USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 55
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 55
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 55
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 55
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 55
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It was on the 20th of April, 1838, at the age of thirty-seven, that Mr. Lummus closed his life. He had marked singularities
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of character, but always proved so fast a friend and agreeable companion that he was universally beloved. And he had such an honesty of purpose, and strong desire to " do a little good in the world," as he expressed it, that his memory is more worthy of being cherished than many of higher pretensions and greater renown.
ELIJAH DOWNING. - 1777-183
Mr. Downing was for many years a highly respected citizen, unassuming in manners, and of great moral worth. He was one of the early Methodists, was ordained a Deacon, and did much to propagate the faith in this vicinity. He held responsible town offices, and as an acting magistrate his services were much in requisition. A remarkably retentive memory added greatly to his readiness and success. He was postmaster, in 1807.
Mr. Downing was born in Lynn, in 1777, and was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Mary Breed, whom he married 7 April, 1799, and his children were, Mary, Eliza, Eliza again, Mary again, a third Mary, Elijah, Elijah H., and Joshua W. Only the two last survived him; the latter, but a short time. His wife Mary died 17 November, 1813, and he married Clarissa Jacob, his second wife, 5 July, 1814. By her he had no children. He died on the 14th of August, 1838. He was a cabinet-maker, and lived on North Common street, corner of Park. His sons Elijah H. and Joshua W. were liberally educated, and both became Methodist ministers ; Elijah, however, was afterward received into the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and removed to the south.
EBENEZER BREED. - 1765-1839.
Mr. Breed closed his strangely eventful life in Lynn alms- house, on the 23d of December, 1839, at the age of seventy-four years. He had been a pauper there for many years, and his life, which opened with unusual promise, closed in misery and degradation. Lynn is greatly indebted to him as one of the most efficient laborers in the establishment of that business
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which has so enriched her, and on which her prosperity con- tinues to rest. He was a native of the town, but while quite a young man removed to Philadelphia, where, in a very short period, by his talents, diligence, and correct deportment, he won the favorable notice of some of the most eminent business men. One or two natives of Lynn were then in Philadelphia, largely engaged in business, and occupying high social positions. Among them was Stephen Collins, a Quaker, who readily ex- tended a helping hand to Mr. Breed, who was also a Quaker. And Philadelphia was at that time, as is well known, a sort of Quaker paradise. Every thing seemed to operate favorably, and in a short time he found himself in a position prosperous and influential.
In 1792 he visited Europe, for business purposes, and while there did not fail to attempt something for the benefit of his native country, which having just achieved her political inde- pendence, was struggling to place herself in a position to supply her own needs in those departments of the great economy of life, necessary for an independent nation. Among other things he set about introducing the morocco manufacture into America. And for his success, the National Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, after his return, awarded him a vote of thanks. He appointed an agent at Lynn, to sell to the shoe manufactur- ers the fashionable cloth stuffs, such as were used in the best manufactures of France and England. Amos Rhodes, who built the house on the east side of Federal street, next south of the mill brook, was his agent, and is said to have become rich on the commissions. He also sent over some accomplished work- men to instruct the operatives here in the elegancies of the art. His first object seemed to be to determine that as elegant and substantial shoes could be made here as in Europe; after which another step was to be taken.
Soon after the Revolution, shoes imported from France and England were sold at such a cheap rate that there was but poor encouragement for the manufacturer at home. The trade at Lynn was languishing, and the most energetic were disheart- ened. At this juncture, Mr. Collins, Mr. Breed, and a few others joined forces in the endeavor to induce Congress to impose such a duty on imported shoes as would protect the home man-
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ufacturers. Congress was at that time holding its sessions in Philadelphia, and a good opportunity was afforded for "log rolling,"-to use an expressive modern term-which even Qua- kers may not always disdain. Among the means resorted to for the furtherance of their end was a dinner party, for they were shrewd enough to know that an appeal to the stomach is often effectual when one to the head is powerless. The party was held at the house of Friend Collins. Sundry members of Congress were present and sundry facinating ladies ; for female charms are another thing that even Quakers do not despise ; particularly in a case like that before us, where a valuable end is to be answered. The celebrated Dolly Payne, who afterward became the wife of Madison was of the party, as well as Madison himself, who was at the time an influential member of Congress. Suffice it to say, a very satisfactory tariff act was passed, and Lynn immediately commenced her upward career, much to the gratification of Mr. Breed and her other dutiful sons then abroad.
