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bridge, where they were fired upon out of the bushes, one killed and one wounded. This action drew the body of the English forces after the enemy, whom they pursued a mile or two, until they took to a swamp, after having killed about half a dozen of their number. The next morning the troops commenced their pursuit of the Indians. Passing over Miles' bridge, and proceeding down the east bank of the river, till they came to the narrow of the neck, at a place called Keekamuit or Kickemuit, they found the heads of eight Englishmen that the Indians had murdered, set upon poles by the side of the way. These they took down and buried. On arriving at Mount Hope they found that Philip and his Indians had left the place.

TAUNTON.

It is believed that the first Englishmen who first traversed the soil of this ancient town, (called by the Indians Cohannet,) were Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, on their visit to Massasoit, in July, 1621. They found it depopulated and desolate; the ravages of the great plague were every where discernible. At Tetiquet and Namasket there were Indian villages. The territory of Taunton proper (which formerly included within its limits the towns of Berkley and Raynham,) was claimed by the sachem of Tetiquet. In this territory there were no Indian settlements except in a small part of Raynham. It appears, however, that the country bordering on the river had been thickly populated, and the land cleared on both sides for a considerable distance. When first visited many of the remains of the natives were discovered unburied. At the head of the list of purchasers of Taunton, stands the name of Henry Uxley: who he was, does not appear. His house and lot were sold to Richard Williams, who may in some measure be considered as the father of Taunton, as he was in the place before the purchase of Miss Pool. Mr. Williams was a Welshman, and it is not improbable that he was a relation of Roger Williams. A tradition has always existed amongst his descendants that he was related by blood to Oliver Cromwell, the original name of whose family was Williams, (which name was changed for an estate,) and one of Cromwell's ancestors bore the name of Richard Williams.*

The inland situation of Taunton prevented for some time much accession to the number of settlers. The first settlers, with few exceptions, were from Somersetshire and Devonshire, and many of them from Taunton, in England. The first purchase was made in 1637, and confirmed afterwards; this was called the Tetiquet purchase, this being the Indian name for the great river of Taunton. About the period of its settlement, Miss Elizabeth Pool, a lady of family and fortune, from Taunton, in Somersetshire, Eng., conceived the

* Baylies' Hist. Memoir of Plymouth Colony, vol. i. p. 288.

bold design of occupying the territory of Cohannet. It appears that an ardent desire of planting another church in the American wilderness, induced this pious puritan lady to encounter all the dangers and hardships of forming a settlement in the midst of the Indians. She died in 1654, and her kinsman placed over her grave a stone with an inscription which commemorates her virtues.

The first and ancient purchasers stand in the following order

Henry Uxley, Richard Williams, Joseph Wilson, Benjamin Wilson, William Coy, George Hall, David Corwithy, Mr. William Pool, George Macy, William Harvey, Hezekiah Hoar, Walter Dean,

John Dean,
John Strong,
Henry Andrews,
Thomas Cooke,
John Smith,

Mr. Thomas Farwell,
Edward Case,
John Kingsley,
Richard Paull,
Richard Smith,
Mr. John Gilbert,
William Phillips,

William Hailstone,
William Parker,
John Parker,
John Richmond,
William Holloway,
The Wid. Randall,
Francis Doty,
William Dunn,
William Scadding,
John Bryant,
Anthony Slocum,
John Gengille,

Francis Street,
Hugh Rossiter,
John Gilbert,
Thomas Gilbert,
Robert Hobell,
Richard Burt,
John Crossman,
John Luther,
John Drake,
Mr. John Brown.

In a pamphlet entitled "Plain Dealing or Newes from New England," written by Thomas Lechford of Clements Inn, Jan. 17, 1641, and published in London, 1642, the writer, speaking of Taunton, says—

Cohannet, alias Taunton, is in Plymouth patent. There is a church gathered of late, and some ten or twenty of the church, the rest excluded; Master Hooke, pastor; Master Street, teacher. Master Hooke received ordination from the hands of one Master Bishop, a school-master, and one Parker, a husbandman, and then Master Hooke joyned in ordaining Master Street. One Master Doughty, a minister, opposed the gathering of the church there, alleging that according to the covenant of Abraham, all men's children that were of baptized parents, and so Abraham's children, ought to be baptized; and spoke so in publique, or to that effect, which was held a disturbance, and the ministers spake to the magistrate to order him; the magistrate commanded the constable, who dragged Master Doughty out of the assembly. He was forced to go away from thence with his wife and children.

