History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 97

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 97

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Grand Bankers are about being added to the fleet by Daniel Thurston and his son.

About this time Benj. Hale and Daniel Young built the schooner " Lucy " and fitted her for Bank fish- ing. The parish, feeling the need of a minister of the gospel, engaged the services of Rev. Mr. Stewart. He labored here most of the time for two years, both as min- ister and school-teacher; his salary was one hundred pounds, old tenor, per year. In 1782 the Bill of Rights gave liberty to all people in the State. At this time there were slaves in this village. James Norwood, Isaac Pool and Joseph Baker and probably some others were slave-holders, but now all men were free ; but those freedmeu continued to live in the village, at least a portion of them. Up to this time there had not been much advance in agriculture ; there were perhaps a dozen farmers with plenty of land, but they chose rather to draw their supplies from the ocean than from their broad acres. Even for what few cattle they kept they depended for food very much npon salt hay transported by boats from Ipswich. In 1786 the old wharf was repaired; this was a timber wharf, and was about twenty feet wide and some seventy feet in front of the present old or White wharf. It was not one-half the length nor near as high as the present wharf.

In 1789 the tax of Sandy Bay was $580. Jabez Tarr was collector; one hundred and thirty-three persons were taxed. In 1788 the parish voted the Independent Society the use of the meeting house one-fourth of the time on condition of their bearing their proportion of the expense of repairs. This is the first mention of the Universalists in this village.

By 1794 the inhabitants had increased to seven hundred, and there were about seventy-five dwelling- houses. Business had been quite flourishing for several years until 1797, when it became depressed.

DROUGHT, SNOW-STORM AND SICKNESS .- In the year 1779 there was a great drought, which greatly added to the sufferings of this people, who were already, on account of the war, in very straitened circumstances. This drought ent off to a considerable extent their agricultural supplies. Then the winter of 1779 " was so very severe, snow fell for twenty- seven days in succession." Stephen Pool owned a sheep that was covered in a snow-bank during these days, and was rescued alive, though greatly emaciated. The weather, a portion of the time, was intensely cold.

In 1793 the village was visited with an epidemic, the malignant sore throat. Tradition says sixty-two children died within a few weeks.

Physicians were called from Gloucester proper, as there was no physician in this village until, some time this year, Dr. James Goss came from Billerica and set- tled. He not only practiced medicine, but taught school; thus making himself doubly useful. The parish was also without a minister. Deacon John Rowe, a man highly esteemed for his Christian char- acter and his well-balanced mind, often officiated at

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funerals, and also frequently presided at religious meeting», through the long period of religious and ministerial destitution. Many a dying one had he commended to God in prayer, and pleaded for their forgiveness through that Saviour that taketh away the sin of the world. The citizens of the town to-day should bless and praise God that such a man lived here in that dark day of the village, when the light of the Gospel was so nearly extinct.

In 1794, William Goss and Ebenr. Pool were fined for refusing to collect the parish tax.

In 1796, Ebenr. Pool was selectman from Sandy Bay. The valuation of the village that year, was $50 .- 000 ; Pigeon Cove, $20,000.

FISHING .- From 1783, the close of the war, up to 1797 fishing business at Sandy Bay was profitable. The number of boats increased and were of greater tonnage-say ten to fifteen tons each. These years of prosperity enabled many persons to build houses and purchase small tracts of land. The boats of that day and for years after were standing-room boats, so- called, and also were pink stern. There was forward, and abaft the main hatchway, a room nearly across the width of the boat, the floor of which was about three feet below the deck, and the width was about three feet. It was in these rooms the men stood to fish. At times the third man stood in the main hatchway. There was a low waist, say six or eight inches wide, above the deck, and this encircled the entire boat. Some sixty or seventy of these boats were at one time moored in Long Cove. Their moor- ings were a seven to a nine-inch cable, which were made fast to two stumps; half-way between the stumps there was a heavy iron chain with a collar that fitted over the boats' stem. The stumps were oak trees divested of their limbs or branches, but a portion of the roots retained ; this was put through a hole cut in a flat stone weighing from three to seven tons. Some of these stumps would accommodate one end of the mooring of several boats. Notwithstand- ing they were supplied with these heavy moorings, it was necessary, when a northeast gale was imminent, to leave their moorings and sail round to Gloucester Harbor. There would often be a large fleet of these boats in Harbor Cove, as that was the safest part of the harbor for such craft. However watchful these fishermen were, their boats would sometimes be caught at their moorings in a northeast gale, and would break from them and drift ashore. As the head of the cove was at that time a smooth sand beach, it was seldom that they were very badly wrecked. Often considerable damage was done by a boat breaking a part of ber mooring and swinging afoul of another boat. Boats were also moored in Pigeon Cove in the same way. During the winter season many of these boats were hauled np on the beach at the head of Long Cove (that ground is now occupied by stores) ; they were from two to three tiers deep. Some winters a number of them would be

