Full text of "History of shipbuilding on North river, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with genealogies of the shipbuilders, and accounts of the industries upon its tributaries. 1640 to 1872"

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HISTORY OF SHIPBUILDING

NORTH RIVER,

PLYMQTJTn COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS,

WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE SHIPBUILDERS,
AND ACCOUNTS OF THE INDUSTRIES UPON ITS TRIBUTARIES.

1640 TO 1872.

L. VERNON BRIGGS

MEMBER OP THE NEW EXGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.

BOSTON:

COBURN BROTHERS, PRINTERS, I I4 WASHINGTON STREET.

18S9.

m;i.

COPTBIGHT BY

VERNON BRIGGS,

1889.

THE
7 NEW YORK ,
PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Astor, Lenox and Tilden^

Foundations.

1896

,.J''.

DEDICATED WITH AFFECTIONATE RESPECT TO MY FRIEND

SON OF

TRANSLATOR OF LAPLACE'S MEOANIQUE CELESTE,

AND AUTHOR OF

B0WDITCW8 PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR,

®E late assumrt fag tfje SEititcJ States fiFabErnment as t!je gutUt for eijttg

American seaman anH mang otfjers of tlje !Englts|j=speafetng

race fajfjilf sailing ober tlje globe.

PREFACE.

Several y^'^i's ago the author began collecting valuable facts
relative to the shipbuilding interests that had existed in his own
family, thinking it well to put into some tangible form facts that
in a few years would be otherwise unobtainable. While thus
working for a possible future history or genealogy of his family
he discovered much of value and interest to the public in general,
and the descendants of all North River shipbuilders in particular.
Eighteen months ago he conceived the idea of writing a history
of the shipbuilding on North River, making it as complete as
possible at this late day. Most of the work has been done out of
business hours, and much of this time has been taken in his other
duties as President of Ward XVI. Associated Charities of Boston,
Director of the New England Hospital for Women and Children,
and President of the Hanover Academy Alumni. In compiling
this history he has been ably assisted by many sincere friends, and
has employed expert clerks among the old Probate and Custom
House records of many cities and towns. Acknowledgments of
deep gratitude are due to numerous individuals who have assisted
him by furnishing copies of records, old account books, bills and
receipts, family records, diaries, etc. Were he to name all those
to whom he is thus indebted he would include the descendants of
many of the families whose ancestors, and in some cases they
•themselves, ^vere versed in the art of shipbuilding, also the
names of sea captains, librarians, merchants, selectmen, probate
officers, etc., not leaving out the Hon. Henry B. Pierce, Secretary of
State, who has a most systematic arrangement of the old records,
manuscripts and maps in his keeping at the State House, nor Mr.
John Tower, Editor of the North River " Pioneer," who has ably
written many of the autobiographies. The author dare not flatter
himself that the work is free from errors, but as a whole it is be-
lieved to be worthy of confidence, and where he has been unable
to verify traditions and hearsay information bearing on this sub-
ject, by records or manuscript in some form, he has not stated
such information as facts. Neither time, labor nor expense has

VI PREFACE.

been spared to make tlie volume a valuable collection of facts.
The name of North River is familiar to the older generations of
seafaring men and especially to the older residents of Nantucket,
New Bedfoid, Sag Harbor, Barnstable, Provincetow^n, Boston
and the South Shore. Great Britain was a market for a large num-
ber of North River built vessels before the Revolution. Prior to
iSoo North River was known the world over ; vessels were not
designated as having been built in Scituate, Marshfield, Hanover
or Pembroke, but "on North River." The author has unearthed
the records of over one thousand and twenty-five vessels built
here, and the United States Flag was carried around the world,
and among other places, to the following countries for the first
time at the mast heads of North River built vessels : Great Brit-
ain, Canada, the Northwest coast, to the Black Sea and China.
The largest number of vessels built on the River in a single year
that the author has found the records of was thirty in iSoi, and the
year 1818 shows the next largest number, twenty-four. During the
five years, from 1799 to 1S04 inclusive, there were built here
one hundred and fifteen vessels, an average of twenty-three each
year. During the ten years, from 1794 to 1804 inclusive, there
were one hundred and seventy-eight vessels built here, or an
average of 17 each year. The largest number of vessels found
bearing the same name were Betseys and Sallys, fourteen each ;
twelve Marys, eleven Pollys, and ten Neptunes. Times look a
little brighter for the shipbuilders in general now ; nine or more
vessels are on the stocks at Bath, Me. Currier has just launched a
i2cx)-ton four-masted schooner at Newburyport ; a similar ves-
sel has recently been launched at New Haven, Conn., and six or
more vessels are building at East Boston. North River may
yet see another vessel, and perhaps many more built upon her
banks. Several of the old shipbuilders affirm that in build-
ing small vessels there are no obstacles but what could easily be
overcome, if the men had the courage. The copied manuscript
of this volume has been deposited with the New England His-
toric Genealogical Society, Ijoston.

Hanover, November i, 1889.

L. V. B.

CONTENTS.

For alphabetical list of names and vessels see end of volume.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE.

Sources of North River and their tributaries. — History of the industries located

thereon 1-27

CHAPTER II.

North River (continued). — Its bridges and ferries, and the industries that
have been located on its lower tributaries ; also, vessels built upon its banks
in early times at yards unknown 28-51

CHAPTER III.

North River Pilots. — Capt. Anthony Collamore, Wantons, Samuel Doggett,
John Doggett, Mark Hatch, Capt. Bardin Sylvester, Benjamin Hatch,
Benjamin Damon, James Eldredge, Frederick Handerson, Job Young,
Benjamin House, Jr., Jacob Ames, James Ames, Alvin Hall, Samuel
Hall, Benjaniiu Keene, Asa Sherman, Asa Sherman, Jr., Tobias Oak-
man, Cnpt. David Church, Timothy Williamson, Uncle Tom Tripp, Capt.
Luther Rogers, Calvin Lewis, Jerry Gunderway, Capt. Charles L. Tildeu. 52-63

CHAPTER IV.

North River Bridge Yards. 1668-1836. — Daniel Turner, James Barstow,
William Barstow, William Barstow, Jr., Benjamin Barstow, Gideon Barstow,
Nathaniel or " Builder Silvester," Nathaniel Silvester, Jr., Jonathan Sam-
son, Barker Turner, Jeduthan Palmer, Enoch Magoun 64-76

CHAPTER V.

Miscellaneous Yards in Pembroke. 1793-1803. — Nathaniel Cushing, Col.
George Turner, Thomas Turner, Robert Magoun, Job Randall, Jr.,
Ephraim Randall, and Aaron Sherman 77-83

CHAPTER VI.

Smith Yard. 1792-1819. (Afterward Eells' & Barstow's Yard.)— Col. John
Bailey, Dea. Isaac Perry, Josiah Smith, Albert Smith, Thomas Smith,
Miller Smith, Benjamin Bass, Jr., William Delano, Bezal Eells, Edward
Eells, Samuel Eells 84-96

viii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.

B\RSTow's "Two Oaks," And Lower Yat^ds. 1760-1846— Thomas Barstow,

Capt. Robert Lenthal Eells, NatL; 1 i;dr>tow, Thomas Barstow, Jr., Col.

John B. Barstow, Dea. Elijah Barsiuu , Ai;iier Stetson, Michael Ford, Jr.,
Israel H. Sherman, Col. John Baiky, Capt. Elijah Barstow, Jr., Barker
Turner, Joseph S. Bates 97-120

CHAPTER VIII.

Miscellaneous Yarks in Hanover. 1736-1844.— John Clark, Nath'l Clark,
Belcher Clark, Solomon Bates, Col. Seth Bates, David Kingman, Sam'l
Rogers, Elijah Haywood, Joshua Turner, Dea. Isaac Perry, Wm. Coushing
& Co., Calvin Turner, Ichabod Thomas, Benj. Stockbridge, Martin Stock-
bridge, Isaiah Wing 121-130

CHAPTER IX.

Fox Hill Yard. 1690-1869.— Nathaniel Church, John Palmer, Michael Ford,
William Copelaiid, Elias W. Pratt, Elisha Tolnian, Mr. Merritt, Ca])t.
Thomas Waterman, Joseph S. Bates, Capt. Elisha Barstow, Thomas B.
Waterman. . - 131-146

CHAPTER X.

Brick-kiln Yard. 1730-1807. — Capt. Benjamin Turner, Capt. Ichabod Thomas,

Sr., Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Jr., Calvin Turner 147-175

CHAPTER XI.

Brick-kiln Yard, (Continued). 1796-1848.— William Lewis, Alden. Briggs,
Elisha Briggs, Jonathan Samson, Samuel Rogers, Isaac Hatch, Lut)ier
Briags, Aaron S. Magoun, Jr., Enoch Magoun, Joshua Magoun, Jedutlian
Palmer, Baiker Turner, Caleb Turner, Cushing 0. Briggs, Silvaaus Smith,
Melzar S. Turner 176-201

CHAPTER XIL

Rogers' Yards. 1790-1819.— Gravelly Beach, Doggett's Ferry.— Israel Rogers,
Amos Rogers, Joseph Rogers, Asa Rogers, Asa Rogers, Jr., Samuel Rogers,
Thomas Rogers, Thomas Rogers, Jr., Nathaniel Rogers, Jr., Peleg Rogers,
Peleg Rogers, Jr., Luther Rogers 202-213

CHAPTER Xin.

"Wanton Yard. 1670-1840. — Edward Wanton, Robert Barker, Ebenezer Stet-
son, Snow Stutson, Benjamin Delano, William Delano, Samuel Ilartt,
William H. Delano,. Benjamin F. Delano, Joseph Clapp, Elisha Foster,
Elisha Fostar, Jr., Seth Foster, Samuel Foster, Walter Foster, Samuel
Roo'ers, Elijih Brooks, J. Turner Foster, Cummings Litchfield, James S.
Burrill. • 214-242

CHAPTER XIV.

Chittenden Yard. 1690-1871. — Job Randall, Edward Prouty, Isaac Prouty,
Isaac Chittenden, Nathaniel Chittenden, Obadiah Merritt, Noah Merritt,
Samuel Silvester, George Torrey, James Torrey, Isaac Torrey, George
Torrey, Jr., David Torrey, Joseph Nash, Elisha Barker, Laban Souther,
Joseph Pratt, Charles Cole, Walter Foster, Elijah Cudworth, Laban
Cudworth, Joseph Cudworth, John Cudworth, Henry Merritt, Joseph
Merritt 243-259

CHAPTER XV.
Block-House Yard. 1701-1834-48. — William James, William James, Jr.,

CONTENTS.

Daniel Hatch, James Torrey, Jotbam Tilden, Luther Tilden, George Torrey,

David Torrey 260-271

CHAPTER XVI.

Bbooks & Tilden and William Taylor Yards. 1784-1860. — Scollay Baker,
Prince Hatch, Elisha Ford, Jr., Aaron Sherman, Elijah Brooks, William
H. Tilden, George Tilden, William Taylor, Israel Carver. . . . 272-281

CHAPTER XVII.

Briggs Yard. (Hobart's Landing.) 1645-1842. — Thomas Nichols, Samuel
House, Jr., Jeremiah Hatch, VValter Hatch, Jeremiah Hatch, Jr., Israel
Hobart, Jamea Briggs, Seth Briggs, John Briggs, Thomas Barker Briggs,
Gushing Otis Briggs, Henry Briggs, Charles C. Briggs, William T.
Briggs. . . . . . 282-325

CHAPTER XVIII.

Scituate MtscELLANEors Yards and Builders. 1694-1868. — Asa Rogers,
Elisha Merritt, Samuel Tamer, Jr., William Brooks, Samuel Rogers, Leonard
Litchfield, Foster Litchfield, Cummings Litchfield 326-349

CHAPTER XIX.

White's Ferry Yards. 1705-1840. — Simeon Keene, Simeon Keene, Jr., Benja-
min Keene, Isaac Keene, Luke Hall, William Hall, Samuel Hall. . . 350-3C2

CHAPTER XX.

Scituate Harbor Yards. 1650-1864. — William James, John Kent, Job Otis,
John Northey, William Vinal, Samuel Kent, Anthony Waterman, Otis
Briggs, James Sylvester Briggs, Barnabas Webb Briggs, J. O. Curtis, Wil-
liam Vinal, Jr., Henry Vinal, Willliain Briggs & Co., Melzar S. Turner,
Luther Briggs, Edwin Otis, Andrew Cole

363-392

WR-CK OF THE SCHOONER "EDWARD NORTON," NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF SCITUATE HARBOR,
NOVEMBER 25, 188S.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page
NORTH RIVER BRIDGE (so called), built in 1829, connecting Hanover
with Pembroke, and located just below the old Barstow Bridge; also show-
ing the location of tbe " Bridge Ship- Yards " on the right. From a photo-
graph by Robert B. Sylvester, ------ Frontispiece

WRECK OF THE SCH. "EDWARD NORTON" on Crow Point, near the
entrance of Scituate Harbor, Nov. 25, 1888. Fifteen men lost, one saved.
From a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, ----- ix

MAP OF PEMBP1.OKE, including what is now Hanson. From an original

drawing and survey made in November, 1794. - • - - 5

THE "OLD IRON WORKS," or Curtis' Anchor Forge. From Barry's His-
tory of Hanover, ........ 9

CLAPP'S RUBBER MILLS, located on the site of the " Old Iron Works."

From a pen and ink drawing, -------10

WATERMAN'S TACK WORKS, located in Project Dale, on the Indian Head
River. Pen and ink drawing by James Hall, from a photograph by Robert
B. Sylvester, ...------13

E. PHILLIPS & SONS' TACK WORKS, located on the site of the old Bars-
tow Forge, on the Indian Head River, So. Hanover. From a photograph
by Robert B. Sylvester, 18

PLAN of the parts of Scituate and Abington that were incorporated as the town

of Hanover, June 14, 1727. From original drawing made June, 1726, - 31

MAP showing the mouth of North and South Rivers, Hall's (formerly Keene's)

Ship-Yard and White's Ferry. From Ford's Map of Marshfield, - - 45

JERRY GUNDERWAY, a North River pilot. From a photograph, - - 59

JEDUTHAN PALMER, born 1786, died 1860. From a daguerreotype in the

possession of Mrs. N.P.Banks, Waltham, Mass. - - - - 72

MAP of North River from the Third Herring Brook to Job's Landing, inclusive, 83

MAP ofNorth River showing the location of the ship-yards in Hanover and

Pembroke, above the Third Herring Brook. From Barry's History of

oq
Hanover, - - - os»

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XI

Page

SAMUEL EELLS, born 1783, died 1863. From an old picture, - - - 94

COL. JOHN B. BARSTOW, born 1764, died 1854. From an oil painting by

Southworth, .--.... - 99

CAPT. ELIJAH BARSTOW, JR., born 1805. From a photograph by

Marshall, 109

MAP of Hanover. From an original drawing and survey made a.d. 1794-95, - 119

BARSTOW'S LOWER SHIP-YARD, formerly occupied by Col. Bailey, the
Smiths and Eellses respectively ; showing also the location of the Yards built
upon by Kingman, Rogers, Hay ward. Turner, Perry, Gushing, Thomas,
Stoclibridge and Wing on the left just below the wall. From a photograph
by Robert B. Sylvester, 127

FOX (or Sunset) HILL SHIP YARD. From a photograph by Robert B.

Sylvester, 131

SILHOUETTE of William Copeland, From an original, - - - 133

MICHAEL FORD. From a photograph, ------ 136

SCH. " WILLIAM MARTIN," built by Barstow & Waterman, 1854. From a
photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, taken while she was lying at National
Wharf, East Boston, 1889. 142

HER. BRIG "LIZZIE J. BIGELOW" built by Barstow &Watertnan, 1866,

lost Feb. 12, 1885. From an oil painting owned by Fabens, Boston, - 144

CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS, JR., born 1761, died IS.'ig. From an old picture

owned by Mrs. James T. Tolman, Hanover, ----- 158

"THE BOSTONIANS PAYING THE EXCISE MAN, OR TARRING AND
FEATHERING." From a picture owned by the late Josiah Dunham,
Esq., Boston, -.....--- 165

THROWING THE TEA FROM THE TEA SHIPS INTO BOSTON HAR-
BOR. From " Tea Leaves," 166

SHIP " MARIA " built by Ichabod Thomas in 1782, broken up at Vancouver's

Island, 1872. From an old number of " Gleason's Pictorial." - 171

FRANCIS ROTCH, owner of the tea ship " Beaver." A silhouette from " Tea

Leaves," ---------- 172

THOMAS COAT OF ARMS. From china owned by the late Benjamin

Thomas, son of Ichabod, ------- 175

BRICK-KILN SHIP-YARD, showing the town landing on the right of the wall
and the location of the yard on the left. From a photograph by Joseph A.
Tripp, 181

BARKER TURNER. From a daguerreotype owned by Alden Turner, North

Pembroke, -------.. 191

SHIP " LAURA ANN," built by Caleb Turner, in 1815. From an oil painting

owned by Mrs. Charles Cushing, Neponset, ----- 193

PLAN OF HORSE-BOAT, which was to have been used on North River.

From the original drawing, - . - . - . 1991

Xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page

MAP OF MARSHFIELD, from surveys made between December, 1794, and

•luno, 1795. From an original drawing on file at the State House, Boston, - 207

MAP OF NORTH RIVER, showing the location of ship-yards between Grav-
elly Beach and Taylor & Carver's Yard, inclusive, . - - - 214

SAMUEL TOLMAN. From a picture owned by James T. Tolraan, Hanover, 233

GUSHING OTIS, born 1769, died 1837. From an original silhouette, - - 251

CHITTENDEN YARD, showing the launching of the sch. " Helen M. Foster,"
in 1871, also her builder, Joseph Merritt. From photographs by J. H. Wil-
liams, ..-.------ 257

BLOCK-HOUSE SHIP- YARD (location of the yard a little this side of the

boat house). From a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, . - - 268

MAP OF NORTH RIVER, showing the location of the Briggs ship-yard at
Hobart's Landing, and Rogers' ship-yard at Little's Bridge. From Ford's
Map of Marshneld, . . - 282

BRIGGS SHIP-YARD AND HOBART'S LANDING, showing the original
work house on the left, which is the only one remaining on the banks of
North River. Engraved by Henry G. Marchant from a photograph by L.
Vernon Briggs, .-.--.--- 286

LUCY OTIS, wife ^f Thomas Barker Briggs. From an original silhouette, - 293

CUSHING OTIS BRIGGS, born 1787, died 1861. From a photograph by

Ormsby, 294

RESIDENCE OF CUSHING O. BRIGGS, Scituate, and birthplace of all his

children. From a photograph, - ...... 296

FAC-SIMILE OF ONE OF THE MEDALS struck off for the " Columbia "
and " Washington " at the time of their sailing to the northwest coast.
From Greenhow's History of Oregon, ------ 298

MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER. From an original drawing, - 307

COLUMBIA POINT below the Dalles, ------ ;307

INTERIOR of one of the rooms in the bouse built by Robert Thomas about
1712, which was afterward added to and became the residence of James and
Gushing Otis Briggs respectively. From an original drawing by Lloyd
Briggs about 1846, 312

HENRY BRIGGS, born 1789, died 1837. From a painting on ivory by South-
worth, ..----,--. 316

BRIG " CRONSTADT " ashore on Falsterbo Reef, oflF Sweden. From a paint-
ing owned by Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston, - - - 318

BRIG " CRONSTADT," built by G. O. & H. Briggs in 1829. From a painting

owned by Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston, - - - - - 318

CHARLES CUSHING BRIGGS, born 1813, died 1843. From a painting on

ivory by Southworth, - - . . ... 323

LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. XIU

Page
WILLIAM THOMAS BRIGGS, born 1815. From a photograph, - . 324

BRIG "NORFOLK," built by the Halls at White's Ferry in 1833. From a

painting owned by the late Capt. F. M. Eoggs, Boston, - - - 359

PLAN OF SCITUATE HARBOR AND VILLAGE, showing the location of
the ship-yards. From sl<etches made without survey or measurements, by
Capt. Alex. Anderson and B. W. Briggs, ----- 363

BARNABAS WEBB BRIGGS, born 1805. From a tin-type, - - - 384

BARK " MARTHA ALLEN," built at Scituate Harbor by J. S. Briggs, in
1849. From a painting owned by Horace Manson, Boston, -

386

NORT RIFFER.

Shweet Shtream dot past mine Doochy flows,
More crooked dan ine Roman nose

Or Grecian bend, from vare it rose
To vare it falls, as I shuppose,

Vile on de banks de brushwood grows
To roost de blackbirds unt de crows,

Dine praise I'll singen, e'er I close,
Nort Riffer.

My lyre is't tooned, so here she goes,
Nort Riffer.

Oh, how ve used, de little scamps,
To shtart off on our fishin' tramps,

Unt shtand, mit vater o'er our vamps,
Fishin' for pogies — catchin' cramps.

At home der fater shcolds unt shtamps,
Mad as ine lion ven he ramps ;

Yet oft ve'd tread dine boggy damps,
Nort Riffer,

Until der sky had lit his lamps,

Nort Riffer.

Down at de Seine ve'd take our swim,
But oft ve'd shtand upon dine brim,

Shaking for dread in efry limb

Of turtles huge unt bull-frogs grim,

Unt vater-shnakes so long and slim,
Unt horn-pouts fierce in fighting trim.

At last v'ed brave dine vaters dim,
Nort Rifter,

Unt o'er dine surface boldly skim,
Nort Riffer.

NORT RIFFER. XT

How o'er der rainbow ve vould trip

Down to der launching of de ship,
Vile expectation shtood on tip

Unt silence passed from lip to lip,
Down vent de spur-shore mit ine zip,

Unt down de vays der craft vould shiip,
Unt shlanting troo dine vaters skip,

Nort RifTer,
Till caught in Pembroke's muddy grip,
Nort Rifier.

Sometimes ve'd paddle down dine floot,

Like Julie, in her famed gum boot,
Down to de ocean for to shoot

De peep, de grey-back, unt de coot
Unt loon dat savors riicht so goot,

How ve vould sing, unt yell, unt hoot,
As down dine reaches ve vould scoot,

Nort Riffer,
Vile dine shores echoed our salute,

Nort Rifler.

Now ve haf grown to pe pig men,

Und vield de yardstick, birch unt pen,
Strifing to reach de Upper Ten,

Or mourning o'er vat might haf been.
Yet dough doze shports will ne'er again

Delight us as dey used to den,
Dein shtream ffows past as fair as ven,

Nort Riffer,
Its charms first came mitin our ken,
. . Nort Riffer.

Ah ! ven der vorlt grows colt unt blank,

Unt mine hand fails at efry yank
To turn de wheel of fortune's crank,

Or shift de tread in fate's dread hank,
I'll hie me to dine rooshes rank,

Unt build ine shanty mit some plank,
Unt, mit ine hearty Gott sei dank,

Nort Riffer,
I'll eat polonies on dine bank,

Nort Riffer.

Clarence L. Howes.

ABBREVIATIONS, &c.

It has been impossible to avoid the use of abbreviations. The
following are some of the more frequent ones the reader will
encounter in perusing the succeeding pages : —

M. B. for master builder.

for

born.

died.

mar.

married.

bro.

brother.

dan.

daughter.

dO.

and others.

bit.

built.

M.C.

master carpenter.

bk.

' bark.

bark'fn

' barkentine.

brig''f7t
Her. bg.

' brigantine.

' hermaphrodite bri

' schooner.

sip

" sloop.

Until 1628 the waters of the North River had probably never been
disturbed by any navigator excepting the Indian in his canoe, and
how we all would like to look back three hundred years and see the
same beautiful river with the picturesque Indian and canoe, he dis-
turbing the quiet waters with the silent dipping of his paddle. The
first white people known to have navigated the river were the Bar-
kers, about 1628. When they reached the " Crotch," instead of
following up the Indian Head they ascended the Herring Brook as
far as it was navigable with their small boat, where they left the
stream and settled in what is now Pembroke. The history of the
river from about this time is contained in the following pages.

NORTH RIVER.

CHAPTER I.

SOURCES OF XORTH RIVER AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES. HISTORY

OF THE INDUSTRIES LOCATED THEREON.

WHY the stream which has ))ec()me so historic takes the
name of Xortli River, those who named it loft no record,
but probably it was either l)ecause that in going north from
Plymouth they found two rivers, and named the southern,
South River and the northern. North River ; or else, during
their explorations along the coast, when they discovered these
two rivers, one flowing directly from the north, the other di-
rectly from the south, meeting a little way from the coast, and
flowing into the ocean together as one stream, they named the
one flowing from the north, North River, and the one flowing
from the south. South Rivei. Either would be sufficient reason
for thus naming these rivers, and in absence of any record, one
of these two theories may pro])al)ly l)e accepted as correct. The
sources of North River are the Indian Head and the Namassa-
keesett Rivers. For the benefit of those who would like to
follow up these streams, Iwnll locate them and their tributaries,
and on them the mills, factories, forges, etc., giving as com-
plete a history of each as it has been possible to gather from
the material now in existence.

The Namassakeeset stream rises in Furnace Pond. Great
Sandy Pond connects with Furnace, and Little Sandy Pond
with Great Sandy ; thus the Namassakeeset receives an unusually
large amount of water at its very source. " On a recent visit to
Furnace Pond in Pembroke, we endeavored to collect (for want of
better information) some of the legends and traditions connected

2 SOURCES OF KORTH IIIVER.

with that now somewhat noted locality. There is positive
proof that there was a l)last lurnace erected there as long ago
us 1702, and leased or hired to a ]\Ir. Lamliart Despard for the
])urpose of casting all kinds of ironware." Hatchets Avere made
here. One casting still in existence is the back of the tirepluce
now in the old Barker House m Pembroke. Plymouth Records
say that Despard l)ought of Jeremiah INIomentague (the Indian)
twenty acres of land there in INIarch, 1701-2, and contracted with
Francis Barker, Robert Barker, Samuel Barker, Joshua Barker,
Josiah Barker, Ro])ert Barker, Jr., and Michael AVanton to have
the furnace completed by September, 1702. Despard was to
do the work and have one quarter of the furnace when done, and
the others were to pay him £1 -sO. Despard Avas from Brtiintree.
"In 1(U8, My. Timothy Hatherly, tlie principal founder and
father of the town of Scituate, requested liberty of the colony to
erect an iron mill. It was granted m 1(550, on conditions that
it be erected withni three years, or the privilege and certain
woodlands al)out jVIattakeeset Pond (now Peml)roke) were to
revert to the colony. It did not however take phice at that
period, but 'a smelting furnace was erected on the jM-ecise grant,
by Mark Despard anct the f^imily of Barker about 1702.' '*

"The followhig are the Articles of agreement made and confirmed
between Joseph Bates, of Scituate, in ye County of Plimouth in New
England, of ye one Party, and Joshua Barker of Dnxbury in ye
County aforeSd of ye other party, witnesseth that ye said Bates doth
at ye day of }e date of these presents firmly bind himself to make ye
bricks for, and set up a Stack of chimnies ; that is to say :_ two good
Convenient Chimnies from ye ground and a Chamber Chimnle, and
to Stone a seeler of thirty and one foot one way, and eighteen foot ye
other, and to point ye same within side and without so far as ye wall
shall be above ground, with lime, and all-so to make a Convenient
place by ye Jam of ye Chimnie, and Stone and Point ye same for
Stairs to pass up into ye house, and both plaster and whitewash }e
Lower Room Chamber Lean-bow Chamber, and one room of ye
Lean-bow Below of a house of Twenty-four foot long, and Twenty
foot wide, and a Lean-bow of Twelve foot wide, and Thirty foot long,
and aid-so to plaster all ye Outside of ye Chimnie and Oven with
Lime, and is to find all Carting, Labor, and Stufe for ye finishing of
ye Same ; all whicli work is to be done substancially and workman
Like, at or before ye first day of December, in ye year one thousand
seven hundred and three, for Said Barker, and for consideration of
Said work ye Said Barker doth firmly bignde himself to asign and
make over unto ye Sd Bates all that twelve Pounds money or
money's value and teen shillings which will be due to him from Mr.
Lambert Despard, for Rent or hire of his Eighth Part of furnace,

THE INDIAN PONDS. 6

from September in ye year 1702, to September in ye year 1703, and
all-so all that Twelve Pounds, and teen shillings which was Lent or
hired unto ye Sd Despard in order to furnish him with a Stook
(Stock) which will be due in September in ye year 1703. and all-so
to pay or Cause to be Paid unto the Sd Bates, the sum of five Pounds
Money at or before ye first day of September next ensewing, in wit-
ness whereofl'we have liere-unto Sect our hands, dated * * * * the
first, 1702-3. Signed sealed and delivered in the Presents of

Isaac Barker,
Francis Barker,
Joseph Bates,
Joshua Barrer."

The material for tlie iron business was fished up from the
bottom of the pond and from numerous "bogs " in the immedi-
ate vicinity, where bog-ore abounds at the present day. The
furnace was situated perha[)s ten rods from the pond on the
banks of the stream now known as the Herring brook, wliich,
after meandering through miles of tangled forests and pleasant
meadows, forms one of the chief tributaries of North river.
As to the location of the furnace there can ])c no doubt, as the
large quantities of slag or cinder that covers the ground amply
testifies. Even the mud-sill, that formed the foundation of the
flume, is plainly discernible, and the surrounding ground is
tilled with charcoal dust, which gives the ground the appear-
ance of black lead. About two rods abo^'e the site of the fur-
nace the stream was tapped and formed what is now known as
the Furnace ditch, in which was the tlume and water wheel that
was necessary to drive the blast bellows. The original stream
runs on the south side of the former structure, and though
plainly to l^e seen now, is partially filled Avith the accumulation
of decayed vegetation that has l)een gathering for many genera-
tions. It is the natural outlet of Oldham pond of 154 acres ;
Big Sandy, 110 acres; Little Sandy which formerly connected
with it, 49 acres; and Xo Bottom pond of 11 acres, together
flowing into Furnace pond of 112 1-4 acres, make a total of
437 acres of water.

On the hillside, a few rods l)elow the old furnace, on the
northeast side of the stream, is an old cellar, probably the one
mentioned in an issue of the Pioneer as being built by contract
by Joseph Bates, of Scituate, in 1703. A cedar tree covered
with lichen and moss of a century's growth, stands on its In-ink,
a curiosity seldom seen in this part of the country, and it forms
one of the principal attractions in this beautiful locality. In an

4 ABORIGINES. -

interview with a very intelligent old gentleman, who had lived
in that immediate vicinity for over 80 years, we learned the
fact that the^^'r.s^ cannon that were ever cast in this country were
cast at this place, and he also informed us that when he was a
child, he remembered hearing an old lady by the name of Berse
(who had seen her hundredth year), say, that her parents took
her up to the old furnace to see them cast pots and kettles when
she was a mere child, but the furnace was gone long before he
could remember.

About one-fourth of a mile below the old furnace is another
mill privilege, and on the dam is now standing the remains of
a saw millT The first mill at this place was built by ]Mr.
Nathaniel Ford 60 or 70 years ago. Mr. Ford was a cabinet
maker by trade, and also had a grist mill on the same dam in
connection with his other business. Mr. Ford appears to have
been a very independent sort of a man, and flowed the whole
surrounding territory regardless of the reputed rights of others,
which caused his arrest by a Mr. Isaac Barker, ^\dio claimed the
submerged land. The case was carried to the Plymouth courts,
but was" thrown out, as Mr. Barker could produce no title to
the property. After a time we find it in possession of Mr.
John Gorham and Jarius Rowland, who utilized it as a box
manufactory, and soon after it was burned down. Mr. Simeon
Chandler next came into possession of the privilege and moved
a building on the old site, which he fitted up for a mill, the
same which is now standing in a ruined condition. It is pretty
generally understood now that a large portion of this territory
has no legal claimants, and it is almost a wonder that the town
doesn't take the matter in hand and secure it for a paik before
it is stripped of the last remnant of its beauty.

On or before the time of the incorporation of Pembroke
(according to tradition) there was quite a large settlement of
Indians on the northerly side of the stream, whose ancestors
had lived here from the beginning of time, so far as any one
knows, or ever can know, to the contrary. Here they lived in
peace and happiness, training the young red skins in the use of
the sharp pointed arrows and more deadly tomahawks, with a
skill and precision that no white man could ever equal ; taught
them to track the red deer tlirough the surrounding forest with
an instinct only equalled l)y the l)lood hounds of modern days ;
taught them to ensnare the cunning beaver and otter, that were
once so plentiful in and about every stream and pond, and

<naijwsav\j

n.€>Aoaoa^rt<]

PEMBROKE IXDUSTUIES. 5

whose furs protected them from tlie })ierciiiii: cold thi'ouirh the
inclement season ; instructed them in the manufacture of fish-
inii' lines and hooks to entice the shining bass and slippery eel
from their native element, and to cure them by drying in their
smoky wigwams. Here they passed their simj^le lives in peace,
watching in the earliest opening of spring, for the myriads of
herring that forced their way past them to the })onds above ;
idled away the long, pleasant summer in their youthful and
innocent s})orts, which is usual to the young of all races ; listened
to the mournful jabbering of the large flocks of wild geese with
joyful glee, as they winged their way in the Indian summer to
their southern haunts ; feasted on the roasted ear of corn that a
kind Providence had placed at their disposal ; and thanked the
Great Spirit for His kindness to His red children, who had
kept and watched over them from time innnemorial. Such was
the condition of the red man before the coming of the pale face
with a nuisket in one hand and a jug of tire water in the other,
who with a smooth tongue tind winning ways defrauded the
poor savage of his land, stu})itied his senses with rum, dishonored
his women and daughters, brought strange disorders among
them which had hitherto been unknown, and caused their speedy
decay.

A stream enters the Namassakeeset at a point farther down,
flowinji' from the southeast, and rising in Marshtield. On this
stream have been erected several mills.

According to Barl)cr in his Historical Collections puldished
in l«3y :

"In 1S37, there was in Pembroke, Mass., — i cotton mill, i
cupola furnace, 2 tack factories, and 2 shingle mills." " Number of
vessels built, 8; tonnage of the same, 1000; value of the same
$40,000; hands employed, 8." Pop. 1258. Distance, 12 miles
from Plvmouth, 9 from Scimate harbor and 27 from Boston."

Isaac Hatch commenced the manufacture of satinets here in
1813. In 1834 or 3.5 he made shoe-boxes, and from the time
of his death in 18.50 until 1859 his sons carried on the business.
The latter year they built a steam mill where they manufactured
a million feet of boards in boxes annually. The same year
(1859) the water mill Avas burned and a new one erected where
they made water-pails and covered buckets. This was soon
given up, and the manufacture of mackerel kitts begun, and
until 1870, from 1500 to 2000 were made weekly.

b INDIAN HEAD RIVER.

Calvin Shepherd commenced the manufacture of boxes at the
old Shepherd cotton mill about the same time that Isaac Hatch
began. His son in-law, James H. West, now successfully
carries on the l)usiness there. Nathan T. Shepherd, Lemuel
Lefurgey and John Foster are also engaged in the business.
Still farther down, the Xamassakeeset receives another tributary
from the southwest. Between the Namassakeeset and the
Indian Head is the great swam}) spoken of by AVinthrop in his
Journal. A very good account of Namassakeeset River, or
Barker's, or Herring River, as it is sometimes called, has been
written by Dr. Francis Collamore in his history of Pembroke,
published in Hurd's history of Plymouth Co.

We are now back to the Crotch, formed by the junction of
the Indian Head and Namassakeeset Rivers. At this point
North River begins its winding, snake-like course, through hill
and vale, flowing over twenty miles to reach the ocean, ten
miles distant. It is a truly beautiful stream and associated with
many historical events of our country, which fame has l)een won
for it by the ships built on its banks and which it safely bore to
the ocean, from whence they gave renown to their Ijuilders and
to the river on which they were built. We will now begin the
ascent of Indian Head River. A few "reaches" u}) we come to
Chapman's Landing on the north bank, and just below an old
fording place. This has been a favorite bathing place for the
boys from time immenK)rial, imtil the filth, or refuse from the
rubber mill made it unpleasant to l)athe there. Here the boys
assembled after school and on Saturdays, coming by the deeply
worn old Indian })ath across the Indian fields that border on the
marsh-lands by the river,* stopping only to eat the luscious
high-bush blue-berry that grows in abundance in these fields.
They commenced to disrolje l)efore the v'nev was in sight, and
when the bank Avas reached were nearly ready to jump in.
Diving from the opposite bank was a favorite pastime, and the
author can recall many a time diving for fresh-water clams and
cookmg them on stones heated by a tire built on the l)ank, and
tryin(i to eat them. Digging and cooking them was fun, eating
them was not.

A little farther up, the Indian Head receives, as a tributary,
the Iron Mine Brook, also called Trout Brook, or Bar-
STOw's Brook. It rises in Randall's Swamp, north of Hanover

* This path also leads across the Indian fields back of the residence of John Tower.

luddam's ford. 7

St., and there are still remains on its banks of the old dams
built by the beavers. It Hows south across Hanover and Eock-
land Sts. (or "Hanover's Folly "as old Capt. John Cushing
named it), Broadway, through the land of the late Col. John B.
Barstow, across Elm St., and thence through the lands of
Michael Christie and Reuben Donnell into the Indian Head.

Next up on the Indian Head we come to the historic Luddam's
Ford, at the bridiie which connects Hanover with Peml)roke
below the dam of Clapp's Rubber ]\Iill. The stream here tirst
became tamous as the fording place of Gov. Winthrop and party
in 1632.

Gov. John Winthrop, in his diary under date of Sept.
1632, says ;

"About five in the morning the Governor, [Winthrop] and
his company came out of Plimouth. The governor of Plimouth
[Bradford] with the Pastor and Elder &c , bringing them nearly
one-half mile out of town in the dark. Lieut. Holmes with two
others and the Governor's mare came along with them to the great
swamp, about ten miles, when they came to the great river, [now
called North River,] they were carried over by one Luddam, their
guide, as they had been when they came, the stream being very
strong and up to their crotch, so the Governor called that passage
Luddam's Ford."

No other name has ever been given to this locality, and no
more appropriate name could be given. Luddam, the guide,
is probably the same Luddam thatVe tind later in Weymouth.
What a]^pears now to be but an insignificant stream at this
place, is a part of the river that was of'the utmost importance
to the first settlers of the colony. This and^ North River fur-
nished large supplies of food, abounding in fish of many kinds ;
shad, alewives or herring, smelts, bass, white and red perch,
pickerel, shiners, the ugly horn-pout, and Deane says, sahnon
among the other varieties. The alewives and shad ascend the
different herring brooks and the main stream now to some ex-
tent, and are taken in fairly large quantities ; but each year they
come in diminished numbers. The dams prevent their ascend-
ing to their old spawning grounds, and the refuse of the mills,
especially the rubber mill, so impregnates the waters and fills
up the smaller stre:uns, that they cannot and will not go up,
and without some decided steps are soon taken, all fish will be-
come as much strangers to the river as the bass and salmon have
already. Fish, tradition tells us, was one of the mam supplies

8 BARDWIN'S iron "WORKS.

of food for tlie liardy men and women that made their hal)ita-
tions on the pleasant hanks of Xorth River. A few years ago
the river was stocked Avith several millions of Oregon salmon,
but they have all disappeared. For over twenty years there
was no mechanical business carried on in the colony. The lirst
settlers followed the example of the Indians, — lived on game
and tish, and cleared small tracts of land which they planted
Avith corn, ])eans, etc. They next built vessels to trade with.
In early days most of the vessels were engaged in the coastmg
trade ; the diflerent colonies estal)li hed trading houses along
the coast, and they traded with tlie Indians and in turn with the
trading vessels that touched along their shores.

"Winthrop Avrites, in 1<)34 :

" Our neighbors of Plymoutli had oft traded with the Dutch at
Hudson's-River, called by them New Netherlands."

He adds :

"We had from them about 40 sheep and beaver, and brass pieces
and sugar, etc., for sack, strong waters, linen cloth, and other com-
modities. They have a great trade of beaver there, about 9,000 or
icoocrbeaver skins in a year."*

There were many beavers in Plymouth County when the set-
tlers first came, and many of the small streams, tril)utaries of
North River, have to-day dams and remnants of dams originally
l)udt by these cunning and intelhgent creatures. jNlanufacturi ng
soon followed the ship-l)uilding art, and in 1704 a dam was built
just above Luddam's Ford ))y Tho3Ias Bardix ( or Burden, or
Bardwin, as Ave find it spelled in different places), who, with
his l)rother Isaac, liA'ed on BroadAA'ay in the house which Avas
occupied by the late David Hersey, and Avhich is still standing,
and now occupied by his daughter, !Mrs. Jennie Reed. Deane
says they were sons of Abraham Bardin of Scituate. In 1704
Thomas Bardin also erected an anchor forge and supplied the
increasing demajid for anchors for the A'essels built on the ship-
yards beloAv ; also the iron knees then used to some extent.
That Thomas Bardwin, pro])al)ly son of the above Thomas,
succeeded to the business, Ave have good reason to believe, as
in the Boston Evening Post of Feb. 14, 1774, we tind that
there died

* AVintbrop's History of New England, I, 138.

i»

■^

-_^

ffi

cc;

CURTIS ANCHOR FORGE. 9

"At Hanover, Capt. Thomas Bavdwin, aged 8G. He was Dorn near
Haverford-West, in South Wales, came over in 171G, and loas the first tkal
made bar iron m New England.''''

The lirst liridge at this pomt was probal)ly l)uilt about this
time. In 1730 the records of the town speak of this forge or
iron foundry as the "old iron works" Before 1740 we find
these iron works in the possession of the Josselyns, who had so
nuich trouble with the town in regard to their dam, Avhieli pre-
vented the herring trom ascending the river to their spawning
grounds. There were two brothers, Capt. Joseph ( also a dea-
con ) who gave a bell to the Centre Church, and Avho was a
man of great enterprise, and Deacon Thomas, who gave two
silver connnunion cups to the First Church, and who was a se-
lectman at one time. They were succeeded hj Seth, Phili}),
Isaac, and John li. Josselyn, Lemuel Dwelley, Benj. Studley,
and Lemuel Curtis. In 1790 Lenmel Curtis, who lived where
Solomon Russell now resides, sold one-quarter of the forge,
etc., to his sons Reul)en and Consider Curtis ; Philip and Isaac
Josselyn had sold out previously. Eeuben Curtis and the
others continued making anchors and doing the iron w^ork on
the vessels built below, and the business increased until they
had more than they coidd attend to. ]Mr. Curtis was also a
large owner in some of the vessels, and was town clerk and
representative to the General Court. He resided on Elm Street,
near his forge, wdiere Keul)en Donnell now lives. In 17!ll
Benjamin Studley and John R. Josselyn sold out to Lemuel
Curtis. Seth Josselyn disposed of his interest in 1803. In
1831 Reuben Curtis sold his foui'th to George Curtis, the only
son of Consider, and in 183i) Lcnuiel Dwelley sold his half to
George Curtis, which, with the other interests he bought or in-
herite<l from his father, left him in sole possession of the works.
Tlie tirst works erected by the Curtis family were burned in
1848, asAvas also a corn mill Avhich Avas built in 1832. George
Curtis lived where Edward Sweeney now resides, on Elm Street,
near Curtis' Crossing, and a cut of the house and also the forge
is in Barry's History of Hanover. He died Eel). IG, 1(S75.
Mr. Curtis employed about sixteen hands, and made two hun-
dred and fifty tons of anchors per year, ranging in Aveight from
one thousand to ten thousand pounds each. During the Avar of
the rebellion, ISIr. Curtis accunudated a great deal of money
making anchors for the United States government ; many-
anchors were also made at tliis forge in the early part of this
century for the government some weighing fiA^e tons. The

10 CLAPP'S RUBBER ]\IILL.

anchors for the grand old war ship ConMitntlon were forged here.
For over one hundred and fifty years the " h)ud dhi of the
descending hammer could l)e heard here daily,"' but now the
forge, which was sold and occupied as a ruhl)er mill, is replaced
by a large modern structure far less picturesque.

In November, 1873, Eugene H. Clapp bought the old forge
property of George Curtis. At that time he was in company
with his cousin, Fred. AV. Clapp, which partnership continued
until Jan. 1st, 1880, when it was terminated by the death of
Fred. W. Clapp. Since 1880 Eugene H. Clapp has been sole
proprietor. They found the old buildings in the condition in
which Mr. Cui-tis left them, and fitted them up as chea})ly as
possible, as at that time they were not in a very prosperous
financial condition. The old flumes were carrie<l away by a
freshet within a few days after the property was bought, and
the Clapps were forced to build entirely new flumes, and put in
a new water-wheel. They started at first with two grinding
machines which, in tlie process of time, have l)een increased in
number, until to-day they have twelve. They at first only put
in a floor upon which to work over one end of the mill, but
business so increased as to necessitate three floors in 1881. In
1879 they put in a small seventy-five horse-power steam engine
at the west end of the factory, and some additional rul)ber
grindeis, so they could run by steam when the water supply
was short. In 1880, after E. H. Clapp had acquired all the
property, he put in another and larger steam engine at the
other end of the mill, a three hundred horse-power Corliss,
which has been r'unning from that tinre until the present. In
Septenrber, 1881, the factory building proper was entirely de-
stroyed by fire ; also the roof of the boiler house on the east
end of the mill. Mr. Clapp immediately built a much larger
mill, and staii;ed it up in less than four weeks from the time of
the fire, and since that time has been constantly adding to the
propei'ty. In 1885 he added still another engine at the west
end of the mill, replacing the old seventy-live horse-power
engine with a new Brown steam engine, with two hundred horse-
power capacity. In 1886 he built a new factory on the Pem-
broke side of the river, and in 1888 doubled the capacity by a
new addition. In 1889-180O he proposes to put in a new
water-wheel and other machinery, all of which would have been
added in 1888 but for the extraordinary height of water all the
season.

CAPT. HAVILAND TORREY. 11

Wlien jMessrs. E. H. and F. W. Clapp first occupied the mill
in 1873 they employed only thi'ee men, but now they often
have as many as one hundred, and seldom less than .>eventy-tive
emj)l()yed. They have an electric plant connected with their
mill and when business is rushini»-, work at niuht by electric
lights. The business, which was started with a grinding
capacity of one thousand pounds ])er day as their maximum in
1873, has increased so that Mr. Clapp is to-day able to gi-ind
foi-ty times as much, or twenty tons daily, — and is handling
several thousand tons yearly, whereas in 1873 he only handled
about one hundred and fifty tons. It certainly is a great
business grown from a small industry, and where it will end is
hard to say, — but, judging from the past, it bids fair to rival
any mdustry on the South Shore.

Usually, mills and factories, while they enrich the towns, dO'
not tend to the peace and comfort of the inhabitants, as they
often bring in a class of foreigners who strike, carouse, and
make it disagreeable for peaceful residents. It is not so, how-
ever in Hanover. From the times of early ship building until
the present, men's sons resident m and about the town have
been employed, seemingly like one large family, and those
which Mr. Clapp has been obliged to import, have, with few
exceptions, become good citizens, and many thanks are due
him for his careful selections. It is to be hoped it may continue
so. Mr. Clapp's actual pay-roll amounts to between forty and
fifty thousand dollars yearly and the product of the mill in the
neighborhood of four hundred thousand dollars yearly. He
has now complete accommodation for handlmg and utilizing all
kinds of rubber material according to the latest and best known
processes, both mechanical and chemical, is domg two or three
times as much work as any of his competitors, and is handling-
more than one half of this business in the United States.

On the Pembroke side of the stream, opposite the ''Old
Forge," stands an old saw mill now used as a chemical sho]) or
laboratory for the rubber mill, having been altered and enlarged.
This mill was owned by George Curtis and ILiviland Torrey,
who was a Capt. of the Second Regiment, Fir^t Brigade, Fifth
Division, Pembroke, iSlilitia. He was the father of Benj. B. and
Herbert Torrey of Hanover, and lived in Pembroke on the hill
just above the mill. He died Aug. 2(5, 18(J5, aged 74 years.

Near this mill stood an old carding-mill, first built by Jesse

12 PROJECT DALE.

Heed at a spot farther up stream and moved from thence
to its last location. This mill was leased from 183() to 1838 ])y
Edward Y. Perry, Esq., for a tack factory when it was located
up stream (see Waterman's and Phillips's factories).

"We will now leave the "Old Forp^e," or the modern Rubber
Mill and follow up the beautiful Indian Head River as it flows
over its shallow course beside the railroad and the delightful
drive known as Project Dale. Aliout half way through the
Dale we come to a dam and a tack-factory now owned and
occupied by the firm of L. C. AVaterman & Sons. This privilege
dates back to about 1700. Between then and 1737 there was a
fulling-mill on this spot occu]iied by James Torrey, who had
bought fift^^-two acres of land of Wm. Clift. As early as 1737
the locality was known as Project Dale and during the same
year the mill privilege was sold to Thomas Josselyn and known
as " Josselyn's Corn Mill." A lane led to it from the terminus
of Spring St. on Broadway, which was known as Mill Lane,
and is now grown up with bushes.

After Mr. Josselyn's death the mill was sold to Capt. Joseph
Stetson* who lived for a time on AVater St. opposite the tack
works, where Theodore C. Dyer now resides. He was a soldier
during the French war and a mariner for many years. At his
decease the privilege was sold to Lemuel Curtis, who gave it to
his son, Nathaniel, who sold it to either Elihu or Aaron Hobart.
About this time, or a little later, the dam was raised four or
five feet, which is said to have destroyed the privilege at the
"old dam" al)Ove, built by Col. Jesse Reed, and sold by him to
Elihu Hobart, Sept. 14, 181G.

Between the years 1829 and 1839, Charles Dyer owned and
managed the luisiness, which was that of making tacks for ISIr.
Hol)art. Al)put this time he formed a partnership with E. Y.
Perry, Esq., which continued until 1850, when jNIr. Perry took
sole charge of tlie works, which he carried on until he went in
1853 to "the old Barstow works, now Phillip's factory. JNIr.
Perry employed at this factory sixteen hands and manufactured
300 ibs. of shoe nails per day and about 800,000 tacks. He
used about three tons of copper, twenty-five tons of zinc, and
.seventy-five tons of iron per year.

The location of these works is very picturesque, being on

* A descendant of Cornet Robert through Joseph and Samuel.

< p.

waterman's tack factory. 13

the edge of a placid pond, which durinir the summer sunsets is
a perfect mirror. It is surrounded by hills, thickly grown with
foliage, and has a beautiful fall of water over the dam most of
the year. There was formerly a bridge over the Indian Head
at this point but it disappeared many years ago. Old residents
now remember when wool was taken here to be carded. In
1860 L. C. AVaterman & Co. leased a part of the old factory
with povrer of Geo. Curtis, into whose possession it had fallen.
The original firm was composed of five partners : — Lemuel
Cushing Waterman, Josiah M. Smith, George P. Clapp, Wil-
liam J. Render, and William P. Winslow, all practical tack-
makers. Twelve machines were put in at first with a capacity
of fifty or sixty tons per year, the full force of persons employed
being eight to ten. Mr. Waterman subsequently bought out
the interests of his partners and took into the firm his son
Rodolph Cushing, and later, his son Irteneus Lloyd, and the
style changed to L. C. Waterman & Sons. In 1870 the firm
purchased the entire factory property and power of George
Curtis, since which time extensive improvements have been
made and new buildings and machinery added as the business
increased. In 1875 L. C. AVaterman retired from active con-
nection with the business, devoting his time to the care of the
Geo. Curtis estate, of which he was trustee. He was born in
So. Scituate, July 14, 1814, educated at Hanover Academy, and
began life in a wholesale dry -goods store in Boston. Here he
remained two years, when he returned to his native town and
taught school. At twenty-five he married Elizabeth B. Good-
ing, daughter of Henry Gooding of Boston. Soon after he was
employed in the tack-factory of Sam. Salmond at Tifiany, being
superintendent at one time. AVith Mr. Salmond's death his
connection with these works ceased and he commenced business
at Project Dale. He died March 11, 1889, leaving the business
to his three sons. The number of machines now operated here
is thirty-four and the capacity of the factory about 250 tons per
year. The full force of male and female help employed is
twenty-five. The line of goods manufactured has always been
of the finest quality and adapted to the uses of the furniture and
upholstery trade, also tacks for carpet laying and for car and
carriage work.

In February, 188G, an uncommonly heavy fall of rain caused
a flood along this valley ; at Barstow's anchor works on King
St. and at E. Phillips & Sons' tack-factory at South Hanover

14 COL. JESSE REED.

the dams were nearly destroyed. At Project Dale the water
l^oured into the factory and the under-pinning and dam were
partially carried away. All the factories and mills suflered
o:reat damage, l)ridges w^ere washed away, trains were stopped,
and at Salmond's tack works on the Third Herring Brook, a
ffood pait of a large hill, side of the dam, was washed a^yay.
Another heavy freshet occurred in November, 1888, but little
damage was done.

The second tributary to the Indian Head of any account is
Rocky Run Brook, which tlows into the stream about one
hundred rods l)elow E. Philips & Sons' tack-works. It rises in
the western V)art of Pembroke about half a mile north of Oldham
Pond, and tiows in a north-westerly direction past the residence
of James H. Dwelley. In the centre of the pond, which Mr.
Dwelley has made near his house l)y danmiing this brook, is an
old site of a mill, built early m 1700 and owned and run,
tradition says, by Dea. Isaac Buck. Here he manufactured
wooden ware, consisting of bowls, trays, skimmers, (one of
which is preserved in Hanover, as is some of his other work),
plates of a curious pattern, and other useful articles. jNIr. Buck
was a Hanover man, and lived in South Hanover on the old
road which was laid out from Scituate and which connected
with the road from Cricket Hole to Indian Head Pond. He
was a near neighbor of Benj. Sylvester, whose daughter Abigail
he married in 1737. In 1728 he signed the Church Covenant.
In 1731 he was chosen on the jury, and July 31, 1733, was
chosen Deacon of the First Church. ' He is supposed to have
been a son of Lieut. Isaac Buck of Scituate, as there is an Isaac
recorded among the baptisms of that town.

Col. Jesse Reed, after disposing of his first privilege in Han-
over, moved to one near Rocky Run, where he erected works,
and conveyed water to his wheel through a trough one-third of
a mile long ; but the difficulties were such that he finally sold
out and removed to Marshfield.

The next privilege on the Indian Head above Waterman's is
what is now known as the "old dam." This privilege was pur-
chased by Mr. Enos Bates, who contemplated building a dam
and o-rist-mill, but before he carried out his plans he sold it to
Col.'^Jesse Reed, who built the dam and erected a grist-mill,
nail factory, and machine shop. An old, unfinished mill-stone
was recently found by Calvin T. Phillips who now owns the

BARSTOW S FOKGE. 15

property. A road, which was prol)a])ly the first in the colony,
crossed the river about thirty rods behnv this dam, and was
used by the settlers for nearly one hundred years to get to their
possessions at the Indian Head Ponds. The piers of the old
bridire are now occasionally seen when the water is Ioav. Mr.
Ilira Bates, who, with his Avife, lives with their son, Hira W.
Bates, at South Hanover, both at the advanced age of ninety-
three years, but in i)()ssession of good health and all their facul-
ties, remembers when there was a foot-bridge at this spot.
Hira Bates, and his wife Lucy, were born on the same day and
hour, and have been married sixty-four years.

Col. Jesse Reed was one of the most intelligent and noted
men we ever had in town. He was inventor of the tack ma-
chine, and his Reed's machine is used to-day with scarcely any
improvements. He was also the author of some twenty or
more other inventions, among them patterns of pumps, cotton
gins, tree-nail machines, etc. A full account of Colonel Reed
and his inventions can be found in Barry's History of Hanover,
pages 141 and 3()3, and it is well worth reading. The factory
that he built on the Bates privilege was moved to Project Dale
and used by E. Y. Perry, Esq.

A short distance farther up the stream is the manufactory of
E. Phillips & Sons. In 1720 the town granted two acres of
land on the Indian Head River, l)etween Pine Hill and Rocky
Run Brook, to Capt. Joseph Barstow and Benjamin Stetson,
"for the accommodation of a forge and finery." A bridoe was
built across the river this year and Barstow and Stetson erected
a forge which was known as Bakstow's Forge. Capt. Joseph
Barstow was also interested in a grist mill, a sloop, and was a
large land-holder. He died July 25, 172<S, leaving pro})erty
appraised at over thirty thousand dollars. His younoest son,
Joshua, inherited his interest in the forge. Joshua was then
eight years old, but as soon as he reached a more mature age,
he improved the business left by his father and continued in it
until his decease, being drowned at the eastward, Oct. 3, 1763,
aged forty-four. His son Joshua, then fourteen years old,
succeeded him, and was soon conducting the forge, which
business he continued until his removal to Exeter, N. H. about
1795. During the Revolution ]Mr. Barstow is said to have done
quite a business in the manufacture of cannon balls. He melted
the iron at an ordinary forge fire and moulded them in the
bottom of his forge. In 1795 the property was sold to Robert

16 KOBERT SALMOND.

Salmond and others. Benj. Stetson was probably out of the
firm previous to 1755, though his son Benj., a bhicksmith ])y
trade, may have succeeded him. For about thirty years Mr.
Sahiiond was engaged in the iron Inisiness at this forge. For
twenty-eight years Nathaniel Gushing was interested with him
and also Chas. Josselyn for a much shorter time, who was also
eno-ased in business on King St.

Robert Salmond and others were in 1813,

"Making some large Anchors for the Frigate that is building at
Charlestown."

His sons were building or had built a ship at Bangor, Me.,
and it was l}'ing idle until the war was over. In writing to his
sons, Mr. Salmond says :

" If the war continues five years longer the ship will not be worth
hut little more than the iron that is in her."

AVhat became of this vessel is not known, but in October,
1814, the sons Robert and Samuel wrote :

"We are still in darkness respecting the fate of the vessel, but it
is highly probable she will be burnt where she is standing, by the
British, if not ransomed in the sum of $2000.00 ; if burnt, the town
will be liable, but if the town is burned too, of course their liability
will not be worth much."

Robert Salmond died ]\Iay 5, 1829, aged eighty. During the
last few years of his life Thomas Hobait of Abington was a part
owner in the forge, there being also on the premises at that
time a tack-factory and corn mill. About 1825 Messrs. Hobart
and Salmond had a contract from the United States Govern-
ment for the manufacture of anchors for the Navy, and several
were made for the old seventy-four gun ships, probably of the
largest size ever forged. In 1828 Mr. Salmond disposed of
his'interest to Mr. Hobart and Mr. Hol)art took into the firm
John Sylvester, who had been employed in the forge since 1825.
Previous to that time he was a tack-maker, and also had been
in the "Old ]\Iill Dam Iron AVorks " at Boston and Watertown.
Joseph Sylvester was foreman. John Sylvester managed the
works very successfully. About one hundred tons of bar
iron were made per year, one hundred tons of anchors,
and twelve to fourteen tack machines were run and several built
yearly. In I80O they commenced the manufacture of locomo-

HANOVER FOHGE CO. 17

tive cranks and it is claimed that they were the originators of
this industry.*

In ls;^)7 the partnership terminated and Mr. Sylvester formed
the Iliinorer Fonje Coinpamj, Avhich continued until 1853, when
he sold out and removed to Belmont, Mass., where he resided
until his death, March 18, 1882, in his eighty-fourth year.
Until 18.^8 he was one of the firm of -lolm Taggard & Co., Iron,
Boston. That year he purchased tlie Danvers Iron Works at
Danversport, and in 18G4, the Spike Works at Somerville,
which interest he held at his death.

In 1853 Ezra Phillips, E. Y. Perry, and Martin W. Stetson
formed a partnersliip under the firm name of E. Y. Perry & Co.,
for the purpose of carrying on the tack business, Mr. Perry
moving his machines from Project Dale, and Mr. Phillips his
from the old Thomas privilege. Mr. Perry had previously
purchased the above forge, lately occupied ])y John Sylvester,
and known as Sylvester's Forge, at South Hanover for $3100.
The financial panic of 185(3-57 soon overtaking them, ]Mr.
Stetson became discouraged and withdrew. Messrs. Perry &
Phillips continued in business together until 1874. Their
business relations were of the pleasantest kind. They always
honored and spoke well of each other. They each had remark-
able talents in diti'erent directions and what was lacking in one
was found in the other. Under such strong-minded and prac-
tical men the business increased rapidly and they were very
successful. Mr. Perry's experience at Project Dale, and ]\Ir.
Phillips's at So. Abington, under Jas. Soule, and at Mr.
Hobart's factory in Hanson, did not come amiss. In 1874 Mr.
Perry's outside interests had become quite large and demanded
so nuich of his time that he felt ol)liged to withdraw, thus leav-
ing a vacancy valuable to whomever was decided upon to fill it.
Mr. Phillips wisely took in his two sons, Calvin T. and Morrill
A., under the firm name of E. Phillips & Sons, which name still
continues. A fairly good account of Mr. Perry and of ]\Ir.
Phillips can l)e found in Hurd's History of Plymouth County,
1884. To Mr. Perry's energy and push, to his strong will and
business al)i]ity, is due the fact that Hanover is to-day so far
ahead of its surrounding towns (only excepting Rockland).

* " Hanover is a manufacturing place, manufacturing bar iron, iron castings, anchors,
plows, vessels, tacks, leather boots and shoes and woolen cloth annually to the amoimt
of $75,000," says Haywood in his New England Gazetteer in 1839.

18 E. Y. PERRY & CO.

It is lie who has built up many of our industries, especiall}^ the
lumber and mill industry ; and real estate, that would often have
been sacrificed, found in him a ready purchaser. He was
mainly instrumental in bringini^ the IIano\'er Branch Railway
into existence. It was he who conducted it on such a strict and
successful basis, that it was the only road, proba])ly, in the
United States without bonds and with viilually no deljt at the
time of its purchase by the Old Colony in 1887. At this time Mr.
Perry again felt the press of business and was glad to withdraw
from the Presidency of the Hanover Branch Railway, and when
the Old Colony R. R. signified a wish to buy it he was strongly
in favor of selling out to them at par, which price they paid.
He did not forget to speak a good word for the employees and
recommend that they all be retained, which was done. Mr.
Perry was born in Pembroke, now Hanson, Mass., Nov. 4,
1812, married Mary B., daughter of David and Deborah B.
Oldham of Pembroke, Mass., July 8, 1834, and now resides
in South Hanover, Mass. They had l)ut one child which died
in infancy. Mr. Perry still continues in business, his mind
being as clear and active as ever. He has recently passed through
a severe illness, but his strong constitution, which he inherited
and has kept perfect by his regular habits, came to his rescue,
and he is now about as of old, quite himself again. His grand-
fiither died in his ninety-third year and his grandmother lived
to be within less than three months of one hundred years old.

Mr. Ezra Phillips was born in Pembroke, now Hanson, Oct.
10, 1810, and married Catherine H., daughter of Dr. Calvin
Tilden of Hanson, Nov. 27, 1834. In 1848 Mr. Phillips pur-
chased one-third of the factory in Hanson, owned until then by
Mr. Hol)ai"t and commenced the manufacture of tacks for him-
self. Upon his entering into partnership with Mr. Perry, he
assumed the management of the mechanical part of the business,
being " a good manager of workmen and an excellent judge of
the worth and merits of machinery." Mr. Perry, "an excep-
tionally good financier and general manager, clear-headed and
a cool and accurate calculator," managed the business part. A
more fitting tribute could not be paid to Mr. Phillips than Mr.
Perry's testimony of his connection with him. He says, "After
an intimate business and social relationship with Mr. Phillips
for more than thirty years, I consider him one of the grandest
and best men I ever knew. The routine of business was robbed
of its monotony and vexation by the tact, geniality, pure

MILLS ON THE INDIAN HEAD RIVER. 19

methods, and manly way in wliich Mr. Phillips bore himself.
It was simply }ileasui-e to do business in connection with such a
man." Mr. Phillii)s died in Hanover, May 15, 1882, and his
two sons have since successfully carried on the business under
the same firm name. At the present writing they employ at
this factory from forty-eight to fifty two hands, running seventy-
one tack and nail machines, a rolling mill, machine shop, and
have a sixty horse-power engine. They cut last year about 750
tons of nails and tacks and rolled 250 tons of zinc and lead.
The tacks average about 6400 to the pound, or 12,800,000 to
the ton ; nails about 750 to the pound, or 1,500,000 to the ton.
This ftictory is one of about forty now in this country.*

Ascending the Indian Head river, about one half mile above
Phillips's tack works, we come to its junction with the Drink-
water River. We will follow up the Indian Head, then come
back to the Drinkwater. Tiie first dam on the Indian Head
stream is about one mile from its junction with the Drinkwater,
and was probably finished in the spring of 1715, as we find that
on INIay 30th of that year "Joshua Gushing, Joseph Foord, and
Thomas Barker of Pembroke and Thomas Howland of Marsh-
field enter into an agreement in regard to a Saw Mill that they
are l)uilding on the Indian Head stream near the road that leads
to the little Cedar swamp." In 1827 Dr. Samuel Barker sold
the right for mill privilege to Elihu Iloliart, who erected a tack-
factory and employed Hervey Dyer as agent. He remained
ten years, when it was sold to a Company and by them to
Luther Howland of Hanson, who manufactured tacks until
about thirty years ago, when the factory was burned. It has
not since been rebuilt. The privilege is owned by Lewis
White.

Farther up the stream is the dam built by the Thomases.
Col. Nathaniel Thomasf bought a large tract of land in this
vicinity in 1694-95 and his son, Isaac, settled on that portion
40 rods east of the mill. The cellar is still visible. It is doubt-
ful if Nathaniel ever lived here. If he did it is certain that he
later moved to Marshfield, as appears by an account of his wife's
death in an old paper.

" Marshfield, October i6 (1727). On the Sth Instant, the Lord's
Day Morning, died here, Mrs. Mary Thomas, Wife to Nathaniel

* See account Cushing's Mill above Teague's Bridge,
t See Thomas's Brick-kiln Yard.

20 Thomas's saw mill.

Thomas, Esq : of this Place. A truly valuable Person, for bright
and unblemished Vertue, unfeigned and unaffected Piety, rare and
excellent Wisdom and Discretion : yea for all or most of those
Ornaments and Endowments of Nature and Grace, which sei-ve
Adorn and Distinguish Her Sex : One in whom the united characters
of a Compleat Gentlewoman and solid christian, were exemplified
and Beautified to an uncommon degree : One who by Her prudent,
humble, affable, peaceable, courteous and obliging temper and
carriage, gained and to the last maintained a great interest in the
esteem and affection of all that knew Her ; Her death has filled
many hearts with grief, and has caused an universal lamentation.
She was decently Interred on Wednesday the nth Currant." — The
New Eng. Weekly Journal.

In 1712 the above mill, (erroneously called Cotton's Mill in
Kurd's History of Plymouth Co.) was written in the old records
"Colonel's Mill," which is correct. A deed dated January
1716, mentions "the old saw-mill called Col. Thomas's Saw
Mill." In 1722 it is spoken of as Isaac Thomas's Saw Mill, and
in 1737 as Edward Thomas's Saw Mill, formerly owned by Col.
Thomas. Edward was son of Isaac. Later a grist mill was
built here, which was run by Dea. David Beal. The following
advertisement shows that Col. Thomas either had business in
Marshtield about the same time, or else did iron work here.

"August 24:th, 1713. A Cast Hammer, Anvil Plates and all other need-
ful cast iron work for a forge or iron works, all new, to be sold by
Nathanael Thomas, Esq., at Marshfield."

About 1829 Benj. Hobart of Abington bought the mill and
put in machinery for cutting tacks. -It was burned in 1835,
but rebuilt, and used as a tack factory until 1848, when
Nathaniel Cushing bought two-thirds of it for a trunk factory,
Ezra Phillips buying one third for a tack factory. Cushing soon
sold out to A. J. Taft «& Flavel Shurtleff. Later Mr. Shurtleff
bought Taft's share. Mr. Phillips went into company with Mr.
Perry from here. Henry H. Brigham of So. Al)ington later
bought the whole, and used it as a tack factory until it was
burned in 1859. Since then there has been a saw-mill here.
This privilege is now owned by E. Phillips & Sons. The
stream rises in the Indian Head Pond in Hanson, from whence
it received its name.

Returning to the junction, we follow the Drinkwater River
up to Teague's Bridge, so named for Daniel Teague, who
lived in Hanover, a few rods above it, about 1750 to 1760 and

hatch's mill. 21

whose cellar can still be seen. This bridge was built before
1740, at which time it was spoken of as Hatch's Bridge. Just
above the Inidge there is a dam built prol)ably al)out 171G, as,

"On July ist, 1716, John Rodgers of Marshfield, John Gushing,
Amos Turner, George King, Joseph Barstow,* Samuel Barstow,
Michael Wantonf and James Hatch, all of Scituate,J; and Joseph
Stockbridi^e of Pembroke, enter into an agreement in regard to a
saw-mill that they are building in Scituate upon Drinkwater Fiver,
near where the line between Scituate and Abington crosses the

This was known as Hatch's Mill,Dea. James Hatch probably
owning the largest interest. He lived on Hanmer's Hook, on
land bought by Jeremiah and Walter Hatch of John Hanmer
before 1680. This estate was sold to Cornelius White in 1743,
a descendant of Peregine White, the tirst male child born in
Plymouth Colony, — and in 1850 was occupied by Albert AVhite,
Esq. In The Bosfon Post-Boy and Advertiser of May 20,
17(55, is the following :

" i?(/ order of the Oeneral Court :

On "Wednesday the 22d of the present month of May, at 4 o'clock P.M. at
the heuse of Mr. Foster, Inholder in Plimouth, will be exposed to sale by
publick auction, several tracts of land in tlie County of Plimouth, viz ; one
tract formerly belonging to Jtremiah H'ltch, lying in Hanover, one tract on
the Northerly side of Assonet River in Middleborough, formerly belonging
to Benj. Booth & Isaac Pierce, jun., two tracts in the town of Rochester, &c.
all which several tracts were mortgaged to the Commissioners for the
hundred thousand pounds loan, in the year 1716, and judgment has been
recovered and possession taken for the Province."

In 1814 the Hatch Mill, which for nearly a century nad been
used as a grist-mill and saw-mill, was bought by a stock com-
pany wnth a capital of $20,000, and a cofton factor// erected.
Among other owners were Nathaniel Cushing, father of Elijah,
who lived at the old place now standing at Cushing's Corner,
Hanson, Abishai Stetson, father of Nahum of Bridge water,
prominent in the iron business for the past fifty years, and
Chas. Josselyn, father of Mrs. Hira Bates of So. Hanover.
Later, Thomas Hobart, who lived in Hanson, near East Bridge-
water, had an interest. They made connnon cotton sheeting

* He was afterwards associated with Benj. Stetson.
+ Son of Edward, see Delano and Foster Yards.
X Part of which is now Hanover.

22 COTTOX FACTORY ON THE DRINKWATER RIVER.

and shirting. The people in the town and in the towns
of Hanover, Pembroke and Marshfield, had private looms, and
used to weave, obtaining the cotton yarn from the fectory. The
small amount of money received for weaving was the principal in-
come of the women of Hanson and its vicinity. The work was done
by the ftimilies of the l)est people, and the daughters were not
too proud to toil day by day and earn the pennies that formed
the nucleus, in some cases, of inde})endent fortunes later. They
were paid so much per yard for the work. At > Squire Joseph
Smith's* they had two or three looms and his daughters wove
after his death. At Gad Hitchcock's they had two looms. TJie
3Iass. Gazette and Boston JSfews-letter, Boston, April 11, (1765)
states that :

"The Kev. Mr. Gad Hitchcock, of Pembroke, is chosen by the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery Company to preach the Sermon at the Anniversary
of the Election of Officers for that Company on the first Monday in June
next."

At Isaac Bowen Bowker's, father of Dr. Bowen Bowker,
there w^as one loom. Noah Bonney's family also wove. The
Company ceased giving out w^ork after a time and put a power
loom into the factory. They also owned a store and a boarding
house, which were run in connection with their business.
Nahum Stetson was in the store when about nineteen years old,
and went from there to Lazelle, Perkins & Co., where he has
been nearly ever since. Ethan Allen Stetson, (brother of
Nahum), Isaiah Perry and his brother, E. Y. Perry, Esq., were
clerks afterward — think Isaiah Perry was owner at one time.
Business was carried on at this store until the fire of 1852. The
superintendents of the factory at di tie rent times were Job
Luther, Luther Faxon, L. B. Hatch, A. jM. Hol)art and others.
The business gradually decreased and but little was done after
1830, owing to the competition of the larger factories at Fall
River, Lawrence, Manchester, and other places. During the
panic of 1837, business at Hobart's tack-factory in Hanson
became very dull, and Ezra Phillips, who had been working
there, hired room and power in the cotton mill, and during the
winter of 1837-38 manufactured shoe-pegs. Later in 1838
Col)b & Cushing occupied the building as a saw-mill, and the
boarding-house was occupied by Theodore Cobb as a private
residence. In 1852 the factory, store, and residence were
burned to the ground. Soon after Elijah Cushing erected . a

* Grandfather of Joseph Smith, who was engineer of the Hanover Branch Railway.

MiG hill's iron works. 23

saw-mill on the same dam and, together with his sons, George
and Theodore, carried on the business until this mill was burned
about ten years ago. A few years ago E. Phillips & 8ons
bought the privilege Avhich they have since used as a reservoir
for the factory below. In Dec, 1888, this firm bought a factory
at Brockton, where they now run thirty-six tack and nail
machines, employing thirteen or fourteen hands, with a pros-
pect of increasing the production this year. They intend
eventually to move their Brockton factory to the above priv-
ilege, which is often spoken of now as Teague's Bridge (because
of its close proximity to said bridge), but if that site is found
to be undesirable, they will move from Brockton to their works
at South Hanover instead.

A little more than half-way from this latter privilege to that
of Stetson's at King St., there flows into Drinkwater River,
Torrey's Brook, a small stream rising in the woods back of the
Cemetery at Centre Hanover, and flowing across Main, Hanover,
Grove, Myrtle and Winter streets into the river.

About seventy rods east of King St. on the Drinkwater River
there formerly stood a fidling-mill, improved many years ago
by Bailey Hatch, and others. About the middle of the eight-
teenth century, Caleb and Robert Barker had a foundry here.
From T/te Bo,^ton Gazette or Weekly AdveHiser for January
15, 1754, the following is taken :

"Caleb and Robert Barker in Hanover: Cast bells for Meeting-
Houses and other uses, from a smaller to a greater, even to one of two thous-
and weight ; cheaper than they can be imported : By whom all persons may
be supplied on reasonable terms."

About 1830, Joshua Barker, a descendant of Caleb and
Robert, erected an iron foundry on the old site, at which stoves
hollow ware, and machinery of different kinds were cast. The
foundry was torn down a long time ago ;ind a little tack-factory
was l)uilt by Barstow & Russell. This building is now gone
and the vacant site is owned by Chas. T. Stetson. Just al)ove
this site, where King St. crosses the river, is a dam with a
large water privilege and buildings now known as Stetson's
Machine Works.

About 17]0,"Mighill's Works," or the "Drinkwater Iron
Works, ' were erected here by one Mighill, probahly a son of
Rev. Mr. Mighill, who was settled over the South or Second
Society in Scituate in 1 684, though little is known of him or

24 DRINKWATER EIVER.

his business. Tradition says that he manufactured iron from
bog ore, which he dug at "Cricket Hole," near the Third
Herring Brook, and in the low grounds in the vicinity of Dam
Brook, where it can now l)e obtained in moderate quantities.
These works have had many proprietors and tradition says
ao-ain that, during the Revolution, camion were cast here and
carried down to the old fulling-mill near the iron foundry and
tested, and that Tilson Gould was killed by the bursting of one
of these guns, the pieces of which are said to be still lying in
the bottom of the old furnace pond. About this time Hanover
was very prosperous and in 1794, there were within the town
of Hanover 3 saw-mills, G grist-mills, 2 forges, 1 anchor shop,
1 fulling-mill.

About the year 1816, Chas. and Orrin Josselyn, Timothy
Rose, Calvin Bates, and others, erected a forge on this dam.
Beside the forge there were a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a box-board
mill and a shingle-mill, all owned by the same company.
Messrs. Bates & Holmes finally came into sole possession of
these works and usually emi)loyed five hands in the forge mak-
ing bar iron, and from fifty to sixty tons of anchors annually.
Edwin Barstow was the last anchor maker in town, and the last
anchors manufactured in town, only a few years ago, were made
here under his supervision. The property is now owned by
Charles T. Stetson and run as a machine manufacturing shop,
making rubber hose covering, electric light wires, etc.

At the head of this pond or privilege, which is the largest in
town, Longwater Brook forms a junction with Drinkwater
River. Drinkwater being one of the sources of North River,
should be traced to its source. It rises in Weymouth, just over
the Rockland line, flows across the north-west corner of Rock-
land into Abington, where it is known as French's stream, then
back through Rockland into Hanover, where it receives Long-
water Brook, the name Longwater being the English interpre-
tation of the original Indian name for the stream. About
eighty rods up the Longwater stream, where it crosses Circuit
St^, is Magoun's Bridge, formerly called Ellis' Bridge, built
before 1676. Here was located one of the oldest mills built in
tlie Colony, but which, tradition says, was burned by the Indians
during their famous raid into Scituate in It) 7 6.^ Longwater
Brook is one of the more copious indirect tributaries to North
River, and it attracted the attention of the settlers at a very
early date. Little is known of the first mill built there, but

DRINKWATER AND " ELIHAB'S " MILLS. 25

tradition says it was built by a Mr. Wade, who became dis-
couraged when it was destroyed by the Indians, and moved to
New Hampshire. It was rebuilt and received the cognomen of
*' Drinkwater " for the reason, it is said, that no ardent spirits
were used by the builders during its construction. That a mill
was built in this locality is certain.

"On May 7, IGOfi, Edward Wanton, Robert Orchard, John
Rodgers, Thomas JVIacomber, Timothy White, and Joseph
House held together as tenants in common and undivided, a
tract of land lying at and near a place called Drinkwater, and
adjoining to a tract of land formerly granted to Timothy
Hatherly, of which they proceed to divide the part that was on
the southerly side of the saw-mill, called Drinkwater Mill.
Wanton and Orchard had one half, and Rodgers, Macomber,
White and House the other half." The mill is not spoken of as
part of the property divided, but some of the land is mentioned
as belonging to the mill. On Nov. 12, 1711, the remainder of
the land was divided and the first divided part is referred to as
the "mile of land." At this date Wanton appears to have
become possessor of Orchard's share, so Wanton had half.
AVhite had died, so the other half went to Rodgers, Macomber,
House, and White's heirs. It would be interesting to know the
history of this ancient mill, but almost unpardonable neglect
has left it and much more history of our town to fast fade away
to tradition, and the scattered fragments of old wills, deeds,
and other papers, that occasionally come to light, are all we
have in many instances.

Beaver Dam Brook rises east of Plain St., which it crosses.
It also crosses Hanover St. and enters Longwater Brook a
little way above the old mill.

The next tributary to the Longwater stream is the Studley
Mill Brook, which has two sources, one rising in the north
part of Rockland, just on the Hingham line, and the other in
the extreme north-west part of Hanover. This brook flows
south-east and where it crosses Pleasant St. near the West
Hanover Railway station, there is a mill. The first mill erected
here, of which we have any account, was improved by Eliab
Studley about 1730. It was known as " Elihab's Mill." Barry
says, " He was a noted tavern-keeper, his house being a favorite
place of public resort." The following is taken from The
\Boston Gazette and Country Journal :

26 Absalom's kock and the "money hole."

"IMonday last, (June 10, 17GG), Mr. Eliab Studley of Hanover was
killed by a Flash of Lightning."

Another paper says :

•• Wehearfrom Hanoverthat on the 16th, Ult. (July, 1766), as Mr. Studely
and his Son were returning from his Wood Lot with a Cart Load of Wood,
a Thunder Storm came on. and his Son taking a Tree for Shelter : was
instantly struck Dead by a Flash of Lightning. — Tlie Mass. Oazette & Boston
News Letter.

Later tlie site was occupied by Nahum Stetson as a shingle
mill and known as Stetson's Mill. It is now owned by Lot
Phillips, but is often called " Studley's Mill." The brook for
a little way follows Hanover St., which it crosses below the
extensive establishment of Lot Phillips & Co., (of which firm
E. Y. Perry, Esq. and Albert Culver are the Co.), and enters
Longwater Brook a few rods noiih of where the railroad crosses
it. The above establishment, located near a branch of North.
River deseiwes especial notice as being one of the largest in town.
Their buildings are extensive, includinof a saw-mill, ijrist-mill
and box-factory. About thirty-five men are emj)Ioyed here.
The amount of business done is 150,000 boxes made annually,
1,250,000 feet of lumber cut into boards, and the grist-mill
grinds 200,000 bushels of grain annually.

The next tril)utary to Longwater Brook is Bailey's Brook,
wdiich flows into it al)out fifty rods south of Cedar St. Bailey's
Brook rises east of iSIain St. on a line with J. Brooks's Mill,
and flows south, crossing Main St., and receiving Stetson's
Brook just before crossing Cedar St. Stetson's Brook rises
in Hell Swamp, east of the old highway, and flows south across
Union St., then west across Main St., then north-west across
Cedar St. and into Bailey's Brook. Following up the Long-
water stream alxjut three hundred rods from where Bailey's
Brook enters it, we find another tributary which has its rise in
Norwell and flows south. About sixty rods below where it
crosses Webster St., at the foot of the pond, is the site of an
old mill. This is a historic locality. The first mill there was
erected as early as 1723. The third was erected by Deacon John
Brooks in 1851. Here he sawed from 80,000 to 100,000
feet of inch and half-inch pine boards annually, besides pine
and oak plank, joist and tiniber. The mill which stood in the
woods near the llatherly line has passed from view. The dam
is still there, but the pond is growing up with birches. It is
one of the most romantic spots in Hanover. A large rock near

SOURCE OF NORTH RIVER. 27

here, the largest in town, called Absalom's Rock, was occupied
for a time as a dwelling by a hermit, a fissure in the roc-k form-
ing protection. Near the site of the old mill is also the " Monet/
hole" where, years ago, men, in the darkness of night, dug for
Capt. Kidd's treasures. About half a mile west of this old
mill site, and on the Longwater stream, is. another, Brooks
Mill, built originally by Joseph Brooks in 1820, and occupied
as a grist-mill until 1833, then as a siiingU'-uiill. It was liere
that David Prouty polished the first cast iron ploiafJis ever
made, he being the inventor, * Two mills have been burned on
this spot within a dozen years. All)ert G. Mann owns and
occupies the present mill, which he runs as a saw-mill.

Following the stream up, an old grist-mill used to stand
where it crosses the junction of Wel)ster and North sts. It
was built by Benj. Mann, ])robably about 17<).5 and was an old-
fashioned mill with a great water-wheel, requiring an immense
quantity of water to turn it. Later it was owned by his son
Caleb Mann. The privilege is now owned by Albert G. INIann,
great-grand-son of Benj., and used by him as a reservoir for his
saw mill farther down. Following up Longwater Brook, we
find a small tributary, the last, a few rods above the mill. From
here it flows from a northwesterly direction, where we find its
source in the woods near the Rockland line. Thus Ave have
come to the last source of North liiver, and now we will go
back to the river itself.

* See Barry's History of Hanover.

CHAPTER II.

NORTH RIVER— (continued).

ITS BRIDGES AND FERRIES, AND THE INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE
BEEN LOCATED ON ITS LOWER TRIBUTARIES ; ALSO, VESSELS
BUILT UPON ITS BANKS IN EARLY TIMES AT YARDS UNKNOWN.

THP^RE is little to record of interest relative to that part of
North River between the " Crotch," so called, and Bar-
stow's Bridge, the abutments of which can now be seen less
than 50 feet above North River Bridge. In the Colony Records
the following entry is made under date of 1656 :

" William Barstow of Scltuate covenanted to make a good and
sufficient bridge for horse and foot o\-er the North River, a little
above the Third Herring Brooke, at a place called ' Stoney Reache,'
and to lay out and clear the way towards the bay as far as Hugh's
cross brooke ; to receive £12 in current country pay."

Prior to this time the river was crossed at Luddam's Ford.
William Barstow also received £20 for keeping the said bridge
in repair from 1662 to 1682. This latter year the Colony Court
ordered a cart bridge to l)e Iniilt over North River, at Barstow's
Bkidge, at the expense of three towns : Scituate to pay £10 ;
Duxlmry £5 ; INIarshfield £5. Barstow's Bridge was used until
l.s2il, when North River Bridge was constructed. The road
over Barstow's Bridge became the old Turnpike Road from
Boston to Plymouth, and thousands of times have the old stages,
loaded with passengers and freight, dashed down the hill, over
the bridge, and up the other side, the horses leaping almost out
of their traces as they sped up to the Quaker Meeting-house
Shoals.

OLD STAGE LINE. 29*

Quaker Meeting-house Shoals Avere so named by Ichabod
Sturtevant, Jr., because the territory was so bleak and cold in
winter. It included the space between Brick-kiln Lane on the
Old Turnpike Road to Plymouth and John Stetson's gateway,
just below and opposite the present Quaker Church. Staij^es
runnino; between Boston and Plymouth went over these shoals
on their way to Boston at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and to Plymouth
9 and 11 a.m. The drivers used to say it was the " coldest
place they struck" between Boston and Plymouth. Robert B.
Thomas's Farmers' Almanac for 1800 says :

" Plymouth mail stage sets off from Daggett's Inn (late King's Inn, Mar-
ket Square, Boston,) every Tuesday and Friday at five in the morning, and
arrives there at five in the eA'ening of the same day (through Hingham
and Hanover) ; leaves Plymouth every Monday and Thursday at five in the
morning, arriving in Boston at seven in the evenings of the same days.''

In 1829 the Road Commissioners for the County agreed to
assess the County for one-quarter of the expense of a stone
bridge, w^hich was erected just below the old Barstow Bridge,
and has since been known as the North River Bridge. The
middle pier of this bridge was taken entirely from one rock
that used to form a part of the wall in the field just below the
present residence of E. Q. Sylvester. About ten or twelve
years ago North River Bridge was rebuilt and raised, and the-
hills on each side cut down to a more even grade. In 1699,

" The town ordered that the undivided land lying between the
Country Road and Daniel Turner's, and the Barstcvv's land and the
North River, should lie common for the town's use."

This was probably at North River Bridge, and it would be
interesting to know if the town ever conveyed or deeded it
away. The tide rises three feet at North River Bridge. The
distance from the bridge to the sea in an air line is not over
seven or eight miles, but by the river it is fully eighteen miles.

The first tributary to the North River below North River
Bridge is the Third Herring Brook, near the mouth of which
is a foot bridge, known for probably over one hundred years as
the Rainbow Bridge, and used by the ship carpenters to reach
the Hanover and Fox Hill Yards. The Third Herring Brook
is about five miles long, and forms the boundary line between
Norwell and Hanover." It rises in Valley Swamp, near Hing-
ham, and flows in a southeasterly direction. Its first tributary-
is the AssiNiPPi or "Rocky AVater " stream. Alewives origi-
nally ascended the Third Herring BrooK to Valley Swamp. la

30 THIRD HERRING BROOK.

1829 there were on tliis stream three grist mills, three saw mills,
and one sliiiiulo mill. Just l)cl()\\^ the Assinippi stream on the
Herring Brook are Jacobs' JNIills. These mills have been in
the Jacobs family over a century and a half. Joshua Jacobs,
born in 1702, and his brother, Dr. Joseph, born in 1707, were
early jiroprietors of the saw and grist mills erected here. These
mills arc now owned by Benjamin, Barton, and Charles Jacobs,
and are the oldest in the vicinity. In the Boston Evening Post,
under date of March 30, 1772, there appears the following :

" ]Married, at Newport, Mr. James Jacobs, of Scituate, in this Province,
to Miss Deboi-ah Richmond, daughter of the late Capt. Perez Richmond, of
Dartmouth."

About 1830 there was an extensive manufacture of bricks on
the south side of Jacobs' mill pond by the families of Jacobs
and Collamore. Below the old pond at Winslow's Bridge
beavers built dams many years ago ; also at Valley Swamp,
and a half mile west of the old Nathaniel Brooks place. Gush-
ing Hill is a half mile east of Jacobs' Mill. Capt. Jacobs'
cartvay, so called, in 1720 was over Beaver Dam at Valley
Swamp. Rocky Swamp is located south of the Herring Brook,
below Jacobs' Mills.

The next mills we come to on the Herring Brook are John
Clapjfs, located at the foot of the pond, just above Mill street.
Large quantities of lumber have been sawed here for the trunk
and box factories of Hanover and Scituate. John Clapp, son
of the above John, now owns the mill.

T. J. Gardner's sav) and rjrht mills are located on the Third
Herring Brook, not far below the Clapp Mill. Long and short
boards are sawed here now. This site has l)een used a great
many years for mill pur})oses. Tradition says that Benjamin
Curtis, who was born in 1667, built the Curtis Mills near the
site of the present mills. After the Curtises, T. J. Gardner,
who married into the Curtis family, owned these mills until
they fell into the hands of their present owner, Samuel H.
Cliurch, late one of Hanover's selectmen. He married Mr.
Gardner's daughter. Barry says " the bridge between Curtis'
and Clapp's Mills, over Third Herring Brook, was built as early
as 1090."

We next come to the south branch of the Third Herrino-
Brook. This is Hugh's Cross, or Silver Brook, which rises
in the woods east of Gro^■e street, Centre Hanover, tlows across

^ I::

m ;z;

JeM^-ui^lx^ -^^ •/'tcL'uon. kexi-eLSlu

Hugh's cross brook. 31

Main street, northwest of the Cemetery, then running parallel
with Silver street, it crosses Washington street, near the resi-
dence of the late John Curtis, a little way above which it takes
a sudden turn and tlows east into the Herring Brook. There is
but one mill on Hugh's Cross Brook. Deane refers to a new
saw mill, in 1G78, \ibove "Old Pond at Curtis'." What mill
this refers to is not clear, but it was probably the Benjamin
Curtis Mill, on the Third Herring Brook. Church's Hill, on
the Plymouth Road in Hanover, is a half mile west of Hugh's
Cross Brook.

Hon. Jedediah Dwelley, who has been one of Hanover's
selectmen for over thirty years, and who is to-day the most
vahia])le man to the town of all her inhabitants, writes as
follows :

"Curtis' Mill, on Hugh's Cross Brook, was an old mill when I
■was a boy, and either fell or was torn down thirty years or more
ago."

The dam is in a fair state of preservation ; tlie site of the old
pond is now grown with vegetation. The property belongs to
the estate of the late John Curtis. Thomas Tindale, of South
Hanover, has recently completed an extensive cranberry bog at
the head of the pond.

Returnmg to the Third Herring Brook, we come next to a trib-
utary from Norwell, 3/ar^«re<'.s, so called, or Wildcat Brook,
sometimes called Slab Brook or Sunken Log Brook. There
was a grist mill on this brook in 1829, which was built about
1795 by Elijah Turner; but since the death of his son, Elijah
Bailey Turner, it has not been used. The original name of this
brook was Margaret's Brook, so named for Margaret Prouty,
who lived to a great age and died unmarried. She was a
daughter of Richard, who was in Scituate in 1G70, and sister
of Edward, who had a house on the west side of the brook.
Margaret's Brook rises in a swamp between Otis and Simon
Hills, Scituate, and flows into the Third Herring Brook not far
from the Old Indian Trail. The next point of interest on the
Third Herring Brook is the site of one of the first saw mills in
the Colony y located at the Old Indian Path, foot of the Old
Pond and Old Pond Swa.mp, which is said to have been a large
reservoir for this mill, and which is now covered with a heavy
growth of timber. The following is an extract from the Colony
Records :

32 ONE OF TIIK FIIIST SAAV MILLS

SAW MILL REGULATIONS OF THE YEAR 1656.

" At a full town meetin<; of the town of Scituate, Nov. 10, 1656^
free liberty was this dav granted to any man or men of the town to
set up a saw mill upon" the third herring brook, as near the North
River as conveniently it may be, on these conditions, viz. : that in
case any of the townsmen do bring any timber into the mill to be
sawed, the owners of the Mill shall saw it, whether it be for boards
or plank, before they saw any of their own timber, and they are to
have the one-half for sawing of the other half."

" And in case any man of the town that doth not bring any tim-
ber to the mill to be sawed shall want any boards, for his own par-
ticular use, the owner of the mill shall sell him boards for his own
use, so many as he shall need, for the country pay, at three shillings
and six pence an hundred inch sawn ; but in case the men of the
town do not supplv the mill with timber to keep it at work, the own-
ers of the mill shall have liberty to make use of any timber upon the
common to saw for their benefit. The said saw mill to be built
within three months from this date ; otherwise this order to be void.

James Torrey, Town Clerk.''''

The same year Cornet Robert Stutson, with Mr. Hatherly
and Joseph Tilden, built a saw mill on the above site and flowed
a large tract of land, since called the " Old Pond Swamp." This
mill was burned by the Indians in 1076, on their raid into Scit-
uate during King Phillip's War. The dam still remains. James
T. Tolman and his brother Samuel have pieces of the charred
wood of the old mill carefully preserved. Winslow's Bridge,
so named for Nathaniel Winslow, who resided there as early as
1750, is about four rods below the site of the old mill. It was
called Winslow's Bridge in the records as early as 1765. A
few rods below Winslow's Bridge is located Tolman's Tack
Factory, now fast going to decay, though the machinery inside
was recently in good condition. This factory was built in 1837
by Col. Samuel Tolman. It is now owned by his sons, Samuel
and James T., and has been used as a tack factory ever since it
was erected. Colonel Tolman also built a box-board and shin-
gle mill on the Hanover side of the stream, which was burned
several years ago. Next below the Tolman mills and factory
is a saw rrdll^ now owned by Charles Simmons of Norwell. It
may have been the mill site of the original Jonah's Mill, and
was owned and run twenty-five years ago by Pratt & Lapham.
The Tiffany Pond, which has been a favorite resort for the
young of many generations in the winter time, for skating, is
next below. This pond was named for Recompense Tiffany,

JONAH AND TIFFANY MILLS.

who, hoAvever, was not the first owner of the [)roperty. The
first building erected here was a grist mill by Charles Stock-
bridge, grandfather of David Stockln-idge, of Hanover.*
Cricket Hole, so called in 1640, from which bog iron ore was
obtained for jMigliill's and Bardin's iron M'orks, is a short dis-
tance west of Titiany's. In 1673 the Town's Committee of
Lands oti'ered a premium of " 30 acres of land to any person
who, within six months, should erect a grist mill on the Third
Herring Brook, and engage and tend the mill for fourteen
years." Charles Stockbridge accepted the proposals, and
erected his mill in 1674. The property descended to his
sons, Charles and Thomas, and in 1692 Thomas sold one half
of the mill to John Bryant and Samuel Stetson. In 1720
Thomas's son Thomas sold "one quarter of the sawmill" to
Jonah Stetson, Samuel Stetson having sold one-quarter of the
"corn mill" to the said Jonah Stetson in 172<). It Mas then
called Jonah's Mill, which name it was known by until it
received the cognomen Tiffmu/. Tack works were erected
about 1830, near the site of these mills, and the business of
manufacturing tacks carried on by Capt. Zei)haniah Tall)ot and^
by John and'William Salmond, brothers of Samuel and sons of
Robert. John Tower, when about eight years old, fell through
the floor of this mill while it was building, and hung on one of
the sills, and over the rocks, until he was rescued by his brother
David. In 1838 Samuel Salmond, f who had spent the earlier
part of his life in Maine, in the South, and in Cul)a, settled
permanently in Hanover, and engaged in the tack business^ at
the Titiany factory. Here he employed fifteen male and fi\e
female hands, and run from twenty to twenty-five machines,
using about sixty tons of tack plates per year. In May, 1851),
Samiiel Salmond took into partnership his son-in-law, Edmund
Q. Sylvester, and did business under the firm name of Samuel
Salmond & Son. About a month after Mr. Sylvester entered
the firm Mr. Salmond died, and Mr. Sylvester has since carried
on the business alone, under the same firm name. He now
runs twenty-six tack machines, employs sixteen male and five
female hands, and uses one hundred and seventy-five to tw9
hundred tons of iron per year. In the spring of 1884 he i)ut
in a high pressure thirtv horse-power steam engine. In 1886,
the flume and a portion ^of the hill beyond were carried away by

* See Hanover Miscellaneous Yards.

t See Bridge and Smith chapters for descendants.

34 TRIBUTARIES FROM MARSIIFIELD.

a freshet, l)ut the factory was soon in running order again.
Mr. Sylvester has managed the business very successfully, and
has a large New York trade. About forty rods below the
Tiffany, Qiarles Stockbridge commenced a dam, the remains of
which can be seen at the present day. Quite a little distance
below the Titfany factory we come to the bridge over the Third
Herrincf Brook, which connects Norwell with Hanover, near
the resFdence of Capt. Elijah Barstow. The old John Palmer
Log Bridge was just below the present bridge, and w^as so
named for John Palmer, supposed to be the same who came
wath the first settlers of Hingham in 1G35. His house-lot was
near the junction of the roads southeast of Church Hill. ^ He left
several descendants in Hanover and Scituate, but few, if any, of
the male issue of his family are now left in this region. In
1()()0 John Palmer covenanted with John Bryant and Humphrey
Johnson, town agents, to build a log- way and bridge, and cover
it with gravel, "from firm upland to firm upland." A stone
bridge was built here, by vote of the town, in 1835. It was
re-built by So. Scituate and Hanover after the freshet of 1886,
but the opening for the l)rook is not yet large enough, as the
heavy freshet of 1888 forced the water over the bridge across
the road. The Herring Brook flows from this point through
fresh meadow land until it reaches the North River, receiving
only one stream, the Copeland Tannery Brook. The old
Tannery was located about thirty to forty rods southeast of the
IMethodist Church. Smelts in large numbers ascend the Her-
ring Brook, as far as the bridge, in the spring of the year.

The next tributary to North River below the Third Herring
Brook is a small brooklet from Seabury's woods. The next
below is Rohinson's Creek, later known as Sghooset Creek,
which flows into the river from the Pembroke side, just below the
brick-kilns. The Two Mile Brook, or Fulling Mill Creek,
flows into the river from Marshfield, east of and o})])osite the
Bald Hills. A small stream, which formed the l)oundary of the
Cornet Stetson grant on the north and of the Humphrey Johnson
on the south, is next below. Joseph Tolman had a saw mill on
this stream about thirty years ago. The next tributary comes
into the river from Norwell, opposite and about a quarter of a
mile above Gravelly Beach. This stream was called Till's
Creek as early as 1040, l)ut later was named Dwelley's Creek,
after Richard Dwelley, who owned meadow land there, and died
in 1692. The little stream that crosses the road in Norwell,

SECOND HERRING BROOK. 35

near Torrey's trunk factory, is called Wanton Brook, and the
old folks used to think that witches danced on its banks at mid-
night. jNIr. Cudu'orth once heard a horse running behind him
near this brook, but never discovered the horse.

In 1785 a subscription was raised to build a bridge across the
North River, near John Stetson's (the ancient Wanton) place.
The town chose a committee to consult with the subscril)ers, and
to learn what kind of a bridge Avas proposed, and how to be kept
in repair. The town then voted their consent, on condition
that a sufficient draw be kei)t. The project failed. It was
revived in 1827, but again failed, and it is not likely that there
will be a bridge there for some time to come.

The Second Herring Brook is the next tributary to the
river, and, tlowing from Norwell, enters at a point just below
the old Chittenden yard. The Second Herring Brook is formed
by numerous little brooklets that rise in Ridge Hill Swamp,
Dead Swamp, and Black Pond. Herring ascended this brook
to Black Pond until repelled by the mill-dams. Smelts now
ascend as far as they can each year about the latter part of
March. There used to be beaver dams on this brook, south of
Dead Swamp. The bridge over the north branch of the Her-
ring Brook, above Dead'Swamp, was named many years ago
BuMPAs' Bridge. Chamberlain Plain is northeast of Beaver
Dam or Dead Swamj). Walnut Hill is west of Beaver Dam,
on the Second Herring Brook. Spruce Swamp is south of
Cordwood Hill and the Second Herring Brook. Spring Bp.ook
flows from the northwest into the Second Herring Brook. ^ In
1829 there were on the Second Herring Brook two grist mills,
a saw^ mill, and a shingle mill. A saw mill on the east branch
of the brook was erected in 1831 by S. A. Turner, Esq. On
the Second Herring Brook, about a half mile from its mouth,
there was a saw mill built in 1()1)0_ l^y John Bryant, a house
carpenter, w^lio was a freeman in Scituate in 1G39, and had^ a
farm ten rods east of the mill. This mill was used as a grist
mill later. "Bryant's Bridge, above the mill," Deane says,
" was not a cart bridge until 17U4." Long after the a])Ovc mill
was built another grist mill was built further up the stream.
A saw mill was erected there at a later day. This mill Avas run
by David Torrey, in connection with his steam mill or trunk
factory on River street, until his death in 1884. In 1658-9 a
foot hrklqe was built across the Second Herring Brook, very
near its mouth. There was a bridge there before, as, in laying

36 0AK31AN'S ferry UNION BRIDGE.

out the path from the Block-house to Wanton's yard, the records
of 10 ')8 speak of crossing the Second Herring Brook, "where
the old bridge did lye."

There is a smaU brooklet flowing from Scituate into the river,
not far below the mouth of the Second Herring Brook ; but the
next point of interest of North River (shipyards excepted) is
Union Bridge. Here was a public ferry-boat as early as 1644,
when it was run by Elisha Bisby, whose house stood near the
bridge on the west side of the river, and where his son Elisha
kept a tavern for many years. Deane says there was a town
landing at this ferry (which was called the Upper Ferry) in
1G45. ° At this point, North Eiver is about seven to eight rods
wide at ordinary tide. The " Upper Ferry " Avas run by the
Oakraans* of Marshfield until later than 1760-70, about which
time John Tolman took charge ; and he was the last ferryman
before the bridge was built. " In 1709 it was proposed by the
Town of Scituate to build and maintain a bridge over North
Eiver, at Oahnan's Ferry, jointly with Marshfield. Three
hundred and seventy dollars were raised, but the enterprise
proved a failure because Marshfield refused to accomplish its
part. In 1<S()1 a corporation formed for the purpose of erect-
ing a draw-bridge, with the privilege of taking tt)ll. Union
Bridge was built soon after. The income kept the bridge in
repair, and paid 7% interest on the money invested, until 1850,
when it was made a free bridge. Hatch Tilden, brother of
Jotham and Luther Tilden of Scituate, and son of Dea. Sam-
uel, of Marshfield, was toll collector for more than forty years.
His son Edward built vessels in Chelsea under the firm name of
Curtis & Tilden. Hatch Tilden lived in the house next the
bridge, on the easterly side of the road, in Marshfield. He
married, in 1822, Hannah W., daughter of Nath. Waterman,
who came into Marshfield about 1794. She was born in So.
Scituate April 6, 1792, in the house afterward owned by Dr.
Foster. Mrs. Tilden, now in her ninety-eighth year, still
resides in the house by the bridge, where she has lived since
her marriage. Calvin T. Phillips, of So. Hanover, Mass.,
in an article jmblished in a recent number of "The Genealogical
Journal," writes as follows :

" On page 354, Deane, in his ' History of Scituate,' states that
' Samuel Tilden (grandson of Elder Nathaniel) settled on the North

* See chapter on North River Pilots.

TILDEX GENEALO(iV. 37

River, ***** \vhose sou Samuel \\ as l)orn 16S9 (bv a first
wife) ; his second wife was Sarah Curtis, 1694. The latter Samuel
married Desire Oldham, 1717, and his sou Samuel was born 1718.
The latter was the father of the venerable Dea. vSamuel Tilden.'
This would make the line of Samuels as follows :

Samuel, born 1660; married 3d, Sarah Curtis, 1694.
Samuel, born 16S9; married Desire Oldham, 1717.

Samuel, born 1718 ; married .

Samuel, born 1739; (Deacon).

After careful examination of all known records, I can but think
that Deane was mistaken in this line.

As to Samuel, born 1660, I find no trace of the ' first wife,' nor
of any of her children ; but jSIarshfield town records give the birth
of Samuel, son of Samuel and Sarali, Oct. 4, i(^gS- ^^ there had
been a Samuel, son of a first wife, living, another child would not
have received the same name. The same records also give the birth
of Samuel, son of Samuel and Desire, Sept. 14, 1739, and the death
of ' Deacon Samuel Tilden,' June, 1S34, aged 95, which agrees
with the foregoing date of birth of the child of Samuel and De-
sire. The record in the family Bible of Dr. Calvin Tilden (son
of Dea. Samuel) fully corroborates the above, as it gives Sam-
uel Tilden and Desire Oldham as the parents of Deacon Samuel,
and the death of Samuel (husband of Desire) as March, 1774, aged
78, which agrees with the birth date of Samuel, son of Samuel and
Sarah. I find no record of any Samuel born 1718.

I therefore conclude that, instead of the line of four Samuels, as
given by Deane, there were but three, as follows :

Samuel, born 1660; married Sarah Curtis.
Samuel, born 1695 ; married Desire Oldham.
Samuel, born 1739; (Deacon)."

The children of Dea. Samuel Tilden were as -follows: 1.
Capt. Samuel, born 17G5, died 1844. 2. Capt. Jotham, born
17()7, died 1843. 3. Charles, born 1768, died 1851. 4. Elisha,
born 1770, died 1852. 5. Benjamin, born 1772, died 1829.
6. Dr. Calvin, born 1774, died 1832. 7. Capt. Luther, born
1777, died 1857, 8. Mercy, born 1779, died 1817. 9. Hatch,
born 1781. died 1861. 10. Nathan, born 1784, died 1856.*

King's Landing is on the Norwell side of North River, below
Union Bridge. A cart-way leads to it from opposite Turner
Hatch's.

The next tri))utary to North River, below Union Bridge, is

* See Block-bouse Yard for Tildeu Genealogy.

38 doggett's ferry — little's bridge.

Stony Brook, which flows into the river from Scituate, and,
though not a long stream, at some points it is quite wide.
Nearly opposite and a little below is Rogers' Brook, which
rises in Marshtield and flows along the foot of Rogers' Hill,
l)elow the Thomas Nelson place. Next we come to Little's
Bridge.

Tlie river here is over nine rods wide, and grows wider
below the bridge, expanding to over half a mile in width at
Fourth Cliff" Bay, formerly called New Harbor, where the
channel divides, but unites again a mile below. Where Little's
Bridge is now located there was a ferry as early as 1637, which
year two hundred acres of land were granted to Mr. William
Vassal 1,* " on condition that he keepe a ferry against his farme
toll Id. for a man and 4d. for a beast." This Avas then called
New Harbor Ferry The ferry was located in front of his resi-
dence, Avhich was on "Belle House Neck," Scituate. In 1730
this ferry was kept by Ctq^t. John Doggett, a descendant of
Thomas Doggett, the tirst of that name in Marshfield, w^ho mar-
ried Joane, widow of Thomas Chillingworth, of Marshlield, in
1654. After Captain Doggett took the ferry it was called Dog-
gett's Ferry. In 1755, Capt. John Doggett's son, Capt.
John, Jr., then only fifteen years of age, kept the ferry.
Thomas, the first, bought in 1651) a farm where he lived until
his death in 1692. This farm was a portion of the upland
overlooking the mouth of the North River and the extensive
view of the ocean beyond. It Avas the first farm on the Marsh-
field side of the river, with one of the dividing lines starting
oi)[)osite the point where the North and South Rivers enter the
sea. Out on the marsh ojjposite the upland there is an oasis of
cedars, old and gnarled, called Doggett's Cedars, while beyond
is Doggett's Beach names which are perpetuated hy old deeds,
and known to a few of the older inhabitants as being so called
for the family, who for many years resided here. Among the
descendants of Thomas Doggett were many who Avere " mari-
ners," and of them the following were prominent : Samuel
Doggett, named for his father, and a grandson of Thomas, w^as
the first of the family called " mariner," and he began sailing
from North River about the year 1700. Plis homestead was a
piece of u})land containing thirty acres of land, together with
five acres of marsh, now called Bryant's Pasture, which is
located near where the railroad bridge crosses the river, and

* See Biiggs' Ship Yard.

DOGGETT FAMILY. 39

was l)oimdcd on one side by the river, " beginning at ye mouth
of ye great creek by ye North Kiver." lie bought two hits of
land in Marshfield about the time he purchased his homestead
in 1710, and they were spoken of as adjacent to Pudder Wharf
Brook, which doubtless suggests the name of one of the North
Eiver \vharves. Sanuiel Doggett was Town Tre;isui-er of jNIarsh-
field for several years, and prominent in the shipping interests
of the river from which he sailed. He was interested in the
settlement of Maine, and combined with Boston capitalists and
used his vessels to carry families there to settle. Many of
these were JVIarshiield people, who doubtless sailed for their
new home from North River. The grt)\vth of Boston, and ]Mr.
Doggett's increasing interests there, led him to leave jNIarshtieid
in 1744 and make his home in that growing commercial centre,
where he soon afterward died. At the time of his death he
owned the slooi)s "Dolphin" and " Swan," valued at £1100
and £750 respectively. He had a brother, Ebenezer Doggett,
also a sea captain, living at one time in Plymouth and after-
ward in Boston, whose landed interests in Marshtield often took
him to the vicinity of the North River. Like his brother
Samuel, he was well acquainted with the Atlantic coast, from
Newfoundland to the West Indies, to which, as well as to the
intermediate ports he often sailed. Capt. Samuel Doggett had
a son Noah, also a sea captain, who was born in Marshtield and
removed to Boston with his father. Capt. Noah Doggett sailed
from lioston to Atlantic and Euroi)ean jjorts until the time of
the Revolution, when he retired and spent his declining years
in the town of Boston, where he died in 1805. His grandson,
Nathaniel B. Doirget, lives in the mansion house corner of IIol-
lis and Tremont'streets, Boston. The branch of the Doggett
family who kei)t the ferry resided in Scituate, and their descend-
ants are in Nova Scotia. John Doggett, tirst of '^ Doggett's
Ferry," had a brother Thomas Doggett, of Marshtield, who
was a yeoman, but was also interested in shipping, as appears
from the following :

" Jan. 12, 1732-3. Isaac Little of Pembroke receipts to Thomas
Doggett Jr. in full for the earnings of 1-3 and 1-4 part of the sloop
' Middleboro ' the past year, a fishing voyage and also what he was
to allow for his berth and the berth of Nathaniel Stetson."

A toll-bridge was erected at Doggett's Ferry in 1825, and
called Little's Bridire, from a family of that name who lived
near, on the Marshtield side. This was made a tree bridge
March 20, 1865.

40 W3I. vassall's oyster bank.

Ju>t Ix'low Little's Bridgo, AVilliam Yassall planted some
oysters in Ki-lo, inakinii" an oyster bank or bed. Tbe oldest
man now livini>- in the neighborhood does not rememl)er that
any oysters "vvcre ever taluMi from the river, though fresh-water
c'hnns are very plenty along the banks as far up as Chapman's
Landino", in Hanover. The inferenee seems to be that the oys-
ter was not eonnnon to this river in early times. The following
is from the Colony Records :

" 1639, December. Licence of liberty is granted to Mr. William
Yassall to make an ovster bank in the North River sixty rf)ds in
leno-th and across the said river in some convenient place near his
farm there called the ' West Newland ' and to appropriate it to his
own use forbidding all others to use the same without his licence."

]\Ir. Yassall built a bridge over Rotten Marsh Creek before
l(i,3(i. William Yassall died in the Parish of 8t. Michael, in
the Island of Barbadoes, in 1655.* The following items rela-
tive to the Yassall family are taken from newspapers of early
dates. From TJie Boston Evening Post, Jan. 28, 1760 :

" On Thursday morning died Mrs. Anne Vassal!, the agreeable consort
of \Vm. Vassull, Esq. We hear her funeral will be attended this after-
noon."

3IassacJiusefts Spy, Feb. 20, 1772 :

" Died, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, widow, sister to Wm. Vassall, Esq."

Massachusetts Spy, April 30, 1772 :

" Married, Mr. Richard Smith, merchant to Miss Lucretia Frances Vas-
sall, daughter of Wm. Vassall, Esq."

Deane, in his " History of Scituate," says, "we have often
regretted that the town was not called after the name of Hath-
erly." It certainly does seem strange that the inhabitants of
So. Scituate should go so far out of their way as to name their
town Norwell, when they have so many debts of honor to pay
to the men who have made the town what it is to-day. None
are more prominent among these than Timothy Hatherly, Wil-
liam Yassall, the Cushings, the Otises, the Cudworths, the
"Wantons, the Stetsons, and others, whose intelligence and
benevolence have, years ago, won for their names a prominent
place in the town.

* Historical Soc. Papers, Vol. IV. See also Deane's History of Scituate for a full
account of this distinguished man.

I- 1 U.ST SAW 3ILIL IN THE COLOXY. 41

'VVe next come to the Railkoad IIpjdge, whkli is at the time
of Mi-iting inexcusably without a draw. The next point of
interest below the liailroad Bridge is Will's Island.

The last tributary to North River from Scituate is the First
Herring Brook, which rises in George Moore's Pond and
Swamp (or Town Swamp) and Brushy Hill Swamp, in the
<:'entral i)art of the town, and tlows into North River at New
Haibor marshes. Its Avhole length is scarcely three miles.
Until mills were erected on this Herring Brook, alewives
ascended as far as George Moore's Pond, and, as the stream
was narrow, they were easily taken with nets. There were in
early times beaver dams on the Herring lirook at the ancient
fulling mill. Long Marsh, so called in 1()40, was on the First
Herring Pirook al)ove the mills. George Moore's Swamp and
Bridge, on the south bank of the Herring Brook, were so
named for George Moore, who came into Scituate from Ply-
mouth, and in 1(;42 owned a large tract of land near Stock-
bridge's JNIill Pond. His house was on the road from the mill
to George ^Moore's brook on the northeast side, and near the
brook. He died suddenly in 1(377. Jury's verdict:

" That George Moore came to his death by a fainting fit or a sud-
den stopping of his breath. Rhodolfhus Ellmes, Poreman"

George Moore's Bricige was erected about 1653.

Leaving this locality, and following the course of the First
Herring Brook, we next come to the Clapp Mills. James Tor-
rey erected a Clothing JVIill here in 1()53. His house stood in
theNEAL Field, ten rods south of the gate to the road that leads
to Ho1)art's Landing. Sanmel Clai)]) occupied this mill in KliH),
and many years later his son, Ca})t. John Clapp, had a grist
mill raid fulling mill at the same spot. On the Herring Bi-ook,
about a half mile below this site, was built a saw mill ])rior to
1646 by Isaac Stedman, who was in Scituate as early as 1(537,
and was later a merchant in Boston. He died in 167(S. This
was proba))ly the jir><t saw mill erected in tJie colony. In 1(54 (5
Isaac Stedman sold his house (which stood ten rods south of
the dam), land, and saw mill to George Russell, previously of
Hingham. In 1(5,56 John Stockl)ridgc * j)urchased of George
Russell one half the mill privilege, and together they erected a
grist mill. John left to his son, Charles Stockbridge, his half

* The common ancestor of the Stock bridges, who located on the Third HerriDg Brook
and in Hanover. See Deane's History of Scituate.

42 "the old oaken bucket.

of the grist mill at Scituate, and Charles purchased, in 16G5,
George Russell's half. The sons of Charles, and their descend-
ants, fell heirs to the property, Avhich has always been known
as Stockbkidge's ]\Iills. There was a bridge across the First
Herring lirook at this point aI)out l(i40, and in 1G70 the town,
having obtained perniissi(>n of Charles Stockbridge, voted "that
the connnon roade shall pass over his mill dam." Lenniel and
Samuel A. Turner began the manufacture of nails in their fac-
tory on the First Herring Brook in 1825, and in 1829 there
was one nail factory and one grist mill in operation on this
brook.

The First Herring Brook flows through that delightful ])iiYt
of Scituate referred to by Sanuiel Woodworth in his poem,
"The Old Oaken Bucket." Here is the "deep tangled wild-
wood," "the brook and the meadow," "the cataract," "the
mill," and not far from the mill is the residence of Mr. John
Northev, the old homestead of Woodworth, and the well in
which the "Old Oaken Bucket" hung. Charles O. Ellms, in
the South tSIiore Herald, in October, 1885, gives two versions
of the circumstances which inspired the poem, as follows :

" When Woodworth was sitting in his ofSce one sultry afternoon, feeling-
thirsty, one of his friends, a tailor, went out and procured a bottle of
Falernian. After both had drunk, ' There,' said the poet, ' that is the best
thing I ever drank.' The tailor hung his head and said, ' Not so, 1 know
one thing that bea's it. When I was a boy after mowing I would go and
draw the old oaken bucket from the well and drink the cold water. That
excels this.'

But the one to be relied upon, says Mr. Ellms, is by his old friend, Geo.
P. Morris, who, wiih the poet, established tiie New York Mirror. Morris
aftei-wards established with N. P. Willis the Hoiue Journal, and in the latter
paper gives an account which reads as follows : — ' The Old Oaken Bucket
was written in the spring or summer of 1817. The family were living in
Duane street. The poet came home to dinner one very waim day, having
walked from his office, somewhere near the foot of Wall street. Being
somewhat heated with the exercise, he poured out a glass of water (New
York pump water) and drank it at a draught, exclaiming, as he placed the
tumbler on the table : ' That is very refreshing ; but how much more
refreshing to take a good long draught, this warm day, from the old oaken
bucket I left hanging in my father's well at home.' Hearing this, the
poefs wife, who was always a suggestive body, said : ' Selim, why
wouldn't that be a pretty subject for a poem ?' The poet took the hint, and
under the inspiration of the moment sat down and poured forth from his
very soul thdse beautiful lines which have immortalized the name of
Woodworth.

The poet was instructed in the classics by the Rev. Nehemiah Thomas of
Scituate, afterwards he wa^ apprenticed to Benj. Russell, editor of the

"the old oaken bucket." 43

Columbia Sentinel, Boston. After serving his time he removed to Xew
Haven, and started a periodical entitlec) The Belles Lettres Beposilori/.
Then we find him in 1813 in New York city, conducting a paper called the
War. In 1823, with Geo. P. Morris, he established the New York Mirror.
In 1827 he edits a paper called the Partheon. Among iiis published works
are : ' Beasts at Law or Zoologian Jurisprudence,' ' Quaiter Day or the
Horrors of the First of May,' and the 'Champions of Freedom.' Besides
the above works he contributed poems from lime to lime to the papers of
the day, also dramatic works for the stage ; one, llie ' Forest Rose ' has had
a great rvm."

During the first part of August, 1879, there appeared the fol-
lowing in the Boston Herald :

" To the Editor of the Herald: Seeing a few lines in your issue of yester-
day, stating that ♦ The Old Oaken Bucket ' was produced under the ' inspir-
ation ' of a glass of brandy and water, I am sure that the particulars relat-
ing to said ' inspiration' will prove interesting to manv of your Sunday
readers : Samuel Woodworth, the author of ' The Old Oaken Bucket,'"
died at New York in 1842, aged 57. He was a printer, and served his
apprenticeship at Boston, in the office of jNIajur Rus«ell, the publisher of the
Centinel. The popular and beautiful ballad, for which he is best known,
is said to have had its origin under the following circumstances : He was
employed in an office on the corner of Chestnut and Chambers strests, in
New York. One day, with a knot of brother typos, he dropped in at an
establishment kept by Mallorv, on Franklin street, for the jiurpose of taking
some brandy and water, which ]\Iallory was famous for keeping. The
liquor was excellent, and Woodworth seemed inspired by it ; for, after
taking a draught, he set his glass upon the table, and smacking his lips,
declared that Mallory's ea2i de rze was superior to anything he ever tasted.
' No,' said a comrade, ' you are quite mistaken : there was one thing which,
in both our estimations, far surpassed this, in the way of drinking.' ' What
was that?' asked Woodworth, dubiously. 'The draught of pure fresh
spring water that we used to drink from the old oaken bucket that hung in
the well, alter our return from the labors of the field, on a sultry day in
summer.' The teardtop glistened for a moment in Woodvvorth's eye.
' True ! true !' he replied and soon after quitted the place. He returned to
the office, grasped the pen, and in half an hour ' The Old Oaken Bucket,^
one of the most delightful compositions in the English language, was ready,
in manuscript, to be embalmed to the memories of succeeding genera-
tions.— (7. L\ w:'

Although the poem is familiar to every American it is-
inserted here, being descriptive of this locality.

THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET.

Hovv^ dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond recollection j^resents them to view,

The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wild wood,
And every loved spot which my infancy knew.

44 "the old oaken bucket."

The wide spreading pond and the mill which stood by it,
The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell,

The cot of my father, the dairy house nigh it.
And e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well.

The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket.

The moss covered bucket which hung in the well.

The moss covered bucket, I hail as a treasure.

For often at noon when returned from the field.
I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure,

The purest and sweetest that nature can yield.
How ardent I seized it with hands that were glowing,

And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it fell,
Then, soon, with the emblem of truth overflowing,

And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well.
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket,

The moss covered bucket arose from the well.

How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it.

As poised on the curb it inclined to my lips.
Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it,

Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips.
And now far removed from the loved situation,

The tear of regret will intrusively swell
As fancy reverts to my father's plantation.

And sighs for the bucket, which hangs in the well.
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket.

The moss covered bucket which hangs in the well.

Samuel Woodwoi-th, the author, was a descendant of Walter
Wood worth. The female branch of the Wood worth family is
still represented in Scituate in the families of IMerritt and
Sylvester.

Between Little's Bridge and the sea there flows into North
Eiver from Marshfield, first a brook on which was located
Walker's Nail Factory and which rises near East Marshfield
village. Branch Creek enters the River below Trouant's
Island. Broad Creek enters the River from North River
marshes and Little's Creek enters the River about 125 rods
north of L. Rogers' Wharf at White's Ferry.

After we leave the First Herring Brook the next point of
interest on North River is White's Ferry at " New Harbor
Marsh." This was. called White's Ferry as early as 1768 as
the following tends to show, taken from The Boston Chronicle
1768, April 4-11.

>►'" .11

ijKf'i'

white's ferry. 45

"A few days ago, Jacob Lincoln, a latl about 20 years of age, apprentice
to Mr. Thomas Dillingham, blacksmith of Scitnate, going in a ferry boat
to a whaling vessel lying at White ferry, in North River, in jumping up to
send off, unfortunately fell down between the vessel and boat and was
immediately carried out by the tide ; his body was found at the HummoclvS
nine days after."

In 1638 a ferry was established at North Iviver l)y Jonathan
Brewster of Duxbury. This ferry was at a place called " New
Plarbour Marsh," ancl it is now called "White's Ferry." Jonathan
Brewster of I)tixl)nry was the first ferryman. In 1()41 ]\Ir.
Brewster sold his ferry privilege to Mess. Barker, Howell and
others for £00. In 1(>45 it was kept by Ralph Chapman, who,
in 1656 implored the court to excuse him " as it would bring
him to extreme poverty" &c. He was excused "except on
special occasions as bringing the magistrates over who dwell
there." At "New Harbour Marsh " North River is very wide
and contains many islands. Here it approaches the sea as if to
burst throtigh the beach, but turns almost at right angles to the
east, and flows nearly south, parallel with the seashore for nearly
three miles, before it finds its outlet, leaving a beach 20 rods
wide and about 20 to 40 feet high, composed of round smooth
pebbles. South River, a shorter but more rapid tide stream,
flowing from JNIarshfield and uniting with it near the sea, aids in
causinir a shifting of these rivers' mouths to which must be added
the mighty eflect of the heaving and restless ocean, the conflict
of winds, of tides, and contexture of the immediate shores.
North River has at its mouth during full tide but nine feet of
water, owing to the bar. Its embouchure shifts, advancing
south a half mile, then receding as far, sometimes having one
outlet and occasionally two, which was the fact in 1815. Vessels
of over 200 tons were lifted up by gondolas lashed to the
vessel at low tide or heaved with kedges.* At AVhite's Ferry
there was a wharf for many years where vessels built at the
yards above would receive their rigging. Ships were Iniilt here
by the Halls and Keens. Vessels wintered in Fourth Clift' Bay
in early times, finding good moorings at "Pincin's Bank."
John Barker, who purchased the ferry of Jonathan Brewster in
1641, was drowned there in 1652. The colony records gave
the verdict of the jury on the death of Isaac Robinson of Scituate,
who was drowned in Barnstable as follows. Verdict :

"Drowned in going into a pond to fetch two geese, the pond
beinge full of weedy grasse."

* See Chapter on North River Pilots.

46 THE EARLY FISHERIES.

John Rose of INIarshfield died while gunning on the beach in
1676. Verdict :

" Perished by the severity of the weather."

In the Cok)ny Records under date of July 31, 1656, is the fol-
lowing verdict :

"Wee finde that this present day John Phillips Jr. came into liis
dwelling house lately known or called Mr. Buckley's house in good
health as good wife Williamson affirmeth and sat upon a stoole by the
chimney and by an immediate hand of God manifested in thunder and
lightning the said John came by his death."

Deane takes from the Colony Records the following : "Richard
Berry, Jedediah Lombard, Benjamin Lombard and James
Maker fined for smoking tobacco at the end of Yarmoitth ]\Ieet-
ing House on the Lord's Day," and referring to tradition Deane
says, "the early settlers were greatly addicted to smoking and
that they would often disturb divine service by the clicking of
flints and steels to light pipes and the clouds of smoke in the
church." Hence the colony passed a law in 16()9, viz: "It is
enacted that any person or persons that shall 1)e found smoking
of tobacco on the Lord's day going to or coming from the meet-
ing within two miles of the Meeting House shall pay 12 pence
for every such default," &c.

The will of Capt. Williams gives his brother-in-law his two
boys, " George and Thomas whom I ol>tained with my sword and
my bow." These were undoul)tedly Indian slaves. Mary
White, a resident of Scituate married about 16JJ0 an African
slave named James Newell, and from them there descended quite
a numerous posterity.

The company that arrived in the ship "William," set up a fish-
ing station at Scituate in 1633 and from that time the fisheries
of Scituate were very important. North River was also noted
for its fisheries, a principal station for herring fishery being at
Gravelly Beach. Most of the vessels used in the fisheries from
Scituate were built on North River. For twenty years prior
to 1830 an average of twelve or more vessels were built per
year of from 40 to 400 tons each, and the average cost of getting
them out of the river was $1.00 per ton. Lindsay in his
"History of Ancient (,^ommerce" asserts that in 1572 "the
largest merchantman that sailed from the Port of London was
only 240 tons register."

THE FIRST VESSEL BUILT IX MASSACHUSETTS. 47

Only one of the vessels that composed the squadron of
Columbus in 141)2 had a deck, and the ''Mayflower" that
brouiiht over the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 was of but 180 tons
burthen. The advantages to be derived from the encourage-
ment of shipbuilding in New England were early ai)pre('iated
by the managers of the Massachusetts l>ay Coin[)any in London.
In their tirst letter dated April 17, 1()20, they state that six
shipwrights had been sent to New England of whom Rol)crt
Moulton was chief. The first vessel built in the Massachusetts
Colony was launched July 4, 1(531, into the " Mistick " River at
Medford. This was the Bark " BlessiiKj of the Bay,'" 30 tons,
owned by Governor Winthrop. In 1G36 she was valued at
£100. Richard Hollingsworth launched a ship of 300 tons at
Salem in June, 1641. At Gloucester a ship was built in 1643
by a Mr. Stevens and others. In 1724 so important had shi})-
building become in ^Massachusetts that sixteen Master Builders
belonging to the Port of London petitioned the Lords of the
Committee of Plantations "not to encourage shipl)uilding in
New England because workmen were drawn thither." The war
of the Revolution brought business to a standstill. Ships could
110 longer be built on Englisii account and the danger of capture
rendered navigation of the sea extremely hazardous. AVlicn the
independence of the Colonies was fully established shipbuilding
again ))ecame active. AVilliam Vassall in writing to Rev. John
AVilson of Boston, June 7, 1643, describing his and ]Mr.
Ilatherly's and other farms said :

'^Our lands reach ten miles or more to the Southwestward, by
which runneth a faire river navigable for boats ten miles and hay
grounds on both sides and hath an outlet into the sea about four
miles from the meeting house.'"

