USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 38
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Pardon married Mary Cook, a lineal descendant of Governor William Bradford. They had seven chil- dren attaining mature years, of whom Charles was oldest.
Charles Almy was reared a farmer, and from early years was accustomed to labor. He had good common school and academic education, and commenced teaching school when but seventeen. He was a teacher for seven consecutive years, and gave good satisfaction. In 1843 he opened a country store at Tiverton, where he remained until Jan. 1, 1846, when he removed to New Bedford and engaged in dry-goods and tailoring business at "Old 4 Corners," corner Union and North Water Streets. He shortly after, in partnership with George A. Bonrne, as Almy & Bourne, started the auction and commission business now conducted by George A. Bourne & Sons, and was connected therewith four or five years.
He soon became interested in whaling, and devoted himself largely to that lucrative business, relinquish- ing the management of his store to his brother San- ford, who purchased it in 1861. Mr. Almy continued whaling until the breaking out of the civil war. In 1854 he built a whaling ship (four hundred tons), the "Seconet," at Fairhaven, and afterwards a bark of three hundred and eighty tons for merchant ser- vice, which he named for his daughter "Helen W. Almy." This vessel is now running between San Francisco and the Sandwich Islands. For twenty-one years Mr. Almy's office was in the building where he first began his New Bedford business life. The com- mencement of his present insurance business was in
1864, when he was induced to take the agency of the National Travelers Accident Insurance Company, of New York. This proving to be profitable, he accepted agencies from life and fire insurance companies, and has built up a fine business.
Like the stock from which he sprung, Mr. Almy has independent habits of thought and a strong sense of justice. He would be untrue to his ancestry if he supported wrong, even though countenanced by a powerful and wealthy majority. "There is a minor- ity nearer right than the majority," and with that minority Mr. Almy has willingly taken his place. Anti-slavery in the dark days when opposition to that gigantic evil caused almost social ostracism, anti- rum from principle long before an organization of a Prohibition party, he has steadily adhered to those principles until slavery has ceased to be in our land, and the best elements of all classes are demanding the prohibition of the mannfacture, sale, and use of intoxicating liquor as a beverage. He has given freely his time, his influence, and his money in advocacy of the right.
Originally a Democrat, he became a Free-Soiler in 1848, and supported Free-Soil and Republican candi- dates and measures until the organization of the Pro- hibition party, and since then has been one of its most active leaders. He has received the nomination of that party for member of Governor's Council, Sec- rotary of State, and was its candidate for Governor in 1880, 1881, and 1882. He has the friendship and confidence of the best citizens of New Bedford, served on the school board of the city several years, and was its chairman for three years ; has been elected alder- man, representative to the Legislature, and has refused several nominations for the mayoralty, twice when the nomination was equivalent to an election.
He was one of the original corporators of the New Bedford Five Cent Savings-Bank, organized in 1855, and has been connected with it continuously ever since as trustee and clerk. He has been a director in the New Bedford Gas-Light Company since its early organization. He was president of the Lyceum of the town of New Bedford for twelve consecutive years, from 1860, during the period of its greatest prosperity. He was one of the carly trustees of the Free Public Library, and one of the building commissioners of the Free Public Library building. He joined the First Congregational Church (Liberal Unitarian) in 1846, and has been one of the most constant attend- ants at its services.
He married, Oct. 28, 1846, Mary A., daughter of Benjamin and Cynthia (Smith) Cummings, of Dart- mouth. They have four children, -Helen Wayne, Charles, Francis and Frederick (twins). Charles has taken the degrees of A.B. and LL.B. from Harvard University, and is now an Assistant United States At- torney in Boston. Francis has taken the degrees of A.B. and A.M. from Harvard, and is secretary and treasurer of the class of 1879. He is now in the em-
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Warren Jaca
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ploy of the Erie and Western Transportation Com- pany (Anchor Line) at Chicago. Frederick graduated at Harvard in 1880, and is now a student in the law department of the same school. He is also secretary and treasurer of his class.
HON. WARREN LADD.
Hon. Warren Ladd was born at Bradford (now Groveland, Mass.), July 21, 1813. He married Lucy Washburn, daughter of Hon. Abel Kingman, of North Bridgewater (now Brockton), Nov. 22, 1842. They Florence Kingman, Anna Winthrop, and George Milton.
