 his salary was increased to fifty-five dollars, and on this he continued with them several years. Subsequently Rev. John Leland preached in the old house. This is the man who in 1812 got up a mammoth cheese, weighing over a ton, which was pressed in a cider-mill, drawn to Washington by four horses, and presented to President Madison.

The church did not prosper in a marked degree, and was much of the time without a settled pastor, - from 1825 to 1837. In April, 1837, Elder Samuel Wilde, who had resided elsewhere for a long time, returned and preached for them a year. There had been no Sunday-school since 1823, but Mr. Wilde, with the assistance of Miss Elizabeth Ashley, daughter of Capt. William Ashley, organized a school, and it was continued through the year. Mr. Wilde writes, " My salary this year was one load of good oak chips, presented by Thomas Davis." This church was financially embarrassed, and was obliged to give up.

There were a number of persons of the Baptist denomination in the vicinity, and they concluded to organize a society, which they did in 1838.

On the 16th of October of that year a council, composed of representatives from New Bedford, Fall River. Middleborough, and Long Plain, met at the latter place and ordained Ira Leland. The same day the following- named persons, in response to their re- quest, were recognized a Baptist Society of the Taunton Association: Rev. Ira Leland, William Ashley, Delana Ashley, Abiel P. Robinson, Chloe Robinson, Love M. Sears, Freelove Hathaway, Silas F. Sears, Mary R. Davis, and Ann H. Davis.

Mr. Leland remained with the church about two years, when he went to the Second Baptist Church at Barnstable. He returned to the pastorate of this church, however, on the 1st of April, 1844, much to the pleasure of his former parishioners. Under his ministration the church continued to prosper, resulting in the building of a new church, which was dedicated on the 28th of April, 1847, the society having occupied the old Christian Church.

A month after the dedication of the new church Mr. Leland accepted a call to Lexington, Mass., and the society was again without a pastor. No settled minister was with the church till 1848.

In August, 1848, Mr. Whittemore was settled here, and remained till 1856. In 1851, Mrs. Ruth Davis united with the church by baptism, being then sixty years of age. At the present date she is living, at the age of ninety-two, her faculties wonderfully preserved. She is the oldest person in town. She, with her two sons, are active members of this church.

In 1856 considerable religious interest was manifested in the village, and many were converted. There were those who wanted a church house, but, not being in full sympathy with the Baptists nor Friends, the only denominations in the place, a " Union Society" was organized, which this church joined. This plan not proving successful, the Baptists called Rev. W. W. Meech, of Connecticut, to be their pastor.

In the spring of 1860, Mr. Meech closed his labors with the church, much to the regret of the people. Rev. Silas Hall, of Raynham, supplied for a few months, and others till 1864, when Rev. J. W. Horton became the settled pastor, and remained till 1868. The same year Rev. Mr. Holt, of Boston, became the minister, continuing till Feb. 26, 1871. He was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Learned, who filled the pastoral relation till his health compelled him to resign in 1872. Rev. S. P. Lewy served from 1872 to December, 1873. In November, 1874, a unanimous call was extended to Rev. E. M. Wilson, of Somerville, Mass., who accepted, and has continued an acceptable and highly-respected pastor, which relation he holds at the present time.

About eighty persons have been members of this church since its institution in 1838. The church has had but two clerks, Gen. Abiel P. Robinson serving till incapacitated by age in 1874 ; since then the office has been filled by Walter A. Davis.

The first Sunday-school at Long Plain was held in the summer of 1822. Susan, wile of Dr. Rounsevel Spooner, a member of the Unitarian Church, and Allathea, daughter of Nicholas Davis, a Friend, called the children together in a school-house which stood just at the back of the carriage-sheds in the Friends' yard, where they taught them the old Westminster Catechism and Scripture texts and furnished them with tracts. It was held again the following summer, but was not continued longer on account of the sneers of parents and their disrelish of the innovation.

The Friends' Society at Long Plain is the next in chronological order. The land on which the present house stands was deeded by Nathan Davis, of Dartmouth, to John and Nehemiah Sherman, Daniel Wing, Nicholas Davis, and Russell Brailey, of Rochester, in trust for the society, 10th 9 mo., 1759. The house was built about this time. In 1855 it was overhauled and thoroughly repaired. This meeting, together with the ones at Parting Ways, Fairhaven, and Mattapoisett, constitute the Long Plain Preparatory Meeting, to which Abner Pease, of Fairhaven, willed a large property.

The Methodist Church at Acushnet Village had its beginning in the early days of the present century. It was the original Methodist Society in old Dartmouth. The original members of the Elm Street Methodist Episcopal Society of New Bedford, the first in the city, were all members of this church.

The origin of this church may be ascribed to Capt. John Hawes, who was one of the earliest and most zealous Methodists in this section of the country. The first worship of this sect at the Head of the River is said to have been held at the house of Mr. Ellis Mendall, about two and a half miles east of the present church. Rev. Daniel Webb and others occasionally preached there. This was in 1800 or 1801. About the same time, or shortly after, Rev. Mr. Hall and other Methodist ministers held services in a school-house which stood a little east of the residence of Capt. Daniel B. Greene, later of Rudolphus Swift.

Their number continued to slowly increase, and in 1806 Conference appointed Rev. Epaphras Kibbe to take charge of them. In the course of the following year he succeeded in forming a class of eight persons, of which Capt. John Hawes was leader. At this time they were worshiping in the church of the Congregational Society, which was in a very prostrated condition, and since the retirement of Dr. West had been without a pastor. Aug. 2, 1807, Mr. Kibbe proposed that they should either unite with the Congregationalists or organize a separate society of their own. They chose the latter, and accordingly the new church was formed at the above date.

