Seacunke Plantors

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="097f0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>Our Family  Past and Present</B></FONT><B>      |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Family Past and Present"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id399.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where did they live?"><U>Where did they live?</U></A>   |   <B>Seacunke Plantors</B>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cole Family"><U>Cole Family</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id379.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Cole Wives"><U>The Cole Wives</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Families Allied To Coles"><U>Families Allied To Coles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daggett"><U>Daggett</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id380.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Daggett Wives"><U>The Daggett Wives</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Families Allied To Daggetts"><U>Families Allied To Daggetts</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="096f2f02egerdp.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id399.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where did they live?"><U><B>Where did they live?</B></U></A></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f04c336600.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Seacunke Plantors</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cole Family"><U><B>Cole Family</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id379.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Cole Wives"><U><B>The Cole Wives</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Families Allied To Coles"><U><B>Families Allied To Coles</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daggett"><U><B>Daggett</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id380.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Daggett Wives"><U><B>The Daggett Wives</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Families Allied To Daggetts"><U><B>Families Allied To Daggetts</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="099f0f03.jpg"> <div> <I>Seacunke Plantors</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="44ebebb0.gif" border=0 width="190" height="187" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">     </div> <bR> <div> Founders of Rehoboth, Massachusetts </div> <div>  1643</div> <div> A Place of Religious Tolerance</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The lands of Osamequin known as Seacunck, were purchased by the inhabitants of Hingham sometime before 1641. Shortly after, Rev.Newman and his congregation from Weymouth joined the group. </div> <bR> <div> Only one white settler, John Hassell, made his home on those lands before at that time. He was called before the General Court and fined £20 for residing in the area without official permission. He was then admitted along with the others.</div> <bR> <div> No deed of purchase is on record, but there is a deposition of John Hazell on the Plymouth Colony Records, (Vol. 2 Page 67) taken on November 1, 1642, which confirms the purchase:</div> <bR> <div> "John Hasell (Hazell) affirmeth that Assamequine chose out ten fathome of beads at Mr. William's and put them in a basket, and affirmed that he was fully satisfied therewith for his land at Seacunck; but he stood upon it that he would have a coat more, and left the beads with Mr. Williams and willed him to keep them untill Mr. Hubbard came up." </div> <div> "He affirmeth the bounds  were to Red Stone Hill  VIII miles into the land, and to Annawamscoate VII miles down to the water."</div> <bR> <div> Although there is no deed from the colony to the town found in Plymouth records, but reference to, and acknowledgment of, a grant of this land to several  individuals is made in  the confirmation deed  of the colony in 1685:</div> <bR> <div> "Whereas Mr. Daniel Smith, as agent of the town of Rehoboth, answered at this Court, and showed, declared and made appear unto this Court by several writings and records that the bounds of the said township being eight miles square, granted in the year 1641, unto Mr. Alexander Winchester, <I>Richard Wright</I>,  <I>Mr. Henry Smith</I>, </div> <div> <I>Mr. Joseph Pecke</I>, Mr. Stephen Paine, and diverss others for settling of a town which is now bounded by the Puttukett river," etc. </div> <bR> <div> In the quitclaim deed from William Bradford, son of Governor Bradford, to the town in 1689 he states that:</div> <bR> <div> "Among others, in the year of our Lord 1641 (Governor Bradford) granted to</div> <div>  <I>Joseph Peck</I>, Stephen Paine, <I>Henry Smith</I>, Alexander Winchester, <I>Thomas Cooper, gent.</I>, and others with them, and such others as they should associate to themselves, a tract of land for a plantation or township, formerly called by the natives Secunke, upwards of forty-five years since settled and planted, now called and known by the name of Rehoboth."</div> <bR> <div> The first meeting of the original plantors on record is dated at "Weimoth the 24th of the 8th month, 1643." At that time they agreed to offer only sixty lots in the settlement. They decided to plant a first crop of corn and to fence in the individual lots. A portion of each man's crop was to be given to the teacher of the church. All servants, after a stay of four years, would be entitled to privileges. <I>Richard Wright  </I>was to build a corn mill.<I> </I>All of the first lots were to be used as house lots. All proprietors were to state the value of their estates, in order to be given their allotments accordingly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Fifty eight heads of families applied for land. Nine men were chosen to dispose of the land "in lots of twelve, eight or six acres, as in their discretion they think the quality of the estate of the person do require." This applied to house lots only. It was further ordered "that all other lots to be divided according to person and estate. One person to be valued at £12 sterling in the division of lands, and that no person should sell his improvements but to such as the towne shall accept of"; also voted, "that the meeting house shall stand in the midst of the town."