BlockBefore
Decorative drawing: a river bend. Not a photograph of this place.

Rehoboth Town (part 2 of 6)

Part 2 of 6 of the account of this town in History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, published 1883; Bristol County Farmers' Bulletin, published 1918. 15,975 words, covering 5 settlements. Source changes inside the text are labelled at the exact paragraph where the next book begins.

Contents

14 sections

The section headings the book prints inside this chapter, on this part. Each one jumps to where it begins.

Parts

6 pages

The source prints this as one continuous account. It is split here so no single page grows too heavy to load; the text runs straight on across the parts and nothing is omitted.

The chapter

15,975 words

Reproduced complete and unedited from History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, published 1883; Bristol County Farmers' Bulletin, published 1918. The text is machine-read from scans, so expect recognition errors: misspelled names, dropped words, and stray characters. Nothing has been corrected, because correcting a proper name invents one. The headings below are the books' own; source changes are labelled in place.

Tlie next meeting of the proprietors was held at Weymouth, "the 10th day of the 10th month" [December], when regulations were made as to the planting of corn. The teacher to have a certain portion from each settler. Servants after four years to be inhabitants and entitled to their privileges. Richard Wright employed to build a corn-mill.

During the year 1643, and probably before any other division of land had been made other than for house-lots, the proprietors were required individually to give in the value of their estates, in order that the allotments of land might be made accordingly, as appears from the Proprietors' Records : " About the year 1643, a joynt agreement was made by the inhabitants of Scaconk alias Rehoboth, fibr the bringing in of their estates ; that soe men's lotments might be taken up according to person and estate, as alsoe for the carrieing on of all publick chardges both for present and future ; furthermore the means and interest of what is heare expressed is that by which lands, now granted by the Court of Plymouth to the towne, is to be divided according to person and estate, as is expressed in this following list:

At a meeting of the proprietors of Seekonk (the date of which is torn off, though it was probably among the first) it was voted that nine men should be chosen to order the prudential afiairs of the plantation, who should have power to dispose of the lands

" in lots of twelve, eight, or six acres, as in their discretion they think the quality of the estate of the person do require." This applied to house-lots. It was further ordered " that all other lots to be divided according to person and estate. One person to be valued at twelve pounds sterling in the division of lands, and that no person should ^U his improvements but to such as the towne shall accept of;" also voted " that the meeting-house shall stand in the midst of the town."

On " the 21st of the 4th month" [June] a town meeting was holden, but the records of it are so mutilated as to be mostly illegible. It appears, however, to relate to a new division of land. It was resolved that on every fortieth day a meeting should be holden by all the inhabitants " for the consideration and acting of such necessary affairs as concern the plantation."

" At a town meeting, the 31st day of the 4th month [June], 1644, lots were drawu for a division of the woodland between the plain and the town. Shares were drawn to the number of fifty-eight, as follows :

"We whose names are underwritten, being, by the providence ot God, inhabitants of Seacunk, intending there tn settle, do covenant and bind ourselves one to another to subject our persons [torn offj (according to law and equity) to uiue persons, any five of the nine which shall be chosen by the majur part of the inliabitants of this plantation, and we [torn off] to be subject to all wholesome [torn off] by them, and to assist them, according to our ability and estate, and to give timely notice unto them of any such thing as in our conscience may prove dan-

"The I2ih of the 5th month [July], 1644. At a meeting upon public notice given, it is ordered that Buch as shall have allotments iti the three divisions of lands presently to be laid out by Mr. Oliver and his partner, Joseph Fisher, and shall not pay the surveying of it, by the 28th of the 8th month [October] next, at Boston or Dedhani, according to the proposition of Mr. Oliver, shall forfeit all such lands laid out in the three aforesaid divisions, into the hands of the nine men entrusted with the town affairs, who are desired to undertake with Mr. Oliver to satisfy hioi for the laying out of the aforesaid divisions.

"It is further ordered, the day above written, that Will. Cheesborough is to liave division in all lands of Seaknnk for a hundred and fiftythree pounds besides what he is to have for his own proportion, and that in way of ci>nslderation for the pains and charges he hath been at for selling off this plantation."

** At a general meeting of the town of Seacunk, being the 9th of the 10th month [December], 1644, at lawful warning given, by reason of many meetings and other strong causes for the easing of the great trouble and for the [illegible) and tlie deciding of controversies between party and party, as well as the proposing of men's levies to be made and paid, and for the well ordering of the town aflfairs, its may stand with future equity, according to our former combination, the inhabit tants of said place have choose these men here named :"

The first meeting of these townsmen, as they were styled, was on " the 3d day of the 11th mo. [January] 1644," when they voted to give Robert Morris, "in consideration for the spare lot he hath taken," the first lot in the next division.

"The 26th of the loth mo. [December], 1644, at a meeting of the town it w&a ordered, that, for time past, and for time to come, that all workmen that have or shall work in any common work, or shall work for any particular men, shall have for their wages for each day's work as followeth : for each laborer, from the first day of November until the first day of February, 18d. a day, and for the rest uf the year 20d, a day except the harvest, that is to say while men are reaping harvests."

" It is ordered that the work of 4 oxen and a man for a day [torn off], shilling and sixpense ; and that for six oxen and a man seven shillings; and for eight oxen and a man, eight shillings."

"The llith of the llth mo. [January], 1644, at a meeting of the townsmen it was agreed upon that all those that are underwritten have forfeited their lots for m t fencing, or not removing their families according to a former order, made the '24th of the 8th month, 1643 ; therefore we do enter upon lliRra for, and in the behalf of the tuwn, to be disposed of as the town shall think meet, only paying them for their necessary charges, according to a former order :"

"It is ordered, the day and year above written, at a town meeting, that all men tiiat have lots granted upon the neck of land, shall fence so much fence as the number of bis acres cometh to, by the I5th day of the 2d month, or pay 2s. for every rod that shall mA be fenced."

"It is ordered that no man simll fall any tree or trees within the space of eiglit rods of the road and of house-lot, upon the forfeit of 6s. 8d. for every tree fallen without the consent of the owner of the lot."

" It is agreed that Edward Bennett bhall have the ground that his house standeth upon, and so much of the breadlh of the ground as he hath railed in to the edge of the hill towards the brook."

"The 17th day of the 12th mo. [February], 1G44, at a town-meeting it was agreed upon, that whoever hatli not convenient land to plant, for present getting of corn, shall be allowed to plant so much as they can break up this year, and shall have it six years, and then to fall to the town again, either upon Manton's neck or else upon the hack side of the lots on the southeast side of the town."

"The 2Cth of the 12th mo. [February], 1644, at a meeting of the townsmen, Richard Wright, Richard Bowen, Alexander Winchester, Walter Palmer, William Smith, Edward Smith, being present, it is ordered that the recording of any man's land in the town-book shall be to him and his heirs a sufficient assurance forever."

" The same day it is ordered that no man's lands shall be recorded until he sliall bring to the town clerk a note for his lauds, butted and bounded."

It will be observed that the records thus far bear the date of " Seacunk" or "Seakuuk." Though the proprietors purchased their land of the Plymouth Colony, yet it appears from the compact signed by them on becoming inhabitants of "Seacunk" that they considered themselves independent of any jurisdiction but their own, though they were afterwards claimed by both Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay. In 1645 they submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Plymouth court, or rather were assigned to that by the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and were incorporated by the scripture name of Rehoboth, a name selected by Mr. Newman; for said he, " The Lord hath made room for us."

Next on the town records follow the registers of the lauds of the proprietors. Here we find the following names: Mr. Alexander Winchester, Mr. Howard, Peter Hunt, William Cheesborough, Ralph Allin, John Holbrooke, John Peram, the Schoolmaster, Matthew Pratt, William Carpenter, Samuel Butterworth, Edward Patteson, James Browne, Richard Bowen, Mr. Samuel Newman, Mr. Peck, Abraham Martin, John Sutton, Robert Morris, John Matthewes, John Fitch, Robert Titus, George Kendricke, Robert Sharp, Thomas Bliss, the Pastor, Stephen Paine, Edward Smith, James Clarke, William Smith, the Governour, Edward Bennett, Obadiah Holmes, Mr. John Browne, Thomas Cooper, Thomas Holbrooke, Thomas Hett, John Allin, John Meggs, William Sabin, Henry Smith, Zachary Roades, Edward Gilman, Sr., Thomas Clifton, Joseph Torrey, Widow Walker, Richard Ingram (now Ingraham), the Teacher, Thomas Loring, Ralph Shepherd, John Reade, John Miller, Richard Wright.

inserted Robert Fuller iu the above list, but the date of the registry of his land is not till 1652, though it stands on the record in the i-lace he has assigned to it. The name of Thomas Wilmot (now written Willmarth) is also found in the same list, though I am confident that there were none of that name in town at so early a period as 1645 ; and another name appears to have been erased, and this written over it in a handwriting of more modern date.

" The 16th of the 1st mo. [March |, 1645, at a general meeting of the towne upon public notice given it was agreed that all the fence in the general field shall be fenced bv the 23d of this present month ; and whosoever shall be negligent, and not repair or set up his fence bv the day above written, shall pay si.kpence for every rod deficient, and the damage that shall come to any man by the same."

"The same day, the men after mentioned were made choice of to view the fences and to judge of the sufiiciencv of them, viz.: Richard Bowen, Robert Titus William Smith, Capt. Wright, Alexander Winchester, Thomas Bliss, Stephen Payne, and Thomas Copper."

" The 16th of the 1st mo. [March], 1645, it was agreed j upon by the towne that the towne shall be divided into two parts for the making of the foot bridges and the keeping of them, and the highways leading to them to be done by the whole town; the division to begin at the Widow Walker's, and so on to Will. Carpenter's and so on to half; and Robert Martin and Thomas Cooper were made choice of to be surveyors to oversee to work."

" The 9th of the 4th mo. [June], 1645, at a meeting of the town upon public notice given, those seven men underwritten were chosen to order the prudential affairs of the town for half a year, viz. : Mr John Browne, sen. William Cheesborough. Stephen Payne. Mr. Alex. Winchester.

