USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 22
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 22
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Later in the same century, the subject of a bridge from Nod- dle's Island to Chelsea, and a ferry from the Island to Boston, was again proposed by some far-seeing individual, whose name we know not, but who plainly perceived the many ad- vantages which the Island possessed for extensive improve- ments.
In the New England Mercury of 1796, a proposition was made by a " Bostonian," that a bridge be erected from Chelsea to Noddle's Island, and a good ferry opened from the Island to Boston. Some parts of that Island, he remarks, are ex- tremely well calculated for dry docks, at very little expense, where vessels of any tonnage will be free from danger of fire or storms; and if a good set of stores were erected, with good cellars, most of the heavy goods, particularly naval stores, would soon be deposited for safety there; and in a short time, a very considerable settlement would take place,
21
242
HISTORY.
[1730.
which, of course, would extend this town, the Island being a part of it.1
Could this unknown projector now see the accuracy with which his plans have been fulfilled, his astonishment would only be equalled by our own, as we look upon the mighty change which has passed over the Island, and upon the realization of ideas which then seemed so visionary. Perceiving the advan- tages which commerce and other industrial interests have re- ceived from the Island, and, through these, the benefit which the State itself derives, we can say with Shakspeare,
" Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth !"
The enterprise alluded to, which called Mr. Yeamans away from the Island before his plan for a bridge could be carried into effect, was an effort to procure an act of parliament which would restore the commercial intercourse between the British West Indies and the northern colonies of Great Britain, the trade of which had been entirely diverted to Martinico and other French islands. This was a matter of national interest ; and great praise is due to Mr. Yeamans for his arduous labors in the accomplishment of so desirable and important an object. From the fact that cargoes could be entered at the French sugar colonies free of duties, while the same articles were charged with duties at the British sugar colonies, the Ameri- cans did the most of their trading at the former, thus very much injuring the commerce of the British West Indies, and impoverishing the planters. The subject was one of great im- portance to the sugar colonies, to the merchants in London, whose interests were seriously affected, and to our own coun- try.
The policy pursued by the parent government relative to the commerce and manufactures of the colonies was destructive to the best interests of the new settlements.2 This system was commenced soon after tobacco was first imported into England
1 See Appendix A.
See Pitkin's Civil and Political Hist. of U. S., Vol. I. p. 93, etc., on this whole subject.
243
RESTRICTIONS UPON TRADE.
1621, 1678.]
from Virginia, by subjecting it to heavy duties; and in conse- quence of this, the Virginia Company, in 1621, sent all their tobacco to Holland, thus occasioning a diminution of revenue, as well as considerable loss of national trade. To prevent this ' in future, an order of the king and council was issued, com- manding " that no tobacco, or other productions of the colonies, should thenceforth be carried into any foreign ports, until they were first landed in England, and the customs paid." This was the commencement of a system of commercial monopoly to which the colonists were subjected. The celebrated Naviga- tion Act of 1651 restricted the trade with the plantations, as well as with other parts of the world, to English built ships, belonging to English, or English plantation, subjects, with the exception of such articles of merchandise as should be imported directly from the original place of their growth or manufacture in Europe only. Both exports and imports were brought under the unjust and impolitic laws of limitation; and in 1663 it was declared, that " no commodity of the growth or manufacture of Europe shall be imported into any of the king's plantations, which are or shall be in Asia, Africa, or America, but what shall have been shipped in England, Wales, or town of Ber- wick, and in English built shipping," etc. The trade and inter- course between the colonies were still left free until, in 1672, cer- tain colonial products transported from one colony to another were subjected to duties, such as white and brown sugars, tobacco, indigo, and cotton wool.
These different acts, which have been thus briefly alluded to, were considered by the colonists as highly injurious to their best interests. Said Sir William Berkley, governor of Virginia, " mighty and destructive have been the obstructions to our trade and navigation by that severe act of parliament, which excludes us from having any commerce with any nation in Europe but our own." In Massachusetts, the acts were totally disregarded, the general court informing the home government (1678), that these acts had never received their assent, and therefore were not obligatory ; that they were "an invasion of the rights, liberties, and properties of the subjects of his majesty in the colony, they not being represented in parliament." Thus
244
HISTORY. [1730.
early did Massachusetts assert the great principle of representa- tion ; and, through her whole subsequent history to the time of the Revolution in 1775, did not fail to reiterate and main- tain the position, that the colonies should have a voice in the making of the laws by which they were to be governed.
