History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 116

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 116

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The Townshends were an ancient and celebrated family, whose seat had, from time immemorial, been in Norfolk, England, near the town of King's Lynn, from which onr own Lynn received its name, through Rev. Mr. Whiting, who at one time was chaplain to Sir Roger Townshend. And for many generations they maintained their lordly position.

On the 24th of May, 1723, Charles Townshend was by writ, says Mackerell, " called up to the House of

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Peers by the style and title of the most Noble and Right Honorable Charles Townshend, Lord Lynn, of Lynn Regis, in the County of Norfolk."

It would hardly he in place here to attempt an en- umeration of the many statesmen and military heroes who have made the name of Townsend illustrious, or at least conspicuous, in the Old World. One or two, however, whose names became connected with Amer- icau affairs, may be named. There was Marquis George Townsend, eldest son of the third viscount, who commanded a division under Wolfe in the Cana- da expedition, and after the death of Wolfe took command, and received the capitulation. He subse- quently rose to the highest rank in the British army, was an active member of Parliament, and a Privy Councillor. His younger brother, Charles, though a statesman of acknowledged ability, was evidently extremely fond of popularity ; insomuch that he seems at times to have been on either side of the American cause during the agitating times imme- diately preceding our Revolution. It was he who in- troduced the resolutions that did much to precipitate the war, the resolutions imposing a duty on glass, tea, paper and certain other articles. Macaulay says of him: "He was a man of splendid talents, of lax principles and of boundless vanity and presump- tion,"

But enough of the foreign pedigree. Although it may be well to mention that iu the ancient church of St. Margaret, in King's Lynn, the stately edifice in which devout worshippers have been accustomed to assem- hle for almost eight hundred years, and from which was taken the time-worn stone now in the vestibule of St. Stephen's in our own Lynn, there is a black marble in the north alley, bearing this inscription : "Here lieth the Body of Mr. James Townshend, who was Organist of this Church 36 Years, and died the 8th of Jan. 1724. Aged 54 Years. Also Elizabeth, his Mother, who died the 21st of April, 1733. Aged 84 Years."

The American branch of the Townsend family can boast of a full share of such as became conspicuous in various departments-of poets, scientists, legisla- tors, and especially those who shone in the military calling. And in the circumscribed sphere of village life were many whose virtues might have adorned any position. Of this latter class seems to have been Daniel Townsend, whose memory has occasioned this notice, and who met a patriot's death at Lexington on that pregnant April day in 1775. His life was not an ambitious or adventurous one, and not much can he gathered of his history. He was born December 26, 1738, and consequently, at the time of his death, was in the prime of life. He left a wife and five young children ; was sober and industrious, pious and a consistent member of the Lynnfield church. He was prompt at the call of duty on that memorable morning, and with the company of minute-men reached the scene of action soon after daylight. Mr.

Lewis says Townsend was with Timothy Munroe, an- other Lynn man, standing behind a house "firing at the British troops, as they were coming down the road, in their retreat toward Boston. Townsend had just fired, and exclaimed, 'There is another redcoat down,' when Munroe, looking round, saw, to his as- tonishment, that they were completely hemmed in by the flank-guard of the British army, who were com- ing down through the fields behind them. They im- mediately ran into the house, and sought for the cel- lar; but no cellar was there. They looked for a closet, but there was none. All this time, which was indeed but a moment, the balls were pouring through the back windows, making havoc of the glass. Town- send leaped through the end window, carrying the sash and all with him, and instantly fell dead. Mun- roe followed, and ran for his life. He passed for a long distance between both parties, many of whom discharged their guns at him. As he passed the last soldier, who stopped to fire, he heard the redcoat ex- claim, 'Damn the Yankee! he is bullet-proof-let him go!' Mr. Munroe had one ball through his leg, and thirty-two bullet-holes through his clothes and hat. Even the metal buttons of his waistcoat were shot off." Townsend was found to have had seven bullets through his body. His remains were taken to Lynnfield, and "lay the next night," says Captain C. H. Townsend, "in the Bancroft house, where the blood-stains remain on the old oaken floor to this day " [1875]. The Essex Gazette, of May 2d, in a brief obituary, speaks of him as having been a con- stant and ready friend to the poor and afflicted; a good adviser in cases of difficulty ; a mild, sincere and able reprover. In short, it adds, " he was a friend to his country, a blessing to society, and an ornament to the church of which he was a member." And then are added, as original, the lines given below. The notice and lines were written by some sympa- thizing friend, the latter being transferred to the stone when erected, some time after, at his grave :

" Lie, valiant Townscud, in the peaceful shades ; we trust, Immortal honors mingle with thy dust. What though thy body struggled in its gore ? So did thy Saviour's body, long before ; Aud as he raised his own, by power divine, So the same power shall also quicken thine, And in eternal glory mayst thou shine."