" The same day lots were drawn for the great plain, beginning upon the west .side; and he that is first upon the west side shall he last upon the east."

"26th of the 10th month [December], 1645, at a meeting of the townsmen, it was voted that the houselot and the rest of the accommodations that was laid out for John Sutton, forasmuch as he hath not come to live amongst us, nor fulfilled the order agreed upon, and bearing date the 24th of the 8th month, 1643, be granted to William Devell."

It was also voted the same day " that a fence shall be made between the Indian lands, at the marked tree, from sea to sea, by the last day of the 2d month next, and the fence of five rails to be laid out by Robert Martin and Edward Smith and 2 more, and thev shall begin at the east side of the neck, and so to the west. Walter Palmer shall do the first fence, I Abraham Martin the second, and so accordingly as ' the house-lots fall in order round the town ;' and if any man shall fiiil, or be negligent to set up his fence by' the day fixed, he shall forfeit for every rod not set up, two shillings, to be employed for the use of the town by the townsmen [one line here illegible], and those that are employed for the setting up the fence shall have an abatement in their fence so much as comes to their labor."

"The 18th of the 12th mo. [February], 1646, at a meeting of the towne, it was agreed to draw lots for the new meadow, and to be divided according to person and estate, only those that were under £150 estate to be made up 150. They were drawn as followeth :

1 The town was built in a semicircular form, around what is now Seekonk Comnwn (the south extremity of the plain), with tlie meetingliouse and parsonage in the centre, the semicircle opening towards Seekonk or Pawtucket Kiver. This circle was afterwards called "the ring of the town."

Thomas Cooper. *' At the same meeting the town gave peiiuission to these mun chosen to call a lown-iiieeting so often as need sliall require."

At the same meeting it was voted " to have a convenient way, four rods wide (to be made by Edward Smith), to be for the town's use, or any that shall have occasion to pass from town to Providence, or to Mr. Blackstone's."

"The 15th day of the 1st mo. [March], 1651, at a towne meeting, it was agreed on that Peter Hunt should accompany Mr. Browne to Plymouth to nuike agreement about the Indian complaints."

"The 19th day of the 3d mo. [May], 1651, chosen deputies Stephen Payne and Richard Bowen, for the Court at Plymouth ; Walter Palmer and Peter Hunt to be grand jurymen. Surveyors for the highways, William Smith and John Bead." " The 18th of October, 1651, these were chosen townsmen, viz. : " Mr. Browne. Thomas Cooper.

Peter Hunt. *' At the same time Peter Hunt was chosen Town Clerk." "At a town-meeting lawfully warned, the 12th of December, in the year 1653, voted that the price of corn should be 5«. ; wiieat, Ss. ; rye, 4«. ; and Indian corn, Ss. (provided that the corn be current and niorchantable corn)."

Richard Bowen. "The luth of the 11th mo. [January], 1623. Voted that the Indians that kill any wolves are to be paid out of the rate by the constable."

"June the 26th, 1655. At a town-meeting it was agreed upon that Mr. Newman, our teacher, should have tifty pounds a year ; and those seven men whose names are hereto appended were chosen committees for the levying of a rate according to person and estate for the raising of said maiutenance:

Stephen Payno. Feb. 22, 1658. "The following persons are accepted as freemen of the town, to take up their freedom, namely : Joseph Peck, John Peck, Henry Smith, Robert Fuller, John Fitch. Stephen Paine, Jonathan Bliss, William Buckland, Rice Leonard."

June 22, 1658. '* At a town-meeting lawfully warned, lots were drawn for the meiidows that lie on the north side of the town, iu ordei; as followetli, according to person and estate: ftuit-Claim Deed from King Philip. - On the 30th of March, 1668, Philip, who had succeeded his brother Alexander as sachem of the Wampanoags or Pokanokets, as they are sometimes called, confirmed to the town the purchase of the " eight miles square" made of Massasoit, or Ossamequin, his father, in 1641, and relinquished all claim and title to the same by giving the town a quit-claim warrantee deed.

The following is a list of the names of the inhabitants and proprietors of the Towne of Rehoboth having Rights and Titles to the Measuages, Tenements and Lands contained in the quit-claim deed of William Bradford to the town of Rehoboth, which hath been reade and allowed in a full Towne Meeting, ffebruary the 7th, 1689: Mr, Samuel Angier, Decon Thomas Cooper, Joseph Peck, sen'r, John ffitch, John Woodcock, sen'r, Serj. Thomas Reade, George Kenricke, Nichollas Ide, sen'r, George Robinson, sen'r, Robert Wheaton, Richard Martia, John Peren, Jonathan ffuller, sen'r, Enoch Hunt, John Hunt, Ephrahim Hunt, Rice Leonard, Sam'l, Butterworth, Philip Walker, ffrancis Stevens, sen'r, John Ormsby, Nathaniel Chafi^ee^Samuel Sabin, Serj. Preserved Able, Daniell Reade, Israll Reade,*" James Sabin, ^ohn Sabin,'^Noah Sabin, The Hieres of Thomas Kenrick, Samuel Robinson, Mosses Reade, Mr. Christopher Sanders, Jonah Palmer, sen'r, Samuell Palmer, Noah Mason, Samuell Mason, Nicholas Ide, jun'r, Sam'l Millerd, sen'r, Sam'l Millerd, jr., Johe Hall, John Redway, Sam'l Carpenter, John Tittus, Samuell Tittus, Joseph Tittus, John Carpenter, Thomas Grant, John Willmath, Samuel Blise, Jonathan Blise, Joseph Buckland, Samuell Paine, Joseph Browne, William Carpenter, jr., Isack Allen, Thomas Willmath, jr., John Woodcock, jun'r, Iserall Woodcock, Thomas Woodcock, Jonathan Woodcock, Samuel Newman, jr., John Kinsley, Timothy Ide, Jonathan ffuller, jun., Jeremiah Wheaton, John Shawe, V. Joseph Sabine, Richard Whiteaker, Samuel Bullock, Thoma.s Ormsby, Thomas Man, Robert Millerd, sen'r, Mr. Henry Sweeting, Jathniell Peck, Joshua Smith, John Smith, Richard Evens, James Thurber, Sam'l Bowen, Jonathan Willmath, John flrench, Joseph Borsworth, Joseph Peck, jun^r, Hezekiah Pecke, Richard Bowen, Thomas Bowen, sen'r, John Marten, Jonah Palmer, jun'r, Samuel Cooper, Nathaniell Perry, John Daggett,

Orphans. - Thomas Cooper and Nathaniell Cooper, sons of Nath. Cooper, The Heires of Benjamin Buckland, Samuell ffuller, The Heires of Eldad Kinsley, Jonathan Carpenter, David Carpenter, Sollomon Carpenter, Zacheriah Carpenter, Abraham Carpenter, The Heires of Robert Joanes, Daniell Sabin, son of Nehemiah Sabin, John flfuller, Abiall ffuller, Benjamin Paine, George Robinson, Jr., Isake Mason, Thomas Bowen.

Chapter Xxxiv.'

Eehobolb in the War - Ganisou-Houses - Burning of the Town - Pierce's Fight - Philip Slain at Mount Hope - Capture of Annawan - Annawan's Bock - Col. Benjamin Church Capture.

Indian War. - In 1675 commenced the bloody and destructive Indian war known by the name of " Philip's war." Of the miseries of this war Rehoboth, from its proximity to Mount Hope, the residence of Philip, or Pometacom, the prime mover of the war, was destined to suffer its full share. The first blood was spilled within the original jurisdiction of Rehoboth, and the last of Philip's generals, the stern and intrepid old warrior and counselor Annawan, was captured within the present limits of the same town. During this war, which lasted nearly two years, the inhabitants of Rehoboth were kept in almost constant alarm ; a number of them were at different times slain, and the whole town, the garrison-houses excepted, was at one time laid in ashes. This town was also the scene of Pierce's fight, one of the most disastrous battles to the English that occurred during the whole war.

The " three houses" into which " the inhabitants of both towns" (Rehoboth and Swansea) were gathered, and where they rendezvoused during the war, were called garrison-houses. They were fortified and continually guarded in time of danger, and were some-

2 See Chapter II., where will he found the Indian history of the county. Also, see history of Attleborough for Indian history of this eectioD.

times so strong as to enable a few men to sustain a long siege against a large body of savages. The three principal garrison-houses maintained in Rehoboth and Swansea during Philip's war, and which were probably meant by the writer laSt quoted, were one in Rehoboth North Purchase (now Attleborough), called " Woodcock's Garrison," another on the south end of Seekonk Plain (now Seekonk Common), and the third near Miles' Bridge, in the northern part of Swansea ; this last was called " Miles' Garrison," from the Rev. John Miles, the minister of Swansea, whose house was garrisoned. It stood a short distance west of Miles' Bridge,' probably near the site of the tavern of Mason Barney, Esq.* Woodcock's Garrison was named from John Woodcock, who built the house and occupied it before the war and after it during his life for a public tavern. The following is the record of the license granted him for this purpose by the court of Plymouth : " July 5, 1670. John Woodcock is allowed by the Court to keep an Ordinary at the ten-mile river (so called), which is in the way from Rehoboth to the Bay ; and likewise enjoined to keep good order, that no unruliness nor ribaldry be permitted there." (Plymouth Colony Record.)

Several other houses were occupied temporarily as garrisons, but the three described were the strongest, and were always resorted to in times of the greatest danger.

Church mentions a Maj. Brown's Garrison, where a part of the Plymouth forces on their arrival at Swansea were posted. Where this garrison stood it is impossible now to determine, though I have the impression, from the fact that Mr. Brown's father owned land very largely at Wannamoiset, which had now descended to his son, that it was in the same part of Swansea with Miles' Garrison.

