LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVtRSlTtOF 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 SAN DIEGO
 
 ^e 'jr.'IVLRSMY IfMKAKY 
 
 x.Ac.ru^iA. SAN OIHi< 
 ^_A. UALIM)RNI
 
 f15DTf1 
 
 3EDICRTIoM:oF 
 
 (TRIAD 
 
 FVLLV 1LLU/7R/YTED
 
 PRESS OF 
 
 PKUKV & BARNES, 
 
 IMUSTEHS AND 1'UIJLISHKIIS, 
 
 ATTUCHOKOUGH, MASS. 
 
 1886.
 
 GOFF MEMORIAL HALL.
 
 This pamphlet is a contribution to Old Colony history. 
 It presents in a more complete and accurate form than 
 was possible within the limits of a newspaper report, the 
 dedicatory exercises of the Goff Memorial Hall in Reho- 
 both. The occasion was a notable one in many particulars. 
 It dealt, historically, with the settlement and growth of 
 one of the oldest townships in the country. It marked 
 the successful issue of a building enterprise of no little 
 importance, and one in which many people were directly 
 interested. The dedication itself brought together a com- 
 pany of distinguished speakers, and an audience that in 
 numbers and appreciation commanded their best efforts. 
 Taken as a whole, the manifold subjects of discourse and 
 the various incidents of the day are of rare value and 
 significance to every American townsman. Especially 
 interesting will the record of these pages prove to the 
 citizens of Attleborough, Cumberland, Seekonk, Paw- 
 tucket, East Providence and Swansea municipalities 
 originally included within the ancient boundaries of Re- 
 hoboth. Hardly less acceptable will the work be in other 
 towns and cities of the Old Colony, or, indeed, wherever in 
 this wide land is found a son or daughter of old Rehoboth. 
 
 We have endeavored to present the story in acceptable 
 form, incorporating, beside a full report of the dedicatory
 
 4 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 proceedings both morning and afternoon, a history of the 
 building enterprise; a picture and description of the Hall 
 itself, with list of relics in the Antiquarian Room and 
 their donors; portraits of the gentlemen most prominently 
 interested in the work; and such other illustrations and 
 sketches as might properly appear in such a publication.
 
 Building Enterprise. 
 
 Early in the spring of eighteen hundred and eighty- 
 three, while engaged in accumulating material and facts 
 for his ecclesiastical sketch of Rehoboth in the history 
 of Bristol County, Rev. George H. Tilton was im- 
 pressed by the large number of ancient and odd relics 
 which he found in possession of the residents of the town. 
 The antiquity and rareness of some of the documents, 
 books, implements, &c., which he saw, awakened the de- 
 sire in his mind that these be collected and preserved in 
 some suitable place. Accordingly it was with this thought 
 in mind that on the second day of January, eighteen 
 hundred and eighty-four, while examining the relics in the 
 possession of George N. Goff, Mr. Tilton said to Mrs. 
 Goff, "We must have an Antiquarian Society here." 
 
 Thereupon he immediately went to work to raise sub- 
 scriptions to erect a building. By dint of hard labor and 
 the expenditure of much time, at the close of January he 
 had the sum of fifteen hundred dollars pledged. On the 
 thirty-first of January, Geo. H. Tilton, John C. Marvel 
 and George N. Goff, went to Pawtucket to see Darius 
 Goff, Esq., a former resident of Rehoboth, and find out if 
 he would not aid them. After the facts were presented to 
 him, Mr. Goff pledged an amount equal to that already 
 raised and told them if they raised any more to come and
 
 6 HISTORIC HE HO BO TIL 
 
 see him again. The aim of Mr. Tilton at first was for a 
 building simply for relics, &c., but this soon developed 
 into the idea of a building which would contain a hall, a 
 school room and a library. Encouraged by the liberality 
 and promise of Mr. Goff, Mr. Tilton set at work with re- 
 newed zeal to increase the amount pledged. With the 
 aid of others who had already subscribed, he brought the 
 sum up to four thousand dollars which was promptly du- 
 plicated and more than duplicated by Mr. Goff. 
 
 On the evening of March 5, 1884, the stockholders 
 having been duly notified, the first meeting of the Anti- 
 quarian Society was held in the vestry of the Congrega- 
 tional church, when the following communication from 
 Mr. Goff was presented and unanimously accepted: 
 
 "If the inhabitants of the town will increase their sub- 
 scriptions up to four thousand dollars, I will raise mine 
 up to the same amount, and in addition, give one acre of 
 land to erect the building thereon, the location of which 
 shall be the old homestead of my father, and a further 
 condition that five gentlemen shall be elected as trustees, 
 one for five years, one for four years, one for three years, 
 one for two years, and one for one year, who, with the 
 president and secretary of the society, shall erect said 
 building and have the whole care and management of the 
 property. After one year, one trustee shall be elected an- 
 nually; and furthermore, I reserve the right to name three 
 of the five trustees, and also to approve the plan of the 
 building. At least three thousand dollars of the four 
 thousand subscribed outside of mine, shall be paid into 
 the treasury before I am called upon. When that is done 
 I shall be ready to pay mine in full. This offer will hold 
 good for sixty clays from date." 
 
 At this meeting the following officers were elected:
 
 HISTORIC REHOr.OTH. 1 
 
 President, Rev. George H. Tilton; Vice Presidents, Esek 
 H. Pierce and Francis A. Bliss; Secretary, Wrn. H. Mar- 
 vel, Corresponding Secretary, Rev. G. H. Tilton; Treas- 
 urer, Wm. W. Blanding; Trustees for five years, George 
 N. Goff; four years, Esek H. Pierce; three years, Paschal 
 K. Wilmarth; two years, Charles Perry; one year, George 
 H.Horton. By the constitution of the society,the President 
 and Secretary are made trustees ex-orficio,thus making the 
 whole board of trustees to consist of seven persons. 
 
 In the latter part of March, Mr. Tilton sent a letter to 
 Hon. Thomas W. Bicknell acquainting him with the fact 
 that quite a sum of money had been pledged, and that it 
 was the intention to have a school and library in the 
 building, and that any aid or assistance he could 
 render them would be duly appreciated. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bicknell were both very much interested in the under- 
 taking, and sent the following letter which led to the 
 founding of the Blanding Library. 
 
 BOSTON, MASS.. April 1, 1S84. 
 
 KKV. GKO. II. Tir/rox, President Antiquarian Society, 
 DKAI: Sin: 
 
 Your plans with reference to a Memorial Hall, High School Kooms. 
 Antiquarian Hall, etc.. at Kehoboth. have interested Mrs. Bicknell a-nd 
 myself very much, and have awakened the living emhers of the sincere 
 and deep attachment we have for old Kehohoth and her excellent people, 
 formed under circumstances most interesting and important to all con- 
 cerned. At one time. M'hile we were teaching the high school at Keho- 
 hoth, very considerable interest was then manifested in the matter of 
 erecting a high school huilding and hall at the village, and such public- 
 spirited men and women as John C. Marvel, Wm. K. Bullock, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Deacon Brown. William Blanding, Keuben Bowen, Danforth Hor- 
 ton, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Carpenter, Tamerlane Ilorton, Josephine B. Smith, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Otis Goff, Nelson Goff and others, were deeply interested in 
 the project, which ended only in discusssion. Nearly thirty years have 
 passed since then, and it has been a matter of concern to us, what, could 
 be done to preserve the better standard of intelligence and virtue, tradi- 
 tional and historic, in this grand old town.
 
 8 HISTORIC REIIOBOTIL 
 
 You may be assured that your work as a pastor and teacher of the old 
 church of the Rogersons. Thompsons and (irovenors, has been a souree 
 of delight to us, who, while absent in person, still have a lively interest in 
 all that concerns the welfare of the parish and the people. Still more 
 have we been delighted with the zeal and public spirit you have manifest- 
 ed in the preservation of the ancient landmarks of Kehoboth.and particu- 
 larly in the work of faith and love which is about to be crowned with 
 the plaudits of success, in the proposed erection of the Cioff Memorial, 
 which, while a monument to the noble generosity of the principal donor, 
 is also the sure evidence of your courageous faith and indomitable perse- 
 vfivnce. in collecting the generous gifts of self-sacrificing donors, to an 
 edifice which shall be a means of social, educational and religious benefit 
 t.o all of the people. 
 
 Let us congratulate you, then, in the near prospect of the consumma- 
 tion of what is consecrated by prayer and labor for the good of man and 
 the glory of God: and let us bear testimony to our. grateful regard for 
 those who have given generously, lovingly and sacredly to perpetuate the 
 names of worthy ones who helped to plant a town, which should in its 
 history illustrate the principles of the Puritan stock, and which has sent 
 forth so many men and women to make the world the better. It has oc- 
 curred to Mrs. Uicknell and myself, if agreeable to you and the other 
 trustees, that we would gladly aid you in some way in supplementing the 
 goo.l work you have undertaken, by laying the corner-stone of a public 
 library, which shall be free to all the people of the town, under such regu- 
 lations as the trustees may see tit to make. 
 
 We believe that a good library is one of the most valuable means of edu- 
 cation: that communion with the best thoughts of the best men and 
 women of the world, through their writings, is a sure method of elevating 
 society, mentally and spiritually: and that the increasing value and power 
 of pure literature in books and magazines are as necessary to the higher 
 life of men. as are the streams in the valleys and the fresh winds of the 
 hills and the ocean to physical life. 
 
 In order, therefore, to encourage the formation of a library to be kept 
 in the (ion" Memorial, we will donate five hundred dollars to the trustees 
 of the Itehohoth Antiquarian Society, to be expended by them in the se- 
 lection of good books, a large portion of which, let us suggest, shall be 
 t-hoscn with special reference to the wants of the boys and girls, the 
 young people of the town. We sincerely hope that others may contrih- 
 Ui-c more or less freely to this nucleus of a library, and thai the annual 
 supply of books shall keep it fresh and interesting to all leaders, so that 
 the gifts may ! a constantly increasing blessing to all \\lio may enjoy 
 their benefits. 
 
 We shall be glad to have the library become so valuable that all the
 
 HISTORIC HE HO BOTH. 
 
 people of the town may seek its benefits and the inspiration which may 
 come from it. We would have it free as air and water to all. We hope 
 that many a boy and girl, possibly it may be with a few books or encourage- 
 ments at home, will find help, cheer and hope on the shelves of the 
 library, and that the character of the future men and women of the town 
 may be stronger, manlier and more truly Christian for its existence. 
 
 AVe have but one request to make in connection with our humble gift, 
 which we leave for your consideration and decision. The name of 
 IHanding is one of the oldest and most respectable of this ancient town. 
 William Blanding was a contributor to the expenses incurred in carrying 
 on the war with King Phillip of Pokanoket, and for :nore than two 
 hundred years the name of the family and the town have been associated. 
 
 In view of these facts, and that the name may be kept fresh in the 
 minds of the future dwellers of Rehoboth, yet more especially for the 
 loving affection we have for the character and memory of our beloved 
 parents, Christopher and Chloe Blanding, whose dust sleeps with that of 
 the long line of their kindred in the old church burial ground on the hill 
 west of Rehoboth village, we most respectfully suggest that the permanent 
 name of the library shall be The Blandinr/ Public Library of Rehoboth, 
 3/a.ss. 
 
 With great confidence in the wisdom and ability of the trustees in ad- 
 ministering all the valuable trusts committed to them, in connection with 
 this beautiful memorial building and its various interesting departments, 
 We are, very sincerely, 
 
 THOMAS W. BK KNKLL, 
 
 AMELIA DAVII: BLAXDIXG BICKXKLL. 
 
 On the spot selected by Mr. Goff as the site of the new 
 structure, the old "Goff Inn." the birthplace and home of 
 his ancestors, was still standing. The land upon which it 
 stood had been in the Goff family by direct descent ever 
 since 1714. The excellent picture of the old inn, given 
 on another page, shows that a series of additions had been 
 made to the original house. Situated on the road leading 
 from Taunton and various points in the Old Colony to 
 Providence and Newport, the Goff Inn was one of the 
 noted hostelries of Colonial clays. As we view it in coun- 
 terfeit, we can almost hear the coachman's horn and see 
 the four horses swing the stage up to the door with a
 
 10 HISTORIC HE/WHO TIT. 
 
 burst of speed reserved for that special occasion. As we 
 look upon its time-honored walls it seems almost too great 
 a sacrifice that they have been torn down even to make 
 room for so handsome a building as the one which succeeds 
 it. 
 
 The old Inn was removed in April, and in May ground 
 was broken for the new structure. Owing to obstacles, 
 however, the work was delayed until fall. It was then 
 renewed, and the cellar was built under the direction of 
 Mr. George N. Goff. On September 8th, 1884, the con- 
 tract was signed by the contractors, Lewis T. Hoar's 
 Sons of Warren, R. I., and by the committee on contract, 
 consisting of George N. Goff, Charles Perry and Esek II. 
 Pierce. The plastering was let to II. Bryant & Brother 
 of Fall River.
 
 Description of Memorial Hall. 
 
 From whatever point the visitor approaches Rchoboth 
 Village, the first object that attracts the eye is the tower 
 of the Memorial Hall. He is at once struck by its grace- 
 ful proportions, and a nearer approach confirms the im- 
 pression of its beauty. We cannot better describe it than 
 by referring the reader to our frontispiece, where an 
 excellent view of the structure can be had. It is situated 
 on a gentle eminence, facing south, surrounded by ample 
 grounds. Near by, the Palmer river, now untrammeled 
 by mill wheels, flows cheerily to the sea. A fine elm in 
 front adds to the picturesqueness of the spot. In outward 
 aspect and thorough workmanship, it is all and more 
 than the picture represents it. Its main dimensions, 
 exclusive of projections, are 38 1-2 by 60 1-2 feet. 
 
 The first floor comprises three rooms, viz: a school 
 room, 24 1-2 by 38 1-2 feet, leading out of which is a reci- 
 tation room i 2 by 15 feet, which forms part of the north- 
 ern projection of the building. The school is on the west 
 end and is lighted from the north and south. An antiqua- 
 rian room which is 19 by 30 feet and is lighted from the 
 north and east, and a library room, 19 by 30 feet, which is 
 lighted from the east and south, occupy the east side. 
 The second floor consists of the hall, 38 1-2 by 60 feet ( 
 and is amply lighted from the east, south and west. Trie
 
 12 HISTORIC HEUOnOTU. 
 
 basement is well-finished, is deep, and contains one of 
 Barstow's best furnaces. In the tower in front, Mr. Goff 
 has caused to be placed a bronze tablet bearing the fol- 
 lowing, "Goff Memorial, 1884," which, with the labor ex- 
 pended upon it, cost not far from five hundred dollars. 
 The building can be said to have been finished in the 
 autumn of '85, although some slight additions have been 
 made by Mr. Goff at intervals since. 
 
 The Blanding Library, comprising about six hundred 
 and twenty -five volumes,the greater part of which were con- 
 tributed by Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Bicknell, was opened to 
 the public for the first time, February 22, 1886, and has 
 been open ever since, two evenings of each week, Mon- 
 day and Friday. The school room was open for a public 
 school in the fall of 1885, and was so used for two terms. 
 In April a private school was opened, which is supported 
 by various individuals. The total number who have con- 
 tributed toward the building fund is about one hundred 
 and sixty, with amounts varying from ten to two hundred 
 dollars. The total cost of the building is nearly $14,000, 
 of which Mr. Goff furnished about $10,000. 
 
 The initiative object of the building, as a repository of 
 ancient relics, is recognized as paramount in the completed 
 structure. Its Antiquarian Room on the northeast 
 corner is large and well lighted, and in every way attrac- 
 tive. Much time and labor have been expended on this 
 department, especially by the President, Rev. G. H. Til- 
 ton, and the Secretaiy, \Ym. H. Marvel, both of whom 
 have been actively engaged from the first. The names 
 also of \Ym. H. Luther, Esq., Librarian and Custodian, 
 and J. C. Marvel, Esq., deserve honorable mention for 
 their efforts in this direction. The collection, in point of 
 interest, is second to none in the State, though there are
 
 // is Ton ic RE no no TIL i ;j 
 
 some more extensive. Still the donations, considering 
 that they were drawn in a single year almost wholly from 
 the garrets of a single town, are quite as remarkable for their 
 variety as for their rarity. In order to render "Honor to 
 whom honor is due," as well as to furnish a catalogue for 
 those visiting the room, we give below a list of the articles 
 with names of the donors.
 
 Antiquarian 
 
 Defence of Christianity, two volumes, printed 
 
 in 1728, Wm. A. King. 
 
 Six copies Ladies' Magazine, " 
 
 Fifteen copies town and school reports, " 
 
 Eleven copies Missionary Herald, " 
 
 Three copies Home Missionary, " 
 
 Nine copies Christian Inquirer, " 
 
 Five copies "The Quaker," " 
 
 Twenty-seven pamphlets, " 
 
 One volume sermons, printed in 1708, " 
 
 One old book, printed in 1704, " 
 
 Two pairs old spectacles, " 
 
 Samples of cloth woven at Orleans Mill at 
 
 different times since 1828, preserved by 
 
 Dea. Benjamin Peck, 
 One Hatchel, 
 Two ancient shoe buckles, 
 One sewing machine, made in Rehoboth by 
 
 \Ym. A. King, " 
 
 Fn.cyclopedia of Arts and Sciences, four 
 
 volumes, 
 
 Twenty-eight old books, 
 One ninepence, dated 1777, 
 One five-dollar note on Farmers Bank, dated 
 
 1808, 
 *V\n ancient Scotch sword, used in the French 
 
 and Indian wars bv a Mr. Davidson, " 
 
 It i> related ot Mr. l>:vul.-on. that in n battle hi-- :nl\ ci -ary cncil tor 
 arter "Halves is all I cnii mve." I in\ iil.--oii replu'd, at the ><unc tirm- 
 ttiiv 'ii> itntiigdiiint down.
 
 HIS Ton 1C REIIOBOTH. \r, 
 
 One banner, carried by the Rehoboth Cold 
 
 Water Army in 1840, " 
 
 One hose pipe that belonged to the first and 
 
 last fire engine used in Rehoboth, " " 
 
 One musket and cartridge box, owned by 
 
 Elisha A. King in 1812, 
 
 One pillion, 100 years old, " " 
 
 One Indian arrow head, Francis V. Bliss. 
 
 One Indian stone hatchet, " " 
 
 Ten old books, Nancy 1YI. Smith. 
 
 One new model spinning wheel, made by Elder 
 
 Childs Luther, 
 One bag, 
 One smoking case used by Stephen Moulton 
 
 in 1826, 
 
 One old dress, " " 
 
 Two sleighs for looms, " " 
 
 Linen cap and dressing gown, 125 years 
 
 old, Ida F. Smith. 
 
 Eleven old books, Deborah A. Moulton. 
 
 One stone arrow head, Benjamin Horton. 
 
 One Indian pestle, " " 
 
 One linen shirt, used by Abel Medberry, 100 
 
 years old, " " 
 
 One pair sheep shears, " " 
 
 One busk, 
 
 Nine forks, " " 
 
 Four knives, " " 
 
 One spoon, " " 
 
 One porringer, " " 
 
 Shells, 
 
 One cheese basket and hoop, " " 
 
 One powder horn, " " 
 
 One pestle and mortar, " " 
 
 One bonnet block, 
 
 One chair, " " 
 
 Three brackets, " ' " 
 
 One picture of Hcnrv Clay, " " 
 
 One picture of the Centennial, " 
 
 Bark of the California red wood tree, " "
 
 1C, HISTORIC EEHOBOTU. 
 
 One silk wedding dress worn by the donor's 
 
 wife, Benjamin Horton. 
 
 One spoon mould, Henry C. Goff. 
 
 Twelve Almanacs from 1767 to 1778, Thomas Hill. 
 
 Copy of an act passed by the General Assem- 
 bly of R. I., in 1776, regulating the price 
 of provisions, 
 
 Thirty-five Old Farmers Almanacs, Alfred B. Goff. 
 
 Eighteen town reports, 
 
 Confederate money, 
 
 One Columbian family Bible, Gustavus B. Peck. 
 
 One Indian hatchet, " Wm. H. Bowen. 
 
 One candle mould, Henry T. Horton. 
 
 One hatchel, 
 
 One pair bellows, 
 
 Fifty-one Old Farmers Almanacs, 
 
 Four town reports, 
 
 One foot stove, 
 
 Tin oven, 
 
 Wooden skimmer, 
 
 Tin baker, 
 
 *Patent certificate issued by James Madison 
 to Dexter Wheeler of Rehoboth, in 
 1811, 
 
 Will of Jeremiah Wheeler, 1796, 
 
 One stone apple, 
 
 One military plume, 
 
 One hand reel, Abigail W. Moulton. 
 
 Hat, 
 
 Plate, 
 
 One Bureau, 
 
 Bennet, Sword used by James B. Moulton, " 
 
 Pewter platter, 
 
 Swifts, 
 
 Two wine glasses, " 
 
 Eight old books, 
 
 'The maehinc'ry for the old Swansea factory was made by Dexter Wheeler 
 in the shop Unit stands opposite tin- residence of Tamerlane \V. Horton. 
 DeMer Wheeler removed to Fall River, and built the lirst mill there.
 
 HISTORIC KEnor.orn. i: 
 
 One silk banner formerly owned by the Reho- 
 
 both Total Abstinence Society, K. A. Brown. 
 
 One state bank bill, George N. Goff. 
 
 Confederate $10 bill, Mrs. George N. Goff. 
 
 One handkerchief, over 100 yrs. old, ' " 
 
 Free Masons apron, worn by Russell Potter in 
 
 1824, 
 
 Twenty-one pieces of crockery, (loaned) " " 
 
 One picture of John Wesley, Alice Goff. 
 
 Defence of Robt. Emmet, Albert C. Goff. 
 
 One brass candlestick, sniffers and tray, Electa A. Read. 
 Pair bellows, David Briggs. 
 
 Sword from sword-fish, George II. Morton. 
 
 Two candle moulds used at sea by Captain 
 
 Stephen Martin, Hulclah Nichols. 
 
 One flint lock musket used by Capt. Stephen 
 
 Martin in the Dorr Rebellion, Stephen M. Nichols. 
 One pair wooden balances, Rachel Hicks. 
 
 One quill wheel, " 
 
 One flax wheel, 
 One warming pan, 
 
 Two pair scales, Horatio N. Moulton. 
 
 One knapsack, " " 
 
 One candle stick, 
 
 One wood bit-stock, " 
 
 One sword, 
 
 One spit, " " 
 
 Rough notes in rhyme, Whitman Chase. 
 
 One walrus tusk, Thomas C. Grant 
 
 One decanter, " 
 
 One saucer over 200 yrs. old, Lucy Drown. 
 
 Two sermons by Rev. Otis Thompson, " " 
 
 Twelve pamphlets, Joanna 1C. Freeman 
 
 Two papers, " " 
 
 One book, 
 
 Catalogue of Antioch college, Rev. Geo II Tilton. 
 
 One book, Augusta F. Newton. 
 
 One sermon, (Thompson) Lucy 15. Sweet. 
 
 Esquimaux glasses, used to protect the eyes 
 
 from the sun, Wm. II. Marvel.
 
 18 
 
 HISTORIC ItEIIOBOTir. 
 
 Wm. H. Marvel. 
 
 Cadets, 
 
 a 
 
 Myrancla J. Brown. 
 
 <> 
 
 David H. Briggs. 
 
 Lead ore from Galena, 111., 
 
 One Powder horn, 
 
 Roster of Anawan Cadets, 
 
 Articles of agreement of Anawan 
 
 organized 1860, 
 One cradle, 
 One hand reel, 
 One Indian tomahawk, 
 One old knife, 
 Painting of Leonard Bliss, Jr., 
 
 Author of History of Rehoboth, Caroline M. Carpenter. 
 History of Rehoboth, " " 
 
 One old bible, Mrs. L. Carpenter. 
 
 One pair handcuffs and one slave whip, 
 
 brought from South Carolina, A. W. Carpenter. 
 One sermon, (Thompson's) T. W. Horton. 
 
 One tin lantern, " " 
 
 One shovel handle, made in Rehoboth 80 years 
 
 ago, 
 
 One Indian spear head, Albert E. Kenny. 
 
 Two old pictures, Avis Hicks. 
 
 Town reports and Farmers' Almanacs, " " 
 
 Three old books, 
 One old hat, 
 
 One pair shears, " " 
 
 One tobacco box and pipe, used by Wm. 
 
 Blanding in 1782, " " 
 
 One boot-jack, made in 1792, " " 
 
 Cartridge box, " " 
 
 One valise, " " 
 
 Crockery from the Fiji Islands, " " 
 
 Cup and saucer, (loaned) " " 
 
 One pewter tea-pot, " " 
 
 One spicier, Col. Lindall Bowcn. 
 
 Two regimental flags of the ist Reg., 2nd 
 
 Brig., 3rd Div., Mass. Militia 
 One Adjutant's record book of the ist Reg., 
 
 2nd Brig. 3rd Div., Mass. Militia, 
 One plate, 150 years old, Ruth A. Waterman. 
 
 Wm. W. Blandin:
 
 HISTORIC liEUOUOTH. Ill 
 
 One Masonic apron, worn by Joseph Bowcn in 
 
 1810, Rosella B. Lee. 
 One certificate of membership from Eastern 
 Star Lodge, No. i, of Rehoboth, to 
 Joseph Eowen, given October 16, A. 
 D. 1804, 
 
 Map of Rehoboth, Mrs. George Kent. 
 
 Fire shovel, tongs and andirons, David Taylor. 
 
 Bayonet sheath, on distaff, Larkin Fcnton. 
 
 Straw guage, " " 
 
 Pair of shears, " " 
 
 Hoe and cow bell, " " 
 
 Horse cutter, " " 
 
 Straw guage, " " 
 
 Swingling board, " " 
 
 Two fourpence, " " 
 
 Half pennies, " " 
 Half cent, 
 
 Cap, Annie P. Fenton. 
 
 Reel, formerly Mrs. Stephen Goff's, Emma Fenton. 
 
 Pitcher, Elizabeth M. Wheaton. 
 
 Almanac, " " 
 
 Bank bill, made in 1776, " " 
 
 Confederate Money, " 
 
 Hoe, Thomas G. Potter. 
 
 Two arrow heads, " 
 
 Opium pipe, G. C. Brown. 
 
 Chinese fan, " 
 
 Piece of brain coral, T. W. Carpenter. 
 
 Flax brake, Delight C. Reed. 
 
 Swingle, " " 
 
 Saddle bags, formerly owned by Christopher 
 
 Carpenter, Cynthia Goff. 
 
 Military cap, formerly worn by Major Otis 
 
 Goff, 
 
 Shaker bonnet block, D. C. Reed. 
 
