History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 47

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 47

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SALEM.

with salt, wine and letter-paper, to Gideon Tucker. The brig " Amazon," Oliver Thayer master, in March, 1832, with salt, etc., to Joseph Peabody. The last vessel to arrive from Leghorn was the brig "Mexi- cau," H. Johnson master. She entered in Septem- ber, 1839, in March, 1840, and in September, 1841, consigned on each voyage to Joseph Peabody. The whole number of entries from Leghorn was one hun- dred and thirteen.

From Marseilles the schooner " Union," Stephen Field master, entered in October, 1802, consigned to Edward Allen. The ship " Ulysses," William Mug- ford master, in August, 1804, with prunes, almonds, 18,199 pounds of soap, 48,233 gallons of wine and 1571 gallons of brandy, consigned to William Gray. The ship "Endeavour," James Buffinton master, in July, 1805, with 44,902 gallons of claret wine, etc., to Simon Forrester. The brig "Industry," Jonathan Cook master, in March, 1806, to William Orne. The brig " Sukey," Samuel B. Graves master, in Novem- ber, 1807, to Nathan Pierce. The schooner "Aga- wam," Francis Boardman master, in June, 1816, to John Dodge. The ship "Perseverance," James Sil- ver master, in October, 1816, with salt, brandy and claret wine, to Willard Peele and William Fettyplace. The brig "Cygnet," Samuel Kennedy master, in July, 1823, with wine, to Stephen White. The brig "Java," William H. Neal master, in September, 1823, with 35,295 gallons of red wine, 1045 gallons of oil and 9708 pounds of soap, to Jonathan Neal. The ship " Endeavour," J. Kinsman master, in December, 1827, to Dudley L. Pickman. The ship "Messenger," James Buffinton master, in January, 1828, to Jobn Forrester. The ship " Bengal," J. Richardson mas- ter, in August, 1830, to Pickering Dodge. The whole number of entries from Marseilles was fifty- three. The last entry was the brig " Roque," T. Sea- ver master, in February, 1833, with salt, etc., to Joseph Peabody.

From Naples the ketch " John," Stephen Phillips master, entered in March, 1799, with 25,000 gallons of brandy and 46,417 pounds of soap, consigned to Elias H. Derby, and paying a duty of $11,299. The brig "Cruger," John Barton master, in July, 1800, with soap and wine, to John & Richard Derby. The ship "John," Daniel Bray master, in May, 1804, with 32,437 gallons of wine, to Benjamin Pickman, Jr. The brig " Belleisle," Samuel Leech master, in Au- gust, 1805, to Pickering Dodge and Nathan Robin- son. The ship "Hercules," Edward West master, was seized in Naples in 1809, but Captain West had the good fortune to obtain her release in order to transport Lucien Bonaparte and family to Malta, thus saving his ship from confiscation. The " Her- cules " was owned by Nathaniel West. The schooner " Joanna," Jonathan Hassam master, entered in Jan- uary, 1810, with brandy, etc., to Samuel Gray. The last entry from Naples was the ship " Francis," Wil- liam Haskell master, in August, 1810. This vessel

was purchased of the Neapolitan government by the American consul to bring home the crews of Ameri- can vessels confiscated by order of that government. She brought two hundred and fourteen persons, a large number of whom belonged in Salem. The Sa- lem vessels and cargoes condemned at Naples were valued at seven hundred and eighty-three thousand dollars.

