History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 88

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 88

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It has, at present, contracts for material amounting to five hundred thousand dollars, the chief contract being in connection with the court-house now being built in Boston. Its business has been steadily in- ercasing, and it disburses monthly a large amount of money to its workmen, many of whom have been with the company since its organization-furnishing, in these days of discontent and change, a pleasant and conclusive demonstration of the kindly relations existing between employers and employed. Since its establishment the company has built up the village of Bay View from a population of one or two hun- dred to fifteen hundred inhabitants. Ever public- spirited and generous, it has contributed largely to the establishment of the Bay View churches, both Methodist and Catholic, and is constant in aiding what- ever is for the highest advantage of the community.

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GLOUCESTER.

"The Lanesville Granite Company" was organized in May, 1873, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. Eben Blatchford, president; John Butman, treasurer and agent. The quarries cover about twenty acres, all consisting of excellent granite. Two pits are worked, one very large and about seventy feet deep. Steam pumps keep the'n free from water, and the quarries are inexhaustible. About one hundred and fifty men are now employed, and about fifty thousand tons of stone are annually produced. This is manu- factured into all kinds of stone products, but largely into paving blocks, about one million five hundred thousand blocks having been cut in a single year, in addition to a large amount of other work. The beau- tiful and unique wall surrounding the Man'chester (Mass.) Library is being furnished from this quarry. The company has always enjoyed a good reputation for the excellent character of its products.

There are four banks in Gloucester, established in the following order of time: The Gloucester Bank, 1796; Cape Ann, 1855; First National, 1864; City National, 1875. In addition to these, is the Cape Ann Savings Bank, incorporated in 1846.

CHAPTER CX.

GLOUCESTER-(Continued).

MILITARY.

Indian War-French War-War for Independence-Privateering-War of 1812-Civil War, 1861-65.

As early as 1642 the General Court ordered that a loan of muskets be made to "Glocester ;" and probably about this time a military company was formed, as in 1644, on request of the town, the court ordered that " George Norton, as their cldest sergeant," should ex- ercise the company in the military drill. It is not of record, however, that any call for active military ser- vice was made till the Indian War, in 1675. A levy was made on all the towns in the fall of this year, when the following-named were drafted to serve for Gloucester:

Andrew Sargent.

Joseph Allen.

Joseph Clark. Jacob Davis.

Juseph Somes. Vincent Davis.

-- " all wch," said the officer, who made the return of their name, "due want warm cloathing, and must have new coates." Others served before the war closed, as the town records show that lands were granted for "services in the Indian War" to.

John Bray. John Stanwood,

John Haskell.

John Day. Philip Stanwood. Isaac Prince.

Jobn Fitch. Nathaniel Bray.

Thomas lahson.

Edward Haraden. Muses Dudy.

Benjamin Jones.

Samuel Stanwood.

These twenty-one persons represented nearly one- third of all the male citizens of the town capable of

bearing arms during the war. In 1676, while the In- dians were committing great depredations at Andover and other places near by, Gloucester was put in a state of defense, a committee of the General Court report- ing that "Cape Ann has made two garrisons, besides several particular fortifications."

No other call for military service appears to have been made till the expedition against Louisburg, a strongly fortified town of the French, at Cape Breton, in 1745. It had been annoying to the fisheries and to commerce generally, and some time in 1744 the Governor of Cape Breton, knowing that the Kings of France and England had mutually declared war, surprised and took the English garrison, at Canso. The prisoners were taken to Louisburg, and on their being paroled some of them came to Boston, where they conveyed to the Governor such information con- cerning the condition of the fortress as made him determined on an expedition for its reduction. By a majority of one the General Court resolved on the expedition. Four thousand troops were soon collected at Boston, and, under the command of William Pep- perell, were embarked on the 24th of March, 1745. The transports in Chapeau-Rouge Bay were in charge of Captain Thomas Sanders, of Gloucester, and Cap- tain Charles Byles had a company of forty-five Glou- cester men. After the departure of the expedition, Rev. John White, the patriotic minister of the First Parish, preached a sermon from the words : "O let not the oppressed return ashamed : let the poor and needy praise thy name." Psalm Ixxiv. 21. In it he thus described the situation : "Some have not unfitly called Cape Breton a hornet's nest. 'Tis not safe, in a time of war, to go near them. They will sting all that come near them. We have already, ever since the war commenced, been great sufferers by them. They harbor our enemies that come to lay waste our infant eastern settlements; they molest and break in upon our fisheries, and break them to pieces ; they lie near the roadway of our European merchan- dise, and they can sally out and take our corn vessels : and therefore our oppressions from thence, so long as it remains in the hands of the enemy, are like to be intolerable. We must remove these, our enemies, or they will destroy us. There is a plain necessity of it; and woe to us if it be not reduced." The reduc- tion was successfully accomplished, the city and for- tress surrendering the 16th of June.