"On the Sth of seventh month (July) of the same have five children,-Herbert Warren, Sarah Ella, year (1851), Warren Ladd, a member of the Common
Nathaniel Ladd, Esq., the father of Warren, was born in Haverhill, Mass., Sept. 17, 1786. He removed to Bradford in 1810. For many years he was chair- man of the board of selectmen, a justice of the peace, secretary and treasurer of the Groveland Mutual Fire Insurance Company, deacon of the Congregational Church, and for about sixty years was one of its most active and influential members. He married Sally, daughter of Col. Zebulon Ingersoll, of Haverhill, July 14, 1811. Her father, born in Gloucester Sep- tember, 1757, was a merchant, a ship-builder, and an active, energetic, and successful business man. Her mother was Ruth, daughter of Benjamin Moody, of West Newberry, and her grandmother, Ann, the daughter of Dr. Moses Bradstreet, of Kittery, Me. Warren's ancestors run back through Nathaniel (6), Nathaniel (5), Nathaniel (4), John (3), Samuel (2), to Daniel (1), who came from London in the ship " Mary and John" in 1633-34. There is a tradition that Daniel was the son of Nathaniel, of Dartmouth, Kent County, England, and that the first Ladds came from France with William the Conqueror, and settled in Deal, Kent Co., where a portion of land was granted them.
Warren Ladd was educated in the public schools, and at the Merrimack Academy. Coming to New Bedford in July, 1840, he entered the employ of the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad Company as clerk in the freight office; was soon promoted to freight agent, and then to general agent at New Bed- ford. In 1862 he was appointed superintendent of the road, which position he held until 1877. His con- nection with this road continued from its opening, in 1840, to its consolidation with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad, a period of about thirty- seven years. This long term of service is the highest possible compliment to his integrity, ability, and faithfulness. Though actively engaged in arduous and responsible duties, he found time for intellectual culture, and by a judicious course of reading acquired a general knowledge of scientific, mechanical, and economical subjects. He took a deep interest in municipal affairs, and gave his influence and active effort to the promotion of every measure which in
his judgment promised to increase the growth and prosperity of the city. For this reason he was re- peatedly called to the service of the city: for five years as member of the Common Council and one year as its president ; for five terms a member of the Board of Aldermen ; for several years one of the school committee, and a trustee of the Free Public Library. Of the latter he may rightly be called the father. At the laying of the corner-stone of the present library building, Mayor Howland, in his ad- dress referring to the origin of the library, said,-
Council from Ward one, introduced an order into that branch of the city government 'for the raising of a committee to consider the expediency of estab- lishing in this city a Free Public Library.' This order was adopted in the Common Council but was non-concurred in by the Board of Aldermen. This is believed to be the first order ever introduced into any representative body for the establishment of such an institution, and to this gentleman must and does belong the honor of having taken the initiatory step toward the establishment of a library for the public by the people themselves."
Mr. Ladd was an early and persistent advocate of the introduction of water, and one of the three com- missioners under whose direction the water-works were built. As showing the breadth of his views and his terseness in stating them, we quote from a report (written by him) of a committee which had the matter under consideration :
" Your committee are fully of the opinion that the introduction of an ample supply of pure water into the city is an imperative necessity, and one which should not be much longer delayed. It is part of wise statesmanship to look at the future, to anticipate its wants and guard against its casualties. Cities, like men, flourish and prosper only by their own exertions, and it becomes those whom the people have placed in power to be equal to the present emergency. We have the interest and honor of the city in our hands. We know its wants and necessities, and can compre- hend the crisis in our affairs. Shall we.grasp and control the crisis, turn it with a steady hand to our interest and prosperity ? or allow it silently and timidly to pass by and float beyond our reach ? Shall we legislate only for to-day, and shrink from looking the great future in the face ; or shall we, knowing the necessity and perceiving the remedy, fearlessly per- form our duty ?"
He was upon the committee to which was referred the question of introdneing gas; was an earnest ad- vocate of the construction of common sewers, and in- troduced into the Common Council the first order for the appointment of a committee to consider the ex- pediency of purchasing a steam fire-engine. The en- largement and improvement of the city common was in a great measure due to his influence and exertion.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
In the late civil war he was a member of the Com- mittee on Enlistments, and took an active part, as its records show, in every effort made by the city to aid the national government in putting down the rebel- lion. He has been connected as director with sey- eral corporations, and is now president of the New Bedford and Fairhaven Street Railway Company, and a trustee of the Five Cent Savings-Bank. For thirty years he has held the commission of justice of the peace.
