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 74 
 
 M43 M35
 
 .AN ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION 
 
 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 OF THE INCORPORATION of the 
 
 TOWN OF MATTAPOISETT 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS 
 
 AUGUST 18-24, 1907 
 
 NEW BEDFORD, MASS.: 
 
 E. Anthony & Sons, Inc., Printbbs. 
 1908.
 
 Copyright 1908 
 
 By IRVING NILES TILDEN 
 
 Chairman Committee on Publication 
 
 Mattapoisett, Mass. 
 
 Five Hundred Copies of this Book have been printed, of which 
 one has been sent to each person who contributed to the fund for the 
 celebration. The remainder will be for sale at twenty-five cents each.
 
 F 
 
 ■74- 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Fifty years ago a Mattapoisett home would have been 
 incomplete, its mistress lacking in taste and sensibility, 
 if the parlor table had not been ornamented with vari- 
 ous "Tokens," "Keepsakes" or "Souvenirs" — little 
 volumes bound in black and gold, containing gems of 
 prose and verse, illustrated by steel engravings of 
 Venetian or other foreign scenes, fair ladies and brave 
 men, the latter generally in the characters of High- 
 landers, Giaours or Pirates. 
 
 These are now banished to the top shelf of the book- 
 case, or packed away in the attic, among other old 
 book friends ; too shabby for association with the newest 
 novel in its gay binding and Christy girl frontispiece, 
 too dear to throw away. Too dear, it may be, because 
 of the delicate slanting writing on the fly leaf, bearing 
 the owner's and the donor's names. 
 
 In the year which has just passed, we have very much 
 enjoyed observing the fiftieth anniversary of the incor- 
 poration of our town and reading its past history; 
 and on many social occasions or casual meetings there 
 has been much reminiscent talk. The quaint old town 
 characters have been recalled, their witty sajdngs, 
 practical jokes and doggerel rhymes repeated ; and more 
 than once has some one wished that we could have 
 pictures of the village as it looked fifty years ago, and 
 more memorials of the past village life. 
 
 Fifty years from now we trust the IMattapoisett 
 people will want to observe their centennial; and they
 
 will be just as curious about our celebration and our 
 times as we are about those of fifty years ago. For 
 their benefit, as well as to hold the passing interest in 
 the Anniversary a little longer, we have revived the 
 old fashion of presenting to our friends a ' ' Souvenir, ' ' 
 made up of pictures, prose and verse, which, though 
 it does not aspire to the literary and artistic elegance 
 of the old ones, may yet have some value as a keepsake 
 now, and arouse some interest in the future. 
 
 Irving N, Tilden, M. D. 
 Mary F. Briggs 
 Gertrude W. Dexter 
 
 Committee.
 
 THE CELEBRATION 
 
 It has been said concerning birthdays and anniver- 
 saries, that it is pleasant to find flowers on the mile- 
 stones as we pass along. The year 1907 was a milestone 
 upon which flowers were scattered — flowers of rhetoric 
 at least. 
 
 The Exposition at Jamestown, Va., the laying of the 
 corner stone of the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Monu- 
 ment, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the 
 Atlantic Monthly, were all occasions for many speeches 
 and printed articles, commemorating beginnings in our 
 history and letters, and eulogizing the influences which 
 have flowed from them. While Mattapoisett, with the 
 rest of the world, was interested in these observances, 
 she had a few wreaths to twine around the milestone 
 of 1907 in honor of her own fiftieth birthday. 
 
 It has been within recent j^ears the fashion — and a 
 most charming one — for country towns to make a 
 holiday fete in the summer, called Old Home Week, 
 which all exiled children, who have "wandered like 
 truants for riches or fame," are invited home to enjoy. 
 Such a fete and reunion was desired in Mattapoisett, 
 and the suggestion was first made by Mr. Lemuel 
 LeBaron Dexter at one of the Improvement Associa- 
 tion meetings, that the fiftieth anniversary of the in- 
 corporation of the town be observed in that way. The 
 idea met with much favor and was frequently discussed. 
 
 At length the time arrived to bring it before the pub- 
 lic town meeting, in order, according to the old phrase — ■
 
 6 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 "to get the town's mind," also a necessary appropria- 
 tion of money. Now, "the town's mind," as mani- 
 fested in town meeting, might sometimes be more 
 correctly expressed as a small portion of the town's 
 whim; and whenever there is a measure of particular 
 interest to non-voters, there is usually some anxiety as 
 to its reception and fate. 
 
 In the warrant calling a special town meeting, 
 August 4, 1906, to consider principally the advisability 
 of using the Barstow School funds for transporting 
 High School pupils to Fairhaven, the following article 
 was inserted : "To see what action the town will take 
 in regard to celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its 
 incorporation as a town." At this meeting the motion 
 was made that the town should celebrate the anniver- 
 sary, and was carried by the vote of one man, Mr. 
 Charles S. Mendell; there was no opposition. This 
 singular indifference can be explained only by the infer- 
 ence that the "town's mind" was greatly preoccupied 
 by other business. 
 
 Another vote was taken instructing the moderator, 
 Mr. J. E. Norton Shaw, to appoint a committee of five 
 to consider the matter — and the manner — of observing 
 the anniversary and report at the next regular town 
 meeting, February, 1907. The committee chosen were : 
 Mr. Charles S. Mendell, Mr. Charles S. Hamlin, Judge 
 Lemuel LeBaron Holmes, Mr. Isaiah P. Atsatt, Mr. 
 Dennis Mahoney, and by invitation of these, the number 
 was increased to eleven. Others were afterwards 
 chosen to assist on sub-committees. 
 
 The first meeting of the original committee was held 
 October 27, 1906. It was desired to make the anniver- 
 sary the chief significance of the celebration, and to
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 7 
 
 work for the inspiring of interest in the past and 
 endeavor for the future, as well as for a general good 
 time and reunion of old friends. To that end one of 
 the first acts, at the suggestion of Judge Holmes, was the 
 appointment of a committee to-compile a history of the 
 town. They secured the services of Miss Mary Hall 
 Leonard of Rochester, who very ably wrote the early 
 histor}^ of the town (which history IMattapoisett in- 
 herits), and of others who added chapters especially 
 relating to Mattapoisett. 
 
 Although hurriedly gotten together, the book was 
 completed in time to be on sale in August, 1907 — the 
 month chosen for the celebration on account of its being 
 the usual holiday season for the expected visitors. 
 
 As usual in any undertaking the great first need was 
 money. The committee made their report at the Feb- 
 ruary town meeting and asked for an appropriation of 
 $500. This was granted heartily. A sub-committee 
 on Finance was appointed who sent out requests to the 
 people of the town, former residents and those inter- 
 ested in her welfare, to give according to their ability. 
 The response to these letters was extremely generous, 
 especially on the part of those who spend only their 
 summer season in town. In all over $2200 was ob- 
 tained by this means alone. This sum with that ap- 
 propriated by the town gave the committee a sense of 
 freedom and enabled them to carry out their plans in 
 the best way. A Committee on Invitation was chosen 
 who sent to 272 persons in town a request for the 
 names and addresses of former residents. In response 
 to this request, the committee received 540 names and 
 addresses covering all parts of the United States, Eng- 
 land and Australia also included. Under date of July
 
 8 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 23 the following invitation was sent to these addresses : 
 
 "The town of Mattapoisett most cordially invites you 
 to attend the observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary of its 
 incorporation as a town, which will take place August 20th, 
 1907. 
 
 To all sons and daughters of the old town, either by 
 birth, descent or adoption, and their families, a general in- 
 vitation to be present is extended. 
 
 Come and see how Mattapoisett has progressed, visit 
 your old home and scenes of bygone days, and help us to 
 make our celebration an occasion long to be remembered. 
 
 If you are in doubt about being entertained, write to Dr. 
 Irving N. Tilden, Chairman of the Committee on Hospitali- 
 ty, who will arrange for quarters for you. 
 
 Sincerely, 
 Committee on Invitation." 
 
 The Hospitality Committee had their headquarters 
 in the Public Library. Their duties were to provide 
 board and lodging for visitors and the town was can- 
 vassed for the purpose in advance. It was difficult to 
 secure accommodations, as in nearly every household 
 as many guests were expected as could be entertained. 
 Because of this fact doubtless, there were but few 
 applicants and those were easily provided for. 
 
 The ladies of the W. C. T. U. sold sandwiches and 
 lemonade to transient visitors from a tent east of Pur- 
 rington Hall. 
 
 A town celebration with no decorations would be 
 like a mince pie without plums. Be sure the plums 
 were not omitted from this pie. Much credit is due 
 the Decorating Committee for their tasteful work. All 
 the public buildings, the stores and many of the private 
 residences were gay with bunting. Church Street was 
 particularly attractive. The trolley poles and wire
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 9 
 
 usually so ugly, were made to serve a decorative pur- 
 pose by holding arches of bunting. The most charm- 
 ing feature of the decorations was the Grand Arch 
 erected in the main street of the village, just west of 
 Barstow Street. By day its excellent proportions and 
 artistic color combinations made it most pleasing, while 
 at night brilliantly lighted by electricity, it became the 
 cehtre of attraction. Surmounting the arch were two 
 sketches of a whaler, on one face under full sail, on 
 the other under bare poles. These sketches were made 
 by Mrs. Francis E. Bacon after an unsuccessful search 
 through all this region for a model of a whaler of the 
 right dimensions for the place. 
 
 The town is indebted to Mrs. Bacon also for her 
 artistic work in preparing the town sign which still 
 remains at the corner of Church and i\Iain Streets. 
 This is the picture of the w^elcoming Indian which may 
 be seen on the cover of this book. 
 
 The Publicity Committee advertised the celebration 
 through the Press, and the other committees had charge 
 of the various features of the entertainment programme. 
 
 The observance began Sunday afternoon, August 18, 
 with a service at the Congregational Church at which 
 all the clergymen in the town assisted. The sermon 
 was given by the Rev. "William H. Cobb, D. D., Libra- 
 rian at the Congregational House, Boston, who is one 
 of Old Rochester's sons by birth and ancestry, both his 
 father and grandfather having been ministers at Sippi- 
 can. 
 
 The following day was a busy one of preparation 
 for the coming festivities and the home entertainment 
 of guests, many of whom arrived then. 
 
 On the morning of Tuesday the 20th, the people again
 
 10 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 met in the Congregational Cliurch, which under the di- 
 rection of Mr. I. P. Atsatt had been decorated with flags 
 and bunting, potted hydrangeas and bouquets of 
 flowers. 
 
 The Hon. Charles S. Hamlin gave the first address, 
 welcoming the home-comers in the name of the com- 
 mittee. In speaking of the recent death of Judge 
 Holmes which had thrown a shadow of sadness over the 
 observance, he voiced the regret of all who knew of his 
 interest and efforts for its success, that he was not 
 spared to see it. 
 
 ]Mr. Hamlin gave also a warm tribute of praise to 
 the town which was being honored — his adopted home 
 — and after a selection by the orchestra introduced the 
 "distinguished son of Mattapoisett who stands eminent 
 as a jurist among jurists," Judge John W. Hammond. 
 
 In beginning. Judge Hammond said that it would be 
 pretty hard work to come up to what was expected of 
 him after so complimentary an introduction, but as his 
 address was written beforehand, the people would know 
 he wasn't influenced by it. He then read his address, 
 which was greatly enjoyed by the large audience pres- 
 ent and is printed in this book for the enjoyment of 
 others. 
 
 Judge Hammond was the son of Nathaniel and Maria 
 Southworth Hammond, and was born in Mattapoisett 
 December 16, 1837. He was educated in the schools 
 of his native town, at Tuft's College and the Harvard 
 Law School. He taught school, served nine months in 
 the Civil "War, was admitted to the Bar at Cambridge 
 in 1866 and practiced law in Cambridge and Boston, 
 being City Solicitor of Cambridge from' 1873 to 1886. 
 In March, 1886, he was appointed to a seat upon the
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 11 
 
 Bench of the Superior Court and later advanced to 
 the Supreme Bench. He married Miss Clara Tweed, 
 daughter of Prof. Benjamin Tweed of Tuft's College, 
 and has lived in Cambridge since 1866. 
 
 The afternoon of Tuesday was devoted to field sports 
 and contests by the young people on the School grounds. 
 These were very creditable and gave amusement to a 
 large number of enthusiastic spectators. In the even- 
 ing the houses were illuminated and the Mattapoisett 
 Band marched through the streets and later gave a 
 concert in front of the Town Hall, while the Executive 
 Committee held a public reception within. 
 
 In arranging the programme of the week, it was first 
 proposed to have for a social event, a banquet in the 
 Town Hall followed by speeches. At the request of 
 Judge Holmes the plan was given up, and the reception 
 with simple refreshments took its place. This was 
 much enjoyed by the many old friends who met to- 
 gether; and the kindly thought of Judge Holmes that 
 such an evening could be enjoyed by all, while a limited 
 number would probably go to the "banquet," was not 
 forgotten, and his own genial witty personality sadly 
 missed by many friends. 
 