In 1755 the English colonies of North America formed a union for attack and defense in a then pending war between England and France, which, four years later, broke the French power on this continent. Gloucester had large interests at stake in the contest, as its Grand Bank fishery, now assuming considerable importance, had been greatly interfered with by the French. The success of the English was necessary, therefore, to securing their interests on the banks. One whole company was fur- nished from Gloucester, and several soldiers for other

Thomas Kent.

Hugh Howe.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

companies, in the first year of the war. The com- pany commanded by Captain Jonathan Fellows formed part of the expedition against Crown Point. Seventeen additional men enlisted in 1757; and in 1758 a Gloucester company of eighty men, com- manded by Captain Andrew Giddings, took part in the se ond capture of Louisburg, and many re- mained in the army till the close of the success- ful campaign of 1759.

A few years of peace and prosperity followed, soon darkened, however, by the war-cloud which formed on the passage of the Stamp Act by the British Parliament in 1765. Although the act was repealed in less than a twelve-month, it was followed by an oppressive system of taxation, which caused many of the towns to follow the example of Boston and Gloucester in voting to discourage the use of all imported articles. The passage of the Port Bill, a few years later, by the operation of which, many of the citizens of Boston, thrown out of employ- ment, were reduced to poverty and destitution, so touched the sympathies of the people of Glouces- ter, as to prompt them to contribute relief by the donation of a hundred and twenty sheep and £117 6a. ld. in money, and to pledge themselves, by still stronger resolves than before, to stand by the country in its non-intercourse with England. Early in 1775, in accordance with the recommenda- tion of the Provincial Congress, active military prep- arations were commenced; small arms were pur- chased, musket balls procured and cartridges made, all by direction of the town; and a company of minute-men was organized and placed under com- mand of Nathaniel Warner. In the midst of these preparations news came of the struggle at Lex- ington and Concord, and knowing that the Brit- ish had a large fleet in Boston harbor, and that the town was in no condition to resist an attack, safety wns sought for the women and children by taking them to West Parish and to Ipswich. An express was then sent to Cambridge to ob- tain arms; und a Committee of Safety of thirty- ofe eminent citizens was chosen. The minute- men were disbanded and the enlistment of men for active service was vigorously pushed. The fish- eries and all maritime pursuits were, of course, impossible, with the enemy so powerful on the water, und so recruiting was comparatively easy. It is not po ble to ascertain the full number of en- listments from Gloucester, but it is certain that "there were four companies composed wholly of Coffeeser men, with the exception of about six persons and that another company, commanded by Captain Purker, of Ipswich, had about thirty of our men in it , branles these there was another company, Somma nel by Captain James Collins, which marched to Cambridge on the 15th of June. No roll of this company has come to light, but our town records furn de n list of twenty-three of its members to

whom guns were delivered." The statement of the selectmen for 1779 was to the effect that, during the first campaign of the war, Gloucester "had up- wards of two hundred and twenty men in the field, besides numbers who joined the marine department, as more suitable to their former occupation."

Two Gloucester companies were at the battle of Bunker Hill. Captain Nathaniel Walker's company was filled in four days, and marched to Cambridge late in May. On the morning of the 17th of June, when it was discovered that the British were pre- paring to attack the redoubt on Bunker Hill which had been thrown up during the night, Captain War- ner had orders to proceed to the hill and assist in its defense. Making a rapid march, and exposed to fire as they crossed the Neck, they got separated from each other, although all reached the field in time to en- gage in the action. Captain Warner, with a portion of his company, took position at first at the redoubt, and Lieutenant Burnham, with another part of the command. was beyond that point, on the left flank of the enemy. Later in the day Captain Warner and his men were at the rail-fence. The company had two men, Daniel Callahan and Benjamin Smith, killed in the action, and Benjamin Webber and Alexander Parran were wounded. The following named com- posed the company :

Nathaniel Warner, captain.

Thomas Ayres.

John Burnham, lieutenant. Daniel Collins, ensign.

Jona. Woodman, sergenot.

Samuel Marshall.

William Kinsman, sergeant.

Josiah Ingersol.

Alex. Parrun, sergeant.

Joshua Day.

Jarns Lincoln, sergeant.

Joshua Polen.

Richard Simson, corporal.