In various other ways did Mr. Breed, while in prosperity, exert himself for the benefit of his native place. The post-office was established here, in 1793, through his exertions ; and being on a social footing with many prominent individuals in various parts of the country, he was able, in a quiet way, to do many things to promote her interests, of which few were ever directly informed, for he does not appear to have been one of those given to boasting of his meritorious acts.
But the smiles of fortune were withdrawn, while he was yet. in the vigor of manhood. There is some doubt as to the precise cause of his downward course. In his reduced condition he was often in a mood to converse with those in whom he con- fided, on the occasion of his calamities and sorrows. And with tears in his eyes he has reiterated to me that a severe disap- pointment in a fondly expected matrimonial connection, induced him to resort to the wine cup for relief-that he became wed- ded to the destroyer instead of the fair object of his nobler and purer affections, and was thus ruined. But some of his friends had another version, which was, that while in Europe he was brought into association with the fashionable and gay ; a class, at that period, almost universally derelict in morals, and proud R2*
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of lavish expenditure ; and that in their society he contracted such habits as unfitted him for the rectified society of his native land. In short it was asserted that he returned an intemperate, immoral man; and that the refined and wealthy lady to whom he was affianced, in sorrow rejected him, and afterward accepted the hand of one .more worthy of her confidence and affection. In his utter degradation he clung to the fond belief that he still remained fresh in her memory. I remember with what aroused sensibilities he one day, a short time before his death, informed me that as she passed through Lynn, during the preceding sum- mer, she made inquiries respecting him, and being informed of his forlorn condition sent a kind message and comforting donation to him, at the alms-house.
In prosperity, he became acquainted with many leading men of the nation, and received letters which he treasured up with miserly care. And with some asperity he charged the overseers of the poor with wantonly destroying them. It is not to be presumed that those dignitaries had any unworthy motive in view when they assembled around the work-house fire, exam- ined the epistles, and dropped them one by one into the blaze ; yet, if representations regarding them be true, some autographs were consumed that would at this time be estimated at a high pecuniary value. They probably apprehended that they were removing the cause of the unhappy hours, as they supposed them to be, that the poor old man experienced in poring over them - not realising that he might be far from unhappy at such hours, though tears would drop from his purblind eyes. And to the honor of the friends of his better days it should be said that they did not all forget or neglect him in his bitter adversity. I had occasion to know that he received from them many kind remembrances and pecuniary gratuities.
Mr. Breed is represented to have been, in his early manhood, more than ordinarily correct in his habits, especially as regarded the use of intoxicating liquors. It is said that on his occasional visits here he was accustomed to labor hard for the reformation of a connection who had fallen into intemperate habits ; on one occasion proceeding as far as the demonstrative argument of knocking in the head of a cask containing the creature of offence.
His education was quite as good as the common schools of
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his day afforded. I have in my possession a considerable num- ber of letters which he wrote between 1789 and 1810, and they would compare favorably with the letters of almost any busi- ness man now among us. His expressions are clear and direct, and his penmanship unusually fair. And three or four of these letters I propose to introduce, believing that they will add to the interest of this sketch. All that will be given, with the exception of the last, were addressed to Amos Rhodes, the gen- tleman before named as his agent at Lynn.
LONDON, 7 mo. 17, 1792.