To show with what alacrity the rural population responded to their country's call, it may be remarked that thirty-one towns were represented on that dawn- ing day of the Revolution. The loss upon the side of the British was much greater than on the side of the Americans,-a fact that may be accounted for in va- rious ways, without supposing cowardice or remiss- ness on either side. On the part of the British, sev- enty-three were killed, one hundred and seventy-two wounded and twenty-six missing. On the part of the Americans, forty-nine were killed, thirty-six wounded and five missing.

John P. Townsend, of New York, and Captain

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Charles H. Townsend, of New Haven, have published much valuable matter pertaining to the family histo- ry, collected both here and in England, for which labor of love they deserve many thanks. Whether the family here have kept up a correspondence with their English cousins is not known. Perhaps in some future generation, one of those agitating dreams of an immense fortune waiting in England for American heirs may be entertained by some ambitious one of the line ; if so, it is to be hoped that it may not, like so many similar dreams, prove but alluring romance.

THOMAS WOODWARD .- Mr. Woodward was well known by the shoemaking fraternity of fifty years ago throughout this region by his famous awls. He was born in Lynnfield in 1773, and died in 1860, at the great age of eighty-seven years. His manufac- tory was in that part of Reading now known as Wakefield. He was a remarkably ingenious mechanic, and has been credited with a number of useful inven- tions. The Emerson razor-strop, which was so popu- lar fifty years ago, when men generally kept their faces closely shaved, is said to have been a device of his. But his ingenuity does not seem to have been directed to any achievement of much magnitude, as was that of his neighbor, Dixon. His awls, how- ever, though not strictly an invention, gave him a name and a substantial income, and probably, in a negative way, had a saving effect on the morals of many an operative who, irritated by the brittleness or rough movement of other awls, might be led to call in the aid of lubricating profanity. Mr. Eaton, in his "History of Reading," says of Mr. Wood- ward : " He was an honest, industrious and kind- hearted man, but possessed some peculiarities of character. He had an inquiring and rather credu- lous mind; any new idea, either in physic, physics or ethics, he was ever ready to adopt, and if he thought it valuable, he was disposed to pursue it with great sincerity and pertinacity of purpose; hence we find him ever trying some new experiment in manu- factoring, using some newly-invented pills or cordial, making a 'tincture' that becomes, and still continues, a popular medicine; becoming an anti-Mason and abolitionist of the most approved patterns, and an honest and sincere believer in Millerism. He was, however, a very useful citizen. He lived to be aged, and his body outlived his mind."

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

NEWBURYPORT TURNPIKE .- The turnpike from Newburyport to Boston was finished in 1806 at a cost of four hundred and twenty thousand dollars. But it did not prove a successful enterprise pecuniarily. A few stages ran over it, but not much of the travel was diverted from the large seaboard settlements. It ran through the southerly section of Lynnfield, and was expected to bring great prosperity to the place. Disappointment followed. The capacious and well- appointed hotel was built, and for many years, in-

deed excepting a few intervals of private occupancy, till the present time, has furnished a pleasant resort for summer visitors as well as winter parties. The surroundings are picturesque, one of the most charm- ing features being the beautiful pond near the border of which it stands. The drives in all directions are attractive, and the quiet all that the most retiring can desire. Lynnfield Hotel (South Village) is four miles and two hundred and eighty rods from Central Square, Lynn.

FIRES IN THE WOODS .- During her whole history Lynnfield has periodically been subjected to exten- sive fires in her woods. Down to the present day such fires occur, frequently in the most mysterious way. And it has been suggested, perhaps with some reason, that under peculiar circumstances the pitch exuding from a pine may accumulate in such a man- ner as to act as a lens, and in an excessively hot sun so concentrate the rays as to produce fire. From the earliest times the attention of the authorities has been directed to this matter. But though legislation has done something, it has never succeeded in sup- pressing the dreaded evil, and never will while fric- tion matches continne to be used, and careless boys, heedless smokers and thoughtless gunners range the woods. In November, 1646, the General Court passed this order concerning "kindlinge fires in wuds": " Whosoev' shall kindle any fires in ye woods, before ye 10th day of ye first mo." [March] " or after ye last day of ye 2th mo., or on ye last day of the weeke, or Lords day, shall pay all damages yt any pson shall loose thereby, & halfe so much to ye comon treasury." And the same year the court generously allowed the use of "tobacko," under certain restric- tions, saying, " It shalbe lawfull for any man yt is on his journey (remote from any house five miles) to take tobacco, so that thereby hee sets not ye woods on fire to ye damage of any man."