The original founders of the church as thus constituted were eight in number, - John Hawes, Benjamin Dillingham, Freelove Nye, Daniel Summerton, Hannah Summerton, Jedediah Haskell, Meriab Spooner, Nancy Dauforth. The first stewards were Capt. John Hawes and Jonathan Dauforth. Mr. Kibbe remained till 1809, and when he left the church numbered fifty-nine members. He was succeeded by Rev. Ne-

During all this time they had continued to worship in the Congregational Church. At this date, however, the members of that society undertook to supply the pulpit with a minister of their own denomination. Accordingly, the Methodists vacated the building and took an upper room in an old house which is still standing, - the one nearest the bridge on the south side of the street. They soon collected the sum of five hundred dollars and built a house of worship, although their funds were inadequate to pay for it and a considerable debt remained upon the church. It was dedicated in 1811, Rev. Nehemiah Coye preaching the sermon on the occasion. At the time of its dedication it was a rough structure, in quite an unfinished state, being neither painted nor plastered.

Mr. Coye located at Acushnet, and remained until 1817. He was followed by Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt, who acted as schoolmaster also. Then came the following clergy in the order named: Shipley W. Wilson, Solomon Sins, Edward T. Taylor, afterwards of the Boston Seamen's Bethel, Erastus Otis, Leroy Sunderland, Leonard B. Griffin, Robert Easterbrooks, Elias C. Scott, James Porter, Samuel Drake, William Baxter, O. Sperry, Thomas Ely, D. H. Banister, Franklin Fish, Onesiphorus Robbins, Lemuel Harlow, Otis Wilder, Joseph McReading, George Winchester, William Cone, Hehron Vincent, Daniel Webb, Randall Mitchell, George W. Wooding, James B. Weeks, Richard Donkersley. The present Methodist Episcopal Church was built on the site of the old one in 1853-54, the last year of Mr. Donkersley's pastorate, and was dedicated March 9, 1854. Mr. Donkersley was followed by Q. A. M. Chapman, E. Franklin Hinks, Philip Grandon, Elanson Latham, Benjamin L. Sayre, William T. Worth, Samuel Fox, Israel Washburn, Thomas Ely, Edward H. Hatfield, George W. Wooding, Benjamin H. Bosworth, Edward A. Lyon, Charles E. Walker, Edward H. Hatfield, Joseph E. Sears, Charles L. Goodell, George M. Hamlin, and N. Willis Jordan.

The original Methodist class in the city of New Bedford was organized in 1817. All its members, with one exception, were members of the Acushnet Church. This class was the origin of the Elm Street Methodist Episcopal Church, which was then a legitimate offspring of the society at Acushnet. The other New Bedford Methodist Episcopal Churches are outgrowths of the Elm Street.

The next society organized was the Methodist at Long Plain. Its origin commenced in 1856 in the "Union Society," referred to in the sketch of the Baptist Society here. A young man of the Baptist denomination, Elanson Latham, pleached for them with great acceptance, resulting in quite a revival. In the spring of 1857, Mr. Latham attended the Methodist Conference, and while there joined it. On his

This band of Methodists were strengthened by the remnant of a Methodist Society at North Rochester which united with them in the new organization. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Philip Crandon, who was born in the adjoining town of Rochester; he remained two years, the limit at that time, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Allen, whose successor was Rev. Mr. Smith. Then came Rev. S. Y. Wallace, which brings the church down to 1862. Their meeting-house up to this date was a little chapel built for the purpose, and which is now the society's parsonage.

The people soon desired a larger and more attractive place of worship, and in 1862 the enterprise of building a new house commenced, the members of the Christian denomination who were worshiping with them aiding in the work. The leading gentlemen in this enterprise of church building were Elder Samuel Wilde, whose children were members of the church, and Mr. David R. Pierce, a prominent Methodist and former resident of New Bedford. The edifice was erected during the year. The following paper, soliciting a building fund, was circulated :

" We, the subscribers, agree to pay the sum set against our names for the purpose of assisting the Methodist Church at Long Plain to build a house of worship and a parsonage, said house to be settled upon trustees appointed by the Methodist Episcopal Church in that place, with the understanding that the brethren of the Christian connection residing in the vicinity shall have equal privileges of seats, worship, and ordinances with the Methodist brethren, and all peaceably disposed people are invited to come in and worship in the house, and the seats to he without charge or expense."

This paper bears date May, 1862, and Elder Wilde, who made great efforts in procuring subscriptions, gave the following list of collections : From Boston, $1067; Providence, $212; Taunton, $99; New Bedford, $275.67; Fall River, $66; Long Plain, $393.20; Pawtucket, $24.50, - making a total of $2137.37.

Mr. Wallace was followed by the following-named pastors : Moses Chase, George H. Winchester, Samuel J. Carroll, S. T. Patterson, C. S. Sanford, Francis A. Loomis, George H. Butler, E. W. Goodier, John Thomson, R. J. Mooney, and A. C. Jones, the present pastor.

There are two other public places of worship in town, - the church at Perry Hill and Whelden Chapel, in the neighborhood near where Capt. Joseph Whelden's mill stood. The former was built in 1844 by representatives of the Christian denomination. It has not been a success. The latter was built in 1854 as a place of worship for members of the Second Advent denomination.

Since the division of Fairhaven the town has been redistricted, three fine school-houses have been built, and the balance of them repaired to be as good as new. There was formerly a private school at Long- Plain, in the old Methodist chapel, the next house south being used as a boarding-house connected with it. Another similar enterprise was conducted for some time by Obediah Davis, of Acushnet, on the Fairhaven road, opposite the Laura Keene place, which at that time was the home of William Bradford, Bristol County's brilliant artist. This was a boarding-school for young ladies. The building was two stories, forty by sixty feet square. It did not prove a success. The place is now in the possession of and occupied by Capt. Franklyn Howland as a private residence.

