History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 40

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 40

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The brig " Active," William P. Richardson, master, arrived with a cargo of tea and cassia, consigned to James Cook, and paying duties to the amount of about thirty-two thousand dollars. The "Active " left Salem June 1, 1810, and went to the Feejee Is- lands, where she remained till July 26, 1811. She arrived in Salem, March 27, 1812, one hundred and eighteen days from Canton.

The brig "Canton," Daniel Bray, Jr., master, ar- rived in May, 1817, from Canton and Marseilles, to Joseph Peabody and Gideon Tucker, having per-

formed the voyage to Canton and Europe in eleven months and twenty-five days. The ship "China," Benjamin Shreve, master, cleared for Canton, May 24, 1817, and arrived in Salem March 30, 1818, with a car- go of tea, nankeens and silks to Joseph Peabody and others, and paying a duty of $15,348.56. In January, 1819, the ship " Hercules," James King, Jr., master, arrived with a cargo of tea and sugar, paying a duty of $51,765.49 and consigned to Nathaniel West, Jr. and others, The ship "Osprey," Stephen Brown, master, arrived from Canton, via Boston, in July, 1819, one hundred and seventeen days from Canton, to William P. Richardson, and the ship "Midas," Tim- othy Endicott, master, entered from Canton, via Bos- ton, to Pickering Dodge, with a cargo of tea, cloves and sugar, in September, 1819, one hundred and forty- three days from Canton. In February, 1820, the ship " Friendship," Thomas Meeke, master, entered from Canton to Pickering Dodge and others, with a cargo paying a duty of $21,677,44.

The brig "Leander," owned by Joseph Peabody, made three voyages direct from Canton, entering in March, 1825, in April, 1826 and in July, 1829. Charles Roundy was master on the first two voyages and N. Smith on the last ; the cargoes paying duties of $86, 847.47, $92,392.94 and $84.043.82 respectively. The ship " China," H. Putnam, master, entered from Can- ton in April, 1825, to Joseph Peabody and others, pay - ing a duty of $22,987.32.

The ship "Sumatra," owned by Joseph Peabody, made six voyages direct from Canton, entering in April, 1829, in April, 1830, in October, 1831, in June, 1834, in December, 1836, and in October, 1841. Charles Roundy was master on the first four voyages, and Peter Silver on the last two. When re- turning on the last voyage, Captain Silver speaks the ship "Echo," dismasted, with one hundred and forty passengers bound for New York. He could not board the distressed vessel at once, because of the storm then prevailing, but lay by until he was able to send his boat and supply her with sails and provisions. He took on board his own vessel twenty-four of the pas- sengers, including several sick ladies, and landed them at Holmes Holl. For the kind and timely assistance rendered, Captain Silver was presented by the passen- gers with a silver pitcher, and each of his mates with a silver cup.

The ship " Eclipse," William Johnson, master, en- tered from Canton in August, 1832, consigned to Joseph Peabody. The above-named comprise all the vessels that entered at the Salem Custom-honse, direct from Canton, bringing a full cargo of Canton goods. There were many other Salem vessels that went there in the course of their voyages, or that cleared from Salem for Canton and returned to other ports. The ship "St. Paul," Chas. H. Allen, master, and owned by Steplien C. Phillips, went to China from Manilla and on her return to Salem in March, 1845, brought part of a cargo of tea and other merchandise from

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

China. All the direct trade from Canton to Salem after 1825 was carried on by Joseph Peabody.

Among the vessels that cleared for Canton was the ship "Brutus," Richard Crowninshield, master, March 7, 1798. The ship " Gov. Endicott," Benjamin Shreve, master, cleared for Canton May 5, 1819, and experienced a tremendous gale on July 31st, during which the whole watch, consisting of the second-mate and seven men were washed overboard and lost, and her mizzen-mast and rudder were carried away. She arrived at St. Salvador in a crippled condition on the 26th of September.

