USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > Centennial memorial of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts > Part 8
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Ile was three times married ; or rather twice, for his second companion was an ostensible more than a real wife, and from her he was soon separated, it appearing that she had another living husband. His first wife was Frances Maria Swan, of Methuen, Mass., a woman of eminent virtues and rare social attractions. By her he had six children ; and she died May 27, 1839. Ilis other wife, whom he married Aug. 27, 1855, was Annie Ilsley Hanson, of Portland, Me., a lady of great worth, and much younger than himself ; and by her he had two children, one of whom, and the widow, still survive.
Some twenty years before his death Mr. Lewis built a picturesque little cottage on Beach street, so near the water that the sonorous waves might lull him to nightly repose - a real poet's cot and in a poet's niche. There he made his home for the remainder of his life, and there he died on Monday, January 21, 1861.
Torben C
Jones R Newhall.
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JAMES ROBINSON NEWHALL.
IT is a delicate task for one to write of himself, unless he has that in his history the worthiness of which is pa- tent and not to be questioned, it requiring no poet to assure us that we seldom see ourselves as others see us. But to the task.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lynn on Christ- mas day, 1809, in the old Hart house that stood on Boston street, at the southwest corner of North Federal, the same which on this Centennial Fourth of July dis- appeared in a patriotic blaze, amid the shouts of young America. All his genealogical lines run back to carly Lynn settlers. His father's name was Benjamin, and he was a direet descendant from Thomas, the first white person born here. His mother was a daughter of Joseph Hart, who descended from Samuel, one of the first en- gaged at the ancient iron works. Both his grandmothers were granddaughters of Hon. Ebenezer Burrill, a man conspicuous in colonial times and brother of the " be- loved Speaker."
At the age of eleven he left the paternal roof with his worldly possessions in a bundle-handkerchief, to make his way in the wide world, his mother having died a year or two before, and his father having a large family to provide for. But little worthy of mention occurred till the summer of 1824, when, after having worked daily and attended various schools, he entered the Salem
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Gazette office to learn the art and mystery of printing. Having served there for two or three years, he conceived a strong desire to gain a better knowledge of book print- ing than could be obtained in Salem ; and in furtherance of this desire procured a place in Boston ; and before attaining his majority was installed foreman of one of the principal book offices there, his duties, in a general way, then being to direct the work and read proofs. And of this period many pleasing recollections are retained. In the office were printed a large number of classical and scientific works, and some of the most eminent men of the time frequently dropped in. Anecdotes almost with- out number, of such men as Dr. Channing, Dr. Bow- ditch, the Cambridge professors, and many of the literary rank and file of that day, could be related.
He was now much his own master, had agreeable as- sociates, and on the whole was in a very desirable situa- tion. And here a little incident, which occurred about this time, obtrudes on the recollection, and may as well have utterance. With two or three young men he was accustomed almost every evening, after work hours, to spend a while in the counting-room of a drug store on Milk street, in which one of the number was a clerk ; and often on the way home they would stop at the sa- loon under old Julian Hall, on the corner of Congress street, and call for a dish of oysters or some other re- freshment, and at the bar for a drink, such being the fashion of the time - not one, however, ever drinking to excess. The practice continued for some time ; but late on a certain moonlight night, as three of the associates came out of the saloon, one of them with some gravity remarked, "I do not know how it is with you, but I begin to feel as if I must stop here every night." A
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brief discussion followed this suggestion that dangerous habits might be forming, and it was promptly agreed that the last visit to the saloon had been made ; and the agreement was faithfully kept. One of the three is now and has been for many years a highly respected Unita- rian clergyman ; another was long since commander of an East Indiaman, and the third is writing this line. Possibly to some young man a hint worth considering may appear in this trifling narration.
While still under age, the subject of this sketch, some- what in the roving spirit of young printers, went to New York, and the very day after his arrival found employ- ment in the Conference office, the largest then in the city ; and with a little excusable pride, perhaps, may refer to his reputation there as being the fastest type- setter in the establishment.