During the severe drought which prevailed in 1864 very destructive forest fires raged. And also during the severer dronght of the next year, 1865, which continued from July 5th to October 15th. And al- most every season many acres are burned over, de- stroying not only standing wood, but that cut and corded. The Massachusetts Legislature, in 1885-86, passed " An Act for the better protection of Forests from Fires," and it is hoped that the provisions will be energetically enforced ; if they are, some good may result.

OLD CURRENCY .- About the close of the Revolu- tion, the currency, what there was of it, was in a sad state of confusion. The Continental money, so called, the paper issued by Congress, had depreciated to such a degree that a thousand dollars of it were sold for less than twenty dollars in silver. Mr. Lewis gives the following description of different denominations of these fiscal pledges, many of which are still pre- served among antiquarian collections. Doubtless many specimens are to be found among the old Lynn-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

field families. The pieces of paper were about two inches square : " The one-dollar bills had an altar with the words depressa resurgit, the oppressed rises. The two-dollar bills bore a hand, making a circle with compasses, with the motto, tribulatio dital, trouble en- riches. The device of the three-dollar bills was an eagle pouncing upon a crane, who was biting the eagle's neck, with the motto, eritus in dubio, the event is doubtful. On the five-dollar bills was a hand grasp- ing a thorn bush, with the inscription sustine vel ab- stine, hold fast or touch not. The six-dollar bills rep- resented a beaver felling a tree, with the word perse- verando, by perseverance we prosper. Another emis- sion bore an anchor, with the words, In te Domine speramus, In thee, Lord, have I trusted. The eight- dollar bills displayed a harp, with the motto majora minoribus consonant, the great harmonize with the little. The thirty-dollar bills exhibited a wreath on an altar, with the legend, si recte, facies, if you do right you will succeed." In a few years, however, the government succeeded in so regulating matters that confidence began to be felt. And soon after Albert Gallatin, who was perhaps the most able financier of the age, was called to the Treasury Department, things began to wear an encouraging aspect. But still there remained for many years a great diversity in the mode of reckoning, if not in real valnes, in different sections of the country ; and the coins in circulation were va- riously denominated. But little was as yet coined here, and the chief silver in circulation, down to a time quite within the recollection of multitudes now living, was Spanish. Who does not remember the four-pence-halfpennies (6] cents), the nine-pences (12} cents), the pistareens (at first 20 cents, and then suddenly reduced to 17 cents) ?

GOLD AND PAPER CURRENCY .- In this connection, perhaps as appropriately as in any other, a word may be said regarding the value changes in the currency consequent on our late Civil War. On the 17th of December, 1878, for the first time in sixteen years, gold stood at par,-that is, $100 in gold were worth just $100 in greenback government notes. The extreme of variation was on July 11, 1864, when $100 in gold were worth $285 in bank bills. From this last date the difference in valnes began slowly to fade away. In the gold room of the New York Stock Exchange there was much enthusiasm manifested on the day when par was reached, and great cheering.

SIAMESE TWINS .- During the warm season of 1831 the famous Siamese twins, Chang and Eng, so mys- teriously united in person, were for a short time rus- ticating in Lynnfield. It was about the time that they were first exhibited in this vicinity. They were one day out on a gunning excursion, and becoming so irritated by being followed and stared at by men and boys, they committed a breach of the peace, were taken before a magistrate and put under bonds. It came near becoming a serious question how one could be punished by imprisonment, should it come to that,

if the other were innocent. The difficulty vanished, however, when it appeared that both were guilty. They died in North Carolina in the winter of 1873, within two hours of each other, aged sixty-three years.

PRIZE-FIGHTERS .- Edward O'Baldwin, known as the Irish Giant, and Joseph Warmuld, an English- man, noted prize-fighters, were arrested by the police just as they had commenced a battle in Lynnfield, on the morning of October 29, 1868. A crowd of those who delight in such demoralizing contests had assembled from Boston and neighboring places, but they very suddenly dispersed in dismay when the police appeared. O'Baldwin and Warmuld were arraigned before the Lynn Police Court and bound over for the action of the grand jury. The former was finally sentenced to the House of Correction for two years, but the latter escaped, forfeiting his bail.

