History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 101

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EDWARD P. USHER has acquired note as a legal writer, and as a versifier his skill has long been recog- nized. He delivered the poem at the dedication of the Soldiers' Monument September 17, 1873.

FRANK R. WHITTEN, who is still a young man, has shown marked ability in the line of literary criticism, as well as in other departments. Favorable mention, too, should be made of EUGENE BARRY, JOSIAH F. KIMBALL and THOMAS F. PORTER.

There are likewise other worthy pen-charmers, whose names would be introduced here were they not presented in other connections in these pages; and some, too, there undoubtedly are whose names have eluded busy memory's pursuit.

It must be admitted that few places can boast of a larger relative number of writers than good old Lynn. And it seems as if, among us all, something considerable might be accomplished. The old pen- wielders are passing off, but much is reasonably to be expected from some of those now taking their places. The writer, indeed, dares predict that certain of our younger brethren and sisters of the pen will yet at- tain most enviable renown. But he does not dare record the names of those on whom the prediction rests, as his opinion may not be verified; and were it or were it not verified, his temerity would probably be met by the retributive scorn of those not named as within the horoscopic view.

Macpherson, in his preface to the poems of Ossian, says: "The making of poetry, like any other handi- craft, may be learned by industry." But the writer can hardly subscribe, unconditionally, to that, having in view quite a number who have striven for many a day, with unflinching industry, to gain a seat on Par- nassus, and have never been able to reach that allur- ing height-at least in the opinion of their envious critics. However, they undoubtedly received pleas- ure in picnicking by the way, and were constantly stimulated by hope and expectation. The pleasures of literature, derived from its own dear self, one would think might be sufficient for all the care be- stowed on its cultivation. Says Voltaire, "Litera- ture nonrishes the soul, rectifies it, consoles it." Such, indeed, is its legitimate effect ; but in stalk the han- kerings after fame and the jealousies which writers, the more eminent as well as the more conceited, too often allow to diffuse their subtile poison. Dean Swift, in his pungent way, puts it thus :

" What poet would not grieve to see His brother write as well as he ?

But, rather than they should excel, Would wish his rivals all in -? "

It cannot be denied that much of the versification of the present day, notwithstanding its " mellifluous flow," falls far below the standard of the French writer just quoted, who, in his axiomatic way, re- marks: "Verses that do uot teach men new and affecting truths little deserve to be read." One may easily perceive that in much of the poetry of our days many hollow and many turbid places are bridged over and concealed by mellifluous versification. But, in the authoritative words of Percival :

"'Tis not the chime and flow of words that movo In measured file and metrical array ;

'Tis not the union of returning sounds, Nor all the pleasing artifice of rhyme, And quantity, and accent that can give This all pervading spirit to the ear, Or blend it with the movings of the soul. 'Tis not the noisy babbler who displays, In studied pbrase and ornate epithet And rounded period, poor and vapid thoughts, Which peep from ont the cumbrous ornaments That overload their littleness."

An attempt to play the critic is very far from the design of the writer, as, of course, a critic should al- ways be better informed than he on whom he sheds his perfume. Is there any limit short of the extent of the human mind, to the knowledge and ability of even the magazine or newspaper reviewer of this enlightened day? Where, then, is the poor writer in one special department? There is an anecdote told of Rev. Mr. Parker, the first minister of New- bury, to this effect : President Chauncey and some scholastic brethren undertook to deal with him for something he had written, which they considered too liberal toward the Episcopacy. They addressed him in English, and he replied in Latin; into that lan- guage they followed him; he then charged in Greek and in Greek they rejoined; to Hebrew he then re- sorted, and there again they met him. Finally, he made a stand in Arabic, when, not being able to fol- low him, they gave up the contest. He then inti- mated that, as they were not liis peers in knowledge, it was presumption in them to undertake to criticise him. This was an old-fashioned contest. But your modern critic, being at the head of the class in all human knowledge, heeds no obstacle. And the re- flex brilliancy of the friendly commentator often has, as we all know, something to do with shaping his periods. Indeed, he sometimes sees

"In Homer more than Homer knew."

But, unhappily for the yet unrecognized aspirant, little of the reflected light shines on him.

