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F 72 .E7 E85 Copy 2
1800
Glass
Book
Copy 2
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Fi2 EN E85
AN
HISTORICAL NOTICE
OF THE
ESSEX INSTITUTE;
WITH THE
ACT OF INCORPORATION, CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS,
AND
Lists of the Officers and Members.
SALEM : ·
PRINTED BY THE INSTITUTE. 1866.
0
NOTICE.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE
are issued in Quarterly Numbers. Subscription Price, $3 per year.
'T'HE NATURALISTS' DIRECTORY
is issued with the Proceedings.
Subscribers to the Proceedings receive the Directory free.
THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
are published in Quarterly Numbers. Subscription Price, $2 per year.
Subscriptions received by the AGENTS of the Institute, or by HENRY WHEATLAND, Secretary, and F. W. PUTNAM, Superintendent ESSEX INSTITUTE, SALEM, MASS.
The Publications of the Institute are offered in exchange for the Publications of other Societies, and for Journals, Magazines, Histori- cal and Scientific works.
AGENTS :
TRUBNER & CO., 60 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. B. WESTERMANN & CO., 440 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. WM. WOOD & CO., 61 WALKER STREET, NEW YORK.
AN
112
HISTORICAL NOTICE
OF THE
ESSEX INSTITUTE.
ACT OF INCORPORATION, CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS,
1
AND A
List of the Officers and Members.
SALEM: PRINTED BY THE INSTITUTE, DECEMBER, 1865.
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HISTORICAL NOTICE
OF THE
ESSEX INSTITUTE.
On visiting any institution, the first questions suggested, are, its objects and its utility ; these have been frequently discussed, partic- ularly in notices of institutions of a similar organization to our own, and their importance is universally admitted The second relate to the history of the institution, and are modified by circumstances pe- culiar to each. The inquiry is frequently made, Whence sprang these libraries and these collections ? How are they sustained ? To whom are due the inception and development of plans that have produced these results? The consideration of these and kindred subjects is the object of the present notice.
THE ESSEX INSTITUTE
was formed in 1848, by the union of the Essex Historical and the Essex County Natural History Societies.
ESSEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Rev. William Bentley, D. D., the distinguished antiquarian and scholar, of Salem, died December, 1819. During his pastorate in this place for nearly forty years, he made a large and valuable col- lection of books, pamphlets, manuscripts, &c., illustrative of the history of this section of New England. A desire to obtain and se- cure for Salem this collection, amassed with so much care, prompt- ed the idea of the formation of the Historical Society.
Application was made to the executor of the estate, who stated that if a suitable society should be formed for their reception and safe keeping, he would place them in its charge. With this encour- agement, and mainly through the exertions of George A. Ward, several gentlemen held a meeting on the 21st of April, 1821, Hon. Joseph Story presiding, and formed themselves into an association under the name of the Essex Historical Society, whose object should be to cooperate with other kindred societies in collecting and pre- serving all authentic memorials relating to the civil history of Essex county, and the eminent men who have resided within its limits, from its first settlement; also, all facts relating to its natural his- tory and topography ; and thus to provide the most ample materials
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for an authentic history of this part of our Commonwealth. It was supposed that much valuable information, of a purely local na- ture, would thus be collected, which from the peculiar relations of this county to the country at large, especially in its early history, would possess a great and general interest. At this meeting a com- mittee was appointed to prepare a constitution and report at an ad- journed meeting which took place on the 28th inst. ; the report was then accepted and officers elected in conformity thereto. The standing committee was also directed to prepare and present a pe- tition, to the Legislature, for an act of incorporation.
PETITION FOR INCORPORATION.
To the Honourable the Senate and the Honourable the House of Representatires in General Court assembled.
Tug petition of the undersigned, inhabitants of the county of Es- sex, humbly shews, that your petitioners, cherishing a grateful rec- ollection of their ancestors, whose love of civil and religious liberty led them to relinquish the peaceful enjoyments of polished life, and to establish in a rude and unexplored country such institutions as should best secure those inestimable blessings ; and being solicitous to transmit to posterity all memorials which shall tend to perpetuate the remembrance of those distinguished men, more especially of such as were conspicuous in the county where your petitioners re- side, which is the most ancient settlement in the territory originally known by the name of Massachusetts ; have formed themselves into an association, under the name of the ESSEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY, the object of which is, to cooperate with other institutions of the like nature, in collecting and preserving all authentic memorials relat- ing to the civil history of the county of Essex, and the eminent men who have been inhabitants of it, from its first settlement, as well as all facts relating to its natural history and topography ; and thus to provide the most ample materials for an authentic history of this part of our common wealth.
