USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 50
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 50
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 50
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 50
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, 1629-1864 > Part 50
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
On Tuesday afternoon, 26 November, Phipps Munroe, a mas- ter carpenter, and much respected citizen, aged fifty-one, was instantly killed by a revolving shaft, at the morocco factory of Souther and Blaney, on Market steet. The shaft was making a hundred and eighty revolutions a minute, and it was supposed his clothing was caught, and he dashed against the beams, which were but about fourteen inches above the shaft.
1862.
On Saturday morning, 22 March, the dry goods store of S. J. Weinburg, on Market street, was a good deal damaged by fire.
On Monday morning, 7 April, Sagamore Cottage, which had been the home of Mr. Lewis, for nearly twenty of the last years of his life, was partially burned. It was at the time occupied by Mrs. Lewis and her little boy of four years. They were aroused in time to make their escape, by a dog kept on the premises. Most of the movable property was saved. The building, though much damaged, was soon repaired.
At Pranker's factory, in Saugus, 8 April, a steam copper cyl- inder, weighing about two hundred pounds and being a foot and a half in diameter and four feet in length, used for drying, suddenly burst, while revolving with great rapidity. Mr. Tobin, the man in charge, was thrown some ten feet and considerably injured. The force of the explosion was so great that several large windows were broken, and the iron frame that supported the cylinder was snapped to pieces, and thrown about with great violence.
Capt. Henry Bancroft's barn, in Lynnfield, was burned early on Sunday morning, 4 May, together with his carriage-house and other out buildings. A horse and several cows, were burned. Loss, about $4.000.
On Monday evening, 14 July, a large and enthusiastic war meeting was held at Lyceum Hall. And on the evening of Tuesday, 22 July, another was held on the Common. And on Saturday, 26 July, still another was held on the Common. Sim.
471
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1862.
ilar meetings were likewise held in August. The places of busi- ness were closed at two o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, 26 August, and on each day for the remainder of the week, that the afternoons might be devoted to obtaining recruits.
On the afternoon of 30 July, during a thunder storm, George L. Hanson of Portland street, was seated near a window, in his house, when he was suddenly thrown a distance of nearly ten feet, receiving such a shock as rendered him apparently lifeless. His wife immediately closed his nostrils and breathed into his mouth; other restorative means were applied, and he soon returned to consciousness. It was not known that the lightning struck any where in the vicinity. And Mr. Hanson neither saw lightning nor heard thunder.
On Sunday afternoon, 31 August, an enthusiastic war meeting was held on the Common. Religious services were omitted at all the churches excepting the First Baptist, and the clergy very generally attended and took part in the meeting. The day was pleasant, and a very great crowd assembled, including a body of soldiery. Stirring speeches were made, and national pieces sung and played by the military band. There was like. wise an interspersion of religious exercises. During the latter part of the evening, there was a large gathering in front of the City Hall. And the result of the movements of the day was the securing of a considerable number of enlistments.
On Thursday, 4 September, a grand pic-nic party under the auspices of the Spiritualists, was held at Dungeon Rock. Some two thousand persons of both sexes and all ages were present. There was speaking, music, and dancing. Mediums were in attendance, and divers revelations made. The day was pleas ant, and the proceedings went forward with spirit. No more delightful or romantic place could be found for such a gathering. This was the first of a number of similar assemblages in that attractive locality.
The 8th of October was the warmest October day since 1807, the thermometer reaching ninety degrees, in the shade.
On Sunday afternoon, 19 October, the funerals of two de- ceased soldiers -John C. Dow and Solomon Martin - both victims of the battle of Antietam - took place; that of the first named from the Christian Chapel, on Silsbe street, and that of the last from the Second Universalist meeting-house. They were attended by a large concourse, including the principal city authorities.
The house of William Cheever, in Saugus was burned on the night of 3 November.
The Swampscot Library Association was formed this year.
On the 5th of November, the bodies of two brothers - Charles J. Batchelder and George W. Batchelder. were buried from the
472
ANNALS OF LYNN- 1863.
First Methodist meeting-house. Both were in the service of their country. Charles, who was a lieutenant, died at New Orleans, of fever, and George, who was a captain, was killed at the battle of Antietam. There was a very large attendance, embracing the city authorities and a considerable body of mil- itary ; and the services were peculiarly impressive and affecting. This, and the other military funerals mentioned under this date were the first of a large number, which would be separately noticed did space permit.
