USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > History of Newburyport, Mass., 1764-1905, Volume I > Part 10
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It is the more desirable that you should furnish the whole of the Sup- plies as the situation of Philadelphia and New York, in consequence of the prevailing Fever, will render very uncertain the obtaining them from either of those places. In order that you may commence your Purchases I have directed a Remittance of Two thousand Dollars to be sent you,
1 As early as 1790, William Cross had a ship yard at the foot of Merrill street. He built vessels there in 1823 and perhaps later.
2 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, July 6, 1798.
II4
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
and whenever you require further sums you will please to advise me and they shall be forwarded. I have the honor to be your most obedt servt BENJ. STODDARD.
MR. NICHOLAS JOHNSON,
NEWBURY PORT.
The following-named persons were appointed officers, and placed in command of the ship early in September :-
Moses Brown, Captain, Joseph Hooper, Purser,
Michael Titcomb, Jun., Lieutenant,
Robert Newman, Boatswain,
Samuel Chase, 66
Thomas Witham, Gunner.I
Jonathan Titcomb, Sailing Master,
She was named "Merrimack," and launched October twelfth.2 She sailed for Boston December ninth, arriving there the same day.3 For a figure-head she had an eagle perched upon a globe supported by two figures, one representing Commerce, the other Justice.2 She carried twenty nine-pound and eight six-pound cannon.
The "Merrimack " was the first and best vessel furnished on loan to the government and cost less than any other then in the service of the United States. She was ordered to join the squadron, under the command of Commodore Barry, in the West Indies.
During the next two or three years she captured the brig " Brillante," sixteen guns, the " Magiciene," fourteen guns, the " Phenix" and "Le Bonaparte," each fourteen guns, besides recapturing many American and British vessels that had been pursued and taken by French privateers.
She was sold in Boston for the sum of $21, 154 in° 1803, and subsequently under the name of "Monticello," was wrecked on Cape Cod.
FRENCH REFUGEES.
The political complications that preceded the French revo- lution and the beheading of King Louis XVI led to scenes of
' Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, Sept. 18, 1798.
2 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, Oct. 12, 1798.
3 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, Dec. 14, 1798.
II5
FRENCH REFUGEES
anarchy and confusion on the islands belonging to France in the West Indies. Many wealthy and influential citizens found it necessary to seek safety in flight.
May 27, 1789, Henry Marie Louis, a native of Lyons, France, came in a vessel, under the command of Capt. William Bradbury, from Martinique to Newburyport ; and July six- teenth the following-named persons arrived in the brig Sally, Capt. Offin Boardman, from Guadaloupe :-_ 1
Mariane Perrin
aged
59 years
Mariane Bottau
44
Nerau Verpril .
52
ferico Perrin
20
Sophia Perrin
66
17
Mariane Bottau
6
18
Arthute Magloire
66
23
Augestane Roveine
8
Virginea Bocsiher
66
7
Urane Moltater
66
28
66
Marglar Bottau
Servants
66
23
France vor Parize
to the
16
Chica (Bottle Boy)
above
66
13
During the next two or three years the number of French refugees who came to Newburyport was unusually large. When peace was restored some of them returned to the West Indies, but others, worn down with grief and anxiety, died and were buried in the Old Hill burying-ground. In the valley on the northwesterly side of the hill is a row of gravestones bearing the following inscriptions :-
Mr Mederic Dumas Natif de Bordeaux habitant du ford Dauphin Isle St Dominique decede a Newburyport le gth Mai 1792 Age de 49 Ans
1 Newburyport (Selectmen's) Records.
II6
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Sacred to the memory of Mr Poyen De St Sauveur. who for a long time was an Inhabitant & reputable Planter in the Island of Guadaloupe. died Oct 14th 1792 Aged 52 Years.
Here lies a good son Louis Eli Mestre who died Decr 9'h 1792 Aged 17 years.
Here lies a good son Jaque Mestre who died Aug'st 2nd 1793 Aged 21 years
John Baptiste Datua, Esq. formerly of Granterre in the island of Guadaloupe Died April 24, 1797 Aged 74
Another stone, erected several years later, is sacred to the memory of Marie Felicite Naudau. The story of her life is briefly told in a descriptive sketch, entitled, "The Grave beneath the Thorn Tree," published, with other papers, by Hannah F. Gould, in a volume entitled, "Gathered Leaves." The inscription on her gravestone reads as follows :-
Ci-git MARIE FELICITE NADAU nee a la Bassetterre Guadaloupe décédéé le 19th Fevrier 1812 Ageé de 25 ans et 6 mois Épousé de Mr Pierre Merlande Habitant an quartier de S Rose de la ditte Isle.
