USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902 > Part 39
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wee then sayled to Martyn's Vineyard Sound, and on or about the twentyeth day of August met with a Briganteen belonging to Newbury, John Kent, master, from New Yorke, and sent the Boat with ffour or ffive hands on board said Briganteen, and brought her neer to o' sloop's side, out of which Briganteen wee tooke Eighteen halfe barrells of Flower, two hogsheads of Sugar and one hogshead of Rhum, and three small arms, and so dismist the Briganteen. . . .
From thence wee removed to Tarpolin Cove, there lay about fforty Eight houres intending for Corazo, and upon ffriday the ffourth day of
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. xli., p. 261.
t Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. v., p. 439.
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COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS AND SHIP-BUILDING
October, instant, Capne Samuel Pease, Comander of a Sloop from Bos- ton, came up towards us, and wee came to Saile and stood away, but Capne Pease out sayled us and fired severall shot towards us but did not strike our vessell, wee descried their king's Jack before they fired : after wee had received severall shot from the sd Sloop there was a red fflag put up at the head of our mast, and our men fired at them, and we continued fireing one at another about the space of an hour : this Examinant received two shot one under his Ribs and another in the Arme, ffour of our men were slain and nine wounded .*
June 27, 1692, the General Court passed an act providing for the appointment of a naval officer at Boston, Salem, Ipswich, Newbury, and other ports, to enter and clear vessels arriving or sailing from the ports named and collect the fees due from them. This act, however, was disallowed by the privy council ; but the governor, under the new charter of the province of Massachusetts Bay, was authorized to take such steps as might be necessary to protect and encourage trade, and prevent the illegal importation of merchandise.
Many favorable locations along the river side, owned in common by the proprietors or freeholders of Newbury, were taken by ship-builders, and used without permission.
December 13, 1692, the town ordered that whosoever shall build any vessels on the towne common shall pay to the town three pence per ton for the use of the building yard that they shall improve. t
Mr. Thomas Johnson, ship-wright, having built a house & sett up a ship or ships uppon the Towns Comons next adjoining to the River · Merrimack between sd River & Mr Peirces land, the sd Johnson doth by way of Rent for the improving of the Towns land as above sd acknowl- edg himself indebted to the selectmen of Newbury the sum of two shill- ings money whereunto the sd Johnson hath sett to his hand this 30th of Sept, 1695. THOMAS JOHNSON.
TRISTRAM COFFIN, - GEORGE MARCH, Witnesses.t
HENRY SHORT,
Ezra, son of William Cottle, was born in Newbury May 5, 1662. He married Mary Woodbridge July 6, 1695. In the town records, under the date of 1698, is the following mem- orandum : -
* New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July, 1891, pp. 216, 217.
t Town of Newbury Records.
1
480
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
This year Ezra Cottle commenced ship building at or near the foot of Chandler's lane [now Federal street, Newburyport] where Mr. Will- iam Johnson built .*
March 18, 1700-1701 John Stickney desir'ng liberty of the Town to build a vessel uppon the Bank by Merrimack River, near the place where Mr Johnson built a vessel, at the lower end of Chandlers Lane. The town grants his proposition with this proviso, yt he damnify not the highway there and that he pay one shilling to the town as a rent by way of acknowledgement if demanded of him .*
July 11, 1705 Granted liberty to Mr William Johnson to build a ves- sel neer the end of Chandlers Lane at or neer the place wher Mr John- son formerly built a shipp .*
Among the vessels registered, "according to directions of the Act of Parliament passed in the seventh and eighth year (1696-1697) of the Reign of King William the Third," was " The Briganteen Endeavour of Boston, Edward Ashley, Mas- ter ; a square sterned vessel of about 20 tons, built at New- bury, in 1681." t
From November 23, 1697, to October 5, 1714, one hun- dred sloops, ketches, brigantines, and ships built in New- bury, "whereof Proof hath been made upon oath," were granted registers, and allowed to engage in the coasting trade or take lumber and merchandise to foreign ports .¿
In 1697 the town of Andover
Granted libertie to Maj. John March of Newbury to take what timber is convenient for ye building of two vessels not exceeding fifty tons apiece, provided he build such vessels in Andover and to use noe timber that is fitt for ye building of houses or making of posts, . .. what timber is to be felled and carted for sd vessels, Andover men shall have ye benefit of, provided they will work with themselves & teems as reasonably as in other places they doe.§
Probably the vessels were not built at that time, and in 17II the town of Andover passed the following order : -
. that Coll John March shall have libertie of trying the experiment . of building a sloop in some convenient place for launching into Merri- mack River and to have the benefit of what timber can be found already
* Town of Newbury Records.