There was an extraordinary yield of fruit this year, in this vicinity, and it was more than usually excellent.
During the autumn of this year, a Soldiers' Burial Lot was laid out in Pine Grove Cemetery. The City appropriated five hundred dollars for the object. The lot is on the corner of Lo- cust and Larch avenues, is square, contains three thousand and six hundred square feet, and is surrounded by a border of twelve feet, for trees, shrubs, and flowers.
As evidence of the patriotism of some of our families, it may be mentioned that Otis Newhall, superintendent of Pine Grove Cemetery, and Edmund Waitt, of Strawberry avenue, each had five sons in the war, this year; and John Alley, 4th, had four.
The most atrocious murder ever committed in Lynn was perpetrated early in the evening of 23 December. Nathan Breed, jr., an estimable citizen, aged thirty-eight, who kept a grocery store on Summer street, corner of Orchard Court, was killed by terrible blows from a small axe, inflicted chiefly on the head. The horrid deed was consummated in a most daring and merciless manner. He was in his store, and it was an hour when customers were especially liable to call. The murderer must have watched his opportunity, and done the deed with fearful expedition. The assault was made between six and seven o'clock, and Mr. Breed lingered till three in the morning. He had his senses, and declared that his murderer was a young man named Horace L. Davis, who lived in the neighborhood, and whose age was about seventeen. Davis was arrested and tried for the murder, but the jury could not agree on a verdict, being divided on the question of mental capacity ; but he sub- sequently pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter, and was sentenced to the state prison for twenty years.
1863.
Rev. Charles W. Biddle was installed pastor of the First Uni- versalist Society, on Thursday afternoon, 5 February.
On the morning of 12 February, the Sash and Blind Factory, on Essex street, near the Swampscot line, was destroyed by fire,
The little fishing schooner Flying Dart, of Swampscot, with a crew of twelve men, on the 25th of February brought in 14.000
473
ANNALS OF LYNN- 1863.
pounds of fish, caught by them that day. The fish were readily sold at an average rate of two cents a pound.
There was an interval of severe cold, near the middle of March. On the 14th, the thermometer reached twelve de- grees below zero. The winter had been quite open, hereabout, but it was judged to have been very severe at the north, from the number of arctic birds that visited us. Four large arctic owls were shot during one week, at Nahant and on the beaches, and several eagles appeared on the marshes.
The Kerosine Oil Factory of Berry and Hawkes, on Hawkes's Hill, in East Saugus, was burned, 20 March.
Capt. John B. Hubbard, of Gen. Weitzel's staff, was killed in battle at Port Hudson, in May. He was principal of the Lynn High School at the time of his enlistment. He was a son of a former governor of Maine, a graduate of Bowdoin College, and highly esteemed, while here, as a teacher and a man.
The large steam bakery of Thomas Austin and Company, on Water Hill, was burned on the morning of 29 May.
The Boston and Lynn Horse Rail-road commenced running cars to Chelsea Beach, on the 1st of June.
Extraordinary numbers of caterpillars appeared in the summer of this year. So numerous were they that in many instances trees had to be abandoned to their ravages. Canker worms were also very abundant and destructive.
The barn of Nathan Breed, on Broad street, was burned, June 2, the fire being occasioned by attempts to destroy, by fire, the caterpillars on the fruit trees near by.
Lieut. Col. Charles Redington Mudge was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, 3 July. He was the eldest son of E. R. Mudge, of Swampscot, and twenty-three years of age; was an officer of great promise, and at the time he was killed was in command of the regiment, gallantly leading on a charge. He graduated at Harvard, with the 1860 class.
The church bells were rung, cannon fired, and bonfires lighted, on the 7th of July, in rejoicing over the fall of Vicksburg.
Liberty Hose House, on Willow street, was burned 30 July.
An enthusiastic reception of the Lynn soldiers belonging to the Eighth Regiment, took place on the 30th of July, on the return from their nine months' service. There was a very long procession of military, firemen and citizens ; bells were rung, cannon fired, and welcoming speeches made; many dwellings and public places were decorated ; and a collation was served on the Common.
Thursday, August 6, was observed as a day of national thanks- giving, in view of the successes of our arms.
The dwelling house of Frank Fiske, in Cliftondale, was burned, September 15.
N2*
474
ANNALS OF LYNN- 1864.
1864.
