History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 73

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 73

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).

At the time of the disaster they had but one week's provisions, which they divided. They then lived on cocoa as long as it lasted. They succeeded in catching some shark, dolphin, and a small fish called the rudder fish. With these they sustained life, but at times they were reduced to the utmost extremity ; one day they caught arat that was instantly devoured and pro- nonnced thesweetestof morsels. They suffered intense- ly for water, having at the onset but one barrel ; during showers they drank all they could catch, but at one time they had no rain for three weeks; during this time the cook expired from thirst. Then despair was written on every face, for they knew not who would be the next victim. But the next day it rained plentifully.

They had been on this wreck since the 31st of December, and it was now the 17th of September, a period of two hundred and sixty-one days, and in all that time but three vessels were seen; one at a great distance, the second not far off, hut they took no notice of them. The third they saw the day before the rescue at three leagues distance. They made signals of distress but soon after, to their great sur- prise and disappointment, the vessel changed her course and sailed away. But the next day a brig was seen bearing down npon them ; when conveniently near, a boat with the mate and two hands came on board. After looking about the mate said "we saw you yesterday and wanted to come to your relief, but the captain was opposed to it; he said you were Americans, and if he took you on board you would rise and take the brig. To day we saw you again and as he had taken a 'stiff horn' and had gone to his cabin, we concluded not to let him know it until we got near you." The mate and the two men, then

1270

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. ·

returned to the brig and made their report to the Captain, who immediately ordered the survivors to be brought on board. He told them that if they In haved properly he would treat them well; he would not make them prisoners, for he thought they had been pri-oners long enough, and had a hard time of it.

The only tools they had for preparing their fuel was a hand-saw, and a crow-bar; with these they began on the broken bowsprit, then the windlass, and bitts; next they took off two streaks of planks from the wuist, and sawed off the top timbers near the deck.

The brig took from the wreck six thousand pounds of cotton, three hogsheads of sugar, and two bags of coffee.

When they were resened they were twenty leagues to the westward of the Western Islands; they had one hundred and fifty pounds of dried dolphin, half a barrel of water and one turtle which was taken on board the brig for food. For two hundred and sixty-one days these men were drifted in what is now the highway between America and Europe without suceor. But it must be remembered there was but little commerce traver-ing the ocean then, and the war between Great Britain and the United States was then raging.

When near the entrance to New York harbor, the Captain gave them his only boat with a sail, oars and some provision, and bade them God speed. (Ile would not take them to New York, as it was then in the possession of the English). In this boat they traveled by day, and at night they slept beneath it on the shore, and in one week they reached Black Cove beach at Manchester, where they abandoned it and walked to their homes; so changed and emaciated that their friend- hardly recognized them.

Mr. Allen lived for many years in Manchester, and died at the age of eighty-four, highly respected by a'l who knew him.

The first store in Manchester was kept by the Widow Samples, on Fea Street. She afterwards married Major Eleazer Crafts, and removed to his house on I'nion Street, which was opened as a hotel about 1750; here, as Mrs. Crafts, she continued her store keeping.

Abont 1775 there were no needles, pins or thread in town ; they were needed in every family ; and to be deprived of them was a very serious inconvenience.

Mrs Crafts was a woman of great energy, and she resolved to secure a supply ot them if possible. The British army then occupied Boston, and to pass in And but was not an easy matter.

She engaged two rien with a boat, and was rowed to the sithity of the town where she discharged hem anl walked on, and with some ditliculty she p ( the card and gainel the residence of a lady friend, with whom she remained a day or two and comp ete l her purchases.

English sentinel, took the ferry boat to Charlestown, and walked to Malden, where she knew of a man who kept a horse and chaise, which she hired and was driven to the ferry between Salem and Beverly. From the latter place she continued her walk until she reached home, where her bundle added greatly to the comfort of the community.

Obed Carter was the collector of taxes ; he was a man of sterling honesty, but quite skeptical in his re- ligious views. He lived where the " Annable Ilonse" now is. His friend, Samuel Bennett, lived in the old house still standing on the north side of the hill that bears his name. He was noted for his strong faith ; "he trusted in the Lord at all times," and frequently endeavored to impress his views upon the mind of his friend. Of these men the following tradition has been preserved.