From a journal kept by Mr. Samuel Goodhue on board the ship "Sumatra," Charles Roundy, master, on a voyage to Manilla and Canton, the following ex- tracts are made as giving some general account of the incidents of such voyages.

" Sunday, May 24, 1829 .- At three o'clock in the morning got nnder way from Derby wharf, and in fifteen minutes dropped anchor in the harbor. At seven o'clock the passengers came on board and we got under way and stood to sea. For passengers we have Mr. Low and wife. Mrs. Harriet Low and servant and Mr. Ammidon. The ship's company consiste of the captain, bis two mates, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Shephard, eleven hands before the mast, cook and steward, making twenty-one persons in all on board. At eight o'clock we discharged our pilot, and at ten o'clock we got our breakfast. The wind was fair and blowing a good breeze, fast taking ns from our native land.

"Wednesday, June 3d .- Very pleasant and delightful weather. We have been employed for several days in cleaning our guns, small arms, boarding pikes, etc., and in making wads and other warlike prepara- tions, as we shall soon be in the way of pirates.

". Sunday, June 21st. - This is the fourth Sunday at seu, and we are now drawing near the equator.

" Monday, June 22d .- Just as the watch was called at four P.M., we discovered a barque just on our weather bow about eight miles from us. He had his royals furled top-gallant sails clewed up, courses hauled up, and main top sail to the mast. He seemed to be laying too to speak to us. On our nearer approach, he being two or three miles on our weather bow, saw him to be a small craft with painted ports, and instead of a barque it was a brig with a jigger mast and a false stern. It was evi- dently a man of-war or a pirate in disguise. The wind beginning to head ns off, all hands were called to tack ship to the westward. In a few minutes a heavy rain squall came up, and we soon lost sight of onr suspicious neighbor.

" Monday, June 29th .- Thirty-seven days out. About one P.M. crossed the Equator with a six-knot breeze.

" Saturday, July 25th .- This forenoon saw two very large whales very near us. They appeared to be very old and had barnacles on their heads. Tbey passed very slowly under our stern with their mouths wide open.

Wednesday, July 29th .- Had strong breezes during the day. The dis- tance ran was two hundred and one miles, the greatest day's work since leaving Salem.

"Sunday, August 16th .- For the last twenty days ending yesterday we sailed three thousand six hundred and eight miles, averaging one hun- dred and eighty miles n day. Caught a large porpoise weighing about three hundred and fifty pounds. It was very fortunate for us to get some oil as pur stock of oil lins been out four or five days.

". Wednesday, August 26th .- At eleven P. M. we saw the Island of Javn, and at eight A.M. we passed Java Head with a fine eight-knot breeze und got fairly inside the Straits of Sunda. Came to anchor off Angier, and a Dutch bout came off for news and letters, and ufterwards came off again, bringing fowls, vegetables and fruit. They informed us that the ship ' Lotus,' Thomas Moriaty, captain, had gone up the Straits three days before bound to Canton.

" Tuesday, September 8th .- About two r.M. we entered the Bay of Manila after a very short passage of one hundred and six days from Salem. As we went up the bay the rain at intervals poured down in torrents, giving us n specimen of Manila weather, at this senson of the year. At dark we passed the point of Cuvite, and at seven o'clock came to anchor about two miles below Maniln. We found the ship ' Man- darin,' of Salem, William Osgood, captain, and the sbip, 'Restitution,'

Capt. Kinsman, and n New York brig were at Cavite. Thus, of the five veasels laying in a single port, three of them are Salemi ships.