The forests of white oak, which the early settlers found here,
have long since been converted into ships. The black walnut
has entirely disappeared, the spruce nearly so, and but ies^
white oaks of any size are now cut. Pine, ash, beech, maple,
birch, sassafras, and walnut are now common in our forests. A
number of ship car})enters went from the North River to Beaver
Harbor, N. B., to work on a vessel. Where they boarded there
was a male cook, who used to take too much li(|uor. One dajs
when in this condition, he got otiended wdth " L'ncle Sam,"
whom many will remember, and tried to scald him. "Uncle
Sam " gave him a black eye ; and when the cook appeared, the
next morning, he was asked how he came to have such a black

48 EARLY SHIPBUILDING ON NORTH RIVER.

eye. "A horse kicked me," he replied, "and a mighty smart
beast it was, too."

Constant Oakman Iniilt a schooner some time lietween 1821
and 1826 on North Eiver. Below are given the names and his-
tories, so far as can l)e learned, of some vessels that arc regis-
tered as having been built on North River ; but it is impossil)le
to ascertain at what yards any of them were built: 17(59.
Sch. " SALLY," 35 tons, of Boston, George Homer, merchant,
owner. This vessel was destroyed in 1803. 1774. "MI-
NERVA," wliich was in China trade, and afterward whaling,
and broken up at Nantucket in 1821. 1777. Sch. "BEE," 33
tons, William Boardman, of Boston, owner. 1781. Sch. "IN-
DUSTRY," 31 tons, of Wellfleet. 1781. Sch. "SALLY," 25
tons, had a dee]) waist and a short quarter deck ; of Boston ;
owned by Joshua Torrey of Weymouth. 1783. Sch. "SUC-
CESS," 30 tons, owned bv Eben Parsons, merchant. Boston.

1784. Sch. "JENNY," 63 tons, of Boston. 1784. Sip.
"WELLFLEET," 25 tons, of Wellfleet, Thomas Melville, Sur-
veyor. 1784. Sch. "WILLIAM," 56 tons, of North Carolina.

1785. Sch. "MOLLY," 55 tons, of Barnstable. 17.S5. Sch.
"NEPTUNE," 67 tons, of Cohasset. 1785. Sch. "ESTHER."
1785. Brig't'n "HOPE," 134 tons, of Boston. 1786 Sch,
"DILIGENT," 81 tons, Rol^ert Gray, owner, of Boston.
Probably lost on a voyage to Guadaloupe in 1807. 1786. Sch.
"LUCY," 58 tons, James Tisdale, of Boston, owner. 1786.
Brig "FRIENDSHIP," 118 tons, of Boston. 1787. Sch.
" FLYING FISH," 32 tons, Eben Parsons, merchant of Bos-
ton, owner; James Taylor, master. 1787. Brii^Vn "LADY
WASHINGTON," 118 tons, of Boston. 1789. Sch. "RUBY,"
85 tons, of Boston. Condemned at Sandwich Islands in 1824.
1789. Sch. "PHCENIX," 68 tons, of Hingham, George R.
Gushing, of Hingham, owner. 1790. Briir'fn " HANNAH,"
130 tons, of Boston. 1790. Ship "UNION," which was the
first ship that ever had whaling agreements for proportions of
captured oil, etc. Prior to this time men shipped l)y contract
by word of mouth, — no writing. She made two voyages, and
on going out, in 1807, was supposed to have been sunk one
niffht by a whale. The crew took to their boats, and in twenty
da>s reached Fay al. 1791. "WASHINGTON." 1791. "HEC-
TOR." 1792. Brig "PEGGY," 134 tons, of Boston. 1793.
Sip. "CATHARINE," 85 tons, of Boston. Lost near Mt.
Desert in 1816. Ship "COMMERCE," 241 ton8(?), Capt.

HISTORY OF THE AVHALE SHIP "ESSEX." 49

Hardy, was built on North River in 1795. Probably the same
" Commerce " that was condenmed at Tonningen in August,
1810. 1796. 8ch. "SALLY," 24 tons, of Kingston.

In 179(5 there was also built on North River the whaleship
"ESSEX." Pollard, who was master of her, was an officer
on Fulton's steamer in 1807. The " Essex " was bought from
Salem by Nantucket merchants in 1804. She and her crew
have quite a history, which is given in a book published by
Capt. R. B. Forbes in 1884. The "Essex" sailed from Nan-
tucket Aug. 12, 1819, under command of George Pollard, Jr.
They had an uneventful passage around Cape Horn into the
South Pacific, but Nov. 20, while in Lat. 40° So. Lon. 119° W.,
they sighted a school of whales, and all the boats were sent in
pursuit. Owen Cha-e fostened to a large whale, which smashed
his boat, but he stuft'ed cloths in the hole and reached the ship.
A large sperm whale was lying quietly on the ship's weather-
bow, which spouted and went down, but came up again and
slowly made his way toward the vessel, but increased his speed,
and struck with great force with liis head just forward the fore
chains, throwing those on board off their feet. He disappeared,
and was next seen, apparently in convulsions, about a hundred
rods to leeward. Finally, after much manceuvreing, he again
came at the ship at full speed, and struck her directly under the
cathead and completely stove tlie bow. The ship w^as now fill-
ing rapidly, and there was only time to snatch two compasses,
two quadrants, two Bowditch navigators, muskets, powder,
fi[les, rasps, nails, turtles gotten at Galapagos Islands, and
about six hundred pounds of dry bread, and each boat had
sixty-five gallons of water. The ship soon fell over on her
beam ends, full of water. The allowance of food was one bis-
cuit and a half pint of water a day for each man. Washboards
were fitted to the sides of the deeply laden boats. On Dec.
9th, some flying fish struck against the sails, dropped into the
boat, and were devoured, bones, scales, and all. On Dec. ICth,
the allowance of bread and water was reduced one half. Some
relief was found by bathing in the sea. This led to the dis-
covery of barnacles on the boat's l)()tt()m, which were eaten
with a relish. On Dec. 20th, land was seen, and upon examina-
tion of their "Bowditch," it was found to ])e Ducies Land,
Lat. 24° 40' S., Lon. 124° 40' W. Eggs, birds and shell-fish
were found and devoured raw. Two days afterward they found
a spring, and nearly died from drinking the water in excess.

V
>

50 HISTOKY or THE WHALE SHIP "ESSEX."

The only vegetable was pepper-grass. By Dec. 27tli, they had
exhausted everything on the island, excepting the water, and
departed, leaving behind them William Wright and Seth Weeks
of Barnstable, and Thomas Co})per of Plymouth, England.
They now headed for Juan Fernandez. Jan. 10th, M. P. Joy,
the second mate, died. This was the first death. Jan. 12th,
the three boats were separated in Lat. 36° 16' S., Lon. 112°
20' W. The allowance of bread was now an ounce and a half
per day in Chase's Ijoat. Jan. 20th, Richard Peterson died,
and was committed next day to the sea. Feb. 8th, Chase says,
Our speech and reason seemed impaired." Isaac Cole became
mad and soon died. Consultation was held, and the terrible
verdict rendered that he must serve for food. Chase's journal
says : "AA"e separated his limits from his body, cut off all the
flesh, took out the heart, sewed u}) the remains in canvas, and
committed it to the deep, and, making a fire, partook of it and
preserved the remainder for future use. The next morning,
10th of FelM'uary, we found the flesh spoiling, and made a fire
to cook it to prevent its being wholly lost. For six or seven
days we lived on it. On Feb. 15th, our stock of flesh was
exhausted, and we were down to the last two cakes. Our limbs
had become swelled, and pained us exceedingly." On Feb.
18th, Chase's boat was rescued by the brig "Indian," Capt.
/VilliamCrozier, of London, in Lat. 33° 45' 8., Lon. 81° 03' W.
In Capt. Pollard's boat a like necessity obliged them to sustain
life by eating the body of a colored man, Charles Shorter.
Stephen Shepherd, colored, died in the second mate's boat, and
Samuel Reed, colored, in the captain's boat, and were used as
food. The second mate's boat became separated from the cap-
tain's Jan. 28th, in Lat. 35° S., Lon. 100° W., and was never
heard from. In Capt. Pollard's boat, he and the three remain-
ing men cast lots to see who should be sacrificed, and the lot
fell to Owen Cofifin, cousin to Capt. Pollard, who wished to take
his place ; but Coffin claimed the right to be sacrificed to save
his comrades, and submitted to his fate with great fortitude.
Lots were drawn to see who would be his executioner, and it
fell to Charles Ramsdale. On Feb. 11th, Brazilla Ray died,
and on these two bodies the captain and Ramsdale subsisted
until the morning of the 23d, when they were rescued in Lat.
37° S. by the whale ship "Dauphin," Capt. Zimri CoflSn, of Nan-
tucket, and arrived at Valparaiso on March 17th. At Val-
paraiso, Capt. Downs, of the U. 8. frigate " Macedonian,"
bargained, for one thousand dollars, with an English ship bound

HISTORY OF SHIPS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER. 51

to Australia, to stop at Ducies Island, which she did, and res-
cued the three men left there. Such were the sufferings of the
crew of one of the North River ]>uilt vessels. There are no
survivors of the ill-fated " Essex " now living. Capt. Kobt.
B. Forbes gives a most elaborate account of this vessel, the sub-
stance of which the author has endeavored to state in the fore-
going sketch.

There was built on North River, in 1.S04, the "SAMUEL,"
a whaler. Roliert Jnott, who commanded Fulton's steamer in
1807, was master of the " Samuel." She was condemned, full
of oil, at Rio Janeiro, 1822. 1805. "BROTHERS," which
was lost on the coast of Brazil in 1824. Also in 1805, ship
"CHARLES," which was lost in a " Norther" in 1823, at Val-
paraiso. In 1809, the "THOMAS," condemned at Woahoa,
Sandwich Islands, 1825. In 1816, "GEORGE." She was
condemned in 1857, at Woahoa, Sandwich Islands. In 1817,
" GOVERNOR STRONG ;" in 1823 sold to Uruguay. Also in
1817, the "VULTURE ; " sold to New York, and in 1826 con-
demned at Gibraltar. In 1818, "EQUATOR;" about 1851
broken up at San Francisco. Also in 1818, "EAGLE;" in
1837 she was broken up at Nantucket. Also in 1818, "RAM-
BLER;" condemned at Apia, Navigator Islands, one of the
Hervey Group, in 1852. F. C. Sandford owned, and in 1838
went around the world in her. In 1818, the "HERO;" she
made many good voyages, and in 1856 was condemned at the
Cape of Good Hope. 1819, "COLUMBUS;" broken up in
California in 1851. F. C. Sanford saw this ship broken up by
Chinamen alongside the ship " Cadmus," that in 1824 brought
Lafayette to America. 1821 . " LOPER ; " made a sperm whale
voyage in the Pacific Ocean in 1830, bringing 2270 barrels of
spenn oil in fourteen months, twenty days. Most oil in given
time. Inl835shewaslostoffMarinam,W. I. 1822. "KING-
STON ; " in 1850 sold to Sydney, N. S. W. Also in 1822,
" FALCON ; " on her second voyage she went ashore at Society
Islands, and w^as a total loss in 1826. Coffin Chase, now living
at Philadelphia, aged ninety-two, was on her when she was lost.
Sch. "SPECIE," 72 tons, was built in 1827 on North River;
commanded by Capt. Smith; owned in 1865 by Smith & O.,
Philadelphia.

CHAPTER III.

NORTH RIVER PILOTS.

Capt. Anthony Collamore, Wantons, Samuel Doggett, John
DoGGETT, Mark Hatch, Capt. Bardin Sylvester, Benja-
min Hatch, Benjamin Damon, James Eldredge, Frederick
Handerson, Job Young, Benjamin House, Jr., Jacob
Ames, James Ames, Alvin Hall, Samuel Hall, Benjamin
Keene, Asa Sherman, Asa Sherman, Jr., Tobias Oakman,
Capt. David Church, Timothy Williamson, Uncle Tom
Tripp, Capt. Luther Rogers, Calvin Lewis, Jerry

GUNDERWAY, CaPT. ChARLES L. TiLDEN.

TN the earliest records North River was recognized as being
-'■ the most important stream in the Colony, not only for its
fisheries and the shipbuilding on its banks, but as an outlet to a
large inland country. Packet lines were established prior to
1700, and trade carried on with coasting vessels which found
their way up this branch of the sea. The population of Scituate
at various periods was as follows: In 1638, freemen 22,
townsmen 19, total male population 41 ; in 1643 males from
16 to 60 years, 100. By the United States census of souls in
1800 there were in Scituate, 2728, number of houses 421.

In 1681 the bark "Adventure," 40 tons, sailed from North
River for the West Indies. She was owned by Scituate and
Marshfield parties. Capt. Collamore and the Wantons carried
on a considerable trade on the North River previous to 1670.
Capt. Anthony Collamore was wrecked while on a coasting
voyage from North River to Boston, and lost on Scituate Beach
December 16, 1693, at a place now called Collamore's Ledge.

Samuel Dogget sailed from North River about 1700.* He

* See Chapter on North River continued.

EARLY KAVIGATION. 53

owned the sloops " Dolphin " and " Swan." Jf)lin Doggett, the
son of the first Thomas, had a grandson John, the son of hh
son Thomas, who kept Doggett's Ferry, now Little's Bridge, in
1730. He was also a mariner and sailed at one time as captain
of the sloop " Patience," as appears in the following :

"March 19, 1728-9 John Holbrook Jr., of Scituate secures
Thomas Doggett of Marshfiekl on a bond by a Bill of Sale of ^^ of
the decked sloop " Patience," Capt. John Doggett, about 60 tons
now filled for sea and at anchor in North River."

There entered at the port of Plymouth, Mass., from North
River during the year 1773 the following vessels •

March 19, 1773. Mar^k Hatch enters Sip. "Ranger," (J5tons,
from North River, with 3 bbls. cider.

This is probably the same sloop referred to in the following
receipt.

"Hanover, July I2, 1777. Rec'd of Samuel House and Atherton
Wales £133 six shillings eight pence in full for one quarter part of ye
sloop cal'd ye " Ranger " and one quarter of her cargo consisting of
lumber now on a voyge to ye West Indies Together with one
quarter part of ye net proceeds of sd. voige. We paying one
quarter part of ye men's wages & victuling ye sd. vessel commanded
by Capt. Burden Sylvester. Caleb Turner."

March 19, 1773. Benj. Ilatcn enters Sip. "Patty," 20
tons from N. River, with 12 cords of wood.

April 6, 1773. Benj. Daman enters Sip. "Hannah," 25 tons,
from Marshfield, with 12^ cords of wood.

May 14, 1773. Jas. B!dred;/e, enters Sch. "Dolphin," 24
tons, from North River, with liailast. Fred'k Handerson, enters
Sch. "Speedwell," 15 tons, from No. River, with Ballast.
Benj. Hatch, enters Sip. "Polly," 18 tons, from No. River,
with 12 cords of wood.

May 15, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Sip. "Polly," 18 tons,
from No. River, with 11 cords of wood.

May 28, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Sip. "Hannah," 25 tons,
from No. River, with 11 cords of wood.

May 28, 1773. Benj. Hatch, enters Sip. "Polly," 18 tons,
from No. River, with 9 cords of wood.

54 PILOTING VESSELS OUT OF THE RIVER.

June 3, 1773. Job Yoiinrj, enters Sip. "Union," 15 tons,
from Xo. River, with 2 tons Pott Iron.

July 28, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Sip. "Hannah," 35
tons, from No. River, 20 cords of wood.

Jan. 5, 1774. Benj. House, Jr., enters Sch. "Defiance,"
25 tons, from Scituate, with 150 bhls. mackerel and 3 cords of
wood. These packets are all said to have been built on North
River.

The captains of these vessels were of necessity skilful pilots,
as only those who were thoroughly acquainted with the shoals,
rocks and bars could navigate North River with safety. Vessels
coming into the river from other ports and those built on the
river were piloted by North River Pilots, few of whom are now
livino;. In getting large vessels down and out of the river the
pilots had to work very quickly and bury an extra " kedge "
ahead before they had "heaved up to" the previous one, or the
vessel would lose steerage way and drift to the shoals on either
bank. Below Little's Bridge the channel is very crooked, and
near the mouth of the river is a bar, through which at times it
was necessary to cut the vessel's keel. On the way down river
the vessels were kept in the channel by four guys, two from the
bows to each bank, which were called breast lines, and two
from the quarter decks, called quarter lines.

When a vessel drew so much water that it was necessary to
cut her keel through the bar, they would go to the beach beyond
and bury heavy planks in the sand five or six feet deep, laying
them at right angles with the position of the vessel, and from
their centre attached chains, which they carried along in covered
trenches until some distance from the planks, where they would
lay them on the surface. The process of burying these planks
was called "buryino- niii'gers." A tackle would be attached to
the end of the chain and carried up the river to the windlass on
the bow of the vessel. Scows also were invarial)ly lashed, just
below the bow and stern at low tide to help raise the vessel.
With much tackle and large blocks, and often with fifteen men
heaving at the windlass, they would get the vessel inch by inch
through the bar, or shoals. Sometimes vessels could wot be
gotten out during one course of tides and would have to lay until
the next course of high tides. A very singular feature of
North River is the shitVing of its mouth from Beetle's Rocks,
which are located about a quarter of a mile south of the present

riLOTING VESSELS OUT OF THE It IV Eli. 55

mouth of the river, to the shoals, u shallow place, where the
tide is strongest, and which was the cause of great annoyance
in navigation. Vessels grounded about half a mile from Beetle's
Rocks, it requiring sometimes several days to get them otf.
Within Capt. Asa Sherman's remembrance, the mouth of the
river has w^orked its way nearly to the shoals and back agam,
and is now coming north.

An old sea captain, who lived near North River and used to
pilot vessels, was going down one day on a new ship after
launching. He was very anxious about a rock in the river, and
being afraid the vessel would strike, sat out on the bowsprit,
and kept singing out, "Haul her over to Scit-i-ate ; " by and by
he took out his snuffbox, and while taking a pinch managed to
fall into the water. He arose to the surface shouting and calhng
out "at the top of his lungs," "Haul her over to Scit-i-ate."
He evidently thought she had struck.

Jacob Ames, James Ames, and AJviu. Porter used to pilot
vessels down the river. There was one old pilot, a retired sea-
captain, w^ho (like many others, undoubtedly) used to give his
orders in the im])erative mood. On the meadow banks on ])()th
sides of the river were many men with long ropes from each
bow and each quarter to pull or to check, according to the
command received from between the "knight heads." "Old
Neptune" magnified his office and roared out his orders like the
voice of many waters. He was not at all fastidious about his
language, and his epithets were not suited to ears polite, but to
"Jack Tars" with whom he had had to do. His "Pull away
there on starboard bow," or, "Hold on port quarter," would
have had no moving force without the torpedo snap that made
the command tingle with authority. He was a character in his
day and has sworn many a good ship from Barstow's Yard down
to the mouth of the river. iSainuel Hall, who was born 1770,
and died 1806, was captain of the packet ship "Dolphin," which
plied on North River. Benjamin Keen ran a North River
packet ship in 1820.

Asa Sherman of AVhite's Ferry is the oldest North River
pilot and packet captain now living. • For 37 years he was in
command of Packets running between North River and coast-
wise ports. He was son of Asa Sherman of Centre jNIarshfield
^ and was born February

/r^ W ^ . 28, 1801. Asa, senior,

was captain of packets

56 NORTH KI\EU PILOTS AND CAPTAINS.

runninof between North River and Boston for about ten years.
The first sloop that Asa, Jr., commanded was the "Albion,"
which was running on the river line when he took her in the year
1827. His next vessel was the "Hanson," built in Pembroke in
l'S33 by Brigu's tic Tui-ner. His third vessel was the Sip. "Susan,"
built in ISoiby the Halls at White's Ferry, which he took in
1837. His fourth was the " Betsey Ransom," which he took in
1844. This vessel was bought from Scituate. His fifth packet
was the"Herschel," 1851, bought from Sandwich. His sixth
was the "Prompter," bought at Portland, and his last packet was
the "Ellen Elizabeth," which was bought in Boston, and which
he sailed from 1856 to 1864. The location of the landings he
made were as follows : beginning at the mouth of the river, 1st.,
White's Ferry, 2nd, Little's Bridge, 3rd, Union Bridge, 4th,
Hobart's or Briggs' Landing, 5th, Foster's Landing, 6th, Job's
Landing, 7th, Alden Briggs' wharf, or the Brick-kiln, 8th
Town Landing at No. River Bridge, Hanover. The vessels
were owned hy the principal business men of the towns border-
ing on the river.

Capt. Sherman's regular trips were for carrying freight to and
from Boston and occasionally to other places, as Scituate
Harbor, Duxbury, Plymouth and any of the towns on the coast
from Cape Ann to Cape Cod. Freights to Boston were usually
wood, charcoal and farmers' produce ; returning with lumber,
ship-supplies, goods for the stores, &c. He made yearly trips
to the camp meetings held at Provincetown, where lie carried a
great number of passengers. He brought the lumber and
materials for erecting the original Daniel Webster house and
farm l)uildings. He was an eye-witness of the engagement
between the men-of-war " Chesapeake " and " Shannon." Before
the battle the British came into North River for provisions ;
they took three calves from the farm of Waterman Thomas, on
!Marshfield Neck, and caused some distur])ance among the people
in the vicinity. The father of Asa Sherman, Jr., Capt. Sher-
man, mustered his company of militia, and went to meet them,
l)ut they quickly took their booty and left for their vessel.
Capt. Asa Sherman, Sr., was in command of the Sip. "May-
flower" from 1824 to 1828, and of the Sip. " IMagnolia " from
1S28 to 1833. The "Mayflower" was built in Pembroke in
1.S23, and the "Magnolia" in 1828, at Hano\er, 1)y Barker Turner.
The Sch. "Nancy," built by Samuel Kent at the Harbor in 1803,
was used as a jiacket on North River, and commanded by Capt.
Shennan, Sr.

NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS. 57

Tobias Oahman, of Oakman's Ferry, was master of a packet
sloop sailing from North River Bridue, Hanover, to Boston, for
over forty years. Capt. David ChnrcJt was his successor.
Cai)t. Church w^as well known in his day, and was called by
the old settlers " a substantial man." He had many peculiarities,
one of which was his manner of dress. With the exception of
his ])()ots and shoes, every garment he wore was made in his
own house, of wool from his flock of sheep or flax from his
field. He wore everything its natural color, aud his trousers
were always tucked into his stockings. It is said he was never
known to wear a dyed garment. The shipbuilders had so much
confidence in him that he made nearly all of their purchases.
At one time he went into a Boston store where he had not be-
fore traded, to purchase five tons of iron, and, while making
his inquiries, he noticed that they regarded him with some sus-
picion. "Fogs," said Capt. Church, "you look at me as if you
had some doubts about me. I want you to understand that I
do not come out of North River without five or six thousand
dollars about me." He then took a package of several thousand
dollars from his pocket. The firm replied, "We are pleased to
make your acquaintance, and shall be ha})py to attend to all
your requests."

Timothy Williamson used to run a packet sioop between
Bostcm and North River. He was a great gunner, and, being
usually the only man on board his small craft, he would begin
firing his "flint-lock" some time before reaching the draw-
bridge, in order to have it opened for him. Those living in
the region of Little's Bridge remember hearing the " bang,"
"bang," "bang," and they always knew it was Tim Williamson
coming up the river. He Avas a high-tempered fellow and a
smart workman, and used to pilot vessels out of the river from
the yards above. Al)out 1819 he w^as paid $11.66 for fourteen
tides on the ships "Foster" and "Peruvian," built at the AA'an-
ton Yard. He once had a terrible fight with a shark, near Lit-
tle's Bridge, which he finally killed. He ran his sloop from
about 1840 to 1846, and finally accidentally shot himself, which
injured him for life. Until 1820 or later, every male citizen
was obliged to keep a gun and twenty-four rounds of annnunition.
Inspection was the first Tuesday in :\Iay, and if the gun lacked
good order, was not properly oiled, or the flint w^as not right, a
tine was imposed.

There v/as another queer character, which any sketch of the

58 NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS.

North Elver pilots sliould incliuk'. This was Uncle Tom Tripp,
Of his origin or nationality there is little or nothing known.
He was uncle to everybody living on either bank of North River.
Rev. AVilliam P. Tilden says, " Uncle Tom Tripp seemed an old
man when I was a small boy." He was evidently so queer
looking that he might have been taken for almost any age. He
was very shoi-t, almost- a dwarf, and wore a slouch hat, long
coat, and boots coming up to his middle, which, together with
his weather-beaten face, made him a curiosity to look at. He
lived on the river, a sort of human muskrat. If a pair of bilge-
ways were to be floated from one yard to another, or spars or
logs transported from one landing to another, " Uncle Tommy "
was the man to do it. He would lash the long timl^ej's or spars
together, wait for the tide to float them, and then jump on
with his water-proof boots, and, with a long setting-pole, keep
the "water-logged" craft in the channel, and coax it leisurely
down or up with the tide, as the case might be. When the tide
turned he would tie his charge to a stake, and cut across the
fields to the nearest house for refreshments and lodging. He
was a great " story teller," and a very harmless one. There
was one place especially Avhere he always found a cordial wel-
come. This was the hospitable home of Mr. Sam. Hatch, who
lived on the banks of the First Herring Brook. "Uncle
Tommy " could get here by water. Mr. Hatch had a large farm
and a yet larger heart. He was a "good liver," as they used to
say, and there was always something in his well-filled pantry
for any poor waif who might happen along. It was in his s})a-
cious kitchen, in front of his open hard-wood fire, that "Uncle
Tommy" found an earthly paradise. Here he could eat, drink,
smoke, and tell stories to his "heart's content." How or when
he finally "shutfied off this mortal coil " (a most fitting phrase,
by the way, for one so often coiled up in his wet ropes during
life), no one appears to know. Perhaps, like his prototype, he
went into a hole in the river's bank, and there sleeps sweetly.
Let the river, every reach of which he knew by heart, be his
monument.

Many will remember the North River packet "Pico." The
"Pico" was originally an old North River "gundalow." Capt.
Luther Rogers* built on a bow and stern, after which he used
to "take his umbrella and go to Boston in her." Calvin Lewis
ran a packet between Marshfield and Boston about 1850.

* See Rogers's Yards.

Jerry Gunderway.

NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS. 59

Jerry Gunderway was a negro, "l)lack as the ace of spades,"
and a North River pilot, who would pilot anything from a small
fishing smack to a " gundalow " of suit hay, or a full-rigged ship.
At one time he was quite intemperate, and a great smoker, but
during the last forty years of his life he was a slave to neither
habit. One day he went to old Mr. Torrey, and asked him if
he would come to his house and chain him, as he often did when
he felt he was going to have an attack of the delirium tremens.
Jerry always knew when he was going to have an attack. Mr..
Torrey drove staples in the floor, and locked the chains which
bound Jerry to them. Jerry then recjuested that his wife
Cecilia should have the keys, telling her tliat she must not give
them to him, no matter how loud he called for them.

At one time he was confined in the cell of the almshouse.
One of the old " rum-sellers " of those days happening along,
asked Jerry what brought him there. " Your rum," said Jerry.
He used to eat a half a pound or more of raisins a day after he
stopped drinking. The habits were broken for the following
reasons : He was piloting a " gundalow " of green hay, which,
caught fire from his pipe, and he came to the conclusion that,
if he was such a smoker that he set green hay on fire, and burned
it up, he would stop ; and he never smoked again. He never
drank after being confined in the almshouse with delirium
tremens. He was a sensible fellow, and knew, he said, that
then it was time to stop drinking. He was a great dancer. He
had many peculiarities, especially in his manner of living. He
lived at one time in a little old house in Scrabl)le Lane, and
slept on the hearth with his head on a block of wood ten inches
high. The block is now in existence. One of his favorite
amusements was getting a party of men and boys, and an ox
sled, and going to Coleman Heights or Hills to slide down in
the winter time. Once the boys invited Jerry to ride on the
tongue, which was turned back over the sled, and they so
guided the sled that it should strike a fence ; consequently, the
tongue, acting as a lever by the sudden stop of the sled, threw
Jerry far over into a snow-bank in the field beyond. Jerry
took it in good part, and undoubtedly got square with them
later. He once chased a fox ofi' the Fourth Clifl', and, not
being able to stop, fell some twenty or more feet. Jerry died
many years ago in the So. Scituate Almshouse, where he desired
to be when sick, for he was sure of good care. At other times
he lived alone, and there was therefore no one to care for him
during the latter part of his life.

^0 CAPT. CHAS. L. TILDEN.

Capt. Charles L. Tilden was the last North River pilot run-
ning in the packet line l:>etween North River and Boston. He
was born May 9, 181i», in East Marshtield, where he now resides,
and is still a " live man ," though now past his seventh decade. He
has a fine home in the village, made more pleasant hj a family,
who look after his interests and make him forget that he is now
on the do^vn grade in years. In seeking an interview with
Capt. Tilden, a short time since, we found him busily engaged
in a grave-yard, evidently not on his own account, as he shows
no siijns of needing a resting place there for many years to come.
Likeinost boys that are born within the sight of water, a boat
was his first thought, and at a very early age he made daily
trips in quest of cod and haddock, which were then so plentiful
on our coast. He had learned the trade of a shoemaker, at
which he worked during the winters, but with the pleasant days
of spring he launched his little schooner " George Washington,"
and betook himself to his favorite calling. As he grew older,
his skill in handling craft gave him command of one of the
packets. It required a daring man to run a vessel over the
quicksands and shoals, at the mouth of the river, that were con-
tinually shifting in storms and tides ; but Capt. Tilden made
his trips with great regularity, and his vessel could always be
depended upon to arrive at her eight landing-places on the river
at nearly her stated hours, under any conditions of weather.
He ran the sloop "J. Franklin," (built at East Greenwich),
thirteen years, when she was sold. His next packet was the
Sch. " Daniel Webster," 43 tons, built for Samuel Hall and
Capt. Tilden, at Bath, Me., and his last was the sloop "Trader,"*
which was the last packet run on the river. The heavy baggage
wagons run between ]\Iarshfield, Pembroke, Hanover, and Bos-
ton, succeeded in turn by the railroads, caused a decline in the
packet business, which eventually had to be discontinued.
Capt. Tilden's knowledge as a pilot now came into play, and
for a dozen years he })iloted the ships built on the upper yards
to Boston, and other places, under jury masts, to l)e rigged and
receive their cargoes. His last ship he took from Union Bridge
to Provincetown in a fog so thick that eyesight was of little use ;
but he got it safely into poit a few minutes start of a northeast
gale, which, if it had caught him, judging from its power, he
thinks would probably have carried him right over the Cape
into Buzzard's Bay. Capt. Tilden is blessed with a happy

* See Rogers's Yard.

ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMS. 61

disposition, and reminiscences of his early days are toliim pleas-
ant memories. He and his family are very fond of music, and
some forty five years ago he was a member of the East jVIarsh-
field Brass Band, which travelled quite extensively among the
towns on the Cape, giving concerts. He also played the bass
viol in the church for forty years. The church and headstones
in the little graveyard beside it still stand, monuments to prove
that his playing was of the mildest sort, and not the real old
Orthodox kind that we used to hear, which would scrape the
rafters in the church at every draw of the bow.

The schooner ''Daniel Webster," spoken of above, is now used
as a packet between Provincetown and Boston. Capt. Tilden
made eight landings on the river during the most prosperous
seasons. The farthest landing up river was Alden Briggs', at
the Brick-kilns. Second. Job's Landing. Third. Ichabod's
Bank, named after Ichabod Hatch. Fourth. Gravelly Beach.
Fifth. Block House, where James's ship-yard was located.
Sixth. Union Bridge. Seventh. Stephen's Bank, named after
Stephen Rogers. Eighth. White's Ferry. He also made land-
ings at North River Bridge regularly when there was freight.
•He made his last trip as a North River pilot just prior to 1870,
and his last trip as a commander of a North River Packet was
made since the close of the Rebellion, or only a few years pre-
vious to 1870. Below are some verses, written nearly fifty
years ago by an old North River ship-builder, descriptive of
one of the good old farm-houses where the " latch-string " was
always out, and where all were sure of a warm welcome :

Of Green Bush farm 'twill be no harm

To take a slight survey ;
The tenants next shall be our text,

Judge ye of what I say.

Horse, sheep, and cows run loose to browse

Throughout the spacious fields ;
Turkeys and hogs, hens, cats and dogs,

The farm profusely yields.

Munroe and Ben are all the men

Who work upon the soil.
Old Mr. ***** surveys each patch,

And shows them where to toil.

l62 ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMS.

Here peddlers stop to fill their crops,

And sell their pretty toys, —
Chat with the girls, admire their curls,

And scold the little boys.

Thus I have told, with feelings cold,
How things out doors appear ;

'Twill be no sin to peep within.
And view the dwellers here.

The foremost one for making fun
You'll find is Mr. *****;

For native wit he never yet
Has found an equal match.

His form and size none can despise
Who like the German caste ;

His hands and feet are small and neat,
To suit the Chinese taste.

His body large, a spacious charge

As all might well suppose,
When he in haste, with rapid pace.

Like Falstaft' puffing goes.

His hair, once light, is now as white
As snow-flakes when they fall ;

His locks with knack he brushes back
Upon his hoary ball.

His whitened pate in size is great,
Though odd the shape appears.

Above the eyes, how small the size, —
How huge behind the ears.

Now let us quiz his noble phiz, —

As red as any rose ;
A lucifer match would surely catch

If rubbed against his nose.

His eyes are gray, most folks would say,

With border cherry red ;
Like diamonds bright they flash forth light,

Though deep sunk in his head.

He's so engaged he seems enraged

When stories he does tell ;
Your ribs he'll punch, your shoulders hunch,

To make you listen well.

ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMiS. Qg

To view his mouth, of spacious growth,

Would cure a fit of dumps ;
To see within, when he does grin,

A ghastly row of stumps.

His teeth are few and far between,

And I have heard it said,
It's rather doubtful if he can show

More than seven in his head.

CHAPTER IV.

NORTH RIVER BRIDGE YARDS.— 1668- 1836.

DANIEL, TURNER, JAMES BARSTOW, WILLIAM BARSTOW, WILLIAM
BARSTOW, JR., BENJAMIN BARSTOW, GIDEON BARSTOW, NA-
THANIEL OR " BUILDER SILVESTER," NATHANIEL SILVESTER,
JR., JONATHAN SAMSON, BARKER TURNER, JEDUTHAN PALMER,
ENOCH MAGOUN.

TURNER'S YARD was the farthest point up the river at
which any vessels were built. The site is visible from the
present bridge, being but a few rods aV)ove, in a small ravine or
gorge, now somewhat levelled, on the land of the late Horatio
Bigelow. It was improved by Daniel Turner, previous to 1699
and later ; but the names of none of his vessels have been ascer-
tained. Daniel was a son of Humphrey Turner, of Scituate.*
He removed from Scituate to a spot near Barstow's Bridge,
which was just above North River Bridge, and in 1665 married
Hannah, daughter of William Randall. He probably com-
menced the building of vessels soon after this date, and may
have resided where Mrs. Bigelow's house now stands. He had
a grandson, Amasa, who removed with his family to Lancas-
ter. Other descendants of his are now living in Hanover and
vicinity.

Previous to the Revolution, James Barstow used this yard,
and until he removed to Duxbury, where he engaged in ship-
building for many years. He died in Duxbury in 1808, leav-
ing a family. His eldest son, James, a ship-builder, was killed
at Kingston, in the great gale of Sept. 23, 1815, by the fall of

* See Deane's History of Scituate.

THE OLD BARSTOW YAIM). G5

a plank from the .stuping of a (ship on which ho was at work.
His son James, l)orn Nov. 25, 178(), was a ship-builder at Matta-
poisett, where he died, leaving a large family, whose descend-
ants are now living there.

The next yard was the ''Old Barstow Yard,'" so called. It was
located just below the Barstow Bridge, and it is said that the
vessels stood on land now occupied by the present abutments of
North River Bridge, on the Hanover side. The bows were
pointed up on the land now owned by the Bigelows, and the
sterns w^ere on land just below the present bridge. The road
now passes over the spot M'here these vessels formerly stood.
When the Barstows commenced building larger vessels, they
abandoned this yard, and removed farther down the river, be-
cause, when launched, their vessels frequently struck against
the rocky ledge on the opposite shore. The Old Barstow Yard
was next to the oldest on the river, and was first improved l)y
William Barsknv. He Came to New England in 163'), in the
vessel " Truelove."* He appeared in Scituate (now Hanover)
in 1649, and built for himself a house about forty rods back of
where the Second Congregational Church now stands, on Oak-
land Avenue. The partially filled cellar, and a few old apple-
tree stumps, now mark the place of abode of the pioneer of
ship-building in Hanover, which business was followed by his
descendants for two centuries. He probably began building
vessels a few years before his death, which occurred in 1668.
From an old paper is taken the following :

"Samuel Prince, Esq, died at Middleborough, Frl., July 5th, \liS.
Born in Boston, May, 1649. Married Martha, daughter of Mr. Wm. Bar-
stow, of Scituate, 1674, for his first wife. By her had three sons and two
daughters."— TAe New England Weekly Journal.

William Barstow's son WiUiavi, born 1652, resided in his
father's house, and followed the business of shi})-building. Hia
son Benjamin, born 1600, occupied the old homestead, and suc-
ceeded to the yard at the bridge, w^here he built for many years.
He had three wives and twenty-one children. Ills son James,
born 1734, built in the yard just above his father's, the location
of which has been described. James' brother Gideon, born
1738, succeeded his father, Benjamin, at the old yard, but
finally removed to Mattapoisett, where he died in 1826, leaving
several children. From their brother Thomas, born 1732,

* See Barry's History of Hanover, and Deane's History of Scituate.

60 "builder SILVESTER."

descended the Barstows, who huilt further down the river. It
was probably Benjamin's fother who decided that it was unwise
to remain k)no:er at the old yard, and established one at the
"Two Oaks," some time between 1745 and 1755.

After the Barstows left the yard, or about 1745, it was im-
proved by Nathaniel Silvester, familiarly known as Builder Sil-
vester. He was born in 1718, and about 1743 built the house
afterward occupied by Rufus Farnham, later by Zenas Sturte-
vant, and now by John Fisher. It belongs to the farm of the
late Horatio Bigelow, by whose widow j\Ir. Fisher is employed.
This house was at one time, previous to 1^15, a tavern, and
kept by Tilden Crocker, or Crooker, who died in Quincy, Nov.
21, 1853, and was buried from Capt. Farnham's house, Han-
over. Barry gives a most complete genealogy of the Sylvester
family, so it will be l)ut brieily referred to here. " Builder Sil-
vester" has four great-grandchildren now living at South Han-
over : Elijah W., a skilled house-carpenter; George F., who
has a large greenhouse, and does an extensive business as a
florist; Mary T., widow of the late Lebeus Stockhi'idge, Jr. ;
and Elizabeth, who resides with her brother, George F.
" Builder Silvester " was brother of Michael Sylvester, from
whose son Kobert descended a numerous posterity. Michael
and Robert, sons of Robert, Sr., are still living. The follow-
ing are their descendants :

Michael Robert. 1st child of Michael, born June 24,
1825 ; married, July 3, 1849, Emily S. Spear, of Boston, M'ho
died, with her infant child, Sept. 21, 1851. He mar. 2d, Eliza-
beth T. Waterman, May 31, 1855 ; she died June 20, 1850. His
third wife was Maria W. Wright; married Feb. 12, 1861 ; by
her he 4iad children : 1. Ruthetta M., born July 17, 1802.
2. Emily E., born Dec. 6, 1803. 3. Martha W., born Jan.
25, 1800. 4. Robert W., born Sept. 11, 1808 ; died Dec. 30,
1871. 5. Helen, born Nov. 17, 1809; died Nov. 27, 1809.
6. Robert Irving, born June 10, 1872. 7. Maria W., born
Jan. 27, 1870. 8. Herbert R., born July 1, 1878. EdmundQ.,
second child of Michael, born April 29, 1827 ; married, tirst,
Dec. 14, 1858, Mary Salmond, daughter of Samuel Salmond.
They had children ; 1. Eliza Salmond, born A[)ril 15, 1801.
2. Samuel Salmond, born Sept. 13, 1802. 3. Mary, born July
24, 1804 ; died Se[)t. 8, 1805. E. Q. Sylvesters first wife,
Mary, died July 31, 1804, aged thirty-one years, and he mar-
ried, second, Feb. 5, 1807, her sister, Eliza S., aged twenty-two

SYLVESTER GENEALOGY. 67

years. By her he had children: 1. Edmund Q., Jr.; died
Feb. 12, 1868, in infancy. 2. Edmund Q., Jr., 2d, born July
12, 18(;9. 3. Joseph Smith, born Nov. 5, 1870. 4. Albert Len-
thall, born Nov. 30, 1872. o. Francis Baldwin, born Feb. 1,
1880. Martha II., third child of Michael, was born Dec. 20,
1839 ; married Cyrus C. Holmes, of Hanover, May 14, 1865.
He died in Newberne, N. C, June 30, 1879. They had one
child, Minnie A., born in Newberne, N. C, Aug. 12, 1866.
Lemuel Curtis, fourth child of Michael, born May 14, 1842 ;
is unmarried. Lydia, fifth child of ISIichael, born Jan. 12,
1845 ; married Henry E. Fuller, of Rockland, Mass., Dec. 1,
1867. They have children : 1. Fred Henry, born March 19,
1871. 2. Mabel Sylvester, born May 3, 1875.

Robert Sylvester, the other son of Robert, Sr., and brother
of Michael, had children: 1st. Loami B., born March 18,
1832 ; married Emeline A. Pratt, June 16, 1858. He died in
the war, Sept. 6, 1862. They had one child, Sarah E., born
May 27, 1859, who married William Stearns, of "Wayland,
Mass., June 16, 1884. Susanna F., second child of Robert,
born April 5, 1834; married Wm. T. Lapham, of So, Boston,
and they have two children. Belcher, third child of Robert,
born May 26, 1837; died July 21, 1838. Elizabeth B.,
fourth child of Robert, born July 5, 1839 ; married, Nov. 9,
1859, 1. H. Macoml)er, of East jNIarshlield. They have children :
1. Herbert I., born Feb. 19, 1866. 2. Walter S., born Aug. 8,
1884. Sarah E., fifth child of Ro1)ert, born Sept. 1, 1843;
married, Nov. 9, 1864, George H. Allen, of Boston. They
have children : 1. Fannie S., born Aug. 13, 1869. 2. Sadie
S., born Sept. 17, 1871. 3. Grace H.", born June 29, 1874.
JuLETTA, sixth child of Rol)ert, born April 14, 1845 ; married
Frank A. Clapp. They have two children, and live in AVake-
field, jNIass. Robert, Jr., seventh child of Robert, born June
20, 1847 ; married, Nov. 22, 1868, Mary Bailey Turner. They
have one child, Robert B., born April 10, 1871.

jMichael Sylvester, Sr., married, for his first wife, Mary,
sister of Sage Bardin, who became the wife of Nathaniel Syl-
vester. Both were daughters of Ca]it. Thomas Bardin, the
founder of the iron works at Curtis Forge. Michaefs second
wife was Rutn Turner. He resided in the old homestead for-
merly occupied by his father Amos, which stood on Washington
street, near the present residence of Robert Sylvester, and wliich
was for many years a tavern stand. About three months after his

68 SYLVESTER GENEALOGY.

father died, the old house was burned, as appears by an item in
the Boston News Letter and New England Chronicle, May 20,
1762:

" The house of Mr. Michael Sylvester, at Hanover, lately took fire
(occasioned, it is supposed, by a defect in the chimney), about two o'clock
in the morning. The family escaped by jumping out of the windows, and
could save nothing of the household goods, which, with the house, were
soon entirely consumed."

It was probably immediately rebuilt. Barry records the
death of Michael's son Robert, June 4, 1768, but does not
speak of the tragic circumstances attending it, as appeared in
the Boston Evening Post, June 13, 1768 :

' ' Last Friday, a child of Mr. Michael Sylvester, of Hanover, about three
years old, fell into a tub of hot water, and scalded one arm to the arm-pit>
of which it died next day."

"Builder Silvester" built mostly schooners, as they were in
demand at this time. During the years 1700 to 1775, there
was a great business done in cutting and selling wood through-
out these towns, which furnished freight for many of the schoon-
ers which did a coasting business from North River. In an old
account-book, now in the possession of Miss Sarah Thomas,
Marshheld, commencing with the date 1693, there appears in the
wood business the names of John Rogers, Amos Sylyester,
Ebenezer Sprout, Capt, Barker, and Nathaniel Winslow (who
owned the book). " Builder " or Nathaniel Silvester died Feb.
21, 1781. His son Elijah was a ship-builder, but his son Na-
thaniel succeeded him at the bridge yards. He continued here,
building mostly schooners, until 1795, when the yard passed
into the hands of Jonathan Sampson. Nathaniel Sylvester
soon after removed to Winchendon, Mass. There is recorded
one vessel surely built by him in 1786, Sch. "SWALLOW,"
68 tons ; built at Hanover, and owned by Nathaniel Winslow
of Scituate, Nathaniel Silvester of Hanover, and others ; and
in 1789 the Sch. " LYDIA," built at Hanover, afterward hail-
ing from New Bedford, was probably built by him.

^ A ^ built here from

He was born in Pembroke (at Crookertown) , and probably
descended from Henry Sampson, who arrived in Duxbury in
1620, according to AVinsor. He lived, after his first marriage,
in the house now occupied by Aurora Sampson; but, after

JONATHAN Samson's yard. ()1>

takino- the above yard, he is said soon to have accumulated a
large fortune, for those days, building ships for the residents
of Duxbury and Boston, and many vessels for the cod fishery
at the Grand Banks. He built the " Caliban," 311 tons, re-
ferred to later, which was the largest ship ever built at this yard.
How they got her out of the river from here is a mystery. He
is said to have built thirty-two vessels in Hanover. He is re-
membered by the old residents as a very social man, and one
of the many hospitable men of his day who loved their "eleven
o'clock and four," and his wealth enabled him to indulge in all
the luxuries of his time. He was honest and upright, and the
traditions of fifty years ago say that he paid his men otf by
carrying to his yard a bushel of silver dollars, from which they
paid tiiemselves. This also speaks well for the honesty of our
old shi[)-carpenters. Soon after his first marriage, he built the
house afterward used as a tavern, and later occupied by Sum-
ner Stetson, now the residence of Ex-Mayor Bacon, late of
Chelsea, Mass. It overlooks the old ship-yard, being located
in Pembroke, near North River Bridge, on the hill just oppo-
site, and on the other side of the river from the residence of
the late Horatio Bigelow\

In his palmy days he conceived the idea of erecting an ice-
house for his own use. Many will remember having heard of
Jonathan Sampson's ice-house. It was a new thing in those
parts, at that time, and when Mr. Sampson built it, about luilf way
between his house and the river, it became an object of much
interest to the town's people, and excited a good deal of com-
ment. It was built " upon honor," and during the winter packed
full of ice. Ice being such a novelty in the summer time
in those days in the country, he decided to wait until the middle
of June before opening it, and then to invite all the prominent
peojile, and especially ship-carpenters in the region round about.
Accordingly on the day appointed, they all met at the ice-house,
■where Mr. Sampson had large quantities of lemons, brandy and
sugar, and all that was wanting was the ice and water to make
the celebration complete. An axe w^as procured and the door
cut down, but to the amazement of all it was dry and warm as
a summer's day inside. Mr. Sampson was very nuich disturbed,
and the wag of the town, Joshua Stetson, coming up and asking
him if he could hire the house for his wife to dry her apples in,
did not make him feel any more comfortable.

Jonathan Sampson married for his first wife, Chloe, daughter

70 HISTORY OF VESSELS BUILT BY JONATHAN SAMSON.

of Nathaniel Stetson. She was born in 1763. They had
several chiklren among whom were Melzar, Chloe, Timothy,
John and Sarah. They have four grand-children now living,
two in jNIedford, Alexander Sampson, who lives with his son and
daughter on High street, Duxbury, and Aurora Oldham Samp-
son^married, lives in the old homestead and has several children.
The stern posts of Jonathan Sampson's ships stood quite up to,
and the staging was actualy over, the old road, which at this
place was but 2i rods wide. The first vessel recorded as having
been built by him was the ship "PEMBROOK," 184 tons, for
Nathaniel Cushing of Pembroke. He also built, in 1801, the
ship "BENJA:\IIN," 188 tons, of Boston, built at Hanover;
and in 1802 the sch. "JANE," 98 tons, of Boston, built at
Hanover. In 1803 it does not appear that he built any vessels ;
but in 1804 he built the sch. "AMAZON," 107 tons, of
Duxbury, built at Hanover, and in 1805 the ship "COR-
DELIA," 252 tons, of Boston, built at Hanover. The two
vessels named "MARTHA," were probably built by him.
The iirst was the double decked bark "MARTHA," 255
tons, 14 feet draft, built in 1805, at Hanover, JNIass. Oak, iron
and copper fastened. Sheathed with yellow metal, Nov. 1867.
In 1872 used as a whaler from New Bedford. Capt. Gartland.
Afterwards sold and put under the Dutch flag. She was owned
in 1875 by Van Loon & Son, of Harlinger, and may be in exist-
ence now. Her name was chanired to "3/<7r???x," when she
was put under the Dutch Flag. The other "iMARTHA," built
in 1809, was a London Packet from Nantucket. In 1815 was
whaling, and in 1849 she sailed for San Francisco, where she
was broken up in 1851, being one of the many old vessels
bought by companies of men who fitted them up to go to Cali-
fornia during the gold fever. Jonathan Sampson built his
large ship in 1811; The ship "CALIBAN," 311 tons, of
Boston, built at Hanover, Jonathan Samson, M. C. In 1812,
Jonathan Sampson also built a ship sold to James Penniman,
Boston. Tradition says that Jonathan Sampson had a vessel
building at the Bridge when the Embargo Act became a law.
He left a vess.) half finished on the stocks where it stood during
the embargo, sometime after which it was finished. This
was probably the vessel he launched in 1815, the ship
"SARAH," 307 tons, of Boston. She was lost on the Arklow
Banks off the coast of Ireland on the night of the 15th of Feb-
ruary, 1818. He built in 1816 the sch. "FAIR LADY," 104
tons, of Kingston, l>uilt at Hanover. She was in the Atlantic,

TURNER, PALMER & MAGOUN. 71

whaling, in 1822. Also, in 1816 he built tico scliooners, sold to
Peter Windsor. Later he built the " WELC^OMP: KETURX."
He probably built few vessels after the war of 1812. The
Embargo was a severe blow to him as it was to all shipbuilders.
His tirst wife died previous to 1821, and he married for his
second a young lady named Higgins, and removed to Medford,
having lost much of his fortune.

Jonathan Sampson was succeeded at this yard by the firm of
Turner, Pahner <& Magoun, who had built at the Brick Kiln
Yard in Pembroke, separately, and Turner also built at the Fox
Hill Yard, in So. Scituate, nowNorwell. They had as many as
three vessels on the stocks at one time. Their yards covered
all of the land on the water-front of the present French estate.
About the time the bridge was built they were obliged to
change the ])()sition of their vessels built at the old yard, as it
was found impracticable to launch from tlie former position on
account of a rock in the river, and they moved a few rods below
the present bridge, as hereinafter stated. This firm built mostly
small vessels. Barlcer Turner, the senior member, is said to
have built twenty-two vessels for Scituate Har])or alone. He
was a musician in the old military company, 2nd Regiment, in
1815, and his descendants have been musicians ever since.
Mr. Turner lived on the old Plymouth Road, towards the south
from the bridge and at the corner of Brick Kiln Lane, in the
house now occupied by his grandson, Charles Turner.* The
Turners of Peml)roke were nearly all shipbuilders or ship-car-
penters in those days, and they so trained their children to the
use of the broad axe and maul that to-day " the sight of a white
oak tree that is large enough to make a ship's knee will make
their eyes dilate and the muscles in their arms and fingers con-
tract with a desire to grasp the handle of a broad-axe and hew
it into shape. No more ships will be built in i\\Q old yards, no
more ship-carpenters will l)e seen wending their way in the
early dawn to the old Brick Kiln Yard, through deep drifts of
snow, even with the fences the entire length of Brick Kiln
Lane. No more vessels loaded with the necessaries of life from
Medford, and whose weekly arrival brought joy and consolation
to the strong as well as to the weak, will navigate the beautiful
and winding river. Never again will be heard the twang of
the maul or the rinsr of the blacksmith's hammer. All these

* See Brick Kiln Yard, continued chapter.

72 JEDUTHAN PALMER.

things have passed away, and the Sabbath stiUness that pervades
the ^locality is suggestive of a peaceful rest in a higher
sphere."*

Jecluthan Palmer, ■^ the second member of this firm was born
in Hanover about 1786, on what was then known as the old
Drinkwater Road (now Hanover street), near Randall's swamp,
at the headwaters of the Beaver Dam Brook, in the house still
standing in good repair and occupied by the family of the late
Norman Chamberlain. His house was formerly the residence
of Richard Fitzgerald, the first schoolmaster of the town, and
later of Dr. Melzar Dwelley a noted physician in his time.
The estate joined that of Rev. Benj. Bass, the first minister of
the town, whose ordination was noticed in a paper at the time,
as folloAvs :

" Hanover, Dec. 11, (1728). This Day was Ordained here the Rev. Mr.
Benjamin Bass. The Rev. Mr. Gay of Hingham began with Prayer, and
the Sermon on the Occasion was preach'd by the Rev. Mr. Sam'l Checkley
of Boston, from Ezek. 3, 17, 18, 19. 'Son of man I have made thee a
watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my mouth,
and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked. Thou
shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn
the wicked from his wicked way to save his life : the same wicked man
shall die in his iniquity • but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet
if thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness nor from
his w icked way he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy
soul ' The Rev. Mr. Ells of Scituate gave the charge, and the Rev. Mr.
Lewis of Pembroke the Righthand of Fellowship."— T/je Nt^w England
Weekly Journal.

Jeduthan Palmer was the son of Ephraim and Desire Old-
ham Palmer and a lineal descendent of John Palmer, a farmer,
who settled in the Plymouth Colony in 1657, and whose resi-
dence was near Church Hill in what is now Norwell. His
descendants built ships at Fox Hill and on the Chittenden
Yard. John Palmer, Sen., belonged in Boston and was sent
to Scituate as a Stock Raiser, by the Massachusetts Court. $ It
was probably John Palmer, Jr. , that was on the council of
Gov. Andros, 1686-90, and who was sent prisoner to England
with the Governor about the latter year.§ Jeduthan was
about eleven years of age when his father died, in 1797, in

* Article on Ship-building by John Tower in the North River Pioneer.
t For further account of Palmer see Brick Kiln Yard, continued chapter.
X See Colony Records, about 1635.
§ See Drake's History of Boston.

Jeduthan Palmer.

TURNER, PALMER & MAGOUN. 73

Hanover, and a fow years later he was sent to Pembroke to
learn the shi})-carpentcr trade of Calvin Turner. After serving
his time, and having learned his trade, he married his master's
daughter, Miss Sally, sister of Luther Turner. They began
house-keeping at her home at the Brick-kihis, but afterwards
removed to the Lapham House (so called) at the corner of
Brick-kiln Lane, (formerly occui)ied by Christopher Jones the
pump-maker, a native of North Carolina, who has descendants
in Rockland), and later to the Jonathan Sampson house now
owned and occupied by A. J. Bacon, Esq., a former Mayor of
Chelsea. At this time Mr. Palmer commenced building vessels
on his own account, and for a number of years he built at the
Brick-kiln Yard, and also at the Yard where the present Bridge
stands and in its near vicinity. In 1827 he was paid $0.00 for
four and one half days work at Keen's Wharf on Foster's ship,
^^ Lagoda." About 1830 he withdrew from the firm and pur-
chased the house in So. Scituate where the late Roger Stetson
resided, near the old Tom "Church's Hill Muster Grounds,"
and continued following the trade of ship-carpenter until he
sold out, and removed with his family to Waltham. Mr.
Palmer had a family of nine children: 1. Charles, now living
in Hanover. 2. Sally, who married a Mr. Brackett of AYaltham,
where she now resides. 3. Jeduthan, who went to sea and
was knocked from the main boom and lost overboard. 4.
Mary Ann, who married Gen. N. P. Banks, who was also
Governor of Massachusetts, now residing with her family in
Waltham, and whose daughter, Maud, is a distinguished actress.
5. Amanda, now dead. 6. Alice, who married Mr. Seaman, a
portrait painter and lives, we believe, in New York. 7. Julia.

8. William, who we hear lives with his sister, Mrs. Banks.

9. Daniel, who lives in Waltham. Mr. Palmer died at the
residence of his daughter, Mrs. Banks, in 1858, or '59, after a
long and useful life. Charles, his oldest son, born in Pembroke,
July 18, 1812, was educated as a ship-carpenter and worked in
Pembroke, Hanover, South Boston and ISledford. AMien about
twenty-five years of age his mind became mysteriously affected,
incapacitating him for work, not so seriously impairing his
faculties, however, but that he is still able, at the age of
seventy-eight, to enjoy life. He is social in his disposition,
gentlemanly in his manners, and is an appreciative lover of
music.

The third member of this firm, Uiioch Magoun, was bom
near High street, Pembroke, about 1792, and died there in

74 TUPtNEK, I'ALMEU S MAGOUN.

1840. Pie was son of Josliiui, wlio lived near him and died one
year later. They were ])ot]i ship-buiklers.* This firm built
one vessel in 1.S27, brig " LYSANDER," 110 tons, built by
Turner, Palmer & JVIagoun for Isaiah and Ichabod Alden and
Matthew Hall, Scituate. In 1<S2(S they had three vessels on
the stocks at one time. The one farthest down stream was the
brig- "lUECLAY," lOG tons, of Newburyport, afterwards of
AVestport, INIass. , built at Hanover, by Turner, Pahner &]\Iag()un.
The next al)ove was sch. " WOLGA," 73 tons, length 60'feet,
breadth 17 feet, depth 7 feet, built at Hanover. Owners : Jesse
Dunliar, Sr. and Jr., John Beal, Peleg Jenkins, Alfred, Catharine
and Henry Clapp, Robert Paul and Seth AVebb, all of Scituate.
She was commanded by Capt. Chandler Clapp. Charles
Howard of Pembroke went one voyage to No. Carolina in her. A
raft of timbers was placed on the other side of the river for
her to strike against, thus retarding her headway when launched,
it being the custom at some yards, to prevent vessels from
getting stuck in the mud on the opposite bank. She was built
very full, and Joshua Stetson went down and looked at her
just before she was launched, then proceeded to the store at
Hanover Four Corners, where were assembled a group of men,
probalily ship carpenters. They asked him what he thought of
the craft. He replied, "a very handsome vessel, gentlemen,
but an eighth of an inch too full on her lug water line."t She
was finally lost at sea.

The last of these vessels, which were on the stocks at the
same time this year, and the one nearest the bridge, was after-
wards used as a North River Packet, and had one half as many
o^vners as she was tons in size. This was the sloop
"MAGNOLIA," 3G tons, Imilt in 1828, length 50 feet, In-eadth
17 feet, depth 4 feet. She was owned by Asa Sherman,
Jonathan Stetson, Stephen Rogers, Elisha and Daniel Phillips,
and Chandler Sampson of jNIarshfield ; Alden and Luther Briggs,
Horace Collamore and Calvin Shepard and IVen. Rogers,
Pembroke ; Gushing O. Briggs, Elisha Foster, Anson Rol)l)ins,
A\'illiam Copeland and Henry Briggs, Scituate ; and Aurora
W. Oldham, of Hanover. This schooner Barker Turner built
lying up and down river or parallel to it. At the old yard in

* See Pembroke Yards.

t The term " lug water line " was often used in speaking of a vessel when the water
line came at a point on her hull, which caused her to lug a good deal of water under her
stern.

BARKER TURNER. 75

Hanover, located where the present l)ridge now is, it happened
just before the hmnchino; of this schooner, that Cyrus and Isaiah
Alden Turner, (the hitter commonly known as Alden Turner) ^
then quite small, and both now living in Pembroke, were play-
ing in a boat on the river, and tinding a rock a few rods
below the present middle i)ior of the bridge, Cyrus got out and
stood on it, the water being nearly to the tops of his boots.
His father, seeing him, called out to him to remain where he
was, as the rock was not known to the builders. He did so,
and it was found that in launching the vessel, she would
probably strike on the rock, which was only two or three times
her length from the ways, and in a line following the course
she would take. They concluded, therefore, to launch her
sideways, which was accordingly done, and she was taken
through the channel, which was then on the north side of the
rock. After this the vessels were built about six rods below
the present bridge alxitment. The work-house w:is in the rear
of the yard, and for many years stood on the land owned by the
late Dr. French, but was afterwards moved to Frank Arnold's,
North Pembroke. Later still, the firm moved a little farther
down the river, to the upi^er part of Elijah Barstow's yard, and
just below the boat-house formerly owned by C-lift'ord Itamsdell,
now of Abington, and Eben C. Waterman, of Hanover.
Vessels launched from this yard stuck in Sherman's meadows;
and often required bed-screws and other furniture to get them
out.

Sometime between 1829 and 1835 Palmer and Magoun with-
drew from the firm, and the latter year Barker Turner built
alone the sch. "PHILENIA," 90 tons, of Boston, owned by
John Peters, Charles Cole, Jr. and John C. Otis, of Scituate,
which was built at Hanover. The next year he built
two vessels, viz: 1836, sch. "QUEEN," 100 tons, of Boston,
Barker Turner, M. C, built at Hanover, and the same year,
1836, sch. "GARNET," 65 tons, of Provincetown, Barker
Turner, M. C, built at Hanover. The "Garnet," was built
entirely of pitch pine, not one stick of oak being used in her.
She was in the fisheries for many years, and was the last vessel
built at this yard, and prol)ably the last built by Barker Turner
alone, althouirh he built the sch. "Roanoke" in company with
Joseph L. Bates and others at Barstow's Yard in 1842.* The

* See Barstow's Yard.

v76 BARKER TURNER.

river is now so filled up with lilies and grass, which hold an
accumulation of mud, that it is hard to realize that vessels of any
size were launched into the stream at this point, but if it were
thoroughly cleaned of all the mud to its good, hard, rocky
bottom there would be to-day plenty of depth for vessels of
equal size to float.

CHAPTER V.

MISCELLANEOUS YARDS IN PEMBROKE.— 1793-1803,

NATHANIEL GUSHING, COL. GEORGE TURNER, THOMAS TURNER,
ROBERT MAGOUN, JOB RANDALL, JR., EPHRAIM RANDALL, AND
AARON SHERMAN.

"\^7lTH the exception of the Brick-kilns, we have been unable
^ ^ to find the records of any vessels built in Pembroke pre-
vious to the Revolution. It is impossible to tell which of the
early vessels were built in Duxbury and which were built on
what is now Pembroke territory. That the yards at Scabury
Point and Job's Landing were used there is little doubt, and
possibly Turner's yard ; but during the excitement of Revolu-
tionary times, ship-building was probably like most other busi-
ness, at a standstill. That the fever of excitement ran high in
this vicinity is shown by the following, taken from the Massa-
chusetts Gazette and the Boston Weekly JSfews Letter, March 2,
1775:

" The following is an address to Gen. Gage, presented by the Selectmen
of six towns in the County of Plymouth, occasioned by a number of soldiers
being statioped at Marshfield, in said county, in time of peace : ' To His
Excellency, Thomas Gage, Esq. : May it please your Excellency, we. His
Majesty's loyal subjects. Selectmen of the several towns of Plymouth,
Kingston, Duxborough, Pembroke, Hanover and Scituate, deeply atlected
with a sense of the increasing dangers and calamities which menace one of
the most promising countries upon the earth with political excision, cannot
but lament that, while we are endeavoring to preserve peace and maintain
the authority of the law, at a period when the bands of government are
relaxed by violent infractions on the Charter of the Province, our enemies
are practising every infictious stratagem to seduce the people into acts of
violence and outrage. We beg leave to address your Excellency on a sub-
ject which excites our apprehensions extremely, and in the representations
of facts, we promise to pay that sacred regard to truth, which, had our

.<8 PEMBROKE IN TIMES OF WAR.

adversaries observed, we flatter ourselves it would have precluded the ne-
<;essity of our addressing your Excellency on this occasion. We are in-
formed, from good authority, that a number of people from Marshfield
and Scituate have made application to your Excellency, soliciting the
aid of a detachment of His Majesty's troops for the security and pro-
tection of themselves and properties. That fears and intimidation were
entirely groundless, that no design or plan of molestation was formed
against them, or existed but in their own imaginations, their own declara-
tions and their actions, which have a more striking language, abundantly
demonstrate. Several men of unquestionable veracity, residing in the town
of Marshfield, have solemnly called God to witness, before one of His
Majesty's Justices of the Peace, that they not only never heard of any inten-
tion to disturb the complainants, but repeatedly saw them, after they pre-
tended to be under apprehensions of danger, attending to their private
affairs without arms, and even after they had lodged their arms a few miles
from their respective houses. They frequently declared, in conversation
with the deponents, that they were not apprehensive of receivingany in-
jury in their persons or proj^erties, and one of them, who is a minor (as
many of them are), being persuaded to save his life by adjoining himself
to the petitioners, but afterwards abandoning them, by the request of his
father, deposuth, in the like solemn manner, that he was under no intimida-
tion himself, nor did he ever hear any one of them say that he was. It
appears as evident as if written with a sunbeam, from the general tenor of
the testimony (which we are willing to lay before your Excellency, if de-
sired), that their expressions of fear were a fallacious pretext, dictated by
the inveterate enemies of our Constitution, to induce your Excellency to
send troops into the country to augment the difficulties of our situation,
already very distressing ; and what confirms this truth (if it need any con-
firmation), is the assiduity and pains which we have taken to investigate it.
We have industriously and impartially scrutinized into the cause of this
alarm, and cannot find that it has the least foundation in reality. All that
we have in view, in this address, is to lay before your Excellency a true
state of facts, and to remove the opprobrium which this movement of the
military reflects on this country ; and as a spirit of enmity and falsehood
is prevalent in the country, and as everything which comes from a gentle-
man of your Excellency's exalted station naturally acquires great^ weight
and importance, we earnestly entreat your Excellency to search into the
grounds of every report, previous to giving your assent to it.' "

Signed by a number of Selectmen, Pembroke, Feb. 7, 1775.*

Pembroke has always been among the first to furnish men
and arms in time of war ; not that the inhabitants were a fight-
ing race, but, loyal to the true principles of our government
in times of peace they encouraged the military spirit. The
women showed their patriotism in many ways, and, during the
war of 1812, gave the Pembroke Light Infantry a flag. Miss
Lucy Gushing, of Pembroke, making the presentation in the
following words :

* See Brooks and Tilden's Yard.

PEMBROKE IN TIMES OF WAR. 79

^'■Officers and Privates of the Pembroke Light Infa7itry:
Soldiers, — Early sensible of the blessings of freedom, and conscious
that to the military spirit of our countrymen we owe its support, we
view with grateful pride the present martial preparation. May the
just renown of our nation fill with reverence admiring Europe, and
the glory of her wisdom and valour secure from indignity, and pre-
serve to us perpetual peace. Aml)itious to deserve the proud title
of daughters worthy our victorious ancestors, by expressing our
regard to those from whom, in times of danger, we expect protec-
tion, and happy in decorating so respectable a body of citizens, I,
in behalf of the ladies for whom I appear, commit, sir, to your care,
this standard, presuming that, whether its silken folds are gently
moved on the mild breeze of peace, or roughly fluttered in the rude
blasts of war, 3'ou will preserve it unrent by discord, unblemished
by cowardice, and unspotted by dishonor. We trust you will e\'er
bear it where honor calls, and never allow it to grace the triumph of
a haughty victor. May your soldiery add a bright train of glory to
the star that designates our State, that shall bode ill to every foe of
American liberty. J^fay danger never quench the fire of patriotism
in your breasts, and may the rich reward of fame and honor attend
you."

It was accepted by the Ensign of the Company, Nathaniel
Wales, who said :

"With grateful sensibility we accept, Miss, this brilliant token of
the social and patriotic ardour of the respectable ladies in whose name
and behalf it is presented in so interesting a manner. Patriotism,
like other laudable emctions, may warrantably exist in the bosom
where all the amiable and endearing vnlues live. Its insignia is not
alone confined to the martial, but is ever to be regarded with grate-
ful veneration in every social circle of citizens. Where ample deeds
of its existence are exhibited, we would not enquire for the merit we
now admire, nor be insensible that we are liable to suffer if we in-
dulge in indifference, and sleep destitute of the means of defence.
This sentiment seems not peculiar to the sons of ' New England,'
but is also embraced by her daughters, and enfoi'ced by their deeds.
The officers and privates of Pembroke Light Infantry receive this
standard as a trust too sacred ever to dishonor it by faction, or desert
it through fear. It is an illusive picture of our country's emancipa-
tion when our victorious ancestors constrained their mighty enemies
to hail them as a free and united people ; and ambitious ourselves to
deserve the genuine title of sons, not only enjo}ing the freedom our
fathers achieved, but by defending the standard, and honoring the
device they erected and waved. It is refreshing to enjoy the sweet
zephyrs of peace ; but, should the rough blasts of war return, we
will rally around the fortress of our freedom and independence, and
nobly resolve to defend it or die."

80 turner's ship yard.

Toast : " ^lay the standai-d so politely given by the ladies,
and so gallantly received by the Ensign, never be unfurled but
in the defence of liberty."

Miss Lucy Gushing may have been of the same family as
Capt. Nehemiah Gushing, whose death, just ])rior to the Rev-
olution, is recorded in the MassacJiusetis Sjji/ or Thomas^ Bos-
ton Journal, March D, 1775 :

"Died, at Pembroke, Capt. Nehemiah Gushing."

It will be seen from the above that i'em])roKe was active
during time of war, and her citizens were probably too patriotic
not to lay l)y the broad-axe and plough. They gave their ser-
vices, and in many instances their lives, to their country.

Looking down the river from the North River Bridge, any
time during the years 1799 to 1808, eleven ship-yards could
have been seen tilled wnth ship-carpenters, and with vessels in
various stages of construction. First, on the right or Pembroke
side was the Turner Yai'd, 'ocated just below the ledge of rock
extending east from the bridge, and called Rocky Reach. The
Turners also built on the same side about one hundred feet
below their upper yard. Both yards were located on land now
owned hy Lorenzo Sherman. "Deane," of Scituate, and "Bar-
ry," of Hanover, give the genealogy of the Turner family so
fully that but little of value can he added. Gol. Ezekiel Tur-
ner was quite a prominent man of his day, and a notice of his
death appears in The Bostoyi Evening Po.sf, Monday, Aug. 16,
1773:

"Died, at Hanover, Col. Ezekiel Turner, a£:e 73."

Galeb Turner, who died in 17G7, was great-grandson of
Thomas of Hingham, and a ship-builder; ])ut whether he built
here is not known. I am inclined to think that George Turner
built at Job's Landing, before coming up the river, and that
this yard was occupied by Nathaniel Gushing before it was by
the Turners. The following is taken from The Boston Evening
Post, July 20, 1772 :

"Married, Nathan Cushing, Esq., of Scituate, Barrister-at-law, to Miss
Abigail Tilden, of Pembroke."

It is doubtful whether this was the same Nathaniel Gushing.

Col. George and Thomas Turner built in Pembroke about
A.D. 1800. Thomas had a son Thomas, who had, among other

TURNER GENEALOGY. 81

children, Thomas, now a wheelwright at Hanover Four Cor-
ners, where he resides, and a daughter, now a widow, Avho
resides near her brother. She married the late Dr. Ira Warren,
who at one time was Principal of Hanover Academy, and was
author of Warren's "Family Physician," a most valuable book
to families, and almost the Bible of many of the sea captains,
by whom it is used the world over. The following is the Gene-
alogy of a few of the Turners :

Thomas Turner, of Pembroke, married Joanna Phillips ; she
died March 27, 1828. They had three children : Charles Tur-
ner, born Sept. 8, 1766 ; married Ruth Thomas, of Pembn^ke,
Jan. 7, 1789 ; died Aug. 9, 1804. Joanna Turner, born Dec.
20, 1771 ; married Seth Whitman, of Pembroke, May 5, 1806.
Thovms Ti(7-ner, Jr., born Dec. 22, 1782; married Del)orah
Stockbridge, of Hanover, May 8, 1811 ; he died July 8, 1829.
She died Oct. 15, 1882.

CHILDREN OF DR. CHARLES AND RUTH TURNER ; GRAND-CHILDREN

OF THOMAS, SR.

Charles Turner, Jr., born June 8, 1789. John Phillips Tur-
ner, born Sept. 12, 1792. He resided in Coals Mouth, Kana-
wha Co., W^est Virginia.

CHILDREN OF SETH AND JOANNA WHITMAN.

Charles Henry Whitman, born Oct. 3, 1807 ; married ^lary
Delano, of Duxbury, Jan. 17, 1831. Ann Phillips Whitman,
born May 20, 1809 ; married Elisha Delano, of Duxbury, Dec.
9, 1838; died June 9, 1841. Seth Whitman, Jr., born Jan.
31, 1811; married Sarah C. Goodspeed, of Duxbury, March
28, 1839. Thomas Turner Whitman, born Feb. 16, 1813 ;
married Rebecca Barker, of Pembroke, April 25, 1841.

CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND DEBORAH TURNER.

Thomas Turner, Jr., born Dec. 21, 1812 ; died Jan. 21, 1813.
Ruth Stockbridge Turner, born Dec. 17, 1813 ; married Ira
Warren, M.D., of Boston, Nov. 27, 1834. Thomas Turner, Jr.
(second of that name), born Nov. 22, 1815; married Susan
Maria Thayer, of So. Boston, March 29, 1838. Jane Reed
Turner, l)orn Dec. 26, 1817; died Aug. 9, 1819. Charles
Phillips Turner, born June 13. 1823.

82 seabury's point yard.

CHILDREN OF CHARLES AND MARY WHITMAN; GREAT-GRAND-
CHILDREN OF THOMAS, SR.

George Turner Whitman, l)orn Nov. 28, 1831 ; died Aug. 8,
1883. Ann Eliza Whitman, born March 29, 1834. Seth Ber-
nard Whitman, born Deo. 17, 1839 ; died April 9, 1841. Henry
Barker Whitman, born July 28, 1838. Peter Salmon Whit-
man, born Nov. 23, 1842.

CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND SUSAN MARIA THAYER TURNER.

1. Thomas, born at So. Boston, Feb. 1, 1841 ; died Feb. 7,
1841. 2. Susan J. , born Jan. 18, 1842 ; married J. W. Phinney,
Oct. 30, 1868 ; died Dec. 8, 1882. They had children born in So.
Boston : 1. Warren, ])orn Aug. 20, 1869. 2. Arthur Thomas,
born Nov. 6, 1873 ; died July 2, 1874. 3. Tho^ias, 2d, born July
17, 1844; died May 18, 1849. 4. Adelaide AV., born Sept.
22, 1848, So. Boston; married J. F. Beale, Sept. 30, 1869,
and now living in Brockton. They have one child, Lillian G. V. ,
born Aug. 12, 1870. 5. Charles P., born April 5, 1851;
married Caroline I. Gushing, April 5, 1873 ; no children.
6. Mary G., born Dec. 16, 1854; married J. D. Fiske, Oct.
5, 1881 ; no children.

built in Pembroke alone,

C/yi> ^ r-y ^^. in 1801, the Sch." MARY,"

^A/ V^yU^^/^'^ ^^^ tons, of Marblehead.

8^ - When spoken of as build-

ing alone, it is understood that the builder had no one in com-
pany with him, so far as has been ascertained, though of course
he had a large force of men under him. Also, in 1801, he built
the Sch. " SPANKER," of 103 tons, for Jubal Harrington and
Joseph Chapin, of Boston. He built here, in 1803, the Sch.
" ELIZA," of Boston, 39 tons, owned by Alden Briggs, Thomas
and George Turner, Mercy Mandall, and David Church, of
Pembroke. This was the last vessel on record as having been
built at this yard. The indentation, where the saw-pit was
located, can be seen at the present time, and some of the dis-
placed rocks that once formed a wharf.

The next yard in Pembroke was located at Seabury's Point,
about one " reach " and a half below, and on the opposite side to,
the Third Herring Brook. This }'ard is now grown up to woods,
which are known as " Seabury's Woods." liobeH Magouii is
said to have built one A'essel here, and Barry says that Col.

/^,4

W -S-r

job's landing. 83

George and Thomas Turner built here at one time. Little is
known of the Seaburys in this locality at the present day. The
man from whom this Point received its name, was son of John
Seabury, of Duxbury, who died bcfoi'e 1G()2, leaving several
daughters and two sons; 1. John, Avho Avent to Barbadoes.
2. Samuel, born Dec. 10, 1640. Sanuiel was a physician, and
lived in Duxbury in 1662. He owned land at the Gurnet,
Island Creek, North River, and at the Brick-kilns. He mar-
ried, first, at Weymouth, Patience Kemp, Nov. 9, 16()0 ; sec-
ond, INlartha Pabodie, April 4, 1677. He died Aug. 5, 1681,
leaving several children, who have descendants living on Cape
Cod.

Next below, on the Pembroke side, we come to the "Brick-
kilns Yard," to the history of which two chapters are devoted.
Nearly a mile ])eIow the Brick-kilns, on the same side, is Job's
Landing, wdiere the j)ackets called for freight ; and ships were
built here prior to 1800. The landing is said to have been named
after Job Randall, Jr.* It joined the ship-yard, and both were
located on land formerly owned by Ephraim Randall, and now
owned and occupied by Anson Hatch. Below are accounts of a
few of the vessels that were built here : George Turner and
Aaron Sherman prol)ably built here, in company with the Ran-
dalls, at one time. There was built, in 1793, Sch. "BETSEY,"
33 tons, owned by Ephraim Randall and David Church, of Pem-
broke. Built at Pembroke, 1794, 8ch. "RUTHY," 39 tons,
owned by Ephraim Randall, Pemln-oke. 1796, Sch. "BET-
SEY," 37 tons, owned by David Church, George Turner and
Ephraim Randall, of Penil)roke. Built at Pembroke, 1797,
Sch. "ELIZA," 108 tons, of Peml)roke ; owned bv Elisha
Ford, of JNIarshfield. Also, in 1797, Sch. "POLLY,"' 23 tons,
of Pcnil)roke ; owned by Benj. Thomas, Samuel and flohn
Jones, and Aaron Sherman, of Marshtield, shipwriiiht, and in
1799, Sch. "EVELINA," 109 tons, of Boston, afterward of
Sandwich ; owned at one time by Ephraim Randall and Joseph
Hunt, of Pcml)roke, and others.

^A'hile the accounts of the above yards are far from complete,
they are sufficient to prove to the reader that ship-l)uilding was
carried on to a consideral)le extent during the above years ;
and because the records of but few vessels have been found, it
must not be inferred that only a few w^ere built, for such is
proba])ly not the fact.

* See Chittenden Yard.

CHAPTER VI.

SMITH YARD. 1 792-1819.

(afterwards EELLS' & BARSTOW'S YARD.)

COL. JOHN BAILEY, DEA. ISAAC PERRY, JOSIAH SMITH, ALBERT
SMITH, THOMAS SMITH, MILLER SMITH, BENJAMIN BASS, JR.,
WILLIAM DELANO, BEZAL EELLS, EDWARD EELLS, SAMUEL
EELLS.

THE Smiths built in the ship yard previously occupied by
Col. Jno. Bailey, back of the present residence of
Edmund Q. Sylvester. This land was owned by David Stock-
bridge, and he was paid rent at a rate per ton for the vessels
built there. After the Smiths the Eells built here, and they
were succeeded by the Barstows who moved here from their
upper yard in 1817.* The Smiths also occupied a yard
further "up river," the upper part of which yard had been
used by Dea. Isaac Perry, and was then called Paige's yard.
It was next the old Barstow & Eells yard at the "Two Oaks,"
and was located a little way above said yard. They also
occupied the Dea. Isaac Perry yard between their lower
yard and the "Two Oaks." Here the Smiths built their
smaller vessels and used these yards when they were build-
ino- more vessels than they could accommodate at their
lower yard. In 1819 J®siah Smith and Edward and Samuel
Eells in company built a ship which was probably built here, as
the Barstows then had possession of the lower yard.

There seems to be no account of any particular vessels built
by Dea. Isaac Perry, spoken of a])ove, but he built here late
in 1700, or until the yard was occupied by the Smiths, he

* See Chapter on Barstow's Yard.

EARLY SHIPBUILDERS ON THE SMITH YARD. 85

having previously occupied the small }anl next ])elow the
Clarks, also located on the land of the late J. O. French,
]\r.D. He was son of Amos, grandson of AA'illiam, and great-
grandson of Thomas Perry, who appeared in Scituate before
1(547. Dea. Isaac was born Sept. 5, 1736, and died August 1(),
1825, aged 89. He married Jemima Farrow and lived near the
corner of Hanover street, on the site where the late Josiali
AVinslow lived, now Mr. Bower's lesidence. Of his children:
1. Priscilla, married Elijah Packard in 1803. 2 and 3. Timothy
and Isaac, went to St. Johns, N. B. 4. Betsey, married a
Smith. 5. Ruth, went to Maine. Isaac descended from the
same common ancestor as E. Y. Perry, Esq., of So. Hanover.
Dea. Isaac Perry built one vessel at the Kingman yard.* The
oakum used at these yards was prepared at the alms-house ;
the iron work was furnished by Robert and Joseph Eells.

Hon. Albert Smith, Josiah Smith, Thomas and Millar Smith
were brothers, sons of Dea. Josiah, grandsons of Rev. Thomas
Smith of Pembroke, and great-grandsons of Joseph of Yar-
mouth, Mass. Albert Smith-f took no personal part in the
building of the vessels on North River, though he owned and
sailed many of them, furnishing a part of the capital, and being
a meml)er of the tirm Avith his brother Josiah. Capt. Albert
was also proprietor of a store at "Hanover Four Corners."
There were many men of superior intelligence at work on the
yards in those days, who brought up profound questions for
argument, from which the younger men gained much knowledge .
Col. Samuel Tolman, INlichael Ford, EJisha Bass, Col. John B.
Barstow, Capt. Ichabod Thomas, William Delano and the
Smiths were among the numl^er.

Capt. Albert Smith was born March 22, 1763, married Anne
L. daughter of Cai)t. Rol)ert L. Eells, August 23, 1787. He
settled in Hanover, in the old mansion house on Broadway,
afterwards the home of the late Martin Stetson, and now ownied
by Daniel E. Damon, Esq. He died May 28, 1823, and his
widow, who was born July 18, 1765, died May 7, 1835. They
had children: 1. Anne L., ])orn Oct. 4, 1788. 2. Joseph,
born March 30, 1790. 3. Albert, born Jan. 3, 1793. 4.
Mary, born Oct. 21, 1795. 5. John, born Dec. 10, 1797, died
Sept. 5, 1813. 6. Thomas M., born August 15, 1799, died

* See Miscellaneous Yards, Hanover, about 1800.
t See Kurd's History of Plymouth Co., page 401.

8Q SMITH GENEALOGY.

Jan., 1803. 7. Elizabeth, born March 20, 1801. 8. Sarah B.,
born Nov. 23, 1802, died young. 9. Sarah B., born Jan. 7,
1808.

Anne L., first child of Albert Sr., married Nathaniel
Crooker, March 9, 1808. She died in 1846, he died Jan., 1847.
No children are now living, but they have one grandchild in
New York state, and one or two in the West.

Rear Admiral Joseph Smith, second child of Albert, Sr.,
married Harriet Bryant of Maine. She died 1855, aged 58.
He died March 17, 1879, in his 89th year. They had four
children, two daughters, one of whom died in infancy, the other,
Anna, is unmarried and resides in AVashington. Both sons
were naval ofiicers. Albert died in Boston. Joseph's life was
sacrificed for his country while in command of the " Congress,"
when she was sunk by the "Merrimac."*

Albert, Jr., third child of Albert, Sr., married Roxa Shat-
tuck, June 24, 1814. He died May 29, 1867, aged 74 years, and
his wife a few years later. They had two daughters, both now
living. Annie Lenthal, who married Horatio Bigelow of
Boston, and Adeline, who married Dr. Whelan of the Navy,
Horatio Bigelow died in Boston, Oct. 25, 1888. His widow
and the following chiklren survive him. 1. Horatio Ripley, a
l)hy8ician, who married Sarah Z. Batten, at Baltimore, and
resided in Washington, D. C, until recently, when he went
abroad. 2. Adeline A. 3. Albert S., who was married at
Grace Church, Baltimore, Maryland, Nov. 4, 1875, to Mary
De Ford of Baltimore, and they ha\e three sons born as
follows: Horatio, Jan. 11, 1877; AVilliam De Ford, Jan. 29,
1878; Albert Francis, Oct. 4, 1880. 4. Joseph S., was
married at Trinity Church, Boston, in April, 1877, to Mary
Cleveland Bryant, of Boston. The l)irths of his children are as
follows: Joseph Smith, Feb. 16, 1878; Henry Bryant, Ocv
3, 1879 ; Arthur George, Dec, 1881 ; Cleveland, March, 1883 ;
Mary Cleveland, Nov. 29, 1884. 5. Annie S., married Oct.
28, 1884, at the Church of the Advent, Boston, Thomas Nelson
of Marshfield.

Mary, fourth child of Albert Sr., married Capt. David
Whittier of Belfast, Me., Sept. 27, 1815. She died July 19,
1848. He died Oct. 8, 1849. They had two daughters, 1.

* See Kurd's History of Plymoutli Co.

SMITH GENEALOGY. 87

Marianna, married ]Mr. iMadiiran of Iloulton, Me., since de-
ceased. She still resides at Iloultou and has several children,
and, 2, Harriet, who is unmarried, and resides in Wasliington.

. Elizabeth, seventh child of Albert, Sr., married Samuel
Sahnond of Hanover, July 20, 182(5. He died May 25, 1859,
aged 70 years, 10 months.* She is still living at the old home-
stead on Washington street in her 89th year. They have had two
sons and two daughters. The oldest son, Robert, a promising
youth, died Oct. 18, 1845, aged 18 years. The other son died
in infancy. Mary, the eldest daughter, married E. Q. Sylves-
ter, and died leaving three children. Eliza the second daughter,
afterwards married E. Q. Sylvester. f

Sarah B., ninth child of Albert, Sr., married Joseph Elells,
Jr., March 11, 1829. He died in the West, probably in
Arkansas, where she died, April, 1889. They had a family of
eight children who reside in the AVest and South.

'&'

^^A->^u</^

builder, l)rother
of All)ert, Sr.,
was born ]March
2, 1767, mar-
ried 1st, Xab-
by, daughter of
C'apt. Robert

Lenthall Eells, March 13, 1794. She died Aug. 3, 1812;
married 2nd, Jane, daughter of Jeremiah Smith, and died in
Hanover, April, 24, 1842, aged 75. Jane, his wife, died 1850.
He had children. 1. Nabby E., born Aug. 26,1795, married
Theo. Whitney, of Niagara, N.Y., and died in 1870, no cliildren.
2. LucyW., b. Nov."l2, 1796. (For descendants of Lucy,
see account at end of this familv.) 3. Ruth C, b. Jan. 2,
1798 ; d. 1874, unmarried. 4. Elizabeth B., b. May 20, 1799.
(For account of Elizabeth, see end of Lucy's family.) 5. ]\Iary
L., b. Oct. 26, 1801 ; mar. Edward E. Xash, of Medford, Mass.,
and d. in Arkansas, leaving children and grandchildren. 6.
Josiah ]\Iiller, b. Feb. 12, 1803 ; mar., 1st, Frances Waterman,
of Scituate ; she d. xVpril 12, 1854, aged 46 ; 2nd, Charlotte
Waterman Bailey, a widow, ;ind sister of his first wife ; no
children

* See continued chapter on North River.
t See chapter on Bridge Yard

88 SMITH GEXEALOGY.

Lucy TF., second child of Josiah, the builder, mar. in 1819,
William Little Lorina-, M. D., of Duxbuiy. He was a grad-
uate of Harvard College, and a lineal descendant, in the tifth
generation, on his mother's side, of John and Priscilla Alden.
Their children were : 1. Lucy Williams, b. Ai)ril 29, 1820 ;
mar. in the Episcopal Church in Hanover, Eev. Dr. Samuel
Crothers Logan, of Indiana, Aug. 17, 1852. He was a Pres-
Ijyterian, a graduate of Princeton, and was settled in Constan-
tine, Mich., in Cincinnati, O., and Valparaiso, Ind. For
twenty-one years he has l)een pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Scranton, Pa. They have had five children ; two
have died, and three are now^ living in Scranton, viz. : Harry
Vannuys, a physician, b. INIay 21, 1853 ; Arthur CofBn, a law-
yer, b. Oct. 23, 1854; and Lillie, who mar. Judge Henry A.
Knapp. 2. Benjamin Williams, b. Oct. 14, 1821 ; who was in
the Union Navy during the Rebellion, later in the Revenue
]\Iarine Service, and now on the retired list. In 18G6, he mar.
ISellie Cahoun, of Morrisiana, N. Y., and they have had five
children. The following are now living : Benjamin Williams,
Jr., b. May 10, 1867 ; John Alden, b. March ^6, 1869 ; Kano
Jennie Gladden, b. April 17, 1879. 3. Maria Kittredge, b.
Fel). 23, 1823; mar., in 1.S50, James W. Carswell, a Georgia
l)lanter, Avho d. in December, 1885. She resides in Barton,
Ga., and has had four children: Lucy, d. 1878, aged 27:
AVilliam, d. 1878, aged 25; Lillie, mar. a merchant ; Mary,
mar. a physician. The above three children of Dr. William L.
and Lucy Loring were b. in the old Loring homestead, in West
Duxbury. Theremaining four children Mere b. in Springfield.
4. Mary Lenthall, b. 1825 ; d. aged 11 months. 5. Bailey
Hall, b. Dec. 12, 1827 ; went to California, where he was cap-
tain in the Home Guard dui-ing the war, and d. unmarried at
Sierra, Cal., Feb, 14, 1874. {l\ Eliza, b. Aug. 5, 1832; mar.
Jan. 23, l'S73, Rev. Hervey Logan Vannuys, of Goshen, Ind. ;
no children living. 7. Sophia Bradford, b. April 14, 1836.
Over two years of her life have been spent in Beirout, Syria,
where she taught in a young ladies' seminary. She mar.
Sept. 24, 1885, Rev. Dr. William M. Taylor; no children.

Elizabeth B., fourth child of Josiah, the builder, mar. Am-
brose Packard, of Niagara, N. Y. ; both now dead. They had
children : Aml)rose, d., leaving a widow 1)ut no children ; Jo-
siah, mar., and lives in Providence, R. I., where he has several
children; Rhoda, mar. a Dr. Palmer, of Canada; Ralph, mar.,
and lives in Brooklyn, N. Y.

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THE SMITH SHIP YAKl). 89

Capt. Thomas Smith was b. March 22, 1775. He lived in
Peml)roke, but Imilt in Hanover, and sailed many of the ves-
sels built by himself and brothers. He d. unmarried, in Nova
Scotia.

Miller Smith (or Milliar, as it was sometimes written) was
b. Feb. 9, 1782. Pie l)uilt alone and in company Mith his
brothers, and was also captain of some of the vessels. He was
washed overboard at .sea, and lost, near the "Three Sand Hills,"
on the coast of North Carolina. He mar. Jane, dau. of David
Stockbridffe, Esq., and they had one dau., Jane S., w^ho mar.
Gen. A. W. Oldham, of Pembroke, Mass.

The Sch. "Hazard," under Capt. Albert Smitli, Avho sailed for
Nehemiah Somes, E))en Wales, and Moses and Aaron Davis,
was, in 17.S9, at Cape Francois (i)rol)a])ly Old Cape Francis),
on the Island of Hispaniola, now Santo Domingo. The first
vessel there is any account of as having been built by the
Smiths, was in 1792, Brig't'n "APOLLO," 139 tons, of Bos-
ton. This vessel was commanded by Capt. Albert Smith, and
broken up at the Vineyard about 1825. The next record found
is in a letter from the Smiths, dated Hanover, INIarch 10, 1795.
They set forth the "contract of a vessel of 115 tons" which
they were l)uilding, as follows :

" Dimensions, 57 feet 4J inches keel ; 10 feet hold ; 23 feet beam.
To be built of good, sound, white oak timber, and planked. * * * Cal-
culated to sail fast and carry a good burthen ; to finish the upper
work as may best suit the owners ; to be completed the first day of
July next."

In 1796, Alliert Smith built a hriq for Nehemiah Somes, and
in 1797 was built the ship "KOMULUS," 264 tons, of Boston ;
owned by Albert Smith, Hanover ; Josiah Smith, builder. This
was probably the same " Ilomulus " which Avas wrecked and con-
demned at Honolulu, H. I., 1849, then fifty-two years old.
The Sch. "RESOLUTION" was built by the Smiths about this
time. Also, the "DILIGENCE" Avas probably built b(>fore
1799. Half her cost, as per bill, was £1406. Josiah built for
Albert Smith, in 1799, the ship "AURORA," 244 tons. The
ship-carpenters were: Tilden Crooker,* who, with his boys,
worked on a sloop in the same yard in 1802 ; Elijah Randall,
who lived near Randall's Swamp, in Hanover, and others. Two

* See Bridffe Yards.

90 THE SMITH SHIP YARD.

compasses for the "Aurora" cost £1 4s. The anchors cost, at
Reuben Curtis' forse, £.sl. He also built another vessel the
same year, 1799, the ship "CICERO," 227 tons. Elisha Cur-
tis, A^ho calked her, lived on the Recompense Tiffany place.
Those who worked on her otherwise were : Belcher Clark, Wil-
liam Copeland, Benj. Bass, Jr., Elijah Sylvester, Benj. Dwel-
ley, Charles Sprague, who lived in the house now occupied by
Thomas Hunt, So. Scituate, Isaac Perry, Michael Ford, Mi-
chael Stetson, Elijah Randall, Reuben Curtis. Half the ship
"Cicero" was sold for £1603 17s. 6d., to Capt. Thomas Smith.
The third vessel they built this year, 1799, was the ship "BET-
SEY." Elijah Randall and the other men worked on her.
During the next year, 1800, they built two vessels, and started
a third, a schooner. The first w\as the ship "DEDALUS."
The ship-carpenters were : Benj. Bass, Jr., Elijali Sylvester,
Benj. Dwelley, and Isaac Perry, wdio also made the rudder for
£2 8s. Elijah Randall and Timothy Robbins, who also worked
on a schooner and a gundalow in this yard the same year, and
others. Also in 1800, the ship " NEPTUNE," of 280 tons, for
New York parties; Josiah Smith, builder. Michael Stetson
did the joiner work, and also on a brig of 93 tons in 1801.
The anchors came from Reuben Curtis' forge ; weighed 2706
pounds, and cost over £89. In 1824, the " Neptune "_ hailed
from New London, and was in the South Seas, Avhaling ; in
1850, in the Indian and Northern Pacific Oceans, and in 1857
was sold and broken up at the Sandwich Islands.

1801 w^as the " Red Letter" year for these yards. During
this year, six vessels were launched from the two Smith yards,
all of good size. Josiah Smith was the builder of four, and
master carpenter of the other two. No other firm, and no yard
on the river except the Wanton Yard, can show a record equal to
this ; and to see the quiet spot, at the present w^riling, it is hard
to realize that six large vessels were launched liy one firm dur-
ing one year, liesides many others, all from the shores of Han-
over, below the bridge, but such is the fact. The first vessel
launched here this year, was built by Josiah Smith for his
brother Albert. This was the ship "HANOVER," 281 tons.
Ship-carpenters employed on this vessel were Charles Sprague,
Michael Ford, Josiah Smith, Jr., Reuben Curtis, who also fur-
nished anchors for the "Hanover" for £93 6s. Roliert and
Joseph Fells did the iron work for $973.26. In January, 1804,
the ship "Hanover," then under Capt. Barney, was at Sumatra.
Josiah Smith built, for his brother Albert of Hanover, and

WM. OR "bill" corlew. 91

Thomas of Pembroke, and otliers, in 1801, the ship "GAR-
LAND," 280 tons. Ship-cai-pentei-s emph)yed on this vessel
were Jal^ez AVitherell, Benjamin Dwelley, Turner Stetson (who
also worked on a brig and ship previously on this yard, and
was paid £8, 14s. for getting one of these vessels over the
shoals), Nath. Stetson, father of Harrison Stetson, who now
lives on S]iring street, in Hanover ; Isaac Bowen Barker, a
Pembroke Quaker, who did planking on a brig and ship i)re-
viously ; Isaac Vox, Pembroke ; Enos Palmer, of Cluirch Ilill ;
Reuben Curtis, Elijah Sylvester, who worked planking on many
of the vessels, and helped to get them down river; Job Hall,
Abner JNIagoun ; also Wm. Corlew, or Bill Corlew, as he was
familiarly "known, who was a descendant of Edward, who came
from the north of England prior to 1730, and was wrecked on
the beach near the mouth of North River. Many were lost, but
Edward was among the saved. William was a good-hearted
fellow, but finally succumbed from too nmch indulgence in the
"ardent," a result too common even at this day. Ephraim Stet-
son kept a grog-shop, where the drug-store now is, at the Eour
Corners. That corner was called, l)y the temperance people,
" Stetson's Shoals." The following letter, on the death of Bill
Corlew, written l)y Squire AVood to an old ship-builder, ex-
plains itself:

" Tuesday Morning, Nine O'clock.
Dear Sir : — I hasten to inform you of the melancholy tidings
just received, of the loss of the ' Bill Corlew,' an old and success-
Yul steamer of 250-horse power. The ' Bill Corlew' has had her
hull frequently strained and damaged, while beating in the fog oft'
and on ' Stetson's Rocks,' and though she has long successfully
navigated herself, yet repeated disasters had so enfeebled her that her
boiler fliiled about eight o'clock this morning, and she immediately
sank, beyond soundings, of course, a total loss. The Distilleries of
New England, by whom the ' Rill Corlew ' was wholly owned,
will shortly have a meeting to settle her concerns, and probably pur-
chase or charter one or more steamers to supply her place. It is injt
expected that it will be so difficult as it has been to supply steamers
on this dangerous navigation, as it is reported that the ' Mitssachu-
setts Charitable Society ' intend furnishing several safety barges to
ply off ' Stetson's Rocks,' to relieve those who may be wrecked
thereon, and save them from the bottomless gulf that beats upon this
dangerous place. And it is further currently reported that some
humane members of the ' Hanover Temperance Society,' residing
on the borders of said Rocks, are now daily acquainting themselves
with this navigation, not to supply the place of the ' Bill Corlew,'
but with the laudable design, no doubt, of administering relief to

92 BENJ. BASS, SHIPBUILDER.

those unfortunate souls who are here obliged to sacrifice their com-
forts and their lives. Any further information shall be promptly
communicated.

Yours, &c., Spy.

P. S. — The ' Bill Corlew' was launched in Scituate about the year
1770; originally built on the low-pressure principle, but altered to
that of the high-pressure about twenty-five years since, since which,
by the daring inclination of her commander, she has always borne
the highest steam. It is not known whether any passengers were on
board at the time her boiler failed ; if so, they must have made a
hasty, though reluctant retreat. All property on board was inevita-
bly lost, and not a wreck is left behind."

He left no descendants. The next vessels built and launched
in 1801 were the ship " FAME " and the brig " FAME." These
two vessels were on the stocks at the same time. Among the
ship-carpenters employed were Benj. Dwelley, uncle to Capt.
Nathan Dwelley, and great-uncle to Robert E. Dwelley, of
Hanover; Nathaniel Stetson, Enos Palmer, Job Hall, Elisha
Curtis, Jr., and Jabez Witherell. Josiah and Albert Smith
built these vessels toaether. The same year they launched the
Brig't'n "CAMILLA," 108 tons, for Stephen Gorham, Boston.
The ship-carpenters were Benj Bass, Enos Palmer, and others.
Josiah Smith, Jr., builder. The sixth and last vessel launched
in 1801 was the ship "MARY," 211 tons, of Boston. Built
for William H. Borman, Josiah Smith, Jr., builder. Benj.
Bass and the carpentei's who were employed upon the other
vessels, worked on, or furnished material for, the " Mary."

The next year, the Smiths built three vessels : The sloop
" HECTOR," 61 tons, built in 1802 by Josiah and Albert
Smith; and the same year, 1802, the sloop "BETSEY," 65
tons, built by Josiah Smith, and sold to Plymouth ; afterward
owned by Samuel and Abel Lunt, of Newburyport. This was
probably the same " Betsey " which is recorded at the Boston
Custom House as having been "taken by the French, papers
detained, and vessel destroyed." The ship "PEARL" was
built in 1802, by Josiah Smith, Jr., and Benjamin Bass, Jr., for
Capt. Albert Smith.

Benjamin Bass, who built here, in company with Josiah
Smith, was the son of the Rev. Benjamin Bass, tirst pastor of
the First Church in Hanover. He lived on Broadway, near the
corner of Spring street, in the house later occupied by his son
Elisha, and where Charles Dyer now resides. Benj. Bass has
descendants living in Rockland.

\VM. DELANO AT SMITH'S YARD. 93'

In 1803 was built the ship " AMERICA," 280 tons, of Balti-
more, by Josiah Smith, master carpenter ; Miller Smith, master ;
Albert and Miller Smith, owners ; and, in 1804, the ship
" MERCHANT," 263 tons, of Boston ; Josiah Smith, master
carpenter. In 1804-5, Milliar Smith built a ship for Cajjt.
Albert Smith. There was also built here in 1805, the ship
"INTREPID," 282 tons, of Plymouth ; Josiah Smith, master
carpenter; owned l»y Thomas Smith, Pembroke, and Albert
Smith, Hanover. They built two vessels in 1806 : The ship
"LYDIA," 280 tons, of New Bedford, Josiah Smith, master
carpenter; and their second, ship "NEPTUNE," 278 tons, of
Boston ; owners, Thomas Smith and others ; Josiah Smith, mas-
ter carpenter. This " Neptune " was lost at sea in 1807. In
1807, Thomas Smith built, in Hanover, the ship "UNION,"
231 tons. Owners, Albert Smith, Hanover; Thomas Smith,
Pembroke ; Milliar Smith, Scituate, and others. The same year,.
Josiah built the Sch. "PILGRIM," 62 tons, which he sold, in
1809, to Albert Smith and Edward Eells. After the "Pil-
o'rim," the Smiths did not build any vessels alone, but were
interested, especially Josiah, in the vessels built by the Eells
for several years ; and in 1810, Josiah Smith and Edward Eells
built a schooner in company.

In 1811, William Delano* built a larije ship in Hanover, and
probably at this yard, viz. : ship " LADY GALLATIN," 358
tons, of Hanover, William Delano, master carpenter; Miller
Smith, master. It took a great deal of liquor, in those days,
to build a vessel, which was charged to the vessels as was the
material used in building them. This was done on all the
yards. The following are copies of two charges from an old
account book : "To 78 gallons West India Rum, drunk in the
summer of 1811, while at work on vessel ****** ^ $104.'
In 1813, " To 80 gallons Gin and Rum, from March 22nd to
August 25th, at 9s., $120." Later, the use of liquors was dis-
continued in the yards.

In 1789, the Sch "REVENUE," 27 tons, was built in Han-
over, and owned by Robert and Barzilla Eales, Hanover ; An-
thony Waterman, Sr. and Jr., Scituate. It was afterward sold
to Beverly. This was probably built by "Bezal " Eells, as they
used to call him, who was a shipwright,! but at what yard he

* See Wanton Yard Chapter, Scituate.

t See Barstow Yard Chapter, for account of the Eellses.

■94 EDWARD AND SAMUEL EELLS.

built is not known. Edward and Samuel Eells succeeded to
the Smith Yard al^out 1809-10. (Saumel Eells was Adjutant
of the First Brigade, Fifth Division, Second Regiment, Scituate
Militia, 1813.) They built the Sch. " MERT," 131 tons, at
Hanover; owners, Alljert and Milliar Smith and Edward Eells ;
and the ship " SAMUEL," 310 tons; owners, Josiah Smith,
Edward and Sanmel Eells, after whom it was probably named.
In 1811, they commenced building a very large vessel, which,
owing no dou]:>t to results of the destructive Embargo Act, was
not finished until 1815, when it was sold to Mr. Marcy. This
was the ship " EDWARD," built in 1815, 346 ions, two decks
and three masts, length, 102 feet, breadth, 27 feet, de]ith, 18
feet ; owners. Miller Smith, who was captain of her ; Edward
Eells, the master carpenter, and Samuel Eells, Hanover. In
181(i, they built abrig, which was their last, excepting the ship
spoken of in the beginning of this chapter. The Eells were,
in 1817, succeeded by the Barstows, as stated elsewhere.

" Poets " were not uncommon among the ship-builders on
North River, and the Smith Yard had one who put in rhyme
many of the occurrences of his time. A party of prominent
ship-builders, and men interested in shipping, went to Scituate
Har1)or, on horseback, intending to go lobstering, an excursion
frequently taken in those days. So'eventful was their journey
that the following description of it was written, Avhich many of
the older people " know by heart " :

Come now, my friends, and pray attend.

While I to you relate
What I've been told. I'll now unfold

Qf ****** m^^i j-jig iiiate.

It happened so, not long ago,

There sailed a Yankee fleet ;
While on their route, not passage out.

They met with a defeat.

From Corners Four, their course they bore.

With a light and pleasant gale ;
Their course they shaped for Scituate,

While under easy sail.

While on this tour, six knots an hour

They made by calculation.
For 'twas but five when they arrived

At their point of destination.

^sg^.^,^^2^^

LOBSTEU EXCURSION TO SCITUATE HARBOR. 95

■J'hey moored their ship, and lowered their peak,

And hoisted out their barge ;
And then did they, without delay,

Their cargo soon discharge.

This being done, they then begun

To be a little merrie ;
And round did pass tlie social glass.

While all hands sung out " Steady."

Then quickly they got under way,

And gave the sailing cheer ;
The wind was light, and just at night

They all for home did steer.

But soon came on a direful storm,

Which shattered much their fleet;
And e're next day were cast away,

And foundered in the street.

The Frigate * * * * was driven on

The little smelt brook shoal ;
And then she bilged, and quickly filled,

And lost was every soul.

The ship astern could now discern

Their sad and doleful fate ;
And then to save did dangers brave.

But, ah ! it was too late.

The head ship wore, and down she bore,

Under a press of sail.
To give relief; but with much grief

She saw her efforts fail.

Then, with great speed, she did proceed

To examine all around ;
And of her crew, she found but two

Lie prostrate on the ground.

One of them fast, with a lobster gaft

Directly through his leg :
So bruised was he, no doubt could be, —

They took him up for dead.

The other one had now begun

To call for some relief;
For, searching round, they quickly found

He'd loosened all his teeth.

96 LOBSTER EXCUKSION TO SCITUATE HARBOR.

Nor was that all, for in his fall,

In trying to get by,
On that stone bed he hit his head,

Which gave him one black eye.

No time to waste, but in great haste

The doctor they did call ;
He examined well their wounds, to tell

If he could cure them all.

" Be not afraid," to them he said,
" Your wounds I soon shall cure ;

Now go to bed, and grease your head, —
From harm you are secure."

And now 'tis passed, and they at last

Are likely to recover ;
The doctor says, in thirty days

They both may take another.

CHAPTER VII.

BARSTOW'S "TWO OAKS," AND LOWER YARDS.

1760 — 1846.

THOMAS BARSTOW, CAPT. ROBERT LENTHAL EELLS, NATHANIEL
BARSTOW, THOMAS BARSTOW, JR., COL. JOHN B. BARSTOW,
DEA. ELIJAH BARSTOW, ABNER STETSON, MICHAEL FORD, JR.,
ISRAEL H. SHERMAN, COL. JOHN BAILEY, CAPT. ELIJAH BAR-
STOW. JR., BARKER TURNER, JOSEPH S. BATES.

THOMAS BARSTOW and Capt. Robert Lenthal Eells built
at the yard marked, until within comparatively a few years,
by two gigantic white oaks, at least three centuries old. The
yard was located between Isaac Perry's and Paige's yards. It
was occupied by Messrs. Barstow & Eells for about thirty years,
when they Avere succeeded by Mr. Barstow's sons. T/ioinas
Barstoio was son of Benjamin and grandson of William. (See
Bridge Yard.) He was born Feb. 27, 1732, and died in 17J)7.
He lived in Norwell, near Palmer's Bridge, by the Third Her-
ring Brook, where now resides his grandson, Capt. Elijah P)ar-
stow. During the Revolution he built several small })rivateers,
some of which were for Mr. Derby, of Salem. It was his
brother James who built at the old yard by the Bridge. His
brother Gideon, also his nephews, Gideon, Wilson, Benjamin,
Elias, and his grand-nephews, James, Calvin, Wilson, and Na-
than H., were ship-builders in Mattapoisett, where many of
their descendants now live. He was great-grandfather of Benja-
min B. and Herbert Torrey, of Hanover.

In 1792, Joshua Barstow, proprietor of Barstow's Forge (see
Chapter I.), had a vessel built by his cousins, and named it
after his Foroe. 1792. Sip., afterward Sch., " NEW FORGE,''

98 BARSTOW & EELLS.

37 tons, of Hingham ; owners, Geo. Turner, Nathl. Gushing,
Thos. Hubbard, Joshua Barstow, and others. She was built in
Hanover. The second member of the firm, Oapt. Robert Len-
thal EelU, was a direct descendant of John, through Samuel,
and Nathaniel and Samuel. John was among the early settlers
of Dorchester. His son Samuel commanded a garrison at Dart-
mouth, Mass., in King Philip's War, 1676, and married Anna,
daughter of the Rev. Robert Lenthal, for whom Capt. Robert
was named. Nathaniel, son of Samuel, a graduate of Harvard,
1699, was a minister over the Second Ghurch in Scituate, and
married Hannah North, of Hingham, aunt of Frederick, Lord
North (afterward Prime Minister of George IH.). Samuel,
son of Nathaniel, was also a minister, and married Hannah,
great-granddaughter of Rev. William Witherell, of Scituate.*
Capt. Robert Lenthal Eells lived on the site now occupied by
the residence of his great-grandson, Robert E. Dwelley, at Han-
over Four Corners. During his partnership with Thomas Bar-
stow, he superintended the iron work of the vessels, and Mr.
Barstow the wood work. Capt. Eells' blacksmith shop stood
on one of Hanover's Four Corners, near his residence, and op-
posite the hotel property. The black earth in the iield now
marks the spot. Capt. Eells also did the iron w^ork of vessels
built at many of the other yards. His sons Robert and Joseph
succeeded him in the iron or blacksmith trade. His sons Ed-
ward and Samuel were shipwrights, and built at North River
(see Smith Yards) ; also his nephew, Bezal, who died in jNIaine.
Capt. Robert Lenthal Eells was one of the wealthiest citizens
of his day. Barry says, " He was an extensive landholder, a
man whose chief greatness consisted in the greatness of his
soul ; of unbounded hospitality, charital)le, patriotic ; an able
officer in the war of the Revolution, who opened his doors
cheerfully to all who were engaged in that struggle, and whose
daughters evinced their zeal for liberty in ministering to the
wants of the soldiers, and in manufacturing cartridges for the
use of the companies enrolled in the town." His daughter Bet-
sey married Col. John B. Barstow, and his daughter Lucy mar-
ried Dea. Elijah Barstow, who, with his brother. Col. John,
succeeded to the business at this yavd. In other words, two
sisters married two brothers, so their descendants are doubly
related to this firm. The late John P. Eells, whose widow now

* For a complete account of the genealogy of the Eells family, see Barry's His-
tory of Hanover.

BARSTOW AND EELLS GENEALOGY. 99

resides at Hanover Four Corners, with her daughter Harriet L.,
was a grandson of Capt. Robert and son of Samuel, who built
on the Smith Yard. John Pierce Eells was born Aug. 12,
1822; married Anna Mitchell, Jan. 5, 1848. She was born
Oct. 10, 1823. Their children were: 1. Annie Elizabeth,
born Nov. 3, 184!) ; married Fred. Stetson, April 3, 1872, and
have children : Ethel Pierce, born April 2G, 1876 ; Una Wil-
liams, born Jan. 3, 1878 ; Helen Wood, born Sept. 6, 1879.

2. Martha Fobes, born Nov. 10, 1854; died June 6, 1856.

3. Harriet Louise, born July 5, 1859. John Pierce Eells died
Nov. 25, 1883.

No very large vessels were built l)y this firm. The merchants
used smaller vessels in their trade, large numbers of such craft
being employed in the early part of the eighteenth century,
in commerce with the West Indies, taking out beef, pork, fish,
and oil, and bringing back rice, pitch, spices, and logwood,
rum and sugar. Later, when the whaling business increased,
there was a demand for larger vessels, and their successors
built next to the largest vessels built in Hanover. Messrs.
Barstow and Eells were both born in Felmiary, 1732. They
were cousins, and always companions in life. Mr. Eells died
in 1800. Thomas Barstow married Sarah Studley, and had
children : Sarah, born Nov. 27, 1754 ; Thomas, born Dec. 20,
1756; Rebecca, born March 8, 1759; Nath., born Oct. 10,
1761 ; John Burden, born Jan. 15, 1764, who died Aug. 6,
1854, aged ninety years ; Molly, born Aug. 1, 1768; Elijah,
born Feb. 13, 177 L

John B. Barstow was Lieutenant Colonel, Second Regiment,
1815. The Parade Grounds were located on the Indian Fields,
in Pembroke, east side of the ponds. John Burdin Barstow,
third son of Thomas Barstow and Sarah Studley, I)()rn Jan. 15,
1764; married Betsey Eells, second daughter of Robert Len-
thal Eells and Ruth Copeland. Children: 1. Sarah, born
May 21, 1788; married Joseph S. Bates. 2. Betsey Eells,
born Sept. 22, 1789. 3. John, Ixn-n Feb, 17, 1791. 4. Jane,
born July 24, 1792 ; married David Herscy. 5. Hannah, born
Jan. 27, 1794. 6. Edward, born Aug. 27, 1795. 7. Robert,
mariner, born Feb. 1, 1797; died in England, Oct. 13, 1818.
8. Benjamin, shipmaster, born Dec. 15, 1799. 9. Salome,
born Julv 24, 1801 ; married Haviland Torrey, son of Wm.

100 BARSTOW'S SHIP YARD AT THE " TWO OAKS."

Torrey, of Plymouth.* Dea. Elijah married Lucy Eells, sis-
ter of Col. John B. Barstow's wife, and died in 1842. They
had children: Nathaniel, born Aug. 1, 1799; Lucy, born
Dec. 22, 1801 ; Elijah, born Oct. 2, 1805, now living ;t Edwin,
born July 30, 1811 ; Abby, born Dec. 6, 1812 ; Andrew, born
Dec. 30, 1813. Andrew left Caldera, So. America, Oct. 2,
1856, master of the Salem ship "Lantao," and was never heard
from after.

Thomas Barstow's four sons succeeded him in the business.
Later, Nathaniel withdrew, and went to Camden, Me., where
he died. Thomas, Jr., John B., and Elijah then built until
1818, when Thomas retired, and Col. John B. and Dea. Elijah
continued in business until 1832, when Elijah, Jr., son of Dea.
Elijah, bought out his uncle, and went in business with his
father, where he continued until 1841. The Barstows built one
whaler, for Nantucket, that was fifty-eight years old at last
accounts. The first vessel I have any account of, bidlt hy the
successors to the old firm, was in 1799, ship " KODOLPH
FREDERICK," 271 tons, of Boston, built in Hanover, ])y John
B. and Elijah Barstow. Thomas, John B.,and I^lijah Barstow,
in company, built, in 1800-1, a ship, name unknown ; also, in
1800, Sch. " LUCRETIA," 114 tons, of Boston ; John B. Bar-
stow, master carpenter. 1801. Sch. "FREDERIC," 107 tons,
of Boston, for Nathl. Goddard ; John B. Barstow, master car-
penter. 1802. A schooner, name unknown. $ 1803. Ship
"POCAHONTAS," 279 tons, of Boston, for Capt. John Hol-

* For genealogy of the Barstow family, see Barry's History of Hanover.

t See Briggs' shipyard and genealogy

I Articles of an agreement made and concluded on hj and between Thomas Barstow
and Elijah Barstow, of Scituate, and John B. Barstow, of Hanover, all in the County
of Plvmouth, shipwrights, of the one part, and Jonathan Philips and Mathew Allen,
both of Harwich, in the County of Barnstable, mariners, as the other part, witnesseth
that the said Thomas, John, anil Elijah, doth agree to build a schooner of the following
dimentions, viz. : forty-tive feet keel, sixteen feet eight inches beam, and five feet eight
inches in the hold, Federal measurement. The said Thomas, John, and Elijah further
ao-ree to build said schooner of good warrantable timber and plank, and to iron her well
in every part, and to Knish the hull complete, including spars, joiners' work, painting
the outside, glazing the cabin windows, and to build the chimney, grave her bottom, pay
her waste and decks, and find one pump, and to launch said schooner by the 7th day of
April next, in consideration of which the said Jonathan and Mathew do aggree to pay
twenty-six dollars per ton, in manner following, viz. : Six hundred and fifty dollars
when the schooner is launched, and the remainder by the last day of Novemlier follow-
in", and to give good security and interest from the day said vessel is launched. In wit-
ne'ss whereof we have hereto set our hands and seals this 22d day of November, 1802.

JONATHAN PHILIPS,
MATHEW ALLEN.

Witness :— Joseph Eells,

Ebml'nd Sylvesteb.

SHIPS BUILT BY THOS., JOHN B., AND ELIJAH BARSTOW. 101

laud, Jr., and Xathl. Goddard, John B. Bar,>^tow, master car-
penter; and, in 1803, the Sch. "ADAMS," 77 tons, for Dux-
bury parties. The brig " CENT " Avas built by the Barstows in
early times ; also the ship " HENNITTA," for Nathl. Goddard.
In 1804 they built a sJiip for Isaac Shearmon. In 1805, they
built three ships; first, ship " PROTECTIOX," 270 tons, of
New Bedford.

The second was the ship " FRANCIS," a whaler, of 291 tons.
This vessel was taken by Sir George Cockl)urn during the War
of 1812, but was subsequently released. Sir George Cockburn
was detailed by the British Government for cruising on the
American coast, and assigned the "Albion," an eighty-four gun
ship. He took the " Francis," otf Montauk, south of Massachu-
setts. Later, he was at the burning of Washington, D. C.
After he returned to England, he was ordered to the war ship
" Northumberland," to take Napoleon to St. Helena. A young
man named Ratcliff was with Sir George during all of the above
time, and in 1820 was cast away on Nantucket, where he after-
ward lived and died. He was very fond of telling how Napo-
leon used to i)inch his ears, and talk to him. The "Francis"
was whaling in the Pacific, under Capt. Barzillai Coffin, of Nan-
tucket, in 181G. She was sold in 1825, and foundered at sea
in 182(3. The third vessel built in 1805 was the ship "HEN-
RIETTA," 279 tons, of Boston, John B. Barstow, master car-
penter. In 1806, they built the ship " HENERY," owned at
one time in New Bedford ; in 1807, a ship, sold to Capt. Bar-
nea, Nantucket; in 1808, a ship, sold to Capt. Elijah Nicker-
son; in 1809, ship "GOVERNOR GORE," 302 tons, of Bos-
ton, for Thomas Hazard. In 1810, a ship, sold to Capt. Gibbs ;
and, in 1810, a s](ip, sold to Ebenezer Nickerson. In 1811,
the ship "ELIZA ANN," 312 tons, of Boston. This vessel
was cast away on Sumatra, Aug. 19, 1819, and was a total loss.
The ship " ANN " was launched April, 1815, after laying on the
stocks during the War of 1812. She was of 340 tons, built for
Capt. Hiller, New York. In 1816, they built a sJiip, pro])al)ly
the "FRANCIS," for a Mr. Marcy ; and the same year, 1816,
the " HYCSO," 290 tons, for Zenas Coflfin, of Nantucket, She
was lost on Huakeine, Society Islands, 1826. In 1817, they
built the Sch. "MARINER," for Capt. Smith, of Nantucket.
This vessel lasted many years, and was finally sold. Also, in
1817, a schooner, for Mr. Eldridge, of the Cape. They launched
two vessels in one month in 1817: Sch. " LEADER," April,

102 BARSTOW'S YARD.

1817, a Baltimore packet, 96 tons, for Jonathan Smith, Nan-
tucket ; and the ship "INDEPENDENCE," April, 1817, a
whaler, of 311 tons, for George Swain, Nantucket.

The ship " Independence " was whaling in 1817, and in 1819,
Capt. Swain, after filhng tins ship in the Pacific Ocean with
1388 barrels of sperm oil, 568 of whale oil, said that no ship
could fill again with sperm oil. After whaling m the Pacific
many years, she was lost, under Capt. Isaac Brayton, on Star-
buck's Island, South Pacific Ocean, with 1800 barrels of sperm
oil, in 1837. This was the last vessel built by this firm,
Thomas, Jr., retiring this year.

In 1838, the Sch. "OUTESIE," 99 tons, of Scituate, was
built in Hanover, just above Barstow's Yard, on the old Stock-
bridge place, by Abner Stetson, Michael Ford, Jr., and Israel
H. Sherman, of Scituate, and owned by them, James Jenkins,
George M. Allen, of Scituate, Martin Curtis, and Horace Stet-
son, of Hanover, and others. When Joshua Stetson was work-
ing in the Navy Yard, the Commodore, who had a donkey that
he was very fond of and often had in the yard, came along, and
asked "Josh" what he thought of his donkey. "Well," said
Josh, "if he had epaulettes on his shoulders, I think he would
resemble our Commodore very much." Israel H. Sherman was
born in the house on the "Old Oaken Bucket" place, on Pond
street, in Scituate, and still lives about a mile below, on the
same street. For thirty successive years he worked in the ship-
yards. The " Outesie" was the last vessel built at this yard,
and, as has been seen, she was built by ship-carpenters found
earlier and later in other yards on North River.

and Col. John
B. Barstow con-
tinued the busi-
ness, but not in
the old yard.
The demand was

now for larger vessels for the whaling business of Nantucket
and New Bedford, and for large merchant ships. Numbers of
merchant vessels were built for the sons of John B. Barstow,
in New York City. As the yard at the Tiro Oaks was too far
up to l)uild such large vessels, the new firm concluded to go a
few rods farther down stream, and therefore secured the yard
where Edward and Samuel Eells had been building a few ves-

^'^-'a^ (y^^jf^"^^

SHirS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BAR8TOW. 103

sols, and occupied previously by Albert and Josiah Smith.
Samuel Eells died in Hanover, March 17, 1863, aged eighty-
two years.

The first occupant of this yard, of w i ,^m we have any knowl-
edge, was CoJ. John BaUey^ a distinguished officer in the Kev-
ohitionary AVar. He w^as Lieutenant Colonel of Col. Thomas'
Kegiment. He was with Col. Thomas at Rox1)ury, and had
charge of the regiment when Col. Thomas w^as commissioned as
general officer.* He probal)ly built here previous to the Kev-
olution. Josejih Ilouf^e was his master workman. Prior to this
time, John B. Barstow had been the master carpenter of the
firm. AVhen the two l)rothers started in their new^ yard, it was
on an equal footing, and both attended strictly to business. An
amusing incident occurred at this yard about this time. It is
related that one day an old ship-builder went to the Four Cor-
ners for a jug of rum for the yard, (it was the custom in those
days to serve grog to "all hands" at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.,) and
returning to the yard with the handle and part of the nose
knocked off", said, " Well, boys, I met with a shipwreck on the
way down." " Yes," said the one who had just taken the first
serving, "and shipped a lot of w^ater, too."

Four vessels lay on the stocks during theAVar of 1812, above
Barstow's Yard. The first year the new firm occupied this yard,
they built four vessels, which was the best years work recorded
on any yard in Hanover, Smith's exce})ted. The vessels were
launched in April, May, July, and November, 1818. The first
was the ship " STATES," 290 tons, Capt. David Swain, 2nd,
owned by Zenas Coffin, of Nantucket. In 1820, she was
whaling in the Pacitic, and sold to New York after making two
voyages whaling from Nantucket.

The second was the ship "PERU," of Nantucket, 257 tons,
launched in May, 1818. In 1820, she was whaling in the Pa-
cific, under the command of Capt. David Harris. About 1833,
she was changed into a bark, and from then until l8r)4 was
whaling on the South coast, and in the Pacific, when she was
sold to Williams & Haven, of New London, Conn. Starbuck,
in his "History of American Whale Fisheries," claims that the
"Peru " was the first ship l)rought over the bar at Nantucket by
the "Camels." "Bells were rung," he says, "and guns fired,

* See Brick Kiln Yard.

104 SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BARSTOW.

and a great concourse of citizens greeted her arrival." The
" Camels " were practically a floating dock, with which vessels
were taken over the bar at Nantucket. The " Peru " was trans-
ferred about 18311-42. On Dec. 2, 1866, while the "Peru"
was at Honolulu, H. I., the third mate, Charles N. Marsh, died.
March 2, 1872, while whaling in the Atlantic, a boat's crew
were lost by capsizing. In 1874, she was sold to John McCul-
lough, of New Bedford, and in 1877 was still whaling in the
Atlantic, under Capt. Jasper M. Ears. In 1883, she was broken
up at New Bedford, being then in her sixty-sixth year.

The third vessel was the Sch. " BANKER," launched July,
1818, 75 tons, David Elliott, Provincetown, owner; and the
fourth, which was launched in November, 1818, was the ship
"CLAY," 299 tons, of Boston, John B. and Elijah Barstow,
master carpenters. She was built for a merchantman, com-
manded 1)y Benj. Hichens, and owned b}' Hon. William Gray,
of Boston, ancestor of William Gray Brooks, Esq., formerly of
Hanover.

William Gray, who had quite a number of ships built on
North River, was probabl}^ the largest ship-owner ever in this
country. He was born in 1750, died in 1825. At one time
he is said to have owned sixty square-rigged vessels. He
was first President of the State Bank, and Lieutenant Governor
when Elbridge Gerry was Governor.* From 1819 to 1833,
the Barstows built one or two vessels each year. The ship
"WASHINGTON," launched 1819, whaler, 309 tons, was
owned by Reuben Swain and Zenas Cofiin, Nantucket. Capt.
Thomas Barstow Donnell, a cousin of Elijah Barstow, went in
her the first voyage. He left her for the grocery business in
New York, and was prostrated with small pox, which obliged
him to give up, and he settled in Hanover, where his widow still
resides. He died March 8, 18(55, aged sixty-one years. His
descendants are: 1. Ruth, married, and living in the West.
2. Nancy, deceased. 3. Jennie, now widow of Henry Pratt.
4. Reuben. The ship "Washington," in 1819, was whaling in
the Pacific, under Capt. Reuben Swain, 2nd; and in 1825, lost
her first mate, David Starbuck. She was condemned at Oahu,
Hawaiian Island, in 1849, being then thirty years old.

