Volume XLII No.4
Upcoming Events
April 21, 2:00 PM John and Abigail Adams (Thomas Macy and Patricia Bridgman) revisit us to present a new program: Boston at War: Letters of Abigail and John Adams. Over the past century and a half, America has been involved in wars fought in far-off lands, with little but the nightly news to remind us of the violence. But at the start of our Revolution, war was waged here in Eastern Massachusetts. British troops were entrenched in Boston and Charlestown, and the surrounding countryside was covered with a makeshift militia army. A general attack by the British was expected daily, and every town was in a constant state of alarm. Every port from Newburyport to Martha’s Vineyard feared invasion from the sea.
Several skirmishes were fought within sight and sound of the Adams homestead in Braintree, and the roar of cannon fire often kept the household awake at night. In 1775 and 1776, Abigail Adams had the responsibility of the family farm and the four young Adams children, while John served at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, unable to sleep for worry about his loved ones in danger. The correspondence between John and Abigail gives us a unique insight into the eleven months when Boston was in fact AT WAR!
April 27 - 11:00AM Walk at Glen Echo Park It will be preceded by a short kayak/canoe expedition around the Pond at 9:00 AM. People must supply their own watercraft. Former Glen Echo Inn resident, Anita Silva, who contributed the essay to our Glen Echo booklet plans to attend the walk, weather permitting. Sign up at the library or email us.
May 5 - 10-3 Mass. Memories Road Show at the Senior Center “Please join us and take your place in Massachusetts history.” Bring 1-3 photos in original format to be scanned and returned to you, with your memories about them recorded for posterity. The Historical Society will have a display and table at the event. Refreshments served and transportation available by calling 781-344-8882 to reserve a ride with the Council on Aging. Also check the Stoughton Library website or call 781-344-2711.
May 13 - 6 PM - Installation of Officers and Spring Dinner at Backstreet Grille. Sign-up form at end of Newsletter The Nominating Committee of Mary Kelleher, Millie Foss, and Joanne Callanan has returned the current slate of Officers and Board of Directors with the single addition of Life member Lou Poillucci, replacing the long, loyal, and productive tenure of Joe DeVito for whom future tributes will transpire.
Our Yard sale tentatively scheduled for May 18 has been moved to an as-yet undetermined Saturday in the early Fall. If possible, please hold onto your items to donate until August, as storing them may be problematical for us.
June 15 10AM-3PM Civil War Re-enactment Programs. 10pm at the Stoughton Train Station. 10:30-1:00 at Faxon Park, 1-2 at the Historical Society. Watch the Pennysaver for possible changes in times of events.
President’s Report
On March 24, we heard and watched Dr Stephen Kenney’s fascinating presentation on many of the Commonwealth Museum’s highly interactive and student-friendly exhibits, which help bring Massachusetts history to life. There is no admission charged at the Commonwealth Museum, but it is not open on weekends. From what we saw in the presentation, it looks to be a great place to visit with children or grandchildren. Google “Commonwealth Museum” for as excellent sample of their exhibits.
We have expanded our exhibit for the Charles Sumner desk and added many more background historical materials which are displayed on the bookcase behind the desk. We have acquired the 4 Volumes of Sumner Memoirs and Letters, which were written and compiled by Stoughton native Edward Lillie Pierce. Richard Fitzpatrick has consolidated much of our old and new information on the desk into a three-ring binder.
We are still trying to work out the details of insurance coverage with our Town and Randolph so that we can borrow and display the sword given by Stoughton members of the Mass. 35th Volunteer Infantry to Randolph’s Captain Niles, whom Waldo mentions in his journal, and the ambrotype of Niles’s wife, as well as detailed newspaper accounts of his funeral and other fascinating Civil War artifacts, which the Randolph Historical Society has graciously offered to lend us. We hope to have the sword and ambrotype on display during the Civil War Re-enactment Open House on June 15.
We are also continuing the transcription of a Civil War Journal written by Charles Eaton of the 4th Regiment of Mass. Volunteer Infantry. The first three months of the journal describe Army Camp life in Taunton with train trips back to Stoughton when leaves can be acquired. Eaton writes the following at Thanksgiving time:
“Nov. 26th, Wed. Two of “our boys” went home without leave – or in other words, skedaddled last night. They wanted to be home to spend Thanksgiving. The report is that they were taken in custody by the Sheriff of Canton. Dr. Alger & Henry Taylor came from Stoughton today. Taylor is sergeant in this company, has been sick at home and his furlough is not out yet. It has been a rainy day which I have improved in reading. We had a government store put up today which looks as though we were to stay here all winter. I hope we shall leave here very soon.
