History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 94

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 94

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Upon substantially the same premises once occu- pied by Keysar and Potter a tan-yard and tan-house have been in operation within the memory of persons still living, and the last occupant, Samuel Mulliken, finished off the tan-house into tenements for dwell- ings. This old building has been demolished within a few years. The yard is still vacant, and the ancient vats can be found by digging.

Upon the premises covered by the factory of John T. Moulton, a tan-yard was in operation at a very early day by Lieut. John Burrill. He was a son of the first settler, George, and was probably born in England in 1631. He lived on Boston Street, in what was more latterly called the Carnes house. This stood upon the spot where Carnes Street joins Boston Street, and was exactly opposite the tan-yard. Col. John left the tan-yard and buildings to his son, Theophilus Burrill, Esq., who also carried on the same business here till 1721, when he sold out to Deacon John Lewis. He in turu, by his will, gave ! Moses Newhall, was probably a shoemaker; the father

the tan-yard and tan-house to his grandson, Samuel Lewis, who sold it, in 1782, to Daniel Newhall and Nathaniel Sargent, who continued it. In 1793 New- hall sold out to Sargent, and he continued alone till his death in 1798. In 1805 Joseph Watson was the owner and pursued the currying trade. These prem- ises were purchased about 1844 by Joseph Moulton, and have been occupied by him and his successors till the present time (1887), for the manufacture of morocco leather. Many of the old vats were removed by him, and some still remain. This spot, therefore, has been used for tanning purposes for nearly all the time since the settlement of the town. A fine spring of cold water, with the natural stream now ealled Strawberry Brook running through the yard, and in later years a head of water from the canal above, gave the place unusual advantages for a business of this kind. To Mr. John T. Moulton, son and successor of Joseph Moulton, the writer is much indebted for facts here given touching the leather business.

During the latter part of the last century and the beginning of the present the tanning business was carried on by Benjamin Phillips at the yard of the mill at Waterhill. Here he had a chance for a fulling- mill for softening his hides, running it by water-power, which was quite an advance over the old method of horse-power. To him were apprenticed the brothers Winthrop and Sylvanus Newhall, who afterwards had their tan-yards on Market and Broad Streets, then called Blackmarsh. Winthrop Newhall was succeeded, in 1818, by his son Francis S. Newhall, who, in 1822, formed a partnership with his brother Henry for carrying on the morocco leather business.

Probably Winthrop Newhall was the last of the heavy leather tanners here, the morocco trade having supplanted the heavier business which seems to have taken deep root in Salem and Danvers at about the same time.

The morocco manufacture was probably com- menced by William Rose upon the same spot where the Burrills began and carried on the tanning of hides. This is inferred from the fact that when Joseph Watson made a mortgage of these premises, Rose was called upon to sign his name as witness to the conveyance. He may have been working for Watson or carrying on business in a small way for himself in Watson's shop. He shortly after had a shop for himself on a spot near that now occu- pied by St. Stephen's Church, on South Common Street, but left town in 1809, going to Charles- town. On Boston Street and in the vicinity of these old tanneries lived John Adam Dagyr, who has been so many times advertised as the celebrated shoemaker of Essex in 1764, and his opinion and ad- vice in regard to the kinds of material requisite for ladies' shoes may have had something to do with the introduction of the moroceo business here. At any rate, it came abont in his day. His wife's father,

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of Moses certainly was, as the records show. It is a very unpleasant circumstance that both Dagyr and his wife, in their last days, came to want.

Daniel Collins, many years ago, carried on a tan- nery on Boston Street, nearly opposite the present Kirtland Street. Levi Robinson took the business more than fifty years ago, and it has finally developed into the large morocco establishment of John E. Don - allan.

From Rose and his small beginning has the busi- ness gradually increased to its present extensive pro- portions. This matter has been faithfully treated by David N. Johnson, in his "Sketches of Lynn." He brought it down to 1880, since which time the amount of business has somewhat increased, and two or three new firms have taken up that other branch of the trade, the manufacture of tawed and alum-tanned calf and sheep-skins.