Mr. Baylies, in his " Memoir of Plymouth Colony," vol. ii., pt. 3, p. 33, mentions a garrison at the house of one Bourn, at Mattapoisett, twelve miles distant from Swansea. Though in this he follows Hubbard (133), yet this distance, " twelve miles," is undoubtedly an error. Hubbard in another place calls Mattapoisett " a small neck of land in the bottom of Taunton Bay, in the midway between Mount Hope and Pocasset Neck," and mentions it as being twelve miles from Rehoboth? This would make the distance be-

III the year 1S33, in digging or enlarging a cellar on this spot, a large nnmbt'r of cannon-balls were dug out of tlie ground, wliich leads me to suppose that this was the site of the garrison. I( is not mentioned by any historian that cannon were used by the English at Swansea at the time of Philip's war. But I know of no other purpose for wliich Uiese balls could have been deposited there. The place where they were found I conjecture to have been the spot of Mr. Miles' cellar.

Rehoboth

^ween Miles' Garrison and Mattapoisett six miles, the former being six miles distant from Rehoboth, and in the direction of the latter. Mattapoisett Neck is the same as is now called Gardner's Neck, in Swansea, which runs into Mount Hope Bay, early called Taunton Bay.

March the 28th, 1676, two days after Pierce's fight,' a party of the Indians, crossing the river, laid the town in ashes, burning forty houses and thirty barns.-' These houses were around the " Ring of the Town," now called " Seekonk Common." Only two houses were left standing, the garrison house, which stood on the spot where the house of Phanuel Bishop now stands, and another house on the south end of the common, which was preserved by black sticks having been arranged around it, so as to give it at a distance the appearance of being strongly guarded. The houses were set on fire, as tradition informs us, early in the evening, and when the sun arose the next morning it beheld only a line of smoking ruins.

The town records give the name of only one person slain by the Indians at this time: "Robert Beers, slain y" 28 March, 1676." He was an Irishman, and a brick-maker by trade. It is said that he was a religious but eccentric and superstitious man, and that on the approach of the Indians he refused to go into the garrison house, but sat down in his own house with his Bible in his hand, believing that while he continued reading it nothing could harm him. He was shot through the window, and fell with his Bible in his hand.

The following mention of the burning of the town by the Indians on the 28th of March is made in a letter written at that time by the council of war at Plymouth to Governor Leverett, of Massachusetts Colony. The copy, found among the Winslow papers, has no date, but from the contents it is inferred that it was written on the 31st of March, 1676 : " Another messenger with sad tidings, at the heels of the other, from Rehoboth ; that town in flames, 28 instant, soon after daylight, the enemy having fech't away sundry cattle the day before, and lay all night in their hearing, burnt sixty houses and barns, ap])pared very numerous, and continued lurking thereabout after it."

The next notice of the Indians relative to Rehoboth found in history is that "in the road to Rehoboth (in their march from Wrentham) they assaulted one Woodcock's house, killed one man and one of his sons, wounded another, and burned his son's house."

The Indian war in this quarter was now fast drawing to a close. Philip, the prime mover of the war, was slain on Saturday morning, Aug. 12, 1676, at Mount Hope, and Annawan, the last and bravest of his generals, was taken captive on Monday evening of the 28th, in Rehoboth. The rock where he was taken is still known to all the country round by the name of " Annawan's rock." This rock lies in the southeasterly part of Rehoboth, near the confines of Dighton, a few rods south of the new turnpike from Taunton to Providence, about eight miles from the former and ten miles from the latter place. It is on the northern border of a great swamp called Squannakonk, by which it is rendered inaccessible except on the northern side. This side can be seen from the turnpike, and is easily ascended, sloping gradually away from its summit to its base, at an angle of about 35°. The whole rock extends northeast and southwest seventy or eighty feet, and its height is twentyfive or thirty feet. It is composed of sand and pebbles. A part of its southeast side projects a little over its base, while on the northeast it seems at no very distant period to have tumbled down in large clefts. Near its southeast extremity is an opening of an angular form, resembling the corner of a room, with sides nearly perpendicular. In this, it is said, Annawan and his men had encamped. In one of the perpendicular sides of this opening is an excavation or fissure, narrow at the bottom, and widening gradually upwards, and commencing so near the ground as to make a very convenient seat. This is called " Annawan's chair," for it is said that in this Annawan used to sit. Within the large angular opening or corner, some years since, stood a large tree, covered for several feet from the ground with the names of many who had visited the rock, and whose passion for immortality had prompted them "to give in trust their names" to this reverend sentinel of the place. But the "September gale" of 1815 prostrated this ancient chronicler of the rock, and an uprooted stump now marks the place where it stood. It is probable that this tree grew since the days of Annawan, as it occupied a large share of the angle. Small bushes still grow from the seams on the top and in the steep side of the rock, as in the days of Church. Till lately a thin scattering wood grew around it, and near to the east and south was a tliick forest, which .seemed to make it even then a fitting abode for savages. But these have within a year or two all yielded to "the woodman's axe," and the retreat of Annawan now looks lonely and desolate. It is frequently visited by the curious and the gay, and the rock where the rude Indian once trod is now often pressed by the soft foot of the American fair. The nearest inhabitant to this rock is Deacon Asahel Bliss. (Bliss in 1838.)

Annawan was of the tribe of the Wampanoags, and had been greatly distinguished as a warrior and counselor under Massasoit, and was "Philip's great captain" in this war. He is first mentioned in the annals of Philip's war by Church, in describing the skirmish in which Philip was slain : " One of the " enemy, who seemed to be a great surly old fellow, hallooed with a loud voice, and often called out, "lootash, lootash!" Capt. Church called to his Indian, Peter, and asked him who that was called so. He answered that it was old Annawan, Philip's great captain, calling to his soldiers to stand to it, and fight stoutly." The best authority for the circumstances of the capture of Aunawan is found in the account written under the direction of the old warrior,' to whose valor the glory of the achievement belongs.

" Capt. Church," says the narrative, " had been but a little while at Plimouth (after the death of Philip) before a post from Rehobotli came to inform the Governour that old Annawan, Philip's chief captain, was with his company ranging about their woods, and was very offensive and pernicious to Rehoboth and Swanzey. Capt. Church was immediately sent for again, and treated with to engage in one expedition more. He told them their encouragement was so poor he feared his soldiers would be dull aljout going again. But being a hearty friend to the cause, he rallied again, goes to Mr. Jabez Howland, his old lieutenant, and some of his soldiers that used to go out with him, told them how the case was circumstanced, and that he had intelligence of old Annawan's walk and haunt, and wanted hands to hunt him. They did not want mucli entreating, but told him they would go with him as long as there was one Indian left in the woods. He moved and ranged through the woods to Pocasset.

" It being the latter end of the week, he proposed to go on to Rhode Island and rest until Monday ; but on the Lord's day morning'' there came a post to inform the captain that early the same morning a canoe with several Indians in it passed from Prudence Island' to Poppasquash* Neck. Capt. Church thought if he could possibly surprise them he might probably gain some intelligence of more game, therefore he made all possible speed after them. The ferryboat being out of the way he made use of canoes. But by that time they had made two freights and had got over about fifteen or sixteen of his Indians the wind sprung up with such violence that canoes could no more pass. - The captain seeing it was impossible for any more of his soldiers to come to him, he told his Indians if they were willing to go with him he would go to Poppasquash and see if they could catch some of the enemy Indians. They were willing to go but were sorry they had no English soldiers.^ So they marched through the thickets that they might

1 Col. Beiijamiu Church waa born at Duxbury, Mass., in 1639, and died Jan. 17, 1717, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, at Little Compton, R. I. He married Miss .\lice Southwurth, and had five sons and a daughter. His daring and intrepidity can scarce find an equal in our annals. He was particularly distinguished in Philip's war, and was afterwards sent on an expedition against the Eastern Indians. (Church's Hist. Of Philip's war.) William Church, Esq., of Providence, R. I., and Church Gray, Esq., of Seekonk, are lineal descendants of this hero, the former by the father's and the latter by the mother's side.

not be discovered, until they came unto the salt meadow to the northward of Bristol town, that now is, then they heard a gun ; the captain looked about, not knowing but it might be some of his own company in the rear. So halting till they all came up, he found it was none of his company that fired.

"Now, though he had but a few men, he was minded to send some of them out on a scout. He moved it to Capt. Lightfoot to go with three more on a scout; he said he was willing, provided the captain's man, Nathaniel (which was an Indian they had lately taken), might be one of them, because he was well acquainted with the Neck, and coming lately from among them knew how to call them.

"The captain bid him choose his three companions and go, and if they came across any of the enemy not to kill if they could possibly be taken alive, that they might gain intelligence concerning Annawan. The captain with the rest of his company moved but a little way further toward Poppa.squash before they heard another gun, which seemed to be the same way with the other, but farther off; but they made no halt until they came unto the narrow of Poppasquash Neck, where Capt. Church left three men more to watch if any should come out of the Neck and to inform the scout when they returned which way he was gone.

"He posted the remainder of his company, half on one side of the Neck, and the other with himself went on the other side, until they met, and, meeting with neither Indians nor canoes, returned with big expectations of tidings by their scout. But when they came back to the three men at the narrow of the Neck, they told their captain the scout was not returned and had heard nor seen anything of them ; this filled them with thoughts of what should become of them. By that time they had sat and waited an hour longer ; it was very dark and they despaired of their returning to them.

" Some of the Indians told their captain they feared his new man, Nathaniel, had met with his old Mount Hope friends and was turned rogue. They concluded to make no fires that night (and indeed they had no great need of any), for they had no victuals to cook, not so much as a morsel of bread with them.

" They took up their lodgings scattering, that if possibly their scout should come in the night and whistle (which was their sign) some or other of thein might hear them. They had a very solitary, hungry night, and as soon as the day broke* they drew off through the brush to a hill without the Neck, and looking about them they espied one Indian man come running somewhat towards them. The captain ordered one man to step out and show himself Upon this the Indian ran right to him. And who should it be but Capt. Lightfoot, to their great joy. Capt. Church asked him what news'? He answered, 'Good news';

"January 22,1787. Voted that the selectmen be instructed to remove the powder and other town stock, that is now at Col. Thomas Carpenter's, as soon as conveniently may be." Col. Carpenter was a stanch friend of the government.