In June, 1820, they launched the ship " SPERMO," whaler,

* Drake's Landmarks of Boston, p. 20.

SHIPS BUILT BV JOIIX B. AND ELIJAH BAKSTOW. 105

29() tons, Capt. James Bunker ; Aaron ^Mitchell, Xantueket,
owner. She was whalin"- in the Pacific in 1820. Sold in 1823
by Aaron jNIitchell, and, while in the merchant service, she
foundered at sea. and all hands lost, coming from Liverpool to
New York, in 1825. The next vessel l)uilt at this yard was the
ship "CONSTITUTION," 325 tons, launched in March, 1821.
The same year she was in the Pacific, whaling. She was owned
by Zenas Cofiin, Nantucket; Capt. David Swain, 2nd, master.
1826, Capt. Isaac Chase, who was then master of her, it is re-
ported w^ould not go around Cape Horn, l)ut went to the
"Banks," and returned, accusing his crew of mutiny. From
1830 to 1856, she was owned by C. G. and H. Coffin, of Nan-
tucket, and used whaling in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian
Oceans. In 1847, Mr. Prince, her third mate, died at sea. She
was whaling until 185(5, when she was condemned at Nantucket,
then thirty-five years old.

In September of the same year, 1821, they built the ship
"OENO," Capt. G. B. Worth, 'owned by Aaron Mitchell, of
Nantuket, 328 tons, used in the Pacific, whaling. In April,
1825, the ship "Oeno," then under Capt. Samuel Riddell, and
on her second voyage, struck a reef near Turtle Island, one of
the Fejee Group, and s[)eedily showed signs of breaking up.
The crew, twenty-one in num])er, took to the boats, and landed
upon the island, lured thither by the friendly motions of the
natives ; but when ashore aljout two Aveeks, a tribe from a
larger island visited the one upon which they were, and, finding
them unarmed, massacred all but one, William S. Gary, u Nan-
tucket boy, who escaped after several years' imprisonment
amon^^- them, during which time he was taken care of by a
chief's wife. He came home, and lived many years. In 1822,
the firm Imilt two vessels. The first was launched in July, the
ship "LYDIA," 329 tons, Capt. Allen, owned by Z. Coffin, of
Nantucket, and in 1825 she came back from her first voyage
of three years in the Pacific, whaling, with 2318 barrels of
sperm oil. She returned to the Pacific, and, when under Capt.
Edw. C. Joy, was burned at sea, oft' Paita, Peru, Jan. 31,
1833 ; supposed to have lieen fired by one of her crew. The
second, the brig "TEENT," launched in September, 1822, 249
tons, was commanded and owned, first by John Barstow, then
Edw. Barstows Nathaniel Barstow, and xMr. Foster, Avho died
in New Orleans, of yellow fever. She was run into and sunk
in the Mississippi River; afterward raised, and commanded by

106 SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BARSTOW.

Capt. Freeman Foster. One of her crew, Henry J. Hitchcock,
died Nov. 10, 1826, at New Orleans, of yellow fever, after an
illness of only five days, in the twenty-third year of his age.
He was first mate of the brig "Trent," when conmianded by
Capt. Edw. Barstow. It is said that he was very much afraid
of the fever, and was taken down with it just as the vessel was
ready to sail. Capt. Barstow delayed sailing for a few days,
hoping he might recover. He was son of Dr. Gad Hitchcock,
of Hanson.

The ship "GOREE,^' launched September, 1823, 336 tons,
was l)uilt for John Barstow, New York, and finally sold to
Stockholm, Sweden. In July, 1824, they launched the ship
" SELMA," 266 tons. She was a cotton"^ ship. Iiuilt for the
Mobile trade, and sold to Thomas Longfield, New York. She
was bought from New York, 1833, by A. H. Seabury & Bro.,
of New Bedford, and sent to the Pacific, whaling, under Capt.
Jonathan Nye. Here she was until Sept. 9, 1841, at which date
she was burned at sea ; then under the command of Capt.
Luce, and owned by G. O. Crocker & Co., of New Bedford.
They launched the Sch. "MENTOR" in May, 1825, a Balti-
more packet, 98 tons, Jonathan Smith, Nantucket, owner. Cap-
sized in a squall off the Bahamas in 1831, and two men lost;
the others saved by a Kennebec vessel. This was the last
schooner he owned. There was built at this yard, in 1825, ship
" JOHX & ELIZABETH," 295 tons, of New York ; John B.
and Elijah Barstow, master carpenters. This vessel was
launched in July, and sold to Capt. John Barstow, at New
York. She was named after Col. John B. Barstow, and his
wife Elizabeth. The ship "John & Elizal>eth," which had been
sold for a whaler, arrived in New London, from the South At-
lantic, whaling, in 1838, with 200 barrels of sperm oil and
2300 of whale oil. From 1840 to 1858, she was very success-
ful, whaling, in the Indian Ocean and off the Northwest coast.
In 1858, she belonged to "Williams & Haven, of New London,
Conn., and was condemned and broken up in her thirty-fourth
year, in the port of Honolulu, H. I., in September, 1858, at
which time she sent home 38 barrels of sperm oil, 1770 of whale,
and 12,000 pounds of whalebone.

In 1827, the ship "HANOVER," 329 tons, of New York,
w^as built at this yard, John B. and Elijah Barstow, master car-
penters She was owned by John and Edw. Barstow, of New
York, and commanded by Capt. Benjamin and Capt. Nathaniel

SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BARSTOW. 107

Barstow respectively. Also, tlioy Imilt, in 1827, ship "AMER-
ICAN," 283 tons, John B. and Elijah Barstow, master carpen-
ters, for whaling, and launched in August. She was owned by
Samuel Hunting, of Sag Harbor. The ship "American," in
1827, W'as otf Patagonia, whaling, under Capt. Geo. Post;
afterward she was in the South Seas ; 1829, under (\jpt. Wni.
A. eTones, off Brazil ; 1840-43, under command of Capt. Cooper,
otf New Zealand and Crozette Island. About 1843, she was
changed into a bark, and in June, 184(i, while whaling, under
the command of Ca])t. Wm. Pierson, off the Northwest coast,
the captain and three men were lost, by a whale running over
their boat. The " American " Avas condemned at St. Thomas in
August, 1848. Whether the " Nei)tune " was built at this yard
or not, it has been impossible to prove, but it is more than
likely she was. The bark " NEPTUNE," 338 tons, two decks,
sixteen feet draft, copper and iron, oak and cedar, one hundred
and six feet long, twenty-seven feet broad, was built in Han-
over, 1828 ; owned in 1865 by Garrels &. Meyer, Halilax, Capt.
Banker. In 1828, the Barstows built a vessel for Zenas Coffin,
of Nantucket, which was to be named the ^^ Bisiny Sun."
She was launched in June, and when she arrived in Nantucket,
Zenas Coffin was lying dead. His son Henry, who later owned
the vessel, named it after his father : the ship "ZENAS COF-
FIN," 338 tons, 17 feet draft, double-decked, oak, cop-
per and iron fastened. She was whaling in the Pacific in 1828,
and in her first voyage, of three years, she got 2732 barrels of
sperm oil, then under Capt. Joy. In 18iJ7, her owners, C. G.
& H. Coffin, of Nantucket, sold her to New York, at which time
she sent home fifteen thousand dollars' worth of bone and oil.
In 1861 she was again owned by H. Coffin, and in 1863 by
Starbuck & Co., Nantucket. There are two accounts of her
ending, — one, that she was used up wiialing off So. America ;
the other, which I believe to ])e correct, that she was simk off
Charleston, to olistruct the blockade runners; was afterwards
raised, and, in 1874, owned by Garrels & Mayer, at Halifax,
N. S., then sixfy-six years old. There was launched at this
yard, in May, LS2!), the Sch. "SARAH & BETSEY," 8.5 tons,
of Hanover, John B. Barstow, owner ; John B. & Elijali Bar-
stow, master carpenters. This is one of the few, if not the
only vessel, that hailed from Hanover as its home port. With
Col. Barstow for its owner, and named after two of Hanover's
young ladies, it ought certainly to have had a successful career,
and it may have had. What finally became of it no one seems

108 SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BARSTOW.

to know. The "Sarah & Betsey" was named after Col. Bar-
stow's two oldest daughters, — Sarah, the mother of John B.
Bates, of Hanover Four Corners, and Betsey, who died un-
married.

In June of the same year, 1829, they launched the ship
"COLUMBIA," a whaler,* 285 tons, Luther D. Cook, Sag
Harbor, owner. She was used whaling oft' the coast of Brazil
and New Zealand and in the South seas, 1829 to 1845, wdien
she Avas changed into a brig. The last voyage she made as a
ship she got 250 bbls. of sperm oil, 2250 bbls. of wdiale oil and
28000 lbs. of bone. She w^as in the Pacific and South Atlantic
until 1862, when, in her 34th year, she was sold by her owner,
John Budd of Sag Harbor, N. Y. Barstows launched the ship
"PHENIX,"in May, 1830, a whaler of 314 tons, built for
Luther D. Cook of Sag Harbor. Capt. Elijah Barstow, then
a young man, was struck accidentally l)y the end of a hawser,
wdien aboard of her, while she was lying in Boston, which broke
his arm. The "Phenix" was wdialing in the Atlantic from 1831
until 1840, when Capt. Topping left the ship and came home
sick. Capt. Briggs then took her whaling oft' New Zealand and
in the Indian Ocean, until 1849, when she was sold to Boston.
They launched in May, 1831, ship "MARYS," 329 tons, of
New Bedford. She was built for a merchantman, and owned
by Capt. Thomas Barstow, C-harles Russell and others. It was
prolmbly she who was lost on the Island of Juan Fernandez in
1833. There was launched in Oct., 1831, the ship " WARSAAV,"
331 tons, John B., and Elijah Barstow, M. C. She was built
for a cotton ship, and owned by C. & J. Barstow of New
York. The last ship built while Col. John B. Barstow was in
the firm was in the year 1832, the ship " CHARLES & HENRY,"
337 tons. She was whaling in the Pacific from 1832 until June,
1845, wdien she was lost on Cordo. After the above vessel
was finished, Dea. Elijah Barstow bought out his brother's
interest and took in his son Elijah, Jr., who put in what he
w^as able toward buying out his uncle, and together, father and
son built until 1841. Col. John B. Barstow died in Hanover,
Aug. (3, 1854, aged 90 years.

is now living at

f^:.Ji^ ^.W^/^^^^^^ - *^^^ ^<?^ f ^^V "J
^c^/^ — apparently j^erfect

health, working on

his farm, (the old Barstow homestead in Norwell), ten and

<»# 1f-*\'

^j,^ ^^^H.^^^^/^^^^

CAPT. ELIJAH BARSTOW. lOO"

twelve hours a day, and he walks to church and back every
Sunday with a step much lighter and faster than many of the
young men of to-day. "He was born in Scituate, Oct. 2. 1.S05,
baptized by Rev. Joseph Barker, Sept. 20, 1806. He was the
son of Dea. Elijah and Lucy (Eells) Barstow. Mr. Barstow
worked on his father's farm until nearly seventeen years of age,
attending, in the winter season, the private school at the
Corners that was taught by Rev. Calvin W^alcot, Mr. Parker,
Marm JNIann, (a somewhat noted female teacher), and Miss
Mary Thomas. Here he received a thorough bu.?iness educa-
tion. The schoolroom and hall was over what is now Flavell's
store. This was before the Academy was removed from the
centre of the town. In 1822 he began to work in his father's
ship yard and learned the art of shipbuilding. The first vessel
he worked on was the 'Trent.' Mr. Barstow, like most boys
who are brought up among ships, decided to make one of the
crew of the ship 'Goree,' (laiilt here in 1823,) on her first
voyage. She was commanded by John Barstow, of New York,
and sailed to New Orleans for a cargo of cotton. Failing to
get a freight at New Orleans, she sailed around to Savannah,
where she loaded with cotton, which she safely landed at
Providence, R. I. She was finally sold to parties in Stock-
holm, Sweden. On the shijj's arrival at Providence, JNIr.
Barstow returned to his father's ship yard, where he finished
his trade. He worked with his father about ten years, Avlien
he married Caroline O., daughter of Henry Briggs, of Scituate,
and went housekeeping in the old Stockbridge Mansion, that
stood upon the spot now occupied by E. Q. Sylvester's resi-
dence, near the North River Bridge. Here he lived two years
or more, when he removed to East Boston, and built tiiree
vessels on his own account. Mr. Barstow, in consequence of
losses and the burning of his workhouse, retired from the ship
business in 1869, and has followed the pleasant occui)ati()n of a
farmer for the })ast nineteen years, robust in health and as
active as most men at sixty. Mr. Barstow comes of a long
line of ship-builders and is of the sixth generation that have
built in the same yards from North River Bridge to Sunset Hill.
He remembers perfectly well the war of 1812, when so many of
our ship-builders were ruined by the blockade established along
our coast by the British, preventing the newly built vessels
from leaving the River. From the bridge to Foster's yard
there were four large ships on the stocks, and a sentry or guard
was placed at every yard to give notice of any attempt on the

110 DEACON ELIJAH BARSTOW & SON.

part of the enemy to enter the river, as had heen the case at
Scituate Harbor, where the English man-of-war, ' Bulwark,'
had destroyed the fleet of small vessels in that port. Mr.
Barstow says, ' Every ship-ljuilder that began business in
Medford, East and South Boston, w^ent either from Scituate,
Hanover, or Pembroke, and it is well known that Hanover
furnished the workmen that carried the business to Rochester,
Mattapoisett and Buzzard Bay.' He had two children, Albert,
who died in 18G3, and Henry, wdio married and has two chil-
dren.* From the time Dea. Elijah and his son commenced
building in company, Elijah, Jr., became the master carpenter
of the firm."

The first vessel they built was in 1833, ship " SEAMEW,"
199 tons, for B, C. Clark, of Boston. Mr. Clark delivered
lectures about this time, in "Academy Hall," Hanover, on "The
Sea and Ship-l)uilding." Also, the same year, 1833, bark
"TIBERIAS," 298 tons, for Sears & Davis, Boston. 1834.
Bark " HARRIOT," 202 tons, for John L. Hooper, Marble-
head. 1835. Sch. "SARAH WALES," 99 tons, for Capt.
Geo. Manson, and others. Elijah Barstow, Jr., Samuel Tol-
man, Michael Ford, and Elisha Bass, also had an interest in
this vessel. They built, of oak and pine, the same year, 1835,
Sch. "WILLIAM WILSON," 121 tons, Elijah Barstow, Jr.,
master carpenter. Built for Capt. Ezra H. Baker, of Dennis,
who then did not have enough to pay for one-eighth of her, but
who died leaving over $1,000,000. In 1859, she w^as owned by
A. Gibbs, and sailing under Capt. Loud. In the spring of
1889, she was seen hy Thomas B. Waterman jit Fairhaven,
then lying on her l)eam ends, having been used the past
twenty years for whaling. The Barstows also built, in 1836,
the Ijark "DANIEL WEBSTER," 264 tons, Charles Cole, of
Boston, Thomas L. INIanson, of Scituate, and others, owners at
Boston; Elijah Barstow, Jr., master carpenter. During the
next three years they built two vessels a year. In 1837, Sch.
"HOME," 136 tons, for Howes, brother of Ezra H. Baker, of
Dennis, afterward of Boston. 1837. Sch. "PAULINE," 148
tons, for Charles Cole, of Boston, Geo. Manson, of Scituate,
and others; and in 1838, brig "WILLIAM M. ROGERS"
(named after the Boston minister), 162 tons, for George Tay-
lor, of Chatham ; Hardy & Baker, agents. Capt. C. B. Graves

* See Briggs' Yard.

DEACON ELIJAH BAKSTOW & SON. Ill

went in her one voyasre to Philadelphia in 1840. In 1838,
they Imilt the Sch. " ALLEN," 127 tons, for Georj^e Allen, Scit-
uate, and Charles Cole and others, Boston. She was afterward
rigged as a hermaphrodite brig. She was eonnnanded by Cai)t.
John Manson, of Scituate Harbor. He went in her to the West
Indies, South America, Rio-de-Janeiro, and one voyage from
San Domingo to Boston, with coti'ee. When, at the end of
this voyage^he made fast to the wharf in Boston, he met with
the worst shipwreck he ever had in his life. This Avas in 1839.
The " Allen " was lying at Fort Hill Wharf, in a heavy gale of
wind, when she broke adrift, and collided with another vessel
lying at Liverpool Wharf. A third vessel came outside of
this^ and beat herself to pieces, and sank. The "Allen" rode
the gale very well, and so crowded the inner vessel that she
could not sink. It was a terrible storm, and a great many lives
and vessels were lost along the coast. The " Allen " needed a
great deal of repairing, and Avas afterward sold. Prior to 1830
few vessels w^ent to Provincetown or the Ca})e, but from al)out
that date Cape Cod was a lars^e market for vessels built on
North Kiver. In 1839, they built the brig "WILDES P.
WALKER," 188 tons, of Providence, Frost & Gurney, for the
West India trade, Elijah Barstow, Jr., master carpenter; and
the same year, 1839, the brig "OCEAN," 165 tons, of Boston,
for T. Ekiridge, Chatham ; Elijah BarstoAV, Jr., master carpen-
ter. She was used as a Boston and Baltimore packet until
1851, wdien she was added to the Sandwdch wdialing fleet. In
1856, her rig was changed to a bark. In 1864, she w^as sold to
Sag Harbor,' and lost in 1.S67. In 1840, the l)ark "IMOGENE,"
179 tons, was built here, Elijah Barstow, master carpenter.
This vessel was OAvned, in 1846, by Wm. G. and Abiel S.
Lewis, of Boston, and used whaling in the Atlantic. They
built in 1841, brig " SALINAS," 162 tons, for Nathl. Ilamblin,
Charles Cole, and others ; owned in 1876 (then thirty-tive
years old), by Cartwright & Harrison, at tlie Barbadoes.

In 1841, Capt. Elijah, Jr., gave up business in Hanover,
temporarily, and went to East Boston, Avhere he buih, during the
same year, the bark " /Spartan,'' 196 tons, for Province-
town, and the ship " Columbia," 329 tons, for Charles and
Henry Coffin, Nantucket, Avhich was condemned atUpola, 1861,
and in 1842 a vessel, which he named after his sons, the bark
" Albert Benrj/," 200 tons, commanded by his brother, Capt.
Andrew Barstow. June 22, 1842, his father died, and he re-

112 " ROANOKE."

turned to the old family homestead at Norwell, resuming busi-
ness at his father's yard at Hanover in 1844.

During Capt. Barstow's absence in East Boston, there was
built at this yard, in 1842, the Sch. "ROxVNOKE," 99 tons, for
Elijah Jenkins, Jr., and Seth Webb, of Scituate Harbor. She
T\as built by a company, including Barker Turner and Joseph
S. Bates. In 1849, this vessel was bought ])y Cunningham &
Cobb, of Boston, for a company that had formed for the pur-
pose of going to California, mining. The members of this
company came from many widely separated New England
towns ; and some were surprised, in looking over the shipping
list, to find the names of relatives and friends who had, like
themselves, caught the California gold fever, and decided to
become pioneers. This was the case with William B. Josselyn,
of Pembroke, now sixty-five years of age. One Saturday,
while at home on his father's farm, he picked up a Boston Jour-
nal, and found the advei-tisement of a company that were fitting
out) a vessel to go to California. The Monday following found
him in Boston, looking over the several vessels that were fitting
out. He had been to sea before, and saw that most of the ves-
sels were old, and dangerous to sail in. He finally came to one
on which was a man ^\'llo told him if he had not signed to go
in that vessel, he would go in one lying at the next wharf,
pointing to a little topsail schooner. Mr. Josselyn examined
her, was pleased, and went immediately to the office of Cun-
ningham & Cobb, where he looked over the papers and found
the names of his cousin and several friends. He raised the
money and signed the articles, then went to Reed's, on Dock
Square, and bought a handsome gun for $14. It was imitation
stub twist, ornamented German silver mounting, and rosewood
stock. Each of the company took a gun, and the vessel was
loaded with provisions, pipes of liquor, mining machinery of
every kind, etc. The vessel cost, all fitted out, $7,500. They
paid in $300 apiece, and then being $1,200 short, that amount
was borrowed from the more wealthy members of the company
at 6% interest, with the privilege of paying at will. They
styled themselves the Boston IVIarine ^Mining Co., and bound
themselves together for two years. Freeman M. Josselyn re-
members accompanying them down the harbor as far as Fort
Independence, on a pleasant summer morning, forty years ago.
Among the many vessels which left Boston during the Califor-
nia excitement, none created a greater interest than that of the

THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO. 113

little clipper schooner "Koanoke.'* She was manned b}- many
" greenhorns," and many who had been to sea before, but all had
equal rights. It was a question as to which of all those who
were experienced sailors should command the vessel. It was
finally decided to put the question to vote, and William N.
Shelley was elected captain. After this, every question was
put to vote, and several times, Avhen it was thought the captain
did not do as tJiey should have done, it was put to vote whether
they should retain him as captain or put in another, l)ut he re-
ceived a majority every time, and kept his office throughout the
trip. The schooner w^as well officered, as will be seen by the
following list, to which is added an account of what became of
each, so far as has been ascertained: 3fff.s/er, William N.
Shelley, Boston, now a pilot in San Francisco Harbor. First
Officer, C. Kirkoterp, Boston, now a wealthy retired coal mer-
chant, living in San Francisco. Second Officer, Frederick ]\Ior-
ton, Plymouth, Mass ; lost at sea when master of a schooner
down South. Third Officer, Henry Williams, of Boston; died
in California. Carpenter, Michael Robert Sylvester, Boston ;
now living at Hanover Four Corners. Saihnaker, AVilliam
Cole, Boston ; died in California from the eflfects of poison
oak. Boatsicain, Henry Haste, Boston; a wealthy retired
coal merchant, now living in San Francisco, and a former part-
ner of C. Kirkoterp. Blachwiith, Russell Bourne, of Boston,
now residing in Plymouth, Mass. Cook, Philip E. Stoker,
who was taken sick and left during the passage at Villa Grande,
about fifty miles south of Rio Janeiro. Steward, Smith D.
Crockett, Boston ; now a doctor among the sailors on the city
front, San Francisco. Clerk, George Bartlett, of Kingston ;
now dead. The seamen were : John Hathaway Gushing, of
Hanover, who died in California. George Marshall Josselyn,
of Pembroke, now a wealthy San Franciscan, in the ship
chandlery business. Phineas Pettingill, of Londonderry. Isaac
Leonard, of South Boston, where he now lives. Charles J.
Hillburn, of Boston; died in California. W. H. V. Gallup,
of Boston, died during the voyage. He was sitting in the
cabin, with his head bowed on his hands, when suddenly he
threw up his hands, fell over, and died almost instantly, Nov.
5, at 5 P.M. He was buried at sea, in the South Pacific, Nov.
26, at 8.80 a.m. This was a sad occurrence for the little com-
pany of New Englanders. Philip W. Bell, of Boston, aged
about sixty years, the oldest of the company. He died in Cal-
ifornia, soon after landing, from exposure in tents, etc. Henry

114 THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO.

H. Barslow, of Exeter; finally went to Oregon. William B.
Josselya, of Pembroke ; now living in Pembroke. Warren
Pettingill, Jr. , of Londonderry. John E. Sever, of Plymouth ;
he finally went to Oregon. Lawrence Panton, of Milton ; now
in the foundry business at Petaluma, California. This com-
pletes the list of twenty-three souls, "all told," on board this
little schooner, with a draft of only seven feet. Is it any won-
der that when, at one time, the " Roanoke " bore down on a mer-
chantman to get her "reckoning" or position, the merchantman
set all sail, and endeavored to get away from this small craft,
whose decks were swarming with what the merchantman thought
were pirates ? Nearly every man had his life insured. They
sailed about 10 a.m., July 19, 1849, and were accompanied down
the harbor l\y many friends. A. bountiful collation was served,
and when the " Lower Light" was reached, at 4 p.m., those on
board who were not going bade adieu to the friends and rela-
tives, gave them a rousing cheer, and returned on the tug which
had been towing the " Roanoke."

As previously stated, every question was put to vote. They
all had cabin fare, and all fared alike. Several of the green-
horns were seasick for a few days. July 29, they spoke the ship
" Shannaca," New York to San Francisco. Nothing of im-
portance came up until they were near the Equator, when they
decided to vote on the question whether or no they should see
the line. It was voted that Gallup should see the line, though
all the landsmen expected to ; accordingly a bucket of lather was
made of slush and tar, and with an iron hoop Gallup was
shaved while they were crossing the line, Aug. 20. Previously,
or on July 31, Russell Bourne was injured by the breaking of
a belaying pin, around which "the watch" had a turn of a
rope ; he being at the end of the rope they fell on him.
The first land they sighted was Pernambuco, but they did not
" put in." Sept. 6, another member of the Company, Hilborn,
paid one hundred and fifty dollars and became a passenger,
having tired of sailor life, Gallup having previously done
the same. Some of the Company wanted to " put in " to Rio
Janeiro, and, when the question w^as voted on, it was found to
be the minds of the majority so to do. They then consulted
their many consular and marine books and guides, and found
the i)ort charges were some sixty dollars. They took up a
subscription, but could only raise thirty dollars ; so decided
it was useless to attempt to "put in" to Rio, for fear they could

THE BOSTOX MAEINE IMINING CO. 115

not get out without selling the schooner. ]Moi'ton had been to
the Isle of Grande, Latitude 20° So., and told the crew of the
delicious yams to be got there, and it was voted to go there for
a rest and to "provision up." At first they were unable to find the
Island, ])ut, while searching, they saw a little vessel which, from
her ai)pearance, they thought was making land. They followed
her until they reached the coast of Brazil ; and tliey in(juired
along the beach, of the natives, and, following their directions,
on Sept. 17, at 10 a.:m., found themselves in the bay of Ila
Grande, at Ville Grande, a village with a nice harbor, situated
about fifty miles south of Eio de Janeiro. Immediately they
dropped anchor, the natives, seeing so many men on deck, all
armed to the teeth, fled to their houses and barricaded the
doors. Capt. Shelley then ran up the Stars and Stripes, and
soon there appeared along-side two men ni a boat, which was
loaded with oranges as a present to the " Capitaine," as they
called Gapt. Shefley. Not long after, an Englishman came out
and told them that it was not a port of entry, and they would
not l)e allowed to sta}' ; and if they did not get out pretty soon,
the Governor would prol)al)ly send to Rio for a revenue cutter.
Things were looking pretty l)ad, when a boat came out, and in
it they recognized an American. He had been cast away while
on a Avhaler, many years before, and married a native woman.
He had spoken their language so long that his English was
quite broken, but good enough for all purposes, so he was em-
ployed at two dollars per day as interpreter. He told them
that, if they invited the Governor oft', and gave him a good
dinner, everything would be all right. They accordingly in-
vited the Governor oft' that night, and gave him the best the
vessel aftbrded. So well did they treat him that at midnight
they were obliged to carry him ashore. He had a glorious
time, and, during his short visit, signed a permit allowing them
to remain in port ten days ; and to properly account to his
superior, at Rio Janeiro, the cause of a vessel l)eing in port, he
sent word that a vessel had put in there in distress. That they
enjoyed every moment of the ten days it is needless to add.
Oneof the watches had freedom one day, another the next, and
they made excursions through the narrow guts or inlets into the
beautiful bights or bays, which were enclosed by high moun-
tains, and surrounded on the shore by large orange groves and
coftee plantations. At first, the Spaniards showed much fear,
as the crews were always heavily ai-med ; T)ut their fright was
soon quieted by the interpreter, and they invited the strangers

116 THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO.

ashore, and into their thatched houses, giving them coffee, with-
out sugar or milk, so strong they could not swallow it, and
sending their little black slaves up the trees after oranges, and
also having them set their seine for the amusement of the vis-
itors. On the trip down to Villa Grande the crew used to
practise with their guns ; and many bets were made with Wil-
liam B. Josselyn as to whether they could shoot a bullet through
the waving corners of a silk handkerchief which was hung up by
its two other diagonal corners, a trick hard to do ; also whether
they could shoot a tallow candle through an inch board ; and
one bet was made that a bullet could be shot through the blade
of a broad-axe. An axe was procured from the carpenter, who
valued it at three dollars. If the bullet went through, Wil-
liam B Josselyn was to pay for the axe : if it did not, the
marksman was to pay for the damage done. The first bullet
indented the axe, and left its perfect form on the other side,
but did not go through ; the others made no impression. Such
were the amusements of the Company. A favorite target was
a bottle hung from the end of a swinging boom, but one ball
being allowed in the charge. The only man who succeeded in
hitting this mark was Morton, who made no pretense as a marks-
man, but who one day quietly loaded his gun with buckshot
(only one other person being aware of the fact) , called the crew
to witness, fired, and caused the bottle to disappear as if by
magic. George M. Josselyn had presented to him, by Josiah
Dunham, a friend of Cyrus Alger, a new breech-loading rifle
])efore leaving Alger's foundry, at South Boston, where he was
employed. He became quite disgusted because he could not hit
anything with it, and explained it by the rolling of the vessel ;
so when he got ashore, and while at Villa Grande, he bought a
rooster, and set him on a wall to shoot at. At his first shot,
two bullets went off, nearly wounding Mr. Josselyn. This
ended his shooting with that gun.

The ten days soon passed and they received word from Rio
to leave innnediately and they reluctantly sailed away. Before
sailing they bought 10000 oranges at $1.00 per 1000. Their
eyes were bigger than their vessel ; barrels, lockers, and
buckets were filled, and even berths had to be given up to make
room for the oranges. A few days out they realized they had
bought nothing l)ut fully ripe fruit which was fast decaying.
They would find hundreds spoiled every morning and remem-
ing their snow-balling days they obtained permission from the

THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO- 117

captain and putting on their oil clothing appeared on deck,
which had been cleared for action, with arms full of decaying
oranges. They chose sides and the battle raged ; they pelted
each other until the allowance of rotten oranges was exhausted.
They then washed down each other and cleared the vessel,
which looked very much like the inside of a swill cai-t. These
battles were repeated until the supply of oranges gave out.
Whist was the favorite game of cards and it was usually played
during the dog-watch from 6 to 8, r.M. One night when off
the River Platte, South America, the watch were down in the
cabin playing whist with the captain, excepting two men, one
at the wheel and one on the lookout. The latter, seeing a
squall approaching, called repeatedly to the captain to send up
the watch, but the game was probably very interesting and it
was hard to break off'. Finally the lookout could stand it no
longer and he "hollered" down the gangway. " Say, Captain,
if you don't send that watch up to take in the flying jib you can
take it in yourself. I'll be damned if I am going to get
wet."

As they neared Cape Horn , the question was put to vote whether
they should go round the Cape or through the Straits of Magel-
lan, and the majority voted in favor of going through the Straits.
They entered the Straits Oct. 12. In forty-eight hours they
were one-halfway through, l)ut it was twenty-eiglit days before
the passage was accomplished. While in the Straits they shot
white, speckled and steam boat ducks ; they saw the natives
building fires to attract them ashore that they might rob and
plunder the vessel , and often saw bottles hanging to trees near
the water's edge, inside of which would be the full account of
the vessel preceeding them ; they would hang other bottles in
their places containing an account of the "Roanoke." They
would weigh anchor and start again and again only to return at
night to anchor in the same place, usually in one of the harbors
or inlets that were entirely sheltered from the storm. These
harbors were so completely surrounded by high hills that it
was necessary to send a boat around the point in the morning,
where it was often found to be blowing a " living gale " in the
"Straits" of which there was no indication in the harbor. After
they left Port Famine they discovered a vessel beached, which
proved to be the "J. A. Sutter," of AVarren, R. I. Part of
her cargo had been a frame house which her crew had erected
on shore from w'hich they were rescued by a steamer. With an

118 THE BOSTON MARINE MESTESTG CO.

eye to business the Yankees of the " Roanoke " took what lumber
they could conveniently cany from the house and wreck, and
also fished out of the wreck about 100 lbs. of lead pipe. The
lumber they afterwards sold in San Francisco for $300 per
thousand and realized from the sale of this and part of their
cargo, about $1500. AVhen they reached the last harbor in
which they could anchor in the Straits, called the Harbor of
Mercy, the storm was still heavy, with a thick fog and no sign
of abating. It was dangerous to sail out, for they could only
lay three or four points "free and might go ashore as the current
was strong. They put it to vote and voted to sail out Nov. 9th,
but there was very little talking on board the " lioanoke " until
she was fsiirly into the Pacitic, when they probably had an extra
glass of punch all around and a grand time generally. Among
the harbors in the Straits in which they anchored were
Possession Bay, Playaparda Bay, Marion Bay, Morton's Bay,
and Tamar Harbor. Little of consequence occurred liefore
they made the port of San Francisco, except about Dec. 22 in
the night, when Mr. Barstow caught a porpoise. When he
struck the porpoise he was so excited that he sung out loudly
for help, and the crew rushed out of the forecastle half dressed,
not knowing what was the trouble. The porpoise was eight
feet long, and it took six men to get him on deck. They arrived
in the harbor of San Francisco after dark, in a heavy rain on
the last day of December, 1849, just in time to ena])le them to
become California Pioneers, the ever memorable "forty-niners,"
the highest of all honors in that now beautiful country. The
next morning was dreary and the country looked rough with
its tents and cotton cloth houses, in and out of the sand banks.
Nearly all were homesick. The first thing in the morning
Wm.B. Josselyn called down the cabin to Leonard, "AVish you
a happy New Year ;" he answered, " It will be a hard New Year
for me, I guess." So thought many of them. They came out as
a company, but now decided to separate and scatter over the
country, after selling the lumber, stores, etc., including some
of the butter they had brought in kegs, packed in hogsheads of
salt, at $1 per \h. They sold the vessel and what was left on
board for about $10,000 and gave $525 to each of the 21 men
now left. The vessel was afterward used as a river boat on the
Sacramento. Michael R. Sylvester went to work as a carpenter
at $16 per day. Some engaged in mining and others kept
stores. William B. Josselyn's cousin, George, afterwards sold
his $14 gun for him to a Spaniard for $100. AVilliam was

ce^

CAPT. ELIJAH BARSTOW. 119

shipkeeper for a short time, then in compan}^ with George M.
Josselyn and John II. Cusliing, who in their l)oyhood were
companions at Miss Wales's scliool at Hanover, bought a wliale
boat for $325, and ran on the Sacramento River, with pro-
visions and supplies, from Sacramento to Marysville. John
H. Cushing afterwards sold out and went to the mines. Wil-
liam B. Josselyn, later, sold his interest to his cousin and went
home via the Isthnuis of Panama, Later the boat struck a
rock and sank, a total loss. Of what became of the other
members of this company there is little to relate other than is
found in the beginning of this account. It would here seem
appropriate to suggest to the remnant of this little band that,
before many more years pass over their heads and before their
number get fewer, they meet, not for an hour, at dinner, l)ut
for a day, or several days, that they may live over the old times
and perhaps put on record some account of them, and join the
Argonaut Society in the east.

To take up again the history of the Barstow ship yard : As
was before stated, Capt. Elijah Barstow returned to Norwell
and resumed business at his father's yard in Hanover, in 1(S44.
This year they built the brig " GEORGK OTIS," 175 tons, for
George Allen of Scituate. Capt. Nehemiah iVIanson commanded
her in the South American trade. In 1845 Capt. Barstow
built the brig " ANN CAROLINE," 190 tons. Capt. Reynolds,
Chatham. She left for Ireland with a cargo of provisions,
struck an iceberg when near the end of her first voyage off the
coast of Ireland and was lost. Owned by Alpheus Hardy of
Boston. Samuel H. Church and Isaac Haskins, (fathers of the
present Samuel S. Church and William C. Haskins,) under the
firm name of Church & Haskins, w^ere caulkers, and worked on
Fosters, Briggs', Barstow's and many of the other yards. The
Eellses did the iron work on all the vessels built on the Barstow
Yards as long as they carried on l)lacksmithing.

Capt. Elijah Barstow also l)uilt in Hanover in 1845 the bark
"JUSTICE STORY," 199 tons, of Boston; owned by Hardy
& Baker, and used in the Mediterranean and Southern trade.
Commanded at one time by Capt. Percival. She was built
entirely of oak, copper fastened, and in 1859 she was under the
command of Caj)t. Rider, sailing for Baker & Morrill, Boston.
In 1805 she was under command of Capt. jNIoulton and owned
by R. H. Yarrington, Boston. The last vessel built at this
yard, and probably the last vessel built in Hanover, was by

120 CAPT. ELIJAH BARSTOW.

Capt. Elijah Barstow in the year 1846. This year he built the
schooner " DEANE," 89 tons, fisherman, Capt. Linnell and
owned in Scituate l)y Elijah Barstow and George M, and Wil-
liam P. Allen. From here Capt, Barstow went to the Fox
Hill Yard, where he built in company with Capt. Waterman, the
full account of which will be found in the chapter devoted to
that yard.

CHAPTER VIII.

MISCELLANEOUS YARDS IN HANOVER. 1 736-1844.

JOHN CLARK, NATH L CLARK, BELCHER CLARK, SOLOMON BATES,
COL. SETH BATES, DAVID KINGMAN, SAM'l ROGERS, ELIJAH
HAYWOOD, JOSHUA TURNER, DEA. ISAAC PERRY, WM. COUSH-
ING & CO., CALVIN TURNER, ICHABOD THOMAS, BENJ. STOCK-
BRIDGE, MARTIN STOCKBRIDGE, ISAIAH WING.

Included in this chapter are accounts of the yards where ship-
building was carried on for a brief time only by any one
builder or firm, or yards about which little information is
obtainable. There are many vessels whose builders cannot be
ascertained. A list of these vessels is inserted at the end of
this chapter. The following is from an old newspaper.

•' Boston, June 7th, 1714, at a Court of Assize held here the first Tuesday
of May last, a certain person convicted of forging and counterfeiting and
uttering 5 — 20 shilling Bills of Credit of this Province and putting off
the said Bills of Credit, or some of them, at the value of true Bills of
Credit, was ordered and sentenced by the said Court to beset in the Pillory
in the Market Place near the Town House on Thursday 27th of May, have
one of his ears cut off, branded on tiie right cheek with the letter F and
suffer 12 months imprisonment &c, which was accoi'dingly put into Execu-
tion on the said day." — Boston News Letter.

If a punishment less severe could have been inflicted on the
people who kept the records of these days at the Ports of Entry
with almost criminal negligence and the same punishment
inflicted on the British Avho took away at the evacuation of
Boston, nearly all the records, we might in a measure feel
revenged for the harm done our history of the ship})ing interest.
Although we have proof that many vessels were built here
between 1715 and 1780, the records of scarcely half a dozen
have been preserved. The })a})ers often referred to these

122 EARLY 8HTPBUILDIXG I^S' HANOVER.

vessels in a general way, an instance of which is found in the
following extract :

"Boston (June 12, 1727). We hear from the Towns on the Cape that
til" 'essels which have been employed on the Whale Fisheiy ofi* at Sea
tins Spring, are generally upon the Return, the Season for their taking of
them being near over, and the Whales being wild and a moving posture,
in which they run with incredible Speed, and to avast distance, which has
been too long a run for our Vessels hitherto to pursue them in, so as to
know their resort, but one vessel has been (we hear) fitted out for, and
sent out ujion a discovering Voyage, for that end; the leturn of which
some are even impatiently waiting for: Great Success hath this Spring
attended that dangerous design in the general, altho' some have returned
empty : the Value of what has been taken that way in Oil, Bone, &c.
within the 3 Spring Months by the Vessels CrcAvs fitted out from the
Towns on the Cape, from Rhode Island, and Nantucket, is what will
amount higher than usual; the Bone of one Whale lately brought in,
weighed fifteen hundred and fifty Pounds. Divine Providence has wisely
ordered it, that the places adjacent to the Sea, in some of which the Farms
are inconsiderable, to what they are elsewhere, may be supported by
vai'ious ways sucking of the abundance of the Seas, and of the Treasures
hid in the Sand." — The Neiv-Eng Weekly Journal.

Barry says that " during the palmy days of shipbuilding in
Hanover, 1800 to 1808, hve or six yards were in active opera-
tion and at least ten vessels were litted annually for the sea.
The scene of North River w^as one of animation and industry.
Every morning the carpenters might be seen, crossing the
pastures or walking along the river bank, or over the tiny
'Rainbow^ Bridge' to the place of their daily toil." "The
pastures too were strewed with timber, and teams of 'fat oxen'
daily In-ought m, from the forests around, their loads of white
oak, beech, hacmatack, maple, pine and other timber." All
w^ere active and when, on a Saturday night, 400 shipcarpenters
gathered at Hanover 4 Corners it presented an appearance
which has not been seen since the prosperous shipljuilding days.
But the village is growing in wealth and in population, and
though the alewives and the rum are fast growing scarcer, the
town is on the eve of a prosperous future. 300 of herring were
sold in 1799 at the Four Corners for 4 shillings, and 4 gal. of
W. I. rum for £1 6s. In Barber's "Historical Collections"
appears the following about Hanover :

" In 1837 there were 12000 pairs of shoes manufactured valued at
$10500 ; males employed, 35 ; females, 26 ; There were three
forges; 130 tons of bar iron were manufactured: hands employed,
14. Two air and cupola furnaces, 2 anchor shops, i tack factory at
which 8 hands were employed. Considerable business is done in
shipbuilding."

BARNEY GOULD. 123

In the summer of 1888 an elderly man passed through the
"Corners," who will be remembered by the old people at least ;
Barney Gould, who made periodical trips to Boston with his
handcart or wheel-barrow, over the old stage road years ago.
Barney hails from Hyannis, and his yearly advent, as he toiled
along the dusty road, was the delight of the small boy and
excited much sympathy from older people in his partially
demented state of mind. Most people thought he had made
his last trip long since and he was almost forgotten, but he
again made his a})pearance minus his tra])pings. Old age has
claimed him and the vigor of his youthful days has departed,
but his old hal)its cling to him and he thought that he would
make one more journey and bid farewell to the many friends,
who, in old times, welcomed him and furnished him entertain-
ment on his lengthy tramps. He remained over night at the
"Corners" with Mr. Hut chins, and started with renewed courage
the next day. This was prol)ably the last time that Hanover
people will see poor Barney. He once took a letter from
Hanover to San Francisco and brought an answer back for six
cents. He travelled all the way on foot and loves to tell of his
experiences with the Indians and in the mining camps in the
mountains ; he is now 69 years old.

The first ship-yard in Hanover, not spoken of in the chapters
preceding this, was the "Clark Yard," next below the "Bridge
Yards," and it was located on land owned by the late J. O.
French, M. D. This yard w'as probal)ly improved as early as
1736 by John. Chirh, who mar. Abigail Tolman, of Scituate,
and lived in an ancient house, two stories high in front, and
sloping on the back nearly to the ground, which stood on Wash-
ington street, between the residence of the late Sam. Salmond
and the Four Corners. He was a descendant of Thomas, who
came into Scituate from Plymouth in 1674. His sons Nathan-
iel and Belcher succeeded him at this yard. Nathaniel was born
in 1741 and died in 1814. He lived on Washington street,
nearly opposite where Barney Dagan now resides. He has de-
scendants in Plynu)uth and Hanover, Mass., in Rochester, and
in Maine. His son Nathaniel was a ship-carpenter, also his son
Benjamin, who moved to Medford, where he was employed by
Jonathan Sampson, and left a family there. Belcher was born
1742, and died Oct. 17, 1826. He lived on Washington street,
on the spot where now stands the house of the late Sam. Std-
mond, still occupied by Mr. Salmond's widow. He mar. first.

124 THE CLARK YARD AND BATES YARD.

Ann Wade, 1771 ; second, Sarah Peny, dau. of Nathaniel
Josselyn, of Pembroke, 1783. They had nine children, some
of whom have descendants living in Maine, Hanover, Pem-
broke, Medford, and Bridgewater. His son Zebulon, a ship-
wright, b. 1780, mar. Christiana, dau. of Isaac Josselyn, in
1812. Tney had eight children, among whom were William,
b. Nov. 23, 1823, and Charles, b. July 27, 1819, mar. Sarah
Cook. Charles lives in Pembroke, and has had one son, Chas.
Carrol, who d. in the war, one dau., Fanny, who mar. Frank
White, of Pembroke, and who has two children. Another dau.,
Eliza Hobart, is mar. and lives at So. Braintree. A third dau.,
Lomira, mar. Peleg Sturtevant, and lives in Centre Hanover.

It was probably at this yard that Solomon, and, later, Seth
Bates built. Solomon Bates was the eldest son of Solomon,
and a direct descendant of Clement Bates, of Hingham. He
was b. June 29, 1741, and lived in the house built by his father,
situated near Broadway, a few rods northeast of where Morrill
Phillips' barn now stands, in South Hanover. It was afterward
occupied by Miss Leah Damon and her dau., and later by
Laban, father of Joshua Rose, of So. Hanover. The house
was on the old road that led from Weymouth to the Indian
Head, which was discontinued some seventy-five years ago. A
descendant of Mr. Bates, in describing the house some thirty
years ago, wrote- "It was substantially built, mostly of oak
timber, and evidently by a ship-carpenter. The walls were
constructed of plank, grooved together, and tree-nailed to the
sills and plates. The posts were all kneed in the same manner
that ships are kneed." There seems to be an account of but
one vessel built by him, which was his last in Hanover. This
was in 1787, Sch. " SPEED WELL,"57 tons, of Scituate ; owned
by James Briggs of Scituate, Jos. Otis of Boston, Mercy Otis
of Scituate, widow, Elijah Cushing of Pembroke, yeoman, and
by Solomon Bates of Hanover, shipwright. Built at Hanover.
This same year he moved to Fayette, Me., where he d. in 1818,
aged seventy-seven. He left a large family, having had thir-
teen children, some of whom have descendants living in Han-
over, Mass. ; in Leeds and in Green, Me. ; St. Albans, Vt. ;
and a son, Solomon, a ship-carpenter, who lived in Norridge-
wock. Me. For twenty-one years he was Town Clerk of Fay-
ette, in the Massachusetts Senate two, and in the House ten
years. He left many descendants in Maine and New York.

Solomon Bates' cousin Seth probably succeeded him at this

Kingman's yard. 125

yard. It is certain that he built here kite in the last century,
and in 1797 the Sch. "LITTLE CHERUB," 65 tons, of Dux-
bury, owned by Seth Bates, of Hanover, and others, was l)uilt
at Hanover by Seth Bates, shipwrioht. Col. Seth B((tef< was
b. 1735, and mar., in 1757, Anne Neal. He built the liouse
on Centre street, near Myrtle, at So. Hanover, afterward the
residence of Enos Bates, where the widow and son of Enos, Jr.
now live. He d. in Boston, April 9, 1820, leaving a numerous
posterity, whose descendants can easily be traced in Barry's
"History of Hanover."

Passing the Perry, Smith, Eells, and Barstow yards, accounts of
which are given in the preceding chapters, we come to the " King-
man Yard," so called, which is next to the last yard in Hanover in
location, and was situated a little below Barstow's lower jard.
David Kingman, who built at this yard, employed, for a time,
David Stockln'idge as agent to look after his ship-lmilding in-
terests, jNIr. Kingman being l)usy at the Four Corners, where
he built the tavern stand, afterward kept by Joseph Pocorny,
later by Henry Costley, Frank Howard, William Rand, and
W. B. Ames, respectively, but still owned by the widow of
Frank Howard. It is now known as the "Hanover House."
David Kingman was b. 1763, at East Bridgewater, and mar.
Elizabeth, dau. of Col. or Capt. Smith, of Mendon. He was-
son of Capt. David, b. 1733, who was son of David, b. 1708,.
who was son of John, b. 1664, who was son of John, who
was son of Henry, of Weymouth, who was made free in 1636.
David d. 1812, aged forty-nine years, leaving children : 1. So-
phia, who mar. Simeon Ford, and d. 1839. 2. Mary, who
mar. Lauren Ford, 1816 ; both reside in Herkimer, N. Y.
3. Eliza, mar. 1809, Elijah Hayward, who became a partner
of Mr. Kingman ; she d. 1834. 4. Lucy, mar. Oran Gray
Otis, of Herkimer, N.Y., and d. in 1837. 5. Susan. 6. George.
7. Frances.

David Kingman lived at East Bridgewater, in the house
occupied later by Mr. Chamberlain, opposite the Common, on
the left hand side going from Hanover, opposite the Soldiers'
jNIonument. His ships and Smith's stood less than three rods
apart when building at the ship-yard. His sou George went
with Elijah Barstow to a private school, kei)t by A\'alter Wal-
cott and Parker, over Flavell's store, at the Four Corners. The
entrance used to be by the present back stairway. He evi-
dently came to Hanover about 1799, as he launched, in 1800,

126 SAMUEL ROGERS, ELIJAH HAYWARD, JOSHUA TURNER.

the ship "MIAXTINOMO," 281 tons, of Norwich, named after
a famous Narragansett Sachem ; David Kingman, builder. She
was seized by the Spanish, and condemned at Valparaiso in
1801. This vessel he built on his own account. In 1801, he
built the Sch. "UNION," 86 tons, for Mr. Jaxson of Plymouth.
He built, in 1802, Brig't'n "CALLISTO," 190 tons, of Boston.
In 1803, ship " NANKING," 290 tons, of Boston. In 1804,
he built two ships, and in 1805 three, as follows : 1804. Ship
"ROLLER," 293 tons, of Boston ; David Kingman, master
carpenter. 1804. Ship " ANN," 296 tons, of Baltimore ; David
Kingman, master carpenter. 1805. Ship "LAURA," 293 tons,
of Boston ; David Kinsman, master carpenter. 1805. Ship
"ROMEO," of Boston,^312 tons, two decks, three masts;
length, 96 feet; breadth, 27 feet; depth, 13 feet. David
Kingman, master carpenter.

1805. Ship " SUSAN," 311 tons, of Plymouth ; David King-
man, owner ; built at Hanover. Samuel Rogers was master
carpenter of the " Susan," which is the only vessel he built in
Hanover. Later, he is found building in Marshfield, and at the
Foster's yard, in Nor well.

It will be seen that the following vessels, built by David
Kingman, averaged larger than those luiilt at any other yard in
Hanover, nearlv all of them beins over three hundred tons.
In 1806, he Inii'lt the ship " CHARLESTON & LIVERPOOL
PACKET," 325 tons, of Boston, David Kingman, master car-
penter ; and in 1807, ship "ISABELLA," 308 tons, of Hing-
ham, David Kingman, master carpenter. The next year he
formed a partnership with his son-in-law, Elijah Hayicard, and
they built in company until the year of Davicl Kingman's death.
Mr. Kingman discontinued active connection with the ])usiness,
and the new firm emplo3^ed Joshua Turner as " boss," to super-
intend the building of the vessels. An account of him can be
found under accounts of the Pembroke Yards. They launched,
in 1809, ship "MASSACHUSETTS," 286 tons, built in Han-
over, by Joshua Turner ; owned in New York. In 1810, ship
"AMERICA," 3()2 tons, built in Hanover, by Joshua Turner;
owned by David Kiniiinan, Hanover, Luke Hall, Marshfield.
Also, in 1810, they launched the ship "MT. VERNON," of
352 tons, which they sold to New York. The next year, 1811,
they built their last vessel, which was probably the last vessel
built at this yard ; and this gave them the honor of Imilding
the largest vessel ever built in Hanover. This was the ship

Barstow's Lower Yard.

Cushinii's, Wing's, and Stockbridge's Yards, below the wall, on the loft.

THE LAIIGEST VESSEL EVER BUILT TX HANOVER. 127

"MOHAWK," 407 tonf<, l)uilt in Hanover, by Josluia Turner;
owner in New York. That empty casks, and perhaps gunda-
lows, were used to get the " jNIohawk " out of the river there is
little doul)t ; and it is truly wonderful that so large a vessel
could be launched at this point in the river, and safely reach the
ocean.

The next yard below, which was the last in location in Han-
over, was known in later years as the "Wing Yard." Its tirst
occupant of record was Dea. Imac Perry, who came down from
his old yards above and built one sJirp, of some 800 tons. This
was undoubtedly the yard used by Wm. Coushiitg S Co., who
built, in 1801, for David Kinsman, a bri<r, probably the
"FREDERICK," 153 tons, afterward sold to William Gray, of
Boston. Mr. Coushing (or Cushinof) also built, in 1803, the
brig "SHORT STAPLE," 172 tons, of Boston. There ap-
pears, by a certificate from the Deputy Collector of the District
of Barnstable, dated Aug. 30th, 180(5, and tiled at the Custom
House in Boston, that this vessel having been stranded, the
papers were surrendered at WellHeet. She was condemned as
unsea worthy, and broken up at Tenerilfe. She was built at
Hanover, by

/7 . master carpenter. Who William
^^-•^^x/'^i^ Cushing was I have been unable

.f/^

^-V to ascertain. He lived in Pemljroke,

and may have been a descendant of
Col. Cushing, whose death is recorded in the Boston JV^eivs Let-
ter and JVew England Chronicle, of June 28, 1762 :

" Saturday last, as Col. Cushing, of Hanover, having been transacting
some business in the town, was preparing to return home, while he was
putting on one of his boots, instantly dropped down dead, without com-
plaining of any disorder, or speaking a word."

In 1800, Sch. "RISING SUN," of 80 tons, was built in Han-
over, by Calvin Turner and IcJiabod Thomas, who were pre-
viously the "di; Co.'' of Wm. Coushing & Co. She was owned
by Freeman and Ebenezer Burgess, of Harwich. David Tur-
ner was son of Calvin Turner, and grandson of Capt. Benjamin.
He lived on the Briggs Farm, on the Neck, m Pembroke, and
moved to Duxbury, where he died, leaving a family. (See
Pembroke Yards for Thomas and Turner.)

In 1814, Benjamin and Martin Stockhridr/e built a "jjiVj^'a'^
on the Wing Yard, and the next year they built a vessel next

128 stockbridge's yard.

to the largest ever built in Hanover, which ruined them and
their father, and was the cause of their losing all of their prop-
erty. This was in 1815, the ship "SOLON," 402 tons, of
Hanover ; owned by Benjamin and Martin Stockbridge, of Han-
over ; Benjamin Stockbridge, master carpenter. This was the
last vessel built by them. After keeping it until the interest
money had eaten up most of their princi}ial, they got Alden
Briggs to sell it at a great sacrifice. Benjamin and Martin were
sons of Squire David Stockbridge, who lived on the farm now
occupied by E. Q. Sylvester. Squire David owned all the land
which Avas built on by the Barstows, Smiths ( Josiah and Al-
bert), Kingmans, and Benjamin and Martin Stockbridge, and
others. Squire David d. in Hanover, May 15, 1858, aged sev-
enty-four. He had children : Benjamin, who mar. and had a
dau. Mary, who mar. Robert Eells. Martin, who mar. late in
life. David, whose grandson, Benj. F. White, son of Caroline,
has recently been appointed Governor of Montana. Joseph.
Jane, who mar. Capt. Miller Smith, who went in Stockbridge's
ship, which was the elephant on the hands of the Stockbridge
family. Deborah, who mar. Thomas Turner, father of Thomas
Turner, of Hanover. Ruth, who mar. James Turner, father of
the present James, of Hanover, and lived on the farm now occu-
pied by Welsh, near the Third Cliif. The following account of
the death of John, l)rother of Squire David Stockbridge, ap-
peared in The Boston Chronicle for 1768, Feb. 8-15 :

"On Wednesday last, Mr. John Stockbridge, of Pembroke, son of Col.
Stockbridge, of Hanover, was unfortunately killed by the falling of a tree.
This young gentleman's death is much lamented."

Also, in Tlte Boston Chronicle for 1768, Feb. 15-22 :

"Mr. John Stockbridge, the young gentleman who was imfortunately
killed by the falling of a tree, as mentioned in our last, was second son of
David Stockbridge, Esq., and grandson of the Honourable John Gushing,
Esq., and of the worthy and aged Deacon Stockbridge; was only twenty-
six years old."

Their genealogy may be found in Barry's " History of Han-
over."*

* On his grave-stone in the Cemetery at Centre Hanover is a representation of his
accident (he being beneath ihe tree, with axe in hand), and the following inscription :
" Sic Transit Gloria Minidi , Metnento Mori. Erected in memory of Mr. John Stock-
bridge of fair & unblemished character. In deportment modest, benevolent, uniform &
virtuous. Son of Coll. David Stockbridge descended from ye mother's side from ye eld-
est daughter of the Hon. John Cushing, Esq : whose mortality has rendered the male
issue of that branch of that respected family extinct. He Lived beloved and died uni-
versally lamented. His death was sudden, premature, awful & violent, providentially
occasioned by the fall of a tree. He was born December Anno Domini 1741 and de-
parted this transitory life February 10, A. Domini 1758 aged 26 years 1 month 23 days.
No sum can purchase such a grant that man shall never die.

Naked as from the earth we came and crept into life at first
We to the earth return again and mingle with the dust."

wixg's yard. 129

The next year, 1810, the Wi nr/s hnWt a vessel at tliis yard
■which came near ruining them, and which was finally .sold for
them by Alden Brigirs at a great loss. Imiah built the vessel,
and interested with him were Bachelor and Elijah, his brothers,
who furnished timber from their extensive lands. Benjamin
Wing, another brother, was also interested in this vessel.
Their yard was located aliout where the wall now runs to the
riA'cr, below liarstow's last yard in Hanover. Paul Perry was
their master workman. This vessel was finished in 1816, after
Ij^ing at Union Bridge until the Embargo was removed, and was
finally sold to Capt. Levi Starbuck, of Nantucket. Isaiah
Wing was a nati\ e of Hanover. He attended the Academy,
after which he studied law with Mr. Winslow, and practised for
a time at the Four Corners. He finally removed with his fam-
ily to Cincinnati, O., where he died. The Wings, including
Sylvanus and El>enezer, lived in the western part cf the town,
corner of AVinter and Circuit streets, on the site of the house
afterward erected and occupied by Thomas M. Bates, a relative.
Isaiah Wing, 2nd, was Lieutenant Second Regiment, First Brig-
ade, Fifth Division, Hanover Militia, 1815. The male branch
of the family is probably extinct, and of the female descend-
ants, Lydia, dau. of Bachelor, mar. Capt. Thomas M. Bates,
1807, William, possil)ly a brother of the elder Wings, mar.
Huldah C, dau. of Robert L. Eells, Nov. 2(5, 1789. She d. in
New York.

The following is a list of vessels built in Planover, but at
wdiat particular yard each was built is not known : 1784. Sch.
"POLLY," 52 tons, of Plymouth. 1784. Sch. "LARK," 40
tons, of Plymouth. 1784. Sch. " SALLY ROBBIN," 58 tons,
Thomas Jackson, Jr. , Plymouth, owner. 1784. Sch. " SALLY,"
58 tons, of Newburyport. 1784. Ship "BRITANNIA," 1(53
tons, of Boston. 1784. Sch. " AMERICA," 49 tons. 17.S5.
Sch. " HAWK," of Plymouth. 1787. Sch. "LYDIA," 54 tons,
of Plymouth. 1787. Sch. "AMERICA," 50 tons, of Boston.
1788. Sch. "BETSEY," 43 tons, of Plymouth. 1789. Ship
"ROBERT." 1791. Sch. "DIANA," 52 tons, of Cohasset.
1792. Ship "FRANKLIN," 179 tons, of Boston, afterward
sold to Marblehead. 1792. Sch. " PAULINA," 74 tons, of
Boston. 1793. Brig "JANE," 145 tons, of Boston. 1793.
Sch. "JANE," 120 tons, of Boston. 1795. Brig "NEP-
TUNE," 138 tons, of New London, Conn. 1795. Sch.
"LYDIA," 54 tons, of Plymouth. 179(5. Sloop " PACK-
ETT," 22 tons, owned by Jed. Ewell, Marshfield. and Reuben

130 VESSELS BUILT IX HANOVER, MASS.

Curtis, ILinover. 1796. Bria- ''ALERT,*' 104 tons, of Bos-
ton. 1798. Sch. EEBECCA," 77 tons, of Duxbuiy. 1798.
Sch. "NEW STATE," 51 tons, of Plymouth. 1799. Brig'fn
"MARY," 169 tons, of New York; afterward sold to Boston.
She was formerly vinired a ship. 1799. Sch. " LUCY," 93
tons, of Plymouth. 1801. Sch. "FREDERICK," 107 tons, of
Boston. 1802. Sloop " PACKET," 22 tons, of Boston, " the
said vessel having been forcibly entered, and the original pa-
pers stolen," as appears by the oath of James Fenno, master
and owner, tiled in the Custom House at Boston. 1803. Ship
" MENTOR," of New Bedford. 1804. Sloop " PACKET," 52
tons, of Plvmouth. 1804. Ship "HURON," of New Bedford.
1804. Ship " ALONZO," of New Bedford. 1806. Ship "CEN-
TURY," 280 tons, of New York. 1806. Ship "LEONIDAS,"
of New Bedford. 1807. Ship "FANNY," of New Bedford.
1810. Ship "ELIZA BARKER," of New Bedford. 1810.
Ship "LUCIES," of New Bedford. 1817. Bark "FRANK-
LIN," of Rochester; lost at Macio, on the coast of Brazil, in
1834. In 1881, there was at Greenport, L. I., the whaleship
"PENN," which, after sixty -three years of service, was to l)e
broken up at New Bedford. She was built in 1818, in Hano-
ver. 1823. Ship "COREL," 335 tons, of New York. 1838.
Hermaphrodite Brig "PAULINE TAYLOR," 150 tons, oak,
copper and iron fastened, one deck ; owned in 1859 by H. Lin-
coln, Boston, Capt. Taylor. 1844. Brig "PARANA," 209
tons, oak ; owned in 1863 by H. S. French & Co., Sag Harbor,
Capt. Green.

Fox (or Sunset) Hill Ship-yard.
North River.

CHAPTER IX.

FOX HILL YARD. 1690-1869.

NATHANIEL CHURCH, JOHN PALMER, MICHAEL FORD, WILLIAM
COPELAND, ELIAS W. PRATT, ELISHA TOLMAN, MR. MERRITT,
CAPT. THOMAS WATERMAN, JOSEPH S. BATES, CAPT. ELISHA
BARSTOW, THOMAS B. WATERMAN.

SCARCE a mile below North River Bridge at the foot of
the easterly slope of Fox Hill and at the foot of Sunset
Hill was located a shipyard, whose earliest occupants were
probably Nathaniel Church and John Palmer, about 1690.
Nathaniel Church settled in Scituate (now Norwell), in 1666.
His farm was on North River, south of Cornet Stetson's, and
included the "Bald Hills." His house stood by the river
nearly opposite Job's Landing. He was a younger brother of
Col. Benj. Church, the noted hero of the Indian wars. Natli'l
had sons : Nathaniel, Joseph and Caleb, who have descendants
living in Hanover and Marshfield. Nathaniel, the shipbuilder,
d. in 1700.

John Palmer's son, John Jr., lived near the junction of the
roads southeast of Church hill, not far from the 3rd Herring
Brook. The father was in So. Scituate previous to 1660, and
during that year built " John Palmer's Log Bridge," so called,
over the 3rd Herring Brook, near where the present bridge
that connects Hanover and Norwell is located. The descend-
ants of Church and Palmer prol)al)ly continued the business
of shipbuilding here. The next names that appear to have been
used in connection with shipbuilding at this yard were those
of ]Michael Ford and his brother-in-law William Copeland.

132 MICHAEL FORD.

yy y y^ ^ T) was gr. son of Wm. of Marshfield,

(^,.,^^^<^^x.^< ^"^^f^-i^'^y- who lived on the east side of North

Kiver, near " Gravelly Beach,"
where Michael was born. Michael, Sr. mar. Roda Copeland in
1778, and settled on a farm purchased of El)enezer Stetson, one
half mile above Cornet's Rocks on North River. His son
Michael succeeded him . William Copeland and Michael Ford, Jr.
worked on Smith's Yard in Hanover in 1799. Michael Ford
was Sergeant in the militia company commanded by Lieut.
Tolman. He did the joiner work on the vessels on the way
down river, and while working on the "Samos," (?) stuck a
chisel into his knee, which lamed him for life. Michael Ford had
sons : Michael, now living in East Boston and spoken of farther
on, William C, now dead, and David Barnes, who married
Lavinia Sherman, and they have children : Angela B., Chauncy
D., Edith F. and Howard I. David Barnes Ford now resides
in Hanover Four Corners. Michael Ford, 2d, died in 1877,
at an advanced age. His son Michael, who now lives in East
Boston, works in the ship yards there at the age of 75, and can
hew a spar more " true " than most carpenters at 80. He was b.
in 1814, mar. Mary A. Russell of Ipswich, and had children :
Mary G. and John W. At sixteen years of age, Michael 3d,
went into the shipyard of his father — Copeland, Ford & Pratt.
The "Mary Ballard" was the first vessel that Michael, 3d,
worked on. He remembers going down river in her and anchor-
ing off the Gurnet, being one of the crew under Capt. Cushing,
and he also remembers nearly freezing to death, besides being
very sick, while waiting for a wind to get to Boston. He went
to Medford in 183(i, and worked for Jotham Stetson, Waterman
& Ewell and Paul Curtis. In 1842 he went to East Boston,
where he made windlasses for Samuel Hall, Donald Mackay &
O., and for E. & H. O. Briggs, South Boston. Before leaving
North River he worked on Barstow's, C. O. & Henry Briggs',
Foster's and other yards, and built together with Abner and
Joshua Stetson and Martin Curtis in 1S38 the "Outesie," in
Hanover, some 200 feet above Bavstow's Yard. An incident is
related as having occurred on the old Copeland & Ford Yard.
One day some one on the yai-d, who believed in eating consid-
erable beef, was planing a cathead, pushing the plane with great
strength, when another man, who was Grahamite, and did not
believe in meat, being surprised at seeing a person Avho lived
on beef displaying so much strength, when he himself Avas
quite weak, exclaimed, "Why, Mr. Ford, what makes you so

c--c<-o-->o

1^^^

.^:^

COPELAND & FORD BARKER TURNER. 133

strong?" " Beef, beef," was the reply. We hope the other
man was converted.

WiJliam Copeland was a grandson of Joseph, who came
into Scituate from Bridgewater in 1730. The children of
Joseph were remarkable for their longevity. In 1830 ten
of his children were living, the youngest 72, the oldest 93,
the sum of their ages being 825 years, and all, save two, had
families, ])ut there are no male descendants now livino;. The
female members married into the families of P^ells, Barker,
Tolman, Ford and Stetson. Charles Tolman was grand-
nephew of a Copeland. William's father, William, and his
uncle, Ebenezer, were shipbuilders. William Copeland, Jr.,
was born in the house now owned and occupied by William C.
Tolman, grandnephew of William, Sr., next the old Dea. Eben
Stetson place. William, the shipbuilder, left no children.
Michael Ford and his ancestors were shipbuilders and carpen-
ters at the old Chittenden yard and at the yards in Marshtield,
Hanover and Pembroke, previous to Michael's occupying the
Fox Hill yard. William Copeland was joiner on other yards
l>efore building as partner with Mr. Ford at this yard. It is
therefore a question whether the Copelands or Fords occupied
this yard previous to 1815.

Before 1815 Barker Turner, who afterwards built at the
"'Brick-kilns " and "Bridge " occupied this yard. Here in 1813
the sch. "ORIENT," 42 tons, was built by Barker Turner for
Ensign Otis, Jr., Thomas Rider and Shadrach Standish, Scit-
uate, and in 1814 the sch. "BEAVER," 29 tons, was built by
Barker Turner for Lemuel Vinal and Isaiah Alden, Jr., Scit-
uate. In 1815 Mr. Copeland built a large ship at this yard.
B. & M. Stockbridge's gundalo was used under this ship
during three tides in 1815. This was the ship "HEROINE,"
■337 tons, owned at Boston, by William Shimmin & O., Wil-
liam Copeland, master carpenter. In 1829 the "Heroine"
was added to the Fairhaven whaling fleet, and made voyages in
the South Atlantic until 1839, when she went into the Pacitic
and Indian Oceans. In 1852 during a severe gale the second
mate, C. Fuller, and five men were washed overboard and the
"Heroine" was badly injured, and in September of the same
year she was considerably damaged by fire. She was con-
.demned at Honolulu, December, 1852, in her 38th year.

134 TURNER & COPELAND.

^^^^^ built together in 1 8 1 6

^ ^^^"/^^ A ^^^ vessels, viz :

c^J^-A^ c/t^*--*'^-ln^^ «cl^- "MORNING

^^'^'^-^ ^ STAR," Go tons, of

~-/^ /f ) Orleans, afterward

c„.c*-n'on f/nc^'^/^-^^^^'*'*^'*'"''*^ of New Bedford.
^ The oak for this sch.

cost $7 per ton. She was begun in Oct., 1815, and launched
May, 181G. They also built the sch. "MILO," 53 tons, of
Boston, built at Scituate. AVilliara Copeland built alone the
same year, 1816, the sch. "FRIENDSHIP," 53 tons, of Hull,
owned by Paul Billings, James H. & Martin D. Merritt and
Reuben Damon of Scituate. Owned in 1850 by Jacob Walden
& O. at Boston, William Copeland, Jr., M. C. Built prob-
ably on the same model as the "Milo." These two latter
schooners were pink sterns, or "pinkies," or "pinkas," as they
used to call them, and built for fishing smacks. They were
launched on the same w^ays ; one was on the stocks ahead of the
other and both were launched at dusk in the early evening of
the same day. Mr. Turner signalized the event by lighting a
number of tar barrels, the illumination being visible for miles
around. An incident is related of a certain j\Ir. Nye of Pem-
broke, who, while Air. Turner w^as building at tins yard, would
come across the river at night and " hook " rum from a jug that
Mr. Turner used to keep in his chest. Finally two men were
set to watch and after Mr. Nye had taken a good drink and
filled up his flask they seized him. Sometime afterward Mr.
Nye suddenly died from the eftects of an overdose of liquor,,
taken through a straw from a barrel.

In 1817 the sch. "FAME," 47 tons, was built by Barker
Turner for Isaiah Alden, Jr., H. Damon, Cummins Jenkins
and James Turner Ford, Scituate. Al)Out this time Caleb
Turner Iniilt here in company with his l)rother Barker. Wil-
liam Copeland appears not to have built many vessels prior to
1819 when he built in company with Thomas A¥aterman and
Joseph S. Bates. Caleb Turner was grandson of Capt. Benja-
min of Pembroke and son of Nathaniel of Scituate, and brother
of Barker Turner, Sen. He lived in the Uncle Roger Stetson
House and left a family who moved to South Bridgewater.

y built in 1.S18 the sch.

/^A/j, ^ ) "ROXANNA," 73 tons,

/^C^'^.C'Cy <LJC€^'^''-ptZ^t^ forJohnBeal,SnellWade,
^"^^xfT^ /T\_-. Simeon Litchfield and

f ^/f , / William A'inal, Scituate,

""-^^-^^^^^ ^.^A«'^^>^-€.^ afterward sold to Boston.

COPELAND, rOKD & PKATT. 135

She was commenced in Nov, 1817, and launched, in May, 181<S,
Also in 1818 they l)uilt the sch. " .MARY JONES," 5(5 tons, of
Scituate, owned by Gushing Otis, James and Asa Litchfield.
Caleb Baily, 3rd, and Haywood Yinal of Scituate : used in fish-
ing and coasting, and in April, 1819, sch. "CYRENE," 58 tons,
of Boston, which they began in Nov., 1818. Owners, Howard
Vinal, Silas Prouty and Cushing Otis of Scituate, & O.,
Calel) and Barker Turner, M. C. In 1820 the sch. " GEOROE
WASHINGTOX,'' 67 tons, was built by Barker Turner for
Isaiah Alden, Jr., Ichabod Alden, Colman Jenkins, Cushing
Otis, and Elisha Foster, Jr., Scituate. This vessel was after-
ward lost at sea. Also the same year, 1820, sch. "LARK,"
pink stern, 40 tons, built by Barker Turner and sold to Kings-
ton. Not long after this Barker Turner removed to the Brick-
kiln Yard.

In 1819 William Copeland, Michael Ford and Elias W. Pratt
formed a partnership under the firm name of Copeland, Ford S
Pratt. Joseph S. Bates and Thos. Waterman also built in
company with Wm. Copeland. Gad Leavitt lived on the yard
about this time. William Copeland was the master carpenter
of this and the succeeding firm. Major Elias W. Pratt came
from some other town into Scituate. He mar. three times and
had children by his first two wives : Elias E., (mar. and living
in New Haven, Conn.,) William B., (now dead,) Charles C,
(mar. Hannah Hart and has one child,) Elizabeth B., (who
mar. George W. Stetson and now lives in Medford,) Abby and
Ruth (l)()th dead,) and Emeline A., b. Jan. 9, 1831, mar. Nov.
1, 1850, Seth E. Bartlett of Duxbury, who died INIarch 18,
1852. They had one child, born 1851, who mar. Annie
Eatough, of Taunton, May 6, 187(3. Their children are 1. John
E., bom Jan. 25., 1878 ; 2. Sadie E. b. Aug. 24, 1880. They
now live in Montreal, Canada. Emeline A. mar. secondly
Loami B. Sylvester of Hanover, June 1(3, 1858, he d. in the
war, Sept. 6, 1862. They had one child, born May 27, 1859.
(See Bridge Yards, Hanover). Emeline A. mar. for her third
husband Henry S. Bates, Jan. 22, 1888. In 1819 Copeland,
Ford & Pratt built a Schooner for Capt, David Whiting c^ O.,
Hingham.

^:p^jy<^^y^ #c yi^ <r\ built the same vear, 1819,

>^^^^^*«-» ^^^^'-^^-'vx/^-^rf the brig "CASHIER," 73

^^^^yrrtCL^ -i^^^^-r^^t^c/*-! • tons, of Boston. Owned

V^v^ ^ J^.*^^^ ^'y AYilliam Copeland,

/^ ^ ^ Jr., Thomas Waterman,

136 WM. COPELAND & CO.

Scituate ; Ebenezer Clindvvick and Joseph S. Bates, of Hanover
& O. This vessel may have l)een built in Hanover as her
reo'ister states l)ut as two or three vessels were sometimes on
the ways at the Fox Hill Yard at the same time, she may have
been built here. Sometime between 181 9 and 1824, there entered
into this linn Elisba Tolman, Elisha IMerritt* and one other,
and the firm name was changed about 1824 to WiUiam Cope-
land i& Co. Elisha Tolman was a direct descendant of Capt.
Benjamin, who came to Scituate from Dorchester in 1709.
Elisha had children, Samuel, Charles and others. Samuel had
children : Samuel and Joseph, who were ship joiners, and
Kebecca. Samuel was Captain of a militia company of foot in
1815. He was interested in many of the Yards, being one of
the tirm during the building of many vessels at the Fox Hill
and Wanton yards, and worked joinering on most all the yards,
lie had sons : Samuel and James T., who worked on the yards
u{) river, and two children who died. Samuel mar. 1. Sarah,
dau. of William Winslow. 2. Abigail, dau. of Elijah Ames,
and wddow of Israel Hatch. There was one child by the first
marriage: Samuel Jr., who mar. Eveleen Leland, and they
have one child, Gladys. .James T., son of Samuel, Sr. mar.
]\Iary T., daughter of C. O. Briggs,and lives corner of Oakland
Avenue and Broadway, in the house formerly occupied by
Doctors Fobes, Garratt, and Downs successively. They have
two children, M. Annaf and Herbert C, a graduate of Yale.
Elisha Tolman fell down the hold of the Brig IMoscow ( ?) on
her way down river and broke his neck. The new firm built in
1824 the brig "BYRON," 193 tons, for William Lovering of
Boston, afterward sold to New Bedford. William Copeland,
Jr., M. C. 1825, brig "LEXINGTON," 197 tons, of Boston.
William Copeland, Jr., M. C, condemned at Mauritius, 1856.
In 1826 brig "MOSCOW," 277 tons, of Boston. Lost oft*
California before it was annexed to the United States. AVilliara
Copeland, Jr., M. C. 1827 brig "SAxMOS," 243 tons, of
Boston, owned by Windsor Fay & O. Owned in 1844 by
Vernon Brown, of Boston. A^'illiam Copeland, Jr., M. C.
Ca})t. C. B. Graves went in the brig "Samos," in 1838, from
Stockholm to New York. She used to sail between the Vs'est
Indies and the Baltic, regularly. Page Brewer was master of
her, after him the late William Reed of Chelsea. Capt. Graves

* See Chapter Miscellaneous Yards, Scituate.
7 See Chap. Brings Yards.

C^,^.:,^<f;^^

WM. COPELAND & CO. 137

thinks she was put under the Spanish flag hiter. In 182.^, was
built the briix " LEDA," 258 tons, for Dlivid Eells, or Ellis, of
Boston, WiUiam Copeland, M. C. 1829, sch. "OKTON," GO
tons, of Cohasset. Owned by Howard Vinal, William Cope-
land, Jr., William Raskins, Elias AY. Pratt and ^Michael Ford,
of Scituate. William Copeland, Jr., JNl. C. The next year
they built two vessels. 1830 brig " ODESSA," 180 tons, built
at Hanover ( ?), and owned by Isaac Hall and Thomas Curtis,
of Boston. William Copeland, Jr., j\I. C. 1830, sch.
"LYCEUM," 6.5 tons, owned at Scituate by John Beal, Peleg
Jenkins, Melzar Litchfield, Edw. J. Porter, Michael Ford,
Elias W. Pratt and AVilliam Copeland, Jr,, M. C. In 1832 the
firm built their last vessel, though Michael Ford had an interest
in other vessels subsequentl^y^ l)uilt at this yard. This vessel
was the bark " MARY BALLARD," 260 tons, of Boston, built
in 1832. Copeland & Pratt, M. C. She was built for William
Fay, of Boston, was used in the liquor trade and lost while in
said trade. Mr. Fay sent down a quantity of liquor when she
was launched, and the Rev. David Barnes Ford, remembers
dealing it out. He was probably obliged to do this, for we
cannot imagine his doing such a thing at the present day.
Some verses w»re written concerning this vessel of which only
the following lines have been preserved : —

One day it chanced to cross my roving thought
That James and I would take a walk,
Down to the ship yard we would go,
There was a lady for a show.

*******

Mary Ballard was her name.

If to the ship yard you would go,
Take care and not be climbing so.

Joseph C. and Samuel Tolman, Jr., did the joiner work on
the "Mary Ballard." George B. Tolman, son of Elisha, who
was a descendant of Charles, fell from a staging on board the
"Mary Ballard" and was injured. When lost the "Mary
Ballard " was owned by John H. Pierson ; she was cast away on
the Bahamas in the spring of 1843, loaded with ice for the Gulf
of Mexico. In 1832 this firm sold out to Thomas AVaterman
and Joseph S. Bates. Watertnan & Bates began to dig for a
yard a little way up river, by the swimming place above

138 WATERMAN & BATES.

the southwesterly slope of Fox Hill. While engaged pre-
paring to locate here, Copeland & Ford decided to go out oi
business, and sold their yard to Waterman & Bates, who built
in company three years, or until 1836, when Mr. Bates retjj-ed
from the firm.

^^j was T)orn in

-^ 1791, and

years. His

father, Thomas, born 1765, was grandson of

Thomas of Marshfield, and son of • <V/ <y Capt. An-
thony, who came from Marshfield in ^0^ / 1760. Capt.
Thomas Waterman resided east of the brook, at the ancient
Copeland place. He had two children : Thomas B., who mar.
Clara Crooker of Norwell,and succeeded his father at the yard,
and Sylvia, who d. in August, 1844. Thomas B. has had two
children; 1. Thomas W.,born May 4, 1868, a noble fellow,
who was taken from them by typhoid fever in the fall of 1888,
just as he was attaining manhood ; 2. George, born Oct. 30,
1870, now in a bank in Boston. Joseph 8. Bates was a descend-
ant of Caleb, of Hingham, through Comfort of Peml)roke, in
which town he was born. He served his time with Col. J. B.
Barstow and mar. his dau., Sarah, Oct. 2, 1820. They lived
on Broadway, northeast of Hanover Four Corners, and had three

children : 1.^ Henry S., I). Nov., 1821, mar. 1st, Gardner,

2nd, in 1888, Mrs. Emeline Sylvester. 2. Sarah Ann, b. Nov.,
1823. 3. John Burden, b. Feb. 17, 1826, who mar. Lydia
Waterman, and lives corner of Kockland street, next to the
Episcopal Church at the Four Corners.

The first year Waterman & Bates built two vessels, as follows,
viz: 1833, ship "HILO," 390 tons, of New York, the largest
vessel ever built at this yard, and which is said to have cost
$1000 to get out of the river. She was used as a whaler.
1833, ship "ONTARIO," 367 tons, of Sag Harbor. Her
length was 108 feet, breadth 27 feet, depth 13 feet. She after-
ward hailed from New Bedford. They built in 1835 the brig
" ALMINA," 175 tons, of Boston, a fruiter, used in the Medi-
terranean trade, and in 1836 the sch. "RIENZI," 108 tons, of
Boston. The "Rienzi," was captured and burned at sea by a
rebel privateer in 1863. This was the last vessel built by
Waterman & Bates.

CAPT. THOMAS WATERxMAN. 139"

Capt. Waterman carried on the business alone until 1846.
The first vessel he built after Mr. Bates retired was the next
year, 1837, the brig " VINTAGE," 199 tons, of Boston, a
fruiter used in the Mediterranean trade, Thomas Waterman,
M. C, and in 1838 the brig " OTIIO," 132 tons, of Boston,.
Thomas Waterman, M. C, and in 1840, sch. " LAKE," 99
tons, owners: George M. Allen, Eatcm Vinal, Thomas L.
Manson, John Mnnson and Thomas Waterman, of Scituate, who
built her. The " Lake," was connnanded by Capt. Vinal in the
West India logwood trade, etc.-, and during her second or third
voyage she ran off Maguena Reef, near Crooked Passage, and
was totally wrecked. "He built in 1841 bark "WAVE," 197
tons, owned by Nathaniel H. Enmions, George W. Wales,
Thomas B. Wales, Sr., and Jr., and Samuel Quiucy of Boston.
Thomas B. Wales had a son, Thomas B., whom he v^ished to
send to sea, probably thinking this to be the most advantageous
way of starting him in a mercantile life. To induce him to go
he had this bark built and fitted u}) Avith fancy cabins, and
expense was not spared to make it an attractive and comfortable
vessel. As a further inducement he put his son in as captain,
but as he had never been to sea before it w^as necessary to have
for the first mate an experienced "old salt; " so Capt. Winsor
went as first mate on her first voyage, which was to bo a)"ound
Cape Horn to the Northwest coast, trading. It w^as the custom
in those days for the Captain to stay below, leaving his mate in
charge of the ship, and it is fair to presume that Capt. Wales let
the mate run the ship most of the time. The " Wave " i)rol)al)ly
did not go to the Northwest coast, and young Wales may li:i\'e
disap})ointed his father and never have gone in her, but the
al)ove is the story as told the author. The bark " Wave " in 1841
made a voyage from Boston to Rochelle ; in 1842, Rochelle to
Boston with brandy, fruit, etc. , and Norfolk, Va. , to Rochelle with
staves, &c. In 1843 from Rio de Janeiro with coffee, and from New
Bedford to Cowerand W'ith 2<S8 casks, 447 gross gallons of oil and
10 tons of logwood. In 1843-4, Norfolk to Rochelle and l)ack
again wnth potash, rice, staves, &c. In 1884 she was owned in
New Bedford, then 42 years old. At this yard was built in
1842 the sch. "MANSON," 93 tons, owners George M. Allen,
Moses R. Colman, John, Thomas L. and floel L. Manson,
Eaton Vinal, the builder Thomas AVaterman, and Michael
Ford, Scituate. The "Alanson" Avas connnanded by Caj)t.
]\ loses Coleman and ran between Boston and Venezuela, taking
out mixed cargoes and bringing back goat skins. The last

140 BARSTOW & WATERMAN.

Tessel built by Capt. Waterman alone at this yard was in 1845,
the sch. "ST. PAUL," 94 tons, of Boston. Owned by Capt.
John Cushing of Hanover and William H. Talbot, of Scituate.
The "St. Paul," was commanded by "Capt. Bill Talbot" and
used in the coasting trade in the Gulf of Mexico. William
Clark of Hanover was one of the crew of three that went before
the mast on the first voyage of the " St. Paul." They went to
Matanzas and New Orleans with general cargo and brought
back molasses, sugar, etc. She was finally lost.

who was at

^ in the old

Barstow Yard back of Edmund Q. Sylvester's in Hanover was
approached in 1846 by George M. Allen of Scituate Harbor
with a proposition to Innld for him a vessel of 250 tons, but on
account of the great expense necessary to get the vessels over
the shoals below his yard, which would consume the small
profits of those days, Capt. Barstow decided it would not pay
to l)uild the vessel at his yard, and therefore invited Capt.
Waterman to build her in company at A/.s, Capt. Waterman's,
yard. He accepted and they began their partnership, which
lasted until 1859, when Thomas B. Waterman succeeded his
father, and in company with Capt. Barstow, built until 1869,
when was built the last vessel at this yard. Capt. Barstow now
became the master carpenter. The first vessel built by the new
firm was the bark " TOM CORWIN," 250 tons, launched in
1847, and owned by Joel L., John and Thomas L. Manson,
George M. and William P. Allen, of Scituate Harbor, and
commanded by Capt. John Manson. Charles Le Roy, of So. Scit-
uate, went in her on her first voyage to St. Peterslmrg, Russia,
in the spring of 1847. In 1859 she was owned by Elisha
Atkins, at Boston, and was lost when an old A^essel.

Capt. John Manson, her commander, was born in 1805 at
Scituate Harbor, where he deceased July 14, 18<S9. In 1815 he
went with his father mackerel fishing in the "Roselmd." In
1812-13 the British frigate "Nymp'h," and the British 74
" La Hogue," sent their boats into Scituate IIarl)or from
time to time and burned or carried oft" the vessels there. Capt.
Manson rememl)ers once when a fleet of these boats were com-
ing in, that the women began to carry off" their l^eds and furni-
ture, but an officer in one of the British boats cried out, " Good

CAPT. JOHN MANSON. 141

women don't cany your beds off, we ain't going to hurt 3'ou."
At this time the "Rosebud," which belonged to the older
Manson, the "Orient," and the "Sophronia" were car-
ried oft', and five or six other vessels were burned in the
Harbor. The British returned the " Rosebud," which was
finally sold to Maine. The "Orient" they kept, and the
master of the "Sophronia," which was loaded with hay, went on
board the man of war and induced them to give her up and
let him take her back to the Harbor. Capt. Manson commanded
first the sch. "James Otis," l)uilt in Pembroke, and about
1830-1 the "Mary," built in Kenncbunk ; later the sch.
"Abigail," built by Magoun & Turner in Brooklyn about
1834, afterward the Her. Brig "Allen," the bark "Tom
Corwin," and the ship "William Sturgis," built in Med-
ford, all used in the New Orleans and European trade, and
in 1851-4 the ship "Meridian," built by Jackson & Ewell,
East Boston, 1740 tons, new measurement. This was the
largest vessel then afloat. He commanded the ship " George
Peabody " to Europe from ]\Iol)ile and New Orleans and back
from Liverpool with emigrtmts. He brought the Hum-
boldts from Norfolk to Baltimore in 1857 and from 1858
to the end of his sea life in 1861 he made three voyages in the
ship "Golden Fleece," (built by Paul Curtis at East Bos-
ton,) to San Francisco. He retired from the sea in 1861
on account of the war. It is remarka])le that Capt. Manson
never met with any accident except to carry away some small
spar or lose a man overboard. During the later part of his sea
going he sailed for AVm. F. Weld & Co. He superintended the
laying of the keel for the first vessel they ever luiilt. I^efore
sailing for them he always sailed for himself. In one voyage
to New Orleans and back he cleared for the Welds $()(), 000,
and while in the Meridian she paid for herself and $27,000
surplus in three voyages.

Barstow & Waterman built in 1848 the bark "ZION," 199
tons, of Boston, owned in 1859 by Pierson and under Capt.
Reynold, a part owner. They had on the stocks at the same
time, in 1848, the brig " ABRAM," 158 tons, owned by Moses R.
Coleman, George M. Allen, Michael Ford and Thomas Water-
man, of Scituate. She took the place of the " Manson " in
the Venezuela trade and was built of oak, copper and iron
fastened and owned in 1861 by Vose, Livingston & Co., New
York. In 1849 they built two vessels. 1849 bark " ADELIA
ROGERS," 199 tons, of Boston, owned in 1861 by Taylor &

142 BAESTOW & ^VATERMAN.

others; Capt. Snow. Tliis vessel was, in her registers,
sometimes called the ''Adelaide Bogers." She was com-
manded by Capt. George Taylor, of Chatham, an-d was after-
wards lost on the Southern Coast. They built the sch.
"ROBERT RAIKES," in 1849, 81 tons, oak, iron and copper
fastened, single bottom, owned in 1874 by E. & E. K. Cook,
of Provincetown, and used as a fishing vessel. Capt. T. J.
Coorigan. Capt. Swift, the largest owner, had this vessel
named the " Rol^ert Raikes " because of his strong sympathy
with this o-reat Methodist. In 1850 they built the brig
"SARAH,""lfi5 tons, for Capt. Moses Coleman, of Scituate,
who used her in the West India trade. The sch. " ANTARTIC,"
was built here in 1851, 101 tons, of oak, iron and copper
fastened, single bottom, whaler. In 1872 she was owned by J.
E. & G. Bowley, of Provincetown, Capt. Hill. In 1884 she
was at Provincetown and still w^ialing. She was on her way
down North River when Minot's liaht was blown over. The
same year they built the sch. "JOSHUA E. BOWLEY," 95
tons, owned in 1884 at Provincetown, Mass. In 1852 they
built, on owner's account, the Her. Brig "KERNISAN," 127
tons, and sold to William F. Weld. Owned in Boston by N.
J. Weld, in 1859, deck cabin. It is reported that she was lost
with all on l)oard on a voyage to the West Indies. Also the
sch. "SEA DRIFT," 99 tons, oak, iron and copper fastened,
built by them in 1852, owned in 18(35 in Scituate. They built
the sch. " WILLIAM MARTIN," in 1854, which is registered at
some ports as having been built in Hanover, but this mistake is
easily explained. The builder's address was Hanover, and the
owners in registering naturally thought the vessels were built
in Hanover, ])ut this mistake in registry has been corrected
wherever found. The sch. " William Martin," built by them in
1854, was 130 tons, flush deck, was owned in 1859 by William
Martin, of Orleans, Mass. Built of oak and hackmatack.
Iron and copper fastened. Sheathed w^ith zinc in Oct., 1867.
In 1862 she was transferred from Orleans to Boston and sent
whaling in the Atlantic. On July 6, 1889, the "William
Martin," under Capt. Howard, arrived in Boston from a 25
months' whaling voyage in the Atlantic with sperm oil to
Heman Smith. She landed 100 bl)ls. at Fayal, during the
voyage, and since Jan. 20, 1889, at which time she sailed from
Dominia, she has got 60 bl)ls. of sperm oil. In 1855 the firm
built the sch. "N. & H. GOULD," for Capt. Gould, who was
drowned off Philadelphia while trying to save a man who had

ScH. "William Martin."
Built by Barstow & Waterman.

BARSTOW & AVATERMAN. 143

fallen overboard. Just as he was going down he held up his
pocket book, then sank. Capt Gould used this vessel as a
freighter. In 18G3 she was owned by Yates, Potterfield & Co.
of Orleans, Mass., and in 1865 by Eben Sears of Dennis, and
sailing under Capt Crowell. The sch. "N. & H. Gould," was
142 tons, 91 feet long, 25 feet broad. Draft 10 feet. Built of
oak, iron and copper fastened, single bottom. Owned in 187(5
by Eben Sears, Boston, Capt. Baker, master. The last
vessel built by Capt. Waterman and Capt. Barstow in company
was in 1856, the brig " SPEIGHT," {or " Sprite,") 200 tons,
used in So. American trade by Lifkin & Ironside, N. Y. She
was owned in 1865 by C. W. Swift, New York.

No more vessels were built here until 1859. This year Capt.
"Waterman's son succeeded to his share of the business, and the
same year, 1859, the new firm of Cajjt. Elijah Barstoio and
Thomas B. Waterman launched the Sch. "MARY GREEN-
ISH," 140 tons ; oak, copper and iron fastened ; rider keelsons ;
owned in 1865 by Fairbanks & Adams, Boston; Capt. J.
Greenish. This vessel was named after the Captain's wife.
The next vessel they built was the Sch. ^'ABBIE BRAD-
FORD," built in September, 1860. She was 114 tons, 87 feet
long, 23 feet broad ; built of oak, iron and copper fastened,
and was yellow metalled in September, 1866. In 1872 she
"was owned by Macey & Co., Nantucket ; Capt. A. Baker. She
was oiiginally commanded by Capt. Ezra Freeman, of Sand-
wich. Slie was named after the Captain's daualitcr, Abbie Brad-
ford Freeman, and had for a figure-head the full statue of a
Mttle girl. She was one of the first vessels captured by the
Confederate privateer "Alabama," Capt. Semmes, while on her
■way to the West Indies. He bonded her and let her go. In
1872, Jonathan Bourne, of New Bedford, bought the "Al)bie
Bradford," and sent her eight voyages to Hudson's Bay, whaling.
On her last voyage, in 1887, she came out of the Bay in Sep-
tember, went South, and was badly wrecked in a gale in De-
cember, obliging her to put into the i)ort of Santos, Brazil,
where she was condemned and sold in January, 1888. Mr.
Bourne owned her sixteen years. The next vessel was the
Her. Brig " FALCON," 128 tons, built 1862, of oak ; iron and
copper fastened ; yellow metalled in 1870 ; owned in 1874 by
N. P. IVIann & Co., Boston, and used whaling. J. C. Osgood,
of Salem, for whom the "Falcon" was built, sold her in 1871
to N. P. Mann & Co., and she was sold by them to Capt. C. B.

144 VESSELS BUILT BY BARSTOW & WATERMAX.

Graves and Fowlc &, Carroll, Boston, for the West India trade
in 1874. Ca})t. Graves commanded her for four voyages, then left
her on account of sickness, and Capt. Jordan Cody took her to
San Domingo. On her homeward passage she was struck by a
hurricane between Hayti and Cuba. They had to cut away the
masts, and, after the storm, they put up jury-masts and reached
Port Jago, Cul)a, where she was condemned and sold for a coal
hulk. In 1803, Barstow & Waterman built the Iler. Brig
" SALINAS,'' 150 tons ; oak, iron and copper fastened ; yellow
metalled in November, 1870. She was owned in 1872 by Cart-
wright & Harrison, Bermuda, and was sailing under the British
flag. About 1875 her name was changed to "Wcn-ren," and
she was owned by Cartwright, Harrison & Co., Barbadoes.
The next year they built a vessel which cleared for her owners,
at the end of a ten months' whaling voyage, $14,000. This
was the Sch. " SUSAN N. SMITH," built in 1864 for Heman
Smith. The " Susan N. Smith " was of 150 tons. While on a
whaling voyage in the Atlantic she was reported lost Aug. 28,
1869, with the Captain's wife, Mrs. Rounseville, two children,
the first and second mate, boat-steerers, and thirteen of the
crew. She had one hundred and eighty barrels of sperm oil.
In the fall of the same year they launched a sister vessel to the
" Susan N. Smith," though she was a little smaller. This was
the Sch. "LOUISA A./' 122 tons, built for a whaler, owned
by Heman Smith, Boston, in 1875, commanded by Capt. Kelly.
She was lost on a reef near Florida about 1883. The next
year they Iniilt a coaler for Capt. Edwin Barstow. This was
the Sch. "PINTA," built in 1865, 207 tons, drawing 12 feet;
oak, iron and copper fastened ; yellow metalled January, 1868 ;
owned in 1872 by E. W. Barstow ; Capt. J. H. Smitli^ master.
In 1875 she was owned by Capt. Small and others, at Pem-
broke, Me., and used as a fisherman. They next built for
Heman Smith a vessel, the Hermaphrodite Brig "HEMAN
SMITH," 123 tons, built in April, 1866 ; oak, iron and copper
fastened; yellow metalled in 1869. She was a whaler, and
owned in 1872 by Heman Smith and others, Boston ; Capt. W.
Martin. In 1877 she was still whaling in the Atlantic, and in
1884 owned in Boston. She was condenmed in 1<S86, at St.
Michael's, though then a good vessel. In 1866 a whaling brig
was built on the owners' account, and sold in 1868 to Province-
town parties, which year she first got her register. This was
the Her. Brig "LIZZIE J. BIGELOW," 150 tons, draft 12
feet; oak, iron and copper fastened ; yellow metalled in October,

Her. Brig "Lizzie J. Bigelow," 150 tons.
Built in 1868, by Barstow & Wiiternian, at Fox (or Sunset) Hill Yard.

VESSELS BUILT BY HAUSTOAV & AVATEIJMAX. 145

1871. In 1872, used as a whaler in Provincetown, Mass.,
by B. A. Lewis, Capt. Josiali Cook. The brig "Lizzie J. Bige-
low" was owned by C. E. & B. IL Fabens, of Salem, for about
ten years. She was l)Ought Mnix-h. 4, 1873, of C. G. & G. E.
Ryder, for $9500, and foundered at sea in 1885, the crew being
taken oft* by a Scotch l)ark. An account from a dtiily [)aper at
tliat ime says :

" The crew of the ' Lizzie J. Bigelow,' which was abandoned at sea Feb.
12, 1885, were rescaied by Capt. Lawson, of the bark 'Messina.' The
'Lizzie J. Bigelow' sailed from St. Martins, Jan. 2S, and about seven
o'clock that night, when eight miles northwest of Sombrero Light, James
Dawcett, a Nova Scotia seaman, fell overboard from aloft, and was drowned.
On Feb. 5, a heavy westerly gale set in, jjumps had to be manned every
half hour ; the gale increased a little every day, and on the 10th blew with
great violence ; a heavy sea ran dangerously high, and sharp lightning ap-
peared on the eve of the 12th. At nine o'clock a vessel's light was sighted.
The ' Bigelow ' was leaking so badly that they made signals of distress,
and were taken oti" with great difficulty."

In the fall of 18()(i, Barstow & Waterman commenced a new
vessel, which was launched in the spring of the following year.
She was built a whaler, for Heman Smith, and Capt. Cliarles
Stetson, of Kinirston, went master of her. This was the Her.
Brig "KOSA BAKER," 109 tons, launched in May, 1807 ; oak,
iron and copper fastened; yellow metalled October, 1871.
She was whaling in the Atlantic from 1867 to 1877, and in 18(i9
or 1872 was sold to Jonathan Bourne, Jr., of New Bedford,
and Avent to Hudson's Bay, whaling. On Sept. 5, 1874, the
tirst mate and l)oat's crew were lost in the ice in Hudson's Bay.
In August, 1889, she was ow^ned in Boston, and lying at Na-
tional Wharf, East Boston. She is registered at some ports as
the " liosa Barker ," which is a mistake, as she was named after
Rosa, daughter of Joshua Baker. In 18(')9 was launched the
Sch. "HOPE OX," the last vessel built by this linn, the last
vessel built on this yard, and next to the last vessel built on
North River. She was built on the owners' account, and was a
great loss to her builders. There was no demand for vessels
when she was launched, and it was nearly two years before she
was sold. For this reason she has often been registered as hav-
ing been built in 1871. This vessel, the Sch. "Hope On,'' was
191 tons burthen, 100 feet long, 24 feet broad, draft 11 feet:
white oak and yellow pine, iron and copper ftistened, single
bottom ; owned in 1876 by Edwin B:irstow & Son, of Boston :
Capt. L. Chase, connnander. She was rated as having been

146 LAST VESSEL BUILT " UP RIVER."

built fir^t class. In 1877 she was sold to J. T. Richardson, of
New Bedford, and sent whaling in the Atlantic, under Capt. M.
A. Baker. She was later sold to parties in Talcahuana, Chili,
where she has been used as a freighter and whaler. May she
live long, and be a noble monument to her builders as the last
vessel built by them.

CHAPTER X.

BRICK KILN YARD.— 1 730-1807.

CAPT. BENJAMIN TURNER, CAFT. ICHABOD THOMAS, SR., CAPT.
ICHABOD THOMA.S, JR., CALVIN TURNER.

IT is impossible to say when vessels were first built at this
yard, but records have been found of quite a number of
ships built in Duxbury in early times, and some of them were
probably built here, as at that time Pembroke was a part of
Duxbury. The Indian name of Duxbury was Mattakeeset, but
the western part of what is now Pembroke was generally called
Namassakeeset. Pembroke was set ofl' by itself, and incorpo-
rated as a town, in 1711-12, and the first mention of the new
town in the newspapers was the same year :

" Pembroke, Deo. 6th, 1711-12. La^^t Wednesday, the Rev. Mr. Daniel
Lewis was ordained Pastor of the Church in this place.— Restore News
Letter:''

Ship-buildino: was probably flourishing on the river front at
that time, but the first record we have is in 1730, when Capt.
Benj. Turner, Captain of a Troop of Horse, came to Pcml)roke,
and'l)uiltat the Brick Kilns. Many of the mo.-.t noted ship-
builders were apprenticed to him, and his descendants for sev-
eral generations carried on the art at the lirick Kilns and other
yards.* The Thomases, Briggses, and Turners were the most
prominent builders.

Ichahod Thomas learned his trade of Capt. Benj. Tiirncr,
and he proved himself to be an ai)prentice worthy of his in-
structor. He descended from John Thomas, who came to New
England, a passenger from AVales, in the ship " Hopewell,"

* See Turner and Bridge Yards, and Fox Hill Yard.

;[48 JOHN THOMAS, THE COMMON ANCESTOR.

Thomas Babb, master, arriving Sept. 11, 1035, then fourteen
years of age. Tradition says he was an orphan, whose property
had been lost through poor investments l)y those who had it in
charge. He was reared by Gov. Edward Winslow, at Cares-
well, Eng., and settled in Marshfield, on a farm given by Gov.
AVinslow, for the better accommodation of a neighborhood,
from his own grant. This farm became, in later years, the
home of the distinguished singer, Adelaide Phillips. John
Thomas mar. Sarah^the dau. of James and Sarah Pitney, Dec.
21, 1648. His name is next to the Winslows on the iirst list
of those who bore arms in Plymouth, Mass. They had :

1. John, born Nov. 16, 1649, mar. Sarah . He was

drowned May 24, 1699. His widow became the second wife
of Dea. John Foster, and d. May 26, 1731. 2. Elizabeth,
b. Sept. 12, 1652, probably died unmarried. 3. Samuel, b.
Nov. 6, 1655 ; mar. Mercy, dau. of Dea. Wm. Ford, May 27,
1680. 4. Daniel, b. Nov. 20, 1659 ; mar. Experience, dau. of
Thomas Tilden, 1698. 5. Sarah, b. Sept. 20, 1661 : mar. Benj.
Phillips, 1680. 6. James, b. Nov. 30, 1663 ; mar. Mary, dau.
of Stephen Tiklen, in 1700. He settled in the north section
of Duxbury, and left numerous descendants in Connecticut, and
also in the Western States. 7. Ephraim, b. Oct., 1667; re-
moved to Little Compton, K.I. 8. Israel, b. 1670; mar.
Bethiah Sherman, dau. of John and Jane Hatch Sherman,
1698.

Samuel (second son of the ancestor, John), and his wife,
Mercy Ford,* had children: 1. Bethiah, b. Jan. 25, 1681;
mar. Samuel Sprague, and settled in Duxbury. 2. John, b.
Nov. 8, 1683; mar. Lydia, dau. of Josh. Waterman. 3. Sam-
uel, b. Dec. 7, 1685; mar. Rebecca Howland. 4. Nathan,
b. Nov. 21, 1688; mar. first, Alice Baker; second, Abiah
Snow; and third, Sarah B., dau. of Dea. John Foster, of

Plymouth. 5. Sarah, b. ; mar. John Holmes, Sept. 8,

1720, and lived one hundred years. 6. Joseph, 1). 1690 ; mar.
Lydia Winslow, 1718 ; d. Jan. 27, 1754, aged sixtj^-eight. 7.
Gideon, b. 1692 ; mar. Alngail Baker; left no sons, but daugh-
ters : Mercy, wife of B. White ; Sarah, wife of Jeremiah Low ;
and Eleanor, wife of Elijah Ford. Abigail, Id.^ dau., mar. Dr.
Eleazer Harlow, of Duxbury ; d. young, leaving one son, Gid-
eon Thomas, who was reared by his maternal grandfather. 8.

* Samuel died Sept. 2, 1720; his widow, Sept., 1741.

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN THOMAS. 149

Ann, baptized April IG, 1727. 9. P^lizabetli, b. Sept. 28,
1729. 10. Josiah, baptized March 1(5, 1(598; mar. Deborah
Bartlett, and settled near Standish Hill, Duxbury. They were
ancestors of Dr. Stevens, physician, of So. Marshficld. Gid-
eon Thomas d. 176(5, aged seventy-four; Abiuail, wife of Gid-
eon, d. Sept. 15, 1753," aged tifty-two ; Abigail, wife of Eleazer
Harlow, d. Nov., 1743, aged twenty years, ten months, and
twenty days, leaving Gideon, above named.

John, son of Samuel and Mercy Thomas, succeeded to the
ancestral home, and mar. Lydia, dau. of Joseph and Sarah
Waterman, Dec. 23, 1714, and d. Jan., 17(59, aged eighty-six.
She d. Jan. 17, 1750. They had children : 1. Zeruiah, b. Oct.
3, 1715; mar. James Bradford, of Connecticut. 2. Ann, b.
April 5, 1717; d. 1723. 3. Anthony, b. March 25, 1719;
mar. Abigail Alden, of Duxbury. 4. Lydia, b. March, 1721 ;
mar. Joseph Kent, Feb. 28, 1743. 5. John, b. Nov. 9, 1724 ;
mar. Hannah Thomas, dau. of Nathaniel Thomas. Said John
became a Major General, and died in the American Revolu-
tionary War. He was a cousin of Ichabod, Sr., and at the
age of twenty-one was Surgeon in a regiment sent to Annapo-
lis, Royal. At twenty-two, he was on the medical staff' of Gov.
Shirley's Regiment. In the year 1759, he was appointed a
Colonel, and re-appointed to the same office in 1760, by Gov.
Pownall. In 17(50, with his regiment, he joined the Anglo-
American army at Crown Point. After he returned from this
expedition, Col. Thomas continued in his profession as phy-
sician, at Kingston, until 1775, where the Revolution found
him. He was again called to the front, into active service, Feb.
9, 1775. Not long after this, Gen. Thomas became piqued
because another officer was promoted al)ove him, which was
acknowledged unfair and unjust by all excepting Con-
gress. James Warren, the Speaker of the House, urged his
remaining. Gen. Charles Lee wrote to him :

" I have myself, sir, full as great, perhaps greater, reason to com-
plain than yourself. I have passed through the highest ranks, in
some of the most respectable services of Europe. You think your-
self not justly dealt with in the appointments of the Continental
Congress. I am quite of the same opinion. For the sake of every-
thing that is dear, and ought to be dear, to you, for the sake of your
country, and of yourself, discard such sentiments."

Gen. George AVashin^ton wrote to Gen. Thomas from

150 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN THOMAS.

Cambridcre under date July 23rd, 1775, a very lengthy letter,
from which the few following extracts are made ;

" Sir : The retirement of a general officer, possessing the confidence
of his country and the army at so critical a period, appears to me to
be big with fatal consequences, both to the public cause and his own
reputation. While it is unexecuted, I think it my duty to make
this last effort to prevent it, and after suggesting those reasons which
occur to me against your resignation, your own virtue and good
sense must decide upon it." * * * * "You possess the confidence
and the affection of the troops, of this province particularly : many of
them are not capable of judging the propriety and reason of your
conduct : should they esteem themselves authorized, by your exam-
ple to leave the service, the consequences may be fatal and irretriev-
able." * * * * " I shall flatter myself that these reasons with others-
which your own good judgment will suggest, will strengthen your
mind against those impressions which are incident to humanity, and
laudable to a certain degree : and that the result will be your resolu-
tion to assist your country in this day of distress. That you may
reap the full reward of honor and public esteem, which such a con-
duct deserves, is the sincere wish of Sir, your very obedient and
most humble servant,

George Washington."

" To Gen. John Thomas."

Gen. Thomas was restored to rank and command, and had
all the resolves, letters, and addresses proved unavailing, and
the Continental Congress not have restored him, he must have
been much more or much less than a man. The field officers
encamped at Roxbury, addressed him July 25th, 1775, to this
effect :

"Your appointment as Lieut. Gen'l. by the Provincial Congress,
in consequence of which you took supreme command of this camp,
gave singular satisfaction to all acquainted with 3'our character, your
knowledge and experience of military movement, and your vigilance,
prudence and skill."

From this time to March, 1776, Gen. Thomas commanded
the most exposed camp of the besieging army at Roxbury.
Having determined upon the occupation of Dorchester Heights,
a step which would bring on an action or produce the evacua-
ation of Boston by the British Army, on INIonday the 4th of
March, these Heights were taken possession of by Gen.
Thomas. The amount of labor performed during the night,
considering tliat the earth was frozen eighteen inches deep, was
almost incredible. Gen. Thomas writes in a letter to his wife,,
dated from :

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN THOMAS. 151

" Dorchester Hills, in a small hut, March 9, 1776.

We have for some time been preparing to take possession of
Dorchester Point, and last Monday night about 7 o'clock I marched
with about 3,000 picked men, beside 360 ox teams and some pieces
of artillery. About 8 o'clock we ascended the high hills, and by
daylight, got two hills defensible. About sunrise the enemy and
others in ]3oston, appeared numerous on the tops of houses, and on
the wharves, viewing us with astonishment. The cannonading which
JKul been kept up all niglit, from our lines at Lamb's Dam and from
the enemy's lines likewise at Lechmere's Point, now ceased and the
enemy turned their fire toward us, but they soon found it was to
little eflect." * * * * " I have had very little sleep or rest this week,
being closely employed night and day." * * * * "Your son John
is well and in high spirits. He ran away from Oakley privately on
Tuesday morning, and got by the sentrys and came to me, on Dor-
chester Hills, where he has been most of the time since.

Jno. Thomas."

]\Irs. Thomas's disobedient son, John, had been left by liis
father on jMonday evening, when he marched for Dorchester
Heights, in care of his colored servant Oakley, who, no doubt,
was instructed to keep him from mischief and danger, lie being
but ten years old. Gen. Thomas's cousin, William, was also
with him at Dorchester Heights. William held a commission
as' Cai)t. of 1st Military Co. foot, of Marshfield, under Thos.
Hutchinson, Gov. Mass. Bay, 1772. To liis descendant. Miss
Sarah Thomas, of Marshfield, I am indebted for much valuable
information concerning the Thomas family.

About this time Congress was looking for an officer to com-
mand the troops led into Canada by Montgomery and Arnold,
and having been cautioned by Washington not to appoint a major
general, whom he named to them, for that purpose they on the
6th of March promoted Gen. Thomas to tlie rank of INIajor
General and sent him to connnand in Canada- John Adams
wrote to him the next day, and from his letter the following is
taken :

" Dear Sir : The Congress have determined to send you to Canada.
They have advanced you one step by making you a Major General.
Your friends, the delegates from your native province were much
embarassed between a desire to have you promoted and placed in so
honorable a command on the one hand and a reluctance at losing
your services at Roxbury, or Cambridge on the other."

152 THO-MAS GENEALOGY.

Thus Gen. Thomas, called from his proud position at Dor-
chester, was promoted and appointed to a more extensi\'e and
important command of an expedition which proved disastrous
to his country and fatal to himself. After reaching his position
near Quel^ec, re-enforcements and provisions for the army
failed to arrive, but Gen. Thomas was determined to retam
his i)osition as long as possible, hearing that large re-enforce-
ments were passing the lake and might be daily expected.
The re-enforcements not arriving, as his advices induced him to
hope, and the enemy advancing in force, he was obliged to
retreat to Sorel. On the 2nd of June at Chamblee, on the
river Sorel, while anxiously awaiting the expected re-enforce-
ments, he died of the small -pox, aged 52 years. The disease
was so malignant that he was entirely blind some days before
his death. During his course of professional life he had been
uncommonly skilful in its treatment, l)ut had never taken it by
inocculation or otherwise. In person he was six feet high,
erect and well proportioned, appearance commanding and with
manners affable, gentlemanly and of unaffected sincerity. He
was succeeded by Gen. Lincoln.

Sarah, sixth child of John and Lydia, was b. Nov. 3, 1726 ;
mar. Jeremiah Kinsman, of Norwich, Conn. 7. Keziah, b.
Nov. 7, 1730; d. Dec. 11, 1751.

Nathan Thomas, a tanner by trade, mar. Alice Baker, March
4, 1713, who d. June 4, 1715, aged twenty-iive. He mar.
2ndly, Abiah, dau. of Josiah Snow, Jan. 2, 1716 ; she d. Feb.
1, 1718, aged twenty-four. He mar. 3rdly, Sarah Foster, dau.
of Dea. John Foster, of Plymouth, and gr. dau. of Dea. John
Foster, of Marshfield. She mar. 2ndly, Jedediah Bourne,
and d. Feb., 1778, aged eighty-two. Nathan d. Nov. 3, 1741,
in his tift^'-third year. He had children : 1. Sarah, b. Dec.
12, 1720 ; d. while visiting her sister, Mrs. Phillips, at Boston,
and was buried there. 2. Alice, b. Dec. 25, 1722 ; mar. Capt.
Benj. Phillips, of Boston, Nov. 16, 1743. They lived on Fort
Hill, and had one child, Alice, born the following year. Dr.
AYinslow Lewis, of Boston, was a descendant of Alice and
Benj. Phillips. 3. William, b. Jan. 31, 1727; mar. first,
Mary, dau. of Al)raham Hill, of Maiden ; second, Al)iah, dau.
of Capt. James Thomas, of Duxbury, March 11, 1754. 4.
Nathan, b. Aug. 30, 1730 ; mar. Sarah, dau. of Dea. Jedediah
Bourne, Nov., 1756. 5. Ichahod, b. June 28, 1733, in a house
that stood on the site and cellar of the present residence of

CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS. 153

Luther Thomas, the first house on the left, standing on a liill
after crossing the raih-oad track at the ]\Iarshtiekl depot, on tlie
road from the Marshfield Post Office to Brant Rock. This
house M-as built by Nathan Thomas, and torn down in 1863.
The property has been in the Thomas family over one hundred
and hfty years.

Ichahod mar. Ruth, dau. of Capt. Benj. Turner, and settled
in Pembroke, Mass. They were mar. Jan. 22, 1761, by the
Rev. Thomas Smith. Ruth d. Oct. 12, 1801, in her sixty-
sixth year. Ichabod d. March 2, 1788, aged fifty-five. They
had six sons and two daughters, viz. : I. Ichahod Thomas, Jr.,
b. Oct. 23, 1761. II. Sarah Thomas, 1). Nov. 8, 17()3 ; was
the first wife of the Rev. Levi Whitman, of Wellfleet, Mass.
Theii' children were : Levi, b. Jan. 16, 1789; Sarah, b. Feb.
24, 1790 ; mar. All)ion K. Parris, who was Governor of Maine
in 1822, and when Gen. Lafayette visited there, and Mayor of
Portland in 1852. Mrs. Parris d. in Washington, D. C, Jan.,
1883, aged ninety-three. Josiah and Ruth, b. Jan. 28, 1793;
d. in May, 1793. Ruth, 2nd, b. June 21, 1794. Ichabod T.,
1st, b. May 7, 1796 ; d. July 27, 1798. Elizabeth S., 1>. Oct.

19, 1797. Hope Doane, b. Feb. 3, 1799, Ichabod T., 2nd,
b. July 7, ISOO; d. July 18, 1800. Catharine, b. Nov. 8,
1802 ; d. March 14, 1803. William T., b. Dec. 17, 1803 ; d.
Jan. 9, 1804. The mother, Sarah Whitman, d. Dec. 17, 1803.
Rev. Mr,. Whitman mar. 2ndly, Dorothy Drew Thomas, relict
of Charles Thomas, April 16, 1807, and by her had one
child, Thomas, b. 1809 ; d. aged two months twenty-six days.
Mr. Whitman d. in Kingston, Mass., Nov. 7, 1838, aged ninety.
Dorothy d. in Boston,, Feb. 4, 1840, aged seventy-seven.
m. Benjamin Thomas, b. about 1764. Followed the sea.
IV. Charles Thomas, b. Aug. 31, 1765 ; mar. Dorothy, dau.
of William Drew, in 1788. He went to Macoml), jNIcDonough
County, 111. The date of his death has not been ascertained.
His children were : Charles, b. Oct. 23, 1788 ; enlisted as an
artificer in Capt. AValljach's Company U. S. Artillery, in the
sprin<r of 1814; was discharo'ed April 25, 1815, and d. Jan.

20, 1818. George, 1st, b. Dec. 22, 1789; d. Jan. 4, 1790.
George, 2nd, b. Dec. 30, 1790, who, by special act of the
Court, March 10, 1827, had "Priest" added to his name,
making it George Priest Thomas. He mar., April 5, 1809,
Maria AVest, dau. of Robert and Mary (West) Foster. She
d. in Boston, Jan. 27, 1847, aged fifty-six. He mar. 2udly,

154 THOMAS GENEALOGY.

June 25, 1851, Mary Pratt Nichols, of Eeading, Mass., by whom
he had no children. He d. in Boston, Jan. 24, 18()7, aged
seventy-seven. His children by his first wife were : 1. Julia
Parris, 1st, b. June U, 1<S10; d. Au^. 12, 1.S12. 2. Catha-
rine Drew, b. Dec. 9, ISll ; d. in Plymouth, N. H., Oct. 16,
1875, unmarried. 3. Maria Augusta, b. Sept. 30, 1813 ; mar.
Jan. 18, 1844, John F. Moi'ton,'of Plymouth, N. H., a descend-
ant of the Moultons, of Ellsworth ; he d. May 15, 1875, aged
sixt3'-five ; she d. Aug. 6, 1883, aired seventy. They had chil-
dren : John F., b. "Sept. 2, 1845; d. Jan. 24, 1846. Kate
Maria, b. ]\Iarch 4, 1848 ; mar. Charles J. Gould, Dec. 25,
1877. They have had tour children. 4. Waldo L., b. Sept.
27, 1815 ; mar. Sarah Ann York, of Xew Market, N.H., Sept.
12, 1841. He went to Cuba, for his health, but returned to
Dorchester, where he d. May 15, 1857. She d. in New York
City, May 29, 1881. Their children were: Ellen, Emma,
Laura, Valentine, Ralph Waldo, who mar. Mary De Rous, and
Eva, wdio mar. and lives in Newton, Mass. 5. Charles Fred-
eric,* b. Aug. 29, 1817 ; mar. Dec. 2, 1838, Abigail Locke,

* An atitobiography of the eventful life of Charles Frederic Thomas, to the present
day, would make a most interesting book, and the author regrets that want of space
allows him but briefly to refer to the main points thus far, he being now seventy-two
years of age, and as active as a man of thirty. He graduated at Blaisdel's Academy,
aside the Old North Church, Boston, and soon after went to Antwerp, in the brig
" Volant," Capt. Ephraim Finney, of Plymouth, Mass. Returning about 1831, he went
to Kingston, Mass., to learn the trade of carpenter and builder, of Lewis Kipley, and
later worlced for Abraham Sherman, of Cambridge. While attending the trial of Mar-
vin Mercy, who was indicted for burning theUrsuline Convent at Charlestown, he made
the acquaintance of som3 Lowell workmen, who persuaded him to engage with Picker-
ing & Mathers, where he finished his trade. Later, he worked for his brotlier Waldo,
at Watertown, a s-hort time, when he shipped in the brig " Roderick Uhu," to St. lago,
W. I. On the Island of Cuba, and in the mines of San Fernando, he had a most inter-
esting experience, including many narrow escapes. Soon after his return to Boston, he
sailed lor Mobile, in the ship " Tiger," of 500 tons, owned by Wheelwright & Co., Cen-
tral Wharf. From Mobile he went to Liverpool, whence he sailed for Boston, Jan. 8,
1833. Two weeks after his arrival in Boston, he joined the ship " New Jersey," 650
tons, bound for New Orleans, Mobile, and Liverpool. He shipped in the same vessel
for a second voyage to those ports, and, while lying at Doboy Island, at the mouth of
the Darien River, he bathed every day in the river, using a large sponge. A slave, who
was very black, asked him what made his skin so white. Mr. Thomas replied, " The
constant use of this sponge." The negro, thinking the sponge would make him white,
offered to give him a boat-load of provisions for the sponge, which Mr. Thomas ac-
cepted. Mr. Thomas says, "Not having seen him since, I do not know whether he be-
came white before Mr. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation or not, but I hope he did."
After his return from this voyage, he shipped as one of the officers on the ship "William
Engs,"for Liverpool and Havana, aiTiving back in Boston, Aug. 1.5, 1838. On the 29th
of August, 1838, Charles became of age, and he and his brother Waldo were set up as
carpenters in Lowell. He soon went to Waltham, and thence to Medford, where he
worked joinering for Goodwin & Ventrin, John Winslow, and Anthony Waterman.
From here he was hired by Cyrus Alger, of South Boston, to put in the foundations for
his anchor forge on Dorchester Turnpike. Sears & Fitch, of Boston, employed him
afterward in building A. & A. Lawrence's store, on Milk street; the Swedenborgian
Church, on Bowdoin street; Old Colony Railroad Station, on Kneeland street, etc.
In 1844, he became a mechanical enginesr, and later a designer of locomotives and other

THOMAS GENEALOGY. ISS-

ilau. of Edward Pa<re, of Deerfield, X. 11. She was b. May
21, 1811 ; she d. in' r,rooklyn, May 14, 1885. Their children
were : Charles Frederic, 1). in Medford, April 13, 1841 ; d. in
Brooklyn, N. Y., March 19, 18G8, unmarried. Abbie Maria,
b. in Boston, jNIay 11, 184() ; mar. first, Benjamin B., son of
]Major Benjamin B. French, of AVashington, D. C. lie d. in
Barronquilla, So. America, JNIay 21), 1881, leaving children:
Abbie JNIarie, who was b. in Brooklyn, June 30, 18()7 ; Charles
Francis, b. in New York City, July 25, 1869. Abbie Maria,
the mother, mar. secondly, Ilermami Joerns, in Brooklyn, N. Y.,,
Feb. 28, 1882. He was b. in Hamburg, Germany, June 27^
1842. They have one sou, Herman Ormond, b. June 4, 1884..

machinery. "While employed by Uriah A. Boyden, at Manchester, N. H., he super-
intended the construction of Turbine water wheels, and machinery for the Amoskeag
Manufacturing Company and Suncooli Cotton Mills. Under the instruction of Oliver
Bailey, he constructed the locomotive " Mameluke," for the Manchester and Lawrence
Railroad, which, on her trial trip, ran two miles in seventy seconds, and, on a later trip,
tore herself to pieces. While here, he constructed a lathe twenty-two feet in diameter,
the largest ever made. In 1852, William Mason, of Taunton, sent for Mr. Thomas, who
located Mr. Mason's works at Taunton, and designed and superintended the construc-
tion of the so-called Mason locomotive. In 1856 he received a bronze medal and diploma
from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association, for his skill in designing,
di'awing, and water-coloring. Mr. Thomos was called to Washington, D. C, by Gen.
Montgomery C.Meigs, Chief U.S. Engineer Corps, to take charge of the mechanical
branch of the Department of Public Works under his charge, in 1857, viz. : United
States Capitol Extension, New Dome on the Capitol. Washington Aqueduct, United
States Post Office, and Fort Madison. The construction of the new dome was remod-
elled at his suggestion, and it was successfully built under his supervision. He placed
the statue of Freedom on the top of the dome, Dec. 2, 1833, planned all the scafpjlding
for its erection, and received a certificate, signed by Ttiomas U. Walter, Architect;
Benjamin B. French, Commissioner of Public Buildings; J. P. Usher, Secretary of the-
Interior; and countersigned by Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of
America, acknowledging his valuable services. Mr. Thomas was removed from the
Public Works in 1861, and entered the United States Army, April 19, 1861, to serve three
months. He was a member of the " President's Mounted Guard," District of Columbia
Volunteers, served his time, and received an honorable discharge July 19, 1861. W'ith
others, he applied to President Lincoln for a commission to raise a regiment of cavalry,
the "Mounted Guard" to be a nucleus; papers were endorsed by Mr. Lincoln, and
passed through the proper offices, and returned, as that arm of the service was already
supplied. Afterward, he was elected Captain of "K" Company, Interior Department
Regiment, composed of all the workmen on the PuMic Works and Department of the
Interior. When the statue was put in position, Mr. Thomas, after two sections of the
scaffold were removed, stood upon the head, and was photographed, a copy of which
photograph he has preserved; and theb.with steel letters he marked President Lincoln's,
Benjamin B. French's, Thomas U. Walter's, and his own name, in full, on the upper-
most feather of her helmet. When the dome was completed, Mr. Thomas resigned his
position as Superintendent of the Public Works, to take one more remunerative, with
the Chester Manufacturing Company. Later, he tooK a position with J. B. it W. W.
Cornell, architectural iron works, in New York, and sei'ved them as a Superintendent
for six and one-half years. In 1871, Messrs. Thomas Otis Le Roy & Co., manufacturers
of shot, sheet lead, and pine, employed him as engineer and general superintendent.
He was w ith them eleven years, and made many improvements in the machinery, in-
vented the spray and mistin the tower, so that larger shot could be dropped at less ele-
vation, and originated and successfully got up the new standard scale for shot, which
was adopted liy the New York State Sportsmen's Associatu)n, at Batavia, N. Y., in
1873. He is, at the time of this writing, engaged in building a street motor which he
has perfected. It is a car run l)y steam and water stored iu pipes connected with a small
lire-box charged with mcaudesccut coal.

