USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 44
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 44
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 44
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 44
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 44
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The thermometer stood at 100 degress, in the shade, 26 June. *
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ANNALS OF LYNN-1845.
The Whig party held a mass meeting in Lynn, 4 September. Eminent speakers from abroad were present, and a procession, numbering about 3.000, moved through the principal streets.
On the 6th of September, the Democratic party had a great clam-bake at Swampscot. A procession, numbering some two thousand, two hundred of whom were of the military, was formed at the Central Depot, in Lynn, and marched to the place of the unique entertainment. Addresses were made by eminent polit- ical orators.
Tuesday, 22 October, was the day calculated by the Millerites, as the believers in the immediate destruction of the world were called, to be that on which the closing up of all earthly affairs would take place. But it passed off without any extraordinary occurrence, probably to the relief of some whose courage was not equal to their faith. There were quite a number in Lynn, who firmly believed in the predictions of Mr. Miller. They held meetings, and in some instances showed their sincerity by abandoning their business and giving away their property. And many still continue steadfast in the belief that the end of all things is close at hand.
Mr. John Alley, 3d, had a swine, raised by himself, slaughtered this year, which weighed, before being dressed, 1.330 pounds. The fat produced 128 pounds of lard. He had the skin stuffed ; and it became an object of curiosity at agricultural exhibitions.
1845.
About midnight, on the 4th of May, a dwelling house on the north side of Summer street, between Market and Pleasant, occupied by Albourne Oliver and David M. Hildreth, was burned. The two families had barely time to escape with their lives. Not even a change of clothing was saved by any of the inmates. Loss $3.000.
Mount Carmel Lodge of Freemasons, instituted in 1805, and discontinued in 1834, under the anti-masonic pressure, was this year reorganized and regular meetings resumed.
Joseph W. Millett, of Swampscot, met his death, 28 May, under painful circumstances. Some young men were in the pastures in pursuit of geological specimens, and he accompanied them. They charged a rock with a pound of powder, and he volunteered to touch it off. They retired, not without appre- hension, as he appeared so daring, leaving him to execute the dangerous task. They heard the report, returned, and found him dead, his body being much mutilated. He left a wife and six children.
The Lynn Artillery joined the escort at the funeral solemnities held in Boston. 9 July, on the occasion of the death of General Jackson.
4.15
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1846.
The thermometer reached 101 degrees, in the shade, 12 July A young man from Bradford, named Noyes, was drowned, while bathing, at Needham's Landing, 10 September. He had come to Lynn in the hope of benefitting his health by sea bath- ing, arriving only the day before.
1846.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock on the night of 1 January, a fire broke out in the Rockaway House, at Swampscot, destroy- ing the building and furniture, bowling-alleys, stable, and other out buildings. Loss about $20.000. The building was formerly the Topsfield Hotel, and was moved from that town to Swamps- cot, a distance of about fifteen miles.
For several days, in the early part of January, the air was so clear that the planet Venus could be seen at noonday, about three hours behind the sun.
Amariah Childs died, 21 January, aged 80. He owned the mills on Saugus river, Boston street, which so long bore his name, and there manufactured that excellent chocolate which became celebrated not only throughout the United States, but in Europe. He began the manufacture in or about the year 1805, and sold out the business in 1840. He lived on Boston street, nearly opposite Bridge, and was an esteemed citizen. He married three wives, the first and last of whom were sisters, and the intermediate one the widow of a deceased brother of the other two. The last named was Mrs. Larkin, mother of Thomas O. Larkin, who, at one time during the excitement respecting the California gold discoveries, was reputed to be the wealthiest man in the Union, he having become proprietor of extensive tracts of land in that auriferous region. At the time of his death, however, which occurred a few years after, it appeared that though a rich man, his possessions had been greatly over-estimated.
A house on Franklin street, belonging to John Alley, 3d, was struck by lightning, 18 May, and two persons knocked down.
On the 21st of June, the lightning struck the house of Charles P. Curtis, then in process of erection, on Ocean street, doing considerable damage to the frame.
On Sunday, 28 June, there appeared a remarkable solar halo. The outer edge was of a beautiful violet, and the inner red.
The first Congregational meeting-house in Swampscot, was dedicated on the 15th of July, and the church organized.
