USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 42
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 42
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 42
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 42
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 42
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On Saturday, September 3d, the first newspaper printed in Lynn was published by Charles Frederic Lummus, with the title of Lynn Weekly Mirror.
A comet was visible in October, on the right of the Pleiades, with a train about six degrees in length.
1826.
The coldest day this winter, was February 1, when the ther- mometer was sixteen degrees below zero.
A schooner, loaded with six hundred bushels of corn, struck on a rock off the mouth of Saugus river, on the 12th of April, and sunk.
The festival of St. John, June 24, was celebrated at Lynn, by Mount Carmel Lodge, and five other lodges of free masons. The address was delivered by Hon. Caleb Cushing, of Newburyport.
The Lynn Institution for Savings was incorporated on the 20th of June.
[A temperance meeting was held at the First Methodist meet- ing-house, on the evening of August 12. A hundred and thirty members were added to the society, which before numbered seventy-one. The object of the society was "the suppression of intemperance and its kindred vices."]
The Quaker meeting-house, in Boston, with the burial ground adjoining, having been long disused, and few or none of the society remaining in the city, it was thought best to remove the bones. The remains of one hundred and nine persons were taken up and removed to the Quaker burial ground at Lynn. Mr. Joseph Hussey, who had two sisters buried at Boston, was unwilling that they should be removed with the rest, and caused their remains, so dear to his memory, to be deposited in the cemetery of King's Chapel.
1827.
On the 11th of April, the First Congregational meeting-house [the Old Tunnel] was removed from the centre of the Common to the corner of Commercial street. Its form was changed, a new steeple added, and it was dedicated on the 17th of October. [It would perhaps be more correct to say that the old house was demolished and a new one built, in which a portion of the
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old materials were used; the new erection bearing no resem- blance to the old, either inside or out. The Second Universalist Society now occupy the house.]
On the 30th of April, Mr. Paul Newhall was drowned from a fishing boat, at Swampscot, in attempting to pass within Dread Ledge. His body was found, uninjured, thirty-nine days after; having, it was said, been caused to rise by heavy thunder, which agitated the water.
On the night of Thursday, May 10th, a schooner from Kenne- beck, loaded with hay and wood, was driven by a storm upon Lynn Beach, and dismasted.
The anniversary of Independence was this year celebrated at Woodend. In the procession were thirteen misses, dressed in white, wearing chaplets of roses, representing the thirteen original states, and eleven younger misses, representing the new states. They recited a responsive chorus, written for the occasion, and an oration was delivered by the author of this history.
On Tuesday evening, August 28th, a most beautiful pageant was displayed in the heavens. During the first part of the evening, the northern lights were uncommonly luminous ; and at half past nine, a broad and brilliant arch was formed, which spanned the entire heavens, from east to west. No one who did not behold it, can easily imagine its splendor and sublimity. [It was like a splendid rainbow, with the exception of the pris- matic colors ; and was so transparent that stars were clearly discernible. through it. It shot up in a stream of white light from the western horizon and extended to the eastern.]
On several evenings in September, the northern lights were exceedingly luminous, sometimes so bright as to cast shadows.
In the month of November were several great and drifting snow storms, and the weather was colder than had been known at that season for many years. It was so cold that it froze a large water cistern solid, and burst it.
1828.
On the 2d of May, a whale was cast ashore at Whale Beach, Swampscot, measuring sixty feet in length, and twenty-five barrels of oil were extracted from it.
An oration was delivered, on the 4th of July, by Rev. James Diman Green. His connection with the Unitarian Society, was ; dissolved, at his request, on the 4th of August.
[The Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized this year - Dr. James Gardner, president, and Benjamin Massay, secretary.]
Flora, a black woman, died on the 1st of October, aged one hundred and thirteen years. She was born in Africa, and re-
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lated many interesting anecdotes of her country. Her father was one of the chiefs, and when he died they built a house over him, as they considered it an indignity to suffer the rain to fall on his grave. One day a party of slave dealers came and set fire to their happy and peaceful village. Her mother was unable to run so fast as the rest, and as Flora was unwilling to escape without her, she remained and was taken. She had two hus- bands and five children in Africa, and three husbands and five children in America. She was a sensible and purely pious woman, and was greatly respected.
