USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 22
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 22
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 22
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 22
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 22
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LYNN, IN 1750 AND IN 1817. A New York merchant who travelled east, in 1750, says he put up at Mr. Ward's, in “ Lyn, which is a small Country Town of abt 200 Houses, very pleas- antly situated, & affords a Beautifull Rural Prospect." He arrived at about one o'clock, " and dynd on fryd Codd." After dinner, being refreshed by a glass of wine, he pursued his journey to Salem, " through a barren, rocky country," and the next day, after visiting Marblehead, returned to Boston, stopping again at Mr. Ward's, in Lynn, where he "dyned upon a fine mongrel goose."
In 1817, John Palmer, of King's Lynn, England, while on his travels in the United States and Canada, an account of which he afterwards published, in London, found occasion thus to speak of our vicinity : " After crossing [September 11] a bridge which joins Charlestown to Chelsea, another small suburb, we found the road very excellent, carried on for some miles through salt marshes where the hay stacks are all placed on frames to prevent
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their being damaged by high tides, which sometimes overflow the level. We passed through the town of Lynn, noted for its extensive manufacture of elegant silk and cloth shoes. Morse gives the number made in 1795 at 300.000 pairs, and in 1802 computes them to amount to 400.000 pairs. At present, I am told, the trade is on the decline, the spirit of emigration having seized many of the apprentices and journeymen. Lynn contains four or five thousand inhabitants, but presents little appearance of compactness. As is common in the United States, the houses are spread over a wide tract of ground. Leaving Lynn [and proceeding towards Salem] the remainder of the journey is through a rocky country."
The barren aspect of the country between Lynn and Salem, noticed by these travellers, though somewhat improved in our day, yet furnishes evidence that they were observing chroniclers. The pestiferous wood-wax is now an added annoyance.
FIRST CORN FROM THE WEST. It will be remembered that the summer of 1816 is stated to have been remarkably cold, in New England, that very little corn ripened, that there was a frost in every month of the year, and that snow fell in June. In connection with this it may be interesting to state that Captain James Mudge, of Lynn, during the year, brought to Boston, from Cincinnati, Ohio, in the brig Cincinnatus, a cargo of corn in the ear. This was the first sea-going vessel ever built in Cincinnati, and so lively was the interest felt, that many in different parts of New England went to considerable pains to procure an ear of the corn to preserve as a memento of the enterprise. The vessel was built in 1814, by John Brooks, an emigrant from Maine.
SINGULAR RECORD. The following remarkable entry appears on the public records of Lynn : " Married, Daniel Gowing to Mary Bowers, Dec. 25, 1764, by Rev. Mr. Adams. Said Gowing took the sd Mary naked, except a sheet & shift that she borrowed." Rev. Mr. Adams was minister of the Lynnfield parish. Proba- bly the bride appeared in that condition under the apprehension that if she brought nothing to her husband he could not be held responsible for any existing debt of hers. But why might she not have borrowed a gown as well as the other articles ?
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RECORDS OF LYNN. In the preservation of her earliest records Lynn has been unfortunate. Yet it is probable that for many years they were kept in a manner so loose and imper- fect as to have been hardly worth preserving, as a whole, though they undoubtedly contained some things that should have en- sured their safe custody. The county records, however, supply, in the form of deeds, wills, inventories, depositions, and so forth, a great portion of the information the loss of which would be most seriously felt. For instance : among the county files may be found the copy made by Andrew Mansfield, of the land allot- ments of 1638.
The earliest regular town records now in existence commence in 1691. But there was an order passed in 1715 requiring that some of the previous records, then in a dilapidated condition, should be transcribed ; and the order was complied with to the extent of a few pages, it having been left to the selectmen to carry it out in such manner as they thought best. The copies relate to matters as far back as 1661.