Nov. 27th, Thurs. This is the day appointed by his Excellency, Gov. Andrews for a day of “Thanksgiving.” It is a pleasant but cold day and one that might be enjoyed at home. But here at camp, it does not seem any different from any other day unless we could call it a change because we have not drilled today. The Foxboro Co. received some good things to have a regular Thanksgiving dinner with. Our bill of fare was as follows. Breakfast = Boiled meat, soft bread, coffee. Dinner = Beef steak, potatoes, gravy. Salt pork. Soft-bread. For drink it was a choice between cold water and water cold. Supper = (couldn’t call it “Tea”) Soft bread or hard and coffee that isn’t bad but it is not such as I should like Thanksgiving Day. We appreciated that possibly we might all have a furlough but the fifty fifth regiment are so much trouble that we had to stay to guard them. They are mostly Irish. I have been reading the most of the day. I don’t [know] why this (the Regiment?) isn’t filled up. I should think it would be done if we are going off.”
In January, the 4th Mass. takes the train to Fall River, and depart for New York on the steamer Empire State.
Regis College Grad student intern Karen Dropps has been working diligently transcribing and interpreting both newly acquired and older items in our extensive Capen Collection. She has studied the tax records of the Capen properties and is in the process of determining who lived on the Capen/Reynolds farm at various periods before Frank and Bertha Capen Reynolds and the complicated process of passing on this “shared” property to the next generation. From the 1850’s to the 1870’s Adam Capen and his family live in one side of the house and Jonathan Capen and his family live in the other side. Jonathan farms the land for which we have his ledgers, (which we have had for some time) while Adam makes boots for which we have his ledgers (which have been newly acquired; see Archivists Report). In the year 1871 Jonathan and Adam are each listed as owning ½ Dwelling, ½ Barn and 40 acres, 20 on Pleasant, 20 on Pine Sts. The genealogy is a challenge since there are also Adams and Jonathans in the next generation, but Karen is doing an excellent job of sorting this out and we look forward to presenting a more detailed response in future newsletters.
Our research on Susan Clapp Bradley, whose 1858-61 journal we will be publishing, has taken several more steps forward. We have found the following passage in which the energetic Susan describes opening her own school in the rented Capen Hall, which I am told was on the site of the current Randolph Savings Bank:
(1859) “Sept 10 Sat. The “first Tues in Sept” has at last arrived & gone- I have kept school a wk in Capen Hall. A happier wk. I have never passed- have been constantly sustained by Divine air & cheered by the Divine Presence. Am confident that I am performing the work God would have me do, for he is with me. There were but ten scholars the first day & although there were but 12 during the wk I have not felt discouraged. I am conscious that I possess the utmost confidence of my scholars- they are attentive to every suggestion. Am certain God will not forsake me if I watch for the leadings of his Providence in relation to my school. Feel very grateful for the blessings of this week & can leave the result with God & trust him for everything.
My hearing has been very much improved this wk- regard it as a special providence.”
Several months later she mentions her difficulties boarding with a Mrs Hodges, who most likely is Marion “Polly” Hodges, the surviving widow of the ill-fated Samuel Hodges Jr and his Cape Verde misadventures thirty years earlier, from which only Polly and the son, Samuel Jr., who was sent home as a very young child with a goat and a nanny, survived.
Nov. 5, Sat. …..Tuesday evening I invited the girls to come in and sing awhile after obtaining a reluctant permission from Mrs. Hodges. Wednes afternoon we took a walk and accompany Julia M. L. part way home. All the scholars joined in the walking except one who was excused to draw. Several of the last walks gave rise to a spirit of opposition among the scholars, which resulted in the suspension of one scholar. Since that everything has moved on pleasantly.
At the close of the Seventh Week the weather had become so cold that the school was removed to a warmer hall, which had been engaged for the winter. (We do not yet know the location of her new schoolroom.)
Miss P. & I spent the forenoon at the Hall arranging plans for next week and crayoning. We dined at the Refreshment Sallon.