Our busy community has no catalogue of exclu- sively literary persons to exhibit. Her writers have been those who exercised the pen at intervals unoc- cupied by the daily round in some vocation more sure of securing a livelihood. As a general thing, the physically infirm are more inclined to intellec-

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tual pursuits than the strong and healthy, for the in- valid is at a disadvantage where strength of arm and bodily endurance are required; and hence it is that some of our best writings come from the retired room of the invalid. Bodily infirmity has often done much in making the scholar, by disabling from phy- sical activity. But the bodily health of the good people of Lynn is not intended to be urged as a rea- son for any deficiency in mental attainment. Sick or well, let us remember that though finely-turned peri- ods always possess a certain charm, they are of little worth to the thoughtful if deficient in backing.

As has been seen, there is hardly a period in Lynn's history when she has not had a bright company of sons and daughters cnrveting, pen in hand, over the fields of poetry, sentiment and philosophy. and gathering in a goodly store for the relief of the jaded minds of those fellow-mortals destined to the more ignoble pursuits of life. By their refreshing and stimulating contributions, they have performed a good part in keeping alive the vivacious tone that has al- ways characterized our industrious home. And may the prospects of a now promising future never be darkened !

CHAPTER XX. LYNN-(Continued).

TAVERNS-MODES OF TRAVEL.

Character of the Old Houses of Entertainment, and Scenes Enacted in Them- Biographical Sketches of some Famous Landlords-Incidents of Travel- Salem and Boston Turnpike-The Old Stage Lines-Opening of the East- ern Railroad-Hotels of Later Times.

" Around the glowing evening fire, The farmer, woodsman, village 'squire, With pointed finger, loosened tongue, Shows right for every human wrong. In kiudling mood they sit and sip The nectar called New England flip, That late invented beverage, Rare product of a guzzling age, America's first evil gift To help the world in toping thrift, More sapid than old England's beer, More potent in its vulgar cheer." -NORTON.

NEXT to the church and the school, the attention of our fathers was directed to the establishment and regulation of the ordinary, the inn, the tavern, or the house of entertainment, as such places seem to have been indiscriminately called. The accommodation of travelers was, of course, the ostensible purpose ; but other considerations had weight. In the old country the settlers had been accustomed to visit such resorts,

. where nut-brown draughts inspired, Where gray-beard mirth and smiling toil retired ;

Where village statesmen talked with looks profound,"

and where neighborhood scandal and tainted gossip no doubt went round. What wonder, then, that the settlers here, the socially high and low, the good and bad, should, in the absence of other convenient meet- ing-places, have felt the need of something of the kind. There were no newspapers to float off from the press on the morning and evening wind, no news-rooms, no mail, no telegraphs, no telephones. Hither, then, all classes naturally resorted

" To take a smack of politics and ale."

There was, in the more legitimate way, to wit, the accommodation of travelers, a real necessity for honses of entertainment. But it was soon perceptible that such establishments required careful watching, lest their charges should become oppressive and their influence deleterious in a moral way. The General Court, therefore, found it necessary frequently to in- terpose for their management.

It is true, however, that before population had so far increased as to warrant the establishment of sepa- rate ordinaries, every house was, to some extent, a house of entertainment, and every householder a host. This was the natural prompting of the hospita- ble settler.

At first, ordinaries were established without license ; but the court soon took them in hand and regulated their management. As early as 1634 it was " ordered that noe person that keeps an ordinary shall take above six pence a meale for a person and not above one penny for an ale quarte of beare, out of meale tyme, under the penalty of ten shillings for every of- fence, either of dyot or beare." It was likewise or- dered that " victualers or keepers of an ordinary, shall not suffer any tobacco to be taken in their howses, under the penalty of v shillings for every of- fence, to be paid by the vituler, and xii pence by the party who takes it." And the court, in their horror of tobacco, went much further, forbidding its use any- where in public, and even invaded the domestic sanct- uary, ordering that "noe person shall take tobacco pub- liquely, under the penalty of 2s. and 6d .; nor pri- vately, in his owne howse, or in the howse of another, before strangers, and that two or more shall not take it togeather anywhere, vnder the aforesaid penalty for every offence." What would those worthy old legis- lators think eould they enter one of our offensive mod- ern railroad attachments, the smoking-car? As late as 1639 it was lawful for any person to entertain strangers with "lodging and dyot, at reasonable rates," on special occasions, such as an inflow of strangers.

