USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > Historical sketch of Charlestown, in the county of Middlesex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts : read to an assembly of citizens at the opening of Washington Hall, Nov. 16, 1813 > Part 3
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The tomb stone of Capt. Richard Sprague (one of the first comers from Salem) is to be seen : but the whole inscription is not legible.
20
HISTORICAL SKETCH
two brigade staff officers, and a regimental surgeon .* Several of our citizens are members, and we have re- cently furnished a commandert of the Ancient and Hon- ourable Artillery Company, which, in 1638, was formed at Boston, as a school for officers, and is the oldest mili- tary establishment in the United States.
The learned professions,# as they are termed, have been honourably encouraged, decently remunerated, and, in general, properly conducted. But constantly varying in theory, and from their nature involved in obscurity, they are liable to abuses; and their usefulness is oftener lessened by unworthy conduct in their members to each other, than by a want of candour in the publick.
Our free schools were incorporated by a special act of the legislature, in 1793. They are governed by seven trustees§ occasionally elected by the town in May. They are liberally endowed by permanent funds and annual appropriations.| The trust is now in charge of those who are competent and faithful. Let it be our care to
* The militia companies are commanded by captains Lot Pool, Robert Tenney, and John Gibbs. The Artillery, by captain Loammi Kendall. The Warren Pha- lanx, by captain Samuel T. Armstrong, and the Light Infantry, by captain James K. Frothingham. The other officers are, brigadier general Nathaniel Austin, jun. (who is sheriff of the county) colonel Jonathan Page, majors Joshua B. Phipps, and William Fernald. Brigade quarter master, major Timothy Walker, brigade major and inspector, major Samuel Jaques. Surgeon, Abra- ham R. Thompson, L. M.
t Captain Melzar Holmes.
# The clergy are Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D. D. and William Collier, A M. The Universal church is vacant, but Rev. Edward Turner is soon to be installed.
Attorneys at law. - William Austin, *Abner Rogers, Elias Phinney, Henry Adams, and Joseph Tufts, Esqrs. and Leonard M. Parker, A. B.
Practitioners in medicine .- Josiah Bartlett, M. D. and Abraham R. Thomp- son, L. M. who are fellows of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Theodore Dexter, A. B. a candidate for practice.
§ The present board are the Rev. William Collier, President ; Capt. Nehemiah Wyman, Treasurer ; Dr. Abraham R. Thompson, Secretary; Messrs. George Bartlett and David Stetson, Capt. Joseph Miller, and Mr. Daniel Reed.
Their predecessors in office were *Richard Devens, Esq. * Hon. Nath. Gorham, and Josiah Bartlett; * Aaron Putnam and Joseph Hurd, Esqrs. Col. Nath. Hawkins and Mr. Seth Wyman (who are named in the act) Messrs. Samuel Tufts and Jonathan Teel, Rev. Jedidiah Morse, Benjamin Hurd, Esq. Mr. Timothy Thompson, Maj. Timothy Walker, David Goodwin, Esq. Hon. Matthew Bridge, Thomas Harris, Esq. Messrs. Samuel Payson, Joseph Phipps, John Stone, Elijah Mead, James Greene, John Tufts, and Samuel Thompson; Peter Tufts, Jun. and John Kettell, Esqrs. Messrs. Samuel Kent, Daniel Parker, David Devens, Jonas Tyler, Philemon R. Russell, and Ebenezer Cutter, William Austin, Esq.
The instructers on the peninsula, are Abraham Andrews, A. B. Messrs. David Dodge, John Bennet, and Oliver Jaqueth. Without the neck, Messrs. Moses Hall, Jacob Pierce, and Benjamin Greene.
|| The permanent fund is $5081, and the appropriation for 1813 $3500.
21
OF CHARLESTOWN.
strengthen their hands, and encourage their hearts ; for FREE SCHOOLS were the glory of our ancestors, they are the boast of New-England, and the palladium of our fu- ture prosperity.