 Wednesday morning all of the children, and many 
 of the older people, upon arising looked anxiously out 
 at the weather, for that was the day of the street parade, 
 and Mattapoisett street parades are highly appreciated. 
 The day was fair and the parade led by the Matta- 
 poisett Band was quite the finest ever seen in town. 
 It expressed sentiment and patriotism in the floats con- 
 taining the old soldiers — whom Mattapoisett always 
 delights to honor — the pretty group of children repre- 
 senting the states, and the very charming "Ship of
 
 12 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 State ' ' with Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia at the helm. 
 More sentiment and memories of bygone days were 
 inspired by the whale boat and whale — to many the 
 most amusing and cleverly designed of all. Fun and 
 humor were supplied by the local hits and grotesque 
 figures after the style of the usual Fourth of July 
 parades, and the carriages, automobiles and business 
 wagons gaily decked with flags and flowers were very 
 attractive and showed the popularity and prosperity 
 of the town in its present role of seaside resort. 
 
 After the parade at noon an excellent clambake 
 dinner was served in a tent set up for the purpose at 
 the corner of Church and Barstow Streets. 
 
 It has been the custom of the Improvement Associa- 
 tion to give each Summer a lawn party and a concert. 
 These were included among the attractions of the week, 
 but they were in charge of a committee appointed by 
 the Association, and the funds received belonged to it, 
 and were not used to defray anniversary expenses. 
 The lawn party, with the various booths prettily deco- 
 rated, held Wednesday afternoon and evening on 
 Mr. George A. Barstow 's lawn, was very attractive, 
 especially when lighted by electricity in the evening — 
 at this date a charming novelty in Mattapoisett. Music 
 was furnished by Milo Burke 's Band from Brockton. 
 
 On Thursday morning there was a ball game on the 
 School grounds, between the Bristols of Rhode Island 
 and the Mattapoisetts, resulting in victory for the latter 
 in a score of 8 to 3. 
 
 The steamboat excursion around the bay on Thurs- 
 day afternoon was quite a social occasion, so many old 
 friends "visiting" together on board. There at least 
 one could not complain of changes. On the shore to
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 13 
 
 be sure were many new houses, but the curving outline 
 was the same and it faded away into the same blue 
 shadows, as in the boyhood of some present when they 
 sailed out of the harbor on their first voj'age leaving 
 not quite so merry a party waving adieu. There were 
 the same blue waves dancing up to meet the fleecy 
 white clouds, the salt breeze with its dreamy influence, 
 the sunset colors when homeward bound ; and all these 
 will be left for the excursion on the bay at the next 
 semi-centennial celebration, although that outing will 
 probably not be taken on the Steamboat "Martha's 
 Vineyard." 
 
 At eight o'clock came the concert which the Improve- 
 ment Association had arranged for, and to the music 
 lovers this was the climax of the week's festivities. 
 
 Through the kindness of Mr. Irving Swan Brown of 
 Worcester we were fortunate enough to hear again Mr. 
 Thaddeus Rich who had delighted a Mattapoisett audi- 
 ence the year before with his skillful playing of the 
 violin. He is a young man widely known as a violinist 
 of unusual merit and was for some time concertmeister 
 of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Philadelphia. Mr. 
 Rich gave a number of solos of wonderful beauty and 
 sweetness and was greatly enjoyed in the two trios, 
 with Mr. Carl Lamson of Boston, at the piano, and Mr. 
 Brown adding much to the harmony with his cello. 
 
 Mr. Theodore Wood is a deservedly popular baritone 
 in New Bedford and Miss Alice Mitchell, a pleasing 
 soprano in Providence, and both gave their solos most 
 acceptably. Miss Alice G. Anthony of New Bedford 
 accompanied IMiss ]\Iitchell in her usual finished style. 
 The musical programme was pleasantly varied by j\Irs. 
 Daniel Dulany Addison of Brookline, who amused her
 
 14 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 audience with a little comedy — Dr. Moonshine — in 
 which she impersonated the several characters of the 
 story. All of these gave their services freely and there- 
 fore are doubly entitled to the gratitude of all who en- 
 joyed this expression of their talent. 
 
 The connection of Mattapoisett with her neighbors 
 by trolley is still something of a novelty, and the route 
 which encircles all of the old Rochester territory 
 charming and varied in scenery. It leads through town 
 and country, under stretches of woodland shade, gives 
 fleeting glimpses of the sea and more lingering visions 
 of beautiful lakes and streams. This trolley ride was 
 Friday morning's diversion, with picnic lunch or clam- 
 bake at Brooklawn Park. 
 
 At 3 P. M. there was another ball game on the School 
 grounds between married and single players, the mar- 
 ried men winning in a score of 3 to 2. 
 
 Fridaj'' evening there was a dance at the Town Hall, 
 with music by Burke's Orchestra from Brockton. 
 
 The success of a week of outdoor festivities depends 
 largely upon good weather, and the perverseness of 
 Nature in weeping upon such occasions, as well as on 
 weddings and picnics, is but too well known. Each 
 day of the celebration had been fair however, until 
 Saturday, the last day, which was stormy. So the 
 3^acht and motor boat races — including the boats of the 
 visiting Beverly yacht club — were tardily undertaken 
 and conducted under difficulties. Many people were 
 disappointed in not being able to see from shore and 
 wharves, the fair sight of the harbor white with sails. 
 
 The rain did not prevent music lovers from enjoying 
 the organ recital in the Universalist Church that after- 
 noon, but the band concert and fireworks which were
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 15 
 
 to wind up the week's festivities in the evening were 
 postponed until Tuesday night. Unfortunately that 
 evening also was cloudy, ending in rain, and the last to 
 linger on streets and wharves were caught in the 
 showers, but not before the programme had been car- 
 ried out. The band played at the head of Long Wharf ; 
 the harbor was illuminated with a big bonfire on 
 Holmes' wharf and red lights at various places; visit- 
 ing yachts were lighted with electric lights and the 
 display of fireworks was a fine one, including two "set 
 pieces" especially designed for Mattapoisett's Anni- 
 versarj''. 
 
 The visitors' book at the Public Library records the 
 names, dates of birth and length of residence in town, 
 of just two hundred people. The oldest of these were 
 Mrs. Susan Denham Taber of Fairhaven, who was born 
 in Mattapoisett in 1823 and lived here until 1848; 
 Mrs. Lucy Barstow Gurnej^ of Norfolk Downs, born 
 1824, left town in 1837 ; and Mr. Ezra Dexter of Chelsea, 
 a resident of Mattapoisett from 1826 to 1847. 
 
 ]\Iany of these two hundred guests are frequently in 
 town, others have not been back for years. To all, this 
 little book will serve as a reminder of a pleasant week — 
 pleasant not only because of the excursions and enter- 
 tainments so hastily sketched here, but for the charm 
 of going back in spirit to one's youth, of visiting places 
 once loved and frequented, of seeing again old friends, 
 and talking over the past with them. 
 
 Many of the older people, at least, have a tender 
 memory of such reminiscent chats with Mr. Ellis Men- 
 dell in his store, — he wiio so soon after "joined the 
 great majority." 
 
 If any of the visitors or home people are so fortunate
 
 16 MATTAPOISBTT 
 
 as to see that coming celebration fifty years from now, 
 they can of course make comparisons. No doubt that 
 will be a very fine affair, but this one had some features 
 worthy of being noted. 
 
 Mattapoisett has not outgrown her Pilgrim inherit- 
 ance so but she can still take pleasure seriously. There 
 was no carnival frolicing, no Fourth of July lawless- 
 ness, no disorderly or intoxicated persons were seen 
 in town during the week. The observance was insti- 
 tuted and conducted by the most serious citizens with 
 the serious purpose of uniting in a common interest, 
 all who love "the beautiful town that is seated by the 
 sea" — their home past or present. 
 
 Incidentally, everybody had a good time ; so it was 
 a great success ; and that is all which can be expected 
 of the next celebration; even though they should sail 
 over old Rochester-town in an airship or explore the 
 bottom of Buzzards Bay by submarine vessel.
 
 W. E. Spaninv. Jr. W. K. Blaim- J. K. Norton Shaw :\[is. J. L. Haiumond 
 N. S. llcndfll IN. Tildeii Miss H. K. Nelson. 1. I'. Atsatt L. LeB. Dexter 
 
 E. C. Stetson J. S. Burbank C. S. Mendell D. Mahoney 
 
 CELEBRATION COMMITTEE
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 17 
 
 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
 COMMITTEES. 
 
 EXECUTIVE COMRUTTEE — 
 
 Charles S. Mendell, President 
 James S. Burbank, Secretary 
 Dr. Walter E. Blaine, Secretary 
 Lemuel LeBaron Dexter, Treasurer 
 Charles S. Hamlin 
 Isaiah P. Atsatt 
 Lemuel LeBaron Holmes 
 Dennis Mahoney 
 J. E. Norton Shaw- 
 William E. Sparrow, Jr. 
 Rogers L. Barstow 
 Everett C. Stetson 
 Nathan S. Mendell 
 Lester W. Jenney 
 Dr. Irving N. Tilden 
 Mrs. James L. Hammond 
 Miss Hannah F. Nelson 
 
 SlTB-CO>OnTTEES — 
 
 Athletic— 
 
 J. E. Norton Shaw, Chairman 
 
 Ellis L. Mendell 
 
 Addison Curtis 
 
 Louis C. Bacon 
 
 Arthur C. Perchard 
 
 Mrs. Frank J. Abbe 
 
 Book — 
 
 Charles S. Hamlin, Chairman 
 William E. Sparrow, Jr. 
 Lemuel LeBaron Dexter 
 Mrs. James L. Hammond 
 Lemuel LeBaron Holmes
 
 18 
 
 MATTAPO'ISBTT 
 
 Hospitality- 
 
 Publicity — 
 
 Invitation — 
 
 Decoration — 
 
 Finance- 
 
 Lawn Party- 
 
 Dr. Irving N. Tilden, Chairman 
 John T. Atsatt 
 Miss Hannah F. Nelson 
 Miss Gertrude W. Dexter 
 Miss Mary F. Briggs 
 
 Lester W. Jenney, ^Chairman 
 Charles H. Johnson 
 Nathan Smith 
 
 James S. Burbank, Chairman 
 Mrs. Charles S. Hamlin 
 Mrs. Frank M. Sparrow 
 
 Nathan S. Mendell, Chairman 
 
 Dennis Mahoney 
 
 John S. Hammond 
 
 Charles F. Nye 
 
 Miss Charlotte Parsons 
 
 Mrs. Francis E. Bacon 
 
 Everett C. Stetson, Chairman 
 Harry W. Griffin 
 Theophilus Parsons 
 Mrs. Edward E. Wood 
 
 Dr. Walter E. Blaine, Chairman 
 
 Mrs. Ellis L. Mendell 
 
 Charles S. Mendell 
 
 Charles F. Nye 
 
 Addison Curtis 
 
 Mrs. Jane R. Stanton 
 
 Mrs. Frank J. Abbe 
 
 Mrs. Lemuel LeBaron Dexter 
 
 Miss Wealtha Stetson 
 
 Miss Abbie W. Bolles
 
 THE OLD STAGE COACH 
 [pa rade]
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 
 
 19 
 
 Concert — 
 
 Taracie — 
 Clambake — 
 
 Miss Edith M. Burbank 
 Miss Mary E. Ferrell 
 Mrs. Frank M. Sparrow 
 Mrs. Arthur C. Perchard 
 
 Dr. Irving N. Tilden, Chairman 
 Mrs. Irving N. Tilden 
 Miss Florence F. Purrington 
 Mrs. Charles S. Hamlin 
 
 Addison Curtis 
 
 Isaiah P. Atsatt
 
 20 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 TREASURER'S REPORT 
 
 LEMUEL LeBARON DEXTER, TREASURER 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL FUND 
 
 Dr. 
 
 
 For subscriptions as follows: 
 
 
 (Including $125 especially given 
 
 toward the preparation 
 
 of a book of history) 
 
 
 One of $150.00, 
 
 $150.00 
 
 Otie of $125.00, 
 
 125.00 
 
 Ten of $100.00, 
 
 1,000.00 
 
 One of $75.00, 
 
 75.00 
 
 Four of $50.00, 
 
 200.00 
 
 One of $35.00, 
 
 35.00 
 
 Nine of $25.00, 
 
 225.00 
 
 Five of $20.00, 
 
 100.00 
 
 Fifteen of $10.00, 
 
 150.00 
 
 Twenty-six of $5.00, 
 
 130.00 
 
 Thirty-two of less than $5.00, 
 
 47.00 $2,237.00 
 
 Town appropriation, 
 
 500.00 
 
 $2,737.00 
 
 Included in the above were contributions from the 
 
 following New Bedford business firms: Evening Standard, 
 
 C. F. Wing Co., Household, Steiger, Dudgeon Co., N. B. 
 
 & O. Street Railway Co., John W. Paul. 
 
 Paid orders approved by the general committee: 
 
 On account of Committee on Book of History: 
 
 Mary Hall Leonard, contract, $250.00 
 
 Francis T. Hammond, work on map, 1.50 
 
 James E. Reed, photographs, 7.90 
 
 L. B. Dp.yton, stenography, 28.50 
 
 H. S. Hutchinson & Co., use of photograph, 1.00 
 Grafton Press, in addition to publishing 
 contract, 2 6 extra cuts, extra proof 
 correction, and indexing, 252.55 
 
 J. S. Conant & Co., village map, 12.50
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 
 
 21 
 
 Frank M. Metcalf, map, 5.00 
 
 J. G. Tirrell, photographs, 8.60 
 
 Lester W. Jenney, typewriting expense, 5.00 
 Harriet M. Hammond, typewriting, travel, 
 
 etc., 12.30 
 William E. Sparrow, Jr., travel and ex- 
 pense, 2.00 
 Lemuel LeB. Dexter, typewriting, travel, 
 
 expenses, 38.15 
 
 Committee on Publicity. 
 
