History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 14

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892 > Part 14

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).

We find in the same letter the following interesting statement :

" Royal Hathaway stated that Benjamin Dellingham was captain and his father, Elezer Hathaway, was lieutenant of the company that built Fort Phoenix, and his im- pressions were that it was begun previous to the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, and that it was about two years in building."

Mr. Hathaway also stated that there were eight companies of sol- diers from the township of Dartmouth, and that his father succeeded Captain Dellingham in command of one of them and was stationed at the fort.

Judging by rolls that are still in existence, it is reasonably sure that Dartmouth township furnished at least 500 men for the army during the last great struggle for liberty. She must also have had a large number of seamen in the naval service. Our township was in the front rank of the battles fought by the colonies. There were Tories in Dart- mouth, certainly, and so there were in Boston ; indeed the aristocracy of that town was never in full sympathy with the cause. New York was a hot bed of Toryism, and the same may be said of Newport, Phil- adelphia and Baltimore. All over the land there were men who never lost their love for the home government, and it would have been strange if Dartmouth did not have her proportion of such. It is a

141

REVIVAL OF BUSINESS.

grievous wrong, however, to class the Society of Friends with the To- ries. Their non-resistance does not prove them traitors. Just so far as their religious principles permitted, they were friendly to the Amer- ican cause. They could not bear arms and at the same time be true to the principles of their religious faith.

In closing this account of our local Revolutionary history, it is per- haps proper to state that it has been compiled with all possible care, from records that were very incomplete, and in many cases from the reminiscences of aged people who are even now beyond the reach of the living.

CHAPTER X.

FROM 1779 TO 1810.

Town Proceedings During and After the War - Prices of Provisions - The Qua- kers in Relation to the War - Incorporation of the Town and First Officers - Divis- ion of the Town -Opening of Streets - The Small-pox -- Measures for Its Exter- mination - The First Newspaper - Early Advertisements - Primitive Modes of Travel - Difficulties of Early Maritime Operations - Public Events of the Period.

T HERE seems to have been but little public business transacted by the authorities of Dartmouth between the years 1776 and 1779, excepting the regular election of officers ; and possibly for one or more years even this may have been omitted. Attached to the warrant call- ing the town meeting for 1779 are the names of Aulden Spooner, Thomas Kempton, Benjamin Russell, jr., and Job Almy as selectmen, and as these were not the ones chosen in 1776, it would seem that there must have been a town meeting in 1778. In 1779 the town chose Jon- athan Taber, Nathan Richmond, Robert Earl, Jireh Willis, Gamaliel Bryant, Obed Ney (Nye), John Taber, Paul Ingraham, Elihu Gifford, Benjamin Babcock, Elisha Russell, Henry Soul and Stephen Davis a committee of safety, correspondence and inspection. This committee was empowered to furnish all the men called from the town for the de-

142

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

fense of the country. In 1777 the General Court passed the monopoly act, intended to prevent monopoly and oppression. It authorized the towns to fix certain prices on staple commodities, which prices could not be exceeded by those having such goods for sale without breaking the law and thus rendering themselves liable to arrest and their goods to confiscation. In 1779 the selectmen of Dartmouth prepared such a list. Some of the prices were as follows :

Good merchantable imported wheat, per bushel, 0

Indian corn, per bushel,

Good fresh pork, well fatted, per pound,

8 0

Imported salt, per bushel,

0 10 0

Good West India rum, per gallon by the hogshead.

6 8

Good New England rum, per gallon,

3 10

Horse-keeping with good English hay, per night, or 24 hours, 0

2 0

The best broadcloth manufactured in this town, per yard, . 0 14 0

Mowing and reaping and other labor, from 25th March to last of September, per day, 0

Good coffee, per pound,

DIET AT PUBLIC HOUSES.

For a dinner of boiled and roasted meats and sauce, equivalent, 0

A common dinner,

A common supper and breakfast, each, 0

0 10

A night's lodging,

0 4

At the annual meeting in March, 1780, Robert Bennet 2d, William White, Jirah Swift, jr., Thomas Kempton, and Thomas Crandon were chosen a committee to supply the soldiers' families during the ensuing year. It was voted at a town meeting held October 14, of the same year, that 1,057 pounds and sixteen shillings, silver money, be raised by way of tax on the inhabitants of the town by the 25th of December of that year, " to be paid to the committee who shall be chosen for purchasing the town's proportion of beef, sent for by the General Court to supply the Continental army," and "the overplus of said sum (if any), when said beef is paid for, to be paid into the town treasury."