The town-meetings of original New Bedford were held in Acushnet, the old town-house standing just east of Parting Ways, near the site of the present school-house. The building was sold to private parties and moved to the city. After this they were held in the old Presbyterian meeting-house. Fairhaven also held its meeting there till it was torn down, when a house was built - the one on Fairhaven road - a couple of miles below. The old Bedford town-meeting days were gala occasions. They were general holidays, and everybody came. The pastimes outside the house were usually foot and bat ball, shooting matches, and with many a filling up with New England rum. Plenty of the latter could be easily obtained at the half-dozen places within a mile where it was sold. In those days of public travel by coaches the routes over which they traveled were lined with places of entertainment for man and beast, - the " tavern." The route from New Bedford to Boston passed through the village and up the Long Plain road. On this line, within the town of Acushnet, there were five taverns, and liquor sold at them all. Commencing at the bridge, in the village, the third house east, now owned by John R. Davis, was run by Capt. Seth Pope ; the second, east of that, now owned by Cyrus E. Clark, postmaster, was kept by Worth Pope; two miles farther on, the same side of the road, the next house, north of the end of the Whites' Factory road, was one kept by Jabez Taber, now owned by Capt. Eldridge ; a mile above, on the west side of the road, at Mason Taber's corner, was Salisbury Blackmer's ; and a quarter of a mile beyond, where Willis Brownell now lives, was Isaac Vincent's. Now it is not publicly known that any liquor is sold in the town. At the town-meeting of 1881 the vote on licensing the sale of liquors stood four " Yes" to fifty-four " No." In 1882 none " Yes" to seventy-seven " No."

The only post-office in town for many years was at Jabez Taber's tavern, his brother, Squire James, being the postmaster. In 1828 one was established at Long Plain, being kept in Thatcher's store, and afterwards in the store of Mr. Wilde, now occupied by Richard Davis, who has been postmaster nearly thirty years, and is at the present time. Another office was provided for in Acushnet village, being kept in the first house, second building, on the north side of the street west of the bridge. Gustavus Gilbert, who was studying law with Judge Spooner, was the recognized postmaster for a couple of years, but the acting officer was Cyrus E. Clark, Esq., in whose store it was kept, and who in 1830 became postmaster, and has occupied the position till the present time. In 1842 it was moved into the building which was the " Worth" tavern. This was subsequently burned, and Mr. Clark built on the same spot.

The village of Acushnet took the lead of Bedford village for many years. Ships were built on the west side of the river, and it was a stirring place. Here was the first, last, and only whipping-post in the old town. It stood on the west side of the river, just a few yards below the bridge, in a spot afterwards occupied by a blacksmith-shop, which was burned in 1882. The last act of official whipping was on the back of a notorious character named John Black, about 1780. In the village lived the first judge of the Police Court in New Bedford, Hon. Nathaniel Spooner, and Capt. John Hawes, who was collector of customs during many of the first years of the present century. Elsewhere in. the town were the homes of the original members of the families of Hathaway, Hawes, Jenny, Kempton, Nye, Pope, Taber, Tobey, Spooner, and Swift, many of whom were prominent in the early history of old Dartmouth, and others have occupied positions of trust and responsibility at home and abroad.

For some time previous to 1875 the people residing along the western border of the town felt that it would be more for their interest, especially in regard to schools, if a narrow portion of Acushnet along that boundary was annexed to New Bedford. Both towns agreeing in the matter there was passed by the General Court, April 9, 1875, -

"Sec. 1. All that part of the town of Acushnet, with all the inhabitants and estates therein, lying westerly of the following line, to wit: Beginning at the stone post numbered twenty-nine at Davis' Corner, so called; thence running north three degrees west to a stone post five rods easterly of the house of Benjamin Peckham, and from thence northerly in a straight line to the stone post that marks the boundary line between New Bedford, Freetown, and Acushnet, is hereby set off from the town of Acushnet, and annexed to the city of New Bedford, and shall constitute a part of the First Ward of the city of New Bedford until a new division of wards is made in said city."

Acushnet has a flourishing Union Sunday-school Association, organized in 1882. The officers are Franklyn Howland, president; Dennis Mason, secretary ; T. J. Robinson, treasurer.

Biographical Sketches Hon. Nathaniel S. Si'Ooner

The first American ancestor of the now somewhat numerous Spooner family was named William. Of the place of his nativity or the precise date of his birth nothing definite can be learned. The Spooner name in England is an ancient and honorable one, and it is highly j^robable that from this family was descended this William Spooner. The first that is positively known of him, however, is the assignment of articles (found in Plymouth Colony records) " indenturing" him to one John Coombs. This bears date 1637, and from the tenor of the document it is to be inferred that he had then reached his majority. He married Elizabeth Partridge, who died April 28, 1648. He then married Hannah Pratt, March 18, 1652. About 1660 he moved to the new settlement at Acushnet, where the remainder of his life was spent. He died 1684. It appears he was a man of prominence in the new colony, and held office both there and in Plymouth when resident in the respective towns. His son Samuel was born 1655, married Experience Wing, by whom he had eleven children. By occupation he was a weaver and agriculturist. He died 1739. His son Seth was born Jan. 31, 1695. He married, July 16, 1719, Rose Clark, of Sandwich, by whom he had three children, - Walter, Elizabeth, and Rebecca. His second wife was Abigail Hathaway. He learned the weaver's trade, but was chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a very enterprising man, and was frequently chosen to town offices. He died March 28, 1787. His son Walter was born in 1720. He was thrice married, first to Alathea Sprague. To this union there were six children. Second, to Mrs. Mary Peck (Hammond), no issue. Third, Mrs. Margaret Davis (Taber), no issue.