 Dennison Manufacturing Co., special 
 
 stamps, 50.00 
 
 Lester W. Jenney, expense, 4.10 
 
 Geo. E. Barrows, printing, 1.20 
 
 Committee on Hospitality. 
 
 Mary F. Dexter, garment tags, 
 Grace A. Tilden, custodian. 
 
 Committee on Reception. 
 
 Charles S. Mendell, expense, 
 C. E. Tolman, orchestra. 
 Abbe & Griffin, supplies. 
 
 5.00 
 9.38 
 
 2.50 
 
 15.00 
 
 2.39 
 
 Committee on Finance. 
 
 E. Anthony & Sons, papers mailed, 5.75 
 Charles S. Mendell, postage, printing, 
 
 stationery, 42.05 
 
 George E. Barrows, printing, 3.50 
 
 Mary W. Wood, postage and expense, 2.3 6 
 
 Committee on Invitations. 
 
 James S. Burbank, postage and expenses, 15.89 
 
 George E. Barrows, printing, 8.55 
 
 E. Anthony & Sons, printing, 8.20 
 
 Committee on Sunday Services. 
 
 George L. Shaw% on account of music, 13.20 
 Rev. Dr. William H. Cobb, sermon, travel, 
 
 and expense, 32.00 
 
 George E. Barrows, printing programs, 4.20 
 
 $625.00 
 
 55.30 
 
 14.38 
 
 19.89 
 
 53.66 
 
 32.64 
 
 49.40
 
 22 
 
 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 Committee on Organ Recital. 
 
 George L. Shaw, expenses, 
 Edgar A. Barrell, organist, 
 George E. Barrows, programs, 
 
 .50 
 5.00 
 1.25 
 
 Committee on Semi-Centeunial Service. 
 
 Hon. John W. Hammond, expenses, 
 C. E. Tolman, orchestra, 
 Isaiah P. Atsatt, expenses, 
 
 Committee on Clambake. 
 
 For use of tent, 
 
 Isaiah P. Atsatt, expenses. 
 
 Committee on Decorations. 
 
 J. B. Athearn, electric fixtures, rented, 
 J. S. Hammond, arch contract and ex- 
 penses, 
 Blair Sign Co., general contract, 
 H. S. Potter, electric letters, 
 N. B. Gas & Edison Light Co., current, etc., 
 John S. Dexter, expenses, at beach, 
 J. S. Hammond, trees on Luce lot. 
 
 4.40 
 12.80 
 
 2.20 
 
 20.00 
 13.22 
 
 10.55 
 
 78.77 
 
 300.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 25.00 
 4.00 
 3.13 
 
 Committee on Badges. 
 
 A. R. Lopez & Co., special badges, 12.30 
 
 Warren P. Tobey, general order, badges, 43.25 
 
 S. Lee Sparrow, commission on sales, 8.39 
 
 Received from sales of badges. 
 
 63.94 
 41.96 
 
 Committee on Events of the Week. 
 
 Addison Curtis, on account of parade, 50.00 
 
 Addison Curtis, sports, 50.00 
 
 Arthur C. Perchard, for ball game, 60.00 
 
 Ellis L. Mendell, for Milo Burke's Band, 100.00 
 
 Ellis L. Mendell, for fireworks, 150.00 
 
 Ellis L. Mendell, for illumination, 25.00 
 Joseph R. Taber, Jr., Treas., Mattapoisett 
 
 Band, 150.00 
 
 N. B. & O. St. Railway Co., special cars, 134.50 
 
 J. E. Norton Shaw, on account steamer, 75.00 
 
 6.75 
 
 19.40 
 
 33.22 
 
 427.45 
 
 21.98
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 23 
 
 J. E. Norton Shaw, printing, 50.00 
 
 J. E. Norton Shaw, incidentals, 50.00 
 
 J. E. Norton Shaw, yacht race, 150.00 
 
 George E. Barrows, printing, 2.00 
 
 Arthur C. Perchard, second ball game, 15.00 
 
 1,061.50 
 
 Cash returned by J. E. Norton 
 Shaw, proceeds of car fares and 
 steamer tickets, as general bal- 
 ance from committee, 109.16 
 
 952.34 
 
 On account of officers and general committee. 
 
 George E. Barrows, general stationery, 28.40 
 Charles S. Mendell, typewriting, postage, 21.05 
 George E. Barrows, general programs, 15.00 
 George A. Austin, street watering, 15.00 
 James S. Burbank, Secretary's expenses, 4.25 
 Walter E. Blaine, Secretary's expenses, 1.25 
 E. Anthony & Sons, receipts for treasurer, 2.25 
 Lemuel LeBaron Dexter, treasurer's ex- 
 penses, 4.05 
 
 91.25 
 
 Committee on Souvenir Book. 
 
 James E. Reed, photographs, 8.00 
 
 E. P. Tilghman, photographs, 1.00 
 
 K. K. Najarian, photographs, 1.50 
 
 E. Anthony & Sons, printing and bind- 
 ing, cuts, etc., 195.75 
 
 Irving N. Tilden, committee expenses, 3.25 
 
 Postage, express and delivery of book 
 
 to contributors, 7.80 
 
 217.30 
 
 Reimbursed $10.64 to each of eleven 
 
 guarantors, 117.04 
 
 $2,737.00
 
 24 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 RESOLUTIONS 
 
 Adopted by the 
 
 Mattapoisett Semi-Centennial Committee 
 
 WHEREAS, in the midst of its labors, the fiftieth 
 anniversary committee of Mattapoisett has been sadly 
 reminded of the uncertainty of life by the sudden 
 death of one of its members, Judge Lemuel LeBaron 
 Holmes, and 
 
 WHEREAS, this sad occurrence has filled us with 
 sorrow and regret, and 
 
 WHEREAS, we recognize the deep interest he mani- 
 fested in the welfare of this town and its people — that 
 he cherished the memories of its past, and was full of 
 hope and confidence in its future : 
 
 RESOLVED, that we tender our sincere sympathy 
 to the family of the deceased in its deep bereavement, 
 
 RESOLVED, that we express our appreciation of his 
 noble and manly character, and his high and honorable 
 attainments — and, that, as we recall the worthy and 
 respected townsmen who have fallen by the pathway 
 of time, another distinguished name has been added 
 to the long list, 
 
 RESOLVED, that a copy of these resolutions be sent 
 to the family and also entered in the records of the 
 committee. 
 
 Signed, William E. Sparrow, Jr. 
 
 Isaiah P. Atsatt 
 
 For the 50th Anniversary Committee.
 
 Hon. LEMUEL LeBARON HOLMES
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 25 
 
 Official Programmes 
 
 AUGUST 18-25, 1907 
 
 Sunday August 18. 
 
 Special services in Congregational Church at 
 2 P. M. 
 
 Speaker — Rev. W. H. Cobb of Boston. 
 
 Tuesday August 20. 
 
 10.30 A.M. — Address by Hon. J. W. Hammond 
 of Supreme Judicial Court, Boston. 
 Music — Tolman's Orchestra, 
 Congregational Church. 
 2.30 P. M. — Athletic sports at School Park. 
 Evening — Band Concert and Village Illumina- 
 tion. 
 
 General Reception in Town Hall, 8.3 o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday August 21. 
 
 9.3 A.M. — Parade in four sections: Antique, 
 Business, Driving Horses, and Automobiles. 
 Mattapoisett Band. 
 
 12.3 — Clambake on grounds opposite Congrega- 
 tional Church. 
 
 3 to 10 P. M. — Improvement Association Lawn 
 Party with Burke's Brockton Band of 22 pieces 
 in evening, at corner Pearl and Main sts. 
 
 Thursday August 23. 
 
 10 A. M. — Ball Game, School Ground, Mattapoisett 
 
 vs. Bristols of Rhode Island. 
 1.30 P. M. — Steamboat excursion in Buzzards 
 
 Bay and Vineyard Sound. 
 Evening, 6-8 o'clock — Concert by Mattapoisett 
 
 Band. 
 8 o'clock — Improvement Association Vocal and 
 
 Instrumental Concert in Town Hall.
 
 2 6 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 Friday August 23. 
 
 8.50 A. M. — Trolley Ride to Marion, WarBham, 
 Middleboro, Lakeville, New Bedford, and Fair- 
 haven. 
 
 3 P. M. — Ball Game, School Ground, between 
 Local teams. 
 
 Evening — Town Hall, 8 o'clock. Grand Ball, 
 Burke's Brockton Orchestra, eight pieces. 
 
 Saturday August 24. 
 
 1 P. M. — Motor boat races. Beverly Yacht Club 
 
 races open to all. 
 3 P. M. — Organ recital in Universalist Church. 
 Evening — Harbor Illumination, Grand display 
 
 of Fireworks at 8 o'clock, from wharf. Band 
 
 Concert.
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 
 
 27 
 
 UNION SERVICE 
 
 Congregational Church August 18th, 1907 
 
 At 2 p. M. 
 
 THE ORDER OF SERVICE 
 Organ Voluntary 
 
 Doxology 
 Invocation 
 
 Solo — Gloria 
 
 Psalm 90 
 
 Mr. Edgar Lord. 
 
 The Rev. C. Julian Tuthlll 
 
 Mr. W. H. Bassett 
 
 The Rev. W. H. Falkner 
 
 Solo — Come Unto Me 
 
 Mrs. L. H. Miller 
 Hebrews. 13 
 
 The Rev. W. H. Falkner 
 
 Solo — The Way of Peace 
 
 Mr. W. H. Bassett 
 Prayer 
 
 The Rev. P. A. Allen, Jr. 
 Violin — Largo 
 
 Miss Florence F. Purrington 
 Hymn 
 
 Address 
 
 The Rev. W. H. Cobb, D. D. 
 
 Solo — The Plains of Peace 
 
 Mrs. L. H. Miller 
 
 Buzzi-Peccia 
 
 Coenen 
 
 Lloyd 
 
 Handel 
 Italian 
 
 Barnard
 
 28 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 Hymn Tune—Gilead 
 
 The year of jubilee ha^ come 
 Here in our Mattapoisett home. 
 Thanks be to God, to him give praise. 
 His loving kindness brings these days. 
 
 O hail the God of Plymouth Rock! 
 For he hath blessed a little flock, 
 Grown into nation and our state. 
 Guided beyond the Golden Gate. 
 
 Here on the shores of Buzzards Bay 
 Our Fathers met to sing and pray. 
 Children of Pilgrims and their God, — 
 We follow in the path they trod. 
 
 From out the nobler lives of old 
 Came thoughts and deeds like purest gold; 
 God in the heart, his truth in mind, 
 Destiny glorious doth find. 
 
 The year of jubilee speeds by, 
 'Tis ours to do and then to die; 
 Vows unto God we here do bring, 
 O Lord of old, be still our King! 
 
 — C. Julian Tuthill. 
 Benediction ;
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 29 
 
 THE OPENING SERVICE 
 
 Congegational Church Tuesday, August 20, 1907 
 
 At 10.30 A. M. 
 
 PROGRAMME 
 Music by Tolman's Orchestra 
 
 Idylle Pastorale 
 Melodie in F 
 Serenade 
 
 Address 
 
 Meditation 
 Address 
 
 Trio — Violin, 'Cello, Organ 
 Hon. Charles S. Hamlin 
 
 Judge John W. Hammond 
 Supreme Judicial Court, Boston 
 
 Home Sweet Home 
 
 Trinkaus 
 
 Rubenstein 
 
 Widor 
 
 Ries 
 
 FIELD SPORTS 
 
 AT MATTAPOISETT SCHOOL GROUNDS 
 Tuesday, August 20, at 2,30 P. M. 
 
 TUG OF WAR — 
 
 Hiller's Team (George R. Hiller, Perkins, Wm. 
 Kinney, Benj. Kinney), defeated 
 LeBaron's Team (Alfred LeBaron, Edwin Howes, 
 J. Kinney, J. Peters). 
 Time 1 minute. Prize $4.00
 
 30 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 SHOE SCRABBLE — 
 
 1st prize — Edwin Perkins 
 
 $1.50 
 
 2nd prize — Harry Henry 
 
 1.00 
 
 SACK RACE— 
 
 
 1st prize — Edwin Perkins 
 
 $1.50 
 
 2nd prize — Geo. Bolles 
 
 1.00 
 
 THREE-LEGGED RACE — 
 
 1st prize — David Hiller 
 
 and $1.50 
 
 Lester Crampton 
 2nd prize — Walter Vaughn 
 
 and 1.00 
 
 Raymond Winslow 
 
 WHEELBARROW RACE — 
 
 1st prize — George Hiller $2.00 
 
 2nd prize — A. Skidmore 1.00 
 
 POTATO RACE 
 
 1st prize — Ray Winslow $2.00 
 
 2nd prize — W. Seebell 
 2nd prize— John Mendell 
 
 EGG AjSD spoon RACE — 
 
 1st prize — Ellaine Nickerson $2.00 
 
 2nd prize — Eva Kinney 1.00 
 
 SPEECH BY "BRLT)DER JONES" 
 
 Henry J. Purrington 
 
 75- YD. DASH — (Over 16 yrs). 
 
