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OLD DARTMOUTH^HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 21.

Being the proceedings of the Twentieth Meeting of the Old Dartmouth

Historical Society, held in their building, Water street, New Bedford,

Massachusetts, on June 30, 1908.

THE KEMPTON FAMILY IN OLD DARTMOUTHMary Kempton Taber

SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE FRIENDS OF LONG AGOMary Eastman Bradford

HEAD OF WESTPORT AND ITS FOUNDERSHenry Barnard Worth

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.

Giii

Thft Eooiety

HH ii 1314

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTIETH MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIK MriLIIINH;

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD,

MASSACHUSETTS

JUNE 30, 1908.

The Old Dartmouth Historical so-

c-iety held its twentieth regular meet-ing the evening of June 30 with agood attendance in spite of the verywarm weather. The program for theevening comprised papers on "TheKempton Family in Old Dartmouth,"by Miss Mary Kempton Taber; and"Social Life among the Friends of LongAgo," by Miss Mary Eastman Brad-ford. Both papers were listened to

with much interest and cordial appre-ciation.

In introducing the first speaker ofthe evening. President Wood said:

"In the history of Old Dartmouthno name is older than that of Kemp-ton for it appears upon our earliestrecord.

Among tln' man.\' descendants of thefaviiily of Kempton now living', fewof them bearing the name, there are agoodly number who are living in thevery district set off to their progeni-tor, old Manasseh Kempton, 2 50 yearsago."Our fellow member who is to speak

to us this evening is now living, andI believe has always lived in about thecentre of the largest tract that be-longed to this worthy ancestor. Sheis well fitted to speak to you on the.subject which she has chosen, for shehas always been proud of the Kemp-tons. I introduce Miss Mary KemptonTaber, who will address us on theKempton family in Old Dartmouth."

THE THREE MEETING HOUSES OF THE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETYIN NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

(Courtesy of tlie First Congregational Society)

In each of these Meeting-Houses the Kempton Family were prominent membtand pew-holders.

The Kempton Family in Old Dartmouth

By Mary Kempton Taber

"Ephraim Kempton arrived at Ply-mouth in the ship Ann August, 1623.He was the first Kempton to come totlais country. (The name was some-tiine spelled Kimton.) His two sons,Ephraim and Manasseh, came withhim. The father died in 1645, the sonswere appointed administrators of hisestate. Ephraim 2d married andsettled in Scituate.

'•Manasseh was a very noteful citizena man of great executive ability; waschosen deputy to the general court,surveyor of highways, and assessor oftaxes, serving many terms in eachoffice. In 1624 he married Julian,widow of George Morton, thus com-mencing what afterward became avery close relation with the Mortonfamily, especially noticeable in thechristian naines in both families,Ephraim and Manasseh being usedover and over again."He was one of the original 36

purchasers of Dartmouth in 1652."He died without children in 1662.

The records said, 'He did much goodin his place the time God lent him.'

"In 1714 there was a ManassehKempton in Southampton, LongIsland, by occupation a gunsmith,who was formerly of Plymouth. Herepresented the Kempton landed in-terest in Dartmouth which he derivedfrom his uncle Manasseh. There is

considerable mystery how the South-ampton Manasseh obtained title t;5

the Dartmouth lands; as the originalpurchaser left no will his supposedheir would be his brotlier Ephraim.but this brother never owned theDartmouth lands according to therecords; and a still further problemis to decide who the Long Island manwas; if the original purchaser washis uncle, it might be suggested thattlie Scituate Ephraim could be hisfather, but there is no record estab-lishing this fact, and when later thisgunsmith transfered his Dartmoutlilands to Ephraim Kempton 3d, hecalls him his cousin, which is an ab-surdity, if this Ephraim was his ov.-n

brother."The confusion created by these

different relationships given in thedeed, leaves in considerable doubt therelation of the Long Island man tothe families in Plymouth; one thing,however, seems certain, that as hedied about 1736, Manasseh, the first

purchaser could not have lieen hisfather."In 1733, Man.isseh transferred most

of his Dartmouth lands, consisting ofextensive tracts of swamps, wood-land, and shore meadows. Years be-fore, the proprietors in the divisionof the common lands had allotted tothe Long Island Kempton extensivetracts of upland, meadow and cedarswamps in Darlmoutlh. The first was150 acres at the extreme end of Scon-ticiit Neck; the second was a farmof 100 acres on the east side of theAcushnet river north of the tenninusof the Coggeshall street bridge; thethird was r, tract of 4 acres on theeast side of Clarks Point, divided byButler street; the fourth was a tractof woodland comprising 300 acres inSmith Mills, lying between NorthLartmouth railroad station and tfhe

road between Faunces Corner andHixville; the fifth, known as theHomestead and designated by ThomasM. Stetson as 'a magnificent rect-angle,' was bounded on the east bythe Acushnet river, on the west byRockdale avenue, its south line 100feet south of Spring street, the northboundary 100 feet north of Sycamorestreet, and its area over 400 acres.

"TTie distinguishing marks along thesouth side have been obliterated forover a century, except a curious jogin the west line of County street infront of the residence of the lateJames Arnold, which may be observedas late as the Atlas of 1871.

"The north boundary of the Kemp-ton farm can be easily traced: Rock-dale avenue at a point 320 feet northof West Maxfield street, changes its

direction; this i^oint is the north-west corner of the Kempton home-stead. The line extended about 100feet north of Sj'camore street, atPleasant street crossing the Armorylot, and reac'hing Purchase street420 feet north of Maxfield street.

Within this domain the village ofBedford started. The county roadtraversed this farm as early as 1711,and later was called County street;extending therefrom, east and west,were farm lanes whicli afterwards be-came the modern streets. On its wa-ter front was built 12 of the 15wharves that were in existence in1820. Here was built in 1794 the first

school house, situated on Purchasestreet; a meeting house, built in 1795,northwest corner of Purchase and Wil-liam streets; and dwellings of Bed-ford's first merchants.

"While the Kemptons: owned valu-able interests in Dartmouth from the

date of Oie purchase in 1652, yet for

over eight.x' years none of them livedon Buzzards bay until Ephraim cameto Dartmouth in 1736, being the first

(if tliat namr to reside in this part ofthe province."The Long Island Manasseh in 1733

transferred the land on Clarks Neck,the homestead on the west side ofthe AcusTinet liver, and the SmithMills woodland to 'my loving cousin,Ephraim Kempton of Plymouth, ship-wright'; in his will, probated in 1736.he devised the remainder of his Dart-mouth lands to 'my kinsman, WilliamKempton, ship carpenttir, now livingin the town of Plymouth.' Williamand Ephraim were sons of Ephraim2nd, and it is difficult to understandif the Long Islander was another son,

why he should have described onebrother as 'my kinsman' and the otheras 'my cousin.'

"This included the end of SconticutXeck and the farm on the eastside of the Acushnet river. In1742 William Kempton transferred to

Jethro Delano the Sconticut Neckland, the transfer describing it asgiven me by my honored LTncle Ma-nasseh Kempton, late of Long Island.'

"William occupied as his homesteadthe farm on the east of the Acush-net river. The Smith Mills propertywas conveyed to William Ryder."When the transfer was made of

the great homestead to EphraimKempton there must have been afamily arrangement that a portion ofit \\as intended for Samuel Kempton,the brother of Ephraim, as a shorttime later Ephraim conveyed to Sam-uel the south third of the hoinestead;the north line of this section was 100feet south of Elm street. Ephraiinoccupied the remainder of the farmas his homestead; also the ClarksXeck lot until his death in 175 8.

"Sainuel Keinpton never resided inDartmouth, but in 1744 conveyed histract of 150 acres to Colonel SamuelWillis; it is said that the latter builta house for his son, Ebenezer, on thewest side of County street at the headof William street, and when, in 1748,Colonel Willis transferred the 150acres to Joseph Russell, the latter oc-eui)ied this house as his homestead.

"William Kempton, the owner ofthe Fairhaven farm, at his death in1787 devised his homestead to histhree sons, William, Stephen andJames; it was occupied by these sonsand their descendants for many yearsafter. This farm lay in the hollowbetween the hdls, one at Dahls Cor-ner and the other at the terminus ofthe Coggeshall street bridge, and ex-tended from the river eastward a thirdof a mile; within its limits were the

Tripp farms, Gould place, -and theWoodside cemetery.

"The son, William, Jr., moved to

Acushnet Village, and at one timeowned and occupied the house north-west corner of Lunds corner. He alsoestablished on the east side of theAcushnet river, the old tavern whichis situated en the south side of theroad and is the third building east of

the bridge, for half a century this

tavern was a famous resort for con-\ ivial persons living in New Bedford.Ii- 1758 at the death of EphraimKempton the first Dartmouth resident,he gave by will his Clarks Neck lot to

his children, Thomas and Joanna, thelatter the wife of Benj. Drew, she soldher interest later to Esther Butler, herniece, and they divided the tract andButler street was opened on the divi-sion line. Some of this tract is still

owned by the Keinpton descendants."The homestead farm of Ephraim,

the south third of which was betweenSvcamore and Elm streets, he gave bywill to his son, William, the same wholived on the east side of the Acushnetriver, and the rest of the homesteadto his son Thomas.

"The division Mne between Williamand Thomas was Kempton street,

\\'hich had been opened as a traveledlane in 1778 at the time of the Britishraid. In his will William Kemptongave the section between Elm andKempton streets to three other sons,Benjamin, Manasseh and Ephraim.

"During the years between 1760 andISOC these three Kempton brotherswere selling house lots. ThomasKempton at his death in 1769, by willgave the sections ijf his homestead be-tween Kempton and Hillman streetsto his son Ephraim, the other halfof his homestead north of Hillmanstreet to his son Thomas."When the Clarks Point tract was

assigned to Manasseh Kempton, astream of fresh skater flowed northinto the river, south of where theButler mill is now located. Freshwater was not abundant on ClarksNeck, consequently this stream wasconsidered a public convenience ratherthan a private right, as in the north-west corner of the Kempton tract theproprietors laid out a watering place,which was a strip of land extendingfrom the road to the brook over 600feet distant; through this strip tenrods wide, animals could be driven tothe water."When the Kempton watering place,

comprising 4 acres, was found to beoi greater extent than the needs ofthe public required, the town of NewBedford placed a school house at thewest end and a ])i)W(1er house further

east. Within a few years the old wood-en school house bad given way to ahandsome bricl< structure; but accord-ing to the terms of the original grant,any person today could drive a herdof cattle down -by .the school house to

the ancient brook. In a division of theKempton lands in 1850 ainong 15heirs, they received the numeroustracts between County street andIcockdale avenue, and on both sides ofMill and North street.

"The lot on the northwest cornerof County and Mill streets was as-signed to Ephraiin Kempton, the lot

next north was allotted to AlfredKempton. and they built their man-sions that time on these lots.

"The land at the northwest cornerof County and Xorth streets originallyoccupied by the first Kempton house,finally came into the possession of thelate David B. Kempton.

"The first Kempton dwelling was onthe northwest corner of County andXorth etreets. occupied by Ephraim3d, who died 1758; this home was twostories and had a long sloping roof ashouses were built in those days; wastaken down by David Kempton 2dabout 1800, and in its place he erecteda dwelling, and this was demolishedby the late David B. Kempton, wholuiilt a house on the same site.

"Col. Thomas Kempton's housestood on the west side of Waldonstreet, fronted south with a long oldfashioned north roof."Manasseh Kempton living during

the Revolutionary War, built his housein a field, and when streets were laidout it stood on south west corner ofSecond and Elm streets. Manasseh'sheirs in 1806 sold this house to adescendant and it stands today onElin street, next west of the corner ofSecond street.

"The numerous descendants of theKempton family built their houses ondifferent points of the great home-stead.

"The Kemptons resided only in NewBedford and Fairhaven. and not any-where else in Dartinouth."No Keinpton ever ov.'ned a wharf

or had a ship named for him; forover a century after the family settledin Dartmouth, only one engaged in thewhaling business, the late" David B.Kempton.

"The peculiar development of thewhaling business seems to have result-ed in this condition, the ships wereliuilt, manned, and repaired, by menwho resided north of Union street, butowned by men living south of Unionstreet.

"The Kemptons were farmers, trad-ers, and many inechanics, not engag-

ing in large enterprises very few metwith financial reverses."The Kemptons were all Congre-

gationalists, not one a Quaker."William Kempton owned half a

pew in the meeting house at Acushnet,built 1744. There were 39 proprietorsof the meeting house on the northwest corner of Purchase and Williamstreets, built 1795.

"Eight were Kemptons; Ephraimowned a whole pew in that meetinghouse. Ephraim and Manasseh eachowned a pew in the meeting house onthe north west corner of Union andEighth streets, built 1838.

'The singular fact is that the Con-gregationalists resided north of Unionstreet, the Quakers south of Unionstreet. The lines drawn betweenQutikers and Pilgrims in 17 30 werevery strong, and any persons of Puri-tan tendencies moving into Dartmouthafter that date would not affiliate withthe Quakers; and as Ephraim Kemp-ton, 3rd, had been an attendant at ttie

Congregational church in Duxbury,none of his descendants were Quak-ers; they were not in any way de-pendent upon the Friends, as theywere rich themselves.

"The Purchase street school housewas built about 1794 by a number ofmen connected with the Congrega-tional church residing in Bedford vil-

lage. Among the proprietors wereEpliraim, Manasseh and ThomasKempton, also Benjamin Hill, whosewife was a Kempton."A modern school house, built in

1900, is named the Horatio A. Kemp-ton school, a grandson of the Eph-raim C. Kempton. one of the proprie-tors of the school house built in 1794.

"Tn the New Bedford Mercury of1811 is a notice that Thomas Kemp-ton 'will open a school in Mrs. LydiaFoster's house on the soufliwest cor-ner of Purchase and Mill streets,' (shewas a Kempton).

"In 1821, he was to open a schoolin the Purchase street school house,which stood on the east side of Pur-chase street about 90 feet south ofWilliam street.

"Smith Mills road, now Kemptonstreet, had been opened for travelin September, 1778, because Jolm Gil-bert, a hired man of Joseph Russell's,made his escape on horseback fromthe British by that road. Nine yearslater it became a town way.

"Windmill hill, so called on accountof a grist mill which stood on the topof the hill 100 feet east of Countystreet, between Mill and North streets

The mill was owned and run by aKempton in the year 1792.

"Before the division of t!he lands,

the lots west of County street lying

l)et\veen Mill and North streets wereused as circus lots, and small boys

and girls and children of older growthgave peanuts to the elephants, as they

do at the present day. Also on the lot

where the High school now stands,

fireworks were displayed for the first

time."Patience Faunce, wife of Ephraim

Kempton, 4th, lived to be 105 years

6 monfhs and 6 days: she lived to the

greatest age of any person in this part

of the province; she remembered see-

ing King Phi'ip's head on a pole at

Plvmouth, where it remained manyvears; she said, 'there was a wren that

"built a nest every year in the skull,

and there reared her young.'"She is buried at Acushnet."Her epitaph is:

In peaceful slumber of the deadThe aged saint reclines her head;Tlie paths of virtue long she trodRevered of men, beloved of God.

"When Elizabeth, the wife of

Ephraim Kempton, heard the British

were coming, she with her children

left her home north west corner of

County and North streets, and fled to

the woods. The traditions that havecome down in the family are that whatsilver they had she hid in the trunk of

a tree. She carried with her one of themost cherished possessions of thefamily the brass warming pan; as shewent through the woods the pan hit

the trees and she was advised to dropit, as the British, hearing the noise it

made might pursue them, but shewould not part with it; it is now in

the possession of her two survivinggreat grandchildren.

"Tradition again says that theBritish ransacked the house, eatingeverything that was cooked, an'l

throwing numerous articles into thewell which was north of the house.

"There is also in possession of oneof the descendants of the family apicture of the Ephraim Kemptonhouse which stood on the north westcorner of County and Kempton streets:

it was painted by his daughter, Syl-via, in 1780.

"The old Kempton clock Is in thepossession of one of the descendants.

"Manasseh Kempton of Dartmouth,served as first lieutenant in the Revo-lutionary War in 175 and 1776.

"Another Manasseh Kempton of

Dartmouth served as captain, then wasmade first major, in 17 7 6.

Col. Manasseh Kempton served in

1778. Thomas Kempton, captain in

1775, made lieutenant colonel in 177t;.

"James Kempton of Dartmouth,sergeant, second lieutenant, thenlieutenant in 1775, marched to thealarm of April 19, 1775."Thomas Kempton, colonel Revolu-

tionary War: was also a mastermariner in 1767, commanding theslooo Dare in 1779. and also the sloopPolly."Kempton—Daniel, William, Obed.

Stephen, served in the Revolutionarywar as ijrivates in 1775, and are enu-merated among the minute inen."Among the effects of William

Kempton, who died 1787, were thefollowing books; Thought on Religion,Grace Defendeth, Annotations of theBible and Ship Builders Assistant."Ephraim Kemptcn, who died 1758

liral among his effects: One largeBible, one small Bible, four books ot

psalms, thirteen old paper books, twopewter platters, twelve pewter plates,

one looking glass."Ephraim Kempton, who died 1802,

hfid, among his effects: A Bible, a sil-

\ er watch, six silver spoons, and apew in the Bedford meeting house.

"It is fashionable in articles on theoi igin o!' New England families, tociaim as belonging to them the coatof arms of an English family of thesfime name; it may seem to ambitiouspersons a matter of regret that noKempton ever claimed the heraldicrank above a tradesman.

Keiiiiiton Kaiiiily Itefereuoes.

Pioneers of Massacliusetts. Pope.Landmarks of Plymoutli. Davis.History of Duxbury. Winsor.Histoiy of Sfituate. Deane.History of Southhampton. L. I. Howi-ll.

Mr. Charles E. Kurd, Yonkers, N. Y.dare of Mrs. M. W. Gaines, DeshortAve.) has mucli data concerning theKempton family and is glad to hearfrom anyone interested.

In introducing the second addressof the ev^ening, President Wood spokeas follows:

"The history of Old Dartmouth is

almost identical with the history of theQuakers in Old Dartmouth. Veryearly in the settlement of this territorythe inhabitants came under the in-fluence of the principles of the Societyof Friends. This is partly to be ac-counted for by the fact that RhodeIsland early became the centre for all

those who were termed dissenters andwere driven out by the severeness andnarrowness of the powers at Plymouthand at Boston.

"Most of the Quakers who settled\\ithin our limits came from the neigh-borhood of Portsmouth and Newport,Rhode Island. Old Dartmouth layfairly between the two earliest centresof Quakers in this section. It is amemorable fact tnt.t in the seventhmonth 16.5 8, exactly 25 years ago,John Rouse, a young Quaker, lay injail in Boston, imprisoned in the bitterprosecution which Boston was metingout to the apostles of this sect.

"At that date John Rouse wrote aletter to Margaret Fell, in which herecounted the numerous sufferings andpersecutions which were being expe-rienced in this state, and towards theclose of the letter he stated. "Wehave two strong places in this land,the one in Newport in Rhode Islandand the other in Sandwich which theenemy will never get dominion over.'It was only in 1657, one year beforethis letter was written that the first

meeting of Friends in the new world^\as instituted in Sandwich. This wasten j-ears before Wm. Penn was con-verted to Quakerism.

"Last year in October, the 250thanniversary of this event was celebrat-ed in the old Friends Meeting Houseat Spring Hill in Sandwich. As a part(.f the exercises in connection with thiscelebration, Dr. Edw. T. Tucker, amember of this society, read an inter-ei^ting historical paper.

"Although the first meeting houseof the society in Old Dartmouth, thatot Apponeganset, was not built until]fi99, still there was a inonthly meet-ir.g of the society before that datewhich was held in a private house.This meeting house at Old Dartmouth^v•as an enormous structure whichwas later torn down and built muchsmaller as we now see it, but thelarge house was needed when built in15 99 for the meeting became one ofthe largest in this country."We must remember at this time

tliere were living under the govern-ment of Plymouth, church and statewere identical and all our inhabitants\vere being called upon to supportfrom general taxation an establishedministry of the Puritan Congregation-al faith within their limits.

"The failure of the Quakers to dothis was the cause of many severe ar-raignments by the authorities at Ply-mouth. This was the time of theseverest persecution of the Quakersin Boston and vicinity, but they ob-stinately stood their grounds as de-fenders of the principle of the right offreedom of worship of religious beliefand action, according to the dictatesof their own conscience.

"It was not until 1708 that a statechurch was successfully founded inthis neighborhood when the Congrega-tional church at Acushnet was estal)--lished. From .this time on the strifewas continuous between the statechurch, which .stood for authoritativereligion, and the Quakers who con-tended for freedom of conscience andindependence in matters of belief.

"It is now less than a inonth sincethe First Congregational church ofthis city has been celebrating the2 00th anniversary of the founding ofCongregationalism in this locality atthis first church in Acushnet. Theseveral discourses connected with thiscelebration have contributed muchthat will be valuable to us in review-ing the religious history of theseearlier times. The present pastor ofthe church, Mr. Geoghegan, in hisaddress made a remarkably clear an-alysis of this noteworthy contention.Himself a Southerner with no Puritanblood he has seen clearly as from theoutside this remarkable contention ofthe Quakers of Old Dartmouth againstall manner of severe persecution tosave to us the right of freedom ofworship and Mr. Geoghegan comes outclearly with the statement that in thiscontention it must be distinctly re-membered that the Quakers won. In172 9 the general court of Massachu-setts pajBsed a law exempting theQuakers and Baptists from taxationfor the support of town churches."From this time the Quakers in

Dartmouth increased rapidl.v in num-bers, and in infiuence, and compriseda large part of the inhabitants.

"Daniel Ricketson in writing thehistory of this period almost apolo-gizes for giving such large place tohis sect. He says that the historyof Old Dartmouth i.s, to his mind, sosuggestive of the faith of the earlysettlers and so inseparablv connectedwith it.

10

"Their quaint speech, behavior andapparel, and their tempered sociallife, created an interesting phase ofsociety in the first part of the 19thcentury."We have already had two papers

read before this society, by Mrs. MaryJane Talker, which gave an illuminat-ing picture.

Tonight we are to have anotherpaper prepared by one of our mem-bers, whose parents and grandparentshad an intimate acquaintance w'Mi

the noted Friends of the last century,not only in this neighborhood, but alsothose in other parts of our common-wealth.

'Miss Mary Eastman Bradford hasprepared a paper on 'Social LifeAmong the Friends of Long Ago,'which will be read by George H.Tripp."

Mr. Tripp stated that the duty ofreading the paper devolved on him,owing to Miss Bradford's inability tobe present. Tthe address follows:

11

Social Life Among the Friends of

Long Ago

By Mary Eastman Bradford

"A little Quaker girl's debut intothe social life of her sect, was thejourney to Weare quarterly meetingin Weare, New Hampshire, many\ears ago. In the language of friendsit was held in Tenth month, known tothose of the world as October. Forweeks she had packed and repacked asmall hair trunk, which would holdher sedate wardrobe. How she longedfor the day to come, she counted thevery hours. The journey was to t)e

made by carriages, and half the funwas on the long ride, where manyother Friends joined in the caravan,sometimes sixty or seventy vehiclesbeing in line. To one who has had therare treat of participating in this de-lightful journey, the picture unrollsitself, the October landscape of \el-low and red, so unlike the Quakerdrab and brown, the delight of newscenes, the ripening of all nature (be-fore its final decay), was at its greatestlieauty. Then the social intercoursebetween Friends, who only met atQuarterly, or yearly meeting, was initself a delight. A stop would be madeat Lowell and at Nashua, called inthose days taverns, where horses wereput up and food put down, for be it

known Quakers of the olden time livedwell. To the little maiden of Friendlytraining the suppers of fried chicken,cold meats, all sorts of sweets, cakes,and pies, told to her by her older sis-ters, the big dinners of roast chickenand meats of all kinds, puddings, nuts,and the autumn fruits, made her ideaof Weare quarterly meeting one largeeating. The day came; long beforesunrise the breakfast was eaten, thebig roomy carriages, and strong pairof horses was driven to the door, thepacking away of boxes commences,numerous parcels, the small hairtrunk swung under the carriage, thefamily also packed in. and all wa<ready—at last; the long expected mo-ment had arrived, and they were offThe first dinner was eaten in Lowell,then on to Nashua for the night, atthe old 'Indian Head Tavern.' Itwas the first time this dear little

Quakeress had ever seen lace curtainsand red, actually red velvet furniture.She felt as if her life was too full ofgreat experiences. The breakfast over,

a new start was made on to freshscenes. Then the discussion would be-gin between father and mother wherethey would put up for the night, atEliza's or Moses or Enoch's, but onehouse appealed to the younger inem-bers, as apples, nuts and new ciderwere always brought out during theevening, and it was almost a party.

"The meetings were what they weresupposed to attend, and of course allthe older Friends did, but there wasthat quarterly meeting dinner, afterthe long first meeting; then the seem-ingly longer business meeting, and bythis time real hunger held full swingwith the younger generation, and thequeries and answers,' were sometimeslost sight of as visions of the long-table full to overflowing appeared. Allthe older people sat down at the firsttable, if there was room the childrenalso; if not they had to wait for thesecond table, but there was alwaysenough and to spare. So this littleQuaker girl had her first quarterly'meeting dinner away from her ownhome. There was the roast chicken fordinner, with all sorts of roasts be-sides, fried chicken for breakfast, and.such fried chicken, then all sorts ofnew dishes her sister had never toldher about. When asked on her returnhome if she had had a good time shereplied with a sigh of satisfaction, 'oh,yes, for we had chicken all the waythrough.'

"Into the past have faded the ser-mons, and meetings, but the hospital-ity, the hearts, and doors thrown wideopen to receive new faces and old, still

remain forever in heart and mind."The preparations for quarterly

meeting were commenced weeks be-fore, the fainilies in town or city wherethe meetings were held usually filledtheir homes with visiting Friends,and as every room was neededthe famil\' used to vacate theirDwn rooms, sleeping in the un-finished attic. In one Quaker homelong ago, the entire family used tovacate their comfoitable rooms, anddepart for the big attic in the ell ofthe house, where temporary roomswere partitioned off. The house waslarge, and in the main part could takecare of thirty people, the big ell held

12

servants rooms and housekeeper onthe second tloor.

"These were never disturbed as theservant question then, seemed to beof tender nature as now. The big

kitchen with its brick ovens, large set

ranges, and a big stove did good work,pies, calves, sweets of all kinds, hotand cold meats, were sent forth fromthe four walls. One huge kettle couldcook a dozen pairs of chickens, and all

this was none too much, as on quarter-ly meeting day at dinner, the longtable which seated thirty was filed

twice. Then came the supper at 3

o'clock, and again the table was loadedwith old time prodigality, and twicethirty were again seated. The younggrandchildren thought it a great favorto help the waitresses serve the guests.This Quaker host would remain at themeeting house until nearly all hadgone to see that every one was askedto dine, if any remained, whether heknew them or not, he would ask,'has thee accepted an invitation to

dine?' on their replying they had not(probably they had been over asked)he would quickly say 'my wife hasprovided plenty of dinner and will beglad to welcome thee.' Sometimes hewould have to ask their names that hemight introduce thein to his family.Many Friends came for the day fromnear bj- towns, so only required din-ner. This was before the days of coldlunches at the meeting houses. Wasnot this true hospitality? John Adamshas described his entertainment by aQuaker hostess of Philadelphia, whooffered him at one meal, ducks, hams,chickens, beef, pig, tarts, creams, cus-tards, jellies, fouls, triffles, floatingisland, beer, porter, punch and wine.At another Quaker home he "drank ata great rate and found no incon-venience.' Of course this quotation is

long before the time of which I amwriting.

"It is very hard to write of the so-cial life and free it from its strong-ally the religious, as the two go seem-ingly hand in hand in Quakerdom.One very beautiful custom of the olddays was even in purely social gather-ings they often had a little season ol"

silence at the close, when some onewould feel called upon to say a fewwords, or offer prayer. On these oc-casions as well as the purely religious,a seriousness was most pronounced,and while they enjoyed much it was ina restrained, and self controlled man-ner.

"On their faces as they sat on thehigh seats be sermon ever so affect-ing, not a face showed emotion. Onestory will illustrate this calmness. Alittle Quaker was taken by his moth-er to First day meeting: ho had never

been before, so it was with some fearhe. was allowed to go to a really longmeeting. He sat very still for a longtime; after a little he began to lookaround; the silence becaine more andmore intenso, until he could stand it

no longer; he could hear himselfbreathe. Then he shouted 'go it,' 'go

it.' 'go it.' Only his creaking bootsbroke the silence, that awful silence,

a.s his mother removed him. Not ane\elid had lifted, not a muscle movedunder the Friends's bonnets, or on thefaces of the sterner sex on the otherside.

"As one looks back it is hard to

ri>nnember emotions on faces in thedear old Friends meeting, but theywere sometimes most beautiful in theircalm placidity, and would we couldsee them once more. The 'AmericanFriend' of Tenth Month eleventh I

think of 1906 has a very interestingaiticle a 'memory of times Gone By.'

I quote from it this extract . "Some-times a little coterie of visiting Friendswould stay a week and have appoint-(C meetings in the neighborhood visit-

ing families and otherwise occupythemselves; always coming home forsupper and breakfast.

" "In return for their company andprayers, they shared our best things.Some of these things, more especiallythe delicacies of the table were a sur-prise to our not over indulged juvenilerelish, and the children wonderedwhere mother had previously storedthem away. She lias kept all her se-crets to this day God bless her. Inreturn for the best we had, our guestsgave us their best. How well I re-member it; the Friends in the parlorv.hile we girls with increasing dignitypassed back and forth with chinafiom the parlor closet. We were notso intent upon bringing the cups andsaucers carefully, as upon the bits ofconversation that fell upon us. Themost solemn moments of my life werethose at father's table when a holyhush fell on the oblong group, forthe table was an extension, on pur-pose for company.

"'The Friend, on whom the burdento pray first fell, leaned forward withher hand on her face, as if she wereindeed one of the cherubims leaningover the Mercy Seat in Moses's time.Ill reverent and orderly turn each ofour guests prayed for our parents,'the heads of this house,' 'the dearchildren, collectively and individually,most of it was individually. It wasthis personal appeal in prayer and ex-h( rtation, not forgetting prophecy thathas so riveted me physically and men-tally to these 'family opportunities.'The Reading meetings were another

13

social recreation, someone read aloudfrom a Quaker book of biography,travel, or religion, for instance, 'TheLife of Elizabeth Frye,' 'The Works ofDaniel Wheeler in Russia,' who wassent for by the czar of that land foragricultural education among theRussian peasantry. From the worksof Barclay and of later date the notedfamily of preaching Hoags, the fatherof whom Joseph Hoag, author of 'Jo-seph Hoag's Vision,' which he had in

1S03—in which he prophecied the Civ-il war, and many events which seemabout to be fulfilled Another, LindleyMurray Hoag, con of Joseph, had thiswonderful close to a sermon whichhad held a large audience, 'And when,ten thousand times ten thousand yearsshall have passed away, eternity, abounderless, endless eternity will haveji;st begun, and Friends, have youe\er thought this bounderless, endlesseternity must be spent with the saintsoi' with the devils damned.'"Do you wonder the faces were sol-

emn with such awful pictures beforetheir eyes! These reading meetingswere held in the homes once a weekor every two weeks, and old andj'cung mingled freely together. Astrong element in the home life wa.sthe respect shown the old and infirm.Tcday this might be a lesson, taken in-to more than one home in our land.No young Friend would think of sittingif an elderly person entered the room,and all were expected to shake handsand say 'how does thee do,' when call-ers came. You rem.ember Julia WardHowe in one of her lectures said in all

her going about she never saw suchuniversal respect and deference fromyouth to age as in the Society ofFriends.

"While the reading was taking placeeveryone was still, of course, but aftercame the purely social, then old andyoung talked freely, and, strange asit may seem among this rather primgaiety, there were Quaker flirtations,and some found the place in whichto declare that the little god Cupidwas busy among the demure inaidensand the male followers of George Fox.

"Friends were great lovers andwriters of poetry, some had the giftof repeating for hours not alone po-etry but from the Bible. One wellknown Friend repeated to Tennysonin the Quaker artist's studio in Lon-don some thirty years ago portions ofhis 'Locksley Hall' and 'In Memoriam,'also from our beloved Whittier. Shehad the sing-song of the Quaker whichjou know Tennyson said was the onlyway it should be repeated.

"Here in our own New Bedford,'Old Dartmouth Historical Society,' a

name arises cf peculiar significance, awriter of poetrj', prose, a strong phil-anthropist, a man of noble aims, whoselife was spent for others, Daniel Rick-etson. The Society of Friends lost oneof her inost gifted sons when he, withothers, left the old Quaker hearthstone. The question often arises withthose not conversant with the past his-tory of the Friends why a religioussociety with such a wonderful founda-tion here in New England should de-crease in membership when elsewherethey are increasing, as statistics show.The answer is of so delicate a naturethat one hardly dares venture on thedebatable ground. The old Friendsmeetings were for the members andby the members. The Friends of thelater years are ruled by the one manpower.

"I think the Friends really musthave had a love foi music as well aspoetry. Some voices for the 'highseats' as they grew to forget all buttheir inspired utterance were reallyalmost a song, and its impression is

a tender and sweet inemory with ustoday. A dear old Friend, who wouldnever allow a note of music to beheard in his house, used to take hischildren far from home into the won-derful land of nature, a dense for-est, where bird and insect sang theirglorious song to the Creator. Here,out in freedom, each child would feelat liberty, for father always sat downon a big bowlder that the woodswere filled with, take his broad brim-med hat off, hold it betwen his kneesand say, 'Children, you inay sing yoursongs now as free as the birds,' andsing those children did. The dearQuaker mother, who had a beautifulvoice, would join in, simply hummingthe tune The sweet soul didn't dareto do more.

Xewpoi't Yearly Meeting.

"Back from the past comes the dateof that wonderful time to the old and\ oung of Quakerdom, held on the first

Seventh day after the second Sixth in

Sixth month continuing for a week.From all parts of New England, Newlerk, Philadelphia and Baltimore, andthe then far west came the elders and'the precious youth.' The old Truroand Fillimore houses, then of laterdate the Atlantic and Ocean housesheld this large number of attendantsat the meetings. The older Friendssolemnly and calmly attended the re-

ligious and business meetings, but alas,

some of those 'precious j-outh' werefound wandering by sea and show, andmany matches were made 'for better,for worse' which were consummatedby that beautiful, yet solemn Quaker

14

ceremony of marriage which is famil-

iar to some of us today.•'Near Newport is the famous old

Friends school at Providence, knownover our land with alumnae scattered

far and wide, now it has lost its old

Quaker individuality in a new name"the Moses Brown school.' Many menin after life distinguished look backwith loyal and true hearts to their

Quaker alma mater. The strong andhigh ideals were developed therewhich made them what they were.With the long line of principals of theold Friends school come names andfaces that bring back memories somepleasant, others not. The highest de-velopment in the school's life whichwas to prepare the Quaker boys andgirls for social and religious life wasunder that colossal man in mind andbody Augustine Jones, himself an au-thor. In his long principalship of

twenty-five years pictures and pianoswere allowed where not thirty yearsbefore no sound of music was heardand the walls severely white or drab.His wonderful power of makingfriends among those noted in litera-

ture, art and travel brought to theschool men who met the scholars in asocial way, thus adding much to theiroutlook on life. With his departurewent also the old name. So AugustineJones was the last principal of old

Friends school of blessed memory."These quiet Friends with the seem-

ingly plain dress really showed muchtime and money, if they were costum-ed in the real English fashion. Eliz-

abeth Frye was aoted for her beautyof dress, and we who are fortunate to

own miniatures of her prize them be-yond words. The silk shawls, long orshort, of white, brown or gray werevery expensive. The bonnets here in

America were made by Friend Hol-lingsworth of Philadelphia, who was,may I say it, very fashionable in Qua-kerdom. The muslin caps were neverlaundered, if worn by those who couldafford to always wear new ones, as acap was never so exquisite after "beingdone up.' An old Friend as she pon-dered one day over her muslin capsand handkerchiefs, grew troubled asshe feared her cap-maker would diebefore a fresh supply was obtained.Sc her daughter svas requested to seehow many she then had for presentuse. With twinkling eyes she inform-ed the anxious motlier of eighty-fiveyears that eighty caps were in herpossession."Some idea may be had of the old

time Friend's extreme conscientious-ness. Members of the society of todaymay not know that their trust in theDivine power for good or ill was in-

tense. For instance, if the Lord sentrain one should accept it without amurmur, or one had occasion to ven-ture out of doors, no shelter from anumbrella should be used. A story is

told of a member of the Salem month-ly meeting who had a brother ofrather a worldly turn of mind, a verynaughty Quaker youth. On his returnfrom Europe he brought his fair little

sister a beautiful green silk umbrellawith an exquisitely carved ivoryhandle. She, delighted to carry it, look-ed longingly for rain, not being really

old enough to have severe convictionson the subject of green umbrellas.After she had had the intense joy ofusing it once, a comittee was sentfrom the meeting to visit her. TheFriends sat in silence almost as solemnas a real funeral. Then each spoke hisor her warning to this wayward childOne dear old Friend, who felt all shesaid, spoke in this way, 'Martha, if

thou was't dying how would'st thoulike to have this green umbrella heldover thy head'?' 'I don't know how,'Martha answered, but that awfulvision was too much for her youthfulmind, and that green umbrella neversaw light of day. This really is no ex-aggeration of the olden time ideas onthe subject or adornment. One ideaof religious belief which had a strong-place in life was their views on in-surance. They did not thing it right,on the ground that it was taking outof God's hands a power which mortalman should not usurp. If God sawright by his dispensation to send tire,

destroying homes or property, why ac-cept it with resignation, and they didso accept it. Life insurance was thesame, one's life was in God's hands;if one died poor, he must 'leave it all

in a Higher power,' trusting his lovedones should be taken care of, and theywere in those days. The equality be-tween the rich and poor, the care ofthose dependant upon the society wasmost tender and unostentatious, sothat never a Friend was allowed to goto any public institution for support;this all done so quietl.\' that no oneknew who was assisted except thecommittee. This applies to the past.One of the 'Queries' read three monthsago was 'Are the circumstances of thepoor and of such as appear likely toneed asistance duly inspected and theirnecessities relieved; are they assistedin obtaining suitable employment; andis proper care taken to educate theirchildren?'

'The greatest oversight was giventhe Quaker youth in education andhome training. Friends were most care-ful who their children asociated with,usually keeping thorn within their ownsociety, and they always attended

15

Friends schools. Co-edvicatlon wasvery early introduced and proved mostsuccessful. Quaker colleges now extendall over our own land and are of higliorder.

" 'Social Life' depends on its loca-tion. Western and eastern life is asvaried as its climate. Quakerism ex-tends from Alaska to Florida, Cali-fornia to Maine. Of course its sociallife partakes of its environment.Sweeden and Norway claim theirQuakers, England and Ireland, be-sides far off Palestine where atRamalla near Jerusalem is one of thefinest foreign mision posts foundedby Eli and Sybel Jones. The society ofFriends has borne and is bearing theburdens of the world's advancement.

The changes have come to the societyin which many of the very beautifulcustoms are being forgotten, but to usof Quaker birth-right their inspira-tion is strong as life itself, and proudare we of their memory, though wemay have left the old home of ourQuaker ancestors."No longer do we hear of the old

time Quaker hospitality that loelongsto bye-gone years; only memory keepsus in touch with that period. So good-bye to the dear old life, gone with itsplain bonnet, muslin kerchief andcap; lay them all away in the oldchest of the dim past, but lift the lid

once in a while that the memories ofso inany tender experiences may blessour hearts today.

HENRY BARNARD WORTH.

17

Head of Westport and Its Founders

By Henry Barnard Worth

At 3 o'clock a very interesting his-

torical address was given by Henry B.Worth of New Bedford, his subject be-ing "The Head of Westport and Its

Founders." Mr. Worth spoke as fol-

io vvs:Before Dartmouth was a town the

western section was called Coaksett.For their protection and defense theEnglish settlers selected their farmsin the southern iiortion near HorseNeck and the Point, so that in case of

an uprising of the Indians they couldescape to the bay, where the red mencould not follow. During the KingPhilip war t.vo important results oc-curred. In the first place a large num-ber of Dartmouth Indians surren-dered, were removed and sold intoslavery in foreign lands. Those thatremained were so effectively subduedthat they never after manifested anywar-like tendencies. As soon, there-fore as the struggle had ended the in-habitants began to occupy the regionsfurther north. During this periodAcushnet, Smith Mills, the Head ofWestport and other places similarlysituated and remote from the bay weresettled by the English.While the lands on, the Noquochoke

ri\er were well suited to agriculture,the principal natural advantage wasthe water power about a third of amile to the north. This attracted en-terprising men from other parts ofthe town. The region was well cov-ered by paths selected and used by theIndians, and later adopted by the Eng-lish settlers as the location for theirroadways. The great east and westthoroughfare crossing the presentbridge was one section of the systemthat joined Plymouth and Cape Codto Newport, and in the early days wasfrequently designated as "the RhodeIsland way." At the junction of theroads at Lawtons Corner, near thewest line of the town, stands an an-cient guide-stone on which are twoinscriptions:

To Howland's Ferry.

To the Point.

It suggests the period two centuriesago when travellers from Barnstable,Rochester and Dartmouth passedalong this way to the place now calledStone Bridge where the ferry trans-ferred them to the north end of theisland of Rhode Island. The otherinscription pointed the wayfarer fromthe west to the road to Westport

Point. This road became the greatcross-country highway, famous andimportant in the days of the stage-coach. On each side of the river, fol-lowing the lines of ancient paths,were other town roads, which startingin the wooded regions to the north ex-tended to the Necks that projectedinto Buzzards Bay.

Before the King Philip war it wouldhave been venturesome to think ofsettling eight miles from the seashore,and so far as known only one madethe attempt. If the information fur-nished by the records is complete, thefirst man to locate at the head of theNoquochoke river was Richard Sisson,and he was bold and hardy enough tolocate his home, as early as 1671, onthe west side of the river, and on thesouth side of the main highway, forin that year he was elected surveyorof the town roads. He is next men-tioned in 16 81 in a suggestive record.The question arose as to the propernotice to be given to the inhabitant.'-of the town meetings, and it was votedthat a notice should be posted in threeplaces, "at William Spooner's; at themills and at Richard Sisson's." Itis now known that William Spoonerwas located at the head of the Acush-net river. The second place, at alater date, was designated as SmithMills, and the third must have beenat the Head of Westport at Sisson'splace, probably just west of the land-ing, and «ear both the road and river.

At an uncertain date, ten or fifteenyears later, Samuel Mott purchased afarm on the east side of the riverabout a third of a mile south of themain road, which in 1709, he conveyedto Nicholas Howland. There is no in-dication that before this transfer therewere any other families located in thisvicinity.

It was in 1712 that three enterpris-ing men formed a combination to util-ize the water power north of the pres-ent village, and naturally one was amiller. A few years previous GeorgeLawton moved from Portsmouth andacquired a large farm at LawtonsCorner, the most of which has re-mained in his family ever since, andis now owned by a George Lawton ofFall River. He had both means andexperience, having learned before hecame to Dartmouth how to conduct amill. But no man was allowed to se-cure to himself, alone, any such valu-able public utility. It was necessary

18

that it should be shared by several.

In the old house with a stone chim-ney north of Central Village, owned byPerry G. Potter, lived a carpenternamed Benjamin Waite, who after-

ward built the house on the west side

of the main road, owned in recentvears by Mrs. Joseph T. Lawton.

Northeast of the Potter farm, be-tween the Drift road and the river,

iind near the brook, is an ancienthouse, recently repaired, with an over-hang- gable. It was probably built byJohn Tripp, who owned this farm in

1720. and the same has later beenowned by the Waite family and Thom-as Preece.

Lawton, Waite and Tripp formedthe association. When the entireprogram had been arranged by vote(if the Proprietors of Dartmouth,wliich was very much like a townmeeting, the different owners had re-

ceived layouts according to theirownership, of undivided lands.

Beginning at the landing on thewest side of the river the Sisson farm,then owned by James, extended westto the Central Village road and alongthe river over half a mile south to

the property owned in modern timesby Abner Kirby. On the east side ofthe river, east ^rom the landin?;. wasa small tract set off to Robert Giffordwhich extended to the Pine Hill road;next south Mary Hix had a strip oftwenty acres; she was at that timeproprietor of Hix Ferry which wasconducted by her and her sons untilin 17 45 her son William built the Hixbridge. She must have been an ener-getic woman, and seems to have beendetermined to locate where there wasbusiness. She never lived at theHead of Westport. but a short timelater disposed of the property. It in-cluded the farm, which in 1895 wasowned by William R. Brightman.Next south was the Samuel Mott farm,then owned by Nicholas Howland.To the eastward, bordering on theroad which has since become thedivision line between Westport andDartmouth, was the extensive farm ofJoseph Pcckham. The northeast cor-ner of this tract was at one timeowned by Paul Cuff, a slave owned inthe Slocuin family, who received hisfreedom about 1765.The Giffords were land kings of

Coaksett, and in all land allotmentsdemanded a satisfactory share. Inthe 1712 apportionment at the Headof Westport they received nearly fourhundred acres. One tract lay on thenorth side of the main road, and ex-ttiided north to the Forge road cornerand from the river eastward over halfa mile to the brook. Between thissection and the present Dartmouth

line were several small tracts, set off

to various persons, and at one timeowned by Jonathan Mosher, and thasame now comprised in the farmowned by Joseph Smeaton.Then they laid out a public land-

ing on both sides of the river at themain road.

In the vicinity of the Forge Roadcorner was the water privilege soughtby Lawton, Waite and Tripp, and thisthey secured with seventy acres ofland in the vicinity, along the river.

On th'j north side of the main high-way, and on the west side of the river,

is the Beulah road; west of this Law-ton and W^aite received a tract whichextended west to include the lot wherefifty years ago stood the Friends'meeting-house. Next west the Gif-fords received seventy acres more, andthis was later transferred to StephenPackham and in modern times, whollyor in part, owned by Giles E. Brown-ell. Next west was the farm of Be-riah Goddard, a man of considerableprominence in Dartmouth in the dayswhen there were only a few scatteredhouses in this region. The farm wasowned in the Davis family for severalgenerations, and comprised the placesnow or lately owned by Richard S.

Tripp and George L. Cornell. Still

further west, as far as the brook, wasa farm set off to John Sowle and nowowned by Philip T. Sherman. At thecorner was the homestead of ZoethHowland and later of his son Philip,and in recent times owned and occu-pned by George H. Gifford, trial jus-tice and country squire for whom th."

corner has been named.Such were the layouts around the

Head of the River. The Giffords livednear Horse Neck and Westport Point,and were not concerned in the earlydevelopment of this section. Beforethe Revolution they had transferredall their tracts to other parties. Someof their descendants later becomeprominent in the affairs of this village,but they did not receive by inheritanceany of the original layouts.As soon as Lawton, Waite and Tripp

secured the water privilege they builttwo mills. That on the west side ofthe river was known for a cen';urylater as "Lawton's Mill," and wasowned in recent times by BenjaminCummings, Thomas J. Allen, A. T. Sis-son and C. E. Brightman.George Lawton died in 1727, leaving

an estate large for those days, and in-cluded in his property was a Negroman valued at forty pounds. Amonghis effects was a gun. In the house atLawton's corner is a Queen Anne mus-ket of great length, on the stock ofwhich are cut ihe initials "G. L." Ifthe tradition is trustworthy this gun

19

belonged to the first George L.awton,ana may have been used by him athis mill on the Noquochoke river.

On the east side of the river thepartners built what was called"Waite's Mill," which was located athird of a mile east of the Forge roadcorner. Later it was known as Tripp'sor Chase's Mill, names derived fromsubsequent owners.During the years before the close

of the Revolutionary war there wasvery little increase in the wealth orpopulation of this locality. The mil-lers sawed the logs and ground thegrain that was brought to them bythe neighboring inhabitants, and therewas no business froin outside locali-ties demanding the attention of theWf'stport mills. The farms as origin-ally laid out remained undivided, andthe principal activity of the localityconsisted of people passing to andfrom the mills.Soon after the Revolution a decided

change ensued ; ten miles away NewBedford was starting on a prosperousmaritime career; ships were beingbuilt and iron and wood were in de-mand. This was the opportunity. In17S9 William Gifford and LemuelMilk purchased the site now occupiedby the lower Westport mill, for thepurpose of building a forge. Most ofthe early iron mills in NewEngland were established bysome member of the Leonardfamily of Lyim and Taunton. Inthis case Gifford and Milk securedthe services of Josiah Leonard, andgave him one third share in the forge.After operating this industry a fewyears, another important change tookplace, due to the removal from Nan-tucket to New Bedford of the Rotchand Rodman families. It was theirpolicy to control every line connectedwith the whaling business The mer-chant not only superintended thebusiness of the ship, hired and paidthe crew, sold the oil, and distributedthe proceeds, but he had a saw-mill insome forest to prepare timber, and aniron factory to malce anchors, chains,and other appliances; a factory tomanufacture cordage and another tomake sail cloth. JClso a refinery tochange oil into candles, and frequent-ly large inland farms where he couldprepare meat and other food supplies.In fact the success of New Bedfordmerchants grew out of the system bywhich they started with the originalmaterial and prepared and constructedthem into vessels, controlling every lineof business concerned in the fitting ofthe ships, and at the end of the voy-age prepared the product for the con-sumer. In this way they secured tothemselves every profit, and no won-

der they became millionaires. In pur-suance of this policy, in 1795 WilliamRotch, Jr., purchased all the millproperty once known as "Waite's andTripp's Mill," including twenty acresof land, a grist mill, saw mill, forge,utensils, coal house, store house,blacksmith shop, and a dwellinghouse; at an entire cost of threethousand dollars. Mr. Rotch operatedthese mills for half a century. Soonafter the purchase he built the houseon the west side of the road at thecorner south of the lower mill. Thisproperty afterwards passed into thehands of Anthony Gifford, and the oldForge became a hoe Factory. In1S54, and subsequently, the propertywas purchased by William B. Trafford.who transferred it to the WestportManufacturing company. And in re-cent years the spot where the oldforge stood has been occupied by thelower stone mill. It is well to keepin mind that much of the materialused in constructing those ships thata century ago were adding to thefortunes of New Bedford merchants,largely came from those little mills atthe junction of the Forge road andthe Noquochoke river.

It was in those days that the villageat the Head Increased in size; the millswere working not only for Westportpeople, but for the centre of the whal-ing business of the world. A com-munity must result with a meeting-house, school, store, tavern and dwell-ings. During the half century of own-ership of the Westport mills by Wil-liam Rotch the Head of the River wasestablished and reached its height.The slow growth of the village may

be illustrated by the manner in whichthe meeting-house was managed.Coaksett was strongly Quaker and hasheld tenaciously to that form of beliefeven to modern times. They had ameeting-house 7 years before NewBedford at Central Village. In 1761there was a demand for a place ofworship in the north part of the town,so a building was erected at George H.Gifford's corner, and called "TheCentre meeting-house," which wasmaintained until 1840, when it wasremoved to the north side of the roadabout a cjuarter of a mile west of thebridge. This was discontinued about3 years ago.

Just what happened in 1840 to in-duce the Friends to move their meet-ing-house nearer the village may beinferred from some hints to be foundin the records. In 1830 George M.Brownell purchased froin Dr. J. II.

Handy a lot of land which in 1845 wasconveyed by John O. Brownell to theFirst Christian Baptist society. Therehad then been a meeting-house on this

20

lot, which, in 1859 is de-scribed as "The old meeting-house." There is some reason to in-

fer that it may have been built soonafter 183 0. Evidently the Quakersfelt that it was necessary to have ameeting-house nearer the dwellings oftheir members or they might attendthe other meeting.

In 1856 Isaac Rowland sold to thoPacific Union church the lot wheretheir meeting-house stands, and at thepresent time the village has twoc:hurches.

It would be interesting to know howthe inhabitants arranged their schoolaffairs, but there is an exasperatingabsence of record relating to this sub-ject. Land was cheap, and the own-ers donated lots verbally, without de-li\er\- of deeds, and when the school-houses were discontinued there was nonecessity for a conveyance from thetown. The same was true when thedistrict s.vstem prevailed, and previousto 1840 it is not possible to find therecord of any purchase of land for

* school purposes in Westport. Thusthe schoolhouse east of the village onWolf Pit Hill, now used as a library,was ir. existence in 184 8 and belongedto District 19, but the records of thedistrict cannot be found and no deedhas ever been recorded. On the otherside of the river west of the Landing,the lot for the school was purchased byDistrict No. 14, from Abner B. Gifford,in 1841.

In every New England coinmunitythe village store was an important in-stitution. It is not possible to de-tei'mine how early one was establishedat the Head of Westport. When JohnAvery Parker located in New Bedfordhe engaged in the grocery business,and when in Westport in 1801, he mayhave engaged in the same line. Thefirst certain record is that Isaac How-land, in 1801. purchased a lot east ofthe bridge and built a store building,and the successive owners of thesame have been Adam Gifford, Jona-than Peckham Gifford, John L. An-thony and Joseph M. Shorrock.

In the days when liquor selling wasrespectable and dealers sold respect-able liquor, the tavern and inn werenecessary and reputable institutions.James Sisson and his son Richardfrom 1725 to 1730 had licenses, andmay have had a country store. Foryears after there was no licensegranted to any local resident, a cer-tain indication that there were not inthe place a sufficient number of peo-ple to support that trade. At the timethat the forge was started, LemuelMilk had a license to keep an inn. In1801, John Avery Parker had a licensefor some building west of the Landing,

and near the river. Parker sold hisproperty to Isaac Rowland who fora number of yers continued to keepan inn, and probably built the housewhich stands on the south side ofthe road next west of the Landing.Adam Gifford owned the store on theeast side of the bridge, and occupieda house further east where he had alicense for an inn. The house nowoccupied by Dr. J. B. Parris wasbuilt in 1828 by Eliphalet Tripp, andwhen he sold the same he called it

"my tavern stand." It was laterowned by A. B. Gifford and CharlesDana, and was used by some of its

occupants for the saine purpose.When the stage coach yielded to therailroad the village tavern disap-peared

In the immediate neighborhood ofthe village there was only one housebuilt before the Revolution; in factwhen the Center meeting house wasbuilt at Gifford's corner, there was novillage at the Head. On the road toWestport Factory, opposite the ceme-tary, is a gambrel roofed house builtby Benjamon Mosher, about 1760,and owned in recent years by Brad-ford Coggeshall. With this exceptionall the houses in the vicinity of thebridge were built after the date whenWilliam Roteh bought the mills nearthe Foige pond; but within a radiusof a mile from the bridge are severaldwellings that have an interestinghistory.The Zoeth Rowland house at Gif-

ford's corner was built between 1720and 1730 and later owned by PhilipRowland and Squire George R. Gif-ford. It is the last house in Westporthaving the long north roof of theearly Colonial type.On the farm next east is the dwell-

ing of Philip T. Sherman, the west endof which having a gambrel roof, wasbuilt in 174 by Ann West, a singlewoman and seamstress. Apparentlv it

cost her over two hundred pounds.She was one of those importantartisans of that period who spent daysand weeks in the homes of well-to-dofamilies performing the duties ofdressmaker and tailor. Personallyshe must have been successful to buildsuch a fashionable house, which wasa sure index of affluence. It waslater owned by William and JonathanDevon, John W. Gifford and LydiaT. Earle.

Another house of the same type sopopular in this section is east of thevillage near the town line, on thenorth side of the main road, and is

owned by Joseph Smeaton. It wasbuilt in 1742 by Jonathan Mosher, andwas owned and occupied later by Ben-jamin Gifford and his son Stephen.

21

Between this house and the village,

at the head of Pine Hill road, is thehouse built by Charles Baker for him-self in 1792, when he was only eigh-teen years of age, and is still ownedby his descendants. It is one-storycenter-chimney dwelling, of a stylethat became a great favorite through-out Westport shortly before and afterISOO.

East of the Landing and at the footof the road from Westport Factory,is the substantial dwelling built about1S18 by Thomas Winslow. In recentyears it has been owned by C. E.Brightman.East of the Shorrock store is a house

built before 1S30 and occupied at onetime by Abner B. Gifford and his sonJonathan Peckham Gifford. A. B.Gifford died in 184 7, having been oneof the most prominent inen in thecommunity. His wife's father wasJonathan Peckham, a wealthy man,and this placed the son-in-law in highsocial and business relations in thevillage. He was justice of the peace,trial justice and thansacted much ofthe local probate business of his day.Jn these legal functions he was suc-ceeded by George H. Gifford.

West of the bridge, on the southside of the rooad, is a large housebuilt by Isaac Howland soon after]S01, and probably occupied as his

inn. It was later owned by StephenHowland, Henry B. Gifford, Rufus W.Brightman, George F. Lawton, andR. D. Wicks.

A house that always attracts at-tention is the stone mansion on thewest side of the river and immedi-ately south of the Landing, with its

unusual stone fence. It was built byHumphrey Howland about 1830, ac-cording to tradition, at a cost of$11,000, and the material came froma large boulder on the farm a quarterof a mile to the southwest. Howland'swidow, Rhoda, gave it to her nephew,Charles H. Hathaway who in 1848sold it for $2,500. It has since beenowned by Nathan C. Brownell, Cap-tain Michael Comisky, and Albert C.Kirby.

In this hasty sketch of the villageat the Head of Westport, the aimhas been to present only the salientfeatures of its development. Startingin an attempt to develop the localwater power, it lay dormant for nearlya century, and then shared in thegreat prosperity of New Bedford andreached its height at the date of theadvent of the steam engine and rail-

road. Since that time its growth hasbeen interrupted, the mills to thenorth have developed independentvillages which exert very little in-fluence on the affairs at the Head, andin the future it must rely, as in thebeginning, upon its natural resources.Its water power has ceased to at-tract business, but there still re-mains unimpaired, the peculiarcharms of location and environment,and in coming time, as at present,the Head of Westport will be knownas a village of delightful homes.

"We have no title-deeds to house or lands;

Owners and occupants of earlier dates

From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands

And hold in mortmain still their old estates."

Longfellow.

OLD DARTMOUTH^^

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 22.

Being the proceedings of the Twenty-first Meeting of the Old Dartmouth

Historical Society, held in their building, Water Street, New Bedford,

Massachusetts, on September 29, 1 908.

JOHN HAWES By Rebecca Williams Hawes

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

society quarterly, and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

CAPTAIN JOHN HAWES1768-1824

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTY-SECOND MEETING

Old Dartmoth Historical Society

IN THEIR liUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD,

MASSACHUSETTS

SEPTEMBER 29, I908.

At the 21st regular meeting of theOld Dartmouth Historical societythe feature was the reading of

a paper on "John Hawes." The pa-per was written by Miss Rebecca Wil-liams Hawes, a grand-daughter ofJohn Hawes, and was read by MioSMary Hawes, his great-granddaughter,who Is a cousin of Miss RebeccaHawes.

There was a large attendance, wh^^nPresident Edmund Wood called themeeting to order.President Wood touched briefly upon

the two distinct branches of the soci-ety's work, the collection of objectsof interest especially connected withthe history of this locality; and thehistorical research. Of this first de-partment, President W^ood said the so-ciety was to be congratulated on hav-ing accumulated so extensl- e a inu-seum collection in so short a time. Healluded to the reputation which it had

given New Bedford, and said that avisit to the rooms was a most properpilgrimage for former residents tomake while visitng this locality in thesummer.With the approach of winter, the

president said, the other department

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that of historical research, was againcoming to the fore, in the preparation,by members, of papers on the historyof the past and the men and womenconnected with that past. The speak-er said that the taking up of this workdid not mean that the efforts of themuseum section were to cease, as avery interesting program for thewinter was being laid out. He con-cluded by expressing the hope that theowners of many valuable objects ofhistorical nature would realize the ap-propriateness of the society rooms asa dwelling place for these propert.es.

President Wood then introducedMiss HaweSj who read the following-paper:

John Hawes

By His Grandaughter, Rebecca Williams Hawes.

In his family Bible, now belong-ing to his great grandson and name-sake, we read that John Hawes wasthe second son of Shubael Hawes, acaptain in the Second Bristol CountyRegiment of Massachusetts in theRevolutionary army, who died in

1781, in his 43d year, and Elnathan,his wife, daughter of Robert Wright-ington, also a Revolutionary soldier.

She died in 1779 in her 40th year.Nothing further was known of his

ancestry until, within a few years,through the zeal and perseverance of

his oldest grandson, a full recordhas been obtained, beginning withthe pilgrim Edmund Hawes, whosailed from Southampton, England,in the ship James, April 6, 1633. Hesettled, in Duxbury, Mass., and later

removed to Yarmouth. In the Yar-mouth records he is set down as"late of London." He served in

Yarmouth as deputy of the court Ifi

years, selectman 23 years, town clerk25 years, and as assessor and chair-man of land committee for shortterms. The record further says:"He survived all the first settlers ofYarmouth and died June 9, 1693,about 80 years old. He was a manof education and good parts, and wasa leading man in the town andcounty."

His grandson, Hon. BenjaminHawes, born in Yarmouth, 1662, re-moved to Edgartown, Marthas Vine-yard, about 1700, and married there.Their son, Samuel Hawes, born in

Edgartovv'n in 1717, moved to Dart-mouth, where he married, in 1736,Elizabeth, daughter of Lettice Jenne,of the Plymouth Colony settlers. Hewas the first of the name to estab-lish a homestead in Dartmoulh. Hebought several acres of land, in-herited by his wife's family, fromJohn Ward, who owned 1000 acresin the northwestern part of the town-ship, now Acushnet. This land wassituated about half a mile north ofLund's corner, on the west side ofthe road leading from East Free-town. Here he built a house, after-ward owned and occupied by his son

Shubael Hawes, who died there in

1781, leaving the estate to five chil-

dren, his wife having died two yearsbefore. In this house John Haweswas born. One room of the partoriginally built by his grandfather,Samuel, still remains, but is entirelybuilt over by the house now stand-ing on the original site. ShubaelHawes was a devoted father to his

motherless children, and his son Johnalways spoke of him with respectand affection.

Beyond the personal recollections of

his widow, who survived him 35 years,

we have no account of the early life ofJohn, who was 13 years old at thetime of his father's death. It was myprivilege to be much with her in mychildhood, and I never tired of hear-ing stories of the Revolutionary daysand of my grandfather's early life.

These last she repeated again andagain, the last time on her 9 0th birth-day, when she added "You must re-member this for them all." Now, at"three score and ten" I have endeav-ored to recall as many as possible, andthere is no one living to help me.

Shubael Hawes was a shipbuilderby trade, and had charge of the yardwhere many ships were built for theRussells and Rotches. His son oftenspoke of going to the yard at noon-time, and sitting on the timbers whilethe father told him stories of the sea,and counselled him to learn all hecould from his teachers and be a goodboy, adding, "Perhaps you will live tocommand some of these ships I havebuilt,"—a prophecy that was after-wards fulfilled.

At his death in 1781, John was giv-en into the guardianship of an unclewho was about to emigrate to Sara-toga county, N. Y., then a wilderness,who carried the boy with him. Ofhis life there he rarely spoke,, but it

was very evident that it was one ofhardship and much unjust treatinent,and that the boy, who later becamethe stern foe of injustice, found thesituation unbearable on that account,and not because of physical trials. Hewas evidently a thoughtful, intelli-

gent boy, and it was one of his great-est troubles that he was allowed no"schooling." When he was 15 yearsold, without money, he left his uncle'shouse at night, in midwinter, andwalked and worked his way, "some-times with bleeding feet," he said

—

back to Acushnet. On his arrivalthere he received a scant welcome. Hissisters were married and gone, andhis two uncles either could not, orwould not, help him. In a letter to

his oldest son written 20 years after,

he says: "My greatest anxiety in life

is for my children, having myself ex-perienced the want of parents in myyouth. I often reflect on the suffer-ings I endured; even those who pro-fessed the greatest friendship for myfather when living, when he was deadthey would hardly let me come intothe house. However I have since bothfed, and clothed, and educated someof their children."The homeless orphan then took to

the water, and at 19 years old, duringthe last years of the Revolutionarywar, was master and part owner ofa small coasting vessel, which car-ried supplies for the American armyinto Long Island sound, where it wasonce captured by a British frigate,and its crew held prisoners for a shorttime. The details of these experienceshave faded from my childish memory,and I find no other record of them.During these years he made every pos-sible effort to educate himself, study-ing and writing, and copying at nightin his cabin, and receiving instruc-tion, when on shore, from everyonewho could teach him anything."When he became of age in 1789,

his father's estate was settled, andhe not only claimed his part, butbought out the other shares for whichI find receipts dated 1793. In 1792,when 2 4 years old, he married Marcy,daughter of Stephen Taber of NewBedford. I find bills of this date, andagain 179 7, for 'repairs and paintingof my house,' the one where he wasborn, built by his grandfather. Theyprobably went to housekeeping im-mediately, and the family Biblerecords the birth of two sons and adaughter in the next ten years.

"His wife dying in 1803, he mar-ried in 1804. Mary Tallman Willis,daughter of William Tallman. Tothem were Lorn four children, one dy-ing in infancy, and the home becamean ideal one for the seven children,who realized no distinctions of bloodin the faithful care of both parents.As long as they lived, they recalledgratefully the incidents of their life

together there."After his second marriage, he grad-

ually gave up a seafaring life, and forthe next twenty years lived in Acush-net—excepting two years in New Bed-

ford, 1815-17—fulfilling all the high-est duties of a father, citizen and pa-triot. We do not find the date of hisfirst appointment as justice of thepeace, but it was probably about thattime that his old title of CaptainHawes was changed to 'Squire Hawes.'In this capacity he became one of theleading men in the community. It

was a post for which he was eminently fitted. Everything shows that hehad a judicial mind, and tliat a sternsense of justice ruled every action.His widow said of him at this time,"For years and years, every one, bothin the chvirch and out of it, came to

Squire Hawes for advice and help.They brought him all their affairs,

from fights over their fences to thesettling of their estates, and he waslike the good Samaritan, he never'passed them by,' but was patient andhelpful, even with unworthy." His of-fice, as justice, was in his own home,a home that was the centre of innum-erable interests for nearly 30 years.He often brought from his office

amusing stories of the people whoconsulted him there, and the childrenalways responded eagerly when theirelders were summoned to the parloras witnesses to a marriage ceremony.From the list of these it would seemthat he 'joined in the bonds of matri-mony,' as the record phrases it, morepeople than did the ordained ministersaround him. He had many firmfriends among the Quakers, whosechildren, when marrying out of meet-ing and not wishing to employ a hire-ling for the service, generally came to

his home instead, and he officiated of-

ten in the homes of his friends andrelatives. Many of these certificates,

some of them 100 years old, have beenreturned to the descendants of theparties. His reverent and impres-sive manner at such times was al-

ways remembered by those most in-

terested. His was a home of bound-less hospitality, and for many years,

both before and after the founding ofthe Methodist church, was the head-quarters of all the Methodist preach-ers within a large circuit. At theearliest conferences, not only was thehouse filled, but the barn was so filled

with saddle horses that the squire'shorses and cows were turned into themeadows. Father Taylor was a con-stant visitor, and so was the eccentricRev. Dr. Mafflt, who once made a longstay with his wife and large family,including twin babies. Another ec-centric visitor was the celebrated Lo-renzo Dow, whose delivery of his ser-

mons here was punctuated by throw-ing the cushions from the pulpit in

his excitement, and who was so ab-sent minded that he walked directlyby the chaise waiting for him at thedoor to take him to Falrhaven, and

started on foot, across the fields, in

a heavy storm. It is also recalled

that on their way to a conference at

Nantucket, 15 ministers left their sad-

dle horses to be taken care of for theweek.There are many pleasant stories of

him at this time, from which to formsome idea of his personality. In his

homo, in church meetings and in his

public and private business he seemsto have shown a native dignity thatnever failed. He was of medium size,

stoutly built, and extremely neat in

person, with fair skin and light brownhair. His daughter-in-law describeshim, as he drove up to the customhouse in his bellows-topped chaise.

"He was a man of stately presence,gracious and serene, ever careful in

his dress, wore bottle green broad-cloth-only parsons wore black in

those days—a buff vest, white neck(•h)th and a ruffled shirt." The onlyj)i(^ture ever taken of him, a small oil

painting made in Liverpool when hewas about 30 years old, repeats thesedetails of his dress. His childrenremember playing with the tassels ofhis "Wellington boots" brought fromEngland. Daniel Ricketson writesof him. "He was a retired andrespected shipmaster, a man ofcommanding presence, well dressed in

the style of that day, and wore awhite beaver hat." My father, hisyoungest son, said of him: "He wasalways firm, but never harsh. I nev-er heard him laugh aloud, but hissmile I can never forget. It wasalways reward enough when wepleased him." A daughter of AbramSmith, my maternal great-grand-father, for 20 years postmaster ofNew Bedford, told me when she was8 years old, "as a child I often wentfrom the postofRce room to the nextone, used for the custom house. SquireHawes always made me welcome with"a pleasant smile; I have never sinceheard the word 'serene' withoutthinking of him." Another, the dau-ghter of an old sea captain, on hear-ing a few years ago that he hada li\ing namesake, said: "I am gladto know some one lives to bear thatname: it is one I was taught to rever-ence.""The history of this interesting

household would not be complete without special mention of the "housemother", his second wife, Mary Tall-man Willis, who for 20 years as hishelp mate, and after his death, fulfill-

ed all the duties bequeathed to her,surviving him 35 years, and dying inNew Bedford where she was born, inher 91st year.

"At the time of their marriage shewas the widow of Samuel Willis, withone daughter, ten years old, after-wards the wife of Dr. Alexander Read,

and he was a widower with one daugh-ter and two sons, and to these sevenchildren she was a mother so justand loving that her youngest stepsonnever knew, until he was 19 years old,

that he was not her own son."In appearance and temperament

she was a direct contrast to her hus-band. She was of medium size, withmarked features, dark complexion,with bright dark eyes, quick in hermovements, had a "quick wit," a posi-tive genius for seeing the bright side,

and an unfailing cheerfulness andpatience in dealing with the inevitablecares and anxieties of this large fam-ily, as Vv'ell as those of the varied in-

terests of her husband's public andprivate business. For 20 years shewas the "main spring" of the Acush-net home, regulating it with unfail-ing tact, and joining her husband in

its unbounded hospitalities. Theirlast Acushnet home, still standing andwell preserved, was sold at his death,1824, to his neighbor, Mr. Russell,whose son, George Russell, when veryold, told me, "I remember them well,and they were fine people. My fatherwho had always known her, said Mrs.Hawes was a high stepper and a goodmanager." I remember once, afterCaptain Hawes had started on a voy-age to London, she made up her mindthat the house was not big enough;"'her new baby crowded the otherchildren." So she sent for a carpen-ter the very next day, and had anotherstory added to the back part of thehouse, which was very old. When hereturned the bill had been paid andthe rooms were in use and when sheasked him if she had done right, he,answered, "you always do right, wife.""From her childhood she had a

pleasant gift of rhyming, and afterher death I found little rhyming notes,written in 1769, when she was tenyears old, to her playmate HannahPope. The Tallman and Pope hoine-steads, on the present Acushnet ave-nue, were seperated by a brook, anda hollow tree, overhanging its bank,was their postoflice. In later yearsshe always carried paper and pencilin her pocket, and often stopped inher work to "set down her thoughts,"Gifts to her children and grandchild-ren all had a bright loving verse addedto them. Often a gift of food to asick neighbor would have its "line,"and long, interesting, beautifully writ-ten letters to her children were care-fully preserved. When she becameblind, in her last years, she often call-ed me to her and said "Bring penciland paper, I have some thoughts toset down."

If John Hawes ever entered thewhaling service, it must have beensoon after the close of the Revolu-tionary war, but there is no record

of it. His first voyage to Europe ofwhich I find a record is in 1793. Hemade several voyages there before1795, and was once one of only twosurvivors of a shipwreck. Later hewas given charge of a shipping agencyin Dunkirk, France, in company withWilliam Rotch, Jr., of New Bedford,Thomas Macy of Nantucket and Jere-miah Winslow of Portland. On theIjreaking out of the French revolu-tion Mr. Rotch left France with Mr.Hawes, bringing a large amount ofspecie hidden in the ceiling of theship's cabin, none but those twoknowing of its existence. They werechased by pirates, and Mr. Rotch, los-ing confidence in his sailing master,ga\'e the command to young Hawes,who brought the ship and treasuresafely to New Bedford.

"After his return from France hebecame a feuccessful captain in theforeign and coasting merchant service,in the employ of New York and NewBedford merchants. There are let-

ters from the Posts, Grinnells, How-lands, Minturns, Hazards, Rotches,Russells, Fishes and others, and ascarefully preserved copies of his re-plies to many of them. They form acollection that any man might be-proud to leave to his children. Wouldthat all his children could have livedto see them! While the majority areon business, all have personal ex-pressions of their reliance on his judg-ment and 'integrity'—that good old-fashioned word is often used—andmany have postscripts about personalmatters that are very pleasant read-ing. One letter from Gilbert Russell,afterward his brother-in-law, in for-mal business words, ends impulsively,'I regret to hear you are not well.I beg you to take good care of your-self, for good men are scarce.'

'Soon after his first marriage, dur-ing one of his visits in London, hehappened one evening into a crowdedreligious meeting, wliere he wasgreatly interested by the fervor andeloquence of the speaker. On his re-turn to his lodgings, in the house ofan old Quaker lady, on telling whathe had heard, she said, 'Why, theehas been among the Methodees!' Onhis return to Acushnet he found thatthe trustees of the Congregationalchurch, of which he was a member,had, according to the church law thenin force, levied on the property ofsome aged neighbors, unable, throughsickness and poverty, to attend ser-vices or pay their church tithes.Choosing what seemed to be theirmost valuable personal effects, theotTicers had literally 'despoiled theirvery hearthstone' by carrying off thebrass andirons from their only fire-place, and offering them for sale inthe village store. He immediately

bought and returned them, and sev-ered his connection with the churchthat seized them. The very next Sun-day his pew was empty, and remainedso. He soon turned definitely to thefaith which realized his personal principles of love and justice. The sternPuritan doctrine had never been ac-ceptable to him, and the new atmo-sphere of Christian fellowship wasvery grateful. Methodist preachersfrom Boston were invited to holdmeetings in his house, and a class wasformed of which he was the first

leader. In 1805, Rev. EpaphrasKibby held the first public services,followed by Father Taylor, Mr. Maf-fitt and others, and when the churchwas finally organized in 1807 he gavea lot, timber, and money for thefirst building. The deed of the lotstipulates that it should revert to hisheirs if ever diverted from the useof this church, and his children werepledged to fulfil his wish. To theirloyalty to this pledge, this congrega-tion now owes the present church atAcushnet on the spot now consecratedby 100 years of the faithful service offive generations.

"The original contract for the first

building, signed by Henry Reming-ton and Stephen Davis, housewrights,and John Hawes, Esq., was foundamong his papers, and has been given,with others, to the present churchtrustees, to be preserved with thelater records. The only descriptionof the building that I recall is thatit had one door in front, one aisle inthe iniddle of the plain benches whichserved for seats. Being hard of hear-ing, Mr. Hawes sat in a large chairin front of the pulpit, among thesingers, who sat on the front bench,and Capt. Gordon, with his pitchpipe,led the tunes."When he gave up his seafaring life,

he became interested in many businessenterprises. In his shipyard on theAcushnet river, he was builder andpart owner of seven vessels, and heformed several business partnerships,besides building salt works at Bell-ville. At one time, in partnershipwith Joseph Wheldon, they carried ontlieir business in the building, now inruins, afterward used as one of thefirst cotton mills in America. Thispartnership of Hawes & Wheldon wasbegun in 1819. There are papers ofHawes & Taber (his brother-in-law.Stephen) from 1811 to 1814; Hawes &Haskell, no date. In 1813 the ship-yard 'on Sain.'l Perry, Esq.'s, land,'

—

John Hawes, part owner,—was leasedby William Kempton. At this timehe was nominated collector, and dis-posed of his ship interests. In 1822there are acounts of his interest in

'candle works,' and contract for build-

10

ing 'salt works,' the only business pa-pers I find at this time outside of hiscollectorship.

"For ten years, from 1805, he felt

the general depression of business pre-ceding and during the war with Eng-land, 1812-15. In political matters heearly took a firm stand, and in 1807was elected representative to the Mas-sachusetts legislature from New Bed-ford for one term. Political excite-ment was intense, and he was defeatedas a candidate for the same office in

1808. As ship owner and merchant,he suffered much from the Embargo,both of France and England. Hewrites to his son in 1811, 'I am unableto collect from my many interestsenough to defray the necessary ex-penses of mi' family, and there is

absolute need in the community whichI am unable to relieve.' In the sameyear ho writes: 'I devote much time tothe farm and the boys (then 9 and 11years old) have been of real serviceto me in getting in the harvest. It

is, however, so small that I shall srndyou, by packet, a quantity of bagswhich I wish you to ship promptly tobe filled with corn in a southern mar-ket.'

"As justice, he had waged a steadywar against the universal persistenceof smugglers, and as ship owner helost heavily, saying. 'I would ratherall my vessels would rot at the wharfthan to trade with the enemy, or askmy captains to take a false oath atthe custom house.' Of course he in-curred the lasting hatred and opposi-tion of disloyal custom house officers,and when his name was first present dfor appointment as collector of NewBedford, in 1808, he was defeated byhis political opponent, who became hisbitter, personal enemy.

"In 1812 he was one of the organ-izers of the New Bedford Bible society,and was chosen its first president, andthe same year he was authorized loissue a warant calling on the inhabi-tants of Fairhaven to vote upon thequestion of establishing the township,and to preside at the meeting until theelection of a moderator. He was alsohead of the committee appointed tobuild a 'Town House' in Fairhaven,then New Bedford. There seems tohave been no limit to the calls uponhis time and strength."On taking possession of the custom

house he soon revolutionized the ad-ministration of its affairs, fightingwithin it, as he had long fought with-out, against all disloyalty, and estab-lishing there the orderly, painstaking,loyal service he had always given tohis private, judicial and church work.That he was utterly fearless in the dis-charge of his duty is shown bv copies,in his own handwriting, of letters writ-ten to both friend and foe. The bit-

ter opposition of his political enemies,beginning with his first election to thelegislature in 1807, was continued en-tirely through his collectorship andwas ended only by his death in 1824.A personal letter from his 'good andtrue' friend, Thomas Hazard, Jr., writ-ten in 1818, when he had held theoffice four years, warned him of freshattempts of his enemies to have himremoved. Charges of dishonesty anddisloyalty among the employes of lis

office were also reported, and he wasurged to watch carefully, lest theremight be some grounds for them,which would result in injury to him-self.

There are many other interestingletters from this good old Quaker,who left all his business interests inNew Bedford in the care of JohnHawes. In one he says, "Do as youjudge best in all matters, I trust youentirely." Among other long onesare those of the old Quaker, CaptPreserved Fish, many of them poli-tical, in which he strongly, but in afriendly spirit, objects to FriendHawes' oposition to the old Federalparty. The letters of these sterlingfriends show them to have been in-telligent, loyal, practical men, andpersonal matters, freely discussed inthem, show a close friendship, valuedby them all.

The issuing of the Embargo Actmarked the beginning of several yearsthat tried men's souls, especiallythose of government officers, whotried faithfully to perform the dutiesof their offices. A recent article onthe condition of affairs at that timesays: "They were hard days for rev-enue officers. Many of the most promi-nent merchants of the largest sea-ports, when their trade was practi-cally ruined by the embargo, sentout their ships as privateers. Manyof them honestly and firmly believedin their right to seize all they could,and enter it free of duty, and manymore, utterly devoid of principle,preyed on friend and foe alike." I

find many copies of search warrantsissued by John Hawes, justice, givingauthority to search for smuggledgoods in New Bedford and Fairhaven.This was the beginning of the gen-eral opposition to Mr. Weston, whowas apointed collector in 1808. I

find receipted bills of a Boston law-j'er to "John Hawes for services inhis contention with Isaiah Weston."The Centennial number of The

Morning Mercury, issued in 1907, givesan account of this long contention,and adds, "It was not long afterwardsthat Mr. Weston, the collector, wasremoved, and John Hawes, Esq., ap-pointed in his place." This was five

11

years after he had been first nomi-nated for the office and defeated byMr. Weston. Meanwhile, he hadagain served as a niemlser of theMassachusetts legislature, for Fair-haven, in the session of 1S13-14. Hishonorable and faithful service there,convincing his fellow citizens of hisfitness for the service of the UnitedStates government, he was again nom-inated for the collectorship. A copyof this petition, sent to Washingtonat this time, records that some of thesigners, "being convinced of the un-fitness of the present collector forthe office, and that all his chargesagainst Mr. Hawes were unfounded,"asked the appointment of John Hawes,etc.

After building his house in Acush-net, in 1817, Mr. Hawes rode dailyto the custom house, returning atnight. Up to a few weeks before hisdeath he dined at Nelson's tavern,and I find numerous bills, one onlytwo inches square, which reads:

Esq. Hawes, to 17 dinners, $3.12.Rec'd Pay't,

Nath'l Nelson.

In April, 1815, he removed hisfamily to New Bedford, to be nearerthe custom house, renting there thehouse of his friend, Thomas Hazard,now standing on Water street, but hewas greatly annoyed by the constantopposition and abuse of his disloyalneighbors there. This, added to thestrain of his official duties and hispersonal business and home duties,affected his health seriously, and bythe advice of physicians he took along rest and change of scene, travel-ling from New Bedford to SaratogaSprings, N. Y., in a chaise, accom-panied by his wife, who kept a dailyjournal, which we now have. Neatl.vwritten in ink, sometimes on herlap in the chaise, while the horse wasfed, often at night, when her husbandslept, it is an interesting and amusingmanuscript. The chaise was new,also the horsehair trunk strapped onbehind; the horse was strong andtrusty, and the return journey wasmade in six weeks from their de-

parture, in September. But a fewmiles from the Springs stood the homeof the uncle from whom he fled in hisboyhood. His uncle's aged wife wasstill living, and when he one da.y madehimself known to her she showedgreat emotion. The journal says:"With streaming eyes she welcomedthe honored and beloved man, who,40 years before, a helpless, unhappyorphan, left her door to begin a newlife. Now he stood before her anoble, loyal, successful man, in hisprime."The use of the water at the Springs

did not seem to benefit him, and theyremained but a short time, but therest and change strengthened him, andhe resumed his official duties. In 1817,he returned to Acushnet, bought anold homestead, and added to it thelarge house now standing east of thestone bridge and next to the home ofJudge Spooner. He and his familygladly returned to a country home,and the change was a happy one. Herehe passed the last seven years of hislife, riding daily to New Bedford andenjoying, when there, the companion-ship of many valued friends.A chronic dropsical affection of the

chest, caused by exposure in his earlylife, slowly and steadily increased, butalmost to the last he went to his officein the custom house where his faith-ful deputy kept watch during his ab-sence. He bore his increasing weak-ness and pain patiently, calmly settinghis household and business cares inperfect order, as he had always done.On his death he delivered to anotherguardian the property left by his twobrothers which he had held manyyears for their children; principal andinterest were untouched, although hehad clothed and educated them me .-

while. Squire Spooner, to whom thecharge was given, said: "It was a mostaffecting sight to see this good stew-ard of the Lord give up his steward-ship, faithful unto death."He died on the evening of Dec. 29,

182 4, aged only 5 6 years.

"Behold the upright man! For theend of that man is peace."

12

Note.

In the summer of 1906 I was re-

quested by a committee of the Meth-odist Episcopal church of Acushnet, of

which John Hawes was the founder,to prepare; a short personal sketch of

him to be read at the centennial cele-

bration of that church in September,1907. At that time I gave what smallhelp I could to Mr. Franklyn How-land, for the history of the church hewas then preparing. It was always agreat regret to his children that therewere no records of his later life, andthere was very little reliable materia!for any account of him.

All his books and papers were giv-

en, at his death, to his oldest son andexecutor, John A. Hawes, of Fair-haven, who duly administered the es-

tate and was then supposed to havedestroyed them. He died three yearsafter his father, in 182 7, leaving twovery young sons who never knew any-thing of their grandfather's affairs.

By a very strange and remarkablecoincidence, at the very time the first

steps were taken to mark this cen-tennial, all these letters and paperswere accidentally found by the widowof his grandson, John A. Hawes, Jr.,

in a chest stored in the old FairhavenAcademy. Instead of destroying, theexecutor had carefully preserved andrefiled them, adding many of his ownletters from and to his father. Athis death, others of his own papershad been placed above them, and al-

though some of these were afterward« referred to by his heirs, the oldest

ones, those of John Hawes, remainedat the bottom, unknown and untouch-ed for 82 years. As I happened to

be in New Bedford at the time theywere found, they were all given into

my care, the first thought being mere-ly to obtain dates, etc., connected withthis church anniversary and Mr. How-land's history of Acushnet. but I soonfound that a much larger trust had

been "laid upon me," as the Quakerssay.

I have since carefully sorted andread more than two thousand of theseletters and papers, varying from smallbills and receipts not more than twoinches square, to long legal papers.Beginning in 1792 at the time of hismarriage, when he was twenty-fouryears old, the oldest are marked "Myaccounts since I became a household-er." They furnish a minute historyof the last thirty years of his useful,busy life. Most of them were in hisown handwriting. Printed forms werefew in those days, and paper wasscarce and expensive, and hundreds ofpages of carefully copied legal papersand business letters show how the"unlettered youth" developed into thewell-trained, intelligent, painstaking,u.pright business man.There are copies of business and po-

litical letters from his tried and truefriends, neatly kept small books of hispersonal expenses, copies innumerableof local and government papers, year-ly files of bills and receipts, accountsand contracts connected with theMethodist church, papers relating to

his administration of several estates

—

a wonderful record of his faithfulstewardship of the affairs of his fellowmen.

I have attempted no extended historyof his life, nor any eulogy of his hon-ored name, but have tried, in connec-tion with this memorial, and fromwritten and spoken words, simply to

show to his children's children here,and to you his successors in thishousehold of faith, the personality ofthe man himself. Would that I

could also make plain to you what [

have read between the lines of thesepapers committed to my care, and,more than all, the fragrance, so realto me, that has exhaled from thosedusty and worm-eaten records of a"just life."

REJBECCA WILLIAMS HAWE3.

13

"Do as you judge best in all matters,

I trust you entirely."

In a letter to John Mawes from Thomas Hazard, Jr.

14

"The glories of our blood and state

Are shadows, not substantial things.

There is no armor against Fate;

Death lays his icy hand on kings.

Sceptre and crownMust tumble down!

Only the ashes of the just

Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.

JAMES SHIRLER,1596-166G.

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 21.J

Being the proceedings of the Twenty-second Meeting of the Old Dart-

mouth Historical Society, held in their building, Water Street, New

Bedford, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1909.

THE VILLAGES OF DARTMOUTH IN THE BRITISH

RAID OF 1778.

Compiled by Henry Howland Crapo in 1 839-40

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.

UZSOj-

...^^^Tiw^rcv.^^.

HENUV IK.WJ.wi, C1JA1'(

1S04-1S69.

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTY-FIRST MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD,

MASSACHUSETTS

JANUARY I 2, 1909.

The Old Dartmouth Historical So-ciety's regular ciuarterly meetingproved of exceptional interest to themembers. The feature was the an-nouncement of the discovery, byWilliam W. Crapo, of a series of his-torical sketches of early New Bedford,written by his father, the late HenryH. Crapo, and their forthcoming pub-lication by the society.

President Edmund Wood called themeeting to order at 8 o'clock. Thedisagreeable weather kept the attend-ance down. Comparativelj^ few mem-bers were present."The society continues prosperous, '

continued Mr. Wood. "The membershipis holding its own, new members off-

setting those who have fallen by theway; and the interest in the societyalso continues.

"In the first place, the building is

being used, and a great many peoplevisit the collections. The museumcommittee has been active, and havearranged exhibitions that were verysuccessful. The teas have also beenheld, and a very satisfactory enter-tainment, a 'Breton Afternoon,' giventhrough the kindness of Mr. and Mrs.Clement Swift.

"The research committee is activelyat work, and several papers are inembryo, for future meetings. The pro-gram for tonight has been arrangedby this comittee. and it is fairly full,

so that the president will not detain

you by remarks. Every communityhas its liistory, generally written aboutit; and in nearly every communitythere have been a great many writtenhistories. Many citizens have an in-terest that leads them to accumulatefacts, sometimes never printed, by oldworthies of Dartmouth—narrativeswritten bv come of our grandmothersthat probably entertained smallaudiences in the past; and it would bewell for the committee to obtain them,if possible.

"The historical matter of tonight is

a much more ambitious effort. One ofour older inhabitanf.? did, in a morecomplete way, assemble a great dealof material, and it has come to ournotice. It will be introduced to us bythe son of the author, who. by hiscommemorative addresses and his ef-forts in behalf of the society itself hasalready taken place as one of the pro-minent historians of this communityI will introduce William WallaceCrapo."

Remark.^ by Hon. W'illiniii W. Crapo.

"There resided in New Bedford in1839," said Mr. Crapo. "a man namedJohn (rilbert. In the directory of thatyear he is mentioned as a laborer liv-ing at 2 4 North street. I remember tohave seen him and to have heard himtell the story of what he and others ofthat day regarded as the most notableand exciting event in the history ofthe town—its invasion by a Britisnarmy in 17 78. When I saw Mr. Gil-bert he was about seventy-five yearsof age. He was short and slight instature, but active and alert andquick in his movements. He hadreadiness of soeech and clearness ofmemory. I was told, if I remeinberrightly, that he was of Scotch birthand that at an early age he was ap-prenticed or bound out, as it wascalled, to Joseph Russell, the leadingresident and largest landed proprietorof Bedford village."When a young man, my father,

Henry H. Crapo, entertained the ideathat at some leisure time in the futurehe might possibly be disposed to writea history of Old Dartmouth or ofBedford Village. That leisure timenever came. But his fondness for localhistorical research led him to gatherup for reference and preservationwhatever referred to the earlier yearsof the town. He desired to obtainaccurate and detailed accounts fro nthose who had witnessed and partici-pated in its memorable events. Heknew John Ciilbert of whom I havespoken and thought his story hadhistorical value. Mr. Gilbert a numberof times came to mv father's office.It was there that I saw him. Encour-aged and aided bv suggestive ques-

tions he told with much minutenesswhat he saw and learned about thepillage and burning and killing by \heBritish troops. All this was carefullywritten out. Sixty years had elapsed,but they had not effaced his recollec-tion of those days of alarm anddanger."He further gave a complete ac-

count of all the buildings in the vil-

lage, the dwellings, stores and shops,at that time, those burned by theBritish and those that were notdestroyed, giving their location andthenames of their owners and oc-cupants. This information was madea matter of record.

"There was another narrative. It

was told by Elijah Macomber, whowas a soldier and a member of themilitary company that garrisoned FortPhoenix. He was in the fort on theday it was bombarded by the Britishfleet. With soms minuteness hedescribed the occurrences of thateventful day.

"These narratives are interestingbecause told by persons who witnessedand had a oart in the events theydescribed. They are contributions toour local history which ought not tobe lost.

"These manuscri£)ts, carefully pre-pared and arranged, were placed in aportfolio used exclusively as the re-ceptacle in the collection of whateverdata and information came to handrelating to the history of the town.Several months since I came acrossthat portfolio. Its contents have notbeen disturbed for more than fifty

years. As I was unable to read themanuscript, through failure of sightI handed the portfolio to Mr. Worth,the chairman of our Historical Re-search committee, with a request thathe examine its contents and learn if

it contained anything of value in thepresent or worthy of preservation forthe future. This he has kindly done.While he will not weary you by read-ing all it contains, perhaps there maybe descriptions and incidents whichmay interest you."

Remarks by Heury B. "Worth

During the Revolution the townson Buzzards Bay were neither wealthynor populous. Dartmouth had beenfor a century under the dominationof the society of Friends and was notespecially beligerent. Fairhaven hadsent an ex«edition in 1775 to recap-ture two vessels seized by the Englishand anchored in the Bay. During thefirst three years of the war 120Dartmouth men had served in theAmerican army. These acts were notso .extensive as to furnish a rea.sonfor sending a force of several thou-

sand troops to destroy the villages onthe Acushnet. The motive, however,was not due to any warlilce demonstra-tions of the inhabitants but to cripplebusiness activity which had given aidto the American cause.The river between Bedford and Fair-

haven had been a safe and conve-nient harbor for privateers where theycould obtain supplies. A fort had beenestablished on the rocky promontorysince 1804, known as Fort Phoenixwhich provided a slight defenceagainst vessels approaching from theocean but more important than thiswere maritime enterprises that direct-ly or indirectly assisted the colonialinsurrection. In South DartmouthElihu and James Akin had a ship yardand in September, 1778, a vessel wasready to launch. There is a suggestionthat she was to be a privateer. Tlienon the west side of the Acushnet fromits head south to the bay were shipyards, oil factories, rope wallvs,wharves, a distillery and other acces-sories of whaling and coinmerce be-side vessels always at the landingsHere was property that contributedliberally to the support of the conti-nental revolution.nental revolution. Shipping was built,equipped, repaired and supplied, storehouses were filled with rum, oil, cord-age and other merchandise in demandat every market, for which could beotitained in exchange cominodities ofwhich tlie colonies were in need. Suchactive assistance to the rebellion wassomethimes to be checked and a raidwas planned as a military moveinentto reduce the opportunity for assist-ance.

According to the records in tlie

archives department in the StateHouse in Boston it appears that at theopening of the war orders were givento prevent vessels leaving the colonywithout permission. Bedford men whoowned vessels were William Tallman,Isaac Howland, Lemuel Williams,Gamaliel Church, John Alden, JosepliRussell, John Williams, Barnabas Rus-sell, Leonard Jarvis, David Shepard,Seth Russell, Joseph Howland, WilliamClaghorn, Patrick Maxfleld, ZadockMaxfield, Abraham Smith, DanielSmith, Ureal Rea.

In October, 1775, William Davisreceived permission to tit out a sloopfor some West Indian port to bringback a cargo of powder.

In the same year the brig Kezia,David Sowle, master, was permittedto sail on a whaling voyage, a bondto bring the oil and bone to Dart-mouth having been given by the own-ers, David Shepard, Seth Russell,David Sowle and Abraham Smith.During the year 1776 restriction on

whaling and commerce became acute.

Leonard Jarvis, a business associateof Joseph Rotch, sent the sloop Pollywith rum and sugar to South Carolinafor a cargo of rice and Joseph Russellsent the Smiling Molly for the samemerchandise. At the end of that sameyear Barnabas Russell stated thatprovisions were scarce and he peti-tioned for permission to send to SouthCarolina the schooner Rouger for riceand Patrick Maxfleld sent out theschooner Wealthy for the same cargo.

In April, 1777, there were 75 men atFort Phoenix and as their time hadexpired tlie local authorities asked fora detachment of 40 men and four field

pieces— 4 pounders.A committee of "inspection and

safety" was formed with Col. EdwardPope as chairman. Its duties were todetect and report any inhabitants whoexhibited Tory sympathies.

Privateers began to make theAcushnet a harbor. The brig FannyIS guns, owned by Abraham Babcockand commanded by Capt. John Ken-dricli was at Dartmouth; also the"American Revenue" with two prizes,a ship and a schooner.No systematic attempt was insti-

tuted by the English to hinder theDartmouth merchants conductingwhaling and trading. Some of theirvessels were captured, but more es-caped.An amusing incident gives a glimpse

of a possible reason why the Englishmay have regarded the Dartmouthinhabitants as entitled to favor. InApril, 1778, Jireh Willis reported thatthe British were in the habit of land-ing on Naushon and taking all cattle

there. Holder slocum, one of theowners, persisted in landing there twopairs of oxen.Freedom from interference by the

English tempted the local traders toengage in commercial ventures and toaccumulate considerable property.

Under date of June 16, 1778, cer-tain prominent men of Dartmouth ad-dressed ^a communication to theGeneral Court representing that theharbor on the Acushnet river is theonly one between Cape Cod and NorthCarolina in control of the Americansand that there were fifty vessels thereand the stores are filled with provi-sions; that several families had movedfrom Bedford and more proposed to

do so unless assistance were given. It

was signed by Fortunatus Shermanand Thomas Kempton, selectmen, Ed-ward Pope, Leonard Jarvis, JosephRotch, Joseph Russell, John Alden andAbraham Smith.As a consequence Col. Crafts was or-

dered to Dartmouth with 50 men and4 field pieces to act under orders of

Col. Edward Pope.

The risk of an invasion into suchan unprotected seaport ought to havearoused more caution in the mindsof the Bedford merchants and untilthere could be guaranteed to themsufficient protection such tempting col-lections of property ought not to havebeen permitted. Possibly the allur-ing protits derived from trading in

time of war induced them to assumethe hazard.Tory sympathizers kept the British

fully informed and two of them pilot-

ed the fleet into the bay. A time wasselected when the collection of prop-erty on the Acushnet was large andvaluable and all men capable of bear-ing arms had gone to Stone Bridge formilitary defence.The English expedition was ar-

ranged with all spectacular accom-paniments calculated to inspire terrorand subdue the inhabitants. An armyof British regulars fully armed andequipped entered th£ bay in a largefleet of vessels. The force was tentimes more numerous than all themen residing in the region. The grimlabor of destruction was systemati-cally conducted. The purpose was todestroy and not to pillage. While thetorch seems to have been appliedonly to structures devoted to manu-facturing or mercantile purposes yetthere is no evidence that the Englishendeavored to prevent the flamesspreading to dwelling houses. In 'theirtour of fifteen miles from Clarke'sPoint to Sconticut Neck they accom-plished a thorough work of devasta-tion. The British commander com-placently reported to his chief that hehad executed the order "in the fullestmanner." Five years later StephenPeckham, Jabez Barker and EdwardPope, selectmen of Dartmouth report-ed to the general court that the valueof property destroyed exceeded £105,-000, or over one-half million dollars.

It was the only occasion when hos-tile military forces landed on thesepeaceful shores and consequently it

has always been regarded as one ofthe few occurrences of signal import-ance in the history of the town. Eyewitnesses found eager listeners amonosucceeding generations. Old men re-lated to children the events of thatwoeful night and yet for over half acentury the recollections of these wit-nesses were not reduced to writing.A few meagre statements were theonly results deemed worthy of preser-vation. Fortunately for the modernhistorical student before all the par-ticipants In that disaster had passedaway an efficient and able scribe com-piled a collection of greatest use be-cause of its accuracy and complete-ness. He was the first and onlv in-

vestigator who appreciated the valueof seeming trivial facts and with com-rricndable patience wrote down thenarratives of the old men giving num-erous minute details which other his-torians had not deemed of sufficientinterest to perpetuate.Henry H. Crapo was born in Dart-

mouth near the Freetown line in 1804and died in 1869. The first of theCrapo family in this section came fromthe town of Rochester and located inthe vicinity of the Babbit Forge inFreetown and it was in this localitythat the family continued to live forseveral generations. Peter Crapo hada large family and it became neces-sary to provide for them homesteadsin other places. One of the sonsnamed Jesse married Phebe, thedaughter of Henry Howland, and in1807 the father purchased for his sonfrom Barnabas Sherman the farm onthe north side of the Rock a Dunderroad, a short distance east of theBakertown road and here was builtthe house still standing where the boy-hood of Jesse Crapo's son Henry wasspent.Much speculation has existed as to

the meaning and origin of the nameof that road. Some distance north ofthe road in the woods is a largebowlder resting on a high ledge ofrock and this possibly, was namedthe Rock of Dundee and from thatphrase the numerous variations in thename may have originated.

