USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Early History of Naushon Island > Part 27
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
JAMES BOWDOIN TO THOMAS L. WINTHROP, ESQ. ( ?) Postscript;
... P. S. Mrs Bowdoin is about procuring the plans for a small house for a few months residence in summer at Naushon Island. As she is a great lover of fruit particularly peaches & cher- ries, she prays that a garden may be enclosed near ye house at
186
SARAH BOWDOIN, WIFE OF HONORABLE JAMES BOWDOIN, BY GILBERT STUART
375
BOWDOIN OWNERSHIP
Naushon & a few trees set out in it, if we don't live to eat the fruit it will answer for those who may take our place.
MRS. THOMAS WINTHROP (ELIZABETH B. T. WINTHROP) TO HER AUNT, MRS. JAMES BOWDOIN
Boston, April 20, 1807
My dear Aunt B.
.. He [her husband] received the plan for the house upon the Island, but as there was no scale to determine the size that you wished it to be, he cannot have anything done until he hear again from my Uncle.
Stewart has finished my father's and mother's pictures and they are very excellent, do persuade my Uncle to have his done like the ones of yours and Sarah's.
JAMES BOWDOIN TO THOMAS L. WINTHROP, ESQ.
Paris, July 21
. . . With regard to the house to be built at the Island, I have taken no care about it. Mrs Bowdoin was desirous of having one built no great distance from the Dairy ... on the hill to the . .. of the house & I accordingly licensed her and Mr Sulli- van to plan one and to transmit it to you as it was agreed that I shld. have no trouble with it, except to transmit it to you to cause it to be built; it was intended to be two stories high & about 40 ft. long & the apartments to be laid out agreeably to the plan sent of which I now send a copy and am to request that you employ the necessary workmen to erect it as soon as you conveniently can.
In regard to the Salt works notwithstanding the repeal of the duties on salt, I shall be disposed to continue the works and to make some additions to them for which I am preparing a plan, wch. I shall execute on my return ; my object is to increase ye evaporation without adding much to ye expense. I am told here that I may
376
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
avail myself of the swift tide water wch. runs three hours each way N.W. of Paul Robinson's from the point of land wch. forms ye cove lying to ye westward of the Wall & from thence quite to the point of land opposite to Pine Island. The Breadth of the channel, the depth of the water, ye nature of the Bottom, the rocks & flats at Low water & the Shore at High water and also the elevation & shape of the banks above the Beach, and also the real or probable swiftness of ye current, these circumstances are all necessary to know, whether a mill can be built there to grind corn and to pump the Salt Water to be evaporated upon a plan wch. is found to answer in Europe & wch. I propose to connect with my Salt Works. The plan must be made as accurate as possible & state the several things above mentioned.
JAMES BOWDOIN TO THOMAS L. WINTHROP, ESQ.
Feb. 1807
In regard to ye Spanish sheep nine rams were shipped aboard the schooner Thetis of New London, Capt. Wm. Austin, agreably to ye enclosed bill of lading ye schooner sailed from St Ander [Spain] on ye 4th. ult. and I hope will safely deliver them at the Island, where I hope no care or expense will be saved in taking care of them especially on their first landing.
Their superiority to every kind of sheep is acknowledged by the experienced of all Europe. Rams & ewes of the same race sell here from $150 to $200 each while those of the French race sell here for $12. And in order that the greatest advantage may be drawn from ye introduction of ye breed I would have the Island of Nen- nemissett appropriated to rearing of sheep of the pure strain and that a suitable price be put upon them and I beg that an establish- ment may be immediately devised for their support and mainte- nance in winter and in summer either at Nennemessett or at Naushon or at both. And I would have this flock as extensive as it will bear, one ram will serve 50 sheep the best ewes of our flock.
377
BOWDOIN OWNERSHIP
Those having the finest and best wool ought to be selected, and an increasing benefit will be observed every year as you approach the pure race taking care that rams are pure and that the ewes should be progressively bred from to the 4th generation when ye race will become unmixed.
. . . I have written for a Jack & Jenny of ye large breed, . . . please to mention to Mr Bullard to prepare a proper stable hay grain etc. for the accommodation of these animals & to leave direc- tions should he be absent from the Island and a vessell bearing them on board might unexpectedly arrive. . .. The getting them off of a vessell in safety where there is no wharf is a nice matter and requires very great care and address, not only in well suspend- ing ye body in a proper sling, but in having a Guy attached to the head of the animal and sustained on shore by a judicious hand, to prevent ye animal from beating his head to pieces against ye side of ye vessell.
