Norton Town (part 1 of 2)

Town Of Norton Town Of Easton

A one BS a Manufacturers f our - | ed 0 " Belcher Daniel.. Manufacturer of Maleable Iron iy a Drake Lincoln..Iron Founder . Drake L. 8,..Ivon Founder -

Source changes here: from History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, by Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Ed, published 1883; 12,781 words in this source stream.

Norton Town

March 19, 1718, by a vote of the town, "The act Revised Conserning the kiling of birds ;" and it is supposed that for several years a premium was thus paid for the destruction of these birds.

In September, 1741, the town " voted to raise £40 for the Suport of the Scoole, and for the birds' and Squrils' heads, and the poor." We suppose this was for the support of " the poor," and not a bounty offered for cutting off their " heads."

First Settlers. - The following is a list of the first settlers of Norton, all of whom, with one exception, are known to have been here prior to or in 1711, condensed from Rev. Mr. Clark's " History of Norton" :

Deacon John Andrews might have been the son of Henry and Mary (Deane) Andrews, who were married Feb. 17, 1685-86, and was born about 1686. He is supposed to have been a grandson of Henry Andrews, one of the first settlers of Taunton.

John Austin was the son of Jonah Austin, Jr., of Taunton, and was born 1st July, 1671. He lived at the east part of the town. When he died is unknown.

Samuel Bayley lived at the east part of Mansfield. He married, Aug. 28, 1711, Elizabeth Caswell, and had eight or nine children. He died previous to March 5, 1754.

Thomas Braman, Sr., might have been the son of Thomas, who with his Avife were at Taunton June, 1653. He died June 7, 1709; his widow died Sept. 18, 1714*

Thomas Braman, Jr., is supposed to have been the s6n of Thomas, Sr., just mentioned, and to have been born about 1686. He was dead previous to May 1, 1725.

Daniel Braman was the son of Thomas, Sr., and Hannah (Fisher) Braman, and was born Oct. 11, 1688. He lived at the place where his father settled.

Deacon John Briggs was the son of Richard and Rebecca (Haskins) Briggs, of Taunton, and was born Feb. 26, 1669 (79?). He is presumed to have lived near the Centre, as he used to sweep the meetinghouse, and was several times chosen " Clark of ye Market."

Deacon John Briggs, Jr., is supposed to have been the son of William and Sarah (Maeomber) Briggs, of Taunton, and was born 19th March, 1680.

Capt. Samuel Brintnell was the son of Thomas and Esther Brintnell (the first settlers of what is now Mansfield), and born Dec. 2 (?), 1665. He lived at the homestead of his father, and was a very influential man in the early history of the town, much employed in public affairs as selectman and representative to the General Court.

John Caswell, Sr., was the son of Thomas Caswell, of Taunton, and was born July 1, 1656. He settled at the east part of what is now Mansfield.

Benjamin Caswell was probably the son of Thomas, and the grandson of Thomas, Sr., of Taunton, and was born Nov. 16, 1675. He probably lived somewhere in the east part of Mansfield.

Ebenezer Eddy was the son of John and Deliverance (Owin) Eddy, of Taunton, grandson of Samuel and Elizabeth Eddy, of Plymouth, great-grandson of Rev. William Eddy, a Non-conformist minister of Cranbrook, Kent Co., England, and was born 16th May, 1676 (?). He settled near Crane's Depot,

Israel Fisher was born 27th March, 1680, and is supposed to have settled near his brothers, Samuel and Eleazer. He was one of the original members of the church.

Thomas Grover was the son of Thomas and Sarah (Chadwick) Grover, of Maiden, and was born, according to records, March, 1668 (1669?). He settled near what is now West Mansfield.

John Hall is supposed to have been the son of Samuel Hall, of Taunton, and born 19th October, 1666. He lived in the Mansfield part of Norton, near to Cobbler's Corner, probably on the east side of Rumford River.

John Hodges was the son of John and Elizabeth (Macy) Hodges, of Taunton (grandson of William Hodges, who was at Taunton in 1643), and was born 5th of April, 1673.

William Hodges was also a brother of those just mentioned, and was born 6th of June, 1682. He settled near the common graveyard, just beyond Austin Messenger's.

John Lane was the son of Andrew and Tryphena Lane, of Hingham, and grandson of William Lane, who came to Dorchester from England (?) in 1635- 36, and died about 1654.

" Hon. George Leonard, the son of Judge Thomas and Mary (Watson) Leonard, of Taunton, grandson of James and Margaret Leonard, who came to Taunton in 1652, and great-grandson of Thomas Leonard, of Pontypool, Wales, was born 18th of April, 1671. This family of Leonards claimed descent from Lennard Lord Dacre, one of the most distinguished families of the nobility of the United Kingdom, and descended in two lines from Edward III. through two of his sons, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas Plantaganet, Duke of Gloucester. There appears to be some ground for this claim, from the fact that the arms of the Lennard and Leonard families were the same. Near the close of the last century the last Lord Dacre, bearing the name of Lennard, died, and it is supposed that the late Judge Leonard, who was a grandson of George, who first settled in Norton, could have claimed the title. At any rate, there was some consultation among the Leonards in this vicinity upon the propriety of claiming it; but I am told the matter ended by the judge saying that ' he preferred to be lord of acres in America rather that Lord Dacre in England.' 1 Whether descended from Lord Dacre or not, the subject of this sketch and his descendants lived very much in the style of the English nobility, being the owners of an immense tract of land, and surrounded by their tenantry. Probably no family in New England were lords of more acres than the Norton Leonards. The ancestors of George Leonard were interested in the ironworks both in England and America, and, as we have already stated, he acted as the agent of his father and Uncle James in setting up, in 1695, the first bloomery or iron-forge within the limits of our town. The house (built before 1700) in which George Leonard lived is still standing, and is said to have been the first framed house erected in town."

Thomas Skinner, the son of Thomas and Mary (?) Skinner, and grandson of Thomas, who came from Chichester, England, about 1650, and settled in Maiden, was born November, 1668. He settled in the westerly part of the North Purchase, now Mansfield, as early as 1695.

John Skinner was a brother, or perhaps only halfbrother, of Thomas, for Mary, the wife of Thomas Skinner, died at Maiden, April 9, 1671, and John was born April, 1673. He settled in the west part of the North Purchase about the time Thomas did.

Thomas Stephens was the son of Richard Stephens, of Taunton, and was born 3d February, 1674. He is supposed to have lived near the centre of the town. In 1712 he had land laid out to him on Lockety Neck, near the junction of Rumford and Wading Rivers. He was one of the first board of selectmen.

William Wetherell was the son of the first settler of Norton, and was born about 1650 (?). He lived at the place where his father is supposed to have first "pitched" his habitation within the limits of Norton, near the outlet of Winneconnet Pond.

Jeremiah Wetherell was the son of William and Elizabeth (Newland) Wetherell, but when born is unknown. He lived at the east part of the town, and afterwards moved into Taunton.

John Wetherell, Jr., the son of John, already mentioned, was born Oct. 8, 1688, and is said to have been the first child born within the limits of Norton. He lived at the east part of the town, upon the old homestead.

grandson of Nicholas, of Taunton,1 and was born Feb. 3, 1675. He settled within the limits of Mansfield, close to the line between the old town of Taunton and the North Purchase.

Deacon Benjamin Williams was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Williams, of Taunton, grandson of Richard and Francis (Dighton) Williams, and was born 15th October, 1681. He settled, about the time of his marriage, at the northerly part of Mansfield.

Chapter Xlvii

The Old French War. - "A company of soldiers for this war was raised in Norton and vicinity, with John Caswell as ensign ; and, there being no lieutenant, he was soon promoted to that office.

" Seven men were transferred from Maj. Hodges' to Nathaniel Williams' company. Three of these, viz., John Finny, John Finny, Jr., and Jonathan Lane, are supposed to have belonged to Norton. From this expedition Maj. Hodges never returned. One account says, ' He died in the early part of the war, when stationed on the lines between the present State of Maine and Canada.' Another account says " that, on his returning voyage (from Cape Breton) in a French vessel he died suddenly, and there was suspicion that he was poisoned.'

" This war extended from 1756 to 1763. To assist in carrying it on, Norton furnished her full quota of officers and soldiers. In Capt. Nathaniel Perry's company, of Easton, on service in 1754, employed for the defense of the Eastern frontier, we find the following men belonging to Norton :

1 He is supposed to have been the same person, made a freeman in 1642, who married Susannah, daughter of Jonas and Frances Humphrey, and was at Dorchester in 1652.

" From May 12, 1759, to Jan. 2, 1760, Capt. Nathan Hodges, of Norton, was out with a company of men from this town, whose names we here record :

Revolutionary War. - The first reference to the war of the Revolution found in the old town records is under date Jan. 16, 1775, when it was " voted to adhear to the advise and Recommendations of the association of the Continental Congress." They also chose a committee "to see to the faithful performance of the Recommendations of the Continental Congress; only the said Committee, or the major part of them, [should] not expose any person but by order of said town." The Committee of Correspondence and Inspection consisted of John King, Benjamin Morey, William Smith. Isaac Smith, and Israel Trow. March 6th added to this committee James' Hodges, Noah Wiswall, Eleazer Walker, Elkanah Lane, Benjamin

"Voted that the committee of Inspection be Directed to take particular notice of all persons that should sell any kind of provisions to any person or persons that they think is bying with a view to distress the Inhabitants of this province."

Thus far all had been preparation, though no actual hostilities had commenced, but the ever-memorable 19th of April came, when the streets of Lexington and Concord drank up the first blood of the Revolution. The alarm quickly spread through the country. It reached Norton some time during the day, and ere the morrow's sun had risen Capt. Silas Cobb and Capt. Seth Gilbert, each with a detachment of men, were on their march to join with others in repelling the invasion. All of Capt. Cobb's company left home April 19th, and their term of service varied from four to ten days. It is proper that their names go down to posterity, and we therefore record them :

"Voted to pay so many men as to make half the number of men in the Training-Lists, which are to be raised out of the Laram and Training Lisls for miuit men ; and to be paid for the time they shall be necessarily Detained in service upon any Emergency, as much as the said town shall think proper."