Your petitioners therefore pray, that they may, for the more or- derly conducting of their affairs, be made a corporation, with all necessary powers for carrying into effect the design of their associ- ation ; and as in duty bound will ever pray,
EDWARD AUGUSTUS HOLYOKE,
JOHN PRINCE,
JOSEPH STORY. BENJAMIN PICKMAN,
JACOB ASIITON,
NATHANIEL BOWDITCH,
NATHANIEL SILSBEE,
JOHN PICKERING,
ICHABOD TUCKER,
JOHN S. APPLETON,
LEVERETT SALTONSTALL,
GEORGE CLEVELAND,
BENJAMIN MERRILL,
FREDERICK HOWES,
THOMAS CARLILE,
JOHN BRAZER,
DANIEL A. WHITE,
JOHN GLEN KING,
GIDEON BARSTOW,
WILLIAM GIBBS,
CHARLES C. CLARKE,
JOSEPHI A. PEABODY,
THOMAS P. BANCROFT,
BENJAMIN R. NICHOLS,
STEPHEN WHITE and
GEORGE A. WARD.
Salem, June 2, 1821.
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE ESSEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
SECT. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That EDWARD AUGUSTUS HOLYOKE, of Salem, in the county of Essex, doc- tor of medicine, and such other persons as have associated or may hereafter associate themselves with him for the purpose of collect- ing and preserving materials for the civil and natural history of the said county of Essex, be, and they hereby are, made a body corpo- rate and politic by the name of the ESSEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY ; and by that name they and their successors may sne and be sued. and shall be capable in law to take and hold in fee simple, or other- wise, lands, tenements, rents and hereditaments. not exceeding in the whole the yearly value of two thousand dollars, exclusive of the building or buildings which may be actually occupied for the purposes of the said corporation ; and they shall also be capable in law to take, receive and hokl personal estate, to an amount, the yearly value of which shall not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars, exclusive of the books, papers, memorials and other articles com- posing the library and cabinet of the said corporation ; and they shall also have power to sell, demisec, exchange, or otherwise dispose of. all or any part of their lands, tenements, rents, hereditaments and other property aforesaid, for the benefit of the said corporation ; and shall also have a common seal, which they may break, alter and re- new at their pleasure ; and shall also have power to make by-laws, with suitable penalties, not repugnant to the laws of this common- wealth.
SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That the said corporation shall have power, from time to time, as they may think tit, to elect a president and such other officers as they shall judge necessary ; and at their first meeting they may agree upon the manner of calling future meetings, and proceed to execute all or any of the powers vested in them by this act.
SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That the library and cabinet of the said corporation shall be kept in the town of Salem aforesaid.
SECT. 4. Be it further enacted, That the said Edward Augustus Holyoke be and hereby is authorized to notify the said first meeting of the said corporation by an advertisement thereof under his hand for seven days before such meeting, in any newspaper printed in Salem aforesaid.
Approved by the Governor, June 11, 1821.
The first corporate meeting was held on Wednesday, the 27th June, 1821, and the society was organized, pursuant to their Act of Incorporation, by the adoption of a Constitution and the choice of officers to serve until the first annual meeting on the 6th of Septem- ber, in commemoration of the day of the landing of Governor Endi- cott, at Salem, in 1628. The venerable and learned Dr. E. Augustus Holyoke, who always took the most lively Interest in whatever concerned American literature and science, was elected the first President, and presided at this meeting.
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CONSTITUTION.
ART. I. The Society shall be called The Essex Historical Society, and shall consist of resident and honorary members, the former of whom shall be persons residing within the county of Essex.
Anr. II. The object of the society shall be, to procure and pre- serve whatever relates to the topography, antiquities, and natural, civil and ecclesiastical history of the county of Essex.
ART. III. The officers of the society shall be a president, a vice president, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, a librarian and cabinet-keeper, and nine trustees, of which the president and vice president shall ex officio be two; and all the officers shall be chosen by ballot, at the annual meeting of the socie- ty, on the sixth day of September.
