USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Historical sketch of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622-1884 > Part 12
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TURNPIKES, RAILROADS, ETC.1 - The primitive means of communication with Boston and other towns was by private conveyanee, horses, ox-wagons, and afterwards earriages, - with the sailing packets, the latter being the main dependence for this purpose. From the earliest times the packet was the favorite, being quicker, cheaper and more convenient, and was in constant use for more than two hundred years, one or two of them always finding ready employment in passengers and freight. As the roads improved, and the needs of the people became greater, the stage-coach made its appearance and ran regularly between this town and Boston, until the necessity of still better roads for the accommodation of the inereasing travel became ap- parent. Turnpikes were projeeted in various plaees, and several were proposed that should pass through Wey- mouth. The conservative element prevailed so strongly that the town strenuously opposed every attempt to loeate any through it, especially those erossing the rivers. Notwithstanding all the endeavors of the town, charters were granted for three.
The Weymouth and Braintree Turnpike, erossing from Weymouth Landing southeasterly to Hingham, on the line from Boston to Plymouth, was chartered March 4, 1803, and opened for travel in 1805. This was eon- tinued for nearly fifty years, when, owing to the changed condition of things with new modes of eonveyanee, it
' The turnpike and railroad statistics and history are compiled from the town, State and corporation files.
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was thrown upon the town, July 15, 1852, and became a public road, now known as Washington Street.
A second, the New Bedford Turnpike, obtained a charter, 29th of February, 1804, and was laid out from the Weymouth and Braintree turnpike, beginning about a mile from the Landing, running nearly south to the Abington line, on the route from Boston to New Bedford. The northerly part of the road was never a paying concern, and before many years it lapsed into private hands and is now Main Street.
The Hingham and Quincy Bridge and Turnpike Corporation was chartered 5th March, 1808, and opened for travel, with its two bridges over Fore and Back Rivers, connecting Quincy and Hingham, in 1812. These bridges, with their tolls from travellers and tolls to vessels passing through the draws, were a continual source of vexation and contention, which did not cease until the whole property was thrown upon the towns as a public highway, 25th September, 1862.
Railroads. - Succeeding these, and the main cause of their failure, came the railroads; and the same spirit that had opposed the turnpike came forward in great strength against the railroad, and the town opposed every attempt to locate one across its territory, but the genius of progress prevailed, and in March, 1844,
The Old Colony Railroad received its charter, and located its track across the southwest corner of the town from . Braintree to Abington, passing a little south of the village of South Weymouth. The road was speed- ily built, and was opened for travel Nov. 10, 1845.
The South Shore Railroad soon followed the Old Colony, its charter dating March 26, 1846, and was opened to the public Jan. 1, 1849. This road crosses the town near the villages of Weymouth Landing, North Weymouth and East Weymouth, the princi- pal centres of population and business. It was run at
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first connecting with the Old Colony at Braintree, and was afterwards hired by the latter. In May, 1877, it was bought by that corporation, and is now one of its branches.
THE EXPRESS BUSINESS has grown in a half-century - at the beginning of which private teams were the only means of transportation aside from the sailing packets - until it numbers a dozen companies, employ- ing seores of men and twiee as many horses, requiring not far from $60,000 of capital.
The telegraph and the telephone have also become indispensable to the wants of the inhabitants, several lines of the former running through the town, and the latter being frcely used by many business houses. It is found very convenient also for families.
FINANCIAL CORPORATIONS.1 - The inerease of mer- cantile business and the springing up of manufactures consequent upon the revival of trade, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, demanded greater financial facilities than were previously enjoyed. In the circles immediately concerned there was not capital enough to do the necessary business, and exchanges were diffi- cult. As the grand panacea for all these evils, banks were proposed and established, and Weymouth did not refuse to cneourage such enterprises. Consequently,
The Union Bank of Weymouth and Braintree was proposed, $100,000 capital contributed, an act of incor- poration obtained, dated March 17, 1832, and the com- pany organized on the 11th of April, with choice of Josiah Vinton, Jr., as president, and commenced busi- ness as soon as the necessary details could be arranged.