The ship " Margaret," of Salem, William Fairfield master, left Naples April 10, 1810, with a crew, fifteen in number, and thirty-one passengers. On Sunday, May 20th, a squall struck the ship, and she was thrown on her beam-ends. As every person on board was on deck at the time, they all reached either the bottom or side of the ship, the waves at the time making a continual breach over her. Monday morn- ing the sea was tolerably smooth, and one of the boats having been repaired, Captain Fairfield and fourteen men left the ship in her, and were picked up on Saturday, May 26th, by the brig "Poacher," of Boston. The sufferings of those left on the wreck can hardly be imagined. After the long-boat had departed they raised a signal of distress. On the 28th a gale swept away the stage they had erected, and the provisions they had gathered, except a small quantity of wine and salt meat. On the 30th they made another stage over the forecastle, and so kept themselves out of the water. June 3d one of the number died of fatigue and famine. For seven days they had nothing to drink each day but an allowance of three gallons of wine for all, and a glass of vine- gar for each man. Many could not resist the temp- tation to quench their thirst from a pipe of brandy which had been saved from the cargo, On the 5th twelve of their number, overcome by their hardships and privations, died, and another on the next day. By the sixth the whole of the upper deck had gone, and no food was left but beef and pork, which could not be eaten because there was no fresh water. Since the time of the disaster, May 20th, four vessels had passed in sight of the sufferers on the wreck and added the pangs of disappointed hope to their other trials.

On the 7th, five of the number left the wreck in a small yawl. These were John C. Very, E. A. Irvin, and Jeptha Layth, of Salem; Henry Larcom, of Bev- erly ; and John Treadwell, of Ipswich. They left about ten survivors on the wreck, and from these no tidings ever came. Who can imagine their agony, as hope gradually faded out, and they died one by one in mid-ocean. The escape of those in the small boat is a remarkable instance of human endurance, amid sufferings and hardships almost incredible. For six- teen days after leaving the wreck they had nothing to sustain them but brandy, a gill in twenty-four hours; and to quench their thirst were obliged to resort to most revolting means. On the night of June 22d there was a fall of rain, and water was caught in handkerchiefs, sufficient to partially allay their thirst.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

June 23d, Treadwell, worn out with fatigne, hunger, and thirst, dicd without a struggle. The same day they caught some rudder fish, which was the first food they had eaten since they had left the wreck. On the twenty-eighth Layth died, leaving three survivors in the boat. The next day, with a heavy sea running, they lost their oars and mast, and having nothing to steer by they gave themselves up for lost. They had already been passed by three vessels, when, on the 30th, they saw another in the distance, and strained every nerve to get in her track. In this they were successful, and Captain Stephen L. Davis, of Glouces- ter, the master of the vessel, received them and treated them with great care and kindness. Tossed about in a small and shattered boat for twenty-three days, with scarcely any food or water to sustain them, exposed to storms and gales in which it seemed hardly possible that such a craft could keep afloat, their escape from such extraordinary perils and privations is hardly paralleled in the history of marine disasters.

From Messina, the ship "Prudent," Benjamin Crowninshield, master, entered in December, 1803, with 11,406 gallons of red wine, 6,413 gallons of white wine, 4,303 gallons of brandy, and 9,810 pounds of soap, consigned to Nathaniel West. The ship "Two Brothers," John Holman, master, in October, 1804, to Israel Williams. The brig " Louisa," Richard Ward, Jr., master, in August, 1810, to James Cook. The brig " Harriot," Samuel Becket, master, in October, 1811, with soap, raisins, almonds and wine to Nathaniel Silsbee. The brig "Eliza and Mary," Thorndike Procter, master, in August, 1818, to Stephen White. The last entry was the brig "Centurion," Samuel Hutchinson, master, in June, 1831, with currants, oil, &c., to Gideon Tucker.

From Smyrna, the brig "Independence," Nathaniel L. Rogers, master, entered in April, 1810, to Dndley L. Pickman. The brig "Reward," James Hayes, Jr., master, in July, 1810, with almonds, raisins and figs, consigned to Charles H. Orne and Dudley L. Pick- man. The brig " Resolution," Samuel Rea, master, in April, 1812, to Joseph Peahody. The brig "Hope," John Beckford, master, in December, 1829, with one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds of figs, to Daniel Abbot and Robert Stone. The last entry was the hrig " Leander," James Silver, master, in Jannary, 1831, with salt, figs, raisins and wool, to Joseph Pea- body.

