History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 26

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 26

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).

On February 22, 1834, a memorial adopted at a meeting of the citi- zens was forwarded to Mr. Reed. It was signed by 832 citizens of New Bedford, 219 of Dartmouth, 417 of Fairhaven, 287 of Wareham, 175 of Rochester, and 136 of Westport, in all 2,058. Only twenty individuals in New Bedford declined to sign the document. This memorial was addressed to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America. It set forth the deep distress and calamity befalling the people of New Bedford and vicinity and prayed for speedy relief. It urged the establishment of a national bank, claiming that such an in- stitution would again restore credit, security, and prosperity to the whole country.

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270

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

On Tuesday, November 18, 1834, there occurred a destructive fire, an account of which I take from the Mercury :

" Yesterday morning at an early hour fire broke out in the building on Water street partly owned and occupied on the lower floor by James Wady as a boot and shoe store. The fire had previously made such progress that the building was almost immediately enveloped in flames, and notwithstanding that our firemen and citizens repaired to the shop with accustomed alacrity, their efforts to subdue it proved unavailing until after several buildings in the vicinity were entirely consumed. A violent gale from the east prevailed at the time, and such was the power to accelerate and extend the flames that the scene presented at one time was truly appalling. Fortunately a rain during the night assisted to prevent the destruction which would otherwise have inevitably ensued.

" The following is an enumeration of the buildings destroyed : On Water street (west side) a valuable dwelling-house, owned and occupied by Captain William Blackmer ; a two-story building adjoining, on the south, also owned by Captain Blackmer, and oc- cupied as a milliner's shop on the lower floor, and by a family in the chambers; a three- story building, also adjoining on the north, owned by Captain Isaac Vincent, and occu- pied as a dwelling by several families, and in the basement as a victualing establish- ment by James Carver ; on the east side, a shop of James Wady, with a stock in trade valued at about $7,000 and heavy outstanding accounts; a building owned by J. & J. Howland, and occupied as a bakery by Messrs. Sayre & Denham; a building owned by John Easton, and occupied by him as a store-house for casks, etc .; a building owned by Mr. Thomas Howland, and improved as a dwelling-house; on First street (in the rear of Mr. Vincent's building) dwelling-house owned and occupied by Captain Ephraim Hathaway; two small tenements owned by Mr. Richard Johnson, and occupied by families ; and also another building occupied as a dwelling-house.

" We have not been able to ascertain with correctness the amount of property de- stroyed. It cannot, however, be estimated at less than $20.000. Insurance on part of the property had been effected as follows : At the Bristol County Mutual Insurance Co.'s office, by Captain Blackmer on dwelling-house, $2,700; Jas. Wady, on building, $1,100; J. & J. Howland, on bake-house, $2,100; at the Manufacturers' office, Boston, by James Wady, on stock, $2,000; Isaac Vincent, on building, $2,000; W. Blackmer, on furniture, $1,000; Thomas Howland, on building, $600. None of the property was fully insured and the Iss by several of the sufferers will be felt with much severity. To such we hope the benevolence of our citizens will be cheerfully extended."

Some difficulty was experienced in removing a piano from one of the burning houses. The problem was solved by sawing off the legs in or- der to more easily get the piano through the doorway and down the staircase. It did not occur to these enthusiastic firemen that the legs could be unscrewed.

At the regimental muster, held at Smith Mills in 1832 an episode oc- curred that without doubt resulted in the final disbandment of the Light

271

DISSOLUTION OF THE LIGHT INFANTRY.

Infantry Company of New Bedford. The corps came on the field under command of Lieut. John H. Chapman ; and, as the other companies of the regiment were all commanded by captains, the Light Infantry Com- pany by strict military rule was assigned the left of the line. They had long occupied the post of honor, the right of the line, and were highly indignant when they found themselves displaced. When the regiment was drawn up in line and the places of each company definitely fixed, the Light Infantry Company under the command of a non-commis- sioned officer, Paul Ewer, marched off the field and encamped in an ad- joining meadow. Lieutenant Chapman retained his position in the line and thus escaped court-martial, though he was undoubtedly in sympa- thy with the action of his company. The incident created great excite- ment, for it was unprecedented in the history of the regiment. Such a violation of military law could not be overlooked ; each member was fined $12, and an apology from the company was demanded from head- quarters.