 1st prize — George Hiller $2.00 
 
 2nd prize — A. Skidmore 1.00 
 
 CLIMBING GREASED POLE — 
 
 Won by H. G. Tinkham $2.00 
 
 RUNNING BROAD JU»iP — 
 
 Lester W. Jenney 
 
 1.00 
 
 „ , T^ . . 16 ft. $3.00 
 
 Frank Dexter ' * 
 
 75-\TD. DASH — (Under 16 yrs.). 
 
 1st prize — Harold Dunn $1.50 
 
 2nd prize — Lester Crampton 1.00
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 
 
 31 
 
 SHAKING THE RATTLE— 
 
 Albert Rowland 
 H. G. Tinkham 
 
 ;2.00 
 
 Entries confined to residents of Mattapoisett. 
 
 Addison Curtis 
 Arthur C. Perchard 
 
 Committee on Sports. 
 
 CONCERT 
 
 Thursday Evening, August 22, at 8 o'clock 
 
 Mr. Thaddeus Rich, Violin 
 
 Mr. Irving Swan Brown, 'Cello 
 Mr. Carl Lamson, Piano 
 
 Mrs. Daniel Dulany Addison, Reader 
 Mr. Theodore Wood, Baritone 
 
 Miss M. Alice Witchell, Soprano 
 
 PROGRAMME 
 
 Allegro from Trio for Violin, 'Cello and 
 
 Piano — Op. 49 Mendelssohn 
 
 Mr. Rich, Mr. Brown and Mr. Lamson 
 
 The Sword of Ferrara 
 
 Prelude — Le Deluge 
 
 Parla 
 
 Prelude 
 Waltz 
 
 Mr. Wood 
 Mr. Rich 
 
 Miss Witchell 
 
 Mr. Lamson 
 
 F. F. Bullard 
 
 Saint-Saens 
 
 Arditti 
 
 Rachmaniruyff 
 Chopin
 
 32 
 
 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 Dr. Moonshine — A Comedy Mrs. Daniel Sargent Curtis 
 
 Mrs. Addison 
 
 (a) In some sad hour 
 
 (b) Tick-Tack-Too F. F. Bullard 
 
 Mr. Wood 
 Mazurkas Wieniawski 
 
 Mr. Rich 
 Oh, for a Day of Spring Andrews 
 
 Miss Witchell 
 
 Trio — Andante Mendelssohn 
 
 Mr. Rich, Mr. Swan, Mr. Lamson 
 
 ORGAN RECITAL 
 
 Universalist Church Saturday, August 24, 1907 
 
 At 3 p. M. 
 
 Mr. Edgar A. Barrell 
 Miss Gertrude W. Dexter 
 Miss Florence F. Purrington 
 
 Organist 
 
 - Vocal Soloist 
 
 Violinist
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 33 
 
 SERMON 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. WILLIAM H. COBB, D. D. 
 
 Son of Rev. Leander Cobb, of Sippican. 
 
 Librarian Congregational House, Boston 
 
 TEXT. 
 
 Ecclesiastes VII. 10. 
 
 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former 
 
 days were better than these f for thou dost not 
 
 inquire wisely concerning this. 
 
 Whether the old is better than the new is a question 
 sure to be raised afresh in every generation. If it 
 could be decided by majority vote, there would be 
 small hope for the radical side. The partj^ of con- 
 servatism holds the masses; the party of progress has 
 to fight for its footing. It was so in the days of Christ ; 
 "The old is better," cried the people. It was so cen- 
 turies before, when our text was written by an un- 
 known sage in the name of Solomon. "What is the 
 reason," said someone to him, "that the former days 
 were better than these?" "You are putting two ques- 
 tions in one," replied the wise man. "I call for the 
 previous question. Are you so sure the days of old 
 were better?" But the lovers of old ways, the con- 
 servatives, are not to be put down without a hearing. 
 They should by no means be confounded with the pessi- 
 mists, who think everything is going to the bad. The 
 conservatives embrace not only the major part of man-
 
 34 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 kind, but many of the wise as well. There is much 
 to be said for their side of the question, and it is this 
 side which we will look at first, beginning at the lowest 
 point in our complex life. 
 
 I. In what respects do former times seem better? 
 On its physical side, the leading note of the present 
 age is a multitude of inventions, designed to promote 
 our comfort and happiness. It is very pleasant, for 
 instance, to speed over the country in an electric car, 
 and smile at locomotion by horse power; but yet our 
 ancestors had compensations. Now and then, to be 
 sure, a runaway team imperilled some one's life or 
 limb ; but now the newspapers tell us almost daily of 
 terrible accidents on electric lines, bringing destruction 
 to scores of passengers. When you reflect upon it, 
 how many thousands of precious lives have already 
 been offered up in sacrifice to this new Juggernaut. 
 We have harnessed the lightning but it is stronger than 
 we. Moreover, there is rest to be feared as well as 
 motion. Were you ever stalled in an electric car, on 
 a bitter cold night, because of a mere snow-drift, 
 which the old-fashioned stage-coach would have floun- 
 dered through merrily? Failing this, the coach would 
 have returned to the nearest inn ; but your modern in- 
 vention will neither move forward nor backward ; wait 
 for the day as patiently as you can. 
 
 Nor is nature the only power to dread in such cases. 
 The wide sweep of invention requires the co-operation 
 of a great body of men; but how if they refuse to co- 
 operate? It is but a few years since that fearful ex- 
 perience in Canada, when a long train of steam cars 
 was abandoned at night by the whole railroad force, 
 at a point deliberately chosen to inflict the utmost dis-
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 35 
 
 comfort upon inoffensive passengers. That was in- 
 tended to make the strike most effectual. The strilve! 
 Here is an invention which our fathers knew not. Its 
 evils grow with the passing years, seldom more potent 
 or portentous than at the present hour. We shall 
 never know the depths of misery such experiments in 
 industrial methods bring in their train. 
 
 To touch on another topic, there has been for a gen- 
 eration or two a general movement away from the iso- 
 lation of country life in order to secure the advantages 
 of the city ; but behold ! the city is surrendered to or- 
 ganized highwaymen, not always in the ranks of labor, 
 but often in the city government itself. Oh! the for- 
 mer times were better. Then the majority ruled, now 
 the bosses rule. Then most people led an independent 
 life on a farm or in a trade. They stood on their own 
 feet, thought for themselves and said their say. In 
 the good phrase of that period, they took time to make 
 up their minds. Now our very thinking is done by 
 machinery, and served up hot with the daily paper. 
 Instead of trades, we have gigantic monopolies, heart- 
 less and cruel; instead of farms we have slums. For- 
 merly, the household grew up in orderly spirit around 
 a father and mother who required and received sub- 
 mission and honor; now, the first rule of the family 
 seems to be, "Parents, obey your children." Then, 
 education meant an all round development; now, it 
 denotes a one-sided specialization. Few books were 
 read in our grandfathers' days, but those few were di- 
 gested and assimilated by frequent meditation ; whereas 
 with us meditation is a lost art, quite superseded by 
 the art of galloping through books as rapidly as pos- 
 sible, what is imbibed today being forgotten tomorrow.
 
 36 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 The social and political product most characteristic of 
 our ancestors is the town meeting; the social and po- 
 litical product of our age is the saloon, an institution 
 unknown to our fathers; for while it is true that they 
 had the corner grocery, dispensing rum and cider, the 
 saloon as an institution has been established and sanc- 
 tioned by modern laws, and constitutes a political ma- 
 chine of tremendous though often unsuspected power. 
 Ascend now to our moral and spiritual relations. In 
 early times, the line which separated the church from 
 the world was distinct and sharp. A man was con- 
 victed of sin, then converted to Christ. He turned his 
 back on the world and joined the people of God in a 
 most solemn transaction, binding himself hy sacred 
 vows, the breaking of which he knew would subject 
 him to public discipline. In these days, a boy joins a 
 young people's society and is supposed to keep his re- 
 ligious pledge if he daily reads a Bible verse or two 
 and utters a hurried petition or two. When he grows 
 older, he graduates into the church, but by no means 
 out of the world ; for the world is in the church, with 
 its low standards, its frivolous dissipations, its godless 
 Sabbaths, its neglect of eternal concerns. This life 
 is all ; the great beyond is pushed out of thought. Even 
 the best of the churches are institutional, chiefly ab- 
 sorbed in ministering to the wants of the present state 
 of existence. Once, life was probation, an isthmus be- 
 tween the oceans of the infinite past and the infinite 
 future. 
 
 "Lo, on a narrow neck of land 
 'Twixt two unbounded seas I stand." 
 
 Fifty years ago, as I remember well, v\^e used to sing 
 that grand hymn in this region, but I have not heard
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 37 
 
 it sung for many a year. The spirit of the age, the 
 Zeitgeist, is out of touch with that whole class of ap- 
 peals ; the entire drift of our times, church life and all, 
 is secular, and intensely, increasingly so. But if the 
 Psalmist was right when he exclaimed, "It is good for 
 me to draw nigh unto God. Whom have I in heaven 
 but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire in 
 comparison with thee," then it must be that the for- 
 mer times of pious devotion were better than the pres- 
 ent times of prevailing worldliness. 
 
 So much at least can be said on the conservative side 
 of the question before us. That there is another side 
 will at once appear. 
 
 II. The first suggestion we have for our friend who 
 has been speaking for the last few minutes is that he 
 enlarge his vision and gain a wider outlook. Jesus 
 Christ said, "The field is the world," but we have been 
 looking at a small corner of our own favored land. To 
 gain a broader standing ground in time as well as 
 space, let us look back a hundred years instead of fifty. 
 What was the condition of the ivorM a century ago and 
 what is its condition today? That is the fair way to 
 attack the problem of our text. The conservative la- 
 ments, for instance, over the present desecration of the 
 Christian Sabbath. Why, there was no Christian Sab- 
 bath a hundred years ago, except in a little fringe of 
 States along our Atlantic coast, and in the British 
 Isles, and among an insignificant minority on the Con- 
 tinent of Europe who resisted the infidelity that was in 
 fashion then both in Europe and America. But where 
 is the Sabbath now? If we could speed around the 
 globe today, keeping pace with the sun in his course, 
 and beginning in the far Pacific, where the mariner
 
 38 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 changes his day, we should hear the Sabbath bells ring- 
 ing from many an island in that ocean whose inhabi- 
 tants a century ago were pagans. We should find in 
 Japan an imperial edict, adopted for convenience of 
 intercourse with Christian nations, making the first day 
 of the week a rest day for all Japanese officials. In 
 Asia and Africa, we should pass over thousands of 
 worshipping congregations gathered within the cen- 
 tury. In almost every country of Europe, we should 
 find that dead infidelity has yielded to earnest efforts 
 for Sabbath reform. And on reaching America, so ex- 
 panded from those few feeble States a hundred years 
 ago, the Lord's Day would greet us with its sacred 
 privileges from the Gulf to the Great Lakes, from the 
 Atlantic to the Pacific. Grant that the manner of its 
 celebration leaves much to be desired, the very fact 
 of its weekly return cries ' ' Halt ! " to the bustle of daily 
 business, and brings us face to face with our Father in 
 heaven. It is possible that the strict prohibitions which 
 hedged the Sabbath in former times were less conducive 
 to a healthy, genial type of piety than the method in 
 vogue in the best homes of today, where light and love 
 and liberty are the favorite watchwords. And who- 
 ever asserts that the year 1907 can show, in the terri- 
 tory of the old thirteen States, fewer sweet, pure, 
 thoroughly Christian homes than there were in 1807, 
 simply proclaims his ignorance of either the past or 
 the present or both. 
 
 Alas! what a dark, sad world the sun shone down 
 upon a hundred years ago. Tjrranny brooded over it ; 
 the rights of man were a scoffing and a by-word, linked 
 indissolubly in the minds of most people with the hor- 
 rors of the French Revolution. The new experiment of
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 39 
 
 liberty in America was believed to be foredoomed to 
 failure. Freedom of thought was quenched; the 
 brotherhood of man was an idle dream, reserved for 
 the visionaries of Utopia. 
 
 How marvellous is the change ! How Christlike is 
 this bond of unity that brings men into fellowship 
 though sundered by the whole diameter of the globe. 
 A famine comes in India, an earthquake in California, 
 a persecution in China ; with electric swiftness the thrill 
 of sympathy traverses the continents ; one touch of 
 nature makes the whole world kin. It cannot but be 
 that fellowship of the mind co-exists with sympathy 
 of the heart. If our Christian faith were not designed 
 for the whole race of man, if it were some peculiarly 
 American or European product, we might be justified 
 in trying to confine it within the shell that has come 
 down from our forefathers; we might make our own 
 interpretations of its sacred truths a Procrustes bed, 
 to which all others must be stretched or pruned. But 
 Jesus Christ was no Occidental. His mission was to 
 the Jew first and also to the Greek. All forms of 
 human thought are plastic to the Spirit of Christ. It 
 is our own age that has rediscovered the largeness, the 
 mighty sweep of this glorious gospel. No wonder the 
 men who joined the church in the early days of America 
 were such marked men. There were so few of them 
 that they could not but be conspicuous. They were 
 fenced out by tests of doctrine that represented the 
 metaphysics of theology then current, and they were 
 fenced in by tests of conduct which the Savior never 
 prescribed. Our "doctrine, that the child in a Christian 
 home should grow up a Christian, and never know him- 
 self as being ami:hing else, is better by far. The motto
 
 40 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 for the church a century ago was "Come out from 
 among them and be ye separate," which Paul quotes 
 from the Old Testament; the motto at present is 
 Christ's own word, The kingdom of heaven is like unto 
 leaven, hid in the meal till the ivhole was leavened. 
 Then, preachers dwelt often on the picture of Christian 
 and Faithful walking through Vanity Fair and stopping 
 their ears ; now, the great church of God, like an army 
 with banners, is descending upon Vanity Fair, by its 
 college settlements, by its mission schools, by its bands 
 of mercy, to transform the very citadel of the enemy 
 into the garden of the Lord. 
 
