Foxborough in "Historical Collections"
text of pages
468 Foxborough.
FOXBOROUGH
This town was originally a part of Stoughton; it was incorpo-
rated in 1778. The Rev. Thomas Kendall, the first minister, was
ordained here in 1786. The church was embodied in 1779. Mr.
Kendall continued its pastor till 1800. The Rev. Daniel Loring,
his successor, was settled here in 1804, and resigned in 1806.
Rev. Thomas Skelton, the third minister, continued here about
four years; his successor, Rev. Thomas Williams, was installed in
1816. Rev. Willard Pierce, the next minister, was ordained in
1824.
In the center of town there are two churches, 1 Congrega-
tional and 1 Baptist, and a village of about 25 well-built dwelling-
houses. Distance, 15 miles from Dedham, 15 to Taunton, 5 to
Wrentham, 37 to Worcester, 20 to Providence, and 24 to Boston.
Population, 1,416. The manufacture of straw bonnets is a very
important branch of business in this place. In 1837, there were
133,654 straw bonnets manufactures, valued at $121,571. There
were 2 cotton mills; 17 hands were employed, and $12,350 worth
of goods manufactured; two woolen mills, cloth manufactured,
46,000 yards, valued at $48,000; one air and cupola furnace; iron
castings made, 300 tons, value, $30,000; hands employed, 20.
The value of shovels, spades, forks or hoes manufactured, was
$15,000.
John Shepherd, who died in Attleborough in 1809, at the age of
one hundred and nine years, was a native of this town. "He re-
tained all his faculties of mind and body, except his eye-sight, to
the last, and was just able to walk, with a little assisstance, till a
few days before his death.* He lived over a hundred years on
his native spot. He was a man of pious character; cheerful in
disposition, jocose, witty, and of a quick understanding. He was
deprived of his eye-sight on a sudden, during the night, and was not
himself aware of it until the next morning, when he sought in
vain for the light of day. He could didtinctly recollect events
which had occurred a century before. He had one son and seve-
ral daughters. Two of his daughters lived upwards of 80 years;
and another, Mrs. Mary Mann, of Wrentham, who died in 1828,
lived to the age of 97 years. She retained all her faculties and
usual cheerfulness and vivacity till the last fifteen years of her
life. She abstained almost wholly from animal food, and never
was in the habit of drinking tea or coffee, and wondered how peo-
ple could love either. Her most common food was milk. She
adhered to the same fashion in dress for 80 years."
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*It is of him that the well-known anecdote is told, that he lived in two counties and
four different towns, and yet never moved [during that time] from the spot where he
was born.
Franklin. 469
The annexed engraving is a representa-
tion of a very singular monument standing
in the grave-yard in the center of this
town. In order to read the inscription, it
is necessary to raise the lid or cover, which
turns up like the lid of a tea-pot, and lays
on the rest by the side. The cover is of
iron, and is kept to its place by hooks; the
date, 1810, is cut upon it. The following
is the inscription :
This monument was erected by Doct. N. Miller, to
the memory of his friend, Mr. Zadock Howe, who died
1819, AE t. 77, and who fought under the great Wash-
ington.
To those who view, before you're gone,
Be pleas'd to put this cover on.
1810.
On the inside of the cover, on a piece of sheet-iron, the following
is in gilt letters :
The grave is waiting for your body,
And Christ is waiting for your soul,
O, may this be your cheerful study,
To be prepared when death doth call.
The lower part of this monument is of granite. This, with the
apparatus at the top, was made by Mr. Howe, who kept it in his
house some years before his death.
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FRANKLIN
or via page images
Foxborough in "Historical Collections"
*source of book: Ray's Place
the notes for the book must be before the Universalist church was built in the 1840's as the church is not referenced in this book - or the author didn't want to acknowledge it - may never know which is the truth!
