Freetown Town (part 2 of 2)

The four captains gave most unmistakable evidence that their sympathies were strongly on the side of the king, as did also Lieuts. Tompkins and Ashley and Cornet John Evans. But Lieuts. Borden, Barnolz, and Morton, if not all " liberty" men at the start, soon became so, and gave their undivided efforts and influence to the cause of their distressed and bleeding country.

Ambrose Cleveland, of Freetown, when in arrest at Providence, R. L (Oct. 31, 1775), signed a written confession and recantation, in which be set forth that " he acknowledges his wrongs in signing Brigadier Ruggles' association under Col. Gilbert, and training under said Gilbert for two days, and going to Boston and working at the king's works, and likewise of my saying I could pilot the fleet as far as Bower's (now Somerset village), all which I am heartily sorry for, and for the future am determined to stand for the rights and liberties of my country."

In an intercepted letter of Col. Gilbert to Gen. Ruggles, dated April .5, 1775, he said concerning the British man-of-war that came to the assistance of the Tories, " My son took a long-boat and went to the man-of-war, and brought back a letter from Capt. Wallis to the admiral, which I sent to your care. I hear from Capt. Wallis that he fears to venture up the river with the ship, fearing there is not suflicient depth of water. A vessel of less force might answer the purpose.

" Last Monday the rebels mustered from Middleborough and Berkley, Swansea and Dighton, and made up a hundred and forty in arms, marched by my house, where were twenty-five men with king's arms well loaded. I went out before my door and told them that they were a poor set of deluded rebels. So they marched off without tearing down my house or killing me, as the day before they swore they would."

That a large proportion of the local militia in the First Company, and considerable numbers of the Second and Third Companies, as also of the cavalry company, took up arms for the king at the commencement of the war of the American Revolution seems quite conclusively proved by an address of the Freetown Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety to the Massachusetts Legislature in session at Boston, March 22, 1780, in which said committee, as also the selectmen of Freetown, concerning the votes of said town, declared that " great numbers, we have

" If the king of Great Britain should forbear hostilities and recall his troops from our land we should not have presumed thus to trouble your Honors with complaint.

" We should have rested under their insults, although we have used our utmost efforts, and spent our thousands for the defense of our beloved country.

" What have we to hope or expect if Great Britain should continue the war, and the king's troops repossess Rhode Island ? We should be between two fires.

A newspaper called the Essex Gazette, published in Salem, April 18, 1775, the day before the battles of Lexington and Concord were fought, contained the following communication :

" A letter from Tjiuiitou dated last Friday, mentions that on the Monday before parlies of Minute Men, etc., from every town in that county, with arms and ammunition, met at Freetown early that morning iu order to take Col. Gilbert, but lie had fled on board the manof-war at Newport.

" They then divided into parties and took twenty-nine Tories who had signed enlistments and received arms in the colonel's company to join the king's troops. They also took thirty-five muskets, two ca.se holtlea of powder, and a basket of bullets, all which they brought to Taunton the same afternoon, where the prisoners were sel)arately exaniined, eighteen of whom made such humble acknowledgments of their past bad conduct and solemn promises to behave better for the future they were dismissed, but the other eleven being obstinate and insulting, a i>arty were ordered to carry them to Simsbury Mines, but they were sufficiently humbled before they had got fourteen miles on their way thither, upon which they were brought back the next day, and after signing proper articles to behave better for the future, were escorted to Freetown.

" At a legal town-meeting held at ye public meeting-house house in Freetown on ye 3lst day of May, 1777. ye following Tories were voted for trial, viz.: George Brightman, William Wiuslow, Luther Winslow, Johu Winslow, Jail Hathaway, Solomon Terry, Abiel Terry, Abiel TeiTy, Jr., William Hathaway, Sihis Hathaway (2d), Silas Terry, Ebenezer Terry, Benjamin Tompkins, Ralph Paine, Job Paine, Job Paine (2d), George Chase, George Chase, Jr., Bradfonl Gilbert, Ephraim Winslow, Ammi Chase, Horah Durfee, Jonathan Dodson, Job Terry, Silas Sherman, Benjamin Cleveland, Abraham Ashley, Johu Briggs.

The lenity exercised towards the Tories by the Whigs, instead of making the former more tractable, only served to encourage them to seize upon, as they did, every opportunity that presented itself to make trouble for those who had spared them when in their power, tluis ever and always returning evil for good, and showing neither kindness, tenderness, or mercy to those from whom they owed much of all, and to whose clemency alone they owed their power to do hurt.

Even before the close of the Revolutionary war these Tories, who had been so signally defeated when and wherever they submitted their cause to the arbitration of the cartridge-box, suddenly changed their tactics, and by a united and well-directed effort, being joined as they were by the " baser sort" of all parties, completely carried their points at the ballot-box in Freetown, allowing, as they did, persons in their village to vote that they might thus swell the number of their boasted majority ; and the legislative power of the State had to be appealed to, and did exercise its authority to bring order out of such anarchy and confusion as resulted from that disorganizing and disgraceful act of the' Tories, thoroughly determined either to rule or ruin. Nor did the indignities sutfered at the hands of the Tories cease at what was generally considered the successful termination of the Revolutionary war, for the " Shay's rebellion" of 1786 found them again in the field, and this town, that in 1775 in the persrm of Col. Thomas Gilbert furnished the most prominent and troublesome Tory in the county, only eleven years later furnished the county leader of rebels in arms against the new government, and it is a noteworthy fact that when the " Shay's men" with arms appeared to stop the session of the County Court, being held at Taunton, a prominent leader was dressed in a full British uniform, and new muskets of British manufacture were plentifully supplied gratis to all who would volunteer to use the same to aid the motley crowd of anarchists there drawn up in battle array under the command of David Valentine, of Freetown.

Shay's Rebellion. - As in thewarof the American Revolution, so also in the outbreak usually known as " Shay's Rebellion, the local militia remained divided into three companies, that also continued to constitute apart of the Second Regiment. Those ofBcers residing in Freetown, who were all commissioned July 1, 1781, being as follows :

In Massachusetts, the State which had been foremost in the war for independence against Great Britain, occurred the first instance of armed and organized rebellion against the situation and conduct of public affairs consequent upon the changed character of the government and its administrators. This spirit of lawlessness was not entirely confined to Massachusetts, as in the neigliboring State of New Hampshire a reckless and desperate body of malcontents entered the legislative chamber at Exeter, overpowered and made prisoners of the General Assembly of that State ; but the citizens arose, and by energetic and well-directed efforts the dastardly movement, with its aiders and abettors, was crushed.

Not so, however, in Massachusetts, where the rebellion secured to itself a much longer lease of life. The mob spirit grew more and more rampant, Bristol, Hampshire, Middlesex, and Worcester Counties attaining to the unenviable reputation of being the chief centres of lawless violence throughout New England. Few towns in Bristol County could muster an entire company of its local militia to sustain the government, and in Freetown that in the person of David Valentine furnished the county leader of the "Shay's men." The mobocrats probably bore a still larger proportion to the whole number of the inhabitants than the Tories had done at the commencement of the war of American Revolution.

In Rehoboth, then also embracing what afterward became Seekonk and Pawtucket, the malcontents showed by their votes -a large majority at the polls, and took possession of the town's stock of powder, bullets, and munitions of war.

