USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of the Fire Department of the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1772-1890 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
Gc 974.402 N421el 1974531
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 6297
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoffiredep1772elli
Charles A Bunt
New Bedford.
Dec. 14, 1890.
0
-
........
Brotherson house.
Phoenix, No. 4
Independence, No. 1.
Watch-house.
Wm. Rotch's barn.
Ist H. & I ..
Citizen, No. 2.
Cow-shed.
CUSTOM HOUSE CORNER, BEDFORD VILLAGE, 1815. ( Drawn by C. H. Gifford, from a plan by Wm. Durfee.)
HISTORY
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT
OF THE
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD
MASSACHUSETTS
1772-1890
BY
LEONARD BOLLES ELLIS
NEW BEDFORD: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY E. ANTHONY & SONS,
1890
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1890, by- LEONARD B. ELLIS, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
1974531
PREFACE.
This history could not have been written but for the kindly aid rendered by some of my fellow citizens who have been at different times connected with our Fire Department. To all who have in any way contributed material for my use I tender my grateful thanks.
The meagre and fragmentary records of the earlier years of the Fire Department make it impossible to give a complete list of all who have belonged to it. Consequently I have decided to give complete membership rolls for the following years alone : 1834, 1844, 1856, 1867, 1876, 1884, 1890. The names of persons who joined and retired from the Department during the intervening years are not given.
L. B. E.
ecd Dee 15- 1977
TO MY HONORED FATHER 1 DEDICATE THIS BOOK.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I .- Pages 1-14.
Independence, No. I, first engine owned in Bedford village, built by News- ham, London, 1772; Company rolls, 1820-34; Citizen, No. 2, purchased in 1802, and Phoenix, No. 4, in 1808; List of firewards, 1796-1802; Oxford, No. 2, Fairhaven, purchased 1805; List of subscribers and members; Flood, No. I, Fairhaven, purchased about 1801; Company rolls, 1837-50; Colum . bian, No. 3, Fairhaven, built 1836; A cool Fairhaven citizen; Bedford Fire Society formed, 1807; Its rules and regulations; Jahaziel Jenney's summer sleigh ride; George Lecain in Newport; List of firewards, 1802-9.
CHAPTER II .- Pages 15-24.
List of firewards, 1809-21; Benj. Lindsey's printing office fire, 1811; Wil- liam Meader's cold water experience; The lost baby; Hunneman engines, Nos. 3 and 4, purchased 1819; First great fire in Bedford village, 1820; Novel use for fire buckets; List of firewards, 1822-30; Mechanic, No. 6, purchased in 1821; Company roll for 1826; Battering rams, 1821; Burning of Abm. Russell's barn, 1824; Columbian, No. 5, purchased 1826; First engine stationed at Head-of-the-River, 1821; Foreman Pierce tests its lifting power, and Mr. - its drenching qualifications; Citizen, No. 2, and Hancock, No. 9, located at Head-of-the-River.
CHAPTER III .- Pages 25-37.
Ark riot, 1826; That Quaker gun; Fire in Elm street M. E. church, 1829; Ark riot, 1829; Important town meeting, 1830; Vigilance committee formed -the parent organization of the Protecting Society.
CHAPTER IV .- Pages 38-53.
List of firewards, 1830-34; Second great fire, Allen house, July 25, 1830; Clanging bells; Curious stranger; Burning of Prussian-blue works, 1833; How a citizen had his house painted without expense; Destructive fire on South Water street, 1834; List of firewards, 1835-1843; Purchase of Phila- delphia, No. 7, 1833, and membership for 1835; Department organized under state act, 1834; Full roster of Department, 1834; Novelty, No. 8, purchased 1835; Why it was called the " Old Cider Mill"; Varied conditions of the De- partment during the years 1837-39.
viii
CHAPTER V .- Pages 54-76.
