USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 11
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103
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Armitage.
there is something wrong about the man who is always engaged in lawsuits.
As the first landlord of the Anchor Tavern, Mr. Armitage is best known, he having opened that famous house of entertain- ment when it must have been a seriously doubtful enterprise, considering the limited number of travellers. But it was not a Fifth Avenue establishment, though great men were sometimes entertained there. He was licensed to " draw wine," and perhaps hoped to derive most profit from that questionable source, though his hopes could hardly have been realized, if he was often so indiscreet as to render himself liable to be fined for neglect of duty, as he appears to have been on one occasion in 1651, which occasion is indicated by the following entry on the Court records : " In ansr to the petition of Joseph Armitage ffor an abatement of a fine of five pounds, imposed on him for not acquainting the counstable of a psons being drunke in his com- pany, as the law requires, the Court sees no cawse to abate the petitioner any part of that fine."
The houses of entertainment, of those days, though useful and even necessary for the accommodation of travellers, were not probably to be much prized for their neighborhood influences, as they were often the resort of the lazy and gossiping townsmen who there passed hours of idleness over their tankards of flip, in the haze of tobacco smoke. Yet, when the presiding spirit himself happened to be of high character and able to gather around him kindred spirits they no doubt became meeting places for the discussion of matters of the greatest importance.
It is evident that Mr. Armitage was a stirring if not a meddle- 'some man, and did not confine his attentions to any particular class or calling. And upon the Court records here and there appear indications that he was one of the many who find it diffi- cult to see how the public good can be reached excepting by the road that leads to their own personal advantage.
The Armitages - for Joseph was not the only one of the name who appeared in Lynn during the early days -seem to have belonged to a family of some note in the old country. Here, however, though not what would be called a shiftless, they were yet a shifting race. Godfrey, mentioned in our Annals, under date 1630, removed to Boston ; and Thomas, whose name does not
104
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Armitage.
appear in the Annals, but who, according to Savage, was for a time commorant here, and who came from Bristol, in the ship James, in 1635, a fellow passenger with Richard Mather, was one of the Sandwich settlers, in 1637; from there he went to Stamford, then to Oyster Bay, on Long Island; and in 1647 he appeared among the Hempstead settlers.
Returning for a moment more to Joseph and his destructive lawsuits, we will transcribe the testimony of one of the witnesses in an action brought against him by John Ruck, administrator, at the June term of the Essex County Court, in 1671 : "The testimony of Christopher Lawson, of Boston, aged 55 years or Thereabouts : This Deponent saith, that haueing beene acquainted these five or six and twenty years with the dealings betweene M' Thomas Ruck of Boston, deceased, & Joseph Hermitage of Lyn, & haueing beene seuerall times at the transacting of them, as appears by my hand to diuers papers subscribed, I doe very will remember that the said Thomas Ruck hath giuen him credit from time to time & ye said Hermitage promised to pay him thirty pounds in money in London, of this debt, and the remain- der of the same in New England, to his content. But in the year 1669 coming to Boston, Mrs Eliz. Ruck, then widdow, made a sad complaint to me, & said she could gett nothing of ye said Hermitage, whereupon I spoke with Joseph Hermitage & agi- tated the business with him, in the widdows behalfe ; his answer was that he would not wrong ye widow nor fatherless, but would do that was right in the sight of God & man ; he would not wrong her of a penny, with many solem p'testations. In fine, the said Joseph Armitage & Mrs Ruck bound themselues in a bond to stand to ye arbitration of Capt. Roger Spenser & Chris- topher Lawson. We heard both their pleas & allegations & found Joseph Armitage debtor to Mrs Rucke, upon all Accounts to ye value of aboute Eighty pounds sterling, which we thought was more than he was able to pay ; we found likewise a bill of exchange to England for Thirty pounds protested, & nothing paid of his debt in New England, save something in Wharfe wood as he calls it. Whereupon we called them both in & desired Mrs Rucke to take twenty pounds giueing him some tyme to pay it & forgiue him the rest, which 20/ he should pay at Boston in money, or goods at money price within such a tyme,
105
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Armitage.
as appears by the Arbitration in writeing, and yet none of this was performed that euer I heard off. This is the true state of ye case, as I hau beene acquainted with it from first to last, to my best knowledge. Taken upon oath : 29-4mo 71 [June 29, 1671.] Wm Hathorne, attest :" This, however, appears to be simply the old, old case -" I owe but cannot pay " - and perhaps involves no element to the especial discredit of Mr. Armitage.