On the day fixed by law all collectors of the provin- cial tax must visit Boston and pay their collections into the treasury. Mr. Carter had started on his journey, and when opposite his friend's house his horse fell and broke his leg. For him the loss of a horse was a severe trial ; but when Mr. Bennett assured him that it was all for the best, his indignation knew no bounds. Subsequently, when the news reached the town that the collectors that passed through Lynn were all robbed and those that resisted were murdered, it did seem all for the best, for Mr. Carter's life and money were saved. Brother Bennett was justified, to him it was a confirmation of a long cherished faith; to the other it was the breaking forth of a new light. From that day the two friends were in accord on the reality of a superintending Providence.

FISHERIES,-But little is known of the style of ves- sel with which the commerce of the early settlers was carried on.

In 1624 the Plymonth Company built two shallops. Of one, which was used in trading voyages to the Kennebeek River, we have the following description : "She had a little deck over her midships to keepe ye corne drie; but ye men were fain to stand out in all weathers, withont shelter." The next year they cut one of the largest of this class in two "and lengthened her some 5 or 6 foote ; and strengthened her with timbers, and builte her up, and laid a deck on her ; and made her a convenient and wholesome vessell ; very fitt & comfortable for their use, which did them service 7 years after."

The year after the arrival of Governor Winthrop he built "The Blessing of the Bay," a bark of thirty tons. Vessels of this class were frequently mentioned, but no complete description and no drawings of them have been preserved. The ve-sels employed in the fisheries were small, and many are believed to have been withont decks. Among those owned in Man- chester, in 1696, we find Samuel Allen had one of twelve tons ; Aaron Bennett, one of nine tons; Wil- liam Hassam, one of thirteen tons ; and Samuel Lee's

Wobher bundle in her hand she again passed the . "Swallow," was thirty-five tons,

I271

MANCHESTER.

These vessels were all engaged in the fisheries, ex- cept, perhaps, the latter, which may have been for coasting or trading voyages.

A very considerable trade was carried on in these crafts with Virginia and the more southern colonies. These trips were made after the close of the fishing season. It was seldom that wages were paid the men, but they were allowed some space for private advent- ure instead. Their cargo generally consisted of fish, a few articles of hardware, cloth, stockings and wood- en-ware.

They generally proceeded to a small bay or creek near some plantations where they bartered their goods for corn, beans, bacon, live hogs and other products of the country. Many went further south and to the West Indies where they exchanged their cargoes for salt, sugar, molasses, coffee aud rum. These voyages began long before the war, and were pursued with no inconsiderable profit.

About 1750 we find mention of voyages to Lisbon and Bilboa ; to these ports little but fish was taken and the proceeds were invested in salt, fruit, wine and specie.

The fish were taken from boats and small crafts that lay about the shoals and along the coast, where they took at different seasons cod, hake and pol- lock. As late as 1805 the average of the vessels engaged in the fisheries was but twenty tons, and they were extremely uncomfortable. The fire was made on a brick hearth on the floor, directly beneath the companion way, up which the smoke was ex- pected to pass, and the only way to and from the cabin was through the smoke and fire.

The occupation of the early settlers was largely that of fishing ; and when we consider the anxiety, privation and manifold dangers with which they were beset, we are constrained to believe that no por- tion of our country was populated at so great a cost. They do not appear to have suffered greatly from hunger, for the sea was always bountiful, and fur- nished a large variety of food. And the Indians whose soil they occupied gave them but little trouble; but the tribes more remote often caused serious alarm and filled many graves. But little could be gathered from their small farms, for they were fishermen: and were obliged to earn their livelihood from the reefs and shoals of the ocean. Along the rock bound coast these hardy men in their primitive and poorly equipped vessels groped in storm and fog among the unexplored and hidden dangers, buoying many a fatal rock with their wrecks: and if by stress of weather, or from exhausted supplies of wood or wa- ter, they sought the shore, they frequently fell a prey to savage ambush. At sea, pirates were not un- frequent; at home there were dreaded epidemies, contagious diseases, military drafts and press gangs to tear fathers from dependent families, and consign them to slavery in the ships of " Christian England." Then the embargo, and war, which forced their ves-

sels from the ocean where dismantled, they lay in bushy creeks. But one employment remained for these rugged toilers of the sea, and that was in the vessels of the Navy, or on board the numerous pri- vateers, where they rendered noble service to the young nation.