In 1730, and years immediately preceding and succeeding, the colonies, and especially those of New England, were en- gaged in a profitable trade with the French, Spanish, and Dutch West India islands. To these the northern colonies transported their fish, lumber, grain, horses, and cattle, and received in return the products of those islands. This trade was of great advantage to the northern colonies, as it enabled them to pay the balance, always against them in their direct trade with the parent country. The English sugar planters were not unmindful of the injurious effects of the policy of the mother country upon their prosperity, perceiving that the trade which naturally belonged to them was virtually driven away to foreign colonies by the singularly unjust system pursued by the government.
John Yeamans, who owned a sugar plantation in the island of Antigua, and had resided both in England and in the Massachusetts colony and was intimately acquainted with the whole subject, determined to make an effort to restore the trade between the northern colonies and the West India islands to its appropriate channels, and probably there was no one better qualified for the undertaking. Personally interested in the trade, acquainted with the condition and prospects of the colonies and the peculiar circumstances attending the subject, and belonging to influential circles in London, and possessed of a large share of public spirit, and of ample fortune, he was of all men best suited to the necessities of the case.
For the accomplishment of his object, Mr. Yeamans, at his own expense, went to the island of Antigua, where he, with some other residents of the Northern colonies (among whom were Mr. - Vassal, and Isaac Royal, father-in-law of Sir Wm. Pepperrell), owned estates, and commenced his labors for the restoration of the intercourse; he had the satisfaction of seeing his exertions crowned with success, at least to a great
245
PETITION TO THE KING.
1731.]
extent, and enough to gain him the thanks and good wishes of the colonists and the honor of the thanks of both branches 'of the legislature.
While at Antigua, he obtained the signatures of the govern- ment officers, persons of rank, and the principal men, to a peti- tion representing some of the points in the decline of trade, and setting forth the remedy. He went to England, and presented this petition to parliament. The original petition on parchment, handsomely written, with 248 autograph signatures, is in the possession of the writer ; a copy is inserted in Appendix D.
There is also among the papers of Mr. Yeamans in the writer's possession a manuscript copy of a petition on the same subject, which was probably presented about the same time as the other one, and apparently from merchants in London. This petition, which is considerably shorter than the one previously mentioned, is as follows : -
" To the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Councill.
" The humble Petition of severall Merchts Planters & others interested in & trading to your Majesties sugar Colonies in America.
" Sheweth, - That ye Governors of the french sugar Colo- nies have of late years permitted & encouraged your Majesties subjects of Ireland & of ye Northern Colonies to import into Martinico, & other French settlements provisions Horses & Lumbers & divers sorts of goods proper for the support & im- provement of their Plantations. In return ye Kingdom of Ire- land & yr Majesties colonies on the Continent of America are supplied from the French with Sugars, Rum, Molasses & such other Commodities as are also produced in & which were al- ways purchas'd from yr Majesties Sugar Colonies till this per- nicious commerce was introduc'd & as your Petitioners have good reason to apprehend that this practise if not prevented will not only very much impoverish your Majesties Sugar Col- onies but will also endanger the Entire loss of them whilst the French are thereby greatly enriched & Enabled to undersell your Majesties subjects in all foreign Marketts.
" Therefore your Petitioners most humbly pray your Majesty that all ye Goods of ye Growth product or manufacture of all
21 *
246
HISTORY.
[1733.
foreign Sugar Plantations in America be prohibited from being imported into Ireland or into any of your Majesties Colonies or Plantations & that your Petitioners may have such farther & other Relief as ye nature of ye Case requires & as your Majesty in your great wisdom shall think fit."
