History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 76

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 76

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" During a considerable part of the month of Au- gust following we were busily engaged in procuring arms, ammunition, and provisions for the soldiers, and in building flat-bottomed boats and scows for the troops to cross over the river on to Rhode Island, with a view to dislodge the British army who then had possession of the island. A barn, now standing near the stone bridge, was occupied for a commissary store, of which I had the charge until things were in readiness and the troops prepared to cross over to the island, when I left the store in charge of my friend and relative, Walter Chaloner.

of troops were before us. Soon the French fleet hove in sight, when the British set fire to the shipping in the harbor and blew up most of the vessels within their reach. Not long after the French fleet came up, the British fleet appeared in the offing. Imme- diately the French fleet tacked about, went out and attacked the British squadron, when broadsides were exchanged and a bloody battle ensued. A tremen- dons storm came on, long remembered as the August storm, in which the two fleets were separated, and many who had escaped the cannon's mouth found a watery grave. The French fleet, or so much of it as survived the storm, went into Boston to repair, and the remnant of the British fleet went into New York.

" Soon after this storm our troops marched in three divisions towards Newport,-one on the East road so called, one on the West road, and the brigade com- manded by Gen. Titcomb moved in the centre,- until we came in sight of Newport, when orders were given to halt, erect a marquee, and pitch our tents. General orders were issued for a detachment from the army of three thousand men, our number being too small to risk a general engagement with the great body of British troops then quartered on the south end of the island. Early on the next morning a de- tachment of troops, of which I was one, was ordered to proceed forthwith and take possession of what was called Hunneman's Hill.

" The morning was foggy, and enabled us to advance some distance unobserved by the enemy, but the fog clearing away before we reached the hill, we were discovered by the British and Tory troops, who com- menced such a heavy cannonade upon us that it was deemed expedient by the commanding officers, to pre- vent the destruction of many of our brave troops, that we should fall back and advance under the cover of night. Accordingly, when night came, we marched to the hill undiscovered by the enemy. We imme- diately commenced throwing up a breastwork and building a fort. When daylight appeared we had two cannon mounted,-one twenty-four pounder and one eighteen,-and with our breastwork we had com- pleted a covered way, to pass and repass without being seen by the enemy. The British had a small fort or redoubt directly under the muzzles of our cannon, with which we saluted them, and poured in shot so thick upon them that they were compelled to beat up a retreat. But they returned again at night to repair their fort, when they commenced throwing bombshells into our fort, which, however, did but little damage. I saw several of them flying over our heads, and one, bursting in the air, a fragment fell upon the shoulder of a soldier and killed him.

"In the forepart of August, 1778, the American troops embarked in the boats and scows prepared for them and landed on Rhode Island, where I joined them, having been appointed a major in Col. Whit- ney's regiment. Our troops were then marched to a spot but a short distance to the north of what is called Butts' Hill, where they encamped for the night, with but the canopy of heaven for a covering and the ground for our beds. But we were animated with the hope of liberty, with a belief that we were engaged in a righteous cause, and that He who sways " At this time we were anxiously waiting the return of the French fleet from Boston, where they had gone to repair. But learning that they could not then re- turn, and knowing the situation of the British troops, the sceptre of the universe would prosper our under- taking. At this time we were anxiously looking for the French fleet, from which we hoped for as- sistance against the enemy, whose numerous bodies i that they were enlarging and strengthening their forts

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and redoubts, and that they had reinforcements arriv- ing daily from New York, it was deemed expedient by our commanding officers, Lafayette, Greene, and Sulli- van, all experienced and brave generals, that we should retreat to the north end of the island.

" Accordingly, on the 29th day of August, early in the morning, we struck our marquee and tents and commenced a retreat. The British troops followed, and soon came up with our rear-guard and com- menced firing upon them. The shots were briskly returned and continued at intervals, until our troops were joined by a part of our army a short distance to the south of Quaker Hill, so called, when a general engagement ensued, in which many lives were lost on both sides. At night we retreated from the island to Tiverton. On the following day we left Tiverton, crossed over Slade's Ferry, and marched through Pawtucket and Providence to Pawtuxet, where we remained until our term of service expired.