 Old hatchet, Bayliss Goff. 
 
 Indian stone pestle, B. G. Goff. 
 
 Spinning wheel, Joseph S. Pierce. 
 
 Two wool hand cards, Lindley llortun,
 
 20 HISTORIC XEIIOBOTH. 
 
 Clock, Esek II, Pierce. 
 
 Lantern, 
 
 Two Hatchels, 
 
 Horse-pistol, 
 
 Candle stick, 
 
 Indenture, 1769, " " 
 
 Family record, 1/51, of Elkanah Eddy, " " 
 
 Old book, Military Discipline, 1733, 
 
 Almanac, 1786, 
 
 Herald of Gospel Liberty, the first religious 
 
 paper printed in the United States, " " 
 
 Silver coin, 1767, and 20 other coins, " " 
 
 Deed, dated 1694, " " 
 
 Two Cent bill, 
 
 Continental Money, " 
 
 Postal script, " " 
 
 Silver Dollar, 
 
 Will of John Brown, Sr., 1750, in rhyme, " " 
 
 Papers of John Brown, Jr., 
 
 Paper, Universal Yankee Nation, 
 
 Old knife, 
 
 Quaker wedding bonnet, \vorn by Mrs. Bushee 
 
 of Swansea, 125 years ago, Mrs. E. H. Pierce. 
 
 Wood busk, made in 1764, " " 
 
 Pitcher, 100 years old, Julia A. Pierce. 
 
 Bible, formerly owned by Hon. Stephen Bul- 
 lock, of Rehoboth, Gideon P. Mason. 
 
 Three Cranes, " " 
 
 Gun barrel, found among the burnt ruins of 
 the first house built in Duxbury, Mass., 
 by Miles Standish, one of the Pilgrim 
 Fathers, Asaph L. Bliss. 
 
 Musket, captured from the British during the 
 
 Revolutionary War, Sylvanus L. Peck. 
 
 Pair knee buckles, Mrs. Thos. W. Carpenter. 
 
 History of Worcester County, Rodolphus Luther. 
 
 Book case and desk, Jeremiah Taylor, D.D. 
 
 Sixty-five old books, " " 
 
 Deed, on parchment, 1692, Charles W. Goff. 
 
 Snow shoe, 150 years old, Albert C. Mason.
 
 HIS TORIC RE HOB TIL 2 1 
 
 Surcingle, Hiram Martin. 
 
 Bread trough and bread pail, owned and used 
 by Martha Martin, wife of Col. Chris- 
 topher Blanding, of Rehoboth, who died 
 in 1856, on her 95th birthday, 
 
 Lucy Blanding Pearse. 
 
 Hume, worn by T. W. Carpenter, T. VV. Carpenter. 
 
 Lead window sash and four old almanacs, A. T. Read. 
 
 Ancient hat box, Joseph H. Pierce. 
 
 Report of Old Colony Historical Society, 1886, 
 
 S. H. Emory. 
 
 Picture of the old Powder House, Attleboro, 
 
 1768, Darius Goff. 
 
 List of soldiers in Lieut. Brown's Company, in 
 Col. Carpenter's Regiment, during the 
 Revolution, Joseph Brown. 
 
 Receipt given by soldiers, May 22d, 1781, for 
 
 payment of wages, " " 
 
 Receipt from Daniel Perrin to Capt. John Per- 
 ry, July 12, 1779, 
 
 Pair of slippers, 150 years old, Amanda Wheaton. 
 
 Handkerchief, " " 
 
 Looking-glass, which has been in the possess- 
 ion of the ancestors of Cyrus W. Bliss, 
 1 50 years, Angelina Monroe. 
 
 Old skimmer, formerly owned by the Abel 
 
 family of East Providence, J. J. Chaffee. 
 
 Eight old almanacs, " " 
 
 Two old razors, Rodolphus Luther. 
 
 Bill, 1806, deed, 1752, 
 
 Eirst warrant issued from the Secretary of 
 State, to the Selectmen of Rehoboth, to 
 assess a State tax, \Vm. II. Bryant. 
 
 Deed from Richard Hart to Philip Wheeler, 
 1736, 
 
 The Charter granted by Charles II, to the 
 Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island, 
 in 1704, Thomas R. Eenncr.
 
 22 HISTORIC EE1IOBOTII. 
 
 Fac-Simile of the Boston News Letter, the 
 first paper printed in North America, 
 No. i, April i /th, 1704, Thomas R. Fenner. 
 
 A narrative of the rise and progress, and issue 
 of the late lawsuits, relative to property 
 held and devoted to pious uses, in the 
 first precinct, in Rehoboth, 1795, J. J. Chaff ee. 
 Secretary's book, and Constitution book of 
 Anawan Lodge, No. 274, I. O. G. T., 
 
 Lucy B. Nash. 
 
 Book, 1724, and pepper-box, Mrs. Tim Temple. 
 
 Indian pestle, and two stones, Charles A. Briggs. 
 
 Warming pan and saucer, Mrs. John Newell. 
 
 Two old books, Laura Bett. 
 
 Oration of Henry Wheaton, Esq., John C. Marvel. 
 
 Minutes of the Taunton Baptist Association, 
 containing Rev. J. J. Thatcher's ad- 
 dress, " " 
 Journals of each Provincial Congress of 
 
 Massachusetts, " 
 
 Brown's Estimate, printed 1758, " " 
 
 Welle's Geography, 3 volumes, printed 1728, " " 
 
 Old book, printed 1717, " " 
 
 Fourteen old books, " " 
 
 Six town reports, two pamphlets, " " 
 
 Ledger, day book, cash book, time book, sketch 
 book, pattern book, used by the Reho- 
 both Union Cotton Mfg. Co., in 1810, " 
 Eight old letters from R. U. C. M. Co., 
 Letter written by Wm. Marvel, 2d, " " 
 
 Order written by Rev. Otis Thompson, in 
 
 1811, 
 
 Receipt written by Dexter Wheeler, " 
 
 Note written by Edward Mason, Agt., " " 
 
 Three old letters, " " 
 
 Secretary's report of the meeting of the Reho- 
 both Union Library, June ye 2cl, 1800, " " 
 Record of doings of Methodist Conference, in 
 
 Mansfield, August 23, 1 8 10,
 
 HISTORIC KEIlOnOTH. 23 
 
 Constitution of the Rehoboth Village Tem- 
 perance Society, February, 1834, John C. Marvel. 
 
 Secretary's book of Rehoboth Institute, or- 
 ganized November 19, 1846, " " 
 
 Deed given by Benj. Buffington, 1782, " " 
 
 Letter from Owen Fowler, member of Con- 
 gress from this district in 1850, " " 
 
 Grammar, and Present State of the Kingdoms 
 of the World, 1788, 
 
 Gazetteer of Conn, and Rhode Island, " " 
 
 Report on the fishes, reptiles and birds of 
 
 Massachusetts, 1839, " " 
 
 Cobbett's American Political Register, Vol. 
 XXX, 
 
 An account of Louisiana, " " 
 
 Trial of Thomas O. Selfridge, " 
 
 Speech of Hon. Daniel Webster, 1832, " " 
 
 Report of the Geology of the Public Lands of 
 
 Maine and Massachusetts, " " 
 
 Review of the Rev. Thomas Andros' essay on 
 the doctrine of Divine Efficiency of 
 Rev. Otis Thompson, " " 
 
 History of Jemima Wilkinson, " ' 
 
 The Paradise of Doctors, " " 
 
 Trial of Ephraim K. Avery, " " 
 
 A Golden Sermon, by Rev. Elias Smith, 
 
 A statement of facts relative to the six princi- 
 pal Baptist churches in Cranston, R.I., " 
 
 Address on the present condition of the Abo- 
 riginal Inhabitants of North America, " 
 
 Voyage of discovery to Corea and Loo-Choo 
 Islands, 
 
 Compendium of the Minutes of the Warren 
 Baptist Association from 176710 1825, " 
 
 Christian Palladium, 1834. 
 
 Christian Observatory, 1848, 
 
 A discourse of Abncr Jones by Warren Hath- 
 away, 
 
 Manual of Congregational church of Rehoboth, 
 
 T . O 
 
 1050,
 
 24 HISTORIC H 
 
 Minutes of the Taunton Baptist Association, 
 
 1837, John C. Marvel. 
 
 Agreement between Rememberance Simmons, 
 schoolmaster, and Jonathan Bufflngton 
 and Samuel Slade, committee in 1753, ' 
 
 Bond for collection of taxes for the town of 
 Swansea, given by Benjamin Buffington 
 and Isaac Chace, 1729, 
 
 Indenture of Edward Lord to Jonathan Buf- 
 fington, 1744, 
 
 Deed from Edmund Batter to Thomas Buf- 
 fington, 1715, 
 
 Receipt for U. S. Tax, 1814, 
 
 Deed from Jonathan Buffington to Joseph 
 Buffington, 1744, 
 
 Order to yoke and ring Kogs, 1752, 
 
 Inventory of the estate of Jonathan Buffington 
 of Swansea, 1762 
 
 Inventory of the estate of Benjamin Buffington 
 of Swansea, 1732, 
 
 Wooden plate and pewter plate, Miss Eliza Bliss 
 
 Old book and bonnet, 
 
 Old Teapot, Mrs. Caroline A. Cummings. 
 
 Mustard cup, Mrs. H. N. Wheeler. 
 
 Winchester Record, 3 vols. Rev. Leander Thompson. 
 
 Centennial official catalogue, 1876, Wm. II. Marvel. 
 
 Visitors' guide to Centennial, 
 
 Proclamation for Fast Day by John A. An- 
 drews, 1863, 
 
 One copy Taunton Whig, 1840, 
 
 Letter from Marshal P. Wilder, 
 
 Letter from J.C.Greenough, President of Mass. 
 Agricultural College, 
 
 Letter from Jonathan Brown of the Governor's 
 Council, '' 
 
 Letter from Robert T. Davis, M. C. from First 
 Massachusetts district, 
 
 Letter from Robert Howard, Senator, Second 
 Massachusetts district,
 
 HISTORIC RE HO DO TIL 25 
 
 Letter from Judge George M. Carpenter of 
 
 Rhode Island, Wm. H. Marvel. 
 
 Letter from Lieut-Gov. Oliver Ames, 
 
 Magazine, "The Englsh Pulpit of To-day," 
 
 A vindication concerning dietetic abstinence, " " 
 
 The Manufucturing Jeweler, edited by Walter 
 
 B. Frost, formerly of Rehoboth, " " 
 
 Four copies of Pawtucket Chronicle, printed in 
 1830, edited by Samuel A. Fowler, son 
 of Dr. Fowler of Rehoboth, " " 
 
 Specimen of silk, made in Rehoboth, Wm. A King. 
 
 Tea pot, formerly belonging to Shubeal Goff, 
 
 son of Elder Enoch Goff, Caroline E. Cummins. 
 
 Mustard cup, Mrs. H. N. Wheeler. 
 
 Spray of cotton plant from Georgia, Mrs. S. A. Stearns. 
 
 Section of Castor bean tree, pods of the horse 
 bean, a lemon, piece of sugar cane, spe- 
 cimens of Spanish moss, pine needles, 
 cabbage palm, a cane from orange tree, 
 all from Orange Co., Florida, " 
 
 Book, Eliza Bliss. 
 
 A pewter and a wooden plate, " " 
 
 Indian stone mortar Mrs. G. W. Trafton. 
 
 Of all the antique and curious implements in the hall, 
 none are more interesting than those used in spinning. 
 Our illustration on the next page will repay examination, 
 as it performs a three-fold office. It gives a specimen 
 of the relics preserved in the Antiquarian Room, and 
 as they are grouped in the south-west corner of 
 the hall on the upper floor, gives an idea of the interior 
 finishing of this apartment; lastly it shows the implements 
 employed in making linen from flax and yarn from wool. 
 On the left is the flax as it is grown and cured; next 
 comes the "break" with a handful of flax between its 
 ponderous jaws; the upright board is the "swingling board," 
 with the "swingling knife" leaning against it, and the flax 
 hanging submissively over the top; next we see the beaten
 
 2rt HISTORIC KEHOfiOTlI. 
 
 flax on the box which supports the '"hatchel," through 
 whose comb-like rows of teeth the flax is drawn to rid it 
 of all its "shives"; then it goes to the "distaff" on the 
 "little wheel" and is spun into linen thread. 
 
 The three implements on the right illustrate the spin- 
 ning of wool. The wool is first taken between the "cards" 
 lying on the floor, just under the "big wheel," with a roll 
 of wool hanging over them; when carded into these rolls 
 the wool goes to the "big wheel," where it is spun, and 
 wound off as yarn on the "reel" at the extreme right. 
 
 AN AXTKjl'AKIAX CORXKK. 
 
 April 23rd, 1886, was a notable day in the history of 
 the Antiquarian society, both from the nature of the exhi- 
 bition given in its behalf, and the substantial addition 
 made to its treasury. Mr. Abiah Bliss, aged 86 years, 
 with a corps of able assistants, whose combined ages 
 were 464, revived for the benefit of younger genera- 
 tions the "lost arts" of spinning flax and wool by hand. 
 Capt. Geo. \V. Bliss manned the "flax break," and in spite 
 of his 77 years, yeilded the ponderous implement with
 
 HISTORIC KKllOUOTH. '27 
 
 deafening and crushing effect; Mr. Baylies Goff, erect as a 
 boy, though nearly 87 years old, handled the "swingling 
 knife" with dazzling swiftness and sent the "shivcs" flying 
 in all directions; Mrs. Hannah Darling sat by the "hatchel" 
 and by drawing the flax through its parallel rows of comb- 
 like teeth, straightened the fibres for the "distaff"; Mrs. 
 Abby Carpenter, also more than an octogenarian, spun 
 the flax from the "distaff" upon the "little wheel," and 
 during the evening produced quite a skein of linen thread. 
 This is a very difficult process, and Mrs. Carpenter showed 
 wonderful skill, at her age, in doing the work so well. 
 
 The wool industry, or spinning of yarn was illustrated 
 by Mrs. Eliza Goff and Mr. Leonard Peterson. Mr. Peter- 
 son took the "cards" which in the picture lie on the floor in 
 front of the "big wheel," and taking the wool carded it into 
 rolls, and when they were rolled fine and close enough 
 passed them to Mrs. Goff, who spun it into yarn on the 
 "big wheel" and wound it off on the "reel." This, too, 
 requires great skill, and was deftly done. During the 
 spinning, Mr. Abiah Bliss explained the various steps in 
 handling both flax and wool, and passed samples among 
 the audience, who kept them as s.ouvenirs. When the 
 curtain dropped there was a round of applause that would 
 not cease until the venerable craftsmen and craftswomen 
 came out and bowed their acknowledgements. Mr. Abiah 
 Bliss sang a song by way of response, and the pleasant 
 evening closed,
 
 Sketches. 
 
 It seems quite appropriate that the active factors in the 
 building of the hall should be recognized in this pamphlet. 
 Three men have been selected as representing three 
 different classes of agents those who contributed means; 
 those who contributed enterprise and effort; and those 
 who helped to fittingly dedicate the completed struc- 
 ture. As chief among contributors stands Mr. Darius 
 Goff, for whom the memorial was named; as first among 
 the workers in the enterprise is Rev. Geo. H. Tilton, its 
 originator and leading spirit; as most prominent of those 
 who officiated at the dedication, is Hon. Thomas W. 
 Bicknell, LL.D., of Boston, orator of the day. Portraits 
 and biographical sketches of these gentlemen are included 
 in these pages, those of Mr. Goff and Mr. Bicknell being 
 immediately subjoined, while that of Mr. Tilton appears 
 in connection with the presentation of his picture to the 
 Society, which occurred during the afternoon exercises. 
 
 DARIUS GOFF, ESQ. 
 
 Darius Goff, son of Lieut. Richard and Mehitable (Bul- 
 lock) Goff, was born in Rehoboth, Mass., May 10, 1809. 
 His father was a manufacturer, and in 1790 built a fulling 
 and cloth dressing mill, and furnished it with the best of 
 machinery. His mother \vas a daughter of Hon. Stephen
 
 HISTORIC REIIOBOTH. 29 
 
 Bullock. His grandfather, Joseph Goff, lived in Barring- 
 ton, and his great grandfather was Richard Goff. The 
 children of Lieutenant Richard and Mehitabel Goff were, 
 Richard, Otis, Horatio, Patience, Nelson, Darius and 
 Mary B. Darius Goff was educated at home and in the 
 common schools. At an early age he entered his father's 
 factory in Rehoboth, and spent four or five years in the 
 coloring department of the mill, and in trade in a variety 
 store. He was subsequently employed for a short time in 
 the woolen mill of John & Jesse Eddy of Fall River, 
 Mass., and for six years served as clerk in the grocery 
 business, first with William Woodward, and afterward with 
 Tillinghast Almy, in Providence. Returning to Rehoboth, 
 he and his brother, Nelson, purchased the Union Cotton 
 Mill and commenced, in 1835, the manufacture of cotton 
 batting, which business they prosecuted with success. 
 Soon afterward, they began to make glazed wadding, sizing 
 it by hand, a sheet at a time, on a table covered with sheet 
 lead, then hanging it on racks with a common lath to dry. 
 Finally they conceived the idea of making it in a continu- 
 ous sheet, and after experimenting for about two years 
 accomplished the object, placing the cards over an endless 
 apron, conveying the web of cotton from each doffer of the 
 cards to the apron, which run at the same speed with the 
 surface of the doffer, the thickness of the wadding being 
 determined by the number of cards operated. This plan 
 of making wadding is now universal. Its success called 
 for a larger mill, which not being attainable then, experi- 
 ments were made to color the continuous sheets as they 
 came from the cards, and were, after two years or more, 
 successful in the object. A new mill was built, about 
 two hundred feet long, and the old machinery was started 
 in it about 1842, but in about a month it was destroyed by
 
 30 HISTORIC IIEIIOIIOTII. 
 
 fire, at a loss of over six thousand dollars. E. A. Brown 
 of Rehoboth soon afterward bought out the interest of 
 Nelson Goff, and a new firm was formed, Goff & Brown, 
 who changed the business to the manufacture of carpet 
 warps and twine, and this was continued under the special 
 direction of Mr. Brown, till 1868, when the firm was dis- 
 solved. 
 
 As early as 1836, Mr. Goff had given special 
 attention to the business of buying and selling cotton 
 waste as paper stock. This material hitherto had literally 
 been thrown away. In this new business, in 1846, he 
 formed a copartnership with George Lawton of Waltham, 
 Mass., and commenced dealing in waste paper stock, in 
 Boston, on Gray's wharf. Mr. Goff came to Pawtucket 
 and in 1847 erected a wadding mill near the railroad sta- 
 tion. It was run by a steam engine, the cotton being 
 carded in the white state, carried through all the processes 
 of coloring and sizing, and brought out in endless sheets. 
 The mill was burned in 1851, but was at once rebuilt on a 
 larger scale. In 1859 tne partnership of Goff & Lawton 
 was dissolved, Mr. Lawton taking the Boston business in 
 paper stock, and Mr. Goff taking the wadding mill in 
 Pawtucket. Mr. Goff then united with John D. Cranston 
 and Stephen Brownell of Providence, under the firm-name 
 of Goff, Cranston & Brownell, and carried on a general 
 business in paper stock and wadding. The mill was 
 burned in 1871 and rebuilt in 1872, in larger proportions 
 and with more perfect machinery. It is driven by a 
 Corliss engine of 300 horse-power. The mill and neces- 
 sary adjoining buildings occupy an area of about four 
 acres. There arc about two hundred cards run, turning 
 out an average of about seventy-five miles of yard-wide 
 wadding and batting per day, being twice the size of any
 
 HISTORIC JlEIIOnOTH. .31 
 
 wadding manufactory in the world. In 1878, the two 
 companies Goff, Cranston & Brownell and Union Wad- 
 ding Co. the latter of which though previously formed, 
 was chartered in 1875, with a capital of $300,000, were 
 merged into one under the name of The Union Wadding 
 Co. The capital stock has since been increased to 
 $750,000, with Darius Goff, president; Lyman B. Goff, 
 treasurer, and Henry A. Stearns, superintendent. The 
 company runs machinery of its own invention and con- 
 truction, which in a large measure accounts for the re- 
 markable success of the business. 
 
 In 1861 Mr.Goff with his son, Darius L.,and W.F.and F. 
 C. Sayles formed the American Worsted Co., for the man- 
 ufacture of worsted braids then a new industry in this 
 country. This company was dissolved in 1864, and a new 
 firm for the same business was immediately organized, the 
 name being D. Goff & Son, Mr. Goff's son, Darius L., 
 being the junior member. Lyman B., the younger son, 
 was admitted in 1876. During the years 1867 and 1868, 
 by the efforts of Mr. Goff, the business received protective 
 legislation from Congress, and at once became an immense 
 and flourishing branch of industry, the product, alpaca 
 braids, being well known in the market as "Goff's Braids." 
 In 1884 the firm was incorporated, with a capital stock of 
 $600,000; Darius Goff, president, and D. L. Goff, treas- 
 urer. The firm is the leading one of the kind in America. 
 
 Mr.Goff served in the Town Council of Pawtucket, and 
 in 1871 was elected State Senator. He was a director in 
 the Franklin Savings Bank from its incorporation to a re- 
 cent date; has been director of the Pawtucket Gas Co., 
 and the Pawtucket Hair Cloth Co., from their origin, and 
 is also one of the directors of the First National Bank. 
 For many years he has been a devoted and influential
 
 HISTORIC K 
 
 member of the Pawtucket Congregational Church, and 
 has largely contributed to its support, being one of four to 
 enlarge the old church. He was also a member of the 
 Building Committee in the erection of the new edifice, 
 and in the liquidation of the debt subscribed ten thousand 
 dollars. Politically he has been a Whig and a Republican 
 and was always a strong opponent of slavery. During the 
 Rebellion his voice, hand and purse were given to the 
 support of the patriot army and the Union. To every 
 good cause he has freely and earnestly given his aid and 
 his influence. Notwithstanding his extensive business re- 
 lations he has found time to indulge his taste and in- 
 crease his knowledge by travelling over nearly all parts of 
 our country. His vigor of body and mind, sterling qual- 
 ities of heart and executive abilities, well entitle him to be 
 counted as a representative man of New England. He 
 married first, in May, 1839, Sarah Lee, whose only child 
 died; second, Harriet Lee. These were sisters, and 
 daughters of Israel Lee of Dighton, Mass. The children 
 by the second marriage are Darius L., Lyman B. and 
 Sarah C. Mr. Goff's sons, as already stated, are now 
 associated with him in business. His daughter, Sarah C., 
 married Thomas Sedgvvick Steele of Hartford, Conn. 
 
 HON. T. W. BICKNELL, LL.D. 
 
 Hon. Thomas. W. Bicknell, orator of the day at the 
 dedication of the Memorial Hall hereafter described, 
 descended from that Zachary Bicknell who, in the spring 
 of 1635, set sa il from Gravesend, Kent, England, for 
 America and settled in Weymouth, the first home of the 
 founders of Rchoboth. His grandson of the same name 
 came to Swansea, now Barrington, about 1/05, and there 
 in 1834, the subject of this sketch was born.
 
 HISTORIC RE 'II OB TIL ?>?> 
 
 He received his early education in district and private 
 schools in Barrington until sixteen years of age, when he 
 left home to attend school at Thetford Academy, Vt., liv- 
 ing in the family and working the farm of Enoch Slade, 
 Esq. While at the Academy, under the very efficient 
 principalship and instruction of Hiram Orcutt, he decided 
 to take the studies preparatory for college, and in 1853 
 graduated from the Academy, delivering the Greek oration 
 on Grecian Mythology. He tanght his first school at See- 
 konk, Mass., 1853-4; was admitted by examination to Dart- 
 mouth and Amherst Colleges, and entered the Freshman 
 class of Amherst, September, 1853. At the close of 
 Freshman year he was elected by his class as a prize-de- 
 bater. He left college in 1854, to recruit in health and 
 funds. He taught school as principal of the public 
 school and high school, Rehoboth, 1854-5. Went West in 
 1855, and taught as principal of the academy at Elgin, 111. 
 In the summer of 1856, he joined a Chicago emigration 
 company to settle in Kansas; was taken prisoner by 
 border ruffians on Missouri River, and sent back to St. 
 Louis under escort of Colonel Bufford's South Carolina 
 and Virginia sharpshooters. He came East and conducted 
 the Rehoboth High School from September, 1856, to 
 December, i857,and entered the Sophomore class of Brown 
 University February, 1858, and graduated with degree of 
 A. M., 1860. 
 
 He was appointed Commissioner of Public Schools of 
 Rhode Island by Governor Padelford, June 1869, and 
 continued in office till January r, 18/5. While Commis- 
 sioner, he secured a State Board of Education, of which 
 he was Secretary; the re-establishment of The Rhode 
 Island Scholmaster, of which he was editor for nearly ten 
 years; the re-establishment of the State Normal School;
 
 :U HISTORIC EEIIOB TIL 
 
 secured town school superintendents in each town in the 
 State; dedicated over fifty new school-houses; advanced 
 the school year from 27 to 35 weeks average, throughout 
 the State; and school appropriations were nearly trebled 
 during his administration. He aided in the revival of the 
 American Institute of Instruction, and in the establish- 
 ment of the New England Journal of Education, and 
 as joint proprietor and publisher with C. C. Chatfield, 
 edited the Journal, which united the several monthly 
 magazines of New England in one paper, issued weekly 
 at Boston, Mass; established and edited the Primary 
 Teacher, a monthly magazine, in 1876. In 1880, he estab- 
 lished and became conductor of Education, a bi-monthly 
 Review on the Science, the Art, the Philosophy, and the 
 History of Education; at the same time continuing the 
 editorship of the Journal, and Presidency of the New 
 England Publishing Company, formed in 1875. His 
 present business is that of editing and publishing educa- 
 tional papers, books and magazines. 
 
 The events and honorable positions of his active life 
 are many, some of the more important of which are here 
 given. He has been president of the Rhode Island Insti- 
 tute of Instruction, the American Institute of Instruction, 
 and the National Educational Association. He aided in 
 the formation of the Boston Congregational Sunday-school 
 Superineendent's Union, and was elected its president 
 May, 1880. \Vas a delegate to and attended the Raikes 
 Sunday-school Centenary at London, 1880. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Massachusetts Historic Genealogical Society, of 
 the Rhode Island Historic Society, of the American As- 
 sociation for the Advancement of Science, of the American 
 Social Science Association, and an honorary member of 
 the Pennsylvania Historical Society. The Bicknell Family
 
 HISTORIC REUOBOTH. 
 