The manufacture of leather, of one kind and anotli- er, but chiefly morocco, in Lynn, at present reaches a pretty high figure, as appears by the following from the last United States Census returns :

Number of establishments, 23

Employees, . 768

Wages paid during the year, $408,618

Capital invested, $910,100

Stock used, . $1,657,763

Value of product,

$2,309,272

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURES. - The other manufactures of Lynn appear almost insignificant in comparison with the shoe and leather. But some- thing should be said regarding them. The aggregate (including the shoe and leather) as given by the last United States Census, is as follows :

Number of establishments . 329

Employees, total average number 12,446

(Males above 16, 8924. Females above 15, 3487. Youth and children, 35.)

Wages paid during the year, $5,823,572

Capital invested, $5,882,350

Stock used, . $15,551,938

Value of product, $25,216,778

A very large proportion of the above, of course, be- longs to the shoe business. Indeed, the same census gives as the value of the boot and shoe product $20,- 946,867, of the above grand aggregate of $25,216,778. A few of the other industries may be named :

Bricks .- It was early found that there were large deposits of excellent clay in and about Lyun. And it has always been used to some extent. But hereto- fore wood has proved so much cheaper as a building material that brick-making had no great encourage- ment. During later years, however, things have changed, and bricks are coming into more extensive use. The value of bricks annually made is about twenty-eight thousand dollars and the number of per- sons employed, forty.

Boxes .- The value of boxes-paper and wood- manufactured in Lynn during a year is about one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, and the total

wages paid fifty-five thousand dollars. It will readily be supposed that these are chiefly used in the shoe trade.

Fisheries .- Lyun, with Swampscott and Nahant, belongs to the fishing district of Marblehead. But since Swampscott and Nahant turned their backs upon their aged mother she has had little to show in the matter of fisheries, and little in the way of ship- ping, if her ambitious yacht-fleet is excepted ; but that, by hardy delvers of the deep, would probably be regarded as belonging to the ornamental rather than the industrial. Recent returns, touching the fisheries, have already been given.

It appears, by the last published returns, that the industrial employees of Lynn receive higher wages than those of any other place in the county-tbe average yearly earnings of each employee being four hundred and sixty-seven dollars. And this average applies to men, women and children. In Haverhill the bulk of the business is similar to that of Lynn ; and there the average yearly earnings of each employee is but three hundred and forty-eight dollars, while at the same time the average number of men workers there is some four per cent. greater than at Lynn. In Salem the average earnings of each employee is three hundred and forty-three dollars. In Newburyport but two hundred and sixty-eight dollars. Peabody comes nearest Lynn, showing four hundred and fifty-four dollars per year for each employee.

In closing this division of our work, it is not amiss to remark that the manufacture of boots and shoes takes the lead of all the industries of Massachusetts. The total value of products in the State, in 1880, was $631,135,284; and of this $105,118,299 was of boots and shoes. Other manufactures, as stated by the careful hand of Colonel Wright, stood as follows : cotton goods, $68,566,182; food preparations, $68,035,- 755; woolen goods, $47,473,668; metals and metallic goods, $40,190,569; leather, $30,188,859; clothing, $27,253,582; mixed textiles, $21,601,038; machines and machinery,$20,894,545; paper, $18,358,361; fur- niture, $11,196,827 ; printing and publishing, $10,- 474,684. "These twelve industries produce $469,352,- 369 worth of goods out of the total product [$631,135,- 284] of the State."

The actual average yearly earnings of boot and shoe employees throughout the State, including both sexes and all ages, is $381.58.

A few other industries of Lynn may be alluded to in passing, which never grew to large proportions, but yet were of some importance in their day :

Ship-Building, or rather boat-building, as it would be called at this day, was engaged in here to some ex- tent, at an early period. A sloop of fifteen tons was built in 1677, and another of about the same burden in 1685. And within some twenty-five years of the latter date, about half a score of vessels, ranging from ten to thirty-five tons burden-and one of sixty -- were built here. About 1726 a ship-yard was estab-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

lished on Broad Street, a little east of the foot of Market, at which were built, as is stated, sixteen schooners and two brigs. But the business there was abandoned after a few years. There seems to have been quite a number of expert workmen at ship- building in Lynn for many years, and one or two re- markably skillful naval architects. The celebrated frigate "Constitution " was built in Boston, at the ship-yard of Edmund Hart, a Lynn man. In 1832 a yard was established in West Lynn, a little east of Fox Hill Bridge, at which were built a few small ves- sels. The Lynn "Whaling Company " was formed about that time, and hopes of a profitable maritime business were entertained, but the enterprise proved a failure.

