History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 30

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 30

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).

1085

MARBLEHEAD.

ceived three shillings each; second lieutenants four shillings ; first lieutenants four shillings six pence, and captains six shillings. A service of four hours a day was required, but compensation was allowed for but three days in each week.

During the month of January the British soldiers were withdrawn from the town, and on the 9th of February His Majesty's ship "Lively," mounting twenty guns, arrived in the harbor and anchored off the fort. All vessels arriving in the harbor were dil- igently searched by the officers of this ship, and arms, ammunition and military stores of every de- scription found on board them were confiscated by order of the Governor. A vessel containing a chest of arms was compelled to anchor near the " Lively ;" but a few nights after her arrival the prize was boarded by a party of intrepid young men, under the lead of Samuel R. Trevett, and the arms were re- moved and concealed on shore. Though a diligent search was made by the British officers, the muskets could not be found, and, as was supposed, were after- wards used in completing the armament of the Mar- blehead regiment.

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 26th, while the people were at church, a transport sailed into the harbor. Soon after a regiment of British soldiers, under command of Colonel Leslie, landed on Ho- man's Beach. After loading their guns, they marched through the town. An alarm gun was beaten at the door of each of the churches, and as the people came into the streets, the Marblehead regiment was mustered, and active preparations were made for the defense of the town. Suspecting the object of their expedition to be the seizure of several pieces of artillery secreted at Salem, Major John Pedrick hastened on horseback to that town, and gave the alarm at the door of the North Church. He was soon joined by a party of young men from Marblehead, aud together they pro- ceeded to the North Bridge, over which the regulars were obliged to pass. On their arrival the troops found the draw raised and a large body of people de- termined to resist their passage. Colonel Leslie de- manded that " the draw be lowered in the King's name," but was told that it was "not the King's highway, but a private road." Several of the sol- diers then attempted to cross in boats; but were told that, should they do so, the boats would be imme- diately sunk. While Colonel Leslie and his officers were debating with the citizens, Robert Wormsted, one of the young men from Marblehead,-who after- wards distinguished himself by his daring and brav- ery,-engaged in an encounter with some of the sol- diers. He was a skillful fencer, and, with his cane for a weapon, succeeded in disarming six of the reg- ulars. Finally, upon their agreement to march a short distance and then return, the draw was lowered, and the soldiers were allowed to proceed. Finding himself frustrated in his design, the disappointed colonel returned with his regiment to Marblebead,

and re-embarked on board the transport. Their dis- comfiture was rendered the more complete, as they were obliged to pass the Marblehead regiment, and realized that, had their mission proved successful, it would have resulted only in bloodshed and utter de- feat on their return.

The events which followed in rapid succession, during the months of March and April, were such as to cause the utmost excitement in Marblehead. On the 19th of April the battle of Lexington was fought, and the news of the disastrous rout of the British was received with the greatest enthusiasm. The war for freedom had commenced, and the patriots every- where declares themselves ready for the struggle.

The day before the battle the province Committee of Safety and Supplies, of which Jeremiah Lee, Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne were members, held a meeting at Wetherby's Black Horse Tavern, on the road be- tween Cambridge and Lexington. After the session was concluded, several members of the committee, including John Hancock and Samuel Adams, went over to Lexington to pass the night, while the gentle- men from Marblehead remained at the tavern. Without the slightest thought of personal danger, Gerry and his associates retired to rest. During the night an officer and a file of soldiers of the British army march- ed towards the house to search for the members of the rebel Congress. While the officer was posting their files the gentlemen found means to escape half- dressed into an adjoining cornfield, where they re- mained for over an hour until the troops were with- drawn. The night being very cold, the gentlemen suffered very keenly from their exposure, and Colonel Lee was soon after attacked by a severe fever, from which he never recovered. He died on the 10th of May following, at Newburyport, but his body was brought to Marblehead for interment.

The death of this eminent patriot, at a time when his inestimable services were of more value than ever to the town and province, was universally lamented. In the various positions of trust and honor which he had held, as an enterprising and successful merchant, and as " an ardent, active and able advocate for the Liberties and Independence of his country," he in- spired the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. In his private intercourse with his fellow-men, he was admired for the urbanity of his manners, and beloved for his generous disposition and benevolence to the poor.

