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/!■**, 


\NA 


THI 


SXSTORT 


AND 


PRESENT  STATE 


or  THE  TOWN  ©F 


NEWBURYPORT 


9 


BY  CALEB  GUSHING. 


Xic  arac  sunt,  hie  foci,  hie  dii  penates. 

Cic.  pro  JOomo  9Um. 


i 


PBINTEB  BT  E.   W    ALLSIT.  >  >      . 

F«r  sale  at  the  Bookstore  of  C.  Whiiiple,  No.  4,  Stat-i-^t^eci; 
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«  •  •      •     , 


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•  •   -  • 


To 


the  Inhabitants  of 


KEWBURYPORT, 


these  pages 


are  respectfully  inscribed 


by  their  grateful  fellow  citizen, 


C.  Gushing. 


PREFACE. 

THE  author  of  the  ensuing  account  was  led  to  project  the  compllatioii 
•fit  several  years  ago,  by  perusing,  in  the  Town  Records  of  Newbury = 
port,  many  facts  and  documents,  which  seemed  to  pessess  permanent 
historical  value.  Other  pursuits  distracted  him  from  the  work  at  the 
time ;  and  he  is  compelled  to  plead  them  now,  in  extenuation  of  its  una- 
voidable imperfections. 

The  history  of  a  single  town  must,  of  necessity,  consist  chiefly  of  local 
incidents,  and  information  of  limited  range.  But  however  narrow  the 
scope  of  such  a  work,  it  ought,  being  wholly  domestic  in  its  nature,  to 
•ontain  matters  of  interest  to  0Mrsf/T>e5  at  least:  and  the  author  expects 
nothing  more  from  the  result  of  his  labor.— And  in  reference  to  this 
p6int,  he  would  repeat  the  remarks,  which  he  formerly  made  in  an- 
nouncing his  design.* 

The  causes  of  the  wealth  and  grandeur  of  nations  are  always  consider- 
ed with  curiosity,  both  on  account  of  their    intrinsic  importance,  and  o 
the  splendid  scenes,  by  which  they  are  accompanied.     The  pomp  of  war 
and  triumph,  the  deeds  of  distinguished  patriots,  a  thousand  diversified 
eyents,impart  dignity  and  interest  to  the  fate  of  a  mighty   people.    But 
the  history  of  small  and  subordinate  communities  is  less  attractive,   be- 
cause the  circumstances,  which  it  commemorates,  are  not  in  their  nature 
80  g^and  or  various,  nor  socapabl<-  of  awakeuing  admiration.     Hence  we 
seldom  feel  so  lively  a  desire  to  know  the  particular  events,  which   ele- 
Tate  or  depress  towns,  as  we  do  to  stud V    the  political   state  of  nations. 
Nay,  we  sometimes  go  farther,  and  neglect  what  is  near,   for  the  sake 
of  what  is  remote ;  and  leave  the  concerns   of  the  place    in  which  we 
dwell,  to  inquire  into  those  with  which  we  have  no  connexion ;  and  are 
more  anxious  to  hear  of  the  h^^ppiuess  of  foreigners,  than  to  become  ae- 
quainted  with  what  may  promote  our  own  immediate  prosperity. 

It  is  apparent  that,  in  pursuing  such  a  course,  we  do  ourselves  injus- 
tice. Towns  are  nothing  but  elements  of  nations,  and  whatever  affects 
the  latter  affeeta  the  former  in  the  same  degree.  Besides,  the  prosper- 
ous situation  of  all  the  lesser  divisioas  of  a  state  is  essential  to  the  true 
greatness  of  the  state  itself,  and  therefore,  in  examining  the  character 
of  towns,  we  become  insensibly  led  upwards  to  that  of  nations.  And  the 
several  things,  wliicii  t'.-nd  to  promote  the  well-being  of  petty  communi- 
ties, are  the  same  in  nature,  although  not  in  extent,  with  those,  which 
give  wealth  to  the  most  opulent  empires.     Commercial  and   manufaC' 

*  Newburyport  Herald,  January  Z.  J8?2. 


▼I 

taring  industry,  and  sage  laws, are  as  beneficial  to  towns  as  to  whole 
countries  ;  and  in  both,  the  ravaj^es  of  war,  the  force  of  luxury,  corrup- 
tion, and  proluseness  aie  alike  deiriruenta!. 

It  should  be  considered,  likewise,  that  the  prosperity  of  a  town,    in 
which  we  live,  is  ultimately  connected  with  our  happiness  and  pecuniary 
advancement.     If  tlie  expenses  of  that  to  tvn  are  large  and  its   aSairs   in  a 
bad  situation,  we  directly  feel  the  pressure  of  those  circumstances  in  oui' 
Own  persons.     \nd,  on  the  contrary,  if  its  municipal  concerns  are    in    M 
good  condition,  ours  will  be  the  advantage  of  it.      Our  private    interest 
is  also  deeply  concerned  in  the  price  of  lands,  and  the  profitableness  of 
labor,  in  the  place  of  our  abode:  because,  in  pi'oportioa  as  they   rise  or 
fall,  must  the  value  of  oui'  own  property  be   exalted  or  depreciated.— 
And  if  the  industry  of  our  town  is  flourishing,  its  population  increasing, 
its  expenditures  few  and  light,  and  the  demand  for  land  or  buildings  con* 
stant,  we  ourselves  are  instantly  and  permanently  benefited. 

And  certainly  if  there  was  nothing  curious  in  the  facts  themselves, 
and  nothing  which  affected  our  personal  inter^-st,  we  should  nevertheless 
hsve  a  desire  to  know  tlie  situation  of  the  place  in  which  we  were  born, 
or  have  been  educated,  or  live.     VVe  must  experience  a  pleasure  in  find- 
ing it  prosper,  and  pain  in  perceiving  it  decline.     We  musi  feel  «n  at- 
tachment to  what  is  more  emphatically  our   native  land.    Whatever 
interest  we  may  take  in  a  country  for  the  reason  that  it  is  our  country 
ought  to  work  with  greater  strength,  in  attaclung  us  to  the  home,  where 
we  have  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  domestic  life  and  of  social  endearment. 

Bi'sides,  in  many  countries,  and  no  where  more  remarkably  than 
here,  the  history  of  towns  is  a  very  important  part  of  the  hisiorv  of  the 
nation,  By  towns,  in  their  corporate  capacity,  were  many  of  the  most 
heroic  resolutions  adopted,  and  many  of  the  most  daring  enterprises  un- 
dertaken, which  signalized  our  revolutionary  struggle.  These  things 
can  best  be  preserved  from  oblivion  by  the  humble  efforts  of  individuals 
in  the  different  towns,  who  will  and  can  bestow  their  attention  upon  sub- 
jects so  simple  and  unpretending. 

Such  are  the  considerations,  which  have  induced  to  this  publication. 
In  issuing  it  from  the  press,  the  author  would  thus  publicly  declare  his 
obligations,  and  offer  his  sincere  thanks,  to  many  persons,  who  have 
kindly  furnished  him  with  various  facts,  and  without  whose  aid  he  could 
not  have  accomplished  his  purpose. 

Most  of  the  statements  in  the  work  are  copied  from  manuscript  re- 
cords of  the  town,  of  the  several  parishes,  and  of  various  corporation* 
and  societies.  Many  things  were  obtained  from  verbal  iniformation,  for 
which  no  written  or  printed  document  coild  be  cited.  And  th':-  reader 
will  understand  that,  wliere  no  public  authority  for  any  fact  is  adduced. 
It  was  derived  etiher  frora  jnaEuscripts,  or  from  communicatioa  with 
individuals. 


Til 

< 

The  author  cannot  flatter  himself  that  he  has  given  a  complete  ae. 
oountof  the  town,  its  business,  or  its  associations.  Some  of  thes-»,  snch 
as  the  fire-clubs  and  engine  societies,  he  found  it  nece^)Sary  to  ora it  en- 
tirely; and  oihers  he  is  co>iScious  may  he  imperfectly  described.  Bat 
the  nature  of  the  subject,  requiring  the  collectian  of  so  many  and  such 
various  scattered  particulars,  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  received  in  part  for 
Lis  apoiogj ,  shou[<]  any  essential  oraissioRS  be  discovered. 

During  the  progress  of  the  work  through  the  press,  the  author  has 
been  gi^aiified  to  learn  that  persons  in  other  parts  'if  the  county  have 
turned  their  attention  to  the  subject  of  town-histoi  ies,  and  that  materials 
are  fast  collf'ctingfoi-  a  complet"  history  of  the  aocier-f  and  respectable 
county  of  Essex.  The  Kssex  Historical  Societj  is  capable  of  accom- 
plishing ranch  good  inr^-ference  to  such  an  object. 

With  these  jirefatory  observritious,  he  submits  to  his  fellon'-eitiZLUsa 
plain,  unadorned  narrafion  of  the  lortuoes  *:f  their  town  : — for  whi'.-h  he 
bas  adopted  the  most  eeoi.omicai  form  of  publication,  in  order  to  pUQC 
h  within  the  reach  of  all,  who  take  interest  in  the  subject. 

NswBURYPORT,  September  15,  1826, 


Tin 

CONTENTS. 

Ciril  History, * 

Topography,          ..----  32 

Bexievoleut  Associations,         -        -        -         -  39 

Religious  Societies,         -----  44 

Masonic  Bodies,             .         -        _        -        -  60 

Education,             ------  62 

Literary  Associations,             -        -        -        .  69 

Militia, 72 

Statistics,                ^        -         -        -        -         -  75 

Distinguished  Inhabitants,       -        -        -        -  95 

Concluding  Remarks,             -        -        -        -  109 


HISTORlSAXi   SHETOH. 


J|[  HE    town    of  Nevvburyport   is  distinguished 
for    the  beauty    of  its    appenrance,    and    the    regular- 
ity with  which  it  is  laid  out,  on  the  gentle  slope  of  the 
banks  of  the  Merrimac.       Commanding  a  great  extent 
of  fertile    country  by  means   of  that   river,    it  rapidly 
grew  up  into  wealth  and   rank  in  the   flourishing  peri- 
od of  our  commercial  prosperity,    no  less  remarkable 
for  the  pious  and  industrious  habits  of  its  citizens,  than 
for  its  healthful    and  commodious  situation.     Although 
its  harbor  was  seriously  injured   by  the  sand-bar  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  yet  the  spirit  and   enterprise  of  its 
merchants  seemed  to  compensate    for  this  evil,  so  that 
its  wharves  were  crowded  with  shipping,  and  its  store- 
bouses  filled  with  the  merchandise  of  every  quarter  of 
the  world.     The  numerous  forests  of  timber,   ihrough 
which   the    river  flowed,   made  ship-building  a  never 
failing  source  of  riches  to  the  town,  and  a  profitable  art 
for  its  inhabitants  to  exercise. 

As  a  sea-port,  every  thing  connected  with  navigation, 
and  ail  the  numberless  employments  wiiich  commerce 
creates,  were  carried  to  great  perfection  in  it,  and  tend- 
ed to  give  it  increasing  importance.  But  there  was 
one  species  of  trade,  for  which  the  town  was  especially 
fitted,  namely,  intercourse  with  the  French  West  India 
Islands.  This  intercourse  was  constant  and  profitable, 
and  not  only  furnished  a  market  for  the  produce  of  the 
country,  but  opened  several  other  kinds  of  business, 
6uch  as  that  of  distilling  rum,  and  of  a  carrying  trade 
for  English  manufactures. 

All  thft»e  circumstances  so  much  enlarged  the  popu- 
lation of  the  place  where  the  town  i*  now  situated,  that, 
in  the  year  17G4,  it  was  separated  from  Newbury,  of 
which  it  then  formed  a  part,  and  incorporated  by  the 
■liauae  of  Newburypout.      1e  the    troublesome    peiiod 


ivhich  en^u(?<],  the  people  pi"  the  town  signalized  their 
jiatrioti^m  and  love  of  indi^pendence  by  consenting  to 
the  non-importaiion  agreement,  declaring  their  abhor- 
rence of  the  stamp-act,  and  other  arbitrary  measures 
of  the  ministry^  preparing  the  means  of  oefeoce  and 
warfare,  resolving  to  support  t?)e  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence with  their  lives  and  fortunes,  and  nobly  keep- 
ing this  resolution  inviolate.  Few  parts  of  the  coun- 
try voluntarily  sacriliced  more  in  proportion  for  the 
sake  of  freedom  than  did  Newbufyport.  in  submittinor 
to  have  its  staple  business  of  ship-building  broken  up, 
incurring  large  debts  for  the  defence  of  the  harbor, 
iveakening  its  population  for  the  supply  of  the  conti- 
nental armies,  and  undergoing  many  other  privations 
and  embarrassments  attendaat  on  a  state  of  protracted 
warfare.  The  citizens  gained  a  little,  and  but  a  little, 
by  privateering:  and  in  other  respects,  the  town  stood 
almost  still  during  the  war  and  until  the  peace  restor* 
ed  its  commercial  advantnges. 

The  records  of  the  town  contain  many  documents, 
which  throw  light  on  the  sentiments  and  exertions  of 
its  inhabitants  during  the  eventful  period  ot  the  Revo- 
lution. The  existence  of  Newburyport,  as  a  distinct 
corporation,  was  but  just  commenced,  when  the  fiisputes 
between  the  metropolis  and  her  colonies  had  reached 
fuch  a  height,  as  to  threaten  a  speedy  issue  in  open 
Tiolence  ;  and  althouji^h  the  colonists  misiht  not.  in  1764, 
have  anticipated  that  they  should  be  independent  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  teu  short  years,  3'^et  observing 
and  discerning  men  must  have  perceived  that  this  e- 
vent  was  every  da}'  becoming  more  and  more  proba- 
ble, because  both  England  and  America  were  assuming: 
too  high  a  ground  to  admit  of  a  peaceful  continuance 
9i  their  old  relations. 

Among  the  oldest  papers  preserved  in  the  town 
records  is  a  copy  of  the  instructions  given  to  Dudley 
AtkyfJS,  ancestor  of  one  of  the  most  respected  families 
in  Newbury,  and  the  representative  of  Newburyport 
in  tjje  General  Court  of  the  Province.  These  instruc- 
tioaa,  v.irich  were  voted  at  a  town-meeting  holden  Oc- 
tober 21st  1765,  plainly  show  the  state  of  public  feel.- 
i.ng  at  the  ti:ne,  and  lio^v  early  the  spirit  of  resistance 


was  fostered  in  the  bosom  of  every  little  municipal  cor- 
poration. A  few  weeks  before,  on  occasion  of  the  pas- 
sing of  the  ever  memorable  stamp-act,  it  had  been  vot- 
ed— 

'•  That  the  late  act  of  parliament  called  the  starap" 
act  is  very  grievou- ;  and  that  this  town,  as  much  as  in 
them  lies,  \vi;i  endeavor  the  repeal  of  the  same  in  all 
lawful  ways  : 

''Thiit  it  is  the  desire  of  the  town  that  no  man  in  itr 
will  accept  of  the  office  of  distributing  the  stampt  pa- 
pers, as  he  regards   the  displeasure   of    tlie  town;  and 
that  they  will  deem  the  person  accepting  of  such  office 
an  enemy  of  his  country." 

The  instructions  above  alluded  to  fully  explain  the 
design  of  these  votes,  and  tlie  views  by  which  the  in- 
habitants were  actuated.  After  advertincj  to  the  riorht 
ol  the  people  to  instruct  their  representatives,  and  re- 
marking upon  the  liberality  of  the  English  constitution, 
the  instructions  proceed  : 

"We  have  the  most  loyal  sentiments  of  oar  gracious 
king,  and  his  illustrious  tamily  ;  wo  have  the  highest 
reverence  and  esteem  for  that  most  august  body,  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  we  have  an  ardent 
affection  for  our  brethren  at  home  ;  we  have  always 
regarded  their  interests  as  our  own,  and  esteemed  our 
0wn  prosperity  as  necessarily  united  with  theirs. 
Hence  it  is  that  we  have  the  greatest  concern  at  some 
measures  adopted  by  the  late  ministry,  and  some  iat^ 
acts  of  parliament,  which  we  apprehend  in  their  ten- 
dency ^vi!l  deprive  us  of  some  of  our  essential  and  high- 
prized  liberties.  The  stamp-act,  in  a  peculiar  manner, 
we  esteem  a  grievance,  as  by  it  we  are  subjected  to  <i 
heavy  tax,  to  which  are  annexed  very  severe  penal- 
ties ;  and  the  recovery  of  forfeitures,  incurred  by  the 
breach  of  it,  is  in  a  manner,  which  the  English  consti- 
tution abhors,  that  is,  without  a  trial  by  jury,  and  in  a 
court  of  admiralty.  That  a  people  should  be  taxed  at 
the  will  of  another,  whetlier  of  one  maa  or  many,  with- 
out their  own  consent,  in  person  or  by  representative^^ 
is  rank  slavery. 

****** 

^^That  these  measures  are  contrary  to    the   constitu- 


tlonal  riirl^tofBrUonj^  cannot  be  denied  ;  and  that  the 
British  hihabitanls  of  America  are  not  in  every  respect 
entitled  to  the  privileges  of  Briton?,  even  the  patrons 
ofihe  most  arbitrary  measures  have  never  yet  advanced. 

I-  We  have  been  full  and  explicit  on  this  head,  as  it 
ijeems  to  be  the  tundamental  point  in  debate  ;  but  v.as 
the  tax  in  itself  ever  so  constitutional,  we  cannot  think 
hut  at  this  time  it  would  be  very  grievous  and  burden- 
some. 

t'  Tlie  embarrassments  on  our  trade  are  great,  and  the 
scarcity  of  cash  arising  therefrom  is  such,  that  by  the 
execution  of  ihe  stamp-act,  we  should  be  drained  in  a 
very  little  time  of  that  medium:  llie  consequence  of 
Avhich  is,  that  our  commerce  must  stagnate,  and  our 
laborers  starve. 

"  These,  sir,    are    our  sentiments  on  this   occasion  ; 

nor  can  we  think  that  the   distresses  we    have    painted 

are  the  creatures  of  our  own  imagination. 

if.  ^  ^  ^  *  * 

^t  We  therefore  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants 
of  this  town,  being  legally  assembled,  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  declare  our  just  expectations  from  you,  which 
are, 

"  That  you  will,  to  the  utmost  of  your  ability,  use 
your  intluence  in  the  General  Assembly  that  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  this  Province  may  be  preserved  invi- 
olate ;  and  that  the  sacred  deposit,  we  have  received 
from  our  ancestors,  m  ly  be  handed  down,  without  in- 
fringement, to  our  posterity  oi  the  latest  generations: 

"That  you  endeavor  that  all  measures,  consistent 
with  our  loyalty  to  the  best  of  kings,  may  be  taken  to 
prevent  the  execution  of  the  above  grievous  innova- 
tions; and  that  the  repeal  of  the  stamp-act  may  be  ob- 
tained by  a  most  dutiful,  and  at  the  same  time  most 
spirited,  remsmst ranee  against  it. 

"  That  you  do  not  consent  to  any  new  or  unprece- 
deiiled  grants,  but  endeavor  that  the  greatest  frugality 
aad  economv  may  take  place  in  the  distribution  ot  the 
public  monies,  remembering  the  great  expense  the 
war  has  involved  us  in,  and  t!ic  debt  incurred  thereby, 
which  remains  undischarged. 

»'  That  you  will  consult  and  promote  such  measure?. 


5 


as  may  be  nece??ary,  in  this  difficult  time,  to  prevent 
the  course  of  justice  from  being  stayed,  and  the  com- 
merce of'the  Province  standing-  still : 

"  That  if  occasion  shall  offer,  you  bear  testimony  in 
behalf  of  this  tov^n  against  all  seditions  and  mobbish  in- 
surrections, and  express  our  abhorrence  of  all  breach- 
es of  the  peace;  and  that  you  will  readily  concur  in 
sny  constitutional  measures,  that  may  be  necessary  to 
secure  the  public  tranquiifity." 

It  appears  that  the  town  participated  as  a  corpora- 
tion  in  the  universal  rejoicings  which  followed  the  re- 
peal of  the  stamp  act.  And  although  the  confidence  of 
the  country  in  the  metropolis  could  not  be  fully  restor- 
ed ;  yet  the  following  document  shows  that  it  was  not 
quite  extinguished.  It  is  in  answer  to  a  circular  from 
Boston,  proposing  a  non-importation  agreen^.ent, —  which 
Feemed  to  the  town  a  little  premature.  The  paper  is 
from  the  pen  of  John  Lowell,  and  was  adopted  at  a  meet- 
ing holden  March  10th,  1768. 

"  The  committee,  &,c.  beg  leave  to  report,  that  they 
are  of  opinion  that  the  subjects  therein  contained  de- 
serve the  most  serious  attention  of  this  town  in  partic- 
ular, as  well  as  of  ihe  public  in  general. 

'•  This  town  has  been  in  a  great  measure  supported  for 
many  years  past  by  the  building  of  ships,  which  have 
been  purchased  mostly  by  the  inhabitants,  and  ibr  the 
yse  of  Great  Britain.  The  manner  in  which  we  have 
been  paid  for  our  shins  has  been  mainly  by  Britirh  man- 
ufactures. So  that  the  importation  and  purchase  of 
these,  and  onr  sta|.lc  business,  if  we  may  so  express  it, 
have  been  almost  inseparably  united. 

"  It  is  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  that  a  number  of 
people,  who  have  for  the  m.o.-t  part  of  their  lives  been 
used  to  a  ;  articular  employment,  can  suddenly  strike 
into  a  new  channel,  and  carry  on  a  business  to  which 
they  have  always  been  strangers. 

'*  Mence,  though  we  highly  respect  the  town  of  Bos"- 
ton  for  its  zealous  attachment  to  the  liberties  of  the 
country,  and  are  ready  to  assist  them  in  all  measures  to 
which  prudence  may  direct,  we  cannot  think  it  can  con- 
sist with  ihe  prudence  and  policy  of  this  town  to  join  in 
their  particular  resoiutions  re-peciing  the  impurtiUioa 

A  2 


antl  purchase  of  the  enumerated  aillcles  Oi^  British  man-, 
uiacliire. 

*'  An  J  not  only  from  thi-  principle,  but  from  one  les* 
selfish,  we  cannot  wish  thai  the  frequent  and  mutual  in- 
tercourse which  has  hitherto  subsisted  between  Great 
IJriiain  and  us  should  abate,  Tis  but  of  late  date  that 
we  regarded  Great  Britain  with  all  the  respectful  af-» 
iection  of  a  child  to  its  parent ;  and  though,  by  soma 
late  measures,  which  we  conceive  to  be  highly  mis- 
judged, there  seems  to  have  arisen  a  cloud,  which  ob- 
scures the  true  interests  of  the  nation  from  the  eyes  of 
those  at  helm,  we  cannot  but  expect,  as  well  as  impa- 
tiently desire,  that  it  will  be  soon  removed,  and  a  mu- 
tual contidence  be  established  on  the  firmest  foundation. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  as  jealousy,  in  a  constitution  like 
the  British,  is  the  great  preserving  principle,  we  think 
it  necessa<ry  to  be  watchful  against  any  encroachments 
on  our  rigrhts  as  Enoflishnien  or  freemen,  and  to  be  uni- 
formly  and  resolutely  determined  thai  tliese  shall  not  be 
infringed,  while  our  fortunes,  or  even  our  lives,  con- 
tinue.*' 

Happily  for  us  the  British  ministry  persisted  in  their 
JBlatuaiedcourse  of  impolicy  and  injustice, in  consequence 
whereof,  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  (1768)  the 
merchants  in  the  Province  entered  into  the  famous  non- 
importation agreement,  by  which  they  became  mutually 
bound  not  to  import,  nor  to  purchase  if  imported,  any 
British  goods  before  January,  1776,  or  until  the  reve- 
nue laws  were  repealed  by  Parliament.  At  a  meeting- 
September  4th,  1769,  th«  town  approved  of  this  agree- 
ment, voted  to  further  and  maintain  the  same,  and  ta 
consider  any  person  who  should  evade  it  an  enemy  of 
his  country.^  and  chose  a  committee  to  carry  it  into  ex, 
ecution.  At  another  meeting  in  the  same  month  it  was 
voted  to  return  thanks  to  the  merchants  and  others  of 
Boston  for  their  patriotic  and  noble  spirit  in  their  a- 
o-reement  respecting  the  non-importation  of  goods  trona 
Great  Britain.  The  next  March  also  it  was  voted  by 
the  town  not  to  buy  or  use  any  foreign  lea.  And  in  the  A- 
pril  follow  ing  (Apl.  3,  1770,)  a  town-meeting  was  called,' 
in  consequence  of  some  suspicion  that  a  wagon-load  of  tea 
had  been  brought  into  town,  when  the  vote  of  March  was* 


repeated  and  a  committee  of  ten  wns  appointed  to  watclr. 
over  its   enforcement.     At  the  same  meeting,  a  <^eries' 
of  resolui ions  were  passed,  which  stated  that  this  com-- 
mittee  was  chosen  for  the  reason  assigned  ;  and  that  un- 
less the  traders,  violating'  the  agreement,  should  deliver 
up  their  gt)ods  to  be  kept  until  the  agreement  was  an-- 
nulled,  and  promise  to  abide  by  it  in  future,  the  com- 
mittee were   to  publish   their  names  as-*' enemies  of* 
their  country,''    and    lay   the    whole    before  the  town. 
The  merchants  had  agreed  to  permit  goods  to  be  takeov 
in  exchange  for  ships;  but  as  it   was    feared  that  thi3 
privilege  had.  been   abusively  made  a  cover  for  other 
transactions^  the  committee  was   instructed  to  prevent 
such  abuses,  and  to  treat  the  guilty   as  importers.     And 
as  the  town  thought  it  necessary  to  refrain  entirely  from 
the  use  of  foreign  teas,   the   committee  was  directed  to 
prepare  a  paper  for  those  to  sigo,  who  consented   to  re- 
frain, and  to  lay  before  the  town  the  names   of  the  re- 
cusants, as  well  as  those  who  entered  into  but  violated. 
the  agreement. 

At  a  town  meeting,  January  1st,  1773,  it  was. 

"Voted,  thatcapt.  Jonathan  Greenleaf,  our  represen-* 
tative,  be  acquainted  that  it  is  the  desire  and  expecta- 
tion of  this  town,  that  he  will  persevere  witii  steadiness 
and  resolution  in  conjunction  with  his  brethren  in  the 
honorable  House  of  Representatives,  to  use  his  utmost 
endeavors  to  procure  a  full  and  complete  redress  of  all 
our  public  grievances ;  and  to  do  every  thing  in  his 
power  in  order  that  the  present  and  succeeding  gener^* 
ations  may  have  the  full  enjoyment  of  those  privileges 
and  advantages,  which  naturally  and  necessarily  result 
from  our  glorious  constitution.  This  we  esteem  a  mat-* 
ter  of  the  highest  concernment,-  and  we  recommend  it. 
to  him,  to  join  with  his  brethren  in  the  honorable  House,, 
at  the  approaching  session,  if  they  shall  think  it  proper, 
to  lay  before  lord  Dartmouth,  one  of  his  majesty's 
secretaries  of  state,  in  a  decent,  respectful  address,  a 
full  state  of  of  our  public  grievances,  and  to  intreat 
his  lordship's  favor  and  influence  inbehalf  of  an  injured 
and  oppressed  people." — . 

In  the  course  of  this  year,  it  appears  that  the  corres*. 
pondencc  of  the  several  towns   began  to   grow    more. 


and  more  clo90,  a>  the  impending  danger  increased  ;  nncf 
meetings  were  holden  repeatedly  i'ov  the  purpose  of 
coiuiraiiijg  and  strengthening  the  strict  union,,  which  all 
now  saw  to  be  necessary.  The  following  letter  to  the 
Boston  Committee  of  Correspondence,  adopted  at  a  tovvn 
meeting  held  DecciTibcr  20th,  i775,  speaks  in  the  tone 
of  boldness  and  detiance,  which  was  speedily  followed 
by  an  appeal  to  arms. 

"  It  is  with  astonisiiment  that  we  reflect  on  the   unre- 
mitted efforts  of  the  British  mini-try  and   Parliament  to 
iasten  inlam}'  and  ruin  upon  these  Colonies.    They  not 
only  claim  a  right  to  control  and  tax  us  at  their  pleasure, 
but  are  practising  ^,very  species  of  Iraud,  as  well  as  vi- 
olence, their   deluded  minds  can   suppose  feasible,  to 
support  and  establish  this  absurd  and  injurious  claim.  A 
fresh  instance  we  have   in  the  plan  lately   adopted  for 
supplying  the  Colonies  with  tea.    If  the  money  thus  un- 
constitutionaiiy  taken  Irom  us,  was  to  be    expended   for 
cur  real  benefit  and  advantage,  still   it  would  be    griev- 
ous ;  as  the  method  of  obtaining  it  is  of  a  dangerous  na- 
ture and  fatal  tende^c3^     But  we  lose  all  patience  when 
we  con«iider  that  the  industrious  x\mericans    are  to  he 
stript  oi  their  honest  earnings  to  gratify    the  humors  of 
lawless  and  ambitious   men,    and  to  support  in  idleness 
and  luxury  a  parcel  of  worthless  parasites,    their   crea- 
tures and  tools,  who  are  swarming    thick  upon    us,    and 
are  already  become  a  notorious  burden  to  the   commu- 
nity.    We  are  sorry  that  any,  who  call  themselves   A- 
mericans,  are  hardy  enough  to  justify  such  unrighteous 
proceedings;  they  surely  deserve  the    utmost  contempt 
and  indisfnation  of  all  honest  men  throughout  the  world  : 
ibr  our  part,  we  shall  en  leaver    to  treat  them  according 
to  their  deserts.     By  the  public  prints  we  are    favored 
with  the  sentiments  of  several  respectable  towns  in  the 
Province,  expressed  in  a  number  of  manly,  sensible,  and 
spirited  resolves,  with   respect  to  the  evils  immediate- 
ly betbre  us.     We   are    under  great  obligations  to  our 
worthy    friends    and    brethren,    wlio    have    nobly  stood 
forth  in  thi«   important  cause  :  we   assure    them,   that, 
should  they  need  our  assistance  on  any  emergency,  we 
determine  most  readily  to   exert  our  utm«)St  abilities  in 
every  maaly  and  laudable  way  our  wisdom  may  dictate 


for  the  salvation  of  cur  country,  even  at  the  hazard  of 
our  lives ;  and  trusting  through  the  favor  oT  a  liind 
providence  we  shall  be  able  to  frustrate  ail  the  designs 
of  our  enemies." 

When  the  Provincial  Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1774,  the  town  made  the  following  repre- 
sentation of  its  circumstances  and  wishes.    It  was  voted 

'•  That  this  town  confiding  entirely  in  the  wisdom  and 
firmness  of  the  general  Congress  of  deputies  from  the 
several  Colonies  in  America,  which  is  to  meet  in  Sept. 
next  at  Philadelphia,  is  determined  and  now  resolves  to 
abide  by,  and  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  fully  comply 
with,  the  Qnal  determination  of  said  Congress,  let  the 
sacrince  be  ever  so  great. 

"  That  although  this  town,  by  their  vote  the  afore- 
said day,  is  willing  to  stop  all  trade  lor  the  sake  of  ob- 
taining more  speedy  and  effectual  relief,  notwithstand- 
ing, as  it  may  seem,  more  expedient  to  the  Congress, 
that  some  trades  and  branches  of  commerce  may  be  en- 
tirely stopped,  and  others  permitted  ;  or  that  certain  ex- 
ceptions or  non-importation  agreements  may  be  m.ade, 
which  all  the  provinces  should  equally  or  proportion- 
ally partake  of;  unless  an  immediate  prejudice  to  the 
common  cause  is  the  consequence,  this  town  would  de- 
sire the  favor  of  the  delegates  chosen  I'V  this  Province 
to  attend  the  Congress ;  that  our  trade  and  commerce 
may  be  preserved  in  the  same  slate  and  with  the  same 
iadulgencies  as  that  of  the  olher  provinces.  And  the 
town  would  beg  leave  to  acquaint  them,  that  tlie 
chief  branches  of  its  business  are  importations  from 
Great-Britain,  a  large  trails  to  the  French  Vv'est-ln- 
dia  Islands;  distilleries,  whi';:h  are  numerous  ;  and  ship- 
building ;  and  if  any  exceptions  are  made  in  the  im- 
portations into  this  Province,  or  any  particular  towns 
thereof,  that  this  town  may  have  the  same  indulgencies.*' 

But  however  anxious  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
might  be  to  jireserve  their  commerce  frcm  comj)lete  an- 
nihilation, it  is  manliest  that  their  love  of  liberty  was  the 
paramount  motive,  which  influenced  their  actions.  The 
following  instructions,  given  to  Jonalnan  Greenleuf,  the 
representative  of  the  town  in  the  General  Court  of 
1774,  exhibit  a  spirit  which  cannot  be  mistaken. 


10 

"The  town  of  Ncwburyport  have  ag-ain  chosen  yon 
for  their  representaiive  in  the  General  Assembly,  and 
ihougi)  they  apprehend  your  opportunity  of  acting  in 
that  capacity  may  be  very  short,  they  do  however  je- 
po.«e  in  you  an  important  trust. 

••'Since  the  dissolution  of  the  late  General  Assembly' 
great  and  surprising   innovations   have   been  attempted' 
to  be  made  in  the   consiitution  of  this  Province.     The 
bills,  that  have  passed  the  British  Parliament,  for  their 
better  regulating,  as  they  absurdly   express  it,  the  civiT 
government,    and  for   the    impartial    administration   of 
justice  among  us,  are  of  such  a  nature  as   to  alarm,    not' 
only  the  inhabitants  ofthis  Province,  but  all  the  British' 
American  Colonies.    We  should  come  short  of  our  duty,' 
if  on  this  occasion  we  failed  to  express  our  utter  abhoi- 
rence  at  the  principles,  on  which  those  bills   have  been 
constructed,  as  well  as  the  tenor  of  them,  and  the  mode' 
in   which  they  are  attempted  to  be  carried  into  execu- 
tion.    If  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  have  a  right- 
ful authority   to  make  these  statutes,  it  is  evident   that 
we  hold  our  estates,  our  liberties,  and  even  our   lives  at" 
their  arbitrary   will  and   pleasure  ;    than  which  nothinij 
can  be  more  absurd  and  chimerical.     These  bills,  which 
are  desi^fned  to  annihilate   our   constituiion   establi^hed' 
by  charter,  and  to  deprive  us  of  those  privileges,  which' 
are  Ibunded    on  the  stiil    higher    principles  of  natural 
right  and  justice,  have  been  passed,  without  our  having' 
so  much  as  a  hearing  on  this  occasion,  by  persons  direct- 
ly interested  in  the  execution  of  them,  as  they  are  man- 
ifestly calculated  to  increase  their  power  and  authorit}', 
ahd  proportionably  to  lessen  our  weight  and  importance; 
and  should  they  proceed  on  this  plan,  and   we  be  so  in- 
fatuated as  to  acquiesce,  they  will   exalt  themselves    to 
a-b-olute  tyrants,   and  reduce  us  to    a   state  of  the   most 
ignominious  and  abject  slavery.     The  pernicious  nature' 
and  ten<lency  of  these  acts  must  be  obvious   to  all,  who 
co:isider  the    enormous    powers    they  are   designed   to' 
jodge  in  the  hands  of  the  governor  :    most    of  our    civil 
ofhcers  are  to  be  entirely  dependant    on   his  will,    both 
for  their  aj)|)ointm€nt  and  continuance    in    office.     This 
circum4iM)ce,  considering  the  manner    in  which  our  ju-'- 
ries  arc  to  be  •a]>p(}inled,  leaves  the  subject  no  acsujance 


■that  he  shall  have   a  fair  and  impartial  determinafon  is 
every  cause  relating  to  life,  liberty  or  property,  iinlesR 
it  h;)ppens  to  consist  with  the    views  and    inclination    of 
the  governor  :  which  is  surely   a  most  hazardous  situa- 
tion, especially  as  the  governor  now   depends    entirely 
on  the  crown  for  his  appointment  and  support,  and  must 
therefore  be  ever  ready  to  execute  the  purposes  of  the 
ministry.     And  in  these  unhappy  circumstances  we  may 
not,  it  these  acts  are  of  suflicient  authority    to    prevent 
it,  assemble  together,   even   in  the  most    quiet   and  or- 
derly manner,    to  devise  means  to  procure  a  redress  of 
our  grievances  ;  and,  if  vve  should,  our  so  doing,  it  seems, 
is  to  be    deemed    seditious,    and   perhtips    treasonable. 
The  methods  taken  by  the  promoters  of  these    bills   to 
enforce  them  shew  that  they  were  themselves  so    sensi- 
ble of  the  odious  nature  of  them,  as  that  thev  were  not 
trusted  to  their  own  authoritv,   or    to   a    conviction    of 
iheir  being  just  and  right,    for  the  execution  of  them  ; 
but  armed   ships  and  armed  men  are  the    arguments  to 
compel  our  obedience  ;  and  the  more  than  implicit  lan- 
guage, that  these  utter,  i^   that  we  must  submit  or   die. 
But  God  grant  that  neither  of  these  may  be  our  unhap- 
py fate.     We  design  not  madly  to   brava    cur    own   de- 
struction, and  we  do  not  thirst  for  the  blood  of  others  ; 
but  reason  and  religion  demand  of  us  that  we  guard  our 
invaluable  rights  at  the  risque  of  both. 

*'  We  would,  therefore,  now  direct  and  instruct  you 
-io  do  nothing  that  shall  in  the  Jeast  degree  imply  a 
submission  to  these  nets  ;  that  you  do  in  no  way  wj^at- 
evcr  acknowledge  the  autliorily  of  those  persons,  who 
are  cruelly  and  peiludionsly  assisting  to  destroy  their 
countr3',by  assuming  the  character  of  counsellors  of  this 
l)rovince,  not  being  appointed  tiiereto  but  in  an  arbi- 
trary and  unconstitutional  manner. 