Paid Department, 1842; Ripley's barn fire; Pot-pie story; Burning of Gammons' stable; Purchase of Hancock, No. 9, and Franklin, No. 10, in 1843; How a colored citizen purchased membership; Fire in John C. Has- kell's house; Incendiary fires; List of firewards, 1844; Burning of Leonard's candle works, 1844; How Chief Engineer Taylor disposed of strikers; Why Franklin, No. 10, was called " Elephant "; Parade and festival 1844; Uniforms worn on this occasion; Full roster of Department, 1844-45; List of firewards, 1845-48; Purchase of Oregon, No. 11, in 1846, and company roll for that year; Great disturbance in Fire Department, 1847; Prussian-blue works fire, Aug 16; Dudley Davenport fire, 1848; How Mr. George M. Eddy earned a new hat; No. 6 at Oxford Village; Great fire in Acushnet, 1847.
CHAPTER VI .- Pages 77-94.
Board of Engineers, 1848-52; Philadelphias visit Nantucket; Relief En- gine, No. 5, Oxford village, purchased 1849; Membership for that year; Alert, No. 4, purchased in 1860, and company roll for that year; Name and number changed to Relief, No. 5; Tallman's block fire, 1850; Death of Tim- othy Tallman; Dog Wallace; How he captured a midnight thief; Hand en- gine trial 1850; The theatre craze among the firemen; Incendiary fires, 1851; Juvenile fire companies: A contemplated visit to Fort Phoenix interfered with by the Corsicans; Board of Engineers, 1853-55; Purchase of the Ohio, No. 3; Shaw's looking glass manufactory fire, 1851; Twenty feet of rope presented to Chief Delano; Columbians disbanded and reinstated; The Franklins at New- port; A preacher's novel application of an alarm of fire; Destruction of San- ford & Howland's oil works, 1853; . How Caleb L. Ellis' cooper shop was saved, and how he entertained his exhausted friends; Young Mechanic Co., No. 6, organized 1853; Pearl street fire, Sept. 9, 1853; Young Mechanics visit the Honey Bees in Newport; Novel use for a coffin.
CHAPTER VII .- Pages 95-116.
Arrival of Young Mechanic Engine, No. 6, Sept. 27, 1854; Reception and trial; Dirigo Co., No. S, of Portland, and Fountain, No. 8, of Nantucket, visit the city; Veteran Firemen's Association, 1854; Exciting days in the fire department; How Josiah B. King froze out his friend John Baylies; Colum- bian Co., No. 5, disbanded and reinstated; Bible reading; arrival of Colum - bian, No. 5: Reception and trial; Fire companies attend church.
CHAPTER VIII .- Pages 117-128.
H. A. Kempton's lumber yard fire, 1854; Death of Jethro Hillman; Pur- chase of Young America Engine, No. 8; Liberty Hall fire, 1854; Anti- slavery reminiscences; Midnight bell-ringing.
ix
CHAPTER IX .- Pages 129-140.
Hook and Ladder truck in the early days; Engine trials in the fifties; Full roster of Fire Department, 1856.
CHAPTER N .- Pages 141-155.
Ilowland street riot, Apl. 19, 1856; Mechanics lane fire, April 18, 1859; North Water street fire, Aug. 29, 1859.
CHAPTER XI .- Pages 156-174.
Advent of steam; The first steamer, Onward, No. I, purchased 1860; Ex- citing contest between the old and new methods; Phoenix, No. 4, in San Francisco; Recognition of an old friend; Progress Engine, No. 2; Fish Is- land fire, 1861; Charles Taber fire, 1862; Death of Henry C. Kelley; De- struction of Liberty Hall, 1864; Burning of W. G. Blackler's barn, and some things that happened that night; Excelsior, No. 3, purchased in 1864; Con- test, No. 3, purchased by the town of Fairhaven, 1865.
CHAPTER XII .- Pages 175-199.
