History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 38

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 38

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The boundary lines of Westport bear such relations to the other parts of the county as to preclude its growth into a manufacturing center. At one time the town was engaged somewhat in maritime pursuits. It was from an early date interested in the whaling industry, grew and pros- pered with its development, and with its decline settled down into one of the most delightful villages in southern Massachusetts. Its people are well-to-do, its farms broad in extent and productive, and its shores afford good harbors. Its natural advantages as a summer resort have found a just appreciation, and its sea cliffs are dotted with cottages and summer homes.

The principal villages of the town of Westport are Westport Factory, Head- of-Westport, and Westport Point. At the first named place is situated the Westport Manufacturing Company, the only important manufacturing plant in the town. It has been in operation many years and has given employment to a large number of persons. Its products are carpet- warp, twine, cotton- batting, wicking, etc.

Head-of-Westport is situated at the head of the east branch of West- port River and is largely devoted to agriculture.

Westport Point is situated in the southern part of the town between the east and west branches of the river. It was at one time engaged in the whaling industry, and many vessels were owned there and sailed from the port.

The church organizations of the town are as follows: The First Christian Church at Westport, organized about 1823-5; the Second Christian Church, at South Westport, organized in 1838; the Third Christian Church, at Westport, organized in 1839; and the Third Christian Church, at Brownell's Corner, organized in 1843. The his-

398

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

tory of the Society of Friends dates back to the middle of the last cent- ury (1766), when it was set apart from the Dartmouth Monthly Meet- ing under the name of Acoaxet Monthly Meeting. Its present meet- ing-house was built in 1814. The Pacific Union Church was organized in 1858.

In the civil war the town of Westport responded to the calls for de- fenders of the Union and sent 250 of its citizens into the service.

DARTMOUTH.

In the division of the township of Dartmouth in 1787, the present town of Dartmouth inherited the name and retained the largest section of the original territory. The Pascamanset River, which rises in the extreme northern part of New Bedford, winds through the entire length of Dartmouth and empties into Buzzards Bay. The principal villages of the town are Smith Mills, Russell's Mills, Padanaram, and the sum- mer resort at Nonquitt.

Like its sister towns, Dartmouth is largely devoted to agriculture, and valuable farms are scattered throughout its territory. In former days the whaling industry was prosecuted to a considerable extent, and, when the business was in its most vigorous condition, Dartmouth had a fleet of about a dozen vessels engaged in it. Its interest in the industry was not confined to these, as its capital was largely employed in New Bed- ford ships, and many of its citizens were officers and seamen connected with them.

The first manufacturing industry was established in the original township, at Russell's Mills, by Ralph Russell, one of the earliest set- tlers. He came from England and erected an iron forge at that point, which received its name from him. The village is situated on the east side of Slocum's River, and its vicinity is noted for the beauty of the scenery.

Among the historic spots within the town limits is Russell's Garrison, which has been described in earlier pages. There John Russell was born during the early trouble with the Indians, the inhabitants having fled to the shelter of the garrison for safety.

The first meeting-house of the Society of Friends was built in 1699, on the same site now occupied by the one at Apponagansett. The First

399

DARTMOUTH - ACUSHNET.

Christian Church, at Hixville, was organized in 1780, by Elder Jacob Hix, of Rehoboth, and his brother, Daniel Hix, was installed as the first pastor in 1781. The Congregational Church at Padanaram village was organized in 1807. Its first pastor was Rev. Daniel Emerson, who died soon after his installation. The South Dartmouth Baptist Church was organized in 1831, but the meeting-house has now been closed for several years. The Second Christian Church in the town is located at Russell's Mills and was organized in 1836. The Methodist Episcopal Church at the head of Apponagansett River, was organized in 1838. Rev. James D. Butler was the first pastor. The church is now under the care of the Allen Street M. E. Church in New Bedford. Smith Mills Christian Church was organized in 1838; and the Christian Church at Bakerville was organized in 1865.

A beautiful library building, the gift of the late John H. Southworth, was erected in South Dartmouth village and dedicated February 1, 1890. It is furnished with a creditable library and is destined to be of perma- nent value to the town.

The shores of Dartmouth are dotted with cottages, which are the summer homes of many who find health and pleasure in ocean breezes and in the fishing and bathing facilities which have given the locality a wide reputation.

ACUSHNET.