'»  We  doubt  not  your  brethren  will  conduct  with  re- 
gard to  this  and  every  other  matter,  with  all  becoming 
resolution  and  integrity  ;  and  we  have  as  little  doubt, 
that  this  will  procure  the  dissoluti.>a  r.f  the  House;  and 
if  it  should,  we  hereby  authorize  ycu  to  represent  this 
Jown  in  a  convention  to  be  formed  of  the  members 
thereof,  or  any  congress  of  deputies  appointed  by  the 
several  towns  in  this  Province ;  therein  to    deliberalts 


IS 

an!  device  snch  incafures,  as  may  conduce  to  rflieve 
us  under  our  present  diflicullics  and  embarrassnncnts, 
and  to  secure  and  establish  our  juFt  rights  and  privile- 
ges on  the  most  «oliil  and  permanent  Coundation,'' 

About  this  time  it  was  that  the  ailairs  of  the  town 
T^ere  committed  to  the  safeguard  of  a  Committee  of 
Satety, — a  name  which  ought  to  be  ever  dear  to  the 
freemen  of  New  Eno^huid,  The  records  of  the  to'.vn 
for  the  two  ensuing  years  abound  with  the  doings  of  this 
Committee,  and  with  the  preparations  of  arms  and  am- 
m-milion  for  an  obstitrate  contest.  At  length  in  May^ 
1776  occurs  the  memorable  vote 

4'That  if  the  honorable  Congress  should,  for  the  safe- 
ty of  the  United  Colonies,  declare  them  independent  of 
the  kingdom  of  Great-Britain,  this  town  will,  with  their 
lives  and  fortunes,  support  them  in  the  measure." 

Daring  the  continuance  of  the  war,  the  records  bear 
witness  to  the  exertions  of  the  town  to  comply  with  the 
public  requisition  in  the  supply  of  money,  arms,  ammu- 
nition and  soldiers  for  the  defence  of  the  country  and 
the  vindication  of  its  liberties.  Some  of  these  votes 
may  serve  as  instructive  memorials  to  us,  of  the  exer- 
tions of  our  fathers  to  procure  the  privileges  which  we 
enjoy. 

i-f-  Voted  to  give  twenty  pounds  bounty  for  any  one 
who  shall  enlist  in  the  continental  army  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war." 

'<■  Voted  to  further  the  raising  of  one  sixth  part  of 
the  able  bodied  men  in  the  town,  pursuant  to  a  resolve 
of  the  General  Court,  to  join  the  army  instantly,  and 
serve  till  Nov.  uext ;  voted,  to  give  each  man  7/.  10*. 
per  month  in  addition  to  the  slate  and  continental  wa- 
ges:;  voted  to  advance  50  dollars  to  each  man  enlisting; 
and  voted  to  remonstrate  with  the  General  Court  on 
the  hardship  of  raiaiu^  a  sixth." 

*•  Voted  to  give  nine  pounds  per  month  includmg 
state  and  continental  wages,  and  six  pounds  per  month 
advance,  to  any  who  will  enlist  as  a  guard  toBurgoyne's 
troops." 

"  Voted,  to  raise  money  to  hire  seventeen  men  to 
serve  in  the  continental  army  nine  months  ; — also,  to 
raise  money  to  hire  thirteen  men  to  serve  at  xiudson'f 
river  eight  months.''* 


r 


o 


"Voted,  to  raise  nineteen  men  to  serve  at  Providence, 
vand  eleven  as  guards  at  Prospect  Hiil." 

'»  Voted  to  give  100  shillings  per  month  to  encli  man 
who  shall  enlist  within  twenly-fonr  hour?,  50  shillings 
nt  enli«;tnient;  also  to  provide  a  wagon  to  transpoit  iLg 
soldiers''  baggage  to  Tiverton." 

"Voted,  to  give  300/.  per  month  in  addition  to  regu- 
lar pay,  and  450/.  advance,  to  each  one  enlisting  to 
serve  for  the  town  three  months;  that  a  subsciip- 
tion  paper  be  carried  around  to  rai^e  money ;  that 
the  town  be  taxed  seventy-fjve  thousand  £,.  to  be 
paid  before  the  Ist  September  next;  that  the  inhabitants 
be  earnestly  requested  to  aid  the  to«nupon  this  emer- 
gency by  p'aying  their  proporiioa  in  advance,  &,c,  and 
all  the  money  so  raised  go  to  procure,  equip,  &r..  the 
town's  proportion  of  the  militii  required  by  the  resolve 
of  General  Court  dated  June  8ih,  1780.*' 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  devise  a  plan  for  raising^ 
this  town's  quota  of  troops,  to  serve  '•  three  years'*  or 
'during  the  war.'  And  a  committee  v-/as  chosen  to 
procure  eniistfoents,  ajid  '  pay  them  such  a  bounty  as 
they  shall  think  reasonable.'  And  as  an  encouragement 
to  enlist,  the  town  engaged  to  pay  their  wages,  if  '  the 
public'  (lid  not,  in  silver  at  Qs  Qd  per  ounce,  or  in  bills 
of  credit  equivalent  thereto  according  to  the  current 
rate  oi  exchange  among  merchants.  It  v/as  voted,  also, 
to  raise  a  thousand  pounds  silver  for  that  purj)ose,  and 
afterwards  another  thousand;  and  that  two  thousand 
pounds  silver  or  gold  be  hired  by  the  treasurer. 

The  selectmen  were  ordered  to  write  to  Oliver  Phelps^ 
esq,  representing  that  it  was  impracticable  for  the  to^va 
to  furnish  its  quota  ofbeef  ibr  the  army,  and  offering  to 
pny  a  sum  of  money  .in  lieu  thereof,  it  was  voted,  that 
the  town  be  arranged  by  the  assessors  '  into  43  classes, 
according  to  propcity  and  numbers,''  and  that  eacli 
class  '  procure  a  man'  upon  *  notice,  or  be  liable  to  a 
draft  from  the  commanding  oilicer;'  and  that  each  class 
advance  immediately  money  enough  to  hire  its  quota 
of  men  to  serve  in  the  continental  army  according  to  a 
resolve  of  General  Court. 

Indeed  it  is  only  necessary  to  examine  slightly  the 
town  iccurd-i  of  the  i\ew  EngLind  to  wn*  to  find  r.mplc  au- 


14 

thorit}-  for   Mr.    Webster's    approprials    paneg'yric   Qft 
their  patriotism. 

"My  heart  beat'*,  I  trust,  as  responsive  as  any  one's 
to  a  soldier's  claim  for  houor  and  renown.  It  has  ever 
been  my  opinion,  however,  that  while  celebrating  the 
niilitary  aciiievementsof' our  countrymen  in  ihe  revolu- 
tionary contest,  we  liave  not  always  done  equal  justice 
to  the  merits  and  the  auffeiings  of  those  who  sustained, 
on  tiieir  property')  or  on  their  means  of  subsistence, 
the  great  harden  of  the  war.  Any  one,  who  ha* 
had  occasion  to  be  acquainted  with  the  records  of  the 
New  England  towns,  knows  well  how  to  estimate  those 
merits  and  those  sufferings.  Nobler  records  of  patriot- 
ism exist  no  v;here.  Ko  where  can  there  be  found 
higher  proofs  of  a  spirit,  that  was  ready  to  hazard  all, 
to  pledge  ail,  to  sacrifice  all,  in  the  cause  of  the  coun- 
try. Instances  were  not  unfrequent,  in  which  small 
freeholders  parted  with  their  last  hoof,  and  the  last 
measure  of  corn  froiii  their  granaries,  lo  supply  provi- 
sion for  the  troops,  and  hire  service  for  the  ranks.  The 
voice  of  Oiis  aad  of  Adams  in  Faneuil  Hall  iound  its 
full  and  true  echo  in  the  little  councils  of  the  interior 
towns  ;  and  if  within  the  continental  Congress,  patriot- 
ism shone  more  conspicuously,  it  did  not  there  exist 
more  truly,  nor  burn  more  fervently;  it  did  not  render 
the  day  more  anxious  or  the  night  more  sleepless;  it 
sent  up  no  more  ardent  prayer  to  God  for  succor ;  and 
it  put  forth  in  no  greater  degree  the  fullness  of  its  ef- 
fort and  the  energy  of  its  whole  soul  arKi  spirit  in  the 
common  cause,  thar.  it  did  in  the  small  iissemblies  of  the 
towns.'' — 

The  following  memorial  adopted  at  a  meeting  in  May, 
1785,  ati'orde  i'urther  illustration  of  these  remark'*. 

''  To  tiie  honorable,  &c.  of  Massachusetts  in  Gph- 
eral  Court  assembled,  -the  petition  of  the  town  of  New- 
buryport    humbly  shews,  • 

.*'Thal  in  the  years  1775  and  1776  the  said  town,  iq 
order  to  guard  and  xlefend  themselves  and  the  neighbor- 
ing towns  from  the  a;  prehcndcd  invasions  and  attacks 
cii  the  enemy  then  inlesting  the  sea-coasts,  and  making 
«ieprLnla;io:!S  on  the   maritime  towns  of  the   Stale,  pre» 

♦;>cb«tcsi!.  ^l:.3s.  Conv.  p.  2i5. 


15'  ' 

ykre(\  and  sun"!i  a  nnmber  of  piers  in  the  channel  of 
Merrimic  riv^er,  near  the  mou!:h  thereof;  they  hava 
alsobuiita  fort  on  the  Salisbury  side  of  p:rjd  river  and  a- 
nother  tort  on  Plinn  IsJand  near  the  enlrarice  of  the 
harbor;  thej' •^nn'^trdcted  a  floating  battery,'  bnitt  a 
barge,  and  made  a  nunhber  of  gnn  carriage?  ; — -the  whole 
expense  whereof  amounted  to  the  snna  of  two  thousand 
fflur  hundred  and  thirty-three  pound-,  8  shillings  and 
2  1-2  pence,  as  by  the  accounts,  supported  by  propei* 
Touchers,  and  ready  to  be  herewith  exhibited,  will 
appear. 

"  That  said  work*^  were  probably  the  nieans  of  pre- 
Tenting-  tlie  enenr>y  from  entering  the  harbor,  and  spresu- 
ing  de?truc'ion  through  thi5  part  of  the  State;  and  at 
the  same  time  rendered  it  a  safe  a«y!am  for  vessels  be- 
longing to  Boston  then  in  the  po\ver  of  the  enemy,  and 
for  those  belonging  to  Marhlehead,  Cape  Ann,  and  oth- 
er exposed  marltim.e  towna.  x\'nd  of  this  opinion,  it 
5eems,  wa<  the  respectable  committee  sent  from  the 
General  Court  to  take  a  view  of  our  situation  and  har- 
bor; as  well  as  of  the  works  aforesaid  ;  for  upon  their 
report  the  General  Court  manifested  their  approbaiion 
of  the  said  works,  as  prudent,  and  necessary  for  the 
})ablic  safety,  and  made  provision  for  supplying  the  said 
fart  on  Plum  Island,  with  gun-,  ariimunilion,  and  stores, 
nrtd  maintainiocr  a  ijarrison  there  for  a  considerable 
time.  The  ton-n,  being  thur  favort'd  \^'i1h  the  counte- 
nance and  approbation  of  the  Genera!  Court  in  these 
proceedings,  fully  depended  that  their  expenses  above 
mentioned  would  be  seasonably  reimhursed.  They  ac- 
cordingly exhibited  their  accounts,  which  were  never 
objected  to,  as  unrea-sonable  or  improper,  as  your  peti- 
tioners have  understood.  Nevertheless,  a  nu.nber  of 
accidents,  wliich,  to  av^dd  being  tedious,  they  forbear 
to  particularize,  have  hitherto  prevented  their  ol>tain- 
ing  a  settlement,  and  receiving  the  satisfactory  restitu- 
tion, which  they  apprehend  Ihem^elve^  j^^^tly  entitled 
to.  This  they  consider  as  a  mislbrturip,  esjieci.il'y  as 
the  expenses  of  a  like  nature  incurred  l»y  tiie  oiher 
town^  have  long  since  been  di^chrtrged  by  order  ol  thfe 
Gieneral  Court,  to.wards  which  your  petitioner*  have 
contributed  no  small  share. 


19 

*' An(^  as  Tonr  pelitionsr::  arc  still  laboring  under  p*" 
Tery  heavy  debt  contracteil  tor  the  general  service  and 
defence  of  the  coutilry  during-  the  late  war,  and  in  ad- 
di.ion  thereto  have  been  paying  interest  lor  the  whole 
sum  above  mentioned,  and  are  still  paying  interest  lor 
the  same,  they  pray  that  your  honors  will  be  pleased 
as  soon  a.»  possil)le  to  take  the  premises  into  your  wise 
consideration,  and  order  the  aroremenlioned  sum  to  be 
paid  them  out  of  the  public  treasury,  and  thus  far  re- 
lieve theni  under  their  distresses. 

Signed  by  the  selectmen,  '"•  by  order  and  in  behalf  of 
the  town  of  Newburyport."" 

Another  subject  concerning  wbici)  important  facts 
appear  on  the  rc^cord*,  is  the  formation  of  the  consti- 
tution of  Massachusetts.  In  October,  1776,  it  was  voted 
that  the  Council  and  House  in  their  respective  cnpaci- 
ties,  and  not  iti  one  body  ''.-houid  enact  such  a  consti- 
tuiion  for  tliis  State,  as  they  shall  think  fit  for  the  well- 
being  of  the  country;  and  tliat  it  previously  be  made 
public  for  the  perusal  and  approbation  of  the  people." 

And  here  may  be  noted  the  remarkable  singtilarity  in 
the  domestic  situation  of  the  country  at  this  time.  T.he-' 
State  was  ruled  by  a  legi^-lalive  body  substantially  like 
that  of  the  Province,  which  maintained  its  authority  by 
reliance  on  the  good  sense  and  rectitude  of  the  commu- 
nity, rather  than  by  any  coercive  y)ower  which  it  was 
capable  of  exercising,  or  which  it  would  have  been  suf- 
fered to  exercise,  if  it  had  possessed  the  inclination  and 
capacity.  It  was  entirely  dependant  upon  the  towns, 
every  <;ne  of  which  was  considered  and  treated  as  a  dis- 
tinct republic.  At  that  period,  the  General  Court  was 
rather  the  congress  of  these  lidle  confederate  corpora- 
tionc,  thrin  iliG  legislature  of  an  individual  common- 
wealih.  Whon  the  Genfjral  Court  desired  to  ascertain 
the  sen^e  of  the  [)eo|)le,  it  was  usual  to  propose  the 
stibject  for  di'Cussio!)  in  the  town  meetings.  Such  was 
the  c:»SP,  for  exami)le,  w  hen  it  was  determined  to  resist 
England  ;  and  continunllr  during  the  war  in  raiting 
eoldiers  and  supplies  for  the  continental  army. 

So  it  wa',  also,  in  respect  to  the  Stale  constitution.  A 
convention,  assembled  in  1777-8,  proposed  a  sketch  of 
tt'.^  to  the  people,  which,  was   so    much    beneath    the 


17 

wants  and  pretention?  of  the  country,  that  manj  princi- 
pal men  opposed  it  with  great  zeal  and  success.  The 
opposition  seems  (o  have  been  most  decided  in  Newbu- 
rjport.  At  a  meeting  held  March  26th,  1778,  the  fol- 
lowing" vote  occurs  : 

"Voted,  that  this  town  are  of  opinion,  that  the  mode 
of  representation  contained  in  the  constitution  lately 
proposed  by  the  convention  of  this  State  is  unequal  and 
unjust,  as  thereby  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  State  are 
not  equally  represented,  and  that  some  other  parts  of 
the  same  constitution  are  not  founded  on  the  true  piin- 
ciples  of  government ;  and  that  a  convention  of  the  sev- 
eral towns  of  this  county,  by  their  delegates,  will  have 
a  probable  tendency  to  reform  the  same,  agreeably  to 
the  natural  rights  of  mankind  and  the  true  principles  of 
government. 

<•<'  Voted,  that  the  selectmen  be  de?ired,  in  behalf  and 
in  the  name  of  the  town,  to  write  circular  letters  to  the 
sever;^!  towns  within  the  county,  proposing  a  conven- 
tion of  thoi=!e  towns,  by  their  delegates,  to  be  holden  at 
such  time  and  place  as  the  selectmen  shall  think  prop- 
er :  in  said  circular  letters  to  propose  to  each  of  the 
towns  aforesaid,  to  send  the  like  nuiriber  of  delegates 
to  said  convention,  as  the  same  towns  have  by  law  right 
to  send  representatives  to  the  General  Court." 

Accordingly  the  mo-t  eminent  citizens  of  this  ancient 
and  leadingr  county  assembled  at  l;»'Wich  and  instituted 
an  elaborate  examination  of  the  intended  constitution, 
wiiich  was  printed,  with  the  title  of  the  Essex  Result. 
The  etlect  of  this  pamphlet,  which  is' attributed  to  the 
miglity  min  1  of  Tiieophiius  Parson-;,  then  resident  in 
Newburyport,  was  perfectly  deci-ive  of  the  question. 
This  town  unanimously  voted  to  reject  the  proposed 
form  of  government ;  and  suggested  the  expediency  of 
calling  a  new  convention  tor  the  sole  pur[)ose  of  fram- 
ing a  con--titu!ion  moie  worthy  of  {Massachusetts. 

This  cnuvemion  it  wa*,  which  formed  our  constitution. 
It  has  freqientiy  been  said  ihnt  this  instrument  was  the 
fruit  of  comj  romise.  Manifest  proof  of  this  exists  in  the 
records  of  Newburvport.  '^I'he  vote  accepting  the  con- 
s'itution,  aft^r  crilici-^ing  various  parts  of  the  constitu- 
tion, and  proposing  amendments,  concludes  as  follows  : 

B   4- 


15 

'^The  town  then  voted  that  their  former  deleg'a'te?, 
be  desired  to  attend  the  convention  at  their  adjourn- 
ment, on  the  first  Wednesday  in  June  next,  and  use 
their  endeavors  to  obtain  the  several  alterations  and 
amendments  aforesaid,  especially  the  four  first  mention- 
ed, as  far  as  they  may  tind  it  prudent.  But  if  this  can- 
not be  effected,  yet  considering  that,  from  variety  of 
opinions  generally  formed  on  matters  of  an  interesting' 
nature,  by  means  of  prejudices  arising  from  education, 
and  influence  of  interests,  and  various  other  causes,  it  is 
not  to  be  expected  that  a  form  of  government  should 
ever  be  deviseJ  that  will  be  agreeable  to  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  community,  and  that  consequently  mutnal 
concessions  must  be  made  ;  considering  further  the  ne- 
cessity of  a  speedy  establishment  of  a  form  of  govern- 
ment tor  this  State,  and  that  provision  is  made  by  the 
one  now  proposed  for  a  revif-ion  of  the  same  at  a  future 
period  ;  and  esteeming  it  in  general  a  wise  and  go^d 
©ue  ;  the  town  do  vote  and  declare  their  approbation  of 
the  same  in  its  present  form." 

These  extracts  on  the  subject  of  our  revolutionary 
bi^tory  cannot  be  more  appropriately  concluded  thpao 
■with  the  address  v/ritten  by  Theophilus  Parsons  and  de- 
livered to  Gen.  Washington  in  October,  1789,  and  the 
answer  ofthe  President. 

To  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
Sir  : 

*i  When,  by  the  unanimous  suffrages  of  your  coun- 
trymen, you  were  called  to  preside  over  their  public 
councils,  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Newburyport  par- 
ticipated in  the  general  jo}-,  that  arose  from  anticipating 
an  administration,  conducted  by  the  man,  to  whose  wis- 
dom and  valor  they  owed  their  liberties. 

t«  Pleasing  were  the  reflections,  that  he,  who,  by  the 
blessing  of  heaven,  had  given  them  their  independence, 
would  again  relinquish  the  felicities  of  domestic  retire- 
ment, to  teach  them  its  just  value. 

*^  They  have  seen  you  victorious  leave  the  field,  fol- 
lowed by  the  applause*  of  a  grateful  country  ;  and  they 
now  see  you  entwining  the  olive  with  the  laurel,  and 
in  peace,  giving  security  to  a  people,  whom  in  war 
you  coYcr'id  with  glory. 


"At  the  present  moment  they  indulg!»  themselve?  T« 
•entiments  of  joy,  resulting  from  a  principle,  perhaps 
less  elevated,  but  exceedingly  dear  to  their  hearts  5-^ 
from  a  gratification  of  their  affection,  in  beholding  per- 
sonally among  them  the  friend,  the  benefactcr,  and  the 
father  of  their  country. 

''  They  cannot  hope,  sir,  to  exhibit  any  peculihr 
marks  of  attachment  to  your  person;  for,  could  they  ex- 
press their  feeling-?  of  the  most  ardent  and  sincere  grat- 
itude, they  would  only  repeat  the  sentiment?,  which  are 
deeply  impres-red  upon  the  hearts  of  all  their  fellavv 
citizens:  but  in  justice  to  themselves  they  beg  leave 
to  assure  you  that,  in  no  part  of  the  United  States,  are 
those  sentiments  of  gratitude  and  affection  more  cordral 
and  animated,  than  in  the  town,  which  at  this  time  is 
honored  with  your  presence. 

"Long, sir,  may  you  continu^e  the  ornament  and  sup- 
port of  ihese  States;  and  may  the  period  be  late,  when 
you  shall  ba  called  to  receive  a  reward,  adequate  to 
jour  virtues,  which  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  your  coun- 
try to  bestow." 

"  To  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Ke^rjchuryport.- 
i' Gentlemen  : 

"  The  demonstrations  of  respect  and  affection.  whi(?h 
jou  are  pleased  to  pay  to  an  individual,  whose  hio^hest 
pretension  is  to  rank  as  your  fellow  citizen,  are  oTa  na- 
ture too  distinguished,  not  to  claim  the  warmest  return 
that  gratitude  can  malje. 

*'  My  endeavors  to  be  useful  to  my  country  have  been 
no  more  than  the  result  of  conscious  duty: — re<yards 
like  your's  would  reward  services  of  the  highest  estima- 
tion and  sacrifice.  Yet  it  is  due  to  my  feelings  that  I 
should  tell  you  those  regards  are  received  with  esteem, 
and  replied  to  with  sincerity. 

"In  visiting  the  town  of  Newburyport  I  have  obeyed 
a  favorite  inclination,  and  I  ammuch  gratified  by  the 
indulgence.  In  expressing  a  sincerf  wish  for  its  pros- 
perity, and  the  happiness  of  its  inhabi'ant?,  I  do  justice 
to  my  own  sentiments  and  their  merit." 

"Signed,  G.  Washington." 

The  prosperity  of  NeAvhuryport  continued  steadily 
to  increase  after  the  con&titutigu  oi  the  United  Stales 


so 

fras  established,  and  the  counlry  tranquillized.  Its  in- 
habitants lirmly  supported  Washington  in  his  determi- 
nation to  maintain,  if  possible,  a  strict  neutrality  during 
the  wars  consequent  on  the  French  revolution.  Of  his 
famous  proclamation  of  neutrality  in  1793,  that  much 
disputed  but  most  wise  and  salutary  measure,  they  ex- 
pressed the  i'ollowing'  opinion  as  a  corporation: 

'^  Voted  unanimou:sly,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this 
town,  the  neutrality  of  the  Unitetl  States,  during  the 
war  now  waged  by  the  several  belligprent  powers  in 
Europe,  is  consistent  with  the  honor  and  good  taith  of 
our  government,  and  not  repugnant  to  any  treaties  ex- 
isting between  tlie  United  States,  and  any  of  those  pow- 
ers. 

t'  Voted  unanimously,  That  in  the  Ofjjnion  of  this  town, 
a  strict  and  unitbrm  adherence  to  that  neutrality  is  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  the  best  interests  and  happi- 
ness of  our  country, 

"  Voted  unanimously,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  town, 
the  late  proclamation  of  the  President,  declaring  that 
neutrality,  was  a  constitutional  and  wi^e  mea-^ure.  re- 
sulting: from  his  ardent  affection  for  his  fellow-citizens, 
his  knowledge  of,  and  vigilant  attention  to,  their  just 
rights  and  true  interest. 

I'Voled  unanimously,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  town, 
any  infraction  of  the  laws  of  neutrality,  by  any  of  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States  fitting  out,  or  being  in- 
terested in  armed  vessels,  to  cruise  against  tfie  citizens 
or  subjects  of  either  of  the  belligerent  pov\ers,  or  per- 
sonally engaging  iu  such  crui-e,  will  naturally  tend  to 
injure  essentially  the  agricultural,  manatacturing,  and 
commercial  interests  of  this  counr^3^*' 

And  in  1794,  when  the  violence  of  the  belligerents, 
and  especially  the  extravagant  maritime  pretensions  of 
Great  Britain,  led  them  into  many  aggressions  on  cur  neu- 
tral rights  ;  and  thus  induced  Congress  to  provide  an 
embargo  tor  the  temporary  protection  of  our  commerce, 
the  inhabitants  of  the  tov/n  passed  a  vote  approving  of 
the  measure,  and  declaring  their  opinion  that  it  ought 
lo  be  ooDlinued  as  long  as  the  public  exigencies  re- 
quired it. 

in  the   fall  of  1793,  a  transient  gloom  was   thrown  ^ 


21 

¥Ver  ihe  town  by  the  introduction  of  the  fmall-pox' 
among  its  inhabitants.  Only  about  twenty  persons  died  of 
it,  owing  to  the  vigilance  and  precaution  u;ed  to  check 
its  progress.  But  the  consternation  occasioned  at  that 
time  by  the  presence  of  thir*  fatal  and  loathsome  mala- 
dy can  hardly  be  realized  now,  when  vaccination  has 
almost  relieved  us  from  the  dread  ol  iti;  recurrence.  It 
produced  for  a  short  period  injurious  effects'  upon  the 
commerce  of  the  town^-by  deterring  persons  from  resort- 
ing to  it  lor  the  purpose  of  trade;  but  the  alarm  soon' 
subsided,  and  business  resumed  its  wonted  activity. 

But  tlie  affliction   occasioned    bv  the   aj)pearanc(-  of 
the  yellow  fever  in  the  town  in  the'summerof  1796,  was 
more  e.xterK-^ive  and  of  longer  duration.     Even  before  the 
discovery  of   tlie  admiraMe  efiTects  of  vaccination,  the 
use  of  inoculation  could  disarm  the  smalUpox  of  a  por- 
tion of  its  terrors  :  and  it  could  be  escap'ed  by  phunning 
all  intercourse   with  the    infected.     But    a   dej.tructi\e 
malia^nant  fever  could  not  be  so  easily  controlled.     Thir- 
ty-eight persons  died  of  the  di^ease'^in  Newburvport,  in 
a  single  season  ;   and    its  ravages    were    stayed*  only' by' 
the  approach  of  cool  autumnal  Weaili'er.  Vvhcther  if  lAas 
imported  from  abroad,  or  engendered  in  the  precincts  of 
the  town,  was  then,  as  it  is   in   like  casos  now,  a  matter 
ot  dispute  and  uncertainty.      Rut  certain  it    i<   that  the' 
disease    has  in  almost  every  instance  been  qi.ite  limited 
in  range  ;  and  ha^  commf-nced  its  p  ogre.»s  in  some  dense^- 
ly  inhabited  spot,  where  local   CM-i<es  rendered  the  aip^ 
impure,  and  su-^ceptible  of  infer  lion.--     And  it  i^  equ«]!y 
certain  that  tUMJignant  fevers  are  every  vear  ceasing  io 
be  so    widely  df'siructive,   as  the   progress  of  improve- 
ment induces  the  municipal  authorities   ta  pay  more  ex-' 
act    altenlicm    to  the    cleanliness  of   sea-poris.     To  its 
airy  situation,  the  neatness  and  openness  of  its   streets, 
and  the  enforcement  of  local  health  laws,  i'nr  more  Ih.n 
to  quarant  ne    regulation.s    PTewburyport   may  probably 
attribute  its  long  exemption  from  iniV'ctious  di-tcmpers. 

During  the  difterences  with  the  French  ''Irrctoiy,  in 
which  our  government  was  involved  in  1  ;G0,  the  in- 
liabitants  of  iXewburyport  wnrmlv  supported  the  nation . 
At  'I  toun-meeting  hoiden  April  3Uih  1798,  a  c(  mmitfee 
consiiling   of  iienjamia    Greenleafj.  Charles    Jackton, 


22 

Theopailis  Parsons,  Samuel  A.  Oti«,  jr.  and  Jonnthnft  [ 
BnarJman   prepared   the  t'ollowing  address  to  Fresider?t 
Adams  under  the  direction  of  the  town. 

'•'  To  the  President   of  the  United  States. 
"  Sir  : 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newburyport,  fulTy 
impressed   v.ith  the    present  important   crisis  of  public 
affairs,  are  prompted  no  less  by  a  sense  of  duty  than  by 
their  own    feeling;?,    to  express  those   sentiments  which 
the  occision  «o  natuViiUy  inspires  in  the  breast  of  eve-"/ 
Anjerican.     From  the  long  experience  of  your  conduct 
in  the  m^ny  public  oQices  to  which  you  have  been  ctU- 
ed  by  your  own  ceuntry,  tb.ey  i'eel  the  mo?t  perfect  con- 
fidence in  your  wisdom,  integrity   and  patriotism;  anil 
ihey  with  cheerfulness  declare  their  entire  approbation 
of  your  attempt  to  adjust  all  existing  disputes  with   tire 
French  Republic  by   an  amicable  negociation  ;   of  that 
spirit  of  conciliation  which  dictated  your  instructions  to 
our  ministers;  and  of  the- j^rinciples  of  justice  on  which 
the}^  were  iounded.     They  learn  with  equal  indignation 
and  astonishment  that  this  spirit  of  conciliation  has  been 
repelled  with  contempt,  that  these  principles  of  justice 
have  been  disregarded,  and  that  a  heavy  tribute,  with 
humiliating   concessions  on   our  p'c^rt,  has  been  propos- 
ed to   us  in   a  manner  arbitrary  and   unfriendly,  as  the 
price  at  which  we  mu-st   purchase   the    n^ht-  of  beirrg 
heard.     The  inhahitimts  of  this   tov^n;  -duly  appreciate 
the  blessings  of  peace  and  neutrality,  hut  they  n'ill  nev- 
er camplain  at  the    loss   of   those  Ideisins:?,  when   con- 
strained to  sacrilice  them  to  the  honor,  the  dignity  ar?d 
the  essential  interests  of  their  country.-    They  consi^i- 
er  the  present   interesting   slate  of  public   affairs  as'a 
solemn  appeal  to  the  hearts   ol  air  imlepend^nt  Ameri- 
can*, and  a  call  on  them  to  corrje  forward  with  unanimi- 
ty and  firmness,  in  support  of  the   government  ;;nd   the 
men  of  their  choice,  to  resist    with  becoming  dignity 
any  vain   attempt  to   derogate   IVom   our  common   sove- 
reignty, or  to  degrade    our  national  character  from  lire 
rank  it  now  jus  ly  holds  among  nations,  to  convince  this 
world  that  ue  are  alike  unintluenced  by  corruption  and 
Wy  fear,  and  that  we  will    not  be  a  divided  people^  *Aire 


23 

^  miserable  slaves  of  a  foreign  powerj  or  the  de««pical^Ie 
tools  ofloreigii  influence. 

*"•  Impressed  with  these  sentiments,  and  relying  with 
full  confidence  on  the  wi-idoin  and  patriotism  oi'  every 
branch  ot'goTernment,  they  tni<e  this  occasion  solemnly 
to  pledge  their  lives  artd  fortunes  to  support  the  measures 
judged  Lecessary  by  the  i'resident  and  Congress,  to 
preserve  and  secure  the  happiness,  the  dignity,  and  tUe 
essential  interests  of  the  Uniied  States.'" 

To  which  the  following  reply  was  made  by  the 
Fiesident : — 

To  the  Iiihubiiants  of  JVewburyport, 

The  address  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  ancient,  popu-= 
lous  and  weakhy  town  of  Newburyport,  passed  without 
a  di.'-seniient  voice,  at  a  late  meeting,  as  certified  by 
your  selectmen,  and  presented  to  me  by  your  repre- 
senlalite  in  Cocgress,  Mr.  Bartlett,  does  me  great  hon- 
or. 

The  astonishment  and  indignation,  you  express  at 
the  contempt  wiih  which  a  spirit  of  conciliation  has 
Jieen  replied  to  ;  your  resolution  never  to  complain  at  the 
loss  of  the  blessings  of  peace  and  neutrality,  when  con- 
strained to  sacrifice  them  to  the  honor,  dignity  and  es- 
sential interesits  of  your  country  ;  to  resist  with  becom- 
ing dignity,  any  vain  attempt  to  derogate  from  our  com- 
mon sovereignly,  or  to  degrade  our  national  character 
from  the  rank  it  now  justly  holds  among  nations  ;  to 
convince  the  world  that  you  are  alike  uninfluenced  by 
corruption  and  by  tear;  that  you  are  not  a  divided  peo- 
ple, the  miserable  slaves  of  toreign  iuiluence,  do  equal 
honor  to  your  hearts  and  ju  Ignient. 

Your  reliunce,  with  full  confidence,  on  the  wisdom 
and  patriotism  of  every  branch  of  the  government,  and 
tV»e  solenu\  [)ledge  of  your  lives  and  tbrtune^:,  to  sup- 
port the  measures  of  the  legislature  and  adminisira- 
tion,  to  preserve  and  secure  the  happiness,  dignity,  and 
essential  interests  of  the  United  States,  are  al!  the  a?^ 
siirances  which  the  best  of  governments  could  de.-ire 
ivom  the  best  of  citizens. 

John  Adaio^ 
^J^hiladdflda,  May  8,  1798, 


24 

A  number  of  the  inhabitants  also  subscribed  about  lli« 
same  tiir.e,  for  the  construction  and  equipment  ot' a  ship 
of  twenty  guns  tor  tlie  use  of  the  nation,  whicii,  in  the 
infancy  of  our  navy,  vva*  a  service  of  consideralile  im- 
portance. Tiie  following  document  explains  the  views 
of  these  patriotic  citizens. 

''  i\ EW6URYP0E.T,    JuiJE   1,   1798. 

."  Sir: 

A  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  have  agreed 
to  build  and  equip  a  ship  of  three  hundred  and  iifty-tive 
ton-  burthen,  to  be  mounted  with  20  six  pound  cannon, 
and  to  otr.-'.r  her  to  the  government  of  the  United  States 
for  their  use.  They  have  also  voted  that  they  will  not 
accept  of  any  further  or  ctlier  compensation  from  the 
government  than  an  interest  of  six  per  cent  per  annum 
on  the  net  cost  of  tlie  ship  and  equipments,  and  a  final 
reimbursement,  at  the  convenience  of  government,  of 
the  said  net  cost  ,•  and  they  have  appointed  us  a  com- 
mittee to  inform  you  of  their  inientions,  and  to  request 
you  to  promote  a  provision  whereby  they  may  be  ena- 
bled to  carry  their  designs  into  execution  by  the  coun- 
tenance of  government,  so  far  as  the  same  shall  appear 
necessary.  As  we  indulge  a  hope  that  this  intention  of 
the  citizens  of  Newburyport  wiil  lead  to  proportionate 
exertions  in  larger  and  wealthier  towns,  we  beg  leave 
to  sngojest  the  convenience  that  any  provision,  which 
.maybe  thought  proper  and  applicable  to  the  case^  might 
be  2:eneral.  The  inhabitants  of  tliis  town,  at  the  pres- 
ent moment,  are  animate*!  with  the  most  zealous  reso- 
lution to  supp'^'Tt  and  defend,  with  their  lives  and  prop- 
erty, the  o-overnment  of  their  country,  as  well  against  the 
open  attacks  of  ibreign  enemies,  as  the  insidious  at- 
tempts of  domestic  traitors.  They  heartily  wish  their 
abili  ies  extended  beyond  iheir  present  offer,  but  the 
immense  ravages  \*  hich  have  been  committed  on  their 
property  by  sea,  and  the  great  proportion  of  the  rem- 
nant yet  at  risk,  forbid  their  furthev  indulgence  of  their 
inclinations.  It  may  he  that  under  a  late  act  of  gov- 
ernment authorizing  the  Kxecnlive  to  purchase  ships 
of  war,  the  prnpo-al  may  be  closed  wiiho^it  legislative 
ai  1.  If  such  should  be  your  opinion,  we  wish  you  to  lajr 
the  plan  before  the  Executive^  and  we  shall  be  the  more 


2S 

gratified  in  this  way,  as  the  whole  business  may  proba- 
bly be  thus  considerably  expedited.  The  materials  are 
already  in  forwardness,  and  provisional  contracts  will 
be  entered  into,  so  that  probably,  in  ninety  days  from 
our  receiving  assurances  that  government  patronizes 
our  design,  the  ship  may  be  afloat.  The  best  calculation* 
we  have  been  able  to  make  of  the  whole  expense,  re- 
duce it  below  thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  if  the  utmost 
attention  to  econom}'  and  despatch  can  effect  any  thing, 
the  cost  will  finally  fall  considerably  within  that  sum. 

Among  the  good  effects  of  the  present  proposal,  we 
have  contemplated  that,  in  this  wa}',  government  may 
at  this  period,  when  so  many  calls  for  money  exist,  pro- 
cure the  means  of  defence,  without  actual  advances,  per- 
haps with  more  promptitude,  and  undoubtedly  with  con- 
siderably less  expense,  than  in  the  coramoa  mode  of 
^contracts.     (Signed  by) 

VVlLLIAM  BaRTLETT,  -. 

William  Coombs,  | 

Dudley  A.  Tyng,  I       Ci 

Moses  Brown,  I       b 

Wm.  p.  Johnson,  \      3. 

Nicholas  Johnson,  I       ^ 

William  Faris,  I       1* 

Ebenezer  Stocker,  I 

Sam.  a.  Otis,  Jr.  ^ 

Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett. 