The ship Bedford, Captain Moores, belonging to William Rotch, jr .. who at this date lived in Nantucket, sailed for London with a cargo of

Men's best shoes, made of good neats leather, per pair,

Best Muscovado sugar, at the place where it is first landed, per lb. 0 0 Good English hay, per ton, 4 10

143

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

oil in February, 1783. She arrived in the Downs on the day of the signing of the treaty of peace, and was the first to display the Amer- ican flag.I

At a monthly meeting of the Quakers of Dartmouth, held in 1783, a petition was prepared and presented to the selectmen and other offi- cers of Dartmouth, requesting that " no more publications of political or military matters be set up or posted up on their meeting-houses." Also that notices of marriages should not be posted upon their meeting- houses. The petition states at length that the quarterly and yearly meetings, to which the Quakers were subordinate, recommended that all such publications were disagreeable to the society, and that all or many of them were "such as their religious principles enjoin them to have no concern with," etc.

The town of New Bedford was incorporated in 1787, and at the first town meeting, held in the Congregational meeting-house, March 21, completed an organization and elected officers as follows: Selectmen, John West, Isaac Pope, William Tallman ; clerk and treasurer, John Pickens; assessors, Bartholomew Aiken, Joseph Taber, Thomas Kemp- ton ; surveyors of lumber, Benjamin Taber, Benjamin Dillingham, Bar- tholomew Aken,2 Jethro Allen; inspector of fish, Peleg Huttleston ; constable and collector, northwest district, Gamaliel Bryant; northeast district, Samuel Bowerman ; southeast district, Joseph Damon ; south- west district, Abishar Shearman ; Robert Bennit, sr., Paul Wing, Job Jenne, Elisha Cushman, northeast district; Barnabas Russell, Caleb Russell, sr., Jireh Willis, southwest district ; Samuel Hathaway, of Scon- ticut, William Dexter, Joseph Damon, James Kempton, Benjamin Church, Bartholomew Aiken, southeast district; John Chaffee, Chris- topher Hammond, William White, William Andrews, northwest dis-

1 " The ship Bedford, Captain Moores, belonging to Massachusetts, arrived in the Downs on the 3d of February, passed Gravesend on the 3d, and was reported at the Custom House on the 6th inst. She was not allowed regular entry until some consultation had taken place between the commis- sioners of the customs and the Lords of Council, on account of the many acts of Parliament in force against the rebels of America. She was loaded with 487 butts of whale oil, is American built, manned wholly by American seamen, wears the rebel colors, and belongs to the Island of Nan- tucket, in Massachusetts. This is the first vessel which has displayed the thirteen rebellious stripes. of America in any British port. The vessel is at Horseledour, a little below the Tower, and is in tended to return immediately to New England."-Barnard's History of Eng and.

2 The reader will notice that in many cases in this work names are spelled in more than one way. Such is not the case, however, except in transcriptions from records, which it is considered advisa- ble to take literally. In some few instances families have changed the spelling of their name.

144

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

trict ; wardens, Maj. George Claghorn, Capt. Benjamin Dillingham, Isaac Drew, Amos Simmons ; tithingmen, Zadok Maxfield, William Allen, Pardon Taber ; fence viewers, Samuel West, Silas Sweet, Ste- phen Taber, Henry Jenne; cullers of staves, Daniel Ricketson, John Shearman, Benjamin Dillingham; hog reeves, Sampson Spooner, Sam- uel Tupper, jr., Gilbert Bennit, Daniel Smith, Seth Hathaway.

The four districts above alluded to, into which the town was divided, were made up of the sections separated north and south "by the har- bor and river, and east and west by the highway, beginning in the line between this town and that of Dartmouth, at the bridge about twenty rods eastward of the house where James Peckham, deceased, last dwelt, and leading easterly to the bridge at the Head of said harbor and thence still easterly by the dwelling house of Hannaniah Cornish to Rochester line."