JAMES BOWDOIN TO THOMAS L. WINTHROP, EsQ.
. I believe the rearing of ye Jacks and Jennys of ye large . . breed from the very great value of these animals will be a good substitute for horses, they will cost a great deal of money, I appre- hend not less than a thousand dollars when they arrive in the U. S.
If you go to the Island this year, which I hope you will, I beg that you see that the proper provision is made for the Jack & Jenny & ye sheep so as to put both ye rearing the one and the other in ye best state of preparation, that suitable buildings should be made. . . .
Tell Mr Bullard to provide himself with some cooling physic in case they should prove costive, as costiveness is ye disease with which almost all animals are afflicted on first going to ye Island. I wish while you are at ye Island you would procure some samples of ye stones and of ye ochred minerals which are found on Nenni- messett and also of ye different clays, ye two small pieces of mineral
378
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
sent in the box by Mr Bullard contain a great proportion of iron, large rocks and quarries give ye character of what may be found probably under the surface, therfore pieces of large rocks should be sent and in breaking them they should be broken so as to be as rough and to show as much of the grain as possible. The pieces should for the same reason be kept seperate, not be crushed or han- dled and should be so packed up as to meet no friction.
Observing these directions I can give you the name properties & value of any stones you may send me.
1808 JAMES BOWDOIN TO JAMES TEMPLE BOWDOIN IN LONDON
I wish you to procure me a trailing net for a small boat, like mine at the Island, it should not be broader than 7 or 8 feet and have a proper length to fish on the N. side of ye Island. I dont know whether the length is proportioned to the depth of the water, although I think the former; it ought to be made complete ready to be thrown into the water and of ye best twine for the purpose. I wish also a couple of shrimp nets complete. The trailing net at Cherbourg cost me 70 livries and the shrimp nets about ¿ guinea each.
I beg you to send for my patent plough and the irons accom- panying it from Mr Aldys our Consul at Cowes & let these things be shipped with yours when you embark.
Later; also send one or two Farriers & if you can a few English hares & pheasants.
The letter of Elizabeth Bowdoin Temple to her sister-in-law, Mrs. James Bowdoin, gives a suggestion of life in that day.
The unexpected arrival of her son and his bride from England, the joyous return to Boston, the plans for the Naushon visit, all are most vivid.
379
BOWDOIN OWNERSHIP
ELIZABETH BOWDOIN TEMPLE TO SARAH BOWDOIN [MRS. JAMES BOWDOIN ]
My dearest sister,
. . . at half past eight o'clock I left my house for the Island, and at one o'clock 25 miles from Boston an express summoned me to return, and at half past eight I was at my door, where I embraced my dear James and his lovely wife ... both she and her husband are very anxious to see my brother you and Sarah and we intend on Wednesday morning to set out for the Island, Eliza [Winthrop], Mrs Temple Bowdoin & myself in a little Coachee and James in a gig. I hope it will not be inconvenient, but as two beds would an- swer for T. Winthrop & Eliza and myself, I ventured to tell Mrs Bowdoin I would accompany her. Indeed she would not come without I would consent to come with her. I shall however be anxious until I know that you will not be incommoded. At any rate I would willingly go over to the little Island* to sleep. I packed my trunk with the things for you, the backgammon board containing oatmeal etc. I shall bring with me.
Friday 19th. July 6 A.M.
MRS. THOMAS L. WINTHROP TO MRS. JAMES BOWDOIN
Boston Sept. 27 1808
My dear Aunt
. . . My mother [Lady Temple] will be the bearer of this. She leaves town at 12 o'clock chais with my sister & sleeps at Queen Ann's Corner & expects to be with you on Thursday. . . Thomas arrived (from Naushon) on Saturday and we were happy to see him . . . he looks better for his jurneys and de- sires me to say that he is very grateful for your and his Uncle's * Probably Uncatena.
380
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
kind attentions to him. He tried to procure you some fruit in New Bedford but could not succeed. . . .