On the 1st of August, the anniversary of the abolishment of slavery in the British West Indies was celebrated in the woods, near Lover's Leap. The day was pleasant, and a large company of ladies and gentlemen assembled. Some prominent speakers from other places were present.
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1846.
Thomas Nourse killed a rattlesnake five feet long, and having nine rattles, on the Lynnfield road, in July. The ages of these reptiles may be determined by the number of their rattles. They have the first when three years old, and afterward one annually.
On Sunday morning, 9 August, one of the most destructive fires that ever occurred in Lynn, took place. It commenced at about two o'clock, in the spice and coffee mill of Nehemiah Berry and Samuel C. Childs, on Water Hill. The mill and adja- cent frame buildings were soon destroyed and the fire commu- nicated to the large brick building used for silk printing and dyeing, then occupied by Daniel K. Chase ; and that also was destroyed. Total loss about $75.000. Insurance $20.000. This brick factory was the one referred to under date 1836.
On Friday afternoon, 14 August, during the recess at the grammar school on Franklin street, the upper wall fell-plaster- ing, beams, flooring, and all- and precipitated into the room a cord and a half of wood which had been piled in the attic. It came down with such force that portions sank through the floor into the basement. Several pupils who happened to remain in during the recess, were injured; none, however, fatally. The average attendance of scholars was about a hundred and fifty, and had the accident occurred while the school was in session, many lives must have been lost.
A smart shock of an earthquake was felt on Tuesday morning, 25 August, at fifteen minutes before five o'clock. It was suffi- ciently violent to wake persons from sleep, and in some instances dishes were thrown from shelves. There was for a moment a dull, rumbling sound, like that produced by a train of cars pass- ing over a bridge.
The old Lynn Light Infantry, organized in 1812, was disbanded this year. For many years it was a famous company.
The Agricultural Society of Essex County, held their annual cattle show and exhibition in Lynn, 1 October. The weather was pleasant and a very large number were present from abroad. The address was delivered by Moses Newell, of West Newbury, and the dinner was had in the basement of the First Congrega- tional meeting-house. A levee and dance took place in the evening.
The summer and autumn were unusually warm and dry ; more so, it was stated, than at any previous time for a quarter of a century. There was a great failure of water in the wells about town; some dried up that never had before. November and December were very cold. At Thanksgiving time there was a great easterly storm that did much damage.
A singular disease began to affect the potato crop, this year ; and it has continued to exhibit itself with more or less virulence
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1847.
every season since, in some instances destroying whole crops ; the potatoes being sometimes attacked while in the ground, and at other times after being digged. Four periods have been marked by the prevalence of the " potato rot," in this vicinity ; the first in 1770. The remedy in former times seems to have been in the use of the seed, instead of the bulb, for propagation.
The congress boot began to be manufactured at this time. Its peculiarity consisted mainly in the substitution of an elastic gore for the old lacing, thus rendering the boot easier about the ankle, and more tasty in appearance.
The Mexican war commenced this year. Lynn furnished twenty volunteers, viz : Mark Annis, Henry Chester, Benjamin Coates, C. W. Foster, Nathan Green, Lucius Grover, Joseph Hepburn, Amos Kimball, Stephen Morton, Henry Newhall, William B. Patten, Hezekiah Shaw, Walter Sherman, Edward F. Skinner, John Spinney, William Swasey, Joseph Wendell, Joseph York, and two others of the name of Brown.
1847.
On the 15th of April, there were two inches of frost in the ground. And on the 22d of the same month the weather was so warm that the thermometer rose to eighty-six degrees in the shade. But the next day it snowed.
President Polk made a short visit to Lynn on Monday after- noon, 5 July. He came from the east in a special train, left his car at the Central Depot and rode through the town in a car- riage, taking his car again at the depot at the foot of Commer- cial street. There was great eagerness to greet him, but his stay was so short that few could be gratified.
The Hutchinson cottage at High Rock was built this year. Also Exchange Building, on Market street.
The Agricultural Society of Essex county, again held their annual cattle show and exhibition at Lynn, 29 September. The address was delivered by Thomas E. Payson of Rowley. The dinner and other festivities usual on the occasion passed off in a manner most satisfactory.