In the records of the proceedings of this first town meeting are the following items which possess some degree of interest: That " there be one person employed as a town schoolmaster; " that "the wages of selectmen, assessors and others employed, shall be four shillings per day ; " that " the Hering Fishery at the head of Acquisnot Harbor be inspected and see what will be proper to be done in respect to opening the dams &c., to facilitate the passage of Alewives up the River ;" that "John Pickens (town treasurer), as soon as money sufficient there- for comes into the town treasury, shall purchase a Rhiem of paper for the purpose of making Books convenient for the Records and Accompts of s'd town."

A petition was prepared this year by a large number of inhabitants of " Acoakset " village in the town of Westport, praying that, as that portion had been set off from the town of Dartmouth, the residents therein be excused from paying any of the back taxes, and from work- ing the highways in Dartmouth. On the 15th of September this peti- tion was granted by Dartmouth.

The town cast its first vote for governor of the State as follows : James Bowdoin, forty-one; John Hancock, 171. Three hundred and twenty pounds were assessed on the " polls and estates for the repair and amendment of the highways."

In the following year (1788) an additional section of North Water

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And.

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men of Ich: Bedford

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NEW BEDFORD IN 1795.

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145

THE SMALL-POX SCOURGE.

street, the easterly portion of Middle street, from the above highway, and North Second street from Middle street north, were opened as highways.

During this year small-pox visited the town, and its ravages were sufficiently serious to demand public action. At the town meeting held June 10, it was voted to build a pest house " 26 feet in length, 16 feet wide, and 7 feet posts, with double floors below and single floor above." A chimney was placed at one end, with a fire-place, and a room parti- tioned off from the other end. Two glass windows were provided. The house was located on Ebenezer Willis's land, and he was allowed six shillings for every person taken into the house. The question whether the town should take the matter of inoculation into consideration and act upon it was decided in the negative.

In 1790, Water, Middle, and a portion of Main streets in Fairhaven were accepted as highways. In 1791 the road on Clark's Point and in the following year that on Sconticut Neck, were also accepted.

In the last named year the small- pox again broke out in the village, with results far more distressing and fatal than those of four years ear- lier. It was about this time that inoculation was heralded as a remedy for this pestilence. Its introduction met with violent opposition in many parts of the country and often with disastrous results. This was especially true in New Bedford. In response to a petition signed by a number of citizens, a town meeting was called " to take into considera- tion the request for establishing an hospital for inoculation of the small- pox under such rules and regulations as may be thought best, and act and do at said meeting whatever may be thought proper to prevent its spreading in a natural or unlawful way." The meeting was held July 31, 1792, and the vote in favor of the hospital stood eighty-five to sixty-eight. A series of rules, regulations, and orders recommended by a committee, of which William Rotch, jr., was chairman, was adopted, making ample provision for the care of patients and for their isolation from other persons. Physicians, nurses, and a superintendent for the hospital were provided for, and apparently every precaution was taken to check the contagious disease. Following are the names of the com- mittee : William Rotch, jr., chairman ; Thomas Hazard, Lemuel Will- iants, Robert Bennett, jr., Gamaliel Bryant, John Howland, Alden Spooner, Eleazer Hathaway, Ebenezer Keen. 19

146

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

The committee recommended that the hospital be erected on West Island ; but at a town meeting held October 22, it was voted that four houses located in different parts of the town should be selected for in- oculating hospitals. This action seems to have been unwise and disas- trous. Had the plan of the committee been adopted, the disease could probably have been controlled by isolation and the rigid enforcement of the regulations. The malady was introduced into the town in the month of September by the very means that had been chosen to prevent it. The weather at this season, together with other local causes, was favor- able to the development of the disease in its most malignant form. It spread with great rapidity and with alarming results. About 100 per- sons died from the disease.

It should be remembered that this was before the discovery of vac- cination, and those who submitted to inoculation were forced to ex- perience the dread disease with all its attendant suffering and evil effects. The only favorable result expected for the inoculated was that the pa- tient could be better nursed and more humanely cared for in the hos- pital than elsewhere. In 1796 vaccination robbed this pestilence of . most of its horrors. Among those who died of small pox between Sep- tember, 1792, and January 1, 1793, are the following : Widow Dorothy Phillips and son John, Nathaniel Farr, Experience Pease, Polly Pease, Eunice Done, Phebe Jenne and son Silas, Thankful Pope and child Eunice, Jonathan Delano, Desire Taber and child, Edward Foster, Anna Russell, Phebe Kempton, Jonathan Smith, Lemuel Hathaway, Antipas Taber, James Sherman, a child of S. Proctor, jr., a child of Benjamin Drew, a child of Jonathan Jenne, a child of Abraham Russell, a child of Col. Edward Pope, a child of Asa Sherman, a child of Benjamin Howland, and a child of Humphrey Hathaway.