But at the age of twenty-two he returned to his na- tive place, where, after busying himself for several years in various ways, chiefly in connection with printing and the book business -excepting two or three intervals of absence, during one of which he was again in New York, employed in the editorial department of a daily journal, and writing for one or two weeklies -by the kind invitation of a legal friend, he commenced the study of law. Completing a regular course, in May, 1847, he entered the bar, and has ever since remained in the profession. On the 24th of August, 1866, he was commissioned as Judge of the Lynn Police Court, with which he had been connected, as Special Justice, from the time of its establishment, in 1849, and still remains in the office - a position of care, responsibility, and often embarrassment ; was appointed a Trial Justice of Juvenile Offenders, soon after the establishment of the
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jurisdiction - an office of peculiar interest and impor- tance ; has been a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public some thirty years, and at times served in muni- cipal positions.
From youthful waverings in religious faith, he found timely rest in the Episcopal fold ; was one of the car- liest members of St. Stephen's church ; and, having ad- hered to it through its days of adversity, cannot fail to rejoice in its days of prosperity.
Being interested in historical researches, he published, in 1836, the " Essex Memorial"; in 1862, " Lin, or Jewels of the Third Plantation "; and in 1865, the " History of Lynn," comprising the admirable work of Mr. Lewis, with a continuation embracing some twenty- one years. Always retaining a lingering love for the compositor's case, he has long kept a font or two of type wherewith to amuse leisure hours, and within the last ten or a dozen years has completed more than a thousand book pages from which electrotype or stereotype plates have been cast.
In 1854, he erected the somewhat conspicuous stone dwelling on the base of Sadler's Rock, near the junction of Walnut and Holyoke streets - a point not only of much historic interest, but affording some of the most exten- sive and delightful views in our whole territory - and continues there to reside.
In October, 1837, he was united in marriage with Miss Dorcas B. Brown, only daughter of Capt. William Brown, of Salem, and by her had one son, who died at the age of ten, his mother having died soon after his birth. In 1853, he was again married, the second wife being Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Hon. Josiah Newhall ; and that relation remains unsevered.
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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
1629. Five families, chief among them Edmund Ingalls and his brother Francis, arrive and commence the settlement.
1630. Thomas Newhall born ; being the first person of European parentage born here.
1630. Wolves kill several swine belonging to the settlers, Sept. 30.
1630. Fifty settlers, chiefly farmers, and many of them with families, arrive and locate in different parts of the territory.
1631. Governor Winthrop passed through the settlement Oct. 28. and noted that the crops were plentiful.
1632. First Church, being the fifth in the colony, formed ; Stephen Bachelor, minister.
1633. A corn mill, the first in the settlement, built on Strawberry Brook.
1634. John Humfrey arrives and settles on his farm, near Nahant street.
1631. The settlement sends her first Representative-Capt. Na- thaniel Turner - to the General Court.
1631. William Wood, one of the first comers, publishes his " Nevy England's Prospect."
1635. Philip Kertland, the first shoemaker, arrives.
1637. Name of the settlement changed from Saugus to Lyun.
1637. At this time there were thirty-seven ploughs owned in the Colony, most of them in Lynn.
1637. Settlement of Sandwich commenced by emigrants from Lyn.
1638. First division of lands among the inhabitants.
1639. Ferry established across Saugus river.
1639. First bridge over Sangus river at Boston street crossing built.
IG10. Richard Sadler, first Clerk of the Writs, appointed.
17
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1643. Iron Works established on Saugus river ; first in America. 1614. Hugh Bert and Samuel Bennett, of Lynn, presented to the grand jury, as " common sleepers in time of exercise." Both were fined.
1646. Lynn made a market town - Tuesday, the lecture day, being appointed market day.
1658. Dungeon Rock supposed to have been rent by an carth- quake, entombing alive Thomas Veal, the pirate, with treasure.
1666. A year of disasters. Several die of small pox. "Divers are slain by lightning." Grasshoppers and caterpillars do much mischief.