During the month of May the disturbed condition of public affairs caused great commotion throughout the town. Press-gangs prowled about the streets, seeking to impress seamen for the royal navy. An attack from the gun boat in the harbor, whose offi- cers and men were irritated almost beyond endurance by the successful resistance of the people to their arbitrary measures, was considered as not unlikely to occur. This, together with the unprotected position of the harbor, led many of the inhabitants to remove

14.

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the place- not - > dangerously exposed. Ta thi 21-t th artillery company, commanded by tipsund R Trevett, marched to the "Old V doz-11 auist " where a sermon was delivered by u Bv. Mr. Whitw . H. The next day recruiting rs marched about the town with drums and t . Disting recruits for the Continental Army.

On the last day of May the frigate " Lively" sailed for Boston, and her place was taken by the sloop-of- war " Merlin." A few days after the arrival of this whi a merchant vessel from the West Indies, be- Unging to, Od. Glover, arrived in the harbor. The mwandler of the " Merlin" sent an officer on board to Wrler the captain to anchor his vessel near the ship ; but the vigilant owner had boarded her before him, ind, disregarding the imperative commands of the officer and the threatening guns of the ship, had his Vessel brought directly in to Gerry's wharf. Crowil- of people were gathered along the wharves and head- Lands, expecting that the schooner would be fired into by the " Merlin:" but the angry commander, knowing that the people were determined to defend the owner at all hazards, wisely refrained from an art which must have resulted disastrously to himself and his men.

Colonel Glover's regiment consisted of ten com- panies, mmbering in all four hundred and five men. On the 10th of June the valiant commander received ordre to continue with his regiment at Marblehead until further orders ; and to hold it " in readiness to march it a moment's warning to any post where he tony be directed."

Having bet i stationed at Marblehead until " for- ther orders," the brave seamen of the marine regi- " we're deprived of an opportunity to distinguish them selves at the battle of Bunker Hill, which took 1. . w the 17th of June. But there were other wins ef Marblehead who participated in that mem- walk. czagement and fought like heroes in de- se of thor country. The company of artillery und r . omoiand of Captain Samuel R. Trevett, form- . apart of Colonel Gridley's regiment, arrived on to gold in & want to engage in the latter part of the CAR in Trevett lost a small four-pound can- ovo in the se tien, but made up for his loss by cap- Orfortwo of larger size from the British, the only Conven codured by the Americans, Two men of the Mar value of chopany were killed and three were wooded. Oftle killed, one was William Notting ; a Fal ne wagedel, one was the intrepid Robert W 1, who was rock in the holder by the at-fs boring wo 1. He narrowly escaped baciar 60 be ol blown from his shoulders, the fate Bu Ellentanto when he was sisting from

02 .DON Jonel Glover received or- Alsde 104 r zinent and report to milliarder. A general muster was ALT Text by armed sod equippe 1,

made an imposing appearance as it marched through the town. Every officer, soldier and musician in the entire regiment of ten companies were citizens of Marblehead, except one captain and seven privates.

The officers, chosen some months before, were: Colonel, John Glover; Lieutenant-Colonel, John Gerry ; Major, Gabriel Johonnet ; 1 Adjutant, William Gibbs; Surgeon, Nathaniel Bond ; Surgeon's mate. Nathaniel Harrington ; Quartermaster, Joseph Sta- rey. The uniforms of the regiment consisted of a blue round jacket and trousers, trimmed with leather buttons; and Colonel Glover was said to be the most finely-dressed officer of the army at Cambridge. As no arrangements had been made for fitting out a naval armament, and as the army at Cambridge was greatly embarrassed by the scarcity of ammunition, General Washington, who had assumed command, was instructed by Congress to intercept and capture two English transports, which were bound to Quebec with ammunition and stores for the British Army. Accordingly, Nicholas Broughton and John Selman, both captains in Glover's regiment, were ordered to take command of a detachment of the army, and proceed at once on board the schooners " Lynch " and "Franklin," theu lying in Beverly Ilarbor. On the 21st of October, having fitted their vessels for sea-the "Lynch " with six guns and the " Franklin" with four, they sailed on the first naval expedition of the war. Each commander took his own company for a crew, and Broughton as commander hoisted his broad " pennant on board the ' Lynch.'" After a long pass- age, being detained by adverse winds and weather, they reached the river St. Lawrence, but found that the transports for which they were in search had es- caped. They, however, captured ten other vessels as prizes, and hearing that the authorities on the Island of St. John were raising recruits for the British Army, the zealous commanders, thinking to do essential service to their country, landed their troops on the island, besieged a fort, and detained and brought off as prisoners the governor (Wright) and Judge Colback as prisoners of war. In Decem- ber the expedition returned, when, much to their as- tonishment, the two naval officers were severely repri- manded by the commander-in-chief for exceeding their instructions, and the prisoners and prizes were released. It was the desire of Congress to adopt a conciliatory policy towards the Northern Provinces, and Washington feared that this hasty action of the brave but over-zealous seamen would cause a rupture of the friendly relations existing between these colonies, which might be fraught with serious con- sequences,

