History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 29

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 29

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 committee chosen to circulate the agreement for the discouragement of the use of foreign teas re- ported that seven hundred and twelve heads of fami- ilies had signed it, and only seventeen had refused, a list of whose names was reported for the action of the town. Of the seventeen who refused their sig- natures, seven appear afterwards to have repented, as their names are erased from the report. The punish- ment of the ten who were reported for their refractory disposition was both novel and amusing. The town voted that they should be recorded in the clerk's of- tice and published in the Essex Gazette as " Unfriend- ly to the community, and the Selectmen were de- sired not to approbate any of them to the sessions for license to sell spirituons liquors."

In 1771 nearly one thousand men and boys were employed in the fisheries, besides those who eured tish. The year is chiefly memorable in the annals of the town on account of the suffering caused by the disasters at sea. A large number of widows and fatherless children had been left in a helpless situa- tion, and the town, unable to provide for so large a number, applied to the provincial government for assistance. By means of a "Brief" issued by the authority of the Legislature, £117 were collected for their relief.

During the month of November a circular letter was received from the Committee of Correspondence of Boston, relating to the rights of the colonists and soliciting "a free communication of the towns " ot " our common danger." The response of the people of Marblehead was prompt, hearty and characteristic. A petition was sent to the seleetmen requesting them to call a town-meeting on the Ist of December, which was conched in such patriotic and vigorous language that it was inserted entire in the warrant. On the dlay appointed, the inhabitants assembled at the town- house, and Thomas Gerry was chosen moderator of the meeting. The circular letter from the town of Bos- ton and the pamphlet of " State Rights " were read by the town clerk, and it was voted to choose a com- mittre "to take the whole warrant into considera- tion." Col. Azor Orne, Elbridge Gerry, Thomas Gerry, Jr., Joshua Orne and Capt. John Nntt were the members of this committee. The meeting then adjourned to meet again on the following Tuesday,

1081

MARBLEHEAD.

when the committee reported several resolutions, which were read separately and unanimously adopted. These resolutions denounced in the strongest terms the " recent act of Parliament and the British Minis- try in sending troops and ships to parade about the coast and in the streets of the towns of the Province ;" characterized the granting of stipends to the provin- cial judges as " an attempt to bribe the present re- spectable gentlemen to become tools to their despotie administration," and to " turn the seats of justice into a deplorable and unmerciful inquisition." The dis- solution of the Provincial Legislature was condemned in language equally as foreible, and the resolutions concluded by deelaring " that this town is highly in- censed at the unconstitutional, uurighteous, pre- sumptuous and notorious proceedings, detesting the name of a Hillsborough, Barnard and every minister who promoted them. And that it not only bears testimony against, but will oppose these and all sueh measures until some way for a full redress shall be adopted and prove effectual." It was voted to elect a Committee of Grievances now, and from year to year as long as may be necessary, to correspond with like committees in Boston and other towns in the provinee. The committee consisted of Azor Orne, Elbridge Gerry, Joshna Orne, Thomas Gerry, Thomas Gerry, Jr., Capt. John Nutt, Capt. John Glover and Deacon William Doliber.

The circular letter of the town of Boston was re- ferred to this committee, with instructions to prepare a reply, and the meeting adjourned to meet on the 15th of December. When the meeting again as- sembled, Azor Orne, chairman of the committee, pre- sented a letter in which every patriotic sentiment contained in the circular letter of the town of Boston was indorsed. The reply of the Committee of Griev- anee of Marblehead was worthy the patriots who composed it and the town which adopted its language as its own. "We beg leave," it concludes, "to bid adieu for the present, by assuring you that a de- termined resolution to support the rights confirmed to us by the Great King of the Universe engages the minds of this people, and we apprehend that all who attempt to infringe them are, in obedience to wicked dictates, violating the sacred statutes of Ileaven. And for the honor of our Supreme Benefactor, for our own welfare, and for the welfare of posterity, we desire to use these blessings of Liberty with thankfulness and prudence, and to defend them with intrepidity and steadiness."

