History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 27

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1 Jail and cage.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

selectmen, to buildl " the town house fifty feet long, thirty feet wide and thirty-three feet stud." The selectmen were chosen to superintend the erection of the building, and the following year, 1728, the work was completed. The first town-meeting hell in the town house after its completion, was probably held March 17, 1728, as that is the date of the first meet- ing called there of which there is any record.

On the 224 of November, 1728, Governor Burnet visited the town. He was met at the " bounds of the town" by about fifty gentlemen on horseback, and the local militia, under arms, and escorted to the residence of John Oulton, Esy., where dinner was served. "The streets being lined on both sides"- we are informed by a Boston paper of the period- "for the Cavalcade to pass thro', after which the Militia were drawn up before the Door and fired three volleys (the lon. Samuel Browne, Esq., Col. of the Regiment being present and gave the words of command) and then all the Cannon of the several ships in the harbor were discharged ; the like ap- pearance was never known in this place before."

charge the duties of their office. A meeting was called by a justice of the peace, for the first time in the history of the town, and others were elected to fill the vacancies. The town was not declared free from the disease until nearly a year after its appearance. The number of deaths caused by the pestilence is not recorded, but it is certain that few towns in the coun- try have ever been visited by a calamity more fatal or disastrous in its effect.

The people had not recovered from the blighting effects of the terrible visitation to which they had been subjected, when another burden was laid upon them. As soon as the fishing business hegan to re- sume its accustomed activity a law was passed by the (General Court, requiring a tax of six pence per month from every fisherman in the province. The penalty for the non-payment of this tax was a fine of twenty pounds sterling. The passage of this act was regarded as a great hardship by the fishermen of Marblehead, who complained that they could barely obtain a live- lihood, and could ill afford to pay the tax. Finally, Benjamin Boden, a man more daring than his asso- ciates, determined to resist what he termed "the im- position," and flatly refused to comply with the re- quirements of the law. The collector, William Fair- a suit against the delinquent for the amount. This action on the part of the collector caused great ex- citement throughout the town, and finally a town- meeting was called to consider the matter. At this meeting the tax was denounced as unjust and op- pressive, and the town voted to pay the penalty and the cost of any suit or suits arising from a resistance to the six-penny act.

During the month of May, 1730, intelligence was received in Marblehead that the small-pox was rag- ing in the town of Boston. As rumors of the fatal effects of this dread and loathsome disease became : child, Esq., after vainly demanding the tax, brought more prevalent the excitement of the people ap- proached almost to frenzy. A town-meeting was called and it was voted to build a fence across the road near the entrance to the town. This fence was provided with a gate, which was kept locked and four men were stationed as a guard, with instructions to "restrain all strangers from Boston entering the town." The guard was kept on day and night for over two months, being relieved every twenty-four On the 30th of May, 1737, the Rev. Edward Hol- yoke, pastor of the Second Congregational Church, was unanimously chosen by the Board of Overseers of Harvard College to fill the office made vacant by the death of President Wadsworth. At first his people strenuously objected to his acceptance of the office, but after several meetings for prayer and conference had been held, they gave their consent, and Mr. Holyoke departed for Cambridge. At the last of these meetings prayer was offered by the Rev. John Barnard, who prayed long and earnestly that the people might be reconciled to part with their pastor. The prayer had the desired effect, and when some of the people were asked why they consented to part with so valuable a man and so excellent a pastor, the quaint reply was,-" Old Barnard prayed him away." hours. Negroes, Indians and mulatto slaves were forbidden to walk the streets after nine o'clock at night, and every possible precaution was taken to prevent the disease from making its appearance. But in vain. In October a young woman named Hannah Waters was taken sick, and the disease to the consternation of the inhabitants proved to be the small pox in its most contagious form. The pesti- lence, having obtained a foot-hold, spread from house to house in defiance of the almost superhuman efforts of the panie-stricken inhabitants, and ere long nearly every family was afflicted by sickness or death. Many of the people in their terror fled from the town. Business of all kinds was suspended, and quarantine was declared against Marblehead by all the neighboring towns. Nurses in attendance upon In April, 1712, the General Court granted the sum of five hundred and fifty pounds for the purpose of erecting a fortification for the defense of the harbor against the French cruisers. This action, though in accordance with a petition from the town presented a few years before, was the cause of a great deal of contention, and not a little ill feeling, among the in- habitants. the sick were forbidden to appear in the streets, and all dogs running at large were ordered to be killed. The discase continued its fearful ravages till late in the summer of 1731, and gathered its victims with an unsparing hand. Rich and poor, old and young, the learned and the unlettered, were alike afflicted by this unsparing agent of death, and finally only two members of the Board of Selectmen remained to dis-