hauled across the street on what is now Baptist Square. For the hauling up and launching these boats there were skids, so-called ; they were of oak, about eight by ten inches, and from twenty to twenty- five feet long. The boats were placed upon these skids broadside to, and were hauled by cattle,-say from six to eight yoke to each boat.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- The first effort to protect the village from the ravages of fire was by the organization of a company of twenty members Jan- uary 3, 1807. By the rules they adopted, each mem- ber was required to provide himself with two stout leather buckets and two bags of substantial material, and each of them of three bushels capacity, and to be provided with strings at the mouth, that they may be tightly drawn together ; they were to have the surname of the owner in full and the initials of the Christian name upon each ; they were to be kept hanging in a conspicuous place, the bags in the buckets (they were usually kept hanging in the front hall of the member's resi- dence). Every member failing to conform to either of the above rules was subjected to a fine of twenty-five cents for the use of the company. Whoever should be absent at the time of fire, or neglect to give attendance unto him who is in most need, except he gives a sufficient reason, was subjected to a fine of one dollar and fifty cents. During its his- tory forty-seven names were added to the list of members. It ceased to exist some thirty years since.

The first fire-engine in the village was purchased by subscription in the year 1827. It was manu- factured by Eben Tappan, of Manchester. It cost three hundred and fifteen dollars, and its name was Enterprise. It required a company of thirty men.

In the year 1831 the town of Gloucester pur chased an engine of the same make, pattern and eost, and located it at Sandy Bay. It required the same number of men as the Enterprise. These two engines were "tubs."

The next engine, the Votery, was a suction, and was purchased by Rockport in the year 1848, for one thousand dollars. It required a company of forty-five men. It did good service in its day, and was sold in 1885 for sixty-six dollars,-the town, hav- ing purchased a steamer, had no further use for the Votery.

The fourth engine, the Pigeon Cove (snetion), was purchased in 1860, of William Jeffers, at a cost of eleven hundred and seventy-one dollars. This engine requires a company of forty-five men.

The next, the Silver Grey, was purchased of the city of Lynn in 1866, at a cost of $898.72. It required a company of fifty men,

In the year 1876 the town purchased of Ed- ward B. Leverick a hose-carriage, C. HI. Parsons, at a cost of seven hundred and ten dollars, and

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

a hook-and-ladder-truck, G. P. Whifman, for seven hundred and twenty-five dollars.

Next and last was the purchase, in 1855, of the , The donors or their heirs received for it some compen- steamer Sandy Bay, a third-size Silsby, which cost, , sation in part commensurate to the amount by each contributed.

including the wagon, three thousand nine hun- dred and sixty dollars. By this last purchase the annual expense of the Fire Department is decreased, and it is claimed that it is more efficient.

The department now consists of one steamer, Sandy Bay, and fifteen men. Annual cost, three hundred and ninety-four dollars.

One hand-engine, Pigeon Cove (suction), forty- five members and steward. Cost per annum, five hundred and sixty-five dollars.

Hand-engine, Silver Grey (suction), in charge of in a dense fog and quietly rowed towards the neck, two men. Annual cost of twenty dollars.

Ilook - and - ladder - truck, G. P. Whitman, thirty members and steward. Annual cost of two hundred and sixty dollars.

Four engineers at seventy dollars per annum.

The department is well supplied with hose, and there is a tolerable supply of water by reservoirs and other sources. Our Fire Department is considered quite efficient for a town of this capacity.