1 These sketches come principally from the records of the institutions mentioned.
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In 1853 an increase of $50,000 was made to its capital. On Sept. 6, 1864, the bank reorganized under the United States National Banking Act as the Union National Bank of Weymouth, and Jan. 12, 1865, the capital was increased to $300,000; and again, April 12, 1869, another $100,000 was added, making its present capital $400,000. It has a building of its own, and has always been located at Weymouth Landing.
The First National Bank of South Weymouth was organized Oct. 31, 1864, in consequence of the increase of business in that part of the town, and to employ a part of the capital rapidly accumulating there. Hon. B. F. White was its first president, and its capital was $150,000. In 1866 it purchased the building it now occupies.
The Weymouth and Braintree Institution for Sav- ings was incorporated Feb. 16, 1833. The original incorporators named were Asa Webb, Whitcomb Porter, and Warren Weston. It began business the following February, 1834, Dr. Noah Fifield being the first presi- dent. By act of Legislature, March 19, 1872, its name was changed to Weymouth Savings Bank. Its assets, Jan. 1, 1883, were $565,432.06.
The South Weymouth Savings Bank was incorpo- rated March 6, 1868, in the name of Benjamin F. White and others, and commenced business the follow- ing month. Its assets amounted to $395,176.20 at the last report.
The East Weymouth Savings Bank was incorporated in 1872, and began business. On Jan. 1, 1883, its assets were reported at $247,357.56.
The Weymouth and Braintree Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company was incorporated in 1833. Asa Webb was chosen president, F. A. Kingsbury, secretary, and Ezra Leach, treasurer. After fifty years of active busi- ness, it is now closing its affairs.
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MANUFACTURES.1-For nearly two hundred years Weymouth was eminently an agricultural community. It had fine large farms, well cultivated and productive. A hundred years ago a much larger proportion of its area was under cultivation than at present, and many of the best farms of that date or earlier are now grown up to wood or bushes. Its dairies were celebrated through- out the State. With the introduction of manufactures a new condition of things was called into existence, and the young men, instead of following the occupation of their fathers, began to learn trades, and the farms being neglected, the town gradually changed from agriculture to manufactures, and is now almost wholly given up to the latter.
Boots and Shoes. - This interest largely predomi- nates, and employs more men and capital than any other branch of industry. As late as the beginning of the present century there were probably not more than three or four persons who manufactured this class of goods for other than the home market, and those only gave employment to a few apprentices, besides what they could do themselves. These goods were carried to Boston market either upon the backs of the manu- facturers, who made the journey on foot, or else in sad- dle-bags upon horses. The business gradually increased, until it became necessary to use wagons to carry in the goods and bring out materials. The beginnings of this trade were at Weymouth Landing, spreading thence to the north and south villages, reaching latest of all
1 The materials upon which the following record is founded have been gathered from a large variety of public and private sources, and, where possible, have been carefully verified, and are believed to contain the more important facts connected with the business enterprises of the town. This has been a task of considerable difficulty, as many of the items are not a matter of record, but must be gathered from oral statement. It is thought, however, to contain no important error.
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the east, which now surpasses all of the others in the magnitude of its business in this line. It was a whole generation before it became necessary to employ a " baggage wagon," the clumsy pioneer of the present express, and the buildings used in carrying on the man- ufacture would hardly suffice for offices at the present day, the goods being made wholly at the homes of the workmen, nearly all of whom had little shops in or near their dwellings, the work being prepared and packed only at the factory. As late as 1840, it was a large factory that produced $500 worth of goods in the week. About that period South Weymouth received an impetus from its Southern trade (some of its manu- facturers having gone to New Orleans and established salesrooms in that city), which placed it far ahead of its rivals at the Landing and North Weymouth. The increase in the volume of the business was, however, very large in all parts of the town, especially after the opening of California, in 1849; and the large demand from that State for this class of manufactures the town was forward to meet. From these small beginnings the trade has increased, until there are now forty establish- ments, employing upwards of 2,500 persons, and using more than a million dollars of capital. The annual production of the various classes of goods is about four millions of dollars in value. Six or eight of these fae- tories furnish work to one hundred to five hundred peo- ple each.
Iron. - In the spring of 1771 iron ore, in sufficient quantities to pay well for gathering, began to be found in the ponds of the town, and a contract was made with Thomas Hobart, of Abington, by a public sale, for the ore found in Great Pond at forty shillings per ton, with an agreement to defend him against any claims for dam- ages that might be advanced by other parties should any contest the town's right to the ore; a committee was
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also chosen by the town to prosecute any others who should be found taking ore from this pond.