In a storm, on the 22d of November, a schooner, belonging to Freeport, was cast upon the Lobster Rocks. The crew, with a lady passenger, immediately left the vessel, which was found in the morning, drifted upon Chelsea Beach.
The Lynn Lyceum was established, 23 December.
1829.
One of the most beautiful appearances of nature was presented on the morning of Saturday, the 10th of January. A heavy mist had fallen on the preceding evening, and when the sun rose, the whole expanse of hill and plain displayed the most enchanting and dazzling prospect of glittering frost. The tall and branching trees were bent, by the weight of ice, into grace- ful arches, and resembled magnificent chandeliers, glittering with burnished silver. As far as the eye could reach, all was one resplendent surface of polished ice; and in some places, the trees which stood in colonnades, were bent till their tops touched together, and formed long arcades of crystal, decorated with brilliant pearls, and sparkling with diamonds. But the scene in the open village, although so highly beautiful was far exceeded by the magnificent lustre of the woods. The majes- tic hemlocks bent their heavy branches to the ground, loaded as with a weight of gold, and formed delightful bowers, sparkling with gems, and illuminated with colored light. The evergreen cedars were covered with crystal gold, and glowed with emeralds of the deepest green. The silver tops of the graceful birches crossed each other, like the gothic arches of some splendid temple; while the slender shafts, and the glittering rocks, re- sembled columns, and altars, and thrones; and the precipitous cliffs looked down, like towers and battlements of silver; and far above all, the tall pines glittered in the frosty air, like the spires of a thousand cathedrals, overlaid with transparent gold, and burnished by the cloudless sun. This beautiful and sur- prising exhibition continued undisturbed for two whole days. On the third morning, the warm fingers of Aurora found the frozen chords which upheld the glittering show. They severed at the touch - and from lofty spire and stately elm, came show-
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ering gems and pearls, that tinkled as they bounded on the crystal plain. The ice, which had confined the mighty arms of aged forest trees, came crashing down, breaking the frosted shrubs beneath, and sending through the woods a mingled sound, like falling towers, and the far dash of waters. The admirer of the works of nature, who, during the continuance of this beautiful scene, was in the majestic woods, will never forget their indescribable splendor, or doubt the power and skill of Him, who, with such slight means as the twilight vapor and the midnight mist, can form an arch of fire in heaven, or create an exhibition of glory and grandeur on earth, so far surpassing the utmost beauty of the works of man.
[On this inspiring occasion Mr. Lewis produced the poem which has generally been considered the most beautiful of his productions. It first appeared, I think, in the Token, one of those elegant gift volumes so fashionable at this period. And surely if he had never written any thing else, this would have been sufficient to seal him as a poet. Its insertion here seems appropriate :] 1 7 THE FROSTED TREES. JANUARY 10, 1829.
What strange enchantment meets my view, So wondrous bright and fair ? Has heaven poured out its silver dew On the rejoicing air ? Or am I borne to regions new, To see the glories there ?
Last eve, when sunset filled the sky With wreaths of golden light, The trees sent up their arms on high, All leafless to the sight, And sleepy mists came down to lie On the dark breast of night.
But now the scene is changed, and all Is fancifully new ;
The trees, last eve so straight and tall, Are bending on the view,
And streams of living daylight fall The silvery arches through. -
The boughs are strung with glittering pearls, As dew-drops bright and bland; And there they gleam in silvery curls, Like gems of Samarcand ; Seeming in bright and dazzling whirls, The work of seraph's hand.
Each branch is bending with the weight, Which makes it nod and swerve, As if some viewless angel sate Upon its graceful curve, Causing its heart to glow elate, And strain each secret nerve.
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It seems as if some robe of God Had been spread out below ; As if His hand had stretched abroad, Where midnight breezes go : To make the mind of nature awed With His most glorious show.
In the snow storm on the 6th of February, a woman perished on Farrington's Hill, on the Turnpike, one mile eastward of the Lynn Hotel. Another great storm commenced on the 20th, when several vessels belonging to Swampscot, were driven out to sea. One of them remained five days, and went on shore at Chatham, where the crew were much frozen.
On the night of the 5th of March, a schooner, loaded with coffee, struck on Shag Rocks, on the south side of Nahant, and was dashed entirely to pieces. No traces of the crew were found, and it is probable that they all perished.