In 1825 Henry H. Crapo marriedMary Ann Slocuin, daughter of Wil-liam, who was the owner of the greatfarm at Barney's Joy. In early life

young Crapo was a school master inDartmouth and studied land surveyingin which he became very proficientand which furnished considerable bus-iness after he had ceased teachingschool. He possessed to a great de-gree two traits of a successful man,an unflagging industry and a carefulattention to details. As a natural out-come of his environment and heredityhe had a taste for local history.

In 1832 he had removed from Dart-mouth to New Bedford about the timeof the failure of the whaling firm ofSeth Russell & Sons. The Seth Russellfarm was bounded on the south by theline of South street; on the east bythe Acushnet river; on the north bya line half way between Grinnell andW'ing streets and ihe farm tapered asit extended westerly nearly to Button-wood Brook. Russell's house was lo-

cated on the southeast corner of Coun-ty and Grinnell streets. His son Seth,Jr., occupied the house on the eastside of Fourth street and north ofSouth street, and his son-in-law,George Tyson, occupied the stone

house on South street between Fourthand County.One of the results of the failure was

to bring in*o the market at once thewhole of this farm and it was neces-sary to have the same surveyed anddivided into small lots. This work wasperformed by Mr. Crapo and was thefirst extensive job in surveying whichcame to him after his removal to NewBedford. In 1842 he purchased forhimself a considerable tract of thisarm on the southwest corner of Wash-ington and Crapo streets, both ofwhich he laid out and built the housefor his residence which later becamethe home stead of Capt. William H.Besse. During many of the succeed-ing years he served the town as townclerk and occupied various offices untilhe removed to Michigan in 1856.

During the early years of Mr.Crapo's residence in New Bedford hebecame considerably interested in thehistory of the town and formed thepurpose to prepare ami write a moreor less detailed account of the eventsand people of that locality.With considerable care Mr. Crapo

reduced the recollections of these per-sons to writing and collected fromnewspapers and other sources a port-folio of historical data relating to NewBedford, but before reaching tlie stagewhere he was satisfied to put the ma-terial in narrative form, business con-nections required that he move toMichigan and the subject was nevercompleted, but a portfolio of papersfor over half a century has remainedin New Bedford in the possession ofhis son, William W. Crapo, andthe same has now been examined andrevised for the purpose of publica-tion.

Among these papers are two lettersaddressed to Mr. Crapo by James B.Congdon, written about the year 1844,and they disclose an interesting situa-tion in New Bedford in reference toa compilation of a local history. Itseems that James B. Congdon andDaniel Ricketson were also intendingt ' prepare local histories of a moreor less elaborate character and thereexisted some rivalry between them,each considering the "field" his own.

Mr. Congdon delivered a lecture onthe early history of New Bedford be-fore the Lyceum, and some feelingwas aroused in the minds of Messrs.Ricketson and Crapo, and during theday of Dec. 27, 1844, there was aconsiderable exchange of letters, andthose of Mr. Congdon have been pre-served; but the matter was quicklydropped. Years later Mr. Ricketsonpublished his history of New Bedford.

Mr. Congdon collected numerouspapers and historical data whichhave been added to the records inthe New Bedford Public Library.The extracts from old newspapers

made by Mr. Crapo may be foundin the files of the Medley, Courierand Mercury. His extended inter-views with the old men of his dayhave the greatest historic value. Onlya few minor corrections have beennecessary, and these appear in thenotes; but the bulk of the statementshas been found to be in exact accordwith contemporary public records.This reflects the greatest credit notonly on the accuracy of the narrators,but the scrupulous care of the writerwho elicited the facts and committedthem to paper.John Gilbert, whose story is the

longest, was a peculiarly voluablewitness. By birth a Scotchman, helived as hired boy in the family ofJoseph Russell, the leading man ofbusiness and wealth in Bedford vil-

lage. At his home visitors of standingwere entertained, and the householdnumbered over 2 persons. Herewould be heard, even by the servants,discussions of all public events ofthe day, and such an occurrence asthe British Raid would "be the topicof conversation for years. While Gil-bert was an eye-witness to the facts,yet in this atmosphere he would havea most intelligent appreciation of therelative importance of different de-tails, so, although his account wasstated 60 years after, it no doubt con-tains the salient and principal occur-ence that came within his observation,narrated according to their impor-tance.Although Mr. Crapo seems to have

considered the Macomber narrativeentitled to great weight, in two par-ticulars it has been criticized.

1. As to the English troops land-ing on Sconticut Neck.

2. That Isaac Howland's housecould not have been burnt because it

was a brick house and stood' acrossthe end of Pleasant street on thenorth side of Union and was stand-ing until modern times.

In order that the landmarks andlocalities may be understood noteshave been inserted in brackets. It

should be kept in mind that the narra-tives were written in 1840 and theword "now" refers to that date.

Other accounts of the Invasion maybe found in Ricketson's and Ellis'

History of New Bedford and in theNew Bedford Evening Standard ofSept. 5, 1878.

10

THE JOSEPH RUSSELL HOUSE.

The Villages of Dartmouth in the

British Raid of 1778.

Compiled by Henry Howland Crapo in 1 839-40.

Statement of John Gilbert of NewBedford in relation to the burning ofBedford Village by the British in1778; and, also, in relation to thenumber, location, owners, etc., of thedwelling houses and other buildings,including those destroyed at thattime.

Said Gilbert was 75 years of agethe 16th of September, 1839; was bornin 1764, and consequently was about14 years of age at the time of theattack. He is a man of extraordinarymemory, of quick comprehensions,very intelligent, and has resided inNew Bedford since he was 4 years ofage.

His statement is in substance asfollows:On the 5th of September, 1778, in

the afternoon, the British fleet ar-rived off Clarks point. It consistedof two frigates, an 18-gun brig andabout 36 transports. The latter were

small ships. The two frigates andbrig anchored opposite the mouth ofthe Acushnet river and a little belowthe point. The transports were an-chored outside the Great ledge andopposite the mouth of the cove. Thetroops, including light-horse artillery,etc., were landed in' barges. Thelanding was completed a little beforenight, near where the present alms-house is situated, and the troops ar-rived at the head of Main (nowUnion) street about dusk. A part ofthe troops were wheeled to the rightand passed down Main street for thepurpose of burning the town, whilstthe remainder continued their marchto the north on County street. Therewas not at this time more than 15able-bodied men in the place, everyperson that could leave having goneto reinforce the American army in

Rhode Island, where at that very time

11

they were engaged, their cannon be-ing distinctly heard here.

I was at this time an apprentice toJoseph Russell, the father of Abra-liani, etc.. and had been sent for ahorse to carry my mistress to someplace of safety. On my return shehad gone, as also the goods from thehouse, but Peace Akins was there (aconnection of the family), whom I

was directed to carry with me. Thehouse stood at the present corner ofCounty and Morgan streets, and alittle within the fence on the south-east corner of Charles W. Morgan'slot (a). By this time the British hadappeared in sight. I was upon thehorse by the side of the horse block,urging Mrs. Akins to be quick in get-ting ready. She, however, inade somelittle delay by returning into thehouse for soinething, and before shehad time to get up behind me fourlight-horsemen passed us, but withoutpaying us any particular attention.Whilst the head of the British columnwas passing us and whilst Peace wasin the very act of getting upon thehorse, a soldier came up and, seizingthe horse's bridle, commanded me to

' get off. I made no reply, but byreigning the horse suddenly round,knocked him down, which left meperfectly at liberty and headed to thenorth. The troops occupied nearlythe whole of the road, leaving, how-eve:-, a small space on the west sidebetween them and the wall. Throughthis open space I attempted to passby urging my horse at the top ofhis soeed, but before I had gone fiverods a whole platoon was fired at me,without hitting either myself or horse.These were the first guns fired bythe British since their landing. Thetroops now opened from the centreto close the space next the wall,which reduced ine to the necessity ofpassing through the centre of the re-maining platoons. This I effectedwithout injury, in consequence of thespeed of my horse and being so mixedup with the troops as to prevent theirfiring. About 20 feet in advance ofthe leading platoon were placed twoinen with fixed bayonets, as a kindof advance guard. They were aboutsix feet apart, and as I advanced fromthe rear they both faced about andpresented their pieces, which I thinkwere snapped at me, but they did notfire. I passed through between themand made my escape, turning up the(b) Smith's Mills road; I went to'Timothy Maxfleld's, about 1 V^ miles,and stayed all night.

I afterwards learned that uponleaving Peace Akins on the horseblock some British officers rode upand assured her that if she remained

perfectly quiet nothing should injureher. She remained in this situationuntil the troops had passed and theofficers left her, when she went overthe east side of the road into a fieldof pole-beans, and thence traveled.The four horsemen that first passed

us on the horse block went into thehouse and plundered two men whomthey found there, the goods have beei^,already conveyed back. These menwere Humphrey Tallman and JosephTrafford, who worked for Joseph Rus-sell.

As I passed up the Smith's Millsroad, and about one-quarter of a milefrom County street, I met WilliamHaydon and Oliver Potter, both armedwith muskets, who inquired where themain body of the British then were.I told them they were nearly squareagainst us. Upon receiving this in-formation they cut across the woods,etc., as I was afterwards told, andcame out a little in advance of theBritish and near the west end of thepresent North street. The woods werevery thick on the west side of Countystreet at this place, and under coverof night and these woods Haydon andPotter fired upon the British andkilled two horsemen. This I was toldby Haydon and Potter, and also bythe American prisoners on their re-turn home, who saw them put intothe baggage wagon. One was shot.A few minutes after these men were

shot Abraham Russell, Thomas Cookand Diah Trafford, all being armed,were discovered by the British at-tempting to leave the village bycoming up a cross-way into Countystreet. When at the corner of this

way with County street, or nearly so,

they were fired upon by the Britishand' all shot down. Trafford was 21years of age lacking 14 days, and wasin the employment of Joseph Russell,with whom I then lived. He was shotthrough the heart and died instantly,after which his face was badly cut topieces with the sabres of the British.

Cook also worked for said Russell, bythe month; he was nearly 40 yearsof age. He was shot through the legand also through the bowels, the lat-

ter bullet passing through his bladder.He died about daylight next morning.Russel was about 40 years of age. Hedied about 10 o'clock the next morn-ing, at the house of said Joseph Rus-sell, where they were all carried after

remaining all night in the road wherethey were shot. Russell and Cookwere buried in Dartmouth (as statedby Macomber); Trafford was buriedon the hill by the shore, a little northof the old ropewalk in this town. Thiswas a sort of potter's field, where

(a) It is the present William S. Reed's dwelling house.(b) Smith Mills road was Kempton street, Rockdale avenue and the Hathawayroad. Timothy Maxfleld's house was on the north side of the Hathaway roadnear the junction with Kempton street.

12

sailors were bnrlod; the land wasowned by Joseph Russell (c).

A company of artillery consisting ofabout SO privates had been sent fromBoston for the protection of the place.

The building occupied by them as abarracks was the "poor house," whichstood near the present site of PhilipAnthony's dwelling house. It was along, low building, and has since beenpulled down (d). The company wascommanded by Capt. James Gushingof Boston. Joseph Bell of Boston wasfirst lieutenant, William Gordon ofBoston, second lieutenant, and JamesMetcalf, third lieutenant. The latter

was mortally wounded by the Britishduring the night, at Acushnet. Thiscompany, although stationed herehad a short time previous to the land-ing of the British been called to How-land's Ferry to aid the Americansagainst the British in Rhode Island.But during the day of the landingLieuts. Gordon and Metcalf had re-turned with a part of the companyand one piece. As the British ad-A'anced they were under the neces-sity of retreating. They had a yokeof oxen of Joseph Russell's to drawtheir cannon.The officers of this company had

their quarters at and boarded withMrs. Deborah Doubleday, a widow, inthe house in which Judge Prescott'soffice now is, which was then ownedby Seth Russell, father of the lateSeth and Charles. After Metcalf waswounded he was brought down to thishouse, where I saw him the next day.I think he lived three days (e). I

was at his funeral—he was buried onthe hill by the old meeting house atAcushnet, "under arms".The evening of the British attack

was clear and moonlight. The sloopProvidence was very often in here,and I was frequently on board ofher. She was commanded by JohnHacker of New York (since a pilotthrough Hell Gate), was sloop-rigged,and I think about 100 tons. Shebrought in the prize "Harriet of Lon-don," which was burnt on the southside of Rotch's wharf, below wherethe sail-loft now is. This was thewreck recentl.v taken up on the bar.She also took and brought in prizethe British-armed brig Diligence, ofIS guns and commanded by JohnSmith of Liverpool. The engagementwas off Sandy Hook and lasted fiveglasses (2 1/i hours). The Providencehad two men killed—the sailing mas-ter, James Rodgers of Conn., and thesteward. Church Wilkey, of Fairhaven(north part). Don't know the num-ber killed on board the brig. She wassubsequently repaired here andmanned, fitted, etc., as an American

cruiser. She was with the squadronin the Penobscott and was thereblown up by the order of the Ameri-can commandant, as was the Provi-dence. The crew of the brig waslanded here, but I do not know wherethey went to.

McPharson's wharf was at Belville,and was burnt by the British, togetherwith some vessels laying there. Abrig called the "No Duties on Tea"was burnt at this wharf. She drifteddown the river after her fasteningswere burnt off and finally sunk justat the north of "Dog Fish Bar" andabreast of the Burying Ground hill.

Several other small vessels were burntat this wharf and sunk; they wereafterwards got up.An armed vessel sunk on the west

side of Crow Island (which is oppo-site and near to Fairhaven village).She was afterwards got up. Her gunswere got up by some persons divingdown and fastening ropes to themupon which they were hoisted up.Benjamin Myrick was drowned in div-ing down for the purpose of fasteninga rojie to the last one. There wereonly two wharves in the village of anyconsequence. The largest was Rotchwharf (the present Rotch's wharf),the other was Joseph Russell's wharf(now Central wharf).

[John Gilbert has been employedin the merchant and whaling servicesince 21 years of age. His parentsresided in Boston. He was left anorphan. His father was lost in a ves-sel out of Boston, which was neverheard of. He was brought to NewBedford at the age of 4 years andbound an apprentice.]—Note by H.H. Crapo.

Privateering.

There were no privateers owned andfitted from New Bedford. They wereall owned in Boston, Connecticut andRhode Island, and rendezvoused here.A large sloop called the Broom fre-

quently came in here. She was com-manded by Stephen Gaboon of RhodeIsland and mounted 12 guns."The Black Snake," a long, low,

black schooner, frequently came inhere. She was owned in Connecticutand mounted eight carriage guns.Don't know the name of her captain.An Indian burying place occupied

the present site of the Merchants bankand Hamilton street. It was a bury-ing ground both before and after thewar. It was a high hill, composed ofrock covered with a few feet of earth.When the hill was cut down the boneswere put into a box and interred inthe Friends burying ground by Wil-liam Rotch, Jr. The Friends burying

(c) The rope walk stood on the land now Morgan's lane and extended from theshore west to Acushnet avenue.(d) This lotwas on the southeast corner of Sixth and Spring streets.(e) Prescotts office was on the west side of North Water street in the build-ing next north of the corner of Union.

13

ground was on the shore, at the footof Griffin street.

Gilbert says "on the day the Britishlanded they commenced carting goodsabout the middle of the afternoon,and carried them on to a piece ofcleared land, containing about oneacre, which was situated in the woodswest of the jail and surrounded onall sides by swamp, heavy wood andthick copse. Many others carriedgoods to the same place. After mov-ing all the goods I was sent for ahorse to the pasture west of where thejail now stands."

EJIjah Macoinber's Account of Raid.

Account of the nurning of New Bed-ford and Fairhaven by the Britishtroops, on the evening of the 5th ofSeptember, 1778, as given me by ElijahMacomber, formerly of Dartmoutn,now resident in New Bedford, Dec. 6.

1839; said informant being in goodhealth, and sound mind. He was 8 5

>ears of age on the 14th day of Maylast, and consequently more than 2 4

years of age at the time, being bornMay 14, 1754. He was in the fort atFairhaven on sai 1 5th day of Septem-ber, where iie served as a private fromMarch, 1778, to December following.The substance of Mr. Macomber's

statement is as follows: .

The fort below Fairhaven villagewas garrisoned, at *^^he time, by CaptainTimothy Jngraham, Lieutenant DanielFoster and thirty-six non-commis-sioned officers and privates, making atotal of 38 men. There were eleven crtwelve pieces of cannon mounted in

the fort, and about twenty-five casksof powder in the magazine, twentycasks having been procured a few daysprevious from the commissary store in

New Bedford, which was kept '^y

Philip and Leonard Jarvis, brothers.About 1 o'clock p. m. Worth Bates

(Timothy Tallman, Wm., etc., knewthis man) who lived at a place on theBedford side called McPharson's wharf(a), and who had that day been outfishing, landed at the fort in his boatand informed the captain that aBritish fleet was in the bay and nearlyup with the point In a few moinentsthey made their appearance by thepoint. The larger ship sailed up iheriver and anchored off abreast thefort. About one-half or more of thesmaller vessels r.nchored off Clark'spoint and the remainder dropped :n

to the east of the larger vessels andcommenced embarking troops in asmall cove, a short distance to theeast of the fort, behind a point cfwoods and under cover of the guns ofthe larger vessels The fleet consistedof 36 sail. Immediately upon discover-ing them three guns were fired fromthe fort to alarm the country, and a

despatch sent to Rowland's ferry,where a part of the American armythen was, for reinforcements. Thedebarkation of the British troopscommenced about 2 o'clock, both tothe eastward of the fort, and atClark's cove. A company of artilleryfrom Boston consisting of about 60men, under the command of Capt. —Cushman, was stationed at the head ofClark's cove, which upon the landingof the British fell back, and retreatedto the head of the Acushnet river.

Metcalf was first lieutenant ofthis company and was shot during thenight at Acushnet village. Wm. Gor-don, of this town, was second lieut-enant, and was taken prisoner by theBritish, but made his escape beforethey arrived at the head of Acushnet.The troops continued to debark frointhe transports lyin& to the east of Ihefort until night, but neither theirmovements nor those landed at thecove could be seen froin the fort.Not long after dark the detachments

from the cove commenced the wot-kof destruction. The first building dis-covered in flames were the ropewaiksand the distillery belonging to IsaacHowland (father of the late IsaacHowland, Jr). Soon after all thestores, warehouses, some barns anddwelling houses, together with everyvessel they could get at were Inflames. There were a large number cfvessels in the harbor at the time,—

a

large Englisa ship having beenbrought in a prize by the French afew days previous and then lying atRotch's wharf, as well as several othersa short time before. Every vessel wasburnt, excepting those lying in thestream, which they could not get Pt,and a small craft somewhere up theriv'er. The number of vessels destroyadwas 70. Among the dwelling housesburnt was Rotch's and IsaacHowland's, Sr.

A little before 9 o'clock or between8 and 9, and after some of the vess'=>ls

which had been set on fire on +heBedford side and their cables and fast-enings burnt off. had drifted down to-wards the fort, .the detachment whichlanded on the east side advanced uponthe fort froin the eastward. Two gur.swere then fired nt the fleet, and afterspiking the guns the garrison retreatedto the north, leaving their colors fly-

ing. The British supposing the fort tobe still garrisoned, opened a heavyfire upon it with their artillery, whichsoon ceased upon not being returned.The garrison were at this time rangedalong a low wall a short distance to

the north of the fort, waiting to dis-

cover the exact position of the armyin order to ^nake cheir retreat success-fully. They were soon discovered by

(a) Mcpherson's Wharf was at Belleville.

14

the British who fired upon them andwounded a man by the name cf

Robert Grossman. A ball passed

through one wrist and across ihe

other. A hasty .'etreat was then com-menced and the enemy not knowingthe exact position and strength of the

Americans did not make a vigorouspursuit. The whole garrison with 'he

exception of the wounded man andtwo others, John Skiff and his father,

who were taken prisoners, succeededin making their escape to the woodsat some little distance north of Fair-

haven, where they lay through the

night and until the British had passedthem from the head. Before the fort

was evacuated a train of powder wasplaced from the magazine to the plat-

form. The British upon entering after

destroying the rainrods, sponges, et^.

applied a slow match to the magazinewhich communicating with the train

left by the garrison, was blown upsooner than was intended, destroyingone man at least, the fragments ot

whose gun, cap and accoutrementswere afterwards discovered near by.

After burning the barracks, guardhouse, etc., the detachment movednorth, destroying vessels, stores, et.- ,

and formed a junction with the de-tachment from the west side some-where towards the head of Acushnet.after which they marched down to-

wards the fort. They were out all

night. The next day they re-embarkednear the fort. The leading platoons of

the detachment on the west side cf

the river fired UDon three inen, whowere armed, near the house of JosephRussell (father of Gilbert, Abrahamand Humphry), two of whom wereshot down. These men were AbrahamRussell, about 40 years of ageGook, a young man who lived withhim, and Diah Trafford, about 2 3

years of age. The British advancedrapidly upon them with chargedbayonets. They begged for quarterwhich was refused. Russell was killed

immediately, his head being entirelycut to pieces with cutlasses. Gook diedabout day-light, his bowels wereripped open. Trafford (this is theuncle of Joseph Trafford, the conti-nental), was shot through the leg andseverely wounded in the abdomen bybayonet thrusts he died the next dayabout 10 o'clock, after making somestatements relative to their death.They were all carried in to JosephRussell's house in the morning.

Mr. Macomber says he saw thesemen lying where they were attackedthe next morning before they weretaken up. The sun was up and hewas on his way home, the garrisonforces having dispersed for a fewdays until reinforcements should ar-

rive. These men were carried over to

Dartmouth and buried on the farm of

Jediah Shearman (whose wife wassister to the said Abraham Shearman)a few rods north of the house, wheretheir graves may now be seen. Thefarm is now owned by Philip Gidly,

who purchased it of Samuel Barker.Trafford married Macomber's sister.

The prisoners taken stated whenthey came back that the troops whichlanded on the east side were delayedsome hours in consequence of their

light horse artillery becoming en-tangled in a marsh which lay at theh'='ad of the cove where they landed.This accounts for their delay in mak-ing an attack upon the fort.

On the night following the generalattack a number of barges were dis-

covered coming up the river whichwere fired upon and driven back bythe force which bv this time had as-

sembled at Fairhaven, a detachmenthaving, I think, arrived from How-land's Ferry, and a body of militia

from Middleborough, making severalhundred. It was supposed that theirobject was plunder and that the ex-pedition was not ordered by any of

the general officers.

William Bliss says he was servingat that time at the Ferry. Says troopswere sent for, but they could not bespared and none went. Says he movedto New Bedford about 18 00.

Mr. Macomber further states thathe returned to the fort in two or threadays, as did also the rest of the gar-rison, that he entered the fort on thefirst of March for ten months andstayed until December, completingsaid term.

Also, that Wm. Tallman's fatherwas taken prisoner and he thinksprisoners were taken at Acushnetvillage.

Also, that the American prisonerson their return reported that thewhole force of the British was about5,500. This, I presume, includes thenumber attached to the several ves-sels.

Also, thinks the detachment on hewest side must have nearly reachedthe head of the river before the fortwas evacuated.

Also, that both detachments hadartillery and he heard light horsemen,too.

Also, says Obed Cushman was herewith the militia next day, says he wasin the sloop Providence a while, wnowas all cut to pieces during her last

cruise.Mr. Macomber further says that

Isaac Howland, Sr., stated his loss

in shipping to be $6,000.He thinks the following privateers

were owned, fitted and sailed from

15

here: Sloop Providence ( Stod-dard's father was in her) Fair-field, Revenue, Hornet. Don'tknow how many were in port at thetime.

Mr. Macomber is very intelligentfor a man of his age and has a goodmemory. The facts above stated sofar as they relate to himself, to whattook place on the east side of th«^

river during the night of the landing,what fell under his observations onthe west side relating to the conflagra-tion, and tlie death of the three menwhich he saw in the road where theyfell the next morning, are personallyknown to him, and that tlie otherswere told him on liis return and arvarious times afterwards by those wnosaw them here and by the prisonerswho returned from the British.He states that he cannot be mis-

taken as to a part of the troops land-ing on the east side, that it looks asplain to him as if it was but yesterdayand that the whole scene is constantlyon his mind and before liim.

restored as also his liberty by thegeneral of whom he spoke well.

Statement of Perry Kusscll.

Eldad Tupper and Joseph Castleresided in Dartmouth. They wereTories and were driven out of townby the Alvins. Capt. Elihu Akins,father of Jacob, Abraham, etc., was astrong Whig, in consequence of whichthey joined the British and pilotedthem into Padanaram, They burntCapt. Eliliu Akins's house and a newbrig on the stocks. Inquire of CalebShearman. Don't know whether it wasat the time Bedford was burnt or not.Perry Russell says he has seen Calebwho says they burnt Capt. JamesAkins's and Capt. Elihu Akins's dwel-ling houses and a new brig on thestocks the next morning after theyburnt Bedford. They went in withtwo row-gallies.

Seth Tallman says he can rememberwhen there were but five houses in thevillage but can't tell which they are.

Timothy Tallman.

Says his father's name was Tim,that he was commissary, that on theday of the landing he was at HorseNeck and rode in ^ miles in 45 min-utes, just past the British at the cove.His family had got one load of goodsback to farm-house, rest were destr Dy-ed. His house stood where Barrows'store now is on corner Third an-l

Union. He was afterward taken pri-

soner at farm-house, his knee bucklesand shoe buckles were taken, his

favorite horse taken, but afterward

Caleb Slieaniiaii. 80 years oldMarch 15, 1840. British fleet came upthe bay Saturday afternoon. Sundaymorning several barges came aroundto Padanaram and burnt Elihu Akins'shouse, the father of Abram, a twostory house, standing where Akins'shouse now stands. Also James Akins'shouse, brother of Elihu and fatherof Justin Akins, set on fire, stoodwhere John Rushforth, Sr., stands.Set on fire the Meribah Akins house,called the Stone House. Reuben Smithlived tliere, and his wife (an Irishwoman) put it out several times. Alsoburnt a brig on the stocks ready +olaunch, owned by Elihu Akins.Richard Shearman, reputed father ofNatlianiel Sherman, and Joseph Castleand Elded Tupper were Tories andwent off with the British. The two Qrstwere pilots, (b)

Old Fort, or Russell's Garrison, upwhere Thacher's ship yard was 2-3 theway to head of river—fort oppositewas on the Pardon Sanford lot.

John Hathaway. 8 5 in November,1839, lived in New Bedford since aboy. He was an apprentice to TliomasHathaway, a boat builder who livedon the Nash farm, afterwards moveddown town and lived in James Davis'house whilst building the GideonHowland house. Made whale boats forJoseph Rotch. I was whaling summerbefore the war and arrived home msloop about 7 5 tons, the fall beforethe war was declared. Sloop Friend-ship, Capt. William Claggon. SethRussell, Daniel Smith. William Clag-gon, Joseph Rotch, Joseph Russell.carried on whaling, brought blubber inin scuttled hogsheads, I enlisted in CaptThomas Kempton's (afterwards col-onel) company volunteers and went toBo.ston in May, 1775. Stayed there 8

months. Then came home, joinedmilitia 3 months and served in BostonFebruary, March and April, 1776, an-der Capt. Benjamin Dillingham ofAcushnet. Went on board Privateerbrig Rising Empire, 16 carriage gun.-?

(States vessel) built in Fairhaven.Was in her 4 montlis, she was in com-mission but 2 months. She would netsail. Richard Welden, a Vineyard man,commanded her, took no prizes in her.In fall of 1776 enlisted on board of th.-

sloop Broom, Capt. Welden (the sameas above). Was out only 11 days anitook 3 prizes and brought them in

here, one ship and two brigs, loadedwith sugar, wine and mahogany, rightfrom Jamaica, think these vessels wereall burnt. Took one brig three days outand the other two vessels Ave days

(b) The Rushforth house is in Padanaram, next south of the southeast cornerof Elm and Prospect streets.

16

out, which was Sunday morning, no.

gun fired. Broom had 60 men, 70 or

80 tons. Afterwards the same fall,

went on board sloop Sally, 115 tons:,

of 10 guns and 60 men. FrancisBroom, master of Connecticut, ownedby Broom & Sears of Connecticut,same as owned the Broom. Was onboard the Sally from November, 1776,

to February. 1777, cruising all thetime; took two prizes, one brig andone schooner fisherman which wassent in somewhere to the east, had noengagement. During the cruise fell in

with ship and convoy (of 5 sails in

sight) she was a ship and the 5 sails

escaped. We fought her 1% hours,had no one hurt. He hulled us. shoi;

lodged in blankets in forecastle. Wehauled off to stop leak and she madesail for her convoy. We afterwardswent into Bay of Biscay and dogged aship in night and got close to 64 gunship, 2 decker, called None Such.We didn't think in the night she wasa man-of-war. We made her in thenight. She fired upon us from sunrisetill 8 o'clock and when her shot nearlyreached us we gave ourselves up.She carried us into Plymouth and I

was a prisoner two years and threamonths in mill prison at a place closeby Plymouth, was afterwards at Hav/-land's Ferry.

Dwelling Houses Burnt.Benjamin Taber 2

Leonard Jar vis 1

J. Lowden 1

J. Gerrish 1

W. Claggern 1

V. Childs 1

Jos. Rotch 1

Jos. Rotch, Jr 1

Jos. Russell 1

10ShoiLS, Etc.

Isaac Howland'sDistil-house 1

Cooper's shop 1

Ware houses 3Jos. Russell's

Barn 1Shop 1

Church's shop (shoe) 1

J. R. S.

Store 1Ware house (old) 2

2 shops, small 2

Candlehouse 1

L. Kempton 1

15

Rotch & Jarvis 15Shop 1Warehouse 2

Jos. RotchBarn 1

Chaise house 1

20Rope Walk and 1 houseA. Smith blacksmitli shop.Benjamin Taber's shop.

Ships Burnt, Sept. 1778 by the Briti.shTroops.

Ship Harriet.Ship Mellish (Continental).Ship Fanny French Prize.Ship Heron.Ship Leppard.Ship Spaniard.Ship Caesar.Barque Nanny.Snow, Simeon.Brig Sally (Continental).Brig Rosin.Brig Sally (Fish).Schooner Adventure.Schooner Loyalty (Continental).Sloop Nelly.Sloop Fly (Fish).Sloop, Capt. Lawrence.Schooner Defiance.Schooner, Capt. Jenney.Brig No Duty on Tea.Schooner Sally (Hornet's Prize).Sloop Bowers.Sloop Sally, 12 guns.Brig Ritchie.Brig Dove.Brig Holland.Sloop Joseph R.Sloop Roxiron.Sloop Pilot Fish.Brig Sally.Sloop Retaliation.Sloop J. Browa's.Schooner Eastward.

17

Old Buildings in New BedfordDescribed by Henry Howland Crapo

On the northwest corner of Unionand Sixth streets was a house ownedand occupied by Caleb Greene, themost westerly one at the time, it beingthe present John Bailey house. Greenewas an aootliecary and occupied oneof the stores in the building whii?hwas burnt on the corner of Union andWater streets, near the present shojj ofE. Thornton, Jr. He was the son-in-lawof Joseph Russell, the first man inthe place. His family averaged 21persons.A house owned and occupied bv

Humphrey Howland, situate nexteast of the last, and being the housenow belonging to Wm. Howland, 2d ,

and his mother. He was the son ofIsaac Howland. Sr.. and the brotherof the late Isaac Howland, Jr. He vvasa merchant, tended store occasionally—worked in the candleworks soni=,etc. He was rich.A brick house, owned and occupied

by Isaac Howland, Sr., standing nexteast of the last and where Cheapsideblock now is. He was a merchant andhad two sloops out whaling at thncommencement of the war.A house occupied by Richard Bent-

ley, a Scotchman, being the presentWm. Tobey house on the Northwestcorner of Union and Purchase streets.He owned a little schooner and fol-lowed coasting along shore in her.A house owned and occupied by

Stephen Potter, the husband of LydiaPotter, now living on Kempton street,stood (a) next west of the last anddirectly opposite the Eagle Hotel. Itwas one story and very old at the time.This house was moved to Kemptonstreet. No. 152, and called the HarperHouse. Potter was a journeymanblacksmith.A house built by Elihu Gifford,

father of the present Abraham Gilford,standing west of the preceding. ElihaGifford sold it. Don't know who li\^edin it—it is the Jeremiah Mayhewhouse, now standing (b).A house owned and occupied by

Barney Russell, son of Joseph, stand-ing on the north east corner of Union

and Purchase, occupying the presentsite of the Dr. Reed house. This isthe house now owned by Edward Stet-son, on Purchase street, having beenmoved there. Barney Russell was amerchant. He had three or four sloopswhaling and several West India men.A house owned and occupied by

Joseph Rotch. and now occupied byHannah Case (c).

It was the first house he built aftercoming from Nantucket. He was thegrandfather of the present Wm. Rotch,Jr.. and died in this house. Beforemoving here he examined the depth ofwater in the harbor, etc. He was ashoemaker by trade, but never car-ried it on here. After the village wasburnt he moved to Nantucket, but re-turned again at the close of the war.A liouse occupied by Avery Parker,

as a public house, on the north eastcorner of Bethel and Union streets,being the same in which Snell's fruitshop now is. He was the grandfatherof the present Elisha Parker, was ahouse wright by trade and kept apublic house in this building duringthe war.A two story store standing on the

four corners where Allen Kelly nowkeeps. It was occupied as a varietystore—groceries, dry goods, etc., andwas owned by Seth Russell, senior. Itwas the same building recently stand-ing on Whittemore lot, near his soapworks, and now moved south. (TheRussell store stood on the northwestcorner of Water and Union streets.)A long store one and one-half

stories high, fronting west and occu-pied by Joseph Russell, son of Caleb,senior, who subsequently moved toBoston. He was the half brother ofCaleb, Jr. (Caleb Sr. was the father ofthe present Reuben.) The south partof this building was occupied by Jo-seph Russell, as aforesaid, as a gro-cery store including rum, etc. Thenorth part by Caleb Greene as anapothecary shop. The part next southof the last by Charles Church, shoe-maker. (This building stood on the

(a) On the lot of Eddy building.(b) The east part of the Masonic building stands on this site.(c) Stood on the northwest corner of Union and Bethel streets.

18

THE CALEB GREENE HOUSE.

(See Page 17.)

19

iiiirtheast corner of Water and Unionstreets) and was burnt by the Brit-ish.

A gambrel roofed house, standingwhere the William Russell paint shopnow stands on the northwest cornerof Union and Orange streets, ownedand occupied by Benjamin Taber, Sr.,

(the father of Benjamin Taber, Jr.who removed from Acushnet to Illi-

nois.) Taber was a boat builder andpump and block maker, and his shopstood in the rear, or to the north ofthis house. The latter was burnt bythe British (d).The present dwelling house on the

southwest corner of Fifth and Unionstreets was built and occupied byJohn Wiliams, a saddle and harnessmaker. His shop was adjoining thehouse on the west.The house now occupied by Elisha

W. Kempton, called the West house(e) was built and occupied by Gamal-iel Bryant, Sr., grandfather of thepresent Frederick. He was a house-wright. He sold the house after-wards to Captain Elisha West, whomoved here from Holmes' Hole.A house, being a part of the pres-

ent Eagle Hotel, built by Elihu Gif-ford, who occupied it at histime, but afterwards sold it to IsaacHowland, Jr. Gifford was a housecarpenter by trade, but worked atanything. (Eagle Hotel was on south-west corner of Union and Fourthstreets.)The one-story house now standing

on southeast corner of Unionand Fourth streets, and east of theEagle Hotel, owned and occupied byJohn Atkins, until his death. He wasa cooper by trade, but did not carry it

on since I can remember; he fol-lowed the seas. He was the son-in-law of Caleb Russell, Senior, and thehusband of Peace Akins, whom Gil-bert attempted to carry from JosephRussell's, etc.

The house now standing on thesouthwes* corner of Union and Thirdstreets, the basement being now oc-

i

cupied bj' Noah Clark as a grocery,was occupied and owned by DanielRicketson, father of the present Jo-seph. He was a cooper by trade, andmarried the eldest daughter of Jo-seph Russell.A house on the southeast corner

of Union and Third streets, whereBarrows's store now stands, ownedand occupied by William Tallman,father of the present William. Hewas a merchant tailor, and his shopwas at the corner of Orange andCentre . treets. He owned afarm up north, etc. This houseis the west part of the pres-ent Calvin B. Brooks house (on south-

west corner of Walnut and Waterstreets.A long block of shops, one story

high, opposite the Mansion House,and extending eastward along thesouth side of Union street to Firststreet. They were occupied as a bar-ber's shop, tailor's shop, shoemaker'sshop, etc. The whole block wasburnt by the British.The house on the southwest cor-

ner of Union and South Water streets,being the Martha Hussey building,was owned and occupied by EInathanSamson, who was a blacksmith. Hisshop stood at the west of the house.A house (now occupied by Robert

Taber as a tavern) standing on thesoutheast corner of Union and SouthWater streets, built, owned and oc-cupied by Simeon Nash (father of thepresent Thomas and Simoen), whowas a housewright.A house on the edge of the bank,

standing about where Bates «fe Has-kins paint shop is. owned and occu-pied by William Myricks, who diedin it. He was a cooper and thebrother of Benjamin, who wasdrowned in getting up cannon oppo-site Crow island. They have left noposterity. (It stood on the south sideof Union, about 50 feet west ofFront.A house on Third street (the Phil-

ips house, corner of Third and Mar-ket square), one story high, built andoccupied by Ishmael Tripp, a cooper,and the grandfather of the presentIshmael. It has recently been raisedup two stories and repaired.

A. house in front of the presentdwelling house of William Bliss, onThird street, standing within the pres-ent lines of Third street. This housewas! owned by Joseph Rotch, and occu-pied by Thomas Miles, who was arope-maker and worked for sa-idRotch in his rope-walk, the west endof which was near this house. Milescame from Boston. The house wasburnt by the British (f).A house standing on the site of the

old market, owned and occupied byJoseph Austin, a hatter, whose shopstood on First street, near Union. Thisshop was subsequently bought byWilliam BJiss and formed a part ofhis present dwelling house, (g)The house was moved south to thj

John Coggeshall lot and is the sam-ithat was recently occupied by AlfredKendrick being No. 2 3 South Secondstreet, (h)A house built and occupied by Silas

Sweet, a blacksmith, being the"George Dunham house," and now oc-cupied by Geo. W. Sherman. Swoetsold out and inoved to the state ofNew York, (i)

(d) Orange was the first name of Front street.(e) Next west of Ricketson's block.(f) William Bliss built the smaller house on the west side of Acushnet avenue,the third south of the corner of Russell street.

(g) The old market was the central police station of 190S.(h) Northwest corner of Second and School.(i) Northwest corner Spring and South Second streets.

20

THE AVERY P ARKER HOUSE.

(See Page 17.)

21

A house built and occupied byJames Davis until his death. He wasa tanner and currier. This house stoodon the east side of South Second street,

opposite the Market—had a gambrelroof and is now owned by BethuelPenniman. (j)

A handsome two story house, built,

owned and occupied by Wm. Claggon,master mariner, standing on the westside of Water street, and a little northof the Cory tavern. This house wasburnt by the British, and stood at thehead of Commercial street, next northof the brick house.A house standing obliquely with

Water street, on the west side thereof,at the head of Commercial street "J-nd

partly upon the present site of theCory tavern and partly upon that ofthe Hill house, two story in front andone in rear. This house was built andoccupied by John Louden, formerly ofPembroke. He Was a ship-carpenter,and carried on ship building here. Hisship yard was on the east side ofWater street, northeast from (now)Cole's stable and tavern and betweenWater street and the present Commer-cial and Steam Boat wharves. Loudenkept a public house here at the time.This house was burnt by the British.Louden moved back to Pembroke soonafter the war.A house built and occupied by

David Shepherd, a cooper, standingon South Water street, at the north-west corner of School street, nowstanding and known by the name ofthe "Shepherd House." He carried onmore business (coopering) than anyother person here.The present Gideon Howland House,

three stories high, standing on the hiU,southwest corner of South Water andSchool streets. This house was oc-cupied by Thomas Hathaway, whobuilt it. He was a boat builder subse-quently to the landing of the Britishmoved up to the house, now called the"Nash Hoine." Immeditely after thelanding of the British it was let by-

Mr. Hathaway to one Job Anthony fora rendezvous. The officers of the sloopProvidence and other armed vessels,quartered in a part of this house whenin port, (k)The house built and occupied by

John Howland, the father of the l.tte

Resolved Howland, by his first wifa,the daughter of David Smith, of Dart-mouth, and of John and James How-land by his second wife, the daughte"of David Shepherd. He was both amerchant and mariner. This is tnehouse now occupied by Reliance How-land, No. 45 South Water street (andstood on the west side of Water, nextsouth of the corner of School).The Fitch House, so called, now

standing at the south west corner of

Water and Walnut streets. This housewas built by Joseph Rotch for GriffinBarney, senior, who occupied it at thetime the British troops landed, etc.Griffin Barney, Jr., (the late GriffinBarney) was not married at the timeand lived here with his father. Theelder Griffin was boss of the ropewalks owned by Joseph Rotch (beingthe only ones then in the place) whichwere burned and carried on businessin the same.The brick house, now standing on

South Water street, between Walnutand Madison streets. This house wasbuilt and occupied by Charles Hud-son, (a) a mason who moved after-wards to Newoort, R. I. He built thehouse himself.The James Allen house (d), so called,

standing next south of the last. Don'tknow who built this house (aa)—it is

very old. It was occupied by WallyAdams, the father of the presentThomas. Adams did not own it

—

he occupied it as a boarding house

—

don't know his occupation.The "Wm. Russell house," near the

foot of School street, built bj^ WilliamRussell, Sr., who always lived in it.

He was a cooper and carried on tlie

business a while.A house built and occupied by John

Gerrish, as a public house, standingwhere Cole's tavern now stands. Thiswas burnt by the British. After thewar Gerrish built the present houseon the same cellar. He was a pumpand block maker (b).

A small gambrel roofed house, builtand occupied by John Chaffy, standingon the lot next north of the JohnHowland house, and on the lot after-wards owned by Alex. Howard. Chaffywas a refiner of oil in the candleworksand the first man here at that busi-ness. He stole the art from an English-man. He worked in the candle-housebelonging to Joseph Russell, on Centrestreet whilst he was in company withIsaac Howland. This was all thecandle-house at the time. A shorttime before the British burnt Russell& Howland had some difficulty anddissolved, Russell occupying the oldworks on Centre street and Howlandbuilding, etc. After the fire Chaffywas a constable, (c)

A long building, 1% stories high,standing on the site of the presentyellow store. Commercial wharf. Thewest end of this was occupied as adistillery (to make N. E. rum ofmolasses, etc.) by Isaac Howland, Sr.The east end was occupied by Howlandas a candleworks. This building waserected by Isaac Howland after thedissolution of copartnership betweenhim and Joseph Russell and was thesecond candlehouse in town, etc. This

(j) Next south of southeast corner of Union and Second streets,(k) The Howland house was build about 1795 after Thomas Hathaway hadsold the house that he had erected.

(a) Edward Hudson.(aa) Moses Grinnell, 1778.(b) This house stood on east side of Water street at the foot of Spring.(c) This house stood on the northeast corner of South Water and Commercial

streets.(d) James Allen was a tailor.

22

THE JAMES DAVIS HOUSE.

(See Page 21.)

23

building was burnt by the British to-gether with a large quantity of N. E.rum. Russell being a Quaker was op-posed to distilleries, (d)The house next north of Hannah

Case's and now occupied by WalterChapman built and occupied oyCharles Church, who was drownednear Crow Island, say 30 years ofage. He was a shoemaker, (e)The houae next north of the last

and now occupied by the Rev. Mr.Mudge. It was built and occupied byCol. Edward Pope, the collector whosubsequently sold it to William Hay-den.A small gambrel roofed house stand-

ing upon the present site of the Bethel.It was built by Tim. Ingraham (grandfather of the present Robert), whocommanded the fort. His son, Timothy,the father of Robert, was a barber andhis shop was in the long string ofbuildings or stores, on the south sideof Union street, between Second andP^'irst streets. This house was subse-quently pulled down.The house where Prescott's office

now is—North Water street—wasbuilt by Seth Russell, Sr., and was oc-cupied by widow Doubleday, as al-ready stated. Mr. Russell lived in thishouse before the war. Upon the com-mencement of the war, he moved upto his farm, now owned by TimothyG. Coffin. This house was set on fire

three different times by the Britishsodiers, which was as often extin-guished, in their presence by theheroic Mrs. D. Upon being asked bythem if she were not afraid thus tooppose them, she fearlessly repliedthat she "never saw a man she wasafraid of." This boldness so pleased thesoldiers that they desisted from anyfurther attempt to fire the house,which was accordingly saved, togetherwith a large amount of goods thenstored in the cellai*—liquors, (f)

A house standing next north ofthe last and separate from it by analley. This house was one story andvery old at the time. Don't know whobuilt it. It was occupied during thewar by John Shearman, father of thepresent Thurston Shearman. It was along house with the end to the streetand its front to the aforesaid alley orcourt. John Shearman was a black-smith. The house was called "the oldSeth Russell house."A house next north of the last

standing where the south part of theWilliam H. Allen brick block nowstands. It was built by Daniel Smith,who owned and occupied it. He was atailor and had a small shop on thenorth side of "Main street" nearwhere Nathl. Roger's barber's shopnow is. This shop was not noted

among the buildings on Union street.It was subsequently pulled down.A house next north of the last oc-

cupying the site of the northerly partof the said William H. Allen brickblock. It was built by Abraham Smith,who owned and occupied it. He was ablacksmith and his shop was on thenorth side of Centre street, a few rodseast of Water street. He was the sonof Jonathan Smith, living at the"north end" at this time.A one story, gambrel roofed house,

standing at the north end of the pres-ent Commercial bank—on the hill. Itwas built, owned and occupied byJoseph Rotch. who came from theVineyard. He was a master marinerand was called "Capt. Joseph Rotch."Burnt by British.A large house 2 % or 3 stories high,

standing on the same cellar as thehouse recently occupied and nowowned by William Rotch. Jr. It wasbuilt and owned by Joseph Rotch, thefirst settler. He lived in it after heleft his old home, where Harriet Casenow lives .as already stated; but atthe time of the British landing, heresided, Mr. Gilbert thinks, at Nan-tucket. The house at this time was oc-cupied by Joseph Aiistin, a hatter,who carried on the hatting businessin a shop on Union street, which nowforms a part of William Bliss' house,on Third street, (g)A house standing on North Water

street, on the north side of the lotoccupied by the late Samuel Rodman,and near the edge of the bank betweenthis lot and the present Benj. Rodmanlot. It was built by James Smith, whooccupied it—and was pulled downsome 20 years since. Mr. Smith wasa cooper and "carried on the busi-ness." Some say this is the "oldesthouse, etc." but Gilbert says theLoudon house is the oldest. James B.Congdon says this house was built byhis grand-father, Benj. Taber, etc. (h)A large, woolen, one story building

standing partly where Mark B. Pal-mer's shop now is, and thence extend-ing easterly to the "Horton BakeHouse." This was built by JosephRussell and occupied as a candle-house by him and Isaac Howland, whowere in company during the com-mencement of the war. But havingsome little difficulty they dissolved,upon which Isaac built the other,which he had occupied as a distillei-yand candleworks, but a short timewhen it was burnt by the British asbefore stated. This was the first candleworks in town, and was occupied byJos. Russell after the dissolution ofcopartnership, (i)

A cooper's shop stood at the south-east corner of the last and belongedto Joseph Russell.

i } m,stone block on north side of Commercial street is on the above site.

(e) The Case house stood on the northwest corner of Union and Bethel.(f) At this date Judge Prescott's ofRce was on the west side of North Water

street next to the corner of Union.(g) The Rotch house stood on the southwest corner of "Water and William

streets. It is now the Mariners' Home on Bethel street, presented to the PortSociety by Mrs. James Arnold, daughter of William Rotch, Jr., in 1S51, andmoved to its present location.

(h) The Rodman house stood on the northwest corner of Water and Williamstreets,

(i) It was located on the south side of Centre street half way between Waterand Front.

r"~"

24

THE GEORGE EAST HOUSE.

(See Page 2 5.)

25

A boat builder's shop, standing uponthe present site of the store now oc-cupied by Daniel Perry, extendingfrom the house on the corner north-erly to where Joseph Taber's shopnow stands. It was a long building setin the bank two stories in front andone in rear. The first story was oc-cupied as a pump and block maker'sshop, and the second story as a boat-builder's shop, which was long en-ough to set up three boats in a string.The whole was carried on by Benj.Taber, Sr., who lived in the house ad-joining on the corner where the paintshop now stands. It was located onthe west side of Front next north ofthe corner of Union, (j)A two story wooden store, standing

on the present corner of Orange andCentre streets, and where the WilliamTallman brick store now is. It wasbuilt by William Tallman, Sr., andoccupied by him as a grocery store inthe first story, and as a merchanttailor's store in the second story.A store standing east of the last

and where Orange street now runs,built and occupied by Joseph Russell.The front was two stories and the rearone. It stood into the bank of rock.The first story was occupied as agrocery and the second as a dry-goodsstore, and the whole was carried onby his son, Gilbert. This was burnt

—

goods principally saved. Some powderhaving been left it blew up with agreat report. No one hurt.The "Try works," a building one

story high—a sort of shed, etc., stoodin front of the Joseph Russell houseand nearly at the intersection of thepresent Orange and Centre streets,leaving a pas-way between it and thelast. This belonged to Joseph Rus-sell and was used for trying out blub-ber, which was "brought in", in skut-tled hogsheads, in small vessels. Rus-sell was the only person who carriedon the whaling business before thewar.Think Russell had no vessel south

of the Gulf Stream before the war.Try works burnt by British.The Joseph Rotch store stood some-

where, Mr. Gilbert thinks, near theeast end of the present Andrew Robe-son's candle works—but he cannotsay exactly where. Joseph Rotchowned several vessels. Store burnt bythe British, (a)The present Silas Kempton house,

at southwest corner of North Secondand Elm streets. It then stood in thepasture, or meadow. It was built andoccupied by his father, ManassahKempton, who was a shipwright.A house standing on the present

High street, and a little to the westof the late Benjamin Kempton houseat the corner of High and North Sec-

ond street. This was an old one-storyhouse and was built by Benj. Kemp-ton, senior, father of the late Ben-jamin Kempton. He was a caulker.This was one of the Asa Smith build-ings of Ark memory—that is, it wasmoved east of William Ellis's houseand burnt with the Ark. The Arkwas the merchant brig, Indian Chief.House owned, occupied and built

by Benjamin Butler, standing on theeast side of Clarks Neck. Only houseon the Point. Same house which Ju-dah Butler now lives in, and Benjaminwas the father of Judah and he wasa cooper, (b)A house standing at the present foot

of Mill street on Ray street, east side,two-story house. Built by GeorgeEast, who occupied it at that timeand until his death. He was a ma-son and came from Rhode Island, (c)House standing where Third street

now runs, immediately in front ofthe house where William Bliss nowlives, (d)

It was two stories and stood nearthe rope walk which occupied what is

now Morgans Lane. The house inwhich Mr. Bliss now lives, or a partof it, was a hatter's shop and stoodnear the "four corners." This wasfirst moved on the cellar of the abovehouse, but subsequently, on the lay-ing out of Third street, moved backto its present site. In this shop JohnCoggeshall. Caleb Congdon and Cor-nelius Grinnell learned the hatter'strade. The shingles on the north endof this house were put on before theRevolution.The long one-story house built,

owned and occupied until he died, byJonathan Smith, stood next south ofthe present (e) Amos Simmons storeon North Second street. He was thegrandfather of Asa Smith. He was ablacksmith and his shop stood southof his house and where Jacob Par-ker now lives. This house was movedup to Nigger Town and is now cutin two and makes the two WilliamReed's houses west of Dudleys, (f)

The two-story house corner ofNorth Second and North street, nowoccupied by Amos Simmons. Thiswas built, owned and occupied byJonathan Russell, a cooper, who car-ried on cooping in the cellar. He wasthe brother of old William Russell.They came from Nantucket. (Housenow standing on northeast corner.)A one-story house built by George

Glaggon, a shipwright, standing righteast of the last house, fronting to thewest. It is a part of the present housenow standing there (the southwestpart), now belonging to Andrew Robe-son. This gentleman was a colonelin the Revolutionary Continental ariny.After the war he was employed as

(J) iM'ont street was originally named Orange. Joseph Taber's shop is thestone building on the west side of Front street at the corner of Rose alley.

(a) The Robeson candle works was the stone building on east side of Waterstreet corner of Rodman street.

(b) Standing on the south side of Butler street now East French avenue.(c) Ray street is now Acushnet avenue.(d) The third house on the west side of Acushnet avenue south of Russell street.(e) This stood near North street.(f) This was Chepachet.

26

THE JAMES ALL,EN HOUSE.(See Page 27.)

27

head boss of the yard to build thefrig-ate Constitution and for that pur-pose moved his whole family to Bos-ton. He subsequently moved backagain and after moved to Rehoboth.Peter Lewis's wife of this town washis daughter. Building the Constitu-tion spoilt him.A house now belonging to and occu-

pied by Susan Maxfield, standing onthe northwest corner of North Secondand North streets. It was built byPatrick Maxfleld, the son of TimothyMaxfield, Sr., who lived in Dart-mouth. Patrick was a master marinerand uncle of the present HumphreyMaxfield. He has no posterity.

A house on southwest corner ofNorth Second and Maxfield streets, thepresent Humphrey Maxfleld house. It

was built bj' Zadoc Maxfield, whoowned and occupied it. He was acooper and worked in under part ofit, where his son did. Humphrey washis youngest son.A one-story house on southwest cor-

ner of Ray and North streets, nowowned and occupied by James Bates.This was built, owned and occupiedby Jabez Hammond, Sr. He was acooper and worked in cellar or base-ment part of it. He was father toJohn Gilbert's wife and came fromMattapoisett. Old John Chace's wifewas this man's sister, making JohnGilbert's wife own cousin to my grand-mother.A one-story house on the west side

of Ray street, now standing and oc-cupied by Asa Dillingham, (on thenorthwest corner of Ray and Max-fleld.) Don't know who built it.

James Chandler owned and occupiedit. He was an Englishman. He wasthe grandfather of Thomas R. Chand-ler, who lived with William Rotch. Hewas a shoemaker and worked in base-ment. He was a soldier during thewar.A small house now standing on Ray

street and next north of the last. Itwas built, owned and occupied byThomas West, a very old man at thetime and did not work. Think he wasthe grandfather of John P. West.A small one-story house standing

west of the last (being the house onPurchase street below the bank). It

was built by Simeon Price, Sr., fatherof the present Simeon. He lived init and owned it. He was a cooper, I

think. (1)

A two-story house in front andone-story in rear, on southeast cor-ner County and Cove streets, front-ing south and standing on the samecellar as the present Cove House. Wasbuilt by Benjaiuin Allen, grandfatherof the present Humphrey Allen. Hewas a farmer. This house was af-terwards pulled down.

The present Timothy Akin's house.This was built, owned and occupied byCaleb Russell, Jr., the father of Reu-ben. He was a cooper, but followedfarming during the war. (It stoodon northwest corner County andRockland streets.)The house west of the Seth Rus-

sell new house and now occupied byIchabod Coggeshall, was built, occu-pied and owned by old Caleb Russell.He was a farmer. (It was on thenorthwest corner County and Wash-ington streets.)

A house on the corner of County andAllen, the present Ezekiel Tripp house.This was built, owned and occupied byJames Allen, a farmer called "LazyJim," father of Abram and John. (Itwas opposite the Methodist church.)A small shop standing on the cor-

ner of South Second and Union streets,where William Tallman's house nowis. It was a dry goods store and oc-cupied by them. Gilbert thinks it nothere till after the fire. This shop for-merly stood at the Tallman farm, wasmoved down here and afterwardsmoved back to the farm, and thencemoved to east side Ray street, wherethe d>e establishment now is, andwas then torn down and burnt up.A house standing on west side

County street and near the presentresidence of Joseph Grinnell. It wastwo stories and was built and ownedby Jonathan Smith, who lived onNorth Second street, as above stated.Don't know who lived in it. (g)An old house standing near where

William R. Rotch's house now is, twostories in front and one in rear, front-ing south. John Akins occupied it.

He was a. cooper, but followed theseas,—master. The house belonged toJoseph Russell and was built by hisfather, whose name I think was Jo-seph and who was not living duringthe war. This was his homestead,one of the very oldest houses here,(h)The house of Joseph Russell stood

southeast of Charles W. Morgan's onthe corner of County and Morganstreets, and is now owned by WilliamRead, who moved it, as before stated.It was built by Colonel Samuel Wil-lis, a colonel in the French war, whowas the father of Ebenezer, who livedby John A. Parker's present house.The son Ebenezer was a major in themilitia in the first of the war. Hewas uncle to Pamelia Willis, nowliving, who was the daughter of Ji-reh Willis.

The Russell house was the head-quarters of all gentlemen and troopsduring the war. There was no othersuitable house for gentlemen to putup at. There were in the place threetaverns, but they were rough places.

(1) Demolished this winter, stood on site of new rink.(g) This was at the head of liussell street.(h) This stood on west side of County street at head of Walnut street.

28

THE BENJAMIN BUTLER HOUSE.

(See Page 2 5.)

29

A house near Kempton's corner, onwest side County street, now occu-pied by Sylvia Hill, sister of ObedKempton and married Captain Ben-jamin Hill, Sr. This house was built,

occupied and owned by Eph. Kemp-ton, father of said Sylvia, who died in

it. He was a shipwright and a caulk-er. The house was two stories in

front and one in the rear, (and stoodon northwest corner Kempton street).A house standing on the west side

of County street and a little north ofthe David Kempton house, at thehead of North street, two stories infront and one in rear. Eph. Kemp-ton, 2nd, owned in and lived in it.

He was a farmer. Don't know theconnection between him and Eph.Kempton, Sr. He was the father ofthe present Eph. Kempton.A house standing on Walden street,

two stories in the front, west sidestuccoed (think John Burgess lives init). It was built by Colonel ThomasKempton, in the Revolutionary army.He occupied it till his death. Heserved through the war. He wasbrother to Eph. Kempton, 2nd.An old house standing a little west

of where John Avery Parker's housenow stands, large two-story house. Itwas built by Ebenezer Willis, Sr., thecolonel in the French war, and his sonEbenezer occupied it, and kept a pub-lic house in it. Probate courts were

held in it. It was burnt during thewar, but not by the English. It tookfire from an old woman's pipe, a coalfalling into some flax. A house wasafterwards built by Ebenezer, Jr., onthe same .spot, which was recentlymoved onto Purchase street. Eben-ezer, Sr. and Jr., were both farmers.Ebenezer, Jr., was a major in the mi-litia in the first part of the war.Think this was the only fire beforeAbram Russell's.

(Note: There is an error in thisaccount. The first house was builtby Colonel Samuel Willis, who diedin 1765 and left the north third partof his farm between Franklin andLinden streets to his son Jireh, assuggested in the next paragraph, andthe remainder to his son, Major Eben-ezer Willis. Neither had any sons.)A house standing at the crotch of

the County road and Perry's Neckroad and north of Robeson's newhouse, called the old Willis house. Itwas occupied by Jireh Willis, a law-j'er, and I think the only lawyer inthe place. It was entailed, etc., saidJireh owning a life estate. Think it

was built by his father, Ebenezer Wil-lis. Sr. (j)The Benjamin Rodinan farm house

on Purchase street, built, owned andoccupied by Samuel West, father ofStephen West, the pound-keeper. Hewas a farmer, (k)

(i) Next south of St. Lawrence church.(j) His father was Samuel and the house was on the northwest corner ofCounty and Robeson street. Robeson's house was the stone dwelling ownedlater by Dr. H. M. Dexter,

(k) It stood near the southwest corner of Purchase and Weld streets.

I wish no other—but such an honest chronicler."

Shakspere.

OLD DARTMOUTH^HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 24.

Being the proceedings of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Old Dartmouth

Historical Society, held in their building, Water street, New Bedford,

Massachusetts, on March 27, 1 909, aiid containing the following reports:

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THESECTION

DIRECTORS William Arthur Wing

TREASURER William A. Mackie

MUSEUM SECTION Annie Seabury Wood

HISTORICAL RESEARCHHenry B. Worth

REPORT OF THE PUBLICATION SECTIONWilliam Arthur Wing

REPORT OF THE PHOTOGRAPH SECTIONWilliam Arthur Wing

REPORT OF THE EDUCATION SECTION Elizabeth Watson

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR liUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

MARCH 27, 1009.

The sixth annual meeting of the OUTDartmouth Historical society was heldMarch 2 7, at the building of the or-ganization.

The following officers were elected:

President—Edmund Wood.Vice Presidents—George H. Tripp

Henry B. Worth.Treasurer—William A. Mackie.Secretary—William A. Wing.Directors (for three years)—Mrs.

Clement N. Swift, Henry H. Rogers,Ellis L. Howland.President Wood's address was as

follows:

The Old Dartmouth Historical so-ciety might, with accuracy, be de-scribed as that society which, whiledevoting itself almost wholly to deadmen and dead things, is itself verymuch alive. The past may be mouldyand the people dusty, yet to us theyare full of a lively interest.

The histor.v of this townshiiJ andthe study of the lives and charactersof its worthies still continue to at-tract us, and as we pass on tonight

to another year of the sociL't^'s life

we are impressed not witli our ac-complishments, but with the small-ness of the corner of this great fieldwhich we have already tilled.

But we have some good workersamong us, who are delving into theunexplored corners of our past withrich results, and we begin to havefaith in the old prophecy as it ap-plies to Old Dartmouth—'there is

nothing covered which shall not berevealed, neither hid that shall notbo known.'The most notable results of the

past year are the revelations con-tained in that most remarkable col-lection of historical facts found in themanuscripts of our former townsman,the Hon. Henry H. Crapo. It is im-possible to overestimate the value andimportance of these new contribu-tions to our knowledge. I will notreview them, for you have all readthem as they appeared regularl.v in

the columns of our morning news-IJaper. They had been clearly ar-ranged and annotated by the chair-man of our research committee, Mr.Worth.

f)tlier juipiTs, of great interest andvalue, have been prepared and readat the several meetings duiing theyear, and these all have appeared in

the printed bulletins of the society.

We have continued to enjoy ourrichest life in this new convenienthome, which is constantly beina: orna-mented and made more instructive bythe enthusiastic work of our museumcommittee and by the liberal gifts ofour members and friends. More andmore as time passes individuals cometo realize that this is the appropriateand fitting home for their own an-cesti'al treasures. Here thev are fit-

tingly displayed, with the names ofthe donors, and here they are .studied,

admired and appreciated by hundredsof sympathetic visitors.

It isn't often that a building erect-ted for business offices lends itself sograciously to the uses of new tenantswith different aims and purposes.When we entered in upon the enjoy-ment of this gift we found alreadyerected in the vestibule two marblememorial tablets waiting to be suit-

ably inscribed with appropriate le-

gends. These have lately been pre-pared, and tonight you have beenproperly received and guided at ourportal.

On one of these tablets the visitor

can read:

"On this site in 1803 was erectedthe building of the Bedford bank, thefirst financial institution of Bristolcounty. Here for nearly a century,in the centre of the mercantile andcommercial activity of New Bedford,the banking business was conducted."On the other tablet is the follow-

ing:•'Old Dartmouth Historical society,

incorporated 1903. This building waserected by the National Bank of Com-merce, 1884. Donated to the society,1906."

In the early history of thesettlers in this region we can well im-agine that living was quite primitive.The struggle with an ungenerous soil

and a rigorous climate was real andunremitting and the venturous voy-ages in small vessels were full of hard-ship. It would not be expected in thosefirst 100 years that the arts andsciences would find a footing—or thatthe softer side of our nature wouldreceive much nourishment. But it is

sure that as whaling developed intoa leading industry—and as the voy-ages extended to foreign seas and un-civilized islands the fireside tales ofour ancestors were full of romanceand the imaginations of the youthwere richly fed and sufficiently excited.Soon the commerce which had to fol-low the world wide demand for theoil, broadened the horizon and gave

abundant mental stimulus to the largerportion of this whole community.Now were born conditions in which

literature and art might find a fitting

soil and take root. Whether it ma-tured and flourished or not dependedin large measure whether the bud-ding artistic imagination encounteredthe cooling and quieting winds ofDartmouth Quakerism. Art must thenbe colorless and the imaginationchastened and subdued. No one sinceever know the flaming red buds ofpoetic and artistic promise born andfostered by the extreme romanticismof family travel and adventure whichfaded into gray with the maturer ex-ample and teaching of friendly en-vironment.

But some found a stimulating at-mosphere and landscapes in whichnature's brilliant coloring was recog-nized and admired.

Fairl.\- early In the last century ourcaptains brought home oil portraits ofthemselves painted abroad and soonwe had native talent attempting severeportraiture. It was not long beforethese local painters felt the strongerand more romantic call of the sea

—

and of the life of those who go downto it in ships, and we begin to findsketches of the shore and ships, thewharves and the boats.

At last some sailor himself be-comes tlie artist—or the artist goes avoyage for the experience, and thenwe have a portrayal of the actual ex-citements of hunting the whale—thechase, the harpooning and the cap-ture. The most spirited illustrations ofwhaling as a sport, and the most ac-curate Eire found among the some-times crude etchings on whale's teeth.Some of these are remarkable repre-sentations, and many valuable speci-mens can be found in our collectionsnow in this building.

It often happened on ship-boardthat the member of the crew who de-veloped a talent for drawing becamea favored individual who was relievedfrom standing watch and worked dur-ing the day in carving or etching inivory for the captain—or pricking inIndia ink a spirited sketch of a whale'sdying flurry upon the bared forearm ofa mate.The first local artist who produced

finished pictures of actual scenes ofwhaling was Benjamin Russell of NewBedford. Some of his best pictureshave been lithographed and thus givena wide circulation. Some of the mostpopular of these were entitled "TheChase," "The Capture," "A Ship on theNorthwest Coast Cutting in Her LastRight Whale," "Whaling in all its

Varieties."Mr. Wood said that Russell's pano-

rama of a whaling voyage was still in

existence in this city, and expressedthe hope that it might be revived fora presentation before the members ofthe society.

Last year, many years after Ben-jamin Russell's death, continued thespeaker, three of his original fin-

ished drawings came into the marketand were held at prices which wouldhave delighted and flattered the artist

during his life time. One of these pic-tures has been purchased by W. W.Crapo, and presented to the society.

It is one which perhaps has the mostinterest as a picture to hang in a his-

torical society. The scenes representedby the artist is the burning of thewhale ships by the Shenandoah. Sun-day we shall have read in this room apaper on the events which led up to

the court of the Alabama claims—

a

mo.st interesting and exciting chapterin this city's history. Then, with thatrecounting we shall realize the his-torical value of this picture—and thetrue appreciationof its value, and theforesight on its liberal donor.

Benjamin Russell was a gooddraughtsman and remarkably well in-formed on the details of the subjectswhich he painted. He had not muchknowledge of technique or of values,but his composition was excellent.His painting of water is never artistic.But he was inspired in his art by thoartistic value of the familiar scenesconnected with his native city and hehas represented with fidelity andtalent scenes and events which wereunique at the time and which makehis work of unusual value to the stu-dents of Old Dartmouth historv.

Report of the Directors

By William Arthur Wing

The Old Dartmouth Historical so-ciety again greets its members at its

sixth annual meeting, the third heldin its t:>eautifu.l home.

During the past year your sec-retary has as usual kept in touch withvarious other historical societies, an-cient and of highest standing, andwishes to express not only his pleasurebut gratitude to them for the cour-tesies and cordial recognition extend-ed to this society, and to him. Ourmethods have been the subject ofhearty commendation and approval in

many ways most gratifying—and we,too, have much to learn from themand may well follow in their footstepsin many directions.

There is only one—it hardly canbe called unpleasantness, rather an in-con\-enience—and it seems to obtain inmost historical societies—carelessnessaliout paying annual dues (only $1 a.vear), and no society offers inore at-tractions than this.

Every membership card containsthe legend, prominently placed: "Readthis card carefully and keep it as a re-ceipt." If you will only heed this tothe letter, you can always tell whenyour membership money is due, andpay accordingly. Notice in regard todues is placed on the postal notices of

each quarterh' meeting—"lest we for-get."New members are joining, liut

death claims from our ranks these,whom we shall ever hold

—

In Memoriam—Elizabeth WilliamsBraley, Albion Turner Brownell, \Vm.H. Carney, H. Wilder Emerson, MyraNorton Haskins, John Jay Hicks, DrFrederic H Hooper, Frederick N. Gif-ford. Frederic Sumner Potter, Mrs.Alfred N\e, Helen Howland Pres-cott (a life member), Eleanor Mas-ters Read, Dr. John Cook Shaw. Han-nah Mary Stowe, George HowlandWady, Martha Jefferson Waite (a life

member), William Ricketson Wing.The executive board have met as

occasion required. The secretary will

always gratefully remember one suchmeeting so full of kindly fellowshipand cordial appreciation of hisservices. A recent writer has aptl.v

expressed our feelings, in sa>ing: "It

is commendable to cherish the hometowns among the home-people. If

there were shrines at such places wewnuld visit them. There is an urgencyto recognize shrines."

Respectfully submitted,

William Arthur Wing,Secretary.

Report of the Treasurer

By William A. Mackie

Tlie treasurer's report was presentedby William A. Mackie, as follows:

"William A. Mackie, treasurer in ac-count, with Old Dartmouth Historicalsociety:

Dr.March 26. 190S.To Balance, $624. SG

Dife memberships, 175.00Annual dues, TO.'i.OO

Income, N. B. Lyceum fund, 129.00Memberships, 57.00Museum, 125.00Rebate tax, 50.44Publications. 22.40

$1,838.70

Cr.By museum.

Salaries,Labor,Repairs and improvements.Current expenses,N. B. Inst, for Sav. Life Mem.Balance,

$51.40300.00279.27225.37464.64175.00383.02

51,888.70

Respectfully submitted.

WM. A. MACKIE, Treas

Report of the Museum Section

By Annie Seabury Wood

The report of the museum sectionwas presented by Mrs. Anna SeaburyWood, as follows:

The museum section herewith pre-sents its fiftli annual report. At thefirst meeting of the section lield dur-ing the year just closing we foundthat we had in our possession a fundwliich had accrued from entertain-ments and teas held the previous yearamounting approximately to $140.The existence of this fund made tlie

creation of a new officer necessary,and to fill that office Miss FlorenceL. W^aite was elected treasurer. Thegreater part of the money has beenexpended for cases to hold the variousexhibits of the society.We point with especial pride to

the cases in the main room, the costof which was $150. Of this amount$75 was paid from the fund of themuseum section, $25 from the fund ofthe society, and $50 was contributedby Mr. Oliver F. Brown. We takethis occasion to make public acknowl-edgment of his kindness.The balance in our treasury at

present is extremely small, and it is

hoped that it may be substantially in-creased by an entertainment to begiven in the Unitarian chapel on Pa-triots' Day, the 19th of April. Theentortainm(>nt is to consist of a seriesof historic tableaux, whicli should beof interest to all memliers f)f the so-

ciety and to all lovers of Old Dart-mouth.

in addition to the regular teasheld as usual each month through the\\inter, the entertainment committeehas managed successfully an exhibi-tion of old prints, rare books andbook plates, an exhibition of oldchina and a 'Breton Afternoon,' whenMrs. Clement N. Swift, in Bre'on cos-tume, read two delightful storieswritten by Clement N. Swift.

We consider that the work of thiscommittee has always playeci an im-portant part in arousing and main-taining public interest in the society,and we acknowledge with gratitudethe services rendered by the com-mittee for 1908-1909: Miss Mary E.Bradford, Miss Elizabeth H. Swift.Mrs. Clement N. Swift. Mrs. HerbertE. Cushman. Miss Mary K. Taber andMrs. Edmund Wood. The last of theteas given under their auspices willbe held on Saturday. April 3, and Sat-urday, May 1.

During the year tlie value of themuseum itself has been increased bymany notable acquisitions, the enum-eration of which would be well-nighimpossible. The largest collectionwhich has been added is one broughtfrom the Philippines and loaned byDr. Frederick A. Washburn. We arepromised for the coming year theloan of a very good Alaskan collec-

tion, which, in addition to the onewe have already, should make ourAlaskan room one of the best-equipped in the museum.We congratulate ourselves that

more portraits are finding their wayto us, and pictures, some of them ofhistoric interest and some the workof famous Old Dartmouth artists. Nowand then pieces of rare old china areentrusted tc our keeping, and bits ofivory, carved into curious shapes andpolished by the skilful fingers of deadand forgotten seamen, are gatheredin for us by our chairman, FrankWood, or by Nathan C. Hathaway,who are always awake to theirbeauty.

Photographs and colonial relicsarouse the especial enthusiasm of Wil-liam A. Wing, and his aid in arrang-ing and caring for all our exhibits

is simply invaluable. And so wehave grown into a museum to loveand be proud of—a museum whichadds dignity to our city of New Bed-ford.We have inany ambitions for the

coming years, some of them perhapsnever to be realized; but two thingsit is safe to say here we are prom-ising ourselves to do—one, to makeour whaling exhibit as concise andcomplete as possible; the other, so toarrange and mark it as to make it ofthe greatest possible benefit in aneducational way to our own peooleand to the many visitors, for whoin it

is the thing of all others in our mu-seum whicli they most desire to see."

Ilespectfvilly submitted,

Annie Seabury Wood,Chairman.

Report of the Historical Research Section

By Henry B.Worth

The method of many people inpreparing historical works is to con-sult all possible books, make copi-ous extracts therefrom, and then in-terview all old people and pour to-gether the combined results and pre-sent the aggregation as history. Com-pilations from printed works merelyrearrange what is already preparedand add nothing to the store of his-torical knowledge, and often pro-duce mischievous results by copyingthe errors of former writers and per-petuating these mistakes.

The testimony- of old persons asto facts which have come within therange of their observation comprisean impoUant contribution to theamount of historical knowledge andshould not be under-estimated. A no-table example is a recent publicationof this society of the labors of HenryH. Crapo, but the value of that workwas largely due to the skilful man-ner in which the witnesses were in-terrogated and the results of their in-terviews stated. If the same menhad been questioned by a less care-ful investigator, the results might havehad no value. Dr. Leonard W. Bacononce said that he never stated a factof history unless he had verified it

by his own investigation. This re-mark was quoted to him a few months

before his death and his character-istic reply is worth preserving: 'Yes.that is a very good rule if you don'twant to be contradicted.'

But original sources var.\' accord-ing to the subject under investiga-tion. It may be an old Bible, a grave-stone, an account book, letter, log-book, report, public record, will ordeed. The cardinal rule followed bythe courts of law is that written state-ments to be entitled to credit shouldbe made at the time of the event bysome person acquainted with the factswith no purpose to mislead or deceive.This involves several requirements,and one of the most important is thatthe individual shall be known. Un-signed statements are always opento the objection that there is no wayto judge of their accuracy by know-ing the author. This is one of thedefects in a very highly respectedclass of records, viz.: entries in oldBibles and inscriptions on tomb-numerous patriotic and historical so-cieties, like the Mayflower Descend-ants, Colonial Dames, Sons and Daugh-ters of the Revolution. In some cir-

cles it is considered a high honorstones. At the present time there areto gain admission thereto, and soeager are many persons that they will

furnish money without limit to obtain

the prize. The temptation has led to

the fabrication of pedigrees and gene-alogies and the production of fictitious

evidence to comply with the require-ments. It would be entirely possibleto place an entry in an old Bible, orto cut some inscription on a tombtsonewith the expectation that the fraudwould not be detected.

In the old cemetery at the Headof the River at the grave of Dr. Westis a tine marble stone. The original

inscription was no doubt contem-poraneous with his death, and is onthe face of the stone; but in one ofthe lower corners near the ground,in recent cutting, will be found thewords 'See other side.' On the northside of the stone, also in recent cut-ting, will be found the statement thatone Captain Francis West, the brotherof the third Lord Delaware, came fromEngland to Virginia in 1608; he hada son, not named, w^ho had a sonThomas, a physician, who had a son,Sackfield, and Samuel West, D. D..

v^as son of Sackfield West of Yar-mouth.

It is not the precent purpose to

state the objections that have beenpresented to this pedigree, but to call

attention to the fact that here is acase where years after the death ol

Dr. West and the erection of the tab-let, some person not known, inspiredby a motive not apparent, has placeda modern inscription on the old tab-let, and when it is considered thatthe statements could be preservedin many other ways equally perma-nent, the query arises as to the ob-ject of the person who resorted to this

singular performance.In a burial lot in Freetown near

the Acushnet line are some slatestones erected a few years ago, havingseveral names on each; the purposebeing to preserve the names of someof the family who might have beenburied in that lot; but if in the futurethe inscriptions on these stones aretaken as historic evidence. sometroublesome discrepancies might bediscovered between them and authen-tic records. Within a short time apublished account has appeared relat-ing to a stone in the Rochester ceme-tery commemorating the deaths ofElnathan Haskell and his son,Nathan. The facts stated on this stoneare in serious conflict with contempo-rary records, and somewhere there is

a mistake. The most reasonable ex-l)lanation is that the confusion wasoccasioned by the person who erectedthe gravestone, who may have hadinformation of the facts stated. Thusthe opi)ortunities for fraud, as well asmistake, are much greater than mightbe supposed, and the most stringentproofs are now being insisted upon by

the above-mentioned societies beforeapplications are accepted. These re-quirements are fully met in the recordsof wills and deeds and for the pur-pose of local history they furnish thesurest basis.

Ultimately all history is only arecord of the doings of mankind. Landis the most important thing to menoutside of themselves; and conse-quently history is practically whatmen have done concerning land. Allwars have their origin, progress andtermination over questions of terri-tory. Every conflict between nationsrelates to, or involves land, and is de-termined by the peculiarity of the re-gion over which the war is fought.Land transactions, therefore, in full

and complete details, comprise thewhole of the world's history, andform the basis of all that is real andcertain in historical information, notonl.v concerning states but equallytrue of individuals. In the first placeevery document is signed by some per-son interested, and in the regularcourse of events is presented to apublic official for record, and takesits place am^ ng other documents ofthat date as a usual and regular pro-ceeding.

This kind of historical evidencebecomes of the greatest value in thisregion because of the dominant con-trol of the Society of Friends duringthe first two centuries after its settle-ment. In relation to religion, educa-tion, politics and social customs thissect firml.v impressed its principles onthis community. In 1851, for the first

time, the New England yearly meetingpermitted memorial tablets to beplaced in burial places. Before thatdate none were allowed in any Quakercemetery, and so subservient were theother inhabitants of Dartmouth, notaffiliated wnth the Friends' ineeting. tothe principles of that society thatthere have not been found west ofthe Acushnet river as many as tenmemorial tablets bearing a dateearlier than 1800. The adoption of thissame principle led to another result:the records of Dartmouth, of mar-riages, births and deaths are asmeagre as in any town in the state.It was considered an exhibition ofvanity to preserve the history of in-dividuals in either of these ways;therefore the forefathers of Dart-mouth lie in unknown and unmarkedgraves, and the information generallypresented in stone has been irre-trievably lost.

In colonial days it was customaryfor each man to own his own home-stead and this was transferred, at orbefore his death, to the members ofhis family. So the land records willoften chronicle numerous facts as to

what land was his home, who was hiswife, and what were the names of themembers of his family. In all suchmatters the fullest credit may begiven to the statements in deeds andwills.A few extracts selected from land

transfers, relating to the village ofPadanaram, will serve as illustrations:In a deed in 1S16 from PatienceSmalley mention is made of theschoolhouse lot, the record of whichcannot be found, but from this deed,and from those of surrounding tractsit is possible to prove that as earlyas 1806 a schoolhouse stood near thecorner of School and High streets. Adeed from John Wing in 174 3 estab-lishes the fact that James Akin hada tan-house about 400 feet east of thebridge.The name "Padanaram' was first

used in a deed from David Thatcher,in April, 1818. In 1800, John Ricketsonwho owned the Neck, divided his es-tate between his sons, Henry andClark, and refers to his brother, Ben-jamin. The division of the land ofElihu Akin in 1796 indicates that hisfive sons were Ebenezer, John, Jacob,Joseph and Abraham.

In 1818, Laban Thatcher conveyedto William Thatcher, Sylvanus Bart-lett and George Parker, deacons ofthe Congregational church, land for ameeting house. The Baptist churchstands upon a lot purchased in 18 30,from Reuben and Anna Russell Ijy

the church committee, consisting ofAnthony and Archelaus Baker. Thechurch at the Head of Apponegansettstarted in 1838, when the lot waspurchased by the trustees of theMethodist Episcopal church, JirehSherman, Stephen Sherinan, EzraBaker, Richard Macomber, Elihu Gif-ford. Barker Cushman and StephenBrownell. The location of the famousGarrison lot on the Russell farm, canbe determined from ancient deeds.Abraham Sherman, who died in

1772, was a trader and proprietor ofa store at the head of Apponegansett,and in the inventory of his estate is

the following item: 'A gun which is

said once killed an Indian across Ap-ponagansett river from ye old Castleon Russell's land to Heathen Neck.'Heath's Neck, as it is later called, is

the location of the dwelling of thelate Dr. Gordon, and in recent yearsof Captain Charles Schultz.The land records of Plymouth

prove that the John Alden house inDuxbury was not built in 165 3 as al-leged, but in 1720.One of the most satisfactory im-

provements in process of completionis the new Registry of Deeds in NewBedford. This contains 3 50 large vol-umes of land transfers relating to OldDartmouth since the formation ofBristol county, in 16 86. These are ac-cessible by the assistance of numeroi:^svolumes of maps and plans and care-fully prepared indexes. Since the in-stitution of this registry, in 1837, thequarters devoted to its use have beena few rooms in the Bristol countycourt house. While the repository hasbeen eminently safe, yet it has notbeen adequate to the purpose of con-sulting these records. The presentcrowded rooms during the comingjear will be abandoned, and the rec-ords placed in a registry equippedwith modern conveniences, at the cor-ner of William and Sixth streets,where an ample opportunity will beafforded every investigator to examinethis library of historical information.

It has been the aim and purposeof the research department of thissociety to have its publications, asfar as possible, in accord with the evi-dence from land records. It frequent-ly offends people when some longstanding tradition, some cherished bit

of folk-lore, or some romantic storyis rejected as fictitious; and such dis-appointments will continue until thedifference between fact and fancy andthe place and value of each is justlyappreciated.

Respectfully submitted,

Henry B. Worth,Chairman.

10

Report of the Publication Section

By William Arthur Wing

It was the Gentle Reader whoasked, "Can it be true that the quar-terly publications of the Old Dart-mouth Historical society are only 10

cents each'.'" It is true. Gentle Read-er. They are obtainable at Hutchin-son's or of the secretary at the build-

ing of the society.Said the Gentle Reader, "They

have such interesting Illustrations andsubject matter unobtainable else-

where. Why, I know of people whohave found genealogical and revolu-

tionary clues that enabled them to

join most delightful societies. Ofcourse, I know," said the Gentlelieader, "tbat they do not always comeout exactly quarterly because you waitand combine them with other inter-

esting and valuable papers. Now, to

the proceedings of last year's annualmeeting was added that fine article

on Smith Mills, by Henry B. Worth,

and though that delays them some-what, it makes the number so muchmore valuable, and it takes, of course,mucli time to see to the proofs, theillustrating, the arrangement and thelike." The Gentle Reader is so dis-

cerning!

And there is such a range of sub-jects—Whaling, Friends, biographical,genealogical, geological, colonial andmiscellaneous.

"I shall take a complete set (withthis number 24 in all),' said theGentle Reader, 'for you can havethem nicely bound for less than adollar."

Would there were more Gentle

Readers!Hopefull.x' submitted,

"William Arthur Wing,Chairman.

Report of the Photograph Section

By William Arthur Wing

Old Dartmouth has ever had hershare of famous descendants. Someyears since, when Mrs. Nicholas Long-worth, descendant of Hathaway Wil-cox and Smith families, was mar-ried, Old Dartmouth showed a fine

Quaker complacency—it was not thefirst time one of her daughters, like-wise the daughter of a president, hadbeen married in the White House dur-ing her father's administration. MissNellie Grant, the daughter of Presi-dent U. S. Grant, had done the samething, and she and her father wereboth descendants of the Delano Fam-ily of Old Dartmouth.

Mrs. Russell Sage, generously dis-pensing her benefactions throughoutthe country, has perhaps an addedlocal interest in her good doing, inthat her ancestors were of Old Dart-mouth's Slocum family.The artist Whistler's fondness for

his half-sister, Lady Seymour-Haden

—

that delightful lady, whom he has pic-tured, well known for her interestsand accomplishments in art and mu-sic—is a daughter of Old Dartmouth,with ancestors in its Delano, Popeand Cooke I'^amilies.

That notable figure in Chicago andthe middle west, the late Potter

Palmer, was a descendant of the Pot-ter, Ricketson and Russell families;and a descendant of the Cooke, Hath-away, Russell and Howland families.

Governor Henry Howland Ci'apo, whoheld that office in Michigan during thetrying times of the late unpleasant-ness, and whose love and interest forOld Dartmouth and its history, hasbeen shown by his manuscript, nowpublished by this society through thekindness of his son, Hon. William W.Crapo, our first president.

Our photograph-room is a thingunique among historical societies,who heartily commend it. Therewe wish to gather and present portraitsof her sons and daughters. For thehistory of a place is the history ofits people! Not only do we honorthose who found fame and favor inthe great world, but those who livedthe "simple life" within their walls;those who 'went down to the sea inships' and those who kept the hearth-fire burning and awaited their return;those who served their township, theircolony and country and their God.

Respectfully submitted,

Williain Arthur Wing,Chairman.

11

Education Section

By Elizabeth Watson

According to our constitution, thespecial province of the education sec-tion is to create and foster an inter-est in local history among the schoolchildren of Old Dartmouth. Or, in abroader sense, to so educate and in-spire the younger generation that thework which we have begun may becontinued with fidelity and enthu-siasm. For the life of this society, inthe years to come, depends entirelyupon the children of today.

This committee, as the first step inits work, has invited certain classesin the public schools of New Bedfordto visit the museum. The superinten-dent of schools has heartily cooperatedin the plan, and the appreciation ofteachers and pupils has been mostsincere and gratifying.We have entertained the nintli

grades of the Fifth street, Knowltonand Middle street schools. In each casethe teacher and pfincipal accompaniedthe class. Members of the senior classof the High school, with Mr. Butlerand Mr. Sargent, have also been ourguests. Swain School students, theYoung Men's club of the Union forGood Works, and a few from theNorth End Guild, have enjoyed ourhospitality.No formal plan of entertainment

has been adopted. Members of thecommittee have been in attendance toanswer questions or tell the story ofthe various collections. We have beenmost kindly assisted by Mrs. HoraceSmith, whose knowledge of the Arcticand Alaskan exhibit added much to

the pleasure of the visitors. Mr. Wood,of the museum section, has shown usmany favors, and Mr. Wing's assist-ance has been. avS it always is—in-valuable.

Perhaps the most popular placehas been the whaling room, whereCapt. Geo. O. Baker has walked thedeck, and undismayed by the sea ofupturned faces on every side, hasdispensed reliable information anddoubtful "yarns" with equal facility.

"These youthful guests of ours havecarried into hundreds of homes thenews of what we are doing here, andthe echoes of their enthusiastic re-ports have come back to us in manydifferent ways. Surely a wider know-ledge of our objects and ambitionsmust slowly, but none the less sure-ly, beget a wider and permanent in-terest in the society.

Although various plans for en-larging the work of the section are incontemplation, provided the commit-tee is reappointed. The immediatefuture will be devoted to receivingschool children at the rooms; ex-tending the invitation to the schoolsof all the towns of Old Dartmouthwhen satisfactory arrangements canbe made.Having reported progress and

outlined its platform, the committeerespectfully submits its report andits fate to the hands of its friends.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Watson,Chairman.

OLD HYMN CALLED DARTMOUTH.

Bless'd are the humble souls that see

Their emptiness and poverty;

Treasures of grace to them are given

And crowns of joy laid up in Heaven.

Bless'd are the men of broken heart,

Who mourn for sin with inward smart,

The blood of Christ divinely flows,

A healing balm for all their woes.

—Belknap.

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 25

Being the proceedings of the Twenty-fourth Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building,

Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on 30 June, 1909.

THE HOMESTEADS AT APPONEGANSETTBEFORE 1710. Henry B. Worth.

FIVE JOHNS OF OLD DARTMOUTH.William A. Wing.

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the^

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTY- FOURTH MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

30 JUNE, 1909

President Edmund Wood, in his re-marl^s at the opening of the meet-ing, paid a tribute to the work of theEducation Section, in charge of MissWatson. He said that during the last

few months Miss Watson had had all

the higher grammar grades of thepublic schools, and the pupils of thelocal and Fairhaven High Schools, in

the rooins, by classes, and given themafternoons of interesting amusementand study. President Wood expressedthe opinion that this was a very in-telligent use of the society's facilitiesin an educative way among the young-er people of the city.

The president also stated that thesecretary of the society had had theinspiration of commemorating theearly settlers of Old Dartmouth bysetting brass tablets into the panels ofthe entrance to the main room, andthat several of the members had al-ready adopted the suggestion by in-stalling tablets to commemorate an-cestors. The secretary, he said, hadvolunteered to assist members desir-ous of contributing panels, by prepar-ing inscriptions that could be etchedin the brasses. The cost of the tab-lets will be from $5 up, according tothe length of the inscription.

Alluding to the death of Henry H.Rogers, who was a member of the

board of directors. President Woodsaid that this community mourned hisloss together with the community onthe other side of the river.

President Wood then introducedWilliam W. Crapo, who spoke as fol-lows:The June, 1906, meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical society washeld in the Town House at Fairhaven.Henry H. Rogers was present. A dayor two later he called at my office andexpressed his gratification. He wasinterested. He commended the pur-poses of the society and spoke ofthe earnestness of those who were ac-tively engaged in its work. He in-quired about the resources and needsof the society. I told him that its

revenue was derived from the an-nual fee of one dollar paid by eachof its five or six hundred membersand that with this modest income wehad paid for rent and the furnishingsof the room necessary for the ex-hibit of our collections and the otherincidental expenses of printing, post-age and the like: and that the so-ciety had no surplus, neither did it

have a deficit. I told him that thelease of the room occupied on Unionstreet expired at the close of the year;that we had outgrown the premises,but had not been able to find suit-able accommodations.

I added that, in my opinion, thosociety had reached a critical pointin its history and that its continuedefficiency and even its permanencydepended upon its having a home ofits own. He asked what steps hadbeen taken in this direction. I toldhim none, except vague talk aboutlocation, some favoring the stonemansion on County street constructedbj' William R. Rodman, others favor-ing the vacant bank building at thefoot of William street, while otherspreferred tlie Bank of Commercebuilding on Water street at the headof Centre street. Mr. Rogers thoughta preferable location would be nearthe municipal centre of the city inthe neighborhood of the city hall andpublic library. I dismissed this ideaas reaching out for something un-attainable.A week or two later when we met

he said he had been considering thequestion of location for the Histori-cal society and had reached the con-clusion that tlie preferable place ofthose named was the bank buildingon Water street; that it was con-venient to the people of Fairha^enand Acushnet and was easy of accessby the trolley lines in the city. Heremarked that the building was at-tractive in appearance, was substan-tial in its construction and that hewas familiar with its interior whenit was used for banking and officepurposes and thought it could bereadily adapted for the purposes ofthe society.

At a still later date he asked mewhat progress had been made in thematter of a home for the Historicalsociety. I told him that practicallynothing had been done, and that solong as there were positive differ-ences of opinion as to location it

seemed useless to make any effort.In my judgment I told him a con-centration of sentiment as to one lo-cation was necessary. He said thatperhaps this concentration of senti-ment might be obtained by a pur-chase of the Water street propertyand its presentation to the society.He had, however, he said, no wishto interfere with or in any way in-fluence the action of the members ofthe society, but was willing to offerthe building in such a way that if

it was not agreeable to the societyit could occasion no displeasure. Hesuggested that I act in his behalf inthe purchase of the building and heleft it discretionary with me as tothe price. He stipulated, however,that neither the owners of the build-ing, the members of the society, orthe public should know that he wasin any way connected with the trans-action.When I had agreed upon terms

with the owners of the building andnotified him of the fact, I inquiredin what manner he desired to con-vey the property to the Old Dart-mouth Historical society, suggestingthat a proper method would be forthe grantor, the Xew England Cot-ton Yarn company, to deed the prop-erty to him and then that he conveyit to the society, with such conditionsand stipulations concerning its use,occupancy and future disposal as mightoccur to him. He said in making thegift lie did not propose to attach anystring to it and that the deed mustgo directly from the New EnglandCotton Yarn company to the OldDartmouth Historical society and thatthe society should have full power touse it or dispose of it in its discre-tion. The only stipulation which hemade was the one he imposed uponme that he should not be known inany way in connection with tlie trans-action.

Against this withholding of hisname I remonstrated. I urged that it

would be embarrassing to the mem-bers of the society to receive such amunificent gift from an unl-cnownperson, since it would i^reclude themfrom the expression of their apprecia-tion and gratitude. I further urgedthat the Old Dartmouth Historicalsociety was organized to chronicle andpreserve the record of interesting lo-cal events and the transfer of thisproperty being of vital importance tothe society and of general interest tothe community there would be astrange incongruity in the fact thatthe society could not tell in what wayor by what means it had acquired its

premises. After discussion it was ar-ranged that after the death of Mr.Rogers a modest tablet with a simpleinscription of the name of the donormight be placed in the building. This,he said, might be a gratification tohis children and his grandcliildren.

This gift came to the society with-out solicitation. Neither I nor anyother person to my knowledge everrequested or suggested a contributionfrom Mr. Rogers for this purpose. Itwas made because he approved themission of the society, because hewas pleased with the work it was do-ing and desired its continuance, andbecause of the hope that the societyhaving a home of its own might se-cure permanency. It was also madebecause of his affection for his na-tive town of Fairhaven, and Fair-haven is a part of Old Dartmouth.

It may be asked why was Mr. Rog-ers so insistent in withholding hisname? In this instance it was evi-dent that he desired not to antag-onize or influence the action of thesociety on the question of location.He desired that the members of the

society should be free to accept or de-cline his offer and that this freedomof action would be secured if theywere ignorant of the donor. Besidesthis there was his well-known dis-like to any publicity in connectionwith his gifts. This trait in his char-acter was not artificial. It was partof his nature. It was inborn. It

was shown in his numberless acts ofprivate charity and in the bestowalof assistance to many philanthropiesand in his larger benefactions. Hispleasure was in the giving and notin the notoriety of the gift.

At the entrance of this hall aretwo tablets. One of them mentionsdat^^s of important events in the his-tory of the society and of this build-ing. It tells us that the society wasincorporated in 1903 and that thisbuilding was erected in IS 84 and wasdonated to the society in 19 06. Thereis a vacant space in which may beplaced the words "by Henry H. Rog-ers." No action need be taken to-

night in this matter. I simply makethe suggestion because it is in har-mony with the permission granted byhim.

Resolve on Gift.

President Wood read the resolvepresented by Mr. Crapo, as follows:

"The members of the Old Dart-mouth Historical society, havinglearned from whom came the giftof the land and building owned by it

and occupied as its home, it is

"RESOLVED,"That the directors are hereby re-

quested to place on a tablet within thebuilding the name of Henry H. Rog-ers, its generous donor, and to takesuch further action as deemed ap-propriate in acknowledgment andrecognition of the timely and import-ant service which he rendered thesociety."

The resolve was adopted by unani-mous vote.

The Homesteads at Apponegansett

Before 1710

By Henry B. Worth

"It was in 1652 that the 'old com-ers' of Plymouth secured the granton Buzzards bay. During the earlyyears before the region had receiveda name, land transfers described theplace at 'Cushena, Ponagansett andCoakset.'

"These names were used to denoteseparate sections which in some deedswere called villages. When the townof Dartmouth was divided in 1787 theregion called Coakset became West-port; Cushena was constituted NewBedford, while the central portion re-

tained the ancient name of the townand comprised substantially the sec-tion designated by the Indians as Pon-agansett. These names later becamemodified by the prefix 'A,' but theform in the old deeds is probably thenearest to the original and more clear-ly indicate the meaning of the names.For nearly two centuries the nameAponagansett has been used exclusive-ly In reference to the river west ofPadanaram. The meaning of this

name has been explained is severalways, and generally upon the theorythat it referred to oysters or othershellfish. One author suggested 'the

place of the oyster,' and another 'the

roasting place.' Neither of these is

satisfactory. The etymology of theword seems to be Po-nag-ansett, andthis may mean "at the neck extend-ing into the bay.''"The early settlers were governed

by several important considerations in

selecting their homestead farms. En-compassing them were Indians thatmight suddenly become hostile.

Springs of water often determined thelocation of a dwelling, while brooksand rivers furnished power essentialto operate grist and saw-mills. De-sirable land could be found only inscattered locations. It was no doubtthought prudent for mutual defenceand protection to group their home-steads as completely as possible, butthe geographical situation of the townprevented the development of a centrecommon in most New England com-munities. Here was an extensive area,divided by rivers that defied all at-tempts to collect the inhabitants to-gether in a compact village. It wastherefore a necessity that the settlersshould be scrattered in small clustersalong the seashore, from whence theycould escape from the savage.

"The earliest settlement was on theeast side of Acushnet rover between,its head and Fort Phoenix. Here werethe farms of Jenne^:, Hathaway, Cook,Shaw, Palmer, Cuthbert, and east ofNaskatucket brook Lieutenant Jona-than Delano, and still further east,

next to the Mattapoisett line, he farmof Samuel Hicks. These families hadsettled in this region probably beforethe incorporation of the town.

"So far as known there was no set-

tlement on the west side of the Acush-net river before 1700. In the Pona-gansett section the growth was slow,and while some of the settlers camefrom Portsmouth, a considerable por-tion came from towns in Massachu-setts where they had been harrassedby the local authorities for afliliation

with the Quakers, and had beenobliged to seek a residence in somemore peaceful location. They did notfear the Indian if they could onlyescape the Puritan.

"Beginning at the head of Clark'scove and extending westerly by Bliss's

Corner to the Tucker ^oad is an an-cient highway, its western terminus acentury ago being known as Slocum'scorner, and more recently Macomber'scorner. South of this highway arethe necks and points comprised in thevillages now known as Padanaram.Bakerville and Smith's Neck. Whenthe proprietors of Dartmouth werecompelled in 1709 by a court decreeto make a complete distribution of all

their undivided lands, they employedBenjamin Crane of Dighton to sur-vey and establish the bounds, and hisfirst work was begun in October, 1710.It is proposed to present a briefsketch of the homestead farms aroundthe Aponagansett rivei, as Cranefound them when he first came toDartmouth.