</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Of the fifty eight founders, these men appear on our family tree.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="595" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> Lot Number</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Name</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Value of Estate</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 8</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Richard Wright</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £834</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 17</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> John Millard</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £69</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 18</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Sam Butterworth</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £50</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 25</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Mr. Peck</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £535</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 37</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Mr. Henry Smith</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £260</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 41</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Lot of John Torry taken over by </div> <div> John Peck</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="195" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 42</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Thomas Cooper</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £367</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 44</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> John Allen</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £156</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 46</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Edward Gilman now Mr.Joseph Peck</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £306</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="195"><div> No. 51</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> William Sabin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> £53</div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> These men along with 40 others were the first settlers of the Town of Rehoboth. This area is now Rumford, Rhode Island.</div> <bR> <div> The Newman Cemetery remains where several  of these men, our ancestors, are laid to rest. The settlement was built around the church led by their minister, </div> <div> Rev. Samuel Newman. It is now known as the Newman Congregational Church.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> New towns created  by people from Plymouth Colony and the</div> <div> Massachusetts Bay Colony.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Rehoboth , Massachusetts</U></div> <bR> <div> Named by Rev. Samuel Newman  It means " room". </div> <div> "The Lord has made room for us."</div> <bR> <div> One of the four original Townships of Massachusetts </div> <bR> <div> The First Purchase included parts of what is called at present;</div> <bR> <div>      Attleboro</div> <div>      North Attleboro</div> <div>      Seekonk     </div> <div>      Swansea</div> <bR> <bR> <div> It was a ten mile tract of land purchased from Massasoit in 1641.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Second Purchase was called English Wannamoiset.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Part of Barrington</div> <div>      Part of Swansea</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Third Purchase and last, was known as The North Purchase;</div> <bR> <div>      Attleboro</div> <div>      North Attleboro     </div> <div>      Cumberland, RI</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Rhode Island took all lands east of the Blackstone River and Narragansett Bay;</div> <bR> <div>      Cumberland</div> <div>      Pawtucket</div> <div>      East Providence</div> <div>        Barrington     </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Proprietors Records Vol. One, Page One</div> <bR> <div> The first meeting of the town was held on "the 21st day of the 4th month", but the records are illegible. It appears they related to a further division of land. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Rehoboth Compact Signed</U></div> <bR> <div> On the 3rd day of the 5th month [July] 1644</div> <bR> <div> "This combination, entered into by the general consent of all the inhabitants, after general notice given te 23rd of the 4th month.</div> <div> We whose names are underwritten, being, by the providence of God, inhabitants of Seacunk, intending there to settle, do covenant and bind ourselves to one another to subject our persons [torn], [according to law and equity] to nine persons, any five of the nine which shall be chosen by the major part of the inhabitants of this plantation, and we [torn] to be subject to all wholesome[torn] by them, and to assit them, accordingto our ability and estate, and to give timely notice unto them of any such thing as in our conscience may prove dangerous unto the plantation, and this combination to continue untill we shall subject ourselves jointly to some other government."</div> <bR> <div> Thirty men signed the Compact,among them:</div> <bR> <div> Richard Wright</div> <div> Henry Smith</div> <div> John Allen</div> <div> William Sabin</div> <div> Thomas Cooper</div> <bR> <div> Two of the nine men chosen were:</div> <bR> <div> Richard Wright</div> <div> Henry Smith</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Town Meeting January 10, 1644</U></div> <bR> <div> Several persons were admonished for not fencing in their lands. </div> <bR> <div> Mr. Peck, Thomas Cooper, John Sutton and Edward Gilman were among them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Town Meeting February 26, 1644</U></div> <bR> <div> Richard Wright present.