USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 37
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 37
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 37
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 37
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 37
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1783.
This year, the war, which had spread its gloom through the colonies for seven years, was terminated by a treaty of peace, signed on the third of September; and the then thirteen United States took their rank as an independent nation. The red cross banner of England was exchanged for a flag with thirteen stripes and thirteen stars ; and Americans now regard the people of England, like the rest of mankind-in war, enemies ; in peace, friends.
With a few remarks respecting men and manners before the Revolution, we will take our leave of the olden time. People were then generally a plain, plodding, go-a-foot, matter-of-fact sort of people. Rail roads and steam boats had not even been thought of; the stage-coach and the omnibus were unknown; and when something which was intended to answer the purpose of a coach at last appeared, it was a lumbering vehicle, drawn by two horses, passing through the town twice a week, in going to and returning from Boston. A few of the more wealthy
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ANNALS- OF LYNN - 1783.
farmers kept a chaise, or a chair, which was only " tackled " on Sundays, or perhaps once a month for a journey to a neigh- boring town. People walked, without thinking it a trouble, from three to six miles on Sunday to meeting; the farmer rode on horseback, taking his wife behind him; and two or three spinsters of the family, or perhaps a young wife, followed in chairs placed in a horse-cart-for a four-wheeled wagon was unknown in the town for more than one hundred and forty years after its settlement; and when Mr. Benjamin Newhall, about the year 1770, introduced the first ox wagon, it was humorously said, that his hired man had to drive down to the Common to turn it. The physician made his visits on horse- back, with his big saddle-bags on each side, stuffed with medi- caments -for an apothecary's shop was as rare as an opera house. There were no lectures, or lyceums, or libraries, or concerts in those days; there were few excitements, for people had not leisure to promote them; a reputation could not then be destroyed, as now, in a day, for they lived too remote for common slander - but when the spirit of invective and evil, which had been confined for sixty years, did at length break forth, as in the time of witchcraft, it was as if a mountain lake should suddenly burst its cerements of porphyry, uprooting the finest trees, and bearing boulders of granite through the culti- vated valleys.
Gentlemen, in those days, wore hats with broad brims, turned up into three corners, with loops at the sides ; long coats, with large pocket-folds and cuffs, and without collars. The buttons were commonly plated, but sometimes of silver, often as large as half a dollar. Shirts had bosoms and wrist-ruffles ; and all wore gold or silver shirt-buttons at the wrist, united by a link. The waistcoat was long, with large pockets; and the neck-cloth or scarf, of fine white linen, or figured stuff, broidered, and the ends hanging loosely on the breast. The breeches were usually close, with silver buckles at the knees. The legs were covered with long gray stockings, which on holidays were exchanged for black or white silk. Boots, with broad white tops ; or shoes, with straps and large silver buckles, completed the equipment.
Ladies wore caps, long stiff stays, and high heeled shoes. Their bonnets were of silk or satin, and usually black. Gowns were extremely long-waisted, with tight sleeves. Another fash- ion was, very short sleeves, with an immense frill at the elbow, leaving the rest of the arm naked. A large flexible hoop, three or four feet in diameter, was for some time quilted into the hem of the gown, making an immense display of the lower person. A long, round cushion, stuffed with cotton or hair, and covered with black crape, was laid across the head, over which the hair was combed back and fastened. It was almost the universal
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1784.
custom, also, for women to wear gold beads - thirty-nine little hollow globes, about the size of a pea, strung on a thread, and tied round the neck. Sometimes this string would prove false to its trust - at an assembly, perhaps - and then, oh ! such a time to gather them up, before they should be trampled on and ruined ! Working women wore petticoats and half gowns, drawn with a cord round the waist, and neats' leather shoes ; though they generally, throughout the country, had a pair of " Lynn shoes " for Sunday. Women did not " go a shopping" every day then; there were few shops to go to, and those con- tained only such articles as were indispensable, and in very limited variety.