There were those among the merchants of Marble- head who, though firm friends of their country, and sympathizing fully with every proper method taken to obtain a redress of grievances, were unprepared to indorse the language of the resolutions adopted at these meetings. To their conservative minds the ac- tion of the town appeared "rash and inconsiderate," and they accordingly protested against it. The pro- test was signed by twenty-nine well-known merchants,

and was published in the Essex Gazette. It was claimed that but a small faction of the inhabitants voted in favor of the resolutions, and that they there- fore "did not fairly represent the sentiments of the people of Marblehead." To this a reply was made in the next issue of the paper, in which it was elaimed that the resolves "were fully and fairly discussed for more than an hour, and that when the vote was taken there was but one person found in opposition." The writer also stated that the protest was faithfully cir- culated four days before the twenty-nine signatures were obtained.

During the year 1773 the attention of the people was for a time occupied in considering their danger from another source than the oppressive acts of the British Parliament. In June the wife of Mr. William Matthews was taken sick and treated for "poison." Her husband having recently arrived home from a voyage to the Grand Banks, it was supposed that she had been poisoned by washing his elothing with some soap which he had procured on board a French fish- ing vessel. In a short time other members of her family were afflicted, and in less than a month nearly all who had taken care of them were prostrate with the " poison." The kind-hearted neighbors of these unfortunates took their turn in watching with and earing for them, when, to their consternation and alarm, the disease which had thus far baffled all their skill was pronounced the small-pox in its most malig- nant form.

A very small number, comparatively, of the inhab- itants had ever had the disease, and their excitement was inereased when it was known that an old lady who had died with it had been visited by more than one hundred and fifty persons. The town-as an old gentleman expressed it in his journal-was now in an "uproar." The selectmen ordered all houses where the disease had appeared to be elosed and guarded, and "all the dogs in town to he killed immediately." Many of those who were sick were removed to a honse at the " Ferry," and in less than two months twenty- three persons died there. Eight others, who died dnr- ing two weeks of July and August, were buried at the Neek in the plain, just above what was then known as "Black Jack's Cove."

In August a town-meeting was held, and Azor Orne, Jonathan Glover, John Glover and Elbridge Gerry petitioned the town to build a hospital on Cat Island for the treatment of small-pox patients by inoenlation, " or allow certain individuals to build it at their own expense." The town voted not to build the hospital, but gave the desired permission to the petitioners to undertake it as a private enterprise, provided that the consent of the town of Salem conkl be obtained, and that the hospital should be so regulated that the in- habitants of Marblehead would be " in no danger of infeetion therefrom."

The consent of the selectmen of Salem was readily obtained, and early in September preparations were

10-2

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. !

1 ok for tin er ction of the building. The work had Uply tomoreno I. however, betore the people of Mar Chel lugen to manifest great uneasiness, Chr ngh fear that by means of the hospital the dread mhse . mykt tik, the forin of a pestilence among thin. Theopposition at length became so great that a l wn meet by w. he'd on the 19th of September, and the vote whereby permission was granted for the creation of the building was recited. The report had been freely circulated that the proprietors desired to estafonte the hospital for their own personal gain. and " to make money by means of the dangerous ex- [wrmvent." To aflay the indignation created by these ru nors, and to show their disinterestedness, the pro- prietors proposed tosoil the materials for the building to the town at their actual cost. The citizens, un- reasonable now on their opposition, not only refused to buy the materials, but demanded that the work be

lodignant at the injustice of this action, the pro- prietor- continued their work in spite of all opposi- tion, and in a short time the hospital, a large two- story nilding, was completed. Dr. Hall Jackson, an codehe physician of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. who lel attained a distinguished reputation for his stress in treating the small-pox, was appointed superintendent, and, on the 16th of October, entered Opon his duties and began the work of inoenlation. >veral hundred patients were successfully treated, ut, mifortunately, a few, who had taken the disease mn re severely than the others, died at the hospital.

The opp sition to the enterprise which, from the beginning, had been very great, now took the form of the most bitter and angry hostility. The boatmen had landed patients at places nearer the town than the appointed by the selectmen, and for this the excbed citizens demolished their boats. Four men, who we e rangl t in the act of stealing clothing from the bajoal, were tarred and feathered, and, after being 1 el in a ort and exhibited through all the princi- pal streets of the town, were carried to Salem, accom- panted by a procession of men and boys, marching to the music of Give drums and a fife.