1669. Boniface Burton dies, aged 113 years.
1671. A year remarkable for storms. A violent snow storm, Jan. 18, with much thunder and lightning.
1680. Dr. Philip Read, the first physician here, complains to the Court of Mrs. Margaret Gifford, as a witch.
1680. The great Newtonian comet appears in November, exciting much alarm.
1681. The Court allows Lynn to have two licensed public houses. 1682. Old Tunnel Meeting-house built.
1686. Indian Deed of Lynn given, Sept. 4.
1687
Thomas Newhall, the first white person born here, dies in March, aged 57.
1688.
Excitement about Edward Randolph's petition to Gov. Andros for a grant of Nahant.
1692.
Great witchcraft excitement.
1691.
A church fast appointed by Rev. Mr. Shepard, July 19, for the arrest of the " spiritual plague " of Quakerism. Severe winter ; coldest since the settlement commenced.
1697.
Much alarm in Lynn on account of the small pox.
1706. Second division of land among the inhabitants.
1708.
A fast held on account of the ravages of caterpillars and canker worms.
1716.
Extraordinary darkness at noonday, Oct. 21 ; dinner tables lighted.
1717. Memorable snow storms, Feb. 20 and 21 ; one-story houses buried.
1719. Northern Lights observed for the first time, Dec. 17; a startling display.
1696.
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1723. Terrific storm, Feb. 24, the sea raging and rising to an alarming height.
1723. First mill on Saugus river, at Boston street crossing, built. 1726. £13.15 awarded to Nathaniel Potter, for linen manufac- tured at Lynn.
1745. Mr. Whitefield preaches on Lynn Common, creating much excitement.
1719. Great drought, hot summer, and immense multitudes of grasshoppers.
1755.
1755.
1750. John Adam Dagyr, an accomplished shoemaker, arrives. Greatest earthquake ever known in New England, Nov. 18. Whale, seventy-five feet in length, landed on King's Beach, Dec. 9.
1759.
Bear, weighing 400 pounds, killed in Lynn woods.
1768. 1770.
Joseph Williams kills a catamount in Lynn woods.
Potato rot prevails. Canker worms commit great ravages.
1775.
Battle of Lexington, April 19 -five Lynn men killed.
1776. Twenty-six negro slaves owned in Lynn.
1780.
Memorable Dark Day, May 19; houses lighted as at night.
1782. Whole number of votes for governor given in Lynn, 57; and all but 5 for Hancock.
1784. General Lafayette passed through Lynn, Oct. 28, the people turning out to do him honor.
1788. General Washington passed through town, in October, receiving affectionate greetings from old and young.
1793. Lynn post office established ; and first kept on Boston street, near Federal.
1794. On Christmas day, at noon, in the open air, the thermom- eter stood at 80 degrees.
1795. Brig Peggy wrecked on Long Beach, Dec. 9, and eleven lives lost.
1796. The first fire engine for public use purchased.
1800. Memory of Washington honored ; procession and eulogy, Jan. 13.
1800. An elephant first shown in Lynn.
1800. First dancing school opened.
1800. Manufacture of morocco leather introduced.
1803. Boston and Salem Turnpike opened, and Lynn Hotel built.
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1803.
A snow storm took place in May ; and the singular spec- tacle was presented of fruit trees in bloom and the ground covered with snow.
1803.
Miles Shorey and wife killed by lightning, July 10.
1804. Independence first celebrated in Lynn.
1804.
Snow fell in July.
1805. First Masonic Lodge-Mount Carmel-constituted June 10.
1808. First law office in Lynn opened.
1808. Great bull fight at Half Way House. Bulls and bull dogs engaged.
1808.
Lynn Artillery chartered, Nov. 18, and two brass field pieces allowed them.
