Foxborough Town

Foxborough Town

Incorporation of Town - Early History - The First Settler - Jacob Shepard - List of Early Settlers - Early Votes - The Pioneer Schools - The First Town Clerk - Church History - | Early Votes - Manufactures, ete.

FOXBOROUGH was incorporated, June 10, 1778. The title reads, '"' In the year of our Lord 1778. An Act for incorporating certain lands in the County of Suffolk, formerly belonging to the town of Dorchester, but now to the towns of Wrentham, Walpole, | Stroughton, and Stoughtonham, with the inhabitants | living thereon, into a town by the name of Foxborough."

The act recites that the lands formerly belonged to Dorchester, but such portion as was previously included within the limits of Walpole had never been a part of Dorchester.

Walpole, incorporated Dec. 10, 1724, had before | been a part of Dedham, incorporated 1636, which had heretofore been called "' Contentment.'' But by | far the largest part of this territory was once Dor- | chester.

The original Dorchester, incorporated 1630, - 'Mattapan, ' - comprised only the little region between the Neponset River, the town of Boston, and the bay; but in 1636 the General Court granted to | the Dorchester Plantation the '' Unquety Grant," containing some six thousand acres, from the south bank | of the Neponset to the top of the Blue Hills, from | which was carved Milton, incorporated in 1662; and | in the following year the court annexed to Dorchester | the '"' New Grant," so called, being all the territory, | not before granted, between Dedham and the line of | the Plymouth Colony, about which line there was a> dispute long unsettled.

The southern boundary line of Dorchester was first | marked in 1664. It was run again by the agents of Dorchester from " Angle Tree," upon the line of | Attleborough, to "" Accord Pond," on the borders of | Hingham, Abington, and Scituate, " twenty-five and | a half miles and twenty rods." This old boundary | line was confirmed to Dorchester by the General Court in 1720. Dorchester then extended from Dorchester Point (now South Boston) to within one hundred | and sixty rods of the line of Rhode Island; about thirty-five miles as "' y® road goeth."

1 The following chapter was contributed by Hon. E. P. Carpenter, being an address delivered by him at Foxborough, June 29, 1878, and is an invaluable contribution to the historic literature of the State.

The dismemberment began in 1724, when the southwest portion of the South Precinct was set off to Wrentham, formerly a part of Dedham, incorporated in 1673. The petitioners gave for cause, "that they lye thirty miles from the old meeting house, and fifteen from the southern meeting house of Puncapaug, so that they are under great disadvantages for attending the public worship there." The part thus set off town of Canton. Two years later the remainder of the '"'New Grant" was set off, and incorporated as Stoughton, so called for Governor William Stoughton, of Dorchester. When the question was before the

The first precinct or parish of Stoughton, being the northerly portion, was, in 1797, incorporated as Canton. Previously, however, 7.c.,in 1765, the northerly

When Foxborough, as such, was created, all this territory belonged to the county of Suffolk; but it was all set off to the present county of Norfolk when incorporated, March 26, 1793. John Shepard was born Feb. 25,1705, and died April 3, 1809, aged one He was born in what was then Dorchester, now Foxborough; and a most respectable antiquarian has recently once more given currency to the story that he had been (through legislative changes) a resident

As we have seen, Foxborough was carved in 1778 from Wrentham, Walpole, Stoughtonham, and Stoughton; principally from the two latter towns. It is natural, therefore, to inquire what the conduct of these two towns had been during the Revolutionary struggle.

the early part of 1774, but the County Congress was held at Doty's Tavern in Stoughton, now Canton, Aug. 16, 1774, and Joseph Warren was present, and there was no hesitation afterwards. The town was represented at the famous County Convention at the house of Daniel Vose, in Milton, Sept. 9, 1774, when Warren said, "On the fortitude, on the wisdom, and on the exertions of this important day is suspended the fate of this new world and of unborn millions." Then the " Suffolk Resolves" were unanimously adopted.

On the 19th of April, upon the " Lexington Alarm," nine companies, or four hundred and seventy men, marched from Stoughton and Stoughtonham. Among these it is easy to distinguish the Foxborough names.

July 10, 1775, Stoughton and Stoughtonham assembled together, and elected Thomas Crane as their representative to the General Court, to be holden at Watertown, July 19, 1775.

Our act of incorporation establishes the territory we have been discriminating, " with the inhabitants living thereon," "into a town by the name of Foxborough." It is said to be the only town of that designation in the world, so that there can be no mistake as to our identity. Whence the name? The name itself proves the inhabitants loyal to liberty.

Charles James Fox, born 1749, son of Lord Holland, in Parliament before he was twenty years of age, was already an eminent man when, in 1774, he opposed the Boston Port Bill and defended the conduct of the colonies. He said, in 1775, of Lord North, the prime minister of George III., "The King of Prussia, nay, even Alexander the Great, never gained more in one campaign than Lord North has lost. He has lost a whole continent." One of Fox's biographers says, " During the whole American war, Mr. Fox successively protested against every measure of hostility directed against the colonies." Of him the Foxborough soldiers, who marched in quickstep at the " Lexington Alarm," and to Bunker Hill and Dorchester Heights, had heard, and, whatever the faults of that famous British statesman, no friend of American independence need blush to bear his name.

May 22, 1776, the town of Stoughton passed this resolve: 'That if the honorable Continental Congress should, for the safety of this colony, declare us independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, we, the inhabitants, will solemnly engage, with our lives and fortunes, to support them in the measure." !

It may not be out of place, however, to add here the tradition that Seth Boyden (then eighteen years of age), Ebenezer Forest, Samuel Forest, and Oliver Pettee (father of Martin Pettee), of Foxborough, were, in the last year of the Revolutionary war, taken by a British fleet while cruising on an American privateer, and were thrown into the prison-ship at New York, whence they were released at the close of the war. Of Abijah Pratt, who was afterwards a lieutenant in his company, his descendants relate that, enlisting as an undersized lad of sixteen, he stood on tiptoe behind the other recruits in an agony lest he should fail to pass the military inspection.

But who were the inhabitants incorporated? How Whence did they come, These questions are not easily answered, because the town records contain no list. A distinguished antiquarian has furnished a list of those males of sixteen years and upwards, supposed to have resided on the Foxborough territory Jan. 1, 1777, collated by him from an original schedule, prepared at that time by Mr. Hill, one of the selectmen of Stoughtonham. It is suggested that there may not have been so many residents, but it is thought useful to preserve the list, in all one hundred and six in number :

In 1713 the proprietors of the outlying lands in Dorchester were incorporated into a distinct body from the town, and were henceforth called '" The Proprietors of the Undivided Lands." This body held its meetings until after 1770, and from it the title to much of the lands in Foxborough was derived.

Hudson two tracts of land adjoining each other, containing five hundred acres, annexed from Dorchester to Wrentham in 1824, but now in Foxborough, and known as "Shepard's Farm.'' William Hudson conveyed the tract to "Thomas Platts, of Boston, butcher," Oct. 21, 1676, in consideration of two hundred and seventy-five pounds, "the same situate, lying, and being in the wilderness, between Dedham and Seaconet, commonly called or known by the name of 'Wading River Farm.'" Under the will of Thomas Platts, probated Aug. 8, 1692, the farm passed to his son, Thomas Platts, of Boston, victualer, who, by deed dated July 11, 1704, conveyed it to " Jacob Shepard, late of Mystic (now Medford), but now of Wading River, planter." Thus Jacob Shepard' was certainly here in the wilderness in 1704, and, so far as any known record, must have been the first settler of Foxborough. If he had half the trouble in discovering his place of settlement that I have had in establishing the fact that he was the pioneer settler, he must have been endowed with a large share of perseverance and patience.

In 1718 his widow administered upon his estate, inventoried at £1339 19s. 6d., and in 1727 partition of the lands was made between the widow, Mercy, John, Thomas, Joseph, and Benjamin. His son John is the patriarch John before spoken of as born here in 1705, and possibly, nay, probably, was the first white-born child of Foxborough. The cellar is still to be seen over which that house stood.

Afterwards, Timothy Morse, of Walpole, bought of Edward and Samuel Capen three hundred acres of land, late in Dorchester, but then in Stoughton, - the southeasterly end of the forty-seventh lot in the twenty-fifth division. quent to 1726. in 1749, who became a settler. A portion of this mitted to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1642, afterwards moved to the southerly part of the town, near Providence; then returned nearly to the town of Dorchester, "as near thereunto as Dedham ;" this was in 1675, or near that time." and grandfather of the John Shepard, named on pages 54 and 55 of the " Centennial Record"? Andisn't it probable that William settled here on his return from Providence way ?

acres of what is now called East Foxborough. He had three daughters. One of them married one Dr. Winslow, from Freetown ; another married Abijah Pratt, of Foxborough (to whom we have alluded) ; and the third married Kingsbury, the great-grandfather of our present worthy citizen, Joseph A. Kingsbury. Robbins' house stood nearly opposite the present Kingsbury homestead. Of Dr. Shadrach Winslow, one of our former worthy townsmen, now nearly eighty-six years of age, writes, "He was a man of marked mind, and was probably the most scientific individual who ever resided in the town of Foxborough. After graduating at Yale College, and receiving the best medical education the country could afford, about 1778 he embarked as surgeon on board a privateer, made several trips successfully, but was at length taken prisoner and carried to England and confined in Dartmoor prison for several months, where, by exposure, he sustained injuries which greatly impaired his health, and from which he never recovered. His profound knowledge of his profession led him to despise quackery in all its forms, and to which he never descended. He became a citizen of Foxborough about the year 1784. Notwithstanding his talents and high attainments he declined all participation in governmental affairs, not accepting even a He loved retirement. Books were his companions and friends. social and cour- He was a gentleman in the