</div> <div>  Land rules ordered.</div> <div> Although the proprietors purchased their lands from Plymouth Colony, the town members considered themselves independent of any jurisdiction but their own. They were afterward claimed by  both Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony.</div> <div> In 1645, they submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Plymouth Court. This was decided by the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and the town of "Seacunke" was incorporated under the Scriptural name of Rehoboth, which was selected by their pastor Mr. Newman: for he said, "the Lord hath made room for us."</div> <bR> <div> Lands of the proprietors were then registered at this meeting.</div> <div> Names appearing on the list:</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="595" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> Ralph Allin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Samuel Butterworth</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Mr. Peck</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> John Sutton</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Thomas Cooper</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> John Allin</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> William Sabin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Henry Smith</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Edward Gilman</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><div> John Miller</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><div> Richard Wright</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="18" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="195" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="195"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="18" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="195" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="18" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="195" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="195"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="18" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="195" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>General Meeting March 16, 1645</U></div> <bR> <div> Fence Viewers were sent out to judge the quality of their construction. Among them, Captain Richard Wright and Thomas Cooper. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The same day the following townsmen were named to serve for one year.</div> <div> Mr. Henry Smith and Mr. Thomas Cooper</div> <bR> <div> <U>Town Meeting May 28, 1645</U></div> <bR> <div> Mr. Henry Smith and Richard Wright present.</div> <div> It was ordered that a levy be made and gathered of 12d on each £100 of each estate, to be paid either in butter at 6d. a lb. or in wampum and it was also ordered that </div> <div> Robert Titus and William Sabin shall be collectors of said revenue.</div> <bR> <div> Richard Wright continued to be very much involved with town affairs. He was to assign salt marsh lands, which were very important to the colonists, as well as  fresh water areas and new meadows </div> <bR> <div> <U>Town Meeting of June 9, 1645</U></div> <bR> <div> Lots were drawn for additonal land in "the Great Plain"</div> <bR> <div> Lots drawn in this order by our family.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 4 </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Edward Gilman</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 6</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Richard Wright</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 14 </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Samuel Butterworth</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 15</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> William Sabin</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 27</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> John Sutton</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 29</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Thomas Cooper</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 47</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Thomas Miller</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 50</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Mr. Peck</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 53</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> John Allin</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="293"><div> Lot 54</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Mr. Henry Smith</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Rehoboth prospered and grew, and at a town meeting in December of 1650, it was voted "to have a convenient way four rods wide, to be made for the town's use, or any that shall have occasion to pass from town to Providence, or to Mr. Blacksone's."</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Town Meeting of June 11, 1652</U></div> <bR> <div> "It was voted, that by the assent of the town then present, and being lawfully warned, that those losts which lie beyond the lot of Goodman Mathew should remain to the ox- pastor, and henceforth not lotted."</div> <div> This land was used for common pasturing of oxen, sheep, etc. and was situated north east of Seekonk Common between the new road and the Seekonk River, extending down the river to the mouth of the Ten Mle River.</div> <bR> <div> <U>December 16, 1662</U></div> <bR> <div> An Indian called Sam took charge of the cows and other cattle of the people of the town for many years, driving them to the "ox-pastor" in the morning and returning them to their several owners at night, in which capacity he became so popular as to secure and admission to equal rights with the other colonists, the only instance of such privileges beng granted in this colony. The record is as follows:</div> <bR> <div> "May 22d 1665, Sam, the Indian that keeps the cows, was admitted by the town as an inhabitant, to buy or hire house or lands if he can, in case the Court allow it."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>