" Monday, September 14th .- Went ashore at Maniln. The streets, some of them are wide with tolerable good accommodations for foot passengers. The lower stories of all the buildings are occupied as shops or stores. The upper stories are used as dwellings. The shops for the most part Are kept by Chinese. They are not very neat, and are generally filled with a great variety of articles, such as hats, dry goods, fancy articles, etc. We passed n bridge built of stone over a canal. There were plenty of beggars on the bridge who had a very miserable appearance. There are several large churches in the suburbs. One very large one of stone we went into. They were saying mass over a corpse. After hurrying over n parcel of Latin, like a ship In a squall, and throwing a little water and burning some incense, the corpse was carried off. The inside of the church was paved with flag-stones, and was filled with Malays, a large proportion being small boys, who appeared to be very devout. I do not think the city is very strongly fortified. It was once taken by the English. We met a number of carriages something like a baronche. They were filled with ladies who all have a kind of olive pale complexion, but are otherwise tolerably handsome. They dress very splendidly and generally have no head dress excepting a handker- chief or piece of mnelin. I never saw any of them walking, I suppose they think themselves too good to touch the earth. Among the Malay women there is but very little beauty. They are of a copper color and have a kind of hopping gait, something resembling a cock turkey. Their dress is but little more than a piece of 'cloth tied round their waist. They wear wooden shoes which have nothing above the sole excepting a small place for a toe. At eight o'clock we returned to the ship. If I was to live here I should much rather be on board our ship than on shore among a parcel of Spaniards, Malays, pigs and dogs.

" Tuesday, September 22d-At 8.30 we got under way after laying in Manila fifteen days, and taking in four thousand piculs of rice, and a light breeze took us slowly out of sight of the turrets and towers of Manila.

"Wednesday, September 30th .- We are sailing along among the Ladrone Islands. There are plenty of fishermen about us. The fishermen are a very hardy set of people. Their whole fortune is in their boat and that is their sole dependence. They carry their families in their boat and sometimes there are two or three generations, from the white-headed old man to the young babe. Their boats are kept in good order and generally have two masts, with mat sails. They mostly fish two or three in company with nete, and come to anchor in the night among the islands. They are, indeed, a very independent set of men. It is but nine months since we were going along these islands bound home. We bave made two passages, laid in Salem one month, been to Manila, and are now here again. At three P.M. we came to anchor in Macao roads. At ten o'clock the next morning our passengers left us, and no doubt were glad to get on shore after being so long on shipboard. Several Chinese junks passed us bound into Macao. They generally have two or three inasts, and have an eye printed on each bow. They have large wooden anchors, and sail very clumsily.

" Saturday, October 3d .- Got under way for Lintin, and in the afternoon we passed a great number of craft of all descriptions, mostly fishing boats. We generally saw that the wife had the belm while the men were at work on the nets or luying still, and there were plenty of young brate, blackguarding every one that passed, for that I believe is the first thing they learn. The town of Lintin is small and is the principal place for smuggling opium, which sells here for eight hundred dollars a picul of one hundred and thirty-three pounds.

" Tuesday, October 6th .- About eleven o'clock we passed a fort which stands at the entrance of Whampoa River. There was a mandarin came off to go up the river with us, and, though dressed in his gaudy robes and arrayed in all his state, his first business after coming ou board was to beg a bottle of rum. Soon after passing the entrance we came in sight of a large pagoda which stands npon high land and is about two hundred feet high.

"Monday, October 12th .- This morning five of us started in the boat to go up to Canton. We passed a duck bont. The ducks were let ont on the shore to feed, und I should think there were several hundred of them. When the keepers want them they sing out, and the last one in generally gets a flogging. Some distance from the city you can tell you are drawing near to a large commercial city, by the clouds of smoko hanging over it, and the forests of musts in the river. At the head of Whampoa lliver stands a fort. It is square and built of stone and brick, and has about thirty small pieces of cannon in it. They are lashed with rattun to blocks of wood. We soon landed at Canton, and were busy making what little purchases we were able to afford. The shop-keepers

SALEM.

are always ready at the landing place to lead you to their shops, recom- mending their goods above all others. Their shops, especially those in China and New Streets, are very clean, and their goods make a hand- some show. They generally have an English sign over their door, but go by the Chinese names, except some in Hog Lane, such as 'Jimmy,' ' Good Tom,' 'Young Tom,' etc., and among others, 'General Jackson,' recommended himself to us. We were not much gratified in finding the hero, an inferior, black-looking Tartar, surrounded by a few pieces of inferior silks, some pictures, etc. At six o'clock we returned to the ship.