Roster of Fire Department for 1867; Cornelius Howland, No. 4, placed in commission; Intelligent horses; N. B. Oil Co. fire, eight tanks, holding one thousand gallons of oil each, destroyed; Samuel Peckham's pipe; T. P. Tompkins retires from active service; Fire alarm introduced; Board of Engi- neers for 1871-74; Franklin Hose carriage put in service; Excelsior Co., No. 3, visits Taunton; Cornelius Howland, No. 4, visits Fall River; Concert Hall fire; Firemen's Mutual Aid Society organized; Board of Engineers, 1874-76; Second grand parade; Roster of the Fire Department, 1876-77.
CHAPTER XIII .- Pages 200-216.
Board of Engineers, 1877-84; P. H. Raymond Co., of Cambridgeport, visit the city; Cornelius Howland Co., No. 4, visit Cambridgeport; Frederick Macv, No. 6, put in commission; Roster of Fire Department for 1884-85; New engines purchased for Cornelius Howland Co., No. 4, and Progress Co., No. 2; Haskell & Tripp fire, 1884; Roster of Fire Department, 1889-90; Roster of Fairhaven Fire Department for 1890.
CHAPTER XIV .- Pages 217-233.
Hand engine trial, July 4, 1890: Roster of the firemen who took part; Death of George B. Russell; Visit of Z. L. Bicknell Co, No. 2, of East Weymouth; Steamer No. 7 put in commission, Sept. 1, 1890; Muster Day, Oct. 15, 1890; Death of Edward C. Spooner.
CHAPTER XV .- Pages 234-239.
New Bedford Veteran Firemen's Association, 1890; Fire losses, 1877-89; Present efficiency of the Department.
ILLUSTRATIONS,
Page.
Frontispiece . .
Independence, No. I I
Flood, No. I
7
James Arnold . 19
James Durfee . 22
The Ark, 1826 . 26
Location of Ark 29
Samuel Rodman
35 38
John Avery Parker
44 50
George G. Gifford
51 54
William H. Taylor
59
George Howland, Jr
64 68
Ambrose Vincent
72
Zachariah Hillman
76 82
Juvenile Engine, No. 12
84
Joshua B. Ashley
87
Caleb L. Ellis .
92
James B. Congdon
95
Nathan Barker
97
Purchase street, 1855
100
Young Mechanic, No. 6 .
100
Columbian, No. 5
107
John B. Hyde
109
Citizen, No. 2 .
133
Tillinghast P. Tompkins
141
John Mathews .
153
Henry C. Kelley 169
Charles S. Paisler . 172
Henry H. l'isher .
175
Cornelius Howland, Jr. .
180
Hook and Ladder Truck, No. I 182
Edmund Gardner
William Durfee
Henry H. Crapo
Novelty, No. 8 .
Ezra K Delano
xi
Page.
Amoskeag steam engine
185
Charles S. Kelley
190
Samuel C. Hart
David W. Howland 191
202
Frederick Macy . 210
Loring T. Parlow . 210
Pliny B. Sherman . 210
. 210
Hugh McDonald
. 210
Luther G. Hewins, Jr.
. 210
Gaspee engine, No. 9 .
223
Allen W. Tinkham
226
George M. Crapo 226
James J. Donaghy
226
Charles C. Gifford 226
George W. Parker
226
Samuel C. France
226
Charles T. Maxfield
228
Lysander W. Davis . Daniel D. Briggs 228
228
Joseph Dawson 228
Henry W. Kenyon 228
John A. Russell
28
Edward C. Spooner
231
Augustus A. Wood .
CHAPTER I.
INDEPENDENCE, NO. 1.
( Drawn from a pencil sketch by Mr. Elisha C. Leonard. )
NE hundred and eighteen years ago, in 1772, a fire en- gine was built in London by Richard Newsham. It was bought by Joseph Rotch, one of the original settlers of Bedford village, and was the first engine ever owned here for the ex- tinguishing of fires. It was named " Independence, No. I.," and was located on the north side of William street, where now stands the building of the New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust Co. This engine was supplied with double pumps, worked by side-brakes. The water supply was from buckets, which every citizen was expected to have in the house. Generally they were hung in a convenient position in the front hall, in readiness for immediate use. These expectations were not always realized, for these buckets frequently became the receptacles for all sorts of things. Tradition says that one citizen made his the depository for beans ; and on one occasion the engine was made useless because this individual, in his undue haste, emptied a quart of them into the pumps.