 Association was formed in Boston in December, 1879, a 
 Mr. Bicknell was elected its president. In 1872, he was 
 elected an honorary member of the Phi Beta Kappa, and 
 received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from 
 Amherst College in 1880, and LL.D., Drury College, 1882. 
 Mr. Bicknell was President of the R. I. Sunday-school 
 Union from 1872 to 1875; was a delegate from the Rhode 
 Island Conference to form the National Congregational 
 Council, and was a delegate from the Suffolk South 
 Conference to the Triennial Council, held in Detroit, 
 Mich., October, 1877; was Commissioner from R. I. to the 
 Universal Exposition at Vienna, Austria, in 1873, and a 
 member of the Postal Congress held in New York, 1878, 
 in forming the Postal Code, adopted by Congress in 1879. 
 Also, he was president of the following societies: Massa- 
 chusetts Congregational Sunday-school Union, 1881-1885; 
 New England Sunday-school Association, 1885-1886. 
 International Sunday-school Union, 1884-1887; Chautau- 
 cjua Teachers' Reading Union, 1886. 
 
 Mr. Bicknell has travelled extensively through the 
 United States, and has made three European trips. In 
 1873, he travelled through Scotland, England, France, 
 Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, 
 Austria, and Bavaria. In 1879, ne revisited England, 
 and in 1880, with his wife, visited Scotland, England, 
 France, Belgium, and Holland. He cast his first Presiden- 
 tial vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and still holds fast 
 to the Republican party. He was married in 1860, to 
 Amelia Davie Blanding, daughter of Christopher and 
 Chloe Blanding of Rehoboth. The Blanding Library of 
 the new Memorial Building is named in honor of her 
 contributions to it.
 
 Dedication. 
 
 If every man and woman interested in the Dedication 
 of the Memorial Hall in Rehoboth had had a voice in 
 making the weather which greeted them Monday morning, 
 May 10, they would have been unanimous in saying they 
 had just what they wanted. A clear, cool atmosphere, no 
 dust on the roads, and not the slightest indication of the 
 moisture which came along in the afternoon by way of 
 variety. At an early hour all was bustle and expectation. 
 The arriving carriages brought guests from Providence, 
 Pawtucket, East Providence, Seckonk, Swansea, Attlc- 
 boro, Mansfield, Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford in 
 fact there was hardly a town or city in the Old Colony 
 which was not represented. At least five hundred people 
 were in and around the building. 
 
 When half past ten o'clock, the hour for beginning, 
 arrived, every seat in the hall and all standing room in 
 aisles and entry was occupied. Among the distinguished 
 guests on the platform were Hon. Thos. W. Bicknell, 
 LL. D., of Boston ; Rev. Jeremiah Taylor, D. D., of 
 Providence ; President E. G. Robinson, of Brown Univer- 
 sity ; Messrs. Henry B. Metcalf, Olney Arnold, Darius 
 Goff, D. L. Goff, and L. B. Goff, of Pawtucket; Hon. 
 Amos Perry, Rev. F. Thompson and Henry T. Beckwith, 
 of Providence; Hon. Frank S. Stevens, of Swansea ; ex- 
 Gov. Littleiield, of Rhode Island ; Rev. K. G. Porter, of
 
 UK no num. \M 
 
 Lexington ; Rev. Geo. II. Tilton and Mr. William W. 
 Blanding of Rehoboth, and others. 
 
 The exercises began with singing " Master Great whose 
 Power Almighty," by the Harmonic Male Quartette of 
 Attleboro, and was followed by the invocation. The Pres- 
 ident of the Antiquarian Society, Rev. Geo. H. Tilton, 
 then gave the following 
 
 ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 
 
 MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE REHOBOTH ANTIQUARIAN 
 SOCIETY : 
 
 We are glad to welcome you, as you have come hither 
 from so many different places on this auspicious day. 
 The dedication of this goodly building marks an important 
 era in the history of this ancient town. 
 
 The Rehoboth Antiquarian Society was organized on 
 the 5th of March, 1884. The trustees entered at once 
 upon the work of erecting a suitable building for the pur- 
 poses of the'Society. This building was completed in the 
 autumn of 1885. A charter had been granted by the 
 General Court in March of the same year. 
 
 The object of the society may be expressed in four 
 particulars. In the first place there is the antiquarian 
 department. This was the germ of the whole enterprise, 
 the nucleus around which all the other ideas have clus- 
 tered. It occurred to some of us that this old town was 
 rich in historical and antiquarian relics which ought to be 
 brought together and preserved. It was this object that 
 gave the name to the Society. We have already a some- 
 what valuable collection, and we trust that our friends, as 
 they see what we have done, will have it in their hearts to 
 add thereto. 
 
 Another object of the Society was to provide a suitable
 
 38 HISTORIC HEllOBOTll. 
 
 hall in which we might hold our large public gatherings. 
 The hall speaks for itself a grand, central rallying place 
 for the sons and daughters of Rehoboth on all great occa- 
 sions. The Society has also provided a fine school room, 
 hoping to secure the advantages of a high school for our 
 children. For this object an ample appropriation, either 
 public or private, is greatly needed. 
 
 Last, but not least, is our library department. We are 
 delighted with our bright, cheery room, and we are grate- 
 ful to our friends, Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Bicknell, to whose 
 generous interest in our enteprise we owe the Blanding 
 Library. We extend to them a most cordial welcome. 
 
 There are various factors which enter into this great 
 undertaking, which, we trust, has only begun its impor- 
 tant educational work in this community. We must not 
 fail to recognize the unfeigned interest of our own citi- 
 zens who have contributed some of them from their 
 hard earnings sums ranging from $10 up to $200. 
 Like sums have also been donated by former residents of 
 the town. Friends and helpers in this work, we bid you 
 all welcome here to-day. 
 
 But with all our gifts combined we could never have 
 built this elegant and commodious edifice. Some build- 
 ing we should doubtless have had, but it would not have 
 been the Goff Memorial. For this we are largely indebted 
 to the munificence of Mr. Darius Goff. We had no sooner 
 put our united sums into one side of the balance, when 
 his contribution brought the other scale hard down, and it 
 has been growing heavier ever since. We congratulate 
 him that on this very spot where he was born just 77 
 years ago- he is permitted to-day to join in the dedica- 
 tion of the Goff Memorial. Sir, we bid you welcome, and 
 of all your seventy-seven birthdays may this be the hap- 
 piest and the best.
 
 HIS TOKIC KEHOE TIL 
 
 Rev. Mr. Tilton was followed by a statement from the 
 Treasurer, giving the receipts and expenditures of the 
 Society to the date of the dedication. 
 
 RECEIPTS. 
 
 Received by subscription 
 
 From Mr. Darius Goff 5, 000 
 
 From citizens, former residents and friends.. 3,S^o 
 Of this sum the following donations have 
 been received from non-residents: 
 
 From Mr. and Mrs. Henry G. Reed 
 
 " Mrs. A. I). Lockwood and daughter. . 
 
 " Mr. Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr 
 
 Everett S. Ilorton 
 
 Stephen S. Rich 
 
 John Baker 
 
 John W. Davis : 
 
 ])arius B. Davis 
 
 Daniel X. Davis 
 
 Samuel O. Case 
 
 Charles II. Scott 
 
 David S. Ray 
 
 Simeon Hunt, M. D 
 
 Laban Wheatop 
 
 W. II. Whitaker >:> 
 
 " kt Jethniel Feck 2/> 
 
 " Ilorton Brothers 2o 
 
 Smaller sums have been received from others. 
 
 Interest on deposit 
 
 Received proceeds from entertainment for beuelit 
 
 1 ibrary 
 
 Received for use of hall 
 
 from Farmers' Club, for use of Library. . . 
 
 kk subscription for library 
 
 proceeds from entertainment for benelit 
 Antiquarian Society 
 
 (Ml 
 III) 
 
 $8,8:20 00 
 
 Mrs. 
 Mr. 
 
 150 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 ',(> 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 2o 
 
 ot 
 
 114 04 
 
 44 -2S 
 
 ;") 00 
 
 7 00 
 
 !> .',0 
 
 Total 
 
 EXPENDITURES. 
 
 Faid for blank books, certificates, etc 
 
 kk AVm. R. Walker & Son, architects 
 
 " Lewis T. Hoar's Sons, contractors. . . . 
 
 u k for laths 
 
 " Charles II. Bryant, for plastering 
 
 ' k Wm. T. Dunwell, for painting 
 
 " Gustavus B. Peck, for lathing, etc 
 
 ;',oo (ID 
 
 i,4'.'.i 71 
 
 ('.(I ',!'> 
 
 21 ~> 00 
 
 I'.lll 00
 
 40 HISTORIC REIIOBOTH. 
 
 " David S. Kay, furnace setting, etc 294 05 
 
 George N. Goff , material and labor 503 99 
 
 Carpenter & Bo wen, two columns and plat<;s 30 00 
 
 Harrison & Howard, for glazing 12 50 
 
 Charles Martin, mason 32 18 
 
 James II . Horton, rnason 32 18 
 
 Providence Brown Stone Co 75 00 
 
 Otis and Jeremiah Horton 21 00 
 
 Manchester & Hudson 45 08 
 
 Flint & Co., furniture for hall 155 00 
 
 A. G. Whitcomb, school furniture 234 00 
 
 Whitmore & Couch, black boards 20 25 
 
 French, Mackenzie & Co., book cases 38 70 
 
 John R. Shirley, for chandeliers and lamps 100 75 
 
 E. L. Freeman & Co 37 74 
 
 for wall 555 32 
 
 labor and sundry expenses 495 08 
 
 Total $8,982 23 
 
 Cash to balance. . 55 49 
 
 s9,037 72 
 
 The contributions of Mr. Darius GolT. in giv- 
 ing and preparing the lot for the structure, 
 together with other gifts, make his entire 
 donation not less than 10,000. 
 
 AVILLIAM W. BLAXDIXG, 
 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Above is the report of the treasurer, just as it was read 
 at the dedication exercises ; but in this record it seems 
 but just to mention together, without distinction in 
 amounts contributed, ALT, who have given either of large 
 or slender means toward this Memorial. The true measure 
 of generosity is the measure of sacrifice, and judged by that 
 criterion the least contributor may be equal in honor to 
 the greatest. As will be seen, there are the names of 
 the rich and the poor, the old and the young ; of men and 
 women alike. Many are residents of Rehoboth and have 
 wrought out their contribution from their ancestral acres ; 
 others are sons and daughters of the ancient town, who 
 have gained a competency in other municipalities; others,
 
 HISTORIC RE 
 
 41 
 
 still, are related 'to Rehoboth by the bonds of mutual, 
 industrial and commercial interests. To all alike, as 
 members of a common household, an equal and impartial 
 recognition is given in the appended 
 
 NAMES OF CONTRIBUTORS. 
 
 Darius Goff, 
 Galen Pierce, 
 J. Irving Chaffee, 
 Sylvester A. Miller, 
 Ellery Millard, 
 Stephen S. Rich, 
 D. G. Horton, 
 H. N. Moulton, 
 John A. Earle, 
 Uewit C. Carpenter, 
 George H. Horton, 
 Charles L. Nash, 
 Kllery Robinson, 
 Benjamin Hcrton, 
 Joseph R. Carpenter, 
 J. Walter Bliss, 
 Enoch Goff, 
 Horton Brothers, 
 James P. Carpenter, 
 Williams Lake, 
 Henry C. Goff, 
 Jennie P. Martin, 
 John Baker. 
 W. H. Whitaker, 
 Johnson Black, 
 John W. Watson, 
 John W. Davis, 
 Mrs. Laban Wheaton, 
 Charles L. Thomas, 
 William Walker, 
 Simeon Hunt, M. D., 
 David S. Ray, 
 John O. Horton, 
 Edwin E. dishing, 
 
 William L. Pierce, 
 William B. Blanding, 
 Edward H. Horton, 
 Elizabeth B. Pierce, 
 
 A. F. C. Monroe, 
 Edgar Perry, 
 
 E. A. Medbury, 
 Christopher Y. Brown, 
 Samuel O. Case, Jr., 
 Albert N. Bullock, 
 Julia B. Goff, 
 James Cornell, 
 Herbert L. Moulton, 
 W. E. Barrett & Co., 
 John Hunt, 
 
 B. G. Goff, 
 Catherine J. Hunt, 
 George W. Bo wen, 
 Hale^S. Luther, 
 Farmers' Club, 
 Charles W. Goff, 
 Thomas \V. Carpenter, 
 Albert C. Mason, 
 Samuel L. Peck, 
 Samuel Remington, 
 Oliver Earle, 
 George H. Tilton, 
 Samuel L. Pierce, 
 George Baker, M. D., 
 Darius B. Davis, 
 
 T. W. Horton, 
 Eliza X. Allen, 
 A vice Hicks, 
 Nathan 1C. Hicks,
 
 HIS TOE 1C KEIIOP. Til. 
 
 Gustavus B. Peck, 
 Jerry W. Horton, 
 Albert C. Goff, 
 Mrs. Harriet N. Goff, 
 Charles F. Viall, 
 Mary B. Goff, 
 Capt. Isaiah L. Chase, 
 Thomas R. Salsbury, 
 Belle H. Bryant, 
 William Thatcher, 
 Tristram Thatcher, 
 William H. Bowen, 
 Stephen Carpenter, 
 Charles Perry, 
 George H. Goff, 
 George Hathaway Goff, 
 Francis J. Wheeler, 
 William H. Reed, 
 Jasper W. Wheeler, 
 Frank E. Luther, 
 Fsek H. Pierce, 
 William B. Horton, 
 Zenas H. Goff, 
 Nathan H. Horton, 
 Nathaniel B. Horton, 
 Betsy Carpenter, 
 Francis A. Marvel, 
 John C. Marvel, 
 Joseph F. Earle, 
 James A. Eddy, 
 William W. Blanding, 
 Abram O. Blanding, 
 Sarah M. Bowen, 
 Amanda Wheaton, 
 Elias Hathaway, 
 Danforth L. Cole, 
 Jethnial Peck, 
 Ellen M. Marsh, 
 Mrs. I lannah Bliss, 
 
 Mrs. A. D. Lockw 
 
 John W. Humphrey, 
 Amanda M. Brown, 
 Joseph H. Pierce, 
 Paschal Allen, 
 Dexter W. Horton, 
 Henry T. Horton, 
 Paschal E. Wilmarth, 
 Edward R. Bullock, 
 Delight C. Read, 
 Royal C. Peck, 
 Henry G. Read, 
 Daniel N. Davis, 
 Horace F. Carpenter, 
 Samuel O. Case, 
 Samuel R. Chaffee, 
 Charles H. Scott, 
 William H. Marvel, 
 Elizabeth M. Anthony 
 Simeon Goff, 
 Peleg E. Francis, 
 Almon A. Reed, 
 William H. Luther, 
 Ilezekiah Martin, 
 Ellery L. Goff, 
 Francis A. Bliss, 
 Levi L. Luther, 
 Welcome F. Horton, 
 Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., 
 J. W. Briggs, 
 James M. Peck, 
 Everett S. Horton, 
 George N. Goff, 
 Henry Selaney, 
 Horace Goff, 
 William H. Hopkins, 
 Nathaniel M. Burr, 
 J. W. Buffington, 
 William W 7 . Horton, 
 
 ood and Daughters.
 
 11IHTO11W ItL'llOJJOTH. f;5 
 
 THE ORATION, BY HON. T. W. BICKNELL. 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: 
 
 An occasion of unusual interest and importance calls 
 together this large assemblage in this old New England 
 town to-day. The event justly commands the attention of 
 all her citizens, and stirs a just pride in all hearts within her 
 borders. All dedicatory services have a somewhat sacred 
 significance, proportionate to the value of the work to be 
 inaugurated, be it the dedication of a home, a store, a 
 workshop, a mill, a school, a capitol, a church, a cathedral, 
 or a temple ; all in their inner life and meaning stand for 
 something which is helpful to man in his material, social, 
 or soul concerns. The structures we rear, be they humble 
 or costly, are the outer environment, which have much 
 to do in the creation of the man, of society, the state, the 
 church. They are in a sense the expression of the values 
 men place on the offices for which these great institutions 
 stand. Their absence shows the want of development in 
 all that relates to the higher nature of man, his duties and 
 his destiny. Stanley tells us that in his long journey 
 across the Dark Continent he found only the embryo of 
 the home, in the huts of the dwellers in the vast Congo 
 valley, or on the borders of the Victoria Nyanza. The 
 Apache chief mounts his Indian pony, followed by his 
 family, his household goods ; all his wordly possessions 
 are borne on the backs of the pack train. He pitches his 
 tent at night, and in the morning folds his tent like the 
 Arab and silently steals awav. Dedications there are none, 
 
 J * 
 
 for there is nought to be dedicated, and no want which 
 seeks satisfaction in the fixed home the centre of ail 
 that is best in man, and about which clusters all that adds 
 Jo his life's progress and happiness. I low unlike this is
 
 44 Il/STOJilC UEUOltOTlI. 
 
 the dear New England life into which we were born, 
 and of which we have such occasion for honest con- 
 gratulations ! 
 
 On the deck of the May Flower were 101 loyal souls, 
 sworn to stand or fall together in this new land. Between 
 her decks was a cargo, the value of which far exceeds 
 " the wealth of Ormus or of Ind, or where the gorgeous 
 East with richest hand showers on her kings barbaric 
 pearls and gold." The families on board represented the 
 millions of happy homes which now distinguish our land 
 above all others. Their children needed the guiding hand 
 of education, and the school house was as natural an out- 
 growth of the home as the children for which the school 
 was created. As religion was the chief concern of these 
 Pilgrim founders, the church was the essential expression 
 and home of this band of faithful men and women, and as 
 civil society was the bond of their faith in each other they 
 built the town house and state house. There needed to 
 be in old New England what exists in new New England 
 so plentifully these outer shrines, which should shelter 
 the worshippers at the altars of home, the school, the 
 state, the church. 
 
 The origin and structure of the beautiful edifice, xvhich 
 we meet to consecrate to-day, are blessed with happy 
 auguries, which are full of good omens for the future. 
 The conception and birth of the scheme were from the 
 fruitful brain of the pastor of the Congregational Church 
 of Rehoboth, a most worthy successor of Revs. Samuel 
 Newman, David Turner, Robert Rogerson, Otis Thomp- 
 son, John C. Paine, Charles P. Grosvenor, and others. 
 While his presence forbids the utterances which are in all 
 hearts, we can never cease to remember or to be grateful 
 to the Rev. Geo. II. Tilton for his benevolent purpose,
 
 jus TO it i <: j; KII o is o TIL \ :, 
 
 his practical plans, his contagious magnetism, his un- 
 stinted labors, his unflagging zeal, and the wealth of his 
 inventive resources in the leadership of this movement, 
 which has culminated in this elegant public building. Did 
 I say less than this at this opening hour, I should prove 
 myself unworthy of the honor you have granted me as the 
 speaker of the occasion. 
 
 Still further, how fortunate that Rehoboth, in the midst 
 of so many loyal sons and daughters, had one whose bene- 
 volence and ability responded so promptly and cheerfully 
 to the wants of this community ; one, whose loyalty to a 
 noble ancestry and devotion to his native town led him to 
 aid most generously in the erection of this edifice, which 
 as long as the " Goff Memorial " shall stand, will be a 
 monument to well-directed industry, great business saga- 
 city, and a life consecrated to the interests of his fellows. 
 By this act our honored friend and benefactor wisely be- 
 comes his own executor, setting a worthy example, so hon- 
 orable and praiseworthy and not uncommon in these later 
 days, by which other large-hearted and liberal-handed men 
 may be inspired and guided to do likewise, in this and 
 other places, in tribute to the ancestry that bore and the 
 town that nurtured them. In behalf of this grateful 
 people, I may wish for you the full enjoyment of all the 
 good gifts your energy and business ability, with the 
 blessing of Heaven, have brought you, a long continuance 
 in the enjoyments of friendships fairly won, and a late 
 return to Heaven. 
 
 As the constant drain is made from the country to the 
 city, of its population, its enterprise and its wealth, it 
 reminds one of the constant flow of the rivulets to the 
 rivers, and of the rivers to the sea, carrying from hill and 
 mountain slopes the rich soils, forming the alluvial
 
 40 
 
 meadows and broad prairies which grow the world's 
 harvests. Were there no returns of moisture in the 
 evaporation of the ocean, which the winds carry in fogs, 
 rains and snows to add new supplies to the unfailing 
 springs among the hills, these fountains of fertility, of 
 beauty, of growth, and of wealth to the valleys would 
 cease. So there may be a just return of the blessings of 
 wealth from wealth centres, by sending back to the sec- 
 tions less favored by wealth the means which shall keep a 
 healthy supply of intelligent population to make good the 
 wear, the weakness and the decay of forces attendant on 
 large populations and undue wealth. 
 
 And yet again we are all mindful of the consecrated 
 gifts and deeds which have come from so many persons 
 to supplement and crown the benevolence of the principal 
 donor. You are all shareholders in a greater or smaller 
 measure in this public building. The widow's mite, the 
 gifts of children, the labors and prayers of all are so inter- 
 linked and built into this edifice that it would fall to the 
 ground a useless heap of rubbish without them. Its 
 masonry and girders are Rehoboth stock. It is a matter 
 of universal remark that the most beautiful ornamentation 
 of this building is in the foundation stone, wrought from 
 the quarries on Rocky Hill. Shall we not all agree that 
 the spirit of the people, their deep interest in the work, 
 and their generous gifts proportionate to their abilitv 
 are also a solid and beautiful foundation which shall 
 uphold and sustain this work throughout its future. We 
 seem to see these toils and sacrifices and contributions 
 transformed into hearts that shall protect the interests 
 centered within these walls, and we also seem to see the 
 coming generations, grateful for your deeds, and ever 
 mindful of the service you are this day rendering, in.
 
 HISTORIC fiE 
 
 more beautiful and honorable lives. To this end our labors 
 are devoted and fortunately happy shall we be if this rich 
 result shall follow. 
 
 There is great significance in the construction and uses 
 of the building we dedicate to-day. The architect has 
 arranged within these walls a commodious room for the 
 Historic-Antiquarian Society of Rehoboth, another for a 
 Public Library, a third for a Public High School, and over 
 all as a superintendent and supporter of the other three, 
 this public hall for the town's use, where its town meet- 
 ings will be held, the town's business transacted, and the 
 interests of the people discussed in lectures, debating 
 clubs, farmers' associations, temperance unions, concerts, 
 school exhibitions, and all other matters that will tend to 
 regulate and elevate society. Like the fabled giant 
 Briareus it is a living thing, having fifty heads and a 
 hundred hands. It looks through its historic society into 
 the past, and with its hands seizes all that the old time 
 has to give. The school and the library have a forward 
 look and grasp in fitting the boys and girls for the warfare 
 of life, in the strength and protection of education; while 
 the town, in its corporate life and work, represents the 
 busy interests of the passing hour, debating, counselling, 
 acting, and in its various agencies working the works of 
 to-day. Of each of these plans I propose to speak 
 briefly. 
 
 American life is now in a transition period ; old things 
 are passing away, all things becoming new. We are to-day 
 on a mount of vision, looking back into old Rehoboth of 
 the past, and forwaid into the New Rehoboth of the future. 
 Out of the old the new is born, and the laws of heredity 
 are too compulsory to be set aside. There comes a time 
 to every man and society when it is both wise and profitable 
 to take a backward look. The poet's words arc true
 
 48 HIS TOEIC RE II 013 Til. 
 
 " "Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours, 
 
 And ask them what report they've home to Heaven, 
 
 And how they might have borne more welcome news; 
 Their answers form what men experience call.'' 
 
 Youth and prophecy have their eyes on the to-morrows 
 of life-age and history on the yesterdays, while our yester- 
 days and our to-morrows must find their full fruition in 
 the results of our to-days. How beautifully this fact is 
 illustrated in the almost historic painting of Malbone, our 
 Newport artist, in the Three Graces, or as the Greeks 
 personified them, Eunomia, Dice and Irene, in the Athe- 
 naeum at Providence. The artist's conception is to paint 
 an ideal of life, and three female figures are presented, 
 full of all the grace and loveliness art could give. The 
 form on your right is glowing with beauty, and radiant 
 with sublime hopefulness. She stands as the tpye of 
 youth and the future. The central figure is severely 
 earnest, devout, courageous, and this is manhood, and the 
 present. The figure on the left has her head partially 
 averted. She is serious, meditative, introspective, and 
 represents age and the past. Each by herself is a study 
 of the three important epochs of human life, and each has 
 its lessons, but what the artist would tell us, it seems to 
 me is this, that the perfect, the harmonious human life 
 has in it, the hopefulness of youth, the earnestness of 
 manhood, and the contemplativeness of age ; that the past 
 must chasten the future, and that its lessons, its tradi- 
 tions, its life, must be read and understood that we may 
 most truly work the works of to-day. He who respects 
 the past has the truest interest in the present, and the 
 h:ghest regard for the coming time. We may rejoice, 
 therefore, that this dedication service relates to all that is 
 worthy of possession in the treasures of the past, the 
 active labors of the present, and the hopes of the future ;
 
 HISTORIC JIEHOnoTIL 40 
 
 and the Town Hall, the Antiquarian Society rooms, the 
 Blanding Library and the School have each a place in this 
 threefold mission of the town preservation, protection, 
 progress. 
 
 How intensely interesting is the history of towns and 
 town life of old New England, and especially of this old 
 town, and how delightful it is to review some of its half- 
 forgotten pages, to draw lessons therefrom for present 
 use. Here in this roomy place, breathing an atmosphere 
 filled with the traditions of an earlier day, in the midst of 
 the graves of an honored ancestry, looking upon some 
 homes that far antedate the Revolution, and upon ances- 
 tral estates which still bear the landmarks set by the early 
 planters, our hearts are stirred by strange influences, and 
 we must not forget old Rehoboth in our rejoicing over the 
 new Rehoboth that is, and is to be. For two hundred and 
 forty years it has stood for the principles of the founders 
 of Plymouth Colony, of which it was an integral part. 
 When Rehoboth received its charter in 1645, there were 
 but ten towns within the jurisdiction of the Mother 
 Colony Plymouth, Duxbury, Scituate, Sandwich, Taun- 
 ton, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Marshfield, Eastham, Rehoboth. 
 
 When Stephen Payne and William Carpenter made a 
 journey to Plymouth in 1645, to secure articles of incor- 
 poration for the Indian Seacunck, this was the western 
 frontier town of Massachusetts. Wm. Blackston, the first 
 white inhabitant of Rehoboth, dwelt in his Eutopian 
 hermitage at a place called by him " Study Hill," on the 
 Blackstone near the present village of Lonsdale. 
 