Elijah Eddy, of this town, was in Peter Pitt's company, of Dighton, three months and six days during this year, and Nathan Morey was chaplain of Timothy Walker's regiment.

"Sept. 18, 1775, Voted to Eleazar Clap, which he paid for mending a gun for the town's use, £0. 3s. 6d.; also to the same, for carrying blankets to the army for said town's use, £0. 2s. / also to the same, for thirty-two days' service at the Provincial Congress, £4. 4s. 4'1.; also to Capt. William Homes, for one hundred days' attendance at said Congress, £12. 18s."

In 1776 the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, etc., were William Homes, Andrew Hodges, David Lincoln, John Hall, Noah Woodward, Eleazer Clap, and Israel Trow.

Capt. Isaac Hodges also had the command of a company in the Tiverton alarm. The names of his men (whether all from Norton is uncertain) were, -

In a secret expedition from September 25th to October 31st, Capt. Hodges was again on duty, with these men under his command, most of whom were from Norton :

Sept. 8, 1777, the town " voted to George Cobb for going to Milton for paper-cartridges 12s. ; the cost of paper, 18s. lOd. ; for a box to stow the cartridges in, 3s. ; for two days himself, and three days and a half of Seth Smith and Joshua Pond, to make cartridges, £4 2s. ; for thread for the cartridges, Is." Also " voted that the selectmen procure the town's proportion of arms allowed by the State, and that tney should have the money to purchase said arms with." Sept. 15, " voted that ten of the firearms sent to this town should be kept as a store for said town."

In April and May of this year Capt. Israel Trow had the command of the following men in the Rhode Island service. Most of them were from Norton, but probably not all :

In 1777 the persons whose names are here recorded enlisted into the army for three years. All did not, however, serve the full time of their enlistment. The figures attached to the names show the number of months the individual was in service.

May 11th, "voted that the officers of the several companies should raise the men sent for by the General Court on the best terms they can ; and, if they cannot procure them for thirty pounds granted by said Court, that the town will pay the overplus." The officers were further directed " to hire the money to procure said men with, if thirty pounds will not."

We give below the members of Capt. Israel Trow's company, drafted for three months' service in Rhode Island, commencing Jan. 1, 1778. Most of them are known to have belonged to this town :

Ephraim Lane was a lieutenant-colonel in Col. Thomas Carpenter's regiment, Rhode Island service, from July 24 to Sept. 9, 1778. He was also a lieutenant-colonel in Col. John Daggett's regiment in 1775, called out by the alarm at Lexington, 19th of April.

For 1779 the Committee of Correspondence, etc., were William Cobb, William Homes, Esq., Daniel Dean, Noah Wiswall, Noah Woodward, Silas Cobb, and Eleazer Clap. June 22d, " Voted that the eight Continental men now called for for nine months, and the three men for the Lines at Rhode Island, be raised by way of a tax on the ratable polis and estates in sd. Norton ;" and a committee were appointed to raise "the above men."

August 30th, "Voted to Silas Cobb two pounds, nineteen shillings. L. my., for keeping seven Highlanders one night, and finding them all a breakfast."

October 9th, the town " voted to raise £1108 5*., in silver money, to pay the Bounty to the soldiers that were hired the summer past." Also " voted to Mr. Nathaniel Prior 210 pounds, old continental money, for going, himself and team, to Tiverton with the soldiers last August." The same day, "Voted to choose a person to purchase the beef called for (by a Resolve of Gen. Court) from this town ;" and Maj. Silas Cobb was chosen to make the purchase.

October 16th, it was "voted to raise £1100, for to pay for the beef and trouble." December 25th, " Voted to raise such a sum of money as to enable the town to pay each soldier that shall enlist into the continental service for three years, or during the war, three hundred silver dollars each ; one hundred paid soon, one hundred paid in one year, and the other hundred in two years, with interest."

In the alarm of August, 1780, Capt. Israel Trow marched to Rhode Island at the head of a company of men, whose names we here record, all of whom are supposed to have belonged to this town :

Richmond, amounting to seven-eighths of the whole establishment. Albert Barrows bought one-fourth of the factory Oct. 1, 1833, and owned it, with Crocker and Richmond, for several years. March 12, 1837, the "Norton Manufacturing Company," consisting of Crocker, Richmond, and Barrows, was incorporated by the General Court, with the privilege of holdingcapital to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. After the failure of Crocker & Richmond the property was sold at auction. Feb. 3, 1844, the " Wheaton Manufacturing Company," consisting of" Albert Barrows, Samuel B. King, and Laban M. Wheaton, their associates and successors," was incorporated by the Legislature for the purpose of making " cotton and woolen goods," and were authorized to hold personal and real estate to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. The company organized under the charter March 12, 1854.

The Wheaton Manufacturing Company being unsuccessful in business sold to the Newbury Manufacturing Company in 1865, who used it for manufacturing cotton cloth until 1871, when they sold it to Lafayette Godfrey, who used it in the same until 1875, when he sold it to the Stafford Manufacturing Company of Fall River, who own it at the present time, and use it for manufacturing cotton yarn.

Previous to 1745, Jonathan Hodges erected a mill on Goose Brook, a few rods below the bridge, and carried on the business of " fulling, dyeing, and dressing cloth." This was the first mill for that business erected in Norton.

On the 30th of August, 1783, Nathan and Edward Babbit, of one party, and Amies Newcomb, of the other, entered into an agreement to build a dam for a grist-mill and fulling-mill, the Babbits to build each one-fourth of the dam, and one-half of the grist-mill, and Newcomb to build the other half of the dam and the whole of the fulling-mill, and the buildings were soon after erected on Canoe River, on opposite sides of the stream, a short distance from Easton line. On the 18th of November, 1794, Nathan Babbit being dead, his son Edward deeded to Levi Babbitt onehalf of the grist-mill, the other half being then owned by Asa Newcomb. Previous to Jan. 5, 1795, the fulling-mill had passed into the hands of Asa Newcomb, who was a brother of Annes, and a sawmill had been built, for on that day he (Asa) sold one-half of the fulling-mill and one-half of the dam to Thomas Danforth, reserving the water not needed for the grist-mill and fulling-mill for his (Newcomb's) saw-mill, which shows that the saw-mill was standing at that time. In February, 1811, Danforth sold to Jonathan Smith, Simeon Presbery, Jr., Daniel Presbery, Stimson Austin, and Alanson Cobb, reserving to himself three-eighths of a water privilege, and they built thereon a factory for making cotton yarn. This factory was owned by different individuals up to 1822, when Nathaniel Newcomb bought the whole of it, and made yarn for a time, then thread, and finally wadding and batting. In December, 1831, the factory was burned, and Mr. Newcomb rebuilt on the same spot in April, 1832. In 1812, James Beaumont, of Canton, received a patent on a certain kind of wadding. Mr. Newcomb bought of him the right and manufactured that wadding. The grist-mill went into disuse about 1814, the fulling-mill about 1820. This mill is now leased by Maynard Newcomb, who built in 1881 a large addition, introduced steam-power, and continues the manufacture of batting and wadding.

Ansel Keith and Jonathan Smith were among the first to commence the hat business here about 1808. George Gilbert commenced the manufacture of bonnets, etc., about the same time. Soon after Thomas Danforth (2d) entered into the business, and carried it on quite extensively. Hiram H. Wetherell, either alone or with his brother Horace B., carried on the business from 1833 to 1844. Sept. 3, 1850, the Norton Straw Manufacturing Company, consisting of the Wheaton Manufacturing Company, L. M. Wheaton, Zeno Kelly, L. D. Anthony, and A. Barrows, was organized, with a capital of seven thousand dollars, and made bonnets, hats, etc. Jan. 14, 1854, the company was dissolved, and the Norton Straw Company was formed, consisting of L. M. Wheaton, Zeno Kelly, and T. T. Rockwood, with a capital of fourteen thousand dollars. Nov. 12, 1855, another change took place, T. T. Rockwood, A. Dunham, and D. S. Hardon assuming the business under the name of the Norton Manufacturing Company. Oct. 6, 1856, Dunham and Hardon retired from the film and C. M. Dean became a member, and in the spring of 1857 the company stopped business.

The first tannery in town is supposed to have been between the school-house in District No. 3 and Burt's Brook, and was, perhaps, built soon after the incorporation of the town by John Andrews, who settled thereabouts. But the first tannery of which we have any authentic account was built about 1740, by Deacon Benjamin Copeland, between the house of Thomas Copeland and Mulberry Meadow Brook. It continued in the Copeland family till it went to decay, about 1845. About 1758, David Arnold, who learned his trade of Deacon Copeland, set up a tannery on Burt's Brook, and did a large amount of business for many years. Before the Revolution a tannery was built near Rumford River, at the place where Mason Freeman lives, by a Mr. Basset. It was afterwards owned by George Walker.

The water privilege was formerly owned by Ebenezer Burt, who in 1744 deeded to William Stone forty and a half acres of land adjoining, and in 1766 to his son, Nathaniel Stone, all the rights and privileges in the stream reserved in the deed of 1744. This property remained in the Stone family many years, and the water privilege was utilized for an iron forge, a saw- and a grist-mill.

Some time previous to 1812 the property came into the possession of Deacon Daniel Lane and sons, who that year rebuilt the saw-mill. In 1828 the Lanes associated with themselves Messrs. Daniel Patten, Lemuel Perry, John and David Arnold, and Simeon Derry, and built a cotton-factory known as the " Centre Mills." This was run for several years under the superintendence of Capt. Lemuel Perry, who built and occupied the dwelling now owned and occupied by Mr. G. H. Talbot, who has recently enlarged and thoroughly renovated it, introducing modern conveniences.

