The Washington herald., 1909-03-05

through the colonial period, with It's In
dian wars, and even back into the history
OF England and Wales.
II was Mr.. Alphonso Taft. father Of
President Taft, who made the principal
speech at this memorable reunion. and he
proudly said:
Ny blood was all derived from the Mendoa of 1870
with its original ample boundaries. Ny ancestors
on both sides cane 70 Mendon on the resettenent.
IN $50. Of the town after King Philips Wsr-Rob-t
Taft. csrpenter; Grindal Ragson. minister; Samuel
Harvard. yeonan. and Capt Josiah Chapin-
By wife. too. Is q descendant Of the Tourys the
Darenports. ard the Holbrcoks of AendoD. and or
children and our childrsns children VII trace Their
origin 10 the same old MendOn Of l650
History of Family.
He might have gone on and said that
as one studies the history Of the Taft
family 1t is TO find that # is noted for
industry, energy, and frugality. and that
since it was first established on this con-
tinent It has always taken an active part
in the support Of the government.
AlphOnsO Taft did not bring forward
/ the argument that the original Taft stock
was Of that family which was honored
by royalty in Ireland, though ne might
have done this. but he said:
refer 70 these authorities not 70 claim snvtkinz
nors than plebeiau blood By identifying ourselves
Vith the nobility Of Ireland. bet 10 show the his
toricsl result Is the sane whether ancestors cane
drCctly from England Scotland. or Ireland and
that the change IN The spelling might as vel have
been from "Taft'' 70 '-TaFee" when the family
oow n ireland left England OF from 'TsEe" 70
Tar Whcu ou ancestors settled IN GIasszchu-
settz
1ie-ding 70 the tradition among the descendants
such weight as We cannot uou deny. We must con
Ci1de that. though these families nav vel be n
the sane original stock the emigration Of th fan
iiy noT Il Ireland from England or Scotland was
seFeral centuries earlier than that q the meubers
q The family Who cane directly 70 this county
from the original home Of the race.
The Irish historians declare that the
Taffes OF Ireland were originally from
England. their first appearance IN Ire
7 land being al the end Of the thirteenth
century. Members OF this family stood
well at court The history saws that
/ King James gave William Tane much"
and that Queen Elizabeth gave him pre-
ferment." The son Of William Taffe be-
came Sir John and was afterward ad-
vanced 10 the dignity Of Viscount Tafe
Of Correnn by royal patent bearing date
Or Dublin. August I, lszS said AlphOnsO
Taft ignoring the history OF his titled
! pTOgenitors-
The frst O, our pygenitors Il this oouutzy
vas Rooert Iaft of his birth We hare 70
rccc1d- Re dled February g. I7Z5. at an a-s of not
less tAan eishty-tre sears that The date q bis
birth cannot BE- placed later thar ISsc
sarah Eis wife. IS shown cunclusivelv % have
been b7Gn about the sane tine Who sbe vas before
the mcrger q her name IN that q he- husband we
Know not
0f RoheTts sntecedeuts We have 70 di-g-t e7idsncs
His frs appearance In America. 50 fa- as re have
been able 20 trace him. vas ~ conuecfi1r with his
hCuse and lot IN Braiutree. which Ee fn5 him oru-
ing in ISIS To lE9 he moved 70 Meudo1- deed
ior IL adjoining his house lot shows his name
sIeIled ''Tafe''
Refuge in America.
Mr.. Taft recited the history of the town
Of Mendon. which had thrived until 1915.
when. in King Philips war. the inhabi-
tants were either killed or driven away
and all their houses were burned. IN
1850 the resettlement began. and Robert
Taft came prominently forward. Il IS
said that he was an adherent OF the Com
monwealth, a Scotch Puritan disgusted
With the cavaliers, ard that in the trou-
olous times that came with the Restora-
ton he sought refuge from civil and re-
hglous broiis n the forests OF New Eng
land
Touching on this. the Presidents father
said:
Tie first general town meeting vas on January
l5sa. and Robert Taft was one q the ssls-rnen
chosen On the fourth day q the sec'1d meeting
ne iowa hcid another meeting and chose Robert
Tar as one q the committee 10 provide for the
building cf the minister's house.
Helps in Minister'S support.
The first list q names assessed for the minister's
support that is shown the records was IN Iss5 and
Robert Taft Tsys sod rare. committee vas
sTIoiutei TO hIild a msctinE house and rziss the
money ard he was IN the uuulber. Frcu tine 20
time he vas elected selectman and frequently was
placed On important committees. n ISs he with
tarL JcSIah Chaplin. was appointed 20 view the
streams q the town ard se.ect Tlace f0E corn
mill
The lard he aud his sons had laid cut lay on both
siaes q the Blackstone. and they PROJECTED bridge
i was q public matter. but 4 more importance %
them thEn 20 al the reSt q the toWn. The town
vas rot r5ady % vote the money. but It did vote
that Mr.. Taft and his sons be frCed from working
OF the Highways 10 return for building the b-idre
This was II E19. and It probably wzs the first
bridge built over the river The site is stin known
though abandoned a bridge site. the river hGviug
CIT another channel. The old road they ez1zrated
Is stin plainly visible though covered With shrub
berg and trees. For many years the public zad DC
c.hs- means oi crossing. and It was known as the
bridge the Tafts built.
All Were Farmers.
Robert Taft had FIVE sons, Thomas,
Robert. Daniel. Joseph. and Benjamin.
The second son. Robert Taft. jr-, was
prominent in public affairs. but he was
beaten by John. who held every Office Of
trust and honor that the town had TO
give, from fence viewer TO selectman and
representative in the Great and General
Court" Samuel a son OF Robert Taft.
jr-. owned a tavern in Uxbridge. and It
was at this house that Washington
stopped and was entertained after his
first election 10 the Presidency.
He was 50 pleased with his entertain
ment that he wrote 70 Samuel later.
sending each CT his girls a piece Of
chintz. and to Patty" who bears the
name Of Mrs. Washington, guineas
with which 10 purchase something she
desires" Another Of this line. Frederick
Taft, served three years in the army Of
the colonies. Daniel the third son OF the
original American Taft, was the adviser
Of the town in financial matters and was
for many years the town treasurer
It was through him that the Taft fam
ily first showed its strength politically. |
Daniel became an object Of attack
against the leadership Of the Tafts. He
was moderator Of the town meetings, /
and objection was made 20 his calling a
meeting without a formal warrant The |
town clerk made a record that the meet /
Ing called was Of no effect" but Daniel /
rallied the Taft family to his banner /
and at the next meeting he was elected !
moderator, selectman. trustee, and all /
the other Offices were cornered by the /
Tafts
One Of Daniels sons was Bazaleel Taft. !
who during the Revolutionary war went /
with a company 10 Rhode Island. he act |
ing as orderly sergeant Having made |