WHATEVER BECAME OF?
Nortonites who moved away
REV. JOEL BRIGGS - son of George & Sarah (Wilkinson) Briggs; grandson of Richard Briggs, one of the first settlers of the town; born April 15, 1757. He fitted for college with William Williams, of Wrentham, and entered Brown Univ. in 1777; but by the close proximity of the British army, the college exercises were broken up, and Mr. Briggs did not return after the enemy had retired. Licensed to preach, by the old Baptist Church, about 1783. Dec. 5, 1787, he was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church in Braintree, now Randolph, and nearly on the line of Stoughton, in which latter town he resided. Faithful and efficient preacher, took high rank among the clergy of his faith, and received the honorary degree of A.M. from Brown Univ. in 1795. Married in 1784 to Hannah Sprague, of Attleborough; and had seven children. He died Jan. 18, 1828.
REV. JONATHAN SMITH - son of David & Abigail (Gilbert) Smith, grandson of Seth & Elizabeth (Allen) Smith; born March 10, 1761. In 1780, joined old Baptist Church, and was licensed to preach May 22, 1799; and for some years did a sort of missionary work in this vicinity; preaching in schoolhouses and elsewhere, as he had opportunity; being keeper of a country store during the week. In 1816 ordained as a minister at Pawtucket, R.I.; but soon removed to Tiverton, R.I., and took charge of the Baptist Church there. He preached at Coventry and Providence, R.I.; and in 1834 moved to Chicopee. He died at his daughter's house in Hartford, CT on Jan. 3, 1855. Death notice published in the Christian Secretary. Buried in Chicopee. He married Sarah Tisdale about 1783.When she died he married May 24, 1793 to Lydia Harding. After her death, he was married again. He had 11 children.
REV. EBENEZER BURT - born March 9, 1766; the son of Deacon Ebenezer & Abigail (Basset) Burt; grandson of Ebenezer & Naomi (Cambell) (Acres) Burt; gr-grandson of Ebenezer & Lydia (Tippen) Burt, among the earliest inhabitants of Norton. At age 14, Mr. Burt joined the old Baptist Church. Aug. 29, 1794, he was licensed to preach by the 'baptist Church of Dighton, and preached in this vicinity till Nov. 2, 1796, when he removed to Hardwick and was ordained as an evangelist (standing upon a great rock) on June 20, 1797. A church was orgainzed in 1806, and he was installed the pastor; there, he preached his half-century sermon on November, 1846. From July 1845 to 1851, he resided at Ware Village. He moved to Athol (Depot) Village. He has preached occasionally since he was ninety years old, and the whole number of sermons is about 4,975. His mind is still active, and his memory of events and dates wonderful. In the winter of life, he enjoys the respect and almost veneration of all sects of Christians who know him. He married, Nov. 19, 1789 to Lucy Stacy of Taunton; and has had 7 children.
DR. IRA SMITH - was a brother of Jonathan Smith and was born March 2, 1766. He married Nancy S. Hodges in 1797; and soon after removed to Monkton, VT, where he died about 1802, leaving three children.
SILAS COBB, ESQ. - was the son of Gen. Silas & Deliverance (Hodges) Cobb, grandson of Benjamin & Mary Cobb; and was born Sept. 25, 1768. He studied law, and opened an office in Rehoboth; but soon removed to Swanzey (Swansea), where he spent most of his subsequent life, and died there July 9, 1818. He married, Sept. 17, 1801, Miss Eunice Smith, of this town; and had two children, one of whom is our townsman, Daniel S. Cobb, Esq.
DR. NATHAN PERRY - was the son of Nathan and Phebe (Braman) Perry, and was born May 27, 1776. For many years, he was a practising physician at North Bridgewater; and died there Aug. 16, 1857. He married Tiley Clapp in 1806 (?), and had several children.
REV. NATHANIEL STONE - born June 6, 1785; son of Nathaniel & Rebecca (Woodward) Stone; grandson of Nathaniel & Sarah (Woodward) Stone; gr-grandson of William & Mehitable (Lane) Stone. In the spring of 1825 he was ordained at Providence, R.I., as a local preacher of the Methodist Conference. He lived at the eastern part of Mansfield, and preached there and in the neighboring towns as he had opportunity. He married, in 1815, Chloe Cobb, by whom he had several children; and died of consumption, July 26, 1840.
DR. JERRY HODGES - born March 22, 1787; brother of Drs. Tisdale & Guilford Hodges. Studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Nelson of Bristol, R.I. In 1805 he removed with his father to Petersham; about 2 years later, commenced practice in Templeton, where he resided about 10 years, when he removed to Hinsdale, N.H. and was there about 4 years. He then removed to Petersham, where he continued till his death, April 3, 1858; having held a high rank among the physicians of that vicinity. He was the 7th son and was thought to have been 'born a doctor'. On the strength of this absurd notion, he was frequently called upon to cure the "King's Evil"; and by the use of a little tact, succeeded in giving very general satisfaction to his patients. July 21, 1813, he married Mary S. Tucker of Winchendon; and had 11 children.
Copyright © 2000 . All Rights Reserved.