The little volumes of records of "Marriages, Births and Deaths in the Town of Lynn," with the exception of the first, are yet in the custody of the city clerk ; and in the title-page of the second, is this note : " The first volume is lost. In 1820 I found this volume in ruins, bound it and furnished it with an index. Preserve it carefully. ALONZO LEWIS." These volumes contain quite a number of what are called " genealogies " of the old families, and are very useful, in many cases, in tracing pedigrees ; but they are not free from errors ; and the details are frequently so imperfect and involved as to occasion doubt and perplexity. Much difficulty arises from the identity of names, as middle ones were then seldom used. At one time, for instance there were eight persons here of the name James Newhall, not one having a middle name, but each relying for his identity upon some nickname benevolently bestowed by his neighbors ; marks of distinction, however, which could not appear on the public records. These " genealogical " records have been copied into a proper book, with an alphabetically arranged index, which adds greatly to the facility for examination ; but the copying afforded an opportunity, not altogether unimproved, to add to the errors of the originals.
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It need not be added that ever since Lynn became a city, her records have been kept in the most careful manner ; and indeed for many years before the adoption of the Charter, there was little reason to complain of the competency or faithfulness of our recording clerks.
The First Parish records extend back only to 1721-2; and they are the earliest church records that have been preserved.
MATRIMONIAL FINESSE. In our biographical sketch of Mr. Lewis, in the 1865 edition of the History of Lynn, an "interme- diate" matrimonial companion is spoken of. The romantic affair of the supposed valid second marriage was the occasion of much comment among his friends. He unquestionably died without a doubt that she had, at the time of the separation, a former husband living, whatever his suspicions may have been as to some of her other and more equivocal declarations. About fourteen years after the death of Mr. Lewis, however, the writer was informed by a worthy priest of the Catholic church, that he had received a letter from the lady herself, who was then in London, informing him of her conversion to the Romish faith, and confessing that the story of her previous marriage was a fiction, framed by herself for the purpose of severing her connec- tion with Mr. Lewis, under whose "gentle control " she had become restive. If this was true, she must have had a confed- erate in the person of a young man, for a marital claimant certainly did appear here in Lynn. Mr. Lewis himself, in con- siderable perturbation one morning informed the writer that he had just had an interview with such a one and requested some friendly interposition for the settlement of the unpleasant affair. A young literary flirt does not usually prove the most suitable conjugal companion for a staid citizen of advanced years. His age was fifty-six, and hers seventeen, at the time of the marriage, as the hymeneal notice in the newspapers stated.
SIAMESE TWINS. It was in 1831 that the famous Siamese twins, Chang and Eng, so mysteriously united in person, were first exhibited in this vicinity. During the warm season of that year they were for a short time rusticating in Lynnfield, and while out on a gunning excursion, one day, became so irritated
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by being followed and stared at, by men and boys, that they committed a breach of the peace, were taken before a magis- trate's court, and put under bonds. It came near becoming a serious question how one could be punished by imprisonment, should it come to that, if the other were innocent. The difficulty vanished, however, when it appeared that both were guilty. They died in North Carolina, in the winter of 1873, within two hours of each other, aged 63 years.
FUNERAL EXPENSES. Much has been said, of late, and with justice, concerning the extravagance so commonly indulged in, on the burial of the dead. The expenditures for casket, floral decorations, carriages, and so forth, have become really burden- some to persons of limited income. Many seem to think it mean not to follow the fashion in these matters, and mean also to dis- pute any charge of those who furnish the appliances, however exorbitant such charge may be. But does not a sentiment very different from love for the departed or grief for one's own loss, rule here ? Certainly it is not in ostentatious display that the grieved heart most naturally seeks relief. Of course we all realize that no good can come to the departed by glitter and parade, however costly they may be. Nor can they heal affec- tion's deeper wounds. It would be truly lamentable if the time should ever come when heart-relieving ceremonials were dispensed with at the burial of the dead ; but garish pomp is but fast fading drapery about a grave.
In early New England times the dead were committed to their last resting places with very little ceremony beyond the proces- sion of mourning friends ; the coffin was rude; and seldom was a prayer offered, an omission, however, that probably arose from anxiety to avoid any thing that approached the popish custom of praying for the dead. But before the beginning of the last century, new and strange customs began to appear, and expendi- tures were made for purposes more reprehensible than any extravagance of this day. Indeed funerals were sometimes made seasons of jollification. Especially when the deceased was a minister or other prominent personage, spirituous liquors were provided, and gloves and rings presented. And these customs prevailed to some extent even down to times within the memory
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of persons now living. Here is a copy of the charges incurred at the burial of Rev. Mr. Brown, of Reading, in 1733 :
£ s. d.