"The pioneer settler was probablyRalph Earle, by whom the Dartmouthlands were brought to the attention ofthe Portsmouth people. He probablycame to Dartmouth soon after 1657,the date of his purchase of a halfshare of land from his father-in-law,Francis Sprague. His farm lay onboth sides of the Cove road, west ofAponagansett river, and extended be-yond the Tucker road. Its south line

was at the village of Bakerville, andit comprised over 400 acres."On the east side of the Aponagan-

sett river is the peninsula at that dateknown as Colvin's or Durfee's Neck.~With the exception of the northeastcorner at C'ark's co^e that was as-signed to Abraham Tucker, and thenorthwest corner laid out to Nathaniel'Howland, the whole of the PadanaramNeck north of Bush street was com-prised in the homestead of John Rus-sell; while the location of Earle'shouse has been lost, the situation ofthe dwelling of John Russell has beenpreserved because of its famous asso-ciations during the King- Philip war.It was located near the shore in theswampy pasture, south of the houseof the late Captain Charles H. Gif-ford. and was defended as a garrisonby English soldiers. After the KingPhilip war Russell built a new houseon the hill, in front of the residenceof John J. Howland, on Rocklandstreet. He came to Dartmouth in]663 and not long after Matthew Al-len became his neighbor on the south.Allen's homestead lay between Pros-pect and School streets and also ex-tended across the neck. In 1712this became the second home-stead of Captain John Akin. Theextreme end of the neck was ownedand occupied by William Durfee, andfor the past century and a half hasbeen in the possession of the Ricket-son family."An interesting tradition has been

preserved in relation to the RussellGarrison during the King Philip war.The Russell house had been convertedinto a fort and was defended by sol-diers under Captain Eels of Hingham.Across the river in a southwesterlydii'ection is a point at one time ownedby Dr. William A. Gordon, and in re-cent years by Captain Charles H.Schultz. It is known as "Heath" or"Heathen Neck " The tradition Js

that an Indian on this neck was in-dulging in defiant gestures towardthe garrison and was killed by amusket ball fired from the Russellhouse. The distance is nearly half amile, and this might lead to a doubtas to the validity of the story, butthere is some possibility that it is

true because in the inventory of theestate of Abraham Sherman taken in1772 appears this item:

" 'A 2un which is said oncekilled an Indian across Appona-gansett River from ye old castleon Russel's land to HeathenNeck.'

"This would be a confirmation ofthe tradition if it could be shovv'nthat firearms of that period had ^neffective range of that distance.

"On the north side of the Cove road--and east of the Slocjm road was theTiomestead of Natnaniel Howland,-whose dwelling house was near the

head of Rockland street, in thevicinity of the homestead of theSwenson family. He settled here notfar from 1690. but about 1710 hadselected a new homestead at thenortheast corner of the Slocum roadand Allen street. Near the presenttown house on the road to the Pada-naram library until recent years wasa small water-mill, en the same siteas one operated by Nathaniel How-land before 1710.

"West of the Slocun-i road and ex-tending nearly to the old town housewas the farm of John Sherman. Abrook emptying into the head of Ap-ponagansett river divided this farminto two equal sections. The we^tpart was later owned by Philip Sher-man, a son of John The Shermanfamily came from Portsmouth, RhodeIsland, before t.fi60.

At a session of the court in Ply-mouth in 166 8 the oath of fidelitywas taken by Ralph Earl, John Sher-man and John Briggs This formalitywas required of all persons who cameto Plymouth colony if they desired toenjoy the privileges of citizenship.From the west end of the bridge

over the Apponagansett river the Gulfroad extends westerly into Bakervilleand crosses the east part of the farraowned by John Briggs of Portsmouth.The village of Bakerville begins at thecorner where the roads branch, themain highway leading to Russell'sMills. The Bakerville road extendssouth from this junction to theHolder Brownell corner. In 1710there were seven long- narrow farmsextending southeasterly across thisneck, from the Pascamansett riA'eron the west to the Apponagansettriver on the east.

"Beginning at the corner of theRussell's Mills road the first farm wasow-ned and occupied bv Eleazer Smith;the part west of the road in recentyears was owned by Benjamin Brown-ell and that on the east side by Wil-liam R. Slocum. Between the Smithfarm and the line of the Gulf roadwas the farm conveyed in 1678 byJohn Briggs to his son John. Thepart west of the road finally cameinto the possession of Seth Davis,while the east section has becomegreatly sub-diviiled since the openingof the Gulf road, about 1820.

"The farm next south was the tractwhich John Briggs conveyed to hisson Thomas, the west part in moderntimes was owned and occupied oySanford Brightman. The east par-tcontained the homesteads of JirehReed and of Captain William PennBriggs. Between the John Briggsfarm and Brownell's corner were fourfarms owned by the sons of JohnSherman. The first, owned by Samueland Sampson Sherman, included the

Ephraim Ellis place, and on the eastside of the road the tract owned byStephen Cornell. Nexi. south was thefarm occupied by Daniel Sherman, thenorth half on the east side of the roadbecame the homestead of Elisha S.

Crapo, and was later owned by Ed-ward B. Smith; the south half wasthe homestead of Joshua Weeks. Thesection west of the road included thehomestead of Ezra and Ensign Baker,together with the old poor farm. Thefarm next south was laid out to Wil-liam Sherman, and the next to PelegSherman, and the latter finally ac-quired both. This farm bordered onthe south on the road from Russell'sMills to Smith N<}ck, and the eastpart included the homestead of JesseCrapo, the father of Henry H. Crapo.

"About the year 1800 emigrationcame from Cape Cod to this section.The Bakers from Dennis settled inBakerville and became numerous andinfluential, and from this circum-stance the village received its name.

"On the south side of the SmithNeck road and including the HolderBrownell farm was the homestead ofJudah Smith, and to the south thefarm of his brother Gershom, whilenext south and fronting on the Po-tomska road was the homestead ofEdmund Sherman. West of thelast three farms was the homesteadof John Lapham. which descended tohis sons, John and Nicholas. Thefarms of Judah and Gershom Smithconstituted the homestead of theirfather, John Smith, h: early as 1672,when he was road surveyor of thetown.

"In the conveyances before theRevolutionary war Smiths Neck is al-ways designated as Namciuid Neck.If a substitute for the original wasto be selected it could with equalpropriety have been named for How-land, Akin, Slocum or Briggs. Butthe Indian name was too expressiveand picturesque to be discarded, aswill appear when its meaningis understood. Its etymology is

N-AM-QU-ID and these syllables intheir order rtiean 'The B'ishins RockPlace,' hence 'The neck at the Fish-ing Rocks.' It is doubtful if the Eng-lish name of the rock itself is any im-pro\ement. This great ledge, sur-mounted by a lighthouse, has receivedthe curious designation The Dump-ling Rock. Then the original formof the Indian name has been modifiedto 'Nonquitt' and applied to the sea-side village on the east side of theneck. In that form the name hasno meaning.

"At the north end of the neck wasthe farm, largely salt marsh laid outto Nathaniel Howland before 1700and occupied by his descendants tothe present time, and with one ex-

ception all owners have had the first

name Nathaniel. The farm nextsouth was first occupied by JamesAkin, whose dwelling house wastaken down last .year. This home-stead included the land in Bay Viewvillage and on the west side of theroad extended as far south as the en-trance to Nonquitt. On the east sideof the road between Bay View andNonquitt was the homestead ofThomas Getchell, a part of which is

the estate of Shore Acres."The extreme south end of Nam-

quid Neck is Mischaum Point, laidout to John Russell about 1690. ThisIndian name means 'The LongPoint. The end of the Smith's Neckroad is called Salters Point, but 200vears ago this name was writtenSALT-HOUSE POINT. The southern-most fCirm at the end of the roadwhich included Salters Point wasowned and occupied by HezikiahSmith. North of Salters Point bound-ary and on the east side of the roadwas the homestead of Benjamin How-land, occupied by him about 1690.It included the Round Hill farm andextended northerly on the road ashort distance beyond the entranceleading to Round Hill.

"The farm north of the BenjaminHowland homestead extending to theNonquitt entrance was laid out toCaptain John Akin and is the samewhich he Durchased in 1692 from hisfather-in-law, Thomas Briggs; 20years later Akin removed to a secondhomestead, which he purchased fromMatthew Allen in Padanaram Neck.The tract east of the John Akin farmnow occupied by the village of Non-quitt, as early as 16 86 was the home-stead of Thomas Briggs.On the west side of the Smiths

Neck road opposite the BenjaminHowland homestead was the farin ofHezikiah Smith, a son of John, set-tled in 1691, and next north was thehomestead of his brother, Deliverance.These two farms occupied about thesame frontage as the Benjamin How-land homestead. The land next northcomprised three narrow tracts thatwere finally acquired by BenjaminHowland, and after his death becamethe hoinestead of Isaac Howland, andin IS 39 that of William S. Howland.The remaining territory extending

north of the Friends' meeting housewas laid out to Giles Slocum, and la-ter became the homestead of GeorgeSmith. This Slocum farm was crossedby the road from Russells Mills knownas 'Rocky Dunder.' At the cornerwas built the Quaker meeting houseon a lot conveyed in 182 2 by Ca-leb Anthony to the Dartmouth Meet-ing.

"In the two centuries since Cranesurveyed these Dartmouth farms the

natural landmarks have remainedwithout alteration. Some of the an-cient walls and bounds, overgrownwith shrubs and vines, may still bediscovered. Through the entire pe-riod the great proportion of wealthand population has been located nearthe bay Then a single schoolmasterand a single meeting house met therequirements of the entire town.Shipbuilding and whaling were juststarting on their wonderful career,while no violent or convulsive changehas taken place the ancient situationhas nearly disappeared. Churchesand schoolhouses are within easyreach of all. The old meeting houseat Apponegansett is seldom opened.

The names of the early settlers areno longer found in the old locations.All of these thirty farms have beendivided into smaller homesteads andon several are large and populousvillages containing costly mansionsand villas and occupied by prominentpeople fi'om every section of theland. It is a fascinating study totrace the detailed events of two cen-turies through all the business, re-ligious and social changes, from thehomestead farms of 1710, owned andoccupied by New England yeomen, tothe present stage of developmentwhen Apponegansett has becometransformed into important and suc-cessful seaside resorts."

THE BARNABAS EARLE HOUSEBUILT ABOUT 1725 ON THE RALPH EARLE LANDS

11

Five Johns of Old Dartmouth

By William A. Wing

These are but short "settings down"about five men in Old Dartmouth whobore the Christian name of John, andwho, with their descendants, are kithand kin to most of those gatheredhere.

It was in the "towne of Plimoth" in

the "old Colonie" that a poor bound-boy realized the least of his troubleswas his plain name John Smith. Hebeing in "grate extremitie, and his

master, Edward Doty of the May-flower, having expended but little

upon him, was compelled to fit himout with a "double suit of apparel andeach quit the other." So the ladfared forth free to face the world.He became a stalwart seaman, beingknown as the "boatesman"—and wehear our young master-militant is to

go in a "barque" to "fight the Dutchat Manhatoes" (New York). An earlybeginning of our navy.

But peace came. So there was notthe usual indeflnlteness about the re-turn of this "Malbrouck" to his wife,Deborah, and little daughter, Hasa-dyah. John Smith having marrieda daughter of Arthur and MargaretHowland of Marshfield, he with themlater entered into the faith of Friendsand paid the penalty for "holdingQuaker meetings" and "entertayningForagne friends," among these thefamous Nicholas Upsall, "white withyears."

In spite of difficulties John Smithhad prospered, for in Plymouth heowned a "house, messuage and gar-den spot on North street on ye Northside." which he exchanged with per-haps pardonable pride, with Ed-ward Doty, Junior (son of his formermaster), for lands in Dartmouth.

There in Apponegansett he buildedhis new house on what is known onthe old maps as "Smith's Neck," todaythe south side of Rocky Dunder Road,and became prominent in the affairsof the new settlement, where its high-est military office, "Lieftenant," wasgiven him by the government at Ply-mouth. Being likewise a man ofpeace, he was chosen to settle cer-tain disputes between John Cooke,"the lad of the Mayflower," and theOld Colony.Deborah Howland. John Smith's

wife, had died, and he had marriedRuhamah Kirby (daughter of Richardof Sandwich).John Smith is a text against "ra'ce

suicide," for he was the father of

thirteen children, which would pos-sibly have delighted the fatherof his great-great-great-great-grand-daughter, Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Long-worth.

A soinetime neighbor in Marshfieldof Arthur Howland's people was JohnRussell. Tradition tells that he wasa volunteer in an early Indian war.In his new home he stood for gov-ernment affairs. He was the first torepresent Dartmouth as Deputy to theOld Colonial Government at Ply-mouth, the long and none-too-safejourney along the forest paths andIndian trails being not the least of its

responsibilities It is not strange thatthe children of old friends and neigh-bors married. John Russell, Jr.. mar-ried Mehetable Smith, daughter ofJohn and Ruhamah (Kirby) Smith;and Jonathan Russell, another son ofJohn and Dorothy Russell, marriedHasadyah, daughter of John andDeborah (Howland) Smith.

In "Russell's Orchard," on theeast bank of the Apponegansett river,

a quiet inflow, stood the Russell gar-rison house, or castle. Here, 'tis said,,

after King Philip's war, the strong-hold being still maintained accordingto colony orders, were born the twinsons, John and Joseph, of JosephRussell, son of John Russell, Senior.Dartinouth was in "dire necessitie"

after the Indian war, and John Rus-sell. Senior, and "Lieftenant" JohnSmith were appointed to distribute thegenerous gift from Ireland for reliefof the distressed. John Russell builton a nearby hillside a new home, andthe inventory of its furnishings plain-tively bespeaks an early period of re-construction after an early war. Inthis home of John Russell, Senior,where later dwelt John Russell, Ju-nior, and his wife, Mehetable Smith,were held early town meetings andschools.The Rvissells had ever been fore-

most in educational matters, even inearly Marshfield. Joseph Russell, thefather of the twins, in a wordy willleft moneys for his granddaughters,Elizabeth. Ruth and Content Russell's"Reading. Riteing and Cyphering," hisversion of the "three R's," accomplish-ments rarely adorning the femalemind of his day.The Pl-usscH family held large Pro-

prietary rights and purchases in OldDartmouth. On some of these samelands was built part of New Bedford

12

of today. Its early beginning on thewest bank of the Acushnet river beingIvnown as "ye new settlement at yefoot of Joseph Russell's hoinestead,"and Union street (one of the city'sprincipal business thoroughfares) wasa sometime cart-path to the waterfront from the dwelling place of Jo-seph Russell on the hill. This Jo-seph Russell- was great-grandson ofJohn Russell, Senior, (being the sonof his twin-grandson, Joseph) Ac-cording to ancient lore, Russell beingthe family name of the Duke of Bed-ford, it was suggested that the newsettlement be called Bedford, and theowner of the lands where much of it

had been builded was jovially calledthe "Duke," the amusing similaritybeing strengthened by "Duke" Jo-seph Russell's having married intothe Howland family—one of the mostsubstantial standing in Dartmouth

—

as had the real Duke of Bedford inEngland. Later on. as there was an-other Bedford in Massachvisetts, this"new towne" was named NewBedford. Could "antient" John Rus-sell (Senior) have rambled about thecharming New Bedford of the"thirtys" he would have been amazedat the mansions—built on the Rus-sell lands by his descendants—in con-trast to his own simple homesteadwhere the early fathers of Old Dart-mouth gathered, making a centre inits early days.

After the Indian war there ap-peared in Dartmouth John Akin.Some claim him Dutch, others Scotch,and he seeins to have combineddoughtyness and cannyness. His dwell-ing place was at Nomquid Neck (nowNonquitt). and later at Colvins Neck(now Padanaram). His position inthe community was that of the besttype of colonial yeoman.

His first wife was Mary, daughterof Thomas Briggs. a sometime mem-ber of Peleg Sanford's troop-of-horse,an early colonial company of cavalry.This Briggs family much-landed in

old Dartmouth were closely connec:-ed with that famous Dyer familyof Rhode Island. Several of JohnAkin's many children married Aliens

—

descendants of the flrst-comer, GeorgeAllen of Sandwich.

Captain John Akin had a martialspirit for Deliverance Smith, woefullyrelated to the Meeting of Friends^-how he with others were ordered byJohn Akin to exercise in "war-lik2posture" with the intention of being-pressed into his majesty's service inCanada.

This son of John Smith was notso easily dealt with contrary to hisprinciples. For making a weary jour-ney he stated his woes and views to

the Governor who graciously excusedthis determined Friend, who returnedto his home in Dartmouth deliveredfrom anymore "trayning" in theabominated "war-like posture."

If in military matters, John Akinopposed John Smith's son, he was wellin accord with him in their township'sstruggles to maintain the dearlybought liberty of conscience.

Deliverance Smith for refusing tocollect taxes to pay a "hireling min-ister." was shut up in the Bristol gaolwhich by freak of fate had been builtin part with money collected by hisfather. John Smith. "We are done withthe Indians and now are molested bythe Quakers!" deplored an eminentdivine!

Later in the so-called "Great Con-trovers>" Dartmouth absolutely re-fused to pay such taxes and appealingto the King their refusal was upheld.Then Captain John Akin was releasedfrom the same gaol and allowed tolive out his days undisturbed aftera year's imprisonment for "consciencesake."

The "golden woof-thread of ro-mance" had been woven into the lifeof the parents of John Shepherd ofDartmouth.John Shepherd's mother, Mary

Bryce was married in Portsmouth, R.I., to Daniel Shepherd. A more than"twice told tale" had it that she was adaughter of an earl (of Pembroke)enticed by a villianous brother on boarda vessel bound to America, whichthen set sail and bore her awayto Newport. Here her forlorn fatefired the gallantry of Daniel Shepherd,who wooed and won her.

Daniel Shepherd was chosen thefirst school master in old Dartmouth.He was said to be a near relative ofthat "sweete, gratious, heavenly-mind-ed, soul-ravishing minister," Mr.Thomas Shepherd, as he was ecstati-cally described. Perhaps DanielShepherd cast his wee light of learn-ing as needfully vipon his own poorlittle community as his more famouskinsman.Thomas Story, while on a visit to

Peleg Slocum called at the home ofDaniel Shepherd, whose wife was veryill and though they were not Friends"were somewhat convinced of thetruth." Mary Bryce Shepherd toldThomas Stor.v that he had comfortedher mightily. Later Daniel Shepherdjoined the meeting, but there is nomention of his wife, for comfort is

not cure.The Shepherd homestead at Shep-

herd's Plains where John Shepherddwelt was not far from that oldstone bridge with the two arches go-

13

ing over the Pascamanset River tothe old Friends' Meeting House, atApponegansett in Dartmouth. Dorcas"Wing the wife of John Shepherd wasthe niece and namesalce of DorcasDillingham, who married Ralph Earle,leader of those early settlers fromPortsmouth, R. I.. into Old Dart-mouth. From his large holdings camethe Shepherd lands.

One of John and Dorcas Shep-herd sons, David Shepherd, built hishouse in the new settlement at the footof Joseph Russell's homestead, nowour old "Water street" and helpedto make that ancient street by giving aright of way "before his new dwellinghouse facing Shepherd's lane."

Close at hand to the southward onthis old-time Water street stood thehome of John Howland one of theearly whaling captains and men ofsubstance in this little new settle-ment.

Captain John Howland mar-ried his neighbor Shepherd's daugh-ter. Reliance and sailed away in acraft bearing her name which provedworthy of that honor. From JohnHowland's house could be seen thegreat trees felled to build his daugh-ter Elizabeth's future home on what is

now the northwest corner of Unionand Bethel streets. He was saidto have the most ready-money in

town, but it is told that on an expectedapproach of the British he hid it so

effectually that for a long time hecomplained of a lean purse until thehidden treasure was revealed up thechimney.John Howland was important in his

connection with the old Bedford bank(on this very site) and was one ofthose men who helped make old WaterStreet the centre of the town's finan-cial and commercial activity and fromthese beginnings New Bedford becamea famous city.

In the early days of the new settle-ment built on the land of the Rus-sells there dwelt by the riverside on quaint Water street de-scendants of these Five Johns of OldDartmouth. Their ancient homeslong since deserted by the Friendsand now demolished in the deep-ening twilight seemed less de-lapidated and the "mind's eye" mightsee their former dwellers andgain fancied glimpses of the past.For "all houses wherein men havelived and died are haunted houses."

These were not great lives, but theyfreely and fearlessly served theirtownship and colony and left nameshonored where they dwelt. Theyreared sons and daughters whobecame fathers and mothers of OldDartinouth and some who found fameand favor in the great world withoutbore their blood. They "fought agood fight, they kept the faith."

Just men they were, and all their study bent

To worship God aright, and know His works

Not hid; nor those things lost, which might preserve

Freedom and Peace to man."

OLD DARTiMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 26

Being the proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building,

Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on 30 September, 1909.

WILLIAM BRADFORDEdmund Wood

EARLY TRIPPS IN NEW ENGLANDGeorge H. Tripp

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

GEORGE H. TRIPP

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTY- FIFTH MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

30 SEPTEMBER, 1909

William Bradford

BY

Edmund Wood

We have received a most interest-

ing picture by William Bradford. The

daughter of the artist, one of our

members, and a diligent worker in

our museum section, has wished to

present to this society a character-

istic specimen of his work. It is a

cartoon in black and white, but drawn

on regular canvas and is a finished

study of whalers in the Arctic ice.

It is altogether fitting that it

should hang upon these walls, for the

artist was a son of Old Dartmouth,

who by his acknowledged talent has

brought r.^nown to his birthplace and

a favorable notoriety to our harbor

and its ships and to many scenes along

our coast.

William Bradford was born in Fair-

haven in 1S23. In his early youth,

he shewed som.e talent in drawing,

but quite early became a clerk in a

drv goods store in New Bedford. Tradehad little attraction for him, and all

his leisure moments were occupied

with drawing, mostly with a lead pen-

cil. There was nothing brilliant aboutthese early attempts. Tl.ey were very

crude, for he was largely self-taught.

Bradford was born and brought upa Quaker and he married the daugh-ter of Nathan Breed of Lynn, a stal-

wart leader of that sect in New Eng-land and a man o: strong opinions.

For eight years after his marriagethe artistic leanings were subdued andthe young man strove to succeed in

trade. But he had not the business

facultv. and his nature did not re-

spond to that exercise of his talents

and the business failed.

It was scarcely to be expected that

from his Quaker ancestry, and sub-

dued surroundings, would be born anartistic soul. But should such a soul

be born, it was still less likely that

it would be nourished and en-

couraged to pursue the study anddelineation of the beautiful in nature.

There was little in the habits or thecreed of the Society of Friends aus-picious to the growth or developmentof the fine arts. This most prosaic of

sects had little affinity with the prac-tice of an art which, according to

their strict tenets was allied with anddirectly conducive to vanity.

It can well be believed that the

father-in-law in Lynn had little unitywith the indulgence of an artisticfancy and little confidence in themaking of pictures as a means to sup-port a wife and family.

There is a similar situation de-scribed in a story of Benjamin West,the first painter of note which thiscountry produced Born of strictQuaker ancestry in a small village ofPennsylvania in 1738, he early evincedso decided a talent for painting thathis parents called the elders of themeeting together to decide whetherit would be possible to allow the pur-suit of art by the youngster—withoutdefying the testimony of truth andthe penalties of the discipline. Therecord states that at this conferencein the woods of Pennsylvania, onemember was moved to considerableeloquence in his attempt to reconcilethe alleged vanity of painting withthe testimony of the society for plain-ness of speech, behavior and apparel.

It is remarkable that at that periodand in the even primitive conditionslight and liberality prevailed, and themeeting was led to see that the pur-suit of Truth and the pursuit of beau-ty are not necessarily antagonistic, forBenjamin West was sent to study atRome and later in England, wherehe e\'entually became the president ofthe Royal Academy.

Nathan Breed bought a farm forthe young couple as his last protestagainst dabbling with pictures, andbesought them to till the soil withhealthy industry.But this, too, failed, and then it

seems that the young man was finallyallowed to take up drawing as ameans of a livelihood. For some timeBradford devoted himself entirely to

the sketching of vessels, and for anincome he painted a good many poi"-

traits of the whaleships, getting $25apiece. It was this severe practiceof painting the details of a ship'sform and rigging for the most crit'>al

of clients that afterwards served himin good stead and established his

fame as the most accurate delineatorof vessels in this country.Up to this time there had been little

attention paid to this department ofpainting, and a marine artist had notbeen evolved in America.

Bradford at this time had had noinstruction in the use of color, and .'t

was a fortunate event in his care.^r

when that roving Dutch artist, Van

Beest. came to this city, and Bradfordwas associated with him in the samestudio. The two men and their ar-tistic methods were radically different.Van Beest was a skilful handler ofoil colors. He scorned detail andsought for the general effect; and thishe obtained by dash and what mightbe called a happy knack. Bradfordhad magnified the importance of de-tails, and believed that his success de-pended on patient observation andminute accuracy. In the two yearsthey were a.ssociated together Brad-ford received his first real instructionin the handling of a brush, the useof pigments, and in the technique ofpainting, and gained distinctly in forceand breadth from the manner of VanBeest.

After leaving the stvidio, Bradfordbegan a resolute and systematic studyof nature, and for several seasonssketched the whole coast to the northof us. Then came his seven succes-sive summer trips to the coast of Lab-rador, beginning in 1861. In someof these trips he penetrated beyondthe Arctic circle Clad in the sealskinsuit of the Esquimaux, and often inthe light of the midnight sun, he de-picted scenes of awful grandeur, ofdesolate, cheerless frost. He struggledwith the marvelous color effects ofthat weird, unnatural light on ttio

ever-changing faces of those driftingmountains of ice.

Scenes which hitherto had onlybeen described by Arctic explorersin halting and insufficient word pic-tures were studied, and laboriouslysketched with benumbed fingers, andlater, in the milder climate of liis

iVew York studio perpetuated on en-during can\as.Most of the sketches were of the

floating field of ice and of icebergs,in endless variety of fantastic shapes.When the light was reflected directlyon their face they were of a dazzlingwhite, but the portions which were inshade are shown as blue or green orpurple, fading into delicate tints ofgray, and shot with rays of pink andsaffron.Now came quite a large measure of

success to the striiggling, perseveringartist, and when Lockwood of NewYork paid $10,000 for that best-knownpainting, "Sealers Crushed Among thsIcebergs," then even the incredulousQuaker father-in-law was inclined toadmit that there might be somethingin making pictures.

It is related of a rather shrewdmember of the Society of Friends inEngland, who many years ago waswaited on by a committee of elders loremonstrate with him because of nisextravagant purchase of a picture,that he disavowed the protest and

quieted all conscientious scruplesby proving to his brethren that he hadmade an excellent investment.There was a welcome recognition,

too, when the great poet of the so-ciety, Whittier, paid an eloquent tri-bute to his friend the Quaker artist,dedicating to him the poem "AmyWentworth." Whittier. in his intro-duction to the poem, says:

SometJiIng it has—a flavor of the SeaAnd the Sea's freedom which remindsof thee.

A song for oars to chime with, such asmi gilt

Be sung by tired sea-painters, who atnight

Look from their hemlock camps, byquiet cove

Or beach, moon lighted, on the wavesthey love.

So hast thou looked, when level sunsetlay

On the calm bosom of some eastern bay.And ail the spray moist rocks and

waves that rolledUp the white san 1-slopes flashed with

ruddy gold.

After his last Arctic trip came thevisit to England Kis portfolios werefilled with his sketches—but nobodywanted to look at them. London isnot rash or impetuous. But at lastwhen his money was exhausted, camethe first influential caller. The nextday he received the Princess Louise,the Duke of Argyle and Lord Duff-erin, and soon many of the promi-nent nobility of England. His pic-tures at once became the vogue whenthe queen purchased his "SteamerPanther Among Icebergs in MelvilleBay." Bradford received $150,000 forhis pictures sold during the Englishvisit. He had won fame in his owncountry and established himself inthe front rank of living artists. Butnow after years of struggle with debts—for his Arctic expeditions had beenvery expensive—he received an amplepecuniary reward.He was elected an associate mem-

ber of the Royal Society—and an as-sociate of the National Academy ofNew York.

His pencil was never idle for anylong period until his sudden death in1892.

Opinions probably differ as to thecomparative rank that Bradford holds.He belonged to a school which nolonger flourishes and is unpopularwith the art critics of the present day.There was little of the impressionistabout Bradford He knew a vesselto its smallest detail. He probablydrew into his pictures more than hecould see, beca.use he knew it wasthere. But his detail is not finickyand the natural grandeur of the sub-jects he selected are handled with abreadth of treatment and an artistic

feeling which secures animation andimpressiveness.The accuracy of his observation and

drawing are best seen in his studiesin black and white. To the excellenceof these there is no dissenting voice.A contemporary artist in his commentsays: "I am not sure that Bradford'sexcellent drawings will not outliveeven his work in color."We have in this review confined

ourselves to Bradford the artist, andnave said nothing of Bradford as aman. His exemplary life, not common

in those of an artistic temperament,his genial, winning and affable man-ner, his unusual powers of conversa-tion, his hospitality and above all hischeerful and joyous enthusiasm, com-pose the charming background to thepicture of his artistic struggle and hisartistic fame. The respect and thehigh honor which we accord to himas an artist, we can in the largestmeasure bestow upon his character a.ga man. His life and his work shedsglory upon the town of Old Dart-mouth which produced him.

I

COAT OF ARMS OF THE TRIPP FAMILY

11

Early Tripps in New England

BY

George H. Tripp

The study of family histories, ortechnically, genealogical research,has been the pursuit of the few ratherthan the many until the various pa-triotic societies and other similar in-stitutions have appealed to the prideof a certain class of Americans whohave desired to link themselves with.a distinguished past, possibly as arelief for a somewhat commonplacepresent.

Besides these seekers for reflectedglory from distinguished ancestrythere has been an increasing numberof eager students who have felt anatural pride in tracing their an-cestry from the present as far into tlio

past as verified records would justify.

There has been ainong some an indif-ference to record hunting, some pos-sibly taking the ground that in fami-lies, as with potatoes, the best partis underground, while others take acontrary view and, as someone hasexpressed it, are afraid to climb toofar in the family tree unless they findsome of their ancestors hanging onthe branches

But it seems a perfectly legitimateand proper subject for a short paperbefore the Old Dartmouth Historicalsociety to trace the history of thefamily which numerically stood sec-ond in the directory of 1880, beingsurpassed onb by the Smith familv,with 108 names, while in the direc-tory of 1908 there are 186 names, be-ing surpassed in this instance by theSmiths, who are led by the Sylviasand Silvas, who figure largest in thenumber of names in the latest direc-tory.

The name Tripp has been givennumerous derivations. One speaks jf

Tripp or Trippner or Trippenmaker asa maker of short gowns. Anotherderivation more pleasing to the pririe

of the owners of the names is as fol-

lows:"Tradition says of Lord Howard's

fifth son at the siege of Boulonge thatHenry V. asked how they took thetown and castle. Howard answert-d,'I tripped up the walls.' Said his

majesty, "Tripp shall be thy name, andno longer Howard,' and honored hira

with a scaling ladder for a coat of

arms."The Tripps, probably a branch

of the same family, lived in KentEngland, and trace their line aslar back as the Norman conciuest.

the name being found in DoomsdayBook in a title of land. In 1234,Nicholas Trippe gave his estate mCounty Kent to Elham Church. Therewas a Tripp mentioned who was agovernor of Calais about 1500, and aThomas Trippe is mentioned byJames, the Duke of York, afterwardsKing James II., in his autobiography,as aiding him to escape from St.James palace after the beheading ofCharles the First.

There seems to have been two land-ings of representatives of the familvin this country. The first John Tripp,living in Portsmouth, R. I., in 163S.and a Colonel Henry Trippe, whocame to Maryland in 1663. He wasborn in Canterbury, England, 1632;he had fought in Flanders under thePrince of Orange, and brought tothe provinces three of his troopersThe principal interest, however, of

this society would naturally be con-fined to the descendants of JohnTripp. It is supposed that he cameover from England as an apprenticeto Holden; the Age of Chivalry hadpassed, and so the Tripps of this coun-try had to make other uses of thescaling ladder in their coat of arms,so John Tripp, as a carpenter, couldfairly use the same armorial designJohn Tripp was born in 1610, was

a carpenter by trade, married MaryPaine, daughter of Anthony; in 169 3was appointed administrator for tlieinhabitants of the island of Aquid-neck, and during his busy life occu-pied many positions of dignity andimportance. In 1639 he signed acompact with 28 others, who de-clared:

"We, whose names are underwrit-ten, do acknowledge ourselves the,

legal subjects of his majesty KingCharles, and in honor do hereby bindourselves into a civil body politic,unto his laws according to matters ofJustice."

He was a deputy, corresponding toour present day representative, for 13years between 16 48 and 16 72. In16 5 5 he was a commissioner, and in

the same vear he was made a free-man. He was a member of the gov-ernor's council at least five years be-tween 1048 and 16 75. In 165 5 hedeeded to his son Peleg a quartersection of land in Dartmouth formerlybought of John Alden.

12

An old record shows the following

finding of a commission in 16G6:"Whereas, JMary Tripp, wife of John

Tripp Sr., some 25 years ago, boughtof Richard Searle for a pint of wine,

three acres of land, the said RichardSearle living then in Portsmouth, she

being then unmarried, about whichtime Searle removed, but left no deedto Mary, now therefrom said sale is

confirmed by commissioners"He had 10 children, and his sons

likewise had many children. Theywere pioneers in a new land and race

suicide was unheard of.

John's children were:

John, born in 1640, died 1719; mar-ried Susanna Anthony.

Peleg, born 1642, died 1713; mar-ried Anne. He was constable, sur-

ve.Nor of highways, member of the

town council and a deputy.Joseph, born in 1644; married Me-

hitable Fish. He was a freeman,member of the court of trials, deputy,

and a selectman of DartmouthMarv, born 1646, died 1716; married

Gersham Wordel and Jonathan Got-chell.

Elizabeth, born 1648, died 1670;

married Zuriel Hall.Alice, horn 1650; married William

Hall.Isabel, born 1651, died 1716; mar-

ried Samson Sherman.Abiel, born 1653, died 1684; mar-

ried Deliverance Hall.Martha, born 1658, died 1717; mar-

ried Samuel Sherman.James, born 1656, died 1730; mar-

ried Mercy Lawton and Lydia ,

and Elizabeth Cud worth.

The Hon. John Tripp was one of theproprietors of Portsmouth, R. J.,

and he was representative to variouscourts. He was a member of thegovernor's council in 1648, 1670, 1673,1674 and 1675.From this man, prominent in early

political affairs of Rhode Island,descended a very numerous progency,who, firct moving into Dartmouth,then into other sections of New Eng-land, were able in the first UnitedStates census of 1790 to establish thefollowing record:

Of heads of families names in thi.'s

first census, in Massachusetts therewere 61 Tripps; in Rhode Island 28,

Connecticut 4, Maryland 3, NorthCarolina 7, New Hampshire 2, NewYork 40, Pennsylvania 6, Vermont 2,

South Carolina 2, Maine 4.

Mentioned in the first part of thepaper is the present predominence ofTripps in the New Bedford directory,while the last W^estport and Dart-mouth directory shows nine names inDartmouth and 83 in Westport. Sucha large family, of course, by marriage

soon became allied with practicallyever.\' old family in Portsmouth andOld Dartmouth. The first generationunited with members of the followingfamilies: Anthony, Sisson, Fish, Wor-dell. Getchell, Hall, Sherman, Lawtonand Cud worth.

The first migration to Dartmouthoccurred very early in the history ofthe Tripp family in America. In1665 John Alden deeded to JohnTripp, Sr., land undivided in Dart-mouth, which later Tripp di\ldedamong his sons, Peleg, Josep^ andJames. The Tripp farms were in thesection of Dartmouth, now West-port, east of Des'oll's pond, whilePeleg had a farm at the south endof Sawdy Pond.

The following were prominent 'ntown affairs in Dartmouth:

In 1689 James Tripp was appointedensign.

In 1672-1673 Peleg Tripp was ap-pointed surveyor

In 1686 Joseph Tripp had takenoath of fidelity.

In 1687 and 1692 he was a select-man.

In 1688 James Tripp was a select-man, also in 1699.

In 1717-1723 John Tripp was towncleric.

In 1685 Joseph Tripp was represen-tative to Plymouth.

In 1672 Daniel Wilcox deeded coJohn Tripp 114 acres of land.

James Tripp, in company with Ben-jamin Waite and George Lawton, es-tablished the mills between WestportFactorj- and the Head of Westport.When the sons of John came to

Dartmouth they settled in the regionoccupied by the homesteads of Ports-mouth people, mainly in the west edge

. of the town, in the part now in West-port. Peleg Tripp owned a largefarm at the south end of Sawdypond, in the region that was Dart-mouth until it was annexed toTiverton, and then, in 1861, returnedto Westport. This farm was ownedin 1718-1773 in the family of PhilipTabor, the Baptist preacher. In re-cent years it has been o\v"ned by W^es-ton Tripp and his descendants.Ebenezer Tripp's homestead lay

along the sovith side of the Adams-ville road, from Central Village westof the junction of Sodom road. Eben-ezer Tripp owned tracts on the ea?tside of the latter road, now its south-ern terminus

North of Central Village, about twomiles, is a locality called Kirby's cor-ner. A road extends from this placenorthwest towards Devon's pond. Thisis called the Charlotty White road.South of Kirby's corner, on sides ofthe main highway and extending

13

down to the NoQuchoke river, \\asa group of farms owned by Tripps,the homesteads being on the east sideof the highway. The north was laidout by Joseph Tripp and the south byJames.On the west side of the road the

land was owned by James, Abiel,Peleg, Joseph, James, John and PeiegTripp.

Of some of this land the presentowners are Tripps. So numerous havebeen the Tripp residents in this lo-cality that the region south of Kirb.y'scorner has been known as Tripptown.The atlas of Bristol county in 1871

discloses the fact that the residentsof Westport were as follows:

C. Tripp, Adams\ille road.R. P. Tripp, Sodom road.Weston Tripp, south end Sowdy

pond.Seven other families of the same

name south of Kirby's corner were inoccupation of land laid out tode.scendants of John Tripp soon after1700.As we could expect from the cus-

toms of the time, some peculiar willsare to be found from members ofthis second generation of Tripps inAmerica. Some extracts are worthyof record.John second willed: "To son Ben.la-

min a Bible which he hath alreadyTo son Othniel biggest pewter basinat death of wife. To son Lot biggePtpewter platter at death of wife. Todaughter Susanna Potter, wife ofThomas, iny bell metal skillet. Todaughter Mary Potter my brasskettle. To son John great chest, spitand dripping pan. To wife of Susan-na rest of movables." The inventory <if

his estate showed 9 pounds 14 shil-lings, viz., apparel five pounds, chest,table, three chairs, three bedsteads,etc.

Joseph's will read: "To wife IMe-hitable, 5 pounds per year and her

diet and house room for life, withmost of the movables in the dwellinghouse. To daughter, Alice Sherman,brass chafing dish. To daughter, Me-hitable Sherman, a Dutch pewter pocor flagon. To daughter, Mary Wait, 10shillings."The will of Abiel provided: "To son

Abiel all real and personal estate atdeath of testator's wife, and at ageof 16, he to have a cow and 10 sheep,which are to be improved until he isof age. To son at age, a silver cup,set of silver buttons; pair of silverbuttons for breeches, chest markedwith brass nails with letters I. T. anda feather bed."The will of James, who was the plu-

tocrat of the original family, made thefollowing bequests: "To wife Eliza-beth, feather bed, use of five cowsand horse, use of housing, profit ofhalf orchard, negro boy Tobey, fire-wood, £5 yearly and use of all house-hold goods while widow. To son John,great Bible, ivory-headed cane andgreat silver spoon. To daughterElizabeth Alitchell, son Robert andJames, .5 shillings each. To son Fran-cis, certain land, etc. To son Stephen,100 pounds, paid by brother John, andnegro boy Tobey, when his motherdies, and a feather bed. To son Israel,half of 100-acre lot. To daughterIsabel Tripp, a feather bed, good cowand £10." The inventory of the es-tate showed £860, viz., apparel, £11:two canes, Bible, negro boy, £100, fiveswine, poultry, £4 18 shillings, eightcows, heifer, pair of oxen, pair ofsteers, three yearlings, two calves,real estate, £500.

In closing this brief sketch, whichhas been confined almost entirely tothe first settlers, the only excuse I canoffer for writing is that I consid^Trany attempt to enlist the legitimateinterest of the people of today in thepeople of their own related past is

worth while.

TRIPP FAMILY CR EST

\

OLD DARTiMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 27

Being the proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building,

Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on 29 December, 1909.

THE OLD MEN OF FAIRHAVEN

Job C. Tripp

[Note.-—^The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches"' will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTY- SIXTH MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

29 DECEMBER, 1909

The Old Dartmouth Historical so-

ciety held its twenty-sixth quarterly

meeting on Wednesday evening. Twointeresting papers were read before

a gathering of the members, one

being by Job C. Tripp on "TheOld Men of Fairhaven," and the

other a Bourne prize essay by Miss

Irene Belanger on "Some Events in

the History of New Bedford as Re-vealed in the Collection of the OldDartmouth Historical Society." MissEelanger's paper had been awardeda prize in the competition.

President Edmund Wood, in open-ing the meeting, called attention to

some recent valuable accessions to

the society's collection. The followingmemorial tablets have been placed in

position by the entrance door:

Peleg Slocum1654-1733

"An Honest Publick Friend"His Wife

Mary Holder"A Daughter of Xopher Holder'

Henry HowlandDied 16 71

"An Original Purchaser'

Stephen WillcoxDied 1736Hie Wife

Susannah Briggs1672-1719

Eliezer Slocum1664-1727His V/ife

Elephel Fitz GeraldDied 1748

Benjamin CraneSurveyor

forDartmouth Proprietors

1710-1721

The Old Men of Fairhaven

BY

Job C. Tripp

Twenty years after 1620 and withinthe life time of the Pilgrim Fathersthe township of Dartmouth wasmarked out as a most desirable placefor settlement, and a deed was ob-tained from the two sachems Massa-soit and Wamsutta for all the land in-cluded now in the city of New Bed-ford, and the towns of Dartmouth,Westport, Fairhaven, and Acushnei-.In consideration of which there waspaid to the Indians thirty yards ofcloth, eight moose skins, fifteen axes,fifteen hoes, fifteen pairs of breeches,eight blankets, two kettles, one cloalc,

eight pairs stockings, eight pair ofshoes, one iron pot and two Englishpounds in wampum. It must ha\ebeen over 250 years ago, when JohnCooke, the last surviving Pilgrim onthe Mayflower and the first white manto settle in our town, came to wliatis now the locality of Oxford, in Fair-haven. He was undoubtedly our first

old man; a man of great ability,strictly honest and trustwortliy, anda Christian of the Baptist persuasion,having left Plymouth on account ofhis then heretical notions, wliiciifound no fellowship among the Pil-grim fathers, although no deed givenby the Pilgrim fathers within thetownship of Dartmouth was valilunless countersigned by John Coolve,their agent here. John Cooke was theancestor of many families in ourtown. Fairhaven, when set off from,the town of New Bedford, in 1812,included tlie town of Acushnet, thelatter town having been set off fromFairhaven as an independent townshipmany years later. In speaking of theold men of Fairhaven. I allude Lo

those living in the present township,placing them in two classes: first,

those I knew of and saw when a boyof 10 or 12; and secondly, those whomI know when I was a young man in

business; and with those lives I wasmore or less contemporary. The mostof these inen were good citizens, andfaitliful in their callings, the largerpart being descendants of the PilgrimFathers. Many of them connectedwith the various trades or occupationsenumerated were prominent in thecivic, religious and business life of tlie

townI commence with some of the old-

est men whom I have seen wlien thebuGiness of the town was wholly mari-

time, giving names, occupations, andage at death.Master mariners—Noah Stoddard,

94; Silas Alden, 78; John Bunker, 7:i;

Lemuel C. Wood, 78; Alden D. Stod-dard, 83; James Merrihew, 82;Thomas Bennett, 75; George Hitch,SO;? Sylvanus Allen, 81;? AtkinsAdams, 6 7.

Most of the shipmasters were ablemen, and successful in their calling.Most of tlieir life being spent on ship-board, a little of the commanding andautocratic spirit was shown on shore.It was said that Noah Stoddard's atti-tude at home or on the street wastliat of a stern man, not to be trifledwith. Boys on the street stopped theirnoisy play and stood in awe as hepassed by. Atkins Adams was alwaysa finely dressed and imposing figure,with aristocratic bearing, on ourstreets. He with others did not ap-prove in that day of the laboringman's efforts to reduce the hours oflabor from the custom at that time ofworking from sunrise to sunset, to the10-liour system wliich was afterwardsadopted. He expressed the thouglittliat the workmen were rather tooindependent and saucy, but he was afine man and prominent as a leadingcitizen. Thomas Bennett, in his day,was a prominent shipmaster in themerchant service between this coun-try and Russia.

I am Informed that CaptainChailes Stoddard was a noted sliip-mastei- of a passenger ship runningbetween this country and Europe, be-fore the adoption of steam passengerservice. In a great gale off the southside of Long Island, on his returnfrom Europe witii a large number ofpassengers, he met with sliipwrec'i.Finding that his ship was leaking, andsure to sink, his quick sense of dangerled him to summon his officers andcrew to tlie quarterdeck, wliere, withspealving-trumpet in his hand, he or-dered the boats manned and filled

with passengers, all of whom weresaved. When urged by passengers,officers and crew to save his life, nemade answer through his speakingtrun'pet, 'I am captain of this ship,and ^ ou must oloey my orders; as forme, 1 shall stand by the ship.' Tlionext morning after the storm, whenthe divers came down from New Yorkthey found the sunken ship witli Cap-

tain Stoddard standing at his postwith speaking trumpet clutched sotightly by his fingers that it was withdifficulty removed.

I speak of these incidents simplyto show you what kind of stuff someof these men were made of.

Grocers and Traders—Bartholo-mew Taber, 81; Marlboro Bradford,76; Enoch S. Jenney, 89.

Merchants—T.evi Jenney, 70; Sam-uel Borden, 88; Joseph Tripp, 92:

Warren Delano. 86.

Joseph Tripp was one of our first

citizens and noted as merchant, state

senator and gentleman.Samuel Borden was for many years

one of our wealthiest men and animportant director in the Merchantsbank of this city.

Warren Delano, a descendant ofPhilhppe Delanoye, of France, wasfor many years one of our mostprominent merchants.Farmers—George Willcox, 98; Seth

Alden, 71; Nathaniel Delano, 72; Jo-seph Smith, 78; Amaziah Delano, 88.

George Willcox Avas always a hardworking nun. Every year he plantedhis garden and took care of it. Onthe last day of his life, when he diedat 98, he hoed his garden and atehis dinner at 12 o'clock; then, re-tiring to the lounge, as usual, he soonfell asleep, and never woke again.

Shipwrights—Abener Pease. 85;?Isaac Wood, 80; Jesse Paine, 70.?

Coopers—Jeremiah Pease, 80; Kel-lev S. Eldredge, 89; Salathiel El-dredge, 83; Gilbert Tripp, 80.

Shoemakers—Dennis McCarthy, 73;Ebenizer Tripp, 64.

Dennis McCarthy, Irishman andCatholic, who came over from Ireland,was a man of more than ordinaryintelligence. He joined the Methodistchurch, where as a boy I also at-tended and often heard his gentlevoice touched with poetic thought ashe spoke in the prayer meeting. Manyyears afterwards he became a convertto the Swedenborgian faith, and manytimes have I seen the coach and spanof Mary Rodman of this city driveup to his little cobbler shop, on Waterstreet in our town, ,where no doubtshe found congenial company in theirdiscussion on spiritual themes.

Ebenizer Ti-ipp was of most excel-lent character, but was both deaf anddumb He was constant in his at-tendance at the Congregationalchurch, and when questioned as tohis reason for going when he wasunable to hear what was said, he re-plied that he liked to watch the ex-pression on the minister's face dur-ing his delivery of the sermon, andsomehow he felt that the inspirationand spirit of the speaker was impart-ed to him. He felt in his heart what

he failed to hear in his ears. In thesame spirit he fellowshipped with theother members of the churchCaulker—Jabez Sherman, 80.H. H. Rogers informed me last

year that one day when a boy he waswalking over the mill bridge on hisway to the high school, now and thenthrowing a stone into the mill pond,when he met Mr. Sherman, who said;'Young man, whose boy art thou?'when young Rogers replied, "I amRoland Rogers's boy." Mr. Shermanthen said: 'Roland Rogers's boy oughtto know better than to throw stonesinto the mill pond, for thee will fill

it.' A most remarkable prophecyfrom a man unconscious of the future,as any one will observe as he looksupon Cushman park.-Rope Maker—Albert G. Liscomb,

70.Baker—Jonathan Buttrick, 77.

Rigger—James Hammond, 74.

Sail maker—Hardy E. Hitch, 83.Town clerk—Ebenezer Akin, Sr.,

85.?I now refer to the second class of

old men who were active when I wasa young man in business.

Master mariners—Lemuel Tripp.81; Caleb Church, 85; Phinneas E.Terry, 71; John S. Taber, 80; EbenizerPierce, 84; Alexander Winsor, 80;Thomas Stoddard, 80; Jabez Delano,74; James S. Robinson, 87; James V.

Cox, 71; Charles S. Taber, 82; JosephTaber; Charles Bryant; James Tripp,2d, 80; Peleg Gifford, 84; Ellery T.

John Charry, 79; Gorham B. Howes,71; Benjamin Ellis, 78; Thomas W.Taber, 85; John Church, 78; WilliamH Whitfield, 81; Isaiah West, 87; IraLakey; George H. Taber, 93.

The many incidents relating tothese men are too numerous to men-tion in this paper. Lemuel Tripp, oneof our leading citizens, was directorin the Fairhaven bank, deacon of theCongregational church, and well to

do. He told me that he never gavehis note or hired a dollar in all his

life. Phinneas E. Terry, the favoritecaptain of Cornelius Vanderbilt on hisNew York and Galveston steamshipline, expected his passengers as wellas his crew to obey orders. Stoppingat one of the southern ports to takeon passengers, he noticed the next daythat some of these southern men weregambling on the quarter deck. Heordered them to desist as no gam-blin.g was allowed on the ship. Theyobeyed, but the next day, in anotherpart of the ship, the same gang werefound at the same business. WhenCaptain Terry approached, the men,all of whom were armed, quietly tooktheir cards and threw them into thesea, to the great amazement andwrath of the gamblers; but there was

no more gambling. Then WilliamWashburn, a favorite captain of Gibbsand Jenney, who sailed during theCivil war on a right whale voyage toHudson bay. The ship was frozen-inby Sept. 15; Eskimos came and builttheir icehouses around the ship. Cap-tain Washburn found them to be goodmen, and thoroughly honest. Finallythe sun ceased to rise; the weather.60 to 70 degrees below zero, was verytrying, when the Eskimos chief pro-posed a hunting trip to the interiorof northern Canada; the captain fur-nishing a boat crew and food, theEskimo the sledges, with 40 dogs to

a sled. They were gone about a week,and returned with nine moose oxenand 200 salmon trout. The comingseasc;n the ship, filled with oil andbone, returned; the oil selling at onedollar per gallon and the bone at onedollai- and fifty cents per pound.

Captain Alexander Winsor, in themerchant service, was the favoritecaptain of Grinnell, Minturn & Co.,and had the finest ship in the Ameri-can service; which was afterward soldin a foreign port, "Flying Cloud".William H. Whitfield, the captain

who rescued Nakahama Mungero andliis five comiaanions from a lone rockin a China sea. This young Japanesewas one of my schoolmates in Fair-haven, graduating in five years aheadof all the American boys. He final-ly returned to Japan, where he wasQuite as important a factor in open-ing the ports of Japan to the worldas Commodore Perry and his warship.No fairy tale or Arabian Nights storycould ever equal his experiences.And then Ira Lakey, the jeweler

ill Fairhaven, who with many logbooks studied up the habits and thehomes of the whales, and afterwardswent as captain of a ship and pro-ceeded to fill her with oil.

Captain Isaiah West, who on hisvoyage for sperm whaling in the In-dian ocean puts into Zanzibar forrecruits, and became acquainted withsome of the black Mahomedan mer-chants, whom he found strictly hon-est, trustworthy and very religious. It

was here that he lost his anchor ina typhoon, compelling him to obtainanother one to replace the lost one.The merchant who sold the anchorrefused to take pay, saying he couldfind the captain's anchor in the har-bor, and besides it was the commandof the Koran that the Mahomedanmust treat the stranger in distress ashe himself would like to be treatedwere he in distress in the stranger'scountry.

It was largely through CaptainCharles Bryant in his interviews withSenator Charles Sumner that the sen-ate of the United States was prevailedupon to purchase Alaska from the

Russian government. His whaling ex-periences in Bering sea, his acquaint-ance with the Alaska Indians, his ex-perience as custodian of the fur sealfishery and his account of the fish-eries and wonderful scenery in Alaska,are of the greatest interest.

Merchants—Nathan Church, 74;William P. Jenney, 79; Charles WWhite, 79; Francis Stoddard, 66; Phin-neas Terry, 87; Isaiah F. Terry, 91;Warren Delano, Jr., 88; Nathaniel S.Higglns, 86; Weston Howland, 85;Johnathan Cowen, 72; William L. B.Gibbs, 81; Charles S. Taber, 82; Ro-land Fish, 89; Furman R. Whitwell,68; Philemon E. Fuller, 81; EzekielR. Sawin, 79; Wilson Pope, 84; LewisS. Judd, 70; Nathaniel Church, 66.Nathan Church, our wealthiest

citizen, had three good character-istics: He always paid his labor everySaturday; he never spoke ill of anyone; he was always polite to thetownspeople in every walk in life.

Warren Delano, Jr., for a greatmany years was the trusted managerof the commercial house of Russell& Co., Shanghai, China.Weston Howland, a citizen for so

many years of both this city and Fair-haven, was noted as the discovererin the successful manufacture of pe-troleum oil.

Grocers and Traders—^Rufus Allen,Kl; Samuel H. Eldred, 87; Noah Stod-dard. 77; Seth S. Swift, 77; TuckerDamon, Jr., 84; Hervey Tripp, 80.

Carpenters—Amos T. Pierce. 72;Loring Dexter. 78; Frederick T.Pierce. 94; Bethuel Gifford, 87; Ar-nold G. TripF, 87.

Coopers—William W. Allen. 89;John C. Pease, 80; Pardon Tripp, 87;Nathan Lawton, 81; Charles H. Tripp,84; Charles Eldredge, SS; John M.Howland, 91; Welcome J. Lawton, 79;Kelley S. Eldredge, 80; Hiram Tripp,S4; Francis J. Delano, 86.

Blacksmiths—Luther Cole, 79;Tucker Damon. 82; John Howard, 76;Phinneas Merrihew, 80; Isaac W.Babbitt, 93.

Shipwrights—Reuben Fish, 85;Elbridge G. Morton, 74; Albert Gif-ford, 79; Daniel J. Lewis, 72; Eben-ezer Bryden, 76; Oliver Brightman.Farmers—Lemuel S. Akin, 76;

William F. Terrv, 88; John P. Ellis,73; William P. Sullings, 81; ManuelRose, 80; Sylvanus E. Studley, 87;Henry Akin, 76; Charles F. Morton,81; Samuel Dunn, 81; George R. Dean,79; Seth Alden, 84; Johnathan E.Cowen.

Physicians—George Attwood, 72:Charles N. Thayer, 79.

Treasurers and Cashiers—CharlesDrew. 84; Reuben Nye, 89.

Riggers—William Waterson^ 88;"W'illiam T. Hoeg, 73.

10

Machinists—Henry J. Mantius, 86;

Kussell Hathaway, 81.

Painters—Bartholomew Taber, 80;

William Washburn, 84; AlexanderTripp, 79.

Teachers—Martin L. Eldredge, 78;

Frederick Jenney, 82.

Manufacturers—Edward A. Dana,78: Cyrus D. Hunt, 79.

Ministers—Rev. Henry J. Fox, 70;

Kev. Frederick Upham, 91.

Martin L. Eldredge will be remem-bered a.s the successful commanderand teacher of the state schoolshipMassachusettf?, which for several yearsv.-as anchored in our harbor. ReubenFish will be remembered as a mostsuccessful ship builder, some of thefinest ships owned in New Bedfordand Fairhaven were the products of

his skill.

Seth A. Mitchell, road builder, 88

George A. Briggs, civil engineer, 84Nathaniel S. Taber, sail maker, 87Ira Gerrish, cabinet maker, 86; Wal-ter D. Swan, pump maker, S4; JoshuaDelano, boat builder, 80; James Law-rence, teamster, 75; Robert Bennett,clerk, 75; Francis W. Tappan, law-yer, 87; John H. Howland, selectman,76; Alfred Nye, justice, 78; WilliamBradford, artist, 70; Thomas S. Put-man, deputy sheriff, 82; Eben Akin,Jr., town clerk, 87; James Bennett,lailroad conductor, 75; James C.

Mara, dentist, 8 0; Samuel Jenkins,gardener. 9S; Harvey Caswell, blockmaker, 84; Frederick Williams, coop-er, 82; John Chase, blacksmith, 93;Cyrus G. Lawrence, cooper, 94.

Some of these men Avere greatsticklers for their rights. The select-men gave James Wing permission todam up the old mill pond in orderthat he might obtain his supply ofice from this place. I well recollecta great northeast storm with a down-pour of rain that completely floodedthe land around the pond. Two ofthe abutters, Oliver Brightman andJames Lawrence, already alluded to,

were up bright and early in the morn-ing and proceeded with a gang of

men to destroy the dam. Word gotriuickly around the town. I was oneof the first to arrive on the scene,when soon came the selectmen, whoin peremptory tone ordered them todesist in their attempt to defy theaction of the constituted authoritiesof the town. The two men repliedthat they had squatters rights andthey were going to maintain them.They kept at work until the wholedam gave way, the great body of wa-ter rapidly flowing into the Acushnetriver. It was a great sight and greatfun for the boys. Suit at law wasimmediately brought by the selectmenagainst both Lawrence and Bright-man, the two latter being defended byThomas D. Elliot, Esq., who told meafterwards that he gained the casefor these men and also a decree fromhigher authorities that this waterwaymust remain open and undisturbedto the sea. The town was mulctedin the sum of $3300.

Of course there were many otherold men besides those I have enumer-ated, mostly farmers who were be-yond my reach. I note the fact thatamong all the occupations given thehealthiest were those of house car-penters and coopers.

Of course nothing has been saidabout the old women, of whom thereare always more in number than theeld men. There are more widowsthan widowers in our town. A life

insurance risk on a woman is betterthan one on a man.

Fairhaven 7 years ago, with its

li;ck of good streets and sidewalks, its

sale of liquors at the grocery storesand public bar, its lack of shadetrees and its inadequate school sys-tem, was a vastly different town thanthe town of today. But later on someof the men whom I have named didmuch afterwards in tree-planting,grading, flagging and curbing someof our streets and improving ourschool system, until our former towns-man, H. H. Rogers, completed thework as it stands today.

OLD DARTMOUTH^

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 28

Being the proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Old Dartmouth

Historical Society, held in their Building, New Bedford, Mass., on

March 30, 1910.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORSWilliam A. Wing

REPORT OF THE TREASURERWilliam A. Mackie

REPORT OF THE MUSEUM SECTIONAnnie Seabury Wood

REPORT OF THE HISTORICAL RESEARCHSECTION Henry B. Worth

REPORT OF THE EDUCATIONAL SECTIONElizabeth Watson

REPORT OF THE PUBLICATION SECTIONWilliam A. Wing

REPORT OF THE PHOTOGRAPH SECTIONWilliam A. Wing

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

ANNUAL MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

BUILDING OF THE SOCIETY

ON

MARCH 30, 1910

The following officers were elected:

President—P^dmund W(>od.Vice Presidents—George H. Tripp,

Henry B. Worth.Treasurer—William A. Mackie.Secretary—William A. Wing.Directors for three years—William.

W. Crapo, Walton Ricketson, EdwardL. Macomber.

President Wood, who presided at

the meeting, announced that the

members had gathered for the sev-

enth annual meeting. "While this hasnot been a spectacular year in the

society's history," he said, "we all

believe it has been a year of growthand development. Good work hasbeen done, meetings regularly held,

and research work of value, re-

lating to the history of the locality.

has been developed by the papersread at the meetings.The society is indebted to the

entertainment committee, which hasinaugurated several entertainments,and has not only provided in-

structive evenings, but has also raised

revenue and has money in the treas-

ury.

Referring to the gifts made to the

society, President Wood said that

many valuable articles were drifting

into its possession, for which the

members desired to express gratitude.

He also dwelt upon the satisfaction

which the public should feel that the

treasure-house of the society afford-

ed a chance to give a proper hous-

ing and exposure to these things.

Report of the DirectorsBY

William A. Wing

Another twelfth-month has passedin the activities of our society, ex-pressed by the various reports of this

evening.We are justly proud that the Old

Dartmouth Historical Society holds arecognized and unique place amonghistorical associations.During the last year the secretary

has spent his spare time as librarianof the Rhode Island Historical So-ciety, established in 1822. That organ-ization is practically an historicallibrary. The dignity of age and its

methods resulting from long estab-lishment and experience have madethe past year one which will be, I

am sure, productive of value to this

society. Visits when possible to othersocieties and also from their repre-sentatives have been helpful. For thespirit of co-operation is especiallynecessary in this work as an aidagainst retrogression.

In Meiiioriam.

Wilhelmina Crapo Clifford(a life member).

Annie Russell Holmes.John Henry Howland.Adeline J. James.

David Kinghorn.Joseph Frank Knowles.Thomas Henry Knowles.Winthrop P. Knowles.Elizabeth Perry Paige.Henry Huttleston Rogers

(a life member).William Ervin Sargent.Winfred T. Taft.

We realize the great loss to thecommunity and to this society causedby the death of Henry H. Rogers, towhose generosity we owe this beauti-ful home, so well adapted to ourneeds. It is a fitting memorial tothe donor and to his ancestors, whowere among the earliest and mostprominent in Old Dartmouth.Each member will help this institu-

tion, so valuable and much needed inour city and vicinity, by the regularpayment of annual dues. This canalways be regulated by consultingyour last membership card, which is

in itself a receipt and memorandum.By thrift, co-operation, and atten-

tion to detail grew from humble be-ginnings our Old Dartmouth to agreat and flourishing community, andso with your help may its namesake,our Old Dartmouth Historical Society.

Report of the Treasurer

William A. Mackie

William A. Mackie treasurer in ac-count with Old Dartmouth Historicalsociety from March 29. 1909 to March30, 1910:

Receipts.Balance March 29, 1909 $383.02To W. A. Wing, secretary, fordues 623.00

To W. A. Wing, secretary, foradmissions 71.25

To W. A. Wing, secretary, forpublications 17.10

To W. A. Wing, secretary, forlife members 50.00

To Merchants National bank,dividend 39.00

To Mechanics National bank,dividend 105.00

To Commonwealth of Massa-chusetts, rebate of tax 50.56

$1,338.93

Pajineuts.By N. B. Institution for Sav-

ings, life members $5C.00By museum 55.75By salaries 150.00By labor 286.88By repairs and improvements. 63.77By current expenses 555.58Balance March 30, 1910 176.95

fl,33S.93

Report of the Museum Section

Annie Seabury Wood

Through the kindness of its manyfriends much has been done duringthe year now ended to increase thevalue and interest of the museum.A beautiful old desk, belong-

ing to Daniel Ricketson, Sr., wasgiven to the society, by his great-grandchildren, Arthur, Anna andAValton Ricketson. Daniel Ricketson,son of John Riclvetson, was born inDartmouth in 174 5 and died in NewBedford in 1S24. The mahogany ofwhich the desk is made was broughtby him from Santo Domingo in a shipof which he was master. It is a mostfinished piece of workmanship, andwe value it not only for its ownbeauty, but because it was the dearlyprized possession of a family whosemembers have been, from the organ-ization of the society, its staunchsupporters and generous benefactors.We count ourselves fortunate, too, incoming into possession of an excep-tionally fine figurehead from the oldNew Bedford whaleship BartholomewGosnold. A long story might be toldabout the ship, its voyages and its

owners, and aboiit the adventures ofthe figurehead after the ship was de-stoyed. Sufficient here to say, how-ever, that it has most fittingly founda home with us at last.

The surveyor's outfit of HenryRowland Crapo, born 1804, died 1S69,has been presented to the society. Itshistory is an interesting one. In 1829Henry Howland Crapo was teachingin the High school at the Head ofWestport. He \\ as ambitious to bea land surveyor and had preparedhimself, but he had no compass andno means to purchase one. His onlyalternative was to malve one. Usingthe tools in the village blacksmithshop he constructed a compass andtripod and used them afterwards inmany surveys of land within the ter-ritory of Old Dartmouth.A short time ago, William F.

Havemeyer of New York presentedto the society an oil painting by Wil-liam Bradford, which is consideredone of the strongest of the artist'spictures. The scene is off the north-ern coast of Greenland and the nameof the picture is 'The Ice DwellersWatching the Invaders.' The shin isthe Panther and was hired by Wil-liam Bradford for this expedition.

Dr. Hayes, the explorer, was a mem-ber of the party, and it is interetsingat this time to note that an urcleof 'Capt. Bob' Bartlett, who is tolecture under the auspices of thissociety on Friday night, was m com-mand of the ship.The Horace Smith loan collection

has added greatly to the interest ofthe Alaskan room and to the Jap-anese and Chinese exhibit which hasbeen arranged in the old directors'room.Only a beginning has been made

in this work, but we feel sure it isthe nucleus of a worthy exhibit inthe future. Notable among the manyother acquisitions is a group of mod-els of Provincetown whaleships givenby Abbott P. Smith; a photographof Warren Delano given by Mrs.Delano-Forbes; the trimming for aparka or Alaskan coat, a most won-derful and artistic piece of workmade of tiny pieces of deer hide andbrought down from the far northby David H. Jarvis; a working sketchin water color painted in 1880 byDodge McKnight for the drop curtainof Liberty Hall, given by William L.Sayer; and a pair of whale's teeth,the largest ever brought into NewBedford, taken from a whale killed byCaptain George Winslow of Bark Des-demona.Nathan C. Hathaway is constantly

adding new treasures to his case ofivories, and it is safe to say that MrHathaway's case, the case of jaggingwheels and the case oi miscellaneousarticles made on shipboard form acollection of ivories which is most val-uable and unique and one which itwould be impos.sible to duplicate.The entertainmenr committee has

presented several interesting talks andlectures during the winter; one bvClifford W. Ashley on a 'Short Voy-age on a Whaleship;' one by Eliza-beth Watson on Old Dartmouth, il-lustrated with stereopticon viewsshown by J. Arnold Wright; one byJohn Colby Abbott on 'Colonial Dress-ing in America,' and to conclude theseason a lecture will be given on Fri-day night, April 1st, by Captain Bart-lett of the Roosevelt. We trust hewill be given a rousing welcome toNew Bedford.

Report of the Historical Research Section

BY

Henry B, Worth

While the activities of this societyare directed especially to historical

events of ancient Dartmouth, yet thecircle of its investigation may prop-erly include persons and places in

which Dartmouth men have been par-ticularly concerned. Along the south-ern boundary of Buzzards bay is achain of islands constituting one of

the towns of Dukes county to whichthe foregoing principle has a peculiarapplication, and this wilr plainly ap-pear when the ownership of theislands is considered. Purchased orig-inally by Thomas Mayhew in 1641 theyremained in the possession of his fann-

ily for nearly half a century. Beforehis death they were conveyed to pur-chasers who were never associatd withMarthas Vineyard but whose namesare illustrious in the colonial historyof Dartmouth.

Penikese was transferred in 1686to Daniel '.Vilcox and soon after toPeleg Slocvim by whose descendants it

was owned for over a century.Cuttyhunk was purchased in 1674

by Peleg Sanford, Peleg Smith, RalphEarle and Thomas Ward, who werewell known in the affairs of Newport,and they conveyed the island to PelegSlocum, in whose family it was helduntil in 1S69 Otis Slocum conveyedit to the Cuttyhunk club. At one timeit was called Sanford's Island afterone of its owners.Nashawena was sold to the same

four men, and among the subsequentowners were Slocums, Wrightingtonsand Rowlands, and in 169S it wascalled Slocum's island. In 1860 theentire island was acquired by CaptainEdward Merrill.

Pasque was purchased by DanielWilcox and by him conveyed in 1696to Abraham Tucker family until 1866when it was secured by the PasqueIsland club. For several generationsit was well known as Tucker's island.

Naushon and the small dependen-cies nearby were purchased by theWinthrops and later by the Bowdoinswho founded the college in the stateof Maine, and it was held by themuntil 1843 when a part interest waspurchased by William W. Swain ofNew Bedford and the entire island waslater owned by John M. Forbes.

So it clearly appears that the his-tory of the land-owners of Dartmouthwould not be complete without a con-sideration of the Elizabeth islands. Ata time when there is such keen inter-

est in Indian place names and theirm.eanings, it is opportune to considerthe designations assigned to theseislands by the red men.

There has been considerable lib-erty in changing names in this local-ity. The body of water which Gos-nold called a sound was designated in1686 by Governor Mayhew as 'Monu-ment Bay,' the name probably beingput another form of 'Manomet.' Laterir was renamed "Buzzards Bay.' butwhy or by whom has not been ex-plained. Gosnold named the western-most island "Elizabeth's Island,' andduring the following century this-

name was appropriated to the entiregroup but the author of this changehas not been discovered. The Indiangroup name met a singular fate, whichwill now be explained.

While these islands were still apart of the New York colony, in 1679,the authorities at Plymouth obtainedthe testinnony of an Indian named 'OldHope' which contained some impor-tant statements. He says the collectivegroup name when the English came tothis region, was 'Nashanow.' Thisname is derived from a well knownAlgonquin word meaning "between'and is the basis of such names asShawmut and Nashua. It alludes tothe fact that this chain of islands is

between the bay and the sound. Thefirst liberty assumed by the Englishwith this appropriate name was toabandon it altogether and substituteElizabeth as the group name. Thenthey constructed two variations of theIndian word, one, Naushon they ap-plied to the largest island, and Nash-awena to the second in size.

The Nashanow islands are fifteenin number and according to Old Hopethe name of the largest was Katta-mucke, a name found in numerouslocations occupied by the Algonquinnation. Its derivation is "Keht-amaug' and means 'the chief or prin-cipal fishing place.' In 1734, in onedeed, it was designated as 'Catamuk,the great island or Tarpolin CoveIsland.' The name Naushon was adopt-ed after 17 53 when the island waspurchased by the Bowdoins.Between Naushon and the main-

land are two islands, the west Un-catena and the east Nanomessett.

TTncatena also spelled Uncatincetand Onkatonka and paraphrased bymodern fishermen 'Uncle Timmy', wasstated by Old Hope to be 'aneck of

land or little island belonging to thegreat island called Kattamucl^e.' Thederivation seems to be 'Uhque-kat-am-est,' which means 'at the extremityof the greatest rtshing-place,' exactlythe definition given by Old Hope.Nanomeset is the island across the

narrow passage from 'Woods Hole.Possibly its location is the origin ofits name. The probable derivation is

'Nanah-am-esset' and means 'the little

fishing-place at tne Strait."Wepeckets, three in number, are

situated in the bay southwest fromWoods Hole. Dr. Trumbull statedthat 'Wepu' signified 'narrow.' If thisis the derivation the name means 'atthe Narrows,' referring to the straitat Woods Hole.

Nonohansett in 16 88 was describedas an island near Tarpolin Cove. Thederivation of the name is: 'Munalian-sett' and means 'at the little island.'Pasque is found also in the follow-

ing forms: Pesketenneis and Pesh-chamesset; the word from which it is

derived is the basis of the names Pas-camensett. Pasket, Pascoag and Pas-saic. The meaning is 'to burst asun-der or to divide,' but how this appliesto Pasque is not clear. To renderthe naine appropriate the island mustaiviae something into two parts; thusPascoag divides the river into twobranches. The exact meaning of thename under consideration is still prob-lematical.

Xasliawena is merely a variationof the original group name in anotherfornn, the earliest on record is Asna-wana.Cuttyhunk is the name of the west-

ernmost of the group, and is an ab-breviation of Pohcutuohhunkkoh,which means 'to dig up.' The diffi-

culty is to comprehend the local sig-nification of the term. Dr. Trumbullsuggested that tlie definition shouldbe 'cultivated,' but Gosnold found the

island not only barren and sterile but'unpeopled and disinhabited.' Some ofthe English sojourners dug up sassa-fras and carried it away to Europewhere it was of considerable value,and the name of the island may referto this circumstance. But it must beadmitted that no satisfactory reasonhas yet "been given for this designa-tion.On the north side of the island is

an enclosure called 'the Pond.' Thebeach separating this pond from Buz-zards bay was formerly called 'Copi-cut,' which means 'enclosed.' At thewest end of the island is a sm.all pondwith a little rocky island in the centrewhere Gosnold's exploring partycamped for twenty-two days in May,1602, and where the monuinent is nowlocated. The name of this island is

'Quaclv' which means "Rock-land Atthe east side of the island is a longnarrow neck probably once named'Canapitset' but this name is now re-stricted to the strait separating Cut-tyhunk froin Xashawena. A meaningsuggested is 'a sitting on like a birdon a rest,' which may refer to the factthat sea fowl resorted to this point asa resting place.

North of Cuttyhunk is the islandcalled Penikese where Professor Agas-siz established a summer school, andnow is the location of the leper colony.Other forms of the name are Paino-chiset, and Puanakesset. A colloquialabbreviation is 'Pune.' The meaninghas been suggested 'at the falling orsloping land,' but this is no more dis-tinctive of this island than others, andthe meaning of the name is still indoubt.

The principal names of this grouphave been arranged in rhyme as fol-lows: Naushon, Nonamesset, Onkaton-ka and Wepecket, Nashawena, Pes-quinesse, Cuttyhunk and Penequesse,

Report of the Publication Section

BY

William A. Wing

Old Dartmouth in contrast to those

who dwelt within its ancient bound-aries has known many sojourners,

those "pilgrims and strangers vyjho

could tarry but a night." Divers weretheir call's and diverse their com-ments!

Perhaps the most enthusiastic wasJohn Brereton of the Gosnold expedi-tion in 1602. "We stood a while like

men ravished at the beautie and deli-

cacie of this sweet life; for besidesdivers cleere Lakes of fresh water

—

Medowes very large, full of greenegrass, even the most wooddy places

doe grow so distinct and apart, onetree from another uupon greenegrassie ground, somewhat higher thanthe Planes, as if nature would showherself above her power artificiael."

Doughty Benjamin Church in his

reminiscences of King Philip's Warin 1675 graphically states "Appoint-ing the Ruins of John Cooke's House,for the place to meet followed the(Indians') Track until they came nearentering a miery Swamp, was told theyhad discovered an abundance of In-dians. Calling one Mr. Dellano (Jona-than Delano) who was acquaintedwith the ground and the Indian lan-guage, were soon among the thickestof the Indians and perceived themgathering Hurtle Berries. An Indianwoman told him if they went thatwaj' (towards Sconticut Neck) theywould all be killed."

In 1703-4 Thomas Story, an earlyEnglish Friend of "good birth andeducation," wrote of his visits. "Welodged (by invitation) with PelegSlocum, where we were easy and welland next day being the first of theweek, went to the meeting at Dart-mouth, which was large and theblessed truth was over all to theglory of his great name. Had anappointed meeting at the house ofone Thomas Hadaway (Hathaway) ata village called Cushnet, north ofDartmouth. He was ensign to a com-pany of militia, but both he and hiswife (Hebzibeth) were ready to ad-mit of a meeting as at some othertimes before.

This is not strange as the wife ofThomas Hathaway was Hepzebeth,daughter of the great Mary Starbuck,ar whose home in Nantucket was heldthe first Friends' meeting by JohnRichardson, Peleg Slocum and others.The gent'e John Woolman, whose

journal President Eliot has placed on

that small and much discussed shelf,-

made visits in 1747 and 1769 here,but gives but little detail regardingthem. He writes in 1760: "Was atn;eetings in Dartmouth. From theresailed for Nantucket with AnneGamet and Mercy Rodman of thoseparts and several other Friends."

Major John Andre of romanticmemory, tells of the British raid in1778 in rather partisan terms: "Wehad a few men wounded by peoplelurking in the swamps and behindstone fences. The Rebels (Ameri-cans) carried from Bedford 4 piecesof brass cannon from which they fireda shot or two as they retired on theBoston Road. Three or four men ofthe enemy (Americans) were foundbey-oneted, one an ofTicer. They hadfired at the advance party and werenot alert enough to get off."

Elias Hicks in 179 3 writes: "At-tended the monthly meeting at Appo-negansett, alias Dartmouth, whichproved a hard and painful session,things being much out of order withFriends there, most of the youngpeople and some of those that wereolder were very raw and ungovern-able so that the meeting was muchinterrupted by an almost continualgoing In and out, although frequentlyrepro^ ed for it

"

Elias Hicks's teachings were some-what at variance with that meeting,which may account somewhat for theuncomplimentary description. How-ever, "Rode to New Bedford in com-pany with our beloved Friend ThomasRotch, and stayed at his house,where had a cordial r'eception andkind entertainment from him and hislieloved wife (Charity Rodman), whoappeared to be hopeful and young'Friends.

The next day we attended theirmonthly meeting, which proved a verycomfortable and edifying season. Thismonthly meeting was but newlysettled and Friends appeared desir-ous of improvement and there werea number of prominent young Friendsin the place.

About 1805-06 John James Audu-bon took passage to New' York on theNew Bedford Brig Hope (belongingto Isaac Howland & Son) bound forNantes. The captain had recentlybeen married, and when the vesselreached the \icinity of New Bedford,Audubon writes: "Leaks were discov-ered which necessitated a week's de-

lay to repair, for (Audobon avers)the captain had holes bored in thevessel's sides below the water line togain an excuse to spend a few moredays with his bride." We regret that,

as yet, owing to a lack of certain cus-tom house accounts the name of thecaptain is not certain.Audubon says he did not mind the

delay, but enjoyed himself extremelyrowing about the beautiful harbor.

In after years he knew N'ew Bed-:ford very well and numbered amon.?

his friends here James Arnold, JosephGrinnell, William T. Russell, andCharles W. Morgan.

These brief extracts of travellers'impressions during two centuries, nowalmost forgotten footnotes in the his-tory of Old Dartmouth, are but sug-gestions of what we would preserveby _ our publication section. Anythingin reminiscence, diary, letter or docu-ment that may throw a gleam of lightupon a hitherto unseen or dimmed bitof Old Dartmouth's history.

Report of the Educational Section

Elizabeth Watson

The object of the education sectionfor the past year has been the sameas reported at the last annual meet-ing—the education and entertainmentof the school children of Old Dart-mouth. From time to time, as it

seems practicable, classes of schoolchildren and their teachers are in-vited to the rooms of the society,where the various collections areshown and all possible intormatioigiven.Owing to circumstances not many

schools have as yet had the oppor-tunity to visit us; but we hope duringthe spring that much more will be ac-complished.

In January the children andteachers of the Westport schools

spent a morning at the rooms, andlater over a hundred of the Dart-mouth scholars came with theirteachers. Both occasions were mutu-ally satisfactory and interesting to thevisitors and the committee.By invitation of the committee,

Miss Irene Belanger, of the last grad-uating class of the High school, readat the December meeting of the so-ciety, her Bourne prize essay. It wason local history, and was suggested b/a visit to the historical rooms. Itwas one of the many gratifying re-sults of the efforts of this committeeto make the historical collection ofvalue and interest to the younger gen-eration.

Report of the Photograph SectionBY

William A. Wing

In 1704 John Russell, one of the"Russell Twins," married RebeccaRicketson in "Friends Way." Theirancient certificate signed by them andthe witnesses, early settlers andfounders of the Society of FYiends inOld Dartmouth, was tucked away f'jr

considerably over a century in an an-tique pocketbook in one of the old-time homesteads. Afterwards it wasborrowed by one whom it interestelso much it was not returned foryears, then later it was given a de-scendant, who had a photographmade. John and Rebecca Russell'sson Daniel wedded in 3 740 EdithRowland. Their certifinate containedthe signatures of the ancestors of manyof our members, but most blankplaces available were utilized fof"casting accompts." It was torn andcrumbled and would have beenburned as waste paper but was res-cued just in time, and has now beenphotographed.

Elizabeth Russell, the daughter of

John and Rebecca, married AbrahamTucker, Jr. Their son, James Tucker,married in 1741 Ruih Tucker. Theirmarriage certificate is that of thethird generation from Johr^ and Re-becca Russell, perhaps an unequalledinstance of such papers, one genera-tion after another. On each one hasJohn Russell signed, once as theyoung bridegroom, in later years thatas the father of the gioom, andagain as the grandfather of his oldesidaughter's son. A photograph of thisone was made after some urgent so-licitation. It is only such that keptthis interesting manuscript from be-ing sent to descendants living in SanFrancisco just before the fire. Itsprobable fate is too apparent.Thus after various vicissitudes our

photograph section has preservedpermanently for the future genera-tions these three ancient documencsof so much meaning in the history ofOld Dartmouth.

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 29

Being the proceedings of the Twenty-eighth Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building,

Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on June 30, 1910.

THE SLOCUM HOUSE AT BARNEY'S JOY

By Henry Howland Crapo

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTY- EIGHTH MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

JUNE 30, 1910

The Old Dartmouth Historical So-ciety met in their building Thursdayevening and the members listened toone of the most interesting papers ofthe year, read by Henry H. Crapo, andhaving as its title ""The Slocum Houseat Barney's Joy."President Edmund Wood, in refer-

ring to the outdoor meetings formerlyheld by the society, said: "These fieldmeetings were interesting, in so far asthey were held on the site of somebuilding with historical associations,or with some of the branches of theoriginal settlement of Old Dartmouth.

Since we have come into posses-sion of this building, the society hasgrown proud, and we have been per-fectly satisfied to meet among ourown household gods. There is a ques-tion as to whether this is entirelywise, and the president would sug-gest that it might be well to have a

regular meeting outside of our ownbuilding. An added enthusiasm isgained by any body meeting with theincentive which surrounds beingpresent on the scene of interestingevents, and the opportunity of gettingacquainted which accompanies thebreaking of bread with each other,even if it is from a picnic basket.Within a short time, two delega-

tions from other historical societieshave visited us. Being as yet a youth-ful organization, we have not exhaust-ed the places within our own terri-tory, while the older societies haveexhausted the treasures near athome.The members of the T^ynn Historical

Society who recently visited this citywere much impressed with the factthat the Old Dartmouth Historical So-ciety had accomplished so much with-in so short an existence."

The Slocum House at Barney's Joy

BY

Henry Howland Crapo

Whence came "Old Gyles Slocom,"an early settler of Portsmouth on theIsland of "Acquidneck" I know not.

Somebody has hazarded the guessthat he "came over" from Somerset-shire in 1638. The tradition that hewas a son of Anthony Slocum of

Taunton I am well satisfied is incor-rect. Anthony Slocum, like RalphRussell, are unverified myths in con-nection with old Dartmouth. There is

no evidence that either of them eversettled in Dartmouth, even for a shortperiod, or that they had aught to dowith the establishment of the ironforge at Russells Mills. On the otherhand we have definite informationabout both of these men and theirconnections with the iron industry ofTaunton in 1652 and subsequently. I

rather regret that the thrill which,as a child, I often experienced in

crossing the stone arched bridge nearthe old Apponagansett meeting housewas unjustified. I had been told thattradition had it that Anthony Slocum,an ancestor of mine, was there toma-hawked by the Indians as he wascrossing the bridge. Not only am I

now convinced that he was no an-cestor of mine, and that it is ex-tremely improbable that the oldbridge, or any bridge, existed at thetime when Anthony Slocum couldhave been in Dartmouth, but a still

more convincing, not to say conclu-sive, consideration is that this sameAnthony Slocum was lording it -is aCount Palatine in Albemarle County,North Carolina, some thirty years af-

ter his supposed residence in Dart-mouth.

In 1670 Anthony Slocum petitionedthe court presided over by the Hon-orable Peter Carteret, Esquire, gov-ernor and commander in chief ofCarolina for the return of his hatwhich he had lost, perhaps, on thevoyage from New England to his newhome. It was ordered ty the «fourtthat "he have his hatt delivered by yefisherman at Roanok. he paying thefee." In 1679 Anthony Slocum ap-pears as an "Esquire," a member ofthe Palatine Court for the County ofAlbemarle, and he remained a mem-

ber of this court until at least as lateas 1684. In 1680 "Anthony Slocumb.Esqr. one of the Lds Proprs Deputiesaged ninety years or thereabouts,"made a deposition in regard to some"rotten tobacco."

His will dated in 1688, and pro-bated in 1689, making him almost acentenarian, establishes the fact, ap-parently beyond question, that he wasthe same Anthony Slocum who wassurveyor of highways in Taunton aslate as 1662, since it provides for cer-tain grandchildren by the name ofGilbert concerning whom Anthonyhad previously written a letter, stiil

preserved, to his "brother-in-law" Wil-liam Harvey of Taunton. His will is

a lengthy document reciting his fam-ily relations and devising his propertyto his children by name, and it is cer-tainly strange indeed that if he had ason Giles in Portsmouth, Rhode Is-land, he should not even have men-tioned him. Moreover, the dates re-lating to Anthony Slocum and GilesSlocum would not indicate that theywere father and son. If they were ofkin they were more probably brothers.

Giles Slocum, of Portsmouth, at allevents, is the unquestioned progenitorof the Slocums of old Dartmouth. Hisname appears many times in the rec-ords of Portsmouth, where he wascertainly living in 1648, and probablyearlier, and died in 1682. He and hiswife Joan had nine children from twoof whom, Peleg the sixth child, andEliezer the ninth, I descend. Old Gilesand his wife were early members ofthe Society of Friends, and Gilesevinced that association of pietyand good business sense, commonamong B'riends. He became an ex-tensive land owner in Rhode Islandand New Jersey, and purchased three-quarters of an original share in theDartmouth purchase. By his will, inwhich he describes himself as "GylesSlocum now of the Towne of Ports-m.outh in Road Island and j'e King'sProvidence Plantation of New Eng-land in America, sinnair." he devisesto his son Peleg one-half of a shareand to his son Eliezer one-quarter ofa share of "the land lying in Dart-

xnouth," and after making provisionfor his wife and children and grand-children gives "unto my loving friendsthe people of God called Quakersfcure pounds lawful mone\s of NewEngland."

Peleg Slocum had probably beenin Dartmouth before his father'sdeath. He took up his father's in-terest and "sat down" on the neck ofland at the confluence of Paskaman-sett River with Buzzards Bay whichhas since been known as SlocumsNeck. His mansion house stood nearthe home of Paul Barker and afterits demolition was long known as "theold chimney place." Of Peleg Slocum,that "honest publick Friend," and hiswife Mary Holder, our secretary hasgiven a most interesting sketch in thethird publication of this Society.

Eliezer was ten years youngerthan his brother Peleg, and the babyof the family. He was born in 1664.As a boy he grew up in his father'shome in Portsmouth. The olderbrothers and sisters had married andleft the homestead. Then came to thehousehold a maiden ycleped ElephelI' itzgerald, the daughter, so the storygoes, of The Fitzgerald, Earl ofKildare. It is a pretty story so wemay as well believe it. This storyexplains the presence of this blossomfrom so stately a tree in the roughhome of a Quaker pioneer of RhodeIsland in the following fashion.Once upon a time, which, since

nobody can dispute us, we might aswell say was the year 16 70, an Eng-lish army officer fell in love with afair Geraldine. The Geraldines as arace had no love for the English, re-membering how Lord Thomas, theson of the great earl, known as "Silk-en Thomas," with his five uncles onFebruary 3rd, 1536, were hung at Ty-burn as traitors of the deepest dyebecause of their fierce resentment ofthe English domination of Erin.Queen Elizabeth, to be sure, after-wards, repealed the attainder and re-stored the title and family estates,but the Fitzgeralds, descendants ofkings (like most Irishmen), neverforgave. And so the earl forthe time being, acting the partof "heavy father," forbade themarriage. He probably stampedaround the stage thumping hiscane. They alwaj's do. Where-upon, quite in accord with the con-ventions of such tales, the young peo-ple eloped. They crossed the Atlantictc« America, bringing with them ayoung sister of the bride, our LadyElephel.Perhaps the earl, in the mannei

of Lord Ullin, stood on the shore ofthe Emerald Isle, and "sore dismayed,through storm and shade his child he

did discover" as she embarked tocross the raging ocean."'Come back! Come back!' he may

have criedAcross the stormy water,

'And I'll forgo my Irish pride,My daughter! Oh! my daughter!'"The Ullin girl only tried to cross

a ferry with her Highland chief, if

you remember, yet of the noble fa-ther's piercing cries, Tom Campbellsays:" 'Twas vain. The loud waves lashed

the shore,Return or aid preventing.

The waters wild went o'er his childAnd he was left lamenting."Fortunately my grandmother Ele-

phel and her sister set forth in morefavorable weather, and although shemay, perhaps, have left her noble sirelamenting, the waters of the Atlanticdid not go "o'er her," and she made asafe landing on this side.

In what manner our little Irishlady was separated from her sis-ter, and came to find a home in thesiinple household of Giles Slocum inPortsmouth the tradition sayeth not."Irish maids" were not commonly em-ployed in those early days, and evenin later times "Irish maids" were sel-dom earls' aaughters. None theless it is probable that the LadyElephel did in fact serve in a "do-mestic capacitj-" in the household ofthe old people whose daughters hadall married and left the hoine.That the youthful Eliezer should

fall in love with the stranger maidenwas, of course, a foregone conclu-sion. That the Quaker parents shouldbe scandalized at the thought of analliance so unequivocally "out of meet-ing," the little lady, doubtless beinga Ron%anist, was equally to be fore-seen. The young people were stern-ly chided and forbidden to foregather."There are stories of this Portsmouthcourtship which have found their waydown through more than two cen-turies that hint of the incarcerationof the maiden in the smoke house,

—

not at the time, let us hope, in opera-tion for the curing of hams or her-rings,—and of the daring QuakerRomeo scaling the roof by night andprating down the chimney of loveand plans to hoodwink the old folks.

Possibly he did not say,

"She speaks!Ah! speak again, bright angel! for

thou artAs glorious as this night, being o'er

my head,As is a winged messenger of heavenUnto the white upturned wondering

eyesOf mortals, that fall back to gaze on

him.When he bestrides the lazy-pacing

clouds,And sails upon the bosom of the air!"

Probably he did not use those pre-

cise words, yet doubtless he felt themin much the sam.e way as did the

inspired Montague. Indeed such glow-ing panegerics of the free vault of

the heavens might have proved a

bit irritating to the fair one impris-oned in her sepulchral and ashy dun-geon. And yet if she did not say.

"Eliezer. Oh! Wherefore art thou.

Eliezer Slocum. the Quaker!" her sen-

timents were unquestionably identical

with those of the fair Capulet. Elie-

zer appears to have inherited a morepractical turn of mind than the love-

sick Montague,—since he crawleddown the chimney and rescued themaiden. Just how he managed it is

not explained. The door was mani-festly locked. Perhaps he boostedher up the chimney. At all eventsthese Portsmouth lovers succeeded in

arranging matters far more satisfac-

torily than did their prototypes of

Verona. And so they were marriedbefore they were twenty and cam,eto Dartmouth and lived happily everafterwards.The quarter share which Eliezer

derived from old Giles he took upnear his brother Peleg, farther downthe Neck at a place called "Barne'sJoy." He and Elephel were livingthere, it would seem, prior to 1684.In 1694 Eliezer and his brother Pe-leg are named as Proprietors of Dart-mouth in the confirmatory deed ofGovernor Bradford. Eliezer's sharewould have amounted to somethinglike four hundred acres. The title

to his homestead farm, howevei*, wasnot confirmed to him until Novem-ber 11th, 1710, by the "committeeappoynted by her Majestie's Justicesof ye Quarter Sessions," William Man-chester, Samuel Hammond and Ben-jamin Crane. The farm in the lay-out is described as the farm on which"the said Eliezer is now living." Itcontained two hundred and sixty-nineacres. It is described as being "onye west side of Paskamar.sett riveron ye eastward side of Barnsess Joy."It seems that in addition to the rightsEliezer derived from his father hewas entitled by purchase to sixtyacres in the right of Edward Dotyand nine acres in the right of Wil-liam Bradford, old Plymouth wor-thies.

In what year he built the man-sion house I know not. It seemsprobable that it was built about 1700.Subsequently not long before Eliezer'sdeath in 1727 he built "a new addi-tion," an ell to the west of the mainstructure. By what means Eliezeracquired so ample a store of worldlygoods is not readily comprehended.It is evident, however, that amongthe very sinrvple Friends of his ac-quaintance he was considered re-

markably "well to do." His housewas a "mansion." He doubtless had afew silver spoons, possibly a silvertankard, and he had cash. When hedied in 1727 his estate was appraisedat £5790, 18s, lid, of which £665 waspersonal, and this is said to have beenexclusive of the gifts he made tohis children before his death. Thisis a large sum for those days. It

may be that this appraisal was in

"old tenor," a somewhat inflated cur-rency in Massachusetts prior to 1737,yet, even so, it still indicates a mar-vellous accumulation of wealth for a"yeoman." I regret to say that oneof the learned historians of this So-ciety is inclined to believe that myhonored ancestor, Peleg Slocum, thatconspicuously "hone.st publick Friend,"was not only a farmer, but a mer-chant "on the wrong side of the law,"in fact a smuggler, and that his fa-mous "shalop" was not always usedfor errands of "religious concernment,"but in a very profitable contrabandtrade. His inventory certainly indi-cates that he was somewhat mys-teriously a "trader." His brotherEliezer very likely may have joinedin these mercantile enterprises. In-deed there has always clung aboutthe old farm at Barney's Joy a flavorof slaves and smuggling.The Lady Elephel, whose hard la-

bor and frugality had doubtless con-tributed to this store of wealth, com-paring herself with her neighbors,may have been justilied in feelingthat she was "well set up." Yet therewas one crisis in her life when herplain home and country fare musthave seemed humble indeed in hereyes. It was all a wonderful romance,the coming of that sister who tookher from, her father's castle and leav-ing her with Giles Slocum went awayto New Amsterdam with her Englishhusband, prospered and became a ladyof high fashion and degree. So re-markable in the annals of SlocumsNeck is the entry of this great ladyin her coach and four, with postil-lions maybe, that unto this day thetale is told by the great-great-grand-children of the "Neckers." The pro-gress of the coach through the sandyroads was probably sufficiently slowand majestic to permit of all theneighbors getting a glimpse of thegreat personage in her silks andflounces, with bepowdered hair, and,I fondly trust, patches upon her faircheeks, and jewels in her ears. Whenthe ponderous coach bumped downthe narrow lane and drew up beforethe door of the Barney's Joy house,the excftement of its inmates musthave been intense. As the LadyElephel, in her severely demuregarb, welcomed her gorgeous sisterto her simple home, and they "fell

into each other's arms" (at least Ihope they did), I wonder did theirthoughts hie back to Kildare andtheir fathers' castle in the greenisle of their birth? The littlegranddaughter, Ann Slocum, who af-terwards married Job Almy and wasthe grandmother of my great grand-mother, Anne Almy Chase Slocum,may have stood entranced by thedoorstep as the gloriously bedeckedcreature entered and was escorted tothe "great low room."

Eliezer Slocum died on the "11thday of the first month, called March,in the 13th year of his majestie'sKing George his reign 1726-7." By hiswill he gave to his beloved wife Ele-phel 20 pounds per annum, and all hishousehold goods and furniture, and"one mare which she commonly ridestogether with her furniture," and twocows "which shall be kept at theproper cost and charge of my execu-tors"; also an Indian girl named Dor-cas, and various other 'tems, andthen provides as follows, viz.:

"Item. I give and bequeath to Ele-phel, my beloved wife, the great lowroom in my dwelling house, with thetwo bedrooms belonging, togetherwith the chamber over it and thebedrooms belonging thereto, and thegarett, and also what part of thenew addition she shall choose andone half of the cellar during hernatural life." The floor plan of the oldhouse which our secretary has in hispossession enables one to understandthis very liberal provision for thewidow.His farm he divides into three

parts, giving the northerly part oCabout 100 acres to his son Elieze*,"where his dwelling house stands."This tract in more modern times hasbeen known as the "Henry Allenfarm." It was there doubtless thatlittle Ann was born, and there marriedJob Almy. To his son Bbenezer he gave"that southerly part of my homesteadfarm on which my dwelling house nowstands." This of course refers to theold house. The "middle part" betweenthe northerly and southerly parts, to-gether with stock and money and gearhe gave to both sons to be equallydivided. Naturally Ebenezer took thesoutherly portion of this middle parf.There is a rather quaintly phrased

section of this will of Eliezer Slocumwhich I cannot refrain from quoting.After giving to Benjamin Slocum, agrandson, £100 and a salt mars^ an 1

a fresh meadow, the will proceeds,"And whereas, Maribah Slocum, thewidow of my son Benjamin, beingwith child, if the same prove a malechild, I then give and bequeath tothe same male child (as yet not born)a tract of land lying near John Ker-

by's with a dwelling house and or-chard thereon, and also a tract ofland lying in Aarons Countrey, socalled, and also one tract of land lyinj?on the side and joining Coaksett river,and also two acres of meadow lyingnear Guinney Island, and also twoacres of cedar swamp in QuanpogeSwamp, he the said male child payingunto his brother Benjamin £250. Butif the child which is not yet bornshould prove a female child all tneinheritance I have here given to it,

being a male child, shall be given tjBenjamin Slocum, the said Benjaminpaying his sister £50 when she be-comes 1 8 years of age." He also gives£200 for the "bringing up" of thesetwo grandchildren.You may be interested to know

that "it" proved to be a malechild. His name was John. He mar-ried Martha Tillinghast and became ahighly respected and prosperous citi-zen of Newport, Rhode Island, leavingmany descendants.The widow Elephel lived with her

son Ebenezer in the homestead fortwenty-one years after her husband'sdeath, dying in 1748 and disposing byher will of beds and silver spoons,brass kettles and hand-irons, not for-getting that male grandchild John anihis brother Benjamin, and giving theresidue of her estate, which was con-siderable for a widow, to her eldestdaughter Meribah Ricketson, wife ofWilliam. A year or two later Ebenezerdesiring to remove back to Ports-mouth, perhaps to be nearer the"meetings," his wife Bathsheba (Hull)joining, conveyed his farm at Barney'sJoy of 220 acres to his cousin PelegSlocum, the father of Williams Sl:)-

cum, my great grandfather. The dateof the deed is March 20th, 1750. Theconsideration is two thousand pounds.This seems an amazing price to pay fora farm on Slocum's Neck. It is also tobe wondered how Peleg Slocum whowas but twenty-three years of age wasable to put up the price. To be surehe was one of three sons of his fatherPeleg, who was one of four sons ofhis father Peleg, that "honest publickfriend," whose estate in acres hadbeen considerable, and whose profitsfrom his mysterious "trading" hadbeen large, and yet. even so, twothousand pounds was a "terrible sightof money" in those days.No doubt the farm at Barney's Joy

was an immensely profitable one. Theground had been cleared and culti-vated for nearly three-quarters of acentury. The fish at the mouth of thePaskamansett were plentiful Theywere caught in great quantities, land-ed at Deep Water Point, and placedthickly on the soil. It was a case ofwhat is now called "intensified fer-

10

tilization." The crops were doubtlessmany times as abundant as the clever-est Portuguese of today could raise.

