USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
HAWKES, ADAM. This individual was one of the first comers, and located upon our inland border, in what is now known as North Saugus, having a grant of land which included the terri- tory containing the ore first used at the iron works. Possessing rather a lively suspicion that the company were inclined to encroach upon his rights, he was not always at peace with them ; and to him and his neighbor Dexter is no doubt to be attributed
147
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Haseltine.
somewhat of that harrassing legal warfare that proved so disas- trous to the enterprise. A large and interesting gathering of his descendants was held on the original farm, on the 28th and 29th of July, 1880, of which a notice may be found in the Annals of that year. See also Annals, 1630.
HAZELTINE, Dr. RICHARD. Doctor Hazeltine was one of those staid and sober gentlemen who have great weight in a community ; whose movements, professionally and socially, are well-considered, and who are not liable to be swayed by notions instead of prin- ciples. He was kind in manners, but very precise, and came to be popularly regarded as a strait-laced old-school gentleman. In short, he was just one of those persons who enjoy the respect but not always the love of those by whom they are surrounded. For professional dignity and propriety he was a great stickler ; a characteristic aptly illustrated by a little occurrence which took place when Dr. Barker came here, in 1832, and which the latter himself described to the writer in his inimitable semi-serious way. He had located near Lynn Hotel, into the hospitable public room of which gentlemen from all quarters of the town were accustomed to drop, to look over the newspapers - for no dailies were then distributed by carriers-and hear the gossip of the day. Deacon Field, as we all called him, was the managing spirit though not the proprietor of the establishment. He was active and polite, and indefatigable in his endeavors to make his domain attractive and his visitors at ease.
One morning, while Dr. Barker, who had been very kindly received by the four or five other physicians then resident here, was in the room, Dr. Hazeltine dropped in, and the Deacon availed himself of the opportunity to effect a formal introduction. Dr. H. as soon as he heard the name of Dr. B. assumed one of his lofty looks -and he was so tall that he could look over the heads of most people -and without offering his hand, re- marked, " Ah, yes, I have heard of a Mister Barker coming to Lynn, as a physician ; but having examined the Medical Soci- ety's catalogue without finding his name I feel constrained to withhold professional recognition till further informed." Doctor Barker, naturally enough, not knowing the peculiarities of the other, felt a little nettled, and tartly replied, " But, Dr. Hazeltine,
148
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Hazeltine.
your examination was not thorough, or you would have seen by the errata that my name was accidentally omitted in the proper place." "Very well, Mr. Barker," rejoined Dr. H., " I will im- pose upon myself the duty of a further examination. In the mean time allow me to welcome you as a new resident of our town, and to bid you a very good morning." A few days after, Dr. H. called on Dr. B., informed him that he had re-examined the catalogue, found the fact as claimed, and with great cordiality welcomed him as a professional brother. And that he was sincere and retained his good feeling is abundantly shown by entries in his journal.
Dr. Hazeltine also served as a magistrate, and his judgments bore the impress of careful and conscientious investigation and consideration. His copy of old "Dickinson's Justice," with its many marginal notes, in his clear and compact hand-writing is now in possession of the writer. But of course the great busi- ness of his life was the medical practice. In that he was faithful and trustworthy though some thought him a little too strongly bound by old customs and traditions. He had great faith in the virtue of hops, especially in the simple form of a tea, and so frequently prescribed the infusion that some were so impolite as to call him " the hop-tea doctor." Indeed certain libelous articles touching this peculiarity of his appeared in the Mirror, written, it is believed, by Enoch Curtin, in a playful mood. The editor was proceeded against, and the jury awarded the Doctor a con- siderable amount in damages ; but he, as the editor long after informed the writer, very readily relinquished all but his actual costs, and continued to treat him as if no occasion for difference had occurred.
The books of daily charges kept by Doctor Hazeltine, were, a number of years ago, placed in the hands of the writer ; and a few extracts, which can harm no one, will no doubt be interesting as showing the scale of professional charges, and at the same time exhibit the precise and detailed manner in which he was accustomed to record his transactions. The first book of the series bears the inscription, "Richard Hazeltine's Day Book He removed with his family from South Berwick to Lynn, May 30, 1817." He however must have been here himself some time before he brought his family, for the first charge to a patient is
149
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Hazeltine.
under date May 13, and stands thus : "Samuel Chase, Dr. to 18 visits ; i. e. 2 visits a day from Sabbath the 4th inst. to yesterday, including both, and sundry articles of medicine, such as [enumerating,] 10.25."