Those times had their benefits, but we would not wish their return. Nature brings not back the mastodon; why, then, should we wish a recurrence of those gigantic days, which pro- duced great men in proportion to great evils. That the men were more honest and generous, or the women more amiable and virtuous then, is not to be contended. The charm about them consists chiefly in this, that they lived in the early period of our history - a period which will always be interesting - the records of which will be read with as much avidity a thou- sand years hence, as they are to-day.
Lynn had 168 men in the Revolutionary War, of whom fifty- two were lost, besides the four men killed at Lexington.
1784.
The whole political course of our country has been changed by one great event. We are no longer the subjects of a foreign power. A new era has dawned upon us. The days of three- cornered hats and three-cornered swords are gone. Our govern- ors are no longer appointed in England; our civil policy is no longer regulated by her laws. We stand alone, a nation among nations. Our thousands of little democracies, scattered through- out the wide extent of our almost boundless country, constitute one grand Republic, which is now trying, before the world, the great problem, whether a free people can govern themselves.
For more than twenty years from the adoption of the state constitution, in 1780, the people of Lynn do not appear to have been much agitated by any conflict of political opinions. The insurrection in the central counties of Massachusetts, in 1786, was the first event which disturbed the public peace ; and in the following year, a company of twenty-three men from Lynn, went voluntarily to suppress the rebellion. The administration of the national government, from its commencement, in 1789, seems to have been generally approved, until the year 1794, when a treaty of amity was concluded with England, by John Jay, chief justice of the United States, with the sanction of President Washington.
D2
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1784.
This treaty served to evince the existence throughout the Union of two great parties, who were separated by their different views of the nature and extent of republican government. One of these parties, denominated Federalists, contended that the President, with the consent of two thirds of the Senate, had the constitutional right, in the most extended sense, to make foreign alliances, on terms the most favorable to the public welfare. The other party, styled Democrats, considered this power to be so restricted, as not to infringe the particular rights of any State. The principle of one party had for its object, the greatest good of the greatest number - of the other, the greatest good of each individual. Both these parties were republican in their views ; and were undoubtedly influenced by a pure regard to the general good; though they were recipro- cally regarded as being hostile to it.
In 1781, all the votes in the town, which were forty-four, were given for John Hancock, the first governor under the new constitution. The smallest number was in 1784; when there were only twenty-seven votes for governor, and six for senators. There were, indeed, many more voters in the town, but they were so well satisfied with the wisdom of their rulers, that they gave themselves no anxiety on the subject. But causes of dissatisfaction gradually arose; and the spirit of party began to be more plainly manifested in 1800, when there were one hun- dred and thirteen votes for Caleb Strong, the federal governor, and sixty-eight for Elbridge Gerry, the democratic candidate. The political excitement, however, appears to have been very small, and conducted altogether without animosity. There was but one list of senators brought forward till 1801, and the fed- eralists retained the ascendancy until 1804. After the death of Washington, and the elevation of Mr. Jefferson to the presiden- tial chair, the democrats in this town began more ostensibly to increase, and in 1804 manifested a decided superiority. At the choice of governor, 145 votes were given for Caleb Strong, and 272 for James Sullivan ; and this year, for the first time, a dem- ocratic representative was chosen. The parties now began to regard each other with manifestations of decided hostility, and the political arena presented a field of civil warfare without bloodshed. The most strenuous exertions were made by one party to maintain the ascendancy, and by the other to regain it. No man was permitted to remain neutral; and if any one, pre- suming on his independence, ventured to form an opinion of his own, and to regard both parties as passing the bounds of mod- eration, he was regarded as an enemy by both. This rage of party continued several years, and was sometimes so violent as to be in danger of degenerating into animosity and personal hatred.
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1786.
[The mode of reckoning the currency at this period is illus- trated by a memorandum of Mr. Sparhawk, of Lynnfield, in an interleaved almanac "January ye 30th. Bought two piggs by ye hand of Mr. Recd, the barrow weighing 62 pounds, att five pence per pound . .. the other weighing 54 pounds att five pence per pound ; " the whole amounting to "two pound, eight shillings and two pence - which is eight dollars and two pence."]