Zerubbabel Allen.

Nathan Glover, corporal.

Isaac Bray.

Jonathan Butler, corporal.

Larrey Trejay.

Nymphas Stacy, corporal.

Solomon l'arsons.

John Warner, fifer.

John Andress.

Jonathan Somes.

William Segurs.

Andrew Keley.

William Grimes.

Nathaniel Bennett.

Aaron Stevens.

Moses Ring.

Peter Seavery.

Daniel C'allahan.

Jeremninh Burnham.

Benjamin Clark.

John Chaplen.

Andrew Bruy.

William Grover.

Josiah Brown.

Thomas Millett.

Levi Lane.

Joseph Somes.

Moses Bounett.

Ezekiel Woodward.

James Preastly.

Eliphalet Wharf.

Josiah Burk.

Ebenezer Tarbox.

Benjamin Smith.

Jonathan Pike.

Vinson Elwell. Ebenezer Goslen (Joslyn).

William Averill.

William Johnson.

Robert Callaghan.

Nathan Brown.

Joseph Howard.

Lemuel Collins.

The other Gloucester company, in the engagement at Bunker Hill, was commanded by Captain John Rowe. It left Gloucester on the 12th of June, en route to Cambridge by way of Wenham. Having halted for a short time on the 16th at Mystic River, they resumed their march. About dark they discov- ered a large body of men approaching them, and soon ascertained that they were a detachment from the army at Cambridge on the way to Charlestown. They

David Row.

Benjamin Webber.

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GLOUCESTER.

joined them, and on arriving at Breed's, or Bunker Hill, they went silently at work with picks and spades to throw up an intrenchment. When the work was finished, and while the enemy were land- ing, Captain Rowe and a part of his company was detailed to carry off the tools. While returning they were ordered to duty on the extreme left, near the Mystic. Thus this company was also divided, and was not again united till the action had closed. Both divisions were under fire and did good service. Francis Pool, Josiah Brooks and William Parsons were killed, and Daniel Doyl and William Foster were wounded. The company roster was,-

John Row, captain.

Jeffrey Parsons.

Mark Pool, lieutenant. Eben. Cleveland, ensign.

Juhn Row, Jr.

Joshua Row.

Dan. Barber Tarr, sergeant. William IJaskins, sergeant.

Peter Richardson.

William Row.

W. Davison, [Aquart] sergeant.

Daniel Somers.

John Smith.

Ephraim Sheldren.

John Tarr.

John Tarr, Jr.

Jabez Tarr,

James Tarr.

William Woodbury.

Ebenezer Witham.

Spencer Thomas.

Jonathan Parsous.

Peter Emmons.

Thomas Edes.

Thomas Dresser.

Caleb Elwell.

James Phips.

Dominicus Davis. Samuel Clark.

Joshua Gore.

Joseph Dresser. Richard Dresser.

William Jumper.

Joseph Lane.

John Clark.

James Lurrey.

John Youlin.

John Parrot.

Francis Lane. Sammel Low.

Joseph Low.

Henry Morgan.

Aaron Riggs.

Henry Parsons.

Francis Pool.

Hugh Parkhurst.

Josiah Brooks.

Joseph Parsous.

William Parsons.

Mr. Babson says of the privates in the above list, that " all but six were fishermen and sailors. Thirty- five were natives of Gloucester. Seventeen were under twenty-one years of age, five only over thirty, and none over forty. The youngest was William Low, a lad of fourteen. John Row, Jr., a son of the captain, was sixteen."

Although the British took possession of Bunker Hill, it had cost them heavily; and the battle had also assured the patriots that they had no reason to be discouraged, but to unite still more closely in their struggle for their rights. They had in a few weeks so closely invested Boston as to shut in the large British army there, and to entirely. ent them off from receiving supplies of fresh provisions for themselves, and of provender for their horses. They were there- fore compelled to obtain these nece-sary articles by using the vessels of their navy to convey foraging parties to the islands and along the shores of the bay. Out on such an expedition the British. sloop-of-war

" Falcon," commanded by Captain Linzee, which had taken part in the battle of Bunker Hill, stood into Squam harbor and anchored near the bar, on the morning of the 5th of August, determined on cap- turing the cattle and sheep at Coffin's farm, some of which were in sight near the beach. Fifty men were sent off from the sloop in a barge to capture and slaughter the animals. They were not to succeed, however, for the owner, Major Peter Coffin, who was carefully watching Linzee's movements had, after send- ing to Squam and toseveral localities in his own section of the town for assistance, stationed his workmen be- hind some sand-knolls, and there awaited the coming of the marauders. As soon as the barge struck the beach a volley was poured into her by the major's men, and it was soon manifest by the confusion on board that it was not without effect. There were, however, no fatal effects. Linzce, using a glass, had observed all this, and now also saw several men at each end of the beach rushing to the scene of action in response to the major's call. No time was to be lost if he would save his men from capture, and he immediately signaled their return to the ship.