We here copy an ancient document which will in these pages be a number of times referred to as " The Armitage Petition "- a petition of the wife of Joseph for permission herself to keep the ordinary, he having receded into the back-ground. It is inserted not so much for anything of special interest it contains as for the autographs of a number of the early settlers which are appended, fac-similes of which are given -among them that of Godfrey, brother of Joseph. The petition itself, we have little doubt, is in the hand-writing of Captain Robert Bridges.
TO THE RIGHT WORLL THE GOVERNOR, DEPUTIE GOUERNOR & THEIR HONORED ASSOTIATS :
The humble peticon of Fane, wife of Joseph Armitage:
Humbly sheweth that whereas the indigent and low estate of your poore peticonesse is evident not to a few, in as much as her husbands labours & indeauors haue beene blasted and his ames & ends frustrated by a iust hand, beinge also made incapa- ble of such other ymploymt as hee is personally fitted for by reason of the sensure vnder wch for the prsent hee lyeth & alsoe being outed of such trade & comerce as might haue afforded supportacon to his familie consistinge of Diuers prsons & small Children in comiseracon of whom, togither with yor peticonesse, the inhabitants of or town were pleased (as farr as in them lay) to continue yor poore peticonesse in the Custodie of the said Ordinary & that benefitt wch might accrew from the same to take towards makeinge of theire liues the more comfortable ; wherevpon & by reason whereof yor peticonesse said husband procured the most convenient howse in Lynn for the purpose albeit itt was very ruinous & much cost bestowed respectinge his prsent condicon in repaireinge & fittinge vp of the same accordingly : And also whereas some of his Creditors haue of their clemencie and gentle goodnes furnished him wth Comodi- ties apt for the mainteyning of an ordinary to the intent some benefitt might redound towards the maintenance & liuelyhood of his familie & reedifieinge of his ruined estate in case the same may bee obteined : and that thereby wee may bee enabled to
.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Armitage.
pay our debts, in regard of which the name of god now suffers. May itt therefore please this Honored Assembly to take the p'misses into tender consideracon & wth bowells of comiseracon to way the lowe estate of yor Voted & granted Octob. 26th [1643] said Peticonesse & her familie and to reconfirme the Custodie of the said Ordinarie to yo' peticonesse duringe the winter season & further as shall seeme good in yor sight vpon the well demeanor of yor Peti- conesse in the said place, &c.
Sq: whiting.
Edge: Holyoke
Robert: Bridges
Nam FomLing
willme Coarchy
-Thomas mangel
Wathonte Hamyoung
Diona Refor
John Bolitle
Difin wood.
ahorras Laughton Framis fits port Boniface Burton
koful por pong
Sillono Gody R 8vy choming ohm tambale
Titu Hombres william Longer somab Solon Henery Rodes. Thomas Conun fond
The foregoing is what will be referred to as " The Armitage
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Armitage.
Petition." Some of the autographs being rather obscure, we give the names in letter-press, as follows - arranged very much as they stand on the original petition - coupled with the remark that most of the individuals will be found noticed in alphabetical order in these pages of sketches.
Sa : Whiting. Tho : Cobbett.
Robert : Bridges,
Edw : Holyoke,
Richard walker,
Edward Tomlins,
Willm Cowdry,
Tim Tomlins,
Thomas marshall,
Nathaniell Handforth,
William Longley, Thomas Godson,
Georg keser,
John Wood,
John Dolitle,
Thomas Laughton,
Henery Rodes,
frauncis Ligtfoote,
Boniface Burton,
Thomas Townsend,
William king,
Nicholas Browne,
Robert Driver,
Robert persons,
Edward Baker,
Zachrie fitch,
Richard Johnson,
Robert Massey,
Thomas parker,
John Gillowe,
Phillip Kirtland,
John Ramsdalle,
James Axey,
Godphrey Armitage,
Henery Eeames.