This  ship  was  built  under  the  direction  of  William 
Hacket  as  master-builder  and  superintendant.  The 
work  was  despatched  with  so  much  rapidity  that  only 
seventy  five  working  days  were  consumed  incompleting 
her.  Her  keel  was  laid  July  9th  and  she  was  launched 
into  the  Merrimac,  whose  name  she  bore,  October 
12th  1798,  and  was  manned  and  sent  to  sea  with  all  pos- 
sible expedition,  under  the  command  of  capt.  Moses 
Brown.  But  in  consequence  chiefly  of  her  being  con- 
structed of  unseasoned  timber  sh«  ran  only  about  five 
years,  and  was  then  sold  for  the  merchants'  service  ; 
soon  after  which  she  was  wrecked  upon  ca[)e  Cod. 

After  the  short  lived  war  with  France  was  over,  and 
pe^ce  restored,  the  commercial  prosperity  of  Newbury- 


26 

port  conliaueil  to   increase   with   renewed  vig-or.     For 
the  period  of  ten  years  next  ensuing,   its   wealth  and 
population  were  augmented  to  a  decree,  of  which  few 
exatnj)les  can  be  found  even  in  this  country,  where  the 
growth  of  tonns  is  often  so  rapid  as  to  leave  little  space 
between  their  infancy  and  their  maturity.     In  1800,  the 
population  of  the  tonn  was  5,946  ;  in  1810  it  had  become 
7,639.     In  1802  its  whole  rateable  estate  was  estimated, 
nt  only  g3,754,920;  hut  in  1810  it  amounted  to  g7,069,- 
000  dollars.     This    period  was  one  of  feverish  excite- 
ment in  business  and  politics.     Mercantile  industry  was 
stimulated,  in  a  manner  the  most  unprecedented,  by  the 
peculiar  situation  of  this   country,    combined   with    the 
local   advantages  of  the  town.     The  happy    effects  of 
the  neutral  policy  of  Washington  were  now  strikingly 
manifested  ;   and  tor  several  years,  whilst  every  other 
maritime  State  was   involved   in    the  most  embittered 
warfare,  America,   a  neutral  nation  at  amity   with   all 
mankind,  was  reaping  a   rich  harvest  of  wealth  from 
the  carrying  trade  of  Europe  and  her  colonies.     During 
the  lapse  of  twenty  years,  indeed,  liom  1792  to  1812, 
the  full  benefit  of  this  trade  was  enjoyed  by  the  United 
Stales   alone.     Almost  every  flag  but  hers  was  swept 
from  the  ocean  by  the  wars  engendered  by  the  PVencti 
revolution.     We  had,  in  fact,  as  a  nation,  a  kind  of  mo- 
nopoly of  this  lucrative  occupation. 

Newburyport,  as  already  intimated,  was  well  adapt- 
ed  to  participate  largely  in  this  trade  and  on  a  favora- 
ble footing.     The  town  was  not  the  seat  of  any  exten- 
sive manufacture,  which  might  give  it  commercial  ac- 
tivity, and  build  it  up,    as  Manchester  does  Liverpool; 
nor  could  it  boast  of  being,  like  New  Orleans  or  New 
lork,  the  depot  of  a  vast  interior  region  devoted  to  ag- 
riculture.    But  having  direct  access,  by  means  of  the 
river  Merrimac,  to  a  country  well   wooded   with  ship- 
timber,  its  thrifty  inhabitants  needed  but  a  small  capi- 
tal to  enable  them  to  fit  out  a  vessel,  and  transport  the 
produciions  of  the  southern  States  or  of  the  West  Indies 
to  Europe.     Their  industry  was  thus  liberally  reward- 
ed with  a  speedy  increase,  in  this  hardy  and  enterpris- 
ing employment. 

But  these  days,  so  serviceable  to  the  country,  were 


27 

not  destined  to  be  of  lon^  duration.  The  great  belli- 
gerent power?,  engaged  in  combats  injurious  to  their 
own  commercial  pro'?[)erity,  soon  began  to  regard,  with 
envy  and  jealousy,  the  fast  rising  fortunes  of  America. 
They  were  cnagiined  to  see  ns  taking  advantage,  hon- 
estly enough  and  most  successfully,  of  their  own  folh^ 
and  imprudence.  They  he^nn  by  occasional  aggres- 
sions upon  our  mercaRtiie  marine,  desisting  from  time 
to  time  when  our  remonstrances  against  their  violence 
became  more  determined.  The  sums  of  money,  ^vhich 
they  piratically  plundered  from  the  nation  before  1806, 
were  immense,  and  the  losses,  which  the  merchants  of 
this  town  thereby  sustained,  must  have  seriously  afifect- 
ed  its  prosperity  but  for  the  extraordinary  extent  and 
profitableness  of  our  trade.  But  at  length  the  two  gr^at 
warring  states  of  Europe,  England  and  France,  with  their 
respective  allies,  seemed  to  conspire  in  their  attacks 
upon  olnv  commerce;  and  our  government  deemed  it 
necessary,  for  the  protection  of  our  property,  to  com- 
mence that  series  of  restrictive  measures,  which  termi- 
nated in  the  late  war  with  great  Britain, 

Thus  it  was  that  the  development  of  our  national  en- 
ergies, and  of  the  prosperity  oi'  (hfi  town,  s.o  wonder- 
fully and  so  unnaturall}'  hastened  before,  now  under- 
went a  sudden  check. 

But  in  addition  to  the  evils  arising  to  us  from  the  cu- 
pidity of  the  European  belligerents,  and  the  restrictive 
and  retaliatory  measures  into  which  this  country  was 
consequently  driven,  Newburyport  was  doomed  to  suf- 
fer by  a  [jeculiar  misfortune.  This  was  the  great  fire  of 
1811,  which  desolated  the  busiest  portion  ©f  the  town, 
by  its  destructive  ravages  ; — and  whose  effects  still  meet 
the  eye,  in  the  depopulation  of  streets  formerly  filled 
with  dwelling-houses  and  shops. 

This  conflagration  commenced  in  a  stable  in  Mechan- 
ic Row,  ne;ir  the  Market  square,  and  of  course  in  the 
centre  of  the  portion  of  the  town  devoted  to  trade  aaj 
husines:;.  The  stable  was  at  the  time  unoccupied  ;  and 
when  the  fire  was  discovered,  was  fi>uud  to  be  com- 
pletely enveloped  in  flames.  This  was  at  half  past 
nine  o'clock  in  tho  evening  of  the  thirty  first  day  of 
May,    1811.     The   fire    quickly    cxtendevl   to    Market. 


SB 

square  on  the  one  hand,  and  to  State  street  on  the  other, 
and  soon  spread  in  various  directions,  with  a  degree  of 
celerity  and  fury,  which  baffled  all  exertions  to  stop  its 
progress.  The  tire  continued  to  rage  until  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  soon  after  which  its  violence 
diminished  ;  and  by  sunrise  it  had  in  a  great  measure 
subsided,  after  having  swept  away  every  thing  on  a  tract 
of  hnd  of  sixteen  and  a  half  acres,  leaving  there  only  a 
mass  of  deplorable  ruins.  No  part  of  the  town  was 
more  compactly  built  than  this  ;  none  contained  so  large 
a  proportion  ot  valuable  buildings,  merchandize,  and 
other  propert3\  Indeed,  the  compactness  of  the  build- 
ings, which  were  chiefly  constructed  of  wood,  served 
constantly  to  feed  the  flames  with  combustible  material, 
£0  that  for  a  time  the  destruction  of  the  whole  town 
was  seriously  apprehended.  It  was  estimated  that  near- 
ly 250  buildings  were  consumed,  most  of  which  were 
stores  and  dwelling-houses.  This  number  included  near- 
ly all  the  shops  in  town  for  the  sale  of  dry  goods  ;  four 
printing  ofiices  ;  the  custom-house  ;  the  post-ofl5ce  ;  two 
insurance  offices;  four  book-stores;  and  one  meeting 
house  ;  and  the  dwellings  of  more  than  ninety  families. 

The  scene  presented  by  this  conflagration  was  truly 
terrible.  It  is  described  by  an  eye-witness  in  the  ea- 
suing  words  : 

''At  the  commencement  of  the  fire,  it  was  a  bright 
moon  light  night,  and  the  evening  was  cool  and  pleas- 
ant. But  the  moon  gradually  became  obscured  and  at 
length  disappeared  in  the  thick  cloud  ot  smoke,  which 
shrouded  the  atmosphere. — The  glare  of  light  through- 
out the  town  was  intense,  and  the  heat  that  of  a  sultry 
summer  noon.  The  streets  were  thronged  vvith  those, 
whose  dwellings  were  consumed,  conveying  the  re- 
mains of  their  property  to  places  of  safet}'.  The  in- 
cessant crash  of  falling  buildings,  the  roaring  of  chim- 
neys like  distant  thunder,  the  flames  ascending  in  curl- 
ing volumes  from  a  vast  extent  of  ruins,  the  air  filled 
with  a  shower  of  fire,  and  the  feathered  throng  flutter- 
ing over  their  wonted  retreats,  and  dropping  into  the 
flames;  the  looincr  of  the  cows,  ar>d  the  confused  noise 
of  exertion  and  distress,  united  to  impress  the  raina 
with  the  most  awful  sensations."" 


29 

*  The  unprecedented  rapidity,  v/ith  v/hich  the  flames 
spread  themselves  over  the  town,  may  be  inferred  from 
the  following  circumstance.  Many  persons  had,  soon 
after  the  fire  began,  carried  their  goods  and  furniture 
seemingly  to  a  secure  distance,  and  deposited  them  in 
the  meeting-house  of  the  Baptist  Society  in  Liberty- 
street.  But  the  fire  at  length  reached  this  place,  and 
consumed  the  church  and  its  content-,  which,  being  ac- 
cumulated there,  greatly  increased  the  flames. 

Nothing  was  more  remarkable  during  the  heartrend- 
ing scene  of  this  destructive  conflagration,  than  the 
spectacle  which  State-street  exhibited  on  one  occasion. 
Two  large  brick  buildings,  four  stores  in  height,  stood 
upon  the  western  side  of  this  street,  and  opposed  a  bar- 
rier to  the  destructive  element,  which  it  was  hoped 
for  a  time  would  there  be  arrested  in  its  course.  Bat  a 
sudden  change  of  wind  threw  the  flames  directly  upon 
these  immense  piles,  which  were  speedily  involved  r> 
the  general  calamity.  The  opposite  buildings  being 
BOW  on  fire,  and  the  wind  blowing  with  great  force,  the 
flames  ascended  high  on  either  side,  and  meeting  in  the 
air,  extended  in  a  continual  sheet  of  fire  across  the 
spacious  street.  The  impression  made  by  this  tremen- 
dous scene  upon  the  mind  of  the  author  of  these  pages, 
then  a  youthful  spectator  of  it,  wUl  never  be  efl'aced 
from  his  rccol'eclion.  It  was  sublime  beyond  conception. 
The  beholder  could  look  through  a  long  \  ista  of  over- 
arching blaze,  whose  extreme  brilliancy  dazzled  and  fa- 
tigued, while  it  irresistibly  attracted,  the  straining  eye. 

"The  sufl'erinors  of  the  families,  whose  dvvellins^s  and. 
j)ropertv  were  consumed,  irameniately  excited  the 
sympathy  of  the  liberal  and  charitable.  3ieetings  were 
held  in  many  of"  the  largo  towns  in  various  parts  of  the 
country;  and  generous  donations  were  received  froni 
different  quarters,  for  the  relief  of  the  inhabitants.  The 
citizens  of  Boston  collected  upwards  of  twenty-fciu" 
thousand  dollars,  which,  with  clniracteristic  liberality, 
thoy  presented  to  the  sufferers  by  the  fire.  By  these 
means,  the  losses  of  the  poorer  class  were  very  much 
lightened;  and  the  extent  of  the  calamity  was  diminish- 
ed.    But  the  injury  to   the  town,  and  to  very  many  ui. 

C2 


30 

diviJual-r,  by  the  absolute  destruction  of  property,  was 
still  very  seiious;  and  its  effects  must  long  continue  to 
he  felt.  * 

This  misfortune  befell  the  town  at  a  time  when  the 
restrictive  system  had  produced  a  complete  stagnation  of 
its  (^ommerce,  and  its  inhabitants  were  deprived  of  bu- 
siness. Soon  afterwards  the  war  ensued  ;  and  on  the 
restoration  of  peace  in  1815,  the  neutral  advantages  of 
the  nation  had  ceased  to  exi*t.  The  people  of  Europe,  ^ 
who  had  Ibrmerlv  looked  with  so  much  jealousy  on  our 
prosperous  trade,  when  they  were  sinking  under  tbe 
exhaustion  of  protracted  warfare,  now  enjoyed  the  ben- 
efit of  peace.  Business,  of  course,  was  speedily  divert- 
ed into  new  channels,  and  Newburyport  has  never  yet 
regained  its  pristine  elevation  in  population  and  wfealth^ 
The  consideralion  of  the  causes,  which  produced  or  ac- 
celerated its  decline,  will  form  the  subject  of  another 
portion  of  the^e  pages ;  and  is  only  mentioned  here  a» 
in  the  course  of  narrative. 

Of  the  civil  history  of  the  town  during  the  last  twen- 
ty years,  and  the  part  taken  by  its  inhabitants  in  the 
polilicai  affairs  of  the  period,  it  would  not  become  the 
author  to  speak  at  length.  These  incidents  are  too  re- 
cent to  have  become,  as  yet,  the  subject  of  history. — 
The  nation  wr^s  divided,  upon  the  topics  discussed  in 
the  public  pcts  ot  tbe  town,  at  the  time  in  question; 
and  the  individuals  intj^ rested  in  them  still  remain  up- 
on the  stage  of  life.  The  peculiar  misfortunes  of  the 
town  occa-ione-l  a  «.v-ceptibility  in  the  breasts  of  its 
inhahitantg,  and  ar  irritation  of  feeling,  in  regard  to 
polilicai  subjects,  which  is  no  longer  experienced.  The 
\iev/«  of  public  aii;iirs,  entertained  by  the  majority  of 
this  town  and  of  Massachusetts,  were  not  in  unison  with 
the  measure*^  which  the  executive  of  the  country  was 
c  mpcllcd,  by  the  injustice  of  the  European  belliger- 
eots,  to  pursue. — The  voice  of  the  nation,  bowever, 
approved  at  that  f-me,  and  has  sanctioned  since,  the 
cour-s  of  our  government.  The  expediency  or  inex- 
pediency of  thai  course  would  not  constitute  a  suitable 
matter  tor  iliscussion  in  this  place.  And  the  addresses, 
re€olutiotis,  and  other  public  acts  of  the  town,  during 
these  days    cf  cx;>yperation,    coiUl    not   be   introduced 


31 

here  without  some  expression  of  opinion  upon  Iheii- 
purport,  which  would  necessarily  be  invidious  and  mis- 
placed. 

The  recent  annals  of  Ihe  town  furnish  no  events,  for 
the  pen  of  the  historian  to  record.     In  the  peaceful  and 
tranquil  pursuit  of  the  objects  of  honest  industry,  its  in- 
habitants are  seeking  to  restore   it  to  its  former   stand- 
ing in  commerce.    Success  attend  their  efforts  !     ''  The 
external  situation  of  the  town  is  unriralled    in  beauty; 
the  sides  of  the  river  soniinually  increase  in  populous- 
ness ;  the  bar  was    no    obstacle    to    the    acquisition    of 
wealth  in  forpner  times  and  therefore  need  not  be  now  ; 
our  mechanics  are  as  faithful    and    intellig-ent    as    they 
used  to  be,  when  they  gained    so    much    celebrity    for 
th«  ship  building  and  naval    equipments   of  the    river 
Merrimac  ;  we  can  manage  distilleries  or  fisheries  with 
as  much  skill  as  our  neighbors;  we  can  purchase  lum- 
ber as  cheaply  and  export  it  in  as  good  bottoms   as  can 
any  part  of  the  commonwealth  ;  nor  will  our  merchants 
or  marfners  yield  to  those  of  any  other  seaport    in    up- 
rightness,   enterprise,    or   information.      If  all     these 
things  are  true,' — and  that  they  are  ^o  who  can  deny  ? 
—  there  is  no  reason  whatever  v-hy  we  should  think  our 
future  prospects  more  discouraging  than  the  rest  of  the, 
maritime  towns  of  equal  size  in  New  Englaod."* 

*  Oration  delivered  iu  Ne-nbiirj port  July  4ih.  1821. 


32 


TOPOaH  APHY. 


Newbur-yport,  as  incorporated,  was  compressed  with- 
in very  narrow  limits,  lyln^  contiguous  to  the  Merri- 
mic  on  one  side,  and  heing  surrounded  on  the  other 
''three  sides  by  the  then  town  of  Newbury.  Tlie  ma- 
terial section  of  the  act  of  incorporation  is  in  the  fol- 
lowing  words,  namely  : — 

"  Anno  Reorni  Reofis  Georsfii  Tcrtii  Quarto. 

An  Act  for  erecting  part  of  the  town  of  Newbury  m- 
to  a  new  town  by  the  name  of  Newburyport. 

Whereas  the  town  of  Newbury  is  very  large,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  that  part  of  it  who  dwell  by  the  water  side 
there,  as  it  i^  commonly  called,  are  mostly  merchants, 
traders,  and  artificprs,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  other 
parts  of  the  town  are  chiefly  husbandmen,  by  means 
whereof  mmy  di'hcultie.s  and  disputes  have  arisen  in 
managing  their  piblic  affairs  : 

Be  it  enacledby  the  Governor,  Council,  and  House  of 
Representatives,  that  that  part  of  the  said  town  of  New- 
bury   and  the    inhabitants   thereof  included  within  the 
foUovvicj'T  line,  namely,   hv^o^inning    at   Merrimac  river 
against  th^   nT'th?asterly   end  of  the   to.vn   way   com- 
monly  called  Cottle'-i  lane  (South-street)  and   running 
as  the   said  lane  doth  on    the    eastward! v   siiis  ot   it  to 
the  highway  commonly  called  the    HiQrh->=treet,  and  so 
westwar.lly  as  thi^  sai  i  highway  runs  on  the  northward- 
ly side   thereof,   '.ill    it  comes    to  a   highway  known  by 
the   name    of   Fish-street,     (State-street)    and    thence 
Routhwestwardiy  as  the  way  g-oes  and  on  the  castward- 
ly  side  thereof  leading  by  Reujarnin  Moody's,  to  a  place 
called  the  West  Indies,  until  it  inter-ects  a  straight  line 
drawn  from  the  southwardly  side  of  the  highway  against 
Cottle's  lane  as  aforesaid  to  a  rock  in  the  great  pasture 


33 

Henr  the  dividing  line  between  the  third  and  fifth  par- 
ishes there,  and  so  as  the  said  straight  line  goes  until  it 
comes  to  the  dividing  line  aforesaid,  from  thence  as  the 
said  dividing  line  runs  by  the  said  fifth  parish  down  to 
Merrimac  river,  and  thence  along  said  river  to  the  place 
first  mentioned, — be  and  hereby  are  constituted  anvl 
made  a  separate  and  distinct  town  by  the  name  of 
Newbury  port,  vested  and  endowed  with  all  the  power?, 
privileges,  and  immunities,  that  the  inhabitants  of  any  of 
the  towns  within  this  Province  do  or  ought  by  law  to 
enjoy." 

The  space  comprehended  within  these  limils  con- 
tains but  647  acres,  and  constitutes  the  smallest  town  in 
the  commonwealth.  Add  to  this  that  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  territory  lies  in  common,  or  is  unoccupi- 
ed by  houses,  and  the  denseness  of  the  population  in  the 
occupied  portion  of  it,  will  be  still  more  manifest. 

This  tract  of  land  was  first  laid  out  in  1644,  five  years 
after  the  incorporation  of  Newbury.  In  1642  the  town 
ofNevvbury  '  well  weighing  the  straights  they  were  in 
for  want  of  plough  ground,  remoteness  of  the  common, 
and  scarcity  of  fencing  stuff,'  granted  authority  to 
Thomas  Parker,  James  Noyes,  John  Woodbridge,  Ed- 
ward Hawson,  John  Cutting,  Edward  Yv'oodman,  John 
Lo-jole  (Lowell)  and  John  Clark,  to  lay  out  a  '  new  town,"* 
which  was  accordingly  done  January  11th  1644.  This 
'new  town'  included  all  the  inhabited  part  of  Newbury- 
port,  extending  south  westerly  to  a  line  running  nearly 
parallel  with  the  river  '•  through  the  pine-swamp.' 

A  considerable  tract  of  land  within  the  limits  of  this 
town,  namely,  the  water  lots,  was  then  and  long  contin- 
ued to  be  in  common  and  undivided.  In  1707  the  pro- 
prietors voted  to  divide  these  water  lot?,  and  the  com- 
mittee appointed  for  the  purpose  completed  their  task 
in  1714.  They  were  divided  into  225  lots,  '  by  the 
same  rule  as  the  6000  acres  in  the  upper  woods  were 
laid  out,'  assigning  to  each  commoner  his  rateable  pro- 
portion, and  leaving  suitable  public  landing  places. — 
Since  that  time,  and  mostly  subsequent  to  the  incorpora- 
tion of  Newburyport,  fifteen  large  wharves,  and  a  number 
of  small  ones  have  been  constructed  upon  these  water- 
lots. 


34 


The  location  of"  the  towa  presented  facilities  For  lay- 
ing- out  the  streets  with  regnlarity,  which  have  n6t  been 
disregarded.  The  populous  part  of  the  town  forms  a  par- 
a'lelogram  covering  the  declivity  beside  the  Merrimac,  of 
v/hich  the  long  sides  are  \Vater-5treet  next  the  river, 
and  High-street  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge.  The  oth- 
er main  streets  unite  these  nearly  at  right  angles,  and 
are  generally  wide,  and  constructed  with  great  neatness 
and  convenience.  And  these  again  are  intersected  by 
other  small  streets  of  similar  construction. 

The  principal  public  buildings  in  Newbiiryport 
are,  a  brick  court-house,  one  half  of  which  is  the 
property  of  the  county,  and  the  other  half  of  the 
town  ;  a  stone  gaol,  erected  in  l825  ;  a  brick  market- 
house,  built  in  1823;  a  town-hall  ;  four  brick  school- 
houses  and  seven  churches.  Of  the  churches  and 
schools  a  more  particular  account  will  be  given  in  the 
sequel. 

Of  the  public  improvements  connected  with  the  town 
\a\-^  most  expensive  is  the  Nevvburyport  Turnpike. — 
This  was  begun  in  1803  and  completed  in  1806. — 
It  proceeds  in  a  straight  line  from  the  head  of  State- 
street  in  Newburyport  to  Maiden  bridge,  and  makes  the 
distance  only  thirty-two  miles  to  Boston,  more  than  five 
miles  less  than  the  main  post  road.  Immense  laboi^ 
was  employed  in  the  con«itruction  of  this  road,  in  filling 
up  deep  vallies,  and  digging  away  bills,  so  as  to  pre- 
serve the  direct  coui^e  to  Boston.  In  the  first  twenty 
miles  all  the  angles  together  increase  the  distance  only 
eighty-three  feet: — .so  successful  were  the  projectors  in 
the  accomplishment  of  their  purpose-  The  '.vhoie  cost 
of  this  turnpike  was  420,000  dollars,  and  the  orig- 
inal proprietors  have  received  a  very  scanty  income 
from  their  investments  in  the  stock. — Taste  and  the 
exigencies  of  business  carry  most  travellers  through  Ips- 
wich and  Salem,  and  away  from  the  turnpike,  which 
would  probabl}'  have  •been  more  valuable  and  useful, 
had  it  been  so  directed  as  to  take  those  towns  in  its 
course.  But  although  less  useful  than  it  might  be  if  it 
ran  otherwise,  it  is  a  monument  of  the  enterprise  and 
perseverance  of  its  projectors. 


a5 

The  local  advantages  oC  NewburypoFt  as  a  place  e( 
business  are  derived  from  its  continuity  to  the  Blerri- 
mac.  This  name,  handed  down  from  the  aboriginal  in- 
habitants of  the  country,  signifies  a  iturgeon.  The  riv- 
er is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  remigewasset  and 
Winipisiogee,  in  New  Hampshire.  The  Winipisioge« 
flows  from  the  lake  of  that  name,  and  unites  with  the 
Pemigewasset  at  Sanbornton,  after  which  the  confluent 
stream  bears  the  name  of  Merrimac.  The  Pemigfewas- 
set  arises  in  the  White  Mountains,  and  in  its  lon'r  de- 
scent  among  the  highlands  receives  accessions  from 
many  tributary  rivulets.  From  its  soure  the  Pemige- 
wasset flows  south  about  fifty  miles  to  the  junction  ;  and 
from  thence  the  Merrimac  runs  about  ninety  miles,  first 
ill  a  southerly  and  afterwards  in  an  easterly  direction  to 
the  sea. 

Iq  its  course  the  Merrimac  passes  over  many  falls.  Of 
these  the  most  remarkable,  either  for  beauty  or  height, 

are  the  Hookset,  the  Amoskeag,  and  the  Patucket 

Around  each  of  these,  navigable  canals  have  been  con- 
structed. The  canal  at  Patucket  fall  is  the  site  of  the 
great  manufacturing  establishments,  which  have  given 
such  sudden  rise  to  the  eastern  part  of  Chelmsford,  novr 
the  town  of  Lowell.  Between  this  place  and  Haverhill, 
the  head  of  the  navigation  of  the  river,  there  are  sev- 
eral other  falls  and  rapids.  A  number  of  citizens  of 
Newburyport  and  others,  several  years  ago,  obtained 
permission  from  the  legislature  to  construct  a  canal 
around  these  remaining  obstructions  in  the  Merrimac, 
for  the  purpose  of  enabling  heavy  goods  to  be  convey- 
ed by  water  the  whole  extent  of  the  river  from  the  sea, 
and  thus  increasing  the  commerce  of  Newburyport ;  but 
they  have  never  yet  been  able  to  procure  funds  for  the 
contemplated  enterprise.  As  it  is,  the  trade  of  the  in- 
terior, which  should  naturally  be  conducted  by  the  riv- 
er to  Newburyport,  is  diverted  from  thence  to  Boston  by 
Middlesex  canal. 

Several  bridsre?  have  been  thrown  across  this  river 
at  diflerent  places.  Of  these  the  Essex  Merrimac 
Bridge,  between  Newbury  and  Salisbury,  about  three 
miles  above  Newburyport,  lir«t  erected  in  1792,  is  the 


36 

most  deserving  of  notice.  It  consists  in  fi\et  of  lv?6 
bridges,  resting  upon  an  island  in  tlie  midst  of  the  riv- 
er. The  bridge  on  the  Newbury  side  is  hung  upon 
chains  ;  and  the  bank  of  the  river  and  of  the  island  at 
this  point  being  high  and  precipitous,  the  plan  of  the 
bridge  is  a  veiy  happy  effort  to  o\ ercouie  the  natural 
difficulties  of  the  location.  The  engineer  under  whose 
direction  it  was  built  was  Mr.  Timothy  Palmer,  a  citi- 
zen of  JSTewburyport,  who  died  there  in  1821,  to  whose 
taste  and  enterprise  much  of  the  regularity  and  beauty 
of  its  streets  are  to  be  attributed. 

The  direct  coarse  from  Boston  to  Portsmouth  and 
Portland  lies  through  Newburyport.  But  in  conse- 
quence of  the  Essex  Merrimac  bridge  being  upwards  of 
two  miles  above  Newburyport  on  the  river,  the  travel- 
ler on  the  great  eastern  post  road  is  obliged  to  deflect 
to  the  westward  at  Newburyport,  and  pass  up  the  riv- 
er to  cross  the  bridge.  To  remedy  this  inconvenience, 
a  new  bridge  is  now  constructing  near  the  ferry  over 
the  Merrimac  I'rom  Newburyport  to  Salisbury,  which 
will  considerably  diminish  the  distance  to    Portsmouth. 

The  mean  breadth  of  the  Merrimac  at  Newburyport, 
may  be  estimated  at  about  eighty  rods.  The  harbor 
is  capacious,  safe,  and  commodious,  but  difficult  of  en- 
trance, the  mouth  of  the  river  being  obstructed  by  a 
bar.  This  bar  consists  of  loose  shifting  sand,  and  the 
channel  over  it  is  narrow  and  terminated  on  each  side 
by  dangerous  shoals.  The  greatest  depth  of  water  up- 
on it,  at  high  tides,  is  about  fourteen  feet.  It  •  is  prob- 
ably formed  by  the  current  of  the  river,  in  its  progress 
out,  meeting  *the  drift  of  the  sea  and  opposing  winds, 
and  by  that  means  forming  a  bank  of  loose  sand,  which 
the  strength  of  the  tide  is  insufficient  to  force  out.'*— 
It  extends  across  before  the  mouth  of  the  river  from 
Salisbury  beach  to  Plum  island.  This  island  is  about 
eight  miles  long,  and  not  more  than  live  hundred  paces 
in  width,  stretching  along  the  shore,  from  which  it  is 
separated  by  a  narrow  river,  which  empties  itself  into 
Ipswich  bay.  It  consists  of  yellow  sand,  thrown  up  by 
the  wind   into  fantastic  hillocks,  and  bearing   scarcely 

•  Plunt'i  Coast  Pilot,  page  159. 


37 

aij  vegetation  except  thickets  of  juniper  and  the  plum,* 
from  which  it  derives  its  name  ;  a  very  small  part  of  it 
being  capable  of  cultivation.  Two  light-houses  stand 
upon  the  northerly  end  of  the  island,  containing  fixed 
lights,  but  the  light  houses  themselves  being  so  con- 
structed as  to  be  moveable,  on  account  of  the  constant 
shifting  of  the  bar  and  of  the  channel  of  the  river. 

As  the  dangerous  character  of  this  island  not  unfre- 
quently  subjected  seamen  to  much  suffering  upon  the 
coast,  and  sometimes  to  shipwreck,  permanent  provision 
has  repeatedly  been  made  for  their  succor  and  relief. — 
Many  years  ago  tlie  Marine  Society  erected  huts  to  pro- 
tect them  from  the  storms  ;  which,  however,  owing  to 
the  cooperation  of  various  causes,  were  before  long  to- 
tally destroyed.  Since  then  the  Merrimac  Humane  So- 
ciety took  presautions  for  a  time,  to  maintain  shel- 
ter constantly  on  the  shore  for  the  distressed  mari- 
ner. Partly  to  aid  in  the  same  benevolent  object,  a 
bridge  and  turnpike  have  been  constructed  from  New- 
buryport  to  Plum  Island ;  in  order  that  immediate  re- 
lief may  be  afforded  to  such  persons  as  unfortunately 
chance  to  be  cast  upon  the  island  by  tempestuous  weather. 

The  great  inconvenience  sustained  by  the  public  in 
general,  and  by  Newburyport  especially,  in  consequence 
oi'  the  obstructions  at  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimac,  has 
directed  much  speculation  to  the  question  whether  thej 
may  be  removed. — A  chimerical  idea  has  been  enter- 
tained by  some,  of  deepening  the  sea  on  the  bar  by  a 
kind  of  plough  to  be  propelled  by  a  steam-boat.  But 
as  well  might  it  be  attempted  to  plough  a  permanent 
furrow  in  the  sea  itself;  for  the  bar  consisthig  of  quick- 
lands,  if  it  could  be  removed  in  the  method  above  men- 
tioned, it  would  be  of  no  avail ;  because  the  sand  would 
be  instantly'  washed  in,  by  the  action  of  the  wind  and 
waves,  and  fill  up  the  channel  anew. 


*  Pnimis  liitoralis  oC  Big.  Some  other  plants  of  interesting  boiani- 
•1  clitracter,  are  to  be  found  on  Plum  island,  such  are  the  Hudsonia  to- 
mentosa,  wiiose  yoUow  flowers,  and  tufted  downy  appearance^  give  a  pe- 
culiar aspect  to  the  sanijy  waste ; — the  Csnvallaria  stellata,  found  ia 
great  perfection  ; — \.\\&  Lathyrus  maritirnua  o'i  Big., '^ith  large  showy, 
purple  flowers,  and  bright  green  leaves,* — tnd  especially  the  Arttiariat 
pjSploicL't,  whose  fleshy  glaucous  steins  are  clustered  into  green  little  luft5^ 
wUieh.risiugas  ihe^  do  from  the  naked  saBds.resemblc  ocues  in  the  dcseT. 

D 


3« 

An  application  was  maJe  to  Congress  the  last  sessTci 
for  an  appropriation  for  tlie  purpose  of  surveying  the 
harbor  and  mouth  of  the  river,  and  ascertaining  wheth- 
er any  improvements  of  the  navigation  are.  practicable. 
A  sum  of  money  was  accordingly  granted;  and  the 
question  will  probably  now  be  detinitively  settled  by  a 
practised  engineer.— Much  confidence  is  reposed  by  ma- 
ny in  the  good  effect  of  narrowing  and  straightening  the 
channel  of  the  river  by  a  breakwater,  so  as  to  carry 
the  whole  body  of  its  waters,  concentrated  in  a  smaller 
compass  and  with  greater  intensity  than  it  now  flows, 
ugainstthe  bar;  which,  it  is  thought,  may  be  driven  fur- 
ther out  to  sea,  and  thus  the  water  be  deepened. 

The  course  of  the  river  at  its  entrance  into  the  sea 
Is  continually  changing.— In  the  lapse  of  a  few  yean 
the  bar  shifts  the  breadth  of  the  channel.  The  land  i? 
now  making  on  the  Salisbury  shore,  and  yielding  place 
to  the  water  at  the  adjacent  extremity  of  Plum  Island. 
The  site  of  a  fort  formerly  built  on  this  island  for  the 
protection  of  the  harbor  is  now  on  th«  Salisbury  side. 
A  tradition  exists  that,  at  the  first  settlement  of  the 
country,  the  present  channel  might  have  been  forded 
over;  and  that  the  main  passage  of  the  river  into  the 
sea  was  then  at  Ipswich  bar. 

The  chief  natural  curiosity  near  Newburyport  is  a 
series  of  limestone  pits,  about  two  miles  south  of  the 
town,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Devil's  Den.  These 
vera  formerly  wrought  to  advantage,  but  have  long 
iince  been  ab'pudo^jed.  The  excavations  are  still  re- 
garded vvifh  interest,  on  account  of  a  number  of  miner- 
als io  be  found  there,  some  of  which  are  of  rare  occur- 
rence. Tre  limestone  rock  is  intersected  with  strata, 
of  serpentine,  of  various  shades,  frorii  the  light  green 
to  the  darkest  variety,  of  a  fine  grain,  and  susceptible 
of  the  most  ]>eautiful  polish.  The  serpentine  again  is 
frequently  traversed  by  thin  veins  of  asbestos  of  a  short 
but  very  delicate  and  glossy  fibre.  Tremolite,  also, 
is  found  there  in  abundance ;  with  iron  pyrites,  some- 
times of  a  large  size;  9nd  occasionally  garnets; 
and  other  moie  common  minerals. — The  excavations, 
bpjug  superiicial,  are  not  otherwise  particularly  re- 
m^irkuble. 


59 


BSHSVOItENT  ASSOOZATZONS. 


The  charitable  associations  in  Nevvburvport  are  nu- 
merous ;  and  of  necessity  only  a  portion  of  them  can  be 
described  in  the  limits  of  these  pages.  The  following 
are  amonsr  the  most  importaat  and  most  notorious. 

THE  MARLY E  SOCIETY 

Of  Nev\burjport  was  incorporated  in  1777.  The  idea 
of  the  association  was  borrowed  from  a  similar  society 
in  Boston,  chartered  by  Gov.  Shirley  in  1754,  andanoth^ 
er  in  Salem,  both  for  the  same  general  purposes.  In , 
November  1772  the  following  persons,  namely,  Thom- 
as Jones,  William  Wj^er,  Benjamin  RogerSj  Samuel  New- 
hall,  Michael  Hodge,  and  Edward  Wigglesworth,  institute 
ed  the  society  at  Newburyport,  each  person  contribut- 
ing a  guinea  to  commence  a  charitable  fund  for  unfortu- 
nate members,  and  inviting  others  to  join  on  the  same 
condition.  They  were  incorporated  in  1777,  and  have 
continued  in  being  ever  since,  always  maintaining  a  high 
character  for  respectability,  and  for  liberal  charities. 

The  principal  ends  of  the  Society,  which  is  compos- 
ed entirely  of  past  or  present  ship  masters,  are  two  : — 
To  improve  the  knowledge  of  the  coast  by  the  several 
members,  upon  their  arrival  from  sea,  communicating 
their  observations  inwards  and  outwards  of  the  variation 
of  the  needle,  soundings,  courses,  distances,  and  other 
remarkable  things,  in  writing,  to  be  lodged  with  the  So- 
ciety, for  the  greater  security  of  navigation  ; — And  to 
raise  a  common  fund,  for  the  relief  of  the  members  and 
their  families  in  poverty,  or  other  adverse  accidents  of 
life,  to  which  mariners  are  particularly  subject. 

For  the  support   and   protection  of  any  shipmastere 


^0 

wbo  have  met  with  accidents  at  sea,  such  as  shipwreck, 
capture,  or  the  like,  it  is  custoanar^  for  the  Society,  if 
the  party  desire  it,  to  examine  into  the  circumstances  of 
the  case,  and  if  his  conduct  shoijld  appear  to  them  satis- 
factory', to  give  him  a  certificate  of  their  approbation. 