We have made an effort to get another boarding place where we shall be treated with more kindness. Have not been as sensibly conscious of Divine guidance for a few weeks past- yet do not doubt it. Desire to be directed to such measures as will result in the greatest good to all concerned.
Feel quite uncertain about the winter. Do not want to try to get along alone, and yet I fear there may not be sufficient scholars to pay two teachers. Will try not to feel anxious & perform present duty faithfully.
Rec’d a letter from Rufus this week. Rec’d another copy of “Waverly”. Rec’d a present of a collar from Mary E. Morton. Alice Reynolds walked down from N. W. B. yesterday. Four others were in school.
Nov 18 Friday Am having a vacation. Am employing in resting. Have not made or rec’d any visits. Our term of school closed wk. ago today. There were nine visitors present. Felt quite well satisfied with the excercises of the afternoon. Do not know whether others did or not. Mrs. E. Dickerman expressed herself as “having been quite edified”. Last week was a week of trial. The anxiety of making a good impression if there should be visitors present Friday afternoon- but more that, the arranging of plans for next term quite fatigued me.
Mrs. Hodges said the Piano must be moved Sat.- everything must be taken away- she did not want a boarder an hour after Friday night and many such remarks annoyed me. Poor human nature! Feel more anxious when I see the unhappiness resulting from uncurbed tempers to assist others in learning the difficult art of self government. Was so tired that I came home Saturday night directly from school. Was enabled to commit all my care to God. Have been enabled to do it for two weeks past before that I indulged too much in our -belief & tried to lay plans myself. When I took upon the apparent failure of my school this far and at the uncertain future I am thankful that there is a Guide to whom I can look in consciousness that I have been pursuing the path of duty, in attempting to establish a school. There was a verse of a hymn we sing in school a few weeks ago, which afforded me encouragement.”
Before boarding with Mrs Hodges, Susan appeared to have a good relationship with the woman, having attended three “women’s prayer meetings at her house, but Mrs. Hodges clearly objects to Susan bringing her students into the house for evening sings, something she could do easily when she was teaching with Ruth in their boarding school. By December, Susan has found a new place to board and a new home for her piano:
Dec 3 Saturday Commenced the second term of school on Monday. There were but ten scholars which rendered it unnecessary to retain Lucie E. as assistant. Thus I shall miss her society very much, but there seems to be no alternative.
Have a pleasant boarding-place at Mr. Ezekiel Dickerman’s. Attended a pastorial visit at our minister’s Thursday evening- enjoyed it very much. Have my Piano at the School-room building. ’Tis more convenient in giving lessons. Anticipate a pleasant term.
John Brown was hung today for assisting slaves in escaping from Va. which resulted in blood-shed. Quite an excitement has been produced about it.”
It is interesting to note that Susan mentions politics very rarely in her diary. Brown’s Raid at Harper’s Ferry and subsequent trial had been dominating the national scene, but this is the only time Susan mentions it. In contrast, the later plight of the Freedmen in the South after the War, moves her sufficiently to volunteer.
Regis College Grad student intern Karen Dropps and I checked the reports of the Stoughton school Department and found that in 1866 (six years after this journal ends) Susan Clapp was listed as teaching a “mixed” class in District No. VI. During this period, each teacher and class evoked a written commentary for the year in the School Report: “District No II – Mixed School – Summer Term,- Teacher, Miss Susan Clapp. This lady, a resident of the District, is well known as an excellent teacher. The school, always rather small, was in many respects most admirably conducted, and the progress in learning was satisfactory. The interest shown by the inhabitants of the District in the welfare of the school was evident from the unusually large number of visitors during this and the winter term. A class in History and one in Algebra were pleasant manifestations of the teacher’s vigilance and desire to advance the older scholars. The examination was characterized by great thoroughness and the results were satisfactory.”. For teaching this mixed class of 33 scholars during the Summer term, Susan Clapp received $25 per month. By the way, also teaching during this term is Amelia Clifton, who will eventually become an assistant at the high school and a long-time secretary of the Stoughton Historical Society.