 Roger Williams, with his faithful followers dwelt as yet 
 unrecognized, save as outlaws and reprobates, on the 
 west bank of the peaceful Pawtucket, at the head of Xar- 
 ragansett Bay. On the south the nearest dwellers were
 
 .",0 JtlS TOEIC It E 'HOD TIL 
 
 the Wampanoags under the wise and pacific Massasoit, 
 occupying the territory now known as Swanzea, Barring- 
 ton, Warren and Bristol, after the deed of the ten mile 
 purchase of Seekonk in 1641. A few of the first families 
 of Taunton had settled along the tanks of the Titicut, on 
 the line of the route marked out by Bradford and Winslow 
 on their first visit to Massasoit at Sowans in 1621. Here 
 lay a great tract of unsettled country, with a good south- 
 ern and western outlook, which bordered on Narragansett 
 Bay with its fisheries and future commerce, and hither 
 the family emigration, which set in in 1620 at Plymouth, 
 continued to flow, to settle the waste places between the 
 Titicut and the Pawtucket, and this family social exodus 
 from England to America, the planting of the towns of 
 Plymouth and the Bay Colonies, are the remarkable charac- 
 teristics of this permanent occupation of New England. 
 Rehoboth, the large place, was waiting the sifted wheat of 
 three plantings. 
 
 As the unit of society is the individual, so the unit of 
 civilization is the family, and to carry our arithmetic 
 still further, the town is the unit of the American 
 State. When the Northmen landed on our shores, so 
 says the historian, only one woman attended these bold 
 sea rovers. Men can discover continents alone, but they 
 cannot found a state. To the Pilgrim and the Puritan, 
 wife, children, house, home, family, church, were the most 
 precious possessions. Nothing human could divorce ties 
 which nature had so strongly woven. And whenever we 
 think of our honored ancestry, it is not as individual 
 adventurers ; but we see good-man, good-wife, and their 
 children as the representatives of the great body of those 
 who with them planted homes, families, society, civiliza- 
 tion, in the Western world. They came together, or, if
 
 HIS TO RIG RE HOB O TIL :, 1 
 
 alone, to pioneer the way for wife and children or sweet- 
 heart by the next ship, and they came to stay, as witness 
 the names of the old families of Plymouth, Weymouth, 
 Salem, Boston, Dorchester, in the leading circles of wealth 
 and social position in all of these old towns. "Behold," 
 says Dr. Bushncll, " the Mayflower, rounding now the 
 southern cape of England, filled with husbands and wives 
 and children ; families of righteous men, under covenant 
 with God and each other to lay some good foundation for 
 religion, engaged both to make and keen their own laws, 
 expecting to supply their own wants and bear their own 
 burdens, assisted by none but the God in whom they trust. 
 Here are the hands of industry, the germs of liberty, the 
 dear pledges of order, and the sacred beginnings of a 
 home." Of such, only, could Mrs. Heman's inspired hymn 
 have been written : 
 
 " There were men with hoary hair 
 
 Amidst that pilgrim band: 
 Why had they come to wither tli-ir, 
 Away from their childhood's l,i:rl ;' 
 
 There was woman's fearless eye. 
 
 Lit by her deep love's truth: 
 There was manhood's brow serenely hi^h. 
 
 And the fiery heart of youth." 
 
 Hither from Weymouth came Peter Hunt and family ; 
 Walter Palmer, ditto ; Rev. Samuel Newman, William, 
 Edward and Henry Smith, Robert Martin, Richard 
 Bowen, Stephen Payne, John Browne, Obadiah Holmes, 
 Robert Wheaton, Thomas Bliss, John Miller, John Dag- 
 gett, Richard Bullock, William Blanding, John Allin, Mr. 
 Peck, and among others, possibly not least in some of 
 their transactions.' William Devil, with a numerous 
 progeny.
 
 ."L' HISTORIC JiEllOliOTIL 
 
 Now these picked English families, which settled Reho- 
 both under the head of that celebrated divine, Samuel 
 Newman, were the best seed ever planted for the growth 
 of colonial life. The home was the center and circumfer- 
 ence of toil, thought and affection. For this they perilled 
 all, and its value was more precious than life. Naturally 
 enough in this isolated life in a wilderness it developed 
 what was and is the glory of our New England society, 
 a race of stalwart, individual, independent men and 
 women. You have doubtless often wondered how the 
 free spirited Minerva of our early days could have sprung 
 full panoplied from the head of the monarchical Jupiter of 
 English society of the seventeenth century ; but it is not 
 a wonder of r.n hour's duration when you picture the con- 
 ditions of that rugged pioneer. The homestead and the 
 farmsteads were detached, one apart from another, often 
 miles away. The great house with its lean-to was the 
 product of the carpentry and masonic skill of the owner. 
 The good man made his own tools, furniture, carts, 
 wagons, ploughs, etc. Within doors, the good wife made 
 herself more famous than the virtuous women of the Pio- 
 verds of King Lemuel, for she also sought wool and flax, 
 and wrought diligently with spinning wheel, distaff and 
 loom, for the clothing of her household, by day and by 
 night. Like the merchant ships she brought her food 
 from all obtainable quarters. She often considered a 
 field, to buy it, and with the fruits of her hands she planted 
 her vines. She perceived that her merchandise was good, 
 and her candle went not out by night while she laid her 
 hands to the spindle and the needle. Neither she nor her 
 household feared a New England winter, for her hands 
 had wrought the garments that protected. She looked 
 well to the wants of her children, and ate not the bread
 
 7//.S* 7*07.' / C 7,' Eli O li O Til. .-,;; 
 
 of idleness. As the result, we, her descendants, rise up 
 and call her blessed, and can say most devoutly : Many 
 daughters have done virtuously, but thou, O good-wife 
 Newman, Bliss, Carpenter, et id genus omne, excellest 
 them all. This was a training for citizenship that a prince 
 might envy, yet never possess. Not only was each man 
 and woman the architect of his own fortune, but every- 
 thing that related to it, and the lazy dog who would not 
 earn his daily bread, and the shrew who talked and 
 scolded, was either disciplined at the whipping post or 
 ducked in the frog pond. There was then no Illinois 
 prairies and Minneapolis flour mills to feed the family; no 
 cattle market at Chicago, and no Porkopolis at Cincin- 
 nati. All was home produced and home consumed, except 
 as the laws of barter and interchange enabled one neigh- 
 bor to accommodate another. The Massachusetts town of 
 two centuries ago was as independent a community as 
 could be found on the planet, and each of its integral 
 families was self-protecting, self-supporting and self-per- 
 petuating, and without any law of primogeniture as to 
 landed estates or rank, the families of the tenth generation 
 to-day cultivate the ancestral acres and cherish the family 
 heirlooms of the settlers of the first planting. 
 
 In the midst of such a society, peerage was a common 
 inheritance, for every man felt himself the equal of his 
 neighbor, and blood counted only as it was capable of con- 
 quest over a stubborn soil and an inhospitable climate. 
 An attempt was made in the sister municipality of S\van- 
 sea to transplant there a foreign system of ranks to her 
 soil, corresponding to the three Roman orders, the Patri- 
 cian, the Equestrian and the Plebeian. In 1^70 the town 
 passed a law, that the people should be divided into three 
 ranks, according to the landed property of each ; the first
 
 54 HISTORIC HE HOB OTH. 
 
 rank holding three acres to two for the second and one for 
 the third, in this way building up a landed aristocracy, 
 with a committee for the admission of inhabitants and the 
 appointment of land. The full meaning of this aristo- 
 cratic legislation was not seen until it was ordered, in 
 1 68 1, that Capt. John Brown, formerly of Rehoboth, and 
 others, their heirs and assigns, forever should enjoy the 
 full right and intent of the highest rank. Then the town 
 entered its unanimous protest against the undemocratic 
 acts of the magnates, and this element of feudal tyranny 
 passed into everlasting oblivion. This independency of 
 the individual, the integrity and purity of the family, and 
 the almost complete autonomy of the town, were the result 
 not only of the native spirit and genius of this remarkable 
 people, but also were supported and perpetuated by agen- 
 cies which were of universal application in the Puritan or 
 Pilgrim towns of these colonies. 
 
 As has been seen, this New England town grew out of 
 the germ of associated action. The proprietary, the 
 church, the village, all required aggregation, combination 
 and unity of action. Self-preservation and a common 
 sentiment of protection compelled this course. See what 
 valuable results flowed from what may have been at first 
 only an impulse to preserve life and property. Social 
 order was mac 1 j possible. Scattered settlements generated 
 excessive individuality and independence. Mankind easily 
 revert to barbarism, often easily enough in the midst of 
 civilization, but more readily in isolated life. Hermitism is 
 only one remove from criminal desperation. It is the mor- 
 bid sentiment which leads men to attempt to destroy society 
 by. a removal from it a determination to punish society 
 for its offences by punishing one's self ; a sort of moral and 
 social suicide. \Yith the savage in the forest, the homes
 
 msTomc liE 
 
 of New England were protected only by the midnight 
 guard which could watch over the village. What was a 
 virtue of necessity, was also the virtue of instinct, and the 
 guarantee of the highest social order, and the existence 
 and protection, of the best agencies and forces in society. 
 In union was their salvation as well as their strength. 
 
 In the first place, the morals of society were protected in 
 this village life. The common scandal of the town was at 
 once the prevention and the cure for social disorder. 
 " What will the neighbors say ? " had a powerful deterrent 
 influence among the evil minded. Village gossip, conducted 
 by Mrs. Grundy, her ancestors and descendants, may be a 
 hateful medicine, but it works wonderful cures. The 
 thumb screw and the whipping post were terrible inflic- 
 tions, but these were no terrors to the common scold, the 
 termagant, or the disturbers of the village peace. Public 
 opinion in a New Knglacd village two hundred years ago 
 was the real preserver of the high standard of virtue, 
 morality, high regard for law, and the protection of indi- 
 vidual and social reputation more potent than the officer 
 of justice and the lockup. In the second place, church 
 life was made possible in the New England village of our 
 fathers. Robust religious life is best fostered in a com- 
 munity of sturdy settlers, each of whom has an identity, a 
 home, and the means of general intelligence. The two 
 sermons on Sunday, the weekly prayer meeting, the 
 lecture, the prayerful visit of the Godly minister, the per- 
 sonal solicitude for souls, reaching almost to morbid 
 fanaticism, were only possible in communities more or less 
 compact and united by a common and a personal interest. 
 Inter-marriages made the interests the sharper, and the 
 inter-twinings, linkings and lacings of our New England 
 families are the marvellous studies of the genealogist and
 
 Sfi HISTORIC KE 
 
 socialist of our times. Young men and maidens fall in 
 love, court and marry in a sensible way, only in the pre- 
 sence of their fellows. These" delighful experiences lose 
 all their romance, and half their delight, outside the 
 restraints, the counter-matching, the frolicking and the 
 flirting of the town. Compare the loneliness of a court- 
 ship with your lady love twenty miles away in a log cabin 
 in the woods, with no rival wooer, whose plots and coun- 
 terplots are your daily study and nightly dream, with the 
 sprightliness, the joy and the heavenly satisfaction of 
 wooing and winning the belle of the town, after repulses 
 and rebuffs, encouraging smile and discouraging rival ; 
 her whose beauty has smitten the heart of every bashful 
 village beau, and whose heart and hand have been sought 
 by all whose courage was equal to the encounter. With 
 such sport, trout fishing or fox hunting have small attrac- 
 tions and little fun, and the capture of the beauteous 
 village maiden is an exploit which in its progress has occu- 
 pied the pens of novelists and poets for the ages. 'Twas 
 the village that gave zest and interest to the four week's 
 publishment, the first announcement of which was so much 
 more entertaining to the village gossips than the environ- 
 ments of modern engagements and match making. And 
 then again, where could the donation parties, the tea par- 
 ties, the quilting bees, the huskings, the paring bees, the 
 house raisings, the ploughing matches, have found their 
 free development and fruition save in our old New England 
 towns. When we consider that all that is left to us of all 
 these old-time social joys is the degenerate skating rink, 
 we may well sigh for some return of the good old days of 
 town life before railroads, telegraphs and hourly mail 
 deliveries had made it possible to conduct business in 
 your office easy chair, with people half round the globe
 
 whom you never expect to see ; court and marry by light- 
 ning, and listen to the minister's sermon on Sunday by 
 the telephone leading from the sounding board in the 
 church to your bed-chamber. 
 
 Little emphasis, so far as I know, has been placed on 
 New England village life as the patron and fosterer uf 
 that remarkable ministry which has made that era so 
 wonderful in its theology and this logical outcome. Look 
 back over New England life two and one-half centuries 
 ago, and the central figure of every town is the minister 
 of the old church on the hill top or on the village green. 
 The dignity, the majesty of that early day is personified 
 in the pastor and teacher of the town. When you think 
 of old Dorchester, the Mathers rise before you ; Brewster, 
 of Plymouth ; Peter Hobart, of Hingham ; John Harvard, 
 of Cambridge ; Roger Williams, of Providence ; John 
 Myles, of Swansea; and Samuel Newman, of Rehoboth ; 
 men of piety unfeigned, of sobriety unchallenged, of 
 scholarship profound for the times, of continuous preach- 
 ing capacity, endless. The New England pastor of olden 
 time was the factotum of the town minister, teacher, 
 judge, counsellor, doctor, surgeon, undertaker, scribe, 
 school committee, town clerk, et cetera, et cetera. Where 
 duty or necessity called there you found him. He an- 
 swered every call from the cradle to the grave, and listened 
 to all appeals either to shoulder his musket and march 
 against the Indians, or to lead his sermons with ammuni- 
 tions fit to kill rebellious souls. He dispenses preaching 
 in large measure but often dispenses with the Gospel. 
 His theology was as terrific as Sinai, square-faced as the 
 Pyramids and as dry as a mummy. Should another deluge 
 engulf the earth, a library of the theology of the Christian 
 fathers of New England would be the dryest if not the
 
 .',8 
 
 nrsronrc REitor.oTn. 
 
 hottest place that could be discovered. By its aid and in 
 spite of its terrific thunderings and lightnings, it saved 
 New England character and energized its life. Only the 
 descendants of Thor could stand and prevail midst the 
 display of his mighty energy. The main body of our 
 literature till within a century came from the brains and 
 pens of our divines. Cruden's Concordance, of such 
 world-wide use in the study of the Bible, was the product 
 of Rev. Samuel Newman, of Rehoboth, who was styled the 
 Neander of New England. The length of their pastorates 
 made them objects of special veneration, and it is not to 
 be wondered at that the Barrington urchin of 1785, when 
 asked who was the first man, replied " Mr. Townsend," 
 since his venerable form and figure gave to all the impres- 
 sion of the nearness of the Ancient of Days. 
 
 INTKIUOIC VIK\V OK TIIK OLD BALLOT MKKTIX'i IIOCSK. 
 
 As may be inferred from what I have said concerning 
 the ministry, and the almost sacred veneration in which 
 the ministerial office was held, the ecclesiastic dominated
 
 HI&TOBIC HEllOBOTll. r,0 
 
 in civil affairs. As the pastor was the central figure 
 among individuals, so the church was the all powerful 
 organization in society. Rehoboth was created for the 
 church, not the church for Rehoboth. The church was in 
 many senses the town. The town elected and supported 
 the minister, determined his qualifications, and dismissed 
 him for cause. His orthodoxy or otherdoxy was deter- 
 mined in town meeting. He was the father of the town 
 fathers, and at the same time was the servant of their 
 servants. Town politics and State policy were discussed 
 in the pulpits ; and everybody went to church to hear the 
 new publishments, to learn the news and the latest gossip, 
 to get fresh unction on the doctrine of predestination, the 
 perseverance of the saints, and condition of unregenerate 
 infants and heathen, and name the candidates for tithing 
 men, constable or deputy to the General Court. The 
 meeting-house was the scene of baptisms, polemic theology 
 and funerals on Sundays, and of the most tremendous 
 muscular Christianity on the following week days, when 
 the intellectual giants of the town met to settle town and 
 State destinies. 
 
 I wish I could portray to you the religious aspect of 
 the early town meetings of our grandfathers. The scene 
 is worthy of an abler artist, and would demand an even- 
 ing's portrayal. Let it suffice that I call attention to it, 
 that some of our new society may take the task to pre- 
 serve its profusely sacred lineaments. Here freeman met 
 
 freeman with an honorable desire to glorify God, and to 
 
 
 
 serve the civil community. The ballot box, which was 
 originally probably the senior deacon's bell crowned hat, 
 witnessed no stuffing unless, perchance, it may have been 
 with the deacon's new bandanna, used occasionlly to re- 
 lieve the good man's snuff-taking olfactories, with sten- 
 torian accompaniments. The ministerial prayer opened
 
 JUu JiEiionorii. 
 
 the annual and special town-meeting, as it did almost 
 every gathering at which the minister met his people, 
 while the long meter doxology closed the services in 
 which victor and vanquished politician joined with grace 
 and heartiness. Even as late as 1870, in the town in 
 which I reside, at its last town election prior to its merg- 
 ing its corporate life in the great city of Boston, the exer- 
 cises were commenced by a devout prayer offered by Rev. 
 Dr. Means, the pastor of the Congregational church. 
 Gradually as the years rolled on towards the middle of 
 the eighteenth century, the hold of the clergy on the 
 people, of the ecclesiastical on the civil, lessened, but the 
 influence of the minister and the church, while less direc- 
 tive in social and civil affairs was not diminished, but 
 rather increased, and while we can never cease to recog- 
 nize and be grateful for what the churches and ministries 
 of old New England have done in the making of New 
 England, we may also be grateful for their enfranchise- 
 ment of State and church, each to occupy more as became 
 an advanced civilization, their true places in the harmo- 
 nious development of man and society. 
 
 Too much importance cannot be attached to the town 
 meeting of our early colonial history, as an educator of 
 the people, and as a preserver of their liberties. In the 
 open town meeting were discussed the weightest affairs 
 of church and State. All the freeman not only had a 
 voice in these discussions, but were compelled by law to 
 attend, at the cost of fine of imprisonment. In the town 
 meeting, the meeting houses were located, and the minis- 
 ter selected ; highways were ordered laid out, public 
 houses were granted rights, and licenses were allowed, 
 military affairs were discussed, aYms and ammunition were 
 provided, and military officers were elected ; officers were 
 elected to preside over the town's affairs, to look after and
 
 care for the poor, to return a valuation of estates and to 
 levy taxes, to provide wolf-traps, brand marks for horses ; 
 tything man to collect ministerial rates, and watch incor- 
 rigible boys on Sunday ; schools were set up and school- 
 masters chosen. The town meeting ordered the records 
 of births, marriages and deaths ; chose all necessary town 
 officers and deputies to the General Court. In 1670 it 
 was voted "that none shall vote in town meeting but 
 freemen, or freeholders of twenty pounds ratable estate, 
 and of good conversation, having taken the oath of 
 fidelity." 
 
 What a school of training was this in the arts of town 
 craft and states craft. Vigilance in matters relating to 
 the town was naturally extended to other matters, relating 
 to the affairs of sister towns, the colony, and sister 
 colonies. So sprung up these little commonwealths, 
 where the intelligent and responsible freeholders exercised 
 themselves in all their public affairs, the greater common- 
 wealths to which were transferred the same jealous care, 
 honest service, and high-minded administration. 
 
 IHit I must not leave unnoticed another figure which 
 looms up giant-like in the midst of the men and events of 
 that earlier day. I refer to the village or district school- 
 master, the much hated man of his own day, and the 
 much praised man of ours. James Russell Lowell says 
 that the American Revolution was really fought, and its 
 victories won a century and more before it occurred, when 
 Massachusetts passed the law establishing free schools in 
 every town in the colony. The people of these old towns 
 in Plymouth Colony were as earnest to educate as to 
 Christianize their children, and the right ways of learning 
 were to them as sacred as the right ways of the Lord. In 
 fact the road to the church led past the school house from 
 every New England home. Three years before the famous
 
 f.2 HISTORIC EEHOLOTH. 
 
 Massachusetts ordinance of 1647, the Magna Charta of 
 our liberties, the proprietors of this town set apart lands 
 to the value of ^50 for the school master, and the records 
 of the town bear witness to the interest the people took 
 in the school life of their children. It is quite true that 
 the early school-master was not always the most learned 
 man in the community, provided he was a man that was 
 orthodox and able to flog the big boys. Brawn rather 
 than brain was one of the chief requisites in the qualifica- 
 tions of a good school-master. Possibly some of thU 
 audience have not forgotten the lineal descendants of 
 Ichabod Crane, who wielded the birchen rod, in the old 
 red or no-colored school house, of their early days. 
 You can say with Goldsmith : 
 
 " A man severe he was and stern to view, 
 1 knew him well as every truant knew : 
 Well had the boding youngster learned to trace 
 The day's disasters in his morning fare. 
 Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee 
 At all his jokes, for many a joke had he. 
 While words of learned length and thundering sound, 
 Amazed the simple rustics gathered round!" 
 
 The school-master was not a worldly man, then, as he 
 is not to-day. Bliss says in his history of " Rehoboth, that 
 in 1680 the townsmen made a treaty with Mr. Edward 
 Howard to teach school for jC-O a year, in country pay, 
 and his diet, beside what the Court cloth allow in that 
 case." The court allowance here referred to was an 
 apportionment of certain moneys from the income of cod 
 fisheries and whales. Mr. William Sabin was a man of so 
 generous a mould that he freely proffered to diet him the 
 first quarter. William Carpenter was ordered to procure 
 shingles, boards and nails to repair the school house, and 
 make it lit to keep school in. Later Thomas Robinson 
 was engaged to keep a reading and writing school. Later
 
 HISTORIC fiE 
 
 still Robert Dickson was engaged to " do his utmost en- 
 deavor to teach both sexes of boys and girls to read Eng- 
 lish and write and cast accounts," for which he was to 
 receive " 13 pounds, one-half in silver money and the 
 other half in good merchantable boards at the current and 
 merchantable prices." 
 
 John Lynn was engaged to teach school for a year at 
 "the ring of the town," "the neighborhood on the east 
 side of the ring of the town," 21 weeks; "Palmer's 
 River," 14 weeks; " Watchomoquet Neck," 13 weeks; 
 Capt. Enoch Hunt's neighborhood and "the mile and a 
 half," 9 weeks. 
 
 In the old school house, with its fire place at one end, 
 and the master's desk at the other, flanked on either side 
 by the slab benches without backs, with the roguish boys 
 on one side of the room casting more than sheep's eyes at 
 the red cheeked girls on the other, were raised the youths 
 who were preparing to be tithing men, fence viewers, hog 
 reeves, town clerks, surveyors, selectmen, grand jury 
 men, constables, sheriffs, deputies to the Great and Gen- 
 eral Court, and some even had the ambition to become 
 school-masters in town to get late vengeance on the injus- 
 tice of their own masters. 
 
 But while it would be most gratifying to dwell on these 
 and other agencies and influences which have made the 
 old towns of New England famous in America, yea, the 
 world's history, more practical lessons are before us in the 
 work to which this Hall and its associate rooms are to be 
 devoted, and the work to which New Rehoboth is to give 
 itself; for turning from the past, we find ourselves in an 
 age of marvellous progress, an era whose watchword is 
 co-operation ; its emblems are the steam engine and the 
 telegraph. The old word and work were independency ;
 
 04 HISTORIC K 
 
 the new one is association. The individual and individ- 
 ualism were the product of the first two centuries of our 
 history. Socialism in its best sense, combination, organi- 
 zation, capital, leadership are the objectives towards which 
 men and events are now moving. The individual is lost 
 in the complex and dense movements of the great organ- 
 ism we call society, the municipality, the state. We are 
 rapidly changing from the state of Democracy to that of 
 Bureaucracy. There is a great danger in this tendency 
 to sink the individual in the mass, to make of society a 
 vast machine, which shall crush out the life forces from 
 man and manhood. Instead of the town, has grown up 
 the city; in place of the plain, simple ways of rural life, 
 which tide men safely through the three-score years and 
 ten of the Psalmist, we have the ambitious, rush and 
 drive and nervous strain of these days, which compel men 
 to retire from business at fifty, it may be rich in pocket, 
 but bankrupt in heart and all vital energies, unfitted for 
 the enjoyment of rapidly earned gains. Now it is not 
 becoming in me to criticise or condemn these modern 
 fashions which apply to the life of the social, moral and 
 religious world, as well as to the world of business affairs, 
 but I would call attention to the needs of a more conser- 
 vative, a better way in some respects, which shall redound 
 to the good of the New England town and town life, 
 which we sec so rapidly absorbed in that of the city. 
 
 I have come with a message to this good old corpora- 
 tion of Rchoboth, and to all others that may care to learn 
 the lesson of the times, to hold on to the town, and the 
 town organization, and all that shall check this terrific 
 boom after wealth, power and centralization. It is a fact 
 of alarming significance that our New England towns are 
 on the wane in population and wealth, and that this dimi- 
 nution of forces in the country is the measure of their
 
 ms Ton ic nr.no no TIL or, 
 
 increase in cities, and centres of trade and power. The 
 question arises, how long must this continue ? When 
 shall we begin to build again the waste places, and restore 
 the vitality which has been drained into other and remote 
 channels ? Having come from the quarter millennial cele- 
 brations of two of the oldest towns of the Commonwealth, 
 the one an inland town twenty-five miles from Boston 
 old Concord of Revolutionary and other fame and the 
 other, a town on the Atlantic old Hingham both of 
 the Bay Colony, I wish to make some observations as to 
 the perpetuation of the integrity and progress of these 
 other sister municipalities. Both these towns are now 
 prosperous, increasing by a small per cent, annually in 
 population, and both are the homes of a happy and con- 
 tented people, proud of their town histories and jealous of 
 their rights and privileges. Wealth is flowing back from 
 the cities to beautify and adorn the home in these country 
 towns ; lovely residences in modern style abound, and all 
 the advantages of our best home, social, civil and religious 
 life exist. Both have produced men of whom the towns 
 and the Commonwealth are proud, and these have re- 
 turned to testify to their allegiance to the grand training 
 which the town public school, church, town meeting and 
 other institutions have afforded them. Let us in the 
 moments that remain look at some of the elements that 
 will enter into the model town of 1900, for if we are to 
 find such in any part of Christendom we must look for 
 them on the foundations where the best civilization has 
 found its supports and its best conditions of up-building. 
 The first thing needed in the reconstruction of our old 
 towns is to place them abreast of their neighbors in all 
 the educative and refining influences which modern 
 society has to furnish. When people are seeking a home, 
 nowadays, the first question raised relates to the character
 
 66 HISTORIC 
 
 of the people in the community, the second as to the 
 schools and churches. Now the facilities for a good edu- 
 cation are not confined to our cities or larger communi- 
 ties. The best education may be and often is obtainable 
 in our country towns. Our very best colleges and semi- 
 naries are in what may be styled provincial communities. 
 Norton, Wellesly, Amherst, WiJliamstown, South Hadley, 
 Hanover, Middlebury, Andover, Wilbraham, Easthampton, 
 East Greenwich, and other educational centres, are pro- 
 vincial towns, chiefly known to the world through the 
 schools and colleges planted in their midst. Their quiet 
 and retired situations have been found most favorable to 
 study, and around the schools families have made homes 
 for the education of their children. 
 
