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

Historical Address 93
devoted his entire life, dying in 1838. Though their patients
were widely scattered, yet these physicians never drove in a
wheeled vehicle, always travelling on horseback, carrying their
medicines in saddle-bags, the custom of those days. Dr. John
W. Winslow, son of Dr. John Winslow, early became well and
favorably known as "young Dr. Winslow," and gave promise
of eminence in his profession. But he died at the early age of
thirty-two in 1836. For several years these three generations
of physicians were here together in the practice of their profession.
Dr. A. T. Brown began here, in 1836, a successful
practice of sixteen years duration.
For 62 years Dr. James Lloyd Welhngton, a Harvard
classmate of Gen. Charles Devens, James Russell Lowell, the
sculptor William W. Story, William J. Rotch and George B.
Loring, has been the highly esteemed physician of this place.
By his self-sacrificing devotion to the noble but exacting profession
he adorns, he has won, what is far better than wealth,
the gratitude of the whole community which he has served so
skilfully and successfully. (See sketch).
Lawyers
Several lawyers, previous to the year 1832, lived and
practiced their professions here, among whom were the Hon.
PHny Merrick, for eleven years an Associate Justice of the
Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth; Hezekiah
Battelle and Eliab Williams, who moved to Fall River and
formed there the law co-partnership of Battelle & Williams,
so long and favorably known is this section of the State.
Among the present leaders of the Bristol Bar, Swansea,
by one of her sons, is represented in each of the three cities of
this county: Hon. Edwin L. Barney of New Bedford, Hon.
James Brown of Taunton, and Jonathan M. Wood, Esq., of
Fall River.
Union Meeting House
The Town Hall now occupies the site of a Union meeting
house which was built by the joint efforts of people of seversJ
denominations resident here. In the dedication which occurred
Dec. 29th, 1830, Methodists, Baptists, Swedenborgians and
Universalists participated. The hymns sung were composed
by Elder Baker, a Six Principle Baptist clergyman. Services
were maintained some years, but as the building was not owned