USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > Historical sketch of the town of Hanover, Mass., with family genealogies, 1853 > Part 12
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During the administration of the elder Adams, a second com- pany was formed, which was commanded by Capt. Timothy Rose ; but this continued in existence for a few years only, and was eventually merged into the Hanover Artillery Company-the only company now in existence in the town.
This last company was established about the year 1798, under the auspices of Benj. Whitman, Esq., then settled as a lawyer in Hanover, of whose history we have elsewhere spoken. Mr. Whitman was the first Captain ; his subalterns being, Dr. Melzar Dwelley, 1st Lieut., and Dr. Charles Turner, 2d Lieut.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
The equipments of the members were, to each a white leather belt, with a brass breast-plate ; coats of blue cloth faced with red, with brass buttons, and cord ; pants and vest of a buff color ; and the old fashioned chapeaux des bras, or cocked hats, of fur, surmounted with a black plume, tipped with red.
The Company, at its parades, is said to have made a fine ap- pearance ; its officers were gentlemen of high respectability ; and no company, at the annual gatherings, on the muster field, attrac- ted to itself more notice, or elicited warmer applause for the skill- fulness of its manœuvres. A fine band of music usually attended it ; and everything connected with the Company was such, that the few survivors, who were among its earliest members, speak of it with an enthusiasm, which age has not damped, nor time abated.
The Armory stood, in the first instance, on the rising ground, still known as "Gun-house Hill," near the residence of Mr. Robert Silvester; and during the Captaincy of Mr. Whitman, the Company often marched to the Four Corners, for review. Here, too, in the hall, over the store of Mr. Silas Morton, the fes- tivities of election and parade days, were celebrated ; - the col- lations served, and the " suppers" eaten. It is said, that, on one occasion, the Company was marched to the Corners for parade, and a large number of spectators were present at the review,- among others, Kilborn Whitman, Esq., a brother of the Captain, from the adjoining town of Pembroke. When seated at the din- ner table, their guest was called upon for a " toast," as the glas ses circulated ; and, rising with much dignity and impressiveness, he gave, " The Hanover Artillery Company ; may their pieces be loaded with true New England principles, wadded with Jacob- inism, and pointed against every aspiring demagogue,"- a toast, which, however exceptionable to some, and gratifying to others was drank with the usual cheers, perhaps for the sake of the New England in the glasses.
In 1806, Albert Smith was chosen Captain of the Company and, at his request, the town voted that " the Artillery Company may move the Gun-house on the Town's land near the meeting house," and Capt. John B. Barstow, Capt. Daniel Barstow, Israel Perry, Capt. Joshua Mann, and Capt. Clement Bates,
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HANOVER RIFLE COMPANY.
were appointed a Committee to select a site for the same. The site chosen, was in the rear of the meeting house, on one corner of the old burial ground ; and here the house stood until a new one was erected.
In October, 1806, the Selectmen were instructed to purchase " what powder is wanted for the company ; " in Oct. 1808, they were instructed to purchase " four camp kettles for the company ;"' and in 1811, they were instructed to " complete the town's stock of military equipments."
In 1819, Elisha Barrell, jr., being chosen Captain, it was deemed advisable to erect a new Gun-house; and Captain Barrell applied to the Adjutant General, for aid from the State, and in November of that year, the Selectmen were appointed " agents to convey to the Commonwealth, land whereon to set a Gun-house," and the same was erected, being that now occu- pied by the Company, and standing near the centre of the town.
We do not know that we can give a complete list of the officers of this Company ; but the names of the Captains, so far as we have learned, were as follows : Benj. Whitman, Esq .; Albert Smith, Esq. ; Hon. E. F. Jacobs, of Scituate ; Elisha Barrell, jr. ; Edward Curtis ; Levi Curtis ; Elias W. Pratt ; William Morse ; Isaac H. Haskins ; Wm. Thomas ; Joseph Brooks, jr. ; James House ; Daniel Barstow, jr. ; James Brooks ; Benjamin N. Curtis ; Charles Brooks ; and Duncan T. Stoddard, the present Captain.
During the residence of Col. Jesse Reed, in Hanover, an Inde- pendent Infantry Company was formed, under his auspices, of which he was commander, which lasted for some years, but was finally disbanded.