ART. IV. It shall be the duty of the trustees to receive dona- tions, and to manage and superintend all the concerns of the socie- ty ; they shall hold meetings as often as occasion shall require, and at the annual meeting on the sixth day of September they shall make a report in writing of the transactions of the preceding year.
ART. V. Four meetings of the society shall be held at Salem in every year; the first meeting, at which the officers shall be chosen, shall be on the sixth day of September. being the day of the land- ing of Gov Endicott at Salem, A. D. 1628; provided however, that when that day shall happen on Sunday, the meeting shall be holden on the Tuesday following; the other meetings on the first Tues- days of December, March and June ; and special meetings may be called at the same place by the president, or in his absence the vice president, on the application of the trustees, by publishing a no- tification in some newspaper printed in Salem. The President, and in his absence the vice president, shall preside at all meetings.
Anr. VI. Each resident member shall, upon his admission, pay the sum of ten dollars.
ART. VII. The members of the society shall be chosen by ballot, at a stated meeting of the society ; but no person shall be admitted as a member, unless he has been nominated at some stated meeting preceding that at which the vote shall be taken for his admission.
AAnr. VIII. Five members shall be a quorum for holding any meeting.
The following circular was distributed among the friends of the society.
The object of the Essex Historical Society is, as stated in the 2d article of the constitution. " to procure and preserve whatever re- lates to the topography, antiquities, and natural, eivil and ecclesias- tical history, of the county of Essex." Members of the society, and other persons who feel a desire to promote these interesting and important purposes, will gratify the society by aiding in obtaining collections, for its use, of the following :
1. Topographical sketches of the towns and parishes where they reside, or with which they are particularly acquainted ; including an account of the soil, agriculture, manufactures, commerce, remarka- ble buildings, natural curiosities and statistics of such places.
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2. Sketches of the history, civil and ecclesiastical, of such towns and parishes, and as far as may be with minute references to dates, and biographical notices of the ministers, lawyers, physicians, and other most distinguished men, who were born or have resided therein. 3. Original letters, documents and papers illustrating any of these subjeets, particularly such as were written by distinguished men at home or abroad, which show the private habits, manners or pursuits of our ancestors, or are connected with the public history of this county, or of-this commonwealth.
4. Portraits of distinguished persons who were born or have re- sided in this county, or were connected with the history of the com- monwealth, particularly the portraits of our ancestors, and of dis- tinguished persons in England, of the same age.
5. Sermons, orations, occasional discourses and addresses, books and pamphlets, printed in the commonwealth, and especially such as have been written by persons born or residing within the com- monwealth.
6. Besides these the society will receive donations of any other books, pamphlets, portraits, manuscripts and printed documents, with which any gentleman may please to favour them; and in all cases, unless otherwise requested, the donor's name will be entered in the records of the donations of the society.
Salem, June 27, 1821.
Notwithstanding the disappointment in not obtaining the Bentley papers, which were otherwise distributed, the zeal and ability of the members and their friends, in a short time gathered together a good collection of portraits and curiosities, illustrative of the early history of the county, and a nucleus of a library containing files of several newspapers, pamphlets, public documents, &c. These were first de- posited in Essex Place, then in the room over the Salem Bank, and afterwards in Lawrence Place, until the union.
On the 6th of September, 1825, the day of the annual meeting, Hon. Leverett Saltoustall delivered a public address before the Society, in the first Church, which was well received. This dis- course was never printed.
On Thursday, the 18th of September, 1828, the society celebrated in a publie manner, the 200th anniversary of the landing of Governor Endicott and his band of Pilgrims at Naumkeag. The day was un- commonly fine ; a vast concourse of strangers, many of the first dis- tinction, were present ; the venerable Dr. Holyoke, who had seen his 100th birth day, presided. The military escort, the eloquent address by Hon. Joseph Story at the North Church, the rich intellectual and social banquet at Hamilton hall ; these and other interesting ill- cidents connected therewith render the occasion one to be long re- membered in the annals of the society.
ESSEX COUNTY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
The formation of a Society of Natural History, was proposed in the Salem Gazette for Tuesday, Feb 1, 1831, in a communication un- der the signature of Elah .* In the Salem Observer for the Satur- day following, two other communications on the same subject ap- peared. calling the public attention to the importance of institu- tions designed for the encouragement of a taste for the study of the natural sciences. Occasionally articles of a similar import were published in the newspapers, but no definite action was taken until December, 1833, when on the evening of Saturday, the 14th inst., a meeting of those friendly to this project was held, which resulted in the organization of the Essex County Natural History Society, Dr. A. Nichols, of Danvers, President, and J. M. Ives, of Salem, Secretary.