But in Freetown, the county headquarters of that rebellion, the town's stock, by the unyielding constancy of Benjamin Weaver, then captain of the First Company in the local militia, was saved from capture by the rebels, and used only for lawful purposes, and so plentiful was the supply that he obtained with which to kill the "Shay's men," tliat of what was not then expended his son, Maj. Joseph Weaver, filled the cartridge-boxes of the same company under his command at the beginning of those difficulties that ripened into the war of 1812, and Freetown's contribution to the force sent to Virginia at the first call in April, 1861, in the brigade commanded by Benjamin Weaver's grandson. Gen. E. W. Peirce, carried in its cartridge-boxes some of the bullets moulded in Freetown with which to que'l the rebellion of 1786. Benjamin Weaver's loyalty, courage, and good conduct .secured to him a speedy promotion to the office of lieutenant-colonel.

Ecclesiastical. - Probably the first or earliest record still preserved of an effort on the part of the inhabitants of Freetown to provide for the public worship of God was that of a legal meeting which appears upon the thirty-fifth page of the first book of the public records of said town, and in the words following:

"At a town meeting in freetown, on the tenth day of June, in the year 1699, legally warned by the Selectmen, to be at tlie house of John liathway, in freetown, in order to consider of a convenient place to set a meeting bouse where it may be most convenient to join with some of our neighbors in tanton.

"And in case they will join with us, we have voted that tlie meeting house shall be set on James Cudwortli's land, on the southward side of the brook called abut's cwarter, and at the foasd meeting James Cudworth and Josiah Winslow were chosen to treat tanton men, and to bring thayransor to us with all speed whether thay will join with us or not."

That town-raeetiiig was held in a house, then a tavern, that stood on the spot of the former residence of Benjamin Hambly, late of Freetown, deceased. The neighbors in Taunton doubtless lived in that section of said town set oii' in 1735, incorporated .as a new town, and called Berkley. The spot proposed on which to erect a meeting-house is at the foot of the hill, a little northerly of the former residence of the late Philip J. Tripp. From the fact that nothing more appears to have been done about it leads to the conclusion that the people of Taunton were unwilling to join with those of Freetown in the labor and expense of erecting a meeting-house at the spot proposed. Tradition or records furnish nothing further until the first Monday in February, 1702, when, in open town-meeting, Robert Durfee was chosen as the town's agent to obtain a man to dispense the gospel and instruct children in reading and writing; and further, that no meeting-house be built at the town's charge until such man had been procured. Two years later, William Way accepted these trusts, and was by the town engaged to serve them as a gospel minister and schoolmaster. Mr. Wa\' proposed to receive for his ministrations in the gospel whatever the inhabitants in gratuity or free will chose to confer upon him. Two years more passed, and the town found itself indicted by the grand jury on a charge of not being supplied with a minister according to law, and Lieut. Job Winslow, one of the selectmen, elected as the town's agent to answer in behalf of the town at the next session of the County Court. Lieut. Job Winslow was also chosen the town's agent to confer with Mr. Samuel Danforth, minister at Taunton, in order to have William Way, of Freetown, approbated as a minister, qualified according to law.

Failing in all these efforts, the town on the 21st day of January, 1707, voted to dismiss William Way from longer serving the town as a minister and schoolmaster. Then from tlie Court of General Sessions came a precept directing the town to provide itself with an able, learned orthodox minister, pursuant to which the town on the 21st day of March, 1707, by a vote of more than two-thirds present and voting, decided to be supplied by the Bishop of London with a minister according to the Church of England, established by the law of the English nation. Three years later the town voted to build a meeting-house thirtysix feet long, twenty-six feet wide, and eighteen feet between joints, and elected three Congregational ministers, viz., Samuel Danforth, John Sparhawk, and

Richard Billings, a committee to determine where the meeting-house should be set, which committee in writing, bearing date March 7, 1710, recommended that the proposed house should stand upon a lot of land that Samuel Lynde, of Boston, had promised to give to the town on which to erect a meeting-house and a school-house, and to be used also for the purposes of a burial-ground and training-field. The town the same year voted to raise the sum of thirty pounds with which to build the meeting-house, and voted thanks to the General Court for twenty-five pounds voted to the town, and expressed the desire that it be paid to Mr. Joseph Avery for his services as minister that year. Oct. 10, 1710, John Hathaway and twenty-tjiree others of Freetown petitioned the General Court to grant aid to Mr. Avery for his encouragement to preach still among them, and that the court would be pleased to give as much as it had done the last year. March 17, 1711, the General Court passed the following resolution :

" Resolved, That there be allowed and paidout of the public treaeui'y to Mr. Joseph Avery, after the rate of twenty pounds per annum, for each Sabbath he hath or shall preach at Freetown, from the time he was last paid to the session of the court in May ne,xt."

Mr. Joseph Avery, the second person who attempted to perform the duties of a gospel minister at Freetown, was the fourth and youngest child of Lieut. William Avery and wife, Elizalieth White. Elizabeth was the second wife of Lieut. William Avery, who had had four children by a former wife; aud Joseph Avery, born in Dedham, April 9, 1687, though his mother's fourth child, was the eighth child on his father's side. Lieut. William Avery, the parent, received a commission in the train-band at Dedham, from which his title was derived, and bearing date of Oct. 15, 1673. Lieut. Avery also held the offices of town clerk and selectman of Dedham. Mr. Joseph Avery, at the age of nineteen years, graduated at Harvard College in 1706. His brother, John Avery, aged twenty-one years, graduated at the same time and place, and was settled in the gospel ministry in the town of Truro, on Cape Cod. Soon after leaving college Joseph Avery was for a time employed to teach a school in Rehoboth. Added to the offices civil and military held by William Avery and already enumerated, he also held the position of deacon of the church, which circumstance throws more light upon the causes operating to bring about the result of his having two sons that became ministers or clergymen than all other known causes combined, the religious element in the character of the father thus largely cropping out in his sons, who, if not foreordained before the world was by the God of the Bible to be ambassadors for the cause of Christ, doubtless were by the God of nature before either of these sons were born.

Mr. Joseph Avery, Freetown's second minister, in or about the year 1720, was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Newman, of Rehoboth. She was born

Nov. 20, 1700, and consequently was about thirteen years younger than licr husband. She was a daughter of Deacon Samuel Newman, Jr., granddaughter of Samuel Newman, Sr., and wife, Bathsheba Chickering, and great-granddaughter of Rev. Samuel Newman, one of the first settlers, and the first minister of Rehoboth. Mr. Joseph Avery remained in Freetown but a short time, as on the 2Sth day of October, 1714, he was ordained pastor of the Church of Christ in Norton, and thus became the earliest settled minister in that town ; and when we are informed that the people of Norton voted upon their own responsibility to pay him a salary of fifty pounds per year, no further reasons need be assigned why he left Freetown with its proposals to pay him thirty pounds per year, and beg, if they could, a yearly appropriation of twenty pounds more from the General Court. To have remained in the field of his labor at Freetown may seem more pious, but his change to the vineyard of the Lord at Norton was decidedly more practical. At a town-meeting holden in Freetown, July 5, 1711,

" Voted that Recompense "Wadawortli sliould have after the rate of 20 pounds per year so long as he shall dispense the word of God amongst us.

Against this action of the town John Read, Jr., made a public protest, characterizing the vote as "rash and heady," in that the town had no knowledge of the man's "conversion" or "qualification," to what town or government he belonged, that the voting of twenty pounds was contrary to gospel rule, and that the town had already voted to be supplied by the Bishop of London. And this strife was finally ended by a report from Mr. Blackman that Mr. Wadsworth had refused to serve the town as minister. Recompense Wadsworth was born March 19, 1688. In 1713 he was appointed master of the North Free Grammar School, at Boston. He was a son of Thomas Wadsworth, a gunsmith, who for a time resided in Boston, and removed from thence to Newport, R. I. Aug. 8, 1712, the town voted

*'that in order for the inconragement of the preaching of the Word of God in the town, it is therefore agreed to raise 25 pounds for the use for one year's preaching."