From Trieste, the brig "Texel," Charles Hill, mas- ter, entered in December, 1825, with olive oil and lead, consigned to John W. Rogers. The bark " Eliza," Samuel Benson, master, in July, 1829, with hemp and glass, to Stephen White.

The brig "Persia," John Thistle, master, from Trieste for Salem, belonging to Silsbee, Stone & Pick- man, and having a cargo of rags and snmac, was wrecked in the storm of March 5, 1829, on a rocky shore near Brace's Cove, about a mile and a half below Eastern Point, Gloucester, and all on board perished.

From Genoa, the brig "Nerens," David A. Neal, master, entered in March, 1822, with raisins, &c., to John W. Rogers. The brig "Rebecca," J. P. An- drews, master, in July, 1831, to John H. Andrew.

Among other entries was that of the brig "Telema- chns," Penn Townsend, master, from Constantinople in May, 1810, with cordage figs, raisins and currants, to David Burditt.

Among the last voyages projected by Elias Hasket Derby was one up the Mediterranean, by the ship "Mount Vernon," in 1799. Hostilities had com- menced between the United States and France. American trade had been rendered unsafe, and, as a consequence, a great demand for sugar had arisen in the ports of the Mediterranean. At this crisis Mr. Derby had built the ship "Mount Vernon," of three hundred and fifty-six tons, equipped her with twenty gnns, manned her with fifty men, and, after loading her with eight hundred cases of sugar, placed her in the hands of his son, Elias Hasket, with a sailing- master. The cargo cost forty-three thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollars. The following letter, written by his son, is interesting as showing the risks attending our commercial ventures at this period :

" GIBRALTAR, 1st August, 1799.

"E. H. DENBY, EsQ., Salem :

" Honored Sir : I think you must be surprised to find me here so early. I arrived at this port in seventeen and one-half days from the time my brother left the ship. In eight days and seven hours were up with Carvo, and made Cape St. Vincent in sixteen days. The first of our passage was quite agreeable ; the latter light winds, calm, and French- men constantly in sight for the last four days. The first Frenchman we saw was off Tercira- a Ingger to the southward. Being uncertain of his force, we stood by him to leeward on our course, and soon left him. July 28th, in the afternoon, we found ourselves approaching a fleet of up- wards of fifty suil steering nearly northeast. We ran directly for their centre ; at four o'clock found ourselves in their half-moon ; concluding it impossible that it could be any other than the English fleet, continued our course for their centre to avoid any apprehension of a want of confi- dence in them. They soon dispatched an eighteen-gun ship from their centre, and two frigates-one from their van and another from their rear-to beat toward ns, we being to windward. On approaching, under easy sail, the centre ship I fortunately hethought myself that it would he but commen prudence to steer so far to windward of him as to bo a grape-shot distance from him, to observe his force and manœnvering. When we were abreast of him he fired a gun to leeward and hoisted English colors. We immediately bore away and meant to pass under his quarter, between him and the fleet, showing our American colors. This movement disconcerted him, and it appeared to me he conceived we were either an American sloop of war or an English one in disguise, at- tempting to cut him off from the fleet ; for, while we were in the act of wearing on his beam, he hoisted French colors and gave us his broad- side. We immediately brought our ship to the wind and stood on about a mile ; wore toward the centre of the fleet ; hove ahont and crossed him on the other tack, about half grape-shot distance, and received his broadside. Several of his shot fell on board of us and cut our sails, two round-shot striking ns withont much damage. All hands were active in clearing ship for action, for our surprise had been complete. In about ten minutes we commenced firing our stern-chasers, and in a quarter of an hour gave him our broadside in such a style as evidently sickened him ; for he immediately luffed in the wind, gave us his broadside, went in stays in great confusion, wore ship afterward in a large circle, and renewed the chase at a mile and a half distance, a manoeuvre calculated to keep up appearances with the fleet and to escape our shot. We re- ceived seven or eight broadsides from him, and I was mertified at not having it in my power to return him an equal number without exposing myself to the rest of the fleet, for I am persuaded I should have had the pleasure of sending him he me, hnd he been separate from them.