II7
FRENCH REFUGEES
In 1795, " Nicholas Cools Godefrey of the town of Castrie in the island of St Lucie, planter," came to Newburyport with his family and twenty negro slaves. He died soon after his arrival.1 In his will dated May 4, 1795, and proved December 28, 1795, he gave all his real and personal estate to his son " Cools Godefrey now resident at Baltimore," except fifteen hundred livres to his natural son, Jacques Moyse Dupre, fifteen johannes to Mr. Marval Bandy, " and two johannes to Mr. Cary, a mariner on board the vessel in which I came passenger, for his attention to me during said voyage from St. Lucie."2 One son, under the name of Moses Cole, remained in New- buryport, married, and afterwards became a prominent portrait painter in the town.3
Francis Vergnies de Bonischere, born in France in 1747, was for many years a medical practitioner in Guadaloupe. During the turmoil and confusion that preceded the French revolution he considered it prudent to remove to New Eng- land. The Impartial Herald, a newspaper printed in Newbury- port, published the following notice, September 3, 1796 :-
We understand that Monsieur Vergnies, an eminent Physician late from Guadaloupe, has arrived in town and resides at Capt. William Mc'Hard's.
At that date, a malignant fever prevailed in Newburyport, and Doctor Vergnies was diligent and courteous in rendering assistance and ministering to the wants of the inhabitants.
He wended his way to the chambers of the sick, with a smile, a rever- ence, or a word of civility for every one he met. And, in his pleasantry and cheerfulness of spirit, he often carried to his patient " a medicine to minister to a mind deceased," which was quite as efficacious as that which the vials in his pocket contained for the body, and ever made him a welcome visitor.4
He was never married and lived for more than twenty years
1 May II, 1795, Rev. Edward Bass, rector of St. Paul's church, recorded the burial of " Nicola Coole Godefoy, a French Gentleman from Martinico."
2 Essex Probate Records, book 365, p. 222.
3 Reminiscenses of a Nonagenarian, p. 187.
4 " Gathered Leaves," by Hannah F. Gould, p. 25.
I18
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
in the house on the southeasterly corner of Washington and Market streets, now owned by the heirs of the late George Fitz.' He died May 26, 1830, in the eighty-third year of his age. In his will, dated May 13, 1820, and proved in the month of June, 1830, he gave one-third of his estate in Guad- aloupe to " Monsieur Vergnies Bouischere," son of his de- ceased brother, and the other two-thirds to the other sons, daughters and widow of his brother. To Enoch Noyes, eld- est son of Paul Noyes, in whose family he boarded for many years, he gave certain promissory notes and securities. To Robert Noyes, another son, and to Sally and Patty Noyes, daughters of Paul Noyes, one hundred dollars each. To the Massachusetts Medical society, all his French, English, Latin and Greek medical books, and to the Right Reverend John Cheverus, Roman Catholic bishop in Boston, five hundred dollars and the books in his library not otherwise disposed of.2
For several years previous to his death Doctor Vergnies was totally blind and seldom left the house in which he resided, ex- cept for a short ride or walk with a faithful attendant, but he is still remembered by his former friends and neighbors as a kind, careful, and skillful physician.
YELLOW FEVER AND SMALLPOX.
In 1796, a malignant fever similar to, if not identical with, the yellow fever of the south, appeared in Newburyport, and fifty-five persons, including Dr. J. Barnard Swett, one of the most eminent physicians of the town, died before the ravages of the disease could be stayed.
Dr. Francis Vergnies De Bouischere, who came to Newbury- port while the fever was at its height, devoted himself, night and day, to the care of the sick and used his medical skill and experience to good advantage. His valuable services were ap- preciated and publicly acknowledged by his townsmen and friends.
' The land on the corner of the above named streets was purchased by Paul Noyes in 1769, and the house was probably built a year or two later.
2 Essex Probate Records, book 407, p. 435.
119
FROG POND AND BARTLET MALL
[April 3, 1797] Voted unanimously that the thanks of the town be given to Doctor Vergenies for his prompt assistance & advice the last summer when the town was visited by a malignant disorder.I
July 16, 1799, a special committee was appointed to visit and examine vessels arriving in the harbor in order to prevent, if possible, the spreading of yellow fever and other contagious diseases in the town.
It was also voted to request Justice Pike to call on the Captain & crew of the schooner Sally lately arrived from St Thomas & examine them on oath respecting the sickness on board said vessel the last voyage.2
All vessels from southern ports were ordered to anchor below the piers, keep a red flag flying and allow no person, letter or package to be taken on shore. These vessels were sent to Rainsford's island, in Boston harbor, to be disinfected and cleansed, if necessary, or after careful examination were granted permission to land their cargoes, under certain restric- tions, at one of the wharves in Newburyport.