Sept. 22, 1712, " Then voted John hathway, agent, to seek for and treat with some meet person, in order to dispense the word of God in said town, and to jirench one month in the town, and then, being liked and approved by tlie town, and the person so called also agreeing with the town, to be their minister for some time as shall be hereafter agreed on."

"The minister that John hathway, the town's agent, hath brought into town, not being liked by the inhabitants, therefore it was then Toted he not to be the town's minister."

"Voted Mr. James hail shall have three pounds of the 25 pounds formerly granted by the town for some service done by him, said hail, for some of the inhabitants of tliis town."

Mr. James Hale was probably the person whom John Hathaway brought into town, and who did not prove acceptable to a majority, but was liked by a few.

May 25, 1713, "Voted 10 pounds to bff raised for the reperation of the meeting.house, and to be added to the 30 pounds rate formerly granted by said town."

June 2, 1713, the town madg choice of "Jonathan Dodson to be minister of the gospel for this town untill there is a supply from England, according to a former vote of the town."

June 19, 1714, the meeting-house that in 1710 it was agreed to build being completed, was by the building committee delivered to the selectmen for the use of the town.

Sept. 22, 171.5, Josiah Winslow, Thomas Terry, Jonathan Dodson, and Joseph Read were chosen a committee to seat the meeting-house at the town's charge.

Enough has already been given to show that the people of the town, if not prosecuting or carrying on a "holy war," were persistently and determinately engaged in religious controversy. They had a few years before voted that a gospel preached in the town must be dispensed to the people's acceptance, and the town clerk, who may have been equally conversant with the spirit of Christianity and the rules of orthography in committing said vote to the town records, stated that the dispensation must be to the town's "e.i'ceptance" (instead of accepfciince) ; and thus the sequel seemed to prove, for bickerings, strife, contention, opposition, envyings, and taking exceptions to anything and everything proposed or done, attempted or recommended for the establishment of a preached gospel in town, became a general rule instead of an exception.

In or about the year 1715, at the request of several of the principal inhabitants, accompanied by their written promise of support, the Rev. Thomas Craighead entered upon the duties of a gospel minister in Freetown, and he, being approbated by the ministers of the neighboring towns as qualified for the duties of that position, a meeting of the inhabitants was called by a warrantfrom the selectmen, and held in the meeting-house at Freetown on Monday the 9th day of September, 1717, to see if the town in its corporate capacity would vote to employ the Rev. Thomas Craighead as the town's minister. Capt. Josiah Win.slow was elected moderator, whereupon John Read, Benjamin Chace, Jr., George Winslow, Abraham Simmons, and John Cleveland protested against further proceedings, giving as their reasons for so doing " that the town had already a choice to be supplied by the Bishop of London, as may appear on record, as also the nou-sulEciency of the warrant." But the legal voters present decided to proceed, and by a vote of twenty-eight for to three again.st, or a clear majority of twenty-five votes, made choice of Rev. Thomas Craighead to be the town's minister, and yet, after all this, Mr. Craighead, to collect his

Mr. Hercules Cushnian was a lawyer then recently ! 3ome to practice in town, and representative for several ' fears to the General Court. In 1821 he was made coljnel of a regiment, and in 1822 elected a member of the Grovernor's Council. Maj. Joseph Weaver was a son J jf Col. Benjamin Weaver and wife, Amy Brownell. He i ivas commissioned ca])tain in 1811, promoted to major in 1812, and died in December, 1814. Robert Strobridge was elected four times to the General Court, md he was postmaster at Assonet village from 1817 intil his death, July 28, 1822. Job Morton, Esq., ' ivas elected to the General Court eleven years, and j William Rounseville, Esq., elected to the same posi- 1 tion ten years in succession. A committee appointed to regulate the school districts in Freetown, on the 1st day of January, 1820, reported as follows : j

The custom of electing a general school committee annually was commenced in Freetown, April 14, 1827, that committee for ten years being made to consist of five persons, when it was reduced to three persons. For something more than twenty years the school committee have been chosen to serve three years, one of the three members being elected each year.

Water Privileges and Manufactories. - The first dam across Assonet River was )>robably that upon which Thomas Winslow's grist-mill now stands, and was constructed in or about the year 1695. The water at that point appears to have at first been utilized to carry a saw-mill, to which was subsequently added a fulling-mill, grist-mill, and machinery for carding wool. The second was that which still continues to be called the " forge dam," although no forge has been in operation there for more than half a century. This dam was erected in or near the year 1704, and was built expressly for a forge where iron ore dug in the vicinity was for nearly a century wrought into iron bars. Succeeding the forge was a grist-mill, a manufactory of cutlery, and a nail-factory, all of which have now ceased to operate, and the valuable privilege for several years has been lying idle.

The third dam was that at Assonet village, built near the year 1710, and a grist-mill located thereon, added to which is now operated a saw-mill, boxboard and shingle mill. Indian corn has here been ground probably every year for nearly or quite one hundred and seventy-five years, and boards and timbers sawed for more than a century. The box-board and shingle saws have recently been added. Still higher up the stream than the " forge dam," and a little below what is known as the " Howland sawmill," tradition saith that Philip Rounsevill put up a dam, some traces of which still remain. He probably erected and for a time operated a saw-mill thereon.

The fifth dam was probably that whereon the bleachery of Henry Winslow and Bradford G. Porter now stands. The water at that place was for many years used to carry a grist-mill and a trip-hammer, and for a few years a nail-factory.

Many years since a dam was built and a saw-mill erected thereon, the slabs sawn from the logs being used first to build and afterwards to repair a bridge that stood a little below the dam, which circumstances caused the bridge to acquire the name of the materials of which it was principally constructed and maintained, and the locality to receive the still familiar name of "Slab Bridge." No mill is operated there at the present time.

Next probably in date of construction was the dam upon which the Howland saw-mill, so called, stands, and where probably the water-power has never been utilized save to saw timber and boards with the oldfashioned " up and down saw." Whether a little after or a little before the Sl.ab Bridge dam this of the Howland saw-mill was built it is not now easy, if, in fact, possible, to determine. The dam near the residence of Joseph R. Dunham is probably of a more modern construction. Here has been operated a saw-mill and a shingle-mill, now used to saw box-boards. The dam near Maple-tree Bi-idge was erected in or about 1827, and for several years the water-power used to carry a grist-mill, now used for a box-board and shingle-mill.

Upon the falls of Quequechan, or Fall River, Benjamin Church, the renowned Indian hunter, had mills of some kind that commenced to be operated in or about the year 1702. Doubtless one of these was a saw-mill, and probably to this was added a grist-mill, and before that section, now Fall River, was set off from Freetown the water at that point may perhaps have been utilized for some other purposes, though not for the manufacture of cotton goods. A small stream, known as " Mill Brook," that empties itself into Assonet River through what is usually known as

" Payne's Cove," came into early use as a niofivepower. At a locality known as the "Baker Place" a dam was erected across this Mill Brook, and mills of some kind operated thereon more than a century and a quarter ago. A saw-mill built thereon nearly a hundred years ago has been in active operation since the memory of many now living. Higher up the stream, and within the present limits of Fall River, at what is sometimes called the " Wardell Neighborhood," is a dam on which for many years has been operated a saw-mill. Lower down upon this stream, near the head of Payne's Cove, receiving also the waters of another brook, was many years since erected a dam, on which were operated a saw-mill and a gristmill and afterwards a small foundry and next a bleachery, and it is that upon which now stands the Crystal Spring Bleachery, so called. Upon the brook just named many years ago was erected a dam, so long since that neither records nor tradition define the date of its construction. Here was probably operated a saw-mill, and for many years it remained in utter disuse. In 1829 a cupola furnace was erected thereon, afterward used for the purposes of a bleachery, and finally accidentally burned, and this dam has recently been removed to give place to the erection of a reservoir ior the "Crystal Spring Bleachery."