To Thomas Eaton, for provisions, . 2 I 0
Nathaniel Eaton, for fetching up the wine, 0 15 0
Lt. Nathaniel Parker, for 5 qts. Rhom [rum], Samuel Poole, for digging Mr. Brown's grave,
0 8 0
Landlord Wesson, for Rhom [rum], 0 10
o 8
6
Wm. Cowdry, for making the coffin,
0 15
Andrew Tyler, of Boston, 6 gold rings for funeral,
10 18 0
Benj. Fitch, of Boston, Gloves, etc.,
I7 0 O
Mrs. Martha Brown. for wine furnished,
5 0 0
Eben Storer, of Boston, sundries, 8 0 0
Total, 45 15 6
Until a comparatively recent period the burial places in the rural districts of New England were generally neglected spots, overgrown with rank weeds and all manner of unseemly vegetation. And we cannot fail to rejoice that these unsightly enclosures are fast giving place to beautiful cemeteries, whose graceful adornments are a perpetual delight to the meditative mourner. The simple monument that records the name and virtues of a dear departed one, however inexpensive or rude it may be, will long out-last the memory of any pomp or ceremonial that may have attended the committal of the body to the earth.
SPECIE TRANSPORTATION. John Adams, afterwards President of the United States, but then a young lawyer, travelling his circuit, accompanied by his wife, mentions, under date Nov. 3, 1766, having "oated" at Martin's -the celebrated old Anchor Tavern, in what is now East Saugus - on his way to attend the court at Salem. And returning, a few days after, he again "oated " at Martin's, "where we saw," he adds, "five boxes of dollars, containing, as we were told, about eighteen thousand of them, going in a horse-cart from Salem Custom House to Boston, in order to be shipped for England. A guard of armed men, with swords, hangers, pistols and muskets attended."
VALUE OF A SHIRT, IN 1729. There was a complaint made by Benjamin Newhall, of Lynn, before Theophilus Burrill, a Justice of the Peace, in behalf of His Majesty, the King, "That whereas some evil minded person, contrary to the peace of our
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Sovereign Lord the King and the laws of his Majesty's Province of Massachusetts, did on or upon the 28th day of this Instant month of December, 1729, (being the Lord's day) steale, purloine, or Take and karry a way a new Shirtt of your Complainant's ffit for a Small Bodyed man, Either out of the new Dwelling hous where sd complainantt Lives, or verry neare there to, which Shirt was made of cotton and Linning cloath, a middling sort of cloath, valued at about Twelve Shillings, and Doth Wehemently Suspect," &c. A search warrant was issued, but it does not appear whether the property was recovered. The " new Dwelling hous," it is presumed, was the two-story wooden house, known as the Hallowell house, still standing on North Common street, two or three rods east of the old Episcopal church.
FIRST DIRECTORY OF LYNN. Early in 1832 the writer pur- chased of Charles F. Lummus, the first Lynn printer, the little office which he had been running for about six years, and running to such disadvantage that he had run out the small means with which he commenced. It was the first printing office in Lynn, and very poorly supplied with material. By the sale, Mr. Lum- mus found himself out of employment ; and though not inclined to excessive industry, his circumstances required that he should not remain in idleness. He was about thirty years of age, a bachelor, and a boarder at Lynn Hotel, at that time perhaps the most genteel boarding place in the town. His habits were good, and his expenses small.
In casting about, under these circumstances, for something to turn his hand to, he conceived the project of compiling a Direc- tory, the population then numbering about 6.200. A short season of pleasant work would by such means be afforded, as in collect- ing the information and procuring subscribers, he could travel about in pleasant weather, gossip with all sorts of people, and suspend labor when he felt inclined. He knew every body, every body knew him, and there were few who would not cordially greet him, and render such assistance as was in their power. So the work went on. When the information was gathered and the subscribers obtained the printing was to be done. There was no office in Lynn with sufficient type of a suitable kind, and he made an arrangement with an establishment in Boston. He did
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the type-setting himself, and as might have been expected the work did not proceed with remarkable vigor. However, it was a new thing, and the subscribers, not knowing exactly what they had a right to expect, did not manifest much impatience.