"Some time after this I received a lieutenant-col- onel's commission and took the command of a regi- ment to guard the sea-shores, and a part of the time my regiment was stationed at Providence. I soon re- ceived orders from Gen. Gates, who at that time was principal in command, to march with my regiment to Tiverton and join Gen. Cornell's brigade. The war now raged throughout the country. Old and young, parents and children, all, excepting the Tories, were engaged in the common cause of their country, in breaking the shackles of colonial bondage, in obtain- ing her liberty, and achieving her independence. Old England now began to examine the prospects be- fore her. She found, after a bloody contest, what she might and ought to have known before, that her re- bellious colonies, as she was pleased to term them, could be ruled, but not ridden upon, that by mild and liberal measures she might have retained a valu- able part of her kingdom. She discovered her error too late to profit by it. The brave people of her col- onies were resolved to throw off the yoke and then- selves be free.

"On the 29th day of October, 1779, the British troops left Rhode Island, and the American troops, under the command of Gens. Gates and Cornell, marched on to the island and took possession of the town of Newport. On the 29th day of December following, my time of service having expired, I returned home to my family. This was the coldest winter known during the last century. The river and bay were frozen over so thick that people with loaded teams passed all the way from Fall River to Newport on the ice. I continued in the service of my country until about the close of the Revolu- tionary war, when I removed from Fall River to Tiverton, in the State of Rhode Island, where I lived about thirty years. During this time I was elected by my fellow-citizens to several offices in town, and was a member of the General Assembly for many years.

" When Thomas Jefferson was elected President of the United States in 1801, and the Democratic fever raged to the highest pitch, I was what was then called a Federalist, and having repeatedly sworn to support the Federal Constitution, could not consent to turn my coat wrong side out. I was therefore not permitted to hold any office for some time after. But in time this party fever abated, and finally the people united in electing Mr. Monroe, under the general appellation of Federal Republi- cans. Attempts have since been made to alter the Constitution, that noble fabric reared by the Revolu- tionary patriots, and should they succeed it will be, in my estimation, like sewing new cloth to an old garment."

CHAPTER XXV.

FALL RIVER .- ( Continued.)

THIE MANUFACTURING INTEREST.

The Pioneer Cotton Manufacturer in Fall River-Col. Joseph Durfee- The First Mill-The Fall River Manufactory-The Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory-The Pocasset Manufacturing Company-The Annawan Manufactory-The Metacomet Manufacturing Company- The American Linen Company-Union Manufacturing Company- The Granite Mills-The Robeson Mills-The Tecumseh Mills-The Durfee Mills-The Davol Mills -- The Merchants' Manufacturing Com- pany-The Mechanics' Mills -- The Stafford Mills-The Weetamoe Mills-The Slade Mills-The Richard Borden Manufacturing Com- pany-The Wampanoag Mills-The Narragansett Mills-The King Philip Mills-The Crescent Mills-The Montanp Mills-The Osborn Mills-The Chase Mills-The Flint Mills-The Borden City Mills- The Sagamore Mills-The Shove Mills-The Barnard Manufacturing Company-The Conanicut Mills-The Globe Yarn-Mills-The Bourne Mill-The Laurel Lake Mills-The Barnaby Manufacturing Com- pany-The Fall River Bleachery-Wamsutta Steam Woolen Mill- The Wyoming Mills-The Massasoit Manufacturing Company-Fall River Merino Company-Fall River Spool and Bobbin Company-The Fall River Iron-Works Company-Fall River Machine Company- Hargraves Manufacturing Company-The Fall River Gas-Works- The Manufacturers' Gas-Light Company-Watuppa Reservoir Com- pany-American Printing Company-Union Belt Company-Globe Street Railway-The Quequechan Mills -An Old Landmark.

THE manufacturing of cotton in Fall River dates back to 1811, when Col. Joseph Durfee, in company with a few others, erected a small wooden factory in what is now known as Globe village. This . pioneer establishment was continued until 1829, when it was changed into a print-works, and finally destroyed by fire in 1838. This enterprise was not practically suc- cessful, probably for the lack in the promoters of practical knowledge of the business. Col. Durfee was a prominent citizen, and during the Revolutionary war was a zealous patriot, and held the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel in a regiment recruited from this section.

The Fall River Manufactory .- The year 1813 ushered in an important era in the history of Fall River. That year witnessed the organization of the first regular cloth manufacturing enterprise on a sub- stantial basis in the town. In the month of March two companies were incorporated,-the Fall River

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Manufactory and the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manu- factory. The Fall River company was organized with a capital of $40,000, its prominent promoters being Daniel Anthony, Dexter Wheeler, and Abraham Bowen, with Anthony as treasurer and agent. Mr. Anthony was a native of Somerset. The mill was erected in 1813, and was sixty by forty-five feet, three stories high, with 1500 spindles. It went into opera- tion in October, 1813, and was the first cotton-spin- ning organization in the village of Fall River. Power weaving was first done in this factory in 1817, the weavers receiving $2.50 per week, and in 1819 the employés numbered about thirty-five. The factory erected in 1813 was enlarged in 1827, and again in 1839, and was entirely destroyed by fire in 1868. The following year the present factory was erected. It is two hundred and seventy-five feet long, seventy-three feet wide, five stories high. The mill contains 640 looms and 27,080 spindles. The Fall River Manu- factory was incorporated in 1820, with a capital of $150,000, which has been increased to $180,000, its present capital.