Great excitement was occasioned this year in Lynn, as it had been in many other towns and cities for some years previous, on the subject of Freemasonry. On the 1st of April, Mr. Jacob ยท Allen, of Braintree, gave an exhibition of some of the alleged mysteries of that institution, at Liberty Hall, corner of Essex and Market streets; and on the 6th, the inhabitants, in town meeting, voted, that they regarded Freemasonry "as a great moral evil," and its existence "as being dangerous to all free governments," and gave Mr. Allen the use of the Town Hall to continue his exhibitions. [The nature and tendency of the oaths taken on admission to the different masonic degrees were soon vehemently discussed in the community at large, and the principles of the institution and its value freely canvassed, it being generally conceded that the veil had been rent from its privacy. Anti-masonry presently formed an active element in politics, and its influence began seriously to be felt. We had here an anti-masonic newspaper - the Lynn Record - and in other places similar journals, conducted with zeal and ability, sprang up. In Lynn, for several years, the anti-masonic party were in complete ascendancy, and managed things as they thought best. The battle against the institution continued to rage till in some states extra-judicial oaths were prohibited under severe penalties. Many lodges surrendered their charters, and then the excitement began to decline. Soon after, how- ever, other secret societies - the Odd Fellows' for instance - claiming to be free from the objectionable features of Free- masonry, were established. And, finally, after a disturbed sleep of about twenty years, the ancient institution began to arouse and assert itself with renewed vigor.]
Rev. David Hatch Barlow was ordained minister of the Uni- tarian Society, on the 9th of December.
The canker worms, for seven years, have been making great
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ravages among the fruit trees. Many orchards have borne but little fruit during that time, and the leaves and blossoms have been so thoroughly devoured, that the trees have appeared as if scorched by fire.
In a very great thunder shower, on the 30th of July, a barn on Nahant, belonging to Stephen Codman, Esq., was struck by lightning, and Mr. William Hogan, a carpenter, was killed.
In September, a stone beacon, twenty feet in height, was erected on the outer cliff of Dread Ledge, by order of the United States government, at an expense of one thousand dollars. It was thrown down by a storm, on the 31st of October.
The first complete Map of Lynn was made this year, from a particular survey, by Alonzo Lewis. [And the first numbers of the first edition of Mr. Lewis's history were published.
[The manufacture of flannel was commenced at Saugus, this year, by Brierly and Whitehead. In a few years it grew to be a large and profitable business.]
1830. )
The publication of the second newspaper, entitled the Lynn Record, was begun, January 23, by Alonzo Lewis. [Mr. Lewis's connection with this paper ceased with the sixth number. It then became the organ of the anti-masonic party, which soon attained supremacy in municipal affairs, and held it for several years. The Record was discontinued in 1841.
[During January, not a single death occurred in the whole population of 8.000 in Lynn, Lynnfield, and Saugus.]
One of the highest tides ever known happened on the 26th of March. It rose about five feet higher than common high tides, passing entirely over the Long Beach, and making Na- hant an island. It also flowed over the southern part of Market street, and passing up the mill brook, swept off a quantity of wood from a house in Bridge street.
On the 12th of July, Mr. Joseph Blaney, aged 52, went out in a fishing boat at Swampscot, when a shark overset his boat and killed him. [This shark must have been extremely ferocious. Mr. Blaney went out into the bay in one of the large Swamps- cot boats, which he left, and in a small boat rowed away, alone, to fish. After some hours he was seen to wave his hat for assistance. Another boat immediately started toward him, and presently the fish was seen to slide off, Mr. Blaney still remain- ing in his boat. But the shark renewed the attack, carrying down the boat, before the other could arrive. It came to the surface bottom up, and the unfortunate man was no more seen.]
The meeting-house of the Third Methodist Society, built this year, in South street, was dedicated on the 3d of August. The first minister was Rev. Rufus Spaulding.
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ANNALS OF LYNN-1831.
A great tempest of rain and wind, on the 26th of August, occasioned very great damage to the corn and fruit trees.
Donald MacDonald, a native of Inverness, in Scotland, died in the Lynn almshouse, on the 4th of October, aged 108 years. He was in the battle of Quebec, when Wolfe fell, and was one of the few whom Washington conducted from the forest of blood when Braddock was killed by the Indians.
Vegetation this year was abundant; English hay was eight dollars a ton; and more apples were gathered than in all the seven previous years.