In the latter part of May the Directory made its appearance. It was in the shape of a duodecimo of seventy-two pages, was in paper covers, contained the variety of information usually found in works of the kind, was as accurate as it could well be made, and on the whole was quite creditable. But in a pecuniary way it was not much of a success, for Mr. Lummus afterwards told the writer that he realized only enough to make scanty day wages
Such is a history of the first Directory of Lynn, copies of which may yet occasionally be found in some of the older homes. As the first printer of Lynn, and the compiler of her first Direc- tory, the name of Mr. Lummus will survive long after many who were more successful in " heaping up riches " are forgotten.
ELECTION DAY. To some of our elder people the mention of this now unnoticed anniversary will call up recollections of a peculiar character. The ancient Colony Charter ordained "That yearely, once in the yeare forever hereafter, namely, the last Wednesday in Easter tearme yeareley, the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Assistants of the said Company, and all other officers of the said Company shalbe, in the Generall Court or Assembly to be held for that day or tyme, newly chosen for the yeare ensueing by such greater part of the said Company for the tyme being then and there present."
Thus it was that the last Wednesday of May became the famous Election Day. During many of its latter years the period was more commonly called "'lection time," for the last four days of the week were embraced in the popular observance. And it was not till 1831, that the day so long noted above almost any other, was compelled, through a constitutional amendment, to fall back into the ranks of unnoted days. The worthy old legislators evidently considered this annually recurring election of their chief officers, a matter of very grave importance, fearing, no doubt, that their liberties might be endangered by such abuses as they had seen arise from longer official terms, and from modes of appointment in which the great body of the people
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were not allowed to participate. Their anxious watchfulness may be seen all along. At a General Court held in 1639, the matter was treated in this manner : " It is solemly & vnanimosly decreed & established, that henceforth vpon the day or dayes appointed by our patent to hold or yearely Court for the election of our Governor, Deputy Governor, Assistants & other generall officers, being the last Wednesday of every Easter tearme, that the ffreemen of this iurisdiction shall either in person or by proxie, without any sumons, attend & consumate the elections. . . As for the place of publike assembling, it shalbee wher the pceeding Court of Elections was held, vnlesse then & there some other place shalbee assigned. This acte of ors wee conceive so nearely to concerne the good of this country that we earnestly intreate it may never be repealed by any future Courte."
This last sentence we put in italic for the purpose of empha- sizing the admonition evidently intended. And it is agreeable to be able to remark that essentially the principle so urged by our sagacious forefathers became so interwoven with the very texture of our political economy that it has never yet ceased to work for good.
Why the popular observance of Election Day should have taken the turn it finally did, is a mystery. Our younger people can have little conception of the style of entertainment and diversion by which it was characterized. It was not like Fast, Decoration, Independence, or Thanksgiving day. Exactly how it was observed a hundred and fifty years ago, we cannot tell ; but how it was during the first quarter of the present century many now living can attest, and surely will agree that in view of its moral influence, it was not abolished any too soon.
It was pleasant to see the young men and maidens arrayed in their new "election suits," promenading with smiling faces, and joining in woodland pic-nics, or in merry household gather- ings. And the decorations from the abundant floral provision of the season, were always to be admired. The "election cake," too, so spicy and so glossy, which was provided in every house, with the slightly stimulating but not inebriating diet-drink made glad the young hearts. But the egg-nog, the flip, the muddy ale, and other fight-inspiring drinks that freely flowed in the
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public dance houses, were the occasion of such irregularities, as happily have no match in these days. There were dance houses in various neighborhoods, notably one known as " Old Willis's," at North Bend, where dissipated men and lewd women assembled to spend the day and night in disgraceful revelry. It is hard to tell how such disreputable proceedings originated, for there was certainly nothing inherent in the original purpose to produce them.