This contract remained in force until the 20th of May, 1773, when a lease was given to Mr. Hobart for thirty years, at sixty pounds per year, for the privilege of taking ore from Great, Whitman's, and Whortle- berry Ponds. Ore has been found at various times and places besides, and attempts made to utilize it, but the quantities were so small and the expense of getting it so great that competition with more favored deposits could not be maintained, and the enterprises were aban- doned. After the expiration of Mr. Hobart's lease the town appears to have made no other.
The Weymouth Iron Company is one of the lar- gest manufacturing establishments in the town. It was incorporated March 4, 1837, with a capital of $150,000, which has since been increased to $300,000. It owns the splendid water privilege at Back River, at the foot of Whitman's Pond. For many years it was exceedingly prosperous, making enormous dividends. From various causes its business gradually declined, and it ceased for a time to pay a profit; but quite recently its trade has begun to revive, and its prospects are again more encouraging. At present it manufac- tures only nails, and these have a very wide reputation. It employs two hundred and seventy-five men, when running full.
Fish Company. - In the early part of the eighteenth century a company was formed by a number of the prominent men of the town for the purpose of carry- ing on "a fishing trade to Cape Sables," and the town granted to it the use of " so much of Hunt's Hill, with the lowland and beach adjoining, at the mouth of Fore River, as may be necessary for the purpose." As far as the record shows, this was the first joint-stock company formed in the town. Of its history but little is known.
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After this, by nearly a century, came the "Wey- mouth Commercial Company," in 1805, formed for the purpose of carrying on a foreign and domestic trade. This company employed a capital of not far from twenty thousand dollars, the shares of the several stock- holders varying from three hundred to three thousand dollars each; Eliphalet Loud, Esq., being the treasurer. It owned several vessels, among which were the ship "Commerce," Capt. Joseph Tirrell, the brig " Adamant," and the schooner " Venus." This company does not appear to have had a prolonged existence.
Ice Companies. - The ice business is carried on to considerable extent, there being several companies in various parts of the town engaged in supplying the local demand, while the "South Boston Ice Com- pany " cuts large quantities for export. The ice-houses of the latter are located at Great Pond, and have a holding capacity of forty thousand tons, from which they ship to Boston about twenty-five thousand tons annually. The season for cutting lasts from four to six weeks, dur- ing which the company employs from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty men, and from twenty to thirty horses, the quality of the ice being the finest in the market. The company commenced business here in 1874.
Lumber, Grain, and Coal. - The navigable waters bordering the northern part of the town have ever been improved by the inhabitants as sources of convenience and profit in the transportation of passengers and freight. From the early settlement sailing vessels ran with more or less regularity between this town and Boston, as well as other places about the bay, but it was not until the present century that there began to be anything like commercial adventure. Quite early in the nineteenth century the lumber trade was opened with the Maine ports, and several freights came annually
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into Fore River. After 1820 the trade inereased rapidly, and Weymouth Landing became the market for the lumber traffie of the towns lying for many miles to the southward. The business was carried on with enterprise and sueeess for many years, and was a souree of profit to the village, until the opening of the railroads diverted mueh of this trade to other plaecs. There is still, however, a large business done in this line at the Landing. Following the opening of the lumber traffie, the importation of grain from New York and other places was begun, and soon after eoal beeame a staple commodity. All of these branches of business have been continued until the present time, and are now prosecuted largely and sueeessfully by several eoneerns, who employ large numbers of men and many vessels; and it is no uneommon sight to witness lying at the wharves half a dozen vessels laden with eoal and lum- ber, some of them earrying a freight of four or five hun- dred tons each.
Among the various industrial interests not before named are the " Bradley Fertilizer Company," formed in 1872 for the purpose of manufacturing various kinds of fertilizers, sueeessors of William L. Bradley, who had previously been engaged in the same business for eleven years. The company owns a large traet of land upon Eastern Neck, the northernmost point on the mainland of Weymouth, upon which they have erected about thirty buildings, with wharves and landings, where they employ about one hundred and seventy-five men, and are manufacturing about sixty thousand tons of their produetions in the year. They also own and use the tow-boat "Peter B. Bradley," the largest and strongest in Boston Harbor, with five "lighters," two of three hundred tons each, one of two hundred tons, and two of one hundred tons each; also a brig of three hundred and fifty tons.