GOLDEN SPIKE .- May 10, 1869, was the day on which the last spike was driven in completion of the first continuous railroad line connecting the Atlantic and Pacific. It was an eventful occasion, far away there in the Rocky Mountain shadows, and drew to- gether many prominent persons from different parts of the country. The spike was of solid gold, and what renders the occurrence of special interest to the people of Lynnfield is the fact that it was driven by David Hewes, a native of the town, and a contractor on the road. It was, however, soon withdrawn and deposited in a museum in San Francisco, under the well- grounded apprehension that if allowed to remain, some straying traveler, curious or covetous, would appropri- ate it.

EPIZOOTIC .- A strange disease called epizootic pre- vailed among horses during the latter part of the autumn of 1872; so many were disabled that such wheel-vehicles as were drawn by horses almost ceased to run. In Boston the United States mail was carried to and from the post-office in ox-teams. Various ex- pedients were resorted to. Goats and dogs, in many instances, were harnessed for labor ; and sometimes men and boys undertook the duties of the disabled animals. The disease was not usually fatal, but such as survived were left in a weakened condition.

SURPLUS REVENUE .- In 1837 the surplus United States revenue was distributed. The amount received by Lynnfield was $1328.29, and it was appropriated to the payment of the town debt. Other towns, by vote, devoted their shares to different purposes, some even distributing it per capita. Saugus received $3500, and appropriated it to the building of a town-hall. Lynn received $14,879.00, and applied it to the pay- ment of the town debt. Judging from present ap- pearances, it will he a long time before the munici- palities will receive another such dividend.

FOREST HILL CEMETERY .- This endeared resting- place for the dead was consecrated on the 14th of Oc- tober, 1856. Addresses were delivered by Rev. Edwin R. Hodgman, of the Trinitarian Congregational

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Church, Centre Village, and Rev. Ariel P. Chute, of the South Village Church.

FARM PRODUCTS-MANUFACTURES-STATISTICS. -Lynnfield is essentially a farming town, and cer- taiuly an industrious one, as the following items from the latest returns show.

FARM PRODUCTS.

Number of farms

Tons of hay raised 970

Gallons of milk 141,329

Pounds of butter

5,228

Dozens of eggs.

18,486

Bushels of potatoes (ou 35 acres). 3,622

Bushels of Indian corn (on 48 acres) 1,899

Total value of products. $54,415

MANUFACTURES.

Average number of employees (males, 41; females, 33) 74

Wages paid during the year ... $25,900

Capital invested

12,300

Stock used 70,350

Value of products 120,500

Boots and Shoes .- Included in the above is that of boots and shoes, the productive value of which is much larger than that of all the other mannfactures combined, and foots up as follows :

Average number of employees (males, 35 ; females 33). 68

Total wages paid during the year $23,800

Capital invested. 6,300

Value of stock

67,000

Value of products.

112,500

POPULATION .- The population at different periods is shown by the following short table :

Years .

. 1820. 1850.

1870.

1885.

Population . 596

1723

818

766

In 1885 the number of families was 185; number of ratable polls, 245 ; number of voters, 180; number of dwelling-hou-es, 167.

SCHOOLS .- There are three public schools, known as Centre School, South Grammar School and South Primary. Expenditures for schools during the year ending March 1, 1887, $1235.20. Whole uumber of scholars, May 1, 1886, between the ages of five and fifteen, 115.

TOWN EXPENSES .- The town expenses for year ending March 1, 1887, amounted to $7949.42, divided as follows: Highways, $1423.70 ; schools, $1603.82; town officers, 8432.90; miscellaneous, $245.05; State and county tax, $1036.15 ; printing, $70.10; State aid, $216 ; abatements, $42.32; interest and deht, $1710; poor, $1044.56; discount on taxes, $123.82.

VALUATION AND TAXATION .- The total valuation for 1886 was $545,964; real estate, $474,097; person- al, $718,67; rate of taxation, $9 on $1000.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS, 1886 .- Births, 11-4 males, 7 females. Marriages, 17. Deaths, 15- 5 males, 10 females; four were over 80 years old; Rev. Jacob Hood was 94 and Sophia N. Hood 90, lacking a month.

Representatives.

1826-27. Josiah Newhall.

1844. Enoch Russell.

1828. Asa T. Newhall. 1848. Josiah Newhall.

1829-32. John Upton, Jr.

1850-51. William Skinner, Jr.

1832. Bowman Viles.

1852-53. Jolin Danforth, Jr.