Then, too, the Island of Cuttyhuriiv,at one time known as Slocum's Isl-

and, afforded good grazing for thecattle in summer. The cattle weretaken over in boats each spring, andin the autumn brought home and thoincrease sold. Yet admitting the advan-tages of this farm of two hundred acres,much of which, after all, wa.« ledK>'.

.salt marsh, and sand, it is difficult tounderstand how Peleg Slocum had thecourage to pay two thousand poundsfor it in the year 1750. Its present valueis predicated solely upon its exception-al scenic beauty. It has been a fa-vorite place of sojourn of RobertSwain Gifford, the artist, who ha.s

produced its autumn glories on manya canvas. It is not to be supposed,however, that Peleg Slocum purchasedthe farm for esthetic reasons. rlc

demonstrated, at all events, that heknew what he was about, since heprospered abundantly and lived fo-many years on the old place keepingup its traditions of opulence.

It was in the old mansion houseon this farm that the first presidentof this society, William Wallace Crapo,was born, in 1830 He remembers theold house well and his grandfather'sfamily who dwelt there. It was sub-stantially the same without doubt atthe time when he recalls it as it waswhen the marvelous coach drew upbefore it and the two noble Fitzger-alds were reunited. It was a pictur-esque and pleasing structure well set.

A sheltered meadow sloped down-ward from its southern front to thesalt pond and the winding inlets ofthe river. From the windows onelooked out over the meadow, wherebeneath a huge willow tree was thefamily coach, to the white sands ofDeep Water Point and the longstretch of Allen's Beach, and, beyond,to the waters of Buzzards Bay as theymerge with the ocean. The main por-tion of the house was of two storieswith an ample garret above, thegables facing east and west. Thefront door, plain in design yet witha certain dignity, was at what wasthe west end of the southern front ofthe original structure, but after the"new addition" in 1720 it was about athird of the way along the mainfacade with two windows to the west

and three to the east. The entrancehall was small with a narrow windingstairway leading to the big chaml)t:rabove, and the "bedrooms belongingthereto," the large stack chimney, be-hind, taking up far more room thanthe ha 1. "1 o the right as one enter<; 1

was "the great low room" from whichled two chambers. To the lelt was agood-seized room which in later dayswas called the "parlor."

Behind the "great low room" was astill larger room, the kitchen and liv-

ing room, the most interesting of theapartments. The logs in the longfireplace were always burning, sincehere all the family cooking was doneon the coals and by pots hung to thecranes, and in the brick oven by th^;

side. Above the fireplace was a panelsome six feet by four, hewn from i

single board, which today is almostthe only relic of the structure whichhas been preserved. On this panelhung the musket and the powderhorns ready to be seized at alarm.On the west side of the room was ahuge meal chest. In the northwestcorner stood a black oak high clockwith Chinese lacquer panels whicnnow stands in Mr. Crapo's house in

New Bedford. This clock was buriedin tlie barn meadow with the silver

and valuables packed in its amplecase, when the British man-of-warNimrod was cruising along the shorein the War of 1812. In the northeastcorner was an ample pantry closetwhich must have held many daintiesduring its long service. Off from theliving room was another good-sizedbedroom. Behind was the coveredstoop with the cheese press Be-hind this there were several low shed-like additions which gave a feelingof considerable size to the wholestructure.

After the death of Williams Slo-cum, my great grandfather, the placefell into the possession of a descendantwho was far from carrying on the tra-ditions of prosperity of the family,and the place quickly fell into decay.It was almost a ruin in 1SS7 when I

visited it and made the little etchingwhich our secretary has. In 1900 thehouse was torn down and now onlythe cellar remains to mark the spotwhere Eliezer Slocum, the Quaker,and the I.,ady Elephel lived their livesof love and happiness two centuriesago.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The rear view of the house is reproducedfrom a sketch on copper made by Henry H.Crapo in 1887 directly from the structure.

The front view is reproduced from a drawingmade by Mr. Crapo from data afforded by awater-color sketch of William A. Wall, painted1865-1870, and from photographs taken shortly

before the demolition of the house.

This old New England-born romance."

Holmes.

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 30

Being the proceedings of the Twenty-ninth Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building.

Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on September 22, 1910.

ABRAHAM AND ZERVIAH (RICKETSON) SMITHAND THEI-R NINETEEN CHILDREN

By Rebecca Williams Hawes

[NoTE.^— The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

ABRAHAM SMITH

\

•\

ZERVIAH RICKETSON SMITH

PROCEEDINGS

TWENTY-NINTH MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

SEPTEMBER 22, 1910

President Edmund Wood, in presid-ing said:"We have met tonight tor our reg-

ular quarterly meeting. The periodsince our last meeting has been aquiet one for this society.

This quiet almost seems to beaccented by the bustle which sur-rounds us.New Bedford is passing through a

period of great industrial activity. Theface of the city seems to change overnight. Every issue of our newspaperstell of the starting of som.e new in-dustry, or the expansion of some pres-ent one. The older citizen bewails thepassing of the ancient landmarks, andregrets the fragrant orchards andgreen fields of his youth, now crowd-ed with tall and monotonous tene-ment houses. And the city is growingin wealth, and the evidences of it andour multiplying population almostequals the guesses and predictions ofour most sanguine boomers.The character of this population

is changing more rapidly than we canrealize. The New Bedford of todayis all that many of our citizens re-mem,ber, and is all that some of themthink worth remembering. They cryout, 'Better the years 1909 and 1910in New Bedford's history than a cycleof Old Dartmouth.'Some of us here tonight are all

day long in the midst of this ex-

citmg bustle and restless activity. Weare participating in New Bedford'sgrowth and have a lively faith in itscontinued advancement. We have hadoui; shoulder to the wheel all day,strivmg even to accelerate the pace°l H,

°^"^ expansion. The presentaosorbs us, and our absorption is In-

^-r^^'^l^"^'^ enter the atmosphere of

this building we almost experience aShock, But it is a healthv shock. Ittakes us a few moments to readjustthe focus, to put on our distancelenses and distinguish things that arenot directly before our noses. Grad-ually as we breathe longer the quietatmosphere of this place our per-spective changes and we are able toproject the crowding foreground of°"^ yision and discern again the sereneand beautiful background of New Bed-ford life.

We are not disloyal to the glory°i 1, ? advancing present; but weShall be better citizens tomorrow be-cause of this lapse tonight into thepast, and because of the correctervision we thus gain of the propor-tions of our picture and the relativevalues of the things we are strivingafter. *

Miss Hawes had on view an inter-esting exhibit of relics of the Fam-Jly of Abraham and Zerviah (Rick-etson) Smith.

Abraham and Zerviah (Ricketson) Smith

and their Nineteen Children.

(A TYPICAL NEW ENGLAND FAMILY)

Rebecca Williams Hawes

I—ANCEvSTRAL

Fore-Word.A few years ago, I was introduced

to a genealogist who was collecting

records of the Ricketson family of

Dartmouth, as "one who knew moreabout Abraham and Zerviah Ricket-son and their nineteen children thanany other person living." I was ableto furnish her. then, with many dataof value, and later agreed, at the re-

quest of this Society, to gather all

material I could in connection withthis typical New England family forpublication in its records.

Of the nineteen children, four diedin infancy; of the fifteen living tomaturity, I have seen and distinctlyremember twehe, including the oldestand the youngest. My final decisionas to the broad scope of this paperwas determined after reading an ad-dress given in Boston at the 65th fin-

niversary of the New England His-toric-Genealogical Society, by CharlesK. Bolton, treasurer of that society,on "The New Genealogy." That ad-dress should be read before this andevery other genealogical society inour land. It is a plea for developinggenealogy as a science,—not a dead,dry record of names and dates, or, atbest, including mere data of militaryand political service and distinction.He says:The present genealogy is weak in

that it does not closely ally itself withother fields of serious research. Tfit is to receive honor from the his-torian, the anthropologist or the so-ciologist, it must contribute somethingto the sciences into which these mendelve. For any true science does con-tribute to every other true science,but, in so far as it contributes merelyto vanity and self satisfaction it is

.unworthy to rank as science."

And he appeals for a genealogythat shall include and record detailsof family traits, habits, development,education, heredity, modes of living,etc., that shall make it no longer adead thing, but alive with humanand scientific interest. He furthersays:"Has any genealogist ever taken the

average size of his ancestral familiesand then examined those childrenwhere the family group exceeds thenormal to see whether the group ten-dency is toward genius or degeneracy?Shall we not some day find a greatgrandson who will take more pridein the fact that his log cabin ances-tor owned a copy of Paradise Lost,than that he fought at Louisburg?There is a theory deduced from theEnglish Dictionary of National Bi-ography that the oldest child has amuch greater likelihood of a distin-guished career than its brothers andsisters; next to him in importancecomes the youngest child."

It is said that the family of Abra-ham and Zerviah Smith is the largestone ever born in DartmoutVi. Surely,here is a group of abnormal size withwhich to make an experiment alongthe lines suggested. To make thisrecord of more value to the descend-ants, I have gone back to its May-flower-Pilgrim beginning, introducingit by details of the Pilgrim colony andits founders, quoted from the nobleaddress of Dr. Eliot at the dedicationof the Pilgrim monument at Province-town, on August 5, 1910.

From President Eliot's Address.

"In July, 1623, the number of Pil-grims who had reached America was,in all, about 2 3 3, but at the close ofthat year there were living at Ply-mouth, including the children and

servants, not more than 183 of theseimmigrants who had suffered for con-science sake. It is an inspiring in-

stance of immense moral and materi-al results being brought about by asmall group of devoted men and wo-men whose leading motives werespiritual and religious. These first

comers put their opinions and ideasinto practice with marvellous con-sistency. Their works were humble,their lives simple and obscure, theirworldly success but small, their fearsmany and pressing, and their visionof the future limited and dim; butthey were inspired by a love of free-dom, and they wanted all sorts offreedom—of thought, of the i^ress, oflabor, of trade, of education and ofworship. They were genuine pioneersof liberty, and the history of theworld since the anchor of the May-flower was dropped in Cape Cod har-bor demonstrates that the fruits andissues of their pioneering are the mostprodigious in all history. It does notmatter that there were but 41 mento take part in the first proceedings.It was a small beginning, taut whocan comprehend or describe the im-mensity of the outcome. One of theirfirst declarations was 'We are knit to-gether in a body, in a most strict andsacred bond and covenant of the Lord,of the violation whereof we makegreat conscience, and by virtue where-of we do hold ourselves straightly tiedto all care of each others good, andof the whole by every one, and somutually.' The Pilgrims were pio-neers in the practice of industrial an<lfinancial co-operation. For sevenyears, all profits and benefits got bytrade, fishing or any other means, re-mained in common stock, and fromthis common stock all were to havemeat, drink, wearing apparel and all

provisions. At the end of the sevenyears the capital and profits, viz.

—

the houses, lands, goods and chattels,were divided equally between the'adventurers'—those who furnishedmoney, and the 'planters' or workers.One share each was allotted to wo-men, children above sixteen and ser-vants. At the end of seven yearsevery planter was to own the houseand garden occupied by him. Duringthe seven years every planter was towork four days in each week for thecolony and two for himself and hisfamily. No hereditary titles or priv-ilege's ever existed among them. Allthe able-bodied men brought over bythe Mayflower, the Fortune and theAnne worked hard with their hands,and all men bore arms as a matterof course. The assignment of quartersin the Mayflower and Speedwell, atthe sailing of the Pilgrims fromSouthampton, illustrates the demo-

cratic practices of the colonists. Toprevent any suspicion of favoritism,some of the leaders went in the nar-row quarters of the sixty ton Speed-well, a vessel only one-third the sizeof the Mayflower,—yet no communityever recognized its leaders morefrankly or followed them better. Theoriginal company of adventurers andplanters was never a well-conducted,prosperous commercial organization,and in two generations they foundthemselves making part of the newRoyal Province of Massachusetts andvinder the rule of a royal governor.We have great difficulty in realizin.gthat the original Pilgrims had novision at all of the ultimate triumph,on a prodigious scale, of the socialand governmental principles in sup-port of which they left home andcountry and struggled all their livesto establish new homes and a newsocial order on the edge of an un-explored Avilderness. We honor thein,largely, because of their sacrifices,dangers and labors, so bravely endur-ed, without any knowledge of the is-

sues of their endurance and devotion."How different is this record from that

described by a historian of Plymouth,who says: "How striking is the con-trast between the voyages of Carverand of Winthrop. The Plymouthcolonists, hunted and imprisoned likefelons, and glad to escape by artifice-and stealth into Holland, finally em-barked for America, unknown, un-honored and unsung. The Massachu-setts Bay colonists set out in a grandarray, filling a fl-eet of eleven ships,the admiral of the fleet, in the Ara-bella, carrying 52 seamen and twen-ty pieces of ordnance. As they sailedby the fort at Yarmouth, England,they were saluted by its royal guns ps'adventurers' whose enterprise, un-der the broad seal of the king, wouldreflect honor and renown on the Brit-ish empire."Another fine tribute, lately pub-

lished, says: "If we have modi-fied some of their theological notions,,we have not found ourselves abie-profitably to dispense with the finerqualities of the Pilgrim character.We cannot do without their inexorablesense of justice, of the equality ofevery man with every other, of thelittle vital difference there is in thesight of God between the best of nsand the most hardened criminal. Ifwe are to realize the loftiest idealsas a nation or as individuals, we can-not far depart from the establishedways of our forefathers; we must con-serve the Pilgrim tradition, we mustkeep alive the memories of the Pil-grims, not alone in monuments ofgranite, but in our daily performanceas living men."

r

10

Quaker.^.The Pilgrims of the Mayflower were

followed 1)\- Quaker Pilgrims fromEngland, who left the first settlementat Plymoutli and settled at Duxbur>".From there, Arthur and Henry How-land, brothers of John of the May-flower, who was not a Quaker, movedto Dartmouth and were among thefirst founders of the faith which be-came the ruling power in the first

settlement at Apponagansett and oth-ers adjoining. There the first Friends'meeting house was built in 1698-1699.While still a resident of Marshfield,near Duxbury, Arthur Howland wasbrought many times before the Ply-mouth court and fined for holdingQuaker meetings in his house, etc.

The History of Bristol County says,"The same causes that sent to our.'shores the Pilgrim pioneers impelledthe persecuted Quakers to seek shel-ter here." Ellis's History of XewBedford says: "It is well establishedthat, notMithstanding the attitude ofthe Quakers in military affairs, theywere, as a people, loyal, in their sym-pathies, to the cause of freedom, andthere are several cases on recordwhere they rendered military service.Whatever may be .'iaid of them in re-gard to their relations to the bearingof arms, it must be admitted that theyexercised a healthy and benign in-fluence in times of peace, and thattheir societies, scattered throughoutthe land, were wellsprings of pureand enlightened thought. They fos-tered and encouraged education andlent their political influence in modify-ing many of the cruel punishmentsmeted out to the criminal classes.Their societies were the unswervingfriends of the slave. The records ofDartmouth Monthly Meeting mentiona number of cases where some of themembers were rebuked and othersdisowned for abusing Indians andbeating their slaves!"

It is from two members of thisoriginal band of Quaker-Pilgrim stockthat we have the record which I haveprepared for their descendants andthis society—a dut^' and a privilegewhich I gratefully appreciate. Start-ing at Plymouth Rock. I have fol-lowed the "trail" west, via San Fran-cisco, to the Hawaiian Islands, andhave set down nothing that I havenot verified by copies of all recordsand my own personal knowledge.These two men were John Smith andWilliam Ricketson.

First John Smith of Dartmouth

—

Born in England in 1618; it is notrecorded when he arrived in Plymouth,but when about eleven years old hebecame apprenticed to Edward Doteyof the Mayflower for full term of tenyears.

1633. Plymouth Court, Winslow.Governor.The record says:

"That whereas John Smith, beingin a great extremite formerl.\-, and tobe freed of the same, bound himselfas an apprentice to Edward Dotey forthe term of ten years,—upon the pe-tition of said John Smith, the courttook the matter into hearing; andfineiing the said Edward had dis-bursed but little for him, freed said.John Smith from his covenant of ten.years, and bound him to make upthe term he had already served thesaid Edward for the full term of fiveyears, and to the end thereof; the saidEdward to give him double apparel,and so be free of each other.'He then became a "boatleman" or

able seaman. On June 5, 1651, hewas admitted as a "freeman of Ply-mouth," and the same day was> swornon the grand jury; 1652, chosen oncoroner's jury; 1653, January, sailedon expedition to "fight at Manhat-toes" but, as peace was declared, hesoon returned to his family.He had married, Jan. 4, 1648, De-

borah, daughter of Arthur Howlandof Marshfield, entered into their faithof Friends or Quakers, and, withthem, paid the penalty for "holdingQuaker meetings" and "entertayneingforeign Friends." Arthur Howlanflremoved to Dartmouth from Marsh-field, also his brother Henry; theywere brothers of John Howland of theMayflower, and were both EnglishQuakers, coming in the "James" in1623.

In spite of difficulties, John Smithprospered, and was assigned "a house,messuage and garden spot on ye northside of North street, Plymouth, whichhe exchanged with Edward Doty, Jr.,

son of his former master, for landsin Apponeganset, Dartmouth." I havecopy of Plymouth record of this deed,dated Oct. 6. 1665, and he probablytook possession then. He was alreadyrecorded as having an "interest" inApponegansett in 1663, and his finalholdings equaled "1,200 acres ormore." The corporate existence ofDartmouth dates from 1664. Therewere 3 4 whole "shares" originally di-vided into three "divisions" of 800-500-500 acres each, "and had lots ofland left." The land sold to JohnSmith by Edward Doty was "twoseavenths, or two parts of seaven, ofa whole share, with all and singularthe woods, waters, meadow lands, im-munities, appurtenances and proftitswhatsoever." On this land he builthis home on what is known on theold maps as "Smith's Neck, lyingsouth of Rock-a-dunder Road." WTiythis locality still holds his name is

11

apparent from the fact that the title

to nearly all that strip of land, formost of the time since 16 6 5. has beenheld in the name of Smith.The Old Homestead Hill meadow-

burial place dates from Jan. 17, 1692,the day of the burial of John Smith.His will, of which I have a copy, wasprobated at Taunton, Jan. 26th, 1694.In this burial place are laid sevensuccessive generations of his descend-ants, and one of the eighth generationis now in possession.He married, 2nd, Ruhamah Kirby,

and was the father of thirteen chil-

dren. There are no records of anypublic service by him in Dartmouthbefore 1672, when he was appointedsurveyor of highways. Meanwhile, hehad built his home, cleared his farmand cultivated it, and had enduredall the privations and dangers of apioneer, tlie perils of savage warfareand persecution for "conscience sake."On March 4. 166-3, he was appointed"I.,eeftenant" of a company raised forprotection against the Indians. Therecord of Plymouth court on this datesays he was the first man to receivea military commission, and also a civil

• commission from the governor andcourt in and for the township of Ply-mouth. He was on duty when theIndian war broke out in Dartmouth.June. 1665. He was later among

.those appointed to distribute fundsraised for relief of sufferers after the•Indian war.

Drake's History says: "They (theIndians* burnt nearly thirty houses inDartmouth, killing many people after

; a barbarous manner." Increase Math-er's account says: "Dartmouth didthey burn with fire and barbarouslymurdered both men and women." andgives harrowing details of torture andscalping. Ellis's History says: "Those•who escaped the tomahawk andscalping knife fied to the garrisonsfor protection." The inhabitants ofApponagansett probably took refugein the Russell garrison about a mileabove the mouth of the river; thecellars are still clearly defined, in-dicating that the house was abouttwenty feet square, with an "ell" onthe south about ten feet square. Dart-mouth was not called upon for sol-diers by the Plymouth authorities dur-ing King Philip's war, because of themaintenance of the garrisons by thesettlers, and for several years afterpeace had been declared, the townwas exempted from taxation.The practical organization of the

township of Dartmouth dates from its

first town meeting. May 22, 1674. Af-ter its destruction in 1675 and thereturn of the settlers to their farms,John Smith was appointed. 1675,"viewer of fences" to establish boun-

daries. At a town meeting held June2nth, 167S, the first that finds recordafter the attack, the term of releasefrom taxation, three years, having ex-pired, John Smith, John Russell andPeleg Shearman were chosen as"raters." This record is on the secondpage of the oldest original records otDartmouth now in existence. Thefunctions of the town were fully re-sumed in 1679. and a full list of offi-

cials was chosen. The township seemsnow to have settled into a permanentorganization, and its steady develop-ment is seen from the existing rec-ords. At a town meeting in 1684,John Smith and twelve others "tookthe oath of fidelity, or freeman'soath." He was then 66 years old, andno other public record of him is

found before his death in 1692. Inhis will, dated June Sth, 1691, onlysix months before his death, JohnSmith appoints his wife and his oldestson. Deliverance, as executors. Thisson took the freeman's oath at thesame time as his father, in 1684. andappears to have been his successor ashead of the family. John Smithhaving, according to his will "givenand conveyed" portions of his landto his five daughters, added for each"one cow and two ewe sheep"—all

stock remaining to be "managed andmaintained" for his wife by their sonsJudah and Gershom Smith. Thehomestead and all "movables" weregiven to said wife for her life, andthese two sons evidently remainedthere, or near, until her death. Thenthe will divided all "undevised" landsamong his six sons, with ten acresto an orphan grandson. He remained-firm in the Quaker faith, rendering it

faithful service, and all his childrenand grandchildren were equally loyalto it.

Smith Family.

(2) Gershom Smith, 2nd son ofJohn Smith, born . Married Re-becca Ripley, June 6, 1695. DiedApril 3. 1718.

I -find few records of this ancestor,and he only survived his father six-

teen years. He lived on land atSmith's Neck, inherited by him, butthe final survey was not made uniil

1710, when the "propriators" of Dart-• mouth were compelled by a court de-cree "to make a complete distributionof all lands." The portion at the endof the "point" was given to oldest sonHezekiah; north of this were farmsof Gershom and Judah; the recordssay "these were parts of the home-stead of their father, John Smith, asearly as 1672, when he was surveyorof the town." Gershom evidently wasa faithful "Friend," but did not live

to bear such testimony to his faith as

12

his brothers who outlived him andentered upon their struggle against

"Church and State" after the Indian

war, before the Revolution, true des-

cendants of the men of whom it wassaid, "They did not fear the Indian,

if they could only escape the Pun-

(3) Jonathan Smith, son of Ger-

shom and Rebecca Ripley, was born

May 15. 1706. Married Phebe Ru.s-

s^l^-, . 110

(4) Jonathan, Jr., born April IS,

1727 Married Sylvia, daughter of

Barnabas and Rebekah Howland.March 11, 1748. I have certified copy

of marriage certificate signed in

Friends' meeting by 32 relatives andfriends. He was a blacksmith, andthe first of the family. I find, wholived in New Bedford. There is a

record of his house, a low one-story

building, built and occupied at t\v

"North End," on N . Second street,

about 1772. His shop stood near.

Jonathan, Jr., was born in Appona-gansett, and probably served his ap-

prenticeship in the "Bloomery" estab-

lished bv Jas. and Henry Leonard andRalph Leonard at Raynham, or at

the branch of Captain Jas. Leonardat the site of N. Easton village,

which was opened in 172 3 and be-

came well known later as the Eli-

phalet Leonard forge. The latter, be-

fore 1771, built a forge on land deededto him in 1765. It is claimed that

here steel was first made in this coun-

try, also that firearms were made here

before and during the Revolution. AtFurnace Village in a forge started m1751, owned by Samuel Leonard anci

others of Taunton, cannon were madefor the army of the Revolution. Jon-

athan Smith, Jr.. was a skilled work-man in this branch of his trade, andfrom him was transmitted to his sonAbraham the exceptional mechanicalgifts which have been inherited byseveral generations of his descend-ants.

Jonathan. Jr.. died Oct. 2Tth, 1-02,

aged 65.

Sylvia Howland. his wife, died ,

1822, aged 90.

(5) Abraham Smith, son of Jona-than, Jr., and Sylvia Smith, the sub-

ject of this record, born March :'.0.

1747, died March 24, 1826, aged 79

years. Married Zerviah Ricketson,Oct. 6, 1769. They had 19 children,

the largest family ever raised in Dart-mouth.

I add here records of two othersons of John (1)—as being illustra-

tive of the history of their genera-tion.

(1) John, (2) Deliverance Smith,oldest son of John, was executor of

his father's will and evidently his suc-

cessor as head of the family. There

is record of land "surs'eyed and ?etoff" to him by Her Majesty's commis-sioners, 5 mo. 25, 1711. This was inaddition to that inherited from hisfather which included the homesteadnow in possession of the 8th gener-ation; the record says there were "twodivisions, 1600 acres, with allowancefor swamps and afterwards morelands." There are nineteen items ofrecord in the proceeding of the Dart-mouth town meeting concerning De-liverance Smith, in regard to his .ser-

vices in surveying, town matters, andbuilding of Apponegansett meetinghouse. The longest one records hisimprisonment in Bristol County jail,

because he could not, for consciencesake, assess the sum of £60 annexedto the queen's tax, for the supportof a hireling ministry. "Friends, hav-ing sympathized with him in his suf-ferings, do appoint his brother JudahSmith and Benj. Howland to procurea hand to manage said Delv. Smith'sbusiness whilst he is a prisoner onacc't of trouble and Friends, and toengage him his wages, and the Month-ly meeting to reimburse the same."A later entry records the payment ofthis money. A local historian says,"By a freak of fate, he was committedto a jail which had been built in partwith money collected by his father,John .Smith."He was a steadfast and consistent

member of the Quaker faith of hisparents and grandparents, and in hisgeneration bore frequent "testimony"to his reli'gious belief. In 1709 he wasimpressed for military service inCanada, refused and was taken withothers before Governor Dudley anddischarged. He had ten children,whose descendants are well represent-ed in the Tucker and Crapo familiesof the county. He died June 20, 1729.and was buried in the Old Homesteadhill burial place at Smith's Neck.

Eliashub Smith. (2), 4th son of.lohn. (1) born.A share of Dartmouth lands given

June 20, 1684. to Henry Tucker ofMilton, "to build a grist mill" wasinherited by his son Abm. whosold "land and all mill interests" toEliashub Smith, son of John Smith;deed dated May 4. 1707. The recordssay, "he was a young man, and fromthat time the place was called'Smith's Mills,' and it still retains thename." "He married Dinah Allen inFriends' meeting, June 2 4, 17 04. Hissteady habits and the Society ofFriends helped him to prosperity inhis business for 60 years, and, hav-ing become aged, he turned the millsover to his son, Joseph, having faith-fully served his day and generation."

13

Kicketsoii Family.

(1) William Ricketson came toDartmouth from Portsmouth, R. I., in

1684. Records, recently printed,prove that he resided and operated amill in Portsmouth in the years 1682-16 83, and his deeds of the Dartmouthfarm are dated 1684; his house, still

standing, was built by him personallyand probably in that year. This houseis fully described in papers publishedby this Society; and a picture of it is

hung- in this building; one competenthistorian calls it "a magnificenthouse, a palace for those days; theworkmanship and material of thechimney and the mantelpiece (whichis now a valued possession of thisSociety) proclaim the builder a mas-ter in his trade." He established asaw mill on the Westport river nearby, where he doubtless prepared thematerial for his house.He married Elizabeth, daughter of

Adam Mott of Rhode Island, and diedMarch 1, 1691. She survived himmany years and married again.

(2) Jonathan, son of William andElizabeth, died Oct. 16, 1768, aged80 years, 7 months. Married AbigailHowland. Avho died Jan. 15, 1769.

(3) John, son of Jonathan andAbigail, died May 8, 1794, aged 74.Married Phebe Russell, who died Nov.3, 1770.

(4) Zerviah, daughter of Johnand Phebe Russell, born Jan. 21. 1751,died Dec. 2 9. 1817.

"I have enjoyed through life theadvantage of being, in the true sense,'well born.' My parents were goodand wise, honorable and honored,sound in body and mind."

Frances Power Cobbe.

Abraham Smith.Abraham Smith, born March 30,

1747, died March 24. 1826.Zerviah Ricketson, born Jan. 21,

17J1, died Dec. 29, 1817.Married Oct. 6. 1769. and had 19

children:1. Asa, born May 24, 1770; mar-

ried Oct. 18, 1792; died Feb. 24, 1849.2. Elihu, born Aug. 9, 1771; mar-

ried March 10, ISOl; died Oct. 3, 1825.3. Obed, born Nov. 22. 1772; mar-

ried May 14, 1797; died April 17.1831.

4. Phebe, born Oct. 27. 1773; mar-ried Oct. 18, 1795; died June 2. 1855.

5. Sylvia, born Dec. 5, 1774; diedOctober. 1775.

6. Stephen, born Oct. 25, 1776;married Sept. 21, 1814; died April 23,1854.

7. Rufus, born Feb. 23, 1778; diedJuly 20, 1779.

8. Mary, born July 9, 1779; mar-ried Feb. 28, 1805; died June 26, 1855.

9. Judith, born April 4, 1781; diedJuly 17, 1786.

10. Thomas, born Jan. 30, 1783;died Jan. 5. 1785.

11. Zerviah, born May 28, 1784;married June 17, ISOS; died Dec. 5,

1857.12. Abigail, born May 1, 1786;

married May 4, 1826; died March 9,1863.

13. Abraham, Jr.. born Jan. 3,

1788; died Dec. 24. 1811.14. Rebecca, born June 5, 1789;

married Feb. 18. 1808; died Dec. 26,1873.

15. Sarah, born Sept. 30, 1790;died May 26, 1877.

16. Isaac, born July 26, 1792; mar-ried Jan. 6, 1837; died Julv 31, 1860.

17. Elizabeth, born Dec. 27, 1793;married Jan. 21, 1825; died April 7,1881.

18. Deborah, born Feb. 12. 1796;married Nov. 1, 1821; died May 1,

1879.19. Lydia, born Sept. 2, 1797; mar-

ried Dec. 5. 1821; died Jan. 1, 1872.Of these, four daughters and three

sons left children.

Abraham Smith served his appren-ticeship in his father's blacksmithshop and married when 22 years old.About 1770. he built and occupied ahouse on North Water street and ashop on north .side of Centre street,a few rods east of North Water street,in sight of the present building ofOld Dartmouth Society. In the rooms-of this Society hangs a picture of thisforge, painted from memory by Wm.A. Wall in 1815. This shop was burn-ed in the destruction of the town bythe British in 1778 and rebviilt on thesame spot. According to the old citymaps, he acquired title to this land in1770. In 1772 he held the title tcland on North Second street, north ofMill street, where his father. Jona-than, Jr., lived, and had built a home;and again in 1773 he bought land onMiddle street, near Water street, and,in 1796, land for wharf at foot ofthat street, now covered by the bridgeto Fairhaven. There his last homewas built. He was known from thefirst as a skilled workman, and "forg-ing," in those days, included all thehighest grades of iron work, muskets,tools, as well as the heavier chains,anchors and fixtures for the ship-yards, then beginning to turn out thelargest vessels of those days. His wasthe largest forge of the growing town,and in time he trained there his ownsix sons and thirteen apprentices, sons

14

of friends and neighbors. He soon

became a ship owner, and at the be-

ginning of the Revolution his nameappears among "owners of vessels or-

dered not to leave the colony" (as pri-

vateers), but this restriction was re-

voked bv orders issued by GeneralWashington, in 1775. In that year

he gave bonds, as part owner, for brig

Kezia "bound on a whaling voyage."

Although a Arm and consistent

Quaker, he promptly joined those whodefinitely resisted the policies of

Great Britain and the Massachusetts"loyalists" before the Revolution, anawas chosen on a town committee ap-pointed July 18, 1774, to obtain "the

sense of the meeting on the public

situation." This committee reported

that they were "grieved at the neces-

sity of doing anything unfriendly to

Great Britain, but resolved not to

purchase goods made in Great Britain

or Ireland, or any foreign teas, etc."

As a further result of this meeting,

a committee was appointed to attend

the 1st County congress, held at

Taunton, Sept. 26, 1774, and on Jan.

7th, 1775, in town meeting, accordingto the advice of this con-gress, a committee of correspondenceof twenty-one persons was ap-pointed, and Abraham Smith wasamong the number. At this first con-gress in Taunton. delegates werechosen to the First Provincial con-gress to be convened at Worcester,Oct. 5, 1774. In spite of great op-position, two later Provincial con-gresses were held, with John Hancockas president. At the time of the first

congress, in Worcester, a conventionof blacksmiths was held there by iS

members of the craft. They resolved

"not to do any blacksmith work for

the tories" and requested "all artifi-

cers to call meetings of their crafts

and adopt like measures." Commit-tees of the later congresses advisedthe raising of a continental army andreported the number of militia avail-

able, stores of ammunition, etc., thenheld at Concord, but a "great lackof fire-arms," and sent out a call for

"artificers of Massachusetts" to cometo Boston and manufacture them for

the troops of which Washington tookcommand in 1775. At this time Abra-ham Smith, with several apprentices,was working hard to support his

family of five small children. Until

I discovered this "call." printed in asmall local history of Worcester coun-ty, none of his descendants ever knewwhy he suddenly left his home, "lo-

cated" near Boston, and began mak-ing the needed weapons. It was apersonal call to him, which he fol-

lowed, much to the surprise and dis-

tress of his relatives and his fellowmembers in the Friends meeting. It

is not known how long he remainedthere, but the record of the Dartmouthmeeting, dated 8 mo. 26, 1776, of

which I have a certified copy, sayri:

"We are informed tliat AbrahamSmith hath been assisting or fitting

warlike implements, also paid moneytoward building a fort, and hath beenLaboured with by friends and RatherJustified s'd conduct—therefore weappoint our friends Caleb Russell,John Williams, William Mosher andJoseph Tucker, Jr., to Labour furtherwith s'd Smith, and make report nextmo. meeting." At said meeting, 9

mo. 16, 1776, the record says, "Thegreater part of the Committee, ap-pointed to labour with Abm. Smith,Report that they have Dischargedthemselves in that matter, and s'd

Smith Justified his conduct therein;therefore Samuel Smith is appointedto Draw a Testimony against him andbring to next mo. meeting, Caleb Rus-sell is appointed to Inform him there-of and Report to next mo. meeting."The record of meeting, 12 mo., 1776,says: "The clerk reports he hathRead the testimony against AbrahamSmith, as ordered T-ast mo. meeting,

—

s'd paper is as followeth:"Whereas Abraham Smith having

made Profession with us, and underthe care of this meeting. But has sofar Departed from the way of Truthand the Testimony thereof as to befound in joining with, & measurablysupporting of war, or preparation forthe same, particularly the s'd Smithhath paid money toward building of afort, & also in fitting some warlikeImplements,—and having been Ten-derly Laboured with by friends toDesist from and Condemn s'd conduct—but our Labour therein not obtain-ing the Desired Effect, But he still

Justifying the same, this meeting,therefore, being concerned for themaintaining our Testimony, againstall outward wars & fighting, and prep-aration for the same, do give thisforth as a testimony against him,hereby disowning him. the s'd A.Smith from being a member of oursociety, & from under the care of thismeeting, until by unfeigned Repent-ance & Return from the Error of hisways, he shall be Restored to theway of truth.

"Given forth & signed on behalf ofour mo. meeting held in Dartmouth,21st 10 mo. 1776.

"William Anthony, Jr., Clerk."There is no record of his having

"repented," but his name is later re-corded as a member of the meeting.On his return from his loyal work inBoston, he continued his trade andfulfilled many duties as a good citi-

zen. In June, 1778, he was one of

15

the signers to a petition to the gen-eral court, asking for thedivision of the town, also for bet-ter military protection, representingthat "the harbor on Acushnet riveris the only one between Cape Cod& North Carolina in control of Amer-icans, and there are 50 vessels therethat need protection." As a conse-quence, Col. Crafts was ordered toNew Bedford with 50 men and 4 fieldpieces, in orders of Col. Edward Pope.A few months later the town wasburned by the British, and all wharvesand shipping burned. With his forgedestroyed, his business ruined, andwith a family of six childrento support (the oldest was thenten years old), he was obligedto apply for an "apportionment""from the sum of £1,200 allowed bythe Commonwealth to the sufferers atNew Bedford." 1 find on record thatmy great, great grandfather, SamuelHawes of Acushnet, whose propertyescaped destruction, was one of thoseappointed to distribute this money.Gradually re-establishing his business,during the re-building of the town,he again prospered, and in 1796 wasappointed one of the first fire war-dens, holding the office six years.During the next ten years he was anindomitable worker, and then gave upthe forgre to his remaining sons, whoin turn left it in other hands, andall finally left New Bedford to seektheir fortunes elsewhere. In ISOGhe was appointed the second post-master of New Bedford, and held theoffice for 2 years, in the homesteadon Middle street, built in 1794.

(4). Zerviah Ricketson, daughterof John and Phebe, was born Jan.21, 1751, and died Dec. 29. 1817. Shemarried Abraham Smith, Oct. 6, 176 9,

when 18 years old, and was the moth-er of his nineteen children. She wasa woman of such marked personalityand character that numberless remin-iscences of her have been recalled andpreserved by her contemporaries andher childen, and I find it difficult toset down those handed down to meso as to give an adequate picture ofher which her descendants may long"delight to honor." Reared in thestrictest Quaker faith, she remained,like her husband, a firm "Friend," re-taining, as he did, the "plain dressand plain speech" of the sect. Allof their grown children became mem-bers of the New Bedford meeting,and even a few who married "out ofmeeting," of whom my grandmotherwas one, always retained the famil-iar dress and speech.Her married life of 48 years began

in the trying days before the Revo-lution, and when her husband lefther for his patriotic labors in Boston,

in 17 76, she was only 2 5 years oldand the mother of five children, onehaving died in infancy in 1774. Shewas all her life, first and last, the"House Mother," fully answering tothe words of the motto I have chosen,"Good and wise, strong in body andmind," and was exactly of the con-temporaneous type described in thesewords by Harriet Beecher Stowe inone of her pictures of New Englandlife:

"She was one of the much admiredclass who, in the speech of NewEngland, have 'faculty'—a gift whichamong that shrewd people commandsmore esteem than beauty, riches,learning or any other worldly endow-ment. "Faculty' is Yankee for "savoirfaire' and the opposite virtue to shift-lessness. To her who has faculty,nothing shall be impossible; she whohath faculty is never in a hurry, neverbehind-hand, with time enough in theafternoons to hem muslin capstrings,and read the latest book."As the eldest daughters became old

enough to watch the young children,she formed a daily habit of retiring,after the noon day dinner, to a quietroom in the attic, for an hour's rest.Here was her rocking chair and atable to which all the books and localand foreign papers that came into thehouse eventually found their way.For half an hour she enjoyed these,then laid her head against the high-backed chair and slept for anotherhalf hour. One of her daughters toldme, "She was never disturbed there,no matter what happened to the babyor the rest of the household; at theend of the hour she appeared again,took up her duties, and was alwaysthe last to go to bed."

She was very systematic in thetraining of her children and the careof her home, which was always simplj.furnished, scrupulously neat and veryhome-like, in spite of what wouldnow seem a rather bare look. Mygreat grandmother Tallman. a con-temporarj', said of her, "She w^as con-sidered by all to be the smartestwoman in New Bedford. Shewas a beautiful needlewoman andtrained her daughters well in this ac-complishment," and they knit all thestockings in the family. My grand-mother said, "when young, I couldknit a man's sock in a day and even-ing, in addition to my other work." Ihave pieces of linen used in the earlydays of the old homestead, and ofthe wedding sheets of the oldestdaughter, married in 1795, but I donot know whether this or any otherweaving was done there, though Ithink they spun their own yarn, andevery one of them was an expert

16

knitter to the end of their days, eventhose who became blind.

She continued active in all house-hold duties until her death in her67th year, as the result of a fall.

While carrying- a pail into the cellar,

she fell on the stone steps, strikingon her head and side and cutting herface with the glass of her spectacles.In a few days lockjaw developed, andafter a week of agony she was re-

leased from life. I have a patheticletter written by her daughter Lydia,giving all details of this tragedy.Three unmarried daughters and oneson were with her, three married oneswere living near, and kind neighborsfaithfully watched her, though severalfainted from the strain. Her husbandnever left her side, and for some timeafter her death was in a half par-alyzed state. The letter says: 'Shewas in so good health when attackedthat she resisted the disease a longtime, and it is considered the worstcase on record here." She was con-scious at times, and said, "This hasbeen a pleasant house always and a

good home, but I am resigned to

leave it." The letter adds: "It was acruel end to a long and useful life."

The house on Middle street, built

by Abraham Smith in 179 4, was atypical New England home, until his

death there in 182 6. From my child-hood I have eagerly listened to storiesof the life there recounted by hischildren and my mother, his grand-daughter. As late as 1881. in my ownhome in New .lersey. where she died,aged 87, their daughter Elizabeth (No.17), the last to marry from the oldhome, repeated many details that I

had heard from m.\" mother.The house was of wood, two and a

half stories, standing on the street,with a meadow in the rear. The east-ern end overlooked the present Waterstreet, beyond which the grass slopedto the water's edge with an unob-structed view of Fairhaven. A carttrack led down to the wharf belong-ing to Abraham Smith at the foot ofMill street, and the children wentswimming and fishing there. Untilthe bridge was built in 1796, therewere no buildings south on the shoreside of Water street as far as Centrestreet and the wharf in front of thepresent building of Old DartmouthHistorical Society. The blacksmithshop on Centre street was plainly seen,and the workers there were sum-moned to their meals by a horn. Attimes some of the apprentices whosehomes were beyond the town formedpart of the family. Over this largehousehold the capable mother ruledwell. It was the universal testimonyof her contemporaries that she was^'the smartest woman that ever lived

in New Bedford." My grandmother.Mary Tallman Hawes, said, "Thoughshe always had a baby in her arms,none of the others were ever seenragged or dirty, and the house was al-ways orderly and the food good andplentiful." One of the daughters toldof her mother's habit of tucking thebaby under her arm, between daylightand dark each day, and, with a softcloth, wiping off the inside windowpanes: the outside was well polishedby the older daughters, who were assystematically and thoroughly trainedin household duties as were theirbrothers at the forge. All had everyadvantage of "schooling" that waspossible at that day. My grandmoth-er, Rebecca (No. 14), drew for me apleasant verbal picture of herself andfixe others being made ready forschool by an elder sister: "We wereall strong healthy children, with fairskins and round heads with hair cutclosely, Quaker fashion; some of us,

who were inclined to curls, greatlyresented being so closely cropped.Each one, boy or girl, after beingwashed and brushed, went to a pile ofclean sleeveless aprons, called 'tyers,'

with strings at back of neck andwaist; they were of three sizes, wellmade of strong blue and white orlirown and white cotton. I remem-ber choosing my size, tying the topstrings, wiggling my head through,and then 'backing up' to my sisterfor the lower strings to be tied. Thesewere worn over strong colored gar-ments, woolen in winter, and weretaken off when we were made readyfor supper at nig-ht. The babies werealways dressed in white until oldenough to walk, and the girls, asthey grew up. made all these little

dresses and white dresses for them-selves, in addition to other housework: as long as I can remember, wehad strong Indian women to do thewashing and heavy work; the rule wasthat we could have as many whitedresses as we would make and iron."My mother, of the next generation,

remembered going daily to the home-stead and seeing five of these auntsbus\- with the ironing, with twenty ofthese lawn dres«es hung up in thepleasant kitchen, the result of theirinorning's work. They were made se-verely plain, low neck, short sleeves,with narrow, short skirts, beautifullymade and of fine imported lawn. I

have no account of the clothing ofthe sons but know that it was strongand good, of a Quaker plainness. Dur-ing their minority they did all theoutside work of the household undertheir mother's direction, as faithfullyas that of the forge with their father.It is no exaggeration to say that it

was a wonderful family, strong, hand-

some, good tempered and happy de-scendants of good New England stock.

1 personally remember 12 of them,including the oldest and youngest, andfrom my childhood saw much of themfor fifty years. They were full of

strong family feeling and alwaysproud of their parents and of eachother, a trait inherited by the nextgeneration. The highest praise theycould bestow upon any of the descend-ants of any generation, was to saythey were "Smithy,'" and this meantan inheritance of the virtues, traits

and capabilities of Abraham and Zer-viah Smith.

As the children outgrew the simpleschools available, Abraham Smithgradually established an eveningschool in his own home. After sup-per, all who were old enough to sit

up after sun-down were gatheredaround a big table where they werejoined by the apprentices, AbrahamSmith had a strong thirst for learn-ing, and studied for and with hischildren, sending to Cambridgefor books on astronomy and highermathematics, and owned the first Al-gebra ever brought to New Bedford.Already an expert and skilled work-man, he trained his apprentices, in-cluding the six sons, as far as he couldlead them in physics and mathematics.He insisted on the daughters study-ing navigation and astronomy, saying:"It will stretch their brains." No oth-er home in the town possessed somany good books. I have inheritedleather bound volumes of old Englishpoets from which all were required toread aloud in turn at the evening les-sons, and every newspaper, foreignor local, that could be had was readand re-read by both parents and chil-dren. It was this training of "anopen mind" that led all the sons insuccession to make their homes else-where.When the post office was established

in this house (1806), it became anhistorical spot. There were still twosons and seven daughters living there,the youngest nine years old. It is ofthese young girls that Daniel Rick-etson gives us a glimpse in his "NewBedford of the Past." Describing thehome, still standing, of his father,Joseph Ricketson, on Union street atthe end of Seventh street, with its

high posts at the gateway shaded bytall syringas and fine trees, he addsan account of an old fashioned teaparty in the pleasant Quaker home,and says, "By four o'clock the com-pany has assembled, the great sofa aswell as the chairs are filled. On theformer I remember to have seen somehalf dozen or more sisters, cousins ofmy father, all dressed in their neatwhite Quaker gowns, and of marked

beauty. Somewhat later came thehusbands of some of them—quite anumber, however, were still unmar-ried." The supper in the "keepingroom," which he further describes,was often returned in kind by thehospitable Zerviah, when the daugh-ters waited on the guests, and the en-tertainment of the capable hostess didnot suffer in comparison, although thedetails were simpler.Of all the furniture of the old home,

I know of but one piece that has beenpreserved, a chair with broad seat,low rounded back and curved mahog-any arms, which now stands in myown home, inherited from a daughterwho took it away at her marriage,and dated by her "1789."

Of the two sons left at home in1806, the oldest went to New York in1810 and the other was lost at seain 1811. Two daughters married in1808, leaving five daughters with theparents for many years. The housewas always a centre of interest foryoung people, and the establishmentof the post office there brought "allthe rest of the town," (as some onesaid of it) to its open door. Theentire outfit of the post office waslocated in a small back room and it

was said, "When the mail arrived, onthe stage, the postmaster would callout the names of those for whom hehad letters, and, if present, they wouldclaim their mail. This was beforethe advent of envelope or stamp and!postage was generally paid by the re-cipient." The same writer says: "I wellremember the old postmaster, Abra-ham Smith, who was a tall man, ad-vanced in years, with his large iron-bowed spectacles and green flannelcap." He was extremely neat in per-son and exact in all the details of his-office, wrote a handsome, round,"Quaker" hand, as it was called, and'I have several long monthly recordsof mails, copies of deeds, etc., withhis signature. My mother, as a child,loved to "haunt" this room on herdaily visits to the house, and beganvery early to enjoy the foreign papersand books of many kinds to be found!nowhere else in the town. The ship'smails, too, were of special interest,including the always pathetic collec-tion of letters, never claimed, fromsailors who never returned. In 1814,on the appointment of my grand-father, John Hawes, as Collector, thecustom house was established in thesouthwest room of this house adjoin-ing the post office, and for twelveyears all the principal business in-terests of the town centered there.Merchants, captains, sailors, foreign-ers, mechanics of every trade, and eventhe vagrants, sought business adviceor help from these two good, practi-

18

cal, upright men, who entertained afirm friendship the rest of their lives.

My mother (who afterward married

his son) has thus described the Col-

lector: "He was very different looking

from the old postmaster in his Quakergarb, and I remember him well as

he drove up to the door in his yellow

colored chaise from Acushnet. a stout-

built, comfortable looking personage,

dressed in bottle green broadcloth andbuff vest, ruffled shirt and a beaverhat."Among his papers I found, four

years ago, all the receipted quarterlyl)ills for the •'rent" of Custom housefor 10 years, 1814-24. which read.

"Rec'd of John Hawes in full for rentof office for the Quarter ending 4thinst. $9.00. Abraham Smith." Andyet, during that time, New Bedfordwas one of the busiest sea ports onthe coast!The sad and sudden death of Zer-

viah Smith in 1817 was the first heavyshadow to fall upon this good oldhome, and her husband never entire-

ly recovered from the shock, thoughhe survived her nine years and hadthe faithful care of his tw^o remainingdaughters. The death of his friendthe collector in 1S24, and the removal

of the custom house elsewhere, wasanother shock to him. He graduallygave up his post office duties to hisoldest son Asa (who had returned to

New Bedford) and later to his son-in-law, Richard Williams, who succeededhiin in office. His grandchildren re-membered him, at the last, as a gen-tle, cheerful old man, sitting by thefire, "life's duty done" and waitingfor the end, which came March 24,

1820.The home passed into other hands,

was surrounded by larger buildingsand finally used for business purposes;but instead of sinking, as some of theneighboring buildings did, to the shab-biness of a dilapidated tenementhouse, it was its rare good fortune to

be included in the site acquired bythe city for the pleasant Bridge Parkof the present day. The thousandsof travelers who cross by trolley thefine bridge from Fairhaven, pass overthe old wharf and lane, through thebeautiful grass and between the flowerbeds that mark the exact site of thishome built 116 years ago, and so longfilled with the best type of the NewEngland life of its day,—a fitting andbeautiful and lasting monument, forwhich their descendants should be sin-cerely grateful.

19

II~"THE NINETEEN"Asa Smith.

No. 1. Oldest child of Abrahamand Zerviah Smith was born May24th, 1770. Died Feb. 24th. 1849,aged 79. Married Oct. 18, 1792 (1)Meribah Russell, daughter of Seth andMarv Russell. Died 1795. Married181.5, (2) Abby Haviland of New York,who died in 1818.Asa Smith, after serving his ap-

prenticeship with his father until 1791and marrying in 1792, remained inNew Bedford and was interested inbusiness with his father-in-law, SethRussell, and his son-in-law, GeorgeTyson. In 1815 he went to New York,receiving certificate of removal to theNew York Monthly Meeting, and thesame year married (2nd) Abby Havi-land, of an old Quaker family of NewYork. She died in 1818. He return-ed to New Bedford in 1822 and be-came assistant postmaster for the twolast years of his father's life. As theoldest son, he held the deed in 1stburying ground on Second street. Hisonly child, Mary, married George Ty-son, of Baltimore, Md.. in 1822 anddied in 1824, leaving an orphandaughter who remained with him therest of his life. These two, after liv-ing at different times in the familiesof his brothers and sisters in Buffaloand Syracuse, finally settled in thehome of his sister, Zerviah SmithSawdey, who went to Conneaut, Ohio,in 1808. He died there in 1849, aged79 years, after a rather uneventfullife. I remember him well, both inBuffalo and on the Ohio farm whereI visited in my childhood; a hand-some, hale old man, retaining hisQuaker speech, although disowned bythe New Bedford meeting on leavingit twenty-five years before.

His granddaughter. Mary Tyson,married before his death, David Saw-dey, adopted son of Zerviah SmithSawdey. He died soon after and shethen married Amos Giltner, a farmerof German stock, and with him beganan overland journey to Denver. Theywere among the pioneer settlers ofthat city, where her two sons wereborn and her husband died. The his-tory of her western journey, and laterexperiences in the mines, is the moststriking which I find in the recordsof the later generations. They crossedthe continent in a "prairie schooner,"driving their cattle and "watchingout" for Indians, as did her QuakerDartmouth ancestors 175 years before.For many years, after the postal ser-vice was established, she sent occa-sional interesting letters to relatives inthe east, but I have not been able to

find any of them. Her sons providedher with a simple, comfortable homein Denver, and then led the roving lifeof miners and prospectors but werenever very successful. In 1893, whenshe was 7 8 years old, a relative visitedher in Denver, and returned withmuch interesting history. She livedalone in a small wooden house, (agreat contrast to the beautiful homeof Seth Russell in New Bedford whereshe was born) and was one of the"first citizens" of the city, known byevery one and universally respected.She told how, at the first civic cele-bration of the city, she put up a tentback of her house, and served there asupper such as she had cooked on theplains, with the utensils she had care-fully preserved. I think she also hadthe original wagon and much of itsoutfit. It was one of the most in-teresting exhibits of the occasion andwas repeated in later years. She wasvery intelligent and gave a thrillingaccount of her journey; one item wasof her making biscuits of flour andthe water of the soda springs in thealkali region of Colorado, and sheused the same water for the "sodabiscuits" of her suppers in the tent.When Charles Kingsley, of Eng-

land, and his daughter Rose made asecond visit to this country and wentto Denver, he visited her and, at hisrequest, was given a prairie supper.He pronounced her "the smartest andmost interesting won:ian he had seenin America," and she showed, withpride, many letters from Mr. Kings-ley and his daughter, after their re-turn to England. Her sons were inCripple Creek in 1893, and she spokew'ell of them. She died in 1895; whenin Cripple Creek in 1904, I tried tofind some trace of them, without suc-cess. The "trail" of this first of thenineteen children vanishes in theRocky Mountains, near Pike's Peak!

Elihu Smith.No. 2. Elihu Smith, second son of

Abraham and Zerviah Smith. BornAug. 9. 1771. Died Oct. 3, 1825, aged4 4. Married (1) Mary Slocum of NewBedford, March 10, 1801. Married(2) Catherine Farrington. Nov. 10,1814.She was of an old Quaker New

York family, and I remember her andher home in Catherine street. NewYork, when I was very young, but shehad then been a widow many years.

Elihu Smith served his apprentice-ship with his father at the "Forge,"as it was called, until of age in 1792,and seems to have remained in New

20

Bedford some years, where he mar-ried, and his first four children wereborn there. He had seven children,four by his first wife and three bythe second. The oldest died in in-

fancy; the others I have known per-sonally. Two sons and one daughtermarried; none of these are living, butthey have many descendants, of threegenerations, still living in New York.Elihu Smith received a certificate ofremoval for "himself and family"from the New Bedford to the NewYork Monthly Meeting August, 1810,in which year he removed to NewYork. He was the first of AbrahamSmith's sons to settle there, and wasfollowed, in time, by all the others,

to whom he was a helpful "elderbrother." He made several voyagesto Europe as captain in the merchantservice, and was prosperous, but noneof his descendants have any record ofhis business interests. His grandsonis in possession of a handsome goldwatch purchased in London and usedby him more than one hundred yearsago. Although he and his wife keptfirmly to the Quaker faith and a com-paratively Quiet and simple life, theirNew York home was a handsome anddignified one and impressed me muchas a child, and I think I was ratherafraid of "Aunt Catherine," a statelywoman in Quaker dress, who was verydeaf.My mother told me that Elihu was

a personal friend of Robert Fultonand interested in some of his projects;like many of Abraham Smith's sons,he had a strong leaning towards me-chanics, which may account for thisassociation. He died in 1825, agedonly 44 years; his children were all

quite young, which may be the reasonthat so little is known of him by hisdescendants.

His oldest son died in infancy. Hissecond son, John T. S. (Slocum)Smith (he always wrote it in full todistinguish himself from others of thename) was a worthy representative ofhis generation. He was born in

New Bedford. Nov. 2. 1805. anddied in New York, agedyears. I remember him best in

the last years of his life, a hand-some, intelligent, vigorous old gentle-man with snow-white hair and fullbeard. When he visited my mother, asomewhat younger cousin, I alwaysenjoyed hearing them recall the olddays, and to me they seemed very"Smithy" representatives of our NewEngland Quaker stock. His son. Dr.Thomas Franklin Smith, sends me thisdata: "He received a simnle commonschool education, and married whenquite young a daughter of ThomasFranklin, of New York; later formeda partnership with his brother-in-law.

Morris Franklin, and carried on al)rokerage business under the firmname of Franklin & Smith. Whenthis was dissolved, he became an ex-pert accountant for several years. Hewas always very much interested in

the study of chemistry and was con-stantly experimenting with chemicalsaiid making chemical analyses. At lastthere came a time, while he was at-tending to the books of the pioneersof homeopathic physicians in NewYork, Drs. John F. Gray and A. Ger-ald Hull,—that they suggested heshould go into the manufacture of ho-meopathic medicines, as there werenone to be procured at that time ex-cept those that were imported fromGermany by Mr. William R!adde, aGerman bookseller. Upon the urgentand repeated requests of these twoph\'sicians, he finally decided to followtheir ad\ice, and in the 1843-1844 heopened a pharmacy in the basementof a pri\-ate house at No. 512 Broad-way, between Broome and Springstreets; his stock in trade consisted ofabout fifty vials of medicine which hehad prepared himself and which werearranged along on the wainscoting ofthe rooiTi; that was the beginning ofhis 'Smith's Homeopathic Pharmacy'which was continued by his son. Dr.Henr\- M. Smith, and is nowconducted by the latter's son, CarrollDunham Smith. John T. S. Smithwas the first person to manufacturehoineopathic medicine in this country,and afterward received a diplomafrom the New York HoineopathicMedical college, as a doctor of medi-cine."Two of his sons became homeopath-

ic ph>sicians; the oldest, Henry Mitch-ell Smith, who continued his phar-macy, stood high in his profession andwas secretary of the commission forthe erection of the fine Hahnnemanmonument in Washington. He diedMarch. 1901, and left three sons andone daughter. Mrs. Gertrude SmithTabor of Helena, Montana. The sonsremained in New York, all marriedthere. One died in 1909, leaving nochildren. Henry Smith's widow livesin New York with his eldest son, Car-roll, who has three children. Thethird son, Julian Pierce, has one son,Haviland Smith. These are of thefifth generation from Abraham Smith.

Dr. Thomas Franklin Smith, young-er son of .John T. S., is a practicinghomeopathic physician in New Yorkand has been for twenty years treas-urer of the American Institute of Ho-meopathy. He has five children liv-ing, and four grandchildren of thefifth generation.

Elizabeth Mitchell Smith, daugh-ter of Elihu and Mary Slocum Smith,

21

was born in New Bedford, Feb. 13,

1806, and married Richard Mott, abrother of James Mott, whose wifewas the celebrated Quaker preacher,Lucretia Mott They lived at one timein Buffalo, N. Y., afterwards in Roch-ester, N. Y., and finally settled in To-ledo, Ohio, where she died of con-sumption, in , and was buriedin Rochester. She left two daugh-ters, Mary and Anna C. Theoldest died , of consumption;the other outlived her father,who was a representative citizenfor many years. He served two termsin the United States senate and waswell known as the "Quaker memberfrom Ohio." His Quaker principlesmade 1 im a firm friend of all theanti-slavery- reformers of that day,and he stood next to Charles Sumnerwhen he was struck down in the Sen-ate chamber by Senator Brooks, andwas the first to assist him. He wasa successful, upright business man andfounder and president of the SavingsBank & Trust Co. of Toledo. Hisdaughter, Anna Caroline Mott, grand-daughter of Elihu, presided over hisbeautiful home as long as he lived.

He was active in mind and body tothe end and left to his daughter alarge fortune which she used wiselyand well, and at her death in 1902left a will distributing it according tohis wishes, including many of herSmith relati\es. She never married,and with her ended that line of ElihuSmith's descendants.

Caroline, Jane and Maria Smith,younger daughters of Elihu, all diedunmarried, the latter in 1S96. Shemade her home in the family of herbrother. Thomas Smith, and remaineda member of the New York MonthlyMeeting.Thomas T. Smith, youngest son of

Elihu Smith and Catherine Farring-ton. was born July 5, 182 0. He mar-ried Sarah B. Cromwell, June 10,

1848, a member of an old Quakerfamily of Brooklyn, and both re-mained members of the Society ofFriends, and their children, William,Alice and Percy, were reared in thatfaith.Thomas T. Smith died August 4th.

1883. His three children are still

living, also four grandchildren andone great grandchild.

Obetl Smith.

No. 3. Third son of Abraham andZerviah, born Nov. 2, 1772, died April7, 1831, aged 59.

Married May 14, 1797, Mary Thornof New York, and they had elevenchildren. Four sons, Stephen. Abra-ham, Robert Fulton and Fulton diedyoung; another son, Edward L., waslost at sea in the wreck of the packet

ship Albion, off Kinsdale, Ireland,April 22nd. 1821, aged 18 years. T^heyoungest child, Amelia, died unmar-ried in 1845, aged 22 years.Obed Smith, like his brother Elihu,

was for a time interested in foreigntrade in New York. I do not find thedate of his going there, but it wasprobably before his marriage there in179 7, and he lived there until hisdeath 34 years after. On March 2 7,

1819, he was appointed port wardenof the city of New York, and heldthe office for twelve years. He wasal-so a personal friend of Robert Ful-ton, two of his infant sons bearingthat name in succession. He was al-ways an active,, intelligent citizen, butno records of his later years have beenpreserved by his descendants.The two oldest survi\'ing sons went

to live in Buffalo, N. Y., where manySmith relatives had already settled.

(1) Archibald Minthorne CockSmith, married Beulah, granddaugh-ter of General Grainger, a Revolution-ary officer, and they had six children.He was for many years secretary ofthe Etna Insurance Co. at Buffalo, andwas killed while on duty at a fire.

There are now living three children,and several grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of Archibald Smith.

(2) William Cock Smith, marriedhis cousin Hannah Smith; they hadno children but adopted a niece whodied childless, and their line is ex-tinct.

(3) Ann Burke Dodge Smith, twinsister of Archibald, married JohnRudderow of Jersey City. She sur-vived him many years and lived to be90 years old. She left three daugh-ters and several grandchildren andgreat grandchildren.

Phcbe Smith.No. 4. First daughter of Abraham

and Zerviah. Born Oct. 27. 1773.Died June 2. 1855, aged 82. Mar-ried Russell Davis, Oct. 8, 179 5. Theyhad no children.As the oldest daughter, and the

mother's first helper in the household,it is safe to say she was greatly missedwhen she inarried at 2 2 and went toa home of her own, leaving elevenbrothers and sisters at home. This is

the largest number I find in the familyat one time.

April 26, 1817, a removal certificatewas given to Russell Davis and familyto Sandwich, Mass., from New Bed-ford. December, 1820, another re-moval certificate was given her by thesame. She returned January, 1832.She removed again March. 1836. andagain returned to New Bedford, May.1848, after the death of her husbandin 1846. Although I must have seenher in my childhood, I only remem-

22

ber her distinctly when she was nearlyeighty years old.

Russell Davis was the son of Jamesand Patience Russell, grandson of Jo-

seph Russell and cousin of Wm. T.

Russell. The History of BarnstableCounty says: "The Friends had noapproved minister before Russell Da-vis. About 1819 he moved from NewBedford to South Yarmouth: havinga remarkable gift in the ministry, in

discerning and addressing the 'states'

of individuals and meetings. Withbut little human learning, and regard-ed as inferior in manner and appear-ance, he was often enabled, both in

public and private, to reveal to indi-

viduals their thoughts and spiritual

conditions, to their own astonishment.He became a true seer and such wasthe general confidence in his declara-tions as being from the true source ofauthorized ministry, that the attend-ance of the Yarmouth meeting grew,in his day, to its greatest number."

Most of his life, after 1820, waspassed in this ministry. I have norecord of his personality, except this,

in Daniel Ricketson's book: "WilliamWall says, Russell Davis frequently,after stating a proposition and saying'It is so," adds, 'It is so because it is so,

—and because it is so. it is so.'"

He died in South Yarmouth in

1847, aged 75. Phebe Smith Davisdied in South Yarmouth in 1855, aged82, and her line is now extinct.

Sylvia Smith.

No. 5. Born Dec. 5, 1774, diedOctober, 1775, aged 10 months.

Stephen Smitli.No. 6. Fourth son of Abraham and

Zerviah. Born Oct. 25, 1776, diedApril 23, 1854 (78). Married (1)Sarah J. Alsop, Sept. 21, 1814. Mar-ried (2) Rosanna Baker, November,1838, the adopted daughter of Gen-eral Philip Van Courtlandt. By hissecond wife he had one daughter.

Stephen served a faithful appren-ticeship to his father until he was ofage, in 1797. His daughter, now theonly surviving granddaughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah, sends me manyitems of his life. Always having agreat desire for learning, after leavingschool for his trade at twelve yearsold, he afterward, in addition to ob-taining a good English education,studied French with refugees fromthe French revolution then living inNew Bedford and Nantucket, recitingto them in the evening. His Frenchbooks, during the day time, laid in aglass-covered frame by his forge, andhe kept up his studies while at hiswork. The day of his majority hesaid to his father, "I have served theefaithfully, but I shall never be ablacksmith, and I wish to see what I

can do." It was afterward written,truthfully, of him, "When he went totry his fortunes in New York, his onlycapital was an unexceptional characterfor integrity and a degree of intelli-

gence not often attained by youngmen of that age, even with the bestopportunities; he always sought afterknowledge with the utmost persever-ance and determination."The older brothers had married and

still lived in New Bedford and theyoungest of the nineteen was only afew months old when Stephen went toNew York, in 1797. Times were hard,and, like hundreds of others, he couldfind no place. Nothing daunted, hewent into the counting room of Min-turn & Chapman, at that time oneof the largest shipping houses in thecity, and asked the consent of theproprietors to stay there a while andwork for nothing. He soon became souseful that he was promoted to a po-sition of great responsibility, and be-came an inmate of the household ofBenjamin G. Minturn, senior propri-etor of the establishment. In thisposition he is said to have "enjoyedintimate social relations with, and themost perfect confidence of, many ofthe first business men of New Yorkcity." He was handsome and well de-veloped physically, and in spite of hisplain Quaker dress and speech, had anatural ease and grace in his bear-ing, unusual at that time. He wassoon sent to Europe in charge of im-portant interests in England andFrance, by the Rotches and others,his good knowledge of the Frenchlanguage being of special value tothem. On his return, his old em-ployers, Minturn & Chapman, senthim as supercargo of one of theirships to India, and in this capacityhe was engaged for several years. Oneof his younger sisters who, as a child,visited him and the older brothersthen settled in New York, told me in

her old age, "He was handsome andgood. I remember well how he wasmade much of by French oflficers andmerchants he had met abroad, whowere visiting New York, to whom heshowed much attention. I recall, es-pecially, a trip to Little Falls, nearPaterson, N. J., in a stage with fourhorses; his party was made up ofthese gentlemen, but I, the only child,was his special guest,—it was a greatevent for me." At one time whenin Portsmouth, England, his eager-ness for information led him so fre-quently into public offices, the gov-ernment storehouses and dock yards,and his enquiries were so many andcurious that he became an object ofsuspicion, was seized as a French spyand thrown into prison; his references-to the American consul and prominent

23

merchants, however, secured his im-mediate release. He was also in Eng-land during the bread riots of 1808.

After accumulating some property,he embarked with others on a ventureof a cargo of "India goods" for theMediterranean, going himself as su-percargo, as well as .joint owner.Owing to the rapacity of the "greatEuropean robber," Napoleon, this un-dertaking proved a failure. He hadno sooner anchored his vessel in theBay of Naples than it was seized, un-der the famous Berlin and Milan de-crees, the vessel and cargo confiscated,and the officers arrested and marchedoff to Boulogne. Vessel and cargoproved an entire loss. The owners,after many years, received dividendsfrom the "spoliation claims," amount-ing in his case to less than twentydollars for the loss of $10,000.

Giving up foreign business afterthis, he commenced the manufactureof salt from sea water at South Yar-mouth, Mass., where the windmill andsalt covers stood for many years. Thebusiness there, at first very profitable,

was rendered of little or no value by areduction of the duty on foreign salt.

He then turned his attention to the"Salines" of central New York state,

in 1812, and during a residence ofseveral years at Syracuse, N. Y.. mar-ried, in 1814. and again in 1838. Helater obtained a charter from the NewYork legislature for a company for themanufacture of salt by solar evapora-tion. Returning to New Bedford, heinterested Wm. Rotch, Jr., SamuelRodman, Samuel Arnold and othersin the project. They sent him to Syra-cuse in 1821. (with "unlimited crediton New York city") where he builtvats and established the OnandagaSolar Salt Co., "according to his ownjudgment." This was the beginningof a strong and prosperous business,still a leading one at Syracuse. Formore than thirty years he was an"honorable and honored" citizen.Forming a life-long friendship withall the well known Quaker abolition-ists of central New York,—GerritSmith, Myron Holley, Samuel J. May,and, through them with "WilliamLloyd Garrison. Lucretia Mott andothers, he early "espoused the causeof the slave" and his home became anoted station on the "undergroundrailway" between the south and Can-ada. He had built a handsome stonehouse, still standing, on LafayetteSquare, Syracuse, one of the finestthen in the city, in the style of thosebuilt in New Bedford about that time.I remember visiting there whenyoung, and being taken to the base-ment and shown the rooms where fu-gitives were sheltered and the sup-plies of warm clothing kept in readi-

ness, made by his family and friends.I also rernember being a little disap-pointed that there were no "sufferers"there at the time, but manj'^ hundredswere helped and protected and sentsafely over the border, furnished withfunds to establish themselves "infreedom." He was well known, andalmost revered, by the colored peopleof Syracuse, and until his death wascalled "Uncle Stephen" by them all.

His was a home of boundless hospi-tality; he v/as very clannish and fondof his kin, and a widowed and unmar-ried sister were long members of hisfamily. It was always the stoppingplace for all relatives passing east orwest, first by canal and then by thefirst railroad in New York state. Hebecame blind several years before hisdeath, but his declining years werepeaceful, calm and cheerful. Hisdeath was a public loss, and in thememorial words of his friend andfellow worker, Mr. May, "His unswerv-ing integrity and irreproachable mor-als have rendered him proverbial forhonor and rectitude, while his un-pretending and kindly manners haveendeared him to all. Showing no signsof dread or fear, he has passed on,"

Rufiis Smith,No. 7. Fifth son of Abraham and

Zerviah. Born Feb. 2.3. 177 8, diedJuly 20, 1779, aged 17 months.

Mary Smith.No. 8. Third daughter of Abra-

ham and Zerviah. Born July 9,

1779, died June 26, 1855, aged 76.Married Daniel W. Taber Feb. 28,1805. They had five children.Daniel Taber was a merchant fromPortland, Maine. He failed in busi-ness there and a few months aftertheir marriage, Mary Taber receivedremoval certificate to the Falmouthmonthly meeting. In an old familyletter from New Bedford, withoutdate, I find: "Daniel Taber has goneto New York to go Second Mate withElihu (his brother-in-law) to Capeof Good Hope and India." His fam-ily seemed to have moved back andforth from Falmouth to New Bedford,and he may have been absent on thisand other voyages until his death in1822, aged 44.

Mary Taber removed again Jvme.1816; a certificate from Falmouth toher and two children was given July.1822, and again when she removedto Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 1835. In 1830,her oldest child, Phebe Davis Taber,married Charles Howland of N.?wBedford, and after her death the nextchild, Elizabeth Smith Taber, becameCharles Howland's second wife. An-other daughter, Zerviah, aged 4

years, died in April, 1814.Mary Taber, her third daughter.

24

Mary Russell Taber, and her only son,

William Daniel Taber, moved to Buf-falo in 1835 with Elizabeth andCharles Rowland, and all remainedmembers of one family through liEe.

By this time there was' quite a colonyof New Bedford Smith descendants in

that city, headed by Isaac S. Smith,No. 16, who settled there in 1822, andincluding Archibald Smith and Wil-liam Smith, sons of Obed Smith, No.3. and their families. A year larer

they were joined by my parents (mymother was a daughter of Rebecca,No. 14), and still later by the daugh-ter of Elihu Smith, No. 2, with herhusband, Richard Mott, and twodaughters. All these families formeda center of the New England elementwhich strongly influenced the growthand development of the city. I re-

member well the Thanksgiving din-ners and family teas of those days,when sometimes as many as thirtyof our "kin" were gathered together.All the elder ones kept alive the cus-toms and speech of Friends.Mary Smith Taber was a fine rep-

resentative of her generation whom I

remember well. As head of the fam-ily, she passed a long and useful life,

dying in Buffalo, aged 7 8 years.Elizabeth and Charles Howland had

four children, Theodore, Charles .Jr.,

Marcus and Anna, wife of Wm. R.Bramhall of Washington, D. C, still

living but without children. Thewidow and children of Charles, Jr.,

are also still living in Windsor, Can-ada, opposite Detroit, Michigan. The-odore died unmarried, also Marcus,who was for many years in the U. S.

Quartermaster's department.Mary Taber and her daughter, Mrs.

Howland, were widely known andvalued in Buffalo, were among thefounders of the orphan asylum andalways "forward in good works." Mrs.Howiand was, later, a valuable work-er in the Buffalo branch of the san-itary commission during the Civil

war, both in word and deed. Shedied in Washington, D. C.Mary Russell Taber kept for many

years the first private school in Buf-falo and was my first teacher. Shedied unmarried.Wm. Daniel Taber died in Buffalo,

1904, unmarried.Judith Smith.

No. 9. Fourth daughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah. Born April 4, 1781.Died July 17, 1786, aged five years.

Tliomas Smith.

No. 10. Fifth son of Abrah.am andZerviah. Born Jan. 30, 1783. DiedJan. 5, 1785, aged 2 years.

Zer\'iah Smith.

No. 11. Fifth daughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah. Born May 28,

1784. Died Dec. 2, 1847, aged 63years. Married David Sawdey, June17, 1808. They had no children.She was the third daughter to leavethe home, a younger sister havingmarried a few months before. Sliewas then 22 j-ears old, and after be-ing disowned by the New Bedfordmeeting for "marrying out of meet-ing," she and her young husband re-moved immediately to New Hartford,Oneida Co., N. Y., and later to afarm near Conneaut, Ohio, which is

now within the state line of Pennsyl-vania. Here they successfully carriedon a large farm, and she and herhusband were valuable pioneers inwhat was then almost a wilderness.She was always, from her girlhood,considered one of "the smartest of thegirls," and in her isolated life devel-oped a strong character. She was thefirst of her family to settle in the FarWest, as it ^vas then called. Afterher brothers and other relatives set-tled in Buffalo, comparatively nearher, they made her frequent ^•isits,

and I remember going there wheiiyoung, by steamer to Conneaut, andthen in a big wagon drawn by finehorses of their own raising. This wasthe first time I had ever seen a flockof sheep, and they had many. I re-member her as a large, handsome,fair woman, then nearly sixty yearsold, in Quaker dress, active in herdairy and housework, and with verycheerful, attractive ways. She wasquoted as authority on many thingsby her neighbors, which she attrib-uted to her "good Yankee-Quakertraining." In middle life, she andher husband adopted an orphan boywho was given to them by his dyingmother whom they had befriended.Before Zerviah's death, her brotherAsa (No. 1) came to make his homewith her. His granddaughter latermarried this adopted son. David, .Jr.,

who died soon after. David Sawdey,Sr., married a second time and hadone son of the same name, now alawyer in Erie. Pa.

Zerviah Smith died in 1S47 and herline Js now extinct.

.'\blp:ail Smith.

No. 12. Sixth daughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah. Born May 1, 1786.Died Dec. 5, 18 63, aged 77 years.Married Robert Wing of Yarmouth,May 4, 1826. They had no children.

She was the last of the marrieddaughters to leave the home, whereshe was the head of the family afterthe sad death of her mother in 1817,caring faithfully for her father in hisdeclining years. Two months after hisdeath, when forty years old, she mar-ried Robert Wing, then a widowerwith one daughter, and went to hishome in South Yarmouth, where he

25

was a boat builder. He was a "Friend"and she carried with her a certificateof removal to the Sandwich meetingof which he was a member. Shemade frequent visits to New Bedfordand was a favorite sister with the>ounger ones of her familv whom she"mothered" so long. She was liright

and witt.x". very capable in her home,famous as a cook, and an authorityamong her neighbors. 1 recall a storytold of her in cholera times. Whenriding alone in a chaise on a loneb'road on the Cape, she was stoppedby a man who said his wife was veryill. On entering the house she foundher in a state of collapse from chol-era. Sending the man with the chaisefor the doctor, she took the case inhand. The fire was low in the fire-

place, so she pulled out the hot bricksfrom the back of the chimney, toreher flannel skirt in strips and rollingthe bricks in them, piled them aroundthe cold body. Then, making a fir^,

she boiled water, made hot tea fromherbs she found in the kitchen,which she forced down the patient'sthroat, and kept hot, wet flannels onher feet. She soon revived and whenthe doctor arrived with other reme-dies, he said her life was alreadysaved.

Robert Wing died in 18 56, aged 73,and his ^vife afterwards made herhome with his daughter, Mrs. Steereof Providence. After the death oi Mr.Steere, Abigail Wing, being over sev-enty years old and blind, removed toNew Bedford and became a memberof the family of her sister, Mrs. Re-becca Smith Williams, where, in thedevoted care of her nieces, she passedseveral peaceful, happy years, activein mind and body. She died suddenlywhile dressing herself and talkingwith her niece. She closed her eyes,simply ceased breathing and passedon, aged 77 years.Her line is now extinct.No. 13. Abraham Smith, Jr., born

Jan. 3rd. 1788, died at sea, Dec. 24,1811, aged 23.

I recall but one record of this son;my grandmother, Rebecca, No. 14,less than t%vo years younger, said ofhim. "He was my playmate and wasgood and handsome. He was a greatloss to me and to our father."

Rebecca Smith.

No. 14. Seventh daughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah. Born June 5. 1789.Died Dec. 26. 1873. aged 84. MarriedRichard Williams. Feb. 18, 1808.They had 13 children.

Rebecca Smith married at eighteenand lived all her life long in NewBedford. She was one of the fairestof the "sofa-full" of cousins of whichDaniel Ricketson has written, and

rather a pet with the older brothersand sisters and her aunt RebeccaRicketson, wife of Daniel Ricketson,Sr., for whoin she was named, whoclaimed her as a daughter, havingnone of his own. She spent muchtime with them and was much at-tached to their sons, who regarded heralmost as a sister. It is already setdown in the annals of this society howthe handsome Richard Williams camefrom Taunton in 1806 and took boardwith my great grandparents, Williamand Elizabeth Tallman, in the housestill standing on the southeast cornerof Union street and the present Acush-net avenue, and directly across fromthe home of B^riend Ricketson, wherethe pretty Rebecca passed most of hertime. Friend Elizabeth Tallman gavehim the corner second story room, sothat he could "keep an eye" on theyoung Quakeress, my grandmother.She never told me whether she hadthe corresponding room on the oppo-site corner, but she did tell me of herwedding, when she married the hand-some Richard, who was not a"Friend." There was no other objec-tion to the vinion, but this one wasrather a trial to her parents and kin-dred of that faith. As they could notbe married in meeting, these relativeswere not present, but her cousin, Jo-seph Ricketson, Sr., and his wife, LucyHowland, offered their home on Unionstreet for the ceremony, which tookplace in the parlor described so pleas-antly at the tea party where she saton the sofa with her five sisters someyears before. They were a handsomecouple; she, small, very fair and dress-ed in a Quaker gown of white Indiamull of plainest make, with no orna-ment, not even a flower; and he, sixfeet tall, arrayed in a blue coat withbrass buttons, white .satin vest andrufl^ed shirt brought from London forthe occasion. The portrait of himcopied for the post office likeness wastaken in London in this dress. Theyoung couple began housekeeping atPadanaram, in a house still standing,where their two oldest children wereborn. In 1811 they moved to NewBedford, to a house still standing onSpring street, north of Fourth. About1816 tliey bought and moved into thehouse on Third street near Bedford,which was their home for nearly thir-ty years, and wliere their last eightchildren and myself, their oldestgrandchild, were born. This goodhome, which I knew well, was aworthy siiccessor. in its generation, tothe Revolutionary homestead of Abra-ham and Zerviah Smith, and therewas constant daily intercourse betweenthem. My mother was rather a pre-cocious child, and was made much of

26

by her many aunts living at the home-stead, and from her I heard manydescriptions of it. as well as of her

own home Avith its large happy family

of strong, bright girls and boys. Six

of these girls grew to womanhood andwere handsome and intelligent repre-sentatives of their generation.

Richard Williams passed manyyeai's in the foreign merchant service,

"principally between New York andLondon. His longest voyage was in

1811, around Cape Horn to the Pacific

coast, first to lower California, andthen north to the present site of SanFrancisco. It is said that his was thefirst merchant vessel from an Atlantic

port to enter the Golden Gate. Nineof this family lived to maturity andseven of them gradually left for otherhomes. In 1824 Richard Williamsgave up his sea-faring life and be-

came assistant to his father-in-law,Abraham Smith, and afterward his

successor in the post office until 1840.

He died suddenly in 1845. aged 63,

while on a visit to the farm in Taun-ton where he was born, leaving oneson and three unmarried daughters in

the home. In 1851 Rebecca Williams,his widow, built a house on Cottagestreet near Hawthorne, and lived

there, with her two last unmarrieddaughters, until her death. She re-

tained possession of the house onThird street and in her will left it to

these two daughters, and afterward to

be sold and the proceeds dividedamong her grandchildren, which wasdone in 1892, this liouse, having beenin the possession of the family 76years. Before building her last house,she made a long visit to her oldestson in Michigan, and later spent ayear with her oldest daughter nearBoston. From that time until herdeath she did not leave New Bedford;hers was a happy, tranquil old age,with three of her daughters near her.

She had, in a large measure, the broadmind of her parents and brothers andwhile very quiet in manner, was afaithful executive mother to her largefamily, and always fond of reading.Her early training in navigation, withher brothers, interested her in as-tronomy, which was always to her anabsorbing study. Her grandchildrenenjoyed her and learned much fromher. One of the younger ones, re-turning from a visit to her, said to

her mother, "I didn't know my grand-mother knew so much," to whichcame the an.swer, "If you ever knowas much as your grandmother does,you will do well." Her mind wasclear and strong to the end, and theday before her death, after a short ill-

ness, she lay with, closed eyes andrepeated page after page of "Paradise

Lost," which she had memorized fromfrequent reading in the eveningschool of her father in the old home-stead, almost 80 years before. At herdeath in 187." there were living five

daughters and her youngest son.

Sarah Smith.

No. 15. Eighth daughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah. Born Sept. 30, 1790.Died May 26, 187 7, aged 87 years.Unmarried.

She remained in the homestead un-til, after the death of her father in1S26, the household was scattered.She then lived with several of hermarried brothers and sisters in NewBedford until August, 183 6, she re-ceived a removal certificate from theNew Bedford meeting and went toSyracuse, N. Y., where she lived formany years in the family of herbrother Stephen. From there she wentto Buffalo, where the family colonywas large, and on to Ohio, a rovingbut welcome guest in the homes ofall her kin, including mine. She re-tained the plain dress, speech andfaith of Friends; was intelligent, capa-ble, witty and cheerful, and an inter-esting type of spinster, the only onein this large family. When more than80 years old, she became blind. Shewas then living with her youngest sis-

ter, Mrs. Savage, in Syracuse, butlonging for the associations of herbirthplace, she returned to New Bed-ford to the home of her nieces, thedaughters of her sister, Rebecca Wil-liams. Mrs. Williams and Mrs. AbigailWing, her sisters, had passed on fromthis home not long before, and shelived there, cheery and well, for sixyears. During this time she fell andbroke her hip, but became again ableto walk for three years after. Shewas found asleep one pleasant Maymorning, "the sleep that knows nowaking," and is buried in the familylot in New Bedford.

Isaac Slociim Smith.

No. 16. Born July 26, 1792. DiedJuly 31. 1860. Married Mrs. OliviaCongdon Rudd in 1837. They had nochildren.The youngest son of Abraham and

Zerviah Smith worked as an appren-tice to his father until near his major-ity, and was always fond of booksand the study of higher branches ofmechanics. He left New Bedford forXew York in June. 1812. receiving aremoval certificate from the New Bed-ford meeting and was for some yearsin the employ of his older brothersin New York. In 1813. soon after hismajority, he went as supercargo fromNew York to Lisbon, Portugal, and,leaving the vessel there, traveled inFrance, returning home via England.

27

While at the home of the consul at

Lisbon, he was much Interested in twoother guests of the family, a lady andher beautiful little daughter, of whomhe grew very fond, the mother show-ed much interest in his descriptions of

his home life in America. Many yearsafter, he was pleased to discover in

the child he had often tended on his

knee, Eugenie, empress of France andwife of Napoleon 3rd. All his remin-iscences of this travel in Europe were,in later years, of intense interest to

his family, including myself, who lived

near him in Buffalo in my childhood.The interest of his brothers in Eu-rope was more strictly commercial,but his broader mind seems to hayeabsorbed much of historical, scientific

and artistic interest, and his later

studies in all these lines gained himthe family title of "The Encyclopedia."To him I always went as a child whenI wanted to "know why," whichpleased him very much. He wouldsay, "Sit down here at my desk, andI will explain so you will never forgetit," and I never did! His small libraryof standard encyclopedias, scientific

and historical books, was the first andbest one in his generation of the fam-ily. Before visiting Europe he hadfollowed the example of his brotherStephen twenty years before andstudied the French language, andmost of the books used in his futureengineering work were in that lan-guage.About the year 1822, when he was

thirty years old, he went to Buffalo,N. Y., then beginning to \)e "colon-ized" by many New England families.Here he became senior partner of thefirm of Smith & Macy (John B. Macyof Nantucket) "forwarding mer-chants." Buffalo was fast becomingone of the largest ports in the UnitedStates; all merchandise and passen-gers arriving from the east by theErie canal were there transferred to

sail and steam craft for the West, ayery indefinite term then. There wasno Chicago, and I think the limit oftrade was at Detroit. He soon tooka leading place in the development ofthe city, and was made the first secre-tary of the Western Insurance Co. ofBuffalo in 1825. He was the unsuc-cessful candidate of a Workingman'sparty for governor of the state in

1830. In 1831 he was one of a com-mittee of citizens to promote the con-struction of a railroad to Buffalo. Hewas the first alderman of the first

ward of Buffalo, elected May 28, 1832,and was re-elected in 1834. Duringten years of practical business andpublic services, he steadily pursuedhis study of mechanical engineering,and in 1832 was appointed as superin-

tendent of the liuilding of the light-house on the end of the breakwaterat the entrance to Buffalo harbor,which stands today unsurpassed as apiece of inasonry, from foundation up.Exposed to the fierce storms andheavy ice drifting toward the mouthof the Niagara river, it is now 77years old and firm as the rock onwhich it was built. "The People'sMagazine," published 1834, in Boston,has a picture of this lighthouse and"a copy of the original sketch of its

construction, by Isaac S. Smith, super-intendent." This is a minute descrip-tion of all details of his work, be-ginning 15 feet below water at theend of the mole or breakwater ex-tending 1.500 feet from the shore. I

remember going into this lighthousewith him. as a child, when he waso\erseeing soine repairs to the outerwall of the mole after the record galeof 184 5, and being much interestedin the "basement" of the tower, whichhad stone walls seven feet thick andformed an "oil vault." My fatherthen held the government contractfor furnishing all the lighthouses onthe lakes with New Bedford refinedsperm oil. "the only oil that wouldnot freeze." Isaac Smith was alwayssati.sfied with, and proud of, this work,saying, "This is my monument; noone need ever trouble to give me an-other." Continuing in different busi-ness interests for many years, in 1856he again contracted for the buildingof a second lighthouse about a milenorthwest of the old one, on a ledgeof rocks at the mouth of the Niagarariver, directly in the middle of thefierce current there. This contractwas based on the government surveyof the ledge, which he proved incor-rect; a new survey was necessary, andthe contract was carried out and light-house built, where it still .stands onthe spot he selected. This involved alarge extra expenditure, for which hesent in a claim to the government.This claim was held up in Congressfor several years, but was finally paidbefore his death in 1860. Thus he hastwo lasting monuments of his ownbuilding, V>oth witnesses to liis me-chanical skill obtained at the forge,and his unvarying thoroughness ineverything he did.

At his death in Syracuse, where hepassed the last years of his life. Rev.S. J. May said of him, "His integritywas instinctive, was earnest, constantand unswerving. He was. scrupulouslyexact and solicitously just and fair inall his dealings, unbendingly devotedto his own idea of truth and right.He was favored in his early training,and was left, through his Quaker par-entage, unhindered, if not directly en-

28

couraged, toward independence in

thought. Character he accounted the

all-substantial possession in this worldand every other; to the end he showedfortitude and good cheer, and his

death was calm and brave."

Elizabeth Smith.

No. 17. Ninth daughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah. Born Dec. 27. 1793.

Died April 7, 18 81. Married WmgRussell of New Bedford Jan. 1, 182 5.

They had three children.Elizabeth Smith was the last child

married from the old homestead, the

year before the death of her father

and the breaking up of the family.

She w^as then 32 years old and hadbeen one of the '"faithful ones" since

the death of her mother nine years

before. Wing Russell, son of Perryand Sybil Winslow Russell, was anapothecary. T^eir first home was onThird street, south of Union, and hehad, in addition to his shop on Waterstreet, a manufactory of "PrussianBlue" on William street, on the site

of the present Y. M. C. A. building.

Their three children were born in NewBedford, the youngest, Stephen SmithRussell, dying in infancy. Dec. 27,

1834, a removal certificate was givenWing Russell and family to the Ham-burgh Meeting, near Buffalo, N. Y.,

and they removed, with their twochildren, to join the Smith colonythere. He formed a business partner-ship with my father under the firmname of Russell & Hawes, forwardingmerchants, but his health soon failedand he died in New Bedford in 1844,aged only 41 years, and was buriedthere. Elizabeth Smith Russell thenmade her home for many years withher brother Stephen in Syracuse, andon the marriage of her only daughterto Wells D. Walbridge of Buffalo,again removed with her to that cityin 184 8, where she lived many years.Her daughter then removing to Cal-ifornia and Idaho, where her husbandhad mining interests, she remainedwith her son at his home in Erie, Pa.,until 1872, when she joined Mr. andMrs. Walbridge and their only sonin Napa, Cal., going the same yearto San Francisco, where she celebrat-ed her 80th birthday. Although sofar from the rest of her family, it

was made a festival occasion by alarge gathering of new friends, manyof whom had never seen so old aperson, and none had ever seen theQuaker dress worn. She was veryhandsome, her hair as white as herQuaker cap and handkerchief. Herbirthday cake with its wreath of flow-ers, its eighty candles and eighty golddollars set into the edge of the frost-ing, was the first one ever seen iji

San Francisco. She retained always

the fair complexion of her youth. Shewas the sister, then about 10 yearsold, who visited Stephen Smith in N.Y., and the French officers she metthere pronounced her the most beau-tiful "jeune fille" they had ever seen,in her simple white Quaker gown withneck and arms uncovered. In 1879the family returned to New York city,

where her son-in-law died suddenlythe next year. She was not happy in

her city life, and although perfectlywell physically, her memory failedsomewhat and she longed for the"open air," as she said; so they cameto our home in New Jersey, to hergreat delight, and she said, "I know I

shall be happy here." After a happyweek, with all her senses normal, shecomplained one bright morning of atired feeling, laid down on the couchand fell asleep instantly. The joy ofthe change had snapped the frail

thread and ended a ^aried life of 8 7

years. Her only daughter, Lydia Rus-sell Walbridge, then joined her sonRussell D. Walbridge (born in 1849)in the Hawaiian islands, where formany \ears he had charge of a largesugar plantation on the island of Maui.He was the second great grandson ofAbrahain Smith to enter the TroyPolytechnic Institute as the youngestmember of his class and to graduateat the head of it. During his coursethere he took a year's leave and joinedhis father, who was superintendent ofa silver mine at Boise City, Idaho. Re-turning to finish his course at Troy,he then spent several years as a min-ing engineer at Tucson, Colorado, go-ing from there to Maui. In Honoluluhe married Berenice Parke, and aftera visit to the Atlantic coast returnedto Honolulu where his only son, Rus-sell Parke Walbridge, was born in1905. Russell D. died in Hisson early showed a talent for his fa-ther's profession, but while arrange-ments were being made for his edu-cation in New England, to preparehim for the Troy Institute, he diedsuddenly, from the effects of a fall,

aged ten years.For this boy of the fourth genera-

tion from Abraham Smith, had beensaved all the most valuable relics andrecords which are here tonight, in-cluding a certified copy of apprentice-ship and deed of land of John Smithin Plymouth and many other certifiedrecords, from the Old DartmouthFriends Meeting. This is the longestrecord, in time and items, that I havefound. I have made it as completeas possible because I have inheritedall these treasures. That line of Eliz-abeth's descendants is now extinct.

Robert Wing Russell, only son ofElizabeth S. Russell, was born Oct.12, 1832, was educated in Syracuse-

29

-and Buffalo, and later became cashierof the First National Bank of Erie.He married the daughter of Wm. H.Curry, president of the Bank, anddied at Utica, New York, in 1907,leaving three daughters and one son.There are now living four grandchil-dren and two great grandchildren ofElizabeth Smith Russell.

Deborah Smith.

No. IS. Tenth daughter of Abra-ham and Zerviah. Born Feb. 12, 1796.Died May 1st, 1S79, aged 83 years.Married Joseph Taber Nov. 21, 1821.They had five children.Deborah Smith, as one of the young-

est of the family, remained at thehomestead four jears after the deathof her mother, marrying when 21years old. Joseph Taber was the onlyson of Francis and Lydia Russell Ta-ber, and all were esteemed and life-

long members of the New BedfordFriends Meeting. He was early ap-prenticed to his father as a "pumpand block maker" in his red-paintedshop on Front street near Union, andcontinued the business successfully formany years. He lived all his life inNew Bedford and a full record of hisfamily was kept by his son Edward S.

Taber. I recall one story told of himwhich made an impression on mychildish mind. In the first year of hisapprenticeship he spoiled by carelessmeasurements several pieces of thevaluable "lignum vitae" of which theblocks for the rigging of vessels weremade, and for a time had a habit ofmeasuring and re-measuring the woodanxiously, to be "sure" before cuttingit. One day he realized that this wasnot the way to make an exact work-man, and he resolved to never makebut one measure, and that an exactone, and to remember that one. Hekept to this rule through life, and said,"I didn't spoil much wood after that."I wish to gratefully record that tothis day I have tried to practice thisrule.They were among the few of Abra-

ham Smith's family who never leftNew Bedford. Their first home was

—

and in 18.31 they built and movedinto "the new house" on Fourthstreet where they lived forty-eightyears and where they celebrated theirgolden wedding in 1871. From herchildhood Deborah Smith developedan individual talent before unknownin the family. In one of his addressesPresident Wood of this Society speaksof "Art suffering from the coolingand quieting winds of DartmouthQuakerism" and Deborah's first at-tempts were discouraged and she feltthe full force of their influence. Herfather, while insisting on good pen-manship for all his children, had no

taste or sympathy for what, to him,in his strong struggle for education,seemed a "vanity." While still young,her brother Stephen brought her fromEurope the first colored picture shehad ever seen, and, "wonder of won-ders," a paint box and brushes. I be-lieve this picture is now in the pos-session of a granddaughter who in-herited her talent. In fear and trem-bling, she took them to the attic, lestthey should be condemned, and hidthem behind a piece of furniture nearthe low window under the eaves;when she could steal away unobserv-ed, she would sit on the floor, copywith pencil and then color any pic-ture she could find in the householdlibrary—and they were very few—andalso perfected herself in the writingand printing, which later became areally wonderful accomplishment. I

do not know how soon she venturedto bring forth her work to the lightof day, but I have here specimens ofher work in colors and in ink datedin 1812 when she was 16 years oldand presented to her sisters. Theseare drawn with the pen and carefullycolored; the details are many of themequal to the finest etchings of thepresent day. After her marriage, herskill is shown in many "Albums," onemade as a wedding gift to her young-est sister in 1821, and in the markingof the household linen of several gen-erations; the whole wedding linen ofher nieces and children showed herpatient work. I, myself, of a latergeneration, used to carry my newpocket handkerchiefs and choose a de-sign for each from her little book ofpatterns. She used quill pens andmade them herself, and her lines wereas true as those of the best engrav-ing tools of the present day. Shealso drew designs for many beautifulwhite quilts. I am the proud posses-sor of one made for my mother onher marriage. It was in the framesix months, the design of one sidebeing first drawn by her and thenquilted by herself and sisters, whocame every week with their thimblesand put in the tiny stitches to whichthey had l)een trained in the home-stead; then it was "rolled and readyfor next marking." None of theyounger ones were allowed to touchit. There are specimens of her penwork on fine cambric, from classicalpictures, that are worthily framed andtreasured by her descendants. Withno instruction whatever from others,she later made oil portraits of hertwo daughters who died, aged 18 and14.

Not long before his death she madea small pencil sketch of her father,and one, from memory, of her moth-

30

er, of which .small photographs weremade several years after. When the

present po.st office was built in 1893,

and it was decided to place pictures

of all the postmasters in one of its

rooms, an enlarged copy of this like-

ness was made by a great grand-daughter of Deborah Taber and pre-

sented to the city by Edwrd S. Taber,his grandson. As no portrait of thefirst postmaster, William Tobey. couldbe found, this picture of AbrahamSmith hangs at the head of the line,

followed by that of Richard Williams,his son-in-law and successor in office,

who held the position for 14 years.

It is an instance of the irony of fate

that this portrait owes its existence to

the loving skill of the daughter, whosetalent he discouraged, and to hergranddaughter who inherits her tal-

ent for art.

Deborah Taber rarely left New Bed-ford, except for visits "on the Cape."In her last days, her senses were keenbut her memory failed, and she passedon quietly in her 84th year.Edward Smith Taber, her only son,

born March, 15, 1826, died , re-mained a worthy citizen of New Bed-ford through life. He was an active,successful busines.s man and presidentof the Morse Twist Drill Co., withwhich he was connected at his death.He married Emily H. Allen of NewBedford and they had three childrenand five grandchildren, all now liv-

ing. A grandson inherits the artistictalent of his great grandmother andhas just entered himself at the Ecoledes Beaux Arts at Paris for study, adecided advance from her '"perch" bythe attic window of the old homestead.

Caroline Smith Taber, born Feb. 3,

1824, died . Married SamuelMorgan of Albany, N. Y.. inand later moved to Toledo, Ohio,where she died aged . They hadthree children. The eldest daughter.Caroline, has been for several yearsteacher of drawing in the publicschools of Toledo. She studied for

several years in the art classes ofNew York city and as a pupil of Wil-liam Chase, another striking advancefrom the old homestead attic.

There are now living 4 grand-children, 4 great grandchildren and1 great great grandchild of DeborahSmith.

Lydia Potter Smith.

No. 19. Eleventh daughter andlast child of Abraham and Zerviah.Born Sept. 2, 1797. Died Jan. 1st,

1S72, aged 75 years. Married JosephSavage Nov. 5, 1821, and on Dec. 26,

182 2, received removal certificate fromNew Bedford to Bridgewater, Oneidacounty, N. Y., where they first madetheir home. They soon removed to

Syracuse, where Stephen Smith hadjust settled and where they were join-

ed many >ears later by Isaac Smith.Joseph Savage was interested in

both the salt and ice business of Syra-cuse, and they lived there 49 years.After her death, he made his home onStaten Island, where he died.While Lydia Savage did not fulfil

the English theory of the youngest of

a family having exceptional ability,

she was very "Smithy" according to

the Yankee estimate. She had nochildren, but was always a helpfulmember of the community where shelived so long, and an active co-workerwith Stephen Smith in his Anti-Slaveryservice. She did not retain the plaindress and speech of Friends, and wasfond of pictures and music, and all

good modern literature and poetry.When I last saw her in her homeduring the Civil war, she was takinglessons on the piano so as to be ableto play the accompaniment to the StarSpangled Banner, which I was askedto do daily during my visit, she lead-ing the song,—a nineteenth centurysurvival of the spirit which led herfather to sacrifice his Quaker mem-bership in 1776. As she had no chil-dren. I have given her picture and theoriginal certificate of her marriage-to this society for preservation.