The Light Infantry Company held several meetings to consider the situation, but refused to apologize, and were therefore disbanded. Their last meeting and parade was held December 17, 1833, at 12:30 P. M. Af- ter a business meeting, the company formed in line and marched up Union street, bearing a banner with the inscription, " United we stand, divided we fall." When the band struck up the tune, " O dear ! what can the matter be?", the steps of the soldiers were animated to a re- markable degree, and the parade assumed somewhat of a grotesque character. So says one of the lads who stood on the sidewalk as the procession passed by. The company marched into the dining hall of the Eagle Hotel, where they partook of a sumptuous banquet. Thus closed the career of the Light Infantry Company, an organization that had its origin far back in the days of the American Revolution.

The New Bedford Mechanics' Rifle Company was the legitimate suc- cessor of the Light Infantry Company, and was organized in 1834, with the following officers: Captain, Jeremiah G. Harris, commissioned Janu- ary 28, 1834; lieutenant, Benjamin F. Shattuck, commissioned Febru- ary 28, 1834; ensign, Eliphalet Cushman, commissioned February 8, 1834; clerk, Charles O. Boutelle. The company consisted of four ser- geants, four corporals, and sixty-three privates. Among the latter

272

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

were : Caleb Maxfield, E. L. Foster, James Foster, C. B. Lucas, Dexter Jenney, Horatio Bly, Stephen Curtis, - Joslyn, Charles Tanner, and William B. Doty. July 18, 1836, Captain Harris was elected major of the battalion of light infantry and continued in that office till March I, 1838. Stephen Curtis succeeded him in command of the Rifle Com- pany and was commissioned April 28, 1836. The other officers at this time were : Lieutenant, Seth H. Ingalls, commissioned September 26, 1836; ensign, Thomas Bailey, commissioned September 26, 1836. The company wore a rich uniform that consisted of a short frock coat and trousers of gray cloth, trimmed with black cord, the uniforms of the officers being decorated with gold cord. The imposing feature of the uniform was the leather cap, crowned with a plume of silver-gray hair,

The first public parade took place on Friday, June 20. 1834. The Rifle Company was accompanied by the Boston Brigade Band. After marching through the streets they gave an exhibition of military move- ments, " performing a few evolutions which, for precision and accuracy, could hardly have been exceeded by practiced veterans." They then proceeded to the residence of Ensign Timothy Ingraham, on North Second street, where an elegant standard was presented them by Mrs. Ingraham, in a graceful and becoming manner.

At the conclusion of these ceremonies, the Rifle Company returned to their armory in Mechanics' Hall and partook of a collation, served by Mr. Blake, of the Commercial Coffee House. Then over the bridge they went and exhibited themselves to the admiring gaze of the Fair- haven people, performing their military evolutions to the evident satis- faction of the crowds that lined the streets of the village. On their return they escorted Brigadier- General Thompson and staff and Lieut .- Col. Henry H. Crapo and staff to Mechanics' Hall and there partook of a banquet. The hall was elegantly decorated in honor of the occasion. The festivities of the day were suddenly transformed into scenes of mourning by the receipt of the news of the death of Lafayette. While minute guns were being fired, the corps marched again through the streets to the solemn strains of a dirge, bearing badges of crape, with arms reversed, and with other demonstrations of sorrow.

The Mechanics' Rifle Company was highly honored during its brief existence, being frequently called upon for escort duty on public occa-

273

THE WASHINGTON ARTILLERY.

sions. In 1836 Edward L. White composed the New Bedford Me- chanics' Riflemen's march and dedicated it to Major-General Thompson. A copy of this music is in the Public Library. The company was dis- banded December 27, 1837.

The Washington Artillery, whose existence dates back to the Amer- ican Revolution, was disbanded in 1836. It is impossible to give a complete roster of the company. Through the kindly aid of our ven- erable townsmen, Gideon T. Sawyer, the following list is presented of persons who were members of the organization at different times :

James D. Proud, Stephen Daggett, Timothy Western, Gideon T. Sawyer, Joseph Chase, Isaac Maxfield, Caleb Hathaway, William Little, Samuel Little, George P. Dunham, Spooner Babcock, Lewis Thrasher, Philip Allen, Joseph Cromwell, Edward H. Wilkie, Thomas West, - Simmons, David E. Chase, William Phillips, Thomas Booth, Spen- cer Pollard, James Davenport, Alden Braley, Reed Haskins, Ebenezer Parlow, Hartley H. Sparrow, Darius Davis, Thomas Jenney, James H. Collins, Charles Tobey, Elishia Everett, - Stackpole, Benjamin F. Lewis, Thomas Peckhamn.