Samuel Mulliken died 25 November, aged 86. He was long identified with the prosperity of Lynn, and was the third post- master, serving from 1803 to 1807. Before coming to Lynn he for a short time pursued the business of a watchmaker, at Salem. In Lynn, he did a large business, for many years, as a tanner, and at one time kept a large store at the southern end of Market street. He was a man of strict integrity and great industry. He had a strong will, which, being usually set in the right direction stood him in good stead. But he once related to me an instance of its operation which seems more amusing than beneficial. During the active portion of his life, it was a
27
418
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1848.
custom, as public conveyances were few, for a couple of busi- ness men to visit Boston in company, one providing the horse and vehicle and the other paying the tolls and horse keeping. One chilly November day, he and Jeremiah Bulfinch, a neighbor, agreed to visit Boston in that partnership way. Mr. B. was to furnish the conveyance and Mr. M. to pay the expenses. When they arrived at Charlestown, which was early in the forenoon, they found that an additional toll, or some other charge, to the amount of six cents, on which neither had calculated, had been levied. Mr. Mulliken contended that the extra charge should be equally shared; but Mr. Bulfinch declared that none of it rightfully fell on him. They were equally matched for stub- bornness, and there they sat, disputing and arguing, till the declining sun warned them that it was time for the horse's head to be turned homeward. And home they rode, each, undoubt- edly, congratulating himself on his manly triumph. "And," added Mr. Mulliken, as he related the incident, his counte- nance radiating from the old fire within, though he was then more than eighty years of age, "I would have sat there till this time, before I would have paid it !" Mr. Mulliken had two wives ; his first was a daughter of Col. Ezra Newhall, of the Revolution ; and his children were, Jonathan, William, John, Charles, Susan, George.
The old Lynn Rifle Company was disbanded this year. It had been in existence about twenty-five years, and ranked high for discipline.
The custom of pressing sea mosses and working them into parlor ornaments, began about this time. The rocks by the sea side and those upon the woodland hills furnish an inexhaust- ible amount of material for the most durable and beautiful orna- ments ; and by a tasty and patient hand it may be wrought into pictures that might easily be referred to the skill of goddesses. And the brilliant leaves of autumn, carefully pressed and var- nished may be formed into exquisite pictures.
The first telegraphic wires that passed through Lynn were put up in December. There was, however, no communication held by them between Lynn and other places. Morse's tele- graph was invented in 1832, and the line between Washington and Baltimore completed in 1844.
1848.
On the night of Wednesday, 5 January, the harness shop of Edwin N. Pike, on Union street, near the Central Depot, was burned. Loss $1.200.
Oliver Fuller, aged 60, while walking on the railroad track, in the vicinity of the Central Depot, on Thursday, 24 February, was run over by a locomotive, and instantly killed.
419
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1848.
George Gray, tne Lynn hermit, died 28 February, aged 78. He was by birth a Scotchman and came here near the close of the last century, locating in a lonely spot, which he made his home till the time of his death, though population largely in- creased around, much to his annoyance. Two or three rude little structures, erected chiefly by his own hand, answered for his dwelling, workshops, and store houses. They were on the south side of Boston street, a few rods east of the main en- trance to Pine Grove Cemetery. It was a very wild place till within a few years. A high woody hill rose in the rear, a tan- gled swamp was on either hand, with a weedy brook winding through ; while in front, beyond a little area of brambles and rank vegetation, wound the street just named. He persistently, and often with a good deal of asperity, refused to communicate to the curious inquirers who sometimes beset him, any know- ledge of his personal history or the causes which induced the adoption of his comfortless and unnatural mode of life. And that very secrecy gave rise to innumerable romantic surmises. Some believed that an unfortunate affair of the heart estranged him from the world; others that some great crime rendered his flight from his native land a necessity. And he had the shrewd- ness to avoid entangling himself by contradicting any current opinion.