The Doctor must have soon secured a large practice, judging from the number of his charges ; but to a physician of this day his fees would seem amusingly low, a fact which in a great . measure may account for the statement that he made a little before his death, to the effect that his profession had scarcely yielded enough to pay expenses during his whole residence in Lynn. A much greater proportion of "bad debts " no doubt accumulated in those days than in later times, in all professions. But let us present the promised samples of the Doctor's every day entries.
1817. Aug. 2. George Hamlin, credit by 2 phials and med. returned, .13.
1817. Aug. 6. Frederic Newhall, Dr. to calling and waiting some time to see your sister, 1.00.
1819. Feb. 21. Enoch Mudge, Dr. to calling from the meeting-house and extracting a tooth for yourself, .50.
1819. March 6. James Lewis, Cr. by a fresh fish, weighing 8 lb. at 2 cents a pound.
IS19. March 21. Peter Shott, Dr. to calling to see you this morning, .25.
1819. April 9. Benjamin Burrill, Dr. to a visit, and making lint for your sore, .50. 1819. June 10. Stephen Oliver, Dr. to a three dollar bill, for one that I borrowed of you, last week.
1819. July 21. Jonathan Connor, credit, by six cords of wood, taken on the wharf, at $6 a cord, to be paid for in 60 days.
1819. Sept. I. John Newhall, Dr. to calling to see your aunt Nabby, 0.25.
1820. March 4. Abel Houghton, Dr. to a visit for yourself, .25.
1820. March 8. Rufus P. Hovey, Esq. Dr. to a visit and a phial and vin. ipecac for yourself, 84.
1820. March 13. Henry A. Breed, credit by I lb. 8 penny and 1 lb. 6 penny wrought nails, at 18 and 22 cents, .40.
1820. April 10. Henry A. Breed, credit, by I gal. Lisbon wine, at $1.50, and I 1-2 pint of brandy, 33, $1.83.
1820. April 15. Miss Lydia Stackpole, credit by your assistance in my family since Monday morning, before breakfast, till this morning, after breakfast.
1820. April 28. Preserved Sprague, Dr. to a visit, making lint, &c., and dressing your wound, and to a piece of bandage. . 75.
1820. May 16. Jonathan Buffum, Dr. to a visit this morning and to 10 oz. of tama- rinds, sent this evening by my boy, 0.42.
1821. March 5. This evening Mr. Trevett borrowed Hannah More's St. Paul, Dr. Worcester on Baptism and Medical Dissertations.
1821. March 28. Mrs. Mary Carter, Concord, N. H .: Her little son William Franklin Carter came to my house last Monday evening, to board and go to school. I am to board him for his schooling [?] and what services he will
150
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Hazeltine.
render in my family. This morning he gave me sixty-five cents in cash, which he brought with him, and for which I am accountable to his mother.
1821. July 10. Abel Houghton, credit, by mending my boot a little, yesterday, .06. 1821. Nov. 2. Amos Breed, credit by a barrel of cider [I found the barrel] and by
6 hoops and paying for setting them -hoops 2 cents each, setting 4 cents each, .36; cider, 2.50. 2.86.
1821, Nov. 3. Enoch Curtin, Dr. to a visit early this morning and another at II o'clock, and assisting in moving you, 1.50.
1821. Nov. 28. Thomas Hamlin, credit, by repairing my chaise apartment door, i. e. putting on hinge, .06.
1822. Jan. 3. Abner Alley, Dr. to a visit, post m. for your daughter, she having injured her hand by striking on a hair comb. . 50.
1834. March 3. Mrs. Mary Mailey, Dr. to a visit this a. m. for yourself, .25.
1834. March 7. Charles Chase, Dr. to a visit this a. m. for your daughter Mary, 0.25.
1834. March S. Mark Alley, Dr. to a visit this evening and 12 pills for Mrs. Alley, .38.
1834. March 11. David Ellis, Dr. to a visit this evening in co. with Dr. Barker, for your little boy, 1.00.
1834. March 19. John B. Chase, credit by a five dollar bill paid me this a. m. equal to six dollars, because paid within sixty days.
1834. March 24. Abel Houghton, Dr. to visit this a. m. and 9 small p. ip. for yourself, 0.42.
1834. March 28. Levi Frost, credit, by repairing chaise harness, .06.
1834. March 29. Alonzo Lewis, Dr. to a visit this morning and another this p. m. 2. pil. and some vin. ant. for yourself and some cal. added in the morning to two former powders, .92.