The present officers of the corporation are as fol- lows : President, John S. Brayton ; Clerk and Treas- urer, Holder B. Durfee ; Directors, John S. Brayton, Christopher Borden, H. B. Durfee, A. S. Covel, and J. M. Morton, Jr.

The Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company .- Coincident with the starting of the Fall River Manufactory was that of the Troy Manufac- turing Company. The articles of association upon which this enterprise was inaugurated are dated, as approved, March 8, 1813: "Articles of agreement for the regulation and well-ordering the concerns and proceedings of the subscribers associated for the purpose of building a manufactory of cotton or other goods in the town of Troy, county of Bristol and commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a capital stock of $50,000, divided into one hundred shares, to be paid by instalments. Article First : The company shall be known and called by the name of the Troy Manufacturing Company, etc." The articles, eleven in number, were signed by the following-named per- sons, together subscribing for all the shares, namely : Amey Borden, Clark Chace, Oliver Chace, James Maxwell. Jonathan Brown, William Slade, N. M. Wheaton, Oliver Earl, Eber Slade, Joseph G. Luther, Sheffel Weaver, John Stackford for Charles Wheaton and self, Nathaniel Wheeler, James Driscol, Benja- min Slade, Moses Buffinton, Nathan Slade, Daniel Buffinton, Hezekiah Wilson, Benjamin E. Bennett, Joseph Buflinton, Walter Durfee, Wiliam Read, Rob- inson Buffinton, John Martin, and Benjamin Buffin- ton. Article Second providing for an annual meet- ing, at which were to be chosen a moderator, clerk, and standing committee, consisting of five persons, " whose duty it shall be to transact and do all the busi- ness of the company during the year ;" this annual meeting of the stockholders was holden on the 7th

of June, and James Maxwell, Sheffel Weaver, Nathan Wheeler, Benjamin Slade, and Jonathan Brown were chosen standing committee for the ensuing twelve- month. At this meeting it was voted to petition the Legislature for a charter for incorporation. This charter having been issued Feb. 22, 1814, a meeting was holden July 25, 1814, to organize under their act, and the name of the company was changed to the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory. There is also a record of a meeting on the 7th of the same month, at which it was voted to increase the amount of capital $16,000, assessing each share $40, payable quarterly during the ensuing year.

The Troy Company's mill was built of stone gath- ered from the neighboring fields, and designed to run two thousand spindles. The building was one hun- dred and eight feet long, thirty-seven feet wide, four stories, and had a low hip roof. It was located at the foot of the fall, near to or directly on the site of an old saw-mill. The date of its commencing operation was about the middle of March, 1814, the building having been finished in the previous September.

Oliver Chace was the originator and agent of these mills.

In 1821 the Troy Company had erected a small building where the old saw-mill previously referred to stood, which was called the "Little Mill." This addition was nearly ready for occupation when the main building was burned, and was immediately equipped with the few carders and looms rescued from the fire and a small supplement of machinery from the Globe, and put in operation.

In 1843 an addition of stone, three stories high and seventy-five by forty-seven feet in proportions on the ground, was made to the original Troy Mill. Ten years later this new part was raised two stories and the building extended eighty feet on the south, all the old wooden erections being removed. In 1860 the original mill of 1823 was removed, and the part known as the New Mill erected on the north reach- ing to Bedford Street, two hundred and ninety-six feet long, seventy feet wide, and five stories high.

Oliver Chace remained agent of the Troy until 1822, when he accepted a similar position with the Pocasset Company.

The mill contains 961 looms and 38,928 spindles. The present capital is $300,000. The present officers are : President, Jefferson Borden ; Clerk and Treas- urer, Richard B. Borden ; Directors, Jefferson Bor- den, Stephen Davol, Thomas J. Borden, John S. Brayton, Richard B. Borden.