1808. Trapping of lobsters first practiced at Swampscott.
1812. Lynn Light Infantry chartered, June 30.
1813. Moll Pitcher, celebrated fortune-teller, died April 9, aged 75.
1814. Lynnfield incorporated as a separate town.
1814. First Town House built.
1814. First bank established.
1815. Sangus incorporated as a separate town.
1815.
Terrific southeast gale, Sept. 23; ocean spray driven sev- eral miles inland.
1816.
Great horse trot on the Turnpike, in Lynn, Sept. 1 ; said to be the first in New England. Major Stackpole's " Old Blue " trotted three miles in eight minutes and forty-two seconds.
1817. President Munroe passed through Lynn.
1819.
The great sea-serpent appeared off Long Beach.
1824.
General Lafayette visited Lynn, Ang. 31, receiving an en- thusiastic welcome; was addressed by Capt. John White in behalf of the town, and returned an affectionate reply.
1825. First Lynn paper - the Weekly Mirror - issued Sept. 3.
1827.
Broad and brilliant night arch, Aug. 28.
1828.
A whale, sixty feet long, cast ashore on Whale Beach, May 2.
1829.
Splendid display of frosted trees, Jan. 10.
1830.
Donald McDonald, a Scotchman, dies in Lynn Almshouse, Oct. 4, aged 108 years. IJe was at the battle of Quebec when Wolfe fell, and with Washington at Braddock's defeat.
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1833. Extraordinary shower of meteors, Nov. 13.
1837. Surplus United States revenue distributed. Lynn re- ceived $14,879.00, and applied it to the payment of the town debt.
1838.
Eastern Railroad opened for travel from Boston to Salem, Aug. 28.
1841.
The first picture by the new art known as Daguerreotype or photography ever taken in Lynn, was a landscape, taken this year by James R. Newhall, by an instrument imported from France.
1813. A splendid comet ; first appeared about noonday, Feb. 1. 1843. Schooner Thomas wrecked on Long Beach, March 17, five men perishing.
1843.
Breed's Pond formed. Theophilus N. Breed built a dam across the valley, on the northeast of Oak street, flowing some fifty acres, and thus forming the pond and securing water power for his iron works.
1846. Mexican war commenced. Lynn furnished twenty vol- unteers.
1816.
Congress boots began to be manufactured.
1846.
Destructive fire on Water IIill, Aug. 9. Large brick silk- printing establishment, spice and coffee mill, and two or three smaller buildings, destroyed.
1817. President Polk made a short visit to Lynn, July 5.
ISIS. Carriage road over harbor side of Long Beach built.
1818. Lynn Common fenced.
1818.
George Gray, the Lynn hermit, dies Feb. 28, aged 78.
1819. Lynn Police Conrt established.
1849.
Large emigration to California.
1850.
Lynn adopts the city form of government.
1850. Pine Grove Cemetery consecrated, July 24.
1850.
Thirteen persons of a picnic party from Lynn drowned in Lynnfield pond, Aug. 15.
1850. Ten hour system generally adopted. Bells rung at six p. m. 1851. On March 18, and April 15, the tide, during violent storms, swept entirely over Long Beach.
1851.
John J. Perdy was murdered at his boarding house, Mar- ket street. June 28.
1851. Hiram Marble commences the excavation of Dungeon Rock.
1852. Swampscott incorporated as a separate town.
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1852. Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian exile, is enthusiastically re- ceived in Lynn, May 6.
1852. Death of Henry Clay noticed by the tolling of bells and raising of flags at half-mast, July 3.
1852.
Funeral services in memory of Daniel Webster were held in the First Congregational Church, Oct. 29, the day on which the statesman was buried at Marshfield.
1853.
Nahant incorporated as a separate town, March 29.
1853. Prize fight on Lynnfield road, Jan. 3; parties arrested.
1853. Illuminating gas first lighted in Lynn, Jan. 13.
1853. Cars commence running over Saugus Branch Railroad, Feb. 1.
1853. Patrick McGuire fatally stabbed in Franklin street, Sept. 26. 1855. City charter so amended that the municipal year com- mences on the first Monday of January instead of first Monday of April.