The tears of the people were still further increased when, a short time after this affair, it was announced that twenty two cases of small pox had broken out in The town The storm of indignation which for months holten brewingand manifesting itself at intervals, nos our t open to proprietor- of the hospital in all it tury Threats ot Incoing them were openly made, al theatery populace demanded that the doors of the Hotel Hasthe Pex " as the hospital was ironi- ob ald - Jool ohne dosul forever. The pro- romet ril expected to be mobbed and it a Bit of theo. C donel Jonathan Glover, all Two sind arinbry po es in off of the rooms baben Bondry th det, intending to give the read weer selon from the windows should r pi te gi đạt bim

At length, unable longer to resist the imporumate petitions of their fellow-citizens, the proprietors closed the hospital and promised that no more pa- tients should be received.

For a time the excitement was somewhat allayed, but the injudicious remarks of one of the proprietors excited the suspicion of the people that the promise would not be kept, and the opposition broke out afresh. On the night of January 26, 1774, a body of men closely disguised visited the island, and before they left the hospital and a barn adjoining were in flames. The buildings and all their contents were completely destroyed.

Naturally indignant at this outrage, the proprietors determined to secure the speedy punishment of the incendiaries. John Watts and John Gulliard were arrested as being implicated in the affair, and were confined in Salem jail. As soon as the news of the arrest became generally known in Marblehead, the cause of the prisoners was earnestly espoused by the inhabitants, and measures were adopted to rescue them from the hands of the authorities. A large number of men at onee marched to Salem, and in a short time the jail was completely surrounded. At a given signal the doors were broken open, the jailer and his assistants were overpowered, and the prisoners were rescued and conducted in triumph to their homes. A few days after, the sheriff organized a torce of five hundred citizens, intending to march to Mar- blehead and recapture his prisoners. A mob equally as large at once organized in Marblehead to resist them. Fearing the disastrous consequences to life and prop- erty which a conflict would engender, the proprie- tors decided to abandon the prosecution, and the sheriff abandoned his purpose.

Some time after this affair a man named Clark, one of the persons who had previously been tarred and feathered, went to t'at Island and brought a quantity of clothing into the town. He was at once ordered to take the bundle to the ferry for examination, On his return to the town he was surrounded by an angry crowd, who threatened to inflict summary punishment upon him. The selectmen appeared upon the scene, however, and he was released. At about eleven o'clock that night, by a delegation of twenty men, he was taken from his bed, conducted to the public whipping-post in front of the town-house, and was there unmercifully beaten. One of the perpetrators of the outrage was subsequently arrested, but the others were not detected. The town having been dis- infected of the disease, and the hospital, the great cause of all the contention, having been removed peace was once more restored to the community.

The events of the winter and spring of 1774 were full of exciting interest to the people of Marblehead. On the 16th of December the famous "Tea Party " ocenrred in Boston harbor, when the sturdy patriots of that town emptied three hundred and forty-two chests of tea into the sea, rather than allow them to

1083

MARBLEHEAD.

be landed contrary to the terms of the non-importa- tion agreement. In March Governor Hutchinson re- signed, and Thomas Gage was appointed in his stead. One bill after another was passed by Parliament and readily sanctioned by the King, having for their ob- ject the subjection of the people of Massachusetts. The quartering of troops in Boston was legalized; town-meetings were abolished, except for the choice of officers, or by special permission of the Governor. Finally, the infamous Port Bill was passed, which closed the port of Boston to commerce, and removed the seat of government to Salem.

On the 23d of May, 1774, a town-meeting was held for the purpose, according to the warrant, " of takeing into consideration the alarming situation to which we are all reduced (it being no less than this, whether we shall hereafter be freemen or slaves), to choose a com- mittee of correspondence; and to adopt any other measures that may appear to be constitutional, and calculated to procure relief from the difficulties which are hastening in all the colonies of America by acts of Parliament taxing and unjustly depriving them of their interest."

After organizing by the choice of Deacon Stephen Phillips as moderator, the meeting adjourned to meet in the afternoon, when a Committee of Correspond- ence was elected, as follows: Joshua Orne, Deacon William Dolliber, Deaeon Stephen Phillips, Edward Fettyplace, Capt. John Nutt and Ebenezer Foster. The meeting then adjourned to meet again May 31st.