"The name? of the following* peisons are registered in tlie town records as having taken the I'iitli of allegiance to the comnutnwealth, and delivered up their arms during March of 17H7. These men belonged to the party of Shays, and had probably taken arms against the government :

November 26, 1787. The town chose Capt. Phanuel Bishop, Maj. Frederick Drown, and William Windsor, Esq., delegates to the State Convention, to meet at Boston the second Wednesday of January, 1788, "to consult on the Federal Constitution recommended by tlie late Federal Convejition, which set at Philadelphia the summer past."

April 2, 1792. The town raised for the support of schools, " including the Latin school," £150. Also '* voted that the selectmen be empowered to procure such grammar schools as shall answer tlie law, in the different parts of the town, for learning the Latin and Greek languages."

" October 6, 1794. Voted that the treasurer of this town be directed to pay to each non-commissioned officer and sohiier raised for this town's quota of eighty thousand men, ordered by Congress to be raised, forty shillings each, when they are ordered to march out of this town on a campaign, and forty shillings each to every man aforesaid for every month they shall continue in the camp after one month from the time they shall march, the money to be paid in one month after their return from service."

"February 24, 1794. Voted to remonstiate with the Legislature of Rhode Island against a bridge being built over Kelley's Ferry, near Warren."

May 6, 1795. A motion for petitioning the General Court to incorporate the west precinct of Rehobotli into a separate town was cariied by a vote in the negative. Voted to raise £17o for the support of schools, of which £25 was to be ai>propiiated to a grammar school.

Chapter Xxxvi

First Congregational Church - Oak Swamp Church - The Ilornebine Church - The Irons Church - Methodist Episcopal Church - The Union Baptist Church.

The following sketches are necessarily imperfect. The writer was given only a few weeks for their preparation, and the work has been done under the constant pressure of professional duties. The difficulty has also been increased by the loss in every instance of the early records of the older churches. It is probable that some of these have been carried out of town, and it is hoped that they may yet come to light.

First Congreg-ational Church. - In the year 1643, Rev. Samuel Newman came to the place which is now East Providence, R. I., with a colony from Weymouth, Mass, He gave to this region the name Rehoboth (enlargement), and here the church was established

In the year 1721 the inhabitants in the neighborhood of Palmer's Eiver built a meeting-house about half a mile north of the Orleans Factory. The spot is now marked by the remains of the " old buryingground." The lot included three acres of land given by Jethniel Peck, Capt. Samuel Peck, and Jonathan Bliss. The parent church had been granted by the General Court two hundred and fifty pounds for building a new meeting-house. Of this they relinquished fifty pounds to aid the church at Palmer's River; they also gave the facing of the galleries and the pulpit of their old meeting-house.

The church was organized Nov. 29, 1721, consisting of ten members, - David Turner (pastor), Elisha May, Thomas Ormsby (deacons), Jethniel Peck, Samuel Peck, Benjamin Willson, Solomon Millard, Samuel Fuller, William Blanding, and Joseph Willson.

Rev. David Turner, the first pastor, was a native of Scituate. He received one hundred pounds for a settlement. His annual salary averaged about eightyfive pounds. During his pastorate of thirty-six years one hundred and seventy persons were added to the church. Mr. Turner graduated at Harvard College in 1718. He afterwards studied medicine, apd practiced to some extent during his ministry. He was talented and witty, but eccentric. He had children and grandchildren, but they brought no honor to the name, and it is now extinct. He died Aug. 9, 1757, in his sixty-third year, and was buried in his churchyard, now grown over with trees and bushes. His tombstone bears the following inscription :

Until the year 1759 the whole town managed the business and bore the expenses of both churches. On January 2d of that year this church and congregation was incorporated by an act of the General Court into a separate society by the name of the Second Precinct in Rehoboth.

Feb. 26, 1759, the precinct united with the church in calling the Rev. Robert Rogerson to be their pastor, and voted to give him seventy pounds settlement, and sixty pounds for his annual salary. He agreed to take one-third part of his salary "in the produce of the country, provided they bring me such articles as I have occasion for."

March 18, 1773, the precinct "voted that the old meeting-house should be sold or pulled down, provided that a new one can be built upon the plane near Timothy Headways. " The. site chosen is now known as the village cemetery.

The new house, fifty feet by forty, was built the following summer, and the pews were sold at public auction Oct. 25, 1773. They were forty in number, and brought in the aggregate £462 10s.

Mr. Rogerson continued to be pastor of this church until his death, March 20, 1799. His remains lie buried in the older part of the village cemetery. On his tombstone of blue slate is this inscription :

At the age of nineteen, Mr. Rogerson came to America, as an assistant to the collector of the revenue in Virginia. In this capacity he served one year, after which he taught school several years in the eastern part of that State, prosecuting in the mean time the study of divinity. Coming to New England, he received in 1765 the degree of Master of Arts at Harvard University. He commenced his ministry in Brookline, where he preached one year. He then came to Rehoboth, and preached one year in the First Congregational Church, in what is now East Providence, R. I. The next year he began his ministry in this church, and was ordained July 2, 1759. While at East Providence he married a daughter of Col. Thomas Bowen, of that place, then Mrs.. Betsey Sweet, a young widow with one child. They had three sons and three daughters. The sons were Robert, Thomas, and John. Robert was a physician^. Thomas a wealthy planter in Virginia, and Capt. John Rogerson resided on his father's estate, formerly the home of Rev. David Turner, till his death in 1835.

Mr. Rogerson was succeeded by Rev. Otis Thompson, who was ordained pastor of tliis church Sept. 24,. 1800, and continued in the pastoral office twenty-five years. He was born in Middleborough, Mass., Sept. 14, 1776, and graduated at Brown University in 1798, where he remained two years as tutor. During this period he doubtless applied himself to the study of theology. His call to this church and society was unanimous, and he entered upon his work under the most favorable conditions. He had "u hundred pounds settlement" and a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars, which in 1816 was increased to five hundred dollars. The entire community were at once awakened in religious matters, and forty persons joined the church the first year of his ministry.

For more than twenty years the church and society were eminently prospered. Mr. Thompson's century sermon, preached in 1821, states that the number of members at that time was fifty-six, of whom eighteen were males and thirty-eight females. The whole number that had been enrolled in the list of its members during the century was three hundred and three. Of those who joined the church under his pastorate only two are living, - Mrs. Abby Carpenter in 1820, and Mrs. Sally Horton in 1822.

In 1825 a serious difficulty arose which greatly disturbed the harmony of the church and society. It grew out of a breach of promise suit brought by Mr. Thompson on his daughter's behalf against a gentleman belonging to one of the foremost families of the church. The people immediately took sides, some for and others against the pastor, and all attempts to reconcile the parties were vain. Two or three ecclesiastical councils were called by the church which advised the dissolution of the pastoral relation, but as Mr. Thompson was settled for life, he paid no attention to their advice. The meeting-house was closed against him, but he continued to hold a service every Sabbath, preaching for one year at Wheaton's Hall and afterwards either at his home or in the old red school-house near by. He sued the society for his salary, which they were obliged to pay. Finally he agreed with the society to relinquish all further claims upon it for the sum of one thousand dollars. He afterwards, however, endeavored to revive the old precinct, and to get possession of other funds belonging to the society, but without success.

After he stopped preaching at the meeting-house, Mr. Thompson taught a select school for several terms. Quite a number of theological students also studied with him during his Rehoboth pastorate. He was an excellent scholar; besides editing the Hopkinsian " Magazine" for several years, he published " A Review of Mr. Andras' Essay on Divine Agency," and had printed several funeral and ordination sermons.

Mr. Thompson's first wife was Miss Rachel Chandler, of Plympton, Mass., who died Sept. 16, 1827, aged forty-seven, and by whom he had four sons and five daughters. Of these, three sons and two daughters are now living.

She died Dec. 12, 1848. Mr. Thompson continued to reside in Rehoboth until 1840, when he received a call to preach at Litchfield, N. Y., whicji he accepted, and labored with the church in that place till 1850. In May of that year he was married to Miss Polly Shaw, of North Abington, Mass., where he resided until his death, which occurred June 26, 1859, at the age of eighty-two. His widow died Feb. 3, 1874.

Thesuccessor of Mr. Thompson was the Rev. Thomas Vernon, son of Samuel Vernon, of Newport, R. I. He was ordained over this church Sept. 13, 1826. His annual salary was five hundred dollars. At this time a large portion of the salary was paid from the |)roceeds of the "Ministerial farm," from which some three or four hundred dollars worth of wood and timber were sold annually.

In 1831 he married Miss Adelaide A. Winthrop, of Bristol, R. I. They had six children, of whom three - one son and two daughters - are living. The son, Mr. John W. Vernon, is an officer in the Merchants' National Bank, Providence, R. I. Mr. Vernon was dismissed from his pastorate April 12, 1837, having labored successfully for eleven years. He found the church torn with dissensions ; he left it enlarged and united. He was a man of excellent spirit, sound in doctrine and judicious in management. He greatly endeared himself to all the people. During his ministry the Sunday-school was inaugurated, and many of the young united with the church. Mr. Vernon resided in the village in Mrs. Otis Goff's chambers. After leaving Rehoboth he preached a while at Kingston, R. I. He was soon compelled to give up the ministry on account of a severe bronchial affection. He then engaged in the practice of medicine at Perth Amboy, N. J., and other places.

The last few years of his life were spent in retirement at Providence, R. I., where he died May 9, 1876, of acute bronchiti.s, in his seventy-ninth year, and lies buried in the old family ground at Newport, R. I. His widow is still living in Providence, in her seventyfifth year. The successor of Mr. Vernon and the fifth pastor of this church was the Rev. John Chester Paine, who was ordained over the church June 6, 1838. The ordination sermon was preached by his brother. Rev. William P. Paine, D.D., of Holden. On the first day of September following the society passed a vote to build a new meeting-house. A minority, however, were strongly opposed to this movement. The building committee consisted of Abiah Bliss, Jr., William K. Bullock, John R. Rogerson, and Cyrus M. Wheaton. It was decided to locate the new house in the village on the lot where Jonathan Wheaton's barn stood. Mr. Wheaton gave the small plot which belonged to him, and the GofT brothers, Darius and Nelson, gave the remainder. The church edifice was erected and dedicated the following year,

1839. It is sixty feet long by forty wide, and cost three thousand eight hundred dollars. Its seating capacity is about three hundred and twenty.