At a fire the engine was taken close to the building, and water was thrown through a flexible pipe attached to a tower placed over the pumps. Hose had not been invented in those
2
HISTORY OF THE
primitive days. This engine was in active service in 1814 ; for in that year Mr. James Durfee, then a lad of 11 years, remem- bered very well the engine being brought for repairs to his father's blacksmith shop, then located on North Second street, on the spot now occupied by the building of Messrs. Geo. A. Bourne & Son, directly north of the Institution for Savings. Mr. Durfee assisted his father in the repairs and found a plate on the inside of the tower with the maker's name and the date.
I have found a record book that gives the names of members of Independence, No. 1, from 1820 to 1834, when the fire de- partment was organized under a State act. The list for 1820 was approbated by the Selectmen, Eli Haskell and Roger Haskell :
Captain-Charles Ricketson. Lieutenant-Zebedee Booth. Clerk-Isaac Packard.
Henry Ricketson,
Watson Ellis,
Oliver Crocker,
Benjamin T. Sanford,
Enoch Norton,
Pardon Winslow,
W. H. Leonard,
Elihu Mosher,
Jeremiah Macomber,
James Delano,
Samuel Little,
Bezaleel Washburn, John Foster,
Joshua Doane,
Charles Haffords.
1821.
Isaac Packard,
Lewis Ellis. Joshua Doane, John Macomber,
Thomas Nash, Lemuel Tobey, Phineas Kenney, Samuel Bonney, Jr.,
Bethuel Penniman.
1822.
Peleg Clark, Stephen Freeman,
Samuel James, Ezra S. Kempton,
Humphrey Alden.
William A. Wall,
1823. Edward T. Wilson, Jonathan Russell. 1824. George Freeman, Andrew Brownell.
John H. Chapman, John Shaw,
3
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
1825.
Joshua Richmond, Edward Dillingham, Jonathan Howland, William Cook, William H. Jenney.
1826.
Nathan Reed, Ephraim Lake.
1827.
Charles Hitch,
Josiah S. Bonney,
George Heath,
Charles Sanford,
Hardy Hitch, Ichabod Handy, Sylvanus G. Nye, Henry Brownell,
Samuel W. Hammond.
1828.
Henry Burbank.
Asa R. Gifford,
1829. Charles Cushing,
Isaac Bliss. 1830.
Thomas Jouvett, Edward T. Sherman,
Jeremiah Bailey, William H Stowell, William Cole,
Henry Munroe,
James M. Gelette,
Samuel Ricketson, Austin Whitehead,
Thomas Whiting,
William Carver,
Samuel Whiting,
John S. Smith,
Samuel Watson.
1831. Edward Luce, Alfred C. Briggs.
1832.
Walter Heyer, Isaac D. Hall, William A. Munroe,
James H. Munroe, James M. Cook, Jonathan Bourne, Jr.
1833.
Shubael Coffin, Lansing Heyer, Benj. T. Ricketson, Joseph E. Reed, Jr., Henry Mandell,
William H. Manchester, Asahel Polley, Benjamin T. Meader, E. L. Goddard, Freeman Snow.
W. G. E. Pope,
1834.
Reuben Nye. Alexander Wall,
Samuel Bailey,
4
HISTORY OF THE
Newsham built in 1730 two engines for the old Dutch burghers of New York. These were operated by a crank.
The next engine, Citizen, No. 2, was built by Philip Mason, of Philadelphia, in 1802, and was purchased by the subscriptions of property owners and presented to the town. At the following town meeting the sum of $325 was asked for to build accommodations for the new engine and also for the hooks, ladders, etc., used in the fire service. This propo- sition was voted down as a " bad precedent" to increase taxes. The engine was, however, located in a building on the land now occupied by the Custom House.