Chocolate began to be manufactured at the mill on Saugus River, at the Boston Street crossing, as early as 1797. In or about 1805 Amariah Childs purchased the establishment and commenced manufacturing an article that soon acquired a world-wide reputation, continuing the business till 1840.

Snuff had been made at the mill as early as 1794 by Samuel Fales, but the use of snuff becoming, by de- grees, unfashionable, the business died out.

Salt .- Salt-works were established in Lynn in 1805, but the business never grew to large proportions. The works were on what is now Beach Street, near Broad.

Silk and Silk Printing .- Some fifty years ago a number of our people beeame much interested in the silk manufacture. They procured collections of worms and planted great numbers of white mulberry trees for their food. They were successful in a lim- ited way, but the business never resulted in anything profitable, and in a year or two the efforts were dis- continued. The results in some instances were quite satisfactory. The writer remembers being shown, by a neighbor, some handkerchiefs which were woven from silk raised by him and printed at one of the silk printing establishments, which for a number of years did an active business in Wyoma village, in the vicinity of Strawberry Brook, and on Waterhill.

Wall Paper and Rubber Goods were also manufac- turcd here fifty years ago, and the waters of Straw- berry Brook were utilized in some other small manu- facturing enterprises.

NEW INDUSTRIES .- Quite recently there have been added to the industries of Lynn one or two of much promise, which are well worthy of enumeration.

Electrie Lighting .- Very soon after it had become demonstrated that electricity could besuccessfully util- ized for the illumination of cities, a local electric light company was formed in Lynn and permission given by the city to supply customers, the city itself becoming a large customer also. This company in- troduced into the streets the very successful arc light of the Thompson. Houston patent, and this mode of lighting soon became so popular that in 1883 a brick building was erected on Stewart Street to enlarge the capacity to meet the local demand.

The capitalists who became interested in this enter- prise, recognizing that the development of electric lighting was in its infancy, were convinced that they could profitably invest eapital for the manufacture and introduction of electrical apparatus. To that end they invested money in the Thompson-Houston com- pany, of New Britain, Conn., organized under the laws of Connecticut. The machinery and plant of the company was soon removed to Lynn to occupy the substantial brick factory building on Western Ave- nue, erected for them by the late Minot Terrill, a gentleman who spent nearly the whole of a large for- tune, which he had inherited, in building improve- ments of lasting benefit to the city. The company brought many new families to Lynn, the business in- creased, and the. factory accommodations have had to be enlarged by the addition of another large building. At the beginning of 1887 fully six hundred people were employed, and the annual product amounted to one million dollars. This product is sent all over the world, the demand increases, and oftentimes the works are kept in operation until late in the evening to keep abreast of the orders.

Prof. Elihu Thompson, an experienced electrician, from whom the company derives its name, is very versatile in discovering new methods of applying electricity, which constantly adds new departments of work in the factory. The company, although chartered in another State, is practically a Lynn en- terprise, and destined to be of great importance to the city. The main business office is in Boston; the Western office in Chicago.

Hat-Finishing .- In the early part of 1887 a hat- finishing establishment was commenced on Summer Street by Mr. Timothy Merritt. The new undertak- ing will no doubt become a growing success, as the projector has a good knowledge of the business and energy and enterprise. Every new industry contrib- utes to Lynn's permanent growth, and there is no reason why coverings for the head cannot be as suc- cessfully manufactured by her people as coverings for the feet.

The Ice Business may not be strictly called a manu- facture unless frost is considered a working partner. But it is now an important industry, and one to be considered, more directly than almost any other, a home industry, the material being of home production and the perfected article being consumed at home. During the last three or four years there have been harvested an average aggregate of some sixty thou- sand tons each year. In the storing season some- where about three hundred men are employed in the various departments. At other times, of course, the number varies, and is considerably less.