 Now New Rehoboth must learn the lesson so clearly 
 taught by so many hundreds of our communities, and 
 though she may not have a famed school or college, she 
 may have as good a high school with as thorough a course 
 of study as any other town in Massachusetts. My own 
 experience here in your midst enables me to state, with- 
 out fear of contradiction, that the talent, the scholarly 
 ability, are here, and all that you need is the able teacher 
 installed in your new high school, dedicated to-day, to 
 draw from these homes, far and near, the bright boys and 
 girls who are hungry for a better education than the 
 common school affords, and who had better for various 
 reasons obtain it at home than spend time and money at 
 boarding-schools away from home. I have spoken of the 
 high school first, for it is really the foundation of good 
 elementary schools. You should by all means have first 
 class common schools, and the good school should always 
 give way to the better, the better to the best, and the last 
 is the foe of all others. From primary education through 
 the high school, Rehoboth may give her children as good,
 
 HISTORIC ItEHOBOTn. r>: 
 
 and even a. better education than Boston, for here the 
 opportunities for learning so much of nature, of natural 
 sciences, of Yankee ingenuity, of robust and healthy 
 character, are beyond compare with the mechanical, excit- 
 ing and over-stimulating influences thrown about boyhood 
 and girlhood in our cities. Given a hundred healthy 
 children at five years of age, fifty of them to be brought 
 up and educated in the city, and the other fifty to be 
 brought up and educated in the country, and the product 
 in industrious, honest citizens will be two to one in favor 
 of the country-bred child. 
 
 Among other educational agencies which are helpful 
 in creating and fostering intelligence in a community, are 
 the lecture and the debating club, both of which have been 
 the means of developing some of the finest minds of our 
 state and country. The lecture platform is now one of 
 the most instructive and popular of the people's schools, 
 and at a small cost, by the aid of the stereopticon and 
 other means of illustration, the ends of the earth may be 
 brought to the acquaintance of all the dwellers of our most 
 isolated inland towns. For a few hundred dollars, courses 
 of lectures can be established for the instruction and en- 
 tertainment of old and young, which would be of equal 
 value to the more famous courses of New York, Boston 
 and Providence, and these make the people content with 
 their own intellectual environment. 
 
 Of the well managed debating club, I cannot speak in 
 too high praise. As a spur to study and research, and a 
 means of personal culture, it has not its equal, and in the 
 development of individual talent and the acquisition of 
 mental power, it is a powerful auxiliary. Here men may 
 measure themselves one with another, and the man ol 
 mental power is readily measured by the standard of a 
 more shallow pretender. In such schools, N. P. Banks.
 
 r>8 HISTORIC HE HO BOTH. 
 
 Henry Wilson, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, 
 Senator Hoar, John D. Long, Gov. Robinson and hun- 
 dreds of others, of state and national fame, took their first 
 lessons and received their first encouragement to make 
 the most of life and its opportunities. One of the valuable 
 results of well arranged courses of public lectures is the 
 instruction of the people on social and economic questions, 
 concerning which there is such wide divergence of popu- 
 lar views and consequent misapprehension, distrust and 
 conflict, not only of opinion, but of action, as are now so 
 remarkably displayed in all parts of our land and the 
 world. The war now waging in so many places between 
 capital and labor is as unnatural and as cruel as the civil 
 war of 1861-65. It is equally unreasonable and unneces- 
 sary, and would not have been precipitated, to the great 
 loss of the wage-earners and the destruction of the very 
 capital that encourages and sustains labor, had it not been 
 for the ignorance or misguidance of those who arc seeking 
 to be benefited by strikes, boycotts and other labor-saving 
 machines, too often engines of oppression in the hands of 
 Jehus as engineers. The press, the platform and the pulpit 
 must in such times be honest, earnest and outspoken in 
 their voices of intelligent instruction for the people ; must 
 be calm and dispassionate, that they may allay the excite- 
 ments and passions of men, and must educate the people 
 into the true philosophy of labor, and help men to solve 
 the problems which beset their daily lives. 
 
 And here, also, the public library enters as a factor to 
 mould public opinion and direct to wisest forms of action. 
 History is at hand, with her lessons from all the past, to in- 
 struct the seeker after truth. ' Tis greatly wise to talk with 
 the experiences of men and nations, and if we would avoid 
 their faults and follies, we must enquire concerning their 
 causes and their consequences. Biography lends us wonder-
 
 HISTORIC JiEHOnOTll. <;<) 
 
 ful assistance in showing how the great men of the world 
 acquired greatness ; the wise, wisdom ; the strong, strength ; 
 the virtuous, virtue ; and the pure in heart, the Kingdom 
 of God. Philosophy becomes a light to our path. By her 
 guidance we may sit at the feet of Plato in the Academy, 
 and walk with Aristotle under the olives. Bacon reveals 
 to us his inductive methods, Franklin chains the lightning 
 for our use, Spencer explains to us the movements of our 
 inner thoughts, and Darwin and Agassiz tell us of the 
 grand laws which govern all development in the natural 
 world around us, leading up to the spiritual world above 
 us. Science unfolds the structure of the atoms in the 
 sunbeam and resolves star dust into suns and systems. 
 Fiction shows us the semblance of real life and in this 
 mirror, as face answers to face in water, so the human 
 heart is made an object lesson to teach the passions, the 
 purposes and the resultants of living. Poetry, the hand- 
 maid of fiction, and the companion of Art, gives us songs 
 in the night of our sorrows, comfort in the evening hour 
 of trials, cheer and strength in the mid-day heat and toil, 
 and a sunrise glow of hope and promise to the opening 
 life of man. Would you know men, study books ; would 
 you kno\v books, study men. Fach study is the comple- 
 ment of the other. Would you find solace, without 
 satiety, find it in the pages of a good book; do you seek 
 a real friendship with a friend always faithful and at your 
 service, it is found in the silent communion of kindred 
 souls in literature. 
 
 This library which you have opened may be made a 
 mine of wealth to this community, and the youth of the 
 town should learn early to find within it the precious ore. 
 The catalogue of your shelves shows how wisely the 
 trustees have made theii selections Irom the multitude of 
 good books of the day, and I am sure that the nucleus
 
 70 III S TOE 1C RE HOBO TH. 
 
 already formed will gather to itself from time to time new 
 additions, so that from this beginning you shall have a 
 large storehouse from which the people of Rehoboth shall 
 draw in all the future years. 
 
 Old New England was an agricultural section and the 
 farm was the place where centred hope, health, happiness. 
 To-day New England is a workship, a storehouse, and the 
 exodus is so strong towards the cities that the babies in 
 the cradle show an unwonted restlessness to be clad in 
 hat and boots and be off for the town. This mania is 
 encouraged by the early education of the child and the 
 conditions which surround him. The home, it may be, 
 into which he is born is unattractive, and its surroundings 
 contain no element of beauty. He finds no attractions at 
 the village, no good schools, no library, no social life 
 which interests him. He goes to the city and his eye and 
 mind are at once drawn to the many objects which attract 
 and hold the youthful attention. On his return the dull, 
 hard routine of farm life becomes almost hateful to him, 
 and he longs for the day when he will be old enough to 
 leave the parental roof for the more seductive outward 
 charms of the city. Elegant houses, gay equipages, fine 
 dresses, the many prizes of a mercantile life, allure and 
 entice the youth from the quiet country life to the noise 
 and excitement of the city. In the great lottery of busi- 
 ness, trade, exchange, the lad sees only the one success- 
 ful winner of the prize, and not the ninety and nine who 
 draw the blanks or something worse. We are fast coming 
 upon a time, however, when this wholesale departure from 
 the good old ways of the grandfathers will be checked by 
 a new departure, taken in returning to the safer but more 
 conservative pursuits of rural life, where every man is an 
 independent freeman, earning while producing, saving his 
 honest earnings against the rainy clays of life, and never
 
 HISTORIC n 
 
 puzzling his brain over the speculative manipulations of 
 the stock market. During a conversation the other day 
 with a gentleman who has attained moderate success in 
 business in Boston, and who has figured heavily in Dem- 
 ocratic politics, I asked the question, how he regarded 
 city life as compared with that of the country ? His reply 
 was significant: "The great mistake of my life was in 
 leaving the old farm my boyhood's home and I am 
 looking forward to the time when I shall return to it." 
 
 Now in our model town of the future the boys and girls, 
 the brightest and handsomest of them at least, are to stay 
 at home and care for the varied interests which are to 
 grow up and flourish by their enterprise and industry. 
 Labor-saving machines have taken the hard drudgery 
 from all forms of manual toil. Farming, gardening, the 
 culture of small fruits, silk culture, dairies, the making of 
 honey, fine needle work, painting, flower culture, wood 
 carving, the manufacture of jewelry, and all forms of orna- 
 ment suitable for woman's labor- these and a multitude of 
 other occupations will engage the attention and employ 
 the skilled labor of the men and women of the year 1900. 
 As a foretaste of the good time coming when woman's 
 labor shall be found in the healthful occupation of our out 
 door life of New England, in a climate unexcelled for 
 health and rigor the wide world over, I may refer to the 
 fact that women are now successfully cultivating the 
 orange in Florida, the grape and the silkworm in Cali- 
 fornia, small fruits in the Central West, and managing suc- 
 cessful cattle ranches in Montana. In the Rehoboth that 
 is to be, under the influences of Farmers' Clubs, Rural 
 Improvement Associations, and individual and town cor- 
 porations, we are to have well cultivated farms, the old 
 forests well protected, excellent and well shaded roads, 
 beautiful groves, lowlands well drained, Palmer's River
 
 72 HISTORIC KE 
 
 and your ponds stocked with fish, meadows yielding three 
 tons of good timothy to the acre, and blooded cattle graz- 
 ing over these hilly pastures. Fruits and flowers will be 
 found in abundance at every home, and each family shall 
 sit under its own vine and elm tree. Arbor Day will be 
 celebrated annually, and Art will come to Nature's aid in 
 beautifying this varied landscape. The churches and 
 schools will be made as attractive as the most delightful 
 homes, and the cities of the dead shall waken with a new 
 life, when, on some beautiful Easter morning, the lily and 
 the rose--types of the resurrection shall be found at 
 every resting place, a tribute of love, and the witness of 
 immortality. 
 
 I have said that the vaiious departments of service 
 represented in this beautiful and useful edifice relate to 
 all the needs of the complex life of man. Your school 
 and library look toward the future of this town. The fine 
 hall in which we are assembled represents the historic 
 present, as it stands before us in the transactions of men 
 and society ; while your Historic Society lives in the past, 
 and with its eye backward, its index finger points forward. 
 
 In the rambling review of this address, I have en- 
 deavored to show in briefest outline, some of the agencies 
 that have built up and sustained this municipality. The 
 worthy lives of the men of earlier times are our rich 
 legacy, and through their toils and sacrifices we enjoy 
 priceless privileges. To the study and preservation of 
 all that was true, noble and of good report, it becomes 
 you, people of Rehoboth of to-day, to devote yourselves. 
 Would you do better than the fathers, you must know how 
 well they acted. Would you be wiser, purer, freer, you 
 must come into the measure of their wisdom, purity, free- 
 dom and justice. The house the fathers built must not be 
 torn down until a better edifice shall stand in its place,
 
 iiEnonorn. r., 
 
 and he is the wise architect, who in the midst of changing 
 styles, builds after the pattern of the things made in the 
 heavens. It is true that our times demand new measures 
 and new men, and while we " let the dead past bury its 
 dead," we must "act in the living present, heart within 
 and God overhead." 
 
 New Rehoboth, with its Goff Memorial as the repre- 
 sentative of a nobler present and a better future, must 
 bestir herself in these matters which shall make for her 
 progress and her prosperity. The school and the church 
 must be magnified in their work of saving men and society. 
 The only conservative forces in society are intelligence 
 and religion. He who loves God and his fellow will neither 
 strike nor be struck, and the millennium is at hand where- 
 ever and whenever a Christian education gets possession 
 of the minds and hearts of men. 
 
 Let this Memorial, erected to the memory of sainted 
 men and holy women, be a reminder of their virtues and 
 an inspiration to higher attainments. Let youth come up 
 here to prepare for the warfare of life. In this armory 
 shall be found a shield more wonderful than that of Achil- 
 les ; a sword better tempered than the blade of Damascus; 
 and a panoply lighter than that of Knight or Crusader. 
 With a noble past to inspire you, a living present that 
 demands serious thought and progressive action, and a 
 future that beckons to grander duties as individuals and 
 as a people, you will, if faithful, realize the beautiful picture 
 of the Psalmist : 
 
 When our sons shall he as plants thrown up in their youth. 
 Anil our daughters as corner stones hewn after the fashion of a palace: 
 w lieu our jiarners are full, affording all manner of store. 
 And our sheep hrinsjc forth thousands and ten thousands in our tields. 
 When our oxen are well laden. 
 
 When there is no breaking in and no jjoinii forth, and no outcry in our 
 streets, 
 
 Happy is the people that is in such a case. 
 
 Yea. happy is the people whose (Jod is the Lord.
 
 74 HISTORIC 
 
 Rev. Alexander Macgregor, of Pawtucket, offered an 
 eloquent Prayer of Dedication, followed by the song " Oh 
 Restless Sea," by the quartette. Dr. E. G. Robinson, 
 President of Brown University, was next introduced, and 
 spoke as follows : 
 
 ADDRESS BY REV. E. G. ROBINSON, D. D. 
 
 It must seem inexcusable, almost impertinent, for one 
 to venture upon even few words at this late hour, and 
 after the full and careful address which we have had so 
 much pleasure in listening to. Two reasons, however, 
 induced me to except the very cordial invitation to be 
 here to-day, and I do not feel quite at liberty to decline 
 the earnest request to add a few words, though unpre- 
 meditated, to what has already been said. My first reason 
 for coming was that I wished to drive along the roads and 
 look on the fields and streams of the old town that was 
 the home of my ancestors. George Robinson, one of the 
 men of Rehoboth who made the North Purchase, as it 
 was called, from the Indians, a territory including my 
 native town Attleborough was my great-great-grand- 
 father, and in the old First Congregational church of 
 Attleborough, the one of his sons who was my grand- 
 father, as well as his sons, including my father, were 
 accustomed to worship and to receive their religious in- 
 struction. 
 
 Another reason for my being here has been a desire to 
 show appreciation of the generous gift of our friend in 
 the erection of this memorial building ; to recognize one 
 of the noblest uses to which wealth can be donated the 
 increase of means for the diffusion of knowledge a 
 knowledge of what is and of what lias been. Honor to 
 him whose memory this building will so worthily per-
 
 HIS TOR 1C BE HOB TU. 75 
 
 petuate, and to all who have joined in contributing to 
 make the building so fitting a source and centre of 
 knowledge and intellectual quickening for the town. By 
 no means least among the good ends which the building 
 will subserve will be its antiquarian and historical uses. 
 Nothing of the present can be fully understood and appre- 
 ciated without knowing the past out of which it has 
 sprung. If the Rehoboth of to-day would understand 
 itself it must remember the Rehoboth of the earlier days. 
 And it will be here that the relics of past days will be 
 preserved and may be studied when they shall elsewhere 
 have vanished. 
 
 And it is none too soon that relics of the past have 
 began to be gathered here for preservation. Dropping out 
 of use and uncared for they would speedily be forgotten 
 forever. And there are later memories in some of the 
 aged heads here to-day that, unless soon garnered, will be 
 irrecoverably lost. Where, outside of New England, in 
 all our country, can you find so many men among the 
 same number of people, whose years are touching the last 
 quarter of a century, as are here assembled ? They could 
 tell of experiences strange but useful to youthful ears 
 experiences that would help to a better appreciation of 
 what now is as well as of what is to come. But far behind 
 the memories of all living men lie our richest fields of 
 inquiry. Implements of industry and of household econo- 
 mies speak to us of toils and of endurance to which we 
 are strangers ; but they were toils that bred men and 
 women of heroic mould an ancestry of whom we never 
 need be ashamed. 
 
 And additional to what will here speak of the past to 
 the eye, there are less conspicious relics that ought in 
 lectures here to be pointed out to the car. Brown bread, 
 pork and beans, pumpkin pie and fish balls speak dis-
 
 76 HISTORIC HEIIODOTII. 
 
 tinctly of the plain living and hard working of the fathers, 
 but subtler elements remain to be recognized. Traces of 
 Puritan dialect still linger in our daily speech. Phrases 
 are common on the lips of our farmers that have come 
 down to us from the first settlers of Rehoboth and Attic- 
 borough. The phrase "English hay" that distingushes 
 the hay grown on the upland from that of the natural 
 grass that grows on the wet meadows or swales ; what a 
 light is thrown back by it on the beginnings of New 
 England life ! The only hay the first settlers had on which 
 to carry their half-starved cattle and horses through the 
 winter was that of the native grasses of the low meadows. 
 Readers of Mr. Bliss's History of Rehoboth, and of John 
 Daggett's sketches of the History of Attleborough, will 
 remember the jealous care with which these meadows 
 were divided and distributed among the original settlers 
 of both towns. Imported seed from England gave them 
 in due time a sweeter hay from grasses grown on culti- 
 vated fields, and from that time on all cultivated hay from 
 upland fields has been known as English hay. And so, 
 could we go back to the earlier days, we should find in 
 them the origin of many a social custom and form of 
 speech now prevailing in the rural parts of Rehoboth and 
 Attleborough, and Seekonk and other towns, to which 
 the earlier Rehoboth gave birth. 
 
 But this building looks to the future as well as to the 
 past. It is not only memorial but educational. The gen- 
 tleman who has addressed us is interested in education. 
 We all are. It is to educational ends that this building is 
 chiefly to be devoted. The generations to come are here 
 to be helped to outstrip their fathers that have lived in 
 these neighboring homes. And all this is good ground 
 for our rejoicing. But in all education, even in the high- 
 est and broadest, no lessons under heaven should be more
 
 mSTOJUC' KEHOBOTH. 11 
 
 earnestly and continuously instilled into the minds of the 
 young than those of personal integrity and honest indus- 
 try. Next to what we owe to God stands what we owe 
 to society the duty of honestly earning one's own living 
 and sustaining the state, of contributing something to the 
 possessions of mankind and to the common weal. If 
 the schooling that shall be given within these walls shall 
 but teach the young men of Rehoboth the folly of forsak- 
 fng the conntry for the city and crowded towns, of aban- 
 doning the tillage of the soil for trade and the counting- 
 room, shall teach them by skillful tillage to bring these 
 surrounding fields into the productiveness of which they 
 arc capable, then a service will have been rendered for 
 which all wise citizens and good men will rejoice and give 
 thanks. 
 
 But I must cease. With congratulations to our friend, 
 whose name this building is to bear, on the successful 
 completion of his purpose, and to all who have aided in 
 its completion, my earnest hope is that boundlessly more 
 than the most sanguine have anticipated shall flow out in 
 future years from this memorial structure. 
 
 ADDRESS BY REV. JEREMIAH TAYLOR, D. D, OF 
 PROVIDENCE. 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT AND CITIZENS OF REHOBOTH: It was 
 said of a distinguished English divine, of a former genera- 
 tion, that he was a very unfair preacher, inasmuch as he 
 left nothing to be said by another when he had completed 
 his discourse. The orator of the day has rendered him- 
 self open to a like charge by the fulness and completeness 
 with which he has covered the ground open to review on 
 this interesting occasion. We are all impressed that this 
 is a stirring, proud clay for this old town, which is wont
 
 78 HISTORIC EEHOBOTH. 
 
 to be in such quiet rest and cheerful repose in the lap of 
 its richly cultivated farms and contented homes. That you 
 have this building to dedicate, and that you are here on 
 this auspicious occassion for so suggestive and inspiring a 
 service, is one of the best things that has occurred here of 
 recent years. 
 
 It is a matter for congratulation that seventy-seven 
 years ago there was born on this spot a child, who to-day 
 has come up hither in perfected manhood, with his noble 
 benefaction already conferred, while the benediction of his 
 presence offers such additional pleasure. I am prepared 
 to congratulate him, I can almost say envy him, for what 
 he has found purpose and means to do, in connection with 
 others, for his native town. If, according to the adage of 
 the ancients, it be sweet and honorable to die for one's 
 country, it certainly ought to be no less pleasant and 
 honorable for a man while living to do something to 
 beautify and enrich in things most excellect, for all time, 
 that particular section in his country which cradled him 
 in infancy and imparted to him these vital forces which so 
 materially aided in creating the manhood of later years. 
 How much subsequent life depends upon the birthplace. 
 The physical, moral, intellectual, are all toned by the 
 atmosphere of the place. Mountains, valleys, streams of 
 water, trees, flowers, birds, houses, churches, are constant 
 and efficient teachers. A person would be insensible to 
 the most important surroundings of his being who had no 
 love for his native town. Surely, if Mr. Goff had been 
 born any where else than just here, he would not have 
 been the man among us that he is to-day. 
 
 Nothing more beautifully reveals the spirit of Lamar- 
 tine, the French statesman and poet, than the story he 
 tells of his effort to portion oft and sell his paternal estate, 
 at Milly, when under the hard pressure of poverty. His
 
 HISTORIC HEnoP.oTn. To 
 
 tender associating was so inwrought with every foot and 
 yard that he rather surfer from want than to see the same 
 domain in the keeping of strangeis. A sacred sentiment 
 might not be exchanged for gold. The town, in our New 
 England, has had such a formative influence, in connec- 
 tion with all that is most excellent in the state and national 
 government, that it is only a just iccognition of such in- 
 fluences that prompts us to do what we can to perpetuate 
 the institutions of the town. 
 
 Happy, indeed, ought the man to esteem himself, who 
 aimed the decadence in the older portions of our country, 
 is enabled to do something for his native town, which 
 will serve to perpetuate her industries, maintain a spirit 
 of such enterprise among the young men as will hold 
 them to the farm, sufficiently, at least, to preserve the 
 blessings, beauties, and thrift of the past, in the rural dis- 
 tricts, down through succeeding ages. The decay of home- 
 steads which cluster around the country villages, always 
 offers a scene of sadness. Under the hand of a master 
 genius Sweet Auburn, the deserted village of Gold- 
 smith, made a beautiful poem but a gloomy picture. It 
 is well, it is well, therefore, that Mr. Goff has so nobly 
 met the claims of nativity ; that his birthplace is crowned 
 with a Memorial Hall. Here with the antiquarian room, 
 which will always offer object lessons to teach this and 
 the following generations how wisely and well their fathers 
 planned and toiled, with so few facilities to lift the burdens 
 from their own shoulders, will be found the library stored 
 with the best thoughts of all the ages, in close proximity 
 to the school room, where the young may be taught and 
 trained for the opening fields of usefulness ; and then the 
 spacious hall, where from time to time the thoughtful and 
 intelligent yeomanry will assemble to discuss the vital 
 questions of the hour, ever ruling wisely from the forum,
 
 so HISTORIC fix 
 
 however, such questions as how many hours constitute a 
 day for labor ; for what farmer does not know that labor 
 in the field requires all the time from sun to sun, and as 
 much more as the twilight may yield. If other young 
 men, who go away from home, will follow the example 
 here set and make their individual profit a gain to the 
 town in the end, they may depart ; otherwise let them 
 stay by the old acres and make them rich and fruitful. 
 
 Personally, I have an interest in this occasion that does 
 not appear on the surface. 
 
 In 1800 Rev. Otis Thompson was settled here as pastor. 
 Three years later the Rhode Island Home Missionary 
 Society was formed in Newport. Of this Society I have 
 been Secretary for the past ten years. Mr. Thompson 
 was one of the early friends and patrons of the Society. 
 The counsel and aid so timely bestowed by him may well 
 be remembered, as we note the ever widening work which 
 this agency has accomplished. Mr. Thompson had an 
 accomplished daughter; he had several, as is well known, 
 but I refer to Miss Fidelia. She became the wife of Rev. 
 Tyler Thacher. Mr. Thacher was the pastor of the church 
 in Hawley my native town --for several years. He 
 was a man of marked scholarship and high intellectual 
 ability, to whom I owed many of those better influences 
 which entered into my forming manhood. During a college 
 vacation his neice, then on a visit at the parsonage, accom- 
 panied him to an evening prayer meeting held at my 
 mother's cottage. An acquaintance then begun resulted in 
 that young lady becoming my wife, and who lias blessed 
 me in that relation for thirty-seven years just as much as 
 any man needs to be blessed. 
 
 Fidelia Thompson Thacher, when she removed to 
 Hawley, took with her the first piano forte that was ever 
 carried there. With her fine vocal and instrumental cul-
 
 HISTOKJC JJEHOnoTH. 81 
 
 ture she gathered the young about her and her home 
 became the centre of attraction, and she also kindly con- 
 sented to take her place in the choir and lead in the service 
 of song in the sanctury. She fell a victim to consumption 
 in the bloom of years, passing away too soon, alas ! for 
 those who so tenderly loved and relied upon her, but, as 
 the sequel proved, none too soon to save her motherly 
 affection from the sore bereavement which awaited her 
 household, as one after another her three sons came to an 
 untimely death by drowning, sunstroke and the bludgeon 
 of an Indian. How often in later years, when revisiting 
 the scenes of my youth, has the memory of this dear 
 friend been replete with pleasure. Late though it be, 
 Hawley thanks Rehoboth for giving them such a pastor's 
 wife. 
 
 Some two years ago, when tracing the early life of 
 the late Amos D. Lockwood, of such honored memory, it 
 was discovered that it was in this town that he began his 
 business life in the employ of the firm of Peck & Wilkin- 
 son, and while the healthful influences that surrounded 
 him there shaped admirably his character as a man, he 
 was no less fortunate in being under the pastoral care of 
 the Rev. Thomas Vernon, who led him tenderly and wisely 
 to the beginning of a Christian life. Mr. Goff, your towns- 
 man, who has the seat of honor to-day, I have known, 
 happily, for years, and have sought his aid in benevolent 
 work, always with a prompt and hearty response. 
 