The Medley or New Bedford Marine Fournal .- The first newspaper published in the town was issued Tuesday, November 27, 1792. It was printed and published by John Spooner at his office near Rotch's wharf. A detailed description of this early paper may be found in the chapter devoted to the press. The editor announces, "by request of several gentlemen and for the information of the public," that " the street beginning at the four corners and running west is distinguished and known by the name of Union street, the street running north from

147

FIRST NEWSPAPERS- STAGE LINES.

said four corners, North street, the street running east, Prospect street, and that running south, Water street." 1

Advertisements were inserted "not to exceed twelve lines, three weeks for four shillings." Among the advertisers were William Rotch, jr., sail cloth, cordage, and general merchandise ; Caleb Greene, book binding in its several branches, school and account books, inks, etc. ; John Spooner, books, including bibles, testaments, hymn books, poems, histories, etc., any of which would be exchanged for clean cot- ton and linen rags, old sail cloth or junk ; Joseph Damon offers for sale a large well-built vessel, just launched, 592 ft. keel, 22} ft. beam, etc .; Joseph Ricketson, cutlery, hardware, etc; Joseph Clement, compass maker.

In 1798 the Columbia Courier was printed and published every Sat- urday by Abraham Shearman, jr., at the four corners. Among the business advertisers were Peleg Howland, European and West India goods ; Caleb Greene & Son, drugs and medicines ; William Ross, dry goods ; Jeremiah Mayhew, dry goods, carpets, china and crockery-ware; Howland Hathaway, European dry goods, teas and flour ; Henry Dean, Indian cotton ; Abraham Shearman, jr., books and stationery, school books and almanacs ; Daniel Ricketson & Son, dry goods, broadcloths, hardware, etc.

The postal facilities and traveling methods of our forefathers are in- dicated by the fact that, in 1793, a post route was established by Sam- uel Sprague from New Bedford to Barnstable, by way of Rochester, Wareham, and Sandwich, and returning through Plymouth and Mid- dleboro. Weekly communication with Boston was maintained by Wil- liam Henshaw's stage, that left New Bedford every Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock, arriving in Taunton the same evening ; leaving the latter town on Wednesday morning, the traveler arrived in Boston in time to dine at Colonel Coleman's Bunch of Grapes tavern. Returning, the stage left Boston every Friday morning at 9 o'clock, and Taunton on Saturday, arriving in New Bedford in time for dinner. The fare was three pence per mile.

1 Union street during the period of the American Revolution was known as King street. North street mentioned above is now known as North Water street. Prospect street is a continuation of Union, and Water street is known as South Water street.

148

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Abraham Russell ran a stage to Boston via Middleboro and Bridge- water. On account of the advanced price of every article used in the stage business, Mr. Russell, in 1794, increased the charges to $3 for each passenger trip to Boston.

The close of the Revolutionary War, in 1783, found the village of Dartmouth slowly recovering from the terrible scourging administered by the British army in 1778. The men of enterprise and capital began to push their business schemes ; shops, warehouses, and wharves be- came busy with the fitting of vessels for merchant and whaling voy - ages, and but a few years elapsed before a goodly fleet was again on the ocean. But the difficulties that beset the American nation at the be- ginning of its existence were deeply felt by the towns and cities devoted to maritime pursuits. Benjamin Franklin said, "That the war that ended with the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown was only the war of the revolution, and that the war of independence was yet to be fought." Twenty years after the death of this statesman, the struggle did occur that accomplished the complete recognition of the sovereignty of the nation. The French Revolution of 1789, the Napoleonic wars in the early part of the century, and the reluctant recognition of our rights on the sea, made the intervening years, from the close of the Revolu- tionary War to the end of the War of 1812, a season of great uncertainty to the floating commerce of the American nation.