At times he was by no means averse to discussing affairs with his neighbors, though very seldom could one receive a welcome to his premises, and never would an invitation to enter his dwelling be extended. His calls were generally made at night. I was occasionally favored with one and usually found him so forgetful of the passing time that it was necessary to remind him of the lateness of the hour by a delicate hint like that of extinguishing the lights, nothing short of some such rude- ness appearing to be understood. On one of these visits, when he seemed in gracious mood, with venturesome curiosity I expressed a desire to know something of his early history ; but the sudden and lively response -" That is what don't concern you!" checked all approach for that purpose. He was a reflecting man, and one of considerable literary and scientific attainment; but the current story of his carrying a Hebrew Bible about in his pocket was, no doubt, a fiction. He took great pleasure in attending lectures, and in studying works on the abstruse sciences. But his fondness for the mechanic arts was perhaps his most conspicuous trait, and he became very skillful in some branches connected with machinery. Strangers would some- times vex him with untimely visits, and by unpalatable remarks induce sudden exhibitions of temper. But if one assumed to possess a knowledge of mechanics, he was pretty sure of a cour- teous hearing. He claimed to be the inventor of a most useful
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1848.
part of the ship's steering apparatus ; but some one was before him in securing the patent, and he was subjected to much ex pense in unsuccessful efforts to establish his claims. Rufus Choate was his advocate and counsellor at one time.
In religion he was probably a materialist, most of his life. Perhaps a dozen years before his death he remarked to me that it was " ridiculous for any one to contend that intelligence was not the result of physical organization." But it is understood that he subsequently abandoned his old views, and died in the Calvinistic faith. He was eccentric in his habits, and had little regard for personal appearance, oftentimes, especially during the last few years of his life, appearing in a grim and filthy con- dition. He was remarkable, even in old age, for power of phy- sical endurance. Many a time has he walked to Boston, on a winter evening, attended a lecture, and walked home after it had closed, making a distance, in all, of full twenty miles, most likely with no thicker covering to his head than a dilapidated straw hat and upon his feet coarse shoes and no stockings. He suffered much from disease during his few last years. And there, in his forlorn habitation, without the sympathy of friends or the common endearments of home, in solitude and distress, his last days were passed.
Mr. Gray, at the time of his decease, possessed property to the amount of about $4.000. He died intestate, and his debts were not large ; a considerable portion, therefore, went into the treasury of the commonwealth. His savings do not appear, however, to have accumulated from a miserly disposition, but rather from habits of industry and a naturally frugal turn, for the administrator informed me that from the appearance of things he could hardly have taken sufficient interest in his pe- cuniary affairs to have known what he did possess. In some instances the evidences of his money deposits were found thrown among waste paper.
The death of the hermit was noticed in the newspapers, throughout the country, and several persons appeared, claiming to be heirs; but they failed to substantiate their claims. On the 16th of January, 1861, George Gray and William Gray peti- tioned the legislature to grant to them the proceeds of the hermit's estate in the treasury. The petitioners represented that the hermit was a natural son of William Gray, of Oxgang, Dunbarton county, Scotland, of whom they were legitimate grandchildren. They did not assume any legal right to the money, but in consideration of the fact that they would have been entitled as heirs, had the hermit been legitimate, hoped the legislature would favorably regard their prayer. The peti- tion was referred to the committee on claims, but the result was not favorable to the petitioners.
421
ANNALS OF LYNN -- 1848.
During the month of May, some two hundred dwellings were in process of erection or enlargement in different parts of Lynn.
On Saturday morning, 6 May, during a thunder shower, the safe in the ticket office of the Central Depot was blown open and robbed of about forty dollars. The thief was discovered and suffered imprisonment.
On Sunday, 11 June, a party of young men went down Sau- gus river, for recreation, partaking of clams and other refresh- ments. On their way back, William Austin, one of the number, was suddenly taken ill, and died before a physician could be summoned.
Independence was this year celebrated in Lynn by the friends of temperance. In the evening there was a display of fireworks, at High Rock, and a great crowd of spectators.
The second post-office in Lynnfield was established, 1 August, in the centre village.
At about four o'clock on Sunday morning, 6 August, the house and barn of Samuel Parrott, on North Bend, were entirely destroyed by fire. Loss, about $3.500. Two cows and a calf perished in the flames.
An unusually fatal epidemic prevailed in September. There were seven funerals in town on the 17th. And on the next Sunday Rev. Dr. Cooke, of the First Church, preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion.