" Thursday, December 17th .- At three o'clock this morning six of ue started in the pinnace for Canton. After breakfast we went up China Street to finish making our purchases, and while there saw a procession of a mandarin. He was preceded by about a dozen dirty-looking Tar- tars with bamboos, and no other uniform than a dirty red cap. One had an instrument something like a tambourine, another something like a fife, which made a hard screeching sound. The mandarin was in a palanquin and carried by two Tartars. At the head of the street there was a theatre. The players were very active, and their dress was rich and splendid. They are paid by the shop-keepers ef the street, and at- tract great numbers of Chinese. At the entrance of China Street there was a large figure of Josh, and around him were burning several lighte, while before him were heaps of oranges, also a roast pig and a turkey. Ahont fonr o'clock we started on our return to the ship.

"Wednesday, December 30th .- Having got all our cargo of tea on hoard, we got underway and dropped down the river on our way home. After an uneventful passage, the 'Sumatra' arrived safely in Salem harbor, with her cargo of tea, in April, 1830."

THE INDIA TRADE .- India was visited soon after the close of the Revolutionary War by Salem vessels. The trade was opened by Elias Hasket Derby, and the ship " Atlantic," commanded by his son, was the first vessel to display the American ensign at Surat, Bombay and Calcutta. This was in the year 1788. The ship " Peggy " arrived in Salem, June 21, 1789, with the first cargo of Bombay cotton brought to this country, consigned to E. H. Derby. The brigantine " Henry," Benjamin Crowninshield, master, of one hundred and twenty-five tons burden, and manned by eight men, arrived at Salem, from Madras, Bengal and the Isle of France, consigned to E. H. Derby and John Derby, Jr., January 10, 1791, and on May 13, 1793, the ship "Grand Turk," Benjamin Hodges, master, of five hundred and sixty-four tons burden, and owned by E. H. Derby, arrived from Madras with 1,031,484 pounds of sugar, 500 bags of saltpetre, 464 pieces of redwood, 3,900 hides, 709 bags of gin- ger, 830 bags of pepper, and 22 chests of tea, the cargo paying a duty of $24,229,65. The " Grand Turk " had sailed, outward bound, Sunday, March 11, 1792, at 3 P. M., and Captain Hodges writes in his log book that "great numbers of our friends assem- bled at the old fort and'expressed their good wishes in the old English custom of three huzzas." The schooner "Polly and Sally," George Crowninshield, master, and consigned to Richard Crowninshield with sugar, pepper and coffee, arrived from Bengal in May, 1794. The brig "Enterprise," William Ward, master, entered in August, 1794, from India, consigned to William Gray. The ship "Henry," Jacob Crownin- shield, master, entered from India and Cowes, in November, 1794 to E. H. Derby. " The ship "Wash- ington," Benjamin Webb, Jr., master, entered July 11, 1795, from Calcutta, via. Boston, with a cargo of sugar to John Fisk. The ketch "Eliza," Stephen

Phillips, master, appears to be the first vessel to ar- rive at Salem direct from Calcutta. She entered Oc- tober 8, 1795, with a cargo of sugar to E. H. Derby. The "Eliza " cleared from Salem for the East Indies, December 22, 1794, with an outward cargo of 48 casks of brandy, 22 barrels of naval stores, and 106 pairs of silk stockings.

There were five arrivals from India in 1796,-Feb- ruary 23d, the brig "Friendship," George Hodges, master, to Joseph Osgood, Jr., from Calcutta; April 18th, the snow "Peggy," Joseph Ropes, master, to E. H. Derby, from India ; April 18th, the ship " John," Jona Moulton, master, to William Gray, from Calcut- ta; Angust 16th, the brig "Hind," Jona Hodges, master, from Calcutta; and September 20th, the ketch " Eliza," Stephen Phillips, master, to E. H. Derby, from Calcutta.