t Massachusetts Archives, vol. vii., p. 125; also, History of Ship-building on Merrimack River, by John J. Currier, 1877, p. 46.
# Massachusetts Archives, vol. vii., pp. 85-523. § History of Andover (Bailey), p. 58.
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48 I
COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS AND SHIP-BUILDING
felled, and also if need be to supply him with the liberty of cutting half- a dozen sticks for some choyse use for the vessel if Timber for such use cannot be found already felled .*
Col. March was unable to make the contemplated " experi- ment " on account of ill-health. He died previous to August 25, 1712. Subsequently, Lieut. John Aslebe was granted " liberty to make use of the timber which was voted for Coll. John March to build a sloop in Andover of about 40 tons." *
March II, 1711-2, the inhabitants of Newbury voted " that Major Henry Somerby, Capt Sergant & Lieut Titcomb shall have power to let ye building yard near Watts cellar (so called) unto Col Patridge and M' Fawn Clement and Mr Hodge on such terms as they agree for." +
This yard was known as the Middle Ship-yard. It was sold March 5, 1768, to Samuel Gerrish by the proprietors of the town of Newbury.#
The ship-owners and merchants of Newbury had established a profitable trade with Barbadoes and other islands of the West Indies previous to the beginning of the eighteenth century. June 28, 1714, the town clerk recorded the marks and description of twelve horses, " to be shiped on board a Brigantine belonging to Capt Pits of Boston, whereof Capt Elsee is master, bound to Barbadoes." ||
Subsequently, similar items were recorded, apparently with- out order, possibly in compliance with some rule or regulation adopted by the town. A memorandum, dated June 30, 1716, states that six horses "are to be shipt for Antega § on board ye sloop Ann, whereof M' Benajah Titcomb sen' is master." ||
August 4, 1716 eight horses shipped on the brigantine now lying in the harbor of Newbury, bound for Antega, Michael Hodge, master. ||
August 14, 1716 shipped six horses on ye ship Pegge, whereof Mr. John Davis is present master & now riding at anchor in the harbor of Newbury & bound for Barbadus. |
May 30, 1724 shipped two horses on board ye sloop dove bound to ye Leeward Islands, Mr. Michael Hodge master. |
* History of Andover (Bailey), p. 58.
t Town of Newbury Records. #"Ould Newbury," p. 281.
#| Recorded on a fly-leaf of the Town of Newbury Records.
