CHAPTER III

MIDDLEBORO AS FIRST KNOWN TO THE ENGLISH

N 1619 Sir Ferdinand Gorges sent an expedition to

look after certain fishing and fur interests which
Captain John Smith had established two years before.
Thomas Dermer, one of Smith's captains, was in
charge of the expedition, with instructions to join one Rocroft
on the Maine coast. On arriving, he found that Rocroft had
gone to Virginia. He sent his ship of two hundred tons home,
laden with furs and fish ; then with a few men and Tisquan-
tum, or Squanto, as guide, proceeded to explore the country
in a small boat from the Kennebec to Cape Cod. He went
to Tisquantum's native place, Patuxet, and of this he says,
" When I arrived at my savage's native country, finding all

dead I travelled almost a day's journeywestward to a place

called Namasket, where finding inhabitants, I despatched a
messenger a day's journey west to Pokanoket, which border-
eth on the sea, whence came to see me two kings attended
with a guard of fifty armed men, who being well satisfied with
what my savage and I discoursed unto them, and being desir-
ous of novelty, gave me content in whatsoever I demanded."
On this trip he rescued two Frenchmen, who had been
wrecked several years before. They had been subjected to a
life of slavery since their capture a third had lived with them
;

for a time, then had married, but soon after died and was
buried with his child.^ Of the two survivors, one was found
in Nemasket, the other at Massachusetts Bay. The natives
were hostile to the Englishmen, and later would have killed
1 " The pilgrims discovered the grave of this man. On opening it, they found a
bow between two mats, a painted board shaped like a trident, bowls, trays, dishes,
and two bundles which proved to be the bones of a man with fine yellow
etc.,

hairand a child. This caused much interest, as it showed them that white people
had been there before them." Goodwin's Pilgrim Republic^ p. 78.
22 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1621

Dermer had not Tisquantum interfered. After varied adven-

tures he set sail for Virginia with the two Frenchmen, leaving
Squantoat " Tawahquatook " Satucket, now Brewster.
Two years later Squanto's services were required as guide
by the pilgrims, who sent two of their number to Massasoit,
"the greatest commander among the savages." They desired
to ascertain where these Indians under the rule of Massasoit
were, discover their strength, and make amends for any inju-
ries which had been done. They also wished to continue their
league of friendship and peace. Stephen Hopkins and Edward
Winslow were chosen for this purpose. With Squanto as inter-
preter, and a gift consisting of a coat of red cotton and lace
to propitiate the chief, they set out at nine o'clock on the
morning of July 13, 1621. They planned to spend the night at
" Namaschet, a Town under Massasoyt," which they thought
but a short distance from Patuxet, but found to be about fif-
teen miles away. They fell in with several men, women, and
children, who insisted on following them, much to their annoy-
ance. At about three o'clock they reached " Namaschet," and
were most cordially entertained by the inhabitants. They gave
them an abundant repast of spawn of shad, a kind of bread
called " maizium," and boiled musty acorns. As their journey's
end was still more than a day's travel, Tisquantum advised
their going a few miles further that night to a place where
they would find a larger store of food. At sunset they reached
a camp, where they halted and prepared to spend the night
in the open fields, as there was no shelter. They found the
Namascheuks (the name given to the people of Namaschet)
fishing upon a weir they had made on the river (probably the
old Indian weir at Titicut on Taunton River). Winslow wrote
of this river,^ The head of the river is reported to be not far
from the place of our abode. Upon it are and have been many
towns, it being a good length. The ground is very good on
both sides, it being for the most part cleared. Thousands of
men have lived there, which died in a great plague not long
since and pity it was and is to see so many goodly fields and
;

1 Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, pp. 204-206.

i62i] AS FIRST KNOWN TO THE ENGLISH 23

SO well seated, without men to dress and manure the same.

Upon this river dwelleth Massasoit. It cometh into the sea at
the Narrobigganset Bay, where the Frenchmen so much use,"
The messengers reached Massasoit on July 4, faint and
weary. They had given generously of their food to the natives
on the way, expecting to find an abundance with the chief.
Unfortunately for his guests, he had little or nothing for them,
so, worn and hungry, they sought rest with their royal host.