In 1846 the property passed into the hands of Laban M. Wheaton, Esq., who continued the business of cotton manufacture until his death. In 1864 it was sold to Nathan Smith, who for a short time devoted a part of it to the manufacture of cotton batting. In 1867, Messrs. Story and Talbot hired the mill and introduced machinery for wool-scouring. After two or three years, the business prospering, they purchased the property and ran the mill exclusively for wool-scouring. Mr. Story's health failing, he soon retired from the business, and it has since been conducted by Mr. Talbot as sole proprietor.

The original mill, built in 1828, was thirty by fiftyfive feet, and three stories high. In 1875 it was enlarged by an additional building forty-five feet square, and again in 1881 by another thirty by seventy feet.

Up to the time of this last enlargement the waterpower was sufficient to run the mill. With this enlargement it became necessary to supplement this with steam-power, and double boilers with an engine of sixty horse- power were put in.

The business is a good and steady one, and for the most part comes without solicitation. There are only three competing mills of the kind in the country, excepting that a few large wool manufacturers scour their own wool instead of buying it all prepared. One at Waipole, one at North Chelmsford, in this State, and one at New Brunswick, N. J.

The Diamond Match Company, consolidating all the match-factories in the United States excepting that of the Portland Star Match Company, was incorporated under the laws of Connecticut in January, 1880, with a capital of two and a half millions of dollars.

The business here was started in 1857 by Austin Messinger, Esq. At his cottage home he dipped and packed the match-cards, which were sawed elsewhere, and peddled them about the country. From this humble beginning the business grew until he had near his home a mill for sawing the lumber and making the match-cards, and improved facilities for dipping and packing them for the market. A partnership was formed with Andrew H. Sweet, Esq., who attended to the sales, having an office in Boston, while Mr. Messinger had charge of the manufactory. As the business prospered new buildings and machinery were added, and the force of hands increased. In the vicinity a thriving little village sprung up, fittingly called Messingerville after him whose enterprise and industry gave it being and life.

Chapter Miscellaneous

Physicians. - Dr. Samuel Caswell was the first resident physician within the ancient limits of Norton, and was born Oct. 6, 1695. Oct. 17, 1726, the town " voted to Pay to Doctr. Saml. Caswell, for doctering Goode Merry, 0 - 15 - 0." He bought land in Norton in 1723, and was then called a " Practitioner of Physick." Probably about that time he established himself here as a physician and farmer.

Dr. Nicholas White was the son of Deacon Nicholas and Experience White, and was born about 1705. He was a practicing physician for several years, and resided sometimes in the North and sometimes in the South Precinct of Norton. He married Sarah King, May 1, 1728, and they had six children. He died in the North Precinct, June 29, 1751.

Dr. William Ware was the son of John and Mehitable Ware, of Wrentham, and was born July 4, 1697. He was a " Practitioner of Physick" here for several years, and also kept a public-house from 1728 to 1740.

Dr. John Wild, Jr., was the son of John and Abigail Wild, and was probably born in Braintree in 1727. He married, May 1, 1746, Anna Hodges, and had two or three children.

Dr. Lewis Sweeting was undoubtedly the son of Lewis and Zibiah (Whiting) Sweeting, of Wrentham, who were married in 1721, and were afterwards of Rehoboth. He probably came to Norton soon after reaching his majority, and seems to have lived a part of the time within the present limits of the town, and a part of the time in Mansfield, in which town he was

Dr. George Wheaton was the son of Ephraim and Abigail Wheaton, of Swansea, grandson of Deacon Ephraim and Mary (Mason) Wheaton, of Swansea, great-grandson of Robert (who was in Rehoboth as early as 1643), and was born Aug. 18, 1728. He came to Norton and commenced practice as a physician previous to 1750. In 1758 he was surgeon's mate in an expedition for " the total Reduction of Canada." He was much employed in public life as selectman, assessor, representative to the General Court, justice of the peace, etc.

Dr. Jonathan Pratt is supposed to have been the son of Jonathan and Abigail (Morse) Pratt, and was born Oct. 17, 1729. He lived in the Mansfield part of Norton, some distance to the southeast of Mansfield Centre.

Dr. Gideon Tiffany was the son of James, Jr., and Elizabeth (Allen) Tiffany, of Attleborough, where he was born Sept. 19, 1737. His grandfather, James Tiffany, came from England. He married Mrs. Sarah Farrar, the widow of Rev. George Farrar, of Easton, Feb. 8, 1759.

Dr. Adam Johnstone was a Scotchman by birth, and probably came to Norton about 1772. He married, Oct. 14, 1773, Sarah Hodges. She "died suddenly, Oct. 29, 1781, in her thirty-first year." He is said to have been a surgeon in the Revolution.

Dr. Daniel Parker was the son of Rev. Jonathan Parker, of Plympton, and was born about the year 1750. He was here as early as 1773. Feb. 17, 1794, he was commissioned a surgeon of the regiment to which the militia of this town belonged, which office he held for several years.

Dr. Timothy Smith was the son of Timothy and Hannah (Hall) Smith, grandson of Seth and Elizabeth Smith, and was born Oct. 17, 1754. He married Anna Morey, Oct. 20, 1778, and had five children. He was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war, but never had a very extensive practice in town. He died Jan. 9, 17«.»4.

Dr. Nathan Babbit was the son of Nathan, Jr., and Abigail (Cobb) Babbit, grandson of Nathan and Sarah, and great-grandson of Nathan, who, with his brother Edward, is supposed to have come from England and settled in Berkley. Dr. Babbit was born in Norton, March 6, 1755. In the year 1778 and the early part of 1779 he was surgeon's mate in the military hospital at Providence, R. I. June 24, 1779, he married Anna Newcomb, and located himself at the east part of the town.

Dr. Samuel Morey was the son of Samuel and Mary (Hodges) Morey, grandson of George and Elizabeth Morey, and was born June 4, 1757. He graduated at Yale College in 1777. He soon after entered the Revolutionary army as surgeon. After the close of the war he was a practicing physician for many years in town.

Dr. Lewis Leprilete was a Frenchman by birth, and was uaturalized by an act of the General Court, March 6, 1790. He probably came to this town about the close of the Revolutionary war. He was a distinguished physician, and had quite a number of medical students while he resided in town. He remained here till about 1792.

Dr. Leavit Bates was the son of Leavit and Elizabeth (Pain) Bates, of Mansfield, and was born May 6, 1770. He came to this town and established himself as a physician about 1796. He died Dec. 16, 1850.

Dr. Guilford Hodges was the son of Tisdale and Naomi (Hodges) Hodges, and was born Jan. 25, 1778. He fitted for college, and was one year at Brown University. He studied medicine with Dr. Willard, of Uxbridge. He was a practicing physician here in 1803.

Dr. Asa M. Adams was the son of Asa and Martha (Metcalf) Adams, and is believed to have been born in Natick about 1795. He came to Norton about 1819, and commenced practice as a physician, and rode quite extensively for some years.

Dr. Richard F. Sweet was the son of John and Eunice (Tucker) Sweet, and was born March 11,1801. In August, 1831, he settled in Norton, and had quite an extensive practice till his death, March 21, 1841.

Dr. Ira Barrows was born at Attleborough in 1804, son of Ezra and grandson of Ichabod Barrows. He came to Norton in 1841, and was quite popular here and in this vicinity till 1851, when he removed to Providence, R. I.

Dr. Benjamin M. Round was born in Rehoboth, Aug. 11, 1816, son of Benjamin and Devena (Harvey) Round. He came to Norton, Sept. 9, 1843, and is still in practice here.

Dr. George W. Wild was born in Norton on the 11th of October, 1854, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Tucker) Wild. He received preliminary instruction from Rev. D. S. C. M. Potter, of Norton, and at Bristol Academy, in Taunton. From there he entered Boston University, whence he was graduated in the class of 1878 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He located in Ipswich, Mass., staying there about a year, when he removed to Norton, where he is still in practice.

College Graduates. - The following natives of Norton were graduates of colleges : Rev. Nathaniel Leonard, Harvard, 1719; Rev. Samuel Veazie, Harvard, 1736 ; Hon. George Leonard, LL.D., Harvard, 1748 ; Rev. Abiel Leonard, D.D., Harvard, 1759; Rev. Samuel Dean, D.D., Harvard, 1760; Hon. Daniel Leonard, Harvard, 1760; Hon. Ephraim Briggs,

Stocks and Whipping-Post. - " In 1693 the General Court enacted that ' Breakers of the Peace, Prophaners of the Sabbath, unlawful Gamesters, Drunkards, prophane Swearers or Cursers,' should be punished 'by setting m the Stocks, or putting into the Cage, not exceeding Three Hours, or by whipping not exceeding Ten Stripes.' Accordingly, in most towns, the stocks were set up, and the whipping-post erected in some conspicuous position, - generally near the meeting-house, or place of public gatherings. The stocks were made of two pieces of timber, from six to eight feet long, laid one upon the other, the bottom one resting upon the ground, with two grooves cut iu them, a foot or two apart, sufficiently large to admit a man's ankle. When wanted for use, the upper timber was removed. The offender was then made to sit down on the ground, and place each ankle in one of these grooves. -Then the upper timber was replaced, and the two parts were firmly locked together ; and thus there was no escape till the time of sentence had expired. It is supposed Norton did not have this instrument of the law for some years after her incorporation. The first allusion to the matter on the town records is under the date of Nov. 1, 1723, when it was ' voted to pay Robert Tucker, for setting the Stocks up, 00*%. - 2s. - 0d.' These probably did not last more than ten years; for, Sept. 18, 1733, it was ' voted to Samuel Clap, for macking a pare of stocks, 00. - 15. - 0.' Sept. 11, 1769, ' Voted to Salvenus Braman, for mending the stocks, 0. - 2. - 0. - 0.' These stocks continued to be used in many towns for the punishment of minor crimes till the close of the last century. There are persons living in town who distinctly recollect seeing the stocks on the Common, near where the old meeting-house stood. We know not whether the whipping-post was ever erected here or not; but we do know that offenders were sometimes sentenced to be whipped, as well as put into the stocks. The cage is not known to have been used here." - Clark's History.