After the dedication of the new liouse, the disaffected members of the church and the society joined witli other families in town, who were Baptists in belief, in holding a series of religious meetings at Ijewis' tavern. This resulted in the formation of the Union Baptist Church.

The " old yellow meeting-house," which had stood on the village cemetery lot for sixty-six years, was finally sold to Mr. Otis Goff, who moved the materials home, and reconstructed them into a barn, which is now standing.

Mr. Paine was an excellent preacher, and a very useful man in the community. He was born at Ashfield, Mass., Jan. 28, 1800. He was the seventh generation in direct line from Stephen Paine, one of the early settlers of Eehoboth. He was educated at Amherst and Princeton Colleges, and received the degree of A.M. from the latter in 1843. He graduated from the theological seminary at East Windsor, Conn., in 1836. He was married April, 1839, to Miss Eliza Folger, of Nantucket. He was dismissed from this church April 5, 1847, having served the church faithfully for nine years. After leaving Rehoboth he preached at Gardner, Sandwich, Dracut, and Groveland, Mass. In the places where he was settled he was chairman of the school committee many years. He died at Groveland of typhoid pneumonia, March 10, 1880, in his seventy-fifth year. His widow survives him at the age of sixty-four. There are two children, - Charles F. Payne, a lawyer in Boston, and Harriet E. Paine, who has been jireceptress of Oread Female Seminary, at Worcester, Mass. She now resides with her mother in Groveland.

Mr. Paine was succeeded by Rev. Charles P. Grosvenor, who was acting pastor of this church from September, 1847, to September, 1856, just nine years. Mr. Grosvenor was born Aug. 12, 1804, at Pomfret, Conn. ; graduated at Yale College in 1827 ; spent one year in the service of the American Sunday-School Union in Illinois and Missouri, and graduated at Yale Theological Seminary in 1831. For two years he was secretary and agent of the Connecticut Sunday-School Union and editor of the Suiidai/-School JRecoi-d, published in New Haven. He was ordained at Blackstone, Mass., July 16, 1834. Before coming to Rehoboth he preached at Kingston and North Scituate, R. I. After leaving Rehoboth he preached at Stoneham and East Randolph, Mass., and at Canterbury, East Woodstock, and Ashfield, Conn. His eyesight failing, he closed his ministerial labors March 31, 1881. Mr. Grosvenor's first wife was Cordelia Mathewson, of Pomfret, Conn. They were married June 24, 1835. She died the following year. On the 9th of April, 1838, he married Hannah H. Wells, of Kingston, R. I., who died Nov. 6, 1S40. His third wife was Elizabeth E. Foster, of Brooklyn, N. Y., to whom he was married May 19, 1842. They celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their marriage at Pomfret, Conn., May 19, 1882, Deacon E. A. Brown being present as the representative from this church.

In 1851 the following names were honored by receiving a diploma, signed by Mr. Grosvenor, for committing to memory the " Westminster Shorter Catechism ;" Edward P. Brown, Arnold De F. Brown, Amanda M. Brown, Rebecca Bliss, Sarah A. Carpenter, Rachel Carpenter, Hattie A. Carpenter, Lydia J. Peck, Dexter W. Horton, William H. Luther, Nellie M. Marsh, and Elizabeth B. Pierce.

A powerful revival occurred in the church in the fall of 1855, when Rev. Norris Day, the evangelist, assisted the pastor. On the 2d of March, 1856, thirtyone persons united with the church, all by profession except one. In 1849 the present parsonage was built, Mr. Grosvenor furnishing the plan.

In a recent letter from Pomfret, Conn., Mr. Grosvenor writes, "I have very many pleasant memories and but few of a ditferent character in connection with my fields of labor. Rehoboth stands first on the list in the number and richness of its reminiscences. I often wonder that I left a people who loved me so well, and to whom I was and am still so strongly attached."

The successor of Mr. Grosvenor was Rev. Walter P. Doe, who supplied the pulpit two years, beginning with the spring of 1857. Mr. Doe resided in Providence, R. I., but came to Rehoboth on the Sabbath, and occasionally spent several days visiting among the people and holding neighborhood prayer-meetings. In this way the church was kept awake, and several persons were hopefully converted. Mr. Doe was born at Wilton, N. Y., March 30, 1813. He graduated at Union College in 1844, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1847. He was ordained at River Point, R. I., the same year. Aug. 1, 1849, he was married to Miss Sophia S. Knight, of Providence, R. I. Mr. Doe still resides in Providence, preaching occasionally, but is unable to study on account of the inflamed state of his eyes.

The next acting pastor of this ch\irch was Rev. Alexander C. Childs, from Jan. 1, 1860, to April 1, 1862. Mr. Childs was born at iNantucket, Aug. 31, 1823. He graduated at Yale College in 1845, and Union Theological Seminary in 1849. Aug. 17, 1857, he married Miss Eunice H. Barney, of Nantucket. They have four children. Mr. Childs has had several fields of labor, and is now preaching at West Gloucester, Mass.

Mr. Lum was born at New Providence, N. J., May 6, 1821 ; studied at Oberlin College, and graduated at Union Theological Seminary in 1848. He was ordained at Middletown, N. Y., Jan. 13, 1852.

Mr. Lum went to Kansas in 1854, and organized the first church in the new Territory; remained there as home missionary and missionary superintendent until 1861, through all the "Border Euffian war." On leaving Rehoboth he preached at Groton, N. Y., and returned to Kansas in 1869, remaining until 1875. Since then be has preached at Mannsville, N. Y., and at Rocky Hill and New Fairfield, Conn., where he now resides.

Rev. Francis H. Boynton was ordained pastor of this church Oct. 20, 1864, and continued his work here until Aug. 30, 1867. During bis pastorale the church was greatly i-evived, and more than fifty persons were added to its membership.

Mr. Boynton was born in Troy, N. Y., M.arch 14, 1839. He graduated at Amherst College in 1861, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1864. He married Miss Emily A. Clark, of Amherst, Mass., May 24, 1866. They have four children.

Since leaving Rehoboth, Mr. Boynton has traveled in the East, visiting Egypt, Palestine, and other countries. He has preached at Assonet, New Marlborough, Raynham, and Essex, Mass., and is now at Rye, N. H.

Mr. Boynton was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Henry Johnson, who was acting pastor from October, 1868, to October, 1869. He was born March 24, 1824, at Portland, Me. He studied and taught at the Mission Institute, Quincy, 111., under the charge of the Rev. David Nelson. He was ordained at La Harpe, 111., in April, 1853 ; was married the following December to Miss Martha A. Brooks, of Dalton, N. H. ; they have two children. Mr. Johnson now resides at New Brunswick, N. J.

Mr. Johnson was succeeded by Rev. Henry D. Woodworth, who was acting pastor of this church from December, 1869, to October, 1872. He was born in Lebanon, Conn., Feb. 18, 1826. He graduated at Amherst College in 1855, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1860; was ordained at East Bridgewater in September of the same year. He was married Aug. 14, 1855, to Miss Sarah E. Carkin, of Brookfield, Mass. They have three children. Since leaving Rehoboth, Mr. Woodworth has been engaged in the jewelry business in Boston.

Rev. Isaac R. Prior was the ne.xt acting pastor. He began his labors for this church July 13, 1873, and remained until October, 1877. Mr. Prior was born in Ohio, July 22, 1840. He graduated at Adrian College, Michigan, in 1863, at the University of Law at Albany, N. Y., in 1865, and at Union Theological Seminary in 1870. He was married, Sept. 29, 1874, to Miss Ruth E. Manton, of Providence, R. I. Since 1877, Mr. Prior has preached at Kingston, R. I., and at Alma, Fredonia, and Great Bend, Kan.

The present pastor is Rev. George H. Tilton, whose services to this church began in January, 1878. He was installed as its jiastor Nov. 2, 1882.

had only three pastors. Within the sixty-two years already passed of its second century it has had elevenministers, four of whom were installed as pastors.

Within the last twenty-six years there have been eight ministers, of whom only two were pastors. It is much to be doubted whether this tendency towards short pastorates has proved beneficial either to the church or its ministers.

The church has always been supplied with two or more deacons, the whole number of whom, since its organization, is twenty-five. We give below a list of their names and the year of their appointment :

Oak Swamp Church. - This church at first belonged to the Six-Principle Baptists, and was gathered by Rev. John Comer in 1732. He was installed its pastor July 26th of that year. The installation sermon was preached by Rev. Ephraim Wheaton, of Swansea, from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13.

Mr. Comer was a very able preacher and gathered many into the church. In November following he baptized fifteen persons in one day, and within a year from its commencement it numbered nearly one hundred members.

Mr. Comer was born in Boston, Aug. 1, 1704. From a very early age he delighted in books, and composed a discourse when only fifteen. He attempted to learn a glover's trade, but his passion for study was so strong that he prevailed on his grandfather to send him to school.

In 1723 he was admitted to Yale College, and in 1724 studied with Rev. Mr. Barnard, a Congregational minister of Andover. After reading "Stennett on Baptism" he became an ardent Baptist. In 1725 he went to Swansea to teach school, and while there assisted Rev. Ephraim Wheaton in the services of the Sabbath. In 1726 he received a call to preach in the First Baptist Church at Newport. After preaching to this church about a year as colleague with the Rev. William Peckham, he came out and advocated the Six-Principle theory. In consequence of this act he was dismissed from the First Church, and became colleague with Elder Daniel Wightman, of the Second Baptist Church, where he remained two years, preaching with remarkable success.

He was married Jan. 20, 1726, to Miss Sarah Rogers, of Newport, by whom he had three children. On coming to Rehoboth he labored with such zeal that he undermined his health, and died of consumption

May 23, 1734, in his tliirtietli year. He was buried in the old yard at South Rehoboth, where his tombstone of blue slate may still be seen, bearing this brief inscription, -

Mr. Comer had formed the design of writing the history of the American Baptists, and had collected valuable materials, which were used subsequently by both Backus and Benedict in their histories.