Mr. Yeamans followed up this business most assiduously, and fully showed himself to be a man of eminent abilities and executive powers. He was in constant intercourse with the ministry and with the opposition. His journal, kept at that time, while illustrating his own character, also shows us the manner of obtaining the passage of a bill through parliament. It also shows conclusively that the practice of "lobbying" is not, as is sometimes supposed, confined to republican forms of government, but is in full exercise in the model monarchy of the world; and that prime ministers, lords, and men of rank, originated that system of outside measures, which we have too willingly followed. Human nature is to be reached and dealt with in a monarchy as elsewhere ; and men of all ranks are con- trolled by the same general laws, and are to be influenced in the same general way. In this journal we see that the outside meetings were the all-important ones, and that the private inter- views with the leading men in power, or of the opposition, are the effectual means of attaining an end. This journal, show- ing the perseverance of Mr. Yeamans, and also being a record of intercourse with some of the most prominent men in the kingdom, among whom is Robert Walpole, prime minister, Lord Falmouth, Lord Wilmington, Lord Codrington, and oth- ers, must be interesting to the reader, and is inserted in the appendix ; also, " Some Thoughts " on the bill for encouraging the sugar colonies, which gives some interesting items in refer- ence to sugar, etc.1
The efforts to obtain an act of parliament assisting the col- onies were successful, and a bill passed both houses on the 4th of May, 1733.
These well-directed labors of Mr. Yeamans won for him the gratitude of the Massachusetts colony; and the benefits re-
1 Appendix D.
247
THANKS TO MR. YEAMANS.
1746-7.]
ceived were of such a public nature as to call forth a public and official expression of grateful acknowledgments.
His public spirited exertions are thus noticed in a message from his excellency Gov. Shirley to both houses of the Massa- chusetts general court, delivered by the secretary on the 14th of January, 1746-7: -
" Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives I think it is fit, you should know the Obligation which this and his Majesty's other Northern Colonies are under to John Yea- mans Esq" for a late Instance of his Endeavours to promote the Service of your & their Interests in common with those of the Sugar Colonies, for which purpose I have ordered the Secre- tary to read you a Paragraph out of his letter to me upon that subject, together with a Paper of Reasons drawn up by Mr Bollan on this occasion, & a Paragraph out of one of his Let- ters to me: And I would recommend to your Consideration, whether it might not be proper for you to pass a Vote of Thanks to Mr Yeamans for this Instance of his good Disposi- tion for your Service." (Court Records.)
We have never seen the paragraph from the letter of John Yeamans alluded to in the above message, nor that of Mr. Bol- lan's ; but a vote of thanks was passed in the house of repre- sentatives on Wednesday, 28 January, 1746-7, which we copy from the records of the court : -
" For as much as it appears to this Court, that John Yea- mans Esqr. has in divers Instances manifested his good Affec- tion for this Province, in his Endeavours to promote the Interest thereof, in Great Britain, Ordered, that the Thanks of this Court be given to the said Mr Yeamans for his good Services, before mentioned, & that the Secretary be directed to transmit to him a Coppy of this Vote.
" In Council Read and Concur'd. " Consented to by the Governour."
This vote was received by Mr. Yeamans; and, in reply, the following letter was sent by him to the Massachusetts govern- ment. It is dated London, July 3d, 1747 : -
" SIR, - A few days past I had the favour of your Letter
248
HISTORY.
[1744.
dated the 29th Jany. enclosing a vote of ye Generall Court, dated the 28th which does me more honour than I can claim by my disposition to Serve the Province & People of the Massa- chusetts Bay. Tis true, Sir, I admire their Public Spirit, their Zeal in Promoting, their Conduct & Courage in executing the most difficult as well as the most beneficial designs. Govern'd by such Views & having performed so much, they are entitled to the good wishes of every honest Man, the Countenance & Support of their Mother Country & the Full Reward of their Merit. This is the light in which I see them myself, the Lan- guage & Sentiments I hear from others every where uncontra- dicted. May the latter produce to the Province Effects answer- able to the Justness of its Pretensions. I beg you will assure the Generall Court that I am extremely sensible of that Mark of their Esteem which You have convey'd to me by their Order, & that if I should have it in my power to do the Province any real service, it will fall still short of my Inclinations.
" I am with great Respect
" Sr your most obedient humble servant " JOHN YEAMANS."
It is thought that this account of the connection of our coun- try, in its early history, with the sugar colonies, will be new to most of its readers, and will add a fresh page to our colonial records. It shows the practical workings of that policy which Great Britain pursued towards some of her colonies, and the perseverance of the colonists in their endeavors to establish commercial intercourse.