Massasoit shared with them his bed, which consisted of a

wooden platform a foot from the ground covered with a thin
mat the guests slept at one side, he and his wife at the
;

other, with two of his men close by. In such uncomfortable

quarters they passed the night. The Indian custom of singing
themselves to sleep was not as conducive to slumber for the
whites as for the natives. The next day Massasoit gave them
fish to eat, and early in the morning of the day following they
set out for home. Winslow writes " That night we reached
:

to the wear where we lay before but the Namascheuks were

;

returned, so that we had no hope of anything there. One of

the savages had shot a shad in the water, and a small squirrel,
as big as a rat, called a neuxis the one half of either he gave
;

us, and after went to the wear to fish. From hence we wrote to
Plymouth and sent Tockamahamon before to Namasket, will-
ing him from thence to send another, that he might meet us
with food at Namasket. Two men now only remained with us ;

and it pleased God to give them good store of fish, so that we

were well refreshed. After supper we went to rest, and they
to fishing again. More they gat, and fell to eating afresh, and
retained sufficient ready roast for all our breakfasts. About
two o'clock in the morning, arose a great storm of wind, rain,
lightning and thunder, in such violent manner that we could
not keep in our fire and had the savages not roasted fish when
;

we were asleep, we had set forward fasting for the rain still
;

continued with great violence, even the whole day through,

till we came within two miles of home. Being wet and weary,
at length we came to Namaschet." ^ On their arrival they were
1 Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, p. 212.
24 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1621

urged to spend the night, but in spite of the weather they passed
on,and reached home in safety.
A month later startHng news came to New Plymouth. Mas-
sasoit, their friend and ally, had been driven from the country
by the Narragansetts, and one of his sachems, Corbitant, chief
of the Pocassets, was in command. He was known to be hostile
to the white men, and did all in his power to break the treaty
made between Massasoit and the settlers. At this time Ne-
masket again became the scene of a meeting between the
Indians and the English for this sachem lived here, and in his
;

chieftain's absence sought by every means to weaken Massa-

soit's influence, destroy his new allies, and raise himself to power.

As soon as the colonists heard the news, they sent Hobomok

and Squanto to ascertain Massasoit's whereabouts, and to ob-
serve carefully the plans and actions of Corbitant and his fol-
lowers. These emissaries proceeded as secretly as possible to
" Namaschet," planning to spend the night there, but Corbi-

tant, discovering their hiding-place, attacked the house, seized

Squanto and his companion, and threatened them with death
on account of their friendship with the white men. He had
said that if Squanto were dead, " the English had lost their
tongue," and was about to kill them both, when Hobomok,
owing to his great strength, escaped from them, and dashed
past the guard out of the wigwam. Making his way as rapidly
as possible toward Plymouth, he related his experience and the
manner of his escape, as well as his fears for Squanto's life.

On hearing this news, realizing the hatred and fury of their

enemy, the governor called a council to consider what was best
for them to do. They took it for granted that Squanto had been
killed, and appointed Miles Standish, with a little company of

men, to avenge his death at Nemasket and quell the insurrec-

tion against their ally, Massasoit. Standish and his men, with
Hobomok as guide, set out for the ''kingdom of Namaschet"
on the 24th of August. They marched through the woods,
in spite of a heavy rain, to within three or four miles of Ne-
masket. Here they had been ordered to wait until night, that
they might approach the town unobserved. While they rested.
i62i] AS FIRST KNOWN TO THE ENGLISH 25

Standish called them together to plan their method of attack

and to give each man his orders. His instructions had been
to surprise the town at night and take all who had been con-
cerned in the seizure of Squanto. If it was found that he had
been killed, Corbitant was to be beheaded at once, and his
assistant, Nepeof, a sachem, who had joined in the rebellion, was
to be held as hostage until Massasoit was heard from.
Midnight seemed the best time for the attack. They had not
advanced far on the march when they discovered that the guide
had lost his way. They were weary and drenched with the rain,
and well-nigh discouraged, but one of the party, who had been
to the place before, was able to lead them in the right direction.
Before they reached there, they ate what food they had, threw
away their knapsacks and baggage, and advanced to the house
where they knew Corbitant had been staying. The sound of
the wind and rain completely concealed the coming of Standish
and his men, the Indians at this time having no thought of the
pursuit of one of their chieftains. In the middle of the night
they surrounded what was supposed to be the wigwam of Cor-
bitant. It was filled with a large number of his braves, and
Standish, with his known courage, suddenly burst open the
door and rushed in among them. As they awoke at the sound
of his voice and footsteps, they were paralyzed with fear and
terror, and some endeavored to conceal themselves by hiding
under the skins of the wigwam. Others attempted to escape
through the door, but were intercepted. Some of the Indians,
having heard that Standish never made war upon their squaws,
most piteously cried out, " Don't hurt me, I am a squaw, I am
a squaw " While they were making a fire and searching the
!

wigwam, Hobomok climbed to the roof and called for Squanto

and Tockamahamon, who came with many others, some having
weapons, which were taken from them, to be returned later,
and the object of the journey was explained to them. Standish
then released all the savages whom they had seized, after hear-
ing of Corbitant's departure. The next day they took breakfast
with Squanto, while all of the friendly Indians gathered near,
and again they spoke of their intentions against the hostile
26 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1622

Indians, threatening to destroy Corbitant and his followers if

they continued to instigate trouble against them and against

their friend and ally, Massasoit, or if he should not return in

safety from Narragansett, or if Squanto or any other of Massa-

soit's subjects should be killed.