The Agricultural Society of Essex County, for the third suc- cessive year held their annual exhibition in Lynn. The day was pleasant and great numbers attended. The address was delivered by Gen. Josiah Newhall, of Lynnfield. Hon. Daniel Webster was present. The evening levee was in Exchange Hall. A few rockets were let off on the Common, at night, which so frightened some of the cattle that they broke from their enclosures and fled. Three young cows, brought by David S. Caldwell, of Byfield, were found, about midnight, at the rail- road depot, quietly reposing beside the same car in which they had been brought.
In October, the house of Daniel Kidder, in Saugus, near the Newburyport Turnpike, was burned. Loss $2.000. The fire was occasioned by children playing with matches in the garret.
On Friday afternoon, 29 December, the new grammar school- house on the westerly side of Franklin street, was dedicated. Though of wood, it was at the time considered a fine building.
The carriage road along the harbor side of Long Beach was built this year by Dennison W. Goldthwaite, under the super- intendence of Alonzo Lewis. It cost $1.771.25. The town appropriated $1.000 and the people at Nahant, resident and non-resident, subscribed $1.225. A part of the town appropri- ation was not used.
J2
422
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1849.
Lynn Common was fenced this year. The whole cost of the fencing fell a trifle short of $2.500. To the exertions of the ladies the town was in a great measure indebted for the im- provement. On the 28th, 29th, and 30th days of September, they held a great fair at Exchange Hall, and were so successful as to realize $1.636, including $245 previously obtained by subscrip- tion. Other sums were subsequently subscribed, and the town made an appropriation, which enabled the committee promptly to complete the work. Down to this time the Common had remained an open area. Most of it was used as a public ground from the earliest times, military trainings and public parades and exhibitions being held there. In some portions the surface remained quite uneven as late as 1830; there were hollows and risings, muddy places and gravelly shelves. The travel flowed partly along the sides, where North and South Common streets now are, and partly along a road which ran, with divers interruptions, along the centre. Just east of where the pond now is, stood a dwelling-house, with out-buildings and a small orchard. And a little farther east stood the gun-house and town-house. At the eastern extremity was a little district school-house, and at the western another. Almost exactly op- posite where Whiting street opens, was the famous Old Tunnel meeting-house ; and so few were the buildings, for most of the distance, between the middle of the Common and the sea, even down to the time of the disappearance of that sacred edifice, that people in passing up and down had pleasant views of the water. Many a time, when a boy, on my way to and from meeting, have I watched the vessels. In 1827 the old meeting- house was removed; and in the course of about half a dozen years thereafter the whole extent was freed from the architec- tural encumbrances. It was then 'ploughed up, the circular pond formed, the hollows filled, and North and South Com- mon streets graded. Since the fence was built the city has made a number of small appropriations for improvements; the gravel walks have been formed, and numerous trees planted. At the time the Common was fenced there were three hundred and forty-seven trees upon it, including those within the rail- ing and along the side-walks.
1849.
On Wednesday afternoon, 3 January, the new grammar school- house, on the east side of Centre street was dedicated. This and the one built at the same time, on Franklin street, and ded- icated 29 December, 1848, were the best ever built in Lynn, up to this time. They cost about $5.000, each.
On Wednesday, 31 January, the body of a man about fifty years of age, who had been frozen to death, was found on Tower
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1849.
Hill, near the aims-house. It was supposed that he froze the night before, which was intensely cold, while in a condition of helpless intoxication.
A small building near High Rock, used as a shoemakers' shop, was burned on Sunday evening, 25 March. The building was an interesting relic, having been the belfry of the Old Tunnel meeting-house. The spaces being boarded up, it furnished a comfortable though not very capacious shop.
The Lynn Police Court was established this year. It became a court of record, in the legal sense, 1 January, 1862.
The Laighton Bank commenced business, 2 August.
A national fast was appointed for the 3d of August, on account of the threatened prevalence of the Asiatic cholera. The day was well observed at Lynn. About a dozen cases of the disease appeared in our alms-house, ten of which proved fatal. A few other cases occurred in different parts of the town. But the excitement was not to be compared with that of 1832, when the disease first reached America. Lynn, at that time, partook largely of the general alarm, though the pestilence did not then visit her.
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