 III. Our Consequent Obligations. If the pulpit 
 were a debating school, the congregation a senate, 
 or the preacher a lawyer, it might be profitable 
 to continue this balancing of past and present. The 
 conservative would still be able to strengthen his po- 
 sition and the liberal to answer back. But herein lies 
 the difference between a sermon and other kinds of 
 public speech, that the former aims directly at the 
 hearts and consciences of the hearers, persuading them 
 to do something which changes the moral current of 
 their lives. "Follow me," said the Master to his apos- 
 tles, " and I will make you to become fishers of men." 
 Every preacher sent from God is an apostle. He casts 
 the gospel net, and now if any of you have been inter- 
 ested in this dispute between the old and the new, you 
 are caught in the net, as I proceed to show. 
 
 There is truth on the side of the conservative. The 
 evils and dangers which threaten our age are real. 
 They cannot be met by turning away from them to the 
 bright side, but only by mixing in the leaven persis- 
 tently and constantly, until the lump is leavened.
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 41 
 
 Well, then, who is to do this work? You and I of this 
 age, or it will not be done at all. And furthermore; 
 if the Christians alive at any one period will not do this, 
 they lose not merely their own generation but every 
 generation to come, exactly as if all life in the universe 
 should stop for an instant, all life would stop forever. 
 It matters not how many heroes and martyrs, saints 
 and confessors, the church can boast of in the past; if 
 the people of God simply lie on their oars, I will not 
 say for a generation, but for a single year ; if this year 
 1907 sees them sitting at ease in Zion because they 
 think the times are so much better than they used to be ; 
 then the enemy will come in like a flood, the choice 
 vineyard of the Lord will become a prey, the boar out 
 of the wood will waste it, and the wild beast of the 
 field will devour it. If it be true that there is greater 
 Christian progress now than ever in the past, it is be- 
 cause we have a greater multitude of Christian workers, 
 heartily at work, than the past ever knew. In order to 
 change that truth into a falsehood, it is not necessary 
 to do an}i;hing but only to stop doing. Let this great 
 army of Christian workers become unchristian idlers, 
 and the thing is accomplished; wickedness exults, and 
 Satan's kingdom spreads over all the earth. 
 
 My friend, you grant this readily, for you know that 
 your weight will carry you down hill. A dead fish 
 will float with the stream; it takes a live one to swim 
 against it. I say, you grant this, but what will you do 
 about it? I always delight to take a speculative ques- 
 tion and change it into a practical duty. When a 
 man asks, "Do you believe the heathen will be lost?" 
 1 am apt to reply, "No, not if you and I save them; 
 what are you doing to give them the gospel ? ' ' When a
 
 42 MATTAPO'ISETT 
 
 man says, "God's will is sure to be done anyway; so 
 what is the use of my praying ? " I answer ; ' ' God 's will 
 will not be done by you, if you disobey him when he 
 commands you to pray." 
 
 Now in the case before us ; if you had a million dol- 
 lars, you think you would spend it in doing good ; you 
 think you would accomplish a vast amount; but that 
 is a mere matter of speculation. The only way to 
 learn whether it is true is to observe what good you 
 do with the little you already have. Jesus said : ' ' Where 
 your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The 
 problem before us is a very simple one; to improve 
 upon the progress of the past by taking hold unitedly 
 of the duties next at hand and discharging them in the 
 spirit of Nehemiah's builders, of whom it was written: 
 "Every man builded over against his own house." 
 "The people had a mind to work." 
 
 God has endowed each of you with talents, one or 
 two or ten, and for all these things you shall give 
 account at the day of judgment. The recent history 
 of the church is rich in examples worthy of our emula- 
 tion. It may be that God calls some one of this com- 
 pany to go far hence unto the Gentiles, and preach the 
 unsearchable riches of Christ. There was David Liv- 
 ingston, who took his life in his hand, and finally laid 
 it down, in the patient endeavor to deliver Africa from 
 the slave trade, which he called the open sore of the 
 world. He fell at his post, but henceforth there is laid 
 up for him a crown of righteousness. 
 
 It may be that God calls some woman in this company 
 to go far hence and minister to the sick and the dying. 
 There was Florence Nightingale, risking her life and 
 wrecking her health in the Crimea, yet gaining a sure
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 43 
 
 foundation for sanitary science whereby the lives of 
 uncounted multitudes have been saved, besides those 
 whom she reached directly. Within the last genera- 
 tion, thousands of women from cherished homes at the 
 North have gone down into our Southern States to 
 labor at the long hard task of counteracting the mass 
 of ignorance and superstition which slaver}" left as a 
 legacy to our land. They have suffered obloquy, ostra- 
 cism and persecution ; but none of these things moved 
 them; and the promise is theirs; "The teachers shall 
 shine as the firmament and they that turn many to 
 righteousness as the stars forever and ever." It may 
 be that for most of us the path of service is so humble 
 that few will ever hear our names or note our efforts. 
 Still, let us be of good cheer. 
 
 "Go, labor on; enough while here, 
 If He shall praise thee, if He deign 
 Thy willing heart to mark and cheer: — 
 No toil for him shall be in vain." 
 
 Let us consider fourthly and finally, 
 
 TV. Our Inspiring Hopes. If we believed it to 
 be a religious duty to march in procession once a 
 week to the seaside each one of us to cast into the 
 waves a sum of money. I doubt not we should 
 discharge the duty religiously like the Hindoos. But 
 how much better it is to serve a Master who gra- 
 ciously takes us into partnership and shows us what 
 becomes of our money. And not of our money alone, 
 but of our time, our toil : everything which we dedicate 
 to him. In the whole history of the past, there never 
 was so hopeful, so inspiring a prospect before the peo- 
 ple of God as the outlook which this twentieth century 
 affords. Required, the salvation of the world; given,
 
 44 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 a consecrated ehiireh ; the problem is solved, for God 
 puts himself into it and his name is Almighty. The 
 former days better than these? Nay, thou dost not 
 inquire wisely concerning this. "We sail out into the 
 coming age in the enthusiasm of a spirit fit to conquer 
 the world, and under a leader whose name is Victor, 
 Xo need to pray for miracles; there is latent power 
 enough in the Christian church of today to conquer the 
 world for Christ. Consider how our Prince Immanuel 
 is marshalling the hosts of his kingdom. As the stars 
 in their courses fought against Sisera, so the forces of 
 Nature are held by our Redeemer in the hollow of his 
 hand. I have only alluded to the power of the Chris- 
 tian home. It is a significant and a striking fact that 
 whereas a wicked household tends to self-extinction in 
 a few generations, it is the law of the holy seed to per- 
 petuate itself from age to age. Some of you may have 
 read that terrible book, "The Jukes," which consists 
 mainly of the bare statistics of the descendants of a 
 single criminal ; the genealogy of a vicious stock, vigor- 
 ous at first and extensively propagated, but dwindling 
 soon into disease and feebleness and at length perishing 
 utterly. Contrast the descendants of that great Amer- 
 ican, Jonathan Edwards, whose memory has lately 
 been honored by a tablet in the very church in North- 
 ampton that once drove him forth into the wilderness. 
 Edwards feared God, loved him and served him: and 
 already a mighty host have sprung from his loins of 
 men and women who walk in his steps and who are 
 respected by all that know them. What is true in a 
 signal degree of the Edwards family has been wit- 
 nessed often upon a smaller scale. In view of the 
 special occasion which calls us together, it may not
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 45 
 
 be amiss to remark that the published diary of one of 
 your former pastors, Dr. Thomas Robbins, makes fre- 
 quent mention of his next neighbor in the ministry, 
 Oliver Cobb, for fifty years pastor in our mother town 
 of Rochester. Out of a large body of his descendants, 
 including now the third and fourth and even the fifth 
 generation, it is safe to assert that the great majority 
 have been consecrated to a life of Christian service. 
 The Lord hath remembered his covenant forever, the 
 word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 
 That declaration of the Psalmist throws light upon a 
 striking contrast in the second of the ten command- 
 ments. God visits the iniquity of the fathers upon 
 the children unto the third and fourth generation: but 
 he shows merej' unto thousands, that is, thousands of 
 generations of them that love him and keep his com- 
 mandments. One of Bushnell's great sermons, in 
 his Christian Nurture is entitled "The Out-populating 
 Power of the Christian Stock. ' ' Following this thought, 
 the eye of faith looks down the vista of the coming 
 ages and beholds the growth of Christianity under the 
 Divine power of the Holy Spirit penetrating the human 
 race, ever more deeply diffusing itself, ever more wide- 
 ly until the mustard seed becomes a great tree, until 
 the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters 
 cover the sea. 
 
 Our inspiring hopes for the future are not confined 
 to the normal growth of grace in the family training of 
 Christian homes. There is to be added the entire force 
 of voluntary and associated effort, acting upon the world 
 without. Take, for example, the glorious propaganda of 
 missions at home and abroad : not a spasmodic crusade 
 of enthusiasm, but a vast and svstematie advance over
 
 46 MATTAPOISBTT 
 
 the whole field — which is the world. A few years ago, 
 there gathered in New York city the greatest religious 
 congress of the age, the Ecumenical Missionary Con- 
 ference. The Christian who would fire his soul with 
 the loftiest hopes built on the soundest convictions, 
 should read the story of that assembly, and learn how 
 nation after nation is being leavened by the sweet 
 persuasive power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The 
 shock of arms may only rouse the worst passions of 
 men and make their opposition fiercer; but the human 
 heart was not made to resist the persistent battery of a 
 love that will spend and be spent, that will lay down 
 its life for those whom it delights to call brethren. 
 Moreover, some of the most efficient agencies for prop- 
 agating the kingdom of Christ do not wear the mission- 
 ary badge. Such are the Sunday Schools and the 
 Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associa- 
 tions, all of comparatively recent origin. And I for 
 one confess to an admiration of world wide Christian 
 Endeavor, a noble army of children and youth before 
 whose faith the hoary walls of Jericho shall fall down. 
 What though there be within the order not a little 
 superficiality and zeal without knowledge? Is not the 
 same true of the church at large? Let us thank God 
 for the hearty devotion, the catholic unity, the fervent 
 spirit of these millions who love our Lord Jesus Christ 
 and are trying daily to do what he would have them 
 do. 
 
 And now we shall come far short of the inspiring 
 hopes set before us in the gospel if we limit our fore- 
 cast to this mortal stage of existence. The Christian's 
 best things are to come ; in that life which the apostle 
 Paul struggled to express in words that our English
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 47 
 
 Bible gives inadequately thus: "a far more exceeding 
 and eternal weight of glory." The ancients looked 
 back for their golden age ; no wonder their life was so 
 often dreary. But our citizenship is from heaven. 
 The King of Love our Shepherd is. Behold, he maketh 
 all things new. He has gone to prepare a place for us. 
 He will come again and receive us unto himself. It 
 doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know 
 that when he shall appear we shall be like him. The 
 ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and 
 everlasting joy upon their heads ; they shall obtain joy 
 and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 
 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such 
 things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him with- 
 out spot and blameless. And the glory shall be to the 
 Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost ; as it was 
 in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world 
 without end. Amen.
 
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 1 
 
 HON. JOHN WILKES HAMMOND
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 HON. JOHN WILKES HAMMOND 
 
 OF CAMBRIDGE 
 
 Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court 
 of Massachusetts 
 
 Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : — 
 
 We have many holidays in the course of the year, but 
 to a person of New England birth, education or en- 
 vironment, the dearest of them all is Thanksgiving 
 Day. The day does not, it is true, commemorate any 
 important event of our political history as do the 
 fourth of July, and the nineteenth of April, nor any 
 great crisis in the history- of Christianity as does 
 Christmas as now celebrated. Nor is it the day when 
 presents and kindly greetings are exchanged, as on 
 Christmas and New Year's day. And although it had 
 its origin in the thankfulness of the pilgrims at 
 Plymouth for the abundant harvest gathered at the 
 end of their first season in 1621, still its celebration is 
 not now tinctured with the peculiar religious fervor 
 of the early times. And yet amid all the changes in the 
 political and religious life of our people, the day keeps 
 its hold upon our hearts, and it does so because it is 
 the domestic holiday. It is the day above all others 
 to which the home lovers look forward. It is the day
 
 50 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 when those who have been absent, once more return 
 to give the filial greeting to revered parents, and when 
 all the members of the family from the oldest to the 
 youngest gather in sweet communion around the an- 
 cestral hearth and partake of the bounteously laden 
 ancestral table. No matter how inclement the weather, 
 all is joy within ; and the joy seems all the greater by 
 reason of the contrast with the storm raging without. 
 
