History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

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76 History of Swansea "that Mr. John Myles the present pastor of the church here assembling be schoolmaster," or *'to have power to dispose the same to an able schoolmaster dm:ing the said pastor's life." The salary was to be "£40 in current country funds," but on condition that Mr. Myles and his successor should accept whatever the people would bestow in a weekly contribution for their ministerial services. Mr. Myles accepted the proposition and held his school in various parts of the town on successive months, to suit the convenience of pupils. Thus he deserves grateful remembrance not only as the first pastor but also as the early schoolmaster and teacher of youth who laid the foundation of the pubHc schools of Swansea. After his death no mention is made of a school till 1698, when Jonathan Bosworth was employed at £18, one fourth in money and the rest in provisions at money prices. He was to teach the first month in Wannamoisett Neck, the second in New Meadow Neck, the third in Kickemuit, the fourth in the Cole neighborhood, and fifth on Metapoiset, and so in succession. Later, John Devotion was engaged at £12 and board and £20 for feeding a horse, to keep a school in succession "in the four quarters of the town. " In 1709 he engaged for six years, and in 1715 for twenty years more. At this time it was voted that he should "teach our youth to read Inglish and Lattin and Wright & sifer as their may be occation. " He was to teach five months each year, from October through February, the first two months near his own dwelling, and the other three in other parts of the town. His compensation was £17 10s. a year, three pounds of which was to be paid for the use of the schoolmaster's lot. Such were the beginnings of our public schools. Division of Inhabitants Into Ranks, AND Division of Land To the trustees of the town was also assigned the duty of dividing the pubHc lands. The method of division was as undemocratic as it was unprecedented. The men were divided into three ranks, according to the judgment of the trustees as to their standing. Promotions and degradations were made from time to time by a committee appointed by the town. The men of the first rank received three acres to two granted those of the second and to one granted those in the third. The majority were of the second rank, though more were of the third than of the first. For ten years this ranking system was in force. But it broke down when in 1681 the committee granted to five
Historical Address 77 men, their heirs and assigns forever, "the full right and interest of the highest rank. " It was all these freemen could stand to have a landed aristocracy. But to have it made hereditary they would not endure, and so the town by unanimous vote repudiated the act of the committee, and from that time the practice went into disuse. Captain Thomas Willett Of Capt. Thomas Willett much might be said. One of the last of the Leyden colony to come to Plymouth, he early secured and always enjoyed the confidence of the colonists. Their agent at the Maine trading posts, successor of Miles Standish in mihtary command, largely engaged in coastwise traffic, long an assistant in the Plymouth government, an arbitrator between his colony and Rhode Island on boundary disputes, chosen by Governor Stuyvesant of New Amsterdam as a man of fairness and integrity to represent the Dutch in their controversy with the English. "More acquainted with the manners and customs of the Dutch than any Englishman in the colony, " and hence the leading adviser of the EngHsh in the negotiations which resulted in the surrender of New Amsterdam; prominent in organizing New York, its first mayor, and who "twice did sustaine the place," trusted beyond any other man by EngUsh, Dutch and Indians, a settler in Swansea as early as 1659 or '60, and until his death its foremost citizen, dying Aug. 4th, 1674, less than a year before Swansea was ravaged by Philip's Indians, buried with his wife near the head of Bullock's cove in East Providence ; such in outfine was the life of Capt. Thomas WiUett. (See Sketch) King Philip's War The gradual afienation of their lands to the Engfish, and the consequent growth of Engfish settlements, threatened the ascendency if not the existence of the Indian tribes. Against the latter contingency the colonists sought to guard. When the Plymouth authorities gave Capt. Willett liberty to purchase lands in Swansea, they added the express proviso, "so as he do not too much straiten the Indians." But by his land sales, Philip, son and successor of Massasoit, became shut into Mount Hope peninsula, so that his only land route out lay through Swansea. We cannot now refer to the events which led to Philip's
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University of Massachusetts Amherst
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HISTORY OF SWANSEA MASSACHUSETTS 16
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EDITOR'S PREFACE IT the annual Town
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Editor*s Preface Miss Ruth B. Eddy,
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CONTEISTS—Continued FAMILY RECORD
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SWANSEA LANDS
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SWANSEA LANDS *^ WANSEA lies in the
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Outline and Injdex Ma BRISTOL CO, r
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MANY THE BOURNE GARRISON HOUSE year
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The Bourne Garrison House 9 ence ha
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The Bourne Garrison House 11 after
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The Bourne Garrison House 13 bles h
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THE THE INDIANS An Agricultural Peo
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The Indians 19 of their cultivated
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The Indians 21 together. " Not infr
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The Indians 23 Captain Thomas Derme
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The Indians 25 "desired to keep the
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The Indians 27 reached Sowams late
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The Indians 29 possible manner, unt
Page 49 and 50: The Indians 31 spare of speech ; in
Page 51 and 52: The Indians 33 Speech of Metacomet
Page 53 and 54: The Indians 35 the Narragansetts. I
Page 55: The Indians 37 a pole, and was thus
Page 59 and 60: — PURCHASES, DEEDS, ETC. The Gran
Page 61 and 62: Purchases, Deeds, Etc, 43 in 1698,
Page 63: DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Page 66 and 67: 48 History of Swansea persons may b
Page 68 and 69: 50 History of Swansea "At a Town-me
Page 70 and 71: " : 52 History of Swansea Nicholas
Page 72 and 73: 54 History of Swansea ductory words
Page 74: 56 History of Swansea it was set in