When the town of Fairhaven was set off from New Bedford in 1812, the territory now included in Acushnet was a part of its domain. It so remained until the year 1860, when, after several years of agitation, a division of the town was finally made, and an act incorporating the town of Acushnet was passed by the General Court February 13, 1860. The first town meeting was held March 14, when Cyrus E. Clark, Benjamin Wilson, and Benjamin White were chosen selectmen, assessors, and overseers of the poor. Like the other towns that were once a part of ancient Dartmouth, the early history of Acushnet has already been given in preceding chapters of this volume. The business of the town is largely agricultural, though there are several saw-mills that turn out large quantities of box boards and shingles. The stream that enters the Acushnet River supplies power for a number of these mills. In early

400

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

years of the town's history there was a factory on this stream, in which Joseph Rotch and Job Eddy made the first bed-ticking manufactured by water-power in this country.

In the prosperous days of the whale fishery, the manufacture of whale boats was carried on here by Ebenezer Leonard. Hundreds of these boats were brought on trucks, six miles, to New Bedford.

The pleasant Acushnet village has steadily enlarged its borders, new highways and residences have multiplied, and it would seem that with the steady growth of New Bedford to the northward, not many years will elapse before both will be united in one compact city. The Acush- net of the past is rich in historic associations; and the town will ever hold in memory its important relations to the romantic traditions of the township of Dartmouth. It was Acushnet village that gave Dr. Samuel West to the country in the American Revolution, one of the greatest men of the times; and many other historic names are found in the lists of Revolutionary soldiers from Dartmouth. One of the most ancient and interesting burial grounds in this section is the Acushnet Cemetery. It is the resting place not only of the early settlers of Dartmouth, but of some of those of the Plymouth Colony. This cemetery has within a few years been cleared up, avenues and foot-paths have been opened, and trees and shrubbery trimmed. From the cemetery is afforded a fine prospect of the beautiful scenery that borders the banks of the Acushnet River.

The churches in Acushnet are as follows : The Congregational, Rev. E. C. Fellows, pastor; the Methodist Episcopal, Rev. E. D. Gurney, pastor ; a second Methodist Episcopal, at Long Plain, Rev. A. S. Weeks, pastor ; and the Friends' Meeting, also at Long Plain. There are also places of worship at "Perry Hill," known as Clifford Chapel and Whel- den Chapel.

Iot

FIRST WHALERS.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE WHALING INDUSTRY.

Beginnings of the Industry -- Early Whale Fishing in Massachusetts - Orders and Rules Governing the Fishing - The Industry at Nantucket - The First Sperm Whale - The Havoc Made by French and Spanish Privateers - Founding of the In- dustry at Dartmouth - Log Book of the Betsey - Expenses of Fitting Out - Records Previous to the Revolution - Unjust Restrictions - Burke's Defence of the Whalers - The British Invasion - Re-establishment of the Industry by the Rotch Family - Prosperity -- The War of 1812 and its Discouraging Effects -- Rapid Increase of Ves- sels and Financial Success of the Industry up to 1858 - Effect of the California Gold Discovery on Whaling -- Petroleum -- The War of the Rebellion and the Losses Oc- casioned by it - Renewal of Whaling after the War -- The Disaster of 1871 -- The Calamity of 1876 -- The First Steam Whaler -- Thrilling Experiences - Hon. Weston Howland's Account -- Incidents - Profitable Voyages.

T is recorded that the Biscayans pursued whale fishing during the I fifteenth century, and that towards its close they employed a fleet of fifty or sixty vessels. At the period when Columbus discovered Amer- ica the English and Dutch were engaged in the fruitless attempt to reach India by a northeast passage. These bold navigators " in here- tofore penetrating the icy regions met with vast numbers of whales, un- disturbed for centuries in the peculiar and exclusive seas, tame, sluggish, and disposed to yield as ready captives to the intruder. The navigators determined to unite profit with pleasure, and although they might fail in obtaining, by their imagined passage, the spices of India, to bring home, at least, in their vessels the products of the bear, the walrus, the seal, and the whale. From being only the incidental, these soon be- came the principal objects of these hazardous voyages, and the high hopes of men, panting for the lofty names of discoverers, were merged in the arduous toils of catching whales for profit." 1

In 1610 the English sent out their first vessel specially devoted to the whale fishery. This was soon followed by fleets of vessels from London and Amsterdam. Then the Spanish and French became in-

