History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 52

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 52

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 Mercury was printed weekly, on Tuesday, on a demy sheet, four columns to a page, and chiefly in long primer type. The price was nine shillings a year. The contents of the paper gave evidence of care in the selection, and the original communica- tions were from competent writers. Party lines had not been drawn at that carly period, and the political character of the paper was simply that of an ardent advocate of the new Federal Constitution, the adop- tion of which, in our own State, and in other States successively, was recorded in terms of exultation.

Mr. Dabney withdrew from the paper at the close of the third volume, October 6, 1789, and opened a book-store, leaving Mr. Cushing sole proprietor of the business. He continued thus until October 14, 1794, a period of five years, and then transferred the publication to William Carlton, his partner in the Bible and Heart Book-store. This book-store was a noted place of resort for the leading gentlemen of the town, such as Dr. Bowditch, Dr. Holyoke and Dr. Prince, for many years. The store was subse- quently carried on successfully by John M. Ives, John P. Jewett and D. B. Brooks, and it is now Mr. Young's music-store. There were formerly wooden figures of a Bible and a heart suspended over the door, which, during the War of 1812, in a time of great political excitement, were torn down in the night by some mischievous persons, and thrown into the harbor. It was upon the occasion of a list of privateers in our harbor being published in the Ga- zette by the foreman of the office.

The excited and virulent political feeling at various times between 1802 and 1815, embracing the events connected with the last war with Great Britain, was fully exhibited in the columns of the Gazette. Al- though Mr. Cushing was himself of a mild and peaceable disposition, he allowed a pretty free use of his columns by writers who did not emulate his own virtues. The Republican party was assailed in vio-

lent and often extremely personal language. Sar- casm, ridicule and severe denunciation were freely employed. Nor was the Register at all backward in returning the assault in a similar tone and spirit. This mode of warfare led, on several occasions, to serious personal difficulties.

In the fall of 1802 a violent contest arose between the Federal and Republican parties, concerning the election of a member of Congress from this district. The result was favorable to the Republicans. When it was over, in November, the editors of the Register and Gazette were called upon to answer for the tone of their papers, the former by a libel suit and the latter by threats of personal violence. Mr. Cushing was visited at his house by Captains Richard and Benjamin Crowninshield and Mr. Joseph Story, and taken into a private room, where he was charged with malicious publications, of a purely personal and offensive character, against the complainants and their friends, designed to injure them in the estima- tion of the community. After detailing their griev- ances at some length, Captain Benjamin Crownin- shield threatened to shoot Mr. Cushing if he contin- ued to publish such things as they had complained of. Mr. Cushing replied that it had been his en- deavor to keep his paper free from undue personali- ties, though he considered public characters and public conduct as proper subjects of animadversion ; and as for the future he should give no pledges, but should be governed by his regard for decency, and endeavor to give no just cause of offense. The con- versation became so loud and boisterous that it alarmed the females of Mr. Cushing's family, who called a number of persons into an adjoining apart- ment, as listeners ; and thus the whole affair became a matter of public notoriety. The excitement which ensued was so great that Mr. Cushing was obliged to publish a full account of the interview.

Party politics continued to rage for several years afterwards with a degree of violence which has not been exhibited since.

One of the most amusing circumstances connected with this period was that of the Pictorial Gerry- mander. The Democratic Legislature of 1811-12 had carved and cut up the towns of Essex County in such a manner as to favor the election of a Demo- cratic member of Congress from Essex South. The district thus formed was very strange in its outlines, running from Salem all around the line of back towns, Lynn, Andover, Haverhill, etc., and ending at Salisbury. This curious arrangement struck the eye of Gilbert Stuart, the celebrated painter, as present- ing the outlines of a natural monster, and he accord- ingly took his pencil, and by affixing claws to the lower extremities at Salem and Marblehead, wings to the back at Andover, aud a ' horrid beak' at Salis- bury, produced the figure of a creature which he said would do for a Salamander. But Major Benjamin Russell suggested that it might more properly be

121

SALEM.

called a "Gerrymander," in allusion to Elbridge Gerry, the Democratic Governor of the State. It ever after received this title. An engraving of the monster was inserted in the Gazette and other papers, and printed upon handbills, as an electioneering document. In 1813, when the Democrats were de- feated, the Federalists were in high glee over the " Gerrymander," which had been so nseful to them, and on the morning after the election in April, a fig- ure of the skeleton of the deceased monster appeared in the Gazette, with the appropriate epitaph, " Hatched 1812-killed 1813." This device was exe- cuted by Mr. Appleton, the jocose partner of Mr. Cushing in his book-store, who cast a block of type- metal and engraved the figure during the night pre- vious to its publication. There was subsequently published a picture of the nondescript in its coffin, and a fac-simile of the grave-stone, together with an amusing programme of mock ceremonials at its funeral.