As the barge neared the sloop, Linzee, having spied a deeply-loaded vessel lying in Squam harbor, and supposing that it was loaded with India goods, gave orders to the returning officer to go into the harbor and cut her out. She proved to be loaded with sand, then extensively used for domestic purposes, and carried in schooners to the neighboring ports for sale. This fresh disappointment did not probably mollify Linzee's feelings towards the Yankees. The two fol- lowing days the "Falcon " cruised about the Cape, during which time the captain impressed several men from the boats and vessels which he met. On the morning of the 8th of August the inhabitants of Gloucester were alarmed by seeing the "Falcon " at the mouth of the outer harbor, attended by a schooner she had recently captured, and in hot pursuit of another, which is seeking a place of shelter in the inner harbor. The captain of the latter runs her into shoal water, and finally grounds her on the flats near Five Pound Island. Boats filled with armed men are sent off from the "Falcon " to get possession of the schooner and bring her alongside of the sloop. The citizens, with such arms and ammunition as they can obtain, and two old swivels, assemble on the wharf, and on the little hill on the opposite side of the cove, to defeat Linzee's designs. His men board the schooner at the cabin window, but as they do so fire is opened upon them by the people ou the shore, killing three of the enemy, and so badly wounding the lieutenant in command that he is taken back to the sloop. Infuriated by this resistance, Linzee sends in the schooner he has captured, and a cutter, both well-manned and armed, with orders to the officer in charge to fire on the "damned rebels " wherever he can find them. At the same time lie opens fire on the town, and throws in about three

Obadiah Atkins.

David Averill.

Eleazer Butman. Daniel Butler. David ('rage, Henry Clark. Daniel Doyl.

Ebenezer Gott.

Bennet Haskins.

William Foster, sergeant. Jonathan Row, corporal. Thomas Finson, corporal. Juhn Gott, corporal.

William Low, corporal.

Beuj. Davis, drummer. Isaac llaskell, fifer. Jacob Allen.

1336

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

hundred tour-pound balls, and attempts to set the town in flames by sending some of his men to kindle a fire among the fish-flakes on the beach ; but the in- cendiaries are met and captured by a body of citizens. The cannonading of the town did very little damage, no hves being lost; and the schooner, cutter and barges were, with their thirty-five men, captured by the citizens stationed on the shores of the inner har- bor, who also rescued several Americans who had been impressed into Linzee's service. The next day the "Falcon " left the outer harbor without attempt- ing further mischief.

The people of Gloucester feared that, as the British fleet at Boston was so large, a more successful assault might soon be made on them, and so lost no time in seeking to strengthen and increase their defenses. The Provincial Government at once conferred with General Washington, and by his order three hundred pounds of powder, three hundred nine-pound shot, and one hundred pounds of grape shot were delivered to Captain Joseph Foster, who had planned and ex- ecuted the defense against Linzee, for the use of the lown. A detachment of riflemen under Major Robert. Macgaw was also sent. The old fort was rebuilt and additional breastworks were thrown up at different places on the shores of the harbor. It was generally understood that Falmouth and Gloucester were doomed by the British to destruction, and when the former place was burned on the 16th of October, an attack on Gloucester was considered imminent. Gen- eral Washington sent a letter on the 20th to the llouse of Representatives in relation to affording some additional necessaries of defense to Cape Ann, and on the Ith of November he was authorized to send an officer to Concord, Worcester, Lancaster and Leices- ter, to view the cannon in those towns, and to send such as was fit for use to Gloucester. The town was also authorized to procure, on the credit of the colony, two barrels of powder. The General Court resolved, on the 21 of December, " Considering the importance of the harbor of Gloucester and the exposedness of the same to the enemy, to raise two companies of fifty men cach, to continue in service there till April Ist, unless sooner discharged." Four companies of home soldiers were also organized, over whom Joseph Foster was appointed colonel by the General Court. Gloucester was thus put in a good state of defense; but early the following spring the British fleet left the coast, and there was no further danger of attack from that quarter.

