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HISTORY     OF     SHIPBUILDING 


ON 

NORTH     RIVER, 

PLYMQTJTn    COUNTY,   MASSACHUSETTS, 

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

1640    TO     1872. 

BY 

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. 


IX 


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. 


h. 

for 

born. 

d. 

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. 


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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. 


o 


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. 


o 


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/^ 


r 


^-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 


L. 


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,' 


7/ 


*  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. 


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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 


7 


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/^   0  "  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 

3        0 


"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- 
*^^    JkJ^  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 

43 

sch. 

Brick-kiln 

173 

Abbie  Bradford 

114 

scb. 

1860 

Bar^tow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

143 

Abigail 

50 

sip. 

1784 

Brooks,  Tilden  &  Taylor 

272 

Abigail  Little 

20 

sip. 

1819 

Rogers  Yard 

212 

Abigail  &  Elizabeth 

80 

brigantine 

1707 

Block  House 

261 

Abigail  &  Sarah 

60 

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 

77 

sch. 

1803 

Barstow  "  Two  Oaks  " 

101 

Adams 

111 

sch. 

1825 

Briggs  Yard 

317 

Adelia  Rogers 

199 

bk. 

184!) 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

141 

Adeline 

99 

sch. 

1835 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Brick-kiln 

196 

Adventure 

oO 

brigantine 

1696 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

Adventure 

15 

sip. 

1698 

Scituate  Harbor 

366 

Adventure 

60 

brigantine 

1702 

Wanton 

218 

Adventure 

40 

brigantine 

1702 

Wanton 

218 

Adventure 

50 

ship 

1704 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

Adventure,    lately  the  Randol 

60 

brigantine 

170.) 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

Adventure 

50 

l)rigantine 

1707 

Wanton 

218 

A.  F.  Linnell 

176 

sch. 

1855 

Scituate  Harbor 

391 

Agnes 

53 

sch. 

1842 

Miscel.  Scituate 

344 

Albion 

28 

sip. 

1823 

Foster  &  Co.  Wanton 

235 

Alert 

164 

brig 

179(5 

Miscel.  Hanover 

130 

Alexander 

133 

brig,  aft.  ship 

1796 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Alexander 

74 

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 

HI 

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 

86 

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 

70 

America 

49 

sch. 

1784 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

America 

50 

sch. 

1787 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

America 

47 

sch. 

1787 

Stntson,  Wanton 

222 

America 

220 

ship 

1792 

Briggs  Yard 

310 

America 

280 

ship 

1803 

Sn)itli  Yard 

93 

America 

362 

ship 

1810 

Turner,  Miscel.  Hanover 

126 

America 



ship 

1812 

Foster,  Wanton 

230 

America 

81 

sch. 

1832 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

256 

American 

283 

ship 

1827 

Barstow  Lower  Yai-d 

107 

Amity 

25 

brigantine 

1700 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Amity 

65 

bk. 

1701 

Blork-house 

260 

Amity 

50 

sip. 

1705 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

Amulet 

153 

brig 

1834 

James  &  Torrey,  Block-house 

271 

Andrew  and  Samuel 

80 

ship 

1696 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

Angel 

71 

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 

35 

sip. 

1703 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Antarctic 

101 

sch. 

1851 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

142 

Antelo|)e 

65 

sch. 

1851 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

387 

Apollo 

139 

brigantine 

1792 

Smith  Yard 

89 

394 


A    LIST    OF    VESSELS    BUILT    ON    NORTH    RIVER 


Name. 

Ton- 
nage 

Rig. 

Built 

Town  or  Yard. 

1 

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 

69 

sch. 

1832 

Torrey,  Block-house 

271 

Aurora 

244 

ship 

1799 

Smith  Yard 

89 

Avon 

299 

bk. 

1831 

Briggs  Yard 

320 

Bacheldor 



scb. 

1794 

Stutson,  Wanton 

222 

Bachelor 

44 

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 

73 

sch. 

1816 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

233' 

Banker 

75 

sch. 

1818 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

104 

Barclay 

166 

brig 

1823 

Turner.  Palmer  &  Magroun,  No.  River  Bridge 

74 

Bay  State 

90 

sch. 

1846 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

389' 

Beaver 



ship 

177- 

Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

164 

Beaver 

— 

ship 

1791 

Brick-kiln 

167 

Beaver 

29 

sch. 

1814 

Turner,  Fox  Hill 

133 

Becca  or  Beckey 

54 

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 

33 

sch. 

1777 

North  River 

48 

Belle 

35 

sch. 

18— 

Scituate  Harbor 

386 

Benjamin 

20 

sip.  aft.  brig't'n 

1698 

Wanton 

217 

Benjamm 

30 

sip. 

1705 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

Benjamin 

188 

ship 

1801 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge 

70 

Benjamin  Franklin 

164 

brig 

18- 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

195 

Betsey 

51 

sch. 

1787 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Betsey 

43 

sch. 

1788 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Betsey 

51 

sch. 

1790 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Betsey 

33 

sch. 

1793 

Randall,  Miscel.  Pembroke 

83. 

Betsey 

111 

sch.  aft.  brig 

1794 

Torrey,  Chittenden  Yard 

247 

Betsey 

121 

sch. 

1795 

Rogers  Yard 

207- 

Betsey 

35 

sch. 

1795 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Betsey 

37 

sch. 

1796 

Randall,  Miscel  Pembroke 

83 

Betsey 

95 

sch. 

1796 

Torrey   Chittenden  Yard 

247 

Betsey 

60 

sch. 

1798 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

369 

Betsey 



ship 

1799 

Smith  Yard 

90' 

Betsey 

65 

sip. 

1802 

Smith  Yard 

92 

Betsey 



sch. 

1803 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Betsey 

91 

sch. 

1819 

Torrey  Block-house 

270' 

Betsey  &  Mary 



sch. 

1817 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

233 

Betsey  &  Polly 

51 

sch. 

1817 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

233 

Betsey  Pierce 

73 

sch. 

1816 

Foster  &  Rogers,  Wanton 

233 

Betty 

40 

sip. 

1706 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

Billow 

160 

brig 

1824 

Briggs  Yard 

316 

Billow 

83 

sch. 

18'-'9 

Briggs  Yard 

319 

Black  Hawk 

— 

bk. 

1834 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

196 

Blackthorne 

30 

sip. 

1692 

Wanton 

217 

Blackthorne 

30 

sip. 

1694 

Briggs  Yard  , 

284 

Blessing 

90 

ship 

1698 

Scituate  Harbor 

366 

Blossom 

30 

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 

51 

Byron 

193 

brig 

1824 

Copeland  &  Co.,  Fox  HiU 

136 

Cadet 

100 

brigantine 

1784 

Brick-kiln 

173 

Caliban 

311 

ship 

1811 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge 

70 

Callisto 

190 

brigantine 

1802 

Kingman,  Miscel.  Hanover 

126 

Cameron 

98 

sch. 

1799 

Rogers  Yard 

208 

Camilla 

108 

brigantine 

1801 

Smith  Yard 

92 

Camilla 

233 

brigantine 

1827 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

238 

AND    AT    SCITUATE    HARBOR. 


3[)5 


Name. 

Tox- 

NAOE 

Rio. 

Built 

Canowa 

263 

ship 

1805 

Cashier 

73 

brig 

1819 

Casket 

155 

brig 

1833 

Caspian 

— 

— 

Catharine 

85 

sip. 

1793 

Catharine 

61 

sch. 

1817 

Catherine 

70 

sch. 

1817 

Catherine 

— 

1848 

Cent 

— 

brig 

Centurion 

47 

sch. 

1786 

Century 

280 

ship 

1806 

Charles 

30 

brigantine 

1703 

Charles 

40 

brigantine 

171)9 

Charles 

123 

sch. 

1804 

Charles 

— 

ship 

1805 

Charles 

62 

sch. 

1825 

Charles  &  Henry 

337 

ship 

1832 

Charleston    &    Liveqiool 

325 

ship 

1806 

Charlotte                [Packet 

154 

ship. 

1800 

Chatham 

65 

sch. 

1844 

Chester 

86 

sch. 

1842 

Chickasaw 

171 

brig 

1832 

Cicero 

227 

ship 

1709 

Clara  Jane 

68 

sch. 

1847 

Clarendon 

182 

brig 

1845 

Clarinda 

54 

sch. 

1825 

Clay 

299 

ship 

1818 

Cohannett 

82 

sch. 

1839 

Columbia 

220 

ship 

1773 

Columljia 

59 

sch. 

1828 

Columbia 

285 

ship 

1829 

Columbia 

75 

sch. 

1834 

polumljia 

131 

brig 

1835 

Columbian  Packet 

220 

ship 

1802 

Columbine 

270 

ship 

1802 

Columbus 

— 

ship 

1819 

Combine 

99 

sch. 

1820 

Commerce 

241 

ship 

1795 

Conanchet 

— 

sch. 

1848 

Conclusion 

109 

sch. 

1798 

Constitution 

325 

ship 

1821 

Content 

30 

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 

78 

sch. 

l.S()2 

Cyrene 

58 

sch. 

1819 

Cyrus 

328 

ship 

1821 

Daniel 

72 

sch. 

1825 

Daniel 

240 

bk. 

1854 

Daniel  Davis 

— 

Daniel  Francis 

113 

sch. 

1838 

Daniel  Webster 

264 

bk. 

1836 

Daniel  Webster 

— 

sch. 

Danube 

71 

sch. 

1828 

Deane 

89 

sch. 

1846 

Debby 

107 

brig 

1792 

Dedalus 

— 

ship 

1800 

Defiance 

25 

sch. 

177- 

Deposit 

125 

sch.,  aft.  brig 

1834 

Desire 

16 

sip. 

1678 

Diana 

51 

sip. 

1783 

Diana 

30 

sch. 

1786 

Diana 

52 

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 

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. 

to 

S3 

Diligence 

17- 

Smith  Yard 

89 

Diligent 

81 

sch. 

1786 

North  River 

48 

Dispatch 

139 

brig 

1795 

Keene,  White's  Ferry 

351 

Dolphin 

100 

ship 

1696 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

Dolpliin 

30 

sip. 

1710 

Block-house 

261 

Dolphin 

24 

pch. 

177- 

No.  River  Pilots 

53 

Dolphin 

51 

sch. 

1786 

Briggs  Yard 

309 

Dolphin 

44 

sch. 

1787 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Dolphin 

122 

brig 

1793 

Keene,  White's  Ferry 

351 

Dolphin 

78 

sip. 

1794 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Dolphin 

49 

sch. 

1799 

Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

174 

Dolphus 

32 

sch. 

1783 

Brick-kiln 

173 

Dorothy 

30 

brigantine 

1700 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Dorothy 

40 

brigantiue 

1704 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Dorothy 

50 

ship 

1708 

Block-house 

261 

Dorothy 

60 

ship 

1710 

Block-house 

261 

Dove 

100 

ship 

1699 

Wanton 

217 

Dove 

45 

brigantine 

1704 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Dove 

30 

sip 

1706 

Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Dover 

166 

brig 

1833 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

360 

Dover 

87 

sch. 

1833 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

360 

Dragon 

65 

bark 

1701 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Dragon 

40 

brigantine 

1702 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Draper 

— 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

385 

Dray 

— 

sch. 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

356 

Dubartus 

25 

sip. 

1694 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

Eagle 

30 

sip. 

1711 

Block-house 

261 

Eagle 

107 

sch. 

1801 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Eagle 

— 

1818 

North  River 

51 

Echo 

197 

brig 

1832 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

359 

Edie  Little 

70 

sch. 

1860 

Taylor  &  Carver,  Taylor 

281 

Edward 

346 

ship 

1815 

Eeils,  Smith  Yard 

94 

Edwin 

103 

sch. 

1836 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

196 

Eliza 

98 

sch. 

1794 

Rogers  Yard 

211 

Eliza 

106 

sch. 

1795 

Rogers  Yard 

207 

Eliza 

108 

sch. 

1797 

Randall,  Miscel.  Pembroke 

83 

Eliza 

70 

sch. 

1798 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

379 

Eliza 

99 

sch. 

1801 

Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Eliza 

41 

sch. 

1802 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

181 

Eliza 

165 

brig 

1802 

Ford,  Brooks,  Tilden  &  Taylor 

273 

Eliza 

39 

sch. 

1803 

Turner,  Miscel.  Pembroke 

82 

Eliza  Ann 

312 

ship 

1811 

Barstow's  "  Two  Oaks  " 

101 

Eliza  Ann 

99 

sch. 

1830 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

192 

Eliza  Barker 

— 

ship 

1810 

Miscel.  Hanover 

130 

Elizabeth 

20 

sip. 

1700 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Elizabeth 

20 

sip. 

1705 

Block-house 

260 

Elizabeth 



ship 

1807 

Foster,  ^Vanton 

230 

Ellen 

61 

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 

36 

sip. 

1703 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Endeavor 

80 

l)rigantine 

1705 

Wanton 

218 

Endeavour 

20 

sip. 

1698 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Enterprise 

119 

sch. 

1806 

Torrey,  Chittenden  Yard 

250 

Enterprise 

— 

ship 

Torrey,  Block-house 

271 

Eos 

85 

sch. 

1818 

Keene,  White's  Ferry 

352 

Equator 

— 

1818 

North  River 

51 

Erie 

113 

sch. 

1838 

Brooks  &  Tilden 

279 

Esther 



sch. 

1785 

North  River 

48 

Esther 

135 

brig 

1835 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

360 

Essex 



ship 

1796 

North  River 

49 

£ureka 



Litchfield,  Miscel.  Scituate 

342 

Evangeline 

488 

bark 

1856 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

387 

Evelina 

109 

sch. 

1799 

Randall,  Miscel.  Pembroke 

83 

Eveline 

650 

bark 

1859 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

387 

Excel 

74 

sch. 

1848 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

369 

Expenditure 

40 

sip. 

1702 

Wanton  &  Barker,  Wanton 

218 

AX\)    AT    SCITUATE    lIAUHOIi. 


Name. 

Ton- 
nage 

Rig. 

Built 

Town  ok  Yarb. 

to 

(14 

Fair  Lady- 

104 

sch. 

1816 

Samson,  Mo.  River  Bridge 

70 

Fair  Play 

50 

sip. 

1803 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

174 

Fairy 

185 

brig 

1831 

Halls,  White's  Ferry 

359 

Falcon 



1822 

North  River 

51 

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 

92 

Fame 



brig 

1801 

Smith  Yard 

92 

Fame 

83 

sch. 

1807 

Turner.  Brick-kiln 

174 

Fame 

47 

sch. 

1817 

Turner.  Fox  Hill 

134 

Fanny 

67 

sch. 

1794 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Fanny 

— 

ship 

1817 

Miscel.  Hanover 

130 

Favorite 

74 

sch. 

1815 

Foster.  Wanton 

229 

Favorite 

64 

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 

93 

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 

70 

sch. 

1848 

Scituate  Harbor 

369 

Florida 

244 

brig 

1818 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

184 

Flying  Fish 

32 

sch 

1787 

North  River 

48 

Forest  Bell 

44 

sch. 

1862 

Merritt,  Cliittendcn  Yard 

257 

Forest  Oak 

62 

sch. 

18fV2 

Merritt,  Chittenden  Yard 

257 

Fortune 

339 

ship 

1809 

Foster,  Wanton 

229 

Foster 

317 

ship 

1818 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

234 

Four  Brothers 

53 

sch. 

1811 

Litchfield,  Miscel.  Scituate 

341 

Four  Brothers 

sch. 

1818 

Miscel.  Scituate 

344 

Four  Brothers 

53 

sch. 

1857 

Scituate  Harbor 

391 

Four  Friends 

75 

sch. 

1811 

Rogers  Yard 

208 

Four  Sisters 

67 

sch. 

1819 

Litchfield,  Miscel.  Scituate 

341 

Frances,  aft."Larke" 

20 

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 

54 

sch. 

1823 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

255 

Friendship 

60 

ship 

1711 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Friendship 

60 

brigantine 

1712 

Biock-house 

261 

Friendship 

118 

brig 

1786 

North  River 

48 

Friendship 

49 

sch. 

1788 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Friertdship 

79 

sch. 

1807 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

38» 

Friendship 

53 

sch. 

1816 

Copeland.  I'ox  Hill 

134 

Friends'  Adventure 

30 

sip. 

1698 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Friends'  Adventure 

50 

brigantine 

1702 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Ganges 

215 

ship 

1806 

Delano,  Wanton 

225 

Ganges 

250 

bk 

1833 

Clapp  &  Foster,  Wanton 

239 

Garland 

128 

brigantine 

1795 

Foster,  Wanton 

229 
91 

Garland 

280 

ship 

1801 

Smith  Yard 

Garnet 

65 

sch. 

18.36 

Turner,  No.  River  Bridge 

75 

Gem 

162 

brig 

1830 

Hall's,  Wliites's  Ferry 

358 

George 

82 

sch. 

1801 

Foster,  Wanton 

229 

George 



1816 

North  River 

51 

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 

67 

sch. 

1820 

Turner,  Fox  Hill 

Globe 

293 

ship 

1815 

Foster  &  Sons   Wanton 

Golconda 
Golconda 

ship 

18(17 

Foster,  Wanton 

78 

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 

25 

ketch 

1694 

Briggs  Yard 

214 

Good  Luck 

70 

brigantine 

1706 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

Goree 

336 

ship 

1823 

Bar  stow  Lower  Yard 

106 

Gov.  Brooks 

72 

sch. 

1817 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

233 

Governor  Gore 

302 

ship 

1800 

Barstow's  "  Two  Oaks  " 

101 

Governor  Strong 

— 

1817 

North  River 

51 

Grand  Island 

106 

sch. 

183G 

White's  Ferry 

360 

Hamilton 

164 

brig 

1830 

Briggs  Yard 

320 

Hannah 

70 

ship 

1699 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

H»»nnah 

60 

brigantine 

1700 

Wanton 

217 

Hannah 

35 

sip. 

177- 

No.  River  Pilots 

53 

Hannah 

27 

sch. 

1780 

Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Hannah 

40 

sip. 

1787 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Hannah 

45 

sch. 

1788 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Hannah 

130 

brigantine 

1790 

North  River 

48 

Hannah 

118 

sch. 

1800 

Delano,  Wanton 

224 

Hannah 

138 

sch. 

1802 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Hannah 

50 

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 

90 

Hanover 

329 

ship 

1827 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

106 

Hanson 

47 

sip. 

1833 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Brick-kiln 

196 

Harlequin 

336 

ship 

1800 

Delano,  ^V^anton 

224 

Harmony 

— 

ship 

1767 

Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

167 

Harmony 

51 

sch. 

1785 

Briggs  Yard 

309 

Harriott 

60 

sch. 

1800 

Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Harriot 

202 

bk. 

1834 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

110 

Hart 

40 

sip. 

1707 

Block-bouse 

261 

Hawk 



sch. 

1785 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Hazard 



sch. 

1799 

Smith  Yard 

89 

Hebe 

171 

brig 

1829 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

256 

Hector 

1791 

North  River 

48 

Hector 

61 

sip. 

1802 

Smith  Yard 

92 

Helen 

100 

sch.  aft.  brig't'n 

1793 

Brooks,  Tiiden  &  Taylor 

273 

Helen 

277 

ship 

1795 

Lewis,  Brick-kiln 

177 

Helen  M.  Foster 

90 

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 

20 

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 

51 

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                                 ' 

40 

brigantine 

1692 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Hope 

30 

ketch 

1700 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Hope 

38 

sch. 

1783 

Stutson,  Wanton 

222 

Hope 

55 

sch. 

1784 

Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

173 

Hope 

134 

brigantine 

1785 

North  River 

48 

Hope 

54 

sch. 

1787 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Hope  on 

191 

sch. 

1869 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

145 

Hopewell 

40 

sip. 

1694 

Wanton 

217 

Hopewell 

40 

brigantine 

1694 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

Hopewell 

35 

sip. 

1696 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

Hopewell 

'60 

sip.  aft.  brig't'n 

1697 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

Hopewell 



brigantine 

1697 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Hopewell 

30 

sip. 

1699 

Edward  Wanton,  Wanton 

217 

Hopewell 

30 

sip. 

1701 

Wanton 

218 

Hopewell                          i 

20 

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 

87 

sch. 

1811 

Cole,  Chittenden  Yard 

252 

Independence 

311 

ship 

1817 

Barstow's  "Two  Oaks" 

102 

Indus 

338 

ship 

1799 

Delano,  Wanton 

224 

Industry 

20 

sip. 

1682 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Industry 

40 

sip. 

1702 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Industry 

31 

sch. 

1781 

North  River 

48 

Industry 

42 

sch. 

1785 

Stutson,  Wanton 

222 

Industry 

61 

sch. 

1785 

Briggs  Yard 

309 

Industry 

60 

sip. 

17H9 

Keene,  White's  Ferrv 

351 

Industry 

— 

sch. 