 Your pastor, too, who is so important a factor in all 
 that has been and is in connection with this day's trans- 
 acting, is no stranger to me. Through his counsel and 
 benevolent deeds my labors have been lightened and my 
 pleasure enhanced. The speed with which, in company 
 with the honored President of Brown University, I came 
 to this gathering, evinces how well he knows how to help
 
 HISTORIC KEIIOBOTI1. 
 
 one on in the world. Allow me to express the thought, 
 in concluding, that any town which has such a Memorial 
 Hall as this, inscribed with the name of a son so worthy, 
 and has for a pastor such a man as Rev. George H. Tilton, 
 who knows so well how to husband and use all valuable 
 things, ought to regard itself as extremely fortunate. 
 May your stream of blessings continue to flow in all 
 affluence. 
 
 ADDRESS OF HON. CHARLES A. REED, SECRETARY 
 OF THE OLD COLONY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : A native of 
 the ancient town of Weymouth, the first settlement in 
 Massachusetts, it is with pleasure I address you on this 
 historic occasion, as the representatives of Rehoboth, the 
 first migration from that historic settlement of the Bay. 
 No town in Massachusetts better exhibits the phases of 
 municipal history peculiar to a New England town than 
 Rehoboth. Removed from the new civilization based upon 
 organized, incorporated, mechanical industry the cotton 
 mill, the railroad, the machine shop, and its counterpart, 
 the political organization, the city pursuing rather the 
 industries and customs which spring from the farm, and 
 therefore adhering to the township traits of early New 
 Kngland life, it is interesting in the light of the history of 
 ancient Rehoboth to consider the relation of the town 
 government to the State : In the colonial period extending 
 from 1645 to 1691 ; in the provincial period extending 
 from 1691 to 17/5 ; and in the Commonwealth period ex- 
 tending from 1775 to the present time. 
 
 The wilderness of " Secunke " was first broken by the 
 Englishmen, in the person of the eccentric Blackstone, 
 who, having abandoned the mother country to escape the
 
 I1ISTORIC HEUOnOTH. 33 
 
 tyranny of the Lord Bishops, fled thither to escape the 
 tyranny of the Lord Brethren at Trimountain (Boston) in 
 the Bay, and afterwards by the contumacious Roger 
 Williams, whose last refuge from the imaginary enemies 
 that he unwittingly stirred up by his intemperate theolo- 
 gical zeal was close by at the mouth of the Mosshassack, 
 where Providence now stands. Neither of these persons 
 contemplated a settlement, a plantation, a town. Other 
 interests led to the permanent settlement of Seekonk, 
 yet peculiar to those times. 
 
 Two distinct, independent colonies had located here 
 the colony of New Plymouth without any territorial 
 limits, an original trading venture, holding its property in 
 common, without plantation designs, but permanently 
 divorced from the Old World by separatist principles and 
 imbrued with heroic virtues the colony of Massachu- 
 setts Bay having territorial limits ; westerly by the South 
 Sea, and northerly and southerly by bounds of which 
 they knew at first but little more, but with potential 
 designs of fixed and permanent settlement of a marked 
 English type. Each by charter and by treaty came early 
 to an adjustment of their adjacent boundaries. The Gene- 
 ral Court of Massachusetts Bay, June 2d, 1641, "ordered 
 that Secunke near New Providence should be accepted 
 under our government if it fall not in Plimouth Patent," 
 and " Mr. James Parker is appointed to go to Plimouth to 
 see their patent and take a coppey of it." 
 
 This James Parker was the Deputy from \Yeymouth 
 and was moving in the interest of certain persons in Wey- 
 mouth and Hingham, induced by two other Deputies of 
 the Massachusetts General Court Joseph Peck and Ste- 
 phen Paine leading members of the Bare Cove planta- 
 tion (Hingham.) At this early day the ancient plantation 
 at Weymouth suffered from three contending factions with
 
 84 HISTORIC REUOBOTH. 
 
 divers persons in the adjoining plantation of Hingham of 
 like sympathies, and one of those factions under the vio- 
 lent pressure of the other parties, and lacking the sym- 
 pathy of the Government of the Bay, was preparing to 
 emigrate to this wilderness. This appears from the Ply- 
 mouth Records, 6 July, 1641 : 
 
 "Mr. Parker, of Weymouth, had a view of the patent and that clause 
 in writing \vcli concerned the bound from Narragansett Bay to the utmost 
 pts and limmits of the country called Fockanockett. In regard to the Bay 
 men would have had Secquncke from us." 
 
 Again the trace of the same movement appears in the 
 Record, 2 August, 1642, Plymouth Records : 
 
 " There was a request made by some to sit down at Sickuneke of II ing- 
 ham. The names of those are John Porter, Thomas Lorine, .Stephen 
 Payne.'' 
 
 This Stephen Payne was the Deputy from Hingham in 
 the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, with James 
 Parker who was pressing for the Weymouth discontents. 
 It appearing that Seekonk was within the Plymouth 
 patent, the aid of John Brown, a leading assistant of the 
 Plymouth Court, and who had had some differences as to 
 lands at Duxbury, was invoked. John Brown had shown 
 his leaning toward the wilderness by moving to " Cohan- 
 net," now Taunton, about 1640, whither he afterwards 
 moved to Wannamoiset, and under his powerful encourage- 
 ment the original planters of Reboboth organized at 
 Weymouth October 24, 1643, and among their number 
 were the minister of the Weymouth church, Samuel New- 
 man, and Joseph Peck and Stephen Payne, of Hingham. 
 These four persons John Brown, Samuel Newman, 
 Joseph Peck and Stephen Payne are the real originators 
 and founders of Rehoboth. The original designation of 
 territory for the new plantation of Seekonk was thus made
 
 in 1641 by John Brown and James Parker, being "a tract 
 eight miles square," by a purchase from Osamequin, alias 
 Massasoit, in the interest of the Weymouth dissentients, 
 but the principal promoters of this new departure were 
 Stephen Paine and Joseph Peck, of Hingham, and subse- 
 quent purchases extended these bounds so that it had 
 " Cohannet " (Taunton) on the north, the undetermined 
 Massachusetts Colony line on the west, and southerly and 
 easterly Mount Hope and Narragansctt Bays, excluding 
 the Indian occupation at Mount Hope. The township 
 was organized under the jurisdiction of New Plymouth in 
 1645, and the political status of the new town was fixed 
 by the orders of Court which ruled the Old Colony. 
 
 Much learning has in these later times been expended 
 upon the Teutonic origin of the New England town. The 
 town meeting has been styled " the primordial cell of our 
 body-politic," and the town has been declared in its first 
 inception as an "independent incorporated republic." 
 While we recognize the -peculiar excellence of the New 
 England system of "town" government, we claim that 
 the scholastic theories which have been applied to this 
 political growth of many generations are not historic facts- 
 All the towns of the Old Colony organized in the colonial 
 period, that is, before the union of the two colonies in 
 1691, were organized under the principles set out in the 
 orders of the Court at New Plimouth, February 4, 1638-9, 
 and this includes "Rehoboth." This is as follows : 
 
 A form of the deputation or commit!. 'cship where \vth any >hall bee in- 
 trusted by the govern! for the desposall of any land> wth in any prnllt-r 
 place or line wth well is or shall bee thought innte for the erecting of a 
 Planttaoon, neighborhood, colon;,, township or cnniMx.vjoii \\ith in thU 
 Government. 
 
 Whereas, our Sovcregne Lord, the King, i- pleased to betntM u-> - 
 
 \vth the govinent of so many of his subjects as doc or shall
 
 86 HISTORIC RElIOBOTn. 
 
 pmitted to live in this govnient of \cw 1'lyui and that it seemeth good 
 unto us to begin, set up and establish a neighborhood, or plantacon at a 
 
 place called being bounded and lying miles westward from 
 
 sd towue of New Plym, and 
 
 Whereas, by reason of the distance of place; and our many weighty 
 occasions, we cannot so well see to tbe receiving in of such psons as may 
 be fitt to live together there in the fear of God and obeydjenre to our 
 Sovereign? Lord, the King, in peace and love as becometh Christian 
 people, all which we earnestly desire, that our care -therefore may appear 
 in the fa/thful discharge of our duties towards God, the King's majesty 
 and the people whereof we are, we have thought good to betrust our well 
 beloved with receiving in such people unto them as may 
 
 make good our desires before expressed, and therefore require of the said 
 
 that all and every of them be conscionably faythful and 
 
 carefull as well to receive in peaceable and faythful people according to 
 their best discerning, as also faythfully to dispose of such equal and fitt 
 persons of lands unto them and enough of them as the several! estates, 
 ranks and qualities of such persons as the Almighty in His providence, 
 shall send in amongst them shall require, that so we may comfortably 
 ratyfye and continue such por'jons of lands as they shall allot and set 
 forth in our behalf to all and every one that shall be admitted into their 
 societie with in their srl limmittsand bounds, that so we may be free from 
 all manner of complts and troubles thereupon well may cause us to alter 
 anything wch may seem unjustly or indiscreetly assigned by them or any 
 or said deputies or committees, provided always that the said 
 
 reserve for our disposal at least acres of good land with meadows 
 
 competent in place convenient and be lyable from tyme to tyme and at nil 
 tymes to receive and follow such good and wholesome instruction as they 
 'dial! receive and follow for the (iovment about the well ordering of the 
 of the neighborhood in conformitie to such good and - holesome laws, or- 
 dinances and offices as are or shall be established under our Sovereigne 
 Lord the. King within. 
 
 This :!d govt of New Plymouth. 
 
 The Court in anticipation of extended settlements had 
 before ordered : 
 
 "That the chief government be tied to the town of Plymouth, and that, 
 the governor for the time being be tied there to keep his residence and 
 dwelling." 
 
 Under this theory of local government Rehoboth was
 
 iris ronic RE n on o TIL s : 
 
 in 1645 established. The first recognition of the com- 
 munity appears in the appointment of a constable. The 
 formal recognition of the township organization appears 
 in the receiving of Deputies to the Court at Plymouth and 
 the approval of the "townsmen," or as subsequently they 
 came to be termed "selectmen." Generally the functions 
 now exercised by the various town officers familiar to this 
 generation, were assigned to certain inhabitants for the 
 care and construction of ways, the providing for the poor, 
 the assessment of taxes, the administration of justice in 
 small causes, etc., but in the Old Colony the Court at 
 Plymouth yearly confirmed all appointments of local offi- 
 cers in the townships and exercised constant supervision 
 of all their proceedings. The organization now known as 
 the town, with its local powers of self-government, existed 
 only in its fiist beginnings, and rather by way of necessity. 
 There is no question, however, that local government in 
 the towns was constantly acquiring strength and adding 
 to its powers during the whole period of about fifty years, 
 partly from their isolated position and the emergencies of 
 Indian hostilities, partly from the examples of the planters 
 at Providence, who there maintained a heterogeneous, tur- 
 bulent democracy, in which each individual assumed the 
 largest measure of personal sovereignty, and partly from 
 the established powers of towns at the Bay, where most of 
 the settlers had come. 
 
 The Colony of Massachusetts Bay at an early clay out- 
 stripped New Plymouth in numbers and resources, and 
 thereupon assumed political influence and authority over 
 the adjoining Old Colony, which was greatly increased by 
 the confederation necessary for defense against the In- 
 dians, as a common enemy. Thus the organic foundations 
 of the town at the Bay gradually extended to the Old 
 Colony in the .Massachusetts Bay. At a " Genall Court
 
 B8 HISTORIC REIIOHOTII. 
 
 holden at Nevvtowne," March 3, 1635, ^e record shows : 
 
 " Whereas, pticuler townes have many thing well concerne only them- 
 selves * * * it is therefore ordered that the ffremen of every towne 
 or the main pie of them * * * choose their owne ptieular officers as 
 constahles, surveyors for the highways and the like/' 
 
 The predominating influence of the Bay, over the 
 smaller adjoining colony did not stop with simply the ex- 
 ample, potential as this doubtless was. The General 
 Court of the Bay advised the Old Colony as to matters of 
 its internal government of morals and religion. The 
 secession from Weymouth to Rehoboth carried that party 
 from the Bay who were too radical in faith for those of 
 Massachusetts, and the assistant, John Brown, held like 
 liberal sentiments. 
 
 Thus the Anabaptists became a large element in its 
 population at a very early date and gave the Bay authori- 
 ties great concern. A letter written from the General 
 Court to Plimouth, "for preventing ye groeth of errors," 
 shows this supervision : 
 
 October IS. ll!4!>: 
 Honored and beloved brethren 
 
 \V: have heard heretofore of diverse annabaptists ari/.in up in yonr 
 jurasdicon and connived at * * * Particularly wee understand that 
 within this few weeks there have been at Seccuncke thirteene or four- 
 tecne psons rebapti/ed, (a swift progress in one towne) yet we heare not 
 if any effectual restriecon is extended thereabouts. The infecoon of such 
 diseases being so neare us are likely to spread into our jurisdiccon. tmir 
 tuaresatfitur paries cum ttntfiinix itnlf't. Wee are united by confederacy, 
 by faith, by neighborhood, by fellowship in our sufferings as exiles, and 
 by oilier Christian bonds, and wee hope neither Satan nor any of his 
 instruments shall by this or any other errors disunite us, and that wee 
 shall never have eaiise to repent us of our so neare conjunction with 
 you.'' 
 
 These and other causes make it clear that the township 
 of Kehoboth, under the jurisdiction of the Old Colony, 
 had grown into a larger independence than prevailed else-
 
 I1ISTOKICJ REIIonoTH. 89 
 
 where in that colony, and it was thus early marked by 
 that ecclesiastical freedom then existing in the dismem- 
 bered settlements adjoining, which afterwards became the 
 Providence Plantations. The consolidation of the two 
 colonies of Massachusetts Bay and New Plymonth into 
 one real province by the name of the Province of Massa- 
 chusetts Bay, under the charter of 1691, invested Reho- 
 both with all the functions which had by a like but faster 
 growth attached to the towns of the Bay. These func- 
 tions or powers of local government in the town were at 
 the first session of the General Court after the organiza- 
 tion of the new provincial government, under the charter 
 of 1691, fully set forth in an act passed November 16, 
 1692-3, entitled "An Act for Regulating of Townships, 
 Choice of Town Officers, and Setting forth their Power." 
 This act is one of the most important landmarks in our 
 municipal history, showing the advance made toward local 
 government in towns and by comparison with subsequent 
 legislation and history, and showing how far the authority 
 then established falls short of the enlarged powers attained 
 by the towns at the time when the present constitution 
 was established in 1780. 
 
 From 1700 to 1775 there was a constant growth in the 
 functions of the town government, owing largely to the 
 town being made the unit in military organization, and at 
 the latter portion of this period arising from the use of 
 the town government to promote the popular discontent 
 against the authority of the crown. In this way the town 
 meeting became the most important factor in securing 
 the independence of the colonies from the English crown 
 in Massachusetts, and the influences thus exerted ex- 
 tended to all the other colonies, so that it may justly be 
 said that the national independence may be ascribed to 
 the New England town meeting. It is not, therefore, sur-
 
 00 HISTORIC E 
 
 prising that the constitution of Massachusetts established 
 in 1780, while the contest was pending by which the right 
 of the Commonwealth to be " a free, foreign and inde- 
 pendent body politic or state " was to be determined, 
 should found its " representation of the people to be an- 
 nually elected on the principal of equality " upon the 
 town organizations, and thus Rehoboth retained its repre- 
 sentation as a unit of political power in the state from 
 1645 until the constitutional amendments made in 1855, a 
 period of 210 years. 
 
 Time will allow but a "brief reference to Rehoboth in 
 the Commonwealth period. At the begining of the pres- 
 ent century Rehoboth held the first place in population 
 and influence in southeastern Massachusetts. In the 
 census of 1800 it had the largest population of any town 
 in Bristol County. Population and political power move 
 and aggregate on lines of public travel and intercommuni- 
 cation. The energy and enterprise of Massachusetts for 
 the first twenty years of this century were expended on 
 the construction of highways. The turnpike, now for- 
 gotten, determined the growth of the town. For a time 
 the public attention was devoted to canals, and the State 
 and general government were involved in schemes to unite 
 the waters of Massachusetts and Narragansett Bays. 
 This was succeeded by the system of railroads which have 
 marvelously developed the energies and affected the public 
 and political status of the town, and we now are entering 
 upon a new system of electric intercommunication, which 
 opens up for the future new and still more surprising 
 changes in the movements of human industry. 
 
 The avenues of life and enterprise have changed also 
 from the farm to the workshop. The farmer has given 
 place to the wage laborer ami the mill hand. The herds 
 and crops of the farm have given place to the incorporated
 
 HISTORIC RKIlonOTlI. 91 
 
 capital of the manufacturer. The town has given place to 
 the city. These new factors of modern life have had an 
 important bearing on the growth of Rehoboth during the 
 present century. Especially have the interests of Reho- 
 both as a town been seriously affected by the transfer of 
 a portion of her original domain to a foreign jurisdiction, 
 justified by no sound policy, private or public, nor by any 
 substantial claim of title either in history or justice. 
 These influences though they have impared the authority 
 of this ancient town in the councils of the State, have in 
 no measure diminished that attachment for the old town 
 government prevading her sons and daughters, whether 
 residing within her narrowed limits or wandering into the 
 outside arena of business life and enterprise. With glad- 
 ness they do and ever shall return to the homestead of 
 their youth, bearing these memorial tributes to the Old 
 Colony history of this ancient town. 
 
 Next, to the tune of " Auld Lang Syne," was sung the 
 following very appropriate Dedication Hymn, written for 
 the occasion by Mrs. Lucy 1-5. Sweet, of Attleboro : 
 
 [Lucy Bliss Sweet, the author of the following hymn, a lineal descend- 
 ant of William Carpenter and Thomas I>li- two of the original found- 
 ers of the town was horn in llehohoth village on the >pot now occupied 
 by the house of .John C. Marvel, Esq.. Auuust 1. ISi'l. and is the daughter 
 of Joseph and Xancy M. (Bullock) Carpenter. Her father was the son of 
 James and Lucy (Bliss) Carpenter, and eldest urandchild of Co!. Thoma.-; 
 Carpenter, of Revolutionary fame, ami was himself a soldier and pensioner 
 of IMi'. He died in Attleboro November ]'2. issn, in the ninety-second 
 year of his ap;e, and his wife May 4. the same year, a^ed >7. after a union 
 of more than sixty-seven years. Lucy B. Carpenter was married in ]^~>\ 
 Everett Leprilete Sweet, of Attleboro. win-re she ha> since resided. 
 Evincing a talent for putting her thoughts in rhyme, and inherit inu a 
 larjje share of love and loyalty to home and country, -lie has been the 
 author of many poems of a patriotic and -ocial nature: also from early 
 youth a constant contributor to local papers of articles on a \ariety of 
 subjects of public interest, and is an earnest support er of bene\olent and 
 reformatory work by example and pen. j
 
 02 HISTORIC REHOBOTH. 
 
 DEDICATION HYMN. 
 (Tune, Auld Lany ftync.) 
 
 Come friends and neighbors, kindred all, 
 
 To join in sweet accord; 
 Come Memory, a welcome gtiest, 
 
 Inspire each voice and word, 
 In praise and prayer and gratitude 
 
 To ev'ry heart and hand 
 That wrought in love, so skillfully, 
 
 This goodly building planned. 
 
 Sacred may it forever be 
 
 To all, in age or youth, 
 Who seek to rind within its walls 
 
 The precious germs of truth. 
 May wisdom's golden grains abound 
 
 To 'nrichthis ancient town: 
 God of our fathers, let thy love 
 
 Each day and labor crown. 
 
 The heart goes back to other days 
 
 When by yon river's side 
 We played, who now are growing grey, 
 
 Yet view this work with pride; 
 May we. when time shall be no more. 
 
 Join with the ransomed throng. 
 Where naught our perfect joy shall mar 
 
 In an unbroken song. 
 
 The impressive dedication exercises of the morning 
 ended with the benediction. 
 
 INTERMISSION. 
 
 At the close, the large concourse of people passed from 
 the hall and assembled in social groups, some in the anti- 
 quarian room, some in the library, and more out on the 
 ample lawn. One of the articles added to the library that 
 clay was a fine revolving book case, presented by Mr. 
 Gustavus B. Peck. An early call to dinner met a ready 
 response, and hundreds of guests passsed down into the
 
 HISTORIC REHOBOTH. 93 
 
 cool, dry and well lighted basement, where a most excel- 
 lent dinner of salads, cakes, ices, fruit, etc., was waiting. 
 After dinner the speakers and invited guests were gath- 
 ered on the lawn and faced the dread instrument of the 
 photographer. Gathering strength from numbers, not a 
 man forsook his post. The narrator will leave the com- 
 pany to their postprandial diversions, and again turn his 
 attention to biography. As Rev. Mr. Tilton's directive 
 power was the alpha and omega of the dedication pro- 
 gramme, his biography may be appropriately inserted 
 here as the connecting link between the morning and 
 afternoon exercises. 
 
 REV. GEORGE HENRY TILTON, A. M. 
 
 Rev. George Henry Tilton, A. M., son of William 
 Wells and Sarah Ann (Morrill) Tilton, was born in Nashua, 
 N. II., January 31, 1845. Soon after, his parents moved 
 to Concord, N. H., and still later to Hopkincon, where 
 most of his childhood was spent. Besides the district 
 schools, he attended the Contoocook and Hopkinton 
 academies and spent one term at the Rumford Grammar 
 school in Concord, where he enjoyed the faithful instruc- 
 tion of Mr. James W. Webster. He fitted for college at 
 Williston seminary, Easthampton, graduating in 1866. 
 He graduated from Amherst College in 1870, and from 
 Andover Theological Seminary in 1873. Was ordained 
 at Hopkinton, N. H., June 4, 1873. Afterward he en- 
 joyed a course in medicine in New York city. In 1874 
 he organized the Central Congregational Church at Attle- 
 boro Falls, and remained with the church until the dedi- 
 cation of the new church edifice in May, 1875. Preached 
 at Wolfboro, N. H., from the autumn of 1875 to the 
 summer of 1877, during which period there was an exten-
 
 94 HISTORIC It E HO BO TIL 
 
 sive revival of religion in the town. On account of ex- 
 haustion from overwork he left Wolfboro, and spent several 
 months in rest. 
 
 He began his very successful pastorate at Rehoboth in 
 October, 1877, whither he moved January I, 1878. After 
 preaching five years, he was installed over the Congrega- 
 tional Church November 2, 1882. His pastorate has been 
 one of marked success and unusual harmony. In public 
 affairs he has shown the interest of a whole hearted man 
 and a public spirited citizen not the least of his enter- 
 prises being the building of the Memorial Hall. In a 
 speech that follows a deserved tribute is paid him by one 
 best qualified to spe'ak. He was married June 6, 1876, to 
 Ella Minerva, daughter of Thomas Stanley and Minerva 
 Wheaton (Freeman) Mann, of Attleboro Falls, Mass. They 
 have three children.
 
 Exercises. 
 
 But neither the epicurean delights of the dinner, the 
 wonderful and Various treasurers of the antiquarian room, 
 nor the charms of pleasant converse and companionship 
 made people forget the hour of the afternoon exercises. 
 The hall was filled as in the morning, a decrease of num- 
 bers being shown rather in an increased comfort among 
 
 o o 
 
 the audience than by vacant seats. The speakers, like 
 the victims designed in olden time to amuse the 
 Roman populace, were on exhibition upon the platform. 
 In introducing the afternoon programme, Mr. Whitman 
 Chase, of Harvard College, read the appropriate poem 
 here appended : 
 
 [Whitman Chase, author of the poem of the afternoon, is the son 
 of dipt. Whitman and Mehitahle I). Chase, and was horn in North 
 Diifhton October '27. 1S<>7. He graduated from Bristol Academy. Tann" 
 ton, and entered Harvard College without conditions at the aire of seven- 
 teen. JFe takes j^reat interest in literary studies, and has already shown 
 marked ability in that direction.! 
 
 LINKS ON THE DEDICATION OF (iOFF'.S MEMORIAL HALL. 
 
 Though prosy praters ridicule 
 
 The poet's product and his rhythmic rule, 
 
 And vote to him the lowest place 
 
 In arts -'-hieh benefit our race. 
 
 A man of can 1 and thoughtful mind.
 
 s)(! 7/7,9 TOEIC RE HOB TIL 
 
 If ho should study deep, would find 
 How much the gift of rhyming tends 
 To aid and cheer and teach, and lends 
 A harmony, a condiment, to season life, 
 And gives a respite in its eager strife. 
 
 From earliest times the usage came, 
 
 (Since David dared the Lord proclaim; 
 
 Since Homer lived, and Sappho's lyre 
 
 Inflamed the Grecian heart with fire; 
 
 Since Norland Skalds their sages sang, 
 
 Since Welsh and Scottish ballads rang 
 
 Throughout their native hills, imparting power 
 
 To warriors in the needful hour. 
 
 Since then, whene'er a work of note 
 
 The assembled public gather to promote, 
 
 Or column raised, or victory won, 
 
 Or public edifice begun, 
 
 Straightway the poet summons up his skill 
 
 To charm or sicken, or to cure or kill: 
 
 This custom prompts, nor worth of ryhme. 
 
 To dare intrude upon your time. 
 
 Who. since the last revolving year 
 
 Has run its course, has chanced to hear 
 
 Kehoboth named, but failed to hear the hall'.' 
 
 Already part and parcel of the all, 
 
 We meet to dedicate in formal way, 
 
 A source of pride this offering of to-day. 
 
 1'i-ide'.' Yes, for though you take a large amount. 
 
 In well-tilled farms, or lengthy bank account. 
 
 Knlightment a worthier cause can show, 
 
 And public spirit more pretension know. 
 
 What good can wholly selfish breathing give'.' 
 
 For merely to exist is half to live: 
 
 A::d half to live is not to live at all: 
 
 A rather faulty logic you may call 
 
 Such reasoning, still, must you not confess 
 
 It does a little truth express'.' 
 
 Accomplishment is reached at last, 
 
 Knjoyment comes, the labor's past: 
 
 This day's momentous deed will crown 
 
 An epoch in the annals of the town, 
 
 And se;tms hence von'll hear vour townsmen sav
 
 ms TOJJIC T? EJIO r> o TIL 9 : 
 
 When calling up some old occurrence laid away 
 In blank forget ful ness: '' It happened in tlic fall 
 Of 'S5, the year they built the hall. 
 
 Here let me leave the usual road 
 
 Of (ravel to relate an episode: 
 
 One day in sore perplex, Minerva came 
 
 To grimy Vulcan's drear abode of tluine. 
 
 With troubled brow the aired man bespoke 
 
 And tints essayed assistance to invoke 
 
 " Alas, that Jove assigned to me 
 
 The care and \veal of human destiny: 
 
 It grieves me much to see men raise. 
 
 Huge towers of stone in other's praise. 
 