A war meeting was held at Lyceum Hall, on Sunday evening, January 3, which was largely attended and enthusiastic.
Frederic Tudor died at his residence, in Boston, on Saturday afternoon, February 6, aged 80. He was born in Boston, in a house which stood on the site of the present Tudor's Building, in Court street, on the 4th of September, 1783. His grandfather, John Tudor, emigrated from Devonshire, England, to Boston, and his father, William Tudor, was born in Boston, and served during ine Revolution as Judge Advocate General of the army under Washington. Daniel Henchman, who planted the cele- brated old elm on Boston Common, was his maternal ancestor, and perhaps from him he inherited that taste for the culture of trees which is evidenced by the groves now flourishing on Na- hant. And this Daniel Henchman, by the way, was grandfather of Rev. Mr. Henchman who was settled over the Lynn church from 1720 to 1761.
Mr. Tudor married, in 1834, Miss Euphemia Fenno, a native of New York city, and left six children, the eldest of whom was born in 1837, and the youngest in 1854. Their names are as follows : Euphemia, now a naturalized French lady, the Countess Kleezkowska; Frederick ; Delia J .; William ; Eleonora ; Henry.
Mr. Tudor is justly entitled to be called the father of the great New England Ice Trade, which was commenced as early as 1805. In 1834, he sent his first cargo to the East Indies, and soon found himself in a highly lucrative business. He early became charmed by the beauties of Nahant, and in 1825 built his stone cottage and laid out his picturesque grounds there. And he continued, from year to year to reside there during the warm season, and expend large sums in beautifying the peninsula and adding to his possessions. There is unquestionable autho- rity for stating that during the last thirty years of his life he expended not less than $30.000 dollars annually - making $900.000 for that period alone. Previously he had spent large sums in building, improving roads, and planting trees. He was a man of great decision of character, promptness in action, and impatience of interference with his plans. Towards strangers he manifested great courtesy and did much to render their visits to Nahant agreeable. The inhabitants, at their annual town meeting, 12 March, 1864, unanimously adopted resolutions expressive of their sense of loss and appreciation of his worth and generosity.
On the evening of February 8, Henry Neill, aged 49, was killed at the Central Rail-road Station. He jumped from the platform of a car and fell in such a manner that the wheels passed over his neck, nearly severing his head.
475
ANNALS OF LYNN- 1864.
Rev. Parsons Cooke, D. D., minister of the First Church of Lynn, died on Friday afternoon, 12 February. He was born in Hadley, 18 February, 1800, was the son of Solomon Cooke, a respectable farmer, and a descendant from Capt. Haron Cooke, conspicuous among the early settlers of that vicinity.
Mr. Cooke graduated at Williams College, in 1822, and studied theology under Dr. Griffin, president of that institution. In June, 1826, he was installed over the East Evangelical Church in Ware, which was his first settlement. There he remained till April, 1835, and then accepted a call from a society in Ports- mouth, N. H. In the latter place he continued about six months, and in 1836 accepted the call of the church at Lynn, and remained its pastor to the end of his life. On the 5th of June, 1826, he married Hannah Starkweather, who died July 2, 1852, and by whom he had no children. His second wife, whom he married July 20, 1853., was Mary Ann W. Hawley; of Bridge- port, Ct., and by her he had one son, born 27 October, 1855.
Mr. Cooke early displayed a love of controversy, which it may be said grew with his growth and strengthened with his strength; so his life was not distinguished by that pacific course which many believe is most strongly inculcated in the gospel of peace. His mind was of such an order that he rapidly arrived at conclusions, tenaciously held to them, and was not remarkble for his gentle bearing toward those who differed from him. His perceptions were quick, and he had an abundance of natural wit, which, unfortunately, was liable to exhibit itself in the degenerate form of sarcasm. His reasoning powers were evidently good; but yet he possessed such an unaccountable vein of credulity, that their best fruits seemed sometimes never to ripen. A reference to his work entitled "A Century of Puritanism and a Century of its Opposites," will be sufficient to satisfy any one acquainted with our history, of the truth of these remarks. Some of the honest individuals who supplied him with information would, doubtless, have been more guarded in their expressions, had they observed this peculiarity of his mind. But it is difficult not to conclude that others deliberately imposed upon him. It cannot be supposed that he made any of the remarkable statements without a full belief of their truth ; and it is surprising that he forbore the slight examination neces- sary for the detection of some of the more patent errors. He was often boldly charged, in the newspapers, with wilful misrep- resentation ; but I see no necessity for the charge of wilfulness, and apprehend that he was simply ensnared in the way indicated. His style of composition was not what rhetoricians call elegant, but was well adapted to controversial purposes. The sentences were short, direct, and without any waste of words. He evi- dently thought more of what he was saying than how he spoke.