Rev. William Hooke, who must be considered the first pastor of the Taunton church, was born about the year 1600. He married the sister of Edward Whalley, a major general in the Parliament's army, one of the regicides, so called, from being one of the judges who condemned Charles I. to death. Mr. Hooke left Taunton about 1640, and removed to New Haven, Con., from whence in 1656 he returned to England. He was received in the family of the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, as domestic chaplain. After the restoration of Charles II., he was silenced for non-conformity, and died in London, in 1677.

Taunton is a shire town; it is pleasantly situated at the head of sloop navigation on Taunton river. This place has great water power by the junction of Canoe and Rumford rivers with the Taunton, and is well improved for manufacturing purposes. There are about 30 sail of coasters of considerable burthen which ply between this place and the neighboring ports. A branch of the Boston and Providence railroad is extended to this place.

There are 8 churches: 4 Congregational, 2 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Catholic. The center of the main village is ornamented with an enclosed green with shade-trees, on one side of which is situated the court-house and other handsome buildings. There are 3 banks, the "Taunton Bank," with a capital of $250,000, the "Bristol County Bank," capital $100,000, and the "Cohannet Bank," capital $100,000. There are two insurance companies. This place is 32 miles from Boston, 20 from Providence, and 32 from Newport, R. I. Population of the town, 7,647. In the Statistical Tables of the state, published in 1837, it is stated there were 8 cotton mills; 3,043,887 yards of cotton goods were manufactured; males employed, 124; females, 468. One print works, which printed 5,869,860 yards of cloth; males employed, 250; females, 40; capital invested, $200,000. Seven millions and one hundred thousand of bricks were manufactured, valued at $28,000; ninety-five hands employed. Forty thousand straw bonnets were manufactured, valued at $62,000. Three nail factories, which manufactured 256 tons, valued at $60,500. One air and cupola furnace, which made 2,000 tons of iron castings, valued at $200,000; one forge, which manufactured 400 tons of bar iron, valued at $35,000. Besides these, there are various other articles manufactured, such as boots, shoes, hats, &c.

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A cemetery has been recently laid out in the immediate vicinity of the main village of Taunton, (called Mount Pleasant Cemetery,) upon the plan of that at Mount Auburn, in the vicinity of Boston. The ground is well calculated for this object, being agreeably diversified with elevations and depressions, and the soil is superior to that of Mount Auburn. The engraving shows the appearance of the monument of Miss Pool, at the entrance of the cemetery. The following is the inscription on this monument.

The Females of Taunton have erected this monument in honor of ELIZABETH POOL,

foundress of the town of Taunton, in 1637. Born before the settlement of America, in England, 1589, died at Taunton, May 21, 1654.

The following account is taken from the pamphlet containing Mr. Conant's sermon at the execution of Bristol, an African boy, for the murder of Miss McKinstry. It is proper to state that some accounts say that this boy had been informed, that if he would kill some one, and run away, he would obtain his liberty.

The bloody murder of Miss Elizabeth McKinstry, on June the 4th, 1763, which gave occasion for the preaching of the foregoing discourse, may Truly be placed among the astonishing Events of Providence and the alarming Frailties or human nature. One cannot call to mind the particular circumstances of this tragic scene without the deepest Emotions of Horror, Pity and Indignation.

The Negro Boy who perpetrated this lamentable crime was born in Africa, and at the age of about eight years was brought to New England, where he lived about five years in the same family with Miss McKinstry, at Windsor. His master then dying, he was purchased by her brother, Dr. McKinstry, of Taunton, where he had lived three years when the murder was committed, the deceased having been also about two years in the same family; so that from his childhood (excepting one year) he had lived in the same Family with her, and during this time he was treated with all the tenderness and Instruction that could be desired. He always appeared happy in his situation, and showed an uncommon Readiness to do his business and Faithfulness to perform what he undertook, without the least appearance of Sullenness or Malice. After he had the fact he rode to Newport, never showing the least concern till he was apprehended; he then made some artful excuses, till he had been committed about twelve hours, when he confessed the whole fact; the substance of which was, "that early in the morning, Miss McKinstry, a little Girl, and himself, being the only persons of the Family that were up, and the little girl being gone up stairs, as Miss McKinstry was stooping over the fire, he catched up a Flat Iron that stood on the hearth, struck her on the head, and knocked her into the fire, which burnt her face; he then gave her another Blow, and Immediately dragged her down the cellar stairs, where, seeing an old az, he struck her with it on the head, and made off as fast as he could."