Rev. Obadiah Parsons was installed pastor of the first parish, on the 4th of February. [The following is another almanac memorandum of Mr. Sparhawk: "Feb. ye 4th. Then was In- stalled, att ye Old Parish, in Lynn, Mr. Obadiah Parsons. Ye Revnd mr. Cleaveland of Ipswich began with prayer, ye Revnd mr. Forbes of Capan preachd the sermon, ye Revnd mr Roby, of Lynn 3d parish, gave the charge, ye Revnd mr. Payson, of Chelsea, made the concluding prayer, and the Revnd mr. Smith, of Middleton, gave the right hand of fellowship. The gentleman above mentioned was settled in peace, harmony, and concord."
[Still another memorandum of Mr. Sparhawk says : "From ye 14th of June untill the 13th of July, a very dry time. And upon ye 14th of July, early in the morning, Jove thundered to the left and all Olympus trembled att his nod. The sun about an hour high; a beautiful refreshing shower. Again, July ye 15th, the latter part of ye night, Jove thundered to the left, three times, and Olympus trembled. A shower followed."]
On the 28th of October, General Lafayette passed through the town, on a visit to the eastward.
[The Friends, who had been annually paying for the support of public schools, this year made request to have a portion refunded for the use of their own school. After considerable opposition the request was granted and an allowance annually made, for some years.
[On the 26th of June, there was a remarkably high tide.]
1786.
In April, Benjamin Ingalls, in throwing an anchor from a boat in the harbor, was drawn overboard and drowned.
[A town meeting was held on the 8th of May, at which John Carnes was chosen representative. And the matter of giving him special instructions was considered. It will be observed that the political elements were at this time in an active state, and the most patriotic hearts, the wisest heads, and firmest hands were required in moulding them for the noblest purposes. A committee, consisting of Sylvanus Hussey, Col. John Mans- field, and Deacon Nathaniel Bancroft, was selected to draw up instructions. They produced the following, which were at once voted to be given :
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ANNALS OF LYNN -1787.
To Mr. John Carnes, chosen to represent the town of Lynn and the district of Lynnfield in General Court, the ensuing year :
SIR: Our choice of you as Representative shews that we have put great confidence in you. But to join our voice with that of many others, in order to save the public, we would enjoin two things in particular upon you. The first is, That you would look into the grants of public salaries and other monies, and endeavor to prevent the laying of unnecessary burdens in this way. But at the same time let every one have an adequate reward for their services. The other injunction is this, That you would endeavor to prevent the ruin of individuals and the public by endeavoring to bring about another mode of proceeding in our law matters and to put it out of the power of the gentlemen of the law to take such advantage of their clients as they have often done, and to put them to so much needless trouble and expense. And if it cannot be done in any other way, that you endeavor to bring about an annihilation of the office. But we would have you in this and every thing else to adhere strictly to the Constitution."
[The first matter in these instructions was certainly important and well put. But the last savors of an unworthy antipathy to a class who probably did more than almost any other, to confirm our liberties and establish our institutions on a true and abiding foundation.]
The first rock was split in Lynn, this year, by John Gore. Before this, the people had used rough rock for building. [Mr. Lewis must certainly be mistaken in this. Do not numerous old cellars and the underpinning of many ancient houses prove the contrary ? In 1854, some workmen near Sadler's rock, exhumed a deposit of quarried granite, which, from the appear- ance of the trees above it, must have lain there a hundred years, if, indeed, it did not belong to Mr. Sadler's habitation, which stood in the immediate vicinity more than two hundred years before. It would be astonishing if the old Iron Works did not turn out drills and wedges innumerable, for use in the neighbor- hood. The art of working stone is a rudimental art, practiced every where, even among the rudest people, and was known in ages long before the foundation stones of Egyptian grandeur were laid. And there must have been a clear necessity for its practice in early New England times. How could they have built roads or cleared lands without blasting ? And how easy it was to split up the granite boulders for building purposes.]
On the 9th of December, there was a very great snow ; nearly seven feet deep on a level. (Sparhawk.)
1787.
[The formidable insurrection alluded to by Mr. Lewis, a few paragraphs back, and known as Shays' Rebellion, commenced in 1786. A town meeting was held in Lynn 17 January, of this year, at which it was voted "to raise the men called for by Gen. Titcomb." The town also voted that one pound be ad- vanced to each soldier who went from here, in addition to the
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1788, 1790.
