History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog
History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog
History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog
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MANY<br />
THE BOURNE GARRISON HOUSE<br />
years ago Gov. Bourne, <strong>of</strong> Bristol, R. I., accom-<br />
panied by a Mr. Miller, gave me a call, and after a word<br />
<strong>of</strong> introduction humorously asked if I could tell him<br />
what happened in this section <strong>of</strong> the town three hundred years<br />
ago. I rephed substantially that I could not trust my memory<br />
to state anything that occurred here quite so far back.<br />
What they wished to learn was the location <strong>of</strong> the garrisoned<br />
house occupied by a Mr. Bourne at the breaking out<br />
<strong>of</strong> King Philip's War in 1675. This Bourne was an ancestor <strong>of</strong><br />
Mr. Miller. Mr. Miller seemed much interested in local historical<br />
matters, was well informed and was the author <strong>of</strong> several<br />
valuable papers. I think he wrote the history <strong>of</strong> the Wampanoags.<br />
I could not give them much satisfactory information in<br />
regard to the location <strong>of</strong> the garrison house, but after a somewhat<br />
extended conversation told them that I would give the<br />
subject attention, investigate certain matters and report at a<br />
future time.<br />
The result <strong>of</strong> all my labors was that the garrison house<br />
was located where Mr. Green's house now stands, near the<br />
old Gardner Cemetery; that this and the first house erected<br />
here were identical. The pro<strong>of</strong> is almost entirely traditional<br />
and circumstantial. I know <strong>of</strong> no positive documentary evidence.<br />
It has been handed down without dissent for several<br />
generations that the first house on Gardner's Neck was located<br />
as above stated. The circumstantial evidence is very strong.<br />
The first settlers, whenever they could, other things being<br />
favorable, selected sites for building near salt meadows or<br />
fresh meadows. There were probably but comparatively few<br />
clear spaces in the whole town; it was doubtless heavily<br />
wooded. From these valleys and hill sides the maple, the<br />
chestnut, the pine, the oak towered toward the sky. In my<br />
old barn there are oak boards nearly two feet wide. The idea<br />
<strong>of</strong> meadows, <strong>of</strong> open pastures, must be left entirely out <strong>of</strong> mind.<br />
In places where the trees were scattered, probably underbrush<br />
and wild shrubbery thickly grew.<br />
Under these circumstances where would the closely<br />
observing pioneer most fikely pitch his tent ; not on the hill top,<br />
but in a partially sheltered place, where the land was a little low<br />
and water might be easily obtained ; where without much labor