History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 28

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 28

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Under these circumstances, the granting of an ex- vise to the King was considered as especially burden- some to the people of Marblehead, and several town meetings were held to consider the matter, and to protest against the passage of the act. The represent- ative in the General Court was instructed to use all proper means to prevent it from becoming a law ; and finally, at a town meeting, held in January, 1755, six of the most prominent merchants were chosen a com- mitter to " petition His Majesty to disallow the act." The members of this committee were Robert Hooper, Esq., Mr. Ebenezer Stacey. Colonel Jacob Fowle, Colonel Jeremiah Lee, and Captain Isane Freeman, who were authorized to employ an eminent London awyer to act as the agent of the town and petition the King in its behalf.

In 175, the war known as the " French and Indian War" broke ont. As soon as hostilities were actually wegun, the town took measures for its defense. "A powder-house or magazine, suitable for securing am munition, was built by vote of the town, Colonel Hab Foule Colonel lere minh Lee, and Major Rich- ard Reed being members of the building committee. The Aprelations of the French on the sen against the cafuneree And fisheries of the English colonies. å the following year were severely felt in Mar- bhhend Several vessels with their crews, belonging here were capture I while on the fishing banks, caus- Pere Gires amone door Punties and great ex- ctement in the town The exposed condition of the brlor caleel ar ns ag rchensions of an attack rien the chons when the prophe were least prepared tale atat lolit wa tio lly voted to present a petition

to the lieutenant-governor, praying for the protection of the province. The petition of the fishing interest stated that " In time of war the fishery is prosecuted with much greater difficulty and risk than any other branch of business, as will appear by the late capture of many of our vessels by the French, while on the fishing banks."

The disadvantages to which the commercial and fishing interests of the colonies were subjected cannot be better illustrated than by the seizures by the French of merchant and fishing vessels belonging in Marblehead.

In December, 1756, the schooner Swallow, owned by Robert Hooper, Esq., and commanded by Capt. Philip Lewis, sailed from Marblehead to the West Indies. On the 13th of the month, having been out but a few days, the schooner was captured by two French cruisers, and carried into Martinico. The crew was imprisoned, and the officers, Capt. Lewis, Mr. Ashley Bowen and Mr. George Crowninshield, the first and second mates, were confined in a publie house and closely guarded. Watching their opportunity, they finally surceded in eluding the vigilance of the guard, and escaped from the house. Seizing a small schooner which lay in the harbor, they sailed away under cover of night, and at length reached St. Eustatia, where they found friends and were kindly treated. Among others who were there was Mr. Lewis Freeman of Marblehead, who had purchased a sloop, and was looking for some competent person to take command and go to Marblehead in her with a cargo of molasses. As Capt. Lewis did not wish to undertake the voyage, Mr. Bowen was appointed, and the vessel reached Marblehead in safety. The unfortunate crew of the Swallow, who were imprison- ed in Martinico, were detained as prisoners uutil the close of the war.

They were then released, and were obliged to work their way home on board of vessels bound for various ports in the colony.

Early in the month of April, 1759, messengers were sent to Marblehead to obtain recruits for the naval service. Active preparations were then in progress for the siege of Quebec, and the town's proportion of men needed for this service was forty-five able sea- men. Mr. Ashley Bowen engaged as a midshipman, and in a short time thirty-two others enlisted as com- mon sailors. Each man received a bounty, and a certificate signed by the Govenor, promising that they should not be detained in the service longer than the time for which they enlisted; that they should be free from imprisonment, and landed in Boston after their discharge. On the 12th of April, they sailed from Marblehead for Halifax, where they arrived on the 16th, and the next day were assigned to their respective ships. Sixteen were placed on board the Pembroke, a frigate of sixty guns, under command of Capt. Wheelock, and the others were assigned to the ship Squirrel. These ships in com-

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pany with a feet under command of Rear Admiral Darrell, sailed for the St. Lawrence and arrived be- fore Quebec with the expedition commanded by Gen. Wolfe during the latter part of June. On the night of June 28th a raft of fire barges was sent down from Quebec for the purpose, if possible, of destroying the fleet. The raft was grappled by the sailors before it approached near enough to do any damage, and was towed ncar the shore and anchored, the sailors con- tinually repeating " All's well !" From a remark in " Knox's Journal" concerning the affair we are led to believe that some of the men detained for this work were from Marblehead. " A remarkable expression from some of these intrepid souls to their comrades, I must not omit from its singular uncouthness. ' Damn me, Jack, didst thee ever take hell in tow before ?"