1834. April 7. Alonzo Lewis, Dr. to a visit this morning for yourself, .25.
1835. Feb. 18. Capt. Charles Merritt, Dr. to 12 pills delivered yourself this a. m. at the postoffice door, and consilium, .25.
1836. May 6. Nathaniel Ingalls, Dr. to cash paid you to-day, 67 cents. Credit, by assisting Mr. Merrill, the carpenter, about putting down some posts for fence, for me, yesterday, at Woodend, 67 cents.
1836. May 21. Daniel Moulton, credit, by 2 hours' assistance, at 8 cents an hour, . 16. 1836. May 21. Esquire Daniel Henshaw, credit, by making out my last will, to-day, and attending to its signature, &c., 2.09.
The Abel Houghton named in two or three of the foregoing items, first, under date March 4, 1820, lived in Pearl street. He took great interest in horticulture, and it was from him that the Houghton Horticultural Society took its name. To him, also, we are indebted for that superior gooseberry known as the Houghton seedling. Rufus P. Hovey, named under date March 8, 1820, came to Lynn in or about 1816, and opened an office near the Hotel. He was a young lawyer of good education and fine abil- ities but destined soon to close his life. He died of consumption before attaining the fame and honorable position which his friends fondly believed awaited him. Under dates March 13 and
151
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Hazeltine.
April 10, 1820, appears the name of Henry A. Breed. This gen- tleman, who is still among us, active and genial, was then a young business man. At the time of the transactions recorded he kept a "West India goods and variety store," in the west wing of the Hotel. A few years after, he became extensively engaged in building and other semi-speculative enterprises, some of which were on a large scale. Possessing a sanguine temperament and great physical activity, he did more than almost any other to give "a start" to the Lynn of that period, and is deserving of the gratitude of many now living for personal aid. But he has had his ups and downs ; his share of praise and censure ; and has shown himself neither a fawner nor a misanthrope. We can hardly call to mind one who has more reason to keenly feel the disregard of some now in prosperity who owe the foundation of their good fortune to him. Preserved Sprague, who is charged by the Doctor with a visit on April 28, 1820, was a farmer, and lived on Nahant street. He wore a long beard, which excited the wonder, if not the admiration of almost every one he met, as it was the fashion, at that time, for men to be close-shaven ; mustaches, especially, being an utter abomination. Esquire Daniel Henshaw, who under date May 21, 1836, is credited with writing the Doctor's will - at a price which would make a lawyer of this day stare if it did not induce some ejaculation indicated by a verb that rhymes with stare - was a legal practitioner who settled in Lynn, in or about 1833. He had a classical education ; but being one who had that rigorous sense of justice which for- bids the advocacy of any cause of even doubtful right, and being withal of a retiring disposition, never had much of an active court business. He was a good writer, with very little of the picturesque in his style, and as editor of the Lynn Record - the first paper of that name here-then under the proprietor- ship of Jonathan Buffum, produced articles that were extensively quoted and deservedly praised. The Record was an energetic advocate of the anti-masonic cause, of temperance, and anti-sla- very. It was to the house of Mr. Henshaw that the guard of ladies conducted George Thompson, the English anti-slavery orator, from the First Methodist meeting-house, when violence was threatened by the excited crowd; an account of which occurrence may be found in our Annals, under date, 1835. Mr.
152
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Hazeltine.
Henshaw was a man of strong religious principles conformable to the old Calvinistic faith.
Several other prominent residents whose names appear in these book charges will be remembered by our elderly people. But as something concerning most of them may be found where they are introduced, in alphabetical order, in this volume, it is unnecessary to go into details here. The Enoch Mudge for whom the Doctor drew a tooth, Feb. 21, 1819, being called from the meeting-house, was Rev. Enoch Mudge, father of the late Hon. Enoch Redington Mudge, and a most worthy minister of the Methodist denomination. Stephen Oliver, to whom $3, borrowed money, were paid, June 10, 1819; Jonathan Connor, who sold the Doctor six cords of wood, July 21, 1819; and Jonathan Buffum, who had 10 ounces of tamarinds, May 16, 1820, were all among the best-known business men in the place. Mr. Trevett, who borrowed the books, March 5, 1821, was Robert W. Trevett, the lawyer, who was at that time among the foremost of the Essex bar, and could understand the value of a good book as well as any man in town. Enoch Curtin, who was so sick as to require two visits, Nov. 3, 1821, was the poet whose pen was the one usually in requisition for odes, hymns, and other occa- sional pieces. Alonso Lewis, who also needed two visits, and medicine, March 29, 1834, was the Lynn bard and historian. Capt. Charles Merritt, who was supplied with pills, Feb, 18, 1835, at the postoffice door, was the deputy sheriff who so acceptably filled that disagreeable office for forty years.