" wages given by the Court." It was likewise voted that the town pay each man "his wages in specie, that goes for the town, when they know what wages the Court allows to each man and will take the wages of the Court themselves." And a further vote was passed requiring the selectmen to call upon the collectors for money to furnish the soldiers with camp uten- sils and provisions. And if they could not get sufficient from the collectors, they were authorized to hire money, giving their notes in behalf of the town. These votes show the same commendable promptness and determination in the performance of public duties that have always characterized the people of Lynn.
[The first parish parsonage was built this year. It stood on the south side of the Common, corner of Commercial street. In 1832 it was sold and moved down the street, where it still stands, at the corner of Neptune street .. There were what were called parsonage lands before this date.]
1788.
[A sloop, commanded by Captain Pendleton, was wrecked on Lynn Beach, 26 January. The vessel was lost. Only thirty- five cords of wood were saved.]
General Washington passed through Lynn in October. The inhabitants were greatly delighted to see him; and the old Boston road was thronged with people, who came forth to salute him as he proceeded to Salem.
1790.
[The following amusing epistle, relating to a disaster that appears to have taken place near the old sluice, in what is now the Dye Factory village, is found among the historical collec- tions of the Essex Institute, and is dated 18 February :
BROTHER N. - I arrived at my house about 2 o'clock, but met with a dis- aster upon the road which has lamed me a little. Passing the Sluice, the ice lay so sidling I was afraid to ride over least the slay should run over the Bridge. Peggy got out to walk over, and I set on the side of the slay to drive over, and got over safe. Peggy, in passing, was taken by the wind, and must have gone over the Bridge, if she had not set herself down. Seeing that, I went to help her, and left my horse. He set out after I had assisted Peggy. I pursued after the horse and ran till I was very much spent, and finally got hold of the slay, but my strength was spent and I was not able to get forward to get hold of the bridle. I slipped and fell, but was loth to lose my hold of the slay, and suffered myself to be drawn upon the ice, I suppose, twenty rods. At length I worked myself forward, got the bridle, and stopped the horse, but found myself extremely spent, and much bruised and faint with my exertions. I feel pretty comfortable now. One of my ankles is very much swelled, but I hope it will go off soon. I now send by B- Mrs. - 's mogisons and the green cloth-am obliged to her for them - all my family are well - my regards to your family.
From your affectionate Brother.
D2* 23
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ANNALS OF LYNN-1791
1791.
Until this year, there were but two religious denominations in Lynn - the First Congregational Church and the Society of Friends. This year the First Methodist Society was organized. The Rev. Jesse Lee, a preacher of that persuasion, came to Lynn on the 14th of December previous, and was so successful in preaching at private houses, that on the 20th of February a society was formed ; and on the 21st of June a house of worship was raised, which was dedicated on the 26th of the same month. This was the first Methodist meeting-house in Massachusetts. Several members of the First Congregational Church united with this society; among whom were the two deacons, who took with them the vessels of the communion service. These vessels consist of four large silver tankards, eleven silver cups, and one silver font for baptism; presented to the church by John Burrill, Theophilus Burrill, and John Breed. The removal of this plate occasioned a difference between the societies, and the Congregational Church was compelled to borrow vessels, for the communion, from the church at Saugus. The deacons afterward offered to return one half; and in prospect of a pros- ecution they relinquished the whole. It is a fact worthy of notice, that the First Congregational Church, which had opposed and persecuted the Quakers and the Baptists, was at one time so reduced, that only three male members remained. In 1794, this church invited those of its members who had seceded to the Methodist Society, to be reunited ; and within a few years, one of the deacons and several of the members returned. The first stationed minister of the Methodists was Rev. Amos G. Thomson. The frequent changes of the ministers of the persua- sion, render it inconvenient to keep an account of them. They are regarded as belonging to the Conference, or society at large ; and, like the apostles, they " have no certain dwelling place." May their rest be in heaven !