The following circular was printed and circulated calling atten- tion to the organization of a Society of Natural History.
Salem, Jan'y 1. 1834.
To promote more generally the study of Natural History in the County of Essex. a Society has been lately formed, the Constitution of which is before you. It is proposed to procure, as soon as pos- sible, a Library consisting of standard works, and a Cabinet of Spec- imens in Natural History, and especially as complete a collection as possible of the Natural productions of Essex County. In this de- sign your aid is respectfully solicited. You are requested to invite such of your friends and acquaintance as may feel an interest in the promotion of this object, or a taste for such studies, to subscribe the Constitution and become members. Ladies you will perceive are not excluded, and it is anticipated that they will contribute much to the success of the Society. Several in Salem have already become subscribers. Donations in money. books, drawings, or specimens of the productions of the three kingdoms in Nature. es- pecially such as illustrate the Natural History of the County, will be gratefully received and carefully appropriated and preserved. It is intended to make it a County Society, and although the Library and the Collections must have alocal habitation, of more convenient ac- cess to some than to others, no pains will be spared to extend the benefits as equally as possible among all that contribute to its means of usefulness. Communications on the location, habits and uses of minerals, plants, and the various tribes of Animated Nature, are al- so solicited. Communications, subscriptions, donations, &c. may be transmitted to J. M. Ives, Secretary and Treasurer, Holyoke Place, Essex Street, Salem.
Per order of the Curators. John M. Ives, Sec'ry.
*Written by Benjamin Hale Ives, an enthusiastic and zealons naturalist ; his at- lention was mainly directed to the study of Insects, though he by no means neglected the collateral branches. He was the youngest son of William and Mary (Bradshaw) Ives-born at Salem, Nov. 8, 1806-died Jan'y. 26, 1837.
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I.
THE Society shall be called THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX,
ARTICLE II.
The officers of this Society shall be a President ; a first and sec- ond Vice-President ; a Secretary, who shall also be Treasurer; and a Librarian, who shall also be Cabinet Keeper.
ARTICLE -III.
The President, Secretary, and Cabinet Keeper, with four others chosen by the Society for that purpose, shall be the Curators, who shall have the management of all the concerns of the Society, subject to the directions of the Society.
ARTICLE IV.
The officers shall be chosen at the annual meeting by ballot. ARTICLE V.
The annual assessment for each member shall be two dollars. ARTICLE VI.
This Constitution may be altered, by a vote of two thirds of the members present, at any regular meeting of the Society, notice be- ing given of the intended alteration.
ARTICLE VII.
The mode of calling the meeting, and giving notice of the same, shall be determined by a majority of the Curators.
ARTICLE VIII.
Any person may become a member of the Society by signing the Constitution, and paying the annual assessment.
ARTICLE IX.
Members may be expelled from this Society, by a vote of three- fourths of the members present, at the annual meeting.
ARTICLE X.
The Annual Meeting shall be on the third Wednesday in June. ARTICLE XI.
Any person may become a life member of this Society, by the payment of twenty dollars, and shall not be subject to the annual assessment.
ARTICLE XII.
Corresponding members, residing out of the County. shall be cho- sen by ballot, after having been nominated at a meeting, previous to that on which the ballot is taken.
In furtherance of these objects of the Society, a meeting was held in Topsfield on Wednesday, 16th of April, 1834, to complete the or- ganization by the appointment of committees, &c. Specimens in the various branches, with apparatus for their collection, were ex- hibited and illustrated by William Oakes of Ipswich, Dr. Andrew Nichols of Danvers, and others.
An Act of Incorporation was obtained in February, 1836.
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AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE
ESSEX COUNTY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That ANDREW NICHOLS, WILLIAM OAKES, and WILLIAM PRESCOTT, and their associ- ates, are hereby made a corporation, by the name of the ESSEX COUNTY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, for the purpose of promoting, the Science of Natural History; with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the liabilities contained in the forty-fourth chap- ter of the Revised Statutes of this Commonwealth, "passed on the fourth day of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five," and for the purpose aforesaid may hold real estate to the amount of ten thousand dollars, and personal estate, exelu- sive of the books, papers and articles in the cabinet of said society, to the amount of twenty thousand dollars.
Approved by the Governor. Feb. 12. 1836.