After renewing their offers of friendship, even agreeing to

take with them those who had been wounded, that Dr. Fuller,
their physician, might dress their wounds and care for them,
they returned home the next day, accompanied by Squanto and
other friendly Indians with the three who were hurt, having so
impressed the natives with their bravery that ever afterward
Standish was an object of especial terror. This first warlike
expedition of the pilgrims in New England thus becomes the
first event of importance in Middleboro history.

In January of the next year Governor Bradford found it

necessary to buy corn, and an expedition was sent to Mano-
met and to Nemasket. The Indian women were prevented by
sickness from carrying all the corn from Nemasket, and the
remainder was taken by the pilgrims to Plymouth.
In March news came to Plymouth that Massasoit was on
his death-bed. In accordance with the Indian custom of friends
visiting the sick one before his death, the pilgrims decided to
send one of their number to the chief's home, and Edward
Winslow was chosen. He was accompanied by an Englishman
desirous of seeing the country, Hampden by name, and by
Hobomok as guide. With numerous medicines and cordials for
the chief, they set out, and spent the first night at Nemasket.
After visiting Massasoit, they remained a night with Corbitant
at " Mattapuyet," and then proceeded to Nemasket, where
they again stayed over night.
In the year 1633 Sir Christopher Gardner lived on the banks
of the Nemasket, after his departure from England in disgrace.
He had sent a petition to the king alleging various charges
against the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, which
were denied by the governors, and the petition was dismissed
by the king. In England he had been a gentleman of influ-
ence, a knight of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, and a
1633] AS FIRST KNOWN TO THE ENGLISH 27

connection of the Bishop of Winchester, but a zealous papist

in disguise. When he came into the colony he was accompa-
nied by one or two servants, and it was understood that he had
given up all worldly pursuits and would live a godly life in hum-

ble circumstances. He had applied for admission to several

churches, but was refused on account of his questionable char-
acter. The Bay had attempted to
authorities of Massachusetts
arrest him, but he had eluded their pursuit, and was living
with the Indians at Nemasket. Becoming suspicious, they gave
information to the governor, who authorized his seizure, and
directed that he be brought uninjured to Boston. The Indians
saw him near the river and attempted to capture him, but he
escaped in a canoe. Armed with a musket and rapier, he kept
them at bay until the canoe was upset upon a rock and his
weapons lost. He continued to defend himself with a small
dagger, which they finally succeeded in knocking from his
hands, and he was made prisoner. He was taken to Governor
Winthrop, in Boston, who afterwards sent him to England to
meet the criminal charges there pending against him.
The settlers in Plymouth undoubtedly passed through Mid-
dleboro on expeditions to Taunton and elsewhere, but until
about ten years before the Twenty-six Men's Purchase there
were probably no permanent residents.
John Winthrop, Jr., who accompanied an expedition from
the Narragansett Bay up the Taunton River in 1636, sailed up
the river as far as Titicut, as appears by the following letter
to his father :
—
Saybrook, Pasbeshuke, April 7, 1636.

From John Winthrop, to the Right Worshipful and Much

Honored Father, John Winthrop, who dwells in Boston.
Sir: —
My humble duty remembered to yourself and my
mother, with love to my brothers and all of our friends with
you. I suppose you have heard of our arrival at Titiquet, an
opportune meeting with our vessels. Concerning that place I
conceive it is about 22 or 23 miles from Waliston. Very fer-
tile and rich land and so far as we went down it grew wide
into Sachems Harbor and a ship of 500 tons may go up to
about ten or twelve miles. There is no meadow or salt marsh
all the way. The first of the month we set sail from Naragan-
28 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1637

set and in the evening about six o'clock arrived there. Thus
craving your prayers and blessings I commend you to the
Almighty and rest,
Your obedient son,
John Winthrop.