In the year which is nearly closed, an extensive soci- ety* of all the religious denominations, and of different political principles, has been organized for the reforma- tion of morals, which, if prudently conducted, may tend to the peace and happiness of the town.
By a display of publick spirit, and with a degree of unanimity, ominous of future success, this handsome, convenient EDIFICE,t designed for the accommodation of our reading society,¿ and for purposes like the pre- sent, has been expeditiously completed, and in the act of incorporation§ is designated by the name of WASHING- TON HALL.
* The president is Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D. D.
t This is a brick building, situated on the main street, and accommodated with a handsome rear entrance from Town Hill. It is 53 feet long, 29 feet wide, and three stories high. The property is vested in fifty shares, subscribed for by 34 persons, viz. Benjamin Swift 5 shares, Joseph Hurd 3, Timothy Walker 3, Ashur Adams 3, Josiah Bartlett 3, Jedidiah Morse 2, Nathan Tufts 2, Apollos Field 2, Richard Boylston 2, David Stetson, Nathaniel Austin, Jun. Samuel Soley, Wil- liam Pratt, Thomas Kettell, Stephen Gorham, Chester Adams, Nathan Adams, Thomas Osgood, Elias Phinney, Oliver Jaqueth, Benjamin Adams, John Soley, Ab R Thompson, Henry Adams, Elisha Wheeler, Thomas Boylston, *Benjamin Hurd, Jun. Samuel Kidder, John Skinner, William Fernald, Samuel Jaques, Isaac Warren, Amos Tufts, and Jeremiah Evarts I each. Mr. Hurd died Sept. 15, 1813, aged 37.
The expense, including the land, was $6250. The cellar and lower story are used for an elegant druggist's store; the second story is for reading and news rooms; in the third is the Hall, and a convenient drawing room, appropriated for various uses. In the yard is an office about 15 feet square, occupied by Mr. James Frothingham 3d, portrait painter.
# This institution is furnished by the "Washington Hall Association " with newspapers, books, &c. of which there is a considerable collection. Subscribers are admitted by the Directors, each of which pay $5 a year. The present num- ber is 85, and the officers of the association, elected 1814, are Joseph Hurd, Esq. President ; Major Timothy Walker, Vice-P- sident ; Mr. Samuel Soley, Clerk and Treasurer ; John Soley, Esq. and Mr. Thomas Kettell, who form a board of Directors.
The other reading Society has a room in the square; the subscribers pay $5 a year, the number is 53, and the officers are Major William Thompson, Presi- dent ; John Kettell, Esq. Messrs. Jesse Brown, Leonard M. Parker, and Kendall Bailey, Committee ; Maj. W. Thompson, Treasurer; L. M. Parker, A. B. Clerk.
" COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
An Act to incorporate sundry persons in Charlestown, in the county of Middle- sex, by the name of the Washington Hall Association.
SECT. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen- eral Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That Joseph Hurd, Jo- siah Bartlett, David Stetson, Timothy Walker, and Benjamin Swift, with such others as have associated, and purchased a lot of land, bounded thirty feet on the main street, in said Charlestown, running back one hundred and fifty feet, and are erecting a building thereon by the name of Washington Hall, for offices,
22
HISTORICAI, SKETCH
We now solemnly and joyfully dedicate it to the memory of that ILLUSTRIOUS, UNEQUALLED PATRIOT whose name it bears. Here we may venerate his virtues, cultivate his principles, and practise by his example. Within these walls may our successors manfully sup- port the doctrines of rational liberty ; and when an hun- dred and eighty five years, the period we have so imper- fectly reviewed, shall again have expired, may they recognize the efforts of the present era, as we now cele- brate the exertions of those who have passed before us to the regions of immortality.
APPENDIX.
THE following is a detail of the births and deaths (be- fore noticed) on the peninsula for the past 25 years.
Yerrs.
Births.
Deaths.
Years.
Births.
Desthis.