On the 13th of September, in the darkness of the early morning, the boats of the fleet moved down the river, and when the sun rose the astonished French commander beheld the army of Wolfe upon the Plains of Abraham. Without a moment's hesitation Montcalm began preparations for the battle. At sunset the contest was over, Quebec was in possession of the English, and the gallant commanders of both armies were mortally wounded. With this victory the war was virtually ended. With the fall of Quebec, Canada was lost to France forever, and with it the last hope of further possessions in America.

Just one week from the day of the battle the men of Marblehead were discharged from the service, and with others, to the number of one hundred and sixty, were put on board the ship "Thornton," and transport- ed to Boston. On the passage homeward many of the men were sick, and thirty-five of them died. The following are the names of the Marblehead men en- gaged in the siege of Quebec. On board the "Pem- broke :" Ashley Bowen, midshipman ; William Horn, Edward Akes, Jonathan Welch, Robert Bartlett, Gar- rett Farrel, John Bateman, Isaac Warren (died) Robert Thompson (died), Thomas Woodfin, Miles Dollan, Edward Kendeley, Benjamin Nichols, Arthur Lloyd, Edward Soverin, Zachary Paine, Frederick Swaburgs.

On board the "Squirrel :" John Melford, Thomas Dove, William Matthews, John Stateman, John Gold- smith (died), Thomas Valpey, Samuel Look (did not return), Francis Misalt, Robert Lineteed (did not return), William Corkering (did not return), Charles Jacobs, William Uncals, Walter Stevens (did not re- turn), Samuel Linir (died), Thomas Peach (dicd).

On the 2d of January, 1761, the schooner " Prince of Orange," Nathan Bowen, master, sailed from Marble- head for same port in Spain or Portugal. While on the passage, February 10th, she was overtaken and captured by the French brig "Gentile," of Bayonne. Mr. Bowen, in an account of the affair, written while in prison, says, "I was robbed of chest and clothes, and was in other respects ill-used. On Tues-

day, 17th, we arrived at St. Andreas ; on Monday, 23d, sailed from thence in company with my schooner bound for Passage, and on the next day arrived there. The next morning we were all sent to France, and on the next day were twenty in number confined in this castle, and when we shall get clear God only knows." The prison was Bayonne Castle, France. The only nien of the crew whose names can be ascertained were Samuel Levis, William Hannover, Joseph Lye, Thomas Trefry, Amos Grandy and Edward Ilallo- well.

It is a matter of sincere regret that no more can be learned concerning this war, of a local nature. But that the town of Marblehead suffered as much from its effects as any other town in the province, and that its people behaved with a heroism and bravery which shed lustre upon their annals, is sufficient for us to know.

At the annual town-meeting, held in March, 1761, it was voted, on account of the increasing "poor, idle, vagrant and disorderly persons," to erect a work- house on the back side of the piece of ground called "the negro burying-place." The sum of five hun- dred pounds was appropriated to build it, and the selcetmen were instructed to petition the Legislature for permission to use a part of the new building as a house of correction. The building was erected on what is now known as Back Street, opposite the head of Pearl Street.

The following year the selectmen were instructed to name all the streets and alley-ways in the town, and to cause the names to be recorded in the records and published at the town-house. Previous to this, the streets had been known by the most enrions names, some of them not suitable for ears polite. In many instances some prominent landmark gave the name to the lane on which it stood or which led to it. New Meeting-House Lane, Wharf Lane, Pond Lare, Frog Lane, Ferry Lane, and others of a similar nature made up the simple list, and answered every purpose as well as the more pretentious titles by which many of these very streets are known at present. They were properly denominated lanes, for they were nothing else. The laying out of a street was an ac- tion nndreamed of in the simple and unpretending community. The inhabitants built their honses any- where, provided only that they owned the land, and there was no arbitrary custom to dictate which end should be the front or which the back. The lanes were made afterwards for convenience, and to name the narrow paths would to them have seemed an ab- surdity.