" May 29th, 1719. - Joseph Hodges his Eyer-marck for all his Oeaturs is a Holl threw The midel part of Each year, and a hind-gad in the hinder-part of the Right year."

" May 23rd, 1738. - Thomas Shepard's Eyer-marck for all his creators Is a Crop of the top of the Left Eyer, aud a swallow's taile in the top of the Right Eyr."

"Nov. 10th, 1747. - John Gilbert's Jnner, Eare-mark for all his Cretures is a swallow's Taile in ye top of the Right Eare, and a half-Penney in the under side of ye Left Eare."

" April 2nd, 17GG - The Revend. Mr. Roland Green's Ear-mark for all his creatures Is a half-peny, cut out of the upper-side and under-side of the Right Ear, and the top of the same ear cut of, and a slit in the top of the left ear."

" Feh. 15, 1749-50. - Whereas Rebecca Harris, the wife of me the Subscriber, livin at Norton, has unlawfully absented herself from me and my family, and carried off sundry Effects to a considerable value, and may endeavour to run me in Debt. - These are therefore, to caution all Persons whatsoever not to entertain, trust, or give Credit to her, the said Rebecca, upon my Account; for I will not pay any Debt contracted by her during her continuing to absent herself. - As witness my Hand,

Witchcraft. - " Norton," says Rev. Mr. Clark, " has not been exempt from believers in witches, wizards, ghosts, and goblins; and there are some yet living who hug these ideas to their bosoms. Tradition has handed down to us the important intelligence (we do not, however, vouch for its truth), that Maj. George Leonard - the first of the name in town - made a league with the devil in order to acquire great wealth ; and, as a return for the services rendered, Leonard promised to give his body to the Devil when he called for it. Accordingly, in 1716, while Mr. Leonard was sick with a fever, of which he died, the old imp came, claimed his body, and actually carried it off! As he left the premises with it, he made a tremendous jump, and landed on some rocks situated thirty or forty rods back of the house, where he came down with so much force as to make his foot-prints in the rock, which are to be seen at the present day ! At the funeral the corpse was not to be seen, of course; and the family gave out word that it was not proper to be seen ; but in reality there was nothing in the coffin but a log of wood, put in to hill all suspicion that the body was not there.

" Theodora, or Dora Leonard, as she was generally called, was reputed a witch, and if we can believe the stories of some now living, ' cut some curious capers.' People would sometimes go to the barn and tie up the cattle, and before they could get away therefrom the cattle would be all unloosed by some mysterious agency. She lived some two miles from the Centre; and once, when up in town, it was needful that she should get some cloth that was left at home, and she went after it, but soon returned with it, not having had time to have gone a fourth part of the distance. One day some boys were out hunting squirrels near her residence, and they found a large one in the top of a tree, and fired almost numberless times at it but could not kill it. But as they were going home they encountered a strange cat, which was believed to have been Dora in disguise, who had prevented the charges fired at the squirrel from taking effect. She was supported by the town in her last days, and when she died (about 1785) there was such a terrible racket all about the house that no one dared to remain to witness her death.

" Ann Cobb bad the reputation of dealing in the 'black art' and of being in league with the 'Old Scratch,' but I have not been informed of any specific mode in which she manifested her power. She was supported by the town some time previous to her death, which took place in 1798.

" Naomi Burt was also accounted a member of the mysterious sisterhood of witches, and by her wonderful powers gave some trouble to those who fell under the ban of her displeasure. Oxen sometimes turned their yokes, and people lost wheels off their wagons when they passed her house, and the boys always held their breath and ran with all speed when they went by in the night. She hung herself July 4, 1808."

Bristol Lodge, F. and A. M., was organized in Norton, June 14, Anno Lucis 5787, with the following charter members : Job Gilbert, George Gilbert, Ira Smith, -Joshua Pond, Samuel Morey, Jr., Timothy Briggs, Jr., Samuel Day, Seth Smith, Jr., Daniel Gilbert, Benjamin Billings. March 10, A..L. 5830, the lodge was removed to Attleborough.

Post-Office. - A post-office was established in Norton in about 1817, with Earl P. White postmaster. His successors have been as follows: Laban M. Wheaton, Earl Hodges, Mrs. Harriet Hodges.

The Town Hall. - The present town hall of Norton was the generous gift of the late Nathaniel Newcomb, through his daughter, Miss H. A. Newcomb.

The origin of the structure and the circumstances of the presentation will behest explained by inserting the following letter from Miss Newcomb :

"Mb. G. B. Perry; Sir, - In conversation held with my father, the late Nathaniel Newcomb, the summer previous to his death, lie gave me the impression that ho planned to some time make the people of Norton a present, showing thereby his kindly feeling towards them. Among other things a town hall was mentioned.

" He made no provision to that effect, but, thinking it would he pleasing to him, I now propose, in memory of him, to build a town hall that I think will be suited to the necessities of the people.

"I send you tin- plans that you may lay the proposition before them and explain what I intend, - a plain, substantial building above the foundations, requiring that to be made ready for me, and I do not intend to furnish.

" If they are pleased with the proposal I would like them to appoint some persons with whom I can confer regarding situation, foundation, etc , as it must be commenced as soon as practicable, that there may be no delay in building.

This letter was read to the people of Norton assembled in annual town-meeting on the same day it was written, and in acting upon it the town accepted the offer, passed a unanimous vote of thanks to Miss Newcomb, chose a committee to confer with her as she desired, and instructed the selectmen to purchase a site for the building at the proper time, and cause the foundation to be laid in accordance with the plans submitted.

The structure is conspicuously located on an ample lot of ground directly opposite the old town-house. The plan was drawn by Messrs. C. Hammond & Son, of New Bedford, and in style is an adaptation of the Queen Anne pattern of architecture. It is a wooden structure, fifty by sixty-five feet on the ground, and contains a main hall forty by fifty feet, a front projection, two stories in height, eighteen by thirty-seven feet, and a rear projection eight by thirty feet. It is a very plain building, resting on a neat granite foundation, and covering a cellar extending under the entire area.

" In consideration of the attachment of my father, the late Nathaniel Newcomb, to his native town, and knowing that he desired to make some expression of his regard, 1 do hereby grant, transfer, and deliver to the town of Norton the superstructure of the town hall just erected in said Norton, hoping that it may meet with the approval of the people, and that they may hold him in kindly remembrance."

History Of Bristol Counts, Massachusetts

Hon. George Leonard was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas July 1, 1785. In 1798 he was chief justice of the court, and was on the bench as late as 1804.

Judge of Court of Sessions. - Hon. Laban Wheaton was appointed judge of this court May 25, 1819, but the following year the court was abolished.

Representatives in Congress. - Hon. George Leonard was chosen in 1788 a member of the First Congress of the United States. He failed of an election to the Second, but was a member of the Third and Fourth Congresses.

Biographical Sketches Hon. Laban Wheaton

Hon. Laban Wheaton was born in Norton (in a part of the town which is now in Mansfield), March 13, 1754. His parents were Dr. George and Elizabeth (Morey) Wheaton. Rev. George Wheaton (H. U., 1769), minister of the Congregational Church in Claremont, N. H., and Daniel Wheaton, Esq. (H. U., 1791), lawyer and first postmaster of Norton, for the towns of Norton, Easton, and Mansfield, were his brothers.

He fitted for college at Wrentham Academy, entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen, and graduated in 1774, at the age of twenty. After graduation he taught a grammar school in his native town, but soon relinquished teaching to study theology under the direction of Rev. Abiel Leonard, D.D., pastor of the Congregational Church in Woodstock, Conn. In May, 1775, Dr. Leonard was appointed chaplain in the army, where he received the special commendation of Gens. Washington and Putnam for his great usefulness. In the summer following this appointment of his teacher, Mr. Wheaton commenced to preach at Woodstock. After this he preached in Oxford, Walpole, Dedham, Portsmouth, N. H., and in Boston. He was invited to a pastorate in Framingham, at what was then deemed a very liberal support, but on account of imperfect health he declined to settle, though, with some interruptions, he supplied the pulpit at Framingham about four years. On account of failing health he was medically advised to travel and to relinquish preaching. Feeling the necessity from limited means to have some business to meet the expense of traveling, he entered into partnership with a classmate who was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Watertown, and in the interest of the firm took goods to Canada, and exchanged them with the Indians for furs. His partner becoming involved in financial trouble at Watertown, he withdrew from the firm at the end of four years with renewed health, but with loss of all pecuniary gains, and a debt of five hundred dollars.

At thirty-one years of age he entered the law-office of Squire Kent, of Watertown, to study law, paying board and tuition by writing and copying papers and documents for his teacher. He commenced the practice of law at Milton, but in 1788 removed to his native town and established himself in his profession at the Centre village. With a very high order of intellectual strength, acute legal knowledge, and untiring application to the duties of his profession, he attained eminence at the bar, and had extensive practice in the courts of Worcester, Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties. Seven years he was sent by his townsmen a representative in the State Legislature, and was frequently elected to other offices. Eight years he represented the district in which he lived in the United States Congress. In 1810 he was appointed chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, in 1819 chief justice of the Court of Sessions, and he filled these offices with dignity and grace and to the honor of the bench.