June 29, 1803, the town voted to grant Dr. Lane permission to take patients " innoculated with kine pox " into the hospit- al in Common pasture, where persons were confined with small- pox, in order to test the value and effectiveness of the new method of inoculation.3
March 28, 1816, the removal of the hospital from Common pasture was ordered, " provided the town of Newbury, claim- ing to own the land on which it stands, does not object."4
FROG POND AND BARTLET MALL.
When Newburyport was incorporated in 1764 the common and undivided land in the vicinity of Frog pond was claimed by the proprietors of the town of Newbury.
The plan on page 121, taken from the Newburyport town records, volume I., page 61, gives the location of the buildings standing there in 1771.
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 146.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 203.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 290.
4 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 517.
I20
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
The windmill was erected in 1730,"and " burying hill " was: laid out and enclosed with a board fence in 1703.2 The rope walk was built by Capt. John Crocker, in 1748,3 and the fol- lowing grants of land were made by the town of Newbury March 12, 1750-1 :-
Voted that the Prayers of Samuel Aubin in a Petition laid before this meeting be Granted & that the selectmen agreeable to said Petition lett him have a piece of land to set a small house upon near frog Pond where it will be the least Damage to the town.
Upon hearing a Petition laid before the meeting by Nathan Willett voted that the Prayers of said Petition be Granted & that the selectmen Give him liberty to set a small Dwelling house on the Southerly side of Wind Mill hill agreeeble to the Petition.4
The powder house near the burying ground was erected by the town of Newbury in 1753.5
The house and land owned and occupied by Stephen Hoop- er in 1771 were in his possession as early as June 29, 1767, having been conveyed to him previous to that date.6
The selectmen of Newburyport were instructed, at a meet- ing of the inhabitants held September 4, 1765, to lay out, for public use, the land about Frog pond and the burying place, " together with the pond itself," if the proprietors of the town of Newbury, after careful consideration, declined to co-operate with them in the desired improvement.
On the twenty-eighth day of February following, Daniel Farnham, John Berrey and Cutting Moody, selectmen, gave notice that they had attended to the duty assigned them and had laid out the land in the vicinity of the pond as a way for the use of the town.7
March 21, 1766, the selectmen were authorized to lease the land near Frog pond " on which the Rope Walk and Potash
1 History of Newbury (Currier), p. 260.
2 " Ould Newbury," p. 453.
3 History of Newbury (Currier), p. 264.
4 Newbury Town Records (1731-1785), p. 85.
5 History of Newbury (Currier), p. 226.
6 Essex Deeds, book 124, leaf 211.
7 " Ould Newbury," p. 612.
N. 1
S. 4) E.
HIGH
ST
LONG.
N 42 W.
John Vinale fait.
N. 42 E.
N.8/ E. 21 RODS.
R. F. I.
WIND MILL,
POWDER HOUSE.
STEPHEN HOOPER'S
>1/2 ROD.
13 ROD.
WILLET'S HOUSE.
" RODS.
6 RODS.
N. 7 8 E.
R.F.
1
-
1
CAPT. GREENLEAF'S HILL.
-
-
72 PERCH TO A MARK IN THE FENLEX THEN3-13-6 TO THE CORNER
S.ISE. 9 ROD.
134 RODS. MEN
UND LAND.
AUBIN.
S.83 E. 13 ROD.
BURYING HILL.,
DEA. SOMER-
S. 7 8° E. Y
1
,SE. 85 º
ZVRODS.
19 PERCH. 5.3 4 E.
ROPE WALK, 38 RODS
POT-ASH HOUSE.
N. 45 E. 28 RDS. # 1
DEA. SOMERBYS
HOUSE.
E.
'SCOM /6E'771HONILYNT
FROG POND.
4 RODS
EAST END.
BY'S CORNERBE. TO THE COR. OF B. HILL. THE ROAD IS 4 KODS HERE.
Ş. 83 % E.