About the year 1816, the Hanover Rifle Company was formed, of which Elijah Hayward, was the first captain ; and after him, Hosea Whitman, William Josselynn, Nathan Dwelley, Samuel Bennett, and others, commanded it, until its removal to Hanson. It was annexed to the 2nd Regiment, 1st Brigade, 5th Division, of the Massachusetts Militia, and the Commissions of Captain Dwelley we have seen. The members of the Company were from Hanover, Scituate, Marshfield, Pembroke, Hanson, &c. Their uniform and equipments, consisted of green pants and coat ; a felt cap, with a long green plume ; and to each a rifle, knapsack,
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
&c. The arms were kept at their own houses. The company met at the Four Corners, for review, near the Episcopal Church. Their band consisted of two fifers, two tenor drummers, one bass drummer, and sometimes performers on the clarionet and bugle. There was no practice of " target shooting," by the company ; but it attended the musters held at Church-hill, in Scituate ; in Pembroke, near Horace Collamore's ; and elsewhere.
Mr. Dwelley was chosen Ensign in 1820 ; on which occasion, a standard was presented, and an address delivered, by one of the young ladies of the town. The clergy of the neighborhood were present on the occasion ; and an assemblage of from two to three hundred spectators, among whom were the ladies, dressed in white, each with a green ribbon encircling the waist ; and Miss Eliza Stetson, who delivered the address, was accompanied by Miss Eells, now the wife of Capt. Dwelley, and Miss Ruth Stock- bridge. The standard being presented, and waved, the music cheered, and the company, with their guests, marched to the hall, opened right and left, the ladies entered, the refreshments were served, and the remainder of the day was passed in partaking of cake, tea, lemonade, and strong drinks, which, in some cases, proved a little too strong for those who partook too freely.
Having a copy of the address delivered by Miss Stetson, we present it as a memorial connected with the history of the com- pany.
" Sir,-The Ladies of Hanover and its vicinity, impressed with a high sense of the merits of the Rifle Company, in their behalf, I present you this Standard, in full confidence that you will not suffer it to be wrested from you, nor its reputation sullied. To be a lover of peace while prepared for war, is a characteristic of the American soldier; but though peace is our anxious wish, we would not have it purchased or preserved by the surrender of any of those rights and privileges procured and transmitted to us by our Fathers. Should any insolent foe attempt to deprive us of these dear-bought, and invaluable blessings, then, Sir, think of this ban- ner! Think of our ancestors ! and you must be brave! Re- member your friends, and you will conquer !"
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WAR OF 1812.
WAR OF 1812.
Of the causes which led to the war of 1812, we need not speak at large here. Its history is so recent, that the materials for its investigation are ample and complete. We shall only notice the proceedings of the citizens of Hanover, and this but briefly, as many other matters yet remain to be treated, and our space is limited.
June 2, 1812. The town voted, " to make soldiers up $15 per month, with what the Government pay, when called upon for actual service." Also, "voted, to give them $1 per day, for every day they are called out of town to do duty."
Aug. 3. A committee was appointed to draft resolutions, ex- pressing the views of the town concerning the war; and these resolves were recorded, and copies sent "for publication in the Republican newspapers in Boston."
The Committee of Safety for this year, consisted of Turner Stetson, Albert Smith, Aaron Hobart, jr., Joshua Mann, and Snow Curtis. The Selectmen were likewise instructed to pur- chase a town's stock of powder, and $50 were voted to pay for the same.
In 1814, the Selectmen were instructed to " hire such sums of money as may be necessary for the safety of the town during the war." Also, " voted, to make up the soldier's pay to $20 per month, until October 1, and those that have been called out before, and the non-commissioned officers to receive the same pay." The selectmen were likewise instructed, to " furnish the militia with a suitable number of cartridges."
The Committee of Safety for this year, consisted of Aaron Hobart, jr., Esq., Isaiah Wing, Esq., Elijah Hayward, John B. Barstow, and Benjamin Stockbridge.
A detachment of the Artillery Company of the town, under Lieut. Elisha Barrell, jr., was at Scituate harbor, for sixty-eight days, from July 1, to September 6, 1814 ; and the whole com- pany, under Captain Edward F. Jacobs, was at Plymouth, from September 19 to October 19, 1814.
.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
The following, from the pay roll of the company, is a list of the officers and matrosses, who went to Plymouth.
Capt. E. F. Jacobs,
Ozias Whiting, Charles Bailey, jr.,
Lieut. Elisha Barrell, jr., 66 Edward Curtis, Benjamin S. Munroe,
Sergt. Amos Dunbar,
Joseph Brooks, jr.,
Stephen Jacobs,
Joseph Sylvester,
66 Levi Curtis,
Benjamin C. Pratt,
Stephen Curtis,
Justus Whiting,
Corpl. Calvin D. Wilder,
Barker Wing,
Reuben Curtis,1
John Jones, jr.,
66 Oren Josselynn,
Piam Damon,
66 Elias Barrell,
Cyrus White,
Luther Turner,
John Curtis, Melzar Curtis,
Eleazer Josselynn
Musicians.