WAR OF 1-12-15 .- The political troubles between the mother country and the United States culmina- ted iu war, which was declared by Congress against Great Britain in June, 1812. Though there was a decided difference of opinion among the people of this vicinity in relation to the need or the feasibility of this war, when it was entered upon, all were loyal to their country. Of course it was a source of great anxiety to the dwellers by the sea, whose princi- pal means of support was drawn from the ocean, and whose fleet of fishing-boats were exposed to the ray- ages of the enemy.

The first visit the enemy made us was on the 3d day of August, 1813, when the privateer "Commo- dore Broke, 'of about sixty tons, stood into Sandy Bay for the purpose of cutting out some coasters from the State of Maine that lay at anchor. She fired several shots into the village, which was soon returned by our men on Beurskin Neck, from muskets and one cannon that had been brought from Boston a few days before. On her departure out of the bay, which soon took place, a cannon-ball struck her just below the tran- som and came out under her deck near the stem ; she was a so fired upon as she passed Pigeon Cove. Dur- ing this same month the Bristol ship " Nymph," erut ing off this coast, committed depredations upon fishermen and coasters, and occasioned' considerable alarm. She made several captures, but released them upon the payment of two laundred dollars for each vessel. Early in the opening of this war the citizens of sandy Bay built a circular fort or rather a half- . ires, on Bealskin V & & & cost of about six hun- fred dollars, This mover w. - raised by subscription. The fort was built of spl t stone When the govern- ment was constructing the breakwater at the en-

trance of Long Cove, in 1836 to 1840, this fort was de- molished, and the stone was used in that structure.

This fort was supplied with a watch-house, and three cannon with carriages, in charge of a corporal and thirteen soldiers. On the 8th of September, 1814, the British frigate "Nymph " took a Sandy Bay fishing-boat on the fishing-grounds and com- pelled the skipper, Captain David Elwell, to act as pilot for two barges full of men which the captain of the frigate determined to send in to capture the fort. These barges left the frigate about midnight passed the outer end and then proceeded into Long Cove, and landed her crew in the Eastern or Little Gutter (so-called). They then marched to the fort, took the sentinel by surprise, made prisoners of all the soldiers, fourteen in number, spiked the guns and put them over the embankment.

The other barge went into or near the old dock on the western side of the neck ; her men were soou en- countered by some of the citizens who had been aroused by an alarm given by a sentinel stationed near that part of the neck. It was now daybreak and the fog had cleared. The men on shore fired musket-balls at the barge, but in return received grape-shot and cannon-ball; no one was injured. The church bell rang out an alarm ; the men in the barge prepared to silence the tell-tale; one cannon- ball lodged in a part of the belfry and there re- mained until the church tower was rebuilt in 1839. In order to complete their work the gun was loaded with a heavy charge too heavy for the barge; in firing it started a butt and she sank. The officer in com- mand and his crew ran across the neck, and seizing a boat made their escape, except about a dozen who were made prisoners. In the mean time the men who took the fort had, with all or a part of their pris- oners, got on board of their barge and were on their way back to the frigate.

This cannon, after being used on many occasions for salutes, etc., and having passed its usefulness, was taken in charge by the town ; a carriage was provided, on which it is now mounted, and it occupies a place in the yard of the town hall. The barge was raised and repaired, and was donated to the owner of the boat that was stolen by the crew of the sunken barge ; she was occupied for fishing many years.

An exchange of prisoners was proposed; but Col- onel Appleton, not feeling authorized to do this, detached a platoon of soldiers, under Lieutenant Charles Tarr, to take charge until they could be sent to Salen.

Ou the following night a company of men in dis- guise rescued the prisoners from Lieutenant Tarr, and effected an exchange, by which the men that had been carried away in the barge and others pre-

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viously taken, twenty in all, were released. It would seem that the design of this landing could be none other than a wanton destruction of property.

The English commander, at the conclusion of this affair, promised our fishermen that they should not be molested in the use of their fishing-ground the remainder of the season, and he kept his promise.