Upon what was called " Fall Brook," a stream in the east part of Freetown that discharges itself into the Long Pond, .so called, was erected in or near the year 1784 a blast furnace, where iron ore was not only smelted but also manufactured into what then went under the general name of Itullow-ware. The original projectors of this enterprise were Capt. Levi Rounsevill, Philip Rounsevill, and Capt. Abraham Morton, of East Freetown; Capt. Job Peirce and Joseph Leonard (2d), of Middleborough ; and Seth Keith, of Bridgewater. Capt. Levi Rounsevill, Capt. Job Peirce, and Seth Keith owned a quarter interest each, and Philip Rounsevill, Capt. Abraham Morton, and Joseph Leonard (2d) owned tlie other quarter, or onetwelfth part each. Fuel in East Freetown woods was then abundant and readily and cheaply obtained, and much of the iron ore was taken from Assawamset Pond, in Middleborough. The small village that as a consequence thus grew up near by came, as naturally it would, to be called the " Furnace Village" or " Furnace Neighborhood," which names still serve to designate the locality and are in familiar use, although the furnace, either as a blast or cupola, has long since ceased to operate. A few years after its erection this furnace came to be owned almost exclusively by members of the Rounsevill family, and hence came to be called the " Rounsevill Furnace."

In 1811, James Alger, of Bridgewater, Gen. Cromwell Washburn, of Taunton, and Col. Salmon Fobes, of Bridgewater, purchased three-fourths of this furnace, and in 1S14, James Alger bought the remaining quarter, Gen. Washburn at the same time disposing of hia share to Alger & Fobes. Nayum Alger, of

Bridgewater, and afterwards' of Freetown, became agent and manager, and the firm of Alger & Fobes also, besides carrying on the furnace, ran two sawmills and a grist-mill, a blacksmith-shop, and a country store, and thus furnishing employment for some fifty men. In 1818 this property changed owners, being principally, if not, in fact, wholly purchased by Samuel Slater, David Wilkinson, and Charles Dyer, of Providence, and Benjamin Dyer, of Cranston, R. I., and these parties took upon themselves the name of " Providence Foundry Company," employing Capt. Calvin Thomas, of Pembroke, as superintendent, who also became a part owner. The old blast furnace was then or soon after demolished, and its place supplied by a cupola furnace, and the smelting of iron ore taken from the Assawamset Pond and other places adjacent abandoned, the iron used being purchased in " pigs," brought from New Jersey to Aissonet per water carriage, and from thence transported by oxtearas to East Freetown. Succeeding this furnace business at this water privilege was a sash-, door-, and blind-factory that has not been in operation for several years, and the motive-power is now utilized to carry a saw-mill.

Higher up this stream and near the railroad depot is an ancient dam, whereon formerly stood a saw-mill, but now left unoccupied, and at a point still higher, at a place known as Goshem, are traces of a milldam, wherein doubtless once were to be heard the sounds, echoes, and re-echoes of busy life, and the cheering hum of industry, but now left silent as the grave.

Proceeding still higher up the stream we come first to Jonathan R. Gurney's, and last to Paul M. Burns' mill-dams, at both of which places large quantities of box-boards are annually sawn.

The lowest dam upon this East Freetown stream is that near the stone bridge, and whereon is a boxboard mill and a grist-mill, owned and operated by Capt. Marcus M. Rounsevill and G. S. Allen.

Physicians. - Dr. Richard Winslow was one of the earliest, and perhaps the first, medical practitioner who settled in Freetown. He was a son of Lieut. Job Winslow, of Swansea, and afterwards of Freetown, who resided in Freetown until his death, July 14, 1720. Dr. Richard Winslow appears to have left Freetown and removed to Leicester. His will bore date of Aug. 7, 1727, and was proved in Probate Court April 16, 1728.

Dr. John Turner resided in that part of Freetown which in February, 1803, became Fall River. His former residence was in what is now known as Bowenville. He married Patience, a daughter of Samuel Gardiner, of Swansea. Dr. Turner and wife were among the original members of the Congregational Church gathered at Freetown in 1747. Dr. Turner was one of the four persons who made to that church the gift of a farm for a parsonage.

Dr. Sliadrach Winslow was a sou of Lieut.-Col. James Winslow and wife Charity Hodges, and born Dec. 17, 1750. He graduated at Yale College. Probably practiced for but a short time in Freetown, and located as a physician in Foxborough. He taught school at Freetown in 1772.

Dr. Joshua Howard Brett was a son of Rev. Silas Brett, and born June 29, 1751. Taught school at Freetown in 1773. He was elected representative to the General Court May 18, 1782. Assessor two years, viz.: 1785 and 1786.

Dr. Cormick lived in a house that occupied the site of the former residence of Philip J. Tripp, late of Freetown, deceased. Dr. Cormick took to wife Lois Chase. She wa.s a daughter of Ammi Chase. Dr. Cormick did not practice long in Freetown.

Dr. Jesse Bullock was a native of Rehoboth. Dr. Bullock was united in marriage with Mehitabel Winslow, of Freetown, Oct. 1, 1765. She was a daughter of Lieut.-Col. James Winslow, and born April 22, 1739. She died July 21, 1827. Dr. Bullock died Dec. 31, 1805, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. At the commencement of the war of American Revolution Dr. Bullock was one of the leading Tories at Freetown. He lived in the house now owned and occupied by Mrs. James Wetherill.

Dr. William Carpenter was a native of Rehoboth, and a nephew of Dr. Jesse Bullock. He owned and occupied the next house northerly of the Dr. Bullock place.

Dr. Nicholas Hatheway was born Saturday, Dec. 4, 1773 ; practiced medicine at Freetown nearly twenty years; removed to the State of Ohio in 1817. He died at Milford, in Union County, Ohio, Aug. 24, 1848. In the early part of the year 1800 he opened in Freetown a hospital for the treatment of smallpox, and treated so successfully as not to lose a patient.

Dr. Thomas Bump was a native of Middleborough. He was a graduate of Brown University, at Providence, R. I., and studied medicine with Dr. Arad Thompson, of Middleborough, and settled for practice at Freetown in or near 1817. He was town clerk of Freetown, selectman, and a representative to the General Court. Practiced medicine at Freetown nearly sixty years ; was regarded as eminently skillful in his profession.

Dr. Bradford Braley was a native of J^rcetown. He commenced first as a nurse of the sick during the prevalence of a fearful epidemic that prevailed extensively in 1816, called the " cold plague." He ere long came to practice as a physician, in which he continued until his death, Feb. 7, 1873, when, being on his way to visit a patient, a breaking of his carriage caused him to fall, resulting in instant death. He had practiced the healing art about fifty-six years. He was twice elected as a member of the General Court.

Dr. Seth Pratt came to Freetown from Mynckville, then in East Taunton (now Berkley). He had an office in Assonet village, practiced in this town and vicinity about three years, when his health became impaired, and he died in 1836.