[It is proper to add in this connection, that the Methodists have taken a very different view of the facts regarding their possession and detention of the church plate, from that taken by the Congregationalists, maintaining that there was nothing illegal or unfair in what they did - that they were in a majority before withdrawing from the old society, but were held as legal members and taxed for its support - that the deacons were the rightful custodians of the sacred vessels and had not been displaced - that they generously abstained from any attempt to possess themselves of the house of worship, and withdrew and erected an edifice for themselves. They further assert that an eminent counsellor was consulted, who assured them they were in the right. But does all this make out a case ? With-
.
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ANNALS OF LYNN-1791.
out pausing to consider what attitude the affair might have assumed had the Methodists remained and outvoted the Con- gregationalists, let us look at the facts just as they were. The Methodists withdrew -" seceded." to use Mr. Lewis's term. The plate was given to " The First Church of Christ in Lynn "- as the inscriptions on the different articles prove. Now did the seceders claim to be that First Church ? Why, no; they claimed to be Methodists-a new denomination, and one un- known in the world at the time the pious donors gave the vessels. They did not revolutionize the old society, but sece- ded from it. And in the great political secession of 1861, when the seceders appropriated all the property of the United States on which they could lay hands, what did we call them ? If the communion vessels of a church are rightfully in possession of the deacons, they are there in trust and are not such property as attaches to the person. Could erroneous legal advice have been received? Implicit faith in the instructions of his coun- sel may be admired in any party. But notwithstanding the proverbial discernment and integrity of lawyers, it nevertheless has been known that while advocating the interests of opposing parties they have slightly differed ; sometimes, perhaps, leaning most strongly toward the side from which they received their fees. Something like this happened here; for it seems that the Congregationalists as well as the Methodists consulted most able counsel, and that each party received assurance that they were in the right.
[It is not at all necessary for a moment to impute any evil intent to the Methodists; for there was opportunity enough for honest mistake, in the outset ; and as the contest increased in warmth it was not natural that their perception of the rights of the other side should become more clear. The deacons who had charge of the plate, appear to have been men of excellent character. And it is evident, too, that the old church did not conceive the conduct of the seceders to be such as to preclude them from a cordial invitation to return. And Deacon Farring- ton did, among others, return.
[This was a period when church difficulties were beginning to occur on every hand. Worse experiences than those which overtook the Old Tunnel befell some others of the societies which had been planted and nurtured amid the privations of the first settlements. Lawsuits, with their long trains of evils, in- tervened. And the decisions of the supreme court, in certain instances, fail to increase our respect for that august tribunal. It is a singular fact that the First Church of Lynn is almost the only one of the early Massschusetts churches that has main- tained her integrity in doctrine - that has adhered to the Calvin- istic faith. And perhaps her early experience with the Quakers
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1792.
and subsequent conflicts with the Methodists, saved her from what in the view of some of her devoted children would have been the greatest of all calamities, to wit, the instating of Unitarianism.]
The eighteenth of December was the co.dest day known for many years. The thermometer was twenty degrees below zero.
1792.
Rev. Obadiah Parsons relinquished his connection with the first parish on the 16th of July. He was born at Gloucester, graduated at Cambridge in 1768, and was installed at Lynn, February 4, 1784, where he preached eight years. He returned to Gloucester, where he died in December, 1801. His first wife was Elizabeth Wigglesworth ; his second, Sally Coffin. He had nine children ; Elizabeth W., William, Sally C., William and Sally C. again, Obadiah, Polly, Harriet, Sally. [Mr. Parsons likewise taught the school near the east end of the Common. After his return to his native place, he there taught for several years, and performed the duties of justice of the peace. His first wife belonged to one of the most eminent families in the colony. And it is enough to say of his own family, that it gave to the commonwealth the most able chief justice who ever graced her bench. His son William studied medicine, and was surgeon's mate on board the frigate Constitution while quite a young man. His son Obadiah was remarkable for early mental devel- opment, but received injury from intense application, and died a little before he would have attained his majority. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, born in 1770, was married to Amos Rhodes, who lived on the east side of Federal street, and was a man of property and standing. Polly, who was born in 1784, was married to Jabez Hitchings, a citizen long well known.
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