As illustrative of the dangers above mentioned we will recount one instance.

In Angust, 1747, Captain Amos Hilton was fishing off the coast of Maine. Being out of wood and water, he entered a little harbor where he anchored his ves- sel, and with his son, and crew, was soon busy filling his casks from the brook, and cutting wood, when they were surprised by the Indians and massacred. It was a dreadful blow to the bereaved families, for whom every one in the village felt the deepest sym- pathy, and especially for the aged parents of Aaron Lee, a boy of twelve, who was on board the ill-fated vessel.

Some three years after this sad event, while the Lee family were taking their seats at dinner, the door opened, and a young man of swarthy complexion, with long black hair and clothed in skins, entered. In the few words they understood of the Indian tongue, they asked if he would have food. He made no reply, but gazed from one to another. At length walking to where Mrs. Lee was seated he called her mother. Their grief of many years was soon changed to joy, for he, "their son, who was dead, is alive again-he was lost and is found."

The story of his adventures is as follows: Soon after the attack was commenced he was seized by strong arms and hurried to the village, where his clothes were taken from him; and clad in skins he was made to work with the women in fetching wood and water. Ile soon learned their language, but was never allowed to leave the village ; thus mouths and years passed with no opportunity of escape.

One day when all the warriors were away on some murderous expedition, he was at work under the direction of the women cutting faggots. When he had made a great pile, they told him he had cut- enough, and when the braves returned he was to be placed upon it and burned to death.

The prospect was not pleasing to the poor boy, and le so excited the sympathy of the women that they advised his escape and promised to aid him. They pointed in the direction of the nearest white settle- ment, and went with him until they came to an abandoned house, where they concealed him in an oven, and then they went back to their homes.

When the warriors returned they were told their prisoner had escaped, and a vigorous search was made for him. Every part of the old house was ex- amined, except the oven. At twilight the disap- pointed savages gave up the search, and when it was quite dark, Lee crept from his hiding-place and pur- sued his way through the forest. By concealing himself by day, and traveling by night, he reached the

1272

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

sittlement. Then concealment being no longer necessary he resumed his weary journey by daylight, until the long-wished for home was reached.

Aaron Lee lived to a good old age, and for many years he served the town as their elerk.

CHAPTER CII

MANCHESTER-( Continued).

Annals from 1800 to 1887.

1x 1800 the population was one thousand and eighty-two of whom three were eolored. The Rev. Abraham Randall was ordained September 2, 1801. On the following year the road to the cove was im- proved by a more direct way over the " great hill."

In 1803 the first post-office was established, and Delucena L. Bingham was appointed Post-master, which offee he retained until 1837, when he died at the age of seventy-three.

Before the establishment of this office, letters for Manchester were carried to Gloucester, brought back by the stage-driver and stuck in a raek in the town. The total receipts of the office for the first quarter were seven dollars, of which the post-master had thirty per cent. Mr. Bingham was a native of Connecticut, rame to Manchester in 1764, when he was but nine- teen years old ; he taught school for several years, was a deacon of the church for thirty-two years, a land surveyor, and one of the selectmen eighteen years, tuwn clerk thirty-one years, and a member of the house of representatives in 1824.

1804. The first social library was established with forty-five subscribers and one hundred and fifty volumes. In 1806, the second social library was in- stituted ; they both continued for a few years and then were broken up, and the books divided among the members.