Under the last clause of the warrant for these meet- ings, the town could legally take action upon almost any political measures; and, in order to avoid the necessity of calling new meetings to consider the various issues as they arose, they were held by ad- journment from time to time under this warrant. Forty-six meetings, the largest number ever held in Marblehead under one warrant, were held pursuant to adjournment, the last taking place on the 3d of April, 1775, ten months and ten days from the time the first meeting was convened.

On the 31st of May, 1774, the very day that the ad- journed meeting was to be held, an exceedingly com- plimentary address to the late Governor Hutchinson appeared in the columns of the Esse.c Gazette. This address was signed by thirty-three citizens of Mar- blehead, and declared, among other things, "that the public good was the mark at which the ex-governor had ever aimed in his administration, and that this judgement was sustained by the opinions of all dispas- sionate, thinking men." The publication of the ad- dress caused great indignation, and as soon as the citizens assembled in town-meeting it was referred to a committee, who were instructed to take it into con- sideration and report at an adjourned meeting.

On the 2d of June, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, the citizens again assembled, and the committee pre- sented a long report concerning the address, which was unanimously adopted. The report denounced

the signers as enemies of the province, and declared that the address was " insulting to both branches of the Legislature and effrontive to the town ;" "that it was false as it was malicions, and that its signers should only be forgiven by a public recantation of the sentiments contained in the address." One of the signers publicly recanted at the meeting, and the town thereupon voted "that any of the subscribers who shall signify before the further adjournment of this meeting that they are desirous of detracting themselves from all enemies in ye address so af- frontive and justly obnoxious to the inhabitants of this town, shall be viewed in the same light as if they had not signed the address."

Other recantations soon followed, and in a short time all but ten of the subscribers had publicly ex- pressed their sorrow for signing the address. Two of the signers, John Fowle and John Prentiss, through the columns of the Essex Gazette, expressed the wish "that the address had been to the devil before they had either seen it or signed it."

At the annual election in May John Gallison, Esq., had been elected representative to the General Court, and on the 6th of June a town meeting was held to adopt instructions which had been prepared by the Committee of Grievances. The instructions were similar in tone to all the votes of the town in relation to the troubles with the mother country. They declared that " We dare aver, will assert and maintain the invaded rights of a free people, how- ever surrounded by a hostile band, pointing at their breasts glittering bayonets and threatening instant destruction." The sympathy of the town was ex- pressed " for the metropolis of this Province under the operation of the detestable Port Bill." "Our hearts bleed for the distressed but truly respectable Bostonians. The sacrifice now making of their liber- ties is a sacrifice of the liberties of this province and of all America; therefore, let it be borne, if not by the provinces in general, by this in particular."

In July subscriptions were solicited by order of the town in aid of the poor of Boston, who were suffering from the operation of the Port Bill, and, among other contributions, eleven cart-loads of Jamaica fish and a cask of oil were donated. The town-house and powder-house were placed at the disposal of the mer- chants for the storage of goods, and the citizens gen- erally tendered the use of their wharves, store- houses and other unoccupied buildings for this pur- pose. As soon as the determination to hold a " Con- tinental Congress " was made known, the town voted to send one representative, and appropriated nine pounds and eight shillings for the use of the Con- gress. Jeremiah Lee, Azor Orne and Elbridge Gerry were in turn elected to represent the town, but all three declined the honor, "as the condition of their private affairs was such as to prevent their accept- ance." At a subsequent meeting the town voted that "inasmuch as all three of the gentlemen chosen