156 THOMAS GENEALOGY.

George Henry, b. in Boston, Sept. 1(3, 1848, a pattern-maker;
mar. Jennie H. Glass, of New York, in 1872. Their children
are: Georire Page, b. in New York City, Oct. 23, 1872.
Florence Amelia, "b. in New York City, July 19, 1875. The
last child of Charles F. and Abiaail Thomas was Amelia Rus-
sell, b. in Taunton, Mass., Novr2(3, 1851 ; d. Feb. 27, 1853.
Charles Frederic, Sr., mar. 2ndly, Hannah Sopha Anderson, of
Sweden, Oct. 2<), 1887, by whom he has one child, Etta Amelia,
b. June 25, 1S89. 6. Daniel Briggs, b. Oct. 19, 1819 ; d. Jan.
31, 1820. 7. Mary Foster, b. Jan. 10, 1821; mar. Charles
Andrew Foster, a portrait-painter, June 3, 1841 ; he d. July
18, 1886, in Kingston. Their children were : Julia Maria,
mar. first, AVilliani^ Burns ; second, Frederick Durshee. Charles
Byron, mar. first, Hattie Watson ; second, Elizabeth Terrill.
Mary Kate, mar. John Clarance. Nora, mar. E. Edward Mar-
den. Inez, mar. John Reed. 8. William Knapp, now of
Brooklyn, N. Y., b. Jan. 13, 1823, an accomplished mechanical
engineer; mar. Feb. 29, 1844, Mary Frs^nces Brown, of Bos-
ton. They have had children : Fannie, b. Nov. 20, 1844, in
So. Boston, Mass., and Ida Cowles, b. July 13, 1852, at Mont-
o-omery, Ala. Fannie mar. Frederick B. Bassett, of Brooklyn,
N. Y., Dec. 13, 1865. Their children are: Julius William,
b. Oct. 6, 1866, now residing in Brooklyn, N. Y. Frederick
Brewster, b. Jan. 4, 1869, now (1889) a naval cadet, U. S.
Navy, and at present on U. S. S. "Richmond," at Montevideo,
Uruguay. Ida Cowles, mar. Rollin B. Fisher, of Boston, Dec.
13, 1876. They have children : Fannie, b. Dec. 13, 1877.
Ida May, b. June 6, 1879. Rollin B., b. Nov. 10, 1883. R.
Thomas, b. Dec. 3, 1887, all of whom were b. in Boston. 9.
George Henry Augustus Theodore, b. Feb. 7, 1825. Served
his time with Isaac and Seth Adams, in Boston. Later he went
to Cuba, where he was consulting engineer of sugar estates.
He d. on the estate of Los. Dos Herminoson, July 25, 1857,
aged thirty-two years, from the eiFects of an accident, a column
of a steam engine falling on his back. 10. Adaline Smith, b.
June 7, 1827 V mar. Henry Brown, of Roxbury, Mass., June
15, 1845. She d. in Roxlmry, Nov. 10, 1854. He d. in May,
1889. Their children were : "^Henry, who d. in infancy. Char-
lotte, mar. Charles M. Ford, of Chicago, and they have two
boys, Harry and Eddie. 11. Julia Parris, 2nd, b. May 16,
1831 ; mar. George Loring Brown, the Boston artist, April 28,
1861. They had'no children. She is now living in Maiden,
Mass. He d. June 25, 1889, aired seventy-five years. 12.

r:/'

THOMAS GENEALOGY. 157

Helen Louisa, b. Aug. 26, 1833, was the twelfth and last child
of George and Maria West Thomas. She d. Oct. 7, 1835. V.

b. Aug. 4, 17()7, is
descrilied, in a ])ass-
'ly / / r^/ .^^Mi port issued in isos,

^^<^A^l^Ai^/^ y/^^r^i^ when he was thirty-
" "'^^ six years of age, as

follows : " Color, fair ; height, six feet ; mark, top of right arm ;
eyes, gray ; nose, large ; mouth, small ; chin, long ; hair, light
brown." He mar. July 15, 1784, Huldah Dwelley ; their dau.
mar. Thomas Barstow. Children; 1. jNbuy, mar. fl. Park-
hurst, of New Bedford. 2. Julia, mar. Phillip Smith, of New
Bedford. 3. George Barker, d. young. 4. Rebecca Barstow,
d. young. 5. Lydia Shaw, d. aged sixteen. (i. Elizal)eth I).,
d. 3^oung. 7. Elizabeth D., 2ncl, mar. Capt. Stephen ^I. Pot-
ter, and now lives at 479 County street. New Bedford. VI.
Ruth Thomas, b. April 12, 1769, mar. twice ; first, Dr. Charles
Turner. Their children were: Charles, Jr., b. June 8, 1789,.
educated at Cambridge, and d'. ]Vfarch 12, 1812 ; and John Phil-
lips, 1). Sept. 12, 1792 ; went to Coals Mouth, Kanawha Co.,
West Virginia. Ruth mar. second, Jabez Morse, of Peml)roke,

and they had one dau. Ruth, who mar. Bacon, and now

resides at 4 Weld Avenue, Boston. VII. John Thomas, b.
1773 ; probably followed the sea. VIII. AVilliaiAI Thomas^
b. 1775, d. Oct. 12, 1802, aged twenty-seven years.

Ichabod Thomas, Sr., the shipbuilder, was appointed a cap-
tain in 1765 by Governor Francis Bernard, of a troo}) of horse
under Col. Thomas Clap, 2nd reg't, 1st brigade, 5th division
of Plymouth Militia.

Ichabod, Jr., the shipbuilder, b. Oct. 23, 1761, the oldest
child of Ichabod, d. Nov. 11, 1859, aged 98 years, 17 days.
He mar. Polly Thomas, a descendant of the Hanson famih',
Nov. 14, 1784, the ceremony being performed by the same
minister who officiated at his father's marriaue. Rev. Thomas
Smith. Polly Thomas d. April 10, 1840, \ged 80 years.
They had six children, three died in infancy, one boy lived to
be 13, and two dau's. lived to grow up and marry. 1st, JNIercy
Little mar. Cushing Otis Briggs of Scituatc and had children :
1. Charles Cushing, 2. William Thomas, 3. Hannah liarker, 4.
James Edwin, 5. Harrison Otis, 6. INIary Thomas, 7. Lloyd, 8.
Franklin, (see Briggs and Fox Hill Yards for the descendants

158 CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS.

•of this family). 2nd, Maky, mar. Joshua Perry of Hanson,
and died without issue. Capt. Ichabod, Jr., was an mtelligent
reader ; he had a frood knowledge of geography, with locality
large, and his brothers who were the sailors said he knew more
about foreign ports and places than they did. He was a lover
of history and read the newspapers until a short time before
his death. He always had a steady hand and shaved himself
on his last birthday. He Avas a master shipbuilder, and at
ditferent times was a partner with his uncle, Calvin Turner,
with Elisha Briggs and William Gushing. Later he and his
wife resided with their dau., jNIrs. Perry, in Brooks, Maine,
and afterwards at their home in Hanson, his wife for 20 years
and he for 40. He was fond of relating anecdotes, especially
one about Mr. Cobb of Kingston. When Mr. Cobb was 100
years old he sent to Plymouth for a certain minister to i)reach
the century sermon. Mr. Willis his minister at Kingston did
not like it and so expressed himself. Mr. Cobb to pacify him
told him that he should preach the next century sermon. Mr.
Thomas used always to add that if he should live to be 100 he
should like to have his grandson (Rev. William Thomas
Briggs,) who was a minister, settled in Princeton, Mass. at
that time, preach his century sermon.

Ichabod Thomas, Jr., was in 1791 appointed Ensign liy Gov-
ernor John Hancock in a company of the 2nd regiment, 1st
brigade, 5th division of the Massachusetts Militia, comprehend-
ing the Counties of Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and
Nantucket. In 1795 he was appointed Lieutenant of the said
company by Governor Samuel Adams, and a})pointed by Gov-
ernor Caleb Strong, Captain in 1802. The muster roll of Capt.
Thomas's company for the year 1804 contains the names of
three commissioned ofBcers, four sergeants and musicians, and
fifty six men, including the names of Turner, Taylor, Barstow,
Magoun, Keen, Briggs, Bates, Hatch and others. On the first
Tuesday in May in each year this company was called together
for inspection. Captain Thomas' resignation was accepted and
he was honorably discharged at his own request, March 1,
1807.

William Thomas succeeded to the home of his father Nathan
Thomas, and mar. Mary Hill, dau. of Abraham Hill of Maiden.
Their children were: 1. AVilliam, b. Sept. 21,1747; 2. Mary,
b. Feb. 17,1749; 3. Nathan, b. Jan. 18, 1751, d. Dec. 15,1751;
4. Sarah, b. Jan. 21, (New Style) , 1753, mar. Thomas Baker, and

Capt. Ichaboo Thomas, Jr.

THOMAS GENEALOGY. 159

shediedJan. 6, 1822. The mother died 16 March, 1753, (Xcw
Style) ao-ed 24 yrs, 10 mos, 15 days. Capt. AVm. mar. 2ndly,
Abiah Thomas, March 11, 1754, they had: 1. Deborah, b.
May 28th, 1755; 2. Luther, b. Jan. 25, 1757; 3. Jesse, b.
Feb. 5, 1700; 4. AHce, and 5. Abiah, twins, b. July 6, 1762.
Alice d. July 8, 1763, Abiah d. Sept. 18, 1768.

William Thomas, eldest son of Capt. Wm. Thomas, mar.

Abigail Sherman April 12, . They had 1. Mary Hill,

mar. Abijah Waterman ; 2. Abigail Chapman.

Israel Thomas, 6th and youngest son of the Ancestor John,
and Sarah Pitney, mar. Bethiah Sherman, Feb. 23, 1698. He
died Jan. 29, 1755, in the 85th year of his age. She died in
1728, aged 50. Children: 1. Gershom, b. April 17, 1699, mar.
Mercy Hewit ; 2. Joseph, b. Jan. 4, 1702, d. single ; 3. Amos,
b. Oct. 2, 1703, mar. Ruth, dau. of Joseph White and moved
to Lebanon, Conn; 4. Bethiah, b. 1705, mar. Israel Hatch Oct.
27, 1725; 5. Keziah, b. Jan. 13, 1708, mar. John Dingley,
Nov. 17, 1730; 6. Al)io-ail, b. April 5, 1710, mar. Thomas
Waterman, Jan. 25, 1732; 7. Nehemiah, b. July, 26, 1712,
mar. Abiah, dau. of Nathaniel Winslow ; 8. Sybil, b. Jan. 6,
1714, mar. John Tilden of Hanover, Dec. 2, 1742 ; 9. Jane, b.
Dec. 31, 1718, mar. Thomas Ford, Jan., 1739-40 ; 10. Deborah,
b. April 28, 1719, mar. Jabez Washburn of Kingston, Oct. 4,
1751.

Nehemiah Thomas, son of Dea. Israel, b. Jul}'' 2Q, 1712,
mar. Abiah Winslow, dau. of Nathaniel and Deborah Barstow
Bryant Winslow, widow of John Bryant, b. Dec. 9, 1741.
Dea. Nehemiah d. May 30, 1782, aged 70. Abiah, Avid. of
Nehemiah, d. Aug. 7, 1809. They had children : 1. Elitliia, b.
May 1, 1742, mar. Joseph Drew of Duxbury ; 2. Abigail, b.
March 12, 1743, mar. Briggs Thomas, son of Col. Anthony
Thomas; 3. Ruth, )). Aug. 3, 1746, died young : 4. Nehemiah,
b. Jan. 3, 1748 : 5. Nathaniel, b. Oct. 1, i750,"dicd unmarried ;
6. Olive, b. Dec. 28, 1752, mar. Joshua Winsor, Duxbury; 7.
Ruth 2nd, b. June 14, 1755, 2nd wife of Joshua Winsor; 8.
Lucy, b. Nov. 27, 1757, died unmarried, aged 30; 9. Hannah,
b. July 22, 1760, mar. Judah Thomas ; 10. Winslow, b. July
21, 1763, mar. Abigail Delano; 11. Nehemiah 2nd, b. Fel). 3,
1766, mar. Hannah Otis of Scituate, at which place he settled
in the ministry ; 12. Charles, b. Feb. 6, 1768, mar. Saba Evcr-
son of Kino-ston.

160 THOMAS GENEALOGY.

James Thomas, 4th son of the ancestor John, and Sarah

Pitney, settled inDuxbuiy, near jSIarshtield ; mar. Mary .

They had: 1. ]Mary, b. Sept. 27, 1(393; 2. James, b. Feb. 10,
1(196; 3. Hannah, b. Aug. 30, 1698, mar. Wrestling Brewster
of Kingston, 1722; 4. John, b. Xov. 4, 1700, mar. Hannah
Spofford and settled in Lebanon, Conn : 5. El)enezer, b. Sept.
30, 1703, mar. and settled in KorAvich, Conn. ; 6. Ezekiel, b.
Sept. 29, 1706, mar. and moved to Lebanon, Conn.

Capt. James mar. Deborah, dau. of John and Jane Hatch
Sherman, Feb. 12, 1715, and d. Jan 16, 17o<S, aged 54. Debo-
rah, his widow, d. Feb. 5, 1774, aged 84. They had chil. : 1.
Abiah, b. March 25, 1720, mar." Capt. William Thomas of
Marshtield; 2. Deborah, b. ]\hiy, 7, 1722, d. July 19, 1747,
aged 25 yrs., 2 mos. ; 3. James, b. Feb. 1, 1726, mar. Priscilla
Winslow. They are ancestors of Hon. B. W. Harris of Bridge-
water ; 4. Jesse, b. Sept. 10, 1728, a merchant and surveyor,
d. of consumption, while waiting at Meduncook, Me. for a
passage home. He was a man of much property.

Ebenezer Thomas, of Norwich, Conn., 5th child of Jas. and
Mary, mar. for his first wife Hannah Haskins, ]March 7, 1735.
She died July, 1747. They had chil. : 1. Hannah, b. Sept. 3,
1733; 2. Ebenezer, b. Oct. 6, 1734, probably d. early; 3.
Mary, b. March 9,1735; 4. Lucretia, b. Sept. 5, 1738; 6.
Abigail, b. Sept. 8, 1740; 7. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 28, 1742-3;
8. Elizabeth, b. July 2, 1747, d. 1799. Ebenezer Thomas
mar. 2ndly Deborah Hyde. They had chil. ; 1. Deborah, b.
Oct. 10, 1749, mar. Captain Frederic Tracy; 2. Clarissa,
b. Dec. 13, 1753, d. Aug. 21, 1758; 3. Simeon, b. Dec.
13, 1753, mar. Miss Deshon of New London, parents of
Edward Thomas of Augusta, Ga., b. 1793. Thomas Langrel,
the youngest son of Elienezer and Deborah Hyde Thomas, 1).
Aug. 1, 1757, left no sons. Henry Thomas, father of Caroline
Thomas of Norwich, Conn., was son of Ebenezer, b. 1742-3,

Ezekiel Thomas of Lebanon, Conn., 7th child of Jas. and
Mary, mar. Sarah Trumbull, Feb. 25, 1735-36. They had
chil. : 1. Ezekiel, b. Dec. 15, 1736, d. May 8, 1737. Sarah,
the mother, d. Dec. 18, 1736. EzekicU mar. 2ndly, Ann
Haskins, 1740. They had chil. : 1. Sarah, b. Aug. 4, 1741.
2. Ezekiel, b. Feb. 1743 ; 3. Ann, b. Feb. 20, 1744; 4. Sybil,
b. March 8, 1747; 5. Lord, b. Aug. 29, 1748; 6. Jethaniah,
b. July 1, 1750; 7. Daniel, b. May 5, 1753; 8. Josiah, b.

THE ANCESTORS, JOHN AND SARAH PITNEY THOMAS. 101

Oct. 17, 1755; 9. John, b. May 29, 1757; 10. Mabel, b.
March 4, 1759; 11. Josiah, b. Sept. 17, 1762; 12. Jesse, b.
Aug. 21, 1764.

To letvun to the ancestor John : — the following is taken from
an address delivered by the late Marcia Thomas, on the
occasion of the re-union of the Thomas family at the old home-
stead in Marshtield, Sat., June 15, 1872, and the presentation
of a statue by Stephen M. Allen, Esq. of Boston.

" All of the descendants of John Thomas and Sarah Pitney,
who were among the first settlers of Marshfield, and were
married Dec. 21, 1648, occupying the farm adjoining the
Daniel AVebster place, now the residence of the femily of Miss
Adelaide Phillips, were invited to take an interest and part at
the family gathering and memorial services at the old home-
stead spot to-day ; comphmentary to the members of the Thomas
family, as well as a tribute of respect to Miss Phillips, whose
kindness and hospitality so many of the descendants of the
Thomas family have had occasion to acknowledge during the
last twelve years, on visiting the old homestead.

" The memorial presented is a metalic female figure, (a Grecian
nymph,) two-thirds size of life, which is to stand near the street
upon the edge of the old cellar, looking down upon the ruin.
She holds in her elevated left hand an mverted water-urn, or
vase, and in her right, which also clasps the drapery of her
dress, a wreath. The design idealizes the return to earth of
the ancestress, to visit the homestead, bringing a wreath of
flowers and laurel for the fair songstress, now resident there.
The attitude is the chosen moment when the nymph steps upon
the mound of rock and earth, and seems lost in wonder at the
changed appearance of the ancestral home, and inadvertently
raises the hand which contains the urn, pouring out the w'ater
upon the ground, still clasping the wreath. The statue is one
of rare grace, delicacy, and beauty, and was cast m Germany.
Of that woman who stands at the head of our Ime in this country
we have much to say, and the heart warms in the consciousness
that where we now stand, she has often stood before : that on
this beautiful landscape, which entrances our own eyes and
heart, she has often gazed Avith all the fervor of romance and
all the enthusiasm of love which we can know or feel. Her
emotional life must have been deeper than ours, for here, at her
bridal home, were entertained, with perhaps the highest domes-

162 THE ANCESTORS, JOHN AND SARAH PITNEY THOMAS.

tic joys around her fireside, shades of constant fear. Here, in
her day, the altar and the liearthstone were never free from the
threatenings of savage treachery. Sarah Pitney was a heroic
woman, and her life bore out that character to the day of her
death. Her infantile years were passed on the banks of the
river Orwell, in Old England. Two hundred and thirty-seven
years ago (April, 1872,) she left her transatlantic home and
embarked with her mother and baby brother at the port of
London, m the ship "Planter," Capt. Frazier, for the planta-
tions of New England. Her father, James Pitney, had pre-
ceded them, and secured for their reception, a humlile home in
this vicinity amid the honored Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony.
He was one of the guard, who watched for the beacon tires to
l)e lighted on yonder western hilltop, in case of an alarm from
the Indian enemy. He earned his arms to their thatched-roof
place of worship, and retired to rest, un-divested of his daily
garments, with his rifle by his bedside, that he might be able
to render assistance to the colonists according to need. Their
fears of attack from the foe, though constant, were never
realized. The people around were never carried into captivity
nor their dwellings destroyed. The protecting care of their
Heavenly Parent encircled their settlements. The Governor of
the colony, Edward Winslow, dwelt near them at Cares-
well, wdiom the red men of the forest esteemed as their friend.
This neighborhood was called Green Harbor, and the ))eautiful
river bearing the same name, that ebbed and flowed unimi)eded
through its verdant marsh lands, diffused health and heal-
ing from the flowing of its saline waters. Truly their lines
had fallen to them in pleasant places. When she attained
the age of twelve years, five of which she had spent in the
colony, the sweet name of Green Harbor was changed to Marsh-
field — the place at that date being incorporated as a township.
At twenty, she was united in marriage to John Thomas, who
crossed the Atlantic the same season as herself, in the ship
"Hopewell'' from London, commanded by Capt. Babb. He
was seven years her senior, and had been reared with care by
Gov. Edward Winslow, at Careswell. Their marriage was the
third entered on the records of the townshij). They settled on
this homestead, which had bcicn given by the Governor to the
town for the better accommodation of a neigh))orhood, and for
furnishing such additions to their society as would benefit them
in religious affairs — no one to receive the gift without his
approval. It was first bestowed on Robert Carver, brother to

THE ANCESTORS, JOHN AND SARAH PITNEY THOMAS. 163

the first Governor of the colony, who, after tlic lapse of five
years, with the approbation of Mr. Wii slow, transferred it to
John Thomas, and the former removed to another grant, where
his descendants yet reside. This neighborhood was one of the
most favored in the colony. The domains of Mr. AVinslow and
Mr. Wm. Thomas, another of its founders, were extensive.
On this spot, midway between their fortified mansion-houses,
she reared her family, numl^ering six sons and two daughters.
Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, deceased in early womanhood.
Her other daughter, Sarah, married Benj. Pliillii^s of this place ;
one of her sons, Ephraim, removed to Providence Plantation;
her other five settled in this section of the old colony, mostly
on lands granted fr(mi time to time to their father. They all
left a fair record on the pages of history, and their descendants
can now be counted by thousands, scattered from the Atlantic
to the Pacific coast. Her days were passed amid stirring, and
to us, historic scenes, too numerous to name. Courts for
magistracy and councils of war were holden at Careswell.
After the lamented decease at sea of Gov. Edward Winslow, in
1()5(5, his son Josiah presided at the family mansion. He
became the first native-born Governor of the colony, and
chief commander of its military forces. His useful life was
closed in 11)80, at the age of fifty two. Philip's war, as it was
termed, was far more alainiing to the settlers of this reign than
previous difficulties with the native tribes ; but Careswell was
fortified, and here, with the younger children of her household,
she doubtless found a retreat of measurable safety under the
protecting arm of the colony and the invulnerable Standish."

Capt. ichabod Thomas, after his marriage with Euth Turner,
the daughter of his instructor, Capt. Benj., left his native
town, and settled on an estate in Peml)roke, })urchased of
James Randall, as the following extracts from a deed prove :

"To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting, &c. : Know
ye that James Randall of Pembroke in tlie County of Fli mouth in
New Eng. Blacksmith, for and in consideration of the sum of One
hundred and Eight pounds in Lawful Money of New Eng. to me in
hand paid by Ichabod TJiomas of the town, etc. afores'd, Ship-
turig/it, the rec'pt whereof 1 do hereby acknowledge and myself
satisfied content, etc. Have given, granted, etc. unto him the s'd
Ichabod Thomas, his heirs, and assigns forever a certain farm or
tract of land with the buildings and "fencing thereon, standing and
belonging, etc. in ye township of Pembroke afores'd, containing by
estimation 21^ acres more or less, bounded as Ibllows : — Beginning
at a large Rock lying on the South side of the county road near

164 CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS YARD.

where the house stood, formerly belonging to old Levt. Barker, now
Isaac Taylor's, from thence is bounded by s'd roade to the land of
David Magoun, and thence westerly by s'd Magoun's land to the
land of Col. James Otis, Esqr. — taken by virtue of an Execution
s'd Otis had against s'd Randall, and thence southerly by s'd Otis'
land to the land I sold to Capt. Benjamin Turner, and thence east-
erly by said Turner's land to said County road, thence northerly by
s'd county road unto the s'd great Rock, the bounds first mentioned,
except and alwa>s reserving the way which formerly belonged to
Abraham Booth, from the County road to his land. To have and to
hold, etc. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
Seal this twenty-ninth day of January, Anno Domini, 1761.

James Randall \_Sea/.^
Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of

Elisha Barker.

Benj". Turner.

This farm is now owned and occupied by Wm. H. H. Colla-
more, Esq.

Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Senior, built at the Brick-Kilns from
about 17(i4 to 1787-88. The first vessel that was built at^ this
yard, whose name has been ascertained, was the brig " NOR-
FOLK," built by Ichabod Thomas, at North River, in 1765.
The next vessel of which any account has been found was built
the same year, 1765, the ship "NEPTUNE," commanded by
Capt. Nathan Coffin, to London, with a load of sperm oil. Cof-
fin was captured upon a like voyage to London, and, when
taken, the British Admiral said, "Capt. Coffin, you can join
His Majesty's service, or go into irons." " Hang me, if you
will, to your ship's yard-arm, but do not ask me to become a
traitoi to my country."* Capt. Coffin was grandfiither of
Chas. H. Marshall, who established the famous "Black Ball"
line of Packets between New York and Liverpool (so named
because each vessel had a large black ball in the centre of the
fore-top-sail). His first voyage was in 1804, in the ship
" LIMA," built on North River. The "Lima" was condemned
at Rio Janeiro, 1842.

The next vessel on record as having been built by Ichabod
Thomas, was the " BEAVER," one of the tea-ships of Boston
Harbor, from which the tea was thrown by the famous tea-
party, Dec. 16, 1773. The following is taken from "Traits of
the Boston Tea-party," T)y a Bostonian (B. B. Thatcher) :

* See Bancroit, 9th vol., page 313.

The Bostonians paying the Excise Man, ok
"Tarring and Feathering."

THE TEA SHIP " BEAVER," BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILX. 105

"The excitement occasioned by the arrival of the tea-ship ' Dart-
mou th ' can be better imagined than described. The following no-
tice was posted up all over Boston : — ' Friends ! — Brethren ! — Coun-
trymen ! — that worst of plagues, the detested Tea, shipped for this
Port by the East-India Company, is now arrived in this Harbour;
the Hour of Destruction, or manly opposition to the Machinations of
Tyrrany, stares you in the Face ; every Friend to his Country, to
himself, and to Posterity, is now called upon to meet at Faneuil
Hall., at nine o'clock. This Day, (at which time the Bells will ring,)
to make a united and successful resistance to this last, worst and
most destructive measure of administration. Boston, Nov. 29th,
1 773"' Meetings were held in Faneuil Plall and the Old South
Church, and it was resolved that ' the tea should not only be sent
back, but no duty should be paid thereon.' Capt. Hall, and Mr.
Francis Rotch, the owner of the ' Dartmouth,' were ' convented '
and charged not to land the tea, at their peril. A watch of twenty-
five persons, under command of Capt. Proctor, was appointed to
prevent the landing of the tea in the night."

On Dec. 1, 1773, there arrived the ship " Eleanor," Capt.
Jas. Bruce, with a portion of the tea, and about the same time
there arrived the brig '' BeaveV" Capt. Hezekiah Coffin, with
the rest of the tea. He was ordered to proceed to Griffin's
Wharf, and discharge all of his cargo excepting the tea. On
Dec. 1(), there was held, in Faneuil Hall, the greatest meeting
ever held in Boston up to that time, two thousand persons
coming from the country, besides thousands from the city.
Mr. Botch repoi-ted that the Collector would not give him a
clearance. He was then ordered u]K)n his peril to get his ships
ready for sea, and proceed directly to the Governor, then at
Milton, and procure a pass for his ships to go l)y the Castle.
Mr. Kotch returned at 5.45 p.m., and reported that the Gover-
nor would not grant the permit. The meeting lasted until ^vell
into the evening, which was bright moonlight. The following-
account is taken from the Mas.mcJmsetts Gazette:

" Just before the dissolution of the meeting, a number of brave and
resolute men, dressed in the Indian manner, approached near the door of
the assembly, and gave the war-whoop, whieh rang through the house, and
was answered by some in the galleries ; but silence was commanded, and
a peaceable deportment again enjoined till the dissolution. The Indians,
as they Avere then called, repaired to the wharf where the ships lay that
had the tea on board, and were followed by hundreds of pen])le, to see the
event of the transactions of those who made so grotesque an appearance.
The}-, the Indians, immediately repaired on boai'd ('apt. Hall's ship, where
they hoisted out the chests of tea, and, when on deck, stove the chests, and
hove the tea overboard. Having cleared this ship, they proceeded to Capt.
Bruce's, and then to Cajot. Coffin^s brig. They applied themselves so dex-
terously to the destruction of this commoditj^ that in the space of three

166 THE TEA SHIP " BEAVER."

hours they broke up 342 chests, valued at £18,000, which was the whole
number in those vessels, and discharged their contents into the dock.
When the tide rose, it floated the broken chests, and the tea, insomuch that
the surface of the water was filled therewith a considerable way from the
south part of the town to Dorchester Neck, and lodged on the shores.
There was the greatest care taken to prevent the tea from being purloined
by the populace. One or two being detected in endeavoring to pocket
a small quantity, were stripped of their acquisitions, and very roughly
handled. The town was very quiet during the whole evening and the night
following. Those who were from the country went home, and the next
day joy appeared in almost every countenance, — some on occasion of the
destruction of the tea, others on account of the quietness with which it was
effected. One of the Monday's papers says that the masters and owners-
are well pleased that the ships are thus cleared."

Some of the men were lielated, and, not having time to get
up a costume equal to their brethren, hurried to the nearest
]>lacksmith's shop, smooched their faces, borrowed a bUuiket
from some neighl)or, thus concealing their clothing and iden-
tity, and proceeded to the ships, to join the rest of the tribe,
shouting, as they went, " Hurrah for Griffin's Wharf! " " Bos-
ton Harbor a tea-pot this night ! " etc. There were about one
hundred to one hundred and fifty tea-throwers, and, before
leaving the wharf, all were searched, and pockets and shoes
emptied of the tea, that none of it should be landed. One of
the tea-party, Archibald MacNeil, died in Scituate, Mass., Feb.
1, 1840, ag-ed ninety years. The "Beaver" was built al)0ut
the same time as the " Bedford." F. C. Sanford has an account
of her voyage to London with a load of sperm oil, Dec, 1772,
consiofned to a man who did an immense business with Nan-
tucket, Samuel Enderby, grandfather to Pacha Baker, who was
murdered in Egypt a few years ago. The " Beaver " followed
whaling from New Bedford for years. After the tea was thrown
out of her, both she and the "Bedford," Capt. Robt. Meader,
went upon the Brazil Banks, and filled with oil. While on the
coast of Brazil, Capt. Hezekiah Coffin, of the "Beaver," al-
lowed an exchange of Alex. Hay, one of his men, to come to
Nantucket, and one of Capt. Meader's, from the ship "Bed-
ford," by the name of Seymour, to go in the "Beaver," to Lon-
don. Seymour wanted more of the ship's voyage than the
agreement upon the Banks, so they had to send to Nantucket
for Capt. Meader's affidavit, for Capt. Coffin having died, they
could not settle his estate. F. C. Sanford has Capt. Meader's
affidavit, dated Jan. 27, 1783, also the entry of the "Bedford,"
Nantucket, May 31, 1783, in the book kept by Geo. Gardiner,
Esq., first U. S. Custom House officer appointed to Nantucket.

/ I I jll lllljllllll

SHIPS BUILT BY CAPT. TCIIAIiOI) THOMAS. 167

In the spring of 1774, the "Bedford" returned to Nantucket,
and the "Beaver" to England, where Capt. Ilezekiah Coffin, of
the "Beaver," died, and the ship was sokl. The "Bedford"
lay at Nantucket seven years, then loaded with four hundred and
eiffhty-eight l)uttsi of oil, sailed for England, and hoisted the
U? Sl flag. Another " BEAVER " was Jmilt on North Eiver in
1791 . She went to the Pacitic, and Avas afterwards sold in New
York. The "Dartmouth," built at Dartmouth about 17G7, Avas
also a tea-ship ; and after the tea was thrown into Boston Ilar-
])or, she came down to Nantucket, and in the following April,
1774, loaded oil and sailed for London. On her way back, she
foundered, in November, and her crew were picked up by Shu-
bael Coffin, Nantucket.

The next ship of Tchabod Thomas', of which there is any
account, is the ship "HARMONY," built on North River pre-
vious to 1769, at Avhich date F. C. Sanford has a voyage made
by her. She belonged to Wm. Rotch. In company with the
"Falkland," in 1790, she went from Dunkirk, France, to the
Pacific Ocean, both sailing in November. They were the first
that went into the PacificTaftcr the " Amelia." They filled with
sperm oil, and both arrived in Dunkirk in Feb., 1792. They
were at Callao, Peru, when the ship "Columbia," Capt. Gray,
was there, on his way to the North Avest Coast. Mr. Rotch Avas
induced to send these vessels to the Pacific, from information
given him by Archclus Hammond, who arrived in liondon,
Septeml)er, 1790, in the ship "Amelia," (Capt Shield,) full of
sperm oil. She belonged to Samuel Enderby, who did much
business Avith Nantucket people. Hammond Avas a great whale-
man, and struck the first whale struck in the Pacific Ocean.
He died in l.SoO, aged seventy-one years. F. C. Sanford
writes, "I knew Hanmiond well. Sam Enderby was grand-
father to the late Gen. Gordon, of Egyptian memory." The
"LEO" AA-as built on North River in 1774, Avent whaling, and
was broken up in 1823, at Nantucket. The " Harmony " was
in company with the ship "Leo" in 1796. On the Brazil
Banks in 1796 a Avhale leaped out of the sea across the "Har-
mony's" deck and sunk her, the crew Jumping from their
berths, having barely time to get into their boats and escape
aboard the "Leo." Abel Rawson Avas Captain of the " Ilar-
mony." This is the only case of the kind on record. The
"FALKLAND," spoken of above, was l)uilt on North River in
1785, by Ichabod Thomas, and OAvned by AVni. Rotch. She

168 SHIPS BUILT BY CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS.

was finally sold to France, and, as a French privateer, did
noble work in the English Channel, taking English ships.
The next vessel was the ship "TAMA," built before the "Bed-
ford " She was a London packet from Nantucket. Five Nan-
tucket men were carried to Portsmouth in the sloop-of-war
"Eattlesnake," with the news of Corn wallis' surrender, Octo-
ber, 1781. On arriving there, they were pressed into "Rod-
ney's" ship, were taken to the West Indies, and fought in the
great 1)attle of the 12th of April, 1782, saving the AVest Indies
from DeGrass.* They returned to England, were paid oft', and
went round to London in a lugger, and there met the " Tama,"
Capt. Shul)ael Coffin. They took passage, and arrived at Nantuc-
ket safe. The " Tama " went ashore on Long Island, coming from
New York, in 1807, and went to pieces. The " SOMERSET,"
a North River ship, built at the Brick-Ivilns, was under Alex-
ander Coffin, and on her passage from London to Nantucket,
during the Revolution, as a London packet, she was taken by
Com. John Paul Jones, and badly handled. Capt. Coffin had
despatches from Dr. Franklin to the Continental Congress, an-
nouncing the Treaty with France of that glorious alliance. f
The papers were afterwards restored, by Com. Jones, to the
Congress. Nantucket had tifteen London packets at that time.
Alexander Coffin was a strong, splendid man. He moved to
Hudson in 1784, and was a prominent man in that city, being
Mayor twenty years. He died in 1839, aged ninety-seven
years, eight months.

At no yard on North River were such a numl)er of famous
ships ])uilt. The name of Ichabod Thomas should certainly be
perpetuated in the memorials of his town, for he, more than any
other man, spread the renown of North River in foreign ports,
and there appears no excuse for not having recorded, years ago,
the history of the ship-building here, and the ships that became
so famous, which were sent out from the then little town of
Pembroke. Between 1775 and 1783 the fisheries produced
but little. Nantucket was the only port which attempted to
carry it on, and at the close of the war 134 vessels had fallen
into the hands of the English and 15 had been lost at sea. This
discouraged the merchants, and comparatively few vessels were
built during these years. But before the dull season Ichabod

* See London Illustrated News, 1859.
t See Genealogical Journal.

SHIP "BEDFORD," FIRST VESSEL TO CARRY THE 169

Thomas built one more vessel, which became famous, and was
the first vessel that carried the American Stars and Stripes into
a British port. She caused such consternation on her arrival
as probably no other vessel ever did before or has since.

This was the "BEDFORD." She was first rigged as a
schooner, afterward changed to a brig, and finally rebuilt,
raised upon, furnished with an additional deck, and rigged as a
ship. After all these alterations, she measured only 170 or
180 tons. No portrait of her has been preserved. The orig-
inal receipt of the last payment made by her owner, Wm.
Rotch, to her builder, Ichabod Thomas, is in the possession of
F. C. Sanford, Esq. The following is a copy : —

Nantucket, ii mo. 13th. 1772.
Received of William Rotch Ninety Pounds, twelve shillings, 4 d.,
L. M. (lawful money), supposed to be in full for his building me a
Brigantine, ''Bedford,'' including Elisha Tolman's joining said

vessel.

Signed " Ichabod Thomas.

The "Bedford" was first sent to Philadelphia, and arrived in
Nantucket from Philadelphia, with a cargo of fiour, under Capt.
Thomas Bunker, when she registered at Nantucket. She
sailed in 177(5 for Brazil Banks and arrived home March 13,
1777 , full of oil. The " Bedford " lay at Nantucket several years
and in Sept. , 1782, the " Maria " came new from Ichabod Thomas.
She was not completed, and the old Quaker merchants had
private imformation that a peace was coming, and as the " INIaria "
could not be desptitched in time they hauled down the Bedford
and sent her to London. She arrived Feb. 6, ofi:' Trinity, with
the Stars and Stripes flying. Custom House oflacers had to
apply to lower solicitors to know what to do with her. She
entered, and that was the first U. S. flag ever displayed in
Europe. Her appearance was thus chronicled by an English
magazine of that day.

" The " Bedford," Capt. Mooers, belonging to Mass., arrived in the D wns
on the 3rd of February, passed the Gravesend the 4th, and was report, at
the Custom House, the 6th. inst. She was not allowed regular entry until
some consultation had taken place between the Commissioners of the Cus-
toms and the Lords of the Council, on account of the many Acts of Parlia-
nient yet in force against the rebels in America. She is loaded with 488
butts of whale-oil, is American built, manned wholly by American sea-men,
Avears the rebel colors, and belongs to the Island of Nantm-ket in ]\Iassa-
chusetts. This is the first vessel which has disi)layed the 13 rebellious
stripes in any British Port. The vessel lies at Ilorsely Down, a little below
thcTower and is intended immediately to return to Kew England."

170 UNITED STATES FLAG INTO A BRITISH TOKT.

It is related that one of the crew of the ship "Bedford," while
she was lying in the Thames, was humpbacked. One day a
British sailor met him, clapped his hand on the American's
shoulder, and said "Hilloa, Jack, what have you got here?"
"Bunker Hill, and be damned to you," replied the Yankee.
"Will you mount?" The British sailor, calling to mind the
experience of his next of kin, the British soldier, in mounting
Bunker Hill in America, decided not to attempt it on the
British Isle. Capt. Wm. Mooers, the master of the " Bedford,"
and afterwards master of the "Maria," is traditionally reported
as one of "nature's noblemen," and his prowess as a whaleman
is familiar to all who have made themselves acquainted with
that hazardous ])ranch of our national enterprise. Erect and
commanding in appearance, standing over six feet, and weigh-
ing more than two hundred pounds, he would have been a
marked man in a thousand. He died in 1819, in France, where
he was then doing business as agent of Wm. Eotch & Co. The
first publication of the terms of the treaty was Jan. 28, 1783,
in a postscript of the London papers, about a week before the
arrival of the "Bedford." The King's proclamation was not
published until the 15th of Febuary, twelve days after her
arrival. The news was first received in Boston, April 23rd,
but the treaty was not signed until September. It is, therefore,
no wonder that when the master of the " Bedford " appeared
and demanded to enter his vessel at the Custom House, with
her cargo of oil, coming from a country and people who were
still considered rebels, his appearance created astonishment.
In general, the proof in full of vessels having been built at the
different yards on North River has not been given, as it would
take too much space, but where it is stated that vessels were
built at certain yards, proof positive has been found of the fact,
as in the case of the " Bedford." Besides the receipt from Ichabod
Thomas, now in existence, there is additional proof in the form
of a letter, of which the following is a copy, written by W^m.
Rotch, Jr., one of her owners, and dated at New Bedford, 8th
mo., 3rd, 1842:

" Dear Friend :

In my reply to thy letter of the 2ist ult., received last evening,
according to the best of my recollection, my father had a vessel built
by Ichabod Thomas^ at North River, just before the Revolution,
for himself and Champion & Dickason, of London, for the London
trade. After the war commenced, she laid at Nantucket several
years, until a license was procured for her to go to London with a

Ship " Maria."
Built by Ichabod Thomas at the Brick-kilns, in 1782.

THE FIRST U. S. FLAG EXIIIIUTED IN QUEBEC. 171

cargo of oil, Timothy Folger, commander. Several gentlemen from
Boston took passage in her, among whom were the late Governor

Winthrop, Thomas K. Jones, Hutchinson, and some others-

whose names I do not recollect.

We sent the sloop "SPEEDWELL" (also built by Ichabod
Thomas) to Aux Cayes, St. Domingo. She was taken and carried
into Jamaica, but her Captain was released one day after. By the
treaty, the war ceased in that latitude, and she was released when
she showed the first United States flag there. On her return home,
everything was very low by the return of peace. We put on board
two hundred boxes of candles, and with William Johnson (whose
widow, I learned, lives at Qiiassi,) as supercarpo, sent her to Qiie-
bec, where her's was the first United States flag exhibited.

Should thee wish any further information within my recollection,.
I will freely communicate it.

I am, with love to thy wife.

Thy aftectionate friend,

Wm. Rotch, 1r."

What finally became of the " Bedford " I have been unable to
ascertain. To Ichabod Thomas, also, must be given the credit of
buildino; the vessel which, as far as any record is preserved,
was in the service longer than any other vessel built on jVorth
River.

This was the "MARIA," built in 1782, and broken up in
1872, at Vancouver's Island, after sailing for ninety years,
during which time she touched at nearly every seaport of the
globe" She was at Falkland Islands in 1785 ; Greenland, 1788,
as high as 79° N. in the ice on June 22nd. Her career would
make a romantic book. She was l)uilt at Peml)roke for a i)ri-
vateer, l)ut never used as such. When finished, she was pur-
chased by Mr. Rotch, for a merchant vessel, and brought by
Capt. AVm. Mooers to Nantucket, previous to his sailing thence
in the "Bedford." On his return from that voyage, he took
the "Maria" to London with a cargo of oil; and on a subse-
quent passage, he made in her the voyage from Nantucket to
Dover in twenty-one days. She sailed from Nantucket for
London, July 4, 1785. Her owners, William and Benjamin
Rotch, the father and brother of Wm. Rotch, Jr., were on board
as passengers, going to establish the whale fishery from an
English port. It is narrated that, on the i)assage, Uv. l^otch,
during a storm, became alarmed, and, venturing part way out
of the cabin gangway, said, "Capt. JMooers, it woidd be more
conducive to our safety for thee to take in some sail ; thee had
better do so." To which Capt. Mooers replied, " Mr. Rotch,

172 " MARIA " BUILT BY CAPT. ICIIABOD THOMAS.

I have the deck, you have the cal)in." He could not brook
dictation, even from his owner. The "Maria "was lying u^
Nantucket when the " Bedford " was at anchor in the Downs.
Mary Thomas, afterward JNIrs. Joshua Perry, granddaughter of
Ichabod Thomas, wrote, many years ago, the following : " My
grandfather, Ichabod Thomas, built the ship ' Maria ' during
the Re\'olution. After many years being out of repair, Mr.
William Rotch wdio Ijought her, told his son-in-law, Samuel
Rodman, he would give it to him. He said he would not ac-
cept it. Mr. Rotch said it was built by his old friend, Ichabod
Thomas, and must be repaired. He repaired it, and then asked
his son-in-law to accept it ; and he did." After her voyage to
London, the "Maria" w^as employed in the whale fishery, and
for lifty or sixty years w^as owned by Sanniel Rodman of New
Bedford, and his descendants. It is said there stood to her
credit, in 1859, $250,000 ; and she had been of expense to her
underwriters but once, and then only for a trifling amount.
She made five voyages to the Pacific within the short space of
six years, returning each time with a full cargo of oil, 1215
barrels. She concluded her first whaling voyage on the 26tli
of September, 1795. In her seventy-seventh year, she arrived
at New Bedford from a three years' cruise in the Indian Ocean.
" She was," says the Standard of that date, " built at the town
of Pembroke, for a privateer, during the Revolutionary \A'ar.
Her flag is now in existence, though in shreds. Her model is
of old French construction, tumbling home, or rounding very
much, in her top sides, and she is consequently very narrow on
deck in yn-opoi-tion to her size, 202 tons.'' She sailed from
New Bedford on her twenty-seventh and last whaling voyage
under our flag, on the 29th "of September, 1859. On these
voyages, she is credited with having taken 24,419 barrels of
sperm, and 134 barrels of whale oil. In 1856, Mr. Harditch,
of Fairhaven, who, sixty-four years before, had assisted in
making her a suit of sails, was again employed in the same
service for her. Feb. 24, 1863, she was repaired and sold at
Talcahuana, Chili, under the name of ''Maria Pachaco" and,
under the Chilian flag, probably to avoid the risk of her capture
by rebel cruisers, continued sailing in the Pacific until 1870.
Her purchasers, Messrs. Burton &, Trumbull, of Talcahuana,
employed her in the coal trade. July 1, 1866, she was
fitted out for Talcahuana, on a whaling voyage, under command
of David Briggs, of Dartmouth, Mass. At the time of her loss
she was in such o-ood condition that she bade fair to outlast her

C^^Ct

VESSELS I5UILT BY CAPT. ICIIABOD THOMAS. 113-

*■

century. The flag ,shc first wore is said to be in existence in
New Bedford. The "Maria," then owned in Chili, was con-
demned at Vancouver's Ishmd in 1872. Francis Rotch died in
New Bedford, 1822. He Mas brother of ^\n\. Rotch. " Wnu
Rotch was born in 1734, and was tlie greatest merchant that
ever lived." (Sanford.)

I have been unable to obtain definite information as to any
of the other vessels l)uilt by Ichabod Thomas, 8r., between
1782 and 1788 ; but the following were built in Pembroke, and
probably at the Brick Iviln Yard :

1782. Sloop "SALEM PACKET," 42 tons, of Ipswich.
1783. Sch. "DOLPHUS," 32 tons, of Boston. 1783. Sloop
"DIANA," 51 tons, owned by Samuel and Amos Jones, and
Ruth Eales, of Scituate. 1784. Brig't'n "CADET," 100 tons,
of Boston. 1784. Sch. "HOPE," 55 tons, of Boston. 1786.
Sloop "MARY," 22 tons. 178(5. Sch. "JOHN," 00 tons, of
Boston. 178(i. Sch. "MARS," 53 tons, of Wellfleet. 1786.
Sch. "NAUTILUS," 60 tons, of Boston. 1787. Sch. "PEG-
GY," 37 tons; owner, John Soule, Marshfield. 1787. Sch.
"AARON," 43 tons, owned by John Soule and John White, of
Marshfield. 1787. Sloop " NANCY," 41 tons. This sloop was
in existence in 1842, then fifty-five years old, and was owned
by John Reed, of Boothbay, Me. Mr. Thomas died in 1788,
comparatively young, and was buried in the Thomas burial-lot
in Pembroke, opposite Dr. Francis Collamore's. The follow-
ing is copied from the headstone :

" Erected in memory of
Capt, Ichabod Thomas,

Who was removed by death, March 2, 1788,
In the 55th year of his age.

' The sweet remembrance of the just,
Shall flourish while he sleeps in death.' "

Another stone has —

" Wm. Thomas died in 1802, age 27 years."

Capt. Ichabod Thomas, son of Capt. Ichabod, lived in the
same house that his father occupied, and worked in the ship-yard
until he had passed three-score years. In July, 1820, his wife
Polly Thomas, wrote to her daughter in Maine, Mrs. Joshua
Perry : " Your pa is at work at the Ytird every day, and en-
joys his health." The record of his decease ai)pears on a stone

174 VESSELS BUILT BY CAPT. THOMAS AXI) CALVIN TURNER.

in the Pembi-oke Cemetery, where he lies l)uriod in the same
Jot as his father :

" Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Died Nov. ii, 1859, in the 99th year of
his age."

The first vessel of which there is positive proof of having
been built by Ichabod, Jr., was the Sch. "DOLPHIN," 49 tbns,
built in 1799, at Pembroke. She was commanded by Capt.
Prince Howes, and was eniraaed in trading. About 1812, she
brought corn from Virginia in the winter, and in the summer
went fishing. During the war with England, and while under
the command of Capt. Elisha Howes, she was captured by the
British fleet oft' Penobscot River, Me. They took her crew
out, and towed her oft' awhile ; but, being in ballast, and of not
much value, they gave her up. Ca})t. Prince Howes' son made
one voyage in her to the Straits of Belle Isle.

Between 1788 and 1805, Calvin Turner, uncle of Ichabod
Thomas, Jr., built next to him, in the same yard, the follow-
ing, among other vessels: 1802. Sch. "TWO FRIENDS,"
89 tons, of Portland, Calvin Turner, master carpenter; built
at Pembroke. 1803. Sloop "FAIR PLAY," 50 tons, of Dux-
bury, afterwards of Saulisbury, Calvin Turner, Jr., master
carpenter; built at Pembroke. 1805. Brig "ALMIRA," 178
tons, of Boston, Calvin Turner, master carpenter; Pembroke.
1807. Sch. "FAME," 83 tons, of Boston. This vessel was
built by Calvin Turner, at Pembroke, and was captured and
burnt by the French, in 1811. The following vessels, built in
Pembroke between 1788 and 1805, were probably built by them
and Alden Briugs : 1 788. Sch. " HANNAH," 45 tons, of Ply-
mouth. 1789. Brig t'n "MARY ANN," 78 tons, of Boston.

1790. Sloop "SALLY," owned by Seth Hatch, Pembroke.

1791. Brig "POLLY,^' 131 tons, of Boston. 1792. Sch.
"UNION," 42 tons, of Boston. 1793. Sloop "LYDIA," 100
tons, of Boothbay, Me. 1794. Sloop ''DOLPHIN," 78 tons,
of Boston ; built at Pembroke ; owned l)y Robert Barker and
Alden Briggs of Peml)roke, Lemuel Church and Stephen Stock-
bridge of Scituate, and others. 1795. Ship "SARAH," 310
tons, of New Bedford, afterwards of Boston. 179(3. Brig,
afterwards Ship, "ALEXANDER," 133 tons, of Boston. 1797.
Sch. "OLIVE, 70 tons, of Duxburv. 1800. Sch. "WASH-
INGTON," 107 tons, of Boston. 1800. Brig't n " TRITON,"

^^d£^.^ ^^

VESSELS BUILT BY ICHABOD THOMAS AND CALVIX TURNER. 175

170 tons, of Boston. 1803. Sch. "LAUREL," ()1) tons, of
Duxbury. 1804. Ship " ARCTURUS," 300 tons, of Diixbuiy.
1805. Sell. "HANNAH," 50 tons, of Plymouth. Calvin Tur-
ner was ])rother of Joshua and son of Capt. Benjamin. Calvin
had a son,

a s h i p -

^builder,

' who went

to Med-

ford ; also a son David, a ship-builder, who lived on the Briggs
farm, on the Neck, in Pembroke, and who afterwards moved to
Duxbury, where he died, leaving a famil3\ Previous to 1805,
Calvin Turner formed a partnership with his nephew, lehabod
Thomas, and built one vessel at the Brick Kiln during the lat-
ter year. 1805. Brig "ONLY SON," 170 tons, Ebenezer
Nickerson, of Provincetown ; owner, Calvin Turner ; Ichabod
Thomas, master carpenters ; built at Pembroke. They gave up
building here about this time, and built in Hanover together,
and also with Wm. Cushing.* The history of the successors
of the Thomases, at the Brick Kiln Yard is given in the fol-
lowing chapter.

* See Chapter Miscellaneous Yards, under Hanover.

THOMAS COAT OF ARMS.

CHAPTER XI.

BRICK-KILN YARD, (Continued). 1796-1848.

WILLIAM LEWIS, ALDEN BRIGGS, ELISHA BRIGGS, JONATHAN
SAMSON, SAMUEL ROGERS, ISAAC HATCH, LUTHER BRIGGS,
AARON S. MAGOUN, JR., ENOCH MAGOUN, JOSHUA MAGOUN,
JEDUTHAN PALMER, BARKER TURNER, CALEB TURNER, GUSH-
ING O. BRIGGS, SILVANUS SMITH, MELZAR S. TURNER.

^1 T'M. LEWIS, Alden and Elisha Briggs, Jonathan Sampson,.
^ ' Sam'l Rogers and Isaac Hatch built in Pembroke about 1796
and later. There were two yards at the Brick-kihis, and three
or four vessels side by side on the stocks at the same time was
not an unusual sight. Little can be found relative to Wm.
Lewis. He probably came from the Marshfield family, as his
name does not appear on the church or town records in Pem-
broke. There is little doubt that he was the Wm. Lewis of
Marshfield belonging to the following family :

William Lewis, mar. Christiana White, had children: 1.
Christiana, b. April 11, 1774; 2. WiUiam, b. Feb. 29, 1777,
mar. Welthy Sampson; 3. Catharine, b. March 9, 1779,

d. Sept. 30, 1850; 4. Sarah, b. June 11, 1781, mar.

Randall; 5. Daniel, b. May 5, 1784; 6. James Hawkes, b.
May 1, 1786; 7. Samuel, b. May 4, 1788; 8. Jesse, b. Aug.
14, 1790 ; 9. Elizabeth, b. June 24, 1795, d. May, 1874.
Daniel Lewis, mar. Mercy Winslow, Jan. 21, 1768, no family ;
he died Feb. 20, 1829, aged 87 years ; his wife d. Dec. 15,
1822, in her 82nd year. Taken from a family Bible supposed
to have once been the property of Jose})h Lewis, of Hingham,
a graduate of Harvard College, 1705, and probably disposed of
by his descendants, to Nath. Winslow of Marshfield.

WILLIAM LEWIS, SHir-BUILDER. 177

Joseph and S:i Villi Lewis' oliildren were: 1. Sarah, 1). Dec.
15, 1703 ; 2. Joseph, b. Oct. 1, 1705, died youug ; 3. Thomas,
b. Sept. 20, 1707; 4. Paul, b. March 25, 1710; 5. James, b.
Sept. 9, 1712; 6. Jonathan, b. Dec. 3, 1714; 7. Mary, b.
Sept. 6, 1717 ; Sarah Lewis, the mother of these seven chil-
dren, "was taken out of this world," Jan. 5, 1718. Joseph's
children by a second marriaiie were: 1. Elizabeth, b. July 1,
1719 ; 2. George, b. July 23, 1721 ; 3. Hannah, b. July 24,
1723, d. Aug. 17, 1723 ; 4. Samuel, b. June 21, 1724, d. Oct.
28, 1725 ; 5. Jehiel, b. April 19, 1727, d. July; 6. Ebenezer,
b. eTuly 28, 1728 ; 7. Leab, b. Oct., 1730 ; 8. Hannah, b. Dec.
1734; 9. another name illegible. May 11, 1736, prol)a])ly
Joseph. There is one report that Wi/k Lewis went to
Plymouth, and built one vessel, and finally moved to Matta-
poisett. Whether the following item from an old account
book belongs to the same family, we do not know :

"June 3rd, 1S16.

Capt. Saml. Tolman to Rogers Lewis Dr., to 10 tides labor on
board of your ship at 4-6 — $7.50. Rec'd payment,

Rogers Lewis."

Certain it is that Wm. Lewis did build in Pembroke, (prob-
ably at the Brick-kilns, ) the following vessels, the first of which
is described in a copy of his certificate, as follows :

North River. Pembroke, Jan'y 30, 1796.

This certifies that the Ship called the " HELEN" of Boston was
built by me upon the North River in Pembroke and launch'd in
December last part for James S. Lovell, Merchant of Boston. That
she is square sterned has two Decks & three masts that Her Leno;th
is seventy-five feet her Breadth twenty-six Sc half feet her Depth
seventeen & lialf feet measuring Two hundred & seventy-seven Tons
and having a figurehead.

The second and only other vessel found, built by him, was in
1803, sch. "MAY FLOWEll," of Plymouth, afterwards ot
Boston.

178 BRIGGS GENEALOGY.

Elisha, Alden, and Luther Briggs built here al)out this time.
Enos, Daniel, Thomas, and Seth Briggs, the prominent builders
of Salem and Milton, served their apprenticeship here with
their fathers and brothers, and often had to call on them to
assist in special work on some of the noted vessels which they
built after they left the little Brick-kiln yard. To better under-
stand who this family was the following genealogy is given.

Seth Briric/s, shipwright, was b. Aug. 28., 1721, at Scituate,
and d. at P'einbroke, July 23, 1801. He was the lifth child of
James Briggs, who was b. March 2, 1683-4, and who mar. 1st,
Elizabeth Garrett, May 7, 1713, and 2nd, Hannah Stowell,
Oct. 4, 171 (i.. James Briggs was the third son of Ensign
Cornelius Briggs, who wasthe third son of Walter Briggs, who
appears in Scituate in 1643. The date of the birth of Cornelius
has not been found, but it is stated that at the time of his death,
Oct. 20th, 1694, he was 67 years of age. He mar., 1. Mary
Doughty, dau. of James Doughty and widow of Samuel Kussell,
March 20, 1()77, by whom only, he had children. He mar.
2nd, Mehitable Annable of Barnstable, May 6, 1683.* _ Seth
Briggs, mar. in 1745 Abigail Church, who was b. in Scituate,
Eeb.^ll, 1726, and d. Nov. 3, 1795. They had children as
follov>^s: \. Enos.h. July 29, 1746, d. at Salem, Oct. 10,
1819 ;t 2. Seth, b. Nov. 8, 1748 ; 3. EUsha, b. Dec. 21, 1750,
d. Sept. 10, 1836 ; 4. Daniel, b. April 14, 1754 ; 5. Na])by, b.
July 1, 1756 ; 6. Thomas, b. Aug. 22, 1758, and d. in 1809 ;
7. Mary, b. May 25, 1760, and d. Sept. 3, 1834 ; 8. Alden, b.
March 17, 1763 ; 9. Judith, b. May 7, 1765 ; 10. Rhoda, bap.
Feb., 1772.

Enm, the first child of Seth, mar. Sarah, dau. of Edward
and Rachel (Cushing) Thomas, who was b. in Pembroke, Feb.
6, 1755, and d. in Salem, Dec. 9, 1833. Their children were :
Sally, b. Oct. 25, 1778 ; died April 9, 1856. Enos, b. March
25, 1781 ; d. Oct. 9, 1837. Samuel, b. Dec. 10, 1783 ; d. Nov.
10, 1859. Judith, b. Aug. 26, 1786 : d. Sept. 3, 1836. Polly,
b. March 1, 1789 ; d. March 24, 1834. Betsey, b. March 19,

* See Chapter on Briggs' Ship Yard.

t The Salem Gazette of Oct. 12, 1S19, thus notices hi.s decease: " In this tov-n Mr.
Enos Briggs, aged 73, one of our most valuable and worthy citizens. He came to this
town from Pembroke in the vear 1791, and has heen eminent as a master shipbuilder,
from whose yard a great numl^er of our best ships have been launched. He was also
the master builder of the frigate ' Essex,' the work, of which did him great credit m the
eyes of the nation. In his death his family suffer a severe loss." (Hist. Coll. of Essex
Inst. Vol 6., pp. 171-174.)

BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 179

1792; d. Jan. 7, 1814. Rachel, b. Feb. 28, 179G; d. Sept.
— , 1836. Sally, first child of Enos, mar. 1st, David Smith ;
2nd, John Bott. Enos, son of Enos, mar. Lucy A. Morse, and

had children : Lucy, mar. Sargent ; Susan, mar.

Merriam ; Enos, Charles, Edward, Nathaniel, and one other,
name unknown. Samuel, third child of Enos, mar. 1st, Susan
Whittemore, Oct. 1(5, 1808 ; she d. Oct., 1810, aged 20 years.
By her he had one child, Edward Thomas, b. Aug. 25, 1809 ;
d. Nov. 25, 1815. lie mar. 2nd, Mary S. Bowles, July 5,
1818 ; she d. Nov. 16, 1853. By her he had children : Susan,
b. May 20, 1820 ; d. March 20, 1822. Edward T., b. July 31,
1824; d. May 20, 1882 ; mar., but left no children. Susan,
b. April 22, 1830 ; mar. 1st, \Vm. H. Clarke ; 2nd, George
P. Farrington ; she is now a widow. Mary Eunice, b. Jan. 22,
1832; d. July 21, 1832. Judith, fourth child of Enos, mar.
George Deane. Polly (or Mary), fifth child of. Enos, mar.
Nathan Cook. Betsey, sixth child of Enos, d. unmarried.
Rachel, seventh child of Enos, mar. John Burleigh (or
Burley).

Seth, second child of Seth, mar. Deborah Barker, and had

children : Seth, (who mar. , and had children. Sarah,

who mar. Shook. Catharine, who mar. Woods ;

and George C, who mar. Anne Loring, and had children, viz. :
Annie Loring, who mar. George C. Briggs ; and Catharine,
who mar. Henry P. Briggs). Deborah, who mar. Thcoph.
Gushing.

Elisha, third child of Seth, mar., Nov. 20, 1777, Laurcntia,
dau. of Dr. Jeremiah and Elizabeth Bailey Hall, who was b.
May 15, 1755, and d. June, 1837, they had children : Rhoda,
b. March 4, 1779, mar. Calvin Turner. Elisha, b. 1781;
d. about 1850 ; mar. twice. One wife's name was Sally Webb,
and the other Margaret Doyle ; no children. Luther, b. Oct.
20, 1783, at Pembroke; d. April 2, 1864. Lucinda, b. Dec.
15, 1789 ; mar. Alden Loring. Laurentia, b. Sept. 20, 1792 ;
mar. Horace Collamore. Robert, b. July 30, 1795, and d. in
1859. Lucretia, b. Dec. 13, 1798, mar. Dion Bryant.
Luther, son of Elisha, mar. 1st, March 27, 1812. Susan Stet-
son, who w\as b. Nov. 29, 1784, and d. Oct. 19, 1832;
2ndly, Mercy, widow of Aaron Magoun. His children were :
Susan Stetson, b. July 26, 1813 ; mar. Nathaniel Smith. Sil-
vina, b. July 6, 1816 ; mar. B. F. Chandler. Luther, who d.
in infancy. Luther (another of that name), b. July 24, 1822 ;

180 ELISHA BRIGGS, SHIP-BUILDER.

mar. Adeline Collamore ; no children. Alexander Parris, who
d. in infancy. Augusta, b. Aug. 7, 1827 ; mar. Royal Cheny.
Robert, the son of Elisha, mar. Caroline Morton, March 11,
1821. She is a descendant of George Morton of Plymouth,
was b. May 30, 179(5, and is still living. They had children,
viz.: Robert, b. May 18, 1822; mar., 1st, Julia Kidder;
2ndly, Louise Wagner ; no children. He resided in Philadel-
phia, and is now deceased. Silas Morton, d. young. George
Henry, who mar. Elsie Hollenbeck ; has two daughters and one
son, and resides at Mountain View, Cal. Charles Edward, who
mar., in 1869, Rebekah AVhittaker, and has one daughter and
three sons, and resides in St. Louis, Mo. Caroline, unmarried.
Elizabeth, mar. Erastus Worthington of Dedham. Emma,,
mar. Henry Allen of AVest Roxbury.

Daniel, fourth child of Seth, mar. and lived in Milton.
Nahhy, fifth child of Seth, mar. AVilliam Briggs, Nov. 29,
1787. Thomas, sixth child of Seth, mar. Sukey Blake; lived
in Milton, and has no descendants. Mary, seventh child of
Seth, mar., Oct. 8, 1788, Thomas Sproat of Middleborough.
Alden, eighth child of Seth, mar. Mercy Hatch, and had chil-
dren, viz. : Sophia, who d. unmarried. Alden, mar. Eliza-
beth Robinson. Harriet, b. Oct. 3, 1801 ; mar. J. H. Whit-
man. Thomas, mar. Eliza Sturtevant, and had children, viz. :
Alice, mar. Charles Gushing. Alden, mar. Elva Sampson.

Judith, ninth child of Seth, mar. 1st, Drew; 2ndly,

Bill Vose. Rhoda, tenth child of Seth, did not marry.

formerly resided where Na-
thaniel Smith now resides, in
Pembroke. About half way
from Schooset Creek to the
^ /y^^ residence of Nathaniel Smith,

^ r is the foundation of what is

supposed to have been an Indian wigwam ; and the traditions
of Pembroke say that it was a kind of factory for the making
of arrow and spear heads. At the depth of two feet it is paved
with stone covered with charcoal dust mixed with the soil, sug-
gesting the idea that it had l)een used for a fire-place for a long
period. The great number of arrow heads found in the imme-
diate vicinity, also show that it must have been a fixed habita-
tion for the red man in the days long gone by. It is situated
on the western slope of the range of hills that forms the bound-
ary of the Schooset valley, on the farm of Mr. Smith. Elisha

/^/.A-r

V^%^vC>

VESSELS BUILT BY ELISHA BRIGGS. 181

always iiad a large number of apprentices, and usually took two
or three into his hospitable home. In 1800, he built the sch.
" WASHINGTON," 100 tons ; sold to Alden Briggs. He built
two vessels at the Brick Kiln, in Pembroke, in 1801. Brig'tn
"CUMBERLAND,"' 183 tons, of Providence. 1801. Ship
"ANNA WAN," 2119 tons, of Boston ; two decks and three
masts ; owned by Alden Briggs and others, Pembroke. Elislia
Briggs built the next year, 1802, sch. "ELIZA," 41 tons;
owned by David Church, George Turner, Benjamin Whitman,
Mercy Randall Alden, and Chas. Briggs. In 180o, he built the
ship "MOSES MYERS," two decks and three masts, 30(5 tons,
of Boston. In 1804, the sch. "LIVELY," 122 tons; Elisha
and Alden Briijgs, owners. Also in 1804, sch. "FIVE BRO-
THERS," 93 tons, of Duxbury. Elisha Briggs also built the
following vessels at the Brick Kiln : 1805. Ship "CANOWA,"
263 tons, of Boston ; owned by Thos. Briggs of Roxbury, and
Alden Briggs of Pembroke, and others. 180(>. Brig " NANCY,"
177 tons; built for Alden Brii>o:s ; afterward sold at Roches-
ter. 1807. Ship "SUWARROW," 303 tons, of Plymouth ;
owned by Alden Briggs, Pembroke, and others. 1810. Ship
"MISER," 304 tons, of Boston. 1811. Ship "ACASTUS,"
343 tons, with two decks, three masts; length, 100 feet;
breadth, 28 feet ; depth, 14 feet ; of Boston ; owned by Alden
Briggs of Pembroke, Paul Nash of Petersburg, Va., and others.
Also in 1811, sloop "SOPHIA," 35 tons. He and David
Church, Daniel Phillips, Joseph Rogers of Marshtield, and
Alden Briggs, owners. Alden Briggs was in partnership with
Elisha in building some of the above vessels. Elisha after-
wards built in Newburyport.* On a head-stone in the Pem-
broke Cemetery is the following :

" Elisha Briggs, son of Seth, died 1S36, age S6."

W^e will now leave the Briggs family for the present, and
speak of the other ship-carpenters who built at this yard at the
very beginning of the present century.

^^'^^^Z^^^n^ -^^^/^/^^^^Tirf t n^^J

built alter-
. t e 1 y in
mover and
Pembroke, between the years 1800 and 1820. Of the vessels

* See John Currier's " History of Shipbuilding on the Merrimac," at State House,
t For further account of Jonathan Samson see the Bridge Yard at Hanover.

182 JONATHAN SAMSON SAMUEL ROGERS.

he built in Pembroke, accounts of the following have been
found: 1801. Ship "PEMBROKE," 193 tons, of Boston;
owned by Nathl. Cushing of Pernl)roke, Robert Sahnond of
Hanover, and others ; built at Peml)roke ; Jonathan Sampson,
builder. Capt. E. A. Faucon, of Milton, remembers seeing
the "Pembroke" lying at Lloyd's or Wales' Wharf, on Sea,
now Federal street, Boston, many years ago. 1803. Sch.
"WASHINGTON," 70 tons, of Boston, was built at Pembroke
by Jonathan Sampson, master carpenter. 1810. Ship "MAR-
THA," 273 tons, of Boston ; owned by Nathl. Cushing, of
Pembroke, and others ; built at Pembroke by Jonathan Samp-
son, master carpenter ; afterward sold to Nantucket, and used
as a whaler. During her first voyage in the Pacific, whaling,
under Capt. Reuben Weeks, 1815-17, she was detained twenty
days at Valparaiso, and part of her crew placed on a patriot
armed vessel for a short cruise. In 1821, the "Martha," then
under Capt. J. H. Pease, rescued the crew of the ship "Two
Brothers," Capt. Pollard, of Nantucket, which was lost in the
Pacific on a coral reef in Lat. 24° N., Long. 1(^8° W. About
1841, Capt. Baxter left the "Martha" at Zanzi])ar, and R. C.
Gibbs took command. In 1849, she was owned by Peter Fol-
ger, of Nantucket, and still used whaling in the Pacific. She
was broken up by the Chinese in San Francisco, Cal., in 1851.
Jonathan Samson built in Hanover, in 1803, the sch. "WIL-
LIAM," 71 tons.

In 1801, Samuel Rogers, of Marshfield,* was master carpen-
ter of a vessel built here, as follows : 1801. Ship " JEFFER-
SON," 267 tons, of Boston. This vessel was afterwards a New
Bedford w^haler.

In 1804 Aaron 8. Magoun, Jr., built a large sliip at this
yard. An old ship's carpenter whose memory at nearly ninety
years of age seems very clear, gives the following information
about the Magouns. He says that Aaron S. Magoun lived in a
house now occupied by John Stetson, at the end of a lane
opposite the Quaker Meeting House, Pembroke. He had^
among other children, three sons, Aaron, Robert, and Daniel,
one of w^hom was Lorenzo Sherman's wife's father. One of the'
daughters married Jonathan Stetson. Aaron S. Magoun, Jr.,
lived in a house down the lane, opposite Nath'l Smith's, Pem-
broke, and with Robert built a vessel just after the war of 1812,,

* See Rogers' Yards, Marshfield, and Wanton's, Scituate.

MAGOUN & HATCH. 183

on the Pemln-oke side, opposite Seabmy's Point, which ruined
Robert financially, he being the principal owner. Robert
Magoun married a Bates. Aaron S. Maofoun, Jr. , left sons:
Robert, Daniel and others. In 1804, the ship "XENOPHOX,"
299 tons, was built in Pembroke, by Aaron S. Magoun, Jr.,
and owned in Plymouth. Joshua Magoun of Duxbury was a
ship-builder and probably built in Duxbury. He had two sons,
Enocli and Joshua, who built in Pembroke at the Brick-Kilns,
Enoch in company with Turner & Palmer, and Joshua in com-
pany Avith Isaac Hatch, and alone. There Avas built here in
1804, the sch. " NEUTRALITY," 1 23 tons, of Duxbury. Capt.
Phineas Sprague, of Duxbury. Joshua Magoun and Isaac Hatch
were the master carpenters. In 1808 was built the ship "MIN-
ERVA," 223 tons, at Pembroke, owned by Ezra Weston, Jr.,
Duxbury, Calvin Sampson, Joshua Magoun and others, Pem-
broke. These are the only vessels it has lieen possible to locate
as having been built by Joshua Magoun in Pembroke, though
he later went to Charlestown and there built with Francis
Turner, son of Charles, formerly of Scituate, under the firm
name of Magoun & Turner. He died leaving a frfmily in
Charlestown. Two of his children were named Wiuchell and
Phillip. When in Pembroke he lived at "Brimstone Corner;"
his father's name was Joshua.

We will now take up the Briggs family again. Alden Briggs,
as before stated, built in partnership with his brother Elisha
many of the vessels before mentioned. After Elisha removed
to New])uryport, Alden continued building at the Brick-Kilns
for himself and in company with others. He lived a little way
up Brick-Kiln Lane, not far from the ship yard in the house
recently owned and occupied by Mr. Foster, but now occupied
by H. N. Magoun, a descendant of the Thatchers Magoun.
Alden Briggs also engaged in farming and making bricks,
obtaining the clay from large pits back of his house. Just
beyond, on the bank of the river, lives his grandson, Alden
Briggs, 3rd, in the house formerlv occupied by Alden Briggs,
Jr. ^

Sen., was a very interest-
ing old man. He had a
peculiarity of adding from
year to year, hy compound
interest, to the original cost of his possessions, so that each year
he valued his properties higher and higher instead of depreciating

184 VESSELS BUILT BY ALDEN BRIGGS.

them, as most people would do. For instance he valued his watch
at one time at over $2000, and his anvil at about $1500. In the
same way his losses would grow larger and larger each year, as
he would reckon up the compound interest on the sum or con-
tract that he originally lost. He was leader of the new choir of
the church in Pemhroke. Previous to this time, the Deacon
alwa}'s read two lines, which the congregation sang, then the
Deacon would read two more. The minister wished a new
choir that would sing the whole verse or psalm, which the old
choir objected to. The minister got the old choir in one part
of the church by themselves, and the new choir together in
another part ; he then let the Deacon read the first two lines,
and the old and new choirs started. The old choir stopped at
the end of the two lines and the new choir kept on, but not to
be outdone the Deacon got up and commenced reading two
more lines, amid the singing ; the Minister reached over the
pulpit and spoke to his son, the Deacon, saying, " Sit down Cy,
sit down," and the new choir prevailed. Alden Briggs was in
the North Company, 2nd Reg., 1st Brig., 5th Div., Pembroke
Militia, 1815. In the year 1800 he built the brig "PALLAS,"
15(5 tons, for Stephen Gorham of Boston. In 1805, he built a
ship of 250 tons. His yard was just below that of his brother,
Luther Briggs. The sch. "RIVAL," was built by Alden Briggs,
and probably the brig " ELVIRA," of New Bedford, which
was condemned at St. Thomas, in 1859. In 1818 he built the
brig "FLORIDA," 244 tons, owned by Thos. B. Wales, Bos-
ton"^ and in 1820 the brig "PEMBROKE," 199 tons, owned by
her builder, Alden Briggs, at Pembroke. He sold her to Thos.
B. Wales & Co. about "two years after he built her, and the fol-
lowing are some of the voyages she made : brig " Pembroke," in
1824,''from Sicily to Buenos Ayres with oil and wines; from
Palermo in 1826 with merchandise ; in 1827 from Roche lie with
l)randy, ochre and wine ; in 1833, to Rotterdam with a mixed
carffo. She was lost at sea in 1851. In 1825 the brig
" J^fONUMENT," 211 tons, was built by Alden Briggs at Pem-
broke for himself. This brig was also sold to Thos B. Wales
& Co., Boston, and the following are some of the voyages made
by her: ship "Monument," 211 tons, 89 ft. long, in 1827 sailed
to Amsterdam; in 1831, from Charleston to Cowe's, etc., and
from New York to Marseilles. In 1832 the brig " ALEX-
ANDRIA," 206 tons, of Boston, was l)uilt at Pembroke, prob-
ably by Alden Briggs. The last of his vessels of which any
account appears, was built the same year, 1832, the brig " OLD

ENOS BRIGGS. 185

COLONY," 244 tons, Joshua Smith, master, and owned hy
Aklcn Briggs, at Pembroke. She was aftei-ward sold to Thos.
B. AVak\s & Co. and made voyages in 1834, from Alexandria to
Amsterdam with tobacco, fustic, etc. ; and from New Castle
with coal ; in 1835, Charleston to Hamburg, with rice ; in 1836,
from New Orleans with cotton and from Charleston to Ham-
burg ; in 1837, New Orleans to Liverpool ; in 1840, Havana to
Cowe's for orders, etc. Chas. Howard, of Pembroke, who was
born Feb. 23, 1810, is now living, in quite feeble health, but
remembers working in the old ship-yards and on the brigs
" Pembroke " and "Old Colony." Alden Briggs was getting on
in years and pro])al)ly gave up active business life about this
time, although he was later a large owner in a great numlier of
vessels built on the river, as the registers of vessels built in the
different yards show. The following is taken from the grave-
stones in a Pembroke cemetery, opposite Dr. F. Collamore's :
"Alden Briggs, sonof Seth, died May, 1849, age S6."
" Wm. T. Briggs, died July 4, 1S73, age 40 years, 9 mos."
"Alden Briggs, born Feb. 20, 1797, died April 30, 1861, aged
64 yrs."

The latter Alden was son of Alden ; William Thatcher Briggs
■was son of Alden and Elizabeth C. (Robinson). Although it
may appear hy record that Alden Briggs did not build a very
large numl)er of vessels here, it is easily explained when one
sees the amount of work he was doing elsewhere. He was
especially in demand at INlilton and Salem ])y his brothers, Enos
and Daniel. When the Essex was built in Salem they had no
good iron workers nearer than the North River, so they sent
for Alden Briggs who was an expert, (being considered one of
the best iron workers of his day,) to go down and do the
iron work. Enos Briggs built the frigate "ESSEX," in 1798-99.
From an old paper the following is taken :

"The Salem Frigate. Take Notice. Ye Sons of Freedom! all true
lovers of the Liberty of your Country step forth, and give your assistance
in building the Frigate, to oppose French insolence and piracy. Let every
man in possession of a White Oak Tree, he ambitious to be foremost in
hurrying down the timber to Salem, and fill the complement wanting,
where the noble structure is to be fabricated, to maintain your rights upon
the Seas, and make the name of America respected among the nations of
the world. Your largest and longest trees are wanted, and the arms of
them for Knees and Rising Timber. Four trees are w^anted for the Keel,
which all together will measure 146 feet in length, and hew 16 inches
square. Please to call on the Subscriber, who wants to make contracts for
large or small quantities, as may suit best, and will pay the Ready Cash.

Salem, Nov. 23. 1788-

^rx /^/ jd^'^^^^^

186 DANIEL BRIGGS.

The frigate " Essex " was of 32 guns. Messrs. Derby and
Gray subscribed $10,000 each. In six months, or a little over,
they had her completed for launching. There was a great con-
course of spectators, and the heartfelt satisfaction of the be-
holders of the launching of this beautiful ship was evinced by
the concording shouts and huzzahs of thousands. The paper
goes on to say, that "the unremitting zeal of Mr. Briggs, the
architect, cannot be too highly applauded, and for bringing her
into such a state of perfection, in so short a time, entitles him
to the grateful thanks of his country." While Elisha Briggs
was at work on the " Essex," Gen. George Washington, then in
Salem, visited the yard. Gen. Washington took a tree-nail
from Elisha, and helped build the vessel by driving it into its
place. Enos Briggs also built the ship "Amethyst," 247 tons,
in 1801, and a great many other vessels later. On May 3,
1789, Enos Briggs launched a vessel sideways from Derby's
Wharf, Salem. It was a novelty which drew together a great
concourse of people. On May 18, 1791, the ship "Grand
Turk," 564 tons, was launched at Salem. Enos Briggs wa&
the principal architect. His ship-yard was located in South
Salem. Between 1791 and 1818 he built over fifty vessels, the
largest being 850 tons, the smallest 96.*

moved from
Pembroke to
Milton, and
^/^"^^^^^j^^^^ ^ occupied a
large house
built l)y Abel
Allyne, where a double cottage now stands. It Avas pur-
chased and added to by John M. Forbes. Thomas S. Briggs
built a house, in 1830, on the site of Capt. O. W. Peabody's
residence, Milton. The "History of Milton" states that "Mr.
Joseph Blake, a merchant of Boston residing a part of the time
in Milton, employed Mr. Daniel Briggs, of Pembroke, to build
a vessel for him at the ship-yard in Milton, which was launched
Oct. 26, 1786." This was the beginning of an extensive busi-
ness in ship-building, continued by Mr. Briggs until 1815.
Sept. 30, 1788, there was launched in Milton a large vessel
built by Daniel Briggs for Ebenezer Wales, Esq., of Dorches-
ter. " Some of our citizens now living remember the ' Kanawah,'

* For a list of these vessels, see Historical Collections of Essex Institute, Vol. VI.,
pp. 172 and 173.

DANIEL BRIGGS. 187

the 'Milton,' and the 'Jane,' and were present at their
launching. Capt. Xat. Thomas,* from Pembroke, who married
Jennie, the daughter of Capt. Briggs, lived in the Briggs house
on Milton Hill. He was commander of the 'Kanawah,' and
also of the ' Milton.' The Milton was caught in Neponset
l^ridge, on her way to Boston, and was got through with diffi-
culty. This vessel, though huilt seventy-four years ago, is a
New Bedford whaleship, still afloat." Daniel Briggs also huilt
the following vessels in Milton: 1798. Sloop "John," 23
tons, of Miltcm. 1805. Brig "Osprey," 197 tons, of Boston.
18()r). Ship "President Adtims," 313 tons, of Boston. 1810.
Ship "Alert," 376 tons, of Boston. 1810. Ship " Jane," spoken
of above, 326 tons, of Boston ; owned by Alden Briggs, of
Pembroke, and Daniel Briggs, master carpenter, of Milton.
1811. Ship "Huntress," 395 tons, of Boston. 1815. Ship
" Milton," spoken of above, 387 tons, of Boston, owned by
Nathl. Thomas, of ]\Iilton, and others, and Daniel Briggs, mas-
ter carpenter. The following is taken from the " History of
Milton": "Capt. Briggs was a man of large frame, stately
and commanding in person, also genial and benevolent in like
degree. The following incident shows the humor of the man ;
On one occasion, Avhen busy in his ship-yard, a stranger came
up, asking for work. 'What can you do?' inquired the Cap-
tain. ' I am a ship-carpenter,' was the reply. 'Can you make
a tree-nail on a rock without dulling your axe?' 'Yes, sir.'
' Well, here is your timber, and here is a sharp axe ; let's see
you do it.' He went to work, finished the tree-nail, passed it
to Mr. Briggs for inspection, and asked if that would do. Mr.
Briggs, viewing the excellence of the work, assented, when the
man raised his axe and struck a heavy blow upon the rock,
breaking the edge, and nearly ruining the tool. 'What are
you about?' exclaimed the excited captain. The workman
replied, ' My master always taught me, when I had finished a
job, to stick my axe in the block.' 'All right,' rejoined the
mollified captain ; 'throw off your coat and go to work.' Mr.
Briggs died in Milton, Aug. 11, 1825. He was a useful and
excellent citizen, honored and respected by all. At the time
of his death he owned the land on the east side of Milton Hill,
between Adams street and the foot of the hill, from the Russell
land to the old Kinsley estate, including the Peabody and the
old Foy estates, exce])t the Swift, now Tappan lot. His daugh-

See preceding Chapter for account of the Thomases.

188. THE BRIGGS BROTHERS.

ter, Alice C, born in Milton, April 2, 1802, married Capt.
Charles Taylor, of Milton, April 2S, 1833." She died al)out
1889, aged 86. The following account of the famous ship
"Massachusetts," from "Amasa Delano's Voyages," is given to
show how high the standard of our ship-builders was, and their
reputation abroad, viz. :

"The ship ' Massachusetts ' was built at Quincy and launched
Sept., 1789, for Shaw& Randall. The contractor was Eli Hayden of
Braintree, the draughtsman, Capt. Wm. Hackett of Amesbury on
the Merrimack. She was of 900 tons, built expressly for Canton
trade, was brought to Boston under jury masts, and was the largest
ship built at that time in the United States. She excited consider-
able sensation in the commercial part of the community, and parties
of people in every rank of society came on board of her to gratify
their curiosity, and express their admiration. Five French men-of-
war were then in the harbor, and their officers often visited the
'Massachusetts' and gave her great praise. She w^as pierced for 36
guns, but her armament consisted o{ 20 six-pounders, and musketry.
Her crew consisted of 61 men. Capt. Amasa Delano was second
officer. He was born in Duxbury, Feb. 21, 1763, on the North side
of Blue River. His father w^as Sam'l Delano: his uncle Amasa.
In 1773 the family removed to Braintree, where his father attended
to ship-building, but they remained here only about two years, when,
owing to the interruption of navigation occasioned by the disputes
between Great Britain and the Colonies, they returned to Duxbury.
Capt Amasa went to sea at a very early age, but about 17S2 com-
menced laboring with his father, ship-building at Duxbury, some-
times being the master builder. His first voyage as commander was
in a schooner belonging to his uncle, Joseph Drew. He sailed from
Duxbury in 1786. His brothers have been master builders, riggers,
and navigators of ships. His brother, Sam'l Delano, was carpenter
on board the 'Massachusetts,' and while on a voyage with Amasa
in the ' Perseverence,' he built a small vessel, the ' Pilgrim,' with
which he explored, and discovered the Pilgrim Islands, in the Pacific
in 1S05. Thos. Lunt of Portsmouth, N. H. and Prospect Carpen-
ter of Pembroke, Mass., were seamen on board the 'Massachusetts.'
Job Prince, Esq., of Boston, was her commander, and John Prince,
his son, was a mid-shipman. The ' Massachusetts' was sold to the
Danish East India Co., at Canton, for $65,000, Dec. 4th, 1790. The
name of the master builder of the ' Massachusetts,' was Daniel
Briggs. Capt. Delano says ' he was one of the best men I ever
knew to keep a large company of men at work, and to make their
labor productive.' He writes : ' The family of Briggs in Pembroke,
Plymouth county, was celebrated for extraordinary merit. There
vs^ere five brothers. Elisha continued in his native town an excellent
ship builder. Alden was brought up a blacksmith, was remarkable
for the talents he showed in the heavy work of a ship, was the

TURNER, PALMER & MAGOUN. 189*

mechanic employed for the ' Massachusetts ' in this department,
and afterwards became a merchant. Enos is a shipbuilder at Salem,
and built the Essex frig-ate. Daniel united mercantile speculations
with ship building, and has lived many years in Milton. Thomas
was educated a ship builder also, went to sea afterwards as captain,,
transacted business as a merchant in Boston for many years, and
died in Dorchester in 1S09, beloved and respected by all who knew
him. The five brothers were employed upon the ' Massachusetts.'
It would not be proper for me to say here all that I know and feel
in praise of this family.' The other mechanics were generally from
the North River, County of Plymouth, and were faithful in the per-
formance of their duties. The ship was as well built as any ship
could be under the circumstances. The timber was cut, and used
immediately while perfectly green. It was white oak, and would
have been very durable had it been docked, or properly seasoned.
Notwithstanding the unprepared state of the materials, the ' Massa-
chusetts' was so well built, that on her arrival at Batavia and Canton
the commanders of English, Dutch, and other European ships were
continually coming on board to examine her and to admire the
model and the work. She was acknowledged to be the handsomest
vessel in the two ports." — Delano s Voyages.

Luther Briggs was the last member of this family who built
in Pembroke. 8eth Briggs, a great-grandfather of Luther
Briggs, Jr., learned his trade of Capt. Benj. Turner. Calvin
Turner was son of Captain Benjamin ; he had a son, Calvin,,
who went to Medford.

was building vessels in Medford on the Medford River in 1807.
Joshua Turner was also a son of Capt. Benjamin, and married a
daughter of Joshua Briggs, brother of Seth Briggs. We will
take up Luther Briggs in connection with other ship-builders
and by himself later, and now look into the business done here
by others about this time. Turner, Palmer, d- Jlagouu built
separately at this yard before going over to the Hanover side,
where they built in partnership.* Luther Briggs was also a
member of the firm at one time as his old account books show.
Jeduthan Palmer built here alone in 1816, the ship "SUF-
FOLK," 314 tons of Boston.

For full account of this firm see Bridge Yards.

i90 PALMER GENEALOGY.

GENEALOGY OF JEDUTHAN PALMEIl's FAMILY.

Jeduthan's father was Ephraim, who died Jan. 10, 1797. His
mother was Desire Ohlham who survived her husband and mar.
2ndly, in 1798, the father of Benjamin Pratt. The house where
Jeduthan was born, located on the Drinkwater road, (now
Hanover St.,) was purchased by his father, Ephraim, March 7,
1782. Jeduthan mar. Sarah the daughter of Calvin Turner
April 25, 1811, and died in 18()0. Sarah his wife died in 1872.
The children of Jeduthan and Sarah Turner Palmer were : 1.
Charles, b. 1812. 2. Sarah, b. Dec. 5, 1814, died 1889.
She mar. Samuel P. Brackett in 1847, and they had three chil-
dren : Sarah, b. 1848; Fred, b. 1850; Mary Cora, b. 1858;
the last child only, is livino-. 3. Jeduthan, b. Jan. 25, 1817,
d. about 1833, unmarried. 4. Mary Ann Turner, b. Oct.
26, 1819, mar. in 1847, N. P. Banks, Jr. They have had four
children : Harry Waltham, b. 1848, d. 1853 ; Mary Binney, b.
1852, mar. in 1880 Eev. Paul Sterling; Joseph F., b. 1855;
Maude; b. 1857, all are living excepting Harry W. 5.
Amanda F., b. Nov. G, 1822, d. in 1845, unmarried. G. Alice
W., b. July 26, 1825, mar. Emory Seaman, by whom she had
four children, Julia, Alice, Emery and Mary ; only Alice is
living. 7. William T., b. Dec. \i, 1827. 8. Daniel T., b.
.July"27, 1830. 9. Julia O., b. Dec. 4, 1833, mar. in 1867
Charles Edward Biilkley, and they have one child, Charles.

Most of the vessels built by Turner, Palmer & Magoun were
for Baker & Hardy, and Charles Cole of Boston, and for Scit-
uate Harbor parties. Barker Turner was a son of Nathaniel, of
So. Scituate, and built at So. Scituate, now Norwell, at the
Copeland & Ford Yard, at Fox Hill, until about 1820, when he
went into partnership with Luther Briggs, at the Brick Kilns,
where Mr. Turner did the drafting of the vessels.

TURNER genealogy.

Capt. Benjamin Turner, of Pembroke, mar. 1st,

dau. of Eev. Mr. Fells, of Scituate. 2udly, Ruth Briggs, of

Pembroke. He had by his first wife two children : 1. ,

who mar. a Mr. Lane, of Scituate. 2. David, of Plymouth.

x^^>- ^ . ^ the ship-l)uilder, was

^ C^ /^ 6 ^ •'^on of Nathaniel,

^=h/-^.-^^ Cy/^-t-,^'«-?T_-<-^ who was a son of
Capt. Benjamin by his second wife. Nathaniel Turner mar.

a^J~^^_A^ (^^tyt^-^

TURNER GENEALOGY. 191

I^uciiKk . lied. Nov. 19, 1814, ugedSl ; she d. Dec. 11,

1807, aged 67. They had children as follows: 1. Christo-
pher, d. in Salem. 2. Caleb, mar. Deborah Turner, and had
six children, Myra, Jane, William, Temperance, Joseph G.,
and AVarren. Caleb d. in Bridgewater. 3. Benjamin, mar.

Wheeler. They had tive children, Ambrose, Lydia,

Joseph M., Charles, and Ruth. 4. Barker, the ship-builder.
The genealogy of his family is given below. 5. Polly,
mar. John Bassett, of Hingham, and they had two children,
John and Caleb. 6. Lucy, mar. John Thomas, of Marshfield,
and they had three children, Henry, Ray, and Ann. Barker,
the fourth child of Nathaniel, mar. Polly, dau. of Melzar and
Lucy W. Stoddard, of Scituate. Melzar d. April 19, 1839,
aged 79. Lucy W., his wife, d. July 6, 1850, aged 88.
Polly, wife of Barker Turner, d. Aug. 4, 1835, aged 48.

CHILDREN OF BARKER AND POLLY TURNER.

1. Barker, b. Feb. 16, 1808 ; mar. Sophia Baker, of Pem-
broke. They had five children, Edwin, Israel H., Polly,
Frederick, and Augustus. 2. Mary, b. June 23, 1809 ; d.
Aug. 1, 1819. 3. Elmina, b. Nov. 16, 1811 ; d. March 2,
1842. She mar. Eben Witherell, of Pembroke, and they had
two children, Augustine and Eben Herbert. 4. Andrew, b.
Aug. 13, 1812; mar. Hannah Bell, of Boston, and they had
two children, Susan L. and Andrew W. o. Delia, b. Nov.
26, 1813 ; mar. Calvin Baker, of Pembroke, and they had six
children, Calvin L., Andrew H., Delia T., D. Webster, Bar-
ker, and Walter S. 6. Huldah L., b. Nov. 20, 1816; mar.
Joseph R. Sheperd, of Pembroke, and they had three chil-
dren, Joseph J., Julius R., and Huldah T. 7. Isaiah Alden,
b. Oct. 25, 1818 ; mar. Mary Childs, of Hin^gham, and they
had two children, Alden D. and Elmer E. 8'. Cyrus, b. Feb.
20, 1S21 ; mar. Mary A. Baker, of Pembroke, and they had three
children, Eliza (who d. young), ]\Iorris, and Anna. 9. Susan,
b. March 13, 1824; mar. Walter B. Studley, of Rockland,
Mass., and they have had two children, Susan L. and Addie.
10. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 21, 1828 ; d. Jan. 27, 1828. 11. Ed-
AVARD Everett, b. Sept. 17, 1831 ; mar. Elizabeth Sturtevant,
of Pembroke, and they have had two children, Ella and
Charles.

Barker Turner and Luther Briggs built in Pembroke, in
1824, sch. "VIRGINIA," (]2 tons, of Boston. They also built
the sch. "CHARLES," in Pembroke, in 1825, (y2 tons, owned

11>2 VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YAKD.

by Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Isaiah Alden, Charles Vinal, and
Cushing Otis, of Scituate. She was built of green plank
brought from Bridgewater. Cyrus Turner worked on her at
Hingham in 1848. The same year, 1825, Barker Turner built
on his own account the sch. "JUNO," 85 tons, for Xolile E.
Jenkins, Moses Rich, Elisha Foster, Jr., Isaiah Alden, Cush-
ing Otis, John Beal, and Peleg Jenkins, of Scituate ; after-
ward sold to Gloucester. In company with Luther Briggs, he
built, in 1827, the brig "TEXEDOS," 245 tons, of Boston.
In 1840 she was bought by Lawrence & Co., New London,
Conn., and sent whaling in the So. Atlantic. In 1844, while
in the Indian Ocean, Churchill, the first mate, was injured by
ftilling off a water cask, and died in 1847. In 185(3, the
" Tenedos " was one of the " Stone Fleet," No. 1. Barker Tur-
ner also built alone, at the Brick-kilns, in 1827, the sch. "JAMES
OTIS," ^i) tons, owned by Geo. Manson, Anthony Waterman,
Peleg and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., John Beal and Jesse Dunbar, of
Scituate ; commanded by Capt. Manson in 1820, engaged fish-
ing summers, and in the coasting trade winters.* This schooner
was of perhaps the poorest model of any ever built on the
river. When launched, it was almost impossible to make her
sail. She would act like a tub at sea, which she resembled
somewhat. She was always known as " Barker Turner's tool-
chest." For several years, about this time, Mr. Turner appears,
to have been building on his own account. In 1828, the sch.
"DANUBE," 71 tons, was built by Barker Turner, master car-
penter, at Pembroke, and owned by Rowland Otis, Peleg Jen-
kins, Jas. Damon, J. Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Seth Webb, John
Beal, Simeon Litchfield, and Francis G. Chubbuck, of Scituate.
She was afterward sold to Cape Cod. In 1829, he built the
sch. "RAILWAY," 86 tons, Pembroke; Jesse Dunbar, Sr.
and Jr., and Thos. L. Manson, Scituate, owners. In l<s80,the
sch. "PERFECT," 68 tons, of Pembroke ; owners, Isaiah Alden,
Colman Jenkins, Sr. and Jr., Geo. M. Allen, Thos. Burroughs^
of Scituate, and Horace Collamore of Pembroke ; afterward
sold down East. Also, in 1830, he built the sch. "ELIZA
ANN," 99 tons, of Boston. In 1831, the brig "VERGES,"
151 tons, of Boston. The following year he again built a ves-
sel in company with Luther Briggs, 1832, the bark "MI-
RANDA," 189 tons, of Boston. The last vessel Barker Tur-
ner built in Pembroke, of which we have any account, was in

* See account Capt. Manson, under Fox Hill Yard.

is S
is

< -S

kJ ^

VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD. 193

1833, the bark "LEONIDxVS," 183 tons, of Boston. lie Imd
during the past few years been building in Hanover, also, and
probably decided to take all of his business over there about
this time. From his sons, Barker, Andrew, Alden, and Cyrus,
much information has been gleaned. Cyrus says his father told
him that lie had built thirty-two vessels on North River, liarker
Turner, fir., died since the compiling of this volume was begun.
Among the characters of his time, located here, none were better
known or more popular than Tom Briggs, of Pembroke. He
was an excellent workman and ship-carpenter of those days ;
but he preferred nuisic and excitement rather than work. He
was a skillful bugler, and his widow, who now lives in Dor-
chester, has the bugle which he formerly played. At one time
he decided to go to Mexico, with Elijah Lapham, but the
scheuK^ fell through. He and Horace Collamore used to joke
each other whenever an opportunity presented. Thomas Briggs
was b. in 1803, and d. in 187 (5.

To <ro l)ack to 1815, we find Caleb Turner buildinij a vessel
at the" Brick-kilns, the ship " EAURA ANN," 375^^ tons,
of Boston. Her length was 103 feet; breadth, 28 feet;
depth, 14 feet. She was owned by David Greenough and Sam-
uel Parkman, Jr., of Boston, and Alden Briggs, of Pembroke.
She was the largest vessel built at the Brick-kiln Yard. Caleb
probably did not build many vessels here, as in 1818 we find
him at the Fox Hill Yard, in Norwell, building Avith his brother
Barker.

/^ . /> J ^v /9 y^ ^^J^^ built here in 1815-1 G, the
(??,U^/U^ C/ '^^^''^^ first vessels he built on
(y his own account.* He

left Ills home in Scituate and came to Pembroke, apprenticed to
Elisha Briggs, a relative, both being descendants of Walter.
Cushing having served his time and become of age, and being
a skilled artisan, built at the Brick-kilns, in 1815, the brig
"PERSEVERANCE" of 184 tons, with two decks, two masts,
length, 78 feet; breadth, 23 feet; depth, 11 feet; of Boston,
Thos. Snow, master. Owned by Elijah Loring, Joshua Ellis
and Robert Thompson, of Boston. And in 1816, the brig
"ANN," 204 tons, with a billet figure head, a double decker with

*For account of Cushing O. Briggs, see Briggs Yards at Hobart's Landing, Scihiate.

194 LAST SHIP-BUILDING IN PEMBROKE.

two masts; length, 86 feet; ])readtli, 23 feet; depth, 11 feet,
of Boston. Immediately after this he went to Scituate, where
we find him building at Hobart's landing. The following sketch,
written by an old resident of Pemljroke, gives a good idea of
the last of ship-building at Pembroke : "The name of Briggs
seems to be identified with ship-building from the early settle-
ment of Scituate. Whether Walter, the elder, was a ship-
builder, we are not able to say, l)ut that many of his posterity
followed that vocation successfully has come within the mem-
ory of many now living. Luther Briggs, the subject of this
sketch, was the son of Elisha, and grandson of Seth, who
removed from Scituate to Pembroke early in the last century,
having a large family, several of whom followed the occupation
of their father. Luther learned the art of ship-l)uilding of his
father and was ap})renticed at the same time with Gushing O.
Briggs, who in company with his brother Henry, became a suc-
cessful builder at Scituate. The apprenticeship of Luther
and Gushing O. Briggs was a remarkaldy congenial one which
resulted in a lifelong friendship terminating only with death.
The one quarrel, it is said, that they ever had, was when a dis-
pute arose as to who was occupying the larger half of the bed
one night. It was settled by their getting out and measuring
their sides off, when peace reigned again. The early years of
Luther Briggs' life were much interrupted by ill health, which
prevented him from engaging in active business for several
years after his majority, but later he commenced business at the
Brick-kilns, (so called), where his father and grandfather had
previously built in company with the lute Barker Turner. One
incident occurring at the time they built, seems worthy of
notice. It had been the custom in all the shi})-yards to carry
around liquor at stated hours and distribute to the men, as it
was considered indispensable to a good day's work. After taking
into consideration the great evil of intem})erance they resolved
building a ship without furnishing licjuor to their men. They
were told it could not be done, that men would not work with-
out their accustomed dram, and probably many drank at their
own expense, but it was the last of their furnishing it, and they
had no trouble in Imilding without it. It was an innovation
which was soon followed in other yards on the River, where it
had been thought indispensable to successful business. Luther
Briggs deceased in 1864, aged eighty years, much respected as
an honest and just man in all his business relations. He left
one son, Luther, an architect in Boston, who still survives

VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD. 195

him." Luther Briirgs built ak)nc and in company with Barlcer
Turner, Silvanus Smith, and Melzar S. Turner at difrcicnt
times. In 1836, Melzar Turner (as he was commonly called),
left the Brick-kilns and built on his own account at Scituate
Harbor. Later, he again built in company with Luther Briggs
at the lirick-kilns, carrying on his Harbor Yard at the same
time. lie was not very su(;cesstiil financially, and becoming
somewhat embari-assed, in 1845 Luther Briggs was obliged to go
down to the Harbor, and "help him out" on a vessel he was
building. From this time Luther Briggs continued in business at
the Harbor and together they Avere very successful. Luther
Briggs built at the Brick-kilns until 1850, when he gave all his
time and energies to the Harbor Yard. He is described as being
an extremely nervous man, especially if anything went wrong,
just the opposite of his son Luther. jNIelzar Turner was a son
of Luther Turner, who was a cousin of liarker Turner, Sr.
He died leaving children. (See Harbor Yards) .

The schooner "CATHERINE," 70 tons, was built here for
John Bates, of Cohasset. Benj. Barnes, who will be remem-
bered by many of the residents in the vicinity of North Kiver
as having brought fish to their doors, was connnander. There
was also built "here during Luther Briggs' time the schooner
*' NOBLE E. JENKINS," 100 tons, which we find later in the
Mediterranean trade ; the "INDUSTRY" and the brig "SUN,"
200 tons, Capt. Rich, which was probably the same "Sun" that
was used later as a packet between New Bedford and the
South, and which was condemned at the Bav of Islands in Aug.,
18G3; the brig "BENJAMIN FRANKLIIS"," 164 tons, which
had a figure head of Benj. Franklin. She was added to the
Beverly, Mass., whaling fleet in 1850, sold to Fall River in
1856, was Fall River's last whaler, was bought in 1802 by E.
Maxwell, of New Bedford, and while engaa'cd in whaling was
lost near Zanzibar, Sept. 8, 1867; and the "KENEDOS," but
wx have been una])le to find out the exact years when each was
built. Luther liriggs built in 1823 the sloop " MAYFLOWER,"
32 tons, of Pembroke ; owners : Asa Sherman, Jr., her captain,
Elisha Phillips, Stephen Rogers, Jonathan Stetson, Jesse
Reed, and Chandler Sampson, of Marshfield, Alden Briggs,
Luther Briggs, the Imilder, Elias Magoun, Horace and Gilman
Collamore and Daniel JNIairoun, Pembroke, Elisha Foster, Jr.,
and Elisha Tolman, Scituate. He also built the "PHILENA
OTIS " about 1828.

196 VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD.

liuiltin 1833 the "Han-
son" a centre board
sloop. She was a very
heavy craft and very
flat, being only three
inches " dead rise."
She was used as a North River packet, running between Boston
and the Brick-kilns, and had many owners, as the fbllo\ving regis-
ter shows: — 1833, sloop "HANSON," 47 tons, Pembroke^ own-
ers : Asa Sherman, Sr. and Jr., John Stetson, Daniel Phillips,
Ephraim Randall and Stephen Rogers, Marshtield, Horace Colla-
more, Calvin Shepard, Aurora AV. Oldham, Alden and Luther
Briggs, of Pembroke. In 1834, Luther Briggs built the "SU-
SAN " for Hardy & Baker. Mr. Hardy married Susan Holmes
and named this vessel after her. Mrs. Nathl. Smith was then
Miss Susan Briggs. She says on invitation of Mr. Hardy, the
two Susans were launched in this vessel. He built the same year,
1834, the bark " BLACK HAWX " after the model of the " Black
Hawk." In 1835, he built the "PALERMO" for Hardy &
Baker. During the latter two years he also built at the Brick-
kilns the following vessels in company with Melzar Turner.
In 1834, the schooner "CORNELIA," owned by Thos. J. Bur-
rows, Geo. M. Allen, of Scituate, Horace and Anthony Colla-
more, Ephraim Randall, Melzar Turner, Luther Briggs and
Luther Mao:oun, of Pembroke ; and in 1835, the schooner
"ADELINE," 99 tons, owned by Geo. M. Allen, Scituate,
Horace Collamore, Alden and Luther Briggs, and Melzar S.
Turner, Pembroke. Al)out this time, in company with Melzar
Turner, he built a vessel at Kingston for Capt. Delano, and in
1836, at the Brick-kilns, the schooner "KEMP" for Wm.
Kemp & Co. He also built at the Brick-kiln, in 1836, the
schooner "SWAN," 129 tons, of Boston ; and in the same
year, the schooner" EDWIN," 103 tons, of Boston, afterward of
Newburyport, and used whaling from Provincetown in 1846.
In 1837, he built the brig "WILLIAM PENN," 158 tons, of
Boston, which had a figure head modelled after the man for
whom she Avas named. In 1838, he built the sch. "RED
ROVER," 99 tons, of Pembroke, sold to Kingston, also in
1838, a br-iq for a Mr. Flynn, and about this time the sch.
"CORDOVA." In 1839', he built the brig "\viLLIAM
PITT," 174 tons, Howes Baker, master, and owned by Al-
pheus Hardy, of Boston, and others. In 1841, he built the bark
"SOPHRONIA," 197 tons, gf Boston, copper and iron fastened.

VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILX YARD. 197

owned by Trull and others, Boston, in l.S')!), Capt. Drew ; Imilt of
mixed wood. In company with Melzar Turner, he built in 1842,
the sch. "CHESTER," <S6 tons, of Boston. Owned by John Beal,
Peleg Jenkins, Samuel Brown and John Ijouve, of Scituate,
James Bonney and Luther Brings, of Pembroke. Business
was very lively at Scituate Harbor about this time and Luther
Briggs was so busy at that yard that he did very little at the
Brick-kilns until 1847, when he built a bark for Lom])ard ^c
Hall. The same year he entered into a partnership with Sil-
vanus Smith, son of Capt. Jonathan Smith, of Duxbury, who
commanded many vessels sailing out of Duxbury. Silvanus
lived in Duxbury during his younger days, but later married a
daughter of Lewis McLaughlin and bought th'i old Morse place
in Pembroke, where he resided dui-ing his partnership with
Luther Briggs and Melzar S. Turner. Together they liuilt at
the Brick-kilns the "Arthur Pickering," in 1847, which they
were one month eettino^ out of the river, and another vessel,
probably the "Matilda"," for J. Bates, in 1848. The sch.
"MATILDA," 60 tons, was built in Pembroke, Mass.,^ 1848,
and was owned in 1884 at Boston. They also built the
"CATHERINE" in 1848. Several years after this, Silvanus
Smith left Pembroke and went to East Boston, where he worked
in Samuel Hall's and Donald McKay's yards and in E. & H. O.
Briggs' at South Boston. After building three ships on his
own account at East Boston, he went into partnership with
Paul Curtis at Medford. For about sixteen years he has been
a partner with James L. Townsend, under the tirm name of
Smith & Townsend, ship-builders at East Boston. They have
built many tine ships there, several for C. Brewer & Co.,
among them the "Martha Davis," the "James Stone," the
^'Edward May," and last but not least, the good bark " Amy
Turner" of 1000 tons, which has recently made over 2(iO
miles in twenty-four hours under Capt. Chas. A. Johnson, on a
passage from Honolulu to Hong Kong. This vessel, under
Capt. Albert W. Newell, carried the author around Cape Horn
to the Sandwich Islands in 1880. Silvanus Smith has had six
children: — 1. Sidney, Avho su])erintended the work on Stony
Brook, Roxbury ; 2. Frances F., b. in Peml)roke ; 3. ZilphaD.,
the present secretary of the Associated Chtirities, of l^oston,
also b. in Pembroke; 4. Erasmus F. ; 5. jNIary, who married
Luke Hall, tjrandson of the old ship-builder, Luke Hall; 6.
Jennie AV. "The l)ark "ARTHUR PICKERIN(i," luiilt in
1847, was 254 tons, of Boston, built at Pembroke, of mixed

198 TURNER, BRIGGS & SMITH.

wood, Luther Briggs, Melzar Turner and Silvanus Smith, M.
C's. She was iron fastened, and in 18()8 was whaling in the
Pacific Ocean. The same year, her first mate, W. S. Maxfield,
died.

The only occasion of which we know that our little towns
were honored by a visit from a man who was ever President of
the United States, with the exception of President Arthur's
visit to the AYebster place, was in 1841, when the Hon. John
Quincy Adams, then in Congress, came, by invitation of the
ship-builders, to visit Hanover, Scituate, Pembroke, and Marsh-
field, and the mouth of North River, to obtain certain facts and
data that might he of service to him in his efibrts to induce
Congress to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of
cutting through the bar, or, better still, to make a new mouth
by cutting through the beach, where the high tides now often
connect the river with the ocean far above its natural mouth.
It is needless to say that all efibrts in this direction have failed,
and as commerce demanded larger vessels, and lumber becam^e
scarce, ship-building here was abandoned. Had the govern-
ment carried out the plans of our old ship-builders, and legis-
lated in ftivor of home commerce. North River would to-day
have been lined with ship-yards, as it was eighty, yes, fifty
years ago. The only written account found of ^Ir. Adams'
visit, and what was done throughout the day, is in the diary of
Luther Briggs, the architect, now living and doing business in
Boston, son of the ship-builder. The following is a copy of all
he has written under the date of —

"Thursday, October 2Sth, 1841. Fair. To-day was the day ap-
pointed for the Hon. John Qviincy Adams, and others interested, to
go down to the Scituate shore and examine the place where it is pro-
posed to open a new channel for the North River, between the third
and fourth cliffs (so called). Accordingly, father and Capt. Parris
(who used to live where Mr. Nath'l Smith now resides, in Pem-
broke), started for Marshfield in our chaise at half-past seven, a.m.,
and at eight o'clock I got into a carriage with Mr. A. Briggs, Jr.,
and we proceeded to the house of Mr. Luther Rogers (father of
Clift Rogers, in Marshfield), having overtaken father and the cap-
tain, and rode in company for the last few hours. We waited at
Mr. Roo-ers' for a few minutes, when Mr. Adams and the commit-
tee came along, moving from the house of Daniel Phillips, Esq.
After some little delay we proceeded to Little's Bridge, where the
company embarked for the beach. I, however, drove father's chaise
to the ferrv, and put up the horse in Capt. Luke Hall's barn, then
went across the river and walked up to the Cliff, arriving at the same

VISIT OF HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

109

time the company did who sailed from the bridge. Walked about
the beach for an hour or two, and then re-crossed to the ferry. Soon
after, started for home with Cousin Alden. Got home at two, p.m.
Found Sarah Turner at home. Stayed at home in afternoon. In
evening, husked ; also called at Mr. Estes'.

p. S. When I came away from the ferry, Mr. Adams and the

others had gone down in a boat to view tlie present mouth of the
river. I understood the arrangement was for them to return to Mr.
Rogers' to dinner, and at three to enter the Episcopal Church
(Marshfield), where Mr. Adams will be introduced to the citizens
generally, and make some remarks."

Luther Briggs adds, that the nearest they ever got to having
a channel ciit'through the l)ar at the river's mouth, was when
Luther Rogers, in exphiining the plan (which Luther Briggs
had taken "great pride in drawing at that early age,) to Mr.
Adams and the company at his house in Marshfield, he kept
drawing his thumb-nail back and forth where the channel was
to be cut, until finally it went through the paper. This was a
sad sight for JNIr. Briggs. He also adds that Mr. Adams did
not speak upon the question of a cutting through the bar, as it
was anticipated lie would do when he went to the church, but
branched right off' into politics, much to the disai^pointment of
those present. There was no ship-building carried on at the
Brick-kilns after 1850. The "Catharine," in 1848, was proba-
bly the last vessel built there.

Plans were made, however, in 1850, for a Horse-boat, as it
was called. This was a side-wheeler, to be run by a horse-
power tread-mill. A plan of the boat is here given ; also copies
of the old papeis relative to it :

6+|t

200 HORSE-BOAT FOR NORTH RIVER.

" Dr Sir, — I have been to Hallowell and measured a horse-boat,
which is sufficient lor all the business done in crossing the river.
Heavy teams are ferried across, without the least difficulty, with two
horses — one on each side — the boat is 64 feet long & I3 feet wide —
it swells above the hull what is called guard, as above in sketch to 21
feet in the centre or amidships — to the centre of the platform a it is
26 ft 7 from end b, this plattorm is framed by arms as you see all
under deck, and the horses stand in stalls on the guards one facing
one end of boat and the other the other end ; three feet & three inches
from the centre on a circle are cogs which match into a pinion hori-
zontally ; the shaft 6 ft. S inches long with a pinion c which match
into coupling gear on the main shaft. The wheels are six feet diam-
eter. By means of a lever at d the man readily changes the coupling
and backs or goes ahead without stopping the horses — 'coupling
gear ' is so well understood I do not need to explain it. Perhaps
friction rollers are used imder the. platform. I shoidd think it best
but I did not examine or think to enquire. From deck to floor the
hold is three feet 8 inches deep — bottom flat and steered at either
end by a long oar easily unshipped. 1 he boat is not turned around
but goes as well one way as another. I went across in her to see
how^ she went — one horse the man told me had been in the ' mill'
ten years. You see by the construction you get 64x12 clear deck
which will hold a great deal — and no danger of a blow up or a mel-
ancholy disaster. Many things you of "course will readily under-
stand such as scuttles over gearing to oil machinery & manner of
putting on paddles to finish wheel & size of pinions & shafts. I did
not think it worth while to send such things — as you wished the
measure of the boat and not a full description of macliinery and
mode of working. I hope I have given you all the information you
want, if not I will do so if you will let me know what you do want
further."

" Pembroke, May 10"' 1S50.
The subscribers desireous of building a Tow Boat to be propelled
by Horse power for the purpose of collecting & transporting sea
manure from the vicinity of the mouth of North River & for bring-
ing freight from the Packets from White's Ferry to all the landings
as far up River as North River Bridge — agree to take tlie number of
shares placed against our names.

The whole expense is estimated at Two hundred & fifty dollars &
it is proposed to di\'ide it into twenty-five shares at Ten dollars pr.
share.

NAMES. NO. OF SHARES.

Alex'' Parris i

James H. Whitman ....... 2

John Gushing ......... i

Robert Sylvester ........ i

HORSE-BOAT FOR KORTH RIVER. 201

George H. Wetherbee ....... i

Capt. Luther Rodgers ..... i

Solomon Little . . . . , , . . i

Thatch. Magoun Esqr. ...... 12A

Remember that i have seen Mr. Thacher Magoun in Medford at
his Ship yard this day Monday May 20"' 1850 he agreed to take five
or ten shares in the Scow that i am going to build and to call on him
for the Cash at any time.

Remember i saw Mr. Magoun this Day at his (Barker Turner)
house June 21, 1S50 and he agreed to take ten shares in Boat."

I liavo ])een unable to find that the l)()at ever existed, except
on j)a))er. Thus ends the history of the Brick-kiln Yard, and
the last ship-building in Pembroke.

CHAPTER XII.

ROGERS' YARDS.— 1790-1S19.

GRAVELLY BEACH DOGGETT S FERRY.

ISRAEL ROGERS, AMOS ROGERS, JOSEPH ROGERS, ASA ROGERS,
ASA ROGERS, JR., SAMUEL ROGERS, THOMAS ROGERS, THOMAS
ROGERS, JR., NATHANIEL ROGERS, JR., PELEG ROGERS, PELEG
ROGERS, .JR., LUTHER ROGERS.

IT has been almost impossible to locate the different members
of the Rogers family and their yards. None of the family,
apparently, have been interested enough heretofore in their
genealogy to look it up to any extent, and only by the most
diligent examination of family records have the following facts
been ascertained, as the names of the early members of the fam-
ily scarcely appear on the town records. There were two
yards, — one at Gravelly Beach, Marshfield, just below the
present residence of Benjamin White, near where the saAV-pit
is now visible ; the other was located where the present abut-
ment of Little's Bridge rests on the Marshfield bank of North
River. Peleg, Luther, and possibly Nathaniel, Jr. , and Thomas
Jr., built at the latter yard, but nearly if not quite all of the other
ship-building members of this family built at Gravelly Beach,
and all worked, at various periods, in nearly every yard on the
river. The Rogers were skilled ship-carpenters, and if any
one wanted a ship built on honor, a Rogers was his man. The
following is a genealogy of the Rogers family, as complete as
it has been possible to make it with the material now in exist-
ence. There is a tradition in the family that John Rogers and
Rev. Mr. Witherell, who came into Scituate at the same time,
were both related to John Rogers, the martyr, John being a

ROGERS GENEALOGY. 203

grandson ; but this tradition needs verification before being
accepted as correct.

Timothy Rogers was among the first of that name we find in
Marshfield. He was b. 1690, and mar. Lydia, dau." of Israel
Hatch, of "Two Mile." She was b. 1099. Their son Israel,
b. 1722, was a ship-lniilder. He mar. Bethiah, dau. of Samuel
and Kebecca (Howland) Thomas, Dec. 31, 1747, and they took
up their abode near Gravelly Beach, in the third house from the
river. Their children were: 1. Israel, b. Feb. 2, 1748-9;
mar. Hannah Roiiers. 2. Nathaniel, b. Sept. 1, 1750; mar.
Bethiah Clift. S.^'Thomas, b. June 8, 1752. 4. Asa, b. May
15,1754. 5. Abijah, b. June 24, 1756. 6. Araunah, b. Kov.
5, 1758 ; mar. Deborah Davis. 7. Bethiah, b, Feb. 24, 1761 ;
mar. Anthony E. Hatch. 8. Howland, b. Sept. 3, 1763 ; mar.
Hannah Davis. 9. liebekah, b. Dec. 3, 1766 ; mar. Ichabod
Hatch in 1794. 10. Samuel, b. April 27,1769. 11. Mercy,
b. Nov. 11, 1772 ; mar. Ichabod Hatch in 1830.

C^Z/ /^ Sr., (3) b. 1752, son of Is-

^^'U-y^^ii^ A^^Ui^^rael; mar., Aug. 14, 1781,
^ Agatha (orEggatha), dau>

of "Miller Ben" Hatch, whose thirteen sons and daughters
were ancestors of many of the present Rogers and Hatch fam-
ilies. Thomas Rogers built in Cohasset as late as 1819, in which
year he built there the sch. "Young James," 66 tons burthen,
for James Collier and Abraham Hall. Eggatha, wife of
Thomas, was b. June 14, 1762. Thomas built a house, which
he occupied, on Cornhill avenue, near Mrs. Hannah Baker's^
It was burned several years ago. He had children :

the ship-build-
/2./ti^er, b. July 18,
enr^^-yr 17 82; mar.,
y^ S3pt.l5,1803,

cy^ Lavinia Soule,

who was b. Jan. 21, 1784. By her he had one dau., Jane S.,,
b. May 15, 1804, who mar. Dea. Hiram Oakman, and is now
living, the venerable mother of Col. Hiram A. Oakman, H. P.
Oakman of Neponset, Otis B. and Nathan S. Oakman of North
Hanover (who mar. two Brooks sisters), and ]\Irs. Henry Abiel
Turner of Norwell. Thomas'' first wife d. May 19, 1805, and
he mar., 2nd, Mary (or Polly) Clift, Nov. 28, 1806. She was
b. Nov. 14, 1787. By her he had four daughters : Judith C.^

204 ROGERS GENEALOGY.

b. Feb. 23, 1820, who mar. Adia' P. Wilde, and left one or
more descendants. Mary A., b. July 17, 1822. Lavinia, b.
Aug. 9, 1825; mar. John L. Clapp. They have one child,
Elton B. Clapp, now living in East Marshfield. Bethiah O.,
the youngest child of Thomas and Mary Rogers, 1). April 29,
1827, is now living in East Marshfield, unmarried. 2. Mar-
tin, b. April 13, 1784; mar. Sarah Grinnell of Belfast, INIe.
3. Phillips, b. March 14, 1787, a ship-carpenter; mar. Judith
Smith, of Duxbury, and removed to Medford. 4. Agatha, b.
July 25, 1795 ; mar. Nathan Williamson. 5. Rowland, b.
Jan. 18, 1797, a ship-carpenter; mar. Philenda, dau. of Capt.
Nathaniel Clift. He succeeded to his father's estate, but after-
ward sold it, and lived upon his wife's place on Clift, now
Spring street, Marshfield. He had four children : 1. Wales
Allen, who mar. Sarah A., dau. of Capt. Wales Tilden.

2. George Howland, who mar. Eunice Ann, dau. of Al:)ijah
Rogers ; and they had one son, George Calvin, who mar. Eve-
line, dau. of Edwin Curtis, and now lives in East Marshfield.

3. Nathaniel Clift ; and 4, Philenda Adeline. 6. Warren,
b. Oct. 9, 1804 ; mar., and removed to Lynn, Mass., where he
has one son, Henry Warren, who is mar., and has two sons and
one daughter.

Asa Rogers (4), the ship-builder, 1). 1754, the fourth child
of Israel, the pioneer ship-builder, mar., Dec. 13, 1781,Abiah,
dau. of Edward Oakman, and lived on Cornhill avenue, where
some of their grandchildren now reside. They had ten chil-
dren : 1. Abiah, b. Sept. 7, 1783. 2. Sarah, b. Nov. 9,
1785 ; mar. a Mr. Pratt of Boston. 3. Asa, Jr., b. June 21,
1787; d. 1851. He mar. Ruth, dau. of Zaccheus and Ruth
(Oakman) Rogers, and succeeded to the homestead; and had
the following ten children, most of whom settled in Marshfield :
Ruth L., b. Aug. 5, 1813 ; d. Jan. 2, 1818. Martha, b. Nov.
22, 1815; mar., 1st, a Mr. Studley ; 2nd, a Mr. Day. Be-
thiah, b. Aug. 25, 1817; mar. N. J. Damon. Ruth L., the
second, b. Dec. 6, 1818 ; unmarried. Augusta, b. Sept. 28,
1820 ; mar. Edwin Curtis. Louisa Forbes, b. May 18, 1823 ;
unmarried. William, b. Jan. 21, 1825 ; unmarried. Edwin
Thomas, b. Oct. 1, 182(5; mar. Almaria Covell. Ann Caro-
line, b. July 27, 1829 ; mar. James Lambert. Mercy, b. Eel).
3, 1831 ; d. Feb. 20, 1834. 4. Temperance, the fourth child
of Asa, Sr., the ship-builder, b. Oct. 12, 1788 ; d. in Maiden,
unmarried. 5. Amos, b. Feb. 24, 1791 ; mar. and had sons:

ROGERS GENEALOGY. 205

John, who went to Warren, ]\[e., and Josephus, a ship-builder
of Bath, j\Ie., where his children and grandchildren have suc-
ceeded to the business. 6. Bethiaii, b. May 2"), 1792; mar.
Wm. Smith, who kept the well known "Half-AVay House" at
West Scituate (now Norwell), on the road from Plymouth to
Boston. They removed to Bedford. 7. Alice, b. Sept. 19,
1793 ; mar. a Mr. Turner, of Boston, and had a son, Henry,
with whom she lived in Maiden after the death of her huslxmd.
8. Edward, and .9. Henry, twins, b. Aug. 28, 179(>. Edward
resided at South Boston, where he was at one time in partner-
ship with his brother Henry, who was" a master ship-builder at
South Boston and at INIedford. Henry was also for some time
Quartermaster in the Charlestown Navy Yard. 10. Thomas,
b. July 21, 1802 ; mar., in 182(5, Jane, dau. of Elisha Tilden,
and removed to jMedford, where they died, leaving three daugh-
ters, who have descendants.

Samuel (10), who built at Gravelly Beach, and lived where
Benjamin White now resides, was b. 1769, the tenth child of
Israel. lie mar. Mary Rogers, who was b. May 3, 1772. He
d. Aug. 2, 1832 ; she d. Feb. 20, 1812. They had six chil-
dren :^ 1. Rachel Clift, b. Feb. 8, 1784. 2. Maria, b. Jan.
23, 1800. 3. Alfred, b. Sept. 1, 1803, who has two sons
residing in Boston : 1. Samuel, who mar., and has a son Wil-
liam F. 2. William A., who mar., and has two daughters,,
Ilattie B., and Grace. 4. Zadoc, b, March 23, 1810. 5. Sam-
uel, Jr., b. Feb. 5, 1814 ; d. Aug. 12, 1817. 6. Rachel W.,
b. June 12, 1818 ; d. Dec. 20, 1853.

Of the Little Bridge family, Peleg Rogers mar. Hannah
Stevens in 17r)4, and had several children. Among them was
Peleg Rogers, Jr., the ship-builder, who mar. Jemima Fames
in 1784." They had children: 1. Peleg, b. 1785. 2. Jede-
diah, b. 1788. (3. Isaac, who mar. Hannah Ford, and resided
at the homestead, near Little's Bridge?) 4. Nathan, b. 1793 ;
d. young. 5. Salome, b. 1794; d. 1882, unmarried. 6.
Arthur, h. 1798, a ship-carpenter; mar. Sarah F. Lapham, and
d. at East IMarshfield, leaving descendants. 7. Isaiah, b. 1800 ;
mar. Emily Tobey. He was a somewhat noted architect in
New York. He came into possession of the old homestead,
and sold it to its present owner, Amos F. Damon. 8. Laura,
b. 1802; mar. Thaddeus Wheeler. 9. Jotham ; mar. Louisa
Bowker, of Bowker street. South Scituate. 10. Alden, b..

206 VESSELS BUILT BY AMOS KOGEKS.

1807 ; mar. Adeline Humphrey, and resided at Seaview, Marsh-
field. He had quite a large ftimily. One daughter mar. Amos
F. Damon. 11. Susan D., mar. Isaac Ewell, and resides in
Medtbrd. 12. Amos ; was killed by an accident in New York
City, soon after his marriage, while working Avitli his brother
Isaiah.

Peleg and Hannah Stevens Rogers had a son Nathaniel, b.
Aug. G, 1757, (who mar. Hannah Ford, of Duxbury?). He
lived "up the hill," in the house next south of Isaac Rogers.

Samuel, Jr., and Experience (Thomas) Rogers had a son,
Simeon, b. 1737, who mar. Mary Clift ; by her he had a son,
Luther, b. Aug. 21, 1778, who became a master ship-l>uilder.
Luther mar., in 1802, Abigail L. Tilden, and lived in a large
house, on a corner, at East Marshfield village, which he built
for a hotel. It is now owned by his son, Alvin, who resides in
Quincy. Of his other sons, Clift mar. a Quincy lady, where
he was in the tannery business for many years. He now re-
sides in East Marshfield ; no children. Wales was a black-
smith in East Marshfield, until succeeded by his son, Mar-
cellus AV. He has one other son, James L., and four daughters,
all married. Avery resides in East Marshfield, and has a son,
Alfred, in South Boston. Luther, Jr., was a merchant at East
Marshfield for many years. He mar. Lydia Clift, and they
have had children:' John L., b. 1836. Henry C, b. 1839
(who write their name "Rodgers," and both of whom are mem-
bers of the well known leather firm in Boston). Herbert, b.
1845 ; resides in Quincy, and does business in Boston. Mary
L., b. 1850; is married.

built in Marshfield, as early as 1792,
the sch. "PERSIS," 90 tons, of
Marshfield ; Amos Rogers, owner.
He built, in 1794, the sch. "NEP-
TUNE," 114 tons, of Marshfield;
Amos Rogers, owner. In 1796, he
built the sch. "SALLY," 96 tons, for Thomas Lewis, Sr. and
Jr., and Joshua Ellis of Boston. The last vessel registered as
having been built by him was in 1798, the sch. "CONCLU-
SION," 109 tons, of Boston, afterward of Castine, Me. ; Amos
Rogers, builder, of Marshtield.

Prince Hatch built in Marshfield in 1801, at Capt. Joseph
Hunt's ship-yard, which was probably located on the South

Map of Marshfield, A.D. 1794.

VESSELS BUILT BY JOSEPH ROGERS. 207

River, a schooner for Gorham Lovell of Yarmouth, and Zenas
Oage and Abner A^^' Lovell of Barnstable.

a Quaker, Imilt in
Marshfield, in 1794,
the brig "SISTERS,"
83 tons, of Boston.
In 1795, the sch. "BETSEY," 121 tons, owned by Samuel
Truant, Joseph and elames Rogers, at Marshfield ; also in 1795,
the sch. "ELIZA," 106 tons, of Boston. Probably foundered
at sea in 1807. Sheffield, in his book on "Commerce," pub-
lished in 1783, says that "In New England, ship-l)uilders build
many vessels for sale ; most of them are bought in Great
Britain." He says that an English contractor paid in New
England " £75 sterling for a mast of 33 in. diameter. " In some
old newspapers are found the following items of interest to
Marshfield people. From the New England Weekly Journal:

" On or about the 23d of February, 1728, Capt. Bass, in a fine large ship
belonging to Boston, coming from the Bay of Honduras, run ashore on or
near Marshfield Beach, and is not likely to be got off, though most of the
cargo will be saved."