The Morses and Boydens came from Medfield ; the Capens, from Dorchester, now Stoughton; the Belchers, from Stoughtonham, now Sharon; the Everetts, from Dedham; the Carpenters, from Rehoboth.

of some two hundred and forty acres (now what-is known as the Amos and Seth Boyden estate) about 1738. Ebenezer Warren, the brother of Gen. Joseph where he was born in 1749. A son of Gen. Warren, visiting his uncle, died, and was buried in the old burying-ground; but his remains were removed, some years since, in a most unceremonious, not to say uncivilized, manner, in a raisin-box for a casket, Ebenezer Warren was a stanch patriot and true man, and always a leading citizen, but of obstinate and unyielding temper. He was its delegate to the State Convention which adopted the Federal Constitution, the magistrate of the infant town, and was for many

In 1776 the annual town-meeting of Stoughtonham was held March 11th. town offices the following became two years after citizens of Foxborough, viz.: Ebenezer Hill, Selectman ; lot of land, being y° forty-fifth lot in y° twenty-five divisions of land (so called), lying, and being in y° Township of Dorchester, and now in y* Township of common by the said proprietors, - Begun the tenth day of April, 1739." This record was kept by Seth Boyden as the " Proprietors' Clerk." This lot was partly in the present Sharon, and partly in Foxborough, and contained the iron-ore bed worked so | cast by Atherton at this forge is deposited in Memorial Hall.

long. The sixth article in the warrant, issued March 4, 1738, by Jonathan Ware, Esq., of Wrentham, is "'to determine in what manner y° Iron oar and stream in s* land shall be divided or disposed of." Preserved Capen was moderator of the first two meetings, held respectively at the house of Mrs. Mary | Billings, widow of Beriah Billings, innholder, and | reserved to the use of all the proprietors, according to their interest, each of whom might between the last Tuesday in August and October "dige oar annually, and at no other time of the year."

"The Brook or Stream" was also reserved for the use of the proprietors 'to build a mill and dam on, provided they do not raise such a head of water as to float the adjacent lands or meadows, at any other time of the year than between y° first day of October and the 20th day of April, annually." And in the same custody we find a bond of Nathan Clark, Jr., "" Bloomer" (or maker of iron blooms), and Nathaniel Clark, " Cordwinder" (cordwainer or shoemaker), for one hundred pounds, dated Dec. 20, 1760, and conditioned upon draining off '"' their forge pond, by hoysting the gates by the first day of May, so long as it is improved for a forge pond." Nathan Clark and Nathaniel Clark (the Stoughtonham committee-man of 1776) lived on nearly two hundred and seventy acres. By this record of the last meeting of the proprietors, held Sept. 12, 1757, it appeared that Daniel Bacon had ''duge and carried off, without leave, seventeen tuns

Michael Woodcock nine tuns and fourteen hundred By Boyden's account he received seventy-five tons of ore as his proportion in the years 1740 to 1755, inclusive.

It was at this forge and from this irop ore that the first cannon were cast for the war of '"'76," by one Uriah Atherton ; and the "grog cups' used on the occasion are now in the hands of one of his descendants. This honor is claimed by Bridgewater; but there a well-authenticated tradition that the " Bridgewater folks" came here to learn the trade, and A cannon-ball

Boyden was a man of intelligence, and held a full share of offices in Stoughton before the incorporation of Foxborough, as the ancient papers we have to-day would show. Among them isa warrant addressed by the Selectmen of Stoughton, April 25, 1768, to Seth Boyden, directing him "to take care of and award the wages," viz.:. ' All y° roads lying in that part of Stoughton called Robinses Corner" (7.e., Robbins), as the part of Foxborough where Boyden lived appears to have been then called. He was to give the highway tax-payer the proffer of doing their proportions, etc., in labor at " £0 2s. 4d. a day for a man, and £0 4s. 8d. a day for a man and yoke of oxen and cart." him 'to take and award all y* highways or roads in your squardren," etc. Also, "all y* other roads belonging to y° town of Foxborough in that part that of late belonged to Stoughton."

The expense of the school in " Robinses Corner"' is show by the following receipts. It was, perhaps, as burdensome to our fathers proportionally as to us; but we find no record of complaint for what are called "public burdens :"

SIX SHilliMgGS .........ceceeseeeeecerccces soccsccecs eves cesees 1 16 0 To boarding sd School Master two weeks in February and March, 1772, at five shillings and four male inhabitants, sixteen years of age and upwards, in that portion of Stoughtonham which became Foxborough. This makes no account of the inhabitants living upon the lands of Wrentham, Walpole, and Stoughton, incorporated with those of Stoughtonham.

In 1765 Stoughton, including the present Stoughton, Sharon, Canton, and all of Foxborough (except such portions as once belonged to Wrentham and Walpole), contained a population of 2295, and 567 male inhabitants, sixteen years and upwards, or almost exactly one in four of the whole. In 1777 Stoughton contained 532 males, sixteen years and upwards; Stoughtonham, 300. In 1778 Stoughton had 504 polls in valuation, Stoughtonham 209, and ized Nov. 9, 1840, when, under the stimulus of the 'Log Cabin Campaign," the town polled 252 votes; but that number was not again reached for years. In 1875 the population of Foxborough was 3168, and It has, therefore, increased about sevenfold since its incorporation in these respects. The soil of the lands set off as Foxborough, better known as '"' Foxbery" at that time, was not rich or productive, and the people who dwelt upon them were poor also, and rather looked down upon by their wealthier neighbors of Walpole, Wrentham, Sharon, and Mansfield. In 1781 the State tax of the town was less than that of any town in Suffolk County save Hull.

In 1796 its State tax was the smallest paid by any of the towns in Norfolk County; in 1810 the smallest except that of Dover; in 1820 the smallest exand in 1830 the smallest, still excepting Dover.

In 1876 there were twenty-four towns in Norfolk County ; of these, fourteen towns had a greater valuation than Foxborough, nine had a less valuation. In amount of taxable property it surpassed its neigh-

Swift Payson was the first town clerk, 1778 and 1779. He was son of the Rev. Phillips Payson, pastor of Walpole, one of the eleven candidates voted' for, in 1729, for minister of the church in Dorchester. The good parson established his son as a farmer in This Swift Payson was a humorous, Passionately fond

"T bought it, sir,' was the apparently innocent reply. 'Then sell it at the first opportunity ; let me never hear it again." Shortly the Ministerial Association met with Mr. Payson, to whom, may have done good service in Foxborough, for tradition says our people, in the midst of hardship and privation, were yet gay and _ pleasure-loving, and " often danced on sanded floors to the scraping of the was the same then as now. Joseph Hewes lived in the house afterwards occupied by Col. Henry Hobart, well remembered as one of the strongest and most reliable citizens of Foxborough. ticed medicine, and removed to Providence, R. L, where he accumulated considerable property.

Joseph Comey was the village shoemaker; Simon Pettee was a gunsmith; Stephen Pettee, a farmer ; William Pettee, a laborer and a famous singer; Benjamin Pettee lived in what is known as Daniel Carpenter's 'old house ;" Forrest, Guild, and Jedediah | " New State." | David Stratton, the Shepards, Sherman, and Clafflin |

Near the northeast corner of the town lived Eleazer Belcher, who cultivated a farm, made potash, and kept a little Before Belcher, however, Joseph Rhoades, living a mile from any other person, kept a store in his corn barn. The Morses lived near Swift Payson, on the road to Walpole, or what is and was

Another branch At the Centre were Leonard, Cook, Jeremy Hartshorn, Samyears ago called " Crack Rock." of the family lived at Robinses Corner.

It is said that the old Deacon Baker house, alias Bird house, has sheltered six generations, and always The old Ironside Patriots, Baker and Belcher, who lived there at the time of the tea-tax, declared "tea shall not be drank in this house ;" but Mrs. Belcher's taste for the cup was

Moseley was a deserter from an English man-ofwar, who hid himself in Foxborough, where, long after, his wife joined him. He bought a piece of land of Samuel Mann, in the dense woods, for which he paid four dollars. On it he built a log cabin with one room and loft reached by a ladder. Afterwards a rude shelter was put up for cow and pig. Near by A flat rock was the doorsill, upon which played successively eleven daughters, some of whom became mothers of highly respectable families. Roses long grew spontaneously where the rude home of the sailor fugitive had been.

Francis (or Francois) Daniels was a Frenchman, from Normandy ; a Protestant, deeply religious. He came to Boston as a '' stow-away," and was advertised and sold for one hundred dollars to pay his passage. He was purchased by John Hewes and brought to this town, and not only redeemed himself from servitude, but poverty, by his industry and perseverance, breaking up quite a large farm with the rudest implements ; the farm is now owned by one of his descendwas a never-failing spring.

The first school-house in the town was not more There were on one side three seats running the whole length of the building, There was an entry just large enough for the door to open and shut without injury to the children. The room was lighted by three windows, one on each of three sides, each containing twelve panes of small glass, six by eight inches. 'There never was such an article as a desk for the teacher. Private kindness furnished a small table, with a single drawer, and a comfortless chair.

and arithmetic, with something of English grammar; but the female teacher of the summer school was allowed to dispense with the latter of the " three R's." understand how to knit and sew, for the accomplish-

All the people west of Foxborough Centre sent their children to this school-house, which was always full. The children wore coarse homespun cloth, stout leather shoes, and yarn stockings, and the girls had For, as has been said before, the Foxborough people at that early

The women spun wool and flax, and wove cloth. | When the good dame had a few yards of linen, or > some spare sheets, she took them to the calico artisan, who stamped them with bright colors for dresses. Carriages were very rare in the country towns. In 1753 a tax was imposed upon them, for the purpose - In 1757 there were six carriages in Stoughton ; but it may be doubted whether either of these was owned in that part of Stoughton which was incorporated in Foxborough. Two women often rode on the back of one horse, which they caught, saddled, bridled, and mounted at the horse-block, without masculine assistof encouraging the linen manufacture.