The names of Robert Persons, Richard Johnson, Thomas Parker, Philip Kirtland and James Axey look very much as if written by the same hand. If they were, it could not have been because the individuals did not know how to write but be- cause it was more convenient to have some one else attach their names. On the Colony Records, under date Sept. 7, 1643, is the entry, " Goody Armitage is alowed to keepe the ordinary, but not to draw wine." Upon the margin of the petition is seen the memorandum, "Voted & granted Octob. 26th, [1643.]" This is by a different hand, and was probably made at a subse- quent session. The 1643 being in brackets denotes that it may have been a considerably later insertion. The " clemencie and gentle goodnes ," of some of Mr. Armitage's creditors, cer- tainly indicate that he had friends, though under censure for something not stated.
It has been remarked that Mr. Armitage, after his long and laborious career, passed his latter years in poverty. This is apparent by his curious petition, presented in 1669, for the pay- ment of some trifling scores which certain colonial dignitaries ran up at his tavern about twenty-five years before ; a specification
108
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Attwill. Axcy.
of some of which charges may be found in our Annals, under date 1643. On his deccase his estate was appraised at £6 2s. 6d. Other incidents in the career of this typical individual may be found in the Annals of early dates.
ATTWILL, THEODORE. Mr. Attwill died of Bright's disease, December 9, 1880, in the 55th year of his age. He was a native of Lynn, and for many years enjoyed a reputation for intelligence and probity attained by few. The surname was not unknown here before the beginning of century 1700, though there were none of the kin among the first settlers. And there does not seem to have been at any time a large number of the lineage among us. The business of the subject of this sketch apper- tained to the shoe-manufacture, and in it he was successful ; but beyond that he had a decided literary taste, and was a constant reader of the better class of books, and quite proficient in mathe- matics and the languages. With Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and German, he was more or less familiar. His literary acquire- ments were appreciated, and for fifteen years he was called to serve as a member of the School Committee, and for a like term as a trustee of the Free Public Library. He was a member of the Common Council four years, during two of which he was president ; and at the same time he filled various responsible offices of a more private nature. In person Mr. Attwill was of medium size and apparently possessed of a firm and healthy constitution. His countenance was usually of rather a serious cast ; but he had a vein of genuine humor which would not unfrequently assert itself to the enjoyment of appreciative friends. He built the fine residence on Essex street, at the junction of High Rock avenue, and there he died, leaving a widow, one son, and three daughters.
AXEV, JAMES - was one of the first settlers, having appeared here as early as 1630. He was a man of considerable importance and possessed a fair estate for those times. He was a Repre- sentative in 1654; and in 1657, was one of the committee appointed to lay out Nahant in planting lots. Axey's Point the site of the present gas-works, perpetuates his name.
We are inclined to think that he had some share in domestic
109
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Axey.
trials, to which so many are exposed through the infirmities of our common nature ; yet there is no conclusive evidence that he did not, on the whole, live as peacefully with Frances his spouse as is the ordinary experience, though she does appear to have had a wakeful eye for the main chance. Her vigilance, alert to the last, is shown by certain depositions still on file in Salem, concerning his attempts to make a will. When draw- ing near his end, he proposed executing such an instrument ; but her opposition prevailed, and he refrained. On his decease she was appointed administratrix of his estate, but did not long survive to enjoy any gain she possibly may have made by her successful interference. He died June 7, 1669, and she a few months after.
An extract or two from the quaint depositions filed in the case will be sufficient to show that human nature has changed but little since that time. Andrew Mansfield, aged about forty-nine years, "Testifyeth yt In ye tyme of the sickness of James Axey : I being severall tymes with him, one off which tymes was, to my best memory, about three weeks before hee dyed, hee signifyde his desyrd to make his will, his wife being present ; & hee began to Declare his intent toward John Pearson, declareing hee would leve him to have the greater Lott, and then his wife spoke as houlding out to my understanding yt she would have him to make noe will, saying can not you confide in me yt I will perform what yeo mind is, but you will give awaye all. He answered I intend to give nothing from you whilst you Live except some suche legasye or Legasyees ; shee then replied hee might if he would
make his will. but [he] sayd I will not, you cannot consent to it ; and I replyed it was an Apoynted of God to sett his house in order, and instanced that of Hezekiah : sett thy house in order for thou must dye, and did declare to him yt I hoped God would guide him in soe doeing ; but she replying, hee alsoe replyed, saying I can dispose of none of my estate, &c .; and being troubled, wee then got him to bed. " Joseph Rednap and Samuel Johnson testified that " they Being att ye house of James Axey ten days before he dyed, the wife of James Axey asked him, before us, what he ment by those words which he spake the last night ; which was you said I bequeath my spirritt to God and estate to John Pearson, and took him by the hand
110
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Bachelor. Baker.