He evidently sailed up the river as far as the wading-place

at Pratt's Bridge, as the river is navigable for small ships of
not more than five hundred tons up to that point. There is
no record, however, that he and his party did more than make
a temporary landing at this place.
In 1637 a settlement was made at Titicut, bordering on
the westerly side of Middleboro, by Miss Elizabeth Poole and
her associates. She was the daughter of Sir William Poole, a
knight of Colcombe, in the parish of Coliton, Devon, England.
The records of the parish say that she was baptized August 25,
1588. This land was sometimes called the Titicut purchase,
not because it was bought of the Indians residing there, but
from the fact that it was within the original Indian reserva-
tion, which had been conveyed to her and her associates be-
fore it had been reserved for the exclusive use of the Indians.
Her purchase was between the bounds of Cohan ett (the former
name of Taunton) and the Titicut weir, and bordered upon
what subsequently became the western boundary line of Mid-
dleboro between Poquoy Brook and Baiting Brook. Those who
settled here about the time of Miss Poole's purchase were
her brother, William Poole, Mr. John Gilbert, Sr., Mr. Henry
Andrews, John Strong, John Dean, Walter Dean, and Edward
Case, who, the next year, were made freemen in Plymouth
Colony. The territory which she purchased was known for
some time as Littleworth farm and Shute farm, and the re-
cords state that it was here Miss Poole lost many cattle. The
original purchase of Miss Poole ultimately became a portion of
Taunton, and other farms purchased by her and her associates
were often referred to in the early records as Meerneed, Bare-
need, Cotley, and Pondsbrook, in accordance with the English
custom. Bareneed was given to the farm of Edward Case and
Pondsbrook to that of John Gilbert.
 CHAPTER IV

EARLY SETTLERS BEFORE KING PHILIP'S WAR

LTHOUGH Middleboro was only fifteen miles from
Plymouth and halfway on the Indian Path to the
Taunton settlement, it was more than forty years
after the landing of the pilgrims before the whites
came numbers. There were from fifteen
to dwell there in large
to twenty thousand Indians within forty miles of Plymouth,
and probably more in Middleboro than in any other part of the
colony.
For fifteen years after the early settlers came here to live,
the territory was a part of Plymouth, and they were described
as residents of that town ; but after its incorporation in 1669,
they were known as "residing in Middleberry." They were
mostly the sons or the grandsons of the pilgrims, and united
their sturdy virtues and habits of industry with their enter-
prise and courage. Their fathers had conquered many of the
difficulties attending the first coming, and had become ac-
customed to the new life on these western shores.
Many of them had not only engaged in trading with the
Indians in different parts of the country, but had purchased
large tracts of land, which were being occupied, and there were
not a few among their number who had already acquired a
competence. The colony had been settled long enough for
the people to begin to be attached to the place where they
had been born and reared this younger generation knew no-
;

thing of the luxuries, turmoil, and political distractions of the

Old World, except what they had learned from their fathers
and grandfathers.
The population was increasing, although not as rapidly as
that of Salem and of the Bay. The settlement of Middleboro
was unlike that of other places, in that these men supposed

1
30 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1669

that the town was to be occupied in common with the abo-

rigines, who were then the owners of much of the land. We
can but note what must have been their heroism in thus choos-
ing homes among the red men of the forest, well knowing,
as they did, their characteristics, and the inevitable dangers
which would continually confront them.
Their manner of living is of interest. Although many
frame houses had been built in Plymouth and the older parts
of the colony, all houses in Middleboro prior to the breaking
out of King Philip's War were of hewn logs. The doors were
made of plank, either sawed by hand or hewn, and logs were
hewn upon three sides to form a level floor in the house. The
fireplaces were usually built of stone laid in clay, and some
of the chimneys were of green oak logs plastered with clay.
The latches and hinges of the doors were made of wood the ;

former were raised by a string extending through the door

outside. The windows were usually small and placed high up
from the ground. Oiled paper ^ set in a wooden frame admitted
light into the windows, although in the better class of houses
in Plymouth they had commenced using window-glass in small
diamond shapes set in lead.
For generations they obtained from their farms all that
was necessary for the support of their families. Most of their
clothing was made of flax and of wool from the sheep, the
women being skilled in spinning and weaving, and the men
often wore trousers made from skins of sheep, deer, or bear,
which they tanned.
Their simple food was served from the table, a long, nar-
row board on standards not unlike sawhorses, called a table
board, and the linen covering was called a "board cover," not a
table cover till later. Napkins were many and necessary, as
they had no forks. The food was frequently "spoon meat,"
i. e. soups, hashes, etc., which could be easily managed with
spoons and knives. The pewter platters usually contained the

1 Edward Winslow in his letter to George Morton, writing from Plymouth under
date of December 11, 1621, says, " Bring paper and linseed oil for your windows,

with cotton yarn for your lamps." Young's Chronicle of the Pilgrims, p. 237.