Occasion has been taken to speak of the industrious habits of the people of Lynn, and of their economy. Upon these traits have mainly rested that general thrift which has been marred by few examples of large accumulation, or of extreme penury-a condi-

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tion certainly the most desirable for any community ; for it is the condition that insures the greatest degree of contentment and freedom of mind. Contentment, however, is not, in a worldly sense, an incentive to enterprise, for those who feel contented in low degree seldom put forth the energies necessary to rise above it. Till within a short period Lynn has had no really rich men ; and perhaps it would have been better had she remained as she was. But strife for riches in an eminent degree characterizes this period; yet how different is the course men pursue for their attain- ment. Some, without genius, culture or special op- portunity, succeed by boldness and courage, others by frugality and carefulness, others by persistent labor. And then individuals are animated by very different motives in their desire for wealth ; some desire it for the ease it brings, some for its luxuries, some for the social position it ensures ; and some, it is to be hoped, for the good it enables them to do for others. And if, in the whole ronnd of cravings, this latter incentive does not in some measure enter, one might as well remain idle.

"Labor brings the joys of health ; Labor brings the meed of wealth ; In tby brother's labors share, And thine own the lighter are."

How much we nowadays hear about shortening the hours of labor! Our friends, the " Knights of La- bor," are not the only ones exercised about the mat- ter. If one would gain time from manual labor for purposes of health or intellectual improvement, or for any of the higher purposes of life, he is certainly to be commended; but if only for the lower and enervat- ing indulgences which too often fill up "loafing hours," as they are aptly called, he had better he at work.

To the true New Englander

" Absence of occupation is not rest ; A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed."

CHAPTER XVII.

LYNN-(Continued). MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Early History, with Sketches of Some of the Commanders-Ancient and Honorable Artillery, with List of Lynn Members and Notices of Some Achievements-Lynn in the Indian Wars, in the Revolution and Subse- quent Wars, and in the Great Civil War-Her Present Military Organiza- tion s.

" Thermopyla and Marathon, Though classic earth, can boast no more Of deeds heroic than yon sun Once saw upon this distant shore."

THOUGH the Indians in this immediate vicinity manifested but little hostility towards the settlers, there were constantly disturbing apprehensions.

Perhaps the promptness in military preparation did much to prevent any serious attacks, though the small number here, and their inefficient weapons, could not give them much encouragement in aggres- sive attempts. Butit was not so in some other quarters, and Lynn soon put herself in a condition to succor any neighbor that might stand in need. The Indians quickly learned the use of firearms, and there were enough among the settlers whose base cupidity led them, without scruple, to furnish muskets and ammu- nition to the dusky warriors in exchange for furs and wampum currency. Even as early as 1630 the Court found it necessary to order that " noe person what- soever shall, either directly or indirectly, imploy or cause to be imployed, or to their power permit any Indian to vse any peece vpon any occasion or pre- tence whatsoever, under pain of Xs. ffine for the first offence, and for the 2 offence to be ffyned and impris- oned at the discretion of the Court." This was the next year after the settlement began.

Military skill and personal bravery were naturally in high repnte. Plymouth had her Miles Standish, and Massachusetts, though perhaps destitute of a leader as conspicuous as he, could boast of several commanders of experience and tried valor. Lynn was remarkably fortunate in this respect, as she had within her borders two or three well skilled in the tactics of the field. The first major-general of the colony was John Humfrey, who settled here in 1634. His dwelling was on the east side of Nahant Street, and overlooked the sea, Nahant and the Beach, and was but a short distance from the spot on which the habitation of Montowampate, or Sagamore James, the Indian ruler, stood. The writer is well aware that Mr. Humfrey's residence is thought by some to have been at Swampscott, but careful research has shown that to be an error. He indeed owned an ex- tensive tract of land thereabout, but assuredly did not live in that then lonely place. Some even suppose that the " Farm House" on the estate, so highly im- proved and embellished by the late Hon. Enoch Red- ington Mudge, was the identical residence of Mr. Humfrey. But it is thought that even a slight ex- amination would be sufficient to convince any one that such a house could not have been built at that period. It is in the style of a later day. He possibly had cultivated acres in the vicinity, and may have erected some rude structure for the temporary shelter of laborers. He also had a land grant in what is now Lynnfield, including the beautiful little lakelet still known as Humfrey's Pond. This latter grant was made in 1635, the year after his arrival, and in these words,-"There is 500 acres of land and a freshe pond, with a little ileland conteyneing aboute two acres, granted to John Humfrey, Esq., lying be- twixte nore & west from Saugus [Lynn], provided hee take noe part of the 500 acres within 5 myles of any towne nowe planted. Also, it is agreed, that the inhabitants of Saugus [Lynn] & Salem shall have

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liberty to build stoore howses upon the said ileland, and to lay in such provisions as they judge necessary for their vse in tyme of necde."