And at the same court it was enacted that "every towne shall have liberty, from time to time, to choose a fitt man to sell wine, the same to bee alowed by li- cense . and that it shalbee lawfull for such persons alowed to retaile wine, to let wine bee drunke in his house; provided, that if any person shalbee made drunke in any such house, or any imoderate .

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drinking suffered there, the master of the family shall pay for every such offence five pounds." At the same time it was " further declared and ordered, that such as are alowed to keepe comon ordinaries and inns shall provide stables and hay for horses, and in- closures for pasturing, where neede is; and it is fur- ther declared, that if any shall take excessive prices for their wines or dyeting, they shalbee deepely fined for the same." So began the licensing system and the temperance legislation of Massachusetts; and how do we stand, after the lapse of two hundred and fifty years?

The first tavern iu Lynn was opened by JOSEPH ARMITAGE, though at what precise date does not satisfactorily appear. But in 1643 he seems to have been in the business long enough to run himself ashore ; for in that year his wife, Jane, presented a dolorous petition, reciting that her husband's labors and endeavors had "beene blasted and his ames and ends frustrated," that they were poor and had a family to maintain ; that some of his creditors had, of their " clemencie and gentle goodness," lent a helping hand, with more of such pathetic pleading, and pray- ing that she might be allowed to "continue in the custodie of the said ordinary." The petition was signed by about all of the best and most prominent men of the town, among them the two ministers, Sam- uel Whiting and Thomas Cobbet, and Robert Bridges, the acting magistrate. It was successful, the concise entry on the court records being "Goody Armitage is alowed to keepe the ordinary, but not to draw wine."

There is ground for suspicion that some of the causes of Mr. Armitage's misfortunes lay in the dis- regard of his license obligations; for, in addition to the refusal of the court to allow his wife to sell spirits, it is found that he was once fined for not informing the constable of a person being found drunk in his com- pany. He petitioned to have the fine remitted, but the court replied that they saw " no cawse to abate the petitioner any part of that fine."

Mr. Armitage, however, seems to have partially, at least, recovered from his depressed condition, for in 1646 the court say : " In answere to ye petition of Joseph Armitage, it is ordred, that whoever ye towne of Linn shall choose at a legall towne meeting to draw wine, he shall have liberty to drawe wine there till ye next siting of this Cort, and ye same to be presented hereunto." And subsequently comes this entry : "Joseph Armitage is agreed with for this yeare for liberty to sell wine for twenty nobles." The price of his license, then, was about $32.20 of our present money.

The ordinary of Mr. Armitage soon became known as the Anchor Tavern, and under that name com- menced a famous career. It was picturesquely situated on a slight elevation west of Saugus River, almost within a stone's throw of that eccentrically winding stream, and commanded a romantic view of forest and

marsh land, with the ocean upon the south. It was on the road leading from Salem to Boston aud about midway between those settlements. For more than a century and a half it enjoyed a reputation attained by few establishments of the kind in the colony. Its name, however, was changed from time to time, as political revolution or caprice of landlord suggested.

Being on one of the chief highways, it was of course a stopping-place for the refreshment of travel- ers of high and low degree, of official dignitaries and rustic tramps, and one can readily conceive that strangely-assorted groups must have sometimes as- sembled there.

Mr. Armitage was among the very early settlers of Lynn, having appeared here in 1630, and been ad- mitted as a freeman in 1637. He was a tailor by trade, but in those primitive times it was necessary for most men to turn their attention to different pursuits as the seasons varied. He was undoubtedly energetic and industrious, but those good traits do not appear to have saved him from disasters attributable to other traits less valuable, for it is evident that he was of a speculative turn, aud unduly credulous when promis- ing schemes were presented. And then, again, he ap- pears to have been fond of lawsuits. Now these two pernicious characteristics-fondness for speculation and fondness for law-suits-are enough to ruin any man, and in all but a few exceptional cases they do. It may also be fairly assumed that he had sufficient of a retaliatory spirit to defiantly meet the aggressive approaches of his neighbors. At one time he procured a warrant against a number of persons, to whose in- terference he probably attributed difficulties regarding his license ; but they, in returning the compliment, had him presented " for procuring a warrant for seav- enty persons to appear forthwithe before the Gover- nor," a proceeding which, the court say, "we conceave to be of dangerous consequence." Notwithstanding these propensities, however, it may be said that he was, on the whole, a useful as well as enterprising settler.