From the Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekl// JVews-
Letter :

_ " On Wednesday last," (Thursday, April 10, 1766,) " the Rev. Mr. Wil-
liam Shaw was ordained to the Pastoral care of the Church at Mansfield
(or Marshfield)."

" Last Sunday " (Thursday, Nov. 22, 1770,) " was married, at the church
in Marshfield, by the Rev. Mr. Thompson, I'elham Winslow, Esq., of Ply-
mouth, Barrister-at-Law, and eldest son of the Hon. Gen. Win&low, of
Marshfield, to IMiss Joanna AVhite of that town ; a lady possessed of vir-
tues and accomplishments which tend to render marriage not only agreea-
ble but honorable." °

From Boston Evening Post, July 20, 1772 :

"Died, at Marshfield, John Gooch, Esq., late of this town (Boston)."

From Boston Evening Post, Dec. 7, 1772 :

"Died, at Marshfield, Mrs. Maiy Winslow, consort of the Hon. Gen.
Winslow."

From Boston Gazette & Country Journal.

" April 2.5, 1774, Died at Scituate, Gen. Winslow."

Martin Rogers, one of the old ship carpenters, boarded at
one time with a Mr. Phillips. The sameness of the table made

208 VESSELS BUILT BY ASA ROGERS.

them wish for a chang'e, so one day when Mr. Phillij)s invited
]\Ir. Eo<2:er.s to ask the blessing at the tahle he said, "Dear
Lord, by the means of beef and beans are our lives preserved.
We tliank God we are not starved." Israel Rogers built many
vessels at Gravelly Beaeh prior to 1790.

son of Israel, built at
Gravelly Beach from
1794 until 1803 and
possibly later. He
built in 1794 the
sch. " FEDERAL

GEORGE," 103 tons,
of ]Marshfield. Isaac Wmslow, owner. During the six months
ending July 27, 1796, he built the snow "PACIFIC TR VDER,"
141 tons, for INIartin Bicker & Son of Boston. She had two
decks, three masts, was 53 ft. long, 21 ft. ])road, and 10 ft.
deep. A snow was a vessel equip^jcd with two or three masts
resembling a main and foremast of a ship and three small masts
abaft the mainmast carrying a trysail. They were much used
in tlie merchant service during the Revolution. There was
built at Gravelly Beach by Asa Roirers in 1796 the sch.
"THREE FRIEXDS," 32 tons, Joseph Hunt of Marshfield,
owner, and in 1798 the sch. "LUCY," 39 tons, Jesse Dunbar
and Asa Vinal of Scituate, owners. In 1799 the sch. "CAM-
ERON," 98 tons, of Boston, was built at Marshfield by Asa
Rogers, shipl)uilder. In 1801 he built the sch. "FOUR
FRIENDS," 75 tons of Plymouth. The last vessel we have
found recorded as having been built by him Avas one he built in
Scituate, but at what yard is not known. This was in 1803 the
sch. " MORNING STAR," 82 tons. Owners, Jesse Dunbar, Asa
Vmal and Eli Curtis of Scituate. Built at Scituate, Asa Rogers
M. C. In 1799 he built his second schooner named "Federal
Georr/e" ^(] tons, for George Keith, Jr., of Marshfield. This
vessel he built at "Keith's Building Yard," on South River.
He used to walk to Boston after setting his men to work in the
yard and Avalk back in time to discharge them at night. He
has also been known to walk to Medford Saturday night and
leavnig there Monday morning arrive in jSIarshfield in time to
go into the yard with the men ; and the ship carpenters l)egan
work soon after sun rise in those days. Asa's son Edwin T.
Rogers, ( who has furnished the author much information and is
now living at Marshfield Two-Mile,) used to say he wished he
could live to see the day that there would be no shipbuilding on.

ROGERS YARD. 209

Nortli River. His reasons were because lie had to take his
father's dinners across the mea(h)w whore the water was some-
times nearly up to his Avaist and in the winter the snow was
very deep and often slushy. Edwin T. Rogers was a ship
carpenter for many years. There is a tradition in the Ro<2;ers
family that Asa, Jr., with Amos and possibly Samuel, built at
Gravelly Beach the " Ilovnet,'" the war vessel which became
celebrated during our last war with England. Tradition also
says that this vessel was lost during the JNIexican war, being
sunk by the enemy, and that William Henry Rogers, a past mid-
shipman, swam five miles to land. Instead of the U. S. man-of-
war, "Hornet," the vessel built here was undoubtedly a })riva-
teer of the same name.

Bevj. Rogers, who was either agent or captain of the sloop
"Albion," in 1823, was brother of Isaiah and lived in Marsh-
field where Cliftbrd Rogers, his grandson now resides. Stephen
Rogers, a Quaker, and a prominent man of his day, lived in the
Block-house, Marshfield, where H. W. Nelson, Esq., now
resides. Marshfield has always been famous for the fires that
have occurred within its borders. The following is found in
an early number of the JSFew England Weekly Journal.

"On Wednesday last the 24, current " (May 1727) "two houses were
burnt at Marshfield standing several rods distant from one another. It
seems that in the house where the fire began a }oung man had in the after
noon of the foregoing day been combing wool, and having occasion to put
some coals into his comb-pot, a small one happened to fall into a chink of
the floor, which he espying, poured mto the place almost a pail of water,
and concluding that the fire was utterly extinguished took no further notice
of it; but about two hours before day the woman of the house awakino;',
peix-eiving the house to be on fire, she immediately called up h(;r chil-
dren, who had rot time to dress themselves but weie glad to escai).j with-
out their clothes. There was an aged man in the house (tlie woman's
father) whom they had much ado to get out. The substance of what was
saved out of the flames was a few beds and some pewter."

The following is taken from the Boston Chronicle for 17G8,
(April 18-25) :

*' We hear from Marshfield that last week a farmer in that place burning
some brush on his land during a high wind, the flames spread and set the
woods and fences on fire for near three miles, greatly to the damage of the
people in that place."

There used to be a young man who came down to one of the
yards to see the ship carpenters and who was not called very
bright. One day he was telling about a great fire in Marsh-
field woods, when he said what jjrieved him most was to see

210 SAM'l ROGERS CAPT. THOS. ROGERS, JR.

the poor little rabbits running out of the woods with their tails
burned off.

Samuel Rogers, \fho lived in the house now occupied by
Benjamin White at Gravelly Beach, built at Gravelly Beach,
also at Hanover and in the Brick-Kiln Yard, Pembroke, and
Wanton Yard, Scituate. He was at one time in partnership
with the Fosters. He built in Scituate in 1817, the sip.
"NANCY," 75 tons, of Scituate. Owners, Jonathan Stetson,
Chandler Sampson, Stephen and Luther Rogers, and Asa
Sheraian, of Marshfield, and Elias Magoun, Pembroke, and
Elisha Foster, Jr. , Scituate. Built probably at Foster's Yard. We
have been unable to ascertain the names or histories of any
vessels built by him in Marshfield, though there are quite a
number of models in existence of vessels he built at Gravelly
Beach.

Capt. Thomas Rogers, Jr., brother of Samuel, and son of
Thomas, lived at the head of the lane that leads up from Grav-
,elly Beach. He was a liner, that is, he lined for planking ves-
sels, which took great skill. He also w^orked in JNIedford, in
Boston, and on Campobello Island, in the Bay of Fundy. He
built, in 1820, the sch. "RACHEL," 59 tons, of Marshfield.

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Surveyor's Office, Port of Hanover.

I do Certify that the schooner named the liachel of Marshfield is ameri-
can built that she has one deck two masts her length is fifty seven feet
Eight Inches her Bredth is sixteen feet six i Inches her debth seven feet
two i Inches and measures fifty nine ton 6G-95 has a square stern has no
Galleries «& no head (and that her name and the name of the port to which
she belongs are pninted on the stem in the manner required by the third
section of the Act for registering ships or vessels of the United States)

Given under my hand at Hanover aforesaid this third day of May one
thousand Eight hundred & twenty.

/^/^^^^^^ >^ ^^i^p^^^T^ Surveyor.

NATHANIEL KOGERS, JR., SHIP-BUILDEK. 211

We Constant F. Oakman, Samuel Joyce, Samuel Joyce Jr. James Keith,
Samuel Oakman, Hatch Oakman, John Jones, Joseph Clift, Jr. owners of
the aforesaid schooner do agree to the foregoing description and measure-
ment.

On^^^^"*^

<*^*i

Nathaniel Bogers, Jr., built in Marsbfield, probably at Lit-
tle's Bridge, in 1794, the sch. "ELIZA," 98 tons, of Boston.
TLe following is a copy of the certificate of the "Eliza," signed
by Mr. Rogers, Avhich was not written by him, but hj the Jus-
tice before whom he signed :

"these may sartyfi that I built the schoner Called the Eliza in marshfield
in the County of plyouth Said Schoner Layed at mr. John hanes worf in
Charlstown on the Last Crlmas day which had her foremast taken out by.
Reaisen of her for mast being Sprong on her payeseg from marshfield to
Charlstown the Said Schoner is now oned by mr. Samuel Toby of Charls-
town the said schoner is Singel deak with a Round stern.

c/i/oM^

^L.40J^

-U^VfCl^

marshfield 13 January 1795."

As has been previously stated, before Little's Bridge was
built there was a ship-yard located on the site of the present
abutments of the bridge, on the Marshtield side. This yard

212 VESSELS BUILT BY PELEG ROGERS AND THOS. ROGERS,

was occupied by Peleg, father of Isaiah Eogers, and by others
of the Rogers family. It was not far aljove the Carver & Tay-
lor Yard. Peleg Rogers set out the large tree now standing
near the bridge. He is said to have made the first model of a
certain style of vessel that was ever made.

^^ ^r- built at Little's

/\^a^^^^ -"yf^*^ Bridge, in 1795,
^ ZZ7 y7 til® sliiP "ARGO,"

^^^^*V^ J^ 221 tons, of Bos-

ton; owners, Albert Smith, of Hanover, and others. The
"Argo" was a double decker with three masts, 66 feet keel, 24
feet beam, 15 feet depth of hold. This was probaldy the ves-
sel referred to in a letter addressed to Stephen Gorman, or
Gorham, Boston, and dated at Hanover, March 10th, 1795.
The writer says :

" Mr. Roggers has met with some difficulty in pi-ocuring a few
particular sticks of timber. I have urged him to hasten your ship,
and not scant her in depth of hold. She will be so good a vessel
that particular attention should be paid to have the rigging of the
best quality."

There was built here, in 1798, by the Rogers', the sch.
"REINDEER," 20 tons ; owners, Jedediah and Luther Little,
at ^larshlield. In 1800, the brig't'n " GEOllGE WASHING-
TON," 131 tons, of Boston, was built at Marshfield by Peleg
Rogers, ship-builder. This vessel was later sold to Nantucket,
and used in the wine trade. In 1818, she left the Azores full
of wine, but never was heard of after. Peleg Rogers built, in
1800, the sch. "RUBY," 28 tons ; owned by Daniel, Timothy,
Nathaniel, Isaac, and Peleg Rogers, Marshheld. She was after-
ward sold to Provincetown. The last vessel we have found
'recorded as having been built by Peleg Rogers, Jr., was the
sch. " Trial,'' 94 tons, which he built at Deer Island, in the
Harbor of Boston, in 1804, for Joseph Hunt of Marshfield.

Thomas Rogers, Jr., was master carpenter, in 1819, of the
packet sloop "ABIGAIL LITTLE," 20 tons, built and owned
by Luther Rogers, at East Marshfield village. This vessel was
built on land near the house of Luther Rogers. Farming was
rather dull, and Mr. Rogers found that he could make more by
building vessels on his farm than in raising vegetables. He
took this vessel to the river at Little's Bridge, in the winter
time, on sleds, and launched her on the ice. She was run as a

LUTHER ROGERS, SHIP-BUILDEll. 213

packet between Boston and North Eiver for a time, but was
afterward sold to Chelsea. It has been stated to the author
that Luther Rogers also built the sloop " TRADER," on land
back of where Alvin Rogers lived ; but no records have been
found to prove the fact. It is said this vessel was swung on
sets of wheels, which were drawn by oxen to Little's Bridge,
where she was launched, and that she was afterward converted
into a steam vessel, and sold down East. Luther Rogers built
two or three small vessels at his home place, and conveyed
them to the river. One was made as an open "gundalow," or
scow, and afterward lengthened, covered in, and made into the
packet "PICO."*

* See Chapter on North River Pilots.

CHAPTER XIII.

WANTON YARD.— 1 670- 1 840.

EDWARD AV ANTON, ROBERT BARKEH, EBENEZER STETSON, SNOW
STUTSOX, BENJAMIN DELANO, WILLIAM DELANO, SAMUEL
HARTT, WILLIAM H. DELANO, BENJAMIN F. DELANO, JOSEPH
CLAPP, ELISHA FOSTER, ELISHA FOSTER, JR., SETH FOSTER,
SAMUEL FOSTER, WALTER FOSTER, SAMUEL ROGERS, ELIJAH
BROOKS, J. TURNER FOSTER, CUMMINGS LITCHFIELD, JAMES
S. BURRILL.

T^HE Wanton Yard was on the old Wanton estate, located on
^ the Scituate side of North River, a little east of, or below,
the present residence of Samuel C. Cud worth, Esq. The old
yard was later divided by a wall, thus making two yards, which
were used separately during the last century and the early part
of this. Edward Wanton began ship-building here, probably,
as early as 1670, and vessels are recorded as having been built
by him as late as 1707. Tradition says he came from London.
He appeared in Boston before 1658, and in 1659-61 assisted at
the execution of Quakers. He soon became deeply sensible of
the cruelty, injustice, and impolicy of these measures, and was
greatly moved by the firmness with which they met death, and
won by their addresses l)efore their execution. He finally re-
turned to his house, after one of these executions, saying,
"Alas! mother, we have been murdering the Lord's people."
He took off his sword, with a solemn vow never to wear it
again. From this time, he conversed at every opportunity with
the Friends, and soon resolved to l)ecoine a public teacher of
their faith. In 1661, he purchased a farm of eighty acres of
William Parker, in Scituate, a little below Till's, or Dwelley's
Creek, where the river sweeps so grandly through the upland.

EDWARD WANTON. '2\^y

Here he conducted the business of ship-building. His house
stood near the bank of the river, on land afterward improved
as part of the ship-yard, and where was located one of the work-
houses in 1830. As a teacher of Quakerism he was quite suc-
cessful, and soon gathered a large congregation, and won many
followers from the prominent families of the town. He had
nothing to fear now, except the minor persecutions, as corporal
punishment, in this connection, was forbidden by King Charles
about 1()(U. In 1G78, the Society became so numerous as to
necessitate the l)uilding of a house of public worship, and a
small piece of land was purchased that year, of Henry Ewell,
and a house erected. This was located on the site of the gar-
den of the late Judge William Gushing. Later, another house
of worship was erected on the Wanton estate. This house is
now in Pembroke, part of it having been removed, and now'
occupied as a residence by Charles Collamore. The remainder
is still used by the Society of Friends, who worship there, hav-
ing at the present day between twenty and thirty members'. '
Tradition sa}'s the house was moved from the old Wanton es-
tate to its present location, via North River, on "gmidalows.";
One of the many persecutions Wanton and his followers were-
subjected to, was, in " 1(578 Edward Wanton (of Scituate) for
disorderly joining himself to his now wife in marriage in a way
contrary to the order of Government is fined £10 ; " and no
doubt their persecutors, if allowed, would have punished and
tortured them as were forgers and thieves, an instance of which
is given below, taken from an early paper :

"We also hear from New London, that at the Superior Court Holden
there the 30th of March last, (1727) one William Warkins was Tried for
Tlieft, found Guilty, and Sentenc'd to be Branded, and his right Ear cut
off, which was done tlie same Day : He intended to have had his Ear put
on again, but being unskilful in Surgery, he kept it 'till it was dead, that
it was attempted in vain : so that as the poor man could not do as he would,
he must e'en do as he can." — T/ie New England Weekly Journal.

Edward Wanton died Oct. 1(), 1716, aged 85, and w^as buried
on his own plantation, on a rise of ground below the ship-yard.
Some of his and several of the Rogers family were buried here
later, and the land probably belongs to their descendants ; and
thotigh it has been trespassed upon by vandals, in times past,
we hope some action may be taken by the town, ere long, to
protect it hereafter. Members of the Wanton family arc also
buried in the " Old First Parish Cemetery," opposite School-
house, District No. 6. Deane gives some interesting and

216 EARLY MINISTERS IN SCITUATE.

amusing anecdotes about the Wanton's, in his "History of
Scituate," to Mhich the reader is referred. Edward left quite
a family. William and John were invited to (^ourt, in Eng-
land, in 1702, and Queen Anne granted an addition to their
coat-of-arms, and presented to each a silver punch-bowl and
salver for their daring and successful capture of pirate and
French vessels in 1694-97. Undoubtedly, the vessels the Wan-
tons used in their captures were built ])y their father, on the
North River. The Wanton femily furnished three Governors
for Rhode Island : William, son of Edward, was Governor
during 1732 and 1733. Gideon, grandson of Edward, was
Governor from 1747 to 1748 ; and William's son, Joseph,
another grandson of Edward, was chosen Governor in 1769,
and re-elected for six consecutive years. Edward's son Joseph,
fiither of Gideon, removed to Tiverton in 16.S8, and was a ship-
builder at " the narrows, or gut." The ministers who came
later to Scituate undid much of the teaching of Edward Wan-
ton, and {ew, if any of the Quaker sect are now left there. One
of the first ministers of Scituate was the Rev. Nathl. Eells,
who preached for about iifty years following the year 1702.
He is descril)ed as one of the best " old-fashioned men " that
ever lived in town. Later, Dr. Barnes w^as pastor here. He
was not an educated man, but sul)stantial, and knew when and
how to make a good point. He was very popular, always lis-
tened to by large audiences, and had a singular way of speak-
ing, starting a sentence in his ordinary tone of speech, then
dropping his voice very low on the last few words. He once
undertook to give the character of Joshua of old, as follows :
" He rose gradually, went slowly, but at what period he arrived
We do not know." Here is an anecdote they used to tell in the
ship-yards about Dr. Barnes : Dr. Barnes said he " ate a red
herring one morning, rode all day in the rain, and came home
at night dry." An old ship-carpenter, in attempting to tell the
story after him, said, "Dr. Barnes ate a red herring in the morn-
ing, rode all day in the rain, and came home at night and was
not wet." Below is the record of the death of another Scituate
minister, clipped from an old paper :

" Scituate. (Mon. Jan. 13, 1766) Mr. Elijah Packard (formerly Minister
at Scituate) was frozen to death in walking over the Neck from Kenne-
bec k to Sheepscut." — The Boston Oazetle and Country Journal

Also an account of the death of the Rev. jNIr. Bourn from The
Boston Chronicle for 1763, Aug. b-15.

VESSELS BUILT BY EDWARD WANTON. 217

" Yesterday died at Roxbiu'j of a paralitick disorder, under whicli he had
been hinguishing several years, the Kev. Shearjashub Bourn, who for a
long course of years was a minister in the lirst }>arish of Scituate and
removed from thence to Roxbury soon after liis first indisposition had pre-
vented liis being farther useful in the ministi-y."*

Edward Wanton was a very successful ship builder. He
built many vessels for Benjamin (iallop of Boston. For three
years, at least, 1700-01-02, llohert Barker was in company
with him. Robert Barker was son of Robert and ancestor of
the Pembroke family of Barkers. The first record of any par-
ticular vessel being built here was for Benjamin Gallop in 1692,
sip. "BLACKTIIORXE," 30 tons, Capt. Holland; owner,
Benjamin Gallop. Later, vessels were built here as follows:
1694, sip. "HOPEWELL," 40 tons, Capt. Joseph Vickars ;
owner, Benjamin Gallop, Boston. 1694, bark "MARTHA &
ELIZABETH," 70 tons. Owners, Robert Howard, Giles
Dyer, Merchants, William Everton, Benjamin Gallop, William
Wallis and Florence Maccarty, of Boston. Also in 1694
brigrn "MARTHA and ELIZABETH," 70 tons, Capt. John
Hftlsey. Owners, Robert Howard, William Everton, Benjamin
Gallop, William AVallis, Giles Dyer and Florence Maccarty,
Boston. In 1698, sip., afterwards brig't'n "BENJAMIN,"
20 tons, Capt. William Cole. Owner Benjamin Gallop of
Boston. In 1699 sip. "UNITY," 30 tons, built at Scituate,
Benjamin Gallop of Boston, owner. Also the same year, 1(599,
ship "DOVE," 100 tons. Owners, Capt. John Pullen, John
Foster, Robert Howard, William Everton, John Hobby and
Benjamin Gallop, all of Boston. Also the same year 1699,
sip. "HOPEWELL," 30 tons, built at Scituate. Owners,
Richard Claton of St. Christopher, merchant, Richard Shute,
Andrew Belcher, and Mary Edward, widow, of Boston, James
Sawyer, Gloucester, and Edward Wanton of Scituate. Capt.
Richard Shute.

Robert Barker built in company with Edward Wanton, com-
mencing about 1700, when they built the brig't'n " SAR^VH &
ISABELLA," 50 t(ms. Owners, Capt. Thomas Tomlin, Robert
Wing, William Tilly of Boston, Edward Wanton and Robert
Barker of Scituate. Also in 1700 brig't'n "HANNAH," 60
tons. Owner, Benjamin Gallop, and the same year, 1700, sip.
"MARY," 20 tons, Capt. Joshua Cornish. Owners, Benjamin
Gallop, Thomas Thornton, Boston, and Edward Wanton and

* See Scituate Harbor Yards.

218 VESSELS BUILT BY EDW. WANTOX AXD ROb't BARKER.

Kobert Barker of Scitiiate. In 1701 sip. "MARGARET," 20
tons, Capt. Benjamin Thaxter. Owner, Benjamin Gallop.
Also the .same year 1701, sip. "HOPEAYELL," 30 tons, Capt.
Jonathan Render. Owners, Benjamin Gallop, Benjamin Alford,
Adam Winthrop, Florence Maccarty and James Barry, all of
Boston. In 1702 the brig't'n " ADVENTURE," 60 tons, Capt.
John Halsey. Owners, Benjamin Gallop and John Devine.
Also the same year, 1702, brig'tn "ADVENTURE," 40 tons,
built at Scituate. Owners, Henry Franklin, Benjamin Gallop,.
Florence Maccaiiy and John Devin, Boston, and also the same
year, 1702, sip. "EXPENDITURE," 40 tons, Capt. Edward
Lloyd. Owners, Tliomas Peterson and Daniel Zachary, of
Boston, and Edward Wanton and Robert Barker of Scituate.
In 1705 brig'fn " ENDEAVOR," 80 tons, built at Scituate.
Owner, Benjamin Gallop of Boston. In 170(3 sip. "HOPE-
WELL," 20 tons, built at Scituate. Owner, Benj. Gallop of
Boston. In 1707 brig't'n "ADVENTURE," 50 tons, built at
Scituate. Owmer, Benj. Gallop, of Boston. Also the same
year 1707, sip. "MARY," 20 tons, built at Scituate. Owners,
Tol)ias Oakman and Joseph Tilden of Marshtield and Edward
Wanton of Scituate. Many of these vessels were built for
privateers and used as such during the French War. Nothing
has been found relative to the vessels built later by the
Wantons as most of the records of ship Imilding for over sixty
years following are missing. The above therefore is only
a partial list of vessels built at this yard during the early times.
Edward Wanton like all of the well-to-do citizens of his day
kept slaves and in following the history of Wanton, there is
found one slave that gave him much trouble, by continually
running away. First, in an old paper there appears the follow-
ing :

" Ran away from his master Edward Wanton of Scituate ship carpenter
the 2nd of this inst. September. A mulatto man Servant named Daniel
about 19 years of age pretty tall, speaks good English, thick curled Hair,
■with bush behind, if not lately cut oif, Black hat, cotton and linen shirt.
He had with him two coats one a homemade dyed coat, the olher a great
coat dy'd and muddy color, striped homespun jacket Kersey Breeches, gray
stockings, French fall shoes. Who so ever sliall take up said llunavvay
servant and him safely convey to his above said Master at Scituate or give
any true intelligence of him so as his Master shall have him again, shall
have satisfaction to Content beside all necessary charges paid." — Boston
News Letter, Sejyt. 22. 1712.

From the following, it appears that he ran away two years
later from Edward Wanton's son-in-law, John Scott :

"bald hill." 219*

" Ran away from his Master, John Scott, the 17th of this instant August.
A muUilto man named Daniel formerly belonging to Edward Wanto'n of
Scituate ; he is inditt'erent, tall and slender, bi/ trade a shipwright but 'tis
thought designs for Sea. Who so ever shall stop, take etc., and bring him
or give notice of him to his master at Newport, R. I. shall be wefl re-
warded and reasonable charges v^iA:'— Boston News Letter, Auaust 23rd
1714. ^

The will of Edward Wanton dated in 1716 gives :

"To daughter Elizabeth (Scott) a mallato boy called Daniel, if he
be found he being now run away."

Josiah Barker was Naval Constructor at the Charlestown
Navy Yard from about 1810 until 1842, when he was appointed
Naval Constructor at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, where he
built the ship of war "Portsmouth." He was a descen-
dant of Robert and served his time on the banks of the North
River, and built many years in St. Andrews, St. Johns, West-
port, Weymouth and Pembroke. While at the Charlestown
Navy Yard he rebuilt the frigate "Constitution." The " Vir-
ginia," 74, was built by him ; also the "Frolic," 22, <' Indepen-
dence," 74, and many others.

In 1730, John Stetson, a descendant of Cornet Robert, pur-
chased the AVanton estate, and ship-building was carried on
here by the Stetsons. The only records apparently in exist-
ence now, of the vessels built by the Stetsons, are those of the
few built by Ebenezer & Snow Stetson. Tradition sa3^s that
vessels were built at "Bald Hill " by the Stetsons, which may
be the fact ; but as it is in doubt at which place they built, all
the history of them, and of their ship-building, which the most
diligent research has discovered, will be put into this chapter.
That Ebenezer and Snow Stetson l)uilt vessels at one of these
yards, it is certain, and possibly at "Bald Hill," or "Ball HilL"
There is some question as to the origin of the name of this hill,
situated on the old Michael Ford place, on the bank of North
River. Mr. Cyrus Turner says its true name is "Ball Hill,"
and gives as his authority, or reason, that balls or dances were
given there, on platforms, "in ye olden time," and that the old
Hanover Artillery used to go there to practice, with ball and
powder, shooting at a target on the Brick-kiln side of the river.
It is true that dances were held, and the Artillery did practice
here ; but the true name is prol)ably "Bald Hills," as the earliest
records speal: of them as such. In tlie church record of the
Rev, Benj. Bass, under date of Oct. 27, 1741, is recorded the

220 VESSELS BUILT BY THE STUTSONS.

death of William Ford, " drowned in the North Kiver, near
Eald Hills, and found about a week after." John Tower says,
when very young he asked an old man why it was called " Bald
Hill," which he always understood to be the name, and he re-
plied by taking off his hat, and rubbing his smooth pate with
his hand, saying, it was because it was as destitute of trees as
his head was of hair.

Ehenezer Stiitson built, in 1748, a ship for George Stutson.
In 1749, a schooner for Capt. eTonathan Tilden ; and the same
year, 1749, the brig't'n "WILLIAM CLIFT," built, owned,
and commanded by Eben. Stutson. Matthew Stutson did the
iron work. Ebenezer and Snow Stetson were descendants of
Kobert Stetson, commonly called "Cornet Robert," because he
was cornet of the first Horse Company raised in Plymouth Col-
ony in the year 1658, or 1659. Tradition says he came from
County of Kent, Eng. He settled in Scituate in 1634, on the
North River. His house stood on a sloping plain near the
bank, and an unfailing spring, which supplied him and his de-
scendants with water for two hundred years, still marks the
spot. (See Third Herring Brook.) William, son of Robert,
and great-grandson of Cornet Robert, was grandfother of Wil-
liam, of Medford, and of Stephen. He died in 1761, his body
being found in North River, opposite his house, under circum-
stances of a very sus})ici()us character. Cornet Robert had,
among other children, a son, Capt. Benjamin, b. Aug., 1641.
His son Benjamin was b. Feb. 16, 1668; mar. Grace Turner,
Jan. 22, 1690. Their son Matthew, b. Nov. 5, 1690; mar.
Hannah Lincoln, Sept. 24, 1730. Their son Matthew, b. Aug.
24, 1731; mar. Mary Randall, of Pembroke, Feb. 5, 1761.
Their son Matthew, b. March 3, 1763; d. June 9, 1782, of
fever, in Boston.

Thomas, b. Dec. 11, 1639, was the third son of Cornet Rob-
ert. His son Ebenezer was born in 1693, and is buried on
Church Hill. He is said to have been a very zealous church-
man, and built the church on Church Hill, So. Scituate, at his
own expense. The church here was originally founded July
28, 1725, by Dr. Timothy Cutler, of Boston, who conducted
divine service, after the Church of England form, in the North
Meeting-house at Scituat(\ which stood almost opposite the
residence of the late Hon. Geo. Lunt, and where his family
now reside. The church edifice was erected on Church Hill
(now in Norwcll) in 1731, and torn down in 1810. The tim-

STETSON GENEALOGY. 221

ber was in sucli good condition that ])art of it was used in the
construction of "the residence now occupied by Mr. James T.
Tohnan, on Oakland avenue, near Hanover Four Corners, it
being built by the then pastor of the church. The old panels
may now be seen in the dining and other rooms.

Snow Stetson, son of Ebenezer, b. jNIarch, 1730 ; mar. a
French lady named Dupee, in Newport, li. I., and d. in the
West Indies, aged 27. Their son, Snow Stutson, mar. Lydia
Tolman, of Scituate, Dec. 7, 1780, and d. in Bridgewater,
leaving a widoAV and several children, who moved to Buti'alo,
N. Y. He kept a tavern in Scitu:ite before removing to Bridge-
water. Capt. Thomas, a ship-master, was b. 1752, and was
great-grandson of Thomas of 1639. Ebenezer of 1693, had
also a son Ebenezer, b. Dec. 12, 1728, who d. in Antigua, W. I.,
1768; and a grandson Ebenezer, b. 1761, who lost his right
leg while in the navy, during the Revolution, on board the
privateer " Viper," in the engagement with the " Resolu-
tion," 1780. His descendants live in Cambridge, Medford,
and Boston.

John, son of Sergeant Samuel, who was fourth son of Cornet
Robert, built the first tide mill at the Harbor, and in 1730
purchased the noted Wanton estate. Here he had a ship-yard,
and many ships-were built here during his time. His son Sam-
uel, b. 1748, mar. Mary Clapp, of Scituate. He was a great
sino-er and a shipwright, probably continuing the business in
the^Wanton Yard. He d. 1788.

Snow Stutson built the gambrel-roofea house opposite the
present residence of Chas. Randall, in Pembroke. A^'m. J.
Baker occupied the house before the present resident, Nathan.
Howard. Capt. Silas Morton's daughter, who now lives in
Dedham, at the age of ninety three, writes : " I remember
Snow Stutson very well. He lived opposite my Cither's for
many years, and was a brilliant, handsome man, but not of
strong principles. While living there, he married L}^dia Tol-
man, of Scituate, and they had a large family of children.
Three daughters and one son lived to adult age. The oldest
daughter, Eliza, married for her first husband a Mr. Larkin ;
after his death, Mr. Clapp. She had no children. The next
daughter, Lydia, married a ]Vlr. Athearn, and left three chil-
dren, who now reside in New York State. Miss Eliza and
Miss Frances lived at Niagara ; George, I do not know where.

222 VESSELS BUILT BY SNOW STETSON.

Snow Stetson's son John lived in Bridgewater, where Snow
Stetson finally went, and, in his old age, while under an ab-
erration of mind, committed suicide. His Avife received a
pension after his death, so he was probably in the Revolution-
ary army."

Geo. F. Athearn now lives at Niagara Falls, N. Y. Fanny
is dead, and her sister Eliza's mind was so affected by the loss
that it became necessary to place her in an asylum, where she
now is. These two are the only direct descendants of Snow
Stetson now living. In 1783, the sch. "HOPE," 38 tons, of
Boston, was built on North River, and owned by Thomas Wal-
ter of Boston, Snow Stutson of Scituate, and others ; Peleg
Rogers,* master. Snow Stutson built, in 1785, the sch. "IN-
DUSTRY," 42 tons, owned by him and Elisha Briggs.f In
1786, was built the sch. " SALLY," 54 tons, owned by William
and Stephen Vinal, Nathaniel Wade, Jr., Thomas ]\Iann, and
Snow Stutson of Scituate ; in 1787, the sch. "AMERICA," 47
tons, owned by Joseph Tolman and Snow Stutson, who was
master of her in 1790; and in 1794, there was built here the
sch. "BACHELDOR," which ran to North Carolina; also, in
1796, the sch. "INDUSTRY," for Capts. Cook, Witherell, and
Covin ; and in 1796, the brig "PACIFIC." Thomas Stutson,
of Scituate, went mate of her, and S. Dunham, captain. She
was used as a blockade runner, and for smuggling goods from
Havre-de-Grace to Lisbon and back. Ebenezer, a descendant
of the above Ebenezer, helped build this last vessel. Snow
Stutson had been appointed Inspector of Vessels for the District
including Hanover, Scituate, Pembroke, and Marshfield, prior
to 1793^ and probaljly gave up ship-building, as in 1801 we
find him master of the sch. "Polly," of Scituate. Many
descendants of the Stetson family were ship-builders or carpen-
ters, and many learned their trade here and built elsewhere.
Prominent among them were Ebenezer Stetson, d. March 14,
1881, aged 93 years, 5 months, buried at the First Parish Cem-
etery, Scituate ; and Matthew, d. July 29 , 1888, aged 71 years,
buried at Church Hill. Thomas Stetson is buried in Hatch-
ville. George Stetson, son of Melzar and brother of JNIatthew,
is now living at Medford. The following are members of the

* See Roger Yards.

t See Brick-kiln Yard, Continued Chapter.

SHIP-BUILDEKS WHO WENT FROM NORTH RIVER. 22o

Stetson fjimily avIio were ship- carpenters, and went from Scit-
uate to other ship-yards :

Melzar Stetson, 1). 1805, went to South Boston.

Charles

1752,

New Bedford

Thomas

17(>(),

Barnstable.

Lincohi

1774,

Salem.

Wiswell

1785,

Kingston.

Jotham

1794,

Medford.

Elisha

1799,

Medford.

John

1811,

Medford.

Alpheus

1794,

South Boston,

Also, William Turner went to Boston from a North River
ship-yard. "Uncle Josh" Stetson, the wag of the ship-yards,
was a descendant of "Cornet" Robert. One day, while eating
dinner in the work-house, the men were discussing which ani-
mals would fight most desperately. Some said the lion, some
said a tiger, and so on. "Uncle Josh" said, "I saw two cats
fioht once 'till there was nothing left but their two tails."
" Uncle Josh " was called a great joker. A man cut his knee,
in the yard, one day, and "Uncle Josh " told him he ought to
have a " scabbard on his axe and a skillet on each knee :" but
the tables were turned on him when he fell from a vessel into
the water. One of the workmen looked over the side of the
vessel, and asked, "Are your boots tight, Joshy ?" At another
time he went out in a boat fisliing on the river, with his two
brothers, one of whom could not swim. They upset the boat,
and had hard work to save themselves and the l)rotlier who
could not swim. After they reached home, "Uncle Josh" re-
lated what had happened, and said, "What })leased me most,
was to see Melzar's doughnuts bobbins; on the water."

The Delanos built on the Wanton Yard, located on what was
called the "Molly Stetson Place," soon after 1770. Benja-
min Delano, the first of that family who built here, came from
Pembroke in 1770, and settled on the ancient Richard Dwelley
place, on the north side of the bank of the brook tluMi known
as Dwelley's Brook, l)ut later as Till's Creek. His house was
on the east side of the road, and has since been occupied by
Major Samuel Foster. The Delano sisters now own the old
place, and it is occupied by John H. Corthell. The earliest
record that is preserved of any of Delano's vessels is in 179(5,
the sell. " ROVER," 79 tons, of Duxbury ; owner : Silvanus

224 DELANO GENEALOGY.

Delano, of Duxluuy, shipwright; surveyor, Samuel Delano,
Jr. ; built at Scituate, afterward sold to Nantucket. 'Benjamin
Delano was succeeded by his son. For a brief account of cer-
tain members of the Duxbury branch of this family, see the
continued chapter of the ''Brick-kiln Yard." The following
account of a branch of the Delano family, was prepared many
years ago l)y the late Miss Thomas of Marshtield : "Lemuel
Delano, a descendant, doul)tless, of Philip De La Noye, one of
the Pilgrims, mar. Mary Eames, 20th April, 17()2. Children :
1. Mary, b. Jan. 23, 17()3. 2. Thomas, b. Jan. 25, 1766;
bap. May 25, 1766. 3. William, b. Jan. 27, 1770; bap. May
20, 1770. 4. Elizabeth, b. March 25, 1772; bap. May 17,
1773. This family removed to Sunderland, Mass. They had
also, 5. Charles, bap. Aug. 27, 1774.

Hezadiah Delano, of Duxbury, mar. Mary Taylor, 1731.

William Delano, of Scituate, mar. Eleanor Stevens, 1761.

Joseph Delano, mar. Judith Damon, and had children: 1.
Joseph, bap. Aug. 31, 1755; mar. Mary Thomas; d. in the
Kevolution. 2. Judith, bap. April 17, 1757; mar. John
Hatch. 3. Jesse, bap. July 22, 175D ; mar. Margaret Leavitt.
4. Zebulon, bap. June 21, 1761. 5. Mary; mar. Luther
White. 6. Hannah, bap. July 22, 1769 ; mar. Rouse Bourne,
Jr. 7. Edward, bap. July 28, 1771. Joseph Delano mar.
2nd, Lucy Cushing, widow of Ronse Bourne, and had one
child, Barak, bap. iMarch 22, 1778.

was born in 1775.

He built many

very large vessels.

Prior to the time

^^__^___^ he built here, the

Wanton Yard had been divded into two yards ; the Delanos
built in one yard, and the Fosters soon began building in
the other. After serving his time, and building one vessel in
Hanover in the year 1799, spoken of in the account of those
yards, William Delano came to this yard and built the same
year, 1799, the ship " INDUS," 338 tons, of Boston. The next
year he built two, as follows : 1800. Sch. "HANNAH," 118
tons of Boston. 1800. Ship "HARLEQUIN," 336 tons, of
Boston, two decks and three masts, drawing eighteen feet of
water. (^Nlore than any other vessel built on the river.) In
1801, he built the ship "ALEXANDER HODGDEN," 377

^.^A<

VESSELS BUILT BY BENJ. AND WM. DELANO. 225

tons, of Boston, which was one of the largest vessels l)uilt at
this yard. In 1802 he built the ship "COLUMBINE," 270
tons, of Boston.

Benjamin Delano built here, in 1804, the sch. "CHARLES,"
123 tons, of Duxbury. This is the last vessel on record of
which Benjamin Delano was the master carpenter.

There was built at this yard, by William Delano, in 1805,
the ship "TOPAZ," 385 tons, which was one of Delano's
largest vessels, two decks and three masts ; owned by David
Sears, at Boston. Wilham Delano was master carpenter, in
1806, of the ship "Granges" or "GANGES," 215 tons, of
Boston. This was probably the " Ganges " condemned at Tul-
cahuano. Chili, in June, 1858. In 1806, he built the ship
"AUGUSTUS," 325 tons, of Boston ; and in 1800, the ship
"IDA," 363 tons, of Boston. The next vessel built by the
Delanos was one of the two fomous vessels spoken of by Dcane
as being the largest vessels ever built on JSforth JRiver, but he
failed to give either their names or any further particulars con-
cerning them. The first was built in 1810, by William Delano,
and the second was finished in 1815 by his family. The hrst
built in 1810 was the ship "LADY MADISON," 450"^
tons, of New York. She was 112 feet long, 30 broad, and 15
deep, and was owned by Thomas Hazard, Jr., of New Bedford,
and Jacob Barker, of New York. The following anecdote,
related by F. C. Sanford of Nantucket, and by Israel H. Sher-
man of Norwell, is familiar to all the old merchants of New
York and New Bedford, and many of Boston. The correctness
of this story is attested by the fact that it was told to Mr. San-
ford l)y Wharton Barker, grandson of Jacob Barker. Barker
" ran " the Government at Washington, so to speak, during
Madison's time, by his great influence and wealth. Jacol) Bar-
ker was son-in-law of Thomas Hazard. At one time, the "Lady
Madison "was out on a whaling voyage, and on her home-
ward passage, laden with sperm oil, she encountered much
rough weather. The delay alarmed her owners, who feared she
was lost. Jacob Barker, who was a Quaker, went to the in-
surance office, and requested the agent to make out a policy for
the insurance of the ship, but not to sign it until the agent had
heard from him. In the mean time, the Quaker heard that the
ship was lost. He immediately sent his boy to the insurance
office, with the message, " If thee hast not signed the policy
thee need not, for I have heard from my ship." The agent.

226 LARGEST VESSEL EVER BUILT ON NORTH RIVER.

supposing the ship to be safe, and wishing to get the premium,
immediately signed the policy and sent it to the Quaker. To
his dismay, he found that the ship was lost, and had to pay
one-half of the insurance in settlement. She was lost on
"Goodwin Sands," in the English Channel, about 1815. Jacob
Barker died in 1872, aged 92.

William Delano probably l)uilt few vessels during the last
years of his life, though he may have begun the " Mt. Ver-
non," which was finished in 1815 by Samuel Hartt, a relative of
his wife's, whose son, Joseph T., mar. Nellie L., dau. of Dr.
Brownell, and had a son Joseph. William Delano d. in 1814,
leaving seven children: 1. William H. 2. Benjamin F., b.
Sept. l7, 1809. 3. Edward H., b. Aug. 12, 1811. 4. Mary.
5. Prudence. 6. Sarah. 7. Lucy. The three latter now re-
side in Norwell, in a beautiful place that overlooks the old
homestead and the far distant sea. William H. and Benjamin
F. worked in the ship-yard in company from the time they were
old enough until the former removed to East Boston. William
H. was often called "Lord North " about this time. The " jNIt.
Vernon" referred to before, was the largest vessel ever
BUILT ON the North River, and the excitement caused by the
building and launching of this ship is well remembered l)y the
older people of to-day, who have not yet ceased to talk of it.

The ship "MOUNT VERNON," 464 tons, was built in 1815,
and sold to Philadelphia. Samuel Hartt was her master car-
penter. It is certainly wonderful how a vessel of her size
could be launched from this yard ; but such is the fact, and she
was gotten out of the river safely, and was a well-built and suc-
cessful ship. Samuel Hartt was Naval Constructor on the Ports-
mouth and other yards. He died at So. Scituate, Dec. 18,
1860, aged 78 years. Benjamin F. Delano was educated under
the Rev. Samuel Deane, and, displaying quite a talent for ship-
building, he was placed in the draughting ofiice of the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, where he served his time. He then returned to
So. Scituate, and, in company with his oldest brother and Jo-
seph Clapp, built, in 1829, the sch. "ONLY DAUGHTER," 70
tons, of Hingham ; owners, Seth Gardner, Jr., Scituate, Hi-
ram and Capt. Thomas Jeiferson Gardner of Hanover, and
others.

THE DELAXOS. 227

were the master carpenters. Jo-
seph Clapp has two ofrandsons
living, Herbert and Joseph, sons
of John Otis of Norwell. Joseph
yyv^-gt iii'ii'- Lizzie, dau. of Joseph
Corthell. In 1833, Stephen
White and others bouoht Grand Ishmd, on Niagara River, and
engaged Benj. F. Delano to convert the forest of oak timber
that was there into vessels. He took with him his two ])roth-
ers and twenty picked men from his native town. The venture
proved a success, and they budt seven vessels, A $100,000
hotel is about to be erected on Grand Island. He also built the
first steam vessel that plied between East Boston and Boston.
In 1847 he received an appointment as Naval Constructor, and
was stationed at Portsmouth, N. H., and from there was trans-
ferred, in 1850, to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he was
Chief Naval Constructor, and was retired June 11, 1873. At
Portsmouth he constructed the "Saranac." He constructed
twenty-one war vessels from 1861-65, among them the daring
dispatch boat "Iroquois," the "Oneida," " Nyack," " Wampa-
noag," and "Mattawaska."" He also converted numbers of
harmless merchantmen, bought l)y the Government, into death-
dealing war vessels, and worked day and night over his plans
for their reconstruction. He d. April 30, 1882, leaving a
widow, Jane, dau. of Seth Foster, who now resides in Brook-
lyn, and one son, Alfred Otis, living in Norwell. The life of
Edward II. Delano was not unlike that of his brother Benja-
min. He served his time in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was with
his brother later, and in 1848 was commissioned Naval Con-
structor, and ordered to Pensacola, and afterward transferred
to Norfolk and Charlestown. He built the U. S. steam frigate
"Merrimac," and Admiral Farragut's flagship, the "Hartford."
He d. at Charlestown, Mass., April 9, 1859, while in charge of
that station. He mar. Mary R., dau. of William James of
Scituate, by whom he had two sons, William E. and P^dward
Franklin. He mar., 2nd, June IG, 1858, Avoline S. Frost, of
So. Berwick, Me. The Fosters built next to the Delanos, and
at times in company with them.

/ ^ was the first of this family
^^l/'^^'^^ recorded as having built
here. He used to say that
in 1760 his friends earnestly
advised him to abandon his
design of becoming a ship-

228 FOSTER GENEALOGY.

Wright because the timber was so far exhausted ; they thought
the business must soon fail, but he did Ijecome a shipwright and
obtamed enough tunber to successfully carry on the art, and his
sons also, for'many years. Certainly there were some kirge
trees standing at that time in Scituate, as later a tree of immense
size was cut there, as appears in an item taken from the Boston
Evening Post of March 2, 1772.

"We hear from Scituate that on the 12th ult. a tree was cv;t there and
brouo-ht to the mill which made 2809 feet of inch boards, 2000 shingles and
four cords of wood."

Elisha Foster was a descendant of Edward the lawyer, one of
the men of Kent, who settled m Kent street, Scituate (after-
ward Capt. Webb's place), in l(i33. His children were 1.
Tnnothy, 1). 1G40 ; 2. Elizabeth, b. 1645. Timothy's children
were 1. Ruth, b. 16G4 ; 2. Elizabeth, b. 1667; 3. Naomi, b.
1668 ; 4. Hatherly, b. 1671 ; 5. Rebecca, b. 1675 ; 6. Timothy,
b. 1681; 7. Edward, b. 1682; 8. Thomas, b. 1686; 9. Eliza-
beth, b. 1688. Hatherly, b. 1671 (son of Timothy, Sen.),
mar. Barthshua Turner and had children : 1. Margaret, b. 1699 ;
2. Joseph, b. 1702; 3. Ruth, b. 1704; 4. Timothy, b. 1706;
5. Elisha, b. 1708; 6. John, b. 1711; 7. Elizabeth, b. 1721.
Elisha, son of Hatherly, mar. Temperance Freeman, of Har-
wich, in 1739. TJieir children were 1. John, b. 1740; 2.
Barthshua, b. 1742 ; 3. Elisha, b. 1745 ; 4. Temperance, b.
1747; 5. Sarah, b. 1749; 6. Mary, b. 1751; 7. Ruth, b.
1754.

Elisha, son of Elisha, mar. Grace Barstow of Hanover in
1769. Then- children were: 2. Capt. Seth, b. 1770. He was
a ship-budder and mar. Abigail Otis. They had : 1. Otis ( ?)
who died ; 2. Jane (wife of Benjamm Delano). 2. Margaret,
b. 1772, who mar. Capt. Samuel Tilden of Marshfield, and had
chddren : 1. Margaret (wife of Capt. Benj. Smith of Duxbury) ;

2. Samuel ; 3. Mary, wife of William Smith (of East Bridge-
water). ^. ^/«W/a, b. 1775, the store-keeper who furnished
"black-strap" and other necessaries of life to the yards. He
mar. a Miss Turner and had sons : 1. Joshua Turner, 2. George,

3. Phillip, and 4. Henry (who is now living in Berkeley, Cal.).
Georo-e and Phillip are dead. An account of J. Turner will be
o-iven^later. Elisha had daughters : 1. Grace, who was the first
wife of Captain Nath'l Barstow of Hanover, and left one dau.
Grace. 2. Sally, who mar. Isaac Haskins and left two chil-
dren (1. Esther, mar. Edward Barnard; 2. Edward H.) ; 3.

VESSELS BUILT BY ELISFIA FOSTER. 229

Mary, whom ar. Capt. William H. Talhot and left three sons:
1. William, 2. Frank and 3. Richmond. 4. Mary Frances, who
died. It will be seen that of Elisha's seven children, two are
now living. 4. Fi'eeman, a physician, b. 1777, married ; he d.
July 18, 1863. 5. Samuel, b, 1779, was a shi})-builder, mar.
Sarah Delano and had children: 1, Sarah Delano, b. 1810; 2.
Mary Louisa, b. 1824. Sarah Delano, mar. John K. Nash in
1832. They had children: 1. John Cushing, born 1839, mar.
Sarah Brown in 1860 and had children : 1. Mary Louisa Foster,
b. 1862, (mar. Arthur L. Power in 1883, They have children :
I.Nelson Foster, b. 1884; 2. Samuel Foster, b. 1885; 3.
Howard Stone, b. 1887) ; 2. Sarah, b. 1865; 3. Helen Eliza,
b. 1868 ; 6. Charles, b. 1781, a farmer, mar. and had children
1. Walter; 2. Charles. 7. Temperance, b. 1782, (died early).
8. Daniel, b. 1787, mar. Leafy Sampson and had children : 1.
Seth ; 2. Caroline ; 3. Benjamin P. ; 4. Helen. 9. Walter, b.
1789, a ship-builder, mar. Betsey Pierce, no children.

Elisha Foster, who is described as a heavy, stout man, built
alone until 1803-4. In 1795 he built the brigantine " GAR-
LAND," 128 tons, for Daniel Sargent of Boston. The good old
blacksmith at Foster's Yard was in the habit of lending his
narrow hoe to a young apprentice, who was very tardy in
returning it, and one day when he came for it the old man
said, " When you have done with it, you just put legs to it and
send it home." Elisha Foster built the following vessels : the
'^ CASPIAN," and in 1800 the ship "HANNAH & ELIZA,"
255 tons, of Boston ; in 1801, the sch. " GEORGE," 82 tons,
of Chatham, owners, Samuel & Elisha Foster, Jr., of Scit-
aate and others, afterwards sold to Gloucester ; and the same
year, 1801, ship "FORTUNE," 339 tons, of Boston, one of
the largest vessels built at this yard. She had 2 decks and 3
masts. He built the same year, 1801, ship "PERSEVER-
ANCE,'' 214 tons, of Boston, afterwards of Nantucket. He
built in 1802, the ship " O'CAIN," 280 tons, of Boston, which
(" O'Cain ") was quite a noted ship, and when on the northwest
coast she was commanded by Capt. Blanehard, of Bi-ighton,
she was lost in 1826 at Valdalia, coast of Chili. The ship
''ASIA," 274 tons, of Boston, was probably built by Foster in
1803; she was sold May 21, 1813 to a Spaniard and called
the ''Fernando Septimo.'' The next year Elisha Foster took
into partnership his son Elisha and they launched in lbU5 the sch.
••FAVORITE," 74 tons, of Chatham, owners^ Elisha Foster,

230 VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS.

Sr. and Jr., of Scituate. In 1807 thev built two ships, the
"GOLCONDA" and the "ELIZABETH," both afterward
hailed from New Bedford. In 1809 the Fosters built a .sinp
sold to Salem. In 1810 thej built the ship " FRANCES ANN,"
for the launching of which $.5.20 was spent for lemons. In
1811 they l)uilt the ship "ROWLAND." Both the above
named vessels were whaling; from New Bedford later. Also in
1811 they built the ship "HELLENOH."

Chaj'Ies Foster, in 1811, built the ship "FRANCISCAN."
Joseph Tolman worked on her. The ship "AMERICA" was
built by the Fosters in 1812. Capt. Peleg Kent, son of Peleg
Kent and father of Smith Kent, connnanded her. Very dull
times followed the war of 1812, and one of the vessels that was
built at Foster's Yard lay two or three years before launching,
until the Embargo Act was off. She was hnally launched and
much admired as she lay at Union Bridge until her spars and
rio^ging were sent down from Boston ; she had a very fancy
figure head of an eagle. A "Kanaka" or Hawaiian came down
to help rig her and used to amuse the ship-carpenters at noon
time by lighting their pipes by rubl)ing two pieces of wood
together. At this yard there was also a vessel launched at one
time that beat the Kanaka, the friction caused by launching
making a fire so great that the Captain lighted his pipe from
the blaze. The village minister at Scituate was considered a
good judge of horses as well an historian. One day a certain
man was trying to sell a horse, and when asked how old he was,
answered that Mr. Deane the minister told him that the horse
was nine years old. Before buying, the purchaser thought it
well to ask Mr. Deane, who replied, "Yes, I did tell him so ;
but that was nine years ago." The Fosters built two vessels
for David Ellis of Boston, also one for Capt. Howes of the Cape,
who went master of her. On her first voyage Capt. Howes ran
near the shore on the other side of Cape Cod to signal his
family a good bye, but running too near she struck and capsized ;
all hands were saved except one of the crew. Phillip Foster
was on her.

Prior to 1815 Elisha Foster had taken into the firm his sons
Seth, Samuel and Walter, and it was styled ElisJia Foster- &
Sons. AYalter was an officer in the 2nd Regiment of jMilitia.
The " WARSAW," a New Bedford whaler, was built here. The
Fosters were also interested in the bark " ]\Iaria Theresa " (built
at Block House Yard). William Delano died in 1814, and

VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS. 231

Samuel Hartt finished his hist vessel, and then,. according to the
old Foster account books, sold in 1815 one pair of bilgeways
and launching plank to Elisha and Samuel Foster, and judging
from tiie number of vessels the Fosters built the next year they
probably occupied ]>oth yards. There was built at this yard by
Elisha Foster & Sons, in 1815, the ship "ATLAS," 300 tons,
of Boston. This vessel had 2 decks and 3 masts, and her
length was 102 feet. In 1823 she was cast away oft' the Port of
Helder, Germany, and was a total loss. The same year they
built a vessel that became famous the world over, and a book
was published giving her history.

This was m 1815 ; the ship " GLOBE," 293 tons. Her keel
was 78 feet; beam, 26 feet; hold, 11 feet; between decks, 5
feet G inches ; the mainmast, 03 feet ; foremast, 58 feet ; miz-
zen, 55 feet. This vessel was the first to bring two thousand
barrels of sperm oil into the United States. A horrible mutiny
occurred on her in 1824, ofiT Fanning's Island, in which captain
and mates were killed. The following is gleaned from the
account published by the two survivors, Hussey and L:iy :
The ship " Glol)e " sailed from Nantucket 20th Dec, 1822, on a
whaling voyage. She was then owned by C. Mitchell & Co.,
and commanded by Thomas Worth of Edgartown, Martlia's
Vineyard. She sailed direct to the Sandwich Islands, where
she arrived May 1st, 1823. At Hawaii they received a wel-
come supply of potatoes, sugar-cane, yams, cocoanuts, bananas,
fish:, etc. At Oahu, another of the islands, six of the crew
deserted at night ; two were re-captured, but again escaped.
From Oahu, the "Globe" sailed on a cruise to Japan ; then re-
turned to the Sandwich Islands for vegetables, and sailed south
towards Fanning's Islands. Jan. 26, 1824, Joseph Thomas in-
sulted the captain, and was punished by being whipped with the
end of a main buntling. Whether this had anythino; to do
with the murderous mutiny, which followed on the evening of
the same day, is not known, but it would seem as if the mutiny
had been planned some time before. On the night of Jan. 2{^,
Samuel B. Comstock and Silas Payne went into the cul)in,
taking with them an axe, knives, ancl muskets with fixed bayo-
nets, and murdered the captain and the first and second mates,
by shooting and then running their bodies through with knives
and bayonets, seeming to enjoy their writhings in pain and
their entreaties for mercy. The bodies were then thrown over-
board. A rope was made fast to the feet of John Lambert,

232 SHIP "globe."

the second mate, and he was pulled up on the deck and thrown
over while yet alive, after practising cruelties the harrowing
details of which one would loathe to relate. Is it strange the
rest of the company were stunned with fright, fearing lest they
might be dealt with in the same manner? Comstock and Payne
had accomplices who were in the plot. Among these was Wil-
liam Humphrey, the former steward, who was hung, by order
of Comstock, on Jan. 29, to a studding-sail boom, rigged out
eight feet ui)on the fore yard, for treachery to his leaders,
though it was not proved. Not daring to go to any civilized
port, it was decided by the mutineers to run the vessel ashore
on one of the Mulgrave Islands, and, after taking out the pro-
visions, and stripping her, to Inirn her to the water's edge, and
live the rest of their days with the natives. While unloading
in the harbor, and before all the effects and provisions were
ready to divide, Comstock gave some of the clothing and other
articles to the natives. This caused trouble, and, fearing lest
he would lead the natives against them, they shot him on the
morning of Feb. 17, 1824, and Payne nearly severed his head
from his body Avith an axe. Thus ended the life of the blood-
thirsty leader of the mutineers, twenty-two days from the be-
ginning of his hellish career. The ship "Globe" was this day
put in "charge of six men, under Gilbert Smith, and, during the
night, they made sail and escaped from the island, leaving their
murderous companions, and some of the innocent ones, behind.
After a long and boisterous passage, they arrived, in June, at
Valparaiso, where the " Globe " was taken possession of by the
American Consul. From here she sailed for Nantucket, where
she arrived Nov. 21, 1824. Of the men left at the Mulgrave
Islands, all l)ut two were massacred by the natives. Cyrus M.
Hussey, of Nantucket, and William Lay, of Saybrook, Conn.,
were saved by friendly natives, and finally rescued by the U. S.
man-of-war " Dolphin,'" Capt. John Percival, after living twenty-
two months on these islands. The " Globe " was sold out and
broken up at Buenos Ay res in 1828.

On Sept. 21, 1815, Foster & Co. received |520 to bind a
contract to build a scliooner for Caleb Nickerson of Chatham.
It was finished in 181(3. In 1816, Samuel Rogers,* of Marsh-
field, was taken into the firm, and the same year

* See Roger Yards

C^^^^^/c-W^^^'^^^^

VESSELS BUILT BY SETII & SAMUEL FOSTER & CO. 233

:uul S a 111 u e 1
Roijers built
the""BETSEY
PIERCE," 73

tons, of Scituate, named for Walter Foster's wife. In Jan.,
1817, Seth, Samuel, and Walter Foster, and Samuel Rogers,
aiireed to build a seliooner in eompany, under the firm name of
Setli & Samuel Foster & Co. To show the interest that each
had in the firm, the divisions made on a ship in 1821 were as
follows :

Seth Foster, 3 parts.

Sanil. Foster, 3^ ''

Sanil. Roo-ei-i^, H "

Walter Foster, U "

Elisha Foster, Jr., ^ "

Total, .... 10

July, 1817, they contracted to build a sJoop for Capt. Caleb
Nickerson, at $21). 50 per ton. There was built here, in 181(5,
the sch. "BANKER," 73 tons, of Chatham, Seth & Samuel
Foster, master carpenters; also in 1816, the sch. "OCEAN,"
73 tons, of Chatham ; Seth & Samuel Foster, master carpen-
ters. Samuel Tolman, Jr., did joiner work for Capt. Seth Fos-
ter & Co., June 1, 1817, on the sch. "GOV. BROOKS," 72
tons, built for Capt. Atkins of Provincetown ; June 14, sch.
"BETSEY & MARY ; " June 3, sloop "NANCY." On Sept.
10, 1817, was launched the sloop "RAPID," 48 tons, of Scit-
uate, later of Chatham. She was Iniilt by Seth & Samuel Fos-
ter. The " Ra})id " was at one time a Boston and Nantucket
packet. There was also built here, the same yeai-, the sloop
"BEDBUG," and the sch. "BETSEY & POLLY," 51 tons,
probably for Capt. Harding. It will be seen from the al)ove
that the Fosters built six vessels in 1817, which was the largest
numl)er of vessels built at any yard on the North River during
any one year (Smith's Yard, Hanover only excepted). This
year, Joseph R. Tolman disposed of his interest in Foster's
vessel, built probably during the war, as a receipt of which
the following copy states :

" SciTUATE, Jan. II, 1817.

This will certify that I have sold all my concerns in Mr. Foster's
ivar ship to Samuel Tolman, Jr., by agreement between Seth Fos-
ter and myself. {Signed) Joseph R. Tolman."

234 VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS.

In 1818, the Fosters built two vessels Avhich were the talk of
the town while they were being built, one in each yard. They
were the ships "PACIFIC," 314 tons, and "PERUVIAN," 334
tons. Oak, ash and pine were used in their construction. Also
in the "Pacific " were used twenty-two spruce knees, bouijht of
Thatcher Magoun, Pembroke. One thousand " trunnels " or
tree-nails bought of Jonathan Sampson for $7.84 and a but-
ton wood log. The ash came from Peml)roke. Capt. Luther
Tilden put the lower deck in the "Peruvian" for $liH),
and Matthew Tower furnished the capstan for $25. Samuel
Curtis was paid $1.14 for twelve gallons of cider forthe launch-
ing of both ships. INIatthew Tower was a direct descendant of
Benjamin Tower of Hingham, whose son Benjamin had a son
James, who was father of Matthew. John, the common ances-
tor, mar. Margaret Ibrook, a remarkably handsome woman,
sister of Mrs. Hobart, whose husband, Ilev. Peter Hobart,,
edited "Hobart's Journal." (See Briggs' Yard.) Matthew
had brothers and sisters, viz. : 1. John, 1st, killed at Charles-
town. 2. Lynde. 3. John, 2nd, died in Dartmoor Prison.
4. David, who was father of John Tower, editor of the "North
River Pioneer," spoken of elsewhere in this book. 5. Solo-
mon. 6. Lucy. 7. Mary. 8. Rachel ; and others, many of
whom left children who have families in Hanover, Scituate,and
Hingham. (See "History of Hingham.") The "Peruvian"
cost, to build, $10,428.86 ; and the "Pacific" cost, to build,
$87(i7.()9. The "Pacific" was lost on Kodiac, near Alaska, in
18(3(), then owned in Nantucket. The "Peruvian " was whaling
in the Pacific, in 1820, under Capt. Christopher AVyer, and
belonged to C. Mitchell & Co., of Nantucket. In 1827, she
lost her first mate, Paul Bunker. He harpooned a black fish,
which struck and killed him. She continued whaling in the
Pacific until 1857, when she was broken up at New Bedford,
thirty-nine years old. Early the same year, or in January,

1818, the firm contracted for, and beo:an to build, the sch.
"MINERVA," of 70 tons, for Capt. Atkins of Provincetown,
who used her whaling olf the Western Islands. Also, in 1818,
the sch. "WELCOME RETURN," 77 tons, of Boston ; and in

1819, the sch. "RANGER," 57 tons, of Boston, of which Wal-
ter Foster was the master carpenter. The same year, 1819, the
firm built a ship which they named after the family, the ship
"FOSTER," 317 tons, that cost to build, $10,057.03. The
bottom of the "Foster" was pierced by a horn-fish on her first
voyage, and the horn was left there. When they sawed it off

VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS. 235'

in the hold, tbe water rushed throui::h the opening one thousand
strokes per hour. This was in the Pacitic Ocean. In 1820,
she was at the Hawaiian Ishuid, on a voyage to China.* In
1825, she was sheathed partly with leather. In 1847, when
under Cai)t. Francis C- Coffin of Nantucket, she shipped eight
thousand Gallons of oil to London, and was condemned at the
Seychelle Islands, near Zanzibar. The Fosters built, in 1820,
the sch. "COMBINE," 91) tons, of Boston ; and the same year,
1820, the brig " MARGARET," 185 tons, of Duxbury ; owners,
Seth, Samuel, and Elisha Foster, Sr. and Jr. , and Cushing Otisof
Scituate. Nathan Tilden w^orked Joinering on the "Margaret."
In 1821, they built the ship "LION," 326 tons, for Christoi)her
Mitchell & Co., Nantucket. She was lost, during her tirst
voyage, on the rocks, while making Fanning's Island, in the
South Pacilic. Also in 1821, the Fosters built the ship "CY-
RUS," 328 tons, which lasted until 1845, when she was con-
demned at Rio Janeiro. The next year, 1822, they built a
"hio-h deck schooner," the "NEW PRISCILLA," 125 tons, of
Cbrtham. Also in 1822, the ship "JAPAN," 332 tons, of
Boston. She was afterward sold to Paul Mitchell & Sons, Nan-
tucket, and in 1825 was whaling in the Pacific, under Capt.
Shubael Ilussey. In 184(), she was owned by Barker &
Athearn, and still whaling in the Pacitic. She, however, came
home soon after, and sailed for San Francisco in 1849, where
she was broken up in 1851. F. C. Sanford writes: "I am
happy to say that I was there about that time. There were a
thousand ships in port, from every part of the world, and of
every ri<i', from a Chinese junk to a line-of-battle sliij)." Seth
and Sanmel Foster & Co. built the sloop "ALBION," in 1823,
which was used as a North River and Boston packet for many
years. Like some other North River packets, she had one-half
as many owners as she was tons large. In 1823, Sanmel Tol-
man, Jr., bought of Seth and Sanmel Foster, one-fifteenth part
of the hull of the sloop " Al))ion," for $(i6. The sloop "Albion"
was 28 tons, of Scituate, and owned by Constant F. Oakman,
MarshHeld ; Benjamin Rogers, Pembroke ; Samuel Deane, Eb-
enezer T. Fogg, Seth and Walter Foster, Lemuel Turner, John
Nash, John Thaxter, Joseph Oldham, Thomas Cushing, Aaron
or proba])ly Anson Robbins, Consider Merritt, Jr., and Samuel
Tolman of Scituate. This important boat was afterward sold

* For acount, see Sanford's article on " History of Noted Vessels," Boston Daily
Advertiser, Dec, 1871.

236 VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS.

to Boston. The Fosters also built, in 1823, the brig "NEP-
TUNE," 214 tons ; David Ellis, of Boston, owner. They built,
the next year, the brig "Pioneer," at the launching of which
tifteen pounds of lamb, l)read, and sauce are charged on the
books at $3.00. Brig "PIONEER," built in 1824, 231 tons,
of Duxbury, was owned by Seth, Samuel, and Eiisha Foster,
Sr. and Jr., of Scituate, and others. She was sold to Ezra
AVeston, and by him to New Bedford parties. Eiisha Tolnian
did the planking, and Daniel Hall the joiner work. Later, she
w^as changed into a bark, and in 1872 was held at Mauritius for
several months, by the United States Consul, but was released,
and finally sold to France when over fifty years old. The ship
"JULIAN" was built at Foster's Yard before 1825; Capt.
Benjamin Smith, commander. She was sold to New York by
her New Bedford owners in 1862. The Fosters built, in 1825,
the brig "DIANA," for the launching of which vessel twelve
pounds of tallow w^ere bought for $1.20, to use on the ways ; and
in ]May, 1825, " Pork, bread, sauce, etc. , for the launching of the
brig 'Diana,' $4.25." Nathaniel Eels worked on the " Diana."
The launchings were attended by all the people around ; schools
closed, and Imsiness was generally suspended, A spread was
always given by the builders, which was usually substantial,
with plenty of lemons, sugar, water, etc., to wash it down, as
is seen by the entries in the old account-books, and the parties
for whom the vessels were built often sent liquors or refresh-
ments for the launchings. In 1825, the Fosters built the
" SMYRNA," which became famous ever after she carried the
American Stars and Stripes into the Black Seaforthe first time.
She was owned by Ezra Weston of Duxbury, and commanded
by Capt. Seth Sprague, one of the old school shii)-masters liv-
ing in 1889, in South Marshtield, and one of Neptune's old vet-
erans. He has had a varied experience on the great deep, from
his tirst enlisting as a sailor, in his youthful days, until his riper
years found him in command of as proud a ship as at that time
sailed the ocean. Capt. Sprasfue was b. in Marshfield, Mass.,
Aug. 6, 1798. He mar., in 1825, Miss W. L. Ford of Marsh-
field, and he says, "From that time on success attended me."
His tirst voyage w^as at the age of seventeen, with Capt. John
Southard, in the good ship "William & James." On account
of his excellent conduct and seamanship he was promoted to
the office of mate, and but a short time elapsed before he was
otfered the connnand of the " Smyrna," by Ezra Weston of
Duxbury, for whom he sailed twenty-four years. He accepted,

THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG IN THE BLACK SEA. 23 T

and sailed her for five years, AV^hile in command of the
" Smyrna," /(e carried, in 1830, the American Flag into the
Black Sea. This was the first time the American Flag ever
floated over this sea. He was next commander of the ship
"Renown," built at Duxlmry. In her he went to Richmond,
Va., and other Southern ports, after which she was sold to New
York parties. His next ship was the "Minerva." In her he
made two trips to New Orleans, and one from South Carolina
to Liverpool and London. His fourth vessel was the staunch
ship "Vandalia," of 4(S0 tons. In this ship, which he com-
manded two years, he made four voyages across the Atlantic,
from New Orleans to Liverpool, and to other ports in the
United States and elsewhere. His fifth and last vessel was the
ship "Mattakeesett," of 500 tons, also built at Duxbury. In
her he made many voyages from Boston to New Orleans, Pensa-
cola, Havre, and other ports. It is many years since Capt.
Sprague retired from active life with a competence for his de-
clining years, and now, at the great age of ninety-one, he takes
his daily walk to the Post Ofiice, and chats freely and enter-
tainingly with his neighbors, and strangers, about the days
when to be master of a ship of five hundred tons was as great
an honor as any ambitious man need seek.

In 182ri, the ship "LAGODA," 340 tons, was built by Seth
and Sanuiel Foster, and owned by them and Thomas Otis of
Scituate. Sold afterward to Boston. In 1841, she was pur-
chased by Jonathan Bourne of New Bedford, who owned her
forty-five years, during which time she made twelve successful
whaling voyages. She is now owned by William Lewis and
others, and whaling in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, from New
Bedford, in her sixti/-fourtJi year. She arrived in San Fran-
cisco in August, 1889, from the Arctic, with a cargo of oil and
bone, and returned to the Arctic soon after. Some of the men
who worked or furnished material on Foster's Yard, from 1807
to 1827, were : Elnathan Cushing, boring holes; Anson Rob-
bins, painter and varnisher, grandfather of Jas. A. R. Under-
wood of Rockland ; Warren Sylvester, Mr. Knights, Sanmel
Tilden, Jr., Joe Earell, Samuel Rogers, Joe and Jonathan Mer-
ritt, William Nash, (Danl. Merrit, for boring 648 holes, $3.24),
ToiuLapham, Thomas Ruggles, Jr. ; Moses Parsons, planker ;
Laban Souther, Howland and Zac Rogers, Jonathan Oldham,
Tom Rogers, spar-maker; Joe Clapp, A. Ewell, John and Ira
Bryant, Warren Hatch, Christopher B. Jones, who used to
make pumps and dead-eyes; Timothy Church, Samuel and

•238 ELIJAH BROOKS ENTERS THE FIRM OF FOSTER & CO.

Israel Turner, Elisha Briggs, Martin Rogers, planker ; Elisha
Tolman, joiner: Simeon Keen, George and David Torrey, in
1810 ; Asa Rogers, and others. In 1827, the brig "CAMILLA,"
233 tons, of Boston, was built by Seth and Samuel Foster.
Also the brig "BOSTON," probably built by them in 1827,
242 tons, for'Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston. The following
are some of the voyages made by the "Boston:" 1827.
Charleston to Amsterdam. 1828. Matanzas to St. Petersburg ;
Charleston to Amsterdam. 1829. Matanzas to Antwerp. 1830.
Havana to Marseilles. 1831. Matanzas to Hamburg. 1832.
Savannah to Hamburg, and Havana to Hamburg. 1833. Sa-
vannah to Hamburg, and Baltimore to Bremen, with logwood,
lignum vitt^, etc. 1834. Charleston to Rotterdam. 1835.
Charleston to Amsterdam. Samuel & Walter Foster Imih, in
1828, the brig "RUSSIAN," 222 tons, of Boston; and the
-next year, 1829, a vessel well known in Seituate, the brig
"MARSHAL NEY," 192 tons, of Boston, named after Napo-
leon's General, who was afterward shot. The "Marshal Ney "
was rigged at the yard, taken to Boston, and Capt. Crowell of
Chatham there took charge of her. George Foster was very
anxious to go in her, and finally persuaded the captain to allow
him. They took a cargo and sailed for the West Indies, l)ut,
when five days out, struck on Handkerchief Shoals, and were
nearly a total loss. George Foster came home from his long
voyage after two weeks absence. The vessel was raised, taken
to Boston, and repaired on the Marine Railway. The under-
writers threw her on to the owners, and the ca})tain lost all of
his property. After Capt. Seth Foster died, Samuel and Wal-
ter took in Elijah Brooks as partner for a time. About 1830,
the Fosters l)uilt the brig " MAGNOLIA," a])out 250 tons, and
about the same time a "ship of about 300 tons, which broke
down on the ways, and had to be dug out and got off on rollers.
The hollow can be seen at the present day. They built, in
1831, the brig, afterward the sch., "TOKEN," 141 tons, mixed
wood, iron fastened ; sold to New York. Repaired in 1859.
>.Owned in 1861 by Tracy and others, St. George, Me., Capt.
Tracy. Samuel Foster was the master carpenter.

In 1831, Turner Foster and Joseph Clapp formed a partner-
ship, and built on that part of the yard known as the "Old
Curtis Yard," probably so named after some Curtis who may
have owned the land.* Samuel Foster occupied the yard

*.See Chittenden Yard.

VESSELS BUILT BY FOSTER & CO. 239

adjoining at the same time, and in 1832 Imilt the hrig " CHICK-
ASAW," 171 tons, of Boston. Joshua Turner Foster, or Tur-
ner Foster, as he is commonly called, was horn in So. Scituate,
January, 1810, where he remained until he was sixteen, when
he went to Medford to learn the ship-carpenter's trade, enter-
ing the yard of Sprague & James. Here he served his time,
and at twenty-one, when he hecame free, returned to Scituate,
and built four vessels in partnership with Joseph Clapp, under
the firm name of Clap}) & Foster. They were the brio-
"WATER- WITCH," 1()7 tons, built in 1831, for B. C. Clark^
Boston, of which Joseph Clapp was master carpenter; in 1832,
the bark "MADAGASCAR," of 242 tons, built for Curtis &
Hall of Boston, Clapp & Foster, master carpenters ; and in
1833 the brig " GANGES,'" 250 tons, owned by William C. Fay
and John H. Pierson, and lost on the Spanish Main, under
Capt. Raymond, about 1848. The last vessel built by this firm
was in 1833, the brig " ATTILA," 206 tons, of Boston, named
after the famous Hun leader. Mr. Clapp then went into part-
nership with Samuel Foster and brothers.

Turner Foster, who had now reached his twenty-fifth year,
returned to the Sprague & James Yard, in Medford, as fore-
man. He mar. Ellen Sprague, dau. of a member of the firm,
and they had five children and three now dead. 4. A\^illiain T.,
who has two sons; 5. Laura, who mar. Edward H. Parker,
and has one son. Before Mr. Foster left Scituate, the first
time, he used to help his father at the store, and often carried
the "black-strap" (rum, sweetened with molasses,) down to
the yards, but, during the seventy-eight years of his life, has
never used tobacco, nor tasted spirit save as a medicine. He
used to play the clarionet, and, together with Uncle Sam Rog-
ers, went to singing school in Pembroke. At that time Mr.
Rogers was courting a Miss Standish, and Mr. Foster was
obliged to wait for him to go to her house and do his courting,
before they went home, as Mr. Rogers had the team, and it was
a long walk. Mr. Foster has built in Medford, as successor to
Sprague & James, on the same yard, sixty-four vessels, from
1250 tons down, building the last one, the "Pilgrim," in 1872,
which was also the last vessel built in Medford" He has held
many positions of trust, being Ensign at nineteen, and Captain
at twenty-four years of age, of the old Medford military com-
pany, holding commissions signed by "old Gov. Honest John
Davis " and Gov. Levi Lincoln. He has been on the School Com-
mittee, and Selectman for eleven different years, Assessor four

240 CLAPP GENEALOGY.

years, and Representative to the Legislature in 1883 and 1884,
the latter year being the oldest man in the House. He can
now dance with as light a step as a boy of sixteen, and is as
bright and clear in his mind as he ever was.

An epitaph current in connection with this yard reads as.
follows •

" Under this greensward pat,
Lies the hulk of old *******-**,
Shepherds rejoice, and do not weep,
For he is dead who stole your sheep."

The deceased was noted for putting other farmers' sheep into
his own flock, and marking them with his private mark. We
have no proof as to the identity of the writer, but the lines are
not inconsistent with Mr. Foster's jovial disposition.

Joseph Clapp was a direct descendant of Thomas Clapp, who
was born in Dorchester, Eng., in 1597, and came to Dorches-
ter, Mass., with, the early settlers of that place. His grandson,
Thomas, born 1703, was one of the most distinguished men of
his time. Thomas was President of Yale College from 1740
until 1764, when he resigned and returned to Scituate, where
he died the following j^ear. He wrote many books, among
them a valuable history of Yale College. A notice of the death
of his brother Nathaniel's child appears in an old paper, as fol-
lows :

" We hear from Scituate, that on Monday Morning last (Thurs. Aug. 16.
1770) a promising Youth, about 14 Years of Age, Son to Nathaniel Clap,
Esq. of that Town, driving a Cart down a steep Hill, one of the Wheels
taking the rising Ground overset the Cart, and killed the Lad instantly on
the Spot."' — The Mass. Gazette and Boston Weekly News-Letter.

The new firm of Samuel Foster <& Co. built, in 1833, the
brig "BOSTON," 170 tons, of Gloucester, whaling off Califor-
nia" m 1857. Also in 1833, the brig "BALTIMORE," 1(39
tons, of Boston, afterward of New Bedford, a whaler; in 1834,
the bark "NIAGARA," 232 tons, of Boston ; in 1835, the bark
"SARATOGA," 289 tons, of Boston. Also in 1835, the bark
"NEPTUNE," 231 tons, of Boston. Joseph Clapp was the
master carpenter of the "Niagara" and "Saratoga." The
" Neptune " appears to be the last vessel built by the Fosters,
and, excepting those built by Litchfield dc Burrill, was proba-
bly the last vessel built at these yards. " Hay ward's New Eng-
land Gazetteer," 1839, says, under "Scituate," that the

LITCHFIELD & BURRILL. 241

" North River is noted for the fine ships built on its banks, the
vahie of vessels annually built being $40,000. These vessels are of
superior mechanism, and are built of native white oak, remarkable
for its durability. During the year ending April i, 1S37, Scituate
had twenty-two vessels engaged in fishing, and took 6500 barrels of
mackerel, valued at $46,000."

The Wanton Yard, after the Fosters left it, was next occu-
pied by Cummiiigs Litchfield and James S. Burr ill. James S.
Burrill was born in Weymouth, Mass., and was son of Isaac,
who was also born in Weymouth. He married jVIartha Stock-
bridge of Scituate, Mass., and finally moved to Medford, Mass.
Cunimings Litchtield was son of Bernard and grandson of Eli-
jah Litchfield. He was born in 1815, and has been a most
active man. Plis education has been acquired chiefly by expe-
rience and observation He left school at the age of ten, and
went fisliing with his father in the sch. "Hope." His first trip
was made in three Aveeks, when they returned to port with a
full fare, two barrels being credited to young Litchfield. His
next adventure was m the sch. "Beaver," cod-fishing. In
making the run home from the Bay of Fundy, in a storm, they
endeavored to make a port near Cape Ann, but were run into
and sunk. The crew was saved by the colliding vessel, and
safely landed. The next day Mr. Litchfield took the packet
for Boston, and walked home, l)arefooted. He continued fish-
ing, summers, until he was seventeen, and made occasional
trips to Southern ports during the winter, in the coasting trade.
He went to Medford and learned the ship-carpenter's trade of
builder Jotham Stetson. He served three years or more with
Mr. Stetson, and his first job afterward was at Grand Island,
N. Y., where, with Mr. Delano, he hel})ed build a steamboat.
He then returned to Massachusetts and worked in the Navy
Yard three months, when he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and
helped repair the United States ship " Ohio." We next hear of
him in the British Dominions, just over our eastern boundary,
where he helped build a ship of 1200 tons, all of white oak,
being the first ship of that material built at that place. In
1838, he commenced building vessels on his own account, on
North River. This year he built, in company with Mr. Burrill,
the sch. "LITCHFIELD," 65 tons, one deck and two masts, of
Boston. She had a billet-head, which was afterward substi-
tuted by a figure-head. Capt. John AYhite was at one time
master of her. She was in the Curacoa fruiting trade, and was
lost, in about five years, on the back side of Cape Cod. T!:e

242 LITCHFIELD & BURRILL.

crew were saved. Mr. Litchfield and his partner built at this
yard, in 1839, the sch. "LYDIA KING," 22 tons, owned by
Capt. Bernard and Cummings Litchtield and James S. Burrill,
at Seituate, Mr. Litchfield afterward sold one-half of her to
Oakes Lawrence. Later she was sold to Martha's Vineyard,
and ran as a packet to Boston. She was at one time owned m
Dartmouth, and was finally run into and sunk in Vineyard
Sound. This firm also built, at this yard, a brig, in 1840 ;
probably the "FRANKLIN," 172 tons, of Provincetown. The
firm dissolved, and thus ended the ship- building on this yard,
possibly for all time. Cummings Litchfield built near his pres-
ent residence in So. Seituate in 1852, and later at Union Bridge.*
In the meantime he worked at the diflerent yards on the river,
and also went to sea. He is now living in Norwell, where he
carries on an extensive farm.

* See Miscellaneous Seituate Yards.

CHAPTER XIV.

CHITTENDEN YARD. — 1 690-1871.

JOB IIANDALL, p:])WARD PROUTY, ISAAC TROUTY, ISAAC CHIT-
TENDEN, NATHANIEL CHITTENDEN, OBADIAH MERRITT, NOAH
MERRITT, SAMUEL SILVESTER, GEORGE TORREY, JAMES TOR-
KEY, ISAAC TORREY, GEORGE TORREY, JR., DAVID TORREY,
JOSEPH NASH, ELISHA BARKER, LABAN SOUTHER, JOSEPH
PRATT, CHARLES COLE, WALTER FOSTER, ELIJAH CUDWORTH,
LABAN CUDWORTH, JOSEPH CUDWORTH, JOHN CUDWORTH,
HENRY MERRITT, JOSEPH MERRITT.

THE Chittenden Yard was located next below the Wanton
Yard, on the Norwell side of North River, on the first rise
of land just al)ove and near the mouth of the Second Herring
Brook. In 1(578, it was agreed that the land between the Sec-
ond Herrino; Brook and Edward AYanton's land be reserved for
the use of the ministry. It was sold in 1702-3. Until 1799,
there was a ToAvn Landing at this yard

Job Randall, who built here about 1G90, was prol)al)ly the
first shipwright to occupy this yard. He was son of William
Randall, who came to Marshfield from Rhode Island in IGoG,
and later moved into So. Scituate where he lived about twenty
rods north of Till's, or Dwelley's Creek, on the site of the late
Elisha Foster's residence. Job Randall was b. in 1054. He mar. ,
and settled one-quarter of a mile south of Herring Brook Hill,
where David Torrey lived later. He had children : 1. Mary,
b. 1680. 2. Job, b. 1683, who settled on the Marshfield or
Pembroke side of the river, at Job's Landing. 3. James, b.
1(585. 4. Nehemiah, b. 1(588. 5. Lydia, b. I(i90. 6. Sam-
uel, b. 1G94. This family has descendants in West Norwell,

244 JOB RANDALL THE PROUTYS ISAAC CHITTENDEN.

INIass., in Topsliam and other towns in Maine, and in Harps-
well and Pembroke. Isaac, brother of Job, lived to be one
hundred and two years old. It will be seen from the following
records that Job Randall built mostly for Samuel Lillie and
Andrew Belcher of Boston, and for Sandwich parties. Many
of Andrew Belcher's vessels were privateers used in the French
war.

The first record of vessels probably built at this yard was in
1694, brig't'n "HOPEWELL," 40 tons ; owners, Capt. Samuel
Prince of Sandwich, and John Devin of Boston. Also the
same year, 1694, sloop "DUBARTUS," 25 tons ; owners, An-
drew Belcher, merchant, John Coleman, Boston ; master, Rob-
ert Starkey. 1699. Ship "HANNAH," 70 tons, Capt. Thomas
Lillie ; owner, Samuel Lillie of Boston. Also the same year,
1699, brio-'t'n "MARY," 40 tons, Capt. Thomas Parker; owner,
Samuel Lillie, Boston. 1700. Ship "MEHETABLE," 86 tons,
Capt. Jonathan Lambert ; owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. Also
the same year, 1700, ship " TWO BROTHERS," 60 tons, Capt.
John Welsh ; owners, Andrew Belcher, Samuel Lillie of Bos-
ton, merchants. 1701. Sloop "TRYAL," 20 tons, of Sand-
wich ; owners, Capt. Samuel Prince of Sandwich, Job Randall
of Scituate, and Cateret Gillam of Say brook. 1702. Ship
"CONTENT," 120 tons, Capt. Husjh Shannon; owner, Samuel
Lillie. 1705. Brio't'n "ADVENTURE," 60 tons, built at Scit-
uate, and lately called the "Handol" ; owners, Andrew Belcher
and Samuel Lillie of Boston, and David Bucklyn of Boston.

Job Randall was succeeded at this yard by either Edward or
Isaac Proufi/, or perhaps by both. They ^\eve brothers, and
were sons of Richard, who came to Scituate in 1670, and each
has descendants in Hanover, Spencer, and Scituate, Mass. No
records of the vessels built by the Proutys seem to be in ex-
istence.

The Chittendens built here, as early as 1709, the sloop " SEA-
FLOWER," 30 tons, Nathaniel Tilding, Moses Simons, Joseph
Tilding, Isaac Chittenden, and Samuel Marshall of Boston,
owners. They also built, as late as 1714, the sloop "SEA-
FLOWER," 40 tons ; owners, Thomas Macomber, John Rog-
ers and Isaac Chittenden of Scituate, and Samuel Doggett of
Marshfield. The above are the only vessels that have been
positively located as having been built at this yard by the Chit-
tendens, though they probably built a great many, and some

CHITTENDENS. 245

later than 1714. From the time of their ownership, probably
before 1709, until the present time, the spot has ever been
known as the Chittenden Yard. Members of the Chittenden
family are buried in the " Old First Parish Cemetery," opposite
No. 6 School-house, on the road to Greenbush. Isaac Chitten-
den was son of Isaac, who was killed May 20, 1676, in defend-
ing Scituate from the Indians during King Philip's War, and
grandson of Isaac, one of the men of Kent, who came into
Scituate with his father, Thomas, in 1633. Isaac was probably
succeeded at the yard by his ne})hew J^athaniel, b. 1724. ^a-
t\mm.eV s ^o\\ JS'athaniel, b. 1751, lived near the mouth of the
Second Herring Brook, and probal>ly built at this yard then.
He mar. Ruth Foster, afterwards wife of Dea. Elisha James.

a member of this family, was at one
"^^^^^^^ C^lk^-^Q^9fX time, prior to 1700, a Selectman, and

Surveyor of the town of Scituate.
Descendants of the Chittendens moved to Charlestown, Prince-
ton, and other towns in Massachusetts. The following, taken
from the Boston JSFews- Letter of Dec. 10, 1761, is interesting,
as it shows that lighters or packets were used during the early
days for transporting the necessaries of life :

" Saturday ni<rht last we had here very violent gusts of wind, which we
hear has blown down considerable fencing in the neighboring towns; a
Lighter going from this town to Hingham or Scituate was sunk near Spec-
tacle Island ; the people with great difficulty got ashore alive."

Shipwreck, however, was but one of the dangers that men-
aced our packets before the Kevolution. Insults and assaults
were frequent, until "patience ceased to be a virtue," and,
added to the persecutions and unjusttaxation, hastened to bring
on that glorious struggle that made us free, the last centennial
of which — the inauguration of Washington — we celebrated on
April 30 of this year (1889), and which day our Governor,
through some unexplained reason, failed to appoint a day of
thanksgiving. Massachusetts, heretofore far ahead in patriot-
ism, w'as certainly unpatriotic this time. A^'e have had a pros-
perous century, and let us hope that every true American gave
thanks on that day, for the blessings of God and our present
pros})erous condition. Scituate bore her share of the persecu-
tion during the Revolution, one instance of which is recorded
in the Boston Gazette and Country Journal of Sept. 25, 1769 :

" On Friday last a Coaster, belonging to Sciluate, w^as passing one of the
ships of War in this harbour, when they dous'd their mainsail, but it not

246 VESSELS BUILT BY THE MERRITTS AND SAM'L SILVESTER.

being quite to the satisfaction of the oommandins: officer of the ship, they
sent their boat on board and upon the Ullicer's stepping upon the sloop's
deck he immediately drew a cutlass with which he struck the master of the
coaster on the cheek, which cut a gash near three inches long, after which
he damned him for not showing mure respect to the King's ship and then
cut tlie halliards of the main-sail and let the sail run down upon deck. We
are told that the coaster apply'd to the Lieut. Gov. for his advice and assist-
ance in procuring redress for this naval & insolent, but now-a-days, too
common treatment, given some of his Majesty's American subjects. We do
not yet learn how his Honor advised or concluded on this occasion "

While ship-building was probably the largest business car-
ried on in Scituate at this early date, it was by no means the
only business. The Boston Evening Post, Jan. 11, 1768,

says:

" Last week a gentleman at Scituate sent up here (Boston) 1.5 samples of
different kinds of cloths lately manufactured there, consisting of broad
cloths, serges, tammys, shalloons, camblets, tigur'd stutts &c : which are
said by good judges to be superior in quality to any of tlie sort usually im-
ported from abroad."

The inhabitants of those days were obliged to look into the
dictionary to find out the meaning of the word "lazy." The
Merritts built here before 1800. In 1785, the sch. "LIVELY,"
56 tons, was built at Scituate ; Obadiah and Noah Merritt of Scit-
uate, owners. Obadiah, b. 1723, was a descendant of Henry ]\Ier-
ritt, who was in Scituate in 1628. He has descendants living
in Scituate and Norwell. His son Noah, b. 1759, has descend-
ants at New Orleans, La. Early in the last century is recorded
an accident happening at this yard : Bezaleel Palmer, b. 1706,
was killed by a fall. He left a widow and children. He was
son of Bezaleel, and grandson of John, Jr. Among the first
vessels built here after the Revolution were, in 1786, the sch.
" BACHELOR," 44 tons ; owned by Noah and Abijah Otis and
Gid. Chittenden of Scituate. 1789. Sch^ "SALLY," 32 tons,
of Scituate ; William Barker, owner, Scituate. 1793. Sch.
"LYDIA," 50 tons, of Portsmouth. 1794. Ship " MER-
CHANT," 179 tons, of Boston. 1795. Sch. "JANE," 65
tons, of Provincetown. 1795. Sch. " .AIARY & NANCY," 41
tons, of Scituate ; owned and probal^l}' ))uilt by Sam'l Silvester ;
afterward sold to Boston. There used to Ije a Weymouth man who
carted lumber to the ship-yard, and " Uncle " Sam Silvester, as he
was called, was one of the workmen who was considered good at
telling stories. One day, when the Weymouth man came, the
carpenters got him to tell some stories, to see if he could get
ahead of Uncle Sam. He tried to make out the Scituate peo-

THE TORREYS AT THE CHITTENDEN YARD. 247

pie quite ignorant compared with the people of Weymouth.
He said that on his way over to Scituate, the Sunday before, to
hear old Dr. Barnes preach, he called at a house on his way
across lots to get a drink of water, and, finding the lady of the
house washing, said, "Do you wash Sundays?" "No," she
replied, " I do not intend to ; I did not know it was Sunday."
Uncle Sam heard the story through, and then said, " I knew
that woman ; she was a Weymouth woman."

among other vessels, the sch. "Hero," 57 tons, in 1806, for
Job Turner of Cohasset. Prominent among the old school-
masters of his tmie was Elisha Sylvester, of the same family.
He was a good scholar and had a good school. When the Rev-
olution commenced he did not like the idea of joining the army,
so he became a Quaker, after which he was always called
" Elisha Quaker."

George Torre ij was building at this yard as early as 1794.*
He was son of Caleb, a direct descendant of Lieut. James, who
was in Scituate before 1640. George's son George succeeded
his father.

- yOV-^,— -^ ^'^^ representative to the

/^/t)i:l^r/Oy-^9jA ^ General Court from Scituate

/ UUS^-C^ \J -f ^y- -j^ 1743^ j^j^^i fj.^j^ 1745 to

^ ^ 1749. There appears in The

Massachusetts Spy of May 14, 1772, the followmg :

" Died, at Scituate, Capt. Caleb Tovrey. He was formerly a representa-
tive in the General Court for that town."

George Torrey built, at the Chittenden Yard, in 1794, the
sch., afterwards brig, "BETSEY," 111 tons, of Boston.
Owners, James Torrey of Boston, shipwright, Joseph and James
Rogers and Samuel Truant of Marshfield, and George Torrey
of Scituate. Benjamin Briogs, Jr., was captain of her. He
built, in 1796, the sch. "^BETSEY," 95 tons. Owned by
Samuel Truant, Sr., & Jr., George Torrey, Joseph and James
Rogers, of Marshfield. In 1797 he built the sch. "THANK-
FlfL," 129 tons, of Marshfield. Owners, Joseph and James
Rogers and Amos Hatch of Marshfield, George and James

* See Biock-bouse Yard.

248 TORRE Y GENEALOGY.

Torrey of Scitiuite. This vessel is one of the claimants to the
French spoliation. He built in 1799 the sch. " LYDIA.," 81
tons. Owned by James Little and Oliver and Coleman Jenkins
of Scituate. The shipl)uilders in the Torrey family were all
descendants of Lieut. James Torrey, a clothier who was in
Scituate prior to 1()40 (see Briggs Yard). James son of Capt.
Caleb was b. in 1755 and had sons : James, who went to Maine ;
Rev. William, w4io removed to Canandaigua ; and Charles, who
deceased early. Isaac, brother of James, was b. in 1740,
d. in 1812, unmarried. George Torrey, who built many
vessels for the Rolfes of Virginia and other large ship owners
prior to 1800, some of which are given above, was also son of
Capt. Caleb. He was b. in 1758, d. July 13, 1813. He had
children: 1. George, Jr.; 2. David ; 3. Isaac, who had one
dau., now residing in Maine ; 4. Otis ; 5. Sally, mar. twice, no
children; 6. Lucy, mar. twice, had two children; 7. Betsey.
George and David succeeded their father and built together on
the river for some time, after which they dissolved partnership.
George went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he built vessels for
service on Lake Erie. David formed a co-partnership with
IVilliam James and Imilt vessels at Quincy as early as
1816, and Wm. James built there as late as 1822, and

on North River later. George Torrey, Jr., mar.

Day; they had children: 1. John D., who kept the
Soutli Shore House, Scituate, for many years. He mar. a
widow Vinal ; 2. Thankful O. ; 3. George O., who mar.
and has children. He was born Aug. 27, 1820, and until he
was twelve years old worked on the farm the year round with
the exception of three months winter schooling. At twelve he
went to sea in the ship ''Henry Took," to the East Indies.
Vernon H. Brown the present great merchant of New York
after whom the author of this book was named, was su})ercargo.
He next went in the ship " Seaman," to New Orleans where she
was sold, and he shipped in the "Concordia" of 700 tons. He
went to Liverpool and then came home. At eighteen he
entered one of the ship-yards of North River and learned the
trade of ship-carpenter, which trade he followed for many 3'ears.
Mr. Torrey has always been noted for his genial hearty laugh,
and for his ability to excite something similar in others by his
many jokes and stories. He is invarial)ly in good spirits and a
valuable man in a sick room. 4. Elizabeth ; 5. Henry ; 6.
Otis ; 7. Josiah ; 8. Frances ; 9. Abigail ; 10. Albert, mar.
dau. of Ira Barker and has several children. 11. Lucy

TORREY GENEALOGY JOSEPH NASH. 249

mar. Tower. Five of these are now living. David

Torrey, bro. of George, Jr., mar. Vesta Howard, of West
Bridgewater. He d. Oct. 10, 1877, aged 90 years, 7 months.
They had children: 1. Mary Otis, who mar. Walter llobbins,
no children. 2. George Howaiid mar. Harriett Gushing and
has three children : Howard Gushing, George Everett and
Florence. 3. David, Jr., mar. Eveline Bowker ; he d. in 1884.
They had two children : Emma Ploward, who mar. Edgar
Bates, and Edwin Bowker. 4. Vesta H., who mar. 1st, Albion
Turner, by whom she had children, who d. young; 2nd, Job
A. Turner, by whom she had two children : Carrie, who mar.
George F. Blake, Jr., of Worcester, and Albion Bryant, now
of Boston, who mar. Alice Rawson of Ncsvton. 5. Charles.
now of Boston, who mar. Adelaide J. Bowen. They have three
children : Charles Everett, who mar. Lucy K. Paine of Cali-
fornia, Edith A., who mar. Fred Allen, and Harry B., who is
unmarried. G. Everett, now of Boston, mar. 1st, Eliza D.
Webb, who d. in 1884, 2nd, Julia Stetson of Lexington, no
children. 7. Franklin, who has resided in Italy since 1851 ;
mar. Sarah Lincoln Spinney, of Boston. They have two chil-
dren: Sarah Vesta Hermenia, who mar. Edward J. Berwind,
of New York ; and Charles Franklin, who mar. JNIargaret Kolfe,
of London, a descendant of the Rolfes of Virginia. They now
reside in London. ]\Iargaret Rolfe christened the steamship
"Missouri," when launched, the same vessel which lately rescued
700 persons from the "Danmark," in mid-ocean. The firm of
Charles Franklin Torrey, Williams & Field built the " jNIissouri,"
which is running in their steamship line. 8. Willard, now a
special sheriff for Plymouth county residing in Norwell, mar.
Martha R. JNIerritt. They have three children : Frank H., (who
mar. Grace E. Gassett, of Boston, and now resides in Melrose,
Mass.,) ; Walter Robbins, (who mar. Nellie T. Fogg of Nor-
well) ; and Mai-tha Willard.

In 1800 the sloop "PACKET," 37 tons, was built and owned
in Scituate, by James Little, Lemuel & William Mnal, Jr.
Joseph Nasli was her master builder at Scituate. This vessel
was undoubtedly built at this yard and Joseph Nash probably
belonged to the large family of that name who lived on " No
Pork Hill," in Norwell. This may have been the following
Joseph Nash : Joseph Nash, son of Joseph and Deborah Nash,
was b. Feb. 24, 1739 ; he d., Nov. 1818. This was probably
the same Joseph Nash who mar., Feb. 7, 1799, Lucy May hew,

250 ELISHA BARKER GEORGK TORREY.

of Scituate. They had children: AVilliam, b. Oct. 30, 1799;
Joseph Parker, b.' Dec. 18, 1800; Benjamin, May 2.5, 1803;
Lemuel, h. July 1. 180G ; Thomas, b. Sept. 13, 1808; Lucy
Ann, b. Feb. 5*, 1811.

In 1801 Avas built the sch. "ROVER," 89 tons, by George
Torrey, master builder; owners, AVilliam and Lemuel Vinal,
James Collier, Ira Bryant, and Cushing Otis, of Scituate, and
the same year, 1801, George Torrey built the sch. " ALMIRA,"
8() tons, owned by James Little, Oliver and Elijah Jenkins of
Scituate, and in 1802, the sch. "JAMES BAYARD," 85 tons,
of Boston, owned by Peleg Jenkins, Gushing Otis, and Isaac
Torrey, of Scituate.

There was also built in 1802, the sch. "SALLY," 95 tons,
at Scituate, by J^lishcf Barker, master builder; owned by Cor-
nelius Church, Samuel Donnel, Stephen Stockbridge, Silas
Morton, P^lisha Barker, Elisha Curtis, Horatio Gushing, and
Reuben Curtis of Hanover. It is doubtful if the " Sally " was
built at this yard, but it is more than probable, as she was built
"up river."

In 1803, the brig "LIGHT HORSE," 162 tons, of Boston,
was ])uilt here by George Torrey, master carpenter; owners,
William Vinal, Jr., Gushing Otis, Nehemiah Manson, James
Torrey, and others, Scituate. This vessel was afterward cast
away and lost. Also in 1803, Geo. Torrey built the sch. " SO-
PHRONIA," 83 tons ; James Little, of Scituate, owner. In

1804, the brig "IXDEPENDENCE," 1(30 tons, of Boston, was
built by George Torrey ; owners, AVilliam Vinal, Jr., Oliver
Jenkins, I^lisha Tolman, Gushing Otis, and George T(n-rey of
Scituate, Amos Hatch and J()se})h Rogers of Marshtield. In

1805, he built the ship " WILLIAM TELL," 258 tons, of Bos-
ton ; owned by William Vinal, Quincy ; Joseph Rogers, Marsh-
field ; Gushing Otis, Oliver and P^lijah Jenkins, James Torrey,
and George Torrey, all of Scituate. Georoe Torrey also l)uilt
in this yard, in 180(), the sch. "ENTERPRISE," 119 tons, of
Scituate ; owners, Samuel Eells and Timothy Church, Hanover ;
Elisha and Charles Tolman, Jr., Lemuel Haskins, Lemuel Jen-
kins, Ezra Vinal, and George Torrey, of Scituate ; and in
1807, the ship "REGULUS,"' 237 tons, of Boston; owners,
Capt. Trouant and Nathaniel Clift of Marshtield ; Samuel Eells,
Timothy Church, Hanover; John Ruggles, Jr., Lemuel Has-
kins, Elisha Turner, Elisha Tolman, Samuel Foster, James,

V.i^i7)-

^^^^^^Cz^a^y^^^^O^

GUSHING OTIS. 251

George, Jr., and David Torrcy of Scituate ; and Capt..
Brook.s, Jr.

who was interested in so
~/ maay of the vessels built on
North River, was a promi-
nent man of his day. He
was son of Dr. James Otis
of Scituate, a distinguished physician, and nephew of Dr. Isaac
Otis, Jr., a distin<>uished physician of Bridgewater. He was a
descendant of Dr." Isaac Otis, Sr., in the following line : Isaac

Otis, M. D., mar. Deborah . He d. Nov. 11, 1777, aged

78 ; she d. ISIarch 17, 1783, aged 84. They had six children :
Isaac, M. D., Deborah, William', Stephen, Hannah, James, M. D.

Dr. James Otis mar. Lucy . He d. May 24, 1807, aged

73 ; she d. June 24, 181 G, aged 80. They had seven children :
Lucy, James, Hannah, CusiiinCx, M. D., Elizabeth, Abigail,
and Thomas. Cushing Otis graduated from Harvard College
in 1789, and studied his profession under Dr. Hitchcock. In
1792 he returned to his native town, and practiced in connec-
tion with his father. He soon became distinguished for his
skill in the healing art, and was repeatedly elected one of the
counsellors of the^ Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he
was a member to the time of his death. His forensic powers
were of a high order, his enunciation clear, and his diction ele-
gant. His oration in commemoration of American Independence,
pronounced at Scituate, July 4, 1800, at the request of the in-
habitants, though the production of his youth, gave evidence
of a highly cultivated mind and rhetorical powers. In 1801
he was elected a menil)erof the jVIassachusetts Humane Society,
John Warren, President. He was elected from his district tO'
the House of Re[)resentatives in 1809 and 1812, and to the
Senate in 1822-23. On Nov. 11, 1830, he was chosen Presi-
dent of the Franklin Association for Mutual Improvement,
South Scituate, John Foster, Jr., Secretary. He was also a
member of the Bunker Hill Monument Association. On July
15, 1831, he presented the Second or South Society with a
handsome clock, which was placed in front of the gallery of the
church. He mar. Abigail, dau. of Judge Nathan Cushing. He
d. Oct. 1(), 1837, aged 68 ; she d. ej'une 9, 1852, aged 77.
Their only child, Abigail T. Otis, did much for this Society
during her life, and at^her death left goodly sums to the church
and town. She died in So. Scituate^ Oct. 15, 1884, aged 73.

252 TORREY PRATT COLE.

In religious sentiment Dr. Otis was decidedly liberal. He was
a distinguished meml)er of Rev. Samuei J. May's church.
While he stood aloof from those who would " call down tire
from Heaven," he was far from l^eing u latitudinarian. He was
content with the privilege of believing his faith to be right,
without exhibiting any disposition to represent others as being
in the wrong. Whatever might have been his particular form
of faith, he was a tirm believer in the great essential truths of
natural and revealed religion. He adopted Christianity as a
Divine system on the ground of its great external evidence, its
perfect adaptation to human nature, and the truth and divine
philanthropy which gives life and vigor to all its jirecepts. In
social converse he was affable, communicative, and instructive.
His refined taste, unaffected and habitual courtesy, vivacity of
spirit, and discriminating mind rendered his society at all times
endearing, and liis death created a void in the community not
easily filled.

George Torrey & Sons built their last vessel at this yard in
1812, the sch. "NEW SALLY," 56 tons ; owned by Ensign
Otis, Jr., Nehemiah Manson, Ephraim L. Young, George and
David Torrey, Joseph Rogers, and Isaac Pierce of Scituate.
Afterward sold to Waldoboro. The Torreys about this time
removed to the Block-House Yard. They were succeeded at
the Chittenden Yard by Laban Souther, who at first Ijuilt alone,
l)ut later formed a })artnership with Elijah Cudworth, under the
firm name of Souther & Cudworth.

Joseph Pratt is said to have built at this yard at one time.

Charles Cole, probably, also l)uilt at this yard, and he cer-
tainly was interested in vessels built at the Harbor. He built
in Scituate, in 1811, the sch. "INDEPENDENCE," 87 tons, of
Boston ; owned by Charles Cole, Elijah Curtis, Perez Pynchon
of Scituate, and others. Years later, Charles Cole purchased
a wreck on the Scituate coast, which he had rei)aired on North
River. He lived in Beech Wood, below "No Pork " Hill, Nor-
well, where his grandson, Charles Alfred Litchfield, now re-
sides. His son Charles removed to Boston, and was at one
time President of the Mechanics Bank, So. Boston. Charles
Cole was son of James Cole, and was b. Sept. 1, 1759, and d.
in 1840. He had three sons and five daughters. Mary, 1).
June 1, 1801, mother of C. A. Litchfield, is the only child now
livino-.

SOUTHEK FOSTER CUDWORTH. 253

Lahan SoufZ/er came from Cohasset. He was uncle to Elijah
Ciulwortli, and lived just north of the gate on the road leadins;
to the residence of Samuel C. Cudworth, Esq. He d. Dec. 19,
1840, aged 78, and was buried in the First Parish Cemetery,
Norwell. He probably left no descendants. He laid the keel
of the "President," iNIay 9, 181<), and she was launched March
29, 1817. In 181(), the sch. "PRESIDENT," 85 tons, of Bos-
ton, was built at Scituate by Laban Souther, master car})enter.
In 181(), the sch. "MARGARET," 89 tons, of Cohassct, was
built at Scituate by Walter Foster* and Elijah Cudworth. In
our researches into the business of shii)-building on the North
River, we find that no man stood higher, or has left a better
record of honesty and industry, than Elijah Cudworth. He
was a descendant of Gen. James Cudworth of Scituate, and son
of Capt. Joseph Cudworth and Elizabeth Souther. Deane, in
his "History of Scituate,"' gives an elaborate account of Gen.
James Cudworth. In 1(175, Avhen over seventy years of age,
he was chosen " General and Commander-in-Chief of all the
forces that are or may be sent forth against the enemy," which
office he continued in until the end of King Philii)'s War. He
died in London, Eng., of small-pox, in 1()82, where ho was sent
by the Colony as their agent. The Boston Cud worths were
probably a ])ranch of this family. The following item is taken
from an old paper, and dated "Scituate, Dec. 4, 1764 : "

" Ran away fi'om his Master, Benjamin Jacob, a Negro Fellow named
Prince, not very black, about 26 Years, old, has an Impediment in his
Speech : Had on when he went away, a brown homespun Coat, with brass
Buttons, a Pair of new Shoes, a black Jacket lin'd with yellow, brown
Breeches, and old light blue Great Coat. Whoever shall take up siiid
Negro, and bring him to his Master in Scituate or to Mr. Benjamin Cud-
worth in Boston, shall be well rewarded, and have all necessary charges
paid. All Masters of Vessels and others are forbid concealing, harbouring
or carrying oil' said Servant, as they will be prosecuted for so doing." — The
Massachusetts Gazette & Boston News Letter.

The partnership of Laban Souther and Elijah Cudworth was
particularly pleasant, and w\as only terminated by the death of
Mr. Souther in 1840. Mr, Cudworth then took his four sons
into the firm. They were all ])ractical shiplmildcrs, having
previously learned their trade at this yard. The firm procured
timber from the vicinity at first, the forests then yielding
plentifully w^hite and black oak and other timber suitable for

* See Wanton Yard.

254 VESSELS BUILT BY SOUTHER & CUDWORTH.

shipbuilding. In after years it was procured from the forests
of Bridge water and Abington, at a much greater cost, part of
which was for transportation. About 1859, the business
becoming less profitable the lirm dissolved. Mr. Cudworth,
too:ether with his eldest son, changed their occupation to that
of farming. The younger members of the firm continued the
art of ship])uilding at Briggs' Yard in So. Boston, and in many
of the yards at East Boston and Medford. Elijah Cudworth,
died Sept. 20, 1878, aged 90 years, 20 days, and is buried in
the First Parish Cemetery at Norwell. He left four sons : 1.
Elijah, died a few years ago ; 2. Laban, who resides in Marsh-
field ; 3. Joseph, mar. Sarah Jane, dau. of Joshua Stetson, no
children; 4. John, mar. Mary Hersey ; they have one dau.,
Mary Frances, b. July 17, 1859, who mar. Edwin Beal of
Norwell and has two children : Edwin and Charles. Elijah
Cudworth had four daughters, two of Avhom are now living.
Jose})h and John Cudworth live in Hanover near the Four
Corners.

^^ — /^-^ built at the Chittenden

•^*'*'^^*'''^ fcV^^c^^^"^ Yard, in 1818, the sch.

<^A j/ C/^ " PHARAMOxXD," 84

^ ^t^^>t^''yi^ ^r?-t.^'^,^^^^»^^^^ tons, of Boston ; owners,
^^ Elijah Curtis, Laban

Souther, Samuel Tolman and William James, Scituate, and
Lenmel Brackett, Quincy. This vessel was begun April 10,
1817, and launched March 19, 1818. It cost $175 to rig her,
and $96 for duck for the sails. It appears that this vessel was
fully rigged at the yard, was owned by a Scituate Company,
and engaged in mackerel fishing for some years, making large
returns to her owners. The last account of her was when she
was sold to Boston merchants about 1821, and sailed on May
22nd of that year from there. In Mr. Cudworth's settlement
with the owners, he paid Samuel Tolman, Jr., $150, it being
his part of the first payment. Mr. Cudworth received $600.
]Mr. Souther $225, and he says, "Lai )an Souther and myself
paid $124.50 each for the outfits of the sch. 'Pharamond,' and
likewise received alike for the fish." They built here the next
year, 1819, the sch. "SEVENTH SON," 87 tons, of Boston.
The following copy of a charge from an old account book will
show the rate of wages paid at this time. "Jan. 1, paid
Thomas Ruggles $20.50 for twenty and one half days 'worck
•don,' on the sch. ' Seventh Son.'" The "Seventh Son" was in

FRUITFUL SYLVESTER SOUTHER & CUDWORTH. 255

the Atlantic whaling from Provincetown under Capt. Cook in
1822. Rum was freely charged from time to time to the differ-
ent vessels in all the yards as will be seen by the following
copies of some of the entries : " Eighty cents for one gallon of

rum for the sch. . Sixty cents for one gallon of rum

for the ' Sisters.' Paid for one gallon of rum for the 'Old Sch.,'
48 cents," etc. The old sch. was probably the " Pharamond."
This firm built the sch. "THREE SISTERS," in 1820. In
Nov., 1820, Ensign Otis paid P^lijah Cudvvorth $189 on account
of the earnings of the sch. "Three Sisters."

One of the characters of the time was Fruitful Sylvester.
He was a negro born of a slave in the service of a Mr. Sylvester
who lived on the Chittenden })lace during the Revolution. He
died about fifty years ago and will be remembered only by the
older people. He worked for the Fosters in 1820, and to show
what wages were at that time he was paid for "Killing, cutting
up and saltmg a cow, 62 cents." "For shearing six sheep, 36
cents." " Cutting two cords of hard wood at Grey's Hill, $1.00,"
and other labor equally cheap. He was known the country
round.

* In 1822 the firm built a vessel which they named after Mr.
Souther. 1822, sch. " LABAN," 87 tons, of Boston. Owners,
in Scituate, Samuel Tolman, Jr., Elijah Cudworth, and
Laban Souther. The same year, Samuel Tolman, Jr., bought
of Souther & Cudworth 1-16 of the hull of the sch. "Laban,"
for $185.93. William James had an interest in her and on her
first fishing voyage received " $360 on account of the first fare
of the sch. 'Laban.'" In 1823 Souther & Cudworth built the
sch. "WILLIAM ;" also in 1823 the sch. "P^REEDOM," 54 tons,
of Boston. She was rebuilt in 1857, and owned in 1859 by
Crocker of Marchias Port ; Capt. J. L. Crocker. Warren
Briggs of Norwell, (a descendant of Walter of KUO,) now 80
years old, worked in this yard about 1823, and has given me
many interesting anecdotes. Souther & Cudworth built in
1824 the brig "RIC^E PLANT," 122 tons, of Boston; owned
in Boston, and by Elijah Cudw(n-th and Laban Souther. Also
the same year, 1824, the brig "MARION," 98 tons, of Boston ;
owned in Boston, and by the builders, Laban Souther and
Elijah Cudwoi-th. Daniel Hall worked for S. Tolman, Jr.,
joinering on the "Marion." On Dec. 12, 1824, Ichabod
Sylvester w^as paid 25 cents for going down river as one of the
crew of the brig "Marion." In 1825 sch. " CLARINDA," 54

256 VESSELS BUILT BY SOUTHER & CUDWORTH.

tons, was l>uiit in Scituate by Souther & Cudworth, and was
owned in 1837 at Boston by Cyrus Wakefield. Among the
many facts gleaned from the few old account ])ooks of the firm
now in existence is the following : "On Jan. 5, 1<S2(), Thompson &
AViley paidto the firm $500.55, the last payment of fourteen from
the earnings of this schooner, ("Clarinda"). Mr. Souther received
$100 of this and Mr. Cudworth the balance." Sanuiel Tolman,
Jr., and Joseph C. worked ioinering on the brigs "Marion" and
"Rice Plant," andsch. "Clarienda." In l<S26the ship "LEOXI-
DAS," 231 tons, of Boston, was built at.Scitutite by Souther &
Cudworth; she was sunk off Charleston, S. C, in 18(51. The
"Leonidas" was sold to Captain Ellis, of Boston, for $(5201.10
" after deducting for carving for the head and stern." When
the firm were building the " Leonidas," people used to ask Mr.
Souther, who was somewhat of a stutterer, what the name of
his vessel was going to be, to hear him say "Le-Le-Leonidas."
Charles W. Sylvester, born in 1807, and his brother, Harvey
Sylvester born in 1810, hoth worked in 1827 for Souther &
Cudworth, and later for the Fosters. In those days the men
were in the ship-yard from sunrise to sunset. The Sylvester
brothers now live together, nearly opposite the old Torrey
place, south of "jSTo Pork" Hill on the road to Hanover. Th&
firm built during the next six years the following vessels :
1827, the In-ig "MALAGA," 150 tons, of Duxburv ; 1828, the
sch. " LOUISA," 60 tons, of Beverly ; 1829, the brig " llKliE,"
171 tons, of Boston; 1830, the sch. " MARIA,"1)4 tons, of
Cohasset; 1831, the sch. "REBECCA," 62 tons, of Cohasset.
She was owned and sailed in 1861, bv Capt. Silver, of Well-
fleet. In 1831 they 1)uilt the bark ">LORA," 293 tons, of
Boston; 1832, the sch. "A:\IERICA," 81 tons, of Boston;
1833, the brig "JOSEPHINE," 232 tons, owned by Osborne
Howes and others at Boston. The " Josephine " got ashore
about half way between the mouth of North River and Huma-
rock, and came near being wrecked. Luke Hall piloted her.
She was got off safely. Souther & Cudworth built in 1833 the
bark "NASHUA," 301 tons, of Boston. This was quite a
large vessel for this yard. In 1834 they built the sch.
"LOUISA," 97 tons, for Capt. Cook, of Provincetown. The
sch. "PRESIDENT AVASHINGTON," 49 tons, Iniilt in Scit-
uate in 1834, owned in Augusta, Me., in 1884, was prol>ably
built in this yard. In 1836 the sch. "TARQUIN," 101 tons,
of Provincetown, was built at Scituate by Elijah Cudworth,
master carpenter. She was built for a lumber carrier, and had a

> ^

o ^

^ S.

c <

H K

ELIJAH CUDWORTH & SON HENRY MERKITT. 257

low deck ; built of mixed wood, iron fastened ; owned in 1863
by E. W. Wood, Surry, Me. ; .used as a fishing schooner in
1875, and owned by Charles Keith, Provincetown, Capt.
Brown. Souther & Cudworth built in 1836 the sch.
"REBECCA," 63 tons, oak, iron fastened; owned in 1859 by
Capt. Dill of Welltleet. They also built about this time the
sch. " ALMIRA," and the brig " 8EA MOSS." They built in
1839 the sch. " SUSAN BAKER," 99 tons, of Boston. There
is some dispute whether the " Souther " was built here or at
Taylor's Yard, but as Laban Souther died the year she was
built, this " Souther" was probably built here and named for
him, and the "Souther" built at Taylor's Yard, was doubtless
another vessel. The Her. brig " SOUTHER " was 198 tons,
oak, iron and copper fastened. "Built in Scituate in 18.40 by
Souther." Owned in 1859 by C. Sawyer, Gloucester, Capt.
Tucker, and in 1865 she hailed from a British port.

As was stated, after Laban Souther's death, Elijah Cudworth
took his sons into the firm, but business was not very flourish-
ing, on account of the scarcity of timber ; he was the master
carpenter of the firm. In 1846 they built the sch. "JOSHUA
BATES," 65 tons, of Plymouth; and in 1848, the sch. " CO-
NANCHET," for Mr. Lawrence of Cohasset ; also, in 1852,
the sch. " SURPRISE," 70 tons, of Plymouth. She was built
for a fisherman, of oak and yellow pine, copper and iron fastened.
Owned in 1865 by W. L. Phinney, Plymouth, Mass., Capt.
Bearse, and in 1884 owned in Lubec, Me. The Cud worths
may have built a few vessels between 1852 and 1860, but we
have been unable to ascertain the names of any, and the yard
was i)robably little used until the Merritts built here.

Henri/ Merritt built here in 1851, the sch. "SARAH JANE,"
67 tons. She was owned in 1876 by S. W. Lewis &, Co., N. Y
In 1862, the sch. " FOREST BELL," built of oak, 44 tons, of
South Scituate ; was owned and built l)y Joseph Mern'tf, who
is now living on " No Pork Hill," Norwell. Also in 1<S(>2, the
sch. "FOREST OAK," ()2 tons, was built here by Joseph Mer-
ritt ; Israel Merritt, Capt. ; and in 1864, a schooner of 80 tons,
Capt. Abel Vinal ; Ephraira Vinal owned one-half of her. In
1871 was built, at the Chittenden Yard, the last vessel built on
jSTorth Biver. This Avas the sch. " HELEN I\l. FOSTER," 90
tons, built of oak by Joseph Merritt, draft 10 feet. She
was iron and copper fastened, single l)ottom, and owned in
1875 by E. Snow and others, South Scituate and Cohasset,

258 LAST VESSEL BUILT ON NORTH RIVER JOS. MERRITT.

Ciipt. Foster. The launching of this vessel was quite an event,
and those who witnessed it probably saw the last launching of
a vessel of any size from the banks of North liiver. Below is
given an incom})lcie genealogy of this branch of the Merritt
family, as they have many descendants in Scituate. Consider
Merritt (brother of Elisha) mar. Betsey Stetson, and had chil-
dren : 1. Eliza, mar. John Corthell, Sr., and had children:
John, Joseph, and Eliza. 2. Sarah, mar. William Gushing of
Hingham, and has numerous children. 3. Joseph, the ship-
l)uilder, b. in South Scituate, Dec. 6, 1821 ; mar., 1st, Debo-
rah, dau. of Anson Hatch ; and 2nd, Helen 31., dau. of Daniel
Foster, by whom he has had one son, Joseph F. 4. William,
mar. Elizalieth, dau. of Benjamin Turner, and had children :
Sarah Eliza1:)eth, Walter, Louisa, Hannah (now dead), and
Malley. 5. Joanna, mar. William O. Merritt of Scituate,
and has numerous children. 6. Martha, d. aged 7 years.

When about eighteen, Joseph >vent to Quincy, where he was
apprenticed to his father, who was doing the iron w^ork of ves-
sels there. Later he w^ent to Hanover, where he worked for
Warren Wright, and while in his employ did iron work on
the " St. Paul " and other vessels, for Waterman & Barstow.
From Hanover he went to South Boston, where he worked for
E. & H. O. Briggs four years. He then returned to Scituate,
and later built the " Forest Belle " on his own account.

Before leaving the Chittenden Yard we will speak of two
characters, both negroes, well known in the yards of "ye olden
time." One was Zfiicle Peter Litchfield, who used to drive one
ox, and when he wanted to train a new steer, he put it on ahead
of the old ox. People used to ask him how he liked his new
steer to hear him say, "Does pretty well for a flying jib."
The other was Hezelciah Williams, or " Blach Bill,'" as he was
familiarly called. No man was so well known in Scituate as
he, and no one w^as so welcome at all of the yards. Black Bill
was supposed to be a runaway slave. Where he came from,
how he came, or when, no one seems to remember. He lived
in the woods, in little huts built by himself, at one time, over
fifty years ago, in front of the Dana place. His hobby was
the building of ships in the woods, some half dozen at a time ;
building a fleet, he called it, with which he hoped to sail South
nnd free the slaves. He never finished a single vessel, but
would build them in a strange manner, as, for instance, putting
the mast in the ofround, and building around it, putting up

"black bill." 259

frames that resembled anything from a ship to a hen-coop. He
built at one time in the woods near George Moore's Swamp,
and also at Hobart's Landing. Pie would work on his vessels
until without money or food, then he would leave them to work
for the farmers when he had earned enough to buy a little Indian
meal, when he would go back to his vessels. While at work
for the farmers, he would eat as much as two or three men, but
would live very sparingly when in the woods at work building.
Black Bill Ijuilt some of his vessels on the Collamore place.
His last residence was on Scrabble Lane, east of Cummings
Litchtield's, in South Scituate. From here he went to the
Bridgewater Almshouse, where he died.

CHAPTER XV.

BLOCK-HOUSE YARD.— 1701-1S34-4S.

WILLIAM JAMES, WILLIAM JAMES, JR., DANIEL HATCH, JAMES
TORRE Y, JOTHAM TILDEN, LUTHER TILDEN, GEORGE TORREY,
DAVID TORREY.

'T^HIS yard was located in the bend of the river, on the Scit-
-*■ uate side, just al)ove the site of the old Block House. It
was here that the Indian stood who shot Elisha James, ( ?) who
was on the Marshfield side, standing where the marshland
curves out into the river. The old house that stood near the
site of the yard was used as a block-house or garrison during
King Phillip's War. It was attacked in May, 1676, Avhen the
Indians made a raid into Scituate, but was not carried. John
James, whose house (now occupied by John Henderson) was
near the block-house, was mortally wounded, and died after
lingerino^ about six weeks. The Block-house Yard was first
occupied early in 1700, by the Jameses and Tildens.

Records state that the following named vessels were built in
Scituate, though they offer no actual proof of the said vessels
having been built at this yard. This list is here given as a
matter of convenience : 1701. Bark "AMITY," 65 tons, Capt.
Richard Lillie ; owner, Samuel Lillie. 1701. Sloop "MAY-
FLOWER," 30 tons; owner, John Frizell. 1702. Brig't'n
"JOHN & DOROTHY," 40 tons, Capt. William Smith ; owner,
John Frizell, Boston. 1705. Sloop "ELIZABETH," 20 tons ;
owners, Joseph Lewis of Hingham, and Eleazer Darbey of
Boston. 1705. Brig't'n "ROSE," 60 tons; owner, Samuel
Lillie of Boston. 1706. Brig't'n "LUKE," 60 tons; owners,
Samuel Lillie and John Horton of Boston. 1707. Sloop

VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE IN EARLY TIMES. 261

*' HART," 40 tons; owners, Edward Martyn of Boston, mer-
chant, and Thomas Pahuer and James Aynsworth of Barl>adoes,
merchants. 1707. Ikig't'n "ABIGAIL & ELIZABETH," 80
tons ; owners, Ivichard Smith of London, merchant, and Capt.
Michael Gill, mariner, and William Smith of Charlestown.
1708. Ship "DOROTHY," 50 tons; owner, John Frizell, Bos-
ton. 1708. Sloop "SWAN," 20 tons; owners, Samuel Dog-
gett, Jr., John Rogers, Samuel Tilden, and Joanna Butler of
Marshlield. 1708. Sloop "RUTH," 30 tons; Timothy Cun-
nino-ham, of Boston, owner. 1709. Brig't'n "CHARLES," 40
ton^; John Frizell, of Boston, owner. 1709. Ship "LYON,"
70 tons ; AVilliam Blair and Andrew Belcher, of Boston, own-
ers. 1710. Ship "DOROTHY," 60 tons; John Frizell, of
Boston, owner. 1710. Sloop "DOLPHIN," 30 tons; John
Foster and Daniel Wair, of Boston, owners. 1710. Brig't'n
"SUCCESS," 60 tons; John Coleman, of Boston, owner.