From a record in the Suffolk Deeds, it seems that Mr. Yea- mans returned to this country, after the successful termination of his efforts ; but it is uncertain how long he remained. The record states, that
" John Yeamans of London, now residing in Boston, New England - consideration &35 paid by Edwª Hutchinson, Esq. of Boston, sell him A certain piece of outward wharf with the Flatts &c at the north end of "Boston &c (granted 10 Dec 1696 to Saml Shrimpton). Given & Ac. 9 Nov" 1744." 1
1 Suffolk Deeds, lib. 69, fol. 87.
J HBufford's Lith.
SHUTE SHRIMPTON YEAMANS .
249
SHUTE SHRIMPTON YEAMANS' WILL.
1768.]
This extract renders it certain that he was in Boston as late as 1744; but when he returned to England is unknown. He was in London in 1747. All that we know of him subse- quently to this date is, that he died on his estate at Richmond, Surry County, England, previous to the 4th of October, 1749.
Shute Shrimpton Yeamans (whose lithographic likeness is upon the opposite page) and his wife, Matilda Gunthorp, had two daughters and a son John, all of whom died young ; also a son Shute, who died of consumption on his passage to America, 9th June, 1774, aged about twenty years. Shute Shrimpton Yeamans died in Richmond, England, Sept. 10, 1769, aged forty-eight years. The Boston Columbian Centinel, mention- ing his death, says : " He was one of the Directors of the South Sea Company, and a staunch friend to New England."
His will was dated at Richmond County, Surrey, England, Aug. 4, 1768, and proved before the surrogate of London, Sept. 30, 1769. A copy was obtained, by Deacon Thomas Greenough, from the registry of the prerogative court of Canterbury.1
In his will he gave to his sons large quantities of plate and jewels, and various legacies to relations ; and to his son Shute Yeamans &4,000 sterling, to be paid to him at the age of twenty- one years, with liberal legacies to his servants.
The will then goes on to say : " I give & devise unto my said son Shute Yeamans & his Heirs, my Farm, with the Appurtenances called or known by the Name of Chelsea Farm, situate near Boston, in New England, in North America, & now let to Robert Temple Esq", at the Yearly Rent of £40, sterling. Provided always that if my sª son Shute Yeamans, shall happen to dye before he shall attain the age of 21 yeares, then (subject and charged as aforesaid) I give & devise my said Farm, with the appurtenances, unto my sd son John Yea- mans, & his Heirs. And subject and charged as aforesaid I Give & Devise all other my Lands, Hereditaments & Real Estate whatsoever, in the Island of Antigua in the West Indies, in the Provinces of New England & New Hampshire2 in North
1 It is in Suffolk Probate Records, of 1773, Vol. 73, fol. 350.
2 In a letter from Robert Temple to Shute Shrimpton Yeamans, dated Bos-
250
HISTORY.
[1768.
America, or else where unto William Berners Esqr. of Wolver- ston Park, in Suffolk, William Gunthorp, of. Antigua, afore- said, Esq". Samuel Mercer, of the City of London Esq", & Mr. Thomas Greenough of Boston in New England, aforesaid, their Heirs & assigns for ever, Upon the Trusts & to & for the Uses, Intents & Purposes hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) In Trust to receive the Rents, Issues & Profits thereof until one of my said sons, or their Issue shall attain the Age of 21 Years, or until both of them shall depart this Life without Issue, and to pay, apply & dispose of such Rents, Issues & Profits according to the Directions of this my Will & Subject thereto. To the Use of my son John Yeamans & the Heirs of his Body law- fully Issuing; and for Default of such Issue, to the Use of my son, Shute Yeamans & the Heirs of his Body lawfully Issuing ; & for Default of such Issue, then To the Use and Behoof of my Aunts Mary Chauncy, Sarah Greenough & Mehetable Hyslop of Boston in New England aforesaid : & the Heirs of their respective Bodies lawfully begotten, or to be begotten, as Tenants in Common, & not as Joint Tenants. And for Default of such Issue, To the Use & Behoof of my own right Heirs forever."