Conscious  of  the  difficulties  attending  an  approach  to 
the  port,  occasioned  by  the  bar,  the  Society  early  took 
measures  for  facilitaling  the  navigation  of  the  river, — 
In  1783  they  erected  two  beacons  on  Plum  island  to 
serve  as  landmarks  for  the  guidance  of  vessels  daring 
the  day ;  and  made  provission  ibr  the  support  of  lights 
in  the  night;  which  they  maintained,  assisted  by  the 
merchants,  until  light-houses  were  afterwards  erected 
at  the  expense  of  the  government.  At  the  same 
time  they  established  a  system  of  signals,  by  which  to 
make  known  the  quality  of  an}'-  vessel,  which  might  ap- 
pear standing  towards  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

In  1787  the  Society  first  caused  two  small  houses  to 
be  erected  on  Plum  island,  to  receive  shipwrecked  mar- 
iners, and  shelter  them  from  the  inclemencies  of  the 
weather  until  they  could  have  further  aid, — as  already 
mentioned  in  another  part  of  this  work. — The  Society, 
even  then,  found  it  difficult  to  keep  the  huts  from  being 
destroyed  by  malicious  or  mischievous  persons. 

The  Society  have  occasionally  ordered  surveys  to  be 
made,  to  ascertain  the  situation  ot  ledges  or  other  hin- 
drances to  navigation. 

In  1800  its  funds  amounted  to  g5565  ;  in  1820  to  gll- 
^22  ; — notwithstanding  its  many  liijcral  donations  to  indi- 
l^ent  members  or  their  families. 

THE  MERRJAiAd'  HUMAXE  SOCIETY 

Was  instituted  in  1802.  The  first  meeting  was  holdea^ 
August  10th  of  that  year,  at  which  byelaws  were  adopt- 
ed ;  and  the  Society  was  organized  b}^  the  choice  of  its 
ufiicers  the  following  month.  It  was  continued  by  vol- 
untary association  until  1804,  when  an  act  of  incorpo- 
ration was  obtained,  authorizing  the  Society  to  hold 
property  of  the  annual  amount  of  one  thousand  dollars. 
The  end  and  design  of  the  association  are  declared  in  the 
act  to  bfi  'for  the  recovery  ofpersonsj  who  meet  witk 


41 

such  accidents  as    produce  in   them  the    appearance  of 
death,  and  for  promoting  the  cause  of  humanity,  by  pur- 
suing- such  mean',  from  time   to  time,  as  shall  have  for 
their  object  the  preservation  of  human  life  and  the  al- 
levation  of  its  miseries.' 

These  humane  and  charitable  purposes  have  beea 
promoted  by  the  Society  in  various  ways.  The  vicini- 
ty of  the  river,  an-d  of  a  dang-erous  shore  upon  the  sea- 
coast,  have  afforded  it  frequent  occasion  to  be  of  use  in 
accidents  occasioned  by  water.  The  society  procured 
a  life-boat.;  grappling  irons  to  take  up  the  bodies  of  any 
person  who  should  de  drowned  ;  and  fumigators,  inSators, 
and  an  electrical  machine,  to  be  used  in  restoring  sus- 
pended animation.  These  are  deposited  in  convenient 
places  to  he  accessible  as  occasion  requires.  This  Soci-^ 
ety  imitated  the  Marine  Society  by  erecting  huts  upon 
Plum  island  and  on  Salisbury  beach  for  the  resort  of  dis- 
tressed mariners  ;  and  deposited  in  them  necessaries  for 
their  immediate  reUef.  But  malicious  persons,  or  oth< 
ers  in  idle  sport,  continued  wantonly  to  injure  and  de- 
face the  hiitf,  and  thus  defeated  the  benevolent  views  of 
the  Society,  so  that  in  1825  only  one  of  them  was  stand- 
ing, and  the  Society  determined  not  to  erect  any  more. 
The  Society  have  also  made  it  an  object  to  take  honor- 
able notice  of  any  signal  oftort  made  use  of  by  individ- 
uals to  rescue  persons  from  drowning,  by  the  besiow- 
ment  of  medals,  or  small  precuniary  rewards,  as  a  testi- 
mony of  applause. 

The  fun  is  of  the  Society  were  obtained  by  subscrip- 
tion, and  by  collections  made  at  the  annual  meetings. — 
In  1316  the  Society  subscribed  two  tliousand  dollars  of 
its  funds  for  the  use  of  the  Massachusetts  Hospital  for 
the  Insane. 

It  has  been  customary  for  t*ie  Society,  until  within  a 
few  years,  to  attend  the  delivery  of  an  anniversary  dis- 
course. The  persons,  who  have  oiTiciated  on  these  oc- 
casions, are  Dr  Bass,  Rev.  Jaseph  Dana,  Daniel  A. 
White,  Rev.  Samuel  Cary,  Rev.  Samuel  Spring,  Michael 
Hodge  jun.  Dr  Enoch  Toppan,  Ebenozer  Moselv,  Sam- 
uel L.  i<!njpp,  Rev.  John  Andrews,  fie  v.  Danit  I  Dana, 
Rev.  James  Mo r«s,  AVilliam  B.  Banister,  Levcrett  Saltoo- 
»tall:and  Rev.  George  Otis.  The  la^t  addre^  was  in  J 8 19, 

i>4 


42 

THE  FEMALE  CHARITABLE  SOCIETY, 

Was  instituted  June  8tb,  1803.      Its   object  is  to  make- 
regular  provision   for   the   maintenance   of  iemale    or- 
phans ;  for  their  instruction  in  the  principles  of  know- 
ledge, virtue,  and  religion  ;  and  for  their  being  employ- 
ed in  such  manner  as  may  prepare  them  for  future  use- 
fulness.— The  associates,  consisting  entirely    of  ladies, 
were  incorporated  by  act  of  March  15th,   1805.     From 
an  account  published  by  the  Society  in  1822   it  appears 
that  the  original  number  of  subscribers   was    127,    who 
laid  the  foundations  of  a  fund,  which  at  that  time  amount- 
ed to  j^l510.     This  was  obtained  by  donations,  subscrip- 
tions, and  collections  at  the  anniversary  meetings  of  the, 
Society.     The  Society  had    received    into    its    asylum, 
previous  to  ]Q22^  forty  orphan  females,  whose,   charac- 
ter and   deportment  at^ter  leaving  the    institution   have 
been  very  honorable  to  its   managers.      The    childrei> 
now  under  the  care    of  the    Society    are    thirteen  ia 
Bumber.* 

THE  MERRIMAC  BIBLE  SOCIETY 

Was  instituted  by  voluntary  association,  December  20th 
1809,  and  incorporated  by  the  legislature  the  ensuing 
February.  Their  object  is  to  raise  a  fund  to  be  appro- 
priated in  procuring  bibles  of  the  common  version,  for 
di-^tribution  among  those  persons,,  in  this  commonwealth 
or  elsewhere,  who  are  destitute  of  the  scriptures  and 
cannot  easily  be  supplied  without  such  aid;  and  to  dis- 
tribute the  bible  in  other  languages  when  deemed  expe- 
dient. This  Society  have  diligently  performed  the  du- 
ties which  they  undertook,  in  proportion  to  the  extent 
of  their  means,  by  distributing  copies  of  the  bible  with- 
in the  sphere  of  their  knowledge  and  influence. 

In  1817  the  society  voted  unanimously  to  become  aux- 
iliary to  the  American  Bible  Society.  It  is  customary 
for  the  society  to  have  an  annual  meeting,  at  which  a 
discourse  is  delivered,  and  reports  made  of  the  progress 
and  condilion  of  the  institution. 


*  FvT  a  full  account  of  the  nature  an<1  objects  of  the  Sosietv,  see  the 
tract  above  tt»cntioiiecl  j\ud  Uev.  ^.  P.WilU;«.iji»'  ;3crjn9n,  Mny  31,  I8;it.: 


43^ 

THE  HOWARD  BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY 

Was  formed  February  13tb,  1818.  The  present  num- 
bor  of  annual  sabscribers  is  220,  besides  2G  life  subscri- 
ber?. The  object  of  the  Society  is  to  afford  relief  to 
the  indigent  in  sickness  or  other  distressed  circumstan- 
ces, 

THE  INSTITUTION  FOR    SAVINGS 

Is  a  society  of  the  most  useful  and  laudable  character,, 
being  established  solely  for  the  encouragement  of  thrifty 
industry,  and  economy  among  the  laboring  clases.     Its 
design  is  to  assist  those,  who  are  desirous  of  saving  their 
money,  but    have    not   acquired   sufhcient   to  purchase 
bank  stock  or  other  public  stocks,  and  who  have  not  the 
knowledge  or  means  requisite  to  enable  them  to  employ 
their  savings  to  advantage  themselves,  without  the  risk 
of  loss.     The  trustees  receive  deposits  as  low  in  amount 
as  one  dollar,  and  pay  an  interest  of  five  per  cent  to  the 
depositors.     The  trustees  receive  no  pay  or  emolument,-^ 
themselves ;    but  every  five   years,  the   surplus  income 
of  the  funds,  if  any,  af"ter  deducting  necessary  expenses,^ 
is  also  to  be  divided.     Depositors    may   either   receive 
their  dividends  semiannually,  or  suffer  them  to  remain 
with  the  trustees  and  accumulate.     This  institutioQ  was 
incorporated  in  1820, 

THE  MARINE  BIBLE  SOCIETY 

Was  instituted  in  1822.  Its  obje<:t  is  the  distribution 
of  the  scriptures  among  seamen  alone.  A  plan  is  now 
on  foot  for  uniting  this  association  with  the  Merrimac 
Bible  Society,  which  will  probably  be  successful. 

There  are  other  benevolent  associations,  which,  be- 
ing auxiliary  to  larger  bodies  abroad,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  enumerate.  And  in  addition  to  those  already  men- 
tioned, a  class  of  associations  exists,  whose  useful  but  un- 
obtrusive charily  is  entitled  to  the  greatest  respect. — 
They  are  the  several  parish-societies,  consisting  of 
females,  who  assiduously  watch  over  the  welfare  of  the 
industrious  poor  in  their  respective  con<fregations,  and 
Slid  them  in  sickness  and  want. 


44 


^iCIdaiOUS  SOCXETXES. 


There  are  seven  reliijious  societies  in  Newburyport 
namely,  three  of  the  congregational,  two  of  the  presby 
terian,  one  of  the    episcopalian,    and    one    of  the  bap- 
tist denomination  :  ofeach  of  which  a  separate  account 
will  be  given  in  the  order  of  time  in  which    they    were 
incorporated. 

THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

Is  the  oldest  religious  society  in  Newburyport.  Th« 
founders  of  it  experienced  some  opposition  from  over- 
zealous  persons  of  the  congregational  form  of  worship 
in  the  neighborhood;  but  at  length,  in  1711,  they 
erected  a  building,  called,  in  honor  of  the  reigning  prin- 
cess, Queen  Anne's  Chapel.  It  stood  on  what  is  called 
the  Plains  in  Newbury,  on  a  spot  now  used  as  a 
burying  ground,  about  three  miles  from  the  present 
church. 

The  members  of  the  society  immediately  sent  to 
England  for  a  pastor;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lampton  was 
appointed  to  officiate  in  their  church,  as  a  missionary, 
by  the  English  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel.  Mr. 
Lampton  came  here  in  1711  and  remained  until  1714. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Xiev.  Henry  Lucas,  a  mis- 
sionary from  the  same  Society,  who  arrived  in  1715. 
He  continaed  to  officiate  until  1720,  when  he  died.  He 
is  reputed  to  have  been  a  very  active  and  faithful  preach- 
er ;  and  highly  useful  to  the  cause  of  his  church. 

His  parishioners  remained  without  any  regular  cler- 
gyman until  1722,  when  thje  Rev.  Matthias  Plant  ar- 
rived as  missionary  to  Newbury,  and  minister  of  the 
•piscopal  church,     ii  increai^ed   very   considerably  un- 


45 

lifer  his  ministrations  ;  so  that  diihculties  at  length  arose 
between  his  and  the  neigborin^  parishes  on  account  of 
taxes;  which  the  latter  claimed  of  the  episcopalians 
within  their  limits.  Mr.  Plant  applied  to  governor  Shute 
for  relief;  and  he  promptly  gave  them  a  grant  of  imnau- 
nity  from  taxalion  by  the  other  parishes.  This  instru- 
ment is  in  the  following  words  : — 

4' Boston,  27th  July,  1722.  Whereas  upon  informa- 
tion from  the  Rev.  IMatthias  Plant,  minister  of  the  church 
of  England,  Newbury,  that  several  persons  of  that  and 
the  adjoining  towns  have  professed  themselves  members 
of  the  said  church,  and  accordingly  have  entered  their 
names  in  their  register-book;  and  that  the  Rt.  Rev.  the 
Bp.  of  London  hath  settled  a  minister  amongst  them,  and 
that  there  is  a  very  considerable  congregation ;  I  do 
therefore  order,  that  the  persons,  who  have  already  de- 
clared, or  shall  hereafter  declare,  for  the  said  establish- 
ed church,  be  peaceably  allowed  in  their  proceedings, 
and  must  not  be  taxed  or  imposed  upon  for  the  support 
and  maintenance  of  any  other  public  worship  in  the  said 
town  or  towns,  wherein  they  shall  inhabit :  Of  whicti! 
all  persons  concerned  are  to  take  notice  accordingly. 
^'  Given  under  my  hand,  Samuel  Shute. 

"  To  his  majesty's  justices  of  the  peace  for  > 
the  county  of  Essex,  or  any  one  ol  them.  \ 
''  Attested,  that  this  is  the  trae  form  of  the  original, 
signed  and  granted  hy  his  excellencj'  S.  Shute,governor  of 
New  England,  for  the  protection  of  the  members  of  the 
church  of  England,  in  Newbury,  and  for  such  persons 
as  shall  enter  their  names  into  the  register-book. 

Matthias  Plant." 
In  1738  a  new  church  was  commenced  on  the  spot 
occupied  by  the  present  building,  and  conpleted  in  1742, 
which  received  the  name  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  Mr. 
Plant  was  invited  to  preach  there  ;  which  he  did  at  first 
every  other  Sunday.  But  soon  afterwards  the  members 
of  St.  PauPs  Church  and  he  had  a  misunderstanding,  in 
consequence  of  their  desiring  a  younger  minister; — and 
Mr.  Plant  ceased  to  officiate  there  tor  three  years. — At 
length,  however,  their  differences  were  accommodated, 
and  Mr.  Phuit  was  inducleil  into  the  church  in  1751. — 
He  ao^reed  to  accept  as  an  associate  ©f  Mr.  Edward  Basi, 


46 

ind  to  5ufr6ndet  to  him  a  portion  of  the  salary   whick 
he  received  from  England. 

Mr.  Bass  immediately  went  to  London  and  was  ordain- 
ed by  Dr.  Sherlock,  then  bishop  of  London.  He  returu- 
ed  in  1752  and  commenced  his  pastoral  labors  as  minis- 
ter of  St.  Paul's. 

In  1753  Mr.  Plant  died,  in  the  62d  year  of  his  age; 
after  which  Mr.  Bass  took  charge  of  both  parishes,  con- 
tinuing to  officiate  twice  in  each  month,  for  some  time, 
in  tlie  Chapel.  But  in  1766,  the  Chapel  having  be- 
come much  decayed,  and  most  of  the  worshippers  resid- 
ing nearer  to  the  other  church,  it  was  agreed  that  all 
siiould  assemble  at  St.  Paul's. 

Mr.  Bass  officiated  as  rector  of  this  church  fifty  one 
years.  He  was  born  at  Dorchester  in  this  State,  Novem- 
ber 23d  1726,  and  graduated  at  Plarvard  College  in 
1744.  From  this  period  until  he  received  his  master's 
degree  he  was  engaged  in  the  instruction  of  a  school.— 
From  1747  until  1751  he  resided  at  the  College,  attend- 
ing to  the  study  of  theology,  and  occasionally  supplying 
vacant  pulpits  in  the  congregational  churches.  He  was 
ordained  in  1752,  and  entered  upon  the  charge  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  the  same  year,  as  already  stated.  In  1789 
the  university  of  Pennsylvania  conferred  on  him  the  de- 
gree of  docter  in  divinitVo  In  1796  he  was  unanimously 
elected,  at  a  convention  of  the  protestant  episcopal 
church  of  Massachusetts,  to  be  their  bishop;  and  was 
consecrated  in  Christ-Church  May  7th  1797,  by  the  bish- 
ops of  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  Maryland.  He 
was  afterwards  elected  bishop  of  the  episcopal  churches 
in  Rhode  Island  and  New  Hampshire.  He  died  in  this 
town  September  10th  1803,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age. 
He  lived  universally  esteemed  a? '  a  sound  divine,  a  crit- 
ical scholar,  an  accomplished  gentleman,  and  an  exam- 
plary  christian.' — He  was  remarkable  in  private  life 
for  his  urbanity  and  serenity  of  temper,  and  his  dis- 
charge of  all  the  duties  incumbent  on  him  in  his  sever- 
al social  relations;  and  as  a  clergyman  and  diocesan  was 
eminent  for  his  faithful  attention  to  all  his  ofhcial  func- 
tions, by  which  he  gained  the  affection  of  his  people, 
and  the  veneration  of  the  communitv, 

Uls  society  suffered  from  various  and  opposite  causei 


4-7 

during  the  revolution  ;  but  when  peace  was  restored,  it 
recovered  from  its  embarrasments.  A  new  chucrch 
was  erected  in  1800,  upon  the  site  of  the  old  one,  in 
Tvhich  the  society  now  worship.  During  the  time  oc- 
cupied in  its  erection,  trom  April  to  October,  they  as- 
sembled in  the  church  belonging  to  the  second  Presby- 
terian Society.  In  token  of  gratitude  for  this  favor, 
the  episcopal  church  presented  to  that  society  a  hand- 
some piece  of  plate. 

Bishop  Bass,  was  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent, 
the  Rev.  James  Morss,  who  became  rector  of  the  church 
in  November  1803.  Priest's  order  were  conferred  op 
him  in  June  1804,  by  bishop  Moore  of  New  York.* 

THE  FIRST  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY 

in  Newburyport  was  formed  in  1725,  out  of  the  First 
Parish  in  Newbur}'.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 
set  of  incorporation  as  found  iu  the  records  of  the 
Society. 

"  At  a  Greate  and  Genaral  Court  or  Assembley  of 'hit 
Majesties  Prouince,  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  New-Eng- 
land, Held  Nouember  3,  1726,  Saaiuel  Tha?;ter,  Esq, 
ffoai  the  Comity,  of  both  Houses  on  the  Petition  of  sev- 
aral  Inhabitants  of  Newbury  first  Parish,  Gaus  in  the 
following  Report,  viz. : 

"  Pursuant  t©  an  order  of  the  Genaral  Court  at  thair 
Session  in  Nouember  1725,  in  answer  to  the  Petition  of 
the  westerly  part  of  the  old  Parish  in  Newbury  order- 
ing us  the  subscriburs  to  view  the  scituation  of  the  Pe- 
ticioners  as  well  as  the  other  part  of  the  first  Parish  in 
Newbury,  Espesially  where  the  middle  diui<iing  Line  is 
Proposed  and  to  hear  the  parties  therein,  Conferred 
and  make  Report  thereon  : 

In  obediance  to  the  said  order  upon  the  first  day  of 
December  Curnt  we  Repaired  to  Newbury  and  hauing 
Notified  the  Persons  Concernd,  we  Vewd  the  seuarall 
parts  of  the  old  Presinct  and  the  Land  of  the  new  pro- 
posed Parish  and  Report  as  follows,  That  the  Lane  call- 

•  This  .account  is  derived  from  a  \i\\T\i(tf\  Sermon   delifered  by  Rc». 
Mr.  Morsa  in  St.  Paul's  Chmch,  Jan.  6Lb,  1311. 


48 

«('  Chandlers  Lane  shall  bs  the  diuiding  Line  betweea 
the  old  and  new  Parishes,  and  to  coalinue  as  the  old  or 
first  Parish  has  alredy  granted  on  the  nineteenth  of 
June  1722.  But  in  as  much  as  eight  families  that  live 
near  the  said  line  and  on  the  south  side  there  oF,  viz. 
Edward  Sargant,  Jams  Crocker,  Isaac  Hall,  Joseph 
Swazey,  Stephen  Fresson,  William  Alien,  John  Green- 
life,  jun.  and  Isaac  Miricke  have  desired  to  be  set  to  the 
New  Parish,  and  som  of  them  have  been  at  charge  in 
building  the  New  Meeting  House,  the  Comity  are  hum- 
bly of  opinion  that  the  said  eight  families  with  their  ea- 
tats  adjoyning  shall  be  set  ot  the  new  Parish  during  the 
Courts  pleasure.  Also  where  as  there  is  a  considrable 
number  of  families  on  the  Northerly  Side  of  the  Nevr 
Meeting  House,  that  have  entred  thair  dccents  against 
being  joined  to  the  New  Parish,  the  Comity  are  of 
opinion  that  thay  be  joined  to  the  New  Parish,  Pro- 
uided  the  said  Parish  do  accomodate  them  with  sutabel 
Pews,  or  Seats  for  thair  reception,  without  thair  being 
at  any  Charge,  therefor.  December  8,  1725  :  William 
Rogers,  Daniel  Epes,  Samuel  Thaxter,  Thomas  Ghoat, 
Spencer  Phips. 

"In  Counsel  read  and  ordered  that  this  Report  be  ac- 
cepted, and  that  the  Land  within  the  Bounds  in  the  said 
Report  Discribed,  be  sett  of  a  distinct  and  seprate  Pre- 
cinct, and  that  the  Inliabitance  thereof  be  vested  with 
the  powers  and  Priuileges  that  the  Inhabitants  of  other 
Precincts  are  Vested  with  : 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatiues  Read  and  Concurd. 
Consented  to  :  William  Duuamer." 

The  Society  were  organized  pursuant  to  this  act  ia 
the  winter  of  1725-6,  and  made  choice  of  Rev.  John 
Lowell,  (originally  spelt  Lowle,)  for  their  pastor — 
Hq  was  ordained  January  191h,  1726.  The  parish  vote 
fixing  his  salary  was  in  the  following  words : 

"  Voled  that  v/hereas  we  have  made  choice  of  and 
called  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Lowell  to  settle  with  us  in 
the  work  of  the  nainistry,  for  his  encouragement  to  un- 
der take  and  ingage  there  in,  we  will  pay  him  one 
hundred  and  thirty  pounds  per  year  in  bilU  of  credit 
or  such  other  current  passable  money  as  shall  be  equiv- 
tlent  to  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  of  silver  at  six- 


49 

teen  shillings  per  ounce,  in  ca«e  he  shall  settle  with  us 
in  the  miDistrjj  and  that  we  will  add  twenty  pounds  to 
his  salary  after  two  years  from  the  date  hereof,  of  like 
money,  to  be  paid  annually,  so  long  as  he  the  said  Mr. 
John  Lo\^ell  shall  continue  in  the  work  of  the  aiinistry 
among  u«." 

"  Voted,  al«o,  that  we  will  provide  a  parsonage  house, 
or  give  him  two  hundred  pounds,  in  bills  of  credit,  to 
.enable  him  to  provide  a  house  for  himself,  on  condition 
of  his  settling  and  continuing  with  us  as  above  said,  to 
be  at  his  charge." 

In  May  1727,  it  was  voted  to  purchase  a  bell  weigh- 
ing four  hundred  pounds. — And  in  the  same  year  it  ap- 
pears that  the  practice  of  ringing  a  bell  at  nine  o'clock 
in  the  evening  was  commenced. 

In  the  parish  records  of  this  Society,  votes  are  con- 
tinually occurring  in  respect  to  the  school?;,  which  were 
under  the  direction  of  the  precinct.  Some  curious  no- 
tices are  to  be  met  with  concerning  their  lirst  establish- 
ment in  what  afterwards  became  Newbury  port.— Thus 
it  was  voted  in  1730  that 

"Those  scholars  that  do  go  to  school  to  the  school- 
master shall  pay  a  groat  a  week  ;  and  what  that  shall 
want  to  pay  the  school-master,  the  parish  will  make  up, 
with  wkat  is  raised  in  general." 

And  at  the  same  time  it  was  voted  that 

"  The  place  where  the  school  house  shall  stand  shall 
be  by  Frog  Pond,  near  two  thirds  of  the  way  between 
Fish  street  and  Queen  street.^' 

Inl730,  it  was  also  voted,  that 

"  The  school  master  shall  have  sixty  pounds  a  year, 
with  what  is  raised  in  the  town  in  the  general ;  and 
tliat  no  children  be  sent  to  the  school-master  but  what 
can  read  well  in  a  psalter." 

In  April  1733,  occurs  the  following  record  of  the 
mode  of  paying  the  taxes  : 

'^  Voted,  that  the  contribution  shall  be  continued  for 
this  present  year,  and  every  man  to  write  on  the  money 
he  J^hall  give  in  contribution,  and  ail  the  money  he 
jhall  give    to  be  deducted  out  of  his  rate. 

*'  Voted,  that  what  money  is  given  in  to  the  coitribu- 

B 


50 

tion  box,  that  is  not  written  upon,  is  given  to  Mr.  John 
:li0vvell  for  this  present  year." 

Mr.  Lowell  died  in  1767,  deeply  lamented  by  his  pa- 
rishioners, whose  affection  and  respect  he  had  secured 
by  faithful  devotion  to  their  service  for  forty-two  years. 
He  was  generous  and  hospitable  in  disposition,  pecu- 
liarly amiable  in  all  the  social  and  domestic  relations, 
and  distinguished  as  a  sound  scholar  and  exemplary  di- 
vine. The  tolerant  and  catholic  spirit  which  he  dis- 
played on  doctrinal  points  gave  him  the  reputation  of 
inclining  a  little  more  to  liberality  of  tenets  than  was 
usual  among  the  clergy  of  his  time,  who  still  retained 
much  of  the  rigid  faith  of  their  ancestors.*  His  family 
were  of  Welch  extraction  originally,  and  fixed  them- 
selves at  Newbury  soon  after  its  settlement.  From 
thence  the  branch  of  it,  to  which  he  belonged,  removed 
to  Boston,  where  he  was  born.  His  only  child  was  John 
Lowell,  afterwards  eminent  as  a  lawyer,  statesman,  and 

In  January,  1768,  the  church  and  parish  voted  to  in* 
vite  the  Rev.  Thomas  Gary  to  become  their  minister. 
It  was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Gary 

"  One  hundred  pounds  a  year,  as  salary,  and  also  the 
free  contribution  and  use  of  the  parsonage  land,"  and 
that  in  case  he  accepted  the  call,  he  should  be  furnished 
with  a  suitable  parsonage  house. 

In  July,  1788,  Mr.  Gary  became  disabled  from  regu- 
larly disrcliarging  his  pastoral  duties  by  a  paralytic  af- 
fection. In  consequence  of  this  an  arrangement  wag 
anrjicably  made  between  him  and  the  parish  to  their 
mutual  satisfaction,  by  which,  although  his  ministerial 
relation  to  them  continued,  yet  they  were  released  from 
the  payment  ol  any  salary,  and  he  from  the  performance 
of  parochial  duties,  except  so  far  as  the  same  should  be 
voluntar}'. 

Soon  afterwards  the  Rev.  John  Andrews  was  invited 
to  settle  as  a  colleague  with  Mr.  Gary;  with  a  settle- 
ment salary  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  pounds.  He  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  and  was  ordained  December  10th. 
1788. 


Mr.  Tuckev's  Funeral  SermoD, 


51 

It  is  mentioned  in  the  newspaper  of  the  day,  that  No- 
vember 6th.  1796,  the  church  organ,  built  by  Dr  Josiah 
Leavitt  of  Boston,  was  put  up  in  the  meeting-house  of 
thi^  Society. 

The  meeting-house  in  which  the  Society  worshipped, 
situated  near  the  centre  of  what  is  now  Market  square, 
was  abandoned,  in  1801,  and  the  new  one  erected  in 
Pleasant-street.  The  old  one  had  long  been  very  much 
decayed.  In  1784  the  Proprietors  voted  'To  give  the 
house  as  frugal  a  repair  as  will  keep  the  weather  from 
totally  destroying  it.'  The  Society  continued  to  assem- 
ble in  the  old  house,  however,  until  September  26th. 
1801,  when  discourses  were  delivered  there  for  the  last 
time  by  Mr.  Andrews,  in  the  morning,  and  by  Mr.  Gary, 
in  the  afternoon.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  the 
ensuing  Thursday. 

Mr.  Gary  died  November  24th  1808.  He  was  bora 
in  Gharlestown  in  this  State,  October  18th.  1745,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  GoUege  in  1761.  He  was  highly 
esteemed  for  his  sound  devotion,  his  judicious  and  in- 
structive pulpit  discourses,  and  his  faithful  discharge  of 
all  his  ministerial  functions ;  which  were  unhappily  in- 
terrupted by  disease  at  the  prime  of  his  life  and  mental 
facultiei. 

Since  the  decease  of  Mr.  Gary  his  colleague  has  con- 
tinued to  be  pastor  of  the  Society.  He  is  the  only  cler- 
gyman in  Newburyport  of  the  Unitarian  persuasion;  in 
which  class  of  christians  his  Society  are  ranked. 

THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  SOCIETY 

Dates  its  origin  to  the  year  1744.  It  consisted  of  per- 
sons who  separated,  about  that  time,  from  the  first  and 
third  churches  in  Newbury,  that  is,  Mr.  Toppan's  and 
Mr.  Lowell's.  They  erected  a  house  of  worship  in 
High  street,  in  which  they  remained  until  1756;  when 
the  present  church  in  Federal  street  was  built. 

The  formation  of  the  church  took  place  in  conse- 
quence of  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Whitfield,  who  produc- 
ed so  deep  and  extensive  an  ardor  on  the  subject  ot  re- 
ligion during  his  residence  in  New-England.  Whatev- 
er may    be    thought  of  the  peculiar    opinion!    of  Mi:-. 


Whitfield,  certain  it  is  that  his  eloquence  as  a  preaciier 
was  unrivalled  ;  and  his  zeal  for  the  cause  he  taught  of 
the  hiarhest  character.  The  fruits  of  his  ministration 
here  were  gre;\t  and  striking ;  and  the  establishment  of 
the  Society  under  consideration  afforded  proof  of  the 
permanency  of  its  effects.**^ 

This  Society  first  worshipped  under  Mr,  Joseph  Ad- 
am?;  but  in  1756  they  were  incorporated  and  settled 
the  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons,  who  continued  their  pastor 
until  his  death  in  1776.  He  was  born  in  West  Spring- 
field and  gr.»duated  at  Yale  college  in  1749.  In  175(> 
he  took  charge  of  a  church  in  Lyme  ;  but  his  sentiments 
being  changed  by  the  preaching  of  Tennent  and  Whit- 
field, he  was  invited,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  lat- 
ter, to  remove  to  Newbury.  He  was  a  faithful  pastor,. 
a  scholar  of  various  learning,  and  a  correct  and  ea- 
sy writer,  as  his  printed  writings  attest. 

Id  1748  the  church  began  to  be  associated  with  oth- 
ers in  Presbytery ;  and  regularly  commissioners  at- 
tended it ;  but  it  did  not  formally  adopt  the  constitution  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United  States  until  1802^  | 

In  1772  IMr.  Parsons  became  disabled  by  illness  ;    and   \ 
application  was  made  to  the  Rev.  John  Murray  of  Booth- 
bay  to  become  his  colleague.     This  call  was  repeatedly 
renewed;  but  owing  to  various  causes  was  not  success- 
ful until  178;. 

Mr.  Murray  continued  pastor  of  the  Society  until  his 
death  in  1793.  He  was  born  in  1742  in  the  county  of 
Antrim  in  Ireland  ;— and  was  educated  in  the  university 
of  Edinburgh.  He  came  to  America  in  1761,  and  was 
settled  in  Philadelphia,  and  afterwards  at  Boothbay  for 
thirteen  years.  He  was  a  popular  and  zealous  preach'^ 
er  ;  dignified  in  his  manners  ;  and  exceedingly  endeared 
to  his  people  as  a  clergyman  and  a  man.  He  had  been 
deposed  by  the  Philadelphia  Presbytery,  but  was  after- 
wards restored  by  another  Presbytery,  for  the  gross  in- 
formality, if  not  injustice,  of  the  original  sentence. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Daniel  Dana,  who  was  or- 
dained in  1794,  and  continued  in  the  pastoral  charge  cf 


♦•His  remains  are  interred  under  the  church  of  this  Societj. 


53 

the  Society  until  1820,    when   he  became   president  of 
Dartmouth  college. 

Dr  Dana  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  P.  Williams,  who  was  installed  February 
8th  1821. 

In  1794  a  part  of  this  Society  seceded  on  account  of 
the  settlement  of  Dr  Dana,  and  formed  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Society.  But  it  is  remarkable  tiiat  the  latter 
has  now  called  Uiim  whom  their  fathers  refused',  and 
that  through  them  he  is  restored  to  the  scenes  of  his 
early  usefulness. 

In  the  year  1791  a  part  of  the  Society  separ- 
ated and  formed  the  Fourth  Religious  Society,  and 
settled  the  Rev.  Charles  vV.  Milton,  as  he;ea(ter 
stated.  In  1793  the  differences  between  them  and 
the  parent  congregation  were  amicably  adjusted.* 

*  Historical  account  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  by  Rev. 
Samuel  P-  Williams. 

The  following^  is  the  original  agreement  foi*  the  establishment 
of  this  church  as  given  in  Mr.  Williams'  discour;;e. 

"  We,  tlie  subscribing  bi-etliren,  who  were  members  of  the 
first  church  in  Newbury,  and  have  tlioujjht  it  our  du'y  to  with 
draw  iherefrcm,  do  also  louk  upon  it  our  duty  to  enter  in\o  a 
church  estate,  specially  as  we  apprehend  "ihis  m<y  be  fo*  the  glo- 
ry of  Gou  and  the  interest  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  as  well 
as  for  our  own  mu'ual  ed.fication  and  cotwfopi^. 

We  do,  therefoie,  as  we  trust,  in  the  fear  of  God,  mutually 
covenant  and  agree  lo  walk  together  as  a  church  of  Christ  ac» 
ording  to  the  lules  and  order  of  he  gospel. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  anti 
seals,  this  3d  day  of  Jan.  A.  D.  1746. 

Charles  Pierce  Benjamin  Pierce 

Moses  Bradstreet  Dtniel  Noyes 

Edward  Presbury  Mager  Gocnlwin 

John  Brown  Thomas  I'lke 

Richa.d  Hall  D.m  el  Wells 

Benjamin  Knight  Joseph  Hidden 

William  Br.wn  Natlianel  ^'k:inson, jr.  . 

Jonalhku  P  iirp'p  Daniel  Goodwin 

Silvanus  Puim.  r  Sa:iiucl  Hall 
Cuiting  Petlingell. 


54 

THE  THIRD  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY 

Is  distinguished,  in  the  early  records,  by  the  name  of 
the  proprietors  and  other  persons  attending  public 
worship  at  the  north  meetinghouse  in  ISewburyport, 
and  subsequently  as  the  north  congregational  Society. 
They  separated  from  the  First  Religious  Society  by 
amicable  agreement  in  1767  ;  and  the  church  of  the 
latter,  in  token  of  harmony  of  feeling,  voluntarily  con- 
sented that  tiie  new  church  should  have  a  portion  of  the 
church  plate  according  to  their  respective  numbers. 

They  immediately  erected  a  meet-bouse  in  Titcomb- 
itreet,  and  at  their  first  meeting,  holden  October  3d 
1768,  invited  the  Rev.  Christopher  B.  Marsh  to  be  their 
minister.  He  was  ordained  in  the  same  month,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  pastor  of  the  Society  until  December  1773. 
He  was  the  son  of  Daniel  Marsh  of  Boston,  and  sustain- 
ed a  high  character,  as  a  scholar  and  a  clergyman.  But 
unhappily  he  died  prematurely,  in  the  prime  of  his  life 
and  usefulness,  at  the  age  of  30. 

The   Society  remained  without  any  settled   clergy- 
man until  1777,  the  pulpit    being  supplied  durmg  that 

time  by  occasional  application  to  various  individuals 

In  1777  the  Society  concurred  unanimously  with  the 
church  in  giving  an  invitation  to  Rev.  Samuel  Spring 
to  become  their  pastor.  He  consented  and  was  ordain- 
ed in  Ausfiist  1777. 

Dr  Spring  was  born  in  Northbridge  in  this  state  Feb-  - 
ruary  27th.  1746.     His  father   was  an   opulent   farmer, 
and  give  him  the  benefit  of  a,  public  education  at  Nas- 
sau Hall,  New-Jersey,   where  he  graduated  in  1771. —  . 
He    spent  eight  months  there  as  a    theological  student 
under  the  instruction  of  the  celebrated  Dr  Witherspoon, 
and   completed  his  course  under  Drs  Hopkins,  Bellamy, 
and  We«<t.     In  177  4  he   was  licenced   to  preach  ;  and  in 
1775,    having  joined  the   continental  army  as  chaplain, 
he  followed  gren.   '\rnold  as  a  member  of  the    volunteer 
corps,  which  made  the  disastrous  expedition  to  Canada. 
The  energy  of  hi.  character  was  fully  developed  in  this 
calamitous    enterprise,    which    was   attended    with  the 
nost  extreme  hardship,  and  entirely  failed  of  success. — 
M'^  example  aud  exhortations  were  eminently  useful  Id 


5S 

encouraging  the  troops,  and   enabling   them  to  sustaia- 
the  manifold    hardships   of  a  winter's  march   through 
pathless  forests. 

At  the   close  of  1776  he  left  the  army,  and  began  to- 
preach  in  this  town  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  year. 
He  continued  to  discharge  his  pastoral  duties  with  un- 
common zeal  until    within  a  few   weeks  of  hi^  death, 
which  happened  March  4lh.  1819. 