- -3.10
-
I22
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
House stood " and collect from persons now in possession of the property a reasonable sum for the use of the same, and on the twenty-second day of May, Daniel Farnham, Dudley At- kins and John Lowell were appointed a committee to prepare and file, in the court of general sessions, a by-law forbidding the taking of gravel, sand, clay, turf or mould from land be- longing to the town in the vicinity of Frog pond under penalty of twenty shillings for every load taken.1
[May 6, 1773] settled with Crocker & Balch for the use of the Town's Land where the Rope walk now stands.2
[March 8, 1774] voted that the selectmen view the piece of Land men_ tioned in the Petition of Ralph Cross & others for a Training Field and direct the Surveyors to level in the same in the best and cheapest manner they can, so as not to Expend more than Twenty pounds upon it and not to Endanger the Pond.3
[May 15, 1775] voted to grant Ebenezer Morrison liberty to set up a Potter's Kiln at or near the N. West side of Burying Hill to be under the Direction of the Selectmen for the time being.4
[March 9, 1779] voted to Impower Mr Nathl Tracy to plant trees on High street where the old Rope Walk stood.5
Liberty to erect a building near Burying hill to be used for the purpose of distilling oil of turpentine was granted to Stephen Noyes November 13, 1780, "he paying such consid- eration therefor as shall be agreed to by the selectmen";6 and, August 11, 1784, the right of Ebenezer Morrison "to Dig Clay near the Burying ground " was referred to a committee who recommended, March 16, 1785, " that no person what- ever be suffered to dig any clay or gravel upon the town's land near the burying ground."7
In the summer of 1785, hay scales were erected at the northwesterly end of Frog pond ;8 and in 1790 a schoolhouse,
' By-law filed in court of general sessions July 8, 1766.
2 Newburyport (Selectmen's) Records; History of Newbury (Currier), pp. 264, 265.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 187.
4 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 233.
5 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 313.
6 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 341.
7 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., pp. 428 and 437.
8 See p. 78.
123
FROG POND AND BARTLET MALL
one-story high, forty feet long and thirty feet wide, was built near the hay scales.1 April 4, 1796, the inhabitants of New- buryport " voted to build a new schoolhouse of brick nearly of the same dimensions of the north schoolhouse, and that the same be set at the southerly end of the Mall, on the town's land near the Frog Pond."2 The windmill that stood on a slight eminence at that end of the mall in 1771 was probably removed to a more convenient location (near the burying ground) in 1774, when the hill was cut down, and used for a training field. The following advertisement was published in the Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, August 21, 1798 :-
To be sold at public auction on Thursday the 6th day of September at twelve o'clock.
The Wind Mill as it now stands near the Burying Ground, and to be taken off the Ground by the purchaser. For further particulars inquire of Ebenezer Morrison.
Ebenezer Morrison William Little.
The sale did not take place at that date, for some unknown reason, and the property was again advertised in the Herald on the thirteenth day of June, 1800, as follows :-
To be sold at public auction on the twenty-third day of June. The Wind Mill and all the appurtenances thereto belonging, and about six acres of land lying round about the same being on the hill near the burying ground in the town of Newburyport.
September 21, 1797, a committee, consisting of Moses Brown, William Bartlet and Jonathan Marsh, was appointed to settle all claims relating to the highways and landings in Newburyport, " provided an agreement can be made with the proprietors of the town of Newbury within twelve months."3 August 20, 1798, the selectmen were authorized to purchase the whole or a part of the common and undivided land in Newburyport on the following terms and conditions :-
1 " Ould Newbury," p. 614.
2 " Ould Newbury," p. 615.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 165.
124
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Voted that the selectmen or the Major part of them be authorized to purchase for the Town the whole, or such parts as they may think useful to the town, of the Common Land in Newbury & Newburyport, lying within this town, upon such terms, conditions, reservations, and stipula- tions as they may think proper they first consulting the best council they can obtain whether the Town can hold, or be authorized to build upon any of the said Common Lands and if such Council shall be of opinion that the Town now hath such authority then that the said selectmen or the major part of them do not make any purchase of the said Propri- etors.I
At a town meeting held in the month of September follow- ing, the above vote was reconsidered and subsequently the proprietors of the town of Newbury brought a suit to recover damages for land taken by the selectmen of Newburyport for highways in the vicinity of Frog pond and at the middle ship- yard, so called. August 29, 1799, a committee, consisting of Enoch Titcomb, Charles Jackson and John Fitz, was appointed to employ counsel to defend the suit at the October term of the court of general sessions.2
February 19, 1800, David Dole and others petitioned the General Court to ratify and confirm the claim of the proprie- tors of Newbury to the common and undivided land in New- buryport,3 and on the third day of June following a similar petition was presented and referred to the committee on new trials.4 A hearing was appointed, but no definite action re- sulted.
Two or three weeks later Capt. Edmund Bartlet and a few other public-spirited citizens of Newburyport, determined to fill up a deep ravine near the head of Green street, and make some desirable improvements in the vicinity of the pond. All persons interested in the work were invited to assist in level- ling and grading the land and in laying out a broad promenade parallel with High street.5 The Herald published, in its edi- torial column, the following words of commendation :-
' Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 185.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 204.