1711. Sloop "EAGLE," 30 tons; owners, John, Thomas,
Macy, and Abigail Howes, and Silvanus Hussey of Nantucket.

1712. Brig't'n "MARTHA," 50 tons ; owners, Nathaniel James
and Peter Oliver, merchants, and Brattle Oliver of Boston.

1712. Brig't'n "FRIENDSHIP," 60 tons; James Pitts, Gyles
Dyer, Jr., merchants, and Edward Martyn, of Boston, owners.

1713. Ship "THOMAS," 70 tons; owners, Jona. Belcher and
Andrew Belcher of Boston. 1784. Sch. " SPHYNX," 43 tons,
of Boston. 1784. Sch. "BECKEY," also written "i?ecca,"
54 tons, of Boston ; owned by David Tilden of Boston, John
Sutton of Cohasset, and Howard Pierce of Scituate. 1784.
Sch. "POLLY," 69 tons, of Scituate ; owned by George Mor-
ten, Joshua Otis, Nathaniel Wade, and Seth Turner of Scituate.
1785. Sch. " SUKEY," 49 tons, of Provincetown. In 1810,
this vessel was sold for the payment of seamen's wages. The
first shipbuilder on this yard, whose records are preserved, was
AVilliam James, son of Dea. elolm, Jr., who was son of Dea.
John, who came into Scituate in 1668, probably from Dedham,
and purchased the Ephraim Kempton estate, near the Block-
house. William was born 1746, and mar., in 1780, Mary,
dau. of Capt. Benjamin Randall. They had children: 1.
Lydia, (who mar. Capt. Bass of Quincy). 2. Betsey, (who
mar. Rev. William Torrey). 3. William, Jr. 4. Hannah,
(who mar., 1st, Briggs Alden of Duxbury ; 2d, Josiah Leavitt
of N. Y.)

William James, Jr., was born in So. Scituate, March 1,
1789, and d. Jan. 14, 1854, aged 64 years, being buried in the

262 JAMES GENEALOGY.

First Parish Cemetery, Norwell. He succeeded his father at
the shipyard, and mar. Mar. 7, 1816, Wehhea Alden, who
was b. Auij. 13, 1792. They had children : 1. William
Alden, b. March 7, 1818 ; d. June 13, 1819. 2. Mary Kan-
DALL, b. Jan. 12, 1820, mar. Sept. 26, 1843, Edward H.
Dehano, of New York, Naval Constructor ; she died Sept. 10,

1854. They had two children : William Edward, b. in Vir-
ginia in Sept. 1853 ; d. the same month, and Edward Franklin,
b. in Dorchester, Mass., Aug. 21^ 1854. 3 and 4. Ann
Appleton and tivin sister, b. Jan. 2, 1822. She d. ]\Iar.
14, 1887 ; her twin sister d. Jan. 3, 1822. 5. Henry Pack-
ard, b. Aug. 4, 1823; d. July 26, 1825. 6. William
Henry, b. Apr. 19, 1825. He went to the Pensacola Navy
Yard as clerk for Edward H. Delano, Navah Constructor, and
there mar. Laura Ingraham, of that place, Dec, 1858. They
had seven children : Harry Ingraham, b. in North Carolina,
Minnie, Daisy, George^ Welthea Alden, Laura I. and William
Henry ; of these George and Welthea Alden only are living.

7. Albert, b. Feb. 7, 1827, mar, June, 1863, Helen Hopkins
of New York. They had one son, Josiah Leavitt, b. in 1864.

8. Welthea Alden, b. July 6, 1830, mar., Sept. 16, 1850,
Benjamin Merritt, Jr., of Watertown, Mass. They had four
children: Helen James, b. Jan. 9, 1852, (who mar., July 19,
1876, Abraham Hun Berry of Boston). Louisa Phillips, b.
March 6, 1857. Benjamin Frederick, b. March 14, 1865, and
John Alden, b, Aug. 23, 1875. 9. Frederick Augustus,
b. Nov. 27, 1832, mar. Ellen Foster, of So. Scituate, May,

1855. They had two children : Mary Delano, b. Oct. 7, 1856,
and Ellen Foster, b. Nov. 14, 1857. Mary Delano d. Oct.,
1863, and Ellen Foster mar., March, 1886, James Gurney, Jr.,
of East Boston, and d. Aug., 1888. They had one child,
Fred J., b. Oct., 1887 ; d. Aug., 1888. Frederick Augustus
James d., Sept. 8, 1865, in the Union Army. JO. Hannah
Packard, b. Sept. 5, 1835, recently living in Newton.

built, in 1795, the ship
y ^^ c;. "xMARY," for Mr. Joseph

'^^.rrZM^ %.^^ '^^-'Tilden, of Boston, and
in his certificate he swore
that she was " full built,"
that she had "2 decks and 3 masts," that her length was "90
feet, 6 inches, her breadth, 27 feet, 1 inch, her depth, 13 feet,
6 inches, and that she was of 286 tons burthen." She was

DANIEL HATCH, SPUrBUILDEE. 263

lost probably on the coast of North Carolina in 1829. William
James built at this yard, in 1799, the ship "MARY ANN,"
242 tons of Boston, and in 1804, the sch. "MARY," 99 tons,
of Boston. Owners, Charles Ellms, Cushing Otis, of Scituate,
and others.

Danid Hatch built in Scituate, and probably at this yard, in
1802, the sch. "SAUCY JACK," 90 tons. Owners, William
Yinal, Jr., John Tilden, David, Jr., and Cushing Otis of
Scituate.

William James became a partner of Jotham Tilden's with
whom he built until too old for active l)usiness life. Ship-
wrecks of vessels, belonging to Scituate and elsewhere were
frequent during the early days. Scituate's Second Church
records mention the death of

" Capt. Seth Gardner, aged 33, Perkins Clapp, aged 21, Caleb
Nichols, aged 28, Henry Nichols, aged 19, Reuben Nichols, aged
17, James Brown, aged 27, Thomas Jenkins, aged 26, Prince
(colored), aged iS, who were lost in the shipwreck of the ' Cyrus'
at Cape Cod, about 1830 or earlier. One lad, George Fuller, aged
16, escaped."

The bodies of three, Gardner, Clapp and C. Nichols were
subsequently found and buried at the Cape.* As they were all
Scituate men it was very likely a Scituate vessel. From
a newspaper of earlier date the following is taken :

" We hear from Scituate, that last Monday (Men., Nov. 9, 1761) in a snow
storm two sloops were drove ashore and lost, but the people's lives were
saved : one of the sloops belongs to Salem, having her mainsail lower'd to
two racks, a spring of wind like a whirlwind, run up the mainsail to the
head of the mast, blew it from the racks into the water over the stern,
which they dragged some hours, when another spring of wind blew it out
of the sea on board again. They came out in company with five sail from
the Eastward, two arrived safe, and one is yet missing, which, it's feared,
is founder'd." — The Boston Oazette and Country Journal.

The first American citizens who were engaged in whaling
and sealing around Cape Horn, after the peace of 1783, were
Nantucket men, and many vessels were built on North River
for Nantucket firms.

James Torrey built here in 1806 and earlier. He built in
1806 the sch. "PHCEBE," 117 tons, of Boston. Owners,
James Torrey, Elijah Curtis, Thatcher Tilden, of Scituate, and

* See Briggs Yard.

264 TIIiDEN GENEALOGY.

others. James Torrey b. 1755 ; was son of Capt. Caleb,
and an uncle of George and David, who built at this yard later.*
The Tildens built many vessels here between 1700 and 1800,
and in 1801 they built the ship "FLORA," 306 tons, of
Boston; built by Jothani Tilden. The poor of Scituate and
thje surrounding towns were carried each year to the town-
houses of the several towns and sold out to service for the follow-
ino- year. In Scituate yearly could be seen the families packed
in old farm and ox-carts, being carried to and from the sales.
Charles Turner, father of Hon. Samuel Adams Turner, used to
put a clause in each town warrant to see " If the town would
support an Alms-house." Old David Torrey used to say, after
reading the warrant, "See, there is Charles again, always want-
ing to spend the town's money in erecting an Alms-house."
But finally Charles carried the day, the appropriation for an
Alms-house was voted for and it was erected. Uncle Ells was
an odd character of the day ; he used to drink freely, and had
a habit of lying about in dark places. ]\Iany persons, still
living, well remember the start they may have experienced by
coming suddenly upon him in some dark corner. No descen-
dants or relatives were left to mourn his loss.

/jy^—y^ /'-y^'^y^ ^^^^ ^^^ brother Luther built

^^^>^^eo^ y^^^4::^ here. They were sons of Dea.

yf ^^-^*S Samuel, of Marshfield, who

^ died May 29, 1834, aged 95.

Jotham was b. Jan. 10, 1767 ; d. Dec. 18, 1843, and was buried

in the "Two Mile" grave yard in Marshtield. He mar. Betsey

Turner, for his first wife, Jan. 13, 1794 ; she died in 1817, and

he mar., 2d, Betsey, sister of Elijah Brooks, in 1819. Jotham

had children only by his first wife, viz. : 1. Jotham, b. Nov.

10, 1794, mar. and d., leaving a widow, Mary, who afterward

mar. Christopher Oakman, and children : 1. Frederick, never

mar. 2. Allen Crocker, who mar. a dau. of Tilden Ames, and

left one son. 3. "William Henry, never mar. 2. George,

b. Dec. 16, 1796 ; he mar. Mercy L. Clift.f

3. Betsey, b. Oct. 2, 1799 ; mar. David Harding, and had
children: 1. Sarah; mar. Dr. Oliphant of St. Louis. 2.
Henry C. ; mar., 1st, a dau. of Rev. Calvin Lincoln ; and 2nd,
. No children. 4. Maria, b. April 21, 1802; mar.

* See, Chittenden Yard.

t See Brooks & Tilden Yard, Marshfield, for account of this family.

TILDEN GENEALOGY. 265

Elijah Brooks.* 5. William Henry, b. Aug. 18, 1804 ; mar.
Sarah Rainsford, dau. of Dea. Rainsford of Boston, and had
children: 1. Augusta; mar. James Bates of Weymouth, and
they have children there. 2. Josiah ; mar. Widow Snow. No
children. 3. Charles; mar. a Connecticut girl; had no chil-
dren. 4. Harriet F. ; mar. Edward F. Tilden of Chelsea, a
ship-builder, son of Hatch Tilden; no children. 5. Louisa;
never mar. 6. ISIercy, and one or two others, d. young. 6.
Horatio Nelson, b. March 8, 1808 ; mar. Mercy Ford of
Marshheld, and had children: 1. Mercy; mar. AVilliam F.
Damon of Marshlield. Have several children. 2. Horatio
A. ; mar. Lucinda Damon, sister of William F. They have
children : Carleton and Cora. 3. Helen ; mar. Dea. George
Beal of Cohasset ; no children. 4. Lizzie, and one or two un-
married.

Luther Tilden, son of Samuel and brother of Jotham, was b.
Jan. 2, 1777, and d. March 6, 1857, aged 80. On his grave-
stone in the First Parish Cemetery at Norwell is represented
a vessel, with the blocks under her, ready to be launched. He
mar., 1st, Philenda Brooks, who d. March, 1837; and 2nd,
Sarah S. Benson, July 4, 1841 ; she d. Jan. 13, 1862. By his
first wife he had seven children, viz. : 1. Philenda, b, March
2, 1802. She mar. a ]\lr. Bond of AValtham, and had two or
three children, of whom, Josephine, mar. a Mr. Bramen of
Brooklyn, N. Y. One other, Sarah, mar. a Mr. Foster of
Waltham. 2. Luther Albert, b. June 2, 1804; mar., and
had two children : Julia and Charles Albert. (Julia mar. John
Turner, and has three children ; Emma, who mar. Charles Til-
den of So. Scituate ; Nellie, and John.) Charles Al])ert mar.
a Miss Glover of W. Scituate. 3. Julia, b Dec. 30, 1806 ;
mar. Capt. James Southworth of Scituate ; she d. 1880. They
had five children : Florence (died when two days old) , Edward,
Sarah (d. aged two years), Catharine (d. aged two years), and
Caroline. Edward mar., 1st, Eliza Tall)ot of So. Scituate, and
by her had one child, Fannie. His second wife was Hattie E.
Hill of Sherborn, and they have had three children : Frank,
Stacy, and Alice. Both boys are living. This family now re-
side in Quiney, Mass. Caroline mar. Oliver Prouty of So. Scit-
uate, and had seven children : Elmer, Edward, James, Alvord,
Ella, Lottie, and Olive. She moved to New Jersey, and d. about
1884. 4. Sarah, b. April 24, 1809 ; mar. William Turner of

* See Brooks & Tilden Yard.

266 TILDEN GENEALOGY.

Scituate, and had four children, viz. : Humphrey, William
Francis, Arabella, and Eudora. Humphrey died lately in the
West, where he was the editor of a paper and a prominent man.
William Francis mar. a Miss Stoddard of So. Scituate. They
had no children. Arabella, mar. Coleman Ford of So. Scituate,^
and has several children. Eudora, mar. Charles T. Bailey of
Scituate, and has several children. 5. William Phillips, b.
May 9, 1811. He mar. Mary Foster of Scituate, and had sev-
eral children, three of whom are now living, viz : Laura,
AAllliam, and George. Laura mar. Dr. James S. Greene of
Fitchburg, and now lives in Milton. They have one son, Jo-
se})h. William mar. Anna Haynes of INlilton, and has two chil-
dren, Mary and Cora. George mar. Alice Butler, from the
West. Their oldest child, Laura, died when about four years
of age. They are now living in Milton, and have three chil-
dren'': Charlie, Alice, and Edith. William Phillips Tilden is
the only surviving child of Luther. He is now living in INIiltoQ
with a second wife. 6. Lucy Brooks, b. Aug. 19, 1818 ; mar.
Dr. Jarvis Lewis of Waltham, and had one dau., Helen, now
living in Waltham. 7. Caroline, b. Sept. 4, 1820. She was
never mar., and d. at 30 years of age, or less. The author is
indebted to the Rev. Wm. P. Tilden for the following enter-
taining sketch concerning his early life, and his recollections of
the Block-House Yard :

" The neat little one-story house in South Scituate where I was
born, seventy-eight years ago, holds its age finely. It is located four
or five miles from the sea, but near enough to hear the distant roar
of the surf after a storm. The first I remember is being out in the
end yard of the house, after a rain which had made lakes and seas of
the hollow places, trying to sail the top of a small trunk, torn off
and turned over, to look like a vessel in one of these inland seas. It
was a perfectly natural thing for me. I was born to it, as a duck to
the water. Wasn't my father a ship-carpenter, and hadn't I heard
the sea roar, and wasn't I going to build ships and go to sea? It
was the prophecy of coming events, though there was no pulpit in
the vision, that I remember. My childhood was a happy one. Its
memories are very sweet. We were not poor and not rich. Father
had a good trade, and plenty of work ; and mother, besides being so
precious, was so bright, so good, so buoyant, such an adept at her
needle, keeping all the children neat, and trim, and clean. What
would the world be without the tender and watchfal care of loving
mothers ! When I was seven or eight, my father sold the little place
where I was born, and built a larger house on the bank of North
River, where for some years he and his brother carried on ship-
building together. Sixty years ago, Scituate, Hingham, and Co-

SKETCH OF THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD BY W. P. TILDEN. 267

hasset carried on the mackerel fishery to a very large extent, giving
employment, during the summer season, to a large number of people
in Plymouth County. A boy in our region who had never been
mackerel fishing was lightly esteemed by his comrades. He was of
litde account. The summer I was thirteen, I got leave of father and
mother to ship with a skipper they well knew. This was the begin-
ning of my academical education. Many a boy goes to Exeter to
prepare for Cambridge, with less pride and joy, I have no doubt,
than I started off on my grand expedition, dressed in my fisherman's
suit, every article of which, from my red flannel shirt to my pea-
jacket and tarpaulin, was made by my precious mother's hands. For
six or seven consecutive summers I continued in this academy, learn-
ing some things, as is the case, I suppose, in other seminaries, which
had better be forgotten. The summer I was sixteen I was high
line, as it was called, beating even the skipper ; packing one hun-
dred and thirty-four barrels, I think it was, caught with my own
hands. About this time I began to work with my father in the ship-
yard, still fishing during the summer months while I was learning
my trade. The daily recitations in this, my university course, needed
no oflset or balance of foot-ball, base ball, boat race, or other gym-
nastics, we took all that the natural way. Our broad-axes and
mauls were our dumb-bells ; our whip-saws and cross-cuts our vault-
ing bars ; and deck beams, drawn up by the creaking stage on our
shoulders, were our patent lifts. We worked from sun to sun in
those days, often having a steaming forehood to bend after sunset, to
use up "the summer twilight. But you ' literary fellers,' whose
education has been so sadly neglected in these directions, probably
don't know what a forehood means ; and even if I should tell you it
is a plank to be bent round the bows, set home, buckled to, reined
in, wedged hard down, clamped to the timbers, butted and spiked
ready for boring and tree-nailing, I doubt even then if I should give
you a perfectly clear idea, so difiicult it is for scholars trained in
difierent schools to understand each other's terms. The Block-house
Yard was not well adapted to building. The ground was mostly
springy and wet ; the way to it was through a rocky pasture, with
only a cart path, where deep ruts and frequent stones tried the heavy
wheels, loaded with timber, and the necks of the patient oxen, which
bore the swinging white oak trunks, planks, and knees. Then, when
the timber was in the yard, there was not sufficient room for it.
Beside this, when the vessel was launched, she had to run directly
across the river into the mud on the other side. Souther & Cud-
worth's Yard, a half mile up the river, and Foster's, above that,
were far better yards ; more spacious, and with a finer chance for a
glorious launch'up or down a long reach. Still, there were many
vessels built at this yard. But the Block-house, though not a No. i
ship-yard, was a glorious place for us boys. Here came noisy and
jubilant throngs from Front street. Back street, and all the lanes
round about, in the dusk of a summer evening, for a glorious swim

268 BLOCK-HOUSE SHIP-YARD.

and a good time generally ; especially Saturday evenings, when the
week's work was over. What schools of human porpoises would
Toll and tumble in the star-lit stream, preparatory for the clean Sun-
day shirt. We used to run a long spring plank out over the end of
the wharf, hold down the shore end with a boulder, and running
out, give a leap and a dive, and the next you saw was a yellow spot
under water, away out, nearly half across the river, with a motion
like a frog; then, breaking the water, he would shake the beady
drops from his head, clear his nose for breathing freely, and continue
across, resting on the opposite bank, or making a graceful curve and
coming back for another dive. When the frogs began to peep, in
the spring of the year, there was fine eeling near the banks up and
down the river. We used a pole and line, and a sinker with a worm
struno- on a thread, called a ' fishworm bob.' What fun it was to
pull them out upon the meadow grass, and bag them for breakfast !
We had superb skating in winter, and good fishing through the ice
for eels, perch, and the beautiful striped bass. When about twenty-
three, I married a noble woman whom I had known and loved from
childhood, and we moved to Medford, whose ' Ship street,' now-
desolate, was alive with ship-building. It was not long after this
when, working with my dear ship-carpenter, classmate, and ortho-
dox friend, Rev. W. T. Briggs, we discussed, almost fiercely, the
high themes of fore-knowledge, free-will, and fate, and I hammered
away on the hard side of ' Calvinism.' One day, when I was about
twenty-five, while at work in the ship-yard at Medford, I saw my
portly pastor coming, looking through his glasses, first one side and
then the other, as was his wont going up the broad aisle. I dropped
my axe to welcome him, and soon found he had a gospel of hope for
me. He had taken counsel, and came to tell me he thought I might
— yes, I might — enter the ministry. That spot of ground is still
sacred. I have been to it as to the Mecca of my first hope. All
signs of the old ship-yard, to a stranger's eye, were gone ; but I knew
the old land-marks, and found the spot where I dropped the broad
axe to hear the glad tidings that opened to me a new life. I was
glad to stand there and feel something of that hour come back to me
through the vista of nearly half a century."

Jotliam Tilden built here, in 1815, the sch. "NEW SO-
PHRONIA," 69 tons, of Scituate ; owned by Gushing and En-
sign Otis, Jr., Coleman Jenkins, Elisha Foster, Jr., and Luther
Tflden of Scituate. William James, George and David Torrey,
and Jotham and Luther Tilden were in company from about
this time until later than 1821. The largest vessel recorded as
having been l)uilt at the Block-house Yard was, in 1815, the
ship "MALABAR," 355 tons. She had two decks, three
masts; length, 102 feet; depth, 14 feet; breadth, 28 feet;
owned in Boston.

3- o

VESSELS BUILT AT THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD. 269

and David Torrey were the
(~^ master carpenters. The next

Ciy/lm,,^0.tx^/l year two vessels were built
wwA**'^^~^ here, viz. : 18 IG, the sch.
C^ "MARY & POLLY," 77
tons, of Chatham ; and the
same year, 1816, sch. "ANN ROSINA," 123 tons, of Peters-
burg, Va. ; owners, Ebenezer Pope, of Boston, and others.
Jotham Tilden was the master carpenter of both these vessels.
The "Ann Rosina," it is said, was named after either the cap-
tain's or mate's daughter. The captain was Thomas Manches-
ter, and the mate Mr. Cud worth. She was used as a Boston
and Richmond packet. An old ship-carpenter now living, and
in his ninety-first year, remembers having worked on the " Ann
Rosina." Is it not wonderful that there is a man now living^
who can tell you that he worked on this vessel built in 1816?
This remarkable man is Harvey Hall, and the following ac-
count of an interview with him may be of interest. He was
born June 30, 1799, in East Marshfield, where he has lived the
greater part of his life. He married Charlotte Tilden, in 1824,
and has quite a progeny . I found him in the orchard of his
farm, near East Marshfield village, then in his ninetieth year,
in the top of a Baldwin apple-tree, on a ladder, gathering ap-
ples. I asked him what he was doing, and he replied, " Gath-
ering Baldwins," as he did every year between the 10th and
20th of October, for the old i)eop]e used to say, in his day,
that Baldwins should be gatliered at that time of the year.
Coming down, he invited me into his home, where he enter-
tained me very pleasantly. He entered the ship-yard at the age
of eighteen, under the instruction of Jotham Tilden, at the
Block house Yard. The first vessel he worked on was the
"Ann Rosina." From here he went to the Navy Yard at
Charlestown, where he worked six months. He then went to
work tree-nailing or "trunnelling" for Noah Brooks, at South
Boston, working on the last ship he built there. Edwin and
Harrison O. Briggs succeeded Mr. Brooks in slii})-building at
this yard, and Mr. Hall tree-nailed nearly all the vessels l)uilt
by them. He worked in the Magoun & Turner Yard, Charles-
town Neck ; also in the following ship-yards in ]\Iedford : Fos-
ter's, Taylor's, Waterman & E well's, Hayden Sc Cudworth's, and
James O. Curtis'. Later, he worked in Sanuiel Lapham's, Ja-
rius Pratt's, and Hugh & Donald McKay's, East Boston ; at John
Souther's, at Quincy ; and Nathan Josselyn's, at Quincy Point,

270 VESSEL BUILT AT THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD.

where he worked on tlie " ]SIount AVallaston." He also worked
on many vessels built by Gushing Otis Brigg-s and his brother
Henry, in Scituate. He remembers Isaiah Wing's ship, as she
lay at Doggett's Bank, during Embargo times, until nearly un-
fit for service. He was also an eye-witness of the battle l>e-
tween the " Chesapeake," Capt. Lawrence, and the English
frigat^. "Shannon," off Cohasset. Here, he says, the action
began in earnest, and, after a hard, short fight, the " Chesa-
peake" was captured June 1, 1813. When ship-building be-
came dull, he retired to his present home in his native town,
and is now enjoying the competence acquired by the labors of
his youthful days, and living with his widowed daughter.

In 1817 there was built, at the Block-house Yard, the sch.
"WILLIAM," 49 tons ; sold afterward to Freeport. Also in
1817, the sch. "PHILENDA," 72 tons, of Boston, named after
Luther Tilden's daughter, "one of the prettiest girls in the
neighborhood." It was also the name of Mr. Tilden's wife.
The "Philenda" was owned by Elijah Turner, John Beal, Sam-
uel Jenkins, Jr., Jesse Dunbar, Snell Wade, Gideon Vinal,
Doane Damon, and Nathaniel Clapp, Scituate, Nathaniel Clift
of Marshfield, and Smith T. Reed of Aldington. In 1819, the
sch. "BETSEY," 91 tons, of Provincetown, was built here, of
which David Torrey was the master carpenter. There was also
Ijuilt here, in 1821, the sch. "VESTA," 91 tons, of Boston;
afterward of Provincetown, and used whaling; David Torrey,
master carpenter. This schooner was named after Vesta, the
wife, or Vesta, the daughter, of David Torrey. The same
year, 1821, the sch. "PRIMROSE," 71 tons, of Chatham, was
built at this yard, of which Jotham and Luther Tilden were the
master carpenters. In 1823 there was built here the brig
"WILLIAM & HENRY," 185 tons, of Duxbury ; afterward
sold to Philadelphia, and in 1855 she was whaling from Warren,
R. I. James N. Sparrell, who worked on Foster's Yard, also
worked on this vessel on the way down river and at the Ferry.
In 1824 there was built at this yard the sch. "EMILY COOK,"
116 tons, of Boston. She was altered into a brig Sept. 13,
1827. David Torrey was master carpenter of her. Daniel
Hall worked joinering on the "Emily Cook " in 1824. At this
yard were l)uilt the following vessels, viz. : In 1825, the brig
"LE VANTE,"

^^ ^.r-^-^ and William James, Jr.,

f^yj V CJ \/f.^^y'^*-€,.xyf huilders, 219 tons, of Bos-

I ^fi^l/^i^ '^^'^ ^^ ton ; afterward of Lynn ; also

owned at one time in Ware-

VESSELS BUILT AT THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD. 271

ham, and, while in the whale fisheries, was condemned at Hon-
olulu in 1847 ; and in 1826, the sch. " BALTIMORE," 130
tons, of Boston ; William James, Jr., and David Torrey, build-
ers and part owners. In 1827, the brig "MARIA THERESA,"
229 tons, of Boston ; AVilliam James, Jr., master carpenter;
and in 1828, the sch. "COLUMBIA," 59 tons, of Boston ; Wil-
liam James, Jr., master carpenter. In 1829, the sch. "RIVAL,"
66 tons, built for mackerel fishing, commanded l)y Capt. Henry
Clap}), and owned by John Beal, Jesse Dun])ar, Sr. and Jr.,
Peleg and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Henry and Capt. Alfred Clapp
of Scituate. Rev. William P. Tilden, when quite young, went
fishing in this craft. She was lost while in the Southern coast-
ing trade in winter. In 1831 was built here the sch. "RUBI-
CON," 67 tons. David Torrey was the master carpenter. She
was built of oak, iron and copper fastened, one break deck;
owned in 1859 by Capt. Thomas of Rockland, Me., and in 1861
by A. Foss, Swan Island. In 1832, the sch. " AURELIA," of
69 tons, was built here by David Torrey, and owned by John
Beal, Peleg, John, and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Anthony Water-
man, Harvey Curtis, and William Vinal, Scituate. Here was
also built, in 1833, the brig "CASKET," 155 tons, of Boston,
of which James & Torrey were the master carpenters ; and in
1834, the brig "AMULET," 153 tons, of Boston ; James &
Torrey, master carpenters. Abiel Turner, who worked in Mel-
zar Turner's Yard in 1837, in William James' and David Tor-
rey's in 1834, and for Elijah Cudworth in 1833, was son of
Roland, and had sons, Henry A., George R., John D., and a
daughter, Sarah W., (who mar. Charles Merritt.) Henry A.
Turner* has had children : Flora J., Susie O., John H., Na-
than S., George C, and Mary R. It has been said that the
sch. "ROWENA," 69 tons, built in Scituate, Mass., in 1834,
was built at this yard. She was re-})uilt in 1869, at Calais, Me.
She was built of cak, iron and copper fastened, single bottom ;
owned in 1872 by Cook & Co., Calais, Capt. A. Cook, com-
manding; and in 1884 by Damon & Waite, at Calais, Me.
David Torrey is said to have built the brig "ABRAHAM" in
1847-48 ; but whether at this yard we do not know. The ship
"ENTERPRISE," owned in New Bedford at one time, was also
built by the Torreys. Thus ended the good old ship-building
days at this yard, which is one of the most beautiful and roman-
tic parts of the tortuous North River.

* See Rogers' Yards for H. A. Turner's wife's family.

CHAPTER XVI.

BROOKS & TILDEN AND WILLIAM TAYLOR YARDS.

17S4-1S60.

SCOLLAY BAKER, PRINCE HATCH, ELISHA FORD, JR., AARON
SHERMAN, ELIJAH BROOKS, W1LLIA:\I H. TILDEN, GEORGE TIL-
DEN, WILLIAM TAYLOR, ISRAEL CARVER.

^^HE Brool'f< (£• Tilden Yard was located about forty rods
-*■ above Union Bridge on the Marshtield l)ank of North
River, and on land formerly owned by Hatch Tilden, adjoining
the highway which runs over the bridge. The William Taylor
Yard was also located on the Marshtield side of North River a
few rods below Little's Bridge on land then owned hy Edwin
P. Little and now by Enos M. Stodder, or Stoddard. There
are no records to prove that ships were built at these yards
before they were occupied by the above firms, l)ut vessels were
probably built at both yards in early times. The following are
records of some of the vessels built in ]Marshfield between 1784
and 1809, and as the other yards were occupied by other build-
ers during these years, it is fair to presume that the following
vessels were built at these yards, which probably remained
unoccupied from about 1810 until the above firms built on them.
In 1784 the sloop "ABIGAIL,"' 50 tons, of Marshfield, was
l)uilt at Marshfield, and Jacol) Bearstow, of Marshfield, owned
her. Also in 1784 the Brig't'n " WILLIAM," 135 tons, of
Boston, was built at Marshfield. Afterward foundered at sea;
and the same year, 1784, the sch. "POLLY," 52 tons, of
Marshfield. Joseph, Mary, and Mercy Phillips, owners.
Afterward sold to Barnstable. There was built in Marshfield,
in 1 786, the sloop " SALLY," 44 4;ons, of Marshfield. Benja-
min Hatch, of Marshfield, and Charles Hatch of Pembroke,
owners. Afterward sold to Boston ; and the same year the

BAKER HATCH FOllD SHERMAN. 273

sloop " JUNO," 90 tons, of Marshtield. Elisha Ford and Jona-
than Ford, of Marshfield, owners. In 1792 there was l)uilt in
Marshtiekl the brig "DEBBY," 107 tons, of Boston, and the next
year two vessels, 1793, the sch., afterward hriir't'n, "HELEN,"
100 tons, of Boston, and 1793, sloop "NORTH RIVER," 27
tons, of Avhich Snow Stetson was deputy surveyor. Owned by
Charles and Benjamin Hatch, Jr., Marshfield, and Seth Hatch,
Pembroke.

^^^^-^.^^^

commenced the building
of a square sterned
schooner at Marshiield,
in April, 1800, launched
her ni October, and Dec.
27, of the same year, she was lying at Lyman's wharf, so called,
in Boston. This was the schooner " JPOLLY," 114 tons, of
Duxbury.

^^-.^^ built here in 1801, the sch.

/^* *t^>^X '"J^^HREE FRIENDS,"

'^^ Kl^t^CC^ CTlf ^^ ^^^'^-^^t^ 74 tons, of Barnstable.

Elisha Ford, Jr., built in Marshfield, the next }ear, 1802,
the brig " ELIZA," 1G5 tons, of Marshfield. Elisha Ford, Sr.,
and Jr., of Marshfield, owners.

Aai'on Sherman built in Marshfield, in 1809, the sloop
"POLLY," 35 tons, owned by Benjamin Rogers and El)enezer
Sherman, Marshfield. She was afterward sold to Boston.
Aaron Sherman lived near "Old Skunk Meeting House,"
Marshfield. While vessels were building on the beautiful river
shore of Marshfield, other vessels were being destroyed on her
rocky coast, driven before the easterly gales, and many are the
sailors who have found their graves in the sands of this town.
The Boston JSFeivs Letter records the following, dated Marsh-
field, Nov. 28, 1712 :

"On Tuesday the 25th cnrrent, 1712, six men going off the Gurnet
Beach in a whale boat at Duxbury by reason of boisterousness of the sea
oversetting the boat they were all drowned, viz. : William Sprague, Eben-
ezer Bonny, Thomas Baker, of Duxbury, Thomas Wright, Job Cole and
Andrew Seaward, of Marshfield."

The Boston Evening Post speaks of two great storms. The
first under date of June 11, 1759, viz. :

"We hear from Marshfield that Capt. Inglish in a schooner from No.
Carolina was drove on shore there, the men's lives and some part of the

274 EARLY SHIPAVUECKS OX THE MARSHFIELD COAST.

cargo saved but the vessel lost and that another schooner was cast away,
not far from the above, which was stove to pieces and the people all
drowned, but who she was, or where from, is not yet known."

The second under date of Sept. 11, 1769, reads as follows :

" Last Friday noon came on a very violent N. E. storm, attended with
rain which lasted till next morning and it is said several vessels are drove
ashore at different parts in our Bay, but as yet Ave have no particulars,
only a sip. Capt. Atwood from the Eastward on Nahant Beach, a vessel on
Baker's Island ; Caj^t. Stutson* in a sip. from the West Indies, at Cohasset

and a sch. at Marshfield."

From TJ)e Boston JVeivs Xe^fer, dated Dec. 25, 1760, is taken
the following :

" Last week some men landed in a boat at Marshfield, they belon^^ed to
a sloop laden with lumber from the Eastward, which in a hard gale of wind
lost every sail and the men not being able to manage her, they took to
their boat and left her."

The Massachusetts Spy of Feb. 1, 1771, contains an account
of a wreck here as follows :

" Capt. Cooper bound to Bermuda was cast away in the night of the
22nd. ult. at Marshfield and the vessel entirely lost, but the men saved. He
sailed from hence the morning before."

We will leave the account of shipwrecks to record the follow-
ing remarka1)le paragraph, which appeared in The Boston
Gazette and Country Journal of Feb. 5, 1774 :

" We hear from Marshfield that the puissant A W Esq. lately

went into a neighbor's house and being seated, though very uneasy, he was
inquired of what made him so, when he instantly arose and drew forth a
sword (being formerly a valiant soldier) declaring he would make day-
light shine through 'em but what he would carry his point, giving as a
reason that he was afraid of his life without being arm'd, tho' never
assaulted. Being tlms accoutred one day on going to his barn, his cattle
being affrighted and taking him to be a stranger, surrounded him and we
hear 'twas with difficulty that he escaped with his life and the loss of his
sword."

This was during the Revolutionary period and in no town
in Massachusetts was there probably more excitement over the
stirring events of these times than in Marshfield. Undoubtedly
the feeling would not have been so strong if there had not
been in their midst three noted Tories or Loyalists, led by
Nathaniel Ray Thomas. The first mention we find of him in
the papers was in the Boston News Letter^ of Dec. 4, 1761, ( ?)
the followintr :

* See account of the Stutsons, Wanton Yard.

NATHANIEL RAY THOMAS. 275

" Wednesday, the 13th day of January, 1762, the Gov. signed the fol-
lowing act. An act for exchanging meadow and meadowish ground
belonging to the First Precinct in Marshfield in the County of Plymouth
with Nathaniel Ray Thomas of said Marshfield, gentleman, for salt-
meadow."

Nathaniel Ray Thomas was the sole surviving child of John
and Mary Thomas. John Thomas mar. Mary, dau. of Simon
and Judith (]\Ianwariiig) Ray, of New London, Conn.,
1724. They had eight children b. between 1724 and 1787.
John Thomas and his wife both died in 1737, leaving but
one child, the noted Loyalist of ]\Iarshfield. They were
not related to the Thomas family of Marshfield, descendants
of John and Sarah Pitney Thomas. William, the common
ancestor of the Loyalist's family, came over in the "Mary
and Anne" in IGoG. Nathaniel Ray Thomas was b. in Marsh-
field in 1731, and d. in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Sept. 19, 1787,
he having gone there at the time of the evacuation of Boston
in 1776. His wife and all his children, except John, followed
after the war. She died tliere in 1810, aged 78. The home
of Nathaniel Ray Thomas, of over 1500 acres, became the
home of Daniel Webster in Marshfield, he buying it in 1832
of John, son of Nathaniel Ray Thomas. Walton Hall now
owns and occupies the farm. Near his house, which is on the
site of the Daniel Wel^ster house, is a large tree to which
many of Capt. Balfour's soldiers were tied and flogged for
misdemeanor. In the following extracts taken from the papers
of the times there will be seen many references to the Loyalist,
and what a deal of troul)le he occasioned in Marshfield. He
evidently caused the town to pass some Resolves which it did
not voice and which it afterward virtually rescinded, as will be
seen by the following paragraphs under different dates. Bos-
ton Gazette and Country journal. Extract from a letter from
Duxbury,Feb. 5, 1774:

" I imagine you have by this time heard of the very remarkable Resolves
of the town of ]\Iarshfield respecting tlie destruction of teas, &e • which
was eft'ected principally by the insinuating act of a certain man, who hav-
ing lately rendered himself odious to the Province by his conduct in a pub-
lic station, is endeavoring to wipe otl" the infamy on the people of that
town. His insinuations are (as I am informed Ijy people of veracity) that
the tea must be paid for ; that any town remonstrating against the destruc-
tion of it, will effectually secure them against paying any part of the
expenses and if it is paid for that his particular share will be £40 who
commonly pays scarce £;J per annum of the Province tax. However tlie
sentiments of the Old Colony are not to be collected from those of Marsh-
field."

276 MAKSHFIELD DURING THE EEVOLUTION.

Two days later appeared, in the same paper, the following :

"We are informed that the Resolves of the town of Marshfield were
carried by a majority of only one vote, and we soon expect a more intelli-
gible account of the meeting than has yet been given in a public paper."

In the Massachusetts Spy, of Feb. 23, 1774, appears :

" A protest signed by a large number of the prominent inhabitants of
the town of Marshfield against the proceedings of said town on the Slst of
January last," as follows : " We the subscribers think ourselves obliged in
faithfulness to the community, ourselves and posterity, on every proper
occasion to bear our public testimony against every measure, calculated to
destroy that harmony and unanimity which subsists through the colonies
and so eventually to the destruction of those liberties wherewith the Author
of Nature and our happy constitution has made us free. Were they not
already notorious, it would give us uneasiness to mention the Resolves
which were voted in this town the 31st of January last. To the first of
these Resolves we do not object ; but do heartily join in recognizing our
loyalty and subjection to the King of Great Britain and our readiness to be
ever subject to the laws of our legislature. In their second Resolve, they
say that the 'measures and proceedings in the town of Boston in the
detention and destruction of the teas, belonging to the East India Com-
pany, are illegal, unjust and of a dangerous tendency,' against which we
take the liberty to protest. We have "long groaned under the weight of
an American Revenue Act and when by the virtue of the people in not
purchasing any goods loaded with a duty, the malignity of the act was in
some measure evaded, a scheme was devised and prosecuted by the min-
istry, to enforce said act by permitting the East India Company to force
their infectious teas upon us, whether we would or not. At this, not only
the inhabitants of Boston, but of the whole province were very much and
very justly alarmed and while they were prosecuting every method that
human wisdom w'ould devise that the tea should be sent back undamaged,
it was destroyed, but whether by the people of that town, or any other
town of this province does not appear, odly. They resolved to instruct
their Representative 1st, to endeavor that the perpetrators of these mis-
chiefs be brought to justice. This appears to us to be the business of
another department. We have executive courts and officers, whose busi-
ness it is to punish offenders and we trust they are faithful. 2dly. They
instruct him to endeavour that his town be excused from paying for said
teas, which we think might have been omitted, at least, till there was a
probability of a requisition from proper authority for payment. They
conclude with a denunciation 'of all methods of imposition, violence and
persecution, such as has been most shamefully exercised upon a number of
inhabitants of Plymouth by obliging them to sign a recantation ' &c : Such
bitter, virulent and injurious reflections on our brethren at Plymouth,
ought not to have taken place until some shadow of proof had been adduced
to the town, that any such violence &c. was ever practiced by them on a
single person. The occasion of this our protest has given us great uneasi-
ness and we were confident those extraordinary resolves would not have
taken place but by the insinuations of a certain gentleman who seems will-
ing his constituents should share in the resentment of the whole country,
which he has incurred by his conduct in a public character. We mean not
to countenance riotous and disorderly conduct but, being convinced that
liberty is the life and happiness of a commimity, are determined to con-

MAESHFIELD DURING THE REVOLITTION.

277

tribute to our last mite in its defence, againsttiie machinations of assuming,
arbitrary men. who, stimuhited with a lust of dominion and unrighteous
gain are ever studying to subjugate this free people." Marshtield, Feb. 14,
1774. {signed) :

Anthony Thomas,
John Brown,
William Thomas,
Thomas Foord,
Thomas ^^'aterman,
Isaac Phillips,
Samuel Tilden,
John Dingley,
Joseph Kent,
Benjamin White,
Joseph Hewit,
Thomas Fish,
Jeremiah Low,
Benjamin Tolman,
Jethco Taylor,
Samuel Williamson,
Nathan Thomas,

Nehemiab Thomas,
Benjamin White, Jr.,
Lemuel Delano,
Jabez Dingley,
Isaac Carver,
Thomas Din<rley,
Samuel Smith,
Thomas Waterman, Jr.,
Peleg Foord,
Asa Waterman,
John Waterman,
John Shurman,
Samuel Tilden, Jr.,
Samuel Oakman,
Gershom Ewell,
William Clift,
Joseph Bryant,

Paul Sampson,
John Oakman,
Joseph Oakman,
Kinf< Lapham,
Barnard Tuels,
Pelejr Kent,
Zenas Thomas,
Joshua Carver,
Lot Howes Silvester,
David Carver,
Nathaniel Thomas,
William Thomas, Jr.
Luther Peterson,
Brings Thomas,
Elisha Kent,
Timothy Williamson,
Joseph Clift.

In September of the same year, "patience ceased to be a
virtue," and the inhabitants of the surroundino; towns decided
they could not permit Mr. Thomas to longer remain among
them ; accordingly they marched to his house, but their bird
had flown. The Boston Evening Post, of Sept. 12, 1774,
says :

" We hear from the County of Plymouth that, on Wednesday last, up-
wards of iOOO of the substantial yeomanry collected from the several towns
of Plymouth, Hanover, and I'embroke, repaired to the house of Nathaniel
Ray Thomas, of Marshfield, one of the new Council ; but, having had
some previous intimation of the intended visit of the people, he thought it
unsafe to remain, even in Marshtield, and accordingly fled, the night be-
fore, with all speed, to the City of Refuge."

At the request of Nathaniel Ray Thomas, and three hundred
other Loyalists of Marshfield, a company of the Queen's Guard,
under Capt. Balfour, was sent down and quartered in Mr.
Thomas' house. The wine closets constructed in the cellar by
Capt. Balfour, far the use of himself and officers, were in ex-
istence until the house was burned. (See foot note.) The

Foot Note. Isaac Thomas who d. in Marshfield, March 6, 1859, remembered Capt.
Balfour's visit plainly. Isaac Thomas descended from the j'oungest son of John and Sarah
Thomas (see Thomas Genealogy, Brick-kiln Yard). Isaac, the only son of Zenas and
wife Abigail, was b. Nov. 11, 1765, and d. Mar. 6, 1859. He was in his tenth year at the
commencement of the American Revolution, and the strange acts of both Whig and
Tory citizens of the place were indelibly impressed on his mind. On Dec. 20, 1774 he
beheld and followed with Ijojnsh curiosity the Queen's Guards commanded by Capi.
Balfour as they marched by tiie common, where his school room was situated, on their
way from North River to their destined quarters at the mansion house of Nathaniel Hay
Thomas. He often spoke of the brightness of their bayonets as they glittered in that
midday snn ol' one of the mildest days that the annals ot past Decembers have recorded.
He also, ou the morning succeeding the battle of Lexington, witnessed Capt. William

278 MARSHFIELD DURING THE REVOLUTION.

presence of troops greatly annoyed the inhabitants, and, after
vainly applying to Gen. Gage to withdraw them, (see Chapter
on Pembroke Yards,) the militia of the surrounding towns
marched to Marshfield for the purpose of routing them ; but
Capt. Balfour embarked on board some British vessels lying otf
Brant Rock, a few hours before the arrival of the militia, part
of it under Col. Bailey of Hanover. Had the militia arrived
three hours earlier, the second battle of the Revolution would,
without doubt, have been fought in Marshfield. Another ac-
count of how the British troops annoyed the inhal)itants of
these towns appeared in the Boston Gazette and Country Jour-
nal, under date of Jan. 30, 1775 :

"Card players are said to be no (Economists. If the troops at Marsh-
field do not pay Barrack money for the houses they occup}' there, yet where
they fright a wife and children from home into a neighbour's house, pence
may be saved, and thus Simple Saplin may be called OEconomist."

We will now return to the history of the ship-building at the
Brooks & Tilden Yard. Elijah Brooks and George Tilden
built here for about ten years. In 1838, William H. Tilden
was interested with them. Elijah Brooks, b. Feb. 25, 1793,
was the son of William. He mar. Maria Tilden, dau. of Jo-
tham Tilden. They had children : 1. Elijah, (who mar. Liz-
zie Turner, dau. of Samuel A. Turner, Esq. ; they had one
child, now deceased.) 2. Franklin. 3. Maria, (who. mar.
Benjamin A. Hathaway of Plymouth ; she d. leaving two
daughters, Emma and Helen.) 4. Elizabeth. Elijah Brooks
d. July 1, 1854, aged 61. William, his father, d. April, 1794,
aged 80. Both are buried in the First Parish Cemetery, Nor-
well. George Tilden d. about 1868. He married three times.
By his first wife, Me^cy Little Clift of Marshfield, he had one
child, George Wales, b. 1833, who mar. Alice Tilden, and they
have one child by adoption. Mr- Tilden's second wife was

Thoaias and bis young kinsman as they ascended to the summit of the hill, and saw
bim discharge the three alarm guns while his attendant beat the drum, which was the
concerted signal to acquaint the surrounding inhabitants of the commencement of hos-
tilities. He saw the burning of the obnoxious tea on the height which yet bears its
name, and saw the torch touched to the fire fated pile by that devoted Whig, Jeremiah
Low. He was fond of relating descriptions of the olden school- room.

" Surely 'twas a rustic scbool-room
All unplastered there it stood,
Broad and deep its ancient hearthstone
Where they rolled the logs of wood ;
Coarse the furniture within it,
Diamond lattices for light,
Cross-legged table for the master
Where he did the copies write."

VESSELS BUILT BY BROOKS & TILDEN. 279

Sybil Stetson of Scituate, and by her he had two daughters,
Sybil, now dead, and Georgiana, who mar. Henry T. Jenkins.
He had no children l)y his third wife, Catharine Bailey of Scit-
uate. In 1837, Brooks & Tilden Imilt the sch. " HURON,"
IOC) tons ; owned by James Damon, Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Henry
Bowers, Seth Webb, and Francis Thomas of Scituate, James
Damon was captain, and Mr. Anderson mate, to North Caro-
lina From North Carolina she went to Barbadoes, loaded with
staves and naval stores, with orders to sell at a limited price.
They went to seven islands, including Guadaloupe, Martinique,
Dominique, and tinally sold the cargo at St. John, Antiqua ;
then went to St. Thomas for provisions, and back to Little
Washington, N. C. The "Huron" was lost two or three years
afterward, ])ound from Boston to Nassau, in the same hurricane
that Capt. Coleman (formerly of Scituate) was lost in, in the
brig "Anawan," which left New York on the same day in Sep-
tember, for Cuba, on which the " Huron " left Boston for Nas-
sau. The same year, 1837, they built the sch., afterward Her.
brig, "LEWIS BRUCE," 113 tons, of Provincetown. This
vessel was owned liy Heman Smith of Boston, and was under
Capt. Cook. She was condemned at the Cape de Verde Islands
many years ago. The next year, 1838, they built the sch.
" ERIE," 113 tons, of Scituate ; owners, Lemuel and Seth Webb
of Scituate, and Elijah Brooks, William H. and George Tilden
of Marshtield. They also ])uilt here the brig "MICHIGAN"
and the sch. " ROANOKE." In 1840 they built the brig " JO-
SEPH BALCH," 153 tons of Boston. Elijah Brooks built, in
1843, the brig "ALLEN KING," 206 tons; owners, John
Manson and George M. Allen of Scituate, and Elijah Brooks,
master carpenter, of Marshfield. This was probably the last
vessel built at this yard, and was not a successful one for her
builders. She lay in Boston Harbor all one winter, and, while
at anchor there, was damaged by a gale, and sold for a very
low figure to George N. Allen and Mr. King of Scituate Har-
bor, and for these two gentlemen she was named. Being a very
fast vessel, she was used as a fruiter, and coined money for her
new owners, under Capt. John Manson. He took her to the
West Indies, and to Brazil, once or twice, but most of the time
to Malaga, in the Mediterranean. He left Malaga with a full
cargo of fruit for New York, and arrived back in Malaga, with
a full cargo of staves, in sixty-two days, carrying back to Mal-
aga the report of his own arrival in New York, being the quick-
est passage ever made. He was fifty-eight days from Gibraltar

280 EARLY OCCURRENCES IN MARSHFIELD.

to Ne^v York and back. It will perhaps not be too much out
of [)lace to insert, between the history of these two yards, the
record of a severe shock felt in Marshtield over one hundred
years ago, a notice of which appeared in the Boston Evening
Post, Monday, March 15, 1773 :

" We hear from Marshfield that, on the 21st ult., in the night, the inhab-
itants there were wak'd with a very loud noise, and considerable jar of the
houses, which they took to be an earthquake ; but it is since conjectured
that it was occasioned by the severe frost, as it was heard several times,
sometimes louder than at others, by many, who rose immediately. The
ground is cracked in many places several yards in length, so wide that a
man may put his whole arm into the chasms."

The same year there occurred here a sad accident, which is re-
corded in the Boston Evening Post, Monday, July 10, 1773, as
follows :

"Last week, two boys went bathing into the water at ISlarshfield, when
one of them, venturing beyond his depth, was unfortunateh' drowned."

Two years before the above, a death occurred, the cause of
which was probably, like most sudden deaths in those days,
unknown, but would be recognized to-day as apoplexy or heart
disease. This was on May 20, 1771, an accomit of which is
found in the Boston Evening Post, of June 10, 1771, as fol-
lows :

«' We hear from Marshfield that, on the 20th of May, Mr. Kenelm Bake.,
aged about 76 years, being at his mill, grinding a grist of corn, complain-
ing of a pain in his stomach, when the corn was out went and stopt the
mill, and, turning himself, fell against another man, and died in a minute
or two."

The William Taylor Yard, referred to earlier in this chapter,
was occupied in later years by William Taylor and Israel Car-
ver. AVilliam Taylor now lives (September, 1889), on Tele-
graph Hill, Marshtield, ar.d is, without doubt, the oldest living
shiivbuilder of the North River. Mr. Taylor was the son of
Richard and Lydia (Perry) Taylor, and was born in Scituate,
Feb. 14, 1796. He learned his trade of a Mr. Thomas of Dux-
bury, a somevyhat noted ship-builder of his day, and imme-
diately went to work on the River. On Dec. 6, 1825, he mar.
Miss Eliza Kent, dau, of Capt. AVilliam Kent of Marshtield,
who d. in 1875 ; and in 1881, in his eighty-tifth year, he mar.
Miss Lydia Allen, who lived but a few years. Mr. Taylor had
the reputation of being one of the best workmen that wielded
a broad axe in these parts, and his services were eagerly souglit
by all the master builders on the river. Soon after his tirst

VESSELS BUILT BY WM. TAYLOR & ISRAEL CARVER. 281

marriage, he rented half of the house now owned by Mr.
Bacon," near the North River Bridge, Pembroke, and com-
menced to ]>uikl vessels on his own account at the Brick-kiln.
He built three or more vessels besides those at this yard, and
took the position of foreman in different yards, which he held
to the end of his labors. He retired from work a few years
since, and lives on his form, surrounded by his sons, who have
all been ship-masters in their younger days. Mr. Taylor has
two daughters ; one is the wife of a sea captain on the Cape,
and the'other the wife of Ed. Arnold of Rockland. Mr. Tay-
lor is a very humorous man, and loves to tell of his boyish
pranks. For some fancied or real slight by a bevy of girls, in
his younger days, he induced them to ride in a tip-cart, which
he was driving, and, coming to quite a deep and swift running
brook, he withdrew the fastenings, and dumped them all into
the water, from which they emerged more wet than hurt. On
some gentlemen observing to him, not long since, that he must
have been strictly temperate to have arrived at his great age,
he very humorously remarked that he had drank rum enough to
float the largest ship that ever swam, and chewed tobacco
enough to load her. Mr. Taylor has the appearance of a per-
fectly well man of sixty, there was built at the Taylor &
Carver Yard, in 1848, the sch. "LAKE," 74 tons, oak, copper
and iron fastened, 67 feet long, break deck ; owned in 1863 by
E. Barnard & Co., Bucksport, Me., Capt. Hopkins, and in 1869
at Orland. In 1850 was built the sch. "HORN," Laban Smith,
owneT : Capt. Robert Hall. Afterward, James Marl)le com-
manded her. The " SOUTHER " was built here by Israel Car-
ver. About 1860, William Taylor and Israel Carver built a
schooner of about 70 tons, prol)ably the "EDIE LITTLE,"
named after Edw. P. Little's wife. Among the ship-])uilders
who left the North River were Henry and John Taylor, who
went to Medford ; afterward, John Taylor went to Chelsea, and
was the first to build there. Joshua T. Foster went to ISIedford
from So. Scituate. Paul Curtis, William Cudworth (l)()rn in
Sea View), and Elisha Haydcn (of So. Scituate), went to Med-
ford. Many of Scituate's first settlers came from Kent. Ed-
ward Goodwin, of Boston, Mass., a shipwright, was of Chat-
ham, in Kent, Eng., and without doubt the art of ship-building,
so early established at North River and Boston, can be traced
to the dock-yards of Chatham, on the Medway,

CHAPTER XVII.

BRIGGS YARD.
(hobart's landing.)

I 645- I 842.

THOMAS NICHOLS, SAMUEL HOUSE, JR., JEREMIAH HATCH, WAL-
TER HATCH, JEREMIAH HATCH, JR., ISRAEL HOBART, JAMES
BRIGGS, SETH BRIGGS, JOHN BRIGGS, THOMAS BARKER BRIGGS,
GUSHING OTIS BRIGGS, HENRY BRIGGS, CHARLES C. BRIGGS,
WILLIAM T. BRIGGS.

'T'HIS yard was located in Scituate, a short distance up the
■*■ river from Little's Bridge. It joined "Belle House Neck,"
which leads down to Little's Bridge. The old workhouse is
still standing, and it is the only one now left on the river. On
the side of the workhouse is the outline of a ship, out nearly
fifty years ago hy H. O. Briggs, a descendant of the family
who built vessels here for nearly a century. The old spring
down by the stone landing is still running freely. The stone
landing marks the spot aliout where the vessels stood. Vessels
launched on this yard would shoot across the river into the
opposite bank, and it would sometimes take two or three days
to dig them out. Rufus Clapp claims the distinction of being
the first to stop this, by putting planks across the stern, leav-
ing the ends far out on each side, thus retarding the headway
of the vessels in the water.

Tliomas Nichols, a shipwright, had lands, in 1645, near and
southwest of the spot since known as Hobart's Landing, at
which latter place he carried on the art of ship-building. We
have been unable to learn of any living descendants of Thomas

H h

sr c-i

SHirBUILDEES HOUSE HATCH HOBART, 283

Nichols, unless there be some in Cohasset. Thomas, Jr., suc-
ceeded to his fathers lands in Scituate, and his son Joseph, h.
1673, lived near George Moore's Bridge, floseph lost three
sons in the French War, viz. : Joseph, Jr., Thomas, 3rd, and
Noah. Israel, son of Joseph, resided at the old homestead,
near the landing. He lost three sons in the Revolutionary
War, viz. : Israel, Jr., Samuel, and Thomas, 4th. Caleb,,
grandson of Israel, Sr., son of Caleb, lost three sons by ship-
wreck — Caleb, Henry, and Reuben — at Cape Cod, in the
"Cyrus," under Capt. Seth Gardner, in August, 1<S30.* Noah,
who d. in the Revolution, left a family, viz. : 1. Nabby. 2.
Betsey, who mar. Charles Jones. 3. Cynthia. 4. Lucy, who'
mar., in 1818, Christopher Gushing, Esq., and, in 1827, Judge
Wood of Middleboro'.

Rebecca Nichols, clau. of Thomas, the ship-builder, mar., in
1664, Samuel Houi^e, Jr., who succeeded his father-in-law at
the 3^ard, and continued the building of ships. Samuel resided
a short distance northeast, and near the ship-yard. He was
son of Samuel, who resided southeast of Coleman's Hills in
1636. Descendants of Samuel, the ship-builder, settled in
Hanover, west of the Third Herring Brook, and in Pembroke,
near the ponds.

y' — ^ and Walter Hatch built at the landing at
(Jtvf"^^* AAr/Ti a later period. They were brothers, and
sons of Elder William Hatch, who settled
on Kent street, at the Harbor, in 1634. Jeremiah and Walter
resided near each other, southeast of the Second Society's
Meeting-house. They have numerous descendants in Plymouth
County, and Vermont. Jeremiah mar. Mary, dau. of John
Hewes, " the Welshman," and had fourteen children. Jeremiah,
the oldest, succeeded to the ship-building at the landing.

Israel Hohart, a shipwright, came into Scituate in liwC) from
Hingham, where his house had been burned by the Indians in
the spring of that year. He settled on North River at Ilobart's
Landing where he carried on the art of shi})l)uilding for many
years. His house stood near the shi])-yaiTl and it was a s})acious
mansion adorned with two carved cherubs over the door. He
was son of the Rev. Peter Hobart of Hingham, and was b. 1642,
and d. 1731, aged 89. He probably occupied the ship-yard

* See Block-house Yard.

284 VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE.

until it was used l)y the Briggses. Previous to the time the
Briggses occupied this yard, the following vessels were built in
Scituate and probably many of them were built at Hobart's
Landing by the above builders. In 1678 the brig't'n
"SWALLOW," 35 tons, Capt. Ebenezer Dennis; owners,
Penn Townsend, James Barton, Samuel Lillie, Boston ; owners
in 1698, Penn Townsend, Samuel Lillie, Boston, Capt. John
Ober. 1678, sip. " DESIRE," 16 tons. A round sterned open
vessel; owners in 1698, John AVing, mariner, Boston, and
Mary Ellery, widow, of Gloucester. 1682, sip. " INDUSTRY,"
20 tons; owners, Capt. Jonas Clarke, Jonas Clarke, Jr.,
Cambridge. 1683, sip. "JOHN & ABIGAIL," 25 tons.
Captain in 1698, Joseph Flood, ownei, James Flood,
Boston. 1684, "JOSEPH & BENJAMIN," 30 tons,
owners, 1698, Capt. James Flood, of Boston, and Peter Coffin
of Exeter, N. H. 1692, brig't'n "HOPE," 40 tons. Capt.
Abraham Hill ; owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. 1692, sip.
"THREE FRIENDS," 16 tons, square sterned open vessel.
Daniel Ware, master; owners, Samuel Lillie, Boston, and
William Peperel, Kittery. 1693, sip. " WILLIAM & MARY,"
40 tons, John Tulley, master; owners, Jonathan Evans,
Bronsden & AVilliam Hobl)y, merchants, John Gerrish, gun-
smith, Samuel Greenwood, shipwright, and James Berry,
mariner, Boston. 1693, bark "MARY," 60 tons; owners,
Capt. John Foster, Samuel Legg, Edward Martyn, Benjamin
Alford, Edward Thomas and Thomas AYalker, of Boston. 1693,
ship "NINETY," 90 tons; James Barnes, Jeremiah Allen,
merchants, Bartholomew Green, AYilliam Dewslniry, Jeremy
Dumer, Robert Calep, John Marshal and Capt. Nathaniel Green,
who was master, were the owners. 1694, ketch "GOOD-
HOPE," 25 tons, Capt. John Peabody ; owner, John Coleman,
Boston. 1694, ship "MARY," 80 tons; owners, Capt.
Benjamin Thaxter, Benjamin Alford, Samuel Legg, Thomas
Walker and Edward Martin of Boston. 1694, slp^ "BLACK-
THORNE," 30 tons, of Gloucester; owner, Capt. John
Harradine. 1697, ship " SARAH," 90 tons, a square sterned
vessel ; owners, Robert Howard, merchant, John Hobby and
Robert Crosby of Boston. 1698, brig't'n "SWALLOAV," 20
tons, lately called " Blessincf' ; owners, Thomas INIiers and
Samuel Lillie of Boston. 1698, brig't'n "SPEEDAVELL," 40
tons; owner, John Frizel of Boston. 1699, ship "PROVI-
DENCE," 80 tons, Capt. Joseph Royal, Jr., John Coleman,
Andrew Beichcr and Samuel Leo:o; of Boston, owners. 1699, ship

VESSELS BUILT IN 8CITUATE.

285

"PRUDENCE & DOKOTHY," CO tons, of Island of Barbudoes ;
owners, Capl. John Frizell of Boston, John Phillips and John
Trent of Barl)adocs. These were all built as is seen prior to
1700 Commencing with the next century there was built in
the year 1700 the brio't'n " DOROTHY," 30 tons, Capt. Thomas
Clutty owners, John Frizell, John Hobby and Thomas
Hutchinson of Boston. 1702, ship " LEOPOLD GALLY," or
''Leopold;' a galley ship, 70 tons, Capt. John Pitts; owners,
Stephen Vassal, of the Island of Jamaica, merchant, and \\ dliam
Clarke of Boston. 1703, sip. "ANNE," 35 tons; owners,
Ebenezer, James and Daniel Coffin of Nantucket, and Andrew
Belcher of Boston. 1704, sip. "LYON." 30 tons; owner,
Andrew Belcher of Boston. 1704, brig " TRYALL," 60 tons ;
owners, John Colman of Boston, and Richard Eaton ot London,
merchants. 1705, ship "VICTORY," 90 tons; ownei-s,
Samuel Lilly, merchant, and Lewis Hunt, of Boston. 1705,
ship "REBECCA," 90 tons, lately called the '' Victory r
owners, Thomas Clark, David Jeffries, Francis Burroughs,
Samuel Phillips, William Clark and Eliah Adams of Boston.
1706, bri^'t'n "UNITY," 65 tons; owners, Daniel Oliver,
Joseph Wadsworth and Nathaniel Oliver, of Boston. 1706,
sId "MAYFLOWER," 25 tons; owners, Joseph and Isaac
Ryal of the Island of Antigua. 1711 , ship " FRIENDSHIP,"
60 tons. Jon'a Belcher, merchant, and Andrew Belcher ot
Boston, owners.

Hobart's Landing and the Briggs ship-yard was late the
residence and farm of Nathan Rogers. It is now owned by his
heirs. Adjoining this farm toward the sea is a high elevation
of land called the "Bell House Neck" from the fact of there
havinii been a bell hung there over two centuries ago, which
was runo- to warn the early settlers of the approach of hostile
Indians. ° The Neck was not far from Little's liridge, it^ was
an ancient Indian burying place, and was later known as Cush-
ing's Neck. Bkookhall Field was on the the North side and
Schewsan's Neck was on the Northeast. The first landholder
exceptino- William V assail, of record at Bell House Neck appears,
to have been Samuel Fuller one of the "Mayflower" comi)any.
He owned twenty acres of ^and " on the East of Bell House
Neck," and adjoining the farm of Mr. Vassall. In 1643 Peter
Collamore succeeded to the Fuller land and erected a house.
This farm was known as the Collamore Place for two centuries.
In 1634-5 Elder Thomas King came into Scituate with Mr. Wil-

280 BELL HOUSE NECK.

liam Yassall and built a house a few rods south of Mr. Vassall's
on the top of the hill at Bell House Neck. Resolved Wliite, who
came to Plymouth in the "Mayflower," in 1620, had by order
of the Colony Court, in 1640, a grant of "100 acres of upland
and marsh on * Bell House Neck ' adjoining Mr. Vassall's farm
on the south-east." The same year he mar. Judith, eldest dau.
of William Vassal! and in 1646, Mr. Vassall gave him other
lands adjoining his. Later Jeremiah Burroughs came into
possession of the White farm and after him Lieut. Isaac Buck, a
blacksmith, who in 1660 built a house near Scituate Harbor.
William Vassall, also referred to in the chapter on "North
River, Continued," received probably the first grant of land at
Bell House Neck. Deane says, " He denominated his planta-
tion 'West Newland,' his house, erected 1635, 'Belle House,'
the whole neck of land, 'Belle House Neck,' and a beautiful
field of planting land on the North side of the Neck, ' Brook
hall field.'" The liell to warn the settlers of the a})proach of
Indians was very likely at Mr. Vassall's house, and he with-
out doul)t first gave the above name to this neck. Captain John
Vassall, son of A^^illiam, succeeded to part of the plantation in
1634, and sold his part in 1661 to John Cushing. In 1743
John Cushing, 3rd, resided here. The latter year he built a
house southeast of Walnut Tree Hill.* A large farm on the
bank of North River adjoining the Briggs ship yard was owned
by the noted Capt. George Little, master of the "Boston
frigate." Captain Little also took the ship " Barsu " after a
severe engagement about the year 1812. Capt. Little's son,
Amos R. Little, went out with his cousin, Luther Little, of
Marshfield, to shoot wild pigeons in 181.5. Luther Little was
partially deranged, and while on Belle House Neck he shot his
cousin in a fit of insanity, and then himself. The sudden deaths
of these two young men cast a gloom over Scituate and Marsh-
field for some time.

The Briggs family built ships at Hobart's Landing probably
as early as 17.50. James Briggs was the first of that name
recorded as having built here. He was b. in 1719 and was a
lineal descendant of Walter and a direct ancestor of the author.
A genealogy of the Briggs family is inserted here ; the names
of the direct line from the ancestor Walter are printed in small
cix\)\t'A\ii, prefixed by Roman numerals, excepting the names of
the shipbuilders, which are printed in italics.

* See chapter, Miscellaneous Yards, Scituate.

03 td ^

C H-

2. S

"WALTER BRIGGS, " YEOMAN." 287

GENEALOGY.

"\ 71 7 ALTER Briggs, the common ancestor of the shipbuiklers
• ' in the Briggs family, was in Scituate as early as 1()48.
He purchased, in 1651, a farm of Timothy Hatherly, on the
north side of Farm Neck. The Cove within the Glades was
named, as early as 1650, after Walter Briggs, and still bears
the name of Briggs Harbor. It is on the extreme northeast
})()int of Scituate. The Indian name for this harbor was Misii-
QUASiiTUCK. Vessels of small burthen were years ago built
here and fishing and coasting craft used to winter in this cove.
In the South Shore Herald, of April 8, 1884, there appears an
account of the wreck of the sch. "Australia," Capt. Thompson,
during a severe gale on the easterly banks of Briggs Harbor.
The vessel made the harbor passing over White Head Bar
safely, but her cal)le parted, and she Avas driven ashore. She
was from Rockport, Me., bound to Boston with a cargo of 750
barrels of lime which caught fire soon after she struck. In the
Plymouth Colony Records, Volume 8, under date of August,
1643, among

" The names of all the males that are able to bear armes from
i6 years old to 6o years within the sevrall Towneshipps "

appears the name of "Walter Briggs, Scituate." In the
same volume, and on page 183, appears the name of Walter
Briggs of Scituate as having taken the "oath of Fidel-
itie. Januar. 15, 1644." On June 6, 1649, Walter Brioffys
was chosen one of the " Servayors of the Iliewayes" of Scitu-
ate, and June 5, 1651, he was on the "Grand Enquest." In
the census or list of Freemen, taken 1658, appears the name of
"Walter Briggs Scitteatte." The Colony Treasurer's account
states that he paid "June 13. 16()0 To Walter Briggs for a
woulfe 15 shilling." In 1665, June 7, Walter Briggs was
appointed a constable of the town of Duxbury. He owned
lands in the town of Swanzey in 1677-79, being one of the
purchasers of Showamett. In the Suffolk County Records,
Book 9, page 212, an instrument of writing, dated June 22,
1675, is recorded, whereby Samuel Winslow, of Boston, mer-
chant, acknowledges having received from his father-in-law,
Walter Briggs, " of Scitteate in the Collony of New Plimouth
Yeoman," the sum of £200, which the said Walter Brijro-s had
obliged himself to pay to said Winslow, when he should have
purchased a house and ground of about that value, and secured
the same by a proper deed to his wife, Hannah, (daughter of

288 WALTER BRIGGS.

the said Walter) for her life, and at her death to be disposed of
for the benefit of her children l)y the said Samuel Winslow :
And in the said instrument he further agrees that his wife
Hannah shall stand and be seized on the terms and conditions,
above set forth, of a certain piece of property described as
follows : "All that his now dwelling house situate in said Bos-
ton being butted and bounded Southwest l)y the street that
leads from the Second Meetinghouse toward Century Haven,
Northwesterly by the land of Esdras Read, Northeasterly by
the land of Richard Bennett and Southeasterly by the land of
John Williams." On July '2-2, 1676, "the C'ourt allowed
Walter Briggs £5, 18s. ()7d. in land for services in King
Phillip's war." Walter Briggs held large landed estates in
Scituate. Deane says "he was long a useful man in the plan-
tation." By his will and the following deed, it will be seen he
owned slaves.

"Know all Men et these Presents that I, Margret Cock the wife of Edw.
Cock of Boston in New England Marriner witnesseth that the said Margret Cock for and
in consideration of tlie sum of fonrteen pounds tenn shillings payed by Walter Briggs
of Scituate in New England aforesaid unto me the said Margret Cock the receipt
whereof is acknowledged by these presents ; have for myselfe and husband, by vertue of
a letter of attorney and power thereby given to me by my saia husband ; given granted,
bargained and sould unto the said Briggs all our right tytle intrest claime or demand
that we the said Margret Cock or Edw. Cock have in or to a negro girle called by the
name of Maria : And to the only pp. use and behoof of him the said Walter Brigg his
heires, executors admrs. & assignes : During her natural 1 fe. And the said Margt.
Cock on the liehalf of her husband and by virtue of that power and authority granted
unto her by her said husband and for him herself and their heires executors, admrs. &
assignes doe covenant promise and grant to and with the sd Walter Briggs his heires,
exectutors admrs and assignes that he the said Briggs his heires, exors admrs and
assignes may and shall from this time and at all times during ttie naturall life of the
said negro imploy, improve and in every respect comand and" improve the said negro
girl as his and their projiar estate without the lest moUestaion liinderance contradicron
or denyall of any pson or psons whatsoever claimeing or haveing or pretending to have
any right title intrest claime or demand m or to the said nei^ro girle And that the said
Cock for herselfe and husband doe covenant and promise to and with the said Walter
Briggs his heires and assignes that they the said Margt Cock and Edw. Cock her hus-
band at ye very time and instante immediately before the sealeing, signeing, and deliv-
ery of these presents weare the true and lawfull owners of the said negro girle And
alsoe doe covenant and promise to defend the said Walter Briggs his heires and assignes
against any pson or psons lawfully or unlawfully claimeing oi'pretending to have any
right, tytle or intrest in the said negro girle. In witness whereof the said Margt. Cock
on the behalfe of her husband ana herselfe in confirmation of this bill of saile have set
to her hand and seale this six and twentyeth day of March one thousand six hundred
seaventy /t three,
signed sealed & this bill of saile

and negro girle above written de- the marke of

livered to the said Walter Briggs Margrett (N) Cock [seal]

by the said Margt Cocke in the
presence of us

the marke of
Richard (fj) Bennett
Joshua Holdsworth."

The name Cock is now usually spelled Cox.

AVILL OF AVALTER BRIGGS. 289

BOND.
Know all Mex by thesk Presents that I Mar<rret Cocke on the behalfe of my
husband Edw. Cock as also for niyselfe our heiis, execturs admrs and assignes have
firinely hound ourselves our heirs, execturs admrs & assignes unto Walter Briggs of
Scituate in New England his lieires exectors admrs & assigns in the sum of twenty-nine
pounds of currant money of New England given under my hand and seal this six and
twentyeth dny of March 1^73.

The condition of this obligation is such that if the above written Walter Briggs shall
enjoye a negro girle called Maria according to the true meaning of a deed of saile beare-
ing date with these presents then this bond is to be of noe force or otherwise to be iufull
power and vertue in law.
Signed sealed and delivered
in presence of us the marke of

the marke of Margrett (Mc) Cock [seal]

Richard (rr) Bennett
Joshua Holdsworth

AViilter Briggs probably married twice, his first wife's name
being Mary ; his second, Frances. He died about l(vS4. The
following is a copy of his will taken from the Plymouth Colony
Eecords, Court Orders, Vol. G. page 9, Part 2.

WILL OF WALTER BRIGGS.

In ye Name of God, Amen, ye 16th. day of January in ye year of our Lord God, one
thousiind six hundred seventy six. I, Walter Briggs, in ye jurisdiction of New Ply-
mouth, in New England, in America, yeoman, being aged, but of sound & perfect
memory, praise be given unto God, for ye same, and calling unto remembrance ye
uncertain estate of this transitory life, & that all flesh must yield unto death when it
shall please God to call, & being desirous to settle things in order do make, constitute
ordain and declare this my last will or Testament in manner and form following''
revoking & annulling by these presents, all & every Testament or Testaments Will &
Wills heretofore by me made & declared either by words or writing, & this to he taken
only for my last Will &^ 'iestament & no other. And first & principally, I commend
my soul unto Almighty God, My creator, assuredly believing I shall receiVe full pardon
& free rennssionot-^ all my sins, & he saved by ye precious blood & merritts of my
blessed Savior & Redeemer, Christ Jesus, and my body to ye earth from whence It
was taken to be buried m such decent & Christian manner" as to my Executor hereafter
named shall be thought meet & convenient. And as touching such worldly estate as ye
Lord in mercy hath lent me, my will & meaning is ye same & shall be employed &
bestowed as hereafter iu this my will is expressed.

Igiveand Ijequenth unto my loving wife Frances Briggs six pounds per annum
during her life, to be paid by my executor hereafter named, in corne or cattle, or any
other i)ay. I give and bequeath unto my said wife two cowes, & my will is that my
executor keep them tor her both in ye winter and summer, without any trouble to her
I give and bequeath unto my said wife, one of ve two beds we lay on & ye furniture
belonging to it, to be at her dispose when she die. I bequeath untb my wife durincr her

any other occasion she may have & that Jennyr.ve Neger"catch U foViier.'" Also^I^m
my said wile, Mariah ye little neger girl, to be with her so long as my wife lives, provided
she continue at Conmhasset. o j ,i wviucu.

>,nn?p'''wfu,'^«n''?f''*''"".^?"'^"'""^°^:' ^"--' ""' o'' foi- ^ homestead my dwelling
house.wuhallharns, out housing, yards & gardens belonging to it with mV orchard
barn held & ye helds o ye northerly end of ye barn field, & from ye northwest^ corner of
my sou James^ Briggs, his field near ye bars, at ye going out with k straight line towards
^ohn RH^'f f\ «;'".thwest southerly to Mr. John Saffins land, this I settle upon my son
John Briggs, his heirs and assigns forever, he & they allowing my wife to c.^jo/that

290 WILL OF WALTER BRIGG8.

out of ye premises which is before willed her during her life. I give & bequeatli
unto niy son, James Briggs, as or for a homestead ye house he dwells in, with
ye whole field in which his house stands & from ye southwest corner of ye
sheep pen on a straight line towards the southwest to a maple tree by ye
fence, unto ye fence of ye barn field, & by j'e fence around his barn until it
comes to ye bars going into James his field, "near ye northwest corner of ye Sheep
pen, & in case this falls short in quantity of that settled on my son John, then my
mind and will is that ye full quantity of ye lands be made up of ye lands adjoining ye
field on ye Easterly side of the fields, the whole length of his fields in equal breadth from
end to end, & this I settle upon my son James Briggs, his heirs and assigns forever ; And
my mind and will is that during ye life of my wife that my son John Briggs, take ye
profit & benefit of two thirds of all ye rest of my lands undivided & my son James
Briggs one third of ye profit thereof. But after my wife's decease, my mind & will is
that all my lands in Scituate not divided as before shall be equally divided betwixt my
son John & my son James always being provided, & so it is to be understood, & no
otherwise in case my son James pay a Icgacie of forty pounds unto his sister Hannah
Winslow in one year alter my wife's decease which legacy of forty pounds I do by these
presents give and bequeath unto my daughter, Hannah Winslow. But in case he shall
refuse or neglect to pay ye same as aforesaid, then my will is that my son John Briggs
pay ye said legacie of forty pounds unto my daughter Hannah Winslow, & then my
mind & will is that iiiv son John shall have two thirdsof all ye lands undivided as afore-
said unto him & his heirs & assigns forever, & my son James one third thereof to him
his heirs & assigns forever. I do give and be((ueath unto my son Cornelius Briggs one
whole freeman's share of land that already appertains unto a share or shall ever here-
after appertain, in Swansy & on ye easterly side of Taunton River, &on ye East-ward of
Cushino [Ohosino] or elsewhere, & this I bequeath to my son Cornelius, his heirs & assigns
forever. Also I give & bequeath unto my son Cornelius, thirty pounds to be paid him
within one year, after my decease, by my executor hereafter named. All ye rest of my
goods & chattels movables & immovables not mentioned nor disposed of, I give to my
eldest son John Briggs, whom I make & appoint to be sole executor of this my last will
& testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal ye day and year
first above written. Memorandum. I give & bequeath to jny executor ten pounds ia
money to defray my funeral expenses this before sealing.

{Signed.)
Signed, sealed ct delivered WALTER BRIGGS. CSeal.)

by Walter Briggs to be
his Will & Testament in ye
presence of us —

William Hatch,

James Cudworth.

William Hatch testified upon oath before
ye Court that he did see Walter Briggs, sign,
seal & declare this above written to be his
last Will & Testament. Done before ye Court
held at riymouth this 4th. June, 1684.
Nathaniel Morton, Secretary."

Frances, wife of Walter, probably did not long survive him,
and "ye little neger girle, Maria," fell into the hands of his son
John, who died before the birth of his son, John 2nd, April
28, 1687. Deborah, widow of John, and administratrix of his
estate, disposed of Maria as follows :

»' To all Christian people to whom this psent writeing shall come I Deborah Briggs
of Scittuate in ye County of New Plimouth in New England &c. and administratrix to my
late husband's estate : send Greeting : Whereas ye within named Maria a negro girl is
servant to me for terme of life by virtue of my being administratrix to my sayd late
husbands esteate & as doth appear by this within written bill of sale. Now know ye I ye
sayd Deborah Briggs for divers good causes & considerations me especially move-
ing have given granted assigned & set over & by these psents do fully & absolutely
give grant assign & set over unto Cornelius Briggs of Barnstable in ye Cour" of
Barnstable in New England all such ritrht, title, duty, term of servitude to come
claime intrest service and demands whatsoever which I ye said Deborah Briggs have

"MARIA, YE NEGRO SERVANT." 291

of, in or to, ye sayd within named Maria 3-0 negro my sayd servant [together with a
little boy (named William) Ijorne ot ye said Maria's body since ye withm written^ or
which I might or ought to have of iS: in them by force and vertnc of ye within written
bill of sale. In witness whereof I have herennto set my hand & seale this twenty fourth
day of January one thousand six hundred eighty & eight or eighty nine.

{Siff7ied.)
Signd, sealed & delivered DEBORAH BRIGGS. [Seal.]

in ye psencc of us wittnesses

John .

Anthony Col lamer.
Samuell Clay."

Capt. Cornelius Briggs, who was son of Walter, died
1693-94. His brother, James, settled his estate and his
interesting will dated April 21, 1<)93, provided that his
"negro servant Avoman named ' .Mauria' shall 13 years after
date be set free and at liberty to be at her own disposing."
She was sold under these conditions as appears l)y the follow-
ing deed :

" Know all Mex bt these Pbesents that I, Lieut. James Briggs, executor to the
last will and testament of my brother Capt. Cornelius Briggs late deceased have bar-
gained and sold unto Stephen Otis of Scituate a negro woman called Morigh, to serve
the said Otis or his heirs or assigns from the date of these presents until eleven years
shall be fully ended and completed which eleven years begins the 22 day of April next
insuing the dale of these presents at the end of which term of time the negro woman
is to be free and at her own disposel as doth appear more at large by my brother's last
will and testament; and I do covenant to and with the said Otis that at the time of the
above bargained presents that I have full power to sell the said negro woman for the
term of the years above mentioned. I said Briggs do acknowledge that I have received
in hand of the said Otis eleven pounds silver money for the said negro woman. In
witness vi-hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th. day of February 1694.

Witness.

Job Otis JAMES BRIGGS. [Seal]

Cornelius II., son of Walter Briggs I, mar. March 20,
1677, Mary, widow of Samuel Russell who w\as killed in the
Rehoboth battle in King Phillip's War, 1670. Mary was dau.
of James Doughty, whose family removed to Connecticut, and
gr. dau. of Humplirey Turner. Cornelius was an ensign in
King Phillip's A\^ir. They had children : 1. Joseph, b. April
29, 1679, mar. in 1709, Mary Garratt, and left dau's. : Mary,
b. 1711 ; Hannah, who became the wife of I)ea. Josc]ih Clapp
in 1732 ; and Judith, who became the wife of William Collier
in 1748. 2. Cornelius, b. Dec. 10, 1680, mar. Ruth Barker
and probably removed to Swanzey. III. James, b. 1683.

Capt. John, sonof Walter I., mar. and had several children,*
but this branch of the family, Deane says, removed or became
extinct. The familv of Lieut. James, son of Walter I., can also

* See Deane's Hist, of Scituate.

292 BRIGGS GENEALOGY.

be found in Deane's History. As these families are not of the
ship-building In-anch, their genealogy is not inserted here.

Joseph Briggs, who mar. Deborah Holbrook, in 1703, was
ancestor to the Scituate Harbor shiplniilders named Briggs and
their genealogy can be found under the chapter devoted to the
Harbor, and in Deane's History.

Hannah, dau. of Walter I., mar. Samuel Winslow of Cares-
well, and was sister-in-law of Miles Standish, Jr. Probably
upon the death of Cornelius one or more of his children passed
into the care of his sister Hannah Winslow of Boston.

James HI., son of Cornelius H., mar., May 7, 1713, Eliza-
beth, dau. of Joseph Garrett, and gr. dau. of Lieut. Isaac
Buck. By her he had 1. dau. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 20, 1715, d.
April 29, 1723. Elizabeth, wife of James, d. about the time
her dau. was born, and he mar. 2ndly, Oct. 4, 1716, Hannah
Stowell (or Stoele) who d. May 16, 1792. By her he had
children: 2. John, b. Jan. 1, 1718, d. Feb. 28, 1807, (John
mar., in 1751, Al)igail Neal, and had children : John, Abigail,
Anna, Joshua, Sabera, Kebecca, Elisha, a soldier in the Kev-
olution, who d. Sept. 21, 1843, Lydia and Deborah, born be-
tween 1751 and 1767).

HI. James, Jr., the ship-builder, b. Feb. 27, 1719 (see his
genealogy at the end of this generation). 4. Seth, the ship-
builder, b. Aug. 28, 1721, d. in Pembroke, July 23, 1801.
(Seth mar. in 1745, Abigail Church, and from them descended
the ship-building family of Briggs in Pembroke and Milton.
See continued chapter Brick-kiln Yard). S. Job, b. Oct. 28,
1722, d. Kov. 9, 1722. 6. Elisha, b. Oct. 26, 1723. 7.
Hannah, b. Nov. 27, 1724. (It was probal)ly Hannah who
mar. John Holmes of Scituate, in 1746). 8. Rachel, b. Dec.
23, 1726, (Rachel was probably a dau. of James, and mar. in
1745 Samuel Curtis).

b. Nov. 3, 1728,
"^ '^^^^ (mar. 1753, Je-

ruslia Church and
had children : Mary, Cornelius, Samuel, Jose})h and Charles
born between 1753 and 1768) . ^ 10. William, b. July 23, 1731,
the youngest child of James and Hannah d. Dec. 7, 1815. He
was a shoemaker and yeoman, and mar. in 1754, Elizabeth, dau.
of Joseph Copeland. She wash. May 6, 1736, andd. Aug., 1828.

Lucy Otis.

(Mrs. Thus. B. Briggs.)

BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 293

They had children : Rachel, Ruth, Vrilliam, Elijah , the ship-
builder, Lemuel, Elizabeth, John, Charles, Cornelius and
Hulda, (who mar. INIajor Pratt) born between 1754 and 1780,
and whose descendants are living in Scituate, Milton and Salem.
Of the Salem branch Elijah took the shipyard of his cousin
Enos in South Salem after his death. For a list of the vessels
he built in Salem between 1816 and 1829 see Sketch of Salem,
published by Osgood & Bachelder, 1879. Elijah was mar. at
Salem, Aug. 6, 1789, to Hannah, dau. of James and Prudence
(Proctor) BufEngton. She was b. Jan. 30, 1767, and d. May
29, 1847. After his marriage Elijah purchased an estate in
Scituate, where he resided about seven years when he removed
to Salem, where he d. Aug. 24, 1838, leaving sons : James B.
and William, and a dau. Elizabeth, wife of Richard Wheatland.
For account of his vessels see Historical Collection Essex Insti-
tute, Vol. 6, pp. 174, 175.

James III., Jr., the shipbuilder, son of James HI., mar., in
1745, Hannah Barker. James was in the French War and
belonged to the New England troops, led by Col. John Wins-
low, when they took Louisburg for the first time in 1744,
which was one of the greatest achievements of the French War.
James Briggs also had charge of a watch box on the 3rd Cliff,
in 1775, during the Revolutionary war. It was he who built
the famous ship "Columbia." A further account of him is
given later in this chapter. He d. May 29, 1804. Hannah,
his wife, d. May 16, 1792. They had children: i. Han-
nah, b. Dec. 31, 1746. 2. Sarah, b. Nov. 3, 1748 ; prol)al)ly
d. young. 3. Lucy, b. April 15, 1751 ; proba])ly d. youno-.

4. James, b. March 14, 1753, mar. Deborah . He d.

Oct. 12, 1792, aged 40 years. She d. Aug. 10, 1782, aged 21
years. 5. Sarah and 6, Lucy, twins, b. July 7, 1755, neither
of whom ever married. Lucy d. in March, 1832. VIL
Thomas Barl-ei\ the shipbuilder, b. July 13, 1757, was the
youngest child of James HI., Jr., and Hannah. He mar. Oct.
10, 1784, Lucy, dau. of James Otis, M.D., and sister of the
Hon. Cushing Otis, M.D.* Thomas Barker Brigo-s d. Oct. 26,
1806; Lucy, his wife d. in Dec, 1832. They had children:
1. Thomas, b. June 20, 1785; d. Aug. 29, 1861, unmarried.
//. Cushing Otis, the shipbuilder, b. FeJ). 25, 17.S7. ///.
Henn/, the shipbuilder, b. Mar. 11, 1789. 4. Charles, b.

* See chapter on Chittenden Yard.

294 BRIGGS GENEALOGY.

Oct. 12, 1791. 5, Deborah, b. Nov. 16, 1801; d. Dec. 26,
1875, unmarried .

Cushing 0th II., son of Thomas Barker VII., mar. in Jan.,
1813, Mercy Little, dan. of *Ichabod Thomas of Pembroke.
She wasb. Sept. 25, 1791. Cushing O. d. in Braintree, Mass.,
Mar. 10, 1S()1, aged 74 years. Mercy, his wife, d. Aug. 16,
1862, aged 70 yrs. 11 mos. They had eight children :

1. Charles Cusliing, b. Oct. 8, 1813; d. Apr. 11,1843,
aged 29 yrs., unmarried.

2. Wilh'amTJiomas, b. Dec. 1. 1815, mar., 1st, in Scituate,
Oct. 20, 1846, Harriet Swan Dana of AVoodstock, Vt. She
d. in North Andover, March 7, 1849, aged 30 years. By her
he had child, 1., Harriet Swan. b. Mar. 7, 1849 ; d. Sept. 29,
1849. He mar., 2ndly, Nov. 10, 1852, Abby Learnerd Davis,
of Oxford, Mass., and 1\y her he had children: 2. Abby
Davis, b. Dec. 8, 1853, in'North Andover; d. Dec. 19, 1853.
3. William Harrison, b. March 10, 1855, in North Andover,
mar., in 1885, Vivia Kowley, of Montezuma, Iowa. 4. Helen
Leroy, b. Sept. 15, 1858, in Princeton, mar., Sept. 22, 1885,
Kev. Carleton P. Mills, of Williamstown, Mass., and they have
two children: Margaret, b. Aug. 31, 1886, and Dorothy, b.
Aug. 23, 1888. 5."Anna Isabella, b. Sept. 27, 1861, in Prince-
on,''d. July 17, 1866, in East Douglas.

3. Hannah Barker, b. June 13, 1819, mar. in Boston, June
12, 1849, Francis James, formerly of Scituate. They have
children: 1. Emma Frances, b. June 2, 1850, mar. Feb. 27,
1873, J. Payson Bradley, of So. Boston, formerly of Methuen,
and they have had three children : Francis Edwin, b. Nov. 21,
1873; Fannie Josephine, 1). March 1, 1877; Marion, b. June
12, 1886; d. Aug. 27, 1888. 2. Edwin Irving, b. Feb. 5,
1854, mar. Feb. 20, 1883, Minnie H. Pierce, of So. Boston,
by whom he has had three children : Florence, 1). Feb. 23,
1884, d. Aug. 11, 1884. Edwina, b. Sept. 6, 1885, and Nel-
son Pierce, b. Nov. 30, 1888. 3. Charles Thomas, b. Aug. 21,
1856. ^. Arthur Holmes, b. Oct. 7, 1858.

4. James Edwin, b. May 8, 1821, mar. Jan. 6, 1847, Har-
riette liichmond, dau. of Jotham Stetson of Medford. She
was b. May 14, 1825, and d. Oct. 10, 1879. He d. June 24,

* See chapter on Brick-kilu Yard.

^x^^ ^^^

-cy

>..><^?j^

BRIOGS GENEALOGY. 295

>18^0. They had childvon : 1. Frank Stetson, b. Feb. 21,
1848; a. Nov. 21, 185U. 2. Edwin Richmond, b. Sept. 8,
1860; d. Sept. 24, 1860. J, by adoption, Lilian Frederica,
b. Nov. 11, 1861.

5. liAinnsoN Otis, b. Jan. 30, 1824, mar. Oct. 14, 1847,
Hannah Elizabeth, dan. of Alpheu.s Stetson of So. Boston. She
was 1). Nov. 17, 1828, and d. Nov. 27, 1881. He d. Dec. 6,
1881. They had children : 1. Ella Stetson, b. Dec. 21, 1849,
mar. Feb. 9, 1871, Georse Andrew Thayer, of l)Oston, and
they have had two children: Elaina, b. March 3, 1872, and
Florence Brio-gs, b. Dec. 31, 1873. 2. lA7.7\e Florence, b.
Sept. 1, 1S53, mar. June 8, 1880, Andrew Gerrish Welister,
of Boston, and they have had two children : Harrison Briggs,
b. Jan. 26, 1884, and David Locke, 2nd, b. Nov. 6, 1888.
3. Frank Harrison, b. Feb. 2^, 1860. 4. Harrison Otis, Jr.,
b. July 26, 1871, d. Nov. 2(), 1872.

6. Mary Thomas, b. April 11, 1828, mar. April 14, 1852,
James T. Tolman of Scituate. They have had children :
1. Morgianna, b. April 4, 1856. 2. Herbert Gushing, b.
Nov. 4, 18()5.

7. Lloyd, b. April 8, 1830, mar. Nov. 15, 1858, Sarah
Elizabeth Elms Kent,* dau. of Noah B. Kent of So. Boston.
She was b. in Scituate, Sept. 22, 1834. They have had chil-
dren: 1. Harriette Stetson, b. Jan. 29, 1860; d. June 23,
1879. 2. Velma, b. Oct. 20, 1861. 3. Lloyd Vernon, b.
Aug. 13, 1863.

8. Franklin, b. Jan. 9, 1833.

Henry IH., son of Thomas Barker VH., mar. Betsey Bug-
gies ; she was b. in 1794, and d. in Dec, 1833. He d. in
Dec, 1837. They had children :

1. Caroline Otis, b. Aug. 23. 1813; d. Dec 29, 1888.
She mar., May 9, 1837, Elijah Barstow,t of Hanover, oy
whom she had two children : 1. Henry Briggs, b. Nov. 23,
1838, mar., 1st, June 21, 1864, Susan W. Atwood, who was
b. Oct. 18, 1838, and d. April 2, 1867. He mar., 2ndly, Nov.
24, 1870, Emily Morse, who was b. Feb. 6, 1839. By her he

* See Kent Genealogy in chapter on Scituate Harbor,
t See Barstow Yard.

296 BRIGGS GENEALOGY.

huft had four children : Albert Henry, b. Sept. 6, 1871 ; d. Sept.
I'l, 1873; Alton Morrison, b. Jan. 4, 1874; Elmer Williams,
b. Oct. 9, 1870 ; Caroline Otis, b. Oct. 18, 1878. 2. Albert,
b. July 8, 1840 ; d. April 7, 1863.

2. George H., b. Sept. 10, 1815, d. March 11, 1881; he
mar. in Nov. 1840, Nancy L. Stockbridge, by whom he had
six children. 1. Nancy Maria, b. Nov. 22, 1841, mar. June
17, 1868, Joseph F. Turner and they have one child, Julia
Maria, b. Oct. 31, 1869. 2. Caroline Louise, b. Feb. 2, 1844,
d. April 22, 1849. 3. Henry Joseph, b. Aug. 1, 1846, d.
April 2.5, 1849. 4. George Herman, b. Oct. "8, 1848, mar.
May 23, 1871, Ada A. Brown, and they have six children :
Henry Joseph, b. Sept. 13, 1874; Arthur Newton, b. March
10, 1876 ; Everett Lewis, b. May 28, 1877 ; Georgie Herman,
b. June, 3, 1879 ; Alice Lee, b. Dec. 18, 1880 : Harlem Pa^e,
b. Jan. 10, 1883. 5. Caroline Elizabeth, b. March 3, 1856,
mar. Oct. 5, 1881, George H. Turner, and they have one child,
Carrie Louisa, b. Oct. 8, 1883. 6. Sarah Frances, b. Aug.
22, 1858.

3. Mary, 1). Oct. 25, 1817, d. May 30, 1880, unmarried.

4. Elizabeth R., b. April 25, 1820, d. March 11, 1863.

5. Deborah Clapp, b. April 6, 1823, mar. May 23, 1842,
Israel Nash of Boston ; later they removed to "^^"ellesley
Hills, Mass. They had seven children. 1. Franklin, 1). Feb.
7, 1843, mar. Dec. 25, 1873, Eunice Ford, by whom he has
had six children : John Franklin, b. July 17, 1875 ; Emma
Louisa, b. Dec. 6,1876; Albert Edward, 1). Nov. 4, 1879;
Flora, b. Dec. 28, 1880; Alice Gushing, b. Feb. 3, 1884;
Deborah Briggs, b. March 14, 1886. 2. Helen Louisa, b.
Sept. 9, 1844, d. Dec. 2, 1863. 3. Emma Isabel, b. Jan. 1,
1847, mar. Sept. 23, 1868, William H. Towne, by whom she
had two children : Helen Louise, b. Sept. 1, 1869, and Lucy
Nash, b. May 26, 1877. 4. Herbert, b. Dec. 12, 1848, mar.
June 5, 1879, Mary C, dau. of Wm. H. Baldwin, by whom he
has had four children : Miriam Baldwin, b. Oct 22, 1880 ;
Herbert, b. Dec. 2, 1882; Chauncy Gushing, b. Oct. 17,1884;
Elizabeth Flint, b. Oct. 3, 1886. 5. Lucy Cushino-, b. May
31, 1855, mar. Feb. 15, 1883, Frank F., son of Wm. H. Baldwin,
by whom she has had three children : Rosfer Nash, b. Jan. 21,
1884; Margaret Nash, b. Aug. 3, 1885^^; Ruth, b. Dec. 31,

1887. 6. "Charles Edward, b. Jan. 10, 1859, d. March 3,
1859. 7. Arthur Irvino-, ]). Feb. 5, 1864, mar. March 14,

1888, Mary A. Batchelor of Wellesley Hills.

Residence ok Gushing Otis Briggs, Scituate, and Birthplace of
HIS Children.

BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 297

6. Thomas Wales, b. March 23, 1825.

7. John Ruggles, b. Oct. 14, 1827, d. Sept. 17, 1888. He
mar. June 3, 1858, Sarah C. Shattuck of Maine, by whom he
had one child, Sarah Elizabeth, 1). Oct. 23, 1863.

8. Lucy Turner, b. Jan. 23, 1830, d. April 14, 1802. She
mar. May 31, 18411, Nath. C. Nash, by whom she had one
.child, Nath. C, who was b. April 4, 1862, and mar. Jmie 26,

1884, Nellie Monroe Fessenden. He is a graduate of Harvard
University and resides in Cambridge. They have one child,
Nath. C, b. June 19, 1885.

9. Sarah, b. Jan. 5, 1832, d. April 23, 1863. She mar.
March 15, 1854, Andrew Clark and had two children, George
Edward, b. Aug. 9, 1859, d. April 28, 1868, and Lucy Briggs,
b. Sept. 22, 1862, mar. June 2, 1889, Edward E. Ells.

Charles IV., son of Thomas Barker VH., mar. Rhoda Reed,
by whom he had a large family of children, eight of whom are
now living. 1. Charles Otis, who now resides in Vallejo, Cal.,
where he is employed m the ship-yards there and on the ]\Iare
Island navy yard, being the last shi])"Carpcnter of the Briggs
family. His dau. Kate mar. Geo. W. Spencer of San Francisco.
2. Mary Jane, mar. William Spear, and resides in Lynn. 3.

Emeline, mar. LeGro, and resides in Danvers. 4.

Horace Cushing, who has been twice mar. and resides in Lynn.
5. Charlotte mar. Henry Prentiss and resides in Danvers. 6.

Almira, mar. Millett, and resides in Danvers, 7.

Alfred, resides in Danvers. 8. Henry Thomas, mar. and has
a family. 9. Lucy Ann, who mar. Nichols Lincoln, and d.
leaving two children : Ennna S. and George H.

James Briggs, b. 1719, probably the first ship-l)uilder of this
family, is remembered by Hon. Samuel Adams Turner, who is
now living at Norwell in his 98th year. He descril)es him as
an honest upright man and a good citizen of the town. He
says he was noted for l)eing very courageous and when the call
was made for men to enter the Continental army he was among
the first to volunteer. It was next to imp()ssil)le to buy a gun
at this time. Each citizen furnished his outfit at his own
expense. James Briggs had no gun but he Avent off with the
others who answered the call, having only a stick of wood over
his shoulder to drill with. When asked what he was going to
do with the stick, he replied"! am going to knock down

298

COLUMBIA, BUILT BY JAMES BRIGGS.

the first British soldier I see and take his gun." He
came home with a gun. He was noted for being the most
expert swimmer of his time in Scituate. It is re kited that
once when a party of men were pickerel fishing and spear-
ing eels through the ice on North River, James Brigirs fell
throuo'h one of the holes. Instead of fiijhting under the ice
against the current to get out of the same hole, he struck out
for one al)out four rods further down the river and to the sur-
prise of all came out safely. During the latter part of his
life he followed the trade of a comb-maker, making the combs
from cattle's horns, which he sawed into shape, then put
between two pieces of board, and under a heavy weight, until
they were straight. The first American vessel that ever circum-
naviirated the alobe was built by James Brii^ors at Ilobart's
Landing in 1773. This was the ship "COLUMBIA," which
also explored the Columbia River in Oregon, Avhich was named
after the vessel. She was the first vessel from this country
to visit the northwest coast. In 1787, which year she was
registered at Boston, a silver medal, size 27, was struck off by
her owners at Boston. The engraving below correctly represents
one of the orio'inal medals.

In the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a wonderful feather
cloak, which was brought from the Hawaiian Islands by the
" Columbia," during one of her first voyages. It fell to Benja-
min Joy, a part owner, as his share of the venture. He has
descendants in Groton, Mass. There are l)ut three or four of
these cloaks now inexistance,and their value is enormous. The
feathers, wdiich are less than an inch long are taken from the
under part of the wing of the Oo, a bird found only oa Hawaii.
They are sometimes called Mamo feathers and are now worth
more than $1.00 apiece, only two or four being found on each.

FIRST AMERICAN VESSEL TO DOUBLE CAPE HORN. 299'

bird. A small lei, or necklace, is valued at $500. That every
resident of Scituate may become familiar with the history of
one of the most famous American ships ever built, and which
Scituate men had the honor of l)uilding, the author has culled
from Greenhow's History of California and Oregon, published
many years ago, and other books bearing on this subject a most
complete history of the "Columbia." Tradition says the
" Washi)ir/ton" was built at North River; but there have been
no records found to prove at what yard or place she was built.
Charles T. Torrey, in his book entitled "Home or the Pilgrims'
Faiih Revived,"* writes, as follows: "For more than lifteen
miles, our southern border re.'rts on the winding banks of a river
famed for its excellent fisheries and still more for its ship-build-
ing. Here our carpenters launched the Jirst American vessel
that ever doubled the stormy Cape Norn and coasted the toestern
s/i/)res of our continent. She was manned, in part, tradition
says 'by our townspeople."

After the recognition of the Independence of the United
States the citizens resumed the whale and seal fisheries around
Cape Horn, which they had carried on before the Revolution,
and also^engaged in direct trade with India and China ; in the
latter countries, however, they labored under great disad-
vantages from the inferiority in the value of the articles car-
ried' out in exchange for those brought liack by them. Conse-
quently they were obliged to take out large quantities of specie
to buy goods in order to obtain full homeward cargoes. With
a view of obviating this inequality, some merchants of Boston,
in 1787, formed an association for the purpose of combining
the fur trade of the North Pacific with the China trade, as
attempted by King George's Sound Company of London. In
prosecution of Ihis scheme the ship "COLUMBIA," of 220
tons, and the sloop "Washington," of 90 tons, sometimes
referred to as the " Ladi/ Washington,'' were fitted out at
Boston, in the summer of 1787, and laden with blankets,
knives, iron l)ars, copper i)ans and other articles pr(^per for
the trade with the Indians on the Northwest coast. The
"Columl)ia" was commanded by John Kendrick, to whom was
intrusted the direction of the expedition, with Joseph Ingra-
ham as first mate. The master of the " Washington " was
Robert Gray. They were provided with sea-letters, pass-ports

* See Chapter, Miscellaneous Yards, Scituate.

300 FIRST AMERICAN VESSEL ON THE N. W. COAST.

from the state of jMat^saclmsetts, and they received letters from
the Spanish INIinister Plenipotentiary in the United States,
reconnnending them to the attention of the authorities of his
nation on the Pacific coast. Moreover, they carried out for
distril)ution among the natives a number of small copper coins,
then recently issued by the State of Massachusetts, and like-
wise medals of copper struck expressly for the purpose. The
vessels sailed together from Boston on the 30th of September,
1787. They proceeded to the Cape de Verde Islands, and
thence to Falkland Islands, in each of which places they pro-
cured refreshments, and in Jan., 1788, they doubled Cape
Horn, immediately after which they w^ere separated during a
violent gale. The "Washington," continuing her course through
the Pacific, made the Northwest coast in Aug., 1788, near the
46th degree of latitude where she was in danger of destruction,
having grounded while attempting to enter an opening which
was most probably the mouth of the river afterwards named
by Gray, the "Columbia." She was also attacked there by the
savages, who killed oife of her men and wounded the mate, but
she escaped without further injury, and, on the 17th of Sep-
tember, reached Nootka Sound where the foreign vessels
"Felice" and " Iphigenia " w^ere lying. Meares, in his Jour-
nal, whites, on Sept. 17, 1788: "A sail was seen in ofiing.
A long-boat Avas immediately sent to her assistance, which,
instead of the British vessel w^e expected, conveyed into the
sound a Sloop nameil the '^ Washington,' from Boston in New
England, of about 100 tons burthen. Mr. Gray, the master,
informed us that he had sailed in company Avith his consort, the
'Columbia,' a ship of 300 tons, in the month of August,
1787, being equipped under the patronage of Congress to
examine the coast of America and open up a fur trade between
^ew England and here, and provide funds for their China
ships. That he expected the 'Columbia' if she was safe every
day to join her at Nootka." The " Columbia" did not enter the
Sound until some days afterward ; she had been seriously
injured in the storm which separated her from her consort and
Kendrick Avas obliged in consequence, in May, 1788, to put
into the harbor of the Island of Juan Fernandez, Avhere he was
received Avith great kindness and aided in refitting his A^essel
by Don Bias Gonzales, the Connnandant of the Si)anish garri-
son. Eepairs having been completed, the "Columbia," continued
her voyage and arrived, without further accident, at Nootka
.Sound, AA'hich had been selected as the place of rendezvous, in

SHIP "COLUMBIA" OX THE N. W. COAST. 301

October. After her departure from the Ishmd of Juan Fer-
nandez the Commandant conununieatcd the circumstances of
her putting in there and refitting by a despatch to his imme-
diate superior, the Captain General of Chili, who thereui)on
recalled Gonzales from the island, and placed him in arrest,
addressing at the same time a report on the subject with a
request for instructions to the Viceroy of Peru. The Viceroy,
after consulting with his official and legal adviser, replied to
the Captain General at length on the subject, and expressed his
surprise and displeasure at the misconduct of the Commandant
of Juan Fernandez in allowing the strange ship to leave the
harbor instead of seizing her and her crew, as he sliould have
known that, by the Royal Ordinance of November, 1692,
every foreign vessel found in those seas without a license from
the Court of Spain was to be tried as an enemy, even though
belonging to a friend or ally of the King, because no other
nation had, or ought to have, in those seas any territories
making it necessary for its vessels to pass around Cape Horn
or through jNIagellan's Strait. In so serious a light did the
Viceroy regard the matter that a ship was sent from Callao to
track or intercept the "Columbia." The authorities on the coast
of Peru and Chili were specially enjoined to be vigilant and in
case any foreign vessel should appear in the vicinity to seize
her ; and the whole affair was made known by a despatch to
the Viceroy of Mexico, in order that similar precautions might
be adopted on his part. The unfortunate Connnandant Gon-
zales was cashiered for his remissness, and he sul)scquently
addressed a petition to the government of the United States
for its intercession with his Sovereign. Thus were half of the
Spanish dominions in America thrown into alarm and agitation
by the appearance of a trading ship from the United States on
the Pacific. The "Columbia" and "Washington" spent the
winter in Nootka Sound where the " Columbia " also lay durino-
the following summer. On the 28th of April, 1789, the ves-
sel "North West America" left Nootka Sound for a short
trading trip along the coast. The " Washington " about
the same time departed on a similar expedition. The "Iphige-
nia," lying at Friendly Cove, and the "Columbia," at .Alaw-
hinna, were the only vessels in Nootka Sound, on the Gth of
May, when the Spanish Conmiander Martinez arrived there in
the corvette " Princesa " to take possession of the country for
his sovereign. Martinez immediately communicated his inten-
tions to the other vessels and examined their papers ; he

302 SHIP "COLUMBIA" AT NOOTKA SOUND.

apparently met with no opposition, and there was good feeling
between all, Martinez supplying them with articles they were
in need of, and accepting bills drawn upon the owners of the
vessels in payment. At the end of a week another Spanish
vessel, the "San Carlos," arrived, and, en May 15th, the
following day, Martinez invited Viana, the Captain, and Doug-
las, the supercargo of the "Iphigenia" to come on board his
ship, when he told them they were prisoners, and their vessel
was to be seized. "I enquired," says Douglas in his Journal,
"the cause of his not taking the 'Washington' sloop, as he
had orders from the King of Spain to take every vessel he met
on the coast. He gave me no satisfactory answer, but told me
my papers were bad ; that they mentioned I was to take all Eng-
lish, Russian and Spanish vessels that were inferior force to mine,
and send their crews to jNIacao, there to be tried for their lives
as pirates." While they were removing the charts, papers and
instruments to the ships of war, and preparations were being
l)egun for sending her as a prize to San Bias, JNIartinoz altered
his intention and proposed to release the "Iphigenia" and her
crew on conditions that her officers Avould sign a declaration to
the eft'ect that she had lieen kindly treated and not interrupted
during her stay at Nootka. This being refused, other arrange-
ments were afterwards made, in consequence of which a declara-
tion was signed by the officers of the " Iphigenia " and her crew
w^ere liberated on the 2Gth of May. Gray, Cl'iptain of the
"Washington," and Ingraham, mate of the " Columbia," were
both at Nootka during the occurrences of these affiiirs. The
"Argonaut" was seized, also the sloop "Princess Royal"
and the sch. "North West America," whose officers and
crew with some of those of the "Argonaut" and "Princess
Royal" were placed on board the "Columbia" to be carried as
passengers to China, 100 sea-otter skins found in the " Princess
Royal," being allowed in payment of their wages and transpor-
tation. The " Columbia" had remained in the Sound ever since
her first arrival there in Oct., 1788, while the "Washington"
was engaged in trading along the coast north and south. The
officers of these vessels were thus witnesses of nearly all the
occurrences at Nootka during the summer of 1789. That
Gray and Kendrick profited liy the quarrels between the two
parties is prol)able, but no evidence has been adduced that they
on any occasion took unfair advantage of either, though it is
also probable that their feoMngs were rather in favor of the
Spaniards, by whom they were treated with courtesy and kind-

THE UNITED STATES FLAG WAS CARRIED AROUND 303

ness, while tlie British were at that time objects of hatred and
ridicule. Cajjt. Kendrick often acted as mediator between the
Spanish and other ships at Nootka, and it ^vas through his
influence tiiat an amicable settlement was reached between
Martinez and the officers of the "Iphigenia." AVhile trading, in
June, 1789, Gray in the " AVashington " explored the Avhole east
coast of Queen Charlotte's Island which had never before been
visited by the people of any civilized nation. He called it Wash-
ington Island. In a subsequent excursion in jVootka Sound
Gray entered an opening between the 48th and 49th parallels,
which had been found by Berkeley in 1787, and was supposed
to be the mouth of the strait of Juan de Fuca. Through this
opening Gray sailed, as he informed Vancouver in 1792, fifty
miles in an east-south-east direction and found the passage five
leagues wide. Gray then returned to the Pacific, and on his
way to Nootka Sound he met the " Columbia " which had just
left the sound with oflicers and crew of the "North West
America" on board as passengers for China. It was best
agreed between the two Captains that Kendrick should take
connnand of the sloop and remain on the coast while Gray in
the "Columbia" should carry to Canton all the furs which had
been collected by both vessels. This was accordingly done
and Gray arrived at Macao, in Dec, 1789, with the "North
West America's " passengers and oflicers who communicated
the news of the capture of that vessel and the " Argonaut " and
" Princess Koyal " by the Spaniards. The owners immediately
determined to apply to the British Government for redress.
On her way to Canton the "CoIum))ia" touched at the Hawaiian
Islands for refreshment and provisions. On the Gth of Decem-
ber, Gray arrived at Canton where he sold his furs and in
exchange took a cargo of tea, valued at $()0,000, with which
he entered Boston on the 9th or 10th of Aug., 1790, via Cape
of Good Hope, having carried the flag of the United States for
the first time around tlie world. On going into the Harbor of
Boston the " Columbia " fired a Federal salute as she passed the
Castle and another on coming to her moorings. It was doubt-
ful if her destination was generally known when she went
away, but the announcement of her achievements in "The Fed-
eralist " had filled the community with enthusiasm and the
wharves were crowded with people who gave her a hearty wel-
come on her return. Kendrick immediately, on parting with
the "Columbia," proceeded in the "Washington" to the Straits
of Fuca throuirh which he passed in its whole length. Thus it

304 THE -WORLD FOR FIRST TIME, BY SHIP "COLUMBIA."

appears that the passage of tlie "AVashington" through the
strait, as reported by Meares, took i)lace under Kendrick after
Gray had quitted the command of that sloop. Descriptions,
oivon l)y Kendrick, of what he had seen, correspond exactly
Avith the geography of that part of the American coast.
Under these circumstances and others, Kendrick is to be con-
sidered as the first person belonging to a civilized nation who
sailed tlirough the Straits of Fuca after its discovery by the
" Greek Pilot," in 1592. The ship " Columbia " returned to' Bos-
ton on the 10th of August, 1790, as has already been mentioned,
but the cargo of Chinese" articles brought by her Mas insuffi-
cient to cover the expenses of her voyage, and her owners w^ere
so little satisfied with these results that some of them sold out
their shares to the others, who, determining to persevere in the
enterprise, refitted the "Columbia " for a new voyage of the
same kind. Before her departure, however, the ])rig "Hope,"
of 70 tons, which had also been equipped for the North Pacific
trade, sailed from Boston under the command of Joseph Ingra-
hani, the former mate of the "Columl)ia," and these vessels were
followed by the "Hancock" under Capt. Crowd ; the "Jeffer-
son" under Capt. Roberts, likewise from Boston, and the
"Margaret," under Capt. Magee, from jSTew York. Capt.
Kendrick in the "Washington," which had been altered into a
brig, arrived at jSIacao while the "Hope" was lying there in 1791.
He had been engaged since 1789 in various speculations, one
of which was the collection and transportation to China of the
odoriferous wood, called sandal, from the tropical islands of the
Pacific, mainly the Hawaiian Islands, and which was and is in
sreat demand throughout the Celestial Empire. Vancouver
pronounced this scheme chimerical, but experience has proved
that it was founded on just calculations and has been prosecuted
with advantage ever since. Another of Kendrick's specula-
tions has not hitherto produced any fruit. He purchased, in
the summer of 1791, from Maquinna, Wicanish and other
chiefs several large tracts of land near Nootka Sound, for which
he obtained deeds duly marked by those personages snd wit-
nessed bytlie officers and men of the "Washington." Attempts
were made by the owners of that vessel to sell these lands at
London in 1793, but without success. Applications have since
been addressed by the legal representatives of the owners and
of Kendrick to the Government of the United States for a con-
firmation of the title. The circular addressed by the owners
for the sale of this land was written in four languages, and was
as follows :

DEATH OF CAPT. JOIIX KENDRICK. 305

"The inhabitants of Europe are informed that in 17S7 Capt. J.
Kendrick, while prosecuting an advantageous voyage to the natives
for furs, purchased of them for the owners a tract of delightful
country comprehending 4 degrees of latitude or 240 miles square,
and that such as may be inclined to associate for settling a Common-
wealth on their own code of laws, on a spot of the globe nowhere
surpassed in delightful and healthy climate and fertile soil, claimed
by no civilized nation, and purchased under a sacred treaty of peace
and commerce, and for a valuable consideration of the friendly
natives may have the best opportunity of trying the result of such
an enterprise."

The lands were thus sold by the savage chiefs, and there is
no reason to doubt but they would as readily have conveyed
the whole of America to any one for the consideration of a
copper kettle. Greenhow writes "the validity of the acquisi-
tion will scarcely be recognized by the civilized nation which
may hereafter hold the sovereignty of the country about Nootka
Sound." Neither Kendrick nor his vessel ever returned to
America. As has been previously stated, after purchasing the
lands, he sailed for the Sandwich Islands and there engaged in
a new branch of commerce of which he was the originator,
collecting and transporting to China, sandal wood, but he did
not live long enough to profit by it. He was killed in 1793
at Karakakooa Bay, in Hawaii, i)y a ball accidentally fired from
a British vessel while saluting him. Another account says
Capt. Kendrick was killed while exchanging salutes with a
Spanish vessel at the Sandwich Islands ; the wad from one of
the Spaniard's guns struck him as he stood on the deck of his
vessel in his dress coat and cocked hat, as the commander of the
expedition, and was instantly fatal. Delano in his voyage gives
probably the only correct account of Captain Kendrick's death,
and which account is verified by official reports, viz. :

"Captain John Kendrick, of Boston, the first American com-
mander that ever visited the northwest coast of America, and who
opened the chan'nel of commerce to this country, also died at this
place. [Hawaiian Islands.] His death was occasioned by a salute
that was fired by an English commander in honour of him. One
of the guns through accident, was loaded with round and grape
shot, which killed Capt. Kendrick and two boys, while on his quar-
ter deck." Capt. Amasa Delano says " I think it no more than jus-
tice to say something to the memory of this American captain ; any-
thing written on this able commander would be but superfluous,
as he is generally known, and so justly celebrated by all the world
for his extraordinary merit. I was intimately acquainted with him

306 SECOND VOYAGE OF THE "COLUMBIA" TO N. W. COAST.

in Canton Bay, in the year 1791? 'ind I also knew liis cliaracter
afterwards as long as he lived. He was a man of extraordinary
good natural abilities, and was noted for his enterprising spirit, his
good judgment, and superior courage. As a seaman and navigator,
he had but few equals. He was very benevolent, and possessed a
heart filled with as tender feelings as any man that I ever was
acquainted with. He was esteemed and beloved by all who knew
him in his last absence from the United States. I wish to impress
it strongly on the minds of every American, not to let his rare
merits be forgotten, and to cast a veil over his faults, they being but
few compared with his amiable qualities."

The " Columbia,'" under Ctiptain Gray, left Boston on the
28th Sept., 1790, ten days after the departure of the "Hope,"
and, without the occurrence of anything worthy of note on her
way, she arrived at Clyo<iuot, near the entrance of the Strait
of Fuca, on the 5th of June, 1791. She then proceeded to
the eastern side of Queen Charlotte's Island and remained in
that vicinity trading and exploring until September. He
examined many inlets and passages between the 54th and 56th
parallels one of which, probably the one called by Vancouver,
Portland Canal, he penetrated to tlie distance of 100 miles
northeastward without reaching its terminiition. This inlet he
supposed to be the Rio de Reyes of Admiral Fonte, and part
of it was named by Gray, Massacre Cove, in commemoration of
the murder of Caswell, the second mate, and two seamen of
the "Columbia "by the natives on the shore on the 22nd of
August. Gray soon after returned to Clyoquot where the crew
of the " Columbia " passed the winter in a fortified habitation
which they erected on the shores of the Bay and called Fort
Defiance. They employed themselves building a small vessel,
and named it the " Adventure," which, in the spring of
1792, sailed for Queen Charlotte's Island, under command
of Haswell, the first mate of the "Columbia" while Gray went
on a cruise southward along the coast. Another account says,
at Fort Defiance Gray and his crew built and launched the
schooner " Enterprise," the first vessel constructed by Americans
on the northwest side of the Continent of the United States.
Whilst preparing for sea they were visited by two of the principal
chiefs of the surrounding country with a number of followers,
between whom and a Sandwich Islander on board the " Colum-
bia" it became evident there was some understanding. Gray
questioned the Sandwich Islander who at length confessed that
the Indians had formed a plan for seizing their vessels and mur-
dering their crew, promising to spare his life and make him a

Mouth of the Columbia River.
From an orisrinal drawing.

The Columbia Point, beloav the Dalles.

EXPLOUATIONS BY THE "COLUMBIA" ON N. W. COAST. 307

chief if he woukl nid llu'iii \)y wetting the priming of all the guns
at a particular tunc Thus forewarned the Americans were on
their guard, and the savages who surrounded the vessel on the
following day were kept at a distance. Vancouver, in his
Journal, speaks of sighting the "Columbia," on the 29th of
Apr., 171)2, as follows : "At four o'clock a sail was discovered
to the westward, standing in shore. This was a great novelty,
not having seen any vessel, but our consort during the last
eight months. She soon hoisted American colors, and tired a
gun to leeward. At six we spoke to her , she proved to be
the ship 'Columbia,' commanded by Captain Robert Gray,
belonging to Boston, w- hence she had been absent nineteen
months." After parting with the English ships. Gray sailed
along the coast of the continent to the south, and on the 7th
of May, 1792, he saw an entrance which had a very good
appearance of a harbor in latitude 46 deg., 58 min. Passing
through this entrance he found himself in a Bay well shel-
tered from the sea by long sand bars and spits, wdiere he
remained at anchor three days engaged in trading Avith the
natives, and he then resumed his voyage, bestowing on the
place thus discovered the name of Bulfinch's Harbor in
honor of one of the owners of his ship. This is now known
as Gray's Harbor.

At daybreak on the 11th, after leaving Bultinch's Harbor,
Gray observed "the entrance of his desired port bearing east-
south-east, distance six leagues," and running into it with all
sails set l)etween the breakers, (which Meares and Vancouver
pronounced impassable) he anchored at one o'clock, in "a large
river of fresh w^ater," ten miles above its mouth. At this spot
he remained three days, engaged in trading with the Indians,
and filling his casks with water, and then sailed up the river
a.bout twelve or fifteen miles along its northern shore, wdiere,
finding that he could proceed no farther, from having taken the
wrong channel; he again came to anchor. During the week
which followed he made several attempts to quit the river, but
was constantly baffled, until at length, on the 20th, he crossed
the bar at the mouth by beating over it with a westerly wind
and regained the Pacific. The opening through which the
waters of this river are discharged into the oceanwas first seen
in August, 1776, by the Spanish navigator, Heceta.

The day before leaving the river, or on ^lay 19, 1792, Gray
gavelo it the name of his ^hip, the "Columbia "which name itstill

308 COLUMBIA r.IVER, OREGON, NAMED AFTER THE SHIP.

hears. The extremity of the sand-bank projecting into the sea
on the south side of its entrance was called by Gray, Point
Adams, and he assigned the name of Cape Hancock to the
opposite promontory on the north side, being ignorant that
Meares had already called it Cape Disappointment in token of
the unsuccessful result of his search for the river. Vancouver
also asserted that no opening, harbor or place of refuge for
vessels was to be found between Cape Mendocino and the
Strait of Fuca.

From the Log-book of the ship " Columbia," the following
is taken :

" May I ith. 1792, at half past seven we were out clear of the bars
and directed our course to the southward, along shore. At eight
P.M. the entrance of Bulfinch Harbor bore North, distance four miles.
The extremity of the land bore South-southeast half east, and the
Northern, North-northwest.

May 1 2th. Many natives alongside ; noon, fresh wind : let go the
best bower-anchor and veered out on both cables ; sent down the
main-top-gallant-yard ; filled up all the water casks in the hold. The
latter part, heavy gales, and rainy, dirty weather.

May 14. Fresh gales and cloudy; many natives alongside; at
noon, weighed (anchor) and came to sail, standing up the river
North-east by East ; we found the channel very narrow. At four
P.M. we had sailed upwards of twelve or fifteen miles when the
channel was so very narrow it was almost impossible to keep in it,
having from three to eighteen fathoms of water, sandy bottom. At
half past four the ship took ground, but she did not stay long before
she came of^' without any assistance. We backed her oft' stern fore-
most into three fathoms and let go the small bower and moored ship
with kedge and hawser. The jolly boat was sent to sound the
channel out, but found it not navigable any farther up, so, of course,
we must have taken the wrong channel. So ends, with rainy
weather ; many natives alongside.

May 15th. Light airs and pleasant weather ; many natives from
different tribes came alongside. At ten a.m. unmoored and dropped
down with the tide to a better anchoring place ; smiths and other
tradesmen constantly employed. In the afternoon Captain Gray and
Mr. Hoskins, in the jolly-boat, went on shore to take a short view of
. the country.

May 17th. Fresh winds and squally; many canoes alongside;
calkers calking the pinnace ; seamen paying the ship's sides with
tar ; painter painting ship ; smith and carpenters at their depart-
ments.

LARGEST VESSEL BUILT OX NORTH RIVER PRIOR TO iSoo. 309

May r9th. Fresh wind and clear weather. Early a number of
canoes came alongside ; seamen and tradesmen employed in their
various departments. Capt. Gray gave this river the name of
Columbia River, and the North side of the entrance Cape Han-
cock ; the South, Adam's Point.

May 2oth. At three quarters past two a fresh wind came in from
seaward ; we immediately came to sail and beat over the bar, havino-
from five to six fathoms water in the channel. At 5 p.m. we were
out, clear of all the bars, and in twenty fathoms water. A breeze
came from the Southward ; we bore away to the Northward ; set all
sail to the best advantage. At eight Capt. Hancock bore Southeast,
distant three leagues; the north extremity of the land in sight bore
North-by-West. At nine in steering and top-gallant sails. Mid-
night, light airs."

From the mouth of the Columbia River, Gray sailed to the
East coast of Queen Charlotte's Island, near which his ship
struck on a rock, and was so iiiuch injured that she was with
difficulty kept afloat until she reached Nootka Sound, where the
damage was repaired. Gray and Ingraham having soon com-
pleted their business on the Northwest coast, departed severally
for Canton in September, and thence sailed to the United
States. Gray continued commanding trading vessels from
Boston until 1809, about which time he died.

An old ship-carpenter, now living at Marshfield, in his 91st year,
says that l)eside the "Columbia " James Briggs built the largest
vessel ever built on JVbi'th River until later than 1800. The vessel
was the ship "MASSACHUSETTS," of about 400 tons, built
between 1780 and 1790. Seth Briggs also built here early in
1700.* In 1785 the sch. "INDUSTRY," Gl tons, of Boston,
was built in Scituate ; and also in 1786, the sch. "DOLPHIN,"
51 tons, of Chatham. James Briggs was part owner of the sch.
" Speedwell," built by Solomon Bates, in Hanover, in 1787.
There was built in Scituate, in 1791, the sch. "REVIVAL," 39
tons, length 39 feet and breadth 15 feet ; owned by James
Briggs, Jr., William Vinal, Jr., Eli Curtis, of Scituate, and
Lott Vinal, who commanded her. The Digliton branch built at
Freetown, in 1794, the sip. "Polly," 49 tons, of Digliton ;
owners, James Briggs, Digliton, and others.

John Bri'jgs built in Scituate, in 1785, the sch. "HAR-
MONY," 51 tons> "deep waist and short quarter-deck," of

* See Brick-kiln Yard.

310 JOIIX BRIGGS, THOMAS B. BRIGGS, SHIPBUILDERS.

Cohasset. The owners were Thomas IVIarh/le of Cohasset,
mariner, who eommanded her, John Brigors of Scituate, in the
county of Vlyniouth, ship-carpenter, Jerome Lincoln of Cohasset,
lilacksmith, and Jacob Lincohi of Cohasset, mariner. There
was also built here, in 1792, the ship "AMERICA," 220 tons,
of Boston ; and in 1793, the ship "BEDFORD," 253 tons, of
Portsmouth. John Briggs d. in Februaiy, 1807, aged 88, and
is buried in the First Parish Cemetery, Norwell. James and
John Briggswere succeeded at the shipyard by Thovtas Barker
Briggs, son of James, who was a shipbuilder and a likely man,
never wealthy but of moderate means. The first record we
have found of any vessel built l)y him is in 1797, sch. "THREE
FRIENDS," 98 tons, of Boston ; owned by William Vinal,
Nehemiah Manson and Abraham Lincoln, of Scituate, and after-
ward by Thomas Briggs and others, Boston. There was built
here, in 1797, the sch. "IRIS," 80 tons, of Boston, and
in 1801, the sch. "LUCY," 72 tons, of Boston; in 1802,
brig " SALLY," 149 tons : owned by Jesse Dunbar, Silas
Stetson and Simeon Bates of Scituate and the same year, 1802,
the sch. " CUSHING," 78 tons ; OAvner, Lemuel Vinal, Scituate,
and in 1803, the sch. "PRISCILLA," 61 tons, of Chatham;
probably the same "Priscilla," that was captured by the British
in 1813 and papers detained. As can be seen by reference to
the genealogy, Thomas B. Briggs mar. Lucy Otis and had
among other children a son, Thomas, who was taken prisoner
by the British while on a privateer, during the A¥ar of 1812.
Thomas Brio-o-s, in a memorandum in his own hand-writinsr,,
found in his effects, says :

"We sailed from Boston on the 9th. of May, 1813. Was taken
prisoner on the 1 2th. and on the 17th. arrived in Halifax prison,
remained there until the 21st. of Nov. then sailed for England.
Arrived at Spithead on the 24th. of Dec. and laid there about two
weeks, then sailed for Chatliam. When I arrived there I w^as put
on board the prison ship "• Samson," where 1 remained about
two weeks. Then we were put on board of the prison ship
" Bahama," where we remained until the 25th. of Sept., 1S14. Was
then put on board of the Leyden transport, which sailed for
Plymouth, from thence were marched to Dartmoor prisons where
we arrived on the 8th. of Oct. This day the 30th. of Dec.
the American Ensig7i was displayed on these prisons on account of
the news of peace being signed betwixt England and the United
States of America."