Dr. Barnaby W. Hathaway was a native of Free- [ town. He was a son of John Hathaway and wife Betsey Winslow, and born Nov. 11, 1812. He studied medicine with Dr. Seth Pratt, and commenced practice in Freetown, and a few years later removed to Fall River, and from thence to California, where he died.

Dr. Thomas C. Nichols was a native of Freetown. He was a son of John Nichols and wife Margaret Winslow, and born Nov. 9, 1819. He i)racticed medicine at Freetown several years, and relinquishing that went into the mauufacture gf sporting goods. Was town clerk of Freetown ten years, and twice elected as a representative to the General Court. He died.

Town Clerks of Freetown. - For several years after Freetown was incorporated no public records appear to have been kept, or, if kept, have failed to be preserved; and in what were kept it is diflicult, if not indeed impossible, to determine how long some of the earliest clerks served.

Lieut. Samuel Gardiner, 1688; Lieut. Jul> Winslow; Juslina Tisdale, March 30, 1606, ftiur years; Thomas King, Marcli 29, 1700, one year; John Reed, Jr., March :il, 1701, fifteen yeais; Lieut. Robert Durfee, March 29, 1716. one year; John Heed, March 25, 1717, two years; Jonathan Dodson, March 25, 1719, one year; John Reed, March 29, 1720, eighteen years ; Lieut. Joseph Reed, March, 1738, seven years; Capt. Ambrose Barnaby, March 4, 1715, six years ; Maj. Abiel Terry, May 20, 1751, twelve years; Capt. Ambrose Barnaby, March 21, 1763, four years : Zebadee Terry, March 16, 1707, eight years ; Samuel Barnaby, March 6, 1775, five years ; Lieut. Philip Hathaway, Jr., July 10, 1780, eight years; Ephraim Winslow, .April 7, 17.-8, seven years; Lieut. William Ennis, March 23, 1795, five years; Benjamin Porter, Jr., April 7, 180 , one year; Ebenezer Peirce, April 0, 1801, one year; Capt. Job Pierce, Jr., April 5, 18CI2, one year; Ebenezer Peirce, April 4, 1803, three years ; Lieut. William Pratt, April 7, 1S06, eighteen years; Dr. Thomas Bump, .\pril 5, 1824, two year..* ; James Taylor, April 3, 1S20, one year; John T. Lawton, April 2, 1827, two years; Ephraim Atwood, April 6, 1829, three years; Dr. Thomas Bump, March 5, 1832, three years; Col. Ephraim Winslow March 2, 1835, two years; .\hien Hathaway, Jr., Slarch 6, 1837, three years; Davis J. Barrows, March 2, 1840, two years; Joseph B. Weaver, Esq., March 7, 1842, seven yeai-s ; Dr. Thomas G. Nichols Nov. 7, 1848, ten years; S. T. Richmond, March 14, 1859, four years- George W. Hall, March, 1803, one year; D. C. II. Hathaway, March 1864, two years; Humphrey A. Francis, March, 1S75, lour years; Palo Alto Peirce, Esq., March 31, 1879.

Town Treasurers

TOWN TREASURERS. Lieut. Samuel Gardiner, fliay 12, 1690; Lieut. Joslali Winslow, March 28,1704; Lieut. Thomas Terry, March 17, 1713, seven years; William Winslow, March 29, 1720, eight years ; George Winslow, March 4, 1728, twenty-one years; Philip Hatliaway, March 20, 1749, three years; George Chase, October, 1752, two years; John Winslow

March 18, 1754, one year; Lieut. James Winslow, Nov. 10, 1755: Nathan Simmons, March 21, 1763, five years; William Winslow, March 21, 1768, four years; Lieut. Jonathan Keed, March 2, 1772, eightyears; Geoige Winslow, Jirly 10, 178n, one year; Lieut. Jonathan Reed, Mnrcli, 1781, two years; George Brightman, Esq., March, 1783, two years ; Lieut. Philip Hathaway, Jr., March, 1785, one year; Amlirose Barnaby, Marcli 20, 1786, two years ; Col. Benjamin Weaver, April 7, 1788, two years; Darius Cliase, April 1, 1793, one year; Lieut. William Ennis, April 7, 1800, one year ; Col. Benjamin Weaver, April 6, 1.S01, eighteen years: Robert Porter, April 5, 1819, four years ; Lieut. Philip P. Hathaway, April 7, 1823, one year ; George Pickens, April 5, 1824, two years; Joseph Durfee, Jr., April 3, 1826, four years ; Elnathan P. Hathaway, April 6, 1830, one year ; Joseph B. Weaver, April 4, 1831, three years ; Guilford H. Hathaway, March 3, 1834, four years; Capt. Sylvanus Payne, March 5, 183S, four yeai-s ; Benjamin Burt, Jr., Sept. 24, 1842, two years ; William Pratt (2d), Marcli 5, 1844, one year; Maj. Ebenezer W. Peirce, March 3, 1845, one year; Gideon V. Halhaway, March 9, 1846, one year; Guilford Hathaway, March 15, 1847, fourteen years; John D.Wilson, March 10, 1861, one year; James Burr, March, 1862, three years ; Guilford Hathaway, March 20, 1865, three years; Dr. Thomas G. Nichols, March 30, 1868, two years; Guilford Hathaway, March, 1870, five years; George W. Hall, SLarch, 1875, two years; Lewis P. Phillips, March, 1877, two years; Nathan W. Davis, March 31, 1879, one year; John W. Pickens, April 5, 18S0, two years; Frank A. Barrows, April 10, 1882.

Postmasters. - There are two post-offices in Freetown, one at As.sonet village, in the old or west part of the town, and the other in the " Furnace village," so called, in East Freetown.

The office at East Freetown was discontinued in or about 1822, and re-established in 1852. Postmasters Robert Strobridge and Amos Braley died while holding the office.

The first convention was called to form a State constitution, the second to ratify the Federal constitution, the third and fourth for revising the State constitution.

H. Elbridge Tinkham in 1861 tendered his services to the government, and was ajipointed acting master's mate Dec. 12, 1861, and was ordered to report daily on board United States ship " Ohio" for instruction in gunnery. Feb. 8, 1862, in obedience to orders, reported for duty on board United States gunboat " Kennebec," and joined the West Gulf Squadron, Admiral D. G. Farragut commanding. In 1863 was promoted to acting ensign. While in Farragut's squadron took part in the following engagements : Fort Jackson and St. Philip, Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, Port Hirdson, and Mobile. At the latter place was wounded by a shell from the rebel ram " Tennessee," and invalided home. In four months reported for duty, and was ordered to the United States steamer "Bat," North Atlantic Squadron, Admiral David D. Porter commanding, and took part in the fight of Wilmington, Cape Fear River; also acted as convoy to President Lincoln during his trip from Washington to Richmond and back. When the "Bat" was placed out of commi.ssion was ordered to the United States gunboat " Seneca" until she was placed out of commission, when he was ordered home on "leave." He was also attached to the United States ship " Constitution," to assist in removing the naval academy to Annapolis, Md. After the war closed he made a two years' cruise with the West India Squadron, Admiral James S. Palmer commanding, and on his return home was honorably discharged with the thanks of the department, which discharge bears date of May 13, 1867.

Biographical Sketches Guilford H. Hathaway

Guilford H. Hathaway is a lineal descendant on the paternal side from John Hathaway, the descent being as follows : John\ John^ JacoW, Philip*, Philip^ Edmund'', Guilford H.' On the maternal side he is descended from the same original John Hathaway, through John% Jacob', Meltiah', Rev. Philip', Betsey", Guilford H.'