In the act of incorporation the motive recited by the Legislature for passing it is substantially as that passed fifty-two years before by the ancestors of some of them, for being set off from Dorchester to Wrentham, - | on account of their distances from their places of publick worship in the towns to which they now belong, and have earnestly and repeatedly requested that they may be incorporated into a town, be it therefore," ete.

The controlling suggestion then was the inconvenience of the petitioners in attending ' public worship." Probably some of them lived at least ten or | twelve miles from the meeting-house, the stated ser- | vices of which the law compelled them to support, | or felt themselves at home. of creed to fill the pews. 'To transport the large family of those days over such roads as then were, twenty or twenty-five miles, to meeting and home again, was indeed a Sabbath-day's journey. an intolerable grievance.

It was It was so great a grievance in the Foxborough case that the earnest and repeated request must have been effectual long before | probably, but for a reason about to be given. It appears that as early as 1757 the royal policy was adopted thus the size of the House of Representatives was increased, - a body that was generally hostile to the king's prerogative, - and so, when absolute necessity seemed to require a new organization, it was conferred in the shape of a " district' instead of a township, without the right of representation, as in the case of Stoughtonham, in 1765, and Mansfield, in 1770. Hence, if Massachusetts had remained a province, the Governor would have been reluctant to organize Foxborough as a district, and pretty certainly would not have assented to its incorporation as a town. Its people were uninfluential, poor, and patriotic. They were such

Military Record

The Heroes of Three Wars - War of the Revolution - 1812 - War of the Rebellion - List of Soldiers, 1861-65 - Patriots of 1776 - Soldiers of 1812 - Roll of Honor, 1861-65 - Veterans of the War - Militia, 1796.

THE territory of Foxborough was made up from parts of Wrentham, Walpole, Stoughton, and Stoughtonham (now Sharon). Wrentham was incorporated in 1673 ; Walpole, in 1724 ; Stoughton, in 1726 ; Sharon, in 1765; Foxborough, on the 10th of June, 1778. It was born, therefore, amid the throes of the Revolutionary period. Lexington, Bunker Hill, the siege and evacuation of Boston, were memorable deeds

Philadelphia. The fame which Washington won by the brilliant engagements at Trenton and Princeton had been somewhat dimmed by the indecisive or disastrous engagements at the Brandywine, Germantown,

Gates and Conway intrigue to displace him from the chief command demonstrated what a strong hold he already had upon the affections and respect of his countrymen.

The finances of the United States were in a most deplorable condition. The liabilities contracted by Congress amounted to $40,000,000 ; Massachusetts alone owed $5,000,000. for the war amounted to at least $65,000,000.

Ezra Carpenter, here in Foxborough, upon the farm of Benjamin Pettee, now owned by Daniels Carpenter, was only sufficient to buy him a pair of cowhide shoes.

In that year, too, Lafayette had brought his sword, his youthful enthusiasm, and his loyal devotion to the American cause. Jan. 30, 1778, France and the United States signed two treaties, - one of friendship and commerce, the other of defensive alliance; and this alliance, embroiling England with France, eventually rescued our independence from the countless dangers that beset it. :

June 13, 1778, the British Commissioners - the Earl of Carlisle, William Eden, and Governor Johnstone - communicated to Congress proposals as a basis of peace, an extension of colonial trade: no military force to be quartered in any colony without the consent of its Assembly; an arrangement for sustaining the Continental bills of credit and their ultimate discharge ; a representation of the colonies in the Parliament of Great Britain, and of the British government In short, King George offered almost everything short of total independence ; but Congress peremptorily refused to treat unless the independence of the States was first acknowledged or the troops withdrawn. This was three days after the incorporation of our little town. Five days later, on the 18th of June, Philadelphia was evacuated by the British.

Thus, amidst the mingled hopes and fears of Americans, Foxborough began its existence asa town. The inhabitants of the territory embraced in it had already evinced their willingness to share in all patriotic perils and sufferings. When enlistments were first called for, Lieut. Timothy Morse recruited twenty-four men in the crowded bar-room of the old tavern at Wren- My grandfather, Ezra Carpenter, was at work in a ditch on the land now owned by his son, Daniels Carpenter, when the minute-men were first summoned by the alarm, upon the news of the battle of Lexington. He dropped his tools, ran for his musket and knapsack, seized a parcel of bread and meat, bade good-by to his friends, and started to join his company at Wrentham ; but, failing to find it there, he continued his march alone to Dedham, and there joining other comrades, they continued on and overtook the company at Roxbury.

ball, that came so near to him that he lost a portion of his shirt from his back and was thrown headlong to the ground, and reported by the soldier on guard with him as having been killed. of eighty-nine, and the speaker has often listened with boyish enthusiasm to his stories of Revolutionary service, protracted for three years. He was, doubtless, a soldier of Putnam's af Long Island; he certainly crossed the Delaware, under Washington, on the memorable Christmas-eve of 1776, and on Christmas morning, at eight o'clock, rushed in with his comrades upon | the surprised and sleepy Hessians, confused with the | last night's debauch. They had thrown their freshbaked bread into the '' horse-pond ;" but it was, nevertheless, rescued on the points of bayonets, and proved, after a shaving process, a savory morsel to the halfstarved Americans. 'This Foxborough soldier and his comrades, a number of whom lived and died within my remembrance, but of whose particular history I have no knowledge, wintered in 1776-77 at Morristown, in comparative comfort; but in 1777-78 the distress in the winter quarters of Washington's army its details. Dec. 10,1777, the army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge. were quartered in log huts, each containing fourteen men. For want of shoes, ali the late marches had up all night before the camp-fires. quarter were unfit for duty, because barefoot and otherwise naked. Provisions failed; more than once there was famine in the camp.

Such was the service and suffering of the Foxborough soldiers in the Revolution. As there were, of course, no records until after 1778, we are unable to find the responses the town would, if in existence, have made to the stirring appeals of James Otis, John Adams, Hancock, and Samuel Adams, addressed to the little rural municipalities ; but we find, dated June 12, 1778, "Article 5th: to see if the tion of 1860, and its immediate consequences, culmitown will carry on the war by way of a rate, or act or do anything thereon they shall see fit ;" feeling carrying on the war. tionary soldier, | may be pardoned for expressing the gratification I have experienced in serving as your representative upon the commission which has deposited the noble statue of Samuel Adams in the capitol at Washington as the gift of Massachusetts to the nation and her tribute of admiration to him, often called " the pilot of the Revolution."

The Revolutionary patriots of Foxborough bore the names of Boyden, Billings, Carpenter, Forrest, Hartshorn, Howe, Morse, Everett, Pettee, ete.; in all twenty-four in number.

The same names reappear, in the war of 1812, among the thirty-eight men furnished by the town to the light infantry company which reported at Roxbury, serving fifty-six days in and about the forts of Boston Harbor. Daniel Everett was its captain; Asa Plympton, lieutenant ; Amos Morse, ensign. Of the soldiers of 1812, four are still living, - Alexander Boyden, Francis Carpenter, Daniels Carpenter, and Lyman Comey, - whose united ages are quite three hundred and thirty years.

July 2, 1812, the town voted "to make up to the soldiers detached from the militia in Foxborough and inhabitants of Foxborough, with the government pay, twelve dollars per month for May, June, July, August, September, and October, and ten dollars for November, December, January, February, March, and April, if they are called into active service."

Aug. 22, 1814, it was voted "to make up to the soldiers of the last detachment, and all who may be detached in Foxborough previous to March next, eighteen dollars a month each, and each five dollars bounty." At a meeting Nov. 7, 1814, the part of the vote about bounty was reconsidered.

It may be worth while to note that in 1815, at the close of the war, one hundred and fifty-two votes were thrown for Governor; and, in the absence of statistics showing the number of inhabitants of the nated in the large commercial cities in the winter of 1860 and 1861, had a palsying effect upon the patriotism of the country; but, with the outrage to the flag, American manhood flamed forth. Fort Sumter fell on Saturday, April 13, 1861. On Monday, April 15th, Col. A. B. Packard, of Quincy, commanding the Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Militia, received orders to appear at Boston on the following morning with his command. The adjutant, Henry Walker, of

(Company G, of Taunton) in a driving storm of wind and rain, beating up Capt. Gordon at 3 a.m. of the 16th of April. Company F, of the Fourth, was known as the "Warren Light Guard of Foxborough." It was organized under the act of Jan. 22, in the State, granted upon petition, all similar having disbanded. In 1854 it was changed from an artillery In 1857 its location was changed from Norton to Foxborough.

was, of course, in memory of the martyr of Bunker Hill, whose brother, Judge Warren, resided in Foxborough in the house that his lineal descendant, our

The Fourth Regiment was prepared to march on the 16th, but no transportation could be furnished until the 17th, and it was quartered for the night in Faneuil Hall. As it was, it left the State for the seat of war | before any other regiment. On Wednesday, the 17th, it left Faneuil Hall at three p.m., and marched to the _ State-House, where Governor Andrew made one of his most inspiring addresses. He said, "' It gives me unspeakable pleasure to witness this array from the good old Colony. You have come from the shores of the sounding sea, where lie the ashes of Pilgrims, and you are bound on a high and noble pilgrimage for liberty, for the Union and Constitution of your country. Soldiers of the old Bay State, sons of sires who report at the armory, at the Cocasset House, as early as possible on the following morning. The members of the company were scattered well over the town and out of town, but a large number reported equipped for duty at about ten o'clock.

field, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this noble response to the call of your State and your country. You cannot wait for words. I bid you God-speed and an affectionate farewell." Col. Packard modestly responded: '" Your Excellency, I am scarcely able to speak. All I can say is, we will endeavor to do our duty." Governor Andrew replied, "7 know you will endeavor, and I know, colonel, you will succeed."" The Fourth embarked at Fall River on the steamer '' State of Maine" the same night, and arrived in New York in the afternoon of the next day.

and of whom it could be truly said, if it could be said of any man, ''an honest man is the noblest work of God,' - inspired with patriotic zeal and fervor, made at the State-House. throughout the entire regiment. Walker beat the drum for recruits. "JT want to see my wife." "No time for leavetaking," said the adjutant; "fall in." "Do you want an Irishman?" said one. ' Do you believe in the old flag? If you do, fall in." marched in his shirt-sleeves.