The Pocasset Manufacturing Company was or- ganized in 1821, with a paid in capital of $100,000, with Samuel Rodman as president and principal owner. The original stockholders were eight in number, namely, Samuel Rodman, Abraham Bowen, Oliver Chace, Clark Chace, William Slade, Nathaniel B. Borden, Nathaniel Wheeler, and Edward Bennett. i Oliver Chace became the first agent. The first build-

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ing erected was that known as the " Bridge Mill." It was forty by one hundred feet, three stories high. This was destroyed in the fire of 1843.

The Pocasset Company seemed to have made it a point to encourage smaller manufacturers, and to this end erected buildings successively for some ten or fifteen years, which were leased to other parties. A small building to the west of the ell of the old " Bridge Mill" was occupied by Job Eddy, of New Bedford, and subsequently by Edward and Oliver S. Hawes and others for printing calicoes in a small way, but this was of short continuance.

In the fall of 1824, Andrew Robeson, of New Bed- ford, came to Fall River to establish a calico-printing business, and made arrangements with the Pocasset Company to occupy a part of the building erected in 1825, and known as the Satinet Factory. The capital ($50,000) for this enterprise was generally subscribed in New Bedford. The south half of this building was occupied by J. & J. Eddy for the manufacture of woolen goods (whence the name "Satinet"), and con- tinued to be so used by them till the erection of the Wamsutta Steam Woolen-Mill, on " Mosquito Island," in 1849. In 1826 a stone building, on the site of the present Quequechan Mill, known in those days as the " New Pocasset," was erected and leased to A. & J. Shove, who sub-leased the north half to Chase & Luther, both firms engaging in the manufacture of cotton into yarn and cloth. The succeeding year still another stone building was put up, which was after- wards known as the "Massasoit," and now as the " Watuppa Mill." It was a building so large that it was considered no one firm would want to occupy the whole of it, hence a partition-wall was run from the foundation to the roof, and two wheel-pits put in.

January, 1831, Holden Borden leased the whole mill and proceeded with a master hand to develop the manufacturing business. The mill was furnished with nine thousand spindles, and was from the begin- ning successful. This enterprise of Holden Borden gave character to the business and definitely settled the future of Fall River as a manufacturing centre. From that time onward the growth of Fall River as a cotton manufacturing city has been almost phenom- enal.

The old Quequechan Mill, which commenced opera- tions in 1826, and was owned by the company, has been taken down and mills No. 2 on Pocasset Street and No. 3 on Central Street built. The company now run 56,112 spindles and 1385 looms on sheeting, shirt- ing, drilling, duck, and print cloths; employ 730 hands. Capital, $1,161,000. President, Samuel W. Rodman, Boston ; Clerk and Treasurer, Bradford D. Davol, Fall River; Directors, Samuel W. Rodman, Stephen Davol, F. M. Weld, B. R. Weld, Horatio Hathaway, Thomas R. Rodman, Alfred Rodman.

purchased of the Fall River Iron-Works Company, and a brick mill, with finished stone in the lower stories, immediately erected under the supervision of Maj. Bradford Durfee. He was also the agent of the mill. Thirteen persons took all the stock, as follows: Abra- ham and Isaac Wilkinson, four shares ; Bradford Durfee, two; William Valentine, two; Joseph Butler, two; Richard Borden, two; Holden Borden, four; Benjamin Rodman, eight; Francis Rotch, one ; Wil- liam B. Rotch, one; Thomas Swain, one; William Swain, one ; Charles W. Morgan, two. Of this capi- tal one hundred thousand dollars was paid in.

The Annawan contains 192 looms and 10,016 spindles. Capital, $160,000. The present officers are as follows : President, Jefferson Borden ; Clerk, Rich- ard B. Borden ; Treasurer, Thomas S. Borden ; Direc- tors, Jefferson Borden, R. B. Borden, A. S. Covel, John S. Brayton, Thomas S. Borden.

The Metacomet Manufacturing Company .- The mill owned by this company was built in 1847 by the Fall River Iron-Works Company, and owned exclu- sively by that corporation, which also owned the Fall River Gas-Works Company, the Fall River and Provi- dence Steamboat Company, and the Fall River Ma- chine Company. These five companies were operated in conjunction until 1880, when a division occurred. The Metacomet Mill contains 25,760 spindles and 592 looms. Capital, $288,000. The present officers are as follows: President, Jefferson Borden ; Clerk and Treasurer, Thomas S. Borden ; Directors, Jefferson Borden, Jolın S. Brayton, R. B. Borden, A. S. Tripp, Robert C. Brown, and David A. Brayton, Jr.