Joshua Stetson,
Levi Perry, Matrosses.
David T. Joyce,
John Clapp, Luther Curtis,
Benjamin Bowker,
Robert Curtis,
Gideon Studley, jr.,
Elisha Magoun,
Lemuel Curtis,
Nathaniel Curtis,
Joseph Damon,
Elias Magoun,
Gad Bailey,
Nathaniel Farrow, Lewis Gross,
Benjamin II. Clark,
Allen Clapp.
Gideon Perry,
Job Curtis,
John Gross,
CHAPTER X.
MANUFACTURES AND TRADE.
" Yet I exult, Casting reserve away, exult to see An intellectual mastery exercised O'er the blind elements : a purpose given, A perseverance fed, almost a soul Imparted, to brute matter."
BOSTON
FCBLIG
IBRAS
WORDSWORTH.
History of Manufactures in the town - Forges and Furnaces - Bardin's, now the Curtis Forge-Barstow's, now Sylvester's Forge-Dyer's, now Perry's Tack Fac- tory -Sketch of the Life of Col. Jesse Reed - The Drinkwater Works, now Bates and Holmes -- Barker's Foundry - Salmond's Tack Works -Tolman's Mills - Saw and Grist Mills -Plough Manufacture, and Sketch of the Life of David Prouty - Other branches of Industry,
To attempt to give a full sketch of the history of manufactures and trade, in this town, would require far more space than we can spare for the subject ;- nor would such a sketch, which must necessarily be principally statistical, be generally interesting. We should be happy to give a list of the names of all, who have, at different periods, been owners of the forges, furnaces, saw-mills, grist-mills, &c., which have been erected ; as well as of those who have engaged in trade, and other branches of industry ; but, apart from the fact that authentic records are wanting, from which to draw these names, and the difficulty of obtaining them only from tradition, such a list, however gratifying as a memorial of family enterprise, could only be regarded as a sort of muster-roll, telling who had served, it is true, but not much of what they had accomplished.
We do not propose, however, to pass the subject by in silence. On the contrary, in itself, it is of far too much importance, to be treated with neglect, and the place which it occupies in our history is too conspicuous to be entirely overlooked. The town of Hano- ver has done something, in the line of manufacturing enterprise, as the statistics of the State show ; and considering the many dis- advantages under which our population have labored, from many sources, we think that what has been done, is highly creditable to their industry and perseverance.
9
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
The petition for the incorporation of the town, states that there were, then within its limits, " five saw-mills, and three iron-mills, and others," probably grist-mills.
As the names of these mills, and of the owners, are not given, we are left to learn them from the few hints scattered over our records.
FORGES, TACK WORKS, ETC.
As early as 1704, according to Deane, Bardin's Iron Works were erected on the Indian Head River ; and these are called, on the records of the town, in 1730, the " old iron works." Thomas and Joseph Josselynn, were owners of the same, before 1743, and they were afterwards improved by Seth, Philip, Isaac, and John R. Josselynn, and others. They are now in the possession of Mr. George Curtis, who is engaged principally in the manufacture of Anchors, and other heavy forge work. On the Pembroke side of the stream, and opposite these works, stands an old saw-mill, now owned by Messrs. George Curtis, and Capt. Haviland Torrey ; also a carding-mill, first built by Jesse Reed, at a spot farther up the stream, and moved from thence to its present locality. This, too, is owned by Mr. Curtis. A small furnace stood on the same side of the stream some years ago, but it is now gone.
The Curtis family has been connected with these works at least sixty years, or since 1790, though Seth Josselynn continued to be an owner until 1803, and Lemuel Dwelley, as late as 1839. Benj. Studley, and John R. Josselynn, were part owners in 1791, at which date they disposed of their interest to Lemuel Curtis. The year previous, or in 1790, Lemuel Curtis sold one fourth of the forge, &c. to Reuben and Consider Curtis, and Reuben dis- posed of his fourth to George Curtis, in 1831.
In 1839, Lemuel Dwelley, sold his half to George Curtis, and since that period, the last named gentleman has conducted the works individually.
The first works owned by the Curtis family, as also the build- ing erected for a corn-mill in 1832, were destroyed by fire in 1848, and new buildings have been since erected. The old saw- mill, on the Pembroke side, yet remains, and is used some every winter ; - also the old carding-mill, though the wool carding busi-
139
CURTIS FORGE.
ness, which was once very good, is now comparatively worthless. This mill was leased to Mr. Edward Y. Perry, for two years, from 1836-38, for running tack machines.