In 1804 the subject of building a new meeting- house was considered in town meeting. During the year following a "daily stage " drawn by four horses enabled the people to visit Salem and Boston mure conveniently : its arrival and departure was always an event of absorbing interest, and the dri- vers were the most popular of men. They were the au- tocrats of the road ; the ladies always had smiles for then, they set the fashions for the men, and were the telmiration of the boys. The dwelling and barn of Captain Samuel Allen was burned. These were the fir t building- destroyed by fire since the settlement of the town. They stood on School Street on the spot now occupied by Thomas Willmington's house. The boi things were ent rely consumed with the most of their contents, and long piles of wood in the rear of the born, were also destroyed: it was supposed to base formated from a lighted pipe in the barn.

The embargo of 1808 occasioned a great deal of dis- satisfaction all along the coast: by it trade was paralyzed, and commerce destroyed : vigorous re- monstrances were sent out from all the sea-ports.

A meeting of the citizens of this town was held September Ist, 1808, and a petition, or memorial drawn up to be presented to the Congress of the United States, setting forth their loyalty to the gov- erument,-their distressed condition from the effects of the embargo by rendering valueless their catch of fish of the preceding year, and their hopeless pros- pect of future means of support of themselves and families. As this memorial failed to produce the de- sired effect, auother meeting was held February 8, 1809, at which Abiel Burgess presided as moderator, and D. L. Bingham clerk, to petition the legislature of Massachusetts, for some action to induce the na- tional government to relax the restriction on com- merce. As this petition, or memorial will best show the state of feeling of the people at that time, a copy is here inserted verbatim.

" To the honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts, in general court assembled.

" The inhabitants of the town of Manchester in legal town meeting assembled, humbly represent that such is their local situation, the soil of tlie towu being in general rocky, broken and barren, they nre obliged to repair to the Ocean for the means of subsistance for themselves aud families, This invaluable privilege which the God of Nature has afforded them, they have hoped to enjoy uumolested. But the restrictions laid on them in the the severa: Embargo Laws enacted by the Government of the United States, has excited sensations truly painful and distressing to your memorialists as well as many others. We have indulged a hope that the government of the United States would not continue to interdict that commerce on which we have depended for our support. Your memor- ialists do consider that the abandonment of the Ocean, to them is as oppres- sive, distressing and unjust as a prohibition on the produce of the land would he to the farmer. While our brethren in the country enjoy the privilege of cultivating their land and reaping the fruit of their labors, we are under the restraints which forbid our industry and deprives us of our only means of support. Your memorialists bave petitioned Congress for relief, but in vaio, now turn their eyes to this honorable body, the more immediate guardians of their constitutional rights, praying them to take such measures as in their wisdom they shall conceive best calcu- lated to afford us relief and save us from heggary and starvation.

" Your memorialists pledge themselves as ready at the risk of their property and lives, to support you in any constitutional measures you shall adopt for the redress of our grievances, and likewise to prevent an unjust war with Great Britain.

" Your memorialists, as in duty hound, will ever pray. Dono in town meeting this 8th of Feb., 1809."

Taking advantage of this discontent, wily agents from the mother country sought to effect a separation of the New England States from the Union ; while the people loudly condemued the policy of the ad- ministration in imposing the embargo, the feeling of patriotism was too deeply rooted to admit a thought of secession.

This year the town lost two of her valued citizens, Dr. David Norwood and Captain Samuel Prince.

In 1809 the proprietors decided to build a new meeting-house, towards which the town gave the bell and two-thirds of the value of the materials of the old meeting-house, taking as their share of the house, the gallery seats, singing seats, minister's pew, the

1273

MANCHESTER.

porch, all the outside of the house, and two hun- dred and forty-seven pounds was ordered to be paid as the balance due the proprietors for the same.

The new meeting-house was completed July 9, 1809, at a cost of eighty-five hundred dollars. It was considered an unusually good example of the church architecture of that period, and was constructed of the best materials. The height from the ground is one hundred and ten feet; surmounting all is a gilded weathercock, that was taken from the old church, where it was placed in 1754. From its high perch this sentinel of our puritan ancestry has faithfully made visible the course of the wind's journeyings for one hundred and thirty-three years.

Rev. James Thurston was installed as pastor April 19th.