 In a similar spirit and with similar emotions we are 
 assembled on this our municipal, or town, Thanksgiv- 
 ing Day. Although for a century and three quarters 
 Mattapoisett was in existence as a part of Rochester, 
 and since then has been for a half of a century a town 
 "on its own hook," yet we have never had such a 
 holiday. We have, however, seen the error of our ways. 
 and in this respect we intend to make amends. "We 
 propose to enjoy ourselves, (at least after this ad- 
 dress is delivered) to cherish and honor the memory 
 of those who are gone, to renew our friendship with 
 those still here, and in this way to be led to a greater 
 love of the town and all for which it stands. 
 
 It is usual upon occasions like tbis for the speaker 
 to spend much time in relating the history of the 
 town, but fortunately I am relieved from this work. 
 As one of the features of this week's celebration there 
 has been prepared an extended history of Rochester, 
 and of Mattapoisett both before and after its incor- 
 poration as a separate town. 
 
 I have had an opportunity to see the advance sheets 
 of this work. It is a very creditable work, — much 
 above the ordinary town history in point of ability. 
 It will be the most enduring feature of this celebra- 
 tion, and if old home week had produced nothing else
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 51 
 
 than this book it would clearly justify itself. I shall 
 have occasion to allude to some of the events men- 
 tioned in the book, but as I have just said, shall re- 
 frain from any extended historical narrative. Nor is 
 this an occasion for the discussion of any prominent 
 political, theological, or economic question. I con- 
 ceive that under the circumstances I shall best per- 
 form the part allotted to me in this week's exercises, 
 if I attempt to give j'^ou some glimpses of the town 
 and of the life and character of its inhabitants at 
 certain epochs in the town's history. 
 
 We are proud of the permanent features of our 
 home as made by nature. The fertile soil, the babbling 
 stream periodically filled with its myriads of fishes, 
 the harbor and the bay with the cool summer breezes 
 are Here, and here the}^ will remain. It is interesting 
 to note the conditions existing when in 1680 the little 
 band of colonists came to settle around the herring 
 river. Prior to that time, various grants of land sit- 
 uated in Rochester had been made, but for some reason 
 or other no settlement had been made, although it 
 may be that some shelters had been put up and oc- 
 cupied temporarily by the herders of cattle. 
 
 In 1680 however settlements were begun. The town 
 was then covered with wood except in places where 
 the Indian maize had been cultivated. The woods 
 abounded in foxes, wild cats, and many other small 
 animals. The war with King Philip was ended, and 
 there was no reason to apprehend trouble from the 
 Indians. From a pioneer's point of view the prospect 
 was good; and the hardy settlers came. As we look 
 back it seems a very long time ago, but it was not. 
 Queen Elizabeth, during whose reign Bacon, Shakes-
 
 52 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 peare and other shining lights of English statesmanship 
 and literature had lived, had been dead three quarters 
 of a century, and three score years had elapsed since 
 the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth. Wilson Bar- 
 stow, for many years a prominent ship builder in this 
 village, who lived to be over ninety years old and who 
 died in 1891, must have known persons who had seen 
 and talked with some of these original settlers. The 
 time seems long not because of the passage of many 
 years, but because of the great changes which have 
 since taken place. 
 
 The settlers came to a wilderness. We may be 
 sure they had enough to do, and we may be equally 
 sure that they resolutely set about to do it. I have often 
 thought how interesting would be a vivid and detailed 
 account of the daily life of an early New England 
 settler like those who first came here. What time did 
 he get up in the morning, and what kind of a bed 
 had he been occupying and where did he get it ? How 
 did he know what time it was? What kind of clothes 
 did he and the other members of the family respective- 
 ly put on, and how were they procured? Were his 
 boots ever blacked, if so how? How was the morning 
 fire lighted in the fireplace, how was the breakfast 
 cooked, of what did it consist, either food or drink, 
 and how was it cooked and how served, with what 
 implements did he carry it to his mouth? Wliat were 
 the dishes and where did he get them? What other 
 furniture was in the house ; and was the table a simple 
 narrow bench, and were the family ranged along upon 
 rough boards as sometimes now is done at picnic 
 gatherings? What was the nature of the implements 
 he used in clearing the woods and tilling the soil and
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 53 
 
 where did he get them and how eonld he get the money 
 with which to pay for them? Could he afford an 
 overcoat ? In a cloudy day when the sun did not shine 
 how could his wife tell when to get dinner, and how 
 could he tell when to come and eat it? and so on. 
 And when the day's work was over and evening came, 
 how was the house lighted; and did the family retire 
 early, or did they sit up around some blazing fire or 
 light ; and if they sat up was it that they might work ; 
 did they work in the long evenings, if so what work 
 did they do? Did the settlers have any recreations, 
 if so what were they? How did the young people 
 amuse themselves, for they certainly must have played ? 
 Youth will smile and play, whatever be the circum- 
 stances. Did the women have "sewing bees" in those 
 days, if they did was the conversation upon religion, 
 or upon current topics after the manner of a current 
 topic club of the present day? These and a thousand 
 other questions arise as one contemplates the life of 
 the early settlers. More than seventy years ago Rufus 
 Choate, in an address to an Essex County organization, 
 said that the best way to give the people a vivid idea 
 of those matters was by way of novels which should 
 be true to the subject in all the essential details; and 
 in his characteristically extravagant way he sug- 
 gested that a thousand of them more or less were need- 
 ed for that purpose. Some have since been published, 
 but more are needed. 
 
 We know at least that the life of these settlers was 
 busy and laborious. Children came frequently, families 
 were large, the domestic duties of the wife were ex- 
 acting and continuous, and at forty she looked worn 
 and weary. Sometimes the settler was so busy that
 
 54 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 lie had but little time for preliminaries, and made his 
 wishes known in a brusque manner. An instance of this 
 has come down traditionally to us and is related in the 
 town history in this way: — "Old Deacon Barlow, one 
 of the first proprietors to lay out land, was famous 
 in his day as a deacon, pillar of the church and leader 
 in society. It is said that when the wife of Deacon 
 Barlow died, he mourned her with due propriety for a 
 year and a day. Then mounting his horse, he rode to 
 the house of a maiden lady, and having knocked with 
 his cane without dismounting, he greeted her -with 
 'Good morning, I am in pursuit of a wife; if you will 
 have me, I will come in, if not, I shall go farther.' 
 'Why Deacon,' was the reply, 'How you astonish me; 
 Thank j^ou, you had better come in. ' A few days later 
 there was a wedding, and the deacon took his new wife 
 home on a pillion behind him." Such were the men, 
 and such the women of the time. 
 
 Under it all and through it all there was a strong re- 
 ligious current. They lived not for this life alone, 
 but for another and a better. Their faith was un- 
 faltering and they were cheered and sustained by it. 
 They believed the Bible was the word of God, and 
 they read it as such. I have not the time to sketch 
 in detail their religious history. You will find it well 
 set forth in the book to which I have alluded, and I 
 commend it to your careful consideration. A few 
 words on that subject must answer. The whole of 
 Rochester for many years was comprised in one pre- 
 cinct, the people first worshipping at Sippican and 
 afterwards at the centre of the town, the church ed- 
 ifice being nearly if not quite five miles from the early 
 settlers of Mattapoisett. Thus things continued until
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 55 
 
 1733 when the people of Mattapoisett complained that 
 they were too remote from the centre to attend church 
 there, and asked to be set off as a separate parish. 
 "The matter was delayed for a while, during which an 
 effort was made to have Mattapoisett incorporated as 
 a separate town. But tliis did not meet the general 
 wishes of the people and in 1735 (more than fifty years 
 after the first settlers came here) the Second Precinct 
 of Rochester was set off," and in 1736, having ob- 
 tained a letter of dismissal from the church at the 
 "Centre," the Mattapoisett people formed a new 
 church, and built a small meeting house about 25 feet 
 square in what is now called Hammondtown ; and, after 
 some experience in hearing other preachers, finally in 
 1740 settled the Rev. Ivory Hovey as their first pastor. 
 He was a graduate of Harvard and at the time of his 
 installation was twenty-six years old, recently married, 
 and is described as "of slight physique and of studious 
 and serious mind." 
 
 There is in the Athenaeum in Boston a sermon which 
 was delivered by this clerg\Tiian in 1749, he being then 
 35 years of age. It was delivered at the funeral of 
 John Hammond, one of the settlers of 1680, who died 
 in his 86th. year. He was for many years prominent 
 in the civil and military affairs of the town ; and I think 
 I can give you no better idea of the religious atmos- 
 phere of the time and of the nature of the sermons 
 then preached then to give a synopsis of this one. Its 
 title is "Duty & Privilege of Ancient saints to leave 
 their dying testimony behind them to posterity. A ser- 
 mon occasioned by the death of Lieut. John Hammond 
 of Rochester." 
 
 It seems that Mr. Hammond, a few months before his
 
 56 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 death, had called his children together to give thera 
 some spiritual advice which was afterwards embodied 
 in this sermon ; and for that reason his children caused 
 the sermon to be published. 
 
 The text, which was evidently selected with care and 
 was apt, is found in Psalm 71. Verse 18. "Now also 
 when I am old and gray headed, God, forsake me 
 not, until I have showed thy strength unto this genera- 
 tion and thy power to every one that is to come." 
 
 The very first sentence contains the key note of the 
 sermon which is strongly tinctured with the gloomy 
 theology of the time. It reads as follows: — "There can 
 scarcely be a more pleasing sight under Heaven than to 
 see an aged saint with the Almond tree flourishing, that 
 has begun early in the service of God, even to trust him 
 from his youth and still in the strength going on put- 
 ting his entire confidence in the same Almighty God 
 in advanced years and breathing out this earnest wish 
 & desire into the bosom of his God, not to cast him 
 off in the time of old age nor forsake Mm until he has 
 showed abroad the wondrous acts of the Lord," etc. 
 After a few more sentences in this vein the preacher 
 announces the doctrinal truth of the sermon in these 
 words : ' ' That it well becomes an aged saint especially 
 to desire the continuance of his life and God's further 
 assisting grace with him for this end principally, that 
 he may make known the Lord to the present and suc- 
 ceeding generations, 
 
 OR THIS 
 
 That it well becomes an aged disciple of the Lord Jesus, 
 & will be the property of all such who have walked 
 with God in their youth to seek earnestly the Commun-
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 57 
 
 ion and special presence of the same God with them 
 to their lives' end, that they may be enabled to leave 
 their dying testimony behind them from God to their 
 posterity. ' ' 
 
 He then proceeds thus, ''For the clearing of this 
 doctrine I would endeavor by divine assistance, first to 
 explain it, second to confirm it, and lastly to improve 
 it." Under the first head he has two sub-divisions, un- 
 der the second head four, and under the third head 
 three, of which the third is further subdivided into two 
 parts, making in all eleven divisions. After spending 
 considerable time in thus developing the doctrinal truth, 
 he proceeds to address the aged widow (who was the 
 daughter of the Rev. Samuel Arnold the first minister 
 of Rochester) in these words : "As to you, his aged con- 
 sort in particular, who was best of all acquainted with 
 him & to whom he was a very tender & kind 
 husband, however he might bear some resemblance to 
 Eli as for a hasty temper, yet I doubt not but you are 
 a witness that he likewise resembled him and some 
 other saints in some of their virtues, especially as he 
 grew towards the evening of his life; particularly in 
 the graces of humility, meekness, self denial & 
 patience which he seemed to be most sensible of being 
 defective in according to his aforesaid constitutional 
 infirmity, which occasioned him often to pray hard for 
 patience & others' prayers that patience might have 
 its perfect work in him, which prayer seemed remark- 
 ably answered on his behalf before his departure as you 
 madam can't but be very sensible of." 
 
 Who cannot see in these lines the picture of the grand 
 old man, naturally quick tempered and fully aware of 
 that fact, striving under the trials incidental to the
 
 58 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 infirmities of old age to conquer himself and by the 
 divine assistance to be patient to the end. Of such fibre 
 were such men made. 
 
 After still further words directed to the aged widow, 
 the speaker proceeds at considerable length to repeat 
 in detail the advice the deceased had given to his 
 children, making extensive comments thereon, and 
 directly addressing the children in a manner similar to 
 that in which he had addressed the widow. 
 
 The sermon consists of thirty-three closely printed 
 pages, and must have occupied more than an hour and a 
 half in its delivery. It is a typical specimen of the 
 pulpit production of the time. 
 
 I can dwell no longer upon these early settlers. They 
 were chiefly engaged in agriculture pursuits, and were 
 an industrious and God-fearing people. 
 
 Less than a century after the settlement, the troubles 
 began between the colony and the mother country 
 which finally resulted in the Revolution and our in- 
 dependence. Rochester did its full part in these events. 
 As indicating their spirit I will cite two or three votes 
 passed by the people in town meeting assembled. 
 
 In 1768, suspecting one of their representatives of 
 holding Tory sentiments, the town voted as follows: 
 ' ' That if our representative or any other person in this 
 town that either has or shall hereafter basely desert 
 the cause of liberty for the sake of being promoted to 
 a post of honor or profit or for any other mean view 
 to self interest shall be looked upon as an enemy to 
 his country & be treated with that neglect & con- 
 tempt that he justly deserves." It is needless to say 
 that the representative was not re-elected. 
 