A few days after this the people of this village were again alarmed by a reported attempt of the English frigate "Leander " to effect a landing at Folly Cove. The militia under Captain Charles Tarr and the Sea Fencibles under Captain David Elwell (he a few days before had been elected captain, but had not received his commission) were brought into requisition. About the same hour word was received that a ship-of-war was about to effect a landing at or near Long Beach, upon which Captains Elwell and Tarr held a consultation. Tarr proposed to take bis company to the south end and Elwell was to take his men to Folly Cove. This arrangement brought the Sea Fencibles the first company at Folly Cove. The alarm from the south end proved false, and Captain Tarr's company soon joined the Sea Fencibles. The whole military force of the town, under Colonel Ap- pleton, was soon concentrated at this place. The frigate soon withdrew ; probably the object of her visit to this place was to appropriate to their use some of the cattle that were grazing near the shore.

This frigate was probably the same and this the same time that Captain Nathaniel Parsons came out of Squam River on board his fishing-boat. Just after he passed over the bar he noticed an English frigate off' Folly Point; her attention was attracted towards his boat to such an extent and he saw no way of escape but by running her ashore; the water was quite smooth.

The men of the village, with muskets in hand, as- sembled near the shore and blazed away at the frig- ate's boat that was nearing the shore. They were answered with cannon-ball and grape-shot. The barge soon returned to the ship, and next made an appearance flying a flag of tru. e. They of course were allowed to land, and handed a letter to some one, who took it to the house of Walter Woodbury. It read as follows: "I, sir, William Colwell, wishing to search that vessel, supposed to be a freighter, if denied, will burn every house within three miles of the shore." Soon Colonel Appleton and the whole military force of the Cape were on hand ready for duty. The frigate soon withdrew.

It was learned by some person who after this was a prisoner on board this frigate that several of their men were wounded. No one on shore was injured.

During this war numbers of our citizens engaged in privateering with considerable success, others in the naval and military service. Some were taken prisoners and spent a season at Dartmoor; others at Halifax. One of the number, who was a prisoner on board a ship on the Thames, is yet living in town.

However the difference of opinion as to the neees- sity and justice of this war, all hailed with accla- mations of joy the news of peace, which was received here on the 21st day of February, 1815. The next evening there was a grand illumination and great rejoicing.

The fishing interest, the most prominent business of the village, which had been greatly depressed, soon revived ; fish were caught in good quantity and sold at remunerative prices. Then came a time of general prosperity. This year (1815) Moses P. Clark, with two other men, on board a twenty-ton boat, caught and landed in eight months about nine hundred quintals of cod, pollock and seale-fish, which sold for more than twenty-five hundred dollars. These fish yielded thirty-three barrels of oil, which sold for nine hun- dred dollars. This same year or the next William Thurston, William Blatchford and one other man and a boy, in the boat "Independence." about thirty tons, caught and landed sixteen hundred quintals of fish. In early spring codfish sold for five dollars per quintal.

TEMPERANCE AND MORAL REFORM .- Early in the present century the publie mind in this village was agitated to a considerable extent in relation to the excessive use and illegal sale of intoxicating liq- uors. This agitation resulted in the organization of a Moral Reform Society ; its object was to prevent the illegal sale of and the excessive use of ardent spirits and to prevent other immoralities. It was in- stituted in 1814, and during the fifteen years of its history did a good work. It dissolved in 1829.

The constitution of said society was as follows:

" The utility of Moral Societies has been very extensively felt in the world. They have a very happy and powerful intlneuce to arrest the progress of vice, which seriously alarme every enlightened, virtuous and benevolent mind. For wherever it prevails, its footsteps are marked with disorder, confusion and wretchedness. It often robs society of its brightest ornaments, expels happiness and prosperity from the social cir- cle and reduces families to an abject and anffering state.

" ffaving seen for a considerable time, with deep regret and fearful anxiety, the great prevalence of sin amongst us, we feel it to be an in- dispensable duty which we owe to God, ourselves, our families and pos- terity, to use our influence and endeavors to suppress its progress and rescue society from its pernicious and fatal effects.

' Sensible, however, that all human means and efforts will prove in- effectual without a divine blessing, we would humbly rely on God for his aid and assistance to crown our exertious with success.