1796 

Stutson,  Wanton  &  Scituate  H'b'r  368 

222 

Industry 

68 

sch. 

1803 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Industnr 
Intrepid 

— 

sch. 



BrigKS,  Brick-kiln 

195 

282 

ship 

1805 

Smith  Yard 

93 

Iris 

80 

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 

30 

sip. 

i()y9 

Scituate  Harl)or 

366 

James  Bayard 

85 

sch. 

1802 

Chittenden  Yard 

250 

James  Francis 

101 

sch. 

1837 

White's  Ferry 

361 

James  Otis 

80 

sch. 

1827 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

192 

James  W.  Paige 

198 

bk. 

1841 

Curtis,  Scituate  Harbor 

384 

James  Wyman 

65 

sch. 

1852 

Turner,  Otis  &  Co.,  Scituate  Harbor 

391 

Jane 

120 

sch. 

1793 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Jane 

145 

brig 

1793 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Jane 

65 

sch. 

1795 

Chittenden  Yard 

246 

Jane 

98 

sch. 

1802 

Sampson,  No.  River  Bridge 

70 

Japan 

332 

ship 

1822 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

235 

Jefferson 

267 

ship 

1801 

Rogers,  Brick-kiln 

182 

Jenny 

63 

sch. 

1784 

North  River 

48 

John 

40 

brigantine 

1702 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

John 

60 

sch. 

1786 

Brick-kiln 

173 

John  &  Abial 

100 

ship 

1098 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

John  &  Abiel 

60 

brigantine 

1695 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

John  &  Abigail 

25 

sip. 

1GS3 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

John  &  Daniel 

30 

sip. 

1703 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

John  &  David 

60 

ship 

1704 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

John  &  Dorothy 

40 

brigantine 

1702 

Block-house 

260 

John  &  Dorothy 

80 

ship 

1711 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

John  &  Elizabeth 

70 

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 

43 

sch. 

1845 

HrigKS,  Scituat€  Harbor 

385 

Jolly  Tar 

sch. 

Waterman,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Joseph  &  Benjamin 

30 

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 

65 

sch. 

1846 

Cudwortli,  Chittenden  Yard 

257 

Joshua  Brown 

112 

sch. 

1S38 

White's  Ferrv 

361 

Joshua  E.  Bowley 

95 

sch. 

1851 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

142 

J.  Setter 

58 

sch. 

1846 

Scituate  Harbor     . 

385 

Julian 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

236 

Juno 

90 

sip. 

1786 

Brooks,  Tiiden  &  Taylor 

273 

Juno 

85 

sch. 

1825 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

192 

Justice  Story 

199 

bk. 

1845 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

119 

Katharine 

25 

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 

61 

Laban 

87 

sch. 

1822 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

255 

Lady  Gallatin 

358 

ship 

1811 

Delano,  Smith  Yard 

93 

400 


A    LIST    OF    VESSELS    BUILT    ON    NORTH    RIVER 


Name. 

Ton- 
nage. 

E.IG. 

Built 

Town  or  Yard. 

1 

Lady  Madison 

450 

ship 

1810 

Delano,  Wanton 

225 

Lady  Washington 

118 

brigantine 

1787 

North  River 

48 

La  Grange 

73 

sch. 

1825 

Merritt,  Miscel.  Scituate 

340 

Lagoda 

340 

ship 

1826 

Foster  &  Co.,  ^Vanton 

237 

Lake 

99 

sch. 

1840 

Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

139 

Lake 

74 

sch. 

1848 

Taylor  &  Carver,  Taylor 

281 

Lapwing 

176 

brig 

1822 

Briggs  Yard 

S15 

Lapwing 

64 

sch.                     1 

1835 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

384 

Lark 

40 

sch. 

1784 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Lark 

40 

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 

69 

sch. 

1803 

Brick-kiln 

175 

Lawrence 

198 

bk. 

1842 

Turner,  Scituate  Harbor. 

388 

Leader 

96 

sch. 

1817 

Barstow's  "  Two  Oaks  " 

101 

Leader 

42 

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 

70 

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 

88 

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 

65 

sch. 

1838 

Litchfield  &  Burrill,  Wanton 

241 

Little  Cherub 

65 

sch. 

1797 

Bates,  Miscel.  Hanover 

125 

Little  Martha 

55 

sch. 

1819 

Merritt,  Miscel.  Scituate 

340 

Little  Otis 

30 

ketch 

1700 

Scituate  Harbor 

366 

Lively 

56 

sch. 

1785 

Merritt,  Chittenden  Yard 

246 

Lively 

28 

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 

51 

Louisa 

60 

sch. 

1828 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

256 

Louisa 

97 

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 

58 

sch. 

1786 

North  River 

48 

Lucy 

60 

sch. 

1787 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Lucy 

50 

sch. 

1789 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Lucy 

39 

sch. 

1798 

Rogers  Yard 

208 

Lucy 

39 

sch. 

1798 

Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Lucy 

93 

sch. 

1799 

Miscel.  Hanover 

130 

Lucy 

72 

sch. 

1801 

Briggs  Yard 

310 

Luke 

60 

brigantine 

1706 

Block  house 

260 

Lyceum 

65 

sch. 

1830 

Copeland  &  Co.,  Fox  Hill 

137 

Lyceum 

— 

Scituate  Harbor 

387 

Lydia 

54 

sch. 

1787 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Lydia 



sch. 

1789 

Silvester,  No.  River  Bridge 

68 

Lydia 

50 

sch. 

1793 

Chittenden  Yard 

246 

Lydia 

100 

sip. 

1793 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Lydia 

54 

sch. 

1795 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Lydia 

81 

sch. 

1799 

Torrey,  Chittenden  Yard 

248 

Lydia 

280 

ship 

1806 

Smith  Yard 

93 

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 

22 

sch. 

1839 

Litchfield  cS:  Burrill,  Wanton 

242 

Lyon 

30 

sip. 

1704 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Lyon 

70 

sip. 

1709 

Block-house 

261 

Lysander 

110 

brig 

1827 

Turner,  Palmer  &  Magoun,  No.  River  Bridgs 

74 

AND    AT    SCITUATE    HARBOR. 


Name. 

Ton- 
nage. 

Rio. 

BVILT 

Town  or  Yard. 

Madagascar 

242 

bk. 

1832 

Clapp  &  Foster,  Wanton 

239 

Magnolia 

36 

sip. 

1828 

Turner,  Pnlm.r  &  Mnpronn,  No.  Kivcr  Bridge 

74 

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 

93 

sch. 

1842 

Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

139 

Manson 



Margaret 

20 

sip. 

1701 

Wanton 

218 

Margaret 

89 

sch. 

181G 

Foster  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yard 

253 

Margaret 

185 

brig 

1820 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

235 

Maria 

y<_- 

ship 

1782 

Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

171 

Maria 

64 

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 

98 

brig 

1824 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

255 

Marnix    (see  "Martha") 



bk. 

1805 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge. 

70 

Marnix 

225 

bk. 

1849 

Miscel.  Scituate 

314 

Mars 

53 

sch. 

1786 

Brick-kiln 

173 

Marshal  Ney 

192 

brig 

1829 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

238 

Martha 

50 

brigantine 

1712 

Block-house 

261 

Martha 

192 

ship 

1801 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Martha,  afterward  called 

255 

bk. 

1805 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge 

70 

Martha             ["Marnix" 



ship 

1809 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge 

70 

Martha 

273 

ship 

1810 

Sampson,  Brick-kiln 

182 

Martha  &  Elizabeth 

70 

bk. 

1694 

Wanton 

217 

Martha  &  Elizabeth 

70 

brigantine 

1694 

Wanton 

217 

Martha  Allen 

283 

bk. 

1849 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

386 

Mary- 

60 

bk. 

1693 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Mary 

80 

ship 

1694 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Mary 

40 

brigantine 

1699 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

Mary 

20 

sip. 

1700 

Wanton  &  Barker,  AVanton 

217 

Mary 

20 

sip. 

1707 

Edward  Wanton,  Wanton 

218 

Mary 

22 

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 

82 

Mary 

211 

ship 

1801 

Smith  Yard 

92 

Mary 

99 

sch. 

1804 

James,  Block-house 

263 

Mary 

82 

sch. 

1804 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Mary 

73 

sch. 

1843 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

385 

Mary 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

389 

Mary  &  Abigail 

30 

sip. 

1699 

Scituate  Harbor 

366 

Mary  &  Abigail 

40 

sip. 

1705 

Wliitc's  Ferry 

3.")0 

Mary  &  Nancy 

41 

sch. 

1795 

Chittenden  Yard 

246 

Mary  &  Polly 

77 

sch. 

1816 

Tilden,  Block-house 

269 

Mary  Ann 

78 

brigantine 

1789 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Mary  Ann 

242 

ship 

1799 

James,  Block-house 

263 

Mary  Ann 

76 

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 

56 

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 

60 

sch. 

IS  18 

Briggs  &  Smith,  Brick-kiln 

197 

Mattakeeset  or  Mattakees 

21 

St.  boat 

1,S39 

Halls,  White's  Ferry 

361 

Mayflower 

25 

sip. 

1G94 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

336 

Mayflower 

30 

brig 

1701 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

338 

Mayflower 

30 

sip. 

1701 

Block-house 

260 

Mayflower 

25 

sip. 

1706 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Mayflower 

30 

brigantine 

1712 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

339 

Mayflower 

— 

sch. 

1S()3 

Lewis,  Brick-kiln 

177 

Mayflower 

32 

sip. 

1S'J3 

Briggs,  brick-kiln 

195 

Melietable 

86 

ship 

1700 

Chittenden  Yard 

241 

Mentor 



ship 

1803 

Miscel.,  Hanover 

130 

Mentor 

98 

sch. 

1X25 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

106 

Merchant 

179 

ship 

1791 

Chittenden  Yard 

246 

Merchant 

263 

ship 

1804 

Smith  Yard 

93 

Mert 

131 

sch. 

Eells,  Smith  Yard 

94 

402 


A    LIST    OF    VESSELS    BUILT    OX    NORTH    EIVER 


Name. 

Ton- 
nage 

Rig. 

Built                   Town  or  Yard. 

to 

Meteor 

116 

sch. 

1864 

Scituate  Harbor 

391 

Miantinomo 

281 

ship 

1800 

Kingman,  Miscel.  Hanover 

126 

Michael  &  Samuel 

60 

brigantine 

1697 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

337 

Michigan 

— 

brig 

183- 

Brooks  &  Tilden 

279 

Michigaa 

130 

brig 

1840 

Briggs  Yard 

322 

Milo 

53 

sch. 

1816 

Turner  &  Copeland,  Fox  Hill 

134 

Minerva 



1774 

North  River 

48 

Minerva 

223 

ship 

1808 

Magoun,  Brick-kiln 

183 

Minerva 

70 

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 

55 

sch. 

1785 

North  River 

48 

Monroe 

47 

sch. 

1817 

Turner,  Miscel.  Scituate 

341 

Monument 

211 

brig 

1825 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

184 

Morning  Star 

82 

sch. 

1803 

Rogers  Yard                                  208 

340 

Morning  Star 

65 

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 

65 

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 

41 

sip. 

1787 

Brick-kiln 

173 

Nancy 

94 

sch. 

1803 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Nancy 

177 

brig 

1806 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

181 

Nancy 

75 

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 

60 

sch. 

1786 

Brick-kiln 

173 

Nellie  Fenwick,  formerly 

— 

bk. 

1854 

Scituate  Harbor 

391 

Neptune       [called  Sarah 

— 

ship 

1765 

Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

164 

Neptune 

67 

sch. 

1785 

North  River 

48 

Neptune 

64 

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 

90 

Neptune 

278 

ship 

1806 

Smith  Yard 

93 

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 

37 

sip.,  aft'ward  sch. 

1792 

Barstow,  "  Two  Oaks  " 

97 

New  Prisdlla 

125 

sch. 

1822 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

235 

New  Sally 

56 

sch. 

1812 

Torrey,  Chittenden  Yard 

252 

New  Sophronia 

69 

sch. 

1815 

Tilden,  Block-house 

268 

New  State 

51 

sch. 

1798 

Miscel.,  Hanover 

130 

Newton 

283 

brig 

1828 

Halls,  White's  Ferry 

358 

Niagara 

232 

bk 

1834 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

240 

Ninety 

90 

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 

27 

sip. 

1793 

Brooks,  Tilden  &  Taylor 

273 

North  River  Packet 

38 

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 

73 

sch. 

1816 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

233 

Ocean 

173 

brig 

1823 

Briggs  Yard 

316 

Ocean 

165 

brig 

1839 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

111 

Ocean  Belle 

55 

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 

22 

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. 

8) 

Olive 

70 

sch. 

1797 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Only  Daughter 

70 

sch. 

1829 

Clapp  &  Delano,  Wanton  Yard 

226 

Only  Son 

170 

brig 

1805 

Turner  &  Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

175 

Only  Son 

23 

sch. 

1800 

Litchfield,  Miscel.  Scituate 

342 

Ontario 

367 

ship 

1833 

Waterman  &  Bates,  Fox  Hill 

138 

Ontario 

— 

sch. 

1825 

Bripgs  Yard 

317 

Ontario 

92 

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 

42 

sch. 

1813 

Turner,  Fox  Hill 

133 

Orion 

CO 

sch. 

1829 

Copeland  &  Co.,  Fox  Hill 

137 

Orleans 

100 

sch. 

White's  J'crry 

361 

Otho 

132 

brig 

1838 

Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

139 

Otis 

87 

sch. 

1846 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

386 

Outesie 

99 

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 

22 

sip. 

1790 

Miscel.  Hanover 

129 

Packet 

37 

sip. 

1800 

Nash,  Chittenden  Yard 

249 

Packet 

52 

sip. 

1804 

Miscel ,  Hanover 

1.30 

Packett 

22 

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 

74 

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 

20 

sip. 

177- 

No.  River  Pilots 

53 

Patty 

56 

sch. 

1785 

Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Pearl 

— 

ship 

1802 

Smith  &  Bass,  Smith  Yard 

92 

Peggy 

37 

sch. 

17S7 

Brick-kiln 

373 

Peggy 

134 

brig 

1792 

North  River 

48 

Pembroke 

193 

ship 

1801 

Sampson,  Brick-kiln 

182 

Pembroke 

199 

brig 

1820 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

184 

Pembrook 

184 

ship 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge 

70 

Penn 

— 

ship 

1818 

Miscel.,  Hanover 

130 

Perfect 

68 

sch. 

1830 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

192 

Perfect 

26 

sch. 

18(!8 

Litchfield.  Miscel.  Scituate 

542 

Perseverance 

214 

ship 

1801 

Foster,  Wanton 

229 

Perseverance 

184 

brig 

1815 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

193 

Persis 

90 

sch. 

1792 

Rogers  Yard 

2  6 

Peru 

257 

ship 

1818 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

103 

Peruvian 

334 

ship 

ISIH 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

234 

Pharamond 

84 

sch. 

1818 

Souther  &  Cudworth.  Chittenden  Yard 

2.54 

Phenix 

314 

ship 

1830 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

108 

Philenda 

72 

sch. 

1817 

Tilden  Block-house 

270 

Philenia 

96 

sch. 

1835 

Turner,  No.  River  Bridge 

75 

Philena  Otis 

— 

1828 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

195 

Phoebe 

117 

sch. 

180() 

Torrey,  Block-house 

263 

Phoenix 

68 

sch. 

1789 

North  River 

48 

Phoenix 

150 

brig 

1839 

White's  Ferry 

361 

Pico 

— 

sip. 

Rogers  Yard 

213 

Pilgrim 

62 

sch. 

1809 

Smith  Yard 

93 

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 

98 

sch. 

183G 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

360 

Planet 



sch. 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

384 

Pocahontas 

279 

ship 

1803 

Barstow's  "Two  Oaks" 

100 

Pocahontas 

41 

sch. 

1838 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

384 

Polly 

18 

sip. 

177- 

No.  River  Pilots 

53 

Polly 

52 

sch. 

1784 

Miscel.,  Hanover 

129 

Polly 

52 

sch. 

1784 

Brooks,  Tilden  &  Taylor 

272 

Polly 

69 

sch. 

1784 

Block-house 

201 

Polly 

40 

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 

52 

sch. 

1793 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Polly 

23 

sch. 

1797 

Sherman,  Miscel.  Pembroke 

83. 

Polly 

39 

sch. 

1798 

Scituate  Harbor 

36& 

Polly 

114 

sch. 

1800 

Baker,  Brooks,  Tilden  &  Tavlor 

273 

Polly 

35 

sip. 

1809 

Sherman,  Brooks,  Tilden  &  Taylor 

273 

President 

85 

sch. 

1817 

Souther,  Chittenden  Yard 

253 

President  Harrison 

65 

sch. 

1841 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

344 

President  Washington 

49 

sch. 

1834 

Chittenden  Yard 

256 

Primrose 

50 

brigantine 

1694 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

Primrose 

71 

sch. 

1821 

Tilden,  Block-house 

270 

Priscilla 

61 

sch. 

1803 

Briggs  Yard 

310 

Protection 

270 

ship 

1805 

Bartsow's  "Two  Oaks" 

101 

Providence 

100 

ship 

1698 

Scituate  Harbor 

366 

Providence 

80 

ship 

1699 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Prudence  &  Dorothy 

60 

ship 

1699 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Prudent  Sarah 

.^0 

brigantine 

1700 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Pyretus 

57 

sch. 

1831 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

383 

Queen 

100 

sch. 

1836 

Turner,  No.  River  Bridge 

75 

Rachel 

59 

sch. 

1820 

Rogers  Yard 

210 

Pi.ailway 

86 

sch. 

1829 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

192 

Rambler 

— 

1818 

North  River 

51 

Ranger 

65 

sip. 

177- 

North  River  Pilots 

53 

Ranger 

57 

sch. 

1819 

Walter  Foster,  Wanton  Yard 

234 

Rapid 

48 

sip. 

1817 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

233 

Reaper 

94 

sch. 

1837 

Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

388 

Rebecca,  Lately  c«Ued  victory. 

90 

ship 

1705 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Rebecca 

77 

sch. 

1798 

Miscel.  Hanover 

130 

Rebecca 

62 

sch. 

1831 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

256 

Rebecca 

63 

sch. 

1836 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

257 

Red  Rover 

99 

sch. 

1838 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

196 

Red  Rover 

— 

Litchfield,  Miscel.  Scituate 

342 

Regulus 

237 

ship 

1807 

Torrey,  Chittenden  Yard 

250 

Reindeer 

20 

sch. 

1798 

Rogers  Yard 

212 

Resolution 



sch. 

17— 

Smith  Yard 

89 

Revenue 

27 

sch. 

1789 

Eells,  Smith  Yard 

93 

Revival 

44 

sch. 

1790 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Revival 

44 

sch. 

1791 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Revival 

39 

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 

80 

sch. 

1806 

Turner  &  Thomas,  Miscel.  Hanover 

127 

Rival 

66 

sch. 

1829 

Tilden,  Block-honse 

271 

Rival 

— 

sch. 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

184 

Roanoke 

— 

sch. 

183- 

Brooks  &  Tilden 

279 

Roanoke 

99 

sch. 

1842 

Turner,  Bates  and  others.  Lower  Yard 

112 

Robert 

— 

ship 

1789 

Miscel.,  Hanover 

129 

Robert  Raikes 

81 

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 

89 

Rosa  Baker 

109 

her.  brig 

1867 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

145 

Rose 

60 

brigantine 

1705 

Block-house 

260 

Rover 

79 

sch. 

1796 

Delano,  Wanton 

223 

Rover 



sch. 

1800 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

Rover 

89 

sch. 

1801 

Torrey,  Chittenden  Yard 

250 

Rover 

— 

sch. 

White's  Ferry 

361 

Rowena 

69 

sch. 

1834 

Block-house 

271 

Roxanna 

73 

sch. 

1818 

Turner  &  Turner,  Fox  Hill 

134 

Rubicon 

67 

sch. 

1831 

Torrey,  Block-house 

271 

Ruby 

85 

sch. 

1789 

North"  River 

48 

Ruby 

28 

sch. 

1800 

Rogers  Yard 

212 

Russell 

— 

bk. 

1804 

Miscel.  Scituate 

343 

Russian 

222 

brig 

1828 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

238 

Ruth 

30 

sip. 

1708 

Block-house 

261 

Ruthy 

39 

sch. 

1794 

Randall,  Miscel.  Pembroke 

83 

AND    AT    SCITLATK    IIAUIJOK. 


Name. 

Ton- 
nage 

Rig. 

Built 

Town  ok  Yakd. 

Salem 

260 

bk. 

18.54 

Miscel.  Scituate 

244 

Salera  Packet 

42 

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 

48 

Sally 

2.5 

sch. 

1781 

North  River 

48 

Sally 

58 

sch. 

1784 

Miscel.,  Hanover 

129 

Sally 

44 

sip. 