During his Congressional career, which was marked by fidelity to the interests of his constituents and the welfare of the nation, an incident of debate occurred which is worthy of permanent record. It was at that period when the slave power held almost absolute supremacy, and the topic of slavery was tabooed in Congress. On one occasion, in the progress of a speech on vital issues, Mr. Wheaton referred to this topic with pertinent remark. He was instantly interrupted by a dozen men springing to their feet with loud, rapid, and imperative cries of " Order !" One of them, catching the eye of the Speaker, fiercely renewed the demand, saying, " The gentleman from Massachusetts would excite the slaves to cut their masters' throats !" Mr. Wheaton, still keeping the floor, calmly replied, " And why, Mr. Speaker, shouldn't the slaves cut their masters' throats? We cut our masters' throats to secure our liberties, and why shouldn't they cut their masters' throats to gain their liberties? I put the question to the honorable gentleman who has so earnestly called me to order. Will he have the goodness to answer it?" The boldness of this response and its apt home-thrust silenced his opponents, and he finished his speech without further interruption. None would be slower than he to incite the slaves to blood, yet in this prompt retort he poised himself on the right and vindicated it with manly honor when the just and necessary freedom of debate was domineeringly and intolerantly called in question. In that retort he not only reasserted, by a question full-fraught with the spirit of liberty, the inborn and inalienable right of the enslaved man to rise to the dignity of a freeman, but he rebuked by a sarcasm and argument, against the edge and point of which there was neither shield nor hope, the tyranny that brought its whip from the plantation to the Congress of a free republic. Mr. Wheaton's speeches were trenchant and solid. In a certain weight and momentum of thought they have seldom been surpassed. The doctrines of personal and political liberty have seldom found in the United States Congress a more powerful champion.

In 1827, at the age of seventy-three, having acquired an ample fortune, he retired from the exacting duties of the legal profession to pass the decline of life in the care of his private affairs, in the comfort and peace of his home, and the circle of friends whom he loved. In 1794, at the age of forty, he was married to Fanny Morey, daughter of Samuel Morey, Esq., of Norton. With her he lived fifty-two years, she surviving him a few years. They had four children, but two of whom, a daughter and a son, lived to mature age. To these children he gave the most liberal and ample opportunity for a refining culture and thorough education. The daughter married Dr. Strong, of Boston, but not long after, in 1834, died childless, at the age of thirty-eight years.

The death of this only daughter was a sore bereavement. While grieving for the loved one gone, it was suggested to him to establish a female seminary in the village of her early home, and thus contribute to make the daughters of others what she had been. The thought was in sweet harmony with his sorrow, and he gladly accepted it and immediately made arrangements to carry it into effect. Buildings were erected and put in charge of a board of trustees whom he wisely selected, who procured teachers and opened the school on the basis of making it first-class in every respect for a thorough education of young ladies, whose success and usefulness soon brought it to that rank which it has well sustained as among the best in New England. It was opened in 1835, and by the trustees very appropriately named " Wheaton Female Seminary," in a just recognition of him who had founded and endowed it with a portion of his property that would have been, had she lived, the inheritance of his beloved daughter. To this memorial work the father and mother gave their tenderest interest, and to the close of their lives watched its growth and prosperity with satisfaction, and cherished it in a devoted love. On the 23d of March, 1846, at the advanced age of ninety-two years and ten days, he died. With fitting memorial services his remains were tenderly laid in the family burying-ground beside those of his beloved daughter.

Hon. Laban Mitchel Wheaton

Hon. Labau M. Wheaton, son of Hon. Laban and Fanny (Morey) Wheaton, was born in Norton, Sept. 14, 1796. He pursued studies preparatory for college at Wrentham and Middleborough Academies, and immediately before entering college was for some time a pupil in the University Grammar School, Providence, R. I., then under the tuition of Mr. Joel Hawes, who afterwards was a distinguished Congregational pastor in Hartford, Conn. He graduated at Brown University in 1817 at the age of twenty-one.

After leaving the university he studied law, and entered upon the practice of his profession in his native town. In a few years the care of his father's large estate requiring his assistance, he gave his attention chiefly to this until his father's death in 1846, whose estate he inherited. He was married June 25, 1829, to Eliza B. Chapin, of Uxbridge.

He was for many years postmaster of Norton, was several times elected representative in the State Legislature, served two terms as member of the Governor's Council, and was a trustee of the State Industrial School for girls at Lancaster. Though not an officeseeker nor ambitious of political honors, he was unmistakably a Christian patriot, gratefully accepted the honors that were freely bestowed, and faithfully discharged the duties involved. Throughout his life he was the faithful son of his father in devoted attachment to the cause of freedom. He was warmly interested in the cause of education and of Christian institutions. He and his wife were in cordial sympathy with the father in the founding of Wheaton Female Seminary, and after his father's death were its liberal patrons, making large additions to the original endowment funds.

He was retiring and unobtrusive, sensitively abhorred ostentation, and accordingly preferred to distribute his charities as privately as possible. In this, his chosen and habitual mode of doing good, he made many individuals and society in general greatly his debtors. Quiet in his tastes, with sympathies quick and strong, he was a very genial man. His character was marked by a peculiar spontaneity, tenderness, and constancy of humane feeling that made him prominently the young man's friend, ready to commend the worthy and to aid any who needed his assistance. A lover of Christ and His Church, he was a liberal supporter of the gospel at home and abroad, and was ever ready to contribute generously to the cause of Christian missions. After a brief but painful illness he died in Norton, Jan. 17, 1865, at the age of sixty-eight years, four months, and three days, greatly lamented. His last words were, " I am grounded in Christ."

Nathaniel Newcomb

from Francis Newcomb, who was born probably in Hertfordshire, England, about 1605, and came to America in the ship "Planter" in 1635, accompanied by his wife, Rachel, then aged twenty, his daughter, Rachel, of two and a half years, and son, John, aged nine months, and, after residing in Boston three years, settled in Braintree (now Quincy, Norfolk Co., Mass.), where he died May 27, 1692, aged about eighty-seven. His gravestone says " aged one hundred years." Tradition says he came from Oxfordshire, England, and that he was of pure Saxon blood. He owned several tracts of land in Braintree. He had ten children. His son Peter, born in Braintree, was a "husbandman," and much in public office. By his wife Susannah, daughter of Richard and Sarah Cutting, of Watertown, he had nine children. His estate was inventoried at £740 Is. His son Jonathan (third generation), also born in Braintree in 1685-86, was a " yeoman," and owned several pieces of land. He bought, Jan. 22, 1727, fifty-two acres of land in Norton for three hundred and sixty pounds, and removed thither in March, 1728. The same year he bought thirty-five acres more for two hundred and forty-five pounds, and in 1742 seventy acres for two hundred pounds. He served in the memorable expedition against Louisbourg, on Cape Breton, and died while in the service in 1745. By his wife, Deborah, he had eight children. She died in 1780, aged ninetyfive. Joseph Newcomb (fourth generation), son of Jonathan, was born in Braintree, but removed to Norton with his parents when but twelve years old. He married Judith Pratt, of Mansfield, Oct. 3, 1745, and lived in Norton until his death, Oct. 2, 1778. He served in the old French war, first in 1749, in Z. Leonard's company, of Raynham ; in 1757 was in S. Witherell's company, of Norton. He had seven children. His will disposes of about six hundred and fifty acres of land, and his personal estate inventoried at £1286 6s. 8d. Josiah (fifth generation), his youngest child, was born in Norton, April 14, 1764, was a farmer and resided during his life in Norton. He was a soldier of the Continental army of the Revolution, enlisting July 27, 1780, in Capt. John Allen's company, of Carpenter's regiment. He married (first), in 1782-83, Rebecca, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Tisdale) Godfrey, who was born in Easton, Sept. 27, 1765. She died Sept. 25, 1831; (second) in 1834, Charlotte Forest. He had four children, all by his first wife.

Nathaniel Newcomb (sixth generation) enjoyed the advantages of common schools only in education, and when about seventeen entered the employ of his brother-in-law, Simeon Presbrey, in a cottonmill in Stoughton, and was ever after identified and connected with cotton-manufactory. He married, April 17, 1823, Betsey, daughter of Gen. Thomas and Esther (Newland) Lincoln, of Taunton, where she was born Feb. 10, 1795. Their children were : (1) Betsey Thomas, who married William A. Hay-

Mr. Newcomb began business for himself in his native town as one of the earliest manufacturers, and was successfully engaged for a few years in the manufacture of cotton thread. He then bought of James Beaumont the patent-right to make wadding, and continued in the wadding and batting business till, having accumulated a handsome fortune by his untiring industry, rigid economy, and business capacity, he retired from active connection with manufacturing in 1860, and was at that time, and probably at the time of his death, the oldest cotton-thread manufacturer in America. He was a careful and cautious man, and the road to wealth to him was made by slow and steady accumulation, never by brilliant and fortunate speculation. He took no risk, and the result showed the wisdom of his course. He was often asked for advice, and was a safe counselor. During his life he used his money for business purposes, but often expressed a desire to leave at his death a token of remembrance to the town with which he had been so long identified, and his daughter carried his wish into execution by the erection of the town hall. Mr. Newcomb was a Democrat in politics, and by no means desired office. His wish was to be free from all official position. He was of strong and positive nature, and successful in nearly everything he undertook.

April 17, 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, and entertained a large number of friends from various places near and remote. Their wedded life continued till the death of Mr. Newcomb, Nov. 18, 1876. Mrs. Newcomb died Aug. 16, 1878.

The history of Nathaniel Newcomb is that of a self-reliant, earnest, and successful business man. His life was one of steady and active devotion to business, and his success was the natural result of his ability to readily comprehend any subject presented to him and courage to act in accordance with his convictions. He was a cheerful and social gentleman, possessing sterling qualities of character, which entitled him to the respect of all who knew him. He was an extensive owner of real estate, not only in his own town, but in other places.