31

III—THIRTEEN CHILDREN OF REBECCASMITH WILLIAMS

The thirteen children of Richard anaRebecca Smith Williams wereborn in New Bedford, andas this is the largest family of

its generation in descent from Abra-ham and Zerviah Smith, and none of

them are now living, I give a full

record of them here.No. 1. Joseph Ricketson Williams,

oldest son and child of Re-becca Ricketson Williams. wasborn November 14th, 1808, anddied June 15th. 1861. He was edu-cated at the Friends Academy in NewBedford and entered Harvard college

in 182 6, the first descendant of Abra-ham Smith to have a college educa-tion. Graduating in 1830, he and his

oldest sister, Lucy Ricketson Williams,started on a journey west, visited

Niagara Falls, and went by steamerand stages to visit their aunt ZerviahSawdy in northwest Pennsylvania. Aletter to her father tells of their go-ing on horseback to the Ohio stateline and "galloping a mile into Ohio,"never expecting to enter the stateagain. The accounts of this journeygiven by these two bright young peo-ple were long of great interest to theNew Bedford families. One old In-dian woman, however, a servant in

the family, refused to be impressed;she said, "Huh! Miss Lucy make agreat fuss over Niagara Falls; I guessshe never see Mashpee Mill dam!"

Joseph Williams then entered thelaw office of "Honest" John Davis ofWorcester, who with his wife, a sister

of George Bancroft, the historian, be-came very much attached to him andappreciated his exceptional abilities.

He then formed a law partnershipwith John H. Clifford of New Bedford,afterward Governor, but, his healthfailing, he went south in a sailingvessel, landing at St. Augustine, Flor-ida, where he passed the winter, andpurchasing a saddle horse there, rodehome leisurely to New Bedford, ar-riving June 1st, 1835. His bronchialtrouble still made it impossible forhim to live on the seacoast, and finally

he reluctantly gave up his chosenprofession, for which he was wellfitted, and in 183 5 removed to Toledo,Ohio, where he started and namedthe Toledo Blade, still a leading Re-publican paper of the state, in part-nership with Pierre M. Irving, a neph-ew of Washington Irving. In 1S39 heremoved to Constantine, Michigan,where, with his brother Richard Wil-liams, he built and carried on forseveral years a successful flour mill.

Here he established a village on NewEngland principles, and became themost prominent man in the county.He built and owned the Tavern andmade it a "temperance centre" fromthe first, delivered instructive lecturesin it and encouraged "assemlilys,"with dancing and refreshments freefor all; the only restrictions were "noliquor and no shirtsleeves," and healways attended these dances with hisfamily and guests. He became muchinterested in the planting of the first

orchards in the state, and takinggrafts froin the fine orchards of Erieand Genessee counties in New YorkState, he traveled far on horsebackthrough southern Michigan, graftingtrees and encouraging and instructingthe eastern pioneers who at that timewere rapidly settling the State. Formany years he wrote and spoke ablyin regard to agriculture and political

interests, and twice received the nomi-nation of Republican senator for his

district against Lewis Cass, afterwardsgovernor. In 1844 he married SarahLangdon of Buffalo, a grandniece of

John Langdon, the Revolutionary gov-ernor of New Hampshire, and in 1853returned to Toledo, Ohio, bought theToledo Blade establishment and tookeditorial charge of it. Competent au-thority states: "Under his managementthe Blade became, from the first, theadvocate of Republican-Free Soil prin-

ciples. It was entirely independentand uncompromising and did moreto inaugurate the Republican party in

Ohio than all the other papers in thestate. During his editorial career of

three years, he had completely Repub-licanized the northwestern district of

Ohio."'In 1856 he returned to Michigan,

where he had retained his interests,

to accept the presidency of the first

agricultural college in the UnitedStates, at Lansing, Michigan. Thiscollege was the first to benefit by theUnited States grant of lands for edu-cational purposes, and this land bill,

usually called the Morrill bill after the

member who presented it to congress,

was reallv in spirit and substanceoriginal with Joseph R. Williams. Hadhe been elected to Congress and pre-

sented it himself to the government,it would have brought him deservedhonor. A full account of his "workand words" in this connection waspublished in the proceedings of theSemi-Centennial celebration of theMichigan College of Agriculture andMechanic Arts held in 1907.

32

In 1858 he was chosen state senator

for St. Joseph's county, and later Lieu-

tenant Governor of Michigan and ex-

officio Speaker of the State Senate. In

the winter of 1860 his health was so

affected by his faithful political ser-

vice that he was obliged to make atrip to Madeira. Knowing well the

critical condition of the country, hewas impatient to return, and against

all advice was again in New Englandin April, a few days before the attack

on Sumter. When Lincoln issued his

first call for state troops. GovernorBlair of Michigan was ill and Mr.Williams was acting Lieutenant Gov-ernor and Speaker of the Senate. Hewent directly to Lansing, called anextra session of the legislature to raise

the quota for Michigan, and, whenassembled, opened it with a power-ful patriotic speech. The business fin-

ished, he adjourned the session, re-

turned to his home at Constantine,

and within twenty-four hours died

from a hemorrhage of the lungs, as

truly a fighter as if he had fallen onthe held of battle. The Rev. Rotat. CoU-yer, of Chicago, held the service

at his home in Michigan, andin a volume of his publishedsermons he speaks of this ser-

vice and gives a fine tribute to thecharacter and work of Mr. Williams.

At his request, made long before his

death, his body was brought to NewBedford and laid beside his parents;

he said, "my exile will then be over."

His birthplace never had a more loyal

or brilliant son; one who knew himwell said to me lately. "He was aleading man in northern Ohio, andcapable of great service, and could hehave lived, would have taken first

rank in the state." He died in June,1861, aged only 51 years, leaving threedaughters. There are now living twodaughters, six grandsons and onegreat grandchild of Joseph RicketsonWilliams.

No. 2. Eliza Smith Williams, bornJuly 8, 1810. Died Dec. 28. 1815.

No. 3. Lucy Ricketson Williams,born Aug. 2, 1812. Died Feb. 4, 1894.

Lucy R. Williams was born in ahouse still standing on Spring street,

near Fourth. She was educated atFriends Academy with her brotherJoseph and was much like him in

temperament and intelligence, butwith a stronger constitution, and out-lived him many years. Her father,being very fond of music, gave herone of the first pianos in New Bed-ford, where at that time there werebut two others, one brought fromFrance many years before by Rhoda,daughter of Captain Hayden (after-ward Mrs. Roland R. Crocker), andthe other belonging to her school-

mate, Howland, afterwardMt-s. Edward Mott Robinson. EdwardL. White of Boston was their teacher,coming from Boston once a week fortheir lessons. The Howland pianowas put in the third story of the oldGideon Howland house on Secondstreet, because that strict old Quakerutterly disapproved of it, and hisdaughter, getting little encouragement,made but small progress in using it,

so Lucy Williams used to go often tothe upper room and, with closed doors,play jigs and sing songs to a delightedgroup of schoolmates. In her ownhome her father accompanied her onthe flute and young people gatheredthere to enjoy the music. So strong wasthe Quaker element at that time thatshe said, afterwards, "There were veryfew of my age who could turn a tune,and it was really the first home wherethe young people went to dance andsing." Before her marriage, she mademany visits in Worcester, where herbrother studied law with GovernorDavis, and among relati\'es in NewYork and Syracuse.

She married, June 1st, 1835, SamuelW. Hawes, youngest son of JohnHawes of New Bedford, and I, theirfirst child, was born in New Bedfordin June. 1836. During that year theyremoved to Buffalo, New York, andwere among the pioneer settlers ofthat city, then but a frontier town.There their son Richard WilliamsHawes was born September, 1837.From the first, she was leader in herhome and in the social life. Her hus-band was prosperous, their home ahospitable one and its doors alwaysopen to the innumerable friends andrelatives journeying to and from NewEngland. Charles A. Dana, then aresident of Buffalo, said of her, "Byher genius and her beauty, she becamea leader of society in that city, notedfor the culture and refinement of its

early citizens." For thirty-four yearsthey were identified with all the bestinterests and activities of Buffalo,broken only by a period of ten years,from 1850 to 1860, when for sometime they lived near Boston, he beingin business there with his brother,Wm. T. Hawes. In 185 5 he boughtthe Potomska farm in Dartmouth, butsold it in 1857 on account of ill

health, and they returned to Buffaloin 1859. At this time Mr. Hawes open-ed some of the first oil wells in Can-ada and Pennsylvania, and broughtthe first petroleum into Buffalo, wherehe manufactured refined oil for manyyears. During the Civil war Mrs.Hawes was an active worker in theBuffalo branch of the Sanitary Com-mission, and president of the Freed-men's Aid society.

33

In 18 70 they removed with theirchildren and two grandchildren to Ho-Ho-Kus, N. J., near New York. Inthat city he continued in business un-til his death in 1882. Lucy WilliamsHawes became at this time a frequentcontributor to the New York Sun, fur-nishing material for a column of "Sun-beams" for several years. She laterwrote interesting historical pamphletson Buffalo and Lewiston. Niaraga coun-ty, which were published by the BuffaloHistorical society; also several articlesin "Kate Fields Washington," ofwhich Miss Field said, "These spark-ling sivetches, written at the age of 80years, command a terse and vigorousstyle which younger writers might im-itate with profit."

All her life she was an untiringcorrespondent, whose letters were wel-comed by several generations and inmany lands. She survived her hus-band twelve years and died at Ho-Ho-Kus, N. J., in 1894, in her 82nd year,with all her faculties strong and keento the end.

No. 4. Rebecca Smith Williams.Jr., born June 25th, 1814. Died Oct.8th, 1893, aged 79 years. Oct. 8, 1835,she married Lawrence Grinnell. sonof Cornelius Grinnell of New Bedford.Mrs. Grinnell passed all her long life

in New Bedford, where her beautifuland hospitable home will long be re-membered. To her great beauty wasadded a practical executive abilitythat made her always among the help-ful women of the city. At the begin-ning of the Civil war she was chosenfirst president of the New Bedfordbranch of the Sanitary Commission.The day after the departure of thefirst New Bedford company for Wash-ington she assembled her family andneighbors in her home and cut outthe first shirts that were sent to them.I was one of tne workers there whenMr. Grinnell came in with the tele-gram that the troops had been firedupon in Baltimore. This branch didgreat work for the hospitals andnurses all through the war. Mrs. Jo-seph Delano later had charge of thatwork, but Mrs. Grinnell continued ac-tive in many ways as long as needed.In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Grinnell cele-brated their golden wedding, and eightyears later, on their 58th weddingday, she passed away. Mr. Grinnellhad become blind and physically help-less, and survived her only twomonths, dying Dec. 14. 1893. Theyhad four children. Laura died in in-fancy. Frederick died Oct. 21st, ,1905,aged fi9. Mary Russell, died Oct. 11,1872, aged 27. Richard Williams,married Norah Gardner of Providence,R. T., June 1874, died leav-ing one son and two daughters.

No. 5. Richard Williams, Jr., bornNov. 24, 1815. For many years wasin business at Constantine with hisbrother, Joseph R. Williams, removingin IS 58 to Buffalo, where he was in-terested in flouring mills. He marriedAnna, daughter of Eben Osborn ofSandusky, who survives him. At onetime he spent several years in Lon-don, England, in charge of Americanmilling machinery interests. He diedat Buffalo in 188. They had nochildren.

No. 6. Zerviah Smith Williams,died of consumption July 25, 1833,aged 15 years.

No. 7. Lemuel Tallman Williams,died May 22, 1822, aged 21/2 years.

No. 8. Eliza Smith Williams, bornMay 1st, 1821. Married Josias S.Coggeshall, 1846.They moved to Constantine, Mich.,

where they lived with her brother,Joseph R. ^^illiams. for some years.Mr. Coggeshall went to California in1850. his wife following him two yearsafter. Their children were: LauraGrinnell Coggeshall, born in New Bed-ford, died in Toledo, Ohio; FrankCoggeshall, born in New Bedford, diedin New Bedford; Annie WilliamsCoggeshall. born in San Francisco.Mr. and Mrs. Coggeshall re-mained in California until hisdeath, in February, 1890. Soonafter, she returned with her twodaughters to New Bedford to thehomestead on Cottage street whichshe had inherited from her motherand unmarried sisters. The climatenot agreeing with her, after her lifeon the Pacific coast, she removed toToledo, Ohio, in 1891, where she diedJan. 13. 1892, followed by both ofher daughters, who were unmarried.

No. 9. Maria Williams, born Feb.10. 1824, died Aug. 15, 1890, aged 66.Maria Williams, the oldest unmar-

ried daughter, passed her whole lifein New Bedford. After her father's'death in 1845, when she was 21 yearsold, she took her place as the headof the household, and devoted herselfto the care of her widowed motherand invalid sister, and later to twoblind and childless aunts. Of the six"Williams sisters," considered in theirgeneration the handsomest familygroup in New Bedford, she was oneof marked personality. In spite ofmany attempts to induce her to pre-side over other homes, she preferredwhat was, in her, a life of single"blessedness." She was always activein helpful ways, was one of those whostarted and managed for several yearsthe "ragged schools" or sewing class-es which were held in the publicschools on Saturday afternoons, andwas an untiring worker in all the

34

patriotic and hospital worli of the

Sanitarv CommiFsion during the Civil

war. Her loving care endeared her to

her nieces and nephews, and manycalled for her to be with them in

their last hours. A mother-less daughter of her youngest broth-

er, put in her charge when three years

old, was a loving daughter to her for

many years, and her early death, soonafter her father's, broke the last link

which held the faithful "maidenaunt" to life. She closed her homeand spent some time with Mr. andMrs. Grinnell, who needed her care,

but she died before them, after a

short illness.

No. 10. Svbil Tisdale Williams,

born April 18, 1825, died Oct.

Sybil Williams, like her sisters, waseducated in Friends Academy, mar-ried Thomas Bennett, Jr., of Fairha-ven, and lived all her life in NewBedford, where, like her older sisters,

she was prominent and helpful in all

social and philanthropic work. Shehad a buoyant, cheery temperamentwhich gave an added charm to herbeauty, and a friendly, kind mannerwhich remains a pleasant memory to

all who knew her. In 1872 Mr. andMrs. Bennett moved to the mansionof John Avery Parker on Countystreet, where they resided the rest of

their lives. For nearly thirty years,

Mr. Bennett was superintendent andagent of Wamsutta Mills. They hadtwo children, Williams and Clara Ben-nett. The early death of their sonwas a shock from which neither of

them ever recovered. Mrs. Bennettdied two years later, Oct. 20th, 1877,

her husband surviving her until

March, 1898. Their only daughter is

still living in the family homesteadof her grandfather. Captain ThoniasBennett, in Fairhaven.

No. 11. Lemuel Williams, bornDec. 26, 1826, died July 9, 1828.No. 12. George Williams, born Nov.

28, 1828, died Dec. 1887.George Williams, the fifth and

youngest son, was but 18 years old atthe time of his father's death, andwas the first son to follow the "call

of the sea" which had appealed sooften to his ancestors. He made twovoyages "before the mast" before en-tering the service of Grinnell & Min-turn, of New York, where he remain-ed until 1860 as first officer, and later

as Captain. He served on many ot

the famous California "clippers," andwas one of the officers who took the"Flying Cloud" on her record-break-ing trip around Cape Horn. Formany years he made annual trips toChina. At one time, on the deathof the Captain at Cantop, he broughthome the ship and a cargo worth overa million dollars, through one of the

stormiest voyages ever known. Forsome weeks the gales drove them backfrom the Atlantic coast, and threetimes they drifted back into the GulfStream, to thaw out the sails andrigging. They were six weeks over-due, and with food and clothing giv-ing out. The carpet was taken fromthe cabin to make jackets for thecrew, and finally the ship was safelyanchored in New York harbor.On the breaking out of the Civil

war, which put an end for a time tothe trade with China, he entered theUnited States Volunteer Navy, and wasafterward transferred to the UnitedStates revenue cutter service, wherehe remained until his death. He wasstationed for three years in New Bed-ford harbor, and also served six yearson the Pacific coast, including twotrips to Alaska. He was intensely pa-triotic, and said, "I have carried theAmerican flag around the world manytimes, and into some port of nearlyevery country on the globe, and I

have never seen anything handsomer,nor that I loved any better."He married, March 5, 1861, Marion

Boughton Uloyd, of Niagara county,N. Y., who died March 29, 1866. Theyhad one daughter, Marion, who mar-ried Eliot D. Stetson of New Bedford,March, 1887.

George Williams died suddenly inNew Bedford while spending a vaca-tion there, and his daughter, diedchildless March 12, 1888, the last ofher line.

No. 13. Abby Smith Williams,born Oct. 4, 1830, died Dec. 31. 1883.The youngest of the thirteen chil-

dren, was in some respects the mostremarkable of them all. A fall whenshe was four years old injured herspine and made her an invalid forlife. Inheriting the strong physicaland mental traits of her parents, anda cheerful, philosophical temperament,her life of over fifty years was an ac-tive, useful one, in spite of its limita-tions. She was taught in her ownhome, in a great measure self-tavight,and was an intelligent, enthusiasticreader. She had a fine sense of humorand was a keen judge of all phases oflife. Two years spent at the homeof her brother in Michigan interestedher much, and she made frequent vis-its to other relatives, but her last yearswere spent in the New Bedford home-stead, with her mother, sister andniece. Her oldest brother said of her,"She was the peer of the best of us,and had the best brain,"—an illus-tration of the deduction of an Englishwriter, quoted in the introduction tothis paper, that the oldest and young-e.st of a large family have a greaterlikelihood of developing genius thanany of the others.

35

IV—LATER RECORDS.

It was my original intention to limit

records to the grandchildren of Abra-ham and Zerviah Smith, but I decidedlater to include all members of lines

now extinct, that those records maybe closed to date. I now add fournames of descendants of three succes-sive generations, which I feel shouldbe recorded here, as none of them arenow living. They are marked illustra-

tions of the survival of differentphases and types of their New Eng-land ancestry.

(1) Frederick Grinnell was born in

New Bedford, March 14, 1836, a son ofthe late Lawrence Grinnell. former col-

lector of customs of the port of NewBedford, and Rebecca (S. Williams)Grinnell. On his father's side he de-scended from an old French Huguenotfamily which emigrated to America in

163 2 and settled first at Newport, andafterwards, toward the middle of theeighteenth century, at New Bedford.He attended the Friends Academy. In1852 he entered the Rensselaer Poly-technic Institute at Troy, N. Y., theyoungest of his class, and the young-est who had ever entered at that time.At this institute he went through thethree years' engineering course, grad-uating in 1855 with high honors, hisname being at the head of the list ofover 60 students of his own year.The subject of his graduating theseshad been for some years at the headof the list of difficult problems, andMr. Grinnell was the first one to solveit correctly. Having finished his edu-cational career, Mr. Grinnell began hisactive life in 18 56 at the Jersey CityLocomotive works, whence he passed,in 1860, to the Corliss Steam Enginecompany of Providence, where hishigh ability in a short time securedhim the position of treasurer and su-perintendent of the works. In 1865,however, he was induced to return to

the Jersey City Locomotive works asgeneral manager, and the fact thatthis concern was then leased by theAtlantic & Great Western railroad ledto his forming the acquaintance ofSir Morton Peto and Mr. Forbes, onwhose express invitation he went to

England for the purpose of inspectingthe chief locomotive engineering andmechanical works in the UnitedKingdom. Some time afterwards,when the Atlantic & Great WesternRailway company was leased by theErie company, Mr. Grinnell was offer-ed the position of mechanical superin-tendent of the entire combined sys-tem.

Mr. Grinnell, however, notwith-standing his successful career as a

railway engineer, decided to use hisenergies and inventive powers for hisown benefit, and to that end he pur-chased, in 1869, an interest in theProvidence Steam & Gas Pipe com-pany, a concern which had beenfounded in 1850. As engineer andmanager of this company, he soon de-veloped a large and successful busi-ness in the equipment of manufacto-ries with all apparatus pertaining tothe use of steam, water and gas, and,in addition, undertook large contractsfor the building of towns' gas works,and the laying of water mains.

It was his connection with this com-pany that led Mr. Grinnell to developa system of fire protection by meansof perforated pipes attached to theceilings of factory rooms, into any ofwhich water could be turned by theopening of externally fixed valves.This device met with a good deal offavor at the time; but as its success-ful operation depended entirely on hu-man agency, Mr. Grinnell was, by anatural process, led to the study of asystem which would be independentof such agency, and absolutely auto-matic in its working. Numerous auto-matic devices aiming at the extinctionof fire by the agency of its own heathad been previously patented, but ev-ery one of them had failed in practice,either through their habit of burstingwhen not wanted, or failing to openat the critical time. Mr. Grinnell, in1881, patented his famous sensitivevalve sprinkler, self-closing underwater pressure. In 1881 Mr. Grinnellfurther improved the apparatus by theinvention of the dry pipe system andother appliances for the equipment ofproperties where the water in thepipes would freeze.With Mr. Grinnell's wonderful me-

chanical genius were combined twoother qualiites—a lawyer's apprecia-tion of the application of principlesto facts and a keen power of explana-tion of mechanical subjects, all ofwhich stood him in good stead in thedemonstration of the value of his in-vention, and in the tremendous liti-

gation which occurred in regard to it.

He was really his own patent solicitorand expert, and his ability in bothcapacities was responsible for his suc-cessful career.

In 1892 the leading concerns manu-facturing automatic appliances in dif-ferent sections of the United Stateswere amalgamated by Mr. Grinnellinto one large corporation, under thetitle of the General Fire Extinguishercompany. This company, of which hewas the first president, has branch

36

offices in all leading cities of America,and extensive works at Providence,Philadelphia and Warren, Ohio. Therights of the sprinkler and other pa-

tents for Europe were acquired byWilliam Mather of England. Mr. Grin-nell remained at the head of theAmerican company up to the time of

his death.During his residence in Providence,

Mr. Grinnell was married to Alice

Almy, daughter of the late WilliamAlmy of New Bedford, in 1864. Ofthis marriage two children were born,

a son who died at the age of fouryears, and a daughter, now the wifeof Robert AV. Taft of Providence, adirector in the N. Y., N. H. & H.railroad. Mrs. Grinnell died within afew vears of her marriage.

In 18 74 Mr. Grinnell was marriedto Miss Mary B. Page, a daughter of

John H. W. Page. Mr. Page was prin-

cipal of the Friends Academy from1826 to 18:^9, afterwards studying lawand being admitted to the bar in

1832. To Mr. and Mrs. Grinnell havebeen born four children, Russell Grin-nell, whose wife. Rose Gifford, is adaughter of the late R. Swain Gif-ford. the artist; Lydia, now Mrs. JohnW. Knowles; Lawrence, who marriedEmily Rotch Severance, a grand-daughter of Wm. J. Rotch of NewBedford, and has one son, Francis B.,

who married Elizabeth MerrihewPlummer, daughter of Leander A.Plummer, and had one son.

In 1894 Mr. and Mrs. Grinnellmoved to this city, Mr. Grinnell hav-ing purchased the estate of his great-uncle, Joseph Grinnell, on Countystreet, for a residence.

Throughout his life, Mr. Grinnellwas an enthusiastic yachtsman, andtook a prominent part in the sport ofyachting. He was No. 5 among theoriginal charter members of the NewYork Yacht club, and had served as amember of its regatta committee. Hehad also been a member of the NewBedford Yacht club for many years.Mr. Grinnell's first boat was the Lydia,a small schooner. In 1889 he hadbuilt the steel schooner Quickstep.She was designed by Burgess, and wasintended for a family crusing yacht,but developed great speed. She wasnot only invariably victorious in herown class, but on three occasions wonspecial races against the finest schoon-ers of the class above her. The Quick-step measures 65 feet on the waterline, is constructed of steel, and wasbuilt in 1889 from the plans of thewell known designer, Burgess. Onaccount of the reputation which hegained in handling the Quickstep, Mr.Grinnell's sailing master. CaptainWilliam Hansen, was selected to sail

the Vigilant in .the international racesof 18 93 for the America cup; but hereturned to Mr. Grinnell the followingseason and remained with him up tothe time of Captain Hansen's death.A few years later, tiring of the sport

of sailing, and desiring a craft bywhich he could more fiuickly returnto port at his pleasure. Mr. <3rinnellin 1902 built the second Quiekstiip, asteamer, disposing of the schooner toNew York people. The .steamer wassold in 1905.

Small boat racing was anotherphase of yachting in which Mr. Grin-nell was interested, and his sou's Her-reshoff cruisers have been an activefactor in the races of the New Bed-ford club.

Mr. Grinnell was interested in alarge number of local corporations.He was a director in the Mechanicsbank, to which office he was elected ayear after taking up his residence inthis city; was a member of the boardof investment of the New Bedford In-stitution for Savings; a director in theWamsutta Mills corporation. As oneof the management of the MorseTwist Drill company, Mr. Grinnell hadmuch to do with the extension of thatfirm's business; and he was also oneof the heads of the Gorham Mfg. Co.He died Oct. 5, 1905. aged 69.

No. 2. Russell D. Walbridge,great grandson of Abraham Smithand grandson of ElizabethSmith and Wing Russell, wasborn in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1849.and died at Honolulu, 1901, aged 52years. Educated at private schools inBuffalo, he entered the Polytechnicschool in Troy in 1862. This was justten years after his cousin, FrederickGrinnell, had entered there; RussellWalbridge entered at the same age,both the youngest in their class. Af-ter one year's study he went to BoiseCity, Idaho, where his father was Incharge of a large silver mine, andspent a year in practical work as amining engineer. He then returned toTroy and finished his course, gradu-ating with honor. After more workwith his father in California until1883. he became chief engineer ofmines at Tucson until 1885, when hewent to Honolulu, and for severalyears was superintendent of a largesugar plantation on the island ofMaui. It became the most successfulone in the Hawaiian islands.He married Bernice Parke of Hono-

lulu, and in 1899 returned to theeast, preferring to work, he said, "inhis own country." He finally decidedto return to Honolulu in 1900, anddied suddenly in 1901, just as he wasabout to take charge of a plantation,there.

37

Xo. 3. Williams Bennett, only sonof Thomas and Sybil Williams Ben-nett, was born in New Bedford in

1859 and died Dec. 25. 1875, agedsixteen years.

Williams Bennett was educated in

private schools of New Bedford andearly showed his inheritance of greatmechanical ability. When a merechild he spent much time in theworkshop of the "Wamsutta Mills, ofwhich his father was the builder andsuperintendent. At twelve years hebuilt and ran a small steam enginewith which to work a small printingpress, and published a very creditablesmall newspaper. In September, 1875,he entered the Poljtechnic school atTroy, the youngest in his class, thesame record in age and standing asthat of Frederick Grinnell in 1852and Russell Walbridge in 1862. Thehope that he would repeat their hon-orable finish of the course was dis-appointed by his death, of typhoidfever. Dec. 2 5th, three months afterhis entrance.

No. 4. Franklin Smith Macomber,son of Alfred E. and Sarah SmithMacomber, born March 2, 1877, diedDec. 10. 1908.

Alfred E. Macomber is of Scotchdescent, and was born in Bristol coun-ty, Mass.; his ancestors were "propri-etors" in the Pilgrim Plymouth colonyas early as 1640.

Sarah Smith Macomber is daugh-ter of John T. S. Smith, the homeo-pathic physician of New York, and agroat granddaughter of AbrahamSmith.

Franklin Smith Macomber was themost marked representative of hisfamily branch in his day and genera-tion. He was born in Toledo, Ohio,educated in the public schools, thenentered Cornell university and tookthe law course, returning to Toledo in

1898 when 21 years old. and enteringthe real estate firm of his father.From his parents he inherited astrong, wise, humanitarian tendencywhich, through this business, soon de-veloped in many practical ways. It

"was said of him:"The scope of his vision and the

philosophy and depth of his thoughtwere unknown, except to those whoknew the smiling young man best.

He had a thorough knowledge andaptitude for architecture and civic en-gineering. He spent much time goingover certain portions of the city, untilhe learned its possibilities, then placedhis mental designs on paper for hisown gratification. He took few intohis confidence, preferring to wait un-til the time was ripe, to call the at-tention of the public with a backingof facts and figures. That his judg-

ment in public improvement was wisewas shown in the development of thedistrict where he planted apartmenthouses and playgrounds; his motivewas entirely unselfish and he soughtno holdings in other districts that hewas planning to regenerate."

In 1903 he married Miss Annie Rey-nolds of Toledo, and they had oneson. He was associated with everymovement for the welfare of Toledo,and was the life and energy of theboards with which he became con-nected. In January, 1906, he was ap-pointed a member of the Board ofpublic safety, and the next year waselected its vice president. In all mat-ters presented to the City Council hewas invariably the spokesman for thesafety Board, and matters pertainingto the elevation and efficiency of thepolice and fire departments occupiedthe major part of his time. He wasIn dail\' consultation with experts,gathering data and statistics to showthe probable cost and benefits of im-provements. He lent much assistanceto the work of the Toledo newsboys,and with his brother, Irving E. Mac-omber, gave the use of a large tractof land to the Newsboys' associationfor a playground, and) a similiar tractwas appropriated for the use of theschool board as a school garden. Inthe midst of all this strong, helpfulwork, he developed a trouble of thenose, which, after consultation withthe best specialists, seemed to neces-sitate a slight operation. He wentpromptly and hopefully to a hospital,his heart action was tested, an anaes-thetic administered, and in five min-utes he was dead, and a whole citymourned his loss! The mayor issuedan official proclamation and all pub-lic and private flags were lowered tohalf mast. The leading paper said:"Since the death of President McKinley, nothing has so shocked andshaken Toledo as the untimely passingof Franklin S. Macomber, city-saver."On the Sunday *after his death a pub-lic memorial service was held by theCity Council. In a tender loving ad-dress, the Mayor spoke of his shortbut complete life, saying. "The recordis far too short; it was not time forhim to die." Among many othertributes. I add only this from thepresident of the T.,abor Union:"He was my friend; he was one of

the very few men in his walk of life

who appreciated the efforts of theworkers. It would not be fitting forine to recount all he has done forlabor, but he always prided himselfon being at the service of those whotoil. He was a many-sided man, whopaid less attention to the individualthan to the wants of the community.

38

You can appeal to your rulers andplead with them to be kind and just,

and implore your legislatures to treat

vou kindly, but these forces must bendtheir knees to men like Franklin Mac-omber."

Surely he was "well born," and hedied when only thirty-one years old,

••good and wise, honorable and hon-ored."The descendants of Abraham and

Zerviah Smith, now living, whom I

have been able to trace and record,

are: 1 grandchild, 22 great grand-children, 24 great great grandchildren,21 great great great grandchildren.From some of my "forebears," I

have inherited a saying which hasbeen used for more than one genera-tion. When condemning the charac-ter of any one, it was said "He is poortimber, that will neither take polish

nor hold nails!" 1 think we can sayof the sturdy New England familytree, of which I have made this recordof more than three hundred years ofgrowth, that it has always been "goodtimber." In its first century it heldfast the "nails" of adversity, exile,torture, imprisonment and daily pri-vation; in the second and third cen-turies its vigorous branches reachedout to absorb the best elements of ev-ery possible gain in power and skillof both body and mind; and as I

have lately traced the growth of its

fourth century, I am p; oud to findmany of good, firm grain, ready totake on the polish of the 20th centurydevelopment and opportunity. I be-queath the recording of this to thefamily historian of 2010, for ^reser-vation by the "Old Dartmouth Histor-ical Society."

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 31

Being the proceedings of the Thirty-first Meeting of the Old

Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building, Water

Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on December 29, 1910.

ARTHUR HATHAWAY AND HIS IMMEDIATE

DESCENDANTS By Caroline W. Hathaway

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches " will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

THIRTY-FIRST MEETING

OF THE

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

DECEMBER 29, 1910

President Edmund Wood addressedthe members concerning a recent puls-

lication by Anna and Walton Ricket-son Daniel Ricketson will always be

"A book has been published thismonth in New Bedford which shouldreceive honorable mention at themeeting of this society, 'Daniel Ric-ketson—Autobiographic and Miscel-laneous.' This historical work hasbeen compiled and edited by two ofour members, Anna and WaltoiiRicketson, authors of 'Daniel Ricket-son and His Friends,' and 'New Bed-foi'd of the Past.' The book is note-worthy because it supplies in perma-nent form additional material fromthe pen of Old Dartmouth's chief his-torian.

"Daniel Ricketson will always bea name cherished by this historicalsociety, because he \\as perhaps thevery first to realize that his own timowas full of unrecorded treasures of

biographical knowledge, historicalfacts, and family traditions, whichwere in great danger of being lostto the future.He does not seem to have had in

mind the writing of a complete his-tory of this township, but rather, a»he himself states, the assembling orthis vast treasure of fugitive localfact and tradition,—the recording ofmaterial of inestimable value for theuse of future historians and anti-quarians.

As a matter of fact he did groupthem into a satisfactory form, andpublished a work which was for ageneration our only history.The greatest services that the es-

tablishment of this society performedin this community was to arouse ourinhabitants to a realization of thevalue of the relics of the past whichstill surrounded us, and the recordswhich, unappreciated and unexamined

in many households, were in dangerof obli\ion. It formed a nucleus forcollection, and a devoted workingforce for study and research.

But incidentally this society per-formed a noteworthy service in Its

earliest existence. It brought DanleiRicketson into his own. It awakeneamany to see for the first time the reaivalue of the material he had gath-ered and recorded, and to confess Inpublic manner the debt that this gen-eration owed to his sagacious fore-sight and loving labor

It had been the fashion for manyyears to magnify the occasional ei-rors in statement and to dwell uponthe desultory and unskilful form inwhich he had left his researches. Butwith the formation of this societycame a fuller realization of what hehad really accomplished. It is im-possible now to read the earliest pro-ceedings of this society as well as theearlier exercises connected with theBartholomew Gosnold memorial atCuttyhunk, without acknowledgingthat our historian, Daniel Ricketson,is of blessed memory, and one whomthis society will always delight tohonor.The work which has just been

published by his daughter and soi.,

Anna and Walton Ricketson, containssome historical material but has Irschief value in the glimpses which it

reveals to us of the man himself, ofhis ambition, of his devotedness, ofhis lofty ideals, and of his full real-ization of his own limitations andshortcomings. He a.ssociated inti-mately with some of the largestminds in the land. He correspondeaand exchanged literary efforts witnsome of our greatest thinkers anamost successful writers. His conver-sation, his fund of close observationsof nature, and his intellectual hospi-tality attracted them and made hishome quite a centre for high think-ing and philosophical speculation. Hisown literary work was placed in analmost unfair competition, for hereit was put exactly alongside of that oiEmerson and Thoreau and Alcott andCurtis and Whittier.The perusal of the delightful let-

ters in this volume emphasizes againthe extraordinary change which is nowoften commented on in the populareducation of adults. Now it is large-ly accomplished through the eye—thereading of the daily newspapers—andthe play, and in the few and muchadulterated kernels of informationwhich may occasionally be found inthe modern vaudeville.A generation and a half ago this

hall would have been crowded to hearthe essayist of the evening. It wasthe era of the Lyceum Bureau. Ourlargest halls were filled, without the

attractions of orchestras and stereopti-con slides, to hear the leaders ofthought and action in that day, dis-course on philosophy and on the prob-lems involved in current events.

It seems to us now, as we lookback, that 'there were giants in thosedays.' Then was the climax of popu-lar oratory when vast audiences satthrilled by the skill of the speaker,and were swayed as a mass by a mag-netic address.Xew Bedford heard the best that

appeared on the lecture platform, andDaniel Ricketson entertained some ofthe best.Then were tlip days of one-night

stands, as the theatre managers wouldnow call it. A popular speaker wouldswing around the circle, with a nightin New Bedford and then a night inBoston, with perhaps a night or twointervening.Emerson and Thoreau and George

William Curtis were favorites here,and year after year they, and manyothers, sojourned before or after thelecture with Daniel Ricketson at hisdelightful home at Brooklawn onAcushnet avenue. Here during thelate evening, around the blazing fire

in the rustic study called 'The Shantx.'sat our hospitable fellow citizen andhis distinguished guest, and discoursedof nature and poetry and art, andbrought in with that old-time appro-priateness those resounding quotationsfrom the poets, both Latin and Eng-lish.

The book reveals a beautiful pic-ture of an unusual life."

President Wood stated that a verypraiseworthy and popular suggestionof our secretary has developed intoquite a success It was that brasstablets be placed in the panels of ourdoorways, to commemorate the namesof the earliest settlers and that thesepanels be pro\'ided by some one oftheir descendants who is a member ofthe society.

President Wood read the inscrip-tions upon the new tablets, as fol-lows:

ARTHUR HATHAWAY,Magistrate.DIED—1711.

From a Descendant—Thomas S. Hath-away.

JOHN RUSSELL,First Deputy

from Dartmouth.1608—1694-5.

From a Descendant—Harry B. Russell.

HUGH MOSHER,First Pastor

of theFirst Baptist Churchin Old Dartmouth.

From a Descendant—Frank A. Mosher.

President Wood said that it hadalso been suggested that the societyshould in the same manner recordthe names of citizens distinguished inthe less remote history of the city,and that tablets to their memorymight be placed in the panels of thearchway in the meeting room. Headded that one such tablet had al-ready been placed. The tablet is in-scribed as follows:

In Memorv of

WILLIAM GUSHING WHITRIDGE,"The Beloved Physician."

PcM'ii in Tiverton, Rhode Island,NOV. 25, 1784.

Died in New Bedford. Mass.,DEC. 28, 1857.

From His Grand-daughterBertha Whitridge Smith.

MISS CARULI.XE W. llAiHAWAV

Arthur Hathaway and His Immediate

Descendants

BY

CAROLINE W. HATHAWAY

In searching for reliable informa-tion of the first settlers of Dartmouth,nearly three hundred years ago. manyitems of interest and value are

brought to light, giving an insight into

their aims and accomplishments. Astime is counted, it is only a few yearssince the forefathers laid the founda-tion for the physical and social life

of this territory. Among the numberwas Arthur Hathaway.The name of Hathaway is local in

Wales, and is derived from PortHeathway. It must be local as wellin Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, forin the latter at one time there wereeighteen Hathaways to every tenthousand inhabitants. The countiesof Wales that border on the RiverSevern, are as much English as thoseon the opposite side, in the UnitedKingdom. Although it has not beenpossible to' trace the subject of thisarticle back to either of the above lo-

calities, it is fair to suppose that heor his might have emigrated fromthereabouts. In Hallens London CityChurch Registers, it is recorded that"iLichard Hathaway of St. Lawrence.Old Jewry, gent, and Anne (Amy)Moddox, spinster of the City of Lon-don were married at St. BartholomewExchange Nov. 20, 1582 B., and an-other reads. London, St. Botolph.Bishopsgate, 1632. Thomas Hathawayi.^ married to Eliabeth Harper." Ar-thur Hathawa\' named his first sonJohn, and his second son Thomas, andhis son John named one of his sonsRichard, he, Arthur might or miglitnot have come from London. The rec-ords reveal a variety of spelling,the most common forms are Hatha-way, Hatheway, Hathway, Hada-way. Hauthaway; they probablybelong to the same originalfamily, and they should be spelledone way. The Hathaways of Dart-mouth trace their ancestry back toArthur, who married -Sarah, daughterof John Cooke. The tradition is. that

the Hathaways in personal appear-ance were tall, loosely built, walkedwith a swinging motion and were offlorid complexion, fair hair and blueeyes. This type appears in almoste\'ery generation.

Tliere is no detailed documentaryinformation before 1652, therebymuch confusion exists. The year of16 51, one Arthur Hathaway was re-ported as owning in lot 26 in Punck-a-teest. now Tiverton. In 164 3 a resi-dent of Marshtield of the same namewas capable of bearing arms, and wasat to^vn meeting at Plymouth in 1646Tlie Colonial Records state that Ar-thur Hathaway had a share in landsii that part of Plymouth calledKingston. The records do not settlethe question of whether these individ-uals were one person. Elisha C. Leon-ard tliought they were, while some in-vestigators assert that there were twoArthurs, father and son. Then oneJohn Hathaway, Jr.. kept an ordinaryat Freetown, presumably at Assonet.John Hathaway at Barnstable, wasfined in 1663 for breach of peace, andin 1668 for drunkenness. It wasthought at one time that all of thesee\ents related to the same John, butthis is now doubted; whether eitherJohn was a relative of Arthur is aquestion. John D. Baldwin, a schol-arl\- gentleman residing in Worcester,and the only writer who makes thestatement, wrote to the Historical andGenealogical Register: "I have foundby investigation that John and ArthurHathaway, (brothers probably) cameto America in 163 8 from one of> theWelsh counties of Great Britain. Johnwas in Barnstable, but afterward set-tled in that part of Taunton nowBerkley, where he owned land in1638. Arthur settled in Plymouth andhis son married Sarah Cooke." Verylittle weight can be given to this state-ment as no authority is given. Gen.E. W. Peirce wrote to the same regis-ter that he had discovered a recordwhich proved that the Taunton John

Hathaway was not the same individ-ual who was in Barnstable. Owing tothe absence of documentary informa-tion, it will not now be possible tostate when and where Arthur Hath-away was born; who were his parentsand relatives; and when he came toPlymouth colony. This narrative mustcommence with his marriage to thedaughter of John Cooke. November20, 1652, the same year that the col-ony granted the territory on Buzzardsbay to the thirty-six purchasers ofwhom Cooke was one. In the firstcensus of New Bedford town in 1790.there were thirty-eight male Hatha-ways. During the past century theremay have been a few Hathaway fam-ilies that became residents of NewBedford who belonged to the Tauntonor Barnstable branches. But so farns known, all who resided within thelimits of Old Dartmouth before 1800,were descendants of Arthur Hatha-way. By marriage he was connectedwith important families of Plymouthcolony. John Cooke at the age of tenyears came in the Mayflower with hisfather Francis, and he married SarahWarren, daughter of Richard, who al-so came in the Mayflower, and werealways prominent at Plymouth. JohnCooke held Anabaptist views, and wasnot in accord with the Pilgrim church,and it is suggested that they wereentirel.v willing he should remove hishome to Buzzards bay. How soon af-ter the grant of Cushena, any of thepurchasers removed to Buzzards bayhas not been determined, but notmore than seven made their home inDartmouth.The name was applied to this region

in a tax lev\' as early as 1632, al-though the town of Dartmouth wasnot constituted until 1664. But asearly as 1660 Arthur Hathaway and"Segeant" Shaw were residing here,because an order was given to Cap-tain Willet to collect their taxes. In165G Hathaway was a member of thegrand jury, but probably not froman unincorporated place like CushenaHe did not leave Plymouth until afterFeb. 28. 1655. and so must have takenup his abode at Dartmouth between1655 and 1660.

Robert Hicks was one of the "oldcomers" to whom Dartmouth wasgranted, but by some mistake hisname was omitted and the name orhis son, Samuel, was substituted.When Robert died his heirs brought apetition to have this error rectified,and it was proposed that Samuelshould consider the Dartmouth landsas belonging to his father and takeonly his share therein, but he re-fused, so in 1662 the matter was sub-mitted to Samuel Jenny, James Shaw.a7id Arthur Hathaway to decide his

proportion. The result has not beenpreserved. Samuel it appears retainedpossession of the Dartmouth lands.Arthur Hathaway purchased fromSamuel Cuthbert in 1661, one-halfshare of land which was one-sixty-eighth of the entire territory of Dart-mouth. This gave him a standing asa proprietor independent of his wife'sfather. The lack of records of thisperiod seriously impair all investiga-tion. There was a book kept by theland owners, which was burned in thehouse of Thomas Hathaway in 1725.Possibly it contained transactions orthe town as a separate corporation,but the existing records of the towndo not begin until 1673. After annualelections there were sent to Plymoutha list of the officials chosen at townmeetings. Dartmouth chose a con-stable in 1664, but no selectmen arereported until 1667 and then ArthurHathaway was one of the board.The duties of a constable at that

time were manifold and must havebeen taxing. In 163 3 it was foundnecessary to appoint a constable, andJoshua Pratt was chosen for Ply-mouth. Previous to that time Cap-tain Miles Standish had performed theduties which belonged to that officeby virtue of his captaincy. Until 1638.the constable for Plymouth was mes-senger of the court, the prototype ofthe sergeant at arms of the Massa-chusetts legislature. His duty was toattend general court and court ofassistants, to act as keeper of thejail, to execute punishment, to givewarnings to such marriages as shallbe approved by authority, to sealweights and mea.'^ures and to measureout such land as shall be ordered bythe governor or government. Duringthe first twenty years after the townwas established. Arthur Hathaway waseight terms "celect"-man. In 1674with Henry Tucker and Peleg Tripphe was empowered to lay out ever\homestead. In 1671 he was appointeda magistrare.The official career of Arthur Hatha-

way ends abruptly in 1684 and withthe exception of two deeds, and awill he disappears from all recordedhistory. Twelve years later in 166 hedecided to divide his lands. He ownedon the east side of the Acushnet river,north of Dahl's corner. The southhalf he gave to his son, Jonathan, andthe north to his son Thomas. Thedeeds were executed later and werenot recorded until several years later,which would indicate that he was notready to complete the transfer whenit was first arranged. This was hisfarm where he lived. It includedCaptain Franklyn Howland's. and theLaura Keene farm, and land northand south. Some lands also included.

are described as being near the tractwhich John Howard sold to JamesSamson, near Obsholiqutut, the Indianname for Fort Phoenix. These deedsare executed by his written signature.Notliing further appears concerningArthur Hathaway until the probate ofhis will, which was dated February,1709-10, and presented to the courtFebruary, 1710-11. It was executedby his mark. Tlie witnesses were JohnCannon, Jr., Isaac Howland and Jona-than Delano. It states that he "wasvery weak of body but of perfect mindand memory." He gave to his wifeSarah the income of certain estateand a legacy of five shilling to eachof his children: Thomas, Jonathan,Mary Hammond, Lydia Sisson, andHannah Cadman. His real estate con-sisting of a half share of land in

Dartmouth, he devised to his sonJohn, whom he selected as executor.The sudden termination of his busi-ness and official career presents a cu-rious problem that defies explanation.His name does not appear even as awitness to any will or deed duringthat long period. His death probablytook place within a month before theprobate of his will. The inventory ofhis estate contained the following:

One-half share of land, £200.Feather beds and bedding, £40.A Bible and other books, £5.

Table linen, woolen, yarn and flax,

3 iron pots, 2 iron kettles. 1 brasskettle, 2 brass skillets, a warming pan,barel of cider, 30 pounds of tobacco.The only debt due from his estate

was a bill of Dr. James Tallman for£4 4s.

There is no tradition nor record ofwhere his house stood or his home-stead; it was probably not much, if

any. east of the main road extendingto Acushnet. The early settlers lo-cated their houses within easy accessto the rivers where they could escapefrom the Indians. According to thewill of Arthur Hathaway he left threesons and three daughters.John—Married (1) Joanna Pope,

daughter ol Thomas and Sarah Jen-ney Pope. 1732; (2) Patience.Thomas—Married Hepzibeth, daugh-

ter of Nathaniel and Mary Starbuck,of Nantucket, 1748.Jonathan—Married Susannah Pope,

daughter of Captain Seth Pope.Mary—Married Samuel Hammond,

son of Benjamin Hammond.Lydia—Married James Sisson, son

of Richard Sisson.Hannah—Married George Cadman,

son of William Cadman.About 1684 the Hammond family

lived in that section of Rochester nowMattapoisett, and they owned expen-sive tracts near the Dartmouth line

and on Mattapoisett Neck. BenjaminHammond was a contemporary andassociate surveyor with BenjaminCrane in the work in Dartmouth. TheSitfsons came to Dartmouth fromPortsmouth, R. I. Richard ownedland in Dartmouth, but probablynever lived there and his interestscame into the possession of his sonJames. His homestead was at theHead of Westport, on the south sideof the road and ^rest side of the river,

and comprised the region from theriver west to the Central Village road,and half a mile down the river. Hishouse was at the corner near thebridge where he kept a public-house,and the place was known as"Sisson's." Herf were held meetingsof the proprietors, and here for overone hundred an I fifty years was atavern.Hannah Hathaway married George

Cadman, son of Honorable WilliamCadman, of Portsmouth, R. I. GeorgeCadman was one of the leading menof Dartmouth. He was selectman,treasurer and overseer of the poor.His name appears as a witness to mostof the wills of his day. and he mayhave written them. Cadman's Neckwas owned by his brother Richard.George Cadman's farm was very

long, extending from the east branchof the Westport river northwest toBrownell's corner. It lay between twobrooks, one or which is two milessouth of the Head and is still calledCadman's brook.He died in 1718, leaving only one

child, a daughter, Elizabeth, who mar-ried William White. Some part of hisfarm near the river was owned in re-cent years by the White descendants.While no information fixes the loca-tion of George Cadman's house, thereis reason to suppose that it was nearthe river, on the south side of Cad-man's brook, on the farm recentlyowned by Stephen Kirby, and whichfor over a century was owned by theWhite family.The three sons of Arthur were far-

mers, and do not appear to havesought public life. John and Thomasserved one year each as constable, andJohn was once elected 'Tythingman."Thomas Hathaway was selectman

for two year.*" and was clerk of theproprietors wnen his house was burn-ed down and with it the land records.This comi)rised the whole of their offi-

cial career. In addition to the landedinterests received from their father,

they purchased largely from outsideowners, and each family came into

possession of several large farms. Bymarriage they became connected withseveral well known families in this

section of the province.

John, the oldest son, married Jo-hanna Pope, daughter of ThomasPope, and Sarah "Jenne," both well-known families in Plymouth. (A wellpreserved Pope cradle of 1648 is ex-hibited in this building.) His secondwife was Patience.The first wife had six children, and

the second ten, and of these, ten weresons.Thomas Hathaway married Hepzi-

beth Starbuck, daughter of Nathaniel,of Nantucket, and Mary Starbuck,whose father was Tristram Coffln.This was the "Great Mary Starbuck,"the founder of the Society of Friendsat Nantucket. They had nine children,of whom four were sons.

16 71 Jonathan Hathaway marriedSusannah Pope, daughter of CaptainSeth Pope, one of the leading men inDartmouth, who was a brother ofJohn Hathaway's wife, Johanna Pope.In this family there were ten children,of whom six were sons. From thesethree families there were twenty sonsto perpetuate the name.John Hathaway—Married (1st) Jo-

anna Pope, daughter Thos. and Sarah(Carey) Pope.~"

, Children. T

Sarah—Married John Cadman. .

Joanna—Married Elkanah Black-well.John—Married Alice Launders.Arthur—Married (2) Maria Luce.Hannah—Married Boomer.Mary—Married Douglass.John Hathaway (married 2nd) Pa-

tince.

Children.

Jonathan—Married Abagail Nye.

"

Ptichard—Marvied Deborali Doty.Thomas.Hunnewell—Married MaryAbialson—Married Mary Taber.Elizabeth.Patience—Married Reuben Peck-

ham.Benjamin—Married Elizabeth Rich-

mond. Mary Hix.James—Married Mary .

Ebenezer—Married Ruth Hatch.

Thomas Hathaway married Hepzi-beth Starbuck, daughter of Nathanieland Mary (Coffin) Strrbuck of Nan-tucket.

Children.Antipas—Married Patience Church.Apphia—Married Adam Mott.Elizabeth—Mairied John Clark.Mary—Alarried Thomas Kempton.Thomas—Married Lois Taber.Nathaniel—Married .

Hepzibetli—Married Samuel Wing.Jethro—Married Hannah West.Pernel—Married .

Jonathan Hathaway married Susan-na Pope, daughter of Seth Pope.

Cliildren.

Elizabeth.Abigail—Married Seth Spooner.Gamaliel—Married Hannah Hill-

man.Hannali.Seth—Married Hannah WillisDeborah—Married Jireh Swift.Jonathan—Married Bridget Delano.Silas.

Elnathan—Married Esther Spooner.Paul—Married Ann .

The three brothers above mentionedowned large sections of the ancienttown.

Jonathan's Hathaway's south linewas at Dahl's corner, where the linebetween Fairhaven and Acushnetcrosses the road. It extended northabout one thousand feet, and fromthe river east over one mile, andwas bounded on the north by theLaura Keene and Franklyn Howlandfarms. Thomas Hathaway had theestate next north, in width half amile north and south, and extendedback from the river over two miles,and comprising six hundred acres.Both had land on Sconticut Neck.Jonathan Hathaway had large

tracts in the north part of Long Plainvillage, extending from Quaker Lane,north over half a mile, and the samedistance east of ihe main road towardRochester, and to the westward, acrossthe river nearly to the Keene road.John Hathaway's land, chiefly on

the west side of the Acushnet river,was in several tracts, and in area wasabout as extensive as that of hisbrother Thomas. His homestead ex-tended from the river out to Mt.Pleasant street, and began at apoint 330 feet south of Davis street atthe north line of the Coffln farm, andextended north as far as Brooklawnpark. On the water front of this farmare located today the Whitman, Man-omet, Nonquitt and Nashawena mills.In the northeast corner on the riverwas a landing place as early as 1730,and here John McPherson started thevillage of Belleville in 1774.

John Hathaway had another tractof 200 acres on the south side of Hath-away road, and extending west fromShawmut avenue to the ledge. OnShawmut its frontage is over half amile. On the north side of the Tar-kiln Hill road were large tracts ex-tending down from the hill west be-yond the railroad, and east about thesame distance. The house that hegave his son Arthur stands there to-day, and is still occupied. Arthurearly moved to Rochester, and owneda large tract there. John also owned

10

THE THOMAS HATHAWAY HOUSE.Built About 1725.

11

THE HATHAWAY-CANNONBuilt about 1729.

Near Tarkiln Hill.

HOUSE.

12

a large tract to the south of Sassa-quin pond, the east part of which be-came the farm of Jonathan Tobey.The location of the houses of Thom-

as and Jonathan Hathaway can be de-termined, but not in the case of John.The location of the Belleville cemeterymay indicate that John Hathaway'shouse was on the river front, and notfar distant. In 1704 Acushnet avenuewas laid out in its present location,and likely since then the farm housewas on the road. There is neitherrecord or tradition where it stood. In1730 he had a lane running east fromAcushnet avenue about 3 00 yards to-

ward Belleville. His house may havebeen at its end.When the road from Dahl's corner

on the line between Acushnet andFairhaven was laid out southerly toOxford, it began at the corner of Su-sannah Hathaway's orchard. Thiswas on the east side of the road atthe north side of the Fork. If thehouse of Jonathan, her husband, stoodnearby, as might reasonably be sup-posed, its location is then approxi-mately fixed. The Jonathan Hathawayfarm was narrow and very long. Re-becca Hathaway, one of his descend-ants who died in 1S88, owned and oc-cupied a oart of this farm.

Next north of the Captain FranklynHowland place is a solid two-storyhouse, centre chimney, end to theroad, and fronting south. It is knownas the Stephen Hathaway house, fromthe fact that he was owner, and occu-pant for forty-six years from 1792 to1838. The house was built in 1725by Thomas Hathaway, whose formerdwelling burned in 1725, and in it all

the records of the land-owners otwhom he was clerk. There he builtthe present house. It is one of thefinest colonial houses in Old Dart-mouth. The inhabitants at Acushnetin 1711 concluded to avail themselvesof local water-power instead of de-pending on the first enterprise estab-lished at Smith's Mills; so that an as-sociation was formed composed of thethree Hathaway brothers, togetherwith Seth Pope and Thomas Taber,and they obtained from the proprie-tors a grant of land on the north sideof the road at the Head of the Acush-net. and f)n each side of the river.Here they built after 1711 a grist mill,and a saw mill. The Hathaways,Thomas an<l John, after 15 years, con-veyed their share to Nathaniel Shep-ard (in 1726). These mills were op-crated on both sides of the river un-til within a half a century, when thoseon the east side were demolished. Thesaw mill on the west side is stillstanding.

Titles were often added to names indeeds to identify the social standing

of the individual. In 1728 John andJonathan were known as yeomen.John signed with his mark, whileThomas and Jonathan wrote theirnames. Thomas was described first

as a yeoman, and latterly as "gen-tleman."There is no tradition that either

was entitled to adopt a coat of

aTns. From works on heraldry it ap-pears that there was a Hathaway fam-ily in Devonshire and in Gloucester-shire that received grants of armswidely different in design. Stated in

popular language, one comprisedthree silver birds on a black back-ground, and the other a silver buglehorn on a black ground, while thecrest is a demi-lion rampant with afleur-de-lys, in the dexter (right) pawin red. on a black ground. "The lion

as an armorial device was used almoptexclusively before the 13th century,intended to be emblematical of theirbearer, and signified, to an eminantdegree, strength, courage and gener-osity."The church affiliations of these peo-

ple are difficult to state as there wasno religious organization in Dartmouthuntil 1699. Arthur Hathaway mu.sthave been a member of the (I'olonial

church at Plymouth or Duxbury. Ac-cording to the tradition concerningJohn Cooke, it might be inferred thathe was disposed toward a liberal

adaptation of the Plymouth theologyto changed conditions at Dartmouthwhere numerous families from Ports-mouth were inclined toward the Bap-tists and Quakers. Both of these sectshad religious gatherings in Dartmouthas early as 1680, and quite likely thePlymouth emigrants on the east sideof' the Acushnet river, including thefamilies of Samson, Spooner, Jenny,Pope, Cooke, Hathaway, Shaw andPalmer, may also have had some sma"house congregation. The meeting 'if

Quakers was organized in 1699. amithe First Congregational church at

Acushnet was formed in 1708. ArthurHathaway left nothing to show h'?

choice. His name does not appear in

relation to any Quaker activities, <=o

probably he remained connected withthe first church. Without question theHammonds of Rochester were stauncnmembers of the Pilgrim church. TheCadmans and Si-ssons probably wereassociated with the Quakers.

In 1708 came the first clash be-

tween the Presbyterians and theQuakers, which resulted in the greatstruggle in 1723 when the Englishking, George I, overruled the generalcourt of Massachusetts and declared

the Quakers entitled to freedom fromcontributing toward the maintenanceof Congregational churches and min-

13

isters. At the opening of the contest,which was urged chiefly in Dart-mouth, a petition signed by eighty-sixmen who were Qualiers and Baptists,was sent to the general court protest-ing against the church tax. This wassigned by John and Thomas Hatha-way. The position of Thomas can beeasily understood, because his wife be-longed to the leading Quaker familvof Nantucket. John's first wife wasa sister of Captain Seth Pope, whowas a vigorous Puritan. The secondwife hasn't yet been identified, butthe second marriage may have led tohis favor for the Quakers.

In 1736 the men connected with theCongregational church at Acushnetagreed to contribute one hundred andthree pounds for the minister. It in-cluded the names of Jonathan Hatha-way, senior, and junior. As the fatherhad married Captain Seth Pope'sdaughter this church relation is ex-plained. According to the usage ofthat day, women seldom owned reaiestate. In their wills the daughterswere gi\en money or personal chat-tels, but the houses and lands weregiven to the sons. Without attemptingto describe in detail the descent ofthe extensive landed interests of thethree Hathaway brothers, a briefstatement will be given indicating thelocation of the homesteads of thenineteen grandsons of Arthur Hatha-way. Thomas had three sons; to Anti-pas he gave the north third of hishomestead, part of which was recent-ly owned by George F. Lewis, and thehouse which he built was burne'ldown last spring. The middle sectionhe gave to Jethro, and this was theStephen Hathaw-ay farm in lateryears; while Thomas received thesouth third, which included the LauraKeene and Captain Franklin Howlandfarms.

Jonathan Hathaway had six sons.In the division of his estate Gamalielreceived the narrow farm north ofDahl's corner; Paul received a houselot in Fairhaven village betweenMiddle and Water streets, and theothers, Seth, Jonathan, Silas, and El-nathan, received tracts in the northpart of Long Plain. John Hathawayhad ten sons. In 1730 he conveyedto each a small lot of one acre atBelleville, which was the first attemptto establish a village on the west sideof the Acushnet, south of its head.They each had a farm. Jonathan re-ceived the north two-thirds of thehomestead, including the Bellevilleand Nash farm. The south third ofhis homestead he gave to his sonJohn, and this included the PeterPutler, Tucker and Nye farms. Arthurreceived the farm on the north side

of the road, and on the east side ofTarklin Hill, while the farm on thewest side of the hill, extending wescbeyond the railroad, was given toEbenezer.

Abiah had the north and southquarters of the farm on the south sideof the Hathaway road, and west ofShawmut avenue, and Richard re-ceived the central part, comprisingone-half. The latter is now ownedby C. T. W. Gifford.The farm on the south side of Sasa-

cowan pond, now called Sassaquin.went to Benjamin and James, and inthe division James received the lasthalf, which later was sold to JonathanTobey, and in recent years owned byMorton and others.The burial places in Dartmouth be-

fore 1700 have been obliterated be-yond identification. The Quakersstarted at Apponegansett that year,and had their yard near the meet-ing-house. The Presbyterians builttheir church at the Head of Acushnet,1712, and since that date the church-yard has bfcn a cemetery. Except inthis burial place very few gravestonesbefore 1800 are known to exist. TheQuakers excluded them from all I ir-ial places before 1850.

Tradition states that John Cookewas buried near the shore at Ox-ford In his will he gave the "landnear the burial place to Arthur Hatii-away." The line of demarcation be-tween different religious sects inDartmouth appears to have been rec-ognized even to the grave. In thechurchyard at Acushnet which JohnJenney gave, "to the people of Godcalled Presbyterians," none but mem-bers of the church were admitted

—

Jonathan Hathaway was loyal to thisorganization, was buried here, andnear the stone that marks his graveare those of hi^ relatives and friendswho stood steadfast to the Pilgrimchurch, but no gravestone appears atthis place referring to Thomas orJohn Hathaway. The feeling had runtoo deep in the great controversy be-tween the Quakers, and Presbyterians,and these two brothers had alliedthemselves with the Society ofFriends. Although a family of abun-dant means, there is no informationas to the location of the burial lotof Thomas Hathaway. Having adopt-ed the stern rule of the Quakers, theyrest in unknown graves.On a hill overlooking the Acushnet

river at Belleville is an ancient bury-ing ground. All that marks thegraves are rows of rough stonestaken from neighboring fields. Nota name or a date designates whatperson found here a last resting place,

suggesting the influence of the Quak-

14

er dominion that held control of Dart-mouth for nearly two centuries. Herewas the spot selected by John Hath-away for the burial place of his fam-ily.

In 1732 Antipas Hathaway con-veyed to Jethro Hathaway, a tract ofeight acres on the Acushnet river, themost westerly part of the homesteadof Thomas Hathaway, bounded on theeast by the creelv up to Howardsbrook, on the south by the property

of Jethro Hathaway. It was calledin the deed "Ye old Buring Point,"and is located on the river northwestof the Laura Keene farm This mayha\e been the family burying groundof Arthur and Thomas Hathaway.The limits of this work will not al-

low tracing further the career of thisHathaway family. Including those ofother names, the descendants of Ar-thur Hathaway are legion, from theAtlantic to the Pacific.

15

HERALDRY.

"One of the first steps of civilization

Ls distinction of ranlvs. Heraldry hasVieen found serviceable as a means of

marking that distinction. Symbols or

devices of honor by all nations,

from the earliest ages, to dis-

tinguish the noble from the in-

ferior. Heraldry as an art flourished

chiefly under the feudal system. It is

agreed by most antiquaries that the

hereditary use of arms to distinguish

families did not commence until the

year 1230. The introduction of

Heraldry in England is referred to

the Crusades. Coats of arms arethought to be clearly referrable to thetournaments. A. D. 1190, the armswere on small escutcheons, worn at

the belt. Every one engaged in the

Holy Wars had the form of the cross

sewed or embroidered on the right

sleeve of his surcoat. whence the ex-

peditions received the appellation of

Crusades. After the Norman conquest,

heraldry made rapid progress in

England, and the high esteem in

which it was held is attested by its

union with other arts, especiall.v

painting and sculpture. Heraldry is

thus connected with the lasting monu-ments of architecture."

OLD DARTMOUTHHISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 32

Being the proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building,

Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on March 31, 1911.

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THESECTION

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THE

REPORT OF THE

DIRECTORS William A. Wing

TREASURER William A. Mackie

MUSEUM SECTION Annie Seabury Wood

HISTORICAL RESEARCHHenry B. Worth

EDUCATION SECTION Elizabeth Watson

PUBLICATION SECTIONWilliam A. Wing

PHOTOGRAPH SECTIONWilliam A. Wing

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches " will be published by theSociety quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to theSecretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

OP THE

EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

MARCH 31, 1911

The following officers were elected:

President—Edmund Wood.Vice Presidents—George H. Tripp.

Henry B. Worth.Treasurer—William A. Mackie.Secretary—William A. Wing.Directors (for three years)—Julia

W. Rodman, Oliver F. Brown and JobC. Tripp.

Director (for one year, unexpiredterm)—Cara L. Broughton.An addition to the society's col-

lection of treasures was on viewat the meeting, a set of carvings ofthe several varieties of whales, madeby Frank Wood for the whaling room.The whales, sperm, right, bowhead,sulphur, bottom, finback and hump-back, are carved in silhouette onwooden panels about 16 inchesin length, which are stained ingreen, affording an effective contrastto the black bodies of the animalsrepresented. The carvings are abso-lutely accurate in detail, being copieddirectly from the illustrations inScammons's "Mammalia."The following tablet has recently

been placed in the memorial arch:"In Memory of Jireh Swift 3rd.

Born 174 0. Died 1817. Served inthe Revolution in the Trenches atCambridge. From a great grandson,Jireh Swift 6th."

President Wood addressed the meet-ing as follows:

It will be sufficient for me to saythat the year has been a good one;there have been some very interestingmeetings, and the museum and re-search sections have done good work.The publications of the society havebeen kept up.

In reading of the terrible fire inthe New York state Capitol at Al-bany, with the destruction of manyvaluable records, I felt that there wa.sa moral for societies like ours, re-lating to the importance of the pres-ervation of old documents and rec-ords.

There is a newer idea—the safepreservation of records—and a gooddeal is being done toward havingthem put in fireproof receptacles.

There is also another method, andthat is that the meat of these kernelsof the past is being extracted by anti-quarians and by various historical so-cieties. The papers read before thissociety are full of facts taken fromthese valuable records, and the factsso taken are safe beyond peradven-ture. As we get out these import-ant facts, they receive the best pos-sible preservation In the publicationsthat follow.

Report of the Directors

BY

William A. Wing

The Old Dartmouth Historical So-ciety greets its members at its

eighth annual meeting. We arestill a society in its youth with manyproblems to face. Like in the olderhistorical societies, some of these aredifhcult in their best solution. Butthere is at least one in which the co-operation of our members can servoperhaps to make us unique amon<jsuch organizations—prompt paymentof dues!

The various activities of the pasttwelve months are described more in

detail in the various reports of the di-

rectors.

We have, as usual, the sad dutyto announce the deaths of thefollowing members: Joshua G. Bak-er, Lucretia G. Chace, William L.Chadwick. Harriet A. Church, LydiaH. Church. Charles H. L. Delano,Su.san R. Fletcher, W. Trap Frees,

Charles H. Gifford, Henry F. Ham-mond, Herbert E. Hicks, JonathanHowland, Jr., Walter S. Howland.George Kempton, Elizabeth F. Nicker-son, William F. Nye, Sarah S. Ran-dall, Mary H. Stowe, Helen R. H.Sticl^nev, Llovd Swain, *C. A. M.Taber. Bertha W. Swift, Lucy E.Tisdale. Sarah G. Tompkins. SarahWright.

*Life member.

In the passing away of Mr. LloydSwain this society loses a friend whoserved as treasurer from its organiza-tion to 1906. His interest and co-op-eration in our needs make a kindlyand pleasant memory.

Thus in brief has passed the year of1910-11 of this society.

Respectfully subinitted,

Wm. A. Wing, Secretary.

Report of the Treasurer

BY

William A. Mackie

William A. Mackie, treasui-er, in ac-

count witli Old Dartmouth HistoricalSociety, from March 30, 1910 to March31, 1911;

Ueeeints.

Balance March 30, 1910 $176.95Due 602.00

Life members 75.00

Admissions 62.00

Publications 21.00

Mechanics National bank 120.00Mercb.ants National bank 27.00

Commonwealth of Mass. rebateof tax 51.23

$1135.18

Payments.

N. B. Institution for Savings... $,^)0.00

Museum 3S.06

Salaries 150.00

Labor 279.67

Current expenses 251.12

Repairs and improvements 131.30

Balance March 31. 1911

$900.15

. 235.03

$1135.18

Respectfully submitted,

Wm. A. Mackie, Ti

Report of the Museum Section

BY

Annie Seabury Wood

The Museum Section, in presentingits eiglith annual report, congratu-lates the society and thanks the pub-lic on account of the steady growthof its collections.

Certain notable acquisitions amongmany acceptable ones deserve especialmention: First, a silver watch, thegift of Mis.s Elizabeth Bailey, whichcame down to her from an Englishgrea;. - great - grandmother. WilliamSawyer Wall was in England in 179S,and was paying a visit to his grand-mother, Mary Moreton. When hewas about to return home, she tookthe watch from her side and sentit to his daughter, Mary MoretonWall, her namesake. Miss Bailey is

the daughter of Cornelius Bailey andIMary Wall.On exhibition in our Oriental room

is a beautifully carved frame made,specially to order, in China about1860, and presented to the societyby Mrs. Clement N. Swift.

In our Colonial room is an in-teresting oIq c.-ieese press from theMorton House at Lakeville, given byAbbott P. Smith.

B'rom Mrs. Bertha Whitridge Smithswe have received some interest-ing embroideries belonging to theWhitridge family, and from Miss MaryRodinan some homespuns and otherancient household relics of the Wil-bur and Rowland families, her an-cestors.A large oil painting of the Roman

Forum by William Wall was present-ed bv Charles W. Clifford.

We have also acquired an import-ant addition to our whaling collec-tion in a set of 'heaving down' blocks.So far as we know, this is the onlyset in existence, and their use is en-tirely a thing of the past. They play-ed a very important part in old timesin the coppering of the bottoms ofvessels, and are as interesting in theirway to us as the historic 'camels' ofNantucket are to the inhabitants ofthat famous island. The blocks werelast used about 15 years ago to 'heavedown' the bark Josephine.

In January the entertainment com-mittee, which is drawn froin themembers of the Museum Section, pre-sented Roy Andrews of the Ameri-can Museuin of Natural History, in anillustrated lecture on Hunting Whaleswith a Camera, and during the win-ter two well-attended and successfulteas have been given.

On Patriots' Day, April 19th, thecommittee proposes to present Mrs.John Colby Abbott in a talk onthe W'omen of Versailles, illus-

trating the life and dress of theFrench Court. The entertainment willbe held in the rooms of the societyand will be folloA.ed by an informaltea. We hope for a generous patron-age.

Respectfully submitted,

Annie Seabury Wood,

Secretary Museum Section.

Report of the Historical Research Section

Henry B. Worth

The work of the Historical Re-search Section is not only to preserveand perpetuate facts that might beforgotten and lost, but to restoreevents to their original setting andcombination. One of the tendenciesof tradition is the rearrangement ofdetails into \arying and erroneouscombinations. This is not due to

fraud or deceit but to the frailty ofthe recollection. It is observed incourt trials where witnesses of un-doubted veracity, flatly contradicteach other in relation to recentevents. Some details that are ob-scured or forgotten are supplied fromdifferent situations, and honest andintelligent people present seriously

conflicting accounts of the same con-currence. Hence divergent traditionsmay be discovered concerning anyhistorical fact. Giles Russell estab-lished an iron forge at Russell's Millsin 1787. In a few years the storywas current that this enterprise wasconducted by a different person onehundred and thirty-flve years earlier.It is astonishing how unwilling someare to reject the traditions that arefull of mistakes. No amount of evi-dence to the contrary is sufficient tosubstitute fact for fiction. After ac-cepting the story without scrutiny andinvestigation, they continue loyal tothe error. Some exhibit irritabilityat the suggestion of a doubt astheir integrity was questioned. Thetroulile is that their informant wasmistaken.

Every tradition should be testedby comparison with contemporaryrecords. If the two are not in con-flict, the oral statement may be ac-cepted. But if there is discord, thetradition must yield.

It is now proposed to call atten-tioin to a certain incident, the tradi-tion on which it is based and somerecords of contemporary history thathave not heretofore been given dueweight.

In Oxford village in Fairhaven, afew yards east of Cherry street, andextending from Lafayette street toPilgrim avenue, is a lot which wasconveyed in IS,"? 3 by Thomas Bennettto Benjamin D. Coombs. In thesouth portion was an enclosure inwhich were kept hens and swine. Inthe center was a hillock on whichwere spaces marked by rough stonesafter the manner of old burial places.This was purchased in 189 5 by theFairhaven Improvement associationand was renovated and graded. Aboulder drawn from the river was lo-cated on the knoll and on a bronzetablet is the inscription, "Sacred tothe memory of John Cook who wasburied here in 1695."

The authority for the statementdepends upon a tradition and it isthus repeated, as he received it, byone of Fairhaven's best informed cit-izens: 'John Cook was one of the firstwhite settlers in Fairhaven. Theyhad only one cemetery and that wasat Oxford. There was once a slateslab lying flat on the knoll, havingthe names of forty or fifty personswho were buried there. This wascompletely obliterated over sixtyyears ago, so that no vestige of itremains; nor is there in existence acopy of the inscription nor any rec-ord who was buried there.

To this is added from anothersource, that John Cook owned allthis territory and it passed from him

to the Taber family of which the lateGeorge H. Taber was a descendant.

Oxford was part of the farm ofCapt. Thomas Taber which he re-ceived from the proprietors of Dart-mouth 1672 and 1683. At his deathin 1732, it passed to his son Philip,whoc onveyed it ten years later toWilliam Wood, glazier. In the deedof 1760 from Wood to Elnathan El-dridge, transferring the part of Ox-ford west of Cherry street is a state-ment that the southeast corner waswest of "ye Burial Place.' So whilethis proves that the Oxford lot wasused for burial purposes as early as1760, it should also be kept in mindthat Taber, although a son-in-law ofCook, derived his title directly fromthe Dartmouth proprietors and thatthis burial place was never owned byJohn Cook. It never containedmarked stones at any grave.

It was a universal custom in Dart-mouth before 1700 that on eachhomestead farm was a plot devotedto burial purposes. Many of thesespots have been forgotten and areunknown while some are still inexistence. John Cook's homesteadincluded the farm that is crossed byCoggeshall street leading from Mainstreet to the bridge. According tothe usual custom it would be ex-pected that his last resting place wason his homestead, if there were notsome deeply significant records re-lating to another locality.

In the south edge of Acushnet,half a mile south of the parting ways,the road to Fairhaven is crossed bya brook, that flows into the Acushnetriver and at its junction forms aneck of land that is situated north-w^est of the Laura Keene farm. Thismay be designated for convenienceHoward's Point.

In Cook's will, probated in April,1696, he provides: "In the first

place I give to my son-in-law, ArthurHathaway, and his wife, Sarah, mydaughter, all my land in the point ator near the burying place in Dart-mouth, which I bought of John Rus-sell." This has been assumed bymany to be at Oxford, but the Rus-sell deed in 1668 describes 'the pointof land which I bought of SamuelCuthbert adjoining to the house lot ofJohn Howard, on the one side andthe creek on the other.' Russell'sdeed from Cuthbert in 1661 conveyeda small point of land of 4 or 5

acres lying against the land of Cuth-bert.

Beside the devise in his will. Cookhad in 1686 given to Arthur Hatha-way all that neck of land near theland of John Howard, bounded bythe Acushnet river and on one sideby Howard's land.' The farm con-taining the Brook was the Howard

homestead and the farm south wasowned by Cuthbert and 1661 con-veyed to Arthur Hathaway. So it is

clear that the burial point in whichCook had such an interest, which hehad purchased nearly thirty years be-fore his death, was the neclc north-west of the Laura Keen farm. He wassolicitious to have it stand in thename of his daughter and son-in-lawwho lived in the immediate vicinity.This Howard's point passed from Ar-thur Hathaway to his son Thomaswho also acquired the Howard farmin 1715 and then conveyed both tohis son Antipas. The latter in 1747,then li\ing in Newport, transferredthe farm to James Weeden but re-tained the neck. In 17 51 Weedensold the farm to Hezekiah Winslow.The land next south was then ownedby Jethro Hatliaway and was laterknown as tlae Steplien Hathawayplace.The last record relating to the

subject is a deed given in 1752 byAntipas Hathaway to his brotherJethro "a certain Point of land calledye old Burying Point in AcushnetVillage, being ye most northwesterlypart of ye Homestead of ThomasHathaway deceased, bounded east onye Creek, running up to Howard'sBrook by Homestead of HezekiahWinslow and by land of Jethro Hath-away." It remained for nearly acentury part of the Stephen Hatha-way farm.

"The Homestead of John Coolv wason the hill north of Oxford wherethe new brick school house has beenbuilt and extended north to theWoodside cemetery and south to the

Riverside cemetery. Somewhere onthis farm according to the usage .of

that day would be his grave. But amile farther north was a neck onthe river which was a burial placeas early as 1686; was owned by Cookand held by his descendants untilmodern times. In the light of thisrecord tliere is strong reason to sup-pose that Cook was laid in the pointpurchased by him and transmitted tohis descendants. Opposed to this is

the tradition tliat he was buried atOxford on a lot which he never own-ed and in which he is not known tohave had any interest, and wherethere was never an inscribed stonemarkmg any grave.

^^'lthout some record there can beno certainty where John Cook'sgrave is located, but judgment can-not be rendered in favor of the Ox-ford tradition. The foregoing repre-sents the stage of present informa-tion. If further facts are discoveredand authenticated, a conclusion canbe reached that will settle the in-quiry.

This paper is presented to preservein useful form some interesting his-torical data, but especially to illus-

trate the method of testing traditionby comparison with contemporaryrecords There is no sound reasonto condemn the method, becausewhile it may result in discreditingpopular reports and stories, it mightfreciuently support and sustain theoral legend. Whichever consequencefollows, truth should be the objectsought without regard to the effect

on accepted traditions.

Report of Education SectionBY

Elizabeth Watson

The education .section cannot re-port definitely what has been accom-plished during the past year, inas-much as the school children and thevarious organizations that have beenin\ited to tlie rooms have come in-

dividually, as opportunity offered, in-

stead of collectively at stated times.Owing to the severe winter it has

not been practicable to try to ar-range for the public school classesto visit tlie rooms with their teachers,but after tlie Easter Recess it is ex-pected that the plan will be carriedout as formerly.

Students from the textile schoolhave shown an interest in the oldloom and other devices for primitivetextile work, while inspiration hasbeen added to the industrial schoolby some of our exhibits, from whichthe pupils have taken measurementsor made drawings.The work of this .section is far-

reaching, and the committee, appreci-ating its opportunities, regrets that nomore has been done.

Elizabeth Watson,

, Chairman.

Report of the Publication Section

William A. Wing

We who are so fortunate as to

dwell in a community graced by suchInstitutions as the Old DartmouthHistorical Society and our new PublicLibrary and who enjoy the manyprivileges so offered, may find it ofsome passing interest to know whatfacilities for the "great joy of read-ing" were afforded those who dweltIn Old Dartmouth some 200 years agoor more.The meagre lists of books owned by

the most "bookish" folk in the oldtownship—at least in that particularkeep us from regret of the"good old days." The Puritan 'tis saidwas a man of "one Book—the Bible."In old Dartmouth's early days severalwere more liberally supplied, though is

there scarce an instance of anyonepossessing "Twenty Bookes at hisBeddes heade" as did he of Chaucer's"Pilgrimage."

The Rev. Stephen Bachellor—oneof the first Oxford graduates in thiscountry and ancestor of many an oldDartmouth inhabitant and of manymembei's of this society had reallyfor his time and place a very greatlibrary which in the year 1644 wasburned with his home. In a letter tohis staunch friend. Gov. Winthrop,he much bemoans the loss of his"goodly store of bookes."The libraries of those early days

were composed of very large and verysmall books. There was scarcely any"happy medium." That ancient worthy—Henry Tucker—who died in 1694,

po.ssessed "Two Bibles, one Testamentand one Concordance."John Russell—old Dartmouth's First

Deputy—in 1695 left "one Bible andsexeral other Bookes" valued at £16.

John Cook, Pilgrim, Pioneer andPreacher, in 1696 died possessed of"Two Bibles and 6 other books" worth£2 in all.

Arthur Hathaway, the "Magis-trate," who died in 1711, had "aBible and other books" at 10s.Hugh Mosher, First Pastor of the

First Baptist Church in 1713 left"2 Bibles and other books all at £3."

Th3 most scholarly man in townvery properly was the Reverend Mr.Samuel Hunt of the Church Presby-terian who in 17 30 was inventoriedto "his bookes £32, 14s, 6d." The de-tails unfortunately of this interest-ing library are omitted. Peleg Slo-cum, that "honest publick Friend"had. we know, at least a great Bible,leathern bound and brass clasped.

John Akin, Captain, Town Clerk and"gentleman" as he was styled, had athis death in 1746: a large Eible, £10,and likewise "Hell's Torments," andother small books at 8s.—let us hopesome of the others were more cheer-ful at least in title.

Thus would our Publication Sectionpreserve the results of research ofeven more humble minutiae in the

of old Dartmouth's days andstoryways.

Respectfully submittedWm. A. Wing, chairman.

Report of the Photograph Section

William A. Wing

It was in the year 1747 that Wil-iiani Almy of "Punkatest" (Tiverton.R. I.,) wrote his will. There wa&much of worldly goods to be be-queathed (for that day)—nearly £8000in money, about 500 cattle,seven slaves, lands and such treas-ures as sliver spoons and "great sil-

ver tanknrd." From his mansionSquire William Almy might look to

the westward across the Seaconnetriver and see in the distance theancient homestead of his grandfather,William Almy of Portsmouth, R. I., the"first comer," and of his father. Gover-nor Christopher Almy. In fact, onecould almost locate their burial places.And near his own dooryard (as wasthe custom) was the spot to be hisown last resting place. Wherein was

already laid his wife (born DeborahCoolve). Though as at such a timehis mind was not only upon deathand the dead, but upon the living.For there were children to be hand-somely provided for.

His daughter, Rebecca, the wifeof Holder Slocum, of old Dartmouth,and a lady of much "quality," was toreceive £500, a negro woman "Hagar,"silver spoons and chairs, his sonJob Almy, w'ho had married into thewealthy Tillinghast family of New-port, was to have "lands and hous-ing at Quanset, Dartmouth, where hedwelt and where he built him threehouses, each with a gambrel roof ashis fortunes Increased by legacies and

accumulations and there they stanJtoday still in the possession of descendants.

In our photograph room maybe seen pictures of William Al-my's "Punkatest" mansion, the burialplace of his parents, the Governor andhis Lady and the three gambrel roofedhouses at Quansett, the homes of hisson. Job Almy, so that our pho-tograph section at least preserves"presentments' of what meant somuch to Mr. William Almy as hewrote his will in the year 1747.

Respectfully submitted,

Wm. A. Wing, Chairman.

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 33

Being the proceedings of the Thirt> -third Quarterly Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building, Water Street,

New Bedford, Massachusetts, on 29 September, 1 9 I 1

ADDRESS—BENJAMIN RUSSELLEdmund Wood

THE EARLY POETRY OF OLD DARTMOUTHWilliam A. Wing

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

THIRTY-THIRD QUARTERLY

MEETING

OP THE

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN THEIR BUILDING

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

29 SEPTEMBER. 19

Address—Benjamin RussellBY

Edmund Wood

One of the most reliable sources ofhistorical material to the student ofour earliest Colonial Days has alwaysbeen the land records. Old Dartmouthis notably rich in the possession of aperfect treasure-house of this inyal-uable material.

It is most remarkable that the or-ig-inal field notes of the survej's ofBenjamin Crane, first surveyor to theDartmouth Proprietors, have beenpreserved in good condition for twohundred years. Not a map or a platt-ing of a survey made by him hasever been found although innumerableones must have been made. But thenote books containing courses, dis-tances and areas and generally the lo-

cation have come down to us in goodcondition.

These books are eleven in num-ber and date from 1710 to 1721. Sup-plementing these are two similarbooks by Benjamin Hammond,Crane's successoi as surveyor to theproprietors from 1723 to 1741, andone book by Samuel Smith who fol-

lowed at a later date, from 1768 to1793.

All these records of the originalsurveys came into the possession ofthe New Bedford Free Public Librarya few years ago.

In one of the early meeting of thissociety, one of our members, A. McL.-Goodspeed, read an erudite paper onthe subject of these books, their inter-est and their value.

In it he expressed the hope thatsome way would be found to moresurely preserve these treasures, eitherby printing or photographically re-producing them.

It is noteworthy and commendablethat the trustees of our city libraryhave done both and with rare goodtaste. The large volume recentlypublished shows half tone picturesof every page and opposite, the textin printed form.We acknowledge with pleasure

the receipt of a copy of this bookfrom the library trustees and it hasbeen added to our growing collection.

Although his later life was spentill Wakefield in this state he alwaysshowed a sincere attachment for thissociety and the past life and achieve-ments of the locality which this so-ciety seeks to commemorate.

In 1873 he published a volume ofverse entitled 'Rhymes from a Sailors'Journal' and we have found a copyin the Millicent library.

This shows a facility at rhymingand many of the subjects have a de-cidedly local flavor—'The Whaleman'sReturn,' 'Written Soon After Watch-ing Whales in a Storm.'The author was at one time dur-

ing his life the captain of the whale-ship Millinocket.One of the longer poems entitled

'The Old Puritanic Burial Ground,'describes the historic cemetery atAcushnet, and contains one or twobits of description which revive de-tails which have been almost forgot-ten. 'The old horseblocks thatflanked its sides unused and mossedfor many a year.

In his later years he wrote andpublished several books on scientificsubjects: 'The Ice Age, Past andComing,' 'Our Periodical World,' 'OurPeriodic Earth,' 'Cause of GeologicPeriods.'The bequest from an appreciative

Son of Old Dartmouth, for which weare very grateful, nourishes the hopethat there are many patriotic mem-bers of this society who plan to be-stow upon it some generous memo-rials of their affectionate regard.

Since our last meeting a life mem-ber of this society has died—Charle.sAustin Mendall Taber.He was born in Acushnet and

married a Miss Lund of that town.In his will he bequeathed to this

society the sum of $15 —and this be-quest has already been paid.

"The society has received from Wil-liam W. Crapo, its first president, avaluable gift. Four of the originalcartoons of Arctic Whaling Scenes,drawn by Benjamin Russell. Thesedrawings delineate with faithfulnessthe catastrophe to our whaling fleet in

the Arctic Ocean in 1871. These are theoriginals from which the lithographswere made, which were published andhad quite a sale at the time. ManyNew Bedford homes had these pic-tures framed hanging on the wall.This disaster was the greatest whichhad ever befallen our chief industry.The loss of property involved, direct-ly or indirectly, nearly every inhab-itant of Old Dartmouth, and in thosedays of fewer works of fiction and notheatres with thrilling moving picturesthe exciting tales of miraculous escapeand heroic struggles, brought real ro-

mances intimately into hundreds ofhouseholds. Mr. Crapo a few yearsago purchased and presented to thissociety one of the original drawingsof this artist, and with the four newones just received, we are indebted tohim for an extremely valuable col-lection, which with the decline ofwhaling has an ever increasing his-torical value.

BENJAMIN RUSSELL.The historian of any epoch, in his

researches for new material is alwaysattracted by what seems to be notestaken on the spot. These are consid-ered more valuable, because of theircrispness and ,frankness. They aregenerally written for a very limitednumber of eyes to see, and they recordthe honest first impressions. Therehas been no time to calculate on thepossible results of saying what onereally thinks, and trimming the realbelief to please other peoples, or toagree with the view of other observ-ers.

It is this which makes the diary oneof the best corroborative records.The publication of Pepys' diary

gave a truer insight and a more inti-mate view of the interesting detailsof English life at the time of theRestoration than any state paper orcontemporaneous history.

This observation is also true ofsketches made on the spot. Thesebring back to us the past as it reallyappeared at the time to the artist.It is unfortunate that when we goback beyond the discovery of pho-tography we find so little o.f this valu-able historical material.

Stop and think a little of howdifferent the future historian is go-ing to view the period in which wenow live. Not only are we floodedwith the printed word on every phaseof thought and action, but we are sur-rounded by cameras to perpetuateevery view.Nor are these laborious sketches

of scenes drawn slovenly, and omittingmore or less of the detail—but pho-tography is instantaneous and greed-ily grasps every detail. And now wehave the moving picture, which givesus action as well as position.

It is evident the future will knowus to the life, as we lived, and movedand had our being.

Old Dartmouth has been fortunatein that it possessed artists as wellas historians to jot down impressionsand mirror for us the past.

At previous meetings I have takenup the work of William Bradford andalso of William A. Wall. Tonight weare being reminded of another of ourlast century artists because we havereceived from Mr. Crapo five valuableoriginal drawings of Benjamin Russell.

In 1830 we had in New Bedfordtwo commercial houses which at thetiine overshadowed all others, on theone hand were the Rotch's carryingon both foreign commerce and whal-ing with long continued success, onthe other hand were Seth and CharlesRussell, who had recently increasedthe prestige of that family and wererich and powerful. Some of theirforeign ventures in commerce werebrilliant, they carried a large bank bal-ance in London, they owned manymerchant ships and whaleships, andthey had also acquired a large amountof real estate within the town. Thetwo brothers were the sons of SethRussell senior, who was grandson ofJoseph Russell 2nd, and the nephewof Joseph Russell 3rd and of CalebRussell 1st.

There was some rivalry betweensome of the older merchants andthese two brothers, Seth and CharlesRussell. The later were called pro-gressive, they took long chances andwith uniform success. But soon therecame reverses, then the tide seemed toturn against them and finally camethe crash when the brothers failed,and much property and real estate inthe city changed hands.Benjamin Russell, the artist was

the iion of Seth, the older of thesetwo merchants. Pie was brought upwhile the fortunes of the house werebooming. He loved sketching, gen-erally in black and white, most oftenin lead pencil, but later ^Aashed inwith India ink and finished with afine brush point and w-ith a pen. Hesketched much about the wharves andon the ships, and must have beenan industrious draughtsman. It washere that he first gained his intimateknowledge of the sails and ropes andships tackle. His drawings are notedfor their exhibitions of an exactknowledge of the rigging of a ship.He knew the ropes. In this respectman^' of his pictures are more acu-rate than they are artistic. He hasdrawn finely pencilled lines of runningrigging which never could have beenseen by the naked eye from the pointof view of the observer. Althoughhe couldn't really see them at thatdistance he knew they were thereand so he drew them in and ranthem along where they should be.

I have not been able to learn howmuch teaching he had in art. He cer-tainly had considerable talent fordrawing and some skill in composi-tion, but he had ability with color.The great disaster in the Arctic

in 1871 when so many of our shipswere lost gave him his greatest sub-jects and on these pictures his repu-tation will chiefly rest.

I will not attempt to enumeratethe different works of this artist

v/hich are now known to exist. Itwill be sufficient to say that this so-ciety now owns six of his originalsand five of the reproductions bylithography.

Benjamin Kussell was at one timein the ship chandlery business, but hedoes not seem to have been promi-nent as a business man. He was, I

believe, at one time a director of theOld Marine Bank.There is a story that he drew an

interesting caricature of one of thedirectors' meetings, which was re-markably true to the life. In it thealmost life-long pre.sident of that in-stitution was represented as seated atthe head of the table on a cake of ice.

This picture was said to be exceed-ingly popular with certain disappoint-

ed applicants for discount, who hadbeen chilled by the presidential at-mosphere.

Benjamin Russell's largest andmost ambitious work was the execu-tion of a panoramic series of pic-tures of a whaling voyage done on -i

large scale. Some of these pictureshad exceeding merit and much spirit.This panorama was exhibited severaltime in local halls and at an exhibi-tion of this society and also in manyother cities, and now belongs to oneof our members, Benjamin Cumming.s.It will always have great historic in-terest, and it is to be hoped that thepresent owner of it will decide thatthe only fitting repository for it is thetreasure house of this historical so-ciety.

The Early Poetry of Old Dartmouth

William A. Wing

Old Dartmouth had early somepoetic affiliations even if a hit far-fetched.Mary Holder, the wife of Peleg

Slocum, was a kinswoman of EdmundSpenser and 'tis said some of hispoems were written at her ancestralhome 'Canons Ashby" in a roomknown to this day as "Spenser'sChaml)er."A close relative was Sir John Dry-

den—Poet Laureate of England. Now'tis very probable that Good wife Slo-cum, never read any of her distin-guished relatives' poems and wouldundoubtedly have been mightilyshocked if she had. The Friendsfrowned on "Rhymes and Rhym-sters." The goodfolk of Old Dart-mouth had the incomparable po-etry of their Bibles. Their chil-dren also, such poetry as therewas in the "New England Primer"that "Little Bible of New Eng-land" as it has been called. Per-haps they too, learned the ElizabethIsles in rhyme and their alphabet in"sing-song" as in our own childhood.There were qiuiint bits of poetry in

the early almanaks and occasionalpoems in the likewise occasionalnewspapers. There were doleful hymnsin the old "Psalm and Hymn 'Tune-Book" used in the ancient church atthe "Head-of-The-River" as early as1789.The ministers of this same old

church were scholars "college-bred"with meagre libraries but in their dayso much attention and opinion weregiven to the Greek and Latin poetsthat those writing in English receivedcoinparatively scant consideration.Such was the condition of the Muse

of Poetry in Old Dartmouth previousto the middle of the seventeen hun-dreds. So, cleverly she made someattacks upon the place from without.

William Chandler of Connecticut, asurveyor, (father of the famous Co-lonial clergyman. Rev. Dr. ThomasBradbury Chandler of New Jersey),brought out a poetic effusion in theform of a broadside, entitled: "AJournal of a Survey by Order ofRoyal Commissioners, 1741." Itbegins

—

These lines below describe a fullsurvey

Of all the coasts along the 'Gansett Bay,Therefore attend and quickly you shall

knowWhere it begins and how far it doth

go.* * *

But stop my muse let's haste on oursurvey

And stretch our coast along the east-ward Bay.

So then from thence we measured bythe sands

An eastward course along tnese pleas-ant lands.

And we came to Dartmouth, a mostliberal town,

Whose liquid treats their generousactions ci'own.

Here is the place where we did endour work.

Here we left, off (and did it with ajerk)

And then retired our fleld-book for toscan.

And of this large survey to make aplan.

This tribute shows that evidentlyNew Bedford of today is no worsethan Old Dartmouth of the past. Wewonder if the son, the ponderouscleigyman, was like his father or in-different to "liquid treats."

Mary Tallman, (a daughter of Wil-liam) in 1769 at the age of 10, (sosays a descendant), wrote little

rhyming-notes to her neighbor andplaymate, Hannah Pope. The post-oflice was a hollow tree that over-hung the brook separating their hoine-steads. It is to be regretted that thoselittle l.\'ric letters have disappeared.

Captain James Cushing of Boston(avipearing on the muster rolls as"Cushin' and "Cushion") from ColonelPaul Revere's Regiment, was sentto Dartmouth just before the BritishRaid in 1778 in command of acompany of artillery consisting ofabout eighty privates. A bit of po-etical History probably concerning himfollows

—

THE CUSHION BATTLE.In Newport there's been found of lateA grand, important, full debate.The Council met—and all agreeThat rebels must be made to fleeBut to what place, pray can we go,Where's the least danger of the foe?And bravely forth for stealing stand?The man is found, here is brave Gray,Ready to lead to such a fray.

10

Quick, quick your liglit horse thenprepare,

Embark you men with utmost care.To Dartmouth quiclily then set sailAnd burn and plunder without fail.

Then men embark without delayAnd soon they pass the mighty BayForthwith they land on Dartmouth

shore.With sokliers. tories, many score.They soon advance witliout a fright.For Friends and Quakers will not flgiit.

Bolder they grow and nothing fear.Then men advance from front to rear.No opposition do they meetTill they approach the second street.And now begins the mighty fray,A Cushion there obstructs the way.They all draw up the battle lineWith caution, prudence vast design.With vigor too the attacks they makeTo kill or wound or prisoners take.Push on brave boys, your pointed steelWill make the miglity tyrant reel.

We'll bring the haughty tyrant downThat dares usurp a lady's crown.The action's warm: the battle strong;The Cushion could not stand it long.No re-inforcement coming inThe Cushion's number being thin,The battle's won by gallant GrayWho now pursues without delayHis grand design to burn and stealFat sheep and oxen, lamb and veal.These are the wondrous feats they do.With all their grand parade and shew.Go sneaking home and tell your kingHis folly doth through Europe ring.

Silas Delano of that part of OldDartmouth (now known as Fair-haven,) just after the Revolution tells

of his runaway servant thus

—

THE RUNAWAY.

A handsome premium can be hadBy him who will convey

To me a light-liaired, slim-shanked ladWho lately run away.

Whose name is Dudley Williams called.He's major, sir, and squire,

And won the title he's heldOf swindler, knave and liar.

And coward for it is a factHe will not fight a feather

For which a cowhide strip'd his backAnd tanned the rascals leather.

He left his creditors behindTheir losses to bewail.

Being determined in his mindTo give them all Leg Bail.

He stole tv^-o horses from the reelsAs he run from Dartmouth town

Mounted them quick took to heelsAnd has not since been found.

Two hundred dollers I'll give quickTo anv clever fellers

That will the scoundrel convictAnd bring him to the gallows.Whether any "clever fellers" re-

ceived the $200 reward research doesnot show.

harbor in an open boat to the easternshore, was overset by a whirlwind anddrowned, aet. 53."

This elegy appeared, "Written inthe Evening" by "Philander," in faintiinitation of the poet Gray.

ELEGY TO MR. CHARLES CHURCH.SENIOR.

What time pale Cynthia holds herfeeble sway,

And waning cheers the solitary plain.Say Misery, feels't thou one reviving

ray?Or does the silence but augment thy

pain?

The weeping muse has heard themournful tale;

His soul is summoned to eternity!O'er life's gay scene Death spreads his

shadowy v-eil

And Church, that cypress is entwin'dfor thee!

Tranquil tlie deep soft zephyrs fan'dthe wave.

But fatal prov'd that inauspicioushour,

High Heaven ordained for thee a Wa-tery Grave;

Nor could'st thou fly the unrelentingPower.

To add to the general gloom of thelittle community three days later, the"amiable and truly virtuous" MissBetsey Tripp deceased of a "consump-tive disorder," aet. 2 5.

"With a comely person were suchgraces as endeared her to all."

The following elegiac lines writtenby "A Friend" were spoken of as "apton the sad occasion."

O! Betsey, how transient is the dreamof life

And every care-felt comfort we en-Joy,

And frot with care, solicitude andstrife,

Each hour attempts our blessings todestroy.

All human scenes are subject to decay,And time asserts an all prevailing

powerExpanding beauties to the morning's

rayWe bloom to wither as this tender

flower. A Friend.