In the mean time the Legislature of Massachusetts had passed an act authorizing the fitting out of armed vessels to protect the sea-coast, and to cut off the sup-

) William L Lon afterwards became umjor and Gabriel Johonnet,

1087

MARBLEHEAD.

lies intended for the British army. This act, which vas adopted on the 15th of November, was chiefly lue to the efforts of Elbridge Gerry, one of the repre- entatives from Marblehead, by whom the preamble vas drawn up. The first ves-el to put to sea under his arrangement was the schooner " Lee," commanded y Captain John Manly, of Marblehead. On the 29th of November he fell in with the brig "Nancy," a ressel of two hundred and fifty tons burden, bound to Boston, with military stores, which he captured and ent into Gloucester harbor. Her cargo consisted of everal brass field-pieces, two thousand stand of arms, ne hundred thousand flints, thirty-two tons of lead, large quantity of ammunition, and a thirteen-inch rass mortar, besides a complete assortment of tools, utensils and machines, necessary for military opera- ions. Manly's schooner sailed under the Pine-Tree lag of Massachusetts, and this was the first naval victory in which the British flag was struck to Ameri- an colors. The prize was of inestimable value to Washington, and the ordnance stores and field-pieces vere at once forwarded to the army at Cambridge.

Early in the month of May, 1776, James Mugford, young man who had previously sailed as master of a merchant vessel, applied to General Ward for per- mission to fit out the Continental cruiser " Franklin," hen lying in ordinary at Beverly. During the pre- rious year Mugford had been impressed into the British service and confined on board a gunboat then ying in the harbor. He was soon released, however, hrough the interposition of his wife, who went on board the ship and represented to the captain that hey had been recently married, and that she was de- vendent upon him for support. While a prisoner, the young sailor learned from the conversation of his aptors that a "powder ship" was soon to sail from England, with ammunition and stores for the Brit- sh army. Immediately upon his release, he communicated the important intelligence to the roper authorities, and requested permission to at- empt the capture of the transport. After much mportunity, his request was granted. Without de- ay, the intrepid commander collected a crew, and after fitting his vessel for sea, pushed into the bay. On Friday, the 17th of May, the British ship "Hope," of three hundred tons, six guns and seventeen men, love in sight. Notwithstanding the fact that a British fleet lay at anchor in Nantasket Roads, only a ew miles off, and in full sight, Mugford at once bore upon the ship and carried her by boarding. While the crew of the " Franklin " were engaged in taking posses- sion of their prize, the captain of the "Hope" ordered is men to cut the top-sail halyard ties, with a view o impede the sailing of the ship, and thereby give he boats of the squadron time to come up. Mugford, sensible of the danger of the situation, threatened he captain and all on board with instant death should the order be executed. IIis resolute manner errified the crew, and they refused to obey the com-

mands of their officers. The prize was then taken through Pudding Point Gut,-a channel then but little known,-beyond the range of the guns of the British squadron, and arrived safely in Boston har- bor. This was the most valuable capture that had been made during the war. The cargo consisted of one thousand earbines with bayonets, several car- riages for field-pieces, fifteen hundred barrels of pow- der, and a most complete assortment of artillery implements and pioneer tools.