Hon. Cromwell Leonard

It is a curious fact that, in certain families, a predilection or aptitude and inclination for a certain profession or occupation seems to manifest itself through many generations, and among members of the family in widely remote parts of the world, and under perhaps diametrically opposite circumstances. The Leonards are noted throughout this country and Europe, and have been so for generations, for their connection with the iron interests. Although the particular member of the family of which we write chose a different field for his life's work, yet in tracing his ancestral history we find that he comes from a family who were prominently identified with iron business on both continents. The Leonards have been a family of considerable prominence in England for many generations. They are descended, so several authorities inform us, from Leonard, Lord Dacre, of England, and through two lines from Edward III., viz. : through John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester. James and Henry, brothers, were the first who came to America. They were sons of Thomas Leonard, of Pontypool, County Monmouth Wales, which place is famous for its iron-works and mines. They were identified with the first three ironworks established in America, - at Braintree, Lynn, and Taunton. They finally settled at Taunton, and were the progenitors of the family of Leonards who have been more or less prominently identified with the history of Bristol County from that time to the present. The Leonards have almost invariably been men of great wealth and high position. Hon. George Leonard, of Norton, a descendant of the same family, owned the largest estate in Bristol County, if not in New England, and his timber lands were undoubtedly the most valuable in the State. The keel of the frigate " Constitution" was taken from his lands. It is said that he "lived in baronial style, surrounded by numerous tenantry."

The famous Daniel Leonard, antagonist of John Adams in the questions of allegiance, and author of the famous "Massachusettensis" papers, and afterwards chief justice of Bermuda, was of this family. Hon. George Leonard and his father were judges of probate in Bristol County many years. It is worthy of note that the first genealogical account of any considerable extent printed in New England was Dr. Forbes' " Account of the Leonard Family." We have not been able to trace the direct unbroken line from James (1) Leonard to Cromwell, but that he is a descendant of James there can be no reasonable doubt, as it is known that the family to which he belonged descended from the Taunton Leonards.

Hon. Cromwell Leonard was the son of Jonathan Leonard by his second wife, Rebecca Smith. He was born Dec. 1 , 1788. He was grandson of Jacob and Mary (Wild) Leonard. He married, June 15, 1815, Belinda Copeland, of Mansfield, by whom he had four children. He married for his second wife, June 20, 1849, Harriet Morse, of East Cambridge, daughter of Dr. Caleb Morse, of Moultonborough, N. H. She was born Oct. 19, 1810. Her mother was Anna (Ambrose) Morse. Her father, Dr. Morse, was one of the pioneer physicians of that part of New Hampshire, and was a man of remarkable mental and physical vigor. He lived to his eighty-third year, and continued in active practice until a few days prior to his death. Hon. Cromwell Leonard was one of the most prominent and most highly-esteemed men Norton has produced. He enjoyed in a very high degree the esteem and confidence of his fellowtownsmen. He served for many years as moderator of town-meetings, selectman, assessor, representative to General Court, etc. Like most of the Leonards he lived to a good old age, and probably no man who ever lived in the town was more sincerely mourned than he when the summons came " to join the innumerable caravan." Mrs. Leonard now resides in West Somerville, Mass., near North Cambridge line.

George Bowers Crane

Almost if not quite all the various families of the name Crane, Crayne, or Crain in New England are descended from the family of that name who came from England to America in the early days of the New Haven Colony, and were among the most active, enterprising, and intelligent of that hardy pioneer band who braved so many dangers and encountered and endured so many privations and hardships to win for themselves and their posterity a home in the New World. (For an account of some of the ancestors of the Crane family, see biography of A. B. Crane in this volume.)

A few generations ago the ancestors of George B. resided in Berkley. The first of the name of whom there is any record was Henry1; he had a son John2, who had a son named Gersham3, who was a farmer in Berkley, and from frequent mention in records it is presumable he was a man of some note in his time. He had a son, Capt. John4, who became one of the leading men of his community, and a man much esteemed for his integrity and sterling worth. He was by occupation a farmer and surveyor. He was selectman of his town and member of the Legislature. He married Rachel Terry, of Freetown, Mass., and was the first of his family to settle in Norton. He located about two miles southeast of the village of Norton, and built the house now occupied by his descendant, George B. He was a captain of militia, and a pioneer in all reform movements. His children were John, Rachel, George, Calvin, Hannah, and Terry. Both he and his wife were members of the Society of Friends. Capt. Terry* was brought up a farmer, married Rebecca Harvey, daughter of Henry Harvey, of Taunton, by whom he had one child, Hon. John Crane, who became senator from his county, and who was town clerk and treasurer in Norton thirty consecutive years, and then declined re-election. Capt. Terry's second wife was Matilda Macomber; by this marriage there was no issue. His third wife was Roby King, by whom he had Rebecca (died in infancy), Roby K. (married Leonard Hall, of Taunton, now deceased), Harriet T. (married Lemuel Arnold, of Norton, now deceased), Hannah W. (married Andrew H. Hall, of Taunton, now deceased), George B., Nancy K. (married J. Warren Dean, of Taunton, now living a widow), Matilda M.

(married James W. Hathaway, of Freetown, now deceased), Daniel (married Wealthy Hodges, of Norton, is still living), Abigail W. (died at the age of seventeen), and Elizabeth L. (became upon her sister's decease the second wife of James W. Hathaway, of Freetown, and is still living).

Capt. Terry was a quiet, unobtrusive man, choosing the private pastoral life of a farmer, and always seduously avoiding everything savoring of publicity or distinction. The only office he would ever accept was in the militia, in which he ranked as captain. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat in politics, and in religious belief a Unitarian. He resided all his life on the home farm where he was born.

George B., the fifth child and eldest son of Capt. Terry by third wife, was born in Norton, Bristol Co., Mass., Nov. 10, 1810. He was brought up a farmer's boy, and while he did not enjoy the advantages for a scholastic education, now so common among the better classes of New England people, yet he had whatever instruction the common schools of his town afforded, of which he made the most, and being early taught to labor, he laid the foundation, by abundant and healthful outdoor exercise, for a rugged constitution and well-developed physique, which, notwithstanding the more than ordinary amount of hard labor he has performed, he has maintained to his old age. As soon as he had arrived at proper age he taught school winters and farmed during summer months. This he continued about ten years. During the last forty years he has done a great deal of surveying in his own and all adjacent towns. In addition to farming, which has been the principal business of his life, he has also done considerable wood and lumber business. He married, Jan. 31, 1849, Martha Jones, of Raynham, daughter of Samuel and Mary Jones. (For ancestral history of Jones family, see biography of Samuel Jones elsewhere in this volume.)

They have had but one child, George Terry, born Jan. 20, 1852. He grew up to manhood at the home of his parents, married C. Amelia Woodward, daughter of Josiah and Cassandana W. (Peck) Woodward, of Norton, Sept. 4, 1878. They have one child, Martha J., born April 7, 1881, a bright little sprite that gladdens the household.

George T. early developed an inclination for working in iron and a marked Ingenuity in that direction. As he grew older he cultivated this aptitude, and without having served an apprenticeship he became an expert blacksmith and carriage-builder, established a shop of that kind adjacent to his father's residence, and now resides with his parents, and follows blacksmithing and carriage-building as his occupation.

George B. Crane has been a member of the school committee in his town, selectman, and assessor ten years, justice of the peace since 1851, member of Legislature in 1856, and in 1853 was a member of the State Convention to revise the Constitution of Massachusetts. This convention numbered among its mem-

Mr. Crane has always been a Democrat in politics. In religion a Unitarian. He has done a great deal of probate business and settled many estates. He is a remarkably well preserved man for one of his years, his step being as elastic and his carriage as erect as most young men. He is a man of sterling integrity, honest, earnest, and sincere. All his life he has been energetic, industrious, and progressive, always favoring whatever tended to the advancement and best interest of his community. He is a man of modesty and merit, and one of Norton's most useful and esteemed citizens.

Lewis Billings Deane

The name Den or Dene, which was the original way of spelling what is now written Deane or Dean, made its appearance in England soon after the introduction of surnames. It was apparently derived from the Saxon word den or dene, meaning a valley, and being first given to estates of that character, soon passed to their possessors. The family is probably of Norman origin, as the first of the name of whom we have any account was Robert de Den, butler to Edward the Confessor, and doubtless one of his " Norman favorites," as it is known he owned estates in Normandy. Later on the name is met with in Essex, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Oxfordshire, etc., many of them knights and nobles. After the abolition of feudalties by Henry VII., the territorial prefix " de" dropped into disuse. The letter a was introduced into the name Dene during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and it became Deane. The Deanes of England have been a highly respectable and prominent family. Henry Dene, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor under Henry VII. ; Sir Richard Deane, mayor of London in 1629; Maj.- Gen. Richard Deane, the regicide; and Sir Anthony Deane, comptroller of the navy, were of that famiiy.

The Deanes have resided for centuries at and in the vicinity of Taunton, Somersetshire, England, and from that place came most of the early immigrants of that name to America. Stephen Deane was the first of the name to land in America. He came on the ship " Fortune," November, 1621. He built the first corn-mill in Plymouth Colony. John and Walter Deane, brothers, who came to America in 1637 from Taunton or immediate vicinity, in England, were the progenitors of most of the present extensive Deane family in Massachusetts. They settled at Taunton, Bristol Co., which place is said to derive its name from Taunton, England. "They took up their farms on the west bank of the river, about one mile from the present village of Taunton," and their descendants still occupy the ancient homestead. Hon. Silas Deane, of Connecticut, minister to France, 1776, and a descendant of same original family, was the one who enlisted the sympathies and finally the services of Lafayette in our struggle for independence.1

The Deanes, wherever residing, have been noted for certain characteristics, among which may be mentioned strong will-power, earnest purpose, untiring energy, and integrity of character.