On May 13, 1793, "Mr. CharlesChurch, senior, of (what is nowP'airhaven), attempting to cross the

At least one "sighing swain" in oldDartmouth invoked the Muse general-ly to "Pella" and signed "L". Hisidentity if ever disclosed, is today un-known.The following written in 1793 is

perhaps as worthy a "taste of hisquality" as any:

THE RURAL WALK.With Pella at eve thro the grove

I'll innocently walk;And all the way of kindest love

In friendly converse talk.

11

While towns are chok'd with dust andnoise,

Here I and Pella stray;No rattling chariots harm our joys,But round us lanikins play.

Or else by Quishnett's peaceful streamWe wander hand in hand;

See, oe'r his face the zephyrs skimAnd drive the waves aland.

Look! Pella cries. Boat following boatThey blacken all the flood!

One all acreenl The oars afloatAlas! that e'er I viewed.

Some luckless squall not felt ashoreMay cause a tear at sea;

How soon the joyful scene is oe'r,How frail our pleasures be.

One sigh when generous pitj^ callsShall in my breast have room.

I weep when e'er a good man fallsShe said. We wander'd home.

These early poetic efforts, humblecrude and even absurd, have in-terest and value for us today, in thatthey cast a glimmering light on cer-tain phases of their time, as doesnothing else.

The Muse in Old Dartmouth strovenot all in vain. Surely she has arightful place in the History of EarlyAmerican Poetry.

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 34

The Proceedings of the Thirty-fourth Quarterly Meeting held

in their building, on January 12, 1912.

COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGEOF YE OLD TIME QUAKERS

By Mary E. Austin

[Note—"The Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each, on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Thirty -fourth Quarterly Meeting

President Wood addressed themeeting-. Perhaps the most im-portant mission of a society like

this is a study of the habits and cus-toms of our ancestors. The sourcesof our information are public, privateand religious records. Many of therecords were perishable, and when-ever anything of importance happenedour ancestors were pretty sure to jot

it down. We have to go largely tothe records for our information butit is known that records of our localhistory are perishable, but the re-search inembers of our societyare given publicity and whatever wedo now is embalmed forever for fu-ture generations. Our records of ourown research and the modern publi-city make the records practically im-perishable. What we rescue becomesso disseminated as to be indestructi-ble and immortal. Our research com-mittee should be encouraged to pre-serve any and all records of local his-tory and more of our members shouldbe interested and stimulated in thegradual study of some phase of thepast A great many of our membersare interested in studying back intothe past of their own families andother subjects as a recreation andpastime. If only the members wouldjot down their research the materialwill gradually accumulate until a val-uable paper is the result.The life our ancestors lived here

was simple compared to the presentday, yet a life full of passion andlove, full of complex bearing, full ofjealousies and loyalty, gaiety and sor-row, yearning and striving. The rec-ords that come down from the oldtime were only fair. The records wereoften only the barest facts, records ofbirths, marriages and deaths, the ac-quirement and sales of land—that is

all.

And still those lives were full, notjust like ours of the present day.Living then was more even, and per-haps monotonous at times. There wasno telephone and no quick transport-ation. Later' in our colonial historylife became more complex with thethicker settlements along the Acush-net river and the growth of commerceand the relations of a larger world.The returning mariner brought theelement of romance, and the suspi-cion of other views of life whichseemed heretical.The public vital records contain

little to help us in the realization ofthis intimate social life. We get morefrom private papers, letters and dia-ries of the old time. Here we havevivid pictures, sketched upon the spot,opinions from a contemporaneouspoint of view. Then in manylocalities we have the religiousrecords. Wherever the Quakersabounded there we find theirhelp more abundant than else-where. Their records are the more\'aluable from the fact that the Qua-kers have been particular, more sothan almost any other sect. We findrecords of very frequent meetings andthe doings faithfully recorded. Thepresiding officer was always the clerk.The Quakers didn't believe that achairman was essential as the spiritwas the guiding matter. The recordwas made by some designated per-son. Importance was given to the wo-men Friends and in no other societywill you find a dual record. It is wellknown that the most important rec-ords are those of the Friends of thislocality. It is interesting to knowwhen a member of our society con-fesses she has been interested foryears in research, and has prepared apaper from such research.

Courtship and Marriage

of Ye Old Time Quakers

By MARY E. AUSTIN

Courtship and Marriage of Ye Old TimeQuakers

BY

MARY E. AUS71N

George Fox had just reached hismajority, when the great battle ofNaseby was fought.Green writes in his History of Eng-

lish people: "The shock of war hadbroken the bands of custom and giv-en a violent impulse to the freestthought.

Into this age of swift changes, stepmen who were resolved to seek Godafter their own fashion, and whowere as hostile to the despotism ofthe national church as to the despot-ism of the king.Among these men stands the Qua-

ker founder. This was the age whenRoundhead and Cavalier stand withdrawn swords, and fill England withthroes of war. Accepting a captain'scommission would have released Foxfrom Derby prison. But he believeswar is unlawful, and he will not ac-cept his release through any methodthat will compromise conscience.He who followed in the footsteps

of Fox must abjure theatre, cardplaying, races, bull-baiting, cock-fighting, dancing, Christmas decora-tions and festivities. Qualcerism wasa protest against the times, againstmanners, and customs, speech andliterature, societies and religion.The girls of the seventeenth cen-

tury enjoyed but a brief childhood.Then even in the nursery, worldlyparents were selecting for them hus-bands, and were sometimes in somuch of a hurry to secure great ad-vantages of family and fortune, thatlittle girls found themselves saddledwith the responsibilities of marriagebefore they had hardly time to putaway their dolls.Such marriages often productive of

the greatest unhappiness, gave seri-ous offence to the Quaker leader, andvery early, in his journal, he treatsupon marriage.Within ten years of Fox's first ap-

pearance as a preacher, meetings ofthe Friends were established in mostparts of England. From the first,they had repudiated the marriageceremonies of the church, and mar-ried in their own fashion, without

priest, altar or ring. Very early, thelegality of these marriages was calledm question, and the children sneeredat as bastards.A suit was begun, by a kinsman of

a Quaker, who had died, to prove thathis child was illegitimate and couldnot heir the property. "The Quakersgo together like brute beasts," saidthe plaintiff's counsel. But the judgeheld that marriage was constitutedby mutual consent, and remarked:"That was a true marriage whenA.dam took Eve and Eve took Adam."Thus the Quakers were saved fromthe curse that threatened to blighttheir hearthstones.

In view of the public and privatecharges made against the Quakerhome, the monthly meetings werecharged to attend very carefully, tokeeping a record of marriages andbirths, and to see that all persons"walked orderly according to theirprofessions.""Walked orderly according to pro-

fession" was an "elastic clause," thatdeveloped finally into hard and fastcustoms, hardly compatible with thedoctrine that life, conscience andworship must be guided by the spiritand not by man.

Birthright membership made a vastamount of trouble. At first one hadto be a believer before he could hea member of a Quaker meeting. Butwhen the children of accepted Friendswere counted as members of the"Faith," the meetings had to deal withnumbers of young people, who had noreal interest in the Quaker doctrines,who wanted to follow worldly fash-ions in dress, which they did in spiteof the meeting, and who insisted inmarrying outside of the society, ifthey pleased.Hence the ruling of the Discipline,

"Children must be disowned if theymarry not Friends—unless they makean acknowledgment that they havedone wrong."

Items o.f the records of the Nan-tucket, and Dartmouth Monthly Meet-ings bear full evidence that the

Friends in our vicinity were not laxin enforcing the rules.

"Nantuciiet.

"1768—Our visitors inform this

meeting that they have treated withS D respecting her marry-ing with a man of different per-suasion, but do not find in her anydisposition to condemn her fault. It

is the judgment of the meeting thatshe be set aside as one with whomFriends had no unity."

•'1724—

A

X signed an ac-knowledgment that among otherthings 'she had gone out from andagainst the mind, will and allowanceof my tender parents in performingher marriage."

-1762—N R acknowledgedthat for want of keeping close to tV<e

divine light, having married contraiyto the advice of Friends, I am sia-

cerely sorry and hope for the timeto come to be more careful."

"1800—L S disowned for

keeping company with a man not amember and for attending a mar-riage out of the order of Friends."

"1804—B C had married amember of our society sooner after

the decease of his former wife thanthe Discipline advises and contraryto our order notwithstanding he wasprecautioned against it."

I will read a copy of a certificatedated August 9, 1764, furnished byMrs. Clement Nye Swift, a certificate

of her ancestors.

"Whereas, Stephen Hathaway, sonof Jethro Hathaway and Hannah, hiswife, of Dartmouth, in the county ofBristol, in the province o^ the Mas-sachusetts Bay, in New England; andAbigail Smith, a daughter of Hum-phry Smith and Mary, his deceasedwife, of Dartmouth, in the County ai'dProvince aforesaid, Having Declaredtheir ntentions of taking each otherin Marriage, before Several MonthlyMeetings, of the people called Quak-ers, in Dartmouth, According to theGood Order Used among them.Whose Proceedings Therein, after aDeliberate Consideration thereof, withRegard to the Righteous Law of Godand Example of His People Recordedin the Scriptures of Truth; in thatease were allowed by the said meei-tngg.They appearing clear of all others

and having the Consent of Parentsand others concernea. Now these areto certifj' all whom it may Consern?.that for the full accomplishing oftheir said intentions this Ninth dayof the Eighth month, called August,and in the year of our Lord, OneThousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-four, then the said Stephen Hatha-way and Abigail Smith appeared in

a Publick Assembly of the aforesaidPeople met together in the PublickMeeting House in Dartmouth, and insolemn manner, he the said StephenHathaway taking the said AbigailSmith by the hand did openly declareas followeth:

Friends, \I desire you to be mywitnesses, that I take this my friendAbigail Smith to be my wife. Prom-ising with the Lord's assistance tobe her loving husband till death sh-.<r

separate us': Or words to that ef-fect: and then in the said Assemb'ythe said Abigail Smith did in Likumanner Declare as follows this:

Friends, I desire you to be my wit-nesses, that I take this my friendStephen Hathaway to be my husband,Promising with the Lord's assistanceto be to him a loving wife untilDeath shall separate us. Or wordsto that effect.

Then the said Stephen Hathawayand Abigail Smith, as a further con-firmation thereof then and there inthese Presents set their Hands, sheaccording to the custom of marriageAssuming her Husband' name.

Stephen Hathaway.Abigail Hathaway.

and we whose names are hereuntosubscribed, being present at the sol-emnizing of the said Marriage andSubscriptions as Witnesses, have here-unto Subscribed our names this dayand year above Written.

John Russell Humphry SmithThomas Smith Peleg SmithRobert Willis Henry SmithJoseph Tucker Benjamin SmithDeborah Russell Samuel SmithElizabeth Gldley William AnthonyPrince Allen Phebe TuckerBenjamin Howland Deborah WilburChristopher Slocum Alice SmitliAntiphas Hathaway Mary HowlandDaniel Russell Rebeckah SlocumThomas Briggs Alice AnthonyJoseph Russell Penellope HowlandJim Davis Rebecah SmithHephzibah Davis Susanne WestClark Hathaway Hephzibah HusseyGeorge Smith Ann Coffin

Mary Tucker

Unlike the rest of the world, theFriends long held tenaciously to theold custom of keeping the bride andbridegroom throughout the whole day,which is a ae of great social enjoy-ment.The chief feature of the entertain-

ment was a fine repast, which wasprolonged with many a sober jestand quaint rejoinder.One of the "jests" has come down,

to us. A prim old Quaker spinsterone day attended the marriage of hergrand-nephew, a young person whohad in the course of his twenty-oneyears received much needed disci-

pline at her hands. The old lady wasat her best on this festive occasion,and at a pause in the breakfast heryoung relati\e looked over at herwith a beguiling smile.

Tell us why thee never married,Aunt Patience, he said teasingly?

That is isoon told, William, saidthe old Quakeress, calmly. It wasbecause I was not so easily pleasedas thy wife.

After the marriage feast, a walk ona sideway may be the programme ofthe day. Wherever the party goes,the overseers must follow and notewell that all present "do take care atthe houses or places where they go

—

that all behave with becoming sobrie-ty."

At the next monthly meeting, thecommittee must give report and if

unfavorable the first dutj' of the meet-ing will be to instruct the overseersto secure an expression of "sincererepentance of such transgressions,manifested by a conduct circumspectand consistent with out religious pro-fession."

If the trangressors are refractory,their cases are again reported to themonthly meeting, which may thendisown them.To one outside the fellowship of

Quakerisms, it is the most simpleand natural thing in the world, thattwo people mutually pleased with oneanother should enter into the closestand tenderest relations of life.

Only those within the fellowshipcould comprehend the oppositionwith which the step would be regard-ed by family, friend and meeting, if

a Quaker youth should desire to mar-ry out of the meeting, or the consulta-tions, concern, the absolute distressthat had to be gone through with.

When it becomes known that sucha marriage is contemplated, it is re-ported to the monthly meeting, andin accordance with the rules, mem-bers of the ministry and oversightare appointed to visit the parents andmake an inquiry "If an infirmity ofpurpose has led them to sanction.such a disgraceful departure of therules, as to permit a birthright mem-ber to make an unholy alliance—

a

disorderly marriage?A long sitting follows this question—composed of long silence and fre-

quent quotations from the Scriptures,which deal with the prophetical de-nunciations of the chosen people formaking alliances with the heathentribes.

If the purpose of the visit of theoverseers was not accomplished, themeeting after hearing the report, ap-points two or more persons to visitand deal with the "delinquent."

This grave and official visitationwas conducted with much gentlenessand love, but was none the less dread-ed and formidable.

After the usual silence, and per-haps a prayer, a motherly voicemight commence her pleading with:"Beloved, I -have not hitherto foundthee charged with levity, nor settingup thy own will in opposition to thewitness within. I hope thou hast in-quired there."

If after all the prayers and persu-asions, the youth persisted in theworldly companionship, the casewould be again duly reported andrecorded at the next Monthly Meet-ing with all the details of the visit.

If marriage follows with a "world-ling" and no repentant word is se-

cured by a second appointed visit,

the youth is disowned.The Acoaxet Monthly Meeting

records furnish this account of a dis-

ownment:"1800, 7mo. 19th.We are informed by Acoaxet Pre-

parative Meeting that N— S— hasmuch neglected the attendance of

Religious Meetings and gone into

many of the vain modes and fashionsof the times in his apparel, for whichhe has been repeatedly labored withby the Overseers. He also has keptcompany on account of marriagewith a woman not a member of oursociety and has married the same outof the unity of Friends notwithstand-ing his being precautioned beforemarriage.

After considering thereon, andthinking there has been sufflcient

labor bestowed, we therefore denyunity with him as a Member of ourReligious Society until he condemnshis misconduct to the satisfaction of

Friends.The Women's Meeting concurs

with us herein.We appoint Lovel Tripp and Wm.

Gifford, son ,of William, to inform himof his being disowned and draft atestimony of his denial and bring to

next Monthly Meeting."The same records furnish a copy of

a Denial:

"Whereas, J— F— , who had abirthright and his education amongFriends, hath so far disregarded ouradvice as to Neglect the due atten-

dance of Religious Meetings and goneinto some of the vain fashions of theworld and also kept company with anmarried a woman out of the unity of

Friends; altho he was labored withan precautioned, but our advice hathnot had its desired effect: Therefore,for the clearing of the truth, we dodisown the said J— F— from beingany longer a member of our society,

10

until he shall condemn the abovetransgressions to Friends' satisfaction.

Given forth at our Monthly Meeting,held at Acoaxet the 13th of the 3rdmo., 1802.

Signed in and on behalf of ourabove said meeting,

by John Mosher, Clerk."

One alternative remained to the"delinquents." They might of theirown free will resign their member-ship, in which case there would bethe same appointments, visits, con-demnations, records and publicity.

Some Monthly Meetings at one timewere so rigorous that parents wererequired to disinherit their childrenwho had made worldly or "disorderlymarriages," and not receive them in-to their homes, nor be familiar withthem.

In the enforcement of the Disci-pline, the Nantucket Quakers ex-ceeded in severity all meetings in

New England. Although the islandsettlers had sought to escape fromthe restrictive Interference of theWinthrops and Endicott, yet they re-tained many of the characteristics ofthe people of Massachusetts Bay.

In Dartmouth, the situation wasnot homogeneous. It was composedof persons who were liberal at thestart. The Tucker family came fromMilton; the Kirbys, Aliens, GifCords,Wings, caine from Cape Cod; while thegreat majority that constituted theDartmouth Meeting, had been resi-dents of Rhode Island, the refuge forevery form of liberal and eccentrictheology'.From this it naturally followed that

the Discipline among the Dartmouth

Quakers was much less rigorous thanat Nantucket. While firm in essen-tials, they overlooked trivial short-comings, and hence their records dis-close a much smaller number of dis-ownments for minor offences.

When the crisis of 1845 came, andthe Yearly Meeting stood at the part-ing of the ways, one section underthe lead of the Nantucket Meetingurging the acceptance of the Puritanviews and methods, it was the powerand influence of the New BedfordQuarterly and Rhode Island mr^otingsthat swung the New England YearlyMeeting toward the more liberal di-rection.

In spite of the liberal tendencies ofthe New England Yearly Meeting, theregulations concerning marriage re-mained nearly the same down to1872.A committee of the Five Year

Meeting of 1897 prepared a new Dis-cipline, which has been accepted byeleven out of the thirteen YearlyMeetings.

In the last edition of the Discipline,the rules concerning marriage arevery simple.The public bethrothal is omitted;

also disownment for marriage with anon-member.The Overseers still listen to rea-

sonable objections concerning a pro-posed marriage, and the committee offour reports to the Monthly Meetingconcerning the ceremony.The Discipline advises carefully to

observe the Laws of the State.In these days of home-making and,

alas! home-breaking, the wise super-vision of marriage by a QuakerMonthly Meeting w'ould be an im-portant public benefaction.

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 35

The Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Meeting held in thelecture hall of the New Bedford Public Library, on June 1^1912.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE

NINTH ANNUAL MEETING

[Note—"The Old Dartmomh Historical Sketches" will be published by theSoce y quarterlv and may be purchased for ten cents each, on application to theSecretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]ippncation to the

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Ninth Annual Meeting

The ninth annual meeting- of theOld Dartmouth Historical Society washeld in the lecture room of the FreePublic Library.

Officers elected:The officers elected are as follows:

President—Edmund Wood.Vice Presidents—George H. Tripp,

Henry B. Worth.Treasurer—William A,. Mackie.Secretary—William A. Wing.Directors for Three Years—Mrs.

Annie A. Swift, Mrs. Clara L. Brough-ton, Abbott P. Smith.

President Wood addressed the meet-ing.

Tonight occurs the ninth annualmeeting of the old Dartmouth His-torical society, and we greet ourmembers in a new place. It

is a fitting place to hold ameeting of a society dedicated amongother things to the preservation ofthe monuments of the past. Thisbuilding has much local historywoven into its structure. It was builtwith money which the city or townrecei\'ed. And it was a worthy struc-ture of a dignified architecture—anddeserving to be called the City hall.

How much of New Bedford's note-worthy history has centred about thisbuilding! To a historian the goldenage of any community seems to befound in the early times when all thecitizens could gather together yearlyin one place and counsel together forthe public good, and appropriatemoney prudently and judiciously.

Here too have been held the in-numerable mass meetings of ourcitizens when they responded to somesudden call, and together determinedon the proper action for the commongood.When the time came when thiis

old City hall was no longer sufficientfor municipal purposes it was de-stroyed. In all the criticism of therecent exploits of our city fathers inthe time of public buildings we havenone of this one act—the handling ofthis historic monument. It has beentreated reverently, and much goodtaste it has been allowed to suit the

requirements of the new service whichit is to bestow on the community. Itis a dignified and worthy home forour Free Public Library, and buildingand library stands among the fore-most of such institutions in the stateand the nation.

This room has been wisely givento the varied movements for the edu-cation of the people, and there iscommendable liberality in the way inwhich the trustees are handling it.

The Old Dartmouth Historical so-ciety is glad to meet in it as one ofthe movements of this comunity con-nected with education and researchand profitable public discussion.

When the Old Dartmouth Plistori-cal society first thought of locatingat its present quarters on Waterstreet, there were many who thoughtthere were drawbacks in its inaccessi-bility for meetings. They called it

pretty far down town. Still someof us are not willing to admit that it

is not, all things considered an idealplace for the rooms and the historicalcollection. The place is still redolentof the odor of the past; the view fromthe windows is in sympathy with therelics inside; the ships and thewharves and the oil casks are visibleand the old buildings have witnessedthe doings of those early times. Howcurious it would seem to thoseworkers of 75 years ago to hear thatfor mere convenience we had re-solved to hold a meeting way backon what was beinning to be knownas Cheapside. This place would cer-tainly not be any handier to the ma-jority of our citizens. There is an-other point to be considered in rela-tion to our present location on Waterstreet. It will never be so inacces-sible as it is just at present. As thecity grows all the members will befurther and further removed, and it

will be necessary to take the trolleycars or other newer means of con-veyance to get into the centre of thecity and then Water street may beabout as convenient as Cheapside.No, I for one, do not think we havemade any mistake in our permanentlocation.

Report of the Directors

BY

WILLIAM A. WING

Another twelfth month has passedin the history of this society. A yearolder and, we trust, wiser—but weare still very young, comparatively,beside some of the other historicalsocieties of Massachusetts; such birth-years as 1790, 1797, 1811, 1822, 3824,make our own 1903 seem rather in-fantile. So we may take hope thatwhen we have reached their ad\'ancedyears we may have like honors, dig-nity and wealth, surely according toour deserts.

This society will ever holdIn Menioi'iain

Sarah C. Anthony.Standish Bourne.Lydia L.. Bryant.Emma C. Cornell.Mary S. Cummings.William B. Fisher.Rebecca M. Frothingham.John L. Gibbs.Frances B. Greene.Isake H. Gifford.

Albert W. Holmes.Lucy James.Sarah D. Ottiwell.Anna C. Phinney.Gardner T. Sanford.Mary B. Sanford.Charles F. Shaw.Susan S. Snow.Humphrey F. Swift,oviniam X. Swift.Edmund Taber.Elizabeth R. Wing.Walter P. Winsor.Adelaide F. Wood.

The death of Edmund Taber, oursenior member, removes from ourmidst a charming gentleman . of theold school. Old only in years, the re-lation of his valued reminiscence andhis interest in the aims of this or-ganization are pleasant memories.

Respectfully submitted,

Wm. A. Wing, Secretary.

Report of the Treasurer

BY

WILLIAM A. MACKIE

Annual report of William A.]\lackie, treasurer of the Old Dart-mouth Historical society, from March31, 1911 to June 12, 1912.

Heoeiiits.

Balance. March 31, 1911 $235.03Membership and Dues, .5.S0.00

Lvceum Fund (Merchants Nat'lBank), 27.00

Lvceum Fund (Mechanics Nat'lBank), 180.00

Lyceum Fund (N. B 5c Sav-ings Bank). 255.51

Lyceum Fund (N. B. Inst, forSavings), 389.12

Life Membership Fund (N. B.Inst, for Savings), 166.03

Legacy Est. C. A. M. Taber. 150.00Rebate of Tax, 48.30

Salaries.Supplies.Labor,

Payments.

Balance,

$1350.00248.12350.85

1948.9752.02

$2000.99

Respectfully submitted,

Wm. A. Mackie, Treasurer.

$2000.99

Report of the Museum SectionBY

ANNIE SEABURY WOODIn presenting the 8th annual report

of the museum section we have toconfess to a year of inactivity on thepart of the committee. In NovemberRoy C. Andrews gave a lecture un-der our auspices describing his wan-derings in the South Seas and theOrient, but other than this nothingin this line has been attempted.Tho friends of the society, how-

ever, have not been idle, and it is

gratifying to be able to report thatmany important additions to the mu-seum have been made, some as gifts,

others as loans. The annual meetingis the time when the society makespublic acknowledgment of these ac-quisitions and we take this opportu-nity to extend our thanks to all con-tributors. While it is impossible toenumerate all of them we desireto make mention of the more import-ant gifts received during the year.

Historically, one of the most in-teresting is a kneeling stool used atthe first Methodist meetings in NewBedford. At the foot of Mill street,which took its name from a windmillstanding at the top of the hill

there still stands a plain, old, two-storied house. The house was builtby George East during the Revolu-tion and was afterwards known asEast's Tavern. It became a great cen-tre for ministers, and as there wereat that time no churches, religiousservices were often held there. On theeastern slope of the roof of the houseis a scuttle and here, it is said, Mrs.East, a womian noted for her pietj',

used to screech and shout to the goodpeople across the river to announcea meeting. In 1795 Jesse Lee preach-ed in this house, the first Methodistsermon ever listened to in New Bed-ford. The landing on the old stair-way where he stood remained un-changed within, but the prayingstone upon which he knelt has founda home in the rooms of the society.It is a plain old piece of work, guilt-less of paint and absolutely withoutornamentation, made apparently byrather unskiled hands with rathercrude tools, and it is now somewhatshaky from age. A brass tablet, suit-ably inscribed, has been affixed to it

by its donor, Mary East Coggeshall, agreat grand-daughter of George East.

Mrs. Clement Nye Swift, whose inter-est in the society never flags, andwho has always been untiring in herdevotion to the work, has given,among many other things, the Men'sHigh Seat from the old Friends'Meeting House built at Acushnetabout 1740. This, loo, is a very val-

uable acquisition from a historicalstandpoint.

Abbot P. Smith is greatly interestedin the ancient household furnishingsof the homes of old Dartmouth, andone of his many valued donations isa folding bed of unusual patternfrom the Handy house at Hix'sBridge. This house which has latelycome into the possession of Mr.Smith v.-as built in 1714 (almost 200years ago) by George Cardman. Fromhim it descended to his daughter, thewife of William White. About 100years ago it became the property ofthe Handy family and it is still knownas the old Dr. Handy house. It is amost interesting place with big lowrooms, fine old woodwork, a hugefireplace, a brick oven, and a smokechamber for smoking hams.The old packet ship New York of

the Black Ball Line running betweenNew York and Liverpool was com-manded by Captain Thomas Bennett,and a carved mast-sheath of beautifuldesign and workmanship from thatship has been presented by CaptainBennett's grand-daughter, Miss ClaraBennett.An ancient try-pot used about

1750 on the Fairhaven shore for try-ing out blubber from whales broughtin from shore cruises, is the gift ofMiss Anna Robinson at the requestof her mother, Mrs. James Robinson.From William W. Crapo we ha^'e

received a set of Benjamin Russell'sdrawings, which have ben previouslyacknowledged; from Charles W. Clif-ford, an artistic and interesting medalin bronze, and from Frank H. Gifford.(>ld account books and log books.The following bequests have also

been received and are gratefully ac-knowledged: A pair of brass whale-oil lamps bequest of Lydia H. Church;a grand Chickering piano, the first inFairhaven, brought by Captain Ar-thur Cox for his daughter; a por-trait of Captain Arthur Cox, bothbequest of Sarah Cox Anthony; portraitsof Mr. and Mrs. Hoag, bequest of theirdaughter, Abby Hoag; portrait ofCaptain Caleb Kempton, from hisson, George Kerripton.

One word in closing. Many in-teresting articles have been placedin the rooms of the society duringthe year as loans, and although theyare not mentioned in detail in thisreport, they have ben gladly receiv-ed and are fully appreciated."

Respectfully submitted,Annie Seabury Wood,

Secretary Museum section.

Report of the Publication Section

BY

WILLIAM A. WING

In Old Dartmouth's early days, thecomparatively few who could writerarely took their "pen in hand," saveon some occasion of import. Thedaily struggle for existence left little

time for letters—paper was valuableand conveyance of news seldom anddangerous. Of the few letters that

the vicissitudes of time have pre-served for us, there are three of morethan passing interest.

The first was written in Dartmouthin 1727 by Jabez Delano (son of

Jonathan) to his brother, Jonathan,who had moved to Tolland, Conn , andbecame an ancestor of President U.

S. Grant:

Loving Brother—I was moved to

write to you before now, both withinmj'self and from mother, but I puther off because of the sickness thatwas in my family.

Our eldest has had a long linger-

ing illness. I am but poorly, but thesickness has been very general in ourtown. Four grown persons died in

our village, viz.: Jonathan Hathaway,Rose Spooner, Jemima Babcock andAmos Taber's wife.

We have indifferent good crops.We have had a great drought, whichlasted from English morning till aboutye middle of Sept. (The usual farm-ers' complaint of the weather!).

Of an earthquake—A week yes-terday, about ten at night, whichshook both ye land and water, theislands and seas at that degree thatseveral doors were shook of ye latchin our village, and 'tis said that atNantucket ye harthstones grated oneagainst another and that Car, ye boatbuilder, run out of his house, got in

a boat for fear ye island should sink.My love to all our friends, fare-

well.Your Brother,

172' Jabez Delano.

Whaling correspondence is shownas early as 1745-6, in the followingletter by Philip Taber to his son,Tucker Taber, at Dartmouth:

Sandy Hook, ye 6 of 12 mo., 1745-6.Loving Sons—Having this oppor-

tunity thot proper to rite to you toinform you that we are well and thatGeoige Sisson arri\ed here last sec-ond day and thay are very desirus togo off a whaling as soon as possibleand want you to come as soon as pos-sible and to bring a good boat and if

the can luring som good hands it

would not be amis. Thomas Akinswill not haul his boat very soon forhis sloop is gon to Cape Britton (theLouisburg expedition). Our love toyou and all friends is what offers atpresent from your

Ever loving father,

Philip Taber.

The servant problein w^as vexatiouseven then, for Thomas Hazard

—

known as "Bedford Tom," the presi-dent of the Bedford Bank on the verysite of our Historical Society—writesfrom New Bedford, July 8, 1803, tohis brother, Rowland Hazard, Esq., ofKingston, R. I.:

Patience that our father andmother brought up has been here about10 days. She is so much demented andso troublesome in our house that I

was obliged to apply to the authori-ties and have her sent to the work-house, where she now is, as we donot know in what town in the stateof Rhode Island she belongs. I shallbe much obliged by they informing"me immediately on receipt of this,

what town has to maintain her sothat our selectmen may take the rightsteps to get her where she belongsand to be clear of the expense andtrouble of her.

We are as well as usual, withmuch love to dear mother, thy wifeand children, in which we all join.

Thy affectionate brother,

Thomas Hazard, Jr.

Respectfully submitted,

Wm. A. Wing, Chairman.

Report of the Photograph Section

BY

WILLIAM A. WING

In the year of our Lord 1555,there was born near Bedford, Eng-land, one Lewis Latham. He wasgentlj' bred and trained in the art offalconry, becoming sergeant falconierto King Charles I. In those days anoffice of importance and distinction.

It was his brother, Seymour Latham,who wrote the authority on that art,

'Latham's Falconry.'In 1655 at the ripe age of 100

years 'Lewis Lathame Gent wasburied,' according to the parish reg-ister.

His daughter, Frances marriedrespectively Lord Weston WilliamDungan, Jeremiah Clarke, WilliamVaughan, and came eventually to live

in Newport, in Rhode Island, bring-ing among her household goods a por-trait of her father painted in his ad-vanced years. This portrait bears inone corner the Latham arms and is

today the property of descendants, theheirs of Mr. Elkins, whose daughterit was said might become allied withthe Royal House of Italy.

Walter Clarke, the grandson ofLewis Latham, inherited his mother'spropensity for marrying frequently.Jiis wives were: Content Greenman,Hannah Scott (an aunt of Mary(Holder) Slocum, Freeborn Williams(a daughter of Roger Williams) andSarah Prior. Descendants cameeventually to Old Dartmouth and onemarried an early owner of the How-land farm at Round Hills, and soLewis Latham became an ancestorof many old Dartmouth folk.We have lately acquired an inter-

esting photograph from this ancientportrait for our photograph room.So bringing us of the present here inNew Bedford in New England backinto the past to that Court Fal-coner, who saw in his one hundredyears of life so many historic happen-ings, Lewis Latham, Esq., of old Bed-ford in old England.'

Respectfully subinitted,

Wm. A. Wing, Chairman.

George H. Tripp paid a tribute towhat the Old Dartmouth society hadaccomplished. "Either of its threeobjects," he declared, "would be anexcuse for its existence. There is thecollection, which is on exhibition atthe rooms of the society. Thenthere is the publication of the so-ciety, the thirty odd numbers of whichnow contain an immense amount ofvaluable material. We use them agreat deal in the library, and the so-

ciety ought to take a great deal ofpride in them.

Another work that is hardly rec-ognized is the monumental work doneby Mr. Worth, in preparing an indexof the local papers, which involvedlooking over the files of nearly ahundred years, and gives almost acomplete chronological history of NewBedford. It was a labor of love byone man, and is worthy of a greatdeal of honor."

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 36

The Proceedings of the Thirty-sixth Quarterly Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society; being their annual outing,

and held in Westport, Massachusetts, 12 September, 1912.

HIX'S BRIDGE AND THE HANDY HOUSE

By Henry B. Worth

[Note.—The "Old Dartmouth Historical Society Sketches" will be published

by the Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each, on applicatioa

to the Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Thirty -sixth Quarterly Meeting

The Old Dartmouth Historical so-ciety held its annual outing" and 36thquarterly meeting yesterda^' at the oldHandy house at Hix Bridge. The tripwas made in automobiles, about 30machines leaving the public li-

brary building at 11 a. m., andpassing through Smith Mills, WestportFactory, and down to the old Potterhouse, which was built in 16 77, ashort distance north of Central Vil-lage. From the Potter house the tripcontinued south to the road leadingto Hix's Bridge and then to the Handyhouse, arriving there by 12 30 o'clock.This old house was built in 1714 andhas been recently restored to its origi-nal condition by the present owner,Abbott P. Smith. Here the party hadlunch.

William W. Crapo, Henry H. Crape,Edmund Wood, Mary E. Bradford, Mrs.Thomas A. Tripp, Anna L. Tripp, ClaraBennett, Henry B. Wortli, Sarah E.Wortli, George R. Stetson. Mrs. GeorgeR. Stetson, Willard N. Lane, Mrs. M. J.

Leary, George S. Taber, Mary B. Leon-ard, Roland A. Leonard, Clara A. Read,Mrs. William H. Wood, William H.Wood, Calista H. Parker, ElizabethWatson, Caroline H. Hiler, Ella H.Read, Sarah H. Taber, Susan G. W.Jones, Carolyne S. Jones, Francis T.Hammond, Edward B. Smith, Mrs. Ed-ward B. Smith, Mrs. Clifford Baylies,Mary W. Taber, Mrs. Sarah Kelley,Caroline S. Akin, Mrs. Mayhew R.Hitch, Mayhew R. Hitch, Alice How-land Tripp, Gertie E. Bridgham, GeorgeL. Habitch, Mrs. George L. Hataitch,George R. Phillips, George R. Wood,Mrs. William C. Phillips, William C.Hawes, Mrs. William C. Hawes, JosiahHunt, Mrs. J. Hunt, Natalie Hunt, Mrs.J. L. Martin, Bertha A. C. Mosher, Wil-liam E. Hatch, Arthur R. Brown, Eliza-beth P. Swift, Elmore P. Haskins, Wil-liam A. Wing-, Arthur A. Jones, DavidL. Parker, W^illiam H. Reynard, GeorgeH. Tripp, Mrs. Susan H. Kempton, AnnaC. Ricketson, Cornelia G. Winslow, Cyn-

thia D. Jenney, Margaret Earle Wood,Priscilla Howland, Francis Rodman,Arthur G. Grinnell, Mr. and Mrs.Llewellyn Howland, Carline Stone,Thomas S. Hathaway, Sarah TappanCoe, William Stevenson, Gertrude S.Perry, Mrs. Abby L. Prichard, Mrs. MaeA. Braley, Thomas E. Braley, Fred D.Stetson, Caroline W. Hathaway, MarianParker, Mrs. H. B. Worth, Caroline E.Hicks, Dr. Wm. J. Nickerson, CharlesA. Tuell, Elvira M. Tuell, Carrie E.Davis (Mrs. L. B.), Helen H. Davis,Margaret E. Gibbs, Frank Denby, Mrs.Andrew G. Paine, Mary B. Paine, Eliza-beth N. Swift, Gertrude W. Baxter,Mary Kempton Taber, Sallv GordonTaber. Mrs. William N. Church, Ka-therine L. Swift, Mrs. C. A. Cook. Mr.and Mrs. William Huston, Mrs. Fred S.Potter, George E. Briggs, Francis J.Denby, Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Wildes,Thomas B. Wildes, Caroline L. Aid-rich, Gertrude W. Mann, Hilda P.Tripp, Benjamin C. Tripp, Cortez Allen,Elizabeth S. Macomber, Edward L.Macomber, Herbert S. Peirce, Grace B.Peirce, Jennie C. Peirce, Mrs. H. C.Washburn, Albert A. Ruddock, H. C.Washburn, Mrs. S. J. Tripp, Beni. W.Allen, George E. Tripp, Edna M. Tripp,Etta J. Allen. George J. Allen. CharlesT. Heron, George E. Handy, Milton E.Borden, Roland Cornel], George Hart, A.F. Brownell, John Mosher, A. P. Smith,A. Westby, D. W. Baker.

President W^ood addressed the meet-ing.Members and friends of the Old

Dartinouth Historical Society andCitizens of Westport:Today we celebrate our society's

outing within the limits of that por-tion of Old Dartmouth which wasset off as the town of Westport. It is

ritting that we should do this for wehave already held similar meetingsin Acushnet and Fairhaven and NorthDartmouth and South Dartinouth,and several meetings in New Bed-ford.

Right here the interrupting smallboy might cry out: 'What's the mat-ter with Westport?' We can all saythat Westport is all right. There is

absolutely nothing the matter withher—unless we might say that shesuffers from being too far away fromNew Bedford and too near to FallRiver. That is too great a strain to

put upon the virtue of any town.But Westport had within her thatwhich always was against provincial-

ism and village narrowness—and thatIs a sea port and commercial relations

with a wider world—and they began'^ery early to develop it.

"Before the neighboring towns onthe north and west had really learnedthat the earth was round, the inhabi-tants of Westport had followed NewBedford down to the sea in ships andhad begun at Westport Point to regu-larly fit out some good sized whalers.Here began John Avery Parker in amoderate way which developed stead-ily after he had moved to New Bed-ford until he became one of the mer-chant princes of his time; aniHenry Wilcox laid bj^ a fortune whichthe land would never have yielded.

"The town of Westport has alwaysprospered. It has been a place ofbeautiful farms of a thrifty, prosper-ous people. It has furnished fromits hardy seamen some of the mostadventerous and successful whalingcaptains that that fearless industryhas ever known. In its earlier daysit had a social life, centering inAdamsville of some aristocratic pre-tensions; it had an unusually prosper-ous settleinent of Quakers at CentralVillage, and in the industrious, ex-emplary and successful life of PaulCuffe, it had the earliest exhibition ofthe capacity and executive ability ofthe American Negro which waitedlong for an equal exponent in Fred-erick Douglass and Booker T. Wash-ington.

"We are glad to meet in Westporttoday. We are interested in its wel-fare and many of its inhabitants areinterested in our society. We haveseveral members from Westport, andone, Edward L. Macomber, is a di-

rector.

We have come over today for twopurposes; to see the historic houseswhich have survived 2 00 years, andsecondly to learn something aboutihem and of the Old Dartmouthjnothers who dwelt in them, and ofthe life which went on 200 years agoand dignified this same picture ofhouse and landscape and beautifulexpanse of river.

We have several full fledged, welldeveloped historians in New Bedford,who are attached to our society, andwe generally carry them with uswhen we wander forth into the moreremote parts of our old township.The dean of our faculty of history

is Hon. William W. Crapo, whothrough a long life of studious re-search and by many published essaysand public addresses has illuminatedthe part of his native town.

We have Henry H. Crapo, who haswithin a week stirred us with a rush-ing mighty wind the dry leaves andvegetable mould of the genealogicalcamps of eastern New England. I

shall hope at some future meeting tosay more of this interesting publica-tion which means so much to ourown society.

And we have Henry B. Worth,who more than any other man hasshed a steady light upon the ancientland proprietors and the house of ourancestors. Fortified by these threeexperts our society is safe to travel,and no citizen of Westport will dareto mislead us or take us in by spin-ning any visionary yarns for our con-sumption.

Hix's Bridge and the Handy House

BY

HENRY BARNARD WORTH

It is of great advantage that thismeeting should be held in such an his-toric centre where are clustered soman^' features of interest, and wheretwo centuries ago resided some of theleading families of Old Dartmouth, be-cause here it is possible to observe thelandmarks face to face.At this point in its course the

Acoakset river is contracted withinnarrow limits by the hills on eitherside, and here is the most picturesquespot in the Indian line of travel be-tween the Acushnet and Saconet.As early as 1686 there must have

been transportation across the river,because at that date the Handy farmwas bounded on the south "by a high-way," and this would be a meaninglesspublic utility unless there were somearrangement at the river to reach theother side. The highway at the eastside of the river extended to Appone-gansett, and on the north side front-ing this river was the homestead ofValentine Huddlestone^ and across theroad was the homestead of SamuelCornell, which he obtained from hismother, Rebecca. On the west side ofthe river the highway in 1686 extend-ed up the steep hill to the road "lead-ing to Paciuachuck," now known asWestport Point; on the south side ofthis road was a great tract owned byJoseph Coleman of Scituate, and onthe north side the farm owned byPeleg Slocum, which at that date heconveyed to William Ricketson, andshortly after was purchased by GeorgeCadman. and in recent years knownas the Handy fram. How much beforethat date a ferry was operated, therecords fail to disclose, but the pres-ence of public roads leading to theriver from each side indicates the ex-istence of some method of crossingprevious to that time. By whom theferry v/as first conducted cannot bedetermined except by inference. When

the road was laid out on the east sidein 1707 it began "where the ferry-boat now usually lands"; this was be-fore Mary Hix engaged in the busi-ness, and while it might have beenoperated by either of the farm ownersthere is nothing to suggest that Hud-dlestone, Cornell or Coleman wasconcerned in the undertaking. From1686 to 1718 the Handy farm wasowned by George Cadman, the mostprominent man in the locality; and in1710 he conveyed to Mary Hix theland on the river front which she usedas the ferry landing, and where shelived. This is some indication thatwhen she made the purchase and en-gaged in the ferry she continued whatGeorge Cadman had previously estab-lished.

For over two centuries the centralfeature of this region was at first theferr>', and then the bridge. JosephHix came fron^ Westport in 1702 andpurchased a farm at the end of West-port Point, where he died in 1709.He left a widow, Mary, who was thedaughter of William Earle. and she atonce displayed considerable businessactivity. She purchased the lot on thewest side of the river from GeorgeCadman, built a house, and continuedthe ferry across the river. A shorttime later she secured land at theHead of Westport, probably with thepurpose of finally choosing which-ever locality provided the best busi-ness results. The court records ofBristol county indicate that she wasnot unmindful of the requirements ofColonial travelers, and so in 1710 andsubsequent years she obtained alicense to sell strong drink. She soldthe land and house at the ferry in

1735 to her son, William, and he atonce took steps to build a bridge, butit was not until 1738 that he had com-pleted the structure. Then the votersof the Head of the River, under the

lead of George Lawton, William Sissonand others, protested to the generalcourt that William Hix, who had theprivilege of a ferry, had built a bridgewhich was a common nuisance be-cause it obstructed the passage ofboats up and down the river, and theyasked that the nuisance be removed.Notice was issued to Hix to show whythe petition should not be granted. It

cannot be discovered how far this sub-ject became an issue in the town, butin 1739 William Hix was elected rep-resentative to the general court, andagain in 1740. a remarkable fact con-sidering the lack of interest which themembers of the Hix family have takenin political life. This election gavehim such an advantage in the bridgecontroversy that the conclusion is

sound that the townspeople unitedwith him against the protesting \-otersat the head of the river. In 1739, inresponse to the notice from the gen-eral court, William Hix representedthat he had built a commodiousbridge at his own expense, at the mostconvenient place, and that the samewas of great benefit to the public, andasked that the general court wouldconfirm and establish the same as atoll-bridge. They voted to allow himto maintain the bridge and to chargeas toll the same amount as he hadpreviously charged for ferriage. In1743 he was allowed to double thetoll rates, because of the cost of thebuilding and maintaining the bridge.The construction of the bridge was

probably an important factor in lead-ing the Dartmouth voters to removethe town house in 1750 to the Headof Apponegansett. And it is significantthat the objection to this removalcame from the same men who ob-jected to the maintenance of Hixbridge. Their self-interest and con-venience were apparent in both pro-ceedings.The Hix Bridge farm, including the

bridge and approaches, and the farmon the south side of the road, westof the river, had been acquired byWilliam Hix, and at his death passedto his widow, Anna, and his children,and was finally owned by Joseph Gif-ford, who had mau'ied a daughter.The property was purchased in 1804by .John Avery Parker, Levi Standishand Josiah Brownell; and owned bythem until 1814, the property wasoffered for sale, and it was then ar-ranged that it should be purchased byDr. James H. Handy and FrederickBrownell, that the doctor should takethe deed in his own name; then con-vey the bridge and all land east of thedriftway to Brownell, who should pavthe sum of $2,800. Brownell tookcharge and repaired the bridge as hisown, collected toll, paid the taxes,built a building on the north side,

where he conducted a country store,and finally in cash and groceries paidthe doctor the entire price of theproperty; but the latter neglected andrefused to give any deed. The towntook the bridge in 1871, abolished thetoll feature, and made an award of$1,800 to whoever might be the owner.This led to legal proceedings betweenBrownell and Dr. Handy's estate, butBrownell succeeded in getting themoney. In 1876 Giles Brownell soldto Albert M. Allen the remaining landat both ends of the bridge, and it waslater acquired by Mrs. Betsey P.Allen. On the second floor of the storebuilding, where Frederick Brownellconducted his business for over fifty

years, was the lodge room of theNoquochoke Free Masons, and whenthey erected their own building eastof the river Mrs. Allen sold the storeto Daniel J. Sullivan. Adjoining thisbuilding is the landing laid out by theselectmen in 1717.The farm on the north side of the

road, extending from the river to themain highway at Central Village, waspurchased in 168 7 by George Cadman,who had removed from Portsmouth,Rhode Island. His later homestead,comprising over five hundred acres,lay along Cadman's Brook, two milesnorth of Hix bridge. He was selectedto fill many town offices and was awealthy man for that period, andowned a Ne.gro slave that he disposedof in his will. His only descendantwas one daughter, Elizabeth, whomarried a William White, whose an-cestry has defied all historical re-search. Cadman conveyed the north-west corner of this farm "where Wil-liam White lives" to the DartmouthMonthly Meeting of Friends in 1717,and here is the Quaker meeting-house. The rest of the farm he de-vised to his daughter and her hus-band, and after them to their chil-dren. In 1794 it was owned byJonathan White, and the east hundredacres was that year purchased by Dr.Eli Handy of Rochester. At the deathof the doctor, in 1812, the farm passedto his son, James H. Handy, who wasalso a physician of considerablecelebrity. Industrious in his profes-sion, he was nevertheless negligent ofhis own business interests. It is saidthat he never collected any bills andnever paid any; and his estate wasinsolvent. This carelessness involvedthe bridge in the complications alreadydescribed. Yet he was a famouscountry doctor.The great house occupied by the

Handy family reveals the fact that it

was iDuilt at three different periods.William White married ElizabethCadman about 1714, and went thereto live, and their house, a pretentiousmansion for those daj^s, was the east

1-THE CADMAN - WHITE HOUSE 2—THE RICKETSON - SHERMAN HOUSE3—THE WAITE - POTTER HOUSE

section of the present structure. Theframework which has not been con-cealed by plastering or wall paper,

gives unmistakeable evidence of its

ae-e. When the central portion is ex-

amined, where the corner posts

project into the room only a fewinches, there is conclusive evidence of

a construction not far from 1800. Thisportion was probably built by ut. Eli

Handy. The west section, in whichthe corner posts are entirely concealed,was erected many years later. A gen-tleman is now living who states that

this was built by Dr. James H. Handy,that he borrowed the money to payfor the same from a sister of GeorgeKirby, and failing to repay the

amount, the farm was attached andbought by Kirby, and was later pur-chased by a friend of the Handyfamily, who. m 1876, conveyed it to

Miss Hannah Handy, a sister of the

doctor, who had paid for it by workas a seamstress. She devised the

property to a son of the doctor, andlast year his descendants sold the

farm, the part west of the driftway,

with the mansion, to Abbott P. Smith,and the east part to Herbert S. Pierce.

The house that Mary Hix erected at

the west end of the bridge about 1710,

stood on the south side of the road,

and after the ''Revolutionary war wasconsiderably rebuilt. One room of the

old structure was retained, but this

was considerably obscured by the ad-ditional structure. The house is nowpainted red . Here was the residenceof the bridge owners until it was pur-chased by Albert M. Allen, and herefor years bicyr-le tourists and the Ma-sonic brethren appreciated the enter-

tainment that could be obtained at

Aunt Betsey's.

At the conclusion of the meeting at

the Handy house, a visit was madeto the old Ricketson house, whichwas built in 1684, then back throughRussells Mills to New Bedford.

HISTORIC NOTES ONTHESE OLD HOUSES

Kicketson-Sherman House, Westport.This house is located on the west

side of the road leading from SouthWestport to Horse Neck, about twomiles south of the South WestportCorner and 300 yards east of theread.

Tne land was originally owned byHannah Gaunt, a descendant of theSouthworth family of Duxbury. In1684 she conveyed the same to Wil-liam Ricketson, before that time a

resident of Portsmouth, R. I. ^n1682 Mr. Ricketson petitioned thetown of Portsmouth for leave tobuild a water-mill, and in 1683 he pe-titioned to be admitted as a freeman.The town records disclose no actionon either petition. His next appear-ance seems to have been in Dart-mouth. When all the land to whichhe was entitled had been set off tol:im he owned nearly 500 acres,bounded west by the Noquochoke riv-

er. He died in 1691, leaving threesons, Timothy, William and Jonathan,and widow Elizabeth, who later mar-ried Mathev/ Wing; and from thesetwo marriages are descended theRicketsons, and most of the Wings ofthis section.

This farm remained in the Ricket-son family until 1796. The por-tion containing this house was sold:o Thomas Sherman of Rhode Island,and in 1904 was owned by Charlesand Albert C. Shermaii of New Bed-lord, two of his descendants.

This house is located on a hillwhich commands a view embracingAdamsvills, South Westport, West-port Point to the Elizabeth Islands.It faces south and end to the ad-joining road. The chimney is madeof stone, and according to the princi-ples governing the latest Rhode Is-land stone chimney. The chimneyextends nearly across the house andfurnished the four rooms each with afire-place. The house throughout hasheavy summers, bracketed corner-posts. The timbers are tdl of sawedpine and handsomely though plainlyfinished. Such a construction clearlyantedates 1700.

In the east chamber the mantel-piece and frame about the flre-placeindicate the finest degree of handworkmanship, in a day when sand-paper was unknown. When Ishamand Brown visited this house in De-cember, 1903, it was their opinionthat it was constructed about 1684.

The last occupant left it before1877, and as the dust worm, has prac-tically destroyed its frame in thefirst story, it cannot remain standingmany years longer.

William Ricketson's business wasthat of a miller, and he operated asaw mill on the brook southeast fromhis homestead, where possibly thetimbers of this house were preparedand finished.

Waite-Potter House, Westport.This house is located about half a

mile north of Central Village, betweenMain and River roads, and was ownedin 1904 by Perry G. Potter. It can beseen from the main road except in thesummer season, when hid by the foli-

age of the trees.

The original farm in which this

house is located was situated on bothsides of the main road, and was con-veyed in 16 61 by William Earle to

Thomas Waite; comprised over 200acres and was bounded east by theNoquochoke river. It remained in theWaite family until 1728, when Ben-jamin Waite sold the part between theriver and the main road to RobertKirby, whose descendants continued in

possession until 1837, when IchabodKirby conveyed to Restcome Potterhis homestead farm of 50 acres onwhich this house is located. WhenRestcome Potter died the farm de-scended to his son, the present owner.In the deed to Mr. Potter a smallpiece of land was reserved which hadbeen the Kirby burial lot for over ahundred years, the rough stones inthe lot being marked, one R. K. asecond, the same, and another I. K.The Waite burial lot is in that sectionof the farm lying on the west side ofthe road.

This house is the oldest in old Dart-mouth, if not in southern Massachu-setts. It will be noticed that thechimney is constructed in two sections,the right of which is stone and theleft brick. The explanation handeddown among the owners is that whenthe west addition was built, just previ-ous to the Revolutionary War, it wasfound the old stone chimney wouldnot furnish a fireplace for the addi-tion without another flue, and hencethe west section of brick was builtagainst the old stone chimney. Theancient section of the house is thatwhich appears in the picture as thecentre. It is built according to themethods in vogue in Rhode Islandfollowing 1650.

It is a one-story dwelling of oneroom 18 feet square, with a fireplace,as shown in the photograph, and a lowattic under the roof. The west end ofthe ancient house was a stone walltapering with the roof and ending in

the chimney stack. The fireplace is

wide, but low, and a century after thehouse was built was linea with brick.The chimney jamb is a beam 18 inchessquare. The summer was placed par-allel to the chimney and was sup-ported by posts set into the walls of

the house. The corner posts arebracketed and braced. The mortar in

the chimney is of composition madefrom seashells. The entire construc-tion indicates that the building waserected before 1700.

Messrs. Isham and Brown of Provi-dence, experts in Colonial housebuilding, examined this structure in

1903, and suggested 1660 as the prob-aljle date of construction, but the tra-

dition exists that it was built in the167 7, which was the year following theKing Philip war, as the Indians aresupposed to have destroyed all dwell-

ings in this section. The tradition is

probably^ correct, iis last occupant, aKirby, left it to move into the westaddition, and the old portion hassince been used as a pigsty, henroostand general farm purposes.

Restcome Potter lived in the westpart two years after he purchased thefarm, and then built the presentfarmhouse.

Dr. Handy House, Westport.

This house is located a short dis-

tance west of the Hix Bridge, at thenorthwest corner of the road leadinfj

to Westport Point and in 1904 wasowned by a descendant of the famousDr. Handy.The land was originally set off to

George Cadman and that farm ex-tended from the river west and in-

cluded the Quaker meeting house,cemetery, and town house at CentralVillage.

Georg" Cadnnan's only child wnsElizabeth, who married WilliamWhite of Rochester. Thus the nameCadman in this branch of the familydisappeared from Dartmouth, but thenumerous descendants hy the nameof White in that part of New Englandall trace their lineage back to Eliza-beth Cadman. They were marriedabout 1714, and this property wasplaced at their disposal by GeorgeCadman, and in his will, probated m1729, was devised to William Whiteand wife.

1794. Jonathan White to Humph-rey White.

17 94. Humphrey White to Eli

Handy, physician, and the house haaremained in the Handy family since

that date.From an exterior view the impres-

sion might be gained that this housewas originally built for a tavern or

a road house, but the observer wouldscarcely discover that it was con-Ktructed at the separate dates cover-

^^ng 120 years. This clearly appearsby an interior examination.The two front doors divide the

house into three sections, formingSIX rooms on the lower floor and the.same number on the second. Begin-ning at the east end it will be ob-served that here is a heavy summerparallel to the end of the house ex-tending through both rooms, and in

the second story the heavy corner-posts are bracketed. In the middlesection there is no summer and thepart of the corner-posts projecting in-

to the room somewhat insigniflcant;while in the west rooms the summerand corner-posts have entirely dis-appeared. In the east part a signi-ficant feature is the bracing from cor-ner-post to girder, as shown in theinterior. In the east part the edgesof all timbers chamfered.

10

The evidence is satisfactory to indi-

cate that the east end was the origin-al house; but it was built in 1714 to

16; that it had a west chimney whichprovided a fire-place for all therooms; that about 1730 the owner de-sired to build a west addition, andthat it became necessary to remove

the original chimney and build thepresent east chimney; that Dr. Handyin 1821 built the west third of thehouse.The house was purchased by Abbott

P. Smith in 1911 and he has donemuch to restore the house to its orig-inal condition. H. B. W.

ABBOTT P. SMITH

OLD DARTMOUTH

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 37

Being the proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building,

Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on January 29, 1913.

NEW BEDFORD ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTYYEARS AGO, AS GLIMPSED THROUGH THEMEDLEY.

By Ida A. McAfee.

[Note.— The "Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches" will be published by the

Society quarterly and may be purchased for ten cents each on application to the

Secretary and also at Hutchinson's Book Store.]

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

THIRTY -SEVENTH MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

IN their building

WATER STREET, NEW BEDFORD

MASSACHUSETTS

JANUARY 29, 1913

On Henry Howland Crapo's " TheComeoverers " and Tablet to

Ralph Earle

BY

PRESIDENT EDMUND WOOD

President Edmund Wood in openingthe meeting- said:

Since our last meeting there hasbeen published in this dommunicy anotable book, "Certain Comeoverers,"in two volumes, by Henry HowlandCrapo. This publication is worthy ofprominent notice in the proceedingsof this society, not only because it

was written by one of our memberswho has already contributed for js apaper, but also because it treats solargely of the people who settled andestablished the township of Old Dart-mouth.The history of this locality is in-

teresting only as it becomes a historyof the people who settled here, andlived and loved and strove and whotransmitted through worthy descend-ants so goodly a heritage. But it isn't

often that a learned book ongenealogy and ballasted heavily withancestral diagrams with inlinite rami-fications, can be considered an ani-mated history of a people or place.Such a work is generally a history ofdead names, dry, yes, and mouldy,too. But here we have a publicationabout the dead,—long, long dead, butwhich is very much alive. The char-acters in it have lived, and beenactuated by the .same ambitions andpassions which we recognize about usdaily. Some led saintly lives or vio-lently proclaimed their faith and suf-fered dire persecution and tortura forrighteousness's sake; and there wereothers who sinned easily and fell farshort of the glory of Gcd.The story begins with the landing

of the Pilgrims, close by us at Ply-mouth, and extends up into Newbury-port and down thro' Old Dartmouthinto Rhode Island. All this land wasnew. It was an unbroken wildernessand the first instinct and duty was tobreak and subdue it, and for a few

generations this undertaking wasenough to occupy about all theirenergy. Much of the life which waslived by these old worthies in thisvery locality was a homely life, butthey were creatures of flesh andblood. With a few notable exceptionsthey were ciuite ordinary men andwomen with a very limited sphere ofaction. The family was in a waypatriarchal and few broke awayfrom the ancestral home. Far fromtheir farms and from their usualwealth of children

"Their sober wishes never learned tostray.

Along the cool sequestered vale oflife

They kept the noiseless tenor of theirway."

They tilled the land and gotmore than a living off of it. and weknow the obstinate ungrateful char-acter of most of that land now and it

couldn't have b;-.en much better then.Slocum's Neck yields more hens andeggs and less in crops every year.

In the description of this localitywe recognize an old friend in thestory of Eliezer Slocum and his wifethe Lady Elephel. The material inthis chapter wa.s first presented in apaper read before this society a fewyears ago. And a most delightfulchapter it is. Barneys Joy andSlocum's Neck are here brought intosudden touch but into violent con-trast with the eld world and its oldercivilization.Here is all the material for a most

delightful novel and that too withouta violent departure from the ratherlegendary story. Can Vv-e not indulgein the hope that the author, havingalready contributed so much pleasureby his artistic recital of the rathermeagre historical facts, may notsome day give his imagination freerein and round out the story into a

historical romance almost medieval inits rug'gedness and truly artistic inits harmonious grouping of mostviolent contrasts.

Taking this publication as a wholewe are impressed with its compre-hensiveness and the wide range ofthe author's research. The balancingof conflicting authorities, which aremore or less traditions, is calmlyjudicial. But the whole is pervadedby a playful fancy working with alight and delicate touch. Never be-fore it seems to us, has a scholarlygenealogj' been handled vivaciously.The £;ubject and the abundant pedi-grees' lead us to expect a Dr. Dryas-

dust but lo! the style is, as it were,moistened with sparkling champagne.The Old Dartmouth Historical so-

ciety is gratifit-d by its connectionwith so charming a book.

President Wood announced thatMnce the last meeting an additionaltablet had been added to the collec-tion already in possession of the so-ciety, this latest tablet being inscribed"Ralph Earle, Leader of Settlers,Died ]716." It was from a descend-ant, Margaret Karle Wood. SecretaryWing read a brief sketch from Mr.Crapo's book of the Ralph Earle forwhom the tablet was erected, and hisparents.

New Bedford One Hundred and Twenty

Years Ago, as Glimpsed through

The Medley

BY

IDA A. McAFEE

One hundred and twenty year.-?

ago takes us back to 1793. Thatwas ten years later than thesigning of the treaty of peacefollowing the Colonies' War forIndependence. It was the year of theclosing scenes of the French Rev^olu-tion, and the year that saw theFrench Republic established. Ii wasthe year when Louis XVI lost hishead and Marie Antoinette sulYereda siiTiil.ar fate. It was a year thatsaw France and England embroiledin war, and pretty much all of Europeout with gun and fword.

It was in the presidency of GeorgeWashington. It w.-id when JohnHancock was governor of Massachu-setts, and the year in which he died.It was the time when this nation con-sisted of fifteen states; when theIndian was a very live problem; andwhen the western frontier lay alongthe Ohk.The year 1793 was hardly more

than a quarter of a century afterthe name of Bedford—lo be af-terwards changed to Newbedford

—

had attached itself to the little com-munity in Dartmouth that for thebrief years of its existence had beencontent to be known as "the settle-

ment at the foot of .Joseph Russell'shomestead." It was the sixth yearafter Newbedford had been set apartfrom the town (£ Dartmouth, as .a

separate township, inclu ling withinitself the villages of Acushnet andFairhaven.

It was twelve years earlier than thetime when William A. W.a.11 made hisfamiliar picture of the .section thatlay between the water front and whatis now William and .Second streets,

and nineteen years earlier than whenthe Foi.ircorners picture was put oncanvas; and as it was fifteen year.?-

after the British soldiery had landedat Clark's Cove and .marched up

around the head of tho river and dis-embarlc^d at Sconticut Neck, burningas it went eleven hou.ses and twenty

-

three shops, the place must have hada much sparser look as to buildingseven than in these pictures.

It was a time when all Bedford,Fairhaven, and Acushnet counted 3313people, using the figures of the federalcensus of 1790.

It WHS a year when hfty-fourcitizens of the town cast a vote forgove.-nor and for senators—tiiere wasia property qualification attached tothe franchise in that day.

It was a time when there were twomails a week between this town andBoston.

Especially it was the time of New-bedford's first newspaper. The Medleyor Newbedford Marine Journal.The time to appreciate a newspaper

is when it gets to be about one hun-dred and twenty years old—when thepaper is brown and the ink faded andthe letters worn. Here we are mak-ing a special point of this little raggeddingy paper, while in its day JohnSpooner, its founder, publisher, editor,printer, and everything else, got ahearty rebuke from a subscriber be-cause it did not satisfy his expectationsof what a newspaper ought to be; andwhen the printer had to coax his sub-scribers to come up with the price, incash or rags, junk, country produceor whatever they would give.To us it is the mirror of the past—-a

good deal blurred and not reflectingquite clearly, but giving a glimpsehere and there of what we want tosee. From the standpoint of the OldDartmouth Historical society, whichowns a two-year volume datingfrom the start,—through the favor ofMisses Anna and Ellen Clifford,—it

is not so very satisfactory a docu-ment. The value of chronicling localnews had not yet been learned. The

interest of the future in the past wasnot appreciated.The Medley printed a great deal

about the revolution in France andthe establishment of the French Re-public, in which the new republic ofAmerica was vastly interested; gaveconsiderable space to congressionaland legislative proceedings; printedsuch news from over the seas andfrom other sections of the country ascame its way in letters to people in

this town or to their friends in otherplaces—as "a letter from an Americanin Dunkirk to his friend in this town,received by brig Mary;" as broughtby word of mouth by travellers or theshipmasters, as "a gentleman fromPhiladelphia says;" or as copied fromother newspapers,—weeks or monthsold, as the case might be. Especiallyit gave literary Xewbedford a chanceto express itself in print on all sorts

of abstract and philosophical themes,and to worry and flurry each other abit, under such signatures as Equitasand Agathocles, Philanthropos, Phil-ander, and the like: but it seemed to

take for granted that the people knewwhat was going on about them andthat what they knew there was noreason to put into print.

A Highfaluting Salutatory.

It was a highfaluting salutatorywith which The Medley greeted thepeople of the beginnings of this city

on November 27th, 1792—about "theestablishment of the art of printing in

this part of our empire," with "herean extensive country, situate remotefrom a printing press—its inhabitantsnumerous; but a small part of themknowing or being known in the trans-actions of the world, unless they ad-vance a large extra sum for theirknowledge," and its intention to "in-struct them in the ways of men at amuch cheaper rate"—than subscribingfor an out-of-town paper."A general knowledge of the world—of the revolutions of Empires,

Kingdoms, and States, the politicaltransactions of men in public stations—the revolutions in commerce—im-provement in arts and mechanics

—

philosophical discoveries and mari-time observations, are useful to manin his journey through life," writes theeditor, and analyzes a newspaper as"a mirror in which is seen Ambition,Envy, Revenge, Treachery, Bigotry,Pride, Superstition, Joy and Sorrow

—

Passions which constitute the essenceof man; wherein we may read, viewourselves, and, if prudent men, alterour deformities; or, at any rate, thatis a source of knowledge and enter-tainment for the curious and enquir-ing mind," he abruptly concludes."Here the statesman may read the

fate of nations.—Here the philosophermay spread before him a map of man,of manners, and of things; and enter-tain the mind with an agreeable re-past.—Here the honest laborer by hissocial fire, surrounded by his little do-mestic republic, may waste his even-ings in delightsome relaxation ofmind—may acquaint himself with sur-rounding occurrences,—may bless hisGod and his industry, which haveplaced him in his happy state of in-dependence; while, unenvious, hereads the agitations of mind whichdistract the peace and blast the fe-licity of the 'great ones of the earth.'

"Here the moral philosopher, thefriend of man, may communicate tohis fellow rationals all the benevo-lences of his soul in gentle admoni-tions and instructive maxims, to in-form the ignorant, reform the vicious,and encourage virtue and humanity.

"Here the less serious may amusethe fancy with an original bon mot—a pithy anecdote and sometimes aParnassian Plight"—evidently NewBedford has always had its poet. (Butin that day, as in this, he did notalways get his productions printed.In a "Notice to Correspondents,"some time later, two writers were toldtheir communications would be print-ed next week, but "New Poetic Cor-respondents" were recommended "torenew their draft at the Fount of Hel-icon—they appear to have but justsiped.")

These, then, were the colors underwhich The Medley was launched, withthe promise that " 'nothing whichworketh iniquity, or which maketh alie' shall ever have impression here.—That here private characters shallever be held sacred.—That the pro-duction of enmity, of partiality, andof resentment shall never disgrace his.

type:"—a standard that, if adheredto, may have been sufficient to ac-count for the sale of the paper afterseven years, to a rival printer who hadcome into the field a year earlier!Thf price waf to be "nine shillings

per aiiuum, exc'usive of postage; forone quarter of a year two shillingsand three penco, to be paid on thedelivery of the first paper, in cashor rags; the succeeding quarters atthe expiration thereof."The start was made at "John

Spooner's office near Rotch's wharf."Between the third and fourth num-bers there was a gap of two weeks,with an apology for the non-appear-ance of the paper in the previousweek,—"the editor has but to re-mark that the building he at presentoccupies as a printing house is un-finished; which exposes his work tothe inclemency of the season—andrend!'>red it in.possible to fulfil his

obligation to the public. He expectssoon to remove to the new bxiildini?

lately erected at Fourcorners, wherehe hopes to be so accommodated as toissue his paper early on the day ofeach week hereafter."

For Cash or Rags.Directly following this notice ap-

peared a paragraph, preceded by acouple of stars and a dagger, givingit a kind of pyrotechnic appearance,a sort of hold-up look, "The printerwill receive of country customers anykind of produce or wood, if theyprefer it to cash. in payment fornewspapers—or of any farmer whowishfs to become a customer."When he had gotten established in

the new office at Fourcorners, theprinter of The Medley returnedthanks to those who "favored himwith their custom." offered to fill

any "command.'^ in the art of print-ing" at short notice, thanked thosewho had generously aided in gettingsubscriptions, and announced that"Advertisements, Articles of Intelli-gence, Essays, &c. would be thank-fully received for publication." Byand by he took the latter part ofthat back—though before this oc-curred he apologized, "Cato willexcuse the non-appearance of hisvalediction addressed to Sydney,this three weeks past. It was mis-laid." When later "Ignoramus Rus-ticus" wrote a column and a halfattack on "Mr. Curiositas," in a long-continued discussion over the use ofan expression by one that the othercould not find in the dictionary andthat the printer afterwards agreedwas a typographical error, the editoradded this note: "Quit! quit! criesthe Turkey—S'. does the Printer.

—

For where Cards grow to Essays hethinks it time tc quit."

More than the editor was tired ofthe long communications on abstractsubjects or giving neighborly rubs, fora little later "A Subscriber" wrote:"Mr. Spooner:

"I am well assured it was the ex-pectation of many of your subscrib-ers that your paper would be filled

with the most interesting intelligence,both foreign and domestic, proceed-ings cf congress and state legislature,&c., &c. In your Medley, No. 16,'Quit, quit, cries the Turkey, and socries the Printer:' and so does a num.-•ber of your subscribers; for whendull overgrown Cards and dry Essaysoccupy seven-eighths of the Medleythey think it time to Quit."

Following this was an editorialreply, in italic and with the indexsign that indicated the editor atwork, rebuking the correspondentswho had contributed "public essays.

which if comprised in a volume orpamphlet would make something ofa handsome addition to a library,"and asking for reports of politicaloccurrences, ren^arkabie events, newdiscoveries, and information of in-teresr in the agricultural and com-mercial world.When The Medley had completed

Its third quarter there appeared asthe first item on the first page a re-minder that payments became dueat the expiration of each quarter."The sum individually," said the print-er, "is small; but put together in onemass would enable the Printer tocancel the Papermaker's bill, pur-chase Rags, and sometimes a quarterof Mutton."A little later, in October, "the Hus-

bandman who wishes to read theNews of the Day & would prefer ex-changing the product of his Labor withthe Printer for his Medley rather thanpaying Cash," was informed that"good Winter Apples, Corn, Rye, But-ter, Cheese, or almost any kind ofvegetable" would be received "at cur-rent Market Price, if tarot within threeweeks." Evidently the larder wasrunning low.

"Two Coppers on the Pound."The offer of not only The Medley

but of merchants as well to exchangegoods for rags, usually specificallystated as "clean cotton and linenrags," actually signified a real demandfor rags for paper making. In thevery first issue of The Medley an ar-ticle was quoted from the WindhamPhenix in which the opinion was ex-pressed that "the person who savesone pound of rags for the manufac-ture of paper does more real good tothe community than he who conquersa city." Lest this might seem stronglanguage, "Consider," continues thewriter, "that without this saving,science must fall and learning mustdrop to the ground, and everythingwhich the civilized man holds dearmust cease to exist." He reports thathis own family has sold to the printerin the course of a year fifty-fivepounds of rags, "paying for the pur-chase of a Bible for one of the chil-dren: but even without the price," hewould have had them save the val-uable commodity, for he rates the per-son who persists in destroying rags,"after being convinced of their util-ity," as culpable, and deserving to belooked upon with as much contempt"as a betrayer of his country—andan enemy to every useful science."Some considerable time after this,

appeared a whimsical communicationwith a feminine touch, asking whatencouragement there was in "twocoppers on the pound to a young ladyfor stooping two hundred times to

pick up threds, or for fouling herhands with a dish-clout or housecloth.—Fie on the man who thinksthat Moll and Betty would undertakesuch small business for suph smallgains.—We have bibles enough in thehouse alread.y, and Pa buys us ourcaps, curtains, &c."

Early Bu.siness Interests.

From the advertisements some ideais gained of the business interests of

the place, just as the ship news tells

of the sailings and arrivals' of thewhalers and the ships in the mer-chant service—and they serve success-fully to people the town, with their

names and suggestions of activity,

their show of enterprise, and proofof competition.

Besides the whaling and the ship-

ping, probably ship building was thenext big business, but there is refer-

ence to only one launching during theyear. On October 18 an inch and ahalf notice stated that "Tomorrowmorning between the hours of 7 andS, the new and beautiful ship Barck-ley, burthen 270 tons, will be launchedfrom the shipyard of Colonel GeorgeClaghorn. The satisfaction of view-ing this token of our increasing com-merce will, we doubt not, inducemany to watch the first beams of theRising Sun"—with a liberal use of

italics, small caps and capitals.

Liaunching "The Barckley."

The next day the story of thelaunching was told, under the head-ing—and headings were rare—"ShipBarckley":

"The new and beautiful ship, Barck-ley, went off from her stocks Satur-day last, without any intervening ac-

cident to soil the happiness of a largeand respectable crowd of spectators.Fifteen discharges of cannon, and re-

peated huzzas, announced her hull

floating on the ellement we hope maybuoy her with safety these many,many years. Her beauty is acknowl-edged by able judges to vie with anyship of her size that floats on the At-lantic. And while we wish she maylong continue the pride of Newbed-ford, we hope her success in aidingthe commercial interest of her ownersmay be felt among every class of ourcitizens."

This George Claghorn was the samewho built the frigate Constitution atthe Charlestown navy yard. His shipyard here was a little south of thepresent foot of North street. Besidesshipbuilder, he was colonel of thelocal military company, as is revealedby a notice to the members.

William Kotcli. Jun.'s Shop.

William Jun. was the Rotch manin the field ac this time, but his onlyappearances in The Medley were to

advertise his stock in trade at hisshop—the location of which is notgi\en, since it > must have been knownto all Newbedford. It was in theRotch building that stood at the headof Rotch's wharf, a little north ofwhat is now Centre street. It was inthis building that The Medley had its

office.

In the first issue of the paper Mr.Rotch "respectfully informs his cus-tomers and friends" that he has forsale wholesale and retail "sail Clothof an excellent quality,—No. 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, and 8; coarse and fine 5-4thSheeting; window Glass, of sizes givenranging from 6x8 to 10x12; large andsmall Looking Glasses, and Plates un-framed; Glass Tumblers, Twine andCordage; Flour and Shipbreads; Porkand Salt; Philadelphia and Russia BarIron, excellent for Cart Tire; Paintsof several kinds; Sheathing Paper,Wrapping Paper, &c."

Later he adds to his stock: "Sugar,Prime Pork. French Duck, Tar, Tur-pentine, Salt, Cordage, Bolt Rope,Spermaceti Candles, Strained Sperma-ceti Oil, and Grindstones."

In this same advertisement space heshows his thrift by making knownhis own need of "a sober industriousyoung farmer who, if he is wellrecommended, will find good encour-agement." Still later he advertisesas having forssale, "a few pieces bestsuperfine Broadcloth, Cambrics andFrench Lutestring, Silk Stockingsand Sewing Silk, and a few SilverWatches," continuing the old list downthrough spermaceti .oil, bar iron, andbolt rope, as though there were noth-ing incongruous in the list!

Books "Bedford" Read.John Spooner was apparently al-

ready a book seller before he becamethe publisher of The Medley. In thesecond number he announced that hehad "just received from Newlondonand for sale, the following books,viz:" and here is the complete collec-tion announced—note how it differs

from the list of works offered in the"literary" advertisements of today:"Bibles, Testaments, Barlow's revisionof Watt's Psalm and Hymns, Gard-ner's Life, Vicar of Wakefield, Web-ster's Institute, 1st, 2d, and 3d parts,

Fenning's Spelling-Book, Dilworth'sditto. Prompter, Little Reader'sAssistant, Occom's Hymns, CEconomyof Human Life, Medical Cases andObservations; Seamen's Journals,Writingbooks, Pocket memorandumswith pencils, ditto ditto without (thusthe list runs on without break underthat first imposing head of Books),Primers, Children's Books, Geo-graphical Cards, Dutch Quills, Wafers,•fee. &c." Then follows a list of pam-phlets and a group of titles headed

Chapman's Books, evidently referringto a series of publications under thepublisher's name, in which appearFanny or the Happy Repentance,Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Ad-ventures of Gil Bias, History of QueenElizabeth, Young Gentlemen and La-dies Entertaining Friend, Choice Col-lection of Songs," and Almanacks for1793. The advertisement concludedwith this stirring appeal: "Ladies,Gentlemen, and Merchants"—I hopethe merchants of today will notdislike the differentiation—-"are in-vited to call and furnish themselvesand children with books: as they mayhere obtain them as cheap as in Bos-ton." Obviously the shopping in Bos-ton habit that our merchants com-plain of was early established!

Six months later John Spooneradvertised antther assortment ofbooks, including "Hume's History ofEngland, 8 volumes; Robertford'sditto of America, 3 ditto; Moore s

travels, 2 ditto; The Spectator, 8

ditto; Buchan's Domestic Medicine;Morse's Geography of America,Christian Economy, The Whole Dutyof Woman, Advice to Prevent Poverty,Fothergill's Sermons, and school andchildren's books,"—any of which wereto be given "in exchange for cash,clean cotton or cotton and linen, orlinen rags of any color, old sail cloth,or junk."

A Versatile Gentleman.Caleb Greene respectfully informed

his friends and the public in generalthat he "now carries on and pro-poses to enlarge the bookbindingbusiness in its several branches," andthat he had for sale account booksand hooks ruled to any pattern, andthat he could "in a short time supplyshopkeepers with spelling books Dythe dozen of tht- most approved au-thors." and that "from his long ex-perience in books he thinks he maylay claim to so much knowledge asthat the public may depend on beingwell supplied, and at as low rate asin Boston." Not only were readingand spelling encouraged, but writingas well, in a note after the date line

—

"N. B. Black and red ink of the bestquality."

Later on Mr. Greene offered to takeorders for Bibles—in an early 1794issue: "Any persons who would wishto supply themselves with large andcomplete Bible.'^—with or withoutapocrypha and concordance, or Biblesof any size, are desired to leave theirnames at Caleb Greene's shop; wherethey may view the sizes and in a fewweeks have their supply—No part ofthe pay will be asked till they aredeliv^ered."But he did not conline his attention

to book binding and selling; An adver-

tisement of Isaac Wood of Fairh.avenprobably suggested to him a newbranch of business possible to this sideof the river. Tw(' weeks beforeChristmas this Wood announcedhaving lust received and for sale "athis .s-hop near the meeting house,Fairhaven, a fresh assortment ofEuropean and West Indian Goods,suited to the present season," andalso, further,—showing the range ofthe merchants of the day,—"familymedicines, which he can recommendas genuine,—and for sale, by retail,as cheap as can be procured inBoston—together with Phials, <fec."Incidentally it may be stated that Mr.Wood also offered for sale "Flowerby the small quantity. Crockery,Tobacco and -Snuff, Shoema^^ers'Tools, Books and Paper and Almanacs—with the announcement that in pay-ment would be received cash, cotton,rags, sailcloth, pork & beef, and anykind of country produce." Would itdo to wonder how many heirloomtreasures in this city owed theirfamily possession to pork and rags!

At the Sign of the Mortar.The announcement of family medi-

cines evidently spurred Caleb Greene'senterprise, for in the next issue heproved that Newbedford did notneed to go to the rival village acrossthe river for its medicines: "B'romthe encouragement given oy a numberof the inhabitants of Bedford and itsvicinity," he had "furnished himselfwith and just opened a good assort-ment of fresh Drugs and Medicines,at the Sign of the Mortar, in Water-street, among which are"—and in ahalf column advertisement he namedthem frankly, opium and castor oiiamong the rest: a goodly list, includ-ing a variety of patent medicines, andalso "an excellent electuary forcleansing and preserving the teeth,with brushes for ditto." And the ad-vertisement concluded, "As saidmedicines are deemed genuine, theyare confidently orlered to the public."Apparently Mr. Greene did not wanthis original business lost rsight of. forafter a dash rule he continued: "SaidGreene carries on the bookbindingbusiness and has for sale geographie.s,arithmetics, spellers, dictionaries,blank books, &c., wnich customersare desired to call and see."

Oil Skin Hat Covers.

The full extent of his businessversatility is not told, however, untilis quoted his announcement of "neatoilcloth covers for hatfc and women'.-3bonnets—on silk or linen, of variouscolours—made at a short notice andreasonable price—by said Greene."

10

Though umbrellas had been in-

troduced into the colonies .'n the latterhalf of the eig-hleenth century, thereis no likelihood that they werecommon in the village of Bedfordin 1793, since their manufacture didnot begin in this country lor somesix or eight years later than this.

Mr. Greene was certainly a usefulcitizen, for he is credited also withkeeping the marine journal and theweather record.

Compasses and Hardware.There were advertisements of Jo-

seph Clement "(late from London),Compass Maker and Iron Plate-Worker, doing business on Unionstreet, a few rods west fromMr. Isaac Rowland's store; JosephRicketson, Cutlery and HardwareDealer, lately removed "to the newbuilding erected at Fourcorners, andfronting on Prospect and Northstreets"—otherwise at the northeasicorner of the present Union and Wa-ter streets: Gamaliel Bryant, Jun.,"removed from the shop he formerlywork'd in, to the Fourcorners, No. 4,

fronting North street, ' where he hadfor sale a general assortment of tin-

ware.Reduction for Cash.

Reuben Jenne, Blacksmith, of "Ox-ford, Newbedford," offered inducementfor cash payment—objecting "to thepresent mode of long credit and a re-

mote payday." He informed the pub-lic that he proposed "to keep con-stantly for sale a handsome variety of

edgetools, together with plow shares,hoes, &c.," and that "all otherbranches of his Profession will be at-

tended to and the work executed withneatness and dispatch;" and he con-cluded the notice with the statementthat "the articles received in paymentare too numerous to be mentionedhere: but whoever will pay in cashhe will make to them a reduction of

16 2-3 per cent;" and he adds per-suasively that "he flatters himself thatall who favor him with their customwill nnd his terms much better suited

to benefit the public than the presentmode of long credit and a remote payday."

Medicine Boxes for Seamen.Thomas Hersey of Fairhaven, "ready

to wait upon all disposed to employhim, in the medical line," announced"—Medicine boxes, for the use of sea-men, with suitable directions, pre-pared at the shortest notice."

Cloth Dressed to Taste.

Westport, which had been set offfrom Dartmouth at the same timethat Newbedford had, and that nowhad a population of 2466,—withinthirty-three as many as the town of

Dartmouth,—was heard from in the-notice of John Chace, who, bringingto mind the hand loom, respectfullyinformed the public that he carriedon the Clothier's Business, in its va-rious branches, at his works at thehead of Acoaxet River, in Westport^and that "Any person wishing to havehis cloth dressed to his taste, by ap-plying to him, or forwarding it bythe post from Newbedford to New-port, or leaving it at Smith's Mills,shall have their directions attendedto, with the greatest punctuality andcare, and returned by the first con-veyance after dressed."

Joseph and Elihu Russell of Dart-mouth later offered "to dress andcolour cloth at their new works atRussells mills;" but this came earlyin the next year.

Occasionally someone advertised forsupplies, as "Wanted—Ash timber, forwhich good pay will be made on de-livery," "untaned sheep and lambskin,for which a generous price will begiven," "a number of bushels ofleached ashes," etc.

Sailcloth was announced as being"fabricated" in Nantucket.

Dispersing Benjamin KiLssell's Goods,How Benjamin Russell's household

goods found their way into Newbed-ford homes is suggested in this "Saleat Auction!" notice, offering a choiceand valuable parcel of householdgoods and furniture, being part of theestate of Benjamin Russell, Esq., lateof Dartmouth, consisting of severalgood Feather Beds and Furniture,Mahogany Desk, High Case of Draw-ers, and other Cabinet Work; SilverPlate, China Ware, Pewter, Stone andother hard Ware; a number of Chairsgreat and small, both of Mahoganyand other sorts—with many otherkinds of Household Goods not hereenumerated."

Wlialing ar^d The Privateers.

If Ihe impreso'on pre'-ails that shipswere coming from and starting onwhaling voyages continually in thoseearly days, let the illusion be dis-pelled, so tar as this period at leastis concerned.

Whaling at this time was just be-ginning to look up after the crushingblow it had received in the Revolu-tionary war. First there had beeathe unrighteous British legislatloi.i

curtfiling American fishing and trad-ing rights, and then there had beenthe barbarous enactment giving theright of search of American vesselsand impressment of American sailorsinto the British rervice or the Britishwhale fishery, brLnging whaling prettymuch to a standstill. Besides, therehad been the destruction of seventy

11

vessels in the harbor of Newbedfordat the time of the British raid inSeptember of 1778,—and for severalyears nothing was done toward therestoration of the industry. One shipis known to nave gone out fromDartmouth in 178 5 and another in

1787. A little at a time the businesspicked up. In 1793 the first whalerto enter the Pacific sailed from ^iew-bedford. It was one of George Clag-horn's ship—though The Medley doesnot stem to have reported the sail-

ing. By the beginning of the nine-teenth century the Old Dartmouthwhaling and merchant fleet numberedabout fifty vessels. Generally speak-ing, 1793 was one of the years of lowebb in the whaling industry.A count of the ships reported in

The Medley as arriving during thelast half of that year showed nineNewbedford whalers to have comeinto rort, bringing cargoes of oil

ranging from eighty barrels to thir-

teen hundred barrels, and totalling6130 barrels, whale and sperm totalledin together; whlie in that same period,there? arrived at Nantucket twenty-two whalers, bringing 13,290 barrels,in lots ranging from fifty barrels tothirteen hundred—one vessel comingin clean; and they were reported tohave come from Brazil, from Wool-wich Bay off the coast of Africa, andfrom thfc neighborhood of the WestIndies and Bahamas. A few whalers be-longing in Dunirirk put in here atthat time, fearing to encounter theFrench during the hostilities withGreat Britain.That it was not always necessary to

go to the west coast of Africa, butthat whales were sometimes caughtnearer at hand, -s shown in the itemthat "Perry Davis, master of a smallfishing vessel, brot into Westport, 25July, a whale that made 17 bbls. oil—

•

out three days."There were tryworks in that day, in

this town at about the foot of whatis nov/ Centre street and probably atSmoking Rocks, where the PotomskaMills now stand; at Oxford, now Pov-erty Point, in Fairhaven; and at Dart-mouth and Westport.The Close touch into >vhich New-

bedford vessels—whalers and mer-chantmen—came with the war diffi-

culties of the day is revealed in sev-eral items about their encounterswith privateers. Captain BenjaminHowland of brig Lucretia. arrived inseventeen days from Capefrancois. re-ports that he "was brot to seven timeson his passage by different priva-teers—five English, one Spanish, andone French—ordered on board theSpanish and French; the othershoarded him in their own boats—all

treated him with great civility."

Pickaroons Out-Pickaroon'd.But all ships did not have so good

fortune as this. Here are a couple ofreal adventures, under the head of"Pickaroons Out-Pickaroon'd, whichshow the dangers of the seas at thetime and also suggest something ofthe stuff some at least of the Newbed-ford whaling masters were made of:The captain of the Brig Polly, Levi

Jenne, tells his own story for TheMedley, following the item that hisship had arrived here from St. Marks,with a prizemaster and three men, puton board by a Newprovidence pick-aroon.

Capt. Jenne submitted first to theexamination of his papers by twostrangers; when they had left, astrange ship came alongside and hewas hailed in "a brutish manner,"in a strange langviage, and six mencame aboard "in a hostile manner,with naked cutlasses and pistols intheir hand," and he had to sail un-der their orders on the course toCuba—but owing to a small wind hisship did not get far. He and his peo-ple were kept in constant fear of los-ing their lives. Then they ran intoa fleet of nine sail, three of themprivateers, and after the commodorehad spent the whole day "bucklingfrom vessel to vessel," a prizema.sterwas put aboard the Polly, one otherwhite man and two Negroes, "thethree last mentioned not worth onefarthing, only to encumber us as lum-ber upon deck," and she sailed towardNewprovidence, in the Bahamas; thenhis men refused to sail her except forNewbedford, the prisemaster con-fessed himself helpless, and Capt.Jenne and the Polly came along in duetime into their home harbor, withthe four strangers aboard.

Capt. Weston Howland, of the sloopNancy, who left St. Marks in companywith Capt. Jenne, confirmed the lat-ter's story, and also bore witness "tosimilar treatment by four prizemen,which he brot in with him"-—in thefollowing statement:

—

"The 23d of July, the sloop Nancyof Newbedford, left St. Marks, boundfor Philadelphia. The 24th ult. wasboarded by Capt. Mackever, from Ja-maica; whose Officers came on boardand examined my papers; after whichhe ordered me to proceed on my way.In 2 minutes after they left me, Iwas boarded by the sloop John, Capt.Edward Shearman, from Newprovi-dence; who, in a very hostile mannerpushed me into the boat—carried meon board his vessel,—where I re-mained as prisoner 14 hours.—At theexpiration of that time he hove outhis boat—ordered me into her—got in

himself and came on board my vessel.

12

—He then ordered me to open mychest, which I complied with.—Hethen took every article out—yet madeno discovery of the property he pre-tended to be after.—After this, the25th, he left me, and returned to hisown vessel—I was soon revisited by aprizemaster and four men, whoordered me to steer for Newprovi-dence.—-The 2!)th, being clear of theKeys, I resumed the command, anddirected my course as I thot proper

—

Newbedford appearing most consist-ent, J shaped my course thither:

—

Here I arrived 12th August—prize-master and all well.

"Weston Howland."

Then The Medley commented:"Such is the treatment received

from Newprovidence privateers—andthis nol the first instance—Capt.Jenne informs that numbers of

Americans have been taken in thesame manner and sent into that place,

without daring even to resist. Thenthey have been tried upon suspicion of

having French property on board—if

acquited the captors do not release

them but take them to Inagua andthere plunder them of everythingvaluable.—This the privateers saywould have been the fate of CaptainJenne and Capt. Howland, could theyhave gotten them into this den of

thieves.—Among this banditti appearsthe famed Lord Dunmore, governor of

Newprovidence.—Such insults, Ameri-cans, ought surely not to pass unno-ticed.

"The above mentioned vessels wereladen with Sugar, Coffee and Cotton."

Though it may seem to have no con-nection here, there is interest in thenotice soon after of the marriage of

Capt. Weston Howland to Miss NabbyHathawav—won, possibly, by the cap-tain's cool daring.

Later on. similar news came in anextract of a letter from the masterof a vessed in Newprovidence, to amerchant in this town, which said:

"There are fifty sail of American ves-

sels here now; 36 of which were brot

down by the Privateers: some of

them have be^-n here ninety days,

with their Coffee hogsheads burstingin their holds, and their Cotton sacksroting and droping oft from their

quarters."

Making Spori of a Whaler.

How a whaling master fared at thehand.<: of the preyers upon ships at

this time is told with spirit by Capt.Gardner, in the account of an ex-

perience off St. Helena in Septemberof 1793. The Medley says: "Arrived,

Ship Edward, M'caiah Gardner, froma Delago Bay whalecruise. 1500 bbls.

•whale oil—Capt. Gardner, not having

heard of a war, ran in for St.

Helena to get information.—Sent hisMate and five hands on shore to makeinquiry; who were detained by theGovernor; and an American ship'sboat the Seahorse, Albert Hussey,Master, belonging to Capeann, wassent off with the following letter, todecoy him into port:

" 'France is at war with all theworld—the American Ambassador'shead has been cut off at Paris—youhave no port en earth to put intowhere you will not be taken—hereyou Fhall have generous terms, all

your private property, and that ofthe crew, shall remain your own, thesame as if you had never been taken:I have consulted the Lieut. Governor,and we have agreed to give you theseterms—In witness whereof, I hereun-to sign, and give it under my hand,and tne Seal of the Honorable UnitedEast India com.pany.

" 'Robert Brooke," 'Governor and Commander in Chief.'

"Ir answer to which, Capt. Gard-ner sent word,—'He thanked him forhis gfenerous offer—but rather doubt-ed the truth of France being at warwith all the world'—Should not there-fore throw him^-.elf on their mercy

—

and continued *o stand off and on',

hoping his boa*, would return.—i^utnext day by the same boat receiveda second letter, as follows:

—

" 'I again inform, you that Franceis at War with all the world—Thatthe American States are in alliancewith Great Britain—I therefore nowtreat with you as an American sub-ject—and dem.and of you to enterour port immediately—Which if yourefu'-e to comnly with, I shall beobliged to make a representation ofthe case to the British Secretary olStatp and to General Washington.

—

Afte" promising this, if you continueobstinate, and are taken on anyforeign coast, vou must undergo allthe "severity of treatment by the lawsof Nations in such cases made andprov'ded.'

"C.*iptain Gar.'iner doubting muchthis British Governor's candor, onlyreplied to the last letter—'I shall notenter your port, but snail shape mycour.-^e for America.'-^which he ac-cordingly did—leaving his Mate andboat'« crew at Ihe Island—and heresafe'v arrived."

Tragedies of Whalinjj.

The tragedies in the whaling indus-try and the homes left mourningthrough its vicissitudes, find sugges-tion in an extract of a letter fromCapt. Benjamin Crowninshield to hisfriend at Salem, dated Port Roval,Sept. 29, 1793, to the effect that "Two

13

American vessels have been deprived-of every officer on board by the fever

—

a brig from Newbedford, the super-cargo, captain, mate and boy all diedin the course of seven days and thevessel left destitute":—with this in-formation follov.ed up in the next issueby the further statement "that thebrig inentioned proved to be theNancy, owned by Messrs. BenjaminChurch, and Nathaniel Pope, and com-manded by Capt. Caleb Church," anda letter that had been received fromone of the hands on board by hisparents, in which was written, underdate of Martinico, St. Pierres, Oct. 6,

1793:"After a short fit of sickness, I once

more have a chance to send you a fewlines. We have all been sick with theWest India fever—and have recovered;except those whom God hath pleasedto take away by the disease.—Firstour Mate and Boy—then the super-cargo and Captain left this world, theygot one Fishers Skiper, an AmericanCounsellor"—and here is inserted anasterisk and The Medley comments be-low, "We think the writer has in thisinstance mistook 'Fishers Skiper,American Counsellor' for Fulivar Skip-with, American Consul"—to get aCaptain, and more hands, if wanted,and send the vessel to Alexandria, asfast as possible."

After other details, the writer says"it was the captain's will before hedied T should act in the room of themate," and he says, "I shall do thebest I can to get the vessel home tothe owners as soon as possible."

Lost at Sea.

How William Howland. master ofthe sloop Sally, was lost at sea, is toldin an item headed merely "ShipNews":

"Sloop Sally. William Howland,master, left this port 2 3d Jan. on aAvhale cruise, returned last AVednes-day. 14th March, off Hispanola, theCaptain, Oliver Slocum, (mate), Solo-mon Slocum, William Church, JosephW^ilcox, James Jan, and Jack Williams,(two last blacks), went on shore toprocure stores for said vessel, thenlying off and on at the mouth ofArlcot harbor: late in the evening at-tempted to return on board (as saythe inhabitants of the place), whena squall of wind arising drove thesloop to sea—and the boat in the galewith all the men above-named waslost—no discovery could be made foreight days except some pieces of aboat, which all agree were part of theboat the master went on shore in."

Stage and Post Routes.

In sp^te of the merchants' deter-mination to serve customers as well

as they could buy in Boston, on thefifth of July a new inducement wasoffered to visit that town. Under thehead "Newbedford and Boston NewLine of Stages!" (and the picture ofa stage coach drawn by two spans ofhurses—a wood cut, and done by anartist with no s-reat sense of per-spective), "William Henshaw respect-fully informs his friends & the pub-lis in general that for the convenienceand accommodation of those Ladiesand Gentlemen who may wish apleasant tour to or from Boston, hehas furnished himself with an ele-gant carriage and good horses, tc runonce a week."He will start from Newbedford

every Tuesday morning at 5 o'clockand arrive in Boston the evening ofthe same day.—On his return he willleave Boston every Friday morning at5 o'clock, and arrive in Bedford theevening of the same day"—a fourdays' trip.

"The price for each passenger willbe three pence per miie—20 lb. bag-gage gratis—150 lbs. weight equal toa passenger.

"Ladies and Gentlemen who takepassage in his stage may depend onthe greatest care—and the most par-ticular attention on hist part thai hishorses are good, fj.nd well suited to anexpeditious and pleasant tour.

"Business entrusted lO him to trans-act shall be performed wi':h the great-est punctuality; and e\'ery encour-agement in the undertaking mostgratefully acknowledged."He would rnention, as some per-

son might otherwise consider '.hreepence per mile for passengers a sargefee, that it is caused by the presentexorbitant price demanded for hayand provender.—So soon as the priceof these articles shall fall, the Publicmay rest assured the price per mileshall be reduced."

Mr. Henshaw was not left longwithout a competitor in the Bostonstage business. Three months and ahalf later Abraham Russell adver-tised a conveyance to Taunton andBoston, to run through the winterseason once a week, the round tripto be completed between Mondaymorning and Friday evening. As t(.

the price he made no apology— 'theprice will be three pence per milefor each passenger, which is the samerate as other stages, and will appearmoderate to any who will considerthe high price of provender."

Mr. Russell also announced at thesame time his intention to start astage route to Boston through thetown of Bridgewater—a round trip infour days, afterwards increased to five

14

days, to give some daylight hours in

Boston. The price of a passenger onthis line was to be fifteen shillings

from Newbedford to Boston.

William Henshaw announced aboutthis time that his service would con-tinue through the winter, and that

he should put on covered sleighs as

soon as the snow pre\ented the run-ning of his carriage.

Earlier than these latest notices

there had been announcement that

"the mail is taken from the postof-

fice every Sunday and Wednesdayevening." Now the mails for Bos-ton were closed on Monday andWednesday mornings, fitting in withthe running of the stages.

Early in the year, Samuel Spraguehad proposed, "if suitable encourage-ment" were given, "to establish a post

route from Newbedford to Barn-stable by way of Rochester, Ware-ham, Sandwich, &c., and return throPlymouth, Middleborough, &c., home."He promised "the greatest care andattention paid to private business;

and every command punctually per-formed at reasonable terms."

Apparently a post route had alreadybeen established to Nev,rport, for TheMedley, early announcing that "one-Jesse Haskell having undertaken to

prosecute the post business betweenNewbedford and Newport, The Med-ley would be delivered en route in

Dartmouth, Westport, Tiverton andLittle Compton, as well as in New-port."

Later, a notice signed by JohnSpooner announced that the post fromBedford to Newport, through the win-ter season, would leave every Mondaymorning, arriving the same night, andhe offered: "Letters carried and pri-

vate business transacted with thegreatest care."

Few as the mails were, there wasevidently little care in their transmis-sion, and great difficulty in their col-

lection, for "Letters remaining at thepostoffice" was a regular feature of

The Medley, with letters in this office

addressed Rochester, Dartmouth,Westport, and Martha's Vineyard, be-sides Acushnet, Fairhaven and Bed-ford, and sometimes three deep to thesame address.

The Medley tried to stimulate theestablishment of post routes by call-

ing for "Smart able men to supply someexcellent post routes, good encourage-ment to be given by the printer here-of." In the closing number of theyear was a call for a "steady, capable•man to prosecute a post route to theeastward"—sign not only that TheMedley was looking for an enlargedfield but that Newbedford was seek-

ing to broaden its touch with theneighboring towns.

Early Shipping.

Through its ships it already hadtouch with more distant ports. In oneweek, for instance, at the customhouse were cleared sloops for Charles-ton and Savannah, and a schooner forHud^;on; and in another week, besidesthe clearance of a schooner and a .ship

for whale voyages, sloops sailed forN'iwbern, for Philadelphia, and Sa-vannah—these being merely sampleweeks. Such advertisements as thisappeared:

"For New York and North River,the fast sailing schooner Tabitha, nowlying at Rotch wharf, John Crowellmaster, will ^sail (at such a time),wind and weather permitting. Forfreight or passage apply to JohnSpooner or to the said Crowell."