1786 

Brooks,  'I'ilden  &  Taylor 

272 

Sally 

54 

sch. 

178() 

Stutson,  Wanton 

222 

Sally 

54 

sch. 

1786 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Sally 

32 

sch. 

1789 

Chittenden  Yard 

246 

Sally 

— 

sip. 

1790 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Sallv 

24 

sch. 

1796 

North  River 

49 

Sally 

96 

sch. 

1796 

Rogers  Yard 

206 

Sally 

54 

sch. 

1796 

Vinal,  Scituate  Harbor 

.368 

Sally,  aft. called  "Nysted." 

83 

sch. 

1799 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Sally 

95 

sch. 

1802 

Barker,  Chittenden  Yard 

250 

Sally 



sch. 

1802 

Hanover 

Sally 

149 

brig 

1S02 

Briggs  Yard 

310 

Sally  Robbin 

58 

sch. 

1784 

Miscel.,  Hanover 

129 

Samos 

243 

brig 

1827 

Copeland  &  Co.,  Fox  Hill 

136 

Samuel 



1801 

North  River 

51 

Samuel 

310 

ship 

1810 

Eells,  Smith  Yard 

94 

Samuel  &  Thomas 

190 

bk. 

1841 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

344 

Samuel  Soper 



brig 

18— 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

389 

Sarah 

90 

ship 

1697 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Sarah 

310 

ship 

179.5 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Sarah 

307 

ship 

1815 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge 

70 

Sarah 

63 

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 

85 

sch. 

1819 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

107 

Sarah  &  Isabella 

50 

brigantine 

1700 

Wanton  &  Barker,  Wanton 

217 

Sarah  Brooks 

76 

sch. 

1849 

Scituate  Harbor 

386 

Sarah  Jane 

67 

sch. 

1851 

Merritt,  Chittenden  Yard 

257 

Sarah  Wales 

99 

sch. 

1835 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

110 

Sarah's  Adventure 

40 

ketch 

1700 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Saratoga 

289 

bk. 

1835 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

240 

Saturn 

107 

sch. 

1805 

Keene,  White's  Ferry 

252 

Saucy  Jack 

90 

sch. 

1802 

Hatch,  Block-house 

363 

Scituate 

86 

sch. 

1834 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

384 

Sea  Boy 

Litchfield,  Miscel.  Scituate 

342 

Sea  Drift 

99 

sch. 

1852 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

142 

Sea  Flower 

60 

brigantine 

1703 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Sea  Flower 

30 

sip. 

1709 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

Sea  Flower 

40 

sip. 

1714 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

Sea  Flower 

46 

sch. 

1789 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

343 

Seamew 

199 

ship 

1833 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

110 

Seamoss 

brig 

183 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

257 

Sears  &  J.  Rogers 

31 

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 

87 

sch. 

1819 

Souther  iS:  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

254 

Short  Staple 

172 

brig 

1802 

Cushiiig,  Miscel.  Hanover 

127 

Sinus 

55 

sip. 

1843 

Turner,  Scituate  Harljor 

388 

Sisters 

83 

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 

67 

sch. 

1795    Scituate  Harbor 

368 

Sophia 

35 

sip. 

1811 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

181 

Sophronia 

83 

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 

88 

sch. 

18.50 

Otis,  Scituate  Harbor 

391 

Spanker 

103 

sch. 

ISOl 

Turner,  Miscel.  Pembroke 

82 

406 


A    LIST    OF    VESSELS    BUILT    ON   NORTH    RIVER 


Name. 

Ton- 
nage. 

Rig. 

Built 

Town  or  Yard. 

1 

Spartacus 

92 

sch. 

1846 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

389 

Specie 

72 

sch. 

1827 

North  River 

51 

Speedwell 

25 

sip. 

1695 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

337 

Speedwell 

60 

ship 

1695 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

337 

Speedwell 

100 

ship 

1696 

Miscel.,  Scituate 

337 

Speedwell 

40 

brigantine 

1698 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Speedwell 

50 

l)rigantine 

1699 

Scituate  Harbor 

36(> 

Speedwell 

15 

sch". 

177 

No.  River  Pilots  and  Brick-kiln 

53 

Speedwell 

— 

sip. 

177 

Thomas,  Brick-kiln 

171 

Speedwell 

57 

sch. 

1787 

Bates,  Miscel.  Hanover 

124 

Speedwell  Friend 

20 

brigantine 

1703 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Spermo 

296 

ship 

1820 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

104 

Sphynx 

43 

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 

23 

sch. 

1839 

B'-iggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

384 

States 

290 

ship 

1818 

Barstow's  Lower  Yard 

103 

St.  Paul 

94 

sch. 

1845 

Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

140 

Success 

60 

brigantine 

1710 

Block-house 

261 

Success 

30 

sch. 

1783 

North  River 

48 

SuflFolk 

314 

ship 

1816 

Palmer,  Brick-kiln 

189 

Sukey 

49 

sch. 

1785 

Block-house 

261 

Sun 

200 

brig 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

195 

Superb 

395 

ship 

1794 

Keene,  White's  Ferry 

351 

Surprise 

70 

sch. 

18.V2 

Cndworth.  Chittenden  Yard 

257 

Susan 

311 

ship 

1805 

Rogers,  Miscel.  Hanover 

126 

Susan 

36 

sip. 

1834 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

360 

Susan 

— 

1834 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

1-96 

Susan  Baker 

99 

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 

303 

ship 

1807    Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

l&l 

Swallow 

35 

brigantine 

1678    Briggs  Yard 

284 

Swallow,     lately     called 

20 

brigantine 

1698    Briggs  Yard 

284 

Swallow          ["Blessing" 

30 

brigantine 

1705 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

Swallow 

68 

sch. 

1786 

Silvester,  No.  River  Bridge 

68 

Swallow 

75 

sch. 

1789 

Miscel.  Scituate 

345 

Swan 

20 

sip. 

1708 

Block-house 

261 

Swan 

129 

sch. 

1836 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

196 

Swann 

45 

brigantine 

1699 

Scituate  Harbor 

366 

Swann 

60 

brigantine 

1701 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Taglioni 

34 

sip. 

1848 

Briggs,  Scituate  Harbor 

386 

Talisman 

73 

sch. 

1845  IScituate  Harbor 

388 

Tama 

— 

ship 

177 

Brick-kiln 

168 

Tarquin 

101 

sch. 

1836 

Cndworth,  Chittenden  Yard 

256 

Taunton  Merchant 

70 

ship 

1711 

White's  Ferrv 

850 

Tenedos 

245 

brig 

1827  iBriggs  &  Turner,  Brick-kiln 

192 

Thankful 

129 

sch. 

1797  JTorrev,  Chittenden  Yard 

247 

Thomas 

— 

bk. 

1698 

Scituate 

Thomas 

70 

ship 

1713 

Block-house 

261 

Thomas 

— 

1809 

North  River 

51 

Three  Friends 

16 

sip. 

1692 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

Three  Friends 

32 

sch. 

1796 

Rogers  Yard 

208 

Three  Friends 

98 

sch. 

1797 

Briggs  Yard 

310 

Three  Friends 

74 

sch. 

1801    Hatch,  Brooks,  Tilden  &  Taylor 

273 

Three  Sisters 

90 

brigantine 

1705  iScituate  Harbor 

367- 

Three  Sisters 

— 

sch. 

1820    Souther  &  Cndworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

255 

Tiberias 

298 

bk. 

1833 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

110 

Token 

141 

brig 

1831 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

238 

Tom  Corwin 

250 

bkf 

1847 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

140 

Topaz 

385 

ship 

1805 

Delano,  Wanton 

225 

Trader 

— 

sip. 

Rogers  Yard 

213 

Trent 

249 

brig 

1822 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

105 

Triton 

170 

brigantine 

1800 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Triton 

75 

sch. 

1825 

i  Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

356 

Tropic 

150 

brig 

1804 

Brooks.  Scituate  Harbor 

381 

Trval 

60 

ship 

1698 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

Trj-al 

20 

sip. 

1701 

[Chittenden  Yard 

244r 

AXD    AT    SCITUATE    HARBOR. 


407 


Name. 

Tox- 

NAOE 

Rig. 

Built 

Town  or  Yard. 

0) 

Trvall 

60 

brig 

171i 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Turk 

197 

t)k. 

isn 

Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

388 

Two  Brothers 

60 

ship 

1700 

Chittenden  Yard 

244 

Two  Friends 

89 

sch. 

1K02 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

174 

Tyger 

60 

brigantine 

170G 

Miscel.  Scituate 

339 

Uncle  Sam 

118 

sch. 

18.34 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

360 

Union 

15 

sip. 

177- 

No.  River  Pilots 

54 

Union 

— 

ship 

1790 

North  River 

48 

Union 

42 

sch. 

1792 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Union 

86 

sch. 

1801 

Kingman  Miscel.  Hanover 

126 

Union 



sch. 

1803 

Marshfield 

Union 

231 

ship 

1807 

Smith  Yard 

93 

Union 

48 

sch. 

1816 

Merritt,  Miscel.  Scituate 

310 

Union 

199 

bk. 

1847 

Turner,  Otis  &  Cole,  Scituate  Harbor 

390 

Unity 

40 

sip. 

1697 

Miscel.  Scituate 

337 

Unity 

30 

sip. 

1699 

Wanton 

217 

Unity 

60 

biigantine 

1700 

Scituate  Harbor 

367 

Unity 

65 

brigantine 

1706 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Verges 

151 

brig 

1831 

Turner,  Brick-kiln 

192 

Verona 

238 

bk. 

1836 

Briggs  Yard 

321 

Vesta 

91 

sch. 

1821 

Torrey,  Block-house 

270 

Victory,  form,  cal'd  "Rebecca." 

90 

ship 

1705 

Briggs  Yard 

285 

Vintage 

199 

brig 

1837 

Waterman.  Fox  Hill 

139 

Virginia 

62 

sch. 

1824 

Briggs  &  Turner,  Brick  kiln 

191 

Vulture 

— 

1817 

North  River 

51 

Warren,  form.  caned"Salina9" 

150 

her.  brig 

1863 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  llill 

144 

Warsaw 

331 

ship 

1831 

Barstow  Lower  Yartl 

108 

Warsaw 



Foster,  Wanton 

230 

Washington 



ship 

1791 

Miscel.  Scituate  also  North  River     48 

343 

Washington 

107 

sch. 

1800 

Brick-kiln 

174 

Washington 

100 

sch. 

1800 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln  (continued) 

181 

Washington 

87 

sch. 

1801 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Washington 

70 

sch. 

1803 

Samson,  Brick-kiln 

182 

Washington 

108 

sch. 

1805 

Kent,  Scituate  Harbor 

380 

Washington 

309 

ship 

1819 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

104 

Water  Witch 

167 

brig 

1831 

Clapp  &  Foster,  Wanton 

239 

Wave 

124 

brig 

1820 

Briggs  Yard 

314 

Wave 

197 

bk. 

1841 

Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

139 

Waverly 

232 

brig 

18'^7 

Hall's,  Wliite's  Ferry 

356 

Welcome  Return 

77 

sch. 

1818 

Foster  &  Co.,  Wanton 

234 

Welcome  Return 

Samson,  No.  River  Bridge 

71 

Wellfleet 

25 

sip. 

1784 

North  River 

48 

Wildes  P.  Walker 

188 

brig 

1839 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

HI 

William 

135 

brigantine 

1784 

Brooks,  Tilden  &  Taylor 

272 

William 

56 

sch. 

1784 

North  River 

43 

William 

71 

sch. 

1803 

Samson  Brick-kiln  (continued) 

182 

William 

49 

sch. 

1817 

Block-house 

270 

William 

sch. 

1823 

Souther  &  Cudworth,  Chittenden  Yd 

255 

William  &  Henry 

185 

brig 

1823 

Block-house 

270 

William  &  Mary 

40 

sip. 

1693 

Briggs  Yard 

284 

William  &  Thomas 

72 

brigantine 

1703 

Miscel.  Scituate 

338 

William  Allen 

99 

sch. 

1830 

Scituate  Harbor 

387 

William  Clift 



brigantine 

1749 

Stutson,  Wanton 

220 

William  Henry 

110 

sch. 

1S37 

Hall's,  White's  Ferry 

361 

William  M.  Rogers 
William  Martin 

162 

brig 

1S38 

Barstow  I,o\ver  Yard 

110 

130 

sch. 

18.54 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

142 

William  Penn 



ship 

1810 

Misctl.  Scituate 

313 

William  Penn 

158 

brig 

1837 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

196 

William  Pitt 

174 

brig 

1839 

Briggs,  Brick-kiln 

196 

William  Soper 
William  Tell 

sch. 

Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

388 

258 

ship 

1805 

Torrey,  Chittenden  Yard 

250 

William  Wilson 

121 

sch. 

1835 

Barstow  Lower  Yard 

110 
74 

Wolga 

73     1 

sch. 

1828 

Turner,  Palmir  &  Magoun,  Xo.  ISlver  Bridge 

Xenophon 

299 

ship 

1804 

Magoun,  Brick-kiln 

183 

Young  Turk 

300 

bk. 

1853 

Turner  and  others,  Scituate  Harbor 

391 

Zenas  CoflSn,orip".«!'y  """"'^ 

Zion                        ["K.smg»u.-. 

Zulette 

338 

199     1 

ship 
bk. 

1828 

1S48 

Barstow  T,ower  Yard 

Barstow  &  Waterman,  Fox  Hill 

107 
141 

198     i 

bk. 

1843 

Turner,  Scituate  Harbor 

388 

INDEX. 


Absalom's  Rock,  . 

27 

Adams,  Eliah, 

285 

Isaac, 

156 

James,    . 

332 

John, 

151 

John  Quincy, 

198 

Samuel, 

158 

Seth.       . 

156 

Alden,  Briggs, 

261 

Ichabod, 

135 

Isaiah,             .      13 

3.  134.  13s.  192 

John, 

88 

Alford,  Benjamin, 

218,  284,  337 

Alger,  Cyrus, 

•    116,  154 

Allen,  Fred,  . 

249 

George, 

.    Ill,  119 

George  A., 

120 

George  H.,     . 

67 

George  M.,  102, 13 

5,140,141,192, 

196,  279,  384,  385 

,386 

George  N.,     . 

279 

Henry, 

180 

Ichabod, 

74 

Isaiah, 

74 

Jeremiah, 

•    284,337 

Matthew, 

100 

Stephen  M.,   . 

161 

William  P.,    . 

120,  140,  386" 

Allison,  James,     . 

338 

Allyne,  Abel,         . 

186 

Alwyn,  Thomas, 

331 

Ames,  Azel,          . 

361 

Elijah, 

.    136,  360 

Jacob, 

55 

James,    , 

55 

Tilden,    . 

264 

W.  B.,    . 

125 

Anderson,  Alexander, 

322,  384,  389 

Joseph, 

335 

Arnold,  Ed., 

281 

Frank, 

75 

Henry  II.,      . 

375 

Samuel, 

343 

Assinippi  stream, 

29 

Athearn,  George  P., 

222 

Atkins,  Elisha,      . 

140 

Aynsworth,  James, 

261 

Babb,  Thomas,     . 

148 

Bacon,  A.  J., 

69,  73 

Bailey,  Abner, 

380 

Benjamin, 

364 

Caleb,     . 

340 

Charles  T.,     . 

266. 

George  W.,    . 

383 

Herbert  B.,     . 

383 

Job  F.,   . 

383 

John, 

.      84,  103 

Oliver,    . 

155 

Waterman,      . 

322 

Bailey's  Brook,     . 

26 

Baily,  Caleb, 

135 

PAGE 

Baker,            .... 

Alpheus  S  , 

375 

Andrew  H., 

391 

A., 

144 

Barker,  . 

191 

Calvin,    . 

191 

Calvin  L., 

191 

D.  Webster, 

191 

Ezra  H., 

no.  377 

Howes,  . 

110,  196 

Joseph  F., 

375 

Joshua,  . 

145 

Kenelm, 

280 

M.A.,     . 

146 

Nathaniel, 

368 

Samuel, 

352 

ScoUay, 

273 

Thomas, 

15 

8,  273,  337 

Wallers., 

191 

William  J., 

221 

&  Hardy, 

igo 

&  Morrill, 

119 

Bald  Hills,     . 

220 

Baldwin,  Frank  F 

296 

Roger  N., 

296 

Thomas, 

374 

William  H.,_ 

296 

Banks,  Harry  W. 

190 

Joseph  F., 

190 

N.  P.,     . 

73.  19° 

Bangs,  Elkan.th, 

322 

Bant,  Gilbert, 

368 

Bardin,  Abraham, 

8 

Isaac,      . 

8 

Thomas, 

8,67 

Bardwin,  Isaac, 

8 

Thomas, 

8,9 

Barel,  Joe,     . 

237 

Barker,  Caleb, 

23 

Elisha,    . 

164,  250 

Francis, 

'■!.  3 

Ira, 

248.  313 

Isaac, 

3.4 

Isaac  B., 

9' 

Jacob,     . 

225,  226 

John, 

45 

Joseph,  , 

109 

Joshua,  . 

2,  23 

Josiah,    . 
Robert,  .   2,  2 

2,  219 

3i  17 

4,21 

7,  218,  219 

Samuel,  . 

2,  19 

Thomas, 

19 

Wharton, 

225 

William, 

246 

&  Athearn, 

235 

Barker's  River,  _ 

6 

Barnes,  Benja 

min. 

195 

David,    . 

328 

James,    . 

284,  3^7 

Thomas, 

367 

Barnard,  Edward, 

228 

E.  &Co., 

281 

PAGE 

Barnard,  R.  A., 

384 

Barren,  J.      . 

298 

Barrer,  Joshua,     . 

3 

Barry,  James, 

2l3 

Barstow,  Albert,  . 

.    no,  296 

Albert  H.,      . 

296 

Alton  M., 

296 

Andrew, 

.    100,  in 

Benjamin, 

65.  97.  99.  ^06 

Calvin,   . 

97 

C.  &J., 

108 

Edward, 

99,  105,  106 

Edwin,    . 

24,  100,  144 

Edwin  &  Son, 

145 

Elias,      . 

97 

Elijah,  34,  75,  97,  98,  99,  103,  102, 
104,  106,  107,  108,  109,  no.  III, 
119,  120,  125,  140,  143,  295,  321, 
356,  3S9 

296 
144 


Elmer  W, 
E.  W.,    .  ■ 
George  B., 
Gideon,  . 
Henry,   . 
Henry  B., 
Henry  H., 
James,    . 
John,       .        99 
John  B.,  7,  85, 


157 
65,97 
no 
295 
113,  114 
64.  65.97 
105,  106,  109,  381 
99,    100,    lOI, 


102,  103,    104,    Io5,  107,  138,  2IO 

Joseph,   .         .         .         .        15,  21 


Joshua, 
Nath.,     . 
Nathan  H 
Nathaniel, 
Robert,  . 
R.  L.,     . 
Samuel, 

Thomas,  65,  97,  98,  99,    100,   102, 
108, 157 


.15,97,  9» 
99 
97 
100,  105,  106,  228 
99 
344 


William, 

Wilson,  . 

&  Eells, 

&  Russell,      , 

&  Waterman, 
Barstow's  Bridge, 
Barstow's  Brook, 
Barstow's  Forge, 
Bartlett,  George, 

John  E., 

Seth  E., 

W.  S.,     . 
Barton,  Benjamin, 

James,     . 
Bass,  Benjamin, 

Elisha,    . 

Philip,     . 
Bassett,  Caleb, 
►    Frederick  B., 

John, 

John  B., 

Julius  W., 


141 


28,  65,  97 

97 

84 

23 

144.  145. 

28 

6 

15 

113 

135 

135 

387 

30 

284 

90,  92,  219,  354 
85,  92,  no, 
337 
191 
156 

156 
156 


INDEX. 


409 


Bates,  Caleb, 

Calvin,    . 

Clement, 

Edgar,     . 

Eno!, 

Henry  S., 

Hira,       . 

Hira  W., 

James,     . 

John, 

John  B., 

Joseph,    . 

Joseph  J., 

Joseph  L., 

Joseph  S.,  99,  112, 
138,  359 

J.,  :         . 

Loring,  . 

Reuben  C, 

Seth,       . 

Simeon, 

Solomon, 

Thomas  M., 

&  Holmes, 
Battles,  Jared, 
Beal,  Charles, 

David,    . 

Edwin     . 

Ensign  O., 

George    . 

John,  74,  134,  137, 
271,  320,  340,  382 
Beale,  J.  F., 
Bearse,  Owen, 
Bearstow,  Jacob,  . 
Beaver  Dam  Brook, 
Belcher,   Andrew,  217, 
285,  337.  339 

John, 

Jonathan, 
Belknap,  Jeremy, 
Bell,  Philip  W.,    . 
Bell  House  Neck, 
Belle  House, 
Belle  House  Neck, 
Benjamin  Curtis  Mill, 
Benner  &  Deake, 
Bennett,  Elisha,    . 