and said, Love, is not your mind as it was formerly agreed between you and I : and he said yes ; and he sed by my estate to John Pearson I meane he should looke after it for you." Sam- uel Tarbox testified that " beinge in the house of James Axey about two nights before hee dyed and Nathaniell Kirkland and John Pearson was there the same time, and Nathaniel Kirkland sd to John Pearson, I marvell yoo do not Ask your maister how hee hath disposed of his goods. And James Axey hearing their discourse said, brother Kirkland I will satisfy you concerning it ; I had thoughts to have made a will and to have disposed of some things att my death, but my wife was not willinge, for I would not cross her, but leave it to her." Mr. Kirkland added that he did not remember the words " leave it to her." In an- other deposition of Andrew Mansfield, which was given some- time after the death of both Mr. and Mrs. Axey, he says : " being with James Axey in the time of his last sickness, which was, to the best of my memory, aboute three weekes before his death, his wife and Joseph Fiske being present, his wife oposing the sd James Axey, her husband, in order to the making of his will, according as in my first testimony which is in Court, the said James Axey before his wife and Joseph Fiske solemlye Left it with mee that if any should aske why hee did not make his will I should tell ym hee would have done it but his wife would not Let him, and I was then to have written it." See Annals, 1630 and other early dates. Mr. Axey's signature may be seen appended to the Armitage l'etition.
BACHELOR, Rev. STEPHEN - first minister of the first church in Lynn ; an active and prominent divine, but possessing such eccentricities of character that his early removal became expedi- ent. He was born in 1561, and lived to reach his hundredth year. See Annals, 1632, 1636, and other carly dates.
BAKER, CHRISTINE - a maid and matron of various fortunes ; an Indian captive ; a ward of the French Catholics, in Canada ; a returned wanderer. See Annals, 1630.
BAKER, DANIEL C. - third Mayor of Lynn. See biographical sketch, page 566 History of Lynn, 1865 edition. Also notice
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES. Baker. Barker. Bassett.
with portrait, page 151 Centennial Memorial. He died in New Orleans, La., July 19, 1863, aged 46. A fac-simile of his signa- ture follows.
BAKER, EDWARD-ancestor of the numerous family of the name hereabout. His autograph appears on the Armitage Peti- tion. See Annals, 1630.
BARKER, Dr. CHARLES O. - a reputable physician. He died January 8, 1843, aged 41. His wife was a daughter of Rem- brandt Peale, the celebrated painter. He left no children. See Annals 1843. His residence was on Western avenue, near Mall street. An amusing anecdote about his introduction to Dr. Hazeltine may be found in our notice of the latter.
BASSETT, WILLIAM. Mr. Bassett died very suddenly on the night of June 21, 1871, aged 68 years. He was a native of Lynn, - and well-known from having been much in public life. And for his many virtues and kindly sympathies he was as widely re- spected as known. At the time of his death he was cashier of the First National Bank, and had filled that office for eighteen years. He was quite active and efficient in the labor of putting the new municipal machinery into successful operation when the City Charter was adopted, and for the first three years was City Clerk. He was a zealous and intelligent laborer in the cause of education and the moral and social reforms of the day, and in early manhood sought by actual experience and observation to determine the value of various "community" systems then ex- isting ; for he was well convinced that the condition of our social life might be greatly improved by some radical changes in the domestic economy. Yet he did not appear to have had his hopes verified, and returned to the home of his youth to remain till the close of his life. Although bred in the orthodox Quaker faith he became a Unitarian, and for a long period was a faithful and useful member of the society here. Indeed he was faithful
112
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Batchelder. Bennett.
and useful in every position he filled. He was patient in inves- tigations, accurate in conclusions, and affable in manners ; a good penman and careful recording officer. On the day of his burial some of the principal business houses were closed in token of respect ; and though the weather was very inclement, a large concourse attended. Some prominent persons from abroad were present ; among them Wendell Phillips the orator and William Lloyd Garrison the anti-slavery reformer. His remains were interred in Pine Grove Cemetery, in the original laying out of which he took an active part. In our Annals, under date 1640 may be found a genealogical sketch of the family A fac-simile of his signature is here given.
few Ballett.
BATCHELDER, JACOB - first principal of Lynn High School, and for some years librarian of the Free Public Library. He died December 17, 1876, aged 70 years, See Annals, 1876.