Whatever  difference  of  opinion  there  may  be  in  re- 
spect to  the  peculiar  political  and  religious  tenets  of 
Dr  Spring,  all  must  admit  that  he  supported  them  with 
great  ardor  and  ability.  Kis  decision  of  character  and 
intensity  of  purpose  necessarily  gave  him  considerable 
influence  among  those  of  his  religious  persuasion.  Sev- 
eral institutions  may  trace  their  establishment  in  no 
small  degree  to  his  exertions.  Among  these  are  Greene- 
ville  College  in  Tennessee,  the  Massachusetts  Mission- 
ary Society,  and  the  Foreign  Mission.  And  there  is  no 
individual,  to  whose  influence  the  Theological  Semina- 
ry at  Andover  is  more  indebted  for  its  being  than  Dr 
Spring. 

Subsequent  to  the  great  fire  in  Newburyport,  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  undertaking  a  journey  to  the 
southern  part  of  the  United  States  to  collect  contribu* 
tions  for  the  sufferers  by  that  event; 

Beside  a  number  of  occasional  sermons,  he  published 
a  Dialo^-ue  on  Duty  and  a  volume  of  Disquisitions.* 

Dr  Spring  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Luther  F.  Dimmick,  who  was  ordained  December 
8th  1819.  He,  as  well  as  each  of  his  predecessors,  was 
called  and  settled  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  Society. 

The  meeting-ho\i.se  of  this  con-retration  being  very 
much  decayed,  they  determined,  in  May  last,  to  con- 
struct a  new  church,  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  which 
will  soon  be  completed. 

THE  FOURTH  RELIGIOUS   SOCIETY 

Was    incorporated    in    1794.     The    meeting-house,    is. 
which  they  worship,  in  Temple-street,   was  commence 
ed  June  15th  1793,  and  completed  the  same  year. 


*  Dr  Woods  S.irmon  on  the  death  of  Dr  Sp»ing, 


5@ 

The  church  originated  in  an  association  of  individu- 
als, chiefly  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society, 
who  separated  therefrom  in  1791  to  attend  the  minis- 
try of  the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Milton.  They  first  met 
and  worshipped  in  the  house  ia  Milk-street,  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Jonathan  Morss,  a  part  of  which  was  then 
fitted  up  as  a  meeting-house. 

Mr.  Rlilton  was  born  in  England  and  educated  on  the 
foundation  of  the  countess  of  Huntington.  After  preach- 
ing as  a  missionary  at  St.  John''s  in  Nevv-Brunswic,  he 
came  to  this  country;  and  his  preaching  proving  ac- 
ceptable to  a  considerable  body  of  persons  in  this  town, 
gave  rise,  as  before  stated,  to  the  establishment  of  the 
Fourth  Religious  Society.  He  still  continues  pastor 
of  it. 

In  1801  the  Society  had  become  so  numerous,  that  it 
was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  the  meeting-house. 

The  church  government  of  the  Society  is  agreeable,^ 
in  most  respects,  to  the  congregational  form;  and  they 
are  usually  classed  in  that  order  of  christians.  But  they 
do  not  consider  themselves  subject  to  any  ecclesiastical 
council,  and  are  therefore  denominated  an  independent 
Society. 

THE  SECOA'D  PRESBYTERMM  SOCIETY 

Was  formed  in  1795,  by  the  association  of  a  number  of 
persons  for  attending  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John 
Boddily.  They  voluntarily  supported  Mr.  Boddily  for 
sixteen  months,  paying  him  at  the  rate  of  three  hundred 
and  forty  dollars  per  annum,  and  meeting  for  worship 
in  the  old  tov^n-house.  In  June  1796  they  commenced 
building  a  meeting-house  in  Harris  street,  which  was 
completed  in  that  year. 

They  were  then  incorporated    by  the  legislature  ac 
cording  to  the  provisions  of  the  act  governing  the  other 
Religious  Societies  in  the  town. 

The  first  me:  ting  of  the  Society  was  holden  May  3d 
1797,  at  which  it  was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Boddily  a  call 
as  stated  pastor  of  the  Society,  and  to  pay  him  a  yearly 
salary  of  five  hundred  dollars.  It  was  voted  to  collect 
Uie  salary  by  public  contribution  to  be   paid  in  equal  . 

i 


j^roportiona  on  the  first  Lord's  day  of  every  month,  each 
person  contributing  to  mark  his  name  on  his  money,  and 
to  be  credited  for  the  same  towards  his  tax  by  the  col- 
lector. The  invitation  to  Mr.  Boddily  was  give  with- 
out a  single  dissenting  voice,  and  he  was  publicly  instal- 
led as  minister  of  the  church  and  Society  June  28th 
1797. 

Mr.  Boddily  died  November  4th  1802,  aged  47.  He 
■was  born  in  England,  and  educated  at  the  countess  of 
Huntington's  College.  After  preaching  at  Westbury  in 
Wiltshire,  and  Wallingford  in  Westmoreland,  he  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  and  soon  formed  a  congregation 
in  Newburyport. 

In  April  1803,  immediately  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Boddily,  the  Society  invited  the  Rev.  John  Giles  to  be- 
come their  pastor.  He  accepted  <he  invitation  and  wiis 
installed  July  20th  of  the  same  year.  He  continued  to 
be  pastor  of  the  Society  upwards  of  twenty  one  .years, 
dying  September  28th  1824  aged  66. 

Mr.  Giles  was  born  and  educated  in  England.  He 
commenced  the  ministry  at  the  age  of  19,  and  was  for 
nine  years  pastor  of  a  dissenting  church  in  Wellington, 
Somersetshire.  Feeling  *  a  strong  partiality  to  the 
free  constitution  and  republican  principles'  of  our  govern- 
ment, he  left  the  congregation  in  Wellington,  designing 
to  make  this  country  his  home.  He  yielded,  however, 
to  the  solicitations  of  his  friends  in  Exeter  to  take  charge 
of  a  church  there  for  a  time  ;  after  which,  in  1798,  he 
caoie  to  America.  On  his  arrival  here,  he  preached 
first  in  Trumbull  in  Connecticut  and  afterwards  iiv  Eliz- 
abethtown  in  New  Jersey.  He  declined  an  invitation 
unanimously  given  him  by  a  society  in  Elizabethtown  to 
become  their  pastor ;  and  returning  to  Trumbull,  was 
their  minister  for  about  two  years  : — From  whence,  at 
the  invitation  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society,  he  re- 
moved to  Newburyport.* 

In  August  1824  the  Rev.  William   Ford  was  ordained 
as  a  colleague  with  Mr.  Giles  ;    and  continued    minister 
of  the  Society  until  February  1826,  ivhen  he  resigned- 
the  pastoral  charge  on  account  of  his  health. 

*■  RcT.  S.  P  Wiliiama'  funeral  Sermon  October  1824.. 


5S 

In  March  1826  the  Society  invited  the  Rev.  DrDarf- 
iel  Dana,  formerly  of  Newburyport  and  then  of Londort- 
derry,  to  become  their  pastor.  He  was  according-ly  set- 
tled, t«  remain  in  the  pastoral  relation  to  the  Society 
so  long  as  should  be  mutually  acceptable  to  the  parties, 
the  party  desiring  a  charge  to  assign  reasons  satisfacto- 
ry to  the  Presbytery  or  a  proper  council. 

In  1822  this  Society  adopted  the  practise,  which  they 
still  follow,  of  collecting  all  their  parochial  taxes  by  an 
assessment  on  the  pews  of  the  church.  A  portion  of 
the  parish  tax,  in  the  other  Societies  in  Newburyport, 
is  assessed  on  property, 

THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  SOCIETY 

In  Newbury  and  Newburyport,  was  incorporated  m 
February  1811.  Many  years  previous  to  that  time,  so 
far  back  indeed  as  1804,  a  number  of  persons  of  the 
baptist  persuasion  met  and  were  Ibrmed  into  a  church. 
The  first  meeting  for  public  worship  was  July  22d  1804, 
when  Mr.  Joshua  Chase  of  Newbury  officiated.  He 
preached  for  the  church  until  June  1805,  when  he  was 
ordained  as  an  evangelist,  and  went  elsewhere. 

The  members  of  the  Society  assembled  at  two  sepa- 
rate places  in  Newbury  until  December,  1805,  when 
they  united,  and  had  but  one  place  of  worship,  and  that 
in  Newburyport. 

In  August  1805  they  invited  the  Rev.  John  Peake  of 
Barnstable  to  be  their  pastor ;  and  he  acceded  to  the 
invitation. 

In  1809  a  brick  meeting-houser  was  erected  in  Liber- 
ty street  for  the  use  of  tbe^  Society.  This  building 
was  unfortunately  consumed  in  the  great  fire;  and  a 
Dew  one  was  constructed  in  1812  in  Congress-street. — 
The  funds  for  the  construction  of  it  were  obtained  by 
the  zeal  and  indefatigable  exertions  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Peake,  in  procuring  donations  from  the  benevolent  and 
charitable  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States. 

In  1818  Mr.  Peake,  at  his  request,  was  unwillingly 
granted  a  dismission  from  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Soci- 
ety. He  i*  now  settled  as  the  minister  of  a  baptist  So»' 
ciety  in  Hyannis. 


59 

Me  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Hosea  Wheeler. — 
Mr.  Wheeler  was  bora  at  Dunbarton,  N.  H.  March  8th 
1791.  He  was  graduated  at  Dartmoutti  College,  which 
he  entered  in  1807.  In  1817  he  joined  the  baptist 
church  and  in  1818  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the  Bap- 
tist Society  in  Newburyport.  In  May  1822  he  received 
an  invitation  to  become  minister  of  a  baptist  church  at 
Eastport ;  and  in  consequence  soon  afterwards  asked  and 
received  a  reluctant  dismission  from  the  Society  in 
Newburyport.     He  died  at  Eastport  in  January  1823. 

In  1822  the  Rev.  Josiah  Houghton,  formerly  minister 
of  a  church  in  Readfield  in  Maine,  began  to  preach  for 
the  Society  and  became  their  pastor  in  the  spring  of 
the  ensuing  year ;  and  they  still  continue  under  his 
charge. 


m 


MASONIC  BOBXSS. 


Newburyport  has  long  been  known  bj'  its  zeal  fof 
the  order  of  free  masonry.  The  prosperity  and  re- 
spectability of  the  fraternity  in  this  place  are  mainly  at- 
tributable, in  the  first  instance,  to  the  exeriious  of  Dr 
John  B.  Swett,  who  settled  in  the  town  about  the  close 
of  the  revolutionary  war.  He  was  di'stinguished  as  an 
ardent  mason,  not  less  than  for  his  genius,  his  education 
and  science,  his  generous  feelings  and  his  social  habits. 
It  is  said  he  was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  the  Illu- 
minati  in  Germany ;  but  however  this  may  be,  cer- 
tain it  is,  that  he  gave  the  weight  of  his  character  and 
influence  to  the  establishment  of  masonry  in  Newbury- 
port, and  succeeded  in  a  remarkable  manner.  The  in- 
troduction of  the  higher  degrees  is  owing,  in  a  consider- 
able measure,  to  his  efforts.  Since  then  the  best  name* 
in  this  community  may  be  found  in  the  masonic  order. 

St.  John's  Lodge  is  the  oldest  in  town.  Its  charter 
is  dated  1766  ;  but  there  are  no  records  of  its  meetings 
until  1781.  The  masters  have  been  Nathnniel  Tracy, 
John  Tracy,  Stephen  Hooper,  Michael  Hodge,  Gilman 
White,  Setn  Svveetser,  Edward  Little,  Dr  Jonathan  G. 
Johnson,  Nathan  Chase,  Dr  Richard  S.  Spofford,  Dr 
Dean  Robinson,  John  Andrews  jr.  and  Thomas  B.  Wuite. 

St.  Peter's  Lodge,  was  chartered  under  the  lament- 
ed general  Warren,  then  Provincial  Grand  Master, 
March  12th  1772. 

The  masters  have  been  John  Brooks,  Jonathan 
Boardman,  William  Greenough,  Edward  Rand,  Moses 
Creenleaf,  Jonathan  Gage,  Joshua  Greenleaf,  Stephen 
Jloward,  Abraham  Perkins,  David  Coffin,  Amos  Toppan, 
Edward  Dorr,  Eleazer  Johnson,    Benjamin  Whiimore. 


81 

Bfioch  Plumrner  Jr.   Joseph  George,   and  Francis    B. 
Somerby. 

St.  Mark's  Lodge  was  chartered  in  1803  and  conse- 
crated July  lllh  1804.  It  is  now  tiie  largest  Lodge  in 
the  town,  consisting  of  1|3  members.  Its  masters  have 
been  ^Villium  Weed,  William  Francis,  William  Chase, 
John  Moody,  William  Knapp,  John  Cook  jr.  William 
Currier,  and  Ebenezer  Bradbury. 

A  Chapter,  called  King  Cyrus'  Royal  Arch  Chapter, 
^vas  instituted  in  Newburyport  in  1790.  The  first  offi- 
cers were  H.  Dupicssis,  Jonatlran  Boardman,  Jonathaa 
Gage,  and  Dr  John  B.  Swett.  The  grand  masters  pre- 
vious to  1800  have  been  H.  Duplessis,  Dr  J.  B.  Swett, 
Dudley  A,  Tyng,  Joshua  Greenleaf.  In  1798  the 
Grand  Chapter  of  the  Northern  States  was  established. 

A  Council  of  Select  Masters  was  organized  in  May 
1822. 

The  Encampment  of  Knights  Templars  was  duly  or- 
ganized in  1795.  A  number  of  knights  had  previously 
met  and  conferred  the  degrees  ;  but  there  ^vas  then  no 
regular  body  acknowledged  as  a  General  Encampment 
in  the  New-England  States.  The  principal  members 
at  that  time  were  Dr  Swett,  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  Jonathan 
Gage,  Joshua  Greenleaf,  Nathaniel  Knapp,  William  W}^ 
er,  and  Samuel  Cutler.  They  were  afterwards  joined 
by  Abraham  Perkins,  Samuel  Mulliken,  Charles  Jack- 
sofi,  Jacob  Perkins,  William  W^oart,  Edward  Dorr  and 
others ;  and  uniting  with  Encampments  from  various 
places  in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode-Island,  established  a 
Grand  Encampment  for  the  two  States,  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  General  Grand  Encampment  of  the  Unit- 
ed States.  They  were  organized  by  a  charter  from 
that  bofiy,  and  have  regularly  held  their  meetings  to 
the  present  time. 

A  Consistory  has  recently  been  established  at  New- 
buryport,  in  which  all  the  higher  degrees  of  masonry 
nre  conferred. 

An  as'^ociation  of  the  masonic  bodies  has  fitted  up  a 
Masonic  Hall  in  Newburyport,  in  a  style  of  unconiraoB 
taste,  elegance,  and  liberality,  with  appropriate  furui- 
ture  and  ornaments,  gf  the  greatest  beauty. 

W 


62 


EDUCATION. 


THE  expeAciituie?  of  the  to^vn  of  Newburyport  for 
the  advancemeDt  of  public  educa  hn  have  never  ciased 
to  be  fn'iiy  in  piopoiticn  to  its  peciniary  meari. — 
Without  brino;ing  into  view  tlie  noble  })Ublic  donations, 
ivbich  some  of  it.«  ciiiiiens  hav(^  bestoAod  upon  iuerary 
insiilutions  abroad,  the  asser-ion  can  be  established  by 
reference  merely  to  the  ordinary  charg^;^£  of  the  publie 
and  private  schools  taught  in  town. 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 

For  males  in  Newburyport  are  four,  one  grammap 
school  and  three  writing  schools. 

The  grammar  school,  in  common  with  other  schools 
of  the  same  kind  in  other  parts  of  the  state,  has  suffer- 
ed much  by  the  esta  j-jshnient  of  academies.  When  all 
classes,  the  rich  as?  well  as  the  poor,  depended  upon  it 
for  the  classical  instruction  of  their  children,  it  was  an 
object  olmore  general  solicitude,  and  its  character  stood 
higher,  than  \shen  they  looked  to  another  place  for  the 
primary  education  of  youth Bat  efforts  are  now  mak- 
ing to  increase  its  usefulness,  from  which  better  thing! 
iare  anticipated. 

Of  the  three  writing  schools,  one  has  for  several  years 
been  taught  according  to  the  system  of  mutual  instruc- 
tion ;  and  the  others  have  recently  been  conformed  more 
or  less  completely  to  the  snme  plan.  The  centre  and 
the  south  school  houses  were  purposely  erected  with 
a  view  to  that  system;  and  conttiin  every  convenience 
for  giving  it  a  tair  and  full  trial. 

By  an  act  of  the.  legislature  passed  the  present  year, 


63 

it  was  made  the  duty  of  the  school  committee  of  each 
town  to  render  an  account  of  the  state  of  public  and 
private  primary  instructioa.  From  the  returns  of  the 
sciiool  coramitlfcie  of  Netvburyport,  it  appears  that  the 
sum  anriaally  p  lid  for  the  idstruciion  merely  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  is  ^23o9.  The  number  of  children  attending 
the  public  «chools  is  559  males,  and  510  female*,  in  all 
lOoJ.  Besides  those,  33  private  schools  are  taught  ia 
to'vn,  cont<iinin<y  640  pupils  of  both  sexes,  the  cost  of 
whose  tuition  i?  ^^4526. 

The-e  calcu'.uions  were  made  independently  of  the 
Ne\vbur3q)ort  Ac;-'demy,  which,  being*  placed  in  New- 
bury, was  comprehended  in  the  school  returns  of  tbe 
latter  town. 

Other  in^litutioas    for  education  deserve    notice  ;  of 
which  the  following-  are  the  most  important, 

THE  NEWBURYPORT  ACADEMY, 

Although  situated  in  the  town  of  Newbury,  owes  its  or- 
igin and  support  chiefly  to  citizens  of  Newburyport.  It 
was  incorporated  in  1807.  It  is  now  in  a  prosperous 
condition,  the  male  apartment,  under  the  instruction  of 
V.:.  Alfred  W.  Pike,  being  full,  and  containing  about  for- 
ty ^jupiis. 

THE  PUrXAM  SCHOOL  J 

For  the  endowment  of  which  a  large  legacy  was  r«- 
cently  left  to  the  town  by  the  late  IMr.  Oliver  Putnam,  a 
native  and  formerly  a  citizen  of  N  ewburvport,  promises 
to  have  the  most  important  influehce  upon  our  system 
of  public  education. 

Oliver  Putnam  was  born  at  Newburyport  in  1773 — 
His  father  was  a  mechanic,  and  was  able  to  give  him 
nothing  but  a  common  school  education.  But  his  nat- 
ural  talents  were  of  the  tlrst  order;  and  having  attained 
independence  at  an  early  age  by  successful  commercial 
speculation^,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  assiduous  culti- 
vation of  his  intellect.  His  constitution  was  unfortu- 
nately feeble  ;  which  prevented  his  becomiag  fixed  in 
any  particu'ar  occupation;  and  compelled  him,  for  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  change  of  climate,  to  travel  ia  various 
parts  of  Europe  and  America,     Had  it  been  otherwits. 


64 

the  independence  and  integrity  of  his  character,  his 
found  judgment,  his  profound  practical  knowledge,  his 
unimpeachable  moral?,  and  his  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  science  of  politics  and  political  economy, 
rvould  soon  have  fastened  upon  him  the  the  public  eye, 
and  raised  him  to  posts  of  honor  and  distinction.  But 
his  ill  health  forbad,  and  contined  the  benefit  of  his  su- 
perior qualities  to  the  circle  of  his  acquaintance. 

During  the  latter  half  of  his  life,  he  mad-^.  Boston  his 
place  of  abode,  although  passing  much  of  his  time  on  a 
farm  belonging  to  him  in  Hampstead,  where  he 
died,  July  1  ith  1826.  He  was  never  married.  By  his 
will,  which  is  dated  July  11th  1825,  and  was  proved  al 
the  Probate  Court  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  August  14th 
1826,  after  making  liberal  provision  for  his  kindred, 
who  are  all  collateral,  he  makes  the  devise  above  raeo- 
tioned  in  the  following  terms : 

<•  To  the  said  executors*  I  bequeath  and  devise  in  trust 
the  residue  of  my  property,  real  and  personal,  to  ac- 
cumulate by  the  addition  of  the  income  or  interest  as 
received  to  the  principal^  till  my  nephews  arrive  of  age, 
and  then  to  be  disposed  of  as  follows.' 

The  will  then  provides  for  the  payment  of  a  legacy 
to  each  of  his  three  nephews ;  and  concludes  thus  : 

•  These  three  legacies  to  my  nephews  are  to  be  with- 
out interest,  and  to  be  void  should  they  not  live  to  ar- 
rive at  twenty  one  years. 

^  The  residue  of  my  property  I  give  and  bequeath  fot 
the  establishment  and  support  of  a  free  English  school 
in  Newburyport,  for  the  instruction  of  j^outh  wherever 
they  may  belong,  and  the  executors  will,  if  at  the  final 
payment  of  the  foregoing  legacies  it  should  amount  to 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  pay  it  over  as  hereafter  provid- 
ed; but  if,  at  that  time,  it  should  not  amount  to  that 
«um,  the  executors  will  retain  it  to  accumulate  till  it 
does,  and  then  pay  it  over  to  Trustees  for  that  purpose 
to  be  appointed  by  the  Selectmen  of  Newburyport. — 
After  the  appointment  of  the  first  Trustees,  vacancies 
in  their  board  to  be  filled  by  nomination  from  them,  sub- 

♦  Messrs  Aax'on  Ba'clwiu  of  Boston,  and  EM  ward  S.  Hand  and  Caleb 
Cubhing  of  Newburyport,  are  named  executors  in  llie  will.  The  two 
irst  having  declined  ucting,  0»e  trust  ks*8  devolved  upon  the  author  sf 
tlus  account. 


65 

ject  to  the  approval  of  said  Selectmen,  who  besides  are 
always  and  at  all  times  to  have  and  exercise  the  right 
of  visitation,  for  the  purpose  of  looking  to  the  security 
of  the  fund«,  and  that  the  interest  or  income  of  them  is 
applied  according  to  the  bequest.  In  the  ^election  of 
Trustees,  no  reference  is  to  be  had  to  their  places  of 
residence,  but  only  to  their  qualification  for  the  trust. 

'  The  Trustees  are  to  invest  the  principal  in  good  and 
sufficient  securities,  bearing  interest  or  producing  in- 
come to  the  satisfaction  of  the  said  Selectmen,  to  be 
and  remain  a  permanent  fund,  the  interest  or  income 
only  of  which  to  be  applied  to  the  establishment  and 
support  of  the  school.  The  3  oiith  to  be  instrucled  in 
reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  and  particularly  in  the 
English  language,  and  in  those  branches  of  knowledge 
necessary  to  (he  correct  management  of  the  ordinary  af- 
fairs of  life,  whether  public  or  private,  but  not  in  the 
dead  languages.  The  monitorial  system  of  instruction 
to  be  introduced  and  used,  so  far  as  it  may  be  found  on 
experience  that  it  can  be  done  with  advantage.' 

Such  are  the  provisions  of  the  will  in  regard  to  this 
munificent  foundaiion.  Should  the  institution  be  estab- 
lished under  favorable  auspices,  it  cannot  ftMl  to  prove 
a  signal  public  Hessing.  The  beautitul  and  salubrious 
situation  of  Neuburyport,— its  freedom  fron)  the  eviis  of 
too  close  proximity  to  any  city  united  with  the  easy 
communicatjnn  between  it  and  the  great  capitals  of  the 
country, —  and  the  ecotioiiiy  of  living  arocng  its  inhabi- 
tants, present  a  body  of  striking  advantajjes  for  the  loca- 
tion of  a  seminary  of  edi.cation.  And  the  school, 
■which  the  wi*e  and  benevolent  testator  contemplated,  is 
evidently  one  peculiarly  necessary  in  the  present  lime?, 
xvhen  men  are  acqniripg  increased  conviction  of  the  su- 
perior value  of  pracii(al  oducuticn,  over  that  handed 
iown  to  us  from  a  less  inteliigeni  age. 

THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS 

Weri*  established  under  the  care  of  the.  Sabbath  School 
and  Tract  Society.  Th:s  Society  waR  origiiv,tIly  de- 
signed for  (be  distrihntlon  of  religious  tract--,  i-ut  wovr 
dischargee  ihe   additional  duty   of  sui>crintcndiD^  the 

f6 


06 

5hjnday  schools.  These  were  commGiiced  in  i817,  and 
were  composed  of  children  of  both  sexes  from  all  the 
religious  societies  in  town,  to  the  number  of  about  six 
huuflred.  It  has  been  re^^'ularly  continued  ever  sincft 
during-  the  summer  moiuhs ;  and  the  average  number  at- 
tending has  been  four  hundred.  The  whole  number  in- 
structed  in  the  school,  from  1817  to  1326,  was  1249, 
namely,  523  maies,  721  femiles.  Other  schools  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  tow.i  are  under  superiatendance  of  the 
same  Society,  making  the  whole  number  who  have  re- 
eeiv-ed  their  instruction,  in    all  the  schools,  about  1600. 

DUMMER  ACADEMY 

Although  it  is  not  strictly  speaking  embraced  wlthia 
the  scope  of  this  work,  yet  is  located  so  near  to  New- 
bury port  that  an  account  of  it  may  not  be  deemed  mis- 
placed here. 

It  was  founded  by  the  munificence  of  William  Dum- 
Boer,  at  his  country  seat  in  the  parish  of  Byfield  in  the 
town  of  Newbury,  about  four  miles  trom  Newburyport. 

The  name  of  Dummer  is  among  the  oldest  and  most 
respectable  in  Massachusetts,  flichard  Dummer  was  one 
of  the  fathers  of  the  Colony.  He  emigrated  in  1635  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  court  of  assistants,  in  which 
he  served  for  several  years  : — after  which  he  retired  to 
his  estate  in  Newbury,  and  greatly  contributed  by  his 
wealth  and  liberniity  to  the  growth  of  B3'field  pari>h. — 
His  farm  de>cended  in  his  familv  to  William  Dummer, 
who  was  appointed  lieutenant  governor  of  the  Province 
in  1716.  In  1730  he  retired  from  this  oOice  and  sooa 
afterwards  Irom  all  public  employments,  living  to  a 
good  old  age  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  respect  of  his  co- 
temporaries.  He  tilled  the  governor's  chair  at  two. 
several  periods,  seven  years  in  all,  an  1  his  administra- 
tion was  esteemed  eminently  wise  and  just. 

At  his  decease  he  devised  all  his  estate  in  Newbury, 
consisting  in  part  of  the  originil  Dummer  farm,  to 
Charles  Chauncey,  Thomas  Foxcrait  anrl  Nathaniel 
Dun  Tier,  for  the  erection  of  a  school-house  anl  the  en- 
dowm'^ut  of  a  free  grammar  school  upon  the  f^irm — 
The  <ch)ol  was  established  tiiere  accordingly  in  1763. 
By  the  will  the   election  of  a  preceptor  was  ve.s'ed  in 


6t 

the  minister  of  Byfield  parish  for  the  time  being*  and  a 
commilteo  of  the  piristi  chosen  for  th it  purpose  ;  and 
he  was  removeable  by  the  government  of  Harvard  col- 
leo-e.  In  1782  Dr  Chauncey,  being  the  sole  surviving" 
executor  of  the  will,  deemed  it  necessary  to  obtain  an 
act  of  the  legislature  appointing  perpetual  trustees  to 
receive  and  manage  the  fund  and  superintend  the  insti- 
tution. The  first  board  of  tr'.istees  were  Jeremiah  Pow- 
ell, Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Jonathan  Greenleaf,  Rev.  Jo- 
seph Willard,  Pres.  of  Harvard  College,  Rev.  Charles 
Chauncey,  Rev.  Moses  Parsons,  Rev.  John  Tucker,  Rev. 
Thomas  Gary,  Samuel  Moody,  the  Preceptor,  William 
Powell,  Dr  Micajah  Sa.vyer,  Dimmer  Jewett,  Samuel 
O-^ooJ,  Nathaniel  Trac\',  and  Richard  Dummer.— -. 
They  were  incorporated  by  the  name  oi  the  Trustees 
of  Dummer  Academy  ;  and  they  and  their  successors 
have  had  the  direction  of  the  Academy  to  the  present 

day. 

As  a  classical  grammar  sshool  Dummer  Academy  has 
deservedly  held  a  high  rank;  and  many  celebrated  per- 
sons in  church    and  state  have  commenced  their  public 
education  in  its  rural  seclusion.     At  the   present  time, 
its  Trustees  have  thought  that  the    Academy  might  be 
of  greater  service  to    the  public,   if  converted    into  a 
school  of  practical  and  agricultural  instruction,  than  as 
a  school  for  instruction  in  the  languages.     Applications 
have  repeatedly  been  made  to  the  legislature  for  aid  in 
such  a  laudable  enterprise  ;  but  although  all  men  admit 
that  the  exigencies  of  society  require  an  institution  of 
this  kind  and  the   Dummer  farm   presents  the  greatest 
facilities  for  its  establishment,  yet  a  too  cautious  policy- 
has  induced    the    legislature   to    refuse    the    assistance 
prayed  for.     Some  little  jealousy,  too,  seemed  to  betray 
itself  in  certain  quarters,  towards   an  institution  situated 
so  near  ^  the  hem   of  the  state,'  as  its  location  was  rath- 
er scornfully  described  by  the  opponent*  of  the  plan. 

The  ftrst  preceptor  of  the  Academy  was  Samuel 
Moody,  who  continued  to  have  charge  of  it  until  1789. 
He  attained  great  celebrity  for  his  talents  as  a  teacher 
and  ihe  originality  ol' his  character.  Wnen  the  act  in- 
corporating the  trustees  of  the  Academy  was  passed,  a 
section  was  inserted  securing  to   him  all  the  rights  he 


68 

enjoyed  under  the  original  foimdation,  and  making  hina 
in  lact  intiepon.'ent  of  the  Tiutteos.  Under  his  care  the 
Academy  wm  for  a  long  time  ihe  most  flourishing  in 
the  country  ; — and  the  respectability,  in  after  life,  of  ma- 
ny of  his  pupils  has  perpetuated  the  name  of  master 
Moody* 

Since  <hen  the  Instructers  have  been 

Rev.  Isaac  Smith,        elected  in         1790, 
Dr  Benjamin  Allen,  1809, 

Rev.  Abiel  Abbott,  ID  11, 

Hon.  Samuel  Adams,  1819, 

Mr.  iS'ehemiah  Cleaveland,  1821, 

■who  is  the  present  preceptor. 


Hi^ 


iLITERARir  ASSOCIATIONS. 


THE  JVEWBURYPORT  ATHENJEUM 

Was  incorporated  in  1810.     The  object  of  the  foundefii, 
as  declared  in  the  act  of  incorporation,  was  to  establish 
^  a  repository  for  valuable  and  rare  productions  in  the 
•various  arts,  sciences,  and  polite  literature,  and  tor  col- 
lecting the  most  important  tracts,  pamphlets,  and  doc- 
uments, illustrative  ot    the  natural  and  civil  history  of 
our  country,  of  the  genius,  policy,  and  laws  of  the  gen- 
eral and  state    governments,  and  of  the    manners,  cus- 
toms, and  interests  of  the  American  people.' — The  pro- 
prietors laid  the    foundations  of  a   respectable  library^ 
^vhich  has  received  occasional   additions  by  donation  or 
purchase. — But  instiiutions  of  this  kind    are  best  fitted 
for  a  numerous  and  wealthy  community,  because  in  any 
others,  the  accumulation  of  valuable  books  must  be  too 
expensive  to  proceed   with  much  rapidity  by  means  of 
the  intrinsic  resources  of  the  inhabitants. — For  this  rea- 
«on  the  present  state  of  the  Athenseum  probably   is  not 
equal  to  the  plan  or  expectations  of  its  founders. 

THE  FRANKLIN  LIBRARY 

Was  instituted  in  1012,  by  an  association  of  respectable 
mechanics,  whose  chief  object  at  that  time  was  to  raise 
a  joint  fund  for  the  purchase  of  Ree's  Cyclopaedia. — - 
Upon  this  foundation  a  library  was  begun,  which  has 
gradually  increased.  The  association  is  a  praiseworthy 
instance  of  the  cultivation  of  a  taste  tor  knowledsre 
among  a  class  of  men,  whose  weight  and  value  in  the 
•ommunity  arc  daily  rising;  in  public  estimation. 


TO 
THE  KEWBURYPORT  DEBATING  SOCIETY 

Was  originally  in=titiiled  January  5th  1821,  by  a  num- 
ber of  gentlemen  desirous  to  improve  ia  declamation 
and  evtetnponmeous  di^cwssion,  Ai  the  first  meeting 
suitable  regulations  for  ihe  conduct  of  the  Society  were 
adopted,  anij  they  continued  to  meet  weekly  fur  the 
purposes  of  their  institution. 

In  April  1821  the  numbers  and  respectability  of  the 
Society  having  much  increased,  it  was  found  necessary 
to  atlopt  a  new  set  of  bye  laws,  more  complete  and  sys- 
tematic in  their  nature. 

This  year  the  Society  as  a  body  commenced  the 
practice  of  celebrating  the  anniversnyy  of  American  in- 
dependence, which  they  have  continued  until  wow,  with 
but  one  year's  intermission.  Their  meetings  were  sus- 
pended July  4th,  until  the  next  autumn. 

The  Society  continued  to  meet  liirough  the  winter 
and  spring  of  1821-2,  and  until  the  close  of  Janr^ry 
1823,  when  it  was  dissolved,  for  the  ^'-.irpcsa  of  e.stab- 
li-hing  a  new  one  cf  a  more  popular  an  i  p'lblic  de- 
scription. The  new  Socivty  coasivted  not  r.  s'-'-'-  of 
persons  desirous  to  engage  in  its  regular  excrc::c.\  ^mt 
of  a  large  number  of  others,  who  joined  asauditcrs  only. 

In  December  1324,  in  consequence  of  the  disp.^isi'^Q 
of  some  of  the  active  members  of  th.;  Society,  and  oih- 
er  causes,  it  was  dissolved,;  and  a  new  ono  formtJ  of  a 
private  nature,  similar  to  the  original  Society;  which 
having  undergone  occasional  changes  in  its  constitulion 
and  members,  now  exists. 

The  Society  has  chosen,  lor  orators  on  the  fourth  of 
July, 

Caleb  Gushing,  in         1821, 

Robert  Cross,  in         1822, 

Geoige  C.  Wilde,  in         1823, 

NehemiahCleaveland,  in         1824, 
John  xMerrill,  in         1826. 

This  Society  has  proved  of  eminent  advantage  to  ma- 
ny persons,  who  have  participated  in  its  exercises  ;  aid 
its  example  is  sufficient  to  demonstrate  the  utility  of 
such  institutions,  when  properly  conducted.  The  pop- 
«ii»r  character  of  our  government   renders   the   accom- 


71 

plisliDient  of  extemporaneous  oratory  peculiarly  valua- 
ble, not  only  to  piofes^innal  men,  Lat  to  all,  who  feel 
a  lively  interest,  and  take  a  prominent  part,  in  the  pro- 
gre??;  of  national,  state,  or  municipal  affairs. — x\od  a  well 
regulated  debating  society  i?  an  excellent  school  of  in- 
struction and  experience  in  this  important  qualiiication. 

THE  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION 

Was  farmed  in  1818.  It  consists  of  physicians,  who 
united  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  regulafiiy  ia  the 
practice  of  their  profession,  and  communicating  medical 
information,  and  in  ether  respects  aiding  il^e  cause  of 
medical  science. 

THE  NEWBURTPORT  LLXXEAN  SOCIETY 

Was  instituted  in  1820,  by  a  number  of  gentl.men, 
Tvhose  object  was  to  promote  tlie  study  of  natural  his- 
tory and  antiquities,  by  making  a  collection  of  aiioersls, 
and  other  curiosities. — Their  design  has  proved  so  far 
successful,  that  they  possess  a  cabinet  of  considerable 
Talue,  which  is  gradually  acquiring  new  specimejg*. 
ctuefly  by  donations. 


•7lfe 


^XZLZTZA, 


IN"  1810  the  town  of  Newburyport  contained  a  full 
regiment  of  militia;  but  in  consequence  of  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  population,  the  citizens  were  reorganized  in 
1817  into  a  bittalion,  commanded  by  a  lieutenant  col- 
onel. For  this  purpose  the  to^vn  is  divided  into  three 
ward-,  each  ward  furnishing  a  company  of  intaotr\\  In 
addition  to  these  bodies,  there  are  two  volunteer  com- 
panies, the  Newburyport  Artillery  Company,  and  the 
Washington  Light  infantry  Company  ;  all  which  togetheF 
compose  the  organized  militia  of  Newburyport. 

The  NkW'Burypokt  Artillery  Company  is  nearly  coc« 
Tal  with  our  national  independence,  and  one  of  the  old. 
est  military  corps  in  the  Commonwealth.  It  was  form- 
ed in  the  winter  of  1777-8  and  in  July  1778  marched 
as  volunteers  in  the  expedition  to  Rhode  Island,  where 
they  remained  in  service  until  the  unsuccessful  termina- 
tion of  that  enterprise. 

Its  first  officers  were  Thomas  Thomas,  captain  ;  Da- 
vid Coates,  captain  lieutenant,  then  so  called ;  and  Mi- 
chael Hodge  first,  and  Samuel  Newhall  second,  lieuten- 
ant. The  company  consisted  of  about  eighty  men,  and 
were  armed  with  muskets  and  two  f)ur  pounders,  one 
of  brass  and  one  of  iron,  uhich  they  received  from  the 
State  in  Boston  on  their  march.  These  pieces  were  ex- 
changed in  1793  for  two  beautiful  six  pounders,  which 
they  still  possess.  In  1785  Michael  iJodge  was  elected 
captain,  Benaiah  Titcomb  captain  lieutenant,  and  Will- 
iam Cross  and  En'^ch  Grcenleaf  lieulenants. 

In  1791  a  regiment  was  ordered  to  be  formed  of  the 
artillery  of  the  county  of  Es=ex,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the 
officers  at  Ipswich,  captain  Hodge  was  elected  colonel. 
"But  before  this  organization  could  be  fully  completed. 


r6 

a  different  arrangement  of  the  Artillery  Companies  in 
tiie  south  part  of  tlie  county  was  coiicluiJe(i  upoa ;  and 
the  Company  remained,  until  1794,  not  attached  to  any 
regimenta'  corps. 