Mr. Humfrey was one of the most eminent men in the colony, was an original Massachusetts patentee, and, before the removal of the patent to New Eng- land, was chosen Deputy-Governor. It being, how- ever, thought best for the interests of the company that he should for a time remain in England, Thomas Dudley was chosen to serve in his stead, and came over with Winthrop's company in 1630.

When Mr. Humfrey came over he brought with him, says Winthrop, "more ordnance, muskets and powder." He was accompanied by his wife and six children, and it is pretty certain would not have re- turned so soon had it not been for the disconsolate yearnings of his home-sick wife, who was a daughter of the Earl of Lincoln. But he had restless ambition, and perhaps felt that New England was too limited and uncertain a field for his aspirations. From his feverish dreams of advancement, however, he finally awoke. But it was the chilling pressure of disap- apointment that awoke him. And when meditating on the defeat of his most cherished schemes, a gush of tenderness and even deep religious feeling over- whelmed him. Not much can be said of his exploits in the field, but as a counselor and home director, in planning, ordering and providing, his services were of inestimable value. He returned to England in the fall of 1641, and there died in 1661.

A military company was organized in Lynn as early as 1630. Richard Wright was appointed cap- tain ; Daniel Howe, lieutenant ; and Richard Walker, ensign. They were provided with two iron cannon. In 1631 there was a report that some Indians intended an attack on Lynn, aud Walker, with a suitable num- ber, was detailed for the night guard. He at one time, while on duty, had an arrow, shot from among some bushes, pass through his coat and " buff waist- coat," and afterwards another arrow was shot through his clothes. It being quite dark, after a random dis- charge or two of their muskets, the guard retired. The next morning the cannon was brought np and discharged in the woods, and nothing more came of the attack. After that the people of Lynn suffered little or no molestation.

At the breaking out of the Pequot war, in 1636, Captain Nathaniel Turner, of Lynn, commanded one of the companies detailed to serve in the first cam- paign. The expedition did efficient service at Block Island, New London and thereabout. The next year, 1637, a second expedition was undertaken, and the town furnished twenty-one men. In one respect Lynn was a loser by this war, for Captain Turner be- came so enamored of the country through which he marched that he permanently pitched his tent there, becoming, as Trumbull says, one of the principal set- tlers of New Haven. But his fate was mysterious and melancholy. He was one of the five men of "chief

note and worth " who sailed for England in 1647, in the little vessel commanded by Captain Lamberton, which was never heard of after ; unless the "phantom ship" which appeared in the Sound after a great thun- der storm the next year, and which beholders declared was an exact image, is taken as her representative.

Captain Turner received his commission as "Cap- taine of the military company att Saugus," in March, 1633, from the General Court. He became a near neighbor of his superior officer, John Humfrey, and the two no doubt often conferred together on military affairs. Humfrey's action, as already intimated, was in the Council, while Turner's was more in the field, and one of the first orders the latter received was the rather ignoble one to march to Nahant on a wolf- hunt. What luck he had in destroying his four-foot- ed foes does not appear ; but when he was called to meet more worthy enemies, he was brave and tri- umphant. His moving from Lynn at that formation period in her history was a great loss to the place, probably quite as great as that of the departure of his neighbor Humfrey.

Among the Lynn soldiers in the Pequot war was Christopher Lindsey. He was a laboring man, and kept the cattle of Mr. Dexter, at Nahant. The eleva- tion on the peninsula, called Lindsey's Hill, received its name from him. He was wounded in the war, and in 1655 petitioned the court for an allowance, saying that he was " disabled from service for twenty weekes, for which he never had any satisfaction." He was allowed three pounds. His only daughter, Naomi, married Thomas Maule, of Salem, the famous Quaker, whose doctrinal book, together with its sup- plementary "Persecutors Mauled," created quite a sensation. In it he remarks they five times impris- oned him, thrice took away his goods and thrice cru- elly whipped him.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 94

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