"For Newport and Philadelphia, thesloop Lively, lying at Russell Wharf,Shubael Bunker, master, will sail"(etc.); "and will be a constant traderall this season, from this port tothose places. For freight or passageapply to the Master in Bedford: whowill transact business for any gentle-man at either the above places onthe most reasonable terms."

Xo Fliu'i-y Over Elections.

Contrary to the usual flurry of to-day preceding town meeting day inthe neighboring towns, and the stir

of our own city election, in Marchappeared a little five line notice:"—Monday next, at 10 o'clock a. m.is notified for the legal voters of this

town to meet to choose town officers

fo'r the year ensuing. Also, at 2

o'clock p. m. to choose a Governor,Lieutenant governor, and Senators."Not a word had been previously saidabout candidates. In the followingweek's paper appeared the item, with-out heading of any sort: "At a meet-ing of the inhabitants of this town,on Monday last, the votes given in

were:"—with the vote for governor,lieutenant governor, and senators,Hancock getting fifty-three of thefifty-four votes cast. The vote for

senators stood: "Hon. George Leonard3 8—Hon. Thomas Durfee 33—Hon.Elisha May 37."

With similar brevity appeared thecall to "—the citizens of Newbedfordwho are legal voters" to meet at "theold Congregational meeting house to

choose a representative to congress,to be a citizen of Barnstable or Ply-mouth county. Every person whovalues the privileges of a Freeman will

attend. General James Warren, JohnDavis, and Shear Jashub Bourne,Esqs. are mentioned as candidates."There was afterwards no report ofthe result of the election.

15

Drinking Toasts to Washington.

Newbedford and Fairhaven had arousing good time in the celebrationof the birthday of "our worthy Presi-dent George Washington," on theeleventh of February, the date underthe old style of time reckoning. Toquote The Medley report:

"The day was ushered in with therising gun, by fifteen discharges ofcannon, from the foot of Prospectstreet; attended with mussick, and adisplay of the national colors from aneminence.

"At 2 o'clock p. m. the citizensassembled at Fourcorncrs, at the footof Union street; ond with the artillery,and mussick in front, headed by Col.Claghorn, moved in procession tothe South part of Water street,"

—

Water street only ran about a blocksouth in that day,—"which situationgave them a commanding view of theirfellow citizens, assembled on the occa-sion, in Fairhaven.

"The signal for corrxmencing thefire was now gis^en by the dischargeof a cannon by our fellow citizensof Fairhaven. A regular and alter-nate fire was then kept up:—eachdischarge preceded by the followingtoasts and sentiments:

"1st. Long life to the AmericanSolomon.

"2d. May the cause of Liberty andFreedom never experience the wantof a Friend like him.

"3d. May humanity like his everconfound the enemies to Freedom,and convert them to walk in hisbenevolent paths.

"4th. That the peace of Americamay continue the same, may his suc-cessor adopt his virtues.

"5th. Directed by his wisdom, mayagriculture, commerce, arts, andmechanism become more generalbeneficial to the citizens of mankind.

"6th. May each soldier, like him,feel himself a citizen, and each citizena soldier.

"7th. May his religious examplespervade the breast of every citizen;and the shades of bigotry and super-stition give place to the enlighteningbeams of philanthropy.

"8th. May his principles of libertynever sleep, where they have takenroot, till every root and branch ofdespotism be dispelled the terrestrialglobe.

"9th. The French Republic!—mayshe ever continue to cherish thesparks of Freedom, caught from theAmerican altar of Liberty.

"loth. The officers and soldiers ofthe late army, who, with their illus-trious Chief, have shared the immor-tal honor of emancipating their

country from slavery, and establish-ing the blessings of Liberty.

"11th. May every existing tyranttremble at the name of Washington!

—

and the genuine principles of Libertyand Equality universally pervade andenlighten the world.

"12th. Downfall to tyrannical Mon-archy.

"1.3th. Fayette! May we all pos-sess his virtues, but not be sharers ofthe fate which envy hurls upon him.

"14th. May an honest heart neverfeel distress.

"15th. May health, and every tem-poral blessing be continued to our be-loved president. May his name betransmitted with respect and gratitudeto posterity; and may succeeding gen-erations experience the benign influ-ence of his virtue and his Patriotism.

"After which the following Patrioticand volunteer toast was given:

—

"May the French Nation long enjoythe blessings of liberty and equality;and may it never tarnish its glory,by any acts of inhumanity."The Procession," the report con-

tinues, "then moved from Water streetto North Bedford: and at sunsetting,firing recommenced and continued fornear an hour.—After which, the com-pany retired, and partook of an ele-gant entertainment at citizen Garish's,where their Patriotic joy was demon-strated Ijy the following toasts andfederal sentiments:

"Confederated America! May free-dom and unanimJty continue to be thedistinguishing characteristics of thesestates:—and may Columbia annuallyshine with redoubled accession of vir-tue, knowledge, and glory."The Commonwealth of ISIassachu-

setts! May she ever enjoy the bless-ings, and always flourish under theim.mediate direction of a wise andvirtuous administration: and may hercitizens ever evince to the world, thepossession of those principles mostessential to the dignity of Man."The County of Bristol! Success to

her husbandry and navigation, andunanimity among her citizens in poli-tical sentiments."Newbedford! May we never again

suffer by the ravaging hand of war.May unanimity, industry, and litera-ture, with all the benevolent and so-cial virtues, ever harmonize and dis-tinguish her citizens.

"The day passed in the greatestharmony and good order—and at thehour of ten at Eve, the citizens re-tired elate with the agreeable re-flections which the pleasures of theday had inspired."

"When the firing had ceased," thereport proceeds, "our fellow citizens

of Fairhaven ret.'red to a convenientplace, where fifteen convivial toasts

were drank [the celebration proceed-

ing simultaneously in the twotowns] :

—

"1. Long life to the President of

the United States.—May he continue

the Patton (sic) of Liberty, and Ty-

rant's foe.••2. His amiable Lady.—May they

long enjoy connubial felicity.

"3. The Vicepresident."4. The Government of the United

••5. The liberty of Nations."6. Tranquillity in France, and a

peaceable return to her emigrantcitizens.

, , . ,

••". May that noble spark whichwas kindled in America spread thro

the world.••8. The memory of our sleeping

Heroes."9. The downfall of Monarchy."10. Our Brethren on the Frontiers.•'11. Agriculture.•12. Commerce and Navigation.•13. Arts and Sciences.••14. Love, peace, and unity, at

home and abroad.••15. The eleventh of February.

"After which an elegant entertain-

ment was provided, and the evenmgwas spent in festivity and joy—

O

Bedford!—How unlike the day, whenthe British standard waved in tri-

umph round thy shores—when wild

dismay sat on every countenance, andthe Valiant trembled with fear."

"Breasts Glowing with Liberty."

Possibly taking Are from this enthu-siasm of the adjoining town,Rochester—which in that day com-prised what &VV now the towns of

Mattapoisett, Marion, and Rochester,with a population, according to the1790 census, of 2,644—went in for agreat Independence Day celebration.Nothing is said about the day's ob-servance in thii town, but as anumber of "patriots of neighboringtowns" are reported to have beenpresent in Rochester, probably thatwas the place of the day in this

vicinity.

The Medley tells about a day of

"festivity and rejoicing," after which"each one retired with his breastglowmg with the spirit of Liberty andEquality." How much of this wasdue to genuine patriotism andhow much to the "elegant re-

past" partaken of at "Citizen Rug-gles' tavern" earlier in the day, andthe fifteen toasts later drunk can notbe said: but the facts of the case arethat "the morning was ushered by adischarge of cannon and a display ofthe fiag of the United States; at ten

o'clock a number of patriotic citizensof Rochester and the neighboringtown's assembled at Citizen Ruggles'tavern, where they partook of anelegant repast. At two o'clock p. m.the first company of Militia ofRochtster, commanded by Cape.Sturtevant. paraded; where, after go-ing fhro the military exercise, was adischarge of fifteeii cannon, answeringCO the fifteen free, sovereign and con-federated .States of America; afterwhich the officers again joined withtheir patriotic brethren to celebratethe day, when the following Toastswere drunk:

••1. The United States of America

—

may their Independence be lasting astime.

"2. The President—long live the))atriotic Hero.

•'3. The Legislature of the Union

—

may its deliberations be for the pub-lic good.

•'4. The Commonwealth of Massa-chusetts—may her fishery, commerce,and agriculture ever flourish.

••5. The Governor—may immortalhonor be the reward of his exertionsin establishing our Independence.

•fi. The Lieut. Governor—maypeace and tranquillity attend himthro his declining years.

"7. The Patriots and Heroes ofseventy-six—may the same patrioticzeal animate our breasts which thenwarmed theirs.

•8. The Officers and Soldiers of theday—may their principles of libertyand equality never sleep.

"9. The Frontiers—may they beprotected from the depredations ofsavage barbarians.

'•10. The Republic of France—asshe has catched the spark of libertyfrom America, may its flame never beextinguished.

"11. The Marquis de la Fayette

—

may the day soon arrive when he againshall breathe the air of freedom.

"12. May strict neutrality be pre-served between the United States andthe Belligerent Powers.

"13. May Liberty run parallel withTime.

•'14. The State of Vermont."1.5. The State of Kentucky."Then it was that "after having spent

the day in festivity and rejoicing, eachone retired with his breast glowingwith the spirit of Liberty andEquality."

The Pliilomathean Society.

Probably some of the "scholars"and "lovers of learning" in the Phil-omathean society iiad a hand in for-mulating the toasts for the Washmg-

17

ton birthday celebration; and we geta touch of the same grandiloquence,coupled with re^.l practicality, in thesubjects propounded for discussion atone of Its meetings. There had been acall to a quarterly meeting "to be heldat the new school house at Head ofAcushnt't River," "to be opened pre-cisely at 9 o'clock a. m."—No lateevening meetings for the early New-bedfordians. According to a notice is-

sued by the secretary, who was noother than the editor of The Mec'ley.at that meeting it was \oted that "thefollowing questions should be debatedupon at the next meeting of thesociety and that the secretary pub-lish them in the interim, for the in-formation of absent members:

"Is it for the Emolument of Societythat the chief Magistrate should haveit in his Power to pardon Criminals

'

"Is it consistent wlrh justice thatMinors should pay a i)oll tax for thesupport of government?

"Is a reform in English Orthogra-phy under our present circumstances,expedient or not?"—tne sign of anearly beginning to a long-continueddiscussion.

Schools Public ana Private.

Adopting the Massachusetts policy,in Colonial times, of maintainingschools by public money raised bytaxation. Old Dartmouth maintained,certainly as early as the end of thefirst third of the eighteenth century,a school-master for each village ande\'ery person in each village had"free access or liberty," to quote anold town report, "to send their chil-dren to sd master for benefit of thelattin tongue, but no other." New-bedford had such a "grammar mas-ter," chiefly to prepare students forthe university at Cambridge. Almostcertainly at the same time there wasalso an elementary school.With the adoption of the state con-

stitution in 17S0, pviblic educationreceived a livelier attention; andwhen in 178 7 Newbedford was in-corporated as a separate town, its

first town meeting voted that "therebe one person employed as a townschool master in this town." For thenext eleven years there is record ofa vote passed annually that the se-lectmen appoint the school mastersof the town according to law. Butpublic support of schools in this townhad been growing less willing, if onemay judge by the fact that m 1798only "a sum of money for schoolingpoor children" was voted, this sumbeing placed at two hundred dollars,at the recommendation of a commit-tee which had been appointed to "in-quire into the number of poor chil-dren in said town necessary to send

to school at the expense of the town;"and for more than a score of yearsthe public schools were schools forxhe Indigent. Probably, then, in 179 3more children went to private schoolsthan to public ones in this town.Prom a very early period there wasa school on Johnny Cake Hill. Atthis time there was one at Oxford,—the Poverty Point of today:still standing on the Taber Farm,

—

and probably others, besides the onereferred to in this advertisement:"Thaddeus Mayhew respectfullv

informs the inhabitants of Bedfordand its vicinity, that, if suitable en-couragement be given, he proposes toopen a School at the north School-nou^e, where i;e will teach Reading,Writing, vulgar and decimal Arithe-metic, and English grammar; andhopes from his acquaintance withactual business, and a due sense of theimportance of the undertaking, to beable to give satisfaction to his Em-ployers.

"Those who are disposed to favorhim with encouragement are desiredto leave their names, at the store ofCaptfjin Jeremioh Mayhew or Mr.William Ross, where they may see theconditions."

The First Evening- School.Nothing mor3 appears on this score

until in October Mr. Mayhew in a no-tice headed "Evening school" an-nounces that:

"Tne Subscricer, returning his grate-ful thanks to his employers for pastpatronage, begs leave to acquaint thepublic that he has concluded to con-tinue the business; and that for theaccommodation and benefit of thosewhose particular vocations renderattendance impracticable, he proposesen Monday evening next to open anevening school'—wh^n in addition toV'hat was formerly advertised, he willteach bookkeeping navigation, andthe iheory of mensuration, and gaug-ing. And flattering himself with hav-ing given general satisfaction hereto-fore engages by his afsiduous atten-t;on to the improvement of those en-trusted to his care, that thos3 whomay hereafter be disposed tJ favorhim with encouragement shall not rindtheir confidence misplaced—especial-ly as ho is determined they shall findno lower Terms, nor easier mode ofpayment."

An Early Jleatler.

The editor and publisher of TheMedley at about this time set abouttrying to enrich the school life--andpossibly his own purse- -by getting- upa school reader. He announced 'Pro-posals of John Spooner for Printing,by Subscription, Miscellanies, Moraland Instructive, in Prose and Verse,

18

from Various Authors, Designed forthe Use of Schools and improvementof young- persons of both sexes," quot-ing-" 'Tis education forms the common

mind;Just as the twig is bent the tree 's in-

clin'd. —Pope."

It -was to have two hundred pages,to be printed s.s soon as three hun-dred copies were subscribed for, andto sell for three shillings a book; andthose who subscribed for twelve "wouldreceive two gratis." "Subscriptionpapers were lodged with the printerand several gentlemen."

Boarding tlie Schoolmaster.No record of school niatters would

be complete without reference to thecomplaint, of one signing himself"Preceptor," against the custom ofboarding schoolmasters around amongthe homes of their employers. "Tliemethod" he said, "of obliging a Mas-ter to change the place of his resi-dence so frequently is attended withmany demonstrative inconveniences:for wherj a man thinks not of stay-ing mon- than a week, he cannot beat home. No sooner has he learnt toconform to the different manners,government, customs, &c. of one fam-ily, but he must remove to another:there with equal difficulty learn toconform to theirs. Generally thosepersons who employ a Schoolmaster,have families of small children. Forthis, and many other reasons, there is

scarce one family in ten, where a mancan have the convenience of a studi-ous life (which I am, and everySchoolmaster ought tc be fond of). I

have sometimes experienced very dis-agreeable feelings, on receiving visitsfrom my friends; which in other cir-cumstances woulJ have given me themost pleasing sensations. Ashamed, ordiscommoded at ;ny lodgings, I haveFought refreshment fr.r them at a Pub-lic House; or been obliged to burdensome one of my acquaintances withthem, when we wished to be retired.We are often obliged to observe themost persevering and rigid temper-ance. I have been in perils by water;and in perils for want of fire; twicehave I been lousy: thrice have I caughtthe itch; once I nave Viad—but I for-bear: for I do not like ex-posing my.self." He complains ofoften being so far from hisschoolhouse as to be unable to give"that attention which is requisite tohis business." He wants the customto be changed so that any one maybe at liberty to board a schoolmasterwho lives at a suitable distance fromthe school and has "those con-veniences which will render his life

comfortable and agreeable."

Certainly one might well fancy thepublic sympathy going out to thelong suffering Preceptor. But therewas one of his own class who soongave sign of small gratitude for thisintervention in behalf of school-masterly comfort. Two weeks laterin a communication in The Medley"Mr. Preceptor" was addressed byone signing himself "E. D." andunder date of Oxford, who asked him"if possest of the common principlesof humanity" to publish his name, ashe would thereby "justify to thepublic an innocent character, whichsuffers by your disguise—one who,together with his own infirmities hasto bear (which is no inconsiderablegrievance) the imputation of all yournonsense and ill-nature."Whereupon Preceptor informs E.

D. that in making his complaint hehad in view not only his own happi-ness but the happiness of the facultyin general. He should not expect asympathizing brother to ask him toexpose his name and in consequencethat of his employers. All he willsay is that E. D. was not the writerof it,—which he does with the use ofa nonsensical "syllogism." "As towhat he has said of its being ill-

natured nonsense, I shall only say,"he comments, "that I am somewhatinclined to be of his opinion; for Ihave not heard a person read it, butwhat said Mr. D— was the author ofit, for 'say they,' it is his style; soundsjust like him, &c.—If it is my un-happiness to write in his style, I

think he should use me more ten-derly than to cry out, nonsense, ill-

nature, &c. seeing the intent was toerase a custom, which experiencemust have taught him is contrary tohis happiness and mine." And headds, "I shall conclude in the wordsof the Poet:"Then wherefore may not I be skip'dAnd in my room another whip'd?Canst thou refuse to bear thy part1' th' public work, base as thou art

—

To higgle thus for a small scoldingTo gain the faculty good boarding?"

leaving small doubt that Preceptorwas of a poetic turn of mind as wellas of a studious nature and a tease."Preceptor" did not have the lastword, for there came a caustic replyfrom the Oxford schoolmaster, underhis full name of Elihu Doty,—the lasttwo communications carrying thematter over into the new year.

A Public Library.

Some eight or ten years before thecommonwealth of Massachusetts paidheed to the matter of public libraries,

the subject of a library had come up•for consideration in the village of

19

Bedford. On Feb. 2d, 1793, The Med-ley said editorially: "A correspondentobserves that as something has beenproposed respecting a library in this

town, he hopes it may soon succeed:and that the proprietors will makethe most modern and best dictionariesthe object of their first choice, in thecollection of books (as the diffusion

of knowledge is the end and design of

such a valuable institution) by whichmeans they may the more readily bebenefited by the lucubrations of someof our late modern writers."

That word "lucubrations" stirred

up the town literary disputants into

a discussion as to its right use in this

connection, a Friend to Literatureasking how the correspondent candetermine whether such writings are"the production of diurnal or noc-turnal studies," and the argumentbeing clinched by recourse to theLatin, which shows that lucubro is

to make by candlelight and lucu-bratio studying by candlelight

—

proving that "no authority whethermodern or ancient is sufficient to sup-port the correspondent in usinglucubrations in any other sense thanthat of night studies"—a learned dis-

cussion that perhaps furnished in

part the foundation for New Bed-ford historians' assertion that theearly inhabitants of the town "con-sisted of a highly intellectual classof people."

Nothing further appeared aboutthe library; though froin othersources it can be said that eventuallybook clubs were formed, the LibrarySociety got organized, followed bythe Social Library, and that when, inthe progress of time, all these hadcombined, the New Bedford SocialLibrary enjoyed "a long, prosperous,and profitable career."

A Doctor of Divinity.

The town had at least one real stu-dent, but he was an iniportation. Thename of the Rev. Samuel West, theable Congregational minister in thevillapr- at the hf.ad of the river wasoccasionally mentioned in The Med-ley, but never m^re interestingly thanin the statemer't that "at the latecommencement at Harvard Collegethe degree of Doctor o': Divinity wasconferred on the Rev. Samuel West,of this town."

Interest in the French Republic.If one may judge from the

columns and columns of news in TheMedley of affairs in France, thepeople here were greatly interestedin the French revolution and in theestablishment of the French Re-public. For instance, the proceed-ings of the convention that sentenced

Louis Capet to death were recordedin full, with the voice of every mem-ber chronicled on the question ofguilt, and the full text of the decreeof sentence was given, with apologyfrom week to week for the omissionof other matters because of the newsfrom France. Certainly the editor ofThe Medley was tremendously inter-ested. On February 2d he said: "CaIra! Ca Ira! is the song of the day.By yesterday's mail, we are agreeablyentertained with particulars of theCivic Feast, celebrated the 24th ult.at Boston, Charlestown, Watertown,Medford, Plymouth, and Brookline, inthis state, and at Providence inRhodeisland, on the establishment ofLiberty and Equality in France.Altho the citizens of this vicinity maynot manifest their joy in so public ainanner, yet, with sincere hearts,each one will reecho the wish that thespread of Liberty may speedily be-come as universal as that of Life

—

and that our noble allies 'havingwrested the sceptre from Monarchy,may enjoy Liberty, without An-archy.' "

And in reporting the sentence ofdeath for Louis he said: "The editor ishappy to be able to give his readersso early and so general a statementof the matter: but must lament withevery true friend to liberty the deathof that generous nionarch, who wasColumbia's early friend:—who, whenoppression and tyranny spread theirbanners over this young domain, flewto its relief, and quelled the haughtypride of Britain.—As true, un-prejudiced friend, we bid adieu to hissleeping ashes—& hope his shadereigns now upon a throne which mobsnor cruel foes can ne'er destroy."Later on, the French triumphs over

the British were nuts to The Medley.\Vhen the Duke of York was takenwith his whole army, early in 1794,"the editor gladly presents his Patronsthe agreeable morceau." But then,that very same piece of news affectedcongress so that "it could not stay intheir siting"!

Newbedford, however, fell in withBoston in adopting resolutions in favorof strict neutrality toward all belliger-ent European powers, in accord withPresident Washington's proclamationurging an impartial attitude. "Anumber of the inhabitants of thistown met" and "voted the followingresolves: That we will to the i;tmosiof our power strictly attend to thepacific system manifested by thepresident in his late proclamations:that we heartily concur with our fel-low citizens of the town of Boston intheir late doings relative hereto: andt?iat we will endeavor to detect all

20

puch as may, in the smallest degree,violate that neutrality we so highlyai)prove." Signed Thaddeus IMayhew,cleric.

News of the holding of Americanvessels in Algiers—in the midst of theEuropean wars—led The Medley to

get out the only "extra" referred to:

"a handbill," it is called, issued onthe day of the receipt of the news;while the item itself was repeated in

the next regular issue.

Pi'eserving the Peace.

Newbedford had at this time, andapparently needed it, a peace pro-tection association. Some idea of thegoings on can be grasped from this

paragraph printed in November:"A correspondent being asked, why

the noise has become so great in thestreets as almost to preclude the pos-sibility of transacting business in theevening, gave for answer, what Elijali

the Prophet did to the Priests of Baal—"Perhaps the Watchmen are talk-ing—or they are pursuing, or theyare in a journey, or peradventure theyare sleeping and must be awaked.'

"

There is suggestion, too, of thepresence of unruly spirits in an earlier

advertisement of two men v/ho "ut-terly refused" to lend their boats to

"any persons wiiomscever" becauseof the many damages inflicted bythose who had previously been accom-modated, and in the later call for

assistance by a man living at "theT^ongplain" in finding out who hadtaken, 'thro mistake or designingly,"a lot of white p;ne boards that hadbeen left some months before at theHead of Acushnet River.

"Bedford Association."

Nothing had been said in TheMedley about the existence of an or-

ganization to preserve the peace. Ameeting had been called in March of

the "Bedford Association," for "theappointment of officers and transact-ing .such other business as may ap-pear necessary," the meeting to beheld "at the north sch.iol house":but no .nkling was given as to whatthe Bedford Association was and noreport followed of the meeting. Butnow, when "the noise had becomeso great in the streets'" as to disturb

the rural quiet of Fourcorners, and to

suggest that the watchmen weresleeping, the Bedford Associa-tion comes to the front in along announcement, divided be-tween two issues of The Medley,"published for the information of al)

concerned—more particularly as aguide and Monitor to our 'PeaceOfficers' " of "a system of Regulationspropo.sed for the purpose of promot-ing good Order, Quietness, and

Security in the Village of Bedford,within the Town of Newbedford andCounty of Bristol." This consisted ofa preamble and nineteen articles oforders and regulations, and underdate showing that the association hadorganized on the "17th of 3d monthcalled March, 1792."

Tb;s was the situacion revealed bythe preamble:

"We, the subscribers, inhabitantsof the Village of Bedford and its

vicinity, having heretofore sufferedmany inconveniences by the disorderlyconduct of some of the young peopleand others, in various instances, forthe purpose of preventing and re-form.ng those disorders—Do herebyagree to form ourselves into an asso-ciate body, and engage as much asmay be in cur power, ^o suppress thevarious species of \ice and immoral-ity, that have led to those inconveni-ences."

Without attempting to go into therules and regulations in dttail, it maybe said that they pKJvided for thedivision of the village into threewards, South, Middle, and North, and"out of each Ward was to be ap-pointed annually three suitable per-sons, men of orderly and temperateconduct," to be "stiled" censors, "tosit not less than two of them uponany occasion," to hear the com-plaints brought in by the Officers ofthe Peace of any disorderly conduct"practiced either within or withoutthe limits" of the village.

After hearing the parties "withcandor and impartiality," they were"to determine and require such repa-ration made (when injury hath beensustained) by the offender to the in-jured party, as they shall thinkequitable, and further in all cases toadmonish and advice the parties tomore circumspect conduct in future;which advice being well accepted, theparty to be discharged: but whenthere appears an obstinate and in-corrigible disposition," the Censorswere "to certify the same to theSecretary, that their names may berecorded, and also to the Counsellor,requiring his entring complaint there-of to the civil inagistrate (when theaction is cognizable by law), and inthe absence of the Counsellor to makecomplaint themselves."Every subscriber to the association

was constituted an Officer of thePeace, "not less than four of which,at any one time to have the care ofthe Village & to patrole the streets,at such times as is necessary, in orderto preserve the peace and good orderof the Village; and they and all

others are required, upon discovery of

21

any tumult or unnecessary noise, to

admonish and advise the persons to

desist, and quietly to repair to their

respective homes; and upon refusal,

or discovery of any other malprac-tices to the injury of any Individual,

that they delay not to make com-plaint to the Censors, in order for

their further examination."

Disorderly Conduct.

Conduct deemed offences withinthe intention of the association wasspecified as: "Indecent and disorderly

behavior on the Sabbath, as idle andunnecessary meeting in the streets in

companies and conversing—sailing for

pleasure on that day, or any kind of

gaming; ransacking orchards, gar-

dens, or any other inclosure, to theinjury of the owner; or robing themof their fruit and produce, within or

without the limits of this association;

fighting, obscene language, or pro-fane swearing. and drunkenness;tumults in the streets on evenings or

at other times or places; breaking-windows, throwing stones or sticks,

and wantonly killing or abusing anydomestic animals which are allowedto run at large; uncivil language andbehavior to any person."Members of the association offend-

ing were to be brought before thecensors, refusing which they were to

be expelled and brought before amagistrate.

Every parent, master, or guardian,on the transgression of his child orapprentice was to deliverihim up to thecensors for trial; and all memberswere to use "every exertion in theirpower" to prevent disorders and dis-

cover all breaches of the peace. Inall cases affecting the liberty orreputation of the subject, two-thirdsof the members were required to bepresent. Any culprit who "reformedhis manners" could have his nameerased by the secretary.

Any person of lawful age was atliberty to be a subscriber of the as-sociation, but once a member, hesolemnly bound himself to adhere toit until the object in view had beenaccomplished or the associationmutually dissolved.

Evidently there was some difficulty

about carrying out the provisions ofbringing offenders before the censors,for notice is here given that at theannual meeting of that year, a yearafter organization, it had been votedthat the peace officer having the careof the town at the time should "servecitations on those whom they may bedirected to by the Censors and to seethe persons so cited be brot beforethe said Censors."

The document was signed by CalebGreene, Secretary, followed by thewords,

"Signed by 85 of the inhabitants ofBedford and its vicinity."

The Intellectual Centre.

It is noticeable that the intellec-tual interests of the town all seemedto cluster about this "north schoolhouse" at the head of the river,while the chief business of the townwas pursued at Fourcorners.

A Rochester Ordination.

No church matters were reportedfor this town during the year, but anew minister was ordained at theCongregational church in Rochester,"to the pastoral care of the Congre-gational church and society" in the"Congregational precinct of Roches-ter, Middleborough, and Freetown."He was the Rev. Calvin Chaddock.The ministers named as taking partin the service, belonged in Carver,Plymouth, Rochester, and Abington;and The Medley comments that "thegreatest order and regularity wereobserved by the very numerousauditory which attended on the occa-sion." While a candidate for theplace the young man had had thegood judgment to marry, in Roches-ter, "the amiable Miss Melatiah Nyeof Oakham," as the marriage noticestated.

Street Names.In an early issue of 1793 appeared

this notice as to street names—that"the editor of The Medley, by desireof a number of gentlemen in thisplace and for the information of thepublic, would mention—that theStreet, beginning at Fourcorners, andrunning west, is distinguished andknown by the name of Union street;the street running north, from saidFourcorners, North street; the streetrunning east, Prospect street; andthat running south, Water street."

Poor Roads.

The local good roads, or bad roads,question dates back at least to 1793.In what is evidently an editorial re-view, and under the head "A Hint,"a correspondent is said to suggest "tothe Surveyors of roads in the town ofNewbedford the necessity of attend-ing to some considerable repairsthereon.—He prefers the candidmode of redressing the grievances, topresenting a complaint to the Grand-juryman: and since it is universallyagreed that the roads of Newbedfordare inferior in point of goodness toany in New England, he hopes thisseasonable word will not pass iin-noticed."

22

Town Militia.

George Claghorn, colonel of theSecond Regiment in the SecondBrigade of the Fifth Division of thestate militia, on May 31st. quoted the

law of the commonwealth providing"that every noncommissioned Officer

and Soldier of the Militia shall equiphimself, and be constantly providedwith a good firearm with a steel or

iron ramrod, a spring to retain thesame, a worm, priming wire andbrush—a bayonet fited to his firearm,

a scabbard and belt for the same—

a

cartridge box that will hold fifteen

cartridges at least—six flints—onepound of powder—forty leaden balls

suitable for his firearm, &c." underpenalty of a possible fine of threepounds for failure to comply with theregulation; and the company wascalled together "for exercise and to

examine their equipment'"—"'and it is

the earnest wish of the Colonel andMajor to see them appear in thecharacter they sustain, which is

Soldiers and Citizens."

"Stoi> a Runawayl"That youth was not always satis-

fied with the working of the appren-tice system and sometimes took it

into its own hands to remedy real orfancied wrongs or to secure at leasta change, and that those to whomthey were bound in service took ad-vantage of the constitutional right toget back, if possible, those whoselabor they claimed, is shown in twoadvertisements calling upon thepopulace to "Stop a Runaway!"—onefrom Freetown and the other fromDartmouth. In regard to the latter

—

"Thomas Akin, a Blacksmith," an-nounced:

"Ran away from the suliscriber, the27th ult., an indented apprentice boy,by name Hattle Brayley; sixteen yearsold—about four feet six inches high

—

light complexion and short hair.—Hadon. ^^hen he went away, a short greenoutside coat, fustic-coloured broad-cloth trousers, patched on the kneeswith cloth of the same kind and colouras his coat,—a good felt hat. Tookwith him, a good caster hat—a goodled coloured broadcloth coat—• a jack-et and breeches—also a seal skin cap."Whoever will return said Boy shall

receive a handsome reward and all

charges. All persons are forbid har-liouring or trusting him on mj' ac-count—and Masters of vessels arehereby forewarned against taking himto sea—as they will answer for it attheir peril."

Human Nature Manifested."Human nature seems to have been

much the same then as now: there

was the one who got things underfalse pretenses, or at least made mis-takes: "The Person who claimed But-ler's Hudibras and took it from thisoffice will much oblige the printer byreturning the same, or more fullyascertaining his property." There wasthe one who lost his Pocketbook "onthe road from the paper mills in Mil-ton to the Northparish in Bridgewater"in August, and got round to advertis-ing for it in February. There was theman who wanted more money than hehad: "Wanted, on loan, for 6 Monthsor a Year, one hundred Pounds, forwhich or a part, good security will begiven and interest paid as most agree-able to the loaner." And there wasthe same notice printed by a desertedhusband that has appeared in thenewspapers every once in a while upto now, and will while marriage in-felicity remains an unhappy fact, of awife"s having left her husband's bedand board and of his forbidding per-sons to trust her on his account,signed by a Dartmouth man, underthe exceptionally sensational headingfor that day of "M^Elopement! !" anda crude woodcut picture of a hoop-skirted woman, with a bag hangingfrom a stick over her shoulder—quitean Amazon in appearance, though thecut is' only three-quarters of an inchhigh!

A Lei'alizecl Lottery.

And there were the people whowanted something for nothing andsubscribed for the legalized lotteryorganized to pay for a bridge in Xew-field, Connecticut. The lottery hadbeen authorizi?d by the legislature,providing for 13,334 tickets at fourdollars each, with 4078 prizes rangingfrom four thousand dollars down tofive dollars, to a total of $53,336, sub-ject to a deduction of 12^/4 per cent.;and leading 92 56 tickets blank. Themanagement flattered themselvesthese schemes would give "as generalsatisfaction as is possible for one tobe found—so variable is the opinionand calculation of adventures."

Williain Ross and Shearman andProcter offered tickets for sale in Xew-bedford. That it was an entirelyreputable scheme is shown in anadvertisement changing the date ofthe drawing, which explained the rea-son for this as "the adjournment ofthe County Court to the time first

proposed;" the manager who sub-scribed his name "being clerk of saidcourt, and others of the managers be-longing to it."

A Natural Singularity.

That running to the newspaperwith freaks, whether of turnips,flowers, or animals, is no new adven-

23

ture, either, finds witness in this itemunder the head of "Natural Singu-larity!"

"In Tiverton, Rhodeisland, is a lambthree months old, which dame Naturehas furnished with three mouths. Thet%^ o exti-a mouths are on each side ofits head; ^vhich open and shut, andmove regularly with the front mouth.—Each mouth has four handsometeeth—and appear firmly set. Itgrazes with the flock—and is activeand as likely to thrive as any lambin the flock. In all other parts it is

like other sheep.—This singularitymay be seen at Mrs. Sarah Almy'iS, byany one who doubts the truth of theabove account."

Small Pox Bill of Mortality.

But, unlike the present day, thatthere was no clamor to get things intothe paper the moment they happenedis shown in the item, in the middle ofJanuary, giving the names of thosepersons who had died of the smallpox in this town in the four previousmonths. Under the head of "SmallPox Bill of Mortality" were printedtwent>'-nine names, including twelveof children; and the lack of s;\stem inkeeping track of deaths is evidenced inthe statement that "any person whocan give more particular information,by communicating details not here in-serted will much oblige the Editor byhanding him an account for publica-tion."

ruiiiigatiiig with Gun Powder.Sjieaking of the small pox—there

was an epidemic of yellow fever inPhiladelphia that year, and, followingthe lead of New York, Governor Han-cock, at the vote of the Massachusettssenate, issued a proclamation ofquarantine against persons and thingsfrom Philadelphia, after which Bostonissued a set of regulations that pro-vided, among other things, for theholding for thirty days of all vesselsfrom places supposed to be infected,'during which time she shall be dulywashed Avith vinegar and cleansed bythe explosion of gunpowder betweendecks and in the cabin." Personsarriving overland from placessupposed to be infected were to be de-tained "at places appropriated by thehealth officers" and "their effects, bag-gage, and merchandise were there tobe opened, washed, and fumigatedwith vinegar and repeated explosionsof gun powder."

All that The Medley said with refer-ence to any move on the part of thistown was that "the selectmen havetaken the necessary precautions toprevent the disease from beingbrought into this place." Evidentlythe town was stirred up, however, for

The Medley some time after this statedthat the selectmen had in their pos-session a circular issued by the NewYork quarantine committee sayingthat the disease was not easily taken"without a predisposition of the bodyand that the climate was not favorableto the disease in any place but Phila-delphia!"—which bears a trace of therivalry between the two places.

The New York circular sought inspecific terms to "preserve that com-mercial and social intercourse so nec-cessary to the general prosperity andhappiness."

Quaint Marriage Notices.Mostly the rr.arriage notices were

the merest naming of names, usuallywithout name oi minister, or date

—

though occasioiially Mr.-So-and-Somarried the "amiable" cr "agreeable"Miss So-and-So; and twice a noticewas accompanied by verse. Here,evidently, was an unusually importantfunction:

"Ir. this towT., Sunday evening last,by tre Rev. Doctor West, Capt. Pre-served Fish, to Miss Polly Gerrish,elde!5i daughter of Mr. John Gerrish,of th .'1 place.

" 'Thus pass their life

—

A clear united stream, by care un-ruffled;

While with each other blest, creativelove

Still bids eternal Eden smile around.' "

Again, marriage moved to playful,flattering rhyme:

"In this town. Mr. William Delanoto Miss Hannah Tallman:"When Beauty pleads with artful

smiles.She oft the stoutest heart beguiles;But join'd with H's wit and sense.Who could resist such eloquence?"

Obituary Notices.Obituary notices were rare. When

Governor Hancock died, a tribute tohim appeared in a separate item,under a head-line "Hancock!" flankedon either side with skull and cross-bones, in which The Medley said:

"Monday last the corpse of our lateworthy Governor was entomb'd withcivic and military honors. While theheart of sensibility laments the loss ofso useful a character, the honor andrespect manifested in his interment, bythe parade of a numerous militaryband and thousands of his fellowcitizens, will afford a satisfaction tothe bereaved mind, which only is expe-rienced when others sympathize withus in woe; for as he lived respected, sohe died honored and lamented—Whatmore can be said but that the noblesttribute was paid to his memory whichworth and virtue merit or mortalscan bestow."

24

Again, skull and crossbones helpedto announce the sorrow in the com-munity over the drowning in the river

of a respected citizen:

Overset by a Wliirlwiiul.

"Monday last, Mr. Charles Church,Senior, of this town, attempting to

cross the harbor to Fairhaven, in anopen boat, was overset by a whirlwind,and drowned.— -Immediate trial wasmade to recover the body: which after

two hours' search was found.—Everyexertion which a humane public couldinvent was used to reanimate him, butin vain. . Thus died 'an honest man'

—

respected by all who knew him—be-

loved by all who revere true virtue

—

and much lamented by a worthypartner, and a large family of respect-

able children, who bid fair to practice

the virtues instilled in their tenderminds by him who loved them.—Hisremains were on Wednesday decentlyinterred, in the burying ground of thefirst Congregational society in this

town, attended by a numerous con-course of friends and relatives." Andthen there followed an elegy writtenon the evening of the drowning byPhilander—a very soulful effusion.

Here is another of the rare obit-

uaries of the year:

A Man of Solid Deportinent.

"Died—In this town Mr. EbenezerAllen. Jun., Cabinet Maker, in the 3 7thyear of his life.—On the morning of

the 27th (of January) he was seized

with a pain in his head, which in-

creased till about 1 o'clock; when, fall-

ing asleep, a stupor succeeded, fromwhich he was incapable of beingaroused: every stimulating effort whichthose of the faculty who were called

in coiild advise, was made use of.

—

Thus continuing till about two o'clockon the morning of the 2 8th, he ex-

pired. He has left behind a discon-solate widow, and four children, to

lament his loss.—He was a kind andaffectionate husband, tender father,sincere friend, and obliging neighbor,and an honest man: these virtueswere much increased by his Christianconduct; which was abundantly con-spicuous, in the solid deportmentwhich accomijanied the transactions ofhis life. In him the community haslost one of its most industrious citi-

zens. May the kind hand of friend-ship pour in the oil of comfort, tosoften the sorrows of his afflictedfamily."

Probate Court.

Probate court was announced to beheld here "in May and October, thefirst Tuesday, at Major EbenezerWillis's"—known to a later day as the.Tohn Avery Parker house, on W^illis

street, between Countx' and State: asmall section of which is still standing,in a remodelled dwelling.

In the citations in connection withthe settling of estates, the occupationof deceased was frequently stated, ashusbandman, yeoman, merchant, andthe like.

Other Death Notices.

Among other death notices were:"In Dartmouth, Mr. Joseph Ricket-

son, ^t. 47.—Climbing a tree aftergrapes a limb broke—he fell—hishead striking a stub put an immediateend to his existence."

"At Dartmouth, Miss Betsey Wiltaer,daughter of Mr. Jonathan Wilber, ofthat town, JE,t. 16.

" 'Death's shafts tiy thick'

—

The cup goes round

—

And who so artful as to put it by I'"

"Died—At Neworleans, Mr. Jona-than Ricketson, ^t. 20.—Son of

Capt. Daniel Ricketson of this town.He sailed mate of a brig from Phila-delphia, to the above place, where he,with the whole crew, were taken sickwith the dissentery—and all except thecaptain died."

"Died—At Boston, suddenly, Sun-day morning last (Feb. 24). CaptainWilliam Claghorn, of this town, aged59. He lived beloved and his loss is

lamented by .all his acquaintances."This was followed by a sympatheticverse, spoke by Religion for consola-tion, of the wonders of redeeminglove. An elegy appeared in a laterissue, signed Philander, where thestatement was also made that CaptainClaghorn died on a visit to Boston anddied of apoplexy.When Mr. Oliver Spencer, mer-

chant, died at Nantucket, he was "de-cently layed in the Friends buryingground: to which place he was fol-

lowed by more than three hundredof his friends and neighbors."

A Tra^ie Death.Xewbedford furnished nothing so

thrilling in the dying line nor causefor so really distinctive an obituary asappeared under the head: "Married

—

At Nantucket," with the tragic tale

told thus breathlessly:

"Mr. John Fairweather to MissHeppy Swain. Mr. Fairweather wassingle and an apprentice—free—mar-ried and beded—broke out with thesmallpox the natural way—of neces-sity separated from his wife, andlodged in the smallpox hospital: all

this in the short space of less than4 8 hours."

And, under the head of "Died," be-low:

"Mr. John Fairweather. of the smallpox the natural way."

THE

Whaleman Statue

ON THE GROUNDS OF THE

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

NEW BEDFORD, MASS.

©^:/

THE PRESENTATION

OF THE

Whaleman Statue

TO THE

CITY OF NEW BEDFORD

BY

WILLIAM W. CRAPO

AND THE

EXERCISES AT THE DEDICATION

JUNE TWENTIETH

Nineteen Hundred and Thirteen

OLD DARTMOUTH HISTORICAL SKETCHES, No. 38

NEW BEDFORD, MASS.E. Anthony & Sons, Inc., Printers

1913

Introductory

In the Neiv Bedford Standard of May 16th, 1903,

referring to a poem by John Spollon, appeared the

following editorial:

Considered merely as poetry, we could not say with

any great degree of candor that the contribution to Fibre

and Fabric, entitled ''The Whaleman," which was re-

produced in this paper the other day, would take a high

rank. But the sentiment must be very appealing to any

son of New Bedford who remembers the old whaling

days, and the mariners and merchants who made the

whaling industry a magnificent success. We do not re-

call that it has ever before been suggested that the

whaleman should be commemorated by a statue, yet

the suggestion is one that is well worth hearing and

heeding. Those of our readers who have visited Spring-

field, and who have seen the impressive statue by

Augustus St. Gaudens, known generally as ''The Puri-

tan," but which is a memorial to Deacon Samuel

Chapin, an early settler of the town, have seen the idea

of Fibre and Fabric's poet carried out as applied to

the conditions of that city. As the Puritan was typical

of Springfield, so the whaleman would be typical of this

city. What a noble thing it would be if a St. Gaudens

statue of The Whaleman could be placed on City Hall

square, where hundreds of people passing every day

could be reminded of the rugged sailors who made NewBedford possible! Whether the verse is good poetry

or not, no matter. The idea is as good as it can be,

when the aged and gray mariner is represented as

saying

:

3

"Yet I heartily Avish his old shape could be seen,

In marble or bronze, mounted here on the green,

As a Founder the town should remember

Till Sentiment's last glowing ember

To ashes has faded away.

Let his monument stand, with his harpoon in hand,

Sturdy son of the sea who dragged wealth to the land

In defiance of hardship and danger;

For in this town he'll soon be a stranger."

This subject, in the hands of a master, should readily

adapt itself to a bold and masterly artistic treatment,

though we shudder to think what it might be if attempted

by mediocrity. Committed to genius, The "Whaleman

might easily be one of the great statues of America,

—

and New Bedford would be the only city where it could

appropriately stand.

The first information communicated to the public that

this suggestion was likely to be realized was presented

in the following letter of Hon. William W. Crapo, ad-

dressed to the Mayor of Neiv Bedford, who is chair-

man of the Trustees of the Free Public Library:

New Bedford, Feb. 8th, 1912.

Hon. Charles S. Ashley, Mayor, New Bedford, Mass.

:

My Dear Sir:—I desire, subject to your approval, to

make arrangements for a memorial in honor of the

whalemen whose skill, hardihood, and daring broughtfame and fortune to New Bedford and made its nameknown in every seaport on the globe ; and to be privilegedto present it to the City of New Bedford as a tribute

to the citizenship which I have so long enjoyed.For this purpose I have asked Mr. Bela L. Pratt, of

Boston, to design a model of a bronze figure of a boat-

steerer throwing a harpoon from the bow of a whale-boat. The sketch model has been prepared and showsthe character of the work proposed. My wish is thatthis memorial be placed on the ground by the PublicLibrary, and the model has been designed with that

location in view.

WILLIAM W. CRAPO

If it meets with your approval I suggest that yourefer the consideration of this offer on my part to theTrustees of the Free Public Library. If the mattermeets with the approval of the Trustees I will ventureto proceed with the work, which when completed I shalldesire to present for the acceptance of the City Councilof New Bedford.

Respectfully yours,

WILLIAM W. CRAPO.

To this Mayor Ashley replied as follows:

New Bedford, Feb. 21, 1912.

Hon. William W. Crapo, New Bedford, Mass.

:

Dear Sir:—Agreeable to the suggestion which yourcommunication to me contains as to reference to theTrustees of the Free Public Library of the proposalwhich you make to present to the city a bronze memorialin honor of "The Whalemen," I will engage to do soat the meeting Friday evening of this week.

I can assure you that the proposition meets my heartyapproval and must commend itself to every person asa thoughtful, generous act deserving public appreciationin the fullest measure.

I have every belief that the Board of Trustees will begreatl}^ pleased to designate the grounds of the Librarybuilding as a location where the figure shall be erected,

and will select a place in every way fitting, and I will

ask them in this respect to forthwith communicate withyou.

With great appreciation, I am yours most respectfully,

CHARLES S. ASHLEY, Mayor.

Action was taken by the Trustees of the Library as

shown in the following letter:

New Bedford, Mass., March 29, 1912.

Hon. William W. Crapo, New Bedford, Mass.

:

My Dear Sir:—The Board of Trustees of the Ne\^Bedford Free Public Library at their last meetingdirected me, as clerk of the Board, to express to you

their grateful appreciation of the kindly spirit mani-

fested in your offer to present to the City of NewBedford, to be placed in some suitable location in the

grounds surrounding the Library building, the beautiful

memorial to those hardy mariners who have in the past

done so much to add lustre to the honor and fame of

this great nation, the American Whaleman, designed byMr. Bela L. Pratt of Boston.

"Voted: That the generous offer of Mr. Crapo be

accepted and that the clerk be directed to communicatethe same to him with the thanks of the Board."

Yours very truly,

A. McL. GOODSPEED, Clerk.

The Whaleman Statue

The appreciation of this gift by the citizens of NewBedford was expressed by the following editorials:

From The Evening Standard, New Bedford:

To be able to announce, as this newspaper has the rare

privilege of announcing today, the approaching realiza-

tion of a long-cherished dream that this city might be

adorned with a fitting memorial to the New Bedford

whalemen, is such a pleasure as is not often experienced.

Adding William W. Crapo's public-spirited generosity

to Bela L. Pratt's genius for sculpture, the total is a

creation of statuary such as very few cities in the United

States are fortunate enough to possess. New Bedford

has so few examples of fine artistiy that this munificent

contribution is of surpassing importance and so of ex-

ceptional welcome. As the giver says in his letter, the

men whose memory it commemorates brought fame and

fortune to New Bedford; and nothing can be more ap-

propriate than that this memorial should perpetuate

their fame, while adding by the perfection of its artistic

excellence to the city 's renown.

Two reproductions from photographs of the sculptor's

sketch, with Mr. Crapo's letter to the Mayor, and with

a few words of unadorned explanation, given elsewhere,

tell the whole story. Nothing can better speak for the

gift than the gift itself, and anything added here in the

way of praise is the addition of superfluity, notwith-

standing the temptation presses too hard to be resisted.

Mr. Crapo's thought of this memorial began to take

shape in his mind many months ago. From the first,

his desire was to see commemorated that epoch of the

7

8

whaling industry which lie had known in his boyhood

—

an industry of strong, venturesome, ambitious men, of

young men looking to the future, men who meant to be

leaders and who turned out to be leaders. From that

thought he evolved the conception of the boatsteerer,

now fashioned from the clay by Mr. Pratt, and by and

by to be set up in bronze and granite where all the

people can see. Possibly our older folk need no re-

minder that this is the figure of the young man whorealized that his killing the whale was on his way to

becoming, as they used to say, ''captain of a ship."

So many barrels of oil, so many dollars of profit at the

end of the three years' cruise,—of course. But beyond

the immense bulk of floating flesh unconsciously waiting

his attack he saw himself a mate, a master, an owner

of ships, a leading citizen of his native city, wife and

children, prosperity, and an honored name. This is

the man of the statue—The Whaleman ''who brought

fame and fortune to New Bedford and made its nameknown in every seaport in the globe." Here he is, a

man in the full glory and promise of a young manhoodand who made that promise good. Long years after-

ward, he walked these streets, a gray-haired old man,

he sailed the seas and he killed whales in fancy at the

Chronometer club, he was a director in the bank, he

sat at the head of his pew on the main aisle, he served

his term in the legislature—but in the thought of the

giver and in the brain of the artist he is always the

eternal youth, inspiring and leading all those other

youths who, coming after, will feel the impulse of his

beckoning to achievement. Something like this, Mr.

Crapo must have said to the sculptor, and discerning

his splendid opportunity the sculptor has translated

the vision into the image of the youthful boatsteerer,

intent upon his whale, and yet still intent upon his ownglowing dreams.

Of the sculptor himself, little more than a word is

needed, and much would be impertinence. Probablywith respect to fitness for this especial commission his

equal cannot be found among American sculptors, while

of the two or three who may be ranked among his rivals

in talent, not one is his superior. He has, along with

breadth and delicacy of imagination, the power of

vigorous execution, as is easily discoverable in the statue

of The Whaleman. That he deems himself fortunate

in his subject is his own modest way of putting it, but

another can say with no reservation and with no taint

of exaggeration that his subject is fortunate in him.

In The Whaleman poising his harpoon where the

currents of business and pleasure flow and swirl, for

many a generation to come the people of New Bedfordwill see with grateful acknowledgment honor to the

daring men of a wonderful industry, genius speaking

inspiration through bronze and stone, and loyal affec-

tion for the generous giver's home through a long anduseful life.

From the Morning Mercury, New Bedford:

The announcement by William W. Crapo of his

purpose to erect a memorial to the whalemen, is re-

ceived with the greatest satisfaction. It has been the

dream of all the lovers of the immortal days when NewBedford, first in the brave industry of whaling, carried

the flag to all the seas of earth, that we might rear a

fitting monument to the daring race of men who brought

opulence and fame to the city through their perilous

enterprise.

The hope was always associated with the fear that

the thing might not be fittingly or worthily done. Butfor this apprehension it is likely it might have been

attempted before this day. It is gratifying to know that

it is to be done by an artist with the sympathy and in-

telligence of Mr. Pratt, without restriction as to cost,

and there is no less gratification that the name of Mr.

Crapo, possibly our most distinguished and highly

cherished citizen, is to be linked with the splendid

achievement.

10

Once it was decided to erect such a memorial, there

could be no doubt in any mind regarding the subject of

the design. ''It is the harpooner that makes the

voyage." It is the harpooner who performs the task

with the responsibility and the task with the thrill.

"Nowhere in all America," said Melville, writing of

the olden day, "will you find more patrician-like houses;

parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford,

Whence came they I How planted upon this once scraggy

scoria of a country? Go and gaze upon the iron em-

blematical harpoons round yonder lofty mansion and

your question will be answered. Yes; all these brave

houses and flowery gardens came from the Atlantic,

Pacific, and Indian oceans. One and all they were har-

pooned and dragged up hither from the bottom of the

sea. Can Herr Alexander perform a feat like that?"

The harpooner is at the forefront of the whole des-

perate business. When the greenhand first takes his

place in a boat to go upon a whale, he is commanded to

keep his eyes astern, so terrifying is the spectacle of

the contest—a contest in which the harpooner is the

dominant figure. If it is necessary for the harpooner

to qualify further as to his importance, let us quote

from Melville once again

:

"According to the invariable usage of the fishery, the

whaleboat pushes off from the ship, with the headsmanor whale-killer as temporary steersman, and the har-

pooner or whale-fastener pulling the foremost oar, the

one known as the harpooner-oar. Now it needs a strong,

nervous arm to strike the first iron into the fish, for

often, in what is called a long dart, the heavy implementhas to be flung to the distance of twenty or thirty feet.

But however prolonged and exhausting the chase, the

harpooner is expected to pull his oar meanwhile to the

uttermost; indeed, he is expected to set an example of

superhuman activity to the rest, not only by incredible

rowing, but by repeated loud and intrepid exclamations

;

and what it is to keep shouting at the top of one'scompass, while all the other muscles are strained andhalf started—what this is none know but those who havetried it. For one, I cannot bawl very heartily and work

11

very recklessly at one and the same time. In this

straining, bawling state, then, with his back to the fish,

all at once the exhausted harpooner hears the exciting

cry— ' Stand up, and give it to him !

' He now has to

drop and secure his oar, turn around on his centre half

way, seize his harpoon from the crotch, and with whatlittle strength may remain, he essays to pitch it somehowinto the whale. No wonder taking the whole fleet of

whalemen in a body, that out of fifty fair chances for adart, not five are successful; no wonder that so manyhapless harpooners are madly cursed and disrated; nowonder that some of them actually burst their blood-vessels in the boat; no wonder that some sperm whale-men are absent four years with four barrels ; no wonderthat to many ship owners, whaling is but a losing

concern ; for it is the harpooner that makes the voyage,and if you take the breath out of his body how can youexpect to find it there when most wanted."

Having decided that it is the harpooner who fills the

picture, the artist must next pick his type. If he is a

lover of the whaling classic there is recalled to his mindthe dreadful Queequeg, who "eats nothing but steaks

and likes 'em rare," or Daggoo, or Tashtego, the three

salt-sea warriors with the portentous appetites which

barons of salt junk could not satisfy. But these are not

typical of the glorious host of whalemen who made the

fame of New Bedford, valorous. Lardy, God-fearing

men.

The whalers of yesteryear, whom the sculptor honors

and perpetuates, is the Native born—"A health to the

Native born. Stand up ! ''—young men athirst for gain

and glory in the fishery, ''stalwart fellows who have

felled forests and now seek to drop the axe and snatch

the whale lance." The time was when the boys of NewBedford were fired by the deeds of the fathers and

aspired to be captains and heroes. This is the figure

of youth who stands at the prow of the boat—looking

forward.

The Mercury has often expressed its admiration for

the slogan of the whaleman, as brought out by Captain

Ahab. Calling aft the crew, the captain demands

:

12

''What do ye do when ye see a whale, menr'"Sing out for him," responds the clubbed chorus.

"And what do ye next, men!""Lower away and after him!""And what tune is it ye pull to, men?""A dead whale or a stove boat!"

In the one hundredth anniversary edition of the Mer-

cury, the Mercury said of the phrase "A Dead Whale

or a Stove Boat," that "it should be emblazoned on the

monument we are one day to build to the whaleman.

It should be inscribed in the schoolroom and on the

wall of the bed chamber of the youth of New Bedford. '

'

We are rejoiced that our suggestion has been adopted

and that the phrase will appear upon the sculpture.

This slogan was the impulse which led the whaleman to

do such deeds that all history cannot point to an enter-

prise prosecuted with greater courage, hardihood, and

intelligence. It is a glowing, slashing, spirit-stirring

phrase, and we are glad it is to be perpetually before

the youth of this city.

No gift, we believe, could be more highly cherished

than the memorial which Mr. Crapo has bestowed. Weexpress, we know, a universal sentiment of appreciation,

with the hope that the First Citizen of New Bedford,

a position Mr. Crapo holds by common agreement, will

live long in the place he loves so well, and honors no less.

THE WHALEMAN

Unveiling of The Whaleman Statue

''The Whaleman," William W. Crapo's gift to the

city, was unveiled June 20, 1913, in the presence of

tuousands of interested spectators.

In keeping with the sentiment that inspired the gift

of the statue. Captain George 0. Baker, New Bedford's

oldest living "^^ "'ling master, performed the office of

loosening the i jpes that held the covering of the statue,

and revealing the figure.

Mr. Crapo spoke briefly in presenting the statue; and

Mayor Ashley made the address of acceptance in behalf

of the city. Other speakers at the exerciser ^ere Ed-

mund Wood, Rev. C. S. Thurber, P. C. Headlo>, Jr.,

and Otis S. Cook.

The exercises incidental to the unveiling began at 11

o'clock, in the presence of a crowd which covered the

lawn around the bronze figure and overflowed across

William and Pleasant streets. Traffic was prevented

through these thoroughfares and electric cars were

diverted through Sixth to Union street, that the im-

mediate district might be kept as quiet as possible, and

the spectators might be given an opportunity to hear

the addresses of Mr. Crapo and of the others who par-

ticipated in the programme.To Mr. Crapo was accorded a position of honor upon

the speakers' platform which had been erected at the

northeast corner of the Library building near the statue,

while sitting there with him were the Mayor, who ac-

cepted the statue on behalf of the city and who presided

over the exercises, the speakers, and invited guests. Theparty included Captain Ezra B. Lapham and Captain

Thomas H. Jenkins, Mayor Ashley, John I. Bryant,

Jireh Swift, Clifton W. Bartlett, Librarian George H.

13

14

Tripp, Pliineas C. Headley, Jr., Edmund Wood, Rev.

Charles S. Tlmrber, Alexander McL. Goodspeed, Dr.

Frank M. Kennedy, Frank A. Milliken, Otis S. Cook,

George R. Phillips, Charles P. Maxfield of Fairhaven,

and Charles W. Rowland of Dartmouth. Invitations

had been extended to the mayors of surrounding cities

and to the selectmen of neighboring towns, but several

of them, because of other business, were unable to be in

attendance.

The space immediately around the statue had been

roped off in order to give Captain Baker ample room

for the unveiling, while chairs were brought from the

Library and placed in front of the platform for the in-

vited guests. Among these were members of Mr.

Crape's immediate family, this party including Mrs.

Sarah B. C. Ross, of Boston, a sister of Mr. Crapo;

Mr. and Mrs. Stanford Crapo and family of Detroit;

Henry H. Crapo, and Mrs. Charles W. Whittier and

family of Milton.

Included also in the,group near the statue were Bela

L. Pratt, the sculptor, and friends of Mr. Crapo.

The platform which was used by the speakers had

been built over the steps, and the woodwork was ob-

scured by a covering of bunting, while large American

flags on staffs marked the four corners of the stand.

In order to regulate traffic, a police detail of 12 men,

under command of Lieutenant Underwood was present.

A few moments previous to the scheduled time for

the exercises Mr. Crapo, the Mayor, and the others of

the platform party met in the office of Librarian Tripp

and promptly at 11 o'clock came through the Library

and took their positions upon the stand, the statue

hidden from view by its covering being directly to

their left.

After a selection by Gray's Band, the Mayor stepped

to the front of the platform, accompanied by Captain

Baker, and in introducing him paid a brief tribute to

the former mariner—in the Mayor's words, "a splendid

example of the men who brought honor and fame to the

hardy and fearless calling of the whalemen. '

'

15

The actual unveiling took but a moment, and as the

covering fell away, revealing to the people for the first

time the completed work, the Mayor introduced to those

gathered about the statue, the donor, William W. Crapo.

The Mayor expressed his gratification at the honor

accorded him.

Remarks hy the Mayor:

''One citizen there is among us, whose life embracing

an honorable span of years, has witnessed each history

making epoch in our expanding municipal development.

''He has borne an important and commanding part in

the business of other years and is a foremost figure in

the enterprises of the present day.

"To no other New Bedford man has been allotted so

large a place in the activities of a community attaining

marvelous prosperity in two pursuits so radically differ-

ing in nature.'

' The devotion which he brings to the numerous duties

which bear upon him, never allures him from the keenest

interest in all that concerns our daily doings, and his

reverent appreciation of our history and achievements

has been manifested on every occasion.

"At this time he confers upon us a dignified and im-

pressive example of the traits and qualities which con-

trol him, our distinguished fellow townsman, and I re-

gard it as my most gratifying privilege to present himto you—William W. Crapo. '

'

16

Remarks by Mr. Crapo:

The statue of The Whaleman which is presented to

the city recalls the earlier history of this locality. For

a hundred years the whale fishery was the absorbing

and well nigh exclusive industry of New Bedford, fur-

nishing employment to its artisans on shore and to its

sailors on the ocean. Its ships sailed from this port

bound on long voyages to far distant seas and they

returned with rich cargoes. They were manned with

self-reliant, hardy, stout-hearted men. Many of them

who had entered the forecastle, through well deserved

promotions reached the quarter deck. They were trained

to obey and they were fitted to command. Undauntedthey encountered the terrific storms of the tropics andthe ice fields of polar regions. Fearlessly they pur-

sued, and with a daring not surpassed in mortal war-

fare they captured the huge leviathans of the deep andmade them contribute to the wants of mankind.

These men brought back something more than barrels

of oil and pounds of bone. They enriched our citizen-

ship. In visiting foreign ports in every quarter of the

globe for the purpose of shipments or recruits or

repairs, in braving the perils of the ocean, in meetingthe frenzied attacks of wounded and angry whales, in

dealing with barbarous natives of South Sea Islands,

in thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes, they

gained strength of character, a broader vision, and a

clearer judgment. Retiring from a strenuous andhazardous service at a comparatively early age theysought on land the comforts of home. Here they werenot idle. They engaged in various pursuits and theyadded greatly to the social life of the town. They werecitizens whose opinions were respected by their neigh-

bors, for they had been reared in a school which madethem neither narrow-minded nor timid. Some of themtook part in the management of our municipal affairs.

The first mayor of New Bedford when a young man wasa whaleman. He had stood at the masthead, in the boat

as harpooner, he had "struck his whale," as the phrase

17

went, and lie earned the position and title of ship cap-

tain. For five years he ably filled the office of chief

executive of the city.

It was the adventurous spirit and the rugged hardi-

hood of our whalemen, the integrity and excellence in

construction and equipment of our ships, and the

sagacious foresight and fair dealing of our whaling

merchants, that made New Bedford the foremost

whaling port of the world. The industry still lingers

here, a remnant of its former greatness. Instead of

fleets of whalers cruising in every ocean, a few vessels

returning from their voyages land their catch on our

wharves. Modern devices have lessened the risk at-

tending the pursuit and capture, and the romance that

once gathered around the harpoon has largely vanished.

This statue, placed in our civic center, a spot endeared

to us by cherished memories, is erected in remembranceof the energy and fortitude, the toil and enterprise of

the men who laid the foundation of the prosperity of

this community. It is a tribute to men who faced

dangers, who grappled with difficulties, and who achieved

success. Let us hope that in keeping alive the story of

the past it may serve to inspire the men of the future

with confidence and courage to meet the perplexities

and duties which await them.

At the conclusion of Mr. Crapo's remarks the Mayor,

on behalf of the city of New Bedford, formally ac-

cepted the statue, and as the city's chief executive ex-

pressed the appreciation and the gratitude of the

municipality.

Remarks by the Mayor:

'

' I accept in behalf of the people this grand monumentin the firm conviction that those of the days to come will

have for it the regard and appreciation which nowpossess us.

18

"It is symbolical of deeds of fearless endeavor and

typifies the sterling worth of resolute manhood in an

important work of life, happily combining the toil of

industry with the romance of adventure.

"I believe it to be no part of exaggeration in forecast

or over-statement in prophecy to proclaim as a certainty

that this pile will find an enduring respect in the hearts

of the people in whose control it is from this hour to

remain.

"For them and in their name, I thank you."

With the statue formally offered in its complete shape,

and formally accepted by the city, the remainder of the

programme was devoted to several short addresses, in

which men prominently identified with different phases

of the city's interests, added their words of tribute.

Edmund Wood, president of the Old Dartmouth His-

torical Society, was the first of the speakers.

Remarks hy Edmund Wood:

The event of this day with its appropriate exercises

writes a new and interesting page in our city's history.

But this event today also recalls and commemorates the

history of this community fifty and one hundred years

ago. We are proud of our past and its glorious record

of heroic achievement, but too seldom do we show our

appreciation of what we owe to those who left us this

inheritance.

The Old Dartmouth Historical Society, which I rep-

resent here today, was founded in order to foster a

reverence for the past, to preserve the records of those

early days, and to keep the virtues of our forebears

from falling into forgetfulness. The generous thought

that inspired the gift which culminates today had its

source in that same spirit of gratitude to those whocreated this goodly heritage.

No more appropriate subject for a Memorial Statue

could be found to typify and epitomize the founding of

19

our prosperity. New Bedford's chief—its only industry,

was the whale fishery, and it was a wonderful developer

of the sturdy character of our people. In the mariner

it called for bravery, hardihood, and endurance. In the

successful merchant it demanded speculative boldness,

patient confidence, and ability to endure with an equal

mind the most extreme variations of fortune. It broad-

ened the horizon of our local life and liberalized its

thought. We knew that the earth was round, that there

were other peoples, other religions, other civilizations.

The spirit of exploration which even now breaks forth

in successive Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, was sat-

isfied by this constant pursuit of the whales into un-

known and uncharted seas.

The spirit of adventure appealed strongly to the youth

and the extensive fleet which sailed from this port in

the most successful days of the industry was recruited

with no difficulty. Schiller's lines express the enthusi-

asm of the time

:

"Youth with thousand masted vessel

Ploughs the sea in morning light."

The stories of the chase and hunting adventure have

always had a charm and fascination. Some of the

earliest attempts at English literature and the still

earlier songs of the minstrels recounted the perils of the

hunt and the excitement of the killing. This must be

inbred in our very nature, for the refinements of a morecomplex civilization have not eradicated it. The pop-

ular magazines of today have frequent tales of the wild

boar hunt, of shooting gigantic elephants and fierce

lions, and tracking man-eating tigers in the jungle. Butour fathers and mothers in the township of old Dart-

mouth were not surfeited with magazines. In their

place they revelled in the frequent recital of the moreintimate personal experiences of a father or a brother

on the other side of the earth. Shipwrecks among the

Fiji or Society Islands, blood-thirsty fights with

Madagascar pirates in the Indian ocean, or the losing

20

of a whole boat 's crew by the lashing flukes of a hundred-

barrel whale in his fearful dying agony.

No wonder the boys went to sea when twelve or

fourteen years old, or became stowaways on a whaler

when parental permission was refused.

But already these familiar tales are becoming tradi-

tions and modern whaling with its bomb guns and other

new appliances has lost many of the dangers that gave

it its chief charm.

In those early days the young whaleman of NewBedford experienced a thrill of excitement far keener

than that of the modern hunter for great game with his

magazine rifle.

I have always been thankful, and I am doubly thank-

ful today that as a New Bedford boy I had a chance to

go on a part of a whaling voyage and to see for myself

the chase, the capture, and the trying out, before the sad

decadence of this our earliest industry. It makes one

feel that he is a truer son of New Bedford and a moreappreciative heir to all this ricli inheritance of indus-

trial romance. I can to some extent share the keen

enjoyment of our surviving whalemen, on this occasion

when we commemorate the heroism of those early days

by this worthy monument of enduring bronze.

I can recall now those long days of cruising in the

North Atlantic in 36 degrees—46 degrees with four

vigilant lookouts at the mastheads and the mate also on

the foretopsail yard. I can today almost feel the thrill

of that moment when suddenly there came from aloft

the welcome cry of '* There she blows." The immediate

bustle on deck, the lifting of the heavy tubs of towline

into the boats, the rigging and unsheathing of the har-

poons, the lowering of the boats, the barefooted sailors

following down the sides of the ships, the long fierce

pull with the oars, and then as the boats neared the

whale, the sudden leap of the boatsteerer to the bow.

He poises his harpoon, and as the boat slides almost

on to the very back of the whale, he darts it deep into

the huge carcass. '' Stern all,

'

' and the boat draws back

21

from the awful danger, but not before tlie boatsteerer

with desperate energy grabs his second harpoon andplunges it alongside of its fellow.

With a fearful swish the whale is off. The line

tightens through the length of the boat and spins roundthe loggerhead with lightning speed. After several

minutes the officer in the stern snubs the line and gives

the whale the weight of the boat. Forward it darts with

amazing velocity. Down on the floor of the boat sink

the green hands of the crew who are seeing their first

whale, and hug the thwarts for safety—so terrified that

even the curse of the mate is unheeded.

Sut the whale is slackening his speed. He spouts

blood and is severely wounded.

Slowly the boat is pulled up to the whale. The mate

now changes ends with the boatsteerer. He seizes the

long and deadly-looking lance, and as the prow touches

the side of the whale, he churns it for one dangerous

instant into his very vitals.

Now comes the flurry—the death agony—and woe to

the boat that is found within range of those mighty

flukes, as they lash the white water fifty feet into the

air.

The dead whale is proudly towed to the welcoming

ship, and fastened alongside by the fluke chains which

are led up through the hawser hole. The famished crew

are fed, and as a special reward gingerbread is addedto the regular bill of fare of lobscouse. But to the manwho first sighted the whale is given a five dollar gold

piece.

Now the scene of activity is shifted to the deck of the

vessel. The cutting stage is rigged out over the water andthe whale, and the heavy falls are led from the main top

to the windlass. The officers on the stage cut with the

sharp spades, and as the huge blanket pieces are hoisted

toward the main top, the blubber is peeled spirally fromthe carcass. The fires are lighted under the try-works

forward and burn fiercely, fed by the oily scrap. Onthrough the night the work continues. It is a weird

22

scene with the flames belcliing with fierce tongues high

above the short chimneys,—the red glare reflected on

the close-reefed sail aloft, and above all the noise and

bustle sounds the droning, dragging chantey of the crew

as they toil unceasingly at the windlass.

All this vivid scene is suggested by this beautiful

figure of the typical whaleman at the supreme momentof his life. After weeks of tedious cruising and keeping

constant watch, the whale has been sighted, the boat

has reached him, and everything,—the success of the

voyage even, depends now upon his splendid nerve and

vigorous manhood.

He deserves this commanding public statue. He has

waited long for this recognition. It has come, and the

tribute is worthy and adequate. Not only we who are

living today, but generations yet to come, who study our

city's romantic history, will hold in grateful honor, the

name and memory of the generous giver, and praise his

wise and just appreciation of what this community owes

to the New Bedford Whaleman.

In introducing Rev. Charles S. Thurber, chaplain of

the Port Society, Mayor Ashley paid a glowing tribute

to the work for mankind which that organization has

done, and is doing, in this city. "This association, one

of the oldest in the city," he declared, ''has done morefor the uplift of mankind in New Bedford than any

other association or society.'

'

Remarks by Rev. C. S. Thurher:

It affords me much pleasure to be privileged, on this

brilliant occasion, to give a very brief history of the

New Bedford Port Society, and a sketch of the splendid

work which they have accomplished since their organ-

ization took effect in 1828, or 85 years ago.

The object of this society was to protect the rights

and interests of seamen, and to furnish them with such

moral, intellectual, and religious instructions as the

23

Board of Managers should deem practicable. Article

four of their constitution reads as follows: The busi-

ness of the society shall be conducted by a president,

two vice presidents, a treasurer, recording secretary,

and eleven directors; who shall constitute a Board of

Managers. The first election of officers of which wehave any record took effect at the annual meeting held

June 7th, 1831. Their names in part were as follows:

President, Thomas Rodman, Jr.; vice presidents, Syl-

vester Holmes, John Rowland, Jr. ; recording secretary,

Jonathan Tuttle; corresponding secretary, John H. W.Page ; treasurer, Jared Parkhurst.

At this stage of our history it was highly important

that some moral, intellectual, and spiritual reformshould be brought to pass in the interests of New Bed-

ford seamen; in consideration of the fact that at this

time there were 150 ships sailing from this port, whosecrews aggregated 7,500 men, and many of these men"like sheep scattered abroad, having no shepherd."

They were considered as a distinct caste, or order of

being, whose follies, since they could not be corrected,

had to be endured. As one of the earlier chaplains

presented the situation by saying: ''The moment the

sailor sets his foot on shore, all the means for the grati-

fication of his fatal instincts are poured upon him in

every form of allurement. He is immediately insane

by intoxicating drink; and in this condition is sur-

rendered over to the tender mercies of men and women,whose only subsistence is derived from plundering himof his earnings; and who, themselves, are destroying

both soul and body by ministering to his vices." Toimprove these conditions the managers of the Port

Society established the Seamen's Bethel, which wasdedicated and opened in May, 1832, under the pastoral

care of the Rev. Enoch Mudge, who, from that time

became, and continued to be, the unwearied, kind,

judicious, and Christian friend of seamen. To himthey were pearls that came from the ocean

;jewels fit to

adorn the Saviour's crown, and ''what hath God

24

wrought," through his ministry of love at the Bethel,

for it is frequently noted that the Bethel was filled to

overflowing with the men for whom it was founded.

This ever vigilant chaplain also found, that in sickness

the sailor often suffered from neglect and want. There-

fore, several benevolent gentlemen united with him in

representing to some of the ladies of this place the

necessity of having arrangements made for the comfort

of the sick. Their sympathies responded to the call,

and after deliberation, in 1833, one or two meetings

were called, a constitution was presented, adopted, and

signed by about forty ladies who were organized under

the name of the Ladies' Branch of the New Bedford

Port Society. The first object of the Ladies' Society

was to prepare suitable garments for the sick, bedding,

mattresses, pillows and grave clothes; jellies, fruit, and

other little comforts. At this time many of the board-

ing houses were so wanting in neatness and every

comfort, so noisy and disagreeable, that the task of this

committee was no light one, and sometimes it was im-

possible to make the patients comfortable except by a

removal. There was no hospital, no receiving house for

them, and much vigilance was necessary to secure

proper care and attention. From this time on, the

subject of a boarding-house for seamen which should

be in all respects a "home" for the sailor on his return

to port continued to engage the attention of the Boarduntil September 17th, 1850, when through the Board's

untiring efforts and the kindness of Mrs. Sarah R.

Arnold, in connection with her husband, the Hon. JamesArnold, the former mansion of her late father, William

Rotch, Jr., was donated as a ''sailor's home," together

with land eligibly situated, on which to place it, andfunds to remove it and fit it for occupancy, adding even

the care of fitting it upon its new foundation. Thedonation was made still more valuable by the condition

annexed, that at least $3,000 should be added from other

sources to furnish the ''home," and to enable the

society to open it under favorable auspices. On Jan-

25

nary 17tli, 1851, the committee reported that the sumof about $3,800 had been subscribed, of which $3,000

had been paid into the treasury. Mr. Arnold then de-

livered the deed of the ''home" and lot, duly executed

by him and his good wife. The whole expenses of re-

pairing the house, making some required additions,

putting up some fences, and furnishing it throughout,

was about $2,200. Of this sum nearly $1,400 was paid

from the funds of the society, and almost $800 was con-

tributed by the Ladies ' Branch.

From this statement it can be seen how deep was the

interest felt by the ladies in this movement, and yet

we are occasionally asked why we should do so muchfor our seamen? Let me repeat what you have doubt-

less heard before. New Bedford is now, and always

has been, at the head of the whale fishery throughout

the world. Your magnificent public buildings, your

private dwellings, typical of the "palaces of kings," are

all the product of that form of industry, by means of

which this wealth has been acquired. New Bedford

owes almost every dollar of its wealth to the tireless

energy of its sailors. Its hardy men have scoured every

ocean where a whale could be found; and our beautiful

city is the product of their labors. It is said that Lowell,

Fall River, and Lawrence were built by spindles, but

New Bedford was built by harpoons. These men have

spent the greater part of their lives amid hours of

loneliness and seasons of homesickness. They having

left their dear ones in the distant land of their birth,

at sea they were comparatively alone; no mother, no

wife or sister near to whom they could tell the story of

their sufferings. Some of these men came back to you

crippled, scarred, and infirm for life, and many of themin need of your tender mercies. The New Bedford Port

Society has never forgotten or neglected to provide, as

best it could, for our industrious and loyal seamen.

Nor have the people of our beloved city, during the 85

years that our society has existed, ever withheld from

us their benevolent spirit in our time of need. We

26

have labored and they have lielped us, we have asked

and they have freely given, in the interests of these

men; and from their hearts, if living, or from their

silent tombs, whether they rest in country church-yard,

or, beneath the shadow of the deep blue sea, the spirits

of the invisible heroes arise and hover as a cloud of

witnesses about us on this important day, as we dedicate

to their sacred memory this lasting monument. Speak-

ing with a more universal language than ours: This,

^'ye have done in remembrance of me." To none do

these words, applied to the living and the dead of our

heroes, appeal more strongly than to our venerable

citizen, Hon. W. W. Crapo, the generous donor of this

memorial stone; this token of his love for his city, and

the men who made it. This work for the people will

show clearer and clearer, as the years pass on; by this

he is building a monument more lasting than granite or

metal.

But, let us all, by good deeds, kindly words, and by

showing human sympathy for all mankind, also build a

monument that will live until memory is gone and time

shall be no more. Then when the "earth and the sea

shall give up their dead" on that last great "Day of

Judgment," the thousands whom you have comforted

will say "We were a-hungered, and thou gavest us the

bread of mercy; we were thirsty for friendship and

thou gavest us companionship; we were strangers and

thou gavest us a home ; we were sick from hardship and

exposure, and thou didst visit us; we were in the prison

house of moral and spiritual despair and thou camest

unto us;" and the King wiir surely say, "Inasmuch as

thou hast done this imto the least of these my brethren,

thou hast done it unto Me."

Representing the Board of Trade, which was formed

years ago in the office of a pioneer whaling firm, was

the president of today, P. C. Headley, Jr., and he paid

tribute to the Yankee ships from New Bedford which

carried the Stars and Stripes to every corner of the

world.

27

Remarks hy Mr. Headley:

Mr. Chairman, Honored Guests, and Fellow Citizens

:

Perhaps it was nothing more than natural that the

Board of Trade, as a representative civic body, should

be asked to participate today in the dedication of this

memorial to the whaling industry, given by one of NewBedford's best known citizens. However, the signifi-

cance and appropriateness of that request were not so

apparent at first. I recall the story of the Irishman andScot who were vying with each other in connecting

their countries with great events

:

''Ah, weel," said Sandy, ''they toor doon an auld

castle in Scotland and foond many wires under it, which

shows that the telegraph was knoon there hoondreds o'

years ago."

"Well," said Pat, "they toor down an ould castle in

Oireland, and begorra there was no wires found undher

it, which shows that they knew all about wireless tel'-

graphy in Oireland hundreds av years ago."

My hearers, I assure you there is a much closer re

lationship between the Board of Trade and the whal-

ing business in New Bedford and that its claims are

more relevant than those of either the Scot or the

Irishman; for, not only was this board created in the

office of one of the pioneer whaling firms here, but it

began solely for that interest, and was organized in the

spring of 1884 by the honored George F. Bartlett, our

own Mr. Phillips, and John F. Tucker. A little later

Mr. Frederick Swift joined the ranks and the board waslaunched and he was made its first president. All these

gentlemen represented leading shipping firms. Theboard was established for the specific purpose of abol-

ishing the policy of secrecy in the prices received for

whalebone and oil, as it was customary for competitors

to conceal the prices of their sales. This secrecy

worked to the disadvantage of the business as a whole

and the Board of Trade opened its doors as a sort of

exchange for this industry and tried to wipe out star

28

chamber methods. An open book of prices was kept in

the Board of Trade rooms and each dealer entered the

price of his latest sale of oil or bone. Soon disaffection

arose among some who clung to secrecy and who went

on the principle of the man who said he ''made a for-

tune minding his own business." Then the Board of

Trade changed its direction for wider service and in-

vited all merchants and individuals to join in the de-

velopment of the common interest and helpfulness

throughout the entire business life of the city. So the

Board of Trade is peculiarly interested in this memorialto the great industry which brought this city into prom-

inence and carried the name and fame of New Bedfordfrom ocean to ocean; in fact, wherever the sea-roving

man has turned his ship's prow; and, gentlemen, per-

haps I may be pardoned in mentioning the additional

pride I take today in representing this board, because

that same I. H. Bartlett, in whose office the Board of

Trade originated, was my grandfather.

We are also proud of our city's progress and reputa-

tion in the great industry of cotton manufacturing, but

still we fondly cling to the viking lore and the dauntless

courage of those former days, the days of the ''An-

cient Mariner," when that adventurous and enterprising

spirit sent forth our ships over the face of the earth

to gather from the far away climes the treasures of

the deep in the face of every peril. We do not be-

gin to appreciate the magnitude of their undertakings.

Charts of the Arctic seas were most unreliable then

and far from correct today, and the compass is so

affected by polar magnetism that it cannot be dependedupon, and navigation in those waters was largely in-

tuitive and the rest common sense or uncommon sense.

Beset with wintry blasts and frigid temperature andever threatening fields of ice, they cruised about in

unknown and unknowable waters. Thus bereft of ac-

curate calculations, the American whaleman bravedevery conceivable peril, enduring long exile from home,in the face of almost certain death. No wonder these

29

intrepid sailors earned the reputation of being the most

skillful and daring navigators in the world. Moreover,

they probably carried the American flag into more in-

accessible places than were ever reached by the flag of

any other nation. Only last fall, in the harbor of Fayal,

the Stars and Stripes were seen flying from nearly a

dozen whaling vessels, a sight impossible to duplicate in

any other department of our American shipping, about

the only evidence we have of a merchant marine.

That same spirit which carried our city to the front

rank in this bold quest has also made her the first in fine

goods and the second largest cotton manufacturing city

in the United States, third in the state and fourth in NewEngland, and fifth on the Atlantic coast in immigration.

Nor has she been far behind in glass and silver ware,

copper, twist drills, eyelets, and her cordage works from

which the rope on yonder harpoon was made. She has

many other large lines of business, including lumber and

coal, as well as oil refineries known all over the world.

New Bedford is of international fame in two great indus-

tries, besides a peer of many in other trades. But

she began her famous career on the world's waterways.

Therefore, as president of the Board of Trade, which

was the offspring of the whaling industry, I bring to

you, sir, the donor of this gift, the gratitude of the past

and the present, and pledge our co-operation in immor-

talizing the ancient landmarks of fame and honor and

in ever seeking this city's advancement for ''God and

Fatherland. '

'

The last speaker of the forenoon was Otis Seahury

Cook, one of the trustees of the Library.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Crapo, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The New Bedford Library Trustees are customarily

a docile and unobtrusive body. The average citizen

rarely hears of them. At their board meetings they

respectfully listen to the advice of the Librarian, and

30

are wont to assent promptly to his suggestions. Thus

they perform their duties in a manner generally com-

mended by Mr. Tripp in his annual reports.

Today, however, being assured of hearty sympathy,

the trustees take advantage of an opportunity to ap-

pear for themselves in public.

To participate in these proceedings is a real privilege.

The occasion marks an epoch in municipal events. It

is an example and may become a precedent. The good

spirit and generosity that have prompted the donor in

giving the people this remarkable statue deserve

magnanimous emulation.

Here is an impressive reminder of earlier activities.

It cannot fail to inspire. Eugged and fine, wrought

with bold and delicate skill, and cast in lasting bronze,

there is portrayed a character of venturesome self-

reliance and determination. It seems to be an almost

animate presentation of the idea, as the classic motto

has it, that there must be '^A dead whale or a stove

boat."

The conception is accurate. It is correct historically.

While the man's figure itself is properly slightly heroic,

the demonstrating model, Richard L. McLachlan, has

been a New Bedford boatsteerer and first mate of whal-

ers, and the pose is that of experience. The boat wasproduced from one that has had actual service, and maybe found in the rooms of the Old Dartmouth Historical

Society. It was measured and photographed and draw-

ings of it were made under the artist's directions in the

interest of exactness. The same museum furnished also

the original of the liarpoon. From our own Library

was obtained much assistance.

In this Library is the world's greatest collection of

papers, books, and pictures relating to the industry

and the romance of whaling.

Bela Lyon Pratt has used these means and sources of

information with earnest enthusiasm. His accomplish-

ment is a distinction for the community.

31

This man, born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1867, in

early youth gave evidence of superior talent, and nowranks as an acknowledged leader among American

sculptors, a worthy successor of Saint Gaudens.

Since 1892, when Pratt returned from the Ecole

Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris, where he wasawarded three medals and two prizes for excellence, he

has been an instructor in modelling at the Boston

Museum of Fine Arts. He is an associate member of

the National Academy of Design, a member of the

National Institute of Arts and Letters, and of manysocieties of scholars and men of genius.

He designed two colossal groups for the water gate

of the Peristyle at the Columbian Exposition; and of

his various other notable successes there might be men-

tioned six large spandrel figures for the main entrance

to the Library of Congress; the bronze statue of the

"Andersonville Prisoner Boy," erected at Anderson-

ville, Georgia, for the State of Connecticut; groups at

the front of the Boston Public Library; the recently

dedicated statue of Edward Everett Hale in the Public

Garden at Boston; and numerous well known works of

art through all of which the lustre of his name has been

enhanced.

May his present achievement stand for generations

to regard as a credit to himself, an honor to the liberal

patriotism of William W. Crapo, and a fitting monu-ment to the abiding fame of the City of New Bedford.

A selection by the hand brought the formal exercises

to a close.

Appreciation

From the Morning Mercury, New Bedford:

There was unveiled yesterday, on Library Square,

the memorial to the race of whalemen who brought

fame and fortune to the city and who contributed the

example of bravery and energy which created a spirit

among the men of New Bedford that has led to the

prosperity of this neighborhood.

The scene and incidents on the square yesterday will

be long remembered in this community. The oldest of

the whaling captains who is left. Captain George 0.

Baker, sturdy as most at seventy-six, but with whitened

hair and some of the afilictions that the burden of years

must bring, lifted the covering from the bronze figure of

Youth at the prow of the whaleboat with the harpoon

poised, ready to hurl.

It must have seemed to the aged captain like a glance

backward when he stood with a glorious future before

him, '*In the very May morn of his Youth, ripe for ex-

ploits and mighty enterprises."

The life of this captain who drew aside the covering,

was typical of those whom the statue commemorates.

He had gone to sea at the age of thirteen, had become

a captain, and on his first voyage as commander his ship

was captured by the Shenandoah and burned. TheConfederate captain, Waddell, promised him a high

place in the Confederate navy if he would forswear his

allegiance to the Union, which he of course refused.

Then he was landed at Ascencion and led the army of the

savage king, with a sword tied about his wrist with a

ropeyam, ''fighting for a king against the common peo-

32

33

pie, notwithstanding- 1 have always been a Democrat, '

' as

the captain puts it. For this service the king offered to

adopt him, but the captain put aside the crown and re-

sumed whaling. So the story runs. We only touch upon

the captain's career here to show the experiences that

came to the whalemen whom the statue personifies.

An attempt was made to get the captains together. Thelittle group that gathered reminds us how few are left.

So it was time that those who remember the whalemanand his deeds should pay the tribute the memory de-

serves, and it is a source of gratification that the First

Citizen of New Bedford, William W. Crapo, was prompt-

ed to do this admirable thing in the manner that mustfill every citizen with satisfaction.

In selecting Bela Pratt for the task, Mr. Crapo picked

the best man available and the result shows that the

sculptor found inspiration in the subject and possessed

the genius to execute it in a fashion which will make it

among the noteworthy achievements of the sculptors of

this period.

The harpooner is the figure that deserves to be per-

petuated in a composition commemorating the whaleman.

It is the harpooner who makes the voyage. His task is

the difficult one. When the boat lowers to go upon a

whale, custom requires the harpooner to pull the fore-

most oar. He is not only expected to pull his oar to the

uttermost, but he is expected to set an example of super-

human activity to the rest, not only by incredible row-

ing but by repeated loud and intrepid exclamations.

Mr. Pratt chose for his harpooner such a young man as

were found aboard wlialers in the palmy days, young fel-

lows of stalwart frames, fellows who had felled forests,

and dropped the axe to snatch the whale lance—fellows

all athirst for gain and glory in the fishery. The NewBedford whaling master in the olden days wore, whenashore, broadcloth and fine linen, big seals for watch fobs

and silk hats. He was pointed out by the boys as a cap-

tain, no less a lord than the captain of a Mississippi

steamboat. The whaling merchants lived in lofty man-

34

sions, in brave houses with flowery gardens, *'one and all

harpooned and dragged up hither from the bottom of the

sea."

The sculptor, then, was to fashion a youth, brave, hot

and bold looking to become the captain of a whaleship,

with all the power and glory that the position meant

in that day. That is the youth who is at the prow of

the whaleboat in the statue. His face is as handsome

as a Praxiteles. It is a strong face, revealing that the

imminent instant has arrived. The figure is superb and

the pose is grand and free in a way that manifests the

genius of the sculptor. We feel that here is a resource-

ful man, "one who," as Mr. Bullen has said, ''could

whittle with a jack-knife a quadrant, tear off the rim of

a compass focal for an arc, break up a five-cent mirror

for a speculum, and with such crude device, fight his

way back to home and life."

The whaleman is hard to satisfy when it comes to the

details of his trade and the task of the sculptor has not

been easy. The bronze whaleman faced a critical crowd

yesterday. The old sailors grudgingly admitted, as a

general thing, that the position of the harpooner, if he

was throwing his lance into a bowhead, was all right.

They didn't think the dimensions of the boat were

accurate. The harpooner should have more room**forrard." The curve of the bow of the whaleboat wasnot exact. The ribbon on the boat is too wide. Theline was not properly rigged in running through the

bow direct to the harpoon. ''If the harpooner is strik-

ing a bowhead he must be in the Arctic, and he ought

to have a shirt on," commented one who said he was a

whaler, but who may have been a sea cook, or a son of

one. "Maybe he's harpooning a sperm whale in the

Atlantic," said a bystander. "He wouldn't go out in a

boat without his shirt if he was after sparm," was the

reply. ''He 'd burn his back. '

'

The difficulty with most of the critics is that they are

unaware that there is such a thing as artistic license.

The prow of the boat is purposely foreshortened be-

35

cause in looking up from the position the statue occupies,

the figure would not be visible if this was not done.

Mr. Pratt made an eifort to find what a whalemanhabitually wore. He was told they insisted upon straw

hats for the summer season, any old hat at any other

time. Old prints showed a harpooner, in one instance

wearing a plug hat. The sculptor found nothing in the

slop chests of the outfitters that could be effectively

reproduced in bronze. So he chose the bareheaded

figure, naked from the waist up, and the choice un-

questionably assists the suggestion the statue was de-

signed to make. There is authority in Melville, if any

was needed, "As for Fedallah," we read, "who was

seen pulling the harpooner oar, he had thrown aside his

black jacket and displayed his naked chest with the

whole part of his body above the gunwale, clearly cut

against the alternating depressions of the watery

horizon. '

'

These criticisms recall that when Robert Swain Gif-

ford, William Bradford, and Van Beest painted the

picture, "The Chase," they mounted it on a card with

a six-inch margin and invited the whaling masters to

write criticisms upon it. The entire margin .was covered

and there was no agreement among them. The sculptor

need not be concerned. It is like a sailor to grumble.

In his heart every son of them is filled with top-gallant

joy and delight at the inspiring consummation of the

work, a feeling in which the citizens of New Bedford

join.

From The Evening Standard, New Bedford:

Elsewhere in this newspaper will be found a full

account of the unveiling of The Whaleman statue on the

grounds of the Free Public Library, with the eloquent

and modest address of the giver, and the appreciative

words of the speakers who appeared for the city and

for the various organizations which were appropriately

represented on this occasion. When the gift was an-

36

nounced, some months since, this newspaper endeavored

to express its own pleasure and the community gratitude

that at last a long-cherished hope was to be given visible

form. This afternoon we can say no more than to re-

vive a few of the words which came when the conception

of The Whaleman, as is now displayed in the centre

of the city, was new. So today is repeated

:

^ ^ ^ ^ 4C: ^ ^

Mr. Crapo's brief address, we venture the suggestion,

needs one emendation. Nowhere in it does he refer

to himself. The personal pronoun singular is signally

distinguished by non-appearance. That he put himself

out of sight in his tribute to The Whaleman wasmodestly graceful. But this community ought never to

forget the giver of this emblem of achievement and this

inspiration to endeavor.

From The Evening Standard, Neiv Bedford:

Whenever the Observer looks out of his window he

generally sees some one looking at The Whalemanstatue. At this season of the year, when vacationists

and tourists visit this town in larger numbers than manyof our people realize, there are many of these people

who come round to look at the bronze mariner, and a

large share of them, it may be said parenthetically, go

into the Public Library. The Observer likes to see themdo that, for the Library's interior is one of the mostattractive in the country. Almost every one who visits

it says so, and it is gratifying to have so many visitors

from abroad coincide with the conviction, even if it is

partly founded on home pride, of residents of NewBedford who have some qualification for judging. Per-

haps some day the librarian and his assistants will

repeat to the people of this city a few of the many very

gratifying complunents of this magnificent Library of

theirs.

37

But to go back to the statue. It is a great favor-

ite with the amateur photographer. Travellers with

elaborate outfits spend a long time in studying lights

and shades and angles and backgrounds and distances

before they focus and expose. Others pull out vest

pocket cameras and snap recklessly from all points of

view, lest haply they might get one good picture. Theother day a substantial looking gentleman lined up his

wife and three children in front of the statue, andcarried off a proud souvenir. At any rate, let us hopehis shutter worked and that he didn't forget to turn

the film. Some visitors look at the statue for a long-

time and from every side. Others are satisfied—ap-

parently well satisfied—with one glance. There are

times when the pantomime is obvious and amusing—as,

for example, when a husband and wife come together

and when one wants to study the work and the other

doesn't, and whose every pose would make an excellent

model for the bored. The boys usually want to look

inside of the boat ; and that is, on the whole, an evidence

of their alert interest. It is far better than having nointerest at all. Occasionally there comes along a group

whose conversation the Observer would like to overhear.

The other day two boys, eight or ten years old, homeboys, barefooted with trousers rolled up, with their

hands behind them, stood at a respectful distance for a

long time, and talked. They were serious about it, too.

That much could be seen from the window even if not a

word could be heard. One would be safe in wagering

that the kids were not debating the technique. Another

was the trio composed of two Italian men, evidently

laborers, and an Italian woman with a red handkerchief

over her head. Their inspection of the statue was also

minute, and their talk was also serious. The Observer

is disposed to believe that their comment would have

been worth hearing. So, perhaps, are the comments of

men who point and wave their arms. But mostly these

latter are loiockers—and they are rapidly getting to

be in the minority.

Appendix I

THE WHALEMANWritten by John Spollon and first published in Fibre and Fabric,

May 14, 1903,

One evening in JMay I was watching the play

Of the wild restless waves rolling in from the bay

At the breezy south end of the city,

And listening, meanwhile, to the ditty

Of a mariner aged and gray:

"From where towered the masts of barques, schooners, and

smacks,

I turn to see rising those factory smokestacks;

And, I tell you, I think it a pity

That the Whaleman so hardy and gritty

Is rapidly passing away.

"Look! Two arms of the sea half enclose the place.

It resembles to me the despairing embrace

Of a mistress cast off and forsaken.

Who clings with affection unshaken

To adover grown cold and estranged.

1 remember the time when her favors were sought;

But they had to be purchased, and dearly were bought

By the bold rough-and-ready sea-ranger,

No wonder he turned to a stranger:

Picked up a new love and is changed.

"Like the osprey he fared with his wings to the breeze;

Every danger he dared where his prey he could seize,

And no other land was the poorer

(Than this statement nothing is surer)

For the riches he brought to this shore.

When the earth yielded oil it but altered his toil.

And he built the first factory on New Bedford soil.

38

39

While his city grows bigger and bigger,

In cotton he cuts a new figure,

For his work as a whaleman is o'er,

"Yet I heartily wish his old shape could be seen,

In marble or bronze, mounted here on the green,

As a Founder the town should rememberTill Sentiment's last glowing emberTo ashes has faded away.

Let his monument stand, with his harpoon in hand.

Sturdy son of the sea who dragged wealth to the land,

In defiance of hardship and danger;

For in this town he'll soon be a stranger,"

Said the mariner aged and gray.

John Spollon, a mill worker, was born of Irish parents

in Camden, New Jersey, about 1858. His career on the

sea began when he was sixteen and continued for nine-

teen years, during- wdiieh period he twice rounded CapeHorn and the Cape of Good Hope and four times

crossed the Atlantic.

Appendix II

THE MODEL

When Bela L. Pratt was asked by William W. Crapoto model a statue of a whaleman, to be erected in this

city as a gift to its people, Mr. Pratt's first problem

was to procure a suitable model.

''I must have a real boatsteerer," was Mr. Pratt's

declaration; ''a man who has himself been long familiar

with the harpoon."

Accordingly search was instituted to find an Americanwhaleman of the Captain Ahab type. Augustus G.

Moulton of J. & W. R. Wing Company was asked if

they could produce one, and responded by offering as

a model a native of the Cape de Verde Islands. Thewhaleman of the statue, however, was to typify the early

Yankee courage that sent New Bedford's sailors across

40

all the oceans of the world, spearing cetaceans for oil,

—

so the outfitters were asked to find a boatsteerer of the

old type,—the type made famous in "Moby Dick" and

other stories of the sea.

Then it was that Richard Lewis McLachlan of this

city, a veteran of the sea, and who for ten years was a

boatsteerer, was proposed. Mr. McLachlan was, ac-

cordingl}^ taken to the rooms of the Old DartmouthHistorical Society, where he posed in the bow of a

whaleboat with poised harpoon for photographs for Mr.

Pratt. The pictures pleased, and the boatsteerer wassummoned to Boston.

Mr. McLachlan first went to sea in 1873 as a cabin boy

in the merchant service, voyaging from Portland,

Oregon, to Queenstown, Ireland, round the Horn. Thenagain he went voyaging from New York to the WestIndies ; on manj?" other voyages he sailed to the western

ocean, continuing in the merchant service until about

1880.

It was about the year 1885 that the boatsteerer went

whaling along the Pacific coast to the Arctic sea. His

first trip was on the bark Rainbow, Captain BarneyCogan, and on the very first trip the savage ice of the

north rushed upon the Rainbow and shattered her great

sides. "Stove in the ice off Cape Thaddeus," said he,

in telling the story, "we were picked up by the bark

Fleetwing. '

'

He afterwards shipped on the bark Hunter, engagedin Arctic whaling, and finished the season on that vessel.

During the Southern California boom, he was engagedas a longshoreman for the Broadway Steamship Com-pany. Then he returned to whaling again in the BehringSea. In the employ of the Pacific Steam Whaling Com-pany, he spent many winters in the Arctic. In later

years, he shipped, after serving for ten years as boat-

steerer, as fourth mate on a vessel belonging to J. & W.R. Wing Company to Japan; then as second mate onthe Alice Knowles, Captain Earle, to the Indian Ocean.