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1864.
Dr. Cooke was a high Calvinist, and often cast a fond look backward, upon the " old paths," sighing that there had been such a general departure from them. He was an industrious and faithful minister, so far as pulpit preparations were con- cerned; but he visited little among the people of his charge. His power and delight lay rather in the use of the pen than in per- sonal intercourse. His ministry here was successful ; his pari- sioners were much attached to him, and regarded him as one of more than ordinary power. And had it not been for his unfortunate disposition to controversy, there is little doubt that his abilities would have commended him to the favorable regard and respect of the theological world in general. It may readily be admitted that he thought it a duty to always have his pungent pen ready dipped for the defence of the truth and the demolish- ing of error, as he deemed them; but the way in which things are attempted often has great influence on the result. The severity with which he speaks, in his "Centuries," of some of his predecessors in the pastorate of the First Church, and the little respect he seems to have entertained for their memories, lead to the conclusion that he did not consider that church one that had been conspicuously blessed in her ministry. With some of his estimates I cannot agree, and think that in other parts of this volume may be found such authenticated state- ments as will show that he labored under mistakes. And it is, further, a matter of regret that he should have taken occasion to give what is believed to be an undeservedly dark coloring to the morals, intelligence, and manners of the people of Lynn.
The pulpit oratory of Mr. Cooke was not pleasing to those unaccustomed to it; the delivery was rapid, in a high tone, and with very little intonation ; but his appearance was dignified. He was not an adept in music, and took no part in the choral portion of the service. In person he was commanding, being considerably above the ordinary stature, but symmetrical. His habits were sedentary, and in part, no doubt, the occasion of his last protracted and painful sickness. He suffered greatly for two years, but with the resignation that always character- izes the good man. Immediately before his death, in a still watchful anxiety for the souls of his charge, he dictated, and with a tremulous hand signed, the following- the ever-living testimony of a dying Christian.
LYNN, FEB. 8TH, 1864.
As I am about to close my ministry and my life, I have one thing to say to my people - That all the support that I find in a dying hour, are the doctrines of grace I have preached, which centre in Jesus Christ and him crucified, and are to my heart a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief; and that these I would commend to the acceptance of all, with my dying breath.
PARSONS COOKE.
477
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1864.
The publications of Mr. Cooke were numerous. The titles of his books, in brief, may be given as follows.
1. Modern Universalism Exposed.
2.
A History of German Anabaptism.
3. The Divine Law of Beneficence.
4. Recollections of Dr. Griffin.
5. A Century of Puritanism and a Century of its Opposites.
The foregoing were all in book form, and besides them he published some twenty pamphlets - sermons, addresses, tracts, &c. And in speaking of his industry with the pen it should likewise be mentioned that for about twenty years he was one of the regular editors of the Puritan newspaper, which publi- cation was commenced at Lynn and afterward removed to Bos- ton. See under date 1840.
Mr. Cooke was the first minister who died while settled over the First Church, for a little more than a century, Mr. Hench- man, who died in 1761, having been the last one before him who died in the pastorate. And it may be noted as a coincidence that Mr. Henchman was born in the first year of century 1700, as Mr. Cooke was in the first year of century 1800; and they attained very near the same age.
A great easterly storm commenced on the 29th of March, and continued till the 2d of April. The wind blew with great vio- lence, and the sea came in furiously. The beacon on Dread Ledge, an obelisk of granite, twenty-five feet in height and three feet square at the base, was broken off near the centre.
The fine summer residence of Benjamin T. Reed, at Red Rock, was destroyed by fire on the night of April 8.
The school-house on Howard street was destroyed by fire on the morning of June 8.
Saturday, June 25, was the warmest day in Lynn, of which there is any record. The thermometer reached a hundred and four degrees in the most shady places. At five o'clock in the afternoon it stood above a hundred. The next day, Sunday, was nearly as warm. The same remarkable degree of heat was experienced in other parts of New England.
The extensive soap manufacturing establishment of George E. Emery, on Chesnut street, near Gravesend village was de- stroyed by fire on the night of June 26.