The company were followed by a large num- | ber of friends and citizens to Hast Foxborough, where | they took the train for Boston, ané promptly reported | did not consider her safe to carry troops, so that Col. Packard telegraphed to Governor Andrew for instructions. He replied, "' If the captain says he can carry your men, go on; Massachusetts must be first on the After a short delay, reballasting the

Governor Andrew's order, issued from the office of the | Adjutant-General, April 17, 1861, directed "Col. Packard, of the Fourth Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, to proceed to Fortress Monroe, by steamer to be provided, to enter into the service of the United States as United States Militia, and, on being joined by Col. Wardrop's regiment (Third Massachusetts Volunteer

The steamer left New York at nightfall, and was about thirty hours on the way. Capt. Shepard was Only two com- The rest were sent below under a guard; the fear being that, it, "we spent," says an officer of the Fourth, "an hour of anxiety lying off and on, doubtful who held the fort. But at length the glorious banner of the stars and stripes was unfurled, and she landed her mounting guns, and storing provisions." The uniforms became so threadbare that the men, many of | them, were obliged to wear their overcoats on parade, | to cover their new raglan style of pants. As the regiment was the first to leave Massachusetts, it was also the first to reach the actual seat of war, and the first mustered in the service of the United States. It was mustered into the service April 22d. The Third Fourth saved Fortress

It was at this time, under a commission from the town, that the writer visited Fortress Monroe as bearer of kind messages and remembrances from when you don't know who is around; but I confess I felt rather more secure and at ease within the walls But this is a digression, for which I beg pardon, and will return to our record.

Four companies as a battalion, united with some Vermont and New York troops, under Maj. Winthrop, participated in the unfortunate affair at Big Bethel, where plenty of pluck was exhibited, but little or no capacity. Company F was not ordered, but volunteered to go into the fight, and did go, in- It is said that history repeats itself, but history would make a great blunder to repeat the battle of Great Bethel, if we can believe what is recorded of its generalship accompanied the general and staff to Newport News. The stern realities of war were still in-the future, and when we landed, instead of finding the troops fortifying, or watching the enemy, who was said to be near at hand, behind intrenchments, the scene was more like an old-fashioned muster-field, - a regular holiday show. first one I saw, had embarked in the butchering business, and was skinning a pig, shot on " Uncle Sam's farm.' Another had gone into the horse and mule business, and was ready to swap or trade on most favorable terms, as he had purchased cheap of a contraband, in the absence of his master. Another had made an investment in the wood and /ive-feather business, and had borrowed a hand-cart to bring his goods

July 17th they left Hampton for Fortress Monroe on their way home, having served their time of enlist- The regiment was mustered out July 22d They received high praises for their service from Col. Dimmock, the commandant of the fortress, and from Gen. Butler, who said in a farewell, " You have done your duty well. You have all along been in the advance at Fortress Monroe, at Newport News, at Hampton." with, if he could only have the feathers returned in good order for the filling of a bed. I had no occasion to complain of my rations during my visit, which will always be held in pleasant remembrance for the hearty welcome received. I don't know how I should have felt if I had been 'armed and equipped as the law directs ;' fora musket is a good thing for coura three-months' regiment because of the stirring patriotism, promptness, and magnetic energy with which it was rendered at an awful crisis of our history. On its return to Foxborough, Company F, with full ranks, was warmly received; an address of welcome was made by EH. P. Carpenter. But the service of the Fourth Regiment did not end here. When, in the early summer of 1862, Gen. Banks retreated down the valley of the Shenandoah, Governor Andrew called for more troops (May 26th), the Fourth Regiment was again ordered out. Lieut.-Col. Walker, the late adjutant, read the order at Quincy on his way He drove through the coun- In forty-eight to the railroad station. try and caused alarm-bells to be rung. hours the regiment had eight hundred men in Boston. But they were not wanted, as the alarm had passed, and so they returned home.

ber of the three-months' men upon the roll-call, as many of them had enlisted in other regiments, and the company was recruited for the most part with new members.

another captain. William R. Black, of Company G, Taunton, as captain, Lieut. Moses A. Richardson resigned, and Benjamin H. Richmond, of Norton, was elected first | lieutenant, and Isaac H. Bonney, of Foxborough, | second lieutenant. Foxborough is accredited with Dec. 25, 1862, the regiment left camp for New York, and thence went to New Orleaus. expedition, when the noble old Farragut ran by in the " Richmond ;" Col. Walker was put in command at Brashear City, whence, May 28, 1863, the regiment was again ordered to Port Hudson.

Four officers of the Fourth were in the advance, of whom one was killed and two wounded. The regiment lost every fifth man. Ten Foxborough soldiers in Company F laid down their lives in patriotic devotion to their country. 'Their names are found enrolled with the " heroic dead" in Memorial Hall, and will be held in grateful remembrance when your name and mine shall be forgotten. The regiment was mustered out Aug. 22, 1863, most of the men having been in service eleven months.

Gen. Emory said, " It was one of the best regiments in my whole division. It was It was remarkable for its camp, police, and sanitary discipline.

well disciplined. I remember signalizing it before the whole division at Baton Rouge, on account of its extreme excellence in these respects." If you would learn more of the history of this regiment, call upon the living witnesses now before you,

Maj.-Gen. D. N. Couch, at Taunton. It was mustered into the service June 15, 1861, and mustered out July 5, 1864. Upon its standard will be found a long list of battles in which it was engaged. Of this regiment, on the 5th of May, 1864, the first day of the Wilderness, Col. Briggs, of the Tenth, writes, '"*Men fell like leaves in autumn: yet the regiment stood firm, never wavered, till, the ammunition being expended, it was promptly relieved by Lieut.-Col. Harlow and the Seventh Massachusetts. Would [ could sound a note to his praise, than whom none is more worthy !"

Eight companies of the Eighteenth Regiment were recruited chiefly in Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties. Col. James Barnes, of Springfield, com- It was mustered Aug. 27,1861. Foxborough had a number of representative soldiers in this regiment, who have a good record, and two of Company I are registered with the " heroic dead."

About forty men are credited to Foxborough upon the roster of the Twenty-third Regiment, commanded by Col. Kurtz. Company K was recruited by Capt. Carlos A. Hart, in this town, and was known as the

It went into camp with the regiment at Lynnfield, in command of Capt. Hart, with John Littlefield and Benjamin F. Barnard, lieutenants. The regiment left camp for Annapolis, Nov. 11, 1861, and was mustered out at Readville, July 12, 1865. It went with Gen. Burnside to Roanoke Island. It fought its first battle Feb. 8, 1862, which lasted two days; twenty-five hundred prisoners were cap- It was at Newbern, Goldsborough, and in other engagements in North Carolina; and at Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, and the other terrific battles of Grant's campaign of 1864, in Virginia. Col. John W. Raymond, the last narrative of the regiment, I cannot refrain from speaking a few words in commendation of both men and officers during the time I had the honor to command them. Their excellent conduct while in camp or gar-

_rison, their courage and bravery under fire, their vigilance and fidelity at all times displayed, entitle them to the highest praise, and have won for them the approbation of all who have been in command over them. Rest assured that the Twenty-third Regiment, as an organization, never brought discredit upon their native State; and I shall count it the highest honor of my life that I have been privileged to command it." Such words, coming from Col. Raymond, are com- mendations that every soldier of the regiment may | Elisha White were constituted a committee to purwell be proud of, and its record needs no further in- | of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, in which a number | enlisted, which fought from Roanoke Island to Petersburg. 20, 1866. its colors and said, "I welcome you home. But all have not returned. Hight officers of the line and two hundred and ten enlisted men have fallen in battle and by the casualties of war. should now transfer your colors to the great companionship in which they shall henceforth be preserved,

We had representatives in the Fifty-sixth Infantry, which left Massachusetts March 21, 1863, which emblazons heroic service upon its flag at Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, the Weldon Railroad, and the pursuit of Lee.

Massachusetts; in her First, Second, Third, and Fourth Cavalry; in the Third, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Sixteenth Massachusetts Batteries ; in the First Heavy Artillery, in the Kighteenth and Twentieth Unattached, in the First Rhode Island Artillery and Seventh Rhode Island Infantry, and we had representatives in the regular army, navy, and Veteran Reserve Corps.

It was also voted to appropriate three thousand dollars to procure rifles for the members of the rifle company, and EK. P. Carpenter was designated as agent to obtain them.

June 15th it was voted to pay aid to the families of soldiers, in accordance with Chapter 222 of the K. P. Carpenter, as chairman of the Relief Committee, made a report of his visit to Company F, at Fortress Monroe, Va.