3 Journal of the House of Representatives, vol. 10, p. 322.
4 Journal of the House of Representatives, vol. 21, p. 39.
5 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, June 27, 1800.
125
FROG POND AND BARTLET MALL
So delightful a situation for a publick walk has been too long neglect- ed. When completed it will not only be useful to the people individually, -but when the trees shall be grown will be greatly conducive to the health, and highly ornamental to the town.I
In the month of September following, the proprietors of the town of Newbury presented another petition to the General Court in regard to the occupation and use of the common and undivided land in Newburyport, and on the fifteenth day of that month Charles Jackson, Enoch Titcomb and John Fitz were appointed "agents to make answer to the Petition of David Dole & others." at the General Court to be held in Boston after the first day of January in 1801.2
The petition of the proprietors of the town of Newbury, and the remonstrance of the committee appointed by the in- habitants of Newburyport, were read in the senate on the eleventh day of February, and referred, in the regular order of business, to the committee on new trials ; but no report was made by the committee, and probably no further action was taken by the General Court.3
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Newburyport, held March 17, 1801, an attempt was made to reinburse " Capt. Edmund Bartlet, Jun' his expense the last year on the Mall agreeable to a petition of Capt William Wyer & others " but the motion was defeated,4 and on the twenty-second day of March, 1802, the town voted "to make the repairs which may from time to time be necessary on the Mall, near frog pond, agreeably to a petition of Capt Edmund Bartlet & others."5
The following verses, dedicated to Captain Bartlet, were published in the Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, March 12, 1802.
1 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, July 11, 1800.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 235.
3 Journal of the Senate, vol. 21, p. 191. October 28, 1826, the proprietors of the town of Newbury gave a quitclaim deed of the common and undivided land in Newburyport to the inhabitants of the last named town, for the sum of twelve hundred dollars. " Ould Newbury," p. 620.
4 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 241.
5 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 263.
BARTLET MALL.
FROG POND AND BARTLET MALL
127
One side a busy mart is found Where fortune is caress'd On t'other swells the rising mound Where weary mortals rest.
Here, noisy Tars, who mount to skies, Through imprecations run, And towers unequal, thickly rise And glitter in the sun.
There, magazines for war they raise There, funeral honor's done, And there, the slumb'ring ordnance lays, That welcomed Washington.
On high above the sloping bank, Just o'er the stagnant pool The obedient soldier forms his rank And children trip to school.
Impartial Justice takes her stand To mortals lends her care And Somerby with equal hand Suspends the load in air.
The school-boy's bark by Zephyr's hurled Would foreign climes explore, He thinks she sails all round the world As Cook had done before.
The torpid frog crawls into light And gambols on the strand As infants ere receiving sight Can play the little hand.
The cautious turtle quits the mud Where cold has pierced the bone, And slily steals from out the flood And warms her on a stone.
The social duck now swims alone, And scuds across the pool, To shun the schoolboy's pelting stone When rushing out of school.
The chatt'ring swallow flits along Just o'er the water's brim, And scoops a little with her tongue, In doubt to fly or swim.
I28
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Her spouse unravels all her turns, Through all her mazes runs ; O'er cooling waters still he burns And follows where she shuns.
So in the Mall the blooming Belle Her charms confess'd to view ; Now sucks the lip, now waves the curl And bids the beau pursue.
The useful milch cow slakes her thirst The horse his noble fire ; Returning health comes by the first The last can raise it higher.
When Phœbus sinks behind the Po, To cool his burning ray, The sparkling fly resumes her glow To emulate the day.
Now sable night thy curtains drop And shut the pleasing view ; The pulse of nature seems to stop, Which morning shall renew.
In 1805, the brick building opposite the head of Green street was erected by the town of Newbury and the county of Essex, and used as a town and court house combined. In 1809, a second story was added to the brick schoolhouse at the southeasterly end of the mall, and the one-story wooden schoolhouse near the hay scales, built in 1790, was replaced by a new brick building in 1823. A view of the stone jail and the jail-keeper's house, erected in 1824, at the north- westerly end of the pond, is given in the half-tone print on the opposite page. The next year the old jail on Federal street was sold by order of the court of general sessions.1
TOWN AND COURT HOUSE.
At His Majesty's court of general sessions of the peace, held at Ipswich, in Essex county, the last Tuesday in March, 1762, it was voted, " that a Court House for ye use of
" Ould Newbury," p. 620; History of Newbury (Currier), p. 249.
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