In ISOS an English engine, built by Richard Newsham, of London, was bought in Boston. It had been attached to a ropewalk at the North end, and was called the " Jolly Rope- maker." When brought to Bedford village it was named Phoenix, No. 4, and located on the south side of William street, near Acushnet avenue. At this time the watch-house was located on the northwest corner of William and North Second streets. The town was under the care of a volunteer night watch, who carried lanterns and announced with stentorian voice the hours of the night : "12 o'clock and all is well."
The first fire-wards were appointed by the town in 1796. William Rotch, Jr., Thomas Hazard, John Howland, Manas- seh Kempton, with Jeremiah Mayhew and Abraham Smith, served in that capacity until 1802.
In 1805 Oxford Village, Fairhaven, then a part of this township, purchased an engine ( Oxford, No. 2) of Philip Mason, of Philadelphia. The funds were raised by subscrip- tion. I give here an exact copy of the bill :
Capt. Constant Norton, To Philip Mason, Dr.,
PHILADELPHIA, Sept 16, 1805.
To a third-rate fire engine for Oxford, New Bedford, $360.
Received payment in full,
PHILIP MASON.
It was located at first on Samuel Borden's land, opposite the
5
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
old academy, and at a later period was moved to Oxford village. I present an accurate list of the subscribers and the amounts given :
Reuben Jenne,
$10.00
Allen Crowell,
$5.00
Richard Wood,
15.00
Ellery Tompkins,
3.00
Luther Wilson,
10.00
Seth Allen,
3.00
Gilbert Tripp,
10.00
Jacob Taber.
5.00
Caleb Wood,
5.00
Thomas Nye,
10.00
Constant Norton,
15.00
Job Swift,
4.00
Seth Spooner & Son,
15.00
Josiah Jenne,
3.00
William Severance,
7.00
Thomas Nye, Jr.,
20.00
Joshua Hitch,
3.00
Joseph Terry,
6.00
Seth Mitchell,
5.00
Jabez Sherman,
3.00
Cornell Wilkey,
10.00
Rowland Gibbs,
30.00
Benjamin Sisson,
15.00
Thaddeus Pickens,
15.00
John Taber, 2d,
6 00
Samuel Borden,
30.00
Bartholomew Taber,
5.00
Weston Jenne,
5.00
Nicholas Taber,
7.00
Mayhew Luce,
5.00
Eleazer Allen,
7.00
Alden C. Cushman,
5.00
Zebdiel Sampson,
5.00
Abner Pease,
5.00
Joseph Bates,
15.00
Joshua Howland,
5.00
David Clark,
10.00
Isaac Bates,
3.00
Robert Bennett,
20.00
William Taber,
4.00
John Crowell,
5.00
Joseph Hathaway,
12 00
The following men were chosen members of the engine company, and the list was "approbated " by the selectmen, Bartholomew Aiken and James Taber, Oct. Ist, 1805 :
Bartholomew Taber,
Elisha Taber,
Reuben Jenne,
William Severance,
Bartlett Allen,
Josiah Jenne,
Seth Allen,
Seth Mitchell,
Henry Parie,
Timothy Taber,
Noah Spooner,
John Crowell,
Ellery Tompkins,
Allen Crowell,
Weston Jenne.
Land was given by Rowland Gibbs for the engine house on condition that it be removed at "his pleasure." Whether he ever exercised his rights in the matter is not on record, but the engine itself was moved one day in great haste and secrecy. In the records for Sept. 15th, 1814, I find the following item :
*
6
HISTORY OF THE
At a special meeting of the proprietors of Oxford engine, held at Nicholas Taber's home, it was voted " that the engine be removed for ' safety,'" and it was done without delay.
The cause of this mysterious action was this : the English sloop-of-war, "The Nimrod," was in the bay, and the inhabi- tants were quaking with fear that the British might land and loot the town. The people hid their valuable household goods far away in the woods and in other out-of-the-way places. Hence this precaution in moving the engine where it might be safely kept.