Mr. Comer's successor was Nathaniel Millard, who was ordained June 24, 1736 ; but he proved unworthy of his trust, and was dismissed in 1742.

Elder Samuel Maxwell was the next pastor, and was installed in October, 1745. Having preached to this church for several years, he became a Congregationalist, and took up the pen against the Baptists. The church, thus unfortunate in its pastors, became discouraged and scattered, and many of its members eventually joined other churches.

Some of them, however, held together, and secured the services of Elder Richard Round, one of Mr. Comer's converts, who had organized a church in the northeast part of the town. Mr. Round preached to the Oak Swamp Church till his death. May 18, 1768. His tombstone may be seen near Elder John Comer's in the old burying-ground, about a mile southeast of the Orleans Factory.

The original Oak Swamp meeting-house stood on the corner lot at the junction of the two roads which meet a short distance south of Mr. Edward Horton's store, now the South Rehoboth post-office. This house was framed on the old cemetery lot, where Elders Comer and Round were buried, but it was taken away in the night by the Oak Swamp people, and raised on the spot above mentioned. After the death of Elder Round the church no longer existed under the "Six Principle" creed. In 1773 another church was organized, with open communion principles. Some of its members had come out from Elder John Hix's church, a close-communion Baptist, and others had been converted and baptized by Rev. Elhanan Winchester, a traveling preacher, while others still had belonged to the original church founded by Rev. John Comer. This new church ordained Mr. Jacob Hix as their pastor, Jan. 20, 1773, and held their services in the Oak Swamp meetinghouse. Elder Jacob Hix was born Jan. 1, 1740. He was the sou of Elder John Hix, and brother of Elder Daniel Hix, of Dartmouth. He owned a farm and part of a mill, which, with some help from the church, enabled him to live comfortably. He had no children. He died March 30, 1809, aged sixty-nine years.

The successor of Elder Hix was Elder Childs Luther, who was pastor of this church for many years. The present house of worship was erected during his pastorate. It was built by a joint-stock company, Mr. Nathan Hix taking the contract for one thousand dollars. It was dedicated May 28, 1834. Soon after the old house was torn down and made over into a barn. Elder Luther continued his labors among this people until about the year 1841, having preached to them more than thirty years. In the latter part of his pastorate a division occurred in the church on account of the temperance question. He was inclined to be conservative, while some of his people became vehement supporters of the principle of total abstinence. This breach was made wider by the Millerite excitement, for which Elder Luther had no sympathy. He was born Feb. 6, 1780, and was married to Miss Lucy Kilton, Dec. 10, 1797. He also married a second wife, Mrs. Mehitable Goff, Oct. 21, 1827. He died July 3, 1859, in his eightieth year. His only surviving son, Mr. Nathan C. Luther, resides in Attleborough.

In the year 1829 there was an extensive revival in connection with the labors of Elder Joseph Blackmar, of New York, an itinerant preacher. He spent about a year in this town, and baptized in all fortyeight converts. On the first day of January, 1830, he immersed sixteen persons in the pond just below the site of the present meeting-house ; for this purpose a way was cut through the ice, which was fourteen inches thick.

In the year 1842, Elder M. E. Gammons came from Westport to this place and began to preach the doctrines of Millerism, and many were carried away with excitement. Quite a number of the people, mostly members of the old church under Elder Luther, met together and formed themselves into a new body but adopting the same general creed. Many of the substantial old members, however, refused to join in this movement and were left without any church connection.

The second advent excitement proved a great injury to the church. The people soon became dissatisfied with Elder Gammons, and some of the members absented themselves from all religious services. The congregations were small, and they had no regular pastor for several years. The pulpit was supplied by Deacon Herman Wood and Elders Luther Baker, J. S. Thompson, and O. P. Tuckerman.

In November, 1848, Elder James Pierce began to preach to this church. A protracted meeting was held in which Mr. Pierce was assisted by Elder Albert G. Morton, and quite a number were converted. Thirteen converts were baptized Feb. 25, 1849. Mr. Pierce was ordained over the church June 12, 1849, and was dismissed in August, 1850. The chiirch was

Elder J. W. Osborne, of Swansea, supplied this pulpit in connection with that of the Christian Church in Swansea for eleven and a half years, from 1865 until April, 1877. Another revival occurred in 1870-71, and several persons were baptized. Elder Osborne still preaches at Swansea.

Elder William Miller, of Swansea, preaclied at this church most of the time from Jan. 1, 1878, to April 1, 1882. Mr. Miller has had several pastorates, and now preaches at the Hornbine Church in this town.

The Oak Swamji Church has had a hard struggle to live. It has never paid a larger salary than two 1 hundred dollars. At the present time no regular services are held, and the outlook is not hopeful.

The Hornbine Church. - This church is in the southeast jiart of Kehoboth, and belongs to the order of the " Six-Principle Baptists." Their creed is contained in Hebrews, the sixth chapter, first and second [ verses. The name "Hornbine" is a corruption of Hornbeam, and was given to the church because there were many trees of this species in its vicinity.

About thirty members of the Second Baptist Church in Swansea formed tliemselves into a church in Kehoboth, and ordained Mr. Daniel Martin as their pastor Feb. 8, 1753.' Elder Martin was the eldest son of Deacon Melatiah Martin, of Swansea. He was born Sept. 23, 1702, followed the trade of a house carpenter, and died Nov. 18, 1781, aged seventy-nine. He had nine children. In 1770 he published a discourse against particular election and efficacious grace in conversion, to which tiie Rev. Isaac Backus published an answer the following year. Soon after the settlement of Elder Martin over this church. Elder Nathan Pierce was ordained as his colleague, and continued to preach to this people for forty years.

Mr. Pierce was born in Warwick, R. I., in 1716. In 1738 he married Lydia Martin, of Barrington, R. I., by whom he had sixteen children, ten sons and six daughters. Mr. Pierce died April 14, 1793,^ in his seventy-eighth year. His mortal remains lie buried in the family yard in the Horton neighborhood, where | many of his descendants are interred.

Some years before the death of Elder Pierce, Elder Thomas Seamans was ordained as his colleague. Mr. Seanians was a farmer by occupation, and possessed great physical vigor. He preached a sermon in this church after he was one hundred years of age, and died in 1826, at the advanced age of one hundred and four years, five months, and fifteen days, probably the oldest person that ever died in Rehoboth. He spent the last few years of his life with his son, Mr. Comfort Seamans, who owned a farm about a mile north of the church. His remains lie buried in a little plot on the farm inclosed by a strong wall, but overgrown with shrubs. An elm and two cedars of considerable size stand within the plot. The rude stones that mark the grave are without inscription. Beside him are buried his son and several members of his family. Elder Seamans' grandson, Josiah Simmons, was an honored deacon in this church for many years.

During Elder Seamans' pastorate he was assisted by several colleagues. Elder Benjamin Mason, of Swansea, preached to this church for a time. In the year 1800, Elder Preserved Pierce and Elder Philip Pierce were ordained as associate pastors with Elder Seamans. Concerning Elder Philip Pierce but little can be gathered. After preaching a while to this church he went West for several years. He spent his last years in Dighton, Mass.

Elder Preserved Pierce was the son of Elder Nathan Pierce, and was born July 23, 1 758. He married Sarah Lewis, of Rehoboth, by whom he had a large family of children. During his pastorate no salary was paid by the church, the minister was expected to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Mr. Pierce used to say that the only money he received for his services was fifty cents a year, which sum a good lady, Miss Molly Miller, slipped into his fingers while shaking hands with him. A large number of members were added to the church during his ministry, which continued till his death, June 29, 1828, in the seventieth year of his age. After the death of Elder Pierce the church was supplied by Elder William Manchester, Elder Joseph Blackman, and others, until 1834, wlien Elder Otis Potter, of Cranston, R. I., became their minister.

On the first Sabbath in May of that year Elder Potter organized the Sunday-school, consisting of thirty or forty youth, which he superintended himself. It soon increased to more than one hundred members. He resided at Swansea Factory, and preached a part of the time to the Swansea Church at the house of Deacon Ellery Wood. During the first year of Elder Potter's pastorate there was a revival, and sixty persons joined the church on profession of faith.

Elder Potter was a strong advocate for temperance, and an uncompromising abolitionist. At the time of the Dorr disturbance in Rhode Island, he took a rigid stand against the Dorr party, much to the displeasure of certain members of his church. On going into his pulpit one Sabbath, having the week before expressed himself strongly on this point, he found suspended there a gun, knapsack, bayonet, sword, and various other implements of war.

Finding that he had in various ways aroused considerable opposition to himself, he left Rehoboth in 1841 or 1842 and preached at Cranston, R. I., until 1848, when he returned to his former charge in Rehoboth, where he remained four years longer. After that he moved to Providence and went into the book business, still preaching as he had opportunity. He died May 27, 1857, of consumption. His widow survives iiini. His three children are also living, two sonsand a daughter. One of hissons isElderXhomas Potter, who preaches in Fresno, Cal.

Elder Waterman Pierce also preached to this people for several years. He was ordained at this church in 1837 (?). Most of his ministerial life has been spent in behalf of the Free- Will Baptist Church at Barneyville, Swansea, which he gathered about forty years ago- Elder Welcome G. Conistock was acting pastor of this church for about fourteen years, beginning in 1862. He was a kind, jovial man, and an entertaining speaker, but a poor financier.

From 1876 to 1880, Rev. Jances L. Pierce was acting pastor of this church. During this time there was a revival, in which Mr. Pierce was assisted by Dr. M. L. Rossvalley, a converted Jew. The church received some additions and was much strengthened. Mr. Pierce now resides in South Eehoboth without charge, having preached at various places for more than thirty years.

Elders Miller and Pierce are both members of the Christian Baptist denomination, and tlie Hornebine Church has virtually abandoned the "Six-Principle" theory, though it still retains the old creed, to which a few of the oldest members cling.