I shall therefore only add my kindest affections to my Uncle and Sarah and Augusta . . . & Believe me to be my dear Aunt your sincerely Affectionate niece
E. B. Winthrop
1809
JAMES BOWDOIN TO GEORGE PADDLEFORD
Mr George Paddleford
Boston, May 3rd. 1809
Taunton
Sir;
I received a few lines from Mr Baalis Bullard concerning a quantity of bricks to be delivered at Naushon Island. I think the quantity wanted is about 22 or 23 thousand which if you will cause to be delivered in the best order & of the best quality, that is good sound well burnt bricks, at Naushon Island as soon as the same can be conveniently done on or before the 1st. of June next I will take them & pay you six dollars per thousand on their delivery, and the money therefore will be paid either by Mr Bullard or by his draft upon me, which shall in such case be paid when presented. You will please to write me a line signifying your compliance with the proposal which is made grounded on the conversation Mr Bul- lard had with you on Thursday last.
I should have wrote to you before but did not receive Mr Bul- lard's letter until yesterday in the afternoon.
James Bowdoin
JAMES BOWDOIN TO [
] WOLCOT
Boston, June 6th. 1809
Wolcot Esq. Sir;
I avail myself of ye obliging offer when in Boston of speaking
381
BOWDOIN OWNERSHIP
to Messers Schaler & Hall in regard to two mantles and prs. jambs & hearths wch. I wanted for a house I am building at Naushon, there is a vessell wch. sailed here from Middletown about 4 days since commanded by Capt. Cochran consigned as I understand to Messers Schaler & Hall return here with free stone; as Capt. Coch- ran has a family living at Woods Hole at a short distance from ye house I am building & frequently stops there on business, I wonder he will be willing to take ye mantle on freight & deliver them at the Island. . . .
The mantles and hearths wch. I want are similar to those in Mrs Waldo's dining room & wch. being very common in this town I presume are well known to Messers Schaler & Hall . . . man- tles can be had nearly of the following dimensions viz. the width of the chimney between the jambs to be 4 ft. 4 in. in the clear; back of chimney to be 2 feet wide & the plan of the jambs therefrom 2 ft. 4 in. Mantle to be of proper thickness to give a margin of 43 to 42 inches in the clear, height of jamb 2 ft. 10 or 11 in. the hearth to be 5 ft. 4 in. long and 18 in. wide. . . .
JAMES BOWDOIN TO WILLIAM MCCLURE
To Wm. Mc'lure Esq.
If you recollect I mentioned to you that I was about erecting a Salt Works on my estate at Naushon Island which makes ye northern side of Vineyard sound (the reason of my mentioning this circumstance will be explained below) and that I wished to obtain what information I could on the subject. As I have a large quantity of wood & peat on the Island I think the sea water being first evaporated in the sun, say to 15 or 20 degrees, it might after- wards be reduced to salt by boiling. In this case salt pans and ket- tles upon the best construction ought to be procured. Brongnaist recommends the setting of 6 pans of different sizes to cover a space of 100 by 50 ft. with the fire place in the middle of the length and
382
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
under the two smallest pans, which are most exposed to the heat, and from which the water after being boiled for a time is conveyed to the four larger pans two on each side where a slower evaporation takes place and the salt chrystalized, the two largest of these pans on each side, the two center ones are 33 ft. by 21; the two smaller 33 by 15; the largest of the two center pans is about 27 by 22 ft. and the least which is called the Poetan [?] is about 22 by 15 ft. if you have a copy of Brongnaists elements of minerology with you you can find the plate at the end of Vol. II. . . .
I mention these circumstances to you and ask for your advice and opinion on this subject. . . .
I think it probable that the cast iron factories of Penn. are in the habit of casting pans for this purpose, and if so I should be much obliged to you to procure me information of their shape, size & cost and what is the thickness of the iron when cast, I am the most desirous of this information to ascertain whether it would be best and cheapest to have them cast here although I am told that the cast iron factories of Penn. can afford their work cheaper and exe- cute it cheaper than in other parts of the U. S.
If no information can be obtained relative to ye Salt pans or method of boiling salt at the salt spring, I should be much obliged to you to enquire if I can procure a doz. pans of 4 x 5, 18 in. deep with holes at one of the corners for the purpose of draining the water from one to the other and with the necessary iron funnells therefore.
I should be obliged if you would let me know if cast iron ovens are made at Philadelphia & if so what is their size cost and shape & whether I could procure therewith a cast iron plate of an inch thick 2 ft. 3 in. wide by 43 ft. long with a round hole in the middle 1 ft. in diameter. This I intend for an economical method of cooking and baking for a new house I am building at Naushon Island. . . . I omitted to ask whether if the pan etc. could be procured they could be readilly shipped for this place, or which would be the bet-
383
BOWDOIN OWNERSHIP
ter whether they could be landed at Tarpaulin Cove on Naushon Island which is a safe and secure harbor on Vineyard Sound.