§ Antigua, one of the Leeward Islands, included in the group known as the Lesser Antilles.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
February 4, 1724-5 shipped two horses by the sloop Dove now at anchor in the Merrimack bound for the West Indies, Michael Hodge, master .*
September 1728 Shipped four horses on board ye sloop called the Friends Adventure, bound for the West Indies .*
March 4, 1730-I shipped two horses on board a ship now riding at anchor in ye River Merrimack caled the Falmouth bound to Antega, William King, master .*
October 25, 1736 shiped on board ye good sloope Elizabeth, now rid- ing at anchor in ye River Merrimack & by ye grace of God bound for Antega, Mr. Thomas Johnson, master, twelve horses from four to eight years old .*
Liberty to build a wharf and dock "about Watts his cellar " was granted Capt. Paul White in 1655 ; and similar grants were made to Richard Dole, Nathaniel Clark, Stephen Green- leaf, Daniel Davison, and others previous to January 1, 1700 .;
March 9, 1730-1 the town granted liberty to William Johnson and nine others to build a wharf at the foot of Chandlers lane [now Federal street, Newburyport] on condition it be built within four years and that the inhabitants of Newbury may fasten their hay boats or gondolas to said wharf without paying for it.#
On the same day, Abiel Somerby and others were granted liberty to build a wharf at the foot of Queen street, now Market street, Newburyport, on similar conditions. The wharf at the foot of Chandler's lane was probably built within the time named in the grant; but Abiel Somerby and the men associated with him failed to comply with the conditions imposed upon them, and May 18, 1738, Joseph Atkins, Joseph Titcomb, John Ordway, and many others were granted liberty to build the wharf " at the lower end of Queen street." #
At that date there was a ship-yard near the foot of Muzzey's lane, now Marlboro street, Newburyport, occupied by Gideon Woodwell and afterwards by his son and grandson. Ralph Cross had a yard between Muzzey's lane and Chandler's lane, at or near the lumber yard now owned and occupied by Edward Perkins & Co., Newburyport ; and Samuel Moggaridge was engaged in ship-building nearly opposite the southeasterly
* Recorded on a fly-leaf of the town of Newbury Records.
t " Ould Newbury," pp. 151-163.
# Town of Newbury Records.
!
483
COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS AND SHIP-BUILDING
end of Carr's island, at the foot of what was then Poore's, afterwards Moody's, lane, now Merrimack court, Newbury- port.
Robert Barrett bought of Thomas Bartlett, in 1732, about an acre of land in the vicinity of Bartlett's cove, where he sub- sequently built several small vessels .* In the inventory of his estate, dated September 30, 1742, his dwelling-house, workshop, " and Timber, Plank and other stuff in His Build- ing Yard," were appraised at £300, and carpenter tools at £23.+
Samuel Moggaridge agreed, November 30, 1741, to build a vessel for Witter Cummings and Benjamin Harris,¿ to be paid for on the following terms and conditions : -
Three hundred pounds in Cash, three hundred pounds on good ships in Boston, two-thirds money ; four hundred pounds by orders up the river for timber and plank, ten barrels of flour, fifty pounds weight of loaf sugar, one Bagg of cotton wool, one hundred bushels of corn in the spring; one hhd. of Rum, one hundred weight of cheese; the remaining part to be drawn out of the said Cummings & Harris' shop. . . . Three thousand pounds lawful money of New England to be paid by the defective party. §
For more than twenty years, Samuel Moggaridge was a prominent ship-builder in Newbury. He owned several negro slaves, and was evidently interested in agricultural pursuits. He had farms in Salisbury, Dracut, and Pelham, and was also the owner of a large tract of land in Narragansett township. In his will, dated October 30, 1753, and proved April 8, 1754, he gave to his wife the use of the dwelling-house where he then lived, with one-quarter part of the income of his real estate in Newbury and Salisbury. To his son Samuel he gave the farm in Dracut and a silver punch-bowl, " to be kept in the family from generation to generation." Silver tea- spoons, silver tongs, and other silver utensils were divided among the children, "son Stephen excepted." |
* Essex Deeds, book lxi., leaf 263. t Probate Records, book cccxxv., p. 71.
# Messrs. Cummings and Harris resided in Newbury, and were large importers of foreign merchandise. They were prominent members of St. Paul's church at its organization in 1738, and were elected wardens or vestrymen of the church for many years. ("Ould Newbury,". PP. 395-400. )
§ History of Newburyport (Mrs. E. Vale Smith), p. 72.
Il Essex Probate Records, vol. cccxxxii., p. 183.