1856. Two bald eagles appeared on the ice in Lynn harbor, Jan. 17.
1856. Ezra R. Tebbetts, of Lynn, killed by a snow-slide from a house in Bromfield street, Boston, Feb. 12.
1856. Egg Rock Light shown for the first time, Sept. 15.
1857. Bark Tedesco wrecked at Swampscott, all on board, twelve in number, perishing, Jan. 18.
1857. Small pearls found in muscles at Floating Bridge and Flax ponds.
1857. Trawl fishing began to be practiced this year.
1858. Telegraphic communication between Lynn and other places established.
1858. Impromptu Atlantic cable celebration, Aug. 17, on the ar- rival of the news of Queen Victoria's message to Presi- dent Buchanan.
1858. Blue fish appear in the offing, in large numbers, in early autumn, and are supposed to have carried on a success- ful war against the menhaden, as bushels of the latter were picked up dead on the shore.
1858. Magnificent comet, Donatis, visible in the northwest, in the autumn.
1858. Catholic Cemetery consecrated Nov. 4, by Bishop Fitz- patrick.
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1859. British bark Vernon, from Messina for Boston, driven ashore on Long Beach, Feb. 2. Crew saved by life- boat.
1859. Roman Catholic Church, Ash street, burned, May 28.
1859. Brilliant display of northern lights; whole heavens cov- ered, Aug. 28.
1859.
Union Street Methodist meeting-house destroyed by fire Nov. 20.
1859. Lynn church bells were tolled at sunrise, noon and sunset, Dec. 2, in observance of the execution of John Brown, at Charlestown, Va. .
1860.
IIarbor so frozen, in January, that persons walked across to Bass Point.
1860. Shoemakers' great strike commenced in February.
1860. Prince of Wales passed through Lynn, Oct. 20.
1860. First horse railroad cars commence running, Nov. 29.
1860. Market street first lighted by gas, Dec. 7.
1861.
1861.
Alonzo Lewis, historian and poet, dies, Jan. 21, aged 66. Splendid comet suddenly appears, July 2, the tail of which had actually swept the earth three days before, producing no disturbance, and only a slight apparently auroral light in the atmosphere.
1861. The extensive edifice known as Nahant Hotel destroyed by fire, Sept. 12.
1861.
Lynn Light Infantry and Lynn City Guards, two full com panies, start for the seat of the Southern Rebellion, April 16, only four days after the attack on Fort Sum- ter, and but five hours after the arrival of the requisi- tion of President Lincoln.
1862.
Lynn Free Public Library opened.
1862. Enthusiastic war meeting on Lynn Common, Sunday, Aug. 31 ; services omitted at churches.
1862. Soldiers' Burial Lot, in Pine Grove Cemetery, containing 3,600 square feet, laid out.
1862. Nathan Breed jr. murdered in his store, on Summer street, Dec. 23.
1863. 1861.
Extraordinary ravages of caterpillars and canker worms. The thermometer rose to 101 degrees in shady places in Lynn, June 25 ; indicating the warmest day, here, of which there had been any record.
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1864.
Great drought and extensive fires in the woods during the summer.
1864.
1864.
First steam fire engine owned by the city arrived, Aug. 11. The old Town House, (built in 1814), burned Oct. 6, and Joseph Bond, confined in the lockup, burned to death.
1864.
The schooner Lion, from Rockland, Me., was wrecked on Long Beach, Dec. 10, and all on board, six in number, perished. Their cries were heard above the storm, but they could not be reached.
1865.
News of the fall of Richmond received, April 3. Great rejoicing - bells rung, buildings illuminated, bonfires kindled.
1865. News of the assassination of President Lincoln received, April 15, Mourning insignia displayed in public build- ings and churches.
1865. Corner stone of City Hall laid, Nov. 28.
1866. Gen. Sherman passed through Lynn, July 16, and was cor- dially greeted.
1866. A meteoric stone fell in Ocean street, in September.
1867. Terrific snow storm, Jan. 17.
1867.