Another great storm tide, on the 29th of November, came in high and furious, doing great damage to the Long Beach, by sweeping down the ridge and throwing it into the harbor.
On Wednesday, December 1st, there were two shocks of an earthquake, about eight o'clock in the evening.
On the morning of the 4th, half an hour after midnight, a meteor, exceedingly brilliant, passed south of the moon, which was then shining near the meridian.
The northern lights made an uncommonly rich display on the evening of the 11th, assuming the most fanciful forms, changing into the appearance of tall spires, towers, arches, and warriors armed with long spears.
1831.
Dr. Aaron Lummus died on the 5th of January, aged 74. He resided in Lynn nearly fifty years, and was one of the most popular physicians in the town. He married Eunice Coffin, in 1786. In 1823 and 1824, he was a senator of Essex county. [Dr. Lummus had seven sons and three daughters, viz: Clarissa, Hannah, John, Aaron, Edward A., George, Elizabeth C., Samuel, Charles F., and Thomas J.
[The Essex Democrat, the third Lynn newspaper, was com- menced this year, by Benjamin Mudge. It was published a year or two, and then the materials were moved to Salem and used on the Commercial Advertiser.]
A great storm commenced on the 15th of January, in which a schooner, belonging to Stephen Smith, was torn from her fastenings at his wharf, and dashed to pieces against the em- bankment on Deer Island, throwing down about sixty feet of the new granite wall, recently built by the United States gov- ernment.
In August, the sun and the atmosphere, for many days, pre- sented a smoky appearance, of a greenish blue color. The same phenomenon was noticed by M. Arago, the French astronomer, at Paris. [It was also observed in other parts of Europe. It was not damp, like fog, and was entirely wanting in some of the properties of smoke. In some places it was at times so lumin-
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ous that people were able to read by it, at midnight. I remem- ber it very well, and how much it was remarked and speculated upon here at Lynn. Some time after it had disappeared, an em- inent astronomer of Europe thought he had discovered sufficient evidence to determine that the earth was then enveloped in the tail of a comet. And such an occurrence has now ceased to be alarming, as it is well ascertained to have taken place at other times. The tail of the great comet which appeared in our heavens with such startling suddenness, in 1861, is known to have been in actual contact with the earth, three days before it became visible. See under date 1861.]
On the evening of the 26th of August, the moon rose about fifteen minutes before nine; and half an hour after, there was a shower in the northwest, and on the cloud a perfect and beau- tiful lunar rainbow was depicted, of a yellowish color.
This year the small-pox made its appearance in Chesnut street, Woodend. The infected were promptly removed, and the disease soon disappeared. One death occurred.
Another beacon was erected on Dread Ledge, at Swampscot- an obelisk of granite, twenty-five feet in height, and three feet square at the base.
On the 22d of November. there was a singularly mingled tempest, very violent, for an hour in the morning, with rain, hail, snow, thunder and lightning, a strong east wind, and a high tide. The lightning struck at Breed's End, and a vessel went ashore on Phillips's Beach, and another on Nahant Beach.
Dr. James Gardner died 26 December, aged 69 years. He was born at Woburn, in 1762, entered the army of the Revolu- tion at an early age, and on the return of peace devoted himself to study, and graduated at Harvard, in 1788. He came to Lynn in 1792, and commenced the practice of medicine. The next year he married Susanna, daughter of Dr. John Flagg. He was a skillful and popular physician, and possessed the manners of a gentleman. [His residence was on the south side of Bos- ton street, near Bridge ; and he was the father of a very respect- able family.]
This year Mr. John Alley enclosed about twenty acres of water, by a dam from his wharf to the marsh, [near the foot of Pleasant street,] thus making a pond, on which he built a grist mill, and afterward a fulling mill.
On the last of December, the thermometer was eleven degrees below zero.
1832.
[Col. James Robinson died on Saturday, 21 January, aged 75. He was the first postmaster of Lynn - appointed in 1795- and for many years a most useful citizen. For a long time he H2
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resided in the ancient mansion, still standing on the northeast corner of Boston and Federal streets. And in a little shop near by, the post-office was kept. He was father of a large and respectable family. After marrying his second wife, he removed to Boston and there lived for a number of years. The latter part of his life was passed in reduced circumstances, and mental obscurity. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and in his last years received comforts from a small pension. His first wife was a daughter of James Newhall, known as 'Squire Jim, and his children by her were, James, Lydia, Abigail, John, Harriet, Lois, Janet, George, Charles, Horatio.