Richard, 
Bernard,  Francis, 
Berry,  Abraham  H., 

James,     . 

Richard, 

Theodore, 
Berwind,  Edward  T-, 
Bicker,  ISIartin  &  Son, 
Bigelow,  Albert  F., 

Albert  S., 

Arthur  G., 

Cleveland, 

Henry  B.,       . 

Horatio, 

Horatio  R.,    . 

Joseph  S., 

William  De  F., 
Billings.  Paul, 
Bisby,  Eliiha, 
Black  Bill,    . 
Blair,  William 
Blake,  George  F., 

John, 

Joseph,   . 

Joshua,  . 
Blish,  Abraham,    . 
Blount,  Frederick  M., 

Harry  D.,       . 
Boardman,  William, 

&  Sanderson, 
Boggs,  F.  M.,        . 
Bonny,  Ebenezer, 
Bonney,  James,    . 

Nath.,     . 

Noah, 
Booth,  Abraham,  . 


PAGE 

138 

24 

124 

249 

125 

13s.  138 

15 

15 

265 

195,  313 

108,  138 

2,  3 

136 

75 

13s.  137. 

197 

387 

384 

124,  125 

31°,  340 

124,  309 

129 

24 

340 

2^4 


254 

391 
265 

192,  197,  270, 

.  383, 384, 38^ 
82 
390 

272 

25 

244,  261,  284, 


3-2 

261, 285 

374 

IC3 

285 

286 

38,  286 

31 

_  38+ 

367 

288,  289 

'57 
262 
284 

4h 
322 
249 
208 

86 


64 


86 
66,  69,  86 


134 
136 
258,  259 
261 
249 
330 
186 
317 
337 
329 
3^9 
48 
39' 
359 
273 
197 
360 


PAGE 

Booth,  Benjamin,           .         .  21 

Borham,  ^\'illiam  H.,  92 

Borland,  John,      .         .         .  366 
Boston  Marine  Mining  Company,  112 

Bott,  John,    ....  179 

Bourn,  Shearjashub,     .         .  217,  364 

Bourne,  Jedediah,         ,         .  152 
Jonathan,        .         .     143,  145,  237 

John 352 

Proctor,  .         .     359,  360,  361 

Ronse,    ....  224 

Russell ir3,  114 

Bouve,John,          .         .         .  197 

Bowdon,  John,       .         .         .  338 

Bowers,  Henry,    .         .         .  279,  321 

Bowker,  Bowen,   ,         .         .  22 

I*aac  B.,        .        .        .  22 

Bowley,  J.  G 344 

J.  E.  &G 142 

Boyd,  J. 39' 

Boyden,  Uriah  A.,         .         .  155 

Brackett,  Cephas,         .         .  361 

Fred,       ....  190 

Lemuel,           .         .         .  254 

Samuel  P 190 

Bradford,  James,  .         .         .  149 

William,          .         .         .  374 

Bradley,  Francis  E.,     .         .  294 

J.  Payson,       .         .         .  294 

Bramhall,  Benjamin,     .         .  352 

Joshua,   .         ,         .         .  356 

Branch  Creek,       ...  44 

Brayton,  Isaac,     .         .         .  102 

Brenton, Jahted,  ...  337 

Brewer,  C.  &  Co.,         .         .  197 

Page 136 

Brewster,  Jonathan,      .         .  45 

Nathan,  ....  379 

Wrestling,       .         .         .  110 

Bridge,  Edmund,           .         .  314 

Briggs,  Allen,  61,  74,  82,  129,  174,  176 

178,  180,  181,  183,  164,185,  187, 

188,  r93,  195,  196,  352,  360 


Alexander  P., 
Alfred,     . 
Arthur  N., 
A.,  . 

Barnabas, 
Barnabas  W., 
Benj.^niin, 


180 

297 

296 

198 

3r3,  384,  386,  387 

320,  382,  383,  384 

247,  382 


Charles,   179,   i8t,   292,   293,  297, 

3".  313.  3M.323 
Charles  C,  157,  294,  319,  321,  322, 

323 
Charles  C.  &  William  T.  322 

Charles  E 180 

Charles  O.,     ...  297 

"Clark,"         ...  382 

Cornelius,  178,  290,  291,  292,  293 
Gushing  O.,  74, 132,  136,  157,  193, 

194,  270,  293,  294,  312,  3r3,  314, 

316,  317,  319,  320,  321,  323,  385, 

Gushing  O.  6i  Sons,        .  322 

C.  O.  &H.,    .     313.316,319,389 
Daniel,  178,    180,   185,   186,   187, 


J72,  313.  386 
179 
J79 
.  369,  324 
295 
293 


164 


David,     .         . 

Edward,  • 

Edward  T.,    . 

Edwin,    . 

Edwin  R., 

Elijah      .        .  -  , 

Elisha,  158, 176, 178, 179.  180, 181, 

183,  186, 1S8,  193,  194,  222,  238, 

292,  312 
_^nos,  178,  179,  185,  18),  293 
Everett  L.,      .         .  296 

E.  &  H.  O.,  132, 197,  258,  312,  324, 

381 

Frank  H 293,  324 

Franks 29, 

Franklin,        .         .         .  157,  295 

George,  ....  321 


Briggs,  George  C,         .         .  179 

George  H.,  .  .  .180,  296 
Harlem  P.,      .         .         .  296 

Harrison  O.,   157,  269,   282,  295, 

324.  325.  375 
Henry,  74,  109,  132,  194,  270,  293, 

295.  312,  313.  3M.  3'5.  3'6,  317. 

319,  320,  321,  389 

Henry  J 296 

Henry  P.,       .         •         .  179 

Henry  T.,       .         .         .  297 

Horace  C,      .         .         .  297 

James,  124,178,286,  289,290,  291, 

292,  293,  297,  298,  309,  310,  312, 
382 

James  B.,        .         .         .  293 

James  E.,  .  .  157,294,324 
James  S.,  319,  382,  383,  384,  386 
Job,         ....  292 

John,  289,  290,  291,  292,  293,  309, 

310 

John  R 297 

Joseph,  .  .  .  291,292,382 
Joseph  O.,      .         .         .  383 

Joshua,  .         .         .    189,  292 

T.S 385 

Lemuel,  .         .         .  293 

Lloyd,  .  157.  295,  312.  325,  377 
Luther,  74,  178,  179,  184,  189,  190, 

191,  192,  194,  195,  196,  197,198, 

199,  388,389 
L.  Vernon,      .         .         .295,  325 
Nathaniel,       .         .         .  179 

Otis,  .  .  .  313.  322,  383 
Robert,  ....  179,  180 
Samuel,  .  .  .  178,  179,  292 
Seth,  178,  179,   180,  181,  185,  186, 

189.  292,  309 
Shadrach,        .     313,  319,  384,  386 
Silas  M.,         ...  i8o 

Sylvester,  313,  383,  384,  385,  386, 

387 
Thomas,  178,  180,   i8i,   189,  193, 

293.  3'0.  3".  3" 

Thomas  B.,  293, 294,  295, 297,  310, 

312 
Thomas  S.,     .        *        .  186 

Thomas  W.,   ...  297 

"Tom"  .         .         .    193.  3'3 

Walter,  178.  193,    194,   255,   286, 

287,  288,  289,  290,  291,   292,  382 
Warren,  ...  255 

William,      180,  292,  293,  313,  386 

William  H 294 

William  T.,  157,  158,  185,  268,  294, 


319.  321,  322,  323 
Briggs  Harbor, 


287 


Brigham,  Henry  IL,    . 

Joseph,  ....  366 

Brigs,  Mathyas,    ...  332 

FJroad  Creek,         ...  44 

Brookhall  Field.  ...  285 

Brooks,  Elijah,  238,  264,  265,  2;8,  279 

Frank 34« 

Franklin,         .         .         '  278 

John 26,  382 

Joseph,   .        »         .         .  27 

J 26 

Nathaniel,      .        .  381 

Noah,  269,  324,  374,  381,  382,  390 
Noah  W.        .         .        .  382 

Taylor,  ....  381 

William,  .         .    278,341,381 

William  G 104 

Williams  B.,  .  382 

&  Tilden,  .         .     278,  279,  389 

Brooks  &  Tilden  Yard,  .  272 

Broughton,  Daniel,        .         .  389 

Brown,  Benjamin,     384,  3S5,  386,  391 

George  L 156 

Henry i55 

James,    ....  263 

John 277 

Samuel,  .        .        .  i97 


410 


INDEX. 


Brown,  S.,    . 

Vernon  H., 
Bruce,  James, 
Bryant,  Dion, 

Ira, 

John, 

Joseph,   . 
Bryant's  Bridge, 
Buck,  Isaac, 

John, 
Bucklyn,  David, 
Budd,  John, 
Buffington,  James, 
Bulfinch,  C, 
Bulfinch's  Harbor, 
Bulkley,  Charles, 

Charles  Edward 
Rumpas'  Bridge, 
Bunker,  George, 

James,    . 

Paul,       . 

Thomas, 
Burden,  Isaac, 

Thomas, 
Burgess,  Ebenezer, 

Freeman, 
Burleigh,  John, 
Burley  John, 
Burns,  William, 
Burrell,  James, 
Burrill,  Isaac, 

James  S., 
Burrington,  Thomas, 
Burroughs,  Francis, 

Jeremiah, 

Thomas, 
Burrows,  Thomas  T., 
Burton  &  Trumbull, 
Butler,  Peter, 

Cable,  George, 
Gaboon,  Joseph, 
Calep,  Robert, 
Calvert  &  Co., 
Cape  Hancock, 
Carpenter,  Prospect, 
Carswell,  James  W., 

William,      . 
Cartwright  &  Harrison 

Harrison  &  Co., 
Carver,  Barstow,. 

David,    . 

Hatch,    . 

Isaac, 

Israel,     , 

Joshua,  . 

Robert,  . 

Stephen, 

William, 

&  Taylor 
Gary,  William  S., 
Chadwick,  Ebenezer, 
Chamberlain.  Norman, 
Chamberlain  Plain, 
Chambers,  Charles, 
Champion  &  Dickason 
Chandler,  B.  F.,  . 

Sceva,     . 

Simeon,  . 
Chapin,  Joseph,     . 
Chapman,  Ralph, 
Chapman's  Landing, 
Chase,  A.  S., 

Coffin,     . 

Isaac, 

L., 

N., 

Owen, 
Checkley,  Samuel, 
Cheny,  Royal, 
Chillingworth,  Thomas, 
Chisholm,  George  H., 
Chittenden,  Gid,   . 

Isaac, 


237.  250. 
33,  34,  35, 


80,28 


384,  3S5 


PAGE 

298 
136,  248 

i6s 

179 
3'^9,  380 
159,  237 

277 

35 
286,  292 

337 
244 
108 
293 
298 

307 
190 
190 
35 
343 
105 

234 
169 


127 
127 
179 
179 
156 
341 
241 
241,  242 
337 


172 
366 

337 
370 
284 
388 
308 


III,  144 

144 

351.  357 

277 

351.357 

277 

I,  360,  361 

277 

162 

379 

353 

212 

105 

136 

72 

35 

339 

170 

179 

•  389,  391 

4 

82 

45 

6 

391 

SI 

los 

145 

391 

49 

72 

180 

38 

387 

246 

244.  24s 


82,83 


Chittenden  Israel, 

Nathaniel, 

Thomas, 
Chitty,  Thomas,    . 
Christie,  Michael, 
Chubbuck,  Anthony, 

Francis  G., 
Church,  Caleb, 

Cornelius, 

David,    .         .  57, 

Joseph,  . 

Lemuel, 

Nathaniel 

Samuel  H., 

Samuel  S., 

Thomas, 

Timothy, 

&  Haskins, 
Church's  JliU,. 

Church's  Hill  Muster  Grounds, 
Clafflin,  Warren, 
Clapp,  Albert, 

Alfred,    . 

Chandler, 

Elton  B., 

Eugene  H., 

Frank  A., 

Fred.  W., 

George  P., 

Henry, 

John, 

John  L., 


74.31 


74,  27 


PAGE 

245 

245 

245 

367 

7 

313,  389 

192 

131 

252 

,  181.  350 

'31 

174 

131 

3°,  "9 

IT9 

334 

237,  250 

119 

31 

73 

381 

321,  388 

74,  271 


Joseph,   227,   237,    238,   239 
291,  360 


204 

10,  ir 

67 

10,  II 

13 
360,  388 

30,  41 

204 
240, 


Nathaniel, 

Perkins, 

Rufus,    . 

Samuel, 

Silas, 

Silvester, 

Thomas, 

&  Foster, 
Clapp  Mills, 
Clarance,  John, 
Clark,  Andrew, 

Belcher, 

Benjamin, 

B., 

B.C.,     . 

Charles, 

Charles  C, 

George  E., 

John, 

Nathaniel, 

Thomas, 

William, 

Zebulon, 
Clark  Yard, 
Clarke,  Francis, 

Jonas, 

William, 

Willliam  H., 
Claton,  Richard, 
Clay,  Samuel, 
Clayton ,  Richard, 
Clermont  &  Kendi 
Clift,  Joseph 

Nathaniel 

William, 
Clothing  Mill, 
Clutty,  Thomas, 
Cobb,  Theodore, 
Cobb  &  Gushing, 
Coburn  &  Ray, 
Cock,  Edw., 
Cockburn,  Sir  George 
Cody,  Jordan, 
Coffin,  Alexander 

Barzillai 

Charles, 

C.  G.  &H., 

Daniel,   . 

Ebenezer, 

Francis  C, 


ick. 


240,  270,  332 

263,  374 

282 

41,  343 

341 

340 

157,  240,  332,  389 

239 

41 
156 
297 
123 
123 
344 
iro,  239 
124 
124 
297 
123 
123 
i»3,  285 
90,  114,  140,  2S5 
124 
123 

339 

284 

285,  337,  366 

179 

217 

191 

337 

390 

211,  277 

204,  250,  270 

12,  277 

4' 

285 


1 01 


107 
28s 
28, 


Coffin  Henry, 

107,  iir 

Hezekiah,       .         .     165 

,  166,  167 

Ja.Ties 

285 

Nathan 

164 

Owen 

50 

Peter 

284 

Shubael, 

167,  itS 

Zenas,     .      101,  103,  104 

,  los,  107 

Zimri 

5° 

Cole.  Andrew, 

384, 390 

Brnddock, 

390 

Charles,          75,  no,  in 

,  190,  252 

Gridlcy, 

380 

Isaac,      .... 

50 

James,     .... 

252 

Job 

273 

William,          .         .     11; 

,217,  368 

Coleman,  David     . 

384 

John,       .         .         .     244,  261,  284 

Moses,    .... 

139,  142 

Moses,  R.       .         .         . 

141 

Perry  P, 

322,  384 

Collamer,  Anthoi  y. 

291 

Collamore,  Anthony,    . 

52,  196 

Charles, 

215 

Francis,           .         .         6,  173,  185 

Oilman, 

195 

Horace,  74,  179,  192,  19; 

,195,196, 

359.  360,  361 

H.  H.A.,       . 

3T2 

Peter,      . 

285 

W.  H.  H.,      . 

164 

Collier,  James,          203,  25 

D,  340,  369 

PelegH.,         . 

321 

William, 

291 

Colman,  John, 

285,  337 

Moses  R., 

1391 

Comstock,  Samuel  B., 

231 

Coney,  Jabez, 

32s 

Conner,  E.  G.,      ._ 

3SS 

Converse,  Benjamin,    . 

3S» 

Frank  B., 

382 

Heroert  B.,     , 

382 

Cook,  A 

2711 

E.  H 

39^1 

E.  &E.K.,    . 

I4» 

Ichabod, 

386 

Josiah,    . 
Luther  D.,      . 

145 

108 

Nathan,  . 

»7> 

Robert, 

386,  391 

&Co.,     . 

271 

Cooks,  James, 

350 

Cooper,  Thomas,  . 

366 

Coorigan,  T.  J.,    . 

«4» 

Copeland,  Ebenezer,     . 

13? 

Joseph,   . 

William,  74,  90,  131, 133 

133.  29» 

.133,  134. 

135.  13^.  '37 

William  &  Co.,       . 

136 

&  Ford, . 

138 

Ford  &  Pratt, 

132,  13s 

Copeland  Tannery  Brook, 

34 

Copper,  Thomas, 

so 

Cordwood  Hill,     . 

35 

Corlew,  "Bill,"     . 

91,92 

Edward, 

9a 

William. 

9i 

Cornell,  J.  B.  &  W.  W., 

'S5 

Cornish,  Joshua, 

217. 

Corthell,  John,      . 

258 

John  H., 

223 

Joseph,  . 

227,  258 

Cotton,  Joseph,      . 

376 

Coushing,  William, 

I2y 

William  &  Co.,       . 

"7 

Cox,  Isaac, 

9i 

Cricket  Hole, 

33 

Crocker,  G.  O.  &  Co., 

106 

Joseph, 

32a 

J.  L 

^|5 

Tilden,    . 

(>S 

Crockett,  Smith  D., 

1I3 

Crommelin,  G.  C, 

.            34t 

INDEX. 


411 


PAGE 

Crocker,  Nathaniel, 

Tilden,  .         .        66,  89,  359 

Crosby,  Robert,    ...  284 

Cross,  Amos  VV.,  .         .  338 

Crotch,  ....  6 

-Crozier,  William, 

Cudworth,  Benjamin, 

Elijah,  252,  253,  254,  255,  256,  257 

271,  360 
Israel,      ....  388 

James 253>  290 

John 254 

Joseph 253,  254 

Laban 254 

Samuel  C,      .         .         •    214,  253 
William, 

Culpepper,  Francis, 

Culver,  Albert, 

Cunningham,  Timothy 
&  Cobb, 


1.^ 


Currier,  John  J., 
Curtis,  Amiel, 
Asa, 

Asa  F.,  . 
Benjamin, 
Consider, 
Edwin,  . 
Eli, 

Elijah,  . 
Ehsha,  , 
Experience, 


344 

26 

261 

112 

335 

313 

360,  361 

360 

30 

9 

204 

2o8,3C9,343,  38- 

252,  254,  263,  380 

90,92,250 

322 


George,  9.  10,  11, 13,  313.  359.  3^0, 

361 
Harvey,  ...  271 


James  O., 

John, 

Joshua,  . 

J.  O.,      . 

Lemuel, 

Martin,   . 

Nathaniel, 

Paul,       .         .      132.  141,  197,  281 

Reuben,.   9,90,91,129,130,250, 

359 


269 

3' 

313 

384 

9,  12 

102,  132 


Samuel,    . 

Shadrach  B., 

Thomas, 

Thomas  J., 

&  Tilden, 
Curtis  Mills, 
Cushen,  John, 
Gushing,  Charles, 

Christopher, 

Elijah,     . 

Elnathan, 

George, 

George  R., 

Horatio, 

John,  7,  21, 

331 
John  H., 
Joshua,  . 
Nathan, 
Nathaniel,  16,  20, 

331 

Nath..     . 

Nehemiah, 

Theodore, 

Theophilus,    . 

Thomas, 

William, 
Gushing  Vlill, 
Cushing's  Neck,   . 
Cushman,  Elisha, 
Cutler,  Timothy,  . 

Dagan,  Barney,  . 
Dalton,  Thomas.  . 
Daman,  Benjamin, 
Damon,  Amos  F., 

Daniel  E., 

Doane,    . 

Franklin, 

H.,         .       • 


234,  292,  368 
384,  385.  386 
137 


36 
30 

332 


21,  22,  124 

237 
23 
48 

250 
128,    140,    200,   286, 

.      113, 119 

19 

80,  251 


23 

179 

23s 

127,  158,  175,  215,  258 

30 
285 
320 
220 


123 

336 

53.  54 
205,  206,  313 
85 
270 
386,  391 
134 


Damon,  James, 

Joseph,   . 

Nath.,     . 

N.J.,      .         . 

Reuben, 

Samuel,  . 

William  F.,     . 

&  Waite, 
Danforth,  Samuel, 
Darbey,  Eleazer,  . 
Darby,  Eleazer,    . 

Davis,  Aaron, 

John, 

Moses,    . 
Dawcett,  James,   . 
Day,  John,    . 
Deane,  Charles  F., 

Charles  W.,    . 

David  H.  A., 

George,  . 

Harry  S., 

John, 

John  M.,         .         .         .    320,  329 

Samuel,  226,  235,   326,  373,   328, 

329.  330. 
Walter, 
William  . 
William  H.  B., 
William  R.,    . 
Delano,  Alfred  O., 
Amasa, 
Barak 


192,  279 
386 
3'3 
204 
134 
313 
265 
271 
372 
260 
338 


239 

89 

145 

355 

328,  329 

328 

328 

179 

328 

326,  328 

328,  329 


Benjamin, 

Benjamin  F., 

Charles,  . 

Edward, 

Edward  F., 

Edward  H., 

Elisha, 

Hezadiah, 

Jesse,      . 