From the 1867 School Report: “DISTRICT NO. VI Washington Hall Primary Teacher: Susan Clapp
This school was organized June 18th to relieve the pressure upon the other schools in the district. Miss Clapp, who is well known as a successful teacher, was placed at its head. It necessarily required time to being order out of the chaos resulting from the gathering together from many points of a large number of children. By perseverance, however, and much labor, Miss Clapp at length brought all into subjection. Conscientious, pains-taking, and anxious to succeed, she deserved and obtained success. The examination satisfied the Committee and the friends of the school.” For teaching this primary class of 60 scholars during the Winter term, Susan Clapp received $20 per month. A. St. John Chambres is Supt of Schools in 1866 and apparently writes the commentary
As a result of information gathered in her journal and the above, we have been able to piece together a partial time line for Susan Clapp’s teaching in NW Bridgewater (now Brockton) and Stoughton. She taught eighteen terms with her sister Ruth at the NW Bridgewater school until the Spring of 1859. The school apparently had three terms a year, Spring, Fall, and Winter, indicating that Susan began teaching with Ruth in 1853. She also records that she wrote an obituary for “Old Mr Gurney” for the North Bridgewater Gazette in January of 1859. She taught her own private school in Stoughton in 1859 and 1860 and wrote an article for the “Stoughton Record” in November of 1859; it may have been an advertisement for her school. Presumably, (but not yet confirmed) Susan Clapp continued to teach her private school during the years of the Civil War until she took the public teaching assignments in 1866 and 1867.
In search for the complete records of Susan Clapp’s sojourn teaching Freedmen in North Carolina, Ruth and Richard Fitzpatrick took a day from their Baton Rouge trip and visited the Amisted Center at Tulane University in New Orleans, which houses the archives of the American Missionary Association. They brought back copies or photos of all the Center’s materials on Susan Clapp. One document we had not seen before was a letter of reference, written on Oct. 26, 1867 by Thomas Wilson, the Pastor of the Congregational Church and the Supt of Public Schools: (who may also be the man who wrote her public teaching evaluation for 1867 and was her Pastor.) “This may certify that Miss Susan Clapp has been a teacher both in private & public schools in this town for several years past. I have had opportunity of knowing her qualifications and success in that capacity, having been a member of the School Committee for several years & also the Superintendent of Public Schools for some time. I can most cordially commend her as a very capable, energetic, and experienced teacher. She is fertile in devising ways to interest her pupils, an untiring in her efforts to promote their welfare and improvement. She is efficient in her government, mild yet firm, kind yet decided, and has proved herself to be one of our most reliable & desirable teachers. As a young lady, her character is pure and Christian. She has long been a member of my church, and is a very active, & decided, & useful one. In the Sabbath School & elsewhere, her labors are abundant & acceptable, and I doubt not, wherever her lot in life may be cast, that she will prove equal to the duties that the Providence of God may put upon her.
Being informed that she is ready, & not only ready but desirous, if it is to be the Divine Will, to engage in teaching the “Freedmen” or their children, & that she has made application to that effect to the Am. Miss’y Association, I would most heartily recommend her to the favorable consideration of the officers of that noble Society, as one well qualified for the position of teacher under their auspices.”
A letter written by C. L. Wentworth, District Sec’y of the AMA from Boston in January of 1869:(to) Rev. E. P. Smith: Dear Bro., Do you want the services of an experienced teacher for the next six months, who will work for board and transportation? Her name is Susan C, daughter of Dea. Clapp of Stoughton. She has had an experience of teaching of twelve or fifteen years in the schoolroom and has been very successful. I judge she may be thirty five years of age, is quite accomplished, a good singer, a good pianist & she is evidently a lady of deep piety & much desires to do something for this (illegible) in the South.
If you can use her on the terms proposed, please inform me (illegible.) If she gets transportation have it made (illegible) for Miss Susan Clapp, Stoughton, Mass….”
There are more than thirty reports written by or about Susan Clapp in the AMA documents and we have not completely absorbed all of them at this time. We have also been informed by the Gail Huntington Research Library of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum that they have forty boxes of materials from the Susan Bradley Chapel at Oak Bluffs, which may provide further information on Susan’s time on the Island. We know that she married Stephen Bradley in 1885, but not when she came to the Island. Her obituary states that she left her ministry there, three years before her death in September of 1908.
Archivist’s Report - Acquisitions
- An article from the Canton Citizen Re: Alfred Crowd family, written by George Comeau was added to our files.