The items quoted above from the books of Doctor Hazeltine are quite enough to show his exactness and methodical way of doing things even in those minor details which to most people appear frivolous. But that orderliness, no doubt, saved him from much of the tedious ransacking of the memory and many of the petty disputes to which less careful persons are constantly sub- jected ; and it was certainly an improvement on the method of keeping accounts adopted by another Lynn physician, well known to the writer, who made his charges on all sorts of odd scraps of paper, which he thrust indiscriminately into a bag, to which he resorted and drew out for collection when money was wanted. Some of the extracts may look as if selected for their quaintness or merely as curiosities ; but we have no such object.
153
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Hazeltine.
The design is to show the Doctor's great conscientiousness and care, as well as something of the state of things at that time.
In his religious connections, Dr. Hazeltine ranked with the Calvinistic Congregationalists. He was rigid and consistent, but yet too high-minded not to deferentially regard the opinions of others. His only daughter, Phebe, a very intelligent and alert lady, though not without noticeable peculiarities, became an Episcopalian ; and we have some recollection of her once re- marking that her father expressed approval rather than disappro- bation of her sentiments. His religious tendencies were not merely theoretical, for there was evidently an earnest desire to give them a practical bearing upon the daily walk. His first book of charges is prefaced by two pages of " Precepts to be read and duly regarded before charging." They are chiefly taken from the Scriptures, and if lived up to, would make an almost perfect man. The twenty-ninth appears as a dictate of "con- science," and reads in this wise: " In all thy endeavors to alle- viate human misery, be careful by no means to increase it, either by negligent, careless, or unfeeling attention to the sick, nor by extravagant charges for thy services, nor by oppressive or inhu- man measures in collecting thy demands." That he was truly conscientious, and never disposed to thwart the kindly endeavors of nature to restore health, by uncertain experiments, cannot be doubted.
The house in which Dr. Hazeltine lived during the whole of his life here, is still standing on the south side of Essex street, between High and Pearl streets. It was for many years one of the best and most conspicuous in town, and no other building was near enough to obscure the very commanding view. The site was for a hundred and fifty years the chosen seat of a line of worthies of the healing art. Dr. John Henry Burchstead, who came from Silecia, in 1685, settled here ; after him, his son, Dr. Henry Burchstead, lived on the place, and it is thought built the present house, which was subsequently the residence of Dr. Peter G. Robbins; who came in 1805. From the latter, Dr. Hazeltine had it, in 1817, probably at first, as a tenant, the earliest entry in one of his books being a charge against Dr. Robbins for money paid Micajah Cutler for whitewashing and laying a hearth. It is now so hemmed in by other buildings that a
I54
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Henchman. Hitchings.
passer-by would hardly notice it. For many years it was known as the house with the great whale bones for gate-posts, and more often inquired for by strangers, than any other house in town, as the cottage of Moll Pitcher, the celebrated fortune-teller, stood on the opposite hill-side, and the stealthy visitor thus sought to conceal the real object of his inquiry. Dr. Robbins was father of Rev. Chandler Robbins, a prominent Unitarian minister, in Boston, and Rev. Samuel D. Robbins, the third minister of the Unitarian society in Lynn ; and in that house the reverend bro- thers were born.
Dr. Hazeltine was born in Concord, N. H., Nov. 28, 1773, and died July 10, 1836, as noted in our Annals of that year.
HENCHMAN, Rev. NATHANIEL - minister of the First Parish, forty-one years ; settled in 1720; died in 1761, aged 61. His residence was on North Common street, a few rods east of Mall. See Annals, 1761.
HENTZ, CAROLINE LEE- an accomplished prose writer. See Annals, 1680.
HITCHINGS, Major EZRA - was born April 15, 1765, in what is now Saugus, and died at his residence in Lynn, Nov. 26, 1829. For many years he was one of the most marked characters in the town and had great influence, though not generally in the most prominent offices. His military title was conferred by the position he held in the militia regiment of Lynn. He was also a freemason, a member of the old fire-club- a voluntary organization for mutual assistance in case of fire-and one or two other brotherhoods, social or benevolent. He loved music and with his neighbor, Master Blanchard, and his bass-viol, no doubt passed many an enjoyable evening hour.