Walter Spooner was an ardent and distinguished patriot during the war of the Revolution, and was in public life from 1759 till his death. He was nine years a representative to the General Court, and was a member of the Council of the Province seventeen years. He was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of Massachusetts, 1779, and in 1781 was appointed by Governor Hancock chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for his native county. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts State Convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States, and was Presidential elector for George Washington both terms. A full list of the various public trusts to which he was chosen would transcend the limits of this sketch, suffice it to say, in the language of one familiar with his record, "No man of old Dartmouth ever held more prominently the confidence of the people, or by his official and private life more thoroughly justified that confidence." He died Oct. 26, 1803. His son Seth was born 1752; married Patience Pierce, by whom he had four children, - Noah, Paul, Nathaniel S., and Dolly. His early life was spent as a farmer in Acushnet. Later in life he removed to Fairhaven and engaged in trade. He died 1815.

Nathaniel Sprague Spooner was born May 6, 1790. After graduating at Brown University he became, in company with Charles J. Holmes and Judge Nymph as Marston, a law student, under the tutelage of Abraham Holmes, of Rochester. After qualifying himself for the law, his first practice was in his native town of Fairhaven (now Acushnet), but his practice soon extended to the courts of New Bedford. About 1817 he removed to New Bedford, but resided there only about a year, when he returned to Acushnet and settled upon the spot where he spent the remainder of his life. He was thrice married, first to Sophia Howard, daughter of Jonathan and Martha (Willis) Howard, of West Bridgewater, Nov. 25, 1812. They had two children, - Martha Howard and Mary Sprague, the latter of whom died at the age of twentyone. His second wife was Lois A. Tompkins, daughter of Rev. Isaac and Mary Tompkins, of Haverhill, Mass. His third wife was Hannah Crocker, daughter of Alvin and Phoebe Crocker, of Barnstable.

Judge Spooner was an able and prominent lawyer, but more particularly noted as a counselor than as an advocate, on account of his judgment being more than ordinarily good. He shrank from all notoriety, and avoided so far as possible all official position, accepting only such public trusts as he deemed imperatively his duty to assume as a citizen of the community. He was, in fact, one of the most unassuming of men. Yet, notwithstanding his native modesty, he never shrank from what he considered his duty. He was justice of the peace nearly all his life after his majority, and held at various times the different town offices. He was police judge in New Bedford many years, and was a member of the State Legislature. He was a man of strong integrity, and noted for his frankness and candor; a man of active temperament, earnest, impulsive, sometimes impetuous, but always sincere. As a business man he was successful, and as a member of society he was respected and beloved. He was a man of marked generosity and liberality of character. One of his life-long associates remarks of him that "his charity was spontaneous and boundless, and he was never known to refuse a worthy or needy appeal." He bore in his veins some of the best blood of New England; on the maternal side he was a descendant in the seventh generation from John Alden and Priscilla Muliins, and numbers among his ancestors such families as the Carpenters, Southworths, Bassetts, and Arnolds. He was a member of the Congregational Society, and in politics a Federalist and Whig. He died Jan. 20, 1860.

R. N. Swift

R. N. SWIFT. For centuries the Swift family has been a prominent one in England. The celebrated Dean Swift was one of the most noted of the name. William Swift came from Bocking, County Suffolk, England, to Watertown, Mass., prior to 1034. He removed to Sandwich about 1637, and died there not far from 1640. "The Swifts descended from him are like the stars for multitude." His son William2 was born in England, and came with his father to America. We can tell but little of him. His will, dated loth December, 1705, was probated Jan. 29, 1706. Baylies gives him as representative in 1673, '74, '77, '78. He was a man of consequence and substance, and had numerous children. His son William3 had several children, and died about five years before his father. His will was dated 17th June, 1700. William4, his son, removed to Falmouth, where he was an honored citizen, influential in community. Among his children was William5, who was a tailor in his younger days, but afterwards a farmer in his native town of Falmouth. Like his ancestors, he was an influential member of society, law-abiding, prosperous, esteemed and respected for his thrift and good qualities. He had several sons, all men of force and character; broad and liberal in all views, they were yet positive in their nature, pushing and successful in business, and public-spirited in every enterprise tending to advance their town. William5 was a Whig in politics and a Freemason. He lived to a great age. Among his children were Elijah, Thomas, John, Reuben E., William6, and Ezekiel. The " History of 1 Cape Cod" has the following concerning Elijah :

"Elijah Swift, son of William and grandson of William, was representative twelve years, justice of the peace from 1831, quorum units from 1840, of Gov- j ernor's council two years, and a gentleman of much sagacity and enterprise. By mechanical profession a carpenter, he contracted for and built many houses prior to 1820 in Beaufort, S. C, and until 1818 had a store in that place. His contracts with the United States government (for live-oak ship-timber furnished to the government navy yards), faithfully performed, laid the foundation of a large fortune, which he employed with laudable regard to the best interests of his town. He took the first contract in 1816. This was to furnish an entire frame, gotten out to the moulds for a seventy-four gun ship of the line. This timber was procured from the sea islands of South Carolina. He followed ship-building twenty year's, and was the first to establish this enterprise and whaling at Wood's Holl."