As the town increased in population and various improvements were made, the old meeting-house was removed to a more convenient locality, at the june- tion of what are now known as Orne, Franklin and Washington Streets. A house owned by Richard Ireson was found to project so far into the street which led to the meeting-house that it was impossible

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

for & arriane to p. -- it, and finally the town voted to retor . the northwest end. Several feet were accor.1- wely cut off; the house being sawed nearly in halves. The end towards the street was boarded up, and there (e cemsains to this day,' with not a single window in it Vogta very small one near the roof. During the far For the town voted to open a market in the ser part of the town-house, and cleven very strin- Ont roles were adapted for its government, a clerk witz those annually to see that they were enforced. These rules provided that no putrid or impure meat Should be offered for sale, and that the market should upe ned every Tuesday and Thursday in the year bill one selock in the afternoon, and till sunset on Saturdays All persons were forbidden to buy provi- sjons in the market with intent to sell the same at a greater price. All meat left in the market after the hour for closing, through the negligence of the seller, was to be forfeited, and the clerk was authorized to Appropriate it to his own use, " without any account to the owner. So " huck-ters " were to be allowed to -ell provisions of any kind in the town before one odback in the afternoon on a market-day. The pen- the - for violating these rules varied in amount from en to twenty shillings, and all fines were to be given to, the poor of the town. The market was opened on the first Tuesday in August, 1763. Richard Reed was chosen clerk, and a salary of ten pounds per annum was voted for his services.

The well at the northeast end of the town-house, in which the town pump has been placed for so many yrir-, was, In all probability, sunk during the month of May. 1763. At a meeting held on the 9th of that month, it was voted,

-1 R. w Lat the northeast end of the Town House, for the 1-1 -1 Tilly in case of tires. .

In February. 1764, the small-pox again broke out W Boston. The appearance of the disease in that town was regarded as a sure warning of a reign of the pestilence in Marblebead. The disease, in spite of every precaution taken to prevent it, broke out during detallowing May A town-meeting was immedi- As hell, and it was " voted to erect a small-pox hos- fi vator pasture northwesterly from the almshouse bou dy | ul - distant " This action was deemed neen - the shinshouse was considered too near the bouts of the town for use as a hospital. The vote n proph carried into effect, and all patients that with the throne crease were removed to the h-pot-lasot as it was in readiness.

CHAPTER LXXXI.

MARBLEHEAD-(Continued).

ments with the Crown - Condition of the Town in 1768-Slavery in Marble- hond Resist our of Marblehead Samen to Impressment-I'Mtriotic det ou- The Small-Pur War-The Non-Importation Agreement-Store- houses fored to Merchants of Boston-Inlegales to the Continental Con- gross-British Soldiers on the Neck-The Marblehead Regiment-Pro- ruvid Congress- The Loyalists.

THE year 1765 found the people of Marblehead, in common with their countrymen throughout the American colonies, greatly excited in regard to the contests with the Crown over the right of Parliament to tax the colonies for a revenue.

Though they sympathized fully with the spirit of resistance to the Stamp Act, which certain riotous demonstrations in Boston were intended to show, they were at that time unprepared to sanction such a vio- lent method of proceeding. They were loyal to the King, and though they bitterly denounced the act, they laid the entire blame for its passage upon the shoulders of the ministry and the Parliament of Great Britain. On the 24th of September the town voted to instruct its representatives " to promote and readily join in such dutiful remonstranees and hum- ble petitions to the King and Parliament, and other decent measures as may have a tendency to obtain a repeal of the Stamp Act, or alleviation of the heavy burdens thereby imposed upon the American British Colonies." They were also instructed to do all in their power "to suppress and prevent all riotous as- semblies and unlawful aets upon the persons or substance of any of His Majesty's subjects." And not to give their assent to any act of Assembly that would imply " the willingness of their constituents to submit to any internal taxes that are imposed otherwise than by the Great and General Court of this Province, according to the constitution of this gov- ornment."

For a time the attention of the people of Marble- head was diverted from public affairs by the disasters to their fishing fleet at sea. During the year 1768 nine vessels, with their crews, were lost, and the fol- lowing year fourteen others met a similar fate, mak- ing a total of twenty-three vessels and one hundred and twenty-two men and boys. Besides these, a large number were drowned by being washed overboard from vessels which returned. A large number of widows and orphans were thus left to the care of the town, and the grief and suffering caused by these ter- rible calamities was very great.