Naturally conservative, Mr. Ladd has none of that blind reverence of the past which prevents one from keeping abreast with the spirit of the age, and adopt- ing any new devices and improvements that genius and enterprise may invent or discover.
In polities, originally an ardent Whig, he early became an equally earnest and active Republican ; has been chairman of the Republican City Committee, and in 1876 was a Presidential elector from the First Congressional District. He has written largely for the press ; was for many years the New Bedford cor- respondent of the Haverhill Gazette over the signature of " Warren," and has contributed many able articles to the New Bedford papers over the nom de plume of " Julius."
WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
According to an account in an old English history, Thomas Hathaway (the earliest ancestor in America) sailed from England in the "Isabella," bound for Marblehead, previous to the year 1680. He mar- ried Mary Starbuck, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Starbuck, about the year 1680. His son Thomas moved to New Bedford (then Dartmouth). His son Jonathan had two sons, Jonathan and Thomas, from whom descended the subject of our sketch, William Hathaway, Jr., also his wife.
Jonathan Hathaway had three children,-William, Elisha, and Jabez. William had four children, and was the father of William Hathaway, Jr. Thomas Hathaway had four children,-Thomas, Gilbert, Elizabeth, and Mary. Thomas, Jr., was the father of Mary Hathaway, who married her cousin, William Hathaway, Jr. Their descendants are four,-Au- gustus, William, Mary, and Thomas.
William Hathaway, Jr., was born in New Bedford, July 17, 1798. Having as a boy made two voyages to London with his father, he acquired a taste for the sea, which led him later to pass twenty years in the merchant service. He made many voyages to ports in the Mediterranean, -- Trieste, Palermo, Malaga, i Cadiz, Seville, and Gibraltar, -also to France, Hol- land, Russia, England, Ireland, West Indies, and the Southern ports of the United States.
These voyages were marked with pleasant occasions which filled his mind with delightful memories. A few years since, at his home, an officer in the navy, his guest at the time, recalled the pleasant inter-
change of courtesies which they had enjoyed upon each other's ships in the Mediterranean forty years before, and it was the first time they had met since then. His favorite city was St. Petersburg, of which he always speaks with enthusiasm, and often enjoys relating an interesting incident which occurred in his presence in that city during the raising of a magnifi- cent and colossal monolith of red granite to the memory of Alexander I., when, by the plain common sense of a common sailor, by wetting the ropes and thus shrinking them, the great work was completed when science failed.
Later, in company with Capt. Matthew Luce, he engaged in the whaling business, which copartnership continued for eighteen years, and until the decease of Capt. Luce. Mr. Hathaway continued the business until the time of the Rebellion, when he retired.
Three of the vessels were sold to the government for the stone fleet to blockade Charleston Harbor. Two were destroyed by rebel privateers. The first, the "Virginia," was taken by the " Alabama," the second by the "Shenandoah."
The bark "Virginia" was taken by the " Ala- bama" Sept. 17, 1862, and was the ninth vessel de- stroyed by Semmes.
The following is an account, written from facts re- ceived from one of the sufferers. The " Virginia" sailed from New Bedford three weeks before she was taken. They had been recruiting at the Western Islands, and were ouly a short distance from there when captured by the " Alabama." There was no oil on board at the time. The captain, supposing the " Alabama" a friendly steamer, as she was sailing under English colors, ordered a boat lowered to go to her, thinking they might have letters ; but, just be- fore starting, seeing a boat from the steamer coming towards them, they drew theirs back to the deck. The boat from the steamer neared, and ten men, under Lieut. Waddell (afterwards commander of the privatcer "Shenandoah") boarded the " Virginia." Great was their dismay when Lient. Waddell, after saying "good-morning" to the captain, passed imme- diately by him and commenced pulling down the colors. Simultaneously the English flag on the " Alabama" was lowered and the Confederate flag hoisted in its place. As soon as the flag on the " Vir- ginia" was taken down, Lieut. Waddell threw it over his arm, and approaching the captain with a haughty air, said, "Capt. Tilton, you are a prize to the Con- federate steamer ' Alabama.' I will give you all two hours to leave the ship, and allow you two changes of clothing, which must be taken away in bags. You are then to be sent on board the ' Alabama,' as your ship is to be burned."