Having seen his prize safely in port, the gallant com- mander of the " Franklin " took a supply of ammu- nition, and on the following Sunday again put to sea. In sailing through Pudding Point Gut, the same channel through which the prize was brought up, the vessel grounded. This being perceived by the officers on board the ships of the British fleet, fourteen boats, manned by two hundred sailors fully armed, were sent to capture the unprotected schooner. Mugford, how- ever, was prepared to meet them. Waiting until they came within range of his guns, he fired, and with such deadly effect that two of the boats were immedi- ately sunk. The men in the remaining boats then surrounded the schooner and attempted to board. Seizing picks and cutlasses and whatever implements they could obtain, the heroic crew of the " Franklin " fonght with desperation in defense of their vessel. Many of the British were shot as soon as the boats came alongside, while others had their hands and fingers ent off with sabres, as they laid them on the gunwales of the schooner. The brave Mugford, who throughout the conflict had been fighting wherever his presence seemed most needed, encouraging and animating his men by voice and example, was shot in the breast by an officer in one of the boats. With the utmost composure, and with that presence of mind which ever distinguishes heroes, he called to his lien- tenant and exclaimed : " I am a dead man ; don't give up the vessel ; you will be able to beat them off." In a few minutes he expired. The death of their gallant commander nerved the crew of the "Franklin" to still greater effort, and iu a short time the men in the boats were repulsed and gave up the attack. The engagement lasted half an hour. The British lost seventy men, while the only person killed on board the schooner was its heroic captain.

With the advancing tide the Franklin floated from the soft ground where she had struck, and taking advantage of the fresh breeze that had sprung up, the crew brought her in safety to Marblehead harbor. The news of the capture of the powder ship, and of the death of the captain in the contest with the boats, had preceded the arrival of the schooner, and the wharves and headlands were thronged with people as the victorious seamen sailed up the harbor.

On the following Wednesday the funeral took place from the "New Meeting-House," the Rev. Isaac Story officiating. Amid the tolling of bells and the firing of minute-guns, the body was conveyed to its

10-3

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

restoplace in the "Old Burying Hill," where a volley was fired by the Marblehead regiment, which . war. eb lescort dity on the occasion.

On the 17th of June, the first anniversary of the 6. te of Broker Ilill, the citizens of Marblehead, in town mening assembled declared :

.T first tareas think it for the interest of these

het o, chewhal tants if this town will support them

The patriotic citizens had not long to wait. Early me in rning in July-so runs the tradition-a horse- man role Into town, bringing the joyful tidings that independence had been declared. The joy of the peo- ple knew no bounds. The bells of the churches were rung for an entire week and every evening fires were lightel on the hill-top-, in honor of the great event. During the excitement occasioned by these demon- stration St. Michael's Church was entered, and the royal coat of arms was removed from its place above thy chancel, while the hell was rung till it cracked, to punish some of the communicants for their loyalist sentiments.

In a few weeks printed copies of the Declaration of Independence were received, and Benjamin Boden, the town clerk, transcribed the entire document on the records of the town.

The year 1777 opened with little encouragement for the success of the American Army. True, glori- 01- 41 geennes had been achieved at Trenton and Prince- ton, but the disheartening failures of the various ex- [w litions north and south, and the extreme suffer- In ' to which the soldiers in the army had been sub- med, were rapidly breeding discontent and discour- neDoit among the people. On the 1st of January two thousand of the regular troops were entitled to a Ascharge, and a general apprehension prevailed that ther plaer & might not he readily filled. But the peo- pleof Marblehead were not despondent; and though « lar re proportion of the able-bodied men were already in the service of the colonies, either on land or water, L Ju ctiug was heldl early in February for the purpose detine che-seventh of the remaining male inhab- It or the defense of the American states." An Ulft Hal onghty was offered for volunteers, and in valori tron On requisite number was obtained.