MY DEAR FRIEND: I intended writing thee immediately on my arrival, but nothing in particular occurring to communicate, have delayed till now. We had a prosperous passage of twenty-eight days. Since my arrival I have been into the north of England, to Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, &c. I find I shall be able to establish a good connection in busi- ness, and though I may not get the goods to answer to my particular plan, yet I am sensible I shall reap advantages by coming here. I find some goods had been shipped out to me in the spring, and by letters from Philadelphia learn they arrived safe and were forwarded to thee. Thou wilt do the best with them, and when the sales are made we will divide the profits. I had goods to some amount shipped for the fall, from Leeds, previous to my reaching that place, so that I don't know what they are. Geo. Pennock is to receive them, and I expect to be in Philadelphia in the 9th or first of 10th mo. in time to be' in Lynn before the winter. I have ordered a considerable quantity of bindings ;; was at the factory and saw them making them. I shall not bring out many other goods than shoe stuffs, at present. I have met with a cordial reception from those to whom I was recommended and have met with as much hospi- tality from others as ever I experienced - have been introduced to many very respectable merchants and others. . .
I am, with much love and esteem, thy affectionate and sincere friend, EBENEZER BREED.
Mr. Breed remained.in England but a few weeks after the date of the above. He then went over to France, to perfect some business arrangements there. And his flattering success is in- dicated in the following letter :
DUNKIRK, (France,) 8 mo. 12, 1792.
MY DEAR FRIEND : I have just heard of a vessel bound to Newburyport and' have only time to inform thee of my intention to leave this place, this day, før London, from whence I shall shortly depart for America. I received thy acceptable favor, and am pleased to hear that we shall be able to vend so many' goods. I wrote thee last by the ship William Penn, and if nothing happens; to prevent, shall embark before I write thee again. I have been making an excursion to Paris and through some parts of France. Please give my love to'
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my parents and inform them I am well. I have sent out some stuffs, but have not many other articles - thought best not to till I returned ; but I can have any quantity of goods from the people to whom I was recommended. I can not enlarge now, and not knowing whether this will reach thee before I do, shall conclude with best respects to thy Elizabeth, and am, dear friend,
Thine sincerely. EBEN'R BREED.
In a letter dated about a month after the foregoing, he says, "I wrote thee from Dunkirk, in France - have been to Paris - was there on the day before the fatal 10th of August." This was written on the river Thames, on board the ship on which he had embarked to return to Philadelphia. He remarks: "I have several hundred pounds' worth of goods in this ship, all insured and paid for."
The following letter gives information regarding a mode of operating in shoes, rather common at that period :
PHILADELPHIA, 5 mo. 16, 1793.
MY DEAR FRIEND: I herewith enclose thee a bill of lading for sundry goods. The invoice I shall send on by post. I wrote thee a few days since by post. Capt. Needham leaves us tomorrow, and by what I can learn he intends to be in the shoe business - to lend the shoemakers money on the usual interest, with the privilege of taking his pay in shoes, they allowing him five per cent. commission for selling for what price he can. This mode of business will no doubt do for him, but how will it prove to our business? Why, it is my opin- ion, and always has been, that I can never do any thing here while shoes are brought and sold in such a manner. But if it must be so, I prefer Capt. Need- ham to many others. I think if several of us would join and take such a quantity of shoes at Lynn as to make them more difficult for so many hawkers to get, it would be an advantage. But we might as well think of raising Egg Rock from its bed, and bringing it to Philadelphia on our shoulders to exhibit for a show, in the streets; and in fact by this I think we should make much more money. Farewell.
EBEN'R BREED.
In the following letter Mr. Breed manifests impatience at the poor way in which some of the Lynn shoes were manufactured ; and from subsequent correspondence, not here introduced, it is judged that his rebukes had a good effect. It will be noticed that he remarks that he is " in a bad way as to business." And we are impressed with the belief that it was about this time that he was getting into a bad way in other respects :
PHILADELPHIA, 7 mo. 25, 1793.