484
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
Oak and pine timber, suitable for ship-building, was sent from Newbury to England in the form of rafts, skilfully con- structed and equipped with masts and sails, and manned by a crew of courageous seamen. The following notice, pub- lished in an English paper in 1770, announced the arrival of one of these rafts at London : -
The Newbury, Capt Rose, from Newbury, in New England, lies at the Orchard House Blackwall. The above is a raft of timber, in the form of a ship, which came from Newbury to soundings in twenty-six days, and is worthy the attention of the curious .*
Ship-building on the Merrimack river was very active at that date, and several new ship-yards were established in that part of Newbury known as " Belleville."
Benjamin Coffin bought of Moses Coffin, June 6, 1763, about eight acres of land "on ye Lane commonly called Coffins Lane," now Jefferson street, Newburyport, and built several vessels there.t
April 17, 1770, Isaac Freese sold to Stephen Coffin land in Newbury "joyning to Benjamin Coffins Building yard, so called, by Merrimack River"; and April 8, 1774, Elizabeth Freeze sold "to the said Stephen Coffin, land on a way lead- ing to Carrs ferry, so called," bounded northwesterly "on Benjamin Coffins Building yard." #
The statement that Stephen Coffin built two gunboats for the United States government in 1813 is probably incorrect, as he became financially embarrassed in 1807, and was obliged to dispose of his real estate and personal property.§
At the close of the Revolutionary war, Jacob Coffin was engaged in ship-building at or near Moggaridge's point. April 5, 1781, he bought of Joseph and Samuel Poor land
*Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 236.
t Essex Deeds, book cxii., leaf 192. # Ibid., book cxxviii., leaf 153 ; and book cxliii., leaf 178.
§ Essex Deeds, book clxxxi., leaf 226; also, book clxxxv., leaf 113. The gunboats were probably built in the vicinity of Boston. The Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, pub- lished October 15, 1813, makes the following announcement : -
" Arrived Thursday [Oct. 14, 1813], and anchored abreast of the sloop of War Wasp at Hor- ton's wharf, Gun Boat No. 81, Capt Cushman, from Boston via Portsmouth .. . also arrived be- low, Gun Boat No. 83 Capt Brown. She will come up and anchor alongside. her consort next tide. Each of them carry a long 24 pounder and a 12 pound Carronade and 15 men. We under- stand they are to be stationed here until next spring."
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COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS AND SHIP-BUILDING
that he retained in his possession for many years, "it being part of the Morgarage building yard, so called, adjoining the Towns landing, being one third of what John Morgarage, John Poor 3rd & Joshua Pilsbery, Jun, purchased of Joseph Ramack."
Ten years later, Orlando B. Merrill bought about an acre of land, " with dwelling house and other buildings thereon," on the northwesterly side of the ship-yard owned and occu- pied by Jacob Coffin. He built there, in company with his brothers Nathan and Jonathan Merrill, several ships, brigs, and schooners .; He was the inventor of the water-line model, from which working plans were then, and are now, taken and used in the construction of vessels. A model made by Mr. Merrill in 1794 was presented to the New York Historical Society in 1853.
In the Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, pub- lished July 27, 1798, is the following notice : -
U. S. Brig. Pickering commanded by Jonathan Chapman, sailed for Boston to take in her guns and complement of men. She will carry 14 guns and 70 men, and was built by the Messrs Merrill, who deserve credit for the punctual manner in which the work was executed.
The builders gave bonds, in the sum of ten thousand dol- lars, to construct the vessel in ninety days; and before the time expired she was ready for sea.
Owing to the disturbed political condition of Europe and the military successes of Napoleon in Austria and in Italy, American vessels engaged in the foreign trade were liable to capture by French privateers. They were frequently seized and confiscated for carrying merchandise considered " contra- band in time of war."
In order to protect the crews and cargoes of the ships built in Newbury near the close of the eighteenth century, they were armed and equipped with guns and ammunition. The Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette announced Fri- day, August 23, 1799, the launch of the ship " Massachusetts " on Tuesday preceding the date of publication, as follows : -
* Essex Deeds, book cxl., leaf z.
t Nathan and Jonathan Merrill bought land near Moggaridge's point August 16, 1798. (See Essex Deeds, book clxiii., leaf 196.)