About twenty years ago the people attending church at the Hornebine formed themselves into an organizati<ui which they designated as The First Bapfist Church and Society. Under the direction of this society yearly clam-bakes are held in a grove near the church. These clam-bakes have become very popular. On the day of this annual feast nearly three thousand people are wont to assemble, coming from the surrounding cities and towns. Many of them have parents or relatives living in the neighborhood, and the day is to them an occasion of a grand reunion. More than a thousand dollars has been taken in a single day.

The Irons Church. - This church is situated in the north part of the town. It belongs to the Free-Will Baptist order, and was organized Oct. 2, 1777, with thirty-one members. For three years they had no pastor. The church very early connected itself with the Groton Conference. Mr. James Sheldon, of Providence, R. I., was ordained their pastor Sept. 6, 1680. He was dismissed July 21, 1792, and removed to the State of New York. The church obtained occasional supplies till Mr. Jeremiah Irons came to be their pastor. He was ordained over this church Sept. 24, 1795. He continued his pastoral labors with great acceptance until his dismission, June 26, 1799.

He was born in Gloucester, R. I., Oct. 14, 1765. After leaving Rehoboth he preached many years at the West. For several years after the removal of Mr. Irons the church was supplied by Elders William Northrup, Daniel Hix, and others, until 1808, when Elder Samuel Northrup became acting pastor until his death, which occurred July 21, 1812.

Elder Northrup was born in North Kingston, R. I. He was a most faithful and devout man, and the church was greatly prospered during his ministry.

Again the church was left without a regular pastor for a number of years. Elder Sylvester Round preached occasionally and administered the sacrament.

The church enjoyed its greatest revival in the years 1820-22, under the labors of Elders David Sweet and Levi Hathaway, and a large number of worthy members were gathered into the church.

From this time the church became connected with the Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, and was supplied largel)' with ministers from that association.

In 1830-31 the church enjoyed another interesting revival, under the preaching of Elder John Yeamshaw, when twenty-five more persons joined its membership.

In 1834-35, Elder Junia S. Mowry was acting pastor. He was succeeded by Mr. David Steere, who was ordained pastor of this church in September, 1836. His father was a Quaker, who died leaving him, a young lad, with a large fortune. This he soon wasted with riotous living, and worked for a time in a paper-mill in Cumberland, R. I. He was converted in a bar-room. As he was putting a glass of rum to his lips, he seemed to hear a voice saying to him, plainly, " David, if you drink that cup, you drink your eternal damnation." He dropped the glass, fell on his knees, and cried to God for mercy. From that hour he was an active Christian. He remained with this church till 1840, when he was dismissed, and went to Newport, R. I.

Mr. John W. Colwell was ordained pastor of this church in October, 1841, and continued for four years. For several years he was overseer in the factory at Hebronville. He preached a while in California, and on his return died at Panama. He left several children. One of his sons is Rev. John W. Colwell, a Congregational clergyman.

Mr. Colwell was succeeded by Elder Joshua Stetson, who was ordained over the church in August, 1845, and labored in all about two years, when he removed to Taunton.

Mr. Stetson's successor was Elder Gardner Clarke, who was acting pastor from July, 1846, until 1853, during which time there was a revival, and several names were added to the church. Mr. Clarke was born at Highgate, Vt, Aug. 21, 1812. He spent his early days mostly at Bradford, Vt., and received a good education from the academies of his native State. He was ordained at Cabot, Vt., in 184.3. He was married in 1837 to Miss Jane R. Deming, of Wethersfield, Conn., by whom he had three daughters. Mr. Clarke resides in Attleborough. He was succeeded by Elder Lowell Parker, of Charlestown, R. I., who remained with the church from 1853 to 1858, when he removed to Portsmouth, N. H. ; 1859- 62, Elder George W. Wallace; 1863-64, Elder John Pratt, of Newport, R. I. ; 1865, Elder Handy. After 1866 the church was supplied for a number of years with students from Brown University.

In 1880-82, Elder Gardner Clarke preached to this people a second time. The church at this time is nearly extinct. The Methodists now hold one service each Sabbath in this meeting-house.

The following is the list of deacons since the organization of the church : Jacob Bliss, David Perry, Edmund Mason, Cyril C. Peck, William Cole, Milton Freeman, George H. Thrasher, William Lane.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - A Baptist Church was formed in the northeast part of the town about the year 1740. It started with forty members, and ordained Mr. Richard Round as its pastor July 13, 1743. He died May 18, 1768, and his tombstone may be seen near Rev. John Comer's in the South Rehoboth burying-ground. After his death there was no regular preaching for many years.

In the year 1789 the church was revived under the efficient labors of Mr. Sylvester Round and Deacon Aaron Wheeler. They were ordained as associate pastors on the 20th of April of that year. Elder Wheeler died in 1800, but Elder Round continued its pastor till his death, Oct. 26, 1824. He was a very able and influential man. He was born in this town April 10, 1762, and was married to Mehitable Perry in 1780. About the year 1800 he built the old tavernhouse, now used as a parsonage, for his son.

The church at this time belonged to the Six-Principle Baptists. The house of worship stood where the school-house now stands. In 1824, the old meeting-house having fallen into decay, a new one was built on the corner of the road leading to Norton.

In 1826, Rev. Lorenzo Dow Johnson, a Reformed Methodist from Vermont, visited this place and preached the gospel with great power ; this church was revived and joined the denomination to which Mr. Johnson belonged. It soon became prosperous, and under the preaching of Rev. Benjamin McCloth, Rev. Joseph Eldridge, and others, was favored with several revivals of religion, until in 1834 it had seventy-seven members.

In 1843 the present house of worship was erected, largely through the influence of Mr. Granville Stephens. Rev. Charles Hammond now became pastor, and remained for several years. After Mr. Hammond left, the Reformed Methodists were mostly merged in the Wesleyan Methodists, and the church could not find preachers for the pulpit. At length certain persons applied to the Providence Annual Conference, and the Rev. William Cone was sent to them in 1849.

Now began a new era in the history of the church. It appears that about the year 1798, Rev. John Brodhead, a Methodist preacher, had organized a Methodist class, which in 1810 had forty-five members. Rev. Thomas Perry and his wife were among the earliest members of this class, as was also Mrs. Rebecca Perry and Mrs. Noah Bliss. When Mr. Cone came here he succeeded in uniting the remnant of this old class with a few of the members of the Methodist Reformed Church, together with others who had been converted through his own labors, so that at the close of his first year he returned a membership of forty-four.

Mr. Cone was succeeded in 1850 by Rev. J. E. Giflibrd, a zealous laborer, who brought the membership up to sixty-five in 1852. The church debt was wholly paid under his pastorate.

In 1856-57 there was a powerful revival, owing to the efficient labors of Rev. Henry H. Smith, assisted by the Rev. Moses Chace, and many worthy members were added to the church. There have been twenty different pastors during the thirty-four years of its history.

A successful Sunday-school has been sustained from the first. The church has usually held a monthly meeting of prayer for missions, and has contributed liberally for this great work. The church at the present time has forty-five members.

One of these preachers. Rev. Abel Gardner, at the close of his second year was seized with a mortal illness, and died May 2, 1863, aged forty-seven years, the first pastor who has died in this place since the death of Elder Round in 1824.

The Union Baptist Church (Annawan). - In the year 1839 the Congregational Society left their old meeting-house on the village cemetery lot and entered their new house of worship in the village. Several of the older members, however, including some of the trustees, were unwilling to make the change, and withdrew from the society.

At this time there were a few families of the Baptist belief living in Rehoboth who were members of Elder Goff's Church, on Long Hill, in Dighton. As the latter church liad greatly declined in numbers and power, making it difficult to sustain regular services, it was thought a favorable time to form a new Baptist Church within the limits of Rehoboth. This plan was strongly favored by Elder J. L. Whittemore, of the Dighton Church. Accordingly it was propo.sed that these brethren join with the disaffected members of the Congregational Society in holding a series of meetings with reference to forming a new church.

The first meeting was held on the first Sabbath in January, 1840, at the house of Mr. Isaac Lewis. A large number were present, and the congregation continued to increase from Sabbath to Sabbath, till the hall overflowed. After the first few meetings, which were conducted by Messrs. Whittemore and Brentley, the people secured the services of Mr. Caleb Blood, a talented young man from the freshman class of Brown University.

Early in the spring of this year The Union Baptist Society^ was organized. A committee was appointed, consisting of Richard GofF, Otis Peck, and Joseph Bowen, to erect a meeting-house upon the lot appropriated for that purpose by Darius Horton, near Lewis' tavern, on the Providence and Taunton turnpike.

On the 12th of March, Mr. C. Blood presented eight articles of faith, embodying the strict principles of the Calvinistic Baptists. These articles were signed by the following persons, who thereby constituted themselves a church : Seth Talbot, Isaiah Allen, Benjamin Monroe, Charles C. Monroe, Sally Talbot, Ann F. Allen, Ruth Munro, Sybil Peck, Peddy Peck, Joanna Horton, Polly Bowen, Nancy Bowen, Fanny L. Williams, Olive Wheeler, Joanna Wheeler, Lucy Horton, and Jane Snow.

This church was publicly recognized by an ecclesiastical council whicli assembled at the house of Mr. Isaac Lewis, April 1, 1840; sermon by Rev. A. Fisher, of Swansea. The following day was set apart by the church as a day of special fasting and prayer, and meetings were held almost daily for several weeks, resulting in numerous conversions.

On the 3d of June Mr. Caleb Blood was ordained by an ecclesiastical council which met at Lewis' tavern. Rev. Asa Bronson, of Fall River, preaching the sermon. Mr. Blood was engaged to supply the pulpit for the sum of three hundred dollars per annum. His pastoral labors were greatly blessed. The church at the close of the first year numbered forty-three members. Mr. Blood was born July 4, 1815, at Rodman, N. Y. He graduated at Brown University in 1844; was married April 10, 1844, to Mi.ss Martha Baker, of Rehoboth, by whom he had five children. He died Nov. 21, 1881, at Independence, Mo. While pastor of this church, Mr. Blood organized the Sabbath-school, which has been maintained successfully to the present time.