George H. Taber, Esq., vividly remembers this occurrence. He says "I was at that time but six years of age and of course easily partook of the terror that prevailed through the town of the probable attack of the English. The cry ' The Brit- ishers are coming,' would have created a panic and would have driven every man, woman and child to the woods. My father's wagon stood in front of the house (where I have lived all my life) loaded with the most important of our goods, ready for a rapid move on the day of the anticipated raid. You can well imagine my fright when I saw this engine, drawn with noise- less tread, pass our house to the barn of our neighbor How- land, where it was stowed away. However, the British didn't raid the town but landed at Wareham where, after seizing several of the most prominent citizens and placing them before their boats on the shore to protect them from being fired upon, they proceeded to burn several ships on the stocks besides committing other depredations."
7
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
LOOD
FLOOD NO. 1 .- Fairhaven Lower Village.
( From sketch by Charles H. Gifford.)
The first engine owned in the lower village of Fairhaven was the Flood, No. I. It was probably bought by the town as early as 1801, for Mr. Edward West has in his pos- session a bucket with number and date painted on its side. It was a bucket engine, with double pumps and end brakes, and was a valuable machine in its day. I present lists of members for several years, taken from an original record book :
May, 1837.
Foreman-Charles Damon. First Assistant-Marshall Wilbur. Second Assistant-John Alden, Jr. Clerk and Treasurer-John Terry.
Ellis Robinson,
Benj. R. Gifford,
Alden G. Bourne,
Benj. Hammond,
Nat'l S. Higgins,
Kelley M. Huttlestone,
T. G. Bradford,
Charles C. Allen,
Franklyn Taber,
Ira Gerrish,
Asa Allen,
Henry J. Grinnell,
Richard S. Parlow,
Josiah R. Howland,
Ebenezer Hitch,
George H. Stevens,
Charles Tobey,
John Damon,
Joseph Damon, 2d,
Frederick Williams,
Alexander Tripp,
Asa H. Kelley,
Hiram Higgins.
May, 1842.
Foreman-Nathaniel S. Howard. Clerk and Treasurer-William L. Tilley. First Assistant Foreman-Amos S. Pierce. Second Assistant Foreman-Lemuel Martin.
S
HISTORY OF THE
Axemen-Levi Wing, Moses H. Delano.
Torchmen-Jabez H. Wing, Philip A. Bradford.
Hosemen-Franklin Taber, Charles F. Morton.
May, 1845.
Foreman-Ira Lakey.
Clerk and Treasurer-Tucker Damon, Jr.
First Assistant-Lemuel Martin.
Second Assistant-Charles H. Taber.
Axemen-Elisha Fish, Moses H. Delano.
Torchmen- George Sawin, George Wing.
Officers chosen May, 1845-1846.
Foreman-Moses H. Delano.
Clerk and Treasurer-George W. Sawin.
First Assistant Foreman-Lemuel Martin.
Second Assistant Foreman-Amos T. Pierce.
Axemen-James Maxfield, Henry D. Scott.
Torchmen-James F. Swain, William Bowen.
Hosemen-John Gurney, Eleazer H. Wing.
June 9th the company procured uniforms for twenty-two men, and on the coming Fourth they joined in the celebration in our city. The records give expressions of thanks for their kind reception. The following list of officers was chosen May 11, 1849 :
Foreman-James I. Maxfield.
Clerk and Treasurer-Charles H. Thompson.
Pipeman-Lemuel Martin.
Assistant Pipeman-Ebenezer Grinnell.
Hoseman-Timothy W. Sanford.
Assistant Hosemen-Alden Burgess, Alden Booth, Benjamin Beetle.
Axemen-Isaac H. Berry, George Miller.
Torchmen-George Bradford, John B. Eldridge.
May, 1850.
Foreman-Ebenezer Grinnell. Clerk-Alden Burgess.
Pipeman-John Sampson.