[The Weekly Messenger, the fourth newspaper established in Lynn, was commenced April 14, by James R. Newhall. It was published on Saturdays, and was as large and well printed as any newspaper ever printed in Lynn, up to that period. The publishing business was not then profitable here; nor was it for many years after, if, indeed, it has ever. been. It is a kind of business that naturally concentrates in the larger cities ; and Lynn is too near Boston to afford any great encouragement to printers.]
The Lynn Anti-Slavery society was formed on the 25th of April.
Rev. Otis Rockwood was dismissed from the pastoral charge of the First Congregational Church, on the 12th of May. Rev. David Peabody was ordained pastor of the same church on the 15th of November.
[The Lynn Mechanics Fire and Marine Insurance Company was incorporated this year. Also Nahant Bank, which failed in 1836.
[Eight and a half inches of rain fell in May, and the summer was cold.]
The Tuscan Chapel at Nahant was erected by subscriptions made by gentlemen of Boston. Religious services are held in it during the warm and visiting season.
[The first meeting for the preaching of Mormonism, in Lynn, was held in the summer of this year. And for the space of ten years afterward, elders of the faith continued to visit here and hold meetings at intervals. About a dozen converts were made. Several emigrated to Nauvoo, and thence, when the Latter Day Saints, as they styled themselves, were driven from Illinois, journeyed to the Salt Lake. Two or three finally returned, having renounced the faith; and one of them, a female, put forth a book exposing the errors and evil practices of the Saints. Baptism by immersion was administered to a small body of con- verts, by an elder named Freeman Nickerson, near the foot of Market street, in 1841.]
A Whaling Company was formed, and five ships employed,
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three of which were built at Lynn. They harbored in Saugus river, but on the crossing of the rail-road, in 1838, they were removed to Boston. [None of the whale ships were built at Lynn. A ship yard was established in the western part of the town, about this time, but no vessel larger than a schooner was built there.
[This year the great Nullification ferment in South Carolina occurred. Many entertained serious apprehension that it would result in a dissolution of the Union. Indeed the fiery southern sentiment seemed rapidly ripening into a gigantic rebellion. But the energy and unswerving patriotism of General Jackson, who was happily then in the presidential chair, in all human probability saved the country from great disasters. The stern and uncompromising proclamation which he issued on what appeared to be the eve of a terrific political storm, created a profound sensation, and was enthusiastically applauded in every loyal quarter of the Union. The excited southerners at once saw the danger of precipitancy, and discreetly abstained from overt acts. And the danger passed away in harmless dischages of oratory. On the evening of the 25th of December, soon after the reception of the proclamation at Lynn, a meeting of the citizens was held in the Town Hall, composed of the adhe- rents of all parties - of Anti-masons, Democrats, and National Republicans - at which the following preamble and resolutions passed unanimously :
At a time of unprecedented prosperity in agriculture, commerce and manu- factures, in our happy Union, and this Union purchased with a great treasure, and cemented with the blood and tears of our progenitors, and hallowed by our own devout prayers, aspirations, and labors, we, the citizens of Lynn, learn with sorrow that our sister State, South Carolina, once so patriotic, has assumed false principles, and, pretending peace, made warlike preparations to dissolve the Union so dear to the people in most portions of the nation. We cannot consent to the proposition, in fact we do not believe, that any State of the twenty-four States now solemnly united, can withdraw her allegiance to the United States, whenever she may please, or dictate to the Congress of the United States the laws which should be enacted or repealed, any further than the weight of the representatives of such State may prevail in the acts and deliberations of that body.
But since the acts of the State of South Carolina have undertaken to decide the constitutionality of the laws of Congress, and upon the same principle all other laws of the United States, when such decision is wholly confided to, and intrusted in, the Supreme Judicial Court of the Union, by the United States constitution, to which every citizen of the twenty-four United States owes absolute and unqualified allegiance, and since such principles of Nullification and misrule prevail by a majority of the citizens of one State, and are openly approbated, and not reprobated, by some other States, we are alarmed for the safety of the Union, and our own, and in common, for the liberties of the people.
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