Mr. Curtis employs, in his anchor works, about sixteen hands, and manufactures from 200 to 250 tons of anchors per year. Busi- ness has always been active at this place ; and, for nearly one hundred and fifty years, from amidst the charming and romantic scenery around, has ascended the smoke of the furnace, and the loud din of the descending hammer may be heard daily.
It is said that, from twenty-five to thirty years ago, anchors were made for the United States Government at this Forge, some of which were of great size, weighing five tons! Since the erec- tion of the works at Washington, private contracts have been dis- continued.
Formerly ship-knees, of iron, were made here ; but at present, wooden knees are considered quite as serviceable, and are gene- rally preferred.
The anchors made by Mr. Curtis, are for merchant ships and other vessels, and range in weight from 100 to 5000 lbs.
We annex a view of the " Old Forge."
Barstow's Forge, to which we have alluded on p. 19, was erected in 1720, and was occupied by the Barstow family, until the removal of Joshua, to Exeter, N. H., in 1795, when it was purchased by the Salmonds, and was improved by them, and by Nathaniel Cushing, and Charles Josselynn, for about thirty years.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
In 1828, Mr. Salmond disposed of his interest in the works to Thomas Hobart, of Abington, who had been part owner for several years ; and at that time there were, on the premises, one forge for the manufacture of bar iron, one anchor shop, one tack factory, and a corn mill. Mr. John Silvester, who is still connected with the works, entered them at about this date. About one hundred tons of bar iron were made per year, and one hundred tons of anchors. Of tack machines, from twelve to fourteen were run, and from two to three tons of tacks were made a week.
About the year 1825, Messrs. Hobart & Salmond had a con- tract from the United States Government for the manufacture of anchors for the Navy, and several were made for seventy-four gun-ships, of the largest size ever forged probably.
As far back as the period of the Revolution, quite a business is said to have been done at this forge, in the manufacture of cannon balls by Mr. Barstow, and he is spoken of as one of the most en- terprising men ever in the town. He melted his iron at an ordi- nary forge fire, and moulded his balls in the bottom of the forge.
At present, the works, which are conducted by Mr. Silvester, are adapted principally to forging anchors, shaftings, locomotive cranks, and wagon axles. Mr. Silvester commenced the manufac- ture of locomotive cranks as early as 1830, and was one of the pioneers in this branch of business.
Many tack machines are built here yearly, though the tack business is not conducted at the place as formerly. About one hundred and fifty tons of iron are used at this forge.
Between the Curtis Forge, and that of Mr. Silvester, and at a place called " Project Dale," stands the tack factory of Mr. Edward Y. Perry, moved to this spot by Mr. Charles Dyer, about the year 1830, from Col. Reed's dam, of which we shall soon speak. There was an old dam, a grist mill, and carding mill, on the premises.
From papers, in the possession of Mr. Dyer, we learn that James Torrey had a fulling-mill at this spot, in 1737, at which date the place was called Project Dale. Mr. Torrey had bought fifty- two acres of land of Wm. Clift, deceased ; and five acres, with a dwelling house, of Joseph Smith, in 1730. This mill privilege was sold to Thomas Josselynn, in 1737, and, for some time, the plac
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PERRY'S TACK WORKS.
was known as "Josselynn's Corn-mill," and the lane leading to it, as " Mill Lane."
During the latter part of the 18th century, Joseph Stetson was proprietor of this mill, at which date it was known as " Stetson's mill ;" and at his decease, it was sold by his administrators, to Lemuel Curtis, who gave it to Nathaniel Curtis, and by him it was sold to Mr. Elisha Hobart. It is now owned by the. heirs of Mr. Curtis, and is occupied by Mr. Perry.
Mr. Dyer conducted the works for ten years, from 1829 to 1839, as agent for Mr. Hobart, after which he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Perry, which continued until 1850, when Mr. Perry took the sole charge of the works.
An idea of the extent to which the business is conducted by Mr. Perry, may be gathered from the following statistics. He employs sixteen hands, twelve of whom are males, and four fe- males ; - manufactures three hundred pounds of shoe nails per day, and about eight hundred thousand of tacks ; - uses from two to three tons of copper, twenty-five tons of zinc, and seventy-five tons of iron per year ; runs three shoe nail, and seven tack machines, and one machine for three-penny nails, of which about one hundred pounds per day are made.
The location of these works is very pleasant, especially in the summer season, being in a quiet dale, environed by hills, clothed with evergreen, and deciduous trees ; and both here, and at the place next named, at an early period, the business of tack making was commenced, and has since been continued.