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Ship-Building. - Although Weymouth has been dur- ing most of its history much interested in mercantile marine affairs, owning vessels and furnishing men, yet it has never been largely engaged in the construction of these vessels. About half a century ago a ship-yard was established at Weymouth Landing by Atherton W. Tilden, which he carried on for a few years, and built a number of vessels of various sizes, some of several hundred tons burden. From that time until 1876 but little if anything was done at the business. In the lat- ter year N. Porter Keen commenced the construction of vessels in Old Spain, near Hunt's Hill, and since that time he has built eleven vessels, sail and steam, averaging a cost of about forty thousand dollars each. There is on the stocks at present a large vessel intended for a four-masted schooner (since launched). Mr. Keen employs about thirty men.
The Bay State Hammock Company, Augustus Beals, proprietor, has a factory in Old Spain. Commenced business in 1876, making about two hundred hammocks per year, and now produces twenty-five thousand annu- ally, employing about fifty workmen.
Howe & French purchased, about ten years since, the old Tirrell Mill, where they manufacture fish glue, working about five months in the year, and employing about seventy individuals.
Fire-Works. - About the year 1850, Edmund S. Hunt, of this town, began his first experiments in the manu- facture of fire-works, but it was not until 1856 that the business was fairly established. Since that time it has been carried on with success, and has a well- earned reputation for the quality and variety of its pro- ductions. The factory is at Weymouth Landing, and in the busy season employs about thirty operatives.
Tanning and Currying .- In former days these branches of business were carried on in many small
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establishments scattered in various parts of the town; but these have nearly all disappeared, and are repre- sented by three concerns, who employ in all from twenty to thirty men. One of these factories, that of W. Hum- phrey & Co., has been in existence, under various owners, for considerably more than a hundred years.
There are also three firms occupied in extracting the oil from the calf-skin skirtings collected at the boot and shoe factories, and in bleaching them. This business employs eight men, and extracts about two tons of grease per week. The work is done at East Wey- mouth. :
At South Weymouth, Clarence A. Hunt has a large factory, in which, during the trade season, he employs one hundred and twenty hands, mostly girls and young men, in the production of various kinds of mittens and gloves, including all kinds of leather and yarn work, about one hundred dozen being a day's work.
There are also many small factories of different kinds of which space will permit only the mention, among them a furniture factory at North Weymouth; a factory at East Weymouth for the canning of fruits, vegetables, and meats; several stamping and gilding establish- ments; also others for making heels and counters for boots and shoes.
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CHAPTER X.
Ministers of the First Church: William Morrell - Mr. Barnard - Joseph Hull - Thomas Jenner - Robert Lenthal - Samuel Newman - Thomas Thacher - Samuel Torrey - Peter Thacher - Thomas Paine - William Smith - Jacob Norton - Josiah Bent, Jr. - John C. Phillips - Joshua Emery, Jr. - Franklin P. Chapin.
Second Church: James Bayley - Simeon Williams.
REV. WILLIAM MORRELL. - Of Rev. William Morrell but little more is known than is recorded in the first chapter. His scholarship and mental ability are fully shown in the elegant Latin poem upon New England, which he published after his return to England. This is republished with an English translation by the Massa- chusetts Historical Society, First Series, Vol. I. p. 125.
It is unfortunate that no more is known of the suc- ceeding ten years of Weymouth history. The evidence of the presence here of Rev. Mr. Barnard can hardly be doubted, from the fact that Rev. Thomas Prince, from whom comes the statement, was a student in the family of Rev. Samuel Torrey, who came to Wey- mouth in 1640, at the age of eight years, and resided there until his death in 1707. He was for forty-two years minister there, and could hardly have failed to be well informed in matters concerning its early history, knowing personally, as he did, many of the Gorges Company.
The following is the extract from " Prince's Annals" which has reference to the matter: -
" This year [1624] comes some addition to the few inhabitants of Wessagusett, from Weymouth, Eng., who are another sort of people than the former (MS.