Privateering began to engage the attention of the citizens of Gloucester in the latter part of the summer . 1 177 ), At first, only the fishing boats were used. They took a few prizes, the most valuable of which was n bni from Canada, bound to Boston, with a deck-load of live stock for the troops, and coal and iron in her holl Her carro was landed at Wheeler's Point, Ajhan llarbor, and the oxen were sold at auction. 'Ther vere, at about the same time, several armed

schooners employed in the public service, several of which were cruising in the bay for the purpose of in- tercepting any vessels that might be coming over its waters with supplies for the enemy. On the 28th of November one of these-the "Lee," commanded by Captain Manly-brought into Gloucester harbor the ship " Nancy," from London, having on board large quantities of small-arms and amunition, besides can- non and a large brass mortar of a new construction. These were landed at Gloucester, and carted to the camp at Cambridge, where they were greatly needed. The mortar was the best that had ever been landed on this continent, and, in consideration of its high value, it was christened the "Congress."

When the first term of enlistment in the patriot army had expired, many of the Gloncester soldiers returned home, and most of them shipped on the privateers. The vessels engaged in this service, so far as they were known to Mr. Babson, whose search for information was indefatigable, were the "Warren," a fishing schooner formerly called the "Britannia;" the schooner "Langdon ;" the sloop "Union ;" the brig "Gen. Mercer ;" the brig "Gloucester ;" the schooner "Speedwell ;" the ship "Gen. Starks ;" the "Trial," a small boat; schooner "Wasp;" brig "Wilkes;" brig "Success ;" brig " Friendship;" ship "Gloucester Packet ;" schooner "Union;" shallop "Speedwell ;" ship "Tiger;" brig "Ruby " brig " Robin Hood;" ship "Tempest ;" the "Civil Usage." The " Warren " was under command of Captain Wil- liam Coas on her first crnise, and was fitted out in the summer of 1776. She had eight guns, and an im- perfect set of small arms, the locks of some of the latter being tied on with rope-yarns. In one month she captured and sent into Gloucester three prizes. The first was the ship "Picary," of 400 tons. Her cargo was a valuable one, consisting of 325 hogsheads sugar, 161 bales cotton, IGS pipes, 29 hogsheads and 10 quarter-casks Madeira wine, and several hundred- weight of indigo. Her second prize was a brig of about 120 tons ; she was in ballast, but had some elephants' teeth and gold-dust. The next prize was a 500-ton ship called the "Sarah and Elizabeth," from Jamaica bound to London. IIer cargo brought a large sum to her captors. It consisted of 394 hogs- heads sugar, 180 puncheons rum, 20 casks indigo, 70 live tortoise, 6 casks tortoise shells, 50 bags cotton, some cash and plate, and a quantity of mahogany. On her third cruise the " Warren " was commanded by Captain Johu Colson. She took but one prize, a topsail schooner, with a cargo of sugar, coffee and cotton. On her third and last cruise, under Captain Silas Howell, she was captured on the third day out.

The " Langdon" has left no record of her fortune and fate. The " Union" was commanded by Capt. Isaac Somes. She captured a ship bound to Lisbon with a cargo of fish, and a brig loaded with salt. The "Gen. Mercer" was the brig captured by the " Union." She cruised under command of Capt.

1337

GLOUCESTER.

James Babson, and, in company with a Philadelphia privateer, captured, while off the coast of France, two or three brigs. The "Gloucester," a new vessel, was armed and equipped in a thorough manner, mounting eighteen guns, and having a crew, including officers, of one hundred and thirty men. She put to sea early in July, 1777, and soon fell in with and cap- tured the brig "Two Friends," having a cargo of wine and salt. She also took, on the Banks of New- > sent in. A sloop bound to Oporto was taken a few foundland, the fishing brig "Spark," with a part of a fare of fish and some salt, which she sent in under care of Isaac Day. No further tidings of the "Glou - cester " were ever received; she was lost, with all on board. The "Speedwell" was also fitted out in 1777, under Capt. Philemon Haskell. She captured the "George," "Dolphin " and "Phenix," fishing brigs, each with a part of a fare of fish and some salt. The last commodity came at a time when it was greatly needed, and brought a large sum. The " Dolphin " and "Phenix " were subsequently fitted out with cargoes for the West Indies, and were both taken by the British. The "George" made a suc- cessful voyage to Bilboa. The "Speedwell " was again fitted out in 1778, but nothing is known of her doings. The "Trial " was mounted with twelve guns, had a small crew and cruised along the shore. She was commanded by Capt. Thomas Sanders. Nothing is known of her exploits, except that on one cruise she took, off Canso, three coasters, two of which were got safely to Gloucester, and the other was retaken.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 88

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