Joseph,  . 

Lemuel, 

Samuel, 

Silvanus, 

Thomas, 

William,  85,  93,  224,  225 

William  E.     . 

William  H.,   . 

Zebulon, 
De  La  Noye,  Philip, 
Dennis,  Ebenezer, 
Despard  Lambart, 

Mark,     . 
Devin,  John, 
Devine,  John, 
Dewsbury,  William, 
Dillingham,  Thomas, 
Dingley,  Jabez 

John, 

Thomas, 
Doggett,  Ebenezer, 

John, 

Nathaniel  B., 

Noah, 

Samuel, 

Thomas, 
Donnalson,  James, 
Donnell,  Reuben, 

Samuel,  . 

Thomas  B.,  . 
Doubleday,  John, 
Doughty,  James,  . 
Doval,  Jacob, 
Dumer,  Jeremy,  . 
Dummer,  Jeremiah, 
Dunbar,  At  wood  L., 

Jesse,  74,  192,  208,  270,  271,  310 
315,  316.  317,  3'9.  340.  341.  343. 
358,  380,  383 

J 192 

Dunham,  Jesse,    .        .        .  376 

Josiah,    .         .         .     116,  376,  377 


38, 


159 


223,  224,  221;,  228 

226,  227 
224 
224 

227,  262 
26,  227,  262 

81,313 
224 

224 

224 

224,  277 

188,  224 

223,  224 

224 

,  226,    230 

227,  262 

226 

224 

224 


218,  244,  367 
218 
284 

45 

277 

277.  350 

277 

39 

35,  39.  52 

39 

39 

39.  52.  244,  261 
|8,  39.  52 
338 
7.  9.  »04 
250 
104 
365 
178,  291 
3^8 
284 
337 
384 


Dunham,  S., 
Durshee,  Frederick, 
Drew,  Joseph, 

William, 
Drink  water  Iron  Work 
Drinkwater  River, 
Dwelley,  Benjamin, 

James  H., 

Jedediah, 

Lemuel, 

Melzar,  . 

Nathan, 

Richard, 

Robert  E.,      . 
Dyer,  Charles, 

Giles, 

Gyles, 

Hervey, 

Theodore  C, 


P.\OB 

222 

156 
159,  188,  386 

23 
19,24 
90,  91,  92 
>4 
31 
9 
72 
92 
34. 223 
92,  98 
12,  92 
217 
261 

'9 
12 


85, 


Eames,  Joseph, 
F.ars,  Jasper  IVL, 
Eaton,  Richard, 
Eells.  Barzilla 

Bezal,      . 

David,    . 

Edward, 

John, 

John  P., 

Joseph,   . 

Nathaniel, 

Robert, 

Robert  L.,     ^. 

Samuel,  84,  94, 
250 
Eldredge,  James, 
Eldridge,  T., 
Elliott,  David, 
Ellis,  David, 

Joseph,  . 
oshua,  . 
Ellis  Bridge, 
Ellmes,  Charles,    . 

Charles  O.,     . 

Rhodolphus,  . 

William, 
Ells,  Edward  E.,  . 
Emerson,  James  L., 
Emery,  George  W., 
Emmes,  Samuel,  . 
Emmons,  Nathaniel 
3'6,  317.  320. 
Enderby,  Samuel, 
Estes,  Henry, 

Matthew, 
Estis  Matthew, 
Eustice,  John, 
Evans,  Jonathan, 

Robert,  . 
Everett,  Charles, 
Everton,  William 
Ewell,A.,      . 

Gershom, 

Henry,    . 

Isaac, 

Jedediah, 
Eyer,  John,  . 
Eyre,  John,  . 

Fabens,  B.  E.  &  B.  H 
Fairbanks  &  Adams, 
Farnham,  Rufus,  . 
Farrington,  George  P., 
Faucon,  E.  A., 
Faxon,  Asaph  A., 

Luther, 
Fay,  William, 

William  C, 

Windsor, 
Fenno,  James, 
Fenton,  Thomas, 

William, 
Ferris,  John, 
Fessenden,  Charles  B., 


313 
104 
28s 
93 
93.98 
137 
93,  94,  gS,  loa 

o    '^ 

98.99 

5,  87,  98,  100,  359 
98,  216,  236, 
qo,  93,  q8,  99,  128 
87,  97.  98,  99.  "9 
98,  99,  102,  103, 

53 
III 

104. 

137,  230,  236 

363 

193,  206 

24 

263,  369,  380,  386 

42 

41.363 

377 

297 

375 

357 

364 

139.  314.  3»5. 


i66,  167 
338 
337 
337 
368 

284,  367 
338 
375 
217 
237 
277 
215 
206 
129 
337 
366 

145 
143 
66 


389. 

23 
137 

239 
.36 
130 
338 
338 
323 
321 


412 


INDEX. 


Fifield,  Giles, 

337 

I'inney,  Ephraim, 

154 

First  Herring  Brook,    . 

41 

Fish,  Adam, 

351 

Frank,     .         , 

353 

Thomas, 

277 

Fisher,  Francis,    . 

315 

John, 

RoUin  B.,       . 

66 

156 

R.  Thomas,    . 

156 

Fiske,  J.  D., 

82 

Fitzgerald,  Richard,      . 

72 

Fletcher,  Edward, 

321,  322 

Edwin,    . 

322 

Henry  W..     . 

322 

Flint,  Truman, 

376 

Flood,  Benjamin,  . 

3^9 

James,     . 
Joseph,  . 

284 

284,  350 

Fogg,  Ebenezer  T., 

235 

Folger,  Peter, 

182 

Timothy, 

171 

Foord,  Joseph, 

19 

Peleg,      .        .         . 

277 

Thomas, 

277 

iForbes,  John  M., 

186 

R.  B 

49.  51 

Ford,  Charles  M., 

156 

Chauncy  D.,  . 

132 

Coleman, 

266 

David  B.,       . 

132,  137 

Edward, 

156 

Elijah,     . 

148 

Eiisha,    , 

83,  273 

Harry,    . 

156 

Howard  I.,     . 

132 

James  T., 

134 

Jonathan, 

273 

John  W., 

132 

Lauren, 

125 

Michael,  85,  93,  io2,  no 

.131.  132, 

133.  135.  137.  139.  141 

2ig,  220, 

3'3.  321 

Nathaniel, 

4.378 

Nat,         ,        .         .         . 

378 

Samuel,  . 

355 

Simeon 

125 

Thomas,           , 

159 

William,          .         .     13: 

,  148,  220 

William  C 

132 

Foss,A 

271 

Foster,  Benjamin  P.,     . 

229 

Charles, 

229,  230 

Charles  A.,     . 

156 

Charles  B.,     . 

156 

Daniel 

229,  258 

Edward, 

228 

Eiisha,  74,  135,  192,  195,  2ro,  227, 

228,  229,  230,  231,  233,  234,  235, 

236,  243,  268 

Eiisha  &  Sons,         .         .    230,231 

Freeman,         .        .         .    106,  229 

George,  ....    228,  238 

Hatherly,        .         .         .  228 

Henry,    ....  228 

John,  6,  148,  152,   217,  228,  151, 

261,  284,  313,  320,  337,  366,  368 

Joseph,  ....  228 


Joshua  T., 
Otis, 
Philip,   . 
Robert, 


Z28,  239,  281 
228 
.    228,  230 
153 


Samuel,  223,  228,  229,  239,  231, 
233,  234,  235,  236,  237,  238,  239, 
250,  360 

Samuel  &  Co.,         .         .  240 

Seth,  227,  228,  229,  230,  233,  234, 
235.236,237,238 

Seth  &  Co 233 


Seth  &  Samuel  &  Co., 
Thomas, 
Timothy, 
Turner,  . 


233. 235 
228 
228 

238,  239 


Foster,  Walter,   229,   230,     233,   234, 

23s,  238,  253 

William  T.,    .         .         .  239 

Fourth  Cliff  Bay,           .         .  38 

Fowle,  William,              .         .  321 

William  H.,            .         .  321 

&  Carroll,        .         .         .  144 

Franklin,  Benjamin,      .         .  195 

Henry,   ....  218 

Frazier,  A.  A 390 

Freeman,  Edmund,        .         .  381 

Ezra,       ....  143 

F.  M.,     .         .         .         .  387 

French,  Benjamin  B.,  ,         .  155 

Charles  F.,     .         .         .  155 

H.  S.,  &  Co.,           .         .  130 

.  J.  O.,      .        .        .        .  8s,  123 

Friend,  John,        .         .         .  379 

Frizell,  John,  260,  261,  284,  285,  338, 

339.  367 

Frost  &  Gurney,  .         .         .  in 

Fuller,  C 134 

FredH 67 

George,  ....  263 

Henry  E 67 

Samuel,  ....  285 

Fullerton,  John,    .         .         .  353 

Fulling  Mill  Creek,       .         .  34 

Gage,  Thomas,      ...  77 

Zenas,     ....  207 

Gardiner,  George,          .         .  166 

Gardner,  Henry,  .         .         .  339 

Seth,       .         .         .     226,  263,  2S3 

Thomas  J.,      .         .         .  226 

T.J 30 

GarreK  &  Mayer,          .         .  107 

Garrett,  Joseph,    .         .         .  292 
Gallop,  Benjamin,         .     217,  2t8,  338 

Gallup,  W.  H.  V  ,        .         .  113,  n4 

George  Moore's  Bridge,         .  41 

George  Moore's  Swamp         .  41,  259 

Gerrish,  John,       .         .         .  284 

Gerry,  Elbridge.   .         .         .  104 

Gibbs,  A. no 

R.  C,     .        .        .        .  182 

Gill,  Michael,         ...  261 

Gillam,  Cateret,    .         .         .  244 

Gilson,  William,   .         .         .  364 

Goddard,  Nathaniel,     .         .  100,  loi 

William,         ...  338 

Goldthwait,  Thomas,    .        .  372 

Gonzales,  Bias,      .         .         .  300 

Gooch,John,         .         .         .  207 

Goodhue  &  Co.,    .         .         .  344 

Gooding,  Henry,  ...  13 

Goodwin,  Edward,         .         .  281 

Edward  L.,     .         .         .  376 

&  Ventrin       .         .         .  154 

Gorham,  John,      ...  4 

Stephen,  .         .       92, 184,  212 

Gorman,  Stephen,          .         .  212 

Goss,  Curtis  L.,    .         .         .  376 

Gould,  Barney,     .         .         .  123 

Charles  J.,      .         .         .  154 

Tilson,    ....  24 

Gravelly  Beach,   ...  46 

Graves,  C.  B.,      .         .         .  no,  136 

S.  B.,      ....  143,  144 

Gray,  Anthony,     .         .         .  383 

Robert,    .         .         .      48,  299,  307 

William,          .         .         .  104,  127 

Gray's  Harbor,     .         .         .  307 

Green,  Bartholomew,   .         .  2'?4 

Nathaniel,      .         .         .  284 

Greene,  James  S.,         .         .  266 

Joseph,            .         .         .  266 

Tobias,            ...  338 

Greenish,  J.,          ...  143 

Greenough,  David,        .         .  193 

Greenwood,  Samuel,     .         .  284,  337 

Gunderway,  Jerry,        .         .  59 

Gurney,  James,     .         .         .  262 

Fred  J.,          .        .        .  262 


Gurny,  John, 

367 

Hackett,  William, 

188 

Hall,  Abraham,     . 

203 

Adam,     . 

355 

B  radford. 

374 

Calvin,   . 

356 

Charles  B., 

375 

Charles  H., 

375 

Chester, 

374 

Danforth, 

352 

Daniel,   . 

.     236,  255,  270 

Edward  K., 

375 

Ernest, 

375 

Francis, 

356 

Frank  I., 

375 

Harvej', 

269,313 

Hervey, 

356 

Hubert, 

374 

Isaac, 

m 

Isaac  R., 

, 

356 

Ivory,     . 

374 

Ivory  B., 

374 

James,     . 

360 

Jeremiah, 

179 

Jesse, 

355 

Job, 

91,  92 

John, 

356 

Joseph,  . 

355.  356 

Lemuel, 

356 

Levi,       . 

355 

Luke,  126,  197,  198,  256 

.  355.  356, 

357,  358,  359.  360,  361 

Luther,  . 

356 

Martin,  . 

356 

Matthew, 

74 

Noah  B., 

375 

Peleg,      . 

356 

Robert, 

281 

Samuel,  55,  60,  132,  197 

,  355.  356, 

357.  358 

Thomas, 

355 

Walter  S.,      . 

357 

Walton,  . 

27s 

William,  355,  356,   358 

361 
William  B.,     . 

359.  360, 

374 

&  Billings,      . 

341 

Hallett,  George, 

317.  366 

Halsey,  John, 

217, 218 

Hamblin,  Nathaniel,     . 

III 

Hammond,  Archelus     . 

167 

Morris,   . 

338 

Hancock,  John,    . 

158 

Handerson,  Frederick, 

53 

Hanes,  John, 

211 

Hanmer,  John, 

21 

Hanover  Forge  Company     . 

17 

Hanover  Temperance  Society            gt 

Harding,  David,  . 

264 

Henry  C, 

264 

Hardy,  Alpheus, 

.     119, 196, 388 

&  Baker, 

no,  119,  ic,6,  390 

Harlow,  Eleazer,  . 

148,  149 

Harradine,  John, 

284 

Harrington,  Jubal 

82 

Harris,  Abraham, 

380 

B.  W 

160 

David     . 

103 

Timo.,    . 

338 

Hartt,  Joseph, 

226 

Joseph  T., 

226 

Samuel,  . 

226,  331 

Harvey,  George, 

361 

Haskins,  Edward 

H., ; 

228 

Isaac, 

119, 228 

Lemuel,. 

250 

William, 

137 

William  C, 

119 

Hassey,  Jacob, 

372 

Haste,  Henry, 

113 

Hatch,  Amos, 

247,  250 

Anthony  E., 

203 

Anson,    . 

83.  258 

Asa  L.,  . 

386 

INDEX. 


4ia 


Hatch,  Bailey,      ...  23 

Benjamin,  53,  203,  272,  273,  352, 
359.  360 


Charles, 

a72.  273 

C.          ... 

298 

Daniel,   . 

263 

Emmons, 

360 

Ezra, 

360 

Ichabod, 

61,  203 

Isaac,      .         .         .5, 

3,  176,   183 

Israel,     .         .          .     ij 

5,  159,  203 

Jabez,      .         .      356,  35 

J,  360,  361 

James,     . 

Jeremiah,        .         .      2 

21 

I.  283,  353 

lohn. 

224 

L.  B.,     . 

22 

Mark,      . 

53 

"Miller  Ben," 

203 

Prince,    . 

206,  273 

Samuel, 

58,  322 

Seth,       . 

174.  273 

Thomas  M.,   . 

389 

Turner, 

37 

Walter,  ...       2 

I,  283,  353 

Warren, 

237 

William, 

2S3,  290 

Hathaway,  Benjamin  A., 

278 

Ilatherly,  Timothy,      .     2, 

25,  40,  287 

Hay,  Alexander,  . 

166 

Hayden,  Eli, 

188 

Elisha,    . 

281 

&  Cudworth, 

269 

Hay  ward,  Elijah, 

125,  126 

Hazard,  Thomas, 

102,  225 

Hedge,  Barnabas, 

380 

Henchman,  Nathaniel, 

337 

Hender,  Jonathan, 

218 

Henderson,  John, 

260 

Henry,  Sanford,    . 
Henshaw,  John,    . 

321 

350 

Herring  River, 

6 

Hersey,  David,     . 

8,99 

Ebed,      . 

322 

Hewes,  John, 

283 

Hewit,  Joseph, 

277 

Heyman,  Samuel, 

336 

Hichens,  Benjamin, 

104 

Hicks,  Daniel, 

3^3 

&  Bell,  . 

3S3 

Hiland,  Samuel,   . 

340 

Hilborn,  Charles  J.,     . 

113,  114 

HIU,  Abraham,     .         .15 

2,  158,  284 

Samuel,  . 

336 

Hillburn,  Charles  J.      . 

113 

Hitchcock,  Gad,   . 

22,  106 

Henry  J., 

106 

Hobart,  Aaron,     . 

12 

A.  M.,     . 

22 

Benjamin, 

20 

Elihu,     . 

12,   IQ 

Israel,     . 

283 

Peter,      . 

234,  283 

Thomas, 

16,  21,  381 

Hobby,  Bronsden, 

284 

John, 

217,  285 

William, 

2S4 

Hodges,  Anthony, 

338 

Holbrook,  John,   . 

53 

Luther,  . 

343.  368 

Holdsworth,  Joshua,     . 

288,  289 

Holland,  Abijah, 

3'3 

John, 

100,  lOI 

HoUingsworth,  Richard, 

47 

Holmes,  Cyrus  C, 

67 

John,      .      148,  292,  36 

3.  36J,  374 

Thomas, 

3'3 

Homer,  George     . 

48 

Hooper,  John  L., 

no 

Horton,  John,       .         , 

260,  367 

House,  Benjamin, 

54 

Joseph,  . 

25,  103 

Samuel,  . 

53.  283 

Houston,  Samuel, 

385 

Hovey,  Henry,    . 

315.317 

Howard,  Charles, 

Frank,     . 

Nathan, 

Robert,  . 
Howes,  Elisha,      . 

John,      . 

RIacy,     . 

Osborne, 

Prince,    . 

Thomas, 
Howland,  Jarius, 

Luther    . 

Thomas, 
Hubbard,  Joshua, 

Thomas,  . 

Huckins,  James,  . 
Hugh's  Cross  Brook, 
Humphrey,  Benjamin, 

William  . 
Hunt,  A., 

Albion  W.,      . 

Joseph,   .        83,  2c6, 

I^ewis,     . 

Thomas, 

W.  Webster,  . 
Hunting,  Samuel, 
Hussey,  Cyrus  ^L, 

Shubael, 

Silvanus, 
Hutchinson,  Thomas, 

William, 
Hyde,  Ezra, 
Hyland,  Henry,   . 

Indian  Head  River, 
Ingraham,  Joseph, 
Ireland,  John, 
Iron  Mine  Brook, 

Jackson, Joseph,  . 

Thomas, 

&  Ewell, 
Jacob,  Benjamin, 

David,  . 
Jacobs,  Barton,     . 

Benjamin, 

Benjamin  R., 

Charles, 

James,    . 

Joseph,   . 

Joshua,  . 

Samuel,  .         . 
Jacobs'  Mills, 
James,  A'bert, 

Arthur  H.,      . 

Benjamin, 

Benjamin  K., 

Charles  L.,     . 

Charles  T.,     . 

Dean  K., 

Edward  B.,     . 

Edward  S., 

Edwin  I., 

Elisha,    . 

Elisha  F. 

Francis, 

Frank  I., 

Frederick  A., 

George,  . 

George  B., 

Harry  I., 

Henry  P.,       . 

Herbert  J.,      . 

John, 

(osiahL., 

Nathaniel, 

Nelson  P., 

Reginald  S.,  . 

Robert  K.,      . 

William,  227,  248, 
262,  263,  268,  270 

William  A.,     . 

William  G.,  . 

William  H., 


74,  185 
125 

221 
217,  284 
174 
261 
261 
256 
174 
261 

4 
19 
19 

332 
98 
324 
30 
320 
232 
379 
383 

208,  212,  351 
285 
90 
383 
107 
232 
235 
261 

•so,  285,  373 
339 
315 
391 

6 
299,  304 
337i  338 

6 

366 

129 

140 

253 

367 

30 

30 

322.  341 

30 

30 

30 

30 

3'3 
30 
262 
294 
377.  378 
378 
378 
294 
378 
378 
377 
294 
245,  260,  377 
377 
294 
378 
262 
262 

377 
362 
262 
378 

260,  361,  313 
262 
361 
294 
378 
377 
255,  361, 
363,  366 
262 
377 
363 


254. 
I  271 


James,  Williams  P 

37? 

Williams  K., 

. 

378 

&  Torrey, 

271 

Jarvis,  John, 

, 

33S 

Jeffries,  David, 

, 

28s,  338- 

Jenkins,  Calvin,    . 

333.  343 

Coleman, 

•35. 

192 

248,  268 

Cummings,     . 

'34,384 

David  S., 

384 

388,  389 

Davis,     . 

380 

Elijah,  ir2,  192,  350, 

271. 

279.  322, 

360,  368,  365 

.383, 

384. 

388 

Henry  T., 

279 

James,     . 

102 

John, 

27'. 

367 

383.  384 

Joseph,    . 

3.8 

Lemuel, 

250 

Noah,       . 

. 

384.  389 

Noble  E., 

192 

Oliver,     . 

248 

250 

368,  369 

Peleg,  74,  137 

IQ2, 

197, 

250,  271, 

320,  340,  383 

.  384. 

388 

Peleg  T.. 

388,  389 

Reuben  Y., 

389 

Robert,  . 

378 

Samuel,  . 