JAMES BOWDOIN TO THOMAS L. WINTHROP [?] Naushon Aug. 26 1809
. I presume Major Corry has returned home and that he · will find a letter from me written on the 23rd inst. by Capt. Walter Davis concerning the lumber I want to finish the Salt Works; John seems to have an inclination to extend the time of his continuance here, and I thought it would be beneficial to his health. He has been growing very strong and hearty from air and exercise, but this morning owing to too heavy a Breakfast of toast & butter & cheese he has been sick at his stomach, but I conclude he will be well enough to pursue his journey tomorrow. . .
James Bowdoin
As farm superintendent Baalis Bullard was not living up to the expectations of his employer.
JAMES BOWDOIN TO BAALIS BULLARD
Boston Sept. 27, 1809
Mr Bullard, Naushon Sir;
I wrote you yesterday by the mail and enclosed you Captain Peter Cochran's rect. of the things shipped by him. I am glad to observe that ye lumber from Kennebec has happily arrived, and I have sent everything by Capt. Cochran that I think can be wanted and I presume you will continue to attend to the business of the Island until the arrangement shall be agreed on.
My wish is that ye Island shall be managed by a man whose whole time shall be devoted to the care of it, for the plain reason that its proper management will demand the whole time and atten-
384
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
tion of one man, let him be as active as he may be. It was with this view that I first engaged you to go there, and you know that no other circumstances ever entered into my imagination. If a man has his mind distracted with business at six miles from it, if he has interfering interests taking up his time and attention, it is plain if this is the case or as it may be so it must operate in the same pro- portion injurious to the business committed to his charge, and I must say in many instances I saw great disadvantages arising from your absence, and I believe it must have been noticed by the work- men themselves. I saw however that your mind was perplexed and laboring under impressions which weakened your ordinary dis- position to business. I thought however it was no time to speak to you on the subject. I saw likewise that Nenimesset was very much neglected, the people employed there to do the business of the Island acting under vague directions without you attending to see them executed. Indeed from the little care that had been taken of the Salt Work there I might have been saved the expense of build- ing them, for from want of a proper management of them I believe they have not produced the interest of the money they cost, whilst other Salt Works, Mr Parkers for example had yielded 20%. I mention these things not for the sake of finding fault but only to show you there has been room for it. In the last year you have had difficulties to contend with, the building of the house and Salt Works and ye conducting them.
JAMES BOWDOIN TO BAALIS BULLARD
Boston, Sept. 16th.
Sir;
. . with respect to ye Salt Works, money to be paid to the carpenters on finishing the Salt Works, I wld. have you ask Mr Davis to make out the several accts. up to the time of finish . . . John Nyes house wants shingling & Shadwick [Robinson] told me his house did likewise, as there are more than nails enough for both
385
BOWDOIN OWNERSHIP
houses almost eno. of shingles for Mr Nyes I think it best that they shld. both be shingled this fall. I engaged Mr Thaxter to see the Nye's roof, that such boards and shingles may be sent there as may be wanted to make the roof tight. . . .
Let me know ye state of ye houses in wch. Thos. Robinson lived & whether it is for the security of the island that it shld. be tenanted? Is Capt. Tilton engaged for Nennimessett & what fam- ily do you intend for Onkey Tonkey to keep the Tavern and to take charge of the Salt Works, and what family do you intend to take charge of the Dairy house and to make the dairy next spring & summer? These principal arrangements ought to be determined & settled on this fall. Shadwick you know has offered to make the dairy ye next summer. No indecision shld. rest on these points & it is not proper that ye great dairy house nor yet Nennimessett shld. be managed as they have been these last two years. . . . I have more than once hinted to you that I did not see how you could properly attend to my business while you lived at Falmouth & I am already convinced it is impossible; you therefore must think seriously of quitting the care of the island or withdrawing from ye situation at Falmouth ; some sacrifices I am willing to make for yr. accomadations, but I cannot admit a line of conduct or pursuit quite incompatible with my interests & the proper business com- mitted to your charge.
P.S. Capt. Cochrane will
sail from here in a week & I
shall ship by him all the
things wch. are wanted by him at the Is.