Balloon ascension from Lynn Common, July 4.
1867. City Hall dedicated, Nov. 30.
1868.
Decoration Day observed, May 30. Soldiers' graves strewed with flowers.
1868.
HIiram Marble, excavator of Dungeon Rock, died Nov. 10, aged 65, having pursued his arduous and fruitless labors about 17 years.
1868. Very destructive fire on Market street, Dec. 25. Lyceum building, Frazier's and Bubier's brick blocks destroyed. Whole loss about $300,000.
1869.
Mary J. Hood, a colored woman, died Jan. 8, aged 104 years and 7 months.
1869.
Another destructive fire occurred on the night of Jan. 25. It commenced in the brick shoe manufactory of Edwin II. Johnson, on Munroe street, and consumed property to the amount of some $170,000.
1869. On the evening of April 15, there was a magnificent dis- play of beautifully tinted aurora borealis, during which a meteor of great brilliancy shot across the eastern sky.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
1869. Severe gale on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 8 ; next in vi- olence to that of Sept 23, 1815. Several small build- ings destroyed, and a multitude of trees uprooted. More than four hundred shade trees prostrated in Lynn. 1869. The Turnpike through Lynn, from Salem to Chelsea Bridge, became a public highway this year.
1869.
Sidney B. Pratt died, Jan. 29, aged 54. He was long in a successful express business, and left by will, for the benefit of the Free Public Library, $10,000.
1870.
1870. Yonng Men's Christian Association incorporated, March 31. The first regatta of the Lynn Yacht Club took place, June 17.
1870. Land near Central railroad depot sold at $5 per square foot ; the highest rate up to this time.
1870. The new brick market house on Central avenue opened for trade, Nov. 19.
1871. Electric fire alarm established.
1871. President Grant passed through Lynn, Oct. 16.
1872. City Hall bell raised to its position in the tower, March. 2. 1872. Meeting of City Council commemorative of the recent death of Prof. Morse, inventor of the electric telegraph, April 16.
1872. S. O. Breed's box factory, foot of Commercial street, struck by lightning, and totally consumed, Aug. 13. The sum- mer of this year was remarkable for the frequency and severity of its thunder storms.
1872. Brick house of worship of First Church, South Common street, corner of Vine, dedicated, Aug. 29.
1872. Ingalls and Cobbet school houses dedicated.
1872. Odd Fellows' Ilall, Market street, corner of Summer, dedicated Oct, 7.
1872. Brick and iron depot of Eastern Railroad, Central Square, built.
1872.
Singular disease, called epizootic, prevailed among horses during the latter part of autumn. Wheel carriages al- most entirely ceased to run, excepting as drawn by oxen, and sometimes by men. All sorts of odd turnouts ap- peared in the streets. The disease, though not in many cases fatal, was disabling and evidently painful, being a kind of catarrhal fover.
18
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1872.
Much speculation in real estate ; prices high, and business active.
1872.
Pine IIill Reservor built.
1873.
Pumping engine at Public Water Works, Walnut street, first put in operation Jan. 14, sending water from Breed's Pond into the Pine IIill Reservoir.
1873. English sparrows make their appearance in Lynn - prob- ably the progeny of those imported into Boston.
1873.
Soldiers' Monument, Park square, dedicated Sept. 17.
1873.
Concrete street crossings began to be laid this year.
1873.
Grand Masonic parade, Oct. 22.
1873.
Friends' Biennial Conference held in Lynn, Nov. 19.
1873.
Birch Pond formed, by running a dam across Birch Brook valley, on the cast of Walnut street, near Saugus line.
1873.
Two whales appeared off Egg Rock, Nov. 30.
1874.
" Lynn Home for Aged Women " incorporated. Feb. 6.
1874.
Grand celebration of St. Patrick's Day in Lynn, March 17 by the Irish organizations of Essex county.
1875. Lynn Hospital formally opened, March 31.
1875. Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad opened for travel, July 22.
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