Three gentlemen were chosen treasurers of the

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fund, and a committee of five were elected to call upon the captain-general and receive the money, with instructions to pay it over to the treasurers. The most careful preparations were made for the security of the money when it should be received. An iron- bound chest was provided, fastened with two locks, and the town voted that it should not be opened ex- cept in the presence of all three of the treasurers. A few days after the passage of this vote two of the treasurers announced their refusal to serve, and Thomas Gerry and Nathan Bowen were chosen to fill the vacancies, the other treasurer being Captain Jo- seph Swett. The committee chosen to receive the money did not pay it over to the treasurers as soon as was thought proper, and finally, at a meeting held in November, the treasurers were authorized to sue them in the name of the town. This vote does not appear to have been carried into effect, however ; and at a meeting held in January, 1743, the selectmen were authorized to call upon the committee and demand a report of what had been done with the money. It is probable that the committee held the money in their hands upon some legal technicality, for at another meeting the town treasurer was authorized to receive it, and no more is said of the matter in the records. Another grant of one hundred and sixty-six pounds had been made by the General Court in November, and the fort was probably completed in the latter part of the year 1742. This fort, which is still stand- ing, was afterwards eeded to the United States, and for many years has been known as Fort Sewall, hav- ing been named in honor of Chief Justice Samuel Sewall, a distinguished citizen of Marblehead. It was fortified during the Revolution and in the War of 1812, and again during the Rebellion, when it was remodeled.

At the time of which we write Marblehead boasted a public house or tavern, known as the "Fountain Inn." To this house the captains of vessels and the gentry of the colony resorted when they visited the town, and there the fishermen, many of them, spent their evenings and their money when they returned from successful voyages. It was whispered that cor- tain pirates and smugglers who were known to have visited the town had found a friendly shelter beneath its roof. These stories may or may not have been true, but there were those living who remembered when a gang of pirates had been apprehended and arrested in the streets of Marblehead. They remem- bered also, with what a lavish hand these pirates ex- pended their money, and the excitement caused in the town when several of the inhabitants were ar- rested for receiving it. The " Fountain Jun," how- ever, was to be made famous by a more romantic tale than any yet related by the gossiping girls and women of the village. One day in the autienn of 1742 a " coach and four" drove up to the door of the inn, and a young and handsome gentleman alighted and entered. The guest was Sir Henry Frankland, then 673

collector of the port of Boston, who had come to Marblehead to superintend the building of the fort, which was then in process of erection. As he entered the house he was impressed by the surpassing beauty of a young girl, apparently about sixteen years of age, who, on her bended knees, was scrubbing the stairs. Noticing that her dress was poor and seanty, and that her feet were destitute of shoes and stockings, he called her to his side and presenting her with money, told her to purchase a pair of shoes. The artless simplicity, the beauty, and exceedingly musical voiee of the young girl interested Frankland, and he at once made inquiries concerning her history. Her name, he learned, was Agnes Surriage, and that she was the daughter of Edward Surriage, a poor but honest fisherman. A short time after, when Frank- land again visited the town, he was surprised to find the little maid still working without shoes and stock- ings, and to his inquiry why she had not purchased them she replied : "I have indeed, sir, with the crown you gave me; but I keep them to wear to meeting." Sir Harry's heart was touched. Taking the blushing girl by the hand, he said: Would you like to go to school? Will you go with me if I will take you from this life of toil and drudgery ? I will educate you, and you shall be a lady." Then seeking her parents, he obtained their permission to remove her to Boston, where she was permitted to enjoy the best educa- tional advantages the place then afforded. For several years she pursued her studies at school, and acquired a knowledge of all the graces and accomplishments then thought necessary for a well bred and fashion- ble lady.