Not less identified with live-oak business, though of not quite so early a date, and no less conspicuous as a man of enterprise and public spirit, was his brother, Reuben E. He was born in Falmouth, but came early in life to Fairhaven (Acushnet), where he was a cabinet-maker until 1820, when he removed to New Bedford and established a furniture warehouse and manufactory. He became connected with Elijah in the live-oak trade soon after its establishment, and followed it successfully for years, spending much of his time in South Carolina, Florida, and other liveoak sections. He built a cabinet-shop on Union Street in New Bedford in 1821, but relinquished it to the care of his brother William. He was a man of, hardy and vigorous constitution and of social nature, with ardent friendships. During the war of 1812 he was captain of a light infantry company in the United States service, and for some time was stationed with his company on Clarke's Point to watch the British vessels cruising in Buzzard's Bay and prevent their landing. He married (1) Jane, daughter of Obed Nye, of Fairhaven, March 24, 1803. Their children were Obed N. (deceased), Franklin K. (deceased), Betsey P. (deceased), Rhodotyhu* N., William C. N., and Reuben E. (deceased). Mrs. Swift died Nov. 9, 1839. Mr. Swift married (2) Lucy L. Robinson, of Falmouth, May 5, 1841, and soon removed to Falmouth, where he met an untimely death Dec. 6, 1843, by a fall from a hay-mow. His widow is still living in Falmouth.

Rhodolphus N. Swift was born at Acushnet, Nov. 29, 1810, and passed two years of his boyhood in the South with his father. He embraced a sailor's life when seventeen, embarking on a whaler ("Canton"). In this he passed sixteen years, eight of these as master of the " Lancaster," in which he made two successful voyages to the North Pacific and Japan coast in pursuit of sperm whales. After relinquishing his seafaring he engaged with his brothers in the liveoak trade, following in the same course as his father. Their work was chiefly done in Florida, where they bought large tracts of live-oak land, from which they cut the timber for the government. The work being honestly and promptly done, they were generally successful in securing the contracts from the government; but even when lower bidders secured them the government had very frequently to annul the contracts and procure the timber from the Swifts. This contract business was kept up at intervals until 1875, with a few years' intermission during the war. The firm was first C. N. Swift & Co., afterwards Swift Brothers. In company with his brother William, Mr. Swift was for many years interested in whaling. Positive in his nature, he is always outspoken and fearless in advocacy of whatever he deems right, but at the same time is unostentatious, and he has steadily refused public place and position. His financial success has enabled him to devote much of his time to travel. His residence ar Acushnet is pleasant and its surroundings attractive. His children have been liberally educated, and reflect credit upon their name and the care bestowed upon them. He married, June 18, 1838, Sylvia H., daughter of Gideon and Sylvia (Hathaway) Nye, of Acushnet. Their children were Rhodolphus (died in infancy), Rupert G. N., Clement N., Annie D., Clara G. (deceased), and Edward T.

Mr. Swift is recognized as one of the most prominent citizens of his town. He lias a large circle of friends. We could write much of him, but we forbear, for such is his modesty that we might inflict a wound when we mean simply to do justice.

Clement N. had great natural talent as an artist. He has passed fourteen years in Paris and Brittany, Frame, as an art student. He is still devoted to art, and his works are highly spoken of. Both he and his sister reside with their parents at Acushnet.

Eben Leonard

Eben Leonard, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Phillips) Leonard, was born at Taunton, Mass., April 10, 1814. His father was born at Raynham, and removed to Taunton at sixteen ; was by occupation a farmer. He married Mary Phillips, by whom he had twelve children, of which Eben was the eldest. He died Dec. 27, 1847, and Mrs. Leonard May 8, 1874.

When eighteen Eben left Taunton for New Bedford, and learned boat-building with William E. Carver. He then engaged with Jethro Coffin for twenty-eight months, and then with Daniel Wadsworth as a journeyman, and labored faithfully and honestly for thirteen years. After this he removed to Acushnet, where he now resides, and in connection with his two sons is engaged quite largely in whale-boat building, which they make a specialty in manufacturing. He married, Nov. 29, 1835, Mary J., daughter of James and Mary P. Henley, born in Barnstable, Oct. 26, 1817, where the family has been a valued one for several generations. They have had six children, - Thomas W. (born July 3, 1839, enlisted in Company D, Fortyseventh Massachusetts Infantry Volunteers, and died July 14, 1863, in service at New Orleans, La.), Daniel (died in infancy), Eben F. (born July 25, 1845, married Adeline D., daughter of James and Phebe Gracie. They have one child, Ida F.), Charles F. (born April 19, 1848, married, first, Calista M. Pierce, who died Sept. 30, 1879; second, Susan Haswell,May 19,1881), Adelaide G. (born Nov. 4, 1850, married, first, Benjamin T. Peckham, of Fairhaven. They had one child, Fannie H. Second, married William F. Tirrill, Aug. L871. She died Sept, 25, 1880), Mary E. (born Oct. 22, is.-,.;. She died Aug. 27, 1876).

Mr. Leonard has ever been esteemed one of the best citizens of Acushnet, has many warm friends, and none can say aught against his integrity, honesty, or sterling worth. He has been member of the prudential school committee, and for the last lour years a selectman of his town, overseer of the poor, and assessor. He has ever been a consistent Democrat. Mrs. Leonard is a member and Mr. Leonard a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although Mr. Leonard is a believer in universal salvation.

Cyrus E. Clark

Cyrus E. Clark was born in Rochester, Plymouth Co., Mass., Nov. 7, 1796. He was the son of Nathan Clark, a farmer, who was a native of Rochester, and a son of Willard Clark, of the same town. Cyrus received a common-school education, and in his twentysixth year,

Source changes here: from History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, by Hurd, Duane Hamilton, [from Old Catalog] Ed, published 1883; 10,614 words in this source stream.