" Under these impressions, we, the citizens of Gloucester (Sandy Bay), do agree to form ourselves into a society for the suppression of vice and the improvement of morals; and do adopt the following as a Constitu- tion :

" Notwithstanding the general object of this society is to counteract all vice, in whatever form or manner it makes its appearance, yet, As some species of it are far more destructive to the prace, order, interest and morals of society than others, we consider it our duty to bear a par- ticular and decided testimony against these, and that there might be no mismilerstanding between the members of this society in respect to those vices, it is thoughtadvisable that they should be particularly de- scribed, and,

" Ist. As intemperance bas become very alarming, common and de- structive; as many individuals have been entirely ruined, families abused, distressed and made wretched by it ; as it unmans the man, im- pairs the rational powers, obliterates the moral sense, destroys conjugal atfiction, parental tenderness and all vistnous feelings of social life, whatever tends to aid and increase this vice must be received as a dis-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tressing and nous evil, deeply to be deplored by every friend to virtue and humanity ; and as no cause, perhaps, has ever contributed more to the continuance and mereaseof this vice than retailing shops, where ar- ·lent spirits have been sold, mixed and drank in open violation of the Inw ; and as much "hops have become very numerous at the present day, and nurseries of illeness and every species of wickedness, they call for a mjwedy uil effectual remedy. We, therefore, do solemnly engage ti abstain from an excessive use of ardent spirits our Ires, to prevent at in our families, social circles and other places ; that we will not frequent and drink in retailing shops, por suffer our children under our care to do it ; and that we will unite in aiding and upholding 1+rsons appointed to -uppress all such unauthorized places amongst us, in taking every legal stop necessary, that this dreadful evil may be re- moved, and the thing generation raved from its ruinous effects.

" 24. As profane language degrades a rational being, offends a holy Girl, invandates the sacred und solemn nature of an vath, and tends ty the perversion of justice between man and man, we do sacredly promise to discountenance all profaneness and indecent conversation, with by our precept and example.

"3d. We engage not to gamble or p'ay at any games whatever for money ur ardent spirits, neither join with those who do, that we will restrain our children from it, and discountenance it in others; und that we will be particularly careful to guard our children against ting in the streets evenings where they are liable to bo corrupted.

"Ith That we will disapprove all slander and evil speaking against any one, and especially against the members of this society, that a good understanding naught alwaye sulwist amongst the members, onion he preserved und frivwlship perpetuated.

".th. Whereas, long experience has proved that all exertions to suppress vice and improve the morals have been ineffectual without a due observation of the holy Sabbath ; and as it was the opinion of the Legislature in this Commonwealth in the late able report on the import- ance of keeping the Sabbath, in these words: 'We believe, that an en- Ightened, uniform and pious observance of the Lord'a day, in attending public and private instruction and worship ourselves, and in refraining from all ærtions and practises which may disturb the worship and in. structions of others, isa duty solemnly binding on the conscience of every Individual. We believe without the appointment and continu- ance of the Lonl's day, that public and private instruction would Avon languish, if not entirely crase ; and that all the virtues of social life would share the same fate ; ' we, therefore, the members of this society, do solemnly engage strictly to observe the Lord's day in refraining from all unnecessary labor and recreations on that day ourselves, and use our endeavory to have the day strictly observed in our families and in society."

Then follow the rules by which they would be governed.

This constitution was signed by

Francia Norwood.

William Whipple,

Aaron Pool.

Solomon Pool.

Mathew S. Giles.

Abraham Pool.

Jabez R. Gott.

Solomon C'hate.

William Pool.

Ebenr Dakes

Reuben Brooks, Jr.

Caleb Norwood.

Gorham Norwood.

Day d Jewett.

David Kimball.

Reuben Brooks,

Josinh Page.

Stephen Pool.

Joseph Smith, Jr.

William l'hoate.

Thomas Oakes.

Henry Withmam, Jr.

George Dennis mn.

Thomas tiles.

Isaw: Dennison, Jr.

Juba Burns, Jr.

Law and Order Committee .- At the annual March meeting of the town of tiloucester, year 1814, a com- mitterofsix persons were chosen in the interest oflaw and order ; this committee were to ascertain who were violating the license law of the Commonwealth then in existence. Five members of this committee were citizens of Sandy Bay; therefore we give place to their report made to the selectmen, June 25th of the same year.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 97

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