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letter), [and on whose aeeount I eonelude the town is since called Weymouth]. NOTE. - They have the Rev. Mr. Barnard their first non-conformist minister, who dies among them. But whether he comes before 1630, or when he dies, is yet unknown (MS. letter) ; nor do I anywhere find the least hint of him, but in the manuseript letter taken from some of the oldest people of Weymouth."
The latter clause would seem to afford ample basis for the statement.
REV. JOSEPH HULL (parentage unknown) was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1594; matriculated at St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, May 12, 1612; took his first degree of A. B., Nov. 14, 1614; reetor at Northleigh, Devon, April 4, 1621; resigned in 1632, and sailed for America, from Weymouth, Dorset, March 20, 1635; settled in Weymouth Mass., July 8, following; was made freeman on Sept. 2; received a grant of land there June 12, 1636, and was minister there at that time; the same year he was granted land in Hingham. In 1637 he was still in Weymouth, although he is mentioned on the list of settlers at Salem, and also as preaching at Beverly. He was deputy from Hingham in 1638, and the following year. Preached his farewell sermon
(probably at Weymouth) May 5, 1639. Was at Barn- stable the same month, where he received a grant of land June 4. Was made freeman in Plymouth Colony Dec. 3, 1639. In 1641 lie aeeepted a call to Yarmouth, for which he and his wife were excommunicated, May 1, but afterwards restored. In 1641 he is reported as preaching at the Isle of Shoals. In 1642 and 1643 he was still at Barnstable or vieinity, as seen from the eourt records, being party in several suits. On May 10, 1643, he was recorded as minister at York, Me., having made his final removal from Plymouth Colony
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that year. After some half a dozen years' residence there, he is not heard of again until his return to Eng- land in 1659, where he became rector at St. Buryan, Cornwall. In 1662 he was again recorded as minister at Oyster River (Cocheco), N. H., having been ejected from his English living under the St. Bartholomew Act. He died at the Isle of Shoals, Nov. 19, 1665, having been driven from Oyster River by the Quakers in 1662, says Bishop. He was a " man of worth and learning, but given to change," and was involved in many diffi- culties, perhaps from the force of circumstances. He was personally quite popular, his repeated election to important offices being proof; but he was not a favorite with the colonial authorities and the ministers; hence, perhaps, the larger part of his troubles. His first wife (name not ascertained) was the mother of seven chil- dren, born in England, where she died in 1633.
Children :
I. JOANNA. born 1620 ; married John Bursley.
II. JOSEPH, born 1622 ; history unknown.
III. TRISTRAM, born 1624 ; ship master and owner, also merchant of Barnstable.
IV. TEMPERANCE, born 1626.
V. ELIZABETH, born 1628; married Capt. John Heard, of Dover.
VI. GRIZZILL or GRISELDA, born 1630.
VII. DOROTHY, born 1632.
Mr. Hull married (2) Agnes (family unknown), born 1610, who survived her husband, and was the mother of three children, born in America.
Children:
VIII. BENJAMIN (alias Reuben), baptized in Hingham, March 4, 1638-9 ; merchant of Portsmouth, N. H.
IX. NAOMI, baptized at Barnstable, March 22, 1639-40.
X. RUTH, baptized at Barnstable, May 9, 1641.
[From materials furnished by Robert B. Hull, Esq., New York.]
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REV. THOMAS JENNER. - Not much is known of his history. He seems to have been in Roxbury as carly as 1634-5, and was called to preach at Weymouth in 1636, soon after Mr. Hull commenced his work there; prob- ably sent thither in the interest of the churches and authorities of the Bay Colony to retain the ascendency for them. He took the freeman's oath in December of that year. On the following Jan. 9, a council met to " reconeile the differences between him and his people, and had good success "; but that success seems to have been short-lived, as difficulties did not cease. He re- mained there several years. During that time there were also Mr. Hull, Mr. Robert Lenthal, and Mr. Sam- uel Newman, all ministers in Weymouth. In May 13, 1640, Mr. Jenner was chosen deputy to the General Court, but seems to have left town soon after and went to Saco, Me. He must have been a man of good char- aeter and abilities, or he could hardly have received the support he had from the people who sustained him, the ministers of Boston and vicinity, and the colonial authorities.
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