In 1870 the church was presented with a house and lot for a parsonage, the gift of Mrs. Delight C. Reed, of Taunton, only child of the late Christopher Car- ])enter, of Rehoboth. In 1878 the church received a bequest of five hundred dollars from Mrs. Nancy Baker.

An important revival was enjoyed under the labors of Rev. Samuel A. Collins, and many were added to the church. Another revival occurred during the pastorate of Mr. Bessey, in the winter of 1879-80, the Baptist and Congregational Churches holding union services during the season.

Source changes here: from Bristol County Farmers' Bulletin, by Bristol County Agricultural School (Bristol County, Mass.), published 1918; 55,975 words in this source stream.

B. C. A. S. News Notes Prom Department Five

Excellent carnations are being marketed as Well as calendulas and snapdragons. Two benches of stocks and a second bench of calendulas have been set and are doing very well.

About three hundred Easter Lilies are being grown and are showing unusual vigor and quality. There are a number of varieties of potted plants including cinerarias, marguerites, begonias, amaryllis, heliotrope, geraniums, etc. About fifteen hundred geraniums will be marketed this year.

Eight hundred tomato plants were set by the students just before the Christmas recess. The crop at present looks promising and some vines have already set fruit. Observations made by the students show that the plants have made an average growth of one inch each day last week.

The Juniors vdth Mr. Robinson spent the afternoon of January seventh in the East Mansfield cucumber section. The class found the Dustin Plant most interesting. There were seventeen houses averaging twenty-five by two hundred feet in this range. The houses were being prepared for setting. About six weeks later the class will make a second trip to this plant to study the grading and packing of the crop.

Wednesday, January sixth, Gerald De Costa and Arnold Hebert went to Worcester and put on a demonstration of miniature gardening. They had a number of gardens which they built as part of the demonstration. The boys were accompanied by Mr. Philbrook and Mr. Robinson.

Much interest is being showta by the Freshman class in gardening in the tomato crop in the greenhouse. A number have decided to stake their tomatoes this year and have already placed orders with the greenhouse department for plants.

Gilbert Blackledge, '30, continues as graduate assistant in this department. John Ventura, '32, is firing at present and thus far has kept Jack Frost out of the houses.

The Winter Scene Poultry Department News

POULTRY DEPARTMENT NEWS The much talked of depression and pessimistic spirit does not exist in Department One, at the beginning of 1932. Production for the past three months far exceeds that of the previous year and while prices of eggs are lower than a year ago, it is still possible to have a favorable margin over feed and labor costs. As is usually the case good production means good health and a low mortality.

Incubation season is at hand again and our incubator has been running empty for some time in an effort to locate causes of its irregularities. The machine is being operated this season by Frank Ward who had some experience last year. His previous experience should show some advantage over the previous season when it was operated by novices. Our first hatch will be on February 6. There will be no Rhode Island Reds for sale this year, but We will be able to sell a limited number of Leghorn chicks. The annual blood test for pullorum was taken in November and the B. C. A. S. flock showed complete freedom from reactions as in previous years.

Card Of Thanks

We wish to express our gratitude to the class of '34, its advisors, the Social Life Council, Mr. Robinson, and all who praticipated in making the Sophomore Hop a great success.

Sophomore Class Election

The Sophomore Class met recently and elected its class officers for the coming year. Mr. Forest Gilson acted as chairman of the meeting. Much interest was shown during the nominating and casting of ballots.

The officers elected were - President, Rudolph Christenson, Dighton; Vice- President, George Trefethern, Taunton; Secretary, John MarcieUe, Fall River; Treasurer, Carlton Cobb, Fall River.

Poultry Notes

The following poultry notes are taken from Featheredfax, a publication put out each month by the poultry department of the Massachusetts State College.

Buying' Started Chicks There is considerable risk in buying started chicks. Started chicks may be the result of either one of two causes. First, because the owner was unable to sell the chicks at the time of hatching and was obliged to hold them, and second, the flock may be infested with Fullorum disease and the chicks held for two or three weeks until severe mortality has subsided. In the former case one may get quality chicks provided he can depend upon the age stated, but if he gets chicks four weeks of age that are stunted, when paying for two weeks old chicks, he is not getting a square deal. In the latter case his flock will be Pullorum infected, which will lead to serious losses both in egg production and mortality.

Those who have ventilation problems in poultry houses or barns should secure U. S. D. A. Technical Bulletin No. 187, on Ventilation of Farm Barns.

Local Farmers

1. I believe the term Accredited - Pullorum Disease-free, Accredited - should be applied to disease-free stock to avoid confusion and misunderstanding.

2. I believe that eggs from nonaccredited (pullorum disease) stock should not be placed in the same incubator with Pullorum Disease-free, Accredited eggs, or even in the same incubator cellar if it can be avoided. Brooding and Rearing.

1. I believe that all brooder houses and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned, scrubbed and disinfected or sterilized with fire before new chicks are put in.

3. I believe that reducing the brooder room temperature as rapidly as possible produces healthy, hardy, disease-resistant chicks which can not be produced under high temperature.

The breeding school for poultrymen which was recently held at the Bristol County Agricultural School was originally planned for not more than 25 breeders. More than 60 poultrymen attended the series of four poultry breeding schools and all were very much interested in the intensive study of breeding problems that were discussed by Professor Monahan and Doctor Hays of the Massachusetts State College.

The group which attended the twoday dairy breeding school was somewhat smaller, but were none the less interested in the discussion of dairy breeding problems discussed by Prof. C. J. Fawcett and Prof. V. A. Rice of the Massachusetts State College.

It speaks well for the future of our poultry and dairy industries to have so many breeders interested in a long time program to improve their livestock.

Dairy Notes

Although the dairy industry is still suffering serious losses because of low priced milk there are many hopeful signs on the horizon for dairymen. The serious condition of the dairy industry has brought the dairymen together as never before. Dairymen all over New England are organizing. More than 600 dairymen in Bristol County have already joined local associates which are affiliated with the County and State Dairymen's Association. These associations are organized around the Fall River, New' Bedford, Taunton, Attleboro, and North Attleboro markets.

The purpose of these associations is to save the dairy industry for Bristol County. They hope to do this, first by improving the quality of our local milk so that Bristol County consumers of milk will be able to buy a better quart of milk locally than they can elsewhere; and second, they hope to stabilize the

Not many of us realize that the dairy industry in the aggregate is one of the three or four major industries in the state. Bristol County alone produces nearly four million dollars worth of dairy products. The money received for these products is spent for the most part in Bristol County, so that it is highly important that this industry be saved in Bristol County.

That our dairy industry is in some danger is shown by the fact that Massachusetts shipped only seven million quarts of milk into the Boston Market in 1930 as compared with thirteen million quarts in 1921. During the same period shipments from Vermont increased from sixty-four million to one hundred thirty-nine million quarts. The cream industry has moved even farther away. In 1925 200,000 quarts of cream were shipped into Boston from the western states. In 1929, four years later, this amount had increased to 6,200,000 quarts of cream. Most of this cream comes from uninspected sources and is many days old when it reaches the market. On the other hand all local milk and cream is under the inspection of local boards of health.

Milk and cream being highly perishable products, it would seem as though consumers of milk in Bristol County would secure a much safer and better product and at the same time assist one of our major local industries by insisting on locally produced milk and cream. Spray Charti

We have received for distribution a limited number of 1932 orchard spray charts. These may be secured free of charge by addressing the Extension Service of the Bristol County Agricultural School, Segreganset, Mass.

Creed

7. I believe that the healthiest and best chicks are raised on an ample, (not more than 500 baby chicks to the acre) clean, (three-year rotation) grass range.

3. I believe that hens and pullets should be kept in separate pens - or, better, in separate houses, to avoid possible infection of pullets.

7. I believe that all dead birds, infected material, or discarded incubator eggs should be disposed of immediately (burned or buried deeply).

Home Bureau Notes

Leaders in the Home Furnishing study groups report much interest in the first lesson of the new series. The following women are teaching study groups in their communities: Acushnet: -

Executive Board

Announcement was made of a talk on Clothing Problems to be presented by Mrs. Page on March 22 in Long Plain, Acushnet, and of another to be given in Rehoboth Village on April 14.

Question And Answer Column

Answer - Bread flour is made from spring wheat and pastry flour from winter wheat. Bread flour contains more gluten and less starch than pastry flour. Gluten is a protein substance, of a rather rubbery texture, which helps bread to keep its shape after it has risen and gives it a desirable texture.

Answer - While calves liver is more delicate in flavor than livers of most other animals, it has no more food value. Some of the less expensive livers may well be substituted.

Answer - If the orange juice is served unstrained, it is practically as valuable as sliced or whole orange, because much of the vitamin B is in the pulp. For the sake of the teeth we should endeavor to eat foods that must be chewed, so it is desirable to serve whole or sliced oranges occasionally instead of orange juice.

Answer - On the whole, I would say that we need a little more food, though not as much additional as once was necessary. We ride more and walk less than our fathers and mothers did. We have more labor-saving devices and so do less hard work, and we live in warmer houses so do not use up as much food for fuel.

We will want more hot and less cold foods in winter than in warmer weather. This is the time of the year when w'e relish soups, oven dinners and even hot desserts, but we must not forget that vegetables and fruits are just as important in winter as in summer. We would have less spring fever and less of a feeling of a need for a spring tonic if we kept our bodies in good condition all winter with nature's tonics - fruits and vegetables.

Answer - ^Yes, we seem to enjoy pork in winter more than in summer. It can be eaten by most grown persons with good normal digestion. There is always the precaution to cook it thoroughly. For young children, other meat is preferable to pork. This is because of the large amount of fat found even in lean pork.

Provenance

Text from History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, published 1883; Bristol County Farmers' Bulletin, published 1918, in the public domain in the United States and digitised by the Internet Archive. The settlements listed against this township are matched by point-in-polygon test of each Geographic Names Information System coordinate against the Census Bureau's county subdivision boundary, not by name.