There were, at this time, about sixty merchants en- gaged in the foreign trade, besides a large number of shoremen, who prosecuted the fisheries. Some of the houses built by these merchauts were among the fin- est in the province, and one, the palatial residence of Col. Jeremiah Lee, is said to have cost over ten thon- I sand pounds. Nearly every family of sufficient wealth

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owned several negro slaves, and Col. Lee is said to have owned a large number, whom he employed in the work of loading and unloading his ships as fast as they arrived in foreign ports.

Slavery, so far from being considered an evil, was regarded as the only normal condition of the negro, and the institution was fostered and encouraged , the trustees reported that about one hundred and throughout the province. The church records of Marblehead bear evidence that even the clergymen of the town owned negro servants, some of whom were baptized and received into the church. Slave marriages are recorded also on the records of all three of the earlier churches.

A very interesting tradition is related concerning the Rev. Peter Bours, one of the earlier reetors of St. Michael's Church. It seems that among other ser- vants, the reverend gentleman owned a very ill-ten- pered and vicious woman. One night, in a fit of ugliness, she attempted to take the life of her master, and the next day, having some regard for his personal safety, he sold her. With the money thus obtained. Mr. Bours proenred a life-size portrait of himself, painted by one of the most celebrated artists in the country.

The newspapers of this period and for many years previons offered abundant evidence of the existence of negro slavery in Marblehead. A few of the adver- tisements copied from their files will doubtless be found of interest :

" Ran away from his master, Capt. Richard Trevett, of Marblehead, a Negro Man Named Pompey, about Twenty two years of age ; a Lusty- Tall fellow. He had on when he went away a striped homespun jacket, cotton & Linen shirt, dark coloured Kersey Breeches, gray yarn stock- ings, round To'd Leather heel shoes and Felt Hat.

"(NOTE) .- Ile deserted his Master's service in the Shallop Ann at Plymouth. Whoever shall apprehend the said Runaway and him safely convey to his said Master at Marblehead or to Mr. Francis Miller in Boston, near the Green Dragon, shall have fifty shillings reward and all necessary charges paid.

" Ang. 6, 1724."

" To be sold by Jacob Fowle, Esq., and Mrs. Susannah Palmer, Admin- istrators of the estate of John Palmer, late of Marblehead, deceased, a likely Negro Man, about 25 years old, and a fine Negro Boy, about 14. " Marblehead, Oct. 16, 1750."

" Ran away from Capt. John Diamond, at Marblehead, on Tuesday, the 11th of September Instant, a Spanish Negro Fellow named Coffe, about 25 years old ; speaks broken English, and can talk Spanish Lan- guage. lle is a tall, slim Fellow ; had on a new felt Hat, striped home- spun Jacket and Breeches, New Shoes with square Buckles. Whoever will bring or send the said Negro to Mr. Norwood, Innholder at Lynn, shall have Two dollars Reward and all necessary charges paid. All masters of vessels and others are cantioned not to conceal or carry off the said Negro, as they would avoid the penalty of the Law. " Sept. 29, 1759."'

The excitement incident to the passage of the Stamp Act did not cause the citizens of Marblehead to forget other matters of local importance. At the annual meeting in March, 1767, a board of trustees was chosen to direct and manage the affairs of the schools. There were several public schools in the town, but they were in a deplorable condition, and the well-to-do families preferred to send their ehil- dren to private teachers. The town appropriated

the sum of £350 for the use of the schools, and the trustees were instructed to report annually as to their condition. At a meeting held by adjournment, it was voted to establish three new schools for teaching reading, writing and arithemetie. Messrs. Jayne, Phippen and Ashton were selected as teachers, and

sixty scholars attended each of these schools. A few years later the town voted to erect two new school- houses on account of the crowded condition of the schools. Children were expected to be qualified to read before entering these schools, and, as a conse- quence, the children of the poor, whose parents in many instances could not read themselves, were denied admission. The town elected a committee to investigate the matter, and it was found that one hun- dred and twenty-two boys were untaught. To remedy this evil, it was voted that the children of the poor should be taught the necessary branches to qualify them for entrance into the schools at the expense of the town. This was the foundation of primary schools and the beginning of the present system of public in- struetion in Marblehead.