Edmund Hathaway, father of our subject, was born in Freetown, Mass., Sept; 29, 1771, and married Betsey, daughter of Rev. Philip and Abiah (Ashley) Hathaway. She was born Oct. 1 2, 1780, and died Oct. 11, 1873, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. They had twelve children, - six sons and six daughters, - of whom Guilford H. was the fifth child. All of this large family lived to attain their majority, and six of them are living at this writing (1883), the youngest of whom is fifty-eight years old.

Edmund Hathaway was in his day the most prominent business man of his town. He was largely engaged in ship-building; was a merchant and shipmaster, and carried on trade with the West Indies. In his varied business enterprises he was quite successful, and exerted a large influence not only in the town where he resided but beyond its limits. He was one of the original subscribers to the stock of the Fall River Bank, and one of its largest stockholders at the time of his death, which occurred Oct. .5, 1832.

Source changes here: from Bristol County Farmers' Bulletin, by Bristol County Agricultural School (Bristol County, Mass.), published 1918; 1,258 words in this source stream.

Calendar

February 27 - ^Child Study Groups with Mrs. Ruth D. Morley - Mansfield at 2.00 P. M. Bristol County Agricultural School, Segreganset at 7.30 P. M.

February 28 - Garment Finish Class for Leaders at Bristol County Agricultural School, Segreganset, with Miss Esther B. Cooley, State Clothing Specialist, 10.15 A. M.

F. C. Sattler Of Rehoboth Leads Bristol-Plymouth Herd Improvement Association

F. C. Sattler of Rehoboth again leads the Bristol-Plymouth Herd Improvement Association both in milk production and the production of butter-fat for the year 1928-29.

Mr. Sattler's herd of 25 milking cows averaged to produce 12,200 lbs. of milk and 433 lbs. of fat per cow. This herd also stood (Continued on page 2 col. 3)

Fourth Annual Spring Dairy Meeting

An excellent program is being prepared for the Annual March get-together of Bristol County dairymen. This meeting will be held at the Bristol County Agricultural School Wednesday, March 19, from 10.30 A. M. to 4.00 P. M. Cafeteria luncheon will be served at the School Dining Hall at 12.30 P. M.

The program will include discussion of pasture improvement, tuberculosis eradication, and practical methods in the control of contagious abortion.

Fifth Annual Spring Fruit Day

For several years the fruit growers of Bristol County have gotten together to discuss their mutual prnblems and gpf- thp latest informa,tion on orchard practices. The meeting this year will be held as usual at the Bristol County Agricultural School. The date has been set for Wednesday, March fifth, from 10.30 A. M. to 4.00 P. M. with one hour out for cafeteria luncheon at the school dining hall.

Several fruit growers in the State last year produced better than 90% clean apples. Many orchards produced less than 1% clean fruit. Come to the meeting March 5th and find out why some growers raised 90% clean fruit while others got less than 1%.

Ignorance of right forestry methods or indifference to the possibilities in forestry have led to the stripping of our woodlands of the parent trees that would otherwise have reseeded them naturally and at little or no expense. Two or three mature trees to the acre would have sufficed to do this. Now the alternative is to replant the land with young transplants.

The State of Massachusetts is growing many millions of these young forest trees. At three or four years old they are available at the State Nurseries. The price is $7.00 to $12.00 a thousand. A thousand trees will plant about an acre. For planting town forests these may be obtained free from the State.

Or Eradication

As the study of abortion in cattle progresses in a number of states, it is becoming increasingly evident tfiat any sure means of control for the contagious form of the disease resolves itself finally into a matter of actual eradication of the abortion germ.

Certainly the studies at the Oregon Station extending over a period of eight years would show that real progress came only when facilities were provided for the complete segregation of animals reacting to the blood test for abortion.

The investigators first reached the conclusion that Contagious Abortion was the most serious disease affecting the livestock industry in Oregon.

Five possible methods of spread were studied. These are - (1) By the bull at the time of service; (2) By the infected dam to the offspring before birth; (3) Thru feeding infected milk to calves; (4) By exposing unbred heifers to aborting cows; (5) By exposing pregnant cows and heifers to aborting cows.

In testing out the first possibility eight bulls were used on cows which had aborted. Later on they were used on cows free from abortion. In some cases, there was only a six to eight hour interval between services, in others a period of several weeks. The results were always the same. In no instance did the bull spread the disease.

In determining the second possibility, a number of calves were studied, some of which were born prematurely. All were free from abortion at maturity unless exposed to the infection from without after they were six months old.

In connection with the third possibility, that of feeding infected milk to calves, 96 heifer calves were used. Where the infected milk feeding was stopped at six months, no animal became a positive reactor to the disease.

The fourth possibility, that of direct contact of unbred heifers with aborting cows, was tested by exposing unbred heifers in considerable number to aborting cows both in pens and in pasture. None of these heifers contracted the disease unless they were in the heat period at the time of exposure.

The fifth and final possibility, that of exposing pregnant cows and heifers to the infection was tested by exposing eight pregnant heifers to three aborting cows. Five of these contracted the disease and aborted. Other experiments proved that the disease is very easily spread in this manner, and that the germs may live in barns after all reacting animals have been removed.

Under the Oregon system attempts at segregation of reacting animals were star<-3j in 1920. For the first two years the c'uortionfree females were quartered in a separate wing of the barn, and attendants were compelled to pass from one part of the barn to another, and occasionally animals from the infected herd would get with non-infected

A barn one mile away was then leased and used for reactors, with separate caretakers for the two barns. The main barn was thoroughly cleaned up, so that during the next two years under this system the numbers of non-reacting females increased from 68 to 101. At this time, all reactors were sold and only four were found during the following two years. Since that time, no reactors have been found in the herd consisting of 108 females, 69 of which are either daughters, granddaughters of great granddaughters of reactor cows. Had these offspring of reactors not been retained in the herd, it would have meant reducing the number of abortion-free animals to 39 head.

Since 1922 six abortions have occurred which were not traceable to the germ of Contagious Abortion. In this period 200 calves have been born, or a ratio of 33 live calves to one abortion.

1. No females from untested herds are allowed on the premises. Females purchased from untested herds, are tested, then held in quarantine 40 days, then retested.

The loss of calves is by no means the only serious loss of income due to the presence of abortion. All infected cows do not abort, but (1) - Infected cows give less milk as shown by careful records kept where animals of similar type and breeding could be compared. (2) Reacting cows have more garget. (3) Reacting cows have more breeding trouble. (4) Reacting cows have more enlarged joints and lameness. (5) Reactors produce fewer living calves.

Do yourself a good turn by putting in an acre, or two, or three, or ten, this spring and at the same time have the pleasure of watching the growth they make while you are busy with other affairs, even while you sleep. Incidentally you will serve the common good.

The planting operation is very simple and inexpensive. Under favorable conditions a man and a boy will plant an acre in a day. Full directions for planting will be furnished with the trees.

The time to reforest the waste lands is early in the spring, just as soon as the ground is free from frost. There are some thousands of acres of land now unproductive in Bristol County that would grow, has grown, excellent timber. Plant Red and White pine on uplands, or spruce if the land is not well drained.

Source changes here: from A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts (Vol. 2), by Hutt, Frank Wolcott, published 1924; 2,896 words in this source stream.