 In 1773 a letter was received from Boston asking the
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 59 
 
 advice of the towns as to what was to be done on the 
 tea question. A spirited town meeting was held. En- 
 ergetic resolutions were passed, and "the citizens sub- 
 scribed a solemn league and covenant to abstain from 
 the use of tea, and to transact no business with those 
 who will not become parties to the covenant." This is 
 pretty close to a boycott, and so far as I know is the 
 first example of a provision for a "closed shop" to be 
 found in the records of the town. 
 
 The news of the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, 
 was received with joy since it indicated that the 
 struggle for independence was really begun. On May 
 23, 1776, it was voted, "That when the honorable con- 
 gress shall think best to declare themselves independent 
 of the kingdom of Great Britain we will defend them 
 with our lives & fortunes." 
 
 When army reverses had brought a feeling of de- 
 pression and it was necessary to suppress any opposi- 
 tion to the war, a committee of inspectors was formed 
 to call to account those who uttered Tory sentiments. 
 One of those with whom they dealt had said that "He 
 wished the people of Rochester were in hell for their 
 treatment of Ruggles & Sprague, " but on his expressing 
 repentance he was duly forgiven. 
 
 When the paper money which had been issued by 
 the government to meet the expenses of the war had 
 become greatly depreciated, the town on May 26, 1779, 
 after certain resolves relating "to efforts to appreciate 
 the currency" had been passed, voted that "Whoever 
 shall directly or indirectly violate either of said resolves 
 made for this important purpose shall be deemed in- 
 famous and held up to view as an enemy to the in- 
 dependence, freedom & happiness of his country by
 
 60 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 publishing his name in the newspapers published in this 
 state, after which publication it shall be disrespectful 
 in any good citizen to maintain either social or com- 
 mercial connections with a wretch so lost to all public 
 virtue as wantonly to sacrifice the interest of his coun- 
 try to the acquisition of a little paltry gain. ' ' This was a 
 boycott with a vengeance. They did not stop with resolu- 
 tions. Early, and during the whole existence of the war 
 Rochester did its full part, and Mattapoisett as a part 
 of Rochester, in furnishing and equipping its due quota 
 of fighting men. 
 
 As early as 1750 and perhaps before that time they 
 began to build vessels. It is stated by "Wilson Barstow, 
 whom I have previously mentioned, that there was no 
 science, vessels being built "by the sight of the eye 
 and good judgment. ' ' There was no preliminary draft- 
 ing and there were no models. Queer results were 
 sometimes produced by this method. Mr. Barstow 
 states that "one Hastings was put in a towering pas- 
 sion by being told that his starboard bow was all on one 
 side; and one sloop was nicknamed 'Bowline' because 
 she was crooked." It is further said that "the old 
 whaler Trident of 488 tons built in 1828, was so much 
 out of true that she carried 150 barrels more on one 
 side of the keel than on the other. The sailors said 
 she was ' logey on one tack but sailed like the mischief 
 on the other.' " Of course in due time all this was 
 corrected and vessels were built upon a scientific model. 
 
 Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War the 
 village of Mattapoisett was started, and in 1815 there 
 was at Mattapoisett harbor, a thriving village consisting 
 of "perhaps 40 houses, 3 or 4 wharves, a rope walk and 
 ship yards where in 1811 upwards of 3,000 tons of
 
 ^EMI-CENTENNIAL 61 
 
 shipping, were constructed." There was a coasting 
 trade between the town and Nantucket, Newport, New 
 York and places farther south. 
 
 The building of ships continued for many years, and 
 that business and whaling constituted the chief in- 
 dustries of the town. Notice, however, must be taken 
 of the manufacture of salt. During the Kevolution, salt 
 had been in great demand, and some was obtained along 
 the shore of Buzzard's Bay by the process of boiling 
 sea water. In 1806 a more important salt industry was 
 established in Rochester as well as in the neighboring 
 towns. The direct cause of this was the Embargo Act 
 shutting out the salt from the West Indies, which had 
 been the chief source of supply. Abraham Holmes, 
 writing in 1821, says, "The principal manufacture of 
 this town is salt. This business is carried on on an ex- 
 tensive scale, and it is believed that more salt is manu- 
 factured in this town than in any other town in the 
 Commonwealth ; and it is the most productive of any 
 business here practiced." 
 
 The water was pumped from the sea by windmills 
 and carried through the pipes (or tunnelled logs) to 
 shallow vats 12 or 15 feet square, from which the water 
 was evaporated by sun exposure, being carried from 
 vat to vat at different stages of the process. There was 
 a salt house to receive the completed product, and at 
 night and in rainy weather great covers or roofs moved 
 by heavy crane beams were placed over the vats to 
 protect the drying salt. One crane usually moved the 
 roof of four of these vats. I well remember salt works 
 of this description existing when I was a boy. on Good- 
 speed's Island. They were managed by Mr. Jabez 
 Goodspeed, and I have often seen him, when a tempest
 
 62 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 threatened, hurry over to the island to cover the vats 
 so as to protect the salt from the rain. 
 
 The town of Rochester, especially the villages of 
 Mattapoisett and Marion, continued to flourish, but 
 there was a cloud upon the horizon. These two vil- 
 lages were at considerable distance from the town 
 house located at Rochester Centre; and it was a great 
 inconvenience for their inhabitants to go to the Centre 
 to vote and transact town affairs; and the interests of 
 these villages were in many respects different from 
 those of the mother town. The birth throes of Matta- 
 poisett were severe and prolonged. They began in 
 1837 and lasted twenty years. The account of the 
 events which led to the final separation, as given in 
 the book which I have named, is exceedingly interest- 
 ing. The sixteenth article of the town meeting of 
 March 6, 1837 was as follows, "To decide if the town 
 will hold their town meetings in Mattapoisett village 
 for the term of one year from the twentieth of March. 
 1837." On this article it was voted after an exciting 
 contest that "When this meeting be adjourned it be 
 adjourned to the First Christian Meeting House in 
 Mattapoisett village, and that all the town meetings 
 be held in the village of Mattapoisett for one year from 
 the 20th day of March, 1837." "Mr. James Ruggles 
 of Rochester Centre then arose and gave notice that 
 he protested against the vote in regard to holding town 
 meetings in the village of Mattapoisett and should call 
 for a reconsideration of that vote at the adjournment 
 of this meeting." The adjourned meeting was held 
 April 3, 1837, in the First Christian Meeting House of 
 Mattapoisett, and was the first town meeting ever held 
 in the confines of Mattapoisett. At the meeting the
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 63 
 
 Rev, Thomas Robbins offered prayer; and after a 
 spirited contest it was found that the vote to reconsider 
 was carried by three majority, the vote in favor being 
 299, that opposed 296. The method of taking the vote 
 was peculiar. All those that were in favor of recon- 
 sidering the vote formed a line on the north side of the 
 street, and those opposed on the south side. Certain- 
 ly a picturesque way of taking a vote at a town meet- 
 ing. But the redoubtable Captain Atsatt of Matta- 
 poisett was equal to the occasion ; he rose and gave 
 notice that at the adjournment of this meeting he 
 should call for a reconsideration of this last vote. The 
 meeting was adjourned till April 17th. Dr. Robbins 
 states in his diary that although he attended this meet- 
 ing he did not vote. It seemed to him "an unpleasant 
 affair." On April 17th, the day to which the meeting 
 had been adjourned, Captain Atsatt made his motion 
 for reconsideration and for adjournment to Matta- 
 poisett. The vote was taken by yea and nay. Each 
 side was out in full force, and crackers and cheese were 
 provided for the voters. The house was so crowded 
 the vote could not be taken there, and, after various 
 attempts had failed, the doors were shut upon the 
 older men within the house whose ballots were then 
 taken as they came out through the door; while the 
 younger men were sent through the bars into Mr. 
 Bonney's field and the votes taken as they came out. 
 The motion was lost, 278 yeas to 324 nays. At this 
 meeting Rev. Dr. Robbins voted, the only time he had 
 ever voted in town meeting since his settlement. This 
 meeting was further adjourned to April 24th at one 
 P. M. "When the day came," writes Mr. Holmes, 
 "before nine o'clock a northeast storm (very cold)
 
 64 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 commenced, which increased in its fury and by noon 
 was pretty violent. Very few people from the North- 
 west part of the town attended, but the people of 
 Mattapoisett had a considerable turnout." Captain 
 Atsatt, still persistent, was again on hand and made a 
 motion, which was seconded by Elijah Willis, "to ad- 
 journ this meeting to the Rev. Thos. Robbins's meet- 
 ing house in the village of Mattapoisett, Wednesday, 
 the 26th day of April, at one o'clock P. M." The vote 
 passed by 139 to 137. Mattapoisett was again upper- 
 most, and the meeting was finally held at Mattapoisett. 
 
 There is not time for me to enter into this matter 
 in further detail. Suffice it to say that after various 
 contests it finally became evident to all that there 
 should be a division; and at a town meeting held 
 early in 1857 a vote for this division was unanimous. 
 Committees were appointed to arrange details as to 
 the division of town property, etc. ; and on May 20, 
 1857, the act of incorporation was passed by the legis- 
 lature. 
 
 The new town of Mattapoisett then contained about 
 1,700 inhabitants. Its chief industries of shipbuilding 
 and whaling were perhaps then at their zenith. Many 
 of the young men of the village entered with zest into 
 the business of whaling and became skillful ship- 
 masters. Those who engaged in this were away from 
 home the greater part of the time, the voyages lasting 
 from a year, more or less, to three or four years. 
 Their stay at home between voyages was generally 
 from two to four months in the summer. I remember 
 hearing a woman, who had been married for more than 
 twenty-five years to a well-known ship-master, say 
 that her husband had been away from home so much
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 65 
 
 of the time that she scarcely felt acquainted with him. 
 
 It was a dangerous business. The whales were killed 
 by harpoons and lances thrown from the hands of men 
 in boats. Many an evening when a boy have I listened 
 to the tales of these men — of the manner in which the 
 whale was first sighted by the man on the lookout on 
 the mast — of the hurried preparation for the manning 
 and starting of the boats, of which there were from two 
 to four according to the number of the crew — of the 
 long pull, sometimes in a boisterous sea, to reach the 
 Leviathan — of the hush in the boat as they came near tlie 
 whale — of the anxious moment when he who held the 
 harpoon was to throw it — of the sudden plunge of the 
 animal as he felt the iron enter his side — of the impera- 
 tive order to "stern all," given to avoid injury from 
 any violent movement of the whale — of the rapidity 
 with which the line attached to the harpoon passed 
 out from the tub where in the middle of the boat it was 
 neatly coiled — of the careful manner of slowing the 
 line as it went out — of the attempt to reach the whale 
 again as he rose to the surface — of the skillful way 
 in which the boat was again placed alongside of the 
 whale and of the deep reaching thrusts given by the 
 lance in the hands of the boatheader — of the circular 
 death flurry growing gradually more and more feeble 
 — the reddening of the water from the outpouring 
 blood — and finally the death of the animal as he at 
 last turned over upon his back. 
 
 Upon the stones in our village graveyard may be 
 read records of the dangers incurred by these hardy 
 followers of the sea. Of my mother's five brothers 
 three lost their lives in this business — two, both in the 
 same vessel, by the foundering of their ship, and one
 
 66 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 by being caught in the line as the whale was dragging 
 it from the boat. Subsequently whales were shot by 
 a gun, greatly diminishing the danger. 
 
 Shortly after the incorporation of the town, this 
 business began to diminish and has been for several 
 years entirely discontinued in Mattapoisett. 
 
 The shipbuilding filled the village with a very supe- 
 rior class of workmen. In the busiest period nearly 
 three hundred men were employed ; and at the noon 
 hour the streets were filled with them as they went 
 home for dinner. Each man was entitled to the chips 
 which he hewed from the timber, and many a workman 
 on his way home trundled before him a well-filled 
 wheelbarrow. But this industry has also disappeared, 
 and with it has disappeared the noble mechanics who 
 were nurtured in it. The last vessel was built in 1878. 
 
 There were no summer vacations. The people kept 
 at home from one year's end to another. The young 
 men generally became ship carpenters or sailors. The 
 young women stayed at home; and the young of both 
 sexes found their amusements in their native village. 
 Although I was born in this village and lived here 
 until at the age of nineteen I went away to school, and 
 although I spent my vacations here and cast my first vote 
 here, I never saw the village of Sippican, now Marion, 
 until I was more than forty years old. There was but 
 little card playing as I remember. My first card play- 
 ing was clandestine, under an upturned whaleboat 
 which had been beached for the winter. 
 
 There were three churches — the Congregational the 
 one in which we now are, the Universalist and the 
 Baptist. Every Sunday there were preached in each 
 church two sermons, one in the forenoon and one in
 
 O H
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 67 
 
 the afternoon ; and, with the exception of the Universal- 
 ist church, there was also a meeting in the evening at 
 which the pastor usually made a short address. Each 
 church had a flourishing Sabbath school. There was 
 little, if any, social caste. Everj'body knew everj'body 
 else and was quite closely watched by everybody else, — 
 a state of things quite conducive to upright living. 
 