270 

Thomas, 

263 

Jesuroon,  J.  A., 

385 

Jnott,  Robert, 

51 

Job's  Landing, 

83 

Joerns,  Herman, 

155 

Herman  C,  . 

155 

John  Palmer  Log  Bridge 

, 

34 

Johnson,  Charles 

A.,    . 

197 

Humphrey, 

34 

William, 

'71 

Jones,  Amos, 

'73 

Charles,  . 

283 

Christopher, 

73 

Christopher  B 

., 

237 

John, 

83,  211 

John  C, 

384 

John  Paul, 
Samuel, 

168 

83.  173 

Thomas  K., 

171 

William  A., 

107 

Josselyn,  Charles, 

16,  ai,  24 

Freeman  M., 

112 

George  M., 

113 

116 

118,  IT9 

Isaac, 

9.  124 

John  R., 

9 

Joseph,   . 
Nathan,  . 

9 

369 

Nathaniel, 

124. 

Orrin, 

24 

Philip,    . 

9 

Seth,        . 

9 

Thomas, 

9,  12 

William  B.,  I 

2,  114 

,116 

, 118,  119 
298 

Joy,  Benjamin, 

Edward  C, 

105 

M.P.,     . 

50 

Joyce,  Samuel, 

311 

Keen,  Andrew, 

355 

Benjamin, 

55 

350 

351.  35» 

Charles  W., 

35' 

Cornelius, 

351 

George  R., 

351 

Isaac,      . 

350.  352 

John, 

350 

Josiah,    . 
^larlin,  . 

350 

351 

Nathaniel, 

350.351 

Simeon, 

238 

350 

.35',  352 

Stevens, 

351 

William, 

351 

Keith,  Charles, 

257 

George,  . 

209 

James,     . 

211 

Kemp,  William  & 

Co.,' 

196 

Kempton,  David  '. 

\.,    . 

344 

D.  B.,     . 

344 

Ephraim, 

36  r 

414 


Kender,  William  J., 
Kendrick,  John,    . 

Kennedy,  John  M., 
Kent.  Barker  B.,  . 

Benjamin, 

Benjamin  K., 

Charles, 

Charles  D.,     . 

David 

Ebenezer, 

Edward  F., 

Elisha,    . 

Ezekiel,  . 

Ichabod, 

Isaac, 

Jo.,  .         . 

John,  366,  369, 
378,  379 

John  H., 

John  H.  B.,   . 

Jonathan, 

Joshua,  . 

Joseph,  149, 277 
374,  3.78,  379 

Nathaniel, 

Noah  B., 

Peleg,     . 

Samuel,  56,  340, 
372,  374.  376. 

Samuel  H.,     . 

Samuel  K.,     . 

Smith,     , 

Stephen, 

Thomas, 

Warren, 

William, 
King,  George, 

Orrice,    . 

Thomas, 
King's  Landing,    . 
Kingman,  Abel,    . 

David.    . 

Eliphalet, 

George,  . 

Henry,   . 

John, 
Kingman's  Yard,  . 
Kinsman,  Jeremiah, 
Kirkoterp,  C, 
Knapp,  Henry  A., 
Knowles,  Robert, 


Lambert,  James,  . 

John, 

Jonathan, 

Michael, 
Lang,  John  H.  B., 
Lapham,  Elijah,    . 

King,      . 

Samuel,  .        . 

Thomas, 

William  T.,    . 
Lasenby,  Thomas, 
Lathrop,  John, 
Lawrence,  A.  &  A., 

Oakes,    o 

Thomas, 

&Co.,    . 
Lay,  William, 
Lazelle,  Perkins  &  Co. 
Leavitt,  Gad, 

Josiah,    . 
Lee,  Charles, 
Lefurgey,  Lemuel, 
Legg,  Samuel, 
Lenthal,  Robert,  . 
Leonard,  Isaac,    . 

George,  .        . 
Le  Roy,  Charles, 

Thomas  Otis  &  Co 
Lewis,  Abiel  S.,    . 

Asa  R.,  . 

Bela,      . 


&Co., 


PAGE 

13 

290.  305 

298,  305 

360 

377 

37t.  372.  378,  379 
371 
378 
378 
372.  373.  374 
370.  371 
376 
277.  378,  379 
352,  371,  379 
379 
371 
369 
370.  371.  372,  374. 


376 

.    .     37* 

•  372,373 

370 

370.371.3721373. 


.  371.  378,  379 

.  295.  376.  377 

.  230,  277,  378 

,366,369,370,371, 

379,  380.  381.  382 

376 

376 


230.  360.  378,  379 
371,  372 


281 


378 
378 
.  378,  379 


316 
285 
37 
313 
125,  126,  127 
322 

125 
I2S 
I2S 
125 
152 
113 

88 
336 

204 
231 
244 
337 
322 

193 
277 
269 
237.  374 
67 
338 
374 
154 
242 

341 

192 

232 

22 

J35 

261 

149 

6 

281 

98 

113,  118 

3t3 
140 

155 
III 
386 
322 


INDEX. 

PAGE 

Lewis,  B.  A., 

145 

Calvin,    . 

59 

Daniel,   . 

.     147. 176 

Ebenezer, 

177 

George,  . 

177 

James,    . 

177 

James  H., 

.         .              176 

Jarvis,     . 

266 

Jehiel,     . 

177 

Jesse, 

176 

John, 

389 

Jonathan, 

177 

Joseph,  . 

,     176,  177,  260 

Leab,      . 

177 

Paul,       . 

177 

Rogers,  . 

177 

Samuel,  . 

.    176,  177 

S.  W.  &  Co., 

257 

Thomas, 

.     177,  206 

William. 

.     176.  177.  237 

William  G., 

III 

Winslow, 

152 

Lifkin  &  Ironside 

143 

Lillie,  Richard, 

.    260,  366 

Samuel,  244, 

260,   284,   285,   337, 

338,  339.  36 

5.  367 

Thomas, 

.     244.  337.  360 

Lincoln,  Abraham 

•     155.  310 

Calvin,    . 

.         .             264 

George  H. 

297 

Jacob,     . 

•      45.  310 

Jerome,  . 

310 

Levi, 

239 

Nichols, 

297 

Linkler,  John, 

337 

Litchfield,  Addisoi 

1.       .         .            241 

Asa, 

135 

Austin,  . 

.         .            384 

Bernard, 

241 

Calvin,  . 

343 

Charles  A., 

252 

Cummings, 

241,242,  341,  342 

Elijah,    . 

241 

Experience, 

.         .              363 

Foster,    . 

341 

Freeman, 

340 

Harvey, . 

322 

Hersey,  . 

341 

Isaac, 

388 

James,    . 

135 

Justice,  . 

.         .             384 

John, 
Leonard, 

341 

341 

Melzar,  . 

.    137.  387 

Paul,      . 

322 

Peter,      . 

.         .             258 

Simeon,  . 

•    134.  192 

William, 

342 

&  Burrill, 

240 

Lither,  James, 

.         .             368 

Little,  Amos,  R., 

286 

Edwin  P.,  . 

.    272,  281 

Francis  B., 

.         .         .             382 

George,  . 

286 

Isaac, 

39.  337,  3?o.  366 

James,     .      2< 

8,  249,  250,  368,  369 

Jedediah, 
Luther,  . 

,      2t2,  368 

.      212,  286,  352 

Peabody, 

351 

Soloman, 

•           .           •                201 

Liyle's  Bridge, 

.            .                   38 

Little's  Creek, 

44 

Lloyd,  Edward, 

218 

Locke,  Gustavus, 

.         .         .             316 

Logan,  Arthur  C. 

,        .         .              88 

Harry  v.. 

88 

Samuel  C, 

88 

Lombard,  Amrae  ' 

:.,  .     .        321 

Benjamin, 

.     ,         46 

Ephraim, 

321 

Jedediah, 

.     .         46 

&  Hall,  . 

197 

Lommis,  Nathanie 

I.    .     .        338 

Long  Marsh, 

41 

Longfield,  Thomas, 
Longwater  Brook, 
Loring,  Alden, 

Bailey  H., 

Benjamin  W. 

Elijah,    . 

John  A., 

William  L., 
Lovell,  Abner  W, 

Gorham, 

James  S., 
Levering,  William 
Low,  Jeremiah, 
Lucas,  Samuel, 
Luce,  J., 

Stephen, 
Luddam's  Ford, 
Lunt,  Abel,  . 

George,  . 

Samuel,  . 

Thomas, 
Luther,  Job, 

Macey  &  Co., 
Mackey,  James, 
MacNeil,  Archibald, 
Macomber,  Herbert  I. 

I.  H.,      . 

Thomas, 

Walter  S., 

William, 
Magoun,  Aaron, 

Aaron  S., 

Abner,    . 

Briggs,   . 

Daniel,    . 

David,     . 

Elias,      . 

Enoch,   . 

H.  N.  .  . 

Joshua,  . 

Luther,  . 

Philip,    . 

Robert,  . 

Thatcher, 

Winchell, 

&  Turner, 
Magoun's  Bridge, 
Maker,  James, 
Manchester,  Thomas, 
Manly,  G      , 

S.,  . 
Mann,  Albert  G., , 

Benjamin, 

Caleb,     . 

N.  P.  &  Co., 

Thomas, 
Manson,  George, 

Joel, 

Joel  L.,  . 

John,        .    Ill,  139, 

Nehemiah,  119,  250,  : 
369,  380 

Thomas  L.,         110, 
Marble,  James,     . 

Thomas, 
Harden,  E.  Edward, 
Margaret's  Brook, 
Marsh,  Charles  N., 
Marshal,  John, 
Marshall,  Charles  H., 

Samuel,  . 
Martin,  Edward,  . 

William, 

W., 
Martyn,  Edward,  . 
Mason,  William,  . 
Matthew,  Richard, 
Matthews,  Reuben, 
Maxfield,  W.  S.,  . 
Maxwell,  E.,  . 
May,  Samuel  J.,  . 
Mayo,  Jeremiah,  . 
Meader,  Robert,  , 


INDEX. 


415 


PAOE 

Meigs,  Montgomery  C,       .  155 

Melville,  Thomas,         .         .  48 

Mercy,  Marvin,     .         .         .  154 

Merrit,  Daniel,      .         .         .  237 

Merritt,  Benjamin,        .     262,  340,  341 

Benjamin  F.,  .         .  262 

Charles,  .         .         .  271 

Consider,  235,  258,  313,  340,  343, 
368 

Cummings, 

Elisha,    . 

Francis , 

George,  . 

Henry,    . 

Israel,     .       257, 

James,     . 

James  H., 

it    r  'I 

Joe, 

John  A., 

Jonathan, 

Joseph,  . 

Joseph  F., 

Joseph  H.,     . 

Malley,  . 

Martin  D., 

Noah,     .      . . 

Obadiah, 

Walter.  . 

William, 

William  O.,    . 
Middlecott,  Richard, 
Middleton,  Daniel, 
Miers,  Thomas,     . 
Mighill's  Works,  . 
Miller,  Josiah, 
Mills,  Carleton  P., 
Misquashtuck, 
Mitchell,  Aaron,   . 

Archibald, 

Christopher  &  Co 

C.  &  Co., 

Paul  &  Sons, 

Samuel,  . 
Molly  Stetson  Place, 
Momentague,  Jeremiah 
Money  Hole, 
Mooers,  William, 
Moore,  George,     . 
Morris,  George  P., 
Morse,  Jabez, 
Morten,  George,    . 
Morton,  Frederick, 

George,  . 

John  F., 

Nathanieli 

Silas,       . 
Motley,  iliomas,  . 
Moulton,  Robert, 
Murray,  R.,  . 
McCooke,  J.  M.,  . 
McCuUough,  John^ 
McDonnellson,  Marmaduke 

Samuel,  . 
McTntyre,  William, 
McKay,  Donald,  . 

Hugh  &  Donald, 
McLaughlin,  Lewis, 

Namassalceeset,    . 
Nash.  Albert  E.,  . 

Arthur  I., 

Benjamin, 

Charles  E.,     . 

Chauncy  C.     . 

Edward  E.,    . 

Franklin, 

Herbert, 

Israel, 

SJohn, 
John  C, 
ohn  F., 
ohn  K., 
oseph,  . 
oseph  P., 


340 
136,  258,  340 
340 
343 
46,  257,  340 
342,  368,  380,387 
343 
134. 3^9 
»37 
262 

237 
257,  «S8,  340 
258 
340 
258 

134,  341 
246 
246 
258 
=58 
258 
366 
338 
384 
23 
87 
2g4 
287 
105 
391 
235 

231.  234 

235 

3'3 

223 

2 

27 

170,  171 

I  2.9.  283 

42,43 

157 

261 

113 

343 

'54 

290 

221,  250 

38. 

47 
3S6 
390 
104 
354 
3«4 
360 
132, 197 
269 
>97 


296 
396 
250 
296 
296 

87 
296 
296 
296 
235 
329 
296 
329 
349 
350 


18 


Nash,  Lemuel, 

Nath.  C, 

Paul,       . 

Thomas, 

William, 
Neal  Field,  . 
Neale,  Georpe  F., 

George  S., 

Lawrence  L, 
Nelson,  H.  W., 

Thomas, 
Newcomb,  lyoring 
Newell,  Albert  W 

James,    . 
New  Harbor, 
New  Harbor  Ferry, 
Newman,  Thomas, 
Nickerson,  Caleb, 

Ebenezer, 

Elijah.  . 
Nichols,  Benjamin, 

Caleb,      . 

Henry,   . 

Israel,     . 

Noah,      . 

Reuben, 

Samuel,  . 

Thomas, 
Norman,  James, 

Joshua,  . 
North,  Lord,  Frederick 
North  River  Bridge, 
Northey,  David, 

John, 

Joseph,  . 

Samuel, 
Norton,  Freeman, 
Nye,  Jonathan, 

Oakman,  Christopher, 

Constant, 

Constant  P., 

Edward, 

Hatch,    . 

Hiram,    . 

Hiram  A., 

H.  P.,     . 

John, 

Joseph,  . 

Nathan  S., 

Otis  B., 

Samuel,  . 

Tobias,    . 
Oakman's  Ferry, 
Ober,  John,  . 
Old  Barstow  Yard 
Old  Pond,      . 
Old  Pond  Swamp, 
Oldham,  Aurora  W 

A.  W  ,    . 

David,    . 

Jonathan, 
oseph,  . 
Oliver,  Brattle, 

Daniel,   . 

Nathaniel, 

Peter,      . 
Orchard,  Robert,  . 
Osborn.  David  C, 
Osgood.  J.  C, 

&  Bachelder, 
Otis,  Abijah, 


283 


T\QZ 

250 

297 

181 

250 

237i  250 

4' 

376 

376 

376 

209 

38,86 

376 

197 

46 

33 

38 

366 

»32,  233 

loi,  17s 

lOt 

3'3 
263,  283 
263,  283 
283,  386 

283 

263,  383 
283 

282,  283 

350 

35° 

98 

29 

367 

42,  367 

.  385,  389 

367 

3'4 

106 

264,  359 
48 

311,  235 
204 
211 
203 
203 
203 
277 

277 

203 

203 

311,  277 

57,218 

36 

284 

65 

3> 
3' 
196,  360 
89 
18 
237 

235 

261 

,  339,  368 

.  339-  368 

361 

2S 

3.6 

«43 

293 

346,  319,  382 


,  337 

23 


Cushing,  135,  192,  335,  350,  251, 
263,  268,  293,  311,  320,  369 


David, 

Edwin,    . 

Ensign, 

Henry  T., 

Herbert, 

Howland, 

Isaac, 

James,    . 

Job, 

John, 


133,  25 


363,  369,  380 
.  390.  39 » 
2,  355,  268,  380 
384 
227 
192,  391 
251 

164,251,  293 
291,  366 
227 


Otis,  John  C, 

75 

Joseph,  . 

.     124,  227,  367 

Joshua,  . 

261,  343 

Noah.     . 

246 

Oran  G., 

125 

Stephen, 

251,  291 

Thomas, 

•     237,251,311 

William, 

251 

Packard.  Ambrose 

88 

Elijah.     . 

85,  216 

Josiah,    . 
Ralph,     . 

88 

88 

Palmer,  Bezaleel, 

346 

Charles,  . 

73.  '90 

Daniel,    . 

73 

Daniel  T., 

190 

Enos, 

91,92 

Ephraim, 

72,  190 

Jeduthan, 

72.  73,  189,  190 

^       J?hn, 

34,  72,  •3<,246 

Thomas, 

361,339 

William, 

73 

William  T., 

190 

Panton,  Lawrence 

114 

Parker,  Benjamin 

375 

Edward  iL, 

339 

Georee  S., 
Joseph  S.  B., 
Perry  L., 

383 

382 

.'     38 

2,  389,  391 

Thomas, 

•     244,  344,  367 

William, 

214 

William  G., 

383 

Parkhurst,  J., 

157 

Parkman,  Samuel, 

"93 

Parris,  Albion  K.., 

"53 

Alexander, 

200 

Parson,  Edward, 

337 

Parsons,  Eben, 

48 

Moses,    . 

237 

Page,  Edward, 

155 

Paine,  Thomas, 

387 

Paul.  James  I  , 

383 

Luther,  . 

383 

Luther  G., 

383 

Robert, 

74 

Payne,  Silas, 

231 

William. 

366,  367 

Peabody,  John, 

284 

0.  W.,    . 

186 

Pearson,  John  M. 
Pease,  J.  H., 

320 

182 

Pendergast  Bros., 

391 

Penniman,  James, 

70 

Peperel,  William, 

284 

Pepper,  Bangs, 

322 

Percival,  John, 

233 

Perry,  Amos, 

Edward  Y.,  13 

8s 

,  «5.  '7, 

18,  22,  36, 

E.  ^.,&Co, 

17 

Isaac. 

84',  85, 

JO,  97,  127 

Isaiah,     . 

33 

Joshua,  . 
Paul,       . 

158 

129 

Thomas, 

85 

Timothy, 

85 

William, 

85 

Peters,  John, 

75 

Peterson,  Luther, 

277 

Richard, 

50 

Thomas, 

319 

Pettee,  Noah  B., 

382 

Seth.        . 

382 

Pettingill.  Phineas 

, 

•             3;^ 

Ubert  K., 

Ubert  L.. 

376 

Warren, 

«»4 

Perkins,  Joseph. 
Phillips.  Benjamin 

32t 

.     14 

8,  153,  163 

Calvin  T.. 

14,  17.  36 

Daniel,  74,  18 

1,  196,  198 

.  352,  356, 

r.387 

Ehsha.    . 

•      7 

4,  195,  3S 

416 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

PAGE 

PAGE 

Phillips,  Ephraim, 

163 

Ramsdell,  Clifford, 

75 

Rogers    Luther,  58,  198,  199,  202,  206, 

Ezra,       .        .      17,  18, 

19,  20,  22 

Rand,  William,     . 

125 

210,212,  213,  358.359 

E.,  &  Sons,     13,  14,  15. 

17,  20,  23 

Randall,  Allen,      . 

313 

Marcellu^W.,        .         .            20& 

Isaac, 

277 

Benjamin, 

261 

Martin,  .         .         .     204,  207,  238 

John, 

46, 285 

Charles,  . 

221 

Moses 322,  359- 

Joseph,  ...     27 

';  343.  351 

Elijah,     . 

.        89,  90 

Moses  F.,        .         .         .            361 

Lot, 

26 

Ephraim,        83,  19 

6,  359.  36°.  361 

Nathan,           .         .     205,  285,  313 

Lot  &  Co.,      . 

26 

Isaac, 

244 

Nathaniel,    202,  203,  206,  211,  212 

Morrill,  . 

124 

James,    . 

163,  164,  243 

Nathaniel  C,           .         .            204 

Morrill  A.,      . 

17 

Job,         . 

83.  243,  244 

Peleg,      .      202,  205,  206,  212,  222 

Samuel, 

285 

Nehemiah, 

243 

Phillips,           .         .         .            204 

Phinney,  J  W.,     . 

82 

Samuel,  . 

243 

Samuel,  126,   176,   182,   203,  205, 

W.  L..    -        .        . 

257 

Wilham, 

.      64.  243 

206,  209,  210,  232,  233,  237,  239, 

Pickering  &  Mathers,  . 

154 

Randolph,  John,  . 

,330 

,^  341 

Pierce,  Elijah, 

341 

Rankin,  Andrew, 

337 

Simeon,  ....             206 

Howard, 

261 

Rawson,  Abel, 

167 

Stephen,  61,  74,  195,  196,  209,  210, 

Isaac, 

21,  252 

Ray,  Brazilla, 

50 

212,  359 

Matthew, 

343 

Simon,    . 

275 

Thomas,  202,  203,  204,   205,  210,^ 

Pierson,  John  H., 

137.239 

Read,  Esdras, 

288 

212,  237,  313 

William, 

107 

Reed,  Jesse,           .     11 

12,  14,  15,  195 

Timothy,         .         .         .    203,  212 

Pincin,  Elias, 

341 

John, 

.     156,  173 

Wales,    . 