July 22, 1862, one hundred dollars was voted as a bounty to twenty-four persons, who might volunteer under the recent call of President Lincoln, and the bounty was afterwards raised to one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

"Wuerras, The town of Foxborough is desirous of standing shoulder to shoulder with their fellow-citizens of other towns in filling up the second quota of three hundred thousand men ordered by the President of the United States to be drafted for service on or about the Ist of September next; and, whereas, the citizens believe that our old Commonwealth will fill said quota by volunteers without a draft becoming necessary ; and, enlist such numbers of men as may be required from this town by said draft; and the town pledges to them that such sums of money shall be voted to them hereafter as may be necessary to carry out this vote."

September 20th a vote was passed approving of the selectmen's offer of a bounty of one hundred and fifty It was voted also to pay one hundred and fifty dollars to each inhabitant of the town of Foxborough enlisting in Company F of the Fourth Militia Regiment for nine months' service, and to as many others as might be needed to fill the quota. There were two negative votes. The treasurer was authorized to borrow for the purpose a sum

March 26, 1864, it was voted to reimburse three thousand nine hundred dollars furnished by individuals to procure the town's quota of volunteers under the calls of Oct. 17, 1863, and Feb. 1, 1864. There was one vote in the negative.

Aug. 1, 1864, it was voted to raise a sum not ex- | ceeding one hundred and twenty-five dollars per man | to fill the quota under the call of July 18, 1864, for five hundred thousand men. March 11, 1865, it was voted to appropriate a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars to make up a deficiency in paying one | hundred and twenty-five dollars each per man to fill the quota under the call of Dec. 1, 1864, for three hundred thousand men.

Let us not, in this retrospect, forget the labors and untiring sympathy of the women of Foxborough. In the war archives of the commonwealth is a letter dated April 19, 1861, - the very day when the streets of Baltimore drank the patriotic blood of Massachu- | setts, - addressed to Governor Andrew by Miss Fran- | ces Wight (now Mrs. Coggswell), of Foxborough, signed by one hundred young ladies of this place, offering their services as nurses, or to make soldiers' garments, to prepare bandages and lint, to do Governor Andrew, replying, writes, "I accept it as one of the most earnest and sincere of the countless offers of devotion to our old commonwealth and to the cause of the country." He concludes by asking them to 'help those who are left behind, and follow those who have gone before with your benedictions, your benefac- tions, and your prayers.'' The good work inaugurated | by gentle and enthusiastic maidens was, with unabated | zeal, carried forward by all our women to the end of the great war for the Union. In this connection we | went out from our midst to teach the freedmen, for they had battles to fight, which, if it did not cost them their lives, required sacrifices that proved both their patriotism and philanthropy.

In an address of this character it were nigh impossible to mention all who were meritorious; but I | cannot forbear alluding to those most worthy and patriotic citizens, and faithful and true friends of the | soldier, - William H. Thomas, Ezra Carpenter, Rich- | ard Carpenter, Edmund Carroll, and Robert Kerr, - who have gone from among us; and, as we hallow to their memories, let us not forget their faithful comrades in civil life who did valiant service for the cause for which they laid down their lives. In summing | up "our record," I find that 55 men were furnished | in 1861 for three years; 24 for three years, and 45 | for nine months, in 1862; in 1863-64, 60 for three | years, and 23 for one year, including officers and | day of the war. Of these, there were 2 majors, 4 captains, 11 lieutenants, 13 sergeants, and 11 corporals, making 41 commissioned and non-commissioned officers, and 137 privates; 21 of this number died in battle or of disease. The amount expended by the town for bounties and enlistment expenses was $21,742.48. The amount of private subscriptions for bounties to volunteers was $7008.33; $1001.13 were spent for clothing and supplies for the soldiers, being for Company F at Fortress Monroe. Large contributions of clothing and supplies were sent through the Foxborough Relief Association and the Sanitary and Christian Commissions. Money contributions in this behalf may be estimated at $500. The material interests of Foxborough declined slightly during the war. In 1860 our population was 2879 ; in 1865 it was 2769. In 1860 our valuation was $1,287,735 ; in 1865, $1,284,524.

Never shall we forget the morning when the glorious news came that Gen. Lee's army had surrendered. It was a day of great rejoicing. The bells were rung, the glorious stars and stripes were flung to the breeze, and saluted with cheers and tears, for men and women eried for joy, and thanked God for these glad tidings, that foretold peace and the return of those that had led us to victory. A procession was formed, and marched with stirring music through the principal streets and to the town hall, which was filled. Prayer, earnest and fervent, was offered by Deacon Hewins, and some speaking was "in order;'' but there are times when there is more eloquence in silence than in the best of oratory, and this seemed to be the time and occasion.

The war over, the town, in common with almost all its sister communities, began to consider its duty towards a fitting commemoration of the valor of its deceased soldiers, who went forth from it and fell in the service of their country. March 10, 1866, it was voted to refer the article in the warrant, in reference to a monument of the deceased soldiers, to a committee consisting of five- - K. P. Carpenter, William Carpenter, Otis Cary, William H. Thomas, and George T. Ryder, - who made an extended report, March 6, 1867, which was ordered to be printed. The committee recommended the building of a Memorial Hall of the dead, whilst it would be at the same time eminently useful to the living. March 16, 1867, it was' voted that the committee be instructed to procure plans and estimates in accordance with this report; also a plan for a monument, with estimates for cost of each, and to report on the same. There is, however, stial structure that adorns our village, - the Memorial Hall. It was erected in 1868, at an expense of some thirteen thousand dollars, including town appropriations and subscriptions, or gifts made by individuals. It was dedicated on Friday, the 17th of June, with impressive ceremonies. Hon. George B. Loring was the orator of the day, and made a most appropriate and eloquent address.

Other Towns

The Memorial Tablets. - At the right of the entrance to Memorial Hall is a marble tablet, with a medallion of flint-lock musket, powder-horn, and cartridge-box in relief, inscribed as follows : town, commanded two of the nine companies that left Stoughton, April 19, 1775, upon the Lexington alarm. Uriah Atherton, Nehemiah Carpenter, Jr., and Dominic Dassance were also in the Continental Stephen Boyarmy, either as militia or volunteers.

Roll Of Honor, 1861-1865

John H. Sumner. Wm. A. Stevens. Leonard Smith. Charles D. Smith. David A. Swift. Henry C. Sumner. Payson F. Smith. Charles I'. Sumner. Hiram A. Snow. Martin Shea. Joshua Taylor. Franklin E. Taylor.

Our Honored Dead. - Names inscribed on marble tablet opposite entrance in Memorial Hall, surmounted by medallion representing arms encircled by wreath:

Veterans Of The War

The following records are taken from a book in the possession of Mr. A. J. Boyden, upon the first page of which is written, '' Militia Book for the use of the Company in Foxborough, 1790." Mr. Boyden also propotion is 11885, oficers included, and the 4th Rigaments propotion is 97, oficers included, and the foot Company in Foxborough propotion is one Subbolton, one Serjent, and Sixteen Privates, which ware deteached and Returned the 8 day of July, in ye 1794, and ware ordered to be acquipt and hold themselves in Readiness to march at a Minutes warning, if called for, and to serve three months after They arrive at the place of Rendezvous, if not sooner discharged. "Mens Names that were deteached and Returned : - deteachment of Eighty Thousand men, to be Raised and Rurnd, Armed and Equipt as the Law directs, and Hold themselves in Readyness to march at a minutes warning, if called for, and Serve the Term of three months after they arrive at the place of Rendezvous, unless sooner discharged.

"The 4th Rigament 2¢ Brigades proportion is 89, oficers included, and the foot Company in Foxborough propotion, Two Commitiond officers, one serjent, fourteen privates.

"The names of the men that ware deteacht and Returnd, Oct. 12, ye 1797, and ware holden to stand in Readiness from that time for the Space of one year, and after that untill the Eand of the next sessions of Congress, and No longer.

"N.B. - The time mentioned in the orders for the above named men to Hold themselves in Readyness is expired the 3d of March, 1799, and they are discharged by order of the Commander-in-chief. Foxborough, May 3, y® 1799.

"The President of the United States, pursuant to an Act of Congress of the 10 of April, 1812, having required of the Commander-in-chief to take Effectual Measures for having 10,000 of the Militia of Massachusetts, Detached & Duly Organized In companies, Battallions, Regiments, Brigades, and Divisions. And the Second Regiment, 24 Brigade, and 1 Div. Proportion

"Copy of A Detachment made from Capt. Metcalf Everett's Company, July 26th, 1814, viz. : "SAMUEL PECK, lee + Privates. " Harrrorp Leonarp, ) Yee

Ecclesiastical History - Congregational Church - Baptist Church - Universalist Chureh - Roman Catholic - Chapels - Civil History - Delegates to Convention - State Senators - Commission of Insolvency - Representatives - Justices of the Peace - Selectmen - Town Clerks - Town House - Memorial Hall - The Howe Monument - Change in Boundaries - Masonie - Historical Items - The Press - The Centennial Celebration - Population - Statistical.

Congregational Church. - Soon after the destruction of the first meeting-house, erected in 1763: of this society the second one was erected in 1822, and dedicated in January, 1823. It was located near the site of the old edifice, and about one hundred feet northwest of Memorial Rock. It was taken down in 1855. The present church was erected in 1854. The pastors have been as follows: Thomas Kendal, 1786-1800; Daniel Loring, 1804-6 ; Thomas Skelton, 1807-16; Thomas Williams, 1816-21; Willard Pierce, 1824-39; Daniel J. Poor, 1840-47; William Barnes, 1847-54; Kdmund Y. Garrette, 1854 - 57; Noadiah S. Dickinson, 1858-69 (died March 27, 1876); Marshall B. Angier, Jan. 29, 1879-80. The First Baptist Church was built in 1822, and cost twelve hundred dollars; Elm It was about thirty-six by forty feet, and was the first house of worship in town in which It was moved in May, 1838, was lengthened twelve feet and a vestry finished in In 1850 it was sold, and became a part of the steam-mill of V. S. Pond, which was burned Jan. 27, 1876.