There was great consternation on board, but no one dared to raise an objection. Before the last boat left they set fire to the "Virgmia" in three places. As they stepped on the deck of the " Alabama" each was handcuffed, and remained in that condition through
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fifteen long days and nights. The disheartening sight of the burning ship was before them for over twelve hours, from cleven in the morning till twelve at midnight.
The flames flashed forth at first with all fury, as if . in New Bedford, and made it his residence in 1772. battling with the raging winds, emblematic of Semmes' barbarity. As night drew around them the winds abated and the flames grew less and less, till the mid- night hour revealed only a spark, the last bright At the breaking out of the war Mr. Hathaway es- poused the Tory cause, being connected by marriage with the family of Col. Bradford Gilbert, of Nova Scotia. His wife was Miss Deborah Gilbert, a daughter of that gentleman. In January, 1777, owing to his Tory principles, Mr. Hathaway was obliged to leave the States. He went to Nova Scotia, and remained nearly six years in the family of Col. Gilbert, with the exception of thirteen months' service upon a British ship-of-war. Before leaving home he placed his family for safety in his country residence, a short distance north of New Bed- ford, where his wife lived in retirement, devoting her- self to the instruction of her four children. symbol of what their noble ship had been to them, now only a phantom in imagination. Oh, that day's experience, what a thought ! so weird, so terrible in their overwrought and excited brains. Even the large Newfoundland dog partook of the distracted feelings of the ship's company. He was enraged when the pirates came on board, and after coolly sur- veying them he rushed to the highest place in the stern and growled and barked fiercely. He seemed to know they were disturbing the peace. The ill- omened guests showed some consideration by allow- ing the poor creature to follow his friends. On the " Alabama" the dog seemed sorrowful and full of compassion for their ill fate.
The men were confined on deck all the time, through sunshine and storm, weary with exposure and fatigue. Through the tedious days and nights the wind at times blew so heavily that in their awkward position, with hands confined, they were at its mercy, tossed about in their effort to steady themselves by holding on the rail as be-t they could, the handcuffs chafing their wrists, causing extreme pain, so increasing their intense physical suffering. During the fifteen days three other ships were captured, and two of them burned. The last one taken (the " Emily Farnham") they made use of to rid themselves of all the prisoners ; placed them, numbering eighty men (from the three burned vessels), on board, including the dog, and sent them to Liverpool, from which place most of them shipped for home. Capt. Tilton had deep sears upon his wrists, caused by the handcuffs, and died soon after reaching home, being completely broken down by the sad and painful experience.
Mr. Hathaway has been a director of the Commer- cial Bank of New Bedford for more than forty years, and also held the same position in the New Bedford Institution for Savings. He has always been marked for his system and order. "Not one member of his family has ever been obliged to pick up the smallest thing belonging to him." He has a place for every- thing, and keeps everything in its place to a remark- able degree for one of his advanced age. Although eighty-five years of age, he has quite good health, has never. used spectacles in the daytime, and sometimes reads in the evening without them. He is one of the most generous of fathers, and particularly thoughtful of the welfare of those about him.
Thomas Hathaway, Sr., was born in New Bedford in 1732. Being the oldest son, he inherited the prin- eipal part of his father's estate, and in 1764 commenced
the business of ship-building upon the Acushnet River, and carried it on with profit until the Revolution (1776). He erected the three-story dwelling on the southwest corner of South Water and School Streets, It was an elegant private residence. for those days, and a mark for the British soldiers in 1778, but not much injured.
Her son, Thomas Hathaway, Jr., often spoke of his mother as "a lady of great personal dignity and re- finement," qualifications borne in his character to a very great degree. He was a fine scholar in mathe- matics and an excellent penman, and often boasted that his instruction was entirely from his mother.
He was their oldest child, and was born in 1768. Sept. 5, 1778, the British under Gen. Grey landed to burn New Bedford, and hiding her plate and valua- bles, Mrs. Hathaway trusted to the loyalty of her husband to protect her ; but she was treated with vio- lence and given a shock from which she never recov- ered, but gradually failed, and died in 1783, soon after her husband's return.