Among the captains who served this company were George Dunham, John Harrisson, David Sylvester and Stephen W. Taber.

John K. Cushing has given some boyhood reminiscences of the artillery company. He says that the gun-house stood in the line of State street and very near the big tree in the center of the Common. The " target- shoots " were great occasions for the Bedford youth, who were sure to be present. They were held on the lot on County street immediately south of the Bullock residence, the target being placed near the Cove shore. On returning to town the riddled target was elevated on the gun carriage, and displayed to the admiring crowds as the company passed through Purchase street on their way to the gun-house. At the time the artillery company disbanded they had an elegant blue uniform, consisting of a double-breasted swallow tail coat with heavy gilt buttons, and trousers decorated with heavy gold stripes. The head covering was a black chapeau, surmounted with a plume of brilliant red feathers.

Major-General Thompson has kindly given free access to his military records, from which has been gleaned much valuable and interesting in- formation. The following correspondence contains important facts rela- tive to the closing career of the Washington Artillery. Major- General

274

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Thompson, in his report to Adjutant-General Dearbon, August 31, 1837, said :

" Having occasion a few days since to visit the gun-house [then situated where is now the Common], I found the guns in a shocking condition, having been injured very much from the recent damp weather and from other causes. They have been without a company for more than a year. Liberty was granted about ten months since to form a company here, and at that time there was a prospect of raising one ; but it failed alto- gether, and I now see no prospect whatever of a company being formed to take charge of them. I have endeavored to raise a volunteer company; mostly for the purpose of taking care of the guns (wishing to retain them with us), but that I find to be impos- sible. The gun-house is situated some distance from the village, and is very much out of repair, and I found on my recent visit that it had been broken open and the imple- ments were scattered all over the building and a part of the harness missing. 1 shall therefore recommend the removal of the guns, etc .. to Boston, as I am satisfied that nothing can be done toward raising a company here."

In October, 1838, the guns were sent to Boston, the house sold, and thus closed the career of the Washington Artillery.

Bedford village was now without a uniformed military company, and the regular militia was in a deplorable condition. The annual musters were but burlesques, and every man who could escape service did so on the most trivial excuse. Indeed, the constant changes in the State laws which enlarged the class of "exempts" formed the chief cause of the demoralized condition throughout the State, and served to bring the whole service into contempt.

In response to inquiries made in August, 1834, the following opinion was expressed and a prediction made by General Thompson that found its fulfillment within three years :

" As my opinion as to the future prospects of the volunteer companies in this brig- ade is requested, I will only state that I consider the law of March 29, 1834, directly calculated to destroy one of the most valuable of our republican institutions, viz .: the organization of our militia. Under this law our volunteer companies can not long ex- ist, and the cause I believe must be apparent to all who investigate the subject.

" Very respectfully yours, JAMES D. THOMPSON,

" Brig .- Gen. 2d Brigade, 5th Division. " Adjt .- Gen. W. A. Sumner, Boston."

It was about this period (1837) that the militia system of the State went to pieces. From its ruins arose the present organizations of vol- unteer companies.

The training days and annual muster had become scenes of drunken-

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275

DECLINE OF THE MILITIA.

ness, gambling and riot. There is a record of a muster in this vicinity where there were eight or ten open groggeries on the field. So dis- graceful were the scenes enacted that they called forth the severest con- demnation from the newspapers of the day. At a muster held in Fairhaven four or five members of a militia company came to the field each with a codfish strapped to his back in place of the regulation knap- sack. Their grotesque appearance made fun for the crowd, and for a time the performers in their novel armor absorbed the attention of the whole field. They continued to do so throughout the day, but under a change of circumstances, Colonel Crapo put them under arrest, sta - tioned a guard over them, had them fed at noonday on crackers and water, and kept them in confinement till the regiment was dismissed.