But the image of the Major looms up most conspicuously at his West India goods store, on Boston street, at the corner of Federal. There he was to be found at all. reasonable hours, ready to deal out his commodities, even to the cent's worth, to discuss religion with the minister or deacon, politics with 'Squire Carnes, Amos Rhodes, the elder, Benjamin Massey, Samuel Mulliken, Daniel Collins, or any town notable; or to sally forth
155
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Hitchings.
with measuring rod in hand at the beck of any teamster with his load from the woods. And, shifting the scene a little, we behold him if it be a day of military parade, standing at his door, intently watching the evolutions of a straggling militia company in the elaborate exercise of whipping-the-snake, or some similarly picturesque manœuvre, in the little square fronting his premises.
The business of the Major yielded him a comfortable mainte- nance, but nothing more, for the multiplicity of bad debts, in those days, was a sad draw-back to the retail trader. It was a day of small things. The shoe-manufacturers did a limited business, drew orders on the retailers, and in some cases made periodical failures. He was a careful purchaser and avoided all dishonest tricks of trade ; would not even water the rum he sold ; and could not comprehend the exalted morality of those virtuous brethren in the trade who, with consciences as weak as their own " extended " liquors, sought to convince him that to reduce the drink was a mercy to the poor deluded toper.
The Major was in many ways a most valuable man for any neighborhood ; sound in judgment, liberal in opinions, and ever ready to give his best advice to those who sought his counsel. He was not much given to hilarity or jets of humor, but rather inclined to the dignified and thoughtful mood, though by no means unsocial. With his stern sense of duty he had kindly sympathies, though occasional bluntness of expression might give a false coloring to his real feeling. Elderly people paid much deference to him, but from some cause, he failed to secure the good-will of the juvenile fraternity. In short, the boys had little love for him, though it is not believed that any were inclined to manifest their dislike in a rough way. His dignity of bearing was enough to have prevented any thing of that sort. It was probably difficult for him to come down to their level, if, indeed, he had power to discern where they stood. Some of us were inclined to think he never could have been a boy himself. One day a little fellow went into his store and asked for something for Mr. Benjamin Newhall, and was met with the repellent ejacu- lation, uttered in a voice not the most placid and with an air any thing but winsome, "Why do'nt you say your father ; don't you suppose I know who you are, and who your father is ; I hope I know neighbors who have always lived next door." The
156
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Holyoke. Hood.
same lad had occasion presently again to go to the store, and remembering the admonition was careful to say " for my father." " And who is your father ?" was the quick response, in the old inclement voice ; "do you suppose I know every boy in the street, and who his father is ; why do'nt you give your father's name?" That boy was pretty sure, ever after, to say, " for my father, Mr. Benjamin Newhall." These remarks are not made for the purpose of casting reflections on a really worthy man, or to unnecessarily exhibit his foibles, but for the opportunity of suggesting that most of us might profit by the example. It is easy to win the good-will of the juvenile legion by whom we are surrounded, and quite as easy to lose it. And is it not much better to have the sympathy and friendship of those who are growing up around us, and on whom we shall surely be more or less dependent, than to have their ill-will and opposition ? But he was not blessed with any children of his own; yet he adopted several, whom he brought up in the most creditable manner. In this matter, however, he was seconded by his excellent wife who was undoubtedly entitled to a large share of the praise due for such commendable benevolence.
The Major was one of the early and active members of the Unitarian society, did what he could in a pecuniary way, but more efficiently aided by his exemplary life. His wife was of the same faith. She was a sister of Col. James Robinson, the first postmaster, and acted well her part in the management of their hospitable and happy home. She was a woman of much force of character, lively and sensible ; and her conversation, even in old age, was not only cheerful, but marked by a vein of attractive humor, and replete with pleasing reminiscences.
HOLYOKE, EDWARD - a farmer and large land-holder ; ances- tor of the respectable Holyoke family of New England ; a man of note in the Colony and honored in her councils. See Annals, 1630, and other early dates. His autograph is on the Armitage Petition.
HOOD, GEORGE - the first Mayor of Lynn - was twice elected to the office, and inaugurated May 14, 1850, and April 7, 1851. He died June 29, 1859, aged 52. For biographical notice see
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.