The Cabinets and Library were first deposited in Essex Place; Monday, Dec. 21, 1835, removed to Franklin Building ; Dee. 6. 1837, to Masonic Hall, in Chase's Building, Washington Street; and to Pickman Place, Oct. 31, 1842, where they remained until the union.
Soon after its organization the attention of the Society was direct- ed to horticulture. Its rooms were opened occasionally during every season, with greater or less frequency as eireumstances would permit, for exhibitions of Fruits and Flowers-these have not been contined to the products of the garden or the greenhouse, those flo- ral treasures which horticulture has introduced from foreign elimes ; but many of the rare and curious plants, congeners to our own for- ests, mountains, lakes and rivers, have afforded an interesting attrae- tion to these floral displays.
The first exhibition took place on Friday, July 11, 1834. The first general exhibition, which continued for several days, occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 14th and 15th, 1841; at that time the number of contributors was seventy-six; about three hun- dred plates of fruit were placed on the tables. comprising one hun- dred and fifty-three varieties, viz. : ninety-four of Pears, twenty-five of Apples, ten of Peaches, eight of Plums, eight of Grapes, four of Melons, two of Quinces, one of Nectarines and one of Filberts. Since that time, exhibitions have been held to which contributions have been received from one hundred and ninety-one individuals, and two thousand dishes or baskets of Fruit placed upon the tables, consisting of six hundred and sixty-nine varieties, viz. : of Pears three hundred and twenty-seven; Apples one hundred and eighty- one ; of Peaches eighty-two ; of Plums twenty-three ; of Grapes forty- one; of Quinces, Nectarines, Figs and Melons, three each; of Oran-
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ges, Lemons, and European Walnuts, one each. The above compar- ison indicates that these exhibitions have been instrumental in dif- fusing, through the community, a more general and extensive taste for horticultural pursuits.
At the annual meeting in June. 1836, Mr. John Lewis Russell deliv- ered a public address in Franklin Hall. This was printed, consti- tuting the first article in the Journal of the Society.
The "JOURNAL OF THE ESSEX COUNTY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIE- TY," comprising one volume, of three numbers, issued in 1836, 1838 and 1851, was published by the Society and contains the following articles :-
JOHN LEWIS RUSSELL.
Address delivered before the Essex County Natural History Society on its Second Anniversary, June 15, 1836. p. 5.
Familiar Notice of some of the Shells found in the limits of Essex County. p. 47. Two New Species of Musei, with tigures.
Notice of Rare Plants; with a description of a (supposed) variety of Cladonia uncialis. P. 96. Retrospect of some of the Shells found in Essex County. p. 110. Observations on the Polytrichaccæ; with a notice of some species occurring in Essex County.
Minute Polythalamous Shells occuring on the coast of Maine. p. 121.
p. 117.
Further notice of rare Plants ... p. 125. Conspectus of Shells found in Essex County. p. 126. HENRY WHEATLAND.
Notice of the occurrence of Vespertilio pruinosus Say : Hoary Baf. p. 26. Notice of several Fishes of rare occurrence. p. 122. WILLIAM PRESCOTT.
A Sketch of the Geology and Mineralogy of the Southern part of Essex Coun- ty. p. 78.
ANDREW NICHOLS.
Remarks on Hyla Pickeringit observed in the North Parish of Danvers. p. 93. (Note on page 133.) On the occurrence of Scaphiopus Solitarius in Essex County, with some notice of its history and habits. p. 113. THADDEUS WILLIAM HARRIS.
Remarks upon Scara beus Goliatus and other African Beetles allied to it. p. 101.
The Danvers Bowlder, or "Ship Rock." p. 120.
During the Winter of 1837 & 8, a course of six lectures were de- livered, under the direction of the Society; the Ist, Dec. 11th, by Dr. A. Nichols, on the Poetry of Natural History ; 2d, Dec. 18th, by Thomas Spencer. on the introduced plants of Salem and vicinity ; 3d, January Ist, by H. K. Oliver, on Bees ; 4th, January 15th, by Dr. W. Prescott, on the Geology of the Southern portion of Essex County ; 5th, March 12th, by H. Colman. on the pleasures and ad- vantages of agricultural life : 6th, March 26th,by J. L. Russell, on Ge- ology. In July, 1838, Mr. J. L. Russell delivered a course of lec- tures on Botany, to a private class, in the Society's rooms.
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