The Baptist church edifice, now occupied by the society, stands on School Street. 1850, at an expense of four thousand two hundred dollars. Improvements were made in 1856 and 1860, and it was enlarged and improved to such an extent as to make it proper to rededicate the building, which was done, in the presence of a large congregation, Jan. 22, 1879.

The Universalist Church was built in 1843, and is located at the head of Bird Street, fronting the common. It originally had a spire in addition to gale. It has a finished vestry, anterooms, etc., in the basement.

Delegates To Constitutional Conventions

DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. 1779, John Everett; 1820, Seth Boyden; 1853, Henry Hobart. Hon. Ebenezer Warren was delegate to the convention, 1788, that adopted the Federal Constitution.

Town Clerks

The town house was built in 1857, at an expense of $15,496.79, which amount includes the cost of the land. The building committee were E. P. Carpenter, Otis Cary, Henry Hobart, Oliver Carpenter, and F. D. Williams. Vote to build passed March 14.1857; first town-meeting held in new hall March 29, 1858. This meeting was opened by prayer by Rev. N.S. Dickinson. In 1874 an addition was built for school purposes at expense of $26,244.31. The building is heated by steam from a boiler in the basement, and is lighted by gas. (three cells), cistern (containing thirty-three thousand gallons of water for use in case of fire), the boiler-room, coal-bins, ete. The first floor of the main structure contains the lower town hall, thirty-six by fifty-four feet, with anterooms, town officers' office (with anteroom), in which is situated the safe recently erected at ticket-office. The second floor is occupied by the town hail, fifty by seventy-five feet, with two anterooms, each twelve by twenty feet. It has a platform fifteen by twenty-six feet, and gallery seventeen by forty-five feet. The hall and gallery seat eight hun- second intermediate schools, on the second floor by Each of these schools occupies a room thirty-five by twentyfour feet, furnished with the most improved schoolfurniture, and has commodious clothes-rooms, sinkrooms, and water-closets connected. On the second fifteen feet (with water-closets), connected with the platform of the town hall. The upper floor is oceupied by the high school,' which has a room fifty feet square, with commodious clothes-rooms and waterclosets. The number of children which can be seated

The town house is situated on elevated ground, having a large common in front of and between it and South Street. house is situated a few rods northeasterly of the addition. Cocasset engine-house is similarly situated, southeasterly of the building."

1 Foxborough high school was established by vote of the town passed April 3, 1865. 2 April 6, 1857, selectmen directed to establish a legal fire

Bay State Manufacturing Company, - are the " West Branch," a large three-story building on Main Street (formerly the manufactory of Foxborough Jewelry Company), and the "South Branch" (known as

South Street, and near the town house. this place from Rehoboth. It afterwards served as an inn, and was known as the "Old Tavern." It was torn down in 1880.

morial tablets being fitted with cases containing the books of the Public Library. Over the entrance is a marble tablet inscribed, '' Soldiers' Memorial. Krected of the United States at the right and of Massachusetts at the left. At the right of the entrance is the marble tablet with names of Revolutionary soldiers, and on the left the tablet with Foxborough's roll of honor; immediately opposite, and surmounted by a large figure of the Goddess of Liberty in colored glass, is the tablet containing the names of '" Our Honored Dead." cover on." The cover referred to is a cast-iron urn, surmounted by an acorn dated 1810, and there is set in the urn a slate tablet, inscribed, "The grave is waiting for your body, and Christ is waiting for your soul ; O may this be your cheerful study to be prepared when death doth call." This slab and urn having been broken, it was replaced by the Centennial Committee, the original acorn being retained. The granite capstone is inscribed, '" Wrought by the deceased, 1810," and " Repaired by his son, Z. Howe, M.D., 1841."

Change in Boundaries. - Since the incorporation of the town the following changes in its boundarylines, etc., have been made, - viz., June 20, 1793, county of Norfolk established, thus removing Foxborough from Suffolk County. Feb. 3, 1819, boundary-line between Wrentham and Foxborough established. Feb. 7, 1831, part of Wrentham annexed to Foxborough. Jan. 30, 1833, boundary-line between Sharon and Foxborough established. March 27, 1833, and March 28, 1834, part of Foxborough an- Feb. 28, 1850, part of Sharon annexed to Foxborough.

St. Alban's Lodge, A. F. and A. M., was first instituted in Wrentham in 1818. Charter returned to Grand Lodge in 1844. Reorganized in American Hall, Foxborough, in December, 1855, by fourteen members, since which over two hundred and fifty have joined it. Since reorganization, four flourishing lodges have been set off from it.

Historical Items.' - '' Oct. 20, 1635, about sixty men, women, and children, with their property of all kinds, left Dorchester for the valley of the Connecti- been described as extremely fertile. Among these were Mr. Rossiter, Mr. Grant, Mr. Smith, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Morse, Mr. Leonard, Capt. Clapp, and others.

about twenty-five miles southwest of Dorchester, in what was afterwards known as Stoughtonham, and here they decided to remain." (From Baker's '' Historical Collection of Massachusetts." ) setts Bay Colony, by Capt. Daniel Fisher, a lawyer of Dedham. Fisher was a captain of Ancient and Heavy Artillery Company ; representative from 1658 to 1682, except 1659 and 1670; Speaker of the House of Deputies in 1680; assistant in 1683; died in Dedham, November, 1683." (From " History of Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, 1842.'')

Foxborough Local Newspapers. - The Salmagundi Journal, edited by J. K. Carpenter and published by Edson Carpenter, was issued from November, 1849, to January, 1850.

"That the one hundredth birthday of a town which has made the progress during that period that this has done should be joyously and thankfully observed, with a certain degree of pride and self-commendation, is not to be wondered at.

"One hundred years ago the residents of Foxborough were but few in number, and they were of a poorer class, even of They had of town property one small church building, without doors, and with unglazed windows, used as a place of worship and for the storage of powder.

"Their principal industry was the tilling of the soil; yeta few hoop-poles and considerable charcoal were produced and exchanged with the citizens of larger places for the few necessities of life which could not be produced {from our own soil,

" At the present time we have a population of nearly thirtytwo hundred souls; a town house that cost nearly twenty-five thousand dollars, with a school-house addition worth as much more; six other school-houses, valued at from six hundred to two thousand dollars each; a thirteen thousand dollar memorial hall, with an excellent public library of nearly three thousand volumes therein; two commodious engine-houses ; fire apparatus (with an able department to use it), which cost the incorporation of the town of Foxborough was celebrated June 29, 1878, with imposing ceremonies. Hon. Otis Cary was president of the day, and Hon. K. P. Carpenter delivered the historical oration.

"The close of the first century of the corporate existence of our beautiful town was most appropriately and successfully observed, after a long and laborious work of preparation, on Saturday and Sunday last.

is considered the amount of property it has saved to our citizens, We have an excellent and nearly selfsupporting town farm. Our church societies, four in number, have each a convenient church edifice. Our common, at the Centre, is a prettily laid out green, with fence, walks, and shade trees, second to none inthe State. We have an assessed valuation of over one and a half millions of dollars; an industry which tends to cultivate the taste of our citizens for that which is neat and tasty, that stops not its refining influences at the portals of the manufactory where they are inculcated, but they are carried into the homes and every-day life of our citizens, causing them to vie each with his neighbor in prettily arranging and keeping his grounds and buildings, thus making our town, as a whole, so neat as to give it the title of 'the Gem of Norfolk County.' - an industry which has given employment in a single year to 3291 persons, and paid for labor in this town and vicinity $399,- valued at cost at $1,493,986.40; and that we have other industries will not be doubted by those who witnessed the trade procession of Saturday. Our citizens are, on the whole, an intelligent, energetic, and generous people, well-to-do in this world's Our town is noted for its enterprise and liberality, which caused

Statistical - Population, 3000. Valuation, $1,- 500,000. Averate rate of taxation in five years but $12.45 per $1000. Public property, consisting of town house and school building ($40,000), fire apparatus and engine-houses ($10,000), memorial hall and

Boston and Providence and northern division of Oid Colony Railroads pass through the town, giving unexcelled freight facilities. Freight rates the same as from Boston. Nine passenger trains daily to Boston.

Societies - Royal Arch Chapter, Masonic Lodge, Knights of Honor, Good Templars, Order of Golden Cross, G. A. R. Post, - nearly all being flourishing and prosperous and occupying commodious halls. Foxborough Brass Band, organized 1844; Foxborough Savings-Bank, incorporated 1855.

Among the business enterprises now located in this town are the manufacture of straw hats (the largest straw-factory in the world), felt hats, sewing-machines, leather-board, packing-boxes, lumber, paper boxes, tinware, stoves, boilers, hollow-ware, stereoscopic views, slates, clothing, millinery goods, harnesses, carriages, baskets (2), toilet and common soaps (4), boots and shoes (6), brooms, music-clamps, dental goods, extracts and medicines (3), cider and glue, two iron foundries, planing- and saw-mill, steam laundry, steam school-houses, engine-houses, memorial hall, public / 3 library, excellent fire department, and other public property valued at nearly one hundred thousand dol-

(funded at four per cent.), and the rate of taxation is small and constantly decreasing ; situated but twentyfive miles from Boston, with seven trains to that city each day; freights to all points the same as from Soston,

The manufactory of the Rotary Shuttle Sewing Machine has just been established here, and other new enterprises are under way, all of which insures the

Biographical Sketches Isaac Smith, M.D.