1833. John Upton, Jr.

1834-35. Joshua Hewes.

1856-57. David A. Titcomb. 1860. John Dantorth. 1865. George L. Hawkes.

1836. John Perkins, Jr.

1837. William Perkins.

1869. James Hewes.

1838-41. David N. Swasey.

1874. Wm. R. Rouudy.

1841. James Jackson.

1881. Andrew Mansfield.

1843. Joshua Hewes.

Town Clerks.

1814. John Upton, Jr. 1841. Andrew Mansfield, Jr.

1818. Andrew Mansfield.

1842. Joshua Hewes.

1823. Bowman Viles.

1843. Andrew Mansfield, Jr.

1832. John Upton, Jr.

1844. John Perkins, Jr.

1833. Bowman Viles.

1857. John Danforth, Jr.

1834. Andrew Mansfield, Jr.

1878. Francis P. Russell.

1837. Joshua Hewes.

Postmasters. [South Village.]

Office established May 25, 1836.

1836. Theron Palmer.

1855. Henry W. Swasey.

1839. Charles Spiuney.

1869. James Jackson.

1852. James W. Church.

[Centre Village.]

Office established Angust 1, 1848.

1848 George F. Whittredge. 1868. Levi H. Russell.

1851. Samuel N. Newcomb. 1874. Francis P. Russell.

1856. Jonathan Bryant.

RECAPITULATION AND HISTORICAL SUMMARY.

1635. May 6th, the General Court grants to John Humfrey five hundred acres of land, including what is now called Lynnfield Pond, or Humfrey's Pond, or Suntaug Lake.

1639. March 13th, "Linn was granted six miles into the country," by the court. This was the terri- tory now forming Lynnfield and parts of adjacent towns, and was long called Lynn End.

1658. September 22d, Joseph Newhall, the first settler in Lynnfield of the name of Newhall, is born in Lynn. He was the father of eleven children, all of whom survived him; was known as Ensign New- hall; was a Representative in the General Court ; and in Jannary, 1706, perished in a great snow-storm, on his way from Boston.

1696. The winter of this year was the coldest for more than fifty years, and occasioned much suffering. 1706. Division of public lands among the settlers. 1712. November 17th, Lynnfield set off from Lynn as a separate parish.

1715. First meeting-house in Lynnfield huilt.

1719. December 17th, Northern lights observed for the first time. People greatly alarmed, some de- claring that they could hear a rustling.

1720. August 17th, First Church of Lynnfield (the second of Lynn) formed, and Rev. Nathaniel Sparhawk installed.

1730. August 31st, Andrew Mansfield killed in a well, by a stone falling on his head.

1731. November 24th, Rev. Stephen Chase, second minister of Lynnfield Parish, settled.

1732. May 7th, Rev. Nathaniel Sparhawk, first minister, died, aged thirty-eight.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1733. The following entry appears on the Lynn- field Church records: "December 20, 1733, att a chh meeting, Voted that every communicant of this church shall pay three pence every sacrament day, in order to make provision for the Lord's table."

1749. Hot summer. Great drought. Multitudes of grasshoppers.

1755. November 5th, Rev. Benjamin Adams, third minister of Lynnfield Parish, settled. The most se- vere earthquake ever felt in New England occurred November 18th.

1759. Died in Lynnfield, June 4th, Margaret, wife of John Briant, of " something supposed to breed in her braiu," as the church record says.

1764. On the public records of Lynn appears the following. It no doubt refers to a marriage that took place in Lynnfield Parish, as the Rev. Mr. Adams was minister there at thetime, and Gowing was an early Lynnfield name : "Married, Daniel Gowing to Mary Bowers, Dec. 25, 1764, by Rev. Mr. Adams." And it is added that the bride was clothed ouly in a sheet and undergarment, and those "she borrowed." Pro- bably the bride appeared in that remarkable outfit un- der the apprehension that if she brought nothing to her husband he could not be held for auy debt of hers. But why might she not have borrowed a gown as well as the other articles? Or could it have been a Christ- mas frolic ? Perhaps she was a widow and that her former husband died in debt, for it appears that by an old "legal custom " the new husband could in such case be held responsible for the liabilities of his marital predecessor. At all events, such was the rea- son given regarding a marriage that took place in Salem, April 21, 1818, where the record says the bride was even less clothed "while the ceremony was per- formed."

1766. June 22d. Ensign Ebenezer Newhall, aged seventy-three, died " of something supposed to breed within him."

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 116

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