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SALEM.

"At midnight we had distanced them, the chasing rocket-signals being almost out of sight, and soon left them. We then kept ourselves ia coastaat preparation till my arrival here ; and, indeed, it has been requisite, for we have been in constant brushes ever since. The day after we left the fleet we were chased till night by two frigates, whom we lost sight of when it was dark. The next morning off Cape St. Vin- ceat, in the latitude of Cadiz, were chased by a French lateen-rigged vessel, apparently of ten or twelve guns-ene of them an eighteen ponader. We brought to fer him ; his metal was too heavy for ours, and his position to windward, where he lay just in a situation te cast his shot over us, and it was not in my power to cut him off; we, of course, bere away aud saluted him with our long nines. ITe continued in chase till dark, and when we were nearly by Cadiz, at sunset, he made a signal to his consert, a large lugger, 'when we had just discovered ahead. Having a strong breeze, I was determined to pass my stern over him, if he did not make way for me. He thought prudent se to de. At midnight we made the lights in Cadiz City, but found ne English fleet. After laying to till daylight, concluded that the French must have gained the ascendency io Cadiz, and thought prudent to proceed te this place, where we arrived at twelve o'clock, pepping at Frenchmen all the forenoon. At ten A. M. off Algesiras Peint, were seriously attacked by a large latineer, who had on board more than a hundred men. He camie 80 near our broadside es to allow our six-pound grape to de execution hand- aomely. We then bore away and gave him our stern-guns in a cool and deliberate manner, doing apparently great execution. Our hars having cut his sails considerably, he was thrown into confusion, struck beth his ensigo and his pennant. I was then puzzled te know what to do with so many men ; eur ship was running large, with all her steering-sails out, so that we could not immediately bring her to the wind, and we were directly off Algesiras Point, from wheace I had reason to fear che might receive assistance, and my port (Gibraltar) in full view. These were circumstances that induced mne to give up the gratification ef bring_ ing him in. It was, however, a satisfaction to flog the rascal in full view of the English fleet, whe were to leeward. The risk of sending here is great, indeed, for any ship short of our force in men and guns- but particularly heavy guns. Twe nines are better thao six or eight sixes ; and two long twelves er thirteen pounders do better than twenty sixes, and could be managed with few men.

"It is absolutely necessary that two government ships should occasion- ally range the straits and latitude of Cadiz, from the longitude of Cape St. Vincent. I have now, while writing to you, two of our countrymen in full view, who are prizes to these villains. Lord St. Vincent, in a fifty- gun ship, bonod for England, is just et this moment in the act ef re- taking one of them. The ether goes inte Algesirae without molesta- tion.

"I find that nething is to be done here with advantage except te eb- tain information from above. I have been offered thirty dellars to de- liver my sugar at Naples, where I think I shall ge ; but rather expect to sell at Venice, Constantinople er Geaoa, in case the French are driven frem there. I have concluded to teuch at Malaga with Captain Young, of Boston, and obtain what information I can ; and think I may direct Mr. White how to lay out the property in his hands, against my return, as I think it for your interest to have it out of Spain. You need have but little apprehension for my safety, ag my crew are remarkably well trained and are perfectly well disposed to defend themselves, and I think, after having cleared ourselves from the French ia such a handsome manner, you may well conclude that we can effect almost any thing. If I should go to Constantinople, it will be from a passport from Admiral Nelsen, for whom I carry a letter te Naples.

" Your affectionate 800,

" ELIAS HASKET DERBY."