Among other provisions is the following: "And all the rest and residue of my personal estate I give to my son, John Yea- mans, to be delivered to him at his age of 21 years; and if my said son, John Yeamans, shall happen to depart this life before the age of 21 years & without issue, then I give and bequeath the same unto my said son Shute Yeamans, to be paid, trans- ferred & delivered to him at his age of 21 years. And if both my said sons shall dye without Issue, before the age of 21 years, then I Give all the Rest & Residue of my Personal Estate unto my before Named Aunts, Mary Chauncy, Sarah Greenough, & Mehetable Hyslop, or such of them as shall be living at my decease, equally to be divided among them, if more than one be then living, Share and Share alike." He also appointed. his trustees, before named, executors and guardians of the persons and estates of his sons.
ton, Dec. 5, 1749, is this clause : " Your presence is likewise much Wanted concerning some Lotts of land you have in ye Province of New Hampshire, wch were formerly granted to Govr Shute, and are, now, I presume, yr prop- erty." This was probably the Indian grant before mentioned.
251
SHUTE YEAMANS.
1768.]
The facts in regard to his two sons are these : John, the eldest, died in testator's lifetime ; and Shute, the younger son, died before reaching the age of twenty-one years, and without issue ; so that his three aunts in America became entitled to the resid- uary of the real estate of John Yeamans, but held in trust for them by the trustees named in the will. The interest of Shute's fortune, which by the will was £4,000 at four per cent., was £160 per annum; but the executors suffered him to spend up- wards of £1,200 during the first seventeen months after his father's death, and, finding there was no bounds to his expenses, they stopped their hands till a proper allowance for his mainte- nance should be settled by the court. Shute filed a bill against the three executors and trustees living in England. His bro- ther being dead, he had hoped the executors would have made a yearly allowance for his maintenance and education far ex- ceeding the interest of said £4,000, and would have purchased him a commission in the army out of the saving and income of the estate, etc., which he prayed them to do.
The executors answer, that the clear income of testator's real and personal estate is £1,500 per annum ; that they have paid the plaintiff a greater allowance than the interest of the said £4,000, and have been applied to to purchase him a commission in the army, and are ready to do as the court directs. On the 18th June, 1771, the chancellor, on reading the will, decreed that it should be referred to Mr. Graves to consider what was proper to be allowed for the maintenance and education of the plaintiff for the time past from the death of his father, and for the time to come ; and to inquire whether it was proper and for the benefit of the plaintiff to advance any and what sum of money for procuring him a commission in the army. This was never done, nor was any commission ever purchased.
The master, by his report, was of opinion, that £1,284 19s. 4d. (having been really expended with the approbation of the executors) was proper to be allowed for plaintiff's maintenance from his father's death till the 1st of February last, and £600 per annum for the time to come, which report was confirmed.
The increased allowance paid by the executors for the main- tenance and education of Shute Yeamans, under this order
252
HISTORY. [1774.
(beyond the interest of the legacy of £4,000 per annum), comes to upwards of £1,900.
On the 28th of April, 1774, the said Shute Yeamans, then residing in South Audley street, Grosvenor square, in the county of Middlesex, England, by his will, after providing for the pay- ment of debts and a liberal legacy to his servant, gave the resi- due of all his estate and effects to Henry Perkins Weston, Esq. and William Davis, surgeon, for their own use forever, and ap- pointed them executors. On the 9th of June, 1774, the said Shute Yeamans died, being on board a packet-ship bound to New York. The will took effect, and his plate and the £4,000 left him by his father passed out of the family into the hands of strangers.
In relation to the will of his father, Shute Shrimpton Yea- mans, there were two questions that arose under it. One was, whether the devise of £4,000 to his son Shute, to be paid at the age of twenty-one, vested in him, he having died before reaching his majority. Mr. John Adams, who had recently dis- tinguished himself as the defender of Capt. Preston at the Bos- ton massacre, and who was subsequently the second president of the United States, who was consulted on this subject, gave his opinion (on the 14th of January, 1775), that, if Mr. Shute Yeamans was more than fourteen years of age when he made his will, he had a right to will away the £4,000 sterling, not- withstanding the limitation in his father's will. Because, at that age, by the better opinions, an infant may make a will of per- sonal estate ; and this legacy is given to him absolutely in his father's will, though it was not to be paid to him until he be- came of age.
Mr. Robert Bicknell (an English barrister, it is presumed) was also consulted on the matter, and his opinion coincided with that given by Mr. Adams.
The other question was, whether, upon the death of both the sons without issue, the aunts could obtain the immediate pos- session of this real estate; or, in other words, whether this use is executed in the aunts by the statute of 27 Henry VIII. chap. 10, or whether the estate should still be held in trust for them. To which Mr. Adams replied : " My opinion upon the whole is,
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