206,  359 

Pincin's  Bank, 

45 

Samuel.  . 

50 

Wales  A.,       . 

204 

Pintard,  J    M.,      . 

298 

Smith  T., 

270 

Warren , 

204 

Pitney,  James, 

148,  162 

Wilham, 

T36 

William, 

204 

Pitts,  James, 

261,  366 

Rich.  Benjamin  &  Son 

319 

William  A.,     . 

205, 357 

John, 

285 

Moses,     . 

■     192,  313 

William  F.,     . 

205 

Plaisted,  Francis, 

338 

Richardson,  Jeffrey, 

376 

William  H.     . 

209 

Pocorny,  Joseph, 

125 

.    J.T.,      .         . 

146 

Zaccheus, 

204 

Point  Adams, 

308 

Richmond.  Perez, 

30 

Zac, 

237 

Pollard,  George,    . 

49.  50 

Rider,  Thomas, 

133 

Zadoc,     . 

20"; 

Pope,  Kbenezer,    . 

269 

Riddell,  Samuel,   . 

105 

Rogers  Brook, 

38 

Porter,  Alvin, 

55 

Ripley,  Lewis, 

154 

Rogers  Whatf,      . 

44 

Edward  F.,     . 

38s.  389 

Roberts,  Nicholas, 

339 

Rose,  John,  . 

46 

Edward  J.,     , 

137 

Robbins,  Aaron,  . 

235 

Joshua,  . 

124 

Isaac, 

356 

Anson,    . 

74.  235.  237 

Laban,    . 

124 

Oliver,    . 

350 

Timothy, 

90 

Timothy, 

24 

Post,  George, 

107 

Walter,   . 

249 

Rotch,  Benjamin, 

171 

&  Small, 

390 

Robinson,  George, 

367 

Francis,  . 

165,  173 

Potter,  Stephen  M., 

157 

Isaac, 

45 

William,  167,  169,   170,  171,   172, 

Power,  Arthur  L,, 

229 

Rockwell,  Dennis, 

328 

173 

A.  H.,    .        .        . 

39° 

Eben,      . 

372 

William  &  Co, 

170 

Howard  S.,     . 

239 

Ebenezer, 

372 

Rouse,  William,   . 

337 

Nelson  F,, 

229 

Rocky  Reach, 

80 

Royal,  Joseph, 

284 

Samuel  F  ,      . 

229 

Rock  Run  Brook, 

14 

Ruck,  John, 

367- 

Pratt,  Benjamin,   . 

190 

Rocky  Swamp, 

30 

Ruggles,  John, 

25 

3,  339.  367 

Charles  C, 

135 

Rocky  Water  Stream, 

29 

Samuel  O., 

313 

Elias  E., 

135 

Rodgers,  Henry  C, 

206 

Thomas, 

237.  254 

Elias  W., 

135.  137 

John, 

21,25 

Rusk,  John, 

337 

Henry,   . 

104 

John  L., 

206 

Russell,  Benjamin, 

42 

Jarius,    . 

269 

Luther,  . 

2DI 

Charles,  . 

108 

Joseph,  . 

252 

Rodman,  Samuel, 

172 

George,  , 

41,  42 

Nathaniel, 

352 

Rogers,  Abiah, 

204 

Samuel,  . 

178,  291 

William  B.,    . 

'35 

Abijah,   . 

203,   204     313 

Solomon, 

9 

&  Lapham, 

32 

Alden,     . 

205 

Ryal.  Isaac,  . 

285 

Preble,  George  H  , 

336 

Alfred,    . 

.      205,  206 

Joseph,   .         .  ^ 

28s 

Prentiss,  Henry, 

297 

Alvin,     . 

.      206,   213 

Ryder,  B.  G.  &  G.  E., 

145 

Preston,  William, 

353 

Amos,     , 

204,   206,  209 

Price,  Job,     . 

188 

Araunah, 

203 

Sadler,  John, 

333 

John, 

188 

Arthur,   . 

205 

Saffin,  John, 

290 

Samuel,  ...       6 

5,  244,  366 

Asa,       203,  204,  2c 

8,  209,  238,  340 

Salmond,  John,     . 

33 

Project  Dale, 

12 

Avery,    . 

206 

Robert,            .'    15,  16,  33,  K?,  182 

Prouty,  Alvord, 

265 

Benjamin,        .       7 

4.  209,  235,  273 

Samuel,         13,  16,  33,  66,  87,  123 

Caleb,      . 

343.  356 

Clifford,  . 

209 

Samuel  &  Son,        .         .              33 

Caleb  W.,        . 

388,  389 

Clift,       . 

.    198,206 

William,           ...               33 

David,    . 

27 

C.  H..     . 

.    318,  3'9 

Sampson,  Alexander,   .         .              70 

Edward,           .         .       3 

I.  244.  265 

Daniel,   . 

212 

Aurora  O.,      .         .         .        68,  70 

Elmer,    . 

265 

Edward, 

205 

Calvin,    ....             183 

Isaac, 

244 

Edwin  T., 

204,  208,  209 

Chandler,        .       74,  19s.  210,  351 

James,    . 

265 

George  C, 

204 

Henry,  ....              68 

Margaret, 

31 

George  H.,     . 

204 

John 70 

OUver,    . 

265 

Henry,   . 

205 

Jonathan,  63,  69,  70,  71,  73.123, 

Richard, 

31.  244 

Henry  W.,     . 

204 

176,  182,  234 

Silas, 

135 

Herbert, 

206 

Joseph,  . 

322 

Thomas, 

343 

Howland, 

.     203,  204,  237 

Melzar,  . 

70 

Thomas  L.,    . 

391 

Isaac,     . 

205,  206,  212 

Paul,       . 

277 

Pudder  Wharf,     , 

39 

Isaiah,    .         .      20 

5,  2c6,  209,  2X2 

Proctor, 

355 

Pullen,  John,         .         . 

2T7 

Israel,     .         .      20 

3,  204,  205,  208 

Timothy, 

70 

Pynchon,  Perez,   . 

252,  380 

James,    . 
James  L. 

.      207,  247 
206 

Samson,  Jonathan,         68,  70, 181, 182 
Melzar,   ....            378 

Quaker  Meeting  House  Sho 

als,          29 

Jedediah, 

205 

Sanford,  F.  C,  51,  166,  167,  169,  225, 

Quincy,  Samuel,         139,  31 

7,  320,  321 

John,      .        68,  20 

2,   205,  244,  261 

235 

Joseph,  .      181,  20 

7,  247,  250,  252 

Sargent,  Daniel,    ,         .         .            229. 

Rainbow  Bridge, 

29,  122 

josephus, 

205 

Savage,  Thomas,  .         .         .            366 

Ramsdale,  Charles, 

50 

Jotham,  . 

205 

Sawyer,  C,   . 

257- 

INDEX. 


417 


Sawyer, James, 

Schewsan's  Neck, 
Schmidt,  G.  F.,     . 
Schooset  Creek,     . 
Scott,  John,  . 
Scudder,  N.  D.,  &  Co 
Seabury,  A  H.  &  Bro. 

John, 

Samuel,  . 
Seabury's  Point,    . 
Seabury 's  Woods, 
Seaman,  Emory,    . 
Sears,  David, 

Eben, 

Ebenezer, 

J.  B..      .         . 

&  Davis, 

&  Fitch, 
Seaward,  Andrew, 
Second  Herring  Brook 
Sever,  John  E  ,     . 
Sewall.  Edmund  Q., 

E.Q.,  .  . 
Seyward,  James,  . 
Shannon,  Hugh,  . 
Shaw,  Robert  G., 

William, 

&  Randall,      . 
Shearmen,  Isaac,  . 
Shelley,  William  N., 
Shepard,  Calvin,  . 

Charles, 
Sheperd,  Joseph  J., 

Joseph  R., 

Julias  R., 
Shepherd,  Calvin, 

Nathan  T.,     . 

Stephen, 
Sherman,  Aaron,  , 

Abraham, 

Amos, 


vagi; 
217 

285 
380 

34 

2i3,  219 

3go 

106 

83 

83 

82 

82 

T90 

225 

143 
320 
3yo 
no 
'54 
273 
35 
T14 
329 
331 
337 
244 
320 
207 


"3.  "5 

196,  360 

338 

191 

191 

191 

6 

6 

50 

83. 273 

'54 

360 


Asa,  55,  56.  74.  '9Si  '96.  2'°.  379. 
380 

273 


Ebenezer, 

Israel  H., 

John, 

Lorenzo, 
Shimmin,  William, 
Shippen,  Edward, 
Shorter,  Charles,  . 
Shurman,  John,    . 
Shurtleff,  Flavel,  . 
Shute,  Richard,     . 
Silver  Brook, 
Silvester,        (see      also 
"Builder," 

Elijah  W.,      . 

George  F., 

I.otH., 

Nathaniel, 

Samuel,  . 
Simmons,  Byron,  . 

Charles, 

Samuel,  . 

Thomas, 
Simons,  Moses,     . 
Simpkins,  Samuel, 

Thomas, 
Sizor,  James, 
Skinner,  Benjamin  H., 
Slab  Brook,  .         . 
Smith,  Albert,  85, 86, 87,  89,  93, 92,  93, 
94,  103,  128,  212 


148,  160 

So,  182 

'33 

337 

50 


717 
30 

Sylvester  ) 

66,68 

66,68 

66 

277 

66,68 

246,  247 

361 

32 

343 

322 

244 

367 
366 
316 
321 
3' 


Benjamm, 
David,    . 
Erasmus  F., 
Gilbert,  . 
Heman, 

James,  . 
eremiah, 
ohn, 
onathan, 
Joseph,  . 
Joshua,  . 


.    228,  236 

179 

197 

,  232 

2.  144,  '45.  279 

338 

87 

85 

1C2,  106,  197 

22,  85,  86,  387 

185 


Smith,  Josiah,  84,  85,  87, 
93,94,  103,  128 
Josiah  M., 

'.  H 

aban,  , 
Miller,  . 
Milliar,  . 
Nathaniel 
Phillip,  . 
Richard, 
Samuel,  . 
Sidney, 
Silvanus, 


ii),  99,92, 


13 

J.  H 144.390 

I. aban 281 

.    85,  89,  93,94.  '28 
89,  93,  94 
179,  180,  182,  198,  312 
157 
40,  261 
277 
197 
.      '95.  '97. '98 
Thomas,  85,  89,  90,  91,93,  '53  ''^7 

Thom?sM 85 

William   205,  328,  260,  261,   338, 

367 
Zelpha  D.,       .  .         .  197 

&  Townsend,  .         .  197 

Snow,  David,         .         .  34J 

K.,  ....  257 

Josiah 152 

Sylvanus,  .         .  343 

Thomas,  .         .  193 

Somes,  Nehemiah,         .         .  89 

Soper,  Robert,  O  ,         .         .  387 

Samuel,  .         .         .  344 

Soule,  James,        ...  '7 

John 173 

Southard,  John,     .  236 

Souther,  John,  269 

Laban,  237,  252,253.  254,  255,  257 

&  Cudworth,   252,  255,   256,  257, 

267, 

Southerton,  John, 
Richard, 

Southworth,  Edward 
Frank,    . 
James      . 
Stacy, 

Sparrell,  James  N., 

Spauldine,  J., 

Spear,  William,     . 

Spencer,  George  W., 
Peter, 


Spraeue,  B., 
Charles, . 
Phineas, 
Samuel,  . 
Seth,  . 
William, 
&  James, 

Spring  Brook, 

Sproat,  Thomas,  . 

Sprout,  Ebenezer, 

Spruce  Swamp, 

Stacy,  Simon, 

Standish,  Miles,    . 
Shadrach, 

Stanton,  Kranci>i, 

Starbuck,  David, 
Levi, 
&Co.,     . 

Starkey,  Robert, 

Stearns,  William, 

Stedman,  Isaac,     . 

Stephens,  C.  J.,     . 

Sterling,  Panf, 

Stetson,  (Sec  also  Stutson.)  Abi>hai,  21 

Abner 102,  132 

Alpheus,  .         .     223,  29s,  375 

AlpheusM 375 

Archie 375 

Benjamin,  .15,16,21,2^0 

Charles,  .  .    '45.  223 

Charles  T 23,  24 

Daniel  k.  W.,        .         .  375 

Eben '  J3 

Ebenezer,  219,  220,  221,  222,  381, 

382 
Edward  F.,     .  .  375 

Elisha 223 

Ephraim,    ...      9' 
Ethan  A,   .    .    .      22 


350 
350 
265 
265 
265 
265 
270, 322 
344 
297 
297 
344 
379 

'^3 

148 

236 

273 

239 

35 

180 

68 

35 

338 

292 

'33 

3'S.  3'7 

104 

12Q 
107 
241 
67 
41 
391 
193 


I'AOB 

Stetson,  Franklin  J 

,      . 

375 

Fted,       . 

99 

George,  . 

222 

George  W.,    . 

'35 

Harrison, 

91 

Herbert  0.,     . 

375 

Horace,. 

ro3 

John,  29,  35, 

82," 

196,     319,    231, 

322,  223,  364 

John  A., 

375 

Jonah,    . 

33 

Jonathan,   74, 

182,' 

'95.  2>o.  359. 

360 

Joseph,  . 

13 

Joshua,   69,  74 

102 

132,323,354 

354 

lotham, 
Lincoln, 
Martin,  . 
Martin  W., 
Matthew, 
Melzar,  . 
Michael, 
Nahum, 
Nathaniel, 


132,  233,  341,  294 
223 
8S 
•7 

320,  333 
333,  333 

90 
M,  33,  36 

39.  7'^.  9>.9» 


Robert,  fCornet)  13,  34,  319,  330, 

221,  323,  364 
Roger,    ....       73,  r34 


Samuel, 

Silas,       . 

Snow,  219,  330,  33 

Stephen, 

Sumner, 

Thomas,  .     3; 

Turner,  . 

William, 

William  G.,     . 

Wiswell, 
Stetson's  Urook,   . 
SteLson's  Shoals,   . 
Stevenson,  Brvanl, 
Stockbridge,  (benjamin 

B.  &  M.. 

Charles,  . 


13,  33,  221 

?IO 

,  322,  381,  382 

220 

69 

333,  333 

9' 

270 

375 

223 

26 

9' 

343 

137,  128 

'33 

34.  4'.  42 


33 


Stockbridge,  David,   33,   84,   8j,   125, 


John,      . 

Joseph,   . 

Lebcus,  . 

Martin,  . 

Stephen, 

Thomas, 
Stockbridge"s  Mills. 
Studdaid,  Enos  M., 

Josiah,    . 

Melzar,  . 
Stoker.  Philip  E., 
Stony  Brook, 
Stoiii;hton,  William, 
Strong,  Caleb, 
Siudlcy,  Bciij.imin, 

Eliab.       . 

Walter  B.,      . 

WillMm, 
Studlcy  Mill  Brook, 
Sturtevanl,  Ichabod, 

Pelcg,     . 

Zcnas,     . 
Stutson,  (see  also  Stet 

320,  221,  323 

Georec,  . 

Matthew, 

Robert,  . 

Snow, 

Thomas, 
Sunken  Log  Brook 
Sutton,  John, 
Sw.iin,  David, 

George,  . 

Reuben, 
Swan,  Benjamin,  . 
.Sweeny,  Edward, 
Swifi,  C.  W., 

Joseph,   . 


41,   138 

21,  12S 
66 
127. I j8 
'74.  250 
33 
42 
272 

3'3 
191 


337.  366,  367 

158 

9 
25,  26 
191 
3>3 
»5 
29 
124 
66 
son)  Ebenezer, 


320,  221 
320 

32 

331,  323 
331,  233 


103,  105 
102 
104 
389 

9 
"3 
321 


418 


INDEX. 


Sylvester,   (see  also  Silvester) 

Albert  L.,        .         .         .  67 

Amos,     ....        67,  68 
Barden,  ...        -  53 

Belcher,  ...  67 

Benjamin,       ...  14 

Charles  \V.,  .         .         .  256 

Erlmund,         .         .         .  100 

Edmund  Q.,  29,  33,  65,  67,  84,  87, 

109, 128,  140 
Elijah,    ....        90,  91 

Elisha 247 

Francis  B 67 

Fruitful,  .         .         .  2-s 

Harvey,  .         .         .  256 

Herbert  R.,    .         .         .  66 

Ichabod,  ,         .         .  255 

John 16,  17 

Joseph 16 

Joseph  S  ,       .         .         .  67 

I^emiiel  C,     .         .         .  67 

Loami  B.,       .         .         .      67,  i^; 
Michael,  .         .  66,  67,  68 

Michael  R., 
Nathaniel,       ...  67 

Robert,  .         .         .  66,  67,  68,  zco 
Robert  B.,       .         .         .  67 

Robert  1 66 

Robert  W.,     .         .         .  66 

Warren,  .         .  .  237 

Taft,  A.  J., 

Taggard,  John,  &  Co.,  .  17 

Talbot,  "  Bill,"     ...  140 

Frank,     ....  229 

Richmond,      .         .         .  229 

William,  .         .         .  229 

William  H.,  .         .         .    140,  229 
Zepheniah,      ...  33 

Tapper,  John, 

Taylor,  Charles, 
Edward  R., 
George,  . 
Henry,   . 
Isaac, 
James,     . 
Jethco,    . 
John, 
Richard, 
William, 
William  M., 
&  Carver, 

Teague,  Daniel, 

Teague's  Bridge, 

Thatcher,  B.  B., 

Thaxter,  Benjamin, 
John, 

Thayer,  George  A., 

"  The  Old  Oaken  Bucket 

Third  Herring  Brook, 

Thomas,  Amos, 
Anthony, 
Benjamin, 
Briggs,   . 
Charles, 
Charles  F., 
Christopher, 
Daniel,  . 
Daniel  B., 
Kbenezer, 

Edward,  20,  160,  17 

Ephraim, 
Fzekiel,  . 
Francis, 
George, 
George  H., 
George  H.  A 
George  P., 
I  Jershom, 
Ciideon,  . 
Henry, 


376 

no,  142 

281,  3=7 

164 

4? 

277 

281 

280 

280,  281 

88 

281 


164 

284 

235 
295 

43 
29 

159 

149.  '59.  277 

83    IS3 

159.277 

153.  159 

155.  156 

157 

148,  160 

156 

160 

8,  284,  337 

148 

160 

79,  322,  388 

i;3.  157 

156 

156 

153.  '56 

159 

148, 149 

160,  191 


Ichabod,  85,  127,  147,  149,  152, 
153.  157.  158,  163,  164,  167,  168, 
169,  170,  171,  172,  173,  174,  175, 
294, 312 


PAGE 

Thomas,  Isaac,     .  19,  20,  277 

Israel,  ....  148,  159 
James,  .  .  .  148,  1^2,  160 
Jesse,  ,  .  .  159,  160,  161 
Jethaniah,       .         .         .  160 

John,  147,  148,  149,  150,  151,  152, 

157,  158,  159,  160,  161,  162,  163, 

191,  27s,  277,  366 
Joseph,  .         .         .     148,  159,  231 
Josiah,     .         .         .     149,  160,  161 

Lord 160 

Luther 153,  159 

Nathan,  148,  152,  153,  158,  277 
Nathaniel,   19,   20,  159,   187,  277, 


364.  378 

Nathaniel  R., 

•     274 

275.277 

Nat,      _  . 

378 

Nehemiah, 

42 

159.277 

Ralph  W.,       . 

154 

Ray, 

191 

Robert, 

3'2 

Robert  B.,       . 

29 

Rowland, 

343 

Samuel, 

.     148 

149.  203 

Simeon,  . 

160 

Thomas  L.,    . 

i6o 

Valentine, 

154 

Waldo  L.,      . 

'54 

William,  151 

52.   '57. 

58,  159. 

160,  163,  173 

277,  278, 

373 

William  K.,    . 

156 

Winslow, 

'59 

Zenas,     . 

277 

Thompson,  Jeremiah  B., 

32' 

Robert,  . 

193 

Thomas, 

338 

&  Fessenden, 

321 

&  Wiley. 

256 

Thornton,  Thomas 

217 

Tiffany,  Recompen 

se,  . 

32,90 

Tiffany  Pond, 

32 

Tilden,  Albert,      . 

313 

Allen  C, 

264 

Benjamin, 

37 

Calvin,   . 

'8,37 

Carleton, 

265 

Charles. 

37.  265 

Charles  A.,     . 

265 

Charles  L.,      . 

60 

David,    . 

261 

Edward, 

36 

Edward  F.,      . 

265 

Elisha,    . 

37,  205 

Frederick, 

264 

George,  . 

264,  266 

278,  279 

George  W.,     . 

278 

Hatch,    . 

36,  37 

265,  272 

Horatio  A.,     . 

265 

Horatio  N.,     . 