 Much cannot be said in favor of the public schools 
 as they existed in the village. Provision was made for 
 onl}' three months for each child. The children under 
 ten years of age attended the summer school, and those 
 of ten and upwards the winter school. When the first 
 public winter school I ever attended was opened, I was 
 about two weeks short of ten years of age, and I well 
 remember the trepidation with which I appeared the 
 first day. I feared I should not be admitted, but the 
 district school committee man and the teacher after 
 some conference together concluded that I "would do." 
 As a rule there was a different teacher for each term, — 
 a man, often some college undergraduate, in the winter, 
 and a woman in the summer. Corporal punishment 
 was frequently resorted to, although I do not recall 
 any severe case. The school rooms, often small, were 
 heated with stoves; there was no ventilation, and the 
 small children who sat in the front seats suffered much 
 from the heat. The village proper was divided into 
 two districts, the east and the west; and in the winter 
 time, when there was snow upon the ground fit for 
 snowballs, many a royal battle occurred between the 
 two schools; and woe be to the pupil of either school 
 if during snowballing time he was espied within the 
 territorial limits of the other. 
 
 The public schools were supplemented by private
 
 68 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 schools at which a small tuition fee was charged. 
 There was generally such a school every summer which 
 pupils too old for the public schools could attend. 
 Many of these schools were very good. About 1856 
 the academy was opened, to which came pupils not 
 only from the village and the other parts of the town, 
 but also from the neighboring towns. The higher 
 studies were taught here, and by this school several 
 persons were fitted for college. 
 
 In an address on Mattapoisett, no one can omit to 
 speak of the alewives of Mattapoisett river. Prom the 
 time of the earliest settlers to the present day they have 
 contributed to the wealth of the people. The people of 
 the colonial and provincial periods of Massachusetts 
 appreciated the food value of alewives, and many laws 
 were passed for the protection of the alewife fisheries 
 wherever existing, especially on streams where there 
 were milldams. Mattapoisett River received its full 
 share of attention. The early Plymouth Colony laws 
 were liberal in the count, for it was provided in 1637 
 that "six score and twelve fishes shall be accounted to 
 the hundred of all sorts of fishes." The earliest law 
 I have found especially applicable to Mattapoisett River 
 was passed in November 1770. The preamble is as 
 follows : 
 
 "Whereas the town of Rochester have been at great 
 labor and expense in digging out a passage from Snip- 
 tuet Pond to the head of 'Madepaysett' River in said 
 town, in order to let the alewives have free course from 
 the sea into said pond to cast their spawn ; and whereas 
 the good fruit of their labors and expense depends on 
 the regulation and government of the stream through 
 which they pass, and there being sundry milldams
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 69 
 
 across said river, and by reason of many evilminded 
 and disorderly persons setting up weirs, stopping & 
 obstructing sd alewives, the expectation & benefit of 
 their labors have almost been defeated; for remedy 
 whereof be it enacted, &c. ' ' This act was followed hy 
 several others and there were at least six statutes 
 passed after the establishment of the state constitution, 
 of which the first was passed in 1788. There is not 
 time to review these acts in detail. It is sufficient to 
 say that they provide for the free passage of the fish, 
 for the times in which fish may be taken and by whom ; 
 for the choice in open town meeting of herring inspec- 
 tors who shall take an oath to ''prosecute all breaches 
 of the law regulating the alewife fishery in said river"; 
 and for the sale and distribution of the fish, and for the 
 prosecution of persons who shall unlawfully catch them 
 or obstruct their passage. The right to these fish has 
 always been greatly prized, even to an extent which 
 may seem inexplicable to a person who has not been 
 reared in the town. The statute of 1852 setting off 
 Sippican and incorporating it under the name of Marion 
 contains a provision, although no part of Mattapoisett 
 River flowed through the new town, "that the alewife 
 fisheries of the river and the town mills on the river 
 should remain the property and privilege of all the in- 
 habitants of said towns of Rochester and Marion, and 
 said alewives shall be sold, as now, to each and every 
 family residing in the towns aforesaid, at such price per 
 hundred as the majority of the legal voters of said 
 towns should from time to time determine;" and the 
 net profits were to be divided among the towns accord- 
 ing to their respective valuations ; and the statutes of 
 1857 which set off Mattapoisett contained a similar pro-
 
 70 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 vision for the distribution of the alewives among the 
 inhabitants of the three towns of Rochester, Marion 
 and Mattapoisett. All the other town property could 
 be divided, but each town held with a firm grip upon 
 the alewives, and the ownership of them must be in 
 common. In each one of those acts it is also provided 
 that the citizens of Rochester should have the same 
 privileges as before to take shell and scale fish from 
 the shores, flats and waters of the new town. Marion 
 could not give up the alewives, nor could Rochester give 
 up the clams and quahaugs, or the "scalefish" of the 
 harbor. 
 
 This address is already too long, but I cannot refrain 
 from mentioning one educational institution of the town 
 — Harlow & LeBaron's store. It was a country variety 
 store of the usual kind, where one could buy anything 
 from a stick of candy to a gallon of oil, from a spool 
 of thread to a yard of cloth. For the men it was the 
 educational society centre. I wish I could make you 
 see it as I, when a boy, saw it — the dark well-worn 
 wooden floor, the groceries on one side of the store and 
 the dry goods on the other, the small, cylindrical, up- 
 right cast iron stove sometimes red with heat on a cold 
 day, the long wooden bench upon the grocery side of 
 the store — the row of men seated thereon, other men 
 sitting or standing wherever there was opportunity. 
 See this store, dimly lighted by one or more oil lamps 
 in an evening, thus filled with the talkative and social 
 denizens of the village, not loafers, but honest, intelli- 
 gent artisans, every one of them fit for official responsi- 
 bility, and listen to the way in which any question for 
 the time being prominent, whether of town, state or 
 national importance, is discussed, and you will under-
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 71 
 
 stand what I mean when I say it was an educational 
 institution. Many an evening have I, when a boy. 
 listened with rapt attention to those discussions, and 
 many a time when in after years it fell to me to address 
 a jury, did I seem to see before me the very same men 
 I had so often seen in that store — their names different 
 it is true, and their faces not so familiar, but their 
 methods of thought the same — and I knew better how 
 to influence them than if I had not had the previous 
 experience. There is no education more useful to a 
 man who is to move among men, than that which he 
 gets by mingling in the society of a country store in 
 an old-fashioned New England village. 
 
 There is no time to speak here of those who have 
 gone out from this town to professions and other pur- 
 suits, but the occasion makes it proper for me to speak 
 of one who was one of the prominent actors in the prep- 
 aration for this week, and who has not been permitted 
 to live to enjoy the festivities he had helped to plan. 
 Lemuel LeBaron Holmes, cut off in the prime of life, 
 was a typical specimen of the best blood of New Eng- 
 land. Of fine personal appearance, with a frank open 
 countenance and expressive eyes, mild and unassuming 
 yet reserved in manner, he from the very first favor- 
 ably impressed all who met him. As a man he was 
 kind and true in all family relations, a staunch reliable 
 friend and a good citizen. Ready to yield in non-es- 
 sentials, but firm as a rock where principle was at stake 
 — there was Quaker blood in his veins — he won the re- 
 spect and confidence of all. As a lawyer, he was 
 learned, painstaking and thorough in the investigation 
 of his client's case, and clear and effective in present- 
 ing it to the court. He was a safe adviser. In his
 
 72 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 arguments to the jury he never took an unfair ad- 
 vantage of his opponent, never appealed to passion or 
 prejudice, but simply to reason. His judgment as to 
 where the strength of his ease lay, and on what lines it 
 should be presented to the jury, was excellent. A per- 
 sistent fighter for what he believed to be right, he was 
 nevertheless always ready to settle upon a reasonable 
 basis. 
 
 As a judge, he was patient, courteous and eminently 
 fair. He had a strong grasp of a case, was sure to de- 
 tect the principle upon which the decision hinged, mar- 
 shalled well the facts ; and his charges to the jury were 
 clear, apt and easily understood. He loved this, his 
 native village and was very much interested in its local 
 history. He was an honor to the town, and to his pro- 
 fession — both at the bar and on the bench. The death 
 of such a man is a loss to the community and to the 
 state. 
 
 I have thus touched upon some features of our town 
 history. I would like to speak of others, especially 
 of the ecclesiastical history and of the part taken by 
 the inhabitants of the town in the Civil War ; but these 
 must be omitted. 
 
 "We are at the beginning of the second half century. 
 How shall our town now be described? I can use no 
 better words than those which are found in the book 
 from which I have quoted so much. Here they are — 
 let us read them together and take in their full mean- 
 ing: 
 
 "So Mattapoisett sits today on her beautiful open 
 harbor: the waters of Buzzards Bay roll in as blue as 
 ever: the alewives still go up the river each April: 
 there is still good fishing in the bay and shellfish on
 
 SEMI-CENTENNIAL 73 
 
 the shore. The catboats ride at their moorings around 
 the buoy, or their sails glisten in the sun far out toward 
 the Falmouth shore. The old family names are on the 
 narrow elm shaded streets, and many of the ancient 
 houses look upon them still. The town is full of pleas- 
 ure-seekers who play tennis, golf, drive, sail, or fish, or 
 dance at the Casino ; but there is always the sense of 
 rest and quiet, the salt air full of ozone, fragrant breath 
 of the pines, and the respite from city noise and dust. 
 
 And all along the shore from Aucoot Cove to the 
 Fairhaven line, each year sees some new homes built 
 for those who seek their rest in close touch with nature 
 and old ocean. Vacation and holiday are a part of the 
 world's true needs, and in lending its own quiet charms 
 to those forms of human demand, this seaside village 
 has entered into a new and worthy role, more harmoni- 
 ous, perhaps, than were the activities of the past, with 
 the musical name it carries — Mattapoisett — "the place 
 of rest." "The past at least is secure." God grant 
 that in the future, whatever may happen, the standard 
 set by our ancestors may be proudly maintained.
 
 74 MATTAPOISETT 
 
 A MATTAPOISETT SONG 
 
 [Tune, "Fair Harvard"] 
 
 Mattapoisett, thy children think ever of thee, 
 
 'Though throughout the wide world they may roam. 
 And wherever their fortune casts for them their lot, 
 
 They still look to thee as their home. 
 If where tropical suns beat down fierce on the deck, 
 
 They remember thy cool southwest winds; 
 Or, on wide western plains, under shadowless skies, 
 
 They long for thy murmuring pines. 
 
 Thus, afar, their hearts turn to this home of their youth, 
 
 To the mem'ry of figures now gone; 
 They recall, 'though the thought brings a mist to the eye. 
 
 All the charms which thy village adorn. 
 They remember thy shores, thy elm-shaded streets, 
 
 Thy river that runs to the sea. 
 And they wish that the tide which flows in from the bay 
 
 Might bear them in joy back to thee. 
 
 Mattapoisett, thy children take pride in thy past, 
 
 Since the Indian first sought thy strand, 
 And the settler invaded thy forest's deep growth 
 
 And established his hold on the land. 
 Oh, thy woodsmen have hewn, and thy artisans shaped. 
 
 The staunch ships that have slid from thy ways; 
 And thy captains have sailed into every known sea. 
 
 From thy wharves which endure to these days. 
 
 So, whenever thy children may happen to meet. 
 
 Whether at home or on far distant sea. 
 As they think of Lang Syne they will join in a song 
 
 To the praise, Mattapoisett, of thee. 
 And they'll offer the prayer, that in all future time. 
 
 Forever, while seasons shall come, 
 Their children's descendants may ever have this 
 
 Place of Rest as their beautiful home. 
 
 L. LeB. D. 
 August, 1907.
 
 The illustrations in this book opposite pages 
 33, 38, 42, 55, 60, 66, 68, 71 and 72 are from 
 " Mattapoisett and Old Rochester," and ai'e used 
 by courtesy of The Grafton Press.
 
 THE GRAFTON HISTORICAL SERIES 
 Edited by Henry R. Stiles, A. M., M. D, 
 
 MATTAPOISETT 
 AND OLD ROCHESTER 
 
 Being a History of these towns and also in part of Marion 
 and a portion of Wareham 
 
 BY 
 
 MARY HALL LEONARD 
 LEMUEL LeBARON DEXTER 
 LEMUEL LeBARON HOLMES 
 JAMES S. BURBANK 
 LESTER W. JENNEY 
 MARY FRANCES BRIGGS 
 
 With many valuable extracts from the records of the Town 
 
 and of the Second Church in Rochester, 
 
 Mattapoisett Precinct. 
 
 This is the story of one of the oldest of Massachusetts towns. From 
 Rochester, were set off at various times, a portion of Wareham, and the 
 present towns of Marion and Mattapoisett. The last named, celebrated 
 its 50th Anniversary in August, 1907, and this volume was prepared for 
 that occasion. It contains an authentic account of the early development 
 of the Old Rochester territory, with special chapters on Mattapoisett 
 town, church and ship building history; also detailed lists of soldiers 
 and sailors, assessors' rates, and early church records of marriages and 
 baptisms. 424 + xii pp. With two maps and thirty-two illustrations. 
 12 mo., cloth, gilt-top, $2.00 net. (Postage, 16 cents.) 
 
 THE GRAFTON PRESS 
 70 Fifth Ave., New York 6 Beacon St., Boston
 
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