MY DEAR FRIEND : I wrote thee yesterday, since which I have seen Daniel Ruff and Company, and they want six hundred pairs, or six barrels, of extellent
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satinet rand shoes. [Shoes were then packed in barrels instead of boxes.] I want thee to write me by return post whether thee can have them made, and at what price we can afford them. Those shoes thee last sent are mostly on hand, and I am perfectly sick of doing business in the shoe line here, unless we can have such as will sell. I declare it would be more agreeable to me to work journeywork than be plagued as I am by those who buy shoes here, unless we can have better ones. If I call for the money, they begin to show me the large number of small, unsaleable ones they have left, that they never can sell, and say I must not expect my pay, &c. &c. And what can I say to them ? It is so, and so it will be, while the shoemakers in Lynn are a set or confounded fools. Ask Samuel Collins what his cousin Zaccheus has written him, and he will tell thee it is a rascally business to be concerned in, while the makers of shoes there have no principle nor policy. I don't write this to blame thee, for I know thy mind too well, and know thee would do well if thee had others to deal with. I am in haste now, and in a bad way, as to business, and see nothing that can be done in the line except we can establish a factory. I wish thee to procure cash on our goods, if possible, and tell those who deal with thee that unless they can make shoes on more honorable terms we can't have any from them.
I am, my dear friend, thy affectionate E. BREED.
The following appears to have been written after the sad blight of the matrimonial anticipations alluded to, and certainly seems to indicate a spirit capable of bearing up under such an affliction, though there is a little something like unsavory bravado in a passage or two :
CHARLESTON, [S. C.] 2 mo. 25, 1796.
DEAR AMOS : I was very happy in receiving, a few days ago, thy agreeable favor of 21 December. I had written thee on my arrival here, and suppose that long before this thou hast received it. Since I wrote thee we have been traveling through a part of this state, and intended to have gone to Savannah and Augusta, but the late uncommon high freshets in the river prevented. We spent three or four weeks agreeably among the planters, and returned here last week, when I received thy letter. E. Olden has received great benefit from the jaunt, and I think will recover. I am well and in good spirits; feel very different from what I did when I last wrote thee. I have seen several of my old acquaintances here and in the country, whom I had seen in Phila- delphia. They treated me with every attention and respect I could wish. I now see what a fool I have been, and though I am still a friend to my old
-, I think I am as well without her as with her. I now only wish to be in - some good business ; and I have no doubt that I shall spend many social and pleasant hours with thee and my other friends, yet. I am not so much dis- spirited as to be without friends. And I think there are some girls yet left, who can make me happy. Please give my love to my parents. Tell them I am very well. I shall wish to settle our accounts as thee mentions as soon as
it
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possible, and I am endeavoring to inform myself what kind of business can be done here in the shoe line. Several people have inquired after shoes, and I think I can sell considerable numbers here in future. I expect to return home by land ; if so, I shall leave this city in two weeks. If I come by water, I shall leave sooner. I will write thee again soon. My love to thy wife, Patty, and mother, and all friends.
I am, dear Amos, thy sincere
E. BREED.
The next and last letter that can be here inserted bears unmistakable evidence of distempered faculties. Mr. Breed had now, for several years, been back to Lynn, his native place, and at a rapid pace gone downward. At this time he lived in what is called Breed's End, and procured a scanty livelihood by cutting shoes. And it is not inappropriate to remark that the gentleman to whom this letter was sent, and who was himself at one time in a large business at New York, and well knew Mr. Breed, in his prosperity, with emphasis declared that Lynn never produced a more promising and honorable business man :
LYNN, 2 mo. 11th, 1805.
MY GOOD FRIEND: Thy favor of the 8th inst. is before me, also a few lines of this morning handed to me by a boy, requesting me to cut some small shoes before two o'clock. I answer thee in this way; read the enclosed ; as a statesman - a neighbor - a friend and brother -I esteem thee : but I am not able to do more than I have done. Every stretch of thought, every faculty, in fact all the powers of my poor mind have been exerted ; still I am poor and unhappy. Harris Chadwell will deliver thee those skins I lately received from thee. I will thank thee to return the enclosed slip of paper; it is a favorite study of mine; and though I am viewed by thee as a Drunkard, my feelings are the same as ever they have been. Accept my thanks for thy former friendship, and for the present attention thou wilt please to receive the grateful acknowledgments of Thy friend,
E. BREED.
Mr. Breed fancied that he had a turn for poetry, and wrote some verses; but the weakness may have been superinduced by the prominent experience, of a tender nature, which has been alluded to, and which is of a character, as is generally supposed, to incline its subjects to give vent to their feelings in numbers. He was, however, a much better business man than poet.