Acushnet Town

history of this grand old municipality than by quoting the language of one of her most illustrious and honored citizens, the Hon. William W. Crapo :

" Beautiful, indeed, for situation is this city of New Bedford. Few places are there on this continent, or elsewhere, which so well unite the institutions, benefits, and advantages of the city with the freshness and simplicity and comfort of rural life. Lying between green pastures on the one hand and the still waters of the river on the other, fronting upon this bay, which is as charming as the Bay of Naples, and rising with the elevation of conscious pride from its shores, its physical condition and position are delightful beyond exception. We rejoice to observe and remember that those who have shaped its outward fortunes have been studious to make it attractive and healthful as the home of a cultured and enlightened people. Its well-made and well-kept avenues and streets, shaded by long lines of trees, which our fathers have planted ; its complete and cleanly drainage, which the incoming and outgoing tides make perfect and efficient ; its abundant and pure water, distributed and available for all the purposes of domestic, mechanical, and protecting use; its trained, alert, and electric fire department; its well-diffused system for gas-lighting; its schools, its churches and chapels, and bethel ; its hospital, its home for orphans, its man\' unions of hearts and hands for good works; its comfortable and pleasant homes, after the best methods of New England life, combine to make this municipality worthy of our best affections and of our constant effort for its prosperity and peace."

a highly-esteemed citizen of the town, and who lias been honored by it with many offices of trust and responsibility. In consequence of redistricting the State, Mr. White was in the Legislature but one year.

The next one was Capt. Joseph Burt, Jr. He formerly resided in New Bedford, did good service in the army, and since the war lias lived in this town, which he represented one year. Acushnet has furnished one senator to the General Court, Hon. Joshua Morse filling the office. The above were all Republicans.

Acushnet is fifty-five miles from Boston, and its only railroad facilities are the Old Colony, which passes along and about a mile west of its western boundary. The land is generally quite even, and the soil in some parts well adapted to agricultural purposes. Most of the land is liigh, dry, and admirably suited to residence. Perry Hill, though but a mile from the river, on the easterly side of the town, is nearly one hundred and fifty feet above the sea. A spot near this was selected as one of the stations of the State Trigonometrical Survey. In addition to the beautiful Acushnet River, which flows southerly through its centre, it has another attractive stream which flows out of its southeast angle and empties into the Mattapoisett River.

The Acushnet water, which supplies the city of New Bedford, is from ponds located in the north part of the town, and from which flows the Acushnet River. The reservoir of nearly three hundred acres is located in a romantic spot. The dam which is built to form this impounding reservoir and to elevate the waters of the Acushnet to forty feet above mean tide is on the Wilson farm, about seven miles from New Bedford. The drainage above this dam comprises between three and four thousand acres, and is exceedingly well adapted for the collection and storage of a large supply of pure water. The reservoir is two and a half miles long and from one-eighth to nearly one-half mile wide, giving a storage capacity of four hundred million gallons of water.

In 1875 Acushnet had a total population of 1059, most of whom are engaged in general farming, market gardening, and producing milk. The number of farms is 142, covering 8041 acres, which, together with 4600 acres of woodland, is valued at $446,750. The geological formation is feldspathic gneiss and granite. It has seven saw-mills, which turn out large quantities of long lumber, shingles, box-boards, and bark, which are exported.

Considerable business has been and is still carried on on the stream above the village. The first fullingmill in this section was on this stream. The building is still standing and has beeu used as a saw-mill by the Acushnet Saw-Mill Company, consisting of Simeon and Jonathan Hawes and N. Hervey Wilbor. Since 1869 there is turned out here annually about six hundred thousand feet of box-boards, sixty-six thousand feet of long lumber, and forty thousand shingles.

There was originally only a saw- and grist-mill here, afterwards a fulling-, dressing-, and cardingniill, at which time it was in possession of William Rotch. Subsequently for many years it was owned by Morgan & Lund, and used for the manufacture of paper.

About a mile up the stream, on a cross-road, was originally another saw-mill. Tlie property came into the hands of Phineas White, who built a cotton-mill there in 1811. Mr. White had associated with him Capt. Joseph Whelden and Ansel White. Business prospered, and Capt. Whelden withdrew and built a stone cotton-factory on the stream a mile farther north, the walls of which are now standing.

On a stream which enters the Acushnet near the Whelden Mill is situated another saw-mill, run by George P. and Edward Morse. Ansel White, brother of Phineas, withdrew from the lower factory and built a cotton-mill in connection with a saw-mill which stood on the stream to the westward of Long Plain. No cotton machinery has been run in town for many years. The Phineas White mill privilege was purchased by S. B. Haniblin, an extensive lumber merchant, who uses it exclusively for sawing.

Another item of business worth noting is that of Ebenezer Leonard, who has carried on boat-building in town since the 1st of January, 1852. He has constructed during the time nine hundred and twentyseven whale-boats for the New Bedford shipping, carrying them thence, a distance of six miles, on trucks. This gives an average of about thirty-one boats a year, and some years he has built one a week.

Many of the inhabitants of Acushnet have been engaged in the whale fishery ; among the number the following with others were master-mariners: Jacob Taber, Cornelius Howland, Pardon Taber, Jr., Godfrey Macomber, Andrew Wing, William Ashley, Mason Taber, Edward R. Ashley, Joseph Bennett, Obed. Nye, Henry Packard, David Corcoran, James R. Allen, Stephen Hathaway, Martin Boweu, Stephen Kempton, Marcus Taber, Stephen Braley, Francis Butts, Stejjhen Taber.