The beauty of Sir Harry Frankland's ward was for some time the theme of conversation in the aristo- cratic circles of Boston, A few years, and their rela- tions were disenssed in a far different manner. Charges of improper intimaey were freely made, and with Puri- tanie firmness the polite society of the town refused to recognize one whom they believed to be guilty of transgressing the most holy laws of God and man. Poor Agnes. Her benefactor had indeed succeeded in gaining her affections, but the pride of race and posi- tion prevented him from wedding one whom he con- sidered of ignoble birth. The indignation of the peo- ple against "an alliance unsanctioned by the holy rite of matrimony " at length became so great that "the young collector resolved to seek a residence for himself, Agnes and her relatives, in the seclusion of the country. Accordingly he purchased a tract of land in the village of Hopkinton, where, on a hill commanding a full view of the surrounding country, he erected a commodious manor house. The grounds were laid out in a beautiful and artistic manner. Trees and shrubs, and choice plants of almost every descrip- tion were set out to adorn the estate, which soon be- came one of the finest country seats in the province. For several years Frankland and Agnes Surriage resid- ed at Hopkinton, surrounded with every comfort which

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS

wealth could command, and devoting themselves s hofly to the pleasures of a life of case. The labor of the plantation was performed by slaves. upon whom the entire care of the vast estate devolved, while their master was hunting, riding or fishing with his lady.

During the year 1754 Frankland was unexpectedly After a brief residence in London and Lisbon, Sir Harry and Lady Frankland returned to Boston, where they bought an elegant mansion in the most aristocratie portion of the town for a winter residence, Hopkinton. called to England to transact business of importance, and embarked with Agnes Surriage, for London. On his arrival he attempted to introduce his fair ward inte the circle of his family, but in spite of his most . spending their summers on the beautiful estate at earnest solicitation- in her behalf she was treated with the utmost disdain.

Having settled the business upon which he had been called to London, the young baronet spent a few months in making a tour of Europe, and then, with his ward, proceeded to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, where he hired a house and entered at once into the gay round of fashionable life. It was during their residence in Lisbon that the great earthquake of November, 1755, occurred, which brought Frank- land to a realization of the wicked and dissolute life he was leading, and caused him to do all in his power to repair the wrongs he had done poor Agnes Surriage. The day was All-Saint -- day, one of the greatest festi- vals of the Roman Catholic and Angliean churches, an I almost the entire population of the great city had assembled in the churches, when the shock of the earthquake burst upon them, burying thousands in the ruins of the falling temples. Frankland was riding with a lady to attend the services at one of the churches, when the walls of a building tottered, and fell over them, enveloping horses, carriage, and its occupants in the ruins. The death agony of the unfor- tuonte lady was so great that she bit entirely through the sleeve of the scarlet coat of her companion, and tore a piece of flesh from his arm. The horses were instantly killed, and only Frankland was spared alive. Buried beneath the ruins he made a solemn vow that if it pleased tiod to deliver him from death he would thenceforth lead a better life. Meanwhile, where was Agnes Surriage ? Left alone in the house of her lover, she ran into the street upon the first intimation of the impending danger, and so, miraculously, her life had been spared. Wandering almost frantic with grief among the ruins, the sound of a well known voice arrested her attention, and, recognizing it as Frankland's, she worked with almost superhuman strength t secure his release. In the course of an hour har efforts were successful, and the baronet was resund from the horrors of a living tomb. He was carel to a house near by, his wounds were dressed, and then, faithful to his vow a priest was sent for, and A - surriage received the reward of her love and wtw ridein devotion, and became the Lady Agnes Irakland

wer ther marriage, and then, to make the solemn rite don Is where they were again married on board In d during their pas age, by a clergyman of the

Church of England. On their arrival in London the Lady Agnes was received with every mark of esteem by the family of her husband, and her charming man- ners readily gained access to the most cultivated and aristocratie circles of the city.