The American Linen Company .- The year 1852 witnessed the establishing of a new industry in this city. This was the American Linen Company, organ- ized for manufacturing the finer linen fabrics on a large scale. This corporation owns two mills. No. 1 Mill, 301 feet by 63, four stories high, was erected in 1852. In 1858 the production was changed to cotton print cloths, and the mill was enlarged. No. 2 Mill was built in 1866, 399 feet long, 72 feet wide, and five stories high. These mills contain 1973 looms and 82,452 spindles. Capital, $400,000. Walter Paine (3d) was treasurer and agent from its organization to 1879, when he was succeeded by Philip D. Borden. The present officers are as follows :

President, Jefferson Borden; Clerk, Daniel E. Chace ; Treasurer, Philip D. Borden ; Superintendent, James P. Hillard ; Directors, Jefferson Borden, Rich- ard B. Borden, Jolın S. Brayton, A. S. Tripp, Na- thaniel Lindsey, Fall River; Horace M. Barnes, Bristol; W. H. Pearce, Providence.

The Union Cotton Manufacturing Company .- The Union Mill Company was incorporated Dec. 31, 1859, with a capital of $175,000. The first officers were S. Angier Chace, president; David' Anthony, treasurer ; Simeon Borden, clerk ; and S. A. Chace, David Anthony, Hale Remington, William Mason,

The Annawan Manufactory was incorporated Feb. 8, 1825, with a capital of $160,000. One of the lower water privileges on the Fall River stream was Charles O. Shove, and Charles P. Dring, directors.

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This enterprise was successful, and gave an impetus to manufacturing and to the growth of the city in every direction. No. 1 Mill was completed in 1860, and No. 2 in 1865.

During the financial troubles in 1879 the property of the Union Mill Company was sold to the creditors and reorganized as the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company. No. 3 Mill was subsequently completed, and the mills now contain 89,608 spindles and 2122 looms. The present capital is $750,000. The present officers are :

President, William D. Forbes; Clerk, Joseph F. Knowles ; Treasurer, Thomas E. Brayton ; Directors, William D. Forbes, Charles Whitney, Boston ; A. H. Seabury, Thomas B. Wilcox, New Bedford ; John B. Anthony, Providence; Theodore Dean, Taunton ; F. H. Stafford, Henry C. Lincoln, James M. Morton, Jr., Fall River.

The Granite Mills were incorporated March 3, 1863, with William Mason as president, Charles O. Shove treasurer, and William Mason, Lazarus Bor- den, Edmund Chase, Samuel Hathaway, Charles O. Shove, and Charles P. Stickney, first board of direc- tors. The originator of this enterprise was Charles O. Shove, who for several years previously had contem- plated the erection of a cotton-mill .. The original capital was $225,000, which was increased to $400,000 in May, 1864, and to $415,000 the following July, but in 1871 was reduced to $400,000, its present capital.

No. 1 Mill, three hundred and twenty-eight feet long, seventy feet wide, five stories high, commenced running in January, 1865, and the first lot of cotton was manufactured at a loss of $60,000. Soon after, however, a rapid change for the better took place, the | profits of the corporation were large, and in 1871 No. 2 Mill was erected, three hundred and seventy-eight feet long, seventy-four feet wide, five stories high. The two mills contain 79,000 spindles and 1902 looms.

Mr. Charles O. Shove was the active manufacturer and financial manager of these mills until his death in July, 1875, when he was succeeded by his son, Charles M. Shove, who is the present clerk and treas- urer. The present officers of the company are as fol- lows: President, William Mason; Clerk and Treas- urer, Charles M. Shove ; Directors, W. Mason, Ed- mund Chase, John S. Brayton, Iram Smith, John P. Slade, Charles M. Shove, and Frank S. Stevens.

The Robeson Mills .- This corporation was organ- ized Dee. 1, 1865, with the following board of direc- tors : Andrew Robeson, Jr., Charles P. Stickney, Samuel Hathaway, William C. Dayol, Jr., Linden Cook, Samuel Castner, and Josiah Brown. Samuel Hathaway was elected president, and Linden Cook treasurer. The new corporation took the name Robe- son Mills, from Andrew Robeson, Sr., and was incor- porated Feb. 20, 1866. A brick mill, three stories high, with a French roof, two hundred and twenty- two feet long and seventy-six feet wide, was erected during the year 1866, and commenced running in

March, 1867. The mill has since been enlarged, and now contains 23,648 spindles and 600 looms. Capital, $260,000. The present officers are: President, Linden Cook ; Clerk and Treasurer, Linden Cook ; Directors, Linden Cook, William R. Robeson, Danforth Horton, Frank S. Stevens, Louis Robeson, E. E. Hathaway, and Samuel Luther.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 76

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818