Isaac Smith, born March 5, 1809, in Milton, Mass., was son of Lemuel and Mercy (Sumnee) Smith. Isaac Smith, grandfather of Dr. Isaac, was probably a native of Bridgewater, as that was the residence of his father, but passed most of his life in Randolph, engaged in agriculture. Lemuel, his son, was a shoe- He had six sons and one daughter, - (1) Lemuel, Jr., who died aged twenty-three years. (2) Clarissa, she married first Mr. Ham, of Lisbon, Me., and second, Mr. Horton, of Gloucester. She is now a widow, has one child living, a son, Albert Ham. (3) Isaac. (4) Edmund, he was a physician in Boston for many years, where he died, and is buried at Milton, his native place. (5) Albert is a wholesale boot and shoe dealer in New York City. (6) Luther N. married in Lisbon, Me., moved to Aroostook County, and died there of heart-disease. He was a farmer. (7) Francis A. married a Miss Bosworth, of Plympton, and resides in Stoughton; is a bookmaker. Isaac Smith had only such educational advantages as the common schools of his native village After his twelfth year he left the paternal home to battle with the world and win such fame and fortune as might fall to his lot. He had only a bright mind, a brave heart, determined will, and willing hands; he shrank from no labor, however distasteful, that would help him in his onward and upward course. He first hired out as a chore-boy and general farm laborer, living two years with one family ; then he went to Stoughton, and obtained employment His industry and perseverance soon won for him the conmaker.

fidence of his employer, and in the absence of the regular manager he acted as superintendent. Here During this time every spare hour and moment was devoted to study. When he was nineteen years of age he went to South Reading Here he continued his study for two years, working out of school hours to pay his board. In the course of these two years he was authorized to preach, and was called as pastor of His means were very limited, and he accepted the call, and at twenty-two years of age he was settled as a pastor. His parish being small, the young minister had here ample time and opportunity for the continuance of his beloved studies. He remained in charge of this pastorate for twenty-three years, making many and strong friends. In the session of 1850 he represented the town of Stoughton in the State Legislature. His predilection had always been for the study of medicine, and, after having pursued a scientific and classieal course, he commenced his study with special reference to the practice of medicine. Dr. Smith did what probably no one else has ever attempted, - he took the college catalogue, and with that as his guide he purchased the necessary text-books, and completed the entire course of study as set forth therein, and with such success that Dartmouth College granted him the degree of A.M.

His early medical education, like his other attainments, resulted mainly from private application, with occasional assistance in the society of his father-inlaw, Dr. Macomber, and subsequently a full course of study with Dr. Haines, a graduate of Castleton Medical College, Vermont. After several years' assiduous and earnest study, he passed examination and obtained the degree of M.D. from the University of Vermont. In 1854 he accepted a call to preach from Foxborough, Mass., and came to that place as pastor of the Baptist Church, where he officiated for twelve years, when his voice failed, and he gave up the ministry last seventeen years, has been his work. About the time of his entering the ministry, July 30, 1832, he married Angelina Macomber, of Marshfield. (Mrs. Smith's paternal grandmother was descended from Peregrine White. grandfather, Gad graduate of Harvard College in 1768; he was also a surgeon in the Continental army. Her great-grandfather, Gad Hitchcock, Sr., was an Armenian minister, and graduated at Harvard in 1743.

son of the counselor.) Their children were, (1) Alonzo, who died in infancy; (2) Angelina M., died aged six years; (3) Charles M., now pastor of Spring Hill Baptist Church, of Somerville, where he has been for thirteen years. from Judson University, Arkansas; has one child, W. French, a Harvard graduate, who, after finishing degree of " D.Ph." from Gottingen University. He is now at Boston, as Massachusetts State assayer. He has one child, Inez. (4) Isaac, Jr., graduated at Dartmouth, receiving degrees of A.M. and M.D. He married Annie L., daughter of Oliver Carpenter, and had one child, Bertie C., now at Brooklyn, N. Y. He was a prominent surgeon and physician of Fall River, and but a short time prior to his death (Jan. 20, 1881) received an appointment as Professor of Clinical Surgery in the Boston College of Physicians and Surgeons. .

Dr. Isaac Smith is a self-made man of the highest order. His energy and perseverance have been rewarded by both a high social position and sound financial standing. In all the relations of life he has done his work well. His strong adherence to friends, and chivalric, steadfast, and tender devotion to wife, children, and a large circle of friends, have often been marked, and caused him to be reverenced by many who will long remember his pleasant and instructive words. He has honored the positions he has held, and from the stand-point of a hale old age, can look back upon a laborious, useful, and well-spent life.

James Edson Carpenter

James Edson Carpenter, the eldest son of Kdson Carpenter and Sarah Reed (Jones) Carpenter, grandson of Peter Carpenter, and great-grandson of Nehemiah Carpenter (the first resident of Foxboroug Centre), was born in Foxborough, in a building then standing where the '" Cocasset House" now is, Jan. 30, 1829. His great-grandfather, Benjamin Jones, was a soldier in the French and Indian war.

An ambition to obtain knowledge was early fostered by his mother, who had been a school-teacher, and was of a naturally studious family. From instruction obtained from her and from the public school he became fitted for Day's Academy, Wrentham, at theage of twelve. He attended this academy two years and a Mansfield school one term, and then became a clerk in his father's store, having progressed in mathematics and Latin beyond the point The above completed his elementary instruction, yet he more than a year, he returned to his father's store, and there continued until 1855, at which time he built the American Hall building and devoted his entire attention to public business.

party, in which he was one of the first to be enrolled, and in behalf of which he was a zealous worker. introduced and advocated its principles in his native town, and exerted himself in obtaining for it numerical strength and party power. He tenaciously held to the tenets of this party, and in 1857 assisted in organizing the order of American Phoenix, which, it was hoped, would continue the work in which the " American" was engaged when the more important question of abolition of slavery caused it to suspend its labors. He joined the Republican party at its formation, and worked with it until the Greeley campaign ; he then became an " Independent," and so remained until a few years prior to his death, when he returned to the Republicans, voting for such of their nominees as were total abstinence men, and 'scratching' all who were not. As a nominee for Presidential elector on the Greeley ticket, he received the largest number of votes cast in this State for any candidate on that ticket.

continued an earnest worker therein until his last sickness. He was president of the Foxborough Good Samaritan (Reform) Club several terms, and to his exertions the club was indebted for its hall, and the town for the improvement of an unoccupied schoolhouse, now the Samaritan Hall building.

1867. ginning of his last sickness he had a large practice, and at one time had offices in the cities of Boston, New York, and Washington. where accounts were in controversy, and where sound

He was first elected upon the School Committee in 1852, and he served on that board nearly half the time during the remainder of his life. As town clerk he served from 1855 to 1861. He also served many years on the auditing and minor committees, and us moderator of town-meetings. He was in the State Senate in 1855 and 1856, serving on the Committees on Claims, on Bills in the third reading, and as Chairman on the Committee on Prisons. In 1870 he was a member of the Elouse of Representatives, serving on the Committee of Probate and Chancery. He held a commission as justice of the peace, and of ceased to act as trial justice when the prohibitory law was enacted. He was postmaster during the administration of President Lincoln, and assistant postmaster several years previous. He was one of the corporators, and for many years treasurer, of the Foxborough Savings-Bank and of the Foxborough Loan Fund and Building Association. He also represented a number of life and fire insurance companies as In 1858 he purchased a right from the line from Mansfield to Franklin, and organized the Massachusetts Central Telegraph Company to build and operate it ; the line was built as far as Foxborough, and an office opened in the American Hall building. In 1862 he was one of the most interested and persistent in obtaining a charter for the Foxborough Branch Railroad Company, and was a director and clerk of the corporation until after it had obtained additional powers and become the Mansfield and Framingham Railroad Company.

About this time he became interested in patentrights, and in addition to his other business instituted, and for several years managed, the National Inventors' He acted as director and treasurer of no less than thirteen corporations or associations having for their object the In 1870 he

He was deeply interested in Freemasonry, and was one of those who were instrumental in the building of the Masonic Hall. He was a member of St. Albans Lodge, Keystone Chapter, Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters, Lafayette Lodge of Perfection, and of Boston Commandery of Knights Tem- plar. He was a warden of St. Albans Lodge six | terms, and the Master of the lodge three years. In | 1859 he was a member of St. John's Encampment | of Knights Templar, and accompanied it on its pil- | egrimage to Richmond, Va. In 1863 he was a member of the Union League, and assisted in spreading

To those few who were intimately acquainted with him he was genial and unreserved, entertaining and instructive ; but he was naturally reserved and studious, more inclined to seek the companionship of his library of standard works than that of "society," while the loss of his property added to his retiring and reserved demeanor. fortune, but he lost all through investments in petroleum stock and advances to the Gilmore Petroleum Company, of which Governor Gilmore, of New Hampshire, was president and he the treasurer. The last few years of his life were spent in an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve his financial losses.

He had two brothers - Thomas Williams C., died 1872, aged thirty-six, and Francis Augustus C., died 1867, aged twenty-four - and two sisters - Sarah Isa- | bel C., died in 1835, aged one year, and Mary Palmer C., died in 1851, aged thirteen. brother, after graduating at Harvard College, entered his office and was reading law until removed by death.

Nov. 9, 1851, he was married to Rowena Augusta, | daughter of Jeremiah and Anna (Carroll) Boyden, | of South Walpole. daughter of Nehemiah Carpenter, who was his ances- They had four children, all of whom are now living. Robert Winthrop C., born June 4, 1853, studied Jaw with his father and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court on attaining his majority, June 4, 1874. He now practices law, is a justice of the peace, and commissioner of insolvency for Norfolk County. Charles Edson C., born Feb. 24, 1857, is a clerk in Attleborough; | Eugene Maine C., born Oct. 14, 1859, is a printer in Foxborough; Anna Isabel C., born June 6, 1868, is attending Foxborough High School.