The above tells the whole story, but copies of his letters are
here given as being of especial interest to those who will read

THOMAS BIIIGGS. 311

this chapter. One is from Thomas Otis, who gave the Second
Society of Scituate a church organ, in 1830, and who was
brother of Cusliing Otis and was then in England; the other
from Lucy I>riggs, mother of Thomas. The letter from his
mother is addressed to " Mr. Thomas Briggs, Halitax Prison,"
and is as follows :

Dear Thomas : "June the 13th, 1S13.

I am glad to hear no worse fate has befel you. It
is what I expected. I am sorry for your misfortune ; keep up good
spirits. I hope all these things will be for your good. If you was
out privateering you might get disabled for life. It is an employ-
ment that will circumvent the frown of Divine Providence and busi-
ness is preferable. An exchange may take place sooner than you
anticipate. I am glad you are so well reconciled to what has befallen
you. That all these things are directed by Wisdom superior to man's
ought to console us inider all the disagreeables of life. You wi-ote
me a letter some years past that in trouble you always rejoiced your-
self in your God. I wish it now may be your recourse, if so, you
cannot be unhappy in the most abject situation. I have not any
thing interesting to communicate. We are all well.

I remain your Affectionate mother, L. B.

P.S. Charles is here waiting for more favorable times for the
Sailor; he has been taken, carried into St. Christopher, came home
in a vessel from New London."

The letter from his uncle is addressed to "Mr. Thomas Briggs,
prison ship, Bahama, Chatham," and is as follows :

"Dear Thomas :

Your last letter I received yesterday only — some
friend must have taken it out of the Dead Letter office in London
and forwarded it to me. I commiserate your situation although I
can't approve of the Cause in which you were embarked. There
is every prospect of a Peace this Summer ; when you will get your
pardon, if you do not before by exchange of Prisoners. I have
letters from the U. S. to Jan'y 23d— all friends are well. I shall
return to America in a few days, you will accept the inclosed five
Pounds, (£5.) And Believe me your

Affectionate Uncle,

Liverpool, Feb. 19, i5i4.

P.S. Your first letter has never come to hand."

312 CUSIIING O. & HENRY BRIGGS, SHIPWRIGHTS.

Next after Thomas Barker Briggs, the shipyard was occupied
by his sons, Henry and Gushing Otis Briggs, brothers of
Thomas. Henry probal)ly learned the art of his father and on
the Wanton Yard, but Cushing Otis was sent to Pembroke
where he served his time under Elisha Briggs, at the Brick-
kihi yard, and boarded at his house, now the residence of
Nathaniel Smith and family, opposite H. H. A. Collamore's,
which latter residence was the birthplace of Ichabod Thomas.
It was here that Cushing O. Briggs met Mr. Thomas's daughter,
whom he afterward married.*

yp built two vessels on his

^^ / * , /fi y^ jrjyyp own account at the Brick-
(CP^tCSM^n^ C/ 6/=)V^^^ kihis in Pembroke during
C/ ^'^ the years 1815 and 1816.

After he mar. he returned to Scitua e and resided in the old
homestead of James Briggs, then occupied by Lucy and Sally
Briggs, daughters of James. This house was built by Robert
Thomas about 1712, and is on the lane or street that leads
northwest from Hobart's Landing gate ; a picture of the interior
of one of the rooms of this old house is inserted in this book.
It is from an original drawing made liy Lloyd Briggs about
1846. It was then called l)y the household the "school-room."
After Cushing O. Briggs came into possession of the place he
built on a large addition or front. The house is still standing,
and the farm adjoins that of the Sampsons.

^ / worked for the Fosters on the

^^T^^^t-t-^ /0>"-^>^^ Wanton Yard as early as 1810.
^^ ^ ^s^A After he mar. he resided in the

house he probably built and which was the next house south of
the late Judge Cushing place on the same side of the road.
Henry and C. O. Briggs were noted shipbuilders, enjoying to a
high degree the confidence of Boston merchants. Messrs. T.
B. Wales & Co. were among those who employed them as long
as they continued building. Cushing survived his brother
Henry, who died in 1837. " The Messrs. E. &. H. O. Briggs,
who built at So. Boston, and wdio turned out so many fine
specimens of naval architecture, were the sons of C. O. Briggs.
The honoral)le reputation of the father fell to the sons and they
enjoyed the esteem of the Boston merchants. Cushing Otis

* See Chapter on Biick-kiln Yard.

The ScHooL-itooji.

Interiok of the Old Briggs Homestead, Scitcate.
Built A.D. 1712.

GUSHING O. & HENRY BKIGGs' YAliD. 313

and Henry Brip;o-s ])uilt tooetlier for many years and then sepa-
rately on adjoining yards at Hohart's Landing. Cashing O.
occupied the old or upper yard, and Henry the one further
down the river. Israel H. Sherman, now 86 years old, served
his time on the C. O. & H. Briggs' yard as planker. He
remembers a story about one of the carpenters, named Ruggles.
It is said once when he went to New Bedford, he stopped over
night at a certain house ; he was a very tall man and the room
which was assigned to him was small and the bed short with its
foot next the window. In the night he thrust his feet out of the
open window and in the morning awoke to find a number of
turkeys roosting on his lower limbs, calling out, "Ruggles,
Euggles."

The first vessel the Briggs Brothers built together was in
1817, the sch. "CATHARINE," 61 tons, for Capt. Moses
Rich, of Scituate, for whose wife she was named. John Bates
was the first mate. The rigging was fitted in the yard in front
•of the late Dr. Stockbridge's dwelling, since occupied by Rev.
Pelham Williams, that part which is now a grove near "the
wide spreading pond " made famous by Samuel Woodworth in
his poem, "The Old Oaken Bucket." When she was launched,
Tom Briggs, In-other of Cushing and Henry sat on the cap of
the bowsprit and christened her by breaking a bottle of wine
over her bow. The "Catharine" had one deck, two masts,
length 62 feet, breadth 17 feet. John Bates, Samuel Jacobs,
Jr. ^ Anthony Chubbuck, Nath. Cushing and Cushing O. Briggs
of Scituate, were interested in her. The following are some of
the men who worked on the Briggs Yard at difierent periods ;
Amos F. Damon, now living at Little's Bridge, who has
directed the author to many channels of information ; Nath.
and Samuel Damon, Al)ijali Holland, David, Charles and Otis
Briggs, Capt. Thomas Rogers, Thomas Holmes, Harvey Hall,
Chandler Clapp, Allen Randall, Joseph Eames, AVilliam Turner,
Barker and Samuel Turner, Abijah Rogers, Wdliam Studley,
Samuel O. Ruggles, Josiah Stoddard, Nathan Rogers, Theodore
Turner, Elislia Delano, Luther Magoun, Benjamin Nichols.
George Curtis furnished anchors. Ira Barker and Consider
Merritt did iron work. Abel Kingman and Briggs Magoun,
Nath. Whiting, Joshua Curtis and George Leonard furnished
tmiber. Amiel Curtis furnished elm timber at $5.00 per ton,
white oak at $6. (Hi per ton ; Samuel jNIitchell, Michael Ford,
Capt. Nath. Cushnig, Shadrach, Barnabas, Sylvester and Wil-
liam Brio-gs, Ali)ert Tilden, John Foster and John James also

314 VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & H. BRIGQS.

worked on the yard. Wages paid at that time were from 75
cents to $1.25 per day. AVales Tilden also worked on the
Briggs yard and Foster's yard. Uncle Charles Briggs used to
tell a story al)out Colonel Curtis, who went to Maine in the
days of lumber speculation as agent for a company of men.
He boarded with a widow l)y the name of Wass. The neigh-
bors at his home used to tease his wife telling her, until she
was nearly insane, that her husband, the Colonel, was going to
marry the widow Wass.

dishing O. ^r/r/y.s was master carpenter, in 1818, of the sch.
"MARY ANN," 7G tons of Boston; her length was 6(3 feet,
breadth 18 feet, depth 7 feet. She was owned by Thomas B.
Wales and Nathaniel H. Emmons of Boston, C. O. Briggs of
Scituate, William Weeks of Tisbury, and Edmund Bridge of
Wilmington, North Carolina. Henry Brigqs was master car-
penter in 1820 of the brig " WAVE," 124 tons, of Boston,
single deck, two masts, length 75 feet, breadth 20 feet, depth
9 feet. She had a billet hgure-head and was owned l)y Thomas B.
Wales and Nathaniel H. Emmons, Boston, Henry Briggs,
Scituate, and Freeman Norton, Tisbury. The "Wave " Avas at
Bilboa in February, 1825, and her expenses while lying there
were $400. In 1826 she made a voyage from Amsterdam with
50 casks and 10(50 jugs of oil, and 7500 lumps of clay, 10
packages of duck, 20 pipes of gin, and other merchandise. In
1827 she made a voyage to Rochelle and back with cargoes of
rough pipes, barrels, hogsheads, ashes, brandy, etc. In 1828
Boston to Rochelle, New York, and Mobile to Rochelle, and in
1831 from Trinidad with sugar, then to Bremen with sugar,
wood, indigo, raisins, lumber and hops. She was either sold
or lost soon after this. The brig " A\'ave " was a very success-
ful craft and made for her owners $15000 on one voyage to
France. Mr. Wales was a very decided man, and wanted
things his own way. When the " Wave " was building, he
requested the l)uilders to have the treenails " well drove.""
When she was nearly built he came down from Boston to look
at her. Treenails or "trunnells," as they were often called,
have little punches driven into their centres after they are in
place to spread and hold them. Taking a handful of those
punches, Mr. Wales went to Henry Briggs and said, " Didn't I
request you to have the treenails well drove ? " Mr.
Briggs answered, "Yes, sir, and they are." "Well," said Mr.
Wales, "and here you are drivino^ in these d d little plugs.'*

VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & 11. BKIGGS. 315

It showed how much he knew about treenails ; l)ut he did know
a good vessel when he saw one.

Henry Brigo^s was master carpenter in 1820 of the bri"-
"OAK," ISO'tons, of Boston; her length was 79 feet, breadth
20 feet, depth 10 feet; owners, Thomas B. Wales and Nathan-
iel H. Ennnons, Boston, Henry Briggs, Seituate. The follow-
ing are some of the voyages made by the "Oak" while she was
owned by T. B. AA'ales & Co : 182(5, from St. Petersburg with
hemp and sundry merchandise. 1828, Philadelphia to Rochelle
with staves, hides, bark, etc. ; also voyage to Amsterdam, with
9 hogsheads, 44 tierces of sugar, also oil, etc. 1832, New
"Bedford to Hamljurg with oil. 1833, New Bedford to Bremen
with oil. 1834, Charleston to Antwerp and to Amsterdam.
1835, St. lago to Trieste with sugar, coffee, etc. In 1836, she
made three voyages, Charleston to Amsterdam with cotton and
rice, Richmond to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam with gin,
oil, madder, beans, wine, seed, barketts, tenzel, nutmegs,
sappan wood, etc. 1837, Richmond to Rochelle, and Charles-
ton to Havre. 1838, to Rochelle, from Rochelle vith brandy,
vinegar and ochre, Charleston to Amsterdam, and from Rochelle
again. 1839, to Havana with gin; cargo from Havana to
Cowe, etc. ; Charleston to Havre, and from Savannah to Liver-
pool. She sailed from Liverpool, Apr. 24, arriving in Boston
May 25th. 1840, Matanzas for Cowe and a market"; Boston to
Rochelle. 1841, from Matanzas to Rotterdam. 1842, from
Rio de Janeiro to Charleston ; from Charleston to Amsterdam.
1843, from New Orleans to Hamburg; from Matanzas to
Trieste; and New Orleans to Boston with pork, ham, lard,
cotton, etc. Henry Briggs built vessels that curved from l)ow
to stern, being very low at the centre with bow and stern high,*
and as the style changed he asked Mr. Wales if he would not
have the bow and stern dropped a little to make a straighter
vessel. Mr. Wales replied, "If you drop the l)ow and stern,
you drop me ;" but afterward, in building the " Oak,"' he had
her bow and stern dropped.

Henry Briggs was master carpenter, in 1822, of the brio-
"LAPWING," 176 tons, of Boston; length 84 feet, breadth
22 feet, depth 10 feet. She was owned by Henry Hovey,
Francis Fisher, Francis Stanton, Ezra Hyde, Boston, Jesse

* It was the custom until 1815 and later to build vessels with crooked gunwales aad.
stem high.

316 VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & 11. BraGC4S.

Dunbar, Jr., Scituate, Orriee King of Brewster, Gustavus
Locke and James Sizor, Richmond, Va. This vessel was sold
at Canton, China in 1H2G. C. O. & H. Briggs built, in 1823,
the brig "OCEAN," 173 tons of Boston : owners were Nathan-
iel H. Emmons and Thomas B. Wales, of Boston, Cushing O.
and Henry Briggs, Scituate. In 1826 the brig " Ocean " made
a voyage to Rochelle, returning with brandy, wine and mer-
chandise ; and in 1828 from Charleston to Bremen with rice.
She was later used as a Boston and Baltimore packet, and in
1852 was in the North Atlantic, whaling. In 1856 she was
changed to a bark ; she was not very successful, and in 1864 was
sold to David C. Osliorn, Sag Harbor. In 1867, she is said to have
been lost in the South Atlantic, though the report gives the loss
of a much larger vessel. Henry Briggs, in company with his
brother Cushing O. was master carpenter, in 1824, of the brig
"BILLOW," 160 tons, of Boston ; owners, Nathaniel H. Emmons,
and Thomas B. Wales, Boston. Her length was 80 feet, breadth
21 feet, depth 10 feet. The following are her voyages for nearly
fifteen years : from 1827 to 1830, she sailed between Rochelle,
Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, taking from the home
ports, oak, timber, staves, rice, cotton, etc., and bringing back
dry goods, liquors, etc. In 1830, she went to Palermo with
staves. 1831, St. lago to Trieste. In 1832, she made three
voyages. Mobile to Matanzas with 74,500 feet of board, plank
and scantling and back with 29,700 gallons of molasses, and
60 boxes of sugar, and to Rochelle and back. In 1833, from
Antwerp to Rochelle and back, and to Rochelle and return
ao-ain. 1834, Norfolk to Rochelle with staves, and back to
Boston with 48 pipes, 265 hogsheads, 267 l)arrels of brandy,
and 260 baskets of champagne" 183(5, to Rochelle and l)ack.

1837, Norfolk to Rochelle. 1837, Norfolk to Rochelle.

1838, Rochelle and Bremen, and to Amsterdam; cargo,
tobacco, mahogany, etc. 1839, Charleston to Amster-
dam. In 1840, four voyages : Rochelle to New York with
brandy, back again with flour, staves, etc. ; returned again
with brandy and from Norfolk to Rochelle with staves, etc.
At what port the " Billow " ended her days is not known, but
she proved to be a very successful vessel for her first owners
and made some remarkal^ly quick passages. It will be seen
that the Briggses built a vessel for T. B. Wales & Co. about
every two years and usually built for other firms in Boston or
Scituate Harbor the alternate years.

Henry Briggs, in company with his brother, was master

eut^^^^9 /S '^^'^

^X>

VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. ^^ II. UUIGGS. 317

carpenter ill 1S25 of the sch. "ADAMS," 111 tons, owned hy
Nathaniel II. Emmons and Thomas B. Wales, Boston. Capt.
Henry Vinal, of Scituate, says that about 182o, C. O. Briijgs
built the sch. "ONTARIO," for him. The Briags In-otliers
built, in 1826, the brig "OREGON," 200 tons" of Boston,
length 89 feet, breadth 22 feet, depth 11 feet. Her owners
were Henry Hovey of Boston, Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., of
Scituate. The next year they built another vessel for T. B.
Wales & Co. 1827, the brig " BOSTON," 242 tons, of Boston.
She was a two decker, with two masts and a billet head, 95 feet
long by 22 feet, by 11 feet, and owned by Nathaniel H. Emmons
and Thomas B. Wales of Boston. There was a "Boston " built
at the AVanton Yard, which has been incorrectly stated as being
this vessel. The "Boston" made many voyages similar to the
"Billow," the "Wave," etc. In company with Gushing O.,
Henry Briggs was master carpenter, in 1828, of the brig
"IVANHOE," 192 tons, of Boston; owned by Joshua Blake,
Francis Stanton and George Hallett of Boston. For a time in
Briggs's Yard they missed large amounts of the chips, which
were excellent for kindlings. One night they employed an old
captain to watch the yard as they mistrusted a man who lived
down the river. After Avaiting for several hours the suspected
man came rowing up the river and soon l)egan to load his boat
with chips. The captain who was on the watch called out, "I
am here." The man replied, " So am I," but it frightened him
so, that he did not come again.

Gushing O. & Henry Briggs built of oak, in 1829, the brig
"GRONSTADT," copper and iron fastened, 273 tons register:
length 100 feet, breadth 24 feet, depth 12 feet, with two decks
and two masts and full model. Her owners were Nathaniel H.
Emmons, Thomas B. Wales, Samuel Quincy and Moses
Wheeler of Boston. There is a w^ater-color painting of the brig
"Gronstadt," hanging in the office of Thomas B. Wales & Go.,
40 Water street, Boston, representing her ashore on Falsterbo
Reef, off Sweden, Aug. 12, 1840, then under the command of
Capt, Hatch, from which painting the following cut is engraved.

318

BKIG CKONSTADT.

The " Cronstadt " was engaged chiefly in the Russian trade.
The following are some of the voyages made by her while she
was owned by Thomas B. Wales &, Son. In 1H31 , she made a
voyao"e to Matanzas and Russia with a cargo of cofl'ee and sugar.
In 1832 she made three voyages : New Orleans to Boston with
cotton ; Matanzas to St. Petersburg with 1866 boxes of white
suo-ar, 15 tons of logwood, 419 hogsheads of tobacco, 109 boxes
of sugar; and from Alexandria to Amsterdam. 1834, two
voyages : Culia to St. Petersburg, with sugar ; Charleston to
Marseilles with cotton. 1835, Matanzas to St. Petersburg.

1836, Charleston to Rotterdam and Matanzas to St. Peters])urg.

1837, three voyages : two from Rio de Janeiro to Hamburg,
one with $10,000 worth of coffee ; the other voyage, coffee
valued at £1962, 13s, and from Charleston to Amsterdam.
1836, Matanzas to St. Petersburg. 1839, Mol>ile to Amster-
dam, and Charleston to Amsterdam. 1840, Matanzas to St.
Petersburg, and from then until 1845 she made seven voyages
between the ports of Matanzas, St. Petersburg, Antwerp and
Charleston with sugar, rice, and cotton. In 1845, she also
made a voyage from Matanzas to London. 1846, from New
Orleans to Liverpool with cotton, wheat and staves ; and from
New York to Glasgow with flour and oil. 1847, she made a
voyage from Havana to St. Petersljurg with oil. Of course
she always made her home port, Boston, at the end of nearly
all of the above voyages. In 1861-63 she was owned by C. H.

VESSELjS built by C. O. & II. BillGGS. 319

Hogers at Gloucester, and was under Captains Hi^gins and
Herrick respectively. She was soon afterward sold to })erson.s
in South America, and in 1865, was owned ])y Capt. Lewin at
Montevideo.

In 1829, the sch. "BILLOW," 83 tons, of Scituate, 65 feet
long, 18 feet broad, and 8 feet deep, was built by C. O. and H.
Briggs, and owned by Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Lemuel
"Webb, her captain, James S. and Shadrach Briggs. The
" Billow " was built square stern and had a billet tigure head.
C. O. & H. Briggs still owned in the "Billow" in 1836. In
1837, William T. Briggs bought into her, and about 1838,
Charles C. Briggs took his father's interest. In 1844, the
Briggses still had an interest in her. She was always used coast-
ing in the winter and mackerel fishing in the summer. The
"Billow" was built mainly for Capt. Lemuel Webb, who went
master of her for many years and afterwards took a larger
vessel. The last voyage made by the "Billow "was under
Cai)t. Eaton Vinal, to the West Indies. While there the crew
contracted fever, of which Capt. Vmal died on shore, and his
mate Mr. Jacol)s died the second day out. She was then in
charge of two men, one of whom Abijah Otis, of East Stough-
ton, is now living. They drifted about for some days, wdien
they were ol)liged to leave her, and took to their boats and
went ashore on one of the islands. The American Consul i)ut
them in prison for several months, thinking that they were
pirates or had mutinied on board, and they were not released
until they could get word from Boston, to prove their state-
ments were true. The vessel drifted ashore and was l)roken
up by wa'eckers.

About 1830, or a little later, Cushing O. and Henry Briggs
dissolved partnership and built on yards adjoining, as previously
stated. The following is a copy of an old letter :

Scituate, Nov. Sth, 1S30.
Messrs. Benjamin Rich & Son,

Gents :

We have got our brig
down the river and have been waiting five days for a wind to go out.
The season is so far advanced we think it more prudent to get her
insured if we could get it done for $20.00. If you could get five
thousand insured on the vessel for sixteen or twenty dollars, we
.should like to have it done. If not, we would like to know the

320 VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & H. BRIGGS.

lowest it could be done for. You may send us an answer by the
bearer of this. The vessel has two masts, three sails, chain, cable
and anchor.

Yours, etc..

This letter probably referred to the brig of which Gushing
O. Briggs was master carpenter in 1830, the brig "HAMIL-
TON," 164 tons, Elisha Cushman, master; owned by John
M. Pearson, Benjamin Humphrey and Robert G. Shaw, Bos-
ton. Henry Bno;gs was master carpenter in 1831 of the bark
"AVON," 299 tons of Boston. Her length was 108 feet,
breadth 24 feet, depth 12 feet ; owned by Nathaniel H.
Emmons, Thomas B. AVales, Sr. and Jr., Sajnuel Quincy and
Moses Wheeler of Boston. John Foster in a letter, descrip-
tive of an exciting meeting of the Frankhn Association, dated
at South Scituate January 15, 1831, and addressed to "Hon.
Gushing Otis, M.D., Boston," adds the following postscript:
" One thing I have omitted Avhich is of more consequence than
anything I have stated. Mr. Gushing O. Briggs met wnth a
painful accident a few days since in the yard ; falling on a plank
he struck a large nail in his knee, or rather just ])elow it, and
he has not been able to move it since. I think, Dr., he needs
your advice and help. Dr. James attends him ; he is well
otherwise but I understand it pains him very much. Yr. J.
F., Jr." ]\Ir. Briggs was confined some time, but later was
able to resume w^ork at the yard. Barnabas W. Briggs,* who
has given me much information, writes, "Nov. 28, 1831, is the
first date I have in an old account book for work for Gushing
O. and Henry Bri^irs, although I worked for them before. I
also find dates of ^Sept. 13,1832, Dec. 28th, 1835, at which
time I was working for them." Henry Briggs w^as master car-
penter, in 1833, of the brig "OAK," 208 tons of Boston;
owned by Nathaniel H. Emmons, Thomas B. Wales, Sr. and
Jr., Samuel Quincy and Ebenezer Sears of Boston. In 1834
the sch. " GOLUxMBIA," 75 tons of Scituate, length 65 feet,
breadth 18 feet, depth 7 feet, was built by Gushing O. Briggs,
and owned by John Beal, Peleg Jenkins, William Viual, Henry

* See Scituate Harbor Yards.

GUSHING O. BRIGGS & SONS. 321

Vinal, Albert Clapp, Henry Bowers and Gushing O. Briggs.
In 1836 the Brigg^es still owned in her and she was under
Capt. Peleg H. Collier coasting and mackerel fishing. Gushing
O. Briggs was master carpenter in 1835 of the brig " GOLUM-
BIA," 131 tons of Boston; owned by Ephraim Lombard and
Amme G. Lombard of Boston and William and William H.
Fowle of Alexandria, Va. Henry Briirgs was master carpen-
ter, in 1836, of the bark "YFAiO^A,'' 238 (ous, of Boston.
She had two decks and three masts. Her length was 102 feet,
breadth 22 feet, depth 11 feet, and owned by Nathaniel H.
Emmons, Thomas B. Wales, Sr. and Jr., Joseph Perkins
and Samuel Quincy of Boston. This was a very good sized
vessel for this }'ard. At one of the launchings on the Briggs
Yard Michael Ford, Jr. says that he remembers the vessel
going off all right on only one ])ilgeway. She went as straight
as ^vith two. Of course it was by accident. Gushing O.
Briggs was master carpenter, in 183(5, of the brig "ANGEL,"
157 tons, of Boston ; owners Jeremiah B. Thompson, Gharles
B. Fessenden and Benjamin Hurd Skinner of Boston. This
proved to be a very unsuccessful vessel for her builder, Gush-
ing O. Briggs, who, paying his men, delivered her to Thomp-
son & Fessenden who failed before they paid him for her. The
loss fell heavily on Mr. Briggs, who soon after turned his ship-
buildinjx business over to his two eldest sons, Gharles G. and
William T. Briggs, keeping but a small interest m the firm
himself. The last vessel built on the Henry Briggs yard was
the brig " STAR," which was begun by him, but he died while
she was building. Elijah Barstow, his son-in-law, was at his
death bed and almost the last thing Mr. Briggs said was,
"Elijah, you must help George finish that vessel." George
Briggs was Henry's son, and, although Mr. Barstow was build-
ino- a vessel at the same time in Hanover, he went to the Henry
Briggs Yard nearly every day and assisted George. The ves-
sel was launched in the spring of 1838.

William T. Briggs was master carpenter in 1838 of the
bark "EMMA ISADORA," 213 tons of Boston, Edward
Fletcher, master, and owned by Henry W. Fletcher, of Bos-
ton. In 1848 she was owned by Joseph Swift of Gloucester,
and in 1849 by Sanford Henry of Ghelsea. This vessel was
engaged originally in the Smyrna trade, and was noted for her
fine sailing qualities and for the number of missionaries and
the quantity of New England rum she carried to Smyrna.

322 GUSHING O. BRIGGS & SONS.

yp ^^ . and William T.

/^ . — />r /i "^ yj y Brio-o-s were master

^..fiyr^e^ ^^ UJ^--~^J^ carpenters, in 1840,

^>(y of the brig " SENA-

TOR," 193 tons of Boston, Bangs Pepper, Master. She was
owned by him and Elkanah Bangs of Boston, Jeremiah Mayo,
Theodore Berry, Joseph Sampson and Joseph Crocker of
Brewster and Charles C. and William T. Briggs of Scituate.
Her builders sold her March 20, 1840, for $8300. Some of the
men who worked on her were Otis Briggs, Moses Rogers,
James N. Sparell, Beia Lewis, Paul Litchfield, Harvey Litch-
field, Ebed Hersey, Benjamin R. Jacobs, Samuel Hatch,
Joseph Northey, Waterman Bailey and many others. G. and
S. Manly and Eliphalet Kingman furnished timber at $12 per
M. Thomas Simmons and Experience Curtis also furnished
timber. The "Senator" was finally sold at Rio de Janeiro,
South America. Charles C. and WiJliam T. Brujfjs ])uilt, in
1840, the brig " MICHIGAN," 130 tons of Scituate. She was
eno-ao:ed in the foreign trade and owned by Perry P. Coleman,
EHjah Jenkins, Jr., Seth Webb, Francis Thomas, Charles C.
and William T. Briggs of Scituate. Alexander Anderson
worked painting on the Briggs yard in 1840.

Gushing O. Briggs & Sons built, in 1841, the bark "SUSAN
JANE," 274 tons, one deck and three masts ; owned by
Edward Fletcher, her master, and Henry W. Fletcher, Boston.
This was the last vessel built on this yard. The " Susan Jane"
was used in the Mediterranean trade. Capt. Edwin Fletcher
was in command of her on a voyage from Boston to the Medi-
terranean, during which voyage she experienced a severe storm,
and while running l)efore the gale one morning a heavy sea
washed the man at the wheel overboard, but he was got on
board a^ain. In the evening of the same day in the second
"doo- watch," while Capt. Fletcher and the mate were on the
quarter deck they, together Avith the man at the wheel were
washed overboard and lost. This was about 1843. Being
without any one competent to navigate her, she was put into
Gibraltar. In 1848 she was in Malta dismasted, and about 1859
she was off Sebastopol, one of the wrecking expedition raising
o-uns, etc., from the Russian men of war which had been sunk
before that city by the Russians to prevent them from falling
into the hands of the enemy. John H. B. Lang, of Boston,
who owned the " Susan Jane," at one time, says she was a " saucy

^.^^fiy?-

-u^ -^

GUSHING O. BRIGGS & SONS. 323

little craft and would sail like the wind." Pie sold her to the
Fayal trade. After she returned from Sebastopol she sailed
between New Bedford and Fayal. She was built of oak,
was copper and iron fastened, had a deck cabin, was 90 feet
long, 24 feet broad, and drew 11 feet. In 1863 she was owned l)y
W. H. Topham and others. New Bedford. The same year she
was rebuilt and yellow metalled. In 1865 she was owned by
John Ferris of St. John, N. B., and under Capt. Huzford. In
1874 she was still owned in St. John, N. B., and sailing under
the British flag, Capt. Hucksford, master.

Of the sons of Gushing Otis Briggs, Charles (7., who died
April 11, 1843, of consumption, was a noble young man of
great promise and exemplary character, bearing his long illness
with courage and resignation. When but eleven years of age
he received the following recognition from his teacher :

REWARD.

This certifies that Master Charles Briggs has committed to mem-
ory Cumming's Modern and Ancient Geography once, and given
correct answers to 665 questions, relating to places &c. on the maps.
Woodbridge's Geography nearly once. 40 columns of Dictionary.
34 verses in the New Testament. 36 pages of definitions. Multi-
plication Table, and 10 pieces on different subjects.

By obedience and good behaviour he has secured the esteem of
his Instructress. . {Signed) T. F. FOSTER,

1S34.

William T., as stated elsewhere, together with his brother
Charles, succeeded their father at the yard. William's common
school education was supplemented by brief academic courses
at Hanover and Weymouth. Through the kindness of an
honored uncle he was led to leave the ship-yard in 1841-2, and
enter Oneida Institute, at Whitesboro', N. Y., from which
college he graduated in 1845. He then entered Andover
Seminary, and while there received a call to the Congrega-
tional Church at North Andover where he was ordained and
settled HI 1846. Later he accepted a call to Princeton where
he was installed in 1855, resigning in 1863 to take charge of
the Educational Department at Newbern, in the military dis-
trict of North Carolina, which ])osition he held until the close
of the war. He was installed in the Congregational Church in
East Douglas, in 1866, resigning in 1887 after a pastorate of
uninterrupted harmony of twenty-one years. By vote of the
said church, he is still "Pastor Emeritus." His services are

324 CUSIIING O. BRIGGS' SONS.

souo-ht by several societies, but so far he has hekl to his reso-
lution to spend his declining years in rest and quiet, free from
labor, enjoying the competence it has been his fortune to
accumulate.

James Edwin and Harrison O. learned the art of shipbuild-
inij at their father's yard on North River, and when Edwin (as
he" was usually called) had attained his majority, the balance
of Harrison's time was given him by his father, and together
they went to Boston and engaged as journeymen shipbuilders.
Subsequently they built in company with Capt. Noah Brooks
at his yard at the foot of F. street. In 1847 this partnership
was dissolved and E. & H. O. Briggs removed to South Bos-
ton Point, near the rolling mills, where they built in company
until after the war, employing mostly men from their native
town whose skill in building vessels on the banks of the North
River was recognized by the Messrs. Briggs, who built some of
the fastest and most famous clipper ships that have ever been
launched in the United States. The following are some of the
ships built by them : the "Newton," 450 tons burthen ; "Reli-
ance," 450 tons ; " Oxenbridge," 580 tons ; " Mary Glover," 650
tons; "Berkshire," 650 tons; "Southern Cross," 1,000 tons;
"Northern Light," 1,050 tons, which was built for Capt. James
Huckins. She made the quickest passage ever made between
Boston and San Francisco around Cape Horn. (See report
Secretary of Board of Trade for 1882.) Frank H., son of H.
O. Briggs, owns a fine painting of the "Northern Light." E.
& H. d. Briirgs also built the " Cape Cod," 850 tons ; "Winged
Arrow," 1,150 tons; "Meteor," 1,150 tons; "Golden Light,"
1,150 tons, which was struck by lightning when only a few days
out on her first voyage, and burned to the Avater's edge ; the " John
Land," 1,150 tons : "Bonita," 1,150 tons ; "Cyclone," l,150tons ;
"Boston Light," 1,180 tons ; "Starlight," 1,1 80 tons ; "Grace Dar-
ling," 1,240 tons ; " Saracen," 1,300 tons; " Cossack," 600 tons ;
"Vltula," 1,185 tons; "Mamaluke" 1,300 tons; "Fair Wind,"
1,300 tons; "Alarm," 1,200 tons; "Joseph Peabody," 1,200
tons ; "Asa Eldridge," 1,300 tons ; "Dreadnaught," "Colorado,"
and many others." About 1865 the Briggs Bros, dissolved
partnership and went out of business, each having secured a
competence. J. Edwin Briggs never engaged in active busi-
ness ao-ain. Harrison O. Briggs was elected a member of the
Board of Aldermen in 1860, and was chairman of the commit-
tee that received and entertained the Prince of Wales on
behalf of the City of Boston. Soon after he gave up ship-

GUSHING O. RUrOOS' SONS. 325

Imilding ho was appointed maiiaiyor of the Bristol line of
steamers, Avhich jjosition he held until in conneetion with his
brother, Lloyd Fjriiiirs, he opened a bankers' and brokers'
office at ()0 State street, Boston. At the time of his death he
was president of the National Bank of the Republic, of Boston.

Lloyd Briogs worked on the shipyard until 1H4(), when he
went to Boston, and in 1847 entered the machine shop of Jabez
Coney, who gave employment to about two hundred men,
twenty being apprentices, and served his time as machinist.
He was on the Portsmouth Navy Yard about a year and a half,
and assisted in "setting up" the engines in the U. S. S. "Sara-
nae." This vessel was afterward lost ofi' California. He also
assisted in "setting up" the engines for the floating dry dock
at that yard. He was afterward on the Charlestown Navy
Yard engaged in the same kind of work. In 1853 he left the
machine shop and went into the Broadway National Bank, then
located on Broadway, South Boston, and in 1858 into the
National Bank of the Republic, where he was teller during the
War of the Rebellion, and during which time the work was so
heavy that, in 18(58, on account of his failing health, he removed
to Hanson, giving up all Inisiness for three years. In 1870 he
built his present residence in Hanover Four Corners, Mass.
In 1872-3 he entered into the stock-brokerage business with
his brother Harrison O., also doing the notary work for several
banks. He is now notary for twenty-three banks, three Trust
Companies and numerous bankers, his son L. Vernon, being
associated with him.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SCITUATE MISCELLANEOUS YARDS AND BUILDERS

I 694-1 868.

ASA ROGERS, ELISHA MERRITT, SAMUEL TURNER, JR., WILLIAM
BROOKS, SAMUEL ROGERS, LEONARD LITCHFIELD, FOSTER
LITCHFIELD, CUMMINGS LITCHFIELD.

SCITUATE is indebted to the substantial character of
some of her first founders, many of whom came from Kent,
for so soon taking the lead in rates and levies of men, which
superiority it maintained until the time of the latest annals of
the colony. Samuel Deane so ably wrote the history and
genealogies of her early inhabitants that to-day in many fam-
ilies his'book is prized more than any other in their possession.
He touched on so many subjects that it was not possible for
him to do each justice. This volume is devoted to but one
subject, but every subject referred to by Deane in his history,
if properly written up before it is too late, would till _ a
volume as large as this. Let us hope that this work will
inspire some one to study other subjects in the town's history,
and publish the result of his lal)ors. Rev. Samuel Deane
gave instruction to many of Scituate's young men, for which
he received fifty cents per week. He was quite a poet, as well
as a teacher, and wrote many hymns for the churches. The
following poem is from his pen :

NAPOLEON.

(Napoleon, in Italy, wept at the sight of a faithful dog on the battlefield, moaning by the
side of his lifeless master. See Las. Cases, Vol. 1. Part II.)

Strange compound of passion, and why didst thou weep,

At the faith of a brute to his master, though dead ?
Was it pity that mov'd thee, for thousands that sleep,

Where thy cruel ambition has made their last bed ?

REV. SAMUEL DEANE. 327

Dost thou think of the nobles, whose generous birth,
And whose bearings of honor cast shades on thine own,

But whose blood thou wouldst pour out to water the earth,
And whose corses stride over to mount to a throne ?

Didst thou think of the widows and orphans, whose wail
Strikes the clouds, and acciisi'"- f hoaven may ascend ?

Or that Justice, insulted, may ' prevail.

And send tliee an exile from i and friend ?

Was it prophecy boding that e'en thou should'st die,
And thy foes rend the biood-sprinkled wreaths from thy brow ?

Or did shame wring the deep, scalding tear from thine eye.
Even shame, that a dog was more noble than thou ?

Strange compound of passion, ambitions's fierce sway,

All mingled with meanness and pity's soft lire.
The world shall admire, but admiring shall pray,

God send us no copy of that we admire.

Samuel Deane.

Wlio among the thousands that refer to " Deane's History of
Scituate," stop and think, "Who was this Rev. Samuel Deane
to whom we owe so much ? " Perhaps the question may come
into their minds, and they may turn to his book for informa-
tion ; but it is a fruitless search, as he scarcely mentions him-
self there. In vain has the author searched for a likeness of
him, but ai)parently none now exists, if, in fact, he ever sat for
one. The memoirs of John and Walter Deane, published at
Boston in 184!) by Wm. Reed Deane, give a very elaborate
account of Samuel Deane's ancestors and their families, Imt
does not give any information of value later tlian his marriage.
He is described as being an erect and handsome man, being
nearly, if not quite, six feet tall, with a beardless face full of
character. He was the authority for miles around on horses,
and loved a good horse dearly. Seldom was he seen travelling
exce[)t on horseback, and riding was his daily exercise. A
niece of his, now living in Boston, has a trunk in almost a
perfect state of preservation, made by Samuel Deane, and
covered with the hide of one of his favorite horses.

^2-»-t

^ — ^ descended in the following

^-— <><^ ^^ o.-»>t.^- li"e from

I. John Deane, who came from Chard, England, in 1636, or
1637.

II. John Deane, b. 1639 or 1640, d. 1717.
HI. Samuel Deane, b. 1666, d. 1731.

IV. William Deane, I). 1702, d. 1773.

V. John Deane, b. 1740, d. 1808.

VI. Rev. Samuel Deane, b. 1784, d. 1834.

328 DEANE GENEALOGY.

Rev. Samvel Deane, son of John and Abigail (^^Hiite)
Deane, was l)()in in Mansfield, Mass., March 31, 1784. He
received his education at Brown University, where he grad-
uated in 1805. He was ordained Feb. 14, 1810, as colleague
of Rev. David Barnes, D. D., over the Second Church in
Scituate, Mass. In the cemetery opposite this church he and
most of his family are buried. He was pastor of the Second
Church for twenty-four years, and in eTuly, 1834, resigned on
account of ill health. He died August 9, 1834. His works
were, (1.) "History of Scituate," published in Boston, 1831;
(2.) "The Populous Village/' a poem delivered before the
Philermenian Society of Brown University in 1826, and
which was i)ublished ; (3.) "Discourse on Christian Liberty,"
1825; (4.) "Discourse on Human Nature," 1827, and many
poems, never published. Several of his sermons were printed.
He left in MSS. a satirical poem on " Some Literary Errors of
the Age," delivered before one of the literary societies of
Brown University.

Rev. Samuel Deane's Descendants.

Samuel Deane, was born at ISIansfield, Mass., March 30
or 31, 1784, and died at South Scituate, Mass., August i», 1834,
as has been previously stated. Stella Washburn, his wife,
(daughter of Hon. Seth Washburn), was born in Raynham,
Mass, Jan. 23, 1787; d. Jan. 12, 1850. Their children were,
i. Martha Phillips, b. June 22, 1811, in Raynham ; d. July
9, 1862. 2. Charles Frederic, b. jNIarch 21, 1813, in Scit-
uate ; d. in Chicago, 111., Dec. 24, 18()0. 3. John Milton,
b. June 13, 1816, in Scituate; d. May 22, 1832. 4. Helen
Maria, b. April 9, 1819, in Scituate; d. June 24,' 1820. 5.
Helen Maria, 2nd, b. Ai)ril 21, 1821, in Scituate; mar-
ried Dennis Rockwell, of Chicago, 111., Nov. 3, 1859, and d.
Sep. 8, 1883 or (1882.)

Charles Frederic, eldest son of Samuel Deane, married at
St. Louis, Mo., Eloise Augusta Boardman, formerly of Middle-
town, Conn. Their children were, 1. AVilliam Hoi-ace Board-
man, b. Dec. 28, 1844, in Pekin, 111. ; 2. Charles Washburn,
b. July 27, 1846, in St. Louis; 3. Eloise Stella, b. July 2,
1848, in St. Louis; d. Dec. 30, 1849; 4. David Hartley
Armstrong, b. Aug. 16, 1850, in St. Louis; d. in Chicago,
1869 ; 5. Harry Stannard, b. Aug. 25, 1852, in Chicago.
6. Kitty Eloise, b. June 20, 1854, in Chicago ; 7. Helen Maria,
b. March 21, 1856 in Chicago; d. in April, 1888; 8. Stella

EEV. SAMUEL DEANE. 329

Martha, b, Dec. 7, 1857, in Chicago; 9. John Milton, b.
Aug. 29, 1859, in Chicago.

KiTTiE Eloise, the sixth chikl of Charles Frederic Deane,
mar. March, 1874, Frederic M. Blount, of Chicago, 111.
Their children, 1. Kittie, b. March, 1875, at Chicago; 2.
Harry Deane, b. Dec, 1877.

The above is as complete as has been possil)le to compile in a
limited time. That every lover of Deane may be al)le to form
a better idea of the beautiful character of the man, the two
following extracts are given. The first from an obituary,
written by his friend, the Eev. Edmund Q. Sewall, for the
Chrlstkni ReyL^teroi Ang. 23,1834, Vol. XIV., No. 2.

" Died at Scituate, Mass., Aug. 9th, Rev. Samuel Deane, Pastor of the
Second Congregational Society of that place.

*********

'* His attempts at poetical composition were not numerous. He gave,
however, to the world, on some public occasions, several pieces of much
merit; and in this paper and other periodical works, he has at different
times allowed to appear a few specimens of his talent in this kind, which
were replete with images of household tenderness and natural pathos, and
a part of which discovered a capacity for powerful and graphic description,
both of objects in the outward universe, and of action and passion among
men. He had a satirical vein, which he indulged without malice. His
fancy was often sportive in conversation, but always innocent in its play.
*********

" The last winter while subject to the pains whose fruit was his death, he
appKed himself with ardor to inquiries respecting the newly-developed
science of phrenology, and gave the results of his inquiries in an ably
written lecture. In the learning of his profession Mr. Deane was well
furnished. In some departments his acquisitions were more than the
common stock, and he continued to acquire. His taste for natural
science was such as would have led him to much devotion in its pursuits
had opportunity favored. He had at one time a carefully selected cabinet
of minerals. He had acquainted himself with the books of Phillips,
Cleaveland and others on this and kindred branches. For history he had a
decided predilection and indulged it. There were not many who were
better versed than he in the colonial history of Plymouth and Massachu-
setts, among those whose associations have not led them more directly to
make such subjects their study. His " History of Scituate " affords evi-
dences of research and talent highly respectable.

*********

"Mr. Deane never ceased to speak of Dr. Barnes as of one whom he
could not enough honor. The tribute he has inserted in his " Histoi-;^ of
Scituate " to his aged colleague is a memorial of the virtues of both, in a
relation not the most easy to sustain without fault. Mr. Deane had pro-
posed, in the hope of recovering his health in some measure, to
remove to the distant West. But God had appointed other issues. His
purposes were broken up, his visions of hope deferred, dispelled forever,
and his wearied spirit, with no more pilgrimage, bidden to its final goal.
He met his last disappointment with Christian firmness, and prepared
himself to die according to the will of God. His end was tranquil."

330 REV. SAMUEL DEANE.

The other extract is from the pen of the Rev. "Wm. P.
Tildcn, from a letter, and from an address delivered by him in
Scituate,Aug. 8, 1857, (or 1858.)

"Samuel Deane was settled here in Feb., 1810, the year before I was
born, so that I have no distinct remembrance of his early life. I think of
him only as he was in later years, when the gray hairs were upon his tem-
ples, and ill-health had taken the freshness from his cheek. He was a
man to be remembered for many qualities ; but my first impressions of him
are more of his splendid singing in the pulpit than of his preaching. He
was a dear lover of music. He had not only a delicate appreciation of it,
but a rare capacity for making it. His voice was high and clear, with a
peculiarly musical tone distinct from all other voices, yet blending hapi^ily
with them, always alone, yet always in harmony. How his light gray eye
would glisten, and his wide mouth open to jjour out the high, liquid tenor
when some favorite old tune kindled him. He had one peculiarity not
easily forgotten, that of waiting till the choir had sung partly through the
line, and then striking out at the beginning in bold, clear tones, catch up
with the choir, and let his voice mingle sweetly with the closing notes.
He was a man of genius, a man of thought, a man of many noble qual-
ities ; but he was peculiar — his mind did not run in old ruts. He thought
for himself, and spake his thoughts freely. He hated all shams, espec-
ially in religion. Whittier's lines to John Randolph have seemed to me
peculiarly applicable to him :

' Sworn foe of cant, he smote it down,
With trenchant wit unsparing :
And scoffing tore with ruthless hand,
The robe pretense was wearing.'

" He had no patience with pretense. Even now can you not see the
scornful curl of his lip at mention of what seemed to him like hypocrisy in
religion or meanness in daily life? Indeed, he carried this so far as to do
injustice to his deeper and better nature; for I have no doubt his strong
repugnance to every species of pharisaisni often led him to hold back what
his heart prompted to utter, and left the impression that he was less truly
religious than he really was at heart. His position on the Arminian side
in the old controversy with Calvinism doubtless strengthened this natural
tendency. Very likely he may have felt in after life that he had erred in
not speaking moi'e directly and freely with his people upon personal
religion, for many of you remember what a change there was in the char-
acter of his preaching during the last few years of his life, when the angel
of sickness and sorrow came down to trouble the waters. Under the
baptism of trial his soul seemed to gain fresh fervor, and earnestness, and
inspiration. My most distinct remembrance of him is at this period. I
remember particularly the sermon he preached after John's death, and
after speaking of his boy's lingering illness, with trembling lip, and eyes,
suffused with tears, he repeated in broken utterance those touching lines
of Gray :

' One morn I missed him on the 'customed hill.

Along the heath, and near his favorite tree.

Anotlier came, nor yet beside the rill.

Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he.'

'* I remember, too, as some of you doubtless do, of his telling in that
sermon, that in speaking with John one day during his last sickness about
the Lord's Supper and his observance of it, John said to him, ' Father, do
you remember how on such a time I went into the gallery to remain there

THE CUSHINGS. 331

during the Communion Service?' 'I do, my son.' * Well, father,
/ went there to commune with you in spirit.''

" He was a lovely boy ; his death was too much for the stricken father,
whose frame was already shattered by repeated sicknesses. You remem-
ber how often after this, his deep emotions would choke his utterance in his
pulpit services. He failed rapidly, his old disease of the lungs, against
which he had been struggling for years, prostrated him more and moi'e.
As he was walking one day with his dear friend, the Rev. E. Q. Sewall, he
repeated as applicable to himself, those touching lines of Cowper ;

' I was a stricken deer, hurt by the archers,
And have left the herd.'

adding a beautiful line of Virgil, which speaks of the arrow quivering la
the death-wound. He soon followed his boy. His memory is still greea
in many of our hearts, and I am glad, as one of the children of his flock^
to drop this leaf upon his grave as a slight token of respect to his memory.'

The Cushings were among the early aristocracy of Scituate,
and the following items relative to Judge Cushing's family are
taken from some old newspapers. From the ^ew England
Weekly Journal:

" On Saturday last (Mon., Nov. 24, 1729) died here Mr. Nathaniel Gush-
ing, Son of the Hon. Judge Gushing of Scituate, a Young Gentleman who
had his Education at Harvard Gollege, and has since been employed in the
Secretary's Office, and several times as Glerk of His Majesty's Gouncil for
this Province : It is but about a Month past he entei'ed into a married state,
and it is supposed he was seized by Death the night of his Mari-iuge, since
which he languished till the time of his Death. An affecting Instance of
the vanity of human life, even in the Bloom of Youth, and affluence of
Worldly Prosperity."

From the Boston Post Boy and Advertiser, April 3, 1769 :

" We hear from Scituate that Wednesday morning died there after a
long confinement Mrs. Mary Gushing, aged 59 years, the virtuous consort
of the Hon. John Gushing, Esq. of that place."

From the Boston Evening Post, Sept, 16, 1771 :

" Married, Thomas Aylwyn, Esq., of this town, merchant, to Miss Lucy
Gushing of Scituate, daughter of the Hon. John Gushing, Esq., a judge of
the Supei'ior Gourt."

And in a Boston paper of Dec. 12, 1885, there appeared the
following :

"Ghrissie Turner, a colored woman, who died on the 12th inst. in Bour-
nedale, having arrived at the age of 100 years, was born a slave and lived
for many years in the family of -Judge Gushing in Scituate, being a part
of the dowry of Mrs. Gushing at her marriage."

Items relative to the Turner family, also among the early
aristocracy of Scituate, are found as follows. From the Boston
Gazette and Country Jouriial, of Monday, August 31, 1761 :

332 TUENERS WM. VASSALL.

" We hear from Scituate that on the 22nd instant died Mrs. Hannah
Turner, widow of Col. Amos Turner, and mother of Col. Thomas Clapp of
that Town, in the eightieth year of her Age : In every Station and Condi-
tion of Life, much of the Virtues and Graces of the Christian were con-
spicuous in her, as she lived desired, so she died lamented. She died in a
good old Age, an old Woman, and full of Years, and we have Reason to
hope she is now Partaker of the Rest that remaineth to the children of God
in a better World."

In the Post of Nov. 29, 1773 :

" Married at Scituate, Mr. Wm. Turner to Miss Eunice Clap, daughter of
Nathl. Clap, Esq."

Also in the Boston Evening Post, Feb. 7, 1774 :

" On the 22d of Dec. last was celebrated at Plimouth the anniversary of
their ancestors' first landing in New England, on which occasion the Rev.
Mr. Turner of Scituate deliver'd a discourse in the Rev. Mr. Robbins's
Meeting House from Zach. IV. part of the 9th & 10th verses. After which
a very suitable dinner was prepai-'d at Mr. Howland's where a great num-
ber of the people with five of the Clergy were genteely entertained and
the day & evening very agreeably spent & to the honor of all present.
Every countenance being expressive of gratitude & joy and every tongue
exuberant in blessing the memory of their pious forefathers."

The following relative to William Vassal!, after he left Scit-
uate, is taken from a book entitled "The Vassalls of New Eng-
land and their Immediate Descendants," by Harris, pp. 4
and 5 :

"William Vassall in 1646 sailed for England in the 'Supply' in
aid of a petition for the redress of wrongs in the government, and
never returned, but in 1648 returned to Barbadoes and there died in
1655, aged 65 years. His will is dated at Barbadoes, July 13, 1655.
He bequeathed to his son John one third of all his estates, and the
remainder to his daughters, Judith, Frances, Ann, Margaret and
Mary. His son was appointed Executor, and in his absence Nicho-
las Ware, who appointed. May S, 1656, Capt. Joshua Hubbard of
Hingham his attorney for the sale of the Scituate Estate, by virtue
of two writings, one signed by Resolved White and James Adams,
Feby. 18, 1656, and the other by Margaret and Mary Vassall, Mar. 3,
1655-6. The estate was conveyed by Joshua Hubbard to John
Cushen and Mathyas Brigs for £!i30, and consisted of about 120
acres, with houses and barns. The deed was signed by Joshua
Hubbard, Resolved White and Judith his wife, and James Adams,
July 18, 1657."*

An old rhyme, which "went the rounds" lor many years

* See further account of Vassall in Deane's History, and in chapter on Briggs Yard.

MAY REV. CHAS. T. TOKKEY. 333

about a prominent man with a poor character, is here revived
for the cditiaition of the older people, viz. :

" Here lies the dull sleeper called *****.
Who for thirty nine years has played off his jokes.
Whose days of probation for marriage have past,
And this is his last May ; yes the very last.
In future his fate will be hard as a rock,
He will lie snoring in bed till past ten o'clock.
Without victuals to eat or a deary to cheer him,
I solemnly hope no one will go near him ;
A hater of man, an insulter of woman :
Like a blasted old tree in the midst of a common.
Crown his gates ye May nymphs with wormwood and myrtle
More fragrant and fair than a salt water turtle."

Rev. Santl J. May was one of Scituate's strong abolitionists,
he succeeded Mr. Deane at the Second church. A history of
his life has been published in book form by the Unitarian
Society.

There came from Scituate one man who appeared before the
world a beautiful example of strength of character, and who
died a martyr in his efforts to free the people, for whom so
many lost their lives later. This was the Bev. Charles T.
Torrey. He was born in a one story gambrel-roof house,
located in Greenbush Village, on the first left hand corner
northeast from the old Stockl)ridge place on the road that runs
by the pond to the harbor. This house was occupied for many
years by Calvin Jenkins. During Mr. Torrey's incarceration
in Baltimore jail, after his conviction, and while awaiting sen-
tence, in 1844, he wrote a book entitled ''Home, or the Pil-
grims' Faith Revived:' It should be read by every resident
or native of Scituate. In this volume he speaks of Scituate, or
"Home," as he calls it, as follows :

"The first settlers were generally men of property. Many of
them were scholars and accomplished gentlemen. They impressed
on their children a love of learning and a refinement of manners
that has never wholly disappeared, in the darkest periods of the
annals of ' Home.' Sound in their religious faith, taught the value
of a good hope towards God by the lessons of persecution, there was
not perhaps for two generations a head of a family who did not
belong to the church ; not a house in which the morning and evening
sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving was omitted. No law was ever
needed to induce the people to sustain a sufficient number of excel-
lent free schools, and for more than a century from the settlement, a

334 REV. CHARLES T. TORREY.

public grammar school supplied to all who desired it, the means of
a more enlarged course of study. While the rigor of the early faith
and piety remained, no town set a greater value on the higher
branches ot education. For a century and a half hardly a foreigner
has entered ' Home.' The few who came were soon assimilated to
the habits and feelings of a people born, living and dying on the
same soil. I can remember twenty families in one section of the
town which for seven, eight and nine generations have lived on the
same spot ; no rare thing in the old countries but quite so in our
new and ever moving land. No foreign sources of corruption
therefore ever came in to make the sons unworthy to bear the names
of their sires. If they have fallen the root of evil is from within."

A stone erected to the memory of Rev. Mr. Torrey, in the
cemetery at Mt. Auburn, Mass., bears the following inscrip-
tions :

"REV. CHARLES T. TORREY

Born at Scituate Nov. 21, 1S13. Graduated at Yale College, Aug.
1S33. Ordained at Providence, Mar., 1S37. Arrested at Baltimore,
June 24, 1844. Died in the Penitentiary of that City May 9, 1846."

" Charles Turner Torrey was arrested for aiding slaves to regain
their liberty. For this humane act he was indicted as a criminal,
convicted by the Baltimore City Court, and sentenced to the Peniten-
tiary for six years. While on his death bed he was refused a par-
don by the Government of Maryland, and died of consumption after
two years confinement, a victim of his sufferings. It is better to die
in prison with the peace of God in our breasts than to live in free-
dom with a polluted conscience.

"Where now beneath his burthen
The toiling slave is driven,
Where now a tyrant's mockery
Is offered up to heaven.
There shall his praise be spoken,
Redeemed from falsehood's ban
When the fetters shall be broken.
And the slave shall be a man."

'' The friends of the American Slaves erect this stone to his mem-
ory as a Martyr for Liberty."

Drake in his history, paofe (359, relates the following : "Feb.,
1761, the body of Maj. Gen'l Edward Whitmore was brought
to Boston from Plymouth in the sch. '^Leopard,'' Thomas Church,
master. He was coming from Louisburg to Boston and fell
overboard and was drowned." As Capt. Church was a Scituate

SHIP-WRECKS. 335

man, the vessel may have been a Hanover or Scituate vesseL
Barry says, "During the great storm of April 16-17, 1851, the
sea broke completely over the narrow strip of l)each between
the Third and Fourth Cliffs." Wrecks strewed the coast after
that fearful storm. From the Boston News Letter the follow-
ing is taken :

"On Friday Apr. 6th. 1711, Capt. Brown in a large sloop from Surra-
nan was taken oft" Scituate two miles from the shore by two Flacentia
Privateer sloops, 32 men in each, no great guns. Brown and three of bis
men were put on shore, his mate and one of his men were sent away in
the sloop."

In an early number of the New England Weekly Journal
appears the following :

"On Wednesday night last (Aug. 28, 1728) at eleven o'clock, Capt.
Joseph Anderson coming from Lisbon, bound to this place in a Brigantine
ran on the rocks near Scituate, whereby the vessel is likely to be entirely
lost and much of the cargo, tho' the lives of the men are sav'd after abun-
dance of fatigue and difficulty."

Also the JVe?/; England Weekly Journal, of a later date,
gives the following account of another vessel as follows :

"In our last we gave an account that a large Ship had run ashore near
Scituate : we have since been informed more tuUy of the same, and learn
that the said Ship was commanded by Capt. Wellington, belonging to Bris-
tol, and coming hither from Lisbon loadeii with Salt, that on or about Friday
the 10th Instant, (Oct., 1729) she ran aground on Marshfield Beach, and
that after a while six of the Men got into the Boat to go on shore, but
while they were near the Ship the Waves beat so violently, that the Boat
filled with Water, and five of the said ]\Ien were drowned, and one held
by the Boat and got again into the Ship, where were six more that
remained on Board ; that soon after the Ship broke to pieces, and the Salt
washing away, the part they were in lightened, and swung nearer the shore,
by which means they all got safe to Land. The Vessel and cargo was
entirely lost."

Representations of the earliest vessels were those built and
used by the Egyptians. They were small vessels or galleys
built with keels, ribs, and planking, without decks, but strength-
ened crosswise by numerous benches on which the rowers sat.
It is mentioned in early history as a noteworthy circumstance
that when Ciesar invaded Britain, his vessels were so large they
could not reach the shore, and his troops on disembarking,
were breast high in the water. John J. Currier, in his very
interesting Historical Sketch of Shipbuilding on the Merrimac
River, published in 1877, states that "In Newburyport, where
they had every facility for building and launching large vessels.

336 FIRST SHIPS BUILT IN AMERICA.

they did not build a vessel so large as 594 tons until 1836.'*
Undoubtedly the ^r.s^ vessel of size sufficient to navigate the ocean
launched fvom the shores of New England, ivas " a f aire pinnace
of thirty tons,"" called the " Virginia,'''' which according to
Strachey, was Ijuilt by the Popham Colony at the mouth of the
Kennebec, in 1607, thirteen years before the landing of the
Pilgrims at Plymouth, and which made a successful voyaoe
across the Atlantic, the same year. Twenty-four years after
this, on the fourth of July, 1631, Gov. Winthrop launched the
^^ Blessing of the Bay,''' the first vessel built in this part of the
State. This vessel was built on what has since been known as the
"Ten Hills farm " at Medford on the Mystic liiver, and about
fifty years ago the identical ways from which she was launched
were still standing and in a fair state of preservation. She was
built of locust timber cut up on the farm. * Capt. George Henry
Prel)le, U. S. N., in an article entitled " Early Ship-lmilding in
Massachusetts," says, "The ship-carpenter, who came over to
the Plymouth people in 1624, soon died, but not until he had
built two shallops, one of which was employed in the Fail of
the next year to carry a load of corn on a trading voyage to the
Kennebec River. She had a ' little deck over her amid-ships to
keep ye corne drie but ye men were faine to stand it out in all
weathers without shelter.' The next year they 'tooke one of
ye l)iggest of these shallops and sawed her in ye middle and so
lengthened her some 5 or 6 foote and strengthened her timbers
and so builte her up and laid a deck on her and so made her a
conveniente and wholesome vessell very fitt and comfortable for
their use which did them service 7 years after ; and they gott
her finished and fitted her with sayles and anchors ye ensuing
year.' Such were the first vessels of the Pilgrims." BetAveen
the years 1678 and 1706, Scituate far exceeded any other New
England town excepting Boston in the number of vessels built.
This latter year she was equalled only by Newbury and Salem.
The following is a partial list of vessels which were built in
Scituate during early times. IMany other vessels built here dur-
ing these years can be found under the chapters on the different
yards. In 1694, there was built the sloop " MAYFLOWER," 25
tons ; owners, the Captain, James Truworthy, Boston, John
Warren, Thomas Dalton of the Island of Providence. 1694,
sip. "KATHARINE," 25 tons, Capt. Samuel Hill; owners,
Samuel Heyman and Robert Knowles, Charlestown. 1694^

* See Chapter, North River, Continued.

VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE PRIOR TO 1 700. 337

"brig't'n "PKIINIROSE," 50 tons, Philip Bass, master; owners,
Andrew Belcher, John Eyer, Jeremiah Dumme'r, William
Clarke, Boston, Edw. Shippen of Philadelphia. 1()1)5, ship
" SPEEDWELL," 60 tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Burrin<>ton,
John Foster, Benjamin Alford, Edward Thomas, Abraham
Blish, of Boston. 1695, sip. " SPEEDWELL," 25 tons ; James
Seyward of Gloucester, owner and master. 1695, brig't'n
"JOHN & ABIEL," 60 tons; owners, John Ireland, her
master, Andrew Belcher, John Eyer, George Cable and Jeremiah
AlUui of Boston, and Richard Clayton and Edward Parson of
the Island of Mount Serat. 1696, ship " DOLPHIN," 100 tons ;
owners, Ca})t. (iilos Fyfield, Samuel Lillie and Edward Martin,
merchants, John Rusk, Samuel Greenwood, Thomas Baker,
Nathaniel Henchman, all of Boston. 1696, brig't'n " ADVEN-
TURE," 50 tons, Capt. Andrew Rankin ; owners, Andrew
Belcher, Daniel Oliver, Andrew Rankin, of Boston, and Isaac
Little of Marshfield. 1696, ship "SPEEDWELL," 100 tons,
Capt. Robert Wliite ; owners, Samuel Lillie, Edward Martin,
Samuel Greenwood, Thomas Baker and John Buck, Boston,
and Giles Fifield. 1696, sip. "HOPEWELL," 35 tons, Scit-
uate ; owners, William Webster of Piscatag, N. H., and John
Linkler, of Boston. 1696, ship "ANDREW & SAMUEL,"
80 tons ; owners, Andrew Belcher, and John Colman, merchants,
Samuel Lillie, and Daniel Oliver, all of Boston. 1697, sip.,
afterwards, brig't'n, "HOPEWELL," 60 tons, Capt. Win.
Rouse; owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. 1697, brig't'n
"MICHAEL & SAMUEL," 60 tons; owners, the Capt.,
Thomas Lillie, and Samuel Lillie of Boston, and Michael Lam-
bert of the Island of St. Christophers, merchant. The follow-
ing is a copy in full of the register or oath taken by the owners
or builders, viz. :

" 1697-8. Daniel Zachary of Boston in New England, Ironmon-
ger, being a professed Quaker did solemnly declare in the presence
of Almighty God the witness of the truth of what he said. That the
sip. ''UNITY," of Boston, aforesaid, whereof Matthew Estis is at
present Master, being a square sterned viessel of the burthen of about
Forty Tons, was built at Scituate in New England around 1697, and
that he the said Daniel Zachary is at present sole owner thereof and
that no forreigner directly or indirectly hath any share or part inter-
est thereiii.

Declarat Cor.

William Stoughton & Jahted Brenton, Collectors.

The above Mathew Estes was probably a Hanover man, and

338 VESSELS EUILT IN SCITUATE IN EARLY TIMES.

the same that resided on a ftirm in West Hanover, where a
descendant, Henry Estes, now resides, and this latter vessel,
l)uilt for Quakers, may have l)een built by Edward Wanton.
1H97, brig't'n "HOPEWELL," of the Island of Jamaica in
1()99 ; owners, Capt. John Sadler, Boston, William Smith of
Jamaica. 1698, ship " TRYAL," 60 tons, hailing from Taunton,
Capt. James Smith ; owners, David Jeffries of Boston, and
Morris Hammond and Simon Stacey of Taunton. 1698, sip.
"ENDEAVOUR," 20 tons, Capt. John Bowdon ; Benjamin
Gallop of Boston, owner. 1698, sip. "FRIENDS ADVEN-
URE," 30 tons, Capt. John Tapper ; owner, Robert Evans, of
Boston. 1698, ship "JOHN & ABIAL," 100 tons, hailing
from Mount Serat ; owners, Capt. John Ireland of Boston, Col.
Anthony Hodges and James Donnalson of the Island of Mount
Serat, and Thomas Thompson of Pool, in the Kingdom of Eng-
land, residing in Boston in 1702, a professed Quaker. As
will ))e seen the above were built during the sixteen hundreds.
Commencing with the year 1700 there was built in Scituate, in
1700, the sloop "ELIZABETH," 20 tons ; owners, William
Goddard, mariner, and Eleazer Darby of Boston ; also in 1700,
the sloop "CONTENT," 30 tons ; owners, Samuel Lillie, mer-
chant, and Tobias Greene, mariner, of Boston, and Nathaniel
Lommis ; also in 1700, the brig't'n "PRUDENT SARAH," .50
tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Tomlin and James Allison, of the
Island of Jamaica ; and also in 1700, the katch "HOPE," 30
tons ; owner, Capt. Thomas Lasenbv, Boston. There was
built in Scituate, in 1701 , the brig " MAYFLOWER," 30 tons ;
owners, Charles Shepard, merchant, and David Jeifries of
Boston. In 1703, the brig't'n "WILLIAM & THOMAS," 72
tons, Capt. Francis Plaisted ; owners, AVilliam Fenton and son,
Thomas Fenton, and Jacob Doval of the Island of Nevis; also
in 1703, the sloop " HENNERETA," 20 tons, Capt. John
Jarvis ; owner, John Frizell ; and also in 1703, the sloop
" JOHN & DANIEL," 30 tons : owners, Daniel IVIiddleton and
John Frizell of Boston. In 1704, the sloop " FRANCES," 20
tons, was built at Scituate, before called the " Xa7'A;e," of Bos-
ton; owners, Timo. Harris, English merchant, in Oporto, and
David Jeffries of Boston ; also in 1704, the ship " JOHN &
DAYID," 60 tons ; owners, David Jeffries, merchant, and
John Frizell of Boston; also in 1704, the brig't'n "DORO-
THY," 40 tons ; owners, David Jeffries, merchant, and John
Frizell of Boston ; also in 1704, the brig't'n " DOVE," 45 tons ;
owner, Samuel Lillie, of Boston; and lastly in 1704, the ship

VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE IN EARLY TIMES. 339

"ADVENTURE," 50 tons; owner, Nicholus Roberts of Bos-
ton. In 1705, the brig't'n "SWALLOW," 30 tons, was built
at Scituate ; owner, John Frizell of Boston ; also in 1705, the
brig't'n "ABIGAIL & SARAH," 60 tons; owners, Edward
Marty n and William Hutchinson, merchants, and Thomas Pal-
mer of Boston ; also in 1705, the sloop "BENJAMIN," 30 tons,
owner, Benjamin Flood of Boston ; and lastly in 1705,
the sloop "AMITY," 50 tons; owners, Daniel Oliver, Francis
Clarke and William Wellsteed of Boston, merchants, and
Nathaniel Oliver of Boston. In 1706, the brig't'n "TYGER,"
60 tons, was l>uilt at Scituate ; owners, Thomas Palmer and
Edward Martyn of Boston ; also in 1706, sloop "BETTY," 40
tons ; owners, Andrew Belcher and Charles Chambers of
Charlestown; and also in 1706, brig't'n "GOOD LUCK," 70
tons ; owners, Samuel Lidie, merchant and John Ruggles of
Boston. In 1711 , the ship " JOHN & DOROTHY," ¥o tons,
was built at Scituate ; John Frizell of Boston, owner ; and in
1712, the brig't'n "MAYFLOWER," 30 tons ; John Frizell, of
Boston, owner. The absence of official records leaves the
history of shipbuilding, during the middle of the D^th century,
a blaak as has been elsewhere stated, but the following petition
found among some old MSS. will be read with interest by
many :

' ' To the Honourable Senate S Honourable House of Representa-
tives in General Court Assembled : The petition of the under-
signed an inhabitant of Scituate I'espectfi'.lly shows. That in the
year 1775, he was the owner ot \ part of a sch. burthe7ied 44. tons,
one year old, which was all the property he then had. Said vessel
was laid up in a creek of Scituate, in the month of April, 1775. The
rigging & sails were taken from their places and stored in the cabin
and hold. Some time in Jime or July of the same year a party of
soldiers sent bv the committee of Public vSafety of the town of Cohas-
set went and took said sails and carried them to Roxbury to be used
for tents for the Army. Your petitioner was at that time a Militia
soldier in actual service. He was afterwards paid the number of
dollars his sails were said to be worth in Continental money, the
value of which at the time was a mere trifle. He afterwards lent the
state a hundred pounds of his own hard earnings and took a note
signed Henry Gardner. In about 18 years after, received a State
note in lieu thereof for two hundred and ten dollars. The above
facts your petitioner is abundantly able to establish before any com-
mittee which your Honours may depute to hear the same. He is
now Si years of age, infirm & poor, has no relatives or friends of
sufficient pecuniary ability to support him. He therefore prays your
Honours to take a compassionate view of his case, and award liim

340 ROGEllS MERRITT TURNER.

tliat justice which to jou shall seem meet and proper, and as in duty
bound will ever pray.

{^Signed)

Jared Battles."

The first ship-builder, whom it has been found impossible to
locate at any particular yard in Scituate, is Asa Roqers, who
built here in 1803, the sch. "MORNING STAR," (see Rogers
Yards). Another shipbuilder, whom it has been impossible to
locate during all the years he built, is Elisha Merritt who lived
on the Black Pond Road, South Scituate. He was brother of
Consider, whose son Joseph built on the Chittenden Yard.
Elisha had two sons, both of whom are now living in North
Scituate. They are Joseph H., a wheelwright and Cummings,
a blacksmith. Elisha was the son of Elisha and Priscilla Merritt,
and a lineal descendant of Henry Merritt, who was in Scituate
in 1628, (see Deane's "History of Scituate").

Q^-^t^i Aju. cx^We^^ "

built a fishing schooner, the
Mozart," 40 tons, about

1837, above the tide mill at
Cohasset for his brother Francis ; and earlier or in 1829 the sch.
"Elizabeth," 57 tons, for James Collier. He also built one
vessel at the Harbor at King's Landing by the old carding
mill. He was partner at one time with Copeland, Pratt and
others at the Fox Hill Yard,* and the following vessels which he
built at Scituate, he may have built in this yard. In 1816, the
sch. " UNION," 48 tons ; owners, Elisha, Benjamin and Consider
Merritt, Jr., Freeman Litchfield, Samuel Hiland, Silvester
Clapp and Caleb Bailey of Scituate. In 1819, the sch.
"LITTLE MARTHA," 55 tons, of Boston. In 1825, the sch.
" LAGRANGE," 73 tons ; owned by Lemuel Webb, Jesse
Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., John Beal, Peleg Jenkins and Simeon
Bates, Jr., of Scituate. He also built in Scituate, in 1831, the
sch. "ELLEN," 61 tons, of Cohasset, afterwards of Orleans.

w.^ yp f^:^'^^ ^^^ ^ shipbuilder in

.^;;;;;2U^>^e^«-«^^C^^^^'''^"^;^^*^ Scituate during the early

part of this century.
One report says he built on North River, but an old resident at
the harbor says he remembers hia building the " Richmond "
in the Samuel Kent yard at the harbor. In any case, the

* See chapter on Fox Hill Yard.

BROOKS

LITCIIFIKLI).

341

followinir vessels were built by him, and in Scituatc. In 1817,
the sch/" MONROE," 47 tons, of Boston; owners, Theodore,
Samuel, Jr., and Sanuicl Turner, Hersey Litchfield, Elias
Pincin, Benjamin R. Jacobs, of Scituate, and others. Also
in 1817 the brig, "RICHMOND," 116 tons, of Boston.
Altered into a schooner in 1828 ; owners, Jesse Dunbar, Sr.
and Jr., Capt. Seth Webb of Scituate, and others. Samuel
Turner has one daughter now living, the widow of Frank
Brooks, who was son of William Brooks,* who was a ship-
builder, and built in Scituate in 1818 the sch. " GOLCONDA,"
78 tons, of Boston,
but at what yard he
built we have l)een
unable to ascertain.

Samuel Rogers built in Scituate in 1817 the sloop "NANCY."
(See Rogers Yards.) There was also built in Scituate in 1818,
at some yard unknown, the sch. " FOUR BROTHERS," 53 tons,

^ of Boston, by

^ ^ P Ja—^ ^■"^^y^ master carpen-

^^jr'^r^-^-vtf*-*'*^ ^^f^^^^^^^-^^^ ter, who lived in

Beech wood,
North Scituate. His grandson, John, now lives in North Scit-
uate. He has also a grand-daughter, Juliza, now living. The
wife of Thomas Lawrence, of Somerville, is a daughter of
Leonard. He also had sons Addison, John and Foster.

There was built in Scituate in 1819, at some yard not
known, the sch. "FOUR SISTERS," 67 tons, of Boston, by

^ — V master carpenter. She was

<i?^ y7^ 'T^-Ty yf /!!!F* owned by Hall & Billings, and

^ifi/U^ M^tA/^UXy^ Martin D. and Benjamiii Mer-

^ ritt, Lindale Tilden, Elijah

Pierce, Silas Clapp and Leonard Litchfield, of Scituatc.

The last shipbuilder that comes under this chapter is Oum-
tnings Litclijield. He had built in company with James S.
Burrell, at the Wanton yard, and under the chapter de-

*William Brooks, tbe shipbuilder, was probably the son of William and Betty
Brooks, of Scituate, as they had a son William, b. March 12, 1771.

342 VESSELS BUILT BY CUMMINGS LITCHFIELD.

voted to that yard, can ])e found a sketch of his life, and the
vessels he luiilt there. In 1852 he conceived the novel idea of
building a vessel in his own door yard. He got his timber and
plank ready, laid the keel, and went to w^ork on a schooner of
35 tons, and soon had "as handsome a little vessel ready for
launching as was ever built three miles from the water ; " the
keel being laid on the land between his residence in 1889, and
the house of the late Misses Sally and Rachel Lapham. It
was named the " ONLY SON," and great preparations were
made to get it into the river. The roads in that vicinity are
hard to travel, and most people thought the first rising ground
would be the last resting-place of the "Only Son." Not so
Mr. Litchfield. He procured four sets of the heaviest axles
and wheels, got his vesseHvell in position, hitched on eighteen
pairs of large oxen, and, accompanied by nearly all the
inhabitants of Scituate and neighboring towns, slowly moved
his cumbersome load to Union bridge, where it was launched
without accident. The "Only Son" was named after Wil-
liam, the only son of Cummings Litchfield. She is registered
as 23 tons, built at Scituate in 1860, and she was owned by Mr.
Litchfield. Her first voyage was from Charlestown to Grand
Manan freighting. Later, she went to Bay of Fundy cod-
fishing, under Capt. Trim. Afterward she was run as a packet
from Scituate to Boston, and back to Grand Manan, where
she saved forty tierces of wine from a vessel, and got quite a
salvage. She was finally sold to Grand Manan to go cod-
fishing.

Cummings Litchfield had a ship-yard next to Union bridge,
just below on the Scituate side, and here he built one schooner
and several "gundalows." He built in 1868 the sch. "PER-
FECT," 26 tons, at Union bridge. She was used fishing two or
three years under Capt. Israel Merritt ; then lumbering.
Later, Capt. Litchfield, her builder, took command of her and
went to Gloucester and other voyages. She was very fast, and
cut a shnie in the difterent ports. His last trip in her was to
Bucksport, Me., where he sold her in the spring of the year.
Among other srondolas or "gundalows" which he l)uilt at Union
bridge were the following: "SEA BOY," "EUREKA," and
"RED ROVER."

We now come to the vessels whose builders have not been
ascertained, neither do we know at what yards they were built ;
but it is certain they were all built in Scituate, Mass. There

VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE. 343

was built here in 1780 the sch. " DIANA," 30 tons, of Cohasset ;
owners, Joseph Phillips and William Macomber, of Marshfield ;
also in 17.SG, the sch. " CENTURION," 47 tons, Samuel Clapp,
owner, of Seituate. In 1787, the sch. " BETSEY," 51 tons, of
Boston. In 1787, the sch. "DOLPHIN," 44 tons, " deep waist
and a long quarter deck," of Boston, captured and condemned
by the British in 1812. In 1787, the sip. "HANNAH," 40
tons, of Boston. In 17.S7, the sch. " FISH HAWK," 4U tons,
of Scituate ; owned by Rowland Tlnmias, Calvin Litchfield and
Calvin Jenkins, of Scituate. In 1787, the sch. "HOPE," 54
tons, owned by Anthony Waterman, Sr. and Jr., of Scituate;
and also in 1787, the sch. "LUCY," 60 tons, of Duxlmry ; in
1811 foundered at sea. In 1788, the sch. "FRIENDSHIP,"
49 tons ; owned by George Morton, Joshua Otis, Jr., Samuel
Simmons and Nathaniel Turner, Jr., of Scituate; afterward
sold to Boston ; also in 1788, the sch. "FAVORITE," 64 tons ;
owned by Consider and George Mervitt, and Bryant Steven-
son of Scituate ; afterward sold to Sylvanus and David Snow,
Jr., of Truro, David Snow, master. In 17811, the sch. "SEA
FLOWER," 46 tons, of Boston. In 1789, the sch. " POLLY,"
40 tons, owned by Samuel Arnold, Weymouth, innholder.
In 1789 the Brig't'n "SWALLOW," 75 tons, of Boston; and
also in 1789 the sch. "LUCY," 50 tons, of Duxhury. In
1790, the sch. "REVIVAL," 44 tons, owned by Caleb Prouty,
Jr., Jesse Dunbar and Thomas Prouty, of Scituate; also in
1790 the sch. " BETSEY," 51 tons, owned by Matthew Pierce,
James Merritt, and Luther Holbrook, of Scituate. In 1791,
the sch. "REVIVAL," 44 tons ; owned by Jesse Dunbar and
Eli Curtis, of Scituate. There was also built on North River
the whaling ship " WASHINGTON," of Nantucket, and under
the command of Capt. George Bunker, was the Jirfit to shoiv
an American Flag in a Spanish Pacific, port. The "Washing-
ton " went toCallao on the coast of Peru, and on the 4th of
July, 1792, two months after the discovery of ' the Columbia
River, by Gray, displayed the stars and stripes in that port.*
Lying there was an English whaling vessel and a French brig,
both manned by Nantucket men, who assisted Capt. Bunker in
his commemoration of the day. The following vessels were
built at Scituate and registered at New Bedford : sch. " liET-
SEY," built at Scituate ni 1803 ; hark "RUSSELL," in 1.S04 ;
ship " HELENA," 1806 ; ship " MODOC," 1810 ; ship " WIL-

* See accounts of tbe " Columbia " and " Washington," in chapter on Briggs yard.

344 VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE.

LIAM PENN," 1810; sch. "FOUR BROTHERS, 1818.
The sch. "MOUNT HOPE," 65 tons, oak, copper and iron-
fiistcned, was built in Scituate in 1827, rebuilt in 1850.
Owned in 1865 by B. Clark, Rockland, Me. ; Capt. J. Spauld-
ing. The sch. "ANGEL," 71 tons, fisherman, was built in
Scituate in 1830 ; owned in 1865 by Stephen Luce, Scituate :
Capt. J. Luce. The sch. "JOS. ATKINS," 131 tons, ofProv-
incetown, was built in Scituate in 1838. The l)rig "JOHN B.
DODS," 160 tons, of Provincetown, was built in Scituate in
1840. The brig, formerly bark, " SAMUEL & THOMAS,"
190 tons, was built in Scituate in 1841, of oak, iron, and
copper fastened ; whaler; owned in New Bedford in 1872 by
D. B. Kempton. The brig " Samuel & Thomas" in 1841 was
owned by Samuel Soper, of Provincetown, and was named
after his sons. She was whaling in the Atlantic Ocean, where
she continued until 1850, when she was sold to Mattapoisett to
R. L. Barstow and w^ent whaling to the Lidian and Pacific
Oceans, until 1863, when she Avas sold to David R. Kempton,
New Bedford. In September, 1866, Thomas Parker, the
third mate, was killed by falling from aloft. In 1867, Capt.
Cromwell had the command of her, and in 1869 she was sold to
Talcahuano, Chili, and continued whaling from that port. The
sch. "PRESIDENT HARRISON," 65 tons, of Orleans, was built
in Scituate in 1841. The sch. "AGNES," of 53 tons, was
built in 1842, in Scituate. She drew nine feet, was of oak,
iron, and copper fastened. In 1874 she belonged to Francis
Culpepper, of the Barbadoes, and was sailing under the Brit-
ish flag, Capt. Peter Spencer. She was probably the old
" Talisman:' The sch. " CHATHAM," was built in Scituate in
1844, 65 tons, fisherman, owned in 1865 l)y J. G. Bowley,
Provincetown, Capt. Latham. The sch. "ALEXANDER," 74
tons, oak, iron fastened, was built in Scituate in 1848 ; 60 feet
long, flush deck ; owned in 1863 by a Mr. Johnson, Province-
town, Capt. Snow. The bark "MARNIX," 225 tons, oak and
pine, was built in Scituate in 1849, and was owned in 1861 by
G. C. Crommelin, at Dcventer, Capt. Wassenaar. The sch.
" EMMA v.," 149 tons, was built in Scituate in 1852 ; owned in
1859 by B. P. Burk, and others, of Provincetown. Built of
oak and locust, copper and iron fastened ; trunk cabin ; Capt.
Cook. The l)ark "SALEM," 260 tons, was built in Scituate
in 1854; owned in 1861 by Goodhue & Co., N. Y. ; Capt.
Conilard. We will close this chapter with some verses
written probably fifty years ago by an old shipbuilder, descrip-

A STOllY TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS. 345

tive of two of Scituate's maidens who died many years ago, and
whose rekitives have long since followed them.

On Nicliols place of ancient date
Two maiden sisters live,
Enjoying all the happiness,
That hogs and cows can give.

Their father was a plain old man
Who lived to need a staff'.
And lost his eye while toiling hard
To help his hetter half.

But he is numbered with the dead,
His wife has followed him,
And all that he was worth he left
In neat and wholesome trim.

These two young maids came in as heirs
And settled on the farm,
Well stocked with brutes of every kind
And wood to keep them warm.

Now you must know some skill 'twould need

To manage every part,

And Nabby was the siite qua tton

To give it her whole heart.

But now methinks some one inquires
How may this lady look ;
What is her size and what her form,
And is she a good cook?

Well then to gratify their whims
I'll tell her looks and life.
In hopes that some will be inspired
To choose her for a wife !

Her form is squabbish like the swine,
She waddles like a duck.
And when the mud is very deep
She'll easily get stuck.

Her head a masterpiece in size,
A good machine to bunt.
Her hair she dresses gracefully,
With cowlick right in front.

Her eyes like Cupid's glow with love
And glisten like a cat,

341') TWO 8CITUATE MAIDENS.

And when she laughs, the little balls
Seem nearly lost in fat.

Her flabby cheeks like jewels hang
An inch below her chin,
Her mouth most delicately looks
When she attempts to grin.

But O ! ye wise ones who have toiled
With care and anxious doubt
Perpetual motion to invent,
Lo ! we have found it out.

'Tis Nabby's tongue that never tires
But clatters all the day,
And gabbles worse than cackling hens
Impatient at delay.

Her mode of life comports full well
With one whose fate has been.
To live in "single blessedness"
Amidst so many men.

With taste refined she milks the cow
With care she feeds her sheep.
And stuff's her pig with sour milk
Till it can scarcely creep.

For instance, when she milks her cow
She sometimes ties her tail,
The cow as often lifts her foot
And sets it in the pail.

Now neatness says, turn out the milk.
But Nabby says not so ;
" The more good things the richer cream^
And I will let it go."

But still she does all she can do,
Of course she's not to blame
For heavy snows sometimes block up
This ever active dame.

When summer comes 'tis worth one's while
Her dairy to behold.
Well lined with cheese of goodly size,
And butter fine as gold.

TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS. 347

But if her head should yield a hair
Of most prodigious length,
Nobly she toils to work it in,
Employing all her strength.

That she excels in making cheese
I believe no one denies,
Though all who eat tliem will confess
They once were friends to flies.

How she can cook, is still unknown
Where judgment is required,
But for old Indian Johnny Cake
She truly is admired.

Her hand has eagerly been sought
By many lovesick swains,
But like a heroine she has
Dismissed them for their pains.

But all coquets soon run their race
And often get repaid.
So Nabby will gi\e up the ghost
A poor forlorn old maid.

Sometimes she muses on her state
And envies married dames.
Then ! then ! O, Cupid how she sighs !
To marry old John

Now let me for a moment leave
This interesting one.
And take a view of Cynthia's life
To see what she has done.

For scenes of humor, mirth and glee
She never was renowned.
But in the sentimental parts
No doubt she does abound.

Of labor she but little does.

But lives in ease and peace ;

While Nabby sweats and scrubs and works.

Their income to increase.

Some years ago a new complaint
Deprived her of her wits.

<348 TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS.

Made all her friends with horror stare.
While she went into fits.

The cause of this affliction sore
With truth she could not tell,
But thought that in her stomach lay
This new-invented hell.

Instanter she goes right to work
To find if aught can cure,
And finally alights on what
She feels convinced is sure.

And what my friend do you suppose
This panacea like.'*

Why nothing more than drawing smoke
Through a tobacco pipe.

She fills the bowl up to the brim
With Cavendish's best.
At every meal she takes a whiff
With most delicious zest

But it performed a glorious cure.
Her fits entirely ceased,
And from that tmie it must be told
Her laziness increased.

Religion now is all the go.
Religion is her cry,
Religion while she lives, and for
Religion she will die.

Many creeds of different kinds

In turn she has embraced.

But none save one could bind her fast,

On this her hopes are placed.

This is the creed which Calvin taught
This is the faith he hailed.
It is the genuine Orthodox
Which she so lately railed.

With philanthropic zeal she tries
To warm her sister's heart ;

TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS. 34&

To make her seek Religion now,
And clioose that better part.

Sometimes indeed poor Nabby weeps
At what she does not know,
Though she'll confess that something makes
Her feel all over so.

Here then behold these matchless maids
Of forty years and more ;
Of lovely form and noble size,
Whom all that see adore.

A single life they've always led
Against their hearts desire :
And now with panting bosoms wait
For all who may aspire.

Why stand ye back ye single men
When such bright hopes arise ?
Come choose a partner now for life.
The idol of all eyes.

CHAPTER XIX.

WHITE'S FERRY YARDS. — 1705- 1840.

SIMEON KEENE, SIMEON KEENE, JR., BENJAMIN KEENE, ISAAC
KEENE, LUKE HALL, WILLIAM HALL, SAMUEL HALL.

T^HE Keenesand the Halls built at these yards for many years,
■*- but they were prol)ably occupied nearly a hundred years
prior to their time. As early as 1705 we find there was built
in Marshfield the sloop " MAEY & ABIGAIL," 40 tons ;
owners, Bethia Little, widow, of Boston, Isaac Little, of Marsh-
field, and John Henshaw, of Boston. In 1711, the ship
" TAUNTON MERCHANT," 70 tons, was built at Marshfield ;
owners, James Cooks, of Cullumstock, James Norman, John
Blake, Samuel Lucas, and John Southerton, of Taunton, Rich-
ard Southerton of Wallinijton, and Joshua Norman, of Tops-
ham ; and in 1713 the sloop "BLOSSOM," 30 tons, was built
at Marshfield, Joseph Flood, of Boston, owner. The above
vessels were undoubtedly built on these yards, as the next oldest
yard in Marshfield was at Gravelly Beach., The next vessels
built here of which any account has been found were those
built by Simeon Keene, and later by his sons Simeon and Ben-
jamin. Isaac Keene was also interested in a few. Benjamin
was captain of a North River packet l)out about 1820. The
following is the genealogy of the ship-building branch of the
Keene family :

Josiah Keene mar. Hannah, dau. of John Dingley, and had one
child, John, b. 1(5()7. /Simeon. Keene, the shipwright, was b.
Sept. 30, 1725, andd. "of a Saturday, July the 17th day of the
month, 1790." He mar. in 1751 Lydia Stevens, who was b.
July 19, 1728. They had children: 1. Lucy, b. Nov. 18,
1752; mar. Oliver Porter 1773. 2. Nathanael, b. Aug. 8,

KEENE GENEALOGY. 351

1754; 3. Ruth, b. July 31, 175() ; mar. PeaboJy Little, and
d. 1781. 4. Lydia, b. April 28, 1758. 5. Simeon, b. Nov.
26, 1761 ; mar. Christina Jovce. 6. Stevens, b. June 24,
1764. 7. Deborah, b. July 3(), 1766. 8. Benjamin, b. Mar.
29, 1769. 9. William, 1). July 11, 1771, d. Sept. 11, 1792.
Five of Simeon's (the ship-builder's) children survived him,
they were Lydia, Simeon, Stevens, Benjamin and William.
Benjamm succeeded to the yard, and carried on the business of
ship-])uildinoi: there. Barstow Carver, father of Hatch Carver,
worked for him at one time. Benjamin Keene was a man of
some property, very stern and ar])itrary, and did not desire too
many friends. He married Susanna Church, and had children :
1. Benjamin, now deceased. 2. Cornelius, who d. in Nov.
1888, in his 89th year. 3. Nathaniel, who resides in Marsh-
field. 4. Martin, who d. April 17, 1864, aged 49 years. 5.
William, who left a numerous family in Hartford, Conn. 6.
George R., now living in Abington, where he has a family. 7.
Lydia, deceased. 8. Almira, who d. in March, 1884, aged 80
years. 9. Harriet, now living in Marshtield, and 10. Susan,
deceased. Martin mar. and lived on Decatur St., Charles-
town, during the latter part of his life, and was employed on
the Charlestown Navy Yard. He left two sons and one dau.
One son is mar. and resides in Weymouth, Mass., where be
has two children, Mabel E. and Lillian F. The other son,
Charles W. Keene, is unmarried and resides at Sea View Vil-
lage, Marshtield, Mass. Ada, the dau. married a Mr. Rein-
hart. She d. Nov. 11, 1876, aged 22 years, leaving one child,
AdaK.

Keene's yard was located on the Capt. Day ]ilacc, where the
Hall's afterward built. On this farm there is a well of fresh water
that ebbs and flows with the tide. Simeon Kee)ie built in 1787
the sch. "NEPTUNE," 64 tons, owned by Simeon Keene, Sr.
and Jr., Marshtield; and in 1789 the sip. "INDUSTRY," 60
tons ; owned by Joseph and Elisha Phillips, William ^lacomber,
Joshua Vinal and Simeon Keene, Marshtield. He also built the
following vessels : In 1793, the brig "DOLPHIN," 122 tons,
of Boston; in 1794, the ship " SUPERB," .yj,5to«.s, of Boston;
in 1795 the brig "DESPATCH," 139 tons, of Portsmouth. The
ship " COLUMBIAN PACKET," 220 tons, of Marshtield, built
in 1802, Joseph Hunt, Adam Fish and Chandler Sampson, of
Marshtield, owners, was probably built by the Keene family.

352 VESSELS BUILT BY THE KEENES.

yft * ^yf built in 1805 the sch. " SAT-

/f/^riyy^^ thi^ URN," 107 tons, owned by Ben-

^ / . •- o/'-^^''^''*^ jamin and Isaac Keene, and

Samuel Baker, of Marshfield ;
and in 1818 the sch. "EOS," 85 tons, of Boston, sold at the
Sandwich Islands, January 25, a. d., 1820. The Keenes built
many other vessels here, but no record has been found by
which they may be identified. The only other vessel of which
we have positive proof of having been built by the Keenes is
the sloop "NORTH RIVER PACKET," 38 tons, built in
1820. She was owned by Benjamin and Isaac Keene, Jr.,
Alden Briggs, Pembroke, Benjamin Hatch, Daniel Phillips,
Da\dd Church, Nathaniel Pratt, Luther Little, Danforthe Hall,
John Bourne, Jr., of Marshfield. She was afterward sold to
Boston, and owned in 1839 by John Belcher, of Bos-
ton, and Benjamin Bramhall, of Quincy. This was doubt-
less the last vessel built by the Keenes. Between 1820 and
1825 no record has been found of vessels having been built
here. In the absence of the five years history of these yards,
a few old and interesting items, and one or two anecdotes, will
be mserted. In the Boston Gazette and Country Journal of
Dec. 13, 1773, is recorded the death of a Marshfield man, as
follows :

"Last Friday evening^ being very dark and rainy, Mr. Ezekiel Kent, of
Fox Islands, formerly of Marshfield, having been on board a sloop lying
at Minot's T, to see an acquaintance, about six o'clock, was returning to
the vessel to which he belonged, but unfortunately fell from theT and was
drowned. He was 27 years of age, and a man well respected."

A most remarkable story is related Tn the Massachusetts
Spy for the week of August 18th to 21st, 1770 :

" Last Tuesday a whale about forty feet in length *was discovered by a
small fishing schooner off Marshfield, which was then attacked by three
large sharks, one of whom the fishermen killed. It measured sixteen feet
long, and upon opening it they took out of its paunch as many pieces of the
whale as would make a barrel of oil, and it was thought the liver of the
shark would make two or three barrels more. The whale was so wounded
and worried by the sharks that it became an easy prize for the fishermen,
who carried it into Marshfield."

It will be seen that the men of Marshfield were alive to the
whaling interest at that early date, and the above-mentioned
whale probably furnished all the oil they burned during their
short evenings for many a night. In two old papers there are
related accounts of two very large families which are considered
interesting enough to record here. One is taken from The
Boston Evening Post, of April 20, 1767 :

INTERESTING ITEMS RELATIVE TO MARSHFIELD. 353

"About a month since was born at Gon. Winslow's farm, a daughter of
JoJin Fullerton, whose age is 7;^ years, his wife's 47, the child being his
seventeentli. He has had two daughters that are grandmothers, the one
has had two grandchildren, and the other three; tlie last mentioned was
present at the birth of her sister. Mr. Fullerton has had fifty grand and
great-grandchildren, forty of which are now living."

The account of the other family appears in a paper seven
years earlier, as follows, from Tlie Boston Gazette and Country
Journal, Monday, October 20, 1760 ;

" We hear from Marshfield in the County of Plymouth, that on the 2nd,
inst., died there Mr. William Carver, aged 102 years, who reiained his
reason to the last. He was brother's son to the ancient Gov. Carver of the
PI3 mouth Colony, and has left behind him the fifth generation of male
issue in all, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-
grandchildren, ninety-six."

In the same paper of a later date, (Monday, April 12, 1702),
is the following :

"We hear that the body of William Preston, of Dorchester, was taken
up at Marshfield on Saturday, the 3rd, and decently interred there. He was
drowned in September last, as we then gave an account, going home in a
canoe from Castle William, where he had been to receive some money,
the most of which was found loose in his pockets when taken up."

There is a very aged man now living in Marshfield whose
ancestors lived at White's ferry. This man is Benjamin White,
who, at the time of writing, is probably the oldest man in
Marshfield. He is a lineal descendant of Peregrin White, the
first white child born in New England, and was himself born in
Hanover, Aug. 27, 1795. Mr. Cornelius White, great grand-
father of Benjamin, lived at White's ferry. He was a ship-i
builder, and a man of considerable means in his day. He
owned the ferry boat at one time, it is said. He had a son
Benjamin, a wilful hid, who fell in love with Miss Hannah
Decrow, a young lady of powerful build and great beauty, but
who was not considered good enough for the son of an opulent
shipbuilder and ferryman. This young Ben., appears to have
been a favorite with his father, and was threatened banishment
if he persisted in his attentions to Miss Decrow. The young
man married her, and, it is said that true to his word, his
father banished him to Hanover. This was about 1743, when
Mr. White, Sr., purchased of Jeremiah and Walter Hatch
many hundred acres of heavy timbered land on what is now
Centre St., the old hal)itation being on the s[)()t now owned by
Frank Fish. Mr. Wliite, Sr., gave him this valuable tract of
territory, started him in housekeeping in great style for those

354 MAESHFIELD.

days, and gave him also a horse, two cows, a yoke of oxen, and
a gundalow, Avhich he kept at North River bridge. Mr. White,
Ji\, cut and carted his vahiable ship-timber to Xorth River
bridge, loaded it aboard his "gundalow," and freighted it down to
his father's yard at the ferry. Mrs. White was a resolute,
God-fearing \voman, and, in opposition to her more worldly
companion, she was bound to have her children baptized in the
true faith, as we find by the church records of Rev. Benjamin
Bass, dated Sept. 7, 1754, " were baptized four children of
Benjamin White, (his wife owning the covenant), Penniah,
Robert, Hannah and Benjamin, (the father's name), who was
not considered in the baptism of the children." Benjamin, Sr.,
died Feb. 10, 1786, aged 65, and his wife (Miss Decrow)
March 'tl, 1814, aged 94. Her son Benjamin grew to man's
estate and married Miss Mary Chamberlin, of East Bridge-
water, in 1780, and died in Hanover July 12, 1839, aged 88,
and his widow March 27, 1841, aged 86. The present Benja-
min, son of the above, inherited the estate of his parents, and
lived there with his wife (Miss Mary Hall, of Marshfield) and
family, until 1847, when he sold all his possessions in Hanover,
and moved to Gravelly Beach in Marshfield. He has a son
Benjamin F. now living in North Pembroke. John Tower
related an anecdote in the North River Pioneer some years ago
about "Uncle Josh" Stetson, of Hanover, on mowing, as
follows :

"Wal," said Uncle Josh. "I should raly like to see one young man
more that knowed how to mow. Nobody seems to know anything about
how to swing a scythe nowadays, and you can't tind one man between here
and Perabrok'e meetinghouse but what will tangle down more grass than
his neck is wuth. 1 tried most everybody I could think of, and finally got
a chap to help, but bless ye, he'd lop in and lop out, and 'twas more work
by half to go over after him than 'twas to do the whole myself."

«'We thought that you never wanted anyone to help you mow," we
suggested.

*' Wal, I don't ; but T 'spose a man has a right to be sick once in a while,
ain't he? When 1 lived down to the old place they called me the best
mower on the river, and I'd beat everybody on Sitewaie side, and one
mornino- when I was down side of the river fishing for parch, who should
I see coming across the medder on t'other side, but old Marmaduke INIc-
Donnellson. Says he ' Josh, I've got a boy ter hum that will mow round
ye four times in half a day.' 'Fetch him down here,' says I, 'and we'll
see.' ' Do ye mean it ? ' says he. ' Sartain,' says I, and he started for home
arter the boy. While he was gone, (he lived way up in the souih end of
the " two-mile,") I started for home arter grandsir's scythe, and got back
ao-in down to the river afore Mc. got along with his boy. Pretty soc.n 1
see him coming with his son Sam. ' Wal, Josh,' he said, ' where ye goin'
to mow "i ' ' Begin right where ye stand and go down river,' says I, * and

HALL GENEALOGY. 355

the one that gets to White's ferry fust is the best feller.' That made old
Mc. look rather blue, and he said, ' Sam, Til go home and get the old
horse and wagon and a load of provisions and foller along down. Ye'U
get mighty hungry fore ye get to White's ferry.' Wal, we struck in, and
the way we made the grass fall Avas a caution. Grandsir went up on
the hill and watched, but he told me arterwards that he couldn't see noth-
ing but a winrow of grass flying in the air, and going at the rate of ten
miles an hour."

" How did' you get across Stony brook?" we inquired.

" Never noticed the brook at all, mowed right across it down past
Little's bridge and Will's Island, swam across the river to the ferry, and
struck in on t'other side, and in less than two hours 1 met Sam just pulling
himself out of Fulling mill creek." .

" That must have made about eighteen miles," we remarked.

'• Wal, yes. Always mowed nine miles an hour, could mow ten if I let
out a link."

We left " Uncle Josh " sharpening his scythe for a second crop.

But now let us return to the history of the shipbuilding at
White's Ferry. The Halls first occupied this yard in 1825.
They commenced buildino; near the mouth of the river but later
moved up to the Capt. John Day place, where they had two
yards, and sometimes two and three vessels on the stocks at
onetime.

Luke, William and Samuel were descendants of Adam Hall, of
trans-atlantic l)irth, who came to Marshfield early in the last
century and mar. in 1725, Sarah Sherman, a grand-daughter of
Peregrin White, and settled in Marshfield. She died Aug. 7,
1768, aged 67; they had children: 1. William, I). Jan. 11,
1726; 2. Thomas, b. July 17, 1728; 3. Adam, b. Oct. 21,
1729; 4. Joseph, b. Nov. 6, 1738; 5. Sarah, b. Sept. 18,
1735; ^. Jesse, b. Sept. 27, 1737; 7. Mercy, b. Sept. 12,
1739; 8. Levi, b. Oct. 25, 1744.

Adam Hall, 2d, mar. in 1752, Kezia, dau. of Samuel and Sarah
Sarah Rogers Ford ; their children were ; 1. Adam, 1). Jan. 27,
1757 ; ^."Mercy, b. Sept. 7, 1759, mar. Andrew Keen, April
2. 1795; 3. Susanna, b. Nov. 8, 1761, died unmarried; 4.
Kezia, b. Dec. 30, 1764, mar. rroctor Sampson; 5. Luke, b.
April 20, 1767, father of the shipbuilders, mar. in 1793, Anne,
dau. of Barnard and Experience Tuels. He died on Staten
Island, June 28, 1815, aged 48 years; 6. Samuel, b. Aug. 3,
1770, d. 1806. He was" Captain of the North Kiver Packet
*' Dolphin;" 7. William, b. Aug. 28, 1774; and 8. Jesse. Of

356 hall's shipyard.

the other members of the Hall family, Luke Hall mar. Jane
Hatch of Scituate, April 26, 1763, and had children: 1. Sarah,
b. June 30, 1764, mar. Isaac Porter, 1785; 2. Hervey, b.
March 12, 1774.

Of another branch, Joseph Hall, mar. Susanna , and

had children: 1. Joseph, b. July 21, 1775 ; 2. Sarah, b. Feb.
13, 1777 ; 3. Rachel, b. Sept. 29, 1778 ; 4. Deborah, b. Jan.
20, 1781 ; 5. Peleg, b. Nov. 16, 1782 ; 6. John, b. May 14,
1785; 7. Mai-tin,"b. Aug. 15,1787; 8. Luther, b. Aug. 5,
1789 ; 9. Isaac Randall, b. Nov. 14, 1791.

Of still another branch, John Hall mar. Deborah , and

had children : 1. Abigail, b. Dec. 4, 1739 ; 2. Rhoda, b. March
27, 1741 ; 3. Lydia ; b, March 30, 1743 ; 4. Lemuel, b. July
15, 1747.

The only other branches of which we have records, were
Katharine Hall, who mar. Joshua Bramhall of Hingham, 1747,
John Hall, Jr., who mar. Zilpha Crooker, 1746, and had chil-
dren : 1. Lemuel, b. July 15, 1747 ; 2. Deborah, b. Dec. 23,
1748; .?. John, b. Oct. 15, 1750; 4. Francis, b. April 15,
1752; 5. Martin, b. March 1, 1754, 6. Luther, b. Sept. 14,
1755 ; 7. Calvin, b. Nov. 4, 1758.

Luke, William and Samuel were sons of Luke and Anna
Tuels Hall ; they built in Marshfield together from 1825 to
1828, when Samuel, who was then about 28 years of age (being
b. April 23, 1800) left the firm. He served his apprenticeship at
Dea. Elijah Barstow's in Hanover. Luke and William continued
in business together until 1837, from which time until 1840, Luke
built alone. "The sch. "DRAY," was built by the Halls at the
Ferry. In 1825, they built the sch. "DANIEL," 72 tons, of
Marshfield ; owners, Caleb Prouty, Jr., Scituate, Jabez Hatch,
Daniel Phillips, Luke, William and Samuel Hall of Marshfield,
and the same year, 1825, the sch. "TRITON," 75 tons of Dux-
bury, of which Samuel Hall was master carpenter. The same
year the brig " SMYRNA," 162 tons, of Boston, was built in
Marshfield, probably at this yard. In 1827, the brig " WAV-
ERLY," 232 tons, was built by Samuel Hall and sold to
Plymouth and afterward to Salem. This was the last of Samuel
Hall's building in Marshfield. To go back to his early life,
when he had attained his majority, he left Barstow's Yard in
Hanover, and with twenty-five cents in his pocket and a broad-
axe on his shoulder he went to Medford and from there to

HALLS SHIPYARD.

357

Camden, Me., from which latter pkce he returned to Marsh-
field. From Marshfield he went to Duxbury and built for Ezra
Weston, with Henry Taylor as foreman. In lcS37-8, he built
on his own account in Duxbury, and in 1839, removed to East
Boston. In April, 1839, he commenced the work of preparing
a ship-yard about where the end of Maverick street is now.
The first vessel ever built in East Boston was in 1834, so he
can be called one of the pioneers there. In 1839, lie built his
first ship there, the "Akbor ;"froni then until 18(;0, he built 110
vessels, some of them the largest, fastest and best shii)S that
ever " skimmed the seas." Among the largest were the " Game
Cock," in iSf)!, of 1392 tons, the ^"Oriental" in 1854, of 1654
tons, the " AVizard," 1853, of ICOO tons, and the " Highlander,"
in 1858, of 1049 tons. While in East Boston, Samuel Hall
became interested in much beside shipbuilding. In 1847 he
was president of the Dry Dock Company ; he w^as president of
the East Boston Ferry Company from the time of its organiza-
tion in 1852, until it was bought by the city ; he was president
of the Maverick National Bank, (now located in Boston) from
its incorporation until his death, which occurred Nov. 13, 1870.
He mar. first, Christiana Kent, no children ; 2nd Huldah B.
Sherman, by whom he had children : 1. Huldah, died in
infancy; ^.Samuel, b. 1833, mar. Harriet A. Lovejoy ; 3.
Walter Scott, mar. Mary Gregory ; 4. Marcia, b. 1836, mar.
George W. Emery, late Governor of Utah ; 5. Anna Tuels,
died young; 6. Huldah Augusta, died young; 7. Amanda
White, died young; 8. Hattie G., b. 1853, mar. William A.
Rogers.

Few of the old ship-carpenters of North Eiver are now living,
but there is one residing in Marshfield who worked for the
Halls from the time they began building ; this is Hatch Carver.
Amon<»- the Marshfield ship-carpenters we find the descendants
of many of the most noted men in the colony, but none perhaps
more noted than Carver, the first Governor of the infant settle-
ment in Plymouth in 1620. Hatch Carver, b. 1812, a lineal
descendant of the Governor is now living near Roger's Hill. He
was the son of Barstow Carver and Lucy Hatch Carver, and
nephew of Luke Hall. He mar. Roxanna T. Sylvester, of Marsh-
field, afterward of Quincy. He first went to Quincy intending
to learn the trade of blacksmithing of his father-in-law, but
gettino- dissatisfied he returned to Marshfield and went to work
for Luke Hall on the shipyard at the Ferry. After working
for Mr. Hall for a time he went to New York city, and Avorked

358 VESSELS BUILT BY THE HALLS.

at his trade on East River nine years, when he again returned to
his old home and worked in the shipyard and taking vessels
down the river. He worked for Luke, William and Samuel
Hall, building mostly packets to run on the river and small
schooners, as the sch. "Daniel" and the sip. "Susan." About
1830, the Halls commenced building for Ezra Weston of Dux-
bury, and a vessel for Russell of the Plymouth Iron Co. ; also
several barks for a Commercial AYharf Company, and many for
the Cape. Mr. Carver appears now to be taking life easy in
apparently comfortable circumstances, with all his family settled
around him. In his younger days he was something of a sports-
man, and some thirty to forty years ago, he in company with
Amos W. Cross, of Boston, a noted hunter, for nine years
made annual trips into the wilderness of Maine hunting moose,
bear and deer, which were at that time very common in many
parts of the state. Mr. Carver claims to have killed the largest
deer, (four hundred pounds) ever known to be captured in that
region, it had fat two inches thick on the ribs, the antlers,
of unusual size, are still owned by Mr. Carver, and show the
mark of the first bullet, which missed. Mr. Carver has enjoyed
perfect health all his days and has good prospects of exceeding
his four score years.

After Samuel Hall retired from the firm, Luke and William
continued shipbuilding here. They have numerous descendants
living in Boston, East Boston, Quincy, Newtonville, Hingham
and elsewhere. Luke and William built in 1828 the brig,
afterwards bark, "NEWTON," 283 tons, of Boston. Jesse
Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., of Scituate and others, owners ; in 1838,
she was owned in New Bedford, and used whaling in the Pacific
Ocean. In 1843 the crew mutinied and a new crew was
shipped at Oahu, H. I. ; in Dec, 1844, Capt. Sawyer died at
San Diego, Cal. ; in 1854 she sent home from the Northern
Pacific, 140 bbls. of sperm and 600 bbls. of whale oil and
16200 lbs. of bone. She was lost in the Ochotsk sea in 1857,
being stove by the ice. In 1829, the brig "FLORA," 151
tons, of Boston, was built in Marshfield, probably by the Halls.
They built in 1830 the brig "GEM," 162 tons, of Boston ; in
1841, she was sold and used whaling in the Atlantic. In 1851,
she returned leaking after starting on a new voyage, making
8000 strokes per hour ; she was withdrawn from Avhaling in
1855. The " Gem" was at one time owned in Salem and used
in the African trade. The Halls built, in 1831, the sip.
"LEADER," 42 tons, a North River packet ; owned by Luther

Brig "Norfolk," 135 tons.
Built by the Plalls, in 1833, at tlie Ferry.

VESSELS BUILT BY THE HALLS. 359

Roirers, Sr. and Jr., Stephen and ]M()ses lingers, Proctor,
Bourne, Jabez and Benjamin Hatch, ('hristopher Oaknian,
Jonathan Stetson, Wales UoL!:ers, Luke and Wni. Hall of
Marshtieid, Ephraini Eandall, lloracc CoUamoi-e of Tenibroke,
AVaterman, Joseph S. Bates, Elijah Barstow, Jr., Jos.
i.. .laviland Torrey, Reuben and Geo. Curtis, and Tilden
Crooker, of Hanover ; and the same year, 1831, they built the
brig "FAIRY," 185 tons, of Boston, of which Luke Hall was
master carpenter. She was afterward sold to Provincetown and
used whaling. The Halls built, in 1832, the brig "ECHO,"
197 tons, of^Boston ; Luke Hall, master carpenter. The brig
"NORFOLK," 135 tons, was built by Luke and Willliam Hall,
in the spring of 1833, and Avas sailed l)y Capt. Reuben
Matthews in the Norfolk, Va., and Boston trade, about 1837.
Capt. F. M. Boggs commanded her at one time, and while
under the command of these two captains she was also in the
St. John trade, bringing plaster and fish from St. John, and
taking merchandise back, and she went one trip to the West Indies.
Soon^after 1837, Capt. Reuben Matthews commanded her in
the Philadelphia, St. John and Halifax trade. In October,
1844, she left Philadelphia under Capt. Matthews bound to
Port Spain, Island of Trinidad, Avith a cargo of bread stuffs, &c.,
and never was heard from after leaving the Delaware. To
Capt. Richard Matthew and Capt. F. i\l. Boggs, the writer is
indebted for much valuable information concerning some of the
above vessels. Many have been the pleasant chats with Capt.
Boo-o-s at his office, 47 So. Market street, Boston, where hangs
a crayon picture of the brig " Norfolk." Several who have
contributed valuable facts to this book have passed away during
the last year. It is to be regretted that Capt. lioggs is of the
number. He died Jan. 19, 1889, honored and esteemed by
hundreds of friends. He was a man of marked energy, a
thorough seaman and an able commander. Born in New York,
78 years ago, he Avas taken, while still an infant, to Nantucket,
and there left to his own resources at an early age , his father perish-
ing at sea, and his mother dying before he was beyond boyhood.
A? the age often he sought his fortune on the sea as cook on a
Bernnuhr bound sloop. Through the various grades from cabin
boy he pushed his way pluckily, till at the age of twenty-six he
became a master. He was then running in the old packet line
between Boston and Philadelphia, and afterward took connnand
of the steamers on the same route. Between these commands,
however, he was m business in Philadelphia, and was post-

360 ■ VESSELS BUILT BY THE HALLS.

master at Waquoit, Mass. He was at one time partner with
Jolm M. Kennedy & Co. Capt. Boggs took great interest in
the Boston Marine Society, serving as one of its trustees. He
left a widow and three children.

William and Luhe //a// built the fishing schooner "DANIEL
WEBSTER." In 1833 they built two vessels, the brig
"DOVER," and the schooner "DOVER." The schooner
"Dover" was of 87 tons, and owned by Luke Hall, the mas-
ter carpenter, William Hall, Elijah Ames and Jabez Hatch,
Marshfield. The brig "Dover" was of 166 tons and owned at
Boston, by Luke and William Hall of Marshfield. In 1834,
the Halls built three vessels. The first was a North River
Packet of 36 tons, which had 24 owners as follows : The sip.
"SUSAN," 36 tons, built by Luke and William Hall and
owned by them and Proctor Bourne, Jabez Hatch, Israel
Carver, Jonathan Stetson, Benjamin and Emmons Hatch, Asa
F. Curtis, Amos Sherman, Nath. Bonney, James Hall and
Henry Clapp, of Marshfield, Aurora W. Oldham, Horace Colla-
more, John Holmes, Calvin Shepard, George Curtis, Ephraim
Randall, Ezra Hatch and Alden Briggs, of Pemliroke, Samuel
Foster, Elijah Cudworth and Joseph Clapp, of Scituate. Smith
Kent worked on the " Susan " in 1833. Mr. Kent remembers
that in one year about this time 26 vessels came down river
that were built on the yards above. The Halls' second vessel
this year, 1834, was the sch ., afterward brig, " DEPOSIT," 125
tons, of Boston; owners, Luke and William Hall, Ephraim
Randall, Benjamin and Jabez Hatch of Marshfield, afterward
sold to a Mr. Kent, and commanded in 1839 by Capt. Howes in
the West India trade ; sold later to Mr. Upton of Salem, and
run to Para. She would sail like a witch. The last vessel built
by the Halls this year was the sch. "UNCLE SAM," 118 tons,
of Boston, built in 1834, Luke Hall, master carpenter. The
brig "ESTHER," 135 tons, was built at Marshfield, in 1835, by
William and Luke Hall, and owned by Fabens of Boston ; she
was lost in a gale off Cape Cod about 1852. The Halls built in
1836, the sch. "PLANET," 98 tons, of Scituate ; owners, Asa
Curtis, Seth Welib and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Scituate, Luke
and William Hall, of Marshfield. She Avas afterward sold
to Newport, from which port she sailed and was never
heard of after. The sch. "GRAND ISLAND," 106 tons,
was built in Marshfield in 1835-36 of oak ; was repaired in
1852 and owned in 1861 by Kebbin and others, Newburyport,
Capt. Reed ; and in 1874 by William Mclntyre of Camden, Me.

THE ONLY STEAMBOAT BUILT ON NORTH EIVER. 361

About this time William Hall went to Hingham and Luhe
Hall continued l)uil(ling here, and in 1837, built the sch.
"WILLIAM HENRY," 110 tons, of Provincetown. Also in
1837, the bark "PILOT," 199 tons, of Boston, and probably
the sch. "JAMES FRxVNCIS," 101 tons of Provincctown,
which was built in Marshtield, in 1837, and in 1838, the sch.
''JOSHUA BROWN," 112 tons of Provincetown, from which
port she was whalinir in 1845. In 1838, was built here the
sch. "DANIEL FRANCIS," 113 tons, of Provincetown ; also in
1839, the brig " PHOENIX," 150 tons, of Provincetown. The
sch. " ROVER " was built at the Ferry for Asa Curtis, who
afterward sold her. Tucker in his "Maritime Geography,"
1815, says "Americans excel in shipbuilding and new ships
form a c(msiderablo part of their export trade." In 1839, was
built atflii-i yard (lie only steamboat ever built on North River.
She was named for a powerful tribe of Indians, whose camping
ground was on the Scituate bank of North River, extending
from the Block House Yard to Union Bridge. This was the
steamboat " Mattakees,'' sometimes called in her registers
*'MATTAKEESETT,"' 21 tons, built in 1839 by Luke Hall,
and owned by him and Moses F. Rogers, Proctor Bourne,
Jabez Hatch, Azel Ames, and Israel Carver of Marshtield,
Horace Collamore, Ephraim Randall, John Holmes, of Pem-
broke and George Curtis, of Hanover. This was virtually a com-
pany that formed to build her. Her length was 49 feet, breadth
14 feet, depth 3 feet, and round stern. She was built with the
intention of using her to tow out new vessels and also packets
up and down the river, there being then three packets running
on the river, but they had to use too short a tow line, or rather
the river was too crooked to pennit the use of a proper tow
line. She was in the ice nearly opposite or a little below Till
Rock all one w^inter. After she proved herself a failure on the
river, she was taken to Boston and sold where she was used
for towing scows, &c. She was employed for a time prior to
her sale towing scows loaded with iron to the anchor works in
Hanover, and doing some freighting business on the river.
While on the river, Byron Simmons, George Harvey and a Mr.
Hewitt went on her at ditferent times. After she was sold she
was enlarged to 43 tons, and in 184fi was owned by Cephas
Brackett of Boston. She was rel)uilt in 1849, but what finally
became of her does not appear. The last vessel Imilt here is
said to have been the sch. "ORLEANS " of Orleans, 100 tons,
used fishing in the summer and coasting in the winter, carrying

362 LAST VESSEL BUILT AT THE FERRY.

grain, etc., in the North Carolina trade. A stone appropriately
cut should be erected on the site of these yards l)etbre the
location is lost, and we hope some public spirited citizen, or
descendant of the shipl)uilders, will before it is too late, per-
manently mark the spot where so many vessels were built.

CHAPTER XX.

SCITUATE HARBOR YARDS. 1650-1S64.

WILLIAM JAMES, JOHN KENT, JOB OTIS, JOHN NORTHEY, WILLIAM
VINAL, SAMUEL KENT, ANTHONY WATERMAN, OTIS BRIGGS,
JAMES SYLVESTER BRIGGS, BARNABAS WEBB BRIGGS, J. O.
CURTIS, WILLIAM VINAL, JR., HENRY VINAL, WILLIAM BRIGGS,
& CO., MELZAR S. TURNER, LUTHER BRIGGS, EDWIN OTIS,
ANDREW COLE.

SHIP l)uilding was probably first carried dii at the Harbor by
William James. Deane says he probably came from
Marshfield as early as 1650, but he did not settle at the Harbor
until 1673. He may have built here as early as 1650, but no
proof has been found by the author of his having built any
vessels before settling at the Harbor. He dug a dock and
located his yard at the head of it, where Dunbar's wharf has
since been built. The dock is still known as " AVill James'
Dock." He left no descendants of record ; his house was
where "Young's Tavern" afterward stood. The first w^hite
settlers were using heavy timber at an early date, as the fol-
lowing verdict shows :

" 1673. Verdict that Experience Litchfield came by his death in
atteinptino^ to carry a heavy stick of timber on board a boat at Rho-
dolphus Eellme's landing place at Hoop pole neck, his feet slipping
up and he falling on a plank and the timber on his head, he dying
at his father's house the same day."

Hoop-pole neck was near Great neck, north of the Harbor
toward the Glades. The first drowning accident recorded as hap-
pening at the Harbor was in 1676 :

"Joseph Ellis at Scituate with John Vaughan and Daniel Hicks,
Jr., going into the water at the Harbor to swim, said Joseph Ellis

364 THE EARLY FISHERIES.

was drowned. Jury's verdict that the water in the said Harbor was
the sole cause of his death."

The first mill in town was a wind-mill on the northeast part
of the 3d clifi', erected by William Gilson in 1636. The first
tide mill at the Harbor was built by John Stetson, who in 1730
purchased the Wanton Estate in Scituate. It does not
seem out of place to record here the death of two daughters of
a minister long settled in this town, pastor of the First church.*
The first taken from the Postscript to Boston Evening Post,
Jan. 15, 1759:

"Death, on the 9th of this inst. died, & on the 11th was decently
interred, Mrs. Bathsheba Emmes, wife of Mr. Sam'l Emmes, of this town,
& youngest daughter of the Rev. Mr. Shearjashub Bourn, of Scituate, in
the 29th year of her age. As she served God from her early youth, &
lived a virtuous life, so she had the comfort of it when drawing near to
death."

And the second taken from Boston Bvening Post, Feb. 11,
1760 :

" At Scituate, the 28th of January, died with Christian resignation, Mrs.
Desire Bailey, wife of Mr. Benjamin Bailey and daughter of the Rev. Mr.
Shearjashub Bourn, of that town, JEt. 31."

The fisheries were an early source of income to the inhabi-
tants of the Harbor village. In 1680, Cornet Robert Stetson,
of Scituate, and Nathaniel Thomas, of Marshfield, hired the
Cape Fishery for bass and mackerel. In 1770 over 30 vessels
were fitted out from Scituate. In 1828 over 15,000 barrels of
mackerel were taken by Scituate vessels. In 1830 thirty-five
vessels were fitted out from the Harbor for mackerel fishing in
the summer and were employed during the winter in the lum-
ber and grain coasting trade. Deane says that in 1830 there
were "two regular packets from the Harbor carrying on an
almost daily intercourse with Boston." Charles T. Torrey,t
the martyr, in his book entitled "Home, or the Pilgrim's Faith
Revived," written during his incarceration in Baltimore jail,
says :

" The Eastern border, for some twelve miles rests on the seashore.
It is a long, rocky beach on which the surges never cease to beat,
M^hich has been the last sand touched by many a shipwrecked sailor.

* See Wanton Yard Chapter.

t See chapter Scituate Miscellaneous.

EARLY SHIPWRECKS. 365

and is interrupted by several high hills or cliffs. In some past
century these cliffs were long- promontories jutting out into the
ocean waves. Storm after storm has beat upon them and now more
than two-thirds of their soil has fallen and been washed away.
Twenty years ago I remember riding on firm soil at a safe distance
from the then peaceful brink of one of the cliffs, more than a hun-
dred feet beyond the present reach of the fierce waves. And the
huge rocks that once dotted the top, now help to break the power of
the waters, far out from the shore. These cliffs in 1623 w^ere cov-
ered with the cornfields of the Indians. At the foot of them stood
their wigwams. Near by, stands the old mansion, or its successor^
built on the soil they gave the friendly Christian Tanner. Between
another and a rocky headland, is our little tide harbor, giving shel-
ter to our fishing craft and a few vessels engaged in the coasting
trade."

The early papers record many of these shipwrecks and
besides the folio wino:, many are recorded under other chapters.
From the Boston Evening Post, Feb. I, 1768 :

" Last Thursday night the sip. * Egmont,' Wm. Wilson, master, from
the Island of St. John's, bound to this place, was cast away at Scituate ;
the vessel lost but the people saved."

From the Boston Evening Post, May 9, 1768 :

" Capt. John Doubleday in a brig from the Mount, on Friday morning,
the 15th ult., in thick weather, ran ashore on the rocks near Scituate, but
luckily got off again but received so much damage in her bottom that they
could scarcely keep her above water till they got into Plimouth Harbor,
from whence after taking out part of her cargo, she came up to town last
week."

From the Boston Evening Post, Mon., Oct. 11, 1773 :

" We hear that a sip. belonging to Scituate, Wm. Willson, master, bound
from Kennebeck to this place, loaded with lumber, was stranded on Hamp-
ton Beach last Saturday fe'n'night. Capt. Willson & one man and a boy
took to a boat whic-h soon after overset in the surf and the two former
were drowned ; 3 other men and a woman staid on board the wreck but
2 of them with the woman were washed off and drowned. It is said that
a vessel was also drove ashore the same day on Plumb Island."

Scituate Harbor offered every facility for shipbuilding
excepting that large vessels could not be gotten over the bar,
there being seldom more than ten feet of water at full tide.
The two points which form the harbor are Crow Point and
Cedar Point. On the northeast, or Cedar Point, there is a
light-house, now unused, which was erected in 1811. Through
the untiring efforts of the Hon. George Lunt, the Govern-
ment has built a breakwater from this point, and has partially

366 VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE PRIOR TO 1700.

dredged the harbor. Had Mr. Luiit lived and been able to carry
out his plans of making Scituate Harbor safe for a port of
refuo:e with a guiding light at its entrance the loss of life would
have been undoubtedly much less the past year on Scituate's
eight miles of rocky coast. In early times the shores of the
harbor were skirted with timber to the water's edge, which
made shipbuilding an easy matter for the early settlers com-
pared with their descendants who had to cart timber ten and
twenty miles. The following are some of the vessels built in
Scituate and it is possible many of them were built at the
Harbor.

John Kent probably 'built here as early as 1700. One of his
descendants, Samuel (referred to further on) built here a hun-
dred years later. There was built in Scituate, in 1698, the ship
"PROVIDENCE," 100 tons, Capt. Thomas Lillie ; owners
Capt. John Thomas, Samuel Lillie, John Borland and Joseph
Brigham of Boston ; also the same year, 1698, the ship " BLES-
SING," 90 tons, Capt. Richard Lillie ; owner Sam'l Lillie of
Boston; also the same year, 1698, the sip. "ADVENTURE,"
15 tons, Capt. Daniel Weare ; owner Peter Butler of Boston.
In 1699 the sip. "JAMES & THOMAS," 30 tons, was built
at Scituate ; owners, James Pitts, merchant, and Thomas Sav-
age of Boston, also the same year, 1699, brig't'n " SWANN,"
45 tons ; owners, Joseph Jackson, William Clarke, Richard
Middlecott, John Eyre, Thomas Cooper and George Hallett,
all of Boston: also in 1699, sip. "MARY & ABIGAIL," 30
tons, Capt. Thomas Newman ; owners John Foster and Dame
Mary Phips of Boston ; and also in 1699, Brig^t'n "SPEED-
WELL," 50 tons, Capt. Thomas Simpkins ; owner, Samuel
Lillie of Boston.