 And strive to build, with precious means and moil, 
 
 A useful 'work which scarce requites their toil. 
 
 Xow lend your aid. some well-wrought plan devi.-e 
 
 To show these mortals where their error lies. 
 
 And thus employ your wisdom, learned of years. 
 
 To loose my cares and cease mv flow of tears." 
 
 Long pondered Vulcan o'er his art. 
 
 Long sought the wished for service to impart, 
 
 Till many an age of short enduring man 
 
 Had seen the day. and passed its earthly span: 
 
 Tntil he gained the precious prize he sought. 
 
 I'util IK- reared with matchless labor fraught, 
 
 I'pon a solid fundament of stone. 
 
 A structure not for ornament alone. 
 
 Though made with beauty, and with art combined, 
 
 But still suggestive, useful, fitting, well designed. 
 
 And high relieved upon the outward wall. 
 
 He wrote the legend. " Ooff '> Mem. .rial Hall." 
 
 PRESENTATION OF REV. MR. TILTON'S PORTRAIT. 
 
 After the adjournment of the morning session a member 
 of the committee of arrangement sought a private inter- 
 view with Dr. Taylor, and communicated the fact that, 
 entirely unbeknown to Air. Tilton, an excellent likeness 
 of him had been procured by several ot his friends, which 
 they proposed to have presented early in the ex- 
 ercises in the afternoon, and thev desired him to render
 
 OR UJSfORIfJ ti 
 
 the approptiate service. Matters were arranged accord- 
 ingly. At the conclusion of the poem, Mr. Tilton, 
 the moderator, was requested to suspend for a little the 
 regular order of exercises that a brief statement might be 
 made by another. The portrait in the meantime had 
 quietly been brought in closely veiled. Dr. Taylor re- 
 quested the covering to be removed in the presence of 
 the audience, and accompanied the transaction with a 
 brief address to the unconscious victim of the embarrass- 
 ing surprise : 
 
 MY DEAR SIR:- -In the profession we are called to 
 serve, one of the most pleasing and gratifying rewards of 
 our labor is derived from these expressions of gratitude 
 and fond esteem which we are permitted from time to 
 time to receive. Burdens are rendered easy, labors light, 
 as hearts of affection respond so cordially to earnest en- 
 deavors for their good. These sacred fountains of abid- 
 ing joy are opened to the ministry as no where else. In 
 his walks of usefulness the person of the pastor becomes 
 at length associated with the most hallowed things in the 
 sanctuary and the home, and his countenance as the bene- 
 diction of an angel of God, and everywhere there springs 
 up a strong desire to retain the sacred image. 
 
 And so it comes to pass that I have this pleasant sur- 
 prise for you, and it suits well my spirit of revenge to 
 return your own methods when you made me wonder and 
 weep as the results of your generous deedsjwere revealed. 
 Behold this picture! What say you to its fidelity to the 
 original ? Can you see yourself as others see you ? 
 
 Your friends think the likeness excellent. They hope 
 it will seem perfect in your own eyes. It is not so much a 
 treasure for to-day as for future times. Those who are 
 about you now prefer the living, abiding original. But
 
 IllS'l'OltlC HK 
 
 when you will not be here, and the story of your work is 
 told to the children, how happy they will be to point to 
 this canvass and say there is the likeness of the good 
 man. Please accept this token of their loving regard, 
 and let it adorn the walls of this Memorial Hall, where 
 your abundant and successful labors arc so manifest, anil 
 may the memory of this tender scene, and this so appro- 
 priate transaction, remain with you as a source of abiding 
 joy through all days. 
 
 Mr. Tilton in response said : If I am expected to reply to 
 this speech I shall disappoint you. If I have ever been 
 taken by surprise it is now. I don't know what I can say, 
 my heart is so touched by this token of your affection. I 
 will not attempt to make a speech ; I will only say from 
 my heart I thank you, and may God bless you always. 
 
 MR. DAVID A. WALDRON'S TRIBUTE. 
 
 Mr. David A. Waldron, President of the Harrington 
 Historic Antiquarian Society, being called upon, spoke of 
 the influence which such a society and such a building 
 would have in years to come, not only upon the inhabi- 
 tants of the good old town of Rehoboth, but as a pebble 
 cast into the sea causes its pulse to beat until its vibra- 
 tions reached the shores of other lands, so other com- 
 munities would be blessed by this enterprise. His own 
 town had already been provoked to good works by the 
 example set them by this society, through whose efforts we 
 see such results to-day. 
 
 A little more than a year ago, in driving through this 
 village, he met the President of your Society, who in- 
 vited him to visit the antiquarkm room, then located in a 
 building near by not such an imposing edifice as we 
 find here to-day but it made such an impression upon
 
 100 HISTORIC REHOBOTH. 
 
 his mind of the magnitude of the work which had been 
 inaugrated that soon after measures were taken to organ- 
 nize a society in Harrington, and in recognition of the debt 
 for the example thus set they have seen fit to make the 
 Rev. George H. Tilton, President of the Rehoboth Society, 
 an honorary member of the Society in Harrington. He 
 presented Mr. Tilton with a finely engraved certificate of 
 membership, properly signed, bearing the State arms, a 
 picture of the building which the Society hope soon to 
 have erected, drawn by .the same architects who made the 
 plans for the " Goff Memorial," and also the significant 
 seal of the Society. 
 
 Mr. Tilton then resumed his duties as chairman, and 
 with grateful compliment and in fitting terms presented 
 the speakers of the afternoon. As the time was limited 
 all spoke briefly and without notes. Their addresses ap- 
 pear in the order in which they were given: 
 
 RESPONSE OF GEN. OLNEY ARNOLD. 
 I received a notice from my friend Mr. Goff my young 
 friend I should have said a week ago and the pro- 
 gramme gave me a great deal of pleasure. The number 
 of distinguished names upon it assured me that it would 
 be an intellectual feast, and I have realized it to the full- 
 est extent of my anticipations. It also gave me another 
 pleasure and that was, that I was relieved from the 
 anxiety that I might have felt at the bare possibility of 
 being called upon to say something on the occasion. My 
 personal friends in Pawtucket know that for a few years 
 past, on occasions like this, I have armed myself with a 
 doggeral poem, and when the time came I read it, and I 
 have never been called upon by the same parties a second 
 time. I have never tried it here and I greatly regret that 
 I am without that weapon of defense. Mr, Chairman, it
 
 ///.S'7'0/,'/." /,'/,'// 0/,'OYV/. 101 
 
 was very kind of you, I know, to call upon me after the 
 distinguished and cultured gentlemen who have spoken 
 to-day, so much to the satisfaction of all. 
 
 ADDRESS BY EDGAR PERRY. 
 
 I wish, first of all, to thank your President for intro- 
 ducing me as "a native of Rehoboth." In this presence 
 and on this occasion who could ask a higher enco- 
 mium ? True, his reference to my adoption by another 
 municipality disturbed me tor a moment, until I reflected 
 that Attleborough is a daughter of Rehoboth, and that I, 
 therefore, had simply changed from a son to a grandson a 
 relationship which many have proved brings them just as 
 near the grand-dame's heart. 
 
 And yet with all the honors which accrue to the origi- 
 nal household to-day, we of Attleborough, Cumberland, old 
 Seekonk and Swansea, have no apology to offer for the 
 daughters' estates. \Ye hold rather that Attleborough's 
 hundred jewelery firms ; Cumberland's daily product of 
 150,000 yards of cloth; the vared industries of Paw- 
 tucket to the chiefest of which this Memorial owes so 
 much together with the thriving business at Rumford, 
 and the prosperous husbandry of Seekonk and Swansea, 
 do not rival each other nor the mother town, but together 
 contribute to that honor which to-day covers in benedic- 
 tion all the original boundaries of the ancient colony. 
 Our interests are those of a common household, reciprocal 
 and interdependent. 
 
 So, in imagination, we may consider ourselves at a p,rancl 
 family reunion. The maternal township of Rehoboth, with 
 eye undimned and natural force unabated, receives here at 
 the old homestead, which some of her many sons remain 
 to till, the four daughters whom she married to brave and
 
 102 HISTOKH'' ItKllOIlOTH. 
 
 virtuous citizenship years ago. All are still young, and 
 with their large families are present to-day in festive mood 
 and holiday attire. 
 
 One has driven hither in her own equipage behind a 
 dashing span of greys. Even a casual glance shows that 
 both carriage and horses have been selected with an 
 appreciative eye. Her dress tells us she is no stranger 
 in Gotham, and her speech that she has ready intercourse 
 with the Hub. She sinks gracefully into the easy chair 
 procured expressly for this occasion, with the unconscious 
 air of one who is used to the good things of life at home. 
 With a loving, generous smile, which rejoices in the evi- 
 dent prosperity of her kindred, she asks after the health 
 of the household. The book she selects from the centre 
 table evinces a taste for good reading, and .she joins the 
 conversation in a way that shows wide information and a 
 practical shrewdness which marks her as her mother's 
 own child. In a spirit more of loyalty to the handicraft 
 of her sons than of an}- weak, personal vanity, she has 
 adorned herself with bracelets, ear-drops, pins and rings, 
 and, as she sees her Puritan mother viewing the finery 
 with a suggestion of reproach, she rises and gives her a 
 hearty "smack," and, with a twinkle in her eye that dis- 
 arms the satire, says : 
 
 Jc-.vds arc IwuMrs: 'tin a .MM 
 
 To care for Midi unfruitful Iliiu^-: 
 
 < Mir uood si/rd diamond in a pin 
 SoiTii-. not so lari;i'. in rii:^- 
 
 A rulty and a |irarl or --o. 
 
 Will do for inr: -[ l.nmh at M"IOU !" 
 
 The daughter from the neighboring estate disregards 
 diamonds, but we hasten to say from no sense of poverty, 
 for she has a 1)1,1111011(1 Ilill on her premises. But when a 
 mere girl she evinced a fondness lor machinery, and used
 
 ic luinonoTn. m:t 
 
 always to spin the Hax and wool for the household. And 
 when she married and settled over by the Blackstone, she 
 quickly saw the benefits of applying water power to 
 weaving, and now her Lonsdale mills make cloth for the 
 whole country. She may notice with satisfaction that the 
 granite posts by the roadside came from her own quarries, 
 and the horse shoe over the door from her forges at Valley 
 Falls. She is a quiet, industrious body, and, possibly 
 busy in designing some new fabric, takes very little share 
 in the conversation until the labor question is broached. 
 Then she shows she has decided opinions and can make 
 them heard and felt. We can believe her sentiments 
 voice the family respect for honest industry, and 
 
 Haply from them the toiler, bent 
 
 Above his forge or plow, may gain 
 A manlier spirit of content. 
 And feel that life is wisest spent 
 
 V\ here the strong working hand 
 
 makes strong the working brain." 
 
 Tall and fair, but with the glow of rustic health in her 
 cheek, comes the western daughter, who wins the partial 
 welcome due the youngest child. She is no stranger at 
 the old homestead, for, like the mother, she is wedded to 
 husbandry, and together they often discuss the mysteries 
 of the dairy and the prospects of the garden. Located 
 nearer the centre of trade, she does a flourishing business 
 in all kinds of farm products, and, though not a few of 
 her sons have become wealthy, the tenor of her house- 
 hold refutes the proverb " That plain living and high 
 thinking are no more." She is a model farmer's wife, her 
 only variation from her mother's cooking being the sub- 
 stitution of Rumford " Bread Preparation " for potato 
 yeast. And she says she uses that just to patronize "the 
 boys." Industrious, intelligent and devoted, she is typical 
 of the town
 
 104 ///,s'ro/?7c nr 
 
 " in whose neat homesteads \\oman hoi. Is 
 With modest case, her equal place. 
 And we.ir.s upon her tranquil faee. 
 
 The look of one who, merging not, 
 
 ifer selfhood in another will. 
 
 Is love's and duty's handmaid still." 
 
 First to come and last to leave is the eldest daughter 
 one whose enterprises in copper coinage and ship build- 
 ing won her a competence long ago. We can almost 
 imagine that she has taken upon herself the burden of 
 entertainment to-day, and will trust no one else to bake 
 the shad for dinner. She has just come in, plump and 
 jovial, to say they'll be cooked in half an hour, and, with- 
 out stopping to roll down her sleeves, kisses "the girls" 
 all round, and asks the grandchildren out to the pantry for 
 doughnuts ! Free handed in hospitality, diligent in busi- 
 ness, patriotic in war and constant in the faith, this elder 
 municipal sister and daughter happily lives and thrives 
 
 Will: Earth and Ocean reconciled 
 
 -* -'4 * * :* :* 
 
 I'lider the walls 
 
 Where swells and falls 
 
 The Bay's deep breast at intervals. 
 
 But enough of metaphor. From our town's past so 
 honorable, and present so benign, we turn a questioning 
 eye on the future. And we do it with confidence, for 
 "The best of prophets of the Future is the Past," "And 
 in to-day already walks to-morrow." 
 
 There is no reason to despond over Rehoboth's indus- 
 trial future. Situated as it is, with main lines of railroad 
 on every side, and no portion of it more than an hour's 
 ride from some station, it offers facilities that half the 
 farmers in New England might envy. With the growing 
 municipalities about her Attleborough on the north,
 
 ms TOR re JIEHQ n o TIT. i or, 
 
 Taunton on the cast, Fall River toward the south and 
 Providence ever coming nearer on the west there is no 
 reason why a Rchoboth young man should hold his herit- 
 age lightly. And what a heritage it is ! Acres which a 
 resolute and self-denying ancestry redeemed from barbar- 
 ism and defended oftimes with their blood ; homes which 
 have been brightened by the births, gladdened by the 
 weddings, and hallowed by the deaths of seven genera- 
 tions ; walls, which if they could speak, might tell us how 
 costly was the sowing and how careful has been the hus- 
 bandry of this our nation to this day. " A heritage, it 
 seems to me, a king might wish to hold in fee." 
 
 It is for us this day, with no weak sentiment, but with 
 resolute purpose, to be consecratad to the work which 
 other generations have left us to perform. And whether 
 as readers we learn from history's page the story which 
 other men have wrought out, often in poverty, often in 
 tears, often by the fitful glimmer of a midnight lamp ; or 
 whether as journalists we strive to catch and hold the 
 present by the "art preservative," it is for us all here this 
 day to remember that 
 
 Life is a sheet of paper white. 
 WJiereon each one of us may write 
 His word or two and then comes nisjht. 
 
 REV. E. G. PORTER OF LEXINGTON. 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT: When I received the invitation of 
 your committee to attend these exercises, I was uncertain 
 whether I should be able to accept it. Remembering, 
 however, a pleasant visit which I had here three years
 
 ' I or, 7/7,9 TO 7? 1C 7? 7/07} 777. 
 
 ago, when I gave a lyceum lecture in the church, I re- 
 called the fact that I had on that occasion taken upon 
 myself to advocate with some earnestness the possibility 
 of organizing in your town a collection of local antiquities, 
 which I felt sure would have great historical interest. I 
 had a long consultation with Mr. Tilton upon this subject, 
 and, perhaps, I gave him some encouragement to hope 
 that a memorial building might be obtained at no very 
 distant day. Having committed myself to such an enter- 
 prise before it had been even talked about much by 
 others, I could not refuse the kind request to come and 
 bring a word of congratulation on the completion of this 
 beautiful edifice, which I am delighted to find so well 
 adapted to meet the various important uses for which it 
 was built. I do not know what provision the town is to 
 make for its new library, but if your experience is any- 
 thing like ours in Lexington, it will not be long before it 
 will be the most popular thing in the town. We began 
 in 1868 with only a handful of books and a very small 
 fund. After a while, it was proposed that the dog tax be 
 appropriated for the purchase of books. This was will- 
 ingly granted, perhaps because nobody knew exactly how 
 much the clog tax was. It was not much, to be sure, then, 
 but it has gone on increasing thanks to the dog craze 
 and now it amounts to several hundred dollars a year, a 
 very handsome fund for our library which now has, I am 
 happy to say, ten thousand volumes in its catalogue. I 
 have not seen any c'ogs in Rehoboth yet, but I presume 
 there are some, and I advise you to cultivate them more 
 and more and give the library the benefit of the tax. And 
 if perchance any one should object to the barking, tell 
 him that every bark means a book and he will complain 
 no longer.
 
 IIISTOJIIC REIIOBOTU. 107 
 
 Your collection of relics, so well placed arid labelled, is 
 a surprise to us all. I can see that some one has been 
 very industrious, and I can well imagine who it is. But 
 you have not .exhausted the resources of this grand old 
 town in this direction. There are many treasures stowed 
 away in garrets, in old chests and drawers, which are vet 
 to see the light. Hunt for them. Iking them out from 
 their hiding places and make them tell their story and 
 a wonderful story it will be of the days long gone by. 
 Few towns in New England are as rich as yours in ma- 
 terials of this kind. Make the most of them. They will 
 constitute no small part of your fame. They will serve 
 to educate your children and inspire them with patriotic 
 zeal to maintain the high character and honorable achieve- 
 ments which have been the glory of the town. 
 
 I was thinking, in corning over from Attleboro, what 
 
 o * o 
 
 an advantage it is to be ten miles from a railroad. You 
 can live here in peace, as your fathers did, without being 
 disturbed by the screech of the locomotive and the per- 
 petual din of passing trains. I have several friends who 
 are suffering from nervous prostration. They have tried 
 various places without permanent benefit. Evidently the 
 trouble has been that they could not get awav from rail- 
 roads. I shall advise them all to move to Rehoboth, where 
 I feel sure they would gain lapidly under the favorable 
 and unique influences of the place. And it 1 could tollow 
 my own inclinations I would come too and enjoy the 
 rational life which one could lead here, breathing the un- 
 tainted air, revelling in your delicious farm products, and 
 (think of it) driving in all directions without having to 
 cross a railroad ! This is a luxury, citizens ot Rehoboth, 
 which I fear you do not tullv appreciate. When the 
 world finds it out, there will be a great demand for real 
 estate all about here, especially in the vicinity of this
 
 108 lllSTOlilL' HEUOBOTH. 
 
 attractive hall.. Your corner lots, gentlemen, will then be 
 in demand. But never let the railroad come any nearer. 
 If you do, the Rehoboth of the fathers will pass away. 
 
 I perceive in the audience a goodly number of elderly 
 people, whose memory must run back to the early part of 
 the century. They could relate to us many interesting 
 incidents of their childhood and traditions which they 
 heard from their elders. May I not ask that they will 
 carefully preserve in writing all such facts and anecdotes 
 as they can recall, and give them to this young Anti- 
 quarian Society, which is so full of life and promise. 
 
 I congratulate the president upon the realization of his 
 long cherished anticipations, and I trust that his efforts 
 will be seconded by all who have in their power to make 
 this society the means of the greatest possible good to 
 this whole community. And, in concluding, I beg to ex- 
 press my hearty appreciation of the value of this noble 
 gift, which Mr. Goff has made to his native town. Long 
 may he live to see the visible fruits of this wise disposi- 
 tion of his bounty. 
 
 HON. JOHN S. BRAYTON, OF FALL RIVER. 
 
 At this point John S. Brayton, Esq., of Fall River, 
 whose maternal ancestors were natives of Rehoboth, was 
 called by the President from the audience, and spoke sub- 
 stantially as follows : 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT : You well remember the reply of Cor- 
 nelia, the mother of the Gracchi, to that other Roman 
 matron, who had exhibited her own glittering treasures 
 and in return asked for those of Cornelia. She with a 
 mother's affection pointed to her sons and proudly said : 
 "These are my jewels." Rehoboth to-day, after a muni- 
 cipal existence which covers over one-half of the period
 
 y.'/r ItEUOllOTll. lot* 
 
 which has elapsed since the discovery of .this continent, 
 the mother of other municipalities in two distinct com- 
 monwealths, and with children scattered throughout the 
 entire country, points to her sainted, heroic and honored 
 dead, and to her sons ^nd daughters now living, and 
 proudly says : "These are my jewels." 
 
 Well may every child of Rehoboth cherish with filial 
 affection his birthplace. Here the Christian scholar, 
 Samuel Newman, founded a town and gave it its scriptural 
 name. Here he compiled the first concordance of the 
 Holy Scriptures which was written upon this continent, 
 and which to-day forms the basis of all modern concord- 
 ances. By this he has made a name and a reputation 
 among Christian scholars which will last as long as the 
 language in which he wrote. Here John Myles, that 
 eminent divine, established the first Baptist Church in 
 Massachusetts. This church was consecrated by the 
 prayers, the tears and the joyous hopes of your pious an- 
 cestors. The same Christian traits which marked the 
 character of the earlier settlers have descended to these 
 later clays. More than two hundred years after the 
 foundation of the church here, the Rev. Mr. Lum, who 
 was one of the predecessors of the President of this occa- 
 sion, in his sacred office of pastor, established the first 
 church in the Territory of Kansas. 
 
 Just outside the borders of Rehoboth was shed the first 
 blood in King Philip's war, and litre was the scene of 
 that brilliant exploit, the capture of Annawan, which 
 brought to a close that most sanguinary conflict, and re- 
 sulted in the downfall of a great Indian empire. The 
 heroism displayed during these trying times bv the Rev. 
 Xoah Newman, the then pastor ot the church, and by the 
 yeomanry of Rehoboth, makes a record ot which their 
 descendants may well be proud. Many of the earlier
 
 110 
 
 nix ron / c i: EH o n o TIL 
 
 Views of tlic "Three Houses'' into \vliich History tells us the settlers of 
 Krhoboth were gathered for salety during King Phillip's War. 
 
 John Myles' Garrison: built of stone and still standing near Myles' bridge 
 .Swansea. 
 
 ISishop house, East L'rovidenee, on site of the Garrison bouse, at Seekonk 
 Common. 
 
 llalch h<>n-r. North Atth-boro. part ol' U'ooderu-k's (i:\ i -rison," in tin 
 North I'urelia&e.
 
 HISTORIC KKriOfioTir. 111 
 
 settlers of this town were men of note. Capt. Thomas 
 Willet, the successor of Miles Standish, in the command 
 of the military company at Plymouth, settled here about 
 the year 1660, and purchased of Wamsutta a large tract 
 of land, which was called " Rehoboth North Purchase." 
 lie afterward became one of the founders of the town of 
 Swansea, and was also the first Mayor of the City of New 
 York, and in the quaint language of the day " twice did 
 sustain the place." Samson Mason was a soldier in Cromt 
 well's army. Upon the restoration of the House of Stuar- 
 he settled here, raising a family of nine sons, six of whom 
 lived in Rehoboth and Swansea until the youngest was 
 seventy years old. One of his sons, and three of his 
 grandsons, were settled pastors of the Church of Christ 
 in Swansea. Mr. Mason also subsequently became one 
 of the founders of Swansea. 
 
 Here in Rehoboth have been nurtured many men of 
 letters. Two of the Presidents of Brown University, one 
 of whom addressed you this morning, were born within 
 its limits. Here, too, was the birthplace of that distin- 
 guished mathematician and philosopher, Benjamin West, 
 upon whom the university conferred the degree of Doctor 
 of Laws, for his valuable services in the cause of science. 
 Nathan Smith, M. D., the projector of the medical depart- 
 ment of Dartmouth College, and who was also a professor 
 at Yale, was born here. That eminent divine, Samuel 
 Angier, one of the Board of Fellows of Harvard College, 
 was the third pastor of the First Church, and he was fol- 
 lowed by the Rev. Thomas Greenwood, and he in turn was 
 succeeded by his son John, a native of the town, both of 
 whom graduated at Cambridge. A long line of educated 
 clergymen have ministered unto this people here, and 
 their mantle has now tallen upon him who presides on 
 this occasion -a Graduate of Amhcrst College one who
 
 1 1 _> insTonic TtE 
 
 by his broad and varied culture, by his zeal in his work, 
 and by his fervid piety adds lusture to the ministry of 
 Rehoboth. 
 
 Fifty years ago, Mr. Leonard Bliss, Jr., whose portrait 
 hangs upon the walls in the hall below, wrote a history of 
 his native town of Rehoboth, it being among the earlier 
 of town histories published in this commonwealth, and 
 which reflected great credit upon its author. Upon thei r 
 ancestral acres, in this town, were born Abraham Bland- 
 ing, L.L. D., an eminent lawyer of South Carolina, the 
 originator of that great interstate enterprise of construct- 
 ing a railroad between Charleston, S. C, and Cincinnati, 
 O. ; William Blanding, M. D., the noted naturalist whose 
 extensive collection in natural history is now at Brown 
 University, where both graduated, and their brother 
 James Blanding (the father of the treasurer of the Anti- 
 quarian Society), a life long citizen, who for neaily a third 
 of a century was the clerk of the town, and who by his 
 sterling integrity and high character left behind him a 
 cherished memory. 
 
 Rehoboth has given to the country many eminent phy- 
 sicians. Merc were born those two brothers, Nathaniel 
 and Caleb Miller, who were foremost among the distin- 
 guished physicians aud surgeons of their day, and whose 
 reputations were as wide as their country. If time were 
 allowed I would speak of others, born here, who in this 
 and other states have upheld and honored the medical 
 profession. 
 
 Thus we see that Rehoboth, in scholarship, culture, and 
 in the high professional attainments of her sons, will com- 
 pare favorably with any sister town. The sons of Reho- 
 both, who now reside in the town, pursue to a great ex- 
 tent the avocation of their fathers. There are few towns 
 in which so many farms are tilled by the lineal descendents
 
 HISTORIC HEUGKO Til. 1 1 ;', 
 
 of the original settlers ; some of these farms are now cul- 
 tivated by the sixth generation. 
 
 Within the original limits of this ancient town, at Paw- 
 tucket, Mr. Samuel Slater built a factory, which is said to 
 be the first erected in the country for the spinning of 
 cotton. In examining this morning the interesting col- 
 lection of antiquities in the hall below, I noticed the 
 letters patent which were granted to Mr. Dexter Wheeler 
 for an improvement in tide mills. This document was 
 
 issued in 181 i and bears the signature of Tames Madison 
 
 j > 
 
 the then President of the United States. Mr. Wheeler 
 was born, in this town, as were his ancestors. Me was a 
 machinist and a manufacturer of rare skill for those early 
 days. In 1807 he ran a mill here, by horse power, for 
 the spinning of cotton yarn. In 1813 Mr. Wheeler and 
 Mr. Anthony, who was then residing here, and whose 
 mother was a native of the town, and who had been in 
 the employ of Mr. Slater for four years, went to Fall 
 River and built, filled with machinery, aifcl set in opera- 
 tion (what is now the Fall River Manufactory), the first 
 mill for the manufacture of cotton cloth erected in that 
 city. One-fourth of the capital of the company was owned 
 by citizens of Rehoboth. Almost contemporaneous with 
 this event the " Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory" 
 was established, in which enterprise Mr. Nathaniel Wheeler, 
 another of your citizens, took an active part. From these 
 beginnings have arisen in that city those colossal mills, 
 whose aggregate spindles exceed in number that of any 
 other city in America. 
 