Freetown Town

Freetown is that old settlement whose beginnings were co-incident with those of the present Fall River, the great manufacturing city that has gone out into the larger highways of the world, and completely separated itself from the mother town. Freetown retains the original name, and the significance of "Ye Freemen's Purchase" of that four-mile tract that was made in 1659 by twenty-six men of Scituate, Duxbury, Taunton, Plymouth and elsewhere. In the story of the growth of Fall River, we have told whence these purchasers came, and who they were, and that the purpose of those first purchasers appeared to be a speculation in the property, as they did not come here to live, as a general thing. For example, Henry Howland of Duxbury, owner of the sixth lot in the purchase did not occupy, but his sons, John and Samuel, actually settled here. The lots that particularly interest the present Freetown, were purchased as follows: The twentysecond lot, which included much of the land upon which Assonet has been built, was purchased by John Barnes of Plymouth. Palo Alto Pierce, former town clerk, indicates that the south line of this lot corresponded with the south line of the burying-ground opposite the Christian church; and that the north line was probably near the north line of land owned by the Pickens estate, and that of Mrs. W. H. Hathaway, a little south of Elm street; while from east to west it extended from the bay four miles into the woods. Mr. Pierce further points to the fact that by the deed of 1685 all the meadows along the river "below the path" are excepted from sale, showing that there was a path along the river, corresponding to what is now Water street, ever since the settlement of the town, though not on the same lines. The twenty-third lot was purchased by John Tisdale, of Marshfield, but who later went to Taunton, and here also a portion of Assonet Village is situated. His son Joshua settled upon this lot and died there about 1714, and hence the high rock to the east of Assonet station is known as "Joshua's mountain."" Freetown passed out of proprietary ownership in 1683, and was incorporated as a town. In 1803 Fall River was set off by itself. New Freetown, or East Freetown, that was formerly a part of Tiverton, was annexed to old Freetown in 1747.

Churches and Schools. - Though a town vote of June 10, 1699, proposed the building of a meetinghouse at that time, a church was not built until 1710, that being a house thirty-six by twenty-six feet. William Way, however, had already arrived on the scene as the first minister and schoolmaster. But as soon as the church was built, Rev. Joseph Avery, who also became the first minister at Norton, took up a brief residence here. Then, on June 2, 1713, Jonathan Dodson was "appointed a minister of the gospel from this town until there is a supply from England." Rev. Thomas Craighead was called in September, 1717. On account of trouble because of arrearages in the salary of that minister, Mr. Craighead became unpopular, and for twenty-five years nothing is said concerning a settled minister. Then in 1747 came Rey. Silas Britt from Bridgewater, a Yale College man, who had preached at Easton. In April, 1748, he was given a farm of fifty-three acres, from which and his stipend he was able to support himself. He remained here up to February 24, 1776. From that time onwards, until near the end of the year 1809, no settled minister had charge of the Congregationalist affairs here. In that year the old meetinghouse, which had stood within the northernmost limits of the present Fall River township, was demolished, and the present large meetinghouse at Assonet Village was built.

The Calvinistic Baptists had a strong following in this town and neighborhood during the latter part of the seventeenth century and the first part of the eighteenth. Rev. David Simmons was pastor of their church in the southerly part of Assonet Village, and he was succeeded by Rev. Philip

Hathaway up to 1807, in which year he, with his congregation, assumed the name "Christian Church". Thus, with its two ministers, ended that Baptist branch. The new Christian Church and society then formed built their new meetinghouse in 1832, the old meetinghouse being demolished in 1835. The present First Baptist Church in Fall River was formerly, before the division, the Second Calvinistic Church in Freetown. The Third Calvinistic Baptist had their meetinghouse on the county road east of the village in New Freetown, and Rev. Abner Lewis was their pastor for a short period. Besides the above-named churches, there is a Friends' meetinghouse, built in 1852 in the northerly part of the town; the Second Christian, built about the year 1830 at Mason's Corner in East Freetown; the Third Christian, at Braley's Four Corners, built in 1879, and the Fourth Christian near the Rochester line, built in 1865. For some time, the North Church and the Christian church formulated a union, during the pastorates of Revs. Mr. Dwight and Mr. Wallace, but the federation lasted only a few years.

The first schoolmaster recorded in Freetown was William Way, who served both as minister and school-master from 1705 to 1707. Though succeeding ministers may have taught the first school, the next made mention _ of was Jacob Hathaway, who was appointed May 15, 1718. Following him as schoolmasters were Thomas Roberts, the same year; William Gage in 1725; William Caswell, 1726. Two schoolhouses were built in 1722, but in 1727 they were sold at public auction. In 1745 the town purchased Ephraim Tisdale's house and land in the village a little south of the fountain and there Shadrach Hathaway taught many years. The building was destroyed by fire in 1772. Meantime, another schoolhouse was in process of building near the centre of the town, from May, 1748, to January 27, 1755. East Freetown being added to the town in 1747, their first schoolhouse was built in 1762 near Mason's Corner, by Captain Elisha Parker. The people in that part of the town were allowed sixty dollars in 1770 towards building a schoolhouse, and in August that year, James Tisdale was appointed their schoolmaster. Elijah Briggs was schoolmaster in the town in 1772, and he was succeeded by Shadrach Winslow, a college graduate.

Again, in 1773, a schoolhouse was built on the site of the house purchased of Ephraim Tisdale in 1745, and there also town meetings were held many years. In 1781 there were seven school districts, No. 1 being the south part of the town, now Fall River; No. 2, from. Valentine's brook to the Barnaby place; No. 3, from the Barnaby place to the foot of Ridge Hill, including Bryant's Neck; No. 4, Assonet; No. 5, Slab Bridge and the district west of Bolton cedar swamp; No. 6, the district east of that swamp; No. 7, the district west of Watuppa pond. Freetown began to choose school committees in 1785, and in 1798 new buildings were erected in each district. The Assonet district then maintained two schools. When the south part of the town was set off in 1803, districts 1 and 7 were apportioned to Troy, later, Fall Fiver. A new schoolhouse was built in East Freetown in 1804 on land of Shubael Howland; and in 1809 Dean Read was given the contract to build a schoolhouse and town house. A building was completed in 1818 on land of Cornelius Chase, and was used as a schoolhouse until 1862, when a new one was built west of it. The present Forge school building was erected in 1862; and in the early part of 1869 a new house was built in the south district. In the same year, old school buildings - the Pound, Forge and Tripp, were sold and made over into dwellinghouses. The schoolhouses in the town in 1923 were the Village grammar and primary; the South grammar and primary, the Chase school; the East grammar and primary, and the Union grammar and primary.

In April, 1900, a school union with Swansea and Seekonk was effected, and a superintendent employed. Edward M. Hill was superintendent of schools here, in union with Westport, in 1923. The town appropriation for schools in 1923 was $25,500. Eighteen pupils were attending high school in New Bedford, eleven in Fall River and one in Taunton. The prevailing law, whereby Massachusetts towns are liable to the expense of sending pupils to outside schools for further education, originated in Freetown, George B. Cudworth then of the Freetown school committee, advancing the proposition at the State House. Soon afterwards, Gilbert Nichols, also of the school board, fathered the proposition that the State bear part of the burden of that expense, and it was enacted into a law.

In the Wars. - Freetown's first company of militia was formed in 1683, with Thomas 'Terry as commander. This company, which retained its organization for more than a century, had Captain Benjamin Read for its commander during the Revolution. Captain Henry Brightman, from this town had charge of the Second company, and Captain James Norton of the Third company. John Hathaway was colonel of a regiment in which these served: Sylvester Richmond, lieutenant-colonel; Manasseh Kempton and Joseph Durfee, majors; and Captain Benjamin Weaver received promotion to lieutenant-colonel July 10, 1788. Captain James Richmond and Jonathan Richmond were in the marine service of the patriots 1778-80; and Colonel Joseph Durfee was in command of the company that repelled the British attack on Freetown at Fall River, May 25, 1778.