The restrictions placed upon the entry of American ships into foreign ports, especially those of England and France, led to the seizure of many of our vessels. This, with the impressment of American seamen, was the prime cause of the War of 1812. The confiscations made by the French government resulted in the French spoliation claims, paid by France to the United States, but never wholly distributed to the rightful owners, who lost their vessels and cargoes during these years of bloody contest in continental Europe. The final payments are even now being made. Our township suffered much from this condition of affairs, and many vessels and much property were lost. One historic incident will suffice to illustrate the difficulties under which the maritime business of Bedford village was pursued in those troubled times, and to show the pluck and daring of the men who conducted these enterprises.

Isaac Howland, who manumitted the last slave held in bondage in

149

A YANKEE TRICK.

the township, was the owner of several merchant ships that sailed from this harbor. During the closing years of the last century he sent two vessels loaded with New England products to the West Indies. These he consigned to his nephew, Weston Howland (father of Hon. Weston How- land, who related the incident to the writer), who also commanded the largest and fastest vessel. The cargoes were disposed of, and the ves- sels, laden with West India goods, sailed for New Bedford. Two days out they were overhauled and captured by French war ships. The mates and part of the crews of the brigs were taken on board the French vessels. Prize-masters, with a half dozen French soldiers each, were placed on board the captured ships and ordered to proceed to the near- est French port. The commander, who was navigator, and therefore in full charge, was placed on Captain Howland's vessel, and the other brig was ordered to follow after. The Yankee skipper was not long in dis- covering that the prize-master was exceedingly fond of gin, with a special weakness for the old Holland brand ; and when he had partaken of a liberal supply, he would rest his weary head on the table in the cabin and sleep off the intoxicating draught. One day when enjoying this delightful repose, the companionway of the cabin was gently closed and firmly secured. The half dozen French sailors were made prison- ers and securely imprisoned in the forecastle. Captain Howland had worked up the affair with his three Yankee sailors, and soon found him- self in command of the quarterdeck. Running down within hailing distance of the other brig, he informed the Dartmouth captain that he had possession and requested him to follow him into port.

The passage in the summer season was eight days long, during which time Captain Howland did not go below or allow himself sleep, beyond what he could get on his feet. The prize-master, who was a powerful, athletic fellow, did not enjoy the situation of affairs when he had re- covered from the effects of the old Holland, and made positive objection to the proceedings. The fact of his being locked up in the cabin proved to his disadvantage in the discussion, for Captain Howland declined to make any change. The fractious Frenchman finally subsided under the promise of Captain Howland that, if he behaved himself, no personal harm should come to him. The tedions voyage finally came to an end, the two vessels came up the bay into Acushnet River and were brought

150

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

alongside Rotch's south wharf. Considerable excitement was created when the facts were known, and a large crowd gathered on the wharves with the evident design of administering punishment to the Frenchmen. There were securely held in the cabin until after dark, when Captain Howland took them on a stage to Sampson's tavern near Middleboro. Here they were supplied with money and letters to the French consul in Boston, and on the following morning they proceeded on their jour- ney to that city.

Among the events of public and personal character that happened during this period of our local history, the following seem worthy of in- sertion in these pages :

At a meeting of the Philomathean Society, March 11, 1794, the fol- lowing officers were elected for the ensuing year : Rev. Dr. West, presi- dent; Rev. Lemuel Le Baron, vice-president ; Mr. Isaac Tompkins, Dr. Samuel Perry, jr., counselors; John Spooner, secretary ; Capt. Jonathan Swift, treasurer.

The emigration of the French, due to the persecution of the Hugue- nots under Louis XIV. and his predecessors, contributed to the forma- tion of the population of New England. A number of families in New Bedford are descended from these refugees. A curious incident in this connection is the fact that shortly after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, a French privateer appeared in Buzzard's Bay and was there wrecked. Those who escaped to the shore were made prisoners of war. One of them was Dr. Francois Le Baron, the surgeon of the ship, who was a Huguenot refugee. He afterwards was given his liberty and the right to a settlement in Plymouth, in gratitude for a very skillful surgi- cal operation which he there performed. It is from him that the Le Baron family is descended, many of whose representatives are now liv- ing in New Bedford and vicinity.

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 14

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170