Soon after the Revolution the noted Jemima Wil- kinson came to New Bedford on a proselyting tour, and was there at three different times, once remaining nearly a year. She made two tours to Connecticut, preaching nearly every day, and gathered many fol- lowers. In these two journeys she was accompanied by Thomas Hathaway, who joined her society in 1784, and his son, Thomas Hathaway, Jr. In 1788 she left New Bedford, with a large band of followers, for Philadelphia, purposing to go to Western New York from there and establish a colony in that great wil- derness. Thomas Hathaway sold all his property, much of it at a sacrifice, and, with his four children, -Thomas, Mary, Elizabeth, and Gilbert,-accompa- nied her. He was the leader of an exploring party sent the next year to find a locality, but after going as far as Painted Post, on the Canisteo, they returned with an unfavorable report. Nothing daunted, she in 1790, with her whole following, passed up the Susque- hanna to Newtown, now Elmira, under the guidance of Gen. Sullivan, who had fought the Indians in that section in 1779. There he left the party, and with great difficulty they made their way to the outlet of
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Crooked (Keuka) Lake, which Thomas Hathaway was one of the three of the company to first discover. During the troublous times and discomforts of the establishment of this colony, Thomas Hathaway, Sr., and Thomas Hathaway, Jr., were of great aid by rea- son of their fertile ingenuity, good judgment, and strong, practical common sense. They were fitted well for this work, and much of the hardship rested upon them. Thomas, Jr., and Gilbert, his brother, built the first sail-vessel on Seneca Lake, for the transportation of supplies from Geneva.
Thomas Hathaway, Sr., in company with other gentlemen, bought large tracts of the publie lands. He was a stanch follower of the Friend to his death, and gave freely of his possessions to gratify her many whims. He died in Jerusalem, N. Y., in 1798, aged sixty-six years. His daughter Mary mar- ried Eliphalet Norris, and lived most of her life upon a plantation in Maryland. His daughter Elizabeth, a lady of rare brillianey of mind and dignity of char- acter, married Judge Joshua Ferris, of Tioga County, N. Y., a gentleman of culture, and for many years the principal surveyor of public lands in the southern section of the State. He also held many offices of trust in the gift of the government, his cominissions being from Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jef- ferson. Gilbert Hathaway was a large landholder in Yates County, N. Y., and lived to the age of eighty- one years.
Thomas Hathaway, Jr., was for many years a regu- lar Friend, and belonged to the society of Jemima Wilkinson until his marriage in 1793 to Mary, daughter of Elnathan Botsford, who was a follower of Jemima Wilkinson, from New Milford, Conn. The rules of the society forbade marriage, and both were excommunicated and forbidden to enter her meetings. Jemima endeavored to alienate his father against them that she might control his large prop- erty, but did not succeed. He purchased five hun - dred acres of land at one dollar per acre, for which his father had paid twenty-five cents per acre. This was sold in 1855 by his descendants for sixty-five dollars per acre. He was for many years one of the principal surveyors of Western New York, and was prominent in civil and military matters. He lived fifty-nine years on the farm in Milo, Yates Co., where he first settled, raised seven children, and died May 23, 1853, aged eighty-four years. His wife was a more than ordinary woman in many ways, and died Nov. 3, 1866, in lier ninety-sixth year. They were buried in the first cemetery laid out in the county, and done by Mr. Hathaway himself.
SIMEON HAWES.
forty, from the effects of an injury he had received. He left a widow and several children, of whom Levi, Jr., was one, born May 25, 1792, in Stoughton, Mass. In early life he was a hatter by trade, but during a period of more than sixty years he was a farmer on Tarkiln Hill, in the town of New Bedford, Mass., where he settled previous to 1818. He was a worthy member of the Congregational Church, and for more than half a century was a deacon of the same. He was respected, and those who knew him best were his warmest friends. He married, first, Harriet Peirce, in 1813. She was a relative of Mayor Peirce, of Bos- ton, and was born June 16, 1796, and died Feb. 20, 1820. They had four children,-Levi, Harriet, Simeon, and Jason L. Harriet (deceased) married Calvin Marshall, of Easton, and had children,-Levi and Jason L., died young. Simeon alone remains of this family. Levi Hawes married for his second wife, July 16, 1820, Azubah, daughter of Lieut. Jonathan Capen, of Stoughton, Mass. His wife was a Miss Glover, a member of a very prominent family.
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