Assistant Pipeman-William Burgess.
Hosemen-William Webb, Frederick Cushing.
Assistant Hosemen-Henry Taber, Eli Sherman.
Axemen-George Miller, Steven Leavitt.
Torchmen-Sylvester Parlow, Daniel Eldred.
In 1836 Messrs. Dyer and Richmond, of this city, built for the town of Fairhaven the first suction engine, the Columbia,
9
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
No. 3, at a cost of about $1500. It proved to be a serviceable machine, and with the No. I and the Oxford engine furnished ample protection for many years, in ordinary fires ; but when large conflagrations occurred on either side of the river, all the engines were brought into service.
It was a great feat when either party could get " first water" on their neighbor's fire. This proved especially true of the Lindsey fire in 1811 when the Oxford engine came over from Fairhaven and played " first water." It has been bragged about ever since. It's all right to keep it in remembrance for a reason- able period, but seventy-nine years have passed away since the event, and still the story has a lively existence in the memory of our Oxford friends. One would think they would have for- gotten it by this time.
The presence of this engine and the No. 2 at Oxford brought a feeling of safety and reliance, as a story told me by Mr. George H. Taber illustrates. It shows also that there is no real necessity for a man to lose his head at a fire. Mr. Taber's father was walking past a neighbor's house and discov- ered a fire on the roof of his barn, occasioned by the burning wad from a gun in the hands of a lad who had been shooting squirrels. He rushed in, found the owner walk- ing leisurely about with his hands in his pockets, and a calm, placid expression on his countenance, and said "William ! William ! Your barn is on fire !" "I knowed it ! I knowed it ! John's gone for the ingin." Mr. Taber, seizing a pail of water, put the fire out in a moment. It really hadn't occured to the owner that he could have done it himself, but he sent his son John for the "ingin." We must admit he had a strong appre- ciation of the fire department.
The Bedford Fire Society was formed March 4th, 1807, with Joseph Ricketson moderator and Abraham Shearman, Jr., clerk. A committee was appointed to form rules and regula- tions, and these were adopted :
IO
HISTORY OF THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE NEW BEDFORD FIRE SOCIETY.
We, the subscribers, considering the danger to which our property is exposed by fire, do agree to form ourselves into a society by the name of "The Bedford Fire Society." for the purpose of assisting, not only each other when in danger, but the citizens at large as far as circum- stances will admit, and do agree to be governed by the following arti- cles :
Art. 1. That this society shall consist of a number not exceeding thirty, and shall meet on the Second Day in the first, fourth, seventh and tenth months, at such time and place as the clerk shall appoint ; and twelve members shall form a quorum.
Art. 2. A moderator shall be chosen by a hand vote at each meet- ing, whose duty it shall be to preserve order ; and if any member has anything to offer to the consideration of the society he shall address himself to the moderator. While proceeding on business, silence shall be observed by every member except the one speaking.
Art. 3. A clerk shall be chosen annually by ballot at the meeting in the first month, who shall serve till another be chosen, and shall re- ceive such compensation for his services as the society may judge ad- equate.
Art. 4. The duty of the clerk shall be to transcribe these articles in- to a suitable book for the use of the society, in order that each mem- ber may sign the same in token of his free consent to be governed by them. In this book he is to keep a fair record of the proceedings of the society. He is to notify every member of each meeting by leaving or causing to be left at his dwelling-house, shop or store a notification, on the back of which shall be noted the sum, if any, such member owes to the society. He shall have power to demand and receive all fines and assessments, and to call a special meeting upon the application of six members in writing. He shall call the list in half an hour after the time fixed for the meeting, and if any member be then absent, he shall pay a fine of twenty-five cents ; and if absent the whole evening or period of evening, shall pay twenty-five cents in addition thereto, unless he shall be necessarily absent from town or confined by sickness. He shall read the laws to the society at each meeting, and at the end of the year he shall deliver to his successor the records and papers of the society, together with such moneys as may then be on hand belonging to the society.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.