Quite an extensive business has been carried on iu town in the manufacture of candle- and soap-boxes. The principal ones engaged in it now are John Lombard and Emory Cushman, on the Long Plain road. The fectory of the latter occupies the site of one of the oldest landmarks in the county. It is situated about three quarters of a mile to the north of Parting Ways and an eighth of a mile eastward of the road. There was a saw- and gristmill here in the early day of the settlement of this section, and subsequently a fulling-mill. Wool was carded, cloth fulled and dressed, and buttons made here. Near the factory stood, till quite recently consumed by fire, one of the oldest houses in the county. It was exceedingly oldfashioned, the upper story projecting beyond the lower one several feet all around. A massive stone chimney was in the centre, and doors and windows were very antique. It was built by Jacob Taber, and was subsequently occupied by his son Amaziah. Thankful, daughter of Amaziah, became the wife of Gideon Wood, of Dartmouth, and the old farm came into the Wood family by will from Amaziah to Gideon's son Thomas, where it has remained till very lately. The last one of the Wood family that occupied it was Jabez, the son of Thomas ; he was the first town clerk of Acushnet. Henry T. Wood, of New Bedford, son of Thomas, has a painting by the artist William A Wall of the old house and an interesting scene near it. Amaziah Taber, who was a Friend, was on peaceful and confidential terms with the Indians, who were numerous about here then. During the King Philip some scouts had been up in the Squavvbetty country, to the eastward of the house, and had captured some of these Indians. As they were marching past the old house on their way to the camps of the white men they halted, and Amaziah had a conversation with them. This real incident is very faithfully represented in the painting.

Another old dwelling is the Tobey house, a gableroofed building on the east side of Mill road, about one quarter of a mile above the bridge in the village. It was at one time occupied by Dr. Elislia Tobey, one of the earliest physicians of the locality. He was born in 1722, probably in this house. Capt. Lemuel S. Aiken, of Fairhaven, says that when the British marauders made their excursion through the village of Acushnet in 1778, a party left the main body where the Mill road begins near the bridge, and went up as far as this old house, the first one they came to. The good wife was baking pork and beans, and, attracted by the appetizing odor, they made a raid on the oven in the cellar, and soon put its contents out of sight. Capt. Aiken goes on to say, "They then robbed the house of what they wanted and endeavored to destroy the rest. But the British pilferers, in going down the cellar, left the door wide open, and that effectually prevented their seeing another door immediately be'hind it leading to a room where their most valuable clothing was deposited, and by that means was saved. Another instance of the same occurred at Bartholomew Tuber's (just northeast of the pi-esent village of Fairhaven). They burned several houses at the Head of the River, among them one belonging to Capt. Crandon, who, to revenge himself on the British marauders, would not suffer his new house to be placed over the old cellar, nor suffer the cellar to be filled up, until his son, having the management in some measure of his father's business, accomplished it. It was at Acushnet village that Lieut. Metcalf was mortally wounded. He was from

Boston, and belonged to the Continental army. The first building they burned after leaving the Head of the River was a house a half-mile below Parting Ways, on the west side of the road, on the premises now owned by David Russell, then occupied by Col. Pope, of the Continental army. Eldad Tupper, a Tory, well acquainted in these parts, acted as their guide, and would inform them of all holding ofljce or commissions. As they proceeded south near by they came to Stephen and Thomas Hathaway's. The latler was a man of handsome property for those days and without children, but he had a ward living with him (Jonathan Kempton), wlio eventually inherited it. At the time the fleet anchored he was at the lower end of Sconticut Neck, and he left immediately for home to remove the household furniture to a place of safety.

"After packing up he took a small trunk, containing quite a valuable quantity of silver. As he stepped out of the door he was met by their .ndvance-guard, who told him they would relieve him from any further care of the trunk. After taking what things they wanted from the house, they collected beds and bedding in a chamber and set fire to them, and very luckily shut the doors. They took Mr. Kempton a prisoner, and told hira they should take him to New York. He entreated them to set him at liberty. After carrying him to the end of a lane leading to the house they consented, after taking one of the two pairs of breeches that he had on. That he had two pair they knew from having robbed him of his watch, but they informed him that they must fire at him as a deserter, which they did, whether with the intention of hitting him or not he never knew. The ball, however, hit a large cherry-tree, one of a number that lined the lane leading to his house. Mr. Kempton returned to the house in time to extinguish the fire."

This Stephen Hathaway house still stands on a rocky hill on the east side of the Fidrhaven road, a half-mile north of the Acushnet line. A quarter of a mile south of this house, on the same side of the road, and a few yards northeast of a well at present in the highway, stood a store belonging to either Obed or Micah Hathaway. This was also burned. No more damage was done by the excursionists until they reached the Fairhaven line, an eighth of a mile farther south.

Jonathan U. Butts, on the U. S. S. " Lodona ;" Waller A. Pierce, ou the U. S. S. " Fley," and on the " Congress" when she wa& sunk ; George D. Whiting, on the gunboat "Chucora;" Lemuel Dillingham, on the U. S. S. "Gemsbok," and on the " Vanderbilt-" George C. Tinkham, Augustus H. Mendall, on the "Congress;" Francis Pittsley, Jr., ou the " Hartford."

One of the oldest and most interesting landmarks hereabouts is the old burying-place on the hill just west of Acushnet village, near the Parting Ways. Some of the headstones of this old colonial cemetery, established in the reign of Queen Anne, have dates nearly back to the seventeenth century. There are nearly six hundred and fift)' tombstones with names and dates upon them, and more than one thousand unlettered ones. The latter mark the resting-places not only of some of the earliest settlers of Dartmouth, but of Plymouth Colony. The land for this burying-ground was given by John Jenne (or Jenney, as the name is now spelled). He was doubtless a son of John Jenne, who came to Plymouth in the "James" in 1623, and who was one of the Governor's assistants at Plymouth in 1637-39. Since those days the name has been very numerous in this section.

The deed of gift by which the ground was presented to the Presbyterian parish is a curiously spelled old paper. It is recorded in the North Bristol registry of deeds office, and reads as follows:

" To all Christian people to whome these Presents Shall Come, John Jenne, Sour., of the town of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol And Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Sendeth greeting.