A short distance farther up the stream, Col. Jesse Reed, now of Marshfield, was located for a time. He came to Hanover about the year 1812, and lived on what is called the Smith farm, which he purchased of Mr. Robert Salmond, and which is now owned by Mr. Nathan Dwelley. The privilege which he improved, was purchased of Mr. Enos Bates, where Mr. Bates contemplated the erection of a dam and grist mill. Col. Reed built the dam, and put up a grist mill, and nail factory and ma- chine shop. He remained in the town several years, and thence moved to Marshfield, where he yet resides.
The career of this gentleman, is worthy of notice, as an instance of the manifold blessings which a genius like his confers upon the public.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
His father was a clock maker by trade, and, at the date of the birth of Jesse, in 1778, resided in North Bridgewater, Mass. At the age of nine years, the son went to Easton, to reside with Mr. Dean, with whom he remained three years, during which time his mechanical taste was displayed in the construction of a trip ham- mer, put in operation by a wheel and cam shaft, propelled by water. At the age of twelve, he returned to his father, and soon after constructed the main part of a wooden clock. At the age of fifteen, he was apprenticed to a joiner in Randolph, Mass., where he served a regular apprenticeship at that business.
During this period, he tried his skill on perpetual motion ; and the result of his labors is thus given in his own words : " I worked two days and three nights without sleep. The last night, a lit- tle before day light, I got it ready to put into operation ; and to avoid notice, I went into a little pine grove, with a friend, to put it together and set it in motion. I found that as soon as it was put together, it would go as well one way as the other, and that it would not go either way without help. I was then fully convinced that it was out of the power of man to put machinery together so as to produce perpetual motion, and that nothing short of the power to create could do it. To this belief I have ever since adhered."
At the age of twenty-two, or thereabouts, he invented and con- structed a rotary pump, which worked well, but which was soon laid aside. His mind was next drawn to improvements in the manufacture of cut nails, and his first machine, for making nails from rods, was patented in 1802. One third of his interest in this right was sold to Rev. Jonathan Strong, of Randolph, and another third to Thomas Ordiorne, of Boston ; they to have two- thirds of all improvements Mr. Reed should make in the businesss. But the experiment of manufacturing from rods, proved a failure, in a pecuniary point of view ; and the next plan was to roll the iron to a suitable thickness, and slit it into pieces of the right size for the body of the nail, and flatten the point,-but this plan also failed.
The third step was the construction of a machine for cutting and heading at one operation. On this machine a patent was ob- tained, but it was soon laid aside. A heading machine was next constructed, into which, after the nails were cut, they were fed by hand ; but this was also laid aside.
148
SKETCH OF COL. JESSE REED.
The partners of Mr. Reed now leaving him, he located in North Bridgewater, and built a small house by a waterfall, as a family residence, using the lower part of the building as a machine shop. Here he built two or three nail machines of different kinds, but pecuniary embarrassments caused him to lose his all, and he left his home, and went to Boston, where he worked at his trade, of a joiner, and was employed in constructing the first lock on the canal through Medway. Thence he went to Providence R. I. There he made the model of a nail machine known as the "Odiorne Tool." Leaving Providence, he moved to West Bridgewater, Mass., and there commenced making patterns for a machine for four-penny nails, to be propelled by the foot, which made sixty- two nails per minute. This was in 1803. His old partners now joining him again, machines for four-penny and six-penny nails were made, and set up in Plymouth.
In 1805 or 1806, the machine known as the " Odiorne Tool," was patented, which was sold to the Messrs. Odiorne in 1806, and Mr. Reed moved to Kingston.
It was about this time, that his machine for pulverizing dye- woods was invented, for Messrs. Barrett & Shattuck, of Malden, Silk Dyers. Letters patent for this invention were obtained in 1807.
Soon after this, the machine known as the "Reed Tool," for the manufacture of nails, was invented ; and whilst in Hanover, his tack machines were invented, and put into operation. He likewise worked, for a time, on a high pressure steam engine, but soon abandoned it.
Disposing of his first privilege, in Hanover, he moved to one near Rocky Run, where he erected works, and conveyed water to his wheel through a trough one third of a mile long ; but the difficulties encountered here were such, that he finally sold out entirely, and moved to Marshfield, where he has since resided.
His later inventions, are machines for steering vessels ; differ- ent patterns of pumps ; cotton gins; treenail machines, &c. In all, he has obtained patents on from twenty to thirty different machines in his day, many of which are of great importance to the community ; and every house builder has the benefit of his ingenuity.
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