In  1792  the  company  was  newly  organized,  and  Wil- 
liam Cross  was  elected  captain,  and  Enoch  Greenleaf 
and  Samuel  Brown  lieutenants. 

In  1794  a  battalion  was  formed  of  this  and  another 
company  at  Amesbury,  and  captain  Cross  was  promoted 
to  its  command.  This  organization  has  continued  to 
the  present  time. 

In  1801  the  Company,  at  an  expense  to  themselves  of 
about  ^600,  erected  a  handsome  and  spacious  gun-hoiise. 

After  the  disbandraent  of  the  sea-fencible?',  a  volun- 
teer Company  formed  during  the  last  war,  the  gun- 
house  erected  for  their  accommoda  ion  was  assigned  by 
the  Q,uarier  Master  General  to  the  Artillery  Company. 
The  old  gun-house  has  since  been  retitted  by  the  town 
for  public  military  uses. 

In  1820  the  (.'ompany  furnished  themselves  with  ser- 
viceable camp  equipage,  and  have  since  annually  per- 
formed tours  of  camp  duty  through  the  various  towns 
of  the  brigade. 

In  1824  they  participated  in  the  military  honors  rend- 
ered La  l-ayette. 

Tiie  gentlemen,  who  have  successively  held  the  office 
of  captain,  since  the  year  1794,  are  Enoch  Greenleaf, 
Jonathan  Sticknoy,  Benjamin  Someiby,  Thomas  Burrill, 
James  Potter,  Joseph  Hoyt,  Richard  Hunneivell,  Jere- 
miah Batchelder,  vSamuel  Coffin,  Ebenezer  Bradbury, 
and  Enoch  Pierce,  who  is  the  present  commander.* 

The  Washington  Light  Infantry  Comfany,  was  rais- 
ed in  1800,  by  virtue  of  a  resolve  of  the  General  Court 
passed  that  year.  On  the  15th  of  Apfil  they  made 
choice  of  Abraham  Perkins,  Nicholas  Tracy,  and  Charles 
Jackson  for  their  commissioned  officers.  Their  first 
public  appearance  took  place  July  24lh  1800,  which 
day  has  since  then  been  observed  as  the  Company's  an- 
niversary.    The  gentlemen,  who  have  held  the  commis- 


*  The  aMtlior  is  indebted  to  maj.  Ebenezei  Bradbury  ftr  the  above 
^count  of  ihe  Artilicr^  Corapau; . 

C 


74 

sion  of  captain  in  the  company  down  to  the  present  time, 
are  Abraham  Perkins,  Samuel  W.  Thompson,  Nicholas 
John^ion  jr.,  Paul  Titcomb,  Charles  H  Balch,  fclleazer 
Johnson  jr.,  Philip  Johnson  jr.,  Jeremiah  P.  Toppan,  and 
William  B.  Tiicomb. 

in  1824  during  the  war,  the  Company  performed 
guard  duty  at  the  barracks  on  Plum  Island  as  volun- 
teers. 

In  July  1807  the  Company  received  President  Mon- 
roe, and  escorted  him  into  the  town. 

In  August  1817  the  regiment  of  which  the  Company 
formed  a  part,  and  with  it  the  Company,  being  dis- 
banded, a  nevv  charter  was  obtained  January  following, 
and  the  company  was  reorganized,  by  the  choice  of 
Charles  H  Balch,  Eleazer  Johnson  jr.,  and  Philip  John- 
son jr.  as  officers. 

This  Company  with  the  Artillery,  escorted  General 
La  Fayette  into  the  town,  on  the  occasion  o(  his  pub- 
lic reception  and  entertainment,  August  31st  1824. 


7S 


Sl*lLTISTICS. 


UNDER  this  head  will  be  placed  a  variety  of  state- 
ments of  a  miscellaneous  character,  chiefly  as  to  the  pop- 
ulation, wealth,  public  expenditures,  commerce,  manu- 
factures, and  business  condition  of  the  town, 

POPULATIOjX. 

The  following  table,  collected  from  various  sources, 
contains  a  view  of  the  progressive  increase  of  the  pop- 
ulation of  Newburyport  until  1810,  and  its  subsequent 
diminution. 

Years.  Inhab.  Houses. 

1764  2,882  357 

1790  4,837  616 

1800  5,946  806 

1810  7,634  

1820  6,789  

At  the  last  Census  in  1820  Newburyport  contained 

Families.  Widows.  Males.  Females. 

1196  380  3035  3704 

PROPERTY. 

The  following  table  exhibits  an  account  of  all  the 
property  owned  or  possessed  in  Newburyport,  as  rated 
by  the  town-assessors,  for  the  several  years  enumerated. 

Person.  Estate.    Real  £(•  Person. 
2506720         3754920 
2605900         3966650 


4152633         6318033 


Y'"«rs. 

Real  Estate. 

1302 

1248200 

1803 

1360750 

1804 

1805 

1^06 

2165400 

f6- 


1807 

2420200 

4307900 

6728l0t 

1808 

2318700 

417  3500 

6494200 

18^9 

2584300 

4442200 

7026500 

1810 

2825100 

4243900 

7069000 

18T1 

2810400 

4271100 

7081500 

1812 

2635900 

343S700 

6074600 

1813 

1940300 

2799700 

4740000 

1814 

1671300 

2478700 

4151000 

1815 

1 500400 

2352800 

3853200 

1816 

1373000 

2111600 

3484600 

1817 

1269600 

1869600 

3139200 

1818 

1249300 

1910000 

3159300 

1819 

1251000 

1793900 

3044900 

1820 

1707600 

1154000 

2861600 

1821 

1612000 

1031700 

2643700 

1822 

1549500 

1040  400 

2589900 

1823 

1492600 

1056700 

2549300 

1824 

1347300 

1058000 

2405300 

1825 

132il00 

1018500 

2342600 

1826 

1419200 

1003600 

2422800 

TOWJV  EXPEA'SES, 


The  following  table  contaifis  a  summary  Tiew  of  the 
expenses    of  the    town  for   the  municipal  year  ending 
March  1825. 
Repairing  the  Highways,  including  J1329  for 

work  by  men  from  the  Work-House  and 

Town  team?, 
Grammar  School  Master, 
West  Lanca-terian  ditto, 
South         do.  do. 

North  Writing  do. 

Three  Mistresses  of  Female  Grammar  Schools, 
Five  Mistresses  of  small  schools, 
Mistress  of  the  African  School, 
Rev  ards  for  Lancasterian  Scholars, 
Wood  for  Schools, 
Repairing  and  altering  School  houses,  and  sundries 

for  Schools, 
Assessor*!, 
Treasurer  and  Collectorj 


$3518 

600 

600 

550 

450 

225 

250 

53 

73 

69 


266 
258 
311 


77 

Overseers  of  the  Poor,  200 

Town-Clerk,  54 

Police  Officer,  10 

Constable,^  60 

Sextons,  81 

Engines,  Pumps,  and  Fire  implements,  97 

Market'House,  151 

Visit  of  General  La  Fayette,  775 
Repairing    Hospital    and   expenses  arising  from 

Samall  Pox,  256 

Mall,  105 

Maintenance  and  support  of  the  Poor,  2687 
Interest   on  the  town  debt,   deducting   income  of 

the  market-house,  430^^ 

Incidental  charges,  331 


12460 

MONOPOLY  ACT, 

Many  attempts  were  made  during  the  revolutionary 
war  to  tix  the  price  of  labor  and  commodities  by  leg- 
islative provisions.  All  these  endeavors,  of  course, 
proved  entirely  futile,  in  1777  the  selectmen  of  New- 
buryport,  pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  sreneral  court '  to  pre- 
vent monopoly  and  oppression'  fixed  the  prices  of  things 
for  this  town.  The  following  table  contains  an  abstract, 
in  alphabetical  order,  of  their  regulations. 

Articles.  Prices.  Quan. 

I.      s.      d. 

Beef,  best  fresh  stall  fed  4  lb. 

do.     do.  gr  ss  do.  3  lb, 

salted  (bbl  240  lbs.)  3     14     0  bbl. 

Beans,  6     0  bush. 

Blubber,  refined  1      10     0  bbl. 

Boards  good  white  p.  merch.  2       5     0  M. 

Butter,  10  lb. 

Calf-skins,  raw  6  lb. 

Chaise-hire,  3  1-2  mii^ 

Charcoal,  6  hush. 

Cheese,  be«;t  American,  6  bush. 

Chocolate  do       do.  1     8  bush 

Gloth  cotton  and  linen  yd.  wide  3     6  lb. 

g7 


n 

Articles. 

Cioth  tow  yd.  wide 

be?t  American  woolen 
Cocoa,  best, 
Cod- fish,  fresli, 
Coffee,  good 
Cotton  by  the  bag, 
Eggs, 

Flax,  good  merchantable, 
Flour,  southern 

Massachusetts, 
Hay,  best  English, 
Hides,  raw, 

tanned 
Hogshead,  good.  44  inc.  long. 
Horse-hire, 
Indian  corn  or  meal 
Iron,  bloomery, 
refined. 
Labor,  viz. 
Carpenters, 
Caulkers, 
Day  laborers,  not  found 

found 
Joiners, 
Masons, 

Barbers  once  shaving, 
Coopers  find,  and  set.  hhd.  hoop. 

bbl.    do. 
Curriers,  leather 

call  skinSc 
Teamsters  2  ox   and  1  horse 
Truckage  hhd.  1-2  mile, 
bbl.  do.    do. 
Milk, 

Mutton,  lamb  or  veal, 
Oats, 

Oil,  liver,  by  the  bbl. 
Peas, 
Pork,  fresh  best, 

salted  rbbl.  2-20  lbs.) 
Potatoes  best  irom  Is.  2d.  to 


Prices. 
I     s.      d. 

Qtiaa 

2 

9 

3 

0 

yd. 

6  10 

0 

cwt. 

1 

lb. 

1 

4 

lb. 

3 

0 

lb. 

6 

doz. 

1 

0 

lb. 

1   10 

cwt. 

1     5 

CWt. 

4 

6 

cwt. 

3 

lb. 

1 

-  4 

lb. 

4 

0 

each 

4  1-2  mile 

4 

0 

bush. 

1  10 

0 

cwt. 

2  10 

0 

cwt. 

5 
6 
4 
3 

4 
0 
0 
0 

day 
day 
day 
day 

4 
6 

8 
0 
3 
4 

day 
day 

2  1-2 

5 

0 

hide 

1 

0 

piece 

12 
1 

0 
4 
6 

day 

3 
4 

qt. 
lb. 

2 

0 

bu»b. 

4 

8 

0 
0 

gal. 
bush. 

5 

lb. 

4  12 

0 

bbl. 

1 

8 

bush. . 

Pric8S» 
I.     s.     d. 

Qaaa/ 

6 
7 
2 
3 

8 

8 

0 

10 

gal 
gal. 
qt. 
gal. 

4 
5 

6 
0 

gal. 
bush,'. 

10 

0 

do 

12 

0 

do 

11 

0 

M. 

8 

7 

0 
0 

pair 

2     10 

0 

M. 

6 

0 

pair 

2     14 

0 

cwt. 

3       0 

0 
8 

lb. 

If*- 

Articles. 

Rtim,  W.  L  by  the  hhd.  includ.  hhd. 

gallon, 
quart, 
N.  K  by  the  hnd.  exclud  hhd. 
gallon 
Rye  or  rye  meal   good, 
Salt,  good  imported, 

domestic  raanufac. 
Shingles,  good  shipping, 
Shoes,  best  men's  neat's  leather 
Shoeing  a  horse  all  around, 
Staves,  red  oak  hhd 
Stockings,  bei^t  men's  woolen 
Sugar,  best  Muscov.  the  hhd. 

b)'  the  cwt. 
lb. 
Tallow,  good  tried,  '  7  1-2 

Taverns,  viz. 

Horse,  keep.  w.  Eng.  hay  24  h. 

or  night,  2     6 

Dinner  boiled  and  roast,  without 

wine. 
Supper  or  breakfast. 
Lodging, 
Tobacco  raised  in  this  state,     , 
Wheat,  good  merch 
Wood,  s?ood  Eastern,  1 

Wool,  good  sheep's 
Tui'kies,  poultry,  and  ducks, 

Tlie  foregoing  are  the  highest  prices,  which  were 
never  to  be  exceeded  The  regulations  further  pro- 
Tldrd  that  n  '  imported  goods,  except  hemp  and  warlike 
or  military  stores,  should  be  sold  at  an  advance  of  more 
th.iii  £230  on  £lOO  prime  co^t  in  Europe.  And  to  en- 
force this  rule,  every  seller  by  wholesale  was  required 
to  deliver  the  buyer  a  bill  of  parcels  with  the  sterling 
co:*t  an  1  his  advance  thereon,  under  penalty  of  a  forfeit- 
ure of  the  whole  v;«lue  for  his  neglect  No  retailer 
was  permitted  to  make  an  advance  of  more  thnn  twenty 
per  cent-  -mi  thf»  wholesale  price  ]  and  he  was  to  deliver 
u  bill  of  parcels  if  requested. 


1 

6 

1 

0 
4 

6 

lb. 

7 

6 

bush 

1 

0 

cord. 

0 
5 

lb. 

80 

bankijYG  and  iksurance: 

Insurance,  in  this  town,  is  now  conducted  either  by 
private  individuals,  or  by  agents  of  Boston  Insurance 
Companies.  There  have  been  three  incorporated  com- 
panies in  till?;  town,  namely,  the  Merrimac  Marine,  the 
Union,  and  the  Phenix  Insaraiice  Companies.  These 
were  all  dissolved  at  successive  periods ;  and  the  low- 
ne^s  of  premjii  Tjs  has  rendered  it  unprofitable  for  any 
incorporated  office  to  transact  business  in  this  town  alone. 

There  are  two  banks,  the  Nevvburyport,  and  Me- 
chanics. 

The  Newburypor-t  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1812^ 
with  a  capital  of  g300,000,  reduced  in  1814  to  g210,- 
000,  at  which  it  now  remains. 

This  Bank  is  the  successor  of  the  Merrimac  Bank, 
incorporated  in  1725,  which  commenced  business  with 
a  capital  ot  §70,000  In  1799  the  Nevvburyport  Bank 
was  incorporated.  In  1800  it  was  dissolved  and  its  stock 
was  united  with  that  of  the  Merrimac  Bank.  The  stock 
of  the  Merrimac  Bank,  paid  in,  amounted  in  1801  to 
^225,000.  In  1803  a  new  bank  was  incorporated  by 
the  name  of  the  Nevvburyport  Bank  with  a  capital  of 
J300,000.  In  1805  the  charter  of  the  Merrimac  Bank 
expired;  and  the  stock  of  the  Newbur3'port  Bank  was 
increased  §250,000,  ttie  stockholders  of  Merrimac  Bank 
havina:  a  right  to  subscribe  this  sum  in  the  stock  of  the 
Newburyport.  By  this  operation,  the  capital  of  the 
Nevvburyport  Bank,  in  1805.  was  §550,000.  Its  char- 
ter expired  in  1812,  at  which  time  the  present  bank 
was  incorporated. 

The  Mechanics  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1812,  with 
a  capital  of  ^203,000.  It  has  not  undergone  any  legal 
cbanTfes  asa  corporation,  and  now  transacts  banking  busi- 
ness upoti  the  same  capital. 

In  connexion  with  the  subject  of  Bmking,  the  press 
for  bank  bills  of  the  stereotype  s'eel  plate,  established 
in  Nevvburyport,  deserves  to  be  mentioned.  Bank-notes 
have  become  a  univeral  sah^titute  for  specie  in  'his, 
country  as  the  circulating  medium  of  traffic.  Ilenc;^  it  is. 
of  the  greatest  im;4ortance  t  >  prevent,  if  possible,  the 
couDierfeiting  of  bills.     Long  experience    has  demon-=.. 


atrated  that  Mr.  Jacob  Perkins,  improvements  in  the 
art  of  engraving  afford  the  best  specific  of  this  kind, 
which  has  yet  been  discovered ;  and  leave  nothinof  to 
be  desired  but  that  all  banks  should  be  compelled  to  use 
the  steel  plate,  if  they  are  so  regardless  of  the  public 
goo  1  as  not  to  do  it  voluntarily. 

The  printing  pres«  for  these  bills  is  in  the  hands  of 
Mr.  Abraham  Perkins,  brother  of  Mr.  Jacob  Perkins, 
and  the  agent  of  that  great  artist  for  the  New  England 
States.  The  peculiar  advantages  of  the  plate  contain- 
ing his  improvements  are  many  and  evident.  One  is 
the  exact  similarity  of  all  the  bills.  A  copperplate,  af- 
ter yielding  six  or  seven  thousand  impressions,  becomes 
worn  down  and  must  be  retouched  with  the  graver  :— 
Which  of  course  makes  a  difference  in  the  appearance 
of  the  bills.  The  steel  plate,  on  the  contrary,  affords 
an  immense  number  of  prints  before  the  lines  on  the 
plate  are  worn,  or  the  impression  changed.  Another 
advantage  possessed  by  the  steel  plate  is  the  quaniity 
and  delicacy  of  their  work,  and  the  endless  multiplirity 
of  minute  letters  graven  upon  them,  which  it  is  idle 
for  the  forger  to  think  of  imitating  with  success.  The 
check  letter  on  the  back  of  Perkins'  bill«,  as  well  as 
the  beautiful  lathe- work  on  their  face,  are  likewise  pe- 
culiarities, which  have  seHom  or  never  been  skilfully 
counterfeited.  In  short,  these  and  other  excellencies 
of  the  stereotype  bills  are  such  a--  to  baffle  the  art  of 
counterfeiters,  who  readily  succeed  in  forging  bills  dif- 
ficult to  be  distinguished  from  the  best  of  any  other  de- 
scription. The  quantity  of  work  on  Perkins'  bills  im- 
parts to  them  a  certain  heaviness  of  appearance,  which 
some  persons  have  appeared  to  think  a  ground  of  objec- 
tion.  But  nothing,  certainly,  is  more  ide  and  ridiculous 
than  to  prefer  a  mere  pretty  bill  to  a  safe  one.  In 
truth,  however,  there  are  few  plates,  which  give  a  more 
neat,  finished,  and  graceful  impression,  than  those 
which  come  from  the  graver  of  Murray  and  Fairraan,* 

Mr.  Perkins  prints  bills  for  about  seventy  banks. 

♦  Newbuivporl  Herald  f»r  May  28ih  1»22. 


8£ 
SHIP  BUILDING. 

As  Nevvburyport  possesses  no  site  with  water  powers, 
it  floes  not  afford  facilities  for  the  establishment  of  those 
manufactories,  which  require  the  application  of  a  great 
moving  torce  to  complicated  machinery.  It  has  local 
advantages  for  two  manufactures,  however,  which  have, 
in  time  past,  been  the  source  of  much  wealth  to  its  in- 
habitants. These  are  the  distillation  of  rum,  and  ship- 
building; to  which  the  citizens,  in  their  memorial  to 
coiigress  in  1774,  attributed  a  prominent  rank  in  the 
enumeration  of  their  business. 

Siiip-BuiLDL\G  has  long  been  known  as  a  staple  man- 
ufacture of  the  towns  on  the  Merriraac.  The  river 
was  distinguished,  at  an  early  period,  for  producing 
good  timber,  skilful  and  industrious  carpenters,  and  • 
staunch  vessels.*  Old  inhabitants  of  the  town  can  re- 
member when  there  have  been  a  hundred  vessels  build- 
ing at  one  time  along  the  bank  of  the  river  on  the 
Newbury  side  below  the  bridge.  Formerly  there  were 
several  ship  yards  in  the  town  of  Newburyport.  The 
landing-place  in  Market  square  was  long  used  for  that- 
purpose,  and  called  the  iiiiddle  ship-yard.  But  the  in- 
crease of  the  commerce  of  the  town  subsequent  to  1800 
produced  a  change  in  this  respect ;  and  all  the  princi- 
pal ship-yards  are  now  in  Newbury  and  Salisbury. 

The  historian  Douglas,  while   he    reflects   upon    the 
ship  builders  of  Newbury  to  the  advantage  of  those  of 
Boston,  admits  that  better  vessels    were   built  here  than 
at  any  other  place  in  the  country      It  may    be  inferred 
from  his  account,  however,  that  when  the  ca<penters  of 
the  Merrimac  slighted  their   work,  it  was  owing  less  to 
themselves  than  to  the  cupidity  of  the  foreign  merchants 
lyho  dealt  with  them.     They   built  a  large   number   of 
vessels  for  the    British    market;    and    oftentimes  were 
compelled    to    emp'oy    materials  of  less  excellence,  to 
meet  the  illiberali»y    of  a  griping  contractor  abroad. — 
In  illustration  of  this  Douglas  relates  the  following  an- 
ecdote.    '  As   contracts  (he   say?)    are    generally  to  be 
paid  in   goods,  they  build  accordingly.     Thus   a  noted- 

*  Douglas'  Summary,  vol.  I,  page  456* 


r 

83 

builder  (1751)  T.  W.  jocosely  said  that  he  had  built  for 
-— ^— -  a  calico- ship. '^^  '' 

The  Boston  and  Hancock  continental  frigates  were 
built  here ;  and  the  Merimac  and  Wasp,  sloops  of  war 
1  he  government  of  the.  United  States,  in  establishing 
ship.j^ards  at  various  places  along  the  coast,  have  hard- 
ly done  justice  to  the  Merrimac,  in  passing  over  a  situ, 
ation,  where  ships  of  war  of  the  smaller  class  could  be 
constructed  to  great  advantage. 

The  number  of  vessels  built  on  the  Merriraac  has 
greatly  diminished  within  the  last  fifteen  or  twenty 
years.  But  tacilities  for  carrying  on  this  business  may 
still  be  found  here,  to  greater  extent  than  at  most  other 
places  in  the  Slate.  Many  large  lorests  of  the  noblest 
oak  over-shadow  the  sides  of  the  Merrimac  ;  the  me- 
chanics  upon  its  banks  have  lost  none  of  their  ex- 
cellence  in  the  art  of  ship-building;  and  the  cheapness 
ot  rent  and  of  the  means  of  subsistance  there  enables 
them  to  afford  labor  at  a  moderate  compensation,  and 
Would  therefore  lessen  the  cost  of  building  and  of  na- 
yal  equipments. 

Nothing  is  wanted  to  restore  the  naval  business  of  the 
town  to  its  iormer  vigor  but  to  have  this  mnnutaclure  of 

ships  carried  on  by  a  company  with  adequate  capital 

They  might  import,  themselves,  the  iron,  hemp,  sail- 
cloth, copper  and  other  articles  used  in  buiidhig,  and 
thus  save  the  freight  upon  those  commodities.  And  by 
.carrying  on  the  business  systematically  and  economi- 
cally, it  would  seem  that  they  could  not  but  succeed. 

There  is  hardly  any  single  object,  which  would  more 
decidedly  tend  to  renovate  the  prosperity  of  the  town, 
than  ship-building  carried  on  extensively.  There  is  no 
species  of  manufacture,  which  would  be  more  benefi- 
cial to  all  the  industrious  classes  of  the  community. 
It  has  been  estimated  that  when  a  vessel  built  in  New- 
England  is  wholly  fitted  for  sea,  two  thirds  of  her  cost 
are  a  clear  profit  to  the  countr\,  the  other  third  being 
iron,  cordage,  and  other  imported  articles.  The  ship 
manufactory  employs  and  supports  more  than  thirty 
two    distint  trades;    while    it   is  a  business  eminently 

♦  Douglas'  Summary,  vol.  ii,  page  69. 


♦  84 

bealthful  in  all  Its  branches,  manly,  an(3  admirably  cal- 
culated   to  no  rish  a    race   of  aciive   and    hardy    yeo^ 

manry.* 

DISTILLERIES. 

The  close  intercourse  of  this  town  with  the  West  In- 
dia island;!  gave  it  early  advantages  in  ihe  importation 
of  molaases  and  the  distillation  ot  rum  The  quantity 
of  this  commodity  manufactured  in  the  town  has  varied 
exceedingly  at  different  perio  Is  ;  although  less  for  the 
last  ten  or  fifteen  years.  In  1820,  vvhen  the  census  was 
taken,  it  was  calculated  that  four  distilleries  in  the 
town  consumed  3000  hogsheads  of  molasses  annually  — 
Ol  the  rum  produced,  it  was  supposed  that  about  one 
fifth  was  exported  to  foreign  countries,  and  the  rest 
dif«posed  of  in  the  United  States.  There  may  be  about 
3600  hogsheads  distilled  the  present  year. 

In  the  year  1 790  there  were  ten  distilleries  in  the 
town;  and  in  1808  there  were  eight;— hut  although  the 
number  of  distilleries  now  is  uiminished,  the  quantity  ot 
rum  produced  is  not  probably  much,  if  any,  less  than  it 
was  at  the  former  periods. 

MARITIME  COMMERCE. 

The  trade  of  Newburyport  has  at  some  periods  bee» 
very  large,  and  although  much  diminished  now,  is  still 
quite  consideral'le. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  amount  of  tonnage 
belono-ing  to  Newburyport  at  the  several  yeais  specifi- 

"cd 

1789  99  vessels  11607  tons 

1796  Registered  16179 

Enrolled        3573 


1806  RpQ:i«tered  25291 

Enrolled        4422 


19752  a#. 


29713  do. 


•  Two  or  three  of  the  above  remarks  are  ia  the  Newbury  ^Oii  HeraM, 
Aug  20,  m2, 


Si 


i816 

Registered  16331 

EaroUed        7i70 

23501 

tor 

1826  * 

Registered    7503 

Enrolled      12991 

20494 

V^'- 

.- 

do 

The  duties  on  imports  have  been 

ia        1792 

g  74248 

1802 

200695 

1812 

46191 

1822 

58451 

1826 

49966 

The  value  of  merchandize  imported 

in        1821  was  $1931 19 

1826  ipl  jt...  166811 

The  vahie  of  domestic  merchandize  exported  was 
in        1791  §385124 

1806  -  543576 

1817  253G52 

1826  190720 

In  November  1790  there  were  owned  in  Newbury- 
port  6  ships,  45  brigs,  39  schooners,  28  sloops,  in  all 
11,870  tons. 

In  November  1805  there  belonged  to  Newburyport 
41  ships,  62  brigs,  2  snows,  2  barques,  and  66  schooners, 
besides  sloops  not  enumerated. 

From  these  data,  the  reader  can  judge  o'^the  progres- 
sive chang<'s  in  the  maritime  commerce  of  llie  town.  It 
would  be  found,  by  corapHring  its  shipping  in  1805  with 
that  of  other  seaports  in  the  country,  that  no  where  was 
industry  more  lively  and  enterprising  than  here,  in  the 
days  of  our  commercial  prosperity. 

FISHERIES, 

The  fishing  vessels  belonging  to  this  District  are  not 
owned  in  the  town  of  Newburyport  alone,  but  a  portion 
of  them  in  the  vicinity. 

*  Wlierc  the  Tear  1826  is  mentioned  it  means  the  year  ending  Junfr 
3pai  18x6. 


8b 

In  1806  the  number  of  vessels  belongingf  to  the  Dis- 
trict employed  in  the  Labrador  fishing  was  45,  and  10 
or  15  more  in  the  Bay  fishery.  These  vessels  averag- 
ed 12  men  each,  and  caught  in  the  season  5000  quintals 
of  fish  each.  The  mackerel  fishery  was  then  very 
small. 

The  latter  branch  of  our  fisheries  was  not  commenc- 
ed, to  any  extent,  until  since  the  late  war. 

The  first  vessel  fitted  out  in  this  District  to  carry  on 
the  mackerel  fishing  for  the  season  was  in  1815.  But 
in  181.9  the  number  of  vessels  so  employed  amounted  to 
abot  30,  and  the  quantity  of  mackerel  caught  to  about 
15000  barrels. 

The  number  of  vessels  employed  in  the  year  1825 
was  76,  and  the  quantity  of  mackerel  caught  amounted 
to  24000  barrels. 

The  average  quantity  of  fish  taken  in  the  cod-fishery, 
by  vessels  belonging  to  this  District,  for  the  last  tea 
years,  has  been  about  20,000  quintals,  averaging  about 
^50000  in  value.  This  business  probably  employs  300 
men. 

The  sum  paid  in  this  District  for  bounties  for  the 
year  1825  was  ^14998.  "  '* 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  the  amount  of  register-  ^ 
ed  tonnatie  belonging  to  this  tonn  at  present  was  7503,  '^ 
of  enrolled  12991  tons.     At  former   periods  the    case 
was    reversed,  and    the   tonnage    registered  was  much 
greater  than  the  tonnage  enrolled. 

From  this  it  appears  that  the  coasting  and  fi«hing  bu-  * 
siness   of  the  town  has  much   increased    within    a  few 
years,  and  in   proportion  as  the  foreign  commerce   has 
diminished. 

The  fishing  business  has  proved  highly  beneficial   to 
the   south  part  of  the  town  and  the  contiguous  parts  of 
IsTewbury,  where  it  is  chiefly  carried  on.     This  fact  is 
apparent  from  the  evidently   improved  appearance  and 
increasing  prosperity  of  that  quarter. 

Much  as  we   have  cause  to  lament  the   diminution  of 
our  foreign    trade,   still  the  prosperity  of  our  fisheries 
and  of  the  coastwise  trade  is  a  subject  of  much^  gratula- 
tion.     No  maritime   occupation  is   more   healthtul   and 
manly,  or  better  calculated  to  nourish  a  race  ol  hardy 


8T 

Mariners,  than  our  fisheries.  There  is  no  business 
which  is  more  purely  a  profit  on  labor  than  this  ;  and  it 
is,  therefore,  peculiarly  deserving-  encouragement  as  a 
branch  of  domestic  industry. 

The  coasting  trade  of  the  United  States  is  constantly 
increasing';  and  even  now  employs  a  much  greater  ton- 
nage than  the  foreign.  The  subjoined  remaks  are  ap- 
plicable to  the  fisheries  as  well  as  to  our  domestic  ma- 
rine commerce.* 

"  Navigation  in  (he  coasting  trade,  in  respect  to  its 
influence  in  exciting  to  production  in  the  different  di- 
visions of  im'ustry,  operates  with  double  the  effect  that 
our  navigation  in  foreign  trade  does,  because  our  foreign 
navigation  divides  its  influence,  employing  one  half  of 
it  at  home  to  the  encouragement  of  home  industry,  and 
carrying  ttie  other  half  abrond  to  the  equal  encourage- 
ment of  foreign  industry.  Whereas  the  coast-wi«e  nav- 
igation, though  it  divides  its  influence  between  the  places 
it  connects  in  intercourse,  yet  employs  the  whole  of  it 
at  home,  to  the  encourasrempnl  of  home  production.— 
Our  inland  and  coa-t-vise  trade  is  beyond  comparison 
more  important  to  national  interests  than  our  foreign 
commerce.  It  employs  more  tons  of  navigation  than 
the  foreign  ;  and  the  vessels  it  employs  make  several 
interchange??  of  m.-rchandise,  while  the  vessels  employed 
in  the  foreign  trade  are  making  but  one.  It  employs 
more  capital,  in  proportion  as  the  amount  of  goods  to  be 
exchanged  by  it  is  greater ;  and  the  capital  employed 
affords  equal  profit  in  proportion  to  its  amount.  The 
h  -me  market  for  the  surplus  products  of  our  various  in- 
du-^try,  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three  articles  of 
southern  produce,  is  probably  ot  four  times  the  extent 
©f  the  foreign  market." 

^    MISCKLLAJ\EOUS. 

In  the  year  1825  there  were  10  manufactories  of  fup 
and  plated  hats  of  diff'erent  qualities  in  Newburyport 
and  its  vicinity  Their  whole  capital  was  estimated 
at  §17,500  and  they  employed  in  all  65  persons. 

*  Practical  Principles  of  Politicitl  Economy,  page  33 


88 

it  is  calculated  that  90  persons  are  employed  in  the 
town  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes  and  boot?,  and  that  the 
Talue  of  their  products  amount?  annually  to  §50,000. 

Laird's  Beer,  Por-er  and  Ale,  are  well  known  in 
the  United  Slates.  Mr.  Laird  emigrated  to  this  country 
from  Scotland,  and  commenced  brewing  here  in  1785.— 
The  gradual  increase  of  the  business  obliged  him  to  en- 
large his  work"  at  successive  periods,  first  in  1789,  and 
afterwards  m  1793.  The  present  works  were  erected 
in  1793  and  are  capable  of  producing  upwards  of  5000 
barrels  annually.  It  is  of  the  first  quality  and  of  estab- 
lished reputation. 

In  Newbury  near  to  the  bounds  of  Newburyport  there 
are    exten-iive    Cord\ge    manufactoiies      They    were 
five  in  number  in  1803 — 1805,  employing  from  40  to  50 
hands,  and  producing  annually   from  200  to  300  ton*  of 
cordage,    valued   at   about  §70,000.     For  the    last  five 
years  the  number  of  manufactories   has  been    six,   the 
number  of  persons  employed  25   to  35,  tbe    quantity   of 
cordage  manufactured  from  130  to  160  tons,  valued   at 
§30,000.     In    addition    to   this  about    §8,000  worth    of 
while  linf»s  and  cord   have  i)een  manufactured  annually 
the  last  three  year-,  eniploving  about  15  workmen. 

There  is  a  hiT^p-wooL-PL'LLiNG  and  morocco  dressing 
establishment  in*  ^Newburyport,  at  which  about  10000 
skins  are  dressed  annua^3^ 

The  Eastern  Stage  Company  runs  a  line  of  stage 
coaches,  including  the  mail  coach,  from  Boston  through 
Newburyport  to  Portsmouth,  beside  several  bye-routes. 
This  line  employes  287  horses,  seventy  of  which  are 
kept  in  Newburyport.  It  has  35  coaches  and  12  chaises. 
This  line  is  celebrated,  throughout  the  United  States, 
for  the  excellency  of  its  horses,  drivers  and  coaches  ; 
and  for  the  rapidit}*^,  safety,  and  regularity  of  its  move- 
ments. All  the  coaches  are  constructed  in  Newbury- 
port. In  the  stage  yard  there  are  25  artisans  employed 
chiefly  in  the  various  branches  of  carriage  making  and 
the  subsidiary  trades,  v>'ho  manufacture  20  coaches  year- 
ly, beside  chaises.  There  is  also  another  chaise  manu- 
factory in  Newburyport. 

The  manufacture  of  gold  and  silver  has  been  carri- 
ed on  to  some  extent  in   this  town  for  several  years, 


89 

particularly  in  the  nrticles  of  necklaces,  thimbles,  and 
spoon?  ■^Thir:\  hands  are  u^iiall}'  engaged  in  tiii;-  busi- 
ness, whi,  j>roduce~go'6ds*to  ihe  amount  of  40  or  50,0(X) 
dollars,  ._-•■'  :?-.*■ 

Some  beautiful  specimens-of  the  latter  articles  made  .-. 
at  the  establishment  ot  the  Messrs^Bradbnry  for  the  or- 
der of  the  Hampshire,  Franklin,  and'Hampden  Agricul- 
tural  Society,  and   distributed  at   Northampton  last  au- 
tumn in  premium!^,  were  much  admired. 

TKey  have  recently  succeed«d  in  the  establishment 
of  a  manufactory  of  thinbles  by  machinery  on  an  im- 
proved and  original  method.  The  mode  they  have  in- 
vented combine?  durability  in  the  commodity  with  fa- 
cilify  of  execution.  They  now  manufacture  them  for 
exportation  as  well  as  domestic  consumption. 

The  number  of  shops  for  the  retail  of  dry  goods  now 
kept  in  Newburyport  is  about  twenty  two,  having  an 
aacafregate  cajdtal  which  has  been  estimated  at  about 
§80,000.  The  amount  of  capital  thus  invested  in  this 
town  previous  to  the  war  was  very  much  greater;  but 
has  diminished  with  the  general  decrease  of  business. 

It  is  said  that  in  1766  there  were  but  three  shops 
for  En^  lisb  goods  in  Newburyport.  These  belonged  to 
John  Harris,  Tristram  Dalton,  and  Patrick  Tracy,    j^ 

The  TANNING  business  is  carried  on  successfully  in  the 
vicinity  of  Newburyport,  particularly  in  the  town  of 
Newbury,  where  there  are  four  tanneries  which  tan  an- 
nually 900  hides,  and  400  skins.  Beside  this,  there  is 
an  extensive  tannery  in  West  Newbury  and  several  in 

Salisbury. 

The  manufacture  of  combs  is  a  very  considerable 
branch  of  industry  in  West  Newbury.  In  the  manufac-* 
ture  of  shell-combs  thirty  persons  are  employed,  who 
make  in  each  year  56,000  dozen  of  shell-combs  of  vari- 
ou«  sizes  valued  at  gl 40,000.  In  the  manufacture  of 
horn-combs,  an  hundred  persons  are  employed,  who 
make  anuually  43,000  dozen  horn-combs,  valued  at  §43,- 
000:— In  all  jJ183,000. 

Chaises  are  manufacture*!  extensively  in  West  New- 
bury and  Newbury.  In  Belleville  in  the  town  of  Nen  bu- 
ry a>»out  100  chaises  are  made  yearly  amounting  toCSIS- 
000  in  value.     From  sixty  to  seventy  chaises  are  made 

h8 


90  * 

-^. 
j^  VVest  Newbury.     There  are  also  two  large  hat  man- 
ufactories in  Belleville.     About  fifty  persons  are  employ- 
ed in  West  Newbury  in  the  manufacture  of  bhoes. 