Job Otis succeeded William James at his yard. The only
vessel there is positive proof of having been built by Job Otis
was in 1700, referred to in the following oath made Oct. , 1700 :

"Isaac Little, of Marshfield, in the Province of Massachusetts
Bay, in New England, made oath that the Katch ' LITTLE OTIS,'
of Scituate, within the said Province, whereof Samuel Prince is at
present master, being a round sterned Vessel of the burthen of about
Thirty Tons, was built at Scituate aforesaid, in this present year
1700, And that Job Otis, of said Scituate, together with him the
said Isaac Little, are at present owners thereof, and that no forreigner,
-directly or indirectly, hath any share or part or interest therein

Sworne before William Stoughton, Esq., Lieutenant Gov. &C.5
& William Payne, Deputy Collector."

VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE EARLY IN 1 70O. 367

There wns also built at Scituate in 1700 Brig't'n "UNITY,"
60 tons, Capt. Samuel Simi)kins ; owner, Samuel Lillie. The
Novtheys were also interested in Scituate vessels if they did
not build at the Harbor themselves. John Northey came from
]Marl)lehead in 1(575, and has descendants now livin"^ in Scit-
uate. The followini'' is a copy of an oath taken by him :

"January 2nd, 1700. yoh7t iVbr/Z/rK, of Scituate, in Province
Massachusetts Bay, in New England, made oath that the Katch
"SARAH'S ADVENTURE," of Scituate aforesaid, whereof John
Horton, Jr., is at present master, being a round sterned Vessel * * * of
40 tons, was built at Scituate aforesaid in the year 1699, and that David
Jacob, Nathaniel Tilden, Joseph Otis and David Northy, all of
Scituate, and Samuel Lillie of Boston, * * * * togetlier with the
said John Northy, are at present owners thereof * * * * sworne
before me, William Stoughton, Lt. Gov., &c,, & William Payne,
Dep Coll."

A ketch or " katch " as they used to spell it, was always a
small vessel rigged something like a sloop, with one or two
masts, very much like the modern yacht. There was built
at Scituate (possibly at the Harbor) the following vessels. In
1700 the brigTn "AMITY," 25 tons; owners, John Frizell,
merchant, and John Ruck, of Boston; in 1701, brig't'n
"SWANN," 60 tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Parker and Samuel
Lillie, of Boston; and the same year, 1701, the ship "JOHN
& ELIZABETH," 70 tons; Capt. Thomas Chitty ; owner, John
Frizell, Boston. Also in 1701, the bark " DRAGON," 65 tons ;
owners, Capt. John Ruggles, John Devin and George Robin-
son, of Boston, and William Smith, of Charlestown. In 1702,
the brig't'n " DRAGON," 40 tons, Capt. John Jinkins ; owner,
Samuel Lillie; and the same year, 1702, the sloop "INDUS-
TRY," 40 tons, Capt. Thomas Barnes ; owners, James Barnes
and Elisha Bennet, Boston ; and the same year, 1702, brig't'n
"FRIENDS' ADVENTURE," 50 tons ; owners. Captain Jona-
than Evans and Samuel Lillie, Boston ; and also the same year,

1702, brior't'n "JOHN," 40 tons, Capt. John Gurny ; owner,
John Frizell, Boston. In 1703, the brig't'n " CHARLES," 30
tons ; owner, John Frizell, of Boston ; and the same year,

1703, the brig't'n " SEA FLOWER," 60 tons ; owner, Samuel
Lillie of Boston; also in 1703, the brig't'n "SPEEDWELL
FRIEND," 20 tons ; owners, David Northey and Samuel
Northey, Jr., and John Northy of Scituate ; and the same vear,
1703, the sloop "ENDEAVOR," 36 tons; owner, Samuel
Marshall, of Boston. In 1705 was built the brig't'n "THREE

368 VESSELS BUILT BY "WILLIAM VINAL.

SISTERS," 90 tons ; owners, Daniel Oliver, merchant, and
Nathaniel Oliver, of Boston. In 1706, the sloop " DOVE," 30
tons; owners, John Foster, Esq., Gilbert Bant, John Eustice,
and William Cole, of Boston. For the next seventy years the
records of shipbuilding are missing, therefore the history of
shipbuilding for those years will remain nearly blank unless the
British Government sees fit at some future time to return the
valuable papers they confiscated at the time of the Revolution.
It was probably hy some oversight that the records from 1675
to 1715 were left. The next earliest records we have found (
vessels that were built in Scituate, and probably at tl
Harbor, are the following : 1780, sch. "HANNAH," 27 tons, -jl
Cohasset ; owners, Nehemiah Manson, of Cohasset, Ignatius
Vinal, and Luther Holbrook, of Scituate. In 1785 the brig
"FAME," 140 tons, of Boston ; and the same year, 1785, the
sch. "PATTY," 56 tons, of Newburyport. In 1795, the sch.
" SOPHIA," 67 tons, of Boston. In 1796, the sch. "INDUS-
TRY," owned by James Little and others, of Scituate. In
1797, the sch. "LIVELY," 28 tons; owned by Joseph Jen-
kins, at Scituate. In 1798, the sch. " LUCY," 39 tons ; owned
by James Either and Jedediah Little, and Israel Merritt,
of Scituate. The same year, 1798, the sch. "POLLY," 39
tonSj of Boston ; owned by Jane and Nathaniel Waterman, of
Boston, Nathaniel Wade, Jr., Nathaniel Turner, Jr., and
Nathaniel Baker, of Scituate. In 1800 the sch. " HARRIOTT,'^
60 tons, owned by Lemuel and Levi Vinal, and Consider Mer-
ritt, of Scituate ; afterward sold to Bowdoinham. In 1801
sch, "ELIZA," 99 tons, of Boston.

William Vinal (whose son William built here later) built
vessels at Scituate harbor as early as 1786. He was also
largely interested in the fisheries. Major William, as he was
called, was a son of Israel, Jr., and a descendant of widow
Anna Vinal, who was in Scituate as early as 1(536, with three
children. William afterward projected a settlement at Quincy
Point. Among the vessels he built at the Harbor are the fol-
lowing : 1786, sch. "SALLY," 54 tons; owners, Nathaniel
Wade, Jr., Thomas Mann, Barnabas Webb, Stephen and Wil-
liam Vinal, Scituate. 1793, sch. " POLLY," 52 tons ; owners,
Nehemiah Manson and William Vinal, shipwrio;ht. 1794, sch.
"FANNY," 67 tons, of Scituate; Elijah and "^Oliver Jenkins,
and William Vinal, Jr., Scituate, owners. 1795, sch. "BET-
SEY," 35 tons, of Scituate: William Vinal, owner. 1796,
sch. " SALLY," 54 tons, of Scituate ; Samuel Curtis, Deborah

Rough plan op Scituate Harbor.
(Figure references at the end of the book.)

SAMUEL KENT, SHIPBUILDER. 369

Mann, Barnabas Webb, Stephen and William Vinal, owners.
1796, sch. "LYDIA & POLLY," 102 tons, of Scituate ; eJanies
Little, Oliver and Elijah Jenkins, and William Vinal, own-
ers. 1797, sch. " FlSli HAWK," 4(3 tons, of Scituate, Charles
Ellms, Levi and William Vinal, owners. 1798, sch. "BET-
SEY," GO tons, of Scituate. Nehemiah Manson, Lemuel and '
William Vinal, owners. 1800, sch. "KOVER," 89 tons;
owners, Nehemiah Manson, James Collier, William Vinal, Ira V'^
Bryant, Cushing Otis, of Scituate, and others. She afterward \f|
hailed from Boston, was changed from a schooner into a brig in. 'J
1804, and on Feb. 14, 1811, at Boston, was ordered to be sold
for the payment of seamen's wages. In 1800 sch. "LIBERTY,"
88 tons, of Scituate, Charles Ellmes, David Otis, Lemuel and
William Vinal, owners.

^^^ built more vessels than any

^ y^yV^ y ^"^^ ^^^^ ^^ *^^ Harbor dur-
*^^ Jk J^ sT^Epr' — ing the first part of this

century. His yard was lo-
cated on the creek or inlet near the mouth of Satuit l^rook,
which was then quite clear and deep. It was on the Harbor
side of the creek, and not far from the " Old Tavern House,"
which is still used for a public house. His residence stood on
the present site of Mr. Ellm's grocery store. The first bridge
over Satuit brook was built prior to 1G48. This stream, for
which the town was named, is scarcely a mile in length, and
falls into the creek at the Harbor. The early settlers found
beaver dams across it. East of the Harbor the territory was
called Little Marsh in 1636. From the Boston Evemmj Post, of
May 20, 1771, is taken an item relative to the Kent family, but
not this immediate branch.

"Last Tuesday died Mr. Samuel Kent, of Charlestown, in the 57th year
of his aofe, whosn death (on account of his remarkable diligence, upright-
ness and goodness in the public as well as the private affairs of his life), is
very justly regretted by all who knew him."

Samuel Kent, the shipbuilder of Scituate was a descendant
of John Kent, of Dedham. After much time and labor among
the Dedham church, town, and other records, and the same
records of Charlestown, Cambridge, Boston and Scituate, the
following genealogy has been compiled :

KENT GENEALOGY.

The first of this name we find in New England is " Jo. Kent,

370 KENT THE FIRST OF THAT NAME IN NEW ENGLAND.

aged 23, sailed from London in 1635 in the ship 'William &
John,' bound to St. Christopher."*

The next earliest accounts of the Kent family are found in
the "Dedham Records of Church and Cemetery," and the
" Dedham Records of Births, Marriaofes, etc." Joshua Kent
was in Dedham in 1643. He was admitted into the church there
in Sept., 1644. In November, 1644, he went to England, the
church records say, " with our testimoniall." He returned
from England in 1645, bringing with him two brothers, one of
whom was John, the direct or common ancestor of Samuel
Kent, the shipbuilder, and the others of that name in Scituate
and Marshfield. There was born to Joshua Kent, and Mary,
his wife, Dec. 17, 1646, a dau., whom they named Lydia.
Joshua became a freeman in 1646. In October, 1647, "for
reasons not well satisfying his friends or church," accompanied
by his wife, he went back to England, where he found the
government in a very unsettled condition, trouble "having again
arisen." Becoming disheartened at the convulsions of his
native land, he and his wife returned again to Amei'ica in Octo-
ber, 1648. Another child was born to them Jan. 27, 1650,
whom they named Sarah. A third dau., Mary, was born Oct.
10, 1651. Mary Kent, deceased, Nov. 28, 1676 ; but whether
it was the mother or child the records do not state.

John Kent, I. , bro. of Joshua, was received into the church at
Dedham, May 16, 1652. He was a freeraan in 1654, and
mar. March 21, 1662, Hannah Grizold (also found recorded as
Grizwold and Grissell.) She died in Charlestown, Mass.,
January 9, 1690-1. They removed to Charlestown, where
they were admitted to the church April 13, 1663. Their
children were, I. Hannah, b. July 2, 1667 ; mar. Joseph
Cahoon. II. John. III. Mary, b. Feb. 3, 1669-70. IV.
Joshua, b. June 15, 1672, d. soon. V. Joshua, baptized July
5, 1673, afterward of Boston. VI. Joseph, baptized October
17, 1675, (mar. Rebecca Chittenden.) VII. Samuel, b. Mar.
23, 1678, d. aged 25 years. VIII. Ebenezer, b. Aug. 18,
1680, afterward of Scituate. IX. Lydia, b. July 16, 1683.
X. Mary, b. May 12, 1686. XL Susana, b. Aug. 13, 1689.

John II., son of John I., mar. Dec. 22, 1692, Sarah Smith.
They had children born in Charlestown. 1. Sarah, b. Oct.

**' Emigration to America, hy Hotteu.''

KENT GENEALOGY. 371

11, d. Dec. 24, 1693. 2. John, b. Sept. 29, 1694, baptized
in Cambridge. 3. Hannah, b. Mar. 5, 1(595-6, baptized in
Cambridge. 4. EHzabeth, b. Jan. 8, 1697-8, baptized in
Cambridge; d. in Scituate Jan. 8, 1702. In 1698, John, the
father, and Sarah, his wife, removed to Scituate, where the
following children were born to them. 5. Ebenezer,* b. May
28, 1699, who mar. in 1728, Huldah Whittemore, and in 1738
was captain of S. Henley's Snow, "Rebecca." 6. Benjamin K.,
b. Jan. 8, 1701. 7. Sarah, b. Sep. 10, 1702. 8. Samuel, b.
Dec. 18, 1703. 9. Ezekiel, b. Oct. 8, 1705. 10. Nathaniel,
b. Feb. 18, 1708. This family removed from Scituate to
Marshfield about 1709-10, and accounts of some of their fam-
ilies can be found in this book at the end of the history of the
Scituate branches. f

Ebenezer YHL, bro. of John II., and son of John T., went
from Charlestown to Scituate where he married in 1703, Han-
nah Gannett. They had children: 1. Abigail, b. Oct. 12,
1706; d. March 12, 1709; 2. Mercy, b. July 31, 1708; 3.
Elizabeth, b. Sept. 6, 1710. 4. Isaac, b. Sept. 27, 1712. 5.
Mary, b. 1715. 6. Ebenezer, b. 1717. We will now go back
to

Joseph, 6, son of John L, mar. Nov. 26, 1702, Rebecca
Chittenden of Scituate (mar. by Rev. Mr. Cushing). She d.
Apr. 2, 1762, in her 81st year. He d. May 30, 1753. By his
will, probated June 30, 1753 % '■> he devised to his wife the use
of all his estate except that given to Samuel. He gave his
neo-roes, "Peggy to Mehetabel, Venus to Rebecca, Jenny to
Benjamin and Violet to Stephen."

Joseph and Rebecca (Chittenden) Kent had children : I.
Joseph, b. Mar. 5, 1703-4, afterward of Boston, gentleman. §

♦For descendants see Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown," K to Z, p. 571.

t" On 20th of May, in the year of our Lord 1700, John Kent, of Sittuate, hronuht to
record a stray horse, as he sayd,of a darke bay coler, witlitwo notches or pet'ccs cutout
of the near eare towards the top on each side one, said beast being taken daiuag feasant
in Inclosures." — Sci uate Records.

JSee Genealogies A; Estates of Charlestown, K to Z, p. 572.
^WILL OF JOSEF II KENT.

In the name of God Amen I Joseph Kent of Boston in ye County of Sufr>lk&
Province of ye Ma^saihasetts Bay in New England Gent'n do make and ordain this
my last will & testament & I do iiereUy give and bequeath all my estate both real and
personal that I now have or liereiftcr may have as wages prize money &c due or that
shall l)ecome due from any person or persons whatever to my liroiher Bcnjainiti Kent
of Boston aioresaid Geut'u his heirs & assigns and I do hereby nominate and appoint

372 KENT GENEALOGY.

II. Stephen, b. June 14, 1706. III. Benjamin. lY. Mehet-
abel, b. Aus;. 26, 1711, mar. Jotham Tuttle. V. Samuel, b.
July 18, 1714, mar., Nov. 27, 1740, Rebecca Adams. VI.
Jonathan, b. Mar. 29, 1717, afterward of Boston, gentleman.
VII. David, b. June 1, 1719. VIII. John, b. Sept. 24, 1722.
IX. Rebecca, b. May 6, 1725, mar. Eben Rockwell.

Benjamin Kent, of Boston, gentleman, who was attorney for
David in 1749, and probably his brother and son of Joseph
VI., mar. Elizabeth, dau. of Jacob Hassey, and had children:

1. Elizabeth who mar. Butman. 2. Sarah, mar.

Blowers. 3. Benjamin who appears to have gone away and all
trace of him was lost, possibly forever. Benjamin, Sr., and
wife Elizabeth removed to Halifax, N. S., soon after or about
the time of the Revolution. On April 15, 1785, he being
about to visit Boston, leaving his wife and children in Halifax,
deeded a certain messuage or dwelling-house in Boston in trust
to Samuel Danforth, M.D., of Boston, to make use of for the
support, etc., of his wife and children. This dwelling-house
was formerly the residence of Benjamin, and was situated "at
the north side of King street by the north end of the Town or
Court House." Benjamin d. prior to 1794. His wife was
residing in Halifax in 1808.

David 7, son of Joseph 6, mar., in 1744, Abigail Damon,
who survived him, and who notwithstanding the restrictions in
her husband's will,* mar. , 2ndly, a Mr. King. David probably

him ve said Benjamin the sole executor of this my last will & testament In witness
whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this twenty-ninth day of April Ajmo
Domini seventeen hundred & forty-six

Henry Venner, Eben'r Rockwell, Thos. Goldthwaitt J

Prohated Jany. 6, 17.i8.

Letters granted to Benj, Kent Jany. 6, 1758.

See Probate Records, Suffolk Co., Vol. 53, page 54 & 55.

*WILL OF DAVID KENT.

In ve name of God Amen, I, David Kent of Boston in ye County of SuflTolk in New
Ensland Cooper do hereby make this mv last will & testament hereby revokmg all other
&. former Will or Wills and testaments hereioiure by me made & being of sound mind
& memorv do dispose of all my estate both real & personal in ye following manner and
effect But Imprimis I restore my soul to my Almighty God & Father who has blessed
me with ve same and depend on his infinite goodness & mercy for my present and eter-
nal future felicity and my body I resign to ye grave to be decently inttr'a by my exec-
utrix hereinafter named. Item, the use & improvement of all my real & personal
estate I "ive and bequeath to my loving wife so long as she shall continue my widow.
Item I eive and bequeath severally to my sons David & Joseph Kent, Fifty pounds to
be paid to each of them by my Executrix hereinafter to be mentioned as they shall eev-

KENT (JENKALOGV

373

left Charlestown early und followed his trade of cooper in Bos-
ton as in the Boston Town Records, 1742-1757, we find that

" At a Town Meeting held in Boston, Mar. i6, 1742, Mr. David
Kent and six others were chosen cullers of staves tor the year
ensuing," and " At a Town Meeting, held Mar. 2 3, 1743, Mr. David
Kent and eight others were chosen cullers of staves and hoops for
the year ensuing."

He had by his wife Abigail two sons : I. David. II.
Joseph, both minors at the time of the death of their father in
17()0. Their mother Abigail was appointed their guardian in
17(52, David then being "above 14 years of age." David, Sr.,
and wife Abigail resided at the north end of Boston, corner of
Ship (afterward called Fore) street and Battery Alley (so
called) in a two-story house "all wooden except a brick back,"
which he bought May 10, 1743, paying therefor £93, 15s.
Wyman, in his Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, K to
Z, page 573, states that David, Sr., removed to Philadelphia,
but from what source he received this information the author
has been unable to ascertain. Certainly at the time of his
death, David owned the property on Ship street and his widow-
resided there for many years. We will give Joseph's family
first, then David's.

erallv attain to the age of twenty-one years notwithstanding ye use and improvement
aforesaid. Item, in case my said wife Abigail Kent should intermarry ictth any man
after my decease mv will is and I do thereupon give bequeath and dense to my son IJavid
one third part of mi/ real and personal estate to him and his heirs to have and to hold
to him and them immediately upon and forever after his attaining to ye age of twenty-
one years. Item one other third part of my real and'personal estate {m\ such intermnmage
as aforesaid) I hereby give bequeath and devise to my son Joseph Kent to him and to his
heirs to have and to hold to him and them immediately upon and forever after his attain-
ing to ye age of twentv-one years. Item the other third part of my real cSc personal
estate after my said tcife's decease I do hereby give bequeath and devise to my said sons,
the one moiety to my son David and liis heirs and ye other moiety of said third to my
son Joseph and his heirs forever. Item, my loving tcife Abigail Kent I appoint ye sole
executrix to this ray last will and testament. In Testimony of all which I have here-
unto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of April A.D. 17o9 ,.^1.™

DAVID K.r.r'Ji, (seal^
sign'd seal'd, publish'd
pronoune'd and declar'd
to be my last will & testament
in presence of ye subsciiliers

William Thomas, Rel)ecca Rockwell, Jonathan Kent.

Suffolk S.S. By ye Hon'l)le Thomas Hutchinson, Esq. Judge of Probate &c. The within
written will being presented for probate by ye executrix therein named, William Ihoinas
& Rebecca Rockwell made oath that they saw David Kent, the subscril)er to tins instru-
ment si'^n the same and also heard him publish & declare it to be his last will ^ testa-
ment &"that when he so did he was of sound disposin-r mind and memory according to
these deponents' best discerning and that they together with Jonathan Kent (since
deceased) set to their hands as witnesses thereof in the said Testators presence.
Boston March 7, 1760, THOMAS HUICHINSON.

Probate office. See Bk 56 p. 279 (1760)

374 KENT GENEALOGY.

Joseph II, son of David 7 was mar. to Mary, or Polly Clark,
Oct. 24, 17fi<S, by Rev. John Lathrop. Joseph d. prior to
1789. The Massachusetts Magazine records the death of a
Mary Kent, Aug. 1, 1789. They had children: 1. Joseph.

2. John who succeeded to their father's interest in the estate, cor-
ner of Ship street and Battery (or Daggett's) Alley, which they
still held in 1806, and also property on Prince street. Joseph,
who was a cooper, was mar. to Hannah Trask, Oct. 18, 1795,
by Rev. Jeremy Belknap ; John, also a cooper, was mar. to
Eunice Trask, Oct. 27, 1799, by Rev. Thomas Baldwin; both
Joseph and John were residents of Boston in 1813.

David I., son of David 7, mar. Lydia Damon in 1773. He
was a shipwright by trade, and prol^ably built at Scituate
Harbor, and possibly in Boston as he and his wnfe are spoken
of in a deed dated 1797 as "of Boston." In 1789 he owned
one undivided half of a dwelling house, located at the North
end of Boston between Clark's and Hartt's building yards, near
the North Battery, and on the corner of Ship street and Dag-
gett's alley. This location suggests that he might have been
a shipwright on one of the above yards. He d. in 1825.
Lydia, his wife, died in Scituate, Dec. 12, 1831, aged 82.
They had children : 1. Samuel the shipbuilder. 2. Sally,
mar. Thomas Lapham ; she d. Mar. 11, 1821, aged 4fi years.

3. Rachel, mar. Perkins Clapp.

Samuel L, the shipbuilder, son of David I., mar. Hannah,
dau. of Capt. Noah Brooks (who was b. in 1744, and d. at
sea). She also had a bro., Capt. Noah of South Boston, and
two sisters : one mar. William Bradford of Kingston ; the
other mar. the Hon. John Holmes of Maine. Samuel Kent
resided at Scituate Harbor for many years, where he built ves-
sels. An account of his business here is given in this chapter.
Later he and his family removed to South Boston, but he after-
ward returned to Scituate, where he d. Aug. 5, 1829, aged
56 years. Samuel and Hannah Kent had children :

1. Charlotte Appleton^ b. Jan. 12, 1800, d Jan. 3, 1885.
She mar., June 12, 1820, Ivory Hall of Alfred, Me. He d.
April, 1873. Children : 1. Ivory Bradford, b. March 7, 1821,
mar. Phebe L. Nason, Dec. 5, 1847. He d. April 16, 1856,
leaving children : 1. William Bradford, b. April 11, 1849, wha
mar. Lizzie Newhall, and resides in Portland, Oregon, where
they have four children : Bradford, Ada, Hubert and Chester,

KENT GENEALOGY. 375'

and, 2, Noah Brooks, 1). July 81, 1853, who is mar., and also
resides in Portland, Oregon, where he has two children, Flor-
ence and Ernest. 2. Hannah Francis, b. June 4, 1825, d,
Aug. 22, 182(3. 3. Charlotte Appleton, b. Mar. 5, 1821), mar.
James L. Emerson, Ju!} <u't, and resides in Alfred, Me.,

where they have two chil-'; . : Mary Lottie, b. Jan. 12, 18()7,
and Fannie Hall, b, INIay 2i), 1870. 4. Charles Henry, b. May
7, 1831, mar. Lizzie M. Marston, Feb. 7, 18()(). They reside in
South Boston, and have had six children : L. Gertrude, b. Feb.

19, 1867; Charles Bradford, b. Mar. 1(5, 1869; Lillian May,
b. Aug. 22, 1871; Frank Ivory, b. Oct. 1, 1873; Nettie
Estelle, b. Dec. 1, 1875 ; Florence Appleton, b. May 15, 1879,
d. July 19, 1880. 5. Kachel Francis, b. Sept. 15, 1835, mar.
Benjamin Parker, Aug. 29, 1877, and resides in Somerville,
Mass. 6. Hannah Brooks, b. July 21, 1838, d. June 5, 1839.
7. Edward Kent, b. Mar. 28, 1840; d. Aug. 15, 1884.

2. Hannah Williams, b. Oct. 14, 1801, mar. Alpheus
Stetson, Dec. 4, 1819. They had eight children : 1st. Al[)heu8
M., b. Sept. 21, 1820, mar. Sophia B. Osborn of So. Boston,
Oct. 7, 1842, and had three children: I.John Al})heus, b.
July 28, 1844, mar. Julia Van Veighton of Rome, N. Y., June

20, 1866, children: John Alpheus, Jr., b. Feb. 2, 1868;
Archie, b. June, 1869, d. July, 1869 ; Herbert Osborn, b. June
3, 1871 ; Sophia Lawson, b. Aug., 1876, d. April, 1877 ; Wil-
liam Graydon, b. Feb. 18, 1878; 2. Frances Sophia, b. Dec.
11, 1847, d. Sept. 8, 1848; 3. Herbert Osborn, b. Sept. 7,
1850, d. March 28, 1872. 2d. Daniel F. W., b. Sept. 15,
1823, d. May 16, 1825. 3d. Edward F., b. June 18, 1826, d.
Nov. 15, 1829. 4th. Hannah Elizabeth,* b. Nov. 7, 1828, mar.
Harrison O. Briirss. 5th. Edward F., 2nd, b. March 23, 1830,
d. Oct. 27, 1830. 6th. Sarah W., b. Aug. 15, 1833, mar.
Joseph F. Baker of Boston, Oct. 11, 1854, children: 1.
Frances Josephine, b. Oct. 2, 1855, mar. Henry Hunt Arnold
of Boston, Sept. 19, 1877 ; 2. Annah Williams, b. Jan. 9,
1858, mar. Charles Everett of Boston, June 15, 1882. She
has one child: Charles, b. Oct. 11, 1883. 3. Alpheus Stet-
son, b. Feb. 6, 1860, mar. INIartha E. Alden of Newton, Se[)t.
29, 1887. He has one child : Frances Josephine, b. Oct. 13,
1888. 4. Grace Sears, b. May 15, 1867. 7th. Franklin J., b.
Apri 15, 1839, d. March 2S, 1841. 8th. Mary Adelaide, b. June

* For Genealogy of her family see Cbapter on Briggs "Yard.

376 KENT GENEALOGY.

25, 1843, mar. George F. Neale ; Oct. 3, 1865, children : Geo.
S., b. Oct., d. in Sept., 1866 ; Mary H., b. Sept., 1869 ; Alice
K. and Forence,b. Jan., 1875, (Florence deceased) ; Lawrence
I., b. July 1885.

^//^y^^^yfJ^Tj^^ l^f * Ann

O^y Henry, ot

Boston, 2nd, Elizabeth Tripp Baker of Dorchester, Nov. 24,
1831. By his second wife he had children : 1. Samuel Henry,
b. Sept. 14, 1832, mar. Maggie McCrea, Dec. 25, 1859, mar. 2nd,
Mary J. Biggs, widow of Lee, and resides in San Fran-
cisco, Cal., no children. 2. John Hawes Bird, b. Oct. 1,
1835, mar. Sarah E. Shaw of Boston, April 5, 1877, and they
have one child, John Henry, b. Dec. 14, 1878. 3. Edward
Francis, b. June 20, 1842, d. Jan. 4, 1823.

4. Rachel Clapp, b. Oct. 21, 1805, d. April 1, 1858. She
mar. Ubert L. Pettingill, and they had children : 1. Charlotte
Kent, b. March 6, 1838, mar. Edward L. Goodwin ; 2. Susan
Jane Adams, b. Sept. 24, 1840, mar. 1st, Truman Flint; 2nd
Curtis C. Goss; 3. Hannah Brooks, b. Aug. 7, 1842, mar.
Edward R. Taylor; 4. Frances, b. Nov. 29, 1844, mar. James
Mackey; 5. Ul)ert Kalloch, b. June 2, 1848. All the above
have descendants excepting Ubert K.

5. Noah Brooks, b. in 1806, a shipwright, d. Jan. 19, 1861,
in Augusta, Me., aged 55 years. He mar. Elizabeth Ellms,
dau. of Josiah Dunham. f She was b. 1815, and d. in 1838,

* His correct name was Sam'l King Kent, but lie dropped the King, he said to show
his aversion to a king. He was a shipwright, and l)uilt in 182o, at Boston, the sch.
" Newcomb," 46 tons, for Lot Wheelwright, Loring Newcomb, Joseph Cotton, Jr., and
Chas. Appleton.

t Simons, in his Historj' of South Boston, p. 271, says: "Prominent among those
who have been for a long time identified with the interests and history of South Boston,
stands the well known name of Josiah Dunham. He was born in New Bedford, March
11, 1775. He was son of Jesse and Susan Dunham. His father was a sea captain. The
family were among the earlier settlers of Plymouth, the first record of which goes back
as far as the year 1635. The branch from which he descended subsequently moved to
Martha's Vineyard. When a youth he came to Boston and served an apprenticeship at
the rope making business with "a Mr. Richardson, the father of the Hon. Jeffrey Richard-
son, of Boston, "whose ropewalks extended from Purchase street to Milk street, near to
the present location of Pearl street. He first commenced the manufacture of cordage on
his own account in a ropewalk which stood on or near Boylston street ia Boston. In
the year 1807, he l)ecame the purchaser of several acres of land at South Boston in the
vicinity of B street and built a residence for himself and a ropewalk, where he continued
to carry on the cordage nianutacture until the close of the year 1853. During all the
years of his residence in South Boston he was engaged in the building of dwellings and

KENT GENEALOGY. 377

aged 23 years. They had children: I.Mary Ann, b. April,
1832, in So. Boston, d. in 1847, aged 15 years ; 2. Sarah
Elizabeth EUnis, b, Sept. "2,2, 1834, near Bryant's corner, Scit-
uate, where Noah B. Kent and family resided for one year,
when they returned to So. Boston. She mar. Nov. 15, 1858,
Lloyd Briggs. (For Genealogy of this family see clia})ter
XVII.)

6. Barker B.,b. in 1811, a ship-joiner, mar. Sarah II.,dau.
of Josiah Dunham and sister of Elizabeth, wife of his brother
Noah Brooks Kent. Barker d. June 27, 187G. Sarah, his
wife, d. Nov. 7, 1888. They had children: i. by adoption.
Barker B. (formerly Nathaniel Tuttle) a physician, b. Aug.
26, 1841, d. Feb. 2, 1872. He mar. Helena M., dan. of Capt.
Ezra H. Baker of So. Boston, and they had one child, Sarah
Helena, b. Aug. 1, 1871, d. Feb. 2, 1872.

7. Sarah Ann, b., Feb., 1812, mar. in So. Boston, Benja-
min, son of Elisha James, M.D., of Scituate. Children: 1.
George Barker, b. July, 1837, mar. Adelaide G. Washburne
and has four children : George B., William G., Robert K. and
Addie. 2. Elisha Francis, b. Jan. 3, 1841, mar. Elizabeth
Sears, and has four children, Edward S., Elisha F., Sarah A.

stores, and, without erecting a large number in any one year, in the aggregate he was
the moving spirit in the erection of more buildings in the place than any other man.
Though he did not have the advantage of early education, yet for foresight, energy, per-
severance and power of memory, he bad few superiors. He was impulsive, easily excited,
and an injury, real or supposed, was not suon forgotten. On the other hand his friend-
ships were strong, his benefactions generous and long continued, and he would often do
favors toothers even to his own injury. He was an active participator in tlie clFurts for
Vmilding the North Free Bridge, and was untiring in his zeal for whatever promis^ed to
be of advantage to the place of Iiis chosen residence. He served the Twelfth ward in the
Common Council in the year 1833, and for tliree succevding years was an efficient mem-
ber of the Board of Aldermen. While a meuilicr of the latter Board he felt a deep
interest in the grading of the streets of South Boston, but few of which jn-evious to that
time had been put in a respectable condition. Finding his associates in the Board
rather slow in their movements in this work he followed the example of one of whom he
■was an ardent supporter and in his capacity as one of the Surveyors of the Iliirhwaya
'took the responsibility.' He set men to work in ploughing down and levelling up
Fourth street and Broadway. When completed he carried the bills for the same,
amounting to some f2.j00, before the Aldermen, who with some shrugs of their slioulders
and a few smiles at the boldness of the act of their associate, ajiprovcd the bills and
ordered their payment by the city. In the year 18'.'3, when the Congregational Clnirch
was formed which is now known as the Phillips Church, he generously erected a hall on
Fourth street for their place of worship and gave tbeiu the rent and other substantial aid
till thev erected their cliurch I)uildiiig. He had a wonderfully strong and vigorous con-
stitution and died April 28, IHf)? being 83 years of age." Josiah Dunham mar. Mary
Ann, dau. of William and Mary Elms ol Middleborough, Mass. She d. Feb. 16, 1858,
aged 60 years 8 months. Josiah and Mary. were both interred in No. 11 St. Matthews
Church, "South Boston l)ut in May, 186 1, were removed to Forest Hills, their last resting
place. " In 1853 Josiah Dunham, Jr., was chairman of a committee ajjpointed for the
purpose of organizing a Shade Tree Society." (History of South Boston, p. 220.) "It
is to be hoped that the day is not far distaiit when every street as soon as graded will be
graced with flourishing and beautiful shade trees-"

378 KENT GENEALOGY.

and Charles D. 3. Edward Brooks, b. Sept. 14, 1843, mar.

Smith and has hi^d five children : Benjamin K.,

(deceased) Edward B., (deceased) Williams B., Rei^inald S.,
Catherine H. 4. Charles Little, b. Jan. 14, 1846, mar. Clith-
eroe Dean, and has three children: Dean K., Benjamin, 3rd,
and Clitheroe. 5. Benjamin, b. Dec. 26, 1851, mar. Kittie
Greely, no children. 6. Williams Kent, b. Dec. 25, 1852,

mar. Johnson, and has one child, Herbert J.

Benjamin James, Sr., mar. for his second wife Susan Hall, who
was b. in 1823, and by her had one child. 7. Frank Irvin, b.
in 1862, d. yomig. The following are some of the Marshfield
branches of the Kent family.*

Elisha Kent, mar. Susanna Ford June, 1741. They had
children : 1. William, b. Oct. 1, 1742, mar. Mary Samson,
1773. 2. Smith, b. Oct. 22, 1744. 3. Elisha, b. Sept. 13,
1746, lost at sea. 4. Peleg, b. Oct. 4, 1748, mar. Elizabeth
Ford. 5. Lucy, b. Oct. 5, 1750. 6. Phebe, b. July 5, 1752,
died eariy. 7. Charles, b. Jan. 7, 1754, mar. Ruth Baker.
8. Sarah, b. Feb. 19, 1756, mar. Melzar Samson, 1780. 9.
Nathaniel, b. Dec. 25, 1760. 10. Warren, b. Dec. 20, 1764.
11. Alice, b. April 22, 1766. 12. Susanna, baptized May 11,
1766.

Joseph Kent, mar. Lydia Thomas, Feb. 28, 1743. They
had children: 1. Ann, b. Oct. 28, 1744, died early. 2.
Thomas, b. Oct. 13, 1746, lost at sea, 1771. 3. Lydia, b.
1751, mar. Dr. Burnham of Norwich, Conn. 4. John, b. 1756,
mar. B. Walker. 5. Nathaniel, b. 1760, mar. 6. Abigail, b.
Dec. 22, 1763, mar. Asa Weston. 7. Elizabeth, b. May,
1767, died June, 1856.

Benjamin Kent, mar. Persis Doggett, 1723. Benjamin
Kent died at Kingston, Jamaica. They had children. 1.
Penelope, baptized Nov. 8, 1724 or 1726, died early. 2.
Joseph. 3. John, minors, at their grandfather's death
removed to Maine. 4. Persis, b. July 9, 1724, mar. Robert
Jenkins of Boston. 5. Betsey or Elizabeth, (mar. a Bois [ ?]
of Milton). 6. Nathaniel. 7. Mary, died young. The will of
Benjamin Kent of Boston, mariner proved June 27, 1748, in
Sufiblk County, Mass., gives a remainder of his estate to eight

* Nat. Kent, Nat. Thomas and Nat. Ford all of Marshfield, who used to be called the
" three Nats," settled at Readfield, Maine, and Kent's Hill at that place took its name
from Nat. Kent.

KENT GENEALOGY. 379

children, viz. : Benjamin, Nathaniel, Joseph, John, Persis,
Elizabctli, Bathshe])a and Mary, and appoints his Avife Persis
executrix. A clause from Benjamin Kent's will reads, " My
will is that my said Avife shall l^ive the use and improvement of
the rest of my real and personal estate to enable her to 1- ' ^^ up
my children until the youni!i;est of them arrive to tin' ) of
twenty-one years, and if there should l)e occasion to sell and
dispose of any or all of my real estate for that end I hereby
give her poAver to do so and to execute proper deeds of the same."

EzEKiEL Kent, mar. Susanna Winslow, Dec. 22, 1740, Avho
was probably widow of Nath'l WinsloAV. They had children :
1. Penelope, b. June 26, 1743, mar. Josiah Winslow. 2.
Susanna, b. June 17, 1745. 3. Deborah, b. Oct. 18, 1748,
mar. Stephen Carver. 4. Ezekicl, b. March 1, 1747, drowned.
5. Marcy, b. Oct. 2, 1754, mar. a Beveridge. 6. Ann, b. Jan.
12, 1758. 7. Benjamin, b. Nov. 6, 1760, mar. a Beveridge.
This family removed to Fox Island, Maine.

William Kent, mar. Mary Sampson. They had children : 1.
William, b. Sept. 5, 1773. 2. Polly, b. Dec. 28, 1775, mar.
Asa Sherman, Dec. 27, 1798. 3. Susanna, b. Nov. 15, 1778.
4. Smith, b, Nov. 28, 1783. 5. Sylvia Church, b. July,
1788. 6. Elisha, b. Oct. 17, 1789, mar. B. Sprague. 7. Alice
Warren, b. April 8, 1793.

Samuel Kent, mar. Desire Barker, June 25, 1732. Desire
died June 14, 1744. Samuel Kent mar. secondly, Mrs.
Phoebe Cook, of Kingston, Dec. 8, 1748. Children all by
the first wife. 1. Samuel, deceased early. 2. Nathaniel, b.
Feb. 25, 1735, died at Portsmouth. 3. Hannah, b. Aug. 4,
1737, mar. Nathan Brewster. 4. John, b. Oct. 13, 1739,
settled at Portsmouth. 5. Sarah, b. 'Aug. 6, 1741, mar. John
Friend of Newburyport. 6. Huldah, b. Dec. 2, 1743, died
unmarried. 7. Ichabod, b. Dec. 13, 1747, settled at Duxbury.
8. Desire, mar. A. Hunt.

The above Samuel Kent was probably not a shipbuilder.
There is a tradition that the Kents originally emigrated from
the continent of Europe to England. Judge Hoar, a descend-
ant of the Kents, has looked up some A^aluable facts, the author
understands, relative to this family, but the information came
too late to investigate for this book.

The first vessel built l)}^ Samuel Kent, of Avhich avc have found
any record Avas in 1798, the sch. "ELIZA," 70 tons, owned by

380 VESSELS BUILT BY SAMUEL KENT.

Jesse Dunbar and Samuel Kent, ol' Scituate. The next year,
1799, he built the sch. "SALLY," 83 tons, of Charlestown ;
owned at one time by Jesse Dunbar, Eli Curtis, Samuel Kent
and Asa Yinal. After they sold her, she was sold by the U.
S. Marshal Avhile she was owned by Charlestown parties, for
a breach of the laws of the United States. Later she was
owned in Sweden and called the sch. " JSfysted." Samuel Kent
built in 1800 the ship "CHARLOTTE," 'l54 tons, of Boston.
Also in 1800, the sch. "LIBERTY," 88 tons ; owned by Wil-
liam and Lemuel Vinal, Charles Ellmes, wdio was master, and
David Otis, of Scituate. He built three vessels the next year,
1801, viz: ship "MARTHA," 192 tons, of Boston; sch.
"EAGLE," 107 tons, of Boston, and the sch. " WASHING-
TOX," 87 tons ; Barnabas Hedge, owner, at Plymouth. In
1827 she was whaling and sealing in the South seas. In 1802,
Samuel Kent built the sch. "HANNAH," 138 tons; two
decks and two masts, of Scituate, Ira Bryant, master ; Lemuel
Vinal, Samuel Kent, and Ira Bryant, Scituate, owners. He
built in 1803 the sch. "INDUSTRY," G8 tons, of Scituate;
Lemuel Yinal and Nehemiah Manson, owners ; also in 1803, the
sch. "NANCY," 94 tons ; owned by Abner Bailey, Elijah Cur-
tis, David Otis and Davis Jenkins, of Scituate. The "Nancy "
was afterward used as a North River packet, and commanded
by Capt. Asa Sherman, Sr. In 1804, the sch. "MARY," 82
tons, of Kingston, was built by Samuel Kent, master carpen-
ter, and in 1805, the sch. " WASHINGTON," 108 tons ; owned
by Ezra and Lemuel Yinal, Abraham Harris and Perez Pynchon,
of Scituate ; also in 1805 the sch. " JAMES," 100 tons ; owned by
Israel Merritt, Ensign Otis, Jr., Lydia Little, and Gridley
Cole, of Scituate. In 1807, the sch. "FRIENDSHIP," 79
tons, owned by Samuel Kent, shipwright, Lenmel Yinal,
Nehemiah Manson, David Otis, Jr., and Perez Pynchon, of
Scituate. He also built the brig " OREGON."

Kent's yard was used by Anthony Water7nan in 1813, which
year he built the sch. " OLD CARPENTER," 22 tons ; Lem-
uel Yinal, owner, Scituate. He also built the sch. "JOLLY
TAR" at this yard. Anthony Avas son of Capt. Anthony, the
tanner, who came into Scituate from Marshticld in 1760.
Anthony, Jr., b. 1763, resided at Buck's corner, near the Harbor.
His son James had a tannery on the old Turner and Copeland
place. So. Scituate. Anthony Waterman has a grandson,
Andrew, now living at the Harbor, Avhere he keeps a tinshop op-
posite the South Shore House. The British man of War, " Bui-

SAMUEL KENT NOAII BROOKS. 381

wark," lay off Scituato ILirhor diirino; the war of 1812. Doane
writes : "The militia of Scituato were called out certainly on
one occasion, viz., July 7, 1814. The British 74, called the
"Bulwark," had lain near Scituate Harbor several weeks, and
had sent a demand on shore for fresh beef and veijetables, which
the citizens of course did not furnish. Early in the morning of
June 11, 1814, two tenders manned with marines came into the
Harbor and set fire to the shipping, and returned to their
vessel. Ten vessels, fishing and coasting craft were lost. A
regiment of militia, under Col. John Barstow, repaired to the
neighborhood of the Harbor ; but their services were not
needed, and they returned to their homes."

The last vessel we find built by Samuel Kent, was in 1818^
the brig " ORACLE," 144 tons, of Boston ; owners, Otis
Vinal, Warren Clafilin, of Boston, Thomas Ho])art, of Pem-
broke, and Edmund Freeman, of Orleans, Mass. Samuel
Kent later moved to So. Boston, where he worked repairing old
vessels. Afterward he returned to Scituate, where he died,
and is buried in Norwell, in the cemetery opposite the Unita-
rian church "on the hill."

Capt. JSFoah Brooks, who served his apprenticeship with
Samuel Kent, built in the Kent yard in 1804 the In-ig " TROP-
IC," 150 tons, owned by Thomas Motley, Jr., of Boston. This
was probably the first ship he built on his own account, as he
was then but 22 years of age. Noah Brooks was a direct
descendant of William, who was a householder in Scituate in
1644, and resided south of Tills creek, near a clear spring of
water. Capt. Noah Brooks was b. in Scituate, July 7, 1782,
and d. in Dorcheste;-, Jan. 28, 1852, from the result of an
accident, he being thrown from a sleigh. As before stated, he
served his apprenticeship with his brother-in-law, Samuel Kent,
in the Kent yard at the Harbor. For several seasons in the fall
of the year he took companies of men down East and built one or
more vessels there. He went to So. Boston, where he worked
a short time for Lot Wheelwright^ and afterward built
ships on his own account at the yard foot of F street, later
occupied by E. & H. O. Briggs, he being a partner with them
at the time they built their first vessel. He built the bark
"Edward Fletcher," which was launched from back of the
forts, fully rigged. Cai)t. Noah Brooks was son of Noah
who descended from Nathaniel, through Nathaniel, Jr., and
Taylor Brooks. Noah, Sr. , mar. Hannah, dau. of Ebenezer

382 BROOKS GENEALOGY.

Stetson, who lived on North River. Captain Noah, Jr., the
shipbuilder, mar. in 1812, Esther Stetson. She was born in
Scituate in 1785, and died in 1863.

CHILDREN OF CAPT. NOAH AND ESTHER STETSON BROOKS.

1. Williams Barker, mar. Alvira W. Rice, and they have
had nine children whose names are given below. 2. Esther
Stetson, mar. Seth Pettee, and had one child, Noah Brooks, d.
ao-ed 11 mos. 3. Nancy. 4. John. 5. Lydia Sophronia,
mar. Joseph Wirisor, Jr., and had one child, Francis Herbert.
€. Sarah Copeland. 7. Hannah Elizabeth, mar. Benjamin B.
Converse, and has had five children ; two now living, Herbert
Brooks and Frank Battelle. 8. Noah Warren, d. aged 8 mos.
9. Maria Warren, mar. Francis B. Little.

CHILDREN OF AVILLIAMS BARKER AND ALVIRA W. BROOKS.

1. Mary Alvira Briggs, d. aged 8 mos. 2. Marion Wil-
liams. 3. Noah Walter. 4. Ella Maria. 5. Esther Stetson.
6. Williams Barker. 7. Antoinette Parsons. 8. Agnes Al-
vira. 9. Laura Alice.

James Sylvester Briggs and Barnabas W. Briggs, Imilt at
the Harbor as early as 1834. They first occupied the Samuel
Kent yard and opposite the residence of John Beal. There they
built three schooners. They then removed down to the lower
wharf, to the Will James yard, back of the old Dunbar store.
This yard had been occupied prior to this time by AbijaJi Otis.
They were descendants of Walter, who was in Scituate in 1645.
(See Brigsrs yard). Walter had a son, Lieut. James, who had
u son Beniamin, b. in 1695. His son was James Briggs, b.
Nov. 16, 1735, the veteran town clerk, which office he held for
twenty-five years, and was generally called "Clark Briggs."
He lived a half-mile south of Stockbridge's mill, and died in
1834, aged 99 years. His son Joseph, b. 1776, was father of
James Sylvester and Barnabas W. Briggs.

mar. Selina Curtis, Nov.
-# X -# // / yr^^ 16' 1823, and had chil-

^.//^^^^^ C/ ♦ {/^^^^"^^^^ dren: 1. Selina Curtis,
€Iy^ ^y b. Oct. 26, 1824. 2.

Cynthia Miriam, b. Oct. 6, 1829. 3. Hannah Wade, b. Oct.
29, 1833. Selina married Perry L. Parker, Nov. 25, 1849,
;and had six children : Perry Llewellyn, b. Nov. 9, 1853. Ida
Virginia, b. July 11, 1855.*^ Joseph Sylvester Briggs, b. Aug.

BKIGGS GENKALOGY.

383

8, 1857. George Scarboro, b. Sept. 3, 1859. Sclina Miriam,
b. Oct. (k 1863. Willie Grunt, b. April 21), 1866. Cynthia M.
mar. Anthony Gray, Mar. 15, 1868 ; no children. Hannah W.
mar. George W. Bailey, Nov. 26, 1856, and had two chil-
dren, Herbert Brings, b. Sep. 28, 1857, and Job Foster, b.
June 14, 1865.

Barnabas W. Briggs, mar. Deborah Otis Jan. 17, 1831, and
had children : 1. Emeline A., b. Nov. 9, 1832. 2. Ellen Deborah,
b. Fel). 16, 1835. 3. Joseph Otis, b. Nov. 9, 1836. 4. Caroline
Elizabeth, b. Jan. 15, 1845. 5. Julictta F., b. Sep. 27, 1846.
Emeline A. Briggs d. June 7, 1886, while teaching in the
Florida Institute, at Live Oak, Fla. Ellen Debokah mar.
Luther Paul Nov. 18, 1869, and had six children : Helen Flor-
ence, b. Jan. 5, 1870. Luther Gordon, b. July 29, 1871.
Twin girls, b. Jan. 16, 1873. Harriet Otis, b. Nov. 22, 1874.
James Irving, b. July 29, 1876. Joseph Otis, mar. Elsie
Orcutt Dec. 31, 1869, and had one child, Elsie Gertrude, b.
June 15, 1871. Julietta F. mar. W. Webster Lunt, Mar. 1,
1870, and had five children. Grace Webster, b. Sep. 11,
1872. Albion Wallace, b. Oct. 14, 1874. W. Webster, b.
June 6, 1877. Twin boys, b. Feb. 3, 1884.

James Sylvester Briggs was usually called Sylvester Briggs,
which cognomen will be generally used here. The sterns of their
vessels at the lower yard were nearly up to the back of Dunbar's
store.

Otis Briggs, belonging to another branch of this family,
built at the Harbor in 1831 the scli. " PYRETUS," 57 tons of
Scituate, a fishing schooner. John and Pcleg Jenkins, Jolm
Beal, Jesse Dunbar and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., owners. (See
Briggs' yard, North River.)

is now living at Scituate Centre, and is a remarkably well-
preserved man, with almost perfect memory at the age of
eighty-four, having been born May 20, 1805. He has given
the author much valuable information about the shipbuilding at
the Harbor, .-md on North River. (See Briggs Yard on North
Kiver.) James Sylvester Briggs was the master carpenter of

384 VESSELS BUILT BY J. S. & B. W. BRIGGS.

most of the vessels built by bim and bis brotber. Together
tbey built in 1834 tbe scb/" 8C1TUATE," a iisbing schooner
of 86 tons, of Scituate ; Cummings Jenkins, measurer; own-
ers. Perry P. Coleman, John l3eal, Peleg Jenkins, Justin
Litchfield, Sceva Chandler, David Coleman and Atwood L.
Dunbar, of Scituate. Capt. Cole commanded her on her first
voyage, and Capt. Alexander Anderson was mate. She was
finally sold to Provincetown, and used also as a w baler by R. A.
Barnard, of New York, by whom she was sold in 1838. The
Briggses built in 1835 the sch " LAPWING," 64 tons. James
S. Briggs, master and part owner; also John Beal, Peleg and
David S. Jenkins, George M. Allen, Shadrach Briggs and
Charles Vinal, of Scituate, owners. Sylvester and Barnabas
Briggs went tbe first voyage in the " Lapwing " fishing and
coastino-. Shadrach B. Curtis and Andrew Cole went in her
several fishing voyages. The next year after she was built, Capt.
McCloud, 3rd, took her, then Capt. Smith, and about 1844,
Capt. Anderson. Sylvester and Barnabas Briggs built in 1837
the sch. " LYDIA & POLLY," of Scituate ; owned by Charles
Vinal, Capt. Anthony Waterman, Shadrach Briggs and David S.
Jenkins, of Scituate. The "Lydia & Polly," was named for
Capt. Waterman's two daughters who lay dead in his house at
one time afterward. In 1838 the sch. " POCAHONTAS," a
fishing vessel of 41 tons; owned by James S. and B. W. and
Shadrach Briggs, Henry T. Otis, Benjamin Brown, Jr., and
Justice Litchfield, was built by the Briggs Bros. Also in 1839,
the sch. "STAR," 23 tons, owned by John Bcal, John C.
Jones, John, Peleg and Elijah Jenkins, Sr., Noah Jenkins,
Jr., Reuben C. Bates and Seth Webb, of Scituate; used as a
fishing vessel. In 1839 the sch. "COHANNET" was built in
Scituate, a fisherman of 82 tons, oak, iron and copper fastened ;
owned in 1865 by Kent and others, Boston. In 1867 she was
whaling in the Pacific. In 1874 was sold to Fair Haven, and in
1877 went on a whaling voyage. The sch. " PLANET," was
built by the Briggses for Capt. Curtis, of Scituate.

In 1841, the bark "JAMES W. PAIGE," 198 tons, oak,
copper fastened, was built in Scituate, Mass., by J. O. Curtis^
and owned, in 1859, by Benner & Deake, N. Y., Capt. Jones.
Half poop deck. J. O. Curtis afterward removed with his
family to Med ford.

In 1841, the sch. " SARAH," 63 tons, was built by William
Vinal at Melzar Turner's yard, and used as a packet between

/^ 7^ f}-^^

^^^.^x<^

WILLIAM VIXAL HENRY A. VINAL. 385

Scitiiatc and Boston, afterward sold sonth. AVilliam Vinal
also built, in 1843, the sch. "MARY," 73 tons, of Scituatc.
Willitini Vinal Avas father of Capt. Henry Vinal, the master
car[)enter of this vessel. Capt. Henry A. Vinal was born in
1805, and is now living at iScituate Harbor, bright as a new
dollar, and with feelings as young as a boy of sixteen. lie
has a smart, light step, good lungs and eonstitution probably
strengthened by his long sea life. llv eoinnieneed his sea life
Avlien but ten years old in the capaeity ol cook on the seh.
"Adventure," 75 tons, built "up the harbor," and owned by
his father, AVilliam Vinal. At eighteen years of age he was
captain of her, tind sailed to Virginia, Noilh Carolina and
other Atlantic coastline states ; also Texas, where ho met Sam-
uel Houston, afterward governor, whom he describes as "a hale
fellow well met." He next went coasting and Hshing in the
sch. "Ontario," which he says Avas built by C. O. Briggs.
About 1845, Sylvester Briggs built the bark "J. A. JESU-
KOON." She was built for J. A. Jesuroon, a foreigner, who
owned one-third of her. Capt. Vinal and others were: inter-
ested in her. While she was lying at her wharf in Boston,
loading for a foreign voyage, Capt. Vmal -was asked how nuich
he would take for^her. "$10,000," he replied. She was sold
and fitted out for California in 184!). Cai)t. Vinal, when at
Curacoa during one of his voyages, got the merchants and
others quite interested telling them about our rabbits, describ-
ing them, of course, as having long ears, short tails and "how
soft they were," and "how they would jump," and they asked
him to bring some down at any ])rice. \\'hen he returned home
he set the boys to work with their box-traps and gotcjuito a num-
ber which he took down to Curacoa. It was really a financial
success as the merchants paid him $2.00 for the rabbits, $2.00
for catching them, and $2.00 for taking them down, making
$6.00 apiece.

The BriiTirs Brothers built the "DRAPER," sold to Boston ;
also the "GOLDEN HORN," for Souther of Cohasset. The
"J. SETTER," a sch. of 58 tons, owned, ni 1874, at Turk's
Island, Avas also buUt at the Harbor; she was built in 1846,
of oak, iron and copi)er fastened. Sylvester and Barnal)as
Briggs built, in 1845, the sch. "JOHN ,J. EATON," 43 tons,
owned by ShadrachB. Curtis, Sceva Chandler, Edvv. F. Porter,
Benj. Brown, Jr., Joseph Northy, J. S. Briggs, George M.
Allen, Dexter and Charles Vinal, Scituate. The Briggses
built the same year, 1845, the brig "CLARENDON," 182 tons ;

386 VESSELS BUILT AT SCITUATE HARBOR.

owners, Chandler Clapp, Benjamin Brown, Jr., and Shadrach
Briggs of Scituate. In 1846, they built the sch. "OTIS," 87
tons ; owners, George M. and William P. Allen and John
Manson, Scituate ; she was ])uilt of oak, iron and copper fas-
tened, repaired m 1867, and owned, in 1875, by R. Murray
Jr., Capt. Cutts, master, N. Y. In 1847, they built the sch.
"CLARA JANE," 68 tons, owned in Plymouth in 1884. The
sch. "BELLE," of about 35 tons, built at the Harbor, is now
lying there condemned and useless. Sylvester and Barnabas
Briggs built, in 1848, two vessels, viz. : sch. "SEARS & J.
ROGERS," 31 tons, of Orleans, Mass., and the sip. "TAG-
LIONI," 34 tons, owned by Shadrach B. Curtis and James S.
Brigss, Scituate, and used as a Boston and Scituate Packet.
In 1849, they built the l)ark "MARTHA ALLEN," 283 tons ;
owners, Joel L. and John Manson and George M. Allen of
Scituate; she had one deck and beams built of oak, and was
iron and copper fastened. Capt. Joel Manson went master, but
left her on her arrival home, being sick. He died in Feb., 1851.
Capt. King took her and, on a voyage to Rio de Janeiro was
taken sick and put in at the Cape de Verde Islands, where he
died, the mate coming home master of her. She was owned,
in 1859, by G. F. Schmidt, Hamburg, and sailing under the
German flag.

In 1848-49, a company of ship carpenters, with William
Briggs as foreman, built a vessel at the Harbor on their own
account. This was the sch. "SARAH BROOKS," 76 tons, of
Scituate ; she was launched in 1849 ; owners, Robert Cook,
Israel Nichols, Asa R. Lewis, Joseph and Franklin Damon,
Charles Ellms, 2nd., David and William Briggs, John L.
Whittaker, Joseph Drew, Asa L. Hatch and Luther A. Tilden,
Scituate, and Elbridge Wyman, Boston. Israel Nichols was
master of this vessel. This was after he Avas discharged from
the almshouse, where he had been confined Ave or six years in
the old iron cage, being insane. After he was let out he lay
on the ground for a time, really breathing in the very earth,
and soon he appeared to be all right. He commanded the
''Sarah Brooks," fishing in the summer and coasting as far as
the Carolinas in the winter. On her last voyage he got as far
as Provincetown with her twice, and returned each time on
account of bad weather. Ichabod Cook then took the vessel
and sailed from Scituate, but neither she nor any of the crew
were ever heard from afterward.

Bakk " Martha Allp:n,'' 283 tons.
Built at Scituate Harbor, in 1849, by J. S. Briggs.

VESSELS BUILT AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 387

Sylvester and Barnabas Briggs built about this time a
•SCHOONER, of about 90 tons, for Capt. Loriiig Hates and one
or two SCHOONERS, names unitnown. They also built, in 1851,
the sch. "ANTELOPE,'" ()5 tons; she drew 9 feet of water,
was built of oak, iron, and copper fastened; in 1872 was
owned by F. M. Freeman of Provincetown, Capt. Thomas
Paine, and in 1884 m Camden, Me. They built, in 1854, the
bark "DANIEL," said to have been named for Daniel Phillips
who lived next west of Nelson's at Marshfield. She was of
240 tons, 110 feet long, 26 feet broad, of oak, iron and copper
fastened, yellow metalled in 1864, and owned, in 1874, by
Spearwater, of Nassau and sailing under the British Hag, Capt.
George H. Chisholm. There is a story that the Halls built a
"Daniel" at the ferry which was named for Daniel Phillips.
In that case this is probably another vessel, and was not named
for Mr. Phillips. In 1856, J. Sylvester Briggs built the
l)ark "EVANGELINE," 488 tons, owned, in 1861, by W. S.
Bartlett of Boston, Capt. Bai-tlett ; owned, in 1865, by W. S.
Bartlett, London, Capt. Grey. W. F. Weld is said to have
'been interested in this vessel at one time. The sch. "OCEAN
BELLE," 55 tons was built in Scituate, in 1860, by the
Briggses for Abel Vinal ; she was owned in 1884 in New
York. The last vessel built by Sylvester and Barnabas
Briggs was the bark "EVELINE," 650 tons, iov Capt. Jos.
Smith of Cohasset; she was begun Feb. 10, 1859. She made
a remarka])ly quick passage on her first trip, arriving at her
port two days before she was due.

The sch. "S. R. SOBER," 130 tons, was built in Scituate in
1832, and owned and sailed by Robert O. Sopor in 1865,
whalino; ; she was lost on Bird Island, May 25, 1870. In 1836,
the sch. " WM. ALLEN." 99 tons, of Provincetown, was built
in Scituate. Also the " LYCEUM " was built at Scituate Har-
bor for Melzar Litchfield, and afterward lost at sea.

About 1837 Melzar S. Turner * came down fi-om Pembroke
and built just above the upper wharf by the mill and opposite
the residence of Capt. Henry Vinal. Melzar Turner mar., for
his first wife, a sister of William Turner. By her he had two
children : George and Julia. George went to Liverpool, Julia
is deceased. Melzar Turner mar., secondly, Emma, dau. of
Israel ISIerritt. By her he had two children ; one is now living

♦ See Brick-kiln Yard.

388 VESSELS BUILT BY MELZAR S. TURNER.

in Marshfield, a Mrs. Rogers. Melzar Turner mar. , for his third
wife, Harriet, dau. of Dca. Israel Cudworth of Scituate ; by her :
he had six children, five of whom are now living, viz. : 1. Henry
James, who is in Detroit, Michigan, with Calvert & Co. 2. ,
Charles Everett, residing in Mattapan, Mass. 3. Danforth Fish,
residing in Waltham, Mass. 4. Jennie, living in Cambridge.
5. May, living in Cambridge. Melzar Turner built alone until
Lnther Briggs, who had built in company with him at the
Brick-kiln yard, came down and helped him finish a vessel.
From this time Turner & Briggs built more or less together at
both yards until 1848, when they gave up the Pembroke yard,
and built only at the Harbor.

At Scituate Harbor Melzar Turner built the brig " FRANK-
LIN," the brig "HIGGINS," the sch. "WILLIAM SOPER,"
and the sch. "MORRIS." We have been unable to ascertain
in what years these vessels were built. Melzar Turner built,
in 1837, the sch. "REAPER," 94 tons, of Scituate; Elijah
Jenkins, Jr., and Seth Webb, owners, afterward sold to Bos-
ton; and the same year, 1837, the sch. "ORIANNA," 111
tons ; Chandler and Albert Clapp, John Beal and Peleg Jen-
kins, owners; in 1838, he built the sch. "ONTARIO," 92
tons; Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Seth Webb, Henry F. Vinal and
Francis Thomas, owners. In 1841, there was built here the
bark "TURK," 197 tons, of Boston, by Melzar S. Turner,
master carpenter; owners, Alpheus Hardy, of Boston, and
others, who afterward had another vessel built here named the
"Young Turk." Melzar Turner built, in 1842, the bark
"LAWRENCE," 198 tons, of Boston. She was built of oak,
copper fastened; owned, in 1863, by Fabins of Salem, Capt.
Puling. She was often registered as the "Xaitrence." The
same year, 1842, the sip. "SINUS," 55 tons, was built at
Scituate Harbor, l\y Melzar S. Turner, master carpenter ; Wil-
liam Vinal, owner and, in 1843, the bark "ZULETTE," 198 tons,
of Boston.

In 1845, Luther Briggft was the master carpenter, and this
year the brig "ARGUS," of 130 tons, Avas built at Scituate
Harbor by the firm ; Chandler and Henry Cla})p, Peleg T. and
and David S. Jenkins, Luther Briggs, Caleb W. Prouty and
Isaac Litchfield, of Scituate, and others, were the owners.
The sch. "TALISMAN, 73 tons, oak, copper and iron fiis-
tened was built in Scituate in 1845, and owned in 1865, by
Hicks & Bell, N. Y., Capt. E. G. Conner; large repairs were

VESSELS BUILT BY BRIGGS & TURNER. 389

made on her in 18()(). Briqgs & Turner also built the brig
« SAMUEL SOPER," and two vessels named "MARY."
They built a fishing and coasting schooner in 1846 ; this was
the sch. "SPARTACUS," i)2 tons, of Scituate ; owners, Perry
L. Parker, Edward F. Porter, Caleb W. Prouty, PclegT., Noah
and Reuben Y. Jenkins, Benjamin Swan, Jr., Joseph Northey,
Thomas M. Hatch, AYalter Wall and Melzar S. Turner, of Scit-
uate, Luther Briggs, of Peml)roke, and others ; she Avas sold and
fitted out for California during the gold fever of 1849. During
the two years before she was sold, Capt. Anderson, a part
owner, went master of her. Capt. Alexander Anderson was
born in Scituate Harbor in 1817. When about nine years old,
he went in the schooner "Olive Branch," Capt. Stetson, one
season, afterward in the schooner "Danube," as steward, with
his uncle, Capt. Damon, for six years, when he left her, being
then master. In 1839, he w^ent as mate in the "Huron," (built
,at Brooks & Tilden's Yard), afterward in the sch. "Globe"
from North Carolina ; he then went in a Hingham schooner,
and in the sch. "James Otis" (built at Bnck-kiln Yard),
coasting and fishing. He was master of the " S])artacus " for
two years, when he bought one-half of the sch. " Almira," built at
Boothbay ; after commanding her three years, he sold her and
went into the wrecking busmess, getting wrecks off the coast,
X)V breaking them up if there was no chance of saving them.
In this business he has assisted at one hundred and seven
wrecks, and he remembers the particulars of each. Between
his voyages in his early days he worked painting vessels on
Hall's Yard and on Cushing O. and Henry Briggs' Yard.
Capt. Anderson still lives at the Harbor and continues in the
wrecking business.

Brio-gs & Turner built at the Harbor, in 184G, the sch.
"BAY^STATE," 90 tons, Luther Briggs and Melzar Turner,
master carpenters; owners, Caleb W. Prouty, Peleg T. and
David S. Jenkins, Thomas J. Curtis, Daniel Broughton,
Edward F. Porter, Anthony Chubuck, James H. jVIerritt,
Asaph A. Faxon, Thomas Clapp, Sceva Chandler and Melzar
S. Turner, of Scituate, Luther Briggs, of Pembroke, and
John Lewis of Marshfield ; built of oak, iron and cop; >cr fas-
tened, half deck, owned, in 186-'), by Coburn & Rav, Capt.
Corey, Rockland. Li 1848, they built the sch. "EXCEL," 74
tons, owned, in 1884, at Boston, and registered as 52 tons.
There was also built here, in 1848, the sch. "FLORA," 70
tons, of oak, break cabin, break two decks ; owned, in 1861,

390 VESSELS BUILT BY TURNER, OTIS & COLE.

by X. D. Scudder & Co., Barnstable, Capt. J. B. Sears ; owned,,
in 1876, by Owen Bearse at Boston. The "Almatia" is the
last vessel we have found recorded as having been built at the
Harbor l^y the firm of Brings & Turner. The bark " ALMA-
TIA," 475 tons, was built'by Briggs & Turner, in 1856, at
Scituate, Mass; owned, in 1861, by A. IT. Power and others,
of Cohasset, Mass., and by the Captain, J. H. Smith.

Mr. Turner had for several years been a member of the firm
oi Turner, Otis & Cole, (Melzar S. Turner, Edwin Otis, An-
drew Cole.) This firm occupied the yard back of the store at
Dunbar's ^^■harf at the head of Will James' dock, and nearly
opposite the residence of Squire Dunbar. Andrew Cole was
born in Scituate, and was son of Braddock Cole. He was a ship
carpenter by trade, having served his time with Noah Brooks.
He is now living in Scituate and unmarried. Here they built in
1847 the bark "UNION," 199 tons, of Boston ; oak, copper and
iron fastened ; one deck, owned in 1859 by Clermont &
Kendrick, Capt. Kendrick ; owned in 1865 by Capt. G. Seller,
Geetsm'de. They also built here several whaling vessels and
Philadelphia ]:)ackets. Turner, Otis & Cole built here in
1847 the ship " HANNAH EDDY," 414 tons, of Boston. Ed-
win Young worked on the vessels "Hannah Eddy," " Selah,"
and "Daniel Davis." He says that in 1837, $50,<)00 worth of
vessels were built at the Harbor. He was born August, 1819,
and worked in Charlestown, also in many yards on North
Eiver, painting vessels. He mar. Mary L. Litchfield, and had.
children, one adopted. Flora L., Perez L., Edwin A., Wal-
ter L., Camilla Urso. In 1848 the bark "MARY F.
SLADE," 199 tons of Boston, was built at Scituate Harbor by
Turner, Otis & Cole, built of oak, iron and copper fastened ;.
owned in i8(>l by A. A. Frazier, of Boston, Capt. Crowell.
The bark " SELAH," of 199 tons, of Boston, was built here in
1848, by Turner, Otis & Cole, for Hardy & Baker, who-
used her in the Southern Packet Lines. She was built,
of oak, iron and copper fastened, single bottom, and drew
twelve feet of water. She was bought from Boston in 1868,
and sent whaling in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, until she
was condemned and sold at Panama, June 6, 1873. She was
bought by J. M. McCooke, who repaired her, and in 1876 she
waswhaling from that port. The same year that Turner, Otis
& Cole buiit the " SELAH," they budt the brig " EMPIRE,"
497 tons, built in 1848, sold to Boston, and owned in 1859 by
Emery, of Boston, Capt. Osborn, and in 1861 by Post &,
Small, Boston.

LAST VESSELS BUILT AT THE HARBOR. 391

In 1850 Edioin O^ts was master carpenter of the sch. "SOUTH
SHOKE," 88 tons, of Scituiite, a very fost vessel built
of spruce, and running to Baniror in the himber trade. She
was owned by Edwin cOTlIowland Otis, Jr., P^nsignO. Beal and
Benjamin Brown, of Scituate ; she was owned in 18(53 by
Howlnnd Otis at the Harbor.

Turner, Otis & Go. built in 1852 the sch. "JAMES
WYMAN," 65 tons, owned by liobert Cook, James Wyman,
Perry L. Parker, Franklin Damon, Sceva Chandler, Benjamin
O. Totman, John D. and Daniel Torrey, Jr., Thomas L.
Prouty, Henry Hyland and Archil)ald Mitchell, all of Seituate ;
owned in 1863 by E. II. Cook, in Vinal Haven, Capt. Buck-
master, and used as a fisherman. They also built a vessel
named " MARY." The sch. " EMMA V.," 149 tons, was Iniilt
in Scituate in 1852. She had a trunk cabin, Avas built of
oak, copper and iron fastened ; owned in 1865 by Pjoardman
& Sanderson, Provincetown ; Capt. Pondor. The bark
"YOUNG TURK," 300 tons, two decks, oak, copper and iron
fastened, was built at Scituate Harbor in 1853 by Turner and
others; owned in 1859 by Hardy and others, Boston; Capt.
Harding. She was a very successful vessel, and used in the
Mediterranean trade, where she paid for herself several times,
and was finally lost off the Gut of Canso. In 1854 there
were two vessels built here. The bark " SARAH." 2<;0 tons,
oak and pine, iron and copper fastened ; owned in 1859 by
Vose, Livingstone & Co., New York; Capt. C. S. Stephens;
in 18(i5 by Pendergast Bros., Barbadoes ; Capt. J. Boyd; and
she was afterward called the ''Nellie Femcickr The sch.
"LINNELL," 177 tons, was built in Scituate in 1854; owned
in 1861 by Capt. Freeman, of Orleans, Mass; Capt. Freeman,
break deck. The sch. "A. F. LINNELL," 176 tons, was built
in Scituate in 1855 ; owned and sailed in 1861 by Capt. Free-
man, of Orleans. The sch. "FOUR BROTHERS," a fishing
sch., 53 tons; was built in Scituate in 1857; owned m 18(15
by N. Chase, of Harwick ; Capt. A. S. Chase. The last
vessel whose record we have that Avas built at the Harbor Avas
the sch. "METEOR," 11 6 tons ; built in Seituate in 18()4 ; owned
at Boston in 1884. This was probably the last vessel built at
the Harbor.

" Upon North River's banks no more
The builder's axe is heard ;
No more the new-launched boat before
The quiet tide is stirred.

392 TO THE AUTHOR.

No keel the careful master lays
The idle stream beside ;
Nor longer down the smoking ways
The shapely vessels glide.

" Still, bidden by the circling moon,
The salt tides come and go,
And crimson dawn and golden noon
Along the marshes glow.
But down the ebb no brave barks float,
All's calm as when of yore
The Indian drove his birchen boat
Along the wood-hung shore.

*' Yet once on either busy bank
The workman's hammer rang.
And many a ship of goodly rank
To the fair river sprang.

What seas they sought ! What perils dared !
What fate was theirs at last !
In sunless gulfs of ocean snared,
Or on some lee-shore cast !

*' But here the historian's faithful pen
Once more their canvas spreads,
And on his well-wrought deck again
The master builder ti'eads.
Floats once again the storied stream
Its freight of shipping down,
And dark hulls glide and bright sails gleam
By every busy town.

" From out the past this book reclaims
What record it may give,
And bids these else forgotten names
Upon its pages live ;
While still by meadow-margined way's,
North River geeks the deep.
Forever past its working days.
And come its time to sleep."

E. A. O.

•°o^r^oo

•^t3t;i#:;

A LIST OF VESSELS

BUILT ON NORTH RIVER AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR.

Name.

Ton-
nage.

Rig.

Built

1787

Town or Yabd.

Aaron

sch.

Brick-kiln

173

Abbie Bradford

114

scb.

1860

Bar^tow & Waterman, Fox Hill

143

Abigail

sip.

1784

Brooks, Tilden & Taylor

272

Abigail Little

sip.

1819

Rogers Yard

212

Abigail & Elizabeth

brigantine

1707

Block House

261

Abigail & Sarah

brigantine

1705

Miscel. Scituate

339

Abraham

—

brig

1847

Torrey, Block-house

271

Abram

158

brig

1848

Barstow & VVatorman, Fox Hill

141

Acastus

343

ship

1811

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Adams

sch.

1803

Barstow " Two Oaks "

101

Adams

111

sch.

1825

Briggs Yard

317

Adelia Rogers

199

bk.

184!)

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

141

Adeline

sch.

1835

Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln

196

Adventure

brigantine

1696

Miscel. Scituate

337

Adventure

sip.

1698

Scituate Harbor

366

Adventure

brigantine

1702

Wanton

218

Adventure

brigantine

1702

Wanton

218

Adventure

ship

1704

Miscel. Scituate

339

Adventure, lately the Randol

brigantine

170.)

Chittenden Yard

244

Adventure

l)rigantine

1707

Wanton

218

A. F. Linnell

176

sch.

1855

Scituate Harbor

391

Agnes

sch.

1842

Miscel. Scituate

344

Albion

sip.

1823

Foster & Co. Wanton

235

Alert

164

brig

179(5

Miscel. Hanover

130

Alexander

133

brig, aft. ship

1796

Brick-kiln

174

Alexander

sch.

1848

Miscel. Scituate

344

Alexander Hodgden

377

ship

1801

Delano, Wanton

224

Alexandria

206

brig

1832

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

Allen

127

sch., aft. Her. brig

1838

Barstow Lower Yard

Allen King

206

brig

1843

Brooks & Tilden

279

Almatia

475

bark

185i)

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor

390

Almiiia

175

bark

1835

U'aternKin & Bates, Fox Hill

138

Almira

sch.

1801

Torrey, ("liittendon Yard

250

Almira

178

brig

1805

Turner, Brick-kiln

174

Almira

—

sch.

183-

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

257

Alonzo

—

ship

1804

Miscel. Hanover

130

Amazon

107

sell.

1804

Samson, No. River Bridge

America

sch.

1784

Miscel. Hanover

129

America

sch.

1787

Miscel. Hanover

129

America

sch.

1787

Stntson, Wanton

222

America

220

ship

1792

Briggs Yard

310

America

280

ship

1803

Sn)itli Yard

America

362

ship

1810

Turner, Miscel. Hanover

126

America

ship

1812

Foster, Wanton

230

America

sch.

1832

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

American

283

ship

1827

Barstow Lower Yai-d

107

Amity

brigantine

1700

Scituate Harbor

367

Amity

bk.

1701

Blork-house

260

Amity

sip.

1705

Miscel. Scituate

339

Amulet

153

brig

1834

James & Torrey, Block-house

271

Andrew and Samuel

ship

1696

Miscel. Scituate

337

Angel

sch.

1830

Miscel. Scituate

344

Angel

157

brig

1836

Brigirs Yard

.321

Ann

296

ship

1804

Iviniiuian, Miscel. Hanover

126

Ann

340

ship

1815

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

101

Ann

204

brig

1816

Briggs, Brick-kiln

193

Ann Caroline

190

brig

1845

Barstow Lower Yard

119

Ann Rosina

123

sch.

1816

Tilden, Block-house

269

Annawan

299

ship

1801

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Anne

sip.

1703

Briggs Yard

285

Antarctic

101

sch.

1851

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

142

Antelo|)e

sch.

1851

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

387

Apollo

139

brigantine

1792

Smith Yard

394

A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER

Name.

Ton-
nage

Rig.

Built

Town or Yard.

Arcturus

300

ship

1804

Brick-kiln

175

Argo

221

ship

1795

Rogers Yard

2i2

Argus

130

brig

1845

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor

388

Arthur Pickering

254

bk.

1847

Briggs, Turner & Smith, Brick-kiln

197

Asia, aft. Fernando Septimo.

274

ship

1803

Foster, Wanton

229

Atlas

360

ship

18i5

Foster & Sons, Wanton

231

Attila

206

brig

183.3

Clapp & Foster, \v anion

239

Augustus

325

ship

1806

Delano, Wanton

225

Aurelia

sch.

1832

Torrey, Block-house

271

Aurora

244

ship

1799

Smith Yard

Avon

299

bk.

1831

Briggs Yard

320

Bacheldor

scb.

1794

Stutson, Wanton

222

Bachelor

sch.

1786

Chittenden Yard

246

Baltimore

130

sch. aft. brig

1826

.James & Torrey, Block -house

271

Baltimore

169

brig

1833

Foster & Co, Wauton

240'

Banker

sch.

1816

Foster & Co., Wanton

233'

Banker

sch.

1818

Barstow Lower Yard

104

Barclay

166

brig

1823

Turner. Palmer & Magroun, No. River Bridge

Bay State

sch.

1846

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor

389'

Beaver

ship

177-

Thomas, Brick-kiln

164

Beaver

—

ship

1791

Brick-kiln

167

Beaver

sch.

1814

Turner, Fox Hill

133

Becca or Beckey

sch.

1784

Block-house

261

Bedbug

sip.

1817

Foster & Co., Wanton

233

Bedford

180

sth., then bript'n aft. ship

1772

Thomas, Brick-kiln

169

Bedford

253

ship

1793

Briggs Yard

310

Bee

sch.

1777

North River

Belle

sch.

18—

Scituate Harbor

386

Benjamin

sip. aft. brig't'n

1698

Wanton

217

Benjamm

sip.

1705

Miscel. Scituate

339

Benjamin

188

ship

1801

Samson, No. River Bridge

Benjamin Franklin

164

brig

18-

Briggs, Brick-kiln

195

Betsey

sch.

1787

Miscel. Scituate

343

Betsey

sch.

1788

Miscel. Hanover

129

Betsey

sch.

1790

Miscel. Scituate

343

Betsey

sch.

1793

Randall, Miscel. Pembroke

83.

Betsey

111

sch. aft. brig

1794

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

247

Betsey

121

sch.

1795

Rogers Yard

207-

Betsey

sch.

1795

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

368

Betsey

sch.

1796

Randall, Miscel Pembroke

Betsey

sch.

1796

Torrey Chittenden Yard

247

Betsey

sch.

1798

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

369

Betsey

ship

1799

Smith Yard

90'

Betsey

sip.

1802

Smith Yard

Betsey

sch.

1803

Miscel. Scituate

343

Betsey

sch.

1819

Torrey Block-house

270'

Betsey & Mary

sch.

1817

Foster & Co., Wanton

233

Betsey & Polly

sch.

1817

Foster & Co., Wanton

233

Betsey Pierce

sch.

1816

Foster & Rogers, Wanton

233

Betty

sip.

1706

Miscel. Scituate

339

Billow

160

brig

1824

Briggs Yard

316

Billow

sch.

18'-'9

Briggs Yard

319

Black Hawk

—

bk.

1834

Briggs, Brick-kiln

196

Blackthorne

sip.

1692

Wanton

217

Blackthorne

sip.

1694

Briggs Yard ,

284

Blessing

ship

1698

Scituate Harbor

366

Blossom

sip.

1713

White's Ferry

350

Boston

242

brig

18v7

Wanton & Briggs Yards 317

238

Boston

170

brig

1833

Foster & Co., Wanton

240

Britannia

163

ship

1784

Miscel. Hanover

129

Brothers

—

1805

North River

Byron

193

brig

1824

Copeland & Co., Fox HiU

136

Cadet

100

brigantine

1784

Brick-kiln

173

Caliban

311

ship

1811

Samson, No. River Bridge

Callisto

190

brigantine

1802

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

126

Cameron

sch.

1799

Rogers Yard

208

Camilla

108

brigantine

1801

Smith Yard

Camilla

233

brigantine

1827

Foster & Co., Wanton

238

AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR.

3[)5

Name.

Tox-

NAOE

Rio.

Built

Canowa

263

ship

1805

Cashier

brig

1819

Casket

155

brig

1833

Caspian

—

Catharine

sip.

1793

Catharine

sch.

1817

Catherine

sch.

1817

Catherine

—

1848

Cent

—

brig

Centurion

sch.

1786

Century

280

ship

1806

Charles

brigantine

1703

Charles

brigantine

171)9

Charles

123

sch.

1804

Charles

—

ship

1805

Charles

sch.

1825

Charles & Henry

337

ship

1832

Charleston & Liveqiool

325

ship

1806

Charlotte [Packet

154

ship.

1800

Chatham

sch.

1844

Chester

sch.

1842

Chickasaw

171

brig

1832

Cicero

227

ship

1709

Clara Jane

sch.

1847

Clarendon

182

brig

1845

Clarinda

sch.

1825

Clay

299

ship

1818

Cohannett

sch.

1839

Columbia

220

ship

1773

Columljia

sch.

1828

Columbia

285

ship

1829

Columbia

sch.

1834

polumljia

131

brig

1835

Columbian Packet

220

ship

1802

Columbine

270

ship

1802

Columbus

—

ship

1819

Combine

sch.

1820

Commerce

241

ship

1795

Conanchet

—

sch.

1848

Conclusion

109

sch.

1798

Constitution

325

ship

1821

Content

sip.

1700

Content

120

ship

1702

Cordelia

252

ship

1805

Cordova

—

sch.

1838

Corel

335

ship

1823

Cornelia

—

sch.

1S34

Cronstadt

273

brig

1829

Cumberland

183

brigantine

1801

Cnshing

sch.

l.S()2

Cyrene

sch.

1819

Cyrus

328

ship

1821

Daniel

sch.

1825

Daniel

240

bk.

1854

Daniel Davis

—

Daniel Francis

113

sch.

1838

Daniel Webster

264

bk.

1836

Daniel Webster

—

sch.

Danube

sch.

1828

Deane

sch.

1846

Debby

107

brig

1792

Dedalus

—

ship

1800

Defiance

sch.

177-

Deposit

125

sch., aft. brig

1834

Desire

sip.

1678

Diana

sip.

1783

Diana

sch.

1786

Diana

sch.

1791

Diana

—

brig

1825

Town or Yard.

Briggs, Brick-kiln

Copeland, Ford & Pratt, Fox Hill

James & Torrey, Block-house

Foster, Wanton

North River

Briggs Yard

Turner, Brick-kiln

Briggs & Smith. Brick-kiln

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

Miscel. Scituate

Miscel. Hanover

Scituate Harljor

Block-house

Delano, Wanton

North River

Briggs Sc Turner, Brick-kiln

Rarstow Lower Yard

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

Kent, Scituate Harbor

Miscel. Scituate

Brigss & Turner, Brick-kiln

Foster & Co., Wanton

Smith Yard

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

Souther & Cudwortli, Chittenden Yd

Barstow Lower Yard

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

Briggs Yard

James, Block-house

Barstow Lower Yard

Briggs Yard

Britrgs Yard

White's Ferry

Delano, Wanton

North River

Foster ^- Co., Wanton

North River

Cudworth, Chittenden Yard

Rogers Yard

Barstow Lower Yard

Miscel. Scituate

(Jhittenden Yavd

Samson, No. River Bridge

Briggs, Brick-kHn

Miscel. Hanover

Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln

Briggs Yard

Briggs, Brick-kiln

Briggs Yard

Turner & Turner, Fox Hill

Foster & Co., Wanton

Hall's, White's Ferry
Briggs, Scituate Harbor
Scituate Harbor
White's Ferry
Barstow Lower Yard
Halls, White's Ferry
Turner, Brick-kiln
Barstow Lower Yard
Brooks, Tilden & Taylor
Smith Yard
No. River Pilots
Hall's, White's Ferry
Briggs Yard
Brick-kiln
Miscel. Scituate
Miscel. Hanover
Foster & Co., Wanton

396

A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT OX NORTH RIVER

Name.

Ton-
nage.

Rig.

Built

Town or Yard.

Diligence

17-

Smith Yard

Diligent

sch.

1786

North River

Dispatch

139

brig

1795

Keene, White's Ferry

351

Dolphin

100

ship

1696

Miscel. Scituate

337

Dolpliin

sip.

1710

Block-house

261

Dolphin

pch.

177-

No. River Pilots

Dolphin

sch.

1786

Briggs Yard

309

Dolphin

sch.

1787

Miscel. Scituate

343

Dolphin

122

brig

1793

Keene, White's Ferry

351

Dolphin

sip.

1794

Brick-kiln

174

Dolphin

sch.

1799

Thomas, Brick-kiln

174

Dolphus

sch.

1783

Brick-kiln

173

Dorothy

brigantine

1700

Briggs Yard

285

Dorothy

brigantiue

1704

Miscel. Scituate

338

Dorothy

ship

1708

Block-house

261

Dorothy

ship

1710

Block-house

261

Dove

100

ship

1699

Wanton

217

Dove

brigantine

1704

Miscel. Scituate

338

Dove

sip

1706

Scituate Harbor

368

Dover

166

brig

1833

Hall's, White's Ferry

360

Dover

sch.

1833

Hall's, White's Ferry

360

Dragon

bark

1701

Scituate Harbor

367

Dragon

brigantine

1702

Scituate Harbor

367

Draper

—

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

385

Dray

—

sch.

Hall's, White's Ferry

356

Dubartus

sip.

1694

Chittenden Yard

244

Eagle

sip.

1711

Block-house

261

Eagle

107

sch.

1801

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Eagle

—

1818

North River

Echo

197

brig

1832

Hall's, White's Ferry

359

Edie Little

sch.

1860

Taylor & Carver, Taylor

281

Edward

346

ship

1815

Eeils, Smith Yard

Edwin

103

sch.

1836

Briggs, Brick-kiln

196

Eliza

sch.

1794

Rogers Yard

211

Eliza

106

sch.

1795

Rogers Yard

207

Eliza

108

sch.

1797

Randall, Miscel. Pembroke

Eliza

sch.

1798

Kent, Scituate Harbor

379

Eliza

sch.

1801

Scituate Harbor

368

Eliza

sch.

1802

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Eliza

165

brig

1802

Ford, Brooks, Tilden & Taylor

273

Eliza

sch.

1803

Turner, Miscel. Pembroke

Eliza Ann

312

ship

1811

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

101

Eliza Ann

sch.

1830

Turner, Brick-kiln

192

Eliza Barker

—

ship

1810

Miscel. Hanover

130

Elizabeth

sip.

1700

Miscel. Scituate

338

Elizabeth

sip.

1705

Block-house

260

Elizabeth

ship

1807

Foster, ^Vanton

230

Ellen

sch.

1831

Merritt, Miscel. Scituate

340

Elvira

—

brig

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

Emily Cook

116

sch. aft. brig

1824

Torrey, Block-house

270

Emma Isadora

213

bk.

1838

Briggs Yard

321

Emma V.

149

sch

1S.V2

Miscel. Scituate & Scituate Harbor

391

Empire

497

brig

1848

Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harbor

390

Endeavor

sip.

1703

Scituate Harbor

367

Endeavor

l)rigantine

1705

Wanton

218

Endeavour

sip.

1698

Miscel. Scituate

338

Enterprise

119

sch.

1806

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

250

Enterprise

—

ship

Torrey, Block-house

271

Eos

sch.

1818

Keene, White's Ferry

352

Equator

—

1818

North River

Erie

113

sch.

1838

Brooks & Tilden

279

Esther

sch.

1785

North River

Esther

135

brig

1835

Hall's, White's Ferry

360

Essex

ship

1796

North River

£ureka

Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate

342

Evangeline

488

bark

1856

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

387

Evelina

109

sch.

1799

Randall, Miscel. Pembroke

Eveline

650

bark

1859

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

387

Excel

sch.

1848

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor

369

Expenditure

sip.

1702

Wanton & Barker, Wanton

218

AX\) AT SCITUATE lIAUHOIi.

Name.

Ton-
nage

Rig.

Built

Town ok Yarb.

(14

Fair Lady-

104

sch.

1816

Samson, Mo. River Bridge

Fair Play

sip.

1803

Turner, Brick-kiln

174

Fairy

185

brig

1831

Halls, White's Ferry

359

Falcon

1822

North River

Falcon

128

her. brig

18()2

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

143

Falkland

ship

1785

Thomas, Brick-kiln

167

Fame

140

brigantine

1785

Scituate Harbor

368

Fame

ship

1801

Smith Yard

Fame

brig

1801

Smith Yard

Fame

sch.

1807

Turner. Brick-kiln

174

Fame

sch.

1817

Turner. Fox Hill

134

Fanny

sch.

1794

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

368

Fanny

—

ship

1817

Miscel. Hanover

130

Favorite

sch.

1815

Foster. Wanton

229

Favorite

sch.

1788

Miscel. Scituate

343

Feaeral George

loa

sch.

1794

Rogers Yard

208

Fish Hawk

411/,

sch.

1787

Miscel. Scituate

343

Fisli Hawk

46"

sch.

1797

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

369

Five Brothers

sch.

1804

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Flora

306

ship

1801

Tiiden, Block-house

264

Flora

151

brig

1829

White's Ferry

3.58

Flora

293

bk:

1831

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Flora

sch.

1848

Scituate Harbor

369

Florida

244

brig

1818

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

Flying Fish

sch

1787

North River

Forest Bell

sch.

1862

Merritt, Cliittendcn Yard

257

Forest Oak

sch.

18fV2

Merritt, Chittenden Yard

257

Fortune

339

ship

1809

Foster, Wanton

229

Foster

317

ship

1818

Foster & Co., Wanton

234

Four Brothers

sch.

1811

Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate

341

Four Brothers

sch.

1818

Miscel. Scituate

344

Four Brothers

sch.

1857

Scituate Harbor

391

Four Friends

sch.

1811

Rogers Yard

208

Four Sisters

sch.

1819

Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate

341

Frances, aft."Larke"

sip.

1704

Miscel. Scituate

338

Frances Ann

ship

1810

Foster, Wanton

230

Francis

291

ship

1805

Barstows, " Two Oaks "

101

Francis

ship

1816

Barstows, "Two Oaks"

101

Franciscan

ship

1811

Foster, Wanton

231

Franklin

179

ship

1792

Miscel. Hanover

129

Franklin

bk.

1817

Miscel. Hanover

130

Franklin

172

brig

1840

Wanton

242

Franklin

brig

18—

Turner, Scituate Harbor

388

Frederic

107

sch.

1801

Barstow, " Two Oaks "

100

Frederic

107

sch.

1801

Miscel. Hanover

130

Frederic

153

brig

1801

Cushing & Co., Miscel. Hanover

127

Freedom

sch.

1823

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

255

Friendship

ship

1711

Briggs Yard

285

Friendship

brigantine

1712

Biock-house

261

Friendship

118

brig

1786

North River

Friendship

sch.

1788

Miscel. Scituate

343

Friertdship

sch.

1807

Kent, Scituate Harbor

38»

Friendship

sch.

1816

Copeland. I'ox Hill

134

Friends' Adventure

sip.

1698

Miscel. Scituate

338

Friends' Adventure

brigantine

1702

Scituate Harbor

367

Ganges

215

ship

1806

Delano, Wanton

225

Ganges

250

1833

Clapp & Foster, Wanton

239

Garland

128

brigantine

1795

Foster, Wanton

229
91

Garland

280

ship

1801

Smith Yard

Garnet

sch.

18.36

Turner, No. River Bridge

Gem

162

brig

1830

Hall's, Wliites's Ferry

358

George

sch.

1801

Foster, Wanton

229

George

1816

North River

George Otis

175

brig

1844

Barstow Lower Yard

119
212
135
231
23a

George Washington

130

brig't'n aft. brig

1800

Rogers Yard

George Washington

sch.

1820

Turner, Fox Hill

Globe

293

ship

1815

Foster & Sons Wanton

Golconda
Golconda

ship

18(17

Foster, Wanton

sch.

1818

Brooks, Miscel. Scituate

341

S98

A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER

Name.

Ton-
nage.

Rig.

Built

Town or Yard.

PL,

•Golden Horn

18—

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

385

Good hope

ketch

1694

Briggs Yard

214

Good Luck

brigantine

1706

Miscel. Scituate

339

Goree

336

ship

1823

Bar stow Lower Yard

106

Gov. Brooks

sch.

1817

Foster & Co., Wanton

233

Governor Gore

302

ship

1800

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

101

Governor Strong

—

1817

North River

Grand Island

106

sch.

183G

White's Ferry

360

Hamilton

164

brig

1830

Briggs Yard

320

Hannah

ship

1699

Chittenden Yard

244

H»»nnah

brigantine

1700

Wanton

217

Hannah

sip.

177-

No. River Pilots

Hannah

sch.

1780

Scituate Harbor

368

Hannah

sip.

1787

Miscel. Scituate

343

Hannah

sch.

1788

Brick-kiln

174

Hannah

130

brigantine

1790

North River

Hannah

118

sch.

1800

Delano, Wanton

224

Hannah

138

sch.

1802

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Hannah

sch.

1805

Brick-kiln

175

Hannah & Eliza

255

ship

1800

Foster, Wanton

229

Hannah Eddy

414

ship

1817

Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harbor

390

Hanover

281

ship

1801

Smith Yard

Hanover

329

ship

1827

Barstow Lower Yard

106

Hanson

sip.

1833

Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln

196

Harlequin

336

ship

1800

Delano, ^V^anton

224

Harmony

—

ship

1767

Thomas, Brick-kiln

167

Harmony

sch.

1785

Briggs Yard

309

Harriott

sch.

1800

Scituate Harbor

368

Harriot

202

bk.

1834

Barstow Lower Yard

110

Hart

sip.

1707

Block-bouse

261

Hawk

sch.

1785

Miscel. Hanover

129

Hazard

sch.

1799

Smith Yard

Hebe

171

brig

1829

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Hector

1791

North River

Hector

sip.

1802

Smith Yard

Helen

100

sch. aft. brig't'n

1793

Brooks, Tiiden & Taylor

273

Helen

277

ship

1795

Lewis, Brick-kiln

177

Helen M. Foster

sch.

1871

Merritt, Chittenden Yard

257

Helena

ship

1806

Mis el. Scituate

343

Hellenoh

ship

1811

Foster, Wanton

230

Heman Smith

123

her. brig

1866

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

144

Henery

ship

1806

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

101

Hennereta

sip.

1703

Miscel. Scituate

338

Hennitta

ship

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

101

Henrietta

279

ship

1805

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

101

Hero

1818

N orth River

Heroine

337

ship

1815

Copeland, Fox Hill

133

Hiffgins

brig

Turner, Scituate Harbor

388

Hilah or Hilo

390

ship

1833

Waterman & Bates, Fox-Hill

138

Home

136

sch. aft. brig

1837

Barstow Lower Yard

110

Hope '

brigantine

1692

Briggs Yard

284

Hope

ketch

1700

Miscel. Scituate

338

Hope

sch.

1783

Stutson, Wanton

222

Hope

sch.

1784

Thomas, Brick-kiln

173

Hope

134

brigantine

1785

North River

Hope

sch.

1787

Miscel. Scituate

343

Hope on

191

sch.

1869

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

145

Hopewell

sip.

1694

Wanton

217

Hopewell

brigantine

1694

Chittenden Yard

244

Hopewell

sip.

1696

Miscel. Scituate

337

Hopewell

'60

sip. aft. brig't'n

1697

Miscel. Scituate

337

Hopewell

brigantine

1697

Miscel. Scituate

338

Hopewell

sip.

1699

Edward Wanton, Wanton

217

Hopewell

sip.

1701

Wanton

218

Hopewell i

sip.

1706

Wanton

218

Horn j

sch.

1850

Taylor & Carver, Taylor

281

Howland ;

ship

1811

Foster, Wanton

230

Huron

ship

1804

Miscel. Hanover

130

Huron

106

sch.

1837

Brooks & Tiiden

279

Hycso '

290

ship

1816

Barstows " Two Oaks "

101

AND AT SCITUATE HAUBOR.

Name.

Ton-
nage

Ric.

Built

Town or Yard.

a)
Oh

Ida

363

ship

1809

Delano, Wanton

225

Imogene

179

bk.

18 JO

Barstow Lower Yard

111

Independence

160

brig

1804

Torrey, Chittenden \ ard

250

Independence

sch.

1811

Cole, Chittenden Yard

252

Independence

311

ship

1817

Barstow's "Two Oaks"

102

Indus

338

ship

1799

Delano, Wanton

224

Industry

sip.

1682

Briggs Yard

284

Industry

sip.

1702

Scituate Harbor

367

Industry

sch.

1781

North River

Industry

sch.

1785

Stutson, Wanton

222

Industry

sch.

1785

Briggs Yard

309

Industry

sip.

17H9

Keene, White's Ferrv

351

Industry

—

sch.

1796

Stutson, Wanton & Scituate H'b'r 368

222

Industry

sch.

1803

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Industnr
Intrepid

—

sch.

BrigKS, Brick-kiln

195

282

ship

1805

Smith Yard

Iris

sch.

1797

Briggs Yard

310

Isabella

308

ship

1H07

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover -

126

Ivanhoe

192

brig

1828

Briggs Yard

317

J. A. Jesuroon

200

bark

1845

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

385

James

100

sch.

1805

Kent, Scituate Harbor

—

James & Thomas

sip.

i()y9

Scituate Harl)or

366

James Bayard

sch.

1802

Chittenden Yard

250

James Francis

101

sch.

1837

White's Ferry

361

James Otis

sch.

1827

Turner, Brick-kiln

192

James W. Paige

198

bk.

1841

Curtis, Scituate Harbor

384

James Wyman

sch.

1852

Turner, Otis & Co., Scituate Harbor

391

Jane

120

sch.

1793

Miscel. Hanover

129

Jane

145

brig

1793

Miscel. Hanover

129

Jane

sch.

1795

Chittenden Yard

246

Jane

sch.

1802

Sampson, No. River Bridge

Japan

332

ship

1822

Foster & Co., Wanton

235

Jefferson

267

ship

1801

Rogers, Brick-kiln

182

Jenny

sch.

1784

North River

John

brigantine

1702

Scituate Harbor

367

John

sch.

1786

Brick-kiln

173

John & Abial

100

ship

1098

Miscel. Scituate

338

John & Abiel

brigantine

1695

Miscel. Scituate

337

John & Abigail

sip.

1GS3

Briggs Yard

284

John & Daniel

sip.

1703

Miscel. Scituate

338

John & David

ship

1704

Miscel. Scituate

338

John & Dorothy

brigantine

1702

Block-house

260

John & Dorothy

ship

1711

Miscel. Scituate

339

John & Elizabeth

ship

1701

Scituate Harbor

367

John & Elizabeth

295

ship

1825

Barstow Lower Yard

106

John B. Dods

160

brig

18i0

Mit^cel. Scituate

344

John J. Eaton

sch.

1845

HrigKS, Scituat€ Harbor

385

Jolly Tar

sch.

Waterman, Scituate Harbor

380

Joseph & Benjamin

sip.

1684

Brigns Yard

284

Jos. Atkins

131

sch.

1838

Miscel. Scituate

344

Joseph Balch
Josephine

153

brig

1840

Brooks & Tiiden

279

232

brig

1833

Souther & Cud worth, Chittenden Yd

256

Joshua Bates

sch.

1846

Cudwortli, Chittenden Yard

257

Joshua Brown

112

sch.

1S38

White's Ferrv

361

Joshua E. Bowley

sch.

1851

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

142

J. Setter

sch.

1846

Scituate Harbor .

385

Julian

Foster & Co., Wanton

236

Juno

sip.

1786

Brooks, Tiiden & Taylor

273

Juno

sch.

1825

Turner, Brick-kiln

192

Justice Story

199

bk.

1845

Barstow Lower Yard

119

Katharine

sloop

1694

Miscel. Scituate

336

Kemp

sch.

1836

Briggs, Brick-kiln

196

Kenedos

18—

Briggs, Brick-kiln

195

Kernison

127

brig

1852

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

142

Kingston

1822

North River

Laban

sch.

1822

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

255

Lady Gallatin

358

ship

1811

Delano, Smith Yard

400

A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER

Name.

Ton-
nage.

E.IG.

Built

Town or Yard.

Lady Madison

450

ship

1810

Delano, Wanton

225

Lady Washington

118

brigantine

1787

North River

La Grange

sch.

1825

Merritt, Miscel. Scituate

340

Lagoda

340

ship

1826

Foster & Co., ^Vanton

237

Lake

sch.

1840

Waterman, Fox Hill

139

Lake

sch.

1848

Taylor & Carver, Taylor

281

Lapwing

176

brig

1822

Briggs Yard

S15

Lapwing

sch. 1

1835

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

384

Lark

sch.

1784

Miscel. Hanover

129

Lark

sch.

1820

Turner, Fox Hill

135

Larke, afterward called

'20

sip.

1704

Miscel. Scituate

338

Laura [the "Francis"

293

ship

1805

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

126

Laura Ann

375

ship

1815

Turner, Brick-kilu

193

Laurel

sch.

1803

Brick-kiln

175

Lawrence

198

bk.

1842

Turner, Scituate Harbor.

388

Leader

sch.

1817

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

101

Leader

sip.

1831

Hall's, White's Ferry

358

Leda

258

brig

1828

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

137

Leo

ship

1774

Brick-kiln

167

Leonidas

ship

1806

Miscel. Hanover

130

Leonidas

183

bk.

1833

Turner, Brick-kiln

193

Leonidas

231

ship

1826

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Leopold Gaily

ship

1702

Briggs Yard

285

Levante

219

brig

1825

Torrey & James, Block-house

270

Lewis Brace

113

sch. aft. her. brig

1837

Brooks & Tilden

279

Lexington

197

brig

1825

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

136

Liberty

sch.

1800

Kent, Scituate Harbor

368

Liberty

sch.

1800

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

380

Light Horse

162

brig

1803

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

250

Lima

—

ship

1804

Brick-kiln

164

Linnell

177

sch.

1854

Scituate Harbor

391

Lion

326

ship

1821

Foster & Co., Wanton,

235

Litchfield

sch.

1838

Litchfield & Burrill, Wanton

241

Little Cherub

sch.

1797

Bates, Miscel. Hanover

125

Little Martha

sch.

1819

Merritt, Miscel. Scituate

340

Little Otis

ketch

1700

Scituate Harbor

366

Lively

sch.

1785

Merritt, Chittenden Yard

246

Lively

sch.

1797

Scituate Harbor

368

Lively

122

sch.

1804

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Lizzie J. Bigelow

150

her. brig

1868

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

144

Loper

1821

North River

Louisa

sch.

1828

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Louisa

sch.

1834

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Louisa A.

122

sch.

1864

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

144

Lucies

ship

1810

Miscel. Hanover

130

Lucretia

114

sch.

1800

Barstow's " Two Oaks "

100

Lucy

sch.

1786

North River

Lucy

sch.

1787

Miscel. Scituate

343

Lucy

sch.

1789

Miscel. Scituate

343

Lucy

sch.

1798

Rogers Yard

208

Lucy

sch.

1798

Scituate Harbor

368

Lucy

sch.

1799

Miscel. Hanover

130

Lucy

sch.

1801

Briggs Yard

310

Luke

brigantine

1706

Block house

260

Lyceum

sch.

1830

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

137

Lyceum

—

Scituate Harbor

387

Lydia

sch.

1787

Miscel. Hanover

129

Lydia

sch.

1789

Silvester, No. River Bridge

Lydia

sch.

1793

Chittenden Yard

246

Lydia

100

sip.

1793

Brick-kiln

174

Lydia

sch.

1795

Miscel. Hanover

129

Lydia

sch.

1799

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

248

Lydia

280

ship

1806

Smith Yard

Lydia

329

ship

1822

Barstow's Lower Yard

105

Lydia & Polly

102

sch.

1796

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

369

Lydia & Polly

sch.

1837

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

384

Lydia King

sch.

1839

Litchfield cS: Burrill, Wanton

242

Lyon

sip.

1704

Briggs Yard

285

Lyon

sip.

1709

Block-house

261

Lysander

110

brig

1827

Turner, Palmer & Magoun, No. River Bridgs

AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR.

Name.

Ton-
nage.

Rio.

BVILT

Town or Yard.

Madagascar

242

bk.

1832

Clapp & Foster, Wanton

239

Magnolia

sip.

1828

Turner, Pnlm.r & Mnpronn, No. Kivcr Bridge

Magnolia

250

brig

1830

Foster & Co., Wanton

238

Malabar

355

ship

1815

Torrey and others, Block-house

268

Malaga

1.^0

brig

1827

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Manson

sch.

1842

Waterman, Fox Hill

139

Manson

Margaret

sip.

1701

Wanton

218

Margaret

sch.

181G

Foster & Cudworth, Chittenden Yard

253

Margaret

185

brig

1820

Foster & Co., Wanton

235

Maria

y<_-

ship

1782

Thomas, Brick-kiln

171

Maria

sch.

1830

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

2.56

Maria Theresa

229

brig

1827

James, Block-house

271

Mariner

sch.

1817

Barstow's "Two Oaks"

101

Marion

brig

1824

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

255

Marnix (see "Martha")

bk.

1805

Samson, No. River Bridge.

Marnix

225

bk.

1849

Miscel. Scituate

314

Mars

sch.

1786

Brick-kiln

173

Marshal Ney

192

brig

1829

Foster & Co., Wanton

238

Martha

brigantine

1712

Block-house

261

Martha

192

ship

1801

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Martha, afterward called

255

bk.

1805

Samson, No. River Bridge

Martha ["Marnix"

ship

1809

Samson, No. River Bridge

Martha

273

ship

1810

Sampson, Brick-kiln

182

Martha & Elizabeth

bk.

1694

Wanton

217

Martha & Elizabeth

brigantine

1694

Wanton

217

Martha Allen

283

bk.

1849

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

386

Mary-

bk.

1693

Briggs Yard

284

Mary

ship

1694

Briggs Yard

284

Mary

brigantine

1699

Chittenden Yard

244

Mary

sip.

1700

Wanton & Barker, AVanton

217

Mary

sip.

1707

Edward Wanton, Wanton

218

Mary

sip.

1786

Brick-kiln

173

Mary

286

ship

1795

James, Block-house

262

Mary-

169

I)rig't'n, aft. ship

1799

Miscel., Hanover

130

Mary

100

sch.

1801

Turner Miscel. Pembroke

Mary

211

ship

1801

Smith Yard

Mary

sch.

1804

James, Block-house

263

Mary

sch.

1804

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Mary

sch.

1843

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

385

Mary

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor

389

Mary & Abigail

sip.

1699

Scituate Harbor

366

Mary & Abigail

sip.

1705

Wliitc's Ferry

3.")0

Mary & Nancy

sch.

1795

Chittenden Yard

246

Mary & Polly

sch.

1816

Tilden, Block-house

269

Mary Ann

brigantine

1789

Brick-kiln

174

Mary Ann

242

ship

1799

James, Block-house

263

Mary Ann

sch.

1S18

Briggs Yard

314

Mary Ballard

260

bk.

1832

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

137

Mary F. Slade

199

bk.

18i8

Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harbor

390

Mary Greenish

140

sch.

IS.")!)

Bar.stow & Waterman, Fox Hill

143

Mary Jones

sch.

1S18

Turner, Fox Hill

135

Marys

329

ship

1831

Barstow Lower Yard

108

Massachusetts

400

ship

178-

Briggs Yard

309

Massachusetts

286

ship

1809

Turner, Miscel. Hanover

126

Matilda

sch.

IS 18

Briggs & Smith, Brick-kiln

197

Mattakeeset or Mattakees

St. boat

1,S39

Halls, White's Ferry

361

Mayflower

sip.

1G94

Miscel., Scituate

336

Mayflower

brig

1701

Miscel., Scituate

338

Mayflower

sip.

1701

Block-house

260

Mayflower

sip.

1706

Briggs Yard

285

Mayflower

brigantine

1712

Miscel., Scituate

339

Mayflower

—

sch.

1S()3

Lewis, Brick-kiln

177

Mayflower

sip.

1S'J3

Briggs, brick-kiln

195

Melietable

ship

1700

Chittenden Yard

241

Mentor

ship

1803

Miscel., Hanover

130

Mentor

sch.

1X25

Barstow Lower Yard

106

Merchant

179

ship

1791

Chittenden Yard

246

Merchant

263

ship

1804

Smith Yard

Mert

131

sch.

Eells, Smith Yard

402

A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT OX NORTH EIVER

Name.

Ton-
nage

Rig.

Built Town or Yard.

Meteor

116

sch.

1864

Scituate Harbor

391

Miantinomo

281

ship

1800

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

126

Michael & Samuel

brigantine

1697

Miscel., Scituate

337

Michigan

—

brig

183-

Brooks & Tilden

279

Michigaa

130

brig

1840

Briggs Yard

322

Milo

sch.

1816

Turner & Copeland, Fox Hill

134

Minerva

1774

North River

Minerva

223

ship

1808

Magoun, Brick-kiln

183

Minerva

sch.

1818

Foster & Co. Wanton

234

Miranda

189

bk.

1832

Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln

192

Miser

304

ship

1810

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Modoc

—

ship

1810

Miscel. Scituate

343

Mohawk

407

ship

1811

Turner, Miscel. Hanover

127

Molly

sch.

1785

North River

Monroe

sch.

1817

Turner, Miscel. Scituate

341

Monument

211

brig

1825

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

Morning Star

sch.

1803

Rogers Yard 208

340

Morning Star

sch.

1816

Turner fc Copeland, Fox Hill

134

Morris

—

sch.

Turner, Scituate Harbor

388

Moscow-

277

brig

1826

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

136

Moses Myers

306

ship

1803

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Mount Hope

sch.

1827

Miscel. Scituate

344

Mount Vernon

464

ship

1815

Hartt, Wanton

226

Mt. Vernon

352

ship

1810

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

126

N. & H. Gould

142

sch.

1855

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

142

Nancy

sip.

1787

Brick-kiln

173

Nancy

sch.

1803

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Nancy

177

brig

1806

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Nancy

sip.

1817

Foster & Co., Wanton 210

233

Nanking

290

ship

1803

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

126

Nashua

301

bk.

1833

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Nautilus

sch.

1786

Brick-kiln

173

Nellie Fenwick, formerly

—

bk.

1854

Scituate Harbor

391

Neptune [called Sarah

—

ship

1765

Thomas, Brick-kiln

164

Neptune

sch.

1785

North River

Neptune

sch.

1787

Keene, White's Ferry

351

Neptune

114

sch.

1794

Rogers Yard

206

Neptune

138

brig

1795

Miscel. Hanover

129

Neptune

280

ship

1800

Smith Yard

Neptune

278

ship

1806

Smith Yard

Neptune

214

brig

1823

Foster & Co., Wanton

236

Neptune

338

bk.

1828

Barstow Lower Yard

107

Neptune

231

bk.

1835

Foster & Co, Wanton

240

Neutrality

123

sch.

1804

Magoun & Hatch, Brick-kiln

183

New Forge

sip., aft'ward sch.

1792

Barstow, " Two Oaks "

New Prisdlla

125

sch.

1822

Foster & Co., Wanton

235

New Sally

sch.

1812

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

252

New Sophronia

sch.

1815

Tilden, Block-house

268

New State

sch.

1798

Miscel., Hanover

130

Newton

283

brig

1828

Halls, White's Ferry

358

Niagara

232

1834

Foster & Co., Wanton

240

Ninety

ship

1693

Briggg Yard

284

Noble E. Jenkins

100

sch.

Briggs, Brick-kiln

195

Norfolk

brig

1765

Thomas, Brick-kiln

164

Norfolk

135

brig

1833

Hall's, White's Ferry

359

North River

sip.

1793

Brooks, Tilden & Taylor

273

North River Packet

sip.

1820

Keene, White's Ferry

352

Oak

150

brig

1820

Briggs Yard

315

Oak

208

brig

1833

Briggs Yard

320

O'Cain

280

ship

1802

Foster, Wanton

229

Ocean

sch.

1816

Foster & Co., Wanton

233

Ocean

173

brig

1823

Briggs Yard

316

Ocean

165

brig

1839

Barstow Lower Yard

111

Ocean Belle

sch.

1860

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

387

Odessa

180

brig

1830

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

137

Oeno

328

ship

1821

Barstow Lower Yard

105

Old Carpenter

sch.

1813

Waterman, Scituate Harbor

380

Old Colony

244

brig

1832

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

AND AT SCITUATE lIAnROR.

403

Name.

Ton-
nage

Rio.

Built

Town or Yard.

Olive

sch.

1797

Brick-kiln

174

Only Daughter

sch.

1829

Clapp & Delano, Wanton Yard

226

Only Son

170

brig

1805

Turner & Thomas, Brick-kiln

175

Only Son

sch.

1800

Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate

342

Ontario

367

ship

1833

Waterman & Bates, Fox Hill

138

Ontario

—

sch.

1825

Bripgs Yard

317

Ontario

sch.

1838

Turner, Scituate Harbor

388

Oracle

144

brig

1818

Kent, Scituate Harbor

381

Oregon

200

l)rig

1826

Briggs Yard

317

Oregon

—

brig

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Orianna

Ill

sch.

1837

Turner, Scituate Harbor

388

Orient

sch.

1813

Turner, Fox Hill

133

Orion

sch.

1829

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

137

Orleans

100

sch.

White's J'crry

361

Otho

132

brig

1838

Waterman, Fox Hill

139

Otis

sch.

1846

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

386

Outesie

sch.

1838

Stetson and others, "Two Oaks"

102

Pacific

brig

1796

Stutson, Wanton

222

Pacific

314

ship

1818

Foster & Co., Wanton

2.34

Pacific Trader

141

snow

1790

Rogers Yard

208

Packet

sip.

1790

Miscel. Hanover

129

Packet

sip.

1800

Nash, Chittenden Yard

249

Packet

sip.

1804

Miscel , Hanover

1.30

Packett

sip.

1802

Miscel., Hanover

130

Palermo

1S35

Briggs, Brick-kiln

196

Pallas

156

brig

ISOO

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

Parana

209

brig

1844

Miscel., Hanover

1.30

Paulina

sch.

1792

Miscel., Hanover

129

Pauline

148

sch. aft. brig,

18:i7

Barstow Lower Yard

110

Pauline Taylor

150

hrig

1838

Miscel., Hanover

1.30

Patty

sip.

177-

No. River Pilots

Patty

sch.

1785

Scituate Harbor

368

Pearl

—

ship

1802

Smith & Bass, Smith Yard

Peggy

sch.

17S7

Brick-kiln

373

Peggy

134

brig

1792

North River

Pembroke

193

ship

1801

Sampson, Brick-kiln

182

Pembroke

199

brig

1820

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

Pembrook

184

ship

Samson, No. River Bridge

Penn

—

ship

1818

Miscel., Hanover

130

Perfect

sch.

1830

Turner, Brick-kiln

192

Perfect

sch.

18(!8

Litchfield. Miscel. Scituate

542

Perseverance

214

ship

1801

Foster, Wanton

229

Perseverance

184

brig

1815

Briggs, Brick-kiln

193

Persis

sch.

1792

Rogers Yard

2 6

Peru

257

ship

1818

Barstow Lower Yard

103

Peruvian

334

ship

ISIH

Foster & Co., Wanton

234

Pharamond

sch.

1818

Souther & Cudworth. Chittenden Yard

2.54

Phenix

314

ship

1830

Barstow Lower Yard

108

Philenda

sch.

1817

Tilden Block-house

270

Philenia

sch.

1835

Turner, No. River Bridge

Philena Otis

—

1828

Briggs, Brick-kiln

195

Phoebe

117

sch.

180()

Torrey, Block-house

263

Phoenix

sch.

1789

North River

Phoenix

150

brig

1839

White's Ferry

361

Pico

—

sip.

Rogers Yard

213

Pilgrim

sch.

1809

Smith Yard

Pilot

199

bk.

1837

Hall's, White's Ferry

361

Pioneer

231

brig

1824

Foster & Co.. Wanton

236

Pinta

207

sch.

1805

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

144

Planet

sch.

183G

Hall's, White's Ferry

360

Planet

sch.

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

384

Pocahontas

279

ship

1803

Barstow's "Two Oaks"

100

Pocahontas

sch.

1838

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

384

Polly

sip.

177-

No. River Pilots

Polly

sch.

1784

Miscel., Hanover

129

Polly

sch.

1784

Brooks, Tilden & Taylor

272

Polly

sch.

1784

Block-house

201

Polly

sch.

1789

Miscel., Scituate

343

PoUy

131

brig

1791

Brick-kiln

174

404

A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER

Name.

Ton-
nage.

Rig.

Built

Town or Yard.

Polly

sch.

1793

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

368

Polly

sch.

1797

Sherman, Miscel. Pembroke

83.

Polly

sch.

1798

Scituate Harbor

36&

Polly

114

sch.

1800

Baker, Brooks, Tilden & Tavlor

273

Polly

sip.

1809

Sherman, Brooks, Tilden & Taylor

273

President

sch.

1817

Souther, Chittenden Yard

253

President Harrison

sch.

1841

Miscel., Scituate

344

President Washington

sch.

1834

Chittenden Yard

256

Primrose

brigantine

1694

Miscel. Scituate

337

Primrose

sch.

1821

Tilden, Block-house

270

Priscilla

sch.

1803

Briggs Yard

310

Protection

270

ship

1805

Bartsow's "Two Oaks"

101

Providence

100

ship

1698

Scituate Harbor

366

Providence

ship

1699

Briggs Yard

284

Prudence & Dorothy

ship

1699

Briggs Yard

285

Prudent Sarah

.^0

brigantine

1700

Miscel. Scituate

338

Pyretus

sch.

1831

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

383

Queen

100

sch.

1836

Turner, No. River Bridge

Rachel

sch.

1820

Rogers Yard

210

Pi.ailway

sch.

1829

Turner, Brick-kiln

192

Rambler

—

1818

North River

Ranger

sip.

177-

North River Pilots

Ranger

sch.

1819

Walter Foster, Wanton Yard

234

Rapid

sip.

1817

Foster & Co., Wanton

233

Reaper

sch.

1837

Turner, Scituate Harbor

388

Rebecca, Lately c«Ued victory.

ship

1705

Briggs Yard

285

Rebecca

sch.

1798

Miscel. Hanover

130

Rebecca

sch.

1831

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

256

Rebecca

sch.

1836

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

257

Red Rover

sch.

1838

Briggs, Brick-kiln

196

Red Rover

—

Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate

342

Regulus

237

ship

1807

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

250

Reindeer

sch.

1798

Rogers Yard

212

Resolution

sch.

17—

Smith Yard

Revenue

sch.

1789

Eells, Smith Yard

Revival

sch.

1790

Miscel. Scituate

343

Revival

sch.

1791

Miscel. Scituate

343

Revival

sch.

1791

Briggs Yard

309

Rice Plant

122

brig

1824

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

255

Richmond

116

brig

1817

Turner, Miscel. Scituate

341

Rienzi

108

sch.

1836

Waterman & Bates, Fox Hill

138

Rising Sun

sch.

1806

Turner & Thomas, Miscel. Hanover

127

Rival

sch.

1829

Tilden, Block-honse

271

Rival

—

sch.

Briggs, Brick-kiln

184

Roanoke

—

sch.

183-

Brooks & Tilden

279

Roanoke

sch.

1842

Turner, Bates and others. Lower Yard

112

Robert

—

ship

1789

Miscel., Hanover

129

Robert Raikes

sch.

1849

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

142

Rodolph Frederick

271

ship

1799

Barstow, "Two Oaks"

100

Roller

293

ship

1804

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

126

Romeo

312

ship

1805

Kingman, Miscel. Hanover

126

Romulus

264

ship

1797

Smith Yard

Rosa Baker

109

her. brig

1867

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

145

Rose

brigantine

1705

Block-house

260

Rover

sch.

1796

Delano, Wanton

223

Rover

sch.

1800

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

Rover

sch.

1801

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

250

Rover

—

sch.

White's Ferry

361

Rowena

sch.

1834

Block-house

271

Roxanna

sch.

1818

Turner & Turner, Fox Hill

134

Rubicon

sch.

1831

Torrey, Block-house

271

Ruby

sch.

1789

North" River

Ruby

sch.

1800

Rogers Yard

212

Russell

—

bk.

1804

Miscel. Scituate

343

Russian

222

brig

1828

Foster & Co., Wanton

238

Ruth

sip.

1708

Block-house

261

Ruthy

sch.

1794

Randall, Miscel. Pembroke

AND AT SCITLATK IIAUIJOK.

Name.

Ton-
nage

Rig.

Built

Town ok Yakd.

Salem

260

bk.

18.54

Miscel. Scituate

244

Salera Packet

sip.

1782

Brick-kiln

173

Salinas

162

brlR

1841

Barstow Lower Yard

111

Salinas, aft. called "WarreD."

130

her. brig

1S63

Barstow ^ Waterman, Fox Hill

144

Sally

3.5

sch.

1769

North River

Sally

2.5

sch.

1781

North River

Sally

sch.

1784

Miscel., Hanover

129

Sally

sip.

1786

Brooks, 'I'ilden & Taylor

272

Sally

sch.

178()

Stutson, Wanton

222

Sally

sch.

1786

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

368

Sally

sch.

1789

Chittenden Yard

246

Sally

—

sip.

1790

Brick-kiln

174

Sallv

sch.

1796

North River

Sally

sch.

1796

Rogers Yard

206

Sally

sch.

1796

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

.368

Sally, aft. called "Nysted."

sch.

1799

Kent, Scituate Harbor

380

Sally

sch.

1802

Barker, Chittenden Yard

250

Sally

sch.

1802

Hanover

Sally

149

brig

1S02

Briggs Yard

310

Sally Robbin

sch.

1784

Miscel., Hanover

129

Samos

243

brig

1827

Copeland & Co., Fox Hill

136

Samuel

1801

North River

Samuel

310

ship

1810

Eells, Smith Yard

Samuel & Thomas

190

bk.

1841

Miscel., Scituate

344

Samuel Soper

brig

18—

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor

389

Sarah

ship

1697

Briggs Yard

284

Sarah

310

ship

179.5

Brick-kiln

174

Sarah

307

ship

1815

Samson, No. River Bridge

Sarah

sch.

1841

Vinal, Scituate Harbor

384

Sarah

16.5

brig

1850

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

142

Sarah,aft.card"NellieFenwick"

2ii0

bark

18.54

Scituate Harbor

391

Sarah & Betsey

sch.

1819

Barstow Lower Yard

107

Sarah & Isabella

brigantine

1700

Wanton & Barker, Wanton

217

Sarah Brooks

sch.

1849

Scituate Harbor

386

Sarah Jane

sch.

1851

Merritt, Chittenden Yard

257

Sarah Wales

sch.

1835

Barstow Lower Yard

110

Sarah's Adventure

ketch

1700

Scituate Harbor

367

Saratoga

289

bk.

1835

Foster & Co., Wanton

240

Saturn

107

sch.

1805

Keene, White's Ferry

252

Saucy Jack

sch.

1802

Hatch, Block-house

363

Scituate

sch.

1834

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

384

Sea Boy

Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate

342

Sea Drift

sch.

1852

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

142

Sea Flower

brigantine

1703

Scituate Harbor

367

Sea Flower

sip.

1709

Chittenden Yard

244

Sea Flower

sip.

1714

Chittenden Yard

244

Sea Flower

sch.

1789

Miscel., Scituate

343

Seamew

199

ship

1833

Barstow Lower Yard

110

Seamoss

brig

183

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

257

Sears & J. Rogers

sch.

1848

Briggs, Scituate Harbor

386

Selah

199

bk.

1848

Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harbor

390

Selma

266

ship

1824

Barstow Lower Yard

106

Senator

193

brig

1840

Briggs Yard

322

Seventh Son

sch.

1819

Souther iS: Cudworth, Chittenden Yd

254

Short Staple

172

brig

1802

Cushiiig, Miscel. Hanover

127

Sinus

sip.

1843

Turner, Scituate Harljor

388

Sisters

brig

1794

Rogers Yard

207

Smyrna

brig

1825

Foster & Co., Wanton

236

Smyrna

162

brig

1825

White's Ferry

256

Solon

402

ship

1815

Stockl)ridge, Miscel. Hanover

128

Somerset

ship

Brick-kiln

168

Soper

sch.

1852

Scituate Harbor

391

Sophia

sch.

1795 Scituate Harbor

368

Sophia

sip.

1811

Briggs, Brick-kiln

181

Sophronia

sch.

1803

Torrey, Chittenden Yard

250

Sophronia

197

bk.

1841

Briggs, Brick-kiln

196

Souther

Carver, Taylor

281

Souther

198

her. brig )

1S40

Souther, Chittenden Yd

257

South Shore

sch.

18.50

Otis, Scituate Harbor

391

Spanker

103

sch.

ISOl

Turner, Miscel. Pembroke

406

A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER

Name.

Ton-
nage.

Rig.

Built

Town or Yard.

Spartacus

sch.

1846

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor

389

Specie

sch.

1827

North River

Speedwell

sip.

1695

Miscel., Scituate

337

Speedwell

ship

1695

Miscel., Scituate

337

Speedwell

100

ship

1696

Miscel., Scituate

337

Speedwell

brigantine

1698

Briggs Yard

284

Speedwell

l)rigantine

1699

Scituate Harbor

36(>

Speedwell

sch".

177

No. River Pilots and Brick-kiln

Speedwell

—

sip.

177

Thomas, Brick-kiln

171

Speedwell

sch.

1787

Bates, Miscel. Hanover

124

Speedwell Friend

brigantine

1703

Scituate Harbor

367

Spermo

296

ship

1820

Barstow Lower Yard

104

Sphynx

sch.

1784

Block-house

261

Spright (or "Sprite")

200

sch.

18,36

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

143

S. R. Soper

130

sch.

1832

Scituate Harbor

387

Star

—

brig

1838

Briggs Yard

321

Star

sch.

1839

B'-iggs, Scituate Harbor

384

States

290

ship

1818

Barstow's Lower Yard

103

St. Paul

sch.

1845

Waterman, Fox Hill

140

Success

brigantine

1710

Block-house

261

Success

sch.

1783

North River

SuflFolk

314

ship

1816

Palmer, Brick-kiln

189

Sukey

sch.

1785

Block-house

261

Sun

200

brig

Briggs, Brick-kiln

195

Superb

395

ship

1794

Keene, White's Ferry

351

Surprise

sch.

18.V2

Cndworth. Chittenden Yard

257

Susan

311

ship

1805

Rogers, Miscel. Hanover

126

Susan

sip.

1834

Hall's, White's Ferry

360

Susan

—

1834

Briggs, Brick-kiln

1-96

Susan Baker

sch.

1839

Cndworth, Chittenden Yard

257

Susan Jane

274

bk.

1841 iBriggs Yard

322

Susan N. Smith

1.50

sch.

1864 Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill

144r

Suwarrow