From a New York paper, under date of April, 1796, we make the following extract : "The 'America,' Captain Jacob Crowninshield, of Salem, Mass., com- mander and owner, has brought home an elephant from Bengal in perfect health. It is the first ever seen in America, and is a very great curiosity. It is a female, two years old, and of a species that grows to an enormous size. This animal sold for ten thousand dollars, being supposed to be the greatest price ever given for an animal, in Europe or America."

There were four entries from India in 1797,-in May, the bark " Essex," John Ropes, master, to Wil- liam Orne, from Calcutta; in May the ship " Wil- liam and Henry," John Beckford, master, to William Gray, from Bengal; in May, the ship "Benjamin," Richard Gardner, master, to E. H. Derby, from Cal- cutta and the Cape of Good Hope; and in July, the ship " Betsey," Nathaniel Silsbee, master, from Cal- cutta and Madras, consigned to Daniel Pierce and Nathaniel Silsbee, with sugar, coffee and pepper, paying a duty of $10,753.20.

During the year 1798 there were nine entries from Calcutta ; the largest number of entries in any single year. The years 1803 and 1818 show the same num- ber. The entries from Calcutta for the year 1798 were,-in January, the ship "Recovery, Joseph Ropes, master, to E. H. Derby ; in January, the ship " Lucia," Thomas Meek, master, to William Gray ; in March, the bark "Sally," Benjamin Webb, master, to Thomas Saunders & Co .; in March, the brig " Good Hope," Edward West, master, to Nathaniel West ; in March, the brig " Adventure," James Barr, Jr., master, to John Norris; in March, the ship " Betsey," Josiah Orne, master, to Samuel Gray & Co .; in March, the ship " Mary," Nicholas Thorn- dike, master ; in May, the ship "Sally," Josiah Obear, master; and in July, the ship " Belisarius," John Crowninshield, master, to George Crowninshield & Sons, with a cargo of sugar, 10,767 pounds of sugar- candy, and 118,215 pounds of coffee, from Calcutta and the Isle of France.

There were but two enteries in 1799. The ship

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

"Recovery," Joseph Ropes, master, entered May 7th, to E. H. Derby. This vessel had touched at Mocha on her outward passage, and displayed the American flag for the first time at that port. The ship " Ulysses," Josiah Orne, master, entered July 10th, to William Gray. Both entries were from Calcutta. The above-named vessels comprise all that arrived from India prior to the year 1800.

The limits of this chapter will not permit a full list of the subsequent entries, but the names of a few are given as showing the Salem merchants and ship- masters engaged in this trade. The ship "Active," Timothy Bryant, master, with a cargo of 180,000 pounds of cotton to Bryant & Nichols, entered from Bombay, in August, 1800. The ship "Vigilant," James Clemmons, master, entered from Bombay, in February, 1801, with a cargo of cotton to Simon For- rester. The bark "Eliza," Benjamin Lander, mas- ter, entered from Calcutta, July, 1801, with a cargo of sugar and other merchandise to Joseph White. The ship " Hazard," Henry Tibbetts, master, entered from Calcutta, May, 1802, with sugar, cigars and cordage, to John and Richard Gardner, paying a duty of $16,298.

The brig " Sally," William Ashton, master, entered from Calcutta in February, 1803, to Jacob Ashton & Co., with a cargo of sugar, paying a duty of $10,631.54. The ship "Lucia," Solomon Towne, master, entered from Calcutta in August, 1804, with a cargo of sugar, indigo and cheroots, to William Gray and others, and paying a duty of $24,001.08.

The ship " Argo," Stephen Field, master, entered from Calcutta in March, 1805, with a cargo of sugar to Philip Chase and others, and paying a duty of $32,- 799.47. The ship "Mary Ann," Edward Norris, master, entered from Calcutta, April, 1806, with a cargo consigned to John Norris, and paying a duty of $14,797.68. The ship "Franklin," Timothy Well- man, 3d master, entered from Calentta in October, 1806, with a cargo of sugar to Joseph Peabody, and paying a duty of $19,734.60. The ship " Friendship," Israel Williams, master, entered from Madras in No- vember, 1806, with a cargo of pepper, coffee and indigo to Pierce & Wait, paying a duty of $21,093.21. The ship "Exeter," Thos. B. Osgood, master, entered from Bengal in October, 1807, with 356,043 pounds of cotton, 11,141 of indigo, and 80,731 of sugar, paying a duty of $16,331.21, and consigned to Benjamin Pickman, Jr.