 There have gone out from here skillful mechanics, in- 
 telligent business men and successful manufacturers the 
 Golfs, the Bakers, the Marvels, the I lortons, the Farls, 
 the Carpenters, the Pierces, the Pecks, the Blisses, the 
 Blamlings, the Wheelers, the Perrvs, and manv others,
 
 114 itixTonic JiEiionoTit. 
 
 who have been potent factors in building up the cities 
 which surround Rehoboth. One such of her sons has 
 built this Hall which we to-day dedicate. By this gener- 
 ous act he has raised in the hearts of his fellow citizens a 
 monument more lasting than the stately pile which he has 
 erected. And I know you will all unite with me, upon 
 this his seventieth birthday, in the invocation of Horace 
 to Augustus 
 
 Xenis la f.oelum rtdtas, diuque hie to intersis populo. 
 
 EX-GOVERNOR LITTLEFIELD, OF RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 I would not forget that I am in the good old Common- 
 wealth of Massachusetts, and within the bounds of the 
 ancient town of Rehoboth. 
 
 After listening with the deepest interest to the eloquent 
 address of the orator of the day and other gentlemen who 
 have told us what this town was and is at present, I am 
 reminded of attending, a few years ago, the twelfth annual 
 reunion of the Army of the Potomac in the city of Hart- 
 ford, in our sister State of Connecticut. On that occasion 
 many distinguished generals were present. At the grand 
 banquet given in the evening a number of sentiments 
 were offered and responded to. Among the number was 
 this one, " Our Country," to which a citizen of Rhode 
 Island was called upon to speak. He commenced his short 
 address by saying it was botli fitting and appropriate that 
 Rhode Island should be asked to respond to this senti- 
 mtnt, for without Rhode Island our country would be very 
 small, both in territory and population. So, Mr. Presi- 
 dent, I may be allowed to say on this occasion, after learn- 
 ing how large a portion of the territory of the State of 
 Rhode Island was taken from the town of Rehoboth, had 
 it not been for this town, Rhode Island must have been
 
 looked upon as a small state, and somewhat limited both 
 in broad aeres and in the number of her honorable 
 citizens. 
 
 As I look around me to-day, I am forced to the conclu- 
 sion that nearly all of my distinguished fellow citi/.ens 
 first saw the light of day in this goodly town. I con- 
 gratulate the people of this old town upon its honorable 
 history; I congratulate them in having this beautiful hall 
 in which, they may gather from time to time and look upon 
 so many relics of past generations ; I congratulate you, 
 Mr. President, that your Society has such pleasant rooms 
 in which to hold its meetings and to deposit the antique 
 articles you shall gather in the days to come, and add to 
 the already large collection of the Rchobcth Antiquarian 
 Society. 
 
 I am sure, Mr. President, you would not have us under- 
 stand from the interest your Society has taken in the 
 dedication of this hall, that you think the gentleman to 
 whom the citizens of Rehoboth are so largely indebted 
 for this building, shows any signs of being antiquated. 
 \Ve look upon him in the new city of Pawtucket as a 
 young man. No citizen can be found more read}- for any 
 new enterprise that shall build up the business of the city 
 than the Hon. Darius Goit. What he has done for hi.-> 
 native town may be but a beginning of what he may do in 
 the clays to come. 
 
 I join most heartily in all that has been ^aid in praise 
 of this old-time town to-day. I do not see my friend from 
 Boston. I am sorry he has been obliged to leave the 
 hall. However, I feel safe in assuring you that it will be 
 but a short time before he will remove the office ot publi- 
 cation of the Educational Journal, over which he presides 
 with such maked ability, from Boston to Rehoboth. and I 
 have no doubt the President ot Brown I'niversitv wil
 
 IK', HISTORIC REHOBOTI1. 
 
 commence farming in Rehoboth soon after that institu- 
 tion is closed. The Reverend gentleman from the historic 
 town of Lexington has told us how much he has enjoyed 
 staying here, and I am sure he will soon make this town 
 his home. In view of the prospective demand for land I 
 would advice the farmers to advance the price of corner 
 lots. I do not think I should like farming after learning 
 from one of the speakers this morning that the regular 
 hours of labor were from four in the morning till nine 
 in the evening. I do not enjoy early rising or many hours 
 of labor. Mr. President, I am very glad to be with you 
 to-day. It has been a most delightful occasion. The 
 descendants of the founders of this town, gathered here 
 to day, have a right to feel proud of her more than two 
 hundred and fifty years of honorable history. "Me called 
 the name of it Rehoboth, and he said, for now the Lord 
 hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the 
 land." 
 
 As my closing word, pardon me for saying in this pre- 
 sence, that Roger Williams passed this way as he jour- 
 nieJ on to settle the first state founded on the enduring 
 principles of soul 'liberty. 
 
 REV. S. L. WOODWORTH, OF EAST PROVIDENCE. 
 
 MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. This is a 
 great clay for ministers. I am proud to be a successor of 
 Rev. Samuel Newman. This is glory enough for one day. 
 There is one trouble ; you have set a bad example. 
 Every pastor will now want a memorial hall. 1 think I 
 shall have a memorial annex to our chapel at Luther's 
 Corners, in Seekonk ; one hears many kind words spoken 
 in his praise, besides having his picture hung up in the 
 hall,
 
 Tu. 117 
 
 I am glad for the good words spoken of my ]>rolher 
 Tilton ; he deserves every one of them ; he is not the 
 kind of a man to be puffed up by deserving words of 
 praise; they won't hurt him one bit. I have summered 
 and wintered with him ; I know the kind of material he is 
 made of. He is a true man, and worthy of every word 
 that has been spoken. It will be a consolation to him, in 
 the weary, discouraging hours of his pastorate, to think of 
 this day, with all its precious memories. His joy is my 
 joy. It is not all so pleasant and easy to be a country 
 pastor as it may seem ; there are many discouragements, 
 many cold, hard rides in winter. The people are not given 
 to over much enthusiasm in the Lord's work. They are 
 perfectly willing that the pastor should do it all. 
 
 While you have been rejoicing over this beautiful new 
 building, I have been thinking of Seekonk. She has been 
 robbed until only a narrow strip of land remains. If she 
 has not fallen among thieves, she has among barn burn- 
 ers. Without a town hall, without a meeting house for 
 her people, as our friend Thomas Potter says, " Her people 
 must go to East Providence for her rum, religion and 
 clams." Soon she must look elsewhere for her rum. 
 Some things have happened in Rhode Island latelv ; the 
 people have been heard from. Atter the ist of July the 
 saloon must go. 'We think that it is time Seekonk had 
 some religious privileges of her o\vn. Some of us are 
 trying to build a chapel at Luther's Corners for the 
 people. If some one will give us a thousand dollars to 
 enable us to complete it, we will have his picture [minted 
 and hung up in the building. It will be an oil painting, 
 too, and not a crayon. 
 
 I am asked to make a five minute speech on " Old 
 Rehoboth." Why, the last time I had anything to say on 
 this subject I spoke for four hours, and then did not use
 
 118 UINTURIC HEllOUOTH. 
 
 up half'of my material. One thing is certain; I have 
 something to exhibit here to-day that no one else can pro- 
 duce. Reference has been made to the Newman Con- 
 cordance ; here is a copy of that concordance, prepared by 
 the Rev. Samuel Newman, in part by the light of pine 
 knots, in "Old Rehoboth." 
 
 When in London, at the British Museum, I found a per- 
 fect copy of the Newman Concordance. I also examined 
 the concordances that had preceded Newman's. I found 
 only two had been published before this one, and they 
 were pigmies compared to Newman's ; one was in Latin, 
 the other was in English, and was prepared by John Mor- 
 beck and published in 1550. This was the first English 
 concordance to the whole Bible. The references were 
 only to chapters, and was far from being as complete as 
 Newman's. The Newman is, as it is called in the preface, 
 "a large and complete concordance of the whole Bible," 
 and was published in 1658. I find that it is more com- 
 plete in some respects than those published to-day. The 
 copy in my hand is one I found in Ohio last summer. 
 
 I was visiting an uncle in the town of Colebrook, Ohio. 
 He lived back in an out of the way place, almost in the 
 woods. Coming into the parlor my wife called my atten- 
 tion to an old book on an organ stool. It was used by the 
 children to sit on, while they played the organ. I saw at 
 once that it was a well preserved copy of Newman's Con- 
 cordance. With fear and trembling I took it to the owner, 
 and asked him if that book was of any special value to him. 
 He said it was not. I said: "I know of a place where 
 that book would be of very great value ; I am the succes- 
 sor of the man who wrote it two hundred and thirty-eight 
 vears ago, in the town of Rehoboth, now East Providence- 
 The i eople <!<\\n there we uld err skier it a gicat pi/e.' 
 lie took the book out of the room, and after a brief con-
 
 sultcition with his wife, he came in and said : " You can 
 have that book." I did not jump up to the ceiling in my 
 joy, but for a few minutes I was the happiest man in 
 Ohio. This is a more perfect copy chan the one once 
 owned by Samuel Newman, and now in possession of our 
 church. This one is in the original binding, while that 
 is not. This copy was brought from England in July, 
 1830, by Rev. William Allen and wife. They settled in 
 Pittsburgh, Pa.; afterwards in Wayne, Ohio, where he 
 preached, but soon died, leaving two sons.' His widow- 
 afterwards was married to my grandfather. The eldest 
 son, William Allen, received this book and afterwards 
 gave it to me. You can imagine that I feel rich. 
 
 This other relic is the well known King Philip chair, 
 one of the most important antiquarian remains connected 
 with the history of this section. It was owned by the 
 Abel family, who lived on the Seekonk plain in the days 
 of Philip. Before the war, in which he was so conspicuous, 
 he used to visit this family, and this large chair was the 
 one he sat in. When the " Ring of the Town " was burned, 
 this chair was brought out ot the Abel house and occu- 
 pied by Philip while the house was burning. A tire brand 
 was thrown into the bottom ot the chair when the Indians 
 went away. The bottom and four rounds that it was 
 fastened to were burned. The marks of the fire can be 
 plainly seen in the Pbur legs of the chair. After the fire, 
 four rough rounds were hewed out and put in place of 
 those burned. The chair remained in the possession of 
 the Abel family until a tew years ago, when it passed into 
 the hands of the late Dr. George Mason, of Providence. 
 After his death his ettects were sold at auction. I bought 
 this chair at that auction. It was in a dilapidated condi- 
 tion, and held together by old ropes ; it would not stand 
 alone when they were taken oil.
 
 i L>O ms TO n TC 7? Eiron o rn. 
 
 I have worked a good many hours on that old chair, 
 brightening it up and making the weak places strong. It 
 seems like one of the family ; I know every worm hole 
 and crack in it. You will find a picture of this identical 
 chair in Bryant's History of the United States, volume 
 II. Three rounds are missing there, that I have supplied 
 in the chair as it stands. The left arm was taken from an 
 oak beam that was in University Hall, of Providence, and 
 is about 115 years old. 
 
 The V in the cushion, with a dot over it, is a copy of 
 the signature of Philip to the original deed. I think a 
 great deal of this chair ; I regard it as a very valuable his- 
 torical curiosity. I know you want it for your Memorial 
 Hall. Mr. Porter tells me that the proper p'ace for it is 
 in the fire proof historical rooms of Boston. He would 
 like to take it there. I know that I want it. Of late I 
 have made a very practical use of it ; I marry people in 
 front of that chair, giving them a little history of it. They 
 feel quite honored. Since I began this practice there has 
 been a perfect rush of weddings to the parsonage. Mrs. 
 Woodworth is the happiest woman in town. I know you 
 would not be so cruel as to deprive us of that chair r.nd a 
 large share of our income. 
 
 I have enjoyed the day exceedingly ; I congratulate you 
 on its success; I trust your beautiful hall will prove a 
 irreat blessing: to the town. 
 
 HON. HENRY B. METCALF, OF PAWTUCKET. 
 
 lion. Ilenrv B. Metcalf replied to a call for a speech 
 substantially as follows : 
 
 He s;iid that although the call to speak was entirely 
 unexpected, he was not altogether sorry that he had the 
 opportunity to make public correction of the somewhat
 
 HISTORIC HEIIOnOTH. IL'I 
 
 popular fallacy that ministers were usually not apt in what 
 we call business shrewdness. The gentleman who had 
 just taken his seat had, by the narrative of his acquire- 
 ment of antiquarian treasures, given abundant evidence 
 that there was, at least, one parson who didn't need any 
 guardian in secular affairs. His device of making it 
 attractive to young people to come to him to get married 
 by permitting the bride to sit in the antique arm chair, 
 would do credit even to a political justice of the Peace. 
 
 Mr. Metcalf, in commending the dedicatory oration, re- 
 ferred especially to its happy presentation of the three* 
 fold provision of the Goff Memorial Building in behalf of 
 good citizenship : First, in perpetuating the instructive 
 memories of the past through its Antiquarian Department ; 
 second, in contemplating discussion of present duty in its 
 hall for the convenience of general assemblage of citizens, 
 and, third, in providing for the education of the citizen of 
 the future, by its school room and library room. He con- 
 gratulated the venerable benefactor, seated by his side, 
 that he had secured for himself the pleasure of witnessing 
 the fruits of his generosity by making himself his own 
 executor. 
 
 SEN. GEORGE N. BLISS, ESQ., OF EAST PROVIDENCE. 
 
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : The chairman said the 
 speakers would be allowed only five minutes each. lie 
 is a minister and I have always found the profession, of 
 which he is so bright an ornament, reckless in disregard 
 of rules and orders. The five-minute rule was observed 
 until a minister was called upon, and then it ceased to 
 have any binding force, but as I am a lawyer I propose to 
 obey the law and take my seat when my five minutes 
 expire.
 
 122 HISTORIC KEIIOBOTH. 
 
 As a lineal descendant of that Thomas Bliss who came 
 here under the leadership of Rev. Samuel Newman, in 
 1644, I take great interest in the work so fitly crowned 
 here to-day. New England has reason to be proud of 
 such towns as Rehoboth. An incident from my own ex- 
 perience may show you how it looks to one " not to the 
 manor born." It was my fortune during the late rebel- 
 lion to come, while wounded and a prisoner, under the 
 charge of J. S. Davis, M. D., then professor of anatomy 
 and materia medica in the University of Virginia, and the 
 friendship then formed between foes in war terminated 
 only with his death. 
 
 In iHSoa gentleman from Alabama, who had entered 
 the Confederate service as a Lieutenant at Bull Run, and 
 who was three times wounded in battle, bore when peace 
 came the rank of Brigadier-General, came to me with a let- 
 ter of introduction from Dr. Davis. I had known " that 
 stern joy which warriors feel in foemen worthy of their 
 steel," and with pleasure took him to see the varied indus- 
 tries and wonderful machines of my native state. After 
 a day thus spent he asked, " What is your population ? " 
 and surprised at the small number he replied, " Well, it 
 may be that in figures, but you have so organized indus- 
 try here that you count for at least a million." 
 
 I went with him to Bristol to attend the celebration of 
 the two hundredth anniversary of its settlement, and as we 
 walked through the crowded streets I noticed he was look- 
 ing in all directions as though in search of something. At 
 last he said : "This is the most extraordinary thing I ever 
 saw in my life ; here are thousands of people out foi a 
 holiday, all well dressed, smiling and happy, and not a 
 single man drunk ; why, if it had been in my State I 
 should have seen half a dozen drunken fights by this 
 time." This Southern gentleman said to me : "When I
 
 came to New England for the first time in my life I ex- 
 pected to find an entirely distinct species of mankind, but 
 I find we are a homogeneous people." From Rhode 
 Island he went to Boston and after three week's experi- 
 ence of the hospitality, in which Massachusetts is exceeded 
 by no other State, he said to me : " Captain, I love Boston ; 
 I would defend Boston against an attack in any part of 
 the world." 
 
 Do you not join with me in saying that that rebel had 
 been thoroughly reconstructed and that to thus conquer 
 the prejudices and training of a life time by a residence of 
 a few weeks among the Yankees is the highest tribute 
 that could be paid to the New England civilization, which 
 has given Rehoboth a proud position in the history of 
 Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 
 
 DEACON JOSEPH BROWN, OF SEEKONK. 
 
 LADIES AND GF.XTLEMKN : It is unexpected to me that 
 I am called upon, but I should not do justice to myself if 
 I did not express the pleasure it gives me in being present 
 on this occasion. I am not a citizen of Rehoboth, but 
 have always resided within the limits of Ancient Reho- 
 both, and as my ancestors were among the first settlers of 
 this town, whatever pertains to the historv of Ancient 
 Rehoboth specially interests me. 
 
 I most heartily congratulate the inhabitants of this town 
 on the erection of this building, which is an honor to the 
 town and to those individuals who so generously contri- 
 buted to its erection. It is well that some such building 
 as this should be erected, where the relics ot the past, and 
 ancient papers, can be deposited, cared for, and preserved. 
 It is well for us occasionally to review the events of the
 
 124 JI/STO11IC KK110BOTU. 
 
 past, that we may more fully appreciate the toils, suffer- 
 ings, privations and perseverance of the early settlers of 
 these colonies. 
 
 Rehoboth has a history of which its inhabitants may 
 well be proud. Very soon after the settlement of the 
 town, King Philip's war commenced, and as his residence 
 was in the vicinity of this town, perhaps Rehoboth suffered 
 as much, or more, than any other town in the colony. The 
 central part of the town, afterward Seekonk, and now East 
 Providence, was burned, the bloodiest battle of the war 
 was fought within its borders, and Philip's greatest chief- 
 tain surrendered but a short distance from where we are 
 now assembled. During the French and Indian war, Reho- 
 both contributed her quota of soldiers. We felt that the call 
 upon us during the war of the Rebellion was great, but it 
 was not equal to the call made on our fathers during the 
 war of the Revolution. 
 
 It will be recollected that war lasted seven years, and 
 often calls were made for men equipped for service. I 
 find by ancient papers, I have in my possession, that in 
 some cases they paid as large or larger bounties for re- 
 cruits, than were paid durii,g the late war. In some 
 instances they paid as high as two thousand dollars. (Here 
 an original receipt was read for that amount for enlisting 
 into the service), which is an evidence of the depreciation 
 of the currency, a difficulty they had to contend with at 
 that time. The regiment under Col. Carpenter of Reho- 
 both was the first engaged in the battle on Rhode Island. 
 In the year 1812, the town was divided by a northerly and 
 southerly line, and the western part was incorporated 
 under the name of Seekonk, so that Rehoboth and Seekonk 
 have a common history prior to that time. 
 
 I have in my possession these ancient papers: The 
 ancient Muster Roll of the company in the western part of
 
 HISTORIC HKltOHOTH. 12.1 
 
 the town, belonging to Col. Thomas Carpenter's regiment; 
 the List of men drafted to defend Rowland's Ferry,and Pay 
 Roll for the same; and original ancient Receipts given by 
 individuals for enlisting into the continental service dur- 
 ing the Revolutionary war, which I now present to this 
 Antiquarian Society, and have also others loaned, which, 
 when I shall obtain them, I intend also to deposit with 
 you. 
 
 REV. LEANDER THOMPSON OF NORTH WOBURN. 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE REHOBOTH ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY: 
 I am here to-day in response to a very kind invitation of 
 my old friend, your president, and I enjoy listening to 
 others far more than I could enjoy speaking. I come from 
 an old town, originally a part of Charlestown, but having 
 a municipal history of its own going back to 1642, a little 
 earlier, if I mistake not, than the date of your own ancient 
 town. 
 
 In 1/53, one hundred and eleven years after the incor- 
 poration of Woburn, there was born near the homes of my 
 ancestors and related to my own family, Benjamin Thomp- 
 son, since widely known throughout the civilized world as 
 Count Rumford, the greatest scientist of his age, and one 
 of the greatest of any age. In 1876, a few persons were 
 specially impressed with the desirableness of resuing from 
 threatening ruin, the old but still substantial house in 
 which this illustrious man had his first home. They had 
 thought and talked about it for several years, but at this 
 time, there were concurring circumstances, which contrib- 
 uted largely to give definite shape to their hitherto some- 
 what vague wishes. Through the persevering efforts of a 
 few men, money sufficient to purchase the estate was
 
 121, HISTORIC HE HO BOTH. 
 
 raised, the Rumford Historical Society was organized, and 
 in 1877, was incorporated under that name. In the words 
 of Article II of the Constitution : 
 
 ''The object of this corporation shall be to hold ami preserve a certain 
 lot of land, with the buildings situated thereon, in Woburn, known as 
 the birth-place of Benjamin Thompson, or Count Eumford ; also to col- 
 lect and preserve for exhibition or use. books, manuscripts, objects of 
 antiquarian interest, and whatever may illustrate the life and times, and 
 perpetuate the memory of the distinguished man whose title is promi- 
 nently associated with our organization.'' 
 
 In accordance with this object, the old mansion has 
 been extensively repaired and the grounds, to some ex- 
 tent, put in order, though in no case has the antique style 
 and appearance of anything, without or within, been 
 changed. In the large old fashioned lower room where 
 the Count was born, we have a free library, called the 
 Rumford Library, and containing a choice collection of 
 nearly 1,600 volumes. And in that room, we have our 
 regular meetings. In the same room, to some extent, and 
 elsewhere to a larger extent, we have a constantly increas- 
 ing collection of relics of the olden time, some of which 
 illustrate especially the life and times of Rumford and of 
 those with whom he was associated. We have an album 
 for visitors' names and a book of biographical sketches, 
 more or less extended, of all deceased members of our 
 Association. Besides these papers, many others have at 
 c'ifferent times been contributed upon the early and espe- 
 cially the Revolutionary history of our town. Some of 
 these papers have been published by our local press; 
 others are preserved in manuscript among our treasures. 
 \Ye have members scattered through the United States, 
 in Canada, and in England; and we strongly hope that in 
 the future we shall accomplish far more than has been 
 possible in the nine years of our past history.
 
 As an honorary and corresponding member of the 
 Winchester Historical and Genealogical Society, I 
 may perhaps be allowed to add a few words. For more 
 than 200 years, the present town of Winchester was a 
 part of Woburn, and its history was of course identical 
 with that of Woburn. Two years ago, some of the leading 
 men of this new and enterprising town organized a society 
 whose objects are indicated by its name. During the less 
 than two years of its existence, the society has accom- 
 plished wonders in the way of research, bringing to light 
 old and forgotten papers, records and scraps of important 
 history, reducing all discoveries to writing and carefully 
 preserving every item for future use in a more complete 
 history of Woburn in former days, and of Winchester 
 since 1850, than has existed or been thought possible. 
 Many of these valuable pipers have been published in the 
 "Winchester Record," a quarterly magazine published by 
 the society, and containing on an average not tar from one 
 hundred pages in each number. A considerable number 
 of the articles thus published are biographical sketches of 
 the first settlers of the old town of \Voburn, nearly all of 
 whom had been also among the early settlers of Charles- 
 town, and some of them belonging to the large and famous 
 Colony led by Gov. Winthrop in 1630. 
 
 But I am consuming too much time. As a member of 
 both the kindred societies I have mentioned, I am happy 
 to express to the Antiquarian Society of this old and his- 
 toric town my hearty greetings and congratulations. I am 
 both surprised and delighted to see what a beginning you 
 have made. Your antiquarian collection far exceeds, in 
 the number and value of its articles, many that are much 
 older. At an early day, I should like to read a printed 
 catalogue of these articles, and I am sure that even the 
 reading of the lists with brief descriptions will be deeply
 
 128 HISTORIC rj-: HO no TIL 
 
 interesting to not a few beside your own citizens. And then 
 last, but by no means least, of all, do I congratulate you 
 on being the possessors of this new, commodious and every 
 way admirable Goff Memorial Hall. 
 
 A WORD FROM MR. GOFF. 
 
 Mr. Darius Goff, to whom so many pleasant references 
 had been made during the day, was called for by general 
 acclamation as the exercises were closing. He rose and 
 with evident feeling said : 
 
 "I am not a man of many words; actions are easier for 
 me. I will only say to audience and speakers If you 
 have enjoyed dedicating this hall as much as I enjoyed 
 contributing to it, the occasion has been a very happy one 
 for you all. I would acknowledge with gratitude the 
 more than liberal share of appreciation which it has been 
 my fortune to receive."
 
 It was with a feeling of profound satisfaction that the 
 audience turned homeward. Important as the work of 
 dedication appeared to all lovers of Rehoboth, and to any 
 who regarded the event from an antiquarian point of view, 
 the exercises left nothing either for local pride or histori- 
 cal criticism to demand. The occasion marks an era in 
 Rehoboth history. The erection of such a beautiful 
 Memorial ; the utterances of the distinguished men at its 
 dedication ; the contribution to Rehoboth history made by 
 the complete and accurate record of this volume, all will 
 serve to win for Rehoboth a rightful recognition as one 
 of the most historic places in the Old Bay State. As the 
 names of John Myles, Samuel Newman, William Black- 
 stone, Thomas Willett and others become properly iden- 
 tified with its history; as the careers of its sons in letters, 
 arms, science and jurisprudence become better known, 
 men will be as proud to trace their lineage to Historic 
 Rehoboth as to name the revered Plymouth or far-famed 
 Lexington as their birth-place. 
 
 Indeed, Rehoboth holds as distinguished a relation to 
 the annals of Indian warfare, as Plymouth to the inception 
 of the colonies, or Lexington to the Revolutionary struggle. 
 It was the frontier town during King Philip's war. The 
 first blood of a contest which menaced the very life, and
 
 1 :iO HIS TOR 1C RE HOB Tit. 
 
 not alone the liberty of the colonies, was shed in its origi- 
 nal boundaries, while within its present limits, the last 
 triumphant strategy of that struggle was consummated. If 
 to stand on the confines of savage territory and defend the 
 hearths and homes that lie behind is patriotism, Myles' 
 Bridge is as truly historic ground as Lexington Common. 
 Standing as the narrative of these pages does, midway 
 between the Ancient Rehoboth that was and the New 
 Rehoboth that is to be, it aims to inspire reverance for 
 the one and aspiration for the other. May we, its readers, 
 appreciate the measure of responsibility which rests upon 
 us, and to our fidelity, in the words of the immortal Burke, 
 " Let us attest the retiring generations ; let us attest the 
 advancing generations; between which, as a link in the 
 great chain of eternal order, we stand !"
 
 OLD I>0\VI>KK HOUSE, ATTLE BOROUGH.
 
 28059
 
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