In  1824  the  number  of  licensed  shops  was  fifty  four^ 
besides  five  public  inns.  There  are  now  in  Newbury- 
port  six  apothecaries'  shops ;  six  for  the  sale  of  hard- 
Ware  or  crockery  ;  ten  jewellers'  or  watch  makers'  ;  five 
booksellers'  and  stationers,  of  whom  two  are  book-bind- 
crs;  three  printl^jg  offices;  seven  practising  lawyers, 
seven  physicians  ;  and  two  circulating  libraries. 

Of  trades  and  arts  exercised  in  the  town,  among  oth- 
er.=,  are  one  maker  of  mathematical  instruments,  forty- 
five  HOUSE  JOINERS,  eighteen  block  makers,  thirty  five 
cabinet  makers,  thirty  four  painters,  six  tin  men,  thirty 
MASONS,  eleven  bakers,  twenty  brickmakers  in  the  town 
and  vicinity,  nine  caulkers,  ten  riggepvS,  twenty  sail- 
makers,  five  TALLOW-CHANDLERS  and  thirty  eight  black- 
SMITHS  :  Including,  in  the  foregoing  computation,  jour- 
neymen and  apprentices,  as  vvell  as  master  workmen. 

The  manufacture  of  tobacco  is  entitled  to  attention. 
It  employs  more  than  forty  hands.     They  manufacture 
the  amount  of  five  tons  of  snuff,  and  three  millions  five, 
hundred  thousand  cigars  annually. 

These  details  might  be  extended  further;  but  they> 
will,  as  now  made,  furnish  some  idea  of  the  present 
stale  of  the  business  and  trade  of  Newhur^'port.  The 
author  has  introduced, the  mention  of  two  or  three  staple 
manufactures  of  the  immediate  neighborhood,  without^ 
of  course,  pretending  to  make  a  full  relation  of  them. — 
Had  his  plan  permitted,  he  might  have  given  an  account 
of  the  costly  and  extensive  erections  and  the  flourishing 
manufactures  at  the  falls  on  Powow  river  In  Amesbury 
and  Salisbury,  which  would  &ho\v  that  village  to  be  em- 
ulcus  of  the  growth  of  Lowell,  Somersworth,  and  Dov- 
er.    But  this  must  be  reserved  for  another  occasion.* 

NEWSPAPERS. 

A  newspaper  was  first  established  in  Newburyport  in-. 
1773,  by   Isaiah  Thomas  and    Henry  W.  Tinges Mr 

♦  The  author  has  made  some  collections  towards  aa  account  of  Salis= 
bury,  his  native  town,  and  of  Amesbui^  :— .which  he  hopes  ere  long  tc 
be  able  to  cocipiete. 


91 

Thomas  then  printed  a  weekly  paper  in  Boston,  wherfe 
he  resided  ;  and   of  course  provided   the    foreign  nevg. 
for  both  journals,  the  papt'r  published  here  being  under 
the   direct   care  of  Mr.  Tinges.     It   was  entitled  The 
Essex  Journal  and   Merrimag  Packet  ;    or  the  Massa-. 

CKUSETTS  AND    NfW  HAMPSHIRE    GeNERAL   ADVERTISER         It  . 

was  printed  on  paper  about  the  size  of  large  foolscap.— 
No  greater  proof  need  be  had  of  the  advancement  of 
the  useful  arts  in  thi*  country  than  to  compare  one  of 
these  papers  with  the  beautiful  and  finished  newspapers 
of  the  pesent  day  In  front  of- the  Werrimac  Packet  are 
two  engravings,  one  a  g-hostly  representation  of  the 
Massachusetts  Indian,  the  other  a  ship  of  v;ar  in  full  sail. 
They  are  quite  amusing  specimens  of  the  art. 

The  printing  office  of  Thomas  and  Tinges  stood  ia 
King  (Federal)  street,  opposite  the  church  of  the  First 
■  Presbyterian  Society.  The  price  of  the  pa{)er  was  '  «ix 
shillings  and  eight  pence  lawful  money  ;'  which,  say  the 
printers,  is  '•  as  cheap  as  any  newspaper  in  the  foul 
quarters  of  the  globe.'  The  tirst  number  contains  the 
subjoined  advertisement  • 

'  PRINTING. 

Those    ladies  and   gentlemen,   who   are   desirous    of 

seeing  the  curiou-*  art  of  printing,  are  hereby  informed 

that  on  Monday  next  the  printing  office  will   be  opened 

•  for  their  reception,   and  the   printers  ready  to   wait  on 

all,  who  will  do  the  honor  ol  their  company. 

December  4th  1773.' 
In  the  nineteenth  number  occurs  this  advertisement  ^ 

^STAGECOACH, 
That  constantly  plys  between  Newbury-port  and 
Boston,  sets  out  with  four  horses  every  Monday  morning 
at  7  o'clock  from  Newbury-port,  and  arrives  at  Boston 
the  same  day  : — Leaves  Boston  every  Thursday  morn- 
ing and  reaches  Newbury-port  the  same  day.  *  *  =*' 

It  i«  hoped  this  very  expensive  imdertaking  will  meet 
with  encouragement  from  all  Ladies   and  Gentlemen,  as 
they  may  depend  on  the  punctual  performance, 
Of  the  Public's  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

EZRA  LUNT.' 
In  less  than  a   year  after  the  commencement  of  the 
paper.  Mr.  Thomas    relinquished  it,  and  Ez:a  Lunt  be 
ciame  joint  publisher  with  Tinges. 


92 

in  17^7  tha  titl^  of  the  p'^per  'va=?  chnngj^d  to  that  6F 

The  hlssix    Journul  and   jYew  Hd.npshi-e  Packet^    and  it 
was    publisljed   on^Frrdiy  by  John*  Aj   call   and    H.  VV. 

In  1773  vvrt  tlul  Mr  Mycall  sol*^  proppielor  of  the  pa- 
per ;  suon  after  ivhich  ihe  price  w-»«  nised  to  ei^hl  *hil- 
lin^^:^;  and  the  piintin^  oihci  rera-'ved  to  Water  street 
a  littlr"  beloiv  the  Ferry  way. 

I't  vvoiiH  app»^ar,  by  an  adverd-^ement  in  thi-s  pa- 
per J. I'ry  12ili  1773  that  an  Insarauce.  office  was  ttien 
first  opened  in  ^ewhuryport 

The  following"  itvn  of  inieUig:ence  possesses  perma- 
nent interest.  It  appears  in  the  Essex  Joarnai  J  uly  26th 
1776. 

t  BOS  rON,Jaly25  —  T-Mrsday  last,  pursuant  to  the, 
order  of  the  honorable  council,  v>as  proclaim<^d  frona 
the  balcony  of  the  Slate  Hou-^^;  in  this  to»vn,  the  Declar- 
«iio/i  of  the  ^nerican  CO  V}RES^,  ab?:olvin<^  the  Unit- 
ed Colonies  from  their  allegiance  to  the  Brifi-h  Crown, 
and  decIaria^;  them  Free  an-l  Independent  States.  There 
were  pre->eat  on  the  occa-ion.  in  the  Council  Chasnber, 
the  Committee  of  Go  incil,  a  num'->er  of  the  honorable 
house  of  Representatives,  the  Magi-trates,  Ministers,  Se- 
lectmen, and  other  gentlemen  ot  Boston  an'^  the  neigh- 
fco-irin-^  tovvn" ;  also  the  commission,  and  other  officers 
©f  the  Continental  rei^imfnJs,  stationed  here,  two  of 
which  were  under  A;  ms  in  King  Street,  formed  inte 
three  lines  on  the  Piorth  side,  and  in  thirteen  divisions  ; 
likewise  a  detatchment  from  the  Massachusetts  rci^i- 
m  ill  of  Artillery,  wiih  two  pieces  of  Cannon  on  their 
right  wing.  At  one  o'clock  the  Declaration  vvas  pro- 
claimed by  Col.  Thomas  Crafts,  w'uch  was  received 
with  great  joy,  expres.^ed  by  three  huzzaes  from  a  great 
Concourse  of  people,  assembled  on  the  occasion,  after 
which,  on  a  signal  given,  thirteen  {)ieces  of  cannon  were 
fired  from  the  fort  on  Fort-Hill,  those  at  Dorchester 
neck,  the  Castle»  Nantasket,  and  Point  \l  lerton.  also 
discharged  their  Cannon:  Then  lhe  detachmi^nt  of  Ar- 
tillery discharged  their  cannon  thirteen  times,  which 
was  followed  by  the  two  regiments  giving  their  tire 
from  the  thirteen  divisions  in  succes^im.  These  firings 
corresponded  ta  the  number  of  the  American  States 


S3 

United.  The  ct^remony  was  closed  with  a  proper  col- 
lation to  the  gentlemen  in  the  council  chamber,  during 
which,  the  follov\ing  toast?  were*  given  by  the  President 
of  the  council,  and  heartily  pledged  by  the  company, 
Tiz. 

Prosperity  and  perpetuity  to  the  United  States  ol" 
America. 

The  American  Congress. 

The  General  Court  of  the  State  of  the  Massachiisets 
Bay. 

General  Washington,  and  success  to  the  Arms  of  the 
United  States. 

The  downfall  of  Tyrants  and  Tyranny.  '^' 

The  universal  prevalence  of  ci?il  and  religious  Lib- 
erty. 

The  f.  lends  of  the  United  States,  in  all  quarters  of 
the  Globe 

The  bells  in  town  were  rung  on  the  occasion,  and  un- 
dissembled  Festivity  cheered  and  brightened  every 
Face. 

On  the  same  evening  the  King's  Arms,  and  every 
other  Sign  with  any  resemblance  of  it,  whv3J*^' -  Lyon 
and  Crown,  Pestle  and  Mortar  and  Crowu,  Heart  and 
Crown  &c.  to^Pther  with  every  ><ign  that  beiout^ed  to  a 
tory,  was  taken  down,  and  (he  iatier  made  a  general  con- 
flag-ration  of  in  King^-Street.' 

The  preceding  notices  are  introduced,  as  regarding 
the  originfil  estabiishment  of  a  newsi^aper  in  the  town. 
It  is  not  material  to  follow  minutely  the  changes  which 
successively  took  place  in  the  form  of  its  publication, 
previous  to  1793. 

Two  newspapers  are  now  published  here,  The  New- 
buryport  Herald,  and  The  Free  Press. 

The  Herald  is  the  successor  of  the  Impartial  Herald, 
first  established  in  1793:  It  is  now  published  semi- 
weekly,  on  Tuesday  and  Friday,  by  Mr.  Ephraim  VY. 
Allen. 

The  Free  Press  was  recently  established,  and  is  pub- 
lished every  Thursday  by  Mr.  William  L.  Garrison. 

An  excellent  and  commodious  reading-room  for  news- 
papers is  kept  by  Mr.  John  Porter,  contiguous  to  the 
office   of  the   Commonwealth    Insuranc*    Company.-^ 

-St 


A. 


^ 


94 

'ITiere  is  al«o  a  readin^-rootn  at  the  private   insurance 
office  of  Mr.  Samuel  Tenney. 

The  rollowing  nevvi^papers  were   established  at  dif- 
ferent period?,  but  were  sooa  discontinued. 

The  INJorning  Star  in  1794  by  Tucker  and  Robinson  : 
The  Political    Gazette    in    1796  by  Barrett  and  Far- 
ley :— 

The  Merrimac  Gazette  in  1803  by  Caleb  Cross  :—. 
The  Political  Calendar  in  1805  by  Caleb  Cross  :— 
The  Merrimac  Magazine  in  1805  by  VV.  &  J.  Gilman  : 
The  Repertory  in  1804  by  John  Parke,  which  paper 
^'•w  as  the  parent  of  the  Boston  Repertory  : 

The  Merrimac  Miscellany  in    1805  by  William  B.  Al- 
ien :  — 

The    Newbury  port   Gazette   in   1806,   by  Benjamin 

Edes  : — 

The  Statesman  in  1809,  by  Joseph  Gleason  ; — 

The  Independent    Whig  in    1810,    by    Nathaniel  H« 

Wright : — 

The  Northern  Chronicler  in  1824,  by  Heraan  Ladd  : 
And  the  Essex  Courant  in  1825,  by  Isaac  Knapp,  3d. 


** 


» 


§6 


DZSTXHC^niSHEB  ZNHABZ7AN7S. 


Newburyport  has  just  cause  to  regard,  with  honest 
pride,  the  many  distinguished  individtials,  whose  birth 
or  residence  in  the  town  have  added  sw  much  to  its  re- 
spectability. To  do  justice  to  her  eminent  sons  by  a 
conipiete  biography  of  them  would  far  transcend  the 
limits  and  plan  of  this  work.  A  short  notice  of  some 
among  them  is  all,  which  the  place  and  occasion  will  '*»• 
warrant. 

The  clergymen,  whose  virtues  and  piety  were  dis- 
played in  the  discharge  of  their  pastoral  functions  here, 
have  been  commemorated  already,  in  giving  an  account 
of  their  respective  parishes ;  and  they  need  not,  of 
course,  be  again  enumerated. 

Delicacy  forbids  that  the  author  should  attempt  the 
task,  otherwise  most  grateful,  of  describing  the  charac- 
ter •f  living  inhabitants  of  the  t'  wn  *  His  brief  sketch- 
es will  be  confined  to  those,  who  have  either  ceased  to 
reside  among  us,  or  whose  names  are  consecrated  by 
death. 

Theophilus  Bradbury  was  descended  from  Thomas 
Bradbury,  a  magistrate  in  1650,  and  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Salisbury.  He  was  bora  in  Newbury  in  1739,  p 
and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1757.  After  stud- 
ying law  in  Boston  he  commenced  the  practice  of  it  in 
Portland,  (then  called  Falmouth)  in  l761. 

Whilst  in  Falmouth  he  attained  the  reputation  of  an 
able  advocate  and  a  faithfjil,  upright,  and  learned  coun- 
sellor. And  dui  ing  this  period  Theophilus  Parsons  purr 
sued  th^'  study  of  law  in  his  office. 

In  1775  Portland  was  burnt  by  com.  Mowat;  and  soo» 
afterwards,  in  1779,  Mr.  Bradbury  removed  to  Newbu- 
ryport, his  native  town.  He  was  at  that  time  very 
falsely  suspected  of  being  unfriendly  to  the  cause  of  the 


9'6 

^untry  ;  merely  because  his  house  in  Falmouth  escaped 
the  conflagration. 

In  Newburyport  he  gradually  rose  to  distinction  ia 
his  profession  and  in  public  life.  Beside  man}  other 
important  offices  to  which  he  was  elected,  he  was  a 
member  of  Congress  under  Washington's  administration. 

In  1797  he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  in  which  office  he  continued  until  1803: — soon 
after  which  he  died.* 

One  of  his  sons,  the  late  George  Bradbury  of  Portland, 
represented  the  district  ot  Cumberhmd  in  Congress. 

'  Stephen  and  Ralph  Cross  were   among   the  most  aC" 
tive  and  influential  citizens  of  Newburyport.     The  for^ 
mer  was   born  in  '31,  the   latter  in  '38.     They   were 
both  brought    up    shipwrights  in    the    building   yard  of 
their   father,  ilalph  Cro^s,  opposite  the  bottom  of  Lime 
Street.     Stephen  was  one  of  a  number  of  his  trade,  who 
went  from  this  place  to  construct  a  flotilla  on  the  lakes 
in  '56.     He  and  his  associates    <vere  mnde    prisoners   at 
the  fall  of  ibrt    Oswe^'o    and   carried    to    Quebec  and 
thence  to  France.     On  his    return  he   formed   a  copart- 
nership with  his    brother  Ralph.     The  business  of  the 
firm  was  extensive.     In  addition  to  their  shipbuilding, 
the  partners  were  engaged  in  trade  at  home  and  abroad 
and  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution  were    fast 
becoming    affluent.     From  the  number  of  men  in  their 
employment,    few  citizens  had    better  opportunities  of 
conciliating  general  confidence.     And  the  records  of  the 
town,  which  show  tl»e  active  part,  which  they   took    in 
its  concerns,  prove   that   these  opportunities    were    not 
neglected.     Stephen  was  the  first  selectman  chosen    by 
the  town  after     ts    separation    from    Newburj^      Both 
brothers  enteretl  into  the  cause  of  the    revolution   with 
spirit  and  determination.     Both  were    members    of  the 
committee  of  safety  and  correspondence.     Many  of  their 
letters  show  an  intensity  of  interest  in  public   concerns 
almost   inconceivahle  at  the   present  day.     They  speak 
of  the  commonwealth  as  men    now  speak  of  the   affairs 
oftheii'oun  households      Stephen    was  chosen  one    of 
the  (.lei^erMes  of  the  town  to   tlie   first  Provincial    Con- 


ilis  uwciliug  is  aow  owned  ^nd  occupied  by  My.  Bobert  JeDkinSc 


97 

'  -gress.  Several  were  elected,  but  he  and  the  well 
known  Jonathan  Greenleaf,  whose  friend  and  coadjutor 
be  was  during  his  whole  lil'e,  were  the  only  two,  who 
accepted  their  appointments.  He  was  a  member  of 
this'  body  during*  most  of  the  war,  and  of  the  General 
"Court,  that  succeeded,  for  many  years  afterward.  At  the 
commeDcement  of  the  revolution  Ralph  was  a  captain 
in  the  militia,  commissioned  by  the  royal  Governor. — 
His  commission  is  dated  in  1772.  He  afterwards  accept- 
ed one  from  the«Provincial  Congress,  and  signalized  him- 
self by  his  zeal  and  assiduity  in  training  his  men.  In 
1777  he  joined  the  northern  army  as  Lt.  Colonel  of  the 
regiment  raised  in  this  quarter,  commanded  by  Col. 
Johnson  of  Andover.  His  battalion  formed  part  of  two 
regiments  ordered  in  September  to  advance  against  the 
.  garrison  at  Ticonderoga  with  the  intent  of  taking  pos- 
session of  it.  The  enemy  being  reinforced,  the  regi- 
ments were  compelled  to  retreat  and  joined  the  camp 
at  Stillwater  on  the  fourth  of  October.  The  fourth 
day  following  occurred  the  memorable  battle,  which  oc- 
casioned Burgoyne's  surrender.  This  was  one  of  the 
first  detachments  of  militia  eng-asred  in  the  action. — 
The  brothers,  with  others,  contracted  with  the 
State,  and  built  the  frigates  Hancock,  Boston,  and  Pro- 
tector, and  several  other  vessels  of  war.  The  former 
was  built  in  the  yaid  of  Jonathan  Greenleaf,  between 
Bartlet  and  Johnson's  wharves,  the  tvv,->  last  at  the  yard 
of  Stephen  Cross,  now  occupied  by  Titcomb  and  Lunt 
as  a  mast  yard. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Stephen  was  appointed 
superintendant  of  the  excise,  and  afterwards  col- 
lector of  the  customs  for  the  port  of  Newburyport. 
Some  imputation  of  mismanagement,  together  probably 
with  his  political  sentiments,  caused  him  to  be  remov- 
ed from  the  last  office.  Whatever  it  was,  it  did  not  di- 
minish the  contidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  ;  lor  he  was 
the  year  alter  his  removal  elected  a  member  of  the 
General  Court,  and  soon  nftor  rncoived  the  ap|)ointment 
of  postmister.  In  the  last  ofhce  he  continued  till  he  di- 
ed in  1809.  ^ 

Ralph  al^o  filled  various  honorable  offices.  He  was 
for   six  years,    fr«  m    1790  to    1796,   brigadier  gener- 

I 


13 


al  of  the  Brigade  to  which  the  corps  of  Newbury- 
port  were  attached.  He  was  a  commissioner  of 
bankruptcy  under  the  bankrupt  law,  and  in  1802  was 
appointed  collector  of  the  customs.  He  continued  in 
this  office,  performing-  its  duties  at  a  p?riod  of  unusual 
difficulty  with  faithfulness  and  resolution,  till  his  de- 
cease in  1800.* 

Tristram  Dalton  was  born  in  Ne^vhury  in  June 
1-738.  In  1755  he  was  graduated  at  Harvard  college. 
After  pursuing  the  stud\  of  law  for  a  time  in  Salem,  he 
married  a  daughter  of  Robert  Hooper  of  Marblehead, 
and  entered  into  business  with  his  father  as  a  merchant 
in  Newburyport.  For  many  years  he  continued  aciive- 
ly  engaged  in  commercial  persuits  ;  after  which  he  was 
called  to  fill  some  of  the  most  reepon«ible  offices  in  the 
State.  He  was  a  representative  from  Newburyport, 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  and  a  member 
of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  and  lastly  member  of  the 
Senate  of  the  Uiiited  States.  vVhen  his  term  of  office  ia 
Congress  expired,  he  sold  his  estate  in  Essex  nnd  re- 
moved to  Washington.  He  entered  into  speculations 
there,  which,  proving  unfortunate,  reduced  him  from 
affluence  to  poverty.  He  was  appointed  surveyor  of 
Boston  and  Charlestown  in  1815,  and  continued  in  the 
dicharge  of  his  official  duties  until  his   death  in  1817.t 

The  Greenleafs  have  always  been  a  family  of  great 
consideration  in  Newburyport.  Three  brothers  of  that 
name  emigrated  here  from  Europe  Benjamin,  son  of 
one  of  these  emigrants,  died  in  Newburyport  at  an  ad- 
vanced age  in  1783,  having  been  a  representative  in 
the  legislature,  and  otherwise  repeatedly  honored  with 
marks  ot  the  public  confidence. 

Jonathan  Gree:.leaf,  nephew  of  the  preceding,  was 
distinguished  for  his  natural  talents,  persuasive  diction, 
*  conciliating  manners,'  and  *  peculiar  tact'  in  public  life. 
He  died  in  Newburyport,  his  native  place,  in  1807,  at 
the  age  of  eighty  four.  He  filled  the  office  of  represen- 
tative from  this  town  in  the  General  Court  for  many 
years  ;    where  he  displayed  his  characteristic  acuteness 

*The  author  is  indebted  for  this  account  to  a  descendant  of  RalpU  Cross 
f  K»api>'s  Biograph.  Sketches  315. — His  house   now  belongs  to  and  is 
Jif^upied  by  Moses  Brown  esqr. 


99 

and  practical  good  sense,  in  the  important  duties  of  the 
tryin2:  crisis  of  the  revolution. 

Benjamin  Greenleaf,  cousin  of  Jonathan,  and  anoiher 
nephew  of  the  first  named  Benjamin,  was  born  at  this 
place  in  March  1732  and  died  here  in  January  1799. — 
He  resided  some  time  in  Kittery  ;  and  returned  here  in 
1761.  He  held  various  important  offices  in  the  service 
of  his  native  town,  of  the  county,  and  of  the  common- 
wealth. He  was  mem.ber  of  the  Executive  Council  of 
Massachusetts  during  the  revolutionary  war.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Senate  after  the  atioption  of  the 
constitution;  a  chief  justice  of  the  court  of  Common 
Pleas  ;  and  for  a  long  period  Judge  of  Probate  for  the 
county  of  Essex. 

Stephen  Hooper  was  the  son  of  Stephen  Hooper,  a 
merchant  of  distinction  in  Newburyport,  where  the  sub- 
ject of  this  article  was  born  in  1785  : — Soon  after  which 
time  his  father  removed  to  Newbury.  He  was  fitted 
for  college  at  Dummer  Academy  and  graduated  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1893.  After  studying  law  for  the  stated  peri- 
od, he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  opened  an  office  in 
Nevvburyport. 

Whilst  yet  a  student  at  law  he  represented  Newbury 
in  the  General  Court  at  the  age  of  25  ;  and  six  years  af- 
terwards he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Senate  from 
the  district  of  Essex.  In  these  situations,  although 
wanting  in  business-talents  and  industry,  he  was  distin- 
guished as  an  eloquent  debater. 

In  1818  he  removed  to  Boston  ;  and  devoted  himself 
to  the  practise  of  his  profession.  During  his  residence 
there  he  was  for  several  years  an  alderman  of  the  city. 
He  died  in  1825,  aged  40.* 

Jonathan  Jackson  was  one  of  the  eminent  patriots  of 
Essex  during  the  revolution  and  the  early  period  of  our 
constitutional  history.  He  wrote  some  of  the  best  po- 
litical tracts  of  the  day, — was  a  member  of  Congress, 
and  held  several  offices  of  responsibility  and  honor. — 
He  was  born  in  Boston  ;  bul  settled  h?re  as  a  merchant 
early  in  lile,  and  spent  the  most  efficient  part  of  it  in 
the  town.     Several  years  before  his  death  he  removed 


*  Boston  Monlhly  Maj.  ?ol.  I. 


100 

hack  to  Boston.*  He  was  the  near  friend  of  the  subject 
of  the  next  article. 

John  Lowell,  son  of  John  Lowell,  minister  of  the 
First  Religious  Society  in  Newbnryport,  was  born  in 
the  part  of  Newburv,  which  afterwards  became  New- 
burypoit,  in  1743.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  col- 
lege ;  and  adopting  the  law  for  his  profession,  he  settled 
in  his  native  town  and  speedily  rose  to  distinction.  In 
1776  he  removed  to  Boston;  and  became  representative 
in  the  General  Court,  and  a  member  of  the  convention 
for  framing  the  constitution  of  the  State. 

In  1781  he  was  chosen  member  of  Congress;  in 
1782  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  admiralty  Court 
of  Appeals  ;  and  on  the  establishment  of  the  federal 
government  was  made  district  judge  of  the  United 
States  for  Massachusetts.  This  office  he  filled  until 
]801,  when  he  was  made  chief  justice  of  the  new  Cir- 
cuit Court  for  the  eastern  circuit.  He  died  in  1802. 
He  was  eminent  for  his  judgment,  integrity,  and  elo- 
quence as  an  advocate  and  legislator  ;  for  his  impartial- 
ity, acuteness,  and  decision  as  a  judge  ;  and  for  his 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  scientific  and  other  useful  institu- 
tions. He  was  eighteen  years  member  of  the  corpora- 
tioB-oi'  Harvard  College ;  and  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  American  Academy. t 

The  poet  Robert  Treat  Paine  studied  law  in  New- 
buryport  under  the  direction  of  Parsons  ;  and  whilst  he 
resided  here,  pronounced  his  celebrated  Eulogy  on 
Washington,  which,  with  some  defects  of  taste,  is  nev- 
ertheless a  very  brilliant  and  powerful  composition. 

Timothy  Palmer  has  been  meetioned  in  another  part 
of  this  work.  He  was  born  in  Boxford.  His  merit  as 
a  civil  engineer  was  very  distinguished.  Besides  con- 
structing the  Essex  Merrimac  bridge,  he  was  much  em- 
ployed in  similar  business  at  the  south,  and  in  particu- 
lar built  a  bridge  across  the  Schuylkill  at  Philadelphia. 

♦  His  mansioa  house  afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Timo- 
thy Dexter,  notorious  ftjr  liis  eccentricity,  aiid  is  now  used  as  a  public 
inn. 

■j"  His  dwelling  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Elfazei'  J(>hnson.  The  house  iri 
•which  he  is  said  to  have  been  born,  now  belongs  to,  and  is  occupied  by, 
John  FiU  esq. 


101 

Theophilus  Parsons,  a  name  identified  with  the  his- 
tory of  our  law,  laid  the  foundations  of  his  eminence  in 
Newburyport.  Born  in  Newbury  in  February  1730, 
he  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  at  Dam- 
mer  Academy,  under  the  celebrated  master  Moody.— 
His  father,  the  Rev.  Moses  Parsons,  was  minister  of  By- 
field  parish  in  Newbury.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
colleg-e  in  1769,  and  afterwards  stuflied  law  in  Falmouth, 
now  Portland,  and  while  there  taught  the  grammar 
school  in  that  town.  He  practised  law  there  a  few 
years  ;  but  the  conflagration  of  the  town  by  the  British 
in  1775  obliged  him  to  return  to  his  father's  house, 
where   he   met  judge  Trowbridge,    and   receiTed    the 

most    valuable    instructions   from  that  eminent  jurist 

He  soon  resumed  the  practise  of  his  profession  in  this 
town,  and  rapidly  rose  to  unrivalled  reputation  as  a  law- 
yer. 

^.  In  1777  he  wrote  the  famous  Essex  Ptesult,  and  in  1779 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Convention,  which  framed 
the  State  constitution. 

In  1789  he  was  a  meaibor  of  the  convention  for  con- 
sidering the  present  constitution  of  the  United  States, 
and  was  peculiarly  instrumental  in  'procuring  its  adop- 
tion. 

In  1801,  he  was  appointed  attorney  general  of  the 
United  States,  but  declined  accepting  his  rommiscion. 

In  1800,  he  removed  to  Boston.  In  1806,  he  was  ap- 
pointed chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  his  profound  legal  opinions  have  mainly 
contributed  to  settle  the  principles  of  our  expository 
law 

He  died  in  Boston  October  13th  18 13,  with  reputa- 
tion as  a  judge  and  a  lawyer  unequalled  in  Massachu- 
setts.* 

Nicholas  Pike,  son  of  Rev.  James  Pike,  was  born  in 
Some r-. worth  in  1743.  He  vvas  graduated  at  Harvard 
college  in  1766,  and  taught  a  grammar  school,  tirst  in 
York,  al'terwards  in  IScuburypoi  t.  In  178C,  he  publish- 
ed his   System  of  Arithmetic^  which  still  deservedly  sus- 

*  Kii;i|)p'9  Uiog.  Skelclifs  p.  S7  :— ('.  J.  Parker's  Charge,  Mass.  Rep. 
His  house  now  belongs  to  Dr  Oliver  Prescott. 

i9 


102 

tains  high  reputation.  He  was  long"  a  distinguised  acU 
ing  magistrate  in  Newburypor^,  where  he  died  in  De- 
cember 1819.* 

The  ':ife  and  character  of  Oliver  Putnam  have  already 
been  sketched  t 

Micajah  Sawver,  a  physician  of  eminence,  was  born 
at  Newbury  in  1737,  and  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard college  in  1756.  He  was  much  distinguished  in 
the  practice  of  hi*  profession  and  as  a  citizen;  and  died 
at  an  adranced  age  in  1815. 

John  Barnard  SwETT  \ms  highly  distinguished  as  a 
physician,  !«chviar-  and  gentleman.  He  was  born  in  this 
town  and  graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1771  ;  and  af- 
terwards travelled  in  various  parts,  whence  he  returned 
with  a  mind  richly  stored  with  professional  and  classi- 
cal learning.  He  established  himself  in  Newburyport 
in  1780.  He  died  in  1796.  at  the  age  of  45,  falling  a 
sacrifice  to  his  fidelity  in  the  exercise  of  his  profession 
during  the  calamitous  period,  when  the  yellow  fever 
prevailtd  in  Newbur\port. 

George  Tracher,  a  justice  tf  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Massachusetts,  removed  Irom  Biddeford  to  Newbury- 
port in  1820,  on  the  separation  of  Maine  from  Massa- 
chusetts. He  resided  liere  until  a  short  time  before  his 
death,  v«'hich  took  place  at  Biddeford  in  1824.  He  was 
born  at  Yarmouth  in  1 754  and  was  educated  at  Har- 
vard colleg^e.  He  practised  law  for  many  years  in 
Maine  with  great  reputation  and  success. 

He  was  a  member  of  Congress  for  a  long  period, 
from  1788  until  his  appointment  to  the  Supreme  Court, 
in  which  he  held  a  seat  for  more  than  twenty  years 
previous  to  his  decease. 

Among  the  first  settlers  of  Newbury  was  William^ 
TiTCOMB,  who  emigrated  from  Newbury  in  England  in 
1635.  His  grandson  col.  Moses  Titcomb  was  distin- 
guished in  the  expedition  against  Louisburg  in  1745, 
and  afterwards  commanded  a  regiment  at  Crown  Point 
in  1755,  where  he  was  killeJ  while  reconnoitring  the 
enemies'  post.  Another  of  the  descendants  of  VVillian*- 
Titcomb,  captain  Michael  Titcomb,  belonged  to  Wash- 


New  Hannp.  Collec.  II.  148.        t  Ante,  page  63. 


'     103 

r.^ton's  body  guard.     Two  other=,  Enoch  Titcomb  and 
Jonathan  Titcomb,  deserve  sepacate  Dotiee. 

ExVOCH  Titcomb  was  bred  to  mercantile  pursuit*,  but 
a«  he  advanced  in  life  attained  rank  as  an  upright  ia- 
dicious  public  servant.  He  Wu  :m  ardent  whig;  and 
-erved  as  a  brigade  major  at  Rhnd^  Island,,  among  the 
'roops  commanded  by  general  Sdiiivan.  At'lerwarlh  he 
held  different  town  offices  for  many  years.  At  ttie  ao-e 
of  forty  he  became  a  member  of  the  legislature,  and 
continued  in  office,  either  as  representaiiye  or  senator. 
until  the  infirmities  of  age  obliged  him  to  retire  into 
private  life,  ile  was  also  for  a  long  tim?^.  a  justice  of 
the  peace  and  a  notary  public.  Without  possessing 
brilliant  talents,  he  was  yet  estimable  for  his  pi  ^y,  ia- 
iegrity,  and  good  sense.     He  died  in  1814.  aged  62. 

Jonathan  Titcomb  was  distinguished  as  an  ardent  and 
zealous  whig  during  the  revolution.  He  comm/anded  a 
regiment  of  militia  under  general  Sullivan  upon  the 
Rhode  Island  expedition,  and  afterwards  became  a  brio-„ 
adier  general.  *la  1774-75  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  and  belonged  to  the  iirst  General 
Court  after  the  British  evacuated  Boston. 
^  Subsequently  he  represented  the  town  in  General 
Court  for  several  years;  and  was  chosen  to  the  Con- 
rentionfor  framing  the  constitution  of  the  State. 

He  was  appointed  by  Washington  the  first  naval  of- 
ficer in  this  District,  which  place  he  held  from  1789 
to  1812. 

Me  died  in  1817,  at  the  advanced  age  of  89. 

NATHA^fIEL  Tracy  was  a  merchant  of  liberal  cduca- 
'ion,  who  graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1769.  He 
'.rterwards  transacted  business  upon  an  extensive  scale 
in  this,  his  native  town,  and  was  distinguished  for  his 
patriotism,  I'berality  of  character,  refinement  of  man- 
ners, and  hospitality.* 

Beside  these  men,  who,  by  reason  of  their  profes- 
sion, their  situation,  or  the  oflices  they  held,  rightly 
are  esteemed  public  property,  many  others  might,  be 
mentioned,  highly  distinguished  for  their  private  virtues. 

*  His  mai\sioa-hou3e    now  bclong«  to  an«l    is  occupied    by  James 
Prmce  esq. 


164 

William  Coombs,  and  Others  will  long  be  gratefully  re, 
mernbered  by  their  fellow  citizens,  fox  that  dignity  of 
character  as  men  and  as  merchants,  which  exalted  the 
name  and  the  fortunes  of  Newbnryport  in  the  natton. 

Newbiiryport  has  proved,  but  too  frequently,  the 
nursery  of  talented  hien,  v/ho  have  emigrated  elsewhere 
for  the  enjoyment  of  more  liberal  rewards  than  its  means 
afford.  Of  the  many  individuals,  whose  fortunes  illus- 
trate this  remark,  King,  Perki.vs,  Jackson,  White,  Kjvapp, 
and  PiERPONT  are  living  examples.  Three  of  these 
Jiave  attained  reputation  so  pre-eminent  as  to  sanction 
the  introduction  of  a  short  account  of  their  lives  in  this 
place. 

Charles  Jacksox,  the  son  of  Jonathan  Jackson,  was 
born  in  Newburyport  in  1775.  He  was  graduated  at 
Cambridge  in  1793  ;  and  after  studying  the  science  of 
law  under  Parsons,  went  into  practise  in  Newburyport. 
His  eminent  natural  qualifications  for  success  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  his  until  ing  industry  and  devotedness  in  the 
discharge  of  its  duties,  drew  to  him  the  public  confidence 
at  an  early  age.  He  quickly  rose  to  the  front  ranks  of 
the  bar,  and  became  second  only  to  his  great  master  in 
forensic  distinction.  Shortly  before  the  latter  was 
raised  to  the  bench,  he  removed  to  Boston,  and  suppli- 
ed, as  no  other  person  could  do,  the  vacancy  in  prac- 
tise left  by  his  withdrawal  from  the  profession. 

He  continued  sedulously  engaged  in  the  highest  and 
best  legal  business  of  the  State  until  1813,  when,  upon 
the  death  of  Theodore  Sedgwick,  he  was  appointed  to 
be  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts. 

To  ascribe  to  him  the  highest  character  in  this  new 
station  woul^  only  be  to  repeat  the  unanimous  voice  of 
the  bar  and  the  public.  His  were  not  merely  the  ordi- 
nary points  of  jndicial  excellence,  Industry, — impar- 
tiality,— patience, — acuteness,— juridical  erudition,  were 

qualities,  which  he  exhibited   in  no   common  degree 

But  the  depth,  clearness,  and  comprehension  of  his 
views  were  still  more  ren^arkable.  His  earnest  devot- 
edness to  the  functions  of  his  station  affected  his  health 
so  seriously,  that,  in  1823,  he  went  abroad  to  regain  it, 
resigning  his  office.     In  England   he  was  honored  with 


105 

the  respect  and  confidence  of  lord  Stowell,  and  other 
eminent  jurists. 

In  1B24  he  returned  to  this  country,  and  has  now  re- 
sumed the  practise  of  his  profession  in  Bostofi  as  counsel, 

RuFus  King  was  born  at  Scarborough  in  iVliiiae. 
He  received  his  first  degree  at  Harvard  coli^ge  in 
1777;  and  immediately  began  the  study  of  law  in  New- 
buryport  under  the  care  of  Theophiins  Par^scns.  On 
completing  bis  studies,  he  was  ailmitted  to  the  bar  in 
Essex  County,  and  opened  an  office  in  this  town. 

His  great  talents  speedily  raised  him  to  distinction  in 
his  profe.^sion  and  in  poliiics.  A  few  years  after  com- 
mencing practice,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  town 
in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts ;  soon  after 
which  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress  under  the 
old  confederation. 