486
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
The ship is six hundred tons, designed for the East India trade and fitted to carry twenty four guns. She was built by Capt O. B. Merrill whose skill as a naval architect is generally acknowledged.
Ship-yards occupied almost every available site between Muzzey's lane and Bartlett's cove at that date, and they were frequently overcrowded with work.
Old inhabitants of the town can remember when there have been a hundred vessels building at one time along the bank of the river on the Newbury side below the [Essex Merrimack] Bridge .*
The shape of these vessels, and the number of masts and sails with which they were provided, varied according to cir- cumstances. Ships, barks, brigs, schooners, sloops, and ketches were built to meet the demand of the trade in which they were to be employed. The style of rig prevalent at that time is shown in the photographic engraving, reproduced on the next page, from the second edition of " The Practical Naviga- tor," published by Edmund M. Blunt, of Newburyport, in the year 1800 .;
In 1807, a portion of the Moggaridge yard was leased to Mr. Elisha Briggs, a native of Pembroke, who had been engaged in ship-building in Medford, Mass. In 1809, Mr. Briggs purchased land and erected a house at the foot of Pills- bury's lane, now Ashland street, Newburyport, where he resided until he purchased of the heirs of Isaac Green Pear- son, in 1821, "a certain river lot of land in Newbury, in the county of Essex, with a wharf, dwelling house and other buildings thereon at the bottom of Pilsbury street so called." # After that date, he occupied the dwelling-house, and used the land adjoining for a ship-yard. During the twenty-five or
* History of Newburyport, by Caleb Cushing (published in 1826), p. 82.
t A copy of "The Practical Navigator" can be seen at the Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.
# Essex Deeds, book ccxxix .. leaf 153. June 4, 1766, Joseph Pilsbury conveyed to Edmund Sawyer, apothecary, the above-described land, " the same being all the land that belonged to the Estate of my late Father, Josiah Pilsbury, on the north side of said Driftway & landing." (Essex Deeds, book cxxiv., leaf 244.) Edmund Sawyer was evidently a bookseller as well as apothecary. The second edition of a sermon entitled "The Nature of Saving Conversion " was printed in Boston in 1770, "and sold by Edmund Sawyer at his house in Newbury." A sermon preached in the Presbyterian meeting-house, Newburyport, " by Abraham Keteltas, A. M.," was printed by John Mycall, in 1777, " for Edmund Sawyer and to be sold at his shop in Newbury."
The land conveyed by Joseph Pilsbury in 1766 to Edmund Sawyer was sold March 5 and April 9, 1802, by Enoch Sawyer and others, to Isaac Green Pearson. (Essex Deeds, book clxxvi., leaf 164.)
at First Rate Ship of Har
with Rigging Je. at Anchors
Schooner.
Ketch
Sloop
Newly port. pullinhed by Edmund M.Blunt.
SHAPE AND RIG OF VESSELS - 1800
488
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
thirty years that Mr. Briggs lived in Newbury, he built seven- teen ships, thirteen brigs, and ten schooners.
In 1812, Elias Jackman had a ship-yard near the Essex Merrimack bridge, where he carried on the business of ship- building for several years.
September 18, 1813, the United States sloop-of-war " Wasp " was launched from the ship-yard near Moggaridge's point .* As she entered the water, a bottle of wine was broken over her bow, and the workmen cheered, while her captain shouted,-
" From the rocks and the sands, From the enemies' hands, God save the Wasp."
She was 117 feet, II inches long on the gun deck, 97 feet, 6 inches on the keel, and measured 50933 tons, carpenter's measure. Orlando B. Merrill, of Newbury, and William Cross, of Newburyport, were the builders and contractors. They received fifty dollars per ton for the vessel completed and ready for sea, including masts and spars, rigging, joiner's work, blacksmith work, painting, etc., according to the terms of the " contract made with Amos Binney, Agent for the United States Navy Department, at Boston."