265 

John, 

159.  263 

Jonathan, 

220 

Joseph,  . 

•       32 

218,  262 

Josiah,    . 

265 

Jotham,  36,37,  263,  264,  265,  21 

269,  270,  278 
Lindale,  .         .         .  341 

Luther,  36,  37,  263,  264,  265,  266 

268, 270 


Luther  A., 

265,  386 

Nathan, 

37.  235 

Nathaniel, 

3^  367 

Samuel,  36,  37,  228,  237, 

261,  264, 

265,277 

Stephen, 

148 

Thatcher, 

263 

Thomas, 

148 

Wales,    . 

204,  314^ 

William, 

266 

William  H., 

264,  265 

278,  279 

William  P., 

58,  266 

27'.  33° 

Tilding,  Joseph, 

244 

Nathaniel, 

244 

Till's  Creek, 

34 

Tilly,  William, 

217 

PAGE 

Tindale,  Thomas,  .         .  31 

Tisdale,  James,     ...  48 

Toby,  Samuel,       .         .         .  212 

Tolman,  Benjamin,  .  .  136,  277 
Charles,  .  .  133,  136,  137,  250 
Elisha,  136, 137, 169,  195,  236,  238, 

250 
George  B.,     .        .        .  137 

Herbert  C,  .  .  .  136,295 
James  T.,  .  32,136,221,295 
John,       ....  36 

Joseph,  .  .  34,  136,  222,  230 
Joseph  C,  .  .  .  137,  256 
Joseph  R.,      .         .         .  233 

Samuel,  32,  85,  no,  136,  137,  177, 

233.  235,254,  255,  256 
William  C,     . 
Tolman's  Tack  Works, 
Tomlin,  Thomas, 


Topham.W   H., 
Torrey,  Albert, 

Benjamin  B., 

Caleb,     . 

Charles, 

Charles  E., 

Charles  F.. 

Charles  T., 

Daniel,  . 

David,  35,  238,  241 
252,  264,  268,  269 

Edwin  B.,      . 

Ever  tt. 

Frank  H.,       . 

Franklin, 

George.  238,  247, 
251,  264,  268,  269 

George  E.,      . 

George  H., 

George  O.,      . 

George  &  Sons, 

Harry  B., 

Haviland, 

Henry,    . 

Herbert, 

Howard  C,     . 

Isaac, 


133 
32 
217.  338 
323 


97 


247, 


248,  249 

249 
249 

299.  333.  334.  364 
39' 

248,  249,  251, 

2/0,  271 

249 
249 
249 
749 

48,    249,   250, 


240 
749 
24B 
252 
249 

.99.  359 
248 

".97 

249 
248,  250 


James,   12,  32,  41,  247,  24a,  250, 

263,  264 
John  D.,  .         .         .    248,  391 

Joshua,  . 


Josiah, 

Otis, 

Walter  R., 

Willard, 

William, 
Torrey,  Williams  &  Fie 
Torrey's  Brook,     . 
Totman,  Benjamin  O., 
Tower,  Benjamin, 

David,     . 

James,     . 

John, 

Lynde,    , 

Matthew, 
Towne,  William  H. 
Townsend,  James  L., 

Penn, 
Tracy,  Frederick, 
Trent,  John, 
Tripp,  Uncle  Tom, 
Trouant's  Island, 
Trout  Brook, 
Truant,  Samuel, 
Truworthy,  James 
Tuels,  Barnard, 
TuUey,  John, 
JTurner,  Abiel, 

Albion,   . 

Albion  B., 

Alden,     . 

AldenD., 

Amasa,   . 

Ambrose, 

Amos, 


Id, 


248 
248 
249 
249 
100,  248,  261 
249 
23 
391 
234 
234 

234 
33,72,  220,234,  354 

234 
234 
296 

197 

284 

160 

28:; 

58 

44 

6 

207,  247 

336 

277.  3-5 

284 

271 

2-)9 

249 

75,  193 

'9i 

64 

'9i 

21,  332 


INDEX. 


419 


PAGK 

PAGE 

PAGE 

Turner,  Andrew,  .         .         .    igi,  193 

Union  Bridge, 

36 

Waterman,  Abijah, 

159 

Andrew  VV.,   ...             igi 

Upper  Ferry, 

36 

Andrew, 

380 

Arthur  T 82 

Usher,  J.  P., 

»55 

Anthony,       qj,  138,  154 

,  '92,27'. 

Augustus,       ...             191 

343.  380,  384 

Barker,  56,  71,  74,   7s,  133.  i34. 

Van  Loon  &  Son, 

70 

Asa, 

277 

13s.  '9°,  191.  192.  >93.  i94i  196, 

Vannuys  Hervey  I-., 

88 

Eben  C, 

75 

20I,  313 

Vassall,  John, 

.    286,  332 

George, 

•  38 

Benjamin,  127,  134,   147,  153,  163, 

Stephen, 

285 

Ir.eneus  I,  , 

'3 

164,  17s,  i8q,  igo,  191,  258 

William.  38, 

40,  47,  285,  286,  332 

James,     . 

380 

Caleb,       53,  80,  134.  135. '9'. '93 

Vaughan.  John, 

363 

John, 

277 

Calvin,  73,  127,  158,  174,  175,  179, 

Venner,  Henry, 

372 

Joseph,    . 

'49 

189, 190 

Vickars,  Joseph, 

217 

Joshua,  . 

148 

Charles,    71,81,157,183,191,264 

Vinal,  Abel, 

.    257,  386 

Lemuel  C,     . 

'3 

Charles  E.,     .         .         .            388 

Asa, 

.    208,  380 

L.  C.  &  Co., 

'3 

Charles  P., 

81,82 

Charles, 

192,  384,  385 

L.  C.  &  Sons, 

12,  13 

Christopher, 

191 

Dexter,  . 

385 

Nathaniel. 

36,  j'.8 

Cyrus,             7 

5.  '9 

I,  192,  193,  219 

Eaton,    . 

•    139,  3'9 

Rodolph  C,    . 

'3 

Danforth  F., 

388 

Ephraim, 

2^7 

Thomas,     134,  135,  137 

'38,  139. 

Daniel,    . 

29.  64 

Ezra, 

.     250,  380 

141,  150,277,359 

David,     . 

127.  175.  190 

Gideon,  . 

270 

Thomas  B.,          110,138.140,143 

Edward  E., 

191 

Haywood, 

135 

Thomas  W.,  . 

138 

Edwin,    . 

igi 

Henry,          3 

7,  320.  321,  385,  387 

&  Barstow, 

258 

Elijah,     . 

•       31,270 

Henry  A., 

3«5 

&  Bates, 

'37,  '38 

Elijah  B., 

31 

Henry  F., 

388 

&  Ewell, 

l-»2,  269 

Elisha,    . 

250 

Howard, 

•     135. '37 

Weare,  Daniel,      .         .     36 

1,  284.  366 

Elmer  E., 

191 

Ignatius, 

368 

Webb,  Barnabas, 

368,  560 

Ezekiel, 

80 

Israel,     . 

368 

Lemuel,           .         .     279,  319,  340 

Francis, 

,83 

loshua,  . 

35' 

Seth,  74,  112,   192,  279, 

322,    341, 

Frederick, 

191 

Lemuel.  138,   249, 

250,   310,   368, 

360,  384.  388 

George,        80 

,82, 

83,  98,  i8r,  387 

36c),  380 

Webster,  Andre*  G.,   . 

295 

George  C, 

271 

Levi, 

•    368,  369 

Daniel.   . 

161,  275 

George  H., 

296 

Lott, 

309 

David  L., 

295 

George  R., 

271 

Otis. 

38. 

Harrison  B.,  . 

2.^5 

Henry,   . 

205, 

Stephen, 

222,  368,  369 

William, 

3?7 

Henry  A., 

271 

William,  134,  222, 

249,    250,    263, 

Weeks,  Reuben,  . 

182 

Henry  J., 

388 

271,  309,  310,  320,  308,  369,380, 

Seth.       . 

50 

Humphrey, 

64,  266,  291 

38»,  385,  388 

William, 

3'4 

Isaiah  A., 

•       75.  191 

Vose,  Bill.     . 

180 

Weld.  N.  J.. 

142 

Israel,     . 

.    237.238 

Vose,  Livingston  &  Co 

•     '4'.  391 

William  F.,    . 

142 

Israel  H., 

191 

William  F.  S:  Co., 

'4' 

James,     . 
Job, 

128 

Wade,  Nathaniel, 

222,  261,  368 

W.  F 

387 

247 

Snell,      . 

.      134,  270 

Wellsteed.  William,      . 

339 

Job  A.,   . 
John, 

249 

Wadsworth,  Joseph, 

285 

Welsh.  John, 

244 

265 

Wair.  Daniel, 

.       261,284,366 

West,  James  H.,   . 

6 

John  D., 

271 

Wakefield,  Cyrus, 

256 

"West  Newland" 

286 

John  M., 

271 

Walcot,  Calvin, 

109 

Weston,  Asa, 

378 

John  P.. 

.       81,157 

Walter,   . 

125 

Ezra,       .         .      183,23 

f'.  357,358 

Joseph  F., 

296 

Walden,  Jacob,     . 

134 

Wetherbee,  George  H., 

20I 

Joseph  G  , 
Joseph  M., 

191 

Wales,  Atherton, 

53 

Wheatland,  Richard,     . 

293 

191 

Eben , 

.         .              8g 

Wheeler.  Moses,  . 

3'7,  320 

Joshua, 
Lemuel, 

12 

6,  127,  175,  189 

Ebenezer, 

186 

Thaddeus, 

2-5 

■      42.  235 

George  W.,     . 

139 

Wheelwright,  Lot, 

376.  381 

Luther,   . 

73 

Nathaniel, 

79 

&Co 

'54 

Melzar,  196,    197,    198,    271,   384, 

Thomas  B.,  139, 1 J 

4.  3»4.3'S.  3'6 

White,  Albert,       . 

21 

387,  388,  389 

317.  320,  321 

Benjamin,  202,  205,  210 

.  277.  353, 

Melzar  S.,  195,  196,   197,  387,  388, 

Thomas  B.,  &  Co. 

,   184.  185,  238, 

r>35.*     .     ^ 

389.  390 

312,  317 

Benjamin  F.,  . 

'28,  354 

Morris,  ....             igi 

Thomas  P>.,  &  Son 

3'8 

B.,           . 

148 

Nathan  S 271 

T.  B.,  &  Co., 

3'5.  3'6,  3'7 

Cornelius, 

»'.  353 

Nathaniel,  134,  190,  191,  343,  368 

Walker,  1',..    . 

378 

Frank,     . 

124 

Roland 271 

Thomas, 

284 

John, 

•    '73,  24' 

Samuel,        237,  238,  313,  340,  341 

Walker's  Nail  Factory 

44 

Joseph,   . 

'59 

Samuel  A.,             42,  264,  278,  297 

Wall.  Walter,        . 

389 

Luther,  . 

224 

Seth,        ....            261 

Wallis,  William,   . 

217 

Penniah, 

354 

S.  A  ,      . 

35 

Walnut  Hill, 

35 

Pereurine,                .      2 

'.353,355 

Theodore, 

•     313.341 

Walter,  Thomas, 

222 

Rcsf.lvcd,        . 

286,  332 

Thomas, 

80,  81,  82,  83,  128 

Thomas  U.,    . 

'55 

Robert,  . 

337,  354 

Warren, 

82,191 

Wanton,  Edward,  21,2 

;,  214,  215, 316, 

Stephen, 

227 

William,      791,223,265,313,332, 

217,  218,  2ig,  24- 

.338 

Timothy, 

25 

3'^-' 

Gideon,   . 

2l6 

While's  Ferry.      . 

44 

William  F.,     .         .         .            266 

John,       . 

216 

Whitinc.  I'avid,    . 

'35 

&  Briggs,               56,  388,  389,  390 

Joseph,  . 

216 

Naih..     .         .         . 

3'3 

&  Palmer,       ...            183 

Michael, 

2,  21 

Whitman.  Benjamin,    . 

181 

Turner,  Otis  &  Cole,             .            390 

William, 

216 

Charles.  . 

83 

Turner,  Otis  &  Co.,      .         .       .      391 

Wanton  Brook,     . 

35 

Charles  H.,    . 

81,82 

Turner,   Palmer  &   Magoun,   71,   74, 

Ware,  Daniel, 

261,  284,  366 

George  T.,      . 

83 

189,  190 

Nicholas, 

332 

Henry  B.,      . 

83 

Turner's  Yard,      ...        64,  80 

Warkins,  William, 

2.5 

Ichal)od  T.,    . 

'53 

Tuttle,  Jotham,     . 

372 

Warren,  Ira, 

81 

.  ames  H., 

200 

Nathaniel, 

377 

James,     . 

'49 

osiah,    . 

'53 

Two  Mile  Brook, 

34 

John, 

•     25'.  356 

.  H. 

18  ■ 

"  Two  Oaks," 

66.84 

Washburn,  Jabez, 

:     l^ 

'^vi 

'.".l 

.     . 

Seth,        . 

Peter  S., 

8- 

Underwood,  Jame 

A.I 

i.,     .             237 

Washington,  Gcor 

ge.    • 

149, 150, 186 

Seth 

El 

420 


Whitman,  Seth  B., 

Thomas, 

Thomas  T.,    . 

William  T.,    . 
Whitmore,  Edward, 
Whitney,  Theodore, 
Whittaker,  John  L. 
Whittier,  David, 
Wildcat  Brook,     . 
Wilde,  Adia  P.,     . 
Will  James  Dock, 
Will's  Island, 
William  Taylor  Yard, 
Williams,  Henry, 

Hezekiah, 

John,      . 

Pelham,  . 

&  Haven, 
Williamson,  Nathan, 

Samuel, 

Timothy, 
Willis,  N.  P., 
Wilson,  John, 

William, 
Windsor,  Peter,     . 
Wing,  Bachelor,    . 


Page 
82 

153 
81 

IS3 

334 
87 

386 
86 

3' 
204 
361 

41 
272 

"3 

2c8 

288 
313 

103,  106 
204 

277 

57.  277 
42 
47 

365 
71 

129 


INDEX. 

Page 

Wing,  Benjamin, . 

129 

Ebenezer, 

129 

Elijah,     . 

129 

Isaiah     . 

129,  270 

John, 

284 

Robert,  . 

217 

Sylvanus, 

129 

William, 

129 

Wing  Yard,   . 

127 

Winslow,  Edward, 

148,  162, 163 

Isaac, 

208 

John, 

154,  293 

Josiah,    . 

8s,  164,  379 

Nathaniel,        32,  6 

8,  159,  176,  379 

Pelham, 

207 

Samuel, 

287,  288,  292 

William, 

136 

William  P.,    . 

13 

Winslow's  Bridge, 

32 

Winsor,  Francis  H., 

382 

Joseph,   . 

382 

Joshua,  . 

'5? 

Winthrop,  Adam, 

218 

John,       . 

7 

Witherell,  Augustme, 

191 

Eben,      . 

191 

Page 


Witherell,  Eben  H.,     . 

191 

Jabez,     . 

91,92 

William, 

98 

Wood,  E.  W.,       . 

257 

Woodworth,  Samuel,       42,  43,  44,  313 

Walter,  . 

44 

Worth,  G.  B.,       . 

105 

Thomas, 

231 

Worthington,  Erastus, 

180 

Wright,  Thomas,  . 

273 

Warren, . 

258 

William, 

50 

Wyer,  Christopher, 

234 

Wyman,  Elbridge, 

386 

James,    . 

391 

Yarrington,  R.  H., 

119 

Yates,  Potterfield  &  Co., 

143 

Young,  Edwin,     . 

390 

Edwin  A. 

390 

Ephraim  L.,  . 

252 

Job,         .         .         . 

54 

Perez  T>., 

390 

Walter  L.,      . 

390 

Zachary,  Daniel, 


EXPLANATION    OF    THE    MAP   OF    MARSHFIEI.D,    A.    D.     1794' 

Bounds  of  Mnrshjield :  Beginning  on  the  South-east  in  the  middle  of  Green  Harbor 
River  about  60  rods  from  the  mouth  thereof.  Thence  by  a  Northern  line  of  Duxbury, 
S.  fio  7 :  0'  0  W.  r)80  rods,  thence  by  Duxbury  N.  48 :  0  0  W.  9ri3  rods  to  an  Easterly 
corner  of  Pembroke,  thence  by  Pembroke,  North  about  U°  0:00  West  243  rods  and 
thence  by  Pembroke  in  the  nine  following  lines,  viz  :  N.  '2") :  0  0  E.  142  rods,  N.  80 :  0  0 
W.  105  rods  due  North  92  rods,  S.  87  :  0  0  W.  IM  rods,  N.  Ofi :  0  0  W.  13  rods,  N.  80  :  0  0 
W.  18  rods,  N.  51 :  0  0  E.  37  rods,  N.  37  :  0  0  E.  18  rods  and  N.  51 :  0  0,  W.  4914  rods 
to  Scituate  Line  in  the  middle  of  North  River :  thence  by  Scituate  Northerly  and  East- 
erly in  said  River  down  stream,  to  the  mouth  thereof,  thence  S.  Easterly  about  5  miles 
as  the  shore  goes,  by  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the  mouth  of  Green  Harbor  River,  thence 
about  60  rods  up  said  River  to  the  first  mentioned  bound. 

The  reason  why  no  Road  is  delineated  is  because  by  reason  of  the  locality  of  the  Town 
there  is  no  Highway  in  it  that  can  with  propriety  deserve  the  appellation  of  a  County 
Road. 

There  is  a  quantity  of  salt  marsh  contiguous  to  the  Rivers  but  the  largest  quantity  is 
up  Green  Harbor  River.  The  colored  part  of  the  plan  is  the  Rivers  and  along  the  sea 
shore  bv  the  back  of  the  Beach.  The  width  of  the  Beach  is  various  but  may  hold  ont 
about  30  rods. 

The  reputed  distance  of  the  centre  of  the  Town  from  Plymouth  Court  House  in  the 
road  commonly  travelled  is  15  miles  and  from  Boston  36  miles.  The  actual  survey  of 
the  Town  was  made  between  the  30th  dav  of  December,  1794,  and  the  middle  of  June, 
1795.  Falls  of  Water,  Mountains,  Manufactories,  Mines  and  Minerals,  none.  Ponds, 
none  except  Mill  Pond,  that  all  artificial.  There  are  seven  Corn  Mills  and  one  Cloth 
Mill  in  Marshfield ;  but  two  Corn  Mills  with  a  good  supply  of  wafer  would  do  the  work 
they  all  seven  do. 

1*  The  middle  line  at  the  mouth  of  the  River  is  the  boundary  line  between  Scituate  and 
Marshfield  until  it  comes  to  Pembroke. 

2*  South  River  is  12  and  14  rods  wide  near  the  North  River  Branch  at  low  water  and 
may  hold  out,  the  whole  taken  together,  about  half  that  width. 

3*  It  is  full  sea  here  two  hours  later  than  at  the  sea  shore. 


KEY    TO    THE    PLAN    OF    SCITUATE    HARBOR. 


1  Light  House. 

2  Cedar  Point. 

3  P.  Murphy's. 

4  Old  Bates  House. 

5  Old  Porter  House. 

6  Willow  Street. 

7  Drew  House. 

8  Old  Dr.  Jeffer's  House. 

9  Gun  House. 

10  John  Bate. 

11  Prouty  House. 

12  Old  Morton  House. 

13  Old  Dunbar  House. 

14  Wm.  P.  Allen's. 

15  E.  Perkins. 

16  Wm.  Turner. 

17  N.  Pool,  store  &  house, 

18  Allen's  Store. 

19  G.  M.  Allen's. 

20  H.  Vinal. 

21  Jones'  Houses. 

22  Dr.'s  Office. 

23  John  Beal. 

24  A.  Chul)buck. 

25  Upper  Road. 

26  Road  to  1st  &  2nd  Cliffs. 

27  Work  Shop. 

28  Stable. 

29  Work  Shop. 


30  Tin  Shop. 

31  Library  Building. 

32  Post  Office. 

33  Drug  Store  &  Telegraph  Office. 

34  Barber  Shop. 

35  J.  H.  Smith. 

36  E.P.Welch's  buildings  &  wharf. 

37  Store. 

38  Stables. 

39  Shop. 

40  Store-houses. 

41  House. 

42  Salt  Marshes. 

43  Cliff. 

44  North  Houses. 

45  Crow  Point. 

46  Water. 

47  Stage  House. 

48  Beach. 

49  S.  Benson  Pt. 

50  Beach  Road. 

51  C.  Doritie's  House. 

52  ClilT. 

53  Camp  House.  Flag  ^taff. 

54  C.  H.  Bonncy's  Wharf. 

55  Buildings. 

56  Blacksmith  Shop. 

57  Bridge. 

58  Saluit  Brook  Bridge. 


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This  book  is  under  no  circumstances  to  be 
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