100$

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Yal been unable to Recept the choice," in case any one of them should find it convenient to set out for Philadelphia, " he was authorized to draw upon the wwwn treasurer for the amount of his expenses." Labridge Cherry, the youngest of the three who had hoog chien, then only thirty years of age, Was finally induced to accept the position, and thus be- K.n that dist'rezuished public career which did not der until he had attached the office of Vice-Pres- ulent of the United States. During the month of Joly the constables were instructed to notify the in- habitants personally to be held on the 26th of that month, as the "di-use of tea" was to come under consideration. On the day appointed the town voted that " the use of tea at a time when our inveterate en- etnie are rausing it to be enforced on the American colotões in the most violent methods, even by armed barrels, is no less an injury offered to the colonics by all who vend or purchase it, than affording assistance to those enemies to raise revenues to pay dragoons who are to en-lave ns." It was also voted " that this town highly disapproves the vending or use of any ludi Tea . . . . and views all persons who shall offer it for sale as enemies to America and this town in particular." A tea committee of eleven persons was chosen to warn the inhabitants not to sell or use India tras, and it was voted that all who refused to discontinue the sale of the article after being warned by the committee, "should have their names posted at the Town-House and at the several churches, that the town may know their enemies."

In defiance of the act of Parliament for the suppres- wion of town-meetings, the people of Marblehead continued to assemblo, and to express their senti- ments concerning the great questions then agitating the country. Nor were they awed by the presence of A company of " British Regulars," which had been stati ged on the Neck for the purpose of enforcing "unmission to this act, by order of the Governor.

The presence of the British soldiers was a source of Constant irritation to the inhabitants, and several times a collision between them seemed imminent. The excitement and indignation which their inso- lost " sectioneel was fermented almost to fury when Cotain Merritt, a worthy citizen, was wounded by one of the gourds. The citizens hastily assembled, niecohive to march to the Neck and "exterminate to, Ertico haly of soldiers," but wiser counsel pre- why and the officers in command, in order to pues the rogers popolare promise I that the offender Todd & punkhel wwh five hundred lashes.

In September Governor bage issued a proclama- to avior the Massachusetts Legislature, which hab ben elle to meet al Salem on the 5th of " par Vatsith under des order, the Legisla- thosenel on the des appunited, and imme Wy rab biteli na Provincial Congress. 1 id enten wr pole known, a town-

M. wtd rueah lac, Azir Orne and

Eldridge Gerry were chosen delegates from Marble- head. At the same meeting a Committee of Obser- vation and Prevention was chosen, with instructions "to co-operate with other towns in the province for preventing any of the inhabitants from supplying the troops with labor, lumber, spars, pickets, straws, bricks or any other material whatever, except such as humanity requires."

The militia of Marblehead consisted at this time of a regiment of seven companies of well-disciplined, active men. This regiment was under the command of officers, all of whom had been commissioned by Governor Gage or former Governors, and the town voted that it was " not expedient for the people to be led or influenced by any militia officers who conceive themselves obliged to hold and execute these com- missions." The regiment was therefore reorganized, not, however, without considerable excitement caused by the refusal of several officers to resign in accord- ance with the request of the town.

CHAPTER LXXXII. MARBLEHEAD-(Continued).

MARBLEHEAD IN THE REVOLUTION.

The Minute- Men-British Prigate in Marblehead Harbor -British Troops Land on Homan's Beach-Battle of Lexington- Jeremiah Lee-Expe- dilim to Rier St. Lawrence-The First American Privateer-Captain John Manly in the Schooner " Lee "-First Naral Victory of the W'ar - Daring Exploit of Jums Mugford in the Schooner " Franklin "- Loy alists Driren from the Town-Sufferings of the Peuple-Decda of During - Return of the Refugers-Demonstrations on the Declaration of Peace.

IN accordance with a recommendation of the Provincial Congress, providing for the organization of an army, a town-meeting was held at Marblehead on the 2d of January, 1775, "to make provision to pay the persons who may enlist as minute-men, and to take other suitable steps for perfecting the militia in the arts of war." The subject was referred to a com- mittee, of which Gerry, Orne and Lee were mem- bers, and they reported that as a large proportion of the inhabitants would soon be called upon to "assist in defending the charter and Constitution of the Province, as well as the Rights and Liberties of Amer- ica, it was necessary that they should be properly disciplined and instructed ; and as those who were first to take the field would be required to devote a large proportion of their time to this exercise, it was but just and reasonable that they should be remuner- atul for their extra services." The sum of eight hun- dred pounds was accordingly granted for the purpose, and Captain James Mugford was appointed paymas- ter for the detached militia or minute-men. A com- pensation of two shillings a day was allowed to cach private; sergeants, clerks, drummers and fifers re-

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. II, Part 29

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