Friday evening, February 18, 1814, the officers of the sloop-of-war " Wasp " gave a ball on board the vessel while she was lying at one of the wharves in Newburyport, nearly ready for sea. She sailed February 22, 1814, for Ports- mouth, and arrived there the same day, where she received guns, ammunition, and other naval supplies.# Early in the month of May following, she sailed from Portsmouth for the English coast. During the summer, she captured thirteen merchant vessels, destroying twelve of them at sea.and send- ing one into port. In September, 1814, after a severe en- gagement with an English frigate, it is supposed that she sank, with all her crew, off the island of Teneriffe. Two years later, an agent of the United States government was sent to Newbury with $50,000 prize money and twelve
* Newburyport Herald, September 21, 1813. t Ibid., February 22, 1814.
# She was commanded by Capt. Johnston Blakeley, and most, if not all, of her crew were from Newbury and Newburyport.
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COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS AND SHIP-BUILDING
months' wages, to be distributed among the heirs of the officers and men who were on board the " Wasp" when she was lost.
In the " Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette," pub- lished Friday, November 5, 1813, "a vessel, about 115 tons burthen, now on the stocks in John B. Coffin's yard " was advertised for sale. At the same date, Stephen Dutton was engaged in ship-building at or near Moggaridge's point. The brig " Calisto," " one of the best built vessels that ever sailed from this [Merrimack] river," and the ship " Jacob Jones," " 545 tons register and pierced for 20 guns," both built by Mr. Dutton, were reported as having arrived at Boston, De- cember 7, 1813 .*
The brig "Olive," built for Capt. Micajah Lunt and others in Newbury during the summer of 1815, was engaged for many years in the foreign carrying trade. She made many long voyages without meeting with serious disaster, although she was only 157 tons burthen. In the half-tone print on the next page, taken from a water color sketch painted in 1819, the shape of her bow, the cut of her sails, and the style of her rig can be seen and conveniently studied by those who are interested in the history and de- velopment of ship-building on the Merrimack river.
February 16, 1814, Elias Cook sold to Joseph Coffin several acres of land in Newbury, "extending to a great rock in Merrimack river "; ¡ and October 16, 1821, Thomas Cook sold " to the said Joseph Coffin " land on Coffin's lane "with a dwelling house thereon."# Subsequently, Joseph Coffin bought of Thomas Merrill ; and Moses Brown § additional land on Coffin's lane, now Jefferson street, Newburyport, and built several vessels there. A part of this old building-yard was afterwards owned and occupied by Joseph Coffin, jr., who purchased, December 1, 1845, from the estate of Moses Brown, merchant, "one equal and undivided third part of Coffin's ship yard, so called, at or near the foot of Coffin's lane formerly so called." ||
* Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette.
# Ibid., leaf 124. § Ibid., book ccliii., leaf 275. t Essex Deeds, book ccxxxix., leaf 123.
/ Ibid., book cecixxiii., leaf 126.
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COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS AND SHIP-BUILDING
Stephen Jackman, jr., built from 1830 to 1848, in the ship- yard adjoining the Moggaridge yard, twenty-five or thirty vessels, including thirteen brigs for Capt. John N. Cushing, of Newburyport, and two steamers for the coastwise trade,- the "Decatur " and the " Ohio." * June 5, 1840, he bought of Mary J. Hale, wife of Jacob Hale, several acres of land in Belleville, the said estate being at that time " occupied by the said Stephen Jackman, esq., as a ship yard." +
In 1831, John Currier, jr., built, in the yard previously occupied by Capt. Orlando B. Merrill and others, the ship " Brenda," 375 tons register. He afterwards built in the same yard ship " Republic " and bark "Oberlin." In 1833, he purchased five or six acres of land on the easterly side of Poore's lane, now Merrimack court, Newburyport, where he carried on the business of ship-building for fifty years. In April, 1883, he launched the ship " Mary .L. Cushing," the last merchant ship built in the state of Massachusetts. #
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