For many of its latter years, the day was popularly known as "Nigger Election," which questionable appellation was given, as some have supposed, to distinguish it from Artillery Election, which occurred on the first Monday in June, and which still holds its place in the calendar. But the true reason for its having been so called no doubt was that so long as slavery existed in Massachusetts, our colored brethren - who were allowed by their masters an annual vacation of four days, beginning with the day on which the General Court made their elections - were accustomed then, in imitation of their masters, to assemble on Boston Common or in some other convenient place, and proceed to elect rulers from their own ranks ; or rather imitation rulers, rulers without authority and without subjects. They engaged in their sportive political ceremonies with a keen relish, the more so, perhaps from having no real interest to be anxious about, and wound up with scenes of unlimited jollity. And the whole of their vacation was marked by excesses such as might be expected from a class so ignorant and so excitable when freed from restraint ; for the masters did not interfere till the utmost verge of decency had been reached, good-naturedly submitting to the hard hits levelled against themselves, and possibly profit- ing a little by some shrewd allusion. Perhaps these excesses of the negroes gave rise to the vile manner in which the season was observed by the lower class of some of our own complexion ; and perhaps, also, " election time" extended to four days, in accordance with the limit of the vacation allowed the slaves. Pompey, a slave belonging to Daniel Mansfield, of Lynn, who is referred to on page 198 of this volume, and who is stated to have been a prince in his native land, appears to have had regal honors bestowed upon him, though destitute both of subjects and au- thority.
As has before appeared, the Court of Elections was abolished
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in 1831 ; and then, of course, "election time" ceased to be observed. We have seen what indulgences characterized its latter days. And it may not be impertinent to ask if there are not other seasons which are now observed in a manner quite as inconsistent with the original purpose, if not in a manner quite as reprehensible. How about our annual Fast ? Do we regard it as a day of "fasting, humiliation and prayer," or as a day for out-door sports and in-door games? Some good Christian peo- ple, notably among them the late Rev. Dr. Cooke, have thought, in view of the turn things have taken, that it would be wise to discontinue altogether the appointment of such a day. But would it not be better to reform than abolish? It is rather surprising that one of Dr. Cooke's spirit should counsel a course that looks so much like a surrender. Then there is Independence day, the day on which, in times past, in the public celebration, the best orator and the best poet were called to spread their wings in oration and ode, and patriotism and lofty sentiment freely gushed in toast and banquet speech, with interludes of trumpet notes and song. But now "Young America" rather has the ascendancy hereabout ; and the "antique and horrible" displays, the tub races and the bicycles take the leading part - all well enough, perhaps, in their way, but seemingly not quite up to the requirements of the dignity of so grand an occasion.
One word more about Artillery Election. It need not be remarked that the name is derived from the fact that on that day - the first Monday of June-the officers of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery are elected. The company was organ- ized as early as 1638, and quite a list of Lynn men have been members. It continues in vigorous existence, but is, at this day, not so much needed as a regulator in tactics, as it was in former years ; in short it is now rather an organization of respectable military citizens who meet in a semi-social way, than one ad- hering to the strict rules and requirements of martial life.
They have occasionally on parade days visited Lynn. Any one in passing along Tremont street, in Boston, may observe near the outer wall of the King's Chapel burying ground an ancient gravestone bearing the name Hezekiah Usher. This individual was one of the original members of the organization. A son of his, of the same name, was an officer in the company, and
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died in Lynn, though he was not a resident, in July 1697 ; and they marched hither to escort his remains to their last resting place beside those of his father. Our eleventh Mayor, Col. Roland G. Usher, is of the same ancestral line ; and he became a member of the company in 1851.
SHAYS'S REBELLION. The following items appear in an account presented by the town of Lynn for reimbursement by the state for supplies furnished on the occasion of this memorable disturb- ance, which took place in 1786: " One thousand weight of Beef, at 2d. I farthing & 1-2 a pound ; four hundred and thirty four pound of Bread, at 19s. pr Hundred ; twenty two gallons of Rum, at 2s. 8d. pur gal. ; a Barril to carry the Rum in, 4s. ; one Bushel of salt, 2s. and a Bag 2s. ; four Camp kittle at 5s. a peace, lost ; the selectmen eleven days at 4s. pur Day for necessary time spent to collect sd things," &c.
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