Governor Barnard having dissolved the Legislature of Massachusetts, and refusing to call it together again. a convention was held in Boston, in September, 1768, "to deliberate on constitutional measures to obtain redress of their grievances." The day after the convention adjourned, a body of British troops landed in Boston and marched to the Common. The selectmen were requested to furnish quarters for the soldiers, and, as they refused to do so, the State-House was opened for their reception. The presence of British soldiers in the capital town and the frequent impressment of American seaman by ships of the British Navy, excited the indignation of the people throughont the province. These attempts to bring the people into subjection to the will of the ministry of Great Britain were firmly resisted by the colonists, with a determination never to yield.

During the spring of 1769 a brig belonging in Mar- blehead was boarded off Cape Ann by a lieutenant and a party of seamen from the British sloop-of war "Rose," and an attempt was made to impress some of the crew into the British naval service. The brig was the "Pitt Packet," commanded by Captain Thomas Powers, returning from Cadiz to Marblehead. The crew at once determined to resist the transfer of any of their number to the British sloop, and a hand-to- hand fight followed. A party of marines was sent to the assistance of the lieutenant, and for over three hours the heroie sons of Marblehead defended them- selves against every attempt to compel them to sur- render. During the struggle two of the Americans were severely wounded and the British lieutenant was killed by a blow from a harpoon thrown by a sailor named Michael Corbitt. At length, overpowered by force of numbers, the brave men surrendered, and Corbitt was taken to Boston to be tried for murder.

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Ile was imprisoned, but a jury of inquest finally vin- Thated His conduct and he was released.

This may be said to have been the first act of forci- ble resistance to British tyranny in defense of Ameri- In liberty. It occurred several months before the people of Boston were fired upon by the British trang, and six years before the battle at Lexing-

On the 22 of May, 1769, the inhabitants of Mar- lehead again assembled in town-meeting for the la none of electing representatives to the tieneral Buurt and passing suitable instructions. Joshua Ohne and John Gallison were elected representatives.

The instructions were almost entirely devoted to a review of the troubles between the colonies and the mother country, concluding as follows :

That ysel itall w, by any votr or resolution whatever, n right 0 b1 wr | vitth ta levy Les on the pe ple of the province, fol Sang a revenue, este in the General Assembly of the

- Foot clase avery opportunity of manifesting our allegiance to O. ilecity of the British Parlament over the whole empire, except- the wool lewing less in the province for the purpose of a rev- able 1 w ite wipe off that reproach for disloyalty and disole.

whi h hast n &n lite tally cast upon us by malicious and males- ] $ us, at the Same time withir ating the just rights and privi. of the . uttry fie the Insults and designs of wirked and arhi- trary su

During the summer assurances were received from the British ministry that it was their intention at the Best session of Parliament to remove the duties upon glass, paper and colors, "upon consideration of unch duties being contrary to the true principles of comonerce." These concessions, instead of pacifying the people, had a far different effect. The repeal of the duty on ten was deminded as an evidence that the government had abandoned the right to tax the e donies. An agreement was made not to import any British goods until the tax was repealed, and not to purchase goods of any person who should import them contrary to the aon-importation agreement. All the Tedhabitants of Marblehead, with four exceptions, wornel this agreement. Those who refused were bit- terly denounced . blindly preferring the chains of «Avery to our most valued inheritance, English Lib- During the excitement caused by this contro- very a chest of tea was brought into town, but o Jodi vant were the people that the purchaser re- Instantly consented to reship it the next day. The patriot citizens assembled early on the following monate, and forming a procession, paraded about town with the Obnoxious merchandise, and it was

Je event of the winter of 1750 produced the 1 tint na entenent among the people of Mar- The phương of trops in Boston, making the rapid gun nel town was considered an in- the province and when, on the th of March, the der fire on the page, killing three and cards web brothers, an uprising of the masses

Early in May a town-meeting was held, and a com- mittee was chosen to circulate an agreement against the use of India tea. A series of votes were adopted in favor of the enforcement of the non-importation agreement, and expressing the " highest indignation and resentment that a lawless, ignorant and bloody soldiery should attempt of its own authority to fire upon and destroy so many of our brethren of ye town of Boston, and we hereby declare our readiness with our Lives and Interest, at all times to support ye civil authority of this Province in bringing to jus- tice all such high-handed offenders against ye whole- some laws of this land."

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 28

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