Assonet was known as a Tory stronghold just preceding the War ot the Revolution, and Colonel Thomas Gilbert. had here stored war materials, and by order of General Gage counted on three hundred followers to put down the insurrection hereabouts. But the Whig towns were in the ascendant, and the Tories were compelled to disperse, Colonel Gilbert himself finding safety aboard a man-of-war at Newport. In the War of 1812, Freetown furnished two companies, with Captains Lynde Hathaway and Simeon Ashley in charge.

On petition of Robert P. Strobridge and fifty-two others, Company G of Assonet in Freetown was chartered June 7, 1850, and that company is often styled the school of the officers and forty-two of the soldiers of Freetown who fought in the Civil War. In that war, 155. men from Freetown enlisted for the preservation of the Union, eighteen of them being commissioned officers. Three men from here enlisted in the Spanish-American War.

The Honor Roll that was set up in front of the Guilford H. Hathaway Library -building in Assonet, in August, 1918, when the soldiers were given a rousing welcome home, contains sixty-two names, one of them being indicated with a star. More than $700 was raised during the war period in the united war drive. Eugene Herbert was chairman of the local Red Cross work; George Hathaway and Rufus Davis were the enrollment committee; Mrs. Ethel Davis was instructor of surgical dressings; Mrs. Catherine Clark

Industries. - On Assonet River within a distance of about six miles, remain ten dams; on old Mill brook and Terry brook are three dams; and on Fall brook, in East Freetown, are six dams, whereon during the past. nearly three centuries saw-mills, grist-mills, iron works, bleacheries and cotton manufactories have carried on the river industries of the town. Sawmills built by the Winslow family remained in the family until 1893. Among those who have owned privileges on Assonet river have been: members of the Hathaway family, Josiah Winslow, Henry Porter, David M. Anthony, Captain John W. Marble, J. Henry Pierce. In 1704, a company built some ironworks on the land of Nathaniel Winslow; successively, the plant went into the hands of Thomas Strobridge for scythe-making, in 1820; John Crane, Sampson and Nichols and Weaver and Osborne, Thomas and John 'Thorpe, and Crocker and Bassett. The mill was burned in 1874. A grist mill was run at Assonet Village for forty years by David Babbitt; higher up the stream, were the Philip Rounseville dam and saw-mill; the David Terry bleachery privilege; Captain Henry H. Winslow's mill; Benjamin and Henry Porter's trip-hammer shop. Many other small mills have been built at dams along this river, from time to time, notably those of A. W. Pierce and Charles $. White, Julius C. Haskins and John T. Haskins.

On Mill brook there have been operated saw-mill, grist-mill and foundry, and near the head of Payne's cove, Edmund B. Lewis had a bleachery and dye-house. On that site the present Crystal Spring Bleachery and Dyeing Company bleacheries, with a capital of $125,000, started in 1882; they employ 200 hands. Albert A. Harrison is president of the company; John Thwaites, treasurer; and they and A. C. Thwaites are the directors.

A cupola furnace was built on Terry brook in 1829, that was run by Elkanah Doggett until about 1834, after which Gideon P. Hathaway made threshing machines there; the building was then a spooling mill, and John Thorpe was the first to conduct the waste-cleaning business in the town. The mill was burned, and the Crystal Spring Bleachery is now on its site. In 1784 there was a blast furnace on Fall brook, at East Freetown, where iron-ore was smelted and hollow-ware manufactured. The section is still - known as "Furnace," or Furnace Village, and Rounseville Furnace. Later purchasers of this property for various uses were James Alger of Bridge-. water, General Cromwell Washburn of Taunton, Colonel Salmon Fobes and Nahum Alger of Bridgewater. The Providence Foundry Company purchased the property in 1818, and built a cupola furnace. A sash and blind factory was afterwards operated here. For many years also, members of the Burns family had a saw-mill farther up the river. N. R. Davis & Sons, manufacturers of sporting firearms, began the business of the manufacture of muzzle-loading rifles at the Forge, July 1, 1853. In 1854 they removed to the old Thresher building near the foot of Water street, and there in 1858 they introduced the muzzle-loading shot-gun manufacture; in 1861 they began the manufacture of parts of the Springfield rifled muskets, In 1862 Mr. Thresher retired, and Thomas G. Nichols, M. D., became an equal partner in the firm. The gun-shop burned to the ground May 19, 1864, a total loss, and it is believed there was incendiary cause. Work was resumed in the Nichols & Sampson store. In 1866 the rim-fire breech-loading double guns were first made. In the winter of 1893-4 the old Assonet Machine Company building was occupied and enlarged. W. A. and N. W. Davis were admitted as partners in 1883. In 1923 the New England Oil Refining Company purchased a number of farms for the location of their business at Assonet. The Swiss Textile Company for the manufacture of absorbent cotton and napkins has been established here for some years. The capital of the company is $98,000. J. Rupert is president; D. McBane, secretary.

Formerly, ship-building was a Freetown industry that gave employment to many. 'The first vessels were built here in 1782, and the last one in 1848. 'The list includes 158 sloops, 72 schooners, 20 brigs, one brigantine, two barks, one ship, a total of 254 vessels. Many ship captains and owners of vessels were natives, or had their homes here.

Through the efforts of Miss E. Florence Hathaway a town meeting in March, 1892, voted to organize a library with Gilbert M. Nichols, George B. Cudworth and Miss Hathaway as trustees. The 'library thus established is known as the Guilford H. Hathaway Library. The necessary appropriation was made, and the State sent the equivalent in books, Miss Hathaway, Mr. Cudworth and Mr. Nichols alternating as librarians. The books were kept at the Town Hall at first; then, with the gift of the lot by John D. Wilson and through the gift of Miss Hathaway, the present building was erected in 1895. Miss Florence M. Dean succeeded Miss Hathaway as regular librarian in 1895; she was succeeded in 1901 by Miss Helen Winslow, and she in 1919 by Miss Gertrude H. Davis.

There are two postoffices in Freetown, one at Assonet Village and the other at East Freetown. The former is in the Hathaway Library building, the official name of this postoffice having been changed April 1, 1901 from Freetown to Assonet; and rural delivery was established April 1, 1902. The postmasters have been as follows: Stephen B. Pickens, 1811-17; Robert Strobridge, 1817-22; George Pickens, 1822-41; Guilford H. Hathaway, 1841-45; Joshua Shove, 1845-72; Daniel L. Johnson, 1872-82; Elbert FE. Winslow, 1882-86; Elnathan P. Hathaway, 1886-89; C. Isabel Hatheway,

1889-97; Miss M. Florence Dean, 1897-1901; Miss Helen Winslow, 1901-19; Mrs. Gertrude A. Davis, 1919 - . Amos Bailey was the first postmaster at East Freetown, 1811-16; Abraham Braley served from 1816 to 1822, when the office was discontinued, to be re-established in 1852; Reuel Washburn served from 1852 to 1886; David Lawrence from 1886 to 1887; Rachel E. Lawrence in 1887.

The assessed value of buildings in the town in 1922 was $678,720; of land, $457,905; of personal property, $319,074. Shade trees were set in the highways in 1889; the State highway macadam road was built in 1907; the auto-bus line was started to Fall River in 1916; the Grange was organized in 1913; the streets were first lighted with electricity in 1920.