Lewis B. Deane, of whom we write, is the youngest of a family of nine children. John Deane, his father, was born June 4, 1774 ; died Jan. 7, 1841. Betsey (Smith) Deane, the mother, was born March 9, 1785, died March 18, 1832. Their children were John, born Feb. 29, 1811. He married a Whiting, of Dedham, was freight agent in Boston of N. B. and T. Railroad, but resided in Dedham. He died Sept. 4, 1864, leaving two children. Maria, born Oct. 27, 1813, married Henry Hunt, of Norton, died Dec. 22, 1871, leaving one child. Isaac, born March 28, 1815, died Sept. 3, 1860, unmarried. Elisa, born Dec. 23, 1816, married Parker Makepeace, of Norton ; has two children. Oliver, born June 11, 1818, married Eliza Hunt, of Norton ; resides in Canton, where he is engaged in coal and ice business and farming ; has one child. Calvin, born Feb. 27, 1821, married and resides in Canton ; runs an express from Canton to Boston. Cornelia, born Oct. 10, 1822, unmarried, resides with Parker Makepeace. Laprellott, born April 9, 1824, died Nov. 30, 1865, unmarried.

Lewis Billings Deane was born Nov. 20, 1826. He knew but little of a mother's love or tender care, as he was but six years of age when his mother died. He was brought up on a farm, and after arriving at manhood continued to follow that occupation till 1853, when he went to Boston and engaged to drive a team for his brother John. After a time he took a partnership in the business, and finally, in company with his brother Laprellott, he purchased his brother John's interest, and from that time till Laprellott's death they conducted the business together. After his brother's death Mr. Deane took Ambrose Hardy, who was a book-keeper in the N. B. Railroad office, in partnership, and they engaged not only to haul, but to load the freights of that road in Boston. The business was prosperous and successful. In 1872, having dissolved partnership with Mr. Hardy, Thomas P. Frost became a partner in the business, and two years later Mr. Deane sold out to him his interest and returned to his home in Norton. He and his brother Laprellott had previously purchased the interest of the other heirs in the home farm, and upon the decease of Laprellott, Lewis B. inherited his share. The homestead consists of seventy-five acres of laud, with commodious dwelling and outbuildings. Mr. Deane has built a large and wellappointed barn, and is pleasantly situated in life. His home is in the suburbs of the pleasant little vil-

He married, Aug. 18, 1880, Rose Burns, of Providence. They have no children. He is a Whig and Republican in politics, and an attendant of the Unitarian Church.

Silas Allen Stone

The' men who came to New England in the early colonial days were not only hardy, courageous, and adventurous, but many, if not most, of them were men of education and intelligence. In their struggle for existence in the New World, however, they encountered so many privations, and had to meet and overcome so many obstacles, that they had but little time to devote to the education of their children, and particularly was this true of the second and third generations. One result of all this was that of the first settlers we have usually quite authentic and more or less complete records, while of their children and children's children we can learn but little because of their inattention to literary matters and the consequent meagre data they have left behind them. The Stone family furnishes no exception to this general rule.

The first of the name who came to America was Deacon Simon Stone, who embarked at London, England, April 15, 1635, in the ship " Increase," Robert Lea, master, and May 25, 1636, he was admitted a freeman at Watertown. He was at that time fifty, and his wife Joan thirty-eight years of age. The place of his homestead was just south of Mount Auburn Cemetery, and probably embraced part of those grounds. The records of the Plantation Office in London show that he was a husbandman in England prior to his removal to America. He became a man of consequence in the new colony. He was selectman seven years, and was a leader in church and State affairs. His younger brother, Deacon Gregory, came to Cambridge and settled in 1637. Both the brothers reared families, and from one or the other of them (most probably Deacon Gregory) i the particular branch of the Stone family of which Silas A. is a member was descended.

William Stone was one of the early settlers of the town of Norton, Bristol Co., Mass. His son, known as ( 'apt. William Stone, was a man of much prominence in the early history of that town. He was town treasurer from 1726 to 1733, inclusive. He was one of the selectmen ten years, between 1730 and 1750. He represented the town in the Legislature five years, ami was captain in the militia. His sword, made in 1745, is now in the possession of his great-grandson, Silas A. Stone. His wife was Mehitable Lane. He established an iron forge just above where Norton Centre Mills now stand, nearly opposite the old Stone homestead. He had children, of whom Nathaniel was one. Nathaniel was born Sept. 2, 1753, and died April 11, 1835. His wife was Rebecca Woodward. She was born June 26, 1758, and died Sept. 8, 1806. Their child

Source changes here: from History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, by Hurd, Duane Hamilton, [from Old Catalog] Ed, published 1883; 13,443 words in this source stream.

Norton Town

March 19, 1718, by a vote of the town, "The act Revised Conserning the kiling of birds ;" and it is supposed that for several years a premium was thus paid for the destruction of these birds.

In September, 1741, tlie town "voted to raise £40 for the Suport of the Scoole, and for the birds' and Squrils' heads, and the poor." We suppose this was for the support of " the poor," and not a bounty offered for cutting off their " lieads."

First Settlers. - The following is a list of the first settlers of Norton, all of whom, with one exception, are known to have been here prior to or in 1711, condensed from Rev. Mr. Clark's " History of Norton" :

Deacon John Andrews might have been the son of Henry and Mary (Deane) Andrews, wh» were married Feb. 17, 1685-86, and was born about 1686. He is supposed to have been a grandson of Henry Andrews, one of the first settlers of Taunton.

John Austin was the son of Jonah Austin, Jr., of Taunton, and was born 1st July, 1671. He lived at the east part of the town. When he died is unknown.

Samuel Bayley lived at the east part of Mansfield. He married, Aug. 28, 1711, Elizabeth Caswell, and had eight or nine children. He died previous to March 5, 1754.

Thomas Braman, Sr., might have been the son of Thomas, who with his wife were at Taunton June, 1653. He died June 7, 1709; his widow died Sept. 18, 1714.

Thomas Braman, Jr., is supposed to have been the son of Thomas, Sr., just mentioned, and tohave been born about 16SG. He was dead previous to May 1, 1725.

Daniel Braman was the son of Thomas, Sr., and Hannah (Fisher) Braman, and was born Oct. 11, 1688. He lived at the place where his father settled.

Deacon John Briggs was the son of Richard and Rebecca (Haskins) Briggs, of Taunton, and was born Feb. 26, 1669 (79?). He is presumed to have lived near the Centre, as he used to sweep the meetinghouse, and was several times chosen " Clark of ye Market."

Capt. Samuel Brintnell was the son of Thomas and Esther Brintnell (the first settlers of what is now Mansfield), and born Dec. 2 (?), 1665. He lived at the homestead of his father, and was a very influential man in the early history of the town, much employed in public affairs .as selectman and representative to the General Court.

John Caswell, Sr., was the son of Thomas Caswell, of Taunton, and was born July 1, 1656. He settled at the east part of what is now Mansfield.

Benjamin Caswell was probably the son of Thomas, and the grandson of Thomas, Sr., of Taunton, and was born Nov. 16, 1675. He probably lived somewhere in the east part of Mansfield.

Ebenezer Eddy was the son of .John and Deliverance (Owin) Eddy, of Taunton, grandson of Samuel and Elizabeth Eddy, of Plymouth, great-grandson of Rev. William Eddy, a Non-conformist minister of Cranbrook, Kent Co., England, and was born 16th May, 1676 ('?). He settled near Crane's Depot.

Israel Fisher was born 27th March, 1680, and is supposed to have settled near his brothers, Samuel and Eleazer. He w.as one of the original members of the church.

Thomas Grover was the .son of Thomas and Sarah (Chadwick) Grover, of Maiden, and was born, according to records, March, 1668 (1669?). He settled near what is now West Mansfield.

John Hall is supposed to have been the son of Samnel Hall, of Taunton, and born 19th October, 1666. He lived in the Mansfield part of Norton, near to Cobbler's Corner, probably on the east side of Rumford River.

John Hodges was the son of John and Elizabeth (Macy) Hodges, of Taunton (grandson of William Hodges, who was at Taunton in 1643), and was born oth of April, 1673.

William Hodges was also a brother of those just mentioned, and was born 6th of June, 1682. He settled near the common graveyard, just beyond Austin Messenger's.

John Lane was the son of Andrew and Tryphena Lane, of Hingham, and grandson of William Lane, who came to Dorchester from England (?) in 1635- 36, and died about 1654.

"Hon. George LecMiard, the son of Judge Thomas and Mary (Watson) Leonard, of Taunton, grandson of James and Margaret Leonard, who came to Taunton in 1652, and great-grandson of Thomas Leonard, of Pontypool, Wales, was born 18th of April, 1671. This family of Leonards claimed descent from Lennard Lord Dacre, one of the most distinguished families of the nobility of the United Kingdom, and descended in two lines from Edward III. through two of his sons, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas Plantaganet, Duke of Gloucester. There appears to be some ground for this claim, from the fact that the arms of the Lennard and Leonard families were the same. Near the close of the last century the last Lord Dacre, bearing the name of Lennard, died, and it is supposed that the late Judge Leonard, who was a grandson of George, who first settled in Norton, could have claimed the title. At any rate, there was some consultation among the Leonards in this vicinity upon the propriety of claiming it; but I am told the matter ended by the judge saying that ' he preferred to be lord of acres in America rather that Lord Dacre in England." Whether descended from Lord Dacre or not, the subject of this sketch and his descendants lived very much in the style of the English nobility, being the owners of an immense tract of land, and surrounded by their tenantry. Probably no family in New England were lords of more acres than the Norton Leonards. The ancestors of George Leonard were interested in the ironworks both in England and America, and, as we have already stated, he acted as the agent of his father and Uncle .lames in setting up, in 1695, the first bloomery or iron-forge within the limits of our town. The house (built before 1700) in which George Leonard lived is still standing, and is said to have been the first house erected in town.''

Benjamin Newland, the son of Jeremiah and Katherine Newland, of Taunton, was born about 1670 (?). John Newland was a brother of Benjamin. Jabez Pratt was perhaps the son of Jonathan, of Plymouth, born Nov. 1, 1673.

Thomas Skinner, the son of Thomas and Mary (?) Skinner, and grandson of Thomas, who came from Chichester, England, about 1050, and settled in Maiden, was born November, 1668. He settled in the westerly part of the North Purchase, now Mansfield, as early as 1695.