He was confined to his house by his disease nearly a year prior to his death, and died in Foxborough, Jan. 30, 1880, aged fifty-one years, and was buried | with Masonic ceremonies, in Rock Hill Cemetery, Feb. 1, 1880.

The Hodges Family

On the enrollment list of Taunton in 1643 appears the name of William Hodges. Tradition says he was one of three brothers, William, John, and Richard, who came to America as early as 1633. John and Richard settled in Salem, and William in Taunton. William is mentioned by Governor Winthrop as commander of a ship in voyages to and from England in connection with Capt. John Gallop, whose daughter, Esther, afterwards married Henry, son of William. William died in 1654, leaving two sons, John and Henry. From John and Henry have descended the two great branches of the Hodges family in Southern Massachusetts.

County. According to his will, proven in 1717, he left eleven children, - William, John, Joseph, Henry, Benjamin, Ephraim, Mary, Esther, Charity, Elizabeth, and Abigail. His son Henry married Sarah Leonard, and died in 1735, in his seventieth year, leaving four sons and several daughters, - Josiah, Eliphalet (who came from Taunton and settled in Sharon, now Kast Foxborough, on the land where Marcus P. Hodges now lives, between 1738 and 1745), James, Henry, Anna (married George Williams), Abigail (married Mr. Harvey), Betsey (married Benjamin Wilbur), Eliphalet, born 1712, married Abigail Fillebrown, of Mansfield ; their daughter, Isabel, married John Evyerett, of Wrentham, and had children, - George, Eliphalet, Sally, Stephen, John and Abigail. son of Henry and Sarah (Leonard) Hodges, was born 1710, married Mary Cooledge, of Watertown, and died in 1798. His wife died in 1808, in her eightyseventh year. Their children were Benjamin, Lydia, Pheebe, Molly, Sarah, Betsey, and Josiah. (Henry, grandson of the first Henry, well known as Capt.

James, and Abiathar. Spencer, son of the third Henry, married Mercy, daughter of Nathan Dean, and had children, - Spencer, Elkanah, Otis, Lydia, and Mary.

| Spencer, Jr., married Esther, daughter of Swift Pay- | son, of Foxborough; Elkanah married Trulove Clark, who now lives in Foxborough, aged ninety-two years;

Otis married Virginia Clark; Lydia married Leonard White; Mary married Melzar Skinner, of Mansfield, and removed to New York. Spencer, Jr., left three children, - Spencer P., Esther C., and Henry. EIkanah left one son, Albert, and one daughter, Elvira, who married Sanford Leonard, of Foxborough. Otis left two sons, George and Henry.) Benjamin, son of Josiah and Mary C. Hodges, born in 1745 and | died in 1814, was a farmer, and cleared and prepared for cultivation a large tract of land near the | present Hodges homestead. He married, first, Hsther, | daughter of Robert and Ruth (Fisher) Allen, of Walpole. She was born in 1749 and died in 1780. Their | children were Sewall, Daniel, and Esther. He mar- | ried, second, Miriam, daughter of Josiah Pratt, of Fox- | borough, born 1755, died 1825. Their children were Rachael and Hannah (twins), Joseph, James (who died in infancy), Benjamin, and Annie. Sewall and Daniel located on the ancestral domain, where they always lived as prosperous farmers, and died within twelve days of each other. (Daniel married Nabbe Richards; Esther married Moses Richards ; Rachael married Solomon Richards; Hannah married Thomas Billings, of Canton; Joseph married Nancy Hodges, and moved to Belmont, Me.; and Annie married Amos Barden, of Walpole.)

Srwatut Honpaes, son of Benjamin and Hsther (Allen) Hodges ( William', Henry', Henry', Josiah', Benjamin®, Sewall®), was born Feb. 3, 1773. His education was obtained under the difficulties of a hundred years ago in the little old school-house at Kast Foxborough, whose broad, open fireplace, big stones for | andirons, and big logs for burning, remained Jonger in memory than the lessons acquired. He married, first, | Sally, daughter of John and Unity (Shepard) Bil- | lings, of Canton, Nov. 6, 1805. She was born Feb. 27,1778, and died May 1, 1816. They had four chil- | dren, - Sally, married James Daniels, of Foxborough ; | Mary, married Job Sherman (see his biography) ; | Alfred married Jerusha Comey, died in 1875, leaving two daughters, - Martha L. and Emma B.; and Orna, who married Allen C. Doolittle, has one daughter, Sarah B. Mr. Hodges married, second, Judith, daughter of Seth and Mary (Harkness) Sherman, of Bel- | lingham, Nov. 6,1817. She was born Sept. 17, 1784, | and died April 30, 1862. William S. (died aged two years); Abigail S., married Richard Battey, of Smithfield, R. I., died Nov. 21,1882; Ruth A., married, first, Solomon Sherman ; had three children, - LEllery C., Elbridge G., twins, and | Louis A., who died in 1878; second, married 8. C. | Shepard, of Mansfield ; Judith S., married Asa Stone, of Providence; Anne Maria, married Zelotes Buck, | of Clinton, and has three childrenn - Elma M., Abby H., and Edward H.; David S8., died aged four years. In 1834, Mr. Hodges built that part of the Boston and Providence Railroad passing through his farm. After the double track was laid, Oct. 22, 1849, while

Mr. Hodges has worthily borne the character of his ancestor, the first Henry, who was called ' Honest Henry," and, like his immediate predecessor, has been an honorable, industrious, and valuable citizen. He was kind and indulgent in his family relations, a strong friend, firm in principle, and exemplary in conduct. ments, signing the first temperance pledge in town. He was ever a friend to the poor and to the slave. He cast the first '' Free-Soil" vote in the town of Sharon, willing to be deemed radical in the consciousness of being right. He was of a reflective turn of mind, and delighted in studying the creative forces of nature, and tracing all things from cause to effect.

He was an appreciative reader, and contributed to es_ tablish and support a circulating library in Foxborough in order to obtain the reading matter he desired. He was a member of the first parish church in Sharon, was a cordial friend and supporter of the Rev. Jonathan Whittaker, and when his pastorate terminated by a schism in the church and society, Mr. Hodges following his convictions of right and duty, became a member of the Friends' Society in Mansfield. All of his children, beside the common school, attended a Friends' school in Providence. One of his daughters writes concerning him: 'He was the teacher of my lifetime. Whatever good there is in me I owe to him. He was truly a religious man, for few more than he reverenced the Bible. Many of his explanations of texts are still fresh in memory. His views were spiritually in advance of the age in which

Benjamin', Benjamin®), was born April 11, 1789. He was an agriculturist from childhood on the homestead of his father, was educated at the common schools of his native town, and during all the long years of his quiet, uneventful life seldom left his native town or his ancestral acres. He married, Nov. 8, 1811, first, Hannah, daughter of Josiah and Susan (Morse) Talbot, of Sharon. They had six children, - Benjamin F. (married Julia Dassance, and resides in Chelmsford; their children are Julia A., Mary J., Anna M., Jesse, and Francis), Emeline (married Stephen L. Boyden, of Foxborough; their children were Charles L., died in the army of the Rebellion, Hannah E., Benjamin F., of Foxborough, Amos J., resides in Philadelphia), Lucy (married Asahel Dean, of Foxborough; has two children, Marcus P. and Lucy A.), Lewis (died young), Marcus P. (who lives on the old homestead), and Catharine F. (married Nahum Dunbar, resides in Chelsea, and has three children, Mary F., Charles G., and Anna). Mrs. Hannah Hodges died Jan. 19, 1838, in her fiftieth year. Mr. Hodges married, second, Susannah Sumner, of Foxborough. She died Sept. 1, 1877, in her eightieth year, leaving no children.

ever a good citizen, of sterling honesty and uprightness, kind in his family relations, and very genial and social in his associations with all coming within his sphere. By persistent industry and steady economy he acquired a competence while health and vigor were vouchsafed him, and did not withhold the enjoyment of the fruit of his labor until old age came on. He joined the Congregational Church in Sharon, and afterwards became a member of the Congregational Church in Foxborough, the meetings of which Always temperate, he took care of his health, and was a on the lawn west of the "old house." Of this merry circle none were happier than Benjamin Hodges. The last gathering occurred the year previous to his death, which took place Dee. 9, 1882, in his ninety- | third year.

Job Sherman

first American ancestor and eighth in line, was born in Foxborough, May 15,1805. The following an- | cestral history was furnished by Mrs. Mary H. Sher- | man, of Foxborough: "The earliest records I find of | the Sherman family are the names David, Nathan, El- | nathan, and Joseph. David had sons, - Jacob, John, Nehemiah, and Elkanah. John had children, Job, John, Lucy, Charity, and Elizabeth. Job, the son of John and Ruth (Allen) Sherman, was born in | Rochester, Mass., in 1746, married Elizabeth, daughter | of Experience and Hannah (Nichols) Holmes, and | died in Foxborough in 1857, aged ninety years and |

| spring of 1781 came to the south part of Foxborough, where he bought a tract of land, for which he paid in Continental money. He built a log cabin, and, with only a dog for company, made his improvements and cultivated the land during the first season. He had no fences, his faithful dog protecting his crops from the foraging herds, then permitted to roam at will through the forests. In the autumn he moved his family of wife and six children into the log' cabin, which was their home until he built a frame house in 1784. They experienced all the trials incident to a pioneer life. In the winter of 1789 snows fell so deep that for three weeks they were cut off from all communication with the outside world, and their first visitor was a Mr. Freeman, who came on snowshoes from the house where Francis Carpenter lived in 1870. This house of Mr. Sherman's is now occupied by his grandson, Obadiah Sherman. Job Sherman was a member of the Society of Friends, and pr