1 William Scoresby, jr., 1825, American Review.

402

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

terested in the enterprise, and the industry grew and developed. Long before the settlement of Plymouth Colony, in 1620, the whale fishery was pursued by the Indians along the coast of New England. They ventured from its shores in their frail canoes, and with their rude har- poons captured these monsters of the deep. Among the Montauk In- dians the most toothsome offering to their deity was the fin or the tail of the whale; and the Greenlander's idea of heaven, according to Father Hennepin, was a " place where there would be an immense cal- dron continually boiling, and each could take as much seal blubber, ready cooked, as he wanted." It is recorded that Capt. John Smith in 1614 found whales so plenty along the coast, that he abandoned for a time his intended enterprise of discovery, and for a time pursued the whales. In the journal of Richard Mather, who came to Massachusetts Bay in 1635, he says that when near New England he saw "mighty whales spewing up water in the air, like the smoke of a chimney, and making the sea about them white and hoary, as is said in Job, of such incredible bigness that I will never wonder that the body of Jonah could be in the belly of a whale." In the settlement of the colonies in Mas- sachusetts, it was one of the important considerations that a convenient place was afforded for the pursuit of fisheries. The charter of Massa- chusetts made grants to certain persons, authorizing them to catch " all fishes, royal fishes, whales, balan, sturgeon, and other fishes of what kinde or nature soever that shall at any time hereafter be taken in or within the saide seas or waters," etc.1

Among the early questions that arose in both the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies was that in regard to the drift whales that frequently came ashore. The colonial government claimed a portion,

1 Another ancient prerequisite belonging to the Queen Consort, mentioned by all old writers, and therefore only worthy of notice, is this ; that on the taking of a whale on the coasts, which is a royal fish, it shall be divided between the King and Queen, the head only being the King's por- tion, and the tail of it the Queen's. The reason of this whimsical division, as assigned by our an- cient records, was to furnish the Queen's wardrobe with whalebone .- 1 Blackstone's Com. Bk 1, Ch. 4, page 222.

X. A tenth branch of the King's ordinary revenue, said to be grounded on the consideration of his guarding and protecting the seas from pirates and robbers, is the right to royal fish, which are whale and sturgeon ; and these, when either thrown ashore or caught near the coast, are the prop- erty of the King, on account of their superior excellence Indeed, our ancestors seem to have en- tertained a very high notion of the importance of this right, it being the prerogative of the Kings of Denmark and the Dukes of Normandy, and from one of these it was probably derived to our Princes -, Blackstone's Com. Bk. 1 Ch. 8, page 290.

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WHALING AT NANTUCKET.

and divided with the town and the finder of the whale. This matter produced much dissatisfaction among the early settlers, especially in the towns on Cape Cod. The troubles were brought to an end by an agreement that the finders should " pay to the country 2 bbls. of oyle" from each whale.

In 1662 the town of Eastham voted a portion of stranded whales on their shore for the support of the ministry. It is certain that the col- ony at New Plymouth found the whaling industry a source of profit, and the business assumed such importance as to demand the appoint- ment of inspectors of whales in 1690. The rules adopted provided " that all whales killed or wounded, and left at sea, should be reported to the inspectors, giving marks, time, place, etc .; all whales brought or cast ashore, were tobe viewed by them, and all questions or dispute were decided by them." From the best authority (Starbuck), it is safe to assert that the first organized whaling prosecution of the American whale fishing was made along the coast of Long Island. In 1644 the town of Southampton was divided into four wards, and eleven persons in each were assigned the duty of attending to the drift whales cast ashore. Two persons, who received a double share, were employed to cut up the whale; and every inhabitant, with his child or servant, who was above sixteen years of age, shared in the division. A new feature of the prosecution of whale fishing was developed a few years later ; expeditions were formed of several boats that went together for a few weeks' voyage, sharing in the labors, dangers, and profit. An inter- esting record is found in the archives of Massachusetts that alludes to the sperm whale. It is a petition dated August, 1688, from Timotheus Vanderuin, commander of the brigantine Happy Return, of New York, to Governor Andros, praying for " License and Permission, with one Equipage Consisting in twelve marines, twelve whalemen, and six Din ers-from this port, upon a fishing design about the Bohames Islands And Cap florida for sperma Coeti whales and Racks: And so to return for this Port." This we believe, is the first historic allusion to this par- ticular specie of thewhale.