Mr. Armitage ceased to be landlord of the Anchor in or about 1652. And his harassed and laborious life was ended in reduced circumstances, though per- haps not in absolute penury. In 1669 he petitioned for the payment of some small scores that Governors Endicott and Bradstreet and other officials had run up at his tavern during their journeyings. His petition was presented to the court at Salem, the charges hav- ing stood some twenty years, and reads as follows :

"To the Honered Court now sitting at Sallem, The humble petition of Joseph Armitage Humbly Sheweth that iu the time that I kept Ordi- nary ther was sum expences at my Hows by some of the Houored mag- istrates & Depetys of this County as apears by ther bills charged oupon Auditor Generall, which I never Receaued. Therfor your Humbell pe- ticioner doth Humbly request this Court that they would give me an Order to the County Treasurer for my pay & so your pour petitioner shall ever pray for your prosperity.

" JOSEPH ARMITAGE."

One or two of the charges, with the vouchers, may be given as samples :

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"the gouerners Expences from the Court of election, 1651, till the end of October, 1651 ; to bear & cacks [beer and cakes] 6d. ; bear and cacks to himself and som other gentlemen, 1s. 2d. ; bear and cacks with Mr. Downing, Is. Gd. ; bear & a cack, 6d .- 38, 8d.

" to the Sargents from the end of the Coart of election, 1651, till the end of October, 1651, bear & cacks, 18, 2d. ; for vitalls, becar & logen, 56. ; to Benjamin Scarlet, the gonerners man, 8d. ; bear & vitells, 2s. ; to the Sargents, 18. 9d. ; beear and cacks, Is .; to a man that Caried a letter to warne a Court about the duchman, 18. 6d. ; to the Sargents, 18. 2d .- 148. 3d.

" Mr. Anditor, I pray you give a note to Mr. Treasurer, for payment of 17s. 11d. according to these two bills of Joseph Armitage.

" Dated the 7th of the 11th mo. 1651. Jo. ENDECOTT."

" due to goodman Armitage, for beare & wyne att severall times as I came by in the space of about 3 yeares, 48. 3d. May 15th, '49, More for my man & horse, as hee returned home the last yeare when I was a Commissioner, hee being deteyned a sabboath day, 68. 8d.

"SIMON BRADSTREETE."

What does our present good Secretary of War think of the expenses and fare of his worthy ancestor as he took his official journeys ? Even President Cleveland, with all his democratic proclivities, would hardly hold to such economy.

After leaving the Anchor, Mr. Armitage lived in comparative retirement till his death, in 1680, at the age of eighty years. In the administration account filed in July, occur these items : " For coffin, vaile and digging the grave, 14s. In wine and sider, for his bnriall, £2."

The immediate successor of Mr. Armitage as land- lord of the Anchor Tavern was JOHN HATHORNE, who certainly does not appear to have been a very merito- rious character. At all events he became involved in one or two questionable transactions. It must have been about the time that he took the tavern that he was proceeded against on a charge of slander, forgery and perjury, and was convicted. He became some- what humbled by his sentence, and petitioned for the remission or mitigation of the penalty, and the court in its clemency ordered that in lieu of the prescribed punishment he should " pay double damages, which is twenty pounds, to the party wronged and ten pounds to the commonwealth, to be forthwith levied ; and to be disfranchised. If he doth not submitt to the sen- tence, then the law that provides against fforgery is to take place in every particular."

Mr. Hathorne kept the Anchor but a short time, and nothing appears to indicate that the house did not continue as prosperous as in the days of his prede- cessor, But little concerning him appears on the records, though the matters alluded to gave rise to grave questions of jurisdiction between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities,-questions that agitated the community for a long time, occasioning some rasping passages between church and state dignitaries.

This brings us to one of the most remarkable peri- ods in the history of the famous Anchor : to wit., the period during which the renowned Captain Thomas Marshall managed its affairs. He was one of the most jolly and hospitable of landlords, and during his ad- ministration no wayside inn throughout the colonics enjoyed a more enviable reputation.