In subsequent letters Mr. Derby writes : "My sales here amount to abont $120,000, which I have found impossible to invest immediately in a cargo proper for America. I have, therefore, contracted for $60,000 in silks called ormazene, and about seven hundred easks of wine. In the meantime, whilst the silks are in the loom, I have thought it for your interest to purchase two polacca-rigged ships, of two hundred and ninety and three hundred and ten tons, both of them very fine ships, almost new and great sailers. They are now ready to proceed with the 'Mount Vernon ' for

Manfredonia, to take on your account cargoes of wheat to Leghorn, which, from the rising state of the mar- ket, I think will more than clear the ships. They cost, with all expenses, about $16,000. The two ships made a voyage for wheat and cleared nearly $30,000 in two and a half months." Mr. Derby dined with Lord Nelson and the officers of the fleet at Naples. The beautiful Lady Hamilton was present at this dinner. The " Mount Vernon " arrived home safely, with a cargo of silks, wines and brass cannon, and realized a net profit of more than one hundred thou- sand dollars on a capital of forty-three thousand, two hundred and seventy-five dollars, the cost of the out- ward eargo.

The foregoing account illustrates the great disad- vantages, in some respects, under which the commerce of that period was prosecuted. Mr. Derby desired to return to Salem from the Mediterranean by the fall of 1799, but his silks must be manufactured and he must wait till the red wine of Port Iolo is ready to ship. "Exchange on London," he says, "is very disadvantageons, besides the uncertainty of it, and to leave property in a distracted country like this, where they guillotine six a day, three or four times a week, would be madness." So he must perforce remain till his cargo is ready, and that he may not remain in idleness, he buys two ships and freights wheat to Leg- horn, and makes nearly thirty thousand dollars in less than three months. He returned in 1800 with the " Mount Vernon " and a valuable cargo. Great as were the obstacles placed in the way of trade at that period, these very drawbacks made possible the sometimes enormous profits of the voyage, so that although to-day trade is carried on with greater facil- ity, there is no such opportunity for making a for- tune in a single venture, as was possible about a hundred years ago.

THE NOVA SCOTIA TRADE .- About the year 1840 the trade between Salem and Nova Scotia, and the other British provinces on the eastern coast of North America, began to be vigorously prosecuted, mainly by English vessels, whose captains often owned both ship and cargo. This trade increased very rapidly. Wood, coal and plaster were among the principal artieles of import. In 1840 there were fifteen entries; in 1845, one hundred and seven ; in 1850, three hun- dred and ninety-one ; in 1855, three hundred and twen- ty-eight : in 1860, two hundred and fifteen; in 1865, one hundred and eighteen ; in 1870, one hundred and seventeen ; in 1875, fifty-nine; in 1878, fifty-three; in 1886, ninety. During the thirty years from 1841 to 1870, inclusive, there were five thousand seven hundred and twenty-four entries. The period of the greatest activity was from 1848 to.1857, inclusive, when there were 3253 entries, or an average of 325 for each year.

THE CALIFORNIA TRADE .- A letter giving definite information of the discovery of gold in California reached Salem in October, 1848. The brig "Mary and Ellen " was then fitting for sea. A cargo suita-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ble for the California trade was at once put on board, by Stephen C. Phillips and others, and the brig, un- der command of Captain J. H. Eagleston, was cleared October 27, 1848, for the Sandwich Islands via Cali- fornia. Salem again takes the lead, for this was the first vessel to sail for California from Massachusetts after the gold discovery. Both vessel and cargo were sold in California. The first vessel that cleared from Massachusetts for San Francisco direct, with an as- sorted cargo and passengers, was the bark " Eliza," of Salem, loaded by John Bertram and others, and com- manded by Captain A. S. Perkins. She left Salem December 23, 1848, and arrived at San Francisco June 1, 1849. Alfred Peabody, of Salem, was among the passengers, and upon his arrival he found that Captain Eagleston had already sold the " Mary and Ellen," and her cargo. John Beadle, Jr., Dennis Rideout, George P. Buffum, George W. Kenney and Jonathan Nichols, all of Salem, were passengers with Mr. Peabody.

The bark "Lagrange," Joseph Dewing, master, sailed from Salem for San Francisco March 17, 1849, taking as passengers the "Salem and California Trading Company," among whom were Joseph Dew- ing, Anthony Francis, Nicholas Bovey, J. K. Vincent, P. Gilman, John H. Pitman, H. B. Bogardus, H. A. Tuttle, C. R. Story, A. Robbins, John McCloy, George Harris, C. C. Teele, Joseph L. Bartlett, William P. Leavitt, Thomas B. Flowers, Eben Chapman, Charles E. Brown, William H. Sibley, O. A. Gordon, John H. Dakin, Daniel Couch, D. A. Nichols, Moses Prime, Edward Fuller, William Brown, B. F. Sym- onds, William Sinclair and James Stewart, of the Trading Company, and Nathaniel Osgood and Rich- ard H. Austin, all of Salem. On board the same ves- sel were twelve passengers from Danvers, four from Lynn, two each from Manchester and Beverly, four from Gloucester and about ten from other places.

The ship " Elizabeth," J. S. Kimball, master, was cleared for San Francisco April 3, 1849, by W. P. Phillips. Brackley R. Peabody and Robert M. Cope- land, of Salem, went as passengers. The bark " Ann Parry," Wm. M. Harron, master, was cleared June 20, 1849, for San Francisco, by Benjamin Webb. James C. Briggs and Wm. H. Clark, of Salem, were passen- gers. The ship "Talma," Wm. B. Davis, master, cleared September 11, 1849, and the bark " Backus," A. D. Caulfield, Jr., master, cleared November 28, 1849, for San Francisco. In the " Backus " Joseph Allen, Charles R. Julyn, Thomas W. Taylor, Wm. Stafford and Wm H. Brown went as passengers.

The ship "Crescent," John Madison, master, cleared for Benicia, Cal., December 3, 1849. She had been purchased by the Salem Mechanics' Trading and Mining Association, and was loaded with one hundred and thirty thousand feet of lumber, framed and made ready for erection into houses, and the frame-work of a small steamboat. On the 6th of De- cember the " Crescent" left Salem with the following-

named members of the association as passengers : Albert Lackey, Thomas J. Gifford, Dean C. Symonds, John Madison, Thomas Dickson, Jr., John H. New- ton, Jonathan Davis, Eben Waters, Nathaniel Jenk- ins, John D. Chapple, Edward A. Wheeler, George S. Nichols, John P. Dickson, Joshua Pope, Gilman Andrews, Israel Herrick, Charles L. Hardy, Wm. Graves, Wm. P. Buffum, Asa A. Whitney, Wm. H. Searles, James Gardner, Payne Morse, Benjamin S. Boardman, Samuel H. Larrabee and John Nichols, all of Salem, and a number from Lawrence, Fitch- burg, Lynn and Newton, in all numbering about sixty-one. She arrived at her destination May 26, 1850, and was sold, with her cargo, very soon after arrival.

During the gold excitement a large number of Salem residents went to California, sailing from other ports. Stephen C. Phillips and John Bertram were among those engaged in the California trade.

SALEM TONNAGE .- In 1793 twelve ships were owned in Salem; in 1807, sixty; and in 1833 only twenty-nine. In 1825 there were thirty-two ships, five barks, ninety-five brigs, sixty schooners, and six sloops owned in Salem, measuring thirty-four thou- sand two hundred and twenty-four tons-the ship "Nile," of four hundred tons, was the largest; and in 1828 thirty ships, one hundred and two brigs, eight barks and thirty schooners, the largest being the ship " Arabella," of four hundred and four tons. In 1833 there were one hundred and eleven Salem vessels en- gaged in the foreign trade.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 47

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