Macy, in his history of Nantucket, says that the first whaling expedi- tion from that island, was underkaken by some of the original purchas- ers. A whale came into the harbor and continued there for three days.

404

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

The event caused great excitement among the people, who devised means for its capture. They caused a harpoon to be made, and with it they attacked the monster and killed it. This success gave them en- couragement, and led to the permanent establishment of the business on the island. Anxious to become efficient, they sent to Cape Cod for one Ichabod Paddock, to instruct them in the best methods of killing whales and obtaining oil. Many interesting records have been collected concerning the whale fishing at Martha's Vineyard.1

The methods of catching whales were the same that were employed in the other places mentioned. This is indicated from a record of No- vember, 1652, when Thomas Daggett and William Weeks were chosen " whale cutters for this year." The following year " it was ordered by the town that the whale is to be cut out freely, four men at one time and four at another, and so every whale beginning at the east end of the town." In 1690 Mr. Sarson and William Vinson were selected by those entitled to shares in the whales that were cast on the shores of Edgartown " to oversee the cutting and sharing, they to have as much for their care, as one cutter."

At the beginning of the eighteenth century theinhabitants of Nantucket gave this industry such attention as to rapidly devolop a lucrative busi- ness. The situation of the island was favorable to the enterprise, whales being abundant in the vicinity, and it was not often that the fishermen were obliged to go out of sight of the island. The south shore was dis- tricted, and companies of six patrolled it, while from a mast erected on a high point, a lookout station was maintained for observing the spout- ing of whales. When one was captured, it was towed ashore, and after the blubber was cut and sliced, it was tried out in try-houses located on the beach. The first sperm whale caught by Nantucket whalemen was in 1712, when Christopher Hussey, cruising for right whales near the land, was blown off shore, and fell in with a school of this species of whale. He killed one of them and brought it home. This event was an important one in the prosecution of the whale fishery. Larger ves - sels were built and deep sea whaling was commenced. Voyages were made of from four to six weeks, and after filling a few hogsheads with blubber, the product of one whale, perhaps, the vessels returned home.

1 Richard L. Pease, of Edgartown.

Humphrey n, Jeatury

405

WHALING AT DARTMOUTH.

The owners would take charge of the cargo, and at once send out the vessel on another voyage. In 1730 Nantucket had about twenty-five vessels of from thirty-eight to fifty tons burden, engaged in the fishery. At this period whaling was prosecuted, with varying success, at Province- town, Sandwich, Eastman, and other towns on Cape Cod. The sea - sons from 1737 to 1740 were unfortunate ones, but few whales being captured, and the people were, in consequence, placed in straitened circumstances, many of them being without money or provisions. In 1741 the Provincetown fishermen were encouraged by the appearance of large numbers of blackfish and porpoises in the bay. They killed 150 porpoises and over 1,000 blackfish, yielding about 1,500 barrels of oil, which found a ready sale. At this time the French and Spanish privateers began depredations on English commerce. This checked the operations of whaling vessels, and many of them were captured.

Deep sea whaling at Martha's Vineyard commenced about 1738, continued for a few years without success, and was for a while aban- doned. In 1748 the English parliament encouraged the American whale fishery by the passage of an act remitting duties on many articles necessary for its prosecution, and granting bounties. The enterprise, however, was pursued under great difficulties and dangers, for the pri- vateers made sad havoc with the fleet. Their operations extended even into Long Island Sound, and several Nantucket whalers were captured. The continuation of foreign wars occasioned much distress among the people of New England, for the demands of England upon her colonies were many and hard to fulfill. It was the intolerant measures enforced at this period that gave birth to the spirit of resistance which culmi- nated in the American Revolution.

Joseph Russell was the founder of the whaling industry in Dart- mouth. From authentic sources it has been well established that as early as 1750 shore whaling was carried on here. It is evident that the modes used were like those in vogue on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Vessels were fitted out for voyages of a few weeks and returned with the blubber, which was tried out on the shore. If the reader will refer to the map, page 58, made by Rev. Ezra Stiles in 1762, he will notice that on the western shore of the Acushnet but one building is marked on the entire river front. Unquestionably this was the location of the

406

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

try- house of the Russells. It is certain that at this period several ves- sels were fitted from the harbors of Dartmouth. Ricketson's history of New Bedford contains an interesting account of a voyage of the sloop Betsey, of Dartmouth, in 1761. These extracts from the log book re - veal much that is valuable relating to the early methods used.