The ship "Union," William Osgood, master, en- tered from Calcutta in September, 1811, with a cargo to Stephen Phillips, and paying a duty of $26,408.23. The ship " Restitution," David D. Pulsifer, master, entered from Calcutta in October, 1812, with a cargo to Simon Forrester, and paying a duty of $51,526,33. The brig "Caravan," Augustine Heard, master, en- tered from Calcutta in March, 1813, with a cargo to Pickering Dodge, paying a duty of $26,975. The bark "Patriot," Nathan Frye, master, entered from Calcutta in March, 1816, to John H. Andrews.

In October, 1816, forty-two vessels had cleared for India since the close of the War of 1812, and sixteen of them carried out three million hard dollars. The ship " Malabar," Josiah Orne, master, entered from Bombay in June, 1817, with a cargo of cotton and pepper to John W. Rogers, paying a duty of $18,- 769.40. The ship "Endeavour," Timothy Bryant, Jr., master, entered in September, 1817, to Dudley L. Pickman. The brig "Alexander," David A. Neal, master, entered from Bombay in September, 1817, with cotton to Jonathan Neal.

The ship "Gentoo," Nathaniel Osgood, master, en- tered from Calcutta in June, 1818. The cargo of this vessel, as was often the case with large vessels sent on distant voyages, was the property of a large number of persons. It consisted principally of sugar and cotton, and the consignees were Pickering Dodge, Nathaniel Silsbee, Francis and George Lee, John Belknap, Francis Quarles, Samuel P. Gardner, Baker & Hodges, Henry Pickering, John Derby, Philip and A. Chase, Samuel G. Derby, John W. Rogers, John Stone, Humphrey Devereaux, Nathaniel Osgood and Samuel G. Perkins. The whole duty paid was $29,- 270.55. The brig " Lawry," John Holman, master, entered from Calcutta in May, 1820, to John Derby, and paying a duty of $20,693.99.

The brig "Naiad," Nathaniel Osgood, master, ar- rived from Calcutta in January, 1821, with a cargo to Pickering Dodge, paying a duty of about $24,000. The ship "Aurora," Robert W. Gould, master, arrived from Siam in January, 1823, with a cargo of pepper and coffee to Willard Peele. The brig "Ann," Charles Millett, master, arrived from Bombay in November, 1825, to Henry Prince. The brig "Reaper," J. F. Brookhouse, master, entered from Bombay in February, 1830, consigned to Robert Brookhouse. The brig "Nereus," Thomas Farley, master, entered from Bombay in April, 1830, consigned to John W. Rogers. The ship "Catherine," Joseph Winn, Jr., entered from Calcutta in October, 1831, consigned to Joseph Peabody. The brig "Quill," S. I. Shillaber, master, entered from Bombay in October, 1832, con- signed to N. L. Rogers & Brothers. The brig "Cherokee," W. B. Smith, master, entered from Bombay in February, 1837, consigned to Michael Shepard. The ship " William and Henry," Charles H. Fabens, master, entered from Bombay in September, 1839, consigned to David Pingree.

In 1842 there were three entries from Calcutta, --- the ship "General Harrison," W. Lecraw, master, in February ; the ship "Isaac Hicks," Newell, master, in September ; and the ship "New Jersey," Barry, master, in December, all with cargoes consigned to Francis Peabody. The last entry at Salem from ports in India of a vessel consigned to a Salem merchant was that of the bark " Brenda," H. Bridges, master, in August, 1845, with a cargo of pepper and cordage to Michael Shepard, paying a duty of $31,793.65. Within the last few years there have been several en-

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 40

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