Jo ta toget to which the loyalists should be sub- etel lok 6 9 . riodaly discussed by Congress and Fre, and in May the latter body th rizing the towns to procure infor- these who were know , to be of an un- rhy Th-tun winds the colonies, A town inbody held i Marl Ichead on the My god the new berry. E-q., was hosen to rir to vooset al persons who were inimical to D 10 Fit - The names of seven persons anni non Than those of the Rev. Joshua re tored-t Mi hael's Church, and W. w r\ \ r bu, who conducted the services

as a lay-reader for several years after the close of the

But the zealous inhabitants had taken it upon themselves to punish the "Tories " in their own effective manner, and a suggestion from the Legislature was hardly necessary to induce them to establish " an inquisition,"-the term applied by one of the sufferers to the measures of his fellow-citizens. Nearly two years before, Thomas Robie, one of the most defiant of the loyalists in Marblehead, had charged an exor- bitant price for about twenty half-barrels of powder, purchased of him by the town, and the indignant citizens voted that no interest should be allowed him for the time of the town's indebtedness. The ill- feeling thus engendered continued to increase, until Robie and his wife rendered themselves so obnoxious that they were obliged to leave the town and take refuge in Nova Scotia. Crowds of people collected on the wharf to witness their departure, and many irritating remarks were addressed to them concerning their Tory principles and their conduct towards the Whigs. Provoked beyond endurance by these insult- ing taunts, MIrs. Robie angrily retorted, as she seated herself in the boat that was to convey her to the ship : "I hope that I shall live to return, find this wicked rebellion crushed, and see the streets of Marblehead so deep with rebel blood that a long boat might be rowed through them."

The effect of this remark was electrical, and only the sex of the speaker restrained the angry populace from doing her personal injury.

Another of the loyalists who suffered keenly from the displeasure of the townspeople, during these ex- citing times was Mr. Ashley Bowen. He had seen active service in the French and Indian War, and was a midshipman on board the frigate "Pembroke," at the siege of Quebec. So indignant were the citizens at his steady resolution in defending the King, and denouncing the acts of the colonists as treasonable, that at one time during the war it was with great dif- ficulty that he obtained the necessaries of life. The store-keepers were afraid to sell their goods to him for fear of incurring the displeasure of their patrons, and he feared, with good reason, that the attempt would be made to starve him into submission. Iu 1778 he made the following entry in his journal, which tells its own story :

" This has been a year of trouble to me. I was drafted twice as a sol- dier, and taken by Nathan Brown before old Ward on ye 25 of Murch. Then they trained with me so much that they would have me to get In nl-men for me not to speak nor look, nor deny them my money whon drafted. As I would not get bondsmen, it was determined to send me on board the Guard ship at Boston."

Fortunately for Mr. Bowen, he met with an old friend, the captain of a merchant vessel, with whom he shipped as a mate, and so, as the journal expresses it, " was taken out of their way."

Whatever else may be said of the loyalists of Mar- blehead, it cannot be said that they were cowardly. They were sincere in their convictions, and had the

1089

MARBLEHEAD.

courage to declare them in defiance of an overwhelm- ing public sentiment in opposition. To do this re- quired a strength of character such as is seldom ex- hibited except by heroes in times of public peril. They were actuated by no mercenary motives. Es- tranged from friends and kindred, liable at any mo- ment to be imprisoned or to have their property con- fiscated, many were obliged to leave the home of their childhood and seek a residence among strangers. Time has removed the prejudice, the last actor in the great drama has long since passed from earth, and to-day, though the impartial reader of history may not in- dorse the seutiment nor applaud the acts of the zeal- ous loyalists, he will find much to admire in their evident sincerity and the fortitude with which they encountered danger and endured adversity.

The hardships and sufferings to which the people were subjected during the summer months of 1777 were severe in the extreme. Many of the soldiers in the army had been paid for their services in depreci- ated Continental notes, which passed for less than half their face value, while others had not been paid at all. As a consequence, their families at home were deprived of many of the necessaries of life, and the town was obliged to adopt measures for their relief. The family of each soldier was allowed to draw provisions to the amount of half the wages due him, and for a time the distress was alleviated.

The terms of enlistment of many of the soldiers in the army having expired, the Legislature voted, on the Ist of May, to raise two thousand men for a ser- vice of eight or nine months, and apportioned the number upon the town. Ardent and spirited appeals were made to the people, and, as usual, the reply of Marblehead was prompt and decisive. Three days after, a town-meeting was held, and the sum of twenty-five hundred and fifty-two pounds was appro- priated " to pay the bounty due the Guards at Winter Hill, and to raise thirty-four more men to serve in the Continental Army."

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 30

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