Captain Marshall first appeared in Lynn in 1635, and was soon after admitted a freeman. But when the great political agitations that led to the termina- tion of the reign and the life of Charles the First had reached the culminating point, his spirit was aroused and he returned to England, where he joined the Par- liamentary forces, and from Cromwell received a cap- tain's commission. He served faithfully and was honorably discharged, and returned hither full of martial lustre and full of pride in the feats he had ac- complished, some of which his envious neighbors affected to believe were achievements of the imagina- tion alone. Nevertheless, it is apparent that he had a very good knowledge of military tactics and skill in the disposition of affairs of the field. The simple fact of his having continued to serve as a captain under the great Parliamentary Leader so long and so satis- factorily is sufficient evidence of his skill, fidelity and efficiency. He indeed seems to have had an early in- clination for the military profession, and was elected a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company-or, as it was then called, the "Military Company of the Massachusetts"-in 1640, two years after the formation of that angust organization, being then about twenty-four years of age.

After Captain Marshall's return from the war, his fellow-townsmen six times elected him as their repre- sentative in the General Court, first in 1659 and last in 1668, and likewise called him to varions posts of municipal honor and responsibility.

On the 18th of October, 1659, Captain Marshall was empowered by the General Conrt to join in marriage such persons in Lynn as had complied with the pre- liminary legal requirements. In 1670, however, he was discharged from "officyating in that imploy- ment," probably much to his chagrin. The cause of the revocation of his authority seems to have been that, through his " overmuch credulity," parties had imposed upon him and induced him to marry them when their intention had not been properly published or other legal requirements complied with. One or two cases were presented against him, that of Allin and Deacon being perhaps the most conspicuous. It occurred in May, 1670. Says the record : "Hope Allin (father of the bride) and John Pease (a witness) appeared in Court, and ye said Jolru Pease acknonl- edged that notwithstanding the counsell of the major general (an acting magistrate of another jurisdiction), who had declined ye marrying of Mr. Deacon (the bridegroom) to Hope Allin's daughter, he did accon- pany them to Lynn to Capt. Marshall, and Hope Allin declared he did give his consent that the said Mr. Deacon should have his daughter, and told Capt. Marshall that he hoped they might be legally pub- lished before that time. The Court judged it meet to censure the said Hope Allin to pay ten pounds as a fine to the country for his irregular procecdure, and John Pease forty shillings." Perhaps Mr. Allin was justly punished for his over-anxiety to get his dangh-

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ter off his hands, and Mr. Pease for standing by and not disclosing the fact that another magistrate had refused to tie the knot illegally. And as to Captain Marshall, it was probably this case that induced the court to promptly annul his commission, for that ap- pears to have been done almost immediately after the irregular transaction. At this time ministers were not authorized to perform the marriage ceremony, yet the conjugal relation was not regarded on the one hand as a mere civil contract, nor on the other, in the high- church sense, a sacrament. The idea seemed to be that it should occupy a sort of middle ground. The captain, however, did not probably pause to consider as to the right or wrong of the cases that came before him, or to theorize in any way, so long as it was in his power to consummate the happiness of loving hearts.

Captain Marshall commanded the military com- pany of Lyun at the time the great King Philip War commenced, 1675. There was no period in our whole history when there seemed so much cause for alarm within our own precincts, which had always been singularly free from savage aggression, as now, and the bravest and most experienced of the soldiery were anxiously looked to for protection. The court re- ceived a letter from the major-general .dated Lynn, and in their answer say: "Sr : Wee received your letter dated at Lynn 23th instant, and have perused the particulars inclosed, which still present us with sad tidings (the Lord have mercy on us) touching the performance of yor promise to Major Pike in your de- signe to raise what force you can to resist the enemy's headquarters at Ausebee. Wee approove of it, only wee presume your intelligence that the enemy is there is upon good grounds. Wee cannot give yow particu- lar orders, but leave the management of this affayre to yor prudenc and assistance of Almighty God, not doubting yor care in leaving sufficient strength to se- cure the frontier townes of Norfolke and Essex, least the enemy should visit them when the fforces are abooard. Without doubt, if their squawes and pap- pooses, &c., be at Assabee, and God be pleased to de- liver them into our hands, it would be much for our interest. As for your personall marching, it will be acceptable, if God inable to prosecute it." The action recommended in regard to the squaws and pappooses does not sound very pleasantly in the ears of the sympathetic people of this day, but the peculiar dan- gers and threatenings of those dark times should be taken into account in estimating the character of the recommendation. Captain Marshall was at this time about sixty years of age, but it cannot be doubted that his martial spirit was at once aglow, and that he became active in the military council, if not in the field. A most creditable number of soldiers were im- mediately on the march from Lynn.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538