- Ruth & Dick Fitzpatrick went to Tulane University in New Orleans and obtained copies and Photographs of letters and reports written by Susan Clapp (Bradley) to the AMA (American Missionary Association) while she was assigned to North Carolina.
- Janet Clough, donated a book "Electric Refrigerator Recipes and Menus". Published by General Electric Co. in 1927, this book was once owned by Mrs. Millard Lowe.
- Peter Foley donated 46 pocket calendars that originally belonged to Adam Capen and Adam Capen Jr. in which they kept track of day to day shoe production and other daily activities. The oldest one is dated 1842, the remainder from 1855 thru 1906. There was also a notebook filled with School, Tax records by district. This book is not dated but we were able to determine the records are for the year 1868.
- Jim Byron, of Dennis, MA donated a Post Card, with a photograph of a class in front of the Drake School. C.1900-1911.
- Betty Rubel donated (delivered by Pam Polillio) a receipt for a Half Cord of wood dated May 30, 1899. Bought from Cornelius Murphy, by Mrs. Fleming at a cost of $1.75. Mrs. Fleming lived at 17 Stoddard St. and was George E. Rubel's (Betty's Husband) Great, Great, Grandmother. She also donated a High School picture, believed to be Joe Mahoney, Stoughton High School Class of 1939.
- Carrie Sievers, donated three framed prints. Stoughton Center, Sharon Center, Barber prints C. 1850's and a print of the Stoughton train station.
- Ari Herzog now of Newburyport, MA, and formerly of Canton, donated a Corcorans, Inc. Hunting, Camping and Fishing Catalogue, Fall and Winter edition for 1959.
- Brian Daley donated a paperback book on King Phillips War.
I have also been working with Joe and Brian on various parts of the new Civil War display, including researching the Hotchkiss shell and an exploded shell, which we identified as being of Confederate origin. I also put together the materials we had collected for the “Sumner Desk” in a three-ring note book, which can be examined by visitors. Joe DeVito added a bookcase behind the desk, which now holds much of the relevant literature, including four volumes of Stoughton’s Edward Lillie Pierce’s Memoirs of Sumner, which Dwight purchased, after having them re-printed via Amazon.
–Richard Fitzpatrick
Curator’s Report Acquisitions
An award given to the Stoughton High School paper, the Semaphore for being the best all round student newspaper from 1927-1928. A nickel-plated measuring device with the name of the Phinney Counter Company on it, purchased from eBay. A Fred Phillips athletic wrench kit, which can be used, among other things, to screw the Phillips spikes/cleats into golf shoes; from eBay. Joe DeVito, Dick Fitzpatrick, and I have removed most of the Stoughton Businesses display from the Pierce Room and replaced it with a “Stoughton in the Civil War” display, which includes muskets, bayonets, cartridge belts, Union and Confederate canteens, which are inscribed with the name of E. C. Monk as the person who retrieved them from the Gettysburg battle field. Mr Monk was not a soldier, but he was an historian, the first President of the Stoughton Historical Society, the owner and developer of Glen Echo Park, and the sponsor of the stone erected to mark the Southeast Corner of Ponkapoag Plantation. The circumstances under which Elisha Capen Monk retrieved the canteens from the battlefield is unknown. Also part of the display is an exploded Confederate shell, found on the Vicksburg battlefield by Marcus Porter. We have added the case holding the flag which was given to Company I of the 12th Mass. Infantry just before they departed for the War. In 1903, the remaining members of the company gave this flag and its wooden and glass case to the Town and it was displayed at Town Hall until 1986, when it was removed for the renovations. It was never put back and eventually found its way to the Historical Society. This case and flag has been moved from the Clapp - Reading Room to the Pierce Room.
–Brian Daley
Clothing Curators Report
We have been reviewing our records to find items that would relate to the Civil War era. We have located and prepared the following items for display: a lady’s winter bonnet, a lady’s purse, a sewing kit, a Civil War Veterans cap, a man’s vest, a baby’s Christening gown, a fabric copy of “Little Eva’s Song” from Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and an advertising piece from Oak Hall store in Boston from 1854. In searching for these items we have done an inventory and reorganization of our department’s storage box number eight.
In addition we are working on stabilizing our Belcher Co. banner, which was just taken off display.
–Janet Clough