41

His last voyage was on the schooner Valkyria, whichhe left at Fayal in October, 1911. The Valkyria wasin the whaling business, and Mr. McLachlan was herchief mate.

''The bottom is out of whaling," declared the boat-

steerer, with a despondent shake of his head. ''It doesnot pay to go a 'whaling any more. '

'

Appendix III

CONSTRUCTION

In The Evening Standard appeared the followingaccount of the work on the statue as it gradually

developed:

Hon. William W. Crapo proposes to give to the city

of New Bedford a memorial to the New Bedford whale-

man in the form of a statue to be set up, as he sug-

gests in his letter, on the grounds of the Free Public

Library. As Mr. Crapo relates, Bela L. Pratt of Bos-

ton, one of the chief among living American sculptors,

has designed the model for the statue from photo-

graphs of which the illustrations given herewith are

reproduced. It should be understood that at present

the statue is in the stage which the sculptor calls a

sketch, and though, in the main, this sketch may be ac-

cepted as prefiguring the completed statue, it is sub-

ject to more or less change with respect to details. Asthe sketch now stands in the studio, it is a clay model

say two feet or more high, built upon a pedestal. It is

still the object of the artist's manipulations, mostly

with the purpose of giving delicacy of completion to

the conception, with probably no great alteration of the

main idea, and possibly none at all.

As to the conception of The Whaleman, that was Mr.

Crapo 's thought. His purpose was to commemorate

and typify the New Bedford whaleman, not as a rem-

iniscence, but as a living human being. So, in accord-

42

ance with Mr. Crapo's desire, the artist has fashioned

the presentment of the boatsteerer in the pose of throw-

ing the harpoon from the whaleboat's bow. He stands

for the whaling industry at its very prime, a youngman, daring and ambitious, full of expectation to makethe whale fishery a route to realizing all his dreams of

life success. That, in brief, is the meaning of this statue.

The statue, the boat in which it stands, and the con-

ventionalized waves will be of bronze. The figure will

be a little larger than life size, its anticipated position

as related to the observer making that treatment most

effective. The pedestal and the background will be of

granite, of a color and texture to match, as nearly as

may be, the granite of the Library building. On the

face of the background, that is, the side toward the

statue, will be carved a suggestion of sea and sky, with

sea birds floating on the wing, and at the lower right

hand corner, this quotation from "Moby Dick": '*A

dead whale or a stove boat." The other side will bear

an inscription phrased very like the words used in the

first paragraph of Mr. Crapo's letter to the mayor:"In honor of the whalemen whose skill, hardihood, and

daring brought fame and fortune to New Bedford and

made its name known in every seaport on the globe."

The top of the granite background will be somewherefrom twelve to fifteen feet above the sidewalk level,

making the entire structure of dignified and impres-

sive proportions. Two locations have been proposed

—

one on the northeast corner of the Library grounds,

and the other directly in front of the steps. That,

however, is a matter to be settled later.

It is not probable that the statue can be placed in

position before next year. While the sculptor will ad-

vance the work with a reasonable celerity, most of the

processes cannot be hurried. So that a year and a half

may easily elapse before the memorial will be set upin this city.

43

Appendix IV

SITE FOR ''THE WHALEMAN"

"The Whaleman," Bela L. Pratt's monnment, the gift

of William W^. Crapo to the city, will he placed in the

grass plot at the northeast corner of tlie Library lot,

the site which Mr. Pratt considers the best for the monu-ment.

A special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the

Free Public Library was held Thursday evening to con-

sider the location for the monument, and the memberspresent were in accord with the decision of Mr. Pratt.

Jireh Swift, Jr., was elected chairman of the meeting,

in the absence of the mayor, and the members present

were Messrs. Milliken, Goodspeed, Kennedy, and Cook.

Henry H. Crapo attended the meeting, also Nat C. Smith,

architect of the building.

Dr. Kennedy stated that he preferred the north corner,

and Mr. Milliken asked if Mr. Crapo had any prefer-

ence.

Mr. Crapo stated that his father had no personal

preference, preferring to leave the matter of the site

to Mr. Pratt's judgment. He said that since Mr. Pratt's

recent visit to view the possible locations, he had asked

him to express his opinion, and he read the following

letter that he had received to present to the trustees

:

Jan. 18, 1913.

Board of Trustees, New Bedford Public Library,

New Bedford, Mass.

:

Dear Sirs :—After my consultation with you and ourexperiments with the dummy arranged for the testing

of the site of the proposed monument given by Hon.Vf . W. Crapo to commemorate the whalemen of New Bed-ford, I am more firmly than ever convinced that the

proper site for said monument is that which I originally

selected, namely, on the north corner of the plot in front

of the Public Library building. There might be some

44

slight change necessary in the arrangement of the

paths, but on the whole I consider the site satisfactory

and trust that it may be adopted by you.

Most sincerely yours,

BELA L. PRATT.

Mr. Crapo said further that his first impression was

that the south corner plot would be the best, but he had

been convinced that the north corner was better than

the south. As to the central location, he said that if

the background was cut down in order to locate the

monument directly in front of the building it would

have to be entirely obliterated, and the figure would

have to be set against the steps.

He said that Mr. Pratt's idea of location on the north

lot is to lift it about 18 inches, and to have the boat

headed northeast so that the harpoon is directed out

towards the corner of Pleasant and William streets.

The site suggested met with the approval of all the

trustees present, and it was voted to adopt the sculp-

tor's recommendation. The trustees agreed to leave

matters of detail as to exact location, foundation, and

drainage connection for the boat with Nat C. Smith,

the architect of the building, who was pleased with the

site selected for the monument.

Appendix V

THE WHALEMAN'S MOTTO

A STIRRING TUNE TO WHICH THE BOAT WAS PULLED

The motto "A dead whale or a stove boat!" to be

inscribed on tlie background of The Whaleman statue,

is from a stirring passage in Herman Melville's story

of whaling life, ''Moby Dick, or the White Whale."Captain Ahab, master of the Pequod, having one woodenleg, was walking on the deck. The recital goes on as

follows

:

45

"It drew near the close of day. Suddenly he cameto a halt by tiie bulwarks and inserting his bone leg into

the auger-hole there, and with one hand grasping a

shroud, he ordered Starbuck to send everybody aft.

*' 'Sir!' said the mate, astonished at an order sel-

dom or never given on shipboard except in some ex-

traordinary case.

'' 'Send everybody aft,' repeated Ahab. 'Mast-heads,

there! Come down!'

"When the entire ship's company were assembled,

and with curious and not wholly unapprehensive faces,

were eyeing him, for he looked not unlike the weather

horizon when a storm is coming up, Ahab, after rapidly

glancing over the bulwarks, and then darting his eyes

among his crew, started from his standpoint; and as

though not a soul were nigh him resumed his heavy

turns upon the deck. With bent head and half-slouched

hat he continued to pace, unmindful of the wondering

whispering among the men; till Stubb cautiously whis-

pered to Flask, that Ahab must have summoned themthere for the purpose of witnessing a pedestrian feat.

But this did not last long. Vehemently pausing he

cried :

—

" 'What do ye do when ye see a whale, men?'"'Sing out for him!' was the impulsive rejoinder

from a score of clubbed voices.

" 'Good!' cried Ahab, with a wild approval in his

tones, observing the hearty animation into which his-

unexpected question had so magnetically thrown them." 'And what do ye next, men?'" 'Lower away, and after him!'" 'And what tune is it ye pull to, men?'" 'A Dead Whale oe a Stove Boat!'

Appendix VI

ABOUND THE STATUEThat the statue of "The Wlialeman" given to New

Bedford by William W. Crapo and unveiled Friday has

46

fired anew the interest of the people here in the ro-

mance and the adventure of the old whaling days has

been pretty apparent during the past two days, and

within that period thousands of people have paused in

their journey through the centre to admire the figure,

and thousands have been the stories handed down, and

perhaps well-nigh forgotten, which have been rehearsed

again in front of the statue.

Mr. Crapo said during the course of his remarks at

the exercises Friday that he hoped the stories of the

old whaling days would never die in this community,

and it seems as if no one who ever heard a whaling story

or ever read a whaling story here but what the statue

recalls it to him. Old citizens who knew whaling masters

and sailors in their day have stood in front of the

statue during the last few days, and in talkative frame

of mind have chatted away with perfect strangers, re-

counting the tales that they had heard themselves from

the lips of the ''blubber hunters." And then there is

the next generation, some of whose fathers or uncles or

grandfathers went to sea and the stories have come

down to them. And then, last of all, perhaps, are the

youngsters to whom the adventure appeals with tremen-

dous force, who stand in groups with mouth hanging

wide open, literally swallowing every word that is said,

and turning in wonderment from story teller to the

heroic figure of ''The Whaleman."Assuredly one has needed to stand near "The Whale-

man" but a few moments at any hour of the day or

evening since the statue was revealed to learn that there

has already been a lively awakening of interest in the

old whaling days, and to learn that the stories of those

romantic days will not die so long as the statue stands

there.

And some of the yarns are wonderful yarns that are

spun in the shadow of this upstanding boatsteerer. In

many instances names have been forgotten by those

who tell the tales, or perhaps simply a last name is

given, but the nub of the story is always there, the in-

47

cident which has been handed down which typifies the

skill and the daring and the courage.

One man stepped up yesterday morning, looked at the

statue awhile and then became critical—the work had

awakened in him some thought at least.

''Look at the chest muscles and the arms of that

man," he remarked, ''I don't believe there ever was a

sailor went out of here with a development like that,

allowing, of course, for the heroic size of the man stand-

ing here in bronze."

He was half talking to himself, but around the statue

all conversation becomes public property and a by-

stander was quick to answer. He is a rigger, or at

least was a rigger years ago and he knew whalemen.

"That may be so true, to your way of thinking," washis retort, "but I would hate to see you in the grip of

some of the arms that have hurled irons from NewBedford boats, just the same."

And then this brought up a discussion of the feats

of strength that have come to the present generation in

stories of the sea. One man told of a mate who in sheer

desperation when his newly shipped boatsteerer missed

on three successive attempts on different days to makea strike, hustled to the bow of the boat, and grabbing

the man around the waist hurled him bodily overboard,

and then putting about picked him up and carried him»

back to the ship, scared, but far from drowned, and

taught a lesson the moral of which—never try to throw

a bluff—he doubtless never forgot so long as he lived.

And then ensued a discussion as to how far a boat-

steerer ever hurled an iron; of how often they struck

and of how often they missed; of how many hours they

remained out in the boats, how fast a whale ever towed

them, and how long they'd stick to a 100-barrel "fish"

before they would cut a line and give up the fight. All

night battles, according to the stories, were commonoccurrences, as were also stove boats, which formed an

interesting question for discussion.

48

One man told of a boat's crew in which his uncle

pulled an oar, of which five out of the six men could

not swim a stroke, and never learned during the whole

voyage. This boat, of course, got stove, for it was

either kill the whale or stick until you found yourself

overboard. This boat's crew went up to lance the whale

and the whale's flukes, descending, splintered the boat.

The captain was forward and twisted the lance. Hewas one of the five who could not swim, or at least

never was known to. But he saw another boat one

hundred yards from him, and according to "uncle's"

story, re-told today in front of Bela Pratt's statue, the

"old man" simply walked through the water, with his

prodigious strength propelling him so fast that when

the rescuing boat dragged him aboard he wasn't wet

above his waist.

And then there were stories of boys, "My grand-

father" or my "grandfather's brother" who ran awayto sea and finally trod the quarter deck as master of

his own ship, stories of foreign islands and strange

peoples—and perhaps it is little wonder that "kids"

listened for a time, studied the face of the statue a

little, and then hustled for the library to get "MobyDick" and the yarn of the white whale.

There were an endless array of questions, asked by

everybody of anybody who happened to be near enough

to listen, or skilled enough in whaling lore to answer.

People wanted to know what the ropes were, how heavy

the iron was, why there was a "hole" in the bow for

the rope to run through, why the man with the harpoon

was called the boatsteerer, and a thousand and one

other queries that were indicative of the interest which

has been revived in the old-time industry. And people

whose interest is aroused usually persist until they learn.

And then, too, to prove that there was a regular

"gam" in progress, there was an argument yesterday

afternoon between two old whalemen as to the respec-

tive prowess of one of them. Whaleman Number Onesailed out on the Reindeer as boatsteerer years ago, and

49

he and his friend in the argument agreed that the statue

was an admirable bit of work. "Makes me think of

the time I put an iron in a right whale, the first I struck

on the Eeindeer. We were right on top of her whenI let go, a straight up and down strike, and down wentthe whale. We ran out two tubs of line, stayed by all

night, and in the morning hitched a tackle on and tried

to get her up. Ropes broke and we lost her." There-

upon the argument ensued as to whether one rope or

both snapped, and as Whaleman Number One was of

the opinion that the log was down in the rooms of the

Old Dartmouth Historical Society, down the street they

went to look up the records.

Appendix VII

From The Evening Standard, New Bedford:

That the statue of "The Whaleman" should be un-

favorably criticized was inevitable. The criticism, how-

ever, usually concerns itself with the technical accuracy

of the design, not with its general effect, its artistic

excellence, or the pleasure it affords the beholder.

Some minds could never approve a picture of a battle,

be it painted ever so beautifully, if the commandinggeneral had one too many buttons on his coat. Sea-

faring men are notoriously fussy about details of this

sort. A spirited marine, with a ship speeding along,

under full sail, would be damned in their eyes if the

shrouds were not so accurately drawn as to serve as a

working plan to a rigger. "These people," said one

observer, "didn't want a picture of a ship—they wanteda map." And all because the whaleman in the case of

this statue in front of the Library, observes it under

the fatal handicap of an expert knowledge of the busi-

ness the bronze figure is set to symbolize. The man whonever went whaling and never balanced a harpoon is

50

not burdened witli any such knowledge, and to him the

creation of Mr. Pratt is satisfying.

It has been objected that the whaleman holds his har-

poon the wrong way. What it might be asked is the

right way? It is inconceivable that there should be just

one way of holding a harpoon, just as it is that there

should be only one way of holding a pen. It must be

remembered that before modelling the whaleman the

sculptor had for a model a man who had been to sea

and who is rated as one of the best boatsteerers here-

abouts. He held the weapon HIS way, even if it was

not the way of some other harpooner. Should somesculptor design a statue of a ball player at bat, and

model it from so distinguished a batter as Mr. Cobbof Georgia, critics would doubtless come forward to

complain that the pose was all wrong because Mr. Wag-ner of Pittsburg did not bat that way. In the case of

a batter, the thing to do is to get a hit; in the case of

the whaleman it is to get the whale; and somehow or

other, looking at this figure of Mr. Pratt's, with shoul-

ders, arms and chest of a Hercules, we have no doubt

that the imaginary whale just ahead of him is as good

as caught.^ ^ ^ ^

''Another thing," said an old whaleman who had been

telling what a bad, bad statue it is, "who ever saw a

whaleman without a shirt I I've been whaling for thirty

years and have made twenty voyages, and I never sawa boatsteerer with his shirt off." "Where did you go

whaling?" he was asked. "Mostly in the Arctic," wasthe reply.

OLD DARTMOUTHHISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 39.

Proceedings Annual Meetings

Held December 30, 1913, and March 30, 1914.

THE FIRST SETTLERS OF DARTMOUTH ANDWHERE THEY LOCATED

By henry B. worth ^ *

PROCEEDINGS

ANNUAL MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

DECEMBER 30, 1913

Both President Edmund Wood andSecretary William A. Wing of theOld Dartmouth Historical society re-tired from office at the tenth an-nual meeting of the society. Bothof them declined to stand againfor re-election. Mr. Wood has beenpresident of the society for the pastseven years, while Mr. Wing hasserved as secretary for a number ofyears. Herbert E. Cushman waselected president of the society, tosucceed Mr. Wood, while Henry B.Worth was chosen secretary.The annual reports of the society

were read, and any lack of enthusi-asm at the beginning of the meetingwas replaced by satisfaction when it

was announced that the money hadbeen raised to clear off the debt ofthe organization.

In opening the meeting. PresidentWood spoke as follows:

"We are met tonight to hold thetenth annual meeting of this society.This meeting should have been held

some time ago but for several rea-sons it has been deferred. Thingshave not been going as well with thesociety for some time as they oughtto go. The directors have held sev-eral meetings and believed before theannual meeting was held that certainchanges ought to be made and cer-tam plans outlined for the conductof this society. It is not necessary atthis time to argue the advantages ofhaving an association like this in thiscommunity. This has already beenamply proved. We all remember theenthusiasm with which this societywas inaugurated, the interest display-ed in the idea by such a variety ofpeople and the large membershipthat we were able to secure. Every-one was congratulating the communityon the fact that the formation of thesociety had not been longer delay-ed. Historical documents of value, andsources of information in regard tothe history of old Dartmouth werefast disappearing. Relics of great his-torical value which had remained with

some of the old families for many,many years were becoming scatter-ed. Much work has been done and wecan see around us in this buildingthe proud evidences of it.

"But all such interest in every com-munity is liable at times to flag. Wehave the ebb and flow of the tide.This society has had its flow and itsebb. There is no use of disputing thefact that the interest of many of thosewho did the most in the early daysof this society has been waning andnew people have not been sufficientlyencouraged to take up their work anddo their share in carrying forwardour well recognized mission. It hasbecome evident to many of us thatcertain changes should be made, newblood should be introduced for someof the offices. At one of the last meet-ings of the directors a nominating-committee was appointed to bring ina list of officers to be balloted forthis evening. That committee has re-ported and the nominations will beread later when we come to the elec-tion of officers.

"Another matter has worked againstthe sustaining of interest in our workand that is that the society has beengoing behind financially. We have abeautiful building, well adapted toour work and affording every facilityfor our meetings, for every socialfunction which might be arrangedfor and for the storage and displayof what has now become a very valu-able collection. Representatives fromother societies from time to time visitus in New Bedford, and grow enviousof our good fortune as they walkabout in theise rooms and wish theyhad equal facilities. But with the ac-quiring of this building, the munifi-cent gift as you remember of one ofour members, have come along withit expenses of maintenance and re-pairs. We have also thought it bestto have a curator in charge and inattendance much of the time. All theseexpenses have been a little more thanthe annual fees paid by the member-ship have amounted to. The result hasbeen a constantly increasing deficit:amounting at last to several hundreddollars.

"Experience has shown that it isill-advised and almost impossible toinaugurate a new regime and enlistthe interest a:id services of new peo-ple in a venture, about the neck ofwhich hangs a. financial deficit. It wasevident to ths directors that beforethis annual meeting should be heldand before even new plans could bemade and new officers choisen theseold bills should all be paid and thesociety pronounced free from debt.Through the liberality of some of the

members, who have already in timespassed showed themselves the gener-ous friends of the society a sufficientamount has been subscribed and paidin to entirely wipe out this deficit;so that tonight it is a satisfaction tobe able to announce that we are freefrom debt and this incumbrance doesnot stand in the way of the inaugura-tion of a new and active career forthe society.

"At the annual meeting it has neverbeen the custom to have researchpapers read by the different membersbut to confine our action to hearingthe reports from the different sectionsinto which the work ol the society hasbeen divided, and then to have the an-nual election. These reports will nowbe read."

The reports were as follows, all ofwhich were accepted and orderedplaced on file:

Report of the Diiectors.

Tonight we hold our tenth annualmeeting and our society must needsrecord the death of the followingmembers:

Charles W. Agard, Mrs. George L.Clark, Walter Clifford, Anna J. Dona-ghy, Betsey W. Kingman, Sarah M.B. Potter, (life), Cynthia J. Read,(life), William Reynard, Arthur Rick-etson, Mary Roberts, Mary P. Rugg,Marion Smith, Thomas B. Tripp, An-na G. Wood.

In the deaths of Mr. Agard andMrs. Smith we lose two of our stanch-est friends. They gave of their time,possessions and encouragement andsurely we must feel there loss.

Your secretary in such goodly com-pany as our president and treasurer,withdraws from his position, feelingthat at the end of a decade a new or-ganization cannot but be beneficial;as a life member the period of his in-terest in the society's welfare is de-fined.We are fortunate in having our Mr.

"Worth to come to our aid, a memberwho has done more than anyone elsefor this society.

Respectfully submitted,William A. Wing, Sec.

Ti'ea.surer's Report.William A. Mackie read the trea-

surer's report covering a period of 18months showing receipts of $2655.43and payments of $2291.19, leaving abalance of $.364.24 with one unpaidbill of $293.5.3.

Publication Section.

A case of mai-is in the society hasa bit of history to disclose. The first

map shows the original layouts of

land in our present New Bedford in1710—of especial interest are thelands of Joseph Russell, ManasselKempton and Benjamin Allen.The next in chronological order is

a map of New Bedford drawn by or-der of the selectmen in 1795—bj' actof the general court.The selectmen being Walter Spoon-

er William Tallman, Isaac Sherman.Of particular value are the layouts

of the roads and the locations of themills—in those days merely gristmills, saw mills and fulling mills.

The map of New Bedford in 1815by Gilbert Russell shows the resi-dences of that period and emphasizesthe preference of people in those dayoand perhaps today, of living south ofUnion street.A map of the village of New Bed-

ford in 1834 tells of that great in-crease in streets from South streeton the one side—beyond North streeton the other and west as far northas Parker street.

In 1847 New Bedford had a mapby E. Thompson and we possess thecopy owned by the first mayor, theHonorable Abraham Hathaway How-land presented to us by his daughters.

It has become a place of buildingspictured by the artist, the Commercialbank on this very site is of perhaps themost local interest to us.

Contrasted with the map of 1913these simple little plans are almostpathetic and teach a lesson we maywell apply of small beginning andquiet but steady growth.

Respectfully submitted,William A. Wing, Chair.

Photograph Section.

We are fortunate iii acquiring twophotograph portraits from oils byJarvis. They are of Dr. Foster Swift(1760-1835) and his wife DeborahDelano (1762-1824). Dr. Swift for inthose days they were fortunate enoughto have a Dr. Swift here to whomthey could look for help in truth andreverence and admire, even as wehave been so blessed here in our ownday.

This Dr. Foster Swift caine toDartmouth recommended by no lessa personage than General GeorgeWashington. He was instrumental inestablishing the first medical societyin this vicinity. The meetings beingmainly convened at Taunton as aconvenient centre.He became one of the first army

surgeons at this establishment after theWar of 1812.The very beautiful wife of this very

handsome man, for the portraits showthem, was of the Delano family of oldDartmouth, which has given more

than one favored descendant to theworld.

Their daughter Mary marriedGeorge Washington Whistler, fatherof the artist and their daughter wasDeborah Delano Whistler, wife of SirSeymour Haden. So well known in artmusical circles in London, so our por-traits link us with George Washington,the early inedical profession, theariny, art and music here and abroad.A wide circle centering in Old Dart-mouth.

Respectfully submitted,William A. Wing, Chair.

Museum Section.

One of the most interesting featuresof our annual meetings have been thevery able reports of the secretary ofour museum section, but tonight youare doomed for a great disappoint-ment, as you will have to listen to oneby its chairman, which I assure youwill be only commendable for its brev-ity. First, 1 will call your attentionto a few of our acquisitions from:

Mrs. Duff.Mrs. Rebecca Hawes, from the es-

tate of Williain Read.Miss Sarah Howland Kelly and Mrs.

Caroline Kempton Sherman, a swori;!.which formerly belonged to Silas Wil-liams Kempton, nriaster's mate on theSantiago de Cuba. The sword wascarried by him into Fort Fisher. Hewas drowned March 23, 1865.

Late Mrs. Anthony of Fairhaven,portrait of her father, Captain Cox.

Miss Church and Mrs. Frank ofFairhaven, gift and loans of portraitsand other articles formerly in theChurch family.Walton Ricketson, ancient wooden

settee which belonged to his father,the late Daniel R.

Mrs. William H. Bartlett, draft box,bowl, etc.

Bequest of late J. Howland, Jr.,portraits of his father and mother.These are now, through the courtesyof Mrs. and Miss Howland, in our pos-session.

Once more we are indebted to onewho takes a keen interest in our so-ciety, Mrs. Delano Forbes of New Yorkand Fairhaven, the gift of five piecesof Chinese wood carving, of the FooChow period, representing: Goddess ofMorning, Stork of Good Omen, TheWrestlers, The Warrior, The Priest.And now I would mention a gift,

not to our* society, but to the city ofNew Bedford, ours none the less forthat reason,—the statue of The Whale-man. The gift of our first presidentand most honored member, Mr. Crape.1 am sure you all join me in the wishthat he were with us at this meet-

I cannot l;)ut believe that the com-ing year will be one of great activityfor our society but we must not de-pend entirely on our officers and ourcommittee. The individual membersmust recognize his or her duty to thesociety and their opportunities. Inthe address of Isaiah Thomas, the first

president of the American Antiquar-ian society in 1814, he made the fol-lowing suggestions.

It will not be expected that weshould individually devote a very con-siderable part of our time to the af-fairs of this institution, yet withoutinjury to himself, every member maydo soinething for its benefit. Thereare various ways in which we maycontribute to its prosperity. Some maybestow a little personal attention tothe management of its local concerns.

Others may devise projects bywhich its interests and its usefulnessmay be essentially promoted and oth-ers may collect, as convenience andopportunity permit articles for its

cabinets. This programme for the in-dividual members, laid out a centuryago is as applicable now as it wasthen. I hope you will consider it.

There are some to whom such con-siderations make no appeal, but theyconstitute a class that has no legi-

timate place in a historical society.The right kind of people for us

are those who believe with GeorgeMeredith "that all right use of life,

and the one secret of life is to paveways for the firmer footsteps of thosewho succeed us," and we have in thisrejuvenated society of ours so largea company of such men and womenthat I cannot but feel assured thatthe Old Dartmouth Historical Societyhas nothing before it but permenancyand success.

Respectfully submitted,

Frank Wood, Chairman.

Educational Section.

The educational department invit-ed, through Mr. Keith, the teachersto visit the historical rooms Oct. 5,

1912. A number of teachers respond-ed and since then several classes havespent profitable hours looking overthe collections.

Captain Avery met the pupils ofMiss Loring's room at the Donaghyschool and gave them a very interest-ing talk about whaling. May 26, 1913.

Miss McAfee's, Oct. 23, 1912, classsent an appreciative note to the chair-man of the educational department,thanking her for their instructive af-ternoon.

Miss McCarthy of the Jireh Swiftschool took her class Jan. 28, 1913.

April 12, sisters and pupils fromSt. Anthony's school.

Miss McAfee, June 24.Miss Winchester from Middle street,

as a reward for perfect attendance,Oct. 23, 1913.The New York state educational

department sent a man to take photosof the rooms for use of the divisionof visual instruction of public schoolsof New York state.

Respectfully submitted,Caroline Jones.

Henry B. Worth reported for theresearch section saying that owing tothe fact that the quarterly meetingshad not been called for some timethat it had caused a cessation in theactivities of the section, but that am-ple entertainment would be providedalong the usual lines in the future.The following officers were elected:

President—Herbert B. Cushman.Vice presidents—Rev. M. C. Julien,

George H. Tripp.Treasurer—Frederic Howland Ta-

ber.Secretary—Henry B. Worth.Directors—William W. Crapo, Wal-

ton Ricketson, Edward L. Macomber,(3 years); Abbott P. Smith, (2 years).

George R. Stetson spoke of theeducational advantages offered by theroomiS of the society to children andsaid that he was very glad to hear thereport of the educational section andthought that it would impress uponsome people the great field of use-fulness in getting the children Inter-ested in our local history. He hopedthe usefulness of the rooms might beextended.George H. Tripp spoke of the mu-

seum as an educational factor, andsaid that he thought that the pupilsof the public schools here have re-cently taken up a study of the his-tory of New Bedford, and he statedthat there was no better place to findout about it than right in the roomsof the society.Mr. Tripp thought the society should

in some way show its appreciation forthe large amount of work done by theretiring secretary Mr. Wing and h_e

moved a vote of thanks. Miss Watsonand Mrs. Clement Swift spoke of thevaluable work done by Mr. Wing andthe society extended the vote ofthanks.A vote of thanks was also extended

to the retiring president, Mr. Wood.The meeting adjourned.

Annual Meeting, March 30, 1914

About 50 members gathered for theannual meeting of the Old DartmouthHistorical society, held last evening.The meeting was a short one,owing to the fact of the meetingheld last December, but the president,Herbert E. Cushman, said that it wasdesired to get back to the old orderof things, and the meeting was heldaccording to the by-laws.The flrst order of business was the

report of the secretary, Henry B.Worth, which was as follows:"To the members of the Old Dart-

mouth Historical Society:"According- to the by-laws of this

organization, the annual meetingsshould be held in March, but themeeting which should have been helda year ago was deferred until DeceiTi-ber 30, 1913, only three months ago.As foon ar. the present officers wereelected it was discovered that by someinadvertence the annua.l period cov-ered by the dues had been extendini;'from July to .July. This was an erroras the period should be from oneannual meeting to the next, or fromApril first to April first. The execu-tive board ordered the correct datesto be restored and those whose duesaccording' to their receipts were pa/id

up to next July, have observed thediscrepancy. This will be adjustedand hereafter the mistake will dis-appear.

"Soon after the last ineeting it wabconsidered necessary to make certainrepairs and changes in the building;"

on Water street, which renderednecessary the closing of the buildingduring the remainder of the winter."The present membership comprises

€19 annual members and 33 life mem-bers, of whom William M. Butler s

the latest addition. The fee for life

membership is $2.5 and is depositedin the permanent fund, only the in-come from which is used.

"Your attention is again called tothe number and value of the society'spublications. These include 3 8 pan\-phlets, comprising over 670 pages,with numerous pictures of houses andpersons, together with essays and ar-ticles on many topics relating to theinhabitants of ancient Dartmouth andtheir history. These are being soldat a nominal price which is practicallythe cost of printing. They are in con-stant demand in all the libraries of

the eastern United States where thelocal history of this section is an iten)of interest. A list of these pamphletshas been printed, giving synopsis ofcontents for free distribution.

"This society in its widest activityis one of the most useful educationalinstitutions in this vicinity. The rec-ords of the past are collected and ar-ranged, and appear in part in thesepublications; but at the rooms of thesociety are exhibits which show inwood, iron and ivory what were thetools, imijlements and handiwork o1?'

the New Bedford whalemen. Withouter«aggeration these are the most valu-able collectons in the world. The ar-rangement is so pieturesciue that it

ai'peals quickly to school children,while a student in the art of carvedivory or one desiring to understandthe process of obtaining oil and bone.Will find the most realistic presenta-tion that can be discovered on land.Nowhere else will your annual contri-butions be productive of more certaineducational benefit."The report was accepted and placed

en file.

The report of the treasurer, Fred-eric H. Taber showed cash on hand$364.24; dues received .$252, a totalof $616.24. The bills paid amountedto $407.30, leaving a balance on handof $208.94.The report of the nominating com-

mittee, George E. Briggs, AlexanderMcL. Goodspeed and Elmore P. Has-kins was made, and on motion FrankWood cast one ballot for the follow-ing list of officers:

President—^Herbert E. Cushman.Vice President—Rev. M. C. Julien.Vice President—Oeorg-e H. Tripp.Secretary—Henry B. Worth.Treasurer—Frederic H. Taber.Directors, three years

—

WarronKempton Reed, Oliver P. Brown, J 'iC Tripp.

President Cushman, who \\ns <li>wnon the program for an adt1f>»«s,spoke as follows:

"It is rather unusual lu have twoannual meetings so near tog-ether ashas this society, but it seemed wiseto the directors last year to postponeholding the annual meeting of 1913until December, when you were goodenoug-h to elect the present board ofofficers.

"Since that time the directors havehad several interesting meetings, andhave made many plans for the fu-ture. It seemed better that we shouldhold our annual meeting for 1914at the time fixed by the bylaws.

"Looking back over our records,we find that the Old Dartmouth His-torical society was organized in apaper read by Ellis L. Howland be-fore the Unity club in Unitarianchapel, January 17, 1903. The form-al organization was in May, 1903, andthe first general meeting June 30,1903 at Grace House. It was incor-porated in 1905, and the work thathas been accomplished during thattime has been very gratifying. Thepresent board of managers find it-

self with a comfortable home, wellequipped and well arranged, with amuseum that is of great value.

"This work has been done by menand women who have been earnestin their efforts to establish on a firmbasis, this society, and we commendand thank them for their interest.No one can visit the Old DartmouthHistorical rooms without realizinghow valuable a collection we have,and how interesting. This must bewell cared for, and ought we not tofeel it is simply a nucleus of a larg-er collection ? They have done wellto arrange for the exhibition whichhad to do with the old days whenour city was noted for its interests inwhaling. We must not forget, how-ever, that in a few years, what is nowbeing done in New Bedford, will behistory, and we must make and keepin line, a record and a collection ofthat wliich today is making New Bed-ford well known throughout theworld, its various industries and its

activities in all directions. We so-licit from all, such as they have,which will make our exhibit standhigh in our community. Our goodfriend, Frank Wood, who has chargeof the rooms, will be glad to conferwith any one who has that thoughtin mind."We realize that there are in New

Bedford probably a great many ar-ticles—probably more than in anyother city in the United States—spec-imens and items that would be es-pecially interesting. We must there-fore have our friends realize that thisinstitution is permanent, and thatany such articles will be cared for asthey would like, if they desire to pre-sent them to us.

"The other day it was my pleas-ure to be at the rooms, and lookingthrough the front windows on thewharves, with the oil casks and thewhaling ships there, and looking outof the rear windows at the Mariner's

Bethel, one felt that they had steppedout of the New Bedford of the newday, and into the old, and are we notfortunate to be the possessor of quar-ters located, it seemed to me, in themidst of that for which it stands,that is, the historical part of our city,and its historical interests."One cannot go into the rooms

without being inspired with the factof how important it is to our citythat there has been brought togetherour present collection."What I have said well applies to

the rooms and the exhibits. Do notforget that with these surroundingscomes also the opportunity for theresearch work, which is accumulatingvaluable records, the educationalwork, which will awake and main-tain the interests of the younger gen-eration, and the social side, whichbrings good fellowship among itsmembers.

"I now desire to make a personalappeal to every one of you.

"It has been my pleasure duringthe last few years, to visit some ofthe old historical societies in otherparts of our state, and of New Eng-land, and it has been interesting tonote the pride that the members hadin belonging to such an institution.Many of these societies have been or-ganized many years, and not only onegeneration, but many, have had apart in their upbuilding."We in New Bedford are fortunate

in being among the beginners of thework which we are trying to do. Wewant as many people as possible tohave a part in that work.

"It was interesting to hear one ofour good friends say, in the northernpart of the state, that their fathersand grandfathers had belonged totheir society, and they spoke of it

with pride. We want as many of ourown people to be able to hand downthis same saying to their descen-dants. It is therefore important thatwe have as manj' people in our citywho are interested in this kind ofwork, as is possible, as members.

"In looking over the list of mem-bers, now about six hundred, I findmany names missing that would seemto us ought to be there. The questionis, have they been asked to becomemembers? If not, would it not be wellfor us to see that they have the op-portunity, and are you not willingto do your part and help increase themebership by asking at least two orthree people during the coming yearto ally themselves with this society?If every one would ask and obtaintwo or three members, we would havea list that would be valuable, andour income would be assured. The

more people that we have interestedin our work, the better results we canobtain, and we do feel that now is

the time for this administration toincrease the membership and interestin ovir society, and what can do it in

a beter way than to have people feelthey are personally a part of it, andInterested in it?

"It is our purpose again to openthe rooms on April Sth for a recep-tion to the members by the officersand directors, and it is hoped thatall will come and renew their en-thusiasm and interest in the goodwork."

George H. Tripp said that henoticed one interesting remark of thepresident that should be taken noteof and that we should not dwell toomuch on the past of the city, butshould have something to representthe present activities of our city. Hespoke of several cities he had visitedwhere they have industrial museums,

and suggested that the society couldtake up this work, and have on ex-hibit some of the fine fabrics thatare being made here today. He saidthat he admitted it was a little diffi-cult to get the goods, but he had se-cured for the library some goodsfrom agents in New York who saidthey could vouch for the fact thatthey were made in New Bedford. Mr.Tripp said that the talk about a mileof cloth being made a minute in thiscity, should be something to be proudof, but there should be some samplesof the fabrics that could be exhibitedand not only of the cloth, but of thetwist drills, the glass ware, and allthe other products made here.

Secretary Worth spoke of the visitmade by the school children underthe auspices of Miss Jones of theeducational section, and how interest-ed the children were in the objectsthey saw.

10

"The First Settlers of Dartmouth and

Where They Located"

By Henry B. Worth

In colonial times when a new settle-ment was to be established, explorerswere sent in advance to investigate theregion, and determine winere it wouldbe most advantageous to locate theresidential center. They would buildsome sort of rude structure tither alog cabin, a stone house, or a cave dugin the nillside and this would sufficefor a habitation until they were ableto erect separate dwellings for eachfamily. This common house was alsoused for the storage of property thatrequired protection. It is now pro-posed to indicate who were the first

settlers in ancient Dartmouth, whenthey arrived, and the locality whichthey selected as their first abode.The grant made by Plymouth colony

to the thirty-six original purchaserstook place in March, 1652, and no set-tlement hid then been formed. Thesituation at that date, in referenceto the Indians, is important to con-sider. If a circle be described withthe Fairhsiven bridge as a center anda radius of about twenty miles inlength, it would pass through all thenearest English settlements of thatperiod. Where the Buzzards Baycanal joins one bay with the other wasthe village of Manomet. Northwestwas NamasKet, which is now the xownof Middleboro; further west wa.sCohannet now known as Taunton, andstill further in line of the circle wasRehoboth and other places on Nar-ragansett Bay. None of these villageswere strong enough to render any as-sistance to the settlers on the Acush-net river. An additional menace wasthe fact that within this circh was aline of Indian villages that would sur-round any settlement at Cushena. Theshellfish at Sippican and the famousfishing grounds at Apponegansett at-tracted the Indians to these shjores inthe summer, while the lakes andforests at the north furnished all theyrequired for winter homes. Duringthe King Philip war, in Dartmouthalone, one hundred and sixty Indianssurrendered to the English, and it

plainly appeared that the Red Menconstituted a desperate element ofdanger in that region.Under such circumstances the only

safety for the English would be to

flee to some stockade near the. shore^where they could remain until assist-ance arrived from Plymouth, or theycould escape upon the sea. Appreciat-ing these possible contingencies, thepioneers generally selected as the loca-tion of the residential center of seaco£St towns, a plact: where there wasa good spring, convenient fishing andwhere the land would provide foodand shelter and a place in which theycould locate their habitations, whichcould be defended against attack orwhich would furnish safety until theycould escape to other communities. Anideal location would be a neck con-nected to the mainland by a narrowisthmus in order that the approachcould easily be watched. Purcafeestneck in Tiverton, was an early settle-ment and contained in a high degree,all the necessary requirements. Sconti-cut neck had no satisfactory freshwater supply nor land suitable forcuItivatioUj and wa-s not selected.

A legend has been printed that in1652 one Ralph Russell came to Dart-mouth and established an iron forge-at Russell's Mills. As it can bedemonstrated that this event was animpossibility and that Ralph Russellnever appeared in Bristol county, thistradition may be dismissed withoutdiscussion.

Preparation for a new town was ac-companied by activity in land trans-fers. Consequently, the logical coursewill be to commence with 1G52 andexamine the recorded evidence, untila point is reached where there is in-dication that some settlement was incontemplation or had been formed.By an exarnination of all ancient docu-ments, it is clear that the inhabitantsof Dartmouth before 1700, came fromthree well defined sources.

1. There were the thirty-six origi-nal purchasers, but only three set-

tled in Dartmouth, although the de-scendants of nine others were lateramong the inhabitants. None of thesecame to Buzazrds Bay before 1660.

2. A vigorous persecution ofQuakers on Cape Cod induced some ofthe Kirbys. Aliens, Giffords and "Wingsto remove to Dartmouth, but this

crusade did not begin until 1657 and

11

the first deed taken by any of thesepersons was dated 1659.

3. Owing- to the crowded conditionof the island of Rhode Island, the menof Newport and Portsmouth werecompelled to seek homes elsewhere,and fina.ly a great number moved toDartmouth; but the first recorded in-dication of this tendency occurred in1657, and the first deed was taken in1659.

Consequently there is nothing toshow any English occupation before1659; but during that year a few deedsappear that indicate an approachingactivity. Ralph Earle and Daniel Wil-cox of Portsmouth, purchased con-siderable interests in Dartmouth,which was the beginning of that greatmovement from Rhode Island. Butthe most significant conveyance wasgiven by the prjprietors to JohnHoward in which they "Do freely andabsolutely give and grant ten acres ofland adjoining the river, twenty rodswide, bounded on the north by agreat rock near the head of thespring." This seems not to be a sale,but a transfer upon some differentconsideration, and Howard was notone of the proprietors. It is saidthat he had been a member of thehousehold of Captain Myles Slandish;in 1637 with others freely offered togo against the Pequots; later becamean inhabitant of Bridgewater wherehe was one of the first military ofTicers,surveyor of highways, and a m.osl in-fluential citizen. He was the 'incestorof the great Howarc- family of Bridge-water. At that period a new com-munity in its early career alwaysneeded the assistance of some execu-tive individual who was familiar withwarfare among the Indians. The valueof the services of Captain MylesStandish will never be over-estimated,and no more suitable person could beselected for this important seivice inDartmouth than one who liad been apupil of the Puritan captain. Here,then, was a practical preparation fora settlement. It is not possible tostate the exact relation of Howard tothe new community, but he was notrequired to move from Bridgewaternor become a permanent resident ofDartmouth: and after 1663 his nameis not found in the annals of the lat-

ter town. His land remained in pos-session of his family until transferredby his descendants in 1708.

It also appears that in 1660 the gov-ernment at PP-mouth ordered theiragent to collect the taxes of JamesShaw and Arthur Hathaway at•Cushena. As shown elsewhere, theentire amount to be collected wa^sthirty shillings, and the next year theamount was the same, while in 1662 it

was seventy shillings. The tax in 1663

is not recorded, and in 1664 the in-habitants were constituted the townof Dartmouth. An analysis of thesefigures supports the conclusion thatthe tax was ten shillings from eachman, and was not based on the valueof property. If this theory is correct,then there w?re three residents in1660 and 1661, and in 1662 the num-ber had increased tc seven. As How-ard never withdrew from Bridgewater,he was probably not the third manwho was assessed in 1660 and 1661.This was probably Samuel Cuthbertwho is known to have been a residentduring the latter date. The sevenresidents in 1662 were Shaw, Hath-away, Cuthbert, Spooner, Samuel Jen-ney, John Russell, Thomas Pope orRalph Earle. John Cooke was in Ply-mouth probably as late as May, 1662.

So having determined who were thefirst settlers and that they probablyarrived at Cushena in the spring orsummer of 1660, the remaining partof the problem is to determine wherethey located their preliminary habita-tion. The hint given in the Howarddeed will point the way to the con-clusion. By tracing the title of thatland it appears to have been situatedon the east side of the river rppositeto Brooklawn park. The rock ledgein the southeast corner of the park atthe roadside, extends under the riverand appears again above the surfacealong the road leading to Fairhaven,where in several places it has beencut down to the road level.

A short distance south of th^, brook,and about three hundred feet east ofthe highway, the ledge abruptlyterminates and at its foot, issues aspring as attractive and picture.^que aswhen first discovered by Howard,Shaw and Hathaway two hundred andfifty years ago. Albert B. Drake, thewell known civil engineer, states thatit is the finest natural spring on theeast side of the Acushnet river, andthe only one that comes from thesolid rock. Starting from a distantbasin in the ledge, its waters neverfreeze and never cease to flow. Underthe designation of "Wamsutta Spring,"this water supply is utilized for com-mercial purposes. The region wasdiversified with convenient for';sts andland for cultivation Where Howard'sbrook joins the river, until recentyears was a choice natural oyster bed,and other shellfish were abundant andwithin easy reach. At its junctionwith the river, Howard's brook bendsto the north and forms a neck ofabout eigh- acres. On account of thehigh ground it would be easy fromthis place to observe the approach ofIndians, even when some distanceaway, and escape by water would beconvenient. The locality was far

12

enough up the river to be free fromthe influence of boisterous storms, andthere was ample water of sufl^icientdepth for a ship-yard to be estab-lished across the river at Belleville acentury later.The final step is to determine

whether this neck was the placeselected as the first abode of fhe set-tlers. It was set off to Samuel Cuth-bert, and in 1661 conveyed by him toJohn Kus.sell; 1666 Russell to JohnCooke, and in 168 6 Cooke to his son-in-law, Arthur Hathaway. In his will,dated 1694, Cooke seemed to haveassumed that he retained an interestin the neck, and this he gave to hisdaughter Sarah Hathaway and refersto the land as "Near the ourying-place." By inheiitance the neckcame into possession of Antipa.s Hath-away, who in 175 2 transferred it tohis brother Jethro, using the descrip-tion: "Ye olde burying point in Acush-net village bounded by Howard'sbrook."During the periods when they

owned this neck Cuthbert, Russell andCooke were the leading residents ofDartmouth, but each owned a home-stead farm some distance away. Thesame year that Cooke conveyed theneck to Arthur Hathaway the townof Dartmouth voted to build a townhouse east of Smith Mills at the headof the Slocum road

In an obscure corner of an old rec-ord in Plymouth in penmanship thatis difficult to read, is the copy of anagreement executed in February, 1663,by John Howard and John Cooke, asfollows: "The neck hath a way al-lowed to it by those appointed to layout the land and it was approved bythe company; now with the consent.of the neighbors at Acushena, .'ohnHoward and John Cooke are agreedthat the way shall begin at a heapof stones and extend to the top of thehill, and tVie width shall be from theheap of stones to the brook; and asit is at present incapable for a way,without labor, we are to make it capa-ble on equal terms. And there shallbe only one foot way into the neckfrom James Shaw's stile straight intothe neck.'"

This agreement i." one of the mostsuggestive documents relating to earlyDartmouth. It was among the firstofficial acts of the proprietors; a high-way proposed by the committee, ap-proved by the owners, laid out byHoward and Cooke, accepted by theinhabitants, and then built by twomen representing the proprietors. Nopublic improvement could be estab-lished with more precision, ai!d nonehas been found until modern timeslaid out with such legal formality.All this public machinery would not

have been set in operation to benefitany private individual. At every stepthe public directed the proceedingsand hence must have been thebeneficiary. The inhabitants weie touse the way in going to and fromthe neck, where they engaged in somecommon concerns. It was the first

layout of a public road before 1700.When Russell transferred the neck toCooke the description included "Away which was allowed by the pur-chasers and laid out by John Cookeand John Howard." It remairs todetermine the conclusion to whichthese facts logically lead.

The town of Dartmouth comprisedover one hundred thousand acres andwas assigned by the colonial govern-ment to those men who arrived atPlvmouth before 1627. As rhey allhad their residences in other parts ofthe colony, it was not expected thatthey would remove to this territory.It was merely a dividend in land,which cost them nothing to buy andnothing in taxes to hold. For sevenyears there was no demand for theland and no transfer was made. Thenpurchasers appeared and the pro-prietors were ready to sell. To bringthe section into the market it wasessential to institute some prelrninarysurvey and establish a convenientcenter, so they secured the servicesof John Howard and paid him in land.During the year 1659, the exploringparty selected the locality at Howard'sbrook for the new settlement, theplace combining the required ad-vantages. Then it became necessaryto provide utilities that would beneeded. Their own habitation wasprobably a log or stone house on theneck, or a cave dug in the hillside.The line of travel from New York toPlymouth was by water up BuzzardsBay. acros.T the isthmus at Manometwhere the canal is being built, andthen by water the remaining part ofthe journey. Most if not all com-munication east and west from Dart-mouth was presumably by vessels, andhence a landing would be required atHoward's neck. Then they providedfor a road from the neck to the greatIndian path, which extended fromLakeville to Sconticut neck. The al-lotment of homesteads was one oftheir earliest transactions. Beginningat Howard's brook and extendingnorth to the head of the river werethree farms, assigned respectively toSamuel Cuthbert, William Spooner andSamuel Jenney. From the brooksouth, were the farms of John How-ard, James Shaw where the LauraKeene place was afterwards located;then Arthur Hathaway down to thesouth line of the town of Acushnet.After a considerable interval, John

13

Cooke's farm was on the hill -wherethe Coggeshall street bridge ends inFairhaven, and John Russell andRalph Earle settled at South Dart-mouth. Sometime later the north endof the neck was devoted to a burialplace, but •! landing place and a burialground do not adequately accoant forthe layout of that road. Landings,burial places and private buildings orstructures used as garrisons, wouldnot occasion a road built with somuch particularity.

The loss of the proprietors' recordfor the first sixty years after thecolonial grant and the fact that notown records have been pre-served previous to 1673 hasobliterated most of the earlyhistory of this settlement. But if

these lost records could be consultedthey would probably tell substantiallythe following narrative. That a townhouse and meeting house, possibly onebuilding for both, was placed or; theneck for the use of the inhabitants,in which to hold its public meetings,civil and religious, and this wouldadequately explain the object of thisformal layout. It has been assumedthat the inhabitant? held their publicmeetings in dwelling-houset\ andwhile this is possible it is more likelythat a different arrangement wasmade in accordance with the prevail-ing custom. At that date single apart-ment dwellings were all that couldbe obtained, and these would not beconvenient either for town meeting orreligious congregations. The high re-spect and veneration felt by thePilgrims for such institutions wouldnot permit them to neglect erecting atonce a building suitable for publicgatherings. A common building onthe neck, devoted to such purposes,wouid account for the remarkable in-terest taken by the townspeople inthat short road down the hill to theneck, where they could attend townmeeting or hear .Tohn Cooke preach.The neck was the town Common orGreen adapted to the local situationand was the temporary town centerwhere were grouped all those publicutilities that the new communitj' re-quired.

Captain Church in his history ofthe King Philip war, mentions "Theruins of John Cooke's house at Cush-net." There is a tradition that some-where Cooke had a garrison or stock-ade, and it has been asserted that thiswas a block-house which stood southof Woodside cemetery in Fairhaven.While it is possible that Cooke hadsome sort of defence on his farrr,, yetthere is a reasonable doubt whetherthe place referred to by Church wasnot on Howard's neck, which wasprovided by the inhabitants as a place

of refuge during the first period of thesettlement. This is also possible, be-cause the title to the neck was ownedby Cooke during the King Philip war.As long as the Indians did not dis-

turb the settlers th».' homesteads weregradually extended in scattered forma-tion into different sections of Dart-mouth, a policy that caused criticismfrom the authorities at Plymouth andwas the basis of all the misfortunesthat overtook the inhabitants in theIndian war. Fortunately the Dart-mouth settlers kept near the shore, sothat while they could not offer anyfirm defence yet they were able toescape by water, and so far as definite-ly known only four were killed by theIndians.

Until the King Philip war a ma-jority of the inhabitants lived on theeast side of the Acushnet river andprobably no change was made in themeeting place for public gatherings.During the two years occupied by thewar no meetings of the town wereheld, and the territory of Dartmouthwas abandoned. After the death ofPhilip, the Indians lost their war-likespirit and never recovered from theeffects of that struggle. Then theinhabitants slowly returned and re-built their habitations and the nextmeeting of the town was held •n June,1678. From that time the pov^ulationrapidly increased and soon becamewidely distributed. The Acu^jhnetriver was no longer the western limit;the central and western portions wereoccupied and ferries were establishedwhere bridges could not be builtSoon a demand for a central locationof the town house led to a vote ofthe town to place it "near the mills,"that is, Smith Mills. The inhabitantsof Apponegansett and Acoaksettgreatly outnumbered those who livedon the east side of the Acushnet andeasily accomplished the change whichtook place in 1686

In the ordinary progress of events,Howard's neck could not always re-main the center of the town. The in-evitable change had arrived. Thepublic uses to which the neck hadbeen devoted, were transferred toother sections. As a place of refuge,it was no longer required, becausethe Indians had been forced into apermanent peace. Landings wereprovided in other sections and theneck was used only by those living in

the vicinity. The town meetin!?-s wereheld at the head of the Slocu ti road.Those who settled west of Acushnetriver formed a great majority of theinhabitants; were largely Quakers andnot in harmony with the religiouspractices of the Pilgrims on the eastside of the Acushnet and had their

separate meeting house. The latter

14

may have continued to hold religiousmeetings at the usual place, but it

must have been a small strugglingbody without organization and with-out settled minister. The only objectof interest that remained, wa?. theburial-ground, and to preserve thisCooke made the transfer to his son-in-law, Arthur Hathaway, and here is

probably where Cooke was buried.The neck remained in possession ofthe Hathaway family until 1854, andsince 1862 with the farm on bOthsides of Howard's brook, has beenowned by Samuel Corey.The situation at the neck remains

with little change as it appeared v.'^hen

selected as a town center two and ahalf centuries ago. The road built

by Howard and Cooke is still open andused by Arthur H. Corey to reach his

residence. An old mill is standing onthe brook, but years ago was dis-

mantled and is in ruins. Since thedeed of 1752, the name of Howard hasdisappeared from the locality. Manu-facturing industries on the river havedriven away the shellfish that were

so abundant along these shores. Atthe north end of the neck until plowedover some years ago, were found un-marked stones placed at intervals, theindication of an ancient burial place.The waters of the great spring still

flow unceasingly to the soa, thesalient and detg,rmining feature thatfixed the choice of the English inselecting their first home on theAcushnet. People engaged in NewBedford mills have residences on theeast side of the river, and the line ofhouses from Coggeshall street beforemany years, will meet those rapidlyextending south from the head of theriver. Th-e space between comprisesa few farn s near Howard's brook,whose owners still resist the flatteringoffers of speculation. Here, with little

outward change, may be observedthose natural advantages that im-pressed the English on their first visit

to Cushena where they located theirfirst residential center, and here is

the last spot to yield to progress andInnovation.

OLD DARTMOUTHHISTORICAL SKETCHES

No. 40

Being the proceedings of the meetings of the Old Dartmouth Historical

Society, held June 17, 1914 and October 14, 1914.

FOURTHS OF THE PAST

by Walter H. B. Remington

A TRIP TO BOSTON IN 1838

by William W. Crapo

A JAPANESE STUDENT IN FAIRHAVEN

by Job C. Tripp

PROCEEDINGS

MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

OUTING AND CLAMBAKE

HELD AT PADANARAM

JUNE 17, 1914

About 200 members of the Old Dart-

mouth Historical Society participated

in the outing at Padanaram June17, 1914, which began with a clam-bake at 2 o'clock, and ended with a

dance in the New Bedford Yacht club

station.

Walter H. B. Remington, city clerk,

read a paper on "Notable New Bed-ford Fourth of July Celebrations in thePast Century," which proved to be aninteresting review of what has hap-pened in this city to celebrate the na-

tion's birthday.

Fourths of the Past

By Walter H. B. Remington

Mr. t*resident, and Ladies andGentlt-men of the Old DartmouthHistoriv;al Society:

When your representative called onme, the Monday toiiowmg MemorialDay, and requested me to prepare asketch on the subject -'Notable NewBedtord Fourth ot July Celebrationsin the Past Century," I was in noposition to refuse, inasmuch as theStandard of the day betore hadfeatured a statement, which I hadmaae, a year previously, and had al-

most forgotten, advocating a patriotic

and popujar celebration of the gloriousFourth. 1 couid see no way of gettingout of it, and on the theory that onemight as wil be hung tor sheep as for

a lamb, I readily consented, apparent-ly much to the surprise of George H.Tripp, who made the request at thebehest of your president.

With my spare time occupied in thework incident to assistance in thepreparation of a Fourth of July cele-

bration of the present century, I amafraid that I have not been able to

give the matter as much care and at-

tention as it deserves, and for this

reason I desire to offer an apology,at the outset, if what I have foundfails to interest you, and to make thecriticism tiiat your worthy presidentought to have known better than to

have made such a suggestion.1 have been unable to nnd any rec-

ord of the celebration of the gloriousFourth in New Bedford until the ad-vent of the New Bedford Mercury,the publication of which was begunin 1807.

In the town records of New Bedford,the 8th article in the warrant for theannual meeting of 1790 contains aphrase which, when my eye caughtit, in my search, led me to believ<=;

that I had found what I was lookingfor. In this article, the townsmen arecited to assemble "To do what theythink proper relative to purchasinga town stock of ammunition, agree-able to law." It developed, however,that this town ammunition was notfor the purpose of celebration, butfor the preservation of peace, andthe protection of the citizens in thecase of need. Inasmuch as a similararticle appeared, year after year, forseveral years, in the annual townmeeting warrants, I was puzzled, '.it

first, to know what became of theammunition, since there was evidently

no necessity for using it for the com-mon defence. It then occurred to mathat the ammunition was used at th'jannual training meetings of the militi.vand the constant need for replenishingof the stock was explained.

A fairly full report, for the time,of the doings on the Fourth of Julyof 1809, which was the 33rd anniver-sary of the signing of the Declarationof Independence, appears in the issueof The Mercury following the day.

"In this town," says The Mercuryreporter of that day, "the celebrationwas unusually brilliant. At an earlyhour of the day a large number ntour fellow citizens, joined by severalgentlemen from the neighboring^;towns, particularly the gentlemen offi-

cers of the regiment, assembled atMr. Nelson's, where, after a friendlyinterchange of civilities and atten-tions, a procession was formed, un-der the direction of Col. BenjaminLincoln, consisting of Capt. Cogges-hall's company of artillery, Capt. Bar-stow's company of militia, the officiat-ing clergyman and orator of the day,the president and vice presidents,committee of arrangements, gentle-men officers of the regiment in uni-form, the municipal officers of thetown, the citizens and strangers. * At11 o'clock the procession moved tothe meeting house, where, after anappropriate address to the Throne ofGrace by the Rev. Mr. Kirby, an ora-tion, distinguished for classical purity,firm patriotism, and correct sentiment,was pronounced by Lemuel Williams,Jr., Esq. Th company afterwardsparticipated in an excellent dinner,prepared by Mr. Nelson. In the even-ing there v/as a handsome display offireworks prepared by Mr. BenjaminHill, Jr., and several lanthorns, madeby Mr. Arnold Shaw, very judiciouslyarranged, exhibiting the names of anumber of American Worthies, to-gether with a representation of Liber-ty."

The description closes with thestatement that "the exhibition wastruly pleasing and gave great satis-

faction to a crowd of spectators."That must have been some show!

You can look back, in your imagina-tion, and see the artillery companyand the militia assemb'ing, with truemilitary pomp, at Mr. Nelson's. Therewas no discussion, at that time, as to

whether the men who played the drum

and fife to which the brave soldierstimed their martial tread were orwere not members of the musicians'union. There was no walking dele-gate to bust up the procession be-cause the members of the villageschool, with tm whistles and battereddish pans, led the parade a few feetahead of the stately figure of ColonelBenjamin Lincoln. And then the"friendly exchange of civilities andattentions" after the companies andthe citizens and the strangers had as-sembled .at Mr. Nelson's. I am unableto find that there was a governor ofSouth Carolina present to suggest tothe Massachusetts men that it was along time between civilities; and prob-ably there was no need.

Following the dinner at Mr. Nel-son's, after the parade was over, therev/as the customary string of toasts,that to Washington being drunkstanding, as was the courteous prac-tice in those days. Tf each toast re-quired a drink to wash it dov»^n, Mr.Nelson's helpers must have been keptbusy filling the glasses, for there were33 toasts, some regular and some vol-unteer. Most of them would oe con-sidered rather stilted, in their style,

at this time, but they all bristled withpatriotic sentiment, which was t'ne

proper thing, and is to be commend-ed. The first toast,- for instance, re-flected the political situation. It ran:

"The clay: may the reign of vision-ary philosophy and the gloom of anunlimited embargo never again bepermitted to shroud its glory."The preliminaries of the second war

with England were going on, and theembargo on shipping had left its bitterimpress on the community. NewBedford was a strong Federalist dis-trict, it will be remembered, and theauthorities at Boston and Washing-ton were not conducting themselvesin a manner satisfying to the Nev/Bedford citizens, as a whole.

Things reached a rather high pitchwhen the time came to celebrate theday of national independence in ISll.On that day, after the usual pro-cession and the oration at the Con-gregational meeting house, the parad-crs proceeded to Caldwell's hotel onMain street, where they sat down towhat the Mercury describes as "anentertainment worthy of the occa-sion." The paper further says that"The Hon. Edward Pope presided,and order and propriety marked theproceedings." Quite needless to state!

While the tisual giving and tak-ing of toasts was going on, a. com-niittee, headed by Colonel Benjaminliincoln, was chosen to frame and re-port resolutions expressive of the citi-

zens in relation to "the recent alarm-

ing measures of our national andslate executives." Resolutions a col-umn in length, denouncing the con-duct of the state executive and decry-ii;g the possibility of war with GreatBritain, which it was said, in 57 va-rieties of ways, would be "ruinous toour republic," were unanimouslyadopted, after which the celebratorsproceeded to more toasts, not forget-ting "The Ladies, God Bless Them."The Fourth of July, 1812, found the

second war with England a grim fact,and the country was in such a seri-ous state that it does not appear, fromthe newspaper record, that there wasmuch of a Fourth of July celebra-tion in New Bedford.

Patriotic enthusiasm, as demon-strated by celebrations, seems to havedied out on the New Bedford side ofthe river for several years. The "Cor-sican Jigs" over on the Fairhaven side,however, were not b^ickward withtheir patriotic displays, and proces-sions, and fireworks, and orationsv/ith dinners at the Fairhaven hotel,were the order of the day.

Finally, in the issue of The Mer-cury of Friday, July 4, 1823. a com-nrunicant who signed himself "Obser-vator," and who wrote from the Fair-haven side of the river, dipped hispen in gall and wormwood and wrot"after this style:

"Among the general preparationsthroughout the country for the cele-bration of the anniversary, why is itthat the respectable village of New-Bedford is alone silent and inactive.'Are not the inhabitants Americans,descended from the sons of the fathersof '76, and can they let such an oppor-tunity pass without manifesting, msome measure, that they inherit the-spirit and feelings of their fore-fathers?"

Evidently the shaft went home, forthe respectable village of New Bed-ford woke up, the next year, 1824, andThe Mercury historian says, "the daywas noticed with more than the usualspirit."

I am of the opinion that the elderLindsey took the day off, that Fourth,and that a printer named "Grouch"set up the remainder of the celebra-tion description, for the story con-tinues:

"While we find much to gratify usm the celebration of the day, wemust enter our protest against theringing of bells. It ought to be en-tirely discarded on such occasions.We hear this ding-dong three timesa day during the week, and threetimes three on Sundays. Let thatsuffice."

It appears that the young men ofthe town did not forget this editor-

iai complaint the next year, and theyevidently believed that Mr. Lindseypenned the protest. For the Mer-cury's account of the Fourth of Julycelebration of 182 5 goes on to say:"After a day which ended with asplendid ball, at which grace andbeauty mingled in the mazy dance,the town was serenaded by a band ofmusic which continued until thedawn of the 5th."

Instead of grumbling, this time,however, the Mercury editor did thegraceful thing. "Perhaps nothingcan be more grateful," he wrote, "af-ter nature has partaken of her restor-ative sleep, than to be awakenedfrom the late slumbers of night by.\ melodious serenade." That is whatI assume to be the retort courteous.The fiftieth anniversary of the

birthday of the nation was celebratedin New Bedford July 4th, 182 6, bypublic festivities and impressive cer-emonies "in every way worthy of themomentous occasion," to borrow theMercury's phrasing. An extensivepiocession was formed and proceededto Rev. Mr. Dewey's meeting house,where prayer was offered, the Declar-ation of Independence was read byRussell Freeman, Esq., and an ap-propriate and animated address waspronounced by Thomas Rotch, .Esq.,

to a crowded and highly satisfied au-ditory. An ode, prepared for the oc-casion, was sung, and at the conclu-sion of the exercises the processioninarched to the town hall whereabout 200 citizens sat down to asumptuous dinner provided by Mr.Cole. John Avery Parker, Esq., pre-sided, and toasts all patriotism anda yard long were drunk. There wereso many of these toasts that I aminclined to take with a grain of salt

the editor's description, in a final

paragraph summing up the events ofthe day. He wrote, "Sobriety, goodoi'der and good feeling pervadedthroughout the celebration, and wenjay safely say that not the slightestuntoward incident marred the gener-al enjoyment of our citizens." Goodfeeling, undoubtedly, but with thelong list of toasts, sobriety must haveflown out of the town hall windowsearly in the evening unless our fore-fathers were made of different stuffthan the modern New Bedford citizen.

The first Fourth of July celebra-tion after New Bedford became a cityoccurred on the 5th of July, 184 7.

The steamers Massachusetts andNaushon, from Nantucket and Ed-gartown, arrived in New Bedford atan early hour, deeply freighted with.some 17 00 passengers, "including alarger proportion of the fairer crea-

tion," to quote the newspaper ac-count, which continues, "Groups oflively and animated faces were mov-ing in every direction, and altogetherour beautiful city presented in everypart a scene of gaiety and rationalenjoyment never, perhaps surpassed. '

A procession led by the local fire

companies, together with fire com-panies from Fairhaven and Nantuck-et, marshalled by General J. D.Thompson, and including the NewBedford Guards, under Captain SethRussell, with divisions of Sons ofTemperance from Dartmouth andother surrounding towns, paradedthrough the streets. Exercises wereheld in the North Christian church,with an oration by J. A. Kasson, wholater became famous as a writer oftreaties. Of Mr. Kasson's oration,the Mercury says: "The oration waslistened to by a numerous assembly,and it is warmly eulogized for its

purity of language and elevated mor-al and patriotic sentiment. We hadintended to publish a sketch of thismasterly production, but have noroom today." There was room in thepaper, however, for a column ofFourth of July oration delivered byFdward Everett, in Boston, and it

may be presuined that in the eye ofthe editor, the Edward Everett pro-duction was more masterly than thatof Mr. Kasson.Of course, there was a burst of

fireworks in the evening, attended bya great concourse of people.

It is Interesting, to me at least, tocompare the cost of this celebration,which was paid for from the citytreasury, with the cost of the cele-bration which we propose to havethis year. The total cost of the cel-

ebration in 1847 was $546.36. Therewere 16,000 people in New Bedfordat that time, as appears from thefigures in the Municipal Manual.That would make the cost of the cel-ebration 3.4 plus cents for each in-dividual. It is proposed to spend,this year (if we can get the money)§3000 at the outside. There are 111,-000 people in New Bedford accord-ing to the latest census figures. Thismeans that the celebration will cost2.7 cents plus for every individual.So it seems, that while the cost ofliving is popularly supposed to haveadvanced, the cost of Fourth of Julycelebrations has shrunk. I do notknow whether this condition can betraced to the tariff or not, but I doknow that the copper cent of 1847was considerably bigger than the cop-per cent of 1914 and for this reasonit may be fairly argued, I assume,that the figures which I have quoted

(and you know that figures never lie)

show that we are getting more for(iur money in the way of celebrationstoday than our fathers did when NewBedford was an infant.

Just to show you that things havechanged in other respects, I will readto you from the statement of the5th of July expenses as shown in thefinance report of the city coveringthat year.The first item is:

Lewis Boutelle. 72 dinners $72.00It seems that "junket" feeds are not

the novelty that some of our re-former politicians would sometimeshave us believe. The report con-tinues:Citizens Brass band $136.00

Evidently the bands didn't blowtheir heads off for nothing in thosedays.Ii. A. Mace, ringing bell $1.50

This is about half the current pricefor ringing bells, but at that time aday's wages for the ordinary manwas about half what he receives now,so the difference is not great.Lewis C. Allen, policeman $3.00Shubael G. Edwards, policeman. 3.00William O. Russell, policeman.. 3.00Marshall B. Bird, policeman... 2.00With the exception of Bird, the po-

licemen fared better than they do to-day, assuming that they did the reg-ulation day's work.Lewis L. Bartlett, ringing belland cleaning church $5.50The janitor question does not seem

to be a new one, after all, and it ap-pears, that the janitor was worthyof his hire then, as he is today.

Thomas B. White, amount paidfor fireworks $194.00

New Bedford Guards, music. 50.00Hiram D. Wentworth, hack.. 8.00The hack was probably for the com-

iTiittee on fireworks, who could notbe expected to walk, of course, wiihthe burden of responsibility for thesuccess of the day upon their shoul-ders.

In the account of the Fourth ofJuly celebration of 1848, The Mer-cury reporter took occasion to do alittle eagle screaming on his ownhook.

"If the Fourth of July is now cele-brated with something less of bois-trous hilarity than in former years,"'he said, "it has at least lost nothingof the sentiment of grateful venerationfor the wisdom and patriotism of theillustrious statesmen of the Revolu-tion whose firmness and valo'rachieved for us the glorious heritageof freedom and prosperity that wenow enjoy. They sowed the seed,while we gather the fruit; they plant-ed in tears and should we not reap

with grateful hearts? From 177 6 thecourse of the republic has been con-tinuously onward and upward. Wehad then 13 colonies and four mil-lions of people. We have now 30etates and twenty millions of free-men, and with corresponding im-provement in the social condition ofthe masses. Long may the Fourthbe cherished, and while it continuesto be observed as a great nationalfestival we shall have little fear forthe republic."That is the sentiment which is well

worth repeating today. With the mil-lions of people who have come fromother shores to become a part of ourgreat country, many of them ignor-ant of the hardships and strugglesfrom which our country has resulted,and careless of the principles in-volved, it is not amiss, once a year, atleast, that the eagle should screama little, just to make an impressionon the minds of these foreigners. NoAmerican community is too small, nortoo large, to give one day in the yearto pressing home the lessons whichthe history of our country teaches.The object lesson which the displayof patriotism, demonstrated by Fourthof July enthusiasm, furnishes to thesepeople is well worth the price, and notruly enthusiastic American can af-ford not to do his share. "Do it now,"is a good motto, to be applied toI'ourth of July as well as to busi-ness. If there is one within the reachof my voice who hasn't contributed hispart to the coming Fourth of July,either in money or in service, I askhim to think, for a minute, what thiscountry would be without that whichFourth of July stands for; and whenthat thought has sunk in, let him askhimself if the individual, or the con;-munity, or the country, can afford tolet the Fourth of July go by withoutrecognition.

To go back a little to The Mer-cury's account of the 1848 celebration,there may have been a little reasonfor the editor's patriotic words, pre-sumably to offset something of thsspirit of commercialism which it ap-pears, from reading between the linescf the story of the celebration, hadbegun to show itself. This portion ofthe story is not found in the news-paper, but in the city's financial state-ment of the cost of the celebration,vv'hich was under municipal auspices.

This statement shows that the Bos-ton Cornet Band was engaged at acost of $196.37, to which must be add-ed $26, paid to Sihon Packard for"boarding band," there was a $400display of fireworks, and S. B. Rob-bins received $24 for 24 dinners.While the day was supposed to be incelebration of the event which en-

sured free speech, the Fourth of Julyspeech of that year was not entirelyfree, since there is an item in the ex-penditure account of "Amount paidorator, $25." The most interestingthing in the items of expense, how-ever, is the charge "William Hall, ex-penses after music, $8.00."

I can imagine the committee onaudit of that day, as they gatheredto approve the n:onthly bills, two orthree weeks after the effects of thecelebration were worn off. WilliamHall's bill is read, and some memberof the audit committee, who was nuton the Fourth of July committee,pricks up his ears. "What's that?" heafcks, and the bill is read again, "Whatdoes that mean?" he asks, aghast."Oh, that," answers one of the auditcommittee, who was also on theFourth of July committee, "that's allright; you see, after the music, thecommittee had to have a bite to eat,etc.; we had been working all day,looking out to see that the boys didn'tfire the set pieces before evening, andnone of us had a chance to get anysupper, so after the fireworks we wentover to Hall's and had a snack. Ofcourse, if the committee doesn't thinkit was all right, I will pay the billmyself,"—and more at length. Andat last, after talking about it for halfan hour, the bill is passed and or-dered paid. Times have not changedmuch, after all.

We now come to the celebration of1S51, which was so novel and suc-cessful as to deserve special noticefrom The Mercury,

"The usual municipal processionwas dispensed with," reads the ac-count, "but instead of fat aldermen(they will pardon us for mentioningwhat everybody knows) instead of theusual parade of council in carriages,we had the dear children, all march-ing as proudly as if they had beensoldiers in earnest. The boys dressedin their best, and the girls, who wouldhave looked unexceptionable dressedin their worst, paraded in a stylewhich would have done honor to vet-eran troops." The parade was led byJohn F. Emerson, principal of theHigh school, and each school repre-sented bore an appropriate motto. TheHigh school led the procession. "Thenotable feature of this department wasa car in which appeared The Muses,appropriately dressed and bearing theproper emblems. The Charles streetgrammar school appeared with ayoung and beautiful personage whohad been duly elected and installedas "Queen of the Pageant" togetherwith her maids of honor, all membersof the High school, seated in a splen-did barouche elegantly decorated withwreaths of flowers. The Market

Street Primary rode in a young massof youthfulness and innocence upon afinely decorated van. The Grove Gram-mar school carried the motto "Getgood and be good.." The CharlesStreet Intermediate carried a banneron which was inscribed, "We are des-tined to fill our places," and so on.

Engine Company No. 6 did escortduty, and afterwards dined at theParker House, after which they ap-peared in a procession with blazingtorches, accompanied by two bandsof music, and proceeded to the houseof the mayor, where they were greet-ed by a handsome and complimentaryspeech. There was the usual displayof fireworks, viewed by the "immenseconcourse of spectators" which the re-porter of the period was so fond ofdescribing. In summing up the feat-ures of the day. The Mercury says,"Although not marlied by as usualpomp and circumstance as may haveattested previous occasions, it wasnevertheless one of the most pleasantand satisfactory which we recollect."

The festivities of the next year, 1852,were marked by an incident which fora time threatened to sadly alter theplans made for the celebration. Inthe first place, it was the hottest dayof the season, and the nun/oer ofvisitors had never been exceeded onthe New Bedford streets. While theparade was forming, an alarm oi lire

was spread. The fire was on the roofof the extensive hardware establish-ment of Taber & Co., and was causedby fire-crackers, ot course. When thealarm was given the fire companies,which composed the important featureof the procession, immediately left theline and proceeded to the fire, pellmell, followed by the throng.

"Their numerous guests," says thestory, "while watching the efforts ofthe New Bedford boys to show h'^wthey put out fires, also lent their ownexertions to repress the raging ele-

ment. The brakes of No. 7 weremanned entirely by the Pioneer com-pany from Providence, who showedthat they knew well how to brakeher down. A member of the WarrenCompany of Charlestown exhibiteda feat by climbing through a bowwindow of the building onto the roof,which for hardihood and daring couldnot be surpassed. In the heat of themoment it could not be expected ofour gallant firemen that they shouldact in a perfectly cool manner. Theyknew that there was a fire, and theyknew, too, that it was in a very dan-gerous locality. Their sole object wasto crush it, and they did so very ef-fectively. The fire was thoroughly ex-tinguished in about 20 minutes." Af-ter the fire there was a great to-doto get the procession together again.

The Mercury Jokes a little as to thefact that a Fourth of July processionwas never known to start on time,and the fact that this procession wasabout an hour and a half late did notdetract from its interest. The onlything that maired it was that theengines, which had been handsomelydecorated, as was the custom, appear-ed stripped for business, but you maybe sure that this did not take fromtheir appearance in the eyes of thetrue firemen. This procession, by theway, contained a carriage with agroup of Revolutionary soldiers, theoldest 93 years of age. Captain Tim-othy Ingraham was the chief mar-shal.The celebration of July 4, 1R5-5,

was interrupted by a fire which in-

terfered with the firemen's trial. Thisfire caught in the stable of GeorgeHowland. at the corner of Walnut andSeventh .streets, and before it was putout it burned several other stableswith their contents.

"Various causes have been assignedfor the fire," said the Mei-cury's ac-count. "Crackers ought to bear theblame, for they were fired in closeproximity to the stable which first

took fire. Another report is that thecoachman was smoking in the stablethat moining, and that his pipe is

answerable for the consequences. Un-fortunately, editors have to take factsas we find them, or we should de-clare for the crackers. We wondernot that so many buildings aredestroyed annually, but that any es-cape. But those most interested inknowing the cause incline to believethat the tobacco was guilty, whichwe are very sorry for."

This Fourth was made notable bythe laying, at sunrise, of the corner-stone of Liberty hall, the old theatrebuilding which occupied the site ofthe present Merchants bank building,and where, before, an older Libertyhall had been built and burned. Jo-seph Dearborn, Esq., made a briefand spirited address, and RodneyFrench, then mayor, laid the cornerstone. Under the stone was placeda copper box which contained, amongother things, "An address delivered atthe consecration of Oak Grove Ceme-tery by James B. Congdon, Esq." nota too appropriate phamplet, it wouldseem, to place under the corner stoneof a play house. This was not theonly joke tucked away under theLiberty Hall corner stone, for thebox contained "a fine set of artificial

teeth made by Dr. Ward." Includedin the documents in the repositorywere the transcripts of severalspeeches made by the statesmen ofthe day,—N. P. Banks, Anson Burlin-

game, W. H. Seward, Charles Sumnerand among them, T. D. Elliot'sspeech on The Nebraska Bill. "Fromthe exceedingly political character ofthe deposit," said the editor, "we can-not infer much for the dramatic pros-pects of the hall, but when the cornerstone of its predecessor was laid, theanticipations were less Shakespearian."You may have noted, as I did, that

the Mercury's descriptions of Fourthof July doings contained a drift ofpessisism. The secret is explainedwhen we eome to know the editor'sideal of what a real Fourth of Julyshould be, and make comparision withwith what the real Fourth of Julyusually was. In writing an editorialwhich v.'as printd on the Fourth ofJuly. 185 6, the Mercury's ideal Is soclearly expressed that I cannot re-frain from quoting it here, although,perhaps, it is not exactly a part ofthe story. This editorial is headed,

WHAT TO DO TODAY,and reads as follows:"We don't wish to interfere v. Ith

any preconceived plans for celebrat-ing today on the part of our readers,but we can tell them one or twothings they can undertake, if it

seems to them agreeable."Those who prefer seashore enter-

tainments may take \he Eagles Wingfor Newport, or theSpray for Horse-neck beach. Mr. Nye, who keeps thehotel at the latter place is well quali-fied to make the day satisfactorydown there."But whether people go forth to

make demonstrations or remain athome, it is best to take things easyand keep cool. After the boys havespent all their money for fireworksand let them off, they should not cryfor more powder. And all manner ofrowdyism and ugly dissipation shouldbe avoided, as utterly beneath thenotice of a reasonable man."On the whole, those who have

friends in the country, who live in oldfarm houses or new villas, where theair is pure, and green trees and fieldsof sweet smelling grass and cloverabound, where strawberries and creamare not in a minority, and quiet andcomfort can be secured,—we say, onthe whole the pleasantest thing forthe dusty and parched citizen is tovisit these country friends on the Na-tional Holiday and so get rid of thenoise and confusion of the town. Ifthere is any better way of celebrat-ing the Fourth of July than this, wehave not heard it particularly allud-ed to.

"Then in the evening, we can all

return and witness the fireworks, soliberally provided by the city fathers.

10

and conclude in the end that we areabout the greatest Yankee nation onearth."

This is the prophesy. Look at thefulfillment, as it appears on the nextday's page:

"Celebration of the 4th of July be-gan with a comfortable rain muchneeded by corn and potatoes but notby boys and girls. There have been,during the last 67 years, or since 1789,thirteen rainy Fourth of Julys, andthis might have been added had notthe elements proved kindly at about1 p. m., when mere patches of bluesky made their appearance. Duringthe night of the 4th, some enterprisingcalithumpians were on hand, anddiscoursed hideous music and pealsof crackers in various localities, buton the whole silence reigned. Atabout 3 a, m. the wind choppedround to the north and again ob-scured the sky; we had more rain,next a clear sunset, and no fireworksby the city. Liberty Hall, the enginehouses and ships in port displayedflags, and in spite of the moistweather, the young people did a goodbusiness in crackers."

It seems a little cruel that aftersuch a sweet dream of strawberriesand cream, and peaceful quiet spentin green meadows, that the editorand all the rest of the people shouldhave been doomed to spend a rainyFourth v,'ithin doors, with the mo-notony broken occasionally by thehorrible noise of the calithumpiansand peals of Are crackers. There is,

after all, some excuse for the bitter-ness which may yet be traced, afterhalf a century has passed in someof the writings of the man whocarved the notches in history withthe pen which was mightier than thesword.

You have recently read, in the Sun-day Globe, Mr Peases's allusion tothe celebration of 18 65, when the re-turned soldiers from the Civil Warwere publicly welcomed by the peopleand 3000 school children were in line;of the celebration in 186S, when theWamsutta Base Ball Club defeatedthe Onwards, by a score which inthese days would lead one who readabout it to think it was a cricketmatch; (49 to 13).; of the centennialcelebration in 18 7 6, at which WilliamW. Crapo delivered the oration, tell-ing the story of New Bedford and thewhaling industry so well and com-pletely that no-one has had thetemerity to try to better it.

In my recollection and yours, arethe celebrations when we were boysand girls, with their noise, and heat,and balloon ascensions, and proces-

sions, and whaleboat races, all of thempaid for from the city treasury, andsome of them, it must be confessed,loaded down with second handpatriotism. You are familiar, throughrecent publications of the story, as tohow Councilman Charles W. Jones,when a boy, was caught in the grap-ling anchor of a balloon, as it as-cended from the Common and whenthe rope was cut, dropped throughthe trees, saved by their branchesfrom instant death, so it is notnecessary to repeat these things. Ofcourse, our enthusiasm has somewhatdimmed, since those days, and weview the events from a different anglebut nobody can take the memory ofthese Fourth of July celebrationsfrom us. And as we grow older, andour children and grandchildren call

for the unearthing of these memories,they will come back again, fresherand fresher as the years go by.

So much for the Fourth of Julyof the past century. The story hasbeen but imperfectly, told, becausethere was not time, with the demandsof the day, to read between the linesand analyze the words which will re-main as the record forever. Throughit all,, however, there stands outfrom the printed page, in type whichis magnified as the years go forward,the patriotic sentiment of the menand women who enjoyed theirpleasures and mourned their sorrowsfifty and a hundred years ago.The reading over of these records

teaches its own lesson. In spite ofthe pretty annoyance brought by themusic of the calithumpians, and thehideous clanging of the bells, andthe dangerous nuisance of the firingof the powder crackers, there standsout the underlying love of countrywhich cannot be hidden. These menand women were not content to let

the spirit of the day die. Theirvaried modes of attracting attentionto the lessons of the day by the dif-ferent celebration in vogue from timeto time, were all calculated to makean impression on the boys and girlsof the day, lest they forget Theykept the patriotic feeling alive, atsome inconvenience to the individual,perhaps, but in the interest of thegood of all.

The New Bedford of that day wasnot the New Bedford of today. Thenthe Yankee stock predominated Itis true that the whaleships broughtmen of many nationalities to NewBedford, but they did not come tostay, and after a brief shore respitethey went their ways, most of themnever to return. Vast colonies offoreign people did not exist as they

11

do today, when more than half of ourpopulation is either foreign born orborn of foreign parents.

If it was worth while to celebrateFourth of July in those days, for thepurpose of keeping alive the spirit of'7 6, is it not more than worth whilethat we, today should make our bestefforts to keep the lessons of theholiday before the people?

It is my belief that New Bedfordcannot afford to let a single Fourthof July pass without some public ob-servance. And I am glad to say that

my belief is shared by many. Thisyear, we are trying to see what canbe done to rouse public spirit by anobservance of the holiday in whichrepresentatives of all the nationswhich go to make up New Bedford'sdiverse population shall have a part,and I fell confident that when thelast rocket fired on the Fourth ofJuly 1914 has spread its meteroriesplendor on the midnight sky, thatwe all shall feel that he have donesomething to make better Americansof the people of New Bedford.

PROCEEDINGS

MEETING

Old Dartmouth Historical Society

HELD OCTOBER 14, 1914

To Boston by stage in 1838 was pic-

tured Wednesday afternoon, October

14, 1914, by William W. Crapo before

a large audience of members of the

Old Dartmouth Historical society at

the rooms of the society on Water

street. Though Mr. Crapo was only

eight ye/irs old at the time of the

trip he has remembered almost every

detail. His account of the journey

and his experiences in Boston could

not but carry one back there on the

lumbering stage and in the quaint

city of culture in the early half of the

last century.

This was Mr. Crapo's first visit to

Boston. He went with his father.

The trip took a day and ihe route wasby the way of Bridgewater and Ran-dolph. In the evening Mr. Crapoattended a play in which he remem-bers a huge man, dressed as an Indianwho strode in and said: 'You have sentfor me, I have come! What are yourcommands."The almost Arabian Nights tale of

Nakahama Munger, a Japanese boywho rose from a shipwrecked boy to aprince of the flowery kingdom wastold by Job C. Tripp, who went toschool with the boy in Fairhaven. Mr.Tripp said that the boy finally decidedto go back to Japan and after sailing

most of the way in an English ves-sel, made the remaining 400 miles in

a whaleboat.President Cushman made a brief

report, m behalf of the secretary,.stating that since the first of the year,20o names had been added to themembership list. He said that 500more were desired, and appealed toeiich of the present membership tohelp in securing them. Since June,"SO people have visited the rooms,330 of them coming from out of town.During the summer, 500 of the so-ciety's members visited the rooms,which President Cushman saidshowed that it was wise to keep therooms open every day.He announced that the entertain-

ment committee had not yet made upits winter program, but that oneev('nt had been decided upon—an ex-hibition of old-fashioned costumes.This will be given on Nov. 3, from3 to 6 o'clock, and it was announcedthat anyone who would loan old-fashioned costumes, capes, wraps, orcaps, would be of great help.

Following a delightful rendition of"Ye Banks and Braes of BonnyDocn," by Miss Edith Drescott, Presi-dent Cushman announced that at theconclusion of the program, old-f;tshioned refreshments would beserved in the colonial room, althoughhe jokingly declined to go into de-tails as to what the refreshments wereto be.

15

A Trip to Boston in 1838

By William W. Crapo

Mr. Cushman introduced WillianiTV. Crapo with a description of a par-lor game in which one of the partystarts the telling of a story, and ata certain point tosses a soft ball toone of the others present, who musttake up the story and carry it along."i will toss the first ball to Mr.Crapo," he said, and suited the actionto the word by tossing a frilly bouquetto the latter, whereupon, Mr. Crapobegan his remarks.The speaker said that he would

tell the story of his first trip to Bos-ton. "It was made in 1838," he said,"and I was a lad of eight. At thattime, communication by Boston wasby means of the stage aoach. Theraihoad to Taunton was not then con-structed. The stage route was ownedby Elias Sampson, and the stagesstarted from here and from Boston,every week-day. His stable was locat-ed on the north side of Union street,

at the head of what was then Thirdstreet. Third street started from thesouth end, and went north to Union.Ray street started from the Acushnetroad, and went south in a line withThiid street, stopping at Elm. After-ward, both streets were joined, withthe name of 'Acushnet avenue.'

"Close by the entrance to the stablewas a small wooden building, whichWHS called the stage office. A personwishing to travel by the stage, wentto the office and placed his name onthe book, with the place of his resi-dence. Then he was booked as apassenger for Boston the next morn-ing. The stage was a huge vehicle,containing three seats for three per-sov:s each, so that nine people couldride inside; and there was also ac-commodation on the outside. Thestage, drawn by four horses, left theeven before rtaylight. The driverstarted out for his passengers, andwhen he came to a house he blew astable in the early dawn; in winterhorn loudly as a notification to thepassenger. When all the passengershad been picked up, the stable-boy,who had accompanied the driver to

assist with the baggage—the drivernever leaving his seat on the box

—

left the coach, and it started on thejourney to Boston.

"The first stopping-place was atSampson's Tavern, which had a beau-tiful location, looking out upon Assa-

wanipsett pond. The stop was for achange of horses, and to enable thepassengers to have breakfast. Thebreakfast at the tavern was a famou;^leatui-e, as, after a ride of fourteen

• miles in the cool, crisp air, over roadsthat were by no means smooth, thepassengers had keen appetites. Wehad ham and eggs, beefsteak, sau-sages, potatoes, brown bread, biscuits.Johnny-cake, and buckwheat cakesand molasses. I will not say thatthese were all the things that wereserved, but I will say that it was ameal fit for a small boy or a king.

"Breakfast completed, fresh horseswere obtained and refreshed passen-gers took seats. We went to Boston byway of Bridgewater and Randolph,changing horses at Ihe relay stations;and reached Boston in the afternoon."We stopped at the Elm Street Tav-

ern, the favorite hostelry for NewBedford people, as it was kept by aMr. Dooley, who for several yearswas a clerk in Coles Tavern here.The latter hotel was located on theease side of South Water street, be-tween Commercial and School, andwas a favorite on account of its loca-tion near the wharves, making it con-venient for people arriving from theVineyard or on coasting vessels. An-other New Bedford hotel of the timewas the Eagle hotel, on the site nowoccupied by the Star Store.

"Having reached Boston, you mayhave some curiosity to Know why Imade the trip. For several years therehad been an agitation in this part ofour county for a shorter road to Bos-ton, and after several years' agita-tion, the new road, which was sim-ply a cut between two angles, wasgranted by the county commissioners."The distance of this road, or howmuch was saved, I do not know. Thecontract for its construction was givento Jonathan Tobey, a well-to-do farm-er, who owned considerable realestate at what is now known as Sis-

sons."When the road was completed, a

dispute arose between Mr. Tobey andthe county commissioners, as to theamount of payment under the con-tract. Mr. Tobey was very stubbornand would not yield on his claim;and the county commissioners beingequally stubborn, the dispute con-tinued for a year or two. At last, Mr.

16

Tobey seeing that a suit must bebrought, changed his residence andwent to Little Compton, for the rea-

son that he believed he could notobtain justice in Bristol county.

"At that time my father was townrlerk, and also a land surveyor. Mr.Tobey had employed him to measuredistances and compute the excavat-ing and filling which would be neces-sary under the terms of the con-tract. When the case was ready for

trial, my, father was summoned to

appear before the federal court in Bos-ton, as a witness. He had a theorythat a great deal could be learned bytravel, and that even to a boy it wasan advantage to see other places andpec'ple. For this reason, he took meto Taunton and Plymouth with him,when convenient; and when he wassummoned to Boston, he thought it

was a grand opportunity for me to

go.

"The case was ready for trial in

the morning, and my father, fearingthat I might get uneasy and rambleabout the streets and get lost, tookme to the court house with him. Thiswas quite a novel experience for me.Or the bench, the first thing that at-

tractP'ii my attention was a man witha biack silk gown. No other man in

the room had on a black silk gown,and it was explained to me that thegown was an emblem of his judicialautliority. That man was Justice

Storey of the United States supremecourt. The only other individual ofthe court that attracted my attentionwas a man who sat at a small desk,with a seini-uniform, and a mace,who I was told was the marshal.

"The attorneys were Daniel Web-ster, who appeared for Mr. Tobey andLevi Woodbury, for the county com-missioners. Mr. Woodbury served in

President Van Buren's cabinet."Webster impressed me not only by

his fi.ne figure, but also by his blueswallow-tail coat, ornamented withbright brass buttons. He seemed toask most of the questions, and domost of the talking. I knew nothingof the proceedings, but the noveltywas enough to keep me reasonablyquiet. Later, in that same federalcourt, T was frequently in attendance,but Storey, Webster and Woodburywere not in the court, my contem-poraries being Thomas M. Stetson,Robert C. I'itman, Edwin L. Barney,Adam Mackie and these of that gen-eration. It is possible that I may bethe only living person who has seenJustice Storey on the bench, andDaniel Webster presenting and argu-ing a case before him.

"In the evening, my father tookme to the Federal Sti-eet Theatre, then

the largest and most popular play-house in New England. When we en-tered, I saw a large room, brilliantly

lighted by sperm-oil lamps and sper-

maceti candles. On the main floor

were benches, where a large portionof the audience was seated; this wasthe pit. Around the walls was a balcony, where the nabobs and aristo-

crats had seats; while in the galleryabove the balcony were the largeboys, clerks and laboring peoplefound places. Most of the noise camefrom that gallery.

"The play was 'Matamora,' and thestar was Edwin Forrest, the greattragedian of America. The playtreated of an early incident in Ply-mouth county, an Indian chief beingaccused of stealing cattle and destroy-ing crops. The government of thecolony was in the hands of the eldersof the church, and the Indian chiefwas summoned before them. There is

only one scene of the play that I canremember. There was a table at theback part of the stage, at which sata group of grave, austere men, thejudges. In strode Matamora, a giantof a man, wearing Indian costumeand a headgear ornamented with a.

profusion of feathers. He shouted ina voice of thunder: 'You have sentfor me, and I have come! What areyour commands?' That is all that I

can remember; but I have no doubtthat when I reached home I told mymother everything I had seen andheard.

"The thought of this trip leads toa comparison between past and pres-ent. In those days when a merchant,a refiner of oil or a manufacturer ofcandles, had occasion to visit Bos-ton on business, he occupied one dayin making the journey; the next dayhe spent in transacting his business;and the third day he came home. Now,when I go to Boston, I take the 8: Sotrain in the morning, arriving a littleafter 10; discuss the business mat-ters for which the trip is made; takethe train at 12:30, and arrive homeat 2:25 in the afternoon—six hoursinstead of three days. The secretof how so much can be done in ashort time is this—I never go shop-ping.

"This rapidity of motion has en-tered every branch of human activ-ity, especially in business life. Wehave had the Stone Age, and the IronAge. We must call this the Auto-mobile Age. The slogan of the au-tomobile is speed, and the automobileinoculates v.'ith the spirit of the whirl-wind. The old stage coach was bet-ter. The auto has merit and I favorprogress; but the auto is not perfect.

The old coach is far ahead in the ele-

ment of safety.

17

"Speed is not the synonym of prog-ress. When New Bedford had apopulation of 8000 or 9000, the peoplebegan to think that they ought tohave better and speedier communica-tion with Boston. They saw thatTaunton had built a railroad to Mans-field, and they said that certainly NewBedford could build one to Taunton.Joseph Grinnell was the master spiritof the enterprise, and a charter wasobtained, the money subscribed andthe road paid for. In those days, abond was not considered as paying adebt—and today some railroads' bondsare not held in ^very high esteem. Thenew railroad ran two trains a day,at 7 a. m. and 3 p. m. Soon therecame movements for improvements onthe line. The old wood-burning lo-comotives were discarded, and thelink-and-pin coupling which was amenace to the brakeman gave placeto a safer method. The air-tight

stove, which used to be located atone end of the car, keeping that endat a suffocating temperature, whilethe temperature was Arctic at theother end, was also superseded, andwe now have reasonable heating fa-cilities. There was real, substantialprogress."

In contrast to that method of prog-ress, Mr. Crapo cited the career ofCharles S. Mellen, and his schemefor the unification of the railroads ofNew England. 'The trouble," he said,was speed—undertaking to do in twoor three years a work which, if car-ried along for twenty years, wouldhave resulted in success.

"After coming to the Old Dart-mouth society and seeing what ourforebears have done for progress, washould not stop the work that theyleft off. We must go on; and in do-ing it, let us build upon the founda-tion they left us.

18

A Japanese Student in Fairhaven

By Job C. Tripp

After Miss Drescott had sung,

•Tjoch Lomond," Job C. Tripp was in-

troduced. Mr. Tripp told the ro-

mantic story of Nakahama Munger, a

Japanese boy who attended a private

school with him in Fairhaven, over

70 years ago. Nakahama, together

with five other Japanese boys, sur-

vivors of the wreck of a Japanese

junK, were rescued by Captain Will-

iam H. Whitefield of Fairhaven froma rock in the China Sea, where theyhad subsisted for 60 days upon sea-

birds that Nakahama killed, and rain

which fell in the clefts of the rock.

The other boys were landed at thoSandwich Islands, but Captain Whit-feld, who had taken a great fancy to

Nakahama, brought him to Fairhaven,and entei-ed him at the school. Mr.Tripp described Nakahama as verypolite and kind-hearted, and verystudious.

Captain Whitfield was a member of

one of Fairhaven's three churches,and he took the Japanese boy into

his pew with him. Finally, one of

the olRcers of the church said to thecaptain:: "We have a pew for Negroboys, and would like it if your boywould sit there." The captain, whonever argued, simply bowed and wentout. The next day, he went to an-other church and hired a pew. Aftera while one of the deacons informedhim that that church had a pew forNegro people. Thereupon the cap-tain engaged a pew in the thirdchurch, and from that time on, noone ever objected to the Japaneseboy's sitting with him.Nakahama learned the cooper's

trade and became very efficient. Oneday, he announced that he was goingback to Japan. Captain Whitfieldadvised him to remain, but he per-sisted, and the captain secured him achance to work his passage to theSandwich Islands on board a NewBedford whaler. There he found theJapanese boys who were his com-panions years before. Nakaha.mapurchased a whaleboat, and the cap-tain of an English vessel bound fora port in China agreed to let theparty work their passage to a point400 miles from the Japanese coast,where the whaleboat was launched,and Nakahama, who had mastered the

art of navigation, took command. Inseven days they had reached the coastof Japan, where they were held pris-oners until they had given good rea-sons for entering the country. Estab-lishing the truth of their story byNaliahama's successful translationinto Japanese of Blount's Navigatorresulted in their release, and Naka-hama was permitted to see his fatherand mother again.Nakahama was given a government

position, and rose in favor until thetime of Commodore Perry's visit toJapan, for the purpose of securingthe opening of the port of Tokio toI he United States. The mikado wasprejudiced against foreigners, on ac-count of the disorderly conduct of thesailors of other nations who had beenin Japan, but Nakahama assured himtbat Commodore Perry and his menv\ere gentlemen, and prevailed uponthe mikado to receive the commodore.^^akahama acted as interpreter dur-ing the interview, which resulted in am^aty with the United States. Sub-sequently Nakahama was placed atthe head of a commission of sevenJapanese students to visit Europeannations and make similar treaties withthem.Coming to New York, Nakahama

had three days there before sailingfor Europe, and he took the oppor-tunity to visit Fairhaven. He wentto the home of Mrs. Whitfield—thecaptain having died—and when shesaw Nakahama she burst into tears,as did the Japanese, so affected werethey by the meeting. He remained inI'airhaven that day, and to every oneof his old acquaintances he met, hepresented a Japanese gold coin. Mr.Tripp expressed regret that on thatday he was out of town, and failedto obtain one of the coins.Nakahama's European mission was

so successful that the mikado madehim a prince of the empire. Mr. Trippdisplayed a portrait of the Japanesein the costume of a prince.

Following Mr. Tripp's talk, MissDrescott sank "Oh, Dear, What Canthe Matter Be," and the meetingclosed with the singing of "Auld LangSyne. ' The speakers were extendeda vote of thanks for their addresses.

In addition to Miss Drescott's vocalselections, Edmund Grinnell who play-ed her accompaniments, renderedMozart's INIinuet, with variations.

19

The company adjourned to the col- garet Price served cider from anonia room, where the old-fashioned earthern jug; and doughnuts Applesdainties promised by President Cush- and popcorn were also served^'^'^^'

man were dispensed. In a corner of The refreshment committee comthe room, Miss Mary Bradford poured prised Miss Edith Tripp and M^scoffee, from a beautiful old-fashioned Margaret Price, assisted by M ssurn; while Mrs. William H. Snow pre- Pauline Hawes and Miss Marguer tlsided at the centre table. Miss Mar- Walmsley.»,ueiue

£ 9G7

.>v.

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