The most attractive company of that time was the Washington Ar- tillery with its nearly new Continental uniform. Ensign Tuckerman carried a rich blue flag with the arms of the State upon it. The music of the fife, kettle and bass drums answered for ordinary occasions, but on extra days a full band was employed. At the May training in 1836 a militia company paraded in front of the court house on County street. At this time the whole militia system was in disrepute, and several of the company dressed in caricature. One represented the then renowned Jack Downing, and another the Indian chief, Black Hawk. Both were tall men, and they marched side by side for greater effect. Another soldier had a salt codfish strung over his back. It was a cold, bluster- ing day and the captain, to keep up the dignity of his office, marched and counter-marched his company up and down the principal streets, much to their disgust, as the dust was blowing fiercely in their eyes.

About the year 1835 there was formed a juvenile military company, consisting of twenty-five or thirty lads, many of whom lived on or about Johnny Cake Hill. They drilled in one of the rooms of the Dudley Davenport house, now standing on the southwest corner of Walnut and South Water streets. The company wore the inherited uniforms of the Jackson Blues, so far as boy soldiers could be found to fit them. The life of this organization was very brief, else it might have met the same fate as did the company whose members were once occu- pants of these same uniforms. The company was officered as follows : Captain, Charles C. Case ; lieutenant, Thomas L. Allen ; drill sergeant,

276

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Dudley Davenport. Among the privates were James Chase, Nathaniel Lucas, Joseph Dodge, and Charles G. Davenport. The most important feat of this corps of youthful soldiers was to march around the Head- of-the-River, which meant a tramp of seven miles for the lads. An in- vitation to partake of a collation by a resident on the route caused a full attendance, and as they marched over the bridge on their way to Acushnet, visions of sandwiches, jelly cakes, pies and tarts arose before them. " Blessings on the man who gives to youth a genuine pleasure," so thought these juvenile soldiers as they proudly marched to the res- idence of their host and grounded their arms under the sheltering oaks. Their thirst was assuaged at the open well with cool, sparkling water, and a liberal supply of apples was what they got for refreshments. The march homeward was in marked contrast to that of the morning. The company never survived this disappointing seven- mile march, and so it died.

An Anti-Slavery Society was formed at Lyceum Hall June 25, 1834. A constitution was adopted and the following officers elected : Presi- dent, William Rotch, jr .; vice- presidents, Joseph Ricketson, John O. Choules, Andrew Robeson, Joseph Congdon ; corresponding secretary, Jolin Burrage ; recording secretary, James B. Congdon ; treasurer, John F. Emerson.

The subject of temperance was at this period in constant agitation. The following theme was discussed before the New Bedford Lyceum, October 28, 1834: " Would it be justifiable to make the subject of tein- perance a political question ?" The Mercury says : " The favorable state of affairs in New Bedford to-day, as concerns the scarcity of the grog- shops and liquor elements, is undeniably due to the earnest efforts of the citizens a generation or two ago, to suppress intemperance and the sale of ardent spirits."

On June 15, 1835, the Mercury office was removed from the Macom- ber building to the brick building on Water street occupied by the Bed - ford Commercial Bank.

It appears that in 1835, and for several years prior to that date, the sentiment in New Bedford against the circus and other traveling shows was expressed by the refusal of the selectmen to grant licenses. Circus managers escaped the effects of this edict by holding their exhibitions

277

NOTABLE EVENTS.

in Dartmouth just across the line. The matter was discussed at two town meetings, and it was decided by a majority vote to instruct the selectmen to grant licenses for such entertainments. So it happened that the citizens were privileged for the two weeks following December 23, 1835, to attend Buckley, Weeks & Co.'s circus at the Amphitheater, corner of County and Elm streets.

The Fourth of July, 1836, was observed with unusual ceremonies. The vessels in the harbor made a brilliant display with bunting and flags ; the revenue cutter McLane fired a salute early in the morning ; at 10.30 o'clock a procession was formed in front of the court house, under the direction of Lieutenant Sturges, and marched through several streets ; an oration was delivered by Wendell Phillips. In the evening the cut- ter McLane, anchored in the harbor just abreast of Union street, was brilliantly illuminated.

The Young Men's Anti-Slavery Society was organized in 1836, and held its first annual meeting January 2, 1837, in the building formerly known as the Elm Street Academy. I. C. Taber was elected secretary.

The first directory of the town of New Bedford was published this year by J. C. Parmenter. It was edited by Henry H. Crapo. It con- tained the names of the inhabitants, their occupations, places of busi- ness, and dwelling-houses; the town register, with list of streets, wharves, town officers, banks, churches, fire department, etc. It con- tained also the by-laws and ordinances of the town. The subscription price was fifty cents ; extra binding, seventy-five cents.