JAMES BOWDOIN TO BAALIS BULLARD
Mr Baalis Bullard,
Sir ;
Nov. 29 1809
I notice the things shipped by Capt. Edwards, but why did you
386
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
not ship the sheep For Gen. Dearborn by the vessell? I am really mortified that the sheep have not been sent. Let me know if Lewis [Callot] or some other boy might drive them up by land? For I cannot think of lying under the imputation of retaining which I had given away. With respect to Mr Nye and his offer for the Cove Farm, I expect he intends to remove & deliver it up on or before the first of April, it would have been more decent and reasonable than his offer, to have said so at once. If that is his in- tention, and I presume it is let him signify it in writing and I wish him to give two certificates, one to be kept by you and the other to be sent to me stating that he shall remove on the 1st of April and that the house and farm will be then ready to receive another ten- ant, in order that people wishing to hire may see the place will be ready to receive them. As soon as the certificate shall be so given, I would have you advertise the place in the New Bedford paper, stating that the Cove house and farm would be ready to receive an- other tenant on the 1st of April and that any person wishing to hire and to know the terms should apply to you. The rent must be made secure, and the place to be let for one year, until it shall be ascer- tained whether the person hiring be suitable and all other circum- stances should be made agreeable on both sides. My price shall be 500 dollars but rather 400 than not let it.
I did expect from what had been mentioned to me, that by building a store and barn and some other smaller conveniences that a thousand dollars per annum might have been had for it, but I apprehend that the thing has been so managed, added to the ob- stacles thrown in the way of our commerce, that applicants have been discouraged from applying. One thing is certain that if rents on the Island are to fall, you must expect your own stipend to diminish in the same proportion. This the reason of the case demands.
I wish you to confer with Chadwick and others on the Island and to let me know what their opinion may be as to the person
387
BOWDOIN OWNERSHIP
proper to be introduced to the Cove. It is possible that Chadwick himself may wish to hire the farm and to lease his own place to his son-in-law. Some thing decisive must be determined on, not only with respect to this place, but with regard to the Dairy house, Nennimessett, and Onky Tonky that we may not have these con- cerns transferred to the spring. We have now time to make and settle the whole arrangement and it cannot be too soon enacted upon. Let me know what are your arrangements for the Merino rams & what steps you have pursued in regard to the other sheep as well as to the foxes. I shall write again soon.
J. B.
1810
JAMES BOWDOIN TO MR. BAALIS BULLARD
Boston, March 26
Sir;
As it is somewhat uncertain when you may be in town & that you may be apprised as early as possible of my plans for the ap- proaching, as well as for the future improvement of the island; I am to acquaint you that it is my intention to put an end to all dairies on Naushon Island & have the whole island appropriated to sheep. The reason for the determination I shall give you more fully when I see you. I therefore wld. have as many of the cows turned off for fattening reserving a number of the best for giving milk. I shld. prefer the poll breed those of no horns ; whether it will be best in certain cases to turn them out with their calves in the usual form & to turn out the Dams to fat. . . . Care must be taken to reserve cows enough to furnish the families with milk & fresh butter & this must include my family as I expect to be at the island the last of May or beginning of June. ... In regard to the sheep I intend the cow pasture to become a sheep pasture partly in sum- mer & wholly in winter, in order to carry into full operation, the
388
EARLY HISTORY OF NAUSHON ISLAND
plan I contemplate, and I wish you would see Mr Barnabas Chad- wick & know from him whether he will engage himself to me for a year or eight months, in order to take the charge & oversight of my flock, as a shephard to have the exclusive care pursuing such methods as I shall point out . . . my present opinion is that Non- nimessett must be appropriated as a temporary run for them [the ram lambs ] between shearing and the proper time for selling them. In this case I conceive there must be a pen especially made for the lambs so that the ewe each as it is shorn shall be turned in to find its lamb, wch. if a ram, then the ewe and her lamb to be marked & sent to Nonnimessett. If a ewe lamb, then to be marked, ie. her degree of Merino blood seared with a hot iron, and turned out into the cow pasture. For the purpose a temporary passage should be made leading from the lamb pen to the cow pasture. . . . The execution of the plan I propose will call for an increase of hands & one or two more days for shearing wch. must be more carefully performed, and men must be found who understand the business. . . . I apprehend the best shearers from all parts of the county may be procured for a dollar a day and found.
The close wooled sheep of the Merino breed require the nicest shearers that the wool shld. be cut close & even without injuring the animal. In France they shear the sheep on a large table round wch. the shearers set & the sheep are tied to it. Mr Livingston rec- comends the tying the fore and hind legs to a bar with two cross pieces, the bar 18 inches long & the cross pieces six. This wld. leave the sheep standing in their natural position with their legs a little stretched out, or a rod of iron with a curvature at each end wld. perhaps be still better he says. . . .
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.