John Skinner was a brother, or porhapa only -halfiwotker, of Thomas, for Mary, the wife of Thomaa'54- Skinner, died at Maiden, April 9, 1071, and John was born April, 1673. He settled in the west part of the North Purchase about the time Thomas did.

Thomas Stephens was the son of Richard Stephens, of Taunton, and was born 3d February, 1674. He is supposed to have lived near the centre of the town. In 1712 he had land laid out to him on Lockety Neck, near the junction of Rumford and Wading Rivers. He was one of the first board of selectmen. Robert Tucker was here as early as 1698. William AVetberell was the son of the first settler of Norton, and was born about 1650 (?). He lived at the place where his father is supposed to have first " pitched" his habitation within the limits of Norton, near the outlet of Winneconnet Pond.

Jeremiah Wetherell was the son of William and Elizabeth (Newland) Wetherell, but when born is unknown. He lived at the east part of the town, and afterwards moved into Taunton.

John Wetherell, Jr., the son of John, already mentioned, was born Oct. 8, 1688, and is said to have been the first child born within the limits of Norton. He lived at the east part of the town, upon the old homestead.

grandson of Nicholas, of Taunton,' and was born Feb. 3, 1675. He settled within the limits of Mansfield, close to the line between the old town of Taunton and the North Purchase.

Deacon Benjamin AVilliams was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Williams, of Taunton, grandson of Eichard and Francis (Dighton) Williams, and was born 15th October, 1681. He settled, about the time of his marriage, at the northerly part of Mansfield.

Chapter Xlvii

The Old French War. - " A company of soldiers for this war was raised in Norton and vicinity, with John Caswell as ensign ; and, there being no lieutenant, he was soon promoted to that office.

" Seven men were transferred from Maj. Hodges' to Nathaniel Williams' company. Three of these, viz., John Finny, John Finny, Jr., and Jonathan Lane, are supposed to have belonged to Norton. From this ex])edition Maj. Hodges never returned. One account says, ' He died in the early part of the war, when stationed on the lines between the present State of Maine and Canada.' Another account says " that, on his returning voyage (from Cape Breton) in a French vessel he died suddenly, and there was suspicion that he was poisoned.'

" This war extended from 1756 to 1763. To assist in carrying it on, Norton furnished her full quota of officers and soldiers. In Capt. Nathaniel Perry's company, of Easton, on service in 1754, employed for the defense of the Eastern frontier, we find the following men belonging to Norton :

1 He is supposed to have been the same person, made a freeman in 1042, who married Susaiinab, daughter of Jonas and Frances Humphrey, and was at Dorchester in lGo2.

" From May 12, 1.769, to Jan. 2, 1760, Capt. Nathan Hodges, of Norton, was out with a company of men from this town, whose names we here record:

Revolutionary War. - The first reference to the war of the Revolution found in the old town records is under date Jan. 16, 1775, when it was " voted to adhear to the advise and Recommendations of the association of the Continental Congress." They also chose a committee "to see to the faithful performance of the Recommendations of the Continental Congress; only the said Committee, or the major part of them, [should] not expose any person but by order of said town." The Committee of Correspondence and Inspection consisted of John King, Benjamin Morey, William Smith, Isaac Smith, and Israel Trow. March 6th added to this committee James Plodges, Noah Wiswall, Eleazer Walker, Elkanah Lane, Benjamin

" Voted tlutt the committee of Inspection be Directed to take particular DOlicd uf all ijersoiis that should sell any kind of provisions to any person t)r persons that they think is Lying with a view to distress the Inhabitants of this inovince."

Tliiis far all had been preparation, though no actual hostilities had commenced, but the ever-memorable 19th of April came, when the streets of Lexington and Concord drank up the first blood of the Revolution. The alarm quickly spread through the country. It reached Norton some time during the day, and ere the morrow's sun had risen Capt. Silas Cobb and Capt. Seth Gilbert, each with a detachment of men, were on their march to join with others in repelling the invasion. All of Capt. Cobb's company left home April 19th, and their term of service varied from four to ten days. It is proper that their names go down to posterity, and we therefore record them :

" Voted to pay so many men as to make half the number of men in the Training-Lists, which are to be raised out of the Laram and Training Lists for minit men ; and to be paid for the time they shall be necessarily Detained in service upon any Emergency, as much as the said town shall think proper."

Elijah Eddy, of this town, was in Peter Pitt's company, of Dightoij, three months and six days during this year, and Nathan Morey was chaplain of Timothy Walker's regiment.

"Sept. 18, 1775, Voted to Eleazar Clap, which he paid for mending a gun for the town's use, £0. 3s. 6rf. / also to the same, for carrying blankets to the army for said town's use, £0. 2s. / also to the same, for thirty-two days' service at the Provincial Congress, £4. 4s. 4(1.; also to Capt. William Homes, for one hundred days' attendance at said Congress, £12.

In 1776 the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, etc., were William Homes, Andrew Hodges, David Lincoln, John Hall, Noah Woodward, Eleazer Clap, and Israel Trow.

Capt. Isaac Hodges also had the command of a company in the Tiverton alarm. The names of his men (whether all from Norton is uncertain) were, - lu a secret expedition from September 25th to October 31st, Capt. Hodges was again on duty, with these men under liis command, most of whom were from Norton :

Sept. 8, 1777, the town " voted to George Cobb for going to Milton for paper-cartridges 12s. ; the cost of paper, 18«. lOd. ; for a box to stow the cartridges in, 3s. ; for two days himself, and three days and a half of Seth Smith and Joshua Pond, to make cartridges, £4 2». ; for thread for the cartridges, l.<t." Also " voted that the selectmen procure the town's proportion of arms allowed by the State, and that they should have the money to purchase said arms with." Sept. 15, " voted that ten of the firearms sent to this town should be kept as a store for said town."

In April and May of this year Capt. Israel Trow had the command of the following men in the Rhode Island service. Most of them were from Norton, but probably not all :

In 1777 the persons whose names are here recorded enlisted into the army for three years. AH did not, however, serve the full time of their enlistment. The figures attached to the names show the number of months the individual was in service.

May 11th, "voted that the officers of the several companies should raise the men sent for by the General Court on the best terms they can; and, if thev cannot procure them for thirty pounds granted by said Court, that the town will pay the overplus." The officers were further directed " to hire the money to procure said men with, if thirty pounds will not."

We give below the members of Capt. Israel Trow's company, drafted for throe months' service in Rhode Island, commencing Jan. 1, 1778. Most of them are known to have belonged to this town :

Ephraim Lane was a lieutenant-colonel in Col. ; Thomas Carpenter's regiment, Rliode Island service, I from July 24 to Sept. 9, 1778. He was also a lieu- i tenant-colonel in Col. John Daggett's regiment in ! 1775, called out by the alarm at Lexington, 19th of j April. j

For 1779 the Committee of Correspondence, etc., | were William Cobb, William Homes, Esq., Daniel ! Dean, Noah Wiswall, Noah Woodward, Silas Cobb, I and Eleazer Clap. June 22d, " Voted that the eight j Continental men now called for for nine months, and the three men for the Lines at Rhode Island, be raised by way of a tax on the ratable polls and estates in sd. Norton ;" and a committee were appointed to raise " the above men."

August 30th, ''Voted to Silas Cobb two pounds, nineteen shillings, L. my., for keeping seven Highlanders one night, and finding them all a breakfast."

October 9tli, the town '* voted to raise £1108 5«., in silver money, to pay the Bounty to the soldiers that were hired the summer past." Also '* voted to Mr. Nathaniel Prior 210 pounds, old continental money, for going, himself and team, to Tiverton with the soldiers last August." The same day, "Voted to choose a person to purchase the beef called for (by a Resolve of Gen. Court) from this town ;" and Maj. Silas Cobb was chosen to make the purchase.

October 16th, it was "voted to raise £1100, for to pay for the beef and trouble." December 25th, " Voted to raise such a sum of money as to enable the town to pay each soldier that shall enlist into the continental service for three years, or during the war, three hundred silver dollars each ; one hundred paid soon, one hundred paid in one year, and the other hundred in two years, with interest."

In the alarm of August, 1780, Capt. Israel Trow marched to Rhode Island at the head of a company of men, whose names we here record, all of wliom are supposed to have belonged to this to^vn :

In Capt. Jabez Barney's company, of Swansea, at West Point, August, 1780, were the following men from this town. The first two served for the town of Mansfield, the remainder for Swansea :

The following is a list of the men raised in Norton, agreeably to a resolve of the General Court passed Dec. 2, 1780, the term of service three years :

Jan. 8, 1781, the town "voted so far to comply with the Resolve of the General Court Respecting Beef as to procure s" Beef or the money;" also voted to raise £204 3«., silver money, in addition to the £1108 5s. raised Oct. 9, 1780, to be devoted to the same purpose. The Committee of Correspondence, etc., for 1781, were Silas Cobb, Israel Trow, and Noah Wiswall.

March 5th, "voted to give the men, called for to go to Rhode Island for forty days, four pounds and ten shillings per month, including whatever shall be given them from this commonwealth, or any other way from the publick."

In the summer the General Court called upon the town to supply the army with six thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight pounds of beef, twenty-eight shirts, twenty-eight pairs of shoes and stockings, and fourteen blankets. July 16th, it was " voted to comply with the requisition of the General Court respecting beef, and one hundred and twenty pounds silver

( money was raised to pay for it, and Capt. Ephraim Burr was authorized to purchase it at four jience per pound," and it was ordered "that there be a clause inserted in the warrant for our fall meeting to raise a sum of money to pay for clothing." It was also

months' service twenty silver dollars per month, and the town to receive their wages from this commonwealth, and that each man have five dollars advance pay."

We find but few names of soldiers to record for the year 1781. In January of this year there were in the Continental army from Norton, enlisted in the years 1777-80, for three years or during the war, -