The subscription books for the building of the first railroad from New Bedford, were opened April 30, 1838.

The Unitarian Church, corner of Union and Eighth streets, was dedi- cated May 23, 1838. An account of the services will be found in the chapter on churches.

The Young Men's Anti- Slavery Society commemorated the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies by appropriate exercises, in the Elm street Methodist Episcopal Church, August 12, 1838. Rev. Orange Scott made the address.

In 1838 a short section of South Water street south of Union was paved as an experiment to test this method of improving the highways. It proved successful and received the approbation of the citizens.

278

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

In 1839 the work was extended, and South Water street to School street, and Purchase street from Union to William, were paved.

The record says : " The work stands well, and it is believed that this mode of repairs for our streets will prove more economical than any heretofore adopted. It is the only remedy that can be applied to those streets so situated as to be impassable with mud at certain seasons of the year."

The Pacific Insurance Company was organized February 9, 1839. A meeting of the stockholders was held February 8, 1839, at the office of the Institution for Savings and the following board of directors was chosen : Elisha Dunbar, Abraham H. Howland, Thomas Nye, jr., Mat- thew Luce, Abraham Gifford, William C. Taber, Richard A. Palmer, Stephen N. Potter, Caleb S. Tobey, Jireh Perry, Frederick Parker, Isaiah Burgess, William H. Stowell. Elisha Dunbar was afterwards chosen president and Samuel Lumbard, secretary. The capital was $100,000, of which $50,000 was paid up and invested. The company took marine risks only.

Among the deaths which occurred at this period were the following :

1830, February 24, Achus Sisson, aged eighty-two years; April 17, Ezekiel Chandler, aged ninety six; July 19, Maj. John Coggeshall, aged seventy-three, an officer in Revolution ; August 30, David Kemp- ton, aged fifty two; December 16, Timothy Howland, aged seventy- eight.

1831, November 10, Benjamin Lindsey, aged fifty- four, original pro- prietor of the Mercury ; May 19, Ephraim Taber, aged eighty.

1833, January 25, Isaac T. Hathaway, aged thirty six, killed by a fall from a staging on the brig Hope ; December 25, Paul Hathaway, aged seventy-eight.

1834, January 16, Isaac Howland, aged seventy-eight, an eminent and successful merchant.

1835, January I, David Kempton, a worthy member of the Society of Friends ; January 6, Cornelius Howland; January 26, Willian Gor- don, aged eighty-one, an officer of the Revolution; August 24, Philip Cannon, aged seventy-nine, a wealthy citizen and a Revolutionary sol- dier ; September 5, Thaddeus Swain, aged eighty-three.

1836, January 22, Samuel Tupper, aged seventy-eight, a hero of the

279

NECROLOGY- SMALL-POX.

Revolution ; December 24, Samuel Rodman, aged eighty-three, a prominent and successful merchant and esteemed citizen; February 17, Allen Russell, of Fairhaven, aged ninety-one; February 21, Capt. Ephraim Simmons, aged ninety-seven, an officer in the American Rev- olution, a beloved citizen and patriot ; August 26, Deliverance Bennett, aged eighty, a hero of the Revolution ; December 9, Humphrey Rus- sell, aged ninety-nine, and esteemed member of the Society of Friends.

1837, February 6, Silas Swift, aged ninety-two; January 22, Robert Wilson, aged ninety five; January 29, Desire Hathaway, aged 101 years, 10 months, and 14 days, relict of the late Obed Hathaway ; Au- gust 29, Maria Jenney, aged sixty-six, wife of Jehaziel Jenney.

1838, July 21, Daniel Taber, aged seventy-four years. He was the first male child born in this village.

1839, July 10, Capt. Joseph Howland, of South Dartmouth, aged seventy-eight.

CHAPTER XVII.

FROM 1840 TO INCORPORATION OF THE CITY.

Small-pox -- The Athenæum -- Notable Events - Death of President Harrison - Proposal to Change Form of Local Government - The New Bedford Guards -- Their Uniform -- Their First Parade -- Their Excursions, Receptions, Visits and Parades -- The Old Militia -- The Last Parade - A Humorous Incident -- Dissolution of the Guards - The Parker House -- Assistance to Fall River Sufferers -- Adoption of City Charter -- Necrology -- Selectmen 1812-1846 -- Street Extension.

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 26

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