Frankland was appointed consul-general of Portu- gal in 1757, and in that capacity resided in Lisbon for several years. In 1763 he, with Lady Frankland, returned to America, and resided at Hopkinton, until his declining health caused him to leave the country and take up a residence at Bath, England, where he died in 1768, at the age of fifty-two years. After the death of her husband, Lady Agnes returned to her estate at Hopkinton, where she continued to reside respected and beloved by all who knew her, till the summer of 1775, when the breaking out of the Revo- lution caused her to return to England. Ax her carriage was on the way to Boston it was stopped by a company of Continental Soldiers, under command of Almer Croft, a zealous patriot, and Lady Frank- land and her goods were held in custody until re- leased by order of the Committee of Safety. Defended by a guard of soldiers her carriage was finally per- mitted to enter Boston, and while there she witnessed, from the windows of her residence, the terrible con- fliet at Bunker Hill. Shortly after, she sailed for England, and after residing in the Frankland family for several years, was married to John Drew, Esq., a wealthy banker of Chichester. She died April 23, 1783, at the age of fifty-seven years. The estate at Hopkinton was bequeathed, at her death, to her sister, Mrs. Swain, and finally passed into the hands of her brother, Isaac Surriage, the last member of her family who owned it.

Such is the story of Agnes Surriage, the daughter of a poor fisherman of Marblehead.

During the year 1744, Whitefield the celebrated evangelist visited the town. Here, as elsewhere throughout the province his labors produced the most violent and intense excitement. The Rev. Mr. Malcolm, rector of St. Michael's Church, engaged in an exciting discussion with him relative to some of his teachings, and the cause of Whitefield was warmly espoused by the pastors of the Congrega- tional Churches.

The controversy incident to the advent of White- field had not closed when the difficulties which had long been threatening with France develo- ped into a declaration of war. An expedition Sir Harry and his wife set out for England shortly I was planed for the conquest of Louisburg, an im- portant French stronghold, and the plans were re- jected by the legislature. Upon the petition of the merchants of Boston and Salem, and the fishermen of

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farblehead, the vote was reconsidered, and the plans ere adopted by a majority of a single vote. The pedition, consisting of three thousand men and veral frigates and gun-boats, was at length fitted it, and the command was given to Sir William Pep- erell. Many of the sailors who manned the gun- pats were fishermen from this port. The town re- ords bear testimony to the interest manifested by e inhabitants in the result of the contest. The fort as put in readiness to repel an attack at any mo- ent. Breast-works were erected along the coves and eaches of the town. Parapets to "cover our men," nd to "oppose and annoy the enemy should they tempt to land" were constructed at every vulnera- le point. For days the men were summoned at the eat of the drum early in the morning to assist in recting these fortifications, and it was determined give the enemy a deadly reception. But for once he heroic fishermen did not have a chance to display leir bravery. Their warlike preparations were ardly completed before the news was received of the necess of the expedition, and the surrender of Louis- urg

In May, 1747, a school for poor children, was es- ablished through the generosity of Mr. Robert Jooper, Jr., who agreed to pay the necessary ex- ences and the salary of the teacher, if the town could fit up and furnish a school-house. The pro- osal was accepted and the selectmen were instructed > "fit up the school-house and grant a lease" of it or the purpose.

The town at this time is estimated to have con- lined about four hundred and fifty houses. The shery had increased to such an extent that over ighty schooners sailed from the harbor, and six undred men and boys were employed in the industry. This comprised, probably nearly the entire male opulation of the town. When a boy had attained he age of eleven or twelve years he was sent to sea, nd there were many instances where children of not more than nine years of age were taken to "the anks" to assist in the support of a large family. During the first four years of a boy's life at sea he vas termed a " cut-tail," from the fact that he re- eived pay only for the fish actually caught by him- elf, and was obliged to cut a small piece from the ail of every fish he caught to distinguish them from he others when the fare was weighed and sold. A ull crew consisted of eight persons, four of whom vere " sharesmen," the others being boys in various tages of apprenticeship. When, after an experience of four years, a boy was considered competent to atch a full share of fish, he was promoted to the im- portant post of "header," and was admitted to the ights and privileges of a "sharesman." As he be- ame qualified he could then assume the duties of ' splitter" or "salter" if be chose; but it was necessary for him to pass through all the various grades of labor in order to obtain a thorough knowl-

edge of the business before he could be permitted to take command of a vessel, and became a " skipper."