The Powder Ilouse that crowns the hill in the rear of the village was built in 1810. It is of brick, and the mortar is as fresh and sharp as when new; while that of the door that was bricked up a few years since is fast washing away, and the question is often asked, has the making of mortar become a lost art ?

During the following year the town granted to Thomas Leach, two hundred and thirteen feet of land in front of his dwelling, in exchange for some of the land on which the meeting-house stands.

On July 19, 1812, William Tuck was elected dele- gate to the County Convention at Ipswich. This con- vention was called to consider the " awful and alarm- ing situation of the country." The convention adopted resolutions strongly expressive of their oppo- sition to the war.

The political clouds which had so long been gath- ering over the young nation, culminated in a declara- tion of war against Great Britain in June, 1812. This action was considered by many of the people of the sea-board as unwise and impolitic; they well knew the maritime interest of the country, upon which so many depended for their support, would be driven from the sea; but the injustice and the op- pression of England had irritated them, until a feel- ing of resentment had been aroused, and they realized that longer submission would be unworthy of a peo- ple claiming to be free. While it remained a ques- tion of policy, there were many opinions; but now that war had been made the arbitrator, it became a matter of defense, and there was a much greater unity of sentiment.

At a public meeting Henry Story, John Allen, Andrew Marsters, William Tuck and Samuel Foster were chosen a committee of safety ; they were re- quired to set watchmen along the coast, erect flag staffs and provide flags for alarms. They petitioned the Governor for arms aud ammunition and for two six pound guns. Breast-works were thrown up at Norton's, near those built in 1777.

In 1813 provisions were extremely high and scarce, and employment very difficult to procure; a peck of meal was the equivalent of a day's labor. Thirty

cents a cord was the price for cutting and piling wood and no money was paid ; orders on the stores were given instead; there was much distress among the poor.

Mr. Ebenezer Tappan, who kept a store on Central Street, believed it possible to evade the enemy's ships, and get some supplies from Boston. His topsail schooner " Nancy " was noted for her sailing quali- ties, and Captain Jerry Danforth, Nathan Carter and his son, Benjamin Tappan, were placed in charge. They kept along the shore, entered Boston harbor by Shirley Gut at night ; having secured their cargo, which consisted of flour, sugar, molasses, rum and lumber, they started homeward. All went well until they had passed Baker's Island, and they were con- gratulating themselves upon the success of their trip, for they were almost home. Suddenly the fog, lift- ing, disclosed the much dreaded cruiser quite near. A shot from her was a hint to stop, but, as there was a breeze, they kept on their course for Manchester. They could see two barges being made ready for a chase. When they reflected upon the damage they might inflict on the unprotected village, they resolved to run inside of Misery Island, and endeavor to reach the protection of the forts below Salem. But the wind became lighter and the barges were gaining so fast it was decided to run her on shore, which they did at Mingo's beach in Beverly. The men landed under cover of the vessel, but as they reached the high land near the road they were fired upon by their pursuers.

The English used every effort to get their prize afloat, but, failing in that, they took some of the goods, stripped the sails and set her on fire. The militia from Beverly and Manchester soon arrived, extinguished the fire, and hastened the departure of the barges by some musket shots.

The vessel was afterwards taken to Manchester and repaired.

This was the only serious alarm the people of the town sustained from the enemy's ships. But their presence occa-ioned a great deal of anxiety, espe- cially among the women ; who upon the first signal of danger from the coast guards, were accustomed to seize their infants, hurry a few valuables into bags, kept for the purpose, and flee to the woods un- til all was safe again. As in the earlier wars, the mothers and daughters were great sufferers.

Soon after the event narrated above an alarm came from the Cove, " the enemy are landing !" A part of the militia company at once responded to the call. The old six-pounder that always stood on the green in front of the church was carefully loaded, and, to the inspiring notes of the drum and fife, the com- pany set forth, with the cannon and a long train of the bigger boys ; some with shot-guns and others as spec- tators of the coming conflict. The six-pounder was placed in position on Crow Island. The men sought the cover of the rocks, the boys crouched behind the

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 73

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