For several years he was an opium eater; and his cravings for the pernicious drug were pitiable in the extreme. He used, occasionally, in good weather, to gain leave of absence from his
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pauper home, for a day or two at a time, and would then some- times travel as far as Nahant, though his blindness and other infirmities, during his latter years, compelled him to move very slowly. And on these occasions, if he could procure the means, he was pretty sure to become intoxicated. His person was gross and uncleanly; and those who met him on these excur- sions were compelled to pronounce him as miserable and forlorn a looking object as could well be presented to the eye of pity. When in the street he was in constant fear of passing carriages, which, in consequence of his blindness, he could not see ; and, as before said, his gait was extremely slow. I think he told me, as I met him in Federal street, one summer evening, in 1837, on his way home to the alms-house, that he had been the whole day in walking thus far from Nahant.
While on his excursions, he would usually take the opportu- nity to call at the office of Mr. Lummus, the printer, a bio- graphical sketch of whom has already been given; and from that halting place he was never spurned, as he was from some other places where he desired to rest. He was generally so hungry by the time he arrived as to beg for something to eat. " Well, Uncle Eben," replied Mr. Lummus, on one occasion, " I can't take you to my boarding-house table, you are so dirty ; but I'll get you something." Presently the old man was pro- vided with a liberal ration done up in a piece of newpaper, and the colloquy resumed something after this sort: "There, Uncle Eben, see how a little nice cold turkey will set on your stomach." ... "Why, Charles, I thank thee, kindly. It is a long time since I have tasted so dainty a thing as turkey. But." - (after munching a little while) -" this don't taste ex- actly as turkey used to; and the bones don't feel like turkey bones. But my eyes are so dim that I can't tell what it looks like." . .. " Well, Uncle Eben, if you haven't sight you must eat by faith ; and mutton bones are just as good as turkey, if you have faith to believe they are. So eat away, and be thankful."
But with all his faults, Mr. Breed retained many fine qualities, and rays of smothered nobleness and rectitude would not un- frequently gleam forth. And it is painful to reflect that one whom nature seems to have designed for some high duty should have so fallen -that one who really did so much for his native
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town, for his country, indeed, should at last have gone down to a pauper's grave.
From a history like his, eminently useful lessons may be drawn. Our sympathies are naturally touched while contem- plating the condition of one in degradation and distress, who has seen better days, who has stood in a position to command our respect. But to render such lessons most useful it is well to consider whether the degradation and distress were produced by causes over which the sufferer had no control or are to be attributed to his own perverse inclination. While, however, the lesson is being deduced, it should never be forgotten that it is an essential part of christian duty to endeavor to comfort and relieve the miserable, before we ask what made them so. I knew:" Uncle Eben" well, and had repeated conversations with him, though not before he had reached his low estate. His sad memories and utter hopelessness pressed with almost insufferable weight, and conspired with his physical infirmities to render him a most forlorn and pitiable object. And I have heard his bitter complaints at the taunts of those in brief autho- rity over him. They seemed to have no just conception of his still lingering virtues. By the just, even the offender against justice is sure to have his merits acknowledged. And into the most wretched soul a ray of sunshine darts when it feels that its little remnant of virtue is recognized and appreciated.
ENOCH CURTIN. - 1794-1842.
Mr. Curtin was born at Lynn on the 25th of July, 1794, and was a son of John Curtin. His education was not beyond that afforded by the common schools of his time. And he content- edly pursued the humble occupation of a shoemaker. But he was a man of far more than ordinary ability. Mr. Lewis, who knew him well, says, "He was a man of estimable qualities, and possessed great poetical talent. He had a very happy fac- ulty for the production of odes and songs adapted to particular occasions. His mind was intellectual, refined, and noble, and he was widely esteemed and beloved." In 1816, he married Sally Ireson, by whom he had seven children ; and he died on the 28th of May, 1842, at the age of forty-seven.
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