" Kno^v ye that I the s*" John Jenue hath for & in Consideration of the want of a Convenient Burying Place but more Esptially a Place whereon to Set or Build au house or Houses for the people of God Called Presbyterians orderly to essemble and meet in for the Carrying on of the true worship of God as also because In the S*i John Jenne Veryly Believes in his heart that the Presbyterians do worsiiip God after the due Order most agreeable to the order of the primitive Christians, by these Presents Given granted Enfe<iffeds aliened \' confirmed unto the S'^ Presbyterians fur tlie end and use aforesaid one acre of Land Lying and Being in thi- town ship of Dartmouth afores'^, wheie the meeting House Built by the S'' Presbyterians now st^inds. Butted and Bounded Westerly Northei ly Easterly by the Land of S"* John Jenne and southerly ou or by tlie County Itoad, with all the Trees, Herbiage, Priveledgesand Apporleitances Liberties Profits and Benefits Belonging or in any ways appertJiining to Ihe same, to liave and to hold the above S*! acre of Land with ail and Sitiguler the Pi iveledges Ac. as before S'* unto the only prnper u.-,e benifit J: behoof of them the S*^ PresLiiterianB for evei-, and the S'' Juhn Jenne Doth by these Presents Covenant and Promise for him Self his liirs Executers and admiuistraters and assigns to and with the S^ Prispiterians that the B<i John Jenne is the true and Proper Onner of the above S** Bargained Priniisea Before and at the Ensealing vV Delivery of tlieae Presents, and hath of himself good Eight & LawTiill Authorit.v to give and Convey the same, and that it is free and clear and freely & Clearly acqiiited & Di-charged of and From all other former gifts, grants. Bargains Sales and all other acts or Incumbrance what so ever <t Ihe S"" Presliyteriaus Shall and may furever Hereafter have buhl A quielly A Peaceably posess .V injoy the above given Primises In a gviod ami I'erlect Eatale of Inheritance in Ilee Simple with out any Lust Suit, hindrance, or Mulestaliun fruni the Sd John Jenne his hires Executers adiniuistiateis or assigns or any other Person or

Persons what so ever, and will warrant & Defend the Same against the LawfuU Claims of an.v Person or Persons What so ever unto the Said Presbyterians For Ever, in witness where of the s** John Jenne hath heieunto Set his hand .\nd Seal this twenty-fifth day of March in the thirteenth year of her Magesties Keign Annoqe Domini one thousand Seven hundred and thirteen.

*' Samuel Hunt. "Jabkz Delano." " Dautmouth March the 25th a.d.. 1714, on this day the above Sd John Jenne Personally Appeared Before me one of liis Maj'ts Justices of the Peace for the County of Bristol & acknowledged the above written Instrument to be his own valletary act and deed.

When the old church stood on this lot there was no wall along its front, the land rising from the road gradually. Afterwards it was walled along its entire front. For many years previous to 18S1 the spot was sadly neglected. Headstones were thrown out of place by the frost, and some were lying upon the ground. There was a perfect tangle of underbrush and briers, shrubbery and trees, and these prophetic words on one of the tombstones - had truly come to pass. During the year 1881 a party of philanthropic gentlemen residing in Acushnet undertook the renovation of this ancient city of the silent dead. They did their work faithfully, and received the public gratitude for it. Since its renovation it presents a far difterent appearance, and it is refreshing to see this old spot in a new dress. Although about one hundred trees were left, thirtythree cords of wood were cut out from the place, which can with double significance be called "God's acre," the unsightly briers and brambles removed, and the ground all turfed over, and the headstones reerected. Mr. Humphrey Swift, whose ancestors of more than a century ago lie there, caused the enlargement of the old cemetery by generously presenting to an association formed for the purpose of caring for it several acres of land in the rear of it, to give room for more graves and for private lots. The first of tliese lots were taken by Mr. Swift, and by Capt. James R. Allen and Rodolphus Swift, who cooperated with him in bringing the place out of its wretched condition. A strip of land was purchased on the west for an avenue, which runs the whole length of the ground. On one .side of this is what W'as once the tomb of Ellis Jlendall family. It was brought from the Mendall homestead, which is some two and a half miles to the northeast of the village, and is now a public vault. On this acre was erected the first Congregational meeting-house in old Dartmouth. About the middle of the sei-enteenth century there were a number of persons at Plymouth who embraced the faith of the religious Society of Friends, manypoints of which were in conflict with the rigid re- of the Puritan government, and the arbitrary and unyielding power of the civil administration made it extremely unpleasant for them to remain in that locality, though they were closely connected with many of the family by ties of blood and by social and business relations. They being in a minority in numbers and civil influence, many of them thought it best to withdraw from the Pilgrims' Mecca and take up their abode in localities where they could worship more in accordance with their personal views and with less molestation. Many of them became the earliestsettlersof old Acushnet, shrewdly selecting the lands along the sea-coast, and we find them living on their posse.ssions along the southerly boundaries of Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Westport. These enterprising settlers probably established the first religious meeting in the southern tier of towns of the present Bristol County, and they doubtless built the first public meeting-house in the section referred to. This meeting-house stood on the site of the present Apponeganset meeting-house, beyond the Head of Apponeganset River, and on the south side of the main road leading from New Bedford to Russell's Mills. It was built in 1699. Settlers of Puritanic faith soon followed the Friends in the erection of a house of worship, which was built on the soil of the present town of Acushnet. This was w'ithout doubt the second public religious meeting-house erected in southern Bristol County. The society under whose auspices this church was built was called Presbyterians. There appears no record evidence of the date of the founding of this organization, but tradition places it as early as 1696. Neither does there appear any written evidence of the year in which the church was built, which incident occurred very soon subsequent to this date. The reason why this church was placed here rather than where New Bedford now stands is that there was but a small settlement there then, the village Head of the River being the centre of population of this vicinity ; then another reason may be assigned that the Presbyterians did not wish their place of worship to stand any nearer that of their Quaker " thorns in the flesh."