The fishermen lived on equal terms on board their vessels. Every man was personally interested in the result of the voyage, and all worked with untiring energy for a successful trip and as large a fare as possible. Dory and trawl fishing were then un- known. The fishing was done entirely from the ves- sels, and every man had his appointed station and was expected to be at the lines during the entire trip.

The boats usually went to the banks twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, and remained from three to five months, or until a full fare was obtained. On their return the salt was washed from the fish and they were then cured on flakes in the open air.

The year 1751 marks an important era in the an- nals of Marblehead. During that year the fire de- partment was organized. As the township was com- posed almost entirely of wooden buildings, the necessity of procuring a fire engine was considered of the utmost importance, and in November, 1750, a vote was passed authorizing the selectmen to pur- chase an engine of the third size, with the necessary pipes and a dozen leather buckets. This vote does not appear to have been carried into effect, however, nor was there any necessity for so doing. Robert Hooper, Esq., a wealthy and generous merchant, an- ticipating the needs of the community in which he resided, ordered an engine at his own expense, and on its arrival, in March of the following year, pre- sented it to the town. The simple record of the fact speaks volumes for the unostentatious manner of its presentation, and the gratitude with which it was received. "March 19, 1751, voted the thanks of the town to Robert Hooper, Esq., for his donation of a Fire Engine, this day made to the town."

At the same meeting the fire department was or- ganized by the election of a board of firewards as follows :

" l'oted. That Capt. Nathan Bowen, Capt. George Newmarsh, Robert Hooper, Esy., Capt. Richard Reed and Mr. Jeremiah Lee, be Firewards for the year ensuing." The firewards were authorized to appoint a suit- able company for the engine, or any other engine which should belong to the town, "and to covenant with those appointed to work and govern them that they shall be exempt from Military duty and from serving as fence-viewers, hog-reeves, er tything men, so long as they shall serve in said company."

There appears to be no record of the names of those assigned to the engine, but a few years later (1755) the firewards appointed Robert Harris, captain of the "Great Fire Engine," with the following company : Will. Bowden, John Bowden, Henry Trevett, John Pearce, Richard Wood, William Bassett, John An- drews, Robert Harris, John Neal, Joseph Bubier, Benjamin Darling, 3d, Benjamin Doe, 1st.

The engine presented by Mr. Hooper, was un- doubtedly the "Friend," which was located on Front Street near Goodwin's Court. The next engine, which was purchased for the town in London, and was probably that named the "Endeavor." It was

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located for many years near " Newtown Bridge," on the corner of Washington and School Streets.

During the year 1752, the small-pox again bruke ont in Boston, and the usual precautions were adopted to prevent the disease from making its appearance in Marblehead. A board fence was placed at the entrance to the town, strangers were forbidden to enter, and it was voted to send " no representative to the General Court that year." In spite of every pre- caution, including a general inoculation of the in- Inbitants, the disease again made its appearance and raged for several months with great severity, though not with the fatal effect of the pestilence of 1780.

The bill imposing an excise duty on spirituons liquors, wines, lemons, oranges, etc., which became a law, by act of the General Court, in 1754, was strenu- only oppmed by the inhabitants of Marblehead. The town had now become one of the most important ports of entry in the province. The foreign trade was yearly usuming proportions which gave the most on- couraging signs of a prosperous future. The wealth of the merchant- was increasing rapidly, and the peo- ple were reaping a rich reward from their industry. The wharves teemed with shipping, and the mer- chants of Marblehead were to be found in almost every port of importance in Europe.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672