BENNETT, SAMUEL. The name of this early settler is perpetu- ated by the extensive swamp near our northern border. He was a considerable real estate owner, many of his acres lying in the vicinity of the ancient iron works, near which he resided. He was one of the early members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, in good circumstances, public spirited, and withal possessed of considerable independence of character -a little wilful, perhaps. In 1644 he was presented by the grand jury as a "common sleeper in time of exercise," and fined two shillings and sixpence. And for one or two other offences of equal enor- mity he suffered punishment. He seems to have been once fined for a breach of the law forbidding the sale of commodities at too great a profit ; and on petitioning for a remittal of the fine received this rebuff from the Court. It is found on the Colony Records under date May 15, 1657. " In answer to the petition of Samuell Bennett, humbly craving the remittment or abatement of a fine imposed on him by the County Court, for selling goods at excessive prizes the Court hauing pervsed, and by theire comittee examined, the papers in the case presented, together
II3
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Bennett.
wth the allegations & pleas of the peticoner & others, by him produced, vnderstanding, by what appeared, the peticoner re- ceived of George Wallis about forty pounds or vpwards meerely for the release of the bargaine made betwixt them, . . . see it not meete to graunt the petition in whole or in part." Mr. Wal- lis had also been fined "fivety pounds" for "selling goods at excessive prizes," and petitioned for a remittal ; and the same Court judged it "meete to remitt the fine all to tenn pounds ;" which remittal was made in consideration of his being neces- sitated "to be at the losse of about forty pounds or more to attayne a release of the bargain betwixt him & Samuell Bennett." It seems to have been what is vulgarly called a " game of sharps," between Mr. Bennett and Mr. Wallis; but the Court, while endeavoring to render an equitable judgment, were not disposed. to see invaded the wholesome law forbidding the selling of goods. at exhorbitant prices.
There is a deposition of the noted Samuel Maverick of Nod- dle's Island, as East Boston was called till within a comparatively late period, touching a certain agreement of Mr. Bennett relative to the marriage of his son, which has been quoted for one or two. purposes. It is as follows : "Samuel Maueric, aged 63 yeares or thereabouts, deposeth that sometime last yeare, having some. speech wth Samuell Bennet, sent of Lynn, as to a match intended betweene his son Sam Bennett, Jun' & a dau. of Capt. Wm Har- grave of Horsey doune, Mariner, The sd Bennett, sen' did prom- ise that if his sonne should marry wth sd Hargraues dau. he would make over to him the house he now liues in with barns, stables, lands, &c. belonging to sd farme & £80 of stock ; wth this proui- soe that sd Bennet, Jun" should yearly pay his father during his life £20 if he needed it or demanded it ; and to the best of my remembrance he wrote so much to Capt. Hargraue. He also tyed his sonne not to alienate the premises wthout his consent dureing his life. Thus much he testifieth, and further saith not. Boston, Decr 7th 1665. Taken upon oath the 8th Dec .. 1.665. Samuell Maverike. Before Thomas Clarke, Commiss."
Various facts of interest concerning Mr. Bennett may be found recorded in Annals, running on from date 1630. Few of the settlers within our borders were better adapted to keep things in lively trim than Mr. Bennett.
8
114
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Blanchard.
BLANCHARD, AMOS. Master Blanchard, as he was always called, was for some ten years teacher of the western district school, and the house in which he taught was a small square one story wooden building, with hipped roof and unoccupied belfry, standing near the latitudinal centre of the west end of the Common, within a stone's throw of the eastern end of Healey's Arcade. The pay of common school teachers, in those days, was meagre, not often, in country places, exceeding a dollar a day ; and Master Blanchard, having a wife and twelve children to provide for, at times found it extremely hard rubbing. But in addition to his day school he received from minor auxiliary employments a little help. He taught a private evening school at different seasons ; from his skill in penmanship, for he wrote a beautiful hand, he derived something ; from the exercise of his musical talents he received a pittance ; and his " grateful coun- try," in return for his services as a fifer in the revolutionary army granted him a small pension. Nevertheless, he lived and died a poor man - poor in purse only, however ; for he was rich in the respect of his fellow townsmen. The pay for " literary services," to use a favorite expression of his, was at that time small, as just remarked, and having before us at this moment a re- ceipted bill of his that shows something of his prices, there seems no objection to inserting it just as it stands :
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