A severe drought prevailed this summer, and destructive fires took place in the woods in the latter part of July.
A threatening fire occurred on Federal Square, near Water Hill, on the afternoon of July 22. It commenced in the bakery of Isaac H. Tarbox, consumed four frame buildings and injured several others.
The first steam fire engine owned by the city arrived in town on the 11th of August. It received the name "City of Lynn."
478
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1864.
Mackerel appeared on the coast, in great abundance, during the early part of the autumn. The crew of the little fishing schooner Minnehaha, of Swampscot, on the 18th of September, off Boon Island, caught three hundred and fifty barrels. And the crew of the Flying Dart, of the same place, at another point, took a hundred and thirty barrels in some four hours.
At about five o'clock on the morning of Thursday, October 6, the City Hall, on South Common street, head of Blossom, was discovered to be on fire, and was soon destroyed. It was of wood, and not a very comely structure. A good representa- tion of it may be found on page 591, accompanied by a brief historical sketch. In the northeast corner of the building, on the first floor, was the Lock-up, a place for the temporary con- finement of offenders, and on the same floor were the City Clerk's office, the Mayor and Aldermen's room, and the offices of the Police Justice and City Marshal. On the upper floor were the Police Court room, the office of the Clerk of the Police Court, and the Common Council room. In the Lock-up an unfortunate man, named Joseph Bond, aged about forty years, was confined, and being unable to extricate himself and no help seasonably arriving, though his shrieks were heard, he was burned to death. It appeared that he was a man of generally correct habits, but on the occasion of his arrest had from some cause become turbulent.
On Thursday evening, October 27, the Female Benevolent Society celebrated their fiftieth anniversary, by a gathering and an entertainment at Armory Hall. This society was formed in 1814, by benevolent ladies belonging to the different religious societies, and has ever continued to flourish, dispensing, in an unostentatious way, blessings to thousands.
On the 2d of November the two Lynn companies of the Eighth Regiment returned from three months' service, and were welcomed by a public parade and an entertainment; in the former of which the fire department joined, and in the latter of which the good old Yankee dish of baked beans held a prom- inent position.
There was no Indian summer this year; a thing hardly ever known within the memory of man.
On the 10th of December the schooner Lion, from Rockland, Me., loaded with granite, was wrecked off Long Beach, and all on board-six in number-perished. A violent storm prevailed, and it was very cold. Though the cries of the hapless mariners were heard upon the Beach, they could not be rescued.
The Franklin Trotting Park Hotel, in Saugus, (Cliftondale,) was, with its contents, destroyed by fire, on the night of Dec. 19.
And here, with the year 1864, we close our Chapter of Annals, embracing the record of two hundred and thirty-five years.
Wonychus Lake
Floating
Bridge
MYRTLE ST
N PEDEAAL ST.
STREET
TURNPIKE
WATER HILL ST
57.
fullers Field
FEDERAL
CENTHEST
MALL
Rocks Pasture
Corn Field
Blueberry
Factura
High Rosk
COLLINS
essex
STREET
Prstunt
Brick
ST.
Tarde
Silsbee' Field
Estes
form
PLEASANT
BROAD ST.
Flats
Farm
Land
Farm Land
WAHANT
LYNN
HARBOR
Acd Rock ATLANTIC OCEAN. Lyne Beach
MINIATURE TOWN MAP.
. THE above is a map of Lynn as it was at the time of the opening of the Eastern Railroad, in 1838. (See page 404.) A marked change soon followed the opening of the road. The principal depot being established where it now is, in Central square, business rapidly tended thitherward from the westerly sections where it had especially been located from early times.
Nahant Beuch
John's Peril
North Spring
Black Mine
NAHANT By Alonzo Lewis .
Stony Beach
Spouting Horn
Black Rock
School
Suunder's Ledge
Church
Johnson's Beach
Whitney
Bass Beach
Castle Rock Canoe Beach Hotel
East Point
West Cliff
Nipper Stage
Bass Rock
Josephs Beach
Natural Bridge Pulpit Rock Sappho's Rock
Reed Cove
Steamboat Wharf
Bathing Beach
Lewis Beach
Swallows Cave
Shag Rocks
Bass Point
Bailey's Hill
Atlantic 0
Pea Istund
Dottedlines-Roads. Finelines-Sandybeaches, Blacklines-Rockycliffs.
MINIATURE MAP OF NAHANT.
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