Mr. Cushing relinquished the publication of the Gazette Dec. 31, 1822, on account of infirm health, and, in retiring from a post he had so long occupied, bade adieu to his friends in a graceful note. He died Sept. 28, 1824, aged sixty. As an editor and pub- lisher, as well as a member of the firm of Cnshing & Appleton, he had secured a host of friends, who re- membered him as " the amiable and gifted Cushing." His qualities of mind and heart were such as com- manded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was steadfast and conscientious in his political opinions, a person of thorongh integrity in his busi- ness affairs, gentle and pleasing in his manners. He is described as having had strong powers of mind, warmth of fancy, various and extensive knowledge, and a familiar acquaintance with the best of English literature, which gave attraction and fascination to his conversation.

Among the writers for the Gazette during Mr. Cush- ing's connection with it was the late Benjamin Mer- rill, who was a constant and voluminous contributor to its columns, and whose writings contributed largely to its snecess and influence upon the public mind.

The next publishers of the paper were Caleb Cush- ing, a son of Thomas C., and Ferdinand Andrews, who commenced at the beginning of 1823. Mr. Cushing withdrew at the end of six months, and Mr. Andrews continued sole publisher nntil April 1, 1825, when he sold half of the establishment to Caleb Foote. Mr. Foote had served his apprenticeship with Mr. T. C. Cushing, who had himself been an apprentice of Mr. Hall, and thus was established a personal connection between the original Essex Gazette and the Salem Ga- zette of to-day. In 1826, Oct. 1st, the other half of the Gazette was purchased by William Brown, of Mr. Andrews, who removed to Lancaster and established a paper in that town. He afterwards returned to Salem to publish the Landmark, and was subsequently a proprietor of the Boston Daily Evening Traveller.

In 1833, Jan. 1st, Mr. Foote became sole proprietor of the Gazette. He was assisted for some time by John B. Chisholm, and afterwards for many years by Major William Brown, In 1851, Jan. Ist, Nathaniel A. Horton became associated with Mr. Foote as publisher and editor, and so remains at the present time. From Jan. 1, 1847, until Oct. 3, 1851, the Gazette was issued tri-weekly, on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. At the latter date the Saturday edition was discontinued in favor of an enlarged semi-weekly. Since the mod- ern division of parties the Gazette has been a zealous and efficient advocate of the views of the Republican party, in entire harmony with its old antagonist, the Register.

The printing-office previons to 1792 was somewhere near its present location, and for two years subsequent to that time in Stearns' Building. It was afterwards removed to the present neighborhood; then to No. 8 Paved Street. From 1825 to 1827 it occupied the rooms now improved by the Register office. It was thence removed to Columbian Hall, in Stearns' Build- ing, and in 1831 to quarters in the Holyoke Building, where it remained until January, 1874, when it occu- pied its present commodious quarters in Hale's Build- ing.

8. THE SALEM REGISTER .- This paper was com- menced during the first year of the present century, May 12, 1800, when the first number was issued with the title of The Impartial Register. It was published on Monday and Thursday, by William Carlton, who had withdrawn from the Gazette and dissolved his partnership in the book business with Thomas C. Cushing several years before, as we have already stated. The Register started in opposition to the Federal party, and, during the violent political strng- gles which ensued, was an able supporter of the Re- publican cause. It selected for its motto the following lines :

" All parties here may plead an honest, favorite cause, Whoever reasons best on Nature's, Wisdom's Laws, Proclaims eternal Truth-gains Heaven's and Men's applanse."