Thenceforth  his  progress  to  eminence  was  rapid  and 
sure.  lie  soon  removed  to  the  state  of  New  York  ;  and 
received  continual  marks  of  public  confidence.  With- 
out attempting  to  give  an  accurate  and  detailed  account 
of  the  various  stations  he  filled,  it  i^  sufficient  to  say 
that,  after  a  distinguished  career  in  Congress,  he  was  in 
1796  appointed  minister  plenipotentiary  to  the  court  of 
St.  Jame"*  by  general  Washington. 

Mr.  KingV.ted  in  this  capacity  until  1803.  Although 
a  change  in  the  administration  had,  in  the  mean  tinke, 
taken  place  at  home,  his  conduct  wns  nevertheless  such 
as  in  a  great  measure  to  gain  the  ai'probation  of  both 
parties.  He  discus-^ed  in  a  full  and  satisfactory  manner 
all  the  questions  of  maritime  law,  in  which  America  was 
interested.  To  the  subject  of  impressment  he  paid 
particular  attention,  and  made  great  progress  in  secur- 
ing an  arrangement,  which  would  have  contributed  es- 
sentially to  the  protection  of  our  seamen. 

Mr.  King,  after  his  leturn,  continued  attached  to  the 
federal  p*;»rty.  But  although  opposed  to  the  measures 
of  Mr.  Madison,  yet,  like  Samuel  Dexter,  he  supported 
the  STOvernment  during  the  war. 

After  the  restoration  of  peace,  he  received  the  suf- 
frages of  the  legislature  of  New  York  for  the  office  of 
senator  in  Congress.     He  remained  in  the   station  until 


106 

1825,  when  he  was  a  second  time  appointed  minister  to 
Great  Britain 

Having  resigned  this  office  on  acccount  of  his  de- 
clining hea'ih,  he  has  lately  returned  to  America,  be- 
ing succeeded  by  Albert  Gallatin. 

Jacob  Perkins  was  born  at  Newburyport  July  9th 
1766.  His  father,  Matthew  Perkins,  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ipswich  and  lived 
to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety.  After  receiving  a  com- 
mon school  education,  he  became  apprentice  to  a  gold- 
smith ;  and  soon  displayed  those  extraoi-dinaj-y  inventive 
powers  in  mechanics,  which  have  elevated  him  to  dis- 
tinction. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  one,  he  was  eraploj^ed,  when 
others  artists  had  failed,  to  make  dies  for  the  copper 
coinage  of  Massachusetts  under  the  old  confederation. 

At  twenty  four  he  invented  the  nail  machine,  which 
cut  and  headed  nails  at  one  operation. 

His  mechanical  genius  <Vas  now  fully  developed  ;  and 
ibr  twenty  years  and  upwards,  ne  continued  to  multiply 
useful  inventions  in  the  arts  with  a  facility  truly  aston- 
ishing. His  ingenuity  in  ranking  a  plate  lor  bank  notes 
incapable  ot  being  counterfeited,  and  in  discovering 
the  art  of  softening  and  hardening  steel  at  pleasure,  was 
particularly  useful  to  the  public.  The  latter  discovery 
opened  a  wide  field  for  the  labors  of  the  engraver  and 
led  to  many  happy  results. 

It  would  be  endless  to  recount  the  great  number  of 
useful  or  ingenious  inventions,  which  he  was  constantly 
producing  during  the  latter  part  of  his  residence  in 
in  America.  His  talents  found,  tor  a  time,  a  wider  field 
for  their  display  in  Philadelphia,  whi'her  he  removed 
from  Newburyport.  After  residing  there  several 
years,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  is  now  exercising 
his  genius  in  England, — the  great  theatre  for  the  exhi- 
bition and  encouragement  of  abilities  like  his.  Besides 
many  things  of  merely  philosnphicai  interest,  which  he 
has  there  been  teachin:?  to  th^  .eich^»r*  of  the  world, 
he  has  also  ra;ide  some  signil  improvementrs  in  the 
steam-engine,  the  great  nuchs'r.ical  agent  of  modern 
times.  His  inve.ntions  in  the  arts  of  engraving  and  in 
calico-printing,  among  other  things,  have  been  success- 


107 

fully  put  in  operation  : — while  his  genius,  and  his  ur- 
banity of  deportment  and  simplicity  of  character  are 
procuring  hion  the  admiration  and  esteem  of  the  uiseat 
m'^n  and  greatest  nobles  of  Britain. 

Among  the  many  persons,  who,  attracted  by  the  fame 
of  Parsons  in  jurisprudence,  came  to  Nevvburyport  to 
study  law  under  hi-*  direction,  John  Quincy  Adams  was 
one.  He  was  endeared  to  the  inhabitants  at  that  time 
by  his  promising  talents  and  social  excellences  in  youth. 
as  he  has  been  since  admired  in  manhood  for  the  noble 
qualities  of  ripened  age.  On  a  recent  occasion  he  spoke 
feelingly  of  Nevvburyport  as  '  a  town,  from  which  long 
absence  had  not  obliterated  many  of  the  most  pleasing 
recollections  of  his  youth  associated  with  it.'  The  tem- 
porary residence  of  such  a  man  here  for  the  purposes,  of 
education,  is  too  proud  a  circumstance  in  the  history 
of  the  to\vn  to  have  been  overlooked. 

The  contemplation  of  the  lives  and  characters  of  the 
many  eminent   persons,  whose  permanent  or  temporary 
residence  in  Newburyport  reflects  honor  upon  the  town, 
should  serve  to  stimulate  and   quicken  a    praiseworthy 
anaoitiou  m  the  breasts  of  those,  who  come  after  them. 
One  thing  in   particular  connected    with  this  point   de- 
serves attention,  as  equally  to  the  credit  of  the  individ- 
uals and  of  the   town.     In  selecting   persons  for  public 
confidence,  the  citizens,  on  the  one  hand,  have,  in  sever- 
al signal    instances,  manifested  indifference  alike  to  the 
age  and  station  of  the  party,  looking  only  to  his  absolute 
qualifications.     And  among  the  most  eminent  inhabitants 
of  the  town,   it  is  remarkable,  od    the  other  hand,  how 
large    a   proportion  of  them  have    been    distinguished 
early  in  life.— .Lowell,  Parsons,  King,  Jackson,  Perkins, 
and  Tif  we  may  be   permitted    to  claim  any  share  in  his 
fame)  AJams,  by  their  industry,  useful  talents,  devotion 
to    business,    and    ])recocious   manliness     of   chnracter, 
obtamed  either    professional  distinction,  or  public  hon- 
or^, or  both,  even  in  their  very   youth.     Is  it  not  proba- 
ble that  the  candor  and  discrimination  displayed  by  the 
town  in  the    illustrious  cases  ahove  mentioned  entitle  it 
to  the  credit  of  some  portion  of  the  eminence    of  those 
individuals  ?  Hail  their  merit  been  suffered  to   paas  un- 
noticed,— had  ihcy   been    condemned    for    their  youtk 


atone — their  subsequent  rise  might   have  beea  lon^ re- 
tarded.    Nay  it  might,  perhaps,  have  been  prevented 
forever.     Had  they  pined  away  in  neglect  in  early  life, 
who  can  say    how  different   would   have  been   their  fu- 
ture fate?  Beside*,  the  mere  fact  of  their  bein:^  so  soon 
the  objects  of  public   confidence  gave  them  the  benefit 
of  experience  and   practical  knowledge    at  a  period  of 
life,  when  hope  was  high,  and  the  pulse  beat  freely  and 
confidently   in  the   ardor   of  juvenile  feelings  and  pur- 
poses.    I'hus  they  acquired  a  start  in  the   race,  an  im- 
petus at  the   commencement  of  their  career,  of  which 
they  may  long  have  enjoyed  the  advantage.     It  was  the 
quaint  saying   of  a   great  writer  that  there   were  some 
men,  whose  abilities    were  born  with  them,  some  men, 
who   achieved  abilities;  and  a   third  set,   upon   whom 
abilities   were    thrust.*     How   fortunate   are    they,    in 
whom,  as   in   the    individuals   in   question,  these  three 
conditions    of  ability   meet  I     For   it   needs    hardly   be 
added    here,    that,    in    after    life,     they   continued    to 
prove  that  the  public  confidence    was  not  misplaced;^ 
and  their  country  found  cause  of  rejoicing  in  their  early 
advancement.     May  their  fume  be  a  light  in  the  path  of 
rising  generations  ! 

*  Tcmline's  Lifvi  of  Pitt,  voh  1,  p.  219= 


109 


coNCz>t7DXHG  re:marks. 


THE  chief  aim  of  the  author,  in  this  work,  is  narni- 
tive,  and  not  speculation.  But,  in  approaching  the  con- 
clusion of  it,  he  Cleaves  indulgence  for  a  few  remarks 
connected  with  a  topic  most  interesting  to  him  and  to 
his  fellow  citizens,  namely,  the  condition  and  prospects 
of  the  town.  He  claims  no  authority  for  his  reflections 
upon  this  subject  ;  and  submits  them  only  as  tiie  solifary 
opinions  of  an  individual,  having  but  limited  means  of 
observation. 

The  rise  of  Newburyport  to  wealth  and  consequence 
was  extremely  rapid.  This  elevation  was  not  capable 
of  being  ascribed  entirely,  or  for  the  greater  part,  to 
intrinsive,  local,  or  peculiar  sources  of  prosperity.  As 
observed  in  a  previous  chapter,  we  had  not  the  extra- 
ordinary advantage,  which  New  Orleans  and  New  York 
possess,  of  being  the  natural  depot  of  an  immense  interi- 
or country  of  unexampled  fertility  and  richness.  There 
were  no  inexhaustible  coal  mines  wrought  in  the  town 
or  its  vicinity,  as  at  Birmingh«ra  or  IVlanchcster,  to  fa- 
cilitate the  establishment  of  manufactories.  Nor  had 
we,  within  our  narrow  six  hundred  acres  of  territory, 
the  waterfalls  of  the  Fatucket  or  the  Powow,  to  be  sub- 
jected, by  human  art,  to  the  noblest  objects  of  human 
convenience,  industry,  and  happiness.  Our  peculiar  lo- 
cal advantages  extended  but  little  beyond  the  single 
business  of  ship-building. 

From  what,  then,  sprung,'  the  prosperous  energies  and 
the  speedy  increase  of  the  toun,  in  its  best  days  ?— 
They  aro^e,  it  is  believed,  w<aj /}/«/,  from  the  addres-:,  en- 
terprise, and  good  fortune  of  its  citizens,  in  seizing  upon 
the  pro};iiiou3  opportunities  alforded  by  the  situation  of 
the  United  States.  Newburyport  rose  with  the  com- 
mercial  rise  of  the   county,   and  with  that  alone  kept 

K 


HO 

even  pace.  True  it  is,  that  the  town  stood  somewhat 
in  advance,  in  the  celerity  of  its  progress,  of  the  nation 
at  large;  and  this  advancement,  it  is  repeated,  we  must 
attribute  to  the  character  of  its  inhabitants, — which  their 
staple  manufacture  contriluted  lo  develope.  Their 
success  was  in  maritime  commerce,  and  in  the  arts  sub- 
sidiary to,  and  dependant  upon,  mnritime  commerce 

And  their  skill  in  ship-buihling.  create<I  b}^  their  local 
advantage  for  that  manufacturo,  empo*rered  them  the 
more  easily  to  gain  the  start  of  other  places  in  marine 
trade.  For  this  business  had  enabled  them  to  accumu- 
late some  capital.  It  made  it  easy,  also,  with  a  very 
small  expense  of  outfii,  to  obtain  a  bottom  for  the  trans- 
portation of  goods.  And  by  placing  the  means  of  for- 
eign commerce  constantly  before  the  eyes  of  the  peo- 
ple, in  the  shape  of  their  staple  product,  it  naturally 
tempted  them  the  more  to  adventure  in  maritime  spec- 
ulations. 

Thus  matters  stood,  so  long  as  the  w^onderful  com- 
mercial prosperity  of  this  country  lasted.  During  this 
period,  when  the  neutral  position  of  America  was  so 
extraordinary,  so  unparalleled  m  the  history  of  com- 
merce, our  citizens  pusiied  their  advantage  to  the  ut- 
most. The  protits  of  commerce  were  immense.  We 
had  the  carrying  trade  of  the  whole  universe,  almost, 
in  our  hands.  Our  proximity  to  the  European  colonies 
in  America  co-operated,  with  other  things,  to  fill  the 
born  of  our  abundance  to  overflowing.  The  industri- 
ous mechanic  of  the  Merrimac  found  a  demand  for  his 
manufacture  : — the  enterprising  merchant  could  obtain 
his  vessel  on  easy  terms,  and  in  a  very  short  period  she 
would  earn  her  whole  original  cost.  All  the  depart- 
ments of  industry  connected  with  the  ocean  were  thus 
stimulated  to  the  highest  degree,  and  universal  pros- 
perity and  the  easy  acquisition  of  a  competence,  were 
the  natural  result. 

France  and  England  soon  became  jealous  of  this  our 
rapid  approach  to  the  very  empire  of  the  seas  and  th« 
monopoly  of  marine  commerce.  Previous  to  this,  how- 
ever, our  trade  to  the  French  islands  had  begun  to  de- 
cline. The  business  was  overdone  by  competition.— 
Their  markets  became  drugged  with  our  produce,  as, 


311 

indeed,  they  have  continued  to  be  ever  ?iocG.  They 
began  to  be  more  directly  supplied  with  foreign  manu- 
factures, thereby  diminishing  the  profits  of  cur  com 
merce  vvith  Europe.  And  no  slight  injury  was  sustain- 
ed by  our  coinnsrce.  in  consequence  of  the  disordei^  in 
the  West  Indies  occasioned  by  the  French  revolution. 

Bat  the  deadly  blow  to  our  commercial  prosperity 
was  more  directly  struck  by  the  indolence  an!  cupiuiiy 
of  ihe  grfat  belligerents  of  Europe.  Without  entering 
Into  the  broad  question  wh^'ther  the  system  of  restric- 
tions on  our  com  lerce  ad  'pted  by  the  government 
was  oi-  was  not  vindicated  by  the  issue,  thus  much  may 
be  conS  lently  iffirmdd  :  our  government  wis  forced  in- 
to it  by  the  inju-tice  of  foreign  powers.  It  was  a  choice 
of  evils.  England, — France, —^Holland, — ^Naples, — Den- 
mark,—  »vere  co-nmitting  the  most  digitious  depreda- 
tions upon  the  property  of  our  citiz.^ns.  They  were 
heap  ng  insult  u{)on  insult,  and  injury  upon  injury. — 
Thr-y  were  sweeping  our  ships  from  the  oceaa  with 
feariul  rapacitv,  ^nd  profligate  disregard  of  every  law, 
divine  or  human.  ibis  it  was,  whicu  drove  our  gov- 
ernment into  (hat  series  of  restrictive  measures,  finally 
terminated  in  war.  During  that  calamitous  period,  our 
seamm  were  thrown  out  of  employment ;  our  traders 
lost  their  customers  ;  the  farmers,  who  had  looked  to  Ui5 
for  foreign  commodities,  and  of  whom  we  had  pur- 
chased lumber,  and  provisions,  left  our  market, — and 
our  merchants  were  compelled  to  sit  down  idly  and  see 
their  ships  rotting  in  the  docks.*  True  it  is  that,  had 
the  uncilculating  enterprise  of  our  capitalists  been  left  to 
it'elt",  their  ship'  and  property  would  have  been  cap- 
tured or  coniiscat^d  abroad;  and  the  millions  of  our  for- 
eign claims  would  have  been  swelled  incalculably  ;  but, 
in  either  alternative,  the  loss  must  have  been,  as  it  was, 
deplorable. 

In  the  milst  of  all  these  misfortunes  came  the  tire  of 
1811,  which  destroyed  a  great  amount  oi^  our  property, 
and  diverted  too  much  of  what  remainod  from  more 
profitable  channels  mto  tlie  form  of  buildings.  But  a 
contl.tgration,  destructive   as  it   may  bo  of  jiroperty,  is 


♦Newburyport  H';rald,Jime  I3tli  I8i3, 


112 

Kot  of  a  nature  to  prodace  any  permanent  injury  to  tli€? 
prosperity  of  a  town.     The  skill,  the  talent*,  the  indus- 
try, which  reared  the  piles,  devoured  by  the  flames,  are 
capable  of  soon  repairing  the  damage  by  a  little  added 
exertions.     Of  course,  the  fire  could  have  had  but  par- 
tial influence,   in  producing   the  decline    of  Newbury- 
port.     The   genuine  dilSculty   to  be   solved,  the  ques- 
tion  really  needing  an    answer,  is,   why   Newburyport 
did  not  resume  its  prosperity,  and  continue  to  rise,  when 
all  the  temporary   causes  of  misfortune  alluded  to  ha'd 
ceased  to  operate.     We  shall  not  find  the  explanation  of 
this  point  in  the  lire  of  1811,  nor  in  the  embargo,  nor  in 
the  war.     It  is  to   be  sought  further.     New-York  and 
Boston  have   grown  as  rapidly   since   the  pressure    of 
those  restrictions    on  commerce    was  taken  otf,  as  they 
did  before.     But   various    circumstances  contributed  to 
retard  the  increase  of  Newburyport,  as  is  usual  in  simi- 
lar cases. 

Some  of  these  were  local.  Thus  the  bar  is  undoubt- 
edly some  impediment  to  our  prosperity, — because  it 
confines  our  navigation  to  vessels  of  the  smaller  class; 
andj  contrary  to  what  was  customary  twenty  years  ago, 
the  present  exigencies  of  foreign  trade  require  the  use 
of  large  vessels.  The  fjilis  and  rapids  in  the  Merri- 
roac  are  also  a  local  difBculty.  They  deprive  us  of  the 
benefit  of  supplying  with  heavy  goods  the  inhabitants  of 
the  interior  alonsr  the  river,  above  the  actual  hea«l  of 
navigation.  The  bu-iness  of  these  person-  is  diverted, 
by  means  of  the  Middlesex  canal,  from  Newburyport, 
its  natural  resort,  to  Boston.  This  disadvantage  might 
he  remedied,  in  a  great  degree,  by  the  compleiion  of 
the  long  talked  of  canal  around  the  remaining  ot)Struc- 
tions  in  the  bed  of  the  ivlerrimac. 

Every  small  sea-port  competes,  to  great  disadvantage, 
with  anv  laro:e  one  near  to  it.  The  arreatest  market 
will  inevitably  tend  to  swallow  up  others  in  its  vicinity. 
This  law  of  trade  has  undoubtedly  operated  to  the  seri- 
ous injury  of  Newburyport.  Like  othar  sea-;)orts  of  the 
second  cla=s  in  Massachusetts!  bay,  it  has  withered  un- 
der the  influence  of  BostoUc  There  are  but  few  excep- 
tions to  this  remark,  :uid  those  exceptions  confirm  the 
rule.     Thus  New-Bedford  and  Nantucket  are  sustained 


lio 

by  theii'  possession  of  the  whale-fi?hery,  Salem,  also, 
hid  its  advantage  in  the  East  InJia  trade,  so  lon^-  a^  that 
continue  I  peculiarly  lucrative.  Bat  the  bad  effects  of 
the  vicinity  of  Boston  are  constantly  and  seriously  expe- 
rienced here,  in  leading  the  importer  to  make  sales  of 
large  cargoai,  or  heavy  goods,  almost  universally  in 
Boston  ;  and  the  retailer  to  resort  tliers  for  his  supplies. 
Within  the  last  tifteen  years,  many  oth or  towns  along* 
the  sea-coast  of  New  England  hnve  entered  into  com- 
petition v/ith  this,  la  what  formerly  constituted  a  very 
important  part  of  ita  business,  name'y,  the  exportation 
of  lumber  and  tijh,  and  the  carriage  of  the  products  of 
the  West  Indies  to  a  market.  The  competition  has, 
of  course,  in  all  cases  diminished  the  profits.  And  Port- 
land and  other  places  in  Maine  can  export  lumber  at  less 
charge  than  ourselves,  and  therefore  to  greater  advan- 
tage. 

All  these  different  causes  have  their  influence.     But 
the  most  efHcient  and  comprehensive   reason  of  the  de- 
cline of  the  town  is,  in  truth,  the  immense  alteration  of 
the  general  condition  of  business  during  the  last  hi'teea 
years.     The   whole  of  Europe,  with    the  exception  of 
its  extreme  eastern  regions,  is  in  a  state  of  peace.     We 
are  no  longer  the  carriers  for  its   many  nations.     The 
sphere    of  our  commercial    enterprizo  is   wonderfully 
narrowed.     Our  capital  is  now  driven  into  new  channels, 
and  the  entire  circle  of  the  relations  of  business  and  trade 
has  undergone  a  radical  revolution.     Foreign  commerce 
now    requires  a   larger  capital  than    formerly,  and  the 
prnfit-4  on  it  arc  less.     We  are    beginnirig  to    perceive 
and  appreciate  the  importance  of  encouraging  and  pro- 
tecting domestic  industry,  for  the  most  substantial    rea- 
sons ;  and   if  we  did  not,  the  impossibility  of  employing 
all    the    resources    of  the  country    in  commerce  would 
force  open  our  eyes   to  see  the  necescity  of  investing  a 
portion  of  it  in  manufactures.     Here,  then,  we  Ic^e  our 
population,  wbil-Jt  other  to^.vns  i^ain  it.     Boston,  lor   in- 
stance, by  reason  of  the  immen-»e  accumulation  of  wealth 
in  the  hands  of  its    inhabitants,  becomes,  by  the  laws  of 
political  economy, a  permanent  market  as  well  for  domes- 
tic maniifictures  and  products,  a?  for  imported  articles. 
Amesbury,  Lowell,  Dover,  are  the  site  of  vast  manufa^- 

kO 


114 

factories,  and  thither  our  mechanics  and  traders  emi- 
grate, following"  the  coacentratiou  of  capital,  wherever 
it  takes  place.  But  we,  on  the  other  hand,  have  neither 
natural  sites  for  manufactories,  nor  that  immense  accu- 
mulation of  riches,  which  should  secure  to  us,  at  present, 
the  means  of  successful  competitioa  with  any  ol'  those 
places,  to  which  the  recent  revolutions  in  the  conduct 
of  business  have  imparted  such  great  accession  of  wealth 
or  population. 

If  these  remarks  are  entitled  to  any  weiarht,  they  may 
serve  to  reconcile  us  to  the  dimunition  of  population  and 
of  taxable  property,  which  a  comparison  of  the  state  of 
the  town  in  1810  and  1820  exhibits,  by  showing  that  it 
was  inevitable.     No  efforts  of  our  own  could  have  pre- 
vented it.     Some  injudicious  kinds  of  trade  were,   it  i-? 
true,  entered  upon  by  the  citizens  on  the  restoration  of 
peace,  whose  unprofitableness  era  long  was  discovered 
and  caused  them  to  be  abandoned      And   had  the  canal 
been  constructed    whsn  it  was  originally  projected,  it 
would  have  undoubtedly  enlarged  our  trade,  and  might 
also  have  been  used  advantageously  for  the  location  of 
manufactories.     But   these    things  were   not   the  great 
causes  of  the  check  in  our  prosperity.     For  after  all,  the 
present  condition   of  the  town  is  by  no  means  a  state  of 
decline.     It  has  not  now  the  riches,   the  population,  or 
the  busines?,which  it  once  possessed.     But  it  is  no  worse 
off  than  many  other  seaports  on  the  New-Fmgland  coast 
of  the  same  general  description.     And  its  actual  state  is 
not  so  much  a  state  of  decline,  as  of  slow  and  gradual, 
but  sure,  consolidation  and  advancement.     We   Amer- 
icans, and  especially  we  Xew-Englanders,  are  an  enter- 
prising,  restless,  impatient  race.     We   are  not  content 
with  living,  or  living  well  with  long  continued  industr}'', 
as  in  the    old  countries      We  are    ambitious    to    make 
large    fortunes,  and  to    make   them    quickly,  and   as  it 
were   extempore.     Our  national   and  individual  energies 
have  been  evoked  by  a  sort   of  unnatural  and   hot-bed 
process  of  developemcnt.     And  while  the  inhabitants  of 
Newburyport  havi^,  in  a  most  remarkable,  manner,  at  a 
former  period,  been  thus  hurried  on  to  prosperity,  they- 
can  the  less  easily  accommodate  themselves  to  a  station- 
ary condition,  or  one  of  mere  simple  well-being. 


115 

Bat  the  author  feels  admonished  that  these  remarks 
have   been   pursaed  at    sufficient   length.     It   is    more 
o-ratet'al  to   inquire  ho^v   the  town    might   bo  enabled  to 
regain  its  ancient  standing.     But  there   is  no  royal  road, 
no    convenient  short   cut,  to    national    wealll?  or  publiG 
prosperity.     It  is  pleasing  to  reflect,  as  stated  in  a  pre- 
ceding chapter,  that  while  some  occjpations  are  in  a  less 
lariving  s-ate  than  llDrmerly,   yet  others   are  much  im- 
proved.    The  fisharies  and  the  coast-wise   trade  of   the 
town,  departments  of  industry  every  way   preferable,  in. 
respect  to  questions  of  political  economy,  over  foreign 
commerce,   have   steadily  gained    upon    the    latter,   in 
proiitableness  and  in  amount  of  tonnage.     To  be  speedi- 
ly restored  to  its  old  prosperity,  some  great  revolution 
must  take  place,  either  in  externni  affairs,  or  in  the  in- 
ternal resources  of  the  town.     Such  a  revolution  in  for- 
eign afiairs  is  a  most  improbable   event.     But  the  crea- 
tion of  sites  for  manufactories  in  the  place,  or  the   es- 
tablishment here   of  any  species   of  manufacture  which 
do  not  require    the  application  of  water-power,  would 
produce  a  revolution  in  the  internal  resources  of  New- 
bury port.     Whether  such  a  thing  is  practicable    or  not 
is  too  wide  an  inquiry  to  be  pertinent  or  otherwise  prop- 
er in  this  connexion.     But  the  facility  and  usefulness  of 
extending  the  manufacture  of  vessels  are  too  prominent 
and  obvious  to   pass  unnoticed,    in  any  consideration  of 
the  means  of  stimulating  our  domestic  industry  by   ade- 
quaie  rewards. 

It  deserves,  also,  to  be  mentioned  here,  that  Newbu- 
ry port  possesses  uncommon  advantages  for  annuitants 
and  for  ail  persons  living  upon  small  capital  or  upon 
fixed  incomes.  It  unites  the  beneiiis  of  town  and  coun- 
try. Its  population,  being  considerable  an  I  compnct,  is 
suited  for  social  intercourse,  and  for  all  the  purposes  of 
the  concentration  of  mankind  into  towns.  It  possesses 
the  means  of  easy  and  direct  communication  to  the  sea, 
to  the  interior,  and  to  the  remotest  parts  of  the  United 
States,  east,  west,  or  ^outh.  It  is  but  five  hours  ride 
from  the  capital  of  i^few  England.  Livinij  is  remarka- 
bly c'leiip-,  because  heiag  the  marfvet-towu  of  a  con^id- 
era'tlj  a.jrir,!iltural  di^^trict,  .ml  Ivino:  contiguous  to  the 
ocean,  tlierc  is  hardly   an  article  of  taste    or  necessity 


\1Q 

whose  nrlce  is  enhaaced  to  the  inhabitants  by  l;inJ-caf- 
ria^'C.  In  acMition  to  this,  the  lowness  of  rents  removes 
the  greatest  item  oi  expense  which  is  incurred  in  Bos- 
ton, and  oilier  towns  in  similar  situation.  So  that  for 
the  retired  man  of  busiaess,  or  for  persons  living  upon 
salary,  to  vv'iom  ease,  respectability,  and  economy  arc 
primary  object^,  few  places  are  more  deserving  of  rc^ 
commendation  than  Newburyport. 

The  moral  and  pious  character  of  the  inhabitants, 
their  simple  and  unpretendiag  manners,  the  neatness  and 
salubrity  of  the  town,  and  the  excellence  of  school  and 
reiiarious  ed-ication  within  itself  or  in  its  immediate  vi- 
cinity,  are  topics,  in  relation  to  whic!)  merited  praise 
could  bo  bestowed  upon  the  town.  But  if  the  author 
dwelt  on  them,  he  might  subject  himself  to  the  imputa- 
tion of  pariialifV  ;  ani  he  therefore  abstains. 

The  true  policy  of  communities,  whether  large  or 
smali,li!ie  the  best  interest  of  individuals,  is  to  cultivate 
industry,  economy,  regularity,  temperance,  and  the  high- 
er principles  of  virtue,  and  to  obey  the  dictates  of  pure 
religion.  Witiiout  thi?  policj',  all  advantages  of  locality, 
or  circumstances,  or  fortune,  and  all  the  accumulated 
blessings  of  the  richest  soil,  the  healthiest  climate,  and 
the  most  transcendant  bounties  of  nature,  are  utterly  un- 
availing to  confer  prosperity  upon  a  nation,  a  state,  or  a 
town.  An  1  with  this  policy,  every  thing  else  is  easy  of 
accomplisiiinent.  The  most  «terile  soil  may  be  convert- 
ed into  a  garden,  and  the  wilderness  caused  'to  bloom  as 
a  rose.'  Commerce,  the  arts,  literature,  may  be  made  to 
pour  forth  their  golden  streams  of  plenty,  and  comfort, 
and  retinement,  to  enrich  the  land.  For  there  is  a  se- 
cret of  public  welfare,  which  political  economy  does 
not  teach.  It  lies  at  the  foundation  of  every  prosper- 
ous community,  and  it  is  capable  of  retrieving  the  most 
adverse  fortunes.  Tnough  it  be  not  learned  in  the 
schools,  the  fate  of  empires  and  the  destinies  of  man- 
kind impress  it  visibly  upon  the  face  of  the  universe. — 
It  is,  un>vavei'ing  obedience  to  the  lessons  of  morality 
and  piety.  Be  this  the  noble  aim,  then,  of  ail  our  ac- 
tions 

To  conclude,  let  us  repeat  the  words  of  one  of  the 


117 

greatest  men  and  pnrest  patriot?,  whom  this  or  any  oth- 
er country  has  kno^vn  : 

'  Kiii.llv  separated  by  nature  and  a  wide  ocean  from 
the  extprnii.iating  havoc  of  one  quarter  ot"  thf  gl^be  ; 
too  high  aiin^'ed  to  endure  the  degradations  of  the  oth- 
ers; po>>essini/  a  chosen  conntry,  uith  room  enough  tor 
our  descendants  to  the  thousandth  and  thousandth  gener- 
ation ;  entertaining  a  due  sense  of  our  equnl  ri^^ht  to  the 
use  of  our  oun  faculties,  to  the  acquisition**  of  our  own 
industry,  to  honor  and  coniideuce  fro^n  our  feih)vv  citi- 
aten-,  resuifin.?  not  from  birth,  but  tVom  our  a^tion^  and 
thpir  sen-e  of  them;  en!ight:?ned  by  a  benign  religion^ 
professed  inder-d  and  ^iractised  in  various  forrn^,  yet  ail 
of  them  inculcating  honesty,  truth,  temperance,  grati- 
tude, and  liie  love  of  man  ;  acknowledging  and  adoring 
an  overruling  Providence,  which  by  all  its  dispensations 
proves  that  it  delights  in  the  happiness  of  man  here, 
and  his  greater  happiness  hereafter :  with  all  these 
blessings  what  more  is  necessary  to  make  us  a  happy 
and  prosperous  people  V 


118 

TOW.y  Op'FiCLRS  FOR  1826. 

Selectmen^  Mossr=;.  Asi  VV.  VVjlies,  3ani:iel  S.  Pliim- 
mer,  Whiitin.^hHm  Giiman,  Green  Sanborn  John  Cook,  jr. 

Town  Clerk.  Jo-io  Fitz. 

^^sicsojrs^  Messrs.  Samiiei  Cutler,  Joha  Moody,  Jo- 
seph brown,  jr. 

Overseers  of  the  Poor^  Messrs.  Philip  Johnson,  jr.  Ed* 
mund  Bartlct,  Joseph  Brovvn,  jr.  Cilia  Boardmun,  John 
Moodv. 

Treasurer  tS'  C^lle.cAor^  John  rorter. 

■-  '^-rn^  C'^:nmittce^  Messrs.    'Vaihun    Noves,   Ebenczer 

a';h?niei  Bradsf-e'ot,  Stephen  VV,    M Piston, 

'   --hinj,  John  Fitz,  John  Coinn.    H^nrv  J>.'?nson, 

'■le'-  -rsi  Abrnham  WiaU^ms,  Georp^e  J^nk- 
•  ieaf,  Moses  event,  Is'^  c  Kaap,  Wiliiam 
.:*ou,  Zebedoe  Cook,  Wiiiiani  Cross, 
■  \-\  M  r-ih,  Joseph  Haie,  Philip 
Ofnn    Boardmnn.    William 
.1     Portion    Br-.^ckway,    John 
.       i-ci;,jr.    WiUiriin  Cook,  Philip 
I  f oli.Tiishee,    Eheuezer  Bradbury, 

of  Lurn'-erj  Messrs,  John  Stickney,  Mcody 
Fear'  0![j.'  Jacob  ^^ticJiTiey,  Amos  Pearson,  Obadiah  Hor- 
toi:,  John  Fhiudt^rs,  ?vIoses  CoiTia.  Amos  Pearson,  jr. 
Tii  ham  CoOin,  jr  John  Car.-,  Jo=h\ia  Hiii-,  John  Coop- 
er, rri'lr-^inri  Co'bn,  3rd.  Edward  Topp.tn,  Wilii.irn  Her- 
vey,  Zebedee  Cooii,  John  Mood},  Tho?ii<is  flervey,  Jer- 
einiah  Brown,  Jonathan  Pearson,  William  Alexander, 
Geor^^e  T.  Granger,  Moses  Somerby,  Joseph  Hoyt,  Ab- 
cer  Toppan 

Fruce  F^iWer^,' Messrs.  Amos  Pearson,  D.miel  Somer- 
by, ?doses  Kent. 

Fuhzi)ardens^  Messrs.  Offin  Eoardman,  John  Cook, 
Robert  Crnss. 

Cullers  of  Hoops  and  Staves,  Messrs.  John  Lewis,  jr. 
Samuel  Bradbury,  Wiliiam  Davis,  Thomas  Patten,  jr. 


iuS. 

Dp- 

E.5 

C- 

Hp 

CliV 

J 

Jon  ., 
Is;-r-^ 

•-/..-•■ 
*i'«-^l». 

-119 

Cullers  of  Fish^  Messrs.  John  Mace,  Pardon  Brockway, 

Field  Drivtrs,  Moses  Somerby,  Charles  Toppan. 

Hogreeves^  'NJe.^sr?.  Daoiei  C.  Johuson,  Wiliiam  P. 
Lunt,  William  Randall. 

Tytliingmen,  Me^fsrs.  Edward  Woodbury,  Stephen  Til- 
ton,  Wiliirim  Hervey,  Stephen  Frothingham,  Obadiah 
Horton,  Enoch  Smith,  Eheiiezer  Stone,  Charles  i\. 
Balch,  Tristram  Chase,  Charles  Whipple,  Daniel  Foster, 
Isathaniei  Bayley,  Ezekiel  Bartlet,  WiJliam  Carr. 

Police  Officer.,  Oilman  White. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 


Samnel  S.  Wilde, 
James  Prince, 
Jonathan  Gage, 
Ebenezer  Moseley, 
Josiah  Smith, 
William  Bartlet, 
Moses  Brown, 
Isaac  Adams, 
Samuel  Tenney, 
Andrew  Frothingham, 
Edwad  S  Rr<md, 
Solomon  H.  Currier, 
Ebeuezer  Shillaber, 


Oliver  Prescott, 
William  Woart, 
William  B.  Banister, 
John  Fitz, 
William  Cross, 
John  Pettingell, 
JohnGreenleaf, 
Thomas  M.  Clark, 
A?a  W.  Wildes, 
Stephen  W.  Marston, 
John  Porter, 
John  Cook,  jr. 
Caleb  Gushing, 


.^'OT ARIES  PUBLIC. 


John  Fitz, 
John  Porter, 
Daniel  Foster, 


Samuel  Tenney, 
William  Woart, 


CUSTOM  HOUSE. 


Collector^  James  Prince, 
Surveyor^  William  Cross, 
Naval  Officer.  Thomas  Carter, 
Depuiij  Collector^  Solomon  H.  Currier. 

POSTMASTER. 

Moses  Lord. 


120 

MEMBERS  OF  GEJSERAL  COURT. 

Senate^  Caleb  Cushing", 
Representatives^  John  Coffin, 
Robert  Cross. 

CLERGYMEjX. 

Kiev.  James  Morss,  John  Andrews,  D.D, 

Samuel  P.  William?,  Luther  F.  Dimmick, 

Charles  W.  Milton,  Daniel  Dana,  D.  D. 
Josiah  Houghton. 

PHYSICLIYS. 

Oliver  Prescott,  Nathaniel  Bradstreet, 

Francis  Vergnies,  John  Brickett, 

Jonathan  G.  Johnson,  Richard  S.  Spofford, 

« >  Wjraan,  JNathan  Noyes. 

LA  WYERS. 

Ebenezer  Moseley,  Jacob  Gerrish, 

Stephen  W.  I\Iarston,  Asa  W.  Wildes, 

Ebenezer  Shillaber,  Caleb  Cushing, 
Robert  Cross. 


ERRATA. 

Page 2,  line  2r  for  ten  read  t'ieU'e;  p.  8, 1.  8  for  1775  readl77^\ 
p.  SG,  I.  7.  The  cwaiu-bridge  was  buiit  under  the  direction  of  Dr  Joht> 
Temp'einan,  formerly  of  Boston.  The  first  bridge  iij  17^2,  was  built  bv 
Mr.  Palmer     y.  98;  f.  7  for  1800  read  181 L