Page 78 and 79: 58 History of Swansea — reign, in
Page 80 and 81: " 60 History of Swansea " " Revolut
Page 82 and 83: 62 Brown, Elisha Brown, John Brown,
Page 84 and 85: 64 Mason, Jeremiah Marten, Ebenezer
Page 87 and 88: Teary, Philip Terry, James Thomas,
Page 89: Smith, Solomon Smith, John Smith, A
Page 93: Hon. John Summerfield Brayton
Page 96 and 97: 72 History of Swansea long and hono
Page 98 and 99: 74 History of Swansea favor towards
Page 102 and 103: 78 History of Swansea fierce and fa
Page 104 and 105: 80 History of Swansea many of his c
Page 106: 82 History of Swansea forever for t
Page 110 and 111: 84 History of Swansea Worse than al
Page 112 and 113: 86 History of Swansea " took posses
Page 114 and 115: 88 History of Swansea tury, Samuel
Page 116 and 117: 90 History of Swansea post-master o
Page 118 and 119: 92 History of Swansea seven; Ezekie
Page 120 and 121: 94 History of Swansea by any one de
Page 122 and 123: 96 History of Swansea all was offer
Page 125: CHURCHES
Page 128 and 129: 102 History of Swansea reorganizati
Page 131 and 132: Churches 103 meeting without the kn
Page 133 and 134: Churches 105 first named died in th
Page 135 and 136: Churches 107 October 1867; Rev. J.
Page 137 and 138: Churches 109 drew, declaring "the L
Page 139 and 140: Churches 111 legal voters of the pa
Page 141 and 142: Churches 113 sensibly impaired, for
Page 145 and 146: Churches 115 he then passed the boo
Page 147 and 148: Churches 117 Ernest R. Caswell Sept
Page 149 and 150: Churches 119 Warren, always made it
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Churches 121 he resigned. Rev. Wm.
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Churches 123 mother, also of Elder
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Churches 125 Slade, Eben Slade, Dav
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BUSINESS
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130 History of Swansea Deed dated J
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132 History of Swansea the place of
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134 History of Swansea Buttons and
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FAMILY RECORDS
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140 History of Swansea Allen Family
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142 History of Swansea Carpenter di
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144 History of Swansea May 14, 1634
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146 History of Swansea several of w
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148 History of Swansea Brayton, was
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150 History of Swansea November 27,
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152 History of Swansea occupation s
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154 History of Swansea and James Fl
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156 History of Swansea (deceased) ;
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158 History of Swansea 4. Mary 5. P
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160 History of Swansea Crittenden.
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162 History of Swansea married Thom
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164 History of Swansea March 5, 174
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Family Records 165 large circle of
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Family Records 167 Their children I
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Family Records 169 married Mary, da
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Family Records 171 prepared (such a
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Family Records 173 the General Cour
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Family Records 175 as sergeant in C
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Family Records 177 seems to be know
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Fam ily Records 179 of the promoter
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Family Records 181 died in 1720. He
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Family Records 183 balls were flyin
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Family Records 185 Mary H. W. White
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Family Records Heads of Families in
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Wheaton, Jeremiah Chace, Samuel, 2d
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PERSONAL SKETCHES Thomas Willet Thi
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Personal Sketches 195 stone is erec
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^^ e
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198 History of Swansea doctrine;' t
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200 History of Swansea heard of the
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202 History of Swansea nine childre
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204 History of Swansea Swansea furt
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206 History of Swansea who by tradi
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208 History of Swansea high regard
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210 History of Swansea he went to N
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212 History of Swansea scientious a
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Personal Sketches 213 cord, and too
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Personal Sketches 215 views, led hi
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Personal Sketches 217 exactness in
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Personal Sketches 219 His boyhood d
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Personal Sketches 221 deceased; Wil
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Personal Sketches 223 estates both
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Personal Sketches 225 and Susan (Vi
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Personal Sketches 227 youth made hi
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Personal Sketches 229 in Fall River
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Personal Sketches 231 So the ship b
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PLACES OF INTEREST
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236 History of Swansea served in th
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Places of Interest 237 1824. Aet. 9
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Places of Interest 239 see the B. M
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Places of Interest 241 The circle s
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Places of Interest 243 stands, and
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f H rl n yH= p rllff
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246 History of Swansea Statistics f
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248 History of Swansea Swansea Toda
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