1789
52
22
1803
135
57
90
40
35
4
140
79
91
47
26
5
150
68
92
46
32
6
200
80
93
64
32
7
190
90
94
70
26
8
200
47
95
77
38
9
197
78
96
83
65
10
228
63
97
103
50
11
220
100
98
93
40
12
233
93
99
93
40
13
228
115
1800
102
60
1
114
95
3225
1510
2
120
79
.
reading rooms, and other purposes; be, and they are hereby incorporated, for holding in fee simple, and managing the affairs of the said estate, which is divided into fifty shares; and they are authorized to use a common seal, and to establish such by-laws, relating to the said corporation, as are not repugnant to the consti- tution and laws of this Commonwealth; provided the annual income of said cor- poration shall not exceed the sum of fifteen hundred dollars.
SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That said Joseph Hurd be authorized to call the first meeting of the said corporation, by a written notification to each mem- ber, at least three days before the time of meeting.
Approved, June 16, 1813. -
CALEB STRONG.
The persons named in the act were the Directors, to provide materials, make contracts, and conduct the erection of the building. Mr. Chester Adams was Clerk and Treasurer.
23
OF CHARLESTOWN.
A census of the inhabitants of Charlestown, taken in August and September, 1810, by Mr. Timothy Thomp- son, Jun. who was appointed for that purpose by the marshal of the United States for the district of Massa- chusetts.
Males.
Females.
Under ten years of age
651
771
From ten to sixteen
-
308
351
sixteen to twenty six
496
510
twenty six to forty five
612
496
forty five and upwards
281
260
Convicts in the State Prison
195
5
2543
2393-4936
Included above, are 25 black males and 37 females.
Mr. Thompson has also furnished the following ac- count of manufactures in the town, taken at the same time.
Articles.
Value per year.
Eighteen millions bricks
650,000
One hundred and seventy chaises
34,000
Two hundred and fifty gallons rum per day
50,000
Four thousand hides tanned
28,000
Cordage
106,000
Twine
1,500
One hundred and fifty thousand morocco skins 225,000
Stone and earthen ware -
6,500
Thirty thousand pounds fine soap
9,000
Ninety thousand pounds common do.
9,000
Ten thousand boxes mould candles
70,000
Four thousand hats
14,000
Plated ware
7,550
Cabinet work
19,000
Twenty eight hundred and fifty yards common weaving
2,113
$1,231,663
Establishments for preparing spirit of turpentine and lamp black, and for a brewery, were not valued.
24
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHARLESTOWN.
There have been, an extensive distillery erected, two tan yards completed, a factory for preparations of vitriol established, and salt petre works commenced, since the census was taken; but it is the opinion of competent judges, that the manufactory of bricks, chaises, cordage, morocco leather, plated ware, and cabinet work, has greatly lessened since that period.
The SCHOOLS are in a state of great prosperity; as will be shewn by the following extract from a report of the trustees to the town, May 2, 1814.
"At the late examinations, we found the schools under the most perfect government, and in the highest state of improvement; we cannot refrain from congratulating our fellow-citizens on a situation of their publick schools, so auspicious to the best interests of the town, so grati- fying to the dearest hopes of parents, and bearing such honourable testimony to the eminent ability and fidelity of the instructers."
On the acceptance of the report, the town voted one thousand dollars in addition to the usual annual appropri- ation, for the education of young children ; in conse- quence of which, twenty one districts are established, and to each a schoolmistress is appointed, for the instruc- tion of those, from four to seven years of age, the whole number of whom is four hundred and twenty five; the scholars of both sexes, in the other schools, from seven to fourteen years of age, are seven hundred and seven- teen; which makes the whole number, instructed at the expense of the town, eleven hundred and forty two.
A publick support of schools, kept by women, for primary instruction, and free to every inhabitant, under the direction of the trustees, though novel, is honourable to the town, and affords a pleasing presage of future im- provement.
Charlestown, May 9, 1814.
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