After his commitment he appeared very penitent, and expressed his sorrow for the crime, particularly for the grief he had brought on his master's Family, in speaking of which he always seemed the most affected. He declared constantly, during the whole of his imprisonment, to his last moments, that he never had any anger against the deceased, nor any of the Family, and that he had never received any Treatment that deserved it; and though he always appeared free to answer any Questions that were asked him, yet he never gave any reason for committing the crime, but that he was prompted to it by a Negro Boy of his acquaintance, who Threatened to kill him if he did not do it. This he persisted in to his dying moment.

At his trial he pleaded guilty, but showed no emotion at the pronouncing sentence of Death, nor at the public worship, where in his hearing several sermons besides this were preached on the occasion, nor even at the execution. This would naturally be construed to Stupidity or Sullenness, had not his discourse plainly shown that he had a true sense of his Crime and right notions of a future state.

At the Gallows he made a long speech to the Spectators, particularly to those of his own color, which for Substance was pertinent and important. He expressed great concern for his master's Family, was very particular in thanking every Body that had taken notice of him while in Prison; he acknowledged his condemnation just; he expressed his sense of his guilt and the hopes he had of forgiveness and future happiness through the Mercy of God in Christ; and then, after repeating the Lord's Prayer distinctly, he was turned off. The deceased, who was the unhappy object of this unaccountable Malice, was a Daughter of the Rev. Mr. John McKinstry, late of Windsor, a young Lady of cheerful disposition, an even, generous temper, and every way of a worthy character. After tarrying with her Brother, she was preparing to return to her Mother at Windsor, when, in a moment that she thought not of, she was hurried in this cruel manner to her long home.

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the ancient burying-ground.

Here rest the remains of Mrs. Elizabeth Pool, a native of old England of good Fam. ily, Friends & prospects, all of which she left in the prime of her life to enjoy the Religion of her Conscience in this distant wilderness. A great proprietor of the town ship of Taunton, a chief promoter of its settlement and its incorporation, A. D. 1639, about which time she settled near this spot, and having employed the opportunytys of her virgin state in Piety, Liberality of manners, died May 21st, A. D. 1654, aged 65, to whose memory this monument is gratefully erected by her next of kin Iohn Borland, Esq. A. D. 1771.

In memory of the Hon. Samuel White, Esq. Colonel of a foot Regiment of Militia, Barrister at Law and member of the Hon. his Majesty's Council, who often having been delegated to the offices of Government, faithfully served his God, his king and his country, and exhibiting through an unspotted course of life, the virtues of the Patriot, Friend and Christian, fell asleep in Jesus, March XX, MDCCLXIX, in the LIX year of his age.

This humble stone, small tribute of their praise
Lamented shade! thy weeping offspring raise!
O while their footsteps haunt ye hallow'd shrine,
May each fair Branch shoot fertile as ye vine;
Not with thy Dust be here thy virtue's tomb
But bright'ning still each Grace transplanted bloom,
Sire, Sons and Daughters shall a like renown;
Applauding angels! a celestial crown!

Parentibus optimus bene merentibus.*

Zephaniah Leonard, Esq. who died April the 23d, A. D. 1766, in the 63d year of his age, & Hannah, his wife, who died the same day, in the 62d year of her age.

To dust and silence so much worth consigned,
Sheds a sad gloom o'er vanities behind.

Such our pursuits? proud mortals vainly soar.
See here, the wise, the virtuous are no more.
How mean Ambition! how completely hate;
How dim the tinsel glories of the Great!

*

& Death & hovering darkness hide us all.

Inscribed to the memory of the Honble. Seth Padelford, Esq., who deceased January 7th, 1810, aged 58 years and 1 month. For he was wise to know, and warm to praise, and strenuous to transcribe in human life THE MIND ALMIGHTY.

Robert Treat Paine, a poet of some celebrity, was born in this town, December 9th, 1773. His father was the Hon. Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In his eighth year his father removed to Boston. He was graduated at Harvard in 1792, with a high reputation for genius. He was soon after placed in the counting-room of a merchant, but left it for literary occupations, and published several poems and orations, which at the time were highly popular. In 1802, he began the practice of law, but failed of success for want of application; and he spent the latter part of his life in poverty. He died Nov. 13th, 1811, aged 38. His national song, Adams and Liberty, is perhaps the most widely known; of which the following is the first stanza.

Ye sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought

For those rights, which unstained from your sires had descended,
May you long taste the blessings your valor has bought,

And your sons reap the soil which their fathers defended.

* A worthy son of worthy parents.

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