" Aug. 2d, 1761. Lat. 45° 54', lon. 53º 57', saw two sperm whales ; killed one. Aug. 4th, lat. 44º 27', lon. 51º 36', sounded on the Grand Bank in 45 fathoms. Saw humpbacks. Ang. 6th, spoke with John Clasbury. He had got 105 bbls. Spoke with two Nantucket men. They had got one whale between them ; they told us that Jenkins and Dunham had got four whales between them, and Allen and Pease had got two whales between them. Lat. 42º 57'. Sunday, Aug. 9th. Saw sperm whales. Struck two and killed them between us (naming their consort). August 10th. Cut up blubber into casks, filled 35 hhds. ; our partner filled 33 hhds. Judged ourselves to be not far from the Banks. Finished stowing the hold. August 14th. Sounded. Got 45 fathoms Tried for codfish, but got none. August 20th, lat. 42º 2'. This morning spoke with Thomas Gibbs. Had got 110 bbls. Told us he had spoke with John Aiken and Ephraim Delano and Thomas Nye. They had got no oil at all. Sounded. Got no bottom. Thomas Gibbs told us we were but two leagues off the Bank. August 22. This morning saw a spermaceti and killed her. Saw a whale to leeward standing westward. August 23. Went to work on the head. Filled six hhds. Went on board Capt. Shearman and rafted blubber. Aug- ust 28th. This morning saw a sloop. Spoke with her. It was Wil- mot West. Had got 65 bbls. Saw a spermaceti. It set in foggy. Lost sight of him. Lat. 43º 22'. August 30. Saw a spermaceti, but could not strike her. Lat. 43º 14'. Aug. 31. Squally. Thunder and lightning. Saw spermaceti, plenty. Sept. 2. Saw a spermaceti spout. It set in thick and foggy. Sept. 3. This morning at 8 saw a sperma- ceti. Got into her two short warps and the tow iron. She drawed the short warps and the tow iron and ran away. In the afternoon came across her. Got another iron in, but she went away. Judged ourselves to be nigh the Banks. Sept. 5th, saw spermaceties ; chased, but could not strike. Sept. 6th. Yesterday afternoon saw whales ; struck one, but never saw her again. Sept. 7th, saw a school of spermaceties.

407

EXPENSE OF FITTING OUT.

Capt. Shearman struck one out of the vessel and killed her. Brought her alongside of our vessel. Cut in her body. Lat. 43º."

September 17, they made the land and are supposed to have ended the voyage. The rest of the log is missing. The captain's name of the sloop Betsey does not appear, and no estimate is given of the oil taken.

This journal shows that sperm whales were taken near the Newfound- land Banks, and that several vessels cruised about that ground as early as 1761. The following extracts are from the journal of a whaling voy- age dated 1762, in the same handwriting as that of the preceding jour- nal. The journal of the commencement of the voyage, and while they were on the cruising grounds for whales, is missing. The first date of the journal is September 2, 1762. At this date it appears they had sailed for home. The amount of oil obtained is not stated.

"Sept. 2, 1762. This day judged ourselves to be abreast of Cape Race. Spoke with Shubel Bunker and Benjamin Paddock. They told us that we were 15 leagues to the westward of the Bank. Sept. 3. Kept her W. by N. 1/2 N. Wind east; moderate, but a bad sea. Knocked down try works. Sept. 15. Spoke Henry Folger and Nathan Coffin ; they judge they came off of Brown's Bank yesterday, and off George's this morning. Sept. 17. Made land, the highlands of Cape Cod." Here the journal ends.

The following is illustrative of what would be called a poor voyage in these days :

Settlement of Sloop Betsey's whale voyage, 1767.

Tuns. Bbls. Gal.

£ s. 1

8 6 2} Body oil at £150 per ton, 1,313 17 6

Head matter at £200 per tun, 375

1,688 17 6

Sundry charges for settling the voyage.

56 19

1,631 17 10

Men's shares, .

709 19

921

18 10

Sundry bills against the ship for ontfits,

1.140 12 1

Leaving a loss to the owners of

218 13 3

408

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Upon the back of the log we find some figures headed " What we owe Joseph Rotch & Sons for sloop Betsey," which throw some light upon the cost of fitting a whaler at that time :

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 38

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