Dr. Bentley aided Mr. Carlton in his new publica- tion, as he had previously done in the Gazette, and his famous summaries and variety of miscellaneons and local articles soon gave the paper a decided char- acter. In a few months, Aug. 7th, the title was enlarged to The Salem Impartial Register. This was continued until Jan. 4, 1802, when the word "Impartial " was dropped, leaving The Salem Register. At the same time the original motto gave place to the well-known verse which is still printed in the paper, and which was written impromptu by the late Judge Story, who is said to have scribbled it in pencil on the side of a printer's case.

" Here shall the Press the People's Rights maintain, Unawed by Influence, and unbribed by Gain ; Here Patriot Truth her glorious precepts draw, Pledged to Religion, Liberty and Law."

During the autumn of this year (1802) the editor,

122

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Mr. Carlton, was convicted of a libel on Timothy Pickering, and suffered imprisonment therefor. This occurred just after the election of a member of Con- gress for this district, when Jacob Crowninshield, the Democratic candidate, was chosen over Mr. Pickering, who was the Federal candidate. The Register had as- serted that " Robert Liston, the British Ambassador, distributed five hundred thousand dollars amongst the partizans of the English nation in America," and in- timated that Mr. Pickering might have partaken of " these secret largesses," "some little token, some small gratuity, for all his zealous efforts against lib- erty and her sons, for all his attachment to the inter- ests of England," at the same time indulging in con - temptuous flings toward the distinguished ex-Secre- tary of State. To answer for this article Mr. Carlton was indicted by the grand jury, and tried before the Supreme Court, at Ipswich, in April, 1803. He was convicted, and sentenced to pay a fine of one hundred dollars and the costs of prosecution ; to be imprisoned in the county jail two months, and to give bonds, with two sureties in four hundred dollars each, to keep the peace for two years. This unfortunate affair is simply illustrative of the acerbity of party feeling at that time.

In a little more than two years after this imprison- ment Mr. Carlton died, July 24, 1805, aged thirty- four years. He had suffered from fever during his im- prisonment as stated by Dr. Bentley, and continued feeble until the day before his decease, when he was suddenly seized by violent fever and derangement, which terminated his life in twenty-four hours. Mr. Carlton was a native of Salem, and descended from two of the ancient families of the country. His con- stant friend said of him: "He always possessed great cheerfulness of temper and great benevolence of mind. He was distinguished by his perseverance, in- tegrity and uprightness. To his generous zeal the public were indebted for the early information which the Register gave of the most interesting occurrences. To a tender mother he was faithful, and to his family affectionate. The friends of his youth enjoyed the warmth of his gratitude. His professions and friend- ships were sincere. He was an able editor and an honest man."

Previous to the death of Mr. Carlton the printing- office was removed (January 3, 1803) from its origi- nal location in the house on Essex Street, next below the Franklin building, to a room over the post-office, where Bowker's building now stands. At the same time a new head-picce was mounted, a figure of Lib- erty, with the motto, " Where liberty is, there is my country."

After the death of Mr. Carlton the Register was published for his widow, Elizabeth, until the 26th of August ensuing, when she died also. It was then continued " for the proprietors,"-Dr. Bentley and Warwick Palfray, Jr., contributing to its columns for nearly two years. In August, 1806, an advertisement

appeared, stating that " The Salem Register having been supported in its editorial department by the voluntary assistance of its friends since the deccase of the late editor, Mr. Carlton, the proprietors are desirous of obtaining an editor to conduct the same in future." No new arrangement was commenced, however, until July 23, 1807, when a " new series," entitled The Essex Register, was commenced by Haven Pool and Warwick Palfray, Jr., assisted by S. Cleveland Blydon. At this time the famous motto- verse was dropped, and the following sentence adopt- ed as a substitute: "Let the greatest good of the greatest number be the pole-star of your public and private deliberations." [Ramsay.] Mr. Blydon's name remained in the paper only about six months, when, January 6, 1808, it was withdrawn. The pub- lication days were then changed to Wednesday and Saturday, "for various reasons, some of a public and some of a private nature." The favorite motto was again resumed.

On June 28, 1811, Mr. Pool, the eldest proprietor, although only twenty-nine, suddenly died, after a short illness, leaving Mr. Palfray the sole editor and publisher for the next twenty-three years. Mr. Pool was described in an obituary notice as " an affection- ate husband, kind parent and dutiful son. He was of a cheerful disposition, constant and ardent in his friendships and excessively fond in his domestic at- tachments." He is remembered as a genial and gay companion.

The printing-office was located successively in the three buildings next below the Franklin Place until April 28, 1828, when it was transferred to Stearns' Building, and on October 5, 1832, it was finally re- moved to Central Building, where it now remains.

On February 1, 1823, the old publication days, Monday and Thursday, were resumed. On January 1, 1835, John Chapman, who had entered the office as an apprentice in 1807, was admitted as partner in the business, and continued until his death.

The death of Mr. Palfray, who had been identified with the Register as Mr. Cushing had been with the Gazette, occurred August 23, 1838, at the age of fifty- one years. He was a native of Salem, a descendant of Peter Palfray, one of the first settlers of this place -having arrived here several years before Governor Endicott. Mr. Palfray served his time as a printer with Mr. Carlton, whose office he entered in 1801. He assumed a share in the charge of the Register while yet a minor, and his tact and good judgment, thence- forth exerted, largely increased the circulation of the paper, and gave it popularity and influence. He was the sole conductor during the times of the embargo and the war with England, when political feeling ran very high, and was much embittered by personal hos- tilities. "Yet, notwithstanding all the excitements of those periods," said his eulogist, the late Joseph E. Sprague, " Mr. Palfray gave as little just cause of of- fense as any man living coukl. Possessed of most

123

SALEM.

generous and honorable feelings, he never willingly gave just cause of offense to a political opponent. Personal allusions were always painful to him-and at those periods of deadly feud, when he was placed at the editorial desk, it was his greatest pleasure to take from the papers hauded him for publication the poisoned arrows; and when he could not consistently with political duty, wholly remove personal allusions, to soften them to the utmost limit." " With but slight advantages of education, there were but few who were more useful to society. His heart was the abode of pure thoughts-his life the exemplar of good principles. The tongue of calumny, in the times of bitterest political animosities, never breathed a sylla- ble against the spotless purity of his life and char- acter."

Though Mr. Palfray never sought office, he held several public trusts. He was a member of the city government at the time of his death, and vice-presi- dent of the Mechanic Association. He had served with usefulness in both branches of the Legislature.

After the death of Mr. Palfray, the paper was con- tinued by the surviving partner, Mr. Chapman,-the family of the former retaining an interest in the pub- lication. Mr. Chapman, by the soundness of his judgment and the integrity of his principles, contrib- uted largely to the continued success of the Register, although he was not a regular contributor to its col- umns. The paper was an able exponent of the pur- poses of the Whig party during the entire period of its existence, and Mr. Chapman was made a member of the Governor's Council in recognition of the value of his services to his party. And afterwards, when the Republican party triumphed in the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States, Mr. Chapman was appointed postmaster of Salem. On January 1, 1839, Charles W. Palfray, a son of the former proprietor, and a graduate of Har- vard University, assumed the place vacated by his father. In 1841, January 1st, the earlier name of The Salem Register was again adopted. Eben N. Walton becaine associate publisher and editor, January 1, 1873, and since the death of Mr. Chapman, April 19, 1873, the paper has been published by Palfray & Walton.

The Register during the more than half-century of its existence has received the contributions of able pens. Dr. Bentley and the late Sheriff Sprague were voluminous and influential writers in its columns for a great many years. Judge Story, during his residence in Salem, was a frequent contributor. So was Andrew Dunlap for many years previous to 1825. The "Sum- maries " of Dr. Bentley have become famous. These concise and curious medleys were furnished regularly for a quarter of a century. They often extended to a column and a half of close matter, and sometimes to several columns. They were continued until the very close of his life, the last "Summary " appearing in the Register published on the very day of his death, the

last day of the year 1819. These contributions from Dr. Bentley's industrious pen were thus constantly furnished without ever a dollar being received by him as compensation. He labored without the expecta- tion or desire of reward.

9. THE WEEKLY VISITANT .- Iu 1806, during the rage of party politics, a periodical was commenced by Haven Pool, of a purely literary character, though not of great pretensions. It was an octavo, entitled The Weekly Visitant, published on Saturday evening " directly west of the Tower of Dr. Prince's Church." Price two-dollars per year. It seems to have been designed to afford its patrons more agreeable reading than was furnished in the political papers, an idea which was expressed in the couplet adopted as a motto :

"Ours are the plans of fair, delightful peace,

Unwarped by party rage, to live like brothers."

10. THE FRIEND .- The Visitant had a successor the next year in The Friend, started by Mr. Pool, in connection with Stephen C. Blyth, as editor, January 3, 1807. It was published weekly, on Saturday even- ing, of the common newspaper form, at two dollars per year. It was announced as a "new and neutral paper," and was therefore spoken of as "a scheme novel in its design ;" nevertheless it was hoped that by avoiding insipidity it might be made interesting. Like its predecessor, this paper indicated a desire for peace in the community by selecting a peaceful motto from Ecclesiasticus : "Sweet language will multiply friends; and a fair speaking tongue will increase kind greetings." The Friend lasted about six months, until July 18th, and was then merged in the Register, with which the publisher and editor also formed a connection. Mr. Blyth had changed his name to Blydon, during the year, by consent of the General Court. He was a native of Salem, and taught school here. He afterwards removed to Canada, and is be- lieved to have died there.

11, 12, 13. HUMOROUS PUBLICATIONS .- In 1807 and 1808 Mr. John S. Appleton, of the firm of Cush- ing & Appleton, who was known as a ready wit, got out two or three small humorous publications, which had a temporary run as periodicals. One of these was "The Fool. By Thomas Brainless, Esq., LL.D., Jester to his Majesty, the Public. A new and useless paper, of no particular form or size, issued at irregu- Iar intervals; and the price to be left at the generosity of the public." This was issued in 1807. Then there was "the Barber's Shop, kept by Sir David Razor," published by Cushing & Appleton in 1808 and print- ed by Joshua Cushing, a brother of Thomas C. Cush- ing. Another of these ephemeral sheets, the Punches of those days, was Salmagundi, from the same source. In all of these the Republican party was the object of ridicule and satire.

14. THE GOSPEL VISITANT .- This was the title of a quarterly octavo magazine, commenced in Salem in 1811, to espouse the doctrine of Univeralism. It is

124

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

interesting from the circumstance that it was the first regular periodical issued by that denomination in this country. There had been previously an occasional publication in Boston entitled The Berean,-contain- ing the proceedings of an association,-eight numbers of which were printed at irregular intervals, without regard to time; but the Visitant was the first regular periodical. It was started at the suggestion of a Con- ference of Universal Ministers, assembled at Glouces- ter in January of that year. The conductors were Thomas Jones, of Gloucester, Hosea Ballou, of Ports- mouth, Abner Kneeland, of Charlestown, and Edward Turner, of Salem, all prominent clergymen of that communion, settled over societies in the places named. The contents of the magazine were chiefly sermons, essays and briefer articles upon religious and doctrinal points. The price was twenty-five cents a number. The numbers for June and Septem- ber were printed at the Register office; that for De- cember, by Ward & Coburn, on North Street; and that for March, 1812, was published in Charlestown. The second volume did not appear until 1817, when it was printed by Warwick Palfray, Jr. It was now edit- ed by Hosea Ballou and Edward Turner. At the com- mencement of Vol. 3, April, 1818, the publication was removed to Haverhill and assumed by P. N. Green.

15. THE SALEM OBSERVER .- The first number of The Observer was published January 2, 1823, by Wil- liam and Stephen B. Ives-the former an apprentice of Mr. Cushing, of the Gazette. It was of the royal size, and issued weekly on Monday evening, from the Washington Hall building, No. 2 Court Street. Price, two dollars. The paper was designed to be a literary and miscellaneous sheet, eschewing party politics,-a character which it has maintained until the present time. It was edited by Benj. Lynde Oliver, Esq., dur- ing the first year. After the fifth number the time of publication was changed to Saturday evening, which arrangement continued for twenty-two num- bers, and then Saturday morning became the time of publication, and so continues now. At the commence- ment of Vol. 2, 1824, the title was changed to Salem Observer, and at the same time Joseph G. Waters, Esq., became editor, as successor to Mr. Oliver. At the conclusion of the year Mr. Waters withdrew from the responsibility of the paper, but continued to be a contributor for several years afterwards. In 1825, January 15th, the name was enlarged